Scene 91 – Early Morning
Characters: Wu Tianliang, Li Xiaodao, Jian Dafa, Zhou Tianyou, Yabu
Time: Early Morning
Location: Wu Tianliang’s Luxury Residence
△ Inside the living room of Wu Tianliang’s mansion, Tianliang sits smoking a cigar while Xiaodao, Dafa, and Yabu stand beside him.
Yabu: “Boss, the time to go up the mountain and cut trees has arrived.”
Tianliang: (blows out a thick puff of smoke) “I know. Xiaodao, go to the basement and bring Tianyou up.”
Xiaodao: “Yes, Boss.”
△ Li Xiaodao turns and heads toward the basement.
Tianliang: “Dafa, last time you and Yabu went scouting, you were caught by the mountain patrol team almost immediately. I think we may already have alerted the enemy. This time, you and Tianyou are going up the mountain, so you must act especially carefully. I’m worried the other side is already prepared.”
Dafa: “Boss, even if it’s a dragon’s pool or tiger’s den, I, Dafa, am not afraid.”
Tianliang: “Zhou Tianyou can no longer be fully trusted. Dafa, you must keep an eye on him. If your convoy runs into trouble, call me on the mobile phone immediately. I’ll have Xiaodao bring the brothers up the mountain to support you.”
Dafa: “Yes, Boss.”
△ After a short while, Li Xiaodao brings Tianyou over.
Tianliang: “Tianyou, I’m giving you one chance to redeem your crimes through merit. Perform well, and I’ll release your mother and still treat you as a brother. But if you make another mistake, don’t blame me for turning ruthless. Did you hear clearly?”
Tianyou: “I heard clearly, Boss.”
Tianliang: “I’m having Dafa accompany you up the mountain. You’ll lead the convoy and bring down what I want from the mountain.”
Tianyou: “Yes, Boss.”
Scene 92 – Early Morning
Characters: Gao Yingxiong, Several Tefuye Mountain Patrol Team Members
Time: Early Morning
Location: Lulin Mountain Forest Road No. 120
△ Gao Yingxiong is assigning tasks to the Tefuye Mountain Patrol Team members.
Yingxiong: “Everyone! According to the assignments just made, if there are no questions, we’ll split up and proceed separately.”
Team Members: (in unison) “Yes! Captain.”
Yingxiong: “If anyone spots the timber poachers’ convoy, use the call of the Taiwan Hwamei bird as the contact signal, and immediately release a carrier pigeon to notify the workstation. Do not use walkie-talkies, in order to avoid the police intercepting the information.”
Team Members: (in unison) “Understood! Captain.”
Yingxiong: “Also, once the timber poachers’ convoy passes through the intersections, each squad must immediately lay down tire spikes on the forest road and set up road repair barricades. Do not allow any more vehicles to enter, and cut off the timber poachers’ return route.”
Team Member A: “That way they’ll be like birds unable to fly away! We’ll wipe them out in one sweep.”
Team Member B: “We’ll roast them like little birds!”
△ The entire team bursts into laughter.
Scene 93 – Daytime
Characters: Shi Ziqiang, Pu Tianxiang, Chen Wendian, One Duty Policeman, Zhao Jia’en, Gao Huijun, Dozens of Mountain Patrol Members
Time: Morning
Location: Lulin Mountain Workstation, County Police Bureau Inspector General’s Office
(All dialogue in this segment is spoken in the Tsou language.)
△ At the entrance of the workstation, Shi Ziqiang assigns two team members carrying video recording equipment to head toward the illegal logging site in the forest compartment area to gather evidence.
Ziqiang: “Wajiang, Ludan, the two of you stay sharp and don’t let the timber poachers spot you. Once you get to the scene, film the illegal logging activities and then immediately turn back and return. Understood?”
Wajiang: “What if they discover us? Boss.”
Ziqiang: “Wajiang, carry the video camera and take the shortcut back. Ludan, you brought a hunting rifle, so you’ll provide cover for Wajiang and guard the rear. Don’t disgrace our Dabang tribe. Did you hear clearly?”
Both: “We heard clearly, Boss.”
△ Inside the communications room of the workstation.
(Intercut scene)
Tianxiang: (dials the phone) “Hello! County Police Bureau? Please connect me to Inspector General Chen.”
Policeman A: “May I ask who is calling?”
Tianxiang: “I’m Pu Tianxiang from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Alishan Precinct.”
Policeman A: “Please wait a moment!”
Wendian: “Hello! This is Chen Wendian.”
Tianxiang: “Reporting to Inspector General, this is Pu Tianxiang. We urgently require police reinforcements from the county bureau. Please dispatch support forces to the Lulin Mountain workstation.”
Wendian: “No problem, Tianxiang. Police officers with a sense of justice like yours are rare nowadays. I admire you greatly.”
Tianxiang: “Thank you for your praise, Inspector General. This is my duty.”
Wendian: “Very good. The reinforcements will arrive within three hours. You must cooperate with Section Chief Zhong’s operation.”
Tianxiang: “Yes, sir.”
Wendian: “You all must hold out, Tianxiang!”
Tianxiang: “Yes, sir.”
△ Tianxiang puts down the receiver. Jia’en brings over a glass of milk and a sandwich.
Tianxiang: “I’m not hungry.”
Jia’en: “Even if you’re not hungry, you still have to eat. You still have a tough battle ahead today. If you don’t eat something, how will you have the strength?”
Tianxiang: “Yes, godmother of the child, I’ll eat. I’ll eat.”
Jia’en: “Good boy. You must listen to your godmother.”
Scene 94 – Daytime
Characters: Zhou Tianyou, Jian Dafa, and Six Timber Poacher Members
Time: Morning
Location: Lulin Mountain Forest Road No. 120
△ The timber poachers’ convoy is slowly driving along Forest Road No. 120 toward Forest Compartments 22–25 of Lulin Mountain, led by Zhou Tianyou.
Tianyou: “Dafa! Stop the car.”
Dafa: “Second Brother! Why stop the car?”
Tianyou: “Nature calls!”
Dafa: “Second Brother! I’m a rough man and haven’t read much. I don’t understand what you mean.”
Tianyou: (knocks Dafa on the head) “I need to piss.”
Dafa: “Then just say piss! Why talk about ‘nature calling’?”
Tianyou: “You talk too much. Stop the car.”
△ The convoy stops, and Tianyou opens the car door and gets out.
Dafa: “Second Brother! Take this handgun with you.”
Tianyou: “Why are you giving me a ninety? Is mine that short? Are you looking down on me? Bring a long gun instead.”
Dafa: (looks at Tianyou’s crotch and laughs) “Really, Second Brother?”
Tianyou: “What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Be more serious.”
Tianyou: (looks around cautiously) “Dafa! Drive slower in a little while.”
Dafa: “Second Brother! Why should we drive slower?”
Tianyou: “Didn’t you notice? There’s fog ahead.”
Dafa: “That’s simple! Turn on the fog lights.”
Tianyou: “I said your brain is simple, but you wouldn’t believe it. Are you trying to attract attention?”
Dafa: “Uh, why didn’t I think of that?”
Tianyou: “Alright! Tell the brothers to drive.”
Dafa: “Yes!”
Scene 95 – Daytime
Characters: Zhou Tianyou and Others, Gao Yingxiong, Several Policemen, Mountain Patrol Member Mala
Time: Noon
Location: Checkpoint on Lulin Mountain Forest Road No. 120
△ The convoy led by Zhou Tianyou prepares to pass through the checkpoint.
Dafa: “Second Brother! There’s a checkpoint ahead. What should we do?”
Tianyou: “It’s alright! Those policemen are our own people. I’ll greet them, and the convoy will drive through.”
Dafa: “Oh!”
△ Policemen use signal lights to direct traffic. Zhou Tianyou waves in greeting, and the convoy passes through the checkpoint.
Yingxiong: (watching through binoculars) “They’ve finally arrived! This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. Mala, let’s follow right behind their convoy.”
△ Yingxiong immediately uses a carrier pigeon to notify the base, then tails the convoy through the forest.
△ The scene cuts to the Lulin Mountain workstation. Tianxiang grabs the carrier pigeon at the window and pulls out the note.
Tianxiang: (excitedly) “The timber poachers have arrived. Chief Mai truly is colluding with outsiders against us!”
Jia’en: “Tianxiang, calm yourself down first.”
△ The scene cuts back to Gao Yingxiong and Mala as the two race rapidly through the forest.
Yingxiong: (panting) “Mala, let’s take the shortcut to the intersection. Tianxiang instructed us to lay down tire spikes at the forest road intersection.”
Mala: (panting) “No problem, Boss. I can keep up with your speed.”
Scene 96 – Daytime
Characters: Wajiang, Ludan, Zhou Tianyou, Jian Dafa, Several Illegal Logging Workers
Time: Afternoon
Location: Forest Compartment No. 24
Ludan: (holding binoculars) “Wajiang! Look ahead, the timber poachers have already started logging.”
Wajiang: (takes the binoculars and observes) “Mm! We still need to get closer.”
