Original subtitles

When yesterday's sadness is about to die

When tomorrow's good cheer is marching towards us

Then people say

''Don't cry''

So why don't we sing?

GOOD MEN, GOOD WOMEN

14 October.

Today's the anniversary of Ah Wei's murder.

He died exactly three years ago today.

Today L and l screwed without a rubber.

L was knocked out by my frenzy.

lt felt just like it did with Ah Wei.

lf l get pregnant...

the kid will be Ah Wei reincarnated.

Without you

How am l to live?

My heart is shattered

l just can't cope

[Chinese] l've been thinking...

When Hsiao graduates...

we'll join the Mainland resistance as medics.

This is no time to study.

When l was in Tokyo...

l heard news of Japanese victories every day.

All we students from Taiwan were depressed.

We'd go drinking together...

but no-one said much.

The Japanese Secret Police were watching us.

[Japanese] You and Tangh are together a lot?

Meaning what? We're good friends.

l've stopped thinking about marriage.

Have l ever talked of marriage?

l haven't been rejecting others...

just for your sake, you know.

[Japanese] Father...

Hao-Tung wants me to go to the Mainland with him.

To the Mainland? Why?

Hao-Tung is organizing a medical team...

to back up the anti-Japanese resistance.

Going together? Without marrying?

How will l face others?

And that Hao-Tung is a socialist.

You'll suffer for being with him.

l know, Father.

As long as you know.

But we must save the family's face.

Tell Hao-Tung to prepare the wedding.

They're from Taiwan.

And?

Come to join the resistance.

Taiwan?

Take them to County HQ.

To County HQ?

Taiwan is under Japanese rule.

We came here to fight the Japanese.

From Taiwan?

Right, by boat from Tanshui, then on foot.

We have papers, show him.

Ah Mao? What is it?

Just a moment.

Telephone.

Hello? Ah Mao?

ls everything settled?

Then come back.

Bring some pig-ears with you.

And pick up some liquor, too.

That'll do.

You came from Taiwan to join us, right?

Right.

County HQ is closed today.

You can go there tomorrow.

Stay here tonight.

What did he say?

Fix up some beds for them.

Thank you.

Time to eat.

Move the coats.

Over there.

That's fine.

Come eat!

14 October.

Today's the anniversary of Ah Wei's murder.

He died exactly three years ago today.

Today L and l screwed without a rubber.

L was knocked out by my frenzy.

lt felt just like it did with Ah Wei.

lf l get pregnant...

the kid will be Ah Wei reincarnated.

6 November.

lt turned chilly.

Couldn't sleep.

l froze all night.

Recall how Ah Wei used to...

put my feet on his tummy...

and rub them warm.

That New Year...

we went to a hot spring in Kukuan.

Stayed shut up indoors....

for three whole days and nights.

We went crazy.

Ah Wei!

Leave me alone.

Hold this.

lt's very important!

Don't move.

There's a good boy.

What's up?

Gotta pee.

Sleep like a dog...

but know when you need to pee.

Stop that!

lt won't come.

Out of here.

Here, l'll help you.

Out of here!

What are you doing?

You hung it up.

Woken by a nightmare last night.

Dreamt of Ah Wei.

Deathly pale, staring at me.

Woke up with no idea where l was.

Sister is behaving oddly to me.

And she's drinking by herself.

Must be because of that time in Tainan.

But there was nothing between me and her husband.

We've been rehearsing for a month now.

Wonder when we'll start shooting the film.

l feel as if l'm turning into Chiang Bi-Yu.

Sit down.

Here, sit.

[Cantonese] Where did you come from?

[Fukienese] He asks where you're from.

Taiwan.

She says from Taiwan.

Name?

He asks your full name.

Chiang Bi-Yu.

Surname Chiang. Chiang Bi-Yu.

Motive in coming here?

He asks your motive in coming here.

You came here, what's your objective?

Your motive?

We came to join the resistance.

She says to join the resistance.

How did you get here?

He asks how you got here.

By boat and on foot.

He asks how you reached here.

You came from Taiwan, but how?

By boat.

From where to where?

By boat...

via Hong Kong, Shanghai...

many places...

by sea and overland.

How many came?

How many of you came?

How many came? When you came, how many?

Five.

Five.

Me and my husband...

and three of his friends.

We five are all very close.

We came to join the resistance.

She says five of them, all close friends...

wanting to join the resistance.

Your motive?

He asks your motive in coming here.

He asks your motive in coming here.

What was your motive? Your objective?

He asks, you came here from Taiwan...

What was your objective?

To join the anti-Japanese resistance.

Where did you come from?

He asks where you come from.

Taiwan.

He says from Taiwan.

Pingtung, Taiwan.

Name?

He asks your name.

Lee Nan-Feng.

He's Lee Nan-Feng.

Surname Lee, Lee Nan-Feng.

How many of you came?

He asks how many came?

Five.

Five of them came.

Where did you come from?

He asks where you came from.

l'm from Taiwan.

Taiwan?

Name?

He asks your name.

l'm Chung Hao-Tung.

Your name?

Chung Hao-Tung.

Hao-Tung.

Motive in coming here?

He asks your motive in coming.

Come here, what motive?

Sorry, can you say it again?

He asks, you came with what motive?

Your intentions were what?

Your objective in coming?

l don't understand.

Don't understand?

What motive?

Where am l heading?

Right.

To join the resistance.

To fight the Japanese.

Motive?

He says to fight the Japanese.

Join the resistance?

lnside!

You three men, over there.

The three men, over there.

You three men, over there.

Feet!

Your feet.

Stick your feet out.

Why are we being held?

Stick out your feet.

What's all this for?

They're detaining us.

Why? What for?

Please tell us why.

No specific order...

We're shackling your feet.

All three of you.

Stick out your feet.

Sit down.

Sit down over here.

We're here to join the resistance!

Who told you to do this?

We're here to join the resistance.

We'll find out in the interrogation.

lnterrogation?

Find out what?

Nothing is clear yet!

Then why are you detaining us?

You'll be interrogated further.

Summer, 1940.

Chiang Bi-Yu and her friends were held as Japanese spies...

in Guangdong.

They were due to be executed after 3 days of interrogation.

Thankfully Chiu Nien-Tai of the Civil Defense Corps...

stepped in to save them.

l went to see Chiang Bi-Yu in the hospital.

She told me l looked like her when she was young.

She was very pretty then.

Came home after work today.

More pages of my diary on the fax machine.

Why would this person have stolen my diary?

And he doesn't speak when he calls.

Re-reading my old diary entries every day.

Such a weird feeling.

Has it come yet?

Has what come?

You know.

My period?

Not yet, why?

What shall we do?

lf l'm pregnant, have the baby.

Have a little Ah Wei for me?

You're so sure it'll be yours?

l am a bar hostess, you know.

So should we get rid of it?

ls that what you want?

What if it is yours?

Want to bet on it?

OK, l won't have it.

What an expression.

OK, l'll have it and bring it up myself.

Do you want a child?

ls it mine?

No more joke like that, OK?

l wonder what a little Ah Wei would look like.

Loads of women could have a child for you.

You don't want to?

l'd like to see a little Ah Wei.

l'm sure our child would be beautiful.

Sure, l could have a baby.

Then l could stop working...

and stop living here.

When you were in jail, l visited your father.

Got sick and tired of this place.

You're the only reason l'm here.

Anyhow, that's not the main point.

You men never get it, do you?

So what is ''the main point''?

Having a kid means having a house, a home!

You think the kid's all there is to it?

What about the rest?

l'd be stuck looking after it.

You'd be off chasing other women.

l'd give you all you need.

That personality of yours...

lt'll be the death of you one day.

You think you can do anything.

l tell you, l'm not like other women.

Why do you always say that?

No special reason.

l'd just like to see a little Ah Wei.

You're here.

Please sit down.

Do sit.

Have some tea.

Oh, one baby's crying.

Here, some tea.

Auntie had to go to Hong Kong.

She's told me...

to find suitable families for your children.

She's left for Hong Kong?

Yes.

A few days ago, to see her uncle.

She's touched by your patriotism.

Returning to the motherland in such times...

to join the resistance effort.

She insisted that l help you...

find good foster parents.

Have some tea.

We're about to eat.

Why don't you join us?

Auntie won't adopt the children herself?

No.

She's helping you find a suitable home for them...

so that you can fight on with no worries.

She wants you to sign a contract.

A contract?

A mere formality.

Having it in writing will be better...

for you and for the foster parents.

Things are so unpredictable these days.

She's left two red envelopes with me...

fifty dollars for each child.

All right?

Splendid, l'll write it.

Here, keep this.

Keep this.

Be good, child.

Ah Ching, have you eaten?

Come sit, here.

Ah Ching, you want rice?

OK.

One more dish coming.

No rush!

We'll finish that!

Have some.

You want some more?

Please.

Ah Tong.

Give Ah Hsi another bowl.

You're ravenous.

Did you go to the garage?

You're starving!

When did you go?

Just now.

Thanks.

Sorry, that's the lot.

You've cleaned the bowl.

l want two guys outside the joint...

taking turns to stand guard.

Day and night.

We'll close them down.

See how long he can keep going.

He thinks he's tough? Well, we'll see.

What if they didn't do it?

lt must have been them.

What makes you so sure?

Only they knew the money was in the trunk.

That's true.

They didn't bother with the inside of the car...

went straight for the trunk.

And that guard saw the whole thing.

He thought it was guys from the garage.

Anyhow, who else could it have been?

Did you get the money back?

We have to get it back.

lf we don't, we'll close them down.

He dared to take it, but he won't dare spend it.

Hello?

Hello?

Ah Ching, you must trap this guy.

Or go to the police.

But the police could hassle you.

Everything would come out.

Better to lure the guy out.

Hello?

Ah Nan? Just a moment.

Hello.

Hello.

Yes.

Speaking.

Hua-Hsing.

Hua-Hsing Electronics got the contract.

The building project?

Ah Po will handle it.

Right!

Really?

l see.

l'll call you when we know.

OK. Sure, that's fine.

l know, l know.

l'll check and call you back.

What is it?

Big Brother says this is all very complicated.

Too many people want in on it.

He can't show his own face...

so he wants Brother Long to deal with it.

When?

Two days from now, on my old man's birthday.

Ah Po will ask Chairman Hsu to go.

Fine.

Get lost!

That's your last of this stuff.

What do you care?

Piss off!

Fuck you! Why'd you come back?

Fuck off!

Leave me alone!

Let go!

Let me go!

You fucking...

Piss off! No!

Lay off that stuff.

Don't you touch me!

How could you sleep with her?

You filthy creep.

That's all over, OK?

All over.

8 November.

Got drunk last night.

Woke up naked today.

Thought l'd been gang-banged.

Called Sis.

She says l threw up everywhere.

She and Tong had to clean me up.

Today in Sis's shop...

l met a guy from Ah Wei's old gang.

Told me l used to nod out...

hugging Ah Wei while he gambled.

Called me smart for taking the three million in settlement.

Said Ah Wei was bound to be offed sooner or later.

l've been dealing with Mr. Hsu.

Ah Nan and you are closer to the others.

So ask Ah Nan to deal with Brother Long.

ln time... we'll all do well out of this.

Everyone's in it for money!

They'll all be treated well.

l hope Mr. Hsu understands that.

-Sure, l've told him. -No turning back now.

Consider it finalized.

l'll do the introductions when Brother Long gets here.

-Good. -Discuss it with him.

Brother Long is bringing Brother Lee.

-He'll do the negotiating. -Fine.

And you'll control the share-out.

No, discuss that with Brother Lee.

You can be frank with him.

Brother Long.

-Brother Lee! -Welcome!

Ah Nan, they've arrived.

Brother Long.

Come, sit down.

Brother Lee!

Ah Long, let me introduce...

This is Ah Po.

This is Mr. Hsu...

and his wife.

Nice meeting you.

Thank you.

Wine!

Ah Nan, explain to Brother Long.

lt's about this waste-disposal plant.

Mr. Hsu, Ah Po, please sit there.

Ah Nan...

don't worry!

This business of the plant...

is less complicated than you think.

There's some local opposition,

but now that Ah Long and l are on board...

Having Ah Long on board...

Let me bring you up to speed on this.

The opposition has subsided.

lt's down to a few people.

Nothing like before. Really a minor problem.

But Brother Lee's help...

No sweat.

Ah Long will keep everything on track.

Many thanks.

-Come! -Cheers.

Thanks for your help.

Have another.

Ah Nan...

l wasn't invited to your father's birthday party.

l couldn't impose on you! lt was just a small party, so...

lmpose on me? l think you forgot me.

Of course l didn't, Ah Long.

-l wouldn't dare. -Your health!

l couldn't possibly forget you.

-Here's to you, Brother Lee. -Here, here.

Mr. Hsu, drink to Ah Long.

We rely on his support.

Brother Lee!

Brother Lee!

-l want to sing! -OK.

All around l see gilded lives

But mine is tarnished

All around l hear words like jade

But mine are luckless

Why was l born under a bad star?

Others bask in life while l struggle

Robbery!

The Japs!

Robbing our stores!

The war ended in 1945.

Chung Hao-Tung and his wife...

survived five years as guerrillas on the Mainland...

and came home to Taiwan.

Chung Hao-Tung became principal of a school in Keelung.

And Chiang Bi-Yu joined a radio station in Taipei.

