Original subtitles

[person 1, in Chinese] Which floor?

[person 2] Third-- Fifth floor.

-Lets go. - This place sucks.

[footsteps on stairs]

-Here's number 13. -Yeah.

- Two more floors to go. -All right.

[panting]

-I can't catch my breath. -Shit, you should have quit smoking.

Ding Ming.

-Ding Ming, wake up. -Someone's there.

Ding Ming.

Ding Ming.

-Damn. Everyone is still in bed. -[person inside] Who are you looking for?

Ding Ming.

Is Ding Ming here?

-What do you want? -Ding Ming.

Out of the way.

-Check that room. -What are you doing?

We are looking for Ding Ming. None of your business.

Ding Ming.

-Is that Ding Ming? -No.

-Ding Ming. -What are you doing?

Ding Ming.

He is outside.

There he is.

-Bring him out. -Get up.

Get up.

Go to your room. This is none of your business.

Sit down.

Ding Ming, do you know why we are here?

[siren blaring in the distance]

You know why we are here today?

Huh?

-Mr. Jiang wants to double your debt. - I don't know what you are talking about.

You don't know what we are talking about? You need an explanation?

[sighs] Okay, wait.

I had to send money home to China.

I have been here six months and I haven't sent a dime back to my wife.

The whole reason I came here was to make money.

Have some sympathy.

The interest that Mr. Jiang is charging makes it impossible to save anything.

That's your business.

When you borrow money, you have to pay it back.

The interest and due date were set.

Mr. Jiang is not running a charity.

I just couldn't make my last two payments.

Stop acting.

Where is the money?

-In the refrigerator. -[laughing] The refrigerator?

-Are you trying to keep it fresh? -[chuckles] Cold cash?

There is no money.

No, the other one.

[muttering in Chinese]

Got it.

-How much is there? -About a grand.

Where is the rest?

I told you I don't have it right now.

Don't act.

This is the deal.

You give us $800 tonight,

or your debt is doubled.

Eight hundred dollars by tonight, then we'll talk about a new payment plan.

A little lesson so you will never forget your payment.

-Don't hit me. -You won't forget to pay again.

-Don't move. -Don't hit me. Please.

[Ding Ming crying]

Eight hundred dollars tonight.

Let's go.

See you tonight.

[door slams]

[whimpering]

[grunts]

[engine running]

[urban noise]

[sewing machines running]

[calls out in Chinese]

[calls again]

[person yelling in Chinese]

Shh, keep it down.

We only have 500. Cheng asks you to be careful.

[Ding Ming grunts]

-You're welcome. -Oh, thank you.

[car honks]

Damn. You're going to get me killed.

What's wrong? A little edgy this morning?

Nothing.

Rough night?

[Ding Ming mumbles]

Me too.

On the phone with my wife last night.

Thousands of miles away,

on the other side of the earth, and we still find a way to fight.

That stinking bitch said--

She said that I'm not focused.

That stinking bitch. Always yapping. So annoying.

Is your wife the same?

Oh, by the way...

I just found a new phone card.

250 minutes for two dollars. Here.

It's the Asia Universal card.

She's pretty cute, huh? Look.

[Young kisses card]

Are you all right?

You know, calling cards are a booming business.

I heard about one guy who sells 20,000 of these things a day.

20,000 cards.

Rich overnight.

I have to look into this.

Make a killing.

Let me ask you,

how is your payment going?

Uh,

I'm almost done with it.

Four to five months. Then I am done.

How long did it take you?

Around four years,

because I spent extra money on the trip to Europe.

Then from England to here.

Why do you ask?

No reason. Just curious.

Your payments going all right?

All right.

[siren approaching]

[Young wordlessly singing]

[singing continues]

It looks like it will rain all day.

You two are earlier than me today.

-Time to work. -Yep, time to work.

Ma, defrost the shrimp and don't forget to cut the broccoli.

The keys.

Good morning.

Big Sister, good morning.

Big Sister, don't forget to order pork tonight.

Ma, get the flour.

Young, get the MSG.

[both muttering]

Slowly.

Slowly.

