Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Chad Taylor
Writer: Chad Taylor
Cast: Wyatt Russell, Tang Wei, Laura Dern, Kirsten Dunst, Riley Keough, Bo Burnham, Zhang Ziyi, Woody Harrelson
Plot:
1996
Harry Robbins (Wyatt Russell) is an optimistic 29-year-old living a quiet life in his small hometown of River Crossing, West Virginia - the kind of place where everybody knows everybody. He has recently completed his degree in education after working in construction for a few years. For the coming year, he has other plans. He is back living with his mom Cass (Laura Dern), the principal at the local middle school, for a few days as he prepares for an upcoming year-long stay in China to teach English as a second language. His childhood best friend Trevor (Bo Burnham) is also there and tells Harry to not to do anything too crazy while over there (at least not anything as crazy as the stuff they did in high school).
He visits the local pizza joint where his sister Maggie (Kirsten Dunst) works as a waitress. She tells him to have the time of his life and then lets him know that she just crossed a big milestone: yesterday marked her 18th month clean. He is so happy to hear that. While leaving, he runs into Angela (Riley Keough), an old acquaintance from high school. She asks what he is up to and he says that he is getting ready to go to China for a year. Her eyes light up as she says that is exciting.
The next day, Cass drives Harry to the airport. She tells him to enjoy his trip and focus on his job but don’t… She doesn’t finish herself but Harry shakes his head, knowing where she is going with it. They hug goodbye and Harry flies out to write the next chapter of his life.
After getting acclimated with his job and surroundings, he takes a weekend trip to see the Great Wall and Forbidden City. His tour guide Mei (Tang Wei) is very interactive with the group getting them involved, including Harry. He lingers near the back of the group when he feels a sudden sharp pain and looks down to see he has been stung by a scorpion. His ankle starts to swell as Mei calls in for a fellow tour guide to pick up her duties as she treats Harry’s injury. Harry says in the local language that he is embarrassed while she says she knows first aid so this is part of her job. She detects his American accent and reveals that she can speak some broken English. She says that there will be some swelling but, after some wrapping, it should be able to heal up on its own without a hospital visit. He thanks her for her help as he joins the next tour group, smiling to himself as Mei walks away.
We see a scene of Harry teaching his classroom and he has already built a great rapport with the students. The following weekend, he decides to check out the local nightlife. Lo and behold, in the first bar he enters, he immediately spots Mei with some friends. She sees him, too, and is the one who approaches him and offers him a drink as they begin to talk. She explains that she has moved around China her whole life but settled in Beijing to be closer to home. He asks if her parents live here and she says they both died in the last few years but her siblings do live here. He is sorry to hear that and opens up about his own father being absent his whole life. He explains that his dad fought in the Vietnam War but never came home. She asks if he died in combat and he says that they’re not sure - he holds out hope that he’s still alive but his mother has seemed to move on. In fact, she is worried that Harry is going to look for him while here (which he admits he is tempted to do).
Fleetwood Mac's 'Rhiannon' comes on the jukebox and Harry’s eyes light up, inviting her to a dance. She asks if he is sure he wants to (because of his foot) and he says it’s totally worth it. While there, they become locked in a groove and their romantic compatibility is palpable as Mei is the one that goes in for the first kiss. He takes her back to his apartment and they spend the night together.
As the months go by, Harry and Mei start dating and grow closer. He helps her with his English and vice versa with his Mandarin. They frequently go on dates and take turns staying at each other’s place. A little over halfway through Harry’s stay, Mei invites him to meet her sister Faye (Zhang Ziyi). Harry isn’t sure how it will go but Faye actually takes a liking to him a lot. Afterwards, he talks to her in private and says that he expresses his love for her sister. He says he knows this might sound crazy and is not sure what the protocol is here but he is thinking about proposing to her. Faye says that would make their parents happy as they believed that when you meet the love of your life, there is no requirement of elapsed time to know that they’re the one. She does however say that Mei’s previous marriage was a bit painful so she warns him not to break her heart. Harry nods, although we can clearly see he is surprised by the notion of a previous marriage.
