[woman announcing in Mandarin on P.A.]
[indistinct chatter]
[announcement continues]
[cell phone vibrating]
[Nai Nai speaks Mandarin]
[Billi] Nai Nai, hi!
[conversing in Mandarin]
[Nai Nai speaking]
Heh. [speaking Mandarin]
[Nai Nai speaking]
- [indistinct announcement on P.A.] - Hey.
[stammering]
[in English] Do you have a second to save marine life?
[speaks in Mandarin]
- All right. - I was gonna say something snarky,
but I used to work this job.
Ooh, what happened, girl? You got fired?
I quit! Because I was about to get fired.
[Nai Nai speaking Mandarin]
- [announcement continues] - Hey.
[stammering]
Okay. [continues in Mandarin]
[machine whirring]
[radiologist speaking]
[indistinct conversation]
♪♪
[Haiyan, in English] So one day, the wife goes out of town.
And when she returns, the husband says,
"Honey, the cat is dead."
And she says, "How can you tell me so abruptly like this?"
You have to ease me into bad news.
Like, um, 'Honey, the cat,
he got on the roof.
And, uh, so..."' [chuckles]
Now... a few months later,
the wife goes out of town again.
And she returns and the husband greets her again.
But this time, he learned his lesson.
And as the wife comes through the door, he says,
"Honey, your mom, she got on the roof."
[all laughing]
Wait, I told you that!
[laughing continues]
[indistinct conversation]
[door opens]
[objects clatter]
[fluttering]
How did you get in here?
[cell phone vibrating]
- Nai Nai. - [Nai Nai] Billi!
[Nai Nai speaking Mandarin]
[Nai Nai chuckles]
[Mr. Li] Huh?
[Mr. Li] Oh.
[Billi speaking]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[sighs]
[Billi speaking]
[chuckles]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[in English] Okay.
I love you, Nai Nai.
I love you. I love you.
[siren blaring in distance]
[car alarm blaring in distance]
For what month?
For this month, May?
And what happened to April?
My mom says you didn't pay April yet.
[sighs]
You know if you moved out right now, we could literally double the rent?
[Jian] So what, you're broke again? Are you always going to live like this?
Poor but sexy? I hope so.
Why you not try to save, huh?
You should change your expensive lifestyle.
Mom, if you're gonna give me shit every time I come home,
I'm not coming home anymore.
Lower your voice. Dad's sleeping.
Sleeping? It's 6:00 P.M. What's wrong with him?
Nothing. He's just tired.
- Is he okay? - He's fine, we're just busy that's all.
Busy with what? What's going on?
Hao Hao's getting married, so we have to go to China.
What? Since when? Hasn't he like just started dating that girl?
You don't need to go.
No one's expecting you to go.
I mean, he's my only cousin. Don't you think I should be there?
Okay, okay.
Do you think he knocked her up?
[sighs]
How many wontons you want?
- Five. - Five? That's not enough.
Make a dozen then.
Ten's good.
- Okay. - [bottles clanking]
- What's wrong, Dad? - Nothing.
You and Mom got in a fight?
You've been drinking?
Please tell me what's going on.
You're scaring me.
Something's going on.
Just tell me what's going on.
Your Nai Nai's dying.
She has stage four lung cancer.
The doctor says she has three months.
Could be faster, you never know.
- I need to call her. - You can't do that.
- I need to go see her. - Can't do that.
She doesn't know.
The family thinks it's better not to tell her.
So you can't say anything.
[dry chuckle]
I don't understand.
She doesn't have a lot of time left, she should know, right?
There's nothing they can do.
So everyone decided it's better not to tell her.
Why is that better?
Chinese people have saying, "When people get cancer, they die."
It's not the cancer that kills them, it's the fear.
Okay, when were you guys gonna tell me this?
How could you let me find out like this?
How should I have told you? "Oh, your grandma's on the roof?"
[sighs] What about the wedding?
The wedding is an excuse, so everyone can go see her.
We leave first thing in the morning.
I need to go.
- [Haiyan] Billi... - I need to go. [sniffles]
[Jian] Everyone thinks it's better if you don't.
Look at you. You can't hide your emotions.
If you go, Nai Nai will find out right away.
[sobs]
♪♪
[all singing] Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear Tony
Happy birthday to you.
[inaudible]
[train approaching]
[man announcing indistinctly on P.A.]
