All language subtitles for The.Sympathizer.2024.S01E02.HMAX.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.x264-NTb.en

Comrade Commandant

I pick it up in America

but with my heart
still in my homeland.

Do you have any rice starch?

Nope.

We got cornstarch.

'Cause this is America, not Japan.

Can of cola, 88 cents...

And so it was that Man

with his rice starch

and I, with my cornstarch

each of us wrote a coded letter
using a product

appropriate to our locale.

...and a kiddy plane.

That's 10.62.

I would send the letter
to my contact in Paris

my so-called "Parisian Aunt"

and that contact would relay it on
to Man in Hanoi.

It comforted me to imagine Man
reading my letters

in his efficient new office.

"Ma chère tante

Texas is scorchingly dry

which helps to evaporate
any doubt I might have had

about leaving my home.

- Tragically, in our escape
- "...in our escape

- Bon lost his family."
- Bon lost his family.

The rockets from the savage commies

spared neither woman nor child.

They were both buried in Guam."

To form my coded message

I'd scan that repulsive book

by Richard Hedd

to find the right words.

Once the word was found

I'd make note of the page.

Then, like coordinates

I'd count the line

and the word.

Forty-two...

six, six.

The coded numbers
would reveal themselves

with a brush of iodine solution.

With three sets of numbers
for each word

the sentences had to be concise.

Even Hemingway would've
had to restrain himself.

Two, four, six, eight, ten.

In international news

it has been two months now

since the fall of Saigon.

Surrendering myself
to the merciless prodding

of Magic Fingers and the nightly news

I couldn't help thinking
about the General

and that awful incident.

Wait. I'm sorry.

I forgot.

Saigon,
April the 30th, eight o'clock.

I need to go back to Fort Chaffee

and tell you about
the refugee camp in Arkansas

where we first set foot
on the U.S. mainland.

The first North Vietnamese troops
entered the city

packed into trucks that flew
the red and blue flag

of the Communist Provisional
Revolutionary Government.

General, perhaps the dress uniform
is not such a good idea.

My people have been through
a terrible ordeal.

Seeing their beloved General
in full dress uniform

will make them feel
fortified and reassured.

Any word from Claude yet?

My apologies

but he did mention
he'd get your family settled in LA

as soon as possible

or the settlement agency
does have spots in Dallas.

No, I'm takin' my people

to sunny Los Angeles.

Look, there!

Let me take care of that vermin!

And you? Claude is
also sponsoring you, right?

I'm not a priority,
but in the meantime

I've reached out to an old mentor
of mine in Los Angeles.

Don't worry. I'll catch up with you
out there before long.

You certainly will

but if by any chance
your mentor fails you

reach out to me at once.

Cap, my cap!

(Vietnamese) Please help!

Get in! Get the fuck in there!

Why on earth
are those women blaming me?

Maybe they received
some misinformation.

What kind of misinformation?

About... about you
and the organization.

How we lost through corruption
and incompetence.

How the enemy's revenge
was fueled by cruelty and torture.

Who?

Who is spreading these lies?

You know how it is.

Malcontents.

The... the people for whom
nothing's ever good enough.

Someone who knows me
very well is out to get me.

General

these women are just angry...

because of the maggots.

Then why attack me?

Are you suggesting I am a maggot?

Then why else
would my people turn on me?

Unless someone
has infiltrated our ranks.

A saboteur

a sympathizer

a spy!

- A spy?
- A germ

that stowed away on our plane!

But it was you who selected
the passengers

and so you
who is gonna recheck that list

and report back to me
with everything you find.

A full security check.

Leave no stone unturned.

When the General's paranoia
is sparked

the only way to keep safe
is to keep out of striking distance.

Fortunately, it wasn't long
before an answer came

from that professor of mine
from my college days

agreeing to sponsor me and Bon.

"Perfect," I thought.

"I'll go ahead and prepare a path

and the General's paranoia
will naturally dissipate."

