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Part 1 |
Part 2 |
Part 3 |
Part 4
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.
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
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. But you hid the details!
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 left to teach you!
Jade Fox exits.
EXT. GOVERNOR YU'S GATE - DAWN
The Governess leaves, a small sack over her back.
EXT. TE'S COURTYARD - DAWN
Li practices fluently with Green Destiny in hand, beautifully at ease with the weapon. He spins around to find Shu Lien standing in the doorway.
SHU LIEN
The sword is back... are you happy?
Li smiles.
LI
I admit, getting it back makes me realize how much I'd missed it.
SHU LIEN
But it's not your sword anymore. You gave it to Sir Te.
LI
True. But I must borrow it for one last mission.
SHU LIEN
Jade Fox must die at its edge.
LI
(pauses) Did you know what you were hiding when you covered for that girl?
SHU LIEN
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.
SHU LIEN
I knew she would intrigue you.
LI
She needs direction... and training.
SHU LIEN
She's an aristocrat's daughter. She's not one of us. In any case, it will all be over soon. You'll kill Jade Fox, and she'll marry.
LI
That's not for her. She should come to Wudan and become a disciple.
SHU LIEN
(controling her feeling) 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.
SHU LIEN
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.
SHU LIEN
I wish there were something more I could do to help you.
Li Mu Bai and Shu Lien watch each other.
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
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: FOUR YEARS EARLIER
INT./EXT. CARRIAGE/MONGOLIAN DESERT - DAY
Jen holds up a comb, with daylight shining through it. Jen admires the piece, her most prized possession.
Madam Yu sits opposite her.
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
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 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. 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. It's better this way.
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: She weaves in and out of consciousness. In the 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
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. No more hitting on the head!
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
All this trouble for a comb?
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. I though you were a Han.
JEN
Give me back my comb.
LO
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 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 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...
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 Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien watch the festivities from a balcony of the city gate.
SHU LIEN
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.
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. Shu Lien comes running around the corner and sees them.
LI
Where is Jade Fox?
Shu Lien jumps in and pushes Li away.
SHU LIEN
(to Lo) Come with me! Hurry!
INT. CITY OUTSKIRTS - DAY
Lo sits dejectedly, having told his story to Shu Lien and Li, who look him over.
SHU LIEN
(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 their hands.
LO
I don't care anymore.
LI
If you truly loved her, you wouldn't say that.
SHU LIEN
Don't you want to see her again?
LO
All right.
LI
I'll write you an introduction. Take it to Wudan. Wait there for news from me.
LO
All right.
EXT. TE COMPOUND - NIGHT
Shu Lien and Li enter, as other men and women race through the compound, a sense of panic in the air. Shu Lien gives Li a look. Li shrugs.
INT. TE'S HALL - NIGHT
A crowd, including Li and Shu Lien, 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.
SIR 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.
LI
Sir Te, leave this to us. Don't worry.
INT. TEA STALL - DAY
Jen, dressed like a man, 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
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 Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien pass a cup back and forth as Bo tends to the horses in the background.
SHU LIEN
Have some tea.
As Shu Lien 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.
SHU LIEN
Not everything is an illusion. My hand... wasn't that real?
LI
Your hand, rough and callused from machete practice... All this time, I've never had the courage to touch it.
Li takes Shu Lien's hand and presses it to his face.
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.
SHU LIEN
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.
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