[drivers shouting in Mandarin]
[string music playing]
[knock at door]
[muffled chatter]
[Mr. Li speaking Mandarin]
[Billi speaking]
[Mr. Li speaking]
[indistinct chatter]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[chuckles]
[Nai Nai chuckles]
- [Nai Nai exclaims] - [speaks Mandarin]
[Nai Nai laughing]
[Billi] Mm-hmm.
[Billi chuckles]
[oil sizzling]
[in English] Stop fooling around, oil is hot.
Don't be mad, Mom.
Where'd you get the money to buy a ticket?
- Credit card, right? - [Billi sighs]
Mom, I'm fine. Look at my face.
Look at my face, look at my face, look.
Take to table.
[all speaking Mandarin]
[Little Nai Nai speaks]
[Mrs. Gao speaking]
[Auntie Ling speaks]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Nai Nai] Hey. Billi.
[Nai Nai laughs]
[muffled chatter]
♪♪
[indistinct chatter]
- [indistinct chatter] [upbeat club music playing]
[indistinct announcements on P.A.]
[Uncle Haibin speaks]
[Billi speaks]
[Uncle Haibin speaks]
[Billi speaks]
[Uncle Haibin speaks]
[Billi speaks]
[Uncle Haibin speaks]
[Billi speaks]
[Uncle Haibin speaks]
[Billi speaks]
[Uncle Haibin speaks]
- [sighs] Billi... - Hmm?
[lively chatter]
[Billi speaking]
[Michael speaking]
[both panting]
- [Billi speaks] - Oh.
[Michael speaking]
- [Billi speaking] - [switch clicks]
[Michael speaking]
[Billi panting]
[Billi] Uh...
[Michael] Ah.
[Billi speaking]
[Michael speaking]
- [Billi speaking] - [door opens]
Ah.
[in English] Thank you.
[metal rattling]
[Nai Nai grunting]
[grunting continues]
[grunting]
[Billi chuckles]
[grunting]
[Nai Nai laughing]
[both grunting]
[continues speaking in Mandarin]
[both laugh]
[Nai Nai speaking]
Billi.
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Jian speaking]
[indistinct chatter]
[chatter continues]
[Jian speaking]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[indistinct chatter]
[Nai Nai mumbling]
[labored breathing]
[Haibin speaking]
[sighs]
[in English] So what's going on with the fellowship?
Nothing.
- Oh, you still haven't heard anything? - No.
- Well, when are they gonna let you know? - I don't know, Dad.
[Haiyan sighs]
- How are you doing with money? - I'm fine.
- Can you afford this trip? - Yes, I'm fine.
- You need help? - No, I'm fine.
[Gu Gu speaking Mandarin]
[Billi, in English] What is Mei nu?
- Uh, it means beauty. - Ah.
[speaking Mandarin]
[sighs]
[Billi speaking]
[Gu Gu speaking]
[Billi's masseuse speaking]
- [Billi speaking] - Hmm?
[Gu Gu speaking]
[Gu Gu's masseuse speaking]
[Gu Gu scoffs]
[photographer speaking]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[scoffs]
[Billi groans]
[photographer instructing indistinctly]
Mm? [chuckles]
[both chuckling]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Nai Nai sighs]
[Billi speaking]
[Nai Nai] Tsk.
[imitates fussing]
[Billi] Mm.
- Huh? - [in English] Okay.
[continues speaking Mandarin]
Ahem.
[YuPing speaks]
[all toasting]
[YuPing speaks]
[Jian speaks]
[in English] What's that mean?
They say you're a stock investment and you're gonna make us a lot of money.
But I can't expect that from you, right? You're the losing stock.
[Jian speaking Mandarin]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Jian] Mm.
[in English] Mom, that church is not representative of all America.
We have a lot of problems. Guns, health care.
If you think China's that good, why don't you move here?
[speaking Mandarin]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[sighs]
[Jian speaking]
♪♪
[lock chimes]
[door opens]
[lock chimes]
[Nai Nai coughing]
[indistinct chatter]
[coughing]
- [continues coughing] - [indistinct chatter]
[conversing indistinctly]
♪♪
[Uncle Haibin speaking indistinctly]
- [in English] What happened? - I don't know.
[shouting in Mandarin]
[Haiyan, in English] Hey! Billi, it's the wrong way.
[Billi] He says it's fine.
- [Haiyan] We have to go around. - [Billi] He says it's fine!
[indistinct conversations]
[Billi] Which way are we going?
Dad, do you know where we're going?
- [Haiyan] This way. - [Billi] My umbrella...
