Episode Two
1 Day Scene
Characters: Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, Yang Jialing, Jiaxiang, Jiazhen
Time: One morning in late November
Setting: Living room of Yang Tiansi’s home (Dialogue in this scene uses Hakka)
△ After several rounds of treatment, Tiansi has gradually improved. Although it is impossible for him to return to the condition he was in before going down into the mine to dig coal, whether in complexion or spirit, he seems to have regained vitality.
△ Because Tiansi is no longer bedridden, the atmosphere in the Yang household has completely changed. Although he can currently only do small handicrafts like weaving straw hats at home, the financial burden has indeed been somewhat reduced.
Tiansi: “Today I made four straw hats and earned forty dollars. That’s great.”
Tianmei: “Don’t tire yourself out.”
Tiansi: “I won’t. When I get tired, I just get up and stretch a bit. I never dreamed that I, Yang Tiansi, could come back to life again.”
Jialing: “Father, then you must take even better care of your health.”
Tiansi: “Yes. I originally thought of treating a dead horse as if it were alive. Doctor Zhao is truly my benefactor in this life. I should properly thank him.”
Tianmei: (smiling happily) “Your daughter has been doing that for you every day. She brings dinner and a late-night meal to the clinic for Doctor Zhao every day.”
Tiansi: “That is only right, after receiving such a great favor.”
Jialing: (inner voice) “Mother no longer has to work late into the night, and I no longer need to bathe Father. Life seems to have returned to the harmonious days of the past. If I could be like Doctor Zhao and become a doctor who saves lives, rescuing more patients and restoring joy to their families, how wonderful that would be. I must work hard for the entrance exam, get into medical school, and become the first female doctor in the history of Ruifang Township.”
△ The younger siblings gather around their father, acting affectionately.
Jiaxiang: “Father, you can take us out to play in the future.”
Tiansi: “These past few years, I have not taken you out. Next time, I will take you all to Taipei.”
Jiazhen: “Father, I want you to take us to the Taipei Yuanshan Zoo to see animals.”
Tiansi: “Alright, alright. I will discuss it with your mother, and we will pick a day for the whole family to travel to Taipei.”
△ The children cheer. Tianmei smiles happily at the side.
2 Night Scene
Characters: Zhao Renjie, Yang Jialing, Wang Xiaofen
Time: One evening in late November
Setting: Houtong Health Station
△ Jialing carries dinner to the health station. Nurse Wang Xiaofen invites her into the consultation room. Passing through the waiting room, it is filled with potted plants, fruit baskets, canned goods, and local specialties sent by patients. It looks like a small supermarket.
Xiaofen: (calling toward the consultation room) “Doctor, the Yang family’s girl has brought dinner.”
Renjie: “I’m sorry, little sister. Recently there have been more patients, and you still had to bring dinner specially.”
Jialing: “Brother Zhao, it’s only right. My mother said that since you see patients, you need to maintain your strength. She worries you often miss meals, so she prepares food on time and asks me to bring it over.”
Renjie: “Your mother refuses to take my meal money. I keep eating for free and feel embarrassed.”
Jialing: “It’s fine. My mother said taking care of your health is her responsibility.”
△ Xiaofen walks into the waiting room with a smile.
Xiaofen: “Little sister, you saw it just now, right? The waiting room is filled with gifts from patients’ families. It’s just like a small supermarket.”
Jialing: “Yes. That’s because brother’s medical skills are excellent and recognized by patients’ families.”
Xiaofen: “A doctor as popular as Doctor Zhao is rare. He becomes famous, but I am worked to exhaustion. No nurse at any health station works as hard as I do, yet my salary has not increased at all.”
Renjie: (smiling) “Don’t complain yet. I have already applied for overtime pay for you.”
Jialing: “Brother, I want to study medicine and stay in my hometown like you to take care of the villagers.”
Renjie: (patting her shoulder) “Jialing, it is rare to have such ambition. I once thought, if you were truly my sister, how wonderful that would be.”
Jialing: “Brother, am I not already your little sister? You recognized me as your sister before.”
Renjie: (laughing heartily) “Yes, I really am forgetful.”
Jialing: (looking at Xiaofen’s back and secretly pointing) “Brother, you should also start a family and find a sister-in-law to take care of you.”
Renjie: (smiling foolishly) “There is no need to rush. Besides, I have been used to living alone these years. I do not want someone nagging in my ear.”
Jialing: “That sounds strange. Why are so many men afraid of women nagging? My mother does not do that.”
Xiaofen: (busy arranging medicine) “I nag for your own good, yet you think it’s annoying.”
Jialing: (making a face and signaling) “She is angry, brother.”
Renjie: “Ignore her. She likes to nag. Little sister, one day I will leave Ruifang. The people here will need you.”
Jialing: (confused) “Brother, you are doing well here. Where will you go?”
