61
Time: Day
Location: Girls’ Dormitory
Characters: Shen Tingting, Tang Wanyu, Reporters, Department Chair, Teaching Assistant, Students
▲ Shen Tingting and Tang Wanyu pass by the department office and discover that outside the office a crowd of senior students has gathered.
Shen Tingting: “What’s going on? Fish Ball Soup.”
Tang Wanyu: “Media reporters have come to interview the department boss. Senior ‘Father’ is on the news again this time.”
Shen Tingting: (thinks for a moment) “Is it related to that short video ‘Angel of Love’ on the internet? I just opened my mailbox, my high school classmate sent it to me.”
Tang Wanyu: “Probably. I heard from classmates that ‘Father’ is unwilling to come forward to be interviewed, so the reporters are interviewing the department boss.”
Shen Tingting: “That’s a good thing! Why doesn’t senior accept the interview?”
Tang Wanyu: “He can’t speak, maybe for that reason, so he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight?”
Shen Tingting: “I can understand that. Since senior can’t speak, it’s easy to develop a closed personality, getting used to being alone, deliberately keeping distance from classmates, making people feel he is aloof or hard to approach. That’s why he has the nickname ‘Father.’ But in fact, this person is cold on the outside but warm inside, so he goes to the vegetative patient nursing home to volunteer. It’s just that he hides inside a silent hard shell; it seems not so easy to break open this hard shell.”
Tang Wanyu: “You seem very interested in ‘Father,’ huh?”
Shen Tingting: “Because I understand sign language, I can communicate with him.”
△ Camera cuts.
▲ Three media reporters are interviewing the department chair. The cameraman sets up lighting and camera.
Department Chair: “Our department feels honored by Student Yu’s silent acts of kindness. Although Student Yu is unwilling to accept interviews, his good deeds have already become a model for all faculty and students…”
Reporter A: “It is said that this student Yu cannot speak. Is that the reason he is unwilling to accept interviews?”
Department Chair: “This question involves personal privacy, it is not convenient for me to answer for him.”
62
Time: Day
Location: Boys’ Dormitory, Girls’ Dormitory
Characters: Yu Renjie, Wu Junting, Shen Tingting, Tang Wanyu
▲ In the dormitory, Wu Junting is playing an online game. Renjie sits at the desk surfing the internet, using instant messaging to communicate with his mother Huang Meihong by typing. A user account requests to be added.
Yu Renjie: (OS) “It’s Shen Tingting. How does she have my account?”
▲ Renjie clicks to accept.
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Senior, I’m Tingting. Thank you for adding me.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “How do you have my account?”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “I got it from the teaching assistant.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “When will you go to the nursing home next time?”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Tomorrow evening.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Then I’ll wait for you at the entrance of the boys’ dorm?”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh…”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “I will bring instruments, I won’t come empty-handed.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh…”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “That’s it, I won’t disturb you anymore, oh senior.”
▲ Tingting logs off.
△ Camera cuts.
Tang Wanyu: “Who are you chatting with? Little Dragon Girl.”
Shen Tingting: “Senior ‘Father’!”
Tang Wanyu: “Wow! He has divine protection, immune to ghosts and spirits—why are you provoking him?”
Shen Tingting: “Just being friends! Why make such a fuss?”
Tang Wanyu: “That’s true. You know sign language, using gestures isn’t troublesome for you. If it were me, I wouldn’t have that kind of patience.”
63
Time: Day
Location: Girls’ Dormitory, Boys’ Dormitory
Characters: Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting, Tang Wanyu, Students
▲ Shen Tingting puts on a guitar on her back, holding an accordion and a flute case in both hands.
Tang Wanyu: “Little Dragon Girl, are you wandering to Tamsui to do street performance (nakasi)?”
Shen Tingting: “Of course not, I’m going to accompany ‘Father’ to the nursing home to perform instruments.”
Tang Wanyu: “Then you don’t need to bring all your belongings, right?”
Shen Tingting: “It’s fine! I also brought a harmonica and a recorder.”
Tang Wanyu: “My god! Even street performers don’t carry as much as you!”
Shen Tingting: “Better safe than sorry! I’m heading out. I have no free hands, help me open the door.”
▲ Tang Wanyu opens the door for her and looks at Tingting’s back.
Tang Wanyu: (OS) “Tingting is being so serious. Could it be that she likes ‘Father’?”
