RONIN Page #19

JEAN-PIERRE

I've never seen a man who could have

taken what he just went through.

(beat)

He's a cop?

VINCENT:

(beat, trying to find a way to

say it)

Not exactly.

JEAN-PIERRE

Not exactly? But close enough, eh?

(beat)

So he saved your life, then?

VINCENT:

How did you know?

JEAN-PIERRE

If he hadn't you'd have put a bullet in

his head a long time ago.

Both men stare back into the fireplace and we HOLD FOR A BEAT

before we -

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THE FARM - KITCHEN - DAWN

Sam is awake. Pale from the loss of blood, he moves softly

around the kitchen, searching professionally for something,

giving the moment a slightly dangerous feel because he seems

so intent on what he's doing and then he finds it - THE

COFFEE.

TEN MINUTES LATER -

A stream of Hot Coffee migles with a stream of Steamed Milk.

EXT. THE FARMHOUSE PORCH - SUNRISE

A STEAMING CUT OF COFFEE sits in Sam's hands as he lights a

cigarette to go with the coffee. He sits on an ancient

chair, smoking in silence, looking out at - THE WOODS around

the house, and this place is postcard-beautiful, the French

Farmhouse you see only in pictures. But Sam's mind is

elsewhere, he's staring into space, lost in thought.

JEAN-PIERRE (O.S.)

You're feeling better?

ANOTHER ANGLE - Jean-Pierre stands in the open front door of

the farmhouse, with a cup of coffee. Now, Jean-Pierre moves

out to join Sam, sitting down on another chair opposite him.

SAM:

(responding to the question)

Some, thanks. Enough to move on, for

now.

JEAN-PIERRE

(pointing at Sam's wounded

side)

You should really let a doctor look at

that.

SAM:

Soon.

JEAN-PIERRE

But first you have something to take care

of?

SAM:

Yeah.

JEAN-PIERRE

Something important? A thing that cannot

wait?

SAM:

It gets done now or not at all. Another

couple of days and the parties concerned are

gone where I can't get them.

JEAN-PIERRE

Forgive my intrusion into your affairs,

but I am the one who connected Vincent to

this job, his agent, if you will. He is

one of my oldest friends and I owe him a

great debt, much like the debt I suspect

he owes you.

A QUICK CUT TO:

INSIDE THE FARMHOUSE

Where Vincent has just poured himself a cup of coffee and lit

a very satisfying cigarette when he hears the voices from

outside.

SAM (O.S.)

Vincent doesn't owe me a thing.

Vincent looks up when he hears his name and he moves towards

the sound of the voices.

JEAN-PIERRE (O.S.)

He sees this differently, as you well

know.

SAM (O.S.)

I didn't expect that he would.

BACK ON THE PORCH -

JEAN-PIERRE

You suffered through an agonizing pain

last night, pain you could have avoided

by declaring yourself an agent of the

law.

SAM:

Vincent told you that I'm a cop?

JEAN-PIERRE

Not a word. But no ordinary criminal

would have the extensive military and

medical expertise you do. And so I place

the pieces of the puzzle together in a

way that makes sense to me. You work for

some government agency and you carry a

gun, and in my world, that makes you a

cop.

And now Jean-Pierre produces a LONG BARRELED REVOLVER which

he places loosely in his lap -- a gesture which seems to say,

"you'd better explain things to my satifaction or we're

gonna have a problem." Sam notices the weapon, but he

doesn't react overtly.

SAM:

So this is what, a test?

JEAN-PIERRE

Call it a reckoning of character.

BEAT. Sam looks at the Revolver again.

SAM:

If I was healthy, I could take that away

from you.

JEAN-PIERRE

Perhaps. But you are not healthy, and if

you try I'll kill you.

QUICK CUT TO:
Vincent - Who stands inside the house, out of

sight, but not out of ear shot. He's listening to

everything, and we notice that Vincent has taken out his

own gun.

BACK ON Jean-Pierre and Sam. By now Jean-Pierre has raised

the pistol. He doesn't point it at Sam, but his finger c*cks

the hammer.

SAM:

So what is it you want to know?

JEAN-PIERRE

I suppose I want to know how a man like

you is created.

SAM:

Created?

JEAN-PIERRE

Perhaps forged is a better word. Like

steel. Like a sword. You're a modern

Samurai. I've spent my life around

extraordinary men -- men like Vincent.

But I've never seen anyone like you.

(beat)

I'm afraid Vincent will die if he goes

with you.

SAM:

Vincent's life is his own burden; he'll

have to carry it for himself. And I'm

not any kind of Samurai.

JEAN-PIERRE

You seem one to me.

SAM:

A Samurai has honor, a Samurai live by

the code of Bushido, the way of the

warrior. I'm just a killer for hire.

(beat)

The world isn't about honor, anymore.

It's about survival.

LONG BEAT. Something in Sam's speech touches Jean-Pierre.

He relaxes his finger on the hammer.

JEAN-PIERRE

Survival. I suppose that's as good a

cause as any.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote