Info Review Posters ¹ Photos Trailers News

All posters ¹

Chinese title (trad.):

掙脫

Chinese title (simpl.):

挣脱

Russian title:

Вырваться на свободу

Other titles:

代價 (代价)

Release year:

2003

Country:

China

Number of episodes:

19

Genre:

action, drama, mystery

Language:

mandarin

Type:

TV series

Add trailer

Description:

Episode 1
The criminal police brigade of Linbei City arrests a drug dealer on the street. The dealer reveals that he is to meet his supplier, "Flatfish," at a bar that evening, where Flatfish will hand over the goods. Zheng Dajun, captain of the brigade, and deputy captain Zhou Bing lead a raid on a warehouse, busting several smuggled cars. Shen Dong-Jian, chairman of Dongjian Group, and his deputy Ruan Qiang go to Jinli Group to discuss an acquisition. Jinli's boss Dai Jian-Guo laughs heartily, thinking Shen Dong-Jian is utterly unreasonable. Show more Just then, Zheng Dajun and his men arrive and arrest Dai Jian-Guo on suspicion of smuggling. That night at the bar, Shen Dong-Jian's son Shen Lin leads a group of small-time thugs popping ecstasy. The brigade moves in and arrests "Flatfish" in one sweep, and as a bonus rounds up the young thugs too, bringing them back to the station.
Just as they are about to wrap up, Zheng Dajun gets a call from old bureau chief Mei Jing-Yang at home, asking him to come over at once. Dajun remembers the medicine his wife Fenlan had a friend bring from abroad for Chief Mei's stomach trouble, so he goes home to fetch it.
At Mei Jing-Yang's home, his wife hears the doorbell and, thinking it is their daughter Mei Xue coming back from overtime at the law firm, gets up to open the door. As the door opens, a dull thud sounds. Mei Jing-Yang steps out at the noise, and a dark gun barrel flashes from behind his wife. The old couple fall to the ground.
Shen Dong-Jian arrives at the Mei home out of breath and sees that the killer is Black Tiger, an old acquaintance from the underworld. With his dying breath, Mei Jing-Yang says three words to Shen Dong-Jian: "West Woods." Just then Mei Xue returns home, and Black Tiger strikes her down from behind.
Zheng Dajun arrives at the station and, hearing the terrible news of Chief Mei's murder, drives to the scene.
Episode 2
The next day Shen Dong-Jian comes to the public security bureau to collect his son. Zheng Dajun tells him of Mei Jing-Yang's murder. He feigns great shock and quickly asks after Mei Xue, learning that she is hospitalized but unharmed.
Shen Dong-Jian and Zheng Dajun were once comrades in the army, and Mei Jing-Yang was their old superior. The three were extremely close, and both men knew Mei Xue well. Shen Dong-Jian visits Mei Xue in the hospital, and Zheng Dajun swears to her that he will catch the killer. After an investigation, the informant Dunzi provides a lead on "Big Old Wang," saying the man is a supplier who distributes drugs in Linbei City and may know the truth behind the murder. Meanwhile, Black Tiger is put up by Shen Dong-Jian at Old Man Ou's house on the outskirts. Old Man Ou does not dare ask too many questions about Black Tiger's identity.
Zhou Bing's suspicions about Shen Dong-Jian are inadvertently discovered by Zheng Dajun, who is displeased. He refuses to believe that his old friend Dong-Jian has any connection to Chief Mei's case.
Episode 3
After interrogation, "Flatfish" provides a lead: Big Old Wang often goes to the Baihua Massage Center.
Shen Dong-Jian learns that his son Shen Lin has been taking ecstasy again and flies into a rage. Father and son have a fierce argument at home that night. After Shen Lin's mother died, he was sent to the United States at a very young age, and there is a rift between father and son. Shen Dong-Jian is at a loss with his son.
Mei Xue is discharged from the hospital. Shen Dong-Jian comes to pick her up, and outside the hospital they run into Shen Dong-Jian's "godfather" Ouyang Cang, whom Mei Xue has never met. Several cars and a group of people all head first to Shen Dong-Jian's home. Suddenly one of Ouyang Cang's men raises a gun behind Mei Xue to silence her, and Shen Dong-Jian begs Ouyang Cang not to kill Mei Xue. A call comes from the massage center: Big Old Wang has appeared. Dajun, Zhou Bing and the others move out swiftly. During the chase, Big Old Wang jumps from a building and dies. Shen Dong-Jian sees Ouyang Cang off as he leaves Linbei for Hong Kong. Ouyang Cang warns Shen Dong-Jian: "Don't get any ideas about being a good man."