Renjie: (looking out the window) “To a place that needs me more. Perhaps the ends of the earth.”
△ The camera moves outside the window, fading into distant lights.
3 Morning Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Xu Congming, Xu Zhaodi, Xiao Yaqian, several students
Time: Early morning in early December
Setting: Train carriage to Keelung
△ Jialing becomes even more focused on her studies, making full use of fragmented time to review lessons.
Zhaodi: “You just finished exams. Jialing, you should relax a bit.”
Jialing: “No, I must review the parts I did not master before.”
Zhaodi: “You are becoming a bookworm. Congming, won’t you persuade your girlfriend?”
Congming: (wry smile) “I have tried, but she remains the same, pushing herself so hard. What can I do?”
Zhaodi: (mysteriously) “Congming, lend me your ear. I will teach you.”
△ Zhaodi whispers into his ear.
Congming: (pleased) “Valentine’s Day, chocolate, roses, a card. I understand. But I cannot write love poems.”
Zhaodi: (slightly annoyed) “You fool. Go find a poetry collection and copy one suitable poem.”
△ Jialing looks up briefly, sees them whispering, but ignores it and continues reciting English vocabulary.
Yaqian: (nudging Jialing and whispering) “Look, your man is seducing my girl again.”
△ Zhaodi hears this and twists Yaqian’s arm hard.
Yaqian: (shouting) “Ouch, that hurts! Why are you pinching me again?”
Zhaodi: (smirking, then pretending anger) “Who is your girl?”
△ Yaqian almost points at Zhaodi but changes to point at Jialing.
Zhaodi: (angry) “That is Congming’s girl. She is already taken. What do you want?”
△ Yaqian quickly points at both Congming and Jialing.
Zhaodi: (smiling with satisfaction) “That’s better. At least you know your place.”
Congming: (gathering courage) “They are together, but we… these years, I have always liked you.”
Jialing: “Congming, I like you too.”
Congming: (excited) “Really?”
Jialing: “Yes, you are caring. But I like you as a brother, not as a boyfriend.”
Congming: (disappointed) “Have you only ever seen me as a brother?”
Jialing: “I never planned to marry. Before, it was because I needed to care for my disabled younger brother. Now, it is mainly because I want to enter medical school, become a doctor, and serve my hometown. I want to dedicate myself to this place. If I marry and have a family, I will be distracted and unable to devote myself fully. Do you understand?”
Congming: “But I think work and marriage do not necessarily conflict.”
Congming: (inner voice) “With sincerity, even stone can be carved. As long as I do not give up, I will eventually marry the girl I love.”
Zhaodi: (smirking) “Look at his affectionate eyes. In his heart, you are the only heroine.”
△ Zhaodi’s words make Congming smile.
4 Night Scene
Characters: Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, Yang Jialing, Jiaxiang, Jiazhen
Time: One weekend evening in early December
Setting: Living room of Yang Tiansi’s home
△ The family of five sits around a small table. On the table is a cream cake with four large candles and several small ones.
Jialing: “Father, you have to make a wish before blowing out the candles.”
Tiansi: “Alright. I wish for the three of you to grow up safely, without illness or misfortune.”
Jialing: “That is not enough. You should wish for yourself to live a long life without illness.”
Tiansi: (laughing heartily) “If I really live that long, won’t you all get tired of me?”
Jiaxiang: “Father, when did you ever smell bad? I didn’t notice.”
△ Everyone except Jiaxiang laughs.
Tianmei: (touching his head) “Silly child, your father is joking.”
Jialing: “Father, say it. Wish for a long life without illness.”
Tiansi: (joining his hands in prayer) “Alright.”
Jialing: “Now you can blow out the candles. Take a deep breath and blow them all out.”
△ Tiansi inhales deeply and blows. The whole family blows together.
Jialing: (handing him a plastic knife) “Birthday father, please cut the cake.”
△ Tiansi happily cuts the cake. The family sings “Happy Birthday.” They begin eating. Jiaxiang insists on feeding himself and eats carefully, though he still spills occasionally.
Jialing: (taking out a gift box) “Father, this is my gift for you.”
Tiansi: “There is no need to spend money. Your mother works very hard.”
Jialing: “I bought it with my writing payment.”
Tianmei: “She submitted her work to the newspaper and received payment.”
Tiansi: “Our daughter is a writer. That is wonderful.”
5 Night Scene
Characters: Zhao Renjie, Yang Jialing
Time: One weekend evening in mid-December
Setting: Doctor’s dormitory beside the health station
△ Renjie invites Jialing. It is the anniversary of his sister’s death.
Jialing: “Brother, why did you ask me to come?”
Renjie: “Today is my sister’s memorial day. I want you to offer incense.”
Jialing: “Alright.”
△ He leads her to the altar with an urn and a photo.
Jialing: “Is this your sister?”
