01x01 - All are equal before God

[bunniefuu]

Watch out! Don't run the red light!

I know.

Stop weaving in and out!

It's a red light!

You've run two red lights, Quan.

You'll be fined NT$7,200.

Hell! That much?

Stop following the ambulance.

Your wages won't be enough to cover the fines.

How else would I know where it's going?

You're speeding, Quan.

You'll be fined NT$2,400 for speeding.

I like this GPS, honey.

-Why don't we get one? -Don't touch me.

Well done, baby.

Let them know you're mine.

Don't you already have your goddess?

Come on. That's my goddess

and this is my baby. It's not the same.

Baby, where is the nearest hospital?

You have reached your destination.

Why aren't they stopping?

Where are they going, baby?

Back up! Let them unload the ambulance!

Back up!


-Open the door. -Get off!

-Ming-qi! -Don't push me!

Be careful!

Park properly, don't get fined

for ill*gal parking.

The scaffold has collapsed!

A steel rod has pierced through Clam's leg!

Has anyone called an ambulance?

The wind's too strong. Nobody move!

Quan! Get the scaffold up!

Lift it up... lift it up!

Up... up!

It's stuck... it's stuck!

Stop!

Let me through!

Come on, let's pitch in!

-Come on... let's do it! -Be careful!

Superintendent! Ming-qin and Ming-qi went up!

Wait! The sparks!

-You go on, Chang! -OK.

Chang! Be careful, Chang!

-Chang! Mrs Chang! -Balu!

Hurry, Mrs Chang!

-Here! -Mrs Chang!

-Balu! -Mrs Chang!

Here, Balu!

Spread it over him!

Be careful! Cover him up!

Come on! Hurry!

Hang in there, Clam!

Keep your eyes closed!

-Chang! -OK!

Be careful!

Wait.

OK!

Easy... easy!

Chang! Be careful, Chang!

Try lifting it up again!

Back off... everyone!

Quan! Lift it up!

Lift it! Come on!

Lift it...

Hang in there!

Easy... easy!

Hurry!

Hurry... hurry!

Come on!

Careful... careful!

Who's going to pay the bill for him?

How much do we have to pay upfront?

-NT$20,000. -NT$20,000?

Hell, why is it so expensive?

The rod went right through his thigh.

We need to use the best styptic cotton

to stop the bleeding.

Doctor, he's badly injured.

Can't you just treat him first?

We've had plenty of labourers

who came for help and left without paying.

In order to put a stop to it

you have to pay before we treat him.

What makes you so sure they were all labourers?

Aren't you labourers?

Yeah, we are. So what are you saying?

Us labourers have to pay upfront

but those in suits and ties can pay later?

What's with this hospital?

You'd save the rich and leave the poor to die?

We don't care if you're rich or poor.

We only care if you can pay up or not.

Fine! Just treat him, will you?

We'll pay up before he's discharged.

Sorry, this is our hospital policy.

You have to pay upfront.

Ming-qi.

Look...

I have NT$2,000.

Give it to her and cover the rest for me.

I'll pay you back when I'm out of here.

NT$2,000? We're still NT$18,000 short.

We should have gone to a bigger hospital.

-I bet they'd be more flexible. -No!

The doctors at big hospitals

might notify the police about my injury.

In a small hospital like this

they're more flexible.

It's safer for me. Please.

Please.

Here's NT$2,000. I have NT$500.

Let's pool together what we have.

See if we can make NT$20,000.

My wife holds the purse strings...

-What about you? -This is all I have.

For today's dinner and betel nuts.

I see you working all the time.

Why are you so broke?

ill*gal parking, not wearing my seat belt

not signaling... you get it.

All my money has gone to the government.

And you still ran the red lights just now?

What's the point of working

if you're just going to be paying fines?

What are you going to eat? You're penniless now.

It's OK. Clam needs the money more.

What about tomorrow? You're just going to starve?

I'll worry about tomorrow when it comes.

Put your money away!

Hell, you guys are dirt poor.

She's going to an ATM.

She's going to an ATM.

My, Mrs Chang sure has a heart of gold.

She can't bear to see anyone suffer.

Check out her butt. It's so perky!

Look at her shakin' it.

She's no hot, young thing

but her skin is still soft and silky smooth.

She can work magic and make miracles.

Who is she?

She's Mrs Chang!

Remember to pass me the receipt

after you've made payment.

Good thing my goddess isn't such a b*tch.

Dear Phra Phrom, please bless Clam.

May he make a speedy recovery

and come back to work soon.

May there be no more accidents at the work site.

Keep Chang and everyone else safe.

Dear Phra Phrom

I can't be living out of my truck forever.

So maybe you could get me a house

or let me stumble on a fortune on the streets?

Dear Phra Phrom

I'll have to pay my workers next week.

May my client pay me on time

so I have the money to pay my workers.

Either that or let me win the lottery.

14...

15...

16...

17...

18...

19...

20.

Hey, Mrs Chang.

How much did you donate to the temple?

NT$100.

I've done the maths.

For the 20 minutes I was sitting here

20 people have walked in here.

That's one person per minute on average.

If everyone donates NT$100

it's NT$1,000 every 10 minutes.

The temple gets what we make in a day

in just half an hour.

And some of them donated more than NT$100.

Some donated NT$500 or even NT$1,000.

Phra Phrom doesn't need to do anything.

He just sits there and he gets

our monthly wage in a day.

And that's based on eight hours a day.

But he doesn't sit there for just eight hours.

He sits there 24/7!

Are you out of your mind?

You're comparing Phra Phrom to a labourer?

He's the holy Phra Phrom.

Watch what you say. Go apologise now.

Yeah, but Phra Phrom needs to be

taken care of too.

He doesn't need to eat and never gets sick.

All he needs is a place to live

and someone to clean the statue.

How much would that cost? Not much at all!

The rest of the money goes to his keeper.

Phra Phrom takes care of poor folks like us.

I'm getting a message from him

saying that we can make a fortune

-By running a temple. -Run a temple?

Do you have sh*t for brains?

You do realise if we fall sick

the National Health Insurance covers our bills

and meals doesn't have to be expensive

to fill our stomachs.

You know what costs the most?

A place to live!

Do you know some people work their whole lives

just to pay off their housing loans?

How did they end up so broke?

They bought a house, that's why!

Run a temple? Give me a break!

Where would your temple be? By the roadside?

We have to pay by the hour

just to park a car.

You want to open a freakin' temple?

Take that bird brain of yours

out of the clouds already!

Let's go!

You're so full of crap.

The Phra Phrom statue isn't that big.

We won't need much space.

It won't cost that much.

Stop daydreaming!

-I have sh*t for brains? -Let's wait for Ming-qi.

He has legs. He can walk.

He's not a statue. He doesn't need to be carried.

Tell him to crawl.

(Thai) Hi.

Hello...

Ming-qin!

Ming-qin...

You know what? We're the chosen ones.

-The chosen ones? -Yeah.

I was at a temple

praying to Phra Phrom yesterday.

A Thai monk stopped me and told me

"You're the chosen one."

Of course I didn't believe him.

I ignored him but he said

I was bathed in a golden light.

Phra Phrom had chosen me.

I asked him what it meant to be chosen.

He said, "You are to devote your life"

"to serving Phra Phrom."

"He has chosen you."

I thought about it and it makes sense.

I was praying to Phra Phrom to make me rich.

I think this must be a message

from Phra Phrom.

The monk said he could get us

an authentic statue of Phra Phrom from Thailand

that's all golden and shiny and holy!

We just have to enshrine and worship him.

And then we can kick back and enjoy life.

How much does the statue cost?

-NT$250,000. -Are you serious?

Where are we going to get that kind of money?

I bargained with him to get that price.

It was NT$800,000.

Sounds like your Phra Phrom

doesn't have any principles.

-Shut up! -But NT$250,000?

Listen, Ming-qin...

Phra Phrom takes care of the poor.

But I don't have that much money.

I know you have money stashed away.

If we each chip in NT$50,000

and Ming-qin puts in NT$100,000

we'll have the money.

It's NT$50,000, not NT$5.

Ming-qin.

Although you're only putting in NT$100,000

we'll make you the major shareholder.

You'll take 60% of the profits, and us, 40%.

But we need to borrow NT$40,000 from you.

-What say you? -I'm in!

-What say you? -I'm in.

