A Thousand Blows (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

1
- Watch me win on Saturday night.
- Fight can't happen. Hezekiah's injured.
- Coward.
- I am no coward.
[Sugar] Show it to me.
What? You did this?
- Why?
- I need him for something.
"Dear Mr Woodhouse, we would be
delighted to accept your very kind offer
of a Chinese translator
for the coming delegation."
We're on.
[Lao] "Lo Feng Luh".
I have something I can wear.
[audience clamouring]
[Mary] Hezekiah, Peggy
is the key figure
- in the burgeoning West End boxing scene
- [chuckles]
which is where you
need to be fighting.
Are you the lad that
had Sugar Goodson beat?
I know what you're up to.
- It won't mess with anything you've
- No, it fuckin' won't.
Don't underestimate your mother.
I am Queen now.
[Jane] So you say.
But it takes more
than saying to be one.
Dis is the future.
Enjoy the fight.
- How much for two ticket?
- [concierge] It'll be one shilling.
- One shilling?
- [concierge] One shilling.
Appreciate it.
- One shilling?
- [Hezekiah] Quiet.
[bell dings]
[referee] Stop now,
gentleman. Stop, stop.
After a final check, the judges have
awarded the fight to Mr Hammond.
[spectators applauding]
- Uh, excuse me.
- [Peggy] They're fine.
Lady Augusta Farnley,
you're a long way from home.
Hmm, so are you, I see.
Pleasure to see you
again, Mr Moscow.
Alec Monroe, a fellow boxer.
Hezekiah and I came
to London together.
I had you down as the cornerman.
That's just a
temporary arrangement.
Man of many talents.
Gentlemen, walk with me.
Welcome to West
London Boxing Club,
founding member of the
Amateur Boxing Association.
We're a long way from
the Blue Coat Boy now.
Prove to me your
mettle in the ring,
and I'll introduce you
to the right people.
Get you fighting out West.
How does that sound, Mr Moscow?
I will give Last Judgment
on an Englishman's jaw.
[chuckles] That's the spirit.
Changing room's
that way, gentlemen.
Well, they won't
wait for you forever.
- [sighs]
- [bell dings]
[referee] Ladies and gentlemen,
I invite you all to join us
for the next contest in
the middleweight category.
In this corner, we have
Professor Cartwright.
This man has used his keen
intellect to master our science.
In this corner, we have a bare-knuckle
fighter of African heritage,
one Mr Hezekiah Moscow.
What shall ensue is a
classical clash of style
of the civilised mind
versus the savage body.
Seconds out.
You show them the errors of their
ways. Just like me teach ya.
[referee] Round one.
[Alec] Remember what me say.
[bell dings]
- Move. Shift your weight, Hez.
- [trainer] Quick, keep your distance.
[Alec] Quick tings.
- Quicker. Quicker.
- [trainer] Push him back. Counter.
Hezekiah, move. Move.
- [grunts]
- [spectators gasp]
[Alec] Go slow, Hez.
[bell dings]
[Alec] Come, come.
Come here, man.
This man doesn't want to fight.
This is not fighting,
Hezekiah, this is boxing.
I see it in him eye.
Everything calculated.
The man is a blasted, rigid,
English boxer with a bag of tricks.
We can use dem same
tricks against him.
- This foolishness, man. I don't like this.
- Hezekiah.
Men like we don't
get second chances.
You need fi seize
your chance right now.
Tell me how.
We turn his ideas
of you against him.
- You understand?
- [bell dings]
In his mind, you're a
typical Black boxer.
All aggression with no skill,
so we play to that.
We lure him in.
Make him complacent.
And just when him
think him have ya,
show him who you really are.
Yes! Yes!
Come on, kill him!
Give it! Give him it! Yes!
[bell dings]
The judges have awarded the
contest to Mr Hezekiah Moscow.
- Yes! Yes!
- [spectator] Did anyone see that coming?
[Alec] Gwaan!
[laughing] Didn't I see? Hey?
[chuckles]
[spectator 3] I say!
What, you're a
gloved fighter now?
I am rising in this world,
whilst you return to dirt.
I'll return you first.
So wah?
You want another charity shot?
Even up the odds a lickle.
If you men have a
score to settle,
do it within the rules.
Fighting beneath a chandelier.
I look out over you,
and I see fucking pretenders.
Men playing dress-up like little
girls and mug punters lapping it up.
I'd scuttle the entire West
London stable in a single sitting.
Come to the Blue Coat Boy.
Somewhere between
Cheapside and hell.
Meet me in combat.
I'll break your fucking
skulls good and proper.
A worse fate awaits you, boy.
[murmuring]
- 'Scuse me.
- Oh.
"Top of the morning to
you, Punch. How are you?"
Yeah, no, I'm all right, yeah.
[Elephants chattering]
- [Eliza] The Earl of Lonsdale.
- That was him.
- [Mary] Right, that's the Yellow Earl.
- [chattering stops]
[sighs] Rumour has it the
mission from China has arrived
safe and sound at Waterloo.
Yesterday's Standard
reports Lonsdale's banquet
as one of the high points
of the social season.
The hottest ticket in town.
- We are fucking on.
- [Elephant chuckles]
- We are doing it.
- [Eliza sighs] Bloody hell.
- We stay true to the modus operandi.
- The what?
The plan. We get the silver on its own
while our betters rest on their laurels.
- [Eliza sighs]
- What's the matter?
It breaks my heart to see you
persist down this blind alley.
Troublemaking again. Can you
believe the fucking gall on her?
Mary, I won't toe the line just
to stay in your good graces, ever.
You know me.
So, I ask that you're
honest with our girls.
Honest how?
Robbing the Queen and the Chinese
Emperor is risky enough
but it's the Elephant boys
and Jane that I really fear.
Sneaking behind family is
its own breed of treason.
So, I shall have no part in it.
Fine. Don't need
a lockpick anyway.
Why are you still here?
You'll need to get back.
We stick to the plan.
Right. Tell me about
his name again.
[butler] Good morning, my Lord,
I've brought you your breakfast tray
- if you still want it.
- Oh, fuck off, Percival.
I apologise, Your Lordship,
but it is a matter of urgency.
Would now be a good time to raise the
subject of the Chinese delegation banquet?
[groans]
[grunting]
[breathes heavily] Later.
What's wrong, Percy?
You're not a follower
of the noble art, huh?
It has its merits,
Your Lordship.
[sighs]
I'm sorry, Percy.
I inherited this nervous
disposition from my mother.
She, uh
I can do better.
Give me your hand.
[exhales sharply, chuckles]
The Queen chose me,
and relations with
China rest in my hands.
Our hands.
It would be funny
if it weren't so absurd.
Miss Maybelline Foster,
I was beginning to worry.
Rest assured, young lady
I'll bring you to heel.
Right.
Good morning, Your Ladyship.
Your early morning breakfast.
Good morning.
[groans]
You're not the bedridden
type, Your Ladyship.
- Beg your pardon?
- Well, it's a grand occasion tonight.
And I know you'd
rather not go, but
[sighs] we both know
that's not an option.
So, let's show them.
[Hezekiah] Morning, Mr Lao.
Alec said I could find you here.
Hezekiah, come and join me.
I love watching
the river traffic.
Think of the great galleons
and souls that have passed by.
And now we are here.
[Lao sighs]
It's an ugly river.
[chuckles]
Hezekiah
don't see my participation in
Mary's criminal scheme tonight
as encouragement for yours.
This is what I
wanted to tell you.
I mean, a promise of pounds [scoffs]
that's encouragement enough for any man.
I'm not interested
in the reward.
Not really.
For me, it's about a
certain species of closure.
It's different.
We are both dancing
on a knife's edge.
Could very well slip.
I don't have nothing to lose.
[in Hakka Chinese]
[grunting]
[in English] Right, we're all
set up over here in the snug.
[Treacle chuckles]
I know it's not Buckingham Palace,
milady, but it'll have to do, all right?
- [chuckles]
- [Treacle's wife] Mmm.
Happy birthday, Rosie.
[Treacle's wife] Say hello
to your uncle Sugar, girls.
[children] Hello, Uncle Sugar.
Oh, look at this.
Isn't that lovely?
Did Punch do this or who?
- [Treacle] Sugar.
- Sugar did it?
- Yes.
- It looks so yummy.
[Treacle's wife]
Aw, look at that.
- [Treacle's son] More greens? There we go.
- [Rosie] Yes, please.
- [Treacle] Who's hungry?
- [Rosie] Me.