Slow down.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

-Can't get it up? Impotent? -Fuck you.

Wait.

What's wrong with you?

Can you lend me money?

How much?

Three hundred.

Why do you need to borrow money?

It's an emergency. Just lend me money.

I just sent money home this morning.

I only have $150 left.

Tell me why you need money.

-Are you going to lend it to me or not? - I didn't say I wouldn't.

-Why do you need money? -Why so many questions?

I owe money to a loan shark.

Why do you owe them money? Are you gambling?

No. I will tell you another time.

Let's go.

Are you lending me the money or not?

What are you going to do for the other $150?

Do you want to borrow from Big Sister, Ma or Wei?

Don't tell them.

Why not?

I just don't want them to know. Go.

Just go.

I got it.

Big Sister, when is your daughter coming to visit?

Not for awhile.

-When is your wife coming over? -I'm not married.

Today you're not married, right?

[Ma laughs]

Yeah. Oka-- Okay.

Okay.

Okay, bye-bye. Okay.

Small house special lo mein. Make it spicy.

[Wei] Small lo mein?

Yeah.

So how did you get yourself in to this?

-I borrowed money from those guys. -Why?

I wanted to pay back my family in full.

What is your problem?

Because they already had my brother's debt to deal with.

It's tough on them.

Ah, what is the interest?

Thirty percent.

Thirty percent? Are you crazy? Why didn't you do the math?

I thought I did.

I don't know what you're doing.

Families are expected to borrow money for the debt.

You're not expected to pay it back right away.

You have to figure out a way or you'll be in debt forever.

I know.

So, what are you going to do?

The most tips I've ever made in a day is $90.

Take my deliveries today.

-What? -Make all the deliveries today.

-No, I feel bad. -It's all right.

Do all the deliveries.

-Really? -Really.

I'm fine.

Plus, I don't want to work in this weather.

It's good that it's raining. More rain, more deliveries.

The more rain, the better. More deliveries, more money.

[Big Sister] Delivery.

[elevator chimes]

[doorbell rings]

Oh, huh. Huh.

[in English] How much is it?

Okay, thank you.

Here's a tip.

What you want? You-you want a banana?

Okay, okay. Come back one second, okay? Come back one sec-- Okay.

And chicken wings cut in half, fried very, very hard.

-No, but you got already. I cook already. -Huh?

One more order chicken wing?

Yeah, chicken wing, one more order, with sweet banana.

-Okay. -Fried hard.

Yes, I know what you want. You-- Why you don't trust me? Okay.

-Okay. -[in Chinese] Delivery!

[door lock buzzing]

[in English] Hi.

Can I have two dollars back?

Thanks.

-Thank you. -Okay, bye-bye.

[in Chinese] What are you doing there? You're taking up space.

[customer speaking Spanish]

[in English] How much is this?

[continues in Spanish]

Keep the change.

Thank you.

[Big Sister in Chinese] Two Mexican squid with extra shrimp.

Did you know, Big Sister,

eating too many carrots will turn the whites of your eyes orange?

It's true.

[Big Sister replies inaudibly]

Eat more.

[Wei] Why are you here all day?

Don't you have deliveries to make?

Ming is doing it.

Why is Ming doing all of them?

He needs the exercise to lose weight.

I think you're the one who needs exercise.

-Fuck you. -Look at your stomach [laughs].

[Big Sister speaking inaudibly]

[customer, in English] Just a minute!

Oh, okay.

Here you go, a tip.

[squeals]

-[child squeals again] -Get in here, girl.

Come on. Get in here. Get in here.

[siren approaching]

You keep that one. Keep that one. Okay.

Take care. Bye.

[trumpet playing]

[doorbell rings]

Oh, good. Thanks. Here you go.

Okay. Oh, here you go. It's wet.

Okay? Thanks.

[trumpet continues playing]

Oh, hi. How are you?

He's-he's fine. He just-- He does that. How much is that?

Yeah, no, he won't bite you. He won't bite you. Ollie, get back inside.

Okay.

Just give me, um, three dollars back, please. Three.

No "speakee" English? No?

-No, no. -Okay. Gotcha. [laughs]

[alarm beeping]

Hi, hello? Hello?

