Fann Wong?
Big Brother
Let's go inside first
You can't be serious
Most of the residents in this block have moved out
This place is quiet and pretty deserted
While others hide the other woman...
in nice houses,
you keep yours in a rundown flat
I can't believe you got yourself a poor bloke
Big Brother, don't get us wrong
There's nothing going on between Guang and me
He's from Penang. He is my relative
He is from Penang
Auntie Hui, find yourself a seat
I don't find any chairs here
Auntie Hui, sit over here first
Come here
Out with it. What's going on?
Do you know about your uncle?
Yes. I've visited him in prison
Do you know that Fangfang got implicated in the case?
I know
That cad of a Chen Bangqing even betrayed his own girlfriend
He's scum!
Fangfang was made the scapegoat
Not only was she jailed, she was also deported
But Chen Bangqing got off scot-free
He went away a rich man, too
He must be living it up now,
in the company of good food, good wine and women
Fangfang came back to look for him
Is that really the case?
Do you have a screw loose?
Is he the last man standing?
He's been a jerk to you
Yet you've come back for him
I want to know why he did that to me
I got together with him when I was 18
He's the only man that I've had
Why did he do that to me?
Why bother asking him? Just ask me
Money is at stake here
So what if you got together with him when you were 18?
What's a woman who's given him her everything?
When he's rich, he can have any woman he wants
You'll be doing it all for nothing. Just leave
Fangfang is not able to leave as she wishes
No money for an air ticket?
I'll have to part with my USD2000
It's not about that
Then what is it?
Fangfang came to Singapore illegally
Two days ago...
Guang
Dad, I need you to buy spring onion
Who's that? A beggar?
No, she's not
She smells. It's overpowering
Wait for me at Block 10
Here you go
Have some porridge
Careful, it's hot
I found out later that...
she'd spent money to sneak into Singapore...
through many middlemen
The speedboat then left her in the sea
She swam her way here using an inflated trash bag
But her dry clothes and money were swept away by the waves
When she came to me,
she had gone without food for three days
She survived on tap water in public toilets
Poor thing
You're so pitiful
Gone three days without food?
How you must have starved
Let's go get you some food
Auntie Hui, no hurry
We have many things to talk about first
Why don't you sit down first? Sit down
OK. I'll get you some food afterwards
Thank you, Auntie Hui
She won't tell a soul about it, right?
Don't concern yourself with Auntie Hui
She has dementia, so she's very forgetful
No one would believe what she says
Our neighbours may...
just stumble upon your secret
I know
But other than giving Fangfang shelter,
and getting her clean clothes and food,
I can't do any more for her
Ou Jinguang
We should do good
But you're not doing it right
You'll only invite trouble for yourself
Big Brother
Getting Guang into trouble is the last thing I want
But I had no one else to turn to
What you're telling me now is pointless
You've already got him into trouble
If you're caught,
he'll be jailed for harbouring an illegal immigrant
I'll never give Guang's name away
I won't
There's me, too
I promise I won't give you away either
Fada, so you'll help Fangfang, right?
Of course I'll help
What to do? I'm a kind chap
I'll give her the USD2000...
and we'll say goodbye to her
Fada
You can do more than that
A smart guy like you will have other ideas
Even Granny Swordswoman regards her as her granddaughter
You're a sly one!
Don't use connections to put pressure on me
Big Brother
I know I've broken the law
I'll turn myself in
But before I do that,
I want to see Chen Bangqing
What's the point in seeing him?
He may not even deign to speak to you,
but report you to the police instead!
Then I shall perish with him
Are you out of your mind?
Yes
Yes, I'm out of my mind
I've nothing more to lose
When I made the trip here,
I was prepared to never make it home alive
I'm dead beat
I just want to hit the sack...
and sleep till the end of time
You're speaking for many lawyers
You're right
But many battles await us tomorrow
At the trial this afternoon,
you totally turned the situation in our favour
If you just seize the momentum,
I believe the ultimate victory...
will be yours
I hope so
Did you recite the chant?
The one about "I'm going mad, going mad"
Is that a dig at me?
I'm sorry
Don't be angry
I should never have told you about it
I do think Zhou Fada aka Big Brother...
has a sense of humour
Smart of him to use that to help you...
calm down
He is quite a madcap
But...
He reads me like a book, too
It's terrible when one goes hungry
Auntie Hui, are you hungry?
