01x11 - This Is Who I Am: A New Woman in Taipei

[bunniefuu]

[THEME SONG PLAYING]

WOMEN IN TAIPEI

[THEME SONG ENDS]

[ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING]

I-SHAN: Standing at this familiar
yet unfamiliar place.

I just realized...

I always wanted to keep moving forward...

but did not look back
on the good things I had.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

EPISODE 11

THIS IS WHO I AM:
A NEW WOMAN IN TAIPEI

I-SHAN: In the past,
I thought nothing would change,

including my mom.

I'm done with dinner.

You always have to keep nagging me.

Lin I-Shan.

See how much her monthly expenses are
and how much her yearly expenses are.

If you can afford it, just go.

I won't give you any funds.
Figure it out.

I never said I wanted your money.

This one's cooked.

I worked really hard to stay skinny.

Why isn't anyone going after
my pretty daughter?

Or maybe there are
no nice guys in Taipei anymore.

I-SHAN: [SIGHING] I'm thirsty.

There's juice and soda.

You said you were staying
for the holidays.

Why are you leaving after two days?

Something urgent came up at the office.

I-SHAN'S MOM: You're 30 now. Be sensible

-and take care of your health, okay?
-[GROANS]

I-SHAN'S MOM: You're too skinny.
Eat more, okay?

-Okay.
-I-SHAN'S MOM: Okay, okay.

-Cut down on alcohol.
-Goodbye.

Bye.

Take care. Drive safe.

I shouldn't have let you girls
come to Taipei.

See how you've messed up your lives now.

So abnormal.

Messed up? Abnormal? How?

[CHOPSTICKS CLATTERING]

I-SHAN: What?

See? It's not that I don't want to talk.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

I-SHAN: Mom will have
her second round of chemo next week.

She has a poor appetite.
We have to find a way to make her eat.

I-CHING: What did the doctor say?

Would she really lose her hair?

I paid for a cooling cap
that can cool her scalp.

The doctor said it reduces hair loss.

I-CHING: It's a good thing
you paid for add-on equipment.

Last time I went with her
to her chemo assessment,

we saw some patients
who had lost a whole patch of hair.

Having lost everything...

I'm afraid she won't be able
to handle losing her hair.

If it makes her happy,
I don't care how much it costs.

Here, the broth has been boiled.

You can start boiling the beef.

I-CHING: I'm so hungry.

I-Shan knows how to choose beef
pretty well now.

She knows beef flank goes well with broth.

I always used to tell her,
but she never listened.

After she went to Singapore,

she even learned the proportions
of the shank and the brisket.

Hey, Dad.

All right then, dig in.

I made the braised version for Glow.
He likes it spicy.

Dad.

Even if you use the same recipe
in different places,

it will taste totally different.

Dad's food still tastes the best.

Back when we were kids,
we’d have beef soup all the time.

We'd always eat it when we visited Taipei.

Then, I met A-Nan.

Beef noodles became
an everyday dish for me. It's so funny.

And it was because of beef noodles
that I met Owen in Singapore.

[CHUCKLES]

Didn't Owen make you some
super beef noodles in Singapore?

Did they taste good?

They were good.
But the broth was too clean.

Like a French-style beef soup.

Come to think of it,
you really had a good time.

You got to eat different things
in every city you went to.

Not like my Glow, who only knows
how to cook instant beef noodles.

[CHUCKLES]

Mom.

I-CHING: Mom.

[SIGHS]

I thought I could smell beef soup.

It got me feeling so hungry.

I'll have a bowl of it.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

-Is this enough?
-Yeah, that's fine.

[SLURPS]

It's so good.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

I-SHAN'S MOM: Dig in.

I-SHAN: Being able to have
a good meal together as a family,

shows that happiness can be so simple.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

Whilst I was home,

I felt like my mom
had suddenly grown so old.

I feel like a huge amount of time...

has been secretly deleted.

So, what are you going
to do back here?

I haven't figured it out yet.

[SIGHS] I'll probably
start my own business.

Something where I get
to have a flexible schedule.

