American Shaolin

WU

I've lost my appetite.

DREW

Let's go back to the dorm for a few minutes, go over our stories in case they seperate us...

He gets up to leave, and the others follow him.

LI

Seperate us?

EXT. COURTYARD – SAME DAY

IN THE COURTYARD ARE SEVERAL POLICEMEN, WAITING AROUND.

Drew and the others spot the cops, and walk quickly to their dorm room.

INT. DORM ROOM – SAME DAY

DREW AND THE OTHERS ARE FRANTIC.

DREW

Cops! Somebody called the cops?!?

Before anyone can answer, the door opens and the D.S. walks into the room, his face serious.

D.S.

Drew! Come with me to San De's chamber...

He turns to go, but the others are on their feet, ready to follow Drew.

D.S.

Just Drew.

Drew looks at them and shrugs, then follows the D.S.

INT. SAN DE CHAMBER – EVENING

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF SAN DE AND THE GIRLS SCHOOL HEADMISTRESS.

Also in the room are two high-ranking police officials. The Headmistress is yelling at the top of her lungs, and San De is just sitting there, letting her vent. She has obviously been going at it for some time, because her face is sweaty and flushed. She stops when Drew and the D.S. enter and points an accusing finger at Drew.

HEADMISTRESS

He's the one!

SAN DE

Drew, I think you know Headmistress Low. Correct?

Drew can only nod.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

The police have also come. A morals violation is what brought them...

Drew's head snaps up at the words "morals charge"

POLICE LIEUTENANT

We demand that he leaves the temple, and China!

POLICE CAPTAIN

He's a disgrace, to the temple and to this country. He must leave.

They all agree that Drew should leave, and for a moment the sound of the three of them agreeing fills the room (ad libs).

ANGLE ON DREW

Who is staring down into the abyss.

SAN DE

This is a serious issue, there is no question. This we will have to take under advisement – but we will handle matters of this temple.

POLICE CAPTAIN

This involves more than just the temple. I am authorized to escort him from your temple to the jail now, tonight, where he will be held until he leaves the country.

San De pauses, letting this sink in. The D.S. steps forward.

D.S.

Master, may I?

(San De nods)

We accepted a challenge when this disciple came into our ranks. If we force him to leave China, we admit failure. Can we do that?

The police don't have an easy answer to that.

ANGLE ON DREW

Who is surprised that the d.s. is sticking up for him.

D.S.

You are wise. You know what is right and what is not right. This disciple does not even know right from wrong. Who will teach him if we do not?

This sinks in, and the police have nothing to say. The Headmistress will not keep quiet, however.

HEADMISTRESS

He does not belong here!

DREW

(whisper)

Chill out, honey!

Drew catches a hard look from the D.S.

D.S.

Would you be so hard hearted as to turn him away from that which he so desperately needs?

She is about to speak, but thinks better of it.

San De stands up, signalling that the meeting is over.

SAN DE

Thank you all for coming. I am pleased that you brought this problem to our attention. May you sleep well tonight knowing that the situation has been swiftly resolved.

POLICE CAPTAIN

I do not wish to visit you again with this kind of news.

SAN DE

You will not have to.

The Headmistress starts to say something, but San De holds up his hand, stopping her. He leads them out, then closes the door and comes back to face Drew.

DREW

Master, I can't tell you how sorry I am. I appreciate you both going to bat like that for me. I won't let it happen again.

SAN DE

Neither will we. You must leave the temple in the morning.

DREW

But I thought... the police...

D.S.

You do not deserve to leave the country as a criminal, but you cannot stay.

Drew sits for a moment, looking back and forth between San De and the D.S. His eyes are filling with tears, and he wipes at them.

DREW (CONT'D)

I'm sorry, Master.

SAN DE

As am I.

Drew gets up and walks out of the chamber.

EXT. COURTYARD – SAME NIGHT

DREW WALKS BACK TO THE DORM ROOM, SLOWLY.

INT. DORM ROOM – SAME NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW WITH THE OTHER GUYS AROUND HIM.

He has just finished telling the disciples what is going on.

They are shocked.

GAO

Why only you?

Drew shrugs and goes over to his bed, lying down with a sigh.

LI

The D.S. always told us that we're all responsible for what happens.

WU

It's not fair.

DREW

It doesn't have to be fair...

DISSOLVE TO:

ANGLE ON DREW LYING IN THE DARK

Everyone else is asleep, but not Drew. He is staring at the ceiling.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DORM ROOM – MORNING

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW WAKING UP TO AN EMPTY ROOM.

Everyone is gone already, their beds made up. Drew gets up quickly and gathers up his few things. He puts on his New

York Yankees cap and shoulders his back pack, then looks around the room one last time.

DREW

I hate long goodbyes anyway...

He exits the room.

EXT. SHAOLIN COURTYARD – SAME DAY

ANGLE ON DREW

Walking through the courtyard, for the last time. Only a few monks are around, and they don't meet Drew's eyes.

The sounds of training can be heard O.S. Drew stops to listen to those sounds for a moment, then heads for the door.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – SAME DAY

ANGLE ON DREW

As he leaves the temple. He pauses for a moment with the door open, then shuts it sadly. He looks out over the courtyard, which is completely deserted. Drew sighs, hitches his backpack onto his back and starts out.

As he comes out of the doorway and into the courtyard proper, he sees...

THE ENTIRE CLASS OF DISCIPLES

Dressed in street clothes with their bags packed. Li and Gao are in the front, their bags in their hands, smiling.

