It is easy not to watch local TV given the many high-quality alternatives available on cable TV or online.

And so, gems like this scene in season two of the Chinese drama 118, where Jeremy Chan's character, Ya Zhou, explains emphatically what it means to be 'a good man' to Ke Ai (Carrie Wong) goes unnoticed.

Thankfully, someone working in MediaCorp knew that such a great monologue shouldn't be lost in the vast sea of unseen terrestrial TV, and decided to upload it on Toggle's Facebook page.

Here's the scene:

The monologue's so good we transcribed it for you:

Do you know what 'a good man' reminds me of? Let me tell you.

He's a hardworking and studious man who graduates with a degree after a few years. If he's lucky, he'll find a job with a $3,000 starting pay in the CBD. He works hard in hopes of making his mark one day.

However, he'll soon discover his $3,000 pay after the 20 per cent CPF deduction, will leave him with only $2,400.

He can't afford a car. He has to take the bus and train every day. He'll take a cab or private-hire car occasionally. He'll spend $200 - $300 on transportation every month.

A cheapest set lunch at a restaurant is $12. After adding the 10 per cent service charge and the 7 per cent GST, it'll become $14.

He'll have no choice but to join the queue for economic rice, chicken rice or wonton noodles. However, such dishes plus a beverage in the CBD costs $6 to $7. If it's three meals a day, it'll cost you $500 to $600 a month.

If a good man has a girlfriend, he'll take her shopping, to the movies, buy her gifts and flowers for their dating anniversaries. He's bound to incur personal expenses of about $1,000 a month.

Since you're a good man, on Father's Day and Mother's Day, you must treat your parents to a good meal. At the end of the year, you discover you haven't saved a cent.

Never mind, you are a good man.

A good man will toil away without complaint.

You'll get your promotion and pay rise one day, you'll go dating, get married, apply for a flat and have children. Your salary may increase by one or two folds. However, you will struggle under a load of debt.

Never mind, you're a good man.

A good man must toil away without complaint.

If you reach the retirement age of 62 without getting fired;

Congratulations!

You've completed your mission to be a good man.

You think back before you die. Besides jostling on the bus and train, working, eating economic rice, chicken rice and wonton noodles, you can't recall anything else.

You want me to be a good man?

No way!

118 is a light-hearted 30-minute drama that broadcasts every Mondays to Fridays on Channel 8 at 7.30pm. The show revolves round the characters who work in a coffee shop named 118 in Tiong Bahru. It has been a ratings success with ample advertising and public service messages being incorporated into the show.

Its first season was originally slated to be 190 episodes long, but due to the show's popularity, it was extended a further 65 episodes. The show's production timeline also allows it to include up-to-date current affairs issues in its plot and dialogue.

Top image screen shot from Toggle

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