Serangoon Road (2013): Season 1, Episode 10 - Episode #1.10 - full transcript
I think Something your husband was
investigating could still be in play.
So this could have something
to do with his murder?
SU LING:
Well, that's James Lim, right?
He's a businessman on his way up.
Oh, and his brother's Lim Chee Kit,
the senior union leader.
Winston's murder - Lee-Kum Fong
was one of the suspects.
He was seen in the area that night.
Please pass on my respects
to Mrs Cheng.
Winston was a much respected man
in this community
and her loss is our loss.
I had his baby. A boy.
He's four now.
CONRAD: You want me to spy
on the CIA for you?
I'd have to break into
Wild Bill's office.
A challenge surely
within your skill set.
Frank, I've met someone.
I'm moving out.
It's not gonna work.
You don't belong here.
Don't leave Frank.
You haven't told him yet?
SIR PHILLIP: Now, there's what
you call a diplomatic incident.
If you're going to go wild
with the pool boy,
for God's sake
don't tell the husband.
What are you looking at?
You've never seen me cook before?
Just heading out. I won't be long.
Wait. Where are you going?
A client. Didn't I tell you?
No, you didn't. Your sister
is coming with your niece.
You have to stay.
Baby, I have to go.
This is really important.
(Food spits, sizzles)
Make my favourite egg custard.
I'll be back at nine.
You know what happens
when I eat your custard.
Dress up and we'll go to Raffles
and dance all night.
Oh, can you bring the songbirds in?
I'll bring the songbirds in
and I'll cook them for dinner.
I love you. I hope
you have no doubts about that.
(Laughs) Go on! Just go.
Be back before nine, now.
(Bird twitters)
♪ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
(Music builds)
♪ Theme music
(Phone rings)
AMRAN: I don't know what you think
you're gonna get out of him.
He won't just confess.
SAM: Why not?
He's already up for one murder.
They won't hang him twice.
He could do a deal with his lawyer
if he confesses to killing Winston.
They could waive the death penalty.
Is that what Mrs Cheng wants?
Her husband's killer not to hang?
Besides, we're not too sure
he's the killer.
He's still a suspect.
Let's find out.
Where is he?
(Speaks in native tongue)
So, we know
Uncle Cheng feared for his life
and he was being followed.
Also, the case file's missing.
And now Fong's been let out of jail,
so someone put up the bail,
but his lawyer won't say who.
Someone is trying to hide something
and is protecting him.
So now what?
How do we find out who or why?
SAM: We've got to find out
who he was meeting that night.
Maybe we can retrace his footsteps.
Well, he left just on dark
to meet with a client.
Yeah, I remember. He had a briefcase.
Sam, are you busy?
SAM: Got to pick something up.
Then I'm meeting Kang. Why?
That's fine.
SAM: Need a hand?
It's just a meeting. It's fine.
It just... it didn't seem dangerous.
No mention of a meeting.
We do know where he went first.
Where?
He went to see a... friend.
Who?
Your Uncle Winston...
had another family.
What?
Aunty, I'm so sorry.
Yeah.
Aunty.
How does he like his new school?
He loves it. Thank you.
And the vaccine
I hope didn't hurt him too much.
Mei Ling, we're here
because we need to
trace back Winston's last moments.
Can you think of anything?
SAM: He was meeting with a client
but we're just not sure
whether he met with him or not.
Well, he did say
he was meeting someone.
That's why he couldn't stay.
I got really upset.
That's when he gave me the watch.
If something goes wrong,
give this to my wife.
I know that's a lot to ask.
MEI LING: That is a lot to ask.
So a brown folder
and some photographs.
Did you see which way he went
when he left?
Did he... did he walk
or take a rickshaw?
Well, I don't know if it helps,
but he did say if things went well,
he would buy me my favourite cakes
from the shop at Teck Lim Road.
(Sam speaks in local language)
Well, that's the shop, alright.
Winston came here all the time.
But she can't remember whether
he was here that night, though.
It's been so long.
You alright?
Yeah. I'm alright.
Well, if he met the client
at a corner or outside a shop,
there'd be no trace.
Did Winston have a favourite
kopi shop or restaurant?
I'm not sure.
If he met inside a restaurant
or kopitiam,
no-one would remember.
♪ ETHEREAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Teck Lim Road.
What?
Teck Lim Road. The Trade Union
office on Teck Lim Road.
Chee Kit's office. Chee Kit
and Winston knew each other.
Perhaps Chee Kit is the client.
It's gotta be.
Why should I tell you anything?
SAM: You've got nothing to lose.
Your brother still wants you dead.
My brother does not concern you.
But tell me - who do you work for?
Patricia Cheng.
You hired her husband, Winston.
Did you meet with him
the night he was killed
at the Trade Union office
on Teck Lim Road?
No. He never turned up.
And the next day,
I heard he was killed in a robbery.
Do you believe that?
It wasn't impossible.
Who were you investigating?
I believe my brother was involved
with some dangerous people.
I just wanted to know.
So you had Winston follow James?
You were never listed as a client?
No.
Winston, he had a system. He wrote
it up as an infidelity case.
Of course, he was actually having
an affair, which complicated things,
but I wasn't interested
in his affairs with women.
I wanted to know about
his other meetings.
So he was delivering photographs
that night?
Yes.
But somehow my brother found out
that I was investigating him.
And he paid for someone
to intercept Winston.
Lee-Kum Fong - do you know him?
No.
So you never saw any photographs?
You don't know who was in them?
No.
The only one who can tell you
is my brother,
but he has already killed once
to keep it secret.
(Speaks in local language)
Hello.
What do you know
about a guy called James Lim?
Conrad, I know we shouldn't be
asking you, but we're desperate.
We really need to find out
who killed Mr Cheng.
Mrs Cheng's miserable
and if we don't help her,
she might close the agency
and then I won't have a job
and my parents will finally be able
to marry me off
to some nice young
rich Peranakan boy.
And then I won't be able
to go to America...
(Whispers)
..with the love of my life.
Tommy?
(Speaks in local language)
(Chuckles)
You told him his wife tastes sweet.
What's this guy's name again?
James Lim.
James Lim.
♪ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
WILD BILL:
Harrison, you got a minute?
Yeah, sure.
Look, there's no easy way
to say this,
so I'm just gonna
come right out with it.
The monthly report's back to HQ.
I'm recommending
they post you somewhere else.
Why?
Someone's leaking confidential
reports to the Brits.
Well, we talk to MI6,
they talk to us.
We give them stuff
that they already know.
Not on Vietnam.
That National Security Council
report
on the Tuesday lunch meetings?
Mm-hmm.
HQ sent it only to the offices
in Asia. Now London has it.
Well, that could have come
from any of those offices.
But it didn't.
It's not that you did it.
It's whatever he's got on you
that made you do it.
You're compromised. I can't use you.
Everyone crosses the line, Harrison,
but it's important
when you look back
you can at least still see it.
I hope you remember that,
wherever you end up.
(Conversations intermingle)
(Woman laughs)
♪ SOUL AND BLUES MUSIC
G'day, Frank.
I came here to fight you.
What are you talking about?
I'm sure you think
that's ridiculous.
But if this was
any sort of just world
where a man who loved his wife
and took care of her
and never, ever dreamed
of cheating on her,
and another man...
If this was any sort of just world,
I would fight you
and I would beat you.
In this world,
a man like you wins that fight.
A man like you with... what?
What have you got
that my wife chooses you over me?
Friday night,
we're leaving Singapore for good.
We're going to Europe by ship
and we're not coming back.
I understand.
No, you really don't.
I want you to go to her before we
leave. I want you to make your case.
If you love her in a way
that will care for her forever,
you tell her that.
Frank, I'm not gonna...
I'm not gonna spend
the rest of my life with Claire
if part of her never leaves here.
If she chooses you, she chooses you.
You've got till Friday night.
MILLER: James Lim.
CONRAD: What do you know about him?
I thought our arrangement was clear.
When I ask you for something,
I get it.
I don't recall there being
any quid pro quo.
Right now it doesn't matter
what you tell my boss
because he's about to terminate me.
So what I need from you -
I need some dirt on him
so they get rid of him instead of me.
What made you choose James Lim
in particular?
Sam Callaghan
wanted to know about him.
When I went to look at the file,
the file's missing.
The only one with access to that -
Wild Bill.
So if he's up to something...
Oh, yes. He's up to his neck.
But what's in it for me?
Washington.
I didn't give you everything
that was in that NSC file.
Now, if you're the guy
that tells your bosses the rest,
tell them who's in the room with
the President, who's got his ear,
you get that stateside transfer
you want, guaranteed.
Alright. I'm in.
Oh, I almost forgot.
There's one more thing.
I want the files on Su Ling.
All copies.
My, my!
Baby Bear really has grown up,
hasn't he?
Mr Harrison called. He said
there was no file on James Lim.
That's bullshit.
James Lim wants to get into politics.
For God's sake, his brother's
a jailed trade union leader
accused of bombings.
They've got files on streetsweepers.
He knew you'd say that.
He said to say they don't have
as many tentacles as you think.
Well, I don't believe him.
Why would he lie?
So he's the one man
in the whole of Singapore
the CIA doesn't have a file on?
Like he said.
Aunty, it's a sign to stop.
Oh, yeah, they're just birds.
I can get her some more, for cheap
too. Maybe even throw in a duck.
Explain the whole thing to me again.
Winston was investigating James Lim.
I don't know what he found,
but it was enough to get him killed.
(Sounds of fighting)
(Men speak in local language)
(Crashing)
Maybe now's not
such a good time to...
SAM: Everything alright, Mr Lim?
Oh. That was Lee-Kum Fong?
What the hell was he after?
I don't know.
He was saying something about a key.
(Grunts)
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Forget it.
Come on.
(Exhales)
Never going to get this sucker open.
Nope.
How long have you been with Joo Ee?
Huh?
Do you think she's the one?
Uh...
I'm with that girl for life, man.
Yeah?
Yeah.
All you do is argue.
Sure. She drinks too much. I gamble
too much. She yells at me. We fight.
What's the alternative?
A life without her. Forget it, man.
There's only one Joo Ee,
and I like her. There's nobody else.
Shit.
I got an idea.
I don't know about this, Kang.
You don't think we're using too much?
What else am I going to
use this for?
Yeah, don't think so much.
♪ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
It went out. Why did it go out?
Stupid old fuse.
(Grunts)
Kang!
Kang, are you alright?
Oh...
You're alright, yeah?
(Breathes shakily)
You hear me?
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
(Laughs)
That opened it, you bloody lunatic.
(Laughs) I can keep
the money, right?
