VISION

AUDIO

PTT

MONTAGE: FILE FOOTAGE

The lullaby HUSH LITTLE BABY PLAYS as a rapid procession of newborn babies, goo-goo and gah-gah us into a state of CUTE and CUDDLY.

UPSOT: Laughing, crying babies!

VO: Last year, 133 million babies came into the world.

VO: For their mothers, the experience of childbirth was as different and unique as they are.

INT. TEA-HOUSE – DAY.

We find JANICE in an ORNATE tea-room. Her cup steams, as she talks to camera about her experience of childbirth.

JANICE: PTC: When I had my first baby, I felt a whole lot of different things. Joy, pain, confusion and trauma.

STILLS: Janice holding her first CHILD moments after giving birth.

JANICE: PTC [THOUGHT TRACK] It didn't all go to plan, but my main focus was on the baby's health and well-being and not my own… I guess that’s fair enough.

RESUME: TEA HOUSE.

JANICE: PTC: But I’ve come to Taiwan to see how they do things differently.

TITLE: The Best Place To Have A Baby?
Janice, Rhiona, Colin, Josh

PART I: WHEN HARRY MET AUNTIE

EXT. OLD TAIPEI – DAY

A change of pace. A bustling, metropolis where modernity and history fight for space on the crowded streets.

TEXT ON SCREEN:TAIPEI, TAIWAN

INT/EXT. RESTAURANT – DAY

We arrive in a rundown, NOODLE BAR. An elderly AUNTIE is about to be interviewed.

AUNTIE 02: IV: [DAY 06 - 18:01:14]– Does this interview include jokes? I am good at telling jokes.[18:01:19]

VO: When it comes to having a baby, Taiwanese mothers, are united by one experience…

VO: Most will participate in a more than 2000-year-old practise called “Confinement.”

CONFINEMENT MONTAGE:

FOUR ELDERLY MOTHERS recount their experiences of confinement.

AUNTIE 01: IV: [DAY 06 - 17:57:37 Doing the month of confinement was pretty good, because one could get some rest.

EXT. TAIPEI STREETS – DAY

QUICK CUTS show us GENERATIONS of WOMEN hanging out together. Mother’s… daughters… granddaughters.

VO: According to ancient, Chinese tradition, a new mum will stay with hermother or mother-in-law for at least 30 days after childbirth.

VO: This period of “confinement,” comes with very strict rules.

RESUME: CONFINEMENT MONTAGE:

THE ELDERLY AUNTIES continue.

AUNTIE 01: Washing hair isn’t allowed

AUNTIE 02: No cold food no baths and light foods only

AUNTIE 03: I wasn’t allowed to go out a night I couldn’t wash my hair

AUNTIE 01: [18:05:29] This is the term "Stay and lock up at home".

GFX: A series of water coloured GUO HUA paintings bring the scenes in the VO to life. CALLIGRAPHY is used for any TEXT ON SCREEN.

Zoo-ow – Yeh - tzee

VO: Chinese Confinement or Zuo Yue Zi, literally means “the sitting month.”

CONT’D.

VO: Under the supervision of family, rules like: no bathing, no going outside, no bare feet, and a strict diet were designed to help women recover and build strength after childbirth.

CONT’D.

VO: Today, many of the traditions remain, and Mum’s are not pressured to rapidly “bounce back” or prove they can cope on their own.

VO: Unlike western culture, Confinement encourages women to accept help … and restore their physical and mental health.

EXT. GEM CENTRE – DAY.

JANICE cruises down a bustling street. She speaks to us before heading up some stairs and into the CONFINEMENT CENTRE.

UPSOT: Traffic beeping and bustling.

JANICE: PTC: // But these days, new mums are modernising it.

They’re keeping the tradition but they’re choosing to do it in high-end, luxury places like this.

PART II: Lifestyles of the Rich and (recently) Pregnant

INT. GEM CARE – NURSERY - DAY.

A number of masked NURSES check in on NEWBORNS in what looks like a hospital nursery.

Moving beyond the glass doors, we find a facility that looks like a FIVE STAR HOTEL.

UPSOT: Babies crying – nurses rushing about. Consoling them.

VO: GEM Care is one of 193 “confinement centres” registered in Taiwan.

VO: It’s a state-of-the-art facility mixing tradition, modern medicine and a 5-star hotel.

INT. GEM CARE – VARIOUS.

We see DOCTORS and NURSES bustling about their business before winding up in a KITCHEN.

NURSE KIKI: IV: [DAY 03 - 10:10:08] First of all, our centre has doctors and professional care workers. [10:10:13] Immediately after the mothers check in, we will track their health status. [10:10:18] For example, each week we have Chinese herbalists to takes their pulse to diagnosis their physical conditions, and then nutritionists to customize meal menus to help them recover.

INT. GEM CARE – YOGA STUDIO

MUMS gently stretch under supervision of a YOGA TEACHER.

