"MUEN AND RID" "Written by:" "Thom Thatree and Channipa As documented by King Rama IV in 1865" "Chintara Sukapatana as Muen Santisook Promsiri as Rid" "Ron Rittichai as Phu" "National Artist:" "Sor Asanajinda" "Cinematography by:" "Anupap Buachan" "Music by:" "Chamras Sewataporn" "Directed by:" "Cherd Songsri" "Monk Rid, even though you've touched a woman or physically embraced her," "to charge you with a breach of monkhood rules and defrock you is not my intention." "It must depend on the intention of your act." "The innocence of that intention is known only to you." "If you rescued a drowning person and you were unaware that it was a woman" "and there was nobody else around to help her, then your intent must be considered innocent" "and it must be considered kind." "You would not then be charged with such breaches." "She keeps ruining things for us." "Let it be." "We're just unlucky." "That's easy to say." "Doesn't it upset you?" "You're up already?" "Why don't you rest?" "I'm all right, Grandma." "It's just as well the land rent has been paid." "Do you only care about money?" "Don't you care about our girl?" "I do, but does Muen deserve it?" "She was asking for trouble." "She knew about the storm." "Why didn't she wait on the other side?" "I lost the boat!" "It's better than losing your daughter." "She was lucky that man was so brave." "You're indebted to him." "You should ask for his name and address." "The devil created a baby with nose and eyes but it took too long and he felt frustrated." "Two people expressed their love and the earth moved." "And they awoke exhausted and unable to walk..." "What's so funny?" "Are you the hero of this story?" "The beauty of man is that he is made of bones, and of wounds, illness and imagination." "Nothing is lasting." "The body is bone and flesh and blood." "A home of old age, death and imagination." "You didn't come for alms yesterday." "I waited until late." "I thought something had happened to you." "The day before yesterday, after receiving alms" "I was told that my mother was ill." "So after breakfast I went to see her." "I thought I'd be back the same day." "But I had to stay overnight." "I came back yesterday." "What's wrong with your mother?" "She has a chronic illness, but I'm not sure what it is." "Muen..." "Look, Grandma, it's a rainbow!" "Don't point your finger at it." "Wipe it on your bottom." "It isn't dirty." "I told you to do it, so do it." "Why?" "You'll lose that finger." "You're not supposed to point at a rainbow." "Will it bite my finger?" "If it comes here, I'll catch it." "You terrible girl!" "Wipe your finger." "I've wiped it." "So I won't lose my finger now?" ""Don't point at meteors or rainbows."" ""Don't talk about tigers or crocodiles."" ""Be quiet when you see strange things."" "Obstinate child." "You always argue." " Isn't it odd, Grandma?" " Not at all." "The old sayings must be respected and followed." "Even if we don't understand them?" "Liab!" "I'll be ordained soon." "Let the fish go so I can earn merit." "If you let me kick your butt first." "Get ordained with me." "You can learn it too." "I don't want to learn." "Grandma, I want to learn." "What?" "What did you say?" "I want to learn." "Can you send me to study with the abbot?" "Never in my life have I heard of a woman going to school." "A woman must be good at housework." "You're talking nonsense." "Why do you want to learn?" "Well..." "I want to learn to read stories for you." "Don't lie to me." "I'm not going to let you." "Please, Grandma, let me learn." "Please!" "I said no, and that's that!" "Please, Grandma, you've got such a kind heart." "No." "You will, won't you?" "Please!" "Stop pestering me." "Go and ask the abbot." "Do you like the fish curry?" "Such a question is inappropriate for monks." "Just tell me what you like and I'll bring it to you." "You can't say that to a monk." "It's against the rules to be greedy." "I didn't know." "I have to go to teach." "You'd better go home now." "Please..." "I'd like..." "I'd like to learn to read with you." "I thought so." "That's why you tried to be sweet." "You must have had something special in mind." "Thank you ever so much!" "Muen..." "I haven't given my permission." "You're a woman." "You can't learn with monks and novices." "I can." "You probably could." "The monks and novices couldn't." " Why not?" " It's not suitable." " A novice can learn." " Novices are men." "Why can you teach men but not women?" " Why do you want to learn?" " Why do men learn?" "To be clever." "To rule others." "Just because I'm a woman, I don't want to be stupid." "And to be exploited by men who enjoy abusing power and keeping women underfoot." "Be careful what you say." "It could cost you your life one day." "Sir!" " Why are you here?" " I told you, I want to learn." "No, no, no!" "If you won't let me, I'll stay right here." "That's up to you." "Don't expect me to give in." "And don't come any closer." " You're sure you won't let me?" " I won't." "Do you agree women shouldn't learn?" "Yes." "So women are buffaloes, men are humans?" "Right." "No, no." "You're misleading me." "I'm not going to talk to you." "I'll stay here till I grow roots." "That's up to you." "I'm not going to talk to you." "That girl is so stubborn and obstinate." "She should have been a boy." "Come