Saving Face

---

You were right, Winston.

Kid's got the touch.

Reminds me a little of you.

Think she'll be chief of surgery

when she's 55?

When she's 40.

Suture, please.

She got a sweetheart yet?

No time to date.

The hospital keeps her too busy.

She was always first in her class.

Not like my lazy Raymond.

He never opens a book,

only his wallet.

At 29, he's already VP of his company.

What are you complaining about?

Yeah, money seems to cling to him,

but what's the use?

He's only 5'8''.

Let me tell you...

...every Friday, Wilhelmina

comes home for the dance.

Good. See you there tonight.

Be discrete. Nothing kills romance

faster than a mother's approval.

Have faith, I know what to do.

And make sure his hands are clean.

It's flu season.

I'll wash them myself if I have to.

Okay, bye-bye.

You're late again.

-All the crab is gone.

-This party's a bust. Let's go to KFC.

Cheeky girl.

So thin. You'll catch your death.

I see men's clothes

are still in style.

Let me button that for you.

People are going to think....

Hey.

Raymond!

-Give me that!

-Mother.

Wil, I love your outfit!

Don't you think it's too boyish?

Nonsense.

I had a pair just like those

during the Revolution.

Sturdy and practical.

Just the thing for war.

Your high heels on the other hand....

Those things will kill you.

It'll be a miracle

if you don't trip and die.

I'm going to get some squid.

Hey, Grandma.

How about it, Wil?

Do me the honor?

Good to see you, Old Yu.

How much did your mom bribe you

to come over here?

So who's the unlucky fellow

this week?

I'm not sure, but I think it's shorty,

next to the punch bowl.

Butch.

-How can you tell?

-Call it a hunch.

-I think he's some sort of stock whiz.

-Does he have stock in Rogaine?

I'm glad you weren't this snarky

before our setup.

What?

Okay, out with it.

My mother gave me 20 bucks

to dance with you.

Yeah, well, you dance like a girl.

Let me say a few words.

As the lazy toads

of summer give way...

...to the crackling

of autumn leaves...

...one's mind naturally turns toward

the demise of our children's education.

I give thanks to the woman

who has suffered alongside me.

-I toast you.

-Okay, no more suffering. Let's eat.

Here we go. Signal if you need me.

-Raymond.

-Wil.

Shall we?

So, what do you do, Raymond?

Well, I do some short selling

on Wall Street. It's a pretty sweet job.

Look at those two.

Don't their faces

reflect good marriage chi?

Depends on whose marriage.

Hey, Albert!

Don't eat too much of that cabbage.

It gives you gas!

So I said, ''Listen, f***-wad,

you early terminate this.''

Then I slammed down the phone.

Now I'm on Verizon's national

single-rate plan.

Your Raymond is such a gentleman.

Anyone looks good on his arm.

With free mobile-to-mobile

and unlimited nights and weekends.

-I'm sorry.

-Hey there. May we cut?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Six minutes.

I believe that's a new record.

That's my cousin, Vivian.

Big deal ballerina with City Ballet.

Are you into dancers?

Me? No.

Another great party.

My husband and I fought

all the way over here.

But I'm having a great time.

Is there more wine?

You are so into her.

I am not into her.

-That was convincing.

-Shut up.

Poor Jenny.

They say her ex-husband has a

new wife 20 years younger than her.

Serves her right.

He made good money.

What's to be unhappy about?

Marry a rooster, follow the rooster.

Marry a dog, follow the dog.

Why be like those Americans,

divorcing all the time?

She'll never marry again.

Women never do.

She's certainly not meeting

anyone here.

Still...

...must be lonely at these parties

without a man.

What do you think those morons

talk about anyway?

The usual ball scratching.

They say he's got a new wife

on the Upper East Side.

I heard she's 20 years younger.

My back hurts just thinking about it.

I plan to be married soon myself.

Anyone in mind?

Good luck. You'll have to get

past her father first.

-May I cut?

-Sure, Mr. Cho. Nice suit.

Thank you. Hi. Is he your boyfriend?

Just plain friends.

He not enough good for you anyway.

I heard that.

You don't want to wait too long.

Forget meat on the grill,

and it will dry out.

-Right. So my ma says.

-Does she?

She's quite a woman.

Ever since your father passed away,

she's been so delicate.

These 20-odd years

you've been all she has.

Wilhelmina!

Yeah. She's delicate.

Good to see you.

I'm not feeling so well.

Take me home.

It's those heels, I tell you!

Thanks, Little Yu.

Home to see your grandparents?

The weekly pilgrimage

to Flushing...

-...to swim in the Chinese gene pool.

-Good girl.

How come you never have to go?

I have station duty Friday nights.

Lucky.

From my father.

He still telling fortunes?

As long as there are anxious wives

and mothers, he'll be in business.

What's this?

Your mother asked him

to give you some herbs...

...to improve your fortitude

for marriage.

You've got to be kidding.

It's all natural, no side effects.

-There's my train.

-Hey!

Give it a try. Those herbs

are good for your heart anyway.

Go talk to him,

see if we can get the court.

I ain't gonna talk to him.

You go talk to him.

Why don't he go play some

Chinese checkers or something? Sh*t.

Professor, your chi is so potent...

...you've managed to hold

the court once again.

No fortunes to tell this morning,

Old Yu?

Most people don't want to hear

the truth until after lunch.

Fate is for the lazy.

Too true, too true.

But I won't lie,

my only morning customer...

...was your only daughter.

Her?

What does she have to worry about?

She lives safely at home with us.

Her daughter's a doctor.

-What more could she want?

-Indeed.

But her health may be a bit bumpy

this year.

Ridiculous. She's only 48.

Could be menopause.

Menopause?

Nonsense.

Only Americans freak out

about menopause.

The whole relationship is adolescent.

He tells me on the phone...

-...that he wants to break up.

-Again?

And that's not the worst of it.

I was assisting Morgan then...

...so it was over the speakerphone

for all the team to hear.

You know what the sickest thing was?

All I could think of...

...was having the bed to myself,

catching up on sleep.

Game of survival, sleep trumps sex.

You know who I saw

yesterday at the Fulton clinic?

Your mom.

-My mom?

-I waved but she didn't see me.

You sure it was her?

You met her once.

Oh, she's pretty memorable.

No. She never leaves Flushing.

No change?

So...

...are you sick?

No.

I'm here visiting my father.

I'm sorry.

-Is he sick?

-You could say that.

He's-- He's sort of dead

to the world.

-Here.

-No.

-No, I'm-- I'm--

-Really. Really. Take it.

Is that what you're gonna eat?

Yeah.

You really should eat better.

How about this one?

It's packed with peanuts.

And a lot of other

satisfying carcinogens.

Sometimes your body

knows what you really want.

See you around.

Ma?

Thank God you're here!

I've been waiting for hours.

What are you doing here?

This is a crummy neighborhood.

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