NURSE KIKI: IV: [DAY 03 - 10:10:25] Depending on the recovery status, we will also ask the physiotherapist to train them do some physical recovery exercises. [10:10:32]

INT. GEM CARE – SUITE

The NURSES show a YOUNG MUM how to burp her baby.

NURSE KIKI: IV: [DAY 03 - 10:20:35] Before they return home,
[10:17:35] We'll teach her how to look after the baby. [10:20:35] Before they return home, we have a training checklist. We ask the mothers the baby care skills one by one , like how to wash baby's bottom, how to observe baby crying and drinking milk, etc. [10:20:45] We also have some routine checklists. We will teach them and make sure they get it before leaving. [10:20:52]

NURSE KIKI: IV

NURSE KIKI wearing HAIR NET and SCRUBS speaks to us with the NURSERY in the background.

NURSE KIKI: IV: [DAY 03 - 10:06:45] So our arrangements mainly focus on how to help new mums recover from postpartum and let them feel comfortable, safe and healthy.
[DAY 03 - 10:06:54] So that’s why we do not blindly follow the traditional rules, like must eat sesame oil chicken, must not wash hair, must wear socks. [10:07:03] Our centre gives each new mum the care based on her body needs.

INT. GEM CARE - SWIM ROOM – LATER.

NURSE KIKI is giving a one-month old baby a swimming lesson.

The kid wears a PINEAPPLE SHAPED FLOATY around his neck and is splashing about in a sea through BATH-TUB.

This is BABY MYRON. He’s parents, MAXINE and MICHAEL, gleefully look on.

NURSE KIKI: UPSOT [DAY 03 - 08:47:59]– Kick, kick, kick.

MAXINE: [08:48:01] Hahaha.

NURSE KIKI [08:48:03] It's fun, right? [08:48:07] It's pretty fun. [08:48:09]

VO: Freshly minted parents Maxine and Michael Yeh are happily indulging in all the perks top-shelf confinement has to offer.

NURSE KIKI [DAY 03 - 08:48:41] You are awesome! Right? [08:48:43] No worries. [08:48:44] It's raining. [08:48:46] It's a big rain. [08:48:47] Rain is coming.

CONT’D.

VO: Today it’s swimming lessons, and everyone is taking to it like a duck… or pineapple to water.

INT. GEM CARE - SWIM ROOM – LATER.

JANICE enters and starts chatting to the group in between fawning over MYRON.

MAXINE: UPSOT: [DAY 03 - 08:53:19:16 - 08:53:26:21 Hi, Janice.

JANICE: UPSOT [08:53:30:00 - 08:53:31:07 Hey. And who's this?

MICHAEL: UPSOT [08:53:31:12 - 08:53:32:13 This is baby Myron.

JANICE: UPSOT [08:53:32:21 - 08:53:36:20 Myron Hey. Looks like he's enjoying it.

MICHAEL: UPSOT [08:53:37:07 - 08:53:38:20] He's currently a pineapple.

JANICE [08:53:39:09 - 08:53:52:22] He got dressed up for the occasion.

JANICE: And how old is he?

MAXINE: UPSOT:08:56:13:22 - 08:56:19:01 MAXINE So he is. Oh, about a month. Almost a month.

CONT’D.

JANICE: UPSOT [DAY 03 - 08:56:20:00 - 08:56:22:16 JANICE And How's it been in here so far?

MICHAEL: UPSOT [08:56:23:12 - 08:56:29:22 MICHAEL Oh, wonderful. No complaints. Kiki’s the best and the entire staff.

CONT’D.

FLASH CUT TO:

VO: Maxine and Michael were both born in Taiwan but moved to the United States as kids.

STILLS:

High Colour and Contrast fashion PHOTOGRAPHS of a pregnant MAXINE (in her underwear) posing with a shirtless, tat covered MICHAEL.

VO: They’re influencers who live the high life in LA... But when they fell pregnant, there was only one place to go…

RESUME: INT. GEM CARE - SWIM ROOM – DAY.

Everyone gushes over little MYRON as he splashes about the pool.

MICHAEL [DAY 03 -f aaa 06:55:05] You work with what you can. If we didn't come back here, we would've done confinement at home. In LA, if you want to hire someone to do confinement, that's like 10 grand also. So it's also costly there. And in our cultural, it's a must do. If you don't do confinement, you're setting yourself up for failure.

MAXINE: IV And then I booked this in advance when I'm only 12 weeks pregnant. Everything about it has been a really great experience for me.

INT. GEM CARE - SWIM ROOM – CONTINUOUS.

NURSE KIKI gets moves MYRON from the pool to a massage table. After drying him off MICHAEL starts giving him a BABY MASSAGE.

VO: Centre’s like GEM CARE cater to cashed up parents who often find the lure of out sourcing traditional, family confinement, irresistible.

MICHAEL: UPSOT: It’s comfy!

MONTAGE: We see the rooms and services mentioned in the VO.

VO: The centre offers massage treatments for mum and bub… day spas… hairdressers… yoga… even counsellors to help with things like post-natal depression.

CONT’D.

We get REAL ESTATE video like glimpses of the features of the room before arriving on…

VO: For the entire month, and even longer if they choose, parents stay in suites with an army of staff on call.

MAXINE & MICHAEL: IV

The new parents chill on their huge BED and chat with JANICE.

JANICE: (DAY 03 - 05:42:06): Does it make the first month of motherhood less stressful knowing you have 24/7 assistants?

MAXINE: IV (DAY 03 - 05:42:13): Oh, yes. I actually have no stress in the first month. There's no stress at all.

JANICE: That is unheard of!

CONT’D.

JANICE: (DAY 03 - 05:44:46): Is this what you thought the first month would be like, Michael?

MICHAEL: IV (05:44:54): It's better. I was just watching the game. No complaints. And long as she's okay, she's happy, then we're happy. So it's been a great experience. *** LAUGHS ***

INT. GEM CARE - MAXINE’S ROOM – DAY

MICHAEL watches and NBA game on the tele while Maxine scrolls on her phone. There’s no sign of MYRON.

MAXINE: IV (DAY 03 - 06:33:59 ): I think the best part is if you want your time alone, you can just have them to take care of your baby. ( 05:42:40 So sometimes if you can't handle it, you just got to push it back. Or you can make a phone call, and they'll step in and help you. Yeah.

VO: Many parents here spend most of their days AWAY from their newborns.

INT. GEM CARE – NURSERY - DAY.

We look through the glass at a MUCH ADO ABOUT BABIES situation unfolds before us.

UPSOT:Babies cry and nurses rush around.

VO: The centre’s nursery is like a highly-surveilled goldfish bowl.

INT. GEM CARE – MAXINE’S ROOM – LATER.

MAXINE & MICHAEL watch little MYRON, asleep, on their TV.

VO: Each infant has a bespoke tv channel for their parents to watch.

VO: Mum’s and Dad’s can make sure their baby is receiving expert care while keeping their distance.

RESUME: MAXINE & MICHAEL: IV

JANICE: (DAY 03 - 59:05): A lot of medical professionals in Australia would say if you’re missing out on that skin to skin contact. Do you have any concerns about that, that you haven't had this one-on-one time?

MAXINE: IV (DAY 03 - 59:34 ) // I still feel very connected and bonded with my baby, even though I didn't have the first skin to skin connection with him. // If you want to do it, then you can just call the nurse and then have them send the baby in and then you can have the baby for the whole day yourself. So it's really putting your needs in first.

INT. GEM CARE – MAXINE’S ROOM – LATER

A peaceful MAXINE chills on the couch holding BABY MYRON.

VO: True to its roots, prioritising the mother’s physical and mental wellbeing remains at the core of this 21st century confinement.

VARIOUS ANGLES:

We see empty CHAIRS, TABLES and LOUNGES around the centre – the kind of places FAMILY should be.

VO: But the traditional role of family is conspicuously absent.

RESUME: MAXINE & MICHAEL: IV

JANICE: IV: So you could have stayed in L.A and did it in a more traditional way with you mother and your mother-in-law, why didn’t you choose that?

MAXINE: IV: (DAY 03 - Maxine 06:08:43) Because I know it will have a lot of conflict with her. I just want to be more comfortable with myself and I think that's the best way to do that, it's just not having her do my confinement.

MICHAEL: (DAY 03 - 07:12:26) My mother's love is tough love. And she has her own ways. You're not doing this right if you're not following her ways, which a lot of traditional moms are like that.

INT. GEM CARE – NURSERY – LATER

NURSES bottle feed and burp a number of BABIES.

JANICE: IV: So, is it still confinement if you’re breaking so much tradition?

RESUME: NURSE KIKI: IV

[10:13:52] NURSE - Actually women nowadays don't want to be interfered too much by the older generation’s traditional ways of confinement.[10:14:04]

[10:10:42] Their can also be different ways of looking after the baby.

[10:10:52] As a result sometimes mums are unable to have a good rest.
[10:14:11] New mums feel that they could get a good rest in our confinement centre. [ENDS]

INT. GEM CARE – MAXINE’S ROOM – NIGHT.

MAXINE and MICHAEL watch TV. MYRON is on there, busting a move.

MAXINE: UPSOT (DAY 02 - 05:33) He's dancing.

MICHAEL: UPSOT: (05:33): Exercising. He's busting out his moves. Look.

MAXINE: UPSOT (DAY 02 - 05:35): Oh, so cute.

VO: The Yeh’s might not have family around, but at the end of the day, this modern confinement offers them a rare and enviable gift.

CONT’D.

