as*ault on Sacred Mountain (2026)

[bunniefuu]

[suspenseful music]

[loud keyboard tapping]

[radio squelch]

Is everything good?

Urgent! Security breach

in executive office.

Respond immediately!

[suspenseful music]

Hey, come on let's go.

[footsteps]

Someone's here. Hurry!

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music intensifies]

[whirring]

Get it.

[suspenseful music]

[waves crashing]

[motor whirring]

[water lapping]

[suspenseful music]

[water splashes]

[velcro rips]

[dramatic music]

[birds chirping]

[busy village noise]

[door rolling open]

[peaceful music]

[background radio chatter]

[water running]

[background radio chatter]

My hikers...

Can we all gather around please.

Thank you all for making it today.

I am Joey, your tour guide

for today and tomorrow.

You've all read the emails,

especially about what food to bring?

Yep. And everyone's read the

"leave no trace seven principles"?

Yes.

Can anyone name one principle for 500?

Dispose of waste properly.

Correct!

Jared from Australia. Thank you.

I've got the first aid kit, toilet paper,

and this... Very important

when you need it.

Is the first aid kit in

case of earthquakes?

Nah, that's the toilet paper.

We'll all be sh1tting ourselves.

We have accommodations tonight.

So you don't have to worry about tents.

But I have an emergency shelter

in case we are caught in the rainstorm.

And the trek we're

taking, there's no tourists.

We might have the whole

mountain to ourselves.

[fighter planes screech overhead]

Any questions before we leave?

Yeah, has the w*r started already?

There's an air force base in Hualien,

so you'll hear and see planes all the time.

Nothing to worry about.

Any other questions?

I heard that there were poisonous snakes.

[chuckles]

I thought Australia was

full of deadly snakes.

Kylie freaked out when

she saw a tiger snake,

in the Yarra Ranges last year.

Don't worry, our reptile friends

are hibernating this season.

But you might have to be aware of spiders.

Sometimes you don't

want to walk into any webs.

Okay, is everyone ready?

Okay, let's go!

[wondrous music]

I think you dropped this.

Excuse me.

Oh, thank you.

[water rushing]

Short break guys, we'll rest here.

My Mandarin is not very good,

so you have to go easy on me.

[chuckles]

They don't make it mandatory in Hong Kong?

No, not yet.

That's all right.

We'll be speaking English anyways.

You're right.

We have, we have

Two Australians,

one Dutchman and an American.

Our own little United Nations.

Yeah.

So...

Is this your full-time job?

Yeah, for the moment anyways.

That's cool.

Did you buy that in the

Netherlands, Maarten?

No, bought it in Hong

Kong. Much cheaper there.

A Chinese brand?

Yeah.

They own the market for consumer drones.

Can't beat the price.

Is everything's still made in China?

I thought the pandemic changed that.

I don't know about that.

Go to a Walmart where

I'm from, it's all from China.

Yeah, but the microchips,

they're made in Taiwan.

That's why they say there won't be a w*r.

Why is that?

It would cut off the supply of chips.

No more iPhones.

Aw,

what would you buy me for Christmas then?

We can thank Apple for

peace in Taiwan Strait.

Alright, time to move on.

[wondrous music]

Watch your step.

So we'll stop for lunch

in about 10 minutes,

but remember to take this all in.

[birds chirping]

[camera click]

Hey mate.

I need the dunny.

I need to lay a log.

I need to take a crap.

Oh yeah.

Maarten, come take a photo of me.

Still got a signal.

That's too bad. I was

hoping to get off the grid.

Hey Joey, how's our schedule?

Yep, we're okay. If we pack up now,

and we keep at the same pace,

we should get back to

the cabin well before dark.

Incoming!

[laughing]

You as*h*le. Is that sh*t?

[laughing]

Now Kylie

would I do a thing like that?

Yes!

[laughing]

Trash?

Leave no trace.

[suspenseful music]

Joey?

Didn't you say that we would

have the mountain to ourselves?

I'll see what they're up to.

[suspenseful music]

Do not approach. Area

closed due to military exercises.

We're tourists, just hiking.

We're heading to the cabin.

Who told you to come up here?

Nobody, we're just a hiking trail.

Do you not understand? Go back!

Huiying, can you understand them?

Um, no.

I think my Mandarin's

worse than I thought it was.

- Going?

- Come on.

Are they real soldiers?

They're probably some guys dressed up.

Bad news guys.

They said the trail up ahead

is closed for military exercises.

Which is strange, I've never

seen soldiers patrol up here.

We were counting on that cabin.

We don't even have our own tents.

Don't worry, the hike's not over.

We can just double back

and take a different route.

Let me just check my maps.

Are you online Joey?

Yeah, but the connection's slow.

Hey Joey, Maartin and I were talking.

What if these guys aren't real military.

Maybe they want to play paintball games?

Screw them it's a free country, right?

Not according to China.

Yeah, to them it's a breakaway province.

You're American.

Would you fight for Taiwan?

For freedom and democracy?

Sure, why not?

You know, the more I think about it,

those soldiers don't add up.

Yeah, that's what we said.

In what way though?

Well, when I was in national service,

and everyone has to now in Taiwan,

we never trained in a national park.

Well I didn't see any g*ns.

Maybe they're not real soldiers.

We had weapons in training,

just on base, never in public.

Hey Maarten, did you

apply for a permit for that?

Nay.

I don't believe in red tape.

[drone blades whirring]

[suspenseful music]

There they are.

[g*nsh*t echoes] sh*t!

What happened?

That's a $1200 drone.

Wait, was that a g*nsh*t?

We didn't see real g*ns, right?

If they are real soldiers they

could be carrying sidearms.

Easy to conceal.

The Taiwan military isn't going to sh**t,

a tourist from the Netherlands.

[scoffs]

They might if you go

charging at them, mate.

Better not risk it.

Shouldn't we go after him?

We better.

I don't think he speaks Mandarin.

Stay here till we get back.

[tense music]

Excuse me.

Stop.

Have you seen my drone?

Go back.

Have you seen my drone?

Go back!

Get the f*ck back!

It's my drone.

[g*nsh*t]

Hey!

[dramatic music]

What happened?

We heard another g*nsh*t.

They just shot Maartin.

I think he's dead.

We need to go.

Now!

Do you think they'll come after us?

I don't think they spotted us,

but we just witnessed a m*rder.

That way.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

[dramatic music]

Hold on.

This way, go!

[heavy breathing]

Shouldn't we go and

report this to the police?

They might be waiting

for us on the main trail.

Is there any other way back to Hualien?

It'll be dark in two hours.

We'd have to go through dense rainforest

and it's hard enough daylight.

Impossible at night.

Hey, save your batteries.

There's no signal here.

Any idea who they are?

There was no reason to k*ll

Maarten. He wasn't a threat.

Maybe they're not military.

Drug runners?

Out here?

They don't look I mean they

look like Taiwanese soldiers,

but something about them didn't seem right.

Yeah, they just k*lled someone!

Hey, did you notice the second soldier?

He did all the talking

but he doesn't look like the commander.

What about his accent? Local?

Yeah, he sounds like Taiwanese.

But when he was talking

he kept looking back,

at commander and the

commander didn't say anything at all.

And when we were coming back up here,

the commander said,

"Zu ba."

"Let's go."

We don't say it that way.

Who does?

Mainland Chinese.

You don't mean the PLA. Do you?

Who?

People's Liberation Army.

[suspenseful music]

[twig breaks]

Stay put.

We're gonna check out the area,

make sure it's safe to stay the night.

How long will that take?

No more than an hour.

[zipping]

Five people sleeping in here.

How cozy.

Yeah. Bit of a rip off.

The hike was advertised

as cabin accommodation.

So did you get those in Australia?

Yeah, pretty nice, eh?

I think they're ugly.

You should have got the purple ones.

You come from Hong Kong?

But your accent...

My parents sent me to Australia for school.

I thought I detected a

bit of an Aussie drawl.

You parents must be loaded.

It's "Hai Ying" right? I hope

I pronounced that correctly.

Hui-Ying.

Why don't you just get an English name?

My father's a proud Chinese man.

He thinks that people should

learn how to say our names properly.

Rather than have us adopt Western ones.

Oh, good for him.

So your father sees

Taiwan as part of China,

of course.

And you?

You can get into trouble

answering that in Hong Kong.

We're not in Hong Kong now.

[tense musical chord]

I don't take sides.

I just hope things can

be resolved peacefully.

[ziping]

It looks clear, but I suggest

we set up a perimeter alarm.

And we'll need a lookout.

We can do that shifts.

Sure, I'll take the first watch.

How long do we have to stay here?

Just tonight.

If we head out by first light,

I'm betting they'll be gone.

[crickets chirping]

Looks like you've done this before.

Just common sense.

I take it you're not an office worker.

I'm a fitness trainer.

At least I was.

Quit that to do some traveling.

Why Taiwan?

Studied a bit of Chinese in school.

Always wanted to hike the

Great Wall but it's not safe.

Safe?

Yeah, the US State Department

has travel warnings on China.

Hong Kong too.

Risk of arbitrary

detention, that sort of thing.

That's why Taiwan.

It's Chinese but not communist.

Yeah... there's no Great

Wall but uh, there's this.

Do you think this is actually gonna work?

[tin cans rattle]

I know you don't like

to talk politics, Joey,

but I'm, I'm curious.

What do the Taiwanese think

of the constant PLA w*r games?

Are... they scared?

Just background noise.

We ignore it.

I don't know how you can

live with that your whole life.

Hm.

Have you heard of the parable

of teaching a horse to sing?

Once a thief was condemned

to death by the king,

the thief says my king, your highness,

what if I can teach your horse to sing?

Would that be enough for you to forgive me?

The king says, "Hmm."

"I will give you one year

to teach my horse to sing,"

"but if you cannot... you will die."

So the executioner escorts

the thief through the stables,

and on his way he asks,

"Why did you make such a promise?"

"Horses can't sing, you'll surely die."

To which the thief replied,

"A lot can happen in a year."

"The king might die."

"I might die."

"Or the horse might learn to sing."

It's like buying time.

I should check on Jarrod.

[crickets chirping]

[fire crackles]

How's it going?

Pretty quiet.

Been star gazing.

Whoa.

You never see stars like this in Hong Kong.

Yeah, it's the same in Taipei.

Except here it's...

Breathtaking.

Unbelievable.

There's the Milky Way.

But it's upside down for us.

Ohhh...

See what you missed.

I want to sleep.

Take her inside, man.

She doesn't have to do lookout.

Sneaky.

Isn't there...

A constellation that looks like a horse?

More horses?

Yeah, it's called Pegasus,

but I don't think I'd recognize it.

No, you couldn't see

it this time of the year.

Why do you ask?

My zodiac is a horse.

What traits do horses have?

Free-spirited... active.

Nice.

Better a horse than a rat, I say.

Yeah, rats are okay.

They're just often experimented on.

And they're stingy with money.

[laughter]

Ah, my watch is over.

I think I'll call it a night.

I'm on after Huiying.

I should get some rest too.

If you need me, yell.

I'm a light sleeper.

Oolong cha?

Oh, thank you.

So, what did you do

before your hiking guide job?

Family business.

But we had to close it down.

I'm sorry to hear that.

The economy?

Not exactly.

My father bet the farm on China.

Moved everything to the mainland.

What was the business?

Pineapples.

So he literally bet the farm.

They were very good at first.

But then the mainlanders learned how to

copy our crop

Exactly.

The same specimen.

They stole them?

Let's just say they're very quick learners.

They didn't meet their teacher anymore.

What happened?

My father had to move

everything back to Taiwan.

But then they started to make excuses.

And put restrictions on our exports.

One time, they said that

there were pests in our fruit.

We've done the business for 15 years.

And this pests in the fruit is bullshit!

We had to lose a lot in the

market. Huge, huge share.

Let everyone go.

That's when I decided to do this instead.

That's a sad story.

One of many in Taiwan.

I'm gonna clock out.

[Chinese] Good night.

[Chinese] Good night.

[soft music]

[fire crackling]

[thud]

[low suspenseful music]

[twigs snap]

Matt...

Someone's here...

Shhh...

[footsteps]

[suspenseful music]

[rustling]

[branch crashing]

[struggling]

[dramatic music]

[grunting]

[thud]

[heavy breathing]

[birds chirping]

How is everyone?

Pretty shaken up.

Kylie and Huiying...

They're still freaked out.

How did he know we were here?

Beats me.

Only locals know this area.

Do you think the others are coming for us?

They'll try calling first.

This will be our warning alarm.

But we need to find out more.

I'm gonna need your help.

[birds chirping]

[Chinese] Are you PLA?

[Chinese] Why did you come to Taiwan?

I asked him if he was PLA.

Yeah, I got that much.

Do you think he speaks English?

Hard to say.

I think he would recognize

an American accent though.

You hate Americans?

[grunt]

Maybe you like our movies.

Spider-man?

Rambo?

Learned some English

from watching them? No.

Special ops?

You know you can't win.

[spits]

[heavy breathing]

Got a reaction at least.

After they k*lled Maarten,

did it look like they were

having an argument?

Yeah, the commander looked pissed.

Do you think that's the

one that pulled the trigger?

It's too hard to say. We were too far away.

[birds chirping]

We need a 24-hour watch until

someone can go for the police.

Wait, shouldn't we take him with us?

If we bump into the others,

we have a bargaining chip.

How's that gonna work? They have g*ns.

Dumb idea, if you ask me.

I tend to agree.

It'll also just slow us down.

We'll need two people to

stay here for a 24-7 watch.

While the rest of you go for help.

Don't you need three for a watch?

We're not gonna get

much sleep until this is over.

I'll stay.

No, too dangerous.

Joey, I'll need you to go back.

Help show the way.

I got a better idea. Why

don't you all stay here,

and I'll go find a phone signal.

I'll call the police.

Okay, you do that.

But we'll go back for help.

This isn't our fight.

That's settled then.

Get ready as quickly as you can.

We'll need evidence to show the police.

We need photos of this

And a photo of him.

Give me your phone.

[camera clicks]

You'll be alright?

We'll need directions.

Yeah.

Are you online, Joey?

No. I downloaded this

screenshot before the trip.

So we're here in Hualien

And we went up here to this clearing.

Then we doubled back to about here.

Can you airdrop that to

Kylie? She's got an iPhone.

Sure, yeah.

[quiet chatter]

Hey, over here.

Call me old fashioned

but I prefer paper maps.

Okay.

Our current location is about here.

If you keep going east,

and just follow the main trail,

you'll see the signs to get you to Hualien.

When you get there, ask

someone to direct you,

to the Hualien police.

Shouldn't we just go to the military base?

They won't get past the main gate.

The police will notify the military.

You going with them?

Okay, this will say

"Take me to Hualien police station."

Okay we good?

[somber music]

How long will it take you to

get a signal and get back here?

About maybe an hour and a half.

Do it then. No time to waste.

[Chinese] g*dd*mn it!

I swear I had it on me.

[suspenseful music]

I didn't take your phone! I didn't.

My phone's no good in Taiwan.

Don't you have a GPS beacon?

No, I've done this trail a thousand times.

I wasn't expecting the PLA.

Okay.

No problem. We need a plan B.

Huiying, I need you to keep an eye on him.

Joey and I need to discuss strategy.

Why me?

You wanted to stay, you need to help out.

Well then you might as well

catch up with Jarrod and Kylie.

Okay, okay.

Keep your distance and don't talk to him.

Got that.

[deep exhale]

If they are PLA, why only three not four?

Four is an unlucky number in Chinese.

My guess is they're

testing Taiwan's defenses.

Are you U.S. military?

I know some guys who are.

Whose side is she on?

You mean with the phones?

I don't know.

Some people are really

attached to their phones.

I'll have a word to her.

You know she's from Hong Kong, right?

Your point?

It's part of communist China.

No more "one country, two systems" anymore.

Being from Hong Kong doesn't mean

you support the communist party.

Has she said anything to you?

Making accusations against her

is just going to make things worse.

Wait

Are they having a conversation over there?

Everything okay?

Did he say something to you?

You didn't talk, did you?

He did say something, sh*t.

Tell me exactly what he said,

exactly what you said word for word.

Nothing much, really.

A few hours ago he was

ready to slit your throat.

He's not your new BFF.

He started it. Not me. It was small talk.

Just asked where I was from.

And you told him?

Yes.

What do you mean?

Well he could tell from my

accent that I'm not Taiwanese,

and I'm obviously not mainland

Chinese. So what's left?

So he knows you're from Hong Kong.

Do I sound Singaporean?

Look, we're, we're not mad at you.

It might help us, what else did he say?

He started with Cantonese

and then he went into Mandarin,

and, and then he, he said

that we were compatriots,

part of the motherland

He said that he didn't wanna harm me.

What about the rest of us?

Anything about his mission?

He did say

Mei guo fu qing dai jia.

"America will pay the price."

Was it "Mei guo fu qing dai

jia," exactly how he said it?

So he wants to hurt me.

No, that's not what he said

Was it? Are you sure he said

'Mei guo' and not 'Mei guo ren'?

Positive America, the

country not American person.

That's why I thought it was odd

[shocked gasp]

[dramatic music]

Will he have gotten far without boots?

Slow him down, at least.

Where do you think he went?

Reunite with his unit maybe or

Go after Jarrod and Kylie.

At least he's not armed.

These are his weapons.

If he's special forces he'll be trained

in hand-to-hand combat, martial arts.

He could k*ll with his bare hands.

We can try calling them.

I don't have my phone.

Oh my God.

Where'd you have it last?

I, I just had it. I was

using it to over here!

Uh.

Maybe we can use your phone.

I don't have a local SIM.

We better make tracks.

[suspenseful music]

Can you get that?

We can't go back to the main trail.

We need a hideout.

Well there's a cave north of here

that hardly anyone knows about.

Copy that. Let's get out of here ASAP.

[dramatic music]

I think it's quicker this way.

You sure?

Come on.

I thought you said it was

gonna be different this time.

I didn't see you complaining

in business class.

[water rushing]

We'll be safe here.

Where are we now?

Right here.

And if they keep going the same

direction, where might they end up?

Taichung, over here.

Anything in the middle?

That's Nantou.

It's a landlocked county.

There's a lot of mountains,

a few small townships.

They'll avoid townships,

get off the beaten track.

What's their objective?

Any critical infrastructure here?

Power plants, nuclear sites?

Taiwan's nuclear plant is over here.

It's too far.

Then what's in Taichung?

Just your average Taiwanese city.

Wait, there's a maintenance

facility for F-16 jets.

They're American,

Lockheed Martin.

Yeah.

Taiwan and Lockheed

signed a deal years ago.

That's in Taichung.

[twig snap]

[tense music]

Let's go.

Bags, bags.

Got it.

Got it.

[water rushing]

[relieved sigh]

What else is in Taichung?

There's a science park.

What kind of science park?

Taiwan Semiconductor has a

big chip-making factory there.

Of course! The sacred mountain.

That's what we call Taiwan Semiconductor.

Because chip-making is that

important to our economy.

That's critical infrastructure.

Probably not a high-security facility.

Easy target.

A few weeks ago.

Some confidential

blueprints were taken from a,

chip company in the science park.

My father's an engineer.

Taiwan chips are in everything.

The Americans put the chips in

the weapons that they sell back to us.

I'm guessing there's a lot of

these chip factories in Taiwan.

Yeah, there's lots of them.

So there's mostly in Hsinchu,

uhh, some in Tainan and Taichung.

What if they're not the only unit?

[dramatic sting]

Then it's a lot worse than we expected.

Hitting the American economy

by cutting off the chip supply,

could be a precursor to a

full scale invasion of Taiwan.

Well if they go over this mountain

range, nothing will stop them.

You're suggesting we confront two,

maybe three highly trained special forces,

armed with weapons.

I know we can't fight them.

But I can track them.

Look.

They're strangers here.

I've been hiking these

trails since I was a kid.

Okay, suppose we track them, then what?

We'll figure it out then.

I'm not going back if

that's what you're thinking.

What trail would they take?

All right.

There's an old route.

Starts from the east coast.

It cuts through Nantou county

and it finishes in Taichung.

It's been there for hundreds of years,

but the Japanese improved

it during their occupation.

And where are we in relation to that?

We're right here.

They'll be coming through this direction.

And they'll be following an

old abandoned logging trail.

If we move through here,

we'll catch up with them.

That's a tough hike.

We'll need to slim down.

Dump everything we don't need.

Keep water and anything edible.

[rifling through bags]

[loud metallic thud]

Hold onto it.

Are you gonna throw sh*t bombs at the PLA?

[chuckles]

What's that?

It's tradition.

For local hikers,

when we reach a new

summit we just plant it.

[inspirational sting]

And we take a photo for Facebook.

Keep it, but don't wave it

around if we see the PLA.

Sorry pal.

That came out wrong.

It's your flag, your country.

I just don't wanna give them

any more reason to come after us.

[inspiring music]

Okay, let's go.

Do you think that we should leave

a message in case the police come?

What were those seven principles?

Leave no trace?

I think they'll get the message.

[bushes rustle]

[dramatic sting]

[p*stol c*ck]

Hey, before it gets dark,

I wanna get up there.

Get my bearings for tomorrow,

I won't be half an hour.

Don't forget your flag.

Same deal as last night.

Yes, let's go.

You never told me what you do.

Me? Research assistant.

Ah, for who?

Chinese's newspaper. You

probably never heard of it so...

Oh, but... Umm,

don't tell Joey

why not?

It's pro-Beijing.

You don't strike me as a communist.

Well, I did it to appease my father

and he runs an engineering firm in China.

Does your father believe in the propaganda?

Or just believe in the money?

Ooo-kay...

Someone has to pay for

the university overseas,

and somebody has to pay for my phones.

And you know, this trip?

Hmm.

[crickets chirping]

Okay.

If blowing up the chip

factory is their mission,

how would they do it?

Military c4 would do the trick.

It's easy, safe to carry.

If we can take that they

go home empty handed.

But it wouldn't take much to

destroy a clean room for chips.

A speck of dust would be enough,

to destroy a silicon wafer

worth thousands of dollars.

Oh, so you're the expert

in chip making now?

I told you, my father's an engineer.

And where does he work?

Mainland China.

[crickets chirping]

So they don't need c4.

All they need is this?

Yeah, the same stuff that

you grew your pineapples in.

Growing pineapples is an exact science.

And making chips isn't!

[Joey getting up]

You know what, Joey? This

has been a real shitty trip.

I'm sorry your Instagram moment

didn't live up to how you hoped.

Okay.

Here, here's a partial refund.

You get the rest of

it, when this is all over.

[Angry stomping]

[Sharp exhale]

[Owl hooting]

[Emotional music]

In terrain like this, these radios

only have a range of a few miles.

If they answer.

I'll know where they are.

I thought we were only tracking them.

I'm not stupid, I won't engage.

Just wanna know where

they are in this big old jungle.

I'll need a line in Mandarin.

Squad leader, do you copy?

In Chinese?

Bn zhng, n cho.

Bn zhng, n cho!

Bn zhng, n cho!

Do I sound like the soldier that got away?

How would I know?

Doesn't matter. There'll

be signal distortion anyway.

Just needs to sound a little bit Chinese.

And what if they catch up to you?

We'll know where they are.

What's the chances of the

weather turning bad all of a sudden?

Well, up here it's unpredictable.

Worst case scenario, you'll get wet.

I'm concerned about that.

These need ambient light to work.

If we get cloud cover, I'll be blind.

[Tense music wells]

But when will you be back?

If all goes well,

by first light.

If not?

I'll leave breadcrumbs.

[Tense music]

[Crickets chirping]

[Crickets chirping]

Bn zhng, n cho!

[Radio squelch]

[Crickets chirping]

[Tense music]

Bn zhng, n cho!

[Radio squelch]

Hey assholes...

It's the Migu rn (American).

Come and get me.

[Radio squelch]

[Tense music]

[Birds chirping]

Huiying.

Huiying?

[Birds chirping]

[Low dramatic music]

[Water running]

[Tense music wells]

[Birds chirping]

[Tense music]

[Twig snaps]

[Tense music]

[Mandarin song playing]

Shhh...

They've got Huiying.

Follow me.

[Tense music]

Christ.

Look who's back...

And he's got some new boots.

They must have taken

Huiying against her will.

Is she a hostage?

She's not tied up if that's what you mean.

She looks safe.

They don't see her as a threat.

You said she left the

tent early this morning.

Any idea how they found her?

Hey, do you think it's coincidence,

that our pla hostage escaped

right after she was with him?

The rope was cut.

How have they been able to track us?

That's what I'm trying to figure out.

I mean they found our camp last night.

And they knew exactly

where to find Huiying.

sh*t. We've been made.

There's a fourth man.

He's on the radio with the commander.

[Rustling leaves]

[Dramatic music]

Anything in your bag

you didn't bring with you?

[Loud rifling]

Hey, hey take it easy, Joey. Take it easy.

[Zipping]

Where did you get this?

Huiying gave it to me.

[tense music]

[dramatic music]

[loud thudding]

[heavy breathing]

We can't go back to the tent.

That location is compromised.

So we sleep rough.

I'm more worried about what we'll eat.

Here.

That's the last of our food.

[whittling]

What's that for?

You'll see.

[heroic music]

[bowstring tightens]

Impressive.

[drinking canteens clanking]

We have a choice to make.

Get the hell outta here.

Or try and stop them.

How?

If we get their C4, their mission is over.

Didn't you say it's suicide to

confront a special ops team?

Not easy for sure,

but I think we can.

With Huiying's help.

Unless she's with them.

I don't think she is.

But they think she is.

And that's our advantage.

We need to approach from the western side.

They won't expect that.

Huh

Unless you're a world-class tracker.

We've lost them.

[can rattles]

What does this look like to you?

Shnshng

Looks like directions of some kind.

Sacred

Huiying

Why would she write that?

Because she's not the fourth man.

Or woman in that case.

[dramatic music]

[chuckling] What?

Not happy to see me?

What now?

Not for me to decide.

I'm just the babysitter

until they come back for ya.

A well-paid one.

[scoffs]

I didn't do it for the motherland.

What about Kylie?

A good cover story,

but sadly collateral damage

in the bigger scheme of things.

You were the one that

cut the ropes yesterday.

Nice move.

I didn't see that coming.

Technically speaking, he cut the rope.

I just gave him the right tool for the job.

And the cell phones?

You can collect them at the lost

and found when this is all over.

What were you planning to do

with us if things did go to plan?

Nothing.

[maniacal laugh]

That's the funny thing.

My job was just "to keep nosy hikers away."

[deep exhale]

You know, none of this would've

been necessary had you just,

turned around and gone

back on the first day.

And then Maartin would still be alive.

[dramatic music]

Did you see him run?

Like a scared rabbit!

So much for America saving Taiwan.

[tense music]

Joey wants you to come back.

[arrow whistles]

Oh, sh*t.

That was close!

I'll count to five, then it's bye-bye Joey.

One.

Two.

Three

[tense music]

You okay, pal?

Yeah.

Can I put these down?

Slowly.

Keep 'em in view.

Over there.

Both of you.

Is Huiying part of this?

Spider girl?

[laughs]

No.

She's one of those people that

think the pen is mightier than

One of these.

If we googled you,

Jarrod, what would we find?

A stock trader.

Bloody clever one too.

Why help the PLA start a w*r?

Because I'm not stupid.

I've shorted the market.

Make a fortune.

[yelling]

[dramatic music]

Ahhh!

sh*t!

That f*cking hurt.

What you waiting for?

Go after them!

[g*nsh*t]

[tense music]

[birds chirping]

I'm gonna need a distraction.

Something that will get at least

two of the soldiers out of the camp.

What about the other one?

Counting on Huiying for that.

Hmmm.

I have an idea.

[heroic music]

Now would be a good time, Joey.

Hey

[mandarin] Go back home! You m*therf*ckers!

[Joey chanting off screen] Go

back home! You m*therf*ckers!

[dramatic music]

[bow string draws]

[arrow whistles]

[tense music]

[tense music]

[ripping]

[loud rifling]

[tense sting]

[tense music]

[ripping]

[mandarin] Sounds like

a rodent, I'll go check.

[mandarin] Stop!

[mandarin] An American

rat is what I smell!

Matt

I think you should come out.

[tense music]

Rambo.

[mandarin] m*therf*cker!

[mandarin] Give it to me!

[bow string tightens]

[grunts]

[laboured breaths]

[tense music]

[struggling]

[dramatic music]

[pained struggling]

[heavy breathing]

[loud thud]

You okay?

It's just a it's just a scratch.

We need to go now.

Did you find it?

Maybe they, they took it with them.

I didn't see them take

anything, just the g*ns.

Unless

It's sewn into the lining of their tent.

Wait here.

If you see them coming, yell.

[tense music]

[rustling fabric]

[loud rifling]

[ripping]

[g*nsh*t]

Got it.

Did you hear that?

Yeah. Nothing we can do now.

You got one of them too?

Yeah.

[tense music]

It was a tracking device.

So you got it from Jarrod?

Yeah, he was handing them out.

He also asked me to give one to Joey.

He should have been back by now.

What about Kylie?

I don't think she knew anything.

Did they, ah

Did they hurt you?

Well, aside from cutting my throat,

well, after I showed them this

[case ripping]

Your get out of jail free card.

[radio squelch]

[Joey over radio] Matt.

