Ups and Downs in the Sea of Love (2003)

YAMA wakes up from a bad dream. For the past three years, she has been living in the nightmare of being left alone by JASON. She works in a cruise company. One day, a difficult client, KING, gives her many troubles. She is still very nice to him though and earns his praise. YAMA and her good friend PAULINE have won a free trip on a cruise in a lucky draw. JASON is the cruise director. KING happens to be on the cruise liner too and he tries to be difficult with JASON as well. JASON, nevertheless, manages to be professional with him. YAMA and PAULINE make fun with JASON during the cruise. Luckily, JASON’s good friends CHRISTINE and KEUNG are there to back him up. He then tells CHRISTINE and KEUNG how YAMA ran away just before their wedding. PAULINE pretends to be an inspector from the headquarters and assigns JASON difficult tasks. Meanwhile, KING tells everyone that he is the real inspector, which shocks YAMA to hell.

KING does not approve of YAMA’s bad acts on JASON. However, he believes JASON and YAMA will make a good team in developing the company’s Hong Kong headquarters. JASON turns down his invitation. KING demands YAMA to change JASON’s mind and that she will be fired if she fails. YAM goes to JASON but he makes a fool of her. YAMA is a volunteer of an elderly home. She is particularly close to an old man whose name is KWONG. She will sometimes email KWONG’s son to inform him of KWONG’s news. Apparently, KWONG is JASON’s father. When they take a walk down to a yacht club, they meet LAW, who has cheated KWONG of all his properties and cruise liner. KWONG is furious to see him, but JASON is plotting a plan to get back KWONG’s possessions. JASON accepts KING’s invitation eventually and takes YAMA as his subordinate……

JASON leaves rather unhappily. YAMA explains her relationship with JASON to her colleagues. Three years ago, YAMA planned to take a cruise with her fiance and get married in the States. Her parents had arranged a wedding banquet for them too. However, her fiance suddenly told her that he was in love with someone else and broke her heart. She went on the cruise anyway and met JASON on the ship. Meanwhile, JASON’s family went bankrupt, so the two understood how each other feel. They decided to get married on the ship. Unfortunately, in the wedding banquet in LA, YAMA’s fiance suddenly appeared. YAMA told him that she had to find someone else to be the groom now that the banquet had been prepared. Her words hurt JASON, who then pretended to be fooling around with other women. He did so in a way that she would find out and divorce him. JASON’s colleagues think that JASON had been unfaithful to YAMA and thus reject him……

KING tells YAMA that if the company cannot reach higher sales by the end of the month he will have to lay off staff. She decides to hold a promotional exhibition to boost the sale. JASON tells her that two-day preparation time is not enough, but she has already made up her mind. JASON and CHRISTINE promote their cruises to some businessmen but LAW tries to be difficult with him. JASON shows CHRISTINE the ship that used to be belonged to his father. They meet the ship captain, WAH, who used to be JASON’s schoolmate. Everybody complains about having to work over time. YAMA can do nothing but to tell them the truth, after which they all work very hard. YAMA is depressed to find the exhibition a complete failure. To her surprise, many people join their tour the next day. Apparently, JASON has tricked LAW to sign up a cruise as his staff benefit. Everybody treats JASON as their lifesaver and forgets about YAMA……

CHRISTINE and KEUNG live a poor life to save money with JASON, but they pretend to be rich in front of PAULINE. PAULINE and YAMA sneak into JASON’s flat to evaluate how much compensation YAMA can get. YAMA throws away all of JASON’s left shoes when she finds out that he has been using her apron to wipe hands. She also sets all his clocks faster to make him go to work very early the next morning. JASON and YAMA fill in all their divorce papers. Then he suddenly realizes that she actually wants alimony from him. The two decide to take it to court. When he leaves, YAMA’s dress is caught by his car door and she is dragged along for some distance. YAMA’s leg is broken and JASON has to take care of her. She takes the chance to abuse him. CHRISTINE cannot stand YAMA’s attitude. She lies to YAMA, saying that JASON has caught a bad flu and that JASON is in huge debt. YAMA believes what she says and wants to drop her case against JASON……

