Karaoke Girl (2013) - full transcript

Hidden Rooster Films
presents

A film by Visra Vichit Vadakan

Produced by
Pornmanus Rattanavich and Pran Tadaveerawat

Co-Producer
Samina Akbari

Cinematography
Sandi Sissel, ASC. and Chananun Chotrungroj

Production Design
Songwat Asawanonda

Editors
Perry Blackshear and Saranee Wongpan

Score
Koichi Shimizu

Introducing
Sa Sittijun

♪ I've come far from home ♪

♪ Just a girl in the night ♪



♪ Surrounded by strangers ♪

♪ Taunting me with their songs ♪

♪ A karaoke girl for your pleasure ♪

♪ For everyone's pleasure ♪

♪ But my own ♪

♪ I have no choice ♪

♪ It doesn't end ♪

♪ I feel their hands ♪

KARAOKE GIRL

Have you seen my bag?

I haven't seen it

Excuse me

You came to get your bag?

It's with you?



Hold on

Here you go

What about my wallet?

He only left this for you

When did he check out?

Early this morning

Can I use your phone?

Sure. It's over there

You have to dial 9

I can find you a ride back to Bangkok

But you'll have to wait

OK

Can I use your phone again?

OK

Give some to your little sister

Come on

Thank you

Can I go to the bathroom? I'll be quick

It's right here! We're here!

When Sa was born

It was such a hard birth

So hard

Her dad said

"Oh!"

"It's definitely a boy"

"Oh!"

"It's clearly a boy"

She came out

Oh!

He said, "I don't want Sa"

"No more!"

"I only get girls"

"So many girls"

"Just girls"

Her grandmother said

Oh!

"I'll find another for you"

It's good enough that she came out

She asked us if we wanted a different baby

I said no

How could we exchange her? My daughter

No matter what, she is mine

How could I exchange her?

When Sa was a kid

Before she was in school

Before she could put her own clothes on

She played in the water
while we worked the fields

When she started school

We planted melons and
she played in the river

I took her fishing too

We went every day to tend to our melons

We would all water them together

I did't know what the future would hold

We would go fishing. And afterwards…

We would picnic together

"Dad's going to take you
fishing" I would say to her

One day…

We got two fish each a kilo heavy!

The whole family would fish by this river

You look tired

It's crowded

- What are you doing?
- Cutting pork for a stir-fry.

How are you?

- Have you had many customers?
- Yes.

You don't look well / My legs hurt!

You walk around too much
My heels are too high!

Oh, really?

What's that?

Fried chicken

- Isn't it hot?
- Very hot.

There's no wind and it won't rain

No rain?

That looks good

Oh! Did you buy new shoes?

They were on sale at the
market so I bought them

Do you want a pair? I'll buy them for you

- I can't. I'd die if I wear them.
- Sa, here's some water

Thanks Koh

Are you going down?

- Why?
- I have something for you.

Can you take these down for me?

Of course

You look sexy today

Look at you! So sexy

Here

Take these down

See you / Bye

You know, I don't think he ever loved her

What could she do?

She was just his mistress

But I felt so sorry for her

I cried my eyes out in the end

What else could she do? She had no choice

But she also deserved it

I felt sorry for her
but it was her fault too

Do you want more mango?

No thanks. I have a stomach ache

Sa, is your skin darker?

Not really

Sa went to the beach

Who did you go with?

That's private. Don't ask her about it

Where did you stay?

Hey, you girls!

You're always in everyone's business

What did you do?

Numbers 8, 2, and 14, you have guests!

I'm going / See you later, ok?

I'll be there in a bit

Hurry up now! Numbers 2, 8, and 14

Sa

I'll pick you up after work. OK?

Here's a fish ball

Do you want another one?

No. I'm full

Good, let's go

Can we pay please?

You're not taking me home tonight

You had me drive over
here at 4am for noodles?

That's right

Are you sure you want to go home alone?

Taxis are scarier than me

That's not true!

Can I have some snack money?

That was quick

You should be fat by now
with all the snack money I give you!

Thank you

Sa / What?

Seriously

What?

Don't spend it all on snack money

Come on

Watch out for this one!

"Do you miss home?"

I miss home? very much

When I'm home

All I want to do is sleep

I never want to wake up

"If you didn't come to Bangkok?."

"What would your life be like?"

If I hadn't come to Bangkok?

What would my life be like?

I'd be working in the
rubber plantation at home

I'd work to help my mom

If?

If I hadn't come to Bangkok…

I mean, If I stayed home?

I'd be a typical girl

Working at home

Helping my mom harvest rubber

I would harvest rubber?

Harvest rubber and work in the rice fields

I wouldn't be anything special

At home I wouldn't have gone to school

My mom didn't have money
for me to go to school

So I would just stay home
and work in the orchard and rice field

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Sometimes he makes me
feel like I'm not his girlfriend

I'm not sure how it will end

I can't expect him to be perfect

I'm not perfect

Some people might say
we were made for each other

Can I have papaya salad with crab and fish?

