A Simple Life

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"Based on real people and events"

"Chung Chun-Tao, known as Ah Tao..."

"...was born in Taishan and adopted as an infant"

"Her adoptive father died under

the Japanese occupation"

"Her adoptive mother sent Ah Tao..."

"...to work as a servant for the Leung family"

"She has served four generations of the family..."

"...over a span of 60 years"

Ah Tao was already with my family when I was born

At 20, I went to college in the States

At 30, I came back to Hong Kong

And since then, Ah Tao has been with me

That is, until two years ago...

How much?

H K$6 per catty

HK$6?

Pick whichever ones you like, I'll cut the price

Okay, you want ones with big heads and tails

This one is okay?

- Enough?

- Yes

HK$16

What a fussy one, bruising all my stock...

She's coming!

- Sister Tao!

- Good morning

Morning...

- Good morning, Sister Tao

- Morning

- Sister Tao

- How's business?

Fine, what do you need today?

Garlic

Okay, take your time

Muzi...Muzi...

Ignoring me, Muzi?

His wife's run off

- I'll put my coat on

- No rush

And my glasses

Take your time!

Why's it so cold?

No placemat?

How long this time?

Two days

Haven't had ox-tongue in a while...

It's ages since I had ox-tongue

You want more angioplasty?

Forget about it!

You had crab today

You shouldn't eat ox-tongue

I like it stewed

(Beijing)

What's that?

Snacks for them

No, no, they're still talking

Take it away!

The reason the set's larger...

...is that it wasn't big enough!

If...

You explain it to him

Same problem, you need it to be bigger

I need space for a table and three stuntmen

Not to mention the lights! What about that?

What can I say?

What'd you expect me to say?

Of course, you all have reasons for wanting more

We have an A Team and a B Team...

Working on top of each other

How can I shoot in such a crowded corridor?

Have you ever shot a film before?

- A film!

- Gentlemen...

The art department has maxed out the budget!

Films have budgets, you know that?

I made films while you were still in short pants!

I've had it!

Hey!

- Talk to him!

- Director Tsui...

- Same problem, what's the point?

- Please calm down

Sit down, sit down

Calm down

Please sit down, both of you

Just sit

I don't think it helps to fight like this

It won't help us to achieve...

...a good outcome

Right now, we're over budget

Maybe we can cut costs...

...in the post-production?

Or maybe I can raise the budget a little bit

Great performance!

My performance?

Awesome!

You think I was acting?

You were great!

You should be an actor for real!

I wish I didn't have to 'act'...

But how else to trick him into adding 5%?

It's not tricking...

You don't know

It's tough being a director

Shooting a film is like giving birth

The key thing is to see it through to the end

Otherwise you end up with a robot!

Okay, okay, I get it

But keep an eye on your spending, okay?

Roger...

Don't nag, okay?

- All I'm saying...

- Stop going on about it!

I'm starving!

- Waiter!

- Here!

- Waiter!

- Here!

One moment...

What is it?

I'd like to have...

- ...tofu

- Tofu

And...

- ...a portion of lamb ribs

- Okay

- And the mutton

- Okay

And ten wheat buns

Sh*t, I don't eat lamb...

Never mind, I don't like it either

When he's finished that lot...

...you and I can have sashimi together

Why not now?

Okay

But I don't eat anything raw

Just get my order, and get a move on!

And you?

What are you going to have?

Vegetables

- Is this okay?

- Okay

- Hey...

- What?

I want the set to be twice the size...

Come on...

Kaka, what's the matter?

Where are you taking those pretty little paws?

Ah Tao!

Ah Tao!

I forgot my keys!

Ah Tao! I forgot my keys!

Morning, Roger

- Hello, Vincent

- Do sit down

Are you alright?

It's nothing

You don't look well

I'm a bit rushed today, so I'll keep it brief

Fine

You've calculated the interest wrong

There's a US$100,000 discrepancy

We went over it

The contract is very clear

The bank is supposed to charge us LIBOR rate

But you're charging us the prime rate

You can see it here

I highlighted it

See what I mean?

I'll correct it immediately

One more thing...

I know today's a public holiday in the US

But if our office in Beijing...

...doesn't get the second

payment this afternoon...

...we'll have to close down the production...

...and sue the bank for all our losses

Michael...

Please call up Mr Leung's company account

Go through it in detail

And follow our agreement to the letter

I'm sorry, Roger

It's alright

No need to see me off

Gotta go, see you tonight

Hey!

I've been waiting for you all morning!

The air-con in the conference room drips

It's this way

Over there

This is my namecard

I'll let you know when I change jobs, Miss

Excuse me, I'm terribly sorry...

Where's the problem? Which air-con is it?

Excuse me...

This way...

I'm terribly sorry

How's the food here?

Good

Then why aren't you eating?

I'm full

Have an orange

You go ahead

Not right now...

I haven't eaten yet

Leave first if you're hungry

Go get some lunch

I just talked with the doctor

He'll discharge you in a couple of days

You'll have to come back for physical therapy

You'll regain up to 80% of your movement

But you'll need to watch your diet in future

Get one stroke, you get another

Don't worry

I've been thinking...

I can hire a maid, hire one...

...who speaks Chinese

So you'll have someone to talk to

What time is it in San Francisco?

Afternoon

Call your mother for me

Why?

Tell her I'm retiring

Retiring

Why?

I want to live in an old people's home

Are those places expensive?

You'd like to live in one?

Yes, how much will it cost?

Don't worry, I can pay for you

No...

I have money, I can pay

I have money

HK$5,000 for a single room

HK$4,000 for a shared room

HK$3,500 for three-to-five sharing

If her total assets are less than HK$30,000...

...we can apply for social security for her

But we don't pay commission for that

Commission?

Don't you know about that?

There are so many scams out there

In some homes...

...they do the paperwork for you...

...to claim social security payments

And they pay you HK$500 per month

But it's just a scam

The money they give you...

...is charged back on their bills

We're not like that

We run a straight business here

Everything's out in the open

Can I see a typical monthly statement?

HK$580 per month for diapers?

That charge depends on the brand used

Also on the quantity

That one is water-tight

More expensive

That old man often needs to change his

What is "escort charge"?

- Escort charge?

- Yes

The escort accompanies the old person

To medical check-ups, physical therapy...

To massage, acupuncture and so on

The charge depends on who the escort is

For illegal South Asian immigrants, it's HK$150

For Mainland Chinese, it's HK$200

For holders of HK ID cards, it's HK$250

The most expensive ones are mixed-race Chinese

They're HK$300

That's just a fact of Hong Kong life

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