""Kwan-Riam"" "San Saeb..." "The name more suits a sad ballad." "But it belongs to a canal." "A travel route for some 150 years, it's old and tired and still used." "Who can imagine shady trees on both sides and the water so clear with rice fields nearby, swelling up against the wind?" "San Saeb some 60 years ago..." "Time changes the place and blurs most memories." "Still, it could be like a gentle touch of a wind blow to what lingers on so clear..." "as if it happened just yesterday." "How to do it, Kwan?" "Give him flowers and make a wish." "How?" "Like when you say a prayer." "Watch me." "I'm a native of Bangkapi." "Please, Chao Por, bless me in boxing and sword fighting." "I want to be like my father when I grow up." "You turn now." "I'm a native of Bangkapi." "Please, Chao Por, grant me a wish..." "I want to be just like Kwan." "Who's that?" "Come up now!" "Wait!" "Riam." "I was just kidding." "Who want to kid around with you?" "The fish's all scared away, satisfied?" "Got a lot before I came, huh?" "Without you I should get some." "Move over!" "You're so weird." "At the fen you can get as much as you want." "None of you business." "Yeah... the District Chief's daughter-always a bragger." "I'm going home." "Leave me alone." "Why hurry?" "Let's clear up in the water." "Like I care." "Serves you right." "Kwan, cut it out." "It's not fun." "Another blow will be good for you." "No, no, no, please." "Let me row you home." "Kwan!" "Take me right home if you dare." "I've no fear for your father's cane." "It's the race tomorrow that matters" "Are you really going to join it?" "Certainly." "Don't try to stop me." "I really want to know how good those guys from Meen are." "They're all up to no good." "Stay away from them... please." "Now alert!" "Kwan!" "What's keeping 'em?" "Here they come!" "Let me, boss." "Name you reward!" "It's not much." "Every year this time..." "I never had a chance to dance with Riam." "Let that be my reward, please." "How dare you!" "I let you race because it's New Year fest." "Here's your reward." "Take it or leave it." "That's enough, Kwan" "Forgive him, chief." "He's just a kid." "Joi, let's get some rest." "Here's yours." "It's yours now." "You can have it." "If you say so." "Thanks." "Come on." "Let's go home." "You go first." "Want a spank for that?" "I hate him, mom." "Dad and Rern should think it's a shame to lose at his place, cockfighting and all." " How come he's welcome in our house?" " It is not for you to decide." "I never want to be in debt." "But the time has been tough lately." "You'd have to wait till I sell this year's paddy." "It's no big deal." "Let's drink." "I really hate the way he looks at me." "His father is a millionaire." "A friend like this only does us good." "Money from the paddy can hardly be enough." "You'll get his daughter, boss." "It's sure." "What's that?" "Could it be a crocodile, boss?" "At this time of year?" "Idiot!" "Damn Croc..." "I dare you to come up!" "I'll make a soup outta you!" "You!" "Gotcha!" "What!" "Haven't changed." "Hey, Riam!" "Wait!" "Let's get over it." "It's almost a month now." "You have my words." "No more messing with him." "You don't like it, I won't do it again." "Rawd, what you're doing?" "In a minute." "Come on!" "Dad won't like it if we're late." "A nice pair, isn't it?" "No, no, let me." "Rawd, c'mon up." "You little devil." "Want to be the chief's buffalo, huh?" "What did you say?" "Nothing." "See you later, Kwan." "See you." "It's okay if you don't want to talk." "Just show up tomorrow." "No way!" "Give me another chance." "I promise..." "I'll do any thing." "But to let go of the land-it's too sudden." "What about this, have you done anything?" "I've got no proof, just rumours." "If you say so, it's not a problem." "So many given, one more won't hurt." "But just one more time, OK?" "For what you already owed me," "I'm afraid even your whole piece of land won't be enough." "And if it won't, there must be something else." "When we were kids you were afraid to learn." "A country girl who doesn't know how to catch fish." "Isn't that a shame?" "If you want me to stay, hold your tongue." "To catch a snake-head you have to know the trick." "I do it this way." "But it won't work with a small hand." "Now seize the basket." "Hold it!" "Is it struggling?" "Yes, hard." " Good." "The harder, the better." " Can I catch it now?" "No, no, wait." "It isn't tired yet." "You think I'm stupid, huh?" " Want