Lilting

Mum, are you in?

Come in.

Were you dancing?

Dancing.

Just fooling around.

Sorry I'm late.

I took the bus here.

The flowers look pretty.

What are these flowers called?

Hydrangeas.

They're pretty.

Tell me,

why didn't you drive here?

I like taking the bus.

What's that look for?

You're too nice to him.

What do you mean?

I'm also important.

I'm your mother.

We are family.

Of course you are, Mum.

You're the most important.

Did you bring the CD?

I forgot, I'm sorry.

I've asked you four times.

Sorry.

What's wrong?

Would you like to come for

dinner tomorrow?

Yes, absolutely.

Could you cook?

Sure.

Will your friend be there?

No, he'll be out.

I'm so bored here.

It will take a while before

you make any friends.

Why did you put me in

such a place?

There's no room at my place

and you don't like Richard.

Why can't he stay

with his parents?

He's always asking about you.

Do you know how it feels

to be locked up by your own son?

You're not being locked up.

You have friends

who can visit you.

You can't just discard me whenever

it suits you.

You put me in here

and expect me to get along.

I'm not a pet.

I'm sorry.

It's only temporary.

You know that.

There are these crazy men in here

who keep shouting at me.

What did they say?

I don't understand them.

Idiots, can't tell the difference

between Japanese and Chinese.

What is the difference?

We have nicer eyes,

a lip on our eyelids.

Our eyes are more almond shaped.

I've seen Japanese people with a lip

on their eyelids too.

You're always arguing with me.

How do you know they think

you're Japanese?

See? You're doing it again.

I'm just asking.

I do understand some English.

Like what?

F*** you very much.

Mum.

Who taught you that?

Taught you that?

I've met someone.

You've made a friend?

He's very handsome.

Who?

He's so charming.

He gives me flowers every day.

How old is he?

I can say anything and

he doesn't answer back.

I can talk rubbish and he still thinks

I'm an exotic beauty.

How did you meet?

Sometimes it feels like

we do understand each other.

How do you... Isn't it difficult?

Kai, I'm over sixty.

I'm not looking for a relationship,

it's just for fun.

Fun?

Nothing has happened.

How long have you known

each other?

Nearly two weeks.

What do you two do together?

We talk.

We kiss.

Oh, my God.

Kissing?

Who kissed who first?

You're so uptight.

Kissing is kissing.

Is he English?

You like pale skin.

Dad was half white.

Your father was Chinese.

Hey, Junn. You OK?

I'm just gonna change the light

bulb for you.

Here we are. See you.

Lilting

Are you alright? Can I help?

I'm looking for a Ms Junn Tan.

Do you know how I can find her?

Yeah, she's probably in her room.

Oh, no, she isn't.

I saw her outside earlier with Alan.

Every day around this time

they meet out there,

spend some time

holding hands and snogging.

- It kills me.

- That's sweet.

Yeah. How do you know Junn?

I'm a friend of her son's, Kai.

I'm sorry.

- I'll take you outside to see her.

- OK.

Alan.

Junn, I've got someone to see you.

Hello, Junn.

Hello.

How are you?

I'm OK. I'm... plodding along.

- Is this your friend?

- She's not deaf.

Sorry.

It's a nice place.

- How's she been?

- She spends her time in her room.

We take them on trips

every few months,

but she doesn't really participate.

There's Casanova here.

They snuggle up

pretty much every day.

- My name's Alan.

- I'm Richard.

How do you know her, then?

I'm a friend.

Does she have any other family?

I used to pull the birds

with this song.

It never failed to turn

their legs to jelly.

You see what I mean?

We came here to give our child

a better life.

My husband said

you'll love this country.

People are so nice,

everything is new and modern.

There will be so much freedom

and choices.

But we ended up shopping

in charity shops and jumble sales.

Even though I couldn't grasp

your way of life,

somehow it clings to my skin,

changing the simple things within,

and returning home feels frightening.

What other countries can

offer free medical care

and clean drinking water?

My husband thought he was in heaven

with so many bookies in one high street.

Five years pass and suddenly

we're English people,

but I'm not English.

Kai.

I hate this place.

How did I end up here?

You smell really nice.

Really?

I've taken care of everything.

We can leave now.

Really, move in with you?

What about your friend Richard?

He has gone.

Even though he's your friend,

I've never liked him.

Don't get angry.

Have you stopped being friends?

Yes.

I'll find new friends.

Why have you put me in

this awful place?

Look at the wallpaper.

Everything in here is suffocating.

I'm sorry, Mum, it's my fault.

I shouldn't have put you in here.

We are leaving now.

Richard has gone?

I can move in with you?

Yes, like you wanted, Mum.

- Are you...

- Richard?

- Yes. Are you Vann?

- Hi. Yeah.

- How you doing?

- Good. How are you?

- Good, thanks.

- Do you want anything to drink?

I'd love a coffee, actually.

- Hi. Can I get an Americano, please?

- Sure.

- I'll have the same, please.

- Of course.

Thank so much for coming

at such short notice.

That's OK. I hope I can help.

I can't remember whether

I told you on the phone.

She's the mother of a very dear

friend of mine who died recently

and I felt that...

Well, anyway,

she has met a man, Alan,

and the problem is

they don't have any common language,

so I wanted you

to translate for them.

- I'm sorry.

- No, don't be.

I think it'll be lovely and...

- No, I meant...

- I know. I know what you meant.

She speaks the four main dialects,

she speaks Mandarin,

Cantonese, Hokkien?

And something else

that I can't remember.

And a bit of Cambodian

and Vietnamese.

- They're Cambodian Chinese.

- Right.

Yeah, she speaks

six languages altogether.

- Apart from English.

- Lazy b*tch.

- So selfish.

- Sounds like my mum.

I'm not a professional translator.

I can speak the languages.

Fine.

I'm just grateful that you can help.

I'll try my best.

I wish there was a

shazam for smell.

Have you been sniffing

other people?

No.

Sometimes I come across a certain scent,

I'd like to know what it is.

We should have your mum

over for dim sum.

I can impress her

with my Chinese cooking.

She won't like your cooking.

- Come on, I'm good.

- I know, but she won't admit it.

She hates me.

She doesn't.

She's jealous.

I'm her only child. No one's

good enough for me in her eyes.

You're not good enough for me.

You have to try harder.

Why? Why am I not good enough?

You'll have to stay in the spare room.

We'll have to pretend we're friends.

I know.

I think I've put her in there too soon.

I don't think sheltered accommodation

is good for her.

You should come out to her.

So she can come here

and live with us instead.

Stop doing that.

It's like walking back in time.

That's the idea.

Junn.

Junn, this is Vann.

I was just explaining who I was.

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