It belongs to a dead man.
Huh?
(Laughs) Today must be my lucky day.
♪ TENSE MUSIC
SAM: There's no doubt
it's Winston's file.
Uncle Winston used to say,
'No fuss, no rush. The picture
won't hurry because you do.'
Nothing here.
Nope. This one either.
Come on. We need a face.
The next ones look different.
(Shutter clicks)
Is that...
SAM: Wild Bill.
James Lim... is having
a secret meeting with the CIA.
No, not for me, thank you.
Thank you.
Conrad lied to you.
James Lim's a CIA informant.
There's got to be a file on him.
You must have found it.
It's not that simple.
SAM: Yes, it is.
James Lim works for the CIA,
yes or no?
No.
Alright.
I'm going to take this whole thing
to Amran.
The Singaporean police
would be most interested
in the CIA's involvement
in the murder
of an upstanding Chinese citizen.
James Lim did not work for the CIA.
He was working for Wild Bill.
Bullshit. Wild Bill doesn't even
work in the field.
Exactly. James Lim
was his vanity case.
Bill hates sitting behind a desk.
You know that.
Always talking about
being on the ground.
'45, he was in East Germany.
'52, he's drinking vodka
with the Ruskies.
So, when James Lim walked in,
Bill decided that he's going to
run him himself under the radar.
So they start having
these secret meetings.
Wild Bill's taking
all the case notes himself.
They've got this deal.
What sort of deal?
I don't know.
If the CIA
wanted to build a station here,
they'd need a Singaporean contact
to secure the land.
(Chuckles) Come on, Sam.
If I knew that information
to be true,
you really think
I'd be talking to you about it?
All I know -
and I got this second-hand -
is that James Lim
went to see Wild Bill
because he thought a private
investigator was following him,
and there may be some photos
of them together.
And? What did Wild Bill do?
I don't know.
I don't.
The file's gone missing.
Someone destroyed it.
Let's go.
(Chips clatter on table)
You play 500, Callaghan?
I've had a game.
A gentleman's game.
Not like poker.
Poker's for assholes.
Did you kill Winston Cheng?
No. Shit no.
Of course not.
No.
Lim had told you there'd been
photographs taken
of the two of you together.
It meant nothing to me.
We're the CIA.
We have informants.
He was one of them. Big deal.
Publish them in
The Straits Times for all I care.
Tell everyone the CIA
is buying up land on the quiet
to build a covert operational base?
Not great, but deniable.
Not for James Lim.
No.
He was freaking out.
He wants to get into politics.
Not a good idea to be
in bed with the Yanks,
but... his problem, not mine.
So he hired Fong to kill Winston?
That's what I thought.
Until today.
Yeah.
Who had Lim killed?
And there's something else.
Apparently, someone,
some poker-playing asshole,
has been doing some digging,
found out something
even I didn't know about.
What's that?
James Lim has a silent partner.
Somebody's bankrolling him.
Who?
(Chuckles) Head office won't say.
But they must be real bad, because,
whoever it is,
my involvement with them,
even through a third party like Lim,
is enough to get me
shipped out of here.
There's not too many people
the CIA won't do business with.
The Russians? North Vietnamese?
(Chuckles) I'd love to know.
Whoever it is, they've got the money
to bankroll James Lim's land deals.
And to bail Fong out of jail.
And they'll kill anyone
to keep their involvement secret.
You find out who that is,
you find out who murdered Winston.
But, Callaghan...
..make sure you find them
before they find you.
(Door opens)
Sam, you won't believe this.
(Gasps)
(Shrieks)
No... Oh.
I was looking at these documents
when this man broke in.
At first I thought it was you.
No, that's Fong alright.
And there's no doubt
he killed Winston.
So they killed Winston
for this information.
What I found out was that
Kay Song and James Lim
had been in partnership for years,
buying up land.
Kay Song?
But the Red Dragons
would never be in bed with the CIA.
Kay Song is on his own.
The Tiger General doesn't know.
If that's Kay Song's secret...
..that's how we get him.
If the Tiger General knew his
grandson was in bed with the CIA,
he'd kill him.
(Hammering, sawing)
Are you sure of this?
Absolutely.
If we don't, Kay Song
will keep sending people after us.
You, me, Su Ling.
I respectfully seek an audience
with Toh Kay.
Look, we don't want any trouble.
Whoa.
This is about the murder
of my husband, Winston Cheng.
Woman, this is not your place.
Hey, leave her alone!
Oh! Somebody help!
Somebody!
Oh!
Your grandson is cheating you.
He has secret accounts.
He has secret money.
He's working for himself.
I will hear them.
It is a good tradition,
making one's own coffin.
It is our custom to do so
many years before it is needed.
To be prepared for death
is to be prepared for life.
Do you have this custom
in your country?
You should.
A man who blunders here and there
may need a coffin
sooner than he thinks.
Speak.
Not you.
What are you doing with this man?
I have meetings
with a lot of people.
Businessmen, clan leaders.
Secret money?
For buying cheap land
to sell to the Americans.
We were going to make a fortune.
Americans?!
The CIA.
For over 100 years,
we controlled this island.
Others think they have the power.
But they come, they go.
The British, here for a century,
they go too.
Finally we have this island
to ourselves.
And you help the Americans
take power.
I did it for you.
You did it for yourself.
For money.
It's over.
(Speaks local language)
Do not let me see the body.
