Strand Title: Witness

Programme Number & Title: Madame White Snake - PG019803

Date of Transmission: TBD

Script Version:

Transmission date (known or approx): TBD

Total Programme Duration (mins:secs): 25:19

Independent/Commission Producer: Daniel Holmes

Independent/Commission Producer Contact Details: info@ommafilms.com

Commission/Independent Production Company and Address: Omma Films,  Unit 706, 7F., South Seas Centre, Tower 2, 75, Mody Road, Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong

Al Jazeera Commissioning Executive:

Al Jazeera Commissioning Executive Contact Details:

Al Jazeera producer/program editor:

Al Jazeera producer/program editor telephone number:

AL Jazeera bureau: Doha

Instructions:

Please use colour-coding when listing contributors and sourced footage. This will enable those elements to be more easily compared and added to the PasC form.

Narration – in CAPS

Dialogue – in italics

Correspondent to Camera, PTC – in plain text  

Names and references as they appear in this transcript:

Time Code

(10:00:00:00)

Description of Scene

Audio

00:00:16:21 - 00:00:19:20

Two performers play fight.

Audience members arrive and the show begins. Zhou Guixiang performs.

- Put me down or get slapped!

- In that case I’ll drop you.

01:00:24:15 - 01:00:29:02

MY OPERA TROUPE HAS PERFORMED IN SHANGHAI FOR 30 YEARS.

01:00:30:11 - 01:00:34:02

WE WERE IN OUR LATE 30S WHEN WE MIGRATED HERE.

NOW WE’RE ALL IN OUR 60S.

01:00:34:16 - 01:00:38:02

WE’RE ONE FAMILY LIVING IN A COMMUNE.

01:00:42:12 - 01:00:47:02

The nation is rich and powerful,

01:00:47:02 - 01:00:52:01

but my family is unspeakably poor.

01:00:53:15 - 01:00:58:22

WHEN I GET ON STAGE, MY WORRIES SUDDENLY VANISH.

01:00:58:22 - 01:01:04:05

I FEEL I’M NOT BOTHERED BY ANYTHING.

I JUST FOCUS ON PERFORMING FOR THE CROWD.

01:01:04:05 - 01:01:08:15

EVERYONE’S HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME,

AND I FEEL GOOD TOO.

01:01:11:20 - 01:01:16:08

TWO YEARS AGO, SOME PEOPLE TOLD ME,

“THE AUTHORITIES ARE GOING TO DEMOLISH THIS PLACE NEXT YEAR”.

01:01:16:13 - 01:01:21:04

 I JUST SAID, “LET’S DEAL WITH IT WHEN IT COMES.”

01:01:50:07 - 01:01:52:00

Zhou and her friend make dumplings for the older residents of the theatre.

The dough’s too thin.

01:01:52:20 - 01:01:54:15

That’s enough.

01:01:54:15 - 01:01:57:01

Good, not too much.

01:01:57:01 - 01:02:00:00

It’s not enough, I’m telling you.

01:02:01:02 - 01:02:02:08

It's hard to make.

01:02:02:08 - 01:02:05:07

Just let me do it.

01:02:06:06 - 01:02:09:23

 I hang around with these older folks

 [resident audience members] every day.

01:02:09:23 - 01:02:12:22

I cook them whatever they want.

01:02:14:11 - 01:02:21:15

People never like the person in charge. I have to manage everyone’s food and living expenses.

01:02:21:15 - 01:02:25:13

When they’re out of money, they ask me to buy them groceries.

01:02:25:13 - 01:02:29:05

But where’s that money supposed to come from?

01:02:29:05 - 01:02:30:20

Everything is provided for them.

01:02:31:01 - 01:02:36:14

- You’re not scared of anything.

- True.

01:03:01:03 - 01:03:02:22

Older resident and performer, He Dongmei, speaks to her dog.

Have you eaten?

01:03:03:19 - 01:03:05:12

Where’s your dad gone?

01:03:05:23 - 01:03:08:06

Did he go buy tickets?

01:03:08:17 - 01:03:10:11

He left in the morning?

01:03:10:11 - 01:03:13:10

He left your mum here with you?

01:03:15:12 - 01:03:18:04

Come here.

01:03:20:20 - 01:03:23:21

Zhou prepares food as the older residents wait for dinner.

WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE, THE MONTHLY RENT WAS US $280.

01:03:23:21 - 01:03:26:20

NOW IT’S UP TO $2,000.

01:03:30:22 - 01:03:33:18

BUSINESS HASN’T BEEN AS GOOD AS BEFORE.

01:03:35:07 - 01:03:40:17

SO I DIVIDED THE BIG ROOM INTO SMALLER ROOMS TO RENT OUT.

01:03:40:17 - 01:03:45:01

THIS LESSENED MY FINANCIAL BURDEN.

01:03:50:23 - 01:03:58:20

HOUSING IN THE CITY IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR OUR PERFORMERS,

AND MY RENT HERE IS MUCH CHEAPER.

01:04:06:14 - 01:04:09:18

IN THE FIRST FEW YEARS

01:04:09:18 - 01:04:14:05

OUR REGULAR AUDIENCE WOULD WATCH THE SHOW

THEN GO HOME THE SAME DAY.

01:04:14:05 - 01:04:18:12

BUT AS THEY GOT OLDER THEY BECAME LESS HEALTHY,

01:04:18:12 - 01:04:21:03

AND DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE.

01:04:32:03 - 01:04:37:07

Whilst chopping vegetables, Zhou speaks to camera about the hearing the news of the demolition.

On April 30th, local authorities

 came to check on the house.

01:04:37:07 - 01:04:40:23

They actually call this “dangerous housing”.

01:04:40:23 - 01:04:43:22

People aren’t allowed to live in it.

01:04:45:09 - 01:04:48:20

They wanted the house back from us in a week.

01:04:48:20 - 01:04:53:22

So we negotiated with them.

01:04:54:12 - 01:05:02:23

We asked the community service workers to negotiate

so that we could have a full month.

01:05:02:23 - 01:05:06:13

So, it’ll be next month.

01:05:06:13 - 01:05:10:00

If we don’t move out, they’ll block our front door.

01:05:11:01 - 01:05:15:10

We don’t really have a choice because

they want the land.

01:05:15:10 - 01:05:19:21

The residents sit down around a round table to eat.

I’ve been worrying about this situation for days.

01:05:19:21 - 01:05:23:07

I can’t even eat or sleep. What am I going to do

with all these old people? 

01:05:57:18 - 01:06:01:18

Zhou, performers and residents wait to see if the audience will come to the show.

No-one's here to see the show.

01:06:01:18 - 01:06:04:18

F*****g hell, they aren't coming.

01:06:09:20 - 01:06:12:07

Get painted up.

01:06:12:07 - 01:06:15:07

Wear whatever fits the show.

01:06:18:15 - 01:06:21:14

Performer, Kong Yi Fei, puts on his make-up.

There’s so few people watching today?

01:06:22:03 - 01:06:23:19

Embarrassing.

01:06:30:12 - 01:06:34:07

Zhou puts on her make-up.

Everyone please tip a bit more today.

I’m not paying the actors.

01:06:35:22 - 01:06:39:05

 If we can’t get by performing, then forget it.

01:06:39:06 - 01:06:46:18

Many audience members take advantage of us.

They think we’re easily fooled.

01:06:46:18 - 01:06:49:23

 I know they went to a different opera today.

01:06:49:23 - 01:06:55:10

After that, they'll come here for a free dinner.

01:06:55:10 - 01:06:58:23

Some of them are really shameless.

01:06:58:23 - 01:07:04:03

We’re here to make a living.

We’re not a charity.

01:07:05:15 - 01:07:09:10

There you are, Mr. Li!

01:07:09:10 - 01:07:13:13

Oh, he’s brought a group

 all the way from Pudong.

01:07:36:20 - 01:07:42:10

The performance begins.

AUDIENCE NUMBERS HAVE FALLEN OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS.

I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THIS.

01:07:42:10 - 01:07:45:08

PERFORMING OPERA IS OUR ONLY WAY TO MAKE A LIVING,

01:07:45:08 - 01:07:49:06

SO A SMALLER AUDIENCE MEANS LESS INCOME.

