Dir.: Huang Jianxin, Yang Yazhou; Script: Sun Yian D'après le roman/Based on the novel: �Mai Fu� De/By: Fang Fang; Phot.: Yang Wei; Ed.: Lei Qin; Mus.: Zhang Dalong; Cast: Feng Gong, Jiang Shan, Teng Rujun, Zhang Xiatong, Niu Zhenhua, Shi Xiaohong, Guo Donglin, Lin Haihai; Prod.: Wu Yijian, Xiao Xiang Film Studio, 256 Working Road, 41007 Hunan, Changsha (Chine), tél. & fax: (86-731) 55 41 247; Sales: Asian Union Film & Entertainment Ltd., 18 Beichen Road East, #105, Catic Plaza, Beijing 100101 (Chine), tél.: (10-64) 96 96 96, fax: (10-64) 94 08 93 .

When a dock worker's family is robbed and murdered, the police react swiftly and set up round-the-clock surveillance of what they believe to be the hideout of the gang responsible for the crime. Among the people recruited for the stakeout are two lowly port workers, Ye Minzhu and Lao Tian. They are stationed in an abandoned water tower and are ordered to keep watch over an old station and a red house. Easygoing port guard Ye Minzhu has no money and no prospects, and his pretty girlfriend, Bai Lin, runs a failing record shop. But he's enthusiastic about the new assignment and he goes off to accomplish it without telling Bai Lin. Lao Tian is suffering from liver cancer but he too is eager to take on the surveillance job; he refuses to accept a medical exemption. Ten days after the patrol begins, it is ordered stopped. But the new instructions never reach Ye Minzhu and Lao Tian; their supervisor is too busy playing mahjongg to let them know. The two men continue to perform their duty. Lao Tian's health deteriorates and he is hospitalized. Now Ye Minzhu is alone. Nights pass and he is bored to distraction, not to mention very hungry. Bai Lin is beginning to wonder what happened to him...

"Full of well-drawn, sympathetic characters and a deep-seated irony at many aspects of Chinese life..." -- Derek Elley (Variety)