THE 42ND YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1953
Yun.
Yue.
Yue, over here.
Come eat something.
-How's Mom? Is she feeling better? -She couldn't stop coughing last night.
Did the doctor come by?
We still owe the doctor a lot of money.
Early this morning, two men came and asked Mom if you were back.
Not again. How many times do they need to ask?
Your drawing…
Did you finish it?
What's the title?
I can't think of anything.
Help me with it.
Sure.
Any news of Wen-hsiung?
I heard he got caught last week.
Don't worry.
I won't get caught.
How long will you hide?
Time flies.
Look, I've been hiding in here for three months.
Take this watch. It's no use to me.
If it gets too hard to bear, you can fast-forward time like this.
Just think about next year, the year after,
five, ten years from now…
Then it'll feel like nothing.
Everything will pass.
Here.
It's 1953 now.
We're hiding in the sugarcane field.
In two years, what will we be doing?
In 1955…
I want to go back to school.
What about in 1960?
Fast-forward it faster.
I'll be 20.
You'll be married.
I don't want to get married so young.
Who will I marry?
If you're not married, what will you do?
I want to study.
That's good. I'll definitely let you go to college.
Really?
Then
in 1970,
you will be a teacher.
With two kids.
That sounds very nice.
And then?
In 1980,
you will be a grandma.
Not that soon.
How about you?
What will you be doing in 1980?
In 1980…
I'll be a painter.
I'll paint lots of picture books for children.
By that time,
the world will be a peaceful place, without war.
Everyone is free and equal.
No one will be persecuted or abused.
Then I want 1980 to come sooner.
Yes.
That day will definitely come.
-What? -Hush.
Look after Mom and our brother.
Go home. Now.
Stop running.
-Over there, quick. -Stop running!
He's over here.
-Hurry up! -Don't go there.
Stop running!
You bit me!
Still running?
You bit me!
Over here.
Stop running.
Still running?
Ahead!
Huang Yu-yun, stop running!
You won't get away!
ONE YEAR LATER
Dad, Mom.
I miss you so much.
I miss Yun too.
I wonder how he is doing.
Uncle and his family moved into our home.
Uncle is kind enough to us.
But Aunt is a bit…
Yue.
Come help me push it.
STOP
You complained to your mom again?
-Huo. -Uncle.
Why did you suddenly move back?
Right.
My elder brother and his wife are dead.
How can their two young kids live on their own?
-I see. -I'm off.
Yes.
Hey, stop running.
Can't you two stay still for a second? I'll beat you if you fall.
Yue.
Go make sweet potato congee and cook the sweet potato leaves.
Where have you and your brother been? I couldn't find you anywhere.
Dad!
Hurry up. We're all waiting to eat.
Come on, eat.
Now we have more mouths to feed. You may not get enough to eat.
What's wrong with feeding two more mouths?
It's the same old sweet potato congee.
Did they ever get a piece of pork from you?
If you hadn't tried to save Yun and been conned out of so much money,
we could have had pork from time to time.
Talking back?
We're living in their home. It's theirs.
And you're so mean?
Whose house?
Isn't it your old family home too?
You spent so much money on saving Yun.
Isn't it fair that they repay you with the house?
What the hell are you talking about?
You finished talking?
You're having dinner?
Uncle Kun.
Have you eaten? Come join us if you don't mind.
-I came to tell you something. -What is it?
Yu-yun was executed by firing squad.
How did you know?
They sent the notice to me.
You'd better hurry to Paradise Funeral Home in Taipei
to bring his body back.
I heard if the body
isn't claimed in a few days,
it'll be buried in a mass grave.
-Paradise Funeral Home. -Yes.
And I heard it costs a lot.
How much would it cost?
I don't know. Some say 1,000. Some say 600.
Where can I get so much money from?
-Yue. -Yue.
Yue.
Six hundred dollars…
It's enough to support our whole family for a year.
When Yun was arrested…
Though I can't read or write, I was interrogated for three days.
Your mom…
In order to save Yun,
she was conned out of her money.
Even all my savings were gone.
I still owe people several thousand dollars.
Your mom…
If she hadn't let Yun continue his studies,
maybe none of this would have happened.
I CAN'T GO BACK FOR DAD'S FUNERAL.
HERE'S SOME MONEY. I HOPE IT HELPS.
HSIU-HSIA
MILITARY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Ma'am.
Can you tell me…
If I'm going to Taipei, do I change at Chiayi?
No need. You can take the main train from Nanjing.
I see.
This bird of mine is very obedient.
It's true. So pretty.
When I ask it to perch, it doesn't dare to fly.
It's flown away!
There's a bird.
It's a bird.
That guy is a prisoner.
That's my bird.
What are you doing?
The police.
Quiet.
Early in the morning
A young girl
Walks down the street, carrying a basket
She runs into a soldier
He's a bad guy
Pushing her into the sugarcane field
Hey, madam…
Hey, watch where you're going.
Stop looking around.
Come have some noodles.
Ma'am.
Can you tell me how to get to Paradise Funeral Home?
What?
Paradise Funeral Home.
Paradise Funeral Home?
Why are you going there?
I came from Chiayi.
I need to go there for something.
It's very far from here.
How about this?
Keep walking along this road and you'll see Zhongshan North Road.
When you reach Zhongshan North Road, head north.
Just keep walking.
Then you'll see Paradise Funeral Home.
Why did you come from Chiayi alone?
It's a long way.
-Do you want some noodles? -It's okay. Thank you.
Girl.
You're going to the funeral home?
I'm going somewhere nearby. Want me to take you there?
I can walk there.
Don't be afraid. I'm not a bad guy. My surname is Lin. People call me A-lin.
Why are you going to the funeral home?
I want to bring my big brother home.
What happened to your brother?
He was executed by firing squad.
Damn it.
Poor you.
It costs a lot to bring the body home. Do you have the money?
-Yes. -Yes?
They charge fees for storage, bullets, the coffin, and body transport.
Altogether, you need at least 1,000.
You have the money?
I have more than 40.
What?
More than 40?
You must be kidding. It's not even enough for a coffin.
Girl.
I feel so sorry for you and I'm worried you might get conned.
