Reprinted Youth

Fantasy Romantic Modern Love Film 8

Scene 61　Time∣Day　Setting∣Tsai Family Bed and Breakfast Living Room, Dining Room

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin, Chiu Hsiu-Duan, Tsai Shih-Fen

△In the living room, Mei-Lin chats casually with the Tsai family.
Chiu Hsiu-Duan: Miss Shih, our Shih-Nan’s personality is rather straightforward. He doesn’t know how to say sweet words.
Shih Mei-Lin: Mama Tsai, not at all. Although Shih-Nan usually doesn’t talk much, he actually has very strong opinions of his own. If I were to compare him to a stock, Shih-Nan is a blue-chip stock with great investment potential.
Chiu Hsiu-Duan: Ah-Fen, what’s a blue-chip stock?
Tsai Shih-Fen: It’s a good stock that will rise in value in the future.
Chiu Hsiu-Duan: So embarrassing! We country folk are ignorant and don’t understand stocks, yet Miss Shih thinks so highly of our boy.
Shih Mei-Lin: Shih-Nan has very good manners. He never loses his temper with me. Being able to be with him is my blessing.
Tsai Shih-Fen: Sister, how did you meet my brother? I’m really curious!
Shih Mei-Lin: The company invited Shih-Nan to help design webpages and some business software. I’m the director of the design department. After spending some time with him, I felt he was very easy to get along with, and naturally we ended up together.
Tsai Shih-Nan: (forcing a smile, OS) Girl, you really know how to make things up!
Tsai Shih-Fen: I bet my brother was the one who pursued you first, right?
Shih Mei-Lin: (smiling) I was the one who chased after him.
Tsai Shih-Nan: (OS) Finally telling the truth! Now that’s more like it.
Tsai Shih-Fen: Wow! I never imagined my brother would be so popular.

▲Camera cuts.

△The dining table in the dining room is filled with all kinds of dishes. Mei-Lin receives warm hospitality from the Tsai family.
Chiu Hsiu-Duan: Miss Shih, we country people don’t have delicacies from the mountains and seas to serve you. Just simple home cooking. You may not be used to it, huh?
Shih Mei-Lin: (smiling) Not at all! Mama Tsai’s cooking is wonderful. This table of dishes is truly sumptuous!
Tsai Shih-Fen: The vegetables on the table all come from our own garden.
Shih Mei-Lin: Working in Taipei, it’s rare for me to eat such a lavish meal.
Chiu Hsiu-Duan: If that’s the case, then don’t be so polite!

△Mother Tsai places a chicken drumstick into Mei-Lin’s bowl.

Chiu Hsiu-Duan: I raised this free-range chicken myself. Try it!
Shih Mei-Lin: (takes a bite) This chicken tastes so delicious!

Scene 62　Time∣Night　Setting∣Women’s Hot Spring Room at Tsai Family Bed and Breakfast

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin, Chiu Hsiu-Duan, Tsai Shih-Fen

△Shih Mei-Lin has just come out of the women’s hot spring room, wrapped in a large bath towel.
Tsai Shih-Fen: Sister, squeeze in with me tonight. My bed is big enough.
Shih Mei-Lin: Little sister, no need! I’m used to sleeping together with your brother.
Tsai Shih-Fen: (surprised) Is that so? Alright then.

△Nearby, Mother Tsai is dumbfounded, though she pretends to stay calm.

△Mei-Lin enters Shih-Nan’s room. Curious Shih-Fen secretly listens outside the door but notices nothing unusual.

△Mother Tsai tiptoes over and pulls Shih-Fen away.

Shih Mei-Lin: Turn around. I’m going to change clothes.

△Shih-Nan obediently turns around to face the window. Mei-Lin’s graceful figure is reflected in the window glass, stirring Shih-Nan’s heart and soul.

△Mei-Lin changes into pajamas.

Shih Mei-Lin: I’m done changing!

△Shih-Nan turns back around.

△The two lie down on the bed one after another.

Shih Mei-Lin: Chu River and Han Border. You’re not allowed to cross the line!

△The fragrance of Mei-Lin’s hair and body throws Shih-Nan’s heart into turmoil. He keeps opening his eyes from time to time. Before long, Mei-Lin is already emitting soft, rhythmic snores.

△In the middle of the night, Shih-Nan is indeed awakened several times by sleep talking and teeth grinding, causing his sleep to become intermittent.

Scene 63　Time∣Day　Setting∣Entrance of Habanwan Resort Village

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin

△Tsai Shih-Nan rides his heavy motorcycle to take Mei-Lin to the entrance of the resort village. Mei-Lin hugs Shih-Nan and kisses him on the cheek. She takes out her cellphone and snaps a photo of the two of them together.

Shih Mei-Lin: (playfully) Last night you behaved yourself very well and didn’t take advantage of me while I was asleep. As a candidate for being my boyfriend, you passed the first test.

△Shih-Nan scratches his forehead and grins foolishly. Mei-Lin hands him a cassette tape.

Shih Mei-Lin: Shih-Nan, go back and listen to the message inside.

△Before turning to leave, Mei-Lin throws out one sentence: Wait for my call. You still have to accompany me back to Sun Moon Lake!

△Scene cuts.

△On the way back, Shih-Nan is somewhat absent-minded, feeling lost and uncertain inside.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (OS) Good grief! Does this even count as a romance? Or is it just acting out some kind of farce?

Scene 64　Time∣Day　Setting∣Tsai Family Bed and Breakfast Living Room

Characters∣Chang Ya-Hui, Tsai Shih-Fen

△Inside the living room of the Tsai family bed and breakfast, Shih-Fen keeps Ya-Hui company.

Tsai Shih-Fen: Sister Ya-Hui, my brother really went too far. Even I, as his younger sister, can’t stand it anymore.

Chang Ya-Hui: (calmly) Relationships are about mutual feelings and willingness. During the past six months of getting along with your brother, even though your mother and you kept trying to encourage things from the side, your brother always treated me as a good friend and never confessed his feelings to me. Thinking back on it now, it turns out he already had someone in his heart long ago, so your brother doesn’t need to apologize to me.

Tsai Shih-Fen: Sister Ya-Hui, my brother treated you like this, and you’re really not angry at all?

Chang Ya-Hui: (bitter smile) Your brother never gave me any promises. What right do I have to be angry?

Tsai Shih-Fen: I truly admire you!

Chang Ya-Hui: Has Yu Szu-Hai asked you out?

Tsai Shih-Fen: Yes. He invited me several times over the phone, but I told him the family is short-handed right now, and I really can’t get away.

Chang Ya-Hui: If Szu-Hai asks you out again in the future, tell me. I’ll cover your shift on weekends.

Tsai Shih-Fen: We’ll talk about it later. The bed and breakfast has only just opened, and many things still aren’t on track yet. I really don’t have the mood to go sightseeing and traveling around with them.

Chang Ya-Hui: Yu Szu-Hai helped your brother before. Your brother probably won’t oppose him getting close to you anymore.

Tsai Shih-Fen: At first, when my brother wouldn’t let Yu Szu-Hai get close to me, I thought my brother was overbearing and unreasonable. But now I actually feel that once the bed and breakfast is on track, I should go back to school and study food and beverage management and hotel management to improve my abilities. There’s no need to rush into dating, marriage, and starting a family so soon.

Chang Ya-Hui: The fact that you can think this way shows that you’re more mature than before and know how to plan your own future.

Scene 65　Time∣Dusk　Setting∣Shih-Nan’s Bedroom

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Tsai Shih-Fen

△At dusk, shimmering waves sparkle across the sea surface while seabirds circle around fishing boats.

△Tsai Shih-Nan leans sideways by the window, picks up the cassette tape Mei-Lin gave him from the desk, and inserts it into a small tape recorder to play it.

△Shih Mei-Lin’s gentle and emotional voice is heard.

Mei-Lin’s Voice:
Shih-Nan, coming here for vacation and unexpectedly meeting you, I truly treasure this friendship. Under the pressure of my elders forcing me into marriage, I made the unreasonable request that you pretend to be my boyfriend. Deep inside, you must surely feel wronged. But my career is only just beginning to rise, and I don’t want to step into family life at this moment. People become great because they have dreams, and I also have dreams waiting to be realized. If you are willing to join hands with me in building a career together, then you will not only become my business partner, but also my companion on life’s journey. If you are willing to return to Taipei with me, then in the future we may develop into a couple, supporting each other along life’s journey. I hope you will seriously consider coming back to Taipei with me to strive together...

△Tsai Shih-Nan presses the stop button and falls into deep thought, his face filled with hesitation.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (OS) Mei-Lin, you truly fascinate me. But why must I return to the city again and live that kind of busy workplace life...?

△Tsai Shih-Fen knocks on the door and enters Shih-Nan’s bedroom, seeing him staring blankly out the window at the desk.

Tsai Shih-Fen: Brother, Sister Ya-Hui came by today.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Oh? When?

Tsai Shih-Fen: Right after you took Sister Mei-Lin away.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Ya-Hui was looking for me?

Tsai Shih-Fen: No, she chatted with me about you and Mei-Lin for a while.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Ya-Hui knows about Mei-Lin?

Tsai Shih-Fen: Mm. Deep down, you should understand that Sister Ya-Hui is deeply devoted to you, but you...

Tsai Shih-Nan: I know what you want to say. Ya-Hui is a good friend I can confide in. If Shih Mei-Lin had never appeared, then in the future Ya-Hui and I really might have developed into a couple.

△Hearing her elder brother say this, Shih-Fen is finally able to understand him emotionally.

Tsai Shih-Fen: Brother, you have to remember how good Sister Ya-Hui has been to you.

Tsai Shih-Nan: I will, sis. Just like how Yu Szu-Hai has been good to you. Didn’t Szu-Hai ask you out before?

Tsai Shih-Fen: The shop is too busy to handle, and besides, I still want to go back to school to study food and beverage and hotel management. I don’t want to fall in love too early.

Tsai Shih-Nan: That’s good too. You’re still young. You really should study more and learn more skills.

Scene 66　Time∣Day　Setting∣Women’s Dormitory at the Homeless Shelter

Characters∣Lin Dai-Hua, Lu Hsiu-Ying (female roommate)

△Inside the women’s dormitory, Lin Dai-Hua is reading a translated novel, The Thorn Birds.

△Her roommate Lu Hsiu-Ying enters carrying a bag of fruit.

Lu Hsiu-Ying: 109, come eat some fruit.

△Lin Dai-Hua stands up and picks a pear.

Lu Hsiu-Ying: Other than placing newspaper ads, is there any other way?

Lin Dai-Hua: Let nature take its course! Perhaps this is fate’s will, wanting me to start over again like a blank sheet of paper.

Lu Hsiu-Ying: Sigh! Several groups of people who came earlier claiming to recognize you couldn’t produce any evidence. But you can’t keep going on like this forever, like some ghost person without an identity.

Lin Dai-Hua: Hsiu-Ying, thank you. Actually, I’ve thought about it. Even if I truly regain my memory, perhaps I won’t be more content or happier than I am now.

Scene 67　Time∣Day　Setting∣Mei-Lin’s Bedroom in the Shih Family Residence at Sun Moon Lake

Characters∣Shih Mei-Lin, Shih Yu-Hua

△Inside the bedroom, Mei-Lin sits at her desk flipping through a fashion magazine, with a cellphone resting on the desktop.

△Shih Yu-Hua enters carrying a wooden tray filled with fruit.

Shih Yu-Hua: Mei-Lin, eat some fruit.

△Shih Yu-Hua places the fruit tray at the corner beside the desk. Mei-Lin picks up a fork and spears a slice of starfruit into her mouth.

Shih Yu-Hua: Did you go see your boyfriend?

△With starfruit stuffed in her mouth, Mei-Lin nods in response.

Shih Yu-Hua: Where does your boyfriend live?

Shih Mei-Lin: (speaking unclearly) Little Liuqiu.

Shih Yu-Hua: Little Liuqiu? Is he a fisherman?

Shih Mei-Lin: (swallows) No! He originally worked as an engineer at the Hsinchu Science Park, but he was just laid off by the company. He went back to open a bed and breakfast and also bought a sightseeing fishing boat. Here, look at the photo.

△Mei-Lin picks up her cellphone and opens a photo of the two of them together.

Shih Yu-Hua: He looks very handsome and photogenic. How old is he?

Shih Mei-Lin: The same age as me.

Shih Yu-Hua: When are you bringing him back here?

Shih Mei-Lin: In the next couple of days, after I arrange a time with him.

Shih Yu-Hua: (relieved) That’s good! Once you bring him back, the relatives won’t gossip behind your back saying you can’t get married.

Shih Mei-Lin: (making a funny face) Let them say whatever they want.

Scene 68　Time∣Morning　Setting∣Restaurant of the Tsai Family Bed and Breakfast

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Tsai Shih-Fen, Chiu Hsiu-Duan, Shih Mei-Lin

△Inside the kitchen, the family of three is eating breakfast. On the dining table are Taiwanese rice porridge and several side dishes, along with a plate of spicy stir-fried anchovies, a plate of fried radish omelet, and a dish of stir-fried sweet potato leaves.

△The telephone rings, and Shih-Fen goes to answer it.

Tsai Shih-Fen: It’s Sister Mei-Lin. My brother is here.

Tsai Shih-Fen: (handing over the receiver) Brother, Sister Mei-Lin is looking for you.

△Shih-Nan stands up and walks over to take the receiver.

Tsai Shih-Nan: This is me.

Shih Mei-Lin: Come to my home at Sun Moon Lake tomorrow. My mother, grandfather, and younger uncle want to meet you. I’ve already arranged the itinerary. I sent a text message to your cellphone. Just follow the instructions on it.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Oh, alright.

Shih Mei-Lin: That’s it for now! Bye!