Harry receives a letter from his mom telling him that a job has opened up at her school for next fall and it is his if he wants it. This interests him and his current assignment is due to end soon anyways. But he is still unsure of how this affects his relationship with Mei. He goes to talk with her about it and tells her that he thinks he needs to go back home. Instead of resistance, excitement fills her eyes. He asks if she would be willing to come with him. She says of course and kisses him. He lets out a sigh of relief, admitting he was scared that this would impact their relationship. This is when he feels is the right time to ask about what Faye said about a previous marriage. Mei admits that she married young, like her parents, and was a bit naive at the time. A few years in, she discovered she was infertile, which put a strain on the marriage. But she’s been divorced for 10 years now and was content with being single until the right thing came around. She asks if that scares him - a 40-year-old divorcee who can't have babies. He shakes his head and says that makes him love her even, more knowing she has traversed life’s ups-and-downs.
A few days later, Harry asks Mei if she would be interested in visiting Vietnam with him. She asks if he has told his mom and he says he doesn’t plan to. She says that of course she will go with him. He smiles and gives her a kiss. When in Vietnam, Harry carries a picture of his dad with him and occasionally asks people if he looks familiar but to no avail.
They are at a scenic overlook when Harry crouches down on one knee as Mei is turned away. When she looks his way, she freezes in place and gives him a look of surprise. He opens his hands to reveal a toy scorpion which causes her to freak out momentarily, causing them both to laugh. As they hug, he reaches into his back pocket and kneels down with a ring this time as Mei to start tearing up. He proposes to her and she accepts, prompting him to stand up and lift her into his arms.
Harry and Mei are married in a small park with Faye and a few friends in attendance. Since they are going back to his country, they decided to get married in hers. She promises to her sister that she will try to visit every year and who knows, maybe they will move back permanently some day. They share an emotional goodbye.
1997
Harry and Mei arrive in West Virginia and are picked up by Cass, who is overjoyed to meet her new daughter-in-law. She does playfully scold Harry for getting married without her there but says she understands given the circumstances. After getting to know Mei a bit better, Cass informs Harry that she was able to secure him a job at her school to teach in the fall. He thanks her and says that he is going to start looking at houses that he and Mei can move into.
On his first night back, he takes Mei out to the local bar where he meets up with Trevor. As Trevor fills Harry in on the local news he met while he was gone, he reveals that his Angela now has an infant son. Harry pauses in the moment before saying that he is happy for her. After the bar, he doesn’t seem himself and Mei asks if something is up. He seems to be weighing whether or not to tell her before saying that he and Angela dated in high school and had seen each other off-and-on since. Mei can sense where this is going and asks if they hooked up before he left for China. He slowly nods. She takes his head into her arms and says she’s obviously not mad - how could she be. But she does say he should check in with Angela tomorrow to see if it is. He says of course he will and they kiss.
He is clearly nervous when he goes to visit Angela but he puts on a calm face when he knocks on the door. When she opens the door, she lets out a big sigh and begins to cry as he hugs her. Even though he thinks he knows the answer, he gives her a look and she shakes her head yes. She says that she didn’t know how to get ahold of him but was planning to tell him when he got back. She takes him in to see his son. His eyes well up in emotions as he picks him up and she says his name is Sam.
A bit later, they are playing on the floor when she first brings up the topic of raising him. Harry reads this as her asking if they’ll get back together, to which he reveals his marriage to Mei. This makes her a bit angry, saying she’s been raising him on her own so far and is happy to continue. He apologizes and says that he does want to be a part of Sam’s life as much as possible. After cooling down a bit, she tells him that she’s open to working some kind of arrangement out. She also says that she’s not technically doing it on her own as she is seeing someone, too.
Meanwhile, Cass takes Mei out shopping in the nearest big city. She reveals that she has plans on throwing them a welcome back party in the next few days. As they are talking, Mei accidentally reveals that Harry had a kid with Angela. Immediately afterwards, she is mad at herself for saying that before Harry could but Cass says there is no need to apologize and puts her arm around her - glowing from hearing this news. When checking out, the lady at the register makes a racist joke towards Mei under the assumption she is Japanese. She does not say anything in the moment and decides not to tell Cass about it either.