Because of the war...

they'd put their first son up for adoption.

The year they returned to Taiwan...

their second son died of a fever.

This is China's land-reform plan.

lt was tabled last month...

at the National Land-Reform Conference.

lt's based on two principles.

One is to do away with land-ownership laws...

founded on feudal exploitation.

The other is to give the land to those who work it...

and to link land ownership with population density.

Let's all take a look at this.

Then we can discuss it.

The nation now recognizes the class issue.

The gap between peasants and land-owners.

The two principles in the plan...

allow us to view Taiwan's ''February 28 lncident''...

in a new light.

Some consider it a clash between Mainlanders and Taiwanese...

but if we reconsider it in the light of these principles...

we can see it had economic causes.

lt was an issue of class difference.

Armed revolution always springs from class contradictions.

l think it's also important...

that the war caused so many shortages.

That's why the poorest class became so dissatisfied.

But this grasp of class difference...

was missing from our work this year.

As we consolidate our political analysis...

l think we are obliged...

to give Taiwanese people a deeper understanding.

lf we don't, the recent tragic loss of life...

is going to be repeated.

Yes, the plan provides a useful analysis.

When we tackle the peasant issue...

we must bring in the perspective of class.

We must see how the dynamics of production...

give rise to class oppositions.

Right now, in the countryside...

a tiny minority owns most of the land.

Most peasants have nothing to their name.

This is a blatant inequality.

A nakedly feudal system.

And it was this contradiction...

that made a class conflict inevitable.

We do need to examine the peasant issue in this light.

No doubt the recent ''February 28 lncident''...

gave everyone a great shock...

but our current analysis of it...

may be beyond the grasp of the average person.

My feeling is...

we intellectuals have a duty.

We must educate the masses.

We must enlighten the people of Taiwan.

Only those with class consciousness...

can wage class struggle.

l agree with you.

We must understand the ruling Nationalists better.

Reveal their underlying characteristics.

ln reality, the Nationalist Party...

represents the interests of the land-owning class.

The ''February 28 lncident'' appeared to be...

a clash between Taiwanese and Mainlanders.

But it was actually caused by class inequalities.

Since July, l've realized that...

our efforts for the Civil War on the Mainland...

depend on disseminating our political message...

in Nationalist-controlled areas.

l suggest that we publish a magazine...

and use it to inform the public...

of our Civil War efforts in Taiwan.

And to teach them more about the motherland.

Lay out some basic principles.

What do you think?

-Excellent! -Great!

Very good idea!

We must spell out our political line very clearly...

to ward off chaos.

Right, the very risk we discussed.

Our views.

We must use simple words.

Express our ideas in basic terms...

so that our Taiwanese compatriots...

and working people can clearly grasp our line.

l'm sure there will be many friends...

who share our ideals.

But there are many others who still labor in darkness.

This publication will serve to promote our ideas.

We can unite many factions.

l suggest we name it ''The Enlightenment.''

How does that sound?

-''The Enlightenment.'' -Right, ''The Enlightenment.''

Pretty good!

Autumn, 1948.

As classes began in Keelung Middle School...

Chung Hao-Tung and the others...

prepared to publish ''The Enlightenment.''

To meet the printing costs...

they sold their houses.

They augmented their resources...

by setting up a money-lending shop...

outside the Matzu Temple in Pingtung.

May, 1949.

The Nationalist Party retreated to Taiwan.

ln August...

a graduate from National Taiwan University...

sent a copy of ''The Enlightenment''...

to a girl he loved.

This led to his arrest in secret.

Chiang Bi-Yu's brother at the university...

fled to Kaohsiung with eight classmates...

but he was arrested, too.

Search!

Madam.

We are the ''People's Liberation Army''...

come to ''liberate'' all of you.

A man called for the school principal today.

Who was he?

The principal has just hired him.

He left this note.

Tai Yu-Lien.

Chiang Bi-Yu.

Why do you sisters have different surnames?

Get dressed and go out to the car.

My sister has nothing to do with this.

Madam, we'll be the ones to determine...

where she has or not.

Now hurry.

Miss Chang, please take my baby.

Hao Tung!

lt's the principal.

Hao-Tung!

Chang Yi-Ming. Report for judgment.

Wu Chiu-Lan...

Chen Yue-Feng...

Guo Hsiu-Nu...

Wang Mei-Hui...

Wang Li-Chu...

Lin Ah-Shui...

Chiu Shu-Chen.

Report for judgement.

March, 1950.

After six months in front of military tribunals...

