A Youth Inspirational Romance Film
Scene 1 Time/Day Setting/Medical School Library
Characters/Yang Wenhua, Lin Xiuling, Classmates
△Inside the library, Lin Xiuling is walking along the aisle between the bookshelves in the stacks, following the call number to find the bookshelf where the book is located.
Yang Wenhua, carrying a stack of books in his hands, passes by nearby.
Lin Xiuling: (talking to herself) Geez, was it borrowed already?
Yang Wenhua: Junior, which book are you looking for?
Lin Xiuling: (raising her head) That book, "Atlas of Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures." It seems like it has been borrowed.
Yang Wenhua: (pulls out the book and hands it over) It's with me. Why don't you use it first?
Lin Xiuling: But don't you need it too?
Yang Wenhua: I only borrowed it to skim through it and reinforce my memory.
Lin Xiuling: (confused) Reinforce your memory?
Yang Wenhua: (with a serious expression) Yeah!
△Yang Wenhua turns and leaves. Lin Xiuling watches Wenhua's departing back.
Lin Xiuling: (talking to herself) This senior... he must be that Father, right? Sure enough, he really is a weirdo.
Scene 2 Time/Day Setting/Hallway of the Medical School Classroom Building
Characters/Lin Xiuling, Su Mingzhu, Tang Tiancōng, Classmates
△The bell signaling the end of class rings. Lin Xiuling and Su Mingzhu, holding reference books in their arms, are stopped in the hallway by a male student.
Tang Tiancōng: Xiuling, as usual, you're still going to be the host of the Christmas party!
Lin Xiuling: But I have to start preparing for final exams. Can't you put some effort into training a successor?
Tang Tiancōng: Training a successor is easier said than done. Besides, preparations are already underway.
Lin Xiuling: (helplessly) Fine then! But let me make this clear first—this is the last time. No more after this.
△At this moment, a tall boy carrying a huge pile of books, even holding them in place with his chin, walks over with his upper body ramrod straight, like a tightrope-walking acrobat.
Lin Xiuling: (surprised) It's Senior Father!
Su Mingzhu: Niu-Niu, move aside for him.
△After saying this, Su Mingzhu pulls Xiuling behind her with one hand. Yang Wenhua walks stiffly and straight past the two girls. The two girls watch Wenhua's back. Mingzhu shakes her head with a bitter smile, her hands on her hips.
Su Mingzhu: This blockhead...
Lin Xiuling: (confused) Why are you talking about him like that behind his back?
Su Mingzhu: This guy really is a blockhead. That's what everyone says.
Scene 3 Time/Day Setting/Medical School Library
Characters/Yang Wenhua, Lin Xiuling, Su Mingzhu, Classmates
△Lin Xiuling and Su Mingzhu walk into the library and find seats by the window. Lin Xiuling notices that Yang Wenhua is sitting at the table in front of them, organizing library materials on his laptop. More than a dozen reference books are piled on the table in three stacks, with three books lying open.
Lin Xiuling: (softly) It's Senior Father!
Su Mingzhu: (softly) Stop bothering him, unless you want to make a fool of yourself. He doesn't like talking to people.
Lin Xiuling: (softly) But the day before yesterday, he talked to me!
Su Mingzhu: (softly) Then congratulations, Niu-Niu. You should go buy a lottery ticket.
△Yang Wenhua grabs two reference books, leaves his seat, and walks toward the bookshelves in the stacks.
Lin Xiuling: (softly) Let's go take a look at his laptop and see what he's written in there.
△The two of them tiptoe over to Wenhua's desk. Xiuling taps the mouse once, bringing up the screen. Holding the mouse with her right hand, she scrolls down.
Lin Xiuling: (surprised) It's "Neural Conduction"! The chapters are organized so clearly and systematically.
My God! How many reference books would he have had to read?
Su Mingzhu: (softly) I've only read the two books assigned by the professor, and I already feel like I'm about to collapse.
Lin Xiuling: (softly) I'll leave Senior Father a note and ask to borrow the organized file for this course.
Su Mingzhu: (softly) Don't be silly. Why would he pay any attention to you?
Lin Xiuling: (softly) How would I know if I don't try?
△The two return to their seats. Xiuling writes a note on a sticky note, walks over and sticks it to the edge of Yang Wenhua's laptop screen, then returns and opens her reference book to begin studying.
△After a while, Wenhua returns to his seat. Seeing the sticky note, he raises his head and looks toward Lin Xiuling's table. Just then Xiuling also raises her head. Xiuling takes the initiative and gestures twice with two fingers, her face filled with a friendly smile.
△Yang Wenhua is stunned for a moment, then gives a silly smile, like the innocent grin of a mentally challenged child. He immediately grabs his backpack from behind his chair, takes out a USB flash drive, copies the file onto it, then walks over and hands the flash drive to Lin Xiuling.
Lin Xiuling: (softly) Senior, then how do I return your flash drive to you?
Yang Wenhua: After class, I always come here.
Lin Xiuling: (softly) Alright then. Tomorrow I'll bring it here and return it to you.
△Wenhua turns and walks back to his seat, sits down, and continues typing and organizing his notes.
Su Mingzhu: (softly) Niu-Niu, I want a copy too...
Scene 4 Night/Day Setting/Girls' Dormitory
Characters/Su Mingzhu, Lin Xiuling, Classmates
△Inside the girls' dormitory, a laptop sits on the desk. Lin Xiuling is reading the "Neural Conduction" notes file. Su Mingzhu comes out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel.
Su Mingzhu: Niu-Niu, go take a shower.
△Xiuling does not respond. Su Mingzhu walks over to the desk and sits on the edge of the bed.
Su Mingzhu: Niu-Niu, I've called you and you're pretending not to hear me.
Lin Xiuling: What is it?
Su Mingzhu: Even when you're reading romance novels, I've never seen you this focused.
Lin Xiuling: Senior's notes are organized so wonderfully! They're even more fascinating and substantial than the professor's lectures in class.
Su Mingzhu: That guy has always been the department's acknowledged weirdo. According to the seniors in his class, Father has been the top student in his class for the past six years, and every professor wants to recruit him.
Lin Xiuling: Of course!
Su Mingzhu: Do you know which specialty he chose last year?
Lin Xiuling: I heard about it. It was general surgery. I'm not surprised at all!
Su Mingzhu: Really! A lot of his classmates thought Father would choose plastic surgery, which is the hottest field right now.
Lin Xiuling: That's the kind of choice someone like me, who's eager to make money, would make. Father is different. He has great ambitions in his heart, that's why he chose general surgery.
Su Mingzhu: True enough! As the Buddha said: "If I do not enter hell, who will enter hell?"
Lin Xiuling: I heard from the upperclassmen that Father is from the Tsou tribe of Alishan. Even without the extra points, he still could have gotten into this school.
Su Mingzhu: Our medical department is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, all elites among elites. But... don't tell me you've become interested in him?
Lin Xiuling: I am very curious about him!
Su Mingzhu: (smiling) That's still alright. You'd better not go provoking him.
Lin Xiuling: (confused) Provoking him? There you go again! Does becoming friends with Father count as provoking him?
Su Mingzhu: (smiling) If you want to make a fool of yourself, don't say I didn't warn you.
Scene 5 Time/Day Setting/Medical School Library, High School Athletic Field, School Infirmary, Hospital Ward, Pastor's Residence Beside the Church
Characters/Yang Wen-Hua, Hsieh Tzu-En, Lin Hsiu-Ling, High School Classmates, P.E. Teacher, Nurse, Hsieh Hsueh-Hung, Pastor Divid, Doctor
△In a corner of the library, Yang Wen-Hua has fallen asleep with his head resting on the desk.
▲INS1: (A memory from high school days)
△On the high school athletic field, the boys and girls of one class are running laps around the track. The P.E. teacher is walking beside the group.
△Within the group, Hsieh Tzu-En's face is pale, beads of cold sweat cover her forehead, and she suddenly collapses weakly to the ground. The girl behind her stops abruptly, nearly stepping on her, and several people bump into one another.
Female Student 1: Tzu-En fainted! Tzu-En fainted!
△The group stops. Several girls gather around her in concern. Two girls help Tzu-En up and let her lean against their legs. The boys and the teacher also come over in concern. Yang Wen-Hua's expression is grave.
Female Student 2: Tzu-En, are you alright?
Female Student 1: She fainted.
Teacher: Take Tzu-En to the infirmary first.
Yang Wen-Hua: Teacher, I'll go too. I know about Tzu-En's condition.
Teacher: Alright then, you go too.
△A group of girls hurriedly help Hsieh Tzu-En to her feet and head toward the infirmary. Yang Wen-Hua follows behind.
△Hsieh Tzu-En is helped into the infirmary by a group of classmates.
Female Student 1: Nurse, nurse, Tzu-En fainted.
Nurse: Help her lean against the bed. I'll take her blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.
△The nurse touches Tzu-En's forehead.
Nurse: She has a fever. Take off her blouse and let her lie on an ice pillow first to cool her down.
△Two girls are just about to remove Tzu-En's blouse.
Female Student 1: Yang Wen-Hua, go outside first!
