After Dark returns with a 4 part Halloween special, Samsara, produced in partnership with AETN and adapted from their series My Ghost Stories Asia.
In Episode 2- A desperate husband brings home a mysterious artefact to reverse his misfortunes which in fact leads to his wife spiraling out of control.
This episode was produced by ZAG Studios with the script written by Wong Jo-yen, directed by Terence Toh, sound design by Kael, and Noel Vijay as associate producer.
The cast for this episode features Alvin Lai as Bill, Jolin Kwok as Melissa, Jeremy Chiew as Ah Long, Terence Toh as the Narrator and Trinayani Manoharan as Ah Girl.
Additional consultation was provided by JJ Kwan, Lucy Russing and Liyana Sulaiman
All souls are interconnected in the cycle of suffering. That is some Sarah, a husband brings home an unusual gift for his wife only for this mysterious force to consume their lives.
Last time on our new HDB life, Bill starts a new business by sneaking behind his boss back. The world of entrepreneurship is cutthroat. You know, all's fair in love war
and business. And Melissa finally makes up with their elderly neighbor after their last argument over the orchids in the community garden. A it was an honest mistake. Ma she apologized and I forgive her for it. What other drama will happen in the lives of the Leong family? Join Bill and Melissa on episode 32 of our new HDB life,
darling, I'm home. Look what I got something useless again. I bet him what the hell is that? Hey, no, swearing in front of the kid. That's not a kid. It's a freaking doll. I know my husband gets some weird ideas sometimes I blame his mother's kampong upbringing
but this, this is too much.
First he starts some nonsensical company. Then he brings back that that statue thing.
I mean it's so creepy like like Chucky but cheap china and tasteless. The colors are all wrong and too bright. Is it even supposed to be a boy or a girl?
This is called a Kuman Tong. It's very ling one. You know,
my friend got it from the best seafood in South Thailand,
Thailand. No wonder. Hey, what does that mean?
Oh, yeah. You all know how mel is. She's a so called logical skeptic or whatever.
Ok. So maybe I can't be sure if this kind of thing is real or not, but better safe than sorry. Right. And there's no harm in it. No harm. Yeah. Right.
Oh, and now you're going to put it on the later the gods of brain lightning down and beat you. I thought you didn't believe in that. Besides this isn't anything evil or what not. Listen, this is a tong, it's a vessel for the soul of a child who died young. It's an actual haunted door and you brought it into our home. Listen first, the seafood already bless it. So it's fine.
It's the ghost of a kid who died before the time, you know, from sickness or abuse or accident like that. The really K ones. And the idea is if we bring it home and GC, I pray to it and give it fruits, we can help it move on faster. Isn't that a good thing? Right? And, and what, what's in it for us? No, for you. I know you you won't do something like this for nothing.
Yeah. Well, the seafood said it will help bring good luck for business. I knew it. Come on. There's nothing wrong with a bit of luck for good measure.
Success is 99% hard work and 1% luck after all.
Don't you want me to succeed?
Just think about it. If this company takes off, we'll be able to buy a landed house. All the cars we can travel to Europe every year and once we have kids, we can send them overseas. Fine, fine. Ok. Whatever you say.
Yeah, I know. It's stupid. I can't believe him either but what to do, no matter how stupid he is, he is still my husband. All I can do is support law.
Will the strange statue bring Bill the good luck he's hoping for. Find out in the next episode of our new H DB life
home.
Haiya stop chanting to that thing and help me out. I can't find my uni degree transcripts,
aren't they in the top rate drawer? I thought so too. But I can't find them. Cannot be what?
See I told you cannot find, I need them for the next interview.
You know, if this thing works out and my business takes off, you won't have to find a new job bill. This isn't funny. Ok. Ok. I'm sorry. You sure you looked everywhere everywhere. If you don't believe you can find yourself
da
I have an idea. Why don't we ask the Kuman Tong? Maybe it can help, huh? Are you crazy? Haiyah? No harm in trying, right.
Uh,
a girl can help us find something.
We are looking for. Mummy's uni papers. Don't call me that. I'm not her mommy.
Why, why was that?
There it is right over there on your dressing table,
eh? Yeah, all these really are my uni transcripts, you know, my JC ones. But how did it get here? I'm sure they weren't here just now. How else it must be because, ah, girl helped us.
Now. You see, you see, I knew I was right. My friend would never lie to me. One now. I just need to sit back and wait until I heard.
Is there really more to the statue than meets the eye? Find out in the next episode of our new HDB Life?
Hm.
Ok.