How about this? Let me take you to see my uncle.
He knows many high-ranking officials.
We can ask him for help.
You need contacts in a case like this
or you'll be tricked into paying a lot more, understand?
I have this too.
It's worth a lot of money.
No need. Put it away for now.
Don't let anyone see it.
Let's go see my uncle first.
-Sir, where would you like to go? -To Quanzhou Street.
-Okay. -Please.
-Where are you from? -Guangdong.
-Guangdong? You know the way? -Yes, I do.
Let's go!
Why did you come alone?
My parents are both dead. My little brother and I are left alone.
Poor you. And your big brother was executed by firing squad.
Were you very close to him?
Don't worry. You're lucky you met me.
This is the place. Here we are.
Here we are!
Come on, get off.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Come on.
-Who is it? -It's me.
-A-lin. -Yes.
My uncle.
Nice to meet you.
New Paradise, please.
A pack?
Just one cigarette.
Chao Kung-tao!
You motherfucker.
You son of a bitch.
Isn't she too young?
It's good that she's young.
She's definitely a virgin.
More valuable.
Shall we sell her to Kui or Feng?
Go see how much Kui offers.
Feng always pays very little.
How much do you think she'll fetch?
She's not very pretty.
But she'll get at least 800.
We sold the last one for only 300.
That girl was too ugly.
This one will fetch at least 700.
Is that so?
Come on. Go see Kui.
Hurry up.
Yes.
Well, your feet are so dirty.
Later, I'll wash them clean.
Right.
Let me help you get changed.
You'll look prettier and fetch a better price.
-Hey! -Quiet.
Who is it?
-Who are you looking for? -Where is the girl?
What girl? There is no girl here.
What did you say? I drove her here just now.
She left her things on my rickshaw. I've brought them back.
Where is she?
Give it to me.
She's in there.
Damn you.
Hey, fuck.
Fuck.
Motherfucker.
I knew he wasn't a decent man.
You were tricked.
Idiot.
Fuck.
Hey.
Hey!
This is your stuff.
You left it on my rickshaw. Take it back.
Not even a word of thanks.
It's okay.
Excuse me.
A rickshaw is coming. Move.
Girl.
Where are you going? Shall I take you there?
I have no money.
No money?
Hold on and walk along.
Let's go!
Where are you going?
Paradise Funeral Home.
What?
Paradise Funeral Home.
Parasite Funeral Home?
Oh, Paradise Funeral Home.
It's very far.
You came to claim your brother's body?
How did you know?
Of course I did.
Didn't you talk about it when I was driving you?
Your brother was executed by firing squad.
I'm not deaf.
You understand Taiwanese?
Yes, I do.
You understand Mandarin?
I went to elementary school.
My brother taught me too.
But you don't speak it well.
You don't speak it well either.
Motherfucker.
Wait.
To Jinshan Street. How much?
Three dollars.
Let's go.
Let's go!
Who is this girl?
She's my sister.
-You're from Guangdong, right? -Yes.
You brought your sister to Taiwan?
We were fleeing the war.
Our family got separated.
Only my sister stayed with me.
I see.
That must have been hard.
Yes, it was hard.
Girl, how old are you?
She's mute. She's 14.
Mute?
Poor thing.
Can you ride faster? I'm in a hurry.
Yes.
Hey, no. It's too fast for her to keep up.
Stop.
Girl. You…
Come up. Let's sit together.
This spot is big enough for you. Come on.
Get on.
Come on. Don't be shy.
Here, hold the chicken.
Come on, hurry up.
Excuse me.
Here we are!
Here, two dollars.
It's three dollars, ma'am.
Your sister sat too, right?
That's one more dollar.
That's it.
Come on. I'm in a hurry.
-Fuck. -Hi!
You motherfucker.
So stingy.
Where are you going? We're not at the funeral home yet.
Get on.
Wait.
You're going to claim your brother's body?
You have less than 100 in your bag. That's not enough.
You'll need at least 500 or 1,000.
With what you have, you'd only get a hand.
Why did you check my bag?
Of course I checked it when I found it.
I've got this. It's worth a lot of money.
-How did you know it's worth a lot? -Of course, it's worth a lot.
-You don't understand. -I don't understand?
Tell you what.
The funeral home won't take things like this.
Let me take you to someone.
You'll get money if it's really valuable.
Then you'll have enough money for the body, okay?
Let's go!
Girl.
What's your name?
Yue. It means "the moon."
Yue.
The moon.
Moon.
Good name.
My name is Chao Kung-tao. It's a good name too.
But I was rather unlucky recently.
I lost my job. So now I work as a rickshaw driver.
You motherfucker.
In the army, I learned to swear in different dialects.
Don't copy me.
Okay.
Excuse me.
Here we are!
Would you like to take a look?
Chang, let me show you something.
This guy knows things and he's honest.
Show it to him.
Eighty.
That's too low.
My brother left it to me.
Motherfucker.
Higher.
It's just an ordinary watch.
Eighty is a good price for it.
All right, for your sake…
Ninety.
Fuck.
My sake is only worth 90?
Can you count? Your sake is worth only ten dollars.
Ten dollars.
Or you can ask around.
How about it?
Chang is an honest man.
I guess that's it.
Ninety isn't enough.
If you sell it, you'll get 90 dollars. If you don't sell it, you'll have nothing.
When you get 90 dollars, we'll see what we can do.
-Go ask others? -Excuse me. How much can I sell it for?
You don't trust me, do you?
This watch…
No more than 70.
What? How much can I sell it for?
This…
It's not valuable.
Sixty. Is that all right with you?
Excuse me. How much can I sell it for?
Fifty.
See? I, Chao Kung-tao, never lie.
Ninety is a very good price.
You won't get more from anyone else.
Let's go.
Motherfucker.
So you've got more than 100, right?
Yes.
You can get two hands with it.
Let's go. Let me take you to a place.
Let's go!
Fuck! Chao Kung-tao.
I thought you were a cop.
-Sorry. -It's your turn.
-Sorry. -This water's made it wet!
Throw these four dice into the bowl.
If you win… Tell you what.
Give me half the money. If you lose, you owe me nothing, okay?
Come on.
