Story is about how a revolutionist, played by Cheng Pei Pei, taking on the identity of a Captain's (Ou Wei) long lost sister who is actually dead. Cheng manages to fool the Captain for a while, but little by little, the Captain catches on to her and the revolutionist's plan to stop Chinese-Japanese relations.

Hui Pui-ching, a gentle and fragile woman, endures relentless abuse from her violent husband Fan Pak-nan. By chance, she meets Ha Mon-hin, a cultured and compassionate businessman trapped in his own loveless marriage. Drawn together by loneliness and understanding, their relationship unfolds quietly along seaside walks, where a simple purple shell becomes a symbol of tenderness and fragile hope. As suspicion, jealousy, and blackmail close in, their impossible love spirals toward devastating consequences.

Northeastern China is infested with bandits. Hsiao Kai (Paul Chang Chung), a wandering knight, captures a white horse from thieves. His skilful handling of the horse earns his admiration of fellow traveler Chu Ching Hsu (Wong Chung Shun). They arrive at Lo Lung Kow, where the villagers hunt for a living and are constantly terrorized by bandits. Grocer Ting Tze Pao (Ngai Ping Ngo) returns from his negotiations with the bandits with bad news. They intend to collect furs from the villagers at a fixed price. Village leader Mu (Yuen Sam and his daughter Tsui Ying (Pat ting Hung) run a tavern. She wonders how the white horse belonging to a Sinkiang youth named Sha Yi Ti (Man Ling) is now in the possession of Hsiao Kai.

In a tiny Chinese fishing village, two rival fishermen compete for a young woman's love. She does love one of them, but as she is obligated to the other, she cannot marry him. Tragedy is averted when the one she is obliged to falls in love with another. Happiness briefly ensues as the men, with their respective mates, resume their friendship. Unfortunately, they set out to sea and disappear.

Taiwan's most glamorous screen couple, Ko Chun-Hsiung and Chang Mei-Yao, co-star in "Fallen Petals", a romance with the unique setting of Taiwan during World War II, when the island was a colony of Japan. Ko is drafted into the Japanese army and forced to leave his pregnant girlfriend behind. When he is presumably killed in action, Chang becomes a cabaret girl to support their baby. Thanks to director Pan Lei's sensitive scenario, the dramatic outcome is far from predictable.