[indistinct conversation]
- [Billi] Is this the right way? - [Haiyan] Yes.
[Billi] Are you sure?
[all continue arguing indistinctly]
♪♪
- [coughing] - [Uncle Haibin] Ma?
[Nai Nai] Huh?
[speaking Mandarin]
[Little Nai Nai speaks]
[Nai Nai speaks]
[Little Nai Nai speaks]
[shooing]
Nai Nai...
[chuckles]
[inhales deeply]
[exhales deeply]
[coughing]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[in English] Visit from America?
I went to school in the UK for many years.
- [Billi] Oh, that's cool. - Where do you live?
Uh, I'm in New York.
New York. I always wanted to visit New York.
It's a very beautiful city.
Yeah, it's very beautiful. Uh, question.
Do you know about my grandma's condition?
[speaking Mandarin]
[Nai Nai] uh...
[whispers] Ma!
[in English] How bad is she?
You can tell me the truth.
[Dr, Song] The cancer is quite advanced.
Shouldn't we tell her?
In her situation,
most families in China would choose not to tell her.
When my grandmother had cancer, my family didn't tell her.
Isn't it wrong to lie?
[Dr. Song] I mean, if it's for good, it's not really a lie.
[Billi] I mean, it's still a lie.
It's a good lie.
How's your grandmother?
She passed away, a few months after she was diagnosed.
[speaking Mandarin]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Dr. Song speaking]
[coughs softly]
[footsteps approaching]
[Haiyan speaking]
[indistinct announcement on P.A.]
[in English] illegal.
How do you say "illegal"?
[speaking Mandarin]
[Billi sighs]
[Haiyan sighs]
♪♪
[Little Nai Nai] Ellen!
[Nai Nai speaking]
[howling as if singing]
[all exclaiming]
[chuckles]
[indistinct chatter]
[piano playing]
[playing faster]
[Jian speaking]
[Billi, in English] Mom, can we not do this right now, please?
[Jian speaking Mandarin]
- [Billi] Mom! - [Haiyan speaks Mandarin]
[Billi] Can we not right now?
[Haiyan speaks Mandarin]
- [lock chimes] - [Jian speaking]
[Billi] Just leave him alone.
[Jian speaking in Mandarin]
[Haiyan grunting]
[lock chimes]
[in English] Nai Nai should not be organizing this wedding.
If she enjoys it, then just let her do it.
She's sick. She should be resting or in a hospital,
not stressing about a fake wedding.
You really don't know your Nai Nai.
You know she enjoys bossing everyone around.
Makes her feel important.
Makes her feel in control.
- Mom. - It's true!
That's why she hated to stay in America in our house.
You know? Because she could not tell anyone what to do.
Whatever I do, never good enough for her.
But she can't say anything, because it was my house.
- Mom, stop! - What?
[speaks Mandarin]
You have always had issues with her, but right now...
I don't have a problem with her. She's the one that have a problem with me.
She's dying! Can't you be a little more sensitive?
What you want from me? To scream and cry like you?
You know, when my father died, I also very sad.
But I don't act like you.
When I went back to China for the funeral, everybody was watching me.
They were all expecting me to fall apart.
And they think if I don't cry, I don't love my father.
No one's asking you to cry!
[Haiyan speaks Mandarin]
[in English] I don't like, you know, put all my emotion on display,
like I'm in the zoo.
But in here, if you don't cry, you don't put a show,
they think that you don't love your family.
You know, in here, they even hire some professional criers,
just to show how sad they are.
It's just so ridiculous! I hate that.
[wailing loudly]
[continues wailing]
[speaking in Mandarin]
[indistinct chatter]
[Gu Gu speaking]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[exclaiming]
[in English] Pour, just pour. Yeah, pour, very good.
[speaks Mandarin]
[Billi] Mm.
- Hey. - [Haiyan grunting]
Hey.
[all laughing]
[indistinct chatter]
[chatter continues]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Little Nai Nai speaks]
[Gu Gu speaks]
♪♪
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Gu Gu speaks]
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Gu Gu speaks]
- [Nai Nai speaks] - [Gu Gu speaks]
[Billi, in English] Hey, this looks so familiar.
[Haiyan speaks Mandarin]
[Haiyan, in English] Do you remember that house?
You used to love to play in the garden.
[Billi] Where is it?
[Jian speaks Mandarin]
[Nai Nai speaking]
♪♪
[coughing]
- [Billi, in English] Dad? - Hmm?
[door opens]
- Are you smoking? - Hmm?