You stupid boy.
You think you can kill us all?
This thinking confirms my decision.
No. It confirms mine.
An old man like you...
So frail, so weak.
You're mad. I have many years in me.
Maybe. Maybe not.
You may leave.
My grandfather had a heart attack.
We have witnesses.
Go tell our people the bad news.
I'm sorry you had to be here
for this sad day.
Mrs Cheng, Sam.
You may now leave me to my grief.
(Knocking at door)
Come in.
You wanted to see me, sir.
I'd happily never set eyes
on you again.
But the powers that be,
in their wisdom,
have decided to put a freeze
on all transfers.
Yes, sir.
It seems my position's
the one up for review.
I don't know what you did
or who you owe.
But remember this - you lay down
with dogs, you get up with fleas.
Well, you played the game your way,
sir.
With James Lim, with the land deal.
I just did what I had to do.
Everything I did, I did for this
organisation and for my country.
If they sack me... sure, it'll hurt.
But I can look in the mirror
every day.
What do you see when you look
in the mirror, Harrison?
'Cause one day,
maybe not today, not tomorrow,
but one day that thing
is going to eat you alive.
Thank you, sir.
Oh. You're right about one thing.
Not today.
(Door closes)
Major Miller.
I just got the telegram.
I'm off to Washington next month.
This is the only copy?
We had a deal.
You kept up your end.
I kept up mine.
Maybe I'll see you in Washington.
One day.
Good chance.
I hope she's worth it.
(Speaks local language)
Winston is a good man.
(Applause)
(Speaks local language)
..is for family,
and you are like family to me.
As a matter of fact,
you are the only family I have.
So, thank you.
(Speaks local language)
(Man speaks local language)
Well, I tried to imagine
what Winston would say,
and I realise he'd just be drinking
and dancing and joking
all night long,
so this is
what I want you to do tonight.
♪ UPBEAT MUSIC
♪ Ooh, this old heart of mine
been broke a thousand times
♪ Each time you break away
I think you're gone to stay
♪ Lonely nights that come
Memories that flow
♪ Bringing you back again
Hurting me more and more
♪ Maybe it's my mistake
to show this love I feel inside
♪ 'Cause each day that passes by
♪ You've got me never knowin'
if I'm comin' or goin', but I
♪ I love you-ou-ou
♪ This old heart, darling,
is weak for you
♪ I love you-ou-ou
♪ Yes, I do
♪ Yes, I do
♪ These old arms of mine
miss having you around
♪ Makes these tears inside
start falling down
♪ Always with half a kiss
you remind me of what I miss
♪ Though I try to control myself
♪ Like a fool I start grinnin'
♪ 'Cause my head starts spinnin'
'cause I
♪ I love you-ou-ou
♪ This old heart, darling,
is weak for you
♪ I love you-ou
♪ Yes, I do
Yes, I do
♪ Ooh, I try hard to hide
my hurt inside
♪ This old heart of mine
always keeps me cryin'... ♪
I'm sorry that I lied to you.
I guess I just... I wanted to be
with you so badly
that I lost sight of what I was doing
to get there,
and I understand if you don't want
to talk to me - that's OK.
I just needed you to know that I had
no idea who killed Winston Cheng.
I know.
Sam found out everything.
Mr Cheng's death had nothing to do
with the CIA.
Conrad, I know and accept
that you can't tell me
everything about your job,
but if I ask you a question
I expect an honest answer.
Or just say, 'No comment.'
No comment.
'No comment.' Don't lie.
Uh-huh.
I need to know that I can trust you.
You can.
Then let's try to make this work.
I got you this.
Thank you.
Take that, you little piece of shit.
♪ Oh
♪ I swallowed my pride
♪ And I beg
I beg of you
♪ Oh, baby, stop these tears
that you are putting me through
♪ Please read my letter
♪ Why don't you read every line... ♪
Sometimes, I can literally feel
his hand in my hair.
Like in a dream, except I'm awake.
You've been thinking about her
all night.
♪ This is my last letter, baby
♪ Oh, darling, this is goodbye... ♪
Go to her.
♪ You see, I need no picture
♪ To remind me of you
♪ Oh, and all these wonderful moments
that I have spent here with you
♪ So, I swallowed up my pride
♪ And I beg, I beg, I beg of you
♪ Oh, baby,
why don't you stop now... ♪
Claire.
Sam.
Can we talk?
I'll finish packing the luggage.
You should talk to him.
Claire, wait.
What are you doing here?
Stay.
Stay?
I'm in love with you, Claire.
I've never loved anyone before.
Do you have any idea
what it's been like for me?
I didn't know you'd told Frank.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because you made it very clear
that life with me was
too hard or cramped or...
I thought I was doing
the right thing. How?
How were you doing the right thing
by leaving me at the Tuckworths',
everyone sniggering at me
behind their back?
I... I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I know you are. Look at your face.
Don't go.
So what happens now?
Well, we've got to get your luggage
out of the car.
And then?
And then we go back to my place.
We get noodles and some chilli crab.
We get mooncake.
It's the Festival of the Moon.
Watch the moon rise,
then watch it set.
I'll never let you go again.
It sounds more wonderful
than I can imagine.
Uh, sir, it's time.
Yes.
What about tomorrow?
We'll work it out.
It's too late, Sam.
I love you.
And I will always love you.