Episode 4
Shen Dong-Jian's purpose in acquiring Jinli Group is to "wash his hands of it all," but before leaving, Ouyang Cang has Ruan Qiang transfer the Jinli shares he purchased to Shen Dong-Jian as a gift. Dong-Jian is furious.
Old Man Ou sees Black Tiger's wanted notice in the newspaper and is so frightened that he flees overnight to his nephew's home. Dajun leads his colleagues from the brigade to Old Man Ou's residence, but Old Man Ou is already gone. Shen Dong-Jian and Mei Xue finish dinner and go home, only to find that Dajun has once again brought his son Shen Lin back from the station. Dajun tells him to discipline his own son. On the street, Mei Xue is followed and threatened by Fang Dahai, a released convict who was imprisoned because of her work as a prosecuting lawyer. Mei Xue alertly reports it, and Dajun rushes over and strikes Fang Dahai for his foul language. When the matter reaches the bureau, Chief Li is displeased with Dajun. Shen Dong-Jian sends Fang Dahai a check to shut him up and help Dajun smooth things over.
Episode 5
Mei Xue asks Shen Dong-Jian to accompany her home. Gazing at the photo of Mei Jing-Yang's family of three and at Mei Xue beside him, Shen Dong-Jian is filled with unease. Zheng Dajun's daughter Wei Yu runs into her childhood friend Shen Lin at a karaoke bar, but Shen Lin acts indifferent. The next day Wei Yu goes to his home to look for him. Alone at home, Shen Dong-Jian stares at the photo of the three people that he snatched from the dying Mei Jing-Yang's hand, caught in a dilemma.
Zhou Bing and Qian Jian pursue Old Man Ou and trace him to his nephew's address. Shen Dong-Jian sends Qiangzi and Daqing to deliver money to Old Man Ou, who has called demanding cash. Qiangzi wants to kill Old Man Ou, but Old Man Ou escapes.
Based on the lead provided by the nephew, the brigade arrests Old Man Ou at the train station. Old Man Ou is merely timid and fearful; he does not clearly understand the relationship between Black Tiger, Shen Dong-Jian and the others. Shen Dong-Jian asks Mei Xue whether she knows what "West Woods" is, and Mei Xue is puzzled. Shen Dong-Jian arranges a comfortable new home for Mei Xue, and she looks at him gratefully.
Episode 6
Old Man Ou's testimony confirms Zhou Bing's suspicions about Shen Dong-Jian. Shen Dong-Jian tells Ruan Qiang and the others to get Black Tiger out of Linbei at once, but the airport, train station and highways are all under surveillance, so the group has no choice but to return to Shen Dong-Jian's office. Just then Mei Xue comes to see Shen Dong-Jian, and she too notices the suspect named Black Tiger. She cannot imagine that while she and Shen Dong-Jian sit talking on the sofa, Black Tiger is hiding in the bathroom nearby.
Zheng Dajun decides to divert attention. The brigade carries out an anti-drug operation and arrests some small-time dealers, which puzzles Shen Dong-Jian and Ruan Qiang. Ruan Qiang urges Shen Dong-Jian to "take care of" Black Tiger.
Shen Dong-Jian cannot get "West Woods" out of his mind. He has Daqing investigate what exactly "West Woods" is.
Shen Dong-Jian finds a job for Shen Lin, but Shen Lin simply does not go. That day he throws another house party, and Shen Dong-Jian comes home and catches him, cursing him out. Shen Lin tells him: "Today is my birthday." Shen Dong-Jian has a drink with Black Tiger.
That morning, Mei Xue, Zheng Dajun and Shen Dong-Jian go to visit Mei Jing-Yang's grave. But in the western suburbs, a corpse-burning case occurs. At the scene, the very gun that killed Mei Jing-Yang is found.
Episode 7
Ruan Qiang hands Shen Dong-Jian the pistol that Black Tiger took from Mei Jing-Yang's home. Mei Xue is distracted at work while gathering evidence at the detention center, and Shen Dong-Jian urges her to look forward.
Shen Lin is caught fooling around in a gambling den and is brought home by Shen Dong-Jian. Father and son quarrel fiercely again. Shen Lin says: "I want freedom."
Because of doubts that arose on the morning of the corpse-burning case, Zhou Bing begins to suspect Zheng Dajun. He questions Fenlan at the hospital and even goes to ask Shen Dong-Jian, which leaves Dajun both annoyed and amused.