Uh, I thought you said you quit.
I did. I will.
[speaking Mandarin]
[in English] Go back to bed, Billi.
[speaking Mandarin]
[Haiyan sighs]
[Billi, in English] What're you guys talking about?
Nothing.
[speaking Mandarin]
[Uncle Haibin, sighing] Billi.
[sighs deeply]
[Hao Hao speaks]
[gasps]
- [in English] Mom? - Yeah?
I want to stay in China and help take care of Nai Nai.
What?
You stay here to do what? You can't cook, you can't clean.
[speaks Mandarin]
[in English] I'll figure it out, Mom.
[Jian] So you just stay here. And what?
Wait for her to die?
What about the fellowship? Just forget about it, huh?
You're 30 years old. You can just stop your life and stay here?
And every day she has to look at you, with that sad looking face?
That's not nice for anybody, right?
You know, one of the few good memories of my childhood,
were those summers at Nai Nai's... they had that garden.
Ye Ye and I would catch dragonflies.
[sniffles]
And then we just moved to the States.
Everything was different. Everyone was gone.
It was just the three of us.
[sniffles]
I know it was hard. It was hard for us too.
[sniffles] I wanted to believe that it was a good thing.
But all I saw was fear in your eyes.
And I was confused and scared constantly,
because you never told me what was going on.
And then Ye Ye died.
You didn't even tell me he was sick.
So it felt like he just... vanished suddenly.
And you wouldn't even let me go to his funeral.
You were at school. We didn't want you to miss school.
We did what we thought was best for you.
But I never saw him again!
And every time I came back to China,
he just... he just wasn't there anymore.
[sniffles] And I come back and he's just gone.
The house is gone, A Die's gone,
our Beijing home is gone and soon she'll be gone, too.
[exhales]
♪♪
[all speaking Mandarin]
[drums and cymbals playing loudly]
[indistinct chatter]
[Nai Nai] Billi!
[Nai Nai speaking]
[Little Nai Nai speaking]
[indistinct chatter]
[Sun Ao speaking over mic]
[lively chatter]
[indistinct chatter]
[exhales sharply]
[mic feedback whines]
[Uncle Haibin speaking]
[chatter stops]
[scattered chuckling]
[voice breaking]
[Uncle Haibin sniffling]
[scattered applause]
[indistinct chatter]
[chuckles]
- [in English] Does everyone know? - [Haiyan] I think most people don't know.
But I'm not sure.
[Nai Nai exclaims]
[speaks Mandarin]
[speaking Japanese]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Japanese]
[Auntie Ling speaking Mandarin]
[Aiko speaking Japanese]
[speaking Mandarin]
[guests applauding]
- [upbeat music playing] - [indistinct chatter]
[speaking Mandarin]
[General Mu speaking]
[General Zhu speaking]
[chuckles]
[General Zhu speaking]
[all laughing]
[laughing]
- [clears throat] - [mic feedback whines]
[in Mandarin]
[man speaking]
[in English] Thank you.
[guests applauding]
[in English] I'm sorry. Sorry.
How do you say "congratulations"? Dad?
[both speaking Mandarin]
[in English] Thank you.
[both singing in English] And so I came to see her
And listen for a while
And there he was this young boy
A stranger to my eyes
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words...
[both singing in Japanese]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aiko and Hao Hao continue singing in Japanese]
- [exhales] - [chuckles]
[upbeat music playing]
[all chanting Mandarin]
[all exclaiming]
[groans]
[continues in Mandarin]
[speaking hesitantly]
[laughter]
[shouting in Mandarin]
[music continues]
- [inaudible] - [operatic music playing]
[singing in Italian]
[inaudible conversation]
[woman continues singing]
[Hao Hao sobbing]
[Uncle Haibin speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Uncle Haibin speaking]
[all in unison]
[camera shutter clicks]
- [footsteps running] - [door slams]
♪♪
Hey. [speaking Mandarin]
Hey, hey, hey.
[man sighs]
♪♪
[Billi sighs]
[chuckles softly]
[Billi sighs]
[Billi chuckles]
- [knock on door] - [door opens]
[Little Nai Nai speaking]
[sighs]
[Jian speaking]
[car engine starts]
["Come Healing" by Elena Boynton playing]
[horns blaring]
[train passing]
[inhales deeply]
[grunts]
[Billi grunts loudly]
[grunting]
[speaking Mandarin]
[continues grunting]
[laughing]
[speaking Mandarin]
♪♪