Original subtitles

ALL STORYLINES AND IMAGES IN THIS WORK 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

But do you all smell something, something like blood?

What did Tutor Lam do,

to deserve a death in pieces?

How is it that you aren't worried about his background and his actions, huh?

-Could it be…? -It might!

We have to find him to know the truth.

Darling!

Enter my house uninvited, you'll be punished.

But now where has she gone?

Madam Lam's inside with her children.

Maybe you should console them a bit.

I'll do that now.

Madam Lam! I'm here to offer my condolences.

Anything you need my help with?

-Ma'am? -You colluded with the cripple.

To kill my husband!

Now you dare to come over

to wipe me and my kids out?

-No! -What's going on?

I will kill you as revenge for my husband.

-I didn't do anything! -You bitch.

Madam Lam!

Madam Lam, ma'am.

Granny has nothing to do with the tutor's death!

-Madam Lam! -What are you doing?

Madam Lam!

Let me go!

You bitch! You shit!

-Madam Lam, calm down. -Please, ma'am, be calm.

Granny!

Granny!

Let's go, everyone!

May!

Duc, just go. It's pouring now!

Thought you came up here for firewood.

Who knew it was just to lounge around?

Hey!

I brought this for you, Dai.

Warm rice. Eat up!

-Oh, May! -Huh?

I'm planning to descend the mountain, work for a bit.

Since if I stay here

to hunt game and firewood, I won't have much to have your hand.

Oh?

Or does May not want Dai as her husband?

Of course, I want that.

But I don't think about dowry or gifts or things like that.

You don't,

but your father does.

That much is clear.

But it's right,

no way can he simply send his only daughter to Dai.

But I'll still be fine all on my own.

But then after I have May,

we… we will also have kids.

Can't be miserly for them.

But it'll be dangerous to descend, Dai.

Since the beginning,

only Mr. Thap can go down the mountain. You know this.

That is because nobody else besides him goes down the mountain.

Some of us need to actually try to know. You know?

I have decided.

I will descend to work for a while.

Wait for me, May!

I will always wait for you.

I only worry for you, is all.

Wait for me in peace, May.

No matter how dangerous it is,

I have no fear.

What's wrong with Dai?

-How foolish of him! -He tried to descend.

Dai! Don't scare me like this!

That poor manic boy, Dai!

Lower down.

-So rash! -What's with him?

-The fireflies got his soul! -Dai!

-Dai has such bad luck. -Dai, please wake up.

-May! -What is wrong with him?

Someone tell me why is Dai like this?

Dai!

Please wake up, Dai!

Don't scare me, Dai!

-It hurts me so much! -Dai!

Oh, Dai!

Please open your eyes!

Please open your eyes, Dai!

Don't scare me like this, Dai!

Dai!

You said you'd go and return to have my hand!

Wake up!

Wake up, awake! Wake up now!

Go home!

It's pouring, so why are you lying here?

Let's go, everyone!

-Whose laugh is that? Madam Lam? -She's gone insane!

Let's go, all!

What's the matter, Mr. Tam?

I'm just scared!

The entire night, I didn't catch a wink.

Also, for tonight I'm sleeping all alone.

Keep this up,

and I think I'll die young, Mr. Thap.

You are a genuine coward,

but you love telling scary stories.

I'll let you in on something.

If my dead great-grandfather comes back to life,

even he will not believe

all the horrible happenings

that are here in this village.

Not to mention,

right around New Years' time.

Who could even believe.

Back then,

Tet here would be so festive.

Even when we were far from everything.

When springtime neared,

we tried to host a feast

that lived up to the spirit of Tet.

But of late…

Hey, now, there is this thing…

I've been thinking but haven't dared ask.

Do you think that your entire village

is currently paying a colossal debt?

A karma.

Why would you think that?

You wouldn't ever think so?

All the deaths here,

they have been gruesome, evil, horrific.

And I think,

a human being is behind all that.

No ghosts or demons at all.

And to be that ruthless

surely

that person has to be holding a huge grudge.

Do you agree?

And do you think the old cripple…

No.

I'd never think it's him.

But even if he did murder Tutor Lam,

then all those wicked,

sudden deaths,

or even Madam Lam's insanity,

how do we explain them?

You're right about that.

But now I'm getting mad at him.

If he's crawling somewhere he should tell us,

rather than making us worry.

Him not being around,

makes me feel somewhat empty.

Mr. Tam,

should it be

that the village is eradicated,

would that scare you?

Scare me how?

Witnessing it or dying with you guys?

Both.

What is the difference, really.

That I get to witness it

or that I'll die along with you.

Both will pain me equally.

And if you all do perish,

and I'm the only survivor,

it will feel the exact same

as when my wife left everything

to follow Congee Tu to the other side.

In the end,

I'm the one who's left behind.

A life like that…

I might as well fucking die

so it's better.

So, by saying that,

you're unafraid of death?

By asking that,

you think no one can die?

In this life,

in the end,

we're all just here for a certain while.

Good karma extends that while,

bad karma shortens it.

What's the difference?

But if the death of a person

has some value,

as it can help someone,

then I find that more glorious than a life in fear.