Ludan: “Damn! These timber poachers are really running wild. I can hardly resist grabbing my hunting rifle and shooting them down like wild boars.”
Wajiang: “Don’t act rashly! Don’t forget, we’re here to collect evidence.”
△ The two stealthily move closer and hide in a concealed spot to film the scene.
Wajiang: “Ludan, these shots should be enough. Let’s head back and report.”
Ludan: “You go in front. I’ll cover the rear.”
△ The two stealthily leave the area one after another.
Scene 97 – Daytime
Characters: Shi Ziqiang, Several Dabang Tribe Mountain Patrol Members
Time: Afternoon
Location: Lulin Mountain Workstation
△ Wajiang and Ludan return to the “base” (Lulin Mountain Workstation).
Wajiang: “Boss, we’re back.”
Ludan: “Those timber poachers at Forest Compartment No. 24 never discovered the two of us.”
Ziqiang: “You’ve worked hard. Wajiang, hand the video camera over to Tianxiang and have a cup of tea. We’re about to set out immediately to catch the timber poachers.”
△ Wajiang hands the video camera to Tianxiang. The Dabang Tribe mountain patrol team immediately finishes preparing and sets out.
Ziqiang: “Brothers, check your hunting rifles. We’re about to depart.”
Team Members: “Checked and ready.”
Scene 98 – Daytime
Characters: Zhou Tianyou, Jian Dafa, Timber Poachers’ Convoy, Wu Tianliang, Li Xiaodao, Yabu
Time: Afternoon
Location: Forest Road No. 120, Wu Tianliang’s Mansion Living Room
△ The convoy loaded with logs slowly drives along Forest Road No. 120.
△ (Camera zooms in)
Dafa: (holding the steering wheel) “Second Brother! We harvested quite a lot this time!”
Tianyou: (absentmindedly) “Mm, yeah!”
Dafa: “Second Brother, what’s wrong with you? You look tired.”
Tianyou: “Mm!”
Dafa: (grinning foolishly) “Again with the ‘mm’! Forget it, I won’t talk to you anymore. Right now I’m imagining stacks of white banknotes going into my pocket. I plan to give part of the money to my mother and use part of it to get married.”
Tianyou: “Dafa, you’re thinking too naively! We’re only following orders. How much money do you think we’ll actually get afterward?”
Dafa: “Second Brother, what’s with you today? You’ve been talking pessimistically the whole way. That’s not like your usual style.”
Tianyou: “I’m just saying what I think.”
Dafa: “Too lazy to talk to you anymore!”
△ The convoy’s lead vehicle suddenly stops, and the walkie-talkie sounds.
Someone A: “Second Brother! Our vehicle’s tire blew out.”
Tianyou: (holding the walkie-talkie) “How did it blow out?”
Someone A: “There are tire spikes buried on the road.”
Dafa: “What? Damn!” (pulls the handbrake and pounds both hands on the steering wheel, sounding the horn)
Tianyou: (opens the car door) “I’ll get down and take a look.”
Dafa: (dials his mobile phone) “Boss, Boss…”
△ The scene cuts to the living room of Wu Tianliang’s house. Tianliang picks up the receiver.
Tianliang: “What is it, Dafa?”
Dafa: “Our convoy is stuck on the forest road on the return trip. We can’t move.”
Tianliang: “Dafa, what happened?”
Dafa: “It seems someone deliberately buried tire spikes on the road surface. Our lead vehicle got a flat tire.”
Tianliang: (furious) “Damn it, it must’ve been those mountain patrol teams. Those savages dare block my source of income? Let’s see how I deal with them. Dafa, where exactly are you now?”
Dafa: “On Forest Road No. 120, near the intersection leading to Forest Compartment No. 22.”
Tianliang: “Put Zhou Tianyou on the phone. I’ll tell him how to handle it.”
Dafa: “Yes, Boss.”
△ Dafa waves toward Tianyou.
Dafa: (shouting loudly) “Second Brother, Boss wants you.”
△ The scene cuts back to the forest road. Tianyou walks over and takes the mobile phone.
Tianliang: “Tianyou, clear the tire spikes off the road immediately and replace the tires with spare ones.”
Tianyou: “Boss, the tire spikes are scattered over a wide area. Clearing them will take a lot of time.”
Tianliang: “I’ll have Yabu lead the way and have Xiaodao bring the brothers up the mountain to support you.”
Tianliang: “Xiaodao, bring the brothers up the mountain for support. Bring both handguns and long guns.”
Xiaodao: “Yes, Boss. I’ll go prepare right away.”
