Lilting Page #3

She hasn't had Chinese food

in a long time.

- It'll make her feel at home.

- She cooks Chinese food every day.

I'm trying to help you.

Junn doesn't like lasagne.

But I don't do Chinese.

You can order from a takeaway.

- She's thinking of coming, then?

- Yeah.

What do I order?

Sweet and sour thingumabobs,

Shanghai duck, springtime rolls?

No, don't order those.

I'll get the food for you.

You can have the dinner at mine.

Were you 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.

- You alright?

- Yeah.

I just bought you some fruit.

She said thank you.

She asked what you're thinking.

I'm just looking at her room.

Kai described the room to me.

I was just remembering what he said.

Is that Kai?

He was four or five years old.

She thinks he looks really sweet.

This is for you.

It's Kai's ashes.

You should have his ashes.

I'm sorry

that I fought over them with you.

He was my best friend.

She knows. He talks about you.

Did he tell you about me?

Don't say that.

He loved you very much.

He was always trying to find ways

to make your life better.

Why did he put me in here?

It was only meant to be temporary.

Really he wanted you to live with him.

I know.

Then you got in the way.

What does she mean?

Is that what Kai told her?

He wanted us to live together,

but there was no space in your flat.

One of the options, actually,

was to move to another flat

and have you live with us.

Don't say that.

Do you like living here?

That's a silly question.

What's happening?

What did you.. What did you say?

I suggested you could look after her,

that you're practically family

and you care a great deal

for her wellbeing.

She got angry because

I said that you were a good man

and she didn't know what that meant.

She said she doesn't think you two

living together is the answer.

What the f***?

Why did you do that?

It was going very well.

I'm sorry. I was trying to help.

Good work.

You said you wanted to give it a trial.

Don't you think I should be

part of the conversation?

Of course. It just happened.

It got out of control.

I'm sorry.

Junn?

Is that your husband?

Ask her.

Yeah. Is her husband white?

He's half French.

Cambodian-Chinese French.

When was it taken?

Phnom Penh, 1962.

Have you never been back?

No.

We should go.

This isn't gonna work.

Can you please say to her

that I'm sorry?

I didn't mean to upset her.

You're doing it...

You're doing it again.

Stop hounding me.

She thinks we're together.

Did you tell her that we're not?

- I told her you're gay.

- Vann...

I'm kidding. I'm kidding.

This is what I brought.

- I have those.

- Well, I didn't know, did I?

It's actually really hard to, you know,

cook in someone else's kitchen.

Check you out.

Listen, when you learn to cook as

good as me, then you'll understand.

So what's for dinner tonight?

I thought we could start off

with coriander king prawns

scented with Longjng tea.

Fancy. Followed by?

Ginger pork stir-fry with

a sesame dressing, Richard style.

Nice. And dessert?

- Crme brle.

- From a tub?

Organic, fair trade, free range.

Wow. Can't wait.

- They had their first row yesterday.

- What happened?

The usual. Stubbornness. Men.

What did Junn do?

Alan pointed out a contradiction in

something Junn had said

and then she got all defensive

and started to criticise him,

finding inconsistencies in him.

So petty.

I would never do something like that.

I'm not sure

how it escalated so quickly.

She said he touches her too much.

It's not funny.

Alan was really embarrassed.

And my presence

just made it worse for him.

Come on,

you're doing such a great job.

That was really tasty.

To us.

- What are we having for mains?

- Pork. Stir-fried pork.

Thank you.

It's so romantic. Nice food.

Thank you.

It don't feel very romantic

at the moment. I feel watched.

- Do you mind leaving us?

- But you need me to translate.

No, we can do without.

Can you leave?

Having you watch me eat

feels uncomfortable.

How are they gonna

understand each other now?

They need me.

What are they saying?

I think Alan's saying,

'Petal, I've got a raging hard-on

and only you, pumpkin,

can sort it out.'

Oh, Alan, can I see it?

If you behave yourself, darling,

you can have it for dessert.

You've made a lot of effort tonight.

Thank you.

You know...

...if I were younger,

I'd have ripped your clothes off

and taken you here

right on this table.

You look very handsome.

Gawd knows how many slipped discs

I'm gonna get.

- Shall I clear the table?

- Did you hear all of that?

You shouldn't creep up on people.

It's rude.

I didn't hear anything, Alan.

Yes, you may clear the table.

- Did you have a nice meal?

- Yeah, until you arrived.

- Easy, now.

- Have you got it?

- Got what?

- You know.

What?

I can't pass it to you.

She'll see.

Oh, look.

What is it?

My mistake. I thought I saw a bat.

- Did you just translate that?

- Yes.

Well, clearly there isn't a bat.

- You shouldn't really take that.

- Shush.

Stop whispering.

She can't understand us.

Here, there's only half a tablet in here.

You shouldn't be taking any of it.

It could kill you at your age.

Well, it's only in case,

you know, I...

In case what?

You can't get a Mount Fuji?

She's Cambodian-Chinese.

Now go and get us some coffee.

I'm dead serious. Maybe you should

only take a quarter of it.

What are you two saying?

Do you two need a taxi?

Yes, is it time for us to leave?

It's getting late.

You should be going home.

Thank Richard.

His cooking was very good.

OK, time to go.

I need to sleep. I'm shattered.

Junn said your cooking was fantastic.

I'm glad she enjoyed it.

Maybe she'd like to come over to mine

for supper one night.

Your date's here.

Hi, Junn.

- Hi.

- Hello.

She said dinner the other night

was really lovely.

You helped too, and Richard.

She thinks you should both

get to know each other's bad habits.

Really? OK.

She'd like you

to stop pinching her bum.

What? I don't pinch her bum.

- She says you do it all the time.

- Only gentle squeezes.

Anyway, she started it.

I only do it

because I thought she liked it.

She doesn't like it any more.

Her bum isn't some fruit

you can squeeze whenever you want.

- Now it's your turn.

- What?

Are there any habits

you don't like about Junn?

Yes, her breath smells.

It stinks of garlic.

How come

it never bothered you before?

It did,

but I had no way of telling her.

It's good for the heart.

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