GAO

You're either with us or against us, remember?

DREW

(smiling)

I'm with you!

A cheer goes up from the entire group as Drew, Li and Gao embrace. In the b.g. can be seen the D.S., who is observing all this.

INT. SAN DE CHAMBER – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF SAN DE'S CHAMBER, SAN DE WAITING FOR DREW IN ONE OF THE CHAIRS.

The door opens and Drew walks in, the D.S. can be seen in the b.g. San De indicates one of the chairs for him to sit in. He does.

SAN DE

Quite a show of solidarity, yes?

Drew nods, trying to hide a smile. He is trying his best to appear humble.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

Why did you come to the Shaolin Temple?

DREW

(caught off guard)

To train, Master.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

Yet you rebel at every rule, and blame the training for your inability to learn and progress?

No response from Drew, who is just looking down at the ground.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

You are like someone swimming in fresh water crying "I thirst!". What you seek is all around you. Don't fight with the ways of the temple, the battle is within yourself.

DREW

Within myself?

SAN DE

You must accept the responsibility for your life. If we force you out of the temple, you can always blame the temple for your failure – it never has to be your fault.

(beat)

Life without committment is no life at all.

DREW

What if I can't handle it? What if I fail?

SAN DE

Live for the moment, Drew. The future will take care of itself. If you go through your days here, squeezing every last bit of life out of every minute, you need not fear failure.

DREW

(after a beat)

Then, it's up to me.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

Yes. Your fellow disciples stood up for you. It's your turn.

DREW

I don't want to let them down.

SAN DE

Don't let yourself down.

He bows to San De and then leaves the chamber.

EXT. CHAMBER – SAME NIGHT

DREW COMES OUT, FINDING GAO AND LI WAITING FOR HIM.

GAO

Are you staying?

Drew waits for a moment, studying their hopeful faces.

DREW

Yeah, I'm staying. If only to keep you guys out of trouble!

They walk off, and just as they round a corner, a BANG is heard as one of the monks drops the heavy wooden lid of a storage barrell. Drew jumps, spinning around in the direction of the sound.

LI

Drew! Are you allright?

DREW

Yeah, I'm just a little on edge, that's all. Ever since I got to the temple, some nut has been attacking me with a stick – at night, in the toilet... anywhere! It's driving me crazy...

Gao and Li look at each other, nodding.

DREW (CONT'D)

What? Honest, it's happening! I...

GAO

Every class of disciples, the one with the most potential is singled out for special training. We were wondering who it was... now, we know.

DREW

Special training? You mean...?

Gao and Li nod, and Drew walks with them, shaking his head.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – MORNING

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF ASHEMA STANDING NEXT TO THE STREAM, WATCHING THE WATER RUSH BY.

In the b.g. comes Drew, dressed in his monastic robes, no hat on his head. He is making no attempt to hide the fact that he is a monk.

Drew walks up to Ashema and takes her hand, and they stand like that for a moment. She then turns to him, and starts to say something. Drew stops her with a finger on her lips, then strokes her cheek.

DREW

Ashema, beautiful Ashema, I can't see you anymore. I will... miss you and remember you... always.

Ashema closes her eyes against the tears there, and buries her head against Drew's shoulder.

ASHEMA

Are they making you do this?

She wants to hear that they are, even if it's not true. She NEEDS to hear it.

Drew pulls her head away from his shoulder, looking into her eyes. It would be so easy not to take the blame for hurting her like this.

DREW

No. It is my choice, and my responsibility. I'm sorry...

He embraces her for the last time, and she openly begins to cry. He holds her for a moment, then breaks the embrace and with one last long look at Ashema, walks away.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY 103 (SPRING TIME)

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW WORKING ON THE "WOODEN MAN", A TRAINING DEVICE.

The D.S. in the b.g. comes up and corrects his technique, and Drew immediately does it his way.

EXT. POLE AREA – EVENING

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW WORKING ON THE POLES.

He is doing well, jumping from pole to pole, kicking and punching. He tries an especially difficult sequence of moves, and falls with a THUMP to the ground. Immediately, he is back up and onto the poles. He tries the same set of moves, falls again. Instead of being angry, Drew just laughs at himself, then climbs back up on the poles.

INT. MEDITATION HALL – NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF BARE CHESTED DREW, SOAKED IN SWEAT.

In the b.g. is a huge bronze buddha. Drew is in the same position as the Buddha.

EXT. STREAM – DAY 106 (SUMMER TIME)

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW DRAWING WATER FROM THE STREAM, IN THE POINTED BARRELS.

He fills them up, and then starts moving back towards the temple, his arms up and strong.

ANGLE ON DREW

As he goes through a thicket of bamboo. as he gets to the center, he is attacked! The staff comes out, but Drew manages to block it with one of the buckets. The staff strikes again, and Drew blocks again! A third time, and Drew raises both buckets over his head to block it – and drenches himself with the water. Then, the staff hits him in the stomach.

His attacker has vanished, leaving Drew alternately moaning from the pain, and chuckling at himself in the bamboo.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

ANGLE ON DREW AND LI

As they go through a very intricate, beautifully staged series of techniques. The last technique is a very powerful kick, and one which Drew is to block using the blocking technique he refused to learn before.

This time, the kick is thrown and Drew blocks it with the new technique, sending Li pitching to the ground is a cloud of dust.

Drew turns around and high-fives Gao.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – ANOTHER ANGLE