We're preparing for combat.
Unauthorized persons aren't allowed to enter.
I saw your father with a woman.
He rented a place next to her village.
Your father cried.
I'm not generous enough to treat her like a sister.
In Nanjing, you helped the spies and released a lady
who had been taken in by the Communist Party.
Does your boyfriend know about this?
BASED ON PAI HSIEN-YUNG'S WORK A GREAT LITERARY FIGURE OF TAIWAN
Do you know who she is? How dare you get involved with her?
She has forgotten her roots.
She's abandoned her origin and principles.
Can you trust someone like that?
Every time our marine corps conducted a drill,
the Americans would conduct a surprise check.
Naval transport ship.
The Americans would show up on board immediately.
They were watching us.
They were afraid we'd launch a counterattack across the sea.
Who knows, she could be behind all this.
You're the one who has been on the Americans' leash.
Don't blame someone else for your own problems.
-Chief. -That's why you've become their bitch?
You put a lot of makeup on your face.
When I asked you to tell me who the spies were,
you wouldn't say a thing.
I don't see any traces of the wife that you used to be back then.
You don't want to help us anymore?
I give you two weeks.
Let me know when the U.S. Army's advisory team will conduct a raid,
which unit they will inspect,
and who will conduct the raid.
I need to know every single detail.
Or I promise you
that I will get you kicked out from the U.S. military housing
and sent to prison.
Also,
don't try to mess with us
and make a promise here.
Don't you dare snitch on us to the U.S. Army.
When she contacts you again,
remember the things I've told you.
Always be fully armed.
Don't let her suck you in.
Get out.
What information do you want?
I can give you the information you want.
Then I want my passport and leave this place as soon as possible.
I will go to the U.S. alone. I can't wait for you anymore.
Goodness.
The entire wing has to be on standby for instructions.
No one can take a day off.
-Are you guys going to have a drill again? -Goodness.
They haven't announced it.
They told us to prepare for combat.
But they canceled it.
It's the same for all squadrons.
They're messing with us.
I went to the ammunition warehouse yesterday.
I ran into people from the Navy. They also came to collect ammunition.
They said they were also not allowed to take a day off.
Look. They are here again.
I suspect we're going to have a joint combat exercise soon.
You asked me to meet you at the New Society Club.
I waited for you for an hour.
I didn't feel like going.
Stop coming to the airport.
Don't help me.
I told Chief that I don't want to do it anymore.
I will be transferred to ground crew next month.
He told me to wait for my punishment to be meted out.
This is the best for everyone.
You'll be free from his threats.
I don't blame you.
Zhao-jun.
Send an officer to collect the latest list of communication call signs.
-We don't need the old one. I'll burn it. -Let me have it.
Once the Americans found out about the list,
it has become useless.
SCHEDULE OF NAVY COMMUNICATION CALL SIGNS
The one we're going to get is the latest one.
In a few days,
the Air Force and the Navy will conduct a joint exercise.
They need an auxiliary ship support...
What's the point of you
telling me all this now?
When you were in Nanjing,
did you really release a spy?
Did you hide the fact that a wife taken in by the communists had escaped?
Lady Qin and Madam Zhou were also part of the plan.
The 11th Wing.
Zhao-jun.
Is Qing with you?
She said she'll come to play mahjong.
With Lady Qin?
No.
She even told me not to invite Qian-yi.
I found it odd.
She can't make it anymore.
Guards.
Close the main door.
There's a suspicious person in the airport.
You didn't dare to invite Lady Qin.
Madam Zhou can't keep a secret.
It's easier for you to use her to divulge information.
Chief said
someone who managed to get close to the U.S. Army
is not to be trifled with.
He told me to be careful
not to be checkmated by the other person.
He was totally right.
Who's being held on the American's dog leash?
You're a traitor.
I don't want to stay in Taiwan.
Can you help me?
You betray your own people
because you want to go to the U.S.
Do you know what this is? Look.
You've forgotten your identity.
You don't remember your ID number. You don't recognize us anymore?
Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
Zhen asked you to enjoy the rest of your life.
Not to betray your own country.
You were just messing with me.
And now your loyalty is for the Americans?
Do you believe me if I say I'll make sure you can't go to the U.S.?
I will tell the top officers that you're a communist.
Then you'll see whether the Americans would let a communist in their aircraft.
I'll make sure you go to prison.
I'll tell Lady Qin and Madam Zhou you were going to use them.
Let's see who will visit you in prison then.
I won't let you go to the U.S.