Bet ten dollars on it.
-Come on. -Eighteen! Roll.
Your turn.
-Throw. -Do you know how to play?
It doesn't count.
Again.
-Blow it. -Come on.
-Be gentle.
Eighteen!
You won!
Ten dollars.
Here. Another round?
Carry on.
Place your bet.
All in.
Quick.
One hundred.
Eighteen!
Come on.
-You can do this. -Let's take a look.
Bravo!
You get your brother's right leg.
Another round? Come on.
-Okay, good. -Two hundred.
Carry on if you dare.
Come on, eighteen!
-You're in trouble. -Hurry up.
-Luck's here. -Coward.
Eighteen!
Bravo!
You get the left leg too!
Again.
Four hundred.
-Four hundred. -All in. Place your bet if you dare.
Eighteen!
Blow it.
Eighteen!
Bravo!
-Give us the money. -Be patient. Four hundred.
Win another round and you'll get the whole body.
Another round.
Come on!
If you want it, hurry up. Who's next?
Wait!
I'll hire a music band for your brother.
Let me do it.
Good.
You lost!
Motherfucker. Fuck.
Come on. Whose turn is it?
Fuck. Motherfucker. Son of a bitch.
I let you down.
It's all my fault.
It's getting late.
Get on.
But I don't have enough money.
You're not going?
-I'll go. -Even just one look would be enough.
Let's go!
What the hell is he shouting at?
ASCENSION TO PARADISE
Anyone in?
Hello?
Anyone in?
What do you want?
We're looking for a body.
-We're closed. Come again tomorrow. -You're closed so early?
Early? It's getting dark.
-What's your brother's name? -Huang Yu-yun.
Do you have Huang Yu-yun's body?
I don't know. Come again tomorrow.
Then do you have Liu Ta-ching's body?
I said I don't know. Come again tomorrow.
Motherfucker.
Why did you swear?
Did I swear at you?
Can't I swear at Liu Ta-ching? Motherfucker.
Get out.
We're closed. Come again tomorrow.
Fuck. Motherfucker.
That big one. Give it to me.
Who was Liu Ta-ching?
My platoon commander.
He came from Fujian Province.
He taught me Fujianese.
When I was in the army, he saved my life several times.
When I left the army,
they got me a job in the cigarette factory.
Liu Ta-ching didn't leave. He stayed in the army.
A while ago,
he was sent to jail.
They said he worked for the Communist Party.
I was sent to jail too.
I was released after three months.
He wasn't.
I heard they shot him dead.
-You understand what I'm saying? -Yes.
He had no family in Taiwan.
No one claimed his body after he was executed.
I fought alongside him in the war for years.
I had no idea he was a communist.
I lost my job at the cigarette factory because of it.
Motherfucker.
Fuck you. Son of a bitch.
Why are you called "Chao Kung-tao"?
Tell you what.
My mom had seven daughters.
She struggled to have a son.
Finally, when she gave birth to me, my dad was so happy.
He said in tears,
"Finally, God has done me justice."
So he named me Chao Kung-tao,
which means a hero who delivers justice.
Then why did you join the army?
Back then, I was about your age.
I was going to learn business from my uncle.
We got caught up in the war.
And we followed the army when they retreated.
So, I joined the army.
I haven't been home since.
Then do you feel homesick?
Of course.
I'm so homesick.
Whenever I think of home, I "purst" into tears.
"Burst" into tears.
"Purst" into tears.
So what do we do now? Where shall we go?
Here is an address.
Whose address?
My sister's.
You have a sister in Taipei?
A sister whom I have never met.
You've never met your sister?
Then let's go meet her.
Let's go!
Ma'am, be careful.
Here it is.
-Who are you looking for? -Looking for…
-What's her name? -Chiu Hsiu-hsia.
-There's no one by that name here. -No?
But here is the address.
She no longer lives here.
Then where does she live?
No. 15, Lane 8, Nanjing West Road.
-You remember it so well. -Nanjing West Road.
No. 15.
-Let's go. -No. 15, Lane 8, Nanjing West Road.
-Here it is. -Okay.
Come in and sit.
Excuse me. Is Chiu Hsiu-hsia here?
Chiu Hsiu-hsia?
We have someone called "Hsia."
Why are you looking for her?
I'm her sister.
You're her sister?
She's at the stage.
Stage? Where is it?
Just over there.
Come. Let me take you there.
It's easier.
-Come, follow me. -Thank you so much.
You're welcome.
Why can I hear kids' voices?
Here.
Gosh, so many kids.
-Here. Just ahead. -Don't block others.
Hsia.
-Hsia. -Yes.
Your sister came to see you.
-My sister? -Yes.
Come.
Your headpiece is crooked.
You're…
I'm Yue.
You're my big sister?
Yue.
You've grown so big.
Then you… Why did you suddenly come to see me?
What happened?
Hey! It's your cue.
-Come on, get onto the stage. -Wait for me. Go to the front.
-Aunt, take her to the front. -Get onto the stage.
Come. Follow me.
Oh, let's give them a big hand.
When the sun rises in the east
The spring breeze gently blows
Beautiful scenery makes people happy
Little birds sing in the trees
Flowers bloom and green leaves grow
The sun shines warmly on the river
Sing amid the spring breeze
Let's praise the beautiful spring
The sky is bright and cloudless
Parakeets are chirping before the window
Such beautiful scenery Lies before our eyes
The water flows in the river
Spring breeze blows into my heart
We're filled with passion and ambition
Together, let's sing for our bright future
Hsia, I love you!
Scenery is like the mirror of nature
Yue, your sister is so pretty.
What's wrong?
Couples go on a trip
Let's have fun on the hill
We walk in unison and sing along
March forward, march forward
Into the town of happiness and youth
Stop playing with the props.
Hello, I'm Chao Kung-tao.
-Need any help? -No need.
-So heavy. -Slowly.
Hello, I'm Chao Kung-tao.
Let me help you.
-No need. -No need.
Thank you.
Is that mainlander a cop?
He keeps staring at people.
-Is he investigating someone? -He's investigating your beauty.
No, he's looking at me.
Be careful.
Yue.
You've found your sister. My mission is accomplished.