When Shen Dong-Jian, his son and Mei Xue eat at home together, things turn unpleasant again, but after the meal, Shen Lin agrees to go see Wei Yu's performance. The West Golf Course construction site is confirmed as the primary scene of the corpse-burning case, and Zheng Dajun is ordered to search the site. Shen Dong-Jian appoints Mei Xue as legal counsel for Dongjian Group.
Episode 8
During the search of the construction site, a mobile phone SIM card is found. Investigation shows the phone was bought by Black Tiger, and a Hong Kong company number in the call records draws the attention of Zheng Dajun and Zhou Bing. The Hong Kong company, Yurong, is owned by a man named Ouyang Cang. At home, Shen Dong-Jian receives a call from Ouyang Cang, which is undoubtedly a threat, because Ouyang Cang never calls Shen Dong-Jian's home. Shen Dong-Jian is so troubled by "West Woods" that he can neither eat nor sleep. While wandering alone in West Woods Park, he is followed by Shen Lin, who does not understand his father's recent behavior. Shen Dong-Jian tells him he is missing Shen Lin's mother, and father and son reconcile.
Shen Lin gets into a fight with someone at a teahouse over Wei Yu. On the rooftop, facing the city below their feet, the two talk about how happy they were as children. Chief Li agrees to let Dajun and Zhou Bing investigate Dongjian Group.
Episode 9
Shen Dong-Jian is caught off guard by the brigade's surprise search. Ruan Qiang tells Qiangzi to move the "goods" in the warehouse at once. Ruan Qiang has barely left the warehouse when the two detectives Qian Jian and Zhang Jin arrive on his heels, but they find nothing.
The forensic DNA test shows that the corpse at the corpse-burning scene is not Black Tiger. "Black Tiger isn't dead!" Dajun reports the news to Chief Li as quickly as possible. Chief Li tells Dajun and Zhou Bing about an anti-drug case from several years ago: the principal culprit, Zhang Shan, escaped, and he is very likely this Ouyang Cang from Hong Kong. And the man in charge of that case at the time was none other than Mei Jing-Yang. Shen Lin buys a flute for Wei Yu at a musical instrument store. The brigade searches Shen Dong-Jian's company again, and Shen Dong-Jian tells Ruan Qiang to investigate the company's own staff as well; he suspects there is a mole for Ouyang Cang at his side.
Episode 10
Zheng Dajun agrees to let Zhou Bing secretly investigate Dongjian Company. Zhou Bing's approach is somewhat laughable, because when Mei Xue refuses to let him see the company's internal financial records, he starts shouting, and in the end Shen Dong-Jian comes over and says: he can look at whatever he wants. In fact, Zhou Bing has feelings for Mei Xue; after all, she is a beautiful young woman. After work he even buys her a cake, then watches as Shen Dong-Jian drives her away.
Wei Yu receives the flute Shen Lin gave her and immediately goes to find him. The two young people fall in love. Dongni arrives, claiming to be a classmate of Chief Li's daughter Xiaofang, who is studying in the United States. Chief Li arranges for him to stay at his home, and Dongni gives him a laptop. The next day, the female detective Wu Ling pretends to be Xiaofang's classmate and comes to help Dongni install the computer for Chief Li. Dongni secretly photographs Ouyang Cang's case files in Chief Li's home.
Episode 11
Dongni hands the secretly taken materials to Shen Dong-Jian, who is deeply anxious. He accompanies Mei Xue to Mei Jing-Yang's grave, because today is Mei Jing-Yang's birthday. As the two walk away from the cemetery, Mei Xue leans tearfully on Shen Dong-Jian's shoulder; she needs someone to rely on.
Ruan Qiang gives a police uniform to a man, who turns out to be Black Tiger. Disguised, Black Tiger goes to Chief Li's home to pick up Dongni. This sudden development shocks Qian Jian and the others guarding the courtyard of Chief Li's home. Zheng Dajun leads men in pursuit of Black Tiger, but Black Tiger has already killed Dongni. In the woods, the fleeing Black Tiger is shot dead by Zhou Bing.
Ouyang Cang's phone call forces Shen Dong-Jian to show his hand at once, and the internal conflicts within the gang intensify.
The informant Dunzi provides a lead about drug trafficking. Zhou Bing and his men search Shen Dong-Jian's car outside the drug rehabilitation center and find drugs. Shen Dong-Jian is arrested. But this time, he has truly been framed. Hearing that his father has been arrested, Shen Lin comes to Zheng Dajun late at night, and Zheng Dajun takes him home.