[cooks chatting in Chinese]

But you-you told me "your style."

You just told me a broccoli and bean curd. That's why I sent--

Okay. Next time-- Next time you tell me "my style," okay, my honey?

Bye. Okay.

[Young, in Chinese] So, did Lin-Xing call you again?

Yeah, last night.

Is he here?

No, he is still in China.

Has he gotten the green card yet?

No, he's still trying.

Getting the fake marriage?

He doesn't have the money for that.

How much does that cost now?

$40,000.

$150,0007?

$40,000.

$40,0007? Isn't that expensive?

No, that's cheap.

Doesn't he have the money?

He has around fifteen or sixteen thousand dollars.

But he spends a lot of money on those name-brand clothes.

Mm-hmm.

Just a pair of underwear costs him around $75.

Hey, don't knock that.

Underwear is the most important article of clothing on a person.

It says the most about you.

Boxers, tighty-whities or thongs.

-Wei, you wearing your thong today? -[Ma laughs]

Do your work.

Just kidding.

[door lock buzzing]

[in English] How much is that?

Thirteen? Here. Here's $15.

Sorry.

Here, you keep it. Just keep it. Thanks.

[phone rings]

Abe's Hardware.

Yes, he is. Hold on.

Hello?

Oh, you didn't get any message from me, right?

Oh, I tried calling Cybil and Debby to see if they could call you.

I didn't have your number on me. Ah, I couldn't make it. I had to--

[dogs bark]

Thanks.

[elevator chimes]

You can just keep it.

Thank you.

Okay, that's it?

[Ma, in Chinese] Seriously, I have been saving for two months.

Two months.

[Big Sister, in English] Okay, bye-bye. [in Chinese] Big won ton soup.

[Wei, in Chinese] Two months? It will take you forever.

No, not forever. Maybe a couple more years.

How long did it take the boss to get this place?

[Wei] Ten years.

[Young] Ten years? Pretty good!

Perfect. I've been working for four years. Six more and I will be a boss too.

I won't forget you guys when I'm the big boss.

Wei, you'll be my restaurant manager.

No, not manager. The chef.

We'll see.

Ma, you'll be my chef. Screw Wei.

Sounds good to me.

-Delivery. -[Young] Ask Ming.

Ming is out on a delivery.

Big Sister, you're coming with me, right?

Go, go, go!

Big Sister, you're going to be my restaurant manager, right?

There are too many orders, I have to help. But I will take it slow.

-[customer, in English] What's up, man? -[Big Sister] Hi.

I want to order-- Let me get a order of pork fried rice and chicken wings.

Make sure-- Listen, make sure you don't put no vegetables on it, all right?

Yes. One second. One second, all right?

Thanks. All right?

[customer] Hey.

Jesus fucking Christ. Hello?

My friend, come here.

Come here.

What is this you brought?

This is chicken, my friend. Chicken. You know chicken?

I ordered beef. Beef.

Here. You know beef? Moo.

This is chicken. No moo. Go back. Here, give me my ten back.

Give me my money back. $10. Give me my money back.

Here. Beef, beef, okay? Chicken no good. Go. Run.

Quickly.

Fucking idiots.

[in Chinese] Why did you mess up my order?

What are you talking about?

I have to make two trips because you messed up the order.

Psycho, I don't know what you're talking about.

The delivery I just made. The guy didn't want chicken.

Ask Big Sister. I followed the order.

I can't afford a mistake today.

What are you talking about? I'll redo your order.

Are you deaf? How did you mess up chicken and beef?

I don't think you are cut out for this. Why don't you go back to China?

-You have a hearing problem? -Watch your attitude.

-Watch out. I'll smack you. -Psycho.

If you don't want to work, go back to China. New guy.

-What do you mean, "new guy"? -Don't fight!

He didn't do it on purpose. Just a little mistake.

[Big Sister] Stop fighting. Get out if you want to fight. I can't hear a thing.

-He can't afford a mistake today. -What the hell does that mean?

[Big Sister, in English] Vegetable or no vegetable? Okay, bye-bye.

