""TAKUA PA, SOUTH THAILAND 3 YEARS AFTER THE tsunami"" "Just 500." "I can't open the filler cap." " You have to wrench it out." "Is that a hotel?" "Yes sir." "Good afternoon." "Do you have a room for rent?" "It comes with a large bed, and a wardrobe." "Television." "But there's no cable!" "Bathroom." "But please close the knobs tightly, because the faucet leaks." "And this is the key." "If you need me, I am upstairs." "Thank you." "Good morning." "Is Laem here?" "Who?" " The foreman." "He's on the back site." "Has the client been around?" " Yes, a few times." "He mostly stays in Phuket," "But he's aware of the delay." "If there's a problem, you can go see him in Phuket." "What time should I be here tomorrow?" "I start work at eight." "You can come whenever you want." "Where are you staying?" " In the village." "Why don't you stay around here?" " Too expensive." "You look well put together." "A city guy shouldn't have to worry about money." "This town is quite boring." "There's nothing for you to do." "I like it quiet." "Look, that's Yai." "He's a local boy... and even he's gone crazy." "I don't think you'll last long." "Hey Yai!" "You bastard!" "Why all the fuss?" "Don't be a jerk!" "Excuse me." "I'll come back..." "Oh, sorry." "One moment..." "I brought a new towel." "The old one had a hole." "Thank you." "You cleaned my room?" "Sorry for the mess." "It's a bad habit from living alone." "It's my job anyway." "What's your name?" "Na." "My name is Ton." "I won't bother you anymore." "Ah Jeck, you forgot the broom again." "Oh, sorry." "Sister, I'm grown up now..." "And every girl in town has their eye on me..." "Hooray, hooray." "You have to wear a safety helmet." "And remove those roofing-tiles." "They dry out easily in the sun!" "Okay, I'll do it right away." "Hey!" "Everything okay?" " Yes." "Are you hungry?" " No." "Just call me if you need something." " I will, thanks." "Hello." "What is that over there?" "It's abandoned." "You better stay away, the place is haunted!" "Ton, where are you?" "Next door." "Can you come over here and take a look at the plans?" "I'll be right there." "Where have you been, Na?" " To the market." "And what did you buy?" " Oranges." "Ah Ma likes them a lot." "But isn't that a watermelon?" "The oranges didn't look good." "So I decided to buy a watermelon instead." "It's a nice one." "Don't you have to work?" "Yes, I have to go back, but first I'd like to eat something." "Would you like to come with me?" "I can't right now..." "I have a lot of laundry to do." "Okay... maybe next time, then." "Hello?" "Jeck." "Are you there?" "Did you finish your lunch?" "Or did you feed it to the dogs?" "And what about the soup?" "Would you like to eat some noodles?" "Stop hitting me." "Hello, Na." "Hey, Ton." "Are you alright?" "Yes, I'm fine." "I came over here to smoke a cigarette, and didn't know you were here." "It's pretty nice upstairs." "Quite a good place to watch the sunset." "So different from Bangkok." "Don't you think it's boring here?" "No, I actually like it." "What's the name of that mountain?" "I don't know." "When do you finish your contract?" " In about two months." "I'm sorry, but I actually don't know what kind of work you do." "I'm an architect." "And the supervisor of a project near the beach." "Is it one of those new hotels?" "Yes." "They've increased the work pressure, because they want it ready by this year." "We also have very big luxury hotels." "Why did you decide to stay over here?" "I like it simple." "My boss designed the plans, and I'm the job supervisor." "Besides, large buildings are not always better." "I think this place is more pleasant." "They're going to rebuild everything." "Otherwise the customers stay away." "Most of our customers are frequenters..." "Only a few of them are random like you." "I'm not a random customer." "Just regard me as a regular customer, please." "Thank you." "This morning I give some candy to your son." "So if he gets a toothache," "I will pay for the dentist." " That's my nephew." "My brother's son." "But I take care of him like he is my own." "Do you have kids?" " Do I look that old?" "That's not what I meant." " No, I don't have kids." "I'm constantly on the road." "So I'm not ready for children yet." "Let me help you." "No please, I'm used to doing this by myself." "I don't mind helping you." "Who does this belong to?" "It's the same color as your head!" "I still think it's better if I help you." "Coming up next, the weather report." "There is a risk of showers today..." "Na!" " Yes?" "Can you bring the laundry?" " Yes" "Did you sleep already?" " No, how about you?" "I just wanted to give you this." "They had beautiful oranges today in Phuket." "I'm sure Ah Ma is going to like them." "Thank you." "I'm leaving tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" " Yes." "But just for one week." "And then I come back." "Back here?" "Yes." "Would you mind reserving my room?" "You can leave your things behind." "I'll take care of them." "Thanks." "I won't keep you up any longer." "I almost can't believe you came back!" "Why not?" "Because everybody says that they'll come back, but nobody ever actually does." "So