Old Time Buddy - To Catch a Thief
Police cop Lee Kei is assigned by his lieutenant to go undercover and find the infamous cat burglar, "Black Rose", who has escaped being captured for over twenty years. His first clue leads him to a nightclub where he bumps into a former classmate, Tse Sei. When Lee Kei is threatened with dismissal at his corrupt police precinct and his house is burnt down by triads, Sei helps him out by bringing him to live with Sei's uncle. It is through this apartment where he meets a former neighbour, Siu Fong-fong, and a martial arts performer, Cheng Po-chu. When Kei recognizes the martial arts as a style similar to what the "Black Rose" uses, he suspects that Po-chu and her colleagues could be related to the cat burglar and decides to follow them closely.
Episodes
KI, a new CID, is reluctant to go with the stream. His supervisor, LUI KING, sets him up and sends him to negotiate with a kidnapper. Unexpectedly, KI makes the kidnappers surrender with his passion. Inspector, LOK KUNG, assigns KI to investigate the female gallant, BLACK ROSE, so that KING could not torture him anymore. KI meets his childhood friends, TSE SZE (TSE YUEN). KI sings in the disguise of a famous singer, CHING SHUI, for SZE`s sake. This fraud involves KI into trouble. His home is burnt. KI has no where to go but to follow SZE to live in his uncle, TSE PING`s, home - the Art Garden. KI comes across CHU in the Garden. They admire each other.
SZE and FONG hate each other. CHU`s mother, SHEUNG, is very dissatisfied with the boss who deducted their salary, she decides to steal money. However, KI meets her before she slipped in the house. KI bites SHEUNG`s neck during the struggle. KI knows that this lady must be living in the Art Garden. He swears to find out who is `BLACK ROSE'. SHEUNG tells CHU that she is ` BLACK ROSE`. CHU does not believe in her words.
KI checks everybody`s neck. He arranges spicy hot-pot for everybody in the hope that they have to take off their clothes. However, SHEUNG sees through his plot. SZE asks CHU to bring him the deposit to Central. However, FONG plays trick on SZE. SZE goes to Tai Po instead. He even loses the deposit. SZE threats KI to lend money from LULU with his charm. The next morning, CHU slaps KI angrily. All think that KI and LULU are dating. CHU is very upset. KI is difficult to get at the truth.
KING wants KUNG to return. KI bets with KING that he will arrest BLACK ROSE within three months. KUNG`s daughter, PEGGY, competes with LULU for KI. SZE tells them that KI only loves CHU. CHU is very embarrassed. FONG avenges for CHU. She makes KI stay on the amusement ride the whole night. AU YAT GUN delays the year-end bonus payment. SHEUNG decides to steal money. CHU volunteers to replace SHEUNG. KI suspects FONG. He follows CHU mistakenly. KI is going to take off her mask.
SHEUNG hits KI and places him outside the Art Garden . KI gets a message from BLACK ROSE. She asks KI to distribute the money to everybody. SZE tells them that BLACK ROSE had given him a bowl of rice when he was a child. KI intends to join Black Rose Gang and disguise as a thief. He indicates to FONG that he also wants to join in the `Rob the Rich and Help the Poor` team. FONG is very confused. FONG even accuses him at the police station. KING takes the chance to hit KI. LINA`s car has broken down. SZE gives her a ride. He finds out that LINA is his boss`s daughter. FONG lies to LINA that she has got a rich boyfriend. She asks CHU to disguise as a male and pretends as her boyfriend.
FONG`s friend ROBERT intends to rape FONG. SHEUNG hits him. ROBERT flees away. FONG wakes up and sees KI. She thinks KI is her hero. KI asks FONG whether she is the Black Rose Gang member. FONG denies. LINA is hurt and is being sent to the hospital. SZE fears that he will lose his `rice-bowl`. He makes FONG to apologize to LINA, LINA forgives FONG and even invites FONG to her party. From ROBERT, KI knows that LINA wants to trap FONG. KI hurries to the party. FONG finds a diamond on her body. SZE captures her diamond in chaos. SZE is arrested. CHU decides to steal the diamond so that SZE could be free. CHU discovers that KI is a cop after competing her mission.