A few days ago, Liang-Liang
and the family came back home

and my dad made boiled broth beef soup.

My mom had a poor appetite
because of the chemotherapy,

but when she smelled the soup,
she ate a couple of bowls.

That was the first time
I saw her like that.

Then I realized...

growing up,
we'd always start eating first.

Mom would clean the kitchen
before sitting down for dinner.

And I realized...

I've never sat beside her
and had dinner with her.

[SIGHS]

Nor hold a proper conversation with her.

But are you...

Are you really going to quit your job
and never go back to Singapore?

[SIGHS]

I want to spend more time with my mom
while she's still here.

Besides, my dad retires next year.

I think I'll help look after my mom
until he retires.

-Hey, Lin I-Shan.
-Maybe they can go on a trip.

I'll take care of your car
after you return to Singapore.

SALESPERSON: Hi, Ms. Lin, here's
some paperwork for the car handover.

CHENG-EN: Left-hand drive. Can you do it?

-I-SHAN: I can.
-CHENG-EN: You better be sure of it.

HUI-JU: Li Cheng-En,
you're freaking me out. Keep it down.

CHENG-EN: I am keeping it down. Red light.

-That's a red light.
-HUI-JU: Take it slow.

Hello? Honey, I got it.

I'm not crying, I'm just so happy.

I've never seen her like that.

Tell me, tell me.

Crying and laughing.

[LAUGHS]

I didn't hear her, though.
What did she get?

From the way she looks,
it's probably the court ruling.

She and A-Kuai
can finally adopt Kuai-Mei.

[SIGHS, CHUCKLES]

[HUI-JU SOBBING IN THE DISTANCE]

You have no idea how long
it took them to apply for the adoption.

Not every kid is a good fit.

Kuai-Mei is the only one
that made it through the six-month trial.

Hui-Ju has been through a lot
to accomplish her goal.

-Hello, sweetie.
-She's finally a mother now.

What about you?
Why aren't you going back to Singapore?

It's not about going back or not.

Singapore isn't my home.

I thought that British guy
was treating you well.

What? Did he treat you badly?

Then why did you
and Hsiao-Ping get divorced?

Huh?

[MOCKINGLY] Huh?

Just tell him
it's not that you don't love him,

you just don't wanna live in Singapore.

How would you know?

If I were you, I'd be frank with him.

You just aren't used to living there.

You like sorting
and recycling your garbage,

but it's not mandatory in Singapore.

HUI-JU: That's a sanctimonious excuse.

It sucks.

-I know.
-Hey.

You should say something like

you're not used to romantic gestures.

I'd get berated by you for giving
you flowers on your birthday.

You idiot, that's even worse.

I-SHAN: Or what else?
It makes perfect sense. Not worse at all.

Are you guys trying to help me or not?

Eat the olives, okay?

I mean the shrimp.

Forget about the shrimp.

You are biased.

Your hands are sticky already.
Peel one for me.

I-SHAN: Hey, I'll visit you and Kuai-Mei
when I'm in Taipei.

HUI-JU: But we're looking
for a bigger place now.

So, maybe after the new year.
I'll let you know when I've moved.

I-SHAN: Where are you moving to?

Uh,,, We're checking out some places
in Minsheng Community.

A-Kuai said he likes places
with greenery and trees

and places closer to where we work.

I-SHAN: I see.
Minsheng Community sounds nice.

There are many parks and great amenities.

Hey, should I find a place for you too?

Me?

Well, if Owen changes his mind
and moves to Taipei to marry you,

you should be looking for a place, right?

All right.

Take care.

HUI-JU: Take care.

I'll wait for your good news about Owen.

If you're ready, just go already.

HUI-JU: [LAUGHS]
Go and clear things up with him.

Bye.

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

WOMAN: You have the poorest taste.

[I-SHAN RETCHES]

-Thank you, Cheng-En.
-CHENG-EN: No problem.

What did the doctor say?

Is it food poisoning or stomach flu?

[EXHALES]

Um, maybe she should tell you herself.

-I-SHAN'S MOM: What is it, I-Shan?
-I-SHAN: I'm pregnant.