-What say you? -We're in.

The Phra Phrom has four faces.

That's the four of us combined.

I enjoyed this promotion at the other outlets.

Why can't I get it here?

You need to have the receipt

to enjoy the one-for-one promotion.

I'm sorry, she's new.

Don't you know the customer is always right?

I want to see your store manager!

I'm the store manager.

I know your boss. Get me the manager!

I'm the store manager.

You put these products together

because it's one-for-one right?

I could get this elsewhere without a receipt!

I want to see your store manager!

Hell! She's standing right in front of you!

I'm fighting for my consumer rights.

This is none of your business!

Buy it or leave!

Get lost!

Sorry to keep you waiting.

It's all right. How much is this?

Hi, making payment?

My goddess. Having a busy night?

Of course.

The weight of the world falls on my shoulders.

Yeah?

Here.

It's on the house.

-What's this? -Hands off!

That's the handbag of my dreams.

The handbag of your dreams?

I'm saving up for it.

How long will that take? How much is it?

I'll buy it for you.

You can't afford it. It's NT$50,000.

NT$50,000? That's peanuts.

Yeah, right!

You can't even afford betel nuts.

How are you going to buy me that handbag?

Are you going to rob a bank?

I don't have to. I have help from above.

Don't sneak up on me, Dad.

You should be focused on your books.

Look at you, listening to music

and tossing your head like a horse.

You just might break your neck.

What do you want?

I want you to be good to your mum.

I am.

Your mum takes real good care of your grandpa.

-I'm good to Grandpa too. -I know.

Be good to me too.

Why have you gone all quiet?

I'm thinking if I've been good to you.

Oh, never mind. Just be good to your mum.

So I don't have to be good to you?

Well, I won't complain if you are.

All right. Anything else?

No.

Nothing...

Hey, Jun-jie.

How much allowance do you have left?

NT$300.

What have you been splurging on?

That's my hard-earned money.

I needed reference books for my exams.

You didn't have to use your allowance for that.

So you'll give me money for my books?

I'm going to be rich soon.

You're throwing our money away again?

What are you talking about?

It's an investment!

I'll strike it rich this time.

Yeah, right! You say that every time.

I haven't seen it happen yet.

Look, I have a feeling

it will work out this time.

So lend me all the money you have.

I'll pay it back with five times the interest.

Really?

No, this is not enough.

I know what.

Ask your mum

for your next month's allowance.

Just tell her...

that you need the money for school.

For what purpose?

Some extracurricular activity?

No.

Mum will be hopping mad if she finds out.

All right...

Study hard.

Your mum doesn't have it easy.

Make sure you do well for your exams.

Leave our son alone, will you?

I was checking on him to see if he's studying.

Yeah, like I'd believe that.

Do you go to the temples?

Yeah. People in my line of work

pray to Guanyin.

Really?

I thought you would pray to the Fox Fairy.

We pray to the Fox Fairy

for beauty and a good figure

and to Guanyin to purge our sins.

-Your sins? -Yeah.

In our line of work

we can't afford to get pregnant.

If we do, we have to get an ab*rtion.

So we beg Guanyin for forgiveness.

Here, for you.

What's this?

I made it myself.

You did? It's so cute!

If you ever quit your job

at the construction site

you can make this for me to sell.

What do you think about running a temple?

I heard it's easy money.

I'm guessing that's your brother's idea?

I take my hat off to your brother.

He's still dreaming of striking it rich

despite all the money he has lost.

I envy him. He's a fearless dreamer.

I don't want to burst his bubble.

If these dreams brighten up his life

then why not?

I made you snow fungus soup.

Go have it. It's good for your lungs.

Don't forget to take your pills

for high blood pressure after that.

You're the best, my pretty wife.

When I'm rich, I'll buy you anything you want

and take you to anywhere you like.

I'll pay.

Of course, we can't have Ming-qin

paying for everything, can we?

Speaking of your brother

why can't you be more like him?

You're both ironworkers

but he makes so much more than you do.

Grow up already.

Stop daydreaming.

As long as you have dreams, you have hope.

Where's the money

that Ming-qin gave you last week?

I can't find it.

How would I know?

Perhaps you forgot where you put it?

