American Shaolin Page #7

The crowd has stopped and is watching the drama unfold.

Drew gets up warily, expecting some trick.

The Drill Sergeant motions again, wanting Drew to hurry up.

Drew looks at Ashema and her Bau Bau and smiles. He picks up his backpack and starts towards the temple, limping from sitting for so long.

The crowd goes crazy, clapping and yelling.

Drew runs into the temple. The door closes behind him.

INT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF INTERIOR OF TEMPLE.

The line of disciples has stopped, waiting for Drew. Drew, back pack in hand, takes his place at the end of the line.

They parade past a line of monks assembled in the courtyard inside the temple.

As they walk by, some of the monks look nonplused, while a few are put out by the fact that Drew is among them.

Several of the disciples turn around to look at Drew, and a couple are openly hostile to him.

They file up to a raised platform, on which stand 20 monks, each holding a scroll in their hands, one monk for every new disciple.

A gong sounds, and the questions begin.

ANGLE ON FIRST DISCIPLE

Who is asked...

MONK:

Do you accept the authority of the Shaolin patriarchs?

DISCIPLE 1

Yes, without pause.

ANGLE ON DREW:

MONK:

Do you renounce the earthly world?

DREW:

Sure do, master. You bet.

The monk pauses, for that is not the ritual answer to the question. The Drill Sergeant comes up to him and whispers in his ear, and the monk then continues.

MONK:

Will you abide by the rules of the temple, even if it means death?

DREW:

I do.

The Drill Sergeant comes up behind Drew and WHACKS him in the side with his elbow.

DRILL SERGEANT:

(whispering)

Answer "Yes, without pause."

DREW:

(rubbing his side)

Yes, without pause.

ANGLE ON ANOTHER DISCIPLE

MONK:

Who is the patriarch of the Shaolin Temple?

DISCIPLE 2

Bodhidharma.

ANGLE ON DREW:

MONK:

Do you accept the shr fu at the Shaolin Temple as your spiritual leaders?

DREW:

Yes, without pause.

The Drill Sergeant nods his head.

MONK:

Will a fighting monk ever use his skills for personal gain?

Drew pauses, looking at the Drill Sergeant. The D.S. nods, urging him on.

DREW:

Yes, without pause.

The D.S. puts his hands over his eyes.

DREW (CONT'D)

I mean, no, of course not.

Then, another gong sounds, and the quizzing is concluded.

A figure moves down a corridor in beautiful robes. Everyone bows down, their eyes on the floor, to the figure, who is moving towards the raised platform in the center.

Drew, also bowed down, sneaks a peak at the figure.

It is San De!

San De catches his eye and smiles slightly. He winks at Drew, then clears his throat.

Everyone stands up again.

SAN DE:

Do these disciples accept the authority of the Shaolin Temple?

DRILL SERGEANT:

Yes, without pause, Master San De.

ANGLE ON DREW:

Who now knows that the monk he called a "Janitor" is the headmaster!

DREW:

(under his breath)

I'll be damned!

The DISCIPLE next to him, GAO, pokes him sharply in the ribs.

GAO:

Shut up!

DREW:

(holding his side)

Oh, unbelievable, in the same place...

SAN DE:

Are they ready to begin their training?

DRILL SERGEANT:

They are.

SAN DE:

Then, let us welcome them into our ranks!

Gongs go off, firecrackers are set off, and a special flag is raised on the flag pole. A roar comes from the crowd outside.

ANGLE ON THE DISCIPLES

All of whom are happy. All, that is, except for Gao, who is staring at Drew.

Drew, notices the stare.

DREW:

You got a problem, man?

GAO:

You, American...

ANGLE ON SAN DE:

When the noise subsides.

SAN DE:

Your training begins tomorrow. For now, your shr fu will introduce you to our temple. Welcome to Shaolin.

San De walks away, and the disciples are split into several "platoons". Drew is matched up with the Drill Sergeant, and Gao is also in his group.

DREW:

Great, just great.

They are motioned to follow Gao out of the courtyard and into the temple proper.

INT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – SAME DAY

Drew walks behind the other disciples, who are lining up to get their robes. As he takes his place in line, a monk comes up to take Drew's backpack. Drew resists, and a tug of war ensues.

DREW:

What are you doing, man?

MONK:

You must surrender this.

DREW:

No way, man! Get your own...

The Drill Sergeant sees the scuffle and walks over.

D.S.

It is unseemly to argue like this. Take the backpack into the sleeping quarters.

(to Drew)

Do not cling to material things – it is not good for your soul.

He walks away, and Drew reluctantly gives up his backpack.

Drew lines back up, and is about to get his robes, when Gao slides over and takes them from him. Drew immediately shoves him and tries to grab the robes back. Gao smiles and moves away, holding the robes up and away from Drew.

Drew is pissed and ready to go after Gao. Before he can, however, LI, another disciple, grabs another set of robes from the table and gives it to Drew, pulling him away from the confrontation.

DREW (CONT'D)

What's with that guy?

LI:

Watch out for Gao. He's trouble.

DREW:

Really? I hadn't noticed... Why'd they let him in, anyway?

LI:

Who knows? Maybe for the challenge?

DREW:

No, that was me...

They both smile and walk off.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. TEMPLE – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF MONKS HAVING THEIR HEADS SHAVED.

THE CAMERA MOVES DOWN the line of monks, as their hair is shaved off in clumps. Drew is standing next to his chair, arguing with the D.S. about the haircut.

DREW:

Mr. James designs my hair, master. I don't think...

D.S.

This will symbolize your final break from the outside world.

DREW (CONT'D)

Can't I just wear a patch?

The D.S. shakes his head, and Drew sits down, unhappy.

The barber starts on Drew's head, big clumps of hair falling down to the floor.

EXT. SHAOLIN COURTYARD – EVENING

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF MONKS, THEIR HEADS NEWLY SHAVED, STANDING OUT IN THE COURTYARD.

They are running their hands over their heads. Drew comes out of the building, his head shaved completely clean.

DREW:

What outside world? I don't want to be seen by anybody...

He rubs his hand over his head, and then sees the others.

Li is smiling.

DREW (CONT'D)

If I look half as stupid as you guys do, I'm really in trouble...

INT. DORM – NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THEIR SLEEPING QUARTERS, AS THE MONKS FILE IN, LED BY THE D.S.

A number of cots are lined up side by side. The D.S. has assigned a bed to each monk. Drew finds his bed, which is right next to Gao's.

GAO:

I want another bed.

D.S.

Why?

GAO (CONT'D)

I won't sleep next to the American.

D.S.

We are no longer Chinese or Americans, Han or Mongol. We are Shaolin. Everyone is a monk.

GAO (CONT'D)

Well, this monk smells!

Drew unconsciously smells himself. He shakes his head.

Li goes up to the D.S. and points to the bed he was assigned.

LI:

I will switch with Disciple Gao.

D.S. nods, and then starts for the door.

D.S.

Go to sleep. No talking! We have an early day of training tomorrow.

Gao collects his stuff and starts off to the new bed, hitting Drew with his shoulder. Drew trips him as he walks away, all done very secretively since the D.S. is watching.

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