Nine weeks.

GLOW: Liang-Liang, let's go upstairs.

Let’s go find some treasure.

-Find treasure!
-GLOW: Let's go.

Hey, watch out.

[SIGHS]

I-CHING: What's wrong, Mom?

Walk slowly.

I-SHAN:

[PHONE BUZZES, CHIMES]

OWEN:

ANNOUNCER: The pandemic
is getting worse in the UK.

Another 1631 people died on the 26th,

bringing the total number of deaths
to over 100,000.

The UK is the first country in Europe

to reach 100,000 deaths
from the New SARS.

ANNOUNCER: Prime Minister Johnson
says that the infection rate is still high

and it is not the right time
to lift lockdown restrictions.

City officials will continue to work on
epidemic prevention measures.

[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[PHONE BUZZES]

Owen. Can we have a video call?

No. Not right now.

I know it's not the right time...

-but there's something I need to...
-OWEN: Um...

You can text me in Chinese from now on.

Chinese?

I thought you weren't good
at reading Chinese.

I can practice. And...

I've got a lot on my plate right now.

I won't be returning
to Singapore anytime soon.

Right, I wanted to talk to you
about Singapore.

WOMAN: [IN ENGLISH] Honey!

Where are you? Supper is ready.

OWEN: Uh... Yeah, one second.
I'm on the phone.

I'll be right in.

[I-SHAN GROANS]

[RETCHES]

[GROANS]

[PANTS]

[SIGHS]

[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS, SNIFFS]

[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[GROANS]

[IN MANDARIN] I'm thinking
of having an ab*rtion.

DOCTOR: Why?

I-SHAN: I'm almost 40 years old and...

there's a global pandemic now.

My mom's just had surgery.

And besides,
the kid's father isn't here, so...

DOCTOR: Would these circumstances
be any different

if you don't have this baby?

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

DOCTOR: If the answer is no,
wouldn't you say that this kid

is the best gift God has given you?

You're almost 40.
I hope you think twice about this.

CHENG-EN: Lin I-Shan, it's really heavy.

A heavier one allows the baby
to rest more comfortably.

I still think you should buy two.

A lighter one will be easier
for you to carry when I'm not around.

But if you prefer a lighter model,

we have some recommendations.
Would you like to look?

Sure, we'll have a look. Thank you.

I'll be right back.

Cheer up.

It's Mother’s Day next week.

You should be more cheerful.

I helped you move
the bookshelves yesterday.

-Guess what I found.
-What?

Our high school yearbook.

You haven't changed at all.
I was so lame back then.

I look better now.

I still remember graduation day.

You told me...

You lifted your heels and told me...

that no matter what high school we're in,

you wouldn't leave me,
and you'd always look after me.

Though I have no idea
where your courage came from.

To think of it now, that's pretty badass.

What are you doing?

-I-SHAN: I got your back, like this.
-CHENG-EN: All right, I know, I know.

-I wouldn't leave you. [CHUCKLES]
-Okay, okay.

I said that?

I totally forgot.

-Li Cheng-En.
-What?

This is who I am.

Forgetting all the promises that I made.

No wonder Owen felt
like I had deserted him.

I promised to marry him...

but when he needed me the most,

I left him alone.

Li Cheng-En, you are right.

Growing up, I...

I really haven't changed that much.

I kept saying that I wanted
to become someone.

Then I just...

I can't seem to do any of that.

No, I'm telling you, I did my research.

You're experiencing antepartum depression.
That's why your mood is swinging.

Maybe we should stop shopping.

How about I take you
to your favorite sausage deli? Okay?

You feel like throwing up, right?

We could go to Qiu Mao Orchard?
It changed its name to...

-Li Cheng-En.
-Okay, okay.

Why can't I be like you?

You never give up
on someone you like and...

I can never seem to push you away.

I wanted to become the adult
that I imagined becoming...

and take care of others
so that they'd like me.

Why have I become the person
I've always hated?

[SOBS]

It's fine, it's fine.

[I-SHAN SOBS]

Li Cheng-En, why are you so nice to me?

