Original subtitles

(PHONE RINGING)

VOICE ON SPEAKER: This is a Manhattan bound 'B' train making express stops...

You're 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.

What's wrong?

- MAN: Hey! - WIL: Hey.

Raymond!

- WOMAN: Give me that. - MAN: Mother!

How about it Wil, do me the honor?

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 its Shorty next to the punch bowl.

Butch.

- How can you tell? - Oh, call it a hunch.

I think he's some sort of stock wiz.

Does he have stock in Rogaine?

I'm glad you weren't this snarky for our setup.

- WIL: (CHUCKLES) - MAN: What?

Okay, out with it.

You know, your mother gave me $20 to dance with you.

Yeah, well, you dance like a girl.

(SPEAKER'S VOICE FADES)

Here we go, signal if you need me.

- Raymond. - Wil.

Shall we?

So, what do you do Raymond?

Oh, I do some short selling on Wall Street. It's a pretty sweet job.

So I said, "Listen fuckwad, you can early terminate this."

And then I slammed down the phone, and now I'm on

Verizon's national single rate plan, you know...

With free mobile to mobile and unlimited nights and weekends...

(GRUNTS)

- Oh, I'm sorry. - Hey there! May we cut?

(SIMULTANEOUSLY) Yes.

Six minutes, I believe that's a new record.

That's my cousin Vivian.

Big deal ballerina for the ballet.

Are you into dancers?

Me? No.

You are so into her.

I am not into her.

That was convincing.

Shut up.

- May I cut? - Sure Mr. Cho!

- Nice suit. - Thank you.

Hi, is he your boyfriend?

I heard that.

Then again, you don't want to wait too long.

Yeah, weekly pilgrimage to Flushing to swim in the Chinese gene pool.

Good girl.

How come you never have to go?

Lucky.

What's this?

You've gotta be kidding.

It's all natural. No side effects.

- There's my train. - Hey!

MAN 1: Yo man, why don't you go talk to him? See if we can get the court.

MAN 2: I ain't gonna talk to him, you go talk to him.

MAN 1: Why don't he go play some Chinese checkers somewhere.

So, it's like the whole relationship is so adolescent.

- He tells me on the phone that he wants to break up. - Again?

And you know, that's not the worst of it. I was assisting Morgan at the time, so

it's like over the speaker for the whole team to hear.

And you know what the sickest thing was?

All I could think about was having the bed to myself, catching up on sleep.

Game of survival, sleep trumps sex.

You know who I saw downtown yesterday at the Fulton clinic, your mom.

- My mom? - I waved, but she didn't see me.

Are you sure it was her? You met her once.

Well, she's pretty memorable.

Nah, nah, she never leaves Flushing.

Ah, jeez.

No change?

So...

Are you sick?

No.

I'm here visiting my father.

Oh... I'm sorry.

Is he sick?

You could say that.

He's sort of dead to the world.

Here.

- No, no, I'm... - Really.

Take it.

Kay.

(SKEPTICAL MURMUR)

(SKEPTICAL MURMUR)

Is that what you're going to 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.

I'll see you around.

Ma?

What are you doing here?

Oh my god, are you sick?

Did Wai Po's heart give out?

Are you crying?

I can't tell, you're wearing those sunglasses.

Ma, what are you doing here?

Ma.

Ma!

Ma!

One night without Chinese food isn't gonna kill her.

Ma, can you please?

Baby?

One billion Chinese people, two degrees of separation.

So, how long?

Who knows.

Until my grandfather takes her back in I guess.

When's that gonna happen?

When she gets married, or proves immaculate conception.

Inspiring prospects.

Can we just...

Who's the, um...

The, um...

How long do you plan on...

I don't know why he bothers.

Why can't she get her own apartment?

Are you insane?

Do you know what kind of karmic hell I'd have to pay

as a Chinese daughter who didn't take in her own mom?

No.

The woman could never live alone.

Pull this knob?

Wow, I only ever see you smile like that during surgery.

Two?

(VOICES SCREAMING ON TV)

Ma?

What's that smell?

Ugh, we'll never get the stench out of here.

Is that what we're having for dinner?

Oh, great, Jay loves fish.

Ma, you can't give him a paper plate.

It's rude.

(LOUDLY) Hi Mrs. Pang.

You don't have to talk so loud

and leave your shoes by the door.

So I get a call from...

Ma, that'd ridiculous.

Thanks.

Let's keep her.

Wow, you're so good.

VIVIAN: Thank you, thank you for coming.

