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(♪ XIANG LAN LI: "YE LAI XIANG")
(DOOR OPENS)
(BOY, IN MANDARIN)
(IN MANDARIN)
(MUSIC STOPS)
(IN ENGLISH)
(IN ENGLISH) Oh, my God!
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Hey, Junn.
- You OK? - Mm.
I'm just gonna change the light bulb for you.
There we are. See you.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
(FOOTSTEPS)
Are you all right? Can I help?
Yeah, I'm looking for a Ms Junn Tan. Do you know how I can find her?
Yeah, she's probably in her room.
Oh, no, she isn't. I saw her outside earlier with Alan.
Every day around this time they meet out there,
spend some time holding hands and snogging.
- It kills me. - That's sweet.
Yeah. How do you know Junn?
I'm a friend of her son's, Kai.
I'm sorry.
- I'll take you outside to see her. - OK.
(INDISTINCT CHAT)
GIRL: Alan!
Junn, I've got someone to see you.
Hello, Junn.
Hello.
How are you?
I'm... OK.
I'm, um...
plodding along.
- Is this your friend? - She's not deaf.
Sorry.
It's a nice place.
- How's she been? - She spends her time in her room.
We take them on trips every few months
but she doesn't really participate.
There's Casanova here. They snuggle up pretty much every day.
- My name's Alan. - I'm Richard.
- How do you know her, then? - I'm a friend.
Does she have any other family?
(DISTANT BUZZ OF CONVERSATION)
(FOOTSTEPS)
(♪ TIMI YURO: "DON'T BLAME ME")
I used to pull the birds with this song.
(CHUCKLES)
It never failed to turn their legs to jelly.
Oh, ho! You see what I mean?
(IN MANDARIN)
(PHONE RINGS)
- Are you... - Richard?
- Yes. Are you Vann? - Hi. Yeah.
- How you doing? - Good. How are you?
Yeah, good, thanks.
- Do you want anything to drink? - Yeah, I'd love a coffee, actually.
- Hi. Can I get an Americano, please? - Sure.
- Um, I'll have the same, please. - Of course.
Thank you for coming at such short notice.
That's OK. I hope I can help.
I can't remember whether I told you on the phone.
Um... she's the mother
of a very dear friend of mine who died recently
and I felt that...
Well, anyway,
she has met a man,
Alan,
and the problem is, they don't have any common language,
so I wanted you to translate for them.
- I'm sorry. - No, don't be. I think...
- It'll be lovely... - No, I meant...
I know. I know what you meant.
She speaks the four main dialects. She speaks Mandarin,
Cantonese,
- Hokkien? - Mm-hm.
And... something else that I can't remember.
And a bit of Cambodian and Vietnamese.
- They're Cambodian Chinese. - Right.
Yeah, she speaks six languages altogether.
- Apart from English. - Lazy bitch.
- So selfish. - Sounds like my mum.
You know, I'm not a professional translator.
- I can speak the languages. - Fine. I'm just...
I'm grateful that you can help.
Well, I'll try my best.
KAI: I wish there was a Shazam for smell.
RICHARD: Have you been sniffing other people?
No.
Sometimes I come across a scent, I'd like to know what it is.
RICHARD: We should have your mum over for dim sum.
I can impress her with my Chinese cooking.
She won't like your cooking.
- Come on, I'm good. - I know, but she won't admit it.
Mm.
She hates me.
She doesn't.
She's jealous.
I'm her only child. No one's good enough for me in her eyes.
You're not good enough for me.
You have to try harder.
Why? Why am I not good enough?
KAI: You'll have to stay in the spare room.
We'll have to pretend we're friends.
RICHARD: I know.
KAI: I think I've put her in there too soon.
I don't think sheltered accommodation is good for her.
RICHARD: You should come out to her.
So she can come here and live with us instead.
KAI: Stop doing that.
It's like walking back in time.
That's the idea.
Junn.
Um, Junn, this is Vann.
(SPEAKS MANDARIN)
I was just explaining who I was.
I told her I was your friend.
She asked, how are you?
I'm... I'm good.
Well, I'm OK.
How's she? How's her health?
