On the Wrong Track

Paul Chan and his hot-headed brother Dee join friends in a reckless spree that ends with them blowing up a rich man’s car after an insult. The stunt exposes Paul’s tendency to hold back his anger, while Dee leads the charge. A police officer named King Kong threatens Paul, signaling darker trouble ahead.

At home, Larry punishes Paul and Dee by making them clean the house and skip dinner. The next day at school, their peers humiliate them and the boys are blamed for bringing weapons to class. The tension between father, sons, and their growing defiance pushes the family toward breaking point.

Midnight arrives and Larry cooks noodles for Dee, neglecting Paul. The act highlights a rift in the family as Dee basks in attention and Paul feels left out. The night deepens the emotional distance between them.

Paul learns he failed his SAT, dashing his plans for the future. He then bumps into Sze, a Vietnamese refugee, whose quiet resilience draws him in. Their cautious friendship hints at a possible lifeline amid his turmoil.

Larry reveals he plans to marry his girlfriend Winnie Chin, which infuriates Dee. Dee storms out with his friends, and Paul trails behind, unsure how to navigate the mounting family tensions. The revelation further fractures their already strained dynamic.

Dee steals King Kong's car during a night out and ends up injured. Back home, Larry punishes both boys for their reckless behavior and for not looking out for each other. The family’s authority starts to crumble as secrets and anger erupt.

Paul is confronted about his bruises when Sze notices them, and Larry apologizes for the previous beating. Paul begins visiting the refugee camp and grows closer to Sze, who already has a child. This bond offers Paul a glimmer of hope beyond his life of trouble.

While shopping, Sze is falsely accused of stealing by the supermarket boss, who insults her and provokes a slap. Dee intervenes, triggering a security fight that spills into the store. Larry learns the boss is connected to his girlfriend’s mother, pulling the family deeper into trouble.

Paul and Dee discover their parents plan to send them to Taiwan, dashing Paul’s dream of studying in America and angering Dee at mandatory military service. They plot to destroy the mother’s supermarket in retaliation, hoping to hurt the household financially. King Kong and his squad arrive, forcing them to flee.

King Kong closes in on Paul and Dee, leading to a violent pursuit. After a scuffle, Kong shoots Dee and Paul is arrested as the chaos erupts around them. The tragedy marks a turning point in Paul’s life as the consequences of their rebellion sink in.

In prison, Paul disowns his father in front of the other inmates and turns his despair inward, even inflicting self-harm. The experience hardens him and reshapes his sense of loyalty and family duty. He returns to the world with a tougher, more dangerous mindset.

After his release, Paul becomes more aggressive, fighting off gangsters who harass Sze. Roger arranges a street race settlement, which Paul wins by crushing his rival’s car. The victory fuels his confidence but also signals deeper descent into violence.

Paul pleads with his father to let him marry Sze, who is to be sent to New Guinea, but Larry refuses. He confronts the refugee camp again and is arrested after clashing with others. At the police station, King Kong taunts him, fueling his resolve to settle scores.

Paul lures King Kong to a closed shopping mall for a final confrontation. He uses a car to corner the officer and the two exchange gunfire. Paul empties Kong’s pistol, then Kong shoots Paul in the head behind his car, ending his life.