Fill This Form To Receive Instant Help

Help in Homework
trustpilot ratings
google ratings


Homework answers / question archive / A Life Defining Journey From the moment we are born, many people start shaping and defining a path that they think we should follow

A Life Defining Journey From the moment we are born, many people start shaping and defining a path that they think we should follow

Writing

A Life Defining Journey From the moment we are born, many people start shaping and defining a path that they think we should follow. They plan our lives and actions in a way that they and society see fit. These people can be our families, relatives, or even friends. For a part of our lives, we start to think of this path as our own destiny and the path we want, we even might think this road defines who we are and who we want to become. After thinking about such a thing, a crucial question comes to mind, did we draw your destiny, or was it drawn for us? Only when we can answer this question, we can build our future. Many people have gone on a journey to explore and define their destiny, but only a few managed to continue till the end. Such a journey takes courage and bravery to challenge everything and everyone that comes our way. Jen Yu in the movie Hidden Dragon, directed by Ang Lee, Ricky Baker in the movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople by Taika Waititi, and Casiopea Tun in the book Gods of Jade and Shadow written by Silvia MorenoGarcia despite their different cultures and conditions, are all considered to be heroes of their stories. They launch on a journey of self-discovery, trying to find their true selves where they can do what they want and build a future for their selves. Instead of accepting the life that was drawn for them, these characters fight their way out to achieve a path they can call their own. During these journeys, their mistakes and adventures help shape the type of people they ultimately become. In the beginning, the three characters start rebelling against the ones who controlled their lives. By doing so they try to explore their true identity and what they want in life. Jen Yu is a beautiful young girl from a very well-known family who some people might think has everything for happiness and success. However, this is not the case of Jen Yu. Jen Yu’s life has been destined for her by her family since the day she was born, and it was planned for her to get married soon to a man whom she doesn’t love. She keeps thinking of a life where she can do what she wants instead of what she is asked to do. When Jen Yu meet Yu Shu Lien who is a very respected female fighter, she tells her, “You know what I mean. I'm getting married soon, but I haven't lived the life I want” (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 10). This clearly shows that she is not happy with her life even when she is from a wealthy family. By doing so, Jen Yu starts to think of a way where she can change and control her own life. She decides to steal the Green Sword, a powerful sword that belongs to the master Li Mu Bai, the lover of Yu Shu Lien. From this point, her adventure begins in a form of rebellion. likewise with Ricky Baker, who is a young orphan boy who keeps being moved from family to family. He finally finds a foster family that loves him but as the foster aunt, Bella, dies, he is forced to be back at the Child Welfare where they call him, “a real bad egg” (Hunt for the Wilderpeople 2). Ricky does not like Welfare and doesn’t ever want to go back with them especially when he finally found a home he likes. The Welfare notify his foster uncle, Hec, that they are coming soon to take him back and Hec accepts. After a dozen of failed attempts to convince Hec of doing something to prevent them from taking him, he decides to escape to the forest in an attempt to escape his pre-set destiny. Also, Casiopea Tun faces a similar pattern when she was forced to serve as a maid at her grandfather, Cirilo’s, house due to her father’s death. Cirillo and her uncle, Martin, treat her with disrespect and always try to harm her in a way or another. Her grandfather didn’t accept her mother’s marriage which is why he treats her this way. One day when Casiopea was alone in the house, she decided to open the secret box that her grandfather made clear to never open. As a desperate attempt of rebellion, she opens the box as quoted, “She slashed at the cycle of her pitiful existence and decided she’d look inside the chest, and if there was indeed gold inside, damn it all to hell, she’d take off and leave this rotten place behind” (Moreno-Garcia 20). She was hoping to find some gold and money so she can run away and form her own life where she is not forced to obey what others tell her. However, she ends up unleashing a Mayan God of Death named Hun-Kame and she decides to set on a journey with him in an attempt to escape her reality. All three characters decided to make an act of rebellion in order to break the road they were distended to follow and instead, trying to form a path they can call their own. During their adventure, they face challenges and obstacles that threaten their lives and the path they desperately trying to find. Along their journeys, these characters start to make bonds and relationships with new people as they learn from their mistakes. Towards the end of their adventures, these characters start to see the world with fresh eyes as they transform into new people with new understandings of reality. Scripts.com Hunt for the Wilderpeople By Taika Waititi Page 1/43 Here I come! Here I come. Mrs Faulkner? Yes. Bella Faulkner. Bella, Paula Hall from Child Welfare Services. This is Ricky Baker. Ricky Baker. Yes. Oh, here you are. Mm. Ricky, I'm Bella. Uh, you can call me Bella, or Auntie, if you like, even though I'm not your real auntie. But, you know, it's a bit less formal. Whoo. You're a big fella! Who ate the guy who ate all the pies, eh? Sorry. Well, he's nice. Yeah. Now, uh, obviously we've got a couple of things to talk through, Bella. Clearly you've been briefed about his, uh, background and also his foster care history. Apparently he's a bit of a handful, a real bad egg. I mean, if you look at his file, you'll see that for yourself. We're talking disobedience, stealing, spitting, running away, throwing rocks, kicking stuff, defacing stuff, burning stuff, loitering and graffiti. And that's just the stuff we know about. But hopefully, uh, change in scene will help straighten him out. He's home now. He'll be OK. OK. Well, I like your enthusiasm. Good. Ricky, this is your new home. A real piece of work, this one. Ricky! There's no one else who wants you, OK? Now, Ricky, you know what the Page 2/43 alternative is, don't you? Eh? Think you can make it work? 'Course we can. We'll make it work. Move. Move it. Move! Yeah. I've been in this game a long time. "No child left behind" is our motto. Well, it's not, you know, the official motto, but it's definitely mine. Also, as part of the transition process, I'll be needing to inspect your property, just to make sure that it's up to our high standard. Looks fine. What do you think, Constable Tappert? Andy! Yeah, it looks cool. Yeah. We'll be coming in every eight weeks or so, just to check in on, uh... Who's that Crocodile Dundee guy over there? Oh, that's my husband, Hector. Whoa. He's giving that pig a piggyback. Well, I see he has a rifle. Just keep it away from this little guy. God knows what he's capable of. OK, he's all yours. No returns. Oh, I'm just joking. OK. You've got my number, so just, uh, ring me if you've got any trouble. OK? Bye, Ricky. Wow, what a shocker, eh OK, let's go, Andy. Ricky, this is Hec. You can call him Uncle, if you like. No, he can't. What do you want to do? Are you hungry? That's a silly question, isn't it? Look at you. Mm? You ever worked on a farm before or you just... ornamental? Page 3/43 Hec. Just remember when we first met, you weren't much good to anyone. Just a scruffy white drifter who smelled like methylated spirits. Goodnight. Eh? What's that, dear? Goodnight. Oh... Jeez, Hec. You bloody idiot. What? Ricky? Buddy? Are you OK? Sorry about Hec. He's a silly old goat, that's all. OK, well, I hope you like your room, petal. They said you liked to read, so I got a bunch of books for you, and you'll also notice an Indian lamp, a bulldog lamp, and some cats, and a nice sharp knife to kill monsters in the night. I can't imagine what you've been through, boy. You know, I can't imagine it was easy. But you're here now. This is home. Anyway, it's really nice to have you here, and I left a hottie in your bed. We'll see you in the morning. OK? OK, Ricky? OK. Nigh-night, then. See you in the morning. Jeez, boy, it's a miracle we found you You made it all of 200m. I was just taking a break. Hec's cooking breakfast. Eggs, bacon, a few sossies on the side,... pancakes. Come on. Have some breakfast, then you can run away. Oh man. I got poop on my kicks. Go away, insect! Page 4/43 Good pancake. So, what's your dog's name? Zag. You should get another one and name it Zig. Bella told me to tell you that... you should give me something to do. Is there anything you want me to do? Yeah,... leave me alone. Cool. Morning. Morning. I thought you were running away. I did, but I forgot something, so I came back. Oh. Good for you, Ricky. Good to see some initiative. You ever been up in that jungle before? Oh, it's not a jungle; it's the bush. There's about a million hectares of it, buddy. You said "bush". I'm from up there, deep in the mountains. You ever go back much? Not for a long time. It's a hard journey, easy to get lost. We got a lake up there called Makutekahu. It's so high up it wets the cloak of the sky. It's the first place our spirits go on their way to Reinga. Yeah, when my time comes, that's where I'll go too. Man, you guys got a lot of dead stuff round here. Mm. Saw a dead sheep the other day. Had maggots in it. There's heaps of maggots, maggots wriggling in that sheep like moving rice. Yuck. That was my haiku about maggots. Page 5/43 It's called "Maggots". This counsellor lady made me do them when I got in trouble. They help me express my feelings. They're poems made up ofYeah. I know what a haiku is. I got heaps of them... want to hear another one? Sure. OK. "Kingi, you wanker. "You arsehole. I hate you heaps. "Please die soon in pain." That was called "Kingi, you Wanker". Yeah, yeah. OK. Got ya. Got ya. That's enough haikus for today. Come on. Sit down. Come and give me a hand. Well, it's like this, and then you put it in this bag. Easy. Here you go. You have a go. Do you want to try something else? Yes, please. I'm imagining I'm a Maori warrior, and that bottle over there is a British soldier, and I'm defending all my wives. All right, Te Kooti. Well, you just keep the target above the little notch in the sight. And then when you're ready, you just breatheBloody hell! So, what are we hunting? Oh, anything. Deer, if we're lucky. Can we shoot one of those horses up there? Oh, I'll give- I'll give you one guess what my answer will be. Well, can I ride one? Nobody can ride them; they're too wild. Page 6/43 Why do they need to be ridden, anyway? Well, that's what they're there for. Why can't they just eat grass and be horses and leave it at that, eh? OK, OK. I was just making conversation. Shh. Pig! Come on! What? Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! That's dinner sorted! Whoa! Want to help me gut it? # Ricky Baker, now you are 13 years old. # You are a teenager, and you're as good as gold. # Ricky BakerOh. # Ricky Baker, happy birthday. # # Once rejected, now accepted # # by me and Hector. # # We're a trifecta. # Ricky Baker, ah, Ricky Baker, # # ah, Ricky Baker, # # ah, ah, Ricky Baker, ah ah, # # Ricky Baker, ah, ah, Ricky Baker, ah, ah, # # Ricky... Baker... # Hip hip! Hooray! Go on, blow out your candles. OK. Hector, do you think it's time we gave Ricky his present? Thank you, Auntie! Thank you, Uncle! Feed him, clean up after him. He's yours- you're responsible. This is the best birthday I've ever had. I think it's the only birthday I've ever had. Page 7/43 What are you gonna call him? Um, still thinking. Something fierce to reflect its true nature. Either Psycho, Megatron... or Tupac. What's a Tupac? It's just my- this really cool rapper, and he's, like, my best friend. Are you gonna run away tonight? Not sure. No, oh, it's cool with me. Just make sure you're back by breakfast. OK. So happy we found you, buddy. Sorry it took so long. Me too. Nigh-night, Ricky. Night, Auntie. Where are you going, Tupac? Come on. Man! Ohhh! Oh, Bella! You know, sometimes in life, it seems like there's no way outlike a sheep trapped in a maze designed by wolves. And you know that if you're ever in that situation, there are always two doors to choose from. And through the first door- oh, it's easy to get through that doorand on the other side waiting for you are all the nummiest treats you can imagineFanta, Doritos, L&P, Burger Rings, Coke Zero. But you know what? There's also another door, not the Burger Ring door, not the Fanta door; another door that's harder to get through. Guess what's on the other side? Anyone want to take a guess? Page 8/43 Vegetables? N- No, not vegetaNo. Jesus? You would think Jesus. I thought Jesus the first time I-I-I-I came across that door. It's not Jesus. It's another door. And guess what's on the other side of that door? Jesus. Jesus. Yeah, Jesus. He's tricky like that, Jesus. So let us pray, to Jesus, please, and make it a bit easier to get through those doors, uh, to find you and your bounty of delicious confectionary. Thank you, Selena. Take it away. Dinner. It's a bit burnt. Here. Read this. Out loud. "From the Child Welfare people. "Mr Hector Faulkner. "This is Paula Hall from Child Welfare writing to you. "I'm sorry to hear about your recent bereavement. "However, in light of the altered circumstances, "the current situation regarding Ricky's care will have to be reviewed. "As of June the 1st, I will be taking him back into state custody "until alternative arrangements can be made. "Rest assured I am working tireless to find a new home for Ricky. "And you can expect a visit next week for Ricky's collection. "Sincerely, Paula Hall, Page 9/43 Ministry of Child Welfare." Like hell! They can't do that! Yeah, they can. But I live here now. It's my home! Not any more, it isn't. Not in their eyes. Not without a woman to run the show. Why don't we just get you a new wife? There's plenty of ladies on the internet, I heard. Too soon? What if we just keep living here, and if they try to take the farm, we'll just have a shootout, like Scarface. Except we don't have any cocaine. You can't change this, Ricky. You're gonna go back, and you're gonna stick it out in a new home. OK? There's no way that's happening. Well, I'm gonna go bush. I'm gonna... disappear for a while. Disappear? Yeah, that sounds more like me. Come on! We'll be a team! Oh, for God's sake. You wouldn't last five minutes out there. But Auntie Bella said you had to look after me! Can you just give me some privacy? I heard they do experiments at the Boys' Homewaterboarding, torture, that sort of thing. This one boy got thrown acid on his face because he asked for more Weet-Bix. Hey, you can't put Auntie in a box. Give it a rest. But she wanted to go to the sky place. She's gone, OK? That's life- one day you're here, and the next you're in a bloody box. Just get this into your head, boy- it was Bella that wanted you here, not me. I know you think this Page 10/43 can work, but it can't. So the welfare people are coming on Friday. They're coming to get you. That's that, then? Yep... that's that. That's that. Goodbye, Ricky Baker. FLAMES WHOOSH Uh-oh. Come on, Tupac! Come on, Tupac! # Out alone in the middle of the ocean blue. Whoa! # Leave the world behind I guess I never really knew. # So many people, so many worlds. # Don't you worry about me. # Don't you worry about... Five down, 10 to go. Come on, Ricky. Stick on the rations. # I belong in the middle of the ocean blue. # I'm getting nowhere, but that shouldn't really bother you. Stuff this, Tupac. We're going home. # Don't you worry about me. # Are you lost? Oh! No. Yeah, you are. Told you you wouldn't last more than five minutes out here. You got yourself very lost. I'm amazed how lost you got. I move fast. I've got my own thing going on hereRicky Town. Population- Ricky. Yeah, well. You're going back to Reality Town. Like hell. I live here now. Like hell. I've got better things to do than to run around the bush Page 11/43 looking for little shits like you. So get up. I hate you. Well, I hate you too. I hope you die. Me too! You may as well just kill me now. Don't kill me. Anyway, I'm excited to go back to the city. Good. Can't wait. I hate it hereso much dirt. It's going to be cool. Get me some new gears, become a drug dealer, a rapper, and die in a drive-by. Just keep an eye on where you're going. This is wet. I'm hungry. Where are we? Shut it. I hate the bush. Shut it. My shoes are wet. You're the useless bugger who got lost in the first place. You remember that. You don't even have a map. Where's our map? Don't need one. I know where I am. Probably couldn't even read it anyway. Why would I need to read a map? I already told you- I know where I am. Reading is stupid anyway. Only people who can't read say things like that. What? No. You can't read?! Watch it, pal. You're like one of those people who are, like, raised by, like, wolves or something, eh? Ooga booga! Me Hec- me no read! What's this? This is words. Page 12/43 Me stupid. You little bastAh, my foot. You OK? No. I'm not OK. This is all your fault, you little bastard! Come on, let's get you comfortable. I don't really think you're a bastard. Yeah, you do. That's OK, because I think you're a bastard too. Anyway, it's good. It's... healthy to get these feelings out. Can you move it yet? 'Course I can't. It's fractured. Take weeks to heal. OK, Debbie Downer, can we think of something more positive? Maybe you could... write a haiku to express your feelings. A what? Lost in the forest. A sore ankle, poor uncle. Oh well, never mind. Oh God, we really need to get out of here. Do you want me to go find help? I'd die, wouldn't I? No, we've got no choice but to camp out here for a few weeks. But I'm hungry! There's plenty to eat if you know where to look. Well, I don't know where to look, Hector. And also, I ran out of toilet paper. Give me some of yours. Eh? I've gotta poop. I need a poop, you need a poop. We all poop. Use a leaf. A leaf? I hate you. And bury it! I'll bury you. Page 13/43 This ain't no charred foster kid. How can you tell, Paula? Does this look like a human head to you, Andy? Where are you, Ricky Baker? Hey, I reckon the old man chopped him up, buried him somewhereOr ate him. Something definitely happened, but I'm wondering what. OK, I'm gonna need you to shut up, Andy, because you're doing my frickin' head in. Come on, let's go. This ain't over by a Mangaweka mile. Get me the police. It's an emergency. Hey, whoa, Paula. I am the police. I mean real ones, Andy. Ones with guns. # Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. Yeah. Hey, Uncle, wanna listen to my Walkman? No. Where are you going? Hunting. Like hell. You can thank me later. Tupac! TUPAC BARKS Yeah, yeah. Did you get any food? What the hell is that? Salad. What? I'd like to see you do any better. Never eaten a slug before. Where did you get it? It's an eel. Got it down the creek. Yeah, but how? With what? Oh, I don't know. The knack. Oh yeah, the knack. What's that? How do you get it? It's not a thing. It's just- Page 14/43 You just get it. It's a... Oh, it's a way of, umit's a way of figuring things out without having to think too hard or... or talk, more importantly. You know, most people who die in the bush- they're found naked. Ew. Yeah, they panic, and they think their clothes are slowing them down. They throw them away, and then the cold gets to them. But the trick isthis is the knackyou stay calm, you look for water, you follow it to high ground until you can see what's going on. What would you do if I got lost today? Would you miss me? Well, you- you didn't get lost, so... that's good. Do you miss Auntie Bella? Shh. Yeah, you're still processing. You got to do that when sad things happen- process it. That's like when my mate Amber died. I processed that for ages. Who's Amber? We were in a home together for a while, and she went to this new family and then started getting in trouble, telling stories about the dad. And then one day she was just dead. What do you mean dead? How? Don't know. No one told me. This slug is actually pretty good. Come on, it's time to get out of here. Yes! Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Yes! OK. We'll stay here the night, and we'll be back at the farm by tomorrow arvo. Page 15/43 Yes! There's beds, books! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Toilet paper! A nice, warm fire. DOGS BARK Get out, you mongrels. Come on. Come on. Give me some bars so I can communicate with the outside world. Ricky,... take a look at this. Oh, Uncle. We're famous! "Hector Faulkner, 65, and Richard Baker, 13, "have been missing now for six weeks. "Faulkner is Cauc... "Cauc... Asian." Wow, they got that wrong, because you're obviously white. "There is a fear for Faulkner's mental health following the recent death of his wife. "Police are not ruling out kidnapping." Kidnapping! "Park rangers have been alerted for anyone seeing the pair "should report back to the nearest police station." Ho! Uncle, you're basically a criminal now. But on the bright side, you're famous. They think I'm crazy. And Asian. Hey, you know when the Wildebeests migrate, they walk up to a thousand miles. Is that heaps? Yeah. Heaps. Just like us. Walking, walking, trying to get somewhere. Looking for a better home. Gidday. Jeez, eh. Whoo. Got a lot of explaining to do. A lot of people looking for you two. Yeah, we know. I did my ankle back in one of the valleys. And, uh, we're on the way out now. Page 16/43 Well,... wait till they hear we caught you in a hut. Well, we weren't hiding. The boy got himself lost, and, uh, I'm bringing him back. Whoa. Cool gun, bro. What do you guys shoot with this? Sparrows? Mm, sometimes. He hurt you, son? Nah. I fell in some prickles one time. Did he push you in those prickles? Yeah, probably. Did he push you in the prickles, mate? Leave him alone. You shut your trap, old fulla. I'd go get some rest if I was you. You've got a long walk tomorrow. First of all, you watch how you talk to me. And second of all, you can take him, but I'm staying here. Like hell. People want answers. Yeah, answers. Look, we got lost; I got injured. He's fine. It was basically a holiday. Not a real holiday, because he made me do stuff. Like what? Just stuff. He had a sore leg, so he made me do things for him. It was hard at first, because my hands are so soft. But I got used to it. I didn't really want to do it, but it was the only way to survive. Well, it wasn't always hard. Sometimes I got to do my own thing. He pretty much never joined in with me, though. I asked if he wanted to play with me, but... he would just make me play with myself. Page 17/43 I feel sick. I feel sick, Hugh. Well- Hang on. He doesn't know what he means. You're a bloody pervert. What did you call me? You heard him. Yeah, you heard him, you old perv. Hey! He's not a pervert, you dickhead! Shut up, Ricky. Yeah, shut up, Ricky. Hey, only I get to tell him to shut up. Oooh. Brainwasher. You're going to jail, you pervert. Want to say that again? Say it again. Going to jail,... you pervert. Get off, you mongrel! Shit just got real! Back up, homies, and let go of my uncle! It's OK, kid. You can put it down. He won't hurt you anymore. I said get away from my uncle. Ricky, give me that. Get down! Ricky, get their guns. Take the bolts out. We're getting out of here. Yeah. Shit just got real. Hey! You're dead, old man. Yeah, dead meat, you old perv! You've had it, mate! There's no chance for you! Get up. Straight up that was the most gangster shit I've ever done. You idiot. And what were you talking about back there? Do you know what that sounds like? No! Ohhh! They're gonna put me away for sure. Page 18/43 Bastards. Yeah, bastards. Hear what that guy called me? Pervert! We need more guns,... Oh God. What am I gonna do? ... hand grenades,... Think. I've got to think. ... maybe a rocket launcher. They're gonna come for us. Yeah, Police. Awesome. No, it's not awesome, Ricky, it's serious. Yeah, but no one got hurt. You're not dangerous. Yeah, well, I am to them. I've been to prison. Gangster! For what? Manslaughter. Double gangster! You need a teardrop tattoo. Oh, I was young. It was a drunken fight. Did my time, but... they won't see it like that. I'll just tell them you were looking after me. It doesn't matter what you tell them; they won't believe you. They'll think I made you do it. I'm not going back to jail. I'm better off up here. This is no place for a kid. You're going to have to go back, Ricky. To what? Well, to the welfare people. No. They'll look after you. No, they won't. They'll find you another home. You'll be fine. No. You're not listening! Nobody listens. There's no more homes, just juvie! What's juvie? Juvenile prison. Page 19/43 They don't care about kids like me. They just keep moving us around until... something happens, like... Amber. Oh, no. Bugger that. OK, OK. We're in about a million hectares of bush- that's big. It's big enough to enough to hide in for a while, anyway. Good enough for me. But we're heading into winter. It's gonna be rough- no huts, no tents, real bush life. Can you handle that? I can handle it. Yeah. And if you play up, I dump ya. OK, Uncle. I'd still prefer if you don't call me Uncle. OK, Hec. So what do we do now? We run. Wait, wait, wait. No, no. No, we don't need to run. Oh yeah. Let's just fast walk. Yeah. Come on. # Oh, sinner man, where you gonna run to? # Where you gonna run to? # All on that day. # Well, I run to the rock. # Please hide me, I run to the rock. # Please hide me, Lord. # All on that day. # But the rock cried out, "I can't hide you." # 'The rock cried out, "I can't hide you." # The rock cried out, "I ain't gonna hide you, guy." # All on that day. # I said, 'Rock! What's the matter with you, rock? # "Don't you see I need you, rock?" Page 20/43 # Lord, Lord, Lord. # All on that day. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! # Oughta be prayin', sinner man. # Oughta be prayin'. # All on that day. # I cried, 'Power! # Power. # Power! # Power, power. # Power! # Power, power. # Pretty majestical, eh? I don't think that's a word. Majestical? Sure it is. Nah, it's not real. What would you know? It's "majestic." Well, that doesn't sound very special. "Majestical" is way better. What do you reckon this place is called, anyway? Do you think it's that place where the cloak gets wet by the sky or something? I don't know. What the hell does that mean? Auntie Bella said she was from up herefrom this special lake that almost touches the sky. Mate, Bella didn't know where she was from. Nah, she saidNo. She was making it up. Look, Bella didn't have any family. Like you. Like me. That's why she wanted to look after you... and took pity on me. She wanted to save us poor wretches when no one else wanted us. Like rescue dogs. That's the way she was. Heart of gold. Page 21/43 Yeah, it's majestical. May as well camp, eh? Sun is going down. Developing story now, more on this massive national manhunt. Yes, we've got Paula Hall from the Department of Child Welfare with us. Paula, thank you for being here... Good morning. Tell us about this boy. What kind of character are we talking about? Well, look, we'reWe're talking about a young boy who is capable of stealing, spitting, breaking stuff, kicking stuff, defacing stuff, stealing stuff, burning stuff and, uh, loitering and graffiti-ing. Yeah. Mm. Even so, Paula, he's just a kid, right? He's alone in the bush. He's scared. Scared? No, no. He's notHe's not a scared little kid. He's a spanner in the works, and I'm the mechanic who is gonna take that spanner and put him back in the toolbox- OK. ... where he belongs. No child left behind. No child left behind. No child left behind. He'll know what that means. OK. Any luck? We're somewhere in this green bit. Well, people used to live here, so we can't be that lost. They probably got lost too, and then just gave up. We'll probably die here. Well, anything to shut you up. I'll shut up if that stupid bird shuts up. Shut up, stupid bird! Shh. Just watch. Huh. Never seen a dumb bird like that before. Page 22/43 Just watch. It's a huia. I reckon that bird was a huia. Supposed to be extinct. That's pretty rare. Mate,... I reckon there'd be a lot of people interested in seeing something like that. And the people who discovered them would be... pretty famous. Yeah, probably some money in it too. Mind you, need some photos to prove it. We don't have a camera. When was the last time you washed? About a month ago. Well, that's not enough, eh? OK, mate. Let's go. What have you got there mate? Huh? Oh books. Books? Bloody books. Look for food and warm stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep your pants on. Jeez. That's a ranger. Oh, he's dead. Oh Jeez. You all right, mate? What's the matter? Ricky, we've got to do something. Are you going to manslaughter him? Because I don't think I can watch. No, you idiot. I'm- We've got to get him some help. There's a track down to a river; there's some bush people that live down there. It's about a two-hour trek. We can make it before dark. Well, someone has got to stay behind and look after this bloke. Have fun. Now don't go wandering; just stick to the tracks. If you get desperate,... eat your dog. What? You'll be right, mate. Page 23/43 Just bloody well come back, OK? OK. What do you think you're doing out here, freaky kid? There's a sick man up at Carrington Hut. He can't walk, and he's having trouble breathing. Can you radio in a chopper? OK. Sweet as. "Uh, yeah, we need a helicopter up here ASAP. Over." Does it look like I carry a radio? What's wrong with him? I don't know. He might be dying. Ew. Oh, OK. Come on, we'll go call the cop. Get on, man. I've already told you, Bruce- up at Carrington Hut. He's probably already dead by now. Do you want some ice cream? How should I know? Do your job, fly up there and take a look. I already told you that, but you're not listening. Oh, yes, I do. I can. Uh... You want a sausage? Yeah, yeah. Do that. Yeah, I'll tell him. Laters. They're gonna head up there first thing in the morning. Better go, then. Got to get there before they do so I can warn Uncle... Relax, bro. I know who you are. I've seen your picture in the paper. Except you're skinnier in real life. Where's your parents? Dead. Nah, jokes. My, um, dad, he's watching the league with my uncle, and my mum, she's working at the lodge. Do you want to smoke a joint? Nah, I'm just being a dick. I don't smoke. I'm talking heaps eh? Page 24/43 Yeah, people say I talk too much. You don't talk much, eh? I can talk for ages. If you want me to talk for ages, or if you don't me to talk, just tell me if you don't want me to talk. Like, this one time I was school, and I was talking too much, and the teacher walks inI'm not listening to her, because she's my Auntie... # Only the crumbliest, flakiest chocolate. Tastes like... But then I just kept talkingHey, bub. Far out those bloody Warriors are useless! Koretux. That's my dad. They are killing me. Hey. You're him. You're you! That's him! Oh, Ricky Baker in my house. You want, uh, anything? Sausage, bro? We've got heaps of sausages, brother. Far... I hate to ask you this, Ricky, but I'll kick myself if I don't. Um,... Can I have a selfie, please? Yeah? Yeah? Far! Oh my goodness. The boys are gonna be buzzing on this one. Big smile. Big smile. Sad face. Sad face. Just take a quick selfie of us. It's not a selfie if I take it, you idiot. Oh, come on. Just pretend I'm the head to his body. CLICK! I captured Ricky Baker! Yeah, you captured me too. You captured me. Oh no! Yeah. Chur, my bro. Chur. Page 25/43 Thank you, my bro. Been awesome meeting you, Ricky. Just keep doing what you're doing, man. Keep striving. Stay Maori, bro. We need a couple more Maoris like you. Oh, shut up. No, you shut up, eh. Yeah, get out. I'm imparting my knowledge on the bro. You're the man for me. You're a boy, but you're a man. Bro. I love you, Ricky. Why are you on the run? Don't you want a normal life? Don't know. Maybe. You fullas could come live here. They'll never find you. Nobody ever comes in here. I have to ask Uncle first. They say he's dangerous. You guys get along? Yeah, we're like best friends. We get on so well. He's, like, one of the best bushmans in the whole country. He, like, teached me all of his skills, so now we're, like, equal best bushmen in the country. Yeah, we're best friends. Oh, where's your mum and dad? Don't know who my dad was, and my mum got rid of me when I was little. Oh, you know where she is? You ever met her? You know anything about her? Oh, pretty. She must've had you when she was a teenager. You ever try and find her? Oh, you don't have to. She should find you. What do you reckon you'd say to her if you ever met her? Don't know. Never really think about it. You want to hear a song I wrote? OK. Here goes. Page 26/43 It's an original. # Turn your lights down low. OK, I lied. It's not an original. # And pull your window curtains. # Your window curtains. GIRL AND DAD SING # Oh, let Jah moon come shining in. # Into our life again... # Saying, "Ooh, it's been a long, long time..." # Morena, bro. Sausage? Oh no! Yeah bro, you slept in. Oh no! Man, we gotta work on your dismounts. You all good from here? Yeah. OK, Ricky bro, catch you up. Catch you up. Uncle! Tupac, come on! Oh no! Ninjas! Dire wolves! Child Welfare! Where did they go? Where did they go?! I know you know something. He knows something. Paula, he's the ranger. He had diabetes. They saved his life. Oh, spare me, Andy. This is Gavin, our tech guy. Gav, Paula Hall, Child Welfare Services. No child left behind. So, talk to me, Gav. What's the situation? Uh, well, the hut is empty so they must've left before we got here. Ooh, you worked that out on your own, Gav OK, what else? Well, uh, we've, ah, set up a rendezvous spot here for the search party. And, uh, then we can Page 27/43 bring in, uh, Stingray. Stingray? Talk to me, talk to me. Oh, well, basically it's just a portable cell phone tower that emits a false frequency. So any cell phone in a 5 K radius will latch on, thinking it's an ordinary network. Frickin' A, brother. That's some "five eyes" shit right there. OK. Them clowns is about to get Stingray-ed. Uncle, Uncle, Uncle. Think, think, think, think. Oh! Tupac, find Zag. Oh, you're useless. Oh! Think, Ricky, think. What would Uncle do? What would Uncle do? Oh yes. Yes! Find water, and then go to higher ground. And don't get naked. Ricky Baker and Hector Faulknertwo renegade outlaws on the run for four months now, and fast becoming legends here in NZ. Faulkner and Baker's popularity is on the rise after a valiant effort to save a critically ill park ranger. The forces are circling against them, and I am reminded of "First Blood". John Rambo, a man aloneobviously they're two men aloneout there somewhere beyond the cutty grass in this dense, thick bush. OK? Easy, efficient, economic. All right, guys? Take us back a step. What happened in...? Uh, I lost control and, uh, I gave him the beating of his life. Yeah, you got him good. We're offering $10,000 to anyone who can capture them, dead or alive. Oh,... alive. Page 28/43 They should be alive. They are fighting for freedom. And we believe in freedom in NZ. It is a marvellous thing. Oi! Ricky! Freeze! OK, OK. OK, Ricky. Stay there we're coming over to you. Come on. It's too steep. It's too steep. Ricky, you come across here. No. Just slide down the bank, cross this stream, and then climb up to us. You're absolutely safe. All you have to do is grab some branches or some roots. OK? No. Ricky. Come over here right now! I'm not going back. I'm not going to juvie. You are playing with a bag of snakes, boy. A big bag with a lot of holes in it. You've got the whole country looking for you. I'll never stop running. Yeah, and I'll never stop chasing you. I'm relentless. I'm like the Terminator. I'm more like Terminator than you. I said it first. You're more like Sarah Connor. No, I'm not. Yes. And in the first movie too, before she could do chin-ups. It doesn't have to be this difficult, Ricky. Yeah? You're cold, you're damp... and hungry. Look at that- scroggin. Got some nuts and dried fruit... Little pieces of chocolate. Yum. Delicious. We could cut a deal; make a trade. What kind of deal? The old man. You say that he made you do it, let him take the rap, and I'll make sure you Page 29/43 never go back to juvie. We'll find you a new foster home; a new Bella. No deal. Oh, come on, Sarah Connor. Don't be a fool. You don't trade family for anything. Well, you just keep running. He's here! He's here. We got him! Go! Go! Go! OK. So you ate a sausage, she sang a song, and you went to sleep. What? It was a relaxing song... and a relaxing sausage. Do you think we've walked a thousand miles yet? Like the wildebeest? Well, it feels like it, eh? Yeah. Always on the move, always on the lookout for hunters, just like the wildebeest, except humans. We're... Wilderpeople. Yeah, that's us. OK then, Wilderboy, let's find somewhere to eat, shall we? There they are! Freeze! Shit just got real. Again. Now, drop your weapons. We're