The Road to Mandalay (再見瓦城)

1,000 Thai baht, no Burmese kyat.

Why are you so late?

Too many Burmese checkpoints.

We've all been waiting for you. You're Lianqing?

Yes.

Come on.

Who wants the back seats?

Okay, 9,000 baht, pay upfront.

Get in.

The boot is 8,000 baht.

You need a pill if you go in the boot or you'll get carsick.

Yours.

You're in the front, no need.

It's fine.

You can have my seat, I'll go here.

Whatever... get in!

Check it.

Papers.

Any other papers?

Here.

Check the boot.

Any other special papers?

Here.

No need to check.

It's just grain.

He can go.

Drive slowly, good luck!

Thank you.

You're Guo?

You're so tall!

Bro, you can go.

Why were you in the boot? You paid 10,000 baht!

Never mind, doesn't matter.

Four of you, right?

Wu, Jia'en, Wei...

And Fu'an.

You're all from Myitkyina?

I'm from Lashio.

Same difference.

You four get in.

Bro, the usual place.

Thank you.

No problem.

Someone will pick you up?

Yes, my friend.

Got a job waiting?

My friend will help me get one.

My cousin needs people, you wanna try?

No, my friend will help me.

Guo, come on!

That's my cousin's number, you can call me.

Guo!

Take this, it's shrimp paste.

Maomei! Instant noodles again?

I love instant noodles.

That's Maomei.

This is Lianqing.

From Burma?

Yes.

Have less instant noodles!

Sit over there.

It's hot, take off your jacket.

Hungry? Have some instant noodles.

Thank you.

You must be wiped out from the trip.

Where in Burma are you from?

From Lashio.

Which district?

Fifth District.

Do you have running water in Lashio?

In the city centre, not in our house.

You wanna find a job?

Yes.

Got a boyfriend?

Hey, don't listen to her!

What she does is too hard!

Not at all.

It's easy and you earn a lot!

No way! She just got here!

It's Hua! Let me in!

It's Hua, open the door for her.

You're here.

Have some noodles, Hua.

What happened to your key?

I lost it on the bus.

I didn't want to go back, too much risk of trouble.

Right, time to lie low.

I haven't been to work for days.

Take your time, feel at home, have more noodles.

Finished? You eat so fast!

Lianqing, you want more?

No, I'm full.

No hurry.

Enjoy your meal.

Hua, I brought you these from Burma.

I pickled them myself.

And these, your favourite pickles.

Lahpet-thok.

My mum made this especially for you.

Dried pickles.

And a sarong, don't know if you'll like it.

You can buy all these here.

And wearing a sarong would be a giveaway.

Hua...

Does your company need more people?

Can you introduce me?

You have no papers, who'll hire you?

No one will!

Hua's in a bad mood.

She has no papers, so she got fired.

Don't mind her.

There's plenty of work.

I'll help you.

Great!

Go get changed, take a rest.

After a night on the road, you must be tired.

I'll go get changed.

I wore this when I worked here...

...It was too big for me.

But it looks fine on you.

Cai!

Long time no see!

Hello, sir.

You look sexier!

Thank you.

Don't just stand there, sit down!

Come on.

You sit there.

Sir, I've brought my friend to be interviewed.

It's been so long!

She's also...

...from Burma.

- Yes. - From the same place.

Any sales experience?

He asks if you have any sales experience.

I sold clothes in Burma before.

She sold clothes in Burma before.

Have some water.

Is she good?

Yes, she is. Sells a lot!

Can she speak English?

Yes, she graduated from senior high.

You went to the same school?

Yes, we were classmates.

How old are you?

How old are you?

23.

She's 23.

Does she have a work permit?

She's applying now.

She needs a work permit.

Right away?

We didn't need one before.

When you and Maomei worked here...

...you didn't need it.

You could apply for one later.

No matter what, you need a work permit.

You gotta have one if you want to work.

Any way around it?

You really need a work permit.

We're applying now.

Can you take her on for a month?

No, no.

You need a permit.

She's come all this way.

And she'd really like to work here.

Sir, can't you help her, please?

Cai, I really can't.

See me again when you have a permit.

Don't worry.

You've just got here. Don't worry.

Such a small company...

So damn strict!

They demand a work permit.

When we worked there, they didn't insist.

Now they're getting bigger, the boss goes by the book.

Never mind, I'll bring you to other places soon.

Cai...

Can't I do what you do?

What Maomei and I do wouldn't suit you.

Don't worry about it.

I'll bring you to other places later.

It's a tough job.

Kitchen work pays higher.

12,000 baht.

You'd wash dishes, it's quite chaotic.

Which d'you prefer, waitressing or kitchen work?

Kitchen work.

It's a good job.

Don't look down on my restaurant, it may be small,

but it's central, the business does very well.

Do your best.

If you're never late...

...you get a 500 baht bonus each month.

If you do well, you get an annual bonus too.

We provide food and accommodation.

You can live on the fourth floor.

The rent is 1,000 baht per month.

Want to take a look?

You can stay with us for 500 baht