VANN: She's fine.
She's, um...
s0-so.
Shall we sit down and I can explain to her?
Um...
So this is Vann.
Um...
Sorry. You've already met. Um...
And she is here to translate for you and Alan
so that you can get to know each other better.
She's surprised you want to help her.
How does she feel about it?
She doesn't mind.
Can you say to her that I'm sorry that I didn't come and visit her sooner
but that there was a lot to do after Kai's death,
a lot of reorganising and so forth?
And obviously I don't speak Mandarin and she doesn't speak English.
- Shall I say that again? - Um... no, I got it.
Um... there's still a lot to organise,
but if she would like to come round one day when she's free,
she could look through his stuff and take away what she likes.
Are you giving her the belongings you no longer want to keep?
No.
No, they're not his rejects. They're his things.
I'm only keeping what...
You know, they're... They're Kai's belongings.
She's always free. You just have to make a date.
OK.
She asked, why have you come here?
Well...
Well, I wanted to see how you are.
I think Kai...
I was concerned and I...
I wanted to make sure that you're OK living here without Kai.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
She wants to know where Kai's ashes are.
They're at home.
- She wants to have his ashes. - No.
- VANN: Why not? - Um, it's just...
You have a house filled with his things.
Why won't you let me have...
her have her son's ashes?
Um, I want to scatter them somewhere,
and I think Kai would like that.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
- He was my only child. - He was my life. He was my hap...
Don't... Don't translate that. She doesn't know.
She doesn't know that we were together.
(FOOTSTEPS)
- Bad timing? - No, no, no.
Come and join us.
Alan, this is... Vann.
And Vann speaks Mandarin and Cantonese
and she's going to translate for you and Junn.
You brought someone to translate for us?
Yeah.
That's, er... That's very good of you.
- What shall we chat about? - Er... anything you want.
Um... What's her name? Oh, no. I know that already.
Um, actually, I don't,
because we haven't been formally introduced.
Um... how old is she?
Oh, no, that's no good.
Er...
Tell her that she looks lovely.
She said, "Thank you".
Did you enjoy Kew Gardens?
No. No, it was a bit boring.
I'm gonna go outside.
(JUNN SPEAKS)
She said it's really sweet that you give her flowers every day.
- She appreciates that. - Oh, it's my pleasure.
- Do you like gambling? - Gambling?
No. No, I never gamble.
It's a waste of money. I'd sooner spend it on wild sex instead.
No... no, I'm joking. Don't say that.
You didn't say that, did you?
- No, I didn't. - No. No, it's just...
I'm... I'm a bit nervous.
I feel as though I'm on my first date. You know what I mean?
VANN: I understand. Just take your time.
(SOUND FADES) What do you do in your spare time?
RICHARD: So you don't mind continuing?
Of course not.
- It's beautiful. - Very romantic.
- What will you do? - What do you mean?
Will you leave her in the home?
I'm thinking of asking her to stay at mine for a trial period.
I mean...
Actually, I don't know what I mean.
Do you think it's a bad idea?
I don't know.
Would you come over and translate for us one weekend?
- Obviously I'd pay you. - Of course I can.
You're really thinking of living with her?
Do you think I'm mad?
It would drive me mad, living with my mum.
Fucking suicidal even.
Sui-fucking-cidal.
What can I do?
Leave her in the home.
It's not so bad for her to be in there.
I could learn Mandarin.
She could learn English.
That's not gonna happen.
(DIALOGUE MUTED)
(DIALOGUE STILL MUTED)
- Sorry. - It's all right.
Thank you.
- (STIRRING) - I've been thinking
about putting my mum in a sheltered home.
I've been reading about this place. It's really interesting.
The decor is made to look like the '50s and '60s
so the elderly can feel younger.
It takes them back to, like, a younger, happier time.
I doubt they'll have mid-century furniture from Cambodia.
Stop being so clever. Always have to have the last say.
- That's not true. - It's not just the decor.
They actively encourage them to help themselves.
I thought it was because she needed looking after.
See? You're doing it again.
Slight memory loss is not serious.
Her memory loss is not slight.
It's not just the memory loss. It's not even about her memory.