not holding any weaponsDrop 'em! Go see what they got, Ricky. Baked beans, spaghetti, ba- baba- What? Oh, baba ganoush. What? Baba ganoush. What? Binoculars, rope, gaffer tape. Get their guns, Ricky. Give me your guns. Page 30/43 Take the bolts out. There's a reward for your capture. How much? 10 grand. Tell us when it gets to 20. And when they ask who did this, tell them it was the Wilderpeople. The What-er-people? The Wilderpeople. No, I can't go back there. It wasn't my farm; you know that. It was Bella's. She ran the show. I could do stuff- me and the dog- but she was the farmer. And the cook. Yeah, a bloody good cook too. But you- you can't keep on the run forever. You've got to go back to society, you know that. I'm a menace to society. Anyway, if I ever went back, I'd probably end up driving a steamroller or something. That's what happens to gangsters. Well, there's nothing wrong with that, but if you're better at something else, then you should probably give that a go, shouldn't you? Yeah, but I'm better at being a gangster. You're not a bloody gangster. How would you know? Because I've known real gangsters, and they're a lot tougher than you are. Yeah, but were they skux, though? Skux? What the hell does that mean? You know,... skux. Yeah, but what does it mean? Everything. It's cool, spunky, brainy, good-looking, you know, gangster. Oh, for God's sake. You're not a bloody gangster! Oh, jeez. Zag! Tupac! Get back, Zag! Get back! Come back here, you-! Page 31/43 Get in behind! Get in behind, Zag! Zag! Zag! Get out of it, you mongrel! Shit. Uncle! What have you done? Oh jeez. Give us your gun, mate. Hm? Go on, get out. No, Uncle. Get out of- Uncle! Get out of here, Ricky. Go on, get out. But can't we just-? Go! What does that say? Zag. Good. So, she's been with us the whole time, eh? Yeah. Well, pretty close to the sky up here. Thanks for bringing her, mate. # When they poured across the border, I was cautioned to surrender. # This I could not do. # I took my gun and vanished. # I have changed my name so often, # I've lost my wife and children. # But I've many friends. # And some of them are with me. # Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing. # Through the graves, the wind is blowing. # Freedom soon will come. # Then we'll come from the shadows. # Un vieil homme dans un grenier # pour la nuit nous a cachs. # Les Allemands I'ont pris. # II est mort sans surprise. Page 32/43 # Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing. # Through the graves, the wind is blowing. # Freedom soon will come. # Then we'll come from the shadows. # I wonder how long they're going to hunt us for. Oh, it's hard to say. Those idiots are worse in the bush than you are. Useless. Couldn't find a clown in a circus. Stop! This is the police! Oh shit! What? I was trying to tell you it was like The Lord of the Rings. What the...? Can you see that bush over there? Yeah. Is it a man or a bush? Bush! Man! Bushman! Ah! Hello. I was hoping to run into you two. Well, if you're after the reward, you can bugger off. We're dangerous. Yeah, we're dangerous. Yeah, no. I heard about that. Don't worry. I'm not going to capture you. You guys heard of a- a local legend about a guy who lives out here in the bush on this own? They call him Psycho Sam! No. No? Oh, OK. Well, my name is Sam, anyway. I'm a friend! Come on. Bikkie? Why do you reckon he calls himself Psycho Sam? Page 33/43 Here you go. Put these on. Stop the Government from tracking you. Never mind. That fulla you saved- he was a ranger. Diabetic. You got a little support over that. But then you robbed those hunters, so you're back in the negatives again. Well, that was... this fella. He's the maniac. Well, they're still saying you're dangerous. And a bit of a pervert. Goddammit. It's all right. You can stay here as long as you like. I've been up here 15 years now. Got everything I need. How long they been chasing ya? I don't know. About five months now? Bastards. That's the typical government. Always trying to step on the little guy just for living his life. It never stops either. That's why I can't go back. Not going to be part of the machine. Form fillers. Form fillers? That's how they get you. Anything you want to do in life, you got to fill out a form. And they've got forms for everything. You fill it out, it goes upstairs, and then they make you fill out a new form, just to confirm it was you that filled out the first form. And if ever you want to stop filling out forms, well, there's about five different forms for that. Don't even get me started on the national rugby team. They're not human. What you doing, mate? Writing. And what are you writing, Page 34/43 Mr Shakespeare? Haiku. Well, go on, read it out. I'll tell you if it's any good. No, it's just a personal one. Oh, come on. Don't be shy. Mm, OK. Trees, birds, rivers, sky. Running with my Uncle Hec. Living forever. See? Told you it was dumb. No, no. It was just that Well, that's theThat's the first time I've... heard my name in a poem. I liked it. Gee, Bella would have loved this adventure, wouldn't she? Mm. Why couldn't you guys have any kids? Well, just couldn't. Well, I couldn't. That's not very fair. Some people can't even have babies. And the ones who canthey don't even want them. Like my mum. No, mate. She wanted you. She was- she was probably just young. She couldn't work out how to raise you, you know. I bet she loved you, though. Doubt it. Well, you never know. You're pretty likeable. Lights out, OK? Goodnight, Sam. Oh, I haven't got that fixed yet. Goodnight, Uncle. Goodnight, mate. Uncle! Uncle! Uncle! Uncle! Uncle! Uncle! Uncle! Uncle! Uncle! Uncle, we have to go! Yeah. Even I can't stand his cooking anymore. Page 35/43 We'll get out off first thing in the morning, eh? No! They're here. Who? Government! Government! Sorry, excuse me. Did they see you? No, but they're close! OK. Get our stuff! Hey! Hey, what happened to my phone? I upgraded it for ya. You're on four bars now. You clown. What have you done? Come out and give over the boy, Mr Faulkner. Uncle! Uncle! They're close. Sam, what's the fastest way out of here? Jet pack. Do you actually have a jet pack? No. What? Wait! I've got an underground bunker. This tunnel leads directly to an underground chambI haven't dug it yet. Oh! What have I been doing with my life? That's it. We've run out of options. Just pretend to be dead. I'll be here. Come on, guys. It only works if we all do it. For Christ's sake, Sam, pull yourself together. We need to get out of here right now. What are we gonna do? Crumpy! What? Crumpy will take you! Who the hell is Crumpy?! Crumpy! Jesus, does she even go? Crumpy. Unkillable. Four-wheel drive. Both wheels go- go four-wheel-drive. Ricky, where are ya? Page 36/43 Oh, where did I put the keys? Ricky! Unkillable! Ricky... Get in! Ricky Baker, you are not driving this ute. Get in the car! Oh shit. Tupac! OK. I'll hold up the government and buy you some time. Thanks, mate. Don't do anything stupid. Me? How did you get this thing started? The knack. Crumpy! Hey! Sorry, mate. She's a bit bumpy around here. Not too fast, Ricky. Slow down. No! No! Tree! Get off! Slow down! That's my bike. Shut up, they're mine. Whoa. SIRENS WAIL Uh-oh. May as well play it to the end. What do you reckon? You mean have a shoot out, and then when we've got no bullets, run out and say, "Freedom!" And then die in a blaze of glory? No. I actually meant till we run out of petrol. Oh. Well, I'm dying in a blaze of glory. ENGINE REVS No! Oh. Whoa. Faulkner! This is the Police. Stop the vehicle and hand over the boy. You're pretty much Page 37/43 surrounded. No escape. Come on mate. Mr Faulkner... Mr FaulkPull the bloody vehicle over, Faulkner. Ricky Baker! Hi, Paula! You pull that ute over right now or you're going to be in a whole lot of trouble, son! You don't even have your full licence! Ricky! Is that what I think it is? Uncle Hec! Uncle Hec, that's the actual army. This is like an actual war, like, for real! Roger, Comms, we have visual. Kilo, Foxtrot. We've lost them in the bush. OK. Stop the truck, Ricky. I juststop the truck. I want to get out now. I didn't choose the skux life; the skux life chose me. Ricky, stop. ENGINE REVS Stop! Freedom! How many bullets do we have? Ricky, we've got to stop. Never! Come on! Mate, this is it for me. Look, I can't go on anymore. My leg is buggered. I can hardly see. This is the end. Ricky Baker, you get out here this instant, son. You've caused a lot of damage to private property today. You've taken out this corrugated iron fence. Not cool, not cheap. Ricky, this isn't a game. That's real over there. They're never gonna stop chasing, ever. We're done. I'm not going back! Listen, it's over. Traitor! Page 38/43 Give me your gun! Give me it! Oi, you! Give me your gun. Where's your taser? It's been booked. It's in Wellington. Oh for God's sake! It wasn't me! You idiot, what did I tell you about gun responsibility? That's it. I'm giving you up. We give up! He's molestering me! I knew it. You little bastard! He's a molesterer! I'm not! He's lying! I'm not a molesterer! I bloody hate you. I hate you too, traitor! That's it. You're on your own. Don't shoot! Don't you take another step. What do you think you're doing? What do you think he's doing, Andy? Andy? You're not going anywhere. We stick together! What, are you gonna shoot me? Do it. We're family! Like hell. Go ahead. Shoot me. Got you now, perv. Oh! You shot me! I'm- I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It was an accident! I've got him! I've got the package! Well done, everybody! Now let's get this precious child out of here! I'm sorry, Uncle. No! I'm not your bloody uncle. I didn't mean to! Hector Faulkner, you are under arrest. Whatever you do or say will be Page 39/43 used against you in a court of law! Paula! Police in NZ don't really say that. That's like an American thing. And you're not a cop. It's over. Get in. Oh! Yeah, I found him on my horse, and we had some sausages... Uh, I'm a big fan and, uh, managed to scab me a selfie. I said that I was the Terminator and he was in fact Sarah Connor. I said, "I didn't choose the skux life, uh, the skux life chose me." Who is going to give him that upbringing? Is it perhaps...? We just want what's best for the child, Your Honour. "Mara- Mara-u-ding "and plunder... ing the "uni... univer... universe... "rising... up..." Ca-caw! "... aga-" Ca-caw! Ca-caw, Hec! Hi. How was jail? Did you shank anyone? I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I shot you,... and I'm sorry that I burnt down your shed. That's enough. And I'm sorry for what I said that day, about you being a molesterer. That really is enough; I'm getting uncomfortable. I just got carried away being an outlaw; had too much fun. Been doing all right? Yeah, I just had to stick it out in a new family for a year. I did. You'll like them. Page 40/43 Man, you'd love it there. There's heaps of room, they need some help on the farm, it's right next to the bush... Oh, and I also saved up and got this. You want to find that bird? Yeah. We'll be famous. Nah, you're better off without me, mate. Yeah. But I... I just thought that... OK. Sorry. Hey. Wait on. I've got something to say. Me and this fat kidWe ran, we ate, and read books. And it was the best. It was the best. Yeah. Look, to tell you the truth, I can't stand it here. It's full of old people. So... you're coming? Yeah. Yeah, I'm coming. Wouldn't want a little twerp like you to get all the credit for finding a bird. Yeah, but I've got one ruleyou got to let me call you "Uncle". Uncle? Yeah, I can stand that. I've got one rule too. Not allowed to shoot me. OK, I'll... I'll go and get my toothbrush. Here we go. Reckon you can handle it? What do you think? Reckon you can find that bird? Yeah. I think I know where it is. Seem to remember it was a pretty beautiful place, was it? Yeah. Majestical. Come on. Let's go. Don't slow me down, old fulla. Page 41/43 Keep up yourself, young player. Get in my way, I'll have your guts for garters. Well, I honestly don't know what "guts for garters" is, so... Well, it's gangster talk. Yeah. We didn't chose the skux life... ... the skux life chose us. Yeah. # There's a road I know I must go. # # Even though I tell myself that road is closed. # # Listen, lonely seabird, you've been away from land too long. # # Oh, too long. # # I don't listen to the news no more. # # Like an unwound clock, I just seem to care. # # This world isn't big enough # # to keep me away from you. # # Oh, from you. # # Seabird, seabird, # # fly