01:07:54:16 - 01:07:57:05

Sourced footage taken from a 2002 documentary on the opera troupe shows the audience and performance 20 years ago.

YOU KNOW HOW POPULAR WE USED TO BE?

01:07:57:06 - 01:08:02:07

THE PLACE WAS SO PACKED, THERE’D BE NO FREE PLACES,

01:08:02:07 - 01:08:05:08

 SO PEOPLE JUST BROUGHT THEIR OWN STOOLS.

01:08:05:17 - 01:08:10:18

WE PERFORM HUAI OPERA, IT’S VERY AUTHENTIC.

01:08:18:13 - 01:08:21:00

WHY WERE THEY SO HAPPY?

01:08:22:06 - 01:08:24:11

THEY WERE FROM THE SAME HOMETOWN AS US.

01:08:24:23 - 01:08:28:00

THEY HADN'T SEEN THINGS FROM

THEIR HOMETOWN IN YEARS.

01:08:28:14 - 01:08:31:17

SUBEI IS WHERE HUAI OPERA ORIGINATES.

01:08:40:19 - 01:08:44:07

SHANGHAINESE PEOPLE OFTEN LOOKED DOWN ON US.

01:08:44:07 - 01:08:45:20

THEY’D CALL US "FILTHY".

01:08:46:18 - 01:08:50:13

BUT WHAT COULD WE DO?

 WE WERE REALLY POOR.

01:09:18:02 - 01:09:20:07

Zhou helps Grandma Han (Gengdi Han) to buy some clothes online.

What about this one?

01:09:20:07 - 01:09:22:09

This one is pretty too.

01:09:23:15 - 01:09:26:14

OK I got it.

01:09:27:00 - 01:09:30:02

I got you new pants, a shirt and shoes. All done.

01:09:31:00 - 01:09:35:05

I CAN’T KEEP LOOKING AFTER GRANDMA HAN.

01:09:35:05 - 01:09:36:23

SHE’S 90 YEARS OLD.

01:09:36:23 - 01:09:40:10

I DON’T HAVE THE MEANS TO KEEP HER HERE.

01:09:40:18 - 01:09:44:14

IN THE END, I HAD TO ASK HER KIDS TO COME.

01:09:44:14 - 01:09:46:16

I TOLD THEM THE SITUATION.

01:09:48:11 - 01:09:51:08

They're thinking about making you move on the 11th.

01:09:51:08 - 01:09:52:15

You have a lot of clothes to move.

01:09:53:11 - 01:09:54:15

They’re coming on the 11th?

01:09:54:15 - 01:09:55:23

Yes, most likely.

01:09:55:23 - 01:09:57:06

Maybe.

01:09:57:06 - 01:10:00:15

Maybe they just come for dinner. That's already arranged.

01:10:00:17 - 01:10:03:16

And they’ll help you move on the 15th or 16th.

01:10:06:07 - 01:10:09:00

You have a month left. That’s enough time.

01:10:09:00 - 01:10:10:16

Fine.

01:10:12:21 - 01:10:15:20

We'll celebrate your 90th birthday on the 11th.

01:10:15:20 - 01:10:20:00

After I go home, I want to ask them

to rent an apartment for me.

01:10:20:00 - 01:10:22:16

Don't rent a place. You're 90 years old.

01:10:22:16 - 01:10:24:18

Let your kids take care of you.

01:10:24:18 - 01:10:25:13

It's so annoying.

01:10:25:13 - 01:10:29:07

Without them, will you really clean and cook?

01:10:29:07 - 01:10:31:04

- I still have a healthy body.

- Healthy body?

01:10:31:04 - 01:10:35:12

If you live with them, they can cook you dinner.

01:10:35:21 - 01:10:38:10

I FEEL VERY UPSET.

01:10:38:20 - 01:10:41:19

I'VE TAKEN CARE OF HER FOR DECADES.

01:10:42:05 - 01:10:44:05

WE'RE USED TO LIVING TOGETHER.

01:10:44:22 - 01:10:47:18

Grandma Han is in her bedroom. She speaks to camera.

This doesn’t look good. It's too messy.

01:10:52:02 - 01:10:55:01

I'm not feeling good these days.

01:10:55:01 - 01:10:58:00

Not so well.