Renjie: “Yes.”
Jialing: “She looks just like me.”
Renjie: “That is why I almost mistook you for her.”
△ He hands her incense. She offers it.
Renjie: “Thank you. She feared loneliness, so I keep her ashes with me.”
△ He shows her a letter. She reads and tears form.
Jialing: “Is this true?”
Renjie: “My mother wrote it before ending her life. She blamed herself for losing you.”
Jialing: “Why did my parents hide this?”
Renjie: “They may not know. They raised you as their own. You should repay them.”
Jialing: “What should I do?”
Renjie: “You are still their daughter. Keep this secret.”
Jialing: “Now I understand why you saved my father.”
Renjie: “I owe them. That is all I can do. I am glad you want to study medicine.”
Jialing: (embracing him) “Thank you for telling me.”
Renjie: “I searched for you for years. Heaven has not failed me.”
Jialing: “How did you find me?”
Renjie: “I saw you during a vaccination visit.”
Jialing: “So you came here for me?”
Renjie: “That is the real reason.”
Jialing: “You kept it from me.”
Renjie: “The time was not right.”
Jialing: “Can I visit often?”
Renjie: “Of course. You are my only family.”
6 Morning Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Xu Congming, Xu Zhaodi, Xiao Yaqian, several students
Time: Early morning in late December
Setting: Train to Keelung
△ Jialing and Congming sit facing each other.
Congming: “I want to ask you something.”
Jialing: “What is it?”
Congming: “I heard you often visit the doctor at night.”
Jialing: “What are you implying?”
Congming: “Between you two…”
Jialing: “You misunderstand. He is my father’s savior and my sworn brother.”
Congming: “But going to his dorm…”
Jialing: “You suspect me?”
Congming: “No, I just think it is inappropriate.”
Jialing: “You think too much.”
Congming: “Do I?”
Jialing: “Come with me tonight.”
Congming: “Is that alright?”
Jialing: “Yes, but you must not reveal anything.”
Congming: “I promise.”
Zhaodi: “What are you whispering about?”
Both: “Nothing.”
Zhaodi: “Really?”
Yaqian: “Want to hear sweet talk? I can say some.”
Zhaodi: “I do not like your accent.”
Yaqian: “Then I will change it.”
Zhaodi: “That is better.”
△ Jialing and Congming smile.
7 Night Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Zhao Renjie, Xu Congming
Time: Late night in late December
Setting: Doctor’s dormitory
△ Jialing and Congming arrive.
Jialing: “Brother, I brought food. Congming came too.”
Renjie: “Come in. Sit first.”
△ Jialing leads Congming to the altar.
Congming: “When did you take that photo?”
Jialing: “Wait and you will know.”
Jialing: “She is my twin sister.”
Congming: “I believe you.”
Jialing: “We were separated when young.”
Congming: “Then he is your…”
Jialing: “My brother.”
Congming: “That explains it.”
Jialing: “Explains what?”
Congming: “I thought he had bad intentions before.”
△ He laughs awkwardly.
Jialing: “You do not doubt me now?”
Congming: “No.”
Jialing: “Remember your promise.”
Congming: “I will not tell.”
△ Renjie returns with tea.
Renjie: “You told him?”
Jialing: “Yes.”
Renjie: “He cares about you.”
Congming: “I misunderstood you.”
Renjie: “Be patient with her.”
Congming: “I will. Thank you.”
Scene 8 (Dusk Scene)
Characters: Yang Jiaxiang, Li Dongming, Xu Congming
Time: Late December evening
Setting: Mountain road leading to the health station
△ Yang Jiaxiang, who has cerebral palsy, is carrying dinner while walking on the mountain road toward the health station. At a bend, he is struck from behind by a sedan and rolls down the hillside. The dinner is scattered all over the ground.
△ Xu Congming rides past on a bicycle, chases after it, but the perpetrator speeds up and flees.
Congming: “Hey, don’t go, stop the car, stop the car!”
△ The other party speeds away. Congming hurriedly notes down the license plate number. Thinking of the injured Jiaxiang, he turns back and goes down the slope to check on Jiaxiang’s injuries.
Congming: “Jiaxiang, Jiaxiang, are you alright?”
△ Xu Congming carries Yang Jiaxiang on his back, climbs up the slope, and heads toward the health station.
Scene 9 (Night Scene)
Characters: Yang Jiaxiang, Xu Congming, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen
Time: Late December evening.
Setting: Houtong Health Station.
△ Xu Congming carries Yang Jiaxiang on his back, panting as he arrives at the Houtong Health Station.
Congming: (shouting as he rushes into the waiting room) “Brother Zhao, Brother Zhao, come quickly and save someone.”
Renjie: (hearing the voice, coming out of the consultation room) “Congming, what is it that makes you so flustered?”
Congming: “Jiaxiang, Jiaxiang was hit by a car.”
