You've conducted the most remedial classes.
You don't mind sacrificing your time.
We cannot afford to lose you.
Mr. Wong from the Ministry of Education.
Move your things back.
Yes, I know.
I've already issued him a letter of warning.
I won't accept his resignation.
He's a good teacher.
If I were him,
I'd ask my Dad to donate money to the school.
You think money would help?
Of course, schools nowadays are very poor.
They've been asking for donations forever!
On the account of the money,
the principal will reconsider the caning.
Face down!
Don't fool around!
It's ok.
He's our friend.
Please forgive us, your highness!
I'll be there in 5 minutes.
Sorry, I had remedial lessons.
How are you?
It feels weird without school.
It feels weird without you around too.
Let's go shopping.
But I'm penniless.
What are you up with?
Nothing.
I heard you fight very well.
We need talents like you.
Want to join us?
We're outlaws. We're street gangs.
We're the insolent ones, nothing pleases us.
Hold a tight rein on us, and it will brew trouble.
We're hopeless, so what?
We don't give a damn if you look down on us.
We're nothing, we care for nothing.
Why this wall of silence between us?
There is a wall between us.
Teachers give up on us.
Parents think we're insensible.
Society's expectations
exceeds our imagination.
Smart kids must be good, they say.
Looking down on us doesn't mean
you're better.
Who cares why we lose direction?
Nobody gives a thought
to how the apple rots?
We tried to win consensus.
How much hope have you given us?
Tears are dried, the future's bleak.
We are lost souls. What should we do?
Punishment is your method to make us grow.
It destroys all our hopes and ambitions.
You need a key.
Focus on their talents and not their flaws.
Standing at a crossroad, bellowing in the wind.
Don't kill our hopes.
Teachers give up on us.
Parents blame us for being insensible.
Society's expectations
exceeds our imagination.
Please, sit. What can I do for you?
Take a seat.
Principal, please give my son another chance.
It's my fault for not teaching him well.
Principal, do give another chance.
You'd win lottery for the kind deed!
Mr. Lim, Chengcai is notorious.
The whole school knows his record.
I must abide by the rules.
We can be flexible.
School rules are set by people too.
What I can do for you,
is to recommend Chengcai to other schools.
Anything else?
Civil servants cannot accept gifts, right?
These are not for you
They are for your mother.
My mother has passed away.
It's for your grandmother... your neighbor.
How uncouth you sound.
Everything you say sounds vulgar.
Excuse him... Principal.
Actually, these aren't for you.
You have asked me to buy them for you.
Take them first. You can pay me another time.
Excuse me, but according to the law...
Sigh, I should have bought her a duck instead.
Will you do us this favor, Principal?
Right! His son is very remorseful.
He won't attack teachers again.
If he does, his father will punish him.
Right! Don't worry, Principal.
If he does it again,
I'll beat him to death!
Principal - Lisa Tan
Give me 3 reasons
why should my school accept his son?
My son is only 15 this year.
He hasn't even graduated from secondary school.
If he stops studying,
he'd end up like me,
a useless bum.
The second and third reasons...
are the same as the first one.
Will these three reasons do?
More than 100 secondary schools in Singapore.
Is there not even one that'd take my son in?
If your son is smart, athletic
or is a rich man's son,
or the son of high ranking official,
or their boot-lickers...
They'd wipe the seat clean for him!
And beg for him to come!
Such is the pragmatism of our society.
Is that clear?
Steven, this China project is worth 3 million
Whether we get the deal
depends on our presentation.
Give me a fantastic concept.
Steven, if we get this project,
you'll be promoted to COO
and get 10% of commission.
Work hard!
Tom!
You should be studying
instead of blogging!
People are thrown into jail for blogging.
Haven't you learnt your lesson?
Do your homework!
Where are you going?
Tom!
Where are you going?
Tom!
New concept. It's easy to say.
Hello!
I'm giving up on your son.
I scolded, and he left the house.
What? Left the house?
Not bad.
He's really good at blogging.
I'm a brute but I think you're brilliant.
Superb! Solid!
Tom, your parents neglect you for work.
They have no time for you.
It's ok, now you have us.
We'd take good care of you.
If anyone bullies you, we'd bash him!
Bash him! Have no fear!
You're so good with computers.
I'll put you in charge of our gang homepage.
Can you handle it?
If you do a good job, this is yours.
Who is he?
Come home with me.
No.
I'm being nice, come with me.
No!
Can you leave my son alone?
Can you go home?
You're still hanging out with him?
You were caned in public because of him.
Don't badmouth my friend.
He is a bad influence.