Beef? Beef?

Chicken, beef?

Wait.

Now, was that difficult?

Come on. Let me see.

Here.

Here, come here.

I want two chopped-- two chopped chickens.

Right.

Right, with-with nothing on it.

Then I want a new-- another two chopped chickens

with, um, hot sauce and ketchup on it.

Okay.

That's it. I mean, regular chicken. I need two.

-Two and two. -Yeah.

-All right. -Not chopped, though.

Okay, won ton soup. Shrimp broccoli?

-Let me get a shrimp roll. -Shrimp roll, okay.

Thank you.

[in Chinese] Ming, why do you look sad? What's on your mind?

-[baby crying] -[in English] I'm coming.

Thank you.

Keep the change.

[dog barks]

[person in hall] That's a good dog.

-Can we just go to the deli? -No, no, just-- This is good.

Or anything. There's like a million restaurants around here.

I'm going out. I'm gonna go to the deli and just get something else.

I'm so sick-- God! I don't know.

On!

[in Chinese] Fuck.

How can you see it?

Don't worry, I will fix it for you. Just wait over there.

[Young] Who broke it?

It doesn't go down.

What the hell. Is it broken?

I'll fix it in no time.

Okay, okay.

[Big Sister] Small fried rice, no vegetable.

[Young] Ah!

[in English] I could have mail ordered Chinese food faster than this.

Just two's fine. Two is fine. Two.

That's for you. Two. Have a good day.

-[in Chinese] Only one dollar? -[Big Sister yelling]

Not even one dollar. Sometimes just a few coins.

It'll get better later.

To your next customer, say...

-[in English] "Thank you very much.” -[in Chinese] What? I don't want to.

[in English] "Thank you very much. Thank you."

[in Chinese] He'll give you a bigger tip.

You have to smile.

[in English] Thank you very much.

Thank you very-- Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

[in Chinese] Your eyes have to smile. Your eyes are not smiling.

Shit, you're crazy.

You want to make money. You have to try harder.

[in English] Thank you very much.

[in Chinese] You have to smile.

Didn't you hear?

How can I smile when I'm in a bad mood?

No money--

No-- Big Sister always says, [in English] "No money,

no honey."

-No money-- -No honey.

[in Chinese] You're nuts!

[in English] Money. [in Chinese] So you have to smile.

No.

I don't think that will help.

-Trust me. -Okay.

-That's how I do it. -I'll try my best next time.

You have to do it.

You never listen to me.

[Big Sister] Ming, delivery!

Remember to smile.

[in English] "Thank you very much," yeah?

There you go.

I don't need any change.

Thank you.

Yeah? Hold on a minute.

Yeah, man. Shit.

Called you motherfuckers an hour ago and you didn't fucking come.

Come on, man. Take your little tip.

Gimme four dollars and get out of my face, man.

Got a bad day today.

Come on, come on, come on. You slow, B. Come on.

Man, two minutes. Thank you. Get the fuck outta here.

[sneezes]

[in Chinese] I put it there.

[Wei] Why?

Because there wasn't any room.

Really?

Really, there wasn't any space.

Why didn't you make room?

I told you there was no room.

Make room if there is no room.

What's the big deal?

Guys, please.

Every day. I'm getting a headache here.

It's not a big deal. He just likes to fight.

I like to fight with him?

If he didn't mess up my system, I wouldn't care.

Is it that hard?

Cooked food on the top. Raw beef on the second shelf.

Raw chicken on the third shelf.

Chopped vegetables on the bottom shelf.

Ah.

I know that. You told me many times. But there was no space.

Is your brain in your ass? Didn't you think of making room?

Yes, I thought of it. Then I thought it would be more fun to piss you off.

My cousin should be arriving in the States at the end of the month.

-Really? -Is he going to do it Ma style?

"Don't send me back. Communism is so bad. I can only have one kid."

You don't understand.

You guys got here before 9/11.

It's much harder after 9/11.

Ming, you got here after 9/11?

Yeah.

He didn't get caught.

Really?

Must have had a good smuggler.

Where did you come in?

-Canada. -Really, Canada? Not bad.

