UNICORN (N.)
A MYTHICAL CREATURE OF LEGEND
NOW SYMBOLIZES STARTUPS
VALUED AT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS
THIS STORY IS INSPIRED BY
THAILAND'S FIRST UNICORN STARTUP
Do you know why I chose the express delivery business…
…even though everyone says that it's a giant's field?
I jumped into this for only one reason.
Revenge.
MAD UNICORN
WANG NUEA SAND MINE, LAMPANG, 2015
Santi! Santi! The boss wants you!
What?
The boss needs to talk to you!
Yeah, I'll be there.
Sir, we're selling 300 baht per lot here.
My boss won't be okay with just 200.
Tell him he's doing business with Kanin Group.
Have you heard of it?
The higher-ups are pressuring me too. So, this is the best I can offer
What did he say?
He said that he was also forced by Kanin Group.
Fuck!
I don't care who made him do it.
He doesn't even have the most basic respect.
People should not be too greedy.
Fuck you.
Think about it.
Given our size,
we'll have demand year-round, and you could make millions from us.
Does the Chinese have a saying similar to "half a loaf is better than none"?
Boss, I think if we can reduce--
I won't reduce a penny.
Suit yourself, then.
Your machines are worn out, and you have to support these workers.
The costs are piling up. How long can he keep it going?
You go back to work.
Boss, if you don't want to sell it, what should we do then?
Anyway, this mine is like a dying horse,
so let it die in my hands.
It's better than selling it cheaply to these money-grubbers.
If he succeeds this time,
he will continue to exploit others.
That's 130 baht. Thank you very much.
Aunty, are my cookies still here?
Took you long enough. It's 250 baht.
Thank you, Aunty.
I thought you weren't going to keep it for me.
One more thing, Aunty. Can I get one of those bows for free?
MRS. YUPHIN SAELEE
I’m done writing. What's next?
Sixty baht.
What? The box is tiny. Why is it so expensive?
The fee is calculated by weight.
Then I'll just send these. How much is it? It's a Christmas gift for my mom.
It’s 50 baht.
How about this? I only have 30 baht.
Look. Even if you send an empty box, it'll be 50 baht.
It's our starting price.
Save up and send it all to your mom during the New Year.
CHINESE LANGUAGE LESSONS
PATHS TO THE TOP IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
Before I got to this point, do you know what I've been doing?
I quit my job at 25.
I did that to start Thailand's first business newspaper.
Then I got into the cement business, real estate, and hotels.
I like to be the first in line.
PATHS TO THE TOP IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
That's why, when I see any business opportunity,
I make sure to be the first to do it.
Because problems are where the money is.
Sir.
What is it?
I don't have any money. How can I be the first like you?
The money is in the air.
It’s a matter of seeing it or not.
If you want my money, you must think about
what you have that I don't.
I have debt, sir.
I bet I have more debt than all of you put together.
Anyone else?
-A student ID card. -Hmm.
Yes.
But why would I need it? I didn't want it.
Think about what I need.
Think. Think.
Know your customer.
A chair!
You've been standing there for a while, and your legs must be tired.
Now you're the first in line. How much would you sell it to me?
Ten thousand baht.
If that's your price, I think I'll buy from someone else.
Are there any other offers? Anyone?
I'd sell it for 8,500 baht.
There you go. Anyone else?
-Five thousand. -In the back. How much?
I'd sell it for only a thousand baht, with two more for free.
Do you see what the market is really like now?
Everyone tries to sell it.
The price goes down.
What's next?
But if I own all the chairs,
you'll have to pay whatever price I set.
Right?
Hmm.
What's your name?
Santi.
What's your major?
I major in sand mining.
Tell those guys to close the valve immediately.
Boss.
Boss, you said this mine is a dying horse, right?
I have an idea to save it.
Fuck.
What idea?
You have to make a promise first.
If I make it, you'll give me some money.
Tell me the details.
WANG NUEA SAND MINE
We used to sell it for 300 baht per lot,
but now the boss wants to sell it to you for 400.
Is this how you're going to do it?
Hey, they all charged me 200 baht around here.
All the mines around here
have signed a wholesale contract with my boss for the next three months.
Your boss must be swimming in money to be buying all this sand for nothing.
I can just transport it from Pa Sang, Lamphun.
Cross-province transport?
There are costs for ten-wheelers, fuel, licenses, and all the bribery.
Buying it from me at 400 a lot is still cheaper, right?
I saw that you had all the rocks ready at your site the other day.
If you don't have any sand to start working with,
the workers will just get paid to chill.
Three-fifty. Deal?
Four hundred. Final offer.
This is 50,000 Thai baht.
You will be the manager of the mine tomorrow.
I will give you 50,000 a month.
How is it? Does it smell good?
KILOGRAM
Only 50 grams.
Or do you want sand? Take as much as you want.
Boss.
Hmm?
Can you give me a lump sum of money?
I want to start a business.
What kind of business?
Any business that can make a lot of money.
Young people nowadays have a big appetite.
Yes, I have a big appetite because I am poor.
One.
-Two. -Two.
Not…
The only thing I have now is the Chinese my mom taught me.
Three.
-Four. -Four.
Go up the mountain to fight the tiger.
There is nothing in material life,
not even shoes to wear.
When I was hungry, I had to go to the forest to shoot birds.
If we didn't catch enough birds,
my mother would have to endure hunger and let my brother and I eat.
The only chance to eat good food was at Christmas.
People in the city would bring food to the church for distribution.
When I was a child, I was happy just to get anything.
When I grew up,
I realized that the donated food was actually what others didn't want.
It pissed me off.
Why was I born poor?
I just want to make a lot of money.
How much do you want?
One kilogram.
200 GRAMS, 400 GRAMS
ONE KILOGRAM
Santi, let me tell you,
plucking bird feathers
takes the same amount of time as plucking chicken feathers,
but chickens have more meat.
You are a smart person. You should think carefully.
Did you receive the snacks I sent you?
Are they delicious? Have you eaten them?
I received it. I'm opening it now.
Here you are. How about you?
Where have you been? Are you still working?
Yeah, but I'm off work soon.
Why did you have to send me all these cookies?
Just save up when you get paid.
Any month you don't have enough, no need to send me anything.
Mom, the boss has just promoted me to a manager.
Now I get 50,000 baht a month.
Really?
Are you kidding me?
I'll send some to you every month.
No need. Save it for yourself, and don't waste money.
Now you can even eat whatever you want.
We can cook a whole cow or a pig.
You can even buy out all the books to build a library at home.
The cookies are so tasty. Thank you, son.
I'll share them with the kids at the church.
Don't give too much, Mom. Keep some for yourself.
Is Thong home? Can I talk to him?
Thong.
What's up, bro?
Listen. I'm in Bangkok now.
Why the hell are you there?
To work for more money. Do not tell Mom about this.
Look after her for me, okay? I'll keep sending you guys money.
Alright.
When are you coming home?
When I got a hundred kilos of it.
BANGKOK
UDOM TRAVEL AGENCY
What's his name? His name is Li Mingxiu.
Water.
Use my phone.
Sure.
You… One, two, cheese.
We can do two more, Wat Phlapphla Chai and Wat Mangkon.
Okay. Here you are.
-Help me too. -Help me too.
My honey bottle’s all broken now.
How are you going to compensate?
Pay me back now.
Be careful.
I'd like to ask you, what kind of pillow would you use for ten years?
-Give me one. -Give me one.
SANTI SAELEE
Yo, where's Mr. Dom?
Oh, he is out to manage some bills.
Are you Jimmy? Please take a seat. I'll make you some tea.
-Hmm? -I'm Santi.
Mr. Dom told me to look after your VIP clients.
Are you new? I don’t remember seeing you around.
Not quite, sir. I've been doing it for a month.
Do you always have VIP clients?
Yeah. Why do you ask?
Nothing.
Those thick gold necklaces really caught my eye.
Being a real estate agent for Chinese clients
must really pay off.
Not that much.
What's the commission rate? How much do you get per room?
Do you want me to help sell some for you?
I take in hundreds of tourists every month.
Selling a condo is a piece of cake.
Jimmy. Jimmy, let me do it. What do I need to do?
What are you talking about?
Each unit costs tens of millions.
It's not as easy as tricking them to buy your stupid pillows.
Jimmy. I'll be honest with you here.
I think those pillows are much harder to sell.
Think about it. Those are something nobody wants.
No one would have thought of carrying it
on three connecting flights back to Chongqing.
Does it sell well?
The whole bus bought it.
Actually, many have asked for a quota to sell.
I can share some with you.
How much do you get per room?
This hundred thousand.
Five hundred thousand?
Damn. What a room.
-How many of these do you have? -Forty.
Forty?
Five hundred thousand for 40 rooms would be 20 million.
Tell me. How much do I have to pay for my quotas?
It's hard to say. How much do you have?
One million. I want all 40 rooms, okay?
In cash.
I'd even give you two pillows for free.
This is a five-star cruise. You will like it.
As for the food,
Jimmy told me that you are allergic to shrimp and don't eat chicken,
so I specially arranged a top-grade steak.
The scenery inside is also superb.
You will see many temples later,
such as the Golden Bell Temple by the river.
Even the name is beautiful.
Then you will pass by an apartment…
Hello, baby.
You didn’t keep your promise.
What did my woman say?
She said you didn't keep your word.
Stop fooling around.
Bring it here.
This is my compensation for my lateness.
Is that it? Isn't it a bit too easy?
She said that this was not enough.
How about this? You eat first,
and then I will take you to the most beautiful riverside apartment in Bangkok.
You can buy her a…
What a shitty apartment!
They didn't tell you what to do.
You're just a fucking translator.
Do your job well and stop talking too much bullshit.
Here, this is for you.
I've already increased the credit limit.
Translate!
He has increased the credit limit for you.
Thank you.
I'm going to the bathroom.
Hey, can you help me with something?
I forgot my lipstick.
Can you ask around and borrow one for me?
You want me to go and ask for a lipstick?
Yes, you.
My lips are so dry,
he’ll think I’m a chicken for Chinese New Year.
Go. I’ll help sell your condo.
-How many do you want? -Just one.
Quickly. Get me a color that won't make me look like a whore
or a ladyboy.
And what the hell is that color?
Just take it from someone beautiful.
Okay, got it.
Sorry, sir.
The things are pretty good.
Yes. Okay.
I'll take a picture for you. Wait a minute.
Sweet view, right?
I have an emergency and need to use some lipstick.
Can I borrow yours?
Lipstick is a personal item. It's not convenient.
How about this?
I'll buy it. How much?
Your lipstick is the most suitable for me on this ship.
I think you have good taste.
Beautiful.
Three thousand. Do you want it?
Three thousand?
You've used it.
How about 1,500?
How much did you pay for it?
I bought it for 1,500, and I want to sell it for 3,000.
Do you want it?
Pretty, but so damn stingy.
I'm not. I'll make it 3,500 then.
You can speak Thai?
Do you want it? If not, I'm leaving. One, two…
Alright.
I don't have enough cash with me.
Here's a thousand baht deposit.
This is my business card.
Where are you staying?
Since you're on this cruise, is it the River Bangkok?
Then I'll give you the rest at the hotel around nine p.m., okay?
See you tonight.
I'll go then.
I'll pick you up at ten o'clock tomorrow to see the condo…
Hey. Try to show him pictures of the condo tonight.
I'll handle the rest tomorrow.
You haven't finished your work yet.
Why are you leaving?
Come here. Sit.
Sir, I don't have this hobby.
What are you talking about?
I'm not asking you to have sex with my woman.
I'm just asking you to be a good translator.
Translate it well.
If I end up in the wrong position, it's on you.
What the hell is this? I'm out.
I'll give you three times.
You're just selling an apartment, aren't you?
Come on. Show me your photos.
Oh!
How much?
Only ten million.
Ten million?
Do you fucking think I haven't been there?
This place is built next to a garbage incinerator.
There's no one living there. It stinks so bad.
Who the fuck would buy it?
You're just an idiot.
Fucking Jimmy.
This is my business card.
Look, I'll hold a birthday party in Shanghai next Saturday.
My friends all like to invest in real estate.
You can sell to them.
Hmm?
ZHANG SHIHAO
But you have to do your translation work today.
Come here. Sit.
I'm telling you, don't peek.
Darling, darling!
I like the color of your lips.
Yeah, right there.
Yes.
Right there.
Stop fucking talking like that.
Don't moan, idiot.
Do your job.
I can't handle it anymore. Turn around.
Faster. Yeah.
Come on. Be gentle.
Yeah, sir. Yeah.
No, I can't hold it anymore.
Another posture.
-Excuse me. -Yes?
Did the Chinese tourists
who went on the cruise last evening leave the hotel?
That group checked out this morning.
-Okay. -Right.
Sir. Are you Mr. Santi?
How did you know my name?
A Chinese tourist said you'll be wearing Udom Agency shirt with a hole in the back.
Did she leave any messages for me?
She left you this.
FRAUD
-Thank you. -Right.
Sorry. Can I take a photo here?
SHANGHAI
FUZHOU RD
ZHANG SHIHAO
Drink it quickly.
Do you think anything will go better today?
Mr. Kanin!
Damn, what a small world. I didn’t expect to see you here!
Do you remember me? Santi?
I was at your lecture in Lampang last year.
I sold you a chair worth 10,000 baht, remember?
The sand mining major guy.
Exactly.
Hey, it's you.
You did come.
Go. Let's have a drink.
Guys, let me introduce to you.
This is the interpreter I hired in Thailand.
You can ask him if you don't believe in me.
Hey, I want to ask you a question.
Lao Zhang said…
He bragged to us that he didn't sleep all night.
Really?
I think he just took a lot of Viagra.
-It's you who took lots of fucking Viagra. -Come on.
I'll hire you if I go to Thailand one day.
Everyone must have been to Bangkok, right?
Where are the really good things in Bangkok?
Does anyone know?
Women, right?
-Beautiful women. -Of course.
Women.
Exactly.
You can say it's women,
but if that woman stands on the balcony
with you holding her waist and admiring the sunset over the Chao Phraya River,
it is rare in the world.
Look at this project. The location is really good.
The market price of this apartment has reached 13 to 14 million.
I thought you were introducing beautiful women to us.
But I only sell this batch for ten million,
which is equivalent to two million RMB.
I wanna hear about that bastard Zhang screwing his mistress!
Go. Let's have a drink.
Fine, my friend is unhappy.
Let's go to have a drink.
No, sir, I missed many orders.
I spent tens of thousands of yuan on a plane ticket to get here.
You have to let me sell, no matter what happens.
Drink it.
After you drink it, I feel sorry for you, so I will buy one. Is that okay?
You are so annoying.
I'm here to sell the apartment, not to beg.
Drink it or not?
If not, get out of here.
I drink one cup and you buy a unit, right?
The more I drink, the more you buy.
Look at you.
You'll fall down after three drinks like a dog.
If I drink 40 cups, then you buy 40 units.
If I can't drink all of them, you don’t have to buy any.
Do you dare?
He is so stubborn.
Come on, Zhang. We'll have some fun.
I dare to come here because I trust you.
Now I want to see if you dare to bet with me.
Sure, we'll buy one unit each.
Stop talking nonsense.
What the hell does it have to do with you?
Wait.
Whiskey is too light.
I have Serbian wine, which is twice as strong as that one.
Do you dare?
You have to keep your word, otherwise, you are a dog.
Listen to me.
This carpet cost me several million RMB.
If you dare spit on it,
I will make you lick it clean like a dog.
One unit.
The second cup.
Two units.
The third cup.
Oh!
The challenge of young people.
The fourth.
Drink. One more.
Good.
Yeah.
The sixth.
Place your bets.
Who bets on this guy to win? Buy one and get ten.
Okay.
-Who bets on me… -Who?
will make a fortune.
Come on! Let's go!
One more.
Hey, hey, hey!
Fuck. You haven't even drunk half of it yet.
Are you so weak? Go on!
Have someone serve that table some water.
Your booze is fucking soft!
Look at me! Look at me!
He is so crazy.
You've drunk 20 cups.
Go on.
Don't let him drink anymore.
Or he will die.
Should we call an ambulance?
Okay. Cut the crap. Get out of the way.
Are you okay?
Hey, hey.
Zhang, calm down.
Shut up.
Stand the fuck up!
Stand up.
Zhang, calm down.
Trash!
You're just a piece of trash.
Why did you bring me water? I'll drink alcohol.
I want to be fucking wide awake!
What the fuck are you doing?
Hello.
Hello, sir. I'm Santi.
Shit. You're still alive, bastard?
Did I drink 40 cups last night?
Forty cups?
You didn't even drink 30 cups, and you almost set my house on fire.
How dare you call me?
Huh?
Are you still at our house?
There is a bowl next to the sofa.
It's my dog Jiji's bowl.
I am going to Shenzhen soon.
Can you help me express it to Shenzhen? I can give you the address.
The shipping fee is five yuan.
Your information has been logged in.
It will be delivered to you within three days.
Take care.
Hello. Where are you sending it to?
Shenzhen.
Shenzhen? The shipping fee is five yuan.
-Shenzhen? -Yes, Shenzhen.
It's only five yuan for such a long distance?
It takes you five yuan minimum to deliver nationwide.
FIVE YUAN MINIMUM TO DELIVER
Here.
Next one. Where will you send it to?
Beijing.
FANG XIN
Hello. Welcome aboard.
Welcome. Uh, sir. This way, please.
You'll be seated right here, sir.
My seat is here?
Yes, it's this seat.
I saw you at the gate,
so I upgraded your ticket to this seat next to mine.
Mr. Kanin.
Is this okay?
Of course.
Okay, I’m not going to be shy about it anymore.
Oh.
Damn. This seat is huge. You're so fricking awesome, sir.
You want some more?
Sir.
My head is still buzzing.
Hi. Can I have a glass of water?
Hmm. Oh.
Last night…
why didn't you drink the water in those shot glasses?
Wait. Those were from you?
Hmm.
I'd like to know you more.
I'm thinking of inviting you to work with me.
I'm honored, sir.
But I'm done working for someone else. I’ll never be rich in this life.
I’d like to be first in line, just like you said.
Hmm.
You can do it. What do you want to do?
Can you believe it? I just found a business opportunity today,
and it's what I want to do the most.
A great opportunity that no one in Thailand sees.
But I was lucky enough to see it.
My heart is pounding just thinking about it now.
Care to tell me about it?
I can't. I wouldn’t be first in line.
I'll take all 40 units of the condo you were trying to sell last night.
All of them? Are you serious?
I am. Consider it a fee for prying.
Okay.
Do you know
that the express delivery service fee in Thailand starts at 50 baht?
But here, in China,
I saw today that it starts at only 25 baht.
At a price this low, they must have such an efficient process and system.
Here's my plan.
I'm going to partner with an express delivery business in China
and bring the service to Thailand at the lowest fee possible.
If it’s half the market price, everyone will choose me.
Economy price, business-class service.
Cheaper shipping will reduce sellers' costs.
When things are cheaper, people will buy online more.
The more people buy, the bigger the market grows.
My business will make a ton of profit.
Sir.
Do you want to be the first in line with me?
When you said you wanted to be rich, how rich are we talking?
A hundred million baht would last me my entire life.
You know what?
Everything you just said is a ten-billion-baht business.
Long, cold nights Of walking the streets
Wandering on tired, bare feet
All my weary eyes can see
A great big mountain far out of reach
Then a great wind started to blow
Suddenly, I started to float
Flying up so high, I could see
The top of the mountain under my feet
Out of the way
Long, cold nights Of walking the streets
Wandering on tired, bare feet
All my weary eyes can see
A great big mountain far out of reach
Then a great wind started to blow
Suddenly, I started to float
Flying up so high, I could see
The top of the mountain under my feet
Out of the way
Long, cold nights Of walking the streets
Wandering on tired, bare feet
All my weary eyes can see
A great big mountain far out of reach
Then a great wind started to blow
Suddenly, I started to float
Flying up so high, I could see
The top of the mountain under my feet
Then a great wind started to blow
Suddenly, I started to float
Hey, hey, hey, out of my way low