△ Camera cuts.
▲ Yu Renjie carries a violin case slung over his shoulder. As he just walks out of the dorm, Shen Tingting is already waiting at the entrance, with a guitar on her back and holding an accordion and flute case in both hands.
Yu Renjie: (sign language, startled) “Oh my god! Are you going to hold a personal concert?”
Shen Tingting: “Better safe than sorry! Let you know I’m serious…”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “The accordion is heavy, let me carry it.”
Shen Tingting: “Thanks! Let’s go to the parking lot and drive there.”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “You drive?”
Shen Tingting: “Yes! We’ll take my SUV. Let’s go.”
▲ The two head toward the parking lot.
64
Time: Day
Location: Vegetative Patient Nursing Home
Characters: Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting, Vegetative patients, Family members, Nurses
▲ In the ward of the vegetative patient nursing home, Renjie and Tingting gradually develop mutual understanding. Renjie accommodates Tingting as much as possible, and the two perform songs she knows together. Unexpectedly, these popular songs make the atmosphere lively. Nurses and patients’ family members hum along.
Chorus: “Whether destined or not, everyone come together, drink a cup of liquor, drink it dry! Drink it dry!”
65
Time: Day
Location: Inside an SUV
Characters: Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting
▲ Inside the SUV, Shen Tingting is driving, Yu Renjie sits in the passenger seat.
Shen Tingting: “Senior, to be honest I only know children’s songs and those popular songs.”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “There’s nothing bad about that. These songs can more easily resonate with listeners.”
Shen Tingting: “You’re saying that on purpose to comfort me, right?”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “You’re overthinking it. Music itself has an entertainment function. Your starting point is correct. Today the atmosphere on site was very lively.”
Shen Tingting: “You sure know how to talk! Where shall we settle dinner?”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “Come back home with me to eat.”
Shen Tingting: “No way? How are you going to explain it to your parents?”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “Today is my birthday. My mom asked me to go back to eat.”
Shen Tingting: “You should have said so earlier! If there’s a bakery on the way, I’ll stop to buy a cake. I can’t possibly go empty-handed—with just two bunches of bananas, right?”
66
Time: Day
Location: Yu Renjie’s living room
Characters: Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting, Huang Meihong
▲ In Renjie’s living room, Tingting inserts candles into the cake.
Huang Meihong: “Thank you, Tingting. Our home has always been used to being quiet. There has never been any classmate or friend coming to celebrate Renjie’s birthday.”
Shen Tingting: “I’m the first one. Auntie giving me this opportunity, I feel very honored.”
Shen Tingting: “Birthday star, you must make a wish first before you can blow out the candles. I’ll teach you how to make a wish—put your hands together, close your eyes, like praying…”
▲ Shen Tingting teaches Renjie the gesture of making a wish. Meihong beside them looks relieved and pleased.
Huang Meihong: (OS) “Renjie, you have finally walked out of the shadow. This girl Tingting knows how to appreciate you.”
67
Time: Day
Location: Girls’ Dormitory
Characters: Shen Tingting, Tang Wanyu
▲ Inside the girls’ dormitory, Tingting has just returned from a shower, wrapped in a bath towel. Tang Wanyu is browsing the internet and looks up at Tingting.
Tang Wanyu: “Tsk tsk tsk, a woman in love appears especially charming and radiant!”
Shen Tingting: “What are you talking about! I was just curious and went along with ‘Father.’”
Tang Wanyu: “Love often begins with curiosity. Come on, confess—what did you gain from this trip of nakasi, Little Dragon Girl?”
Shen Tingting: “It was just fun! We sang and danced with the patients’ families, the atmosphere was super high. Afterwards we even went back to senior’s home to celebrate his birthday and met his mom. She’s very nice, just like my mom, both are teachers.”
Tang Wanyu: “Now that’s interesting—nakasi turns into matchmaking.”
Shen Tingting: “Senior ‘Father’ is actually not boring at all. We performed together songs like ‘Wandering to Tamsui’ and ‘The Last Night,’ these popular songs. He was very open about it.”
Tang Wanyu: “This counts as the wife singing and the husband following along! You’re not actually becoming serious about him, are you?”
Shen Tingting: “Making friends—you at least have to be able to get along.”