Anyway

that's what I believed at the time.

I don't know what to say, sir.

To get out before you, it's really...

Scouts are always needed.

What a blessing.

Thank you for defying time
and nature.

How can it be

despite the depredations of war

that you're still
the winsome lad

I remember?

So, presently

I will introduce you to my secretary

who will also be your boss.

Let's see how Ms. Mori responds
to my daily greeting.

Oh, konnichiwa, Ms. Sofia Mori-san.

Ika ga desu ka?

- Watch, watch.
- This is America.

If you don't wanna speak English

go back to your own country.

But it's a privilege to have been
born a Japanese, Ms. Mori.

Please do learn a word
of your lovely language, for me.

Dou itashimashite.

By the way, this is...

Oriental Studies Department.
Chairman's office.

I think he's busy right now.

Can I take a message?

Not bad, huh?

Quite the transformation
from a decade ago.

Do you remember this bottle?

You gave it to me as a thank you

when you returned home from Vietnam.

After my mother died.

Feel grateful to you
for the ticket, by the way.

My pleasure.

Funny thing is

you have arrived
just in the nick of time.

Our foes are scheming to phase us out

and fold the department
into Asian-American studies

God help us.

Listen, they say
we're colonizers and imperialists.

I mean, they object
to the very word "oriental"

which is derived from the Latin
"for the rising sun" right?

So, pray tell me

what is objectionable
about the sunrise?

- I mean, you're Oriental.
- Well, half.

Well, exactly my point.

The perfect symbiosis
of Oriental and Occidental.

I'm not sure I see myself that way.

I have an idea.

And this will be good for you

- dare I say, therapeutic.
- Therapeutic?

So...

on the left side

I want you to make a list
of all your Oriental qualities.

And then with the right side,
make a list that

contradicts those qualities, right?

So, all your Occidental ones.

Well, one can see the Oriental side
of you in your...

your snug little nose

and yet the Occidental side
peeks through

in those lucid gray-green eyes.

Half-breeds are the future,
my dear boy.

Oh, listen, I'm having a little
gathering tomorrow night

little soiree courting
potential donors to our program.

I want you to come.

Let's see.

A few gently worn garments
for your perusal.

Take them if you like.

Sorry, I don't mean to be
practically streaking.

Here's another little bag, and my...

And by the way,
here's my tailor's address.

If there's any alterations,
he's right there, sweet sir.

I didn't think you'd read
this sorta book.

What sorta book?

Racist rubbish.

A reporter is here...

- A reporter?
- ...for an interview.

I have an interview?

Did you feel
the support and solidarity

of American student activists?

Not so much.

We were all marching.

You know we... we were on your side.

Really?

And which side was that?

The side of the Vietnamese people.

Oh, which people?

The people in the North
or the people in the South?

Well, all of them, I guess.

Guess we all look the same
after all, right?

I mean...

I could be Viet Cong
for all you know.

Undercover.

How would you know?

I'm not, of course. I love America.

So did you kill anyone?

With my own hands?

No. No, I never killed anyone.

You were here before
as an exchange student.

How does it feel to come back
after ten years?

I'm in exile from my home.

I feel like I've exchanged
hope for despair.

Smile.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Could you clear frame
just for a second?

Change your frame, honey.

"Ma chère tante

I have finally made it to Los Angeles

where I now reside
in a quaint pied-à-terre

in the heart of the city.

Not convenient
to anything in particular

but neat.

I am still doing my best
to take care of Bon

but it's not easy.

He barely speaks.

I hesitate to use such language
when writing to you

but the motherfucker
won't even clean himself.

I'm talking filth layered on filth
to the point where..."

Are those chopsticks in your hair?

Fuck off.

Deviled egg?

Well, Professor Hammer's parties
always start off with these.

He likes to compare himself
to an egg.

What, white on the outside,
yellow on the inside?

"O Captain! My captain!"
You made it!

Fabulous! You look spiffy.

Everyone, this is the young protégé
I was telling you about.

His mother was Vietnamese.
His father was French.

Lovely combination, as you can see

but complicated.

Isn't that right, dear boy?

If only you knew.

Well, I gave our young captain
an assignment

to list his Occidental
and Oriental traits, right

to see if he might begin to untangle

the complex knot of contradictions

at the core of his psyche.

Why don't you share
your discovery with us?

Jeff, can we stop the music?

We... we... Yeah, there we go.

Contradiction.

The crux of the issue has always
been about the contradiction.

The Occidental side of me
sees contradiction

as something to overcome

but the Oriental side
as something to endure.

Hence, the Oriental side of me is
never afraid to accept contradiction

when faced by an unexpected
turn of events and say

"I expected this."

But the Occidental side says

"What? Why did this happen?"

and immediately begins to analyze.

The Oriental me

feels...

comfortable in a crowd

but the Occidental me
is always ready to take the stage.

I think in two frames of mind

"Either-or" to the Occidental me

and "both-and" to the Oriental me.

So, accordingly

half of me values independence

while the other half
appreciates interdependence.

Also, the Oriental

- side of me is never...
- All right

I... I think we all get the picture.
That was great. Yeah.

Isn't he... isn't he great?

Ms. Mori...

I'm sorry, I'm so distracted
with your kimono.

Do you mind? Come here.

I'm sorry. It'll just take a sec.

See, the traditional Japanese...

the nape of the neck, unaji

is one of the most erotic parts
of the human body.

Oh, and they loved exposing their
erotic parts to complete strangers.

No, I... I'm just saying,
you really should learn

more about your heritage, that's all.

Professor, I am from Gardena.

No one asked JFK if he spoke Gaelic
and ate potatoes every night.

He still acts like a feudal lord.

I mean, this is the '70s!

Was my unaji disappointing?

Were you not peeping at it
rather eagerly?

I couldn't stand up
to him back there.

- I'm sorry.
- That's okay.

You play your part without a flaw.

I mean your
"fresh off the boat" role.

You know you're very blunt?

It's not very "Oriental" of you.

I'm an American.

I see you.

I see how you act around
our dear professor

always smiling like the good
Asian student you used to be.

I recognize the suit.

You wound me, Ms. Mori.

But I can take it.

When faced by an unexpected
turn of events, I say

"Huh, I expected this."

What are you concealing?

Are you hungry?

No, thanks.

Come on, try it.

Not a fan of cephalopods.

"Cephalopods"?

What is it with you?

You don't like eggs.

You don't eat squid.

Didn't you get the memo?

We Asians are supposed
to eat everything.

Oh, my.

I know I'm gonna regret
telling you this story.

Oh, embrace your Occidental side.

Confessing secrets is the most
exciting thing in the world.

So, my mother was making squid
as a special treat.

It wasn't until
she had cleaned the innards

that she realized
we were out of fish sauce.

So, off she went to the market

and I was left,
negligently, all alone.

Just me and the squid.

You... you don't say?

Oh, shit. Is that even possible?

I marked my violated partner

to keep myself from mistakenly
eating it when cooked.

But even a 14-year-old boy

should've had
the foresight to realize

that if I didn't eat it

someone else would.

I'm sure some people would
find the story...

Disgusting.

You know what's disgusting?

Is the massacre of 3 million people.

Torture is disgusting.

But masturbation?

Sure, I fucked a squid,
and I enjoyed it.

I'm not ashamed.

I believe the world
would be a better place

if we blushed at the word "murder"

as much as we did at the word
"masturbation."

I want you to be
completely honest with me.

Since then, how many squid
have you screwed?

Squid fucker!

Oh, he's a squid fucker.

You kinky little bastard.

You're good.

Lana!

General, welcome to your new home.

General?

Hey!

Done yet?

