Original subtitles

♪ Endless drifting ♪

♪ To the end of the dark forest ♪

♪ The wind is like a hand ♪

♪ Trying to keep time ♪

♪ Who is the hunter with a gun ♪

♪ Trying to devour the entire universe ♪

♪ The light is like an eye ♪

♪ That penetrates dreams ♪

♪ Don't answer ♪

♪ Who is eager to fill his eyes with the starry sky ♪

♪ The earth is no longer rotating ♪

♪ You gave me a small universe ♪

♪ In the arms of the universe ♪

♪ Calling humbly for the vast space and time ♪

♪ The world aches dully ♪

=Three-Body=

=Episode 26=

Wenjie, you must believe me.

Weining has been my comrades for so many years.

We have a deep personal friendship. I have to help him with this.

As long as you cooperate, you can avoid the disastrous consequences.

(At that moment,)

(I knew what Lei Zhicheng was after.)

(He wanted to become)

(the first man to discover extraterrestrial intelligence.)

(It really was a great opportunity to get his name into the history textbooks.)

Once he reported this,

my reply would soon be discovered.

(Humans would exhaust all technological and military power)

(to stop Trisolarans from coming.)

(I assented.)

But at that time,

I'd already decided everything.

(I loosened the bolt that secured the ground wire to the bottom)

(on the main cabinet in the equipment closet.)

(I would do equipment checkups a lot,)

(so no one noticed what I did.)

(Similar malfunctions happened many times,)

(that was easy to identify.)

(But no one would think that it was the ground wire,)

(because it was well fastened.)

(No one would touch that.)

(Such problems would often involve)

(the part of the wire on the cliff.)

This is the monitor room. The ground wire is having a problem again.

OK. I'll get it fixed.

Sure.

Oh, you came back. Something's wrong with the ground wire.

I'll go check it out.

I'll go. You stay here.

If the surveillance is affected, you'll report to the command center.

OK.

How is it going?

(Why were you certain that Lei Zhicheng would go down there?)

(He was a dedicated political officer)

(who would faithfully follow the orders given to him.)

(He were to be a part of the masses and always be on the front line.)

(Maybe it was just for show,)

(but he performed well.)

(Whenever there was some difficult and perilous work at the base,)

(he would always volunteer.)

Well, have you found the problem?

I checked everywhere.

But I didn't find anything. Maybe the problem isn't here.

Maybe?

What do you mean, maybe?

You don't say "maybe" when fulfilling an important duty.

- Take off your bag. - Political Commissar.

(What he did the most)

(was ground wire emergency maintenance,)

(which was a dangerous and exhausting job.)

Political Commissar.

It's not safe. I'll go down there, too.

(So your plan was to cut the rope)

(during his descent.)

Pilers.

I may need them. All of them.

Many reasons can cause a malfunction.

It may be the exposure of the ground wire

that causes bad contact

or the dry weather

that leads to poor electrode conductivity of the ground wire.

It could be a minor and a complicated one.

You are new here.

Political Commissar Lei won't blame you.

You go back to the main control room

to check if other machines are functional.

OK.

Go.

(My plan was to cut the rope with a short hacksaw that was broken)

(into three pieces,)

(and it wouldn't be obvious that the rope was cut through with the saw.)

Wenjie.

(But I didn't expect that...)

Wenjie.

How is it going?

Who's down there?

Political Commissar Lei.

He's on his own?

That...

That's not right.

It is too hard for him to do it on his own.

I'll help him.

Use another rope.

No, that won't be necessary.

The rope can take the weight of the two of us.

Don't worry.

To shorten the time,

three people descended using only one rope.

He's been down there for quite a while.

Let's not keep him waiting.

I need to hurry.

It is a maintenance rule

that two people can't share one rope.

You must use another one.

All right.

Go get one, then.

I'll be here waiting.

Go.

Take it easy.

No running.

I have checked everything.

It's all good here.

Maybe it's the part that connects to the main cabinet.

Let's get up there.

OK.

Be careful. It's slippery here.

Yeah.

(When I got back there,)

(Lei Zhicheng and Yang Weining had finished the inspection,)

(and they were ascending using one rope.)

(Yang Weining was on the top,)

(and Lei Zhicheng was under him.)

(I knew)

(that)

(I would not have another chance.)

(So)

(I took out the hacksaw.)

(I did it calmly,)

(without feeling anything.)

(I had found)

(a goal to which I could devote myself.)

(I didn't care what price had to be paid,)

(either by me or by others.)

(And I knew that)

(the entire human race)

(would pay an unprecedented price)

(for the goal.)

(That was only the beginning.)

(I heard two or three surprised cries,)

(and then the sound of bodies slamming against the rocks.)

(After a while,)

(I saw that the stream at the foot of the cliff)

(had turned red.)

(Perhaps,)

(the red waters)

(were only my illusion.)

(After all, the current of the stream)

(was not as strong as it was in summer.)

Too many tubes, no?

Well, we need to run a full examination.

- Is your admission procedure finished? - Yes.

What are you doing here?

I'm here to check you up.

No need. I'm fine.

Just go.

I'm sure you're busy.

(Inpatient)

You found Ye Wenxue?

No, I didn't.

I've been in the business for over twenty years.

I know it is the best way to deal with people like that.

I knew it.

What about Ye Wenjie?

Has the interrogation begun?

Yes, it began this morning.

What are you doing here then?

Go watch the whole thing.

And you'll repeat everything to me word by word.

Why are you still sitting here?

Hurry up.

Take Professor Wang back. He's got a mission.

Professor Wang, don't worry.

I'll take good care of Captain Shi.

You let me know at once when you have the examination report.

Eat the apples.

(The Third Affiliated Hospital of Capital Medical University Examination Report)

Captain Shi, the indicators...

I know.

I understand the numbers.

Wang Miao mustn't see this.

I know him.

Once he knows, he'll find a place and cry by himself.

Look at you.

I'm not dead yet.

- Give me a cigarette. - No smoking in the hospital.

(The Third Affiliated Hospital of Capital Medical University Examination Report)

(Respondent: Ye Wenjie)

Professor Ye, have you regretted it?

No.

Perhaps...

for a small while.

(The deaths of Lei and Yang)

(were treated as accidents.)

(Everybody at the base knew)

(that Yang Weining and I were a happy couple.)

(So)

(no one suspected me.)

(It didn't take long before a new commissar came to the base.)

(And my life returned to its habitual peace.)

Until one day,

Zhang told me that someone wanted to see me.

Those kids came from the village of Qijiatun.

They were told that people were well-educated

here at Radar Peak,

so they would like to ask you some questions about their study.

Are they even allowed to be here?

Well, the base's security rating has been reduced.

It'll be fine as long as they stay outside.

Yesterday, some local villagers came to bring us vegetables.

Kids, this is Professor Ye who you asked to see.

Hi. Hello.

Nice to see you, Professor Ye. Can I ask you a question?

The textbook said that a body in free fall is under constant acceleration,

but will always reach a terminal velocity.

We've been trying to figure out why for several nights.

You came all the way up here just to ask this?

The Exam draws near.

Our teacher told us that it was an important one.

What exam?

You know, the National College Entrance Exam.

Whoever studies hard and gets the best score gets to go the college.

It began two years ago.

Didn't you know?

You don't need a referral letter anymore?

No. Anybody can take the exam.

(More and more kids would come and ask me more questions.)

(If there was a large group,)

(the leaders at the base would allow)

(me to place a blackboard in my room to teach the kids.)

Every object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line.

Inertia varies with mass.

Do you understand?

Yes.

All right.

We'll end here today.

Today is New Year's Eve.

You'll go home and enjoy the evening.

Professor Ye, my mom invites you to have dumplings at our home with us.

Professor Ye, my mom also wants to invite you.

Professor Ye, come to my home.

My home. My home.

I appreciate it, but no.

Just go home.

Be careful when you go down the mountain.

(Wedding Photo, Winter of 1973)

Happy new year, Ye.

What are you doing here on New Year's Eve?

Come on. Come here.

Happy new year, Professor Ye.

What are you doing here?

Come inside. It's cold out there. Quickly.

Come on. Hurry.

Get inside.

I'm freezing.

It happens that I'm on duty.

Or these kids wouldn't have found the place.

Ye, I'm still on patrol.

You keep them here.

Kids, listen to Professor Ye, don't run about.

Come and get me before you leave, I'll lead you down the mountain.

Got it?

Got it.

All right.

Ye, I'm off.

Thanks.

Come on. Warm yourselves up.

Thank you, Professor Ye.

Do you feel cold?

What is this?

Professor Ye, my mom said dumplings are essential on the New Year's Eve.

We know that you can't go down the mountain.

So we're here to keep you company.

Thank you.

(I thought it would be a cold New Year's Eve.)

(In June,)

(I gave birth to Yang Dong.)

(Due to malpresentation, my poor health condition,)

(and the clinic's inability to deliver a baby at the base,)

(I was taken to the nearest hospital in town.)

(I had a heavy hemorrhage on the way.)

(I was thinking,)

("This probably is it.)

(This is the comeuppance for my betrayal.")

Everybody, wait outside.

(Operation Room)

It's been ages. She's still in there.

Right. Did something go wrong?

Ye always has a poor health condition.

I don't know.

I hope she's okay.

Is her family here?

How's she doing?

Her family!

She's got no family here.

Right.

Listen, she had a heavy hemorrhage. We don't have enough blood.

We need a blood donor.

Me. Me.

We can't just take random blood. Your blood type needs to match hers.

(Later, the doctor told me)

(that I lost over 2,000 cc of blood.)

(The villagers in Qijiatun donated their blood)

(to sustain my life.)

I tutored some of their kids,

but most of them, I never met before.

They had only heard about me

from their children or parents.

If it weren't for them,

I would have been dead.

(Yang Dong was born, but I was too weak)

(to take care of the baby.)

(One villager from Qijiatun went to talk to the leaders at the base)

(and proposed to look after me and my baby)

(in his own house.)

Qi.

How is Professor Ye doing?

Don't get in there, you.

But I... Can you keep it down?

You're too loud.

You are disturbing the kid.

My sister-in-law has a relative in the city.

(Malted milk powder) She gave me these.

They are supposed to be nutritious.

I figure Professor Ye will be needing nutrition at the moment.

I'll hand these to her.

Just leave them here.

See all those things?

You know Professor Ye's students?

Their parents bring food here every day.

The leader said this.

He said, "Professor Ye can

return to the base after she gets better."

But she has to keep herself busy.

She said she'd teach the kids right in this yard.

Right here? That's good, isn't it?

Hey, you!

Keep it down.

I mean, look at her.

Quickly, quickly.

Where were you, Feng?

What took you so long? The kid is crying.

My in-law had to see the baby.

I was so anxious.

All right. All right. Just make it quick.

Hurry. Hurry.

Quickly.

- All right. All right. - Hurry. Hurry.

Qi.

- You'll be fed, baby girl. - Qi.

You can't follow us in.

What is Feng doing here?

Professor Ye can't produce any milk.

Feng is a strong girl, and she just gave birth.

She's full of milk.

So I got her back.

She can feed two babies, can't she?

Many women fed Dong.

Everybody in the village was fond of her.

They said my girl looked smart.

Gradually, the house became the gathering place for the villagers.

Old and young, they all liked to come here.

- He can't look like that. - She's asleep.

Hurry.

Let me hold her.

It's fine. Go get some rest. I'll go.

Sister, listen to me. No, no. She can do that.

You were up all night.

Comrades, I think I'm doing very well.

Is this...

Is this okay?

So?

You like him, don't you?

Is he your type?

No.

What?

No.

Right?

We're better than that.

No, no, no. Don't do that.

(That piece of memory)

(doesn't even feel like my own.)

More. More.

(It felt more like the fragments of someone else's life)

(barged into mine.)

Let me see.

What is that, a tail?

One more.

This, this is how you do it. Like this.

(What's the most unforgettable is those nights I spent with Feng.)

(Qijiatun had no electricity,)

(we would sit next to the oil lamp to look after the baby.)

I feel cold.

What's on your mind?

Nothing.

These days

feel like a dream to me.

It doesn't even belong to me.

What are you talking about?

All right, I need to add more wood to heat up the bed.

I'll help, so you don't have to go in and out twice.

Look at the bright stars.

Wenjie,

how come the stars don't fall from the sky?

Are you afraid that they will fall?

I'm not.

They are so small.

They are very far away from us.

They won't fall.

All right, back to the wood-burning. Get back into the room.

It is cold outside.

Get inside.

(That was a brief)

happy moment.

But you lived through the worst time.

Two years after your daughter was born,

you and your father were politically rehabilitated.

Yes.

I received a letter from my college.

They said I could return to work.

A sum of money came with the letter.

That was the back pay owed to my father

after his rehabilitation.

At base meetings,

they finally

addressed me as Comrade Ye Wenjie.

