A dream woven garden is just a walk away
in its world of precious colours~
People play there under blue sky each day
after exchanging a dream for healing~
You may find it along the road that way
but at the entrance you must pay~
Will you swap darkness for a blessing?
Will you enter that bright garden?
Do you want that beautiful gift
of resting with others amid its flowers?
You too may repose inside~
Episode 2
I'm Chen Hai Jie.
- Alice. - Alice?
Yeah.
Concertmaster's late.
You again?
I can help!
What's this?
Where's my violin?
What did you do with it? Tell me!
- This watch is very old. - It sure is.
- It's in good condition. - Not bad, not bad.
If I clean the mechanism,
it will last another 10 years.
Please do that, sir.
I had this watch for decades.
It has value to you. Don't worry. Come tomorrow.
- Thank you. - See you. - Ok, thanks.
You're back?
Where's your sister?
- On overtime. - Again?
I cooked noodles.
Isn't she just an assistant? Why's she late every day?
Maybe she's a special assistant.
But how can she find time for the test to go to England?
She doesn't want to go.
She doesn't? Yes, she does!
She said she'll take the public exam.
Look after your sister better.
She even found you a job.
Did you thank her?
Eat up. But leave her some.
Die Fei! Take out the trash! Hurry!
Such a bother...
Careful, take your time.
So annoying...
Careful!
What was that for?
If you don't have Hai Ou, go away.
I know you're upset over Hai Ou
but I need to know your schedule.
If I say no rehearsal, I mean no.
Okay. I'll tell Director Tang.
Hey!
Why weren't you fired?
I didn't lose the violin.
Are you saying I did?
If there's no rehearsal, I'm going.
These are Ketagalan's revised tour plans.
Please review it.
Leave it for now.
Why are new applicants unremarkable?
Not one could be a star.
We're selecting violinists, not elegance.
You don't get it. These amateurs are useless.
They should have charm as well as...
...a smile not enough people see.
Bingo! Oh, right.
Did you ring the insurance company?
Yes. The insurance company said
they'll start procedures once the police file a report.
Reimbursement will be fast.
Remind them on time.
Insurance companies like to stall.
We're going on tour soon.
The claim needs to come through
to buy Ting Yu a new violin.
Our finances are tight now.
Don't suspect my sister.
She's not that foolish.
She's my sister.
If you don't believe her,
then you don't believe me.
And selling that violin won't be easy.
Maybe a bad person used her.
Bad person? What bad person?
It's impossible. That's insulting.
Why are you laughing?
You're being so serious.
Is my seriousness funny?
I'm talking reality.
Don't be angry.
You're cute when you're serious.
Don't be mad, okay?
Did you listen to me?
Yes. I'm the bad guy.
I know Die Fei didn't do it.
Let's leave it to the police.
Don't be angry.
- Kiss? - No.
Give him another chance.
You wait then.
Alice!
Next person.
Alice!
What is it?
Sorry, sorry.
How many to go?
Only Chen Hai Jie is left.
Should we wait?
Let's wait for Chen Hai Jie.
Meanwhile we'll discuss the others.
Concertmaster! Please wait.
Give me a reason I should.
Because...
Chen Hai Jie admires you
so give him a chance.
He admires me?
After I performed,
he gave me tips. Admires me?
Should I wait for all my admirers?
Please. He'll come soon.
So call him. Now, at once, pronto!
- I don't have his number. - Ting Yu! Just wait.
He even lent you his violin.
Violin? You dare mention violins?
And where's my Hai Ou?
I really don't know.
The police are onto it. Cool down.
Hello!
There's still time, right? Sorry.
Let's start.
Little brother, how are you?
We're on stage.
Good luck! Don't give up!
You're not bad.
Relax. Leave it to me.
Do you like it?
Okay! It's him.
This is great. It's you.
Really?
I heard and saw it. It's you.
Oh, right. Be on time for rehearsal next week. That's all.
