Would Have Preferred Happy Ending

What would a "happy ending" be? Holman deserting successfully only to get murdered by Communists later on or run out of China with desertion charges hanging over his head? Staying in the Navy, then going to China Light legally, only again, to be murdered or run out twenty three years later? Much of the point of this movie is that the winds of change blowing over China wind up killing Holman, Collins, and Jameson and leaving Shirley's work in ruins, though at least she can pick up and move on to other missionary or teaching work elsewhere.