Pull up!
When an Army soldier is discharged, he is given a train ticket.
But in the Air Force, they just gave me a medal.
How could this place be safer?
I can see so many police officers, which means there are many criminals.
I'll leave Nanjing too.
Except that we'll be heading in different directions.
I haven't gone home since I got married.
They didn't want me to marry an Air Force man.
BASED ON PAI HSIEN-YUNG'S WORK A GREAT LITERARY FIGURE OF TAIWAN
-Zhen Guo. -Yes.
Check out the new aircraft.
It's fine.
I'm about to be discharged, so I'm not interested.
Sir, you want to fly the new aircraft, right?
Give it a try.
I'd love to, but my wife wants me to stay at the desk.
If I really took it for a spin,
I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to sit still at a desk.
By the way, there's something I need to tell you.
I wrote a recommendation letter to your alma mater.
You should hear from them soon.
After you leave the Air Force, go back there
and become an instructor or something.
Remember, come back to visit me when you're free.
Visit Qian-yi.
That's all.
The plane and its call sign follow the pilot for a lifetime.
Even though they age,
they still remember the sound of the plane's engine and smell of the cockpit.
When they're gone,
the plane and its call sign are passed on to their loved ones.
513.
I can't take you with me on term break.
So stay here and keep Mo-ting company.
You're not taking me with you?
Ouch.
Qing.
It's late. What do you think you're doing?
I have something to tell you.
Tell me tomorrow. Get out.
What?
But it took me a while to climb up here.
It's a bit scary.
You managed to climb up, and you look just fine.
That's different.
I look up when I'm climbing.
But now I have to get down and it looks scary.
Get off.
The pastor isn't here. You can leave by the front door.
It's very important. I'll leave once I tell you.
-Hey. -Wait.
I remember.
I'll sit there.
The captain has retired from flying.
He agreed to Lady Qin's wish of having a desk job.
Our plan worked.
You came all the way late at night just to tell me this?
One more thing.
Before I leave, I'll fix 513.
You can come and see.
What is there to see?
What?
I was busy gathering the spare parts today.
It was all because of you.
You once said you saw 513 fly over you at a low altitude in high school.
Besides, you're leaving once the term ends.
The first snow falls around that time in Nanjing.
I plan to fly 513 on that day to see you.
When that happens, it will most likely be my last time flying 513.
It will be a fitting end.
Once you land, everyone will be leaving, right?
Maybe not. You can take me home if you want.
You pilots are followers of death.
You don't value your own life.
How could you want a family?
What if I told you now
that I'm a little afraid,
would you believe me?
Why are you getting closer?
It's a little cold. I want to take my jacket.
Before I fix 513,
I'll fly the old plane here every day to see you.
-And to check out the sunset. -No way.
Are you trying to cause a ruckus at the school again
and get me involved?
I just want to fly as many times as I can.
I won't have the chance soon.
It's fine if you fly quietly.
Yes.
Look.
I didn't lie. I brought a memento.
You're quitting after this semester.
Is it because of the schoolwork?
When Mo-ting enters elementary school,
-Hello, Lady Qin. -Hello, Lady Qin.
I will quit school and leave Nanjing.
You came all the way from Zhejiang just to take one semester?
I wanted to check out the capital while I'm still young.
I'm content now that I've seen it.
Your parents are no longer alive. Where will you go?
To Guangxi to look for my uncle.
He's worried about me staying alone in Nanjing.
Can I go with you?
I would like to visit other towns.
The man who came last time must be your uncle, right?
Yes. He's a soldier too.
He's in the Army.
He was recently transferred to Guangxi.
Is there a newcomer in the village?
Newcomer?
You're the only newcomer in this village.
Someone from my hometown will come here.
My uncle will be here tomorrow.
I don't want him to think that this village is lifeless.
Carry out the tutoring tomorrow at Wei-xun's house.
I don't want my uncle to think that Mo-ting is my child.
It's Zhen Guo.
Are you going to come back?
That's a wise choice.
Leave quickly.
-Uncle. -My Little Yi!
I was afraid I wouldn't recognize you.
Children who leave the nest will return when they're older.
But then, I'm here to visit you as your senior.
Little Yi, you're not a good child.
Hello, sir.
You've had a long ride.
Why don't you take a rest at New Life Club first
and we'll meet for dinner tonight?
I won't eat nor stay.
Buy me a return ticket to Zhejiang.
I want to see where you live first.
I'll leave once I relay all the messages.
Let's go.
-Uncle, have some tea. -Okay.
Sit down.
I'm talking to my relative, Qian-yi.
Uncle, this house is only given to someone like Wei-cheng,
a lieutenant colonel.
It's a huge and cozy house.
You used to love playing hide-and-seek when you were younger.
The servants spent hours looking for you.
A big house?
I can see through it with one glance.
Is this really a cozy house?
Well,
in your letter, you said he is a second lieutenant.
He's Lieutenant Colonel.
I see.
Your father tore the letter you sent into pieces.
But your aunt asked the servants to help put the pieces back together
before we could read the contents.
We're not so lucky with the photo though.
We couldn't put it back together.
I don't have any impression of him.
Sit.
I was about to leave for the front line when we hastily got married.
I sincerely apologize.
Fight the Japanese?
Little Yi's dad and I weren't just sitting around doing nothing.
Go look it up. The Zhejiang Daily.
The people who donated 10,000 dollars at one go
were none other than the Qins.
We despaired when your planes were shot down.
We rejoiced together when you guys shot down the Japanese planes.
This is the people's joy and sadness for our country.
Using the word "war"
on your loved ones.
Don't you think that's cruel?
Sir.
Qian-yi just wants to go home to see her dad.
It's fine if I'm not welcomed,
but please allow Qian-yi to go home by herself at least.
The reason I came to Nanjing
is for this matter.
Little Yi's family is gone.
Your dad passed away.
It happened about six months ago.
You made her forsake her parents.
My dad...
Did he go in peace?
He was of the same mold.
Just like you.
He left quietly.
Before he passed,
I had wanted you to go back to see him for the last time.
He agreed to it.
But when I was about to send the telegram, he stopped me.
It was lucidity before death.
He foresaw that you would be all alone
until you die.
He said
he'd rather not have such a daughter.
It would save him from the pain and worry.
Lest he couldn't leave in peace...
When you go back to pay respects to your dad,
take your children along.
By the way...
Why haven't I seen them?
I'm not a good daughter.
I have no children.
A year after we got married,
I was two months pregnant.
I wanted to notify my family,
in hopes that they would forgive me for getting married.
I lost the child while I was on the run.
The family knew nothing of this.
When did this happen?
The war was raging then.
I'm asking about that particular day.
How was the weather? What time of the day was it?
Which hospital was she in? Who took care of her?
A neighbor helped out.
A neighbor?
And where were you?
Back home, we call this safeguarding the pregnancy.
If something like this happened,
all of the servants would be punished.
What a crime.
Bastard!
Two soldiers guarding the door.
It's like living in a jail.
Where's the lady living here?
She left.
She went back to her hometown.
So dead and lifeless.
This village doesn't look habitable.
Good day, sir.
"Air Force death squad."
How could they write the word "death" on the uniforms?
It's despicable. You don't need to see me off.
Hurry up and bring Little Yi back home.
Let's go.
Keep Lady Qin company.
It's all your fault. You got a lot of nerve to show your face.
Qing Zhu is with her right now. You shouldn't bother them.
Go sleep somewhere else tonight and leave her alone.
Okay. When Qian-yi wakes up, please call me at the airstrip.
I'll apply for a day off and take her home tomorrow.
Is it really so hard to take her to the States for some fresh perspective?
You were finding all sorts of excuses to not have a desk job.
Now you're being efficient.
Leave now.
Lady Qin is just like me.
She's all alone.
Qing Zhu, thanks for last night.
Qian-yi. You're coming back, right?
Wei-cheng's never been to my hometown. He might not like it there.
I'll have to bring him back.
RENAI EAST VILLAGE
They haven't approved the weather report and maintenance record.
Mo-ting, help me out here.
-Do you know how to write "permitted"? -Yes.
Here.
Right here.
You wrote it wrong.
With one t, it's "permit".
-"Permitted" has a double t. -All right.
Where is the alcohol smell coming from?
I thought he stopped drinking.
To: Vice-Captain Zhi-jian Shao
Gong.
Is that the dispatcher records?
Show it to me.
These are a woman's handwriting.
This arrived days ago but it hasn't been opened.
Gong.
Did any woman come looking for the vice-captain?
No, ma'am.
The captain is not here.
So why is he not guarding his post?
He's gone for a meeting at the headquarters.
Show me the entrance log of the base.
Gong.
Have dinner at my place. Take Mo-ting out to play for now.
All right.
Mo-ting, come. I'll take you to see the planes.
