- Film Script
1st Day Scene
Cast: Wu Tianliang, Wang Meixiu (Lily’s mother), Wu Lili, Zhou Tianyou
Time: One morning
Location: County Councillor Wu Tianliang’s luxury mansion
△ The camera moves from the swimming pool into the interior of the house.
△ In the living room, Wu Tianliang looks worried. He pours a glass of wine, walks around the living room for a while, sighs, and sits down on the sofa.
Tianyou: “Boss…”
Tianliang: (clears throat) “Cough… cough… Tianyou, didn’t I tell you, when the young lady is at home, you must call me Councillor? You’re so young and already so forgetful? How will you ever accomplish big things in the future?”
Tianyou: (bows) “Yes, yes, Councillor.”
Tianliang: (signals Tianyou to pour his own drink) “Sit down and talk. Have a couple of drinks with me.”
Tianyou: “Yes.”
Tianyou: (sits down, drinks and talks with Tianliang) “Councillor, you’ve just been re-elected. What is troubling you so much?”
Tianliang: (glances upstairs to confirm Lili is not coming down) “Recently several shipments were seized by customs. I suffered heavy losses. What exactly is going on? Didn’t you handle those people properly?”
Tianyou: (raises hand in oath) “I did. I would never neglect anything the Councillor instructed. But recently there was a major reshuffle in the customs office. New officials always like to make a big show when they take office, so they started cracking down hard. It’s not just us—everyone in the trade is suffering.”
Tianliang: “I don’t believe any official doesn’t love money. In my view, they just want more.”
Tianliang: (serious expression, closes eyes in thought) “You must quickly find a way to connect with their contact point. I have so many men under me, I still need to support their families.”
Tianyou: “I will handle it actively.”
△ Footsteps are heard upstairs.
Tianyou: (signals Lili to come downstairs) “Councillor…”
Tianliang: “You must put more thought into it…”
△ Mother Wang Meixiu and Wu Lili come down from upstairs. Lili sees her father slightly drunk and pours him a cup of tea to sober him.
Lili: (hands tea to father) “Dad, you’ve been drinking again.”
Tianliang: (smiles, pulls Lili to sit beside him) “I was just chatting with Tianyou and having a couple of drinks.”
Tianliang: “Wife, look at this—ever since our daughter came back, you’ve raised her into a little housekeeper.”
△ Tianyou stands and gives up his seat to Meixiu.
Tianyou: “Madam, please sit.”
Meixiu: (smiles proudly) “If I didn’t take good care of her, how could our Lili be so accomplished?”
Tianliang: “Yes, yes, yes.” (laughs happily)
△ Lili acts coquettishly toward her father, worried her mother may object.
Lili: “Daddy, I want to discuss something with you.”
Meixiu: (questioning look) “You girl, using your father to pressure me again? Just now upstairs I didn’t hear you mention anything you wanted to discuss with me.”
Tianliang: “You’re bringing a boyfriend home for Dad to see?”
Lili: (blushing, acting spoiled) “No, I just came back to the country. I don’t want to date yet. I want to spend more time with you and Mom.”
Tianliang: (patting Lili’s head) “Dad didn’t spoil you for nothing. What is it? Go ahead.”
Lili: “I want to go to Lulin Mountain to investigate the primeval forest…”
Meixiu: (surprised) “You’re a lecturer at the school, why must you go into the mountains?”
Lili: “Mom, my major is forestry. I finally got the chance to apply for a Forestry Bureau research project. Of course I must go!”
Meixiu: (reluctant) “Lili, Mom really doesn’t want you to suffer in the mountains.”
Lili: (coquettishly) “Mom, during my years studying abroad, I took care of myself. Don’t worry.”
Tianliang: (serious tone) “Lili, your mother is naturally worried, but Dad agrees with your research…”
Meixiu: (angry) “What’s so great about studying trees? There are only indigenous people in the mountains… you said you’d come back to stay with me, and now you’re going into the deep mountains alone…”
Tianliang: (comforting) “Wife, the child has grown up. Let her go. Otherwise, how will she ever achieve big things?”
Meixiu: (sad) “The daughter has grown up and doesn’t even listen to her mother anymore…”
Tianliang: “Alright then. I’ll have Tianyou accompany you, at least there will be someone to take care of you.”
Lili: “Dad, no need. Tianyou should stay by your side to serve you. I can ask local indigenous patrol rangers to be guides—they know the mountains better.”
Tianliang: “Alright.”
Tianliang: “Tianyou, arrange whatever Lili needs first.”
Tianyou: “Yes, Councillor.”