[Treacle] Is this a nice
birthday, darling? Hey?
[Treacle's wife] Gonna have to
say thanks to Uncle Sugar now.
- He did all of this.
- Come.
- [Treacle's wife] Yeah, that's perfect.
- Fine. Fine, fine, fine.
[clears throat]
Please come, Brother.
It's Rose's birthday, and she wants
her favourite uncle to sit next to her.
I'm cleansing me blood.
[coughs]
Tom.
[whispers indistinctly]
Go on.
[Tom] Can I help
you, Uncle Sugar?
Put on the mitts.
- [Tom] Okay?
- Yeah.
You ever fought before?
No.
- [Sugar grunts, vocalises]
- [breathing shakily]
[vocalises]
[Tom sniffles]
Go back to your mama.
Oi!
Well, you're the oldest. Do you
understand the meaning of that?
Boxing's a family trade.
You will learn to fight,
or this world will
swallow you fucking whole.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Put on the mitts.
Are you gonna let him go and do a few
rounds with your youngest now or
[Treacle] She's fine.
- How old are you now?
- Six.
[grunting]
Good.
Can you see it?
Can you see it, Rose?
You're sad.
[Treacle kisses] Love you.
- [Rose] Thank you, Daddy.
- [Treacle chuckles] You're welcome.
[Rose] Bye-bye.
[Treacle] Love you, darling.
Peggy, come in.
[Treacle, Peggy
speak indistinctly]
- Just give me two minutes, will you?
- Behave yourself.
Will do.
A man of temperance, I see.
Striking speech at West London.
- I said nothing other than the truth.
- I'm inclined to agree.
How's a man who carries on like the Duke
of fucking Wellington inclined to agree?
You've got me wrong.
I'm a Fields boy.
- Marylebone.
- Don't know what you mean.
My point being is that there
isn't much daylight between us.
I know all the history and the
legends. Figg, Broughton, Mendoza
I smell rehearsed lines.
Mr Goodson, I fought on the
barges and under the bridges,
but I'm also a man of science.
I read Darwin,
and he says that as new species
in the course of time are formed,
others become rarer and
rarer and finally extinct.
How can we help you, Peggy?
I'd like to trial you, Sugar.
I believe you've got what it
takes to fight for me out West.
And that's where
Hezekiah will be.
I thought the lion tamer
was your new plaything.
Listen, you're the king
of the East End right now,
but I could make you a name.
I could fix you a title fight
with Buster Williams himself.
Imagine it.
Sugar Goodson,
World Champion.
It's got an
undeniable ring to it.
You have a way of
riling me, Bettinson.
He doesn't mean to, Brother, he's
just setting forth his views.
Look, you can trial me,
but only if it's here,
the Blue Coat Boy, tonight.
Those are my terms.
Marylebone boy.
- If you have something to say, say it.
- I have nothing to say.
I have one thing fi say.
We are making ourselves
puppets for Mary and Peggy.
Did I not win and have those
boasty people applaud us?
On Mary and Peggy's terms.
We need fi cut them out.
We did not come to England
fi get new-style overseers.
I'm not so sure about Mary.
Learning 'bout her.
Wait, since when you start
trust fucking white girl?
Trust is a strong word, brother.
Even the needlewomen of
Morant Bay hated our kind.
What makes you think a London
woman would be any different?
Till she wrong
me, I won't judge.
She broke your finger. You
help her cut off a man's arm!
I'm not even gonna mention what
happened with Sharkey Devenish.
Has the ancestors really not
warned you of the buckra?
[sighs]
Playing safe in
life is a sad thing.
[sighs]
And we have seen how quick
life get snatched away.
Okay, Hezekiah.
Go about your secret business.
- [knocks on door]
- [sighs]
You have something for me?
You're late.
You all right?
How kind of you to ask.
Remove your waistcoat.
And the shirt.
[Hezekiah sighs]
There must be an origin for your
odd habit of listening to women.
The slave master set out to break
the men, to make them ghosts.
So women had to step in.
They raised Jamaica.
That's the origin.
Fine job they did, Hezekiah.
Your role tonight
is very simple.
You get me through that door, draw
the guests' attention if needs be.
It shouldn't be a challenge.
They will be fascinated by ya.
I'm not interested in them.
I only want to know
what you think.
[whispers] I
haven't decided yet.
We leave in an hour.
[sighs]
You sure this will work, Mary?
Trust me.
[European chamber music playing]
[chattering]
You must be the
Lord's pugilist guest.
One Hezekiah Moscow of Jamaica
and his companion, Augusta Lady Farnley
of the Highgate Theosophist Society.
Mr Moscow, isn't it?
Yes, Your Lordship.
[chuckles] Bloody
pleasure to meet you.
Peggy's waxed lyrical about you.
Milady, uh, I don't
believe we've met.
And who might your husband be?
- [Percival clears throat]
- Yes, Percy. Loud and clear.
My apologies. I must dash.
I'm playing the role of
Sinophile diplomat tonight.
We'll rendezvous later over
a glass of Cima Corgo port.
[chuckles]
Yes.
Oh, really? Have you?
[Percival] His Excellency, Li
Hongzhang and the Chinese delegation.
[Earl] Your Excellency.
Welcome to Lonsdale House.
I'm humbled, nay, delighted
to make your acquaintance.
This is Mr Chen.
He'll be our interpreter
for this evening.
Interpret.
I am honoured to be of
service, Your Lordship.
Mm-hmm.
[in Mandarin]
[guests murmuring]
[in English] Let me introduce
you to our esteemed guests.
This gentleman here
is Lord Granville.
If my father could see me now.
Belly of the beast.
Life is so strange.
Are you nervous?
The Lady Augusta Farnley
doesn't get nervous.
- I am watchful.
- [guest 1] Ask him!
- There's a difference.
- Ah.
- [guest 2 clears throat]
- [guest 1] Ask him.
Excuse me? [chuckles]
Are you the boxer that Lonny
Boy has been talking about?
[scoffs] In all likelihood, yes.
- [guests chuckle]
- [guest 2] You're brilliant.
It's the greatest
pleasure to meet you.
[Punch] Here.
[server] Watch
yourselves, gents.
[patrons chattering]
A boxer is nothing
without his loyal second.
[Treacle] Where's Hezekiah?
Hezekiah is going
about his business.
His horizons stretch
far beyond this place.
I've met many a men who thought
themselves better than they were,
and that was their downfall.
That's my brother.
Watch your mouth.
I'd say the same thing,
but my quarrel isn't
with you, Alec.
Your brother wants
to kill my brother.
Of course your
quarrel is with me.
I'm willing to work in such a way that
those end times never come to pass.
Speak.
Sugar and Hezekiah
fight in the West End.
With an agreement from Peggy,
we place them on opposite
sides of the tournament
so that they can only
ever meet in the final.
If they both make it there.
You have my attention.
But what about this candle
Sugar holds for my brother?
[scoffs] I'll blow it out.
I don't believe you can do that.
- It's hatred.
- Oh, I wish it were just hatred.
I'll move him on. Trust me.
I'll see to it.
I can't shake your hand.
Why?
Him a watch.
But me take your word.
Yeah.
Right, pub's closed.
- [bell rings]
- Go on. Home.
[patrons clamouring]
[chattering]
[speaking Mandarin]
[in Mandarin]
[guest 1, in English] I must say,
this is a joy. What splendid company.
[guest 2] Absolutely.
Are you a relation of
Miss Victoria Davies?
I am not, Mr Hawke.
She's the Queen's god-daughter.
I thought your presence here
tonight might be related.
[chuckles]
- Let's call it coincidence.
- Right.
So, Mr Moscow, uh,
where are you from?
I'll let you guess, Mr Frewen.
[chuckles] Okay, um
Well, uh, a West Indian Island.
- Barbados, perhaps.
- [groans] Never.
Ah. The man's a Jamaican. Jamaican
with a bit of something else.
A keen eye.
My grandmother
was Hakka Chinese.
What part of Jamaica?
I happen to know the
island quite well.
In that case, you must be
familiar with Morant Bay.
Uh, certainly rings a bell.
Though I think Mr Carlyle's
bell may be ringing louder.
After all, he founded
the committee defending
Governor Eyre's heavy-handed response
to the rebellion all those years ago.
Were you there?
- [villagers screaming, crying]
- [horses neigh]
- [enforcer] Prepare.
- [gunshot]
I was.
The Morant Bay outrage went straight
to the heart of the Jamaica question.
Could Africans be
trusted with freedom?
The answer was a resounding no.
You can only suppress the savage
nature, not vanish it entirely.
A savage nature, you say?
Well, it was not us
who chained the pregnant, enslaved
women together at the auction houses.
[chuckles] I think we can
all agree that was regretful.
Slavery was a moral abomination.
[sighs] Has the disease of
abolitionism infected you, Frewen?
Do you seek the
abolition of gravity too?
Land cleared with Saxon
British blood now goes barren.
It was your people who exhausted the
land with your greed and cruelty.
Tell me, Mr Carlyle, why does
England have workhouses? Hmm?
Why do beggar children starve outside
this very house whilst we feast like gods?
So you speak ill of my people,
but I discover new outrages
in your land every day.
You may sit at this table
and think yourself like me,
but I am born wiser than you.
It's God's law to return
you to a new servitude.
I sit here because you and your ilk
couldn't shackle the truth forever.
And as for your servitude promise,
I wish you luck on that mission.
[scoffs]
You know, now I think of it, the
Morant Bay rebellion did succeed.
My people won.
A seed was planted
deep in the soil.
[scoffs] Actually,
I would like to
propose my own toast.
To Jamaica and its lasting
victory over the British Empire.
To Jamaica and its lasting
victory over the British Empire.
[Sugar grunts]
How do they feel?
Like lead weights
on my fucking soul.
[chuckles]
It'll be second
nature in no time.
- I'll buy you a whisky.
- Sounds good.
Do you know the Queensberry
Rules, Mr Goodson?
- Why would I?
- Three-minute rounds.
You score with clean hits
from the knuckle part of the
glove to the head or torso.
No grappling.
That's the gist of it.
I'll keep the time.
- Round one.
- [bell dings]
[Treacle] Come on,
Sugar. Right, go on.
[Peggy] Distance, that's it.
Keep that distance.
[Treacle] Take your
time, take your time.
Get off the ropes.
I can't feel your fucking
punches, you weakling.
Enough, Sugar.
- [Peggy] Oscar, get up.
- [Oscar grunts]
[Peggy] Come on, get up.
- You're okay.
- [groaning]
[Peggy] Good boy. There you are.
One sees blood in West
London and blood here,
and you could mistake
them for the same thing.
But we are civilised men.
As long as I fight Hezekiah.
That's all I want.
I'll take you on.
You'll get your chance.
But you will know
the difference.
Your Excellency,
on behalf of Her Majesty and
her government of Great Britain,
I humbly present
to you this gift.
[guests applauding]
This is a royal silver
holloware collection
made by Her Majesty's
jewellers of choice.
The finest in the
land and forged solely
- for the Chinese Emperor.
- [speaking Mandarin]
[jeweller] There are 80 pieces
in the neoclassical taste,
cast with interlacing
arabesques,
undulating foliage,
with a coat of arms or
engraved with sabre.
We have a hand chased trophy
cup, a five arm candelabra
- May I interrupt?
- Uh
In His Excellency's culture,
gifts are given privately.
So as you can understand, this
is a matter of great offence.
[guests murmuring]
- Nobody informed me of this.
- It is an ancient custom.
Of course. And I respect that.
And I apologise for any
offence that I've caused.
He tells me he enjoyed the
European chamber music earlier.
Perhaps we can move
to the drawing room.
In the meantime, His
Excellency requests
that we lock the room and leave
me the key for safekeeping.
Let's reconvene in
the drawing room.
To the drawing room,
everyone. [chuckles] Let's go.
- [guest] Yeah.
- [Earl] Chop-chop.
Let's go, Percy.
Fetch the quartet.
[in Mandarin]
Ah [sighs]
[clamouring]
[in English] Out the way, out the way!
Move! What the bloody hell is going on?
[cook] A pan of
lard caught on fire.
[footman] Hello! Who's there?
[knocks on window]
- Walk on, King.
- [horse nickers]
[keys jingling]
[Anne] I'm not feeling
good about this.
It's a full moon, and
that's a bad omen.
Oh, give it the rest, Anne.
I'd worry more about Eliza's
absence. That's a bad omen.
For fuck's sake.
Stop with the doom-mongering.
We don't need her, all right?
Quickly.
This way.
[gasps]
[grunts]
Are you out of your mind?
The man treats this place
like a hunting ground.
So smash his skull
to a thousand pieces?
- Well, why not?
- We don't need a dead butler
complicating matters.
Open the fucking dining room.
Belle, Esme, get
him out of sight.
Meet us in the dining
room when you're done.
[Anne] Got to give it to her.
Balls bigger than a thoroughbred.
[European chamber music playing]
Your mind is elsewhere.
Why?
Don't ask questions you
don't want answers to.
[in Mandarin]
[in English] Your Lordship.
His Excellency
wishes to inform you
that he would like to
retire to his quarters.
- In the middle of the evening?
- Yes.
He is tired and wishes
to retire right now.
[music stops]
As he wishes.
I'll escort him myself.
[mouthing] No.
Your Excellency, I
hear you're unhappy.
Would you like to come with me?
Uh, Your Lordship?
Your Lordship?
Aren't you the co-inventor
of a new English martial art
known as scientific pugilism?
- Mr Moscow, now's not a great time.
- Ah.
- You are a pioneer.
- This way, please.
- [Lao speaking Mandarin]
- That's right.
- I'm a little preoccupied.
- I challenge you to a contest right now.
- [guests laugh]
- No, no.
- Impossible.
- [Carlyle] You can't box the Earl.
[Hezekiah] I would
like to box him.
Him spin a good yarn
about him martial art.
But let's put it
to the test, huh?
[guests murmuring]
Be careful who
you're calling out.
You're talking to a man
that beat John L. Sullivan.
- Ah. [chuckles]
- So sorry.
Fairy tales in your head
don't count, Mr Lonsdale.
[guests chuckling, murmuring]
- Right. Let's fight. Me and you.
- [clamour]
Yes.
- Right now. The old way. No gloves.
- [Hezekiah] Ah.
[guest] Game on.
[Lao speaking Mandarin]
What the hell do you
think you're doing?
I have a tale to tell
of Anansi,
a West African spider who cheats
death and fools the devil himself.
See, a long time ago,
Anansi and Fire
were good friend.
So, Anansi invite
Fire for dinner.
Jesus fucking Christ.
- But I can't hear anything.
- Yeah.
- And?
- What happened to the music?
Well, Hezekiah's the
music now. So to speak.
Right, ladies, hammers.
- [guests cheering]
- Now.
[cheering, shouting]
But Fire tell Anansi
he cyaan walk.
He tell Anansi he must lay dry bush
path and him walk on top of dry bush.
Fuck your riddle and fight me.
- [Earl grunts]
- [guests gasp]
[Hezekiah] See, Anansi
married to Ground Dove.
Get the straw all around the silver. No
clinking and clanging, just to be sure.
You go ahead. I can't
be seen with ya.
Anansi wouldn't hear
what him wife say.
- He laid the kindle on.
- [Hawke] Go on.
But when Fire arrive
at Anansi house,
him burn him path,
him burn him house,
him burn Anansi alive. [panting]
Or so Fire thought.
See, Anansi did a trap.
- [Earl grunts]
- [guests gasp, clamour]
Oh, are you okay?
[Hezekiah] Anansi
put the fire out.
Where do you think
you're going, shop girl?
My job here is done.
[Alice grunts, breathes deeply]
Sorry, Mary's orders.
We need you to look like
the innocent victim.
Being an Elephant is more
than being the Queen's lapdog.
[grunts, groans]
[exclaims]
[Earl chuckles, grunts]
What say we end proceedings
now, Your Lordship?
Never.
No surrender.
[guests clamour]
[Earl groans] I'm done.
You see what you're
doing to society?
You turned them into a rabble.
Well, you had my measure.
- Good contest. [sighs, chuckles]
- Thanks.
[guests applauding]
[Earl] So, can our nations
let bygones be bygones?
What does His
Excellency say to that?
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
A small step in the
right direction.
It's good enough for me.
- [speaking Mandarin]
- Hmm.
Mr Chen, I think you're done
for the evening. Sterling work.
Now I'm going to tend
to one's battle wounds.
- [in Mandarin] Wait.
- [Earl, in English] Percy.
[in Mandarin]
- [guest, in English] Good fight, sir.
- Thank you.
After you.
[chuckling]
[both laugh]
[Hezekiah exhales deeply]
[in Mandarin]
[Lao]
- [screams]
- [minister grunts]
[Lao grunting]
[minister straining]
[whimpers]