Joey, where are you?

[radio squelch]

I'm sorry, I screwed up.

Nevermind that.

Are you okay?

[radio squelch]

I have a message from the commander.

Go ahead.

[radio squelch]

He said he'll trade my life for the C4.

To bring it to the

northern edge of the camp.

Copy that. I'll be there.

[radio squelch]

Not just you, Matt.

Huiying too.

That's what he said.

She's not a part of this.

[radio squelch]

Joey

Look, we need to come up with

an extraction plan to get Joey out.

[tense music]

C4 can blow a hole in steel beams.

I saw red markings on the blueprints.

Probably structural weak points.

I think they wanna take

the whole building down

Permanently.

You know a lot about blowing sh*t up.

I served in the military.

I knew it.

Where did they send you?

Afghanistan.

At least you made it back.

A lot of guys didn't.

Was it worth it

Going to w*r?

I was just following orders.

Isn't that what the PLA are doing?

Were they ordered to k*ll an

innocent civilian in cold blood?

The tent is here.

They'll have a guard on the perimeter.

I don't think we'll be able to extract

Joey with two soldiers in the camp.

But

Create a diversion here,

maybe a small expl*si*n with some of this.

That'll gimme a chance to get in,

knock out one of the other guards

then we have our own hostage.

Be careful with that.

It's perfectly safe.

Can only be set off with a detonator.

In Vietnam, American soldiers

used it to start campfires.

They even got high off it.

It's no wonder you lost that w*r.

Why can't we just give them

the C4 and get Joey back?

If we give them what they

want, we lose our leverage.

They'd probably just k*ll him anyway.

Surely they won't do that.

We're the only thing standing in their way.

They say that the Chinese

don't k*ll the Chinese.

I'm not Chinese.

Why don't you give me the C4.

You can disappear and I'll just

say that you went back to Hualien.

No. They won't trust you anymore.

Okay, I have a better plan.

One of the Chinese soldiers were

playing this old Chinese folk song.

My father used to sing

it to me when I was a kid.

It's time the horse learn how to sing.

[crickets chirping]

[Mandarin singing in distance]

[singing in Mandarin]

[music]

[crickets chirping]

[leaves rustling]

[grunting]

[tense music]

[tense music]

[loud thud]

[loud rifling]

[yelling]

[rip]

[Mandarin] You fool!

[dramatic music]

[g*nshots]

[grunts]

Thanks.

[heavy breathing]

Where's Matt?

He can take care of himself.

Hey

Thanks for coming to get me.

Now we're even.

[bird chirping]

You never told me your Chinese name.

Jia-hau.

Very fitting.

Why don't you use it?

[loud expl*si*n]

[heavy breathing]

You okay?

I think that's the C4.

Accident?

Can only be set off by a detonator.

[calm music]

[tense music]

The hostage blows himself up.

Out of shame? Embarrassment?

Commander returns, sees

that the mission has failed.

Puts a b*llet in his own head.

So he doesn't have to go back

to China and face the music.

And the other guy from yesterday

is in the body bag over there.

Seems a bit convenient.

Why worry about it?

They're all dead. Let's get outta here.

You okay over there?

How far to the nearest town?

Three or four hours.

That's gonna be tough

in our current condition.

Well, maybe somebody heard the blast.

Not in this valley.

I have an idea.

If we make a big enough noise, up there.

Someone might hear it.

Yeah. With what?

Been saving this for a rainy day.

[heroic sting]

I'll just wait here.

Let's go.

Okay.

[tense music]

[gasp]

sh*t!

[tense music]

[wind howling]

Hold this?

Have you done this before?

Yeah.

These are the detonator caps.

Timer.

Yep.

And the big one that makes it go boom.

Amazing.

Throw it over that way.

[mandarin] Freeze! Don't move!

[mandarin] Put your

hands behind your heads!

[mandarin] The C-4! Give it to me!

[mandarin] Give it to me!

[birds chirping]

[emotional music]

Joey!

[expl*si*n]

[wind howling]

This changes nothing.

[g*nsh*t]

[soft emotional music]

[g*nshots]

[wind howling]

[wind howling]

[wind howling]

[closing titles music]

I hope you're feeling safe

From the crossfire

Babe

I just want you to be okay

And calm my love

Babe

[music]

Come home, come home now

Now, now, now

Come home, come home, come home now