Do you drink milk?
No.
Save it for Mo-ting.
Mine too.
You weren't at your post.
Where did you go?
I had a meeting.
It's not my first day being the wife of an Air Force man.
The vice-captain is the only one manning the base.
A meeting?
You could've found a representative.
It was an important meeting. The 9th Wing is being overhauled.
Their old planes are being released to other wings.
I had to go to secure the good stuff.
The General Headquarters gave out orders
that nobody is allowed to steal spare parts from the 9th Wing.
They suffered a massive loss lately.
Steal spare parts?
Gong could've done it.
Why do you smell of alcohol?
Well...
I was at Grand Shanghai,
drinking with the captain of the 9th Wing.
I had to ask him to save some good stuff for us.
Why do I feel like you're unhappy for being promoted to the vice-captain?
Why?
Is it too much to bear?
Not at all.
I'm the first to become a vice-captain among my peers.
I can't stand it any longer.
If...
If you miss your days as a war officer, just tell me.
I'll ask Wei-cheng to transfer you so you can be free.
Don't mind Mo-ting and me.
I think Zhi-jian was a war officer back then.
Yes.
That was after the war.
Our division was sent back to Nanjing, right?
Yes.
After that, we never saw the nurse again.
She never came to look for the vice-captain.
That's not right, Gong.
I remember they split up before the war ended.
Why did they split up?
Because...
Come, Mo-ting.
I'll take you out to play. I'll carry you.
Goodness. You've gotten heavier.
Piglet for sale
At that time, in Changsha,
the old vice-captain was still around.
Vice-Captain Jin.
Mo-ting's dad.
I remember it was a day off.
He brought Mo-ting and Wei-xun to visit the airstrip.
Halfway through, a summon came.
The higher-ups wanted us to scout out the Japanese transport aircraft.
Vice-Captain Jin
saw that Zhi-jian was still injured.
He decided to replace him.
That was the fateful day.
He was killed in action.
But to my knowledge,
Zhi-jian never kept in touch with the nurse after that.
He probably understood he had a responsibility
to take care of Wei-xun.
Yes.
I heard that the nurse went to Changsha once to look for him.
Don't listen to his nonsense.
They didn't meet that time so it didn't count.
Why? Did you guys change the airstrip again?
No.
Zhi-jian hid in the airstrip, refusing to show himself.
So the nurse stood at the entrance the whole day
and ultimately left by herself.
Why didn't he meet with her?
What would he do?
Apologize? Tell her that he's about to marry another woman?
Two hearts were broken at the same time.
She must have written because she wanted to know the truth.
I still remember the image of the nurse walking away.
Just like that.
All by herself.
Mei-huan.
Shan-shan.
Qi-yi Pei.
Shu-han Yang.
Qing Zhu.
The bank sent someone here to ask about your whereabouts.
It's no longer feasible for you to come here.
Leave Nanjing, but do not come here.
It's safer to head north.
I included a draft of 1,000 silver dollars to help you get to the north.
I will come for you when the dust settles.
I'm currently in Guangxi and will not return to Zhejiang.
The bank has asked the police to investigate your dad's case.
Leave Nanjing immediately. Don't delay.
The semester is ending.
Starting from next term,
I want you to move into the dorm like the rest of the girls.
You don't have to make arrangements for me.
I'm leaving at the end of the term.
Why did you suddenly want to come here?
I'm leaving soon.
I want to see it one last time to remember it better.
My discharge has been approved.
Lieutenant Colonel wrote me a recommendation letter.
I'm going back to my alma mater to become a teaching assistant.
What are you going to teach?
Aviation engineering.
That's what I studied. I'll teach how to repair planes.
You're getting discharged,
but you're still going to be working with planes.
Yes.
I'm going to tell my students
I have a beacon in Nanjing.
-Where is your school? -In Xi'an.
Last time, you said
if a female student
comes looking for you without knowing what's going on,
it's her misfortune.
And she will bring you bad luck.
I've seen enough of Nanjing.
Once the term ends,
I'll also head for the north.
Are you coming with me to Xi'an?
Shouldn't you tell your uncle first?
Are you scared of my uncle?
I thought you were brave.
I'm about to take a girl to a faraway place.
This isn't about being brave.
Nobody is as brave as your captain.
He said he'd take Lady Qin away and he did so.
What I mean is...
Don't fret. I didn't say I was going to go with you.
My uncle was transferred to the north.
He asked me to go there.
I was surprised for a second.
I really thought you were coming with me.
You don't even have the guts to lead.
You shouldn't wish for someone to go with you.
All right then.
Give me your uncle's address.
Are you going to tell him I'm going to Xi'an with you?
No.
Once I settle down in Xi'an, I'll visit you at the address.
You can stop coming to school to see me.
I won't be around.
I'll be doing research on the mountain.
I thought you'd quit. Why do you have to go to the mountain?
I'm still going to go.
Time will go by more quickly.
Once I return from the mountain,
the first snow will fall.
The term will be over.
And I'll be able to leave.
When that day comes,
you'd better make sure the plane is fixed.
Keep your promise. You said so yourself.
What if I can't fix it?
I'll leave on my own.
Zhen Guo!
Zhen Guo.
Was there any fog on the mountain when you were up there?
When I came down, yes.
Oh dear. One plane hasn't landed yet.
Who's flying?
Gang Wang. He wanted to practice flying as the main pilot.
Fog is predicted in the forecast, right? Who let him fly?
Yes, the vice-captain did.
Vice-captain? He simply approved it because he's moody.
He probably didn't even check the forecast.
How long has it been?
An hour.
He might be lost in the fog. What were you thinking?
Why didn't you report it to the vice-captain?
He's in a bad mood.
As a subordinate, I can only hope not to set him off.
The fuel should be enough.
Let's wait ten more minutes.
Ten more minutes?
The vice-captain should prepare to be jailed then.
What do you mean?
Gang Wang didn't bring any spare fuel.
He wouldn't have lasted an hour then.
He must have crashed somewhere. I'll check.
Wait!
I've removed all the fuel tanks from the planes for maintenance.
What?
That's the only one available. A new plane we got from the 9th Wing.
Whichever. That will do, let's fly!
All right.
Dog!
-Yes? -Come quick and help.
-Help start the propeller. -Okay.
Dog, get over here.
Remove the fuel tank. It might explode. Hurry up.
Zhen Guo, what the hell?
You brought Gang Wang back. Why didn't you land with him?
Instead, you continued flying
until you ran out of fuel and had to do a forced landing?
Reporting.
While bringing Gang Wang back, I saw a fire in the mountain.
A group of villagers was trapped there.
They were seeking help, waving their clothes.
So I decided to fly back
and notify the mountain fire department to save them.
-Who allowed you to fly? -Reporting.
I sent the permit yesterday.
You approved it, sir.
-Gong. -Yes.
What's the condition of the plane?
It's in bad shape.
Sir.
The captain of the 9th Wing said
they're coming to take the plane tomorrow.
The headquarters wants to see it tomorrow.
I'm sorry, Zhen Guo.
What the hell?
We crashed more planes than they were shot down!
This is a P-51 from the States.
How I wish we were the Army.
If I were the Army, I'd carry out the disarmament.
I'd abolish each and every one of you degenerates!
I'm getting stomach pangs from shouting.
You bunch of idiots!
What kind of a vice-captain are you? You can't even look after the base.
Get your captain back here!
Reporting. The captain is on leave. I'll take responsibility for this.
Take responsibility?
How?
-I'll find a way to fix it. -Fix it?
There's no need for fixing.
The war is over. The Americans have a bunch of these
and are selling to us for cheap.
As a vice-captain, you could buy a couple as compensation.
You are not qualified to be a vice-captain.
Pack your bags and be ready for a transfer.
Find some useful parts.
We have to fix it somehow.
I'm not worried about the plane.
Wei-cheng and I have been through a lot. I have no regrets.
I'm ready to receive my punishment.
But I'm worried about you
and Wei-xun.
You've only just been promoted.
You've got a bright future ahead. The role of captain is yours to take.
That's gone down the drain.
The higher-ups
are sending you to the 8th Wing to be a transport pilot.
Look.
A fighter pilot is now flying cargo.
Zhi-jian.
Getting embarrassed is not a big deal,
but losing your dignity is.
Sending you to the 8th Wing is a demotion.
You're being demoted back to a war officer.
The chief likes Wei-cheng.
Ask him to handle this.
Things might turn out more positively.
Thank you, sir.
-I'll send the telegram. -I'll deal with it.
Don't ask for the captain.
If Wei-cheng got dragged into this and it caused him his training in America,
Qian-yi would be stuck here.
You would be the one to blame.
There's still hope if we get Wei-cheng to come back now.
Wait longer, then it will be too late.
Too late?
Getting demoted is no big deal.
You sure said that easily.