Not me. It's her
Who? - Her
She's pitiful. She's gone without food for three days
What's more, she's holed up in an abandoned flat
Auntie Hui, shh...
Shh?
Shh means to say nothing, OK?
Shh means to say nothing?
Of course I know that. I'm not stupid
Yes, yes
So you know what to do, eh?
So let's go shh
Shh
Good! - Good
I'll go buy dinner
Auntie Hui, where are you going?
I'm buying dinner for...
Shh
For her
She's pitiful
Mum - Xiong
Teddy!
Lazy Bum?
Ted... Tedd... Teddy
I missed you so much
It's been a few years
But you're still the same happy-go-lucky guy
It's been a few years, but you're still the same
You're still as fierce, telling me off all the time
Hello, Auntie
Hello
Auntie Hui, is he the Penang boy?
No. You're the one from Penang
Then he must be from KL!
Nice to meet you, my fellow countryman
Let me give you a hug
You're handsome and strapping
Stop your nonsense. Zhentian is not like you
Yes. He is not like you
He is a lawyer. Lawyers are capable
Is that so?
Zhentian has been in the practice longer than me
We work at the same law firm
He happens to be my boss too
That explains the haughtiness
What?
Don't go "tsk" on me. You're just as bad
It's been a few years, but you won't even give me a hug
So you're Big Brother aka Mr Zhou Fada?
Yes, yes
So my fame has spread far and wide
Even a top lawyer has heard of me
Weixiong often talks about you
Thanks for looking out for her
Think nothing of it
She and I are childhood sweethearts
Do you know what childhood sweethearts mean?
I bet you only converse in English
So your Mandarin must really suck
Childhood sweethearts means...
"green plum bamboo horse"
Weixiong was right about it
You are a funny chap
Funny!
Let's see your mum home
Mum, let's go home
No, I'm not going home
Why?
I'm going to buy dinner
No need. Grandma will be eating at her mahjong friend's place
It's not for your grandma. It's for...
Shh
I'm buying it for shh...
I'm buying dinner for shh...
Zhentian, why don't you go back first?
Teddy! Wait... for... me
Mr Zhendi
It's Zhang Zhentian
Whatever
I just want to remind you...
to keep your eyes on the ground even as you walk with your nose up
You've stepped on dog poo, you see!
While under a roof, one's got to keep...
one's head low...
In this day and age, unless you're in outer space,
even if you're at some far-ﬂung place,
so long as you have a handphone,
you will still be contactable
What do you know?
It's said a day in the mountains is thousands of years on earth
That's what happened to me!
I must have been kidnapped by aliens
I lost all sense of direction and time
Whatever! You're always so secretive
To be honest, where you are, whether you'll be back or...
whatever you're doing doesn't interest me
Not an iota of interest
Don't be so mean
I actually was so anxious to return to you
Ha! - What was that for?
Be thankful it was a "ha" and not a "bah"
Fine! Like it or not, I'm going to say this
My love for you has been a constant
It's as solid as a rock
But you? You aren't steadfast in love
I left to carve out a future for you and me,
for a better tomorrow
But your object of affection changed when I was out of the picture
You've hooked up with the lawyer who has his nose in the air
Come again?
Who's hooked up with whom?
See? You have a guilty conscience!
Who has a guilty conscience?
You, of course
You drop the old for the new
No wonder it's said evil is the woman
Old habits die hard for some
I can't be bothered with you
Mum
Mum, what is it?
Xiong, where are we going?
Aren't we going to buy dinner?
Why are we buying dinner? Isn't there dinner at home?
Is it time for me to cook?
What am I doing here?
I need to cook for your grandma, dad and brother
Let's go! - Mum, don't worry about it
Grandma is having dinner at her friend's place
Dad's been posted overseas for work
Weikang is an exchange student overseas
There's only you and me today
Shall we have wonton noodles for dinner?
Wait
Where's the Penang boy?
Auntie Hui, I'm here!
Xiong, he's our relative from Penang
Join us for dinner
Dinner time! Thanks, Auntie Hui. Thanks, Auntie Weixiong
I'm not your aunt!
Xiong, don't do that. You're his aunt
Come, let's go buy dinner
Be thankful that I didn't address you as Granny Weixiong!