(Car engine starts)
(Cymbals, cheering, clapping)
(Explosion)
(Gasps)
(Applause)
investigating could still be in play.
So this could have something
to do with his murder?
SU LING:
Well, that's James Lim, right?
He's a businessman on his way up.
Oh, and his brother's Lim Chee Kit,
the senior union leader.
Winston's murder - Lee-Kum Fong
was one of the suspects.
He was seen in the area that night.
Please pass on my respects
to Mrs Cheng.
Winston was a much respected man
in this community
and her loss is our loss.
I had his baby. A boy.
He's four now.
CONRAD: You want me to spy
on the CIA for you?
I'd have to break into
Wild Bill's office.
A challenge surely
within your skill set.
Frank, I've met someone.
I'm moving out.
It's not gonna work.
You don't belong here.
Don't leave Frank.
You haven't told him yet?
SIR PHILLIP: Now, there's what
you call a diplomatic incident.
If you're going to go wild
with the pool boy,
for God's sake
don't tell the husband.
What are you looking at?
You've never seen me cook before?
Just heading out. I won't be long.
Wait. Where are you going?
A client. Didn't I tell you?
No, you didn't. Your sister
is coming with your niece.
You have to stay.
Baby, I have to go.
This is really important.
(Food spits, sizzles)
Make my favourite egg custard.
I'll be back at nine.
You know what happens
when I eat your custard.
Dress up and we'll go to Raffles
and dance all night.
Oh, can you bring the songbirds in?
I'll bring the songbirds in
and I'll cook them for dinner.
I love you. I hope
you have no doubts about that.
(Laughs) Go on! Just go.
Be back before nine, now.
(Bird twitters)
♪ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
(Music builds)
♪ Theme music
(Phone rings)
AMRAN: I don't know what you think
you're gonna get out of him.
He won't just confess.
SAM: Why not?
He's already up for one murder.
They won't hang him twice.
He could do a deal with his lawyer
if he confesses to killing Winston.
They could waive the death penalty.
Is that what Mrs Cheng wants?
Her husband's killer not to hang?
Besides, we're not too sure
he's the killer.
He's still a suspect.
Let's find out.
Where is he?
(Speaks in native tongue)
So, we know
Uncle Cheng feared for his life
and he was being followed.
Also, the case file's missing.
And now Fong's been let out of jail,
so someone put up the bail,
but his lawyer won't say who.
Someone is trying to hide something
and is protecting him.
So now what?
How do we find out who or why?
SAM: We've got to find out
who he was meeting that night.
Maybe we can retrace his footsteps.
Well, he left just on dark
to meet with a client.
Yeah, I remember. He had a briefcase.
Sam, are you busy?
SAM: Got to pick something up.
Then I'm meeting Kang. Why?
That's fine.
SAM: Need a hand?
It's just a meeting. It's fine.
It just... it didn't seem dangerous.
No mention of a meeting.
We do know where he went first.
Where?
He went to see a... friend.
Who?
Your Uncle Winston...
had another family.
What?
Aunty, I'm so sorry.
Yeah.
Aunty.
How does he like his new school?
He loves it. Thank you.
And the vaccine
I hope didn't hurt him too much.
Mei Ling, we're here
because we need to
trace back Winston's last moments.
Can you think of anything?
SAM: He was meeting with a client
but we're just not sure
whether he met with him or not.
Well, he did say
he was meeting someone.
That's why he couldn't stay.
I got really upset.
That's when he gave me the watch.
If something goes wrong,
give this to my wife.
I know that's a lot to ask.
MEI LING: That is a lot to ask.
So a brown folder
and some photographs.
Did you see which way he went
when he left?
Did he... did he walk
or take a rickshaw?
Well, I don't know if it helps,
but he did say if things went well,
he would buy me my favourite cakes
from the shop at Teck Lim Road.
(Sam speaks in local language)
Well, that's the shop, alright.
Winston came here all the time.
But she can't remember whether
he was here that night, though.
It's been so long.
You alright?
Yeah. I'm alright.
Well, if he met the client
at a corner or outside a shop,
there'd be no trace.
Did Winston have a favourite
kopi shop or restaurant?
I'm not sure.
If he met inside a restaurant
or kopitiam,
no-one would remember.
♪ ETHEREAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Teck Lim Road.
What?
Teck Lim Road. The Trade Union
office on Teck Lim Road.
Chee Kit's office. Chee Kit
and Winston knew each other.
Perhaps Chee Kit is the client.
It's gotta be.
Why should I tell you anything?
SAM: You've got nothing to lose.
Your brother still wants you dead.
My brother does not concern you.
But tell me - who do you work for?
Patricia Cheng.
You hired her husband, Winston.
Did you meet with him
the night he was killed
at the Trade Union office
on Teck Lim Road?
No. He never turned up.
And the next day,
I heard he was killed in a robbery.
Do you believe that?
It wasn't impossible.
Who were you investigating?
I believe my brother was involved
with some dangerous people.
I just wanted to know.
So you had Winston follow James?
You were never listed as a client?
No.
Winston, he had a system. He wrote
it up as an infidelity case.
Of course, he was actually having
an affair, which complicated things,
but I wasn't interested
in his affairs with women.
I wanted to know about
his other meetings.
So he was delivering photographs
that night?
Yes.
But somehow my brother found out
that I was investigating him.
And he paid for someone
to intercept Winston.
Lee-Kum Fong - do you know him?
No.
