Execution in Autumn (秋決)

The ancient philosophers said that

spring and summer are seasons of vibrant growth,

autumn and winter are seasons of quiet renewal.

Autumn brings gloom and desolation; autumn brings loneliness and melancholy.

The leaves fall, the insects cry, the hills are silent, the rivers sigh.

Respecting Heaven's life-endowing spirit,

we must follow the cycle of nature.

The execution of the death row

must await the coming of autumn.

Prime Minister Xiao He of the Han Dynasty,

decreed that executions must be done in autumn

and hence the idea of "Execution in Autumn."

Halt!

I don't want to go back!

I... - You have no choice.

I don't want to go back!

I'd rather be killed than going back to that shithole.

I won't go back! - Take him back.

Faster!

Faster!

Ptui! - You rascal!

Push!

Open up! Open up!

Open the door!

Come on! Open the door!

Open the door!

Open up!

Open the door!

Open up!

Open up!

Come on! Open the door!

Who's there? - His grandmother.

Open the door!

Let her in.

Open the door!

Where's my grandson? - Over there.

Stop! No more pushing, no more!

No more!

Who says so?

I said so.

Stop! No more pushing! No more!

No more!

Look at my poor child, look how you tortured him.

How could you do that to him? Is your heart made of stone?

Stop! Listen to me.

Stop! Stop pushing!

Your wounds are serious, you shouldn't move.

Make him stop! Don't let him push anymore.

Do you hear me?

This is nothing.

If he runs again I'll break his leg!

Don't you dare!

Stop pushing. Stop!

Treat my grandson better and you'll be rewarded.

You're wrong. It has nothing to do with money.

We had to restrain him.

Ignore him! Granny.

Throw the money away, don't give it to him!

Torture me! Unless you torture me to death, I'll still run!

Try it... if you don't value your life!

Fool! Why do you have to run? Didn't I already tell you?

You won't be here too long. I'll get you out!

Then make it fast. Why don't you try a stay inside this shithole,

see if you can last one day.

I understand! I'm more anxious than you!

I've commissioned someone. You'll be free soon.

Madam,

tell me what you want.

If it's within my ability, I will see it done.

I've heard that if you're willing to help,

there's nothing you can't do!

If there's any need for me,

I am at your service.

Officer,

I hear you like collecting antiques.

This has been passed down through 4 generations.

Well...

This is a priceless family heirloom!

I'm flattered, but...

She's part of the family, my relatives' child.

When her parents died she came to live with me.

She won't tell anybody.

If you insist, madam. I'll see what I can do.

The retrial is set for the day after tomorrow.

I expect a verdict will be passed then.

Try to inform your grandson

to follow my lead in the courtroom.

I'll tell him, tomorrow.

If he answers the questions properly, I'm sure he can avoid the death penalty.

Officer,

I didn't hire you to get him off the death penalty.

I want him released as soon as possible.

Well...

Bear in mind.

He's our only male heir, our only hope.

He is our most precious heirloom.

Pei Gang, why did you kill those three people?

What actually happened? Give me an explanation.

The councilor is asking you a question! Surely you wouldn't kill without reason?

Yes, Your Honor, I killed them,

but it wasn't my fault. - Continue.

Alright, here's the story.

There was a girl named Chuntao.

I used to visit her often.

Unexpectedly, she had a baby and insisted it was mine.

I didn't want that bastard child!

How could you tell the baby wasn't yours?

I only visited occasionally,

I wasn't the only man she had!

If that baby is mine, I must have a lot of children out there.

I haven't seen you all month.

Now that the baby's born, You can't deny that he's yours.

I just came here looking for some fun...

That child?

Who knows who he belongs to.

Doesn't look like mine.

What are you saying?

If it's not yours, whose is it?

What other man have I had except you? - Plenty!

I don't really care.

It's not mine either way!

If you say it's not yours,

then why did she claim it was yours,

what was she after?

Money!

She knew my family is rich.

What! What do you want?

You're heartless. You'll never get away with this!

Give me money.

I'll kill you if you don't.

What can you do to me?

Get inside.

Who were those two men?

Her cousins, she said, but they didn't look like it.

What do you mean "didn't look like it"?

Your Honor, they couldn't fool me.

I could tell at a glance

they were no good. They'd also slept with Chuntao.

Your Honor! It's obviously a setup!

Blackmail!

Did you give them money?

Give them money?

I'm no fool, I wanted them to pay the price.

Ouch!

So when extortion failed, they threatened you and wanted to murder you.

You had to fight back in self-defense.

They had to know the Pei family wasn't easy mark.

I had to take one down first,

but the other one didn't stop either. - Shut up!

You're a killer, how dare you gloat like that.

If I didn't kill him, he would've killed me.

Your Honor, circumstances forced him to kill.

It was self-defense, it was unavoidable.

I don't need you to defend him.

Go on.

Once I got going, I had to make sure none escaped.

How ruthless and cruel!

Master Pei, I beg you, have mercy on me!

Would you please spare her and let her go?

I beg you! Please.

Please! No, I had to get even with her.

Have mercy on me!

Pei Gang,

killing the two men was understandable

because they were both armed.

But the woman was unable to fight back.

Why didn't you let her go?

I was sick of being duped,

and she was working with others to frame me.

She wasn't your wife.

She owed you no loyalty.

She only blackmailed you for money.

You murdered her. Weren't you aware that with murder comes the death penalty?

I was overcome by rage, nothing else mattered.

Pei Gang, think carefully.

When you killed that woman, maybe you'd lost your senses?

Lost my senses? - Yes.

You only wanted to threaten her. But in your rage you lost control and

killed her in a moment of irrationality.

How do you know it was an accident

and not intentional?

You didn't actually see it.

Sir, my judgment is based on logical deduction.

Logic and senses

don't apply to man like him.

Your honor. I cannot lie.

Black is black, white is white.

I didn't lose my head, I was so mad, I wanted to kill her.

Put all that on the record.

I already have.

Pei Gang, you're a brutal man.

You killed three people in cold blood.

After the killings, you broke out from prison.

I have no choice but to sentence you to death!

You sentence me to death? I'll kill you first!

This is an outrage! Take him away. Move!

You wait and see! - Move!

Killing me won't be easy,

My grandma will get me out!

My grandma will get me out!