Original subtitles

Are you filming the fish?

Do what you always do. Don't worry about me.

Okay, done!

Now you can hang things on here.

Okay, I did my job.

I didn't sleep at all last night, from 11pm until now.

Could she eat?

Yes, she can eat anything she wants.

No problem. She needs more water

in her food since she'd lost a lot of water earlier.

My honey is a smart and courageous woman.

After you drink, get some rest.

-You should rest more. -You too.

The baby, you and I have matching wristbands.

Here comes the baby!

Her ears are so beautiful!

I like both.

Boys and girls are the same in America.

I was only kidding.

One is enough!

No, I think two is better.

No, Uncle. One is enough.

-Listen to me, it's best to have a pair. -No, it's very painful!

It was painful. I'm different from others.

The next one will be easier on you.

I'm afraid.

The first one is the most painful.

I remember I couldn't move comfortably.

It's the same with my sister-in-law.

The first one was hell. The second one was easier.

You'll get use to it.

I'm scared.

Your body knows how it's like internally.

It'll be better next time.

Her eyes are open.

Look. She's awake.

Do you see her? She's looking all around.

She wants to look at pretty things.

-She's looking all around. -She's so adorable.

Hey, what are you looking at?

You understand me.

Get some rest.

We'll stop by again later.

Bye.

Let her cry.

What are you doing?

Let's go upstairs.

Is she awake?

Hello, Michelle.

Where is she?

Looking everywhere.

-Mom came by earlier. -I see.

Dad, why are you so practical?

One should rely on efficiency, not style.

If you rely on looks alone, people can see through you

and you'll only suffer.

But when people see that you are practical...

people won't think anything bad about you.

Relying on looks makes people think you have ulterior motives.

Being practical shows that you are being honest.

When you rely on others, it gets complicated.

When you rely on others...

They will find many reasons to reject you nowadays.

You must rely on yourself. "Plant your feet into the ground."

Did we come to America because we were afraid of The Handover?

-No. -Really?

We came here back in 1982...

I brought Andy here in '81. Your mom brought Mimi here in '82.

It has nothing to do with The Handover. It was only for your education.

In Hong Kong, you won't be able to go to college.

Probably not even middle school.

We couldn't afford tuition for three kids.

But here, grade school is free.

They even provide free meals.

Why was I the one to stay in Hong Kong?

Why did you choose me?

You stayed because...

Let's see...

I wanted you to learn more Chinese.

Andy was already in 6th grade.

Mimi had to come over first.

It's okay if she didn't know Chinese.

Was it because she was the youngest?

Right. It wouldn't be right for her

to stay with me.

or for Andy to stay either...

Being here, Andy could protect Mimi.

If you came over first, you couldn't have protected her.

You were also very young.

When did Mom decide she wanted

a divorce?

Yes.

In 1984...

she made it clear that she didn't want to go back.

What else?

She didn't want to go back to Hong Kong

to bring me and you here.

But the lawyer Uncle Jim told her that she couldn't do that.

He said that she must go back to Hong Kong for an interview

or she can't get her green cards.

That's why she came back to Hong Kong.

If she had gotten her green card here, you and I won't be here today.

I won't be sewing right now.

You won't be holding that...

digital camera right now.

When Mom said that she wanted a divorce,

how did you feel at that moment?

Of course I asked her why.

She told me her situation, so I listened.

She said this and that had happened.

I tried, but there was nothing that I can do about it.

Right?

But someone...

overdid it...

he knew all along and didn't tell me...

and took advantage.

David always took her out to dinner and bought things for her.

He sold me out!

If he'd told me earlier, I could've figured out something.

That's why when it comes to family...

when you are nice to people, they will betray you.

You must be very angry with David.

Not really. i wasn't angry.

Angry with mom then?

No, I wasn't angry with either of them...

because they agreed to take care of you guys.

I didn't have anything when I got here.

I didn't have a car and didn't know anybody.

I could do nothing if I was angry.

I only hoped that they would take good care of you guys.

They gave you a new car to ride in and a house to live in.

I call that even, right?

He had an Oldsmobile. I only had a crappy car.

Are you lonely being by yourself?

There's no need to be lonely. I have things to do now, see?

When I'm bored, I find things to do.

When I have time, I sew...

Do you want another girlfriend?

This stuff will come eventually. God will plan it.

