American Shaolin Page #15

Play this when I signal, OK?

She nods and walks off. Drew motions for Gao and the guys to come over. They do, and when they do, Drew turns to the giggle girls

DREW (CONT'D)

Ladies, allow me to introduce my best friends in all of China...

He drags Gao over to one of the prettier girls.

DREW (CONT'D)

This is Gao. And this wild man is Li...

Drew does the same for Li, Wu, Su, Sou and all the others, forcing them to stand with the girls for a moment. When everyone is paired off, he motions to Ashema.

DREW (CONT'D)

Hit it!

INSERT of Ashema's finger on the tape player "PLAY" button.

ANGLE ON THE ROOM

As the song the disciples have been singing in the fields blasts out. Immediately, the disciples start moving with the music, and suddenly the

Party is happening.

DISSOLVE TO:

ANGLE ON DISCIPLES

Who are now slow dancing to a romantic melody – some holding the girls closer than others. Drew and Ashema are locked in an embrace, their eyes closed.

A hand comes in and taps Drew on the shoulder.

DREW:

(eyes still closed)

Not now, Li...

The hand comes in again, punching Drew in the shoulder hard.

Drew opens his eyes, and sees that he is surrounded by five tough guys, dressed in dark clothes and with sunglasses on.

DREW (CONT'D)

What can I do for you?

TOUGH:

Leave.

ANGLE ON DISCIPLES.

They have noticed what is going on.

ANGLE ON DREW:

DREW:

No, thanks.

He turns back to Ashema, but she is pulled back by the giggle girls, away from danger.

The tough spins Drew around and pushes him HARD. One of the toughs has already gotten behind him, on his knees, and Drew goes flipping over the tough, landing hard on the ground, the wind knocked out of him.

Drew gets up, wincing, not really ready to fight.

DREW (CONT'D)

Can't we talk this over?

The tough pulls his fist back to strike Drew, who has been grabbed by two other toughs, his arms pinned behind his back.

Suddenly, a figure FLIES in and SLAMS the tough to the ground.

It is Gao, and he immediately sets on the other toughs. The room ERUPTS in a melee as the disciples go at it with the village toughs.

The girls are SCREAMING as the boys kick and punch.

The disciples are winning, having a great time, until the door to the room SLAMS open and the HEADMISTRESS comes storming in, screaming at the top of her lungs for them to stop.

ANGLE ON DREW, GAO AND THE DISCIPLES

As they all agree as one to hightail out of there. They go running past the Headmistress and out the door, full speed.

EXT. GIRLS SCHOOL – SAME NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DISCIPLES SPRINTING THROUGH THE DARKNESS.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – SAME NIGHT

ANGLE ON THE DISCIPLES

As they climb back into the dorm room.

INT. DORM ROOM – SAME NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT AS THE LAST DISCIPLE CLIMBS THROUGH THE WINDOW – IT IS DREW.

He lands on the hardwood floor, panting his lungs out after the run. After a BEAT, he lifts his head and looks right at Gao.

DREW:

Did you say you were going to keep us OUT of trouble?

The group pauses for a BEAT, then they all laugh, relaxing.

INT. DINNER ROOM – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF GAO CARRYING A PLATE OF CHINESE FOOD OVER TO A TABLE WHERE THE DISCIPLES EATING, THEIR EYES SCANNING THE ROOM FOR SIGNS OF WARNING.

Gao sits down and looks around. They are all dressed in their training clothes, dirtied after a full day of training.

GAO:

I can't believe nobody's said anything! It's been a whole day!

LI:

We broke every major rule the temple has, how could we get away with it?

DREW:

I think we might have. If they knew, they'd have already gotten us! You guys just have to stop looking so guilty.

ANGLE ON WU:

Who pushes his dinner away from him.

WU:

I've lost my appetite.

DREW:

Let's go back to the dorm for a few minutes, go over our stories in case they seperate us...

He gets up to leave, and the others follow him.

LI:

Seperate us?

EXT. COURTYARD – SAME DAY

IN THE COURTYARD ARE SEVERAL POLICEMEN, WAITING AROUND.

Drew and the others spot the cops, and walk quickly to their dorm room.

INT. DORM ROOM – SAME DAY

DREW AND THE OTHERS ARE FRANTIC.

DREW:

Cops! Somebody called the cops?!?

Before anyone can answer, the door opens and the D.S. walks into the room, his face serious.

D.S.

Drew! Come with me to San De's chamber...

He turns to go, but the others are on their feet, ready to follow Drew.

D.S.

Just Drew.

Drew looks at them and shrugs, then follows the D.S.

INT. SAN DE CHAMBER – EVENING

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF SAN DE AND THE GIRLS SCHOOL HEADMISTRESS.

Also in the room are two high-ranking police officials. The Headmistress is yelling at the top of her lungs, and San De is just sitting there, letting her vent. She has obviously been going at it for some time, because her face is sweaty and flushed. She stops when Drew and the D.S. enter and points an accusing finger at Drew.

HEADMISTRESS:

He's the one!

SAN DE:

Drew, I think you know Headmistress Low. Correct?

Drew can only nod.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

The police have also come. A morals violation is what brought them...

Drew's head snaps up at the words "morals charge"

POLICE LIEUTENANT

We demand that he leaves the temple, and China!

POLICE CAPTAIN:

He's a disgrace, to the temple and to this country. He must leave.

They all agree that Drew should leave, and for a moment the sound of the three of them agreeing fills the room (ad libs).

ANGLE ON DREW:

Who is staring down into the abyss.

SAN DE:

This is a serious issue, there is no question. This we will have to take under advisement – but we will handle matters of this temple.

POLICE CAPTAIN:

This involves more than just the temple. I am authorized to escort him from your temple to the jail now, tonight, where he will be held until he leaves the country.

San De pauses, letting this sink in. The D.S. steps forward.

D.S.

Master, may I?

(San De nods)

We accepted a challenge when this disciple came into our ranks. If we force him to leave China, we admit failure. Can we do that?

The police don't have an easy answer to that.

ANGLE ON DREW:

Who is surprised that the d.s. is sticking up for him.

D.S.

You are wise. You know what is right and what is not right. This disciple does not even know right from wrong. Who will teach him if we do not?

This sinks in, and the police have nothing to say. The Headmistress will not keep quiet, however.

HEADMISTRESS:

He does not belong here!

DREW:

(whisper)

Chill out, honey!

Drew catches a hard look from the D.S.

D.S.

Would you be so hard hearted as to turn him away from that which he so desperately needs?

She is about to speak, but thinks better of it.

San De stands up, signalling that the meeting is over.

SAN DE:

Thank you all for coming. I am pleased that you brought this problem to our attention. May you sleep well tonight knowing that the situation has been swiftly resolved.

POLICE CAPTAIN:

I do not wish to visit you again with this kind of news.

SAN DE:

You will not have to.

The Headmistress starts to say something, but San De holds up his hand, stopping her. He leads them out, then closes the door and comes back to face Drew.

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