Buffalo Rider

She would have been 34 today.

You remember Grandma Somjai in Thailand?

She really wants to see you.

I said, she really wants-

I said, she really wants-

Anyway, just so you know, I made arrangements.

You're gonna go spend the summer in Banglamung.

All right then…

Tell you what.

Here's how you get your way.

You don't wanna go?

Just talk to me.

Tell me you don't wanna go.

God gave you a voice.

Use it.

You're so much like your mother was when she was a girl.

So beautiful,

with your mother's big eyes and silky skin.

And just like her, quite a little bitch.

Oh, wait! Hey, wait!

Hello! Stop!

Hey Boonrod.

You know this is my grandfather's property…

…and those are his fish.

Hey Boonrod,

where you going?

Look who is here!

Greetings!

Come on in!

This is my granddaughter Jenny. Isn't she cute?

Good morning, Mr. Nun.

This is my granddaughter.

Coming through! No brakes!

Good morning, Grandma Sai.

In your seats. Now.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing our new student

from Los Angeles, California.

Her Thai name is Janthanee but you can call her Jenny.

Take a seat here.

Boonrod.

You're late again.

Come to the front.

Give him the cane!

He likes it!

You will step outside and stand with a ruler in your mouth for 15 minutes.

When you're done, you'll come back

and write the exact time our class begins,

one hundred times. Understood?

Go on.

All right then.

Open up your books and go to today's lesson.

Hey!

They say you don't talk.

It's OK. I like girls that don't talk.

Hey Boonlua, where's your son?

In school.

Why?

No reason.

We need to do something about that.

Hey beautiful,

my beautiful girl.

How about a little refill?

Your tab is full.

Come on, you know me.

That's the problem.

Tomorrow. Promise.

Is that how you run my business?

He'll get the money, Mr. Chun.

Oh, I have no doubt of that. He'll steal it from his wife.

Like he always does.

Alright. This is it. Take picture.

OK, You guys bunch in together. Don't be shy.

You, monk, would it kill you to smile?

What?

I don't think monks are even supposed to touch women.

Really? Listen, it's no problem, men want to touch women.

Shut it!

You know if you need decency, you'd be in that thing.

Because this is the Christmas Card!

How many chances do we get-we have come a long way to do this,

and you're gonna screw it up!

Check this out…

Derek… What…

Here, I'd like you to meet my grandson, Archit.

He practically runs his school. If I don't watch out,

he'll be running me soon.

Grandma Somjai.

Oh, hello!

Have you met my granddaughter, Jenny yet?

No, I haven't.

Go on, say hello.

Nice to meet you.

She's very shy.

I can see that.

OK, let's go.

We will pray that you meet your mother again in the next life.

- He must be in school… - But he is not!

I can't watch him all the time, I have to take care of the house!

This is all your fault.

I can't watch him every second of the day.

Get back here!

Complain, complain! He is your son!

Hey, Boonrod!

Why weren't you in school?

Answer your father.

I'll tell you why.

You were fishing on Phooyai Chun's property.

Admit it! Those are his fish!

My son's a common thief now?

Answer me!

Where else can he fish?

Phooyai Chun owns all the best fishing spots.

You stay out of this!

Boonrod wouldn't need to steal if his father had a job.

And I wouldn't have to beg for food at the temple in front of our friends.

We are not thieves!

And we are not beggars!

We are not beggars!

What are we then?

…out came the sun And dried up all the rain,

So the itsy-bitsy spider Climbed up the spout again!

Baa baa black sheep,

Have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir Three bags full.

One for my master, And one for my lady,

And one for the little girl Who lives down the lane.

Mommy!!!!

What do you need? I don't understand.

Score!

Here!

Give it to me!

Yess!

Come on, come on!

Ouch!!!!

Perhaps Jenny would like to show the class where she lives in California.

Boonrod.

Come here.

Come here right now.

Hurry up.

What am I supposed to do with you?

What's that? I didn't hear you?

I want you to look at the time.

Now hold it up and show the class.

Higher.

Higher.

Higher.

Higher.

What time does it say?

We all know you can talk.

Talk, Boonrod!

What is the time?

See what you've done, Boonrod?

You've brought shame upon this family.

You want to live like an animal?

Is that what you want?

I'm gonna teach you what it means to be an adult!

Are you ever going to become a normal person, Boonrod?

Here, this will teach you!

It is delicious.

- Take some more. - Thank you…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNY

Listen, I - I didn't know her name…

I didn't know where she was going.

I mean a young girl out like that…

that time a night, traveling alone is very dangerous.

I got a niece about the same age… and anything could happen.

That's why I brought her here for you to figure this thing out.

- Thank you mister Barrow. - Thank you, and I mean it too…

I just wish you would…

try to communicate to her that I did not mean to frighten her.

Anyway… Thank you very much.

Hey, there he is. Listen,

I was just wondering if you know where I might be able

to score a cheeseburger around here.

Maybe not.

Dear girl…

Dear girl…

I need you to affirm that she is back in your custody.

We were worried about you.

She had this in her possession.

What is this?

Let's go.

Your mother. By the time she got pregnant,

the doctor said she was too sick to carry a baby.

I ordered her not to go through with it

but she was so stubborn. Just like you.

The doctor was right. The strain was too much.

Over the years, she just got weaker and weaker.

She was alone with her baby.

No husband.

Too sick to work.

By the time she met your stepfather, they both knew she was dying.

Still, he insisted on marrying Jenjit.

So that you would be loved when she was gone.

If only you could understand that this was meant to be…

…your mother would be at peace.

When she got home,

she was severely punished for her disrespect

to Teacher Ratree.

That's all you get.