Did you spend it on yet another one

of your stupid ventures?

No, I didn't!

No? Last year, you had the genius idea

of selling some magic tonic pill.

You said you'd make a fortune.

And what happened?

Here... see for yourself!

Look! The pills are still here.

Boxes and boxes of it.

There are more over there.

See for yourself!

After that, you joined

some rotating savings association

and the organiser made off with all your money.

You'll be the death of me!

And that's not all.

A while back, you wanted to be your own boss

and start a claw machine business.

So, Mr Boss...

where are those claw machines of yours?

I haven't seen squat.

Can you explain that?

I admit I didn't think

the tonic pill venture through.

As for the rotating savings

the organiser told me that

he had a family emergency

and needed the money for a bit.

For a bit? So when is he paying you back?

Where is he now? Where does he live?

What's his name?

Well... I think he's trying to...

Anyway, I will no longer

believe a word you say.

If I catch you throwing our money away again

I'll divorce you!

I'll never agree to a divorce.

Well, try me!

If I want to leave, you can't stop me.

When the temple is up and running

and money starts rolling in...

Divorce me?

You'll be on your knees begging me to stay.

Check this place out.

I like that there's a stream here.

The devotees can free c*ptive animals here.

I think we should fence up this place.

I'll take care of that.

I wonder how my wife will react

when she finds out we found this spot

to run our temple for free.

This is only temporary.

Once we make some money

we'll find someplace indoors for Phra Phrom.

Someplace indoors?

Come on, rope the area off.

But this place is really out of the way.

What if no one comes?

Relax. I have it all worked out.

We'll offer free shuttle rides

to and from the nearest metro station.

You'll be the driver, Quan.

What about me?

You'll be the temple caretaker.

That looks more like a monkey.

Oh, doesn't matter.

-What about you? -I'll collect the money.

So we'll have to quit our jobs?

Not yet.

We'll quit only after we've recouped

the money we've invested.

But how are we going to juggle two jobs?

And how do we get the word out

that we have a temple here?

You have a point. Hey, Quan!

You'll be the driver c*m caretaker for now.

-What do you think? -No, thank you!

I can easily make NT$3,000 a day

operating a digger.

If I'm stuck here

and we don't get any visitors to the temple

I'll have to go hungry!

In that case...

why don't we hire someone to do it then?

As if we can afford that.

It only costs NT$400 a day

to hire a temporary worker.

No, it's more like NT$800 a day now.

And what if he steals the donations we get?

All right, why don't you do it then?

Are you kidding me?

If my wife finds out that

I'm running a temple with you

she'll skin me alive.

Fine, I'll do it then. I'll quit my job

and serve Phra Phrom full time.

-I'll bring you your meals. -Sweet!

All Ming-qi ever thinks about

is money and gold.

What about you?

Me? Stones is all I think about.

-He's a simple soul. -What about him?

-His head is full of crap. -sh*t you!

It's coming down!

What the heck did you do?

Why did it come down?

Good thing nobody's hurt.

The bigger the risk, the greater the reward.

Hey, what do you mean by that?

That's for everyone to charge their phones.

Why do you get priority?

Who do you think you are?

We all know what you do in private.

Get off your high horse!

You're no better than us!

Hey! What's the fuss about?

Superintendent, he's too much.

We need to charge our phones

so we unplugged his charger for a bit.

He threw our charger on the ground!

Will it k*ll him to let us use it for 15 minutes?

We have more sockets downstairs.

Superintendent, did Ming-qin

rent that socket or something?

If so, we'll rent one as well.

Just tell us how much you want for it.

If you find it so taxing to go downstairs

to charge your phone, work harder!

If you do a faster and better job than Ming-qin

I'll give you an exclusive socket too!

Am I a bad worker now?

I'm doing as much as I can humanly possible.

Are you saying Ming-qin isn't human?

I don't know what he is.

All I know is

once he eats some chocolate

he can work nonstop without taking a break

or making a single mistake.

If you're jealous, go ahead and do the same.

Munch some chocolate or candy, your choice.

Stop finding excuses for your incompetence.

Listen, all are equal before God.

Ming-qin doesn't have any superpowers.

Get back to work!

What are you looking at?

Don't you have work to do?

OK.

Good.

Guys, have something to drink.

