Bad Axe (2022) - full transcript

-[projector whirring]
-[light music]

[light switch clicks]

[light switch clicks]

[cars passing]

[woman] We got this letter
in the mail today from
a very angry customer.

[somber music]

"After leaving Cambodia
for everything America
has to offer,

then why would you want
to change our government
to that system of government?

Would you have had that success
with your restaurant
in Cambodia?

You seem to blame
President Trump for COVID.

If we would have shut down
completely any longer,



your business and most others
would have failed

and our country
would be in a depression.

Of course, you could return
to Cambodia for opportunity.

You are right that
many of your customers
are Trump supporters,

but Bad Axe isn't changing from
traditional American values.

My family
and many will be changing
our restaurant routine,

and Rachel's is no longer
a choice."

And about ten
exclamation marks.

I feel like exactly what we were
afraid of happening by...

I guess,
sharing our family's story
and speaking up

is happening.

Everything we were afraid of
is happening.

[somber music]

[Trump]
My fellow Americans,
it started in China



and is now spreading
throughout the world.

This is a global pandemic.

[woman]
Every day, we keep reporting
increasing numbers

of cases and deaths
here in Michigan.

[man 1]
Michigan is currently
fifth in the nation,

and in deaths
we are currently seventh.

[thunder rumbling]

[woman]
Asian Americans are reporting

an increase
in racist encounters.

[woman 2]
And the state's case count
now jumps by the hundreds.

There are now more than
a thousand confirmed cases

of coronavirus
here in Michigan.

[man 2]
...restaurants, coffee shops--

all ordered by Governor Whitmer
to stop normal business

to prevent the spread
of coronavirus.

[woman 3] The surge in hate
crimes against Asian Americans
only getting worse.

[man 3]
The number of coronavirus cases
at home and abroad...

[wind whistling]

[car door closes]

[Governor Whitmer] If you're not
an essential business,
you need to close

and you need
to protect your employees,
and we're confident that

the vast majority of people
are gonna do the right thing.

The carry-out/dine-out option
is still something that
is available to people.

This is an essential service,
which is the feeding of
the people of our state.

So the restaurant where you can
get your takeout,

those will all still continue
to serve the public.

[liquid dripping]

[woman] We spray our car doors
before we even open 'em.

We spray 'em
when we get back in.

-[woman 2] Wear
freaking gloves, please.
-We are!

We will wear masks,
glasses, gloves.

We know.

We're not stupid, Jaclyn.

You have high blood pressure!

Three-fourths of the people
that have died,

three-fourths all have
had high blood pressure.

That is their preexisting
condition.

Can-- can we just stop
for one moment?

I'm going home.
You just go do whatever
you've gotta do.

David, why are you
filming me right now?

[David]
I've got a lot of free time.

You can work at the restaurant.

Dude, I definitely, like--
you can't really post these

because you really
don't want people to know
that you were just on a cruise.

I bet Mommy and Baba
never thought they'd have
all four kids

living under
the same roof again.

And you guys just moved into
a new apartment last week.

[David] Mm-hmm.

And I don't really want to be
in New York right now, so...

That's true.
Bad Axe is probably a lot safer
than New York right now.

It's probably a good thing
you guys got out when you did.

But it's crazy to think
that literally one week ago

we were on a cruise ship.

And now, like,
things are, like...

starting to get really bad.

[axe thudding]

[gentle music]

[man] Why are you filming
everything, David?

[David]
I just think it's a...

it's an important time
in history right now

and I just wanna
document everything.

[man]
And why are you filming me?

[David] I don't know.

[hissing]

[Rachel] Am I gonna be
in your way over here?

[David] No, but it's--
it's the sound, Mom.
Sound is the concern.

-I won't make any sound.
-Even the footsteps.

-Oh, okay.
-[David chuckles]

[David]
Tell me about these photos.

Just make sure you show them
to camera, to me too.

Show it to the camera
like this?

Yeah, just talk about them
and show them to me.

[somber guitar music]

[Chun] This is what a piece
of land is

right before
any footing going around.

Here's a picture of Rachel
with our children,

Jaclyn and Michelle.

Our baby at the time,
David.

Here's the three kids standing
in front of the front entrance.

It didn't take a whole lot
to keep the "childrens" happy.

Just tell 'em this is gonna be
our future donut shop.

It "felts" like building
the American dream,

having come into this country
as a refugee from Cambodia.

Raquel was born
right after the opening.

As business keep growing,
children keep growing,

the minute they're old enough
to work, there they are.

Part of our family business.

I'm proud of these kids.

[voice breaks]
Really proud of them.

[phone ringing]

[Jaclyn]
They wanted ketchup
with your kids' tenders, okay.

They want ranch,
and then we just need

a kids' quesadilla,
all right?

Raquel, is there any salsa
and sour cream in there?

[Raquel]
Quesadilla with french fries.

[man]
Raquel, is it busy right now?

We're actually not super busy
right now.

But we're not used to doing
this many takeout orders,

so it's a bit
of a learning curve.

[sizzling]

-[Raquel] Hot food coming out!
-Okay.

[broom clatters]

[David]
So where are we at right now?

Well, this is pretty much
my second home here.

Uh, I've been working
ever since I was a little girl
and we were making donuts.

I actually have a whole 'nother
life and career in Ann Arbor.

I have a corporate job
that I work at, you know,
on the weekdays,

but I always come home
on the weekends to help
the family out.

With COVID and everything
going on now,

my husband Mike and I
are able to work from home,

so we decided to move back
temporarily

to help my parents
kind of run the business

and hopefully
they can stay home more
where they're safe.

Mike?

Can you come get
new mop water?

He's pretty good
about helping out
when you ask him to.

-[Mike] I came right back--
-You did come back
and do dishes.

-[Mike] So, yeah--
-I'm very proud of you,
thank you.

-You really need new mop water?
-I really need new mop water.
[chuckles]

No, Mike's good.
He helps out.

I mean, he obviously didn't,
like, grow up in a restaurant

like we did, so...

Ah, cricket!

Oh, come here, little guy.

We've all put a lot of blood,
sweat, and tears

into this kitchen
over the past 20 years,

but that's kind of how we got
to where we are today.

[light somber music]

[TV playing faintly]

[man on TV]
...investigated 25,000
restaurants and bars.

Business leaders say
a comprehensive restaurant
rescue plan will be needed.

-I mean, I don't know
what else to say...
-[Chun] Mm.

...other than
you're kind of gonna
have to have that talk

of unemployment.

It-- it's not--
you have no choice.

They're just gonna have to.

Who would've ever thought
a freaking virus

would put this whole world
and country in a halt?

Nobody.

[woman on TV]
...if you completely
sideline it for,

let's say three months,
is $1 trillion enough?

That is the conversation...

[sizzling]

I'm just going back
and looking at parties

that we were supposed to have,
you know, this month.

I mean, I have a couple people
that are great

with keeping their deposits
and rescheduling,

and then I have a couple
people that are, you know,

"they're not on the same page
as us" type of thing.

They're like, "Well,
this shouldn't be happening,"

and, you know, by law,
we can't open,

so there's nothing we can do.

[coins rattling]

[David]
How much did we make today?

[Jaclyn] Let's just say it was
a really bad day.

Probably
the worst day we've had...
in, like, five years.

Probably more.

[Rachel]
Our whole lives just changed,

shut down,

no longer have customers
come into the building.

[Jaclyn]
It's not because we're, like,

making bad food
or not trying or anything,
it's...

obviously out
of everybody's control.

It reminds me of when
we literally--

like, we're just
struggling to survive,

trying to make money
off of donuts.

[somber music]

Our lives were completely
different growing up.

Back when the restaurant
was still a donut shop,

there were multiple times
that I remember

we almost had our
electricity shut off,

both at the donut shop
and at our house.

There were seven of us
living in a two-bedroom,

like, 1,000-square-foot home...

and we all shared one bathroom.

David, actually, you slept
on the floor the first
ten years of your life

because there was
only two bedrooms.

[David]
Yeah, that was pretty rough.

[Jaclyn] I guess when
you grow up knowing what
it's like to have nothing,

you're always afraid
of going back to that point.

[David] I know.
I think we'll be okay, though.

[wind whistling]

[Jaclyn]
So, sushi night, or sushi day.

First time that we're gonna
be serving sushi

starting at noon.

Hopefully, today helps make up
for a lot of lost business
over the week.

Also, we really
have to figure out
an organized system, though.

I'm actually really
stressed out about that.

Becca, go sanitize yourself.
Go dip your hands in bleach,
wash yourself-- everything.

I'm a little nervous,
but I think it's just

the nervousness
of sushi night in general.

I think Jaclyn's precautions
are very necessary.

[Jaclyn]
Emily, I need you to take it
really, really seriously.

A lot of people who are
coming in here are either

trying sushi
for their first time

or their first time
trying sushi was
at our restaurant.

[Rachel]
It's a new system for us.