You think he's your buddy?
Right! They're all my buddies!
They stick out for me when I'm in trouble.
They appreciate my talents.
Tell me. What talents do you have?
Fine! I'm useless!
In your eyes, I'm useless!
Whatever I do is never good enough for you!
My efforts are never good enough for you!
Forget it, treat it as if I'm dead!
Anyway, I'm a hopeless!
We're all hopeless!
All you need is Jerry.
Tom, how can I make you understand?
How will you understand?
Forget it, just come home with me.
I'm not going home!
Come home with me!
No!
Come home!
No!
I said come home with me!
Why should I?! That's not my home!
Come home!
No!
I said come home!!
No!
He's beating our brother.
Should we fix him?
Are you crazy? That's his Dad!
I said come home!! Stop pulling me!
Boss, the police is here.
Let's split!
Come home with me! No!
Jurong West Neighborhood Police Post
Hello?
Are you Tom Yeo's father?
Yes.
Your son was caught fighting.
We're now at the Jurong West Police Post.
Can you come over?
I'm already here.
You're father and son?
Fighting each other?
Officer, can I sue my father for abuse?
"Yes". "Right". "Okay". Is that all you can say?
You really have nothing to tell us?
Tell me, what do you want us to do?
How can we make you understand?
Are you eating at home?
Yes.
Where are you going?
To take a leak.
You were at the police station?
Right.
Shall we get a specialist or
a psychiatrist to counsel him?
What happened?
Ok.
Ok! Ok! Ok!
All you say is "Yes!", "Right!" and "Ok!".
That's why your son does the same to you!
He picked it up from you.
Mum, I'm disciplining my son.
Stop being such a nuisance, alright?
I'm a nuisance?
Every time I talk to you about your son
you refuse to listen.
You don't even hear what your sons say.
So lame.
So lame?
What's "so lame"?
You don't understand?
That's your children's lingo, understand?
"Cool man", "so lame".
Cool shirt. Is it a gift from your Mum?
You must have chosen it yourself.
Your Mum doesn't have such cool taste.
All she did was pay, right?
Whatever.
So lame.
Sir, may I help you?
Sure, may I have a "lame" chop?
Lame...
It's a lamb chop.
Can you please move this "lame" away?
"Lame".
Sure.
Whatever.
Pepper steak, please.
The school holidays are coming?
Yes.
I intend to take 1 week's leave.
To bring all of you to the States, cool man!
Right.
Look, I bought you the latest 3G phone.
We rarely get to meet.
With this 3G phone,
you can see me
and I can see you.
Ok.
Cool man!
Giving you this phone
doesn't mean you can message anytime,
and stay away from those bad company.
You don't like it?
You blame me for not spending time with you.
I take you out for dinner tonight
and bought you such a cool mobile phone.
Is this your attitude?
Other than "yes", "right" and "okay"
have you nothing else to say?
So lame.
Sir, your "lame" chop.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...
2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...
That will always stay with us.
5, 6, 7, 8...
All right, everybody take five.
Jerry, you did well today.
Thank you, Teacher.
Still can't reach your dad?
I left 4 tickets for you.
Xiaohua wants them, if you don't.
Let me know before Friday, ok?
Ok.
Keep up your good work!
Is your family coming to the concert?
Of course, my entire
extended family
will be coming to the concert.
I will need more tickets.
You're just playing a flower.
Do you need so many supporters?
Everyone in my family is very supportive.
Are your parents coming?
Of course they are!
I've invited the entire Ang Mo Kio estate.
I'm the lead actor after all.
I'm not just a flower!
Sister, may I withdraw money?
Little boy, what kind of account do you have?
I have a Junior Savers Account.
I want to withdraw the money.
Did your parents come with you?
No.
Sorry, you must come with your parents
to withdraw the money.
Where did you go? You worried me!
Your mum will scold me, come with me!
How much did you score for your test?
12 marks.
Strange, Mr. Fu didn't scold me.
Touch wood!
Jingjing.
Wow! Cool man!
How much did you score?
12 marks.
You've improved by 2 marks.
It's better than nothing, keep it up.
Improve by 5 marks next time, ok?
5 marks? Can I do it?
You bet you can!
The same goes for both of you!
5 marks, ok!
I'm fine.
Every time we are here, even before we start,
the security would hawk on us.
You're the most decent looking one among us.
He won't suspect you.
I'm not sure if we're up to it?
I have confidence in you.
Remember, get the most expensive iPod.
Stop running!
Get him!
Stop running!
Chengcai?
Get him!
Stop running!
Get him!
Are you all right?