to catch fish or not?" " Not anymore!" "Riam!" "Riam!" "Don't!" "Now look at you." "Kwan!" "Riam!" "C'mon here." "Let's take a look." "How's it going?" "Got a frog?" "Must be a big one here." " Hey!" "Rawd, Wait!" " Snake!" "It's okay now." "A cobra..." "I've told you to be careful." "You throw it so fast." "Teach me." "Forget it, Rawd." "If anyone wants to be a hero, let him be." "It's not a good thing to learn." "If dad knows, you'll be in trouble." "I never knew you're so afraid of snakes." "Rawd, we're going home." "Why?" "It's still early." "I said we're going home!" "C'mon." "With Riam going out everyday, Kwan might be bolder." "Aren't you worry that Joi might know?" "Let him." "You want him to marry Riam anyway." "Why wait?" "What will I get?" "I've got my sure thing to settle the debt." "It's him who has to come to me with money for Riam." "I'm not stupid." "What about Kwan?" "He's a pain in the ass for Joi, that's good." "I'll teach him a lesson later." "Much harder than what his father did to me." "Stop following me." "Your house ain't this way." "Yeah, a regret." "I even wish we live in the same house!" "Don't say such crazy things." "Go your own way!" "Riam." "Your Ke can't go away from my Reaw." "Reaw, catch her or I'll put you up on sale tomorrow." "Ke, shake him off or you'll be on sale too." "Don't do this." "Let me go." "Let me hold you." "Don't stand, it's all muddy." "What'll I do if someone see us?" "Let'em see." "Let'em know that I love you." "You're taking advantage of me." "Let me go." "You're angry with me?" "Okay!" "You lead!" "See the trees along the waterslide." "moving by, it's a lovely sight." "See the sky over the fields with sunshine and the wind blows so right." "Still, it's lonely inside If I can't see you." "My heart keeps telling me nobody will do." "Only if I could always be with you." "What's wrong, Riam?" "How long we're going to be like this?" "I've some savings and there's a good harvest ahead." "I should have enough to marry you." "If our fathers can't get along, it's their problem." "We just elope." "Trust me." "I'll do anything." "Chao Por, please be our witness." "I swear that I will love Riam till the day I die." "If I couldn't keep my words, let me be in danger and die a violent death in no time." "But if I could, let us be together forever till next life." "Riam!" "What the hell you're doing here?" "Nothing, dad." "Nothing?" "Then why you're with him?" "Rern, go get her!" "We came to make a vow before Chao Por." "We love each other." "You bastard!" "No!" " Kwan, don't" " Rern, come forward!" "Use your sword again." "My blood's taken, I'd die here!" "Don't push it, Kwan." "Rern was wrong to do that." "But what you've done isn't wrong?" "Isn't it a stab in my back?" "Riam!" "If you don't think of me as your father, stay with him!" "Let me take you home." "Go home." "I'll take my father to see yours later." "Don't worry." "I'm okay." "Go." "Are you out of your mind?" "Why in the world should I let you go for the beast?" "He's nothing compare to Joi." "Don't you see that?" "But I'm already his." "Shame on you." "I won't marry Joi even if you kill me." "How dare you!" "Now you ask for it!" "No more, please." "That's enough." "Don't ever try that again." "I'm your father!" "You shouldn't talk back." "Your father's never been this angry before." "It's not that he loves Rern more than you or loves the land more than his own child." "Even without the debt, you still have to marry Joi." "Why do you always obey dad?" "Whatever he thinks is always right." "Even though you never love each other." "Dad loved someone else, so did you." "it's not only over just a paddy-field that dad's in feud with uncle Kian." "Right?" "Is that right, mother?" "So what?" "Love him or not, I'm his wife and had three of you." "Now you should see." "He'll never let you marry Kwan." "You better think of it yourself." "Nothing's wrong with Joi." "His wealth's far beyond Kwan's." "I don't want to be with someone I don't love." "Take care of it yourself." "Use the water here." "Don't go down to take a bath." "Riam!" "Calm down, son" " Riam!" " Kwan!" "Row faster!" "Too late now!" "Riam!" "Joi took her to his relative in Bangkok." "A millionaire." " Madame Tongkham." "Mom and I know nothing more." "Riam didn't know either that she had to go." "She didn't say anything." "Should we get off and take a short cut, boss?" "No need." "Tome, row faster." "Where