American Shaolin Page #9

Without thinking, Drew, puts the buckets down, and they both fall over, spilling their contents onto the ground. Drew tries to stop them, but he's too late. The water has all spilled out onto the ground.

DREW:

Don't tell me, I know. Get more water...

INT. DORM ROOM – NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DISCIPLES ALL IN BED.

They are exhausted from their work. Drew is lying in bed, his eyes wide open, ready to get attacked.

ANGLE ON DREW:

As his eyes go closed, finally.

EXT. WORK AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW WALKING ON A RIDGE BETWEEN TWO LARGE HOLES, CARRYING HUGE BASKETS OF DIRT ON HIS POLE.

He is balancing as he walks.

ANGLE ON GAO:

Who is working at the other end. He starts across the same ridge. They come to the middle: a stand off.

GAO:

Back up and let me pass.

DREW:

No chance, Gao. You back up.

Gao smiles and shakes his head. Gao starts forward, and WHACKS Drew in the leg with a leg sweep. Drew tries to keep his balance, and fights a valient, but losing battle. He falls over the side, the dirt in his buckets flying everywhere. Gao wipes his hands off and continues walking.

CLOSEUP ON DREW'S BLOODY HAND

A huge splinter sticking out of it. He is in real pain. The D.S. walks over and looks at the splinter, and in one move pulls it out.

D.S.

(heartlessly)

Shaolin monks feel no pain. Rub some dirt on it and you will be fine.

He walks away.

ANGLE ON DREW AND THE DISCIPLES

On a work break. They are watching the monks training in the distance. It is all the more desirable because it is unattainable.

In the distance, a monk can be seen walking between two other monks. They are leading him out.

The monk continues walking until he walks right in front of the disciples. His face and body are covered with bruises and welts. The two other monks don't say a word, their faces grim.

Li turns to the D.S.

LI:

What happened?

D.S.

He failed to pass through the wooden man chamber. He must leave the temple.

The D.S. walks off.

LI (CONT'D)

The "Wooden Man Chamber"! The ultimate test of a Shaolin monk...

WU:

Did you see his face?

SHU:

Poor guy.

GAO:

He just wasn't good enough. I wouldn't be surprised if half of us go out the same way.

The D.S. appears and motions for them to work.

INT. MEDITATION HALL – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DISCIPLES, DREW IN THE MIDDLE, SITTING IN ROWS IN THE INCENSE-FILLED MEDITATION CHAMBER.

The monk in charge of the chamber is talking to them.

MEDITATION MONK:

Breath in through your nose, out through your mouth. Imagine yourself sitting on the bank of a river watching your thoughts flow by. Clear your mind... Think of nothing.

Drew sits, trying to think of nothing. He is not succeeding.

INT. DINING AREA – NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW WASHING DISHES, ALONE IN THE KITCHEN AREA.

He bends over to get a dish, when a pole comes and SMACKS him on the rear end. He turns immediately in one direction, but gets hit again from the OTHER direction.

Drew is furious, and he can't even see the attacker.

DREW:

Come out, goddamn it! Show yourself!

No answer, as we HOLD on Drew looking around.

EXT. WORK AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DARK BROWN LIQUID BEING POURED INTO A LARGE PIT.

Drew is walking with Li, having just dumped their buckets into a large hole.

DREW:

So what is this 'night soil' stuff anyway?

LI:

Human waste.

DREW:

Oh, man! You guys actually use this as fertilizer? That's disgusting!

They turn to go back, and there is Gao, balancing a huge basket of night soil over his head, peasant-style. He is on the same ridge that they are going to walk on.

DREW (CONT'D)

Hi, Gao. How you doing?

GAO:

(a little worried)

Let me pass.

He reaches down and plucks a stick out of the earth at his feet, and then closes on Gao a little bit.

DREW (CONT'D)

There's something on the bottom of your basket.

Drew pokes at the basket for a moment, right over Gao's head. Then, he JAMS the stick in, and holds it there.

DREW (CONT'D)

Oops! I think I found the problem.

(beat)

A hole.

Drew pulls the stick out and watches as the night soil cascades down onto Gao's head. They back away as Gao goes running towards the pit where the night soil is deposited.

DREW (CONT'D)

(to Li)

Well, somebody sure smells!

EXT. WORK AREA – DAY

THE DISCIPLES ARE WORKING EXTREMELY HARD.

As they work, a group of fighting monks walk by after a workout. Drew stops working and watches them pass.

DREW:

This is ridiculous.

Suddenly, a bamboo pole CRACKS Drew on the shoulder. He turns around, ready for a fight, only to see the D.S. standing there, the pole raised for another strike.

D.S.

Back to work.

Drew is about to say something, but doesn't. He returns to work.

DORM AREA – NIGHT

ANGLE ON DREW MASSAGING HIS MUSCLES

He is sitting with Li and a couple of the other disciples, Wu, Shu and Low.

DREW (CONT'D)

I've got an idea on how to get even with our beloved Drill Sergeant...

They all huddle a little closer.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF D.S. AS HE WALKS ALONG THE PATH.

In the b.g. can be seen Drew, Li, Wu and a couple other of the disciples. They are waiting for something.

The D.S. hits the trip wire and suddenly two bamboo poles HURTLE towards him, ready to slam him in the shoulders.

With one beautiful move, the D.S. breaks both poles, shattering when they hit his arms.

The D.S. hardly breaks stride and continues walking. He looks back once, and sees the outline of the group of disciples.

ANGLE ON DREW AND THE GUYS

Who are up and running as soon as they are spotted. They run by Gao, who was watching from another area.

EXT. D.S. QUARTERS – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF GAO WAITING OUTSIDE D.S. ROOM.

He looks around, knocks, and then goes in.

EXT. COURTYARD – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF ENTIRE CLASS GATHERED TOGETHER.

The D.S. walks into the front of the courtyard and addresses the group.

Gao is standing off to the side, a smug smile on his face.

D.S.

You are all responsible for anything that happens within your group. What happened yesterday falls on everyone's shoulders. So, all of you will do double work...

ANGLE ON GAO:

The smug smile gone now.

INT. MEDITATION ROOM – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF GROUP OF DISCIPLES SEATED ON ROUND PILLOWS PRACTISING ZAZEN, SITTING MEDITATION.

Drew is in the center of the room, and the sound of light snoring is heard.

ANGLE ON DREW:

It is him, he is asleep!

Suddenly, a bamboo shinai is SLAMMED across Drew's back, waking him up.

MEDITATION MONK:

Bodhidharma meditated for 9 years without sleeping. Think you can manage 9 minutes?

EXT. WORK AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THE ENTIRE GROUP LABORING IN THE FIELDS.

They are all singing "Chain Gang".

TIGHT ON SEVERAL OF THE DISCIPLES

They are good workers, and they don't mind the hard work nor the hot weather quite so much.

ANGLE ON DREW:

Working hard.

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