When I went to China, to Chiu Chow, a fortune teller told me...

He told me not to go searching right now.

When I turn 61, there will be someone.

He read my palm and told me...

from 61 and on...

good things will start to line up.

Done.

12th Floor

Dad, when will you come home to feed me?

Never talk about it!

Go ahead, ask.

Why are you recording this?

I'm recording everyone.

Then your mom can answer for me.

What are you doing this for?

I see.

Okay, go ahead.

Was it hard for you and David...

...to support us three kids in this house?

Well, we've done our best, right?

Whatever we ate, you ate, right?

Back then, we were the first generation immigrants to come here.

I didn't have any money to come here.

I wasn't one of those immigrants from Hong Kong

who brought over their fortune.

I didn't have a penny to come here.

Okay?

I worked hard for our green cards.

So after you came here, the three of you started living with us.

After we got our green cards, I left that job.

Then coincidentally, Mr. Gong...

and his two children, Jason and Gilbert needed looking after.

Their nanny decided to retire.

So I worked there.

I didn't have any money and had to take care of you three.

When our landlord kicked us out of her house,

David and I had to come up with a solution.

Mr. Gong made me an offer to buy this house from him

in exchange for my nanny service.

He said he would deduct my wage and use it as down-payment for this home.

So I agreed because I was desperate.

I haven't even seen this house yet! I only knew the address.

We had to survive and needed a permanent shelter.

So, this was the second trade-off...

The first time was for our green cards.

The second time was for this home.

David and I both decided on this.

But we still had to pay for the mortgage,

so David took care of that part.

David was only making $5 an hour.

You do the math. Forty hours a week.

It wasn't enough to raise a family.

Therefore we had to find cleaning work.

We got more and more offices...

maybe you guys were unhappy for working too much

and couldn't enjoy your childhood.

We had no choice!

That was our only way to support you guys.

The child support from your dad...

was only $168 per month total for the three of you!

That wasn't even enough for your meals.

Much less for your clothes and shoes.

Right? That's why

having David around helped support the family.

He deserves some credit.

Yes! You guys worked very hard.

But it's all in the past, Che.

You can deem your childhood as an unacceptable one.

But it was unacceptable only because I was poor.

If I, your mother, was successful,

then you guys wouldn't have to suffer.

But since I wasn't successful, you had to suffer with me.

but when you turned 18, your suffering ended.

You've earned yourselves a great education.

You should be very proud of yourselves.

Did we come to America

because of The Handover?

I think so.

Did you and Dad talk about it?

-Yes. -Did you want to come here?

I didn't think too much about it.

He told me to come, so I came.

Why did Dad want to come here?

I didn't know what his reason was.

Maybe it was for a better opportunity.

True. This place is great for young people.

Hong Kong is such a small place.

Of course the people who do well in school will succeed.

Since Hong Kong is so competitive,

how are you able to become a doctor?

You need money to become a doctor.

But here, you can be poor and still become successful in anything.

In Hong Kong, you would never be able to go to college.

You simply can't compete with others there with your qualifications.

You guys should be independent now.

Don't think about the past anymore.

Just know that you lived a hard past

because you were the first generation immigrants to come here.

If you don't want to suffer anymore,

then work hard toward your goal and enjoy life.

That's it, and that's life!

Why did you divorce Dad?

This was my personal issue.

I have no need to talk about it.

I don't need to explain myself to you!

There's no "why?"

Everyone goes through...

I don't need to explain whether

it's love or not.

And I don't want to say anymore, okay?

This was the past. It'll never come back.

Never talk about it.

No one should question me why.

Even my dead mother didn't ask me why.

You, as my son, shouldn't ask me why.

This was my personal issue

and I have the right not to answer you.

As for you, there's no need to ask why.

There's no need to think about the last generation.

Everything is cause and effect.

It's very hard for me to explain my past to you.

Nowadays, as long as I'm healthy and safe

and know that my children are all grown up and independent,

I feel happy. That's enough for me.

My job is done.

Don't question me about the past because there is no value in it!

Not worth it to ask me why.

And there's no reason for me to tell you why.

It's the past. Don't look back.

Look toward the future. Always think about the future.

And never use the word "if."

Never say, "if this had happened,

"then that wouldn't have happened."

This is my lesson to you.

Right now, you should deal with your own life

and not question the last generation by asking,

"why did that happen?"