did you take Riam to?" "You're going to kill me?" "I can kill anybody." "Go ahead!" "Kill me!" "If I die, you'll never know where she is." "You're going to kill chief and Rern too?" "Then go ahead, kill'em all!" "You can never win over me." "Riam is mine." "Hear that?" "Riam is mine!" "You peasant!" "Wanna die?" "What is it?" "Nothing." "She looks happier since you took her around." "I myself couldn't do more than hiring someone to do her hair or teach her at home." "if it wasn't for you she wouldn't have a chance to go anywhere." "No problem, auntie." "It's my pleasure." "After dropping me you don't have to come back and pick me up." "Have a good time." "Just don't be home so late." "Thank you, auntie." "I just though of asking you." "You'd love the place I'll take you to today, I guarantee." "It's too soon?" "Yes." "I know." "I've lost both my husband and my daughter." "When Chomeyong was gone, I wanted to die with her." "Believe me, there's no other love like parents." "I gave your father money." "But don't think that you're bought." "You're like my daughter now." "I was hoping to see Chomeyong marry Somchai." "Well, I won't push you." "There is plenty of time." "Never mind." "I'll just go say a prayer." "What is it, miss?" "Did you hear the sound?" "What sound?" "...a flute." "No one around here plays flute." "You must have misheard." "Here's the house." "Come in." "This is Chomeyong's" "Very beautiful." "No Riam." "Don't you understand?" "Riam!" "Riam!" "or I'll call the police." "Kong, help!" "Someone breaks in." "There is no Riam here." "Get out!" "I said get out!" "Pa..." "I'll go to Bangkok after this harvest." "Pa..." "Are you mad at me?" "I'm not mad at you." "If I were your age, I might find it as difficult to endure." "Got to thank you instead for staying put-a whole year." "I'll be back soon." "How long can I stay with you?" "Soon you will be taking care of everything." "I am not going to live anywhere else, Pa." "It's been over a year now." "Riam has never come back." "Even though her mother is always ill." "Don't you see that?" "It must be her father." "He wouldn't let her know." "But I won't give up." "I will find her." "I know your heart is with her, no matter what I say." "All right, I'll leave it too you." "Sit here, take your time- think hard." "Think about the things you've done just because of Riam." "Here's where we used to meet and made the vow of love we thought would last." "Here's where the sound of flute's calling gently brought you to me In the moon-bath." "Here's where it keeps on calling, night after night," "day after day, waiting for you till it's soft and low." "You never come..." "Where are you now?" "Or you love is dying?" "Will you ever know?" "This love's wound In me will be forever so." "It came in this afternoon, you were not at home." "What is it, Somchai?" "A villager, auntie." "He looks dazed." "Might be his first sight of a motor-boat." "Riam." "Did you see him?" "She's been like this for three or four months now." "Lately, she's been calling for Riam in her fever." "So I had Rern write the letter." "That letter was not that clear." "Forgive him for his lack of education." "He's not a smart boy." "Riam's smart." "She adjusts herself real well." "Right, Somchai?" "Yes." "All my friends admire her." "She is more fortunate than her brothers." "Anyway, please take care of her for me." "Don't worry about that." "I'm willing to." "Where are you going?" "I left some stuff on the boat." "I better go with her." "You don't have to." "There's nothing to worry about." "This place may be in the country, but it's a district chief's home." "You should stay, Somchai." "It's good she left us." "I need a chance to talk to you." "Rawd, go get two chickens and prepare them well." "Riam!" "Riam!" "It's me." "Kwan!" "I know you'll come back." "I know." "Dad said you'd escaped after the killing." "How come you're here?" "Have anyone seen you?" "I didn't escaped." "They got no proof against me." "But I did kill him." "I killed him because of you." "You shouldn't do that." "I miss you." "Really miss you." "I couldn't find you in Bangkok." "No matter how I tried." "You went there to look for me?" "If not for my father I wouldn't come back." "Riam, for over a year," "I've been waiting for you every day" "If you haven't come back, I would have gone to Bangkok again." "Must be Chao Por." "He is so sacred to send you back here." "I didn't know that mom was