My Cousin, the Ghost (1987) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A financially precarious household is unsettled by Cousin Big's return, rumors of his death, and his growing closeness to Ms. Rose Wong.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Precarious Daily Life

A man depends on his cousin for work and housing while they argue over work, waste, and debts. He hopes marriage might offer a way out of his insecure circumstances.

Key Events

• Counting Pigeons — A man and his cousin count pigeons before returning to their food business. Location: Unspecified
• Food Business Dispute — The cousin scolds the man for working slowly and wasting ingredients. Location: Food business
• Dependence and Debt — Without identification papers, the man depends on his cousin for work and a place to stay. Location: Unspecified
• Marriage as an Escape — The man plans to meet a Greek woman, hoping marriage could improve his precarious situation. Characters: Ms. Rose Wong Location: Unspecified

The Return from England

Cousin Big returns after winding up a business in England, where he says he was expelled as an illegal immigrant. With his former room rented out, the household finds him another place to sleep.

Key Events

• Cousin Big Returns — Cousin Big returns after winding up a business in England. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta Location: Household
• Expulsion from England — Cousin Big says he earned money in England before being exposed as an illegal immigrant and expelled. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta Location: England, as recounted
• A Room Is Arranged — Because his former room has been rented out, the household arranges an empty room for him. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta Location: Household

The Ghostly Doubt

Unexplained chills, noises, and room confusion unsettle the household, though residents suggest ordinary explanations. A report of Cousin Big's death and the green blood associated with a dart intensifies the suspicion that he is a ghost.

Key Events

• Unsettling Household Sounds — Chills, noises, and confusion about room entries unsettle the residents, who offer ordinary explanations. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta Location: Household rooms
• The Money Warning — Cousin Big announces earnings of 476,830 and threatens to stop financial support over waste or illegal activity. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta Location: Household
• Death Report and Green Blood — A report says Cousin Big died in England and that a dart removed from his head revealed green blood. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta Location: Household
• A Lonely Ghost's Deadline — Cousin Big speaks as if he has until the 14th before becoming a lonely ghost forever. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta Location: Unspecified

Rose and the Unresolved Crisis

Cousin Big grows close to Ms. Rose Wong, while others try to manage their relationship and keep his nature secret. Rose rejects a warning, then collapses after being brought to a room; the available dialogue leaves her fate and Cousin Big's condition unresolved.

Key Events

• Cousin Big and Rose Grow Close — Cousin Big grows close to Ms. Rose Wong as the household tries to manage their relationship. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta, Ms. Rose Wong Location: Unspecified
• Rose Rejects the Warning — She is warned that Cousin Big is a ghost but refuses to be frightened away. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta, Ms. Rose Wong Location: Unspecified
• Rose Collapses — Rose is brought to the room and collapses, prompting the others to call for help. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta, Ms. Rose Wong Location: Room
• Unresolved Crisis — The available dialogue leaves Cousin Big's condition and Rose's fate unresolved. Characters: Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta, Ms. Rose Wong Location: Room

Story Breakdown

• Food Business Tensions — The opening establishes dependence, workplace conflict, and unresolved debts between cousins.
  • Counting Pigeons — A man and his cousin count pigeons before returning to their food business.
  • Waste and Work — The cousin scolds the man for working slowly and wasting ingredients.
• A Precarious Future — The man lacks identification papers and depends on his cousin for work and housing.
  • No Identification — The man has no identification papers and relies on his cousin.
  • Marriage Hope — He hopes marrying a Greek woman could offer a way out of his situation.
• Return from England — Cousin Big comes back after a business venture and recounts his expulsion from England.
  • Business Wound Up — Cousin Big says he earned money before being exposed as an illegal immigrant.
  • A Room Arranged — Since his former room has been rented, the household finds him an empty room.
• Household Unease — Strange sensations and noises trouble the residents, who continue to offer ordinary explanations.
  • Chills and Noises — Unsettling chills and sounds are reported in the household.
  • Room Confusion — Residents become confused about who is entering which room.
• Ghostly Evidence — A death report and Cousin Big's own remarks make the household's suspicions harder to dismiss.
  • Green Blood Report — A report says Cousin Big died in England and that a dart removed from his head revealed green blood.
  • Ghostly Deadline — Cousin Big speaks as if he has until the 14th before becoming a lonely ghost forever.
• Cousin Big's Warning — His claimed earnings and conditions for financial support add pressure to the household.
  • Reported Earnings — Cousin Big announces that he made 476,830 from his business.
  • Support Conditions — He warns that he will cut off financial support over waste or illegal activities.
• Rose and the Crisis — Cousin Big's closeness to Rose and the attempts to conceal his nature lead to an unresolved emergency.
  • Rose Rejects Warning — Rose refuses to be frightened away after being warned that Cousin Big is a ghost.
  • Collapse in Room — Rose collapses after being brought to a room, and the others call for help.

Directed by

Wu Ma

Key Cast

• Kenny Bee — Chow Siu Wing
• Richard Ng Yiu-Hon — Cousin Big / Wu Te Ta
• Mang Hoi — Q
• Wu Ma — Mako
• Tai Bo — Pao