home. # # Seabird, seabird, # # fly home. # # Like a lonely seabird, you've been away from land too long. # # Oh, too long. # # Suddenly, you're with me. # # I turn and you're not there. # # Like a ghost, you haunt me. # # You find warmth in a one-night bed. # # Sunsets, full moons # # don't turn you on. # # Like an untied dog, you just had to run. # # Like a lonely seabird, you've been away from land too long. # # Oh, no, too long. # # Said now, seabird, # # Seabird, seabird, # # fly home. # # Seabird, seabird, # # fly home. # Page 42/43 # Seabird, seabird, # # fly home. # # Seabird, seabird... # # Ricky Baker, now you are 13 years old, # # You're a teenager, and you're as good as gold. # # Ricky Baker, happy birthday. # # Once rejected, now accepted # # by me and Hector. # # Trifecta! # # Ricky Baker, oh, Ricky Baker. # # Ah, ah, Ricky Baker, # oh, Ricky Baker. # Ah, ah, Ricky... # # Baker... # Page 43/43 Scripts.com Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon By Hui-Ling Wang Page 1/67 EXT. YUAN COMPOUND - DAY Security men and porters are loading wagons for a convoy. As they work, we see across the lake a lone horseman entering the village. One of the men recognizes him. WORKER: Master Li is here! ANGLE ON: In the background, old Aunt Wu, at the sight of Li Mu Bai, drops her parcels and runs excitedly into the building. INT. YUAN HALLWAY - DAY Aunt Wu runs hurriedly through the halls. AUNT WU: Shu Lien! INT. YU'S ROOM - DAY Yu, a beautiful woman in her early 30s, is finishing packing for the convoy, wrapping a few small items in a linen wrapper, as Aunt Wu bursts in. AUNT WU: Li Mu Bai is here! INT. YUAN PRACTICE HALL - DAY LI: How's everything? AUNT WU: Fine. Please come in. Yu sits, composed, as Aunt Wu ushers Li in. large object, wrapped in silk. Yu smiles. YU: Mu Bai...It's been too long. LI: It has. (he glances around the room) How's business? YU: Page 2/67 Li carries a Good. And how are you? LI: Fine. An awkward pause. YU: Monk Zheng said you were at Wudan Mountain. He said you were practicing deep meditation. LI: Yes. YU: The mountain must be so peaceful... I envy you. My work keeps me so busy, I hardly get any rest. LI: I left the training early. YU: Why? You're a Wudan fighter. Training is everything. LI: During my meditation training... I came to a place of deep silence... I was surrounded by light... Time and space disappeared. I had come to a place my master had never told me about. YU: You were enlightened? LI: No. I didn't feel the bliss of enlightenment. Instead... I was surrounded by an endless sorrow. I couldn't bear it. I broke off my meditation. I couldn't go on. There was something... pulling me Page 3/67 back. YU: What was it? LI: Something I can't let go of. are leaving soon? You YU: We're preparing a convoy for a delivery to Peking. LI: Perhaps I could ask you to deliver something to Sir Te for me. Li unwraps the object. It is an ancient, astonishingly beautiful sword. YU: The Green Destiny Sword? giving it to Sir Te? You're LI: I am. He has always been our greatest protector. YU: I don't understand. How can you part with it? It has always been with you. LI: Too many men have died at its edge. It only looks pure because blood washes so easily from its blade. YU: You use it justly, you're worthy of it. LI: It's time for me to leave it behind. Page 4/67 YU: So what will you do now? Li doesn't reply. YU: Come with me to Peking. You can give the sword to Sir Te yourself. It'll be just like old times. LI: First I must visit my master's grave. It's been many years since Jade Fox murdered him. I have yet to avenge his death. And yet I'm thinking of quitting. I must pray for his forgiveness. YU: Join me once you have finished. can wait for you in Peking. I LI: Perhaps. EXT. THE GATE TO PEKING. DAY Customs officials have just finished checking the contents in a row of carriages bearing the Sun Security insignia. The caravan slowly passes through the checkpoint into the boundaries of Peking. Yu, riding a handsome horse and clearly the leader, watches as her crew clears inspection. GUARDS: Ok. Pass. YU: Thanks. Let's go into the city. EXT. OUTSIDE A DEPOT. DAY Workers are busy unloading the contents from the carriages. Boss Giao is checking off the merchandise -- a cargo of medicinal herbs. GIAO: Everything got here safely. much obliged. I'm Page 5/67 YU: Just doing my job. GIAO: Sun Security has been the best since your father started it. You're a credit to his memory. YU: Thank you. GIAO: I mean it. EXT. DAY. PEKING From a gray tiled roof, we can see Peking's magnificent grid of houses extending miles and miles out, freshly painted by the morning sun. EXT. PEKING STREET. DAY Dusty and congested as always, people, horses, and carriages are fighting to get through the boulevards. A group of jugglers perform at a corner. Yu surveys the busy street from on top of her horse. INT. TE'S GREAT HALL - DAY Yu presents the sword to Sir Te. SIR TE: This is Li's personal sword, a great hero's weapon! He is the only one in the world worthy of carrying it. It's too fine a gift. I cannot accept it. YU: Sir Te! It has brought him as much trouble as glory. Help him to leave these troubles behind. Otherwise, he'll never be able to start anew. SIR TE: All right. I'll act as the sword's custodian. De Lu, the head servant, enters. Page 6/67 DE LU: Governor Yu has arrived. SIR TE: I must change. YU: (getting up) You've always been so good to Li Mu Bai and me. Please accept our thanks. SIR TE: Please do not be such a stranger. You'll stay the night as my guest. Now, Shu Lien... tell me something. And forgive me for prying. Your father was a great friend to me, and I think of you as my own daughter. YU: Please, Sir Te, what is it? SIR TE: Li Mu Bai giving up his sword and his warrior days... maybe he's trying to tell you something? YU: I don't know... SIR TE: Don't be coy. I've always known about your feelings for each other. All these years, it's a shame... neither of you is brave enough to admit the truth to the other. You're both wasting precious time. YU: I beg your pardon. aren't cowards. Li Mu Bai and I Page 7/67 SIR TE: When it comes to emotions, even great heroes can be idiots. Tell me if Li Mu Bai is not more open the next time you see him. I'll give him an earful! INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY Yu and De Lu approach the study. DE LU: Sir Te said to leave the sword in here. De Lu opens the door and is startled to find a young woman inside. The woman is studying the sheets of calligraphy hanging on the walls. DE LU: Who are you? JEN: I'm your guest today. Yu's daughter. DE LU: This is Sir Te's study. here to... I am Governor You are JEN: I was looking for a quiet corner. DE LU: I am Sir Te's head servant. And this is another of our guests. INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY Yu gently lays the sword, still in its sheath, in Jen's hands. JEN: It's heavy for such a thin piece of metal! YU: The handle is heavy. And the blade is no ordinary metal. Still, the sword is the lightest of weapons. Page 8/67 You're just not used to handling it. JEN: But I have had much practice. As a child in the West, a platoon lived with us. They'd let me play with their weapons. The scabbard is so beautiful. YU: Beautiful but dangerous. Once you see it tainted with blood, its beauty is hard to admire. It's 400 years old. JEN: Exquisite! You said it belongs to... YU: My friend Li Mu Bai. to Sir Te as a gift. He's given it JEN: Li Mu Bai! The famous warrior? Why would he give his sword to Sir Te? YU: You're too young to understand. JEN: You're a sword fighter too? Yu yanks the sword out of the sheath. An eerie sound resonates within the study. Jen is even more impressed. YU: Yes, I am. But I prefer the machete. Certain moves, however, call for a sword. JEN: Really? Yu puts the sword back in the case. Page 9/67 JEN: (longingly) It must be exciting to be a fighter, to be totally free! YU: Fighters have rules too: friendship, trust, integrity... Without rules, we wouldn't survive for long. JEN: I've read all about people like you. Roaming wild, beating up anyone who gets in your way! YU: Writers wouldn't sell many books if they told how it really is. JEN: But you're just like the characters in the stories. YU: Sure. No place to bathe for days, sleeping in flea-infested beds... They tell you all about that in those books? JEN: You know what I mean. I'm getting married soon, but I haven't lived the life I want. YU: So I heard. Congratulations. the most important step in a woman's life, isn't it? It's JEN: You're not married, are you? YU: What do you think? Page 10/67 JEN: No! You couldn't roam around freely if you were. YU: You're probably right. Yu studies Jen. The room falls silent for a moment. EXT. SIDE COURT YARD - DAY It's dusk and the sky is beautiful orange and purple. Jen is leaving the study escorted by her maid. She turns to Yu for a final good-bye. Yu seems intrigued by the encounter. EXT. SIR TE'S COMPOUND - NIGHT Two lighted lanterns are raised up. INT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT Sir Te hands the sword to Governor Yu. SIR TE: Go ahead, Governor Yu. Governor Yu is impressed by the opulence and elegance of the sword. He closes his eyes to guess the weight of the sword. Te snubs out the flame from a candle, then slides the sword out from its sheath. The sword gives off a luminous blue glow in the dark. SIR TE: Two feet 9 inches long. 1 inch wide. The handle is 1 inch deep, 2.6 inches wide. Seven-tenths of an inch thick. With seven rubies missing from the hilt. You can tell the design dates back to before the Chin era. Engraved with a technique lost by the time of the Han Dynasty. GOVERNOR YU: Your knowledge is remarkable, Sir Te. SIR TE: A sword by itself rules nothing. It comes alive only through skillful manipulation. Page 11/67 GOVERNOR YU: I see your point. Please continue. SIR TE: The Imperial Court isn't the problem. With royalty and officials everywhere, the Royal Guard keeps security tight. But Peking is not like the West. Here, you'll find all sorts of characters. Proceed with caution in your quest for law and order. Don't depend only on the court. Contacts in the Giang Hu underworld can ensure your position. Be strong, yet supple. This is the way to rule. INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT A maid warms her hands in a basin of hot water for Jen, then walks over to Jen and helps remove her earrings. Someone knocks and the maid goes to answer the door. MAID: Governess... GOVERNESS: Let me do it. The maid leaves as the governess enters the room. JEN: Please sit. GOVERNESS: I've made you silk pajamas. want to change into them? Do you JEN: Put them down. GOVERNESS: I heard you met Shu Lien today. JEN: Do you know her? Page 12/67 GOVERNESS: She's one of those. Your mother would not want you consorting with her kind. Jen shoots her an angry look. JEN: I'll socialize with whomever I please. GOVERNESS: Don't invite danger into your father's house. She's about to say something, then thinks better of it. JEN: I'm tired now. GOVERNESS: Go to bed then. Miss has grown up, and is getting married soon. God knows what the future will bring. JEN: It will be just the same. I'm tired. Enough! GOVERNESS: Autumn is coming. I'll shut the windows for you. The governess leaves. Jen sits on the side of her bed, thinking. EXT. TE'S COMPOUND - NIGHT A wide shot of the compound. A patrol man greets Master Bo, Sir Te's head of security. The place is serene. MASTER BO: Chilly, eh? NIGHTMAN: Yes, Master Bo. As Bo walks on, shadows rustle in a treetop in the background. EXT./INT. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF TE'S STUDY - NIGHT A masked figure silently opens the window and enters the Page 13/67 room. It moves swiftly to the sword case, opens it, and wraps the sword. Bo enters, sees the thief, who leaps up to the ceiling. The thief steps over Bo and out into the courtyard. Bo tries to stop the thief, who easily outwits him, jumping onto the roof as Bo yells out. BO: Someone help! Stop him! He's on the roof! The sword's been stolen! Stop thief! Stop him! The thief skips a few times and jumps off to a side street. Bo grabs a pole and runs, as gongs begin to sound, alerting people to the theft. People rush outside, Yu Shu Lien among them. EXT. PEKING STREET - NIGHT Bo runs through the streets. The thief is nowhere in sight. Suddenly, there are sounds of weapons clashing. Bo hurries towards the source. EXT. AN ALLEY OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT Bo is surprised to see the hooded figure battling with two other fighters -- Tsai (male, 40s) and May, his daughter. TSAI: It's Jade Fox! MAY: We must avenge mother! The hooded figure does a gravity defying flip and soars over a wall, just as Bo arrives. BO: Do something! He's getting away! EXT. PEKING ROOFTOP - NIGHT The thief runs atop a roof -- right into Yu. hooded figure face off. Yu and the YU: Return the sword, and I'll let you go. The figure just regards her, slightly shifting weight. Yu attacks, but the figure repels her. YU: Page 14/67 You've been trained at Wudan? The figure answers by leaping to another rooftop. Yu catches up, and resumes her attack with a relentless series of lightning-quick blows. EXT. ALLEY OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT Bo follows Tsai and May, who are quickly walking away. TSAI: You're mistaken. We're just street performers. We were rehearsing. MAY: Father! BO: You were rehearsing? Who are you trying to fool? May wants to respond but is again cut off by Tsai. off. They run BO: Where did that thief go? Bo looks around and discovers he had chased the thief into Governor Yu's compound. BO: Governor Yu's house! EXT. ROOF TOP Yu and the Black Figure continue to fight. YU: Get down here! Give back the sword! EXT. GOVERNOR YU'S - NIGHT Yu slowly gets the upper hand in her fight with the thief. A small arrow cuts across the night and flies toward Yu. She catches it, but the masked figure takes the opportunity to get away. Yu pauses to feel the arrow in her hand, standing in the empty courtyard. EXT. TE'S SIDE ENTRANCE - DAY De Lu escorts Yu into Te's. DE LU: Sir Te awaits you. Page 15/67 INT. TE'S GREAT HALL - DAY Men are standing at attention. what happened, as Yu enters. Bo is giving his account of BO: I'm sure the thief is in the Yu household. SIR TE: How dare you imply? BO: But I say -SIR TE: -- Enough. The men hustle out. Bo can barely contain his frustration. YU: Has Governor Yu ever seen the sword? SIR TE: Yes, though I doubt he's involved in this. YU: But the sword could be in his compound. SIR TE: Then someone's trying to set him up. We should inform Li Mu Bai. EXT. OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT Madam Yu is returning from temple. The governess is helping her out of the carriage. Servants are peeling bills off a wall across the street. MADAM YU: What is it? MAID: Madam Yu, someone's put up posters. A partially torn flyer with the words "Jade Fox will not escape justice!" is seen on the ground. Page 16/67 MADAM YU: Let me see. GOVERNESS: Someone is after Jade Fox. Preposterous, looking for her here! Madam Yu nods and walks inside, as the Governess tosses the flyer away and follows her. A hand scoops up the flyer -- it is Yu. She studies it, then puts it in her pocket, and moves on. EXT. BRIDGE - DAY Bo is searching for the Tsais. The bridge is full of jugglers. But the two are nowhere to be found. EXT. PEKING STREET - DAY Bo quizzes a homeless man. BO: Where are they? HOMELESS MAN: I don't know. I haven't seen them in two days. Bo is about to give up when he looks up and sees May walking quickly into an alley. Bo follows her. EXT. IN FRONT OF TSAI'S HOUSE May walks into a dilapidated house surrounded by a brokendown bamboo fence. Bo inches closer and sees May and Tsai oiling their weapons. INT. BO'S ROOM - DAY Jen practices calligraphy. The governess is by her side embroidering and throwing occasional glances at Jen. The maid enters. MAID: There is a Miss Shu Lien here to see you. Jen stops and looks up at them. GOVERNESS: Miss is busy right now. MAID: I'll tell her. Page 17/67 JEN: Show her in. The governess shoots her a look. GOVERNESS: This spells trouble. JEN: I have a guest. The governess gets up to leave just as the maid shows Yu in. MAID: This way please. The governess and Yu exchange quick glances. bows slightly and departs. The governess JEN: I've missed you. YU: How so? JEN: I'm bored. Yu sees the calligraphy. YU: You're doing calligraphy? JEN: I'll write your name. Just for fun. Jen writes Yu's name with great confidence and swiftness. YU: I never realized my name looks like "sword." Jen freezes slightly. YU: You write gracefully. Calligraphy is so similar to fencing. JEN: Page 18/67 Maybe it is. I wouldn't know. The maid enters with tea. JEN: Please. YU: Thank you for seeing me. I hear your wedding day is near. You must be overwhelmed by the preparations. JEN: I'm hardly doing a thing. The less I think of it the better. My parents are arranging everything. The Gous are a very powerful family. My marrying one will be good for my father's career. YU: You are fornuate to marry into such a noble family. JEN: Am I? I wish I were like the heroes in the books I read. Like you and Li Mu Bai. I guess I'm happy to be marrying. But to be free to live my own life, to choose whom I love... That is true happiness. YU: Do you think so? story. Let me tell you a JEN: About you and Li Mu Bai? YU: Yes. Did you know I was once engaged to be married? JEN: Page 19/67 No, really? YU: His name was Meng Si Zhao. He was a brother to Li Mu Bai by oath. One day, while in battle, he was killed by the sword of Li Mu Bai's enemy. After, Li Mu Bai and I went through a lot together. Our feelings for each other grew stronger. But how could we dishonor Meng's memory? So the freedom you talk about, I too desire it. But I have never tasted it. JEN: Too bad for Meng, but it's not your fault, or Li Mu Bai's. YU: I am not an aristocrat, as you are... but I must still respect a woman's duties. JEN: Don't distance us. From now on, let's be like sisters. YU: Then as a sister, let me wish you happiness in your marriage. EXT. YU'S GARDEN - DAY The maid escorts Yu out. Yu pauses, looks around, and sees the profile of the Governess peering at her from around a corner. INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT Moonlight spills into the room, as Jen rises sleeplessly from bed and looks out the window. A light breeze stirs her hair. The sound of the wind rises, and slowly her face dissolves, into... INT./EXT. CARRIAGE/MONGOLIAN DESERT - DAY ...the face of a younger, less sophisticated Jen, as she lets the dry desert air flow through her hair. She sits in a carriage, part of a caravan, with guards on horseback, Page 20/67 that is traveling through the spectacular desert. Across from her sits her mother, of whom she is barely cognizant. MADAM YU: What a godforsaken place! Can't your father be appointed closer to civilization? Jen... are you listening to me? Jen is still looking out the side of the carriage, at a beautiful mountainside. INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT Jen sighs, and turns back toward her bed. EXT. STREET OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT Tsai and May have been sitting, hidden in the branches of a tree, watching Jen. TSAI: Let's go! They drop down silently and walk away. From another rooftop, Lo looks silently on. EXT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT Tsai and May enter the house. INT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT Inside the tiny house, they discover a hooded figure going through their belongings. Immediately Tsai throws a knife, which rips off the figure's mask -- revealing Bo. Tsai has another long knife at his throat. TSAI: Who are you? BO: Wait! I'm a friend! Tsai pauses. INT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT (LATER) May fans a small coal-fired grill that is boiling a sizzling pot of vegetable and meatball soup. Her father and Bo are now friendly dinner companions, much to May's delight. TSAI: I don't care about your sword. BO: Page 21/67 Why were you spying on the Yus? TSAI: I'm looking for someone. Jade Fox. I'm a police inspector from Shaan Xi, Gen Su district. Jade Fox is a master criminal. I hear she infiltrated the Yus. She must have come with them when they transferred here. But with Yu's reputation, I can't just go in and accuse her. BO: This Jade Fox is a woman? TSAI: Yes. BO: Then leave her to me. TSAI: Pardon me, but I doubt you can handle her. My wife was quite a martial arts expert. Jade Fox killed her. So you see, this is personal. Leave her to me. MAY: It's ready! (re: BO: I'm ready for anything! Bo fishes into the pot with his chopsticks. him with her own chopsticks. May intercepts MAY: Father gets first dip. Tsai stiffens and snaps his chopsticks, not to pick up a meatball but to catch an incoming dart. A dart wrapped with a note. Bo jumps up. Page 22/67 TSAI: They're gone. MAY: What does it say? TSAI: "We'll settle this at midnight on Yellow Hill." Good, the fox is out of her hole. INT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT Yu is ushered into the room, to discover Sir Te talking to another man, whose back is to her. SIR TE: Shu Lien, look who's here. The man turns around -- it's Li Mu Bai. EXT. TE'S HALL - NIGHT Yu and Li Mu Bai sit together. LI: Sir Te believes it's a ploy cast suspicion on Governor Yu. YU: But something is going on at the Yu household. LI: What have you discovered? From her sleeve, Yu removes the flyer. face darkening. LI: Jade Fox? Impossible. YU: You always suspected she'd fled to the West. LI: I didn't think she'd dare come back to Peking! Page 23/67 Li takes it, his YU: Is there any place safer than under the nose of Governor Yu? LI: So I shall avenge my master's death after all. YU: Be careful. Sir Te requires discretion. Official business is difficult enough. Don't let personal feelings make it worse. And I don't know... even this poster... could be some sort of trap. LI: Did you see who posted it? Yu pauses. YU: No. LI: It says Jade Fox is hiding at Yu's. On the night of the theft there was a brawl near Yu's. Were you involved? YU: It was Bo, Sir Te's man. I hear he followed the thief to the Yus'. LI: Have you questioned him yet? YU: No, not yet... LI: But your men are watching over Yu's compund? YU: Page 24/67 No, I'd already sent them home. You can blame me for losing the sword, but please trust that I'll get it back soon using my own methods. LI: That's not what I meant. care about the sword. YU: What do you mean? back here for it? I don't Didn't you come LI: I don't know it was stolen until I got here. YU: Then, why did you come? LI: Well, we had talked... De Lu enters. DE LU: Pardon my intrusion. your room is ready. Master Li, LI: Thank you. Please lead the way. EXT. YELLOW HILL - NIGHT Tsai, Bo, and May wait under an ancient tree. yawn. Bo stifles a BO: The fox doesn't care much for punctuality. Still no sign of her. An old lady struggles up the hill, wearing a floppy hat over her face, holding a cane. The three exchange glances. TSAI: Enough! Show yourself. The old woman shrinks in fear, but then throws off her Page 25/67 disguise and unveils herself -- the Governess. FOX: Tsai... you dog! You will pay for your stubbornness. BO: That's what you think, old witch! TSAI: If you surrender now, you'll suffer less. But if you resist, I won't stop until you're dead. MAY: Father! death. Let me avenge my mother's FOX: You'll soon end up like her, you little whore! BO: You'll pay for that! A fierce battle begins, the main fighting between Tsai and Fox, with May and Bo getting a stab in occasionally, when the opportunity presents itself. TSAI: (to Bo) She's going to paralyze you! Using acupressure, Fox disables Bo. May shoots an arrow at her, but she catches it and flings it back, hitting May. TSAI: May! Fox then disables Tsai, but just as she goes for the kill, Li Mu Bai flies down from the treetops and steps between them. FOX: Tsai, you filthy mongrel! An ambush! MAY: Father, are you all right? Page 26/67 Li addresses Fox. LI: Wudan should have gotten rid of you long ago. It's been a long time, Jade Fox! You don't remember me... But you should remember my master. You infiltrated Wudan while I was away. You stole our master! Now it's time for you to pay! FOX: Your master underestimated us women. Sure, he'd sleep with me, but he would never teach me. He deserved to die by a woman's hand! LI: You stole the secrets of Wudan's highest martial arts. But after ten years of training, your moves are still undisciplined. And today, under a Wudan sword... you will die! Li easily brings Fox to the ground. Li raises his sword to the prostrate Fox. A figure masked in black appears next to Fox, sword extended, saving her. FOX: Disciple, we'll kill them all! FIGURE IN BLACK: Let's go! BO: Another one! FOX: I must get rid of Tsai! Fox fights Tsai, Bo, and May, as Li addresses the masked figure. LI: Who are you? Why is the Green Page 27/67 Destiny in your possession? FIGURE IN BLACK: What's it to you? LI: My name is Li Mu Bai. The Green Destiny