American Shaolin

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF GROUP OF DISCIPLES GOING THROUGH A SERIES OF SOFT GONG FU MOVES.

Drew is next in line, and he moves through the techniques without a mistake. When he gets to the end of the routine, he breaks into a little dance step, having fun. The entire group breaks up in laughter.

EXT. TEMPLE – DAY

TIGHT SHOT OF D.S.' ARM

Gao's hands are around his elbow, pulling down.

D.S.

Using your muscles, bend my arm.

Gao pulls down, while the D.S. tries to fight back with his muscles, but finally, after great strain, his arm bends. A cheer goes up from the group.

D.S. smiles and motions for an old monk standing near him to take his place. the old man puts his arm up on Gao's shoulder, and takes a deep breath. He does not tense up his arm and shoulder.

Gao looks questioning at the D.S.

GAO

What if I hurt him?

D.S.

You will not.

Gao starts to pull down, gently at first, but when he sees that the old monk's arm is not bending, stronger, until finally he is putting all his strength into it. The old monk's arm has not moved, and his expression of relaxation and piece has not changed.

Gao quits, not able to bend the arm. D.S. motions for Drew to get on the other side of the monk.

D.S.

Grab his arms and try to pull him out of his stance.

Drew and Gao shrug at each other and take an arm. They pull and push, straining and groaning, but there is no movement from the old monk. It is like he is a heavy stone.

They give up, and the D.S. bows to the old monk.

D.S. (CONT'D)

Master Shu's spirit is indeed strong.

ANGLE ON DREW AND GAO

Sweating from their efforts.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY 110 (AUTUMN TIME)

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DISCIPLES DOING AERIAL MANUEVERS – KICKS, AERIALS, KIPS, ETC.

Drew is on the ground, trying to do a kip. He is coming up, but then is crashing back down onto his spine. The D.S. comes up to him and points at his chest.

D.S.

Try to hit me here with your feet.

DREW

With pleasure.

Drew tries another kip, pushing his feet towards the D.S.' chest. He lands on his feet easily, surprised.

EXT. WATERFALL – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW AND GAO UNDER THE WATERFALL. THEY ARE BOTH IN HORSE STANCES. THEY NOD AT EACH OTHER, AND THEY BEGIN GOING THROUGH A SLOW FORM, MOVING THEIR ARMS AND LEGS CAUTIOUSLY, BUT WITH POWER.

EXT. FOREST OF STONE – SUNSET

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW TRAINING IN THE FOREST OF STONE, THE BLAZING SUN BEHIND HIM.

EXT. DINING HALL – NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW CARRYING THE DIRTY PLATES FROM DINNER.

He carries them out to the garbage area, and begins to scrape them off. From out of nowhere comes the staff, swinging for Drew.

Drew doesn't jump, but just calmly avoids it. The staff WHOOSHES over his head. Drew stands up, and the staff comes again, from a different direction. Drew avoids, and the staff finds empty air again.

Drew goes on with cleaning the plates, a slight smile on his face. After a BEAT, he looks around, trying to find the attacker. When he is sure no one is around, he smiles bigger.

DREW

Allright! I did it!

As soon as he finishes saying that, the staff comes out and SLAMS him in the stomach, sending Drew to his knees in pain.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THE DISCIPLES THROWING FLYING KICKS.

The sequences are very beautiful as the monks throw kicks into the air and into targets.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – ANOTHER ANGLE

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW AND LI FIGHTING.

Drew is rushing Li, throwing every possible technique at him, which he blocks. Li gets into a low stance as he goes back, and Drew takes this opportunity – he uses Li's own leg as a step and jumps off of it, hitting him HARD with a jump spin hook.

Li gets up right away and slaps Drew's hand.

EXT. TEMPLE PATHS – MORNING 116 (WINTER TIME)

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF SNOWY MORNING.

A group of monks, Drew in the lead, come running down the path, barefoot in the snow.

ANGLE ON DISCIPLES

Throwing kicks and punches at icicles hanging from rocks on a cliff. Slow motion as the disciples shatter the ice.

EXT. TEMPLE FIELDS – DAY 117 (SPRING TIME)

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DISCIPLES WORKING IN THE FIELDS.

They are singing again, but this time the song is in Chinese!