- So what'd you guys think? - You were wonderful.

So, so fantastic.

Bye.

Where to now, doctor?

(GLASS BREAKING)

(CAR ALARM)

(SCREAMING) MAN: Hey get outta here!

- My dad used to come here. - Mine too.

This is one he'd wear.

What does he do?

Judge me, fail me.

I can't tell you how pissed he was when I wasn't promoted

to principal this season.

And now, he's just praying I'll get that gig with the

Paris Opera Ballet.

Paris, wow. Sounds impressive.

Give him a little something to hope for.

Well, he must be proud of this new show.

He thinks modern dance is created by a bunch of

wild haired hippie dropouts.

There were some freaky moments.

But on the whole it was...

I'm sure if he just saw the show.

Maybe you could tell him.

He's your boss.

Wow.

Relax, he's too consumed by his own life to pay

any attention to mine.

As long as he can trot out his daughter, the prima ballerina.

The modern gig is just for fun while I'm on sabbatical.

I kind of love it, but...

Whatever.

Well, maybe he's right.

Most girls would kill for my spot at city, and

here I am, trying to express myself.

I should of chucked the distractions.

Focus on being a bunhead.

That would really suck.

So...

How come we never met before now?

We did meet.

Nineteen years ago, I was 8, you were 9.

Outside the temple.

I don't remember.

The Wong boys were taunting me about my parents' divorce.

You beat the crap out of them.

You were wearing a Kristy McNichol t-shirt,

tan cords, and a pageboy.

You spilled your mom's groceries.

We scooped them into a bag...

That's right, and then...

And then I kissed you...

On the nose.

And, you ran.

China.

My view.

It's nice.

I teach down at Arts Alliance.

You like kids?

No. It's city ballet outreach.

I'm teaching them how to fall without hurting themselves.

I'll show you.

Here.

Try it.

- No, no, no, really... - Relax.

Okay, when I say 'fall'

you totally let go, okay?

Fall.

Fall.

Okay, fall!

Sorry, I can't do this.

That's it, you got it.

Ow.

- You okay? - No, that's good.

That was...

That was...

Fun.

(WOMAN MOANING)

Oh my god, oh yeah, don't stop.

(MAN MOANING)

(MAN AND WOMAN MOANING)

Who's your Asian daddy?

(FOOTSTEPS)

I like the sound of the ball going in the hole.

Hi folks, I'm Putter Gellar for the Putting...

The drawback to putting into that object is that you're not

getting the feedback of the sound of the ball going...

♪ Love is strange

♪ A lot of people take it for A game

♪ Once you get it honey, oh

♪ Never wanna quit

♪ After you've had it

♪ In an awful fit

♪ Many people, they Don't understand

♪ They think love is money in The hand

♪ Love...

Isn't it dangerous?

Not necessarily, we would monitor her more closely.

I didn't think it was possible.

I read those Time magazine articles

I can literally feel my eggs atrophy.

It's easier to conceive later, if you've had a child before.

She must have all sorts of weird cravings.

She's at home clawing the cupboards.

So she's having the kid?

Don't know.

Who's the father?

She won't say.

These are good for someone who's cooped up and depressed.

I had to shop for my mom after the divorce.

She wouldn't leave the house.

Totally ostracized by those Chinese biddies.

I vowed to get out of Flushing as soon as I could.

Why didn't your mom get out?

Where would she go?

Thirsty?

(HUMMING)

I haven't forgotten.

I won't even be home till late.

It's a coworker's birthday.

KID: Throw it here!

Hey, birthday girl.

Do I get a birthday kiss?

Saved by the fence.

Where were you last night?

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

Ma was waiting for me again.

But I'll definitely be there tonight.

Definitely, definitely? Or definitely, maybe?

You know, my friends are starting to think you don't exist.

Trust me.

I'll definitely, definitely, be there.

- Six surgeries? - God damn sick people.

It's just that...

I promised Vivian I'd meet her friends tonight.

Meeting the friends? Prepare to be grilled.

Vivian, we had some emergencies.

I can't get out of here until eight.

Make that nine.

Have the most expensive birthday floral arrangement delivered to this address.

Ten, ten.

Wil, last minute pre-op. I have to run, can you take it?

Everyone's gone home.

Can I come in?

I'm not sure.

Okay.

That's it?

You didn't want me to stay.

I didn't say you should leave.

Never mind.

That one's from you, that one's from my dad.

I'm an idiot.

What if I stay the night?

The whole night?

The whole night.

Happy birthday.