Let's say goodbye.
See you soon.
Where is the guy who was with you?
He's gone.
How did you get to know him?
I met him in the street. He brought me here.
You're so bold.
Aren't you afraid of running into bad people?
Why did you come alone?
I want to go to Paradise Funeral Home to claim Yun's body.
What did you say?
He was executed by firing squad.
Yun…
How could it happen?
Here.
Hsia, here you are.
Thanks.
-Here. Anyone else? -Yes, me.
-Here. -Me too.
She told me to use this to hold it.
Boss, have some sweet rice balls.
Anything else?
I'd like to borrow some money.
Why do you need to borrow money?
My sister came from Chiayi. She needs money.
You have a sister?
She lives in Chiayi?
I never saw her before.
I was promised to be a future daughter-in-law when I was little.
How much?
How about 1,000?
Why do you need so much money?
My sister came all the way to collect my brother's body.
I only learned about it just now.
My brother was executed by firing squad.
Damn it.
Lower your voice when you mention execution.
Your brother was executed?
Damn.
I haven't gotten the money for last month's shows.
I don't even know how I can pay your wages next month.
Here is 138 in total.
Take it all.
Keep 38 dollars.
I'll think of something else. Thank you.
Here, I've got ten dollars.
Thank you so much.
Here, take it.
It won't be enough.
Why don't you go to the official?
He's completely infatuated with you. You can get as much as you need.
Ouch, it hurts.
Hsia.
What are you doing here?
Just now…
Someone came looking for you. Did she find you?
-Yes, she did. -I see.
-And-- -Tell Dad.
I've got a good job here. Ask him not to worry.
Let's talk when we get home.
I'm not going back.
Hsia doesn't love you.
Give up.
If you're a man, stop pestering her like this.
Hsia is happy working here. She's a good girl.
Don't worry. We'll look after her.
-Let her keep the job for longer. -Yeah.
-You agree, right? -Chih.
Why did you go to her? No need to beg her.
I brought her up.
Now she has left home.
Dad.
I really can't marry Chih.
I grew up with him.
He's like my big brother.
How can I marry him?
You brought me up.
I'm very grateful. I want to be a good daughter to you.
But don't force me like this, please.
-Hsia. -Where are you going?
Let's go.
Go!
You embarrassed me.
Shut up.
-Where are you going? -Girl.
I'd like to borrow some money.
Come on in.
I didn't hear anything from them before.
Then suddenly, they contacted me.
Didn't you say your wife and children were in China?
I didn't lie.
I only found out today that they fled to Hong Kong.
You're going to bring them over?
Okay, I get it.
Don't you want to borrow money?
No need.
Thief.
Catch the thief!
-Catch the thief! -Catch the thief!
Catch the thief!
Over there! Hurry!
-Catch the thief! -Catch the thief!
-A thief? What's going on? -There's a thief. Hurry!
Catch the thief!
There, over there.
-There's a shadow over there! -Catch the thief!
Here.
Did you see him?
Where has he gone?
-Quiet. -Over there.
Who is in there?
Open the door.
It's occupied.
Why are you hiding in there?
What the hell?
You're either peeing or shitting in the toilet.
What else can you do in there?
It's a girl.
You want to smell her?
Shame on you.
-Let's go check somewhere else. -Let's go.
-Okay. -You head that way. I'll go this way.
-Okay. -Be careful.
Catch the thief!
Who are you running from?
They're trying to catch the thief.
Are you the thief? What did you steal?
I'm not a thief.
I didn't steal anything.
If you're not a thief, why are you hiding?
Here.
Damn it.
Here.
Let's share the money.
I can't take it.
Money is like water.
It flows everywhere.
It flows to me today
and it'll flow to others tomorrow.
You can never keep it.
I can tell you're poor.
Take it.
Come on. Don't be shy.
I'm off.
Who are you?
I…
My name is Kao Chin-chung.
The present-day Robin Hood.
See you soon.
Goodbye.
Chang, my money.
Here.
Ten dollars?
Your "sake" is worth only ten dollars.
Motherfucker.
That watch is worth at least 500. You thought I didn't know that?
Five hundred. I'll sell it to you for five hundred then.
You're from Guangdong, but you always swear like someone from Shandong.
Give me 30.
Another two dollars. That's it, okay?
You're such a cheat.
Hold it.
How about this? I won't let you lose money.
Ninety. I'll take it.
Xiao-chao, what's wrong with you today?
Well, no…
I feel so sorry for that girl.
I can't con her out of her money.
She came from Chiayi alone to collect her brother's body.
I thought I could help her win some money, but I lost it all in the dice game.
Now she can't claim her brother's body.
You're so kind.
I'm not kind.
But I have a conscience.
Okay, step aside.
Fine, give me 90. And I'll give you the watch.
Chang.
Listen to me.
I have no money with me.
That watch… Give it to me first.
Money… I'll pay you back some other day.
When it comes to money, there's no some other day.
Give me 90 and I'll give it to you.
Motherfucker. You're heartless.
Keep the watch for now.
Don't sell it.
Wait for me.
Shut up.
Motherfucker.
-You're back. -Yes.
Take all the money I earned today.
Fuck.
Two men came looking for you this afternoon.
Who were they?
Keep it.
I can't rent you the rickshaw tomorrow.
Why not?
Go find another job. I don't want any trouble.
What trouble?
Go now. Just go.
Motherfucker.
Fuck.
What are you doing?
I'd like to ask you something.
Sit down.
No need. What is it?
Do you know Hsu Po-han?
Yes. He was my battalion commander.
When was the last time you were in touch?
In touch?
I was just a private.
Why would a battalion commander be in touch with me?
Didn't you say you knew him?
When was the last time you were in touch?
We lost touch after I left the army.
I'm asking when you were last in touch.
Before I left the army, he gave me a pack of cigarettes.
Where is that pack of cigarettes?
How long do you think a pack of cigarettes lasts?
It's been years. Of course I finished it.
You'd better be honest.
Did he leave anything with you?
No. Why would he leave anything with me?
What is this?
Liu Yi-ming.
A bone.
A finger.
This is Liu Yi-ming.
This is Wei Yung-nan.
This is Hsu Yung.
My three closest comrades in the army.
Back then, we made a promise.
Whoever survived would cut off a finger from the dead,
clean the flesh from the bone, and take it home.
This guy…
He died first.
This guy kept the finger with him.
A few days later, he died too.
So this guy kept both their fingers with him.
Later, this guy died too.
Only I survived.
So all three fingers are with me.
I just never thought I'd end up farther and farther from home.
Motherfucker.
You want to take these bones back to the mainland?
I must keep my promise.
Then who is your contact there?
What are you talking about?
Back then, you wanted to catch Liu Ta-ching.
You arrested and interrogated me.
You even tortured me.
If I were a suspect, you'd have shot me dead.
What more questions do you have?
Can't I even work as a rickshaw driver?
Hsu Po-han was your battalion commander. Liu Ta-ching was your platoon commander.
Shouldn't we investigate you?
We're just protecting our country.
Hsu Po-han has been on the run for ages.
He's a serviceman.
He has no family in Taiwan.
The only people who would protect him are veterans like you.
I'm not protecting him.
I don't know where he is!
Come to me as soon as you know where Hsu Po-han is.
If I asked you to eliminate the enemy for the country,
would you do it?
I've already fought many battles for the country.
Think about it.
No hurry.
Take it and get some booze.
I don't want your money.
You have integrity.
You remember it, right?
Last time, we put you in the torture chair
and within ten minutes…
Ouch.
You couldn't take it and told us where Liu Ta-ching was hiding.
So you have integrity, do you?
You motherfucker.
No matter how hard you rub it
It's still a saggy little thing
Take off your top with one hand
Pull down your trousers with the other
PROMOTE AND UPHOLD CHINESE CULTURAL HERITAGE
Yun.
Yue.
-Here you are. -Yes.
You want to draw?
Yes, I have nothing to do when hiding in here.
I wrote a story. I want to turn it into a picture book.
What story? Tell me.
In a river, there was so much water.
Two drops of water were good friends.
One drop was called "Mi."
Why is it called "Mi"?
Or shall I call it "Yue"?
Fine. Call it "Mi" then.
How about the other?
The other was called "Shui."
Shui. Good.
The two of them watched the clouds in the sky from the river.
They envied the clouds floating freely in the sky,
enjoying the scenery all over the world.
Their senior in the river told them
that one day,
they could turn into clouds too.
The two drops of water were so happy.
They really looked forward to becoming a cloud.
The next day, when the sun rose,
Shui turned into vapor first.
Then Mi turned into vapor too.
They flew up to the sky and became a cloud.
Wow.
The scenery up there was so wonderful.
It was a view they had never seen before.
Together, Mi, Shui, and their good friends
traveled to many places, enjoying the scenery.
They were having such a good time.
As more and more vapor joined them,
the cloud became thicker and thicker,
heavier and heavier.
As they flew across a desert,
their senior said,
"Let's go down.
This piece of land needs us to nurture it."
When Mi heard it, he said,
"But I've only been in the sky for a short time.
I haven't seen enough."
Their senior said,
"It's our mission to nurture the land
so plants can grow in it.
It's a great mission."
When Shui heard their senior's words,
he said,
"But it's a desert down there.
Can we really turn a desert into farmland?"
Their senior said to Shui,
"We certainly couldn't if there were only one or two drops.
But there are millions of drops of water.
As long as you're determined, you can change the world."
When their senior finished speaking, he turned into rain and dashed down.
All the others immediately followed.
In the end, Shui and Mi followed, dashing down as well.
That's it?
Did the desert turn into farmland?
I have no idea.
Maybe it did. Maybe it didn't.
But…
If we do nothing, nothing will change.
-Yue. -Yes?
Have you thought about your future?
I want to be a teacher.
Very good.
In the countryside where we live, when a girl grows up,
she can only become a mother,
cooking, washing clothes, and doing housework.
But in fact,
a girl can do a lot of things.
Study hard when you have time.
Let's go to the city.
Mom said you got led astray because you went to Taipei.
Do I look like a bad guy?
Then why do the police want to catch you?
People
are afraid of those who have different ideas,
so they try to destroy them.
Yun.
Are you scared?
Yue.
You must remember.
In the future,
no matter what happens,
you must be brave.
We have nothing.
Bravery is all we have.
Hey.
It's very late.
What are you doing here?
What's your name?
Where did you get the money from?
What is this?
I'll confiscate it.
Why?
So you can speak. You're not mute.
It's mine. Give it back.
If you can't tell me where you got the money,
I'll confiscate it.
Again.
What's your name?
Huang Chiu-yue.
Louder.
Where do you live?
Chiayi.
Chiayi? Why did you come here? You came on your own?
I'm going to Paradise Funeral Home to collect my brother's body.
What happened to him?
He was executed by you.
Nonsense. I didn't execute your brother.
Don't talk nonsense.
If your brother hadn't done anything wrong,
he wouldn't have been executed.
He didn't do anything wrong.
Fuck.
We were nice to you and you were rude.
-Yang. -Talk properly.
Bad girl. You refused to talk nicely!
You… Look what you've brought on yourself.
-Don't be like this! -You're a bad girl!
She's just a kid.
Sir.
There's a fight in the street. Come quickly.
You're hopeless.
See?
I asked you to cooperate and you refused.
You asked for it.
Behave yourself.
What did that Kao Chin-chung do?
He…
He's a wanted man.
A thief.
Very hard to catch and even harder to keep.
He managed to escape every time after he was caught.
Well, he escaped again recently.
REWARD FOR CAPTURE, KAO CHIN-CHUNG
Do you know him?
You'll be rewarded if you report him.
How much?
Last month, it was 300.
Now it's 500.
What the hell is going on?
Sir, I've caught him.
I've done my job.
Let go of me.
A parasite like you
is worse than shit.
Fuck.
Little shitty bastard.
You're all shit.
I'm off to bed.
Fuck.
Who cuffed me here?
Fuck.
Who cuffed me here?
Yue.
Why are you here?
What's up?
You were drunk and got into a fight. What's your name?
Chao Kung-tao.
A hero who delivers justice.
-Who would have a name like this? -A man like me would.
Idiot.
You two know each other?
Yes, we do.
My sister.
Sister?
I thought your brother was executed.
She's my sworn sister.
Sworn sister. Do you understand?
-It's so lively in here. -Sworn sister…
Have breakfast first.
What happened to these two?
Nothing.
They were wandering in the street at night.
Sir.
How many did you get?
Girl, come on, eat.
Why didn't I get one?
It's not fair.
Shut up or I'll lock you up for three days.
Fuck.
Stingy cops.
Girl.
Eat up and leave.
Here, take it back.
Come on, eat.
JINCAI TRADING
Was the flatbread good?
You ate only half of it.
Nice.
Why aren't you with your sister?
She's busy with her business.
Let's go to the funeral home then.
I have less than 100 dollars.
That money will only get you a nose and two ears.
Yue, listen to me.
Just cut a finger off your brother and take it back.
That counts as a burial too.
And it'll save you a lot of money.
No, I can't do that.
Then let's go gambling again.
Yesterday, I heard those two bad guys say they could sell me for 800.
Even Kao Chin-chung is worth 500.
So what?
You sell me.
Claim my brother's body and take it back to Chiayi.
You can keep the rest of the money.
Damn.
I haven't even buried those three yet.
Why do I keep running into things like this?
How about that? Okay?
They were going to sell you to a brothel. You know what a brothel is?
No. That's a horrible place. You can only sell yourself to me.
-Yes. -Yes what?
I have no money.
If I had money, I'd buy a rickshaw. Why should I buy you?
Then is there anything that isn't terrible?
I'm willing to do anything. I'm not afraid of hard work.
I'm willing to do anything too.
I'm not afraid of hard work either.
I want to find work too.
TAIHE GOLD
Thank you.
-Thanks. -I'll see you soon.
Later, you go over there and talk to her.
Don't look at me.
What should I say?
Anything.
I can't just say anything.
Idiot.
You say,
"Aunt, I came from Chiayi. How do I get to Paradise Funeral Home?"
You can do that, right?
What are you going to do?
Do you want to bring your brother home? If so, do as I say.
Remember.
Don't look at me.
Aunt.
Yes?
I…
I came from Chiayi.
What?
Excuse me.
How do I get to Paradise Funeral Home?
This Pigsy looks more like the Bull Demon King.
It is the Bull Demon King. Open your eyes.
You're being ridiculous.
What are you laughing at?
This is Pigsy.
-I told you not to look at me. -You're a thief.
You're the thief.
I did it for you.
Didn't you say you were willing to do anything? And you call me a thief?
Thief.
You're on your own.
You need money, right?
Yes. Why?
Do something for me. I'll give you a lot of money.
There is a clinic over there.
Two years ago, the doctor was executed.
He left his wife and kid behind.
Are you finished?
-Not yet. -Okay, thank you.
Come on. Follow me.
Fuck.
Thank you.
That's it.
Every day at this time, he comes to see the doctor's widow.
Who is he?
Go.
When the doctor was in jail,
he lied to the wife that he'd save the doctor.
Fuck.
He got the doctor killed, yet pretends to be a good man,
looking after the widow and the kid.
Motherfucker.
He wants the doctor's widow and the house.
Fuck.
What on earth do you want?
Kill him for me.
Have you lost your mind? Why should I kill a man for you?
Take the money. I'll double it once the job is done.
Is that him?
Yes. That's him.
Let me be honest with you.
I've been working with him for three years.
Whenever I get close to him, my hands shake.
I don't stand a chance. Fuck.
What kind of special agent are you?
You think all special agents are killers?
My specialty isn't killing.
Then find someone else.
Everyone else I know knows him too well. I'm afraid they'll sell me out.
I'm not a killer.
-Are you afraid of him too? -Damn, of course not.
Being nervous is different from being afraid.
Think carefully. How did he torture you back then?
Damn. I really want to kill him.
You told us where Liu Ta-ching was. I bet you've been tormented by it.
I didn't know he'd be executed.
Tell you what.
He wasn't executed.
He was beaten to death during the interrogation.
Seriously?
You're not lying, are you?
-I swear. -Bullshit.
If you lie to me, I'll kill you.
That's fine.
Does he have a gun?
No.
Okay.
I'll avenge Liu Ta-ching.
But I don't understand why you want to kill him.
Do you have a grudge against him? Are you an undercover agent?
I won't do it if you don't tell me.
Fine. I'll tell you.
The doctor's widow
is a neighbor I grew up with.
Motherfucker.
People like you can feel love too?
What should I do after killing him?
Go to the south and lie low for a while. Come back when things have calmed down.
Damn.
So, this is your specialty?
Chao Kung-tao.
Yue. What are you doing here?
Who is he?
He's a friend. I came to borrow some money from him.
Look.
You can get your brother's whole body.
How can you borrow so much money?
Mind your own business. Just take it.
I thought you left me on my own.
Then why did you come to me?
How can I pay you back?
Don't worry about that for now.
Just go collect your brother's body.
Stop looking. Come on.
Are you hungry?
Do you want to eat flatbread or a fried dough stick?
-I'm not hungry. -Then stand here.
Watch him fry the dough sticks.
Sir, where are you from?
I'm from Shandong.
Motherfucker. I'm from Guangdong.
That's hundreds of miles apart.
Not that far apart.
Listen to me.
I'm going to do a favor for a friend. I'll be right back.
You stay here and watch him fry the dough sticks.
What are you going to do?
Anyway, no matter what happens, just stay here and keep watching him.
By the time ten sticks are finished, I'll be back for you.
Don't follow me.
You're from "Sandong"?
It's "Shan."
"Shandong."
Aren't you coming in?
I'll wait for you outside.
Motherfucker.
You're unbelievable.
Don't run away.
I'll stay.
Don't run away.
Fry five sticks at once.
How many do you want?
None.
-Who is it? -Fuck.
Fuck.
Futao!
Quick!
Excuse me.
Yue, get off.
I can't take you to the funeral home. Go on your own.
Wait.
Here, take the money.
It's enough.
Get there by yourself.
Now you have enough money.
Then…
Goodbye.
Get on!
I'll take you there.