I will visit you in prison.
I won't stop visiting you until you're old.
Come and meet me here.
There are too many spies in our office.
There's a bunch of people here who also want to get passports.
You should get transferred back to the U.S. sooner.
How come you have such bad taste now?
It's better to meet here than in the office.
The liaison officer and the translator that you sent to us
are all spies.
Then you should report them.
They've canceled the drill.
Hey.
You speak very good English.
Almost as good as she does.
This is for you.
Who are you?
Who do you work for?
So obnoxious.
Greater China Hotel.
Do you bathe with the Americans?
Do you have a license to work?
No?
Do you know how it feels like to be arrested by the police
and taken to the police station?
Everyone, including children,
is waiting at the door of the police station.
Once they're done taking your statement, they will give you a sheet of newspaper.
You can't even hide your face with it.
Do you want to give it a try?
Who do I work for?
When I started this business,
you were not even around yet.
Prepare a few more sheets of newspaper.
You want to go to the U.S. because you can speak a few words of English.
You don't need a ticket
because you're not worth it.
You're still the same.
You have no respect for your senior schoolmate.
Ying.
You didn't greet me
but it's okay.
I almost didn't recognize you.
A poor girl now has money to spend.
You've done much better than I have.
You're the one who was supposed to greet me.
Good thing the priest is not around to see what we've turned into.
Take it.
Let me keep the last bit of my dignity.
It's not for you.
It's for your child.
Don't come here anymore.
I don't want to see you here.
Then can I come here to see your child?
The child's mom is too embarrassed to face anyone.
Do you have a license?
No.
I'm a wildcat. I don't have a license.
I have been taken to the police station a few times.
Then a regular customer of mine,
an advisor of the U.S. Army,
bailed me out.
That made me who I am today.
What's that on your face?
Did the American hit you?
Is that so?
Sometimes,
I really miss
Zhen.
Stop thinking of him.
Let's stop thinking about all of them.
What's the point?
We're both single now.
We're free.
Stop thinking about them.
Qing?
That's what I saw when I was at the airport.
You're not going to tell your friends about it, are you?
Attention.
When you're in the air,
if you receive enquiries from the U.S. Army via radio,
don't say anything.
Head straight for Jinmen and meet up
-with the Navy's transport ship. -Stop.
I'm the girlfriend of the leader of the squadron.
Sorry. You aren't allowed here as we're preparing for combat.
You're responsible for the coastal mainland.
-The 1st Squadron! -Yes!
Head straight for Xiamen and scout the area.
The 1st Squadron!
Go!
Get out of here.
Don't go.
There are MiGs.
The Americans sent you with false information.
Get out of my sight.
Don't you want to go to the U.S.? Get on your flight.
We will get on ours.
I'm a double agent. He's a spy for the communists.
He slept with me in secret
and shared official secrets with the communists.
There are MiGs waiting for you.
If you want to die, go ahead, all of you!
Fall into the sea and drift far away.
This new home is very good.
I have no idea why they keep
wanting to go back to their old home.
I'll go with you.
The State Department wants me to report back to them.
I've been promoted.
My superior will meet me at the airport in the U.S.
I would also like to introduce you to her.
Qing.
Just a minute.
What do you want?
Hurry up if you want to kill me.
Do you like that pilot?
The answer is yes?
Where's your squadron captain?
Why are the guards not here yet?
Report. He is not around. We're preparing for combat in the airport.
The guards aren't allowed to come out without his order.
Wei-xun.
Qian-yi. Listen to what they're saying.
Tell them they're not allowed to come in.
They're saying
they want to take a shower and rest here.
What the hell is that?
You've come to the wrong place. Get out!
-Get out of my sight! -Let's go.
Get out of my sight!
Wei-xun.
What are you looking at?
I don't know this person. Go home.
She came to see us.
That means she's leaving soon.
Go as far as you can.
Keep this picture.
Keep it.
Are you leaving soon?
But the U.S. feels too foreign.
I'd like to stay in the village.
Madam Zhou, didn't you say
that you wanted to build a row of houses
so that the three of us can live together.
That was just a joke.
Go to the U.S.
There's no house for you here.
Wei-xun.
Then I can just stay with Lady Qin.
I'll sleep on a floor mattress in the living room.
When I just got married,
I also stayed with Lady Qin.
My house is too small.
You should leave immediately.
Don't stay in the village.
What did you do in the past?
You're ruining your own future.
If you stay, you won't be able to face others.
Mom!
Who is this?