Penang boy, eat more
Thanks, Auntie Hui
Penang boy, life is good for me now
Xiong is very capable. She's a lawyer now
She's making good money
Xiong's dad has been promoted to manager
His 30 years of hard work have finally paid off
Kang's going overseas to study
He's become sensible
Enough food for me, Auntie Hui!
I know you're the most blessed woman on earth
I agree. I am very blessed
I'm truly blessed
I'm so blessed
Teddy, look at Auntie Hui's smile. She is very happy
You should be comforted. Why the glum face?
Mum, have a piece
Let the Penang boy have it
Come, have it
No, thanks, Auntie Hui
Let her have it. She's so skinny
Lose any more weight and...
she'll be flat both front and back
I don't feel like eating these few days
Under too much stress?
Under tremendous amount of stress?
Maybe. Each time I handle a lawsuit, I'll lose my appetite
So you don't just have gastritis
You also get headaches, backaches and pain in the bottom
Don't go "tsk" on me
You hate to lose, right?
So you give yourself a lot of stress
In the end, you may win the lawsuit
But you pay for it with your health
Everyone hates to lose
It's a lawyer's job to win lawsuits for the client
Wrong!
Whether you win the case or not,
you're expected to do your utmost for the client
A lawyer bent on winning lawsuits only...
will never be a good lawyer
That's some lame reasoning
Coming from me, it's no lame reasoning
Whatever I say is "spiders" of wisdom
Slivers of wisdom, you mean
Just know that I speak words of wisdom
A load of baloney, you mean
A load of baloney?
Look at Auntie Fried Carrot Cake
Go ask her if this thought crosses her mind,
"I must make the world's number one fried carrot cake"
Of course not!
She's already immersed in it
Why would she care to be number one?
Look at Cleaner Auntie
Ask her if this thought crosses her mind,
"I must be the world's number one cleaner"
Of course not
It's the same when you handle lawsuits
When you keep telling yourself that you must win the lawsuit,
you're already distracted
You don't have to recite the so-called chant
Just keep telling yourself this -
I'll win
That's enough for you to beat your opponent
When you're hung up on winning, stress will follow
Once you're under stress,
you'll panic and end up with gastritis
Instead of telling yourself that you must win,
tell yourself this -
"I'm going mad, going mad!
"I love Zhou Fada so much, I'm going mad!"
He taught me this chant...
to temper my competitive mentality
Did it suddenly dawn upon you that...
being away for three years...
had turned me into a guru?
Why did you hit me?
Auntie Hui, she bullies me all the time
Hit her back for me
Xiong
Stop bullying him
I'm back!
What's up with you people? Turned into zombies?
Am I looking at ghosts?
I'm not playing a ghost
We're waiting for your return. We're famished
Grandma, it's so warm! Why didn't you turn on the fan?
No power supply?
There's no short circuit
Grandma, you defaulted on the utilities bills?
Ask her
Please! It's your flat, so you take care of the utilities bills
I don't work, so I don't have the money
Xiaoying took care of it when he was around
Xiaoying is away now
You're his wife, so you take over
I'm not his wife!
You already have a child with him, so that makes you his wife
Old hag, he and I are not married
Stop!
Your ages combine to hit over 100
But here you are fighting in front of a kid
This is ridiculous
Boy-boy
Your great-aunt and mum are setting a bad example for you
Don't ever follow their example, OK?
I'm hungry
Sorry
The three of us were waiting for you to bring dinner back
I'm sorry
Are you out to starve us?
Sorry
That's irresponsible of you
I'm sorry
Children shouldn't go hungry
I'm sorry
Why am I apologizing away?
You're still in the pink of health
You're able-bodied and shrewd
And you...
Oh well, never mind
Will it kill you to eat a meal or two less?
Why do I have to rush back to bring you food?
I didn't mean it that way
They say a hungry person is an angry person
Kids say the darndest thing
You know that too?
I had to let you know that I'm no doormat
I'll let it slide this time. If it happens again...
You're long-winded for a man!
Let's eat
So this is our dinner?
Of course. I made sure that...
there were nine pieces of Yong tau foo
Each of you will have three pieces and a plate of fragrant rice
No fighting. Everyone has an equal share
Zhou Fada, am I a refugee now?
I should have asked for financial aid
We'd have got a packet of chicken rice
Grandma, have you forgotten...
the good, old days when the three of us...
would share a bottle of pickled lettuce and braised peanuts?
I even ate up the worm in the vegetables
That became my protein supplement
Why harp on those impoverished days?