△Shih-Nan puts down the receiver and returns to the dining table.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Mei-Lin invited me to her house at Sun Moon Lake tomorrow.

Chiu Hsiu-Duan: Mei-Lin’s elders want to meet you, so we must take this seriously. Go pack your luggage. I’ll go to the market shopping street to buy a couple of gift boxes. When you arrive at Mei-Lin’s house, you must know how to read people’s expressions and be sweet-talking and polite, understand?

Tsai Shih-Nan: Mom, I know.

Scene 69　Time∣Day　Setting∣Dining Room of the Shih Family Mansion

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin, Shih Yu-Hua, Shih Tien-Sheng, Shih Yu-Lung (younger uncle)

△A large round dining table is set up in the dining room. Shih-Nan and Mei-Lin sit together, while Shih Yu-Hua and Shih Tien-Sheng sit on either side.

Shih Tien-Sheng: Shih-Nan, make yourself at home. Don’t be too polite!

Tsai Shih-Nan: Alright, Grandpa.

Shih Tien-Sheng: I heard from Mei-Lin that you previously worked as an engineer at the Hsinchu Science Park. Computer engineers are well paid. If you had continued developing your career at a computer company, your future life should have been very comfortable.

Shih Yu-Lung: Exactly! Shih-Nan, after you and Mei-Lin get married, stay in the city and strive together to build a career.

Shih Yu-Hua: Young people have their own ideas. As long as their marriage is happy in the future, I have no objections regarding what kind of career they pursue. Here! Shih-Nan, eat a chicken drumstick.

△With a warm smile, Shih Yu-Hua kindly places a chicken drumstick into Shih-Nan’s bowl.

Shih Tien-Sheng: A man should aspire beyond his hometown. Shih-Nan, what kind of plans do you have for the future?

Tsai Shih-Nan: Grandpa, I want to continue staying in Little Liuqiu to work and live.

△After Tsai Shih-Nan says this, both Shih Tien-Sheng and Shih Yu-Lung freeze for a moment, their expressions filled with surprise and undisguised disappointment. Seeing this, Mei-Lin quickly smooths things over.

Shih Mei-Lin: After we get married, Shih-Nan and I will return to Taipei together and work hard to build our careers.

△After Mei-Lin says this, she widens her almond-shaped eyes and fiercely glares at Shih-Nan.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (OS) I was just telling the truth! Mei-Lin seems angry!

△Shih-Nan’s mood is affected, and his words and behavior become cautious and restrained.

Scene 70　Time∣Day　Setting∣Entrance of the Shih Family Mansion, Inside Mei-Lin’s Car

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin, Shih Yu-Hua

△At the entrance of the mansion, Shih Yu-Hua comes to see them off.

Shih Yu-Hua: Shih-Nan is an honest and straightforward child with ideas of his own. You must respect him and not force him.

Shih Mei-Lin: Mom, I’ll persuade him to return to Taipei with me.

△Mother and daughter embrace and kiss each other on the cheek. Shih-Nan opens the car door, and the two get inside.

△Mother Shih waves at Mei-Lin’s car as it drives away from the Shih residence.

△Mei-Lin’s car drives along the ring road around Sun Moon Lake.

Shih Mei-Lin: Shih-Nan, you did that on purpose just now, didn’t you?

Tsai Shih-Nan: (playing dumb) What thing?

Shih Mei-Lin: When my grandfather asked you questions, the answers you gave.

Tsai Shih-Nan: I was just telling the truth! At that time, you seemed a bit unhappy.

Shih Mei-Lin: Of course I was angry! When you said you wanted to stay on the island, the elders would think you have no ambition.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Oh... then how should I have answered?

Shih Mei-Lin: You could have said: “I’ll discuss this part with Mei-Lin.”

Tsai Shih-Nan: (feeling depressed) Oh...

△Suddenly, Mei-Lin pulls the car over to the roadside and turns to stare directly at Shih-Nan’s face.

Shih Mei-Lin: (frustrated) Could it be that you don’t want to be with me?

Tsai Shih-Nan: Of course I do! But...

Shih Mei-Lin: (anxiously) But, but what?

Tsai Shih-Nan: About returning to Taipei with you, we still need to communicate more about that.

Shih Mei-Lin: (making a displeased face) What’s wrong with returning to Taipei with me? Are we supposed to become the Cowherd and Weaver Girl?

Tsai Shih-Nan: Mei-Lin, give me some time to think about it...

Shih Mei-Lin: Fine then! After you’ve thought it through clearly, come to Taipei to find me!

Tsai Shih-Nan: Oh...

△Mei-Lin keeps a furious expression on her face, steps on the accelerator, and the car continues driving forward.