Done what?

What we talked about at the camp

dammit!

I mean the spy.

I've been thinkin' about it,
General, and...

maybe there is no spy after all.

What are you talking about?

Of course, there is, huh?

But how can you be sure?

Is there anybody back home
who could confirm this?

I was walking on the sidewalk

and you know
what fell in front of me?

One of those toilet tank covers.

A white ceramic thing.

A fucking heavy thing.

And that thing fell all the way
from the fifth floor.

Don't you get it?

An assassination attempt.

I'll look into it.

Don't just "look into it."

Hunt the traitor down.

Deactivate the rebel activity.

Neutralize the threat.

Do I make myself clear?

Yes, sir.

But I'm sure I can handle it.

What?

You've been kinda distracted
these last few weeks.

You're cool.

You're the coolest woman
in the whole world.

I know.

I have a confession.

Oh, I like confessions.

You know,
you're a very good listener.

The slight wrinkling
of the eyes when you smile.

Oh, the encouraging nod.

You let people go on thinking

you're perfectly in agreement
with everything

all without saying a word yourself.

What's your mother like?

My mother?

My mother's gone.

Sorry.

She was from a small village
in the North

couldn't go to school.

A very devout Catholic.

She could work miracles
in the kitchen.

- Especially with a squid.
- With a squid?

A good teacher to her son.

Doesn't sound like we have
a fucking thing in common.

And yet they say

for a man to be attracted to a woman

she must share at least
one big thing in common with his mom.

Maybe that's not true.

Maybe it is.

Trinh, a girl I dated back in Saigon

she would pronounce her vowels
just like my mother.

And Nicole

my girlfriend
when I studied in the States

she...

she had these long fingers
just like my mom.

And you, you and my mother

you share this surreptitious
sense of optimism

which is foolish and yet lavish.

Ms. Mori, I think...

Sofia. We've been fucking
for a while now.

Sofia

I think I'm falling in love with you.

You sneak.

You stole my confession.

Listen, if we get involved...

Aren't we already involved?

Emotionally involved.

You and I are fucking.

I'm 46 years old.

I've done things my way
my whole life.

I am not about to change now.

Fall in love at your peril

'cause the only kind of love
I believe in

is free love.

In other words, this love...

is free.

Hello there.

This is Bon.

Oh, blood brother.

So apparently, our General
is opening a liquor store.

"Focus.

Don't ever underestimate the General.

Remember how he swallowed
his contempt for your mixed race

when he knew he could use you?

He'll do whatever it takes
to get his way.

You wrote him off.

Big mistake.

We're tracking communications

with his contacts.

Be careful, my friend."

Who could know me so well?

You've never executed
someone in the street

have you?

No, I'm not saying
I've done such a thing

but the nature of what we were doing
back in Saigon...

How could you be so slow?

It's written in English.

It could just be some racist asshole.

No.

Someone continues
to deliberately undermine me

at every turn.

It could just be the Armenian
from the liquor store at the corner.

Oh, you're saying

the Armenian liquor store owner in LA

conspired against me

and had the women
at the camp in Arkansas

throw a slipper at me?

Today is your one chance
to reestablish my leadership

as my Chief of Communications.

I'm sorry?

I just appointed you.

Get the gun!

(Vietnamese) Please, enjoy your meal.

Enjoy the food, aunties!

- Hey.
- Captain! Captain!

Please take a picture for us!

Smile!

There's no such thing as
a second homeland.

A homeland is a homeland
because there's only one of them.

My, my

it's Tran Thuyet Son.

It's been a while since
someone's said my name

with such a perfect accent.

But I go by Sonny now.

Oh, like, Sonny Bono?

Last time I saw you was when?

That seminar for
the Vietnamese student council?

Where we had
a difference of opinion...

Where we had an argument
about the Ho Chi Minh quote

"Nothing is more precious
than independence and freedom"

and its application
vis-à-vis our nation.