01:10:58:00 - 01:11:00:23

I feel weak.

01:11:04:06 - 01:11:07:09

I'll be fine after a few days.

01:11:07:21 - 01:11:10:11

Hmm, these are photos.

01:11:10:11 - 01:11:12:10

 I have a lot of photos.

01:11:12:10 - 01:11:14:17

This is my family.

01:11:14:17 - 01:11:15:18

This is my grandson,

01:11:19:02 - 01:11:21:21

Zhou Guixiang, right?

01:11:25:11 - 01:11:31:23

I CAN'T LIVE A DAY WITHOUT HER

AND SHE CAN'T LIVE A DAY WITHOUT ME.

01:11:31:23 - 01:11:32:22

WHY?

01:11:32:22 - 01:11:39:02

WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER,

IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.

01:11:41:06 - 01:11:44:06

We'll soon be forced apart.

01:11:44:06 - 01:11:47:06

Everyone will breakup.

01:11:47:20 - 01:11:51:16

Neither of us have a choice.

01:11:51:16 - 01:11:55:09

Eventually we'll be separated.

01:11:55:09 - 01:11:59:20

My kids have asked me many times to come home.

01:11:59:20 - 01:12:05:04

I just don't want to go home.

She treats me so well here, why would I go home?

01:12:06:07 - 01:12:09:07

I won't have my freedom there.

01:12:17:19 - 01:12:20:13

I am feeling really down.

01:12:20:22 - 01:12:25:08

I don’t even know where I’ll go.

We haven’t rented a place yet.

01:12:49:13 - 01:12:51:15

It’s raining outside the theatre. We hear the sound of the performance that is taking place inside. As the performance takes place, Zhou sits at her make-up box.

I AM REALLY BUSY.

01:12:51:16 - 01:12:55:07

I’M DEALING WITH EVERYTHING AT HOME

AND OUTSIDE ON MY OWN.

01:12:55:20 - 01:12:58:05

IT'S REALLY STRESSFUL FOR ME.

01:12:58:18 - 01:13:02:21

IT'S NORMAL THAT WE HAVE SOME CONFLICTS AND ARGUMENTS.

01:13:05:03 - 01:13:07:08

Musician and resident, Huang, argues with Zhou about the amount he has been paid.

They should have tipped you.

01:13:07:10 - 01:13:10:11

I can't do anything. They only tipped

for my wage, no-one elses.

01:13:10:11 - 01:13:12:14

I will split a third of my wage to pay you.

01:13:12:14 - 01:13:13:14

OK?

01:13:14:12 - 01:13:20:22

Old man, it's already really difficult for us to sustain the show.

 I told them to tip you directly.

01:13:20:22 - 01:13:23:08

But there are three people performing.

01:13:23:20 - 01:13:26:20

Don't be stingy, I'm giving you all I can spare.

01:13:26:20 - 01:13:32:05

At least you'll have some pay. Appreciate it.

What more do you want?

01:13:32:05 - 01:13:35:16

- Then give it to me.

- Wait a little, will you?

01:13:44:06 - 01:13:47:11

Why aren't you sharing that melon?

01:13:47:22 - 01:13:51:00

Shi gave me this melon.

01:13:51:00 - 01:13:53:23

Don't let it get eaten by the rats.

01:14:05:03 - 01:14:09:18

Resident, Wang Shouchen walks down the stairs from his bedroom and lights an incense stick at the shrine.

THE BUDDHA HAS SPIRITUAL ROOTS HERE.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

01:14:10:18 - 01:14:15:10

NONE OF THE ELDERLY WHO LIVE HERE ARE ILL.

01:14:15:10 - 01:14:18:17

IF THEY FALL SICK, THEY RECOVER AGAIN QUICKLY.

01:14:19:01 - 01:14:26:08

THE ELDERLY SAY THAT IT'S BECAUSE

THE BUDDHA IS WATCHING OVER THEIR HEALTH.

01:14:28:07 - 01:14:31:09

I’VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL DECADES.

01:14:33:21 - 01:14:39:19

WHEN YOU PRAY TO THE BUDDHA IN YOUR HOME,

IT’LL STAY, GROW ROOTS AND BLESS YOU.