Why did you let go?
Stop right there!
Stop!
Which triad do you belong to?
Where is your friend?
Where's your friend?
How dare you run?
Squat down! I said down!
Run? How dare you?
I fell chasing you! You rascal.
It's hurts! Kleptomaniac, eh?
The CID has been keeping tabs on you kids.
Sir, actually...
I instigated it, it has nothing to do with him.
No Sir. I wanted it for myself.
It has nothing to do with him.
Shut up!
It's our first time, please give us a chance?
Sure!
Silence us with money.
How much?
$2000, 2 days' time.
Lesser, ok?
$3000, 1 day's time.
We mean less...
$5000...
Ok! $2000!
Listen, don't mess around with me.
Where's your phone?
I asked you for your phone!
Our system is not getting a response...
Boy, you often call and keep quiet.
Didn't your parents teach you?
It's wrong to make prank calls?
Why can't you get it yourself?
$2000, or prepare to go to jail! Don't call the police!
Bro, what are you doing with my money?
Why do you have so much money?
To buy "Pokemon" cards?
Can you lend me some first?
I need $2000 by tomorrow,
or I have to go to jail.
Why?
I shoplifted.
Two police officers are extorting money from me.
If I don't have $2000 by tomorrow,
they'll arrest me.
But this money is very important to me.
Forget it, if it were me, I wouldn't lend too.
I'd been so mean to you.
Hello, I can't find money at home.
Who can help us?
My family?
Sigh! Forget it!
I couldn't reach those brothers of ours.
Too bad, who'd lend us money?
You can have it, Bro.
Don't you need this money?
You need it more than me.
I don't want you to go to jail.
Thanks.
Damn those brothers! They're all missing!
Strange. Where they are?
It's still not enough. How?
I give up! I don't care if I'm expelled!
We're juveniles, even if we get arrested
it wouldn't be a heavy sentence.
What are you saying?
You can still go to school.
Don't end up like me. It sucks!
We're short of cash. How?
I have an idea.
Count me in.
This is a very serious matter.
You must counsel him.
I'd never expect this of you.
How can you steal money in school?
Stealing money to buy "Pokemon" cards?
Those cards will ruin you!
Who else did you steal from?
Where's the money? It's not in the piggy bank?
Where's the money? Where're the cards?
Get me the cane!
Stand up!
Why did you steal money?
I bought you everything you wanted.
You have so many "Pokemon" cards,
that's why we stopped buying them!
Why did you steal money?! Give me your hand!
Hold out your hand!
Fancy stealing money to buy "Pokemon" cards!
What's the use of having so many cards?
I didn't buy "Pokemon" cards...
What then?
I just wanted to buy 1 hour of your time
to attend my concert.
I wanted to pay with my savings.
But it takes a year to save $500.
By then my performance would be over.
I sold my "Pokemon" cards,
but I couldn't raise enough.
Stealing was my last resort.
I'm sorry.
Please answer my calls, Dad. - Tom
Dad, are you free on 31st Aug?
Dad's laptop cranked up last night.
He left it at home this morning.
I spent some time working on it.
hoping that I can fix it,
that'd help him finish his work.
When I sent it to him,
he wasn't thankful.
He reprimanded me.
Tell me,
what should I do to please him?
Today, Mr. Fu said he's disappointed in me.
I scored 38 marks for my Chinese test.
He asked if he can help me?
I told him. The caning killed Tom Yeo.
Tom Yeo died today!
My Mum? She oppresses me.
Everything I do
is never enough for her.
When I was in Secondary One,
I took a wrong bus and got lost.
I was terrified.
I called Dad from a public phone.
He said he was too busy to talk.
It's scary to be lost.
I got home after nightfall.
Mum lashed out at me without asking.
Slowly, I came to realize that my house
is just a place where I sleep.
This family seems to have it all.
Actually, it feels so empty.
You're hopeless.
And useless.
Do you want to end up useless like me?
Why can't you understand?
Understand? Understand?
Why are you so insensible?
So insensible? So insensible?
You're hopeless.
And useless.
I failed as a mother!
Do you know what this means?
Father And Mother I Love You
Taking a dump... Taking a dump...
Strange? Taking a dump...
Is he very busy?
He didn't pick up the call?
Dad, this happens every time we call you.
"Our system is not getting a response
from the subscriber's mobile phone.
Please, try again later."
It wouldn't happen again, ok?
It's mine.
I'm coming over now. Ok, bye.
It's my boss.
I have an important 3G presentation today.
The contract's worth 3 million dollars.
I must rush over.
It should be all right.
