Point of No Return (TVB)

Infobox Television
show_name = Point of No Return
(西關大少)


caption =
genre = Period Drama
format =
runtime = 45 minutes (approx.)
creator =
director =
producer =
writer =
starring = Damian Lau
Julian Cheung
Charmaine Sheh
Angie Chiu
opentheme = "相愛無夢" by
Julian Cheung
endtheme =
country = HKG
language = Cantonese
network = TVB
first_aired = November 3,2003
last_aired =
December 12,2003
num_episodes = 30
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website = http://tvcity.tvb.com/drama/point_of_no_return

"Point of No Return" (西關大少) is a 30-episode drama serial produced by TVB in 2003.

It starred Julian Cheung, Damian Lau, Angie Chiu and Charmaine Sheh, and is a story about a family shipping business and various love triangles set in Guangzhou, China, in the 1920s. This series again saw Julian and Charmaine as an on-screen couples, and as with previous occasions, their on screen chemistry was praised by audiences.

Cast

*Damian Lau as Chow Ming Hin
*Angie Chiu as Ng Yuk Hing
*Julian Cheung as Chow Tin Ci
*Charmaine Sheh as Ho Seung Hei
*Belinda Hamnett as Loh Bik Kei
*Sammul Chan as Chen Kwok Bong
*Lui San as Lee De Yung
*Kevin Cheng as Chan Kai Tong

ynopsis

Chow Ming Hin (Damian Lau) single-handedly builds his family shipping business into a successful enterprise despite other family members whom are either corrupt or incompetent. His son Chow Tin Ci (Julian Cheung) is earmarked as his successor, he is a spoiled brat who enjoys playing pranks on others, in particular Ho Seung Hei (Charmaine Sheh). Ng Yuk Hing (Angie Chiu) is both Chow Ming Hin's right-hand-man in business and love of his life, even though he is married. Eventually he marries her as a second wife, arousing much jealousy from his first wife Lee De Yung (Lui San).

On Chow Ming Hin's death, the firm is left in the hands of Ng Yuk Hing, Chow not trusting his son's ability to run the business. She has to fend off both Lee's increasing bitterness towards her as well as the avarice of Tin Ci's uncles. Their feuding leads to Tin Ci and Seung Hei falling in love with each other, but it does not last long due to their differences in status, a point which Julian's family drive home as they conspire to force Seung Hei out.

Tin Ci is gutted by the breakup, and Yuk Hing tries her best to make him focus on taking over the shipping business to not much avail. Loh Bik Kei (Belinda Hamnett) plays his childhood friend who falls in love with him, but is unable to win his love. She is secretly happy that Seung Hei has gotten a new boyfriend, but no matter how hard she tells Tin Ci to give up, he refuses to. Even when Seung Hei marries, Julian's heart remains hers.

Subsequently, the shipping business runs into trouble when Ng Yuk Hing is forced to take care of her newborn child and has to leave the business to her brother and Tin Ci's uncles. Foreseeing the firm's bankruptcy, she claims her entitlement under Chow Ming Hin's will, but incurs the wrath of all. Seung Hei decides to join her husband in England, and Tin Ci is desperate to see her one last time. Bik Kei dissuades him, but in doing so, gets knocked down by a car when Julian rushes across a road and she pushes him away. She is paralyzed for life and Tin Ci promises to take care of her.

It turns out that Ng Yuk Hing had claimed her portion of the will not to escape from the family's impending misfortunes, but to have a substantial amount of money to start all over again when the firm was liquidated. With her foresight she finally earns the respect of her parents-in-law, as well as Lee De Yung.

The finale of the show revolves around the unresolved love affair between Chow Tin Ci and the widowed Ho Seung Hei. With his promise to care for and traditional attitudes to the probity of marrying a widow Julian is hesitant to rekindle his relationship with Seung Hei. Bik Kei, realizing where Julian's heart is, encourages him to try one last time.