Summaries

Synopsis

We start in the Delta War (an analogy for wars such as Vietnam) in which Mike and his comrades, Al and Tom, seek refuge in a cave and talk about their lives after Tom is badly injured. Mike is a soft-spoken individual who enjoys poetry. The next day they come out to see US helicopters cutting down people fleeing the warzone. And things take a horrifying turn for the worst as the sensitive soul witnesses both of his friends be killed, Mike being only one surviving. After Mike returned home from the Delta War, his friends and family welcome him as a war hero, however he does not feel like a hero at all. Even after being traumatised from seeing his two best comrades be killed in the warzone, his friends and family still want to know about his experiences and ask insensitive questions about killing people and being alone. Mike soon leaves his town and ends up in the town Lake City. Meanwhile, we are introduced to a young woman who lives in Lake City named Jill, who is singing and dancing with her group of little children. Whilst Jill is taking care of the children, Mike gets a job at the local library; the librarian is very impressed with Mike's knowledge and passion for books, especially poetry (but not before Mike has an encounter with Jill and the children). Meanwhile an operation at the local hospital done by Jack, a surgeon is happening. It turns out to be a success and the boss (who is Jill's father) is impressed and considers him for a possible fiancé for Jill. Mike and Jill soon meet each other again and hit it off immediately, as Mike is very friendly and helps Jill find a poetry book that he immediately recognizes. After Mike and Jill befriended each other in the library, Jill and Mike arrange to have a nice trip around town. It's a beautiful, sunny day and the two have a nice walk. The two see all the lovely sights such as the bustling market and the cable cars. Meanwhile, Jack is trying to call Jill about the idea her father said the other day, but she doesn't answer. Though truth be told, Jack already has someone he loves. Mike and Jill, wandering around town, discuss the passions and dreams both of them have. They also go canoeing and spot some ducks, as their romance blossoms. They end their day next to the lake as Mike plays his harmonica tune he got from Tom, the two then embracing and kissing.The next morning, Jill meets Bob, a producer who can let her dreams of singing come true, and she goes on a train to his studio to record one of her songs. Meanwhile, back in Lake City, Mike finds an injured bird he named Chico and takes him home to take care of him. Jill's audition is a big success and Jill celebrates by arranging to sing at the pub of her aunt, Madame O'Hara. After Mike arrives at Madame O'Hara's bar, Jill comes onto stage and sings her wonderful love song, Sweet Memories (the same song from the original Suntory Adverts)! Mike is blown away from her beautiful voice and is touched immensely! When Jill is done, she sits down with Mike who is speechless from the extraordinary performance and the two lovebirds have a toast. Unfortunately, the perfect night is spoiled thanks to Jack who appears uninvited, who tries to get ahold of Jill, but is punched in the face by Mike. Jack lies to Mike saying that he is Jill's fiancé and questions Mike's ability to truly make Jill happy. Mike, defeated and heartbroken, runs away and Jill is furious with Jack. Mike distances himself from Jill after the incident in fear, he won't open the door to her or answer any of her calls. To make matters worse, he is suffering post traumatic stress disorder from seeing his comrades die in the Delta War and has flashbacks. Mike attempts to set Chico free, but they have grown such a strong bond that when Mike sets him free, he just flies back. Later that day, Jack encounters Mike again and reveals that he too was in the Delta War. Jack also admits that he was lying about Jill being his fiancé and that it was a test to see if Mike really did love Jill. Jack gives Mike his blessing and teaches him an important lesson of not running away from love. He tells Mike to to make Jill happy, and wanders away. Jill's father and Madame O'Hara sit at a cafe discussing Mike and Jill's relationship and are worried about how they might end up. As Bob the producer daydreams about the money he will make from Jill's music career. Jill finally is able to visit Mike and she is delighted. She gives him a poster of her from the music production company. Mike and Jill then go out for a drive and Jill is very excited, though Mike has something on his mind. Jill says that she is moving to the Central City, but Mike isn't keen on the idea. Jill says that he can move with her and that they will meet her long lost mother who also went there (and never came back). Mike still refuses and is content with the quiet, rural life of Lake City. Jill, confused and upset, asks Mike why and he states that she can go to Central City by herself (probably to avoid more exposure from the war). Jill, who is very angry and confused about his decision, thinks that Mike is trying to be selfish and unsupportive and drops him off at his house and heads for Madame O'Hara's pub. She soon sees that Madame O'Hara is still in there, alone and forlorn with the only noise in the pub being an old record playing. Jill tells her that she's given up on Mike. Her aunt then tells her a story. Turns out that, when she was young, she too dreamt of being a singer, but her husband who was a doctor who wanted to build a hospital in Lake City, told her to go on the trip to Central City by herself. And finally, a huge revelation is made. Madame O'Hara had been lying to Jill all along. Madam O'Hara is Jill's real mother. Jill, realising this, hugs her and cries, realising that she shouldn't give up the warmth of family and loved ones. Jill decides to rush back to Mike, but not before thanking her mother for everything. Unfortunately, the devious Bob witnesses the entire conversation, and is not ready to lose money. Bob is furious about Jill turning down her music career for Mike, making him rush to Mike's house with his gang. When Bob gets to Mike's house, he tells him that, because Jill wants to stay in Lake City with Mike, he will pay Mike as much money as he wants just so he can leave, just so he can force Jill to sing and have loads of money. Fortunately for the greedy producer, Mike says that he was planning to leave the next day so paying him would be useless. Jill arrives at Mike's house as Bob walks in, dodging past him. Jill then tells Mike that she won't go to Central City and that she loves him and wants to be with him. One of Bob's goons grabs ahold of Jill but Mike tells Bob and the goons to stop, another goon grabs both of them as another goon tortures Chico. Making Mike furious as he escapes the goon's arms and hits the goon tormenting Chico with a chair, all whilst having horrible war flashbacks. Another goon attempts to attack Mike, but Mike tackles him out of the window. Bob continually whacks Mike with a cane, and as the flashbacks get worse and worse, Mike finally reaches his breaking point and knocks Bob unconscious by hitting him with the chair multiple times. Jill making Mike stop as Bob is knocked out as the police arrive to investigate the violent scene. Mike holding Chico's dead body in his arms as Jill embraces him. Mike eventually ends up in prison for the night and the librarian visits him in his cell. The librarian leaves him a book of poetry and advises him to end his long, painful travels. Mike has a trial in court for assault whilst Jill sits in the waiting room, truly forlorn. Jill's mother arrives and Jill tells her that she can't bare to sit in the court and that Mike would not see her when she visited last night. He did however leave her with one last, heart wrenching letter, telling her how he lost to the monster called war and ruined things, and that she was the one who restored light and love to his life, thanking her for everything. Jill cries in her mother's arms, Mike being set free on account of the act being self defence and him being a veteran. Mike goes to the burial of Chico and Jack encounters him. Giving Mike advise on the long journey ahead and that he can always come back to Lake City, as they say goodbye. Mike soon gets onto a bus, waves goodbye to everyone, and the bus heads off. Mike gets off at a fork in the road for Mount Jeffry and Sunset Beach. While Mike is looking at a sign, he hears a voice. He looks behind him and, in her car, is Jill, meeting with him again. Mike gets into the car with Jill, and they both embrace and kiss each other. (Originally written by DJ 3lectrical on YouTube, edited by rocketraccoon19)