I thought maybe you had found somewhere better." "One week in the big city... and I'm tired of it already." "Too many cars." "Too many people." "Bangkok." "Everybody dreams of living in a big city." "But in your case it's the other way 'round." "I drive the buffaloes together..." "That's my job, no matter what the weather." "What made you decide to come work here?" "This project turned out badly." "So somebody had to supervise it." "The boss asked for a volunteer, and I was the only one who raised his hand." "And was there nobody else who wanted to?" "It's not that interesting to keep an eye on someone else's progress." "I have to keep the customer satisfied." "Besides, I like the freedom." "Nobody else wanted to spend 2 months in the middle of nowhere." "What do you normally do at home during the weekend?" " I live with my younger sister in Bangkok." "Maybe that doesn't sound very convenient." "But I can live pretty much anywhere." "Wouldn't you rather live alone?" "I don't think I could stand it." "It's not a problem for me." "Living alone or with a lot of people..." "It's all the same to me." "Do you ever feel lonely?" "Not really, because I have Ah Ma and Tee... and the hotel." "There's always something for me to do." "Before you know it, the day is over." "I don't have much time to be bored." "Did you sleep well?" " Yes." "And you?" "Me too." "To be honest, I couldn't close my eyes all night." "Actually, me too." "What are you looking for, Ah Ma?" "Song performed by:" "Thee Chaiyadej "20202"" "Maybe because love, with the whole heart." "But this is not successful love." "Maybe because give it... with the whole heart." "But it doesn't notice... doesn't fulfill." "My heart has been crashed by the waves... washed away further than the eye can see." "My heart has been blown by the wind... carried away to the end of the sky... and will never return." "Small emotions of a lonely man... never thinking of hurting anyone." "With a little heart that has fallen down... never hoping for anyone to bring it back." "I only want to give." "I'll sleep and dream alone." "Only for that single night... and I don't want to wake up." "Are you cold?" "Just a little." "It's colder here than in Bangkok." "That must make it easy on the air conditioners." "The mountains are on this side, and the sea is on the other side." "Is that why it's colder here?" " I don't really know the reason." "Sometimes I feel trapped from that." "Oh, beautiful south..." "Oh, beautiful south The mountains and the sea, and the fire" "Do you like my new song?" "I know that one already." "So you think it's boring?" " Yes." "When I was a little girl, we had the most popular hotel here." "And then people discovered the beach life." "We used to have customers from all over the world." "But there aren't many tourists left these days" "And that's why we have less customers now." "Everything is going to be fine again." "My father says this is a strong town." "When he was young boy, they had a lot of trouble with malaria here." "Half the town died from it." "When I was a little girl we had lots of problems with flooding." "Many times, we would have to escape to the mountains." "And then we went through the tsunami." "But we seem to manage it every time." "Were you born here?" " Yes." "So you're a real southern Thai girl!" "But I took my university education in the big city." "Southern girl from the technical school, Matted curly hair and big black eyes." "I went to university, not technical school." "I'm just kidding." "I used to play music in cafés a lot, and I would often sing that song." "Sing another song for me." " What kind of song?" ""You are so beautiful"" "Do you really think that's suitable?" "You'd better watch what you say." "That song is so boring..." "I've heard it too many times." "I'd better make up a new song for you." "I'd like to hear it." "It's almost twelve O'clock." "I can stay a little longer." "Is Jeck not coming?" " He's on night duty." "I mounted a bell onto my door." "Because you never know!" " Really?" "Yeah, sure." "Shall I get rid of it?" " No." "Don't you think it's going to rain tonight?" "Mmm..." "Maybe I'd better take the towels inside, then." "Shall I help you?" " No, that's not necessary, it's only two pairs of towels." "You can go home now, uncle." "I'll put everything away." "Thank you." "You can take those loaves of cinnamon bread." "Because I think you'll like them." "I prefer to have the rose apples." "Okay, but you have to leave a few rose apples and oranges here." "What?" "Do you need money?" "No." "You looking gorgeous, sis." "People say they've seen you with a man." "You know how people like to gossip." "Who was it?" "Who cares?" "I'm only asking." "Anyway, try to be a little more discreet." "Wait a moment, Wit." "Here, try to use it efficiently." "When are you coming home again?" "What's this?" "Oh, I thought you were asleep." "I was pretending to." "It's a wildflower." "It's beautiful." "What was this place in the past?" "A tin mine." "Really?" "But that was in the time of Ah Gong." "It was already abandoned when I was a child." "Nowadays there isn't any more tin." "Which direction is town?" "Over