American Shaolin Page #4

Kwan touches Drew's bruised cheek, fatherly love in his eyes. Drew nods his head, then bows in the traditional Chinese manner.

DREW:

Master...

MONTAGE OF DEPARTURE

ANGLE ON DREW AND KWAN AS KWAN HANDS HIM A "NORTHWEST AIRLINES" TICKET.

ANGLE ON DREW:

As he packs for China.

ANGLE ON KWAN AND DREW

As Kwan drops drew off at the AIRPORT. Drew takes his suitcase and walks into the airport.

EXT. CHANG AN LU – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW RUNNING ALONG BEIJING'S CHANG AN LU, A SEA OF BICYCLES AROUND HIM.

Bicycle bells ring loudly as figures dressed in the same drab clothes ride around him, their faces covered with scarves and surgical masks against the northern China dirt.

CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL TIAN AN MEN SQUARE and the huge photo of CHAIRMAN MAO on the front of the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City.

Drew continues his run, past a group of western-dressed lyou mang, who watch him run by through dark glasses.

Drew runs through a large city park, stopping to watch a group of older citizens going through Tai Zhi routines under the weeping willow trees there.

Drew runs through an open air food market, picking his way through flipping fish, dead frogs and all kinds of fruits and vegetables. People yell at each other, trying to get the best price. Young man brushing his teeth in the street. A group of toddlers, strung together with rope, walks down the street, their split pants showing glimpses of bare bottoms as they walk.

EXT. TRAIN STATION – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF SERIOUSLY OVERCROWDED TRAIN, PEOPLE PUSHING AND SHOVING TO GET ON.

Drew walks up to it, a huge backpack on his back. He hesitates a moment, then starts forcing his way onto the train like everyone else. He manages to get in through a window.

INT. CROWDED TRAIN – SAME DAY

There are no seats. Drew takes his pack off and sits on it.

Next to him is an old man, his teeth red and rotted from betel nut juice. The man smiles at Drew.

EXT. CHINA COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

TRAIN RUSHING THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE.

DREW POV EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Drew watches the countryside go by. Temples, farms and rice paddies slide by, with an occasionally glimpse of the Great Wall.

EXT. GREAT WALL – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW, BACKPACK ON, AS HE WALKS ON THE GREAT WALL.

EXT. CHINA COUNTRYSIDE – NIGHT

TRAIN RUSHING THROUGH DARKENED COUNTRYSIDE.

INT. LUOYANG TRAIN STATION – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW GETTING OFF THE TRAIN.

He stops on the platform for a moment, a huge colorful Chinese billboard in the b.g. A transit cop quickly comes up to him and prods him into motion. Drew walks on, passing a sign that reads "Luoyang".

EXT. CHINESE STREETS – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW MAKING HIS WAY TOWARD THE SHAOLIN TEMPLE.

He stops at a drink stand and orders one. As soon as he stops, he is ringed with people watching his every move – he feels almost like a movie star. The woman in the stand hands him a drink, and takes the money out of his hand.

DREW:

Where is the Shaolin Temple? Shaolin?

The woman just smiles and shakes her head, not comprehending.

ANGLE ON DREW:

Walking aimlessly. He comes to an intersection and sees a sign that says "Shaolin Temple" with an arrow. He goes in the direction that the arrow points.

EXT. GIRL'S SCHOOL – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF GROUP OF GIRLS STANDING OUTSIDE THEIR SCHOOL.

Drew walks up and says hello.

DREW:

Hello, ladies! Can you tell me how to get to the Shaolin Temple?

They titter with laughter, covering their mouths with their hands. Drew is not really amused, however, he is frustrated and tired.

DREW (CONT'D)

The Shaolin Temple? How hard can that be? Geez, doesn't anyone speak English here?

ANGLE ON ASHEMA:

As she pushes her way to the front of the group. She is a strikingly beautiful young woman.

ASHEMA:

I do. But wouldn't it make more sense for you to speak Chinese than to expect us to speak English?

DREW:

(flustered)

You're right. I apologize – I've just been trying to get to the temple for a long time now.

ASHEMA:

Why do you want to find the temple?

DREW:

(not without pride)

I am going to join the temple as a monk.

Ashema translates this for her friends, and they titter anew. They gesture to Drew's longish hair and laugh, and then make some attempts at martial arts movements.

ASHEMA (CONT'D)

I'm going that way – I can take you.

DREW:

You have a car?

ASHEMA:

The next best thing.

(beat)

This is a Chinese car.

She pulls out her standard-issue black bicycle – she has customized it, however, with some colorful additions.

ASHEMA (CONT'D)

Hop on.

Drew does, and they take off, the girls from the school tittering as they drive off.

EXT. CHINESE STREETS – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF ASHEMA PEDALING DREW.

It is not the most stable ride – Ashema is struggling to keep moving, while Drew is doing his best to stay on the bike.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. CHINESE STREETS – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW PEDALING ASHEMA.

He is riding strongly, and she is comfortable in the back. They are getting stares from the people they pass, but Ashema seems to be enjoying the attention. Drew hits a bump, and Ashema holds his waist a little tighter. Neither of them mind – in fact, Drew starts looking for more bumps.

He pulls around the corner into a wide area lined with drink and food stands.

ASHEMA:

We are here.

DREW STOPS THE BIKE AND LOOKS BACK AT HER. ASHEMA GESTURES TO THE TEMPLE FRONT, AND DREW TURNS IN AWE.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THE TEMPLE.

This is it – the temple he came halfway around the world to see. The Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of the martial arts.

DREW:

Whoa!

Ashema climbs off the back and takes the bike from Drew, marveling at his awe-struck face.

ASHEMA:

I have to help my grandfather with our stand. If you get a chance, come by later.

DREW:

(distracted)

I'll try, but monks aren't allowed to be around girls.

ASHEMA:

Good luck.

DREW:

Shaolin monks don't need luck...

(beat)

Hey, thanks a lot for the ride. I hope I see you again.

They wave at each other, and Ashema pushes her bike off.

Drew turns back to stare at the front of the temple. He is letting it all sink in.

After a moment, he picks up his backpack and heads for the front door. He pulls it open and disappears inside.

INT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF TEMPLE INTERIOR AS DREW OPENS THE HEAVY DOOR.

The muted half light inside is in direct contrast to the sunlight of the day outside. Drew quietly closes the front door, and the half light takes over.

He walks through the temple proper, and what follows is a MONTAGE of temple shots, establishing the feeling of the

temple:
the famous Shaolin monk painting, the depressions in the floor of the training hall, the incense blackened walls of the temple, the temple figurines, the red lanterns hanging from the ceiling, a huge wooden carving of

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