MICHAEL [THOUGHT TRACK] (DAY 03 - 07:10:06)We get proper sleep every night. And even when they encourage Myron being in the same room with us, we can always have the option of sending him back, "Bye bye, little one." And then we get a good sleep for maybe even six hours.

RESUME: MAXINE & MICHAEL: I.V

JANICE: (DAY 03 - 05:42:54): Some people might look at this and say, "That's super indulgent." Are you really getting a proper experience of motherhood?

MAXINE: IV (05f :43:04): I think so, because eventually I'm going to be stuck with this kid for the rest of my life. So I think just for this month, it's really just for me to recover and relax.

MICHAEL: IV (DAY 03 - 06:53:03): You know the saying, happy wife, happy life. I have no complaints // being here is almost like a vacation. You can say that word. She's pampered, but hey, why not? It's tough being a mother.

CONT’D.

JANICE: (DAY 03 - 06:53:43): It is tough. And parenthood is tough and it's not a vacation, so you will need to get back to real life.

MICHAEL: IV (DAY 03 - 06:53:51): Oh, don't tell us. No, we're still in the dream. But we're well prepared for it, now that now that we're here?

JANICE: (DAY 03 - 06:53:59): Now that you've had your vacay, you're ready for the onslaught.

MICHAEL: IV (DAY 03 - 06:54:03): Yeah. We're ready. Let's do it.

PART III: Colour me Old Fashioned

EXT. TAI-PEI – MORNING.

A new day and life in Tai-Pei is finding it’s rhythm. JANICE walks a long taking it all in.

People book in their confinement centre before they even tell you’re pregnant. Middle class. Become like… FOMO feat of doing it wrong. Are people.

Fear of missing out… anxiety from the centre about doing it the wrong way.

But how do the other half live… are they really missing out if they do traditional confinement. JANICE has great time with FANNY.

VO: According to government figures here, around 50 percent of new mums now spend time in confinement centres.

VO: But the price is steep – a stay in a place like GEM CARE costs about thirteen thousand dollars – more than five times Taiwan’s median, monthly income.

VO: Still, there’s a palpable FOMO amongst Taiwanese mums and confinement centres are happily cashing in.

EXT. FANNY’S APARTMENT - DAY

In a more grungy, working class part of town, JANICE climbs the stairs of an apartment a few floors above a strip of SHOPS.

VO: But I want to know, are families who choose traditional confinement really missing out?

INT. FANNY’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS.

New parents FANNY & RENFU welcome JANICE into their home and introduce her to baby EAGLE.

JANICE: UPSOT: (DAY 06 - 21:46:45) Hi! Congratulations. [hands over present] That’s for you.
FANNY: Hi! Thank you. Thank you.
JANCIE: [to the baby] Look at you you’re so cute!
RENFU: Come in. Please, come in.
JANICE: Thank you.

CONT’D.

Pronunciation eeko

VO: Fanny and her husband Ren-Fu are proud parents of one-month-old son, Eagle.

JANICE: UPSOT: He’s so cute.

VO: Fanny spent a few days in hospital after Eagle was born but has been doing traditional confinement ever since.

IV: FANNY & RENFU

JANICE sits in a small, over-stuffed living area and chats with a more down to earth couple.

FANNY: IV (DAY 06 - 20:44:20] We both prefer to stay with the baby every day, [20:44:24] so we chose to do home confinement. [20:30:36] So, I am basically a fancy housewife at home, who doesn't have to do anything. [20:30:43] I just focus on diet and playing with the baby, [20:30:45] not taking care of the baby.

CONT’D.

OFF JANICE, nodding.

REN-FU: IV (DAY 06 - 20:46:58] Everyone agrees that a mother must have a good rest, [20:47:02] and the first requirement for a good rest is that mum doesn't have to take care of the baby, [20:47:08] she can lie down, eat and sleep, that's good. [20:47:09] But if I could do that at home, then it would be the equivalent of a home confinement for my wife as well as a centre. [20:47:16] [20:47:20] we could achieve the same result at home as at a centre. [21:00:00] The money that we saved could be used as the fund for raising our child. [21:00:01]

INT. KITCHEN – LATER

REN FU looks like a mad culinary scientist. He has a myriad of pots bubbling and stewing at once – he’s brewing all manner of traditional CHINESE MEDICES.

REN-FU: UPSOT: (DAY 06 - 19:03:34) This is a large beehive [19:08:33] The big hive is used when taking a bath and wiping the body. this herbal medicine will be used to shrink the pores.
[19:03:53] Then mother will be less susceptible to wind and chill to avoid leaving the root cause of illness during the confinement period.

VO: Hands on dad Ren fu is a key support for Fanny through confinement.

VO: He proudly cooks up traditional recipes and carefully selects medicine to help Fanny his wife heal.

REN-FU: UPSOT: [19:08:51 ] Because generally speaking, mothers eat and drinks a lot . We have to ensure she got enough nutrition from every kind of food and drink.

REN-FU: UPSOT: (DAY 06 -21:36:57] This is what we call Sheng Hua Soup. [21:36:59] Its main purpose is to accelerate blood circulation and make dirty blood go out of the uterus quickly.

REN-FU: IV (DAY 06 - 21:40:52] – In fact, in many confinement centres, [21:40:53] they still use different traditional Chinese herbal recipes. [21:40:58][21:41:07] However, if I can compare, I prefer to watch the stuff using my own eyes and even cook it by myself. [21:41:13] It makes me feel safer.

VARIOUS ANGLES: FANNY resting then having bathing herself from the sink.

VO: On top of diet and medicine, the couple follows other traditional rules around rest… not going outside and even…

VO: No showers.

VO: It can be tough, but there’s one tradition that makes life a whole lot easier.

INT. BEDROOM – LATER.

While FANNY takes her “bath” her FATHER enters carrying little EAGLE. He and REN FU change the baby’s nappy.

FATHER IN LAW: UPSOT: Let’s wash your head!

FANNY: IV (DAY 06 - 20:16:25] and on the second hand I felt I was my dad's favourite, so I wanted to do confinement for my dad.
[20:21:17] My dad had helped my mum with her confinement by cooking too, so it's kind of a legacy. [20:21:23]

CONT’D.

FATHER IN LAW: There you go.

RESUME: FANNY & REN-FU I:V.

REN-FU: IV (DAY 06 - 20:21:37) One of the reasons why she chose to stay at her parents' house for her confinement period was [20:21:41] [20:21:56] If she came to my parents' house, she would be uncomfortable as a daughter-in-law, [20:22:01] uncomfortable talking to her mother-in-law about what she wanted to do. [20:22:07] Instead, she could relax better here.

FANNY – IV [DAY 06 - 20:21:06] The biggest reason was that dad was a better cook. [20:21:10] Dad was a great cook. [20:21:11]

INT. KITCHEN – LATER.

FANNY’S DAD now whips up his own mysteries in the kitchen… including some conspicuous looking, testicle shaped BALLS.

FATHER IN LAW: UPSOT: cooking in the kitchen.

VO: The couple now lives with Fanny’s Mum and Dad who wash, cook special food, and baby-sit, so Ren-Fu can continue to work while his wife recuperates.

INT. DINING ROOM – LATER.

FANNY’S DAD carry’s out some dishes and announces dinner time.

FATHER-IN-LAW: UPSOT (DAY 06 -21:59:18) Dinner time. [21:59:21] Everybody coming out.

VO: Along with Fanny’s sister and her kids, everyone in the family pitches in.

CONT’D

Sitting on the floor around a makeshift table, JANICE joins FANNY and REN-FU along with FANNY’S MUM DAD, SISTER, NIECE & NEPHEW for a family dinner. FANNY’S MUM holds EAGLE while FANNY eats.

FATHER-IN-LAW: UPSOT (DAY 06 -22:02:00) Eat please.

MOTHER-IN-LAW: [22:02:09] Eat please. Come on.

*JANICE EATS*
JANICE: Thank you! This looks so good! Very good. Delicious thank you! So good.

CONT’D.

JANICE: UPSOT (DAY 06 - 22:07:50) This is confinement food. How come everyone is eating, not just mum?

REN-FU: UPSOT: (DAY 06 - 22:08:40] It's not good that the new mother eats light meals whilst we eat tasty and spicy food. [22:08:46] Not good. [22:08:48] Yeah, it's like everyone is doing confinement with her

CONT’D.

JANICE looks sceptically at the conspicuous BALLS from earlier.

Asking after them, the WHOLE FAMILY laughs.

JANCIE: UPSOT (DAY 06 - 22:05:07) What's this one? I've never seen that before.

FATHER-IN-LAW: [22:05:17] Ji Fo. How to explain?

*LAUGHTER*

JANICE: Everyone is laughing what is this?

FATHER-IN-LAW: [22:21:21] The rooster’s Dan Dan.

REN-FU: (22:21:30) The rooster’s Dan Dan.

FANNY: [22:21:31] The rooster’s Dan Dan.

[22:21:44] JANICE - Fanny, explain what that means.

FANNY: [22:21:48] Chicken balls.

REN-FU: [22:22:17] One chicken, two eggs.

JANICE: [22:22:19] This is from the rooster, right?

REN-FU: [22:22:22] Dan Dan. Right.

JANICE: [22:22:24] Dan Dan. [22:22:25] Now I know. [22:22:27] It's something new.

CONT’D.

JANICE tries to find the “balls” to eat the balls.

JANICE: [22:06:05] Is this part of confinement food? I was not told about this.

FATHER IN LAW: [22:06:16] Yes, it is easy to swallow and soft.

JANICE: 22:06:54] How would this help me by eating a rooster's testicle? Is this being good for me?

REN-FU: UPSOT: (DAY 06 - 22:07:07] Yes. This is extremely nutritious. [22:07:11] Very nutritious. [22:07:12] You know one rooster only has two testicles. [22:07:15] To cook this plate of dish we probably need several roosters. [22:07:20] So this dish is very precious. [22:07:22] It is only eaten during the confinement period. [22:07:25] Yeah.

CONT’D.

*JANICE EATS TESTICLE *

JANICE: That’s how you do it? Okay wow?

[22:05:57] See, delicious.

VO: Yeah… so the jury’s out on the “delicious” part…

JANICE: I think I need the rice chaser.

VO: But seeing a family cocoon and comfort their daughter is something I have a huge appetite for.

[22:13:08] JANICE - Beautiful to see so many generations joining in.

[22:13:20] FANNY - Yes, right.

CONT’D.

FANNY: IV (DAY 06 - 20:29:37] I'm more comfortable and relaxed at home and have my family with me. [20:29:44] [20:29:46] Apart from the physical restoration, I feel happier with my family around me mentally.

RESUME: FANNY & REN FU – IV.

JANICE: [20:42:19] I visited a confinement centre, and mother and father there described the confinement period as being like a vacation. They loved it, very relaxing. How would you describe your home confinement?

REN-FU: IV (DAY 06 - 20:26:05) I quite like it, I can say I'm enjoying it. [20:26:08] [20:26:25] But when a little baby is born, you feel a different feeling in life. [20:26:31] And we learn from that. And because of the baby, we're slowly becoming real adults.

REN-FU: IV (DAY 06 - 20:42:52) Personally, I think parents need to face reality sooner rather than later [20:

20:43:18] [20:43:25] It's a bit more tiring, but I personally think it's worth a try.[20:43:29] [20:43:34] Because baby care is a sweet burden, you go over there and take thirty days off and you lose thirty days [21:17:46] I would rather start bonding with the baby from day one. [21:17:50] [21:32:22]Because after all, he's just learning to be a human being. [21:32:25] All we parents can give him is love and time.

VO: Globally, around one in five mums experience symptoms of post-natal depression, and studies have found that confinement can help reduce these symptoms.

VO: However, other studies show that confinement can negatively impact mental health if the new mum feels trapped or under scrutiny.

PART IV: THE WRATH OF NAN

INT. APARTMENT – MORNING

A tired MAXINE & MICHAEL sit at a kitchen table. Michael is rocking an agitated baby MYRON.

MICHAEL: UPSOT (DAY 04 - 11:02:30) What are you thinking? Ah, you love daddy! Ok! Don’t tell mum. Shhh… Don’t tell mum.

VO: Across town, for Maxine and Michael… vacation is over.

MAXINE: Looks blankly at Micahel.

VO: They’ve moved out of Gem Care and the reality is starting to bite.

MAXINE: [THOUGHT TRACK] (DAY 04 - 11:56:25): // He's six weeks now, but it feels like a long time after we come home.

MAXINE & MICHAEL: IV

The couple sit on a couch and speak with JANICE.

MICHAEL: IV (DAY 04 - 11:58:50)://All of those guesswork that we didn't have to face at the confinement center. Now we have to deal with it, and it was quite exhausting.

MAXINE: IV (11:58:40): Exhausting.

JANICE: (11:59:16): I bet. You're missing Nurse Kiki, aren't you?

MAXINE: (11:59:20): Yeah. I miss all the nurses. I miss the nursery room. I wish I can push him back.

INT. APARTMENT – MORNING

MYRON’S grandma JENNIFER swoops him from his FATHER as her grandson begins to cry. MAXINE rolls her eyes.

VO: The challenge of parenting has made the Y eh’s rethink going it alone…

VO: And they’ve brought in the big guns.

JENNIFER: UPSOT: Goo-goo – gah gah!

INT. BEDROOM – DAY.

MAXINE tries to change his nappy, but JENNIFER is there to help.

VO: In keeping with tradition, Michael’s mum has come from the US to lend a hand.

VO: And from the looks of it, Maxine’s mother-in-law is not shy about laying down the law.

MONTAGE:

As MAXINE breastfeeds, JENNIFER goes proper MONSTER IN LAW… QUICK JUMP CUTS whip us through a best of Jennifer’s advice.

JENNIFER: (11:31:39) Walk over there. Stack some pillows behind her.

JENNIFER: UPSOT: (DAY 04 - 11:32:30) Don’t pat him when he’s drinking, mum. Let him drink quietly.

JENNIFER: UPSOT: (11:32:36) And do not talk. He gets a big echo if you talk, because he is so close to you. (

MONTAGE:

JENNIFER takes issue with MAXINE’S posture during feeding. Following orders, MICHAEL goes and gets pillows to prop up his wife.

MONTAGE:

EVERYONE is around the table – POST FEEDING. MYRON is doing little BURPS.

JENNIFER: UPSOT (11:36:17) He’s burping. (11:16:24) You let him suck too much air.

MAXINE: (11:16:27) He drinks too fast. I cannot control him. //

JENNIFER: (11:16:35) I burped him yesterday and he burped a lot. He was drinking from a bottle. I did do it your way. I just did it my own way and he was drinking so well.

MONTAGE:

MAXINE and MICHAEL share a tense glance… they’re in a new hell.

MAXINE (DAY 04 - 11:23:27) You will feel that he cannot be without you. That sense of responsibility just arises naturally. After you become mum, you will realise that only by raising children can you know the love of your parents.

FAMILY: IV

JENNIFER joins MAXINE and MICAHEL and they family chats to JANICE.

JANICE: UPSOT (DAY 04 - 12:01:00) // Jennifer, (12:01:11) Congratulations.

JENNIFER (12:01:12): Yeah, thank you.

JANICE (12:01:13): Yeah. How does it feel being a grandma?

JENNIFER (11:59:44): Yeah. I'm so happy. Be a grandma. But yeah, I'm just, very, very happy.

MICHAEL: She’s in love with Myron.

JANICE: I can see that.

CONT’D.

JANICE: UPSOT (DAY 04 - 12:02:50): I feel like you're very hands on and very comfortable with the baby. Where do you think that's from?

JENNIFER (12:02:57): Because my job.

JANICE (12:02:59): What do you mean?

MAXINE (12:03:11): She's been doing confinement for women's back in LA for 12 years.

JANICE (12:03:16): Wow. So you do this for a living?

JENNIFER (12:03:20): I'm the professional.

VO: Jennifer makes a living as a “confinement nanny.”

CONT’D.

VO: Traditionally, women like her are paid to move in and care for mothers who want to do confinement but don’t have family support.

JANICE: UPSOT (12:05:03): If you're the expert in this, how did it feel for Michael and Maxine to not use you?

JENNIFER: Terrible. // I feel no good. *laughs*
JENNIFER [MANDARIN] (12:36:18) I loved all the babies that I looked after 100%. When I cannot do that for my own grandson, I think that’s just life. This is life.

CONT’D.

JANICE: What’s the difference between your care and the care in a confinement centre?

JENNIFER: IV: [MANDARIN] (12:14:55) The approaches they use in the confinement centre are scientific, but Our service is one-on-one. (12:15:05) (14:00:33) but their service lacks humanity, humanized things. This kind of care comes out of your heart. (14:00:45) You truly care about their needs. They usually just treat it as a job. (14:00:57) But not me. I do not just treat it as a job. I treat it as my responsibility. So I will satisfy all of the baby’s needs if I see their needs.

RESUME: FAMILY IV.

JANICE: (DAY 04 - 12:58:58) Do you think there is a generation missing out a bit, breaking the tradition?

JENNIFER: IV: (13:02:39) There is breaking of traditions. //(13:02:52) (13:07:35) That’s because the time is different, the material conditions are different - everything has changed,so confinement will only get better and better. // (13:07:46) (13:08:08) The current confinement practice meets the needs of modern women. (13:08:16) (13:09:09) Some people still think confinement is old and wrong. That’s not true.

PART VI: The End

EXT. TAIWAN – DAY

The hustles and bustle… the old and the new still competing for a place in today’s Taiwan. JANICE walks along.

VO: When I had my first baby, I tried unlocking my “mother’s intuition…” hoping to figure it out on the fly.

VO: A lot of, western, Mums do.

VO: But having seen confinement in action, maybe it’s time we flip our approach.

MONTAGE:

JANICE laughing with the VARIOUS FAMILIES she’s met throughout the film.

VO: Shifting focus to life AFTER birth… seems to greatly reduce the pain and trauma so often faced by new parents.

RESUME: EXT. TAIWAN – DAY.

JANICE walks towards camera a final time.

VO: In Taiwan, the rules of confinement are ever-changing but I really think there’s something to it.

RESUME: FAMILY IV.

JANICE: UPSOT (DAY 04 - 13:13:56 // Do you think Western countries can learn from how Asian women do it?

JENNIFER: [MANDARIN] (DAY 04 - 13:14:08) Yes. I think every woman should do confinement, whether you are an eastern woman or a western woman.

(13:14:59) But it has an impact on your whole life. I think it is worthwhile resting for 30 days in exchange for health for the rest of your life.

TEASE

COMING UP

VO: Coming up…

UPSOT: Move! Move!

VO: More from Taiwan, as we meet the civilians prepping for war.

[16:18:36] So we are going to fight for ourselves and our family.

VISION OF KUMA (STRETCHERS, EVACS, TOURNIQUETS)

NIKO

I can’t say that I will be protected 100% or never get injured, but at least I have made some preparations.

AD BREAK

DAY 5

Creeping into the building

Peeking around corners – without Janice

SODLIERS ENTERING THE BUILDING

Day 5

16:36:23 --

Entering the building

Day 5

17:07:12

JANICE PTC

Tensions with China are running high here in Taiwan so I’ve come to this abandoned building to meet some gun enthusiasts who are prepping for war.

-- KICK THE DOOR --

MOVE IN, MOVE

TITLE: GUNNING FOR FREEDOM

Missile footage

News coverage of Chinese aircrafts

MISSILE SHOT

LIB 090423 RTV CHINA TAIWAN DRILLS_SBS_ID_21401377

01:58 – END

AIRCRAFT

LIB 110423 RTV CHINA TAIWAN DRILLS CONCLUSION_SBS_ID_21444178

0:05 – 0:23

1:37 – END

VO: China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be returned to Beijing's control

VO: And in recent years, China has ramped up the pressure.

VO: This kicked civilian defence groups into action.

Moving throughout the building, aiming at targets

A:

[DAY 05 - 16:29:52] If anyone wanted to invade your home, it was normal to stand up and protect everything you cherish.

[16:00:47] A – We fight for our lifestyle of freedom and democracy and for our way of life with the rule of law and human rights. [16:00:58] If these things were lost, governed by China, we would be like animals in cages.

DAY 6

Running up the stairwell

VO: Civil defence groups like Taiwan Militia run drills - in preparation for possible invasion

[16:51:13] CHARLES - The scenario just now simulated that there were five enemies lurking on the first floor of this building. We came in to eliminate them and clear the building to make it safe.

[16:54:44] JANICE - What about these weapons? Are they real or fake?

[16:48:06] Because we can't use live ammunition in Taiwan, the bullets used are BBs.

FOOTAGE

LIB 290621 RTV CHINA POLITICS ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE_SBS_ID_15218450

1:51 – 2:08

GFX

Number of military personnel in bullets

TOTAL ACTIVE FORCES

China: 2,035,000

Taiwan: 300,000

VO: These citizen warriors are no match for CHINA’s military might

GFX

TOTAL ACTIVE FORCES

China: 2,035,000

Taiwan: 300,000

ALT

VO: CHINA HAS OVER 2 MILLION ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONAL

TAIWAN NOT EVEN 200,000

BUT THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 1.6 MILLION CIVILLIAN WARRIORS

TAIWAN MILITIA

DAY 6

Students watching on...

VO: Hanney and Chiany are from civilian defense group - Taizhong Self Training

VO: They’ve come to see how others are getting prepared

MALE INTERVIEWEE

17:16:13

It’s really stunning and also a little bit scary because we’ve never faced this kind of situation before in our education.

FEMALE STUDENT

[17:19:28] I've seen the battlefield environment, but mostly on film. [17:19:30] But now it may suddenly go from the screen to our real life and most people are unprepared for it.

Car – travelling back to Taipei

VO: The majority of Taiwanese people aren’t ready to take up arms

VO: But a growing number are learning basic conflict survival skills

KUMA ACADEMY

DAY 1

Evacuation tactics

Carrying each other

JANICE PTC

01;51;21

It’s the end of the afternoon in bustling Taipei and most people might be thinking about wrapping up their workday. But there’s a room full of people here who are finding what to do if war breaks out.

UPSOT

00:00:54 Marco – Here. Did you notice that ... the weapon in this soldier’s hand is a stinger anti-aircraft missile...

VO: Here at Kuma Academy, they teach civilians about modern warfare.

VO: With most of these students unable to fire a weapon, the emphasis is on first aid and rescue.

UPSOT

(01:18:31) Bleeding in left arm. Bleeding in the left arm. Where do we need to put it? We need to put it above the wound.

01:36:35 Interviewer – Niko, what’s brought you here today

01:37:24 Niko – I want to know more about the Taiwan Strait War, because Russia and Ukraine have been at war for a long time. (01:37:32) I think the situation of Ukraine is very similar to that of Taiwan. I want to know more (01:37:38) so I can protect myself and others in emergency.

(01:38:26) If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?

01:38:29 Niko – Twenty-three.

01:38:45 Interviewer – For people your age, your friends, how worried are they about war? (01:39:00

01:39:03 Niko – My biggest worry is that they get injured and die or leave us forever.

(01:42:15) JANICE– Do you think though … do you think preparing in a classroom though can really prepare you for war?

01:42:36 Niko – It will be hard. I can’t say that I will be protected 100% or never get injured, but at least I have made some preparations.

Kuma practising carrying people out of rooms cut with Taiwan militia grab

[16:18:36] So we are going to fight for ourselves and our family. [16:18:43] Some things you could only lose once. There’s no second chance. [16:18:47]

[16:30:51] A– Because if you didn't stand up and battle, you would lose everything.

END