△ Wu Tianliang waves his hand and goes upstairs to rest.
2nd Day Scene
Cast: Wu Tianliang, Wang Meixiu, Wu Lili, Zhou Tianyou
Time: 7 a.m.
Location: Wu Tianliang mansion living room
△ A few days later, Lili packs her luggage for departure.
Tianliang: (on the phone) “Xiaodao, keep an eye on this matter. Stay in contact at all times.”
△ Tianliang sees Lili and hangs up.
Meixiu: (angry, sulking) “If anything happens to my daughter, I’ll settle accounts with you, old man.”
Lili: (smiles, acting spoiled) “Mom, Dad still has work. I can go to school by myself. Students all come on their own. As a teacher, I can’t be worse than my students.”
Tianliang: (smiles) “Our daughter has grown up.”
Tianliang: (pats her shoulder) “If you need anything, call Dad anytime, understood?”
Lili: (playfully stands at attention and salutes) “Yes, Dad.”
△ Meixiu hugs Lili.
Lili: “Mom, don’t be like this.”
Tianliang: “Tianyou, drive the young lady to school. I still have matters to handle.”
Meixiu: (reluctant, touches Lili’s face) “Going far away, take care of yourself.”
Lili: “I will, Mom.”
△ Wu Lili hugs her father.
Lili: “Dad, we’re leaving.”
△ Tianyou carries the luggage and accompanies Lili out.
3rd Day Scene
Cast: Wu Lili, several students, dozens of tourists
Time: Afternoon
Location: Alishan Forest Railway and train carriage
△ On the Alishan Forest Railway, teachers and students chat happily inside the carriage.
Xiaomei: “Teacher, we’ve been looking forward to this Alishan trip for a long time.”
Daming: “Yes, I was so excited last night I almost couldn’t sleep.”
Lili: “This forestry resource survey is not an ordinary recreational trip. We may face many problems. You must be mentally prepared.”
Aya: “That’s why you told us to bring hiking gear and equipment in advance.”
Lili: “Yes, there are many dangers hidden in the forest. We must stay alert at all times.”
Xiaomei: “It’s just animals in the forest, what danger could there be, teacher?”
Xiaodingdang: “I know this. Teacher taught us in class—the risks include animals, plants, human factors, and climate conditions.”
Lili: “Correct. Even with full preparation, on-site crisis handling is more important. It tests the team’s response ability. There may be black bears, wild boars, macaques, and snakes. We should avoid disturbing them—especially aggressive wild boars and hornets. Avoid them whenever possible.”
Xiaotong: “There are also traps and snares set by hunters. These are even more dangerous.”
Lili: “Yes. Even with indigenous guides, we must not leave the group or act alone.”
Students: “Understood, teacher.”
Lili: “While the train climbs into the mountains, observe the vegetation changes—from low-altitude tropical broadleaf forest, to mid-mountain temperate mixed forest, to high-mountain coniferous forest.”
Daming: “I’ve taken photos along the way.”
Aya: “Xiaodingdang, didn’t you bring a harmonica? Play something so we can sing together.”
Xiaomei: “Yes! I love singing.”
Dingdang: (takes out harmonica) “Ladies first—please request songs.”
Xiaotong: “I choose ‘Mountain Green’.”
Xiaodingdang: “Ladies first, Xiaotong.”
Xiaomei: “I choose A-mei’s ‘Standing on the High Hill’.”
△ Students clap and sing along with the harmonica. The carriage is filled with laughter.
4th Day Scene
Cast: Wu Lili, several students
Time: Afternoon in August
Location: Mountain road near Lulin Mountain Forestry Section 25
△ Teachers and students encounter a typhoon. A student steps into a trap and is injured. Their movement slows and they are trapped in the mountains.
Lili: “Is Xiaotong’s injury serious?”
Daming: “Luckily he was wearing high hiking boots. The wound is not serious and bleeding has stopped. Xiaodingdang and I are helping him walk, but we cannot move too fast.”
Lili: “The wind is getting stronger. The radio weather report says a moderate typhoon will make landfall this evening. We probably cannot reach the Lulin Mountain Forestry Station. We must find shelter tonight.”
Dingdang: “Teacher, the map shows a hunter’s hut nearby. We should take shelter there first.”
Lili: “That’s our only option. Xiaodingdang, lead the way.”
5th Evening Scene
Cast: Wu Tianliang, Wang Meixiu, Wu Lili, several students
Time: Evening
Location: Lulin Mountain 2250-meter hunter’s hut / Wu Tianliang’s bedroom
△ Heavy wind and rain. Lili and students shelter in a hunter’s hut.
