soon she is offered the opportunity to help her former lover (gao zhanfei), a revolutionary, escape from the police. she does so, but is herself caught and sentenced to death. captain luo goes against the orders and explains that she would simply become a martyr for the people. he is told to do it anyway and, in the film's conclusion, ling ling tells her firing squad to fire only when she smiles her best smile. after telling the firing squad to instead shoot the oppressive captains in charge, luo is shot dead by his superior. ling ling explains that the revolution is not over, and that their sacrifice will soon come to an end. she is then shot dead next to luo.