That's it then.
No-one changes his decisions.
- Aren't we discussing Hai Ou? - I'm coming.
Die Fei will discuss everything.
That's it then.
Thank you. Thank you!
I've never seen Concertmaster praie a musician full-on.
Really?
That's not how I see him.
His moods are unpredictable.
His word is law. He's like a god.
No one can stop him.
It's strange. I felt he understood me.
It was like...being naked in front of him.
He spoke to me so intensely.
Your description is strange
but he's really like that.
Like an alien! Not much logic.
I never thought I'd get into Ketagalan.
I'm dreaming. It was too easy!
So you wanted to join Ketagalan?
Actually, not that much.
I thought my violin only called Alice
but it can help me make friends.
Alice? What's Alice?
Alice is...
just my violin.
I want others to hear me.
I want to know...
What do you want to know?
Just...sometimes when I play alone,
I feel really lonely.
There's no-one to share it.
Being with everyone will be different.
You might be an alien like He Ting Yu.
Maybe I am.
Maybe in our previous lives,
there was a marvellous story.
See! Hai Jie and Hai Ou has a nice ring.
Stop laughing, Lan Fei Fei.
I told you, I'm Lan Die Fei!
It's the same thing!
How's it the same? Please!
I'll call you Chen Jie Jie (Sister).
I'll call you Lan Lan Xian (Elder).
I'll call you Sister...
They look like small eyes~
Twinkle, twinkle, bright~
The sky is full of little stars~
That was great!
You all sang well today.
So Miss Momo will tell you a story!
- Okay? - Yes!
Let's thank Miss Momo!
Can you all sing the Elephant Song?
Yes!
Then sing with me!
Ready?
Elephant, elephant~
why is your nose so long?~
Mom says long noses are pretty~
Elephant, elephant...~
The teacher called you?
She wants me to see her tomorrow.
Have you had breakfast?
I'm not hungry.
Here. Eat something.
Hai Jie.
Do you know how many days she skipped class?
I'm scared to talk to her.
She's all over the place these days.
Kids now are more rebellious.
Relax. Let this nice uncle talk to her.
Now I know when I came to Taipei,
Mom probably felt like this.
You just realized now?
Mom cried for months until Dad kept yelling at her to stop.
I deserve this punishment.
But Mei Mei never used to do this.
She was obedient and sensible.
Maybe...
it's because you're getting married.
But she knows Li Ren.
We started dating a year ago.
But getting married is different.
Then she should tell me. Why's she like this?
Hello? Yes, I'm Mei Mei's mother.
Hello, ma'am.
What? She skipped class again?
A girl! Go talk to her.
See how I do it.
Hey, get to know me! See how I do it.
Hey, get to know each other!
Wanna see a movie?
I feel I know you.
Give me your number. Hey!
Hey, don't leave!
Look, this one's pretty!
You want to look at this style?
- This one? - Yes, that one.
This is our exclusive item from Japan.
We only carry it in Taiwan.
This one's not bad.
- You want to take a look? - Sure.
It has a slight inside curve.
The middle has layers of colour.
This one is real diamond.
This is engraved on top...
Your names can be engraved inside.
Little girl, slow down. Wait for Mom.
Miss, how much is that?
Excuse me, wait a moment.
Sure.
Here.
Sorry to bother you, Mr and Mrs Huang.
I have an urgent matter
but take your time looking.
Sorry, but if you like this house,
please call me! Please!
Your phone's ringing.
Your phone!
I know! I'm not deaf.
You're not answering?
So annoying.
Hello?
Hi, Uncle.
I'm fine.
I didn't feel like going.
Okay, okay.
Tell Mom I want leave of absence.
No!
I don't want to be picked up.
Fine, I'll go back.
You're going back?
Why are you snooping?
Are you hungry?
Will you buy me food? If not, bug off!
The one on the left...
Can I ask you a question?
Yes.