KWONG wants to introduce YAMA to JASON. He, however, quits the thought when he realizes that YAMA will lose financial support from her ex-husband if she gets married again. JASON wants to introduce a boyfriend to YAMA in order to get her married soon again. He lets her get back to work and asks CHRISTINE to change YAMA’s looks. YAMA’s parents call her up when she is shopping with CHRISTINE, which makes CHRISTINE envy. CHRISTINE wants to find her biological parents with a photo given by the orphanage warden. She finds out that her father is WAH’s uncle. WAH takes her to see his grandmother to ask about his uncle, but unfortunately the old lady has dementia. Apparently, the orphanage warden gave every orphan the same photo to make them feel united. CHRISTINE tries to look for her mother with an old address but fails. JASON fails to sell YAMA to another man. CHRISTINE realizes that they have to find out what YAMA’s preference is……

CHRISTINE finds out that some loan sharks have called WAH. KEUNG has lost some money, so they find out that WAH is in heavy debt. WAH lies that the loan is actually from her gambling girlfriend. KEUNG proposes to change WAH into the type YAMA likes and asks him to pursue her. In exchange, JASON pays for WAH’s debt. After a few dates, YAMA thinks that WAH is both educated and caring. On the virgin sail of Love Boat, JASON bumps into a colleague, MAN. She tells him that her boyfriend is in huge gambling debt. YAMA witnesses how he comforts MAN. JASON arranges WAH to meet YAMA. He deliberately lets her know that she looks just like WAH’s late girlfriend. KEUNG tries hard to teach WAH table manner on the ship. PAULINE and KEUNG argue about an old tale and dislike each other. PAULINE leaves her book in the library. KEUNG finds it and is delighted that his book is popular among readers……

YAMA prevents JASON from telling her parents about their divorce because her mother, SUSAN, has high blood pressure. She begs him to keep it a secret during the cruise. PAULINE is obsessed with her beloved author. Her boss, CINDY, tells her that spiritual love is better than physical love. CHRISTINE and SUSAN get on very well. YAMA’s father, PETER, finds CHRISTINE familiar. WAH meets his girlfriend MAN on the ship and misses out his date with YAMA. He nevertheless manages to make up with MAN later. SUSAN asks JASON to dance with YAMA. He accidentally triggers the set-up which KEUNG puts up. Fortunately he manages to save YAMA from getting hurt. YAMA and JASON have to stay in the same bedroom in order to hide their secret. PAULINE and KEUNG flirt with letters. They, however, fight over a karaoke song in the pub. YAMA slips over in the bathroom. PETER asks JASON to go in to help. He is embarrassed seeing YAMA naked……

The westerner beats up WAH. YAMA hurts the westerner and flees away. WAH lies about his past to impress YAMA. He also lies that he used to work for the MSF. Coincidently, someone on the ship has a fit. Everybody tries hard to explain why WAH is not able to help. WAH and YAMA go for a walk. They meet MAN on the way. WAH leaves YAMA and chases after MAN. YAMA bumps into the westerner again. She runs to hide from him and passes out in a building. JASON finds her, and carries her down the stairs before passing her to WAH. He is later injured when fighting with the westerner. YAMA thanks WAH for saving her; JASON is upset. She falls ill and JASON takes care of her all night. PAULINE wets her bag by accident. When the book is dried, she finds an invitation from the author. CHRISTINE mentions her mother’s name when chatting with PETER and shocks him. WAH sings a love song to YAMA on the deck……

PAULINE and KEUNG wait at different places for a whole night because she did not read the invitation note properly. LING tells KING about the tale of the windmill farms in LA, which says that one will see his true love when paper flowers dance in the mountain. She hopes to see her fiance again, so she folds many paper flowers. KING encourages her to pull herself up. The cruise liner arrives in LA. SUSAN asks YAMA and JASON to stay at their place. PETER invites CHRISTINE to come along. JASON gets drunk. SUSAN asks YAMA to change his clothes. She stares at a photo of them kissing. CHRISTINE screams when she sees them in untidy clothes, which amuses YAMA. JASON and YAMA have to rush off to a meeting. CHRISTINE reminds him not to take YAMA seriously. WAH manages to arrange MAN to leave early. KING upsets LIMG by planning to use her story as the company’s selling point……