01:14:40:10 - 01:14:48:17

WITH THE DEMOLITION HAPPENING,

THE BUDDHA WILL NOW BE ABANDONED.

01:14:50:23 - 01:14:54:05

WITH THE GOVERNMENT AFTER THE LAND, THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICE.

01:14:55:15 - 01:15:01:02

IF SHE IS ABLE TO FIND NEW PLACE LIKE THIS,

SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO KEEP EVERYONE TOGETHER.

01:15:02:04 - 01:15:05:02

BUT LAND IN SHANGHAI IS PRECIOUS.

01:15:05:02 - 01:15:07:21

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A HUGE FAMILY HOUSE LIKE THIS ONE.

01:15:18:09 - 01:15:20:11

It’s the final performance at the opera theatre. Performers are getting together. A large audience is in attendance.

IT'S THE LAST DAY. THE FINAL SHOW.

01:15:20:20 - 01:15:23:04

PEOPLE GOT THE NEWS THAT WE ARE MOVING OUT,

01:15:23:04 - 01:15:24:07

SO THEY ALL CAME.

01:15:25:20 - 01:15:28:09

IT’S NOT JUST OUR RECENT AUDIENCE.

01:15:28:09 - 01:15:30:12

THERE’S ALSO PEOPLE THAT USED TO WATCH US.

01:15:31:01 - 01:15:32:19

THEY’VE RUSHED OVER TO SEE US.

01:15:32:19 - 01:15:35:05

WE ALL KNOW WE WILL BE SEPERATED SOON.

01:15:48:14 - 01:15:51:13

EVERY YEAR, WE PERFORM MADAME WHITE SNAKE.

01:15:51:13 - 01:15:54:22

IT IS A SHOW THAT I'M PRETTY GOOD AT.

01:15:54:22 - 01:15:57:09

THE MESSAGE OF THE PLAY IS

01:15:57:09 - 01:16:00:00

THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IN LIFE.

01:16:02:01 - 01:16:04:05

IT TAKES 1000 YEARS FOR A SNAKE TO BECOME A BOA,

01:16:04:05 - 01:16:06:03

ANOTHER 1000 YEARS FOR A BOA TO BECOME HUMAN,

01:16:06:03 - 01:16:08:05

 AND 1000 MORE TO BECOME IMMORTAL.

01:16:09:22 - 01:16:16:01

AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF STRUGGLE AND PAIN, SHE FINALLY BECOMES HUMAN.

01:16:16:01 - 01:16:18:09

THEY'RE ALSO FOLLOWING THEIR DREAMS.

01:16:18:09 - 01:16:21:09

PEOPLE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL AND CONSIDERATE.

01:16:21:14 - 01:16:25:09

THAT WAY, THEY CAN LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.

01:16:25:09 - 01:16:28:21

THIS IS THE POWER OF LOVE.

01:16:49:19 - 01:16:53:16

Zhou counts the money received during the show.

This will be my last income for a while.

01:16:55:21 - 01:17:02:13

Let me sort through the small bills.

01:17:02:13 - 01:17:08:05

We will need it in the future.

01:17:08:05 - 01:17:10:03

$3000 all together.

01:17:14:00 - 01:17:20:06

I’m in a difficult place right now.

01:17:46:18 - 01:17:51:17

The residents have started to pack away their belongings. The opera theatre is being dismantled. Grandma Han is sat in her bedroom with Wang Shouchen.

GRANDMA HAN REALLY DOESN'T WANT HER KIDS TO COME.

01:17:52:12 - 01:17:53:15

SHE JUST REFUSES TO LEAVE.

01:17:58:23 - 01:18:03:23

You can ride home tonight,

they’ll be able to take you straight home.

01:18:07:11 - 01:18:09:22

Don't take this. Oh, it's your photos.

01:18:09:22 - 01:18:11:17

Grandma Han’s daughter, Xu Yianqu, is helping Grandma Han to pack.

Mom, you don't want to leave right now?

01:18:12:00 - 01:18:13:22

No one has time tomorrow.

01:18:13:22 - 01:18:15:09

I still haven't finished packing.

01:18:15:09 - 01:18:16:14

There is nothing to pack.

