Measure of Man
Debuts Aug 7 2006, weekdays 9pm
Cast: Huang Wenyong (as Cai Lian Wei), Aileen Tan (as Patricia
Wong), Ben Yeo (as Root), Ezann Lee (as Kate), Lynn Poh (as
Melissa), Li Yin Zhu (as Liu Xue Hua), Liang Tian (as Cai Lian
Zhong), Zhang Yao Dong (as Norman), Constance Song (as Hazel Gan),
Zheng Ge Ping (as Jeremy)
What is the measure of a man? Is it his ability to bring home the
bacon or is it his ability to command respect as head of the
family? Or is it defined by his relationship to his loved ones
around him - wife, girlfriend, kids, parents? This warm and
heartfelt drama delves on issues relating to men in the modern
world with a touch of humour!
Three men at various stages of life confronts the reality and
circumstances of their surroundings in their own ways. There's a
henpecked husband who tries his best to balance his
responsibilities to his ageing parents with his duties as father
and husband to his demanding wife and young son. There's also a
young man who struggles to grapple with more responsibilities as a
young father and husband to an immature wife. And finally, there's
the commitment-phobic who flees at the mention of marriage and
commitment after he witnesses the stresses of having a family from
his married friends.
Forty-three-year old Cai Lianwei is an AVP in the gold card
department of a bank. He has been married to his wife, Patricia for
7 years. They have a 5-year-old son. Lianwei and Patricia are both
quite accomplished in their respective jobs. Work is pretty busy
for the both of them, and they are very caught up trying to cope
with the stress and workload. Romance has been completely
overshawdowed by the daily stress and hosuehold chores. Lianwei is
a filial son who takes care of his parents living expenses, even
though they are not living with him under the same roof. He does
this willingly without a single complaint. But his wife Patricia is
unhappy over the arrangement, because Lianwei has an elder brother
who does not lift a finger or spend a single cent to help support
their parents. This is one of the issues that is a sore point in
their marriage.
Lianwei has a 22-year-old nephew, Cai Shengen, who is currently in
National Service. His wife is Kate, also 22-years-old, who has just
given birth to their baby girl. But this is unexpected because the
doctor had certified during regular examinations that the foetus is
supposed to be a boy. Thus, Shengens mother, who favours boys like
many of her generation, is naturally disappointed.
Shengen and Kate are very young parents indeed. Their decision to
get married was hastened only because Kate got pregnant. Kate has
no knowledge or experience of parenthood and babies. She is also
unwilling to listen to her mother-in-laws old-fashioned advice.
Mother and daughter-in-law are always bickering and poor Shengen is
unwittingly caught in the middle. The young wedded couple squabbles
so much that the dreaded word 'divorce' is constantly at the tip of
their tongues.
Lianwei has a colleague at work, Norman, with whom he gets along
very well. Norman is Lianweis subordinate, as well as confidante.
They both enjoy a game of soccer, as well as soccer betting. Once
in awhile on weekends, Lianwei, Norman and Shengen will play a game
of soccer together just to relieve stress. Norman witnesses the
various troubles bogging down Lianwei, caused by his family.
Therefore, Norman views marriage with suspicion and doubt.
Humourous and charming, Norman is nevertheless quite a Casanova.
One day, a colleague Simon begs him to help stand in for a
matchmaking appointment. Norman thus gets to know Melissa, a
beautiful and classy lady. He is bowled over by her looks
immediately, and so pretends to be Simon so he can date her. Norman
finds out that Melissa longs for marriage. With his own inability
to commit, he hesitates in bring their relationship further. With
the advice from her good friend Hazel, Melissa decides to give up
and forget Norman.
Hazel is a divorcee, who is 29 years old. Not only is she
beautiful, she is a kind and understanding person as well. She
joins Lianweis department at work and becomes his subordinate.
Lianweis maturity, integrity and strength of character impress
Hazel deeply and she begins to develop feelings for him. She takes
every opportunity to shower him with care and concern, while
sharing his woes and happiness. Lianweis relationship with his
wife deteriorates, and on top of that, his sickly mother is
hospitalised. As if the situation is not bad enough, Lianwei is
retrenched and then his father passes away suddenly. With all these
troubles weighing him down, Patricia fails to give the demoralized
Lianwei any support and continues to squabble with him. Instead,
with the support and encouragement from Hazel, Lianwei picks
himself up again and even helps out in Hazels business.
Patricia and Lianwei had been living only as a couple in name. When
gossip of Lianwei and Hazels affair reaches Patricias ears,
Patricia hits the roof and takes the chance to divorce Lianwei. She
even tries to claim alimony from Lianwei. However to her anger, the
judge turns down her claim because of her qualifications and
current salary. So will Lianwei and Hazel develop from their status
as partners in spirit and moral support into a real
relationship?
Normans spendthrift ways plunges him into debt. He is unable to
pay up and has to declare himself bankrupt. He loses his job as
well. What makes him feel even worse at this point is that Melissa
is about to marry a plastic surgeon. How will Norman win the love
of his lady? And what will happen to Shengen and Kate, the young
couple in a love-hate relationship?
