Original subtitles

ALL STORYLINES AND IMAGES ARE FICTITIOUS. ANY SIMILARITIES ARE COINCIDENTAL.

Do you know who I am?

ADAPTED FROM THE PERIOD HORROR NOVEL BY THAO TRANG

IN THE LAST EPISODE

You hold this. And keep it close.

Most grateful to you!

Madam Tu got me new herbal blends.

As long as we have a kid.

Woe to the village.

You must protect yourself.

Unpleasant. Darkest omens.

I call upon your redeeming grace.

Oh, dear Thap!

You were once nearly died by being spirited away.

You will face tragedy when you're 39 years old.

Do you know about… the crippled beggar.

-The one in our own area? -Yes.

Of course we know of him.

That's right. I've seen him many times.

The old cripple who crawls around the market.

I hate all you fucking men.

I despise all of you!

Why do you cry, Missus?

In short, whoever meets and talks with that cripple…

will soon die.

Oh?

Who could be laughing at ghost stories?

Can you all hear it?

But wait, this laughter… is rather familiar.

Who is it?

Who's there?

It's my gold!

It's my gold!

It's my gold!

It's my gold!

"Congee" Tu.

-But he is dead. -Isn't he… dead?

Good heavens!

-What's wrong now? -Oh my God.

THREE YEARS AGO

Who's there?

Who's there?

Hello?

Who goes there?

Who's there?

Who is it?

Darling!

My dear!

Darling!

Tu…!

Aboard!

Tu…!

Aboard!

Help, anyone!

Congee Tu is dead!

Listen.

Death is already a dour thing.

But he also met the ferrying wench.

Good heavens!

I only need to hear about her…

And I shiver all over.

Now here's a thing not all of you know.

Not everyone who dies is transported to whatever after

and is able to meet the Ferry Woman.

Only people with hard karma

can really see her.

But the fact that Tu died,

how the hell does it tie to the beggar?

You all are bad at paying attention.

Use some more effort now to see here.

The day before

Congee Tu ended himself,

the person he met

was the crippled beggar.

Tu has zero love for that beggar.

But every day

the beggar would just hang around his stall.

Sooner or later,

Tu would run a knife into him.

Hot yams are here. Please enjoy, sir.

My love rarely tells it wrong.

No lie!

I also saw it with own two eyes, of course.

That day,

Tu was packing up to go home

and the beggar came crawling in.

You cripple!

Go the hell away!

-If you are here, I just can't sell! -I have no idea what words were exchanged.

I need you to go, can you fucking do so?

But Tu's eyes, they were blood red.

Oh, you're not going, eh?

He reached for the butcher's knife on the shelf.

To chop at the beggar.

But then he muttered something,

that stopped Tu in his tracks.

Scary!

Wait?

That day you said…

you were going to the next village for a feast.

Why did you go to the market?

Well…

After the feast, I…

I realized the market was on the way

and these yams were there.

Right. You bought yams.

Stop it.

Let us go back and rest. I'm getting scared now.

We have to wake up early tomorrow.

Hey!

Walk with me past the bamboos first, deal?

That story about Tu is giving me chills.

Sure! Let's take the long way home.

-Don't walk by where Tu lives. -Yeah.

Creeping the hell out of me.

-Let's go. -Go.

Good yams.

It's my gold!

It's my gold!

Sir Kham!

Who's out there?

It's me, Thap's wife. I'd like to see you.

-Come on in. -Yes!

SIR KHAM - THE HEALER

What is it… that has you here so late?

The thing is, sir…

These past few days, my skin has grown red.

It's prickly all day, unbearably so.

So… have you been to the woods,

or to the creek, and something's bitten you?

The woods, I haven't gone there.

The creek, when I go, I wear a palm coat.

So it's hard for things to bite into it.

Then, with your permission,

I'll check out the reddened area.

-May I? -Yes.

All done. Please adjust your clothing.

Wait for me.

Here.

Go home with this remedy.

Rub it onto the reddened area.

Twice daily, morning and night.

See if it works.

Yes. I thank you, sir.

Hey!

Mrs. Thap!

Money matters, tend to them later.

See if it works well on you first!

Yes. I thank you, sir.

I'll take my leave.

Sure, you may go.

