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?
Do you know how it feels
to be locked up by your own son?
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
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.
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.
offer free medical care
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?
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,
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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"Lilting" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/lilting_12601>.
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