Rush Hour

FADE IN:

EXT. HONG KONG -- NIGHT

We're in a HELICOPTER POV flying over Hong Kong's dazzling skyline.

SUPER - HONG KONG - JUNE 30, 1997

FADE UP the sound of a RADIO NEWSCAST as we continue to fly over

luxury, high rise condos, gleaming corporate headquarters, and

busy freeways.

NEWS ANNOUNCER:

(British accent)

...and now, in something less than

three hours, what was once known as

the Asian pearl of the British Empire

will revert forever to The People's

Republic of China...

Suddenly, we break out of the lights of the city and FLY LOW over the

dark harbor. The newscaster's voice blends with the WHUMP WHUMP of the

chopper.

CUT TO:

INT. A WAREHOUSE-NIGHT

We're CLOSE on a huge gleaming DRAGON made of tin. The dragon seems to

float effortlessly across a concrete warehouse floor.

PULL BACK until we see that it's riding on a fork lift toward a SHIP

docked at the warehouse.

As the dragon moves, we see it pass PRICELESS CHINESE ART OBJECTS

including ceramics, glass paintings, and huge statues.

CHINESE MEN move quickly as they load this precious cargo into the hold

of the ship.

INT. THE HOLD-NIGHT

The dragon is now descending right on top of us as it's lowered by A

CRANE. A Chinese man carrying an AUTOMATIC WEAPON looks up at the

dragon as he walks by. We hold on the dragon.

Suddenly, A MAN'S FACE appears in the dragon's mouth. This is LEE,

dressed all in black. He dives head first out of the dragon and lands

silently on the deck.

EXT.THE SHIP-NIGHT

Another GUARD, cradling an M-16, walks around a railing and looks over

the side. Suddenly, A HAND reaches up and pulls him over the edge. He

disappears and a beat later we HEAR A SPLASH.

ON ANOTHER GUARD

He's coming up a LADDER, automatic weapon slung over his shoulder. He

HEARS something, turns on the ladder. Nothing. When he starts back up

WHACK! A foot kicks him off the ladder and the ship. SPLASH.

ON TWO GUARDS:

Lee dispatches them with a FLURRY OF HANDS. SPLASH, SPLASH.

ON THE BOSS:

A handsome Chinese man named SANG stands at the railing watching the

loading process. He SHOUTS in MANDARIN and people jump to his command.

Then something catches his eye.

CLOSE ON:

The top of the warehouse. We see another man's FACE peer over the edge.

And then disappear again.

ON THE WAREHOUSE

Ten HONG KONG COPS, weapons at the ready, are spread out on the roof

watching the loading action.

ON SANG:

He turns and sees A HELICOPTER in the distance bearing down on the

boat. Without showing any panic, Sang steps inside his ship office.

He runs to his desk and grabs a REBREATHER MASK from a drawer. He looks

up suddenly and sees Lee standing in the doorway.

Sang doesn't move a muscle as the two men stare at each other. Suddenly

AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE erupts everywhere as the raid beings.

Sang dives for a Berretta taped under his desk. He grabs it and starts

firing. Lee rolls across the office dodging bullets.

Sang runs out and down a flight of steps. Lee follows on his heels.

EXT. THE SHIP-NIGHT

A battle is in full progress as the Cops fire down on the bad guys. The

helicopter joins the fray. We see a machine gun spray the warehouse

from the chopper's open door.

INT. THE BOAT-NIGHT

Sang runs down another flight of steps, deeper in the bowels of the

ship. He stops for an instant and fits the REBREATHER MASK over his

face. Then he turns and fires four rounds at Lee who has to dive back

in another passageway.

ON LEE:

He comes hurtling down the steps. He stops. We hear nothing except the

distant sound of GUNFIRE. Then faintly at first, we hear WATER

SLOSHING.

Lee walks down a dark passageway and stops. He looks down at a round

HOLE in the deck, just big enough for a man. Dark harbor water SLOSHES

in the hole.

EXT. DECK-NIGHT

Lee runs up on deck as the battle is ending. Police arrest dozens of

bad guys. But Lee looks out at the water where one bad guy got away.

CUT TO:

EXT. HAN'S RESIDENCE -- NIGHT

We're in a LARGE ORIENTAL GARDEN for a black tie dinner. Tuxedos and

gowns. An assortment of worldly players. HAN, a handsome charismatic

man is the focus of attention. He and his wife CHI-YING are at one of

the tables.

THOMAS GRIFFIN, 50, British, but warm and personable, has the floor.

He is at Han's table, holding up a glass of bubbly.

GRIFFIN:

-- because in my heart, I look upon it

as a tragedy. Yes, ladies and

gentlemen, a tragedy.

(to Han)

Forgive me, my friend. But I believe

Hong Kong cannot afford to lose men of

your character. It's understandable

that China has envisioned a new role

for you in the United States. But

those of us here in law enforcement,

can only look upon your leave-taking

with sadness. And speaking personally,

I will sorely miss your unbridled

support of British Hong Kong Police.

So, for all us Brits who ever carried

a shield in Hong Kong...

(lifts his glass)

We will miss you, but we wish you

nothing but happiness in America.

The glasses clink. Lee, now dressed in a tuxedo, suddenly appears at

Han's side. He whispers something in his ear. Han stands, glass in

hand.

HAN:

(to Griffin)

Tom, thank you. Very much.

(to the group)

I am pleased to be able to leave you

and Hong Kong with a gift tonight:

less than an hour ago, Detective Lee

and his special task force have once

and for all crushed the Juntao

Criminal Organization.

Shock and then applause all around the table.

HAN (cont'd)

This is the kind of legacy I have

dreamed about:
to leave this city

safer than I found it. To Hong

Kong...forever.

Everyone drinks.

ON LEE:

He's walking back up to the house when he senses someone behind him.

He turns and receives a fist to the stomach.

SOON YOUNG, Han's daughter is pissed.

SOON YOUNG:

When were you going to tell me you

were not going with us?

LEE:

I still have work to do here.

SOON YOUNG:

I don't believe you. My father was

explaining to Mr. Griffin. That is

how I found out.

LEE:

I was trying to find the right time.

SOON YOUNG:

After I left?

And she throws another punch at him. But he catches her hand. And

holds it tightly, to keep from being hit again.

LEE:

I am going to miss you very much, Soon

Young. If I ever have a daughter, I

hope she is like you.

Soon Young yanks her hand away from him. She glares at

him for a moment, then --

SOON YOUNG:

I will not have friends in America.

LEE:

Soon Young, don't worry. You will

have many friends very soon. You will

see. America is a very friendly

place.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. A DINER-NIGHT

We're somewhere in DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA looking at a VINTAGE DINER with a

lot of glass windows all the way around it.

We see two women seated in a booth, looking out at us.

INT. THE DINER-NIGHT

One woman is SHIRLEY JOHNSON, beautiful, poised, generally not nervous

like she is now. The other woman, LOIS, is in her early 20's, nasty

looking, dangerous, and strung out.

Both women are looking out into the parking lot. After a beat, Johnson

gets up.

JOHNSON:

I gotta pee.

She walks away. Lois watches her closely.

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