We've never ever, ever
done it this way

and so we're just trying
to get in the groove.

Hello, Chilinger-- Chilinger.

-[man] Yes.
-All righty, it's gonna be
$14.84, please.

[Jaclyn] All of our sushi--
it's like sushi but with
our own twist on it.

And once people try it,
they're like,

"Huh, it's not
what I thought it was."

And then it's like a thing.
It's like its own event now

that a lot of people
in our community
look forward to.

-[phone ringing]
-[Rachel] Okay, where's that
freaking phone?

Hello, Rachel's of Bad Axe,
how may I help you?

-$44.52, please.
-[phone ringing]

It's not in sync yet.

-Maybe rice--
-Why don't you take orders?

-I was taking orders, Jaclyn!
-Shut up.

[Jaclyn]
Come on. It's not time--

-You're wasting
more time bitching.
-[Jaclyn] No, you are, Mom!

-I top--
I top them with avocado.
-Look at it. It says "avocado."

-[phone ringing]
-[Rachel mockingly weeping]

-Don't drop it.
-Whose is this? What is this?

-[phone ringing]
-[Rachel sighs]

-[woman] The sushi kitchen
has a ball in here.
-[workers cheering]

You guys rock, man.
Good job.

Could not have done it
without not a single one of you.

This was something that people
appreciated and so forth.

-Sorry for being mean to you.
-I'm sorry for being mean
to you too.

-[woman]
Pip, where does this go?
-Oh, my gosh.

[wind whistling]

[gentle guitar music]

[Mike] With the restaurant
being slow, we're trying
this new delivery thing.

When I'm done working, I--
I'll make runs for
the restaurant.

I know this town so well,
you know, growing up here.

Bad Axe is a place where, like,
if you grew up here,

you really couldn't
wait to get out.

All we did as kids was,
like, play basketball

or football or hockey.

But there's really
not much else to do.

It's got a theater
that shows two movies.

It's got two stoplights
and it's got a Walmart,

so it's not-- it doesn't have
a whole lot of things to offer.

We've talked
about moving back here
just 'cause it's a--

it's a nice place to raise
a family.

You know, it's safe,
it's, uh...

Everybody knows everybody,
so it's a--

it's a sense of community
in that way.

All right, have a good day.
Thanks.

[car ajar beeping]

$10 tip,
I will take it.

Yeah, the CDC recommends
everybody wear masks

when they're out-- out
in public around people

and apparently it's getting
a lot of backlash
in this community.

People don't like to be
told what to do.

So, uh, they will fight that
as much as they can.

[Chun]
Making a homemade face mask.

It's not a bad-looking mask.

[Jaclyn]
So, the best thing
for Mom and Baba to do,

instead of him sitting here,
hanging around all of us,
is to go home.

You know how Dad is.

If I just said it,
he'd be like... [scoffs]
"What do you know?"

I have to, like, get mad
about it and, like, fight.

Do you understand
what the mask does?

[Chun] These are so your
spit doesn't get all over
the fucking place, okay?

If an N95's
not even effective

unless you wear it perfect,
then these masks are not
gonna be effective...

-Okay, here.
[exhales forcefully]
-...unless you wear it perfect.

-You're so cool.
-And that's the fucking
thing, okay?

[Chun]
God damn it.

Do you need to be here
right now?

I know, I know.
I'm going home.

-And bring Baba with you.
-I know, I'm going home.

[Raquel] It's more effective
than any mask.

-[Jaclyn] You're panicked!
-[Chun] I'm panicked!
I'm scared!

-[Jaclyn] So you-- I know!
-Okay, and you know what?

I'm scared because I don't want
three of my kids

to take care of me
when I'm sick!

Then stay quarantined
and stop going places!

You were literally
at the restaurant from
10:00 until 7:00 tonight.

-[Chun] I'm sewing masks.
-Baba, what don't you
understand?

That if you get sick,
it doesn't matter anyways.

-If-- if who gets sick?
-You!

If I-- if anybody gonna
get sick, okay--

[voice breaks]
It's gonna be you.
That's fine... but then--

then we stop being positive

and we stop caring about
making anything work.

Why don't you
understand that?

If something happens to you,
it does--

nothing matters anymore!

I don't care if we're poor.
I don't care if we even lose
the restaurant,

and I love the restaurant.
I don't care about
any of that stuff!

You know that!

Come here.

It's okay. I know.

Obviously, Baba and I are both
really scared and worried.

We just have a different way
of dealing with--

-like, dealing with our fear.
-[cat meowing]

It's okay. It's okay.

He just always goes into this
survival mode.

Like, his every thought becomes,

"What am I gonna do
to survive?"

And that's all
he can think about.

Like, the safest thing he can do
is stay at home.

That's what's gonna
minimize the risk the most.

-[cat meowing]
-[grunts] Ow-w-w.

Goo, go away. [chuckles]

I know, I know. It's okay.

[Chun]
When they say a fruit don't
fall far off from its tree,

it's almost true
when I look at Jaclyn--

how passionate she is
toward life

and how dedicated she is
to her family.

She's taking care of this cat
that was born handicapped,

paralyzed
from the waist down.

I think Jaclyn remind me
a lot of her grandmother,

which is my mom.

When Rachel and I would
struggle with the donut shop,

thank God we had my mom
at home help raising the kids.

[indistinct chatter]

[Chun]
Shortly after she passed away,

Jaclyn was just
a young teenager.

She just stepped right in.

[Jaclyn] My Ma, which is
what we call my grandma,

is the one
who taught me what it means

to sacrifice for your family.

I just always grew up thinking
if she could survive a genocide

and come to this country,
the least I could do

is help my family
run a business.

[Chun]
We couldn't survive
just selling coffee and donuts,

so we had to turn
the whole business
into a family restaurant.

We don't know
what we are doing.

After Jaclyn
graduated from college,
she have a full-time job

and she took that income
to help support and invest

in the family business
to make us successful
as we are today.

Taking care of her job,
taking care of her
family's business,

taking care of her family.

Now, that is Jaclyn.

-[both chuckling]
-[Jaclyn muffled] Sorry.

[Jaclyn] Seriously.

-[Mike mumbles]
-Fine, I'll dance with you,
but usually you dance like...

[chuckles] other ways.

[TV playing in background]

[Jaclyn sighs]

This concrete was poured
in April of 2000.

Raquel would have not even
been two years old yet.

Now she can run
the whole restaurant.

[guitar music]

[professor] A few announcements.
Final papers are gonna be
due next Tuesday.

-Thanks for coming.
Hi, Raquel.
-Hi, sorry.

No, that's all right.
We're just getting going.
All right, so...

[Raquel]
This year, I'm graduating
from University of Michigan.

Unfortunately,
due to the pandemic,

I have to finish
my classes online.

But that's okay.

In between classes,
I get to hang out
with my family.

And my boyfriend Austin
also works at the restaurant,

so it's nice to be surrounded
by the people I love.

-Uh, we've got the Alfredo
pandemic of 2020.
-[both chuckle]

[Raquel] Whenever somebody
asks me what my plans are
after graduation,

I always get nervous
because I'm not exactly sure.

But all I know is, like,
right now I need to help

at the restaurant and be here
for my family.

[David] So do you think you're
gonna take over the restaurant
one day?

Um... I don't know, I...

It's not-- I'm not exactly
sure what my future plans are.

It's not always easy.
Not everybody knows what
their passion is right away,

-like you, David.
-[David] Yeah.

-This good?
-[woman] Yeah, okay.

I'm pretty sure you just lazily
put that mic on your shirt.

I did, but that's because
I don't think we're gonna
use this footage at all.

We should use this footage.
You're part of the family.

[guitars playing]

[Chun singing
"Champa Battambang"]

[Kat] Are you happy
that you came to Michigan?

I am. I'm very happy
I came to Michigan, um...

Yeah, I-- I can't imagine
being in New York right now.

[singing continues]

I love coming home.
Being able to spend
time with family...

-Hey, what's up?
Welcome to, uh...
-[Jaclyn] David...

And she got two.

...for all that it is--
the good, the bad, the ugly...

All right, ready, guys?

-[all laughing]
-How much did you drink?

[Kat] What made you wanna
make this documentary?

[David]
I don't really know yet.

Right now it's really observing
the story of our family,

of how this pandemic
is affecting us.

[singing continues]

[David]
But I've always felt my family

had an important story
to share,

especially my dad.

[singing continues]

[David]
His stories about surviving
Cambodia has shaped

so much of who I am
as a filmmaker.

We even made my first
short film together

about his childhood
in Cambodia.

And the more I learn
about my family's history

and how far we've all come
in this country,

the more I just want
to share those stories.

[Chun singing continues]

[Chun]
You know, I am scared to death
about this pandemic.

I never get that scared during
the Cambodian Killing Field

as what I am today.

-[somber music]
-[explosions]

-[Chun] April 17, 1975...
-[people screaming]

...when everything changed
in Cambodia.