68
Time: Day
Location: TV studio recording set “Singing Celebrity Ranking”
Characters: Host, Jiang Muya, Wu Yuetian, Jin Meiren, Contestants, Judges, Audience
▲ On stage, Wu Yuetian is singing Zhang Yusheng’s “My Future Is Not a Dream.” The dance troupe surrounds him as backup dancers. Enthusiastic audience members below wave glow sticks and hum along with the rhythm.
▲ After the song ends, the host walks to the center of the stage and conducts a brief interview.
Host: “Yuetian, over this past year everyone has seen your performance. From standing out in the weekly competitions, to the monthly and quarterly competitions, and entering the final round, your singing skills have gradually matured, defeating many strong competitors. If you successfully advance in today’s final, what is your biggest dream?”
Wu Yuetian: “My dream, of course, is to go to the next level and become a singer.”
Host: “Here we wish you success in advancing and that your wishes come true. Please return to your seat.”
▲ Wu Yuetian returns to the contestant area beside the stage.
Host: “Next contestant is Miss Jiang Muya, who has advanced all the way with a leading posture. She will bring us a Taiwanese original lyrical song ‘Weaving Dreams.’ Let us warmly welcome Jiang—Mu—ya.”
▲ Jiang Muya walks to the center of the stage, the prelude begins.
You come to draw threads, I come to weave dreams, you say dreams are sorrow dreams are worry, dreams are each time upon waking, there is a slight heaviness and a bit of pain in the heart, like spring rain drop by drop falling onto the heart.
I come to draw threads, you come to weave dreams, I say dreams are rain dreams are dew, dreams are each time upon waking, unable to find the door of the previous life and the road of this life, like thick clouds covering before the eyes.
How should such dreams be spoken? Better to leave them in memory, let the record needle play them round and round. How should this love be resolved? Better to return and sit outside the background, watching how others perform and enact it. Ah! What is love, what is fate? I can only stand outside the dream quietly watching, watching past events like a wisp of light smoke, slowly, slowly floating up into the sky~~
▲ Below the stage, warm applause erupts and continues. Some judges are moved to tears, wiping the corners of their eyes.
▲ The host walks over and interviews Jiang Muya.
Host: “Muya, the applause just now already shows that the audience present has been moved by you. What I’ve always been curious about is that every time you bring new original songs, and never repeat. What is rare is that every one of these creations is favored by the judges and recognized by the audience. I would like to ask, how do you achieve this?”
Jiang Muya: “Thank you, host. When I first stood on this stage, I once said these original songs were the works of a good friend of mine. He wrote these songs for a girl suffering from epilepsy. Today I want to be honest with everyone—this girl with epilepsy is actually me. Three years ago, during a band performance, I suddenly had an attack and collapsed on stage. At that time I saw many different looks—some shocked, some regretful, some contemptuous, some mocking. From that moment on I firmly told myself, I will never let myself collapse on stage again!”
▲ As soon as these words are spoken, the judges and the entire audience are first shocked, then moved, shouting. Some judges stand up and applaud, followed by more audience members standing to applaud.
Jiang Muya: “Thank you all for giving me a fair chance to compete, allowing me to prove through performance that a girl with epilepsy can also have dreams…”
▲ Cheers rise one after another from the audience, applause continues for more than a minute before judges and audience gradually sit down.
▲ Jin Meiren, however, has a face full of cold frost.
Host: (wiping tears) “Hearing Muya’s heartfelt confession, I truly cried. A girl with epilepsy can also have dreams.”
△ Camera cuts.
▲ All contestants stand in the contestant area on stage. The host holds an envelope and walks to the center.
Host: “After a whole year of competition, the most tense final moment has arrived. Like all of you, I am looking forward to the announcement of this year’s Singing Celebrity Ranking results.”
▲ The host opens the envelope and takes out the results sheet.
Host: “We will start announcing from 10th place. The 10th place total score is 85 points. Congratulations to Miss Du Mengli from Canada. Miss Du, please step forward.”
▲ Du Mengli covers her mouth with both hands and excitedly walks to the front of the stage.
△ Camera cuts.
▲ Seven advancing contestants stand at the front of the stage, forming a row behind the host.
Host: “Next, we will reveal the top three. The 3rd place total score is 92 points. This is a handsome guy—congratulations to Wu Yuetian. Yuetian, please step forward.”
▲ Wu Yuetian stands up from the contestant area amid applause and walks to the front of the stage.
▲ In the audience, Jin Meiren also stands up, excitedly covering her mouth and screaming.