Daming: “Teacher, with such heavy wind and rain outside, is it safe for us to stay here?”
Xiaomei: “Yes. The radio said the typhoon has entered from Pingtung. This hut is so old—I’m afraid we might get trapped here.”
Dingdang: “Don’t jinx it.”
Lili: “Stop arguing. We will be safe.”
△ A loud rumbling sound outside. The only mountain access road collapses. The wooden door is blown away by strong wind.
Daming: “Teacher, what was that sound? It was scary!”
Lili: “Probably a landslide. We’ll go investigate tomorrow when the wind weakens.”
Xiaomei: (crying) “Teacher, what should we do? Will we die here?”
Lili: (takes out phone) “Don’t panic. I’ll call for help. Hello—Dad!”
Lili: (phone runs out of battery, remains calm) “Does anyone have a phone?”
Dingdang: (takes out phone) “Teacher, I do.”
Lili: (calls) “Hello—Dad! My students and I are trapped in Lulin Mountain…”
△ Cross-cut to Wu Tianliang’s bedroom.
Tianliang: “Hello—Lili, speak louder, I can’t hear you clearly. Where are you?”
Meixiu: (crying anxiously) “It’s all your fault! You must bring my daughter back safely!”
Tianliang: (angry, anxious) “Stop shouting, I can’t hear clearly!”
Lili: “We are trapped in a hunter’s hut in Lulin Mountain. The only road has collapsed. We cannot return to the base camp.”
Tianliang: “Calm down, Dad will find a way. I’ll call you back later.”
△ Tianliang immediately reports to Alishan police station. Meixiu cries on the sofa.
Tianliang: “Hello, Alishan Police Station? Please connect me to Commissioner Mai…”
6 Night Scene
Cast: Wu Tianliang, Wang Meixiu, Zhou Tianyou, Li Tianmei (Zhou Tianyou’s mother)
Time: Night
Location: Wu Tianliang’s luxury mansion living room / Zhou Tianyou’s home
△ The camera fades in.
△ Wu Tianliang’s living room. Wu Tianliang and his wife are as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
Meixiu: (worried, pacing back and forth inside the house, blaming Wu Tianliang) “A typhoon day, and you still take students into the mountains to do some research? It’s all your fault…”
Tianliang: (ignores Meixiu, calls Zhou Tianyou) “Hello, Tianyou!”
△ Cut to Zhou Tianyou at home eating noodles and watching the news on TV. He picks up the phone.
Tianyou: “Boss! What’s the matter?”
Tianliang: “Lili is in trouble! She’s trapped in the mountains by the typhoon! You’re coming with me to Alishan.”
Tianyou: “To Alishan?”
Tianliang: (anxious) “Stop talking nonsense. Drive here immediately and pick me up.”
Tianyou: (reluctant) “Yes, boss.”
Tianmei: “It’s a typhoon, wind and rain so strong, and you still want to drive out?”
Tianyou: “No choice. I’m working for someone. I have to handle other people’s troubles. The young lady and a group of students are trapped in the mountains by the typhoon.”
Tianmei: “Then you must drive carefully.”
Tianyou: “Mm, Mom, I’m leaving.”
△ Zhou Tianyou puts on a cloak and goes out the door.
7 Night Scene
Cast: Zhou Tianyou, Mai Youlong (Police Branch Director), Gao Yingxiong, several patrol team members
Time: Night
Location: Alishan Police Station briefing room
△ Inside the Alishan Police Station briefing room, Wu Tianliang and Tianyou are listening to Gao Yingxiong’s report. A map hangs on the podium, and Gao Yingxiong draws mountain road routes on a whiteboard.
Yingxiong: “According to the teacher’s description of their trapped location and the appearance of the hunter’s hut, the patrol team and I assess that the students are currently at the 2250-meter high ground, in the hunter’s hut toward the No. 25 protected forest area.”
Tianliang: “My daughter called and said the only access road has collapsed. Aren’t they in serious danger now? And there’s also an injured student.”
Yingxiong: “Report to the Councillor, given the location of the hut, the students are temporarily not in danger unless they attempt to cross the collapsed road section.”
Youlong: “Yingxiong, have your rescue team brought all equipment?”
Yingxiong: “Everything is ready, including a stretcher.”
Youlong: “Then depart as soon as possible. We will keep in contact.”
Yingxiong: “Yes. We will first reach the Lulin Mountain work station. Once the rain weakens, we will ascend the mountain at dawn for rescue.”
Tianliang: (angry) “My daughter and those students are in life-threatening danger, and you still wait until dawn? What kind of logic is that? Why not contact the county rescue team?”