You make me feel like such a loser lately.

It's fine, it's fine.

I've got your back, it's fine.

[I-SHAN WHIMPERS]

Is Mrs. Li not feeling well?
We have a lounge.

[I-SHAN SOBS]

You should explain
that I'm not your wife.

It's okay.

I'll take the inconvenience.

[SNIFFS]

Your makeup is all messed up.

[SNIFFS] You should feel lucky.

It's fine.

It's fine, it's fine.

Don't cry, don't cry.

[WAVES ROLLING]

[SENTIMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]

I-SHAN: Feeling your heartbeat...

I'm no longer me, but...

us.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

Auntie, you've been sleeping for so long.

[I-SHAN GROANS SOFTLY]

Liang-Liang, you're here.

Mommy said you're healthier
after postpartum confinement.

You can play cards with me now.

-Where's your dad?
-LIANG: He's sleeping in the room.

You can have these cards.
I'll teach you how to summon wizards.

Really?

Grandma will only make
magic lizard soup for us when you're up.

-Lizard soup?
-Yeah.

How scary.

-Is it really lizard soup?
-Yeah.

Make way, it's hot.

Grandma, I want lizard soup too.

Grandma told you many times.

It's beef. It's not lizard.

I-CHING: I mean,
you didn’t say it clearly.

Last time you said there was
a jewel on the bed, so you couldn't sleep.

I thought it could have been a jewel
that had fallen off something.

Turns out you were talking about a spider.

[I-SHAN'S MOM CHUCKLES]

You learned that from
your great-aunt next door.

-I-SHAN: Mom?
-Yeah?

I-SHAN: Where's Dad?

He thought you might need the car
after postpartum confinement,

so he took it to the shop for maintenance.

-I-SHAN: Oh.
-I-SHAN'S MOM: Here.

Drink it while it's still warm

so you'll have enough breast milk
for the baby. Here.

-Grandma.
-I-Ching, come.

-Is it here?
-I want lizard soup too.

You want lizard soup?
Come. Drink it quick.

-LIANG: I don't want to eat.
-When the lizard is making noises,

I'll capture it and cook it.

GLOW: Liang-Liang, leave Grandma alone.

I-SHAN'S MOM: Glow, come here.
Help me get that cast iron pot up there.

GLOW: No problem.

What are you doing?

I'm going to start my own business.

Huh?

I'll be making ready-to-eat beef noodles.

You mean,
you're starting your own business?

When we were at home
during the level three alert,

I bought a lot of premade food

to try the different
beef noodle soup flavors.

See?

Mom got so chubby because of me.

Let me see.

But this looks like those in the market.

See? Braised, stewed, borscht,
they're all here.

That's why I'm going to develop
my own flavor.

Your own flavor? What is your flavor?

Well...

I've lived in Tainan for 22 years
and in Taipei for 17 years.

Then I almost became a Singaporean.

I'm wondering if I could blend
the flavors of all these cities

and develop my own flavor.

Hey, Lin I-Shan,
do you need a business partner?

Why?

You need to promote your business, right?

Let's make a deal.

A pro influencer would need samples
before they can promote the products.

If you're making
any new beef soup flavors,

I could help you by tasting those samples.

I-SHAN: Lin I-Ching.

Find me a place in Taipei first.

I'll put a desk in the office for you.

You're coming back to Taipei?

If you're coming back to Taipei,
ask Li Cheng-En to find a place for you.

He's going to open a flagship store
in Taipei for his family business.

Check for me when you have the time.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

I-CHUN: Careful, slowly.

REAL ESTATE AGENT: Okay.

-All right. Yes!
-I-SHAN: Thank you.

I-CHUN: Good boy.

REAL ESTATE AGENT: Come.

Have a look around.
This is one of the few large properties

in Minsheng Community.

You can either turn it
into an office or a workshop.

It’s quite flexible.

I-CHUN: I think it's pretty good.

There's a natural light source.

If you're planning to live stream
or do online events,

it'll look great.

REAL ESTATE AGENT:
This is my favorite feature.

I-CHUN: [CHUCKLES] You have great taste.