What day and age are we in now?
No one is as poor as us in Singapore
Let's order delivery!
Boy, get the handphone
Let's order pizza - Chicken wings
Order all you like. I won't pay for your order
You're mean
Do you want to see us starve?
Shame, shame
Are you having it or not?
Yes or no?
Yes!
OK, yes!
I said yes or no
You said "OK, yes". So no food for you
Are you trying to kill me?
I could be kinder to you
But you were rude to an elder
You called her "old hag"
What's more, you're unrepentant
Therefore, no Yong tau foo for you
Fine! I don't care for it
Who stole my biscuits?!
I forgot to relay the message
Your sis-in-law, the former Ms Buck Teeth,
says you may go back to be a freeloader
But you should greet your dad and brother,
and remember to greet her, too
Don't pull a long face and act as if the world owed you a living
It's very nice! Right, Boy?
It's nice
It's tasty
Mummy, say sorry
Shut up
Now, let me tell you my problem
If I catch anyone who's unrepentant,
and goes on to tell her child to shut up,
I'll see red
Once I see red, I'll lose control...
and I'll turn into Incredible Hulk!
OK... Sorry... OK?
So who are you saying sorry to?
Sorry, old...
Granny Swordswoman, sorry, OK?
You should be calling me Aunt
Aunt, sorry
OK? Will that d0?
And?
There's also me
Seriously?
OK... Boy, sorry
Mummy, let's eat
Would you like to go out?
Where?
Where else? To the mall nearby
Let's go out after lunch
It's OK. I don't have anything to buy
Your clothes have seen better days. Let's buy a few new pieces
It's OK. I wear uniform at work, and I don't go out
What about your underwear?
It's OK. I still wear the same size
Suit yourself
You won't even go out with me
If someone were to ask you out now, you'd bolt out of the door
Who'd ask me out? I have no friends
Don't get sarcastic on me
I'm not being sarcastic
I am aware of it
You still bear a grudge against me
Why would I bear a grudge against you?
You resent me for breaking up...
Don't say anymore
Did you have to raise your voice?
I don't wish to talk about this again
Fine. But need you raise your voice?
Did your sister call you?
What did she say?
She asked if there was any mail for her
Anything else?
No
That ungrateful thing
She's all grown up and independent
But she won't even ask after her own mother
Heartless girl
Why? Upset that I picked on your sis?
No. It's just that I've had my fill
I know that you two are peas in a pod
You should just join her!
Just go! I can also be happy by myself
I told you to join her. Did you hear me?
Go!
Meiyu did say other things
Why didn't you say so just now?
I see! She must have complained about me
No, she didn't
Meiyu said...
you must be going through menopause,
so you have a short fuse
What else did she say?
She said you wouldn't take our advice to see a doctor
And?
She told me to take you to the doctor's,
and... put up with you
Put up with me?
She was telling you to join her!
Just let me be. You girls can just leave
I'll take it that I never had you girls
Go! Go join her
I didn't say anything
Come again?
I... I said I...
I forgot to clear the trash
Mummy!
What is it? -Mummy!
I smell something burning
Someone probably forgot to turn off the stove
Why kick up a fuss?
The smell comes from Granny Cardboard's flat
I wanted to knock on her door, but I was too scared
Don't be a busybody. Go back in
If Uncle Luo Bei is out driving the taxi,
there's only Granny Cardboard at home
What if... - What?
Don't be a busybody
But this concerns a life
You love talking back to me now
Come in!
Xiong
Why isn't your grandma back yet?
She's gone to play mahjong. She'll be back soon
She has poor eyesight and weak legs
What if she falls down?
She's playing mahjong in the block opposite
She'll be back real soon
Go back to watching the TV show
I have to prepare for tomorrow's trial
Be good. Go on
Xiong
It's burnt
But we're not cooking anything at home now
It's burnt
Mum, just watch the TV show
It's burnt, Xiong
It's burnt
Mum, why don't we go home first?
Grandma has the house keys. She can let herself into the flat
No. Your dad and brother are away
We need to be here for your grandma
We've not left Grandma alone
She has a room at our place
But she misses her old neighbours here
So she'll be staying put till the lease runs out
Xiong, I already said...
I'm worried about leaving your grandma alone here
That's your daily refrain
I'll be worried ill leave both of you here
Xiong, it's burnt
It's burnt, Xiong
I'm sorry. My shift is over...
