Fire on the Plain (2021) Movie Script
CHINA FILM ADMINISTRATION
A taxi driver was murdered in Fentun District today.
This is the second murder of its kind in just a month.
Taxi drivers parked at the police station
are demanding the murderer's capture.
Check out these papers.
Liu Yuntao, Tao Zhu'en. You can go.
Are you free?
- Let's go to the movies. - What's on?
How about "18 Springs"?
I'm doing overtime.
Ask me again at Christmas, then we'll see...
How can you talk about movies during this crisis?
Any of your business?
Enjoy brawling, do you?
The others got picked up by their parents.
Where are yours?
Good-for-nothing!
Got the balls to take me on?
You've got some nerve! Just you try it.
Enough! Let go!
Let go!
Detective Jiang!
Come with me.
You're scraping the barrel with him!
Thought you were busy undercover?
Inside.
You're a hard puncher.
Don't you have family?
All dead.
How did they die?
What do you know about death?
Or being strangled?
Nothing.
Don't think too much of yourself.
(BANDAGE)
Jiang!
Over here!
The taxi drivers are on edge.
They're blockading the station.
Gone through the list yet?
Jobless individuals are prime suspects.
Especially ones with criminal records.
Double down on the undercover work.
Now's not the time to slack.
Going out, neighbour?
The factory boss wants to see me.
I brought a rabbit.
Fancy a drink?
There's hardly any meat on a rabbit.
I'll eat with the boss.
I'll get going then.
Stay here.
Your daughter's painting looks good.
Honey, I'll be out all night.
Help yourself to the liquor.
Son!
Where have you been?
Got into a fight again?
Take a break if you're tired.
Dear neighbour...
Cook the rabbit tonight while it's fresh.
I don't know how.
My dad knows how.
I love your gas stove.
Helps keep the meat tender.
Why wear the uniform if the factory's been shut down?
It's comfortable and hides the dirt.
Fei.
Would be such a shame
if Fei doesn't get into a top tier high school.
It's all thanks to your tutoring.
Our factory school would hold her back.
Yizhong High can fast-track her to a good university.
The transfer fees are sky-high.
I was told
top schools in the southern provinces charge less.
Dad, since you're no longer at the factory
why don't we try our luck
in Guangzhou or Shenzhen?
We've been through a lot worse in the past.
Leave the money problem to me.
Thank you for being such good neighbours
and treating Fei like a daughter.
Did you hear what happened? - What?
Two taxi drivers were murdered.
My dad almost became the third victim.
The guy asked to go to Fentun.
Got in and tried to strangle him.
You weren't even there!
The cops aren't any closer to catching him.
I heard the killer has huge hands.
As big as mine?
As if.
Shu.
Fancy a spin?
Dare take me to Fentun?
Piss off, you little brat!
Stop sniggering.
Your turn.
Hey! That's my car!
My dearly beloved!
You're so cruel to me.
I devoted my life to you.
But all you gave me was sorrow.
(TAXI THEFT ON 7 HUANGHE ROAD)
(LICENSE PLATE: JIZ-83777)
(JIZ-83777)
Step on it.
(DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE)
He's a fucking cop!
Freeze!
Don't move!
What are you doing here?
Hungry? I can cook some noodles.
The factory's closing.
My dad was laid off.
Ever considered leaving?
I'm not going anywhere.
Our house is so cold.
I want to go south, it's warmer.
Go then.
I'll be out all night. My bed's all yours.
Your son's here.
Dad.
Hang on.
What brings you here?
Lost my job. And my money.
- What's all this? - Keep it.
We're off.
Why don't you sleep at home?
Fancy moving house?
These days, you either sink or swim.
What's got into your mum?
How would I know?
She owes her job at the tobacco factory to me.
I don't get her.
It's a huge flat in a great location.
No riff-raff around either.
What's not to like?
If only she cared as much about you.
Don't get carried away.
A man must think big.
No money, no pride.
Got it?
- Director! - Come in.
You made a fortune last night!
They let me win. Just for fun.
I'm impressed, Zhuang!
Take all the machines you want.
I've marked all the good ones.
Count it. - No need.
It's just a pile of metal.
We've got each other's backs.
Smoke one of mine.
Boss, they're fighting again!
- All you do is skive off. -Stop this!
We don't need the likes of you.
Calm down.
Here's the boss.
I work my ass off. How can you fire me?
The factory's in trouble.
We're going hungry.
Stop!
Where are you going?
Come here.
Didn't you hear me last night?
How does running help?
The others beat you up, not me.
But you stole the taxi.
Get in.
Here's a chance to make amends.
Take me to Hu's father.
What for? - Aquick chat.
Stop the car.
Running off again?
Jump off if you dare.
Watch me!
Idiot.
Hu's father was a victim. I'm trying to help.
You guys wait outside. I'll go in with the kid.
I escaped from the jaws of hell
back to the land of the living.
Mr Fare-fiddler!
- How dare you! - Is that him?
He's a cop.
Come with me. I have some questions for you.
What's going on?
He got in on the left and asked to go to Fentun.
He sat down behind me, which was odd.
I said it was too far.
So he offered me another ten yuan.
He was well-built.
He could easily have overpowered me.
Anything else that stood out?
Gasoline.
He reeked of gasoline.
I asked which factory he worked at.
No reply.
Describe him.
Long face, short hair, in his forties.
He made me turn off the radio.
You get out!
Show me how he strangled you.
Well...
When the car stopped he put a rope around me like this.
What a joke!
How would that strangle anyone?
Pull harder.
Harder!
Enough!
Bye.
Did I offer you one?
You've done a good deed today.
How about some dim sum?
- I'm not in the mood. What's on your mind?
You just gonna drift through life?
Don't waste your life away.
I don't give a damn.
Keep bumming around
and you'll either end up behind bars
or be a complete waste of space.
You cops are so full of shit.
Let's go for that dim sum. Your treat.
Okay.
Sorry, I can't today.
Paycheck not in yet?
Team briefing. Get out!
We'll do it when this is over.
That means never.
Don't jinx it.
Real lambskin.
That's the last pair. Try them on.
That's the last pair.
Why buy gloves if you're heading south?
I'm only looking.
Didn't your dad stop you going out?
I escaped.
That enough?
Where did you get it?
From my dad.
I can't take his money.
Forget it.
Let's get some food.
Four tickets to Shenzhen on the 26th.
672 yuan. It leaves at 10:24.
Here you go.
Hi,
I want to make a deposit.
How much?
Factory workers collecting severance pay
please proceed to this counter.
Get in line, please!
Please get in line.
Please get in line and proceed to the counter.
You're Li Shoulian's daughter. Where's your dad?
Give it back.
I want my money back.
Wait.
I've changed my mind.
My son stole my money.
Fei stole it from him.
And now her dad gave it back to me.
What goes around comes around.
Money has a mind of its own.
Fei's such a disappointment.
You've tutored her for years.
I feel sorry for you.
She didn't steal it.
I gave it to her.
Was it yours to give?
What do you take me for?
So what if I take your bribe money?
You little shit!
You've got some nerve.
How dare you!
Take it outside!
What did you say?
You bastard!
Have you seen Shu?
As if you care.
You just fucked him over.
What do you need money for?
I told you I wanted to leave.
My dad was a model employee.
Look at him now.
You keep saying you want to leave.
What's wrong with this place?
I like fire.
Do you?
Me too.
But it's kind of dangerous.
They say fire takes no prisoners.
What do you think of me?
I think you're silly!
Shu!
I need to talk to you when you get back.
Can't you tell me now?
I put too much on.
Hi.
What are you doing?
I know you need money to change school
so I hope you'll take this.
Believe in yourself.
Don't give up.
Hold on to your convictions.
Even the Sea parts for the faithful.
Do you want to leave too?
Come with me and my dad
to Shenzhen.
Does he know about this?
I like you, and so does my dad.
Why do adults bottle up their feelings?
Why can't they follow their hearts?
I know you won't leave Shu behind.
I'll persuade him to come with us.
(JIYUAN - SHENZHEN, 26th DECEMBER 1997)
Fei.
How did you know I was here?
Don't leave.
Got any plastic sandals?
Who sells sandals in the dead of winter?
I heard this time the victim's a woman.
Please don't go south.
Come make a bonfire with me.
Where?
The cornfield in Fentun.
Are you up for it?
I am if you are.
Meet you at 10pm on Christmas Eve.
(PING YUAN CIGARETTES)
Mr Sun.
Hello Fei.
Fancy seeing you here, Sun.
Selling phoney goods?
Piss off if you're not buying.
Your herbal pouches don't work.
Give me a refund.
No way..
They're fake!
Bullshit.
It's just a big scam!
Easy now. We're all from the same factory.
Says who?
The fucking factory's gone.
Watch out for these fake goods!
Don't get scammed!
Dad!
Dad!
Officer, they're selling fake goods!
(SUN'S CLINIC)
How's this, Dad?
Seriously?
Look at this mess!
It's like a dog's breakfast.
You're useless, Tianbo.
Just my luck to have a son like you.
Never seen such a mess!
Dad.....
Why can't you just walk away?
I've had enough.
I can't stand it any longer.
Dad!
Fei!
- I can't stand it. - Enough!
I just can't stand it.
Living like this is humiliating!
What are we doing to ourselves?
Have some water.
Is this some kind of parade?
All these people gawking...
Makes us look bad.
Three murders in just a few months.
How do you sleep at night?
If we can't catch the killer,
we might as well quit and become street vendors.
Everyone's moving out.
None of my business.
All Shu does is fool around all day.
I tell you it's this dodgy neighbourhood.
Once we move out, he'll change...
At least there's no harm in trying.
Who does he take after?
Me, of course. Sons take after their dads.
Fei.
Fei.
Fei.
Stand still!
Get in the car.
Where to?
Tell him where you want to go.
Fentun.
Fentun?
In response to recent brutal crimes,
police have stepped up their investigation
to identify and catch the culprit.
Where to?
Can you turn it off?
Citizens are asked to stay alert...
People are too scared to go to Fentun now.
Haven't you heard the news?
You're lucky I'm here.
That makes you quite brave.
Got any cigarettes?
It's the last one.
I haven't seen this Ping Yuan design before.
What do you do for a living?
Factory worker.
Laid off.
Tough times for state-owned factories.
Turn right up ahead.
That's not the way to Fentun.
Turn left. We're almost there.
Dad.
I feel fine. I don't have a stomach ache.
Why kick up a fuss at this time of night?
You said you had a stomach ache
so I'm taking you to the clinic.
Turn right.
I'll get off at the cornfield on your right.
Turn right.
Could you please decide which way I should go?
It's too dark. I need to look around.
Can you get out too, Sir?
Help me find my bearings!
Miss, you stay in the car. It's cold outside.
Freeze!
Police!
Hands up.
Police!
Hands up.
Kneel.
- This is a mistake. - Kneel!
I'm just going to the clinic.
I knew you were dodgy.
Stop playing innocent!
You've got it all wrong...
Fei!
Fei!
Fei!
Since Jiang died, you're the only one who visits me.
Eat up.
I used to believe in karma.
Turns out the Heavens don't do justice.
My son died in vain.
Jiang didn't die in vain.
Don't take no for an answer, do you?
I want to try and solve Jiang's case.
Who was Detective Jiang to you?
Bring-me Jiang's file and any material evidence.
Come in.
What's this?
They found it in Jiang's jacket.
Is Jiang's blood on it?
We don't know whose blood it was.
That night...
...we never found Jiang's gun.
Dad made quite an effort.
He should still have consulted me.
Some of these aren't worth exhibiting.
Mum, doesn't Ping Yuan have a new logo?
My design has a curved border.
The new designs look awful.
I've seen your design somewhere.
Really?
These packs were for internal consumption only.
I gave two cartons to Li Shoulian.
There's a gathering later.
Who's going?
The old factory staff.
I don't have anything in common with them.
Nothing in common.
Hello!
I'm Shu!
Dad's busy tonight so I came instead.
Shunning his pals now he's rich?
Not at all!
This is Zhuang's boy.
Cheers!
Have you heard from Li Shoulian at all?
Fei's dad?
Li Shoulian? I've heard from him.
He's now a security guard in Shenzhen.
Heard he's doing well.
Even found himself a pretty wife.
Says who?
My husband saw him just last week
while hailing a cab.
He's a cab driver now.
Wow, your husband can afford to take cabs now!
Aunt, are you sure it was him?
Come sing a song with Aunty.
Grab a mic!
We're going to give you a rendition of Moscow Nights!
The girl I love sits next to me.
She stares at me silently.
I want to tell her my feelings.
But I don't know how.
So I've kept my words inside.
Lulu!
It's me again.
Sweetheart.
Miss me?
Can I take you to dinner sometime?
Say something.
It's your job to chat to me.
I'm paying for this call.
Say something nice to me.
What's up?
Police. I'm looking for someone.
Who?
Li Shoulian.
Anyone know a Li Shoulian?
There's definitely no one by that name here.
He must have changed names.
Show me the photos.
Have you tried the unlicensed taxis?
Here for a bath?
One, please.
Fei!
Fei.
Fei.
Let go.
You must resist it.
You have to go easy on the drugs.
I'm begging you...
Let go!
Fei!
Let go!
Let me turn myself in.
Dad, I've told you.
Without you, I'd rather die.
Let go!
You keep coming back for more. You need me!
Now that my dad's gone
you can move in with me.
What do you say?
Eat up.
Are you away again next week?
Mum, are you fond of Fei
because she's like you?
Fei isn't like me.
She's much more true to herself.
That guy we arrested in the latest operation
has confessed to the 1997 taxi driver murders.
We'll interrogate him tomorrow.
I see.
Get Hu's father to identify him.
Everything alright?
Yeah, just work stuff.
1997?
I killed all four cab drivers.
I got in and sat behind the driver's seat.
I attacked when no one was around
and then burnt the cars.
Were there any other victims?
No.
Where were you on the night of 24th December 1997?
Have you met this person?
No.
Think harder.
Uncle
Zhao Qingge...
You know the severity of your crimes.
It's him.
He's the one.
All right, uncle
Need anything to help you remember?
Later on, I went south.
I planned to buy a gun
to rob a bank back here.
But I didn't have the money.
My plans went to pot.
I mean this man.
Take a closer look.
I've never met him.
Test results from Beijing.
Zhao Qingge wasn't lying.
Any other way to prove the link?
Zhao's blood didn't match the banknote stains.
Unless a new blood sample turns up.
I'll get going, Sir.
(CHRISTMAS EVE)
What do you want?
Get in my car first.
Eight years ago,
we were supposed to meet here on Christmas Eve.
Did you come?
No.
Did you?
You stayed here all these years?
What you been up to?
What do you do?
I'm a cop.
How's your mum?
She's well.
Still living at our old place.
We have dinner together on Saturdays.
And your dad?
Fei!
Fei!
The blood on the tissue
doesn't match the stains on the banknote.
But there's a 99.97% DNA match,
meaning they're immediate family.
Harder!
You're wounded?
Is the guy with a scar on his face working tonight?
He vanished a few days ago,
completely out of the blue.
Shu!
Shu!
Did you know Shu's a cop now?
He cares about you
because he wants to catch your dad.
My dad and I are leaving soon.
They're watching your dad.
If you dare leave
I'll report him.
Go ahead.
Fei.
Fei.
What's wrong with you?
Shu has done nothing but hurt you.
Why won't you give up?
Think Shu will still like you
when he finds out you have a prosthetic leg?
Who'll help you now?
I killed someone.
Stay where you are. I'm coming.
Fei.
Wait for me at the Dongsheng Motel.
I'll handle this.
We've evaded the police for years.
We can get away with this too.
You're right.
I'll wait for you.
Dad.
It's just the two of us now.
What is it?
I'm turning myself in.
My name is Li Shoulian.
I just killed a man.
I also killed that cop eight years ago.
Here's his gun.
Calm down. Put it down.
Requesting backup!
Where's the gun?
Don't move. - Freeze!
Freeze!
Freeze!
Freeze or I'll shoot!
Freeze!
Don't fire!
(XIUSHAN PARK)
His name's Li Shoulian.
He confessed to the murder of Detective Jiang.
We still can't find Jiang's gun.
You know him?
He was a family friend.
We used to be neighbours.
I'm at Xiushan Park.
That Christmas Eve did you...
get a cab driven by a cop
to meet me in the cornfield?
I still want to know
why you never turned up.
Your dad isn't going anywhere.
Come with me now.
Is my dad under arrest?
Trust me, he never murdered any cab drivers.
I know.
Do you think I'm pretty?
I feel I'm so pretty now.
Way prettier than ever.
What do you think?
Fei.
All humans make mistakes.
Come with me, okay?
What did I do wrong?
Was it wrong...
to want to make a bonfire with you?
Or ask you to go south with me?
I did go to the cornfield.
I waited there all night.
Give me the gun.
Liar!
Please give me the gun.
I'm all alone now.
A taxi driver was murdered in Fentun District today.
This is the second murder of its kind in just a month.
Taxi drivers parked at the police station
are demanding the murderer's capture.
Check out these papers.
Liu Yuntao, Tao Zhu'en. You can go.
Are you free?
- Let's go to the movies. - What's on?
How about "18 Springs"?
I'm doing overtime.
Ask me again at Christmas, then we'll see...
How can you talk about movies during this crisis?
Any of your business?
Enjoy brawling, do you?
The others got picked up by their parents.
Where are yours?
Good-for-nothing!
Got the balls to take me on?
You've got some nerve! Just you try it.
Enough! Let go!
Let go!
Detective Jiang!
Come with me.
You're scraping the barrel with him!
Thought you were busy undercover?
Inside.
You're a hard puncher.
Don't you have family?
All dead.
How did they die?
What do you know about death?
Or being strangled?
Nothing.
Don't think too much of yourself.
(BANDAGE)
Jiang!
Over here!
The taxi drivers are on edge.
They're blockading the station.
Gone through the list yet?
Jobless individuals are prime suspects.
Especially ones with criminal records.
Double down on the undercover work.
Now's not the time to slack.
Going out, neighbour?
The factory boss wants to see me.
I brought a rabbit.
Fancy a drink?
There's hardly any meat on a rabbit.
I'll eat with the boss.
I'll get going then.
Stay here.
Your daughter's painting looks good.
Honey, I'll be out all night.
Help yourself to the liquor.
Son!
Where have you been?
Got into a fight again?
Take a break if you're tired.
Dear neighbour...
Cook the rabbit tonight while it's fresh.
I don't know how.
My dad knows how.
I love your gas stove.
Helps keep the meat tender.
Why wear the uniform if the factory's been shut down?
It's comfortable and hides the dirt.
Fei.
Would be such a shame
if Fei doesn't get into a top tier high school.
It's all thanks to your tutoring.
Our factory school would hold her back.
Yizhong High can fast-track her to a good university.
The transfer fees are sky-high.
I was told
top schools in the southern provinces charge less.
Dad, since you're no longer at the factory
why don't we try our luck
in Guangzhou or Shenzhen?
We've been through a lot worse in the past.
Leave the money problem to me.
Thank you for being such good neighbours
and treating Fei like a daughter.
Did you hear what happened? - What?
Two taxi drivers were murdered.
My dad almost became the third victim.
The guy asked to go to Fentun.
Got in and tried to strangle him.
You weren't even there!
The cops aren't any closer to catching him.
I heard the killer has huge hands.
As big as mine?
As if.
Shu.
Fancy a spin?
Dare take me to Fentun?
Piss off, you little brat!
Stop sniggering.
Your turn.
Hey! That's my car!
My dearly beloved!
You're so cruel to me.
I devoted my life to you.
But all you gave me was sorrow.
(TAXI THEFT ON 7 HUANGHE ROAD)
(LICENSE PLATE: JIZ-83777)
(JIZ-83777)
Step on it.
(DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE)
He's a fucking cop!
Freeze!
Don't move!
What are you doing here?
Hungry? I can cook some noodles.
The factory's closing.
My dad was laid off.
Ever considered leaving?
I'm not going anywhere.
Our house is so cold.
I want to go south, it's warmer.
Go then.
I'll be out all night. My bed's all yours.
Your son's here.
Dad.
Hang on.
What brings you here?
Lost my job. And my money.
- What's all this? - Keep it.
We're off.
Why don't you sleep at home?
Fancy moving house?
These days, you either sink or swim.
What's got into your mum?
How would I know?
She owes her job at the tobacco factory to me.
I don't get her.
It's a huge flat in a great location.
No riff-raff around either.
What's not to like?
If only she cared as much about you.
Don't get carried away.
A man must think big.
No money, no pride.
Got it?
- Director! - Come in.
You made a fortune last night!
They let me win. Just for fun.
I'm impressed, Zhuang!
Take all the machines you want.
I've marked all the good ones.
Count it. - No need.
It's just a pile of metal.
We've got each other's backs.
Smoke one of mine.
Boss, they're fighting again!
- All you do is skive off. -Stop this!
We don't need the likes of you.
Calm down.
Here's the boss.
I work my ass off. How can you fire me?
The factory's in trouble.
We're going hungry.
Stop!
Where are you going?
Come here.
Didn't you hear me last night?
How does running help?
The others beat you up, not me.
But you stole the taxi.
Get in.
Here's a chance to make amends.
Take me to Hu's father.
What for? - Aquick chat.
Stop the car.
Running off again?
Jump off if you dare.
Watch me!
Idiot.
Hu's father was a victim. I'm trying to help.
You guys wait outside. I'll go in with the kid.
I escaped from the jaws of hell
back to the land of the living.
Mr Fare-fiddler!
- How dare you! - Is that him?
He's a cop.
Come with me. I have some questions for you.
What's going on?
He got in on the left and asked to go to Fentun.
He sat down behind me, which was odd.
I said it was too far.
So he offered me another ten yuan.
He was well-built.
He could easily have overpowered me.
Anything else that stood out?
Gasoline.
He reeked of gasoline.
I asked which factory he worked at.
No reply.
Describe him.
Long face, short hair, in his forties.
He made me turn off the radio.
You get out!
Show me how he strangled you.
Well...
When the car stopped he put a rope around me like this.
What a joke!
How would that strangle anyone?
Pull harder.
Harder!
Enough!
Bye.
Did I offer you one?
You've done a good deed today.
How about some dim sum?
- I'm not in the mood. What's on your mind?
You just gonna drift through life?
Don't waste your life away.
I don't give a damn.
Keep bumming around
and you'll either end up behind bars
or be a complete waste of space.
You cops are so full of shit.
Let's go for that dim sum. Your treat.
Okay.
Sorry, I can't today.
Paycheck not in yet?
Team briefing. Get out!
We'll do it when this is over.
That means never.
Don't jinx it.
Real lambskin.
That's the last pair. Try them on.
That's the last pair.
Why buy gloves if you're heading south?
I'm only looking.
Didn't your dad stop you going out?
I escaped.
That enough?
Where did you get it?
From my dad.
I can't take his money.
Forget it.
Let's get some food.
Four tickets to Shenzhen on the 26th.
672 yuan. It leaves at 10:24.
Here you go.
Hi,
I want to make a deposit.
How much?
Factory workers collecting severance pay
please proceed to this counter.
Get in line, please!
Please get in line.
Please get in line and proceed to the counter.
You're Li Shoulian's daughter. Where's your dad?
Give it back.
I want my money back.
Wait.
I've changed my mind.
My son stole my money.
Fei stole it from him.
And now her dad gave it back to me.
What goes around comes around.
Money has a mind of its own.
Fei's such a disappointment.
You've tutored her for years.
I feel sorry for you.
She didn't steal it.
I gave it to her.
Was it yours to give?
What do you take me for?
So what if I take your bribe money?
You little shit!
You've got some nerve.
How dare you!
Take it outside!
What did you say?
You bastard!
Have you seen Shu?
As if you care.
You just fucked him over.
What do you need money for?
I told you I wanted to leave.
My dad was a model employee.
Look at him now.
You keep saying you want to leave.
What's wrong with this place?
I like fire.
Do you?
Me too.
But it's kind of dangerous.
They say fire takes no prisoners.
What do you think of me?
I think you're silly!
Shu!
I need to talk to you when you get back.
Can't you tell me now?
I put too much on.
Hi.
What are you doing?
I know you need money to change school
so I hope you'll take this.
Believe in yourself.
Don't give up.
Hold on to your convictions.
Even the Sea parts for the faithful.
Do you want to leave too?
Come with me and my dad
to Shenzhen.
Does he know about this?
I like you, and so does my dad.
Why do adults bottle up their feelings?
Why can't they follow their hearts?
I know you won't leave Shu behind.
I'll persuade him to come with us.
(JIYUAN - SHENZHEN, 26th DECEMBER 1997)
Fei.
How did you know I was here?
Don't leave.
Got any plastic sandals?
Who sells sandals in the dead of winter?
I heard this time the victim's a woman.
Please don't go south.
Come make a bonfire with me.
Where?
The cornfield in Fentun.
Are you up for it?
I am if you are.
Meet you at 10pm on Christmas Eve.
(PING YUAN CIGARETTES)
Mr Sun.
Hello Fei.
Fancy seeing you here, Sun.
Selling phoney goods?
Piss off if you're not buying.
Your herbal pouches don't work.
