Bitch! How dare you hit your provider?
I dare you!
Damn you! Damn you!
Damn! I'll kill all of you!
- Police! Police... - Sum. What are you doing?
Sum...
Ling, please come home.
I have nothing left,
Don't be rash,
You go back to Hong Kong first. The cops are coming.
Please come home. When I open my eyes. I see an empty house...
All right, you go back first.
I saw the watermelon guy calling for cops just now.
You go back first,
Promise me... you will come back to Hong Kong.
If you don't, I won't let you get away with it,
There's nothing we can't talk over,
Mother of Hiu Ling!
Quick...
What is it?
It's Ling calling long-distance from Shenzhen,
- Go take the call, - All right...
Hurry, hurry...
Hello. Hiu Ling. What's the matter?
I see. Hiu Ling. Listen to ma,
Ma's heart grieves to hear you got beaten.
But in our hometown, as you know.
Men in every village. In every alley beat their wives,
Hiu Ling. Your youngest sister's man is no good, Your man is good.
He built us a house,
He took you and your sisters to Shenzhen. To HK,
Ma...
Hiu Ling. Just bear it,
Ma...
You Hong Kong men
coming to Shenzhen to break girls' hearts.
You steal our bodies and then our hearts.
You're nuts. I'm for real. You know that.
Are you tired of me yet?
Your toes too!
I am pregnant,
Just say the word,
You want it. We keep it.
You don't, abortion is easiest in Shenzhen,
It's nothing,
Just that if you abort the first one, it may be harder...
to keep the next baby,
Give me the phone.
What?
I'm calling Sichuan. To fix a meeting with the parents,
Stop playing! We don't have a phone at home.
No phone?
Tell them, when we go to Sichuan.
I'll renovate their house and I'll install a phone!
I'll show them 'village modernization'!
You're bluffing!
Aw. She's touched,
She's touched!
Baby.
What?
If mom and dad separate, who'd you stay with?
Hm... Don't separate,
How about the little one?
If mommy and daddy separate,
would you stay with mommy or daddy?
I...
I will be an orphan.
Nonsense!
Orphans are children whose parents are both dead,
After we separate,
I'll bring you to Shenzhen to live with your aunties.
Mommy will stay in Hong Kong to earn money,
Okay?
Mom, I'm sleepy,
I'm calling the police,
I dare you!
Mom...
I want a divorce! I can't take it anymore!
Divorce!
Look at all the stuff I bought you, Still can't make you stay...
Can't make you stay...
Can't make you stay!
I'll smash them all...
No wiping!
Thank you.
Back so soon?
Lily, don't tease me,
Social workers sent you here?
The police. They want to transfer me to a social worker...
Jesus! The police!
But, I came here straight from hospital in a police car.
It's getting out of hand,
No,
I stepped on broken glass and hurt myself.
Nothing serious.
Where are your daughters?
I left in a hurry, They are still home,
Why are you still clinging on to your marriage?
Do you want to end up dead together?
Nope, Just leave it...
Wind the chain sticking out around the top,
It doesn't look good with the chain sticking out.
That's it, That's it. Is it OK?
All right? Let's have a look. OK.
Better clean the mirrors with a slightly damp cloth...
Happy, aren't we?
Aren't you going to paint one too?
I'll pass. Lily is going furniture shopping with me.
What for?
Somebody's moving soon,
Your housing application was approved?
You haven't been here 7 years. How can you apply?
A Legco member helped me fight for it,
Really? Then you have to help me.
I want to apply for public housing too.
Sure, I'll introduce you to him.
Hey, didn't that member say he's going to...
...the Protect Harbour march tomorrow?
Oh yes.
Ling, come with us.
Protect the harbour?
I'm always cooped up in Tin Shui Wai.
I've only seen the Harbour once,
Doesn't matter, We'll give you a placard.
Follow the rest of us, That's it.
The point is to introduce you to the big shot.
And he can help me?
Sure thing.
Okay,
You go back to your painting, We're off,
Bye!
I remember the day Ling returned to the centre,
It was the Easter season.
She'd decided to take the plunge and leave her man,
The weather was very fickle.
But Ling was happy,
She never thought that...
she wouldn't live beyond Easter,
Tell me. Is this sketch book blank?
Yes,
You can make drawings on it through the air.
Wow, you made many drawings,
But they need colour,
Why don't you throw me some colours?
Wow, you've thrown me many colours!
Who's next?
Who?