Now we're dealing with
a brand-new government

-that are full
of hate and anger.
-[indistinct shouting]

They forced everybody
from the city

into the countryside.

Get out, get out.

If you can't move,
decide not to get out,

they would just kill you
right there on the spot.

That is when
the Killing Field begin.

[music continues]

This is the last place
that I saw my father.

My mom survived
with six children,

make our way to arrive
in Romeo, Michigan.

The nature of all--
everything what we did
is through survival.

It's no different
when I'm talking
to just two of you.

I'm talking to all eight of you
all at one time.

I'm gonna close
the restaurant down.

Okay? Once I get done,
I'm trying to get a little bit

of money from the bank first.

How long can we afford
to stay closed?

[scoffs] Ha!
Right now we've got
nothing to lose.

But I can't make
another one of you or you
or you or her or me.

Yes, a lot of people
have died from it,

-but a lot of people have
also been okay.
-Yes. Yes.

That's what we say
the chances are.

I still have really high hope

that none of us is infected.

Don't push it.

[soft music]

Think really hard.
Does Baba actually mean that?

-We all want to be healthy.
-But you have to be logical.

Okay, I know.
I'm not saying that
we close the restaurant--

-What does...
-[overlapping dialogue]

[Jaclyn] Even as a kid,
I worried about money.

Being the oldest child,

I always felt that I had
to do everything I could

to make sure I helped
the restaurant

so that we would
have a house to live in.

It was never an option
to give up.

They're gonna start closing
gas stations too,

like the convenience part.

-Just if you want gas,
you just pay out at the pump.
-Oh.

Credit card only.

[Rachel] I wanna know
why you wanna stay open.

[Jaclyn] Because I think
that you and Baba
are panicking,

and I'm not saying
that people shouldn't
be concerned.

That is not what I'm saying.

Baba can't even be happy
when things are good,

and you think he's gonna be
happy when things are bad?

Jaclyn, what about
if just you guys open?

-You told me you--
-I just want you guys
to stay away from us.

-[Rachel] Okay.
-And don't bug us
when we're here.

[Rachel]
I won't, I promise. Pssh.

-[Jaclyn] What is, uh...
-Chicken burrito one time,
b-mac quesadilla.

Give me a buffalo mac, please.

-We just need
those shrimp tacos.
-Yeah.

[Jaclyn] This is the first time
in 30 years

that my parents can
actually take a little break

and not have to worry
about waking up and going
to run a business.

[Rachel]
We don't have to see anybody,
we don't have to talk to anyone.

Just enjoy the drive,
the view.

[Jaclyn] Even with
all of the craziness going on
in the world right now,

I think it's important
to appreciate the little things
in life

that maybe we took
for granted before.

[Chun] Easter Sunday,
April the 12th, 2020.

We make the best out of it.

-I didn't go there--
-He has every right
to build the road there.

-[Jaclyn]
But I didn't go there.
-I'm gonna burn this game.

[Rachel]
Well, this is the first recipe
made out of a cookbook at home.

[all]
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

-[laughter]
-[clippers buzzing]

-Why are you going
back there already?
-[all laughing]

[vacuum whirring]

Bam, bam...

[both laughing]

You weirdo.

-What?
-[Jaclyn] Mike?

-[chuckles] What?
-[Kat] You look like
a porn star, bro.

[Jaclyn] Why, Mike, why?
[laughs]

[Mike]
Tensions are high right now.

I gotta bring
a little comedy to the house.

-[laughter]
-You look like-- my gosh.

-Mike, what is going on?
-[Austin cackling]

-Why?
-Why not?
Austin, do you like it?

It looks like
you should have

about four or five kids
running around here.

I should.
I'm 34 years old.

-Should have at least three.
-[Rachel] At least.

-[Jaclyn] Oh, my God.
-[chuckles] Why are you still
on my face?

[David laughing]
Can't get over it, man.

[birds chirping]

[emergency alert blaring]

[Rachel]
"Emergency alert from
the governor's office.

The state of Michigan
has extended

the 'Stay Home, Stay Safe'
order until May 15th."

[Chun] You know, this whole
entire pandemic thing is just
so scary.

People dying every day.

You're talking
about hundreds if it's not
thousands of people dying.

And I get so angry
to the people

that don't take this
serious enough.

Everywhere I go,
I still wear a mask.

I mean, I-- I just not
quite "understands"

how this whole entire
"wear a mask" thing

become a political issue.

You know, just the other day,
get out of the Walmart,

I-- all masked up,
I have my safety glass on,

because I take the safety
precaution really serious.

And I get a group of kid
sitting in a pickup truck,

roll the window down,

and you would not believe
what they tell me.

"What the fuck are you doing?
Go back to where
you come from."

-[turn signal clicking]
-For that moment,
its make me think

that someone like me,

been live in this county
for over 20 years,

and I still have

a really small handful

of the ignorant individual...

that I will never change.

[gentle music]

[Jaclyn]
The fact of the matter is

a majority of Huron County
are Trump supporters.

Speaking up against Trump
could be detrimental
to our restaurant.

If this community
turns against us,

then our whole lives can be
wiped away like that.

We would never
treat anyone any different

because of their politics.

We have people walk in here
wearing MAGA hats all the time

and we treat them the same.

Because, at the end of the day,

we're all still a part
of the same community.

Even some of our best customers
are Trump supporters.

Some of our employees are too.

[whispers]
But I think we've changed them
a little bit.

And that's what matters
is that people can change.

You just can't
force it on them.

[light music]

Hi, how are you doing?

I've been working here
for about six years now

and before meeting
the Siev family,

I really wasn't exposed
to that much diversity.

Since I met Raquel
in fourth grade,

I look at the Siev family
as kind of being part
of my own.

I feel like if I hadn't
met Raquel,

I probably wouldn't be
the same person I am today.

Raquel's last day of school,
last exams over with.

Now it's time to celebrate.

It's by far her favorite shot.

[ice clinking]

I'm done!

-[Raquel coughing]
I'm done with school forever!
-[Austin laughs]

Unless graduate school,
but I don't know yet.

[birds chirping]

[Rachel]
Well, I'm just curious of, like,

where can we,
like, put the direction

-of what you wanna do?
-[Raquel coughs]

I just wanna know
if you're going to go 100%
with the restaurant

or go 100% finding
another job somewhere else.
That's all I wanna know.

Okay, you said you didn't want
an answer from me
right this second,

and I don't have an answer
for you right this second...

-Okay, I just want you
to think about it.
-...so ask me tomorrow.

But everyone can't just
hang on a limb,
wondering, like,

"Is she gonna help out
for a couple more years
or is she not?"

[Rachel]
Make a decision on what you
wanna do as an adult, period.

I mean, it's a really good thing
and we're not--

it's not a bad thing,
what we're talking about.

[light music]

[Rachel]
I didn't have the opportunities
growing up

like my kids have today.

I'm Mexican American.

My dad was a factory worker
in Detroit

and my mom didn't even get
a chance to finish high school.

I started
working at restaurants
and that's how I met Chun.

[Chun] She just fall right out
of the sky one day and I say,
"Oh, who the heck is that?

Oh, that girl named Rachel."

[Rachel]
Chun was a tae kwon do
instructor at the time,

and I started taking
his classes and that's
how we fell in love.

[Chun] Rachel and I didn't
go to schools like
all our kids did,

so we do what we have to do
to survive.

We were just
two passionate people

that tried to run a donut shop
and a tae kwon do school.

[no audible dialogue]

I've been teaching martial art
for the past 37 years.

My teaching year
was some of my best year.

And I always made sure
to teach my kids

about self-defense
as much as possible.

[music continues]

[no audible dialogue]

-Here in Huron County,
everybody have gun.
-[gunshot]

I think education and teaching
and, you know,

make sure everybody understand

how to use a gun
and use it properly.

[gun clip clicking]

So when you feed it...

you've gotta do this.

-Gotta let it
go smooth, okay?
-[Mike] Okay.

And then all you do just now,
empty it and then...

-[gunfire]
-[David] Aw!

-[Mike laughs]
-[David] Aw!

[Chun] See what
I'm saying, though?

[David]
Aw, shit, I can't hear.

[Chun]
No, it's just, uh... me too.

-I don't have one ear.
-[David] Oh, God.

So I say, "You know what?
Get down on your knee.

Get down on your fucking knee
right now."

Okay, you do exactly, right?

-Mm-hmm, as they say.
-Do exactly. Now you can pull
the trigger.

There's nothing in there
because I already showed you
a dozen times.

-Keep pulling that.
-[trigger clicking]

Okay, good.

So now... the hammer's
not there.

-The gun you hold
like this, okay?
-Mm-hmm.

-I am... like this.
-[chuckles]

Now look at where the--
where the peoples at, 'kay?

I-- make sure-- what I would--
you deflect it.

Wherever you deflect it,
you know, that's where
most likely that's--

that's where
it's gonna go off.