At the party, Cass meets her grandson for the first time. This also acts as a time for the community to meet Mei for the first time. One person notably absent is Maggie, the one person Harry wants Mei to meet the most. Angela pulls Trevor aside and says that he should probably tell Harry about them. He goes to talk to Harry but can’t bring himself to tell him that he has been seeing Angela over the last few months. A sunglasses-clad Maggie finally arrives and is thinner than before Harry left. Harry can immediately tell that she has relapsed and a mix of anger, disappointment, and sadness comes over his face.
He holds it in while introducing her to Mei and then Sam. Afterwards, he asked her if she is back on meth and she stays silent, looking down at her feet. He lets out his frustration and makes an underhand comment about how that’s just the type of role model he wants his son to be around. She curses him out before addressing the whole party. She points out the irony in her being the pariah of the family when he’s the one who get married without anyone’s knowledge and had a baby out of wedlock. Cass goes to calm down her daughter but Maggie brushes her off and says she’s the biggest part of the problem as she puts all of her resources into letting Harry succeed but not her firstborn daughter. The party ends on that damper note.
Later that night, Mei opens up about how today was very overwhelming for her. He apologizes about the Maggie situation and she says it’s not that. It is the feeling of being in a strange place in a language she only somewhat understands with all of these eyes looking down on her, like she needs to pass some sort of test to fit in. It felt claustrophobic and a bit scary. She then tells him about the incident with the lady at the store. He holds her hand and says he’s sorry while also saying that he can’t go back because his son is here. She says she doesn’t want to go back as she wants to make this work because he is the most important person in her life. He says he will do everything in his power to make this feel like home as they open the newspaper to begin reviewing house listings and jobs for Mei.
Harry goes to visit his sister to apologize for what he said. When he knocks, she doesn’t answer the door. Frustrated, he goes to visit Cass instead. She asks how Mei is getting adjusted and he is honest in saying it is a little tough. She says that she will try her best to help with the transition. She also asks if him and Angela have talked about parenting arrangements yet. He says no but they will. He then decides to reveal to her that he did go to Vietnam and asked around about his dad. He says that nothing came out of it but can already sense her disappointment as she told him not to do that. She finally reveals the truth to him: his dad didn’t go missing in the war but instead just never returned home from service, probably starting a new family elsewhere. She received a letter from him in 1982 but decided to withhold that information from him. He asks if Maggie knew and she says no. They share a long hug as Cass apologizes and Harry says he understands and that his anger is not directed at her.
Mei practices her English everyday before applying to a job at a nearby state park. Her and Harry both feel that this is similar to her previous job and lets her enjoy her passion for nature. When she goes to the interview, she is incredibly nervous but the ranger is very friendly and helps calm her nerves. On the drive home, she rolls the window down and takes a long breath.
1999
Mei wakes up with Harry by their side in their home that they’ve owned for a year. She now has the job at the state park while he has continued teaching in River Crossing. She checks out the window and sees that a snowstorm has hit overnight. Harry opens one to reveal that he is awake and says that he will go clear the driveway if she makes breakfast. She laughs and agrees to the deal. After getting dressed, he reaches the living room to find Sam - who they have joint custody of - all bundled up himself and asking to “help” his dad shovel. Harry looks to Mei for approval who nods yes. As Mei continues to cook, she hears Sam curiously saying “daddy?”. She takes a look outside and is horrified to see Harry face-down in the snow.
In the hospital, Cass and Mei sit by a comatose Harry. At first it was suspected that he slipped on ice but then a medical examination found that he had an aneurysm. Mei calls Angela to give her an update on his status. They are unsure how to approach this situation with Sam and whether or not to bring him to see his dad in this state. They don’t want to emotionally scar him further after having initially discovered him. Later, Mei goes home for the night while Cass is planning on staying a bit longer. Maggie arrives to give her mom company and they squeeze into each other’s arms, letting out their tears. Maggie says she wishes she and him were on better terms but Cass says that he knows Maggie loves him.