Are you singing?
Don't be silly. Me? Sing?
Ling, come on. I can't.
- Should Ling sing for us? - Yes!
Ling, please,
- You can do it... - Let's give her a big hand.
It's embarrassing,
Go ahead.
The barefoot mushroom maiden
A huge basket on her shoulders
So early in the morning
For the woods and hills she leaves,
Her mushrooms are aplenty.
Countless like the stars,
Her mushrooms are the largest.
Umbrellas fresh and sweet,
Hiu Ling.
Keep your money safe. Take care on the road.
Yes, ma,
It's a long way,
Come back if the going gets tough, my child.
Papa, don't worry, I'll be fine,
You're such a wimp!
We've been walking for half an hour,
What kind of road is this?
Keep going, We're almost there,
Have some water.
Pa! Ma!
Hiu Ling.
Why didn't you tell us to collect you?
There's no need, ma,
This is my boyfriend, Lee Sum.
Quick! Give your sister a hand.
Where's pa?
He's outside,
Pa!
Hiu Ling! You're back!
Sis.
Good dog.
This is my youngest sister.
The nation is united in its fight against the floods,
There are donations from Hong Kong and Macau.
Hong Kong people have wonderful hearts.
Mr. Lee, please... please have a seat and eat.
- Okay. - Have a seat...
Today is a rare and happy day. Let's drink,
Look, This wine was brewed at home.
It's got local herbs.
I must have a few drinks with you,
How much can you drink?
Not much. At most six taels a day,
Here, Have a taste.
You really know how to enjoy life.
I don't... have a taste, once you try it...
I don't know how you'll like it.
Try.
Come...
Have a sip.
Have a taste,
Sure,
How do you like it?
Good! Good...
Hiu Ling. Go out and keep our guest company,
Go on,
Come, come...
It's been a long time since I saw on my child.
Seven years it must have been,
Better drink this, It keeps the chili taste down.
You're dripping.
Hiu Ling. Sit down,
Keep Mr. Lee company, sit... sit,
Mr. Lee has come from afar. He's a rare guest!
Come, Take these chopsticks. Eat with us,
Ah, blackout,
Candles... candles
There's no need, it'll be all right in no time.
The TV's dead.
Nah. It'll be all right in no time,
See? It's fine,
So it is!
Let me tell you this TV set of ours.
Our Hiu Ling bought it, with her first wages,
Back then. Mr. Lee, it was the first colour TV set...
in the whole village,
Yes, Yes.
The day she came back. I remember it well,
The night was dark and the rain was pouring,
Pa! Ma! I'm home.
Who's knocking?
Hiu Ling. Why didn't you tell us you were coming?
I could have collected you.
Hiu Ling. What's this?
Let me. What is this? It's heavy,
Pa, ma, careful,
What in the world is this?
It's a TV set,
TV set? Really?
Hiu Yu. Hiu Ying, come look!
See what your sister has brought!
Nothing. Nothing.
We need to move it,
Better?
Still nothing,
Nothing still?
What about now?
Nothing still.
Oh, here we go... here we go...
I can see it?
Mr. Lee, what labour do you do in Hong Kong?
What neighbour?
Not neighbour, 'labour'.
He's asking you about your job...
Renovation.
- What? - Re... no... vation,
- What? - He's an engineer,
Oh! Engineer,
Ain't that something!
No...
Hey, stop bragging.
He's very good with his hands,
He can make a broken house nice and pretty.
Of course. He's an engineer, That's no joke.
Ah, our house is such a wretched sight.
Just look at it. So worn out and old,
This wall here is made of mud,
Don't you worry, I will...
I'll renovate this house from the inside out!
And the walls, I'll make them... oh so smooth.
Ah, you shouldn't. You shouldn't,
Well, since you're here, don't stand on ceremony,
Stay as long as you like,
Right you are, Make yourself at home,
Come...
Mr. Lee, cheers!
Mr. Lee,
Hiu Ling has told us about the two of you,
Me and her ma. We don't have any objections.
You're both a guest, and not a guest.
In our dialect, you're no outsider.
In that case, I'll treat you as family,
Hear! Hear! In that case, call me...
call me pa,
- Pa. Ma. - Good...
Here's to you.
Pa, look, it's pouring,
How strange!
Every time your sis comes home. It pours.
It's raining cats and dogs in Sichuan,
Engineer!
Hello.
- Hello, - Building a new house?
Greetings,
Have you eaten?