LING gets the windmill farms project and annoys KING. WAH asks CHRISTINE for money and she orders him to pursue YAMA as soon as possible. JASON and YAMA are looking for another selling point for their cruise. She suffers from vertigo but gets on a Farris wheel accidentally. Fortunately, JASON comforts her the whole way. On his way to buy her a drink, he sees her chatting happily with WAH so he leaves unhappily with CHRISTINE. WAH cheats YAMA out of her money yet at the same time gives her a raffle ticket. JASON goes to the school that he and CHRISTINE went to, hoping to look for the love letters she wrote. Then out of the blue, CHRISTINE shows up and takes back her letters. YAMA goes into the fortune-teller whom she went three years ago. She picks a card which says her true love is actually around. She then meets JASON in a pub and is upset to see him flirting with another girl. He is upset too she is close to WAH……

CHRISTINE’s girlfriend, WENDY, chases after her from the States. WENDY is jealous to see YAMA take care of CHRISTINE. JASON suspects that YAMA is a lesbian. CHRISTINE touches her to test her. However, WENDY gets mad at that and nearly falls off the window with YAMA. Luckily, JASON comes to their rescue in time. PAULINE and KEUNG have a bet to see who can drink more. KEUNG sees that there is a copy of his book in her bag. YAMA scolds JASON for taking CHRISTINE to the pub often. He is sorry for that. JASON reminds PAULINE that she has a date with the author, making her think that he himself is the author. On the day, JASON and KEUNG arrive together. PAULINE humiliates KEUNG instantly and he leaves unhappily. JASON agrees to pretend to be the author for KEUNG. However, PAULINE nags him all the time. JASON is afraid to stay alone with PAULINE, so he invites KEUNG, CHRISTINE and WAH to YAMA’s place for dinner. They play games after dinner……

JASON covers up WAH’s mistake for him but YAMA does not know about it. WAH lies that it is KEUNG’s suggestion for him to get in bed with YAMA to win her heart. Both YAMA and JASON miss the day when they were at the windmill farms. The team goes to Ocean Park. YAMA asks CHRISTINE what she would do if her family was here. CHRISTINE replies that she would get back what she should have. PAULINE tests WAH to see if he could give YAMA security. YAMA is panting inside a cable car. WAH lets her listen to a song which reminds her of the time she and JASON were on the Farris wheel. YAMA feels much better after listening to the song. JASON is disappointed to see her come out of the cable car calmly. KEUNG suggests WAH put some drugs into YAMA’s drink. JASON calls YAMA, who has left her mobile phone in a taxi. Then he finds her safe in a hotel, but WAH is nowhere to be seen. JASON scolds KEUNG for what he has done……

KWONG moves to live with JASON but he finds it inconvenient that CHRISTINE also lives there. YAMA therefore invites CHRISTINE to live with her. KEUNG suggests CHRISTINE accept YAMA’s invitation so that she can get closer to JASON. Love Boat will be displayed in the carnival of which JASON and YAMA are in charge. CHRISTINE volunteers to help out. YAMA learns that CHRISTINE has written a love letter to someone and decides to be her matchmaker. She also asks JASON to give a hand. JASON reminds CHRISTINE to be careful with what she says on her date. KEUNG mistakenly thinks that JASON is after CHRISTINE. JASON cannot bear PAULINE anymore and so tells her that he is not the author of her beloved story. CHRISTINE dates JASON. YAMA asks him to give CHRISTINE some good advice on dating. They have a nice time together and talk all night. CHRISTINE dresses up for JASON……

KEUNG and CHRISTINE tell each other their troubles at the seaside. JASON is worried to see CHRISTINE come home drunk. PAULINE is happy to find out KEUNG is her favorite author. CHRISTINE learns that YAMA loves JASON truly after overhearing PAULINE talking to YAMA. She decides to tell JASON the truth. JASON rushes to tell YAMA his feelings for her, only to be scolded for being selfish. KEUNG scolds CHRISTINE for giving up on JASON. But she says that she is happy seeing JASON being happy. PAULINE and KEUNG have finally become a pair. KWONG deliberately puts JASON and YAMA on a boat which does not have much gas left. On the boat, JASON finds out that YAMA still keeps the photo of them kissing. She finds out too that he keeps a painting of them. The two are on good terms again. WAH suddenly proposes to YAMA but is turned down. JASON tells WAH that their plan has been terminated……