Grandma, we're sorry. This is yours.
It's them?
Yes! They're the ones.
You're really callous to rob an elderly!
We know our mistake. That's why we returned.
You think that'd make a difference?
Right! You're still robbers!
Get them! Call the police!
Right! Arrest them!
Robbers! Get them!
Don't run!
Taking a dump, taking a dump...
Get out of the way!
Taking a dump, taking a dump...
Someone robbed an old lady, over there!
How dare you rob in our territory?
Taking a dump, taking a dump...
Bash him to death!
Sorry to keep all of you waiting...
Let me go! Let me go!
Welcome to Singapore.
Today, I'm going to introduce
the latest technology in telecommunication.
What we call 3G phones...
Excuse me...
You robber!
Hey! Stop! Don't hit my son!
Who are you?
I'm sorry! Excuse me!
I'm his father!
Why are you assaulting my son?
Your son?
Where are you now? I'm coming over!
We'll wait for you!
I'm coming over now!
You're demonstrating now?
No, this is for real!
My son is in trouble, I must go!
I know your son is important,
but these are Chinese government officials!
This is important. You can't go.
I need you here now.
But my son needs me now, I must go!
you know the consequences.
Should you insist in leaving.
Steven!
Sorry, hold on.
Steven!
You've disappointed me!
You're fired!
You're fired too!
Chase!
How dare you create trouble here?
Wallop him!
Asshole!
Brat!
You thug! How dare you hit back?
Asshole!
Hey!
Don't hit my son!
Run!
Why are you bullying a kid?
Talk things over calmly!
Don't fight! Don't fight!
Cool it!
Don't be rash!
Don't fight! Cool it!
Run, Chengcai!
Hey! Watch out!
Watch out!
Dad...
We wanted to get him, we didn't expect this.
Dad! Dad!
You're his father?
Yes! Why did you beat up my son?
Your son robbed this old lady!
Rob? You robbed her?
We realized our mistake,
and we returned her necklace.
Why did you rob? Tell me?
2 policemen caught us shoplifting.
They extorted $2000 from us.
If we don't pay, they'd arrest us.
Such a serious matter,
why didn't you tell me?
Hey!
You didn't teach your son well!
That's right!
I am telling you...
I've reached
the end of my tethers disciplining him.
You focus on unimportant things.
And scold him even if he's right!
A good kid turns bad because of you.
Oh dear. Now he robs!
Who are you?
She's my mother-in-law. I'm his wife.
We've neglected our children.
His blog entries made us realized that
he's more disappointed with us,
than we are with him.
Say something!
Grandma, we always thought
teaching a child means
scolding and caning them.
How wrong we were.
Look at the state of my son is in today.
It's proof of our mistake.
My son robbed you. He's wrong!
But to a large extent, his mistake
was a result of our mistakes.
We are responsible.
The police is here!
Grandma, please forgive my son for robbing you.
Please let him off this once?
Please don't report him to the police.
Please give him a chance, Grandma!
I beg of you, Grandma!
He's really a good kid, Grandma!
He's really good at heart!
Give me a chance.
I'll teach him well, Grandma!
Please, Grandma?
Why don't we do this, Grandma?
Tell the police I am the robber, Grandma!
Tell them I robbed you!
Please, do me the favor!
Please get up!
Don't do this!
Tell them I am the robber, Grandma!
Get up! Don't do this!
Excuse me! Please give way!
Hey! It's you!
And you!
Wait a minute.
Who called to report a robbery?
I robbed this old lady.
Please arrest me!
No, Officer!
I am the robber! Arrest me!
It was me! Arrest me!
Stop! Stop! Stop!
This is confusing!
Grandma, who robbed you?
No one. I played a prank.
I made a prank call to the police station.
I'd be fine... I'd just give a statement.
You must listen to your father!
Bye!
That man lying there is your father.
You detest him, don't you?
Do you know what he did for you?
Knowing you're not good in studies,
he scrimped and saved to pay for your tuition.
Your bag tore,
he bought you a new one right away.
When you were expelled,
he went to every school in Singapore
to beg them to take you in.
He asked me to write a letter for him,
he copied it 163 times to send to the schools.
He can't write English.
Yet he hand-copied 163 English letters.
Have you ever done anything for your Dad?
He just wanted you to study hard.
But you had to disappoint him,
and get yourself expelled from school.
He's willing to give up his life for you.
Your Dad loved you too much,
But...
He didn't know how to show his love.
Relax, we'd checked it out.
Tom is definitely a good catch.
$2000 is too meager a sum.
What do you know?
We intend to take it slow and easy.
And go a long way.
If he can't pay the amount you ask for,
what can you do?
Ok.
Where's the money?
The money...
The money is with my Dad.
Don't tell me you're bringing me to your Dad?
No, Dad's coming to meet you.
I'm his Dad.
I'm sorry my son caused you this trouble.
Luckily, we have officers like you in Singapore.
Thank you for giving my son a chance.
We don't want to him to leave a criminal record.
Thank you.
Anyway, we're not heartless,
we try to help to the best of our abilities.
Sure, it's...
$2000.
For something like this, I think...
$2000 is too low a price to pay.
I've taken the liberty to give you more.
Serious? Yes. Thank you!
You must watch over him closely.
understand.
It's fake!
Fake? Of course!
So are you two!
They are hell notes!
Hell notes?
You two are as good as dead!
Get it?
The Police is here! Let's go!
Don't arrest me! Don't arrest me!
How did you know they are fake?
Like son, like father.
I thought it's like father like...
I get it...
Hi Steven!
I've quit! Why are you calling me?
I got good news for you!
We won the China project! Look!
Hi Steven, our management is very
impressed with your demonstration.
We've decided to award you the 3G project.
Congratulations!
Congratulations, COO!
When are you coming back?
Back to work?
Let me think about it!
So lame!
So cool!
Whatever!
Principal, I have nowhere else to go.
The school has our own rules and regulations...
Thank you.
Chengcai
is the principal taking you back?
You're back in school?
Right!
Your principal is giving you a chance?
I knew she has a kind heart.
Chengcai, this is your last chance,
you must treasure it.
I know!
I want to see your principal.
I wish to thank her in person.
Dad! Dad!
Doctor! Doctor!
So for future reference,
this montage of photographs...
Principal!
Can't you tell we're having a meeting?
Such rude behavior!
Principal!
How many times you want me to repeat myself?
Principal, my Dad's dying, he wishes to see you.
And... can you please tell him...
I've been accepted by the school.
What?
You want me to lie?
Doctor! His condition is very critical.
He may die anytime.
Are his relatives and friends here?
Yes.
Where are they?
He's the relative, I'm the friend.
Oh, I see.
It's straight ahead!
I'm a principal, Mr. Fu.
How can I lie?
I know.
And you know I have so many rules to follow.
I know.
If we are discovered,
nothing we do will absolve us.
Your Chinese has improved.
I know.
Why did you throw the apple away?
It's rotten.
Just cut away the rotten part.
It's good as new.
If you throw, you are left with nothing.
By the way, your hair looks great.
Thank you for coming to see me.
Don't talk so much, rest well.
That's right!
I've let Chengcai
return to school.
There's no need to cover up for him.
I know you have your difficulties.
Principal,
all children can be taught,
it's how the parents teach them.
I failed as a father.
I grew up in a violent environment.
No one ever cared for me.
I really don't know how to love.
Chengcai,
If you want to fight,
aim to be an international champion.
I love you.
Principal,
I know my days are numbered,
but I hope you'd give Chengcai a chance
to prove his worth.
Please don't say this.
In fact you look good.
You'd be discharged soon.
At most, one two days only.
You're look good...
Just one or two days only, I'm sure.
Luckily, I didn't follow the rules this time.
Everyone has a dream.
With dreams, comes hope.
Everyone needs a dream.
With dreams, there's strength.
Dreams brighten your heart like the sun,
it lights up your whole world.
Dreams steer you in the right direction,
fills you up with courage
to explore what lies ahead.
From the moment I was born,
I have a dream.
My dream is to...
Mum and Dad finally made it to my concert.
I'm really glad, but what tops it up is
they found the key Mr. Hao referred to.
Everyone has the key within them.
When we were young,
there was plenty of encouragement and praises
to help us overcome our obstacles.
We never realized how lucky we were then.
Somewhere along the way,
the praises and encouragement
changed as we grew up.
Everyone gradually shuts themselves out.
Give more encouragement and compliments.
See one's virtues.
Is it that difficult?
Everyone needs encouragement.
But why do we often hesitate to
shower compliments?
In every child,
there's an angel and a devil.
Seek out the angel,
and the best qualities will surface.
There's much truth in the saying,
"Resources used wrongly will become waste."
"Waste used correctly can become resources."
Principal and Mr. Fu appreciated Bro Chengcai's talent.
And a miracle happened.
From this, we learn that
appreciation is a powerful force.
Bro Chengcai is not hopeless anymore.
This powerful force may be the result of
the simplest of words that you say...
Or an action, or a simple expression.
You never know
what you have changed.