Not too spicy

Hi mom

Sa, what are you doing?

Laundry

Again?!

It's dirty in Bangkok

Have you eaten?

I've eaten. What about you?

I'm cooking fish with chilli paste

You're eating fish?

How is everyone else?

Fine

Your uncle just won forty
thousand baht in the lottery!

Wow! Forty thousand!

Did you win anything, mom?

I'm unlucky this year
so I didn't buy a ticket

Have you taken dad to the hospital?

Mom, have you taken dad to the hospital?!

Not yet. I can take him later

I'll send you some money

Sa, Will you send me ten thousand?

I need to buy more fertilizer

If I send you ten thousand

You need to take dad to the hospital, OK?

OK? OK

When are you coming home?

I'll be back soon

How's the factory?

It's fine

Come home when you can, OK?

OK

Bye

I came to Bangkok to find money

I'll go home when I have enough money

"When will you know it's enough?"

When I've made something for myself

"Are you taking anything
back for your mom?"

Yes

I'm going shopping for her

Fabric

I'll buy her some fabric

And I'm bringing her money

Here is my house!

This way!

We're here

Let's get off here first,
and then we'll go to the other house

My mom should be home

"And your dad?"

He is always here

"Does your dog bite?"

No, he doesn't

"The rain is about to come"

Mom!

- Such a tease!
- Come on.

How so?

Can I have some money?

All you want is money when you see me!

This is my mother's sister

Don't they look alike?

How many sisters?

Three sisters?

Three girls

Dad

Hi Dad

Are we going to see the doctor tomorrow?

Hurry up. Are you coming?

Come over to this side! This side!

You're late!

Come over to this side! Hurry!

Hey!

When I was younger
I didn't have to worry about anything

I just played

I had so much fun. I was happy

Just to play

I played with my friends.
We played in the forest

Back then there was
a forest all around the village

I miss that time…

When I was a kid

Why are you so skinny?

I'm not enjoying my meals

Why don't you get some shots of medicine?

Shots for what?

Why do you look so pale?

I haven't been outside in the sun

Dad watch your step

Watch out, watch out

There's a step here

- Should I sit down?
- Not yet! Step first.

You're going to sit there?

Dad, take your shirt off

Where else have you gotten care?

- Dad, where have you gone?
- In Fao Rai.

Let's put your shirt on

Have you put any medicine on it?

I used some medicine that a doctor gave me

But it doesn't help

I still have the medicine

I've been meaning to throw it away

It's useless

Where did you get it?

Don't get into a fight with anyone at work

Remember to stay peaceful

Use the Dharma

There are many Dharma books!

Read them

I don't have time to teach you

You only come to us when you are suffering

When you are happy you just

skip, skip, skip, skip

When you are troubled
you come to me and ask?

"Oh! What should I do? He dumped me!"

Let's see? Oh! You look young

That's so orange / You look so young!

This doesn't match my skin

It's beautiful!

It definitely matches

Come closer

We need to put more on

Let's see auntie

Don't wrinkle you face!

Let's get auntie detox injections

?Botox injections

Turn this way. I can't see your face

What is that injection? The one that…

- Tightens your face?
- Yes, that one.

Five injections should it

That's crazy. She is beautiful

She looks young

It would get rid of her crow's feet

She doesn't need injections.
She is naturally beautiful

Uncle couldn't be more in love with you

Do you remember when he
locked you in the house?

"Let me out!
Open the door!" You were shouting

He did it because you were so drunk

And then you went to the
new year celebrations

You wanted to have fun.
But uncle didn't like it

You can't buy this in town!

- Are you sure?
- This is one of a kind.

What are you working on uncle?

Uncle! She's asking you

What is that baby?

Do you see the dinosaur?

That's a strange dinosaur

A mutant dinosaur

A mutant dinosaur!

Pull it! Pull it! Pull it!

You aren't picky!

Of course not!
Your ear may be too small though

Sa is like my daughter

She is cultured

Even though she is successful

She doesn't forget her village

I miss her

I love her

When we give money to the temple

She always gives more than others

I have relatives in Bangkok
who give ten thousand baht

Sa gives fifteen,
sixteen or twenty thousand baht

May you have a long and
prosperous life / Thank you!

There are no birds out today

It's so cool out

It will be cold out tonight

I dreamt that there was a flood

The water rushed towards me

So much water

A child was being swept along by the water

I ran to her and picked her up

And then I ran away

Water came rushing after me

While I was running I
saw my mother and father

They were dressed in white

They were surrounded
by a crowd of people all dressed in white

They were all floating in
the air high in the sky

I felt their eyes watching me

I ran and ran?

Then I saw a giant snake

It slithered towards me

And then I woke up

My heels are giving me blisters

Don't you smell like the
kitchen to the guests?

No one's ever mentioned it

Doesn't mean they aren't thinking it!

Oh! It's so hot!

Let's go to the roof

I love this cool wind!

Koh! What are you doing up here?

I'm grilling fish, Auntie

To have with chili paste

Yum!

Sa, do you want some?

Yes!

You know fish is my favorite!

I'll take over. Koh go get some plates

This fire is too hot

How many years have you
lived in Bangkok Auntie?

Twenty years now. I'm an old woman

That's a long time

I'm tired

Sa! Sa!

OK! OK! I'll be right down!

Auntie I have to go. I'll be back

- Sa, you're leaving?
- Yep!

I'll save some for you!

You know she doesn't like you, right?

I know, Auntie

Hand over those plates

Sa

Can you come sit with me?

Just tell the host inside

Have you eaten?

I want papaya salad

- Hungry?
- Yes

Then order some

You didn't bring me any? Why not?

They don't serve it here?

No

Your beard is getting thick

Really?

Do you want me to shave it?

Do you want to shave it?

- Will you shave it?
- If you want me to

I guess I could?

Who is your manager?

That's her. Over there

Does she get commission from you?

Why are you asking me that?

Just in case I want to start my own place

Now you're being funny

I'll make you the manager

Really?

I don't want that

How old were you
when you came to Bangkok?

Fifteen

And how about now?

Twenty Three

Twenty Three?

What did you do before?

I worked in a factory

Do you know any factory girls?

"I'm a girl from Khon Kaen"

That's not it. I was a factory girl!

- What kind of factory?
- A cake factory

- Really?
- Have you ever had cake?

Does this mean you can make me a cake?

Not really

Why not?

I wasn't making cakes

- So what did they have you do?
- Crack eggs.

- You cracked eggs?
- Why are you laughing?

You were such a specialist / Really?

I can show you how it's done

crack! crack! crack!

There's a lot of technique involved?

Hey!

Let's not talk about my job

Let's listen to the music

What song is she singing?

I don't know

Does she have a good voice?

Why don't you go on stage and sing?

Really?

- What's that for?
- My singing fee.

Go sing first.
I'll pay if you're good

I'm confident

I sound good

Come on!

Can you take my picture?

Give me your camera

How does it look? Too stretched?

I'm just teasing you

Do you want to take it again?

It's ok!

Where did you play
when you were young?

I played in the river by my house

In the canal?

What?

Nothing

No wonder you have such fair skin

Come on, Ton!

- Why do you have to put it that way?
- I'm just teasing you.

Hey!

Like you're SO light skinned

Let's compare

Your son is really cute

What is his name?

Teuter

Is he mischievous?

He's a handfull

He loves the games here

I didn't know you had a son

Go ahead

How are your parents?

Well…

Their health isn't great

They are being monitored

Who did you come here with?

I came by myself

You came here by yourself?

That's surprising!

I was free today so
I decided to come walk around here

Hello?

Sa

What are you doing?

Are you drunk?

Can you come pick me up?

No way

I'm here

Why did you come?

I have to go to work

Why don't you quit?

I'll take care of you

I think that

I have good qualities

I work hard

I'm a good person

I'm optimistic

Women who have never been to Bangkok

And who come here to work

We must adjust and adapt to the city

Even through our tears

Experience has taught me

That wherever I work

Whenever I think I can't make it

I have to remember that it will pass

And it will pass eventually

What do I want to be?

You mean if I were to dream?

♪ I've come far from home ♪

♪ Just a girl in the night ♪

♪ Surrounded by strangers ♪

♪ Taunting me with their songs ♪

♪ A karaoke girl for your pleasure ♪

♪ For everyone's pleasure ♪

♪ But my own ♪

♪ I have no choice ♪

♪ It doesn't end ♪

♪ I feel their hands ♪

♪ night after night ♪

♪ Our eyes meet ♪

♪ I shy away ♪

♪ Just a girl of the night ♪

♪ Forgotten ♪

♪ I am only your tonight ♪

♪ Not your forever ♪

♪ Playful love ♪

♪ Meaningless lies ♪

♪ One long night is only a moment ♪

♪ How does a karaoke girl find love? ♪

♪ Real love ♪

♪ True love ♪

♪ Who will see me? ♪

♪ Who will love me? ♪

♪ But one day ♪

♪ One day ♪

♪ I will break free ♪

♪ And make a new life ♪

♪ One so beautiful, pure, and light ♪

♪ I will find someone ♪

♪ Real love, true love ♪

♪ I will leave this bar ♪

♪ this karaoke girl ♪

♪ But one day ♪

♪ One day ♪

♪ I will break free ♪

♪ And make a new life ♪

♪ One so beautiful, pure, and light ♪

♪ I will find someone ♪

♪ Real love, true love ♪

♪ I will leave this bar ♪

♪ This Karaoke Girl ♪