YAMA threatens to quit if she has to work with JASON. KING and LING can do nothing but to accept her condition. JASON tries to keep distance from YAMA too. KEUNG feels depressed when people find out that he is bold. PAULINE comforts him and says that she does not mind. In order to approach YAMA, WAH asks JASON to get him a driving position. WAH’s grandmother deliberately lets the others know that WAH is really in love with YAMA, which bothers JASON. YAMA has also heard about WAH’s love for her. WAH and YAMA are friends again after his confession. She even defends him against the others. CHRISTINE knows that WAH is pretending to be good and argues with YAMA and JASON. When PETER calls her up suddenly, CHRISTINE scolds him for no good reason. YAMA shouts at her saying that PETER is her father. She runs away from home when she finds out that JASON has already learnt about her identity……

WAH once again borrows money from JASON. KWONG knows that WAH bets on dog racing and decides to expose him. He finds some evidence at WAH’s grandmother’s place. However, she sees him through. WAH manages to get rid of the evidence before YAMA arrives. KEUNG and CHRISTINE know that WAH is trying hard to end JASON and YAMA’s relationship. They ask about at love hotels and pubs. They find out that WAH has drugged YAMA that night and that he did not harm YAMA because some loan sharks had taken him away. JASON asks LAW’s wife about WAH’s background and learns that WAH has cheated money out of LAW and had been beaten up before he got fired. JASON asks for LAW’s help to let YAMA see WAH’s true self. YAMA calls WAH liar and leaves. WAH’s grandmother chases after her and pretends to fall. She lies to YAMA that WAH does everything for her, which bothers her. YAMA asks around hotels and pubs but comes home empty handed……

YAMA believes WAH, which annoys JASON. PETER and SUSAN visit Hong Kong. CHRISTINE invites them for dinner. SUSAN and CHRISTINE have even become mother and daughter by name. WAH finds out by chance that CHRISTINE is YAMA’s sister and they both love JASON. However, SUSAN does not know about this. SUSAN and PETER join a cruise. WAH arranges a fortune-teller to lie to YAMA that if she and CHRISTINE both love JASON they will bring disaster to him. YAMA asks CHRISTINE if she loves JASON. SUSAN overhears their conversation and faints. KING demands YAMA to be responsible for SUSAN’s passing out. LING finds him unreasonable and defends YAMA. SUSAN falls ill and demands for a divorce. YAMA is heartbroken. WAH takes JASON to a temple where YAMA and CHRISTINE have lit candles for his wellbeing. JASON is shocked when WAH tells him CHRISTINE loves him. CHRISTINE tells SUSAN, who is asleep, her mother’s relationship with PETER……

JASON meets MAN on the cruise liner and finds out that she is WAH’s girlfriend. She agrees to reveal WAH’s bad act. Unfortunately, when they arrive in Hong Kong, YAMA has already left for a business trip. WAH finds MAN. The next day, she claims that she does not know WAH at all. YAMA scolds JASON for trying to stir things up and upsets him. JASON pushes WAH and WAH is knocked down by a car. YAMA decides to go out with WAH and tells CHRISTINE to grab her chance to be with JASON. Apparently, MAN is pregnant with WAH’s baby and she agrees to cheat YAMA of her money with him. KING is transferred back to the headquarters. LING says KING deserves it but he himself is quite relaxed about it. JASON quits his job and finds a new job with the help of CHRISTINE’s adopted father. CHRISTINE follows him and becomes his partner. YAMA and LING check out the cruise business. YAMA is very impressed when WAH shows up and so agree to marry him……

CHRISTINE plays the video of JASON and YAMA on the windmill farms and encourages him to fight back YAMA. They notice that YAMA was holding a raffle ticket with her name on in the video and decide to investigate further. Everybody congratulates YAMA on Love Boat. WAH accepts JASON’s present unwillingly. JASON lies to YAMA that he and CHRISTINE are together now. She pretends to be calm and WAH is delighted. Just before the wedding, JASON plays a video in which a charity organization thanks YAMA for donating all her lottery money. WAH suddenly loses his temper and says that he is marrying YAMA only for her money. Meanwhile, some loan sharks arrive and take WAH away. YAMA is heartbroken. JASON chases after her and tells her that he only pretends to be with CHRISTINE. However, she says that she cannot bear being cheated again. YAMA’s family moves out of Hong Kong. One day, JASON goes to a fortune-teller and picks a card from a deck……