ill." "Come with me to the shrine." "We can ask Chao Por for help." "I can't." "Why are you looking at me like this?" "I forgot." "You can't go out into the dirt with me anymore." "I'm still the same, but I come with Madame." "How can I go?" "Madame Thongkham?" "My dad sold me to her already." "But she treats me like a daughter, really nice to me." "Who is that man who come with you?" "Mister Somchai, Madame's nephew." "He got a boat so he took us here." "We can't see each other like this." "Better go before someone see you." "You come down and see me here tonight." "Yes." "OK." "Go now." "I'll see you later." "You better hurry." "Kwan!" "Kwan!" "What are you doing here?" "Where's Riam?" "She's left." "She told me to wait here to tell you." "Madame didn't want to spend the night." "She'll send a boat to take" " Mom to the hospital later." " I don't believe it." "Riam!" " Riam!" " What the hell?" "This is the chief's house." "Kwan." "What are you doing here?" "I come to see Riam." "Please let me see her." "Riam's left." "You should leave too, or I'll shoot you down like a dog." "Not another step, I warn you." "Father..." "I'm not your father." "Don't call me that." "How much did Madame Thongkham pay for Riam?" "I'll pay for the redemption myself." "I'll tell you." "That money is not that much compare to the husband from a noble family that my daughter's going to married." "A dirty peasant like you wants to pay a compensation for her?" "Take a look at yourself, you moron!" "It hurts, way down deep inside of me" "So much I just couldn't stand the pain." "Everyday round and round goes a wind-wheel" "How many times one's heart can change?" "When the water is high we used to come out to play." "Now the wind has turned the tilde." "Sorrow is here to stay." "San Saeb, the sadness of the name seems so real to me like never before." "The water now can never be the same." "For you're here with me no more." "You left me behind and forgot the gentle stream and the field of gold." "Now the stream runs dry, the field turns cold." "I'm a sad man and all alone." "Why?" "Why?" "I've never broken my promise." "I love her, wait for her." "Through the seasons." "Through the year." "Why?" "You come too?" "Yes, sir." "I must pay respect to Pit." "Good." "What are you doing here?" "You're not welcome, Kwan." "Leave!" "We come to pay respect to the dead, Then we'll go." " Go ahead." " Dad!" "Sit!" "I got to go." "You don't have to see me off." "If you still care for me." "After the cremation, wait for me." "Can you still remember you mother?" "When she died I was so little." "It's a hazy memory." "But I can remember one thing clearly." "My father was not afraid of anything, anyone, but my mother." "Your mother was much luckier than mine, in every way." "Don't say that." "Auntie Pit is now at peace." "Mom must haven't forgotten the day I didn't look at her, didn't talk to her." "I was so sinful." "Mom never had a chance to be happy, until her last days." "Are you going to marry him?" "...that man from Bangkok?" "Who told you that?" "Your father." "But I want to hear it from you." "Madame wants me to, but I haven't thought about it." "What about you and me?" "I've never forgotten." "I'm sorry, Riam." "When you went back to Bangkok that night." "I was so mad." "Mad at everybody, everything, even Chao Por." "I'm the one who has to apologize." "Let's go, it's getting dark." "My mother's funeral was considered a big one here." "But it would not be possible without the money from you, Madam." "Now all is done." "I just have time to look at things." "Bangkapi is still the same." "Even people are the same." "But in my house, things seem to change since mother fell ill." "I want to help, to do what I can do" "So I'm asking for your permission to stay a little while longer." "About the decision I have to make, I'll come to tell you myself." "Aren't you worried, auntie?" "No mention here of the day she will be back." "It's her own mother, Somchai." "Riam might feel guilty about not being home for a year, never took care of her mother." "I felt guilty about it myself." "I'm going to Bangkapi." "Your father said you got a lot of work to do." "Do what you have to do first." "Don't worry." "Look at what I'm preparing for you." "You see, I can still ride." "I won't forget that easily." "Since you are so sure, let's race." "I'll give you a head start." "Don't have to." "Go, Ke." "Go!" "You lost." "Reaw, you lazy