American Shaolin Page #8

DREW:

Jerk!

Li comes over to the new bed, and in silence they get climb into their respective beds. D.S. switches off the lights, then leaves, and Drew stares up at the ceiling.

DREW (CONT'D)

Thanks for what you did.

LI:

Where are you from?

DREW:

New York City. You?

LI:

Beijing. What is New York like?

DREW:

Amazing. I'll tell you about...

GAO:

Shut UP!

DREW:

Blow me!

Drew waits for a moment, fearful that the D.S. will be coming back in. He doesn't.

DREW (CONT'D)

Good night, Li.

LI:

Wan an.

DISSOLVE TO:

ANGLE ON DREW, SLEEPING

All is quiet.

Suddenly, a huge stick ENTERS FRAME, and it pauses for a moment above Drew, before THUMPING down on top of him.

Drew cries out when he is hit, and jumps out of bed, looking all around him. No one is there. A few of the disciples are moving around because he yelled, but there is nothing else there.

Drew, belatedly, gets into a fighting stance, but no other attack is coming.

ANGLE ON GAO:

Who seems to be sleeping peacefully.

ANGLE ON DREW:

As he climbs back into bed, bone-weary. He lies back down to sleep.

INT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – MORNING

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF LATRINE.

Drew stumbles in, bleary-eyed, to relieve himself. He stands at the urinal, relaxing as he starts. Suddenly, a huge stick WHACKS Drew across the rear end, the SOUND reverberating through the latrine. Drew yelps and jumps, looking around for the attacker.

No one is there, and his underwear is now all wet.

INT. DINING ROOM – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING TIGHT SHOT OF RICE GRUEL ("WATER RICE"), A SPOON STIRRING THE MEAGER MIXTURE.

CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL Drew sitting with Li and some other disciples.

Drew makes a face.

DREW:

You got to be kidding.

The D.S. comes up behind and grabs the bowl from him.

D.S.

You don't like it, don't eat it.

He takes the bowl away.

DREW (CONT'D)

I didn't say I wasn't going to eat it... Geez!

He turns to the rest of the disciples.

DREW (CONT'D)

Well, at least we start training today, right, guys?

A chorus of Yeahs.

INT. DORM ROOM – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DORM ROOM, ALL THE DISCIPLES CHANGING INTO THEIR WORKOUT CLOTHES.

They are the standard fighting monk issue – suitable for martial arts training.

DREW:

Wonder what they'll start us with first?

LI:

Iron Palm?

SHU:

Wooden Man, I think.

WU:

No, it'll be basics, first day. Horse stance, kicks and punches...

When they are all dressed, they run out of the room.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF ALL THE DISCIPLES LINED UP, READY FOR THE TRAINING.

In the b.g. are the fighting monks, going through their routines.

ANGLE ON FIGHTING MONKS

As they go through forms or free sparring. There are SHOTS of monks throwing stars, working with weapons, etc. It is all very exciting.

ANGLE ON DREW:

Who is more excited than all the others.

ANGLE ON THE D.S.

As he walks to the front of the group. In his hand he is carrying a shovel.

D.S. Bodhidharma, the patriarch of the Shaolin Temple taught us that to train the mind, we first have to train the body.

ANGLE ON WU, WHO SHIELDS HIS MOUTH AND WHISPERS

WU:

Basics, I told you.

ANGLE ON D.S.

Who motions to one of the monks behind him, who has a wheelbarrow filled with shovels.

D.S.

Each one of you take a shovel.

DREW:

We're using the shovels as weapons?

D.S.

(smiling)

Weapons...

(beat)

... in the war on infection.

D.S. motions with his hand, and in the distance is the latrine building.

D.S. (CONT'D)

You will be digging today, digging our new latrines.

DREW:

Latrines? Why?

D.S.

A Shaolin fighting monk-in training does not ask questions. He just obeys.

The D.S. leads the way to the latrine building, and the disciples follow, each of them carrying a shovel. Drew is trudging along, not believing what they are doing.

DREW (CONT'D)

I came halfway around the world to dig latrines? I could have just joined the army...

DISSOLVE TO:

LATRINE WORK AREA – MONTAGE

MONTAGE SEQUENCE OF WORK DETAIL.

ANGLE ON DREW AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES

Digging with their shovels. Their training clothes are already sweated through and dirty. Their shirts are off, and their arm muscles are bulging and shining in the hot sunshine.

ANGLE ON DREW:

As he lifts up two heavy buckets of dirt on a pole, then places the pole on his shoulders, the muscles in his arms, shoulders and back straining. He walks off to the side of the area to dump it.

As he dumps the dirt, a pole appears and CRACKS across his back. He drops the buckets and falls to the ground. He gets up as quickly as he can, but there is no one to be seen.

ANGLE ON DREW AND DISCIPLES

As they are working hard on the latrines. Drew is teaching them an American song as they work.

DREW (CONT'D)

"Ain't no cure for the Shaolin Temple Blues... "

OR:

"Working on a Chain Gang"

OR (CONT'D)

"I fought the law and the law won"

OR (CONT'D)

"16 tons"

The monks are singing along with him. All except for Gao.

ANGLE ON DREW AND DISCIPLES AS THEY EAT THEIR LUNCH

It is again very meager: a bowl of rice, a bowl of soup and a piece of scrawny meat. Drew looks at it for a moment. The

D.S. is standing over his shoulder.

D.S.

Any problems?

Drew shakes his head and starts to eat, quickly.

ANGLE ON DREW:

As he loads up a two baskets of dirt onto his pole. He gets it up onto his shoulders, in pain, and starts to walk. Immediately, the D.S. is there in front of him.

He examines the baskets. They are not full.

He moves quickly and dumps both baskets of dirt.

DREW:

(shocked)

What'd you do that for?

D.S.

Do a job well or don't do it.

ANGLE ON GAO AND THE DISCIPLES

As they are in line for water. They each drink a large glass full, then move back to their work area. Drew is the last in line. When Drew gets to the front, the D.S. smiles and shakes his head.

D.S.

Sorry, all gone. Get some more.

Drew stares at all the water spilled onto the ground, then looks up at the D.S., then forces a smile. He takes the proferred buckets of water (made of wood, with pointed bottoms and large handles). The D.S. indicates that they are to be held straight out to the sides, to work on the shoulder muscles. Drew turns and walks away, muttering to himself.

DREW (CONT'D)

I'm gonna get you, man. Oh, yeah...

Gao is laughing as he watches Drew go.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW FILLING THE BUCKETS IN THE STREAM.

Once they are filled, he starts back for the temple. His shoulders are straining from the weight of the buckets.

He goes over the path to the temple, having to negotiate logs over chasms, etc. After various trials and tribulations, Drew arrives at the temple, his arms incredibly tired. The D.S. is there waiting for him.

Drew, determined not to show any weakness, raises the buckets a little bit higher. He comes to the D.S., proud and defiant. The D.S. motions for him to put the buckets down.

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