The Wedding Banquet (Xi yan) (喜宴)

It's been a long time since I last wrote...

but because of my shoulder...

I find it difficult to lift a pen.

So I recorded this cassette for you...

my son in America.

It will save you lots on phone bills, too.

My shoulder has been hurting since menopause began.

They say after two more years, it won't hurt anymore.

So, Pa has retired from the Army, and now he's acting strange.

Before he was a general...

in charge of thousands of troops.

Now he's here at home...

commanding only me and old Chang...

and he's getting very cranky.

It's hard for him to run things.

Maybe it's because I'm getting old, and he's getting older...

and you're not getting any younger yourself.

When will you marry?

You know, Pa came from China to Taiwan by himself...

and you're his only precious son.

So don't be such a snob!

Last week we enrolled you into Taipei's best singles club...

and they'll send you a computer form...

for you to describe your ideal woman.

All their girls have impeccable backgrounds.

They are well-educated, well brought up...

elegant and very attractive...

like Mrs. Quian's daughter, the one you refused to marry.

Please, son. Don't be so choosy.

Relax. Stretch.

As a great Chinese poet once said:

What's that supposed to mean?

If you don't Zen out, you'll be murdered by your physical therapist.

Simon, there's a call for you.

Hello.

If I give you $1, will you stop playing for a minute?

- Simon? - Yeah, where are you?

In the city. Come here and meet me. I'll take you out to dinner.

You're still mad?

It's just we've been planning this trip for months.

All you had to do was tell me.

But I can't control when zoning boards meet.

We'll get time together, I promise.

Just come home tonight, okay? We'll talk about it later.

Sure. I'm going by the Williamsburg Building first.

I'll be home by 7:00.

Wai Tung! Wow! What a coincidence! You live in Brooklyn?

No, in Manhattan.

What are you up to?

Last time I saw you was before my operation.

They put 33 different wires, but you can hardly notice...

only the skin graft.

Sorry, but I'm late. Call me sometime.

Yeah, let's get together.

Just like the old days.

You're eating too fast.

I'm nervous. If they let me convert the Hudson building, I'll make millions.

If not, we couldn't even afford a vacation in the Poconos.

What's the point of being able to afford a vacation...

if you won't even take time off to have one?

Speaking of which, Steve and Andrew just got back from Belize.

They hated the hotel.

Was that the one we were going to stay in?

So I guess it's great we didn't go.

Simon, I'm really sorry. But I've made up my mind.

I'm taking you to Paris in September, right after the zoning hearing.

It will be a birthday present.

You're such a jerk.

Hey, you homo! What are you doing in this neighborhood?

Hello.

Don't joke about it.

You know the Witchells down the street? Check them out.

Cute.

Do you and the mighty Wai want to go shoot some hoops later, maybe around 2:00?

Wai has to run into Williamsburg and deal with some tenant stuff.

I might be able to make it though.

- I'll call you. - Just show up.

- See you. - Bye.

If they're not off the sidewalk by 10:00, I get a ticket.

- Sorry, boss. - You're sorry?

Those tickets cost me $175.

If I get another one, it's coming out of your salary.

Who is it?

The nasty landlord.

This floor has been liberated...

but since you're so handsome, you may come in.

This is not rent.

Simon says these will be worth a lot some day.

Simon is not the landlord, and I don't know modern art.

But you like me. It's my fate. I always fall for handsome gay men.

Bullshit! Don't try to trade paintings for rent.

What a racket!

It's to block the noise. I can't concentrate.

- You like Taiwanese music? - Anything to block the noise.

What's this painting called?

"Heat."

And if you shut it off, the whole building will be without hot water.

Then don't touch it.

Can't you fix it? It's so hot in here. How am I to live like this?

It's not a living space. That's why the rent is so low.

I've tried it for a year. It's stuck.

What's this?

My depression special.

You're really that poor?

Just depressed.

Immigration showed up at work yesterday. Luckily I got there late.

As usual.

Yes.

They got Emily.

If they get me, I'll be meeting Emily in Shanghai.

Emily was my best friend.

Now I've lost my job and my friend.

I'm sorry.

You have no relatives here?

They sponsored me. I can't trouble them again.

I'm not like you, rich...

American citizen.

I'm not as rich as you think. All my money is stuck in here.

Then thanks for the extra investment in my loft.

Actually, I kind of like this one.

It's pretty good. I'll take it as rent...

for the last two months also.

Thank you, Wai Tung.

Okay.

When will you fix the sink?

Say hi to Simon.

Simon's lucky to have a handsome and rich boyfriend.

Ask him to get me one, too, then I'll pay the rent.

My perfect woman.

What? Another one?

Don't those things cost a fortune?

Yes, but how can I tell them to stop paying for them?

Why don't you just tell them?

Shit.

No, really, Wai.

Someday, I'm just going to call your father and tell him myself.

I told mine.

Look at yourself. Your parents send you a form in the mail...

and you practically pee your pants.

You are an adult. As a matter of fact, you're practically middle-aged.

Fuck you!

- Let me check this out. Education, right? - Yes.

- She must have a Ph.D. - No, two Ph. Ds.

One in Physics.

- And she should be an opera singer. - And 6 feet tall.

Let's not go overboard. She's Chinese, after all.

5 foot 9 inches.

- And she should speak five languages. - Good.

You're right.

It's kind of stupid, all these lies.

But I'm used to it.

- I got you a little present. - Me? Why?

Shut up and open it.

For the busy entrepreneur.

Go ahead, try it.

Hello.

- Thanks. - You're welcome.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Yeah. But if I sell it to the S-Corporation...

and they reappraise the building, it'll kill me at tax time.

Fax this to Chow.

Okay, I'll sign it if you say so.

But if it costs me, it's coming out of your salary.

Boss, Miss Wei Wei called complaining about the heat.

Heat? What heat?

It's June.

Son, you must be surprised to get another cassette so soon.

I have good news.

Your singles club found a near match for you.

She's 5" 8" tall...

and although she only has one doctorate degree...

she is also an opera singer...

and she speaks five languages.

Dad and I are going to give you a surprise.

We're flying her to New York so you can meet her.

Her name is Wu Ren Ren, but everyone calls her Little Sister Mao.

She'll be staying with her cousin in New York...

and will arrive in two weeks.

Please pick her up at the airport.

Aren't you excited? We are.

I'm exhausted. Sorry to put you out.

Sister Mao, how's your dad, Mr. Mao...

I mean Mr. Wu.

He's fine, thank you.

You have your cousin's address?

Of course! I'm not a kid.

I know.

Sister Mao, your luggage is so heavy!

Why didn't you use cargo?

I did! Half the stuff here is for you from your mother.

I'm sorry. I'll buy you dinner tonight for that.

So heavy!

Where's your car?

First time in America?

No. I sang at the San Francisco Opera for two years.

Opera, yes.

- Are you a fan? - Yes. Pavarotti.

Nothing.

The service here is lousy.