On Your Lap (Pangku)

Where are we now?

Kilometer 60, Boss.

Where'd she get on?

Kilometer 26.

Then…

And where's she getting off?

No clue.

She just said she's looking for work.

Damn.

Looking for a job? At this time?

Girls like that are bad luck.

What do you mean?

You see this?

Just drop her off here.

Luckily the truck didn't flip over.

Good Lord.

Looking for work, right?

Just head over there.

Okay?

Just follow that road.

You'll find a busy area there.

Lots of work opportunities for sure.

Sorry about this.

Waves of demonstrations continue to occur

amidst the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

The protesters, who consisted of university students…

Excuse me, ma'am.

and citizens, continued to demand the purge of the government

from New Order figures and the abolition of the dual function

of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia.

In his statement, President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie

asked the public to support the government

in the midst of the ongoing economic crisis…

What can I get you?

…which led to the unstable Rupiah exchange rate,

the surge in prices of basic necessities, and also…

Hey.

…the rising unemployment rate as a result of…

- Anything to drink? - Just tea, ma'am.

…the president concern that the continuing situation

could slow down the economic recovery process,

which, in the end, would actually worsen the conditions of the lower classes.

The increase in Indonesian labor deployments needs to be followed

by the availability of highly skilled and educated workers

in order to open up more job opportunities

and improve the welfare of the community,

in addition to accelerating the recovery of national economic stability.

Several tragedies have occurred recently,

including strong demonstrations by university students and ordinary citizens

who reject officials and politicians from the New Order era who are still in power.

They are demanding that these individuals be brought to justice,

calling for term limits for the presidency,

and that the dual function of the Indonesian Armed Forces be abolished.

No women stopping by tonight?

They've all moved elsewhere. It's been a while.

Besides, you can't do karaoke here.

Leaving so soon?

I'm bored.

I want a lap session while having a nice massage.

Well, let me give you one then.

I give nice massages, too. You want?

This place used to be much busier.

People nowadays prefer singing, karaoke, and massages.

They must be stressed out or something.

Hey.

You asshole!

You want me to sit on your lap?

Maybe tomorrow.

I'm closing up.

Hey.

Where are you going?

Where do you live?

I'm looking for work, ma'am.

Any kind of work.

Anything?

How far along are you?

Eight months, almost nine.

Want to work for me?

Let's go.

Where is it?

- Here you go, Aunty. - Okay.

-See you. -Tini.

Hey.

Oh, Tini. Still collecting payments at this hour?

Yeah, some of them keep missing their dues if I don't show up.

Want a ride?

Who is she, ma'am?

- What's your name? - Tika.

Sartika.

Just call me Auntie Tini.

You're so pretty. Why no makeup?

Such a waste.

I have some herbal stuff to keep your baby healthy.

I'll bring it later if you want.

You can pay in installments.

Whatever, I have to open my stall early tomorrow. See you later.

Ms. Maya, don't cut me. I'm not done talking yet.

If you're due soon, let me know.

- Ma'am. - Yes. Will do.

Come in.

Hey, old man.

Wake up, old man.

Move over there.

You can sleep here.

Don't worry.

He's too old to cause trouble.

You can just sleep.

Ma'am.

Thank you.

What did you do for work before?

Washing and ironing clothes.

Anything that can make ends meet.

And your parents, where are they?

In the village.

Just my mother now. My father passed away.

Did you leave the house,

or were you kicked out?

If you want to work in my coffee stall, it's easy.

Just sit at the stall, make coffee, that's it.

It's simple.

Not many people come by, but there's always someone.

With you around, maybe we'll get more visitors.

If I work there, should I cozy them and sit on their laps, too?

Nobody's forcing you.

Besides, in your condition, they'll probably think twice.

Do you even know where you'd go if you didn't stay here?

You said you'd take any job.

Would you work overseas?

You hear the news. Some people get abused over there.

What about your husband? What does he do?

He used to work in a plastic factory.

Now, he sometimes works in the rice fields.

How about factory work, ma'am?

Factories are closing down everywhere.

It's hard to find jobs in this economy.

Come on. Push… Push strongly…

Push…

Let's go. You can do this.

Ma'am, bring me a clean cloth.

Here you go.

Praise the Lord.

Cute, right?

Here, try feed him this.

Is it good?

Is it good?

Tasty, right?

Tasty, right?

- Thank you. - Okay.

Your payment.

Ma'am.

As part of Indonesia's economic recovery efforts

following the monetary crisis,

President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie

established the Indonesian Manpower Placement Coordination Agency, BKPTKI,

which reports directly to the president

through Presidential Decree No. 20 of 1999.

BKPTKI is tasked to assist the president in improving programs

and placement of Indonesian workers overseas

by paying attention to the quality and safety of workers,

as well as providing marketing and protection overseas.

Careful, it's hot.

Is it sweet enough?

You sitting here makes the coffee sweet.

Such a sweet talker.

Buy me a pack of cigarettes.

Which one do you want?

That one.

Please?

Will you buy it for me?

Sure.

Mommy.

- Mom. - Mom is making coffee. Okay?

You stay here with me.

Okay?

Stay here with me, okay?

Comfy?

Boss, can I have a leave?

How long?

A week, Boss.

What for?

Taking my wife. She's leaving for Saudi Arabia.

Other guys with wives going abroad don't take a full week off.

We have to stop by her hometown first.

Thank you.

How many stops are we doing later?

Maybe three.

After that, we can stop by.

- Just coffee? - Yeah.

Ma'am.

Two coffees, one pack of peanuts.

Thank you.

Thank you.

How many times do I have to tell you to count correctly?

- This is about money, idiot! - Sorry, Boss.

If you mess up the load again, you're paying for it!

Moron.

What's wrong with him this time?

The usual. I loaded the wrong box.

Just mark the number next time.

Makes it easier.