American Shaolin Page #11

PULL BACK TO REVEAL Drew, along with the other disciples, lined up and throwing these sharp wedges into the ground and pulling it back out. Their muscles are bulging with the effort.

ANGLE ON HUGE SMOKING BRASS URNS

Filled to the brim with small stones. Drew is forcing his arms into the urn in "Iron Palm" training.

ANGLE ON MONK ON A SET OF POLES

He is going through a complex form, kicking and punching, never missing or faltering a step. Some of the poles are as high as 6 feet off the ground.

ANGLE ON GAO ON THE POLES

He is less sure, but at least he doesn't fall.

ANGLE ON DREW:

Trying the poles. He starts out well, but he soon misses and falls, almost impaling himself on a pole.

DREW:

I can't do this!

D.S.

Here at Shaolin, can't doesn't exist. Only won't.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DISCIPLES PAIRED OFF.

Drew is working with his friend Li. They are moving through a series of techniques, ending with a flashy kicking technique which is to blocked by a special Shaolin technique.

Each time Li throws the final kick, Drew gets hit, HARD.

His block isn't working. A monk comes up to him.

MONK:

Block the way I showed you.

DREW:

(showing him a block)

This is the way I was taught.

MONK (CONT'D)

Do it this way. You won't get hit.

Drew bows and turns to continue working with Li. By this time, however, the ranks have shifted, and Gao is opposite Drew.

Drew attacks first in the series, and Gao uses the block to easily deflect Drew's kick.

GAO:

(menacingly)

My turn.

He attacks, and Drew gets to the final technique. He blocks the way he did before, and he gets slammed brutally by Gao.

Gao stands over him, smiling.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF MONKS FLIPPING THROUGH THE AIR, DOING FLYING KICKS, AERIALS, ETC.

A monk is alternately falling down and kipping up, falling down and kipping up.

Drew's group is working on several very athletic maneuvers, none of which Drew is especially good at. Gao, of course, is having no trouble.

Drew tries a flying move and falls into a heap on the ground. He is very angry, and he hits the ground with his fist.

MONK:

Emotions cloud the spirit – eliminate them.

DREW:

This isn't martial arts – it's gymnastics!

MONK:

This is Shaolin Wu Shu. Continue.

Drew sits in the dirt, watching everyone around him sail through the air and flip over the ground. He is not a happy camper.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF TRAINING AREA.

The entire group is gathered in a sort of pit, on a hard concrete floor. D.S. stands in the middle.

D.S.

I want to go over some takedowns before we end for the day. I'll need a partner...

He scans the group, and then points to Drew. Drew smiles ruefully, walks to the front and bows to D.S.

D.S.

Watch carefully as I take him down, using techniques from shwai jyau, Chinese wrestling.

DREW:

(looking at ground)

Excuse me, Master, but there aren't any mats here.

D.S.

Do they always use mats in America?

The group laughs a little at that, and Drew's manhood is now challenged.

D.S. (CONT'D)

If you are scared, I'll get someone else. Perhaps Gao would assist me...

ANGLE ON GAO:

Who is already getting up, ready and willing.

This changes Drew's mind right away.

ANGLE ON DREW AND D.S.

DREW:

Let's do it.

D.S.

Attack me straight on...

Drew attacks, and is taken down brutally, smashed into the hard concrete floor. No attempt is made to cushion or soften the blow.

Drew gets up right away, and attacks again. Again he is driven to the ground. This continues from all angles and all methods of attack.

ANGLE ON THE GROUP

Who can barely watch the destruction.

ANGLE ON THE FIGHT

The D.S. does not let up at all, taking

Drew down hard each time. Every time, regardless of the impact, Drew gets right back up. His eyes are dazed, there is a little blood coming out of his nose, but he keeps coming back for more.

Finally, after a high arcing back throw, a real thumper, the worst of all of them, the D.S. calls it a day.

D.S.

Any questions? Good, that's all for today.

Before anyone can move, however, Drew raises his hand as high as he can, obviously in pain.

DREW (CONT'D)

I'm not sure I got that last throw clear in my mind.

The group gasps, knowing how much Drew must be hurting, admiring him for his guts. Even Gao is impressed.

D.S.

I said that's enough.

DREW (CONT'D)

If you're getting too old for this kind of training, I understand.

D.S.

Attack!

Drew attacks, and the D.S. executes the manuever perfectly, crashing Drew down almost on his head. Luckily, Drew is able to twist at the last moment and take the impact on his already bruised shoulder. He moans and groans and lies there.

DREW (CONT'D)

I think I've got it now. Xie Xie!

The group disburses, shaking their heads in wonder. Li comes up to Drew, who is still lying on the ground.

LI:

Are you trying to kill yourself?

DREW:

He hurts more than me, he's just not bleeding, that's all.

He tries to get up, but moans in pain and falls back down.

Li helps him up and takes him to the showers.

ANGLE ON D.S.

Watching them go. There is a slight smile on his face.

EXT. DORMITORY – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF LI RUBBING THE BRUISE ON DREW'S SHOULDER WITH TIGER BALM.

It is huge, and looks really painful.

LI:

If you go to San De, he can send you to a doctor...

Drew pulls away and stands up. He backs up to the wall of the dormitory, right underneath a window.

DREW:

I appreciate your concern, Li, but it's not that serious. I'm all right.

Just as he is talking, Gao comes to the window with a pan of dirty water (from washing the floor of the dorm).

GAO LOOKS DOWN (GAO POV) AND SEES DREW

Hhe smiles, then pours the huge bucket over the edge, dousing Drew.

ANGLE ON DREW:

As the dirty water hits him, drenching him.

EXT. WATERFALL – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF WATERFALL.

It is huge, and the water is crashing down from high above.

ANGLE ON A MONK, INSIDE THE WATERFALL

He is going through martial arts techniques as the water thunders onto him.

ANGLE ON D.S. AND GROUP

As they stand on the bank.

D.S.

Concentrate on your stance. All I want you to do is try to hold your stance. Li, you're first.

Li smiles and walks into the waterfall, using a walkway that goes behind the thundering water.

He moves into the water a little, and gets into a deep horse stance. He stand there, immovable. After a moment, he turns to look at D.S.

ANGLE ON D.S.

Who motions him farther into the water.

ANGLE ON LI:

Who nods his head and walks into the thundering water. As soon as he gets into the main stream of water, he is forced off the ledge and he falls about 20 feet into the pool below.

D.S.

Next...

Each of them try it in turn. Everyone fails.

Gao goes in, and he manages to stand under the impact of the water for a moment, before he too succumbs and goes down into the pool.

ANGLE ON DREW:

It's his turn. He walks to the waterfall and goes in. He picks up an umbrella he stashed behind the waterfall (imprinted with a "NEW YORK GIANTS NFL" logo on it – unmistakably American).

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