Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Page #4

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YU:

It was Bo, Sir Te's man. I hear he

followed the thief to the Yus'.

LI:

Have you questioned him yet?

YU:

No, not yet...

LI:

But your men are watching over Yu's

compund?

YU:

No, I'd already sent them home.

You can blame me for losing the

sword, but please trust that I'll

get it back soon using my own

methods.

LI:

That's not what I meant. I don't

care about the sword.

YU:

What do you mean? Didn't you come

back here for it?

LI:

I don't know it was stolen until I

got here.

YU:

Then, why did you come?

LI:

Well, we had talked...

De Lu enters.

DE LU:

Pardon my intrusion. Master Li,

your room is ready.

LI:

Thank you. Please lead the way.

EXT. YELLOW HILL - NIGHT

Tsai, Bo, and May wait under an ancient tree. Bo stifles a

yawn.

BO:

The fox doesn't care much for

punctuality. Still no sign of her.

An old lady struggles up the hill, wearing a floppy hat over

her face, holding a cane. The three exchange glances.

TSAI:

Enough! Show yourself.

The old woman shrinks in fear, but then throws off her

disguise and unveils herself -- the Governess.

FOX:

Tsai... you dog! You will pay for

your stubbornness.

BO:

That's what you think, old witch!

TSAI:

If you surrender now, you'll suffer

less. But if you resist, I won't

stop until you're dead.

MAY:

Father! Let me avenge my mother's

death.

FOX:

You'll soon end up like her, you

little whore!

BO:

You'll pay for that!

A fierce battle begins, the main fighting between Tsai and

Fox, with May and Bo getting a stab in occasionally, when

the opportunity presents itself.

TSAI:

(to Bo)

She's going to paralyze you!

Using acupressure, Fox disables Bo. May shoots an arrow at

her, but she catches it and flings it back, hitting May.

TSAI:

May!

Fox then disables Tsai, but just as she goes for the kill,

Li Mu Bai flies down from the treetops and steps between them.

FOX:

Tsai, you filthy mongrel! An ambush!

MAY:

Father, are you all right?

Li addresses Fox.

LI:

Wudan should have gotten rid of you

long ago. It's been a long time,

Jade Fox! You don't remember me...

But you should remember my master.

You infiltrated Wudan while I was

away. You stole our master! Now

it's time for you to pay!

FOX:

Your master underestimated us women.

Sure, he'd sleep with me, but he

would never teach me. He deserved

to die by a woman's hand!

LI:

You stole the secrets of Wudan's

highest martial arts. But after

ten years of training, your moves

are still undisciplined. And

today, under a Wudan sword... you

will die!

Li easily brings Fox to the ground.

Li raises his sword to the prostrate Fox. A figure masked

in black appears next to Fox, sword extended, saving her.

FOX:

Disciple, we'll kill them all!

FIGURE IN BLACK:

Let's go!

BO:

Another one!

FOX:

I must get rid of Tsai!

Fox fights Tsai, Bo, and May, as Li addresses the masked

figure.

LI:

Who are you? Why is the Green

Destiny in your possession?

FIGURE IN BLACK:

What's it to you?

LI:

My name is Li Mu Bai. The Green

Destiny is mine. Jade Fox can't be

your master. Where did you learn

that "Xuan Piu" move?

FIGURE IN BLACK:

I'm just playing around.

LI:

Tell me, who is your master?

FIGURE IN BLACK:

Let's go!

FOX:

We must kill them!

Tsai throws his blade at Fox, who catches it and throws it

back, hitting him in the head. Fox and the masked figure

leap away.

May drops to the ground, cradling her dead father's head.

Bo kneels beside her.

MAY:

Father!

EXT. TE'S - DAY

Te and a group of his men look down as a cloth is removed

from over the body of Tsai. Bo and May stand before them.

TE:

This is Tsai?

MAY:

My father. Police Inspector from

Shaan.

TE:

This should be reported to Governor

Yu. The victim is an officer. You

believe the killer is hiding out in

his compound.

YU:

I'd bet my life on it!

TE:

(to Li and Yu)

Come with me.

He exits the room.

INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY

Te, Li, and Yu are seated.

SIR TE:

This needs to be resolved, and

quickly.

LI:

I'll get into the Yu household and

get her. I'll ferret out Fox and

her gang.

YU:

We must be careful. Governor Yu is

a court official, and in charge of

security. Any disturbance will

cast suspicion on him. It might

get Sir Te in trouble.

SIR TE:

This is a delicate matter.

YU:

Sir Te, can you find some excuse to

invite Madam Yu and her daughter?

SIR TE:

What do you have in mind?

YU:

The best way to trap a fox is

through her cubs.

Sir Te and Li look puzzled.

EXT. SIR TE'S GARDEN - DAY

Yu sits with Madam Yu and Jen. They busy themselves with

various items for her trousseau.

MADAM YU:

Madam Te is certainly spoiling us

with these wedding gifts. She's

being so considerate.

YU:

I'm sorry she's not feeling well

enough to receive you today.

MADAM YU:

I heard Sir Te lost something. And

now Madame Te's not feeling well...

Jen sits silently reading.

YU:

We know who stole the missing item.

If the thief returns it, I'm sure

Sir Te will pursue the matter no

further.

MADAM YU:

That's good. Sometimes the help

can't keep their hands to themselves.

It's very embarassing.

YU:

Sir Te knows that even well-meaning

people can make mistakes... that

can bring ruin to themselves and

their families.

MADAM YU:

But don't be too lenient.

YU:

No mercy will be shown toward the

murderer who turned up in Peking.

MADAM YU:

A murderer?

YU:

Yes. The very killer of Li Mu

Bai's own master. Last night, she

killed a policeman who had tracked

her down.

MADAM YU:

A female criminal! Now that's news!

Jen becomes visibly upset.

JEN:

You say she killed a policeman?

YU:

Yes, from the West. He went

undercover and and followed her

here,

MADAM YU:

Maybe the murderer and the thief

are one and the same.

YU:

I doubt it. This thief... it very

unusual...

As Yu speaks, she lifts the tea pot to pour Jen some tea.

As she finishes speaking, she looks into Jen's face and the

pot slips from her hand. Without even looking down, Jen

instinctively catches the pot with a lightning-fast move.

YU:

...And most likely smarter than a

mere killer.

Sir Te and Li Mu Bai walk by.

JEN:

(formal)

Greetings, Sir Te.

SIR TE:

Hello, Madam Yu. This is Li Mu

Bai, the renowned swordsman.

LI:

Delighted to meet you.

Li sizes Jen up.

TE:

Miss Yu is soon to be married.

LI:

Congratulations.

EXT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT

May opens her door, only to find Bo standing guard.

MAY:

Why don't you come in?

BO:

I'm standing guard.

MAY:

Come in. It's cold.

She turns back inside, hesitates, then turns back to him.

MAY:

Come in. We don't have to fear

Jade Fox if we're together.

EXT. TE COMPOUND - NIGHT

A still, dark night.

EXT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT

Something moves in the moonlight. A hooded figure jumps down.

Li Mu Bai, who had been hiding in the shadows, comes forward.

LI:

Isn't it a bit too late to be out?

You've brought me the sword?

FIGURE:

I do as I please.

The masked figure lunges away, but Li Mu Bai leaps with

incredible speed and grabs the sword from her.

LI:

Where's your master?

FIGURE:

What's it to you?

The figure floats away. Li chases after her.

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