Yang Wen-Hua: Let me finish talking with the nurse first.
Yang Wen-Hua: Nurse, recently Tzu-En often tells me that she feels dizzy and uncomfortable all over.
Nurse: I understand. I'll take care of it. Go back to class first.
▲INS2:
△Inside the hospital ward, Wen-Hua is standing beside the bed. Tzu-En's mother, Hsueh-Hung, gently strokes Tzu-En's cheek lovingly.
Hsieh Tzu-En: Mom, what illness do I have? Why is my body becoming weaker and weaker?
△Mrs. Hsieh covers her mouth with one hand, forcing herself not to cry. After a moment—
Divid: Tzu-En, when your condition becomes more stable, your mommy and I will take you back to Canada for treatment. You will definitely recover!
▲INS3:
△In front of the pastor's residence, a crowd of villagers—men, women, old people, and children—has gathered. They have all come to see Pastor Divid and his family off. Yang Wen-Hua squeezes through the crowd. Tzu-En holds both of his hands.
Hsieh Tzu-En: Wen-Hua, I will definitely come back. At the Life Bean Festival ten years from now, will you wait for me?
△Wen-Hua nods, tears glistening in his eyes.
Hsieh Tzu-En: (forcing a smile) Maybe by then, all my hair and teeth will have fallen out.
△Wen-Hua embraces Tzu-En and says nothing at all!
Hsieh Tzu-En: (gazing at him affectionately) Work hard and make your dream come true: to become Taiwan's JOBS (Steve Jobs).
△Wen-Hua nods. Tzu-En kisses him on the cheek, then turns and walks toward the van. Through tearful eyes, Wen-Hua waves goodbye to Tzu-En and watches the van slowly drive away.
BACK
△Lin Hsiu-Ling walks over and stands beside the table for a while, looking at the sleeping Yang Wen-Hua. At this moment, the bell rings. Wen-Hua raises his head and sees Lin Hsiu-Ling. Hsiu-Ling notices the tears glimmering in Wen-Hua's eyes. Wen-Hua hurriedly looks for tissues. Hsiu-Ling hands him her handkerchief. Wen-Hua awkwardly shakes his head. Hsiu-Ling takes out a small pack of tissues from her pocket and gives it to him. Wen-Hua takes the tissues, pulls one out, and wipes his eyes.
Yang Wen-Hua: (shyly) Sorry, a grain of sand got into my eye just now.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: (OS) Is Senior crying?
△Lin Hsiu-Ling hands over the flash drive.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: Senior, are your eyes alright?
Yang Wen-Hua: (turning his face away) I'm fine.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: My roommate Su Ming-Chu said she wants a copy too, so...
Yang Wen-Hua: It's alright. If you need it, just copy it.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: Senior, are you free later? I want... for us to go eat hot pot together.
Yang Wen-Hua: Eat hot pot? Junior, how could I let you spend money on me!
Lin Hsiu-Ling: Senior lent me his notes files and saved me a lot of time organizing key points. I ought to show my appreciation!
Yang Wen-Hua: Alright then! But only this once. No next time!
△Yang Wen-Hua tidies up the books and notes on the desk, turns off the laptop screen, and puts it into his backpack. The two of them leave the library together.
Scene 6 Time/Day Setting/Hot Pot Restaurant
Characters/Yang Wen-Hua, Lin Hsiu-Ling, Customers, Waiter, Owner
△In a corner of a Japanese-style hot pot restaurant, Wen-Hua and Hsiu-Ling sit facing each other at a small square table. On the table, a yin-yang hot pot is steaming, surrounded by fish, meat, and vegetables.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: This newly opened hot pot restaurant was recommended by my roommate. The ingredients are very fresh!
Yang Wen-Hua: Oh! In our Tsou tribe village in Alishan, wild vegetable hot pot is popular too.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: (imitating an advertisement tone) Naturally the best! Of course it is. Alishan is a paradise on earth! I really envy you for having your hometown there.
Yang Wen-Hua: Ha~~ My family are farmers. We grow tea and coffee. Actually, life is not easy at all.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: Oh? I thought you all made money from tourists and spent every day singing and dancing!
Yang Wen-Hua: Not at all! My older sister is twenty-four this year and still doesn't have a boyfriend because the family work never stops. She doesn't even have time to make friends.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: That's completely different from what I originally imagined! Senior, let's eat.
