My People, My Country (我和我的祖国)

This is a hutong called Xianyukou. A battle just ended here.

Apparently, the spies' target was the Founding Ceremony two kilometers away.

What is going on?

- The events in Moscow - Look after the women

- appear not to have died down. - Comrade, excuse me.

Zhao Pengfei, Construction Bureau.

They've been hiding here for at least two months.

Are you all blind? It's a critical moment for the country. We've been so careful.

But look. It still happened under our noses, regardless.

Stop.

The ceremony is tomorrow. Pass along my message:

Everything within a two-kilometer radius of the Square should be locked down.

Investigate it thoroughly.

No one enters without my permission.

If anything happens again, you will be punished by the rules.

Don't worry, Sir.

The center troupes will set out at once to ensure everything goes smoothly.

That will be tough. At least three or four thousand spies are hiding in Peiping.

Yeah. Rumor has it they found illegal guns in Chief Nie's green pickup truck.

Hope there aren't any more incidents in the ceremony.

The final flag-raising test hasn't been completed yet.

Automatic flag-raising. Sounds impressive.

You've never seen it before, have you? What's going on over there?

- Sorry! - Excuse me!

- To ensure the security of the ceremony, the Square is closed today. - No! Excuse me!

- Please, let us in. - Anyone who forces entry will be court-martialed.

I'm in charge of the ceremony. We need to double-check the procedures.

I can't help you. It's an order from my boss. No one gets through without their permission.

- When can we get in, then? - No one enters.

The Tian'anmen Square arrangements are nearly complete.

As per Comrade Enlai's instructions, eight red lanterns are hanging,

the Tian'anmen Tower banner is ready, and the huge banner for the Founding Ceremony

of the Central People's Government of the PRC will be ready by sundown.

- The flagpole's white marble base is complete. - Chief!

There's no time for alterations. No mistakes allowed!

No mistakes allowed!

Where's the flag, Labor Team?

Labor Team is focusing on flag training.

It can be checked any time. Everything is perfect.

Arrangement Department.

As for the automatic flag-raising,

we can't guarantee no mistakes just yet.

There are still fourteen hours until the inspection tomorrow,

but the Square is already closed.

I can't do any further trials on it.

Besides, it's the first time our country has had automatic flag-raising.

Technically speaking, no one can be 100% sure about it.

You're telling me this now?

The inspection is at 6 a.m. tomorrow.

If anything goes wrong, you know the consequences!

There's still a way.

And what's that?

How can I ensure the automatic flag-raising doesn't go wrong?

I've pondered it for half a month and worked on it for half a month.

I would rebuild an exact replica of the flag-raising system

one-third the size and test it repeatedly.

If nothing went wrong, then the one in the Square would work, too.

Like my flagpole, the one in the Square is 22.5 meters tall and in four segments.

Have you calculated the strength?

Yes.

We found a 7.5-meter-tall scaled-down flagpole,

sawed it apart, and welded the pieces back together to match it exactly with the original.

How can you calculate 100% transmission efficiency?

It could be a disaster.

It's 0.9 kilometers from the electrical source in the Forbidden City to the base of the flagpole in the Square.

It has three loops, seven connectors.

We scaled down to one-third the size,

with the same routes, materials, and textures,

the same loops and connectors, and the same button and gears.

Apart from those, we need to find a scaled-down flag and the same national anthem.

What is all this? Excessive.

Theoretically, it should work, though.

Aren't you afraid of heights?

Quickly get down!

Afraid of heights?

Twenty-eight years of revolution,

and twenty million deaths

was the price for this red flag.

What can we do? This is what we can do in four words:

Work without any mistakes.

Say something!

The egghead is up. What a spirit.

Labor Team Fang!

- Yes, sir! - Lin Zhiyuan, fall out!

At 6 a.m., I'll examine it in person.

If there's anything Lin Zhiyuan can't handle, anything at all,

you will be needed instead. Be prepared for that.

Yes, sir!

Lin Zhiyuan, come here.

Zhiyuan, I came here with another mission:

to deliver the military's decision.

You've passed the review.

You'll be standing behind Chairman Mao when the flag is raised

to make sure he presses the launch button.

You know what an honor this is. The entire world will be watching.

- Xiao Du! - Yes, sir!

This is our best security officer.

He will help you with all matters before dawn.

For this critical event,

I will do whatever it takes.

I've set up a small experiment in the yard

for the automatic flag-raising equipment, scaled down one-third the size.

The Square has been closed.

Now you understand the importance of testing it here.

There are so many possible errors that we cannot get information on all of them.

The cable from the button to

the flagpole is 527 meters long,

meaning we have to scale down all

equipment to one-third the size.

Each and every bearing, motor,

the flagpole, and welding points must be exactly the same.

The national flag and anthem were only finalized on the 27th.

How many times have we rehearsed at the Square?

Only four times! This is science.

We should never risk it,

even when it comes to a small piece of cloth like a flag.

Details. Details. That's all that matters.

You're really something.

Once the national flag was chosen, all red cloth across Peiping was sold out.

Do you know how I found it?

Neighbors and friends!

Does anyone have any spare red cloth?

Do us a favor.

The ceremony is coming.

We need it now.

The flag is about five meters long and 3.3 meters wide

weighing 1,120 grams.

We also need room for the five stars.

Now all we need is yellow cloth.

Good, good, good.

Sister-in-law.

As long as the flag can be stopped by the blocking gear

at the top of the pole, the experiment will be successful.

If you ask me, you're just wasting your time.

If you have that much time, go have a good look on-site.

On-site inspection. I don't have the ability like you to go in.

If you want to go, then you go.

What's this?

Hands off, will you? You don't understand it.

This is the blocking gear for the flagpole.

It's important to raise the flag, but it's vital to get it to stop as well.

I got it.

I got it.

Recorder. The national anthem and the recorded "March of the Volunteers."

Marvellous.

Perfect.

Get the flag. I'll prepare the song.

Yes, chief.

I have some good news for you.

The chief has granted us permission to enter the Square.

It sounds different every time.

It's so unreliable.

Where are you going?

To find the song.

Why bother? I've told you. The chief has granted us permission to enter the Square.

What are you going to do at the Square?

If you can't find the root of the problem or hidden errors,

- On-site inspection will certainly be more useful than this. - going there 100 times won't solve anything.

What I need now is the exact song. Do you understand?

Why are you so stubborn?

- Watch your behavior! - And what's wrong with it?

- Is there something wrong with finding the song? - How can you possibly find the exact one?

- Having the same flagpole, same timing, and same spot? - If we're following your theory, do I need to get you 20,000 people to watch?

- Sounds great! - Fine!

I'll go get them now. Come.

- Don't mess with me. - Just come.

It's fine that you don't believe me, but you have to believe in science.

I'll forget about the song. I'll just use the timer, all right?

You don't need the anthem for flag-raising?

You're supposed to help me here.

Is this how you're helping?

Stop looking. Don't let him out. This is an order.

Xiao Du!

It's not just red cloth that you'll be raising.

Are you not clear on the inside on what you need to do?!

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Now I've defied an order.

If the automatic flagpole is somehow compromised, that's called defying an order.

Raise the flag.

Ready?

Start.

48, 47, 46

45, 44

43, 42

41, 4—

Not again. The generator?

You need some men? They only just chose "March of the Volunteers" as the national anthem on the 27th.

Old Luo!

You have 200 men. It wouldn't hurt to lend me a few.

If the flag doesn't raise, there's no use playing the trumpet, huh!

- You don't know anything about music. Listen to me. How about three men? - I'm not talking to you.

Go ask Chairman Mao.

- What about two? - Don't bargain.

One, at least.

46 seconds.

Exactly the same.

What's the point? I'm a substitute anyway.

I have a better job for you.