is mine. Jade Fox can't be your master. Where did you learn that "Xuan Piu" move? FIGURE IN BLACK: I'm just playing around. LI: Tell me, who is your master? FIGURE IN BLACK: Let's go! FOX: We must kill them! Tsai throws his blade at Fox, who catches it and throws it back, hitting him in the head. Fox and the masked figure leap away. May drops to the ground, cradling her dead father's head. Bo kneels beside her. MAY: Father! EXT. TE'S - DAY Te and a group of his men look down as a cloth is removed from over the body of Tsai. Bo and May stand before them. TE: This is Tsai? MAY: My father. Shaan. Police Inspector from TE: This should be reported to Governor Yu. The victim is an officer. You Page 28/67 believe the killer is hiding out in his compound. YU: I'd bet my life on it! TE: (to Li and Yu) Come with me. He exits the room. INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY Te, Li, and Yu are seated. SIR TE: This needs to be resolved, and quickly. LI: I'll get into the Yu household and get her. I'll ferret out Fox and her gang. YU: We must be careful. Governor Yu is a court official, and in charge of security. Any disturbance will cast suspicion on him. It might get Sir Te in trouble. SIR TE: This is a delicate matter. YU: Sir Te, can you find some excuse to invite Madam Yu and her daughter? SIR TE: What do you have in mind? YU: The best way to trap a fox is through her cubs. Sir Te and Li look puzzled. EXT. SIR TE'S GARDEN - DAY Page 29/67 Yu sits with Madam Yu and Jen. They busy themselves with various items for her trousseau. MADAM YU: Madam Te is certainly spoiling us with these wedding gifts. She's being so considerate. YU: I'm sorry she's not feeling well enough to receive you today. MADAM YU: I heard Sir Te lost something. And now Madame Te's not feeling well... Jen sits silently reading. YU: We know who stole the missing item. If the thief returns it, I'm sure Sir Te will pursue the matter no further. MADAM YU: That's good. Sometimes the help can't keep their hands to themselves. It's very embarassing. YU: Sir Te knows that even well-meaning people can make mistakes... that can bring ruin to themselves and their families. MADAM YU: But don't be too lenient. YU: No mercy will be shown toward the murderer who turned up in Peking. MADAM YU: A murderer? Page 30/67 YU: Yes. The very killer of Li Mu Bai's own master. Last night, she killed a policeman who had tracked her down. MADAM YU: A female criminal! Now that's news! Jen becomes visibly upset. JEN: You say she killed a policeman? YU: Yes, from the West. He went undercover and and followed her here, MADAM YU: Maybe the murderer and the thief are one and the same. YU: I doubt it. This thief... it very unusual... As Yu speaks, she lifts the tea pot to pour Jen some tea. As she finishes speaking, she looks into Jen's face and the pot slips from her hand. Without even looking down, Jen instinctively catches the pot with a lightning-fast move. YU: ...And most likely smarter than a mere killer. Sir Te and Li Mu Bai walk by. JEN: (formal) Greetings, Sir Te. SIR TE: Hello, Madam Yu. This is Li Mu Bai, the renowned swordsman. LI: Page 31/67 Delighted to meet you. Li sizes Jen up. TE: Miss Yu is soon to be married. LI: Congratulations. EXT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT May opens her door, only to find Bo standing guard. MAY: Why don't you come in? BO: I'm standing guard. MAY: Come in. It's cold. She turns back inside, hesitates, then turns back to him. MAY: Come in. We don't have to fear Jade Fox if we're together. EXT. TE COMPOUND - NIGHT A still, dark night. EXT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT Something moves in the moonlight. A hooded figure jumps down. Li Mu Bai, who had been hiding in the shadows, comes forward. LI: Isn't it a bit too late to be out? You've brought me the sword? FIGURE: I do as I please. The masked figure lunges away, but Li Mu Bai leaps with incredible speed and grabs the sword from her. LI: Where's your master? FIGURE: What's it to you? Page 32/67 The figure floats away. Li chases after her. EXT. PEKING STREET - NIGHT The two fly over houses and bounce off of rooftops, displaying amazing floating skills. INT. ABANDONED MONASTERY - NIGHT The figure bounces into an old monastery. Li is already there. LI: Had enough flying? You've got potential. You've studied the Wudan Manual but you don't understand it. You need a real master. The figure doesn't respond, but we sense the pride in her eyes. FIGURE: Do you think you are a real master? LI: Like most things, I am nothing. It's the same for this sword. All of it is simply a state of mind. FIGURE: Stop talking like a monk! fight! Just LI: Then tell me where Jade Fox is. FIGURE: On guard! LI: Real sharpness comes without effort. EXT. MONASTERY - NIGHT The figure leaps into the garden, but again, Li is ahead of her. The figure attacks Li, who uses his agility to evade her. Frustrated, the figure intensifies her attack. The figure, losing composure, attacks wildly. Li gets even more elusive, using a branch to repel her. Page 33/67 LI: No growth without assistant. No action without reaction. No desire without restraint. Now give yourself up and find yourself again. There is a lesson for you. Li now holds the stick to her mask, gently raising it slightly. FIGURE: Go ahead. LI: Why should I? You need practice. I can teach you to fight with the Green Destiny, but first you must learn to hold it in stillness. FIGURE: Why do you want to teach me? LI: I've always wanted a disciple worthy of Wudan's secrets. FIGURE: And if I use them to kill you? LI: That's a risk I'm willing to take. Deep down, you're good. Even Jade Fox couldn't corrupt you. The figure's eyes cloud with tears. FIGURE: Wudan is a whorehouse! Keep your lessons! The figure swirls and takes off, leaving a rueful Li standing alone in the monastery. INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT Jen slips in through the window. She pulls off her mask, as she spots the Governess/Fox sitting and sewing. Page 34/67 FOX: You're home late... or should I say early? JEN: Why are you still here? You killed a policeman. You should leave! You'll bring ruin on my whole family. FOX: They wouldn't have found me if you hadn't stolen the sword. Like a little girl, you thought stealing would be fun? You, too, are responsible for that death. Come with me. You don't want to waste your life as the wife of some bureaucrat. Denied your talent... As a master and disciple we will rule. JEN: I'll never live as a thief! FOX: You're already a thief. JEN: That was just for fun. How can I leave? Where would I go? FOX: Wherever we want. We'll get rid of anyone in our way. Even your father. JEN: Shut up! FOX: It's the Giang Hu fighter lifestyle... kill or be killed. Exciting, isn't it? JEN: Page 35/67 I owe you nothing. FOX: Yes, you do! You are still my disciple. Jen lunges at the Governess, and the two exchange a few blows. Jen presses her finger against one of the Governess's pressure points, disabling her. Jen pushes her across the room. JEN: You think you've been teaching me all these years from the manual? You couldn't even decipher the symbols! FOX: I studied the diagrams. hid the details! But you JEN: You wouldn't have understood, even if I had tried to explain. You know... you've gone as far as you can go. I hid my skills so as not to hurt you. FOX: If I hadn't seen you fight with Li Mu Bai, I'd still be ignorant of all you've hidden from me. JEN: Master... I started learning from you in secret when I was 10. You enchanted me with the world of Giang Hu. But once I realized I could surpass you, I became so frightened! Everything fell apart. I had no one to guide me, no one to learn from. FOX: Believe me, I've a lesson or two Page 36/67 left to teach you! Fox exits. EXT. GOVERNOR YU'S GATE - DAY The Governess leaves, a small sack over her back. EXT. TE'S COURTYARD - DAY Li practices fluently with Green Destiny in hand, beautifully at ease with the weapon. He spins around to find Yu standing in the doorway. YU: The sword is back... are you happy? Li smiles. LI: I admit, getting it back makes me realize how much I'd missed it. YU: But it's not your sword anymore. You gave it to Sir Te. LI: True. But I must borrow it for one last mission. Jade Fox must die at its edge. Did you know what you were hiding when you covered for that girl? YU: My job was to get the sword back, without embarassing anyone. I wasn't about to ruin her life, or her father's. LI: You did your job well. But, this girl... I saw her last night. YU: I knew she would intrigue you. LI: She needs direction... and training. Page 37/67 YU: She's an aristocrat's daughter. She's not one of us. In any case, it will all be over soon. You'll kill Fox, and she'll marry. LI: That's not for her. She should come to Wudan and become a disciple. YU: But Wudan does not accept women. LI: For her, they might make an exception. If not, I'm afraid she'll become a poisoned dragon. YU: It's not our affair. Even if Wudan accepts her, her husband might object. LI: I thought by giving away the sword, I could escape the Giang Hu world. But the cycle of bloodshed continues. YU: I wish there were something more I could do to help you. LI: Just be patient with me, Shu Lien. INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT Jen is asleep. A noise awakens her. Lo opens the window and sneaks in -- right into the point of Jen's waiting sword. Jen's sword drops to the ground. JEN: Lo? LO: Page 38/67 Jen! Lo grabs her by the wrist. JEN: You shouldn't have come. LO: With all the traffic on your rooftop these days... it took me a while to get in here. I can't wait any longer. I was wrong to let you go. Come back with me. You'll be happy in the desert. You'll be free there. Jen turns back to him and rests herself briefly in his arms again. JEN: You've been looking for me all this time? FLASHBACK: INT./EXT. CARRIAGE/MONGOLIAN DESERT - DAY Jen holds up a comb, with daylight shining through it. admires the piece, her most prized possession. Madam Yu sits opposite her. Jen MADAM YU: Jen... stop playing with it. Jen looks out over the desert, as the wind picks up and the sky darkens. JEN: I won't break it. EXT. CARRIAGE/MONGOLIAN DESERT - DAY Lo and a group of armed bandits descend on the caravan. GUARD A: It's Dark Cloud! Dark Cloud is coming! His warning is useless. From Jen's pov, we see the guards slaughtered in a hail of arrows and swords. MADAM YU: Page 39/67 Lower the shade, don't let them see you! DARK CLOUD (LO) Don't touch the women! Though unharmed, Madam Yu immediately faints. Lo approaches the carriage and grabs the comb from Jen's hand. She bolts from the carriage, and, once outside, bends down and grabs a lance from the body of a dead guard, whose horse flails beside him. She looks up to see the gang of bandits already making their escape on horseback. LO: Let's go! EXT. DESERT - DAY Jen and Lo ride across the desert floor at breakneck speed. LO: Come get your comb. She tries to jab him with the lance, but he grabs it and flings her off her horse. LO: Hurry back to your mother. Lo rides on as she charges after her horse. EXT. DESERT BLUFF - DAY A group of bandits is dividing up the loot, as Jen rides up, keeping a respectable distance. They notice her and rise as she dismounts. One of them saunters over to her and stands, grinning, a few feet away. In a second, she's slammed his balls into his stomach and knocked his nose into his face. He crumples to the sand. The other bandits stop laughing, quickly exchange glances, and charge her at once. In a matter of seconds, they're either on the ground or dragging their fallen comrades back. Lo calls out and stops the fight. LO: She's mine. EXT. DESERT - DAY Lo and Jen ride, if not side-by-side, then parallel, about 20 feet apart. Their pace has slowed considerably. In Page 40/67 fact, they're dead tired. LO: Let's stop a moment. JEN: Give it back! LO: (shouting a bit) You're tired. You need rest. Your horse needs water. There's a creek up here. He dismounts, looks down at the dry creek bed. LO: Well, there used to be! What's your name? I'm Lo. The Hans call me Dark Cloud. I'm not that tall or big, but I'm quick as lightning. JEN: My comb! She kicks him. They fight ferociously until Lo, exhausted, collapses. She kicks him a few times, then collapses too. INT. CAVE - DAY Jen comes to and finds herself wrapped in a blanket of animal fur. She sits up with a start and checks her clothes. Looking around, she realizes she's in a cave. Next to her are a lamp, some hunting equipment, and a neat row of sharp arrows. She