So you never saw any photographs?
You don't know who was in them?
No.
The only one who can tell you
is my brother,
but he has already killed once
to keep it secret.
(Speaks in local language)
Hello.
What do you know
about a guy called James Lim?
Conrad, I know we shouldn't be
asking you, but we're desperate.
We really need to find out
who killed Mr Cheng.
Mrs Cheng's miserable
and if we don't help her,
she might close the agency
and then I won't have a job
and my parents will finally be able
to marry me off
to some nice young
rich Peranakan boy.
And then I won't be able
to go to America...
(Whispers)
..with the love of my life.
Tommy?
(Speaks in local language)
(Chuckles)
You told him his wife tastes sweet.
What's this guy's name again?
James Lim.
James Lim.
♪ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
WILD BILL:
Harrison, you got a minute?
Yeah, sure.
Look, there's no easy way
to say this,
so I'm just gonna
come right out with it.
The monthly report's back to HQ.
I'm recommending
they post you somewhere else.
Why?
Someone's leaking confidential
reports to the Brits.
Well, we talk to MI6,
they talk to us.
We give them stuff
that they already know.
Not on Vietnam.
That National Security Council
report
on the Tuesday lunch meetings?
Mm-hmm.
HQ sent it only to the offices
in Asia. Now London has it.
Well, that could have come
from any of those offices.
But it didn't.
It's not that you did it.
It's whatever he's got on you
that made you do it.
You're compromised. I can't use you.
Everyone crosses the line, Harrison,
but it's important
when you look back
you can at least still see it.
I hope you remember that,
wherever you end up.
(Conversations intermingle)
(Woman laughs)
♪ SOUL AND BLUES MUSIC
G'day, Frank.
I came here to fight you.
What are you talking about?
I'm sure you think
that's ridiculous.
But if this was
any sort of just world
where a man who loved his wife
and took care of her
and never, ever dreamed
of cheating on her,
and another man...
If this was any sort of just world,
I would fight you
and I would beat you.
In this world,
a man like you wins that fight.
A man like you with... what?
What have you got
that my wife chooses you over me?
Friday night,
we're leaving Singapore for good.
We're going to Europe by ship
and we're not coming back.
I understand.
No, you really don't.
I want you to go to her before we
leave. I want you to make your case.
If you love her in a way
that will care for her forever,
you tell her that.
Frank, I'm not gonna...
I'm not gonna spend
the rest of my life with Claire
if part of her never leaves here.
If she chooses you, she chooses you.
You've got till Friday night.
MILLER: James Lim.
CONRAD: What do you know about him?
I thought our arrangement was clear.
When I ask you for something,
I get it.
I don't recall there being
any quid pro quo.
Right now it doesn't matter
what you tell my boss
because he's about to terminate me.
So what I need from you -
I need some dirt on him
so they get rid of him instead of me.
What made you choose James Lim
in particular?
Sam Callaghan
wanted to know about him.
When I went to look at the file,
the file's missing.
The only one with access to that -
Wild Bill.
So if he's up to something...
Oh, yes. He's up to his neck.
But what's in it for me?
Washington.
I didn't give you everything
that was in that NSC file.
Now, if you're the guy
that tells your bosses the rest,
tell them who's in the room with
the President, who's got his ear,
you get that stateside transfer
you want, guaranteed.
Alright. I'm in.
Oh, I almost forgot.
There's one more thing.
I want the files on Su Ling.
All copies.
My, my!
Baby Bear really has grown up,
hasn't he?
Mr Harrison called. He said
there was no file on James Lim.
That's bullshit.
James Lim wants to get into politics.
For God's sake, his brother's
a jailed trade union leader
accused of bombings.
They've got files on streetsweepers.
He knew you'd say that.
He said to say they don't have
as many tentacles as you think.
Well, I don't believe him.
Why would he lie?
So he's the one man
in the whole of Singapore
the CIA doesn't have a file on?
Like he said.
Aunty, it's a sign to stop.
Oh, yeah, they're just birds.
I can get her some more, for cheap
too. Maybe even throw in a duck.
Explain the whole thing to me again.
Winston was investigating James Lim.
I don't know what he found,
but it was enough to get him killed.
(Sounds of fighting)
(Men speak in local language)
(Crashing)
Maybe now's not
such a good time to...
SAM: Everything alright, Mr Lim?
Oh. That was Lee-Kum Fong?
What the hell was he after?
I don't know.
He was saying something about a key.
(Grunts)
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Forget it.
Come on.
(Exhales)
Never going to get this sucker open.
Nope.
How long have you been with Joo Ee?
Huh?
Do you think she's the one?
Uh...
I'm with that girl for life, man.
Yeah?
Yeah.
All you do is argue.
Sure. She drinks too much. I gamble
too much. She yells at me. We fight.
What's the alternative?
A life without her. Forget it, man.
There's only one Joo Ee,
and I like her. There's nobody else.
Shit.
I got an idea.
I don't know about this, Kang.
You don't think we're using too much?
What else am I going to
use this for?
Yeah, don't think so much.
♪ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
It went out. Why did it go out?
Stupid old fuse.
(Grunts)
Kang!
Kang, are you alright?
Oh...
You're alright, yeah?
(Breathes shakily)
You hear me?
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
(Laughs)
That opened it, you bloody lunatic.
(Laughs) I can keep
the money, right?
It belongs to a dead man.
Huh?