-Mm-hmm.
-Okay?

What in the hell
are you guys doing?

-Can you stop?
-[Austin chuckles] I agree.

-What?
-[Rachel] Chun! Stop.

[sprinkler clicking]

[dog barking in distance]

There's no more recycle
in the whole county.

So you either bury it
or burn it.

[guitar music]

When I first came
to this community
from Cambodia,

I know how to farm
with a fucking-- a team
of water buffalo

and I come here,
I have to listen to these
farmer complains

about there's
no air conditioning
in the tractor yet.

I always have some
fun conversations with farmers

and they say,
"Oh, I'm just one little
city kid,

don't know
a whole lot of anythings
about farming."

I was laughing.

And when I tell them
what I used to farm with,

they say, "You didn't do that."

I say, "The fuck I am."

["Champa Battambang" playing]

-[fire crackling]
-[crickets chirping]

[Mike] You have--
a lot of people can congregate
in this area.

Okay, here.
Here's-- take the chair
and chair.

These are the same family, okay?

-[Mike] Table right here?
-You could.

-[Chun] No, you--
-Depends on where
this table's at.

No, you don't want to--
you don't want to put
a table here.

Okay. Just move all the rocks
over, put a--

put a, like,
a rug or something.

You can't.
The ground is not level.

Well, I want you
to tell me why,
not just "you can't."

You know what,
I'm fucking going home.
You guys deal with it.

If you just shut up and just
listen to the actual thing
that you should do

instead of wasting your breath
on stupid things like that.

That's what the actual thing--
that's what I'm gonna do.

I understand-- okay, go.

-Go, go, go. Yep. You got it.
-Right?

You know what you're doing.

[light piano music]

[Chun] When I first
went to the doctor's
30-some years ago, he said,

"Chun, you've got
some type-A personality."

[Chun grunting]

I said, "What was that
again, Doc?"

He said,
"Type-A personality."

I said,
"What's that 'A' stand for?"

He said,
"You really want to know?"

I said, "Yeah, Doc."
He said, "Asshole."

Do I have
post-traumatic stress,

something from where
I came from?

Think of what a human being

as from 15 years old
to 18 years old live

during the Killing Field,
get beat, starving...

watching so many people

-get killed...
-[inaudible screaming]

...and cannot say one word,
being tortured...

...what it would do
to a human being.

I don't know.

[music continues]

[Jaclyn]
Oh, I mentioned
that I pay for stuff,

and Baba makes it seem like
I complain about money

'cause Baba wants to go
spend all the money.

And, oh, I have no right
to any money, ever.

Oh, I spend my money on my cat.

My money, my money.

[Raquel]
Baba, let her spend
her money on her cats.

[Jaclyn]
I don't spend it on stuff
trying to show off.

-I'm gonna--
-[Jaclyn] I actually have
freaking stuff to do.

-I'm gonna be as fucking
as mean as I can be.
-[Jaclyn] Good, good.

I have stuff to do, Baba,
because I don't have time...

You know what?
Take your fucking thing
and head out the door.

-Why don't you?
-[Chun] This is not
your fucking place.

-You should pack
your shit and start to get out.
-[Jaclyn] Yup, yup, okay.

I close
this fucking place down
and burn it right down.

Good.
Exactly, just out of spite,
because you're a child.

-That's right.
-Good for you.

-[Chun] This place will run
with or without you.
-Good for you.

Yeah, good for you.

Keep going.

-I'm gonna sit right here until
the fucking cows come home.
-Okay, well, then I'm gonna...

I don't even know
what that means, but okay,
I'm gonna listen to music

and get work done
because I have stuff to do.

-Go for it.
-Okay.

[piano music]

[Chun]
Every day is a battle.

I can be wake up
in the greatest mood

and all it take is freaking
glass of milk tip over,

my whole fucking day is ruined.

[Jaclyn whispers]
He's such a jerk.

[piano music]

[Jaclyn]
I bend over backwards
every day,

'cause if I don't,
who's going to?

I don't want them
to have to.

They're just oblivious.

If she thinks I treat her
the way I was treated

by these people,
she doesn't know

what it's like
to be treated bad.

Why do I,
after all these fucking things

I go through, come here
and put up

with a brat like that?

[Rachel]
The truth hurts.

And the words that you used

and use on your daughter
are wrong.

100% wrong.

To say that...

I didn't have a problem,

I'd be lying.

I do.

I do.
Every day.

[birds chirping]

[gentle music]

[Chun] If anybody asks me,
"Do I have a moment that I'm
not proud of myself as a dad?"

I have more than a moment.

Am I giving her
enough credit?

Probably not.

But deep down in my heart,
I know what she have done.

There's a difference between
you know it in your heart

and you show it
through your action.

I didn't show enough
through my action, probably.

[birds chirping]

[emotional music]

[man]
We begin tonight with America
at the threshold

of a heartbreaking milestone.

Nearly 100,000 lives lost
to the coronavirus pandemic

-in this country alone.
-I'm in trouble.

There's an African-American man
threatening my life.

[woman on TV]
There are new developments
in the death of George Floyd,

the unarmed Black man
in Minneapolis

who died in police custody.

[man] That is an American
television reporter

Omar Jimenez
being led away by police...

-[man] Don't shoot!
-[explosion]

-[crowd shouting]
-[man coughs]

-[explosion]
-[crowd shouting]

[Kamala Harris on TV]
This is not just a moment,

it is a movement fueled
by the beautiful diversity

of who we are coming together
as a unified body.

The voices of peaceful protest

are being hijacked by violent
radical elements.

[Obama on TV]
There is a change in mindset
that's taking place,

-a greater recognition
that we can do better.
-[crowd cheering]

The looters should not be
allowed to drown out the voices

of so many peaceful protesters
they hurt so badly.

[man on TV]
"When the looting starts,
the shooting starts,"

the President
of the United States.

[Biden] This is no time
for incendiary tweets.

It's no time
to encourage violence.

This is a national crisis.
We need real leadership
right now.

It's time for us to face
that deep, open wound
we have in this nation.

We need justice
for George Floyd.

It is Blackout Tuesday.

Maybe you noticed
on social media

black squares shared
on Instagram over and over

to express solidarity
with those protesting
the murder of George Floyd.

[Jaclyn] We have had to bite our
tongue, like, how many times
in Huron County?

-[Raquel] The last four years.
-Screw it, we're gonna do it.

Post a black picture
onto Rachel's of Bad Axe!

First time
Rachel's profile picture
has ever changed

since, what, 2015, 2014?

-Where's my headphones?
-[Skyler] You should keep
the profile picture like that.

[Jaclyn]
On the Rachel's page?

I mean, yeah, forever.
It looks really cool.

Wait, did I see that someone
in Bad Axe organized

-a Black Lives Matter?
-Stephanie Butch.

...like the thing
of protest march

-starting at the courthouse.
-[Jaclyn] How cool is that?

Someone that works here is
the person that starts it in--

Like, but, like,
that's who needs to start,
like, a white, homegrown--

like, a white woman that
was born to, like, a white
probably conservative family.

Like, coming from us,
it's like, "Oh, the Siev-- well,
it's 'cause they're, like--"

Oh, shit, I have a team meeting.
I have a meeting right now.

Sorry,
I'm gonna-- I will finish it.
I have a meeting right at 1:00.

Thank God that thing
popped up.

[crickets chirping]

[man on TV]
What happens now?

[woman on TV]
We have to help all people,

regardless of race,
unified in understanding
the significance of this.

[woman on TV]
That is the Los Angeles
Police Department.

There was a much more sizable
police presence

that just suddenly advanced
off of that one block.

And what's been happening
is that at...

[music continues]

[Austin]
Honestly, I recognize that

I'm different in only one way
and that's my skin color.

But other than that, man,

I'm pretty much the same
as everybody around here.

[David]
And you're adopted, right?

[Austin]
Right, yeah, I am adopted.

You know, my parents,
they're white,

so that probably helps a lot.

[Raquel]
I think it's hard for Austin

to talk about his Blackness
because he grew up

in this white community,

but when I talk
to Austin about my experiences

of growing up in this community
as a minority,

I think he realized that racism
comes in many different forms.

[Austin]
I hate that Huron County
is judged as, like, racist.

People are usually
nice to me when I'm around,
but maybe when I'm not around,

they can be a completely
different person.

[Raquel] So I'm just trying
to let him know

that it's okay for him
to have those conversations

about him being Black
and how that makes him feel.

[Austin] It's just not fun
to talk about at all.

Anything related to being
a Black person,

any questions related to being
Black, man,

just I hate talking about it.

[crickets chirping]

[Jaclyn] Part of me is, like,
scared of like-- not scared
of going-- but, like--

I'm scared to see our customers.
Like, I'm gonna be in front of--

Like, I'm scared
to see our customers,
and I'm scared that it, like,

for it to be held, like,
against our family.