You said you were my mom. Aren't you too old?
I get it. It's hard at your age
to call yourself Granma.
I want to ask you a question.
Why aren't you in school?
Why do you shoplift?
Your call is redirected.
Mei Mei, it's Uncle Pang.
How was the chocolate?
Remember, I'm your good friend.
Tell me your problems.
I'll help you for sure.
Go home early after school. We'll get fried chicken.
Let's celebrate. Bye bye.
You haven't been sleeping well.
Take a hot bath and feel better.
Let me ask you something.
Where are green peas from?
From Jiayi.
Because green peas are green.
Why don't you say hello?
Okay, Mei Mei.
Want fried chicken tonight?
What are we celebrating this time?
You went to school today!
I didn't go today.
Then we're celebrating...
Eat it by yourselves!
Don't bother me.
Mei Mei, what's up with you?
You don't answer my calls
or Uncle's calls.
You skipped school again
and now you won't eat!
What do you want?
I don't feel well.
I want to sleep. That okay?
Mei Mei!
How can she be so rude?
You got on well in the past.
I think Mei Mei can't accept we're getting married.
She can't be so bratty!
She should talk to me!
Lisa King.
You look happy today.
Yes. Look at all the people!
Everyone came today. It's fun!
- It's crowded. - Yeah!
Have fun!
- You're Lisa King. - Yes.
Mom. I'm your daughter.
Ito Seiko.
Mom. I'm your daughter.
Ito Seiko.
Mom.
Thank you.
- Be careful. - Of course.
See you next time.
Bye bye.
- Go safely. - Sure. Bye bye.
Bye bye.
Thank you.
Tell me again, who are you?
Ito Seiko.
Ito Seiko?
It was crowded tonight.
Mom, is it bad I came to find you?
No, of course not.
Ito...
Seiko.
Are you sure you're looking for me?
When you were 20 years old,
you came to Tokyo.
You worked in a Ginza hotel and met Ito Shiromi there.
He was a botanist.
You married and had a daughter.
When I was three,
dad went exploring in South America and got in an accident, right?
Yes.
You speak Chinese well.
I studied Chinese.
I apologize for my attitude.
Having a stranger for a mother is a bit tough.
I shouldn't have looked for you
but I came with friends and ran out of money.
They went home so I came to find you.
Mom, I really am Seiko.
Yes.
Mom, I'm your daughter.
Stay with Mummy.
Don't leave me, dear.
Mummy...
Alice!
I sincerely apologize.
I never thought our first meeting would be like this.
Can you let us raise Seiko?
We beg you!
But...my child is precious to me.
I can't do what you ask. Truly, I can't consider it.
Mummy.
Alice.
Mom.
- Mom. - Yes.
I had my bath.
Have some tea.
What were you just thinking?
Nothing.
Where am I sleeping, Mom?
Sleep in the next room.
I made the bed.
Tell me if you need anything.
No need. You rest and we'll talk tomorrow.
Goodnight.
Alice.
Want to talk? I'm downstairs.
Hot chocolate.
Are you sure she's your daughter?
She told me everything. Nothing's suspicious
and I'm not worth swindling.
So shouldn't you be happy?
Yes. I should be happy
but I don't know how to be happy.
I thought I'd never see her again.
She was separated from me at 3.
She was so young.
I've never forgotten her voice calling me "Mummy".
Never.
The daughter in front of me
calls me "Mom" in Japanese.
It's a truly strange feeling.
It's unreal.
The daughter in my memories is more real.
The daughter in front of me feels very distant...
very far.
Let's go for a drive.
Your Chinese is really good.
I majored in Chinese.
After I graduated, I worked in Beijing for a while.
It must be in my blood. Chinese feels natural.
So that's how it was.
My Japanese is a bit rusty.
Mom. Can I stay with you for a while?
Sure. Of course you can.
If you want to go anywhere,
I can take you.
Want to go shopping?