on in." "No, I'll stay out in the rain and die of cold right here." "You'll end up in hell for torturing a monk." "It's you who are torturing me." "You won't let me learn." "Look at you..." "You even talk back to a monk." "You're giving me trouble in my old age." "Come in." "I'll let you learn." "I'm very sorry for arguing with you." "Are you really going to let me learn to read?" "All right, but you must not learn alone with a monk." "I'm going to read the ABC." "Repeat after me." "A is for ant." "A is for apple." "A is for ant." "A is for apple." "B is for bat." "B is for bird..." "B is for bat." "B is for bird..." "Mrs. Chan, please repeat it." "In Savathi town, there was no mercy." "No, Mrs. Chan." "Repeat it just like Muen." "I'm too old." "I can't keep up with her." "Why did you repeat what those monks were reciting?" "Their noise is echoing in my ears." "Don't listen to anything else." "Just repeat it as Muen is doing." "C is for cat." "C is for cart." "Go on." "Repeat it." "What was it?" "So beautiful." "So beautiful." " So beautiful." "What's that?" " So beautiful." "What's that?" " Wait, wait." " Wait, wait." " Don't repeat it." " Don't repeat it." " Mrs. Chan..." " Mrs. Chan..." "He told you to stop repeating." "Why didn't you stop?" "How should I know?" "I thought he had memorised the book and said it out loud, so I repeated it after him." "I was afraid I'd forget it so I repeated it immediately." "But it did strike me..." "Well, I wondered why the book had my name in it." "Why didn't you stop then?" "I'm so embarrassed." "Muen, I don't want to learn this." "I'm here because you forced me to come." "I'm going home." "If you go home, I'll never see you again." "Not today, tomorrow or ever." "And I won't eat because you don't love me anymore." "Muen!" "You spoilt girl!" "How far do I have to go to please you?" "I'm old." "How can you force me to learn with you?" "People will gossip about me." "If you love me, you'll learn with me." "Let's have a break." "You two settle things between you." "Preparing betel in the classroom?" "I felt like some." "Would you like some?" "I'll make it for you." "No, thank you." "You shouldn't do it in a classroom." "You should have done it at home before coming here." "These are vowels, and there are four accent marks." "The first, second, third and fourth tones." "Any questions?" " Where are you from?" " Park Tred." " Can you go by boat?" " Yes, but it's quicker to walk." "Isn't there a temple near your home?" "Yes, there's one nearby." "Why didn't you get ordained over there?" "I was a novice there but I moved here with the abbot to practise the dharma with him." "Do you want to renounce your vows?" "Don't ask silly things which aren't in the book." "That's right." "Muen likes talking nonsense." "I was just about to remember the A and the B and now I've forgotten it all." "You always forget the old ones and remember the new ones." "Why blame me?" "Monks are so serious when receiving alms." "Why?" "They must practise self-control." "Is a smile against the rules?" "Not if it's done appropriately." "Please, could you smile while practising self-control?" "God!" "She's fallen in the water." "It's me, not God." "Is your back better now?" "Yes." "Mom, please stop Muen going to school." "I can't bear all the gossips." "Why bother about them?" "They don't feed you, do they?" "Ket has complained too." "She was stubborn when she couldn't read." "If you let her read and write she won't find a husband because she will be a threat to him." "So be it." "She'll become an old maid." "That's no one's business." "How can you say that?" "I say it as a literate person." "What?" "Are you learning with Muen as well?" " Certainly." " How come?" "You're too old." "I don't know how..." "but I learnt it anyway." "Oh, my God." "I think I'm going to faint." "I pray for the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha." "I pay homage to his teaching and to the Buddhist monks." "I shall follow our Lord Buddha and his wisdom..." "Now we're going to learn all about the vowels." "Then follows the twelve months of the year to be remembered by everybody." "The first month is January, then comes February... and there's 12 months in a year..." "I'm telling you right here." "Please remember this, and don't forget." "That's the end!" "Have you memorised the whole book?" " Why don't you recite it?" " I can't memorise it like you." "Then start with the vowels." " What are they?" " We learnt that together." "A, E, I, O, U..." "You got it all wrong." "Listen..." "A, E, I, O, U..." "I can't take it anymore." "E, A, U, O, I, It's all messed up." "Grandma..." "Is your back hurting again?" "Can you walk?" "Let me sit and rest for a while." "Good day." " Is Mrs. Chan with you?" " No, sir." "What's wrong?" "She's never missed the End of Lent ceremony." "She has terrible backaches and has great difficulty walking." "Don't leave it too long." "That needs urgent treatment." "This is Master Phu, host of this year's ceremony." "He's from Thonburi." "My sweet darling, why don't you care for me?" "I love you more than anyone else in the world." "Please accept my love for you." "Come and marry me." "The baby is waiting to be born." "My sweet darling, why don't you care for me?" "I love you more than anyone else in the world." "Come