This is for you, Superintendent.

How many workers do you have?

-Bring them all over. -Sure...

Take a break. I'll give you a hand later.

I'm fine.

Do as I say. Don't be stubborn.

Take a break.

I said, I'm fine. Go back to work.

Go on.

One mushroom.

-Join us, Ming-qin. -Two mushrooms.

Three mushrooms.

Get the fourth one over there.

Tug it, tug it!

Hey, my buddy who is hung like a horse.

Do you have a hot chick

tugging your mushroom these days?

Hell, of course.

Come on, Ming-qi.

You've gone all serious and proper

like your brother.

No, Quan is praying and going vegetarian.

I'm reminding him to watch his language.

I see meat in his lunchbox.

You can have all my vegetables.

Tug the mushroom!

I have to buy you so much food

for taking some meat from your lunch?

You know Quan can't live without meat.

You shouldn't have taken it.

It's as good as k*lling him.

It was for his own good.

We're going to serve Phra Phrom soon

yet he was talking dirty with Monkey.

What if we incur Phra Phrom's wrath?

So I can never eat meat again?

Just for three months.

Once our temple business takes off

you can do whatever you want.

I want one more bowl of pork bone soup.

Will it k*ll you to go without meat?

So where's that Salon dude?

His name is Charoen.

I'm going to stuff my face

until he shows up.

I blew off a good gig to be here today.

I have to make this worth my while.

All you know is eat.

Hey, Charoen!

-(Thai) Hello. -(Thai) Hello.

Your friends?

(Thai) Hello...

They put me in touch with temples here in Taiwan

that are looking to acquire statues of deities

for their franchises.

Franchises? Like convenience stores?

Which means I'm facing a lot of competition?

Franchising is the way to go now.

How else can you make money, right?

No worries about competition

as long as you have a distinctive branding.

Come to me if you need anything.

I'll send you a photo of the statue.

Here's the NT$150,000.

I'll pass you the balance

once the statue arrives at the airport.

You'll come to no good end if this is a scam!

OK... I'm an honest businessman.

Here comes Phra Phrom.

Let's have a look.

-Ma'am! -Yeah?

Ma'am!

We'll have another plate of the same.

Sure... with pig skin and liver meat too?

Yes, everything. Make it a big serving.

Sure, coming right up.

Listen, guys. When I'm rich

the first thing I'll buy is a private jet.

I'll take my wife wherever she wants.

A private jet? Perfect.

Use it to send my daughter abroad for studies.

-Sweet! -Listen.

My baby girl can study all she wants.

Be it the master's, Ph.D or ADHD.

I'll pay for all of it!

Here... here's your food.

Thanks...

-Chang. -Yeah?

What if your daughter

falls in love with a foreigner?

The only English you know is "thank you".

If your daughter dates a Caucasian

and settles down overseas

all you can say is "Thank you, thank you".

She can date anyone she wants.

Be it a Caucasian, a Thai

an American or an Englishman

as long as he loves my girl.

As long as they love each other and get along.

I'll try to learn the ABCs and speak English.

Well said...

You know what? If I have a baby girl

I'll treat her like a princess.

Because her mum is a goddess.

What if you have a boy?

Oh, boys don't need fussing over.

He'll grow up just fine on his own.

I'm happy as long as

he doesn't grow up a criminal.

But I do have one wish.

I don't want him to be a labourer.

What's wrong with being one?

Yeah, it's an honest living!

Right? We should be proud.

We work hard to provide for our families.

You don't get it.

I'm talking about dignity.

Only those with a steady income

can talk about dignity.

As for folks like us

with no guarantee of a job tomorrow

nothing is in our hands.

Don't be so pessimistic.

Everyone needs to have hope

be it a labourer or God himself.

Right, Ming-qin?

Why are you asking him?

You know Ming-qin is a man of few words.

It's easier to squeeze water from a rock.

He's our major shareholder.

We should listen to his opinion.

Right?

My opinion on?

How you will spend your money

when you're rich.

I'll think about it when I'm rich.

It won't cost you anything to think now.

Say, if you won the lottery

you'll suddenly have millions of dollars.

You have to figure out in advance

what you're going to do with it, right?

What you've just said

is for those with a future.