KI looks out through the window. CHU fears that her identity is revealed. Fortunately, it is very dark outside and KI only sees the reflection. KI chases BLACK ROSE to the alley. He sees CHU who has just bought some night-food instead. KI has no alternative but to tell CHU that he is a cop who is assigned to arrest BLACK ROSE. He asks CHU to keep this secret for him. SZE is set free . FONG accompanies SZE to see the doctor. She misunderstands that SZE has suffered from a fatal disease. SZE takes the chance to cheat FONG money. FONG and CHU work in the nightclub and gets their salary in advance. They are forced to work. SZE and KI hurry to the nightclub to rescue them.
The fact that SZE has not suffered from any fatal disease has been disclosed. FONG is so angry that she cried. CHU and KI try to mediate between them. However, master YU spoil their plan. BLACK ROSE appears again. KING blames KI under great pressure. He even forces KUNG to dismiss KI. SZE by chance discovers that KI is a cop. SZE is so angry that he broke up with him. Later, SZE uses KI`s cop identity to scare the loan-shark away as the former is in debt. KI suffers a great blow when he heard that he had been dismissed. He packs his stuff and intends to leave Art Garden. FONG`s younger brother, MING, admires PEGGY. He then goes to the police station with CHU to search for KI. CHU finds that KI is wandering in the street and is very depressed. CHU knows that KI has been dismissed because of the diamond, thus, CHU returns the diamond to KI and KI resumes office.
KI buys some fruits to visit his friends in the Art Garden. He continues to search for BLACK ROSE. CHU ignores him, thus, he thinks that CHU must have known that he had peeped at her when she was taking a shower. CHIU CHUNG is interested in SHEUNG. He then goes to buy a gift for SHEUNG with CHU. They think that CHUNG is going to take CHU as his second wife. FONG and MING are very upset. LULU`s mother is in the hospital. FONG replaces her mum to perform. YAT GUN and other bosses praise FONG who performed well.
FONG wants to participate in the singing contest. CHUNG strongly opposes. He looks at FONG`s mother`s photo angrily. FONG is very depressed as she could not participate in the singing contest. Suddenly she receives an invitation letter for an interview. She is very happy. KI expresses his love to CHU near the riverside. CHU is shocked. SHEUNG witnesses the scene. SZE advises KI to win CHU`s mum`s favour first. SHEUNG demands KI to arrest BLACK ROSE before she could marry CHU.
KI uses an anonymous letter to make BLACK ROSE appear. Unexpectedly, everybody appear. CHUNG by chance gets to know that FONG is going to participate in the singing contest because of this incident. CHUNG threats to break up the father and daughter relationship with FONG. SHEUNG persuades CHUNG to let FONG choose her own way of life. SZE and FONG participate in the singing contest secretly. They meet CHUNG in the exit. CHUNG is upset. LINA wins the champion in the singing contest. However, one of the judge, YAT SUN, appreciates FONG`s singing talent. CHU goes out with KI without informing SHEUNG. KI and SZE chat happily together. They do not aware that SZE and FONG have already left. CHU and KI are trapped inside the cinema.
The next day, all laugh at them. SHEUNG decides to kill KI. SZE lies that CHU is pregnant because of KI. SHEUNG forces KI to marry CHU. KI refuses. KI thinks that SZE has made CHU pregnant. They then have a big fight. SZE tells KI the truth during the fight. SHEUNG leaves angrily. SHEUNG decides to let BLACK ROSE disappear forever for CHU`s sake. Uncle MOUSE gives SHEUNG advice but he makes a big mistake when he carried out the plan. He uses a male dead body to replace BLACK ROSE. SUT persuades FUNG to train in Japan. FONG hesitates. KI is very dissatisfied with KING who closed the BLACK ROSE file. CHU comforts KI that BLACK ROSE pretends to be dead as she is scaring of him.
FONG wants to go to Japan. However, she feels very touched as CHUNG has arranged a singing teacher for her. When CHUNG heard about the training, he comforts FONG and does not stop her. FONG loves SZE. She writes him a letter and asks SZE to wait for her. SUT decides to stay in Hong Kong and so does FONG. SZE does not feel happy at all. SZE suspects SUT who has bad intention on FONG. FONG does not think so. FONG performs for the first time. MING finds that SUT has used his music. He hits SUT angrily. Later, SUT is dead. MING and SZE suspect each other. MING and SZE accuse each other. KI finds the case very suspicious. KING thinks that both SZE and MING are murderer. KI comforts FONG. The case will be made clear very soon.