and marry me." "The baby is waiting to be born." "My sweet darling, why don't you care for me?" "Come and ask for my hand." "The baby is waiting to be born." "Beautiful goddess, he can't take his eyes off you." "The elegant swan, he's charmed by your beauty." "The sun Is blazing hot." "How long will you torture him?" "Don't sell her!" "This is my daughter." "She's fourteen." "I'll pawn her for 240 baht." "Too expensive." "What about 80?" "Final price, 160 baht." "No, she's not for sale." "Okay, I'll take her for 160 baht." "Write out a contract now." "Seng, lend me one baht." "I've lent you eight baht already." "Come on, Seng." "Is Muen for sale?" "I'll give you 240 baht." "Sell her to me." "I'll give you 400 baht." "I can't." "You're her father." "Why can't you sell her?" "My mother won't let me." "Come on Seng, lend me some, okay?" "Not even a cent." "Quickly, put your belt on." "I'll lend you some." "Tell me how much you want." "A woman without a husband is living a lonely life." "A man without a wife is sinful indeed..." " Are you going, darling?" " I'm still loading the boat." "Get on with it, then." "Please, could you smile with self-control?" "Your dad is such a diligent man." "Dad, diligent?" "You mean Mum." "She gets up very early to sell things at the market." "She doesn't get home till late." "When she doesn't go there, she looks after the orchard." "She always finds things to do." "She's never idle." "But Dad only gambles." "He does gambling at dusk." "He gets up late, eats, and then sleeps again." "Yes, that's what I meant." "A diligent gambler, a diligent sleeper." "Thank you." "Are you Noom?" "You must be Noom." "Remember me?" "I'm Glin." "I used to live in Bangmuang too." "Oh, yes." "I remember you now." "Where did you move after you got married?" "To Thonburi." "I'm so pleased to see you here." "I was coming to see you." "What about?" "Ket's mother is ill, isn't she?" "There's a millionaire who is offering help." " Which millionaire?" " It's master Phu." "Master Phu..." "Owner of the Buddha foundry and the host at Lent?" "Yes, that's right." "He's very generous." "I don't want to impose." "It's not a problem." "Don't you worry." "I think he's fond of your daughter." "But he disagrees with letting her learn to read." "And worse still, she's learning with a young monk." "Being close to each other isn't a good thing." "Buddhism not only doesn't discriminate but also supports women learning." "But Muen is getting hard to control." "Well, she's a clever girl." "The neighbours keep gossiping too." "And now, her grandmother can't come." "It's just Muen and that monk." "It's not proper." "Don't be ridiculous." "I teach the monks and novices over there as well." "When Mrs Chan couldn't attend" "I assigned the other temple boys to keep her company." "I still don't want her to learn." "I'll have to ask you to leave." "Don't worry." "You're so clever." "You've learned the basics of reading and writing." "Keep practising by yourself and you'll be good in no time." "Sir..." "He's a monk." "You must address him as Monk Rid." "You can't just call him Rid." "This is the best doctor, but his fee is very high." "If it hadn't been for Master Phu, he wouldn't have made a home visit." "Is it serious, doctor?" "It certainly is, but the disease has many forms." "She's got a kind of wasting disease." " Please do your best." " Don't worry, sir." "Don't worry about the cost." "I'll take care of that." "We're very grateful." "Grandma, take the medicine before you go to sleep." "Slowly... it's hot." "You must eat a little so that you get strong." "A room filled with hundreds of thousands of flowers isn't as sweet as the scent of a woman." "The golden moon is moving across the sky..." "Lend me some money." "I gave you all the money Master Phu lent you." "400 bath." "Isn't that enough?" "Please, just four more baht." "I don't have it." "How about a drink instead?" "With no money, people treat you like shit." "Even a dog thinks I'm a piece of shit." "Do you think I'm a piece of shit too, Noom?" "Noom..." "Hey, Noom!" "Hey, Noom, you bitch!" "You fucking bitch!" "Why don't you greet your husband?" "How many times do I have to call you?" "Get me some food!" "I didn't think you'd come back to eat." "Hurry up!" "Get a move on, you fucking bitch!" "I'll cook something for you." "Cut it out!" "Stop bullying your wife." "Who would have thought you'd come home to eat?" "Didn't the gambling chips fill you up?" "Were you wiped out again?" "It's none of your business, Mum." "I know, but I can't stand it any longer." "Your wife is slaving away." "She gets up early and goes to bed late." "She works hard so you can gamble her money away." "Do you ever think of helping her?" "You fool!" "You abuse her every time you lose." "She's asking for it." "I called her so many times." "She's tired." "She was fast asleep." "It's you who got drunk and annoyed everyone." "You're so inconsiderate." "Favouring your daughter-in-law?" " So what?" " Don't talk to mel" "You bitch!" "Hurry up, I'm starving!" "Shut up, Ket." "Don't talk to me, I said." "If you shut up, I will too." "One more word out of you and you'll get a spittoon for supper." "Fine..." "I'll sing." "God has strange ideas..." "Since ancient times..." "When a woman without a husband dies... she'll wait