At the time,

I remembered the letter

that I sent to Trisolaris

two years ago.

But I was very aware

that they'd never see me as their comrade again.

Until you left the base,

you never received anything from Trisolaris ever again?

It would take at least eight years

to receive the reply from Trisolaris.

And after I left the base,

I no longer had any way to receive replies.

How did you cope after you went back?

After all, the time had changed.

Right.

Everybody had changed.

They started to take technology seriously.

They started to approach science,

believe in the good qualities of being hard-working

and down-to-earth.

At the first National Conference on Science,

Guo Moruo declared that it was the season

of rebirth and renewal for China's battered science establishment.

At the time,

I would often ask myself,

"Is this the end

of the madness?

Is science and rationality

really coming back?"

As time went by,

the Red Coast Base

started to feel surreal to me.

(That thing was too important.)

(And I had done it all by myself.)

(It felt more and more like my hallucination.)

(Like a dream.)

(Could the sun really amplify radio signals?)

(Did I really use the sun as an antenna)

(to send a message into the universe)

(about human civilization?)

(Did I really receive a message from an alien civilization?)

(Also, Lei Zhicheng,)

(and Yang Weining.)

(Did I really...)

But that was real.

I started to have doubt

about the super betrayal.

I tried to numb myself with work

in order to forget the past.

It made me

feel safe.

Professor Ye,

could you really forget that?

It was difficult.

I tried to sympathize with those who once harmed me.

I thought benevolence

might be helpful.

I hoped

that they, too,

could move on.

You mentioned people who harmed you.

Who were they?

My mother.

Shao Lin.

And the one who led

the interrogation

on my father.

After my father passed away, my mother soon recovered

from her mental breakdown

and found ways

to survive through the hardships.

(In 1977,)

(she married)

(a dismissed high-level cadre from the Ministry of Education.)

(She correctly foresaw the future)

(and made the right choice.)

(Before the end of the revolution,)

(her husband was partially restored to his old position.)

(After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh CPC Central Committee,)

(he was promoted rapidly.)

(Shao Lin left her old college,)

(and was promoted to be the vice president of another famous university.)

What?

Put it here.

No eggplant tonight.

Wenjie doesn't like that.

Cook a fish.

It's good for the children. Want a candy?

I'll remove the package for you.

♪ Oh, the sea ♪

She's such a good girl.

♪ It's just like our mother ♪

I'm sure you went through a lot of sufferings.

How did you cope with them?

Here, Grandma's got it. Grandma's got it.

Welcome home.

♪ Mother used to tell me ♪

♪ That I'm from the sea ♪

♪ I was born by the sea, raised in the sea ♪

Is everything okay at work?

That's alright.

The teachers are mostly Father's former students and co-workers.

They are nice to me.

I don't want it.

OK.

I bought some new clothes for you.

Would you like to have a look?

I want this one.

OK.

Take the candy with you, all right?

Good girl.

All of them.

♪ Always by my side ♪

♪ Oh, the sea ♪

♪ It's just like our mother ♪

After the dinner,

her husband walked us a long distance.

You're welcome to come home with your daughter more often.

But remember, do not try to pursue old historical debts.

Your mother bears no responsibility for your father's death.

She, too, was a victim.

Whereas your father

clung to his own faith

in a manner that was not healthy

and walked all the way down a blind alley.

He abandoned his responsibility to his family

and caused you and your mother to suffer.

You have no right to speak of my father.

It is between me and my mother.

It has nothing to do with you.

Well, you're right.

But I'm only passing on a message from your mother.

♪ I've seen things you people won't believe ♪

♪ Soon our planet will vanish ♪

♪ I've known the future you people won't think of ♪

♪ Soon your planet will be punished ♪

♪ I've seen things you people won't believe ♪

♪ Soon our planet will vanish ♪

♪ I've known the future you people won't think of ♪

♪ Soon your planet will be punished ♪

♪ I've seen things you people won't believe ♪

♪ Soon our planet will vanish ♪

♪ I've known the future you people won't think of ♪

♪ Soon your planet will be punished ♪

♪ I've seen things you people won't believe ♪

♪ Soon our planet will vanish ♪

♪ I've known the future you people won't think of ♪

♪ Soon your planet will be punished ♪

♪ I've seen things you people won't believe ♪

♪ Soon our planet will vanish ♪

♪ I've known the future you people won't think of ♪

♪ Soon your planet will be punished ♪

=Three-Body=