Don't tell me you don't recognize yourself.
The other day,
American soldiers came here with this picture,
saying they wanted to take a shower.
Do you think you can stay in this village?
I fear the gossip will make you commit suicide.
Where was this picture taken?
When I first came to Taiwan,
I had nowhere to go.
I had to make a living.
That person in the picture.
We don't know her.
I don't know how many people got a hold of this picture.
Wei-xun and I don't wish to see you anymore.
Stay away from us.
Don't stay in Taiwan.
When you get to the U.S.,
just pretend like nothing has happened. I don't mind if you forget Wei-xun and me.
Start afresh.
It took me so long to find you after I placed the ad in the papers.
You came to me
only after you had been rescued from this?
I'm going to kill you today. I'll kill you!
-I'll kill you! -Wei-xun, stop!
No one in this village has ever hit a wife.
You're the first one.
You can't stay in this village anymore.
I'll get going then.
I'm going to the airport.
Can I ask for a souvenir from you?
The group picture of the three of us.
I left mine in Nanjing.
Guard, come here!
Qing Zhu's wedding, Nanjing Airport
Please help with her luggage.
Thank you.
You have the picture now.
Take good care of it.
When you can't remember us, just take a look at it.
Don't come back after you leave.
Go!
Where do you want to go, ma'am?
The U.S.
Qing!
Qing.
Now you'll finally believe me.
I saw a U.S. military airplane earlier.
It flew in that direction.
She's left.
The other day,
I scolded her, saying she has no self-respect.
I even slapped her.
I want to go to the U.S. and find her.
But soldiers are not allowed to leave the country.
How are you going to leave?
Sir.
Han is supposed to be on alert duty.
But he headed toward Fujian.
The control station tried to contact him, but he switched off the radio.
Captain was ordered to intercept, but we can't find him.
Gong, launch 513.
Go to the hospital and bring your father here.
Mo-ting.
I don't want to go in. Go and check on your father.
Father.
Something happened at the base.
Father.
Tell your father that
your mom has passed on.
Her lungs pneumonia were filled with fluid when she got here.
It was already late.
I let all of you down.
Mom.
I realized afterwards
what the woman was trying to write on my palm.
I think it was "Thank you"
followed by "sister."
Life is really interesting.
My mother now has another sister who's passed away.
-Perhaps the lines on the woman's palm -That's all right.
-did cross my mother's -That's okay.
at a bend in the road.
It's just that they weren't connected properly.
Yesterday she...
She said she wanted to see you.
I told her...
I told her that she couldn't come to our house.
She couldn't come to our house.
Zhi-jian Shao.
You bastard.
Someone in the 11th Wing was supposed to die but didn't end up dying.
And now someone's deserted.
Two serious incidents in a row.
The first time, your brain was full of shit.
The second time, did you see the officer as shit?
Why didn't you intercept his airplane when you were first notified about it?
Where were you?
A distant relative of mine passed away.
You have a distant relative?
I found her in Taiwan.
Now that things have gotten so serious,
how am I supposed to help you?
You don't have to help me.
I made a mistake. I will accept the punishment.
Nonsense.
Even if you beg me to help you, I can't help you.
This is a serious case.
The Air Force General Headquarters can only sit back and watch.
The Ministry of National Defense is going to handle this.
THE11TH WING LIEUTENANT COLONEL
I don't know what punishment you will get.
They haven't made a move yet.
But before they mete out the punishment
I'll have to deal with you first.
Lest the battlefield expands
and I get dragged into it.
Our relationship is merely between an officer and his subordinate.
That's all. Nothing more.
Ask Wei-xun not to call me.
Go home now.
Wait for them to call you.
Is your father coming home?
-Let's go. -Mo-ting.
Your father...
Sir, please hurry up.
-Mom! -Why is he not coming home?
Why has he been arrested?
He fears he would embarrass himself
and embarrass you.
I heard your father...
Is your father home?
He's away for work. He'll be back soon.
I don't need your bio anymore.
We'll pick a new group leader.
Remember to return your party ID card so I can cancel it.
Ever since my father was taken away by the Military Police,
I acquired a new name.
I have to change my family name again.
My family name is now Xi.
My name is Mo-ting Xi, and Xi means cell.
Because my classmates said
that someone who writes a bio
must be a cell.
Cell refers to someone who informs against another.
In English, it's informer.
In Taiwanese, it also means informer.
The instructor doesn't want my bio anymore.
Biography of Mo-ting Shao
I don't think I'm a cell.