on a ghoul in hell." "There's nothing good about being a woman." "I don't know how you stand Dad beating you." "I can't stand him anymore." "Don't say that." "He's still the one we have to depend on." "You're the bread-winner." "He has to depend on you." "Shh..." "Don't say that." "Men are still our masters." "Without Dad we wouldn't be able to rent or work the land." "So women have to be downtrodden all the time?" "Ket..." "Ket..." "Supper is ready." "Don't disturb me or I'll kick you in the head." "Muen..." "Glin has been talking to Mum and Dad." "Master Phu wants to send an elder to ask for your hand." "Phu is a good man and he's generous." "He's someone you can rely on." "Our family will be very happy too." "You know very well he already has several wives." "That doesn't matter." "He's so rich and powerful, he can look after all his wives well." "Remember the scars on Grandma's back?" "Her husband and the first wife whipped her." "Grandma was sold to be one of his minor wives." "A minor wife is treated like a slave." "She may have some dignity, but she's still a slave wife." "Grandma would still be suffering if her husband hadn't died." "And you think it's best if I follow in her footsteps." "Phu isn't like that." "He's kind." "He casts Buddha images." "Muen, I beg you, agree to Phu's proposal if not for your dad's or my sake, then for Grandma's." "She has recovered because of his money." "I don't want to be a slave wife." "You're getting older and more literate." "Who will want you as a wife?" "Especially a first wife!" "You'll die an old maid." "Master Phu is a rich man." "Consider yourself lucky." "If you miss this chance, you may not get another." "Good." "I'll pray I never meet a man with several wives who keeps them underfoot." "It's getting dark." "Why are you here?" "When will you leave the monkhood?" "Why do you want to know?" "Didn't you feel anything... about..." "helping me out of the water?" "No, I didn't think anything of it." "I did it with good intent." "But..." "I think about it all the time." "I think of when you embraced me... and..." "Muen, forget about it." "I never think about it at all." "I've tried too... but I've never succeeded." "I want to learn from the book because I want to see you and be near you..." "Now that I'm not allowed to learn," "I miss you so much that I feel like dying." "Please renounce your vows." "I'm no longer attracted to worldly things." "Don't waste your time." "I must go." "It's improper for us to be alone." "I think Master Phu is someone we can rely on." "So I'm willing to leave Muen with him." "But Muen is not willing." "It doesn't matter." "She's my daughter." "But I'm the one who raised her." "Did you even feed her once?" "I'm her father." "It's up to me to give her away or sell her." "We'll see, Ket!" "If you take Muen away from me you'll take away my life too." "Let's see if you'd kill your own mother!" "I'm old so I'm no longer useful to you" "Go ahead, you're big enough to kill me." "I'm only an old woman who means nothing to you." "All right, bully me and hit me like you hit your wife." "Go ahead." "Mum..." "Mum..." "I wouldn't be so ungrateful." "I'll let you deal with Muen." "I won't do anything." "Until the earth disappears, until the sea is no more," "our love will last forever." "That's enough." "You know, maybe I'm wrong... wrong to stop him giving you to Master Phu." "Perhaps Master Phu won't be as bad as the man who bought me." "I don't like Phu." "You were born a woman." "You won't be able to do whatever you wish, especially when it comes to finding a husband." "You can't decide for yourself." "So far, I've protected you but that could turn you into an old maid and then I'd be sorry." "I'd be happy alone." "It's better than being a wife to a man I don't love." "How you found a man you do love?" "Or..." "Tell me frankly..." "Is it Monk Rid?" "My God!" "He's the man who saved my life when he rescued me from drowning." "He embraced me" "and he saw..." "I can never wed anyone else." "Oh God!" "It's your misfortune if you think that you're already his wife." "He'll never leave the monkhood." "Before he was ordained, he was a very sick child." "When he was six he was seriously ill." "It was foretold that unless he got ordained he wouldn't survive the illness." "Nor could he ever leave once he became a monk." "He must remain in the Buddhist order or else he'll be dead within days." "Who told you this?" "When he was a young novice at our temple here, his parents often came by." "His mother told me this story herself." "Could that prediction come true?" "His parents believed that it could." "Muen..." "If you really love him will you want to see him leave the monkhood to die?" "Muen!" "I asked you to stay with Grandma." "I think she's dead." "Grandma!" "A master took a woman away from her husband." "He smiled and told her not to despair." "The woman wept in anguish..." "Unhappily, she had been forced to leave her beloved husband." "He who shared her bed and hardship..." "She missed her own home and her sweetheart." "Now I'm no longer here with you." "You are all alone and must be feeling sad." "The sun... leaves the sky at dusk so it can greet us again at dawn the next day." "But for us, I do not know how long our separation will last." "I don't know how long... or whether..." "I'll see you again." "Goodbye, my love." "My darling... please don't cry." "I pray that no harm will ever come near my sweet darling." "I wish you well." "May you be happy for ever..." "Please take good care and look after yourself, my sweet darling." "I wish to become a nun." "Do you have your parent's permission?" "A woman can't do so without parental approval." "Mum!" "Help me!" "Master Phu, please look after her." "Dad, don't sell me to him." "You must go." "Do you want me to use force?" "Muen, let go." "Muen's granny has just died." "She isn't herself." "Please take pity on her." "Don't worry." "I understand." "I feel sorry for Muen." "Mother told us not to force her." "Muen is going to her husband." "She's sure to like it." " Muen, come up." " Let me go!" "Stay with me and you'll be happy here." " He hasn't eaten today." " Shut up." "He wastes time stuffing himself." "Come on!" "Don't cling to it." "Let go of her." "Muen..." "If you don't want to go inside, you can stay out here tonight." "Hey..." "Get the mosquito net and stay with her in case she wants anything." "Wait on her, all right?" "Monk Rid..." "Monk Rid..." "Who's that?" "Muen?" "What are you doing here so late at night?" " Please help me." " How can I help you?" "Please stop my parents from selling me to Master Phu." "I'm a monk." "I can't get involved in something like that." "But I have no one to turn to." "Please." "I really can't do anything." "If you don't, I'm going to die." "Why do you say that?" "Women must submit to their parents' wishes." "You'd better go back." "That means you're telling me to die." "What do you mean?" "I don't love Phu." "They say that love shall blossom after you become husband and wife." "So you will learn to love Master Phu." "I will never love anyone else in my life except you." "I'll dedicate my life to you." "No, I'm a monk." "I've tried not to think about you." "I've tried not to love you, but..." "I can't overcome my feelings." "It's sinful." "Aren't you afraid?" "Yes, I am." "I'm afraid of going to hell but I really can't help it." "Don't fall in love with me." "I've committed myself to Buddhism for the rest of my life." "I know." "I won't ask you to renounce your vows." "I only want to see you..." "to hear you..." "I want to take care of you into your old age." "Or until death parts us." "Don't suffer like this." "Go home and think it over." "It's late." "Please leave." "It isn't good to be found alone like this." "There they are!" "How could you do this?" "Is he a real monk?" "No alms for you!" "Monk Rid is innocent." "I'm to blame." "I have nowhere else to go." "Have you thought about us?" "You're no good." "Now we're disgraced." "Daeng, make sure you lock all the boats up." "Stop that before it collapses." "The spirit will curse us." "Muen, if you don't want to come up and stay with me you can stay down here, I won't force you." "Flog her and don't feed her children for two days." "Please... don't starve my children, they're too young." "They have to be starved." "They stole my things." "They're innocent." "They wanted to see their father." "My husband is your children's father?" "Know your place." "You're only a slave." "How dare you!" "Whip her now!" "And starve both her and her children." "I am the first wife." "I am number one." "You're just an irrelevant woman." "Muen..." "Let me know if you need anything else." " Where are you going?" " To see Master Phu." "My children have been starving for two days." "No, you can't go." "Muen is gone." "Quick, get her." "What the hell are you waiting for?" "You!" "Jump in and get her." "Quickly, get her." "Muen has drowned." " Who told you?" " Someone from Phu's house." "I will never love anyone else in my life... except you." "I'll dedicate my life to you." "The beauty of man is that he's made of bones and wounds, of illness and imagination." "Nothing is lasting..." "I won't ask you to renounce your vows." "I only want to see you, to hear you, to take care of you, to serve you into your old age or until death part us." "All suffering is derived from desire." "To eliminate desire is to eliminate suffering." "You're a monk." "You're supposed to help eliminate desire and passion, not cause them." "So why have you let them take over your conscience?" "You feel remorseful and sad that you let Muen die without helping her." "For laymen, those feelings are considered virtuous." "But for a monk to have those feelings means you desire moral excellence." "Monks don't desire either virtue or evil." "I can no longer control my feelings." "I will tarnish Buddhism if I remain a monk." "Would a virtue of the dharma help you to remain a monk?" "The prophecy that you'll die within days if you retire from the order can't deter you either?" "I'm no longer afraid of death." "It's better to die." "I shall be with Muen." "But if I don't die, I'll return to my parents." "Stay one more month and then we'll see." "If you don't succeed, then you can leave us." "Mother..." "Muen!" "You're alive?" " Can you see her?" " No." "Who's that?" "Please, Uncle..." "Aunt..." "Help me." "Sai, stop making a fuss of Rid." "Let him freshen up first." "He's still alive after leaving the monkhood two months ago, so he'll live to a ripe old age." "I'm so glad we now have both son and daughter." "Look, Dad..." "Mom's