Your new house is the smartest in the whole village,
Nah. But once it's nice and done,
we'll have a shop downstairs and live upstairs,
And we'll invite everyone here for a meal,
You must! You must!
Hiu Ling. Take this,
Didn't I say Hiu Ling is smart.
I knew by the way she laboured as a kid.
It's because she went outside to work.
What hope is there at home,
They really think you're an engineer,
Ain't I an engineer now?
Wipe your mouth,
Did you miss me this morning?
When?
When you were working alone.
Of course.
In all those years my sister worked away from Sichuan,
she only came home twice.
The first time. She brought a TV with her.
The other time, she brought home a man,
What man?
Her husband. My brother-in-law,
Your brother-in-law Lee Sum... did he treat you well?
What do you mean?
Apart from being your brother-in-law,
was he anything else to you?
No,
Think again,
My sister is in the grave.
The past is better left behind.
So yes or no?
No, No.
Us country folk, what dare we hope for?
We're peasants. It's our fate to be trampled on.
But Hiu Ling's belly is getting bigger.
Here in our province. A maid who gets pregnant
out of wedlock. Will be dragged off to an IM.
IM?
Abortion! Didn't you know?
Mr. Lee, I'm asking you,
do you have a wife in Hong Kong?
I get it.
You do whatever you like.
Us country folk, we dare not say anything.
You do whatever you like.
We'll do whatever you say,
Thanks.
You are welcome...
Congratulations... Congratulations
Thank you! Thank you!
May you soon be blessed with a son!
- Congratulations... - Thank you...
Thank you.
You're so lucky.
To the bridegroom, let's drink up,
Cheers! Cheers!
Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!
Cheers... Cheers
I'm starving, Is your mom bringing lunch?
Be patient, She should be here in a minute,
Hiu Ying, where's lunch?
Sis. Ma says she's not coming today.
You go fix yourself something.
Why? Where's the food?
Ma says the money you gave her has run out.
Why did she say that?
Didn't your brother-in-law give her money last month?
I have no idea.
Ma also says that since business is no good, you should consider
going to Shenzhen to try your luck,
Hong Kong would be even better.
Always Shenzhen and Hong Kong!
You think the streets are paved with gold?
Your second sister...
sneaked off to Shenzhen before Ling recovered from child birth.
Where the hell is she now?
The two of you were always whispering.
What were you talking about?
Nothing. She said to tell you not to bother her,
Me bother her?
She was off without a word, Did she ask for my permission?
Why would she have to?
She knows.
No food for me?
Engineer. Leaving early today?
That day, as I was leaving home in the morning.
I clearly saw a chain on Ling's door,
It looked very strange, I thought...
have they gone on a trip?
Play it again,
That's it, I've nothing more to say,
Since we're man and wife. Come collect your daughters' corpses,
Ling, don't you go home alone.
Did you talk to him on the phone?
No, he just left this message,
I missed his call,
Ling, don't be scared.
The asshole is calling your bluff,
As the saying goes. 'Even tigers don't eat their cubs',
You'll have to be inhuman to kill your kids,
I'd better go back for my daughters,
just in case.
Don't! It's too risky!
He's made it clear he's out to kill,
I won't let you go back alone,
Tell the cops. Ask them to go back with you,
Crap! What's the use of telling the cops?
They don't believe us,
Her Cantonese is no good.
They'll take her for a mainland hooker.
That's true.
Ah, call the social worker.
Tell her to call the police station, They will take up the case,
You've got a point
Today's Easter... there's no social worker on duty.
Life is strange,
Ling was here twice and both times, she had no luck.
The first time. It was a Sunday. Then a public holiday.
Both times. The social workers were off duty.
Without social workers to speak for us new migrants,
who will protect us?
We can all get killed. For all they care.
Ling, I'll go with you.
No, you go to the march.
There are marches every week.
Really. It's not necessary,
I promise I'll report this to the cops.
Once I pick up my daughters, I'll come to Central,
Better not, I'm worried,
Lily, stop worrying.
Ling, wait... wait...
Let me call your number.
Don't pick it up... see the number?
This is my number, Call me if anything happens,
Okay,
Ling, please let me come with you.
Lily, you've been through this too,
You know that some things between a couple
can only be settled behind closed doors,
I'll call you if anything happens.
Once I finish. I'll come meet you.
Remember to introduce me to the guy,
Be very careful,
I thought the chain looked very weird,
I even asked the caretakers if they knew.
