Back to 1989 (2016) s01e21 Episode Script

1
Mom.
I listened to everything you said
ever since I was a little girl
because I know how much
you've sacrificed for this family.
Every time dad goes into his lab,
he'd lose track of the time.
It's mostly you and me at home.
Whenever I'm sick,
you stay up all night taking care of me.
You're always there
when I fall
and when I'm sad.
So, I know
even if I don't have much interest
I'm still going to get good grades
and make you proud.
I thought that was good enough for me
until I met Jin-qin.
He made me start thinking about
what I really want in life.
Going to the U.S. and getting a green card
aren't my life's purpose.
It's your own unlived life.
I know that you oppose Jin-qin
because you care about me.
But how would I be happy
in a loveless marriage?
Love can be cultivated.
And
so what if there's love in marriage?
No amount of love
can withstand the reality of life.
What about
marriage based on financial gain?
Without love, how do you spend
the rest of your life together?
Mom.
Just because I love someone
doesn't mean I don't love you.
But I'm a grown-up now.
I have my own ideas,
my own choices to make.
I only hope
you'd let me choose
my own relationship.
Mom,
I promise.
I won't throw away my ambition
and all you've given me over love.
I only ask that you believe in me
just this once.
Mom.
So, after all,
you just want to be with Li Jin-qin?
Well, you're all grown up,
and you won't listen to me anyway.
It's not like that.
I need your support and your blessing.
I can't support you,
and I can't give you my blessing.
At most,
I'll pretend you're no longer my daughter.
-You're no longer my business.
-Mom, please.
Mom.
I haven't heard from Ya-juan.
I wonder how the conversation
with her mom went.
No news is good news.
Don't think too much.
What-- What's going on?
I don't understand
why loving someone is this hard.
If love is simple,
won't girls get bored?
How can you say that?
I just wish that love has no barriers.
Wouldn't that be great?
I see such gentleness in his eyes.
Does he know what I'm worried about?
From another perspective,
all the barriers to love
are there to prove that love exists.
You mean,
the bigger the barrier,
the greater the love?
Exactly.
All the great love stories
involve many obstacles
before love comes to fruition.
You really believe in that?
I believe true love
conquers all.
So, in a way,
if the love is real,
we can travel through time to be together.
And if Ya-juan and Jin-qin
never give up, one day,
her mom would accept them.
You should go to bed. Night.
I thought Chen Che
was thinking about us.
He was just talking about
Ya-juan and Jin-qin.
No.
Ye Zhen-zhen,
just like Chen Che said,
if it's true love, it will conquer all.
After all the obstacles,
love will come to fruition.
We can do this.
This is a huge stack.
All these books are about time travel
and aliens of course.
Toy
I thought you're only
into romance novels.
Why the sudden interest in sci-fi?
Interests change.
Stop asking me questions.
No, you misunderstood me.
I'm just worried these sci-fi books
are too complex
for you to get.
Ye Guo-an.
I'm just being honest.
House of Ye rule number three.
Honesty is the best policy.
I know the rules better than you.
Also, I'm not borrowing your book.
They've been confiscated.
They'll be in my care till you retake
the high school entrance exam.
What? These books are food for my soul.
You lost your freedom to choose
when you failed the exam. Go study.
Get out of my room.
-Get out.
-Wait.
-Wait.
-Get out.
Go study. Bye.
Take care of the books!
-Every single one of them!
-I will!
This doesn't make sense.
I'll find out her motive
for taking my sci-fi collection.
Science fiction
should be all fiction.
Listen.
It's the sound of Christmas.
I want to go. I want to go.
In 2016, Grandpa developed dementia.
That day, he mentioned Christmas.
Could he be talking about
Christmas in 1989?
What's going to happen
on Christmas?
Does it have anything to do with
Mom and Jin-qin parting ways?
I was born in August 1990.
1990 is only a month away.
But pregnancy lasts 10 months.
Unless
I was born premature.
Unless
Mom is about to be pregnant soon.
Chen Che, have you ever seen
this sci-fi novel?
Did you know there's a castle in Europe
with a passageway for time travel?
Also, it mentions that the magnetic field
in some places are very weak,
like the thin line
between life and death,
like a haunted house or
Ye Zhen-zhen.
Listen to me.
All these are myths
with no basis in science.
The Bermuda triangle, for example,
has long been thoroughly debunked
by scientists.
We won't know until we try.
Maybe you'll find a way back.
These are all too complex for you.
Don't think too much.
All that overthinking
can cause insomnia.
-Go to bed.
-Chen Che.
-Good night.
-Just take a quick look.
Chen Che.
Was he trying to tell me that I'm stupid?
Why does everyone say that?
Am I really stupid?
I'm trying to help here.
And you call me stupid?
You don't want my help? Forget it.
Don't ever come to me again.
I won't help you.
I hope you never get back to 2016.
Actually that'd be nice.
Then he and I can stay together.
Atomic Dimension, Toy
Little Prince?
Ye Guo-an reads Little Prince?
You like the book Little Prince?
This book tells us
that things that truly matter
can only be felt with your heart.
"'Good morning,'
the little prince responded politely.
The fox said, 'I can't play with you.
I am not tamed.'
The little prince said,
'What does "tame" mean?'
The fox said,
'It means to establish ties.
If you tame me,
then we shall need each other.
To me, you will be unique
in all the world.
To you,
I shall be unique in all the world.'"
-Morning, Mom.
-Morning.
-Have some breakfast.
-Where's Dad?
He got hired to make suits
for the New Year Celebration.
He'll be busy
till the end of the month.
What are you doing?
Bookkeeping.
You know,
my luck has been so good lately.
First, your dad got this huge order.
And then,
your youngest aunt introduced me
to an investment firm.
It's some easy money.
Very high interest rate.
In just three months,
my $2,000 turned into $2,200.
Better than your dad's business.
Really?
An investment better than stocks?
Which firm?
It's a very famous investment firm
named Hong Yuan.
Hong Yuan?
Mrs. Ye.
Hong Yuan isn't a good company.
You better stop investing.
How come?
My sister told me it's safer than stocks.
You can lose money with stocks,
but it's a sure win
putting my money in this firm.
I'm aware of that.
But you have to stop.
Something will happen to that firm.
What
What will happen?
It's gonna
What is it that you know?
That firm tries to accumulate
a lot of cash fast.
They're about to go down.
-Go down?
-Shush.
When?
If I remember correctly,
January 1990.
Mom, stop investing with them.
Take your money out now.
Why? I'm finally making some money.
Just in case Ye Guo-an fails to get
into a public high school again
at least we can afford
a private school.
I can chip in.
But take your money out now.
Give me a good reason.
Mrs. Ye,
There are no investments
that can't lose money.
Hong Yuan operates
like a pyramid scheme.
They thrive on new recruits.
Principal brought in by newbies
is paid as interest to members.
They don't have capital
so they make money with your money.
How do you know all this?
Is there something you know?
-I
-Tell me.
Chen Che. It's not that
I don't want to believe you.
Uncle Ye and I
treat you like our own son.
When we ask you questions,
you're always stammering,
always so vague.
You were also like that with the suit.
What's going on?
Mom, remember, he explained
that his friend measured him.
I remember, but he can't keep
dodging my questions.
He just grew up on his own.
Did he come from a rock or whatever?
Doesn't he have parents?
He won't tell me anything.
It's not a matter of national security.
-Well, it's because
-Because of what?
Because
Because I don't have a father.
I grew up in a single-parent family.
My mom wouldn't tell me anything
about my dad.
So, I don't know who my dad is
or mention much about my family.
Mom.
Stay out of people's private lives.
I
Let's go, Chen Che.
What about breakfast?
Who cares?
But
It's because I care about you.
Actually,
your mom's right to be suspicious.
They trust me completely,
but I keep so much from them.
No one can be okay with it
for this long.
I know you keep quiet
because you have your reasons.
I'm sorry.
I don't want to get you involved
in this mess.
I have no idea what the consequences
of all my actions are.
I'm also worried
if we did the right thing to help
Ya-juan and Jin-qin be together.
Of course we did.
Ya-juan's biggest wish right now
is to be with Jin-qin.
She has lots of obstacles to face,
but she'd regret it if she doesn't try.
But
what if they can't be together after all?
If we let them give up now
they'd still be hurting, wouldn't they?
If two people love each other,
they should love with all they've got.
Maybe they're not afraid to get hurt.
They're afraid
of not being with each other.
It's better to have loved and lost
than never to have loved at all.
A life without taking chances
is no life at all.
Like that rose in The Little Prince.
It's the time he has given to his rose
that make his rose unique to him.
Even if the rose withers in the end,
it has been loved and cherished.
Ye Zhen-zhen.
Where did you learn all this?
It doesn't sound like you.
I was inspired by The Little Prince.
Ye Zhen-zhen.
What are you doing with the leaves?
You'll find out tonight.
Everyone!
In celebration of my $300,000
sales this week,
I booked an entire disco
for a Christmas party.
I hope you'll all join me!
Viva Mr. Lin!
-Viva, viva!
-Viva Mr. Lin.
Mr. Lin is so generous.
You're a man among men.
I've got one word for you. Awesome!
This is no big deal.
We need to have a long-term vision
in life and broaden our horizon.
Others make lots of money
but aren't willing to share wealth.
No woman can live a good life
with a man like that.
Xiao-long.
I know you're doing well now,
but should you waste your money
on an exuberant party?
No worries. It's not a lot of money.
It's important that everyone enjoys.
You have to come.
I'll be there.
I gotta get going.
-Please invite Li-jing for me.
-Of course, no problem.
Sit down.
Ya-juan.
We were so worried you won't come in.
How did it go with your mom?
Are you okay?
My mom still won't accept Jin-qin.
She said she doesn't want to have
anything to do with me anymore.
What are you going to do now?
She's been cold to me,
but she still made me breakfast
this morning.
She said nothing
about me going to work.
How much longer
will you be going to work?
-Till the end of the month.
-And you and Jin-qin?
I'm not gonna give us up.
No matter what, I'm staying with him.
I'm gonna go change.
What are you doing?
I'm making leaf skeletons
to my own greeting cards.
Every year, we make cards
for Christmas and New Year.
Hand-made cards with leaf veins
are very popular right now.
Do you write cards in the future?
Not in 2016.
Everything is digital.
We send messages with mobile phones.
Like LINE or WhatsApp.
When you can't think of what to write,
you can use a template.
Anyway, speed and convenience
are paramount.
Basically, you don't write
to express yourself.
You press a few buttons.
Then I prefer how we are now.
Just like what I read
in The Little Prince.
The most important things
are felt with the heart.
Something that takes more time to make
seems a lot more sincere.
Look. Aren't these
leaf skeletons beautiful?
Here, take these.
Wanna try making a few cards?
You can make a card
for someone important.
Someone important.
The rose tamed the little prince.
The little prince tamed the fox.
To the little prince,
they're both unique.
What about me in Chen Che's eyes?
Doesn't the fox look cuter now?
I wonder how Chen Che will like this.
Ya-juan.
God of earth
please bless Ya-juan and I.
Please make Ya-juan's mom
accept us soon.
Here.
-Thanks, but I have one, too.
-I know.
I just hope that no matter what,
we can share the good and the bad.
I know.
Ya-juan.
Thanks for everything
you've done for me.
I'm sorry
that I didn't take that slap for you
before Zhong-en did.
It's okay.
You couldn't have seen it coming.
Do you think that maybe
Zhong-en likes you too?
Impossible.
Zhong-en is our big brother.
He looks after all of us
like an older brother.
We're like siblings.
He can't be in love with me.
But he told me once
that if I didn't get more aggressive,
he'd be after you.
I think he just wanted to give you a push,
hoping you'd be more proactive with me.
Honestly, I'm grateful for Zhong-en.
Otherwise, I don't know how long
you'd hide from me.
Anyway, Jin-qin,
even though Mom trusts Zhong-en
and he indeed is good to me,
you don't have to worry.
There's nothing romantic
between me and Zhong-en.
Remember?
Chen Juan is yours only.
Thank you, my Chen Juan.
One and two and
Watch.
Those feet can dance.
Sexy!
-How was it? Aren't I good?
-Mr. Lin, I didn't know you can dance.
Are you kidding me?
I ran track and field as a kid.
I'm very flexible, okay?
Wait till you see me wow the crowd
at the Christmas dance party.
You see these moves?
Lin Xiao-long.
What do you think should I wear
for the party?
How would I know?
Why don't you
Why don't you ask Li-jing?
Yeah, good idea. Li-jing.
Li-jing!
Do you have any clothes
I can borrow for the party?
I do, but can you fit in any of them?
Why wasn't I informed
about the Christmas Party?
Boss.
Boss, I'm just using my off time
to plan a social event.
It won't affect work at all.
Lin Xiao-long,
I like you more and more.
You took the initiative to help
your co-workers socialize. Good job.
Am I invited?
Of course. You have to be there, boss.
Great.
Would you be my date?
Sure.
Really?
Once you learn rumba, cha-cha
and waltz so you got moves,
I'll go with you.
Keep rejecting me. One day,
you might end up a Christmas cake.
Christmas cake?
What's that supposed to mean?
In Japan, an unmarried woman over
25 is called a Christmas cake.
If the cake isn't eaten by December 25,
it goes to the trash.
Is that so?
But women aren't cakes for men.
If you want pastry for a girlfriend,
be my guest.
It's just not my piece of cake.
Soon you can spend Christmas
with Jin-qin.
Is your mom still mad?
-We can be your cover like last time.
-It's okay.
I told Mom the whole truth.
I no longer wish to hide
like I did before.
Now, I choose to let time
solve everything.
Ya-juan.
Don't worry about me.
Right now, I'm already
looking forward to the party.
Xiao-long.
Thank you for creating an opportunity
for Jin-qin and I to see each other.
You're smarter than I thought,
to come up with a great idea
like a Christmas party.
I'm happy to help them out.