teaching Muen." "This part of the river used to be a newly dug canal connecting the two temples." "It was intended for use as a bypass from that river." "But because the river changed its course the canal became the river as you see it now." "Muen..." "If my sympathy for you is like that canal, your love for me is like the river that flooded the canal" "and it has turned my sympathy to love." "Do you love me too?" "I love you more than anything in the world." "It's very late." "Let's get some sleep." "I used to sleep with my Grandma with the moonlight shining on me like this." "Do you miss her?" "Yes..." "And my Mum and Dad too." "I don't know how they are." "Rid and Muen sent a messenger to say they wanted to ask for forgiveness from us." "I'm pleased just to hear Muen is alive." " When are they coming?" " The 9th day of the new moon." "Good." "I want to see them to wish them well." "Get them to do it at the village chief's house so he can preside over proceedings." "That will be a good omen for them both." "You're so kind." "Muen is very lucky not to have to worry anymore." "Rid had asked two reputable agents to present the offering in order to ask Muen's parents' forgiveness." "Phu was waiting at the village chief's house." "He asked the chief to arrest the two agents." "Phu then lodged a complaint at the Nonthaburi Court accusing Rid of adultery with his wife." "The deputy Siamnondha at the Nonthaburi Court issued a warrant to arrest Muen," "Rid and Rid's parents." "They have been brought before this court... so that both parties can state their case before the judge, the governor of Nonthaburi, who will conduct the investigation." "Your Honour, please." "Deputy Siamnondha, please proceed." "Both parties have heard the reading of the case record." "As indicated, Phu and Muen are husband and wife." "What does Phu, the plaintiff, say?" "That is true, sir." "And Muen, the accused?" "It's not true, sir." "I've never been Phu's wife." "She was my wife, sir." "You're my wife." "You came to live with me." "That's a lie!" "You dragged me here." "The first night, I stayed on the balcony and the second, I didn't go in." "You weren't watched all night." "The first time I slept with you was after the servants left." " You slept with a dog." " Don't be rude." "He's a bloody liar!" "I've never slept with him." "If you were me, sir, you'd slap him." "I warn you!" " You've been my wife." " I haven't." " You have." " I haven't." "This quarrel cannot decide whether or not Muen is Phu's wife." "We shall let them take an oath to the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha." "If the plaintiff swears that Muen has consented to be his wife," "Rid must lose the case." "But sir..." "this isn't the kind of case that you can take an oath and swear to, sir." "How dare you!" "In that case, let Muen take an oath and swear." "If she can swear she's never been Phu's wife," "Phu must withdraw the case." "I don't think either side should take an oath and swear, sir." "You've accused Rid of adultery with your wife." "She says she isn't your wife." "How can I decide on the case?" "When I wanted you to take an oath and swear you refused to do it." "You'd better go." "I can't make a ruling." "I dismiss both sides." "The case is closed." "On the second night of the new moon, in the 9th month of the Year of the Ox," "Master Phu filed a complaint against Rid," "Cham and Sai, the parents of Rid, and against Perm and Plang, Rid's respected agents, for taking part in the abduction of his wife." "Rid then took Muen to his parents' place." "He committed adultery with her." "Rid's parents were also implicated because they had failed to notify the authorities." "They instead offered refuge to the two adulterers." "Perm and Plang are Rid's agents." "They were aware of the adultery between Rid and Muen but also failed to notify the authorities." "Instead, they encouraged the adultery and even offered to beg Muen's parents' forgiveness on the accused's behalf, asking that the couple become husband and wife." "On behalf of the Nonthaburi Court... the Governor of Nonthaburi and officials" "arrested Rid, his parents and the two agents and had them brought to the Nonthaburi Court." "The court has compelled Rid to bring Muen before the judge so His Honour can hear the case." "Ket, you borrowed money from Phu." "Is that correct?" "That's correct, sir." "Ket, you gave your daughter to Phu to pay your debts." "Is that correct?" "That's correct, sir." "Noom, you agreed to what Ket did." "Is that correct?" "Yes..." "Yes I did, sir." " When were you disrobed?" " Third night of the new moon." "Did Muen become your wife before or after that?" "After, sir." "According to our tradition if a man is in privacy with a woman and they touch each other, the conduct renders the woman his wife." "Muen's defence is that she was dragged to Phu's and remained on the balcony the first night and that the second night she was only outside." "It's not credible to offer the servants as witnesses since the servants didn't keep watch all night." "So her first night at Phu's house rendered her Phu's wife, as has been claimed by Phu." "In that case, I was Rid's wife first, sir." "On the 13th night of the new moon" "Rid and I were alone together and he embraced me while my breasts were bare." "Even if what you say is true," "Rid has never said you were his wife then." "But I say so, sir." "I'm saying Rid was my husband before I was taken away by Phu." " Women can't make allegations." " Why not?" "Don't you dare question mel" "The slavery law is clear." "Parents can give away or sell their children without their consent." "Ket gave his daughter to Phu to pay off a debt." "Even if both sides have not yet entered into a contractual agreement, by Ket's admission of this fact" "Muen is now Phu's property." "Sir..." "Parents may be able to sell children like cattle but children are humans." "Shouldn't parents tell them first and ask if they're willing?" "This has been the law of the land for a long time and this court decided in accordance with the law." "But the law is so unfair." "Everything here is controlled by men." "Men and women touch each other in privacy, but only men can claim women as wives." "Why can't women do the same?" "Only men have the power." "They can do no wrong." "What you are saying is irrelevant." "Please sir, give women a chance to speak." "My grandma died without being given the respect a human being deserves." "Women have always been oppressed by men although we were born humans." "Sir..." "It's not my fault or the fault of other women that they were born women." "We cannot choose our birth." "So why are we treated as if we have no feelings... as if we were animals..." "as if we were cattle which our masters can whip and lead by the nose." "Quiet!" "If you won't be quiet I'll punish you." "Muen, keep quiet now." " You'll die if you don't." " Don't say anything else." "I have to." "The judges are all men too." "They regard women as buffalo and only men as human." "Why don't you call yourself God?" "For the last time, keep quiet!" "No." "Men only give orders because they're cowards." "They're afraid of losing their power." "They want to keep oppressing people by keeping them in mud, just like their buffalo." "Muen, that's the second time you're in contempt of court." "Your refusal to obey has brought our court into disrepute." "Officer..." "Lock her up till she comes to her senses." "Take her to prison!" "Sir, please forgive her." "Take me instead." "I'll never give in, Rid." "Women aren't buffaloes!" "I'm not a buffalo!" "She must be my wife." "Can't I pay you compensation?" "Keep your bloody money!" "Do you know how much I resent being made a cuckold?" "Muen isn't your wife." "If you hadn't abducted her, she would have been." "A woman's duty is to serve men and to make sure they're happy." "That has been our tradition for a long time." "Who are you to defy that tradition?" "Phu is taking care of your contempt-of-court charge." "On condition that I be his wife, right?" "Even though Rid is already my husband." "It's better than being in jail, isn't it?" "I'd rather be in jail." "I must fight to show that women are human beings too." "If you don't dare to fight with me, don't try to stop me." "I'll never go to live with Phu." "You are an ungrateful child!" "Aren't you grateful to your parents at all?" "You can never be equal to men." "It's just impossible." "I should never have let you learn." "See how stubborn you've become!" "Why don't you think instead that books made me cleverer and helped me understand that Phu is insincere." "Do you know that the Buddha images he's casting aren't just made of metal but also the flesh and blood of his slaves." "We're all human beings but with do those with more power have to abuse and oppress those who lack it and make them slaves?" "Why do you accept that we are treated like animals?" "Why don't you fight for some respect?" "You'll be executed." "There's no doubt about it." "I won't talk to you anymore." "Stop." " How did Noom get in just now?" " She's Muen's mother." "You can go in." "I'm her husband." "I want to see her." "You can't." "Go in." "What about me?" "Can I?" "No." " And me?" " None of you can." "When will we be allowed to see her?" "Never." "Correct." "So if you can make Muen agree to be Master Phu's wife you'll get 80 more baht." "Tell Master Phu he can trust me." "Muen!" " You don't have permission." " Just for a moment, please!" "Rid, don't come in." "Please don't come in." "One step nearer and you're dead." "I'll ask you for the last time... will you be Phu's wife?" "Never." "Fine..." "If you won't respond to gentler methods... let's see how much suffering you can stand." "Could you please ask for some news of Muen for me?" "My niece said that your wife has been chained up." "Why chain her up?" "She's a woman and hasn't killed anyone." "You must finish this today or you'll keep working without food till you do." "Pay attention, everyone." "This woman prisoner is wicked." "She thinks that, because she's literate, she can defy us." "No one, including her parents, can control her." "She has cuckolded her husband." "Not only did she defy our tradition, our law, but she also disobeyed the judge and was in contempt of court." "If you want to curse this bitch, or spit on her, go ahead." "Whore!" "Shameful bitch!" "You're revolting!" "Let me in." "I'll tell her to stay with Master Phu and be his wife." "Let him in." "Muen!" "I didn't let you in to hug that bitch." "Say what you have to say." "Muen, give in, and go to live with Master