Youlong: (bitter smile) “Councillor, please calm down. The patrol rangers are administratively under the Forestry Bureau. This time I specially requested Director Mo of the Forestry Administration to allow Gao Yingxiong to lead the indigenous youths of the Tefuye tribe to form a temporary rescue team. They are not professional rescue units and have no duty to carry out this mission. Calling the official rescue team now would actually be too slow. Moreover, they are more familiar with the terrain and roads.”
Tianliang: “I’m sorry, Mr. Gao. If my words were offensive just now, please understand a father’s emotions.”
Yingxiong: “It’s alright. I understand.”
Tianliang: “Tianyou, go with Mr. Gao’s rescue team. If anything happens, call my mobile immediately. I’ll wait here for your news.”
Tianyou: “Yes, Councillor.”
8 Morning Scene
Cast: Wu Lili, several students
Time: Next morning
Location: Mountain road near Lulin Mountain hunter’s hut
△ The next morning, strong wind and heavy rain continue. Lili and Daming go to check the condition of the mountain road and reach near the collapsed section.
Lili: (frowning) “How did it collapse like this?”
Daming: “Teacher, looking at this situation, unless we detour, this mountain road has completely lost about twenty meters of its foundation. Rocks are still falling from the slope. Forcing our way through would be dangerous, especially since we still have an injured student.”
Lili: “Yes… this road is definitely impassable. It seems we must stay in the hut and wait for rescue. We are not familiar with the mountain routes. If we detour blindly into the forest, it could be dangerous.”
△ The two of them turn back.
9 Day Scene
Cast: Wu Lili, several students, Zhou Tianyou, Gao Yingxiong, rescue team members
Time: Afternoon
Location: Lulin Mountain 2250-meter hut / Lulin Mountain work station
△ Wu Lili and students are inside the hut.
Xiaomei: “Teacher, I’m so scared!”
Xiaotong: “I’m so cold… so cold…”
△ Wu Lili touches Xiaotong’s forehead.
Lili: “Oh no, he has a fever.”
Lili: (gives him chocolate) “Here, Xiaotong, eat something first to regain strength.”
△ Cut to Lulin Mountain work station. The rescue team is already preparing gear.
△ Zhou Tianyou’s phone rings. It is Wu Tianliang.
Tianliang: “Tianyou, is your rescue team ready to depart?”
Tianyou: “Yes, boss. We are already putting on our gear.”
Tianliang: “No more delays. Tianyou, you must bring Lili out for me.”
Tianyou: “Yes, boss. I will do everything I can.”
△ Wu Lili calls her father again.
Lili: (panicked) “Huh? Why is there suddenly no signal?”
Xiaoya: (frightened) “Teacher, are we really not getting out? I just heard Daming say the access road has collapsed.”
Lili: (forcing calm) “Don’t scare yourselves. It’s still safe to stay here for now. My father said he has already notified the rescue team here to come and save us.”
10 Night Scene
Cast: Gao Yingxiong, Zhou Tianyou, several rescue team members
Time: Night
Location: Mountain trail toward Lulin Mountain 2250-meter hut
△ The road to the hut is stormy with heavy wind and rain.
Team Member A: “If you’re going up the mountain for research, shouldn’t you at least check the weather first? Don’t they watch TV or listen to the radio?”
Team Member B: “City people are always like this. They do whatever comes to mind and create trouble for themselves.”
Yingxiong: “Stop complaining. Don’t make the indigenous people a joke in front of city folks. Let’s find them quickly and bring them out.”
Team Member C: “The leader is right. Since we are here, stop complaining and get on with it.”
△ Tianyou steps on a loose rock and falls.
Tianyou: (shouting) “Ouch! I’ve sprained my ankle!”
△ Gao Yingxiong helps him up.
Tianyou: (angry, shouting) “We’re only paid this little every month, and we still risk our lives in a typhoon to come into the mountains looking for people. Damn it! I might as well quit and go home.”
Yingxiong: (smiles) “Weather is unpredictable.”
Yingxiong: (looking at the sky) “The rain seems to be getting lighter. Some sections of the road have collapsed. We’ll have to go through the forest and detour.”
Tianyou: (wiping rain off his face) “How far are we from Miss Lili and the others? We won’t get lost in the forest, right?”
Yingxiong: “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I know this place very well. The roads are just difficult now. Follow us carefully. We still need four to five hours of walking.”
Tianyou: “What?! Still that far? I’ve twisted my foot—I can’t walk fast!”
Yingxiong: “Do your best. We must bring them out before dark.”