I-SHAN: Thank you for coming with me.

I-CHUN: So, from what I've heard,

you're ready to
take care of him by yourself.

[INHALES] Yeah.

But my parents can help too.

This afternoon,
you've talked about your plan

to start a noodle company,

and you've mentioned
your mother's illness,

your father's retirement,

but you haven't said anything about Owen.

Are you sure you don't want him to know?

I'm not keeping it from him.

But you know how
the pandemic is right now.

It's not easy to travel abroad.

It'll depend on whether he and Gino
get a chance to meet later.

I didn't want to hide it from him.

[GINO COOS]

I didn't expect my sister
to actually pull it off.

You know how determined she can be.

When she sets her mind on something,
she can do it all.

Indeed.

Just like how she went to Taipei
and Singapore on her own,

and then had a kid just like that.

Hey, when I got pregnant,

she was worried about me
not being married. And now...

Now you both walk the same path.

She copied me first.

Sometimes I don't know
what your sister is thinking.

The other day, I went with her
to register the baby's household.

-She didn't register it in Taipei.
-I-CHING: Where did she register?

CHENG-EN: Don't be so nosy.

She has her reasons
for not registering it in Taipei.

When the kid grows up and can't decide
whether to study in Taipei or Tainan,

I'll help him deal with it.

You'll help him deal with it? You?

-It's ready.
-Want to be a father?

-None of your business.
-[LAUGHS]

-I've added some vegetables.
-Come.

Li Cheng-En,
I know you can't have scallions.

-I didn't add any.
-CHENG-EN: Thanks.

Come on. Try it.

The presentation looks great.

Here, here.

Our Tai Hao Wei
combines Taipei braised beef

with pineapples from Tainan

and spices from Southeast Asia
to make the broth.

And most importantly,
it uses Guanmiao noodles from Tainan.

You won't find this anywhere else.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

-I'll buy it.
-Okay, buy it.

But try it first.

See how it tastes.

Have some soup first.

-CHENG-EN: [SLURPS] Mmm.
-HUI-JU: It really tastes different.

-I-SHAN: It has a Southeast Asian flavor.
-CHENG-EN: Delicious.

MAN: Congratulations.

It’s been a while. Thanks.

Li Cheng-En.

-Congratulations.
-Hsu Hui-Ju.

-Gosh!
-Gosh!

-Congrats.
-Congrats on the opening.

-WOMAN: Six years old.
-Six years old already?

-Six years old.
-Try some.

Wow, so many!

I-Shan! You're late to the party.

-I've almost eaten them all.
-Look at Uncle A-Kuai.

-Hello.
-You see him?

ALL: Congratulations to Cheng-En.

HUI-JU: I didn't realize
us high school friends are all 40 now.

There's the married one, the divorced one,
and the ones who have kids.

-How interesting.
-Mmm, mmm.

Take another bite, Gino.

Right now, I am very blessed.

My son and I...

-Hello.
-...are a complete family.

Wow!

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

It's cute.

Come on. Time to go home for dinner.

Time to go. Let's wash our hands.

Hurry up.

Give me a minute.

Let's wash our hands together, okay?

You two can wash your hands together.

I'll help you wash too.

A-NAN: I'm here with you.

Hey, don't sneak a taste.

Help me with this too.

No problem.

Gosh!

You don't have to prepare food for me.

It's all right. As long as you enjoy it.

I'll just have what's in the shop.

-That's a risky thing for you to do.
-The worst-case scenario is I quit.

If you quit, what about your income?

Don't drink too much.

See you later.

-Bye.
-Bye.

If there's another gathering,
I won't go.

The rent has increased.

I don't make as much as I used to.
I need to cut my expenses.

So, you're saying we won't dine out
or meet our friends anymore?

No, you can still join them.

I-SHAN: I know this is your first shop.

It's hard to let go.

But what I care about is you.

The place doesn't matter.

It's not about whether
we should move out or not.

It's about wherever we go,

would you want to...

run the noodle shop with me?

[SNIFFS]

-WOMAN: Good, we'll go later, okay?
-[CHUCKLES]

I-SHAN: It’s been a while.