Shift's over? Are you telling me to get out of the taxi?
See if I don't lodge a complaint and have your licence suspended
Mr Guan, I didn't know it was you
Now that you know it's me, are you still telling me to leave?
I'm in a rush now
No one is taking the call at home
You know that my mum is frail
I'm rushing home to check on her
Good timing! I'm going to visit my wife in Dakota, too
Start driving
OK
Mum
It's burnt
What are you doing?
Auntie Hui is knocking on Granny Cardboard's door
I'll go over to take a look
I told you not to be a busybody
Mummy, I'm not being a busybody
ll an accident really happens, people can get hurt
You know how difficult Granny Cardboard is
She's been calling me shameless,
trying to seduce her son
You heard those awful things too
Mummy
Granny Cardboard is old and has a muddy mind
Don't hold it against her
I'm not holding it against her
And because I'm easy-going,
everyone bullies me,
including that sister of yours
Don't invite trouble
It doesn't pay to be kind
Mummy
Auntie Hui has dementia
But she still shows Granny Cardboard concern
Granny Cardboard lives just next door
Can we pretend that all is fine?
It's burnt
Weixiong, she...
It's burnt
Mum
Xiong, it's burnt
I smell something burning
The burning smell has been around for a while
I don't know if Granny Cardboard...
Granny Cardboard, open the door
Do you have her son's phone number?
Let me get it from my mummy
Granny Cardboard
Mummy, do you have Uncle Luo Bei's...
I know! He gave me his business card
But I don't remember where I've kept it
What's going on?
Uncle Luo Bei!
- Please let her be safe - Where are my keys?
Don't panic - Dad!
Now's not the time. Be quiet!
Let him calm down. Try to recall
I can't find them
Don't panic. Could you have left the keys in the taxi?
Maybe! I'll go to the taxi now
By the time you find the keys, she may be dead
Move aside! Everyone, move aside!
Move aside!
Dad, are you OK?
I'm OK. Move aside
Dad
I'm OK. I'm almost there
The door needs just one more kick to give way
Don't just stand there. Help me
1,2,3!
Mum!
It's all charred
Yes?
What about you?
You look like you've seen a ghost
Don't worry. I didn't come to start a fight
I came to give you alimony
Alimony?
Divorced parties receive alimony
I couldn't afford to give you alimony previously
But now that I can afford to,
I should pay you what's due you
I don't want your dishonest money
I worked and earned this money!
It's clean money
Bye
Mum
Mum, wake up
Mum
How is she?
Auntie Hui, don't worry
Granny Cardboard is probably fast asleep
My mum...
Granny Cardboard has passed away
I did tell her to go to the hospital
But she simply refused to
She said we'd have to move out soon
She knew her time was up, and said she'd rather die here
Let me get a doctor
Thank you for taking care of my mum
My condolences
Mum, let's go back
He'll stay with Granny Cardboard
Mum
Go in peace
I'll take care of myself
Tissue paper costs money, too
She's already gone. Why are you sobbing away?
We're made of flesh and blood
Granny Cardboard died alone
Don't you feel sad for her?
Feeling sad won't bring her back to life
We all have to die from old age
Granny Cardboard wasn't a deity
She couldn't have lived forever
I know that we will grow old and die
Granny Cardboard was alone when she died
No one was with her when she died
She might have wanted some porridge before she died
But even before the porridge was cooked,
she was already dead
I wonder if she's feeling hungry now
Why are you worrying about that?
Just get her some food offerings
Mummy
Don't end up like Granny Cardboard
When you are old,
I will stay by your side,
and take good care of you
All right, I know you're a good girl
When you think your time is up,
and wish to have a hearty meal before you die,
no matter where I am,
make sure you get me home to cook for you
But when I am old,
will there be anyone to look after me?
I wonder who will cook for me...
before I breathe my last
You'll have your own family and children
I am stupid and silly
Who'd want to be with me?
I may just end up lonely and alone...
like Granny Cardboard
But she had a son in Uncle Luo Bei
What are you doing?
I'm looking at Dad
You scared me
What is it?
Dad has fallen down!
Mummy, can I go down and help Dad?
Aren't you capable
You're offering help to everyone
Fine, do whatever you want
Just don't let me see it
Why are you still standing there?
Aren't you going to his aid downstairs?
But you didn't say OK
OK
Subtitles: A Han, Mediacorp TV