Like, I-- I want to go.

Just show up
and show your support.

I think they're gonna have
a couple of speakers...

[Jaclyn]
I feel like one of the reasons

why my parents are able to make
the restaurant successful

is because they
assimilated in the way
that people expect them to.

Come to work,
get your stuff done,

don't open your mouth,
don't say too much,

make sure you don't speak up
too loud.

My parents are good
at biting their tongue,

but I don't think
I can be that way.

[sizzling]

[Chun] As a businessman
in a small town, the art of
winning the war

is not always,
you know, get out there
and expose yourself.

I'm not gonna expose myself.

I'm not gonna go on top
of a stage.

I am a Asian American.

You are the Mexican American.

Trying to do business
in this community,

try to learns
about this community,

fight all the adversity
from the beginning,

why now, all of a sudden,
you just want to stick
your head out

to be the-- might be the target?

[birds chirping]

Austin?

Hello?

Are you coming?

Yeah. I'm sure
I'll be in the area.

-[chuckles]
What does that mean?
-Who knows?

-What do you mean
you're gonna "be in the area"?
-I'll be in the area.

-Why don't you go with
your parents? Maybe then--
-You might see 'em.

[somber music]

Where is it?

[exhales]
There are just cops
stationed everywhere, so...

[David] It's crazy.

Are you, like, nervous at all?
'Cause I am.

-Yeah, I mean...
-It's like...

We're also gonna be-- not only
am I Black coming up there,
you've got a big camera.

-We're gonna have eyes on us.
-[turn signal clicking]

Right here should be good.

-[Rachel] Hello.
-Hi.

-Hi, Rachel.
Good, how are you?
-Hello, how are you doing?

I'm okay.

[Raquel] It's so weird
having this happen

in this environment.

Like, I'm more comfortable,
I guess, in Ann Arbor

at a Black Lives Matter
protest

versus being in Bad Axe
at a Black Live Matters protest.

[Skyler]
In the 2016 election,
I voted for Donald Trump.

I had been surrounding myself
with very conservative

Republican people--
families, friends--

and it took me
a really long time to realize

what type of a person
he truly is.

I really dug deep into my soul
and thought,

"I can be my own person."

This will be the first step
that I've taken publicly

and I'll be able to look back
on it one day

and tell my children, you know,

it takes every ounce
of your soul

-to stand up
for what's right...
-[indistinct chanting]

even if your family
doesn't agree with you.

[protesters chanting]
Black lives matter!
Black lives matter!

[Chun]
Am I stick my head out there
to put myself as a target?

No, I don't.
I'm not silence
about this whole thing.

Let these kids express
themself.

[protesters chanting]
I can't breathe!

-[woman] No justice!
-[crowd] No peace!

[Austin]
Before the George Floyd thing,

did I really pay much attention
to police brutality?

No. I don't pay attention
to really anything.

[protesters chanting]
Black lives matter!
Black lives matter!

-[protesters] George Floyd!
-[woman] Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-[man] White power!

-[protesters] George Floyd!
-[woman] Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

-George Floyd!
-Say his name!

[woman 2] We're unarmed!
We're unarmed!

Why do you feel the need
to be armed?

We have a right.
We have freedom of speech.

-And we are
protecting your right.
-Right, good.

They're fucking cowards,

that's why,
that's why, that's why!

That's why you have
your fucking guns!
'Cause they're fucking cowards!

-[woman 3]
You ain't shit with that gun!
-[protesters shouting]

-[man] That's why!
-[woman 3] Are you scared?!

-You're a tough guy!
-Ignore them. I'm out.

-You don't need
that fucking gun!
-Hold that in their face.

Some people are dead!
They're dead because
I've been silent

because I didn't
have these conversations.
Another death happens.

[Jaclyn]
Wait, who are they worried
about inciting violence, though?

The protesters
or the fucking little bitches
here?

You tell me, look around you.

I could've been gunned down,
died the next day.

And it wouldn't
have mattered to him,

but it made me feel like
my life didn't matter.

[cheering and applause]

[man]
Sieg Heil!

[protesters chanting]
Knowledge is power!
Knowledge is power!

-[woman] Black lives matter!
-[protesters] Black lives
matter!

-Black lives matter!
-Black lives matter!

-Black lives matter!
-Black lives matter!

-Would you be willing to say
Black lives matter?
-All lives matter.

It's Black people
right now in America

that are crying out
for our help.

All lives matter.

[protesters shouting]

[man] You, sir,
serve your country!

-It's fucking
disrespectful that you're here.
-[masked man] Quiet, gook.

[man] What?
No, you're talking to me
right now, fucker, come on!

-No, he called me a gook.
-You don't wanna speak out
against me.

[Jaclyn]
I think you mean a gook,
you fucking dumbass.

You can't even fucking
pronounce it right.

-[Jaclyn] God!
-[protesters shouting]

[woman] Black lives matter!

[Mike] Cowards!
You think you're tough.

[Raquel]
Take that mask off!
Take those sunglasses off!

-[masked man] We are supported
by the establishment.
-[man shouting]

[Jaclyn]
Fuck you and fuck you,
fuck you and fuck you!

[protesters shouting]

I can't breathe!

[protesters chanting]
I can't breathe!

-I can't breathe!
-[siren blaring]

[man] I can't breathe!

-I can't breathe!
-[blaring continues]

[protesters]
Black lives matter!

[man] Everyone off the roads.
There's gonna be traffic
coming through.

[protesters]
Black lives matter!

[Jaclyn]
Standing up for other people

is not something
that should be political.

It's just doing
the right thing.

Like, how can you stand silent
and not do the right thing?

This right here, this guy first.

Oh, oh, one, two, three.
Master, master, master.

We are trying
to figure out who--
one of the Nazi wannabe,

Hitler-loving piece of shits
from yesterday it was.

Sorry, we were trying to
figure out who that little kid
in the middle was.

Well, that was--
that kid is-- know...
they know us.

I promise their names
are gonna come out.

Well, you know,
send his ass to the FBI

and have them keep
an eye on him.

[protesters chanting]
Black lives matter!

Black lives matter!
Black lives matter!

-Black lives matter!
-[indistinct chatter]

What did he say to me?

Right there, do you see
when he yelled out?

And he went to say
"fuck something,"
probably, I don't know.

-[ominous music]
-[chatter continues]

[Jaclyn shudders]

Brr, it, like--
it's freezing out.

Here, this is what it looks like
right at this moment.

This is what it's seeing.

[Chun] They're looking
at you right now.

I'm just, uh,
always look out ahead of time
because, you know, time's tough.

You never know
what's gonna happen.

[Jaclyn]
This woman's saying that
she can no longer support us

because she heard this location
supports the Black Lives
Matter movement.

So-- If so, she will not be
able to support us anymore.

We need to do our research.

It's been a really tough
couple of months for us,
I mean, for all restaurants,

but it's nice for things
to start getting back
to normal.

[Governor Whitmer]
Under this executive order,

businesses that resume
in-person work

must, among other things,
develop a COVID-19

preparedness and response plan.

Going to work is going to feel
different for a little while.

[Rachel's voice breaks]
We're getting ready to open.

[laughing, sobbing]

Maybe it was just
all bottled up, I don't know,

but I feel very...
[sniffles] alive.

-[chuckles]
I know, it's weird. [sniffling]
-[David] Aw, Mom.

-[David] This is your place.
The doors are opening again.
-I know.

I know. Well, just look
at the sun shining through.

I mean, when's the last time
you saw that?

In the morning.
I mean, you see it
in the afternoon

'cause the sun's blaring in,
but... [sniffles]

It's just-- it struck my core.

Aw, I missed you,
and I'm telling you,
you didn't disappoint

'cause I knew you were
gonna be the first ones.

Um, I'm sure Stephanie
or Skyler will be
right with you.

-Thanks for everything, Rachel!
-Okay, yup.

-[indistinct chatter]
-[woman] It's good to be home.

[Rachel]
Aw, yes, thank you!

[silverware clinking]

[crickets chirping]

Ma planted these flowers
when we first moved here,

so that'd be, like,
22 years ago?

Because Ma loved flowers.

Baba always tells me
that he wishes she was
still alive today

'cause she would be able to buy
whatever flowers she wanted.

When the petals start to fall,
like, the whole yard will be
full of like petals.

You pull in the driveway
and the first thing
you think of is Ma.

Or Ma's peonies.

I wish she was still here
so she can see how much
our family has grown

and how much the restaurant
has changed.

[gentle music]

[Governor Whitmer]
Effective immediately,
groups of 100 or less

can gather outdoors
so long as they maintain
social distancing.

[all]
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

-[cheering]
-[indistinct chatter]

-[man] Whoo!
-[indistinct chatter]

"Graduating class of 2020.

University of Michigan."

There I am, Raquel Lucille Siev.

-[cheering]
-[Jaclyn] Here,
it's a little mini

graduation/celebration for you.