Tianliang: “Tianyou, the mountain patrol teams may launch a surprise attack on the convoy. You and Dafa must hold out for me. Our reinforcements will arrive soon.”
Tianyou: “I understand, Boss.”
Tianyou: (voice-over) “Before Li Xiaodao brings his men over, I need to settle Dafa and this group of brothers first.”
Scene 99 – Daytime
Characters: Wu Tianliang, Wang Meixiu, Wu Lily, Li Xiaodao, Yabu, More Than Ten Henchmen
Time: Afternoon
Location: Wu Tianliang’s Mansion Living Room
△ Inside the living room of Wu Tianliang’s mansion.
Tianliang: “Damn your teacher! Those mountain-top savages really dare to turn against me and cut off my source of income. Xiaodao, are you all ready yet?”
Xiaodao: “Ready! Councilman.”
Tianliang: “Take everyone with you. Bring both long guns and handguns. Bring the convoy back down the mountain for me.”
Xiaodao: “Yes! I’ll depart immediately.”
△ Xiaodao waves his hand and leaves with the men.
Lily: (grabs Tianliang’s hand and kneels down) “Dad, I beg you! Stop doing evil things. I don’t want the rest of your life spent locked inside prison.”
Tianliang: (shakes her off and points at Lily) “You dare curse your own father! I still haven’t settled the score with you over how you and Tianyou opposed me last time. Truly like raising rats only to have them bite through the rice sack!”
△ Tianliang raises his hand to hit Lily.
Meixiu: (furious) “You heartless brute! Go ahead and hit her. If you dare hit Lily, then hit me too.”
Tianliang: “You think I don’t dare?”
△ Tianliang backhands Meixiu across the face.
Meixiu: (crying) “You pot-bellied short-lived bastard, the kind no one will cry for when dead! I’ve been with you nearly thirty years, and you actually dare hit me? Did a dog eat your conscience?”
Lily: (crying, hugging Meixiu) “Mom, are you alright?”
Lily: (toward Tianliang) “Dad! Stop making mistake after mistake.”
Tianliang: “Look at your daughter. What kind of words are those? What a waste that I raised her for more than twenty years.”
Meixiu: “That’s because you’ve committed every evil deed imaginable!”
Tianliang: “You… you’re infuriating me to death.”
Meixiu: “Good! Better if you die from anger! Otherwise the police will eventually throw you into a cage until lice grow in your hair.”
Tianliang: (driven mad with rage, pointing at Meixiu) “You crazy woman, you…”
Scene 100 – Daytime
Characters: Timber Poachers’ Convoy (Zhou Tianyou, Jian Dafa, and others), Gao Yingxiong, Shi Ziqiang, Dozens of Mountain Patrol Members
Time: Afternoon
Location: Lulin Mountain Workstation
△ The timber poachers’ convoy is trapped between two mountain patrol teams from the front and rear. Dozens of people, dozens of hunting rifles, and several native dogs surround them.
Ziqiang: (hiding behind a large tree trunk, shouting loudly) “Timber poachers, you are surrounded! Throw out your weapons and come out with your hands raised.”
Dafa: (pulls out a handgun) “We’re doomed, Second Brother. We’ve been surrounded.”
Tianyou: “Do you see that? Dozens of hunting rifles are aimed at us!”
Dafa: “Charge out! Fight them to the death.”
Tianyou: (removes the magazine from the long gun) “Don’t be stupid, Dafa. A wise man does not suffer immediate losses!”
Dafa: (stunned) “Second Brother, you…”
Tianyou: “I still have an old mother to support. I don’t want to die here for nothing. Give me your handgun.”
△ Dafa reluctantly hands over the handgun.
Tianyou: “I’ll tell the brothers to throw the weapons out of the vehicles. Stay behind me.”
Dafa: (fearfully) “Will they suddenly open fire on us?”
Tianyou: (laughing despite himself) “Nonsense! You’re so afraid of death, yet just now you were talking about fighting them head-on!”
△ Tianyou first throws the long gun, handgun, and magazines out of the vehicle. He opens the car door and walks out with his hands raised high. Dafa hides behind him and follows him out with his hands raised as well.
Tianyou: (shouting) “Brothers, put down your weapons. Don’t make meaningless resistance. It’s not worth dying unjustly over a few truckloads of logs.”
△ Seeing Tianyou and Dafa walk out with their hands raised, and hearing Tianyou shout, the timber poachers inside the vehicles begin throwing out their handguns one after another and walk out with their hands raised. Yingxiong and Ziqiang immediately lead their members forward. Several people are assigned to pick up the firearms, several others tie up the timber poachers, and several stand guard nearby holding guns.