Damn it.
I don't care anymore.
OFFERING
Hurry up.
Son of a bitch. Got him.
Sir, we're looking for a body.
You again.
Yes.
-Do you have the money? -Yes.
-Name? -Chao Kung-tao.
Huang Yu-yun.
Oh, yes. Huang Yu-yun.
It's Huang Yu-yun.
Follow me.
Take a close look.
Check for yourself.
I didn't know your brother.
I'm right here.
Can you find him?
Can you?
No.
Why isn't he here?
Did you check properly?
His name is on the list.
What's going on?
No rush. Let me ask.
Wait for me over there.
Motherfucker.
Fuck.
Are you all right?
What happened?
This is what happened.
A batch of bodies was processed a few days ago.
But whoever was on duty didn't record it properly.
So, what happened? Were they buried?
Where?
I can't tell you that.
Why not?
It's an order. Confidential information.
Sir.
Look, how pitiful this girl is.
She came from Chiayi alone to find her brother's body.
What will she do if she can't find it?
Please. Help her.
Poor thing.
I guess it was sent to the Defense Medical College.
Defense Medical College?
What for?
For anatomy lessons.
Don't tell anyone about it. You didn't hear it from me.
Let's go rescue your brother. Let's go.
Yue, quick.
Where is he? Where?
Over there.
Hurry up.
-Get lost. -Get lost.
Faster.
Motherfucker. Got you.
-Still running? -Yue, quick.
-Get on. -Motherfucker.
Go to hell.
Quick.
Still running, motherfucker?
-Motherfucker! -Fuck!
-Motherfucker!
-Kao Chin-chung, stop running! -Out of the way!
-Stop running! -I'll beat you till you can't walk!
Get lost!
-Stop running! -Fuck!
Step aside!
Stop running!
Kao Chin-chung, stop!
Asking for a beating?
You hit a cop?
-Arrest them all. -Arrest them!
I'm looking for my sister, Huang Chiu-yue.
Why did you only cuff me? They beat me up and they're not cuffed?
Shut up!
Sir, look, he smashed my head like this.
I nearly died.
Motherfucker, you traffic girls.
Motherfucker.
Quiet.
Beautiful.
Good day, Captain. I'm her sister.
You're her real sister?
She said you work in a dance troupe.
You don't live together.
I was sent away for adoption when I was little.
So I don't live with my sister.
Why weren't you sent to my family?
What do you do in the troupe?
I sing and dance.
Sing a song for us then.
Do you strip?
Shut up!
Damn. Are you looking for trouble?
Can we go to your performance?
You're more than welcome. My treat.
Here.
Sign this paper.
Then you can take her home.
And leave your details.
Your younger sister…
She's still a child. You need to discipline her.
She was tricked by that bad guy.
Luckily, we rescued her.
He didn't trick me.
He's not a bad guy.
You see?
She still has no idea she was tricked.
I didn't trick her.
Fine. Enough.
Here. Pack it up and you can leave.
What about my money?
Your money?
You can't tell us where you got it from.
Besides, it's connected with that Chao.
So it's been confiscated. We need to investigate it.
Part of it is my money.
Keep talking and I'll lock you up.
I'm sorry. She's just a child.
Please see if he's your man.
Take him away.
Go.
Why did they take him away?
Usually, the people they take away are involved in insurgency.
What will happen to them?
Bang!
Yue!
Sir, two people are here to claim a body.
Are you a rookie?
You're causing me trouble again.
Who told you to come here to claim the body?
The funeral home.
This is a medical college, not a funeral home.
Sir, can you please help us? We came from Chiayi.
No.
Wang, please do them a favor.
Count it as a good deed.
Don't I always do good deeds?
I've done so many good deeds.
Then leave something like this to me.
So you're the good guy and I'm the bad guy?
Then I'll leave it to you.
Back to your work.
Do you have the body collection ticket?
The ticket.
Troublesome.
Hurry up.
Give it to me.
Go identify the body first.
Then we'll do the paperwork.
Lu Chang.
Come here.
Hurry up.
Take them to identify the body.
Go.
Take this watch.
If it gets too hard to bear, you can fast-forward time like this.
Just think about next year, the year after,
five, ten years from now…
Then it'll feel like nothing.
Everything will pass.
1954.
1955.
Here. It's 1953 now.
We're hiding in the sugarcane field.
In 1955, what will we be doing?
In 1955…
I want to go back to school.
1956.
1958.
1959.
What about in 1960?
Here, you fast-forward it.
I'll be 20.
You'll be married.
I don't want to get married so young.
1962.
1963.
1964.
1970.
Then in 1970,
you will be a teacher.
With two kids.
That sounds very nice.
And then?
1973.
1976.
1978.
In 1980,
you will be a grandma.
Not that soon.
How about you? What will you be doing in 1980?
And then
in 1980…
1982.
1984.
1988.
1989.
1990.
1991.
1992.
1993.
Please sign here.
You came from Chiayi, right?
How are you going to take it home? How about cremating it?
How much will it cost? We don't have much money.
We can't take your money.
The funeral home charges at least 600.
I'm not running a funeral home.
Just give Lu Chang a tip.
Sure you want it cremated?
It's too expensive to take it home.
Then it's decided.
Well… What can you put the ashes in?
Wait.
This will do.
Here. Use it for now.
Change it when you get home.
Thank you.
Wang, you're so kind.
Not a problem. Off you go.
-Thank you. -Come, follow me.
Lu Chang, take them there.
Hsia.
Thank you.
What for?
For coming to find Yun with me.
We didn't live together.
But Yun was my real brother.
When he worked in Taipei, we often saw each other.
About two months ago,
someone came to see me.
He said Yun's cellmate had been released
and Yun asked him to deliver a letter to me.
In Yun's letter, he wrote a story.
In the river, there were two drops of water.
Every day, they looked at the clouds in the sky
and envied them watching the world from so high above.
Shui and Mi.
He told you the story too?
They became a cloud and then rained on the desert.
What he told me was different.
Yun wrote that
Shui became a cloud in the sky first.
He said to Mi in the river,
"Hurry up. Come join me.
We agreed to travel around the world together."
Mi in the river said,
"Promise you'll wait for me.