We can buy pretty clothes.
I don't need clothes.
I just want to be with my mom.
Okay.
But I have something to ask you.
What is it?
Can you stop smoking?
It's bad for your health.
What are you looking at?
I'm just thinking...
You're 25 now.
I never thought I'd see the 25-year-old you.
Do your grandparents know you came to find me?
That year...
your father had just died.
You had a high fever.
I stayed up all night with you, giving you medicine and cold cloths.
I didn't let myself relax
until your fever broke.
When I woke up, you were gone.
Alice?
Your grandfather left me a note
to say they'd taken you away.
Alice!
Alice.
Don't cry, Alice.
Alice.
Alice!
Alice...
Alice. . .
How could they take you away?
Didn't they know you were my everything?
Do you know you're my everything?
What if you couldn't find me?
What would I do?
I couldn't find you.
I was so anxious.
I didn't know where you were taken.
I thought I'd never see you again.
Mom.
Seiko.
Mom. Don't be sad.
I can come to Taiwan to see you often.
Do you blame me for not being able to find you
and not being with you as you grew up?
Mom. That's all in the past. It doesn't matter.
No. It's not in the past.
In my heart, it's not in the past.
I didn't know where your grandpa took you.
I looked for you like crazy.
Until...
until my Japanese visa expired.
The Japanese immigration office found out I over-stayed.
I had to return to Taiwan.
I asked my friends in Tokyo to keep looking
but no-one could find you.
Mom, I never blamed you, really.
Coming!
- Morning! - Morning.
Thanks.
I got you a snack and coffee.
Espresso?
I'll introduce you.
Ito Seiko, my child.
Seiko, my good friend, He Ting Yu.
I bought enough for two.
Mom, I want to eat Xiao Long Bao.
You want Xiao Long Bao?
Okay! I'll go buy some.
What about the nice soybean milk sold in the alley?
You eat. I'll be back soon.
So you're my mom's boyfriend?
So you're Lisa's daughter?
So you're my mom's boyfriend.
Lisa's daughter, you're so rude.
Me? How am I rude?
I'll tell you straight.
I made up my mind...
Whatever my mom's like, it's fine.
So I won't care if she has a rude boyfriend like you.
What can I do about it? She's lonely by herself.
Are you done?
Why's a boy toy so arrogant?
Shut up!
You know nothing so don't talk rot.
You're a bad girl blow-in.
How are you a worthy daughter?
What happened?
Where's Ting Yu?
Your boyfriend's so angry.
What boyfriend?
Isn't that dead-beat your boyfriend?
I said he's a good friend, not my boyfriend.
No wonder.
I thought he was your boy toy.
What did you say to him?
I told him I have no problem with him as your toy boy.
Seiko, go apologize.
He's an important friend.
You were very rude.
Go apologize.
Why? He wanted to hit me.
Why should I apologize?
You have to apologize.
Seiko!
I get it.
Give me the address. I'll go some time.
Hello!
Lan Fei Fei! What are you doing?
The practice room is short a chair.
This is the only one.
Is it my chair?
- It is! So you pull it. - Okay.
You've been busy all morning.
Let me help you.
What are you saying?
This is a high-speed train... the Hai Jie train.
Get settled, we're off.
Go!
You're going too fast!
You frowned all morning so
we have to leave here fast!
Hey.
Why are you here?
Mom told me to apologize to you.
Is this apologetic behaviour?
Fun comes before apologising.
So this is your mom? So pretty.
Why don't you look like her?
You're ridiculous.
You apologized. Leave.
When did I apologize?
No manners...
I have no manners?
You're bad mannered!
Since we met, you weren't polite.
I know you're a violinist.
Amazing, but so what?
Fine. Apologize now.
I don't want to.
Do you have cola?
I don't know.
Is this a display house?
Artists are idiots. I'll look for myself.
Hey, don't snoop.
I'm just looking.