quickly grabs one of the arrows. LO: If you like that arrow, I can make you a bow. Great for hunting wild chicken. They're delicious. Jen raises one of the arrows, going on the attack again, but her legs betray her and she falls. LO: You need to eat, understand? Then you'll have the strength to fight. Understand? He helps her up, then pours her some horse milk from a sac. Page 41/67 He hands her a small chunk of food, which she first accepts grudgingly, then, her hunger getting the better of her, she starts to wolf it down. LO: You're eating too fast. Slowly. EXT. CAVE - DAY Lo walks out into a barren mountain landscape. A chicken roasts over a fire. Lo whistles. Jen appears suddenly with a rock and knocks it over his head. Lo passes out as Jen scurries away. EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE AND DESERT - DAY Jen tries to find her way among the treacherous stony terrain, her lips chapped and fingers bloody and blistered. But soon she passes out. INT. CAVE - NIGHT Jen again awakes inside the cave. Lo tries to feed her some water, but she chokes, and tries to push him away, only to find that her legs and hands are tied up. LO: You've got quite a temper. better this way. It's JEN: You coward! LO: Still in a bad mood? At least you're speaking. What's your name? Jen spits at Lo. LO: I didn't think the Hans had names like that. Later: flickering lights, she sees Lo sharpening his arrows. Later, he pulls back an opaque curtain to reveal a makeshift bathroom -- a water-filled cavity serves as a tub. He rises as Jen sobs at the sight of her imprisoned and dishevelled body. He comes over and unties her. LO: Page 42/67 Relax. If I had wanted to, I would already have done it. You must be dying for a bath. Fresh water's hard to get here. But I managed to bring some up. You can wear my clothes when you're done. They're clean. Don't worry. I'll sing, so you'll know where I am. After the bath, you'll be calmer. Jen nods and the bandit releases her. He starts to sing as he walks out. Jen waits until the sound recedes before closing the curtain behind her and dipping into the pit. While she bathes, she listens to his singing, a loud rendition of a tribal song. Lo apparently doesn't remember all the lyrics, and la-las his way through more than a few passages. Jen smiles. INT. CAVE - NIGHT Jen grimaces as Lo pulls the last of some cactus needles from the soles of her feet. LO: No more hitting on the head! this trouble for a comb? All JEN: It's mine. It means a lot to me. A barbarian like you wouldn't understand. LO: Not true. I can use it to pick fleas from my horse. JEN: By the way, I'm a real Manchurian. LO: I'm sorry... I guessed wrong. though you were a Han. I JEN: Give me back my comb. LO: Page 43/67 I don't take orders from anyone. JEN: Give it back. Jen impulsively grabs an arrow and stabs Lo, drawing a little blood from his chest. Furious, Lo lunges at her and they tussle briefly. Finally, Lo gets on top of Jen, and the scuffling becomes more like foreplay. Violence turns into unleashed passion. EXT. DESERT OASIS - DAY Lo and Jen ride across the desert. Jen holds tightly to him. EXT. CAVE - NIGHT Lo and Jen lie in the bath together. LO: When I was a boy, one night, I saw a thousand shooting stars. I thought, where did they all go? I'm an orphan. I used to look for stars alone. I thought if I rode to the other end of the desert, I'd find them. I've been riding in the desert ever since. JEN: And so, the little boy became a fearsome bandit. He couldn't find the stars, so he stole my comb. Lo pauses. LO: Out here, you always fight for survival. You have to be part of a gang to stand a chance. Slowly, your gang becomes your family. All that Dark Cloud stuff is just to scare people and make my life easier. JEN: So you're still that little boy looking for shooting stars. LO: I am a man. And now I've found the Page 44/67 brightest star of all. EXT. DESERT - DAY Lo sees uniformed men through his binoculars. LO: Your father's men are looking for you. Jen doesn't respond. EXT. DESERT - DAY Lo and Jen ride through a mountain pass. EXT. CLIFF - DAY Lo and Jen stand at the crest of a cliff. Lo looks over, viewing the desert valley below, as Jen joins him. They see a troop of uniformed men riding by in the distance. LO: Your father's men are still looking for you. They're still out there, circling closer. JEN: Let them look. LO: It is trouble for me. Jen bites her lip. JEN: Don't send me back! LO: You must decide. You might get tired of this life. You might begin to miss your family. If it were our daughter, we'd look for her too. She would miss us. Jen... I want you to be mine forever. I will make my mark on the world. I will earn your parents' respect. We have a legend. Anyone who dares to jump from the mountain, God will grant his wish. Long ago, a young man's parents were ill, so he jumped. He didn't die. He wasn't Page 45/67 even hurt. He floated away, far away, never to return. He knew his wish had come true. If you believe, it will happen. The elders say, "A faithful heart makes wishes come true." INT. TENT - DAY Jen and Lo kiss. Jen takes the jade comb out of her hair and presses it into his palm. Jen starts to cry. They embrace. JEN: Keep it safe. Return it to me when we are together again. LO: I will. JEN: (smiling painfully) If you don't, I'll come after you. And I won't let you off so easy. EXT. TENT - DAY Jen quietly walks out and stands sadly in the early morning light. End of flashback. INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT LO: Wherever I went, someone always recognized me. I really tried. Later, I heard you came to Peking. I was afraid I'd never see you again. So I came. I can't let you marry. Jen is about to respond when a servant's voice is heard from outside the door. JEN: (whispering) Go. LO: Jen... Page 46/67 JEN: (through her tears) Don't ever come back. Lo hovers at the window frame. LO: So it's over? Jen pauses. JEN: Yes. Lo thrusts a small object in her hand. He lifts his legs through the window, and drops out of sight, just as Jen's door is opened from the hall. MAID: We heard noises. JEN: It was just a cat. The maid pauses, then dutifully exits, closing the door. Jen opens up her palm; gasping, she sees the comb that Lo has given her. EXT. WEDDING PROCESSION - DAY The noise and color of a wedding procession. A marching band heralds the occasion, as throngs of onlookers fight to get a glimpse of the groom, Gou Jun Pei, who trots by on a handsome white horse. INT. WEDDING CARRIAGE - DAY Jen's head is completely covered in red cloth, as she rides silently in the bride's carriage. EXT. BALCONY OVERLOOKING WEDDING PROCESSION - DAY Li and Yu watch the festivities from a balcony of the city gate. YU: You think Jade Fox will show up? LI: She's out there, but I doubt she'll show herself. We'll keep our eyes open. Sooner or later, she'll come for the girl. Page 47/67 INT. WEDDING CARRIAGE - DAY A small arrow flies into the carriage. Jen calmly lifts the red cloth from her face and pulls the arrow out of the panelling inside the carriage. We hear Lo's voice from outside the carriage, but Jen doesn't seem to notice. LO: (v.o.) Jen! Come with me! You're mine! Lo runs wildly into the crowd. LO: Come with me to the desert! Jen! Come with me to Xin Jiang! The guards surround Lo, but he escapes. EXT. BEIJING STREET - DAY Lo leaps and lands right in front of Li Mu Bai, his fingers pressed against Lo's neck. Yu comes running around the corner and sees them. LI: Where is Jade Fox? Yu jumps in and pushes Li away. YU: (to Lo) Come with me! Hurry! INT. CITY OUTSKIRTS - DAY Lo sits dejectedly, having told his story to Yu and Li, who look him over. YU: (to Lo) You thought she'd give it all up and go back West with you? LO: She's mine. LI: Either way, you are no good to her dead. With the Gou and Yu clans hunting you, you'll soon be in Page 48/67 their hands. LO: I don't care anymore. LI: If you truly loved her, you wouldn't say that. YU: Don't you want to see her again. LI: All right. I'll write you an introduction. Take it to Wudan. Wait there for news from me. LO: All right. EXT. TE COMPOUND - NIGHT Yu and Li enter, as other men and women race through the compound, a sense of panic in the air. Yu gives Li a look. Li shrugs. INT. TE'S HALL - NIGHT A crowd, including Li and Yu, stand by as Te opens the empty sword case, his voice rising. SIR TE: When will this end? They take it, they put it back, they take it again. My home is turning into a warehouse. Bo bursts into the hall, bows to Te. TE: Speak! BO: Jen has run away! Gou found the wedding chamber empty. Governor Yu requests your assistance. You know the Giang Hu underworld. He wants to find her, and keep her from harm. Page 49/67 LI: Sir Te, leave this to us. Don't worry. INT. TEA STALL - DAY Jen arrives at the tea stall. She places her sword on the table, which catches the attention of a couple of Giang Hu martial arts characters sitting nearby. WAITRESS: What can I serve you? As the waitress turns to leave, Jen grabs her by the arm. JEN: The cup is dirty. The flustered waitress apologizes and takes the cup away. The men approach Jen. GANGSTER A: Hello. What is your name? JEN: (without lifting her eyes) Long. GANGSTER B: It's young Master Long. My apologies. I'm Iron Eagle Sung and this is my brother in arms, Flying Cougar Li Yun. What brings you to Huai An, and where are you headed, Master Long? JEN: Anywhere there's action. The two men exchange glances. GANGSTER A: In that case, perhaps we could be of assistance. JEN: Don't bother. GANGSTER A: Page 50/67 You don't seem to understand. JEN: So what if I don't? GANGSTER B: We have ways of helping you understand. The two pull out their weapons which are immediately chopped into scraps by Jen. GANGSTER A: (stunned) Are you related to Li Mu Bai? JEN: He is my defeated foe! EXT. WOODS - DAY Li and Yu pass a cup back and forth as Bo tends to the horses in the background. YU: Have some tea. As Yu passes the cup to Li, their fingers touch. Embarrassed, Li pulls back. LI: Shu Lien... The things we touch have no permanence. My master would say... there is nothing we can hold on to in this world. Only by letting go can we truly possess what is real. YU: Not everything is an illusion. hand... wasn't that real? My LI: Your hand, rough and callused from machete practice... All this time, I've never had the courage to touch it. Li takes Yu's hand and presses it to his face. Page 51/67 LI: Giang Hu is a world of tigers and dragons, full of corruption... I tried sincerely to give it up but I have brought us only trouble. YU: To repress one's feelings only makes them stronger. LI: You're right, but I don't know what to do. I want to be with you... just like this. It gives me a sense of peace. Li Mu Bai smiles. INT. STAR RESTAURANT - DAY Jen walks upstairs. A waiter greets her. WAITER: Please follow me. JEN: I want a clean room. WAITER: We have plenty. Your order? Jen again sets her sword on the table as she sits down. JEN: Steamed whole cod, bite-size meatballs, a little starchy, but keep the sauce light, shark fin soup, mixed vegetables, and some warm wine. WAITER: (dazed) I have to order from a bigger restaurant. JEN: Hurry then. Page 52/67 The waiter gauges Jen for an instant before bouncing off to place the orders. Jen checks her pouch and sees there's not much money left. A large group of Giang Hu characters enters. They survey the restaurant and quickly find Jen upstairs. GIANG HU A: That's him. MI BIAO: I am Iron Arm Mi. I heard a true master has arrived. I have come to seek a lesson. Jen ignores him. MI BIAO: (bristles) You asked for it! Mi charges and attacks Jen, who is still sitting sipping tea. Jen barely lifts a finger and disposes of Mi with a poke at a sensitive pressure point. This provokes a reaction from the other men. JEN: What kind of Iron Arm are you? FLYING MACHETE CHANG You have amazing technique! I am Flying Machete. Are you related to Southern Crane? JEN: Southern Duck? I don't eat anything with two feet. Who could remember such long-winded names? GOU JUN SIHUNG: Li Mu Bai is your defeated foe, and you don't know his master, Southern Crane? JEN: Who are you? GOU JUN SIHUNG: Page 53/67 I'm Shining Phoenix Mountain Gou. JEN: (furious) Gou? I hate that name. It makes me puke! Too bad you're named Gou. You'll be the first to feel my sword today. Jen leaps up and dives into battle.

Option 1

Low Cost Option
Download this past answer in few clicks

19.89 USD

PURCHASE SOLUTION

Already member?


Option 2

Custom new solution created by our subject matter experts

GET A QUOTE