(Laughs) Today must be my lucky day.
♪ TENSE MUSIC
SAM: There's no doubt
it's Winston's file.
Uncle Winston used to say,
'No fuss, no rush. The picture
won't hurry because you do.'
Nothing here.
Nope. This one either.
Come on. We need a face.
The next ones look different.
(Shutter clicks)
Is that...
SAM: Wild Bill.
James Lim... is having
a secret meeting with the CIA.
No, not for me, thank you.
Thank you.
Conrad lied to you.
James Lim's a CIA informant.
There's got to be a file on him.
You must have found it.
It's not that simple.
SAM: Yes, it is.
James Lim works for the CIA,
yes or no?
No.
Alright.
I'm going to take this whole thing
to Amran.
The Singaporean police
would be most interested
in the CIA's involvement
in the murder
of an upstanding Chinese citizen.
James Lim did not work for the CIA.
He was working for Wild Bill.
Bullshit. Wild Bill doesn't even
work in the field.
Exactly. James Lim
was his vanity case.
Bill hates sitting behind a desk.
You know that.
Always talking about
being on the ground.
'45, he was in East Germany.
'52, he's drinking vodka
with the Ruskies.
So, when James Lim walked in,
Bill decided that he's going to
run him himself under the radar.
So they start having
these secret meetings.
Wild Bill's taking
all the case notes himself.
They've got this deal.
What sort of deal?
I don't know.
If the CIA
wanted to build a station here,
they'd need a Singaporean contact
to secure the land.
(Chuckles) Come on, Sam.
If I knew that information
to be true,
you really think
I'd be talking to you about it?
All I know -
and I got this second-hand -
is that James Lim
went to see Wild Bill
because he thought a private
investigator was following him,
and there may be some photos
of them together.
And? What did Wild Bill do?
I don't know.
I don't.
The file's gone missing.
Someone destroyed it.
Let's go.
(Chips clatter on table)
You play 500, Callaghan?
I've had a game.
A gentleman's game.
Not like poker.
Poker's for assholes.
Did you kill Winston Cheng?
No. Shit no.
Of course not.
No.
Lim had told you there'd been
photographs taken
of the two of you together.
It meant nothing to me.
We're the CIA.
We have informants.
He was one of them. Big deal.
Publish them in
The Straits Times for all I care.
Tell everyone the CIA
is buying up land on the quiet
to build a covert operational base?
Not great, but deniable.
Not for James Lim.
No.
He was freaking out.
He wants to get into politics.
Not a good idea to be
in bed with the Yanks,
but... his problem, not mine.
So he hired Fong to kill Winston?
That's what I thought.
Until today.
Yeah.
Who had Lim killed?
And there's something else.
Apparently, someone,
some poker-playing asshole,
has been doing some digging,
found out something
even I didn't know about.
What's that?
James Lim has a silent partner.
Somebody's bankrolling him.
Who?
(Chuckles) Head office won't say.
But they must be real bad, because,
whoever it is,
my involvement with them,
even through a third party like Lim,
is enough to get me
shipped out of here.
There's not too many people
the CIA won't do business with.
The Russians? North Vietnamese?
(Chuckles) I'd love to know.
Whoever it is, they've got the money
to bankroll James Lim's land deals.
And to bail Fong out of jail.
And they'll kill anyone
to keep their involvement secret.
You find out who that is,
you find out who murdered Winston.
But, Callaghan...
..make sure you find them
before they find you.
(Door opens)
Sam, you won't believe this.
(Gasps)
(Shrieks)
No... Oh.
I was looking at these documents
when this man broke in.
At first I thought it was you.
No, that's Fong alright.
And there's no doubt
he killed Winston.
So they killed Winston
for this information.
What I found out was that
Kay Song and James Lim
had been in partnership for years,
buying up land.
Kay Song?
But the Red Dragons
would never be in bed with the CIA.
Kay Song is on his own.
The Tiger General doesn't know.
If that's Kay Song's secret...
..that's how we get him.
If the Tiger General knew his
grandson was in bed with the CIA,
he'd kill him.
(Hammering, sawing)
Are you sure of this?
Absolutely.
If we don't, Kay Song
will keep sending people after us.
You, me, Su Ling.
I respectfully seek an audience
with Toh Kay.
Look, we don't want any trouble.
Whoa.
This is about the murder
of my husband, Winston Cheng.
Woman, this is not your place.
Hey, leave her alone!
Oh! Somebody help!
Somebody!
Oh!
Your grandson is cheating you.
He has secret accounts.
He has secret money.
He's working for himself.
I will hear them.
It is a good tradition,
making one's own coffin.
It is our custom to do so
many years before it is needed.
To be prepared for death
is to be prepared for life.
Do you have this custom
in your country?
You should.
A man who blunders here and there
may need a coffin
sooner than he thinks.
Speak.
Not you.
What are you doing with this man?
I have meetings
with a lot of people.
Businessmen, clan leaders.
Secret money?
For buying cheap land
to sell to the Americans.
We were going to make a fortune.
Americans?!
The CIA.
For over 100 years,
we controlled this island.
Others think they have the power.
But they come, they go.
The British, here for a century,
they go too.
Finally we have this island
to ourselves.
And you help the Americans
take power.
I did it for you.
You did it for yourself.
For money.
It's over.
(Speaks local language)
Do not let me see the body.
You stupid boy.
You think you can kill us all?
