SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Mom, you don't have to pretend like nothing happened.
I know I did something wrong.
You can just scold me.
The reason I moved to Australia
is the same as you.
Why would I scold you?
Do you remember when I came here to study?
At the time, you were in pre-school.
But I wanted to pursue my PhD so much.
Your dad couldn't support my tuition,
so I kept applying for scholarships.
And I finally got to study here.
Your dad and I had a big fight
because I had to fly to Australia
and be away for two years.
He didn't want me to go.
He didn't want you to grow up without a mother.
But I was adamant.
I didn't waver and got here eventually.
When I moved to this country,
my life was clearly better.
As time went by,
I started to see myself living here permanently.
And when I met Jeff,
I…
I betrayed your dad.
I cheated on him.
I had cheated on our married life for years
until he caught us.
Why are you telling me all this?
When I ended things with your dad,
I married Jeff
and moved here.
It's just like…
the life I've always dreamed of.
But you know what?
Ellie is six years old now.
She's the same age as you when I left your dad.
Every time I look at Ellie…
I miss you.
I deeply regret
having to lose your dad
who is like my closest friend in life.
And most importantly…
I lost you too.
I'm telling you this because I want you to know
that I understand you.
You're trying to follow your dream.
But you know what,
by taking the wrong path
to get something we want,
one day…
we might end up losing everything we love.
One day, you might regret it as well.
I'm sorry.
You don't have to apologize to me.
Your dad and I are at fault.
We're responsible for this too.
It's our duty as parents to take the best care of you.
But we refused to talk to each other for ten years
and let you do this on your own.
That's not true.
It's all my fault.
You and Dad didn't do anything wrong.
I've already talked with my family here
about having you stay with us.
They're fine with it.
Do you still want to study in Australia?
Yes.
BANGKOK, THAILAND
Is it okay?
Please move a bit closer together.
Smile nicely.
I'm not satisfied with our Patton Hotel that easily.
Even if people tell me that our hotel is already good,
that I don't need to do more,
I immediately tell them
that there are still many better hotels out there.
So why would I stop developing mine?
That's right. From a small hotel,
you've been able to develop it into a multi-million hotel like this.
What are your plans for the future?
Actually, I've encountered a new challenge.
I'm getting old now
and I have no idea how long I'll have the energy
to continue working my best.
So, I'll have to leave it all in the hands of my only son.
At the moment, I'm trying to encourage him
-to study at a good university. -Right.
So, he can come back to improve our family business.
Pat, what grade are you currently in?
I'm in the last semester of 12th grade.
Oh, it won't be long before you go to university.
Do you have any place in mind?
I just took the STIC exam.
And I'm about to apply to Boston School of Economics.
It's the same school where my dad studied.
Wow.
Both of you are the crème de la crème.
Can I ask about your STIC score?
Well, I got 1,460.
Wow, Pat. That's a high score.
Do you have any tips to ace the exam like that?
I just follow what my dad taught me.
He told me to do things that will only help us…
climb to the top.
Here's your million.
Don't worry.
It's all there.
Oh, how are things going?
I heard you got caught.
I didn't go to jail.
But the embassy called the school.
I'm going.
All right. See you at school.
So…
when will your mom take you in?
I think I'll do my GED
and then go there to study
for the upcoming academic year.
That's good.
Are you okay with this?
Come on.
Of course, I'm okay.
But you don't look happy at all.
My only daughter is moving abroad.
It's hard for me to take that in.
Don't mind me.
Dad.
STIC REVISION GUIDE
Come and get your share.
Hurry. I miss you.
I don't want the money anymore.
GRADE 12, SECOND SEMESTER
I think you know why I invited you over today.
Yes, ma'am.
I apologize
that Bank has tarnished the school's reputation.
When the STIC representative notified me
that you hid a phone to use the dictionary in the exam,
I couldn't believe an outstanding student like you would do such a thing.
I'll have to penalize you according to the school's regulations.
Yes, ma'am.
You can take away my scholarship,
put it on my record,
or deduct my discipline score.
I accept them all.
It's not as easy as that, Bank.
The STIC representative doesn't know you.
But I know you very well.
Does an outstanding student like you
really need to use the dictionary?
And I can't think of any reason
why a student who comes from an underprivileged family
and has to apply for a scholarship every semester,
would fly all the way to Australia to take the STIC?
What the STIC rep told me
about you hiding a phone to use the dictionary
isn't true, is it?
How have you been?
You're back in Thailand, right?
Don't avoid me like this.
Reply to me when you see this.
I'm not ready to talk.
Give me some time.
All right. I'll wait.
Pat.
Next, we have news that has caused a buzz
and is currently under global scrutiny,
especially, among netizens.
This is quite shocking indeed
since it is related to an exam-cheating scandal
for the Standardise Test for Intellectual Competence
or STIC.
The STIC score
can be used to apply to renowned universities
in the U.S. as well as other universities worldwide.
The issue has stirred people's interest
in finding out the truth behind this scandal.
The tip came from an anonymous person,
saying that they're one of the STIC candidates.
This person posted on Twitter,
claiming that his friend who took the recent STIC exam
brought in the answers that were hidden
as a barcode on 2B pencils.
They took these pencils into the exam room
so that the STIC invigilators wouldn't notice anything
and think that there was cheating going on.
He mentioned in his tweet that he couldn't believe it at first,
but he asked his friend where they got the pencils from.
The answer he got
was that his friend hired a group of people
to prepare the exam answers
and manage to print them on these pencils.
At first, he wasn't sure if the whole scheme was possible
until he found out his friend's score,
which was surprisingly higher than the average.
This is why he's confident that he must have been cheating.
Of course, after this news hit worldwide
and received much criticism,
many people have expressed both surprise and shock
that Thai students could pull off such a large scheme.
We're in trouble, Lin.
The clients are in an uproar.
Universities worldwide have started announcing
that they won't accept the STIC scores
of Thai students in this exam round.
They advise Thai students
to reapply for the next STIC exam,
which will be held this coming February.
I must say that if what happened was true…
Is this the same exam round you took?
It's such a shame.
Yes.
Those cheaters.
They caused people trouble.
Just reapply for the exam.
Don't miss the university deadline.
Tell Grace to reapply too.
Okay.
Pat.
I'm here to remind you to apply for the next STIC exam.
Have you applied yet?
I haven't.
Then do it now, so you won't forget.
Okay.
What are you waiting for?
Just press the button.
What are you doing?
Do I really have to study in Boston?
What kind of question is that?
Well, actually, my grades haven't improved.
But I…
I hired a friend to give me the answers during exams.
You saw the news.
I also hired someone to help me cheat on the STIC.
Submit your application now.
I can't do it, Dad.
If you can't do it,
from today until the exam day,
I'm going to make you study and get extra tutoring.
You must do anything possible until you pass the exam.
If you still fail, don't even think
-about leaving this room ever. -Dad.
I can't do it anyway.
You've been deceiving me all this time.
You must think I'm a total idiot.
Right?
What is it?
What's going on?
You also mentioned it in that magazine interview.
If this cheating scandal gets out,
can you imagine how embarrassing it would be?
Embarrassing?
Is it embarrassing for me
or for you?
To have good grades,
whether I earn them or buy them,
what is the difference?
You spent your money to get me into the school.
I did exactly what you did.
If you had the brains to get in on your own,
then I wouldn't have to do that.
Right.
I have no brain.
I'm neither brilliant
nor respectable like you are.
If you want an idiot like me
to enter the same school as you,
that's the only way to do it.
How dare you talk to me like that?
I'm your father!
Every meal you eat and every piece of clothing you wear,
who pays for them?
Tell me who pays for them?
Let go of him. Don't do this.
Stop!
If all the money you gave me
only got me to this point,
then I don't want it anymore.
I'll return it all to you.
I've never thought you'd be this low.
You can scorn me all you want.
You've never liked anything about me anyway.
At least let me keep my underpants on.
If I walk in your hotel lobby naked,
it'll be unpleasant to your guests!
Pat, hold on!
Don't go after him!
Let him be!
Let him go wherever he wants!
Wow.
How much is the rent for this place?
Eighty grand.
Do you think it's too small?
But they have room service here.
Why did you buy so much stuff?
I took nothing with me when I left.
Hey.
Babe, what did you spend 300,000 baht on?
Isn't that too much?
It's my money, after all.
You don't have to act like my dad.
Have you thought this through,
running away like this?
Babe.
It's okay.
If you're short of money,
I can give you mine.
What if I spend all your money?
I'd have to go home, right?
Babe.
Bank called me yesterday.
Well…
HONEST COMMERCE PRINTING
BANK
Hello?
Hello.
Are you free tonight?
Yes.
Why?
Can you see me at my shop at nine?
Of course.
Yes.
I haven't seen you in ages,
Mister Bank.
I'm sorry
I didn't get in touch with you earlier.
I had a lot to take care of.
It's all right. I understand.
I heard that you didn't take the money.
Yes.
The whole thing that happened…
made me feel so terrible that I didn't want it anymore.
What about your studies?
What are you going to do?
Well,
I'm not going to the US anymore.
My mom is letting me move in with her in Australia.
Right now,
if I can get citizenship,
the tuition will be cheaper.
I'll most likely study there instead.
That sounds good.
I'll probably miss you.
I'll probably miss you too.
Looking good.
I meant your shop.
It looks a whole lot better.
I just finished painting it.
I did it myself.
I asked you to come here
because I need your help with something.
Of course. What is it?
Come on in.
Hi, Lin.
We'd like you to take the GATT-PATT exam.
Take the exam?
Like we did with the STIC?
Why?
There are many more potential clients than with STIC.
I've thought it over.
If we succeed this time…
we'll get at least ten million.
But the GATT-PATT isn't like the STIC at all.
Everyone takes this exam at the same time nationwide.
You can't just go in, do the exam,
and send the answers to everyone instantly.
It's not possible.
Of course, it is.
If we get to see the exam paper before the exam starts.
Well…
I listened to Mr. Pukester's plan already.
There is still a way.
We can tell you about it.
I don't want to hear anything.
Lin, listen.
-We-- -You guys.
Please stop already.
If you want money,
you can take my share of the STIC deal.
Look.
Two million can only sustain us for a while.
But ten million
can buy both of us freedom, Lin.
Bank.
Can't you remember
what we had to go through
when we were cheating on the STIC exam?
I don't think it's worth it.
Lin.
Did you know that the embassy
notify the school about me cheating on the STIC exam?
The school already expelled me.
What is it, Bank?
You didn't hide the phone to look in the dictionary, did you?
You were hired to take the test.
If that's the case, we'll have to punish you.
You'll be expelled.
But…
he's about to graduate high school, ma'am.
For a student who committed such a serious misdeed like this,
I can't allow them to continue studying in this school.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
We have to follow the school regulations.
Bank.
WITHDRAWAL REQUEST FORM
Why didn't you tell me?
There's nothing you can do about it.
But you have to get back on your feet.
Don't get discouraged just yet.
You can take equivalency tests
and then get into a med school.
I know you well enough.
I'm sure you can do it.
Lin.
Someone with a record of cheating
and being expelled from school
won't be accepted in a med school.
I'll never be a doctor, Lin.
You're home late.
I was waiting for the bus.
It took an hour.
I'm so exhausted.
I'm going to take a shower.
Hold on.
I want to talk to you.
What is it?
I want to apologize to you.
I know I've been acting weird
since you told me you'd stay with your mom.
But I don't want you to get the wrong idea
that I don't like you to go.
I really want you to go there.
It's just…
I wasn't ready for it.
When I was with your mom,
she wanted to study abroad just like you.
But I couldn't support her.
Ten years have passed
and now my daughter wants to pursue the same dream.
I still can't do anything.
Your mom wanted to take you with her back then.
If I didn't keep you here,
you'd probably have a better life.
Dad.
Just don't.
Don't say things like that.
If I had a choice back then,
I'd still choose to live with you.
I know
when you get to study in Sydney
and complete your degree,
you'll probably find a job there.
You might live there permanently.
You might change your name to…
Lindsay.
Dad.
I don't plan to stay there that long.
Please come and visit me as often as you can.
Will you?
Of course, I will.
Let me hug you a bit longer.
After this…
I won't get to hold you like this anymore.
-Dad. -Yes?
I was thinking of postponing Mom's trip here
for a month.
Why?
Well…
Come to think of it,
everything is a bit too sudden.
There are many things I need to take care of before leaving.
That's good.
That way I can spend more time with you.
Try talking to your mom about it.
Okay.
Please help me.
The money we will earn will compensate for the future I've lost.
This way you can help Pat and Grace too.
I know you no longer want to do this…
but I'm begging you.
This will be the last time.
Are you sure it will be the last time?
It will really be the last time.
I promise.
What about you guys?
I promise.
Subtitle translation by: Karina Suvapataya