You know this.
- Are you gunning for a fight? - No, of course I'm not.
You look so conflicted.
Relax your forehead.
Here.
Relax it there.
Bring her over to stay with us, then.
Are you mad? That would be sui-fucking-cidal.
What choice do you have?
How long can you keep this up?
- You can't lock her up forever. - I'm not locking her up.
- For fuck's sake, Richard! - Sorry. I didn't...
I didn't mean that.
I just don't know what to say to you about this anymore.
You have my absolute support.
And you know you have to tell her.
If you think about it, we're constantly coming out to people,
so really you should be good at it.
If only she liked you.
It would make this a lot easier.
But for some reason she thinks you're a dick.
You love this dick.
I can't stay too long today, Alan.
OK, well, we'll just do the best we can.
You have a few hours with me.
Then it's back to flirting and kissing, I'm afraid.
Oh. Goody, goody!
VANN: She'd like you to leave.
She feels awkward with so many people watching her.
OK.
Have fun.
Oh, this is just in case I forget.
Er, you know, they're not that important,
but when you leave,
I start wondering whether I've asked them
and then I forget to ask them.
Um...
Can I... Can I ask 'em?
VANN: Ask away.
What's her favourite ice cream flavour?
Hm... qiaokeli.
ALAN: Chocolate!
That's my favourite too.
We've loads in common.
What does she prefer, cats or dogs?
(VANN TRANSLATES AND JUNN REPLIES)
- VANN: Cats. - ALAN: Oh, me too. I love cats.
(SOUND FADES) How long has she been over in this country?
(VANN TRANSLATES)
(JUNN ANSWERS)
VANN: Nearly 29 years.
ALAN: Tell her that she's lovely and she looks really beautiful
and that she smells really nice today.
What was that grin there?
She said thank you and that you have a nice dimple.
I thought so. She can't keep her hands off it.
Do you have any children?
Two boys, Brian and John.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
(JUNN ASKS A QUESTION)
VANN: When was the last time they visited you?
Not for a while, a long time.
Er... we were never that close. They were closer to their mother.
Why were you not close? Did you not love them?
Of course I loved them. I wasn't a very good father.
- They couldn't wait to put me in here. - (VANN TRANSLATES)
- VANN: Do your children not love you? - I didn't say that. They...
They... Well... I'm old and clumsy.
It seemed to be the best solution for everyone.
Less guilt for them to deal with.
Everybody's happy.
I'm happy, they're happy.
Don't you want to see your grandchildren?
No.
Oh, this isn't going so smoothly.
VANN: It's fine. It's... part of the process.
Ha! Thank you, Mum.
Tell her I'd like to take her to dinner a week on Saturday.
I'm a good cook. It'll be lasagne.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
- What are you smiling about now? - Nothing.
I told her you'd cook Chinese food and that you're a really good cook.
I said lasagne. I only do lasagne.
She hasn't had Chinese food in a long time.
- It will make her feel at home. - She cooks Chinese food every day.
VANN: I'm trying to help you. Junn doesn't like lasagne.
ALAN: But I... I don't do Chinese.
VANN: You can order from a takeaway.
- ALAN: She's thinking of coming, then? - VANN: Yeah.
ALAN: Well, what do I order?
Sweet and sour thingumabobs, Shanghai duck, springtime rolls?
VANN: No, don't... don't order those. I'll get the food for you.
You can have the dinner at mine.
(FOOTSTEPS)
(DOOR OPENING)
- VANN: All right? - RICHARD: Yeah.
I just bought you some fruit.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: She said, "Thank you".
She asked what you're thinking.
I was just looking at her room.
Kai described the room to me. I was just remembering what he said.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
- Is that Kai? - (VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: He was four or five years old.
She thinks he looks really sweet.
(SNIFFS)
This is for you.
It's Kai's ashes.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
RICHARD: You should have his ashes.
I'm sorry that I... fought over them with you.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
He was my best friend.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: She knows. He talked about you.
Did he tell you about me? Don't say that.
He loved you very much.
He was always trying to find ways to make your life better.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: Why did he put me in here?
It was only meant to be temporary.
Um...
Really he wanted you to live with him.
VANN: I know.
Then you got in the way.
What does she mean?
Is that what Kai told her?
VANN: He wanted us to live together, but there was no space in your flat.
One of the options, actually, was to...
to move to another flat
and have you live with us.
RICHARD: Don't say that.
Do you like... living here?
(VANN TRANSLATES)
That's a silly question.
RICHARD: What's happening?
What did you... What did you say?
I suggested you could look after her, that you're practically family
and that you care a great deal for her well being.
She got angry because I said that you were a good man
and she didn't know what that meant.
She doesn't think you two living together is the answer.
What the fuck?
Why did you do that? It was going very well.
I'm sorry.
- I was trying to help. - Well, good work!
You said you wanted to give it a trial.
Don't you think I should be part of the conversation?
Of course.
It just happened. It got out of control.
I'm sorry.
Junn?
Is that your husband?
Ask her.
Yeah.
- Is her husband white? - He's half French.
Cambodian-Chinese French.
When was it taken?
(VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: In Phnom Penh, 1962.
- Have you never been back? - (VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: No.
We should go. This isn't gonna work.
Can you please say to her that I'm sorry?
I didn't mean to upset her.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
- You're... You're doing it... - (CONTINUES IN MANDARIN)
- What are you doing? - Stop hounding me.
- She thinks we're together. - Well, did you tell her that we're not?
- I told her you're gay. - Vann...
I'm kidding.
I'm kidding!
(DOOR CLOSES)
RICHARD: Oh, this is what I brought.
- I have those. - Well, I didn't know, did I?
It's actually really hard to, you know, cook in someone else's kitchen.
Check you out.
Listen, when you learn to cook as good as me, then you'll understand.
So, what's for dinner tonight?
I thought we could start off
with coriander king prawns scented with Longjing tea.
Fancy. Followed by?
Ginger pork stir-fry with a sesame dressing,
Richard-style.
Nice. And dessert?
- Crème brûlée. - From a tub?
Organic, fair trade, free range.
Wow. Can't wait.
- They had their first row yesterday. - What happened?
Oh, the usual.
Stubbornness.
Men.
What did Junn do?
Alan pointed out a contradiction in something Junn had said
and then she got all defensive and started to criticise him,
finding inconsistencies in him.
That's so petty.
I would never do something like that.
I'm not sure how it escalated so quickly.
She said he touches her too much.
- (CHUCKLES) - It's not funny.
Alan was really embarrassed.
And my presence just made it worse for him.
Come on! You're doing such a great job.
Mm.
That was really tasty.
- To us. - (VANN TRANSLATES)
- VANN: What are we having for mains? - Pork, stir-fried pork.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
ALAN: Thank you.
(ALAN CLEARS HIS THROAT)
It's so romantic.
- Nice food. - Thank you.
It don't feel very romantic at the moment.
I feel watched. Do you mind leaving us?
- But you need me to translate. - No, we can do without.
How are they gonna understand each other now?
They need me.
What are they saying?
I think Alan's saying,
"Petal,
"I've got a raging hard-on
"and only you, pumpkin, can sort it out."
VANN: "Oh, Alan, can I see it?"
RICHARD: "If you behave yourself you can have it for dessert."
You know...
if I were younger,
I'd have ripped your clothes off and taken you here, right on this table.
Gawd knows how many slipped discs I'm gonna get.
VANN: Shall I clear the table?
Did... Did you hear all of that?
You shouldn't creep up on people. It's rude.
- I didn't hear anything, Alan. - Hm.
Yes, you may clear the table.
- Did you have a nice meal? - Yeah, until you arrived.
- Easy, now. - Have you got it?
- Got what? - You know.
What?
I can't pass it to you. She'll see.
Oh, look.
My mistake. I thought I saw a bat.
- Did you just translate that? - Yes.
Well, clearly there isn't a bat.
- You shouldn't take that, you know. - Shush.
Stop whispering. She can't understand us.
Here, there's only half a tablet in here.
You shouldn't be taking any of it. It could kill you at your age.
Well, it's only in case, you know...
In case what? You can't get a Mount Fuji?
She's Cambodian-Chinese. Now go and get us some coffee.
I'm dead serious. Maybe take a quarter of it.
OK, time to go. I need to sleep. I'm shattered.
Junn said your cooking was fantastic.
I'm glad she enjoyed it.
Maybe she'd like to come over for supper one night.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
GIRL: Your date's here.
Hi, Junn.
- VANN: Hi. - Hello.
She said dinner the other night was really lovely.
You helped too, and, er, Richard.
She thinks you should get to know each other's bad habits.
Really?
OK.
VANN: She'd like you to stop pinching her bum.
What?
I don't pinch her bum.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
- She says you do it all the time. - Only gentle squeezes.
Anyway, she started it.
I only do it because I... I thought she liked it.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
She doesn't like it anymore.
Her bum isn't some fruit you can squeeze whenever you want.
- Now it's your turn. - What?
Are there any habits you don't like about Junn?
Yes, her breath smells. It stinks of garlic.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
- VANN: It never bothered you before. - It did, but...
I had no way of telling her.
- VANN: It's good for the heart. - Well, it may be good for the heart,
but it definitely ain't good for kissing.
It tastes of rotten cheese.
Actually, it's worse than rotten cheese.
Your body smells of urine.
What? Why didn't she mention it before?
(VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: She tells you every day. You just don't listen.
What's going on now?
She doesn't want to do this.
She's gonna wash her mouth and you should take a bath.
Ow!
That was supposed to encourage more hair to grow.
You'd have one hairy nipple. That'd look very weird.
I wanna take my mum out the home.
How did it go yesterday?
I tried telling her.
But I couldn't.
I bottled out. My heart was pounding so fast.
But you were gonna tell her.
She blamed you for making me take the bus.
Well, it's not like she needs another excuse, is it?
I wanna...
I'm gonna bring her back here and tell her.
If she gets mad, she can't storm off.
She'll be stuck with me.
It will force us to deal with it.
RICHARD: Really?
You're really gonna do that?
I've done it already.
She's coming round tomorrow tonight.
Can...
Can you go out for a walk?
I'll call when it's finished.
You want me to walk laps around the block
while you come out to your mum?
- Is that what you're saying? - Yeah.
It'll be romantic.
I am fucking romantic.
What if she's not OK?
- Then you stay in a hotel. - Fucking hell.
She has nowhere else to stay.
It will be OK, won't it?
RICHARD: Of course.
You two are so alike.
Feel this.
I'm shaking.
I might self-combust.
Just do it.
- Don't think any more about it. - Yeah.
Yeah, I know. Absolutely.
Smell my armpit again.
I miss it when you do that.
(DOORBELL)
Sorry. Hello.
Come in, come in.
Hi, Junn.
Come through.
I'd completely forgotten about today.
Right, who wants tea?
- She'd love a tea. - Can you come to the kitchen with me?
Sure.
Tell her to make herself comfortable. We'll be back in a moment.
There's some stuff I need to clear up upstairs.
I'm gonna go and do it now. Can you tidy the kitchen?
- You want me to clean your kitchen? - Yeah. Can you?
- Are you serious? - I'm deadly serious. I'm sorry.
I'll make it up to you. Please, help me.
- You owe me so much. - Thank you.
(MUFFLED BANGING)
(CONVERSATION IN MANDARIN)
Ah, you have tea.
- Would you like some? - I'd love some.
What do you think of the place?
It's nice. She's been here before.
Of course you have. I forgot.
- She'd like to see Kai's room. - Sure.
This is Kai's room.
I just moved in here recently.
Um...
This room's bigger and I needed a bit more space.
She said you moved in here quick.
She'd like some time alone.
Absolutely.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(WHISPERS) There's this song that Junn really adores.
Kai said she never gets tired of listening to it.
He was...
He was supposed to take it to her,
but he kept forgetting.
Actually, he had it on him when...
when he went to see her.
Anyway, I want to...
I want to find that CD.
What's the song called?
And who's the singer? And why are you whispering?
(WHISPERS) I have no idea why I'm whispering.
(IN A NORMAL VOICE) Um...