Renjie: “Help me carry him inside. Xiaofen, prepare to stop the patient’s bleeding.”
△ Congming and Renjie carry Jiaxiang into the consultation room, and Xiaofen follows in. The two help Jiaxiang onto the examination table.
Renjie: “I’ll first stop Jiaxiang’s bleeding and examine him. If the injuries are serious, he still has to be transferred to the Miners’ Hospital. Nurse, give me the hemostatic bandage, and disinfect the patient’s wounds first.”
△ Xiaofen hands the hemostatic bandage to Renjie, first cleaning the wounds on Jiaxiang’s back of the head and limbs with alcohol cotton. Renjie stops the bleeding with bandages.
Renjie: “Jiaxiang, Jiaxiang, can you hear me?”
△ Jiaxiang is unconscious and unresponsive.
Renjie: “The patient is unconscious, possibly has a concussion, and may also have intracranial bleeding and internal bleeding. He must be urgently transferred to the Miners’ Hospital for surgery. Nurse, put an oxygen mask on him and contact an ambulance. Congming, go to the counter and call Jiaxiang’s parents.”
Xiaofen: “Understood. Xu Congming, come with me.”
△ Xiaofen puts an oxygen mask on Jiaxiang and leads Congming to the counter.
Xiaofen: “Hello, hello, is this the Ruifang Fire Department?”
Fire Department: “This is the Fire Department.”
Xiaofen: “This is Houtong Health Station. A child has been injured in a car accident, and the situation is critical. He needs to be urgently transferred to the Miners’ Hospital. Please dispatch an ambulance immediately.”
Fire Department: “Understood. The ambulance will arrive within twenty minutes.”
△ After hanging up, Xiaofen hands the receiver to Congming. Congming dials the number.
Congming: (urgently) “Mom, it’s me, Congming. I’m at the health station.”
Youxiu: “The health station? It’s time for dinner. What are you doing at the health station?”
Congming: “Jiaxiang from next door had a car accident. I carried him to the health station.”
Youxiu: “Jiaxiang had a car accident? Is it serious?”
Congming: “Yes, he was hit by a car and fell down the slope. The doctor said he has a concussion and must be sent to the Miners’ Hospital for surgery.”
Youxiu: “I’ll hurry to the neighbor’s house to notify Tiansi. Send him to the Miners’ Hospital?”
Congming: “Yes, the emergency department of the Miners’ Hospital.”
△ Xiaofen and Congming return to the consultation room.
Renjie: “Congming, did you see who was driving the car?”
Congming: “The other party sped away, but I noted down the license plate number.”
Renjie: “Good. When the ambulance arrives later, the nurse and I will take Jiaxiang to the hospital. You go find Jialing and go together to the police station to file a report.”
Congming: “Understood.”
Scene 10 (Night Scene)
Characters: Li Dongming, Li Jianxing, Chen Aijiao, Officer Liu, Xu Congming, Yang Jialing
Time: Late December night.
Setting: Li Jianxing’s mansion
△ Li Dongming is at home looking panicked and restless. His father Li Jianxing notices something unusual about him.
Jianxing: “A Ming, what happened? You look flustered and uneasy.”
Dongming: (panicked) “Dad, no, nothing.”
△ “Ding dong, ding dong!” The doorbell rings.
Jianxing: “It’s so late, who could it be? Aijiao, go open the door.”
△ Chen Aijiao goes to open the door.
Dongming: (leaving the sofa) “Dad! Nothing’s wrong, I’ll go back to my room first.”
Jianxing: “Stop! You haven’t explained things clearly to me yet.”
Aijiao: “Old man, it’s Officer Liu from the police station.”
Officer Liu: “Mr. Li, sorry! Someone reported that one of your cars hit someone.”
△ Li Jianxing glares fiercely at Dongming.
Officer Liu: “Xu Congming, is the person who was driving at that time here?”
Congming: (pointing at Li Dongming) “It was him. He hit someone with his car and then sped away.”
Dongming: (arguing) “You say I hit someone. Where is the evidence?”
Jialing: (angrily, hands on hips) “You injured my younger brother and still deny it.”
Officer Liu: “Mr. Li, please allow me to inspect your car.”
Jianxing: “No need to check. Officer Liu, it must be my unfilial son who caused the trouble.”
Aijiao: “Old man, how can you say that? Before the matter is even investigated, you already…”
Jianxing: (interrupting) “Shut up. The way our son turned out is because you spoiled him.”
Officer Liu: “Mr. Li, I’m sorry! I must take your son back to the police station to make a statement.”
△ At this moment, Officer Liu takes out handcuffs and cuffs Li Dongming’s hands.
Jianxing: (scolding Aijiao) “What are you still standing there for? Come with me to the police station.”
△ Li Jianxing and his wife follow behind, and the group goes to the police station.
