The Offerings
- Year:
- 2015
- 100 min
- 12 Views
1
[cell phone ringing]
Jacob.
[ring]
[ring]
[phone ringing]
[ring]
Bye.
Hello.
Miss Wu?
I'm Alyssa Barnes.
Um, the Arkham Agency
sent me.
I'm your new housekeeper.
Um, sorry I'm so early.
It's such...
It was such a long trip,
I wanted to make sure
I got here on time.
I hope that's okay.
[speaking Chinese]
Hi, Alyssa.
I'm Miss Wu.
[laughs]
Oh! Hello.
My aunt doesn't speak
much English.
Oh, that's okay.
Am I too early?
No, not at all.
Please come in.
Welcome.
Wow. You have
a gorgeous home.
This is incredible.
Thank you.
I'm so glad that you
could take this job
on such short notice.
This big house needs
all the help it can get.
I didn't think I was
going to get anyone
since we're so far out.
It's perfect timing for me.
I need the work.
Please follow me.
Most people like to be
closer to a city
and their families.
I have no one.
Not anymore, anyway.
I'm sorry.
Oh, no, it's okay.
Well, you come
highly recommended.
Please take a seat.
Would you like
some tea?
Oh, no, thank you.
It's just my aunt and I
in this big house.
Sometimes I think I should
just move into a smaller one.
[chuckle]
But then,
I enjoy it here.
And then, the more space,
the more to clean, right?
Yeah.
But I think
I can handle it.
Help yourself to anything
in the kitchen.
We're usually
early risers,
but you can work
at your own pace
as long as things
get done.
I do ask for a few things
if you live here.
Please respect this place.
It was built on luck
and good fortune
I've been blessed with.
So I ask you, please,
no boyfriends, no guests,
no loud music,
drugs, or smoking.
If you need to make a call,
please ask first.
And here,
the list of duties.
Everything I expect
to be done is on there.
Come. Let me
show you around.
Over this way.
How old is this house?
Not very old.
My father was
a well-respected architect
in China for many years.
He bought this land
and built this place
shortly before he died.
Down this way.
[Miss Wu]
There are only a few
other houses around here.
Most are summer homes
and empty.
It's an hour drive
to the nearest town,
so we go for supplies
when we can.
This is where I keep
all the cleaning supplies
and tools.
And that's
the laundry area.
Plenty of towels and rags.
If you can't find something,
it's probably down here.
Okay.
I'm adding
a storage room here.
It's unfinished,
so don't worry about it.
All this brick
reminds me
of my father.
He was a mason.
I used to help him
build things
when I was little.
Wow, you're multi-talented.
Maybe I should have you
finish the job for me.
Yeah, maybe.
Let's go.
This is your room.
This is the warmest room
in the house.
Gets plenty of sunlight
during the day.
This'll be just fine.
Thanks.
This is one of the most
peaceful places
I've ever been.
I'm used to more
city noises...
car alarms in the night,
dogs barking, motorcycles.
It will be
a nice change.
I'm a bit of
a bookworm anyhow.
Oh, there are trails all over
if you want to take a walk
or just find
a place to read.
Thanks.
I'll have to do that.
Why don't you get settled?
Dinner's served
just after dark.
Okay. Great.
I'll see you then.
Thanks.
[door closes]
[flatware clinking]
[Miss Wu speaking Chinese]
Aunt Chen
is a great cook.
I hope you like it.
Smells great.
Go ahead. Here.
Yep.
Do you need a fork?
I think I got it.
Oh.
[laughs]
Here. Let me show you.
First,
grip it like this.
And the other one
like this.
Okay.
Just pinch.
Like that?
Mm-hmm.
You got it.
You're a fast learner.
I like that.
It's really nice.
Are you a Catholic?
Yeah. All the way
through school.
My family was very strict.
And you're not?
Mm, well, I'm not
fanatical or anything,
but I still go
to church when I can.
When you can?
What, you don't
want to go?
Well...
[clears throat]
Why are you still wearing it
when you don't believe in it?
I don't know.
Guilt if I don't,
I guess.
I see.
Enough talking.
Please, go ahead, eat.
Here. More.
[chuckles]
[Miss Wu speaking
indistinctly]
[fire crackling]
[speaking Chinese]
[door opens]
Oh, good,
you found it.
I thought you might
need something
to keep the dirt off.
Yeah. Thank you.
Do you know feng shui?
Um... no, I don't.
It's the Chinese art
of placement.
We place things in a certain
relationship to nature
so we can get success
and good fortune.
What's this?
That's a bagua mirror.
That's for protection.
Against what?
Bad energies or spirits.
The mirror deflects
the influence of
negative energy
and protects
the occupants
of the home.
So you keep
the bad energy out
and the good energy in?
Something like that.
Come.
Let's have some tea.
Okay.
All this must seem
strange to you,
but these beliefs have been
in my family for generations.
If you follow the rules,
nature will bless you.
Do you have any
other family here?
No, it's just my aunt.
I still have some
relatives in China.
I had a little brother once,
but we sent him away.
To school?
No. He was sick.
So we sent him
to all the good doctors,
but no one could help him.
So eventually, he died.
Oh. I'm sorry.
It's okay.
[rustling]
[glass breaking]
[dialing]
Hey. This is Alyssa's cell.
Leave a message, please.
[beep]
Hey, it's me.
Just wanted to see
if you might pick up
this time.
I really need
to talk to you.
I've been so depressed.
All I can think about
is you.
I know you haven't
been yourself lately,
but I'm still here for you.
We can work this out.
Please, just, when you
get this, call me.
I need to hear your voice
so I know you're okay.
I love you, Alyssa.
[fire crackling]
[speaking Chinese]
[murmuring]
[door opens]
Alyssa, come.
Come.
Go ahead,
throw some in.
It's just Joss paper.
What are you doing?
What is all this?
Tonight is the second night
of the Chinese Ghost Month.
We must make offerings
to the spirits
to appease them
each night.
Are you trying to scare me?
Oh, no. No.
Chinese people believe
a lot of things.
Every year
in the Chinese calendar,
the seventh month is known
as the Chinese Ghost Month.
It's believed that
during these 30 days,
the gates of hell
are opened
and the souls of the dead
are allowed
to roam the earth.
Most spirits are content
with just visiting
their relatives,
but some... those who didn't
receive a proper burial,
or suicides, seek someone
to take their place in hell.
Lost souls, you mean?
Why burn money
and incense?
The sweet smell helps
the spirit to find food.
The more you burn,
the more prosperous.
And these are hell notes.
We offer this
to our dead ancestors
to make sure that they have
good things in the afterlife.
I didn't realize that
Chinese had such beliefs.
Not all Chinese do.
But there are still
people
who believe
in the ancient way.
In China, it's taken
very seriously.
Important business meetings
are rescheduled,
weddings postponed,
no one swims,
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"The Offerings" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_offerings_20980>.
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