Dongji Rescue

The Lisbon Maru is torpedoed by an American submarine and sinks slowly in the waters near Zhoushan. It carries 1,816 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan, setting a grim stage for a rescue and escape. The disaster brings Ah Bi, Ah Dang, and Thomas Newman into the unfolding danger on the shores of Dongji Island.

Ah Dang discovers Newman floating at sea and pulls him aboard his boat. Ah Bi strongly disapproves, arguing that the rescue could bring more danger, but Ah Dang persuades her to help. They make their way toward safety on Dongji Island.

Newman is brought to Dongji Island and taken in by locals. Chen, a local teacher, helps communicate with Newman, while Ah Bi informs Mr. Wu about the escapee. The villagers face a moral dilemma as they decide how to shelter him.

Lieutenant Commander Hideo Wada and Japanese troops arrive on Dongji Island, demanding the whereabouts of the escapee. When the villagers claim ignorance, he retaliates by executing a man and a young boy to punish resistance. The threat of reprisal hangs over the island.

To spare his hosts from punishment, Newman surrenders, but Hideo's suspicion grows when the hat he wears suggests concealment. The villagers brace for harsher penalties as the officer tightens his control. Hideo orders the arrest of several villagers, including Wan Liang, Ah Lu, and Qian Jin.

Ah Dang volunteers to become a prisoner to spare others from capture. He is taken aboard the Lisbon Maru with the other POWs. The decision marks a grim turn toward the voyage that will test everyone aboard.

On the Lisbon Maru, Newman is beheaded and his head is cast into the sea. The execution underscores the brutality facing the prisoners. The voyage continues under the shadow of death.

The prisoners are locked in an overcrowded cargo hold as water begins to flood in. Desperation grows as escape seems unlikely and Ah Dang rushes to find a way out. The chaos foreshadows the climactic struggle ahead.

Chen retrieves a hidden pistol and attacks the guards, managing to wound one before he is captured. He is later executed by burning, becoming a symbol of resistance on the island. His sacrifice intensifies the villagers' resolve.

Ah Bi secretly boards the Lisbon Maru and frees Ah Dang, who resolves to help the prisoners escape. He breaches a sealed cargo door, triggering a chaotic breakout as guards open fire. Ah Dang uses the moment to kill Hideo but is shot and dies after Ah Bi returns him to Dongji Island.

Enraged by Ah Dang's death, Ah Bi leads a purge, killing all Japanese soldiers stationed on Dongji Island. The villagers free more prisoners and consolidate their control of the island's perimeter. The rescue effort grows as hope returns.

To fulfill Ah Dang's final wish, Ah Bi returns to the Lisbon Maru and frees all surviving British prisoners. The action grants safety to the remaining captives and honors Ah Dang's sacrifice. The episode marks a turning point toward eventual freedom.

On Dongji Island, Ah Hua reveals an ancestral altar hidden behind a wall and declares that obedience to old traditions has caused deaths. Her words empower the villagers to defy the old ban on women sailing. United, the villagers mount a rescue operation to save the remaining prisoners.

Witnessing the villagers' courage, Japanese forces withdraw from Dongji Island. Meanwhile, Ah Bi dies at sea while attempting to save a boat caught in the whirlpool created by the Lisbon Maru's sinking. The survivors are finally rescued as the island is left in peace.