Ya-juan might just end up
as Jin-qin's cake.
What are you saying, Lin Xiao-long?
-So lewd.
-Hold on, I have a call.
He doesn't know what he said.
Don't mind him.
Grandpa?
Mr. Guo. The party idea worked.
Yeah. Ye Zhen-zhen is excited about it,
and she kept complimenting me.
Of course. You have to come
to the party, okay?
Of course.
Where's Chen Che going all of a sudden?
Professor.
Let me tell you something.
I have a friend at NASA.
I talked to him about this.
Hypothetically, returning to 2016
should be possible.
Really?
And don't you worry.
I didn't mention
that this is a real-life situation.
Imagine if I actually told him
I have a grandson from the future,
he'd think I've gone crazy
from too much research work.
Professor, how are we gonna do this?
To put it simply,
there are places in the universe
where magnetic fields connect
and act as passageways
for different time-space dimensions.
Where? When can I find a passageway?
Hold your horses.
I'm saying it's possible.
But these passageways
are invisible to our eyes
and very elusive.
And with the current technology,
it's impossible for us to predict
when and where
such passageways will appear.
By the way,
I haven't asked you
about how you came to 1989.
How come Ya-juan's dad
knows about this?
It was raining hard that night.
I was riding a motorcycle,
and I went inside a tunnel.
Suddenly, I saw a bright light.
I didn't hit the brake in time,
so I fell off.
When I woke up, I was in 1989.
So, it sounds like
that tunnel
was a passageway
between two time-space dimensions.
Is it possible that Chen Che
met me in the tunnel
when he just arrived in 1989?
Can I use your phone?
I'll give you 40.
Take me to the subway.
Where's your helmet?
Officer, what year is this?
No wonder he acted so strange.
Maybe if you go back to that tunnel,
you'd find clues on how to get back.
Go back
the way you came, right?
Chen Che is going back to 2016
through the same tunnel?
If that tunnel truly is
a time-space passageway
then maybe that means
I can go to Chen Che's time
through that tunnel, too.
Ye Zhen-zhen, you got a card.
And Che, you got a card, too.
Give it to me!
Hold on. Why are you in a hurry?
Were you expecting a card
from a special someone?
Shut up.
Just give me the card.
-Give me the card. Give it to me.
-Be patient.
-Mom, your daughter is hitting your son!
-Give it to me!
Be quiet, you two!
I finally get some quiet time on Sunday!
Keep it down!
Look, a card for Ye Zhen-zhen.
I'm going to my room.
I bet the card is from Che.
Is it from you?
Che, you're becoming
more straightforward each day.
This one's for you.
I got you guys cards, too.
And here they are.
-Mom, this one's for you.
-Great, thank you.
Che.
I can't believe it.
You took your time to write cards.
"Guo-an.
Instead of playing guitar
and video games,
I hope you spend some time studying.
You're very intelligent."
"If you work hard,
you can pass the test this time.
Merry Christmas!"
Che, I knew you'd
recognize my intelligence.
Don't worry.
I'll pass the test this time.
Ye Guo-an, I heard that.
With your intelligence alone,
I'm curious to see
which public high school you'll get in.
What did Che write you?
I'll read it for you.
You're farsighted.
"Mrs. Ye.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you
about my family sooner.
I apologize if somehow
I made you worried.
Thank you for taking care of me
all these days.
I love your cooking.
It's delicious and full of love.
I wish you great health.
Merry Christmas!"
Chen Che.
Thank you.
Actually,
I've been wanting to apologize.
That day, I overreacted.
It's not that it never crossed my mind
that you must have good reasons
for not talking about your family much.
But then you're dating my daughter,
and as a mother, I worry.
-I hope you're not mad at me.
-No, not at all.
-And Zhen-zhen and I aren't dating.
-I know.
You both deny it.
But there's no denying that you
care about each other, right?
Right. You wrote a card for each other.
I was young once.
I know that look
when someone's in love.
It's all right.
It's all right.
Ye Guo-an, come give me a hand.
Ye Zhen-zhen.
I've never met anyone as clumsy as you.
People always have to clean up your mess.
And when you are trying to help,
you often make things worse.
But strangely
instead of getting annoyed by you
I feel lucky that I met you in 1989.
Without you,
I wouldn't meet Jin-qin
and your group of friends.
I wouldn't have moved
into your home
and experience what it's like
to have family that cares.
I never would've known
what it's like for someone
to trust me and care about me
unconditionally.
I'm glad to have experienced
that bliss.
So
no matter what happens in the future
I want to you be happy.
You know that?
He really is warm-hearted
beneath his cool exterior.
He cares about me. It's obvious.
Maybe he finally told me
how he feels
because he's going to leave.
Two people can be so close
despite being 27 years apart.