01:18:16:14 - 01:18:17:16

Throw everything away.

01:18:17:16 - 01:18:19:14

Just leave it, and go. Grandma.

01:18:19:22 - 01:18:22:00

All these things here are useless.

01:18:22:00 - 01:18:23:06

You don't need any of this.

01:18:23:06 - 01:18:26:03

Leave it. Everything’s brand new at home.

01:18:26:03 - 01:18:27:14

No-one wants your old things.

01:18:27:14 - 01:18:28:17

Just leave it.

01:18:28:17 - 01:18:31:01

She’ll definitely buy you a new one when you’re home.

01:18:31:01 - 01:18:32:14

- Pillow.

- You don't need it.

01:18:32:14 - 01:18:34:23

They already bought new things for you.

01:18:34:23 - 01:18:36:05

Let's go.

01:18:36:13 - 01:18:38:10

But there are so many things left.

01:18:38:10 - 01:18:39:20

There is nothing here.

01:18:39:20 - 01:18:41:07

What about my clothes hanging here.

01:18:41:07 - 01:18:42:18

There are no clothes left.

01:18:42:18 - 01:18:44:06

We are throwing away all these clothes.

01:18:44:06 - 01:18:47:04

We already packed away all the clothes that you need.

01:18:47:04 - 01:18:48:07

What about this jacket.

01:18:48:07 - 01:18:51:06

You won't need it.

01:18:51:15 - 01:18:55:00

- What about this bottle?

- You don't need it.

01:18:55:15 - 01:18:57:03

What about this?

01:18:58:04 - 01:19:01:03

What is it?

01:19:01:08 - 01:19:02:22

This is still useful.

01:19:02:22 - 01:19:04:09

No, it's useless.

01:19:04:09 - 01:19:06:13

- We are throwing this away too?

- Yes. It's no use.

01:19:08:03 - 01:19:09:14

Ok, let me close the door.

01:19:09:14 - 01:19:10:07

I will close it.

01:19:10:07 - 01:19:12:07

Zhou will soon return to check my stuff.

01:19:12:20 - 01:19:15:19

I will close it for you. Let's go.

01:19:16:10 - 01:19:18:15

Zhou, Grandma Han, and Xu Yianqu stand in the street waiting for the taxi to arrive.

HOW DO I FEEL?

01:19:18:21 - 01:19:22:12

WHEN SHE LEFT, I FEEL LIKE I'M SENDING MY OWN MOTHER AWAY.

01:19:37:22 - 01:19:39:20

HOW CAN I LET GO?

01:20:06:03 - 01:20:07:21

The residents continue to pack. The theatre is messy, with belongings strewn across the room.

Don't grab that.

01:20:07:21 - 01:20:10:05

You'll make a mess if you do that.

01:20:16:02 - 01:20:22:06

Zhou is cleaning a doll.

We've looked after him for decades.

01:20:22:06 - 01:20:24:03

Our opera mascot.

01:20:24:03 - 01:20:27:13

There's ash on him from the incense we use to pray.

01:20:27:20 - 01:20:29:18

He became dark from all the smoke.

01:20:29:18 - 01:20:33:01

When we find a new opera house

01:20:33:01 - 01:20:35:18

I will clean him properly.

01:20:36:01 - 01:20:39:00

For now, just have a good rest.

01:20:41:15 - 01:20:45:19

You have a rest, wait until I’ve found a good new venue.

01:20:45:19 - 01:20:47:20

 We’ll go together.

01:20:56:19 - 01:20:58:21

Residents begin to load their belongings into a van.

IN JUST A MATTER OF DAYS…

01:20:58:21 - 01:21:00:06

NO-ONE WAS READY TO MOVE.

01:21:01:04 - 01:21:03:15

THEN SUDDENLY IN THE SPACE OF ONE WEEK, EVERYONE’S MOVED OUT

01:21:03:15 - 01:21:06:09

AND MADE A HUGE MESS.

01:21:20:05 - 01:21:21:16

I'M VERY RELUCTANT TO LEAVE.

01:21:22:02 - 01:21:25:08

HOW CAN I NOT MISS THIS HOUSE?