Phu." "No, I won't." "I can't stand to see you suffer anymore." "I'll plead guilty instead of you even if I get executed." "I won't let you do that." "I'm happy and my life is meaningful because you're my husband." "If I have to live without you, my life won't have any meaning and I won't be happy." "What would I live for then?" "I'd be better off dead." "I'm afraid of death... but I'm more afraid of losing you." "Muen!" "Get him out of here!" "If you die, I'll die too." "I love you, Muen." "My life depends on you." "Let us be together." "Yes..." "We'll be together." "Sir, the well you had the prisoners dig is about eight feet deep now." "But there's not much water." "I'm afraid it's not working." "Do you want it filled in?" "Not yet." "Ket, can I go and visit Muen tomorrow?" "No!" "But she's our child." "When I say no, it's no." "Get it?" "If you dare to disobey me, I'll sell you as well." "Let's go home" "I can't leave Muen in there." "She's being more harshly treated than the male murderers." "But there's nothing we can do." "She has broken an important law." "I don't think she's guilty of anything." "If anything, it's her fault that she was born a woman." "Piam says Muen is tough." "She never gave in, no matter how much she was tortured." "So..." "let her die!" "Don't expect mercy from me." "So you want to die." "If you die, I won't need anyone to carry your corpse out of here." "They've put your wife in the well." "Sir!" " What do you want?" "It's late." " Rid has helped Muen escape." " What did you say?" " Rid has helped Muen escape." "Get the boats out and arrest them!" "Please have mercy on me." "My wife has a fever." "Master, Old Ju told me one of her boats was missing." "She also found a file under her house." "In that case, we can assume that they escaped by boat." "Where could they escape to?" "Where?" "Piam's men are searching Rid's house and also Ket's." "I don't think you'll find them there." "Let's see..." "Rid used to be a monk." "He may take refuge in one of the temples." "This herb has a cooling effect." "It will take a couple of days to heal." "Let's try the other temple." "Hey!" "Wait!" "Let's have a look." "Sister... open the door." "No." "You don't mean well." "We're just looking for the escaped convicts." "You must get the abbot's permission first." "That sounds suspicious." "Are you going to open it?" "Otherwise we'll break it down." "Go on..." "Break open the door." "Search everywhere." "Sister..." " What are you doing here?" " Saying a prayer." "Search every corner." "Any trace?" "Search every inch." "They must be in here." " Find them?" " No." "Let's go." "The people looking for you have gone." "You can come out now." " Who dug this tunnel?" " Some burglars did it." "They thought there might be a lot of treasure in here." "Where are we going?" "Do you know where we are?" "No, I only want us to get away from those thugs." "I have no idea where we can escape to." "I have no relatives anywhere." "Neither do I." "We'll leave it to fate." "I never knew that dried rice could taste so good." "May the nun who gave us this rice be blessed." "In the past I used to believe that one loves one's own life most." "But ever since I've loved you" "I know it's you I love most, more than my own life." "It's my good fortune to be loved by a man as noble as you." "I wish I could dedicate my life and my heart to you alone... not only in this life..." "but in any of my next lives." "That's the royal barge procession." "Rid..." "I'll petition the king." "The old monk used to tell me that the king orders the beating of the drum so that his subjects can petition him with their problems which cannot be redressed by anyone else." "The drum is his voice." "Follow me." "Where to?" "A petitioner may report untrue stories and accuse others unjustly so they must be detained until the case is decided." "Come." "Muen's petition..." "His Majesty has seen it and has ordered me and Master Rodmon to conduct an inquiry into this case." "We have both completed the inquiry and found that Muen's petition was based on the entire truth." "I accept that the petition was true... but there's still one fact" "that Muen didn't refer to in her petition." "But the law is unfair." "Everything here is governed by men." "Quiet!" "Otherwise this court will punish you." "The judges are all men too." "You conspire to treat women as if they were cattle." "You think you're God!" "She is wanton." "Not only is she in contempt of court but she also showed disrespect for our laws." "This is why I'm very worried." "If we pardon Muen, we will be repealing the traditional law for just one person." "What about Rid?" "Did the court let him out on bail?" "The old abbot from Khanoon Temple sent someone to bail him out." "Rid's crime is just helping the convict to flee." "His isn't a death sentence." "But as for Muen, her crime deserves execution." "Come and eat something." "Is there no way for Muen to be spared punishment?" "By Royal Decree..." "As of Monday, day one of the waxing moon, the second month of the Year of the Ox," "Majesty has graciously decreed to all his subjects that Muen is now free of any wrongdoing and can become Rid's wife, if she so wishes." "The old law enabling parents to sell their children or wives shall be repealed from this day on." "Muen!"