You know, I remember you
getting all worked up

and screaming, "Nothing! Nothing!"

and tossing your textbook.

You broke the spine.

You know what? Back then...

I thought of you
as a CIA scholarship student.

Very funny.

So, what brings you here?

Skipping the monsoon season
to enjoy some California sun?

Yeah, I admit. My side lost.

Happy now?

Well, I might not be exactly happy

but I think they'll have a shot
at independence and freedom

now that America's
finally pulled out.

Well, then, how about you go back
to rebuild the country with them?

That's right. You're an American now.

No offense.

I believe I have every right
to have opinions about my homeland.

I'm as Vietnamese as you are.

Oh, why?
Because you kept your surname?

Arguably

I'm more Vietnamese than you.

You know, biologically.

No offense.

So, what brings you here?

Human-interest story.

No story's too small.

By the way, the name.

I get his patriotism

but in America

"yellow" means nothing good,
like urine.

For an Asian shopkeeper

he's kind of shooting himself
in the foot.

Just don't bring that up
with the General.

Well, I should get some quotes.

There's more where this came from.

Slit the mole's throat!
Slit the mole's throat!

Slit the mole's throat!
Slit the mole's throat!

Slit the mole's throat!

Slit the mole's throat!

Well, here we are now, huh?

No, I... I watched the news
of the last helicopter

taking off from the U.S. compound
over and over

hoping to catch a glimpse of you.

Well, I'm sorry
I didn't reach out to you.

It's just, you know, the evacuation
left me considerably fucked.

I couldn't bring Y Vi.

Dammit, her house was empty.

I whizzed around the district
on the General's Harley.

I was lookin' for her, every street

every nook, cranny, alley

no avail.

Last chopper was about to depart...

I haven't cried
over a girl in 30 years.

But goddamn Y Vi.

Sorry to hear that.

So, it's been quite the shitshow
with your colleagues

flingin' dirt at each other.

Only the spy says there's no spy.

Look at this gift Claude gave me.

.44 Auto Mag.

Anybody object to
a little celebratory pop?

Looks like you could use it.

It's Major Oanh.

Oanh?

A spy?

Which one of the two Oanhs?

The chopstick?

The dumpling.

The fat Oanh?

Yes.

And where would you get this idea?

Well, you see, he's involved
in some kind of business.

What kinda business?

I think it has somethin' to do
with... with candy.

Candy?

This means he's got
contacts back in Saigon.

He confessed that he used
his background from the Secret Police

in order to obtain them.

Fat Oanh,
receiving innocuous candies.

Which no one would ever suspect.

His father's people come from China.

Which everybody knows

you can't trust
that particular breed.

Doesn't taste like a message.

But again, he's too fat to be a spy.

Maybe, maybe.

And there are plus sides to a spy
who looks disarming, so.

Hard to say. I guess we could
check with Saigon.

Believe it or not

your name came up once.

Really?

You know,
that's... that's funny, right?

It's very funny.

So, by the way

how's Professor Hammer
treatin' you? Well?

- Sure.
- Great.

Can I ask you something?

Sure.

Why didn't you get
the General's family

out of the refugee camp sooner?

He was waiting by the phone.

Yeah, I know. I don't know.

Wanted him to be grateful to America.

Sometimes, it's good to remind people
how much they owe you.

Night, kid.

- Don't worry about it.
- Wait...

- Just ignore it. It'll be fine.
- No.

I'm still on duty. Stop! Jeez.

Oriental Studies Department.
Chairman's office.

Yes, right.

Yes. One second.

He says he's your boss?

- What?
- Thought I was.

Hello?

Remember our Chinese friend, huh?

The one with the sweet tooth?

Well, I did a little probing

and it seems his relatives back home
are safe and doing rather well!

Meanwhile

all of our relatives
have been imprisoned

in the so-called re-education camps!

We are starving and dying!

Do your job!