I'm just so proud of you guys.
I'm so happy to have you guys
as a part of our team.

Don't forget, guys,
I'm a dad, okay?

And I'm looking
at all of you guys
just like my kid,

and I'm really grateful.

[Jaclyn]
"To the staff at Rachel's,
thank you for your generous

and delicious gift of meals
for our staff at McLaren Thumb.

Sincerely, McLaren Thumb
and ER staff."

-[man] Come on, Mike!
-[Austin] Damn straight!

Yes! Birdie.

[Chun] First member
of my family showed up...

It take a pandemic for me
to develop my sense of empathy

toward the people that have
less fortunate than I do.

Hi.

-Give me the elbow, man.
-[laughter]

It's just the two of us
for a really long time.

[laughter]

[Governor Whitmer] So while
Michiganders are no longer
required to stay home,

we must all continue
to practice social distancing.

If you choose to go
to a restaurant, be smart.

-We all have
a responsibility here.
-[grunts]

-[indistinct chatter]
-And I think that
that is really good news.

[uplifting music]

[ominous music]

-I am deaf.
I have to read your lips.
-I understand.

Put your shirt over your face.

-Okay, sir,
you're walking out or...
-I cannot hear you

-unless you take your mask off.
-Why are you not covering
your mouth, A,

or leaving, B?

-You have two options.
-I'm going to the bathroom.

Okay, but we're asking you
to cover your face.

[Austin]
Here, I'll just get you a mask.
Is that cool?

-[Rachel] Yeah.
-I really don't know
what you said.

[Austin]
I'll just grab you a mask
and you can use the bathroom.

-Then you gotta exit, please.
-Please respect us.

-I am respecting you. I am.
-No, you're not.

You're not.
Put your shirt
over your face or go out.

-[Jaclyn] Somebody
call the police, please.
-Call the police, please.

-He's acting like he's deaf.
Like, he's not deaf.
-Ready to go?

-Go where?
-Go leave the restaurant?

-[Rachel] He's not
welcome here anymore.
-He's not?

-Here, or leave. No, he's not.
-It's time to go.

It's the simple thing.
You just cover your mouth.

We appreciate it.
That's it.

[overlapping chatter]

They told you to leave,
now you have to leave.

-So tally us out so we can go.
-Yeah.

-Tally us out.
-We will.

You go outside
and we'll bring it right out.

It's not a law that you have to
wear a mask.

[Rachel]
I don't care if it's not a law.
It's our policy, period.

This is a bunch of bullshit.
Bullshit.

Can you see it?
Bullshit.

-[man] We'll take five stars
on Google, though, please.
-[Rachel] You know what?

Screw you!
Tell him to shut the fuck up.

-He started it.
-Okay.

[overlapping chatter]

-[woman] I'm not touching him.
-[man] I'm not touching him.

-I'm not touching him.
-[chatter continues]

-Get in there! Get in.
-[Jaclyn] And don't talk
to my mom like that.

[yelling] Screw you,
smiley fucking face.

[Jaclyn]
David, stop.

[Raquel]
Bye! What's your name?

-You know what...
-[man] It doesn't matter, right?

[Raquel] They won't tell you
their names.

-[chatter continues]
-[Rachel] That's enough.

-Okay.
-[Jaclyn] David,
you fucking idiot.

[David] What?

We're going to have more stress

with, you know, bringing
the people on the premises

and waiting on 'em
and taking care of 'em.

You got a problem,
just get it done

and out of the way
and move on.

Does anyone have any questions?

No?

Okay, well, I hope the morale
picks up because right now,

I just feel like
I'm just down here low.

I feel low.
I don't wanna feel low.

[emotional music]

What if I don't want you
to go to the restaurant?
You okay with that?

When do you see me happy?
Like, I feel like--

-With your pets.
-That's true.

And if you had kids,
I think you'd be just as happy.

I'm... don't doubt
that kids would make me happy.

If I-- We're thinking
about what's in the best
interest of like our family,

like, and like Raquel, like...

I truly think that she should

do the restaurant
for at least a little bit.

Well, what if there's
a possibility for you

to be in Bad Axe
and do your job and then...

you don't have, like,
the full ownership of the place.

-Or you just help out.
-I mean, I think a big part
is, though, like,

what is Raquel
going to decide to do?

'Cause I know,
and I don't want to, like...

I know restaurant business
is so hard.

I can't do it by myself.
I can't.

I don't wanna be like
my parents,

and I don't mean that
in a bad way.

[music continues]

[Raquel]
Jaclyn's been
asking me a lot about

what my plans are,
and my mom's been asking me.

But it's hard for me to make
a decision

'cause who am I to not help
the family when they need it?

They take a lot of pride
in the restaurant

and that our family was able
to get to where it is today.

[Rachel]
Seriously, David?

What are you doing?
Why do you do that?

-[David] Aren't you gonna miss
the camera in your face?
-Oh. [laughs]

Mmm, I don't think so, honey.

What are we gonna do now?
What are you gonna do now?

-Put it all together.
-Now you gotta go work
for somebody else

for a little while.

[Mike] Yeah, David,
what are you gonna do now?

[David] Finish this movie.

[dramatic music]

[crickets chirping]

-[somber guitar music]
-[computer mouse clicks]

[keyboard clacking]

[message dings]

[dings]

[dings]

[dings]

[dings]

[computer mouse clicks]

[Brianna Keilar]
Racist rhetoric against Asians

and Asian Americans has become
a real problem in the US

amid the coronavirus
that originated in China.

The president is promoting
this kind of language.

He refers to and has referred
to the virus

as the "China Virus,"
as the "Kung Flu."

"What a nice video
about your family

and living the American dream
after leaving Cambodia

for everything America
has to offer.

You were right that many of your
customers are Trump supporters.

But Bad Axe isn't changing from
traditional American values.

My family and many that
we've discussed your video with

will be changing
our restaurant routine,

and Rachel's
is no longer a choice.

Of course, you could return
to Cambodia for opportunity."

[Mike] That's what a small
community should do.

You should be able to disagree
and still support each other.

And not just be like,
"Oh, if you don't believe
the way I believe,

I'm not coming
to your restaurant and neither
are any of my friends."

I guess they just
don't understand.

They don't know
because they don't ever
go through that.

They don't-- They're not
in Walmart parking lot

getting called
an Asian slur at them

like you have
and your family has.

When you come out
and say things like you have,

they can't understand it because
they don't think it exists.

"We'll support you if you

stay quiet and just act the way
we want you to act.

And if you don't,
then screw you."

[wind blowing]

David, this whole--
this whole filming thing
that you do,

I am really proud of you, okay?

-But at the same time--
-Okay, but it also feels like
you're so proud of me,

but, like, don't say
how you feel.

-[Rachel] Uh, that's why we--
-Actually, at the end
of the day,

it's my love letter to Bad Axe.

[Mike]
If you think this is
a love letter to Bad Axe...

-[David] Mm-hmm.
-...that--

You need to rewrite
the love letter.

And that can be up to you,

how you can end that film.

It's gonna be up to you

if you think
that it gonna be a love letter
you want to wrote to Bad Axe.

[emotional music]

Baba's just afraid that your
"love letter" to Bad Axe is...

not gonna be taken
as a love letter

by some people in Bad Axe.

-[David] Yeah.
-Our Bad Axe and our experience
in Bad Axe is different

than probably most of the people
that grew up here.

Like, Bad Axe is still our home,
and we still love it.

[David] Right. Like, for me,
what I love about Bad Axe

is just being home
and being here.

It's not necessarily
all of the small-town things
that every small town has.

It's home
because family's here.

Yeah.

[music continues]

[woman on phone]
The thing is, right,
you're making a movie,

and you have them
in this movie,

you know,
making it out to be,

"Oh, we're being attacked
by white supremacists."

[Rachel] Did you not show up
and did the Nazi salute?
Are you that one?

[woman] Yes.
We were there first, correct?

And, you know,
the little Asian bitch came up

when they weren't
even there for you.

-[Rachel] Who were
you there for with hate?
-[woman] Black Lives Matter.

They weren't even there
for Asians,

but you guys decided to go up
and start some shit
just to get...

[Rachel]
No, I'm-- I don't think so.
I don't really think

-that was the intention at all.
-[woman] ...footage.

[Rachel]
The local picture
was in the newspaper.

Did you call the newspaper
and have them remove it?

It was in the-- it was in
the Huron Daily Tribune.

[man on phone]
No, they were not
making an image.

They were putting it
how it was.

They had no...
no agenda.

-[Jaclyn] Mom, you know...
-[Rachel] Okay.

Now there is an agenda
behind the movie
against racism,

literally talking about it
in the description...

-[Jaclyn] Say,
"The filmmaker will call you."
-...in the link.

I'm in the front of it.

I got doxed
because of this shit.

-[Rachel] Well--
-[Jaclyn] Race-- racism
is not being a Nazi?

-What?
-Yes.