You must wait for me."
Until the afternoon,
Mi in the river still hadn't become a cloud.
The clouds in the sky
turned rosy at sunset.
When Mi in the river saw such beautiful rosy clouds,
he really envied Shui.
It was the clouds that made the dull sky so colorful.
The next morning,
Mi felt himself growing lighter
as he kept rising.
He was so happy that he'd soon become a cloud
and fly up into the sky to be with his good friend.
The sky was a canvas.
They would paint beautiful scenes upon it.
Mi turned into vapor and slowly rose for a few meters.
Then
he stopped.
He realized he hadn't become a cloud.
Instead, he had turned into fog, a thick blanket of white fog.
A white cloud drifted past.
He said to the cloud,
"If you see my friend Shui,
please tell him
I've become fog.
I can't see him up there."
The cloud said,
"Your friend turned into rain last night and fell into the Pacific."
Mi, the fog, asked the cloud,
"Will he come back?"
The cloud said,
"No.
He has accomplished his mission."
The fog said,
"His mission?"
The cloud replied,
"To become part of the scenery somewhere, at some point.
We're all just part of the scenery.
Or what do you think we are?"
The cloud smiled and floated away.
The fog was very upset.
He felt sad that he didn't become a cloud.
He felt really gutted.
However, no matter how gutted he felt,
when the time had come,
the fog
just dispersed.
In the end,
he couldn't become
the part of the scenery he wanted to be.
Did Yun give the story a title?
Yes.
It's called A Foggy Tale.
Yun, we're turning right.
Yun, walk slowly.
PROSPEROUS FIRE RITUAL
Yun, we're going home.
Look.
A band is playing for you.
Walk slowly.
THE 43RD YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1954
HSIA BROUGHT YUE AND HER YOUNGEST BROTHER TO TAIPEI
AND SENT THEM TO SCHOOL
THE 45TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1956
HSIA TOOK HER SIBLINGS BACK TO VISIT THE GRAVES
THE 47TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1958
YUE WON THE SECOND PRIZE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL COMPOSITION COMPETITION
THE 48TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1959
CHIH ACCEPTED AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE
HSIA ATTENDED HIS WEDDING
THE 49TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1960
AFTER THE TROUPE WAS DISBANDED,
HSIA PERFORMED AT THE US OFFICERS' CLUB
THE 52ND YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1963
IN LANYU, KAO CHIN-CHUNG ESCAPED FROM PRISON FOR THE TENTH TIME
MORE THAN 200 GUARDS AND SOLDIERS FAILED TO CATCH HIM AS HE VANISHED EVER SINCE
THE 53RD YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1964
YUE GRADUATED FROM A TEACHERS' COLLEGE
AND BEGAN TEACHING AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
THE 54TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1965
HSIA WENT TO THE US ALONE TO FIND THE OFFICER SHE WENT OUT WITH
THE 56TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1967
YUE MARRIED A FELLOW TEACHER NAMED LIU
HSIA AND HER AMERICAN HUSBAND, WILLIAM, CAME BACK FOR THE WEDDING
THE 58TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1969
YUE GAVE BIRTH TO A DAUGHTER. THEY NAMED HER LIU NIAN-YUN
THE 63RD YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1976
FAN CHUN RESIGNED AND FOUNDED A SUCCESSFUL ACCESSORIES EXPORT BUSINESS
THE 76TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1987
MARTIAL LAW IMPOSED IN TAIWAN FOR 38 YEARS WAS LIFTED
THE 79TH YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1990
YUE'S HUSBAND DIED OF LUNG CANCER
THE 82ND YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 1993
The fire in the carriage shatters people's confidence in the metro line.
Some even suggest it should be rebuilt.
-Huang Chiu-yue. -Forty years ago,
some civilians
-were executed for political reasons. -Why are you taking photos?
-It was… -For various reasons,
some prisoners' bodies couldn't be claimed by their families.
A victim's family spent 30 years investigating and searching
and finally found the graves of his long-lost brother and other victims
near Liuzhangli cemetery.
There are more than 100 graves scattered around the public cemetery.
The families of other victims
have come to the cemetery to search for their loved ones…
Mom, Uncle was brought home, wasn't he?
You knew someone else?
You've got a friend who is a journalist, right?
Can you ask him to ask around?
Get the list of the names.
Who was it?
Who are you looking for?
A kid shouldn't ask so many questions.
Come on. Call him.
Who was it?
Who on earth was it?
Stop pestering.
Just call him, quick.
-Mom. -Yes?
The list.
It's very long.
Let me help you find them.
What's their name?
THE 93RD YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA YEAR 2004
Come.
Let me lift you up.
Let me give you a cookie.
Mom.
Didn't I tell you not to give her sweet things?
Just one is fine.
You never listen.
-Huang Chiu-yue. -Go measure your blood pressure first.
Okay. Mom, let's go measure your blood pressure.
Come on.
Chao Kung-tao.
-Chao Kung-tao. -Yes.
Yes.
Mom.
Sir, please pay on the first floor first. Then collect your medicine.
And remember. Come back tomorrow morning on an empty stomach.
What did you say?
I said you pay first, then collect your medicine.
Okay. Thanks.
Chao Kung-tao.
Do you remember me?
Fifty years ago, a girl came to Taipei from Chiayi.
She was going to the funeral home to find her brother's body.
Yue.
Yue, the moon.
It's you.
Did you find your brother?
Yes.
You weren't executed?
No.
I was jailed for 25 years.
Why are you crying?
Mom.
Your daughter?
Granddaughter?
Yes.
How about your family?
What family?
I'm absolutely fine on my own.
Huang Chiu-yue.
In a second.
Mom, go in first. We'll talk later.
Wait for me. I'll be quick.
As quick as frying five fried dough sticks.
Come. Over here.
Can I help you?
It belongs to that lady in there.
Give it to her.
Please.
Wait for her then.
Tell her.
It's not the old one.
But I found something very similar.
And?
That's it.
Thanks.
Remember it.
Hold tight to the handrail. Stand firm on the step.
Let's go!
TO THE CLOUDS AND FOG IN THAT ERA firm on the step.