They said they had no idea,
No one!
I knocked many times but there was no one,
It was some time around noon.
The chain was removed for the first time.
The first time?
Did someone put it back again?
Yes,
Lily, the door is locked with a chain for some reason.
I called him but no answer,
I told a policeman already.
He said it's just happened so he can do nothing.
Okay, then...
I'll go straight to the police station,
Yes,
Maybe something's happened inside...
or maybe they've gone somewhere...
Yes,
I'm going now,
Hello. Ling, where are you?
You at the police station?
Do whatever it takes.
Just make sure the cops go back with you. Got it?
Take care!
Call us if anything happens,
That's OK,
She's at the police station, She should be fine,
That's good,
Madam, your household filed two reports already.
Last time. You said you got beaten up by your husband,
Then you said you stepped on glass by accident.
How can we take action if you're so fickle?
I know. But... officer,
It's different this time.
Can you please come with me?
This time. His voice...
is very calm. I'm scared,
Last time you were scared because he was violent.
This time you are scared because he's calm.
What do you want?
I don't know how to put it. I just feel...
terrified...
I feel I'm in great danger.
Well...
Hello. Where are you?
What are you doing by the river?
Where are the kids?
Are you crazy? Teaching them fishing? Hello?
Madam, your husband?
So it's a lovers' quarrel,
And you're reporting it to the police?
If there are problems,
just call us here
or call 999. Someone'll be there right away,
Officer. Can you have someone come with me?
He keeps talking about killing,
I want to have it out with him this time.
Madam, this is a family dispute,
We are the police, we investigate cases,
Cops are not social workers,
Officer. Ling reported the case to the police station,
Why did the officer say she didn't on TV?
When we held a press conference. You made excuses,
First you said the officer was on leave, Then you said there's no record,
Jumble of lies!
Officer. We're talking life and death here!
This is not family dispute. It's family violence!
At about one in the afternoon,
I was cooking,
When I had a minute, I took a peek at their door,
God! I saw that chain again.
I didn't know if I was seeing things,
Where are our daughters?
Aren't you something
Where are our daughters?
You tricked me into releasing your sister.
Now you're trying to steal my daughters?
Where are they?
I was home, Why is the door locked?
You only care about your daughters, don't you?
Of course. Let's get them and go home.
Shall we?
They're at McDonald's,
We'll pick them up and settle the rest.
Support the 'anti-family violence' campaign!
Support our campaign!
- Ling? - Down with family violence!
You got your daughters? Great! Come over!
Pack? It's dangerous...
Hello? Down with family violence!
At around 4 or 5. as I was going to the market,
I saw the chain had gone again,
When was the chain there... when not.
I am so confused...
I... can't remember.
I just wanted to do some good,
I didn't know if I was of help.
Ling! I'm sorry, Forgive me!
- Ling. Forgive me! - Mrs, Au. Calm down,
Staff! Staff!
Ling... It's not my fault!
Police reporting centre...
My wife killed our two daughters...
and stabbed me...
Tin Shui Wai, Tin Hang Estate...
Hang Yan House. Room 2514...
And your wife?
She killed herself.
We'll send someone over right away
Police station, Did someone report a murder?
According to the autopsy report,
the wounds on the victim were mostly from the back.
Ruling out suicide,
The times of her and her daughters' deaths
were estimated to be around four p, m.
Three hours before
Lee Sum reported to the police.
The woulds on the male victim.
Were inflicted with the shirt pulled up,
According to experience, no murderer
pulls up the victim's shirt before striking,
Therefore the police believes that
someone had killed before wounding himself,
As an attempt to fool the police
He had not thought that, his wound would be fatal,
The suspect's son is over there!
- Please make way... - Are you the son of the victim?
Go away!
What do you think about your father's case?
I'm not his son. I don't know who Lee Sum is.
If you aren't his son, how do you know his name?
I don't know him, You've got the wrong man,
I said I am not his son!
Executive Producer: Wong Jing
Administrative Producer: Angela Wong
Starring: Simon Yam Zhang Jing Chu
Starring: Jacqueline Law Amy Chum Yan Mi
Director of Photography: Charlie Lam
Art Director: Albert Poon
Editor: Kong Chi Leung
Music: Charlotte Chan Sound Design: Tu Duu-Chih
Script Writer: Cheung King Wai
Script Consultant: Alex Law
Production Manager: Wong Yat Ping
Producer / Director: Ann Hui