Okay, I'm sorry,
if you wanna talk

to the filmmaker,
talk to the filmmaker,

but you're not gonna talk
to my manager like this.

Leave the note.
That's all I'm asking.

Don't tell me
to leave the note,
I will leave the note.

[woman 2 on phone] You're
getting involved with things
that you know nothing about.

You're going to end up
digging yourself
your own grave.

[Rachel]
I'm digging a grave
for myself now?

-[Stephanie] Rachel, you don't
owe them anything.
-Wow.

-[Rachel] I'm pretty sure...
-She said we're gonna end up
digging our own grave.

I am not here to bring up
or digging myself into a grave
or anything like that.

I'm trying to make sure
there's a conversation

so that we can live together,
you know, among one another.

I just want you to know
that it's better to have
conversations

than threatening some restaurant
that is not a part of it.

[automated voice]
If you'd like to make a call,
please hang up--

[phone beeps]

Mom, you have to dissociate
yourself from that--

-You need to calm down.
-[Raquel] No, Jaclyn,
'cause you're too hot.

-Okay.
-[David] Do you think we can
call the police, though?

I just got like
a call from the-- the--
[clicks tongue]

You know, the kids' face,
the Nazi kid?

He kinda made a threat,
so, um, I was gonna call
the police.

But I wanted
to let you know first.

-I really don't
wanna do this anymore.
-[Jaclyn] Are you scared or not?

'Cause if you're scared,
then the better thing to do
would be dissociate yourself.

I'm scared
for the "Asian bitch."
That's what I'm scared about.

-I'm not scared for myself.
-[Raquel] Jaclyn, well,
you should be!

I knew this was gonna happen
the minute the backlash came
from David.

-I just-- it's--
-[Raquel] Exactly...

David, you don't live here.
You have no clue.

[Raquel whispers]
So stupid.

-[David] Mom, I grew up here
just like everyone else.
-David, David.

-But you really don't live here.
-I don't, no--

-Exactly, so it doesn't
cost you a damn thing.
-[Raquel] Mom...

[David] What happened today
is gonna happen again when
the film comes out itself.

Like... do you want
to carry through with this?

As long as nobody gets hurt,
then it's worth it.
Like words...

and threats and phone calls

and mail
and letters and messages,
it's like those are just things.

Like if that's the worst
it's gonna be,

then it-- then it's worth it.

[Mike] You gotta stop thinking
that they're dumb. Please!

Because if you think
they don't know this stuff,
you're wrong.

Okay, I'm not literally here
to get my ass chewed out
by Nazis and then by you.

Jaclyn, you don't know
what these guys

are capable of fucking doing
when you're by yourself.

-I agree.
-Okay, stop, stop, stop.

-You belittled,
like rightfully so...
-Okay. Okay!

...belittled those guys
in front of a lot of people.

But like why-- do you think
I really want

to get like bitched at
right now?

You're mad 'cause
I fucking care? Like, you--

No, I'm mad because, like,
you're making it...

because like you're making me
feel worse and I just...

I don't know what to do
'cause I'm scared

the next time you have
an interaction with them.

I'm not thatstupid.

[somber music]

[Jaclyn]
Who do you think you are
walking in here with your guns

and your fucking combat gear?

And I guess I just wanted
to make it a point, like,
"You don't scare me."

'Cause in that moment,
I wasn't scared. [chuckles]

And I don't know
if anyone else in this town
could understand that.

So I don't wanna have
a long discussion

and I don't feel like
getting lectured.

I just want to know
if Mike and I

can put a shotgun in the room
upstairs that we sleep in

just-- just in case.

If you can't prove to me
you can shoot...

You want me to go
load it right now?

[keypad beeping]

[Jaclyn] Safety is on.

[clicking]

-It's loaded. It's ready to go.
Yeah, safety off.
-It's loaded.

-It's ready to go.
-Lean, lean into the guns
like this.

Right there, just waiting.

-[clicking]
-[Chun] Just remember,
even if a block that big,

that still can save you.

-Just like that.
-[Jaclyn] Thank you.

[music continues]

[wind blowing]

[car horn honking]

[light dramatic music]

[Chun] Yep.

[gun clip clicking]

[music continues]

-[Raquel on phone] Dad?
-I'm right here waiting
for that guy.

Walk out there all by yourself,
get in your car, and drive
in this way.

You can make a big loop.

-Go back to the front
of the restaurant.
-Okay.

Baba, don't do
anything dangerous.

We want to make sure
that somebody is not actually
look for you, follow you.

If there ends up any shooting,

you stay down to the lowest
floor as you can.

-Is it her?
-[Rachel] Yes.

[music continues]

[Raquel]
There's not even as many
of them as there usually are.

[Rachel]
There's two trucks
coming right now.

[Chun] Okay, now
follows that truck up.
They're right behind those guys.

[Rachel]
Yeah, they're following her.

[Mike]
They're also going straight.

[Chun] That's okay,
I'm right behind him.
You'll be fine.

[Rachel]
They know I'm following them.

-[Chun] The guy... [mumbles]
-[Rachel] Oh, my God.

[Chun]
Piece of shit.

[Chun] Just a bunch
of high school kids

-who got nothing better to do.
-[phone dings]

[Rachel]
Well, I hope that's what it is.

[Chun]
That's all they are.

[indistinct chatter]

The last two nights
I've come home,

those... trucks

that hang out
outside the restaurant

with their Trump flags
and Confederate flags

and All Lives Matter

have tried following me.

I think they can tell
that they...

freaked me out 'cause
I definitely stepped on the gas.

And they turned the other way,

and it was just very
uncomfortable, I don't know.

I've just been very paranoid
ever since, so...
[chuckles]

[TV playing in background]

[Chun]
They will come after you.

Not likely right now.

And if Trump happens
to be in the office,

you got a bunch of racists
that can't wait.

We have to constantly worry
every night.

I hope and pray
that they don't hurt

any of my family members
because...

I'm not the kind of father
that can sit down

and watch a trial.

So be careful what you do
and what you say.

-We don't want you
to not be passionate about...
-You can't reverse it.

That's-- that's probably one
of the worst kind of hate ever.

-But there's other ways
that you can fight it.
-[sniffles]

If I have to explain to people

why Black lives matter,

tell them to take
a look at that

and what our country
has suffered.

[gentle music]

[upbeat music playing
over speakers]

[Jaclyn] Oh, my God!

-[Jaclyn] Where's my mom?
-[Skyler] Out on the patio.

-Is there anybody out there?
-Yeah.

-[indistinct chatter]
-[Mike] What just happened?

[Raquel]
The Nazis got arrested.

[Jaclyn]
They just got arrested,

two of them,
Michigan State Police,

got arrested yesterday,
four felony charges
against them.

One of 'em is the ringleader
of a white supremacy--

The guy is 25, Justen Watkins,
he was just arrested.

It's an ongoing story.
They're going to prison.

Holy shit!

What a day for America.

I was telling her, I'm-- like,
we could be terrorized.

And I'm like I'm not even
worried about me.

I'm worried about, like, you
and them keeping an eye on you.

And then you find out
that these two guys

actually did terrorize
a family, like...

That's how close
I think this was.

Put your camera down.
The cops are coming.

[David]
What's that right there, Mike?

That's the house.

[wind blowing]

-[officer] Morning.
-[David] Hi, officers.

-[officer] How we doing?
-Good, how are you doing?

I'm okay.
Okay, and your--
I'm sorry, your family

-owns what restaurant?
-[David] Rachel's.

Okay. [clicks tongue]
All right, good enough.

So, uh, potential that somebody
might wanna talk to you

-and maybe see your... footage.
-Sure, sure.

-Would that be all right?
-Yeah.

In the name of their
white supremacist beliefs,

FBI agents arrested 25-year-old
Justen Watkins of Bad Axe

and 35-year-old Alfred Gorman
of Taylor this morning.

Investigators say the two
belong to a neo-Nazi group
called the Base,

which aims to carry out
violent acts and incite
a race war.

The two are accused of
terrorizing a family in Dexter

mistakenly thinking
they were at the home

of a man who runs
an anti-supremacist podcast.

[announcer]
Weekdays at noon and 5:30,
coverage you can count on.

-[guitar music on TV]
-[man on TV] Michigan...

a place where people
respect each other.

Every single person
that went online

and defended those people
saying that it's their right

-to show up...
-[Mike] I have screenshots...

And it is
their right to show up.

It is not your right to run
a frickin' Nazi training camp
to train people

how to exterminate everybody
except white people.

Like, that is not your right.

So all those people defending,

and all those people
who defended those Nazis,

I hope they feel
like frickin' asses.

[somber music]

[Chun] Some people
will never understand

what the power of hate and evil

can do to a human being.

But I do.

Many people
in the village died.

But you don't care.

You see people die
all the time.

You see people get shot.
You see people get slaughtered.

You see corpse floating around.

And that's when my father
began to say

that if he stay there,
he gonna be dead.

He might as well try to get out,

try to escape.

I put my dad on a canoe,

paddle him all the way
across that river,

drop him off, and hope that
someday we'll meet again.

But I never even get to shed
one drop of tear.

He never returned.

All a sudden, one night
they make a run for it.

You can hear the bullets
just flying across your head.

Keep going, keep going.

One day, next day,
the following day.

We made that journey
to Thailand's border.

For everything that I did,

my mom
and all six children survive.

When we get into
the Red Cross camp

as a refugee with no country,

where do you want to go?

That's when Mom say

United State of America.

You can't wait
for the plane to land.

The flight attendant say,
"Okay, you can get up now."

For the first time in our life

and probably...

almost five years

that we was greeting by

a flower,

hug, kiss, with love.

With care...

and with our dream

of what America is.

[music continues]

[wind blowing]

[Kat] Your dad is right.
[chuckles] You need to re-write
your love letter

because it's not to the people
of Bad Axe.

-Yeah.
-It's to your family

-and what they've
gone through...
-Yeah.

-...in Bad Axe.
-Yeah.

I think-- I think
even just, um...

growing up in Bad Axe
has just shaped like so much
of like who are family is.

It's helped create this bond

and, you know, for that
I, like, I'm thankful, you know.

It's a love letter
to Bad Axe because...

like, yeah,
even though, you know,

our family has our frustrations
with Bad Axe,

we still wouldn't be
where we are today

if we didn't have the community
of Bad Axe,

and that includes the people
that have supported us

and the people
that haven't supported us.

Because it's the people
that supported us that continue
to support our business

and allow us to, like,
achieve this American dream.

And it's the people
who haven't supported us

who have only forced us
that much closer together
as a family

and, you know,
for that I'm thankful
and, um...

I'm thankful for Bad Axe
for-- for doing that.

That's why it's a love letter.

[sentimental music]

[Jaclyn] Bad Axe is home for me.
It's hard to describe.

And it's a place
that I can one day
maybe raise a family,

kind of like how my parents
moved here

with their young kids
and started a life.

You want it to get better.
You don't wanna just, like,
write it off.

And it's a place
that I, like, see hope in it.

[Skyler] I'm gonna take a lot
away from how my parents

raised me in a positive way,
you know...

I don't agree with
everything on them, but...

they really are good people,
and I love them so much.

Love conquers all.

-[David] Why you drinking
Fireball, Austin?
-I...

It's like tailgating season.
It's chilly.

[Raquel]
Are you a little nervous?

-Your first time voting.
-[mumbles]

[Raquel] It's okay.

I was nervous
my first time voting.

[David] Do you feel like your
vote's making a difference?
This, like...

[Austin] Well, not necessarily
my vote, but the collection
of votes this year,

I think, is gonna
make a difference.

[David] Show me
what you got, Austin.

[Austin] A sticker.
Voted, first time.

[Jaclyn]
How's it looking so far?

Well, Iowa looks good.

The margins are huge
compared to like Clinton's.

[man] You're seeing
the map right now that's gonna
make democrats nervous.

If you look
at this map right now,
the name of the game,

if you're Joe Biden,
is takeaway because
Donald Trump,

the incumbent president,
who won last time...

-[David] How's it going so far?
-I don't know.

[light guitar music]

-Feels a little,
like, a bit like 2016.
-[Jaclyn] Mmm, no...

This feeling in my stomach,
it does.

[Raquel] Yeah, I feel that.

I feel like I'm gonna
wake up tomorrow
and it's gonna be...

[music continues]

[man 1]
Joe Biden has vaulted into
the lead in the crucial

swing state of Michigan,
you can see it right there.

[man 2]
If Joe Biden wins Georgia
or Pennsylvania,

there is no path
to 270 electoral votes
for President Trump.

We are currently in day four
of election watching.

[music continues]

-[cat meows]
-[David] Raquel wants
to talk to you.

Mike. Boo!

Come on... [mumbles]

[Raquel] Pennsylvania!

[Jaclyn]
Finally! God!

Joe Biden's president.

[Jaclyn] Oh, my God.

What a long four years.

[Raquel laughs]
What a long four days.

[both laughing]

Oh...

[man shouting] No! No!

-Get that on video.
-[David chuckles]

[shouts] Fuck Joe!

And they already know
how we think.

I guess
if you're gonna make a stand
and make this film,

then you gotta...
stand by it.

I know times
have been challenging,

especially the last
several months.

But we've also witnessed
your courage,

your resilience,
and the generosity
of your spirit.

And the road ahead
will not be easy,

-but America is ready.
-[crowd cheering]

Because we, the people,

-have the power
to build a better future.
-[Jaclyn] Whoo!

-[woman] Yeah! Wow.
-All right, ladies
and gentlemen.

-[phone dings]
-[Rachel] How'd you like to stay
in that motel, David?

-[David] Nope.
-[Rachel] That's been there
since I was a little girl.

[emotional piano music]

[Chun] Well, Mom, we miss you
every day.

[music continues]

Been, uh...

dreaming about you.

So I thought it was
a really pleasant dream.

And, uh, when we drive by today,

I just wanted to come visit.

Come to visit you.

I miss you.

Miss you.

-[music continues]
-[indistinct chatter]

This is the mom that brought
all six of her children

out of the Killing Field
in Cambodia.

It's incredible woman.

She is incredible.

[dramatic music]

-[David] Can you read that?
-Mmm...

Yeah.
Where did you find this?

It was under
a bunch of old photos.

[Jaclyn] Come here.
[exclaims, grunts]

David,
whenever I talk about Ma,
I cry, like, instantly.

"Dear Ma, I guess
first and foremost,

I miss you more than anyone
could ever imagine.

[voice breaking]
I can't believe that
it's already been

a little over four years
since you died.

Often you come
to me in my dreams,

and I want to thank you
for that.

Thank you for everything
you have done for me,

and I promise I'll continue
to try and make you proud.

Love always and forever."

I can see a lot
of Ma in Baba, actually.

They both have
this strong will to survive

and keep going no matter what.

And I think that deep down
Baba knows

that me and him
are very much alike.

[David]
Do you think that
you and Baba are so similar

in so many ways
because of Ma?

I guess I never really
thought of that, honestly.
[chuckles]

That would make sense.

What do you think you learned
this past year?

[Jaclyn]
I don't think it's anything
that, like, I learned.

I think it just became
more, like, cemented.

I just know that I like
being around my family

all the time,
but that's not new news.

Like, I've always done this.
I've always, like...

Like, I just want to...

be there for as many moments
as I can.

[uplifting music]

[David grunts]

-What does it say?
-I don't know. Read it.

[laughs]
"David, ew, David."

-What does it say?
-What does yours say?

Kat, you can put yours on too.

[Kat] Just hold it up.

This is for Kat.

-Oh, my God.
-Read your shirt.
[chuckles]

-[sniffles]
-[laughs]

[Jaclyn inhales]

-[Jaclyn] I promise--
-Oh, I just ruined
all my makeup.

Okay.
What do our shirts say?

-Cat mom, cat...
Dog mom, dog...
-[chuckles]

[Jaclyn giggles, laughs]

What does your shirt say?

[sobs] You swear to God?

Why would I lie?

[Raquel sniffles]

[Jaclyn chuckles]

[Raquel exclaims]

[Jaclyn gasps, giggles]
Careful.

[Raquel sobbing, laughing]

No way.

Are you serious?

She's for real?

Oh, my God.

-Oh, for real?
-[Jaclyn] Mm-hmm.

[music continues]

I hope you're ready
for this, babe.

Wha?!

[sobbing, laughing]

[screams] What?!

Ah! [hyperventilates]

Did you see that?
Did you see that?

-[screams]
-[Jaclyn laughs]

-[Rachel inhales, exhales]
-"Mommy and Daddy
are get us

-a human baby."
-[Rachel laughs]

[music continues]

[Rachel cries, laughs]

[sniffles]

-[Chun] I love you.
-[Jaclyn] I love you too.
[chuckles]

-[sniffling]
-[Chun] Mm.

[David]
One, two, three, four.

[upbeat guitar music]

[singing "Champa Battambang"]

Can I get two calamari,
a fish and chips,

and seafood bowl?

[music continues]

And order up! Pickup!

[singing continues]

-[Raquel shouting indistinctly]
-[singing continues]

Well, baby,
we're waiting for you.

You're in there right now.

[Raquel] You're coming down
the birth canal.

You're coming down
the birth canal, and, uh...

-honestly,
we can't wait to meet you.
-Jaclyn! Jaclyn! Jaclyn!

-[chanting continues]
-[screaming]

[cheering]

[indistinct chatter]

[all cheering and whooping]

[Rachel]
Oh, look at her eyes.
They're really cool.

-Hi.
-Hi, beautiful.
Look at you.

[singing continues]

-Yes. [giggles]
-[cheering]

[light guitar music]