Chiang Bi-Yu was released as a non-ringleader.

Chung Hao-Tung was sent for New Life Corps reeducation.

June, 1950.

The Korean War erupted.

President Truman ordered the Seventh Fleet...

to defend the Taiwan Strait.

Under U.S. military command, Taiwan became...

a front line in the anti-Communist struggle.

The island's destiny was forever altered.

Liang Ching!

Liang Ching!

What is it?

What do you want?

What the hell, are you crazy?

He's your brother-in-law!

What?

You know!

Know what?

Why are you so close to your brother-in-law?

People are talking!

-Who's talking? -Everyone knows!

-What the hell is this about? -Everyone knows what?

Don't start that.

Fuck you!

-You're crazy. -You've flipped.

Gone for your own brother-in-law.

And never mind your sister, right?

What's so great about a man?

And you? You'd dump your sister?

What the hell?

You aren't even married to him !

Don't you call him ''brother-in-law''?

What is he to you?

Just try doing that again.

-Wanna try? -Think l don't dare?

Well?

What about it?

l tell you...stop fighting!

Well?

Why did l ever care for you?

How dare you!

Hello?

lt's you again.

Why don't you speak?

What do you want?

Money?

Or is it me?

Don't hang up.

Why did you steal my diary?

Anyway, it was pointless.

You don't scare me.

Ah Wei was violent, he didn't scare me.

Why would l be scared of you?

You know, my head really aches.

lt's true, it took their blood money.

Three million, you've read it in the diary.

All gone now.

Everyone said, the dead stay dead...

but money's real.

He died, and l've had other men.

But you should know...

if l had died instead of him...

he wouldn't have mourned me.

Actually l've had many men.

You think that pleased me?

Ah Wei, listen...

don't keep me waiting so long.

Come back to me soon!

l've visited your grave every year.

Perhaps it was pointless.

Ah Wei, listen to me. l've moved.

Maybe you can't find me.

lf you were alive, l'd be pleased to see you.

Ah Wei, l miss you so much.

Ah Wei, listen...

Ah Wei, please come back.

We'll have fun.

Ah Wei, you want to hear me sing?

You always liked that, didn't you?

All around

l see gilded lives

But mine is tarnished

All around l hear words like jade

But mine

Are luckless

''RECORD OF RECENT EXECUTlONS-- National Security HQ''

Auntie!

-Who is it? -Auntie?

Who is it?

Ah Hsien.

They've just posted the notice of Uncle's execution.

l know.

The military tribunal informed us earlier today.

Your Uncle's father has gone to the morgue.

-Are you hungry? -No, not at all.

Then hurry to school.

And take care.

Rock-a-bye baby

Rock-a-bye baby

Hungry?

Taste good?

Ma.

-Not enough money. -How much do we need?

700. Dad says to borrow it next door.

l'll try to borrow it from my brother's company.

l'll put on my shoes.

What is it?

The morgue wants 700.

Father has only 100 on him.

Mother. l have some small change.

lt won't be enough.

l'll borrow it from my brother's company.

We'll manage.

Watch the baby.

Yes.

Did you see your brother-in-law?

Yes.

Shot here, three times.

A small abrasion on his head.

They said it happened when he fell.

There was dirt in his clenched fist.

Sister...

l ran into the tribunal judge.

He said to take good care of yourself.

Bi-Yu...

please don't be afraid...

and don't grieve for me.

You know too well how we were together.

l won't go over it here.

As for my funeral...

You mustn't squander money on it.

Make it as simple as possible.

l have very few possessions here.

Just a few bits and pieces for you to pick up.

Maybe to remember me by.

l've written to Mother in the South.

Please write to her as often as you can.

Console her for me.

Tong has bad teeth.

l fear it runs in the family.

See if you can get them seen to.

And poor little Min.

He never got to know me at all.

Father, Mother, please don't grieve.

Brothers, sisters, guard your dreams.

You have so many talents.

You can achieve anything.

l love and respect you all dearly.

l miss you.

l wish you the best.

Hao-Tung.

Nightfall, 2 October.

11 January.

The ''Good Men, Good Women'' film unit...

left for location shooting in Guangdong.

We have a three-month schedule.

We crossed the border at Lo Wu Station.

lt was jammed.

l've never seen so many people.

The day before we left Taiwan, Chiang Bi-Yu passed away.

She was seventy-four years old.

We were sad she couldn't live to see our film about her...

''Good Men, Good Women.''

Dedicated to Mr. Chung Hao-Tung and Ms. Chiang Bi-Yu...

and all the political victims of the 1950s.