If a person's death

can help someone.

If a person's death

can help someone.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Thank you, Tam.

Ah!

Oh, and tomorrow,

I'll search for the old cripple.

Do you know where he is?

I do not,

hence I said "search for."

From here to down there,

paths are few.

Then there's the rough climate.

I don't think he has gone far.

How strange?

Normally that guy is the rowdy one,

how come he is so proper today?

TUTOR LAM'S HOUSE

-Madam Lam! -You bitch!

Madam Lam.

Granny has nothing to do with your husband's death.

-I must cut her up. -Madam Lam!

Madam Lam!

Let me go!

You bitches!

-Granny! -I'll kill you all.

That… is not…

Granny!

Granny!

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

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

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

You're a demon.

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

You're a demon. I will kill you!

You're a demon!

-You die now! -I…

You die…

I…

I'm sorry, darling!

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

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

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

Phuc An!

Your father named you Phuc An.

Did you know that?

Your birthplace is the pottery village.

There,

every house has a terra-cotta figure and a puppet lantern out in front.

The former retains the cloud-soul, the latter the white-soul.

Only our village has them.

Everyone lives in harmony.

Mommy believes,

that because of this journey,

everyone in our house has fallen here.

All of them, one by one,

are in pieces, my dear!

Oh, child!

Mommy was wrong.

I was so wrong.

The healer said you were fragile,

that birthing you was a mistake.

I defied him,

and I compelled your father to get me to the Imperial City

and find a cure.

And now, at the end,

we are to die on the Ho barrens.

I…

I resent all you bandits.

From this life to the next,

never will I forgive you.

I will refuse to let you live in peace.

As you have stolen my child,

I will do the same to yours.

One will helplessly watch his mother go.

One will freely let me enter the village.

And one will truly think he's known all about me,

he will be forgotten for good.

Phuc An, my child!

Mommy is so sorry.

I must borrow your body to perform our clan's dark art.

Together

we shall let the descendants of the bandits

be empty and lost for eternity!

We shall meet again,

in flesh and with soul.

SECOND DAY OF NEW YEAR

Sir!

You're thinking wildly again.

Eat up, sir.

I feel…

The air isn't bright.

Heaven and earth are at odds.

I've no idea what can happen.

Around Tet time,

the sky is always gloomy like this.

Sir!

It is time, isn't it?

Time to repay the blood debt.

If only,

I could trade this old shell for the village's existence,

I'm more than willing.

But I know,

repaying karmic debts is never simple.

However sinful we've been,

that's how much we've to pay.

That's the natural order.

This village,

for many generations,

has lived in fear, in secret.

In the end, no one can hide from Heaven.

Are we all bound for hell?

If there's a way to save lives,

especially the innocent ones,

I beg you, sir,

let me know.

Darling, where're you off to?

To find the old cripple.

Why must you find him?

If we cannot talk frankly to him,

we won't know why Tutor Lam is dead.

At this point, you still trust him?

You must also know

I'm the village chief,

so to charge someone I must have proof.

The one who brought the strangers here was you.

The one to find them is also you.

You tell me then,

is your family important, or are they?

You must also know there's still more to happen here.

Now, children,

why are you just sitting there?

Come get some lucky money!

Here, for you!

Oh?

Not even a thank you?

Sounds like Madam Lam's laughter.

Over there!

Duc!

What is this?

What is all this?

I do not know.

I was hunting, then I saw the kids…

Maybe they dug up these body parts out in the graveyard.

I remember

I barred Madam Lam's door real securely,

so how are they here?

No matter how much you try to stop me

all your efforts will be in vain.

Dear Duc,

want a bite? Here's one for you.

Duc!

Good gods!

Thi Lam has gone demonic,

she's no longer a person.

Look, she's eating people!

Is that Granny's body?

Good heavens! Granny!

Heavens above!

Mr. Thap!

Do something, sir!

Mr. Thap!

They're eating people.

Madam Lam!

I know.

I know you're in great pain.

So am I.

I too, loved the Tutor.

But don't let this

be why you'd harm yourself,

and in turn harm the kids.

The kids are innocent.

Ma'am, hear me out.

Please calm down.

Calm yourself, Madam Lam.

Pull!

Let me go!

You sons of bitches!

Murderers!

And soon all of you will die!

One by one until there's no one.

Damn you all! Release me!

Madam Lam is dead?

Did she just die?

Not yet.

Be calm, all.

The paralytic blend

will only stop Madam Lam and the kids for a bit.

Tie them up.

-Let's go in and get her. -Hurry, before they come to.

-Lift it up! -Toss it up!

Capture them.

Let's go, May!

The red puppet!

Everyone! It's the red puppet!

Everyone! It's the red puppet!

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

Dai!

To be born in this village

is itself a sin!

At all costs, we must bury that bitch alive!

-That's right! -Everyone, be calm!

-Be calm! -Let go of me.

Bandits of the Ho barrens,

I curse all of you

to be empty for eternity.

-Live burial! -Bury her alive!

All of you, just you wait!

I fear that,

our reckoning is upon us.