Shanghai Palace

 

We find 12 year old YE in Shanghai stealing goods to sell on the street. He barters with tourists, not budging off his price of $20.00 for a handbag. He lives in a tiny apartment with his beautiful Mother. Forty years later, we find Ye in America counting money at his strip club in new Jersey, the “Shanghai Palace”. Ye pets his snake Samira, who he keeps on his desk in a woven basket.

At the club some mobsters watch the dancers, keeping an eye on Adrianna, the sexiest and hottest dancer.The head mobster is Frankie, a small time thug who is there to do business with Ye. They negotiate but cannot come to terms with the asking price of the club, seven million dollars. Ye will not budge off his asking price. The mobsters threaten Ye and his son Yin-Wa but then Frankie backs down saying it is Christmas. His friends think he is going soft.