Other people climb up to higher places.
Yet I'm still stuck here.
I was married to a major. Now, I'm with a lieutenant.
Besides, I'm used to the life here.
You can go to the 8th Wing alone if you want.
What is with this letter?
You're always missing.
You always reek of alcohol.
You even approved documents carelessly.
-That's just... -It doesn't matter who it is.
I'm worried about you.
This letter.
You haven't opened it or read it, but you kept it.
Don't you have the guts to open it?
It's nothing of that sort.
-I've just been too busy. -Sure, we have time right now.
Do you want me to open it or throw it for you?
Throw it.
You're still pretending.
If you wanted to throw it, you would've done so long ago.
What's this magic?
It looks even better than when we bought it.
I think we should rename this the 11th Repair Wing.
-You. -Yes.
Take it for a spin.
Vice-Captain.
Gong and I only patched her up. She can start but that's it.
She can fly if she can start.
We'll pass if I can keep her in the air for a few minutes.
I don't want the captain to be implicated.
There's at least some chance if I fly it.
Vice-Captain.
If you go up, there will be no chance left.
Zhen Guo, you were the one who fixed the plane.
I had nothing to do with it.
What are we going to tell Madam Zhou?
We're dead if anything happens to the vice-captain.
That's enough!
Ground crew to Runway Two.
Pre-flight check.
If you go, I'll get a divorce!
I don't want your pension. Come back down, now!
This marriage has finally been approved.
What do you mean finally?
It's not over yet.
I'm going to the county hall.
I'll look for Can-yi Li.
Hey.
You should ask them first at least.
What for?
She's finally back. I won't let them leave.
Wait!
Wei-cheng, this is my youngest aunt.
You haven't met her.
Hello, ma'am.
Sorry, I took so long to come and visit.
It's okay.
Now that you two are home,
your marriage is considered officially accepted.
We're a family now.
Since this is a rare visit, you should stay for a while.
Uncle, aunt.
I'd like to get Gui to help me buy the return train tickets.
Wei-cheng has to go back to base.
There's no need.
I went to the county hall to look for Can-yi Li
so you could settle down here.
We found a job for you,
the head of security.
A colonel position.
That's higher than your lieutenant colonel.
Uncle.
Wei-cheng and I need to go back to Nanjing.
His unit is still there.
There's no need to go back.
Can-yi Li said,
he can issue an official document under the county government
to allow him to immediately join the Zhejiang security unit.
The security unit
is close to home.
It's more stable.
Now, put away their bags.
Uncle.
Let's go to the den. We'll let the men talk.
Uncle.
He's an Air Force officer.
He doesn't belong in the security unit.
He can only read maps, calculate routes,
check the weather and find airstrips to land.
How about the mansion that your dad left you?
Will you let it be overgrown with weeds?
I'm thankful to all of you for carrying out my dad's funeral.
As for the house,
use it however you see fit.
We won't do that!
I want you two to move in.
It's fine to leave.
Let him go, but you stay here.
Hey.
You have to let them go back to Nanjing to bring over their things.
That god-forsaken village?
There's only cheap furniture there. Nothing of value to care about.
Forget it.
Sir, there's an Air Force man outside.
He wants to see Mr. Jiang.
There's a telegram.
You've planned this, right?
Don't let him in.
-He can speak from outside. -Okay.
Sir, I'm the vice-captain of the 8th Wing.
I've got an urgent telegram from the 11th Wing.
Your wing is in trouble.
The vice-captain will be court-martialled today.
You've been summoned back to deal with it.
My husband's unit is in trouble.
I need to rush back to Nanjing with him.
Little Yi.
I have no way to keep you here.
I thought the whole family could be reunited.
It looks like
we're not a family.
Fine.
Bring back the bags of these two guests.
Little Yi.
I will keep your house for you.
I will get someone to clean it every year.
Your dad said it.
Lucidity before death.
He foresaw you living out your life alone.
If...
If what he predicted came true,
promise me you'll come back.
You still have a place to call home.
See our guests off.
A warrior's life that fought many wars could be worse than a bag carrier's life.
But you're the vice-captain now.
Because of one letter, you almost got someone killed!
I want a divorce. I don't want you to be ridiculed.
All the responsibility will be on the pilot who's about to be discharged.
Do you know the feeling of being wrongfully accused?
It doesn't matter if it's just me.
But now that I'm taking you, it concerns the both of us.
Hurry!
Subtitle translation by Jacqueline Wong