My Mother Is a Belly Dancer (師奶唔易做 / Seelai ng yi cho)

Fatty, you drop your shoes!

Thanks, auntie!

Mrs. Wong, you change job?

Just for the time being.

Has your husband found a job yet?

Not yet!

I see if there's anything I can help!

Bye!

Good morning, Mrs. Chan.

Watermelon

Keep away from it!

Yuck! A cockroach!

Relax. It's dead now anyway.

Scientists say that cockroaches will survive even the end of the world.

What do you think?

No way. Only these old aunties will survive!

Are they teasing us again?

Ignore them, they only talk crap.

Wait a sec, these are for you.

What are they for?

Pear, milled jujube, apricot seed-- soup ingredients.

Great, come by for soup tonight.

Got to run, see you.

OK, we'll make snacks for the field trip.

My mom will take care of it. Bye!

Let your granny have that chair!

Mom!

What does this say?

You never pass your English tests!

Well, look at it this way.

They've already sent a man to the moon.

Why bother to learn English?

Then why do you bother to play with your videogames and cellphone?

Even Bruce Lee spoke fluent English.

Yeah, but his wife is a Caucasian.

Practice makes perfect.

You can do the same.

How? By talking to Granny in English?

Talk to me.

Forget it! You didn't even finish high school!

Unless you can afford to hire the "Tutor King"...

King what?

Never mind. You're so out of date.

This is what we call the "rabid dog".

I think the "puppy" is prettier.

You two are so foul-mouthed.

Still shaking her ass at her age.

What's she thinking?

Hey, I heard the butcher was the father!

No wonder she always gets the best pork!

These aunties must be whispering about the latest gossip again.

They're not whispering at all.

Well, never mind. At least they're not talking about us.

Then you think that lady's wrong too?

What's wrong with you? Watch where you're walking!

Excuse me, auntie.

Are you alright?

I'm fine.

Not serious? We've already paid our tuitions!

And now the dance teacher is gone?

Why shouldn't we call the police?

I understand, but I'll find a substitute teacher for dance class, don't worry.

How? And for what kind of dance?

You all applied for traditional dance lessons, right?

Right.

Well, actually I've already found a substitute.

Bravo! Bravo! Wasn't that amazing?

What kind of dancing is this?

It's too revealing, dancing with your belly exposed.

I won't move like this to flirt around.

Ma'am, I think you've misunderstood.

Belly dancing is a cultural art form.

It's been a part of history in Turkey and Arabia for 5000 years.

Mind your own history and stay out of ours.

Maybe you should go back to where you belong.

We Chinese know that only sluts shake their bodies in public.

You understand me... Slut?

We want our money back. This isn't what we paid for.

I'm sure no one here wants to learn to dance like this.

We'll take the class.

Didn't you hear what I just said?

Mind your own business and stay out of ours.

What's your name?

Call me Pasha

OK, let's start from the beginning.

Start with the right hip and foot,

and move to your right.

1, 2, 3, 4. Arms spread, Mrs. Lee.

1, 2, 3, 4, right leg. 1, 2...

Not bad. You only failed two subjects.

I'll buy you an MP3 player as reward.

For real?

What? He's getting worse even after tutorial class,

and he still gets a present for that?

This is what I call "being your son's best friend".

If we encourage him with gifts,

then he'll gradually do better.

Why don't just stay out, huh?

Look, now you've made him feel bad.

Don't worry. Daddy will get you one on Sunday.

Yay!

Hey, Mom's birthday is coming up.

Where should we go to celebrate?

Anywhere will do.

No, we ought to go someplace for dinner.

How about a buffet.

Mrs. Chan said the Panda Hotel's quite nice.

Teacher, my husband won't let me take the class anymore.

You don't have to tell him,

do you?

It's OK, but keep this scarf as a gift from me, until you've made up your mind.

I totally understand.

Alright then. Goodbye.

And thanks.

How can I keep this from him?

Just tell him you're learning Tai Chi.

Mom, the garbage lady is here.

Hi Mrs. Wong!

Hi Mrs. Chan!

Let me handle this.

It's alright, we're neighbors.

Oh, yes, here's something here from my husband.

For my husband?

His shirt needs sewing at the cuff.

Can you mend it?

Yes, it's a piece of cake.

Also, this dress needs to be altered, too.

No problem, I can fix them for you.

No, I can't accept this.

Please do.

Don't say no to this!

It's too much!

Wait, there's something in the pocket...

I've told my husband a hundred times to empty his pockets...

Uh... OK then.

I'll fix them and return them as soon as possible.

It'll be quick and simple. Thank you, Mrs. Lee.

He knows nothing about tailoring.

Today is Sunday, comma...

It's waste of time talking to him!

These are my family's tailoring arts from Shanghai!

You calling me old-fashioned?

Then don't ask me to do it!

You'll get your refund, so shut up.

And I quit, so get lost!

It's a sunny day, comma...

Go wash up for dinner.

Daddy takes us out for dim sum, comma...

Daddy take us out...

Hey, go take your shower.

Daddy take us out for dim sum...

I'm not going.

Daddy takes us out for dim sum, comma...

And then to the Ocean Park, comma...

For real?

For real?

Finish your homework first.

It's too early for my paycheck.

We're forced to lay you off.

Today will be your last day.

Please, can't you keep me on for one more month?

My husband's still unemployed...

Just one more month, please.

I beg you, just one month.

Sorry, can't do it.

Garbage lady! We don't want this. You can have it.

Stop crying, why did you break sister's...?

What happened? What happened?

Why are these eyeglasses broken?

Why are these broken?

She broke them.

How could she break them while wearing you're wearing them?

Why would you let this happen?

What's going on?

Bring me the bamboo stick!

It's so hard to make ends meet.

I told you to take care of your sisters!

How could you let them fight?

You want to go to hell?

You want me to beat you?

No.

Then why did you let them break these?

Don't you try to run!

Why are they broken?

Stop hitting me!

I have no money to buy her new ones.

This is all your fault.

How can I get her new ones?

Tell me how? I'm broke!

Stop crying!

Why are there two marks from one whipping?

This is what we call "collateral damage".

Hurt still?

Did mom hit you too fiercely?

Mom, why do you punish big sister when we did wrong?

When mom's out working, she's responsible for you,

understand?

Mom, sister... here are two stickers for you.

Don't cry.

How cute! Far better than any of my ex's.