But my schoolmates have a different description of a cell.
Someone who writes a bio is a good cell.
And wants to be absorbed by a better cell.
The other kind of cell
is someone who wants to start afresh.
Because they or their family committed offenses.
That's why they are willing to become cells.
So, it doesn't matter if it's a good or bad cell,
it's possible that you're a cell.
Your fellow students said
you were the deserter, Zhi-cheng Han's closest friend.
Before he deserted, you guys had a long chat.
Who told you that? Bullshit!
I'm his squadron captain.
The interview is taking too long.
Let me have a look.
Hurry up.
Just give your thumbprint.
You don't have the right to demand a thumbprint.
Are you the military judge?
More or less.
I can make the arrangements if you wish to see one.
I'll take care of the interview.
Get the military judge to come here.
You've seen me in the papers, right?
If you don't mind letting everyone know, you can do it again.
What if it comes out in the papers again?
A national war hero works with our enemies.
Where's our colonel?
I have no idea.
No one on our side will know.
Reporting.
Come in.
Reporting.
Get a pilot to go with the vehicle.
All the ammunition has been removed from the airplane.
We're sending it to the ammunition warehouse.
Disarm?
Who gave that order?
It was Chief's order.
Well, now you have a lot of time to look for your colonel.
Gong, I'm leaving now.
Wait. Chief asked you to wait for his call.
He needs to talk about the ammunition.
Hello. Yes.
Sir, it's a call from Chief.
Yes, sir.
Where's the lieutenant colonel?
Listen up.
Send the ammunition back to the warehouse immediately.
I went to the New Society Club to look for 8th Wing's lieutenant colonel.
Isn't the lieutenant colonel of the 8th Wing in Pingtung?
He couldn't go back because of the bad weather.
He was Zhi-jian's classmate.
Lend him some money and let him stay at the New Society Club.
He's your captain's classmate.
Do you understand?
Hello, sir.
RENAI EAST VILLAGE
Zhao-jun.
Take me to see the chief. I couldn't contact him.
I haven't heard from Zhi-jian.
I ran into the 8th Wing's lieutenant colonel at the New Society Club.
He received a sudden order yesterday
to fly the transport aircraft to Jinmen.
He had to bring a dead body back to Taiwan.
It was a pilot
who had drifted to Jinmen.
The pilot has the 11th Wing patch on his jacket.
Was Zhi-jian thrown into the sea?
Let me finish.
He also said
that he couldn't recognize who it was at first.
His face was attacked by fishes.
But his identification tag was hanging from his neck.
It's the deserter, Zhi-cheng Han.
Something must have happened. He didn't make it to the mainland.
So, his attempt to desert failed.
He also said
Captain is being detained at the headquarters' guesthouse.
Is Zhi-jian really at the guesthouse?
He's writing a report and waiting for punishment.
So, Zhi-cheng Han's attempt to desert failed.
The communists won't be able to use him.
Perhaps Captain will receive a lighter punishment.
Where's the lieutenant colonel of the 8th Wing? I have to thank him.
He asked me to tell you to wait at home.
He said every wing now knows about what happened to Captain.
All their classmates will find a way to help
make things easier for Captain.
Here's a letter from Zhi-cheng Han's fiancée.
I took it before the security officers searched his bedroom.
We were communicating with Hong Kong and the mainland earlier.
Zhi-cheng Han deserted
after he received a letter from his fiancée in the mainland.
It'll burn more easily if you tear it into smaller pieces.
My sister has left us anyway.
Your father will be sad if he sees the letter when he returns.
Li.
People will find it if you throw it down the drain.
Throw it into the stream behind the village.
Why didn't you bring more of this paper money?
I didn't dare buy too much.
Bring me Han's letter and burn it together with this.
Han.
Rest in peace.
You were a traitor.
So I couldn't buy too much paper money for you.
Don't go to see your fiancée too soon.
You will scare her.
When we make a phone call back home,
we will help you notify her.
Wasn't he a spy for the communists?
Say that again.
He just wanted to go back to see his fiancée.
He didn't even get to land in the mainland.
He was found floating in the sea, disfigured.
I think even his fiancée wouldn't be able to recognize him.
Poor guy.
Why isn't Qian-yi here with us burning these letters?
She might need to burn her property deed.
I asked her.
She said she'll come out later.
Later? It'll be too late.
PROPERTY DEED
Qian-yi.
I'll burn them later.
Hurry up.
Wei-cheng.
Do you want to keep the deed of our house?