EXT. ROOF OF THE WORLD – SUNSET

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW, POISED ON A ROCK PLATFORM AT THE ROOF OF THE WORLD, THE SUNSET IN THE B.G.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DISCIPLES WORKING ON THE UNBENDABLE ARM.

Drew is in the middle, and Gao is straining to bend his relaxed arm. He is getting the hang of it.

The D.S. walks up with another monk with a spear. Together, they position a wooden target. The monk bows to D.S. and to the rest of the disciples, then positions the point of the spear in the hollow of his neck. He then hands the shaft of the spear to the D.S.

The D.S. holds the shaft and starts to push, bending the spear, slowly but surely.

ANGLE ON DREW AND THE DISCIPLES

Amazed.

ANGLE ON THE MONK

The spear is now almost bent double.

With a flick of his head, the spear goes flying into the target positioned behind him, its point finding the bulls-eye.

Drew walks over to the target and sees that the very real spear point is imbedded deep into the wood of the target.

DREW

(bowing)

Boy, his spirit is strong...

EXT. TEMPLE GROUNDS – DAY 120 (SPRING TIME)

TIGHT SHOT OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL SPINNING THROUGH THE AIR.

Set against a deep blue sky, it could be spinning anywhere – but the CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL the Shaolin Temple "forest of stupa", where the disciples are having a pick up football game – it's Sunday, the disciples' afternoon off. The football spins into the hands of Gao, who drops it.

Drew runs over, showing Gao how to catch the ball, and how to make the cuts he has to make (no dialogue, music over).

Gao follows Drew's instructions, then they run the play. This time Gao is all alone and he catches the ball easily for a touchdown.

Drew runs up and high-fives Gao, then teaches him how to spike the ball.

They are playing some more, having a great time. This time Drew goes out for a pass, with Gao playing defense. Li throws the pass, and Gao intercepts. Drew, laughing, goes after Gao.

ANGLE ON DREW

Who goes long for a pass, which Gao lets fly.

It is immediately obvious that it is way too long.

ANGLE ON SAN DE

Who is walking along through the stupa, meditating as he walks.

ANGLE ON DREW

Who stops running and sees san de. the ball is going towards San De.

ANGLE ON SAN DE

The ball is heading right for his HEAD!

ANGLE ON DREW, GAO AND OTHERS

They are bracing for the impact, and the trouble it will cause.

ANGLE ON SAN DE

Who at the last moment turns and catches the ball like a professional receiver. He holds the ball and looks right at Drew, a very stern look on his face.

ANGLE ON DREW

Expecting the worst.

ANGLE ON SAN DE

His stern face now taking on a mischevious look. He hefts the ball and puts his fingers on the laces.

SAN DE

Go long.

Drew pauses for a moment, not sure what San De said, until San De motions with his left hand, like a NFL quarterback, for Drew to go out. He takes off sprinting, with Gao covering him like a blanket. San De throws the ball to him in a perfect spiral, to a spot where Gao has no play on the throw, and Drew catches it in stride.

San De immediately returns to his meditation, while Drew and the others stand around dumbstruck.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF GAO, LI AND DREW RUNNING THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE.

They come to a stream, and there by a stream is a beautiful young woman who can't get across the stream without getting her clothes soaked.

Without thinking twice, Drew allows her to get on his back and carries her across the river. He deposits her on the other side and then continues running.

Gao and Li run up next to Drew, and together they go back to the temple. When they stop outside the temple, they are breathing heavily. finally catching his breath, Gao turns to Drew.

GAO

I can't believe you carried that girl over the stream! After all the trouble you got into...

LI

Are you crazy? You almost got kicked out once over that kind of thing...

Drew smiles slightly.

DREW

I left that girl at the stream. Are you two still carrying her?

He turns and walks away, leaving Li and Gao to puzzle that one out. As he walks away, San De comes out from behind a pillar where he had been sweeping, smiling and nodding his head at Drew's answer.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF TRAINING GROUND, WHERE SEVERAL GROUPS OF DISCIPLES ARE GOING AT IT.

The action is fast and furious.

ANGLE ON DREW AND GAO

Who are squared off and fighting. They are intense, and the techniques they are throwing are full power. Drew hits Gao, and he bends over. Drew closes, thinking that he has Gