The Best Bet

Tan Chun Huang regularly leaves the Bak kut teh stall to meet his bookie friends, neglecting the soup and the shop. Huimin, his sister, disapproves of the habit and warns him about the consequences. The pattern sets up tension between family duties, work, and illegal betting.

A Crazy monk reveals the number 3791 in a stunt at a hawker center, drawing crowds and suspicion. Tan initially dismisses it as a scam, but he starts taking bets through his illegal bookie network. The moment plants the seed of illicit 4D betting that drives the plot.

The 3791 number wins the next draw, catching many bettors off guard. Tan borrows $15,000 from loan sharks to payout those who bet with him, plunging deeper into debt. The debt and danger escalate as gambling bleeds into everyday life.

At home, Richard's wife criticizes his gambling while a neighbor celebrates a lottery win. Huang introduces two Chinese friends to Lee to rent a room and help cover expenses in exchange for 4D numbers. Lee rejects the arrangement and instead suggests starting a legitimate business.

Huang and Lee decide to sell mango desserts and secure a bank loan to open a store. They pool resources and set up a storefront, hoping the venture will stabilize their livelihoods. The plan signals a shift from illegal bets toward lawful entrepreneurship.

Opening day arrives with high hopes, but chaos erupts as a police raid interrupts the launch. Lee is arrested for vandalism connected to destroying a traffic camera, and the tenants and lion dancers—illegal immigrants—are swept up. A gas explosion ruins the stall, ending the debut with violence and broken bonds, including Evita breaking up with Lee.

Back home, Huang spots a vandalized neighbor’s flat, a reminder of the danger surrounding their money. Tan is warned by bookie contacts about intensified police crackdowns, prompting more debt-raising. They manage to borrow an extra 25,000, lifting the total debt to 40,000.

During a police ambush, Tan attacks an officer and is arrested. He is sentenced to 30 months in jail but is granted bail to see his family before serving the sentence. He lies to his family about traveling to China instead of going to jail.

In jail, Tan reunites with Lee and the fake monk, and they entertain themselves by guessing a number from the monk's actions. Huang visits and urges Tan to bet on 7272, promising to share the winnings, but he cannot use the Singapore Pools and must rely on another bookie. The trio rekindles their gambling ties behind bars.

The 7272 number wins first prize and Huang receives $400,000. He initially plans to share the winnings, but ultimately lies to Lee and Tan, claiming he failed to place the bet so he can keep the money for himself. His greed strains his marriage and friendships and foreshadows the consequences.

Huang grows close to Susan, a hairdresser, while rumors of illicit winnings swirl. A murder related to illicit 4D winnings shocks him, and he panics when he discovers his wife has gambled away the money. The mounting pressure pushes him toward a breaking point.

Lee and Tan are released from prison and confront Huang, demanding their share; Huang denies that they won any money and refuses to give up the winnings. They kidnap Susan to lure Huang out, escalating the danger and driving the stakes higher.

At the hideout, Huang confesses his affair and tries to rescue Susan, claiming he won the money. The sequence unfolds like a nightmare, and he eventually wakes up realizing it may not have happened as shown.

After the events, Huang visits Lee and Tan and tells them that they did win, but the money is gone. The trio is invited to an empty Bak kut teh restaurant, forcing them to face the consequences and the loss.

Huang reveals he invested the winnings to open a restaurant as a partner; Tan becomes the chef, and the trio eventually expands to eight outlets, including a new location at Jurong Point. The story ends with reconciliation as they trade gambling for a sustainable business.