Apprentice

Five minutes.

Have you ever been involved with any political organization

Or group of people whose activities are political in nature?

No, sir.

In the last seven years,

Have you consulted with a health care professional

Regarding an emotional or mental health condition?

No, sir.

Prior to prisons, has the government ever investigated your background

Or given you a security clearance?

Yes, sir. I was an army regular.

What was your clearance level? Cat 2, confidential.

How long have you been with prisons?

Two years.

Always technical workshop?

Yes, sir.

Larangan is different from commonwealth.

We're a maximum security prison.

- Have you been here before? - No, sir.

Why'd you join prisons?

I wanted to help those who want to change...

And make them better people.

You'll be handling rehab prisoners.

But here, we also have punishment cells

And condemned cells.

You're aware of that?

Yes, sir.

Your cat 2a clearance will give you access to blocks a to d.

But the maximum security side at block e is out-of-bounds.

- You got that? - Yes, sir.

Here's your new security pass.

Put your full name here, your id, and sign here.

Up!

Let's go.

Aiman! I need to get something. Open quick!

Wait!

I need the spray. There's a cockroach.

Just whack it!

The cockroach is the flying type. What are you doing?

Quick!

What are you looking at? Why are you so shy?

You can't tell I'm on the toilet?

Quick!

Grandma told me her stomach is hurting again.

When was her last checkup?

Last month, but they've scheduled another appointment.

Can you take shorter showers?

Our bills have gone up by quite a lot.

Just because you can afford it now doesn't mean you should be wasteful.

It's a good thing grandma isn't here. She'd make you bathe with a bucket.

Understand?

Okay.

Tastes good?

It's okay.

Hey, wear your shoe properly first.

Wear your shoe properly.

Hey, it's you again!

Hey, inmate! Don't use your hand.

Use the pliers.

If your hand gets stuck, then what?

Understand?

Understood.

Joseph always goes there. You know Joseph?

- I know. - Speaking of Joseph.

I've told him, just let them order what they want.

- Comfort food. - Last meal?

Last meal, you know. Just let them be happy, right?

We need to fatten them up. Too light and they won't go down.

Yeah, he can be a little thick sometimes.

I don't know what goes on in his head. He never gets it right.

What's this?

The cabinet door fell off.

So dangerous. It narrowly missed my feet.

Do you remember? How you used to hide in that cabinet?

Funny,

You managed to fit in there even when you were fat.

Hey. When was I ever fat?

You remember those Popeye stickers?

You used to sing...

Papa the sailor man! Choo-choo!

I tried to tell you it's Popeye, but you kept going "papa."

It made grandma so upset.

I'll look for a new cabinet this weekend.

I can fix it. Just get a new one.

This one's so old anyway.

Don't worry, I can fix it.

I don't care what management says. Tell them what I said.

Up!

Let's go.

Where are you going?

Meeting john.

What time are you coming back? Late.

What time is late?

Do I have a curfew now?

I'm asking, that's all.

Late means late.

You mind your business and I'll do the same, okay?

What's that supposed to mean?

You know I don't like you working in that prison, but I don't say anything.

What does this have to do with the prison?

Hi.

One moment, john.

Did I interrupt something? No, it's okay. Come, let's go.

- Return this for me. - Yes, chief.

Go pack up block e. Get someone to help you.

Yes, chief.

Chief Rahim borrowed this that day. Are the other guys around?

They went for lunch.

Do you need help?

Come, lift this with me. One, two, three!

Push the trolley.

This one's spoiled? Something inside's broken.

- I think I can fix this. - We've tried already.

Come. There's some more.

These two also go into that room.

- Can you manage? - Yes.

Joseph!

Yes, chief!

- Did you call them or not? - Yeah, they only have one inch.

Why you never checked earlier?

I didn't know ah Tiong's not working there anymore.

Did you try other suppliers?

Yeah, I called a few.

But they also don't have three-quarter inch.

I asked you to go down last week. You go down or not?

Not yet, chief. I thought it was better to call them first.

What about beach road? The fishing shops there?

I don't know those, chief.

I know somewhere.

- Like fishing shops? - No, chief.

It's like a warehouse, for boatmen.

At Sembawang.

Do they have these?

We can give it a try.

You're one of Sabir's new guys? Yes, chief.

How do you know of this place?

My grandfather was a boatman.

He used to take me there.

Joseph said you can fix the scale?

I can try. Shouldn't be tough.

You're a mechanic?

No. I went to the vocational training institute.

What did you do before joining the service?

I was in the army.

Regular? Yes.

What was your vocation?

Guards.

We don't get a lot of guys like you, from the army.

Most guys come straight out of school.

Nowadays, no one is tough enough for a job like this.

Those scholar types just don't get it,

Always hiding behind all the fucking rules.

You see that tree?

Know what tree that is?

White people call it a "ceme-tree."

You're a serious guy, aren't you?

The size doesn't really matter. I can reduce one strand.

This the last roll I have.

Yes, this is good.

And then this one? What is this?

That one is hemp rope. Different from manila.

But that one, I don't have three-quarter inch.

What do you need the rope for? Some maintenance work.

Sis?

Sis?

Fuck!

What's wrong with you? Don't you know how to knock?

I found this the other day.

He wants me to meet his parents in Australia.

I met him.

Who?

The hangman.

What?

The same man who hanged our father?

He's been doing it for over 30 years.

He told you that?

- What? -That he's been doing it for 30 years.

He was in the papers.

I recognized his face.

Does he know who you are?

Did you tell him?

Did you tell John?

Aiman! Chief Rahim's looking for you.

- I'll be next door if you need me. - Okay, chief.

I need to redo the noose.

Come help me.

Go downstairs. Remove the sandbag.

Loosen it. And take that off.

There are three in all. See the one at the bottom?

Hold and twist.

Thanks, chief.

- Do you have a girlfriend? - No.

How come?

Broke up a while back.

No chance to meet anyone new.

Any girl to introduce?

No luck myself.

You're not married?

Once. For four years.

She didn't know I was an executioner.