Give me a refund.
No way..
They're fake!
Bullshit.
It's just a big scam!
Easy now. We're all from the same factory.
Says who?
The fucking factory's gone.
Watch out for these fake goods!
Don't get scammed!
Dad!
Dad!
Officer, they're selling fake goods!
(SUN'S CLINIC)
How's this, Dad?
Seriously?
Look at this mess!
It's like a dog's breakfast.
You're useless, Tianbo.
Just my luck to have a son like you.
Never seen such a mess!
Dad.....
Why can't you just walk away?
I've had enough.
I can't stand it any longer.
Dad!
Fei!
- I can't stand it. - Enough!
I just can't stand it.
Living like this is humiliating!
What are we doing to ourselves?
Have some water.
Is this some kind of parade?
All these people gawking...
Makes us look bad.
Three murders in just a few months.
How do you sleep at night?
If we can't catch the killer,
we might as well quit and become street vendors.
Everyone's moving out.
None of my business.
All Shu does is fool around all day.
I tell you it's this dodgy neighbourhood.
Once we move out, he'll change...
At least there's no harm in trying.
Who does he take after?
Me, of course. Sons take after their dads.
Fei.
Fei.
Fei.
Stand still!
Get in the car.
Where to?
Tell him where you want to go.
Fentun.
Fentun?
In response to recent brutal crimes,
police have stepped up their investigation
to identify and catch the culprit.
Where to?
Can you turn it off?
Citizens are asked to stay alert...
People are too scared to go to Fentun now.
Haven't you heard the news?
You're lucky I'm here.
That makes you quite brave.
Got any cigarettes?
It's the last one.
I haven't seen this Ping Yuan design before.
What do you do for a living?
Factory worker.
Laid off.
Tough times for state-owned factories.
Turn right up ahead.
That's not the way to Fentun.
Turn left. We're almost there.
Dad.
I feel fine. I don't have a stomach ache.
Why kick up a fuss at this time of night?
You said you had a stomach ache
so I'm taking you to the clinic.
Turn right.
I'll get off at the cornfield on your right.
Turn right.
Could you please decide which way I should go?
It's too dark. I need to look around.
Can you get out too, Sir?
Help me find my bearings!
Miss, you stay in the car. It's cold outside.
Freeze!
Police!
Hands up.
Police!
Hands up.
Kneel.
- This is a mistake. - Kneel!
I'm just going to the clinic.
I knew you were dodgy.
Stop playing innocent!
You've got it all wrong...
Fei!
Fei!
Fei!
Since Jiang died, you're the only one who visits me.
Eat up.
I used to believe in karma.
Turns out the Heavens don't do justice.
My son died in vain.
Jiang didn't die in vain.
Don't take no for an answer, do you?
I want to try and solve Jiang's case.
Who was Detective Jiang to you?
Bring-me Jiang's file and any material evidence.
Come in.
What's this?
They found it in Jiang's jacket.
Is Jiang's blood on it?
We don't know whose blood it was.
That night...
...we never found Jiang's gun.
Dad made quite an effort.
He should still have consulted me.
Some of these aren't worth exhibiting.
Mum, doesn't Ping Yuan have a new logo?
My design has a curved border.
The new designs look awful.
I've seen your design somewhere.
Really?
These packs were for internal consumption only.
I gave two cartons to Li Shoulian.
There's a gathering later.
Who's going?
The old factory staff.
I don't have anything in common with them.
Nothing in common.
Hello!
I'm Shu!
Dad's busy tonight so I came instead.
Shunning his pals now he's rich?
Not at all!
This is Zhuang's boy.
Cheers!
Have you heard from Li Shoulian at all?
Fei's dad?
Li Shoulian? I've heard from him.
He's now a security guard in Shenzhen.
Heard he's doing well.
Even found himself a pretty wife.
Says who?
My husband saw him just last week
while hailing a cab.
He's a cab driver now.
Wow, your husband can afford to take cabs now!
Aunt, are you sure it was him?
Come sing a song with Aunty.
Grab a mic!
We're going to give you a rendition of Moscow Nights!
The girl I love sits next to me.
She stares at me silently.
I want to tell her my feelings.
But I don't know how.
So I've kept my words inside.
Lulu!
It's me again.
Sweetheart.
Miss me?
Can I take you to dinner sometime?
Say something.