What's going on?
Qian-yi.
What's wrong with Wei-cheng?
I don't want to see anyone.
-Qian... -Uncle Jiang.
Qian-yi!
Why are you closing the door? Is Wei-cheng okay?
Why hasn't he seen a doctor?
I wanted to take him, but he wouldn't go.
He doesn't pass out anymore and he can remember things clearly.
It's just that he's changed.
He doesn't want to see anyone or leave the house.
Qian-yi.
Okay. I'll try to get him back to the doctor in a few days.
I'll get the wives in the village to take a look.
Do you want that?
Are you going or not?
Zhi-jian!
Come and keep your wife under control.
What are you?
Zhi-jian has been dismissed.
He's detained in a guesthouse.
He's going to prison like you.
We regret marrying you guys.
You're all Qian-yi has now.
Yet you're acting high and mighty as a lieutenant colonel?
You want to drag Qian-yi down with you, don't you?
Now tell me.
I'm going to kick you out now.
You're so stubborn.
Uncle Jiang.
I'll take time off from school
to go to the doctor with you.
I'm...
I'm an embarrassment.
An embarrassment.
Don't worry about it.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
-What do you want? -Don't worry.
I'm your father's friend.
Your father is all right.
Your mom is a communist spy.
Word has gotten out. Take this back to your mom.
My mom is not a spy for the communist.
Where's my father?
Don't make a fuss out of it.
KEEPING INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL FROM SPIES IS EVERYONE'S DUTY
For the country
When have I ever
Had any
Free time
You've scared my daughter.
Where's Zhi-jian?
You didn't even greet me.
The government moved to Taiwan.
But many celebrities didn't make it.
What a pity.
Now
all the good movies are shown only after the theatre closes for the day.
Zhi-jian is now at the guesthouse of the headquarters.
He's doing well. Don't worry.
The court-martial asked for him.
But I didn't hand him over.
If I hand him over, I'll be inviting my own punishment.
I'll conduct my own investigation before I hand him over.
Then I'll ask for my punishment to be meted out.
These two punishments will have different weight.
Coincidentally, a deserter died in the sea.
Zhi-jian will get a lighter punishment.
They won't use military law.
At most, it'll just be an administrative sanction.
I can settle that.
Have you burned the letters from Hong Kong and the mainland?
You even burned paper money for that damn deserter.
Do you know what photosynthesis is?
When the time comes,
the cell will release carbon dioxide
and emit a bunch of information.
There are cells in your village.
People have reported it all to us.
All the wives in the village
depend on you alone to communicate with the mainland and Hong Kong.
Then somebody received a letter from a relative.
He deserted.
The guys at the top have concluded
the spy for the communist had a plan to connect with the colonel's wife.
The spy will then use that connection to infiltrate the Air Force.
The Security Department found out
that recently, a cousin of yours came here to reunite with you.
Is that right?
That...
That person...
That person was Zhi-jian's ex-girlfriend.
You've checked her identity before.
We couldn't bring her here as Zhi-jian's ex-girlfriend.
That's why we said she was my cousin.
Where is she?
She's dead.
A while ago, a man from Hong Kong came to the village
and looked for Qian-yi.
Who was the informer?
It could be anyone.
Spies are everywhere.
At most, they only exchanged some letters.
But someone did come to look for you and Qian-yi from Hong Kong.
Your relationship with Hong Kong has now become the key to this case.
If this goes on, I can't help you either.
Someone will come to the village tomorrow as part of the investigation.
The only thing you can do now
is to give them somebody else to focus on.
Do you know?
Those people who catch spies
love to make them rat on each other.
Do you understand?
Do you want...
Do you want me to rat someone out?
I can't accuse anyone of being a communist spy.
Should I make them go to prison?
Do you know why that deserter fell into the sea?
Because the MiGs were too fast.
He didn't get the chance to turn on the radio
to tell us that he was deserting.
He was destroyed by the MiGs in a blink of an eye.
You treat the other party as your own people.
But they don't reciprocate your goodwill.
Even your own people don't see you as one of their own.
The people on our side are the scariest.
If things go wrong,
you might not have anyone on either side.
I have conquered
All corners
Of the country
Move to the front.
My mom is under investigation. No one wants to sit close to me.
-Betray whom? -When we got married,
there were some problems with my husband's legs.
I'm crippled?
We want to know who it was that ratted on us.
You came in a group to surround me.
I'm not a communist!
You are!
Hurry!
Subtitle translation by Hui Hsing