Ma wasn't so lucky.

Ma's boat got nabbed off the California coast.

Yeah, we all had to apply for political asylum.

So you got traveling papers?

Yeah. While I wait for a hearing.

When is the court date?

End of the month.

You're going to California?

-No. Are you kidding me? -[phone rings]

I'll wait for the next amnesty program in a few years.

No trip to any court.

[in English] Hi.

-[in Chinese] You'll wait forever. -Eh.

[in English] Okay. [in Chinese] Small broccoli chicken.

[Ma, in Chinese] Broccoli chicken.

[sighs]

[Young] Yesterday a black guy was here to sell a bike again.

-[Wei] Which one? -Which black guy?

Number 100. Who knows?

There was a black guy here last week. He was trying to sell me a bike.

[Young] Hmm.

The bike he tried to sell me was the one stolen from me last time.

-It was your bike? -Yeah.

[Wei] It's all your own fault.

Why?

Why?

The blacks rip a bike off from one restaurant

and then sell it to another restaurant.

And because you buy them, you create the demand.

Of course it's your fault.

So we should spend $100 on a new bike every time we get ripped off.

Won ton soup. Large, not small.

[in English] Can I have a bowl then, please?

-One second, okay? -Yeah, I want a bowl.

[phone rings]

B for boy and E for Ellen.

[Big Sister] Uno or dos order? One-one Coke, one Sunkist?

How many soda? Three.

And then two order. One is sesame, one General Tso, okay? Okay.

[in Chinese] Won ton soup. Large, not small.

[in English] Nine dollars.

-How much? -Nine.

- I thought you said eight dollars. -Nine.

-You want a chopsticks? Okay. -Yes.

-Okay, you got one-- -For me. I want chopsticks.

For you? No. A fork [laughs].

-Okay, see you soon. -See you later. Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye. Okay.

$6.02, okay. Okay, bye-bye.

[in Chinese] Boneless chicken and roast pork fried rice.

Hurry up. I have other orders.

[customer, in English] Order of french fries also.

One order of french fries, spareribs and the french fries. I'll come back.

Hi.

Okay, yeah. Okay.

[Big Sister speaking inaudibly]

[Wei, in Chinese] It's hot. Open the door.

Young, still sleeping? Take this delivery.

Ming is out and I have too many orders. Take some deliveries.

[in English] Yeah, your friend, he want a general sesame, right?

-Anything else? -[customer] Yeah, two egg rolls.

-Mm-hmm. -Small pork fried rice.

-Mm-hmm. -[Wei, in Chinese] Fuck.

-[Big Sister, in English] Okay. -Does that come with pork fried rice?

The chicken with garlic sauce come with white rice.

-Can I have a pork fried rice? -Pork fried rice five dollars, okay?

-Five dollars extra? -Yes.

Only the chicken with garlic sauce with pork fried rice,

one order is five dollars.

[gasps]

[customer, in English] Can I have a sweet plantain with garlic sauce?

[Ding Ming, in Chinese] Don't you knock first?

[Big Sister, in English] Okay, $11.07.

Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

Okay, okay. [yells in Chinese]

Okay, bye-bye.

[Big Sister, in Chinese] Delivery!

[car honks]

[in English] You think I can get some hot sauce on my stuff?

-I know. -Huh? Is that mine?

-Yeah. -So where's the hot sauce?

Coming! The packet.

Give me the soy sauce. You be, like, robbing me.

The duck sauce, the soy sauce.

Something we missing. Hold up. You're going too fast.

All right. The mustard, see? You're going too fast.

Look, look, look. You see two mustard, two duck sauce, two soy sauce?

You ought to give me a free soda, then.

-How much are they? -Just one, okay. Single.

I think it might five dollars anyway.

-What? You want me to charge you for soda? -It's five dollars anyway.

It's $5.75. No, no, no, shrimp fried rice four dollar.

-A dollar shrimp extra. -Oh, yeah. You always give me a discount.

-Yeah, I see you next week. -See you later.

[Big Sister, in Chinese] Ming, spread the menus.

I don't have time today.

You still have to do it.