It's a really famous song. It's a cover.
OK, well, hum it. I might recognise it.
I don't hum.
- Go on, there's no one listening. - No.
- I'll ask Junn about it, then. - Don't ask Junn about it.
I want it to be a surprise.
We'll go to a music shop in Chinatown. I'll recognise it when I see the cover.
We can ask for a greatest hits album. I'm sure the song will be on it.
- I can't remember her name. - Well, whistle it, then.
(RICHARD LAUGHS)
- I told you. - Oh, my God, can't even whistle!
(SPEAKS MANDARIN)
Hey, Junn.
I'm just making a bacon sandwich. Would you like one?
No, thanks.
She noticed you're frying the bacon with chopsticks.
She thinks it's lovely.
Yeah. How else do you fry bacon?
I mean...
Impossible without chopsticks.
How did you do it before?
I can't remember.
These... These seem perfect for it.
She said you have a nice home.
Thank you.
Half... well... most of it was Kai...
Most of it was Kai's idea.
She said...
She said she can still smell Kai in your room.
Me too.
I smell him too.
(♪ YI MIN: "SWAY" OR "YAO YAO BAI BAI")
I think this is the song that you asked Kai to bring you.
She's been waiting for this CD for so long.
Kai kept promising that he'd bring it
and he kept on forgetting.
VANN: Thank you.
(MUSIC STOPS)
VANN: She no longer wants to see Alan.
You're joking?
I thought you were getting along fine.
She said they're very different people.
Well, that's no surprise.
The differences they've encountered are too rooted.
Root... What? Rooted in what?
Er...
Ask her, please, to speak to Alan again
and give him a second chance.
He is simply who he is.
I am who I am.
What does that mean?
She can't see herself spending the rest of her life with him.
She's doing this to punish me.
- That's what this is, isn't it? - Richard.
Say it.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: Why are you doing this?
I'm here to help you.
Do you want to live the rest of your life here?
(VANN TRANSLATES)
You don't need to feel sorry for me,
for her.
- She doesn't need your help. - You are so damn stubborn.
I'm trying to help you.
You're making me feel like it's my fault.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: What are your true intentions?
To help you.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
- Why are you doing this? - Stop asking that dumb question!
You've taken away my only... her only...
Me, her, my? Which is it? Come on, Vann!
You can't even separate between you and her.
Whose side are you on?
VANN: You've taken away her only family
and now she's stuck in this awful place.
If you hadn't been so dependent on Kai,
he would never have put you in here.
What were you doing? You were piling on pressure.
What fucking differences can't you work out with Alan?
VANN: This is your guilt. She doesn't want to be your therapist.
(SIGHS)
I'm trying to help you get out of this awful place.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
Alan is an old man. You will break his heart.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
If you had adapted to this culture,
Kai wouldn't have had to look after every facet of your life.
Honestly, your medication,
your bank details, everything.
You choked him with guilt.
And who's looking after you now? Kai? No, it's me.
I wonder why that is?
(VANN TRANSLATES)
RICHARD: That's it, run away. That's the solution, isn't it?
I'm sorry.
I just fucked it up.
Her one chance of happiness and I fucking screwed that up.
Fuck!
I just fucking screwed everything up again.
These are all of Kai's things.
Er...
I've probably forgotten something
but... if I come across anything, I'll send it on to you.
RICHARD: How are things between her and Alan?
(VANN TRANSLATES)
VANN: She hasn't seen him.
It never bothered me...
that she couldn't assimilate into this culture.
It bothered Kai.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
Kai was gay.
I'm his boyfriend.
We'd been together for over four years.
(VANN TRANSLATES)
And he was going to tell you the last time that you saw him.
But he got so panicked, he couldn't do it.
He was afraid that you'd love him less.
Stupid.
So he invited you over for dinner the next day
and he told me to walk round the block while he came out to you.
And on his way to get the bus,
he got hit by that fucking cunt of a driver.
I can't help but wonder...
what would have happened if I had driven him.
Cos he...
I offered but he liked to take the bus.
I know you miss him.
I don't know what to do.
I miss him tremendously.
(JUNN)
Kai.
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