And, sir…

Last month Madam Tu gave me new herbal mixes.

I've been drinking them

but nothing has happened.

Childbirth depends… on heaven's planning, Mrs. Thap.

I have been healing folks for generations

and thus, am familiar with your situation.

It's good for my business, sure.

But maybe you should

stop worrying too much about children.

Then the gods might bless you with one.

Moreover…

our village has been… a far from fertile place.

But you know this.

Must our suffering last across lives, sir?

That, I can't say for sure.

But what our ancestors did…

the consequences…

I'm afraid…

are now on our backs.

I'll leave you now, sir.

Yes. You go on.

DAI - MANIC BOY

Good heavens! Dai?

You frightened me!

But why?

What are you scared of?

Of ghosts?

Of ghosts, huh?

It's this late and that laughter, who wouldn't be scared?

The dead aren't scary.

The living are.

You speak nonsense.

It's so dark out, yet you're still running around,

not worried you'll be spirited away?

You forgot that last time already?

Where are you going if you aren't scared?

Still lively and steady, huh?

Like a tree that can't bloom

Your womb's so ill.

Home's empty, still…

Thap!

-Go home, child! Be quick! -Granny!

Granny!

Go home quick, or you're late.

Hours are short.

-Granny, I'm hurt! -Living hours are ending.

Late to return.

Souls turn demonic.

Mr. Tam! Hey, Mr. Tam!

What?

I just saw something dangling on the lilac tree.

There's nothing.

Maybe you're tired from your journey.

You also heard me telling the story about Congee Tu.

Your spirit might be a bit off-kilter.

Get some rest.

You must leave early tomorrow.

But… I saw something.

I know I'm kind of tough.

I'm far from being scared of ghosts.

But I swear there was something

Fine, fine, fine!

Whether it was something or nothing, sleep first.

We'll find out tomorrow.

Done deal!

Darling!

My dear wife!

Are you out there?

Darling! Darling!

My wife?

Is that you?

Is it?

My dear!

Are you in there, wife?

Darling!

Seems like today you can play

"cat and mouse," huh?

Mice should hide well.

For if the cat gets the mouse,

we'll fool around until dawn.

That you, husband?

Are you home?

My dear!

Mr. Thap!

However many lives you took, that much cost you'll pay!

What is wrong, Mr. Tam?

My wife! My wife!

Mr. Tam! Don't untie her!

You must cut the rope. Or you'll get strung up too!

-Darling! -Get away!

My dear! Darling!

Darling!

Darling! Darling…

Darling!

Darling!

My wife! Please listen, and answer me.

Please don't leave me.

Darling!

Darling!

Oh, Lien…

Aboard!

Oh, Lien…

-Aboard! -Darling!

Darling! My dear!

Lien…!

-Aboard! -Darling!

Darling!

Darling!

Darling!

Darling!

My dear!

My wife!

Mr. Tam!

Good heavens!

What's going on here, Mr. Tam?

Mr. Tam.

What's happened, has happened.

Please don't drown in grief.

The important thing right now

is to retrieve your wife and ready her funeral.

Don't let her rest out in the open.

It'd be unkind.

Hey!

Wonder what kind of life Tam's been living

for his wife to die so horribly.

Yesterday, I saw her

shrewdly chatting it up with Suu who sells vegetables

And now…

Maybe…

What?

Maybe, he's jealous or something.

Off goes the wife.

Hush!

Don't make such accusations.

Spreaders of rumors are punished forever!

If people hear you, woe will come to you.

Please hold your tongue!

Excuse me, ladies.

Please don't get carried away with rumors.

It's more hurt for the living.

Yesterday, Mr. Tam and I did go and search

but Mrs. Tam was already gone.

Hey!

-Could it be the beggar again? -Could be.

I mean, Mrs. Tam did see him whispering to Congee Tu.

Might this be revenge?

Yes! It might very well be.

-Indeed. -Might be.

-It's likely. -Yes, maybe it is?

There's no way.

Mr. Tam!

-Mr. Tam! -Mr. Tam!

-Mr. Tam! -Mr. Tam!

-Let me go! -Mr. Tam!

Mr. Tam!

-I must kill that beggar. -Mr. Tam!

Calm down.

-He killed my wife! -Pull him in!

Let go.

