At the Hotel Carlton, Paladin has picked up a Chinese proclamation
from the streets and asks Hey Boy to help translate it., Hey Boy warns
Paladin not to get mixed up in Tong business but Paladin insists. He can
tell that it's a reward for someone's head, but can't make out who.
Detective-Sergeant Clarence Magruder comes in and explains that it's a
bounty for Detective Joe Tsin. The Tong want Joe dead for working
against them and the police want Joe kept alive because of his knowledge
of the Tongs. Magruder admits that the police can't protect Joe because
the young detective considers it a matter of honor to refuse any help.
They want to hire Paladin instead in the hopes that Joe won't catch on.
Magruder admits that he doesn't know where in Chinatown that Paladin can
find Joe but suggests that he start with Joe's father, Hoo Yee. Paladin
agrees and donates his fee to the police widow fund.
After
Magruder leaves, Hey Boy explains that Joe is the cousin of his father's
cousin, and repeats his warning about getting mixed up in Tong
business. Despite that, Paladin asks his friend to take him to Hoo Yee.
Hey Boy reluctantly agrees and takes him to the office of the Chinese
Young Man's Christian Association. Hoo Yee runs the organization and
lets Paladin in. As Hey Boy returns to the hotel, Joe watches them from
down the street.
Paladin meets with Hoo Yee and Joe's fiancee, Li
Hwa. Hoo Yee explains that the police have asked for his people's help
in defeating the Tongs but at the same time turn a blind eye to the
whites that commit crimes against the community. Joe has angered the
primary Tong's leader, Loo Sam, who has hired hatchetmen to kill the
detective before the week is over. Hoo Yee's son considers it a matter
of honor to face the Tong on his own and the old man admits that Joe
would lose face, even with him and Li Hwa, if he were to run away or
turn to others for help. Hoo Yee asks Paladin to help his son but to
avoid dishonoring him. Further, Paladin must avoid gunfights because a
white man shooting at the Chinese could set off a bloody race war in the
streets.
As Paladin leaves, Joe confronts him while the
neighbors gather to watch. The detective demands answers and Paladin
refuses to answer. Joe refuses to let white men walk all over him
and handcuffs Paladin to take him to the police station. Two hatchetmen
attack them and Paladin and Joe have no choice but to fight together
because of the handcuffs. They manage to drive the hatchetmen off and
the neighbors applaud.
Hoo Yee and Li Hwa come out and thank
Paladin for his help, and Joe realizes that someone hired Paladin to act
as a bodyguard. Angry, Joe says that he would rather have died with
honor then depend on someone else's help. Paladin questions the wisdom
of a pointless death but Joe says that the whites will never understand
Chinese honor and removes the handcuffs.
As the detective walks
away, Li warns Paladin that Joe has lost face and has to reprove himself
to the community and to himself. She takes Paladin down the street to
where Joe has posted a challenge to Loo Sam. The two men are to meet at
midnight, but LI warns Paladin that Loo Sam can choose a second to fight
for him. He has Sing Chuck, his most experienced killer, on his
payroll. Paladin admits that he messed things up by provoking Joe into
handcuffing them together, and owes it to the detective to help him out.
Li warns him not to make the situation worse by interfering again, but
Paladin says that he'll just make things even. He asks where he can find
Loo Sam and Li says the Tong bass has a favorite gambling hall.
However, strangers are never allowed there and Li refuses to take him.
Frustrated and a bit disgusted, Paladin admits that he may never
understand Chinese honor and goes to find his own assistance.
After
getting Hey Boy from the hotel, Paladin convinces the servant to take
him to the gambling house. Hey Boy does so despite the threat of
retaliation from the Tong and then quickly leaves. Paladin knocks at the
door and the guard reluctantly lets him in after frisking him. The
Chinese gamblers are all shocked to see a white man and Loo Sam assumes
that Paladin works for the chief inspector. He wonders if his "dear friend"
on the police force wants a bigger bribe, but Paladin assures him that
he isn't with the police.
As Paladin takes a seat at a card
table, Loo Sam gets Sing Chuck from the next room. As everyone backs
away, SIng Chuck advances on Paladin, who fights the big man off. The
two men struggle back and forth and Paladin soon gets the upper hand.
Sing Chuck goes for his gun and Paladin fires his derringer, killing the
man. He then threatens Loo Sam, telling the man that now he has no
choice but to meet Joe personally and show how brave he really is.
At
midnight, the locals gather at the designated spot to watch the fight.
Paladin and LI are with Joe, who warns the gunfighter not to interfere.
Loo Sam doesn't show and a satisfied Joe explains to Paladin that from
now on no one in Chinatown will respect or fear Loo Sam and his organization. However, the
detective suspects that Paladin had something to do with Sing Chuck's
failure to appear. Rather than answer, Paladin tells Joe that in America
people work together for the honor of their community and their
country, not separately for personal honor. Joe forgives Paladin's
earlier transgression and shakes his hand, and then leaves with Li, his
honor satisfied.
Written by Gadfly on Oct 14, 2018