♪ Oh, I do believe in all the Things you see

♪ What comes is better than what came before

♪ And you better Come, come, come ♪

(PHONE RINGING)

♪ Come, come, come, come to me ♪

(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEP)

Hello? Vivian? This is mother. Just call to say 'hi'.

Hope your birthday good. Did Wil show up?

I thought you may want talk, after she leave.

Oh, maybe she still there? Okay. Bye.

(LAUGHING)

Oh my god.

You talk to your mother about us?

Yeah? So?

So?

Does she know we have sex?

No, Wil. She thinks we conjugate Latin verbs.

Really?

Did you tell her about this?

(GIGGLES)

Ma, don't start with me today.

If you wanna bust on someone, find yourself a husband to bust on.

So marry her off.

There's gotta be someone you can fix her up with.

I'll put the word out with the other nurses, we'll come up with someone.

Oh hey, my landlord's a Chinese guy.

You know what, I don't think so.

He's not very chatty, but he's rich.

Might as well put him on the list.

What about Mr. Park over at Summer's Deli?

Park is Korean. Ma's looking for Chinese.

Your mom called again, she wants to know what time you're going to be home.

God.

Hey, there's a Mr. Fu. He's just finishing a check-up with Morgan.

Lemme see his stats.

53, unmarried.

Thyroid levels aren't where I'd like to see them, but

overall pretty healthy. Okay.

Be discrete, but ask him if he's free Friday.

Book him, Dano.

Maybe you should let your hair down.

Is that the dress you're gonna wear?

Maybe you should wear something brighter.

How 'bout this one?

On sale.

Okay, okay.

Wear that.

It'll be fun!

All right, forget it.

Forget it. It's already ten till 7:00.

Ma?

Ma...

You're beautiful.

Save it for the second date.

Oh.

♪ Cause I'm gonna be good to you

♪ Cause we don't need much

♪ So I wanna give you my Love's touch ♪

What makes you say that?

Ma, I gotta get up early tomorrow.

So I don't have to change in the morning.

Is that the good guy?

Is that the good guy?

And who's that guy?

Who's the loser they're beating up?

He shouldn't have slept with another woman.

That's a pathetic excuse.

She should go it alone without him.

What?

I can hear your stomach.

What's it say?

Blug.

Blub.

It's not very articulate.

Oh? But yours is?

Mine sings arias.

Spouts poetry, proofs.

My mom used to do that.

Put me right to sleep.

- Really? - Mhmm.

I bet she has some great tips on how to deal with you.

We should uh...

We should get together and compare notes.

Ha! Thank god that'll never happen.

So...

Is this all we are?

Huh?

Just starting to feel like we're having an illicit affair.

We never do anything. We never see anyone.

I love holeing up with you, but...

(PHONE RINGING)

Sorry.

I'd like to see your place.

I have a pregnant mother at home.

I'd like to meet her.

Yeah, she's not ready.

It's been weeks. Just tell her I'm a friend, a nice Chinese girl.

You're not just a nice Chinese girl.

I'll fake it.

- You don't know my mom. - Exactly.

Oh, ballet.

Less classical, more...

Expressive.

Oh.

Me neither.

I'm fine.

No.

Ma?

You're waiting for me now?

What if I have other plans?

Train's here.

I'm getting a vital contact high.

I feel virginal.

(SNIFFS)

Fertile.

Where are my bridesmaids?

Seriously, Wil, why don't you just tell her?

She knows.

She does.

She dropped by my apartment a couple years ago unannounced.

She caught you.

So what'd you say?

Nothing.

She dropped some dumplings on the table and left.

We haven't talked about it since.

But she kept setting you up with guys?

That's when it started.

Hey, Mrs. P!

Hi!

Oh, pardon me! I was just leaving.

(CHUCKLES)

He's a lumpy looking guy.

(LAUGHS) Yeah.

Are you guys gonna kiss?

Huh?

No.

What?

Are you going to French kiss when you go to Paris?

Go play on the jungle gym.

I got the gig...

At the Paris Opera Ballet.

Wow.

Four year contract.

Wow...

That's great.

Wow, what an incredible opportunity.

I'm proud of you.

When are you leaving?

Umm...

I don't know.

Deadline to accept is next week.

Well, congratulations.

It's...

(CHILD YELLING) Wait for me!

Then why don't you go in?

Mrs. Wong's really upset because Raymond's dating a white girl.

And Mrs. Chin...

She's been really bitter because her husband lost

a pile of money on the stock market.

Oh...

Ma?

Hm?