There's only water and cornflakes.
Are you a bird?
You don't live normally.
No wonder you're like this.
Miss.
Aren't you too nosy?
I have something to do. Please go.
Why?
I have plans.
You can leave.
Why?
You're really thick.
I said I have plans, so go.
If you don't leave,
I'll lock you in.
If I just obey, aren't I your dog?
I don't want to.
I want to stay here.
Fine, whatever.
You're weird.
Bye!
We can begin.
Bach's Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor.
D minor.
Ting Yu.
Why don't we add that piece to this year's showcase?
What do you think?
- It's great if you perform together. - Really? Okay.
OK. It's settled.
I'll tell the Conductor.
Playing your violin that day...
I don't know why but it felt familiar.
Other than Hai Ou,
I never had a violin so easy to play.
Really?
An important person gave me this violin.
Well, not 'gave'.
The right way to say it is...
it was loaned to me.
One day I'll return it.
Why would you give it back?
We agreed on it.
One day when I'm unrivalled, I'll return it.
Any news of Hai Ou?
She left.
I'm getting to know new friends.
Right. Are you still doing waste collection
and that...?
Hot springs.
Not as much. I have no time.
- Then let me buy you dinner. - Really? Okay. Let's go.
- That's not very polite. - Who's polite to a friend?
Ting Yu. There's a problem.
What? The orchestra is ending?
No. It's a major sponsor, a company CEO.
Tonight's his housewarming party.
- They want you to go. - I won't go.
I'm eating with him.
It's a major sponsor, a company CEO.
Tonight's his housewarming party.
- They want you to come. - I won't go.
I'm eating with him.
It's best you go.
Just play them one piece
so I needn't explain.
I'm eating with Chen Hai Jie.
We can eat whenever, no problem.
Right. Hai Jie, no problem, eh?
No.
I won't change my mind.
What about...two for one?
What do you mean?
I'll come with you for fun.
Great! You can play together.
I'll introduce you to the CEO.
Fine. I'll only play violin, nothing else.
Thanks.
You looked good playing violin.
Thank you.
I'm going.
This is our gift. Thank you.
It's our company's new product.
This is a gift.
Wow! How great!
Thanks. See you later.
President Chen, President Lin, hello. It's been ages.
Thank you for your patronage.
Why are you by yourself?
They don't want to talk to you.
They're scared to listen.
My music is only an appetizer
to appease their vanity.
Then let's go. Why stay here?
- Leave? - Mm. - Now? - Yeah.
They'll be drunk in a bit. You already played.
They know you came. Who'd know you left?
Let's go. Hurry, go.
Wait.
Take it.
Let's go.
Wait, wait.
I ate too much.
My stomach will explode.
Didn't you steal too much wine?
Letting those people drink this wine is a waste.
They drink just for show. So fake.
What Protection Trust Fund?
Piddling stocks. Waste of time.
You don't want to be there at all, right?
Please. I've been going since I was young.
No one ever asked if I like it.
Why? Why'd you have to go since you were young?
I was a child prodigy.
Just like Mozart and Mugi Wakui,
taken out often and admired.
Sounds so scary.
When I was young, I'd go to my uncle's birthday party
to play Happy Birthday.
I'm used to it.
It's been a long time.
The death god gives young women eternal youth.
Take me.
Give me eternal youth.
This violin is called Siren.
The owners don't live past 35.
This violin is cursed.
Director said Concertmaster won't tolerate Hai Jie too long.
Where is it?
In Shikoku, Ehime Prefecture, Japan.
In Ehime like Alice?
So this is how heartache feels
It�s hard to be indifferent
Seeing you give him your loveliest smile
hurts my obstinate heart
It turns out this is regret
It turns out I envy him
It turns out he can make you laugh out loud
I don't have that talent
If only I admitted earlier
how much I depend on you...
what would we be now?
If I could be brave and innocent like you
maybe I'd be more deserving of your love