there." "What's that?" "Ang-Kee herb oil." "It stinks." "Try it." " No, thanks." "It's very effective." "I use it to have good night's sleep." "I spread it on my neck, and around my nose." "And my pillow is completely yellow." "Oh, I get it now." "Now I know why I can smell you, even if you're miles away!" "It's therapeutic for a lot of things." "Yeah, yeah, grandmamma." "Even my dad used it." "Maybe he got that habit from Ah Ma." "Dummy." "Just kidding." "Were you and your dad close?" "Yes." "What about you?" "Not really." "Actually, not at all." "How come?" "He didn't like the choices I made." "He didn't appreciate that I wanted to be a musician." "I opened a bar, and started to drink." "But later I purposefully quit that bad habit." "And my dad found me a job." "But before that, we hadn't spoken to each other for 5 years." "What's on your mind?" "Yesterday some people saw us together near the market." "So what?" "They were gossiping about us." "That's the way people are!" "But I've known these people my whole life." "Some of them were friends of my dad." "I want to have a quiet life." "Not like this." "Put your arms around me." "Why are you back so early?" "I didn't have anything to do today." "I missed you." "Careful, they'll see us." "Jeck, is the broom still outside?" "What's going on?" "They broke into your car last night." "Did they take something out of it?" "Nothing important." "You were sleeping when you should have been awake!" "Forget it, it was my own fault for keeping stuff in my car." "I don't think it was anyone from this area." "I am very sorry." " It doesn't matter." "Do you want to report it to the police?" "Don't worry about it." "Was my car the only one parked out here yesterday?" "There was one other car parked in front of yours." " And that one didn't have a problem?" "Do you know those guys?" "Which ones?" "Those guys, the ones that passed by three times already." "They just like to drive around." "There's not much to do in this small town, so they get bored easily." "Please don't think there's something suspicious behind it." "Do those boys live here in this neighborhood?" "I don't know." "Close your window." "What's your name?" "My name is Nuranae." "And my little brother's name is Nai." "And where do you live?" " In Kik-Kuk." "Do you miss your home?" "Will it ever stop raining?" "What's that?" "It's an electricity meter." "But why?" "The electric company hasn't collected any money for years now." "When are you coming back home?" "I don't know yet." "You're still welcome there." "Why should I come back?" "I like it here." "It keeps me out of trouble." "What kind of trouble?" "There's nobody left here to cause any." "Just you, alone with yourself." "Just like you!" "Why can't you stand it that somebody else has found happiness?" "Tee!" "Tee?" "Fha, have you seen Tee?" "I bought you a present." "I don't want it." "What, you don't like it?" "Disrespectful bastard!" "I've had enough of you both now!" "Enough of us?" "Before they built the hotel my mom and dad used to live over there." "But now the house has fallen apart." "So you're an architect?" " Yes." "Is it for that project down by the beach?" " Yes." "When I was younger I used to go to the beach a lot." "But nowadays, almost never." "And now, since the disaster, I've haven't been there at all." "On that particular day the waves... destroyed everything." "Houses, cars..." "I walked along the whole beach." "But everything was gone." "Were you here when it happened?" "No." "But I saw it on television." "And what do you think about it now?" "It seems like they've managed to rebuild almost everything back to normal." "Mom and dad, thought that we would be able to run the hotel together." "But I can't do it." "My sister has to manage it all alone." "I'm a hopeless guy." "Once a gangster, always a gangster!" "Na is not like me." "Her heart is in the right place." "Actually, she's the exact opposite of me." "Take good care of her." "Did you sleep well?" "I had a nice dream." "But I can't remember it now." "It disappeared so quickly." "What time is it?" "I don't know." "Probably time to get up." "And start cleaning the house... and change the sheets." "I never have a moment for myself." "Just sleep a little longer." "I'm thirsty." "I'm going to get something to drink." "I'll come back with a surprise." "I wrote that song for you." "But the singer has lips as dry as dust... so first he needs a drink." "And after that he can sing." "What are you looking at?" "Nothing." "Hello." "No, I didn't change my number." "Don't be angry." "I got your number from Nam." "What about your new house?" "Very good." "I'm not a musician any more." "And I gave the bicycle away." "It was too hard for me to keep it." "I haven't been back... because I have a new profession now." "I'm dying to see you." "Right now I'm sitting in my car, and I can drive away at once." "Can I come see you one more time?" "Okay, I'll be there." "Thanks for picking up the phone." "Hey, let's hurry up." "If we leave him here, he'll die or at least end up in a coma." "English proofreading by GodspedEmp." "Thai translation and subtitles by" " Jan de Uitvreter "