It’s been a while.

How's everything?

Yeah, it's fine.

The beef noodle shop...

Still the same.

Your daughter is so cute.

-Thanks.
-[I-SHAN CHUCKLES]

Your kid is adorable too.

Where is your husband from?

He's British.

I’m not married. I'm a single mom.

-All clean?
-WOMAN: Yeah.

-A-NAN: Let's go home.
-WOMAN: Okay.

A-NAN: We'll get going then.

Bye.

-[IN ENGLISH] I'm here, baby.
-WOMAN: [IN MANDARIN] Your friend?

-A-NAN: Yeah. Haven't seen her for ages.
-See?

Let's go home, okay?

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

GLOW: Keep your toys organized.

Liang-Liang.
Do you want some cookies?

-Cookies.
-No?

Are you sure?

Gino.

Don't complain if you're hungry later.

I-SHAN: Here, have some snacks.

Thanks for coming.

-You should take a break, okay?
-Fine, I'll stop moving around.

HUI-JU: This is from Cheng-En's store,
right?

-Yeah.
-HUI-JU: I knew it.

[WOMEN CHUCKLE]

Look at our Liang.

And look at Kuai-Mei.

How can a boy and a girl be so different?

You know that our Liang
is like a 100K-volt Pikachu.

I mean, can you let Mommy
take a break for a while?

Liang-Liang is pretty adorable.

You have no idea how much time
and energy I've spent.

I want to let her know that I'm Mommy,
and A-Kuai is Daddy.

We're a family.

We will always love her and protect her.

We've spent so much time.

[SIGHS] Hearing you talk about children
is quite a joy,

but I'm also living
quite comfortably by myself.

Do you smell something stinky?

I don't think so.

Is he potty-trained yet?

It's really wonderful
to see everyone like this,

making your own choices.

Here. To our own choices.

-I-CHING: Here.
-HUI-JU: Cheers.

GLOW: Careful, careful.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

-[SCREAMS]
-HUI-JU: What?

-I got it, I got it!
-Where, where?

Why are you covering for her?

She stole it from me.

LISA: I'm showing you the harsh reality.

I-SHAN: Did I do something wrong?

LISA: You did nothing wrong.
You're not a good fit for our company.

I-Shan, what will you buy
with your savings?

Maybe I'll buy a suite in Taipei.

This is it?

You girls are so brave.

I'm not afraid.
It's their wrongdoing. Why should I hide?

I've got your back.

-Here.
-Bingo, that's it.

We need to do what's best
for elevating the brand value.

I-SHAN: I have some plans.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

[CHEERING]

I'm asking you to marry me.

-I want you to be my wife.
-[I-SHAN SCREAMS]

CHIEN-HUAN: I've been married
for five years.

My wife and I have always been
in an open relationship.

Do you love me then?

I love him very much,
so it's impossible for me to ignore you.

I want to be successful
but not the ordinarily defined success.

I don't want to be limited
by any preconceived notion.

And when people see that,

they'll aspire to be like me.

Sung-Chuan.

If you want to keep pursuing your dream,

I'll follow you.

I-Shan, you’ll join the foundation
and help out.

You can help promote MingSheng
and the foundation.

Don't you think marriage
goes beyond the two people?

It's like a w*r between two families
with different opinions, right?

With kids, you have neither freedom
nor your own will.

I'd never let that happen to you.

Found it.

Damn, it looks worn out. Could it be...

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

I-SHAN: I have no idea now
of what I am trying to prove in Taipei.

-Come on.
-[I-SHAN SCREAMS]

HSIAO-FENG: I'm coming for you. [LAUGHS]

[CHEERS]

I-SHAN: Go abroad
and see what's out there.

Maybe you'll find what you should do next.

KEVIN: [IN ENGLISH] Come on.

[IN MANDARIN] We're in Singapore.

It's not about seniority.

It's about capabilities
and efficiency, okay?

[IN ENGLISH] Sandy, will you marry me?

[SENTIMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]

[THEME SONG PLAYING]

[THEME SONG ENDS]