Nothing.

Ma?

Do you like Cho?

But do you like him?

Do you think Ma should marry Cho?

Does she love him?

I don't think so.

Deadline for Paris is Friday.

You must be excited.

Well it's...

Paris.

It's professional validation.

But...

I have new things here.

New work.

I, I just...

I don't know if it'll pan out.

It's a pretty big thing to pass up.

Yeah.

(PHONE RINGING)

ON LOUDSPEAKER: Paging Dr... Please report to the seventh floor patient's lounge.

Your grandmother's lungs aren't as strong as we'd like to see them.

But I believe she'll pull through fine.

I'd like to keep her here for another few days.

Vivian?

What are you doing here?

I...

I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd get some coffee with you.

Wil.

Vivian.

Why don't we get breakfast after I finish up here.

We can talk about your training in Paris.

Wil?

Can I grab you for a second?

So you're the reason she's dragging her heels on Paris.

She was 6...

The first time I saw her dance.

She blew away all the other girls.

I haven't missed a single performance since.

Do you love her?

If she doesn't take this job in Paris

she may never realize her greatness.

I understand.

(PHONE RINGING)

Vivian's been leaving messages up the ying-yang since this morning.

VIVIAN: Hey, it's me.

Well, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.

So are you still coming by the theater tonight?

Yeah, just let me know.

Okay. Bye.

(PHONE RINGING)

VIIVIAN: Hey, I'm going into rehearsal in a few minutes, so

my cell's gonna be off until after the show, but

am I gonna see you afterward?

Um, yeah, I'll just talk to you later.

INFOMERCIAL: And folks it will help if you putt into a smaller object...

Your hot dog got cold so

I fed it to the birds.

Careful, we don't want to train them to eat flesh.

So...

How's your grandma?

Okay.

Where have you been the last couple of days?

It's been crazy.

Vivian...

There's a lot going on right now.

I'm sorry if I...

If this hurts.

At least it's not a flesh wound.

Ma.

Ma.

VOICE ON TV: Ma.

Ma.

Ma!

Ma.

(PHONE RINGING)

(CRYING)

I can't believe she's gonna do it.

Crazy.

Are you a bridesmaid?

I'm not invited.

Ma's not speaking to me anyway.

So...

Really not gonna see Vivian off to the airport?

We broke up.

So?

We broke up.

Hey.

Jesus.

Damn it.

Oh my god.

Ma!

Pa.

(GIGGLING)

No, Ma, wait.

Ma...

No.

You know what I don't understand?

Why did you make us go through this?

Why didn't you just say it was Sha Yu and be together?

He's obviously in love with you.

She's leaving for Paris tonight.

No, Ma, you stay here.

Vivian.

I gotta catch my flight.

Don't go, wait.

That's what I do, I wait. I hang around

waiting to catch a precious moment with you

sandwiched between your mom and your beeper and I'm sick of it.

We'll have more time after my residency.

It's not the time, Wil, it's how you feel.

You're too scared to look the world in the eye

and let it watch you fall in love.

You're off, and you're running without a fan.

I'm not the one running off to Paris.

Don't flatter yourself. It's for the ballet.

I thought you wanted to do modern?

What do you fucking care what kind of dancing I do?

Punish me by leaving, fine.

But don't punish yourself by treating your dreams like they're worth shit.

Kiss me.

Right here, in front of all these people.

This is the final boarding call for flight 703 to Paris. Please proceed to gate 30.

Vivian...

Vivian, I love you.

(CRYING)

Working late again?

Not tonight, I'm off to Planet China.

I thought you didn't have to do that no more?

Ma was insistent.

I have to be there tonight for some reason or other.

She still goes to those things?

All the ladies are bugging her for advice now.

Hi, Ma.

It is four AM in Paris.

Can we please go home now?

I am not spending my entire break in Planet China.

You promised she wouldn't be here.

She hasn't been coming for a while.

(BACKROUND NOISE FADES)

Dance with me?

Wil...

Vivian Shing.

I am asking you to dance with me.

I can't.

There's no music.

(FAST MUSIC STARTS)

Folks are leaving.

Well...

Fuck 'em.

JAY: Fifteen years is too damn long to wait.

If you like her, go for it!

How's your squab?

Oh, it's good!

We finally saw Vivian's new show.

What do you think?

I didn't get it.

Me neither.

At least she's marrying a doctor.

Patting isn't bad for the kid. Right, Wil?

Yeah, but disagreeing with her mother is.

Because, I like to be nagged.

I'll work on her.