This thinking confirms my decision.
No. It confirms mine.
An old man like you...
So frail, so weak.
You're mad. I have many years in me.
Maybe. Maybe not.
You may leave.
My grandfather had a heart attack.
We have witnesses.
Go tell our people the bad news.
I'm sorry you had to be here
for this sad day.
Mrs Cheng, Sam.
You may now leave me to my grief.
(Knocking at door)
Come in.
You wanted to see me, sir.
I'd happily never set eyes
on you again.
But the powers that be,
in their wisdom,
have decided to put a freeze
on all transfers.
Yes, sir.
It seems my position's
the one up for review.
I don't know what you did
or who you owe.
But remember this - you lay down
with dogs, you get up with fleas.
Well, you played the game your way,
sir.
With James Lim, with the land deal.
I just did what I had to do.
Everything I did, I did for this
organisation and for my country.
If they sack me... sure, it'll hurt.
But I can look in the mirror
every day.
What do you see when you look
in the mirror, Harrison?
'Cause one day,
maybe not today, not tomorrow,
but one day that thing
is going to eat you alive.
Thank you, sir.
Oh. You're right about one thing.
Not today.
(Door closes)
Major Miller.
I just got the telegram.
I'm off to Washington next month.
This is the only copy?
We had a deal.
You kept up your end.
I kept up mine.
Maybe I'll see you in Washington.
One day.
Good chance.
I hope she's worth it.
(Speaks local language)
Winston is a good man.
(Applause)
(Speaks local language)
..is for family,
and you are like family to me.
As a matter of fact,
you are the only family I have.
So, thank you.
(Speaks local language)
(Man speaks local language)
Well, I tried to imagine
what Winston would say,
and I realise he'd just be drinking
and dancing and joking
all night long,
so this is
what I want you to do tonight.
♪ UPBEAT MUSIC
♪ Ooh, this old heart of mine
been broke a thousand times
♪ Each time you break away
I think you're gone to stay
♪ Lonely nights that come
Memories that flow
♪ Bringing you back again
Hurting me more and more
♪ Maybe it's my mistake
to show this love I feel inside
♪ 'Cause each day that passes by
♪ You've got me never knowin'
if I'm comin' or goin', but I
♪ I love you-ou-ou
♪ This old heart, darling,
is weak for you
♪ I love you-ou-ou
♪ Yes, I do
♪ Yes, I do
♪ These old arms of mine
miss having you around
♪ Makes these tears inside
start falling down
♪ Always with half a kiss
you remind me of what I miss
♪ Though I try to control myself
♪ Like a fool I start grinnin'
♪ 'Cause my head starts spinnin'
'cause I
♪ I love you-ou-ou
♪ This old heart, darling,
is weak for you
♪ I love you-ou
♪ Yes, I do
Yes, I do
♪ Ooh, I try hard to hide
my hurt inside
♪ This old heart of mine
always keeps me cryin'... ♪
I'm sorry that I lied to you.
I guess I just... I wanted to be
with you so badly
that I lost sight of what I was doing
to get there,
and I understand if you don't want
to talk to me - that's OK.
I just needed you to know that I had
no idea who killed Winston Cheng.
I know.
Sam found out everything.
Mr Cheng's death had nothing to do
with the CIA.
Conrad, I know and accept
that you can't tell me
everything about your job,
but if I ask you a question
I expect an honest answer.
Or just say, 'No comment.'
No comment.
'No comment.' Don't lie.
Uh-huh.
I need to know that I can trust you.
You can.
Then let's try to make this work.
I got you this.
Thank you.
Take that, you little piece of shit.
♪ Oh
♪ I swallowed my pride
♪ And I beg
I beg of you
♪ Oh, baby, stop these tears
that you are putting me through
♪ Please read my letter
♪ Why don't you read every line... ♪
Sometimes, I can literally feel
his hand in my hair.
Like in a dream, except I'm awake.
You've been thinking about her
all night.
♪ This is my last letter, baby
♪ Oh, darling, this is goodbye... ♪
Go to her.
♪ You see, I need no picture
♪ To remind me of you
♪ Oh, and all these wonderful moments
that I have spent here with you
♪ So, I swallowed up my pride
♪ And I beg, I beg, I beg of you
♪ Oh, baby,
why don't you stop now... ♪
Claire.
Sam.
Can we talk?
I'll finish packing the luggage.
You should talk to him.
Claire, wait.
What are you doing here?
Stay.
Stay?
I'm in love with you, Claire.
I've never loved anyone before.
Do you have any idea
what it's been like for me?
I didn't know you'd told Frank.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because you made it very clear
that life with me was
too hard or cramped or...
I thought I was doing
the right thing. How?
How were you doing the right thing
by leaving me at the Tuckworths',
everyone sniggering at me
behind their back?
I... I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I know you are. Look at your face.
Don't go.
So what happens now?
Well, we've got to get your luggage
out of the car.
And then?
And then we go back to my place.
We get noodles and some chilli crab.
We get mooncake.
It's the Festival of the Moon.
Watch the moon rise,
then watch it set.
I'll never let you go again.
It sounds more wonderful
than I can imagine.
Uh, sir, it's time.
Yes.
What about tomorrow?
We'll work it out.
It's too late, Sam.
I love you.
And I will always love you.
(Car engine starts)
(Cymbals, cheering, clapping)
(Explosion)
(Gasps)
(Applause)