The past is the past. Don't ask why.

"If this had happened, then that wouldn't."

You can't take it back!

That's life. If you were in my shoes, you may have taken the same path.

Mom never did well in school.

No one has ever told me,

"work hard in school, or you won't become successful!"

No one has ever said those words to me.

If someone had taught me that, I wouldn't be such a failure.

Ashley, Is this pretty?

She likes to be pretty nowadays.

This one is pretty.

Ashley wants a bracelet.

Don't buy it. I have one!

Let me see it.

Quite a sweet-talker.

She has a strong will.

-Is this one pretty? -It's pretty.

Then can you fan me? I'm hot!

Don't just fan yourself. Fan me too!

How many phones are there?

Two.

One, two, three. There are three.

Your phones are very pretty.

I gave them to you.

Grandpa...

-I'm calling. -Who are you calling?

Calling daddy.

It's my turn to fan you now.

You have to say "thank you" when you get fanned.

Why don't you say it?

I made this for Ashley.

It looks like a lot of work!

It took two years!

Okay, it's finished!

This is my very first finished work.

We should take a picture for memory.

I used to take sewing classes.

I never finished anything before.

You could say that...

I've never completed anything in life.

It's so pretty.

It looks like a rainbow.

Ashley, follow grandma. Come.

Let's take a picture of you holding it.

Grandma will hold the blanket with you.

-Grandma, hold it. -Okay?

-Let's each hold one side. -It's a trophy.

It's the first time I finished something.

Stand in the light.

Hold onto it.

Look over here.

It's pink!

So pretty.

Mimi, you should thank uncle for this.

Thanks for throwing the party.

Thanks, Uncle!

-How about Auntie? -Thank you, Antie!

Let's cut the cake.

Is that how you tie it?

No need to take it apart...

First brush, brush it through.

Second brush, may you live a long life.

Third brush, may you have many grandkids.

Here are red packets from me.

Thank you. I have something for you also.

Here's a gift for you.

How pretty! Thank you.

You look pretty today. Congratulations!

Help her wear it.

Help her wear it.

Good morning. I'm looking for the bride.

-What? I can't hear you! -I'm looking for Mimi.

We didn't order take-out.

This kind of intention, right?

How much "intention" are you offering?

Take a look inside first.

Make sure he has enough "intention."

-I'm really hungry. -Good, then you must eat this first.

Prove your intentions here.

Durian?

-How does it taste? -I can't swallow it.

I want to vomit!

Thank you.

Take good care of her.

-Mom, please have tea. -Cheers, everyone.

May you love each other forever.

Once you drink tea from you son-in-law,

you'll be rich forever!

-Here are a couple of red packets. -Thanks, Mom.

May Our Lord Jesus Christ

bless and protect you.

Thank you so much for coming!

I'm leaving on Wednesday.

We all walked down this street-

Great grandma, Grandpa, Grandma.

Everyone in our family had walked down these steps!

-Two hundred something... -208.

Your grandma used to live up there.

Hollywood Road.

So we had dim sum, wonton soup, fish rice noodle.

What else do you want to try?

I don't think the beef stew noodle was that good.

The beef tastes better in America. Better quality.

Excuse me, where can we find

good beef stew noodle in Hong Kong?

Wanchai has a good place.

Good beef stew is common here.

Hong Kong is the most convenient place in the world.

That's right! Subway takes you everywhere.

You can find good food around the clock.

Every neighborhood has 24-hour eateries.

How's the housing situation?

Oh, housing is the worst here.

Well, great if you're rich, bad if you're poor.

It's very expensive here.

I can't believe the amount of

new constructions that are going on here!

You can't see the harbor anymore.

Yes, I used to walk a few steps

from the building and can reach the water.

Now, you have to walk a few blocks to get there.

The water will soon be gone!

Back in the 70's, we used to

go out to the pier to buy fish after we got off from work.

And I used to jump right into the water!

The water was clear, remember?

Let's see you swim in it now!

I remember HSBC stock

used to cost $5 when I left. Same with Hong Kong Electric.

Now it's over a hundred.

Talk about stocks,

it was much better to invest back then.

There was plenty of room to grow back then. That era is over!

-It's breezy here, huh? -It's nice how it's far from the big road.

What is that?

A car.

What color is it?

What color is the car?

Let's drive together.