eater." "You made me lose my face." "A souvenir from Bangkok." "No big deal." "It's far from my heart." "Riam, I've been waiting to ask you." "Do you still love me?" "If I still do, but I can't be with you, can you bear it?" "All through the year, the thought of seeing you again has kept me alive." "I believed Chao Por would help." "You would come back." "If I wouldn't see you again," "then I would die." "And you?" "Can you bear it?" "If you still love me, can you let yourself be like your mother once was?" "Think it over." "I'll wait for you at the shrine tomorrow." "Riam" "Let me hold you one more time." "How can I stand?" "reminds me how much in love we used to be." "All those whispering words still ring true to my ears." "They keep telling me you're here." "How can I forget?" "Something inside will never let me." "I'm still haunted by the stream, the place we used to roam, and the tender time we used to share ...together you and me." "Who's doing the shooting?" "I don't know, pa." "The bird hunters, I guess." "Hey, where are you going?" "The field around here are not like the one near you house." "Looks like there's no farming lately." "Yes." "When I lived here we used to utilize all If our land." "But Rawd said that my father just leave some undone." "It doesn't matter, Just keep it." "When they cut the road through these lands are gonna worth a fortune." "Your father is a district chief, he must know about this." "Chod, come lift Riam's baggage," "Cut some more coconuts." "Hurry, they'll be back soon." "They're both having a good time, a chance like this is scarce." "What about you?" "I didn't see you give it a try." "I'm not a rifleman." "Actually I prefer a pistol." "I brought one with me but I left it at your house." "It's not for bird shooting anyway." "Somchai, what's that?" "Too late." "It's useless." "Back off." "The fire can't lit itself, Right?" " It must be him, dad..." " Who is it, chief?" "Kwan, a troublemaker around here." "Since he was shot in Bangkok, he hadn't done anything." "It's my fault." "I was careless." "Then why he burned my boat?" "He fancied Riam." "You said there's nothing to worry about at your place, didn't you?" " You two go get some men." " Yes, chief" "Don't worry, We'll get him anyway." "Hey, where is Riam?" "Riam" "Mister Somchai, please come with me." "Do you know where to find him?" "I think I do." "This guy got guts." "He wouldn't run away." "If he's not at home, there's only one place he could be." "Why did such a thing, Kwan?" "I'm a fool not to listen to my pa." "You should go." "I know, even though I burned down his boat," "You still have to go back to Bangkok." "Run away." "You still have enough time." " Where do you want me to go?" " Anywhere." "Stay away for a while." "I know you're not afraid of anybody." "But Mister Somchai has a gun." "Will you come with me?" "Riam," "You haven't answered my question." "Do you still love me?" "I broke the promise I have given to you." "I didn't keep the ring with me all the time." "But I never stop loving you." "Never." "Don't cry, Riam." "Uncle Kian!" "Uncle Kian!" "Hurry up!" "Do you know how many times I came here to cry, when you were in Bangkok?" "Don't worry about the vow we made here." "You are his child," "You and me are his children." "I won't go anywhere, won't do anything anymore, Riam." "Riam, come here!" "Keep your calm." "I'll talk to my father." "Don't hurt him, dad." "Please don't let anybody hurt him." "You've got nothing to do with this, Riam." "How can we let him get away with what he had done." "Rern" "Let go of me, Rern." "Let me go." "Go get him." "Anyone of you who wants to get me, c'mon up." "Come take my blood in front of Chao Por." "Are you Mister Somchai from the high family?" "You want my wife so much?" "Kwan, no!" "Drop the knife," "Kwan." "I said drop it." "Go, Rawd." "Don't have to wait for me." "Many years gone by." "The tree and Chao Por's shrine are no longer there." "The story of Kwan and Riam became a tale of old time." "But San Saeb still stands and witnesses many more stories." "Even though both sides and people around have changed." "Story like this keeps repeating itself over and over again." "But of course, not all is immortal." "And not all is a tragedy." "I'm sorry." "It's alright." "Thank you." "Miss." "Have we met somewhere before?" "On the boat, I guess." "I take it everyday." "But this is my first time." "I got to go now." "Miss!" "Miss!"