Let me go!

-Mr. Tam! -I must avenge my wife.

-I have to avenge her. -Sit down!

I have to fucking kill him.

Let me go.

-Calm down! -He killed her.

Mr. Tam.

You should eat something.

You haven't had a bite since yesterday.

You won't have the strength.

Mr. Tam!

Mrs. Thap!

Greetings, ma'am.

You just place it there.

Come sit with me, May.

Ma'am.

Huh?

Are you ill? Why do you look so pale?

Perhaps from lack of sleep last night.

Brother Duc got some bamboo shoots.

-I'll bring some over for your house. -Yes.

Any excess can be sold down in the market.

Mmm.

But where is Mr. Thap, ma'am?

He's still down the mountain.

Duc has been waiting since.

He missed his chance to descend, then.

I don't know…

He was in such a rush to descend.

Ah wait, May!

Last night, I saw the boy Dai wandering around.

In case you see him, ask him to stay in.

Sometimes he's sane, sometimes not.

When he's awake, he'll agree with whatever I say.

When he's not, he'll forget everything.

It's not that I haven't advised him!

Poor kid.

If only your elder hadn't dared him.

Then perhaps he would have turned out fine.

Yes. Alright, I'll leave you, ma'am.

Why oh why, Mr. Thap?

Why must my wife suffer like that?

If it wasn't the cripple,

who else could resent my wife so?

To give her such a cruel end?

Since the beginning,

my wife never attracted harm,

nor had she brought harm to anyone.

I understand you.

But think for a bit here.

The beggar has no legs.

Mobility is a challenge.

His form is far from strong.

How can he kill?

And string the body up?

That scoundrel is no human being.

He is a demon, a monster.

Can you not see it?

If he is so…

If the beggar is as you described

then why would he…

crawl everywhere asking for alms?

I'm not trying to defend him.

But Mr. Tam,

to falsely sear a crime onto someone,

that's how bad karma abounds.

I will not lie to you.

Just yesterday,

he read my fortune.

Every detail was right.

What?

The beggar read your fortune?

Mr. Thap.

You best watch out.

He could be…

You scum. I'll chop you up!

Mr. Tam!

-Mr. Tam! -Let me go!

I must chop him to fucking bits.

-Mr. Tam. -I must kill him to avenge my wife.

-Mr. Tam, be calm! -Let go!

-Let go! -Let him explain first.

-Let go. -Mr. Tam! Hand over the knife!

Let go!

-You dog. -Mr. Tam.

-I'll kill you! -Mr. Tam!

-Mr. Tam! -Hands off!

Mr. Tam!

-Calm down, Mr. Tam! -I must kill him.

-Mr. Tam! -You dog.

-Let go! -Mr. Tam!

Mr. Tam!

Why would you come here?

To clear my name.

I know Mr. Tam

and all the Dau villagers

believe that I killed Congee Tu

and Mrs. Tam.

I tried to get here, still,

because…

I am not their murderer.

I also know for certain

that these two deaths are related.

You're saying…

The moment I came to Dau Village,

all the bad and unexplainable things…

Everyone thinks I am the cause.

There's also the habit of bullying newcomers.

Dau's market bandits would do that.

Every day they'd torment me there.

It's mine.

It's mine. Mine.

Do it.

Mine.

Let go! Let go, you thieves!

You all let go! Let go! It's mine.

Damn all those who steal!

Beat the shit out of him!

I beg you all.

I beg you, please.

Let go.

Let me go!

Oh, all of you!

I beg. A hundred prayers, a thousand pardons.

Hey.

-I beg you, please let me go. -Here's a prayer!

And another!

-All! -Stop!

Enough, enough, enough.

Enough.

Stop.

Oh, sir!

Prayers and pardons to you.

Sir!

Please have mercy!

I pray you hundreds, beg you thousands.

You dare come to Dau Village

to compete with us for food?

No. I wouldn't dare to.

Yes.

Fuck you!

Retreat, brothers!

Fuck you. We're not done with you!

Run away, brothers!

But why would Congee Tu…

be at the graveyard then?

Have you ever heard of…

something called Skull Wine?

However many lives you took, that much cost you'll pay.

Have you ever heard of…

…something called Skull Wine?

Tu Congee is killing me!