Episode 12
Shen Lin is in great pain over his father's arrest. Ruan Qiang comes to comfort him, telling him to believe that his father is innocent. Wei Yu also comes to the police station to demand of her father Zheng Dajun, "Why did you arrest Uncle Shen?" Zheng Dajun and Zhou Bing find Shen Lin and ask whether he has ever seen a police-issue pistol. Mei Xue volunteers to be Shen Dong-Jian's defense lawyer, but Shen Dong-Jian refuses.
At the detention center, Dajun interrogates Shen Dong-Jian, who suddenly drops his head and faints. He is taken to the hospital; he has long suffered from heart disease. Daqing wants to go to the hospital to rescue Shen Dong-Jian, but Ruan Qiang stops him with a shout.
Mei Xue visits Shen Dong-Jian in the hospital and encourages him to be strong. Shen Dong-Jian is deeply moved. Dajun seals Dongjian Group's accounts and investigates the source of its funds, and Mei Xue argues that this is illegal. Chief Li rescinds the order and tells Dajun to stop sealing off Dongjian Group.
Episode 13
Zheng Dajun and Zhou Bing gather information at the drug rehabilitation center. Mei Xue asks Ruan Qiang to find a way to prove Shen Dong-Jian's innocence. In the hospital, Mei Xue says she trusts Dong-Jian. Zhou Bing goes to Mei Xue's home. He tells her that the brigade searched Shen Dong-Jian's car only after receiving a tip from the informant Dunzi. Mei Xue goes to find Dunzi. In the busy downtown area, Zhou Bing catches up with her, and, unable to talk her out of it, has no choice but to go with her. They finally find Dunzi in a small restaurant, and Dunzi tells them the information was put out by a man named Shuanzi.
Daqing disguises himself and enters the hospital, intending to rescue Shen Dong-Jian. Zheng Dajun and his group arrive and enter the ward, where they discover a red laser dot on the wall. At that moment, Ruan Qiang is on the rooftop opposite the ward, aiming a sniper rifle into the room, intending to kill Shen Dong-Jian. It turns out he is the eye Ouyang Cang planted beside Shen Dong-Jian. His real name is Zhang Zihao, and he is the son of Ouyang Cang, that is, Zhang Shan. For all these years, his father has favored Shen Dong-Jian and looked down on him, and he has harbored a deep hatred for Shen Dong-Jian. Zheng Dajun's appearance makes Ruan Qiang flee. Shen Lin is permitted to visit his father in the hospital.
Episode 14
Ouyang Cang tells Ruan Qiang on the phone to pull back; for the time being he still does not want to eliminate Shen Dong-Jian.
Shen Lin finds a pistol in the toilet tank of the bathroom in Shen Dong-Jian's office, and it is exactly the police-issue pistol Zheng Dajun showed him. It is the gun Black Tiger took from Mei Jing-Yang's home, deliberately placed in the tank by Ruan Qiang. Shen Lin, frantic, seizes Qiangzi's car and goes to find Zheng Dajun, but when he reaches the foot of the Zheng family's building, he hesitates. Ruan Qiang urges him to think of his father.
A series of lead figures, including Dunzi, all indicate that someone is looking for Shuanzi ahead of the police. Zhou Bing admits to Dajun that he told Mei Xue about the Dunzi lead. Both sides, the brigade and Ruan Qiang, are searching for Shuanzi.
Ruan Qiang gets to Shuanzi first and takes him away. Mei Xue is frantic with worry. Dong-Jian's case is about to go to trial, and now that Shuanzi has finally agreed to testify in court, she breathes a sigh of relief.
Episode 15
Because of Shuanzi's appearance, Zheng Dajun decides to withdraw the charges, and the court declares Shen Dong-Jian not guilty and releases him. Mei Xue takes Shen Dong-Jian from the detention center. He gazes out the window, joyfully breathing the air of freedom.
Back home, Shen Lin says to his father with deep meaning: "I don't know anything!" Evidence shows that Black Tiger met with Shen Dong-Jian before his prison break, and Zhou Bing uses this as grounds to arrest Shen Dong-Jian again. During interrogation, Shen Dong-Jian still shows no flaw, and Dajun rushes over and tells Zhou Bing to release him.