KI and CHU inspect the murder spot. They reckon that the murderer climbed out from the window. They find a tore-off cheque in the recording room. They suspect LINA is the behind-curtain woman. The press unveils that MING is not the Hong Kong University graduate. CHUNG blames MING. CHU uses the BLACK ROSE identity to search for clues. She even steals a roll of film which SUT had used from the police office. CHU gets loss and meet SZE. She asks SZE to keep the secret for him and she will help him to wipe off the disgrace. SZE is touched. BLACK ROSE invites cops and reporters to disclose the truth regarding SUT`s death. MING and SZE are released. They find that MING's stuff are scattered at the door entrance of their flat. They think that CHUNG intend to drive MING away. MING leaves sadly. CHUNG thinks that MING attempts to jump into the sea. They meet each other at the seashore. They embrace and leave.
SZE tells MING taht he has seen BLACK ROSE once. MING and SZE devise to find her. MING boosts that he is very important in the radio broadcasting station. They visit MING and find out that he is only an odd-job boy. A broadcaster is suffered from diarrhoea. MING replaces him. MING reports in a humorous way and receives a very positive response. MING deliberately broadcasts FONG`s song. FONG`s song is well-received by the public. A recording company invites FONG to join it. SHEUNG wants KI to change his job, otherwise, CHU will leave him. KI refuses.
FONG appoints SZE to be her agent and negotiate on her behalf. SZE suggests FONG to use `Gum Lady` and `Phoenix Legend` as gimmick. It makes FONG very popular. FONG even establishes a fan club. FONG performs in a charity show. A rich merchant, CHAN TI KIN, donates hundred thousand dollars to FONG. SZE thinks that KIN is interested in FONG. In fact, KIN is FONG`s mother. CHUNG asks CHU to disguise as FONG to meet KIN. CHU refuses to recognize KIN. KI thinks that KIN is chasing FONG. KI negotiates with `him`. FONG cannot accept the truth that KIN is her mother. KIN is heart-broken. CHUNG tells FONG that KIN was a singer. She met an ungrateful man and gave birth to FONG. KIN then went to the Far East to search for this ungrateful man. FONG resents KIN who left her. FONG refuses to recognize KIN as her mother. Uncle RAT scribbles about the life of BLACK ROSE. KING and KI attempt to collect information from him……
FONG is invited to perform in a movie. She reconciles with KIN. SZE encourages FONG to follow her mum to Malaysia. FONG is very upset. She implores LINA to sell her antique watch so that she could give it to SZE . SZE hurries to the airport and expresses his love to FONG. MING claims that he is the `Market Prince`. They do not believe in him. MING is arranged to appear in a TV program. Unfortunately, MING turns his ankle. CHUNG WAI SHING is then assigned to replace MING. MING is very disappointed. FONG takes very good care of SZE. All laugh at SZE. SZE asks FONG to keep their relation a secret and lies that it is for her good sake. FONG feels very sweet at heart. In fact, SZE does not want others to laugh at him. SZE finds Uncle RAT. He takes the chance to collect information regarding `BLACK ROSE`.
Uncle RAT always suffer from amnesia. He makes SZE mad.SZE discovers that SHEUNG and CHU are the `BLACK ROSES`. SZE knows that FONG suspected his relation with CHU. When SZE is explaining the case to FONG, KI hears their conversation. KI is in a dilemma when he found out that CHU is `BLACKROSE`. Ultimately, he lets CHU go. CHU feels grateful to him. TANG HONG WING uses the nickname `The Flying Spider` to tempt BLACK ROSE appear. WING`s foster father, TANG KIN, tells WING his hatred towards BLACK ROSE for twenty years. He wants WING to revenge for him. WING promises stupidly. KUNG hurries to the Art Garden soon after he knew that who is BLACK ROSE. However, nobody is there when KUNG arrived. SHEUNG is KUNG`s old lover. CHU wants to see KI for the last time before she left. She sees KI and PEGGY whoare hugging intimately with each other. CHU leaves sadly.
KI is heart-broken. He goes everywhere to search for CHU. KI eventually finds CHU in the sea. KI decides to resign. SHEUNG is glad. WING and his subordinate mingle into the Art Garden. SZE has a very bad impression on them. YAM FONG are trapped in train. WING risks to save her. WING also repairs the vending machine for TING LING. All praise him.