[customer speaking Spanish]

[customer two speaking Spanish]

[speaks Spanish]

[customer two speaks Spanish]

[in Spanish]

-[in English] There you go. Thank you. -Pay him one dollar.

Okay.

[Big Sister, in English] Fried rice. Okay.

A small or large?

Okay.

[Wei, in Chinese] What's wrong with Ming today?

[Big Sister] Stop fighting with him.

I'm not fighting with him.

You were the same as him when you first got here.

Knew nothing. Only thinking about the money.

Just trying to be nice.

I can take your picture.

When you call me, your picture will appear.

"T-M-O"--

-I don't know this brand. -Your brand is shitty.

I can't read it.

My brand is better. Look. Picture.

What is going on with you? Did you fall into a puddle?

Look at him.

Ming, delivery! Next door!

[taxi honks]

One hour to go. You'll be fine.

A boat straightens its course when it gets to a bridge.

It stopped raining.

[Big Sister, in English] Four egg-- Four egg roll, eh?

-Four-fifty? It's more? -Four-twenty-five. Yeah.

Four-twenty-five? All right, that's even better.

Can you, um, make sure you take the-- clean out the shrimp, though?

You want the shrimp or the tofu?

-Oh, tofu, you're right. Shit. -[Big Sister laughs]

My bad. Can I get a-a-a couple of vegetable egg rolls?

One or two?

-Um, a couple. Uh-- -[in Chinese] Two spring rolls!

-Nah, make that one. Make that one. -[in Chinese] Fuck you.

-[in English] Ten dollar. Yeah. -Ten dollars all together?

You said $3.25.

No $3.25. $4.25.

One dollar and $4.25.

And then a $5.75 and $4.75.

-That's $4.75? I thought it was $3.25. -Mm-hmm.

-Duck sauce. -Yeah, I give you on the side.

No, no, no, on it.

No, no, no, I give you to go, okay?

-You don't do it like that? -No, I can't. I'm busy.

There's nobody else in here!

[doorbell rings]

Oh.

Uh.

[in English] Are you sure you have the right apartment?

[mumbling]

-Yeah. -Food. Food.

-Food delivery. -Yeah, um--

Honey, did you-- Why don't you come in? Come in one second, okay?

I don't have any-- We need one minute here.

Did you order? Did you order some food?

[person in shower] Yeah, I got some takeaway.

What do you mean, you--

-What? -We're back two--

-Jesus Christ. -Just keep it warm. It's Chinese.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I-I-I get it.

Um, okay, what is it? How much is it? Let me see this thing.

Okay, so I only have euros. Okay.

Uh, oh, look at that.

- I told you I've got some in my wallet. -Yeah, I don't know.

In my suitcase somewhere. I don't know. You're a big boy. You can handle it.

Okay. Um, yeah, I'm sorry. It's-it's, uh, $8.35, right?

Okay.

How much did I give you?

-All right. -Twenty dollars.

Did I give you-- All right.

You ripped me off, I think. Nine, eight...

-[customer] Can I get an egg roll? -[Big Sister] Egg roll?

[customer 2] You know what? Let me get an egg roll too.

[Wei and Big Sister talking inaudibly]

[Big Sister, in Chinese] That bitch at 845 West End.

[in English] I asked for extra duck sauce.

No?

Is it in here?

Here you go.

Can you give me some-some green for that?

-Money? For what? -Give me some green money?

Give me some bills for that.

-No bills. -You give me some bills for it?

Come on, come on, mommy, come on. Look.

-You want to buy food? -You give me some green money?

No, no green money. I got honey. I got honey only. I got no money.

You got honey. Yeah, you're pretty. You got honey. You look like a honey.

[in Chinese] Bald bastard, I'll slap you.

Why you gonna hit me? I come here all the time.

One dollar, two dollar.

Yeah.

Three.

Four.

See, you're nice. You're very nice.

-Five. -You're gonna make me late tonight.

Five dollar. Five dollar. Here, here, go, go, go!

-Right here. -Yeah.

-Get out of here, okay? -Can you give me a ten for that now?

-Half a chicken without the rice. -Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

-Boneless ribs and pork fried rice. -Mm-hmm.