I don't have one, so it's moot.

Goodness, they're all passed out drunk.

Do you need help? Want me to call a taxi

or someone to give you a hand?

It's all right. I've got it.

I thought your brother said he was buying.

It doesn't matter.

In that case, can you also pay

what your brother owes me for beer?

Sure. How much is it?

NT$2,300.

Here you go.

Thank you very much.

I'll get a taxi.

I don't mean to be a nag...

but whatever you do

spare a thought for everyone else.

We know that you're good at what you do

but don't overshadow everyone.

We only put up with you

because you're Ming-qi's brother...

My goodness, why did you drink so much?

Get me the dustpan, Ru-hui!

Let's get him up, Ming-qin.

Why the hell did you drink so much?

Look at the mess you made in the stairwell.

You're drunk again?

Good grief.

Ming-qin...

Listen.

Cheer up. We're going to be rich.

We're going to be somebody.

Dad is drunk again?

Get your uncle a cup of tea, Jun-jie.

It's OK, I'm not thirsty.

Let me use your toilet.

Let me take your socks off.

Goodness, you reek of booze!

Hey. Lie down properly!

Mei-feng, I'll be off then.

All right. Thank you so much.

No problem.

I'll see you out, Uncle.

I'm not drunk.

Uncle.

My dad asked me for money the other day.

I didn't lend him any.

Mum would get mad if I did.

Can you pass this to him for me?

How are you going to get by

without your allowance?

I earned this working part-time.

It's not my allowance from Mum.

She'll never know.

It's your hard-earned money then.

Keep it and spend it wisely.

I'll get your dad the money he needs.

You don't have to worry.

Ming-qin... Ming-qin!

Where's your brother, Ming-qin?

I'll do his share of work.

-Are you sure? -Yeah.

OK. Take care.

Thanks.

Please don't get mad at me.

Clam, your wife's not here to look after you?

She's home taking care of the kid.

Clam?

Clam?

Let him sleep.

His medicine probably makes him drowsy.

He needs more rest to recover sooner.

How much longer is he going to sleep?

He can sleep all he wants when he's dead.

If he doesn't go back to work soon

the superintendent

will get a new scaffolding contractor.

The temporary workers

at the work site are totally ripped.

The superintendent is so pleased with them.

Clam's workers haven't had work for days.

We should hurry back

before we lose our jobs too.

All right.

Listen, Clam.

We're getting our Phra Phrom statue today.

I promise

I'll give you 2% of the shares.

You don't have to fork out a cent.

When the money starts rolling in

we'll get rich together.

What are you whispering to him?

I told him to get a good rest.

Let's go.

Where are you guys going?

We're going to... help a friend.

No monkey business.

Chang will never do that.

My friend needs help to move house

so I asked Quan and Chang to help.

We'll be back in two hours.

Have you informed the superintendent?

Yeah. We'll work overtime for it.

We're going to move house then.

Move house.

See you. Bye. Take care.

Goodbye. Farewell!

Come on! Hurry...

Oh, Mrs Chang!

Hurry up!

-Charge, baby! -Not this way!

No charging, Quan.

It's a one-way street.

I'm not going forward. I'm backing up.

It's your turn to wash up, Chang.

Later.

Here... try this on.

It fits.

You wanted us to shower

just to try these suits on?

Of course not.

Not to try the suits on

but to receive Phra Phrom.

You were filthy.

You had to clean up for Phra Phrom

or he might get mad at your lack of respect.

These suits are so old-fashioned.

If you had told me earlier

I could've borrowed one from my goddess's boss.

This colour is so passé.

The suits may be old-fashioned

but back then, everyone knew

the Lin family on Changhua Road.

My dad had his own iron factory.

We had hired help and four cars.

My dad even hired a nanny

to take care of Ming-qin and me.

Oh, the good old days.

Man, I envy you.

It's a pity you're no longer rich.

Did Salon tell you the flight number?

Yeah. It's MX731.

On time.

Wait till you get stung by a bee.

No, I won't.

Hello?

Charoen!

What's wrong?

Charoen said

the statue was seized by the customs.

We need to pay NT$200,000 to bail it out.

NT$200,000?

Where are we going to get that kind of money?

Don't ask me!

Don't shout at me.