Host: “The 2nd place is a mature woman who is already a mother of two children. Total score 93 points. Congratulations to Qiu Wanqing. Wanqing, please step forward.”
▲ Qiu Wanqing adjusts her hair and stands up, walking to the front of the stage.
Host: “The 1st place is already about to be revealed. Just now during her performance, she moved all judges and audience, receiving the most enthusiastic applause of the whole venue. Her total score is 96 points. Congratulations to the dream girl, Miss Jiang Muya. Muya, please step forward.”
▲ Jiang Muya stands up amid applause and screams and walks to the front of the stage.
Host: “Let us invite the judges to give their comments.”
Judge A: “Host, distinguished guests present, and audience in front of the television, over this past year the ‘Singing Celebrity Ranking’ has held more than 50 competitions. The contestants who can stand on this stage today are all elites from various regions, all outstanding individuals capable of standing on their own, already possessing sufficient qualifications to become professional singers. Those who enter the top ten will be tomorrow’s stars. Among them, the one that amazed the judging panel the most is Miss Jiang Muya. She is still very young, yet she can interpret every song to the fullest, approaching perfection…”
69
Time: Day
Location: Outside the television station
Characters: Jiang Muya, Wu Yuetian, Jin Meiren, contestants, judges, audience
▲ Jiang Muya holds the championship trophy in her arms. As she just walks out of the television station lobby, dozens of reporters surround her for interviews.
Reporter A: “You said you suffer from epilepsy and once collapsed on stage. Could you talk about your feelings after winning the annual overall championship, and your future plans?”
Jiang Muya: “Thank you everyone. After enduring hardship, I have finally received this honor. I may first rest for a while, visit that good friend who wrote songs for me, and then think clearly about what I should do next…”
Reporter A: “There are rumors online saying that you are the girlfriend of the ‘Deeply Affectionate Enduring-Pain Brother’ who became wildly popular three years ago. If the rumor is true, do you have anything you want to publicly say to him?”
Jiang Muya: “The person you mentioned is the good friend who wrote songs for me, but not my boyfriend. At present, I am still single…”
▲ Wu Yuetian in the corner, however, is neglected.
Jin Meiren: (indignant) “See? Reporters only pay attention to the first place! Can’t you try harder?”
Wu Yuetian: (unhappy) “Please, for this whole year, you’ve seen all the effort I’ve put in. Muya’s singing ability is really stronger than I imagined. And the original songs she chose indeed had a bonus effect. I lost to her, but I accept my loss completely.”
70
Time: Day
Location: Boys’ Dormitory
Characters: Jiang Muya, Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting, Tang Wanyu, students
▲ Jiang Muya, holding the championship trophy, appears at the entrance of the boys’ dormitory, causing a commotion.
Male Student B: “Who is this girl? Why does she look somewhat familiar…?”
▲ More than a dozen male students gather closer. One sharp-eyed student recognizes Muya.
Male Student B: “This girl is the contestant who won the annual championship of the Singing Celebrity Ranking.”
Male Student C: “Really? Why would she appear here?”
Male Student B: “Probably here to find someone?”
▲ Yu Renjie comes downstairs and walks toward Muya.
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “My roommate said you came specifically to find me. I just got back from class.”
Jiang Muya: (raising the trophy) “Renjie, this is the result of my efforts over the past year. Shall we go eat together? My treat.”
▲ Several boys nearby whisper to each other.
Male Student C: “What is this guy doing? Using sign language?”
Male Student B: “I know him—second-year medical student. Nickname ‘Father.’ I heard he’s mute.”
Male Student D: “That strong? A mute can still get such a beautiful and talented girl?”
Male Student B: “That’s the trend of the times. Nothing strange.”
▲ Muya links one arm with Renjie. The two walk out, arriving at Coconut Palm Avenue. At this moment, Tang Wanyu and Shen Tingting happen to pass by.
Shen Tingting: (pointing) “Hey! Isn’t that ‘Father’? Linking arms with a girl. I’ve seen that girl on TV a few times.”
Tang Wanyu: “That’s true! Is she his girlfriend?”
Shen Tingting: “He told me no, just a good friend.”
Tang Wanyu: “If just a good friend, why link arms like that? So intimate?”
Shen Tingting: (serious expression) “Then we can only ask ‘Father’ himself.”
▲ The two girls watch the pair’s departing backs.