It's your job to chat to me.
I'm paying for this call.
Say something nice to me.
What's up?
Police. I'm looking for someone.
Who?
Li Shoulian.
Anyone know a Li Shoulian?
There's definitely no one by that name here.
He must have changed names.
Show me the photos.
Have you tried the unlicensed taxis?
Here for a bath?
One, please.
Fei!
Fei.
Fei.
Let go.
You must resist it.
You have to go easy on the drugs.
I'm begging you...
Let go!
Fei!
Let go!
Let me turn myself in.
Dad, I've told you.
Without you, I'd rather die.
Let go!
You keep coming back for more. You need me!
Now that my dad's gone
you can move in with me.
What do you say?
Eat up.
Are you away again next week?
Mum, are you fond of Fei
because she's like you?
Fei isn't like me.
She's much more true to herself.
That guy we arrested in the latest operation
has confessed to the 1997 taxi driver murders.
We'll interrogate him tomorrow.
I see.
Get Hu's father to identify him.
Everything alright?
Yeah, just work stuff.
1997?
I killed all four cab drivers.
I got in and sat behind the driver's seat.
I attacked when no one was around
and then burnt the cars.
Were there any other victims?
No.
Where were you on the night of 24th December 1997?
Have you met this person?
No.
Think harder.
Uncle
Zhao Qingge...
You know the severity of your crimes.
It's him.
He's the one.
All right, uncle
Need anything to help you remember?
Later on, I went south.
I planned to buy a gun
to rob a bank back here.
But I didn't have the money.
My plans went to pot.
I mean this man.
Take a closer look.
I've never met him.
Test results from Beijing.
Zhao Qingge wasn't lying.
Any other way to prove the link?
Zhao's blood didn't match the banknote stains.
Unless a new blood sample turns up.
I'll get going, Sir.
(CHRISTMAS EVE)
What do you want?
Get in my car first.
Eight years ago,
we were supposed to meet here on Christmas Eve.
Did you come?
No.
Did you?
You stayed here all these years?
What you been up to?
What do you do?
I'm a cop.
How's your mum?
She's well.
Still living at our old place.
We have dinner together on Saturdays.
And your dad?
Fei!
Fei!
The blood on the tissue
doesn't match the stains on the banknote.
But there's a 99.97% DNA match,
meaning they're immediate family.
Harder!
You're wounded?
Is the guy with a scar on his face working tonight?
He vanished a few days ago,
completely out of the blue.
Shu!
Shu!
Did you know Shu's a cop now?
He cares about you
because he wants to catch your dad.
My dad and I are leaving soon.
They're watching your dad.
If you dare leave
I'll report him.
Go ahead.
Fei.
Fei.
What's wrong with you?
Shu has done nothing but hurt you.
Why won't you give up?
Think Shu will still like you
when he finds out you have a prosthetic leg?
Who'll help you now?
I killed someone.
Stay where you are. I'm coming.
Fei.
Wait for me at the Dongsheng Motel.
I'll handle this.
We've evaded the police for years.
We can get away with this too.
You're right.
I'll wait for you.
Dad.
It's just the two of us now.
What is it?
I'm turning myself in.
My name is Li Shoulian.
I just killed a man.
I also killed that cop eight years ago.
Here's his gun.
Calm down. Put it down.
Requesting backup!
Where's the gun?
Don't move. - Freeze!
Freeze!
Freeze!
Freeze or I'll shoot!
Freeze!
Don't fire!
(XIUSHAN PARK)
His name's Li Shoulian.
He confessed to the murder of Detective Jiang.
We still can't find Jiang's gun.
You know him?
He was a family friend.
We used to be neighbours.
I'm at Xiushan Park.
That Christmas Eve did you...
get a cab driven by a cop
to meet me in the cornfield?
I still want to know
why you never turned up.
Your dad isn't going anywhere.
Come with me now.
Is my dad under arrest?
Trust me, he never murdered any cab drivers.
I know.
Do you think I'm pretty?
I feel I'm so pretty now.
Way prettier than ever.
What do you think?
Fei.
All humans make mistakes.
Come with me, okay?
What did I do wrong?
Was it wrong...
to want to make a bonfire with you?
Or ask you to go south with me?
I did go to the cornfield.
I waited there all night.
Give me the gun.
Liar!
Please give me the gun.
I'm all alone now.