The Night's Drums Represent My Longings (Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang)

ADAPTED FROM THE PLAY OF THE SAME NAME

Grandpa.

Who is this dude?

What's that?

My boyfriend.

Why didn't you knock before coming in?

Why do I have to knock?

Here, you have to knock before coming into the house.

This is my house, I have the keys, I can open the door myself.

How was I supposed to know you guys are doing the dirty?

This is not your home anymore.

Why is this not my home?

The nursing home is your home.

Can you say a whole sentence in Vietnamese?

You pick the good meat to eat

but speak only half-good Vietnamese. It's so annoying.

Who’s his family?

I'm feminine.

He's masculine.

What's his name?

Hello. Harry.

He speaks Vietnamese?

Stop, tell him to shut it.

I don't have a damn idea what he's talking about no matter how much he talks.

He knows I'm Vietnamese, so he learned some words for fun.

But why did you bring him home

and do dirty things with him?

I'm over 18 years old.

I can invite whomever I want.

I have the freedom to do whatever I want.

You can't talk like that.

-Back in Vietnam-- -This is not Vietnam.

You always invade my personal freedom.

But back in Vietnam,

people will laugh in our faces.

They will say that the elders don't know how to teach the kids.

Grandpa, that's why my dad doesn't like Vietnam and left it to come here.

Um, catch the duck.

Translate for him to get the duck.

Grab the duck.

With his hands?

However he can.

Oh God! What kind of boyfriend can't even catch a duck!

Kids, I'm home.

WE ARE GOING TO A PARTY.

PLEASE WATCH THE HOUSE FOR US.

The 23rd, sending the kitchen god back to the sky.

No one is home.

Told me to watch the house

but won't let me smoke or drink.

So…

did I come here?

Where are you going?

To the kitchen to do my business.

Where did you get the duck?

I caught it in the lake in the park.

I dropped a piece of bread, they came running, and I grabbed one.

You stole it?

Nope.

I would never do that.

This doesn't count as stealing.

This is from Mother Nature. Whoever caught it can eat it.

You're breaking the law.

That action is naughty.

You have to return it to the park.

What's that?

You have to return the duck to the city.

Oh my gosh, kid,

this city is so rich.

Just one duck wouldn't matter.

You wouldn't know it, but when I was young, I had a flock of ducks.

I was poor, but whoever wanted to eat duck,

they would just ask, and I would give them one.

You don't understand.

Nobody knew I took it.

Do you want me to call the police?

Why are you calling the police over a duck?

You see?

He's not even family,

but he still laughs when he knows I caught it.

Grandpa!

Oh, you're afraid I'll cut its throat?

No, who can be so cruel?

To make the blood jelly, you just have to cut its mouth, and blood will burst out.

Grandpa!

You sit there for me.

Nguyen!

Um… where's your dad?

At work, not home.

Why do you talk to elders without respect?

Why did he go to work today?

Why wouldn’t he go to work today?

Today is an important day.

Every day is important to you.

You are Mr. Serious.

What do you mean?

Like… serious.

Why is there no food?

Just this cake?

Who bought it?

That? I made it.

What?

You made this cake?

Yeah.

Good.

You're so good.

You're like your grandma.

Back then, your grandma was the best baker in the village.

She could make all kinds of cake.

It's pretty.

Hey,

so you remember what today is too?

Of course. Today is an important day.

Correct.

Today is a very important day.

Today is…

…your grandma's death anniversary.

What?

What?

My boyfriend's birthday?

Oh.

Trot quot.

What is trot quot ?

It means it's unrelated.

You only met Harry today. How could you know it's his birthday?

Honey…

Are you tired?

You get tired every time you're mad?

Are you mad at me?

THE BABY IS ALLERGIC TO STRANGE SMELLS. DON'T COME IN, DAD.

Hello…

Hello?

Can I talk to Mr. Nam?

Damn, wrong number.

Gotcha.

But it's correct?

Is that Mr. Nam?

Wrong…

I'm eat already.

Damn you.

It's me, man.

Speak Vietnamese, dammit.

You scared me.

What do you want?

Come over.

Hmm, I'm busy. So busy.

What are you busy with? Hurry up and come over.

Oh, okay.

My English is amazing.

Hello?

Are you trying to speak English again?

Who’s calling you?

It's probably Mr. Nam.

But he's speaking English.

Can you speak a lot of English to scare him?

-Grandpa? -Yes?

I want to talk to you about something serious.

Nothing is more serious than today

being your grandma's death anniversary,

and your dad is not home.

The nursing home called. They said you escaped.

-What? -They said you left without permission.

Damn it.

It's so chatty for a foreign hospital.

Even more than the Vietnamese ones.

I just got home, and they rat me out already?

Did they call the police to put me back in there?

You left without telling anyone.

You made everyone worry. You're in the wrong.

My dear,

it's so sad in there.

Every day, they give me shots,

on the left arm in the morning,

the right arm in the afternoon.

When I'm getting ready for bed, they'll shoot one at my ass.

After a while, me being there

is like being in a mental clinic.

Bus, wait.

Hey! Stop, bus!

Hi is chào , sir is ông ,

bà is madam,

go is đi …

Hey!

I want… a ride… a ride.

A ride.

The damn paper is gone.

Get in, you old man.

You know Vietnamese?

It's me.

Hurry up.

What are you doing wandering out here?

-Did you break out? -No.

I asked for permission.

Why is your kid not picking you up

but letting you walk around like a homeless person?

What is a homeless person?

A beggar.

I took the clinic's bus,

but I needed to pee.

I got down to pee, and it left me there.