KI and CHU has never kissed with each other though they have become lovers for a long time. SZE advises KI to kiss CHU in the dark. KI is so nervous that he is difficult to breath. CHU thinks that he is suffered from asthma. Later, CHU sees that a couple are kissing with each other. CHU finds them shameful. KI thanks god that he has not yet taken any action to kiss her. The broadcasting station`s chief wants SHING to replace MING and add one more broadcaster to perform in the story section. MING leaves angrily. Later, MING requests SHING to go out with PEGGY with the condition that he drafts the stroyline for SHING. MING wants to please PEGGY. MING knows that PEGGY admires SHING secretly. MING replies letter to PEGGY for SHING. KI fails in performing in an amusement show. SZE again advises. KI to kiss CHU when they were performing the drama `Romeo and Juliet`, KI thanks SZE. KIN wants WING to chase CHU……
FONG is going to work in Hollywood. SZE shows not much concern. FONG is very upset. CHU tells KI that WING has never kissed her. CHU and KI reconcile. KI then proposes to marry CHU. FONG sees that SZE and LINA are hand in hand at the pier. SZE suggests to separate with FONG cruelly. SZE even claims that he only sympathizes her. FONG is heart-broken. FONG goes to U.S. to observe her new working environment. KIN places an advertisement to announce that BLACK ROSE will steal the `Ocean of the Heart`. SHEUNG falls into the trap. SHEUNG is being shot down by KI. CHU witnesses that KI has shot down SHEUNG. CHU grieves with pain. KI is shocked.
All blame KI. KI is very depressed. Fortunately, SZE trusts KI. KING points out that KI is in league with BLACK ROSE. KI got the clue that SHEUNG is set up by someone. KUNG suggests KI to go to Borneo to investigate KIN. KIN locks SHEUNG up. KIN points out that SHEUNG had betrayed him many years ago which made him become handicapped. KIN forces SHEUNG to give back him the `Eight Oz Gold`. KI finds out that KIN is the leader of an international drug trafficking organization - Spider Sect. KIN buys over KING. KING then blames KI who has begotten something out of nothing. KIN plots to spoil KI and CHU`s relation. He makes WING chase CHU. KI finds very helpless. KI and SZE decide to become spies. KI and SZE attempts to work in KIN`s warehouse. The foreman allow them to join after a thorough investigation.
WING blurts out that he is in love with CHU. KIN takes advantage of the situation to set a trap for KI and asks WING to find 'EIGHT OZ GOLD'. Following KIN's meticulous plan, SHEUNG makes CHU marry WING, and SZE is forced to say things against KI which puzzles CHU. After falling into the trap, KI requested the girls from "Justice Union" to help out. On CHU's wedding day, KI appears. WING is touched by their true love and persuades KIN to give up. KIN, after understanding 'EIGHT OZ GOLD', feels sorry for what he did and turns himself in. When FONG comes back to Hong Kong, she cannot find SZE and feels sad. KI blames SZE accordingly. SZE has no choice but to tell KI the truth.
KI and CHU are going to get married. FONG backs to Hong Kong as CHU`s bridesmaid. FONG then finds out that SZE is for her future`s sake and pretended to go out with LINA. SZE and FONG reconcile. MING drinks a lot of soft drink so as to get a gold yo-yo for PEGGY. MING drank too much and is being to the hospital. PEGGY is touched. During KI and CHU`s wedding, the police arrests SHEUNG. SHEUNG admits that she is BLACK ROSE for CHU`s sake. She even tells CHU that KUNG is her father. CHU leaves a letter to KI. She then goes to the prison to rescue SHEUNG. KI goes everywhere to search for CHU.
LINA buys over Art Garden and intends to rebuild it for revenge. LINA will only cancel her `Rebuilding Art Garden` plan with the condition that there are five thousand audience a day. All try their best to preserve the Art Garden. FONG decides to stay in Hong Kong. MING promotes in his radio program. SZE lies to KI that CHU will join in performing `Romeo and Juliet` with him. CHU shows up on the show day. CHU leaves silently after performing her role. KI is very upset. However, only 4,999 tickets are sold. All are very depressed. LINA buys the last tickets and leaves. In 1997, KI thinks upon the past in Art Garden which is under demolition. KI meets CHU there .........