On the edge of town, an old pick-up truck comes in cruising below the speed limit. Behind the wheel is a scruffy Bunk McCarter (Woody Harrelson), hair flowing in the wind. He arrives at the hospital and keeps his sunglasses on when he says he is there to visit Harry. On the elevator ride up, he practices some lines under his breath about what he is going to say. When he gets to the room, Cass recognizes him immediately and shakes her head no. Maggie asks who that is and then it clicks - it’s her dad. She goes out to say something but he is already walking away due to Cass’s reaction. Maggie is at a loss for words upon seeing him alive but finally says that she is his daughter. He turns around and takes his sunglasses off to reveal tears in his eyes, saying he knows. She hugs him while Cass furiously paces in the hospital room.
Bunk asks if Maggie will talk to her mother and let him see his son. Maggie says that of course he can and brings him back to the room. Cass demands that he get out, prompting Maggie to get mad at her. Cass says that if didn’t want to see his son over the last thirty years, he doesn’t get to see him now. Maggie is now angry at her mom, pointing out how insensitive that is. Bunk is getting ready to explain before Cass reveals the same thing that she told Harry about Bunk’s absence. Maggie’s anger slowly turns toward Bunk, who tries to explain but realizes that he isn’t welcomed here. He leaves and checks into a hotel.
A few days later, Mei can barely eat at her home as she feels an intense loneliness. Angela and Trevor visit and bring over Sam with them. This lifts her spirits as they play hide-and-seek, all of them using it as an escape from the current situation. They are surprised by a knock on the door and Mei is stunned to see her sister on the other side. Faye says that she booked a plane as soon as Mei told her. Mei tearfully hugs Faye before introducing her to Sam. Afterwards, Mei takes her sister to the hospital to see Harry.
In his hotel room, Bunk lays on the bed while smoking a cigarette - watching the TV with a haze in his eyes. Maggie, meanwhile, is traveling to see him this time. When she arrives at his door, he says that she doesn’t need to accept his apology. She remains silent as he starts to tell his side of the story. She rips into him, saying that his absence did irreparable damage to the life of her, her mother, and brother. She says that she has dealt with addiction issues for years, in part because of the anxiety that his disappearance caused. She asks if he has another family and he shakes his head no, saying he has another woman but that he figured out that he’s not the best parent. They both realize the relevance of that statement in the moment, letting out a chuckle as if to say “you think?”. Maggie asks why he hasn’t left town yet and he says that Harry is still his son and he wants to be there for him, even if he’s not allowed in the room itself. Maggie lets out a resigned sigh and says that she’ll talk to her mom.
Cass and Mei meet with Harry’s doctor, who says that there has been some signs of brain activity but they’re not out of the woods yet. Maggie comes to see them afterwards and says that she met with her dad. Cass is a little more cool-headed now and asks what he had to say. Maggie says that she is obviously still mad at him but that he does sound sincere in his care for Harry’s status. Mei chimes in to say that, even after learning the truth about Bunk, that Harry talked of him with a sense of wonder and would probably want him to be here. Cass says that she knows she is being irrational but that he is just opening old wounds in a time that is already hard enough for her. She tells Maggie that he can come visit.
Mei and Faye have lunch at what was Harry’s favorite sandwich spot as Faye is set to leave the next day. She gives her an update on his health while Faye catches Mei up on what her siblings are up to. Faye clearly has something she wants to say but is afraid to verbalize it. Mei notices this and asks her to say it. Faye finally asks what her sister will do if Harry dies. After a moment to gather her composure, Mei says that she would stay here and continue to make it her home. She would still want to be a part of Sam’s life and Cass’s and Maggie’s. She takes her sister’s hands while saying that she loves her and she still wants to come over and visit as often as she can. Maybe he even take Sam to see China. Faye smiles and says that she is happy with her sister’s confidence and says that that is all just hypothetical anyways.
Mei and Faye drive to the hospital, where Faye meets Cass for the first time. Maggie arrives with Bunk as he and Cass finally come face-to-face. Instead of yelling at him, she gives him a hug and they share a long cry into each other’s arms. Angela and Trevor arrive with Sam, telling Mei that he told them that he wanted to come see his dad. Mei lifts him into her arms and takes him over to the hospital bed. Sam holds his dad’s hand, initially taken aback by its relative coldness. The camera dollies in on Harry’s face and cuts to black.
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