His father's second arrest leaves Shen Lin in despair. He goes up to the rooftop, and having drunk too much, begins to think of ending his life. Wei Yu rushes over to stop him. Ouyang Cang tells Ruan Qiang to move the money in Dongjian Group's accounts, turning Shen Dong-Jian back into a poor man.
Shen Dong-Jian takes Shen Lin for a walk in West Woods. He says to his son: "In my life I have done many wrong things from which there is no turning back."
Episodes 16-19
Mei Xue discovers suspicious movements of funds in the company accounts. She goes to confront Shen Dong-Jian, who says it was all Ruan Qiang's doing. Mei Xue is half-believing, half-doubting.
Shen Dong-Jian no longer trusts those around him. Ruan Qiang privately approaches Daqing, wanting him to join forces and bring Shen Dong-Jian down. Daqing hesitates, but cannot withstand Ruan Qiang's coercion and inducements.
Shen Dong-Jian hopes Shen Lin will return to the United States. The two young people, Shen Lin and Wei Yu, sing a sorrowful song on the lake.
Ruan Qiang brings Daqing into a hotel room. When he hears on the phone that he has been publicly wanted by the public security bureau, he laughs wildly, then suddenly pulls out a gun to frighten Daqing.
Zheng Dajun and Zhou Bing rush to Dong-Jian's office, and Dong-Jian tells them that Daqing has disappeared.
While Daqing secretly calls Shen Dong-Jian from the restroom, he is shot dead by Ruan Qiang.
Shen Dong-Jian's first thoughts are of his son and Mei Xue. He calls his son, but Mei Xue has disappeared.
Shen Lin encounters Ouyang Cang, and the drug lord hands him a gift box, telling him to pass it on to his father. When Shen Lin gives the box to Shen Dong-Jian, Ouyang Cang congratulates Shen Dong-Jian on the phone for his son's first drug trafficking. Shen Dong-Jian breaks with Ouyang Cang.
Mei Xue has been kidnapped by Ruan Qiang, and Shen Dong-Jian goes to the brigade to report it.
Shen Lin refuses to board the plane; he wants to stay with his father. Qiangzi hides him in a rural house on the outskirts, keeping it from Shen Dong-Jian.
Zhou Bing tells Wu Ling to keep a close watch on Shen Dong-Jian. Wu Ling runs back to the bureau and tells Zhou Bing that Captain Zheng Dajun has gone to Shen Dong-Jian's home.
Shen Lin calls his father and lies that he has already arrived in the United States. Shen Dong-Jian receives a call from Ruan Qiang telling him to meet at Wild Duck Lake. Zhou Bing comes out to stop him, delaying him, and Ruan Qiang cancels the meeting. For this, Zheng Dajun and Zhou Bing argue again. Chief Li criticizes Zhou Bing and tells him to cooperate with Dajun's work.
Qiangzi comes to bring Shen Lin food and tells him that the next day he will accompany Shen Dong-Jian to rescue Mei Xue. Shen Lin takes out the pistol that belonged to Mei Jing-Yang and gestures with it. In an abandoned school, Shen Dong-Jian, accompanied by Qiangzi, sees Mei Xue. Ruan Qiang has his men take Mei Xue away. When only Shen and Ruan are left facing each other, Shen Lin's unexpected appearance shocks Shen Dong-Jian. He watches helplessly as his son falls under Ruan Qiang's gun.
Zheng Dajun and his men arrive. Ruan Qiang, fleeing, is shot dead by Zheng Dajun. Ouyang Cang takes Mei Xue hostage once more; he wants a final showdown with the Linbei police.
His son is dead, and Shen Dong-Jian is grief-stricken. The municipal bureau holds a pledge meeting, and Chief Li orders that Mei Xue must be rescued. Ouyang Cang tells Mei Xue about his past with Shen Dong-Jian, and Mei Xue learns how Shen Dong-Jian embarked on the road of no return into drug trafficking. Qiangzi discovers the place where Ouyang Cang is holding Mei Xue. Shen Dong-Jian goes to rescue Mei Xue, but Mei Xue is unwilling to leave with him. Just then Zhou Bing and his men arrive, Ouyang Cang flees, and Mei Xue is rescued. Shen Dong-Jian hijacks a truckload of Ouyang Cang's "goods," and the two agree to meet at Wild Duck Lake for a life-and-death duel. Dajun and his men come across the lake, Ouyang Cang is arrested, and Qiangzi covers Shen Dong-Jian's escape.
Dajun gives a corner of a photograph to Mei Xue to pass on to Shen Dong-Jian, and reveals the secret of "West Woods." He knows that Shen Dong-Jian will contact Mei Xue no matter what.
In West Woods, the two who are both lovers and enemies, Shen and Mei, meet. After hearing Mei Xue's account, Shen Dong-Jian fires a single shot and ends his own life.

Add trailer

All posters ¹