△The two of them each pick up their bowls and chopsticks. Lin Hsiu-Ling picks up a slice of lamb and swishes it back and forth several times in the hot soup. Yang Wen-Hua puts a plate of mushrooms, tofu, and other hot pot ingredients into the boiling broth.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: When I first came back to Taiwan, I became fascinated with the wide variety of food here and often went to night markets with classmates, eating here and there. Those uncles and aunties at the night markets would hear my Shanghai accent and curiously ask if I was from mainland China. I would tell them I am a genuine Taiwanese, but they would all shake their heads and not believe me.
Yang Wen-Hua: (smiling) Ha! Your accent and the expressions you use really don't sound Taiwanese. It's the same with me. As soon as I open my mouth and speak a few words, people recognize that I'm indigenous.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: But both my parents are from Tainan! My parents went to Shanghai to do business, and I grew up in Shanghai.
Yang Wen-Hua: After some time, your accent and way of speaking will be assimilated by your classmates. Then those uncles and aunties won't think you're from mainland China anymore.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: The way you put it, that's true! My Taiwanese is terrible, and my grandfather really can't stand it.
Yang Wen-Hua: My Taiwanese isn't fluent either. I can't teach you.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: I know, but when it comes to schoolwork, Senior is qualified to be my little tutor.
Yang Wen-Hua: Ha~~ Stop flattering me. You've heard what the students in the department call me, haven't you?
Lin Hsiu-Ling: Well... "Father." But that doesn't affect the two of us becoming friends.
Scene 7 Night/Day Setting/Girls' Dormitory
Characters/Su Ming-Chu, Lin Hsiu-Ling
(One year later)
△Inside the girls' dormitory, Lin Hsiu-Ling is packing her luggage. Su Ming-Chu pushes open the door and hands her a small paper box.
Su Ming-Chu: Here, the 4G memory card you asked for.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: Thanks!
Su Ming-Chu: I really don't understand you! You could obviously stay in Taipei and enjoy an easy, comfortable life, yet you're going to some godforsaken remote village to suffer hardship.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: I want to experience how difficult and exhausting the work of medical personnel can be in remote areas with insufficient medical resources.
Su Ming-Chu: (with a suspicious expression) If you ask me, your motive isn't that simple, right? I heard that that "Father" senior is the leader of the Alishan group of the rural medical team. You must be going because of him.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: (embarrassed) W-Well, that's true too! I want to follow Senior Wen-Hua and learn some surgical skills from him.
Su Ming-Chu: Since you're interested in Father, and you've already taken the initiative to get close to him, then take advantage of this chance and confess your feelings to him.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: (hesitating) Oh! Actually, I'm not sure that he would accept me.
Su Ming-Chu: If you don't try, how will you know the other person's reaction? Even if you get rejected, at least you'll have an answer and won't keep it bottled up inside.
Lin Hsiu-Ling: (smiling) Ming-Chu, thank you for showing me the way.
Scene 8 Time/Day Setting/Alishan Township Health Center
Characters/Yang Wen-Hua, Lin Hsiu-Ling, Shen Chih-Wei, Chang Mei-Hua, Director Li Ming-Li, Nurse, Several Waiting Patients
△Inside the director's office at the Alishan Township Health Center, Yang Wen-Hua and the three team members are assigning duties.
Yang Wen-Hua: Director Li, the four of us will divide into two groups. Hsiu-Ling and I will travel to each tribal village to provide mobile services, while Chih-Wei and Mei-Hua stay here to assist you.
Li Ming-Li: That works. You're a local, and you're familiar with every tribe here. You can take the official vehicle. Be careful driving on the mountain roads.
Shen Chih-Wei: Sorry to trouble you, Senior Wen-Hua.
Li Ming-Li: Try to bring enough medicine and necessary equipment. If there is an emergency patient who must be transferred, call me and I will send an ambulance over.
Yang Wen-Hua: Director, if I can handle it in time, I won't transfer the patient.
Li Ming-Li: Alright. I know what you're capable of. But if you really can't handle it, don't push yourself too hard.
Yang Wen-Hua: I understand, Director. Hsiu-Ling, shall we start moving the equipment and medicine?
Chang Mei-Hua: Senior Wen-Hua, we'll help too.
△The three of them work together with perfect understanding and follow Yang Wen-Hua into the storage room. They move out the packed and boxed equipment and medicine and stack them onto two handcarts. Wen-Hua and Chih-Wei each push one cart, while the two girls walk beside them, helping to steady the carts. They push them out the main entrance and arrive at the back of the van used for the mobile medical service.
△Yang Wen-Hua opens the rear hatch and jumps into the van. One by one, the other three pass the equipment and medicine boxes to Wen-Hua to stack inside.
△Yang Wen-Hua and Lin Hsiu-Ling get into the van. Shen Chih-Wei and Chang Mei-Hua wave goodbye to them.