-And an order of coco rice. -Okay.

Yeah, I want the other half of the chicken with shrimp fried rice.

Half chicken, or chicken with chicken wings?

-Chicken wings? -Half a chicken with shrimp fried rice.

You want ketchup on the fry?

No, no ketchup on the fries. He said no.

[in Chinese] One case of chicken. Three cases of chicken wings.

Two cases of broccoli. Three pounds of bean sprouts.

Three pounds of noodles. One dozen scallions.

One dozen tofu.

One hundred pounds of pork.

Give me a cigarette.

Where is Ming?

I don't know.

You've been yapping and smoking all day. Don't you have deliveries?

There is something wrong with my bike. I have to get a new one tomorrow.

Did he get himself into trouble?

He has a big bruise. I saw it.

Did he get in to a fight?

I don't know.

How would I know?

You are so close to him. Why wouldn't you know?

Since when do you care about Ming?

[Big Sister] Small broccoli chicken.

Is he in trouble?

It's none of your business.

-Why do you have that attitude with me? -Attitude?

For three years, I've had nothing but attitude from you.

Don't talk to me about attitude.

If Ming is in trouble--

[Big Sister] Hurry up! Small broccoli chicken!

Forget about it. There's no problem.

Don't worry.

[people chatting in English]

[rap music playing]

Yo! [knocks on glass]

Just pay for this.

No. Nah, nah, nah.

-He did that last time. -Yeah. Come out for a second.

Yo, Abe, you got this?

Yo, dog, I gave you a 20.

-You gave me a fucking ten. - I gave you a 20, man.

The fuck outta here. You gave me a ten and five, nigga.

[in Chinese] Aren't you coming over to help?

[customer, in English] My girl look better than any other girl that any of y'all had.

It was prom night. After prom.

I was having fun, I got my thugs on, I met six girls, I got six numbers.

I had fun.

She came back to me and then I dumped her.

[in Chinese] Fried rice!

Next door. Number 250. Apartment 10A.

Oh, this pack

scared me!

[in English] I played the Lotto today. You know what Lotto is?

You play Lotto in the store?

I hit it today, man. For $80, man.

So that's okay, though. You keep the change, okay?

I got a little hit today, all right? I'll see you another time.

All right? Okay. Take care.

[people talking in Spanish]

[in Spanish]

[in English] Thank you.

[door closes]

Sorry, this way.

You can't use the front door. The floor has been sanded and stained.

It's-- Oh, thank you. It's all wet.

We can't even get to our bedrooms.

We have to use, uh, my wife's office.

It's all a pain.

Here, that's all right. Keep the change. Buy a beer. Good night. Have fun.

[in Chinese] Who took the hot sauce?

Not me.

What the hell, blaming me for everything.

What's wrong with you?

I told you.

Things always work out.

This is called, "A boat straightens its course when it gets to a bridge."

Do you agree with me?

That is life.

Philosophy.

Sometimes,

I wish I'd never come here.

It would be great to be home with my wife and my son.

I got here before my son was born.

He never saw his father.

It will all pay off.

I hope so.

[siren blares]

Don't think too much.

Four years isn't that long.

Look at me. I'm almost free of debt.

I can bring my wife and kids here soon.

You'll be okay too.

Time flies.

Flies fast.

[people shouting]

[Big Sister in Chinese] Ming, your money!

Young, your money.

Young, only $15?

That little?

Ming, you made a lot of money.

A lot of money.

[Big Sister] Young?

[car honks]

[siren approaching]

[person over loudspeaker]

[siren continues]

[person shouting inaudibly]

[person, in English] ...and how fucked up is that?

You and Jamal. Fuck both y'all fucking scatter asses, motherfucker.

-Fuck you! -You owe me fucking money, bitch.

Who the fuck are you talking to like that?

[noises all fade to silence]

[silence continues]

[restaurant phone rings] [street noise returns suddenly]

[Big Sister, in English] Hi. No, sorry, buddy, we closed already.

Closed. Close-closed already.

Okay, how many order you want?

Let me see. One second, okay?

[in Chinese] Ming, do you want to take this delivery?

[in English] Okay, how many order?

Okay. Ten minutes. Bye.

[Big sister shouts the order in Chinese]

-[in Chinese] Noodle? -No.

-Won ton skin? -We have that.

-We don't have fries, right? Huh? -Yes.

[door lock buzzes]

-We don't need flour? How about wine? -Yes.

[in English] Mmm, you got change for this?

[in Chinese] Two bags of rice. Three tins of ail.

One case of wine. One case of soy sauce.

One case of flour.

One case of MSG. Two cases of shrimp.

[two people laughing]

You saw that fucking bitch with the fucking hair, man?

Hell, yeah. A permed weave with bald spots. [laughs]

And it was all lopsided.

Fucking--

How you got a real with a receding hairline on the side of your head?

Oh, my God, man.

We never going back there again.

Look at this nigga.

. -It's your pops. -Nigga my pops, son.

Nigga's a fucking disgrace to the fucking Chinese race, man.

Look at this nigga with the fucking denim hat,

tight-ass fucking jeans, and old-school kicks, Fila.

What the fuck, son? [laughs]

The throwback polo shirt.

Yo, oh, my God, man.

I ain't got no fucking money to get home and shit, man.

I was gonna borrow one from you.

Nigga, you think I'm welfare, nigga?

We got a new friend. What's your name?

No English, okay?

What's your name?

-No English, okay? -You're gonna put us on the train, right?

I think that, yo, you need to lend me some money, you know?

Right, lend us a couple of bucks.

-Nigga, whoa, whoa. -Hey, I said no English, okay?

Give us what we're talking about, nigga.

All you gotta do is give us some money.

What the fuck you talking about, nigga?

Hey, police!

Police, nigga? We'll kick your ass, nigga.

I no English, okay?

Nigga, you staying back here, man.

We only need a couple of bucks to get fucking home, man.

The fuck you talking about, nigga? Stay back, nigga. Stay back.

I said no English, okay?

Stay back, nigga.

No English, okay?

-Hold that nigga down, son. -Check it out.

Hold that fucking-- [cocks gun]

Nigga, hold down, son. Hold still, nigga. Who got the gun now, son?

Hey, I no--

-Nigga! Who got the fucking gun, here? -We going. Come on.

Who got the gun, here?

-Search that nigga. -I no--

Nigga! Nigga! Don't fucking play, yo.

-Life's fucking in my hands right now. -No!

-Yo, we got a knot! A knot. -Damn, son.

Damn, yo. How much is in that shit?

Oh, my God. Let's go. Let's go.

Have a nice day.

[singing in Chinese]

[sighs]

-[in Chinese] Are you going out? -No, I don't want to.

I've been in Chinatown more than ten years. I've seen it all.

Not Chinatown. You should go somewhere else.

Like New Jersey or the casinos in Connecticut.

I don't have money for gambling.

Gamble away.

[door alarm sounds]

I told him I'm taking a day off.

-Is your daughter also taking the day off? -Today and tomorrow.

Her job is a little more relaxed.

A little more relaxed.

Working in a Japanese restaurant is easier.

Ah, more money?

Yeah, she makes more money.

-You should go work there, then. [laughs] -I don't want to work there.

Why not?

- I don't like waitressing. -Oh.

[vomiting]

Be here earlier tomorrow.

How early?

You have to make chicken halves and chicken wings.

Be here earlier tomorrow.

Hey, Ming, shut the gate.

-Did you check the stoves and the lights? -Yeah, everything is turned off.

Okay, let's go.

[Big Sister] Goodbye.

[Young] There goes another day.

[Big Sister] Tomorrow I'm off. See you all the day after tomorrow.

-Ming, are you coming? -I have a stomachache. You go first.

All right, hurry home and sleep. Don't think too much. See you tomorrow.

Hey!

How much do you need?

What?

How much do you need?

How did you know?

It wasn't hard to figure out.

I'll pay you back.

Don't worry. Take your time.

I've been there. I know what it's like.

All right, see you tomorrow. I'm headed to the subway.

[siren blares]

[cars honking]

[police whistle blows]

[cars honking]