01:21:28:13 - 01:21:33:07

EVERY PERFORMER HAS PAIN THEY DON'T SHOW TO OTHERS.

01:21:33:07 - 01:21:35:22

YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT YOURSELF.

01:21:37:13 - 01:21:40:02

I HAVE DREAMS BUT

01:21:40:02 - 01:21:42:09

THEY'LL NEVER COME TRUE.

01:22:01:05 - 01:22:04:15

Archive news audio and footage - Shanghai is in lockdown as coronavirus reaches the city.

...AUTHORITIES IN SHANGHAI SAY A NEW ROUND

 OF TESTING WILL DECIDE

01:22:04:15 - 01:22:07:11

WHETHER NEIGHBORHOODS CAN BEGIN OPENING UP.

01:22:07:11 - 01:22:11:07

MOST OF THE CITY'S 25 MILLION RESIDENTS REMAIN LOCKED DOWN.

01:22:11:07 - 01:22:14:07

IT'S SPARKED ANGER AND PROTEST IN THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE.

01:22:16:23 - 01:22:21:19

HERE, PEOPLE ARE HEARD BANGING POTS AND PANS FROM THEIR APARTMENT WINDOWS.

01:22:22:00 - 01:22:24:23

ONE WOMAN SCREAMS "GIVE ME BACK MY FREEDOM".

01:22:25:03 - 01:22:27:18

GIVE ME BACK MY FREEDOM.

01:22:31:21 - 01:22:37:18

BEING AT HOME DURING THE LOCKDOWN GAVE ME A LOT OF ANXIETY.

01:22:37:18 - 01:22:40:06

I WAS LOCKED IN MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE.

01:22:41:16 - 01:22:45:16

Footage of Shanghai during lockdown

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING OUT OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, YOU CAN'T EVEN LEAVE YOUR OWN DOOR.

01:22:48:13 - 01:22:54:12

With time, I came to miss that old group of performers.

01:22:54:12 - 01:22:57:21

I REALLY MISS THEM.

01:22:57:21 - 01:23:03:00

PEOPLE CAN GO WITHOUT FOOD, BUT NOT WITHOUT FRIENDS.

01:23:14:13 - 01:23:22:12

Inside a room in a modern building, people have gathered to play cards.

SOMEONE FROM MY NATIVE VILLAGE SAID THERE MIGHT BE

A HOUSE ON THE MARKET THAT I SHOULD GO AND SEE.

01:23:26:02 - 01:23:31:09

NOW THAT WE’VE MOVED TO THIS NEW PLACE, WE ARE QUITE HAPPY.

01:23:35:00 - 01:23:39:18

GRANDMA HAN HAS MOVED BACK TO LIVE WITH HER SON.

01:23:40:22 - 01:23:46:03

I STILL CALL HER ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR A CHAT, OR A VIDEO CALL.

01:23:50:10 - 01:23:52:23

Zhou video calls Grandma Han from the new theatre.

Hey Grandma.

01:23:52:23 - 01:23:55:07

- How are you?

- I'm good?

01:23:55:07 - 01:23:56:16

- Are you well?

- Good.

01:23:56:16 - 01:23:59:03

- How’s your health been recently?

- Pretty good.

01:24:00:09 - 01:24:03:12

Come on over when you have time, OK?

01:24:03:12 - 01:24:10:06

When the weather’s better I’ll bring you

here to hang out, alright?

01:24:10:06 - 01:24:16:12

You listen to your daughter-in-law at home, OK?

01:24:18:11 - 01:24:21:11

Audience members begin to gather.

 I TOOK CARE OF HER FOR DECADES.

01:24:22:03 - 01:24:26:01

The performance begins.

I THINK OF HER EVERY NIGHT WHILE PERFORMING.

01:24:46:08 - 01:24:50:22

THIS LIFE IS LIKE AN OPERA.

01:24:52:13 - 01:24:55:15

THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD AND BAD EXPERIENCES.

01:24:56:06 - 01:24:59:17

AND A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY.

01:25:03:07 - 01:25:05:21

EVERY PLAY WE DO IS ALSO LIKE THIS.

01:25:12:03 - 01:25:14:15

LIFE IS LIKE AN OPERA.