Yeah. Yeah.
Why? So 11 can't you see, I'm trying to figure out these accounts. Oh, sorry, I just wanted to tell you about the interview. It's just a massage parlor job. Right. What's there to be excited about? I mean, I mean, I mean, how did it go? Can or not? Um, they said they get back to me but I think, got chance, got a chance and can now just wait, law what to do.
Yeah.
I know he's busy. He has his problems and sometimes he doesn't have time for mine. That's fine. But being at home alone. Sometimes I want someone to talk to. You know, you listen to me, won't you?
Good girl.
No.
Where is it?
Where's what, you know that thing, the one at the gong to, I went to check and it's not there anymore. Oh, you mean a girl? I put her in the cart. You what?
You put her in? The what? The crater we bought? It was scattering dust. So I thought I take it out. The statue was getting dusty. So you tucked it into bed. A Yeah. What are you saying? I meant the crater was wasting away the store room. So I wanted to use it for a bit. Look over here.
Don't wake her up. Now,
what is wrong with you?
You can't see it. So you don't know.
Imagine this quint wooden cart filled with these soft pastel blue blankets and all sorts of stuff. Toys. She even hung up the baby mobile
and he was playing this quiet creaky music.
It was all stuff we bought months ago but never got to use. And in the middle of this perfect nursery instead of a chubby little sleeping baby.
I saw the cheap china doll swaddled in the covers
staring up at me
with its misshapen, black eyes painted out of line.
I get it.
It was the miscarriage, wasn't it bill? You know, I don't want to talk about that. Me neither, but I'm starting to think that's not an option. Anymore. Now, the Kong isn't our daughter. You don't know that for sure. I do know it isn't her mel. You said it had a soul of a child. Yes. But the sea who said this one died in some car accident somewhere at least pretend
I quit my job because I thought I was going to be a mother. I cut ties with my family to be with you. And now I have no job, no friends. At least let me
pretend I still have a daughter.
Mel I know it is unreal.
Just let me play. Ok.
You know all girls like to play with dolls.
Then I'll leave you alone
and you can go back to saving your company. I
shit
I gonna take this.
We'll talk later. Ok?
We won't,
we never do anymore.
But it's ok. Even if it's just pretend I'm not alone anymore.
Even if papa thinks I'm crazy. You will be here for me, right? A girl
cook up.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Yeah.
O Bill. I know you're in there. Come on now. Oh man, I pay my,
don't be scared. Baby, mummy is here,
baby.
This fella borrow money. I can still hide and don't want to pay us.
Come out, come out now, I swear if you don't come out, I will. What the where is that song?
W Lane Lim Bag or ball? Ah, can laugh some more giggling.
What is that?
Jeez,
he's gone now
we're safe.
You saved me.
Where is he?
Where is he? I'll kill him. What are you doing with that knife? Put that down. I'll kill him before he dropped it. He's gone.
She left while you were hiding.
Uh,
yeah,
she left.
Oh, God,
that's good. No, thanks to you.
Why didn't you tell me you borrowed money from the, ah, long? How could you be so stupid? What else can I do if I don't, the company is gonna go under.
Don't worry. Next time he comes around, I'll Bill. Bill. Stop waving the knife around. Are you scared? The baby? Begin with that goddamn statue. Why the hell are you hugging it now? I was protecting her. She's scared. You really are crazy completely. You don't get it. She's the one who save us. She's scared along way.
Give that to me mel. What are you? No. Stop, stop, girl, girl.
Mhm.
Oh,
I freed you from that thing.
It's possessing you. Mel.
No, no,
don't cry. It'll be ok. It doesn't hurt.
Oh,
give it up. Mel.
It's over. No, no, I, I
come,
wow,
that's right. I won't let that. Aam get you and I won't let the Kuman Tong take you either.
Oh,
I'll kill you.
Can Bill get out of his financial conundrum. What will happen to the Leong family? Find out in the next episode of,
in light of recent tragic events. We are sad to announce that our new HDB life has been indefinitely canceled.
Thank you for listening to this special Samsara series of After Dark, an original podcast brought to you by Media Corp and produced by Zag Studios.
This episode was produced in partnership with A ETN and adapted from this series, My G Story Asia with performances by Alvin Lai Jolene Kwok, Terrence Toh and Trai Manuwa, written by Wong Jo Yan, directed by Terrence Toh. Special thanks to Danny Krudy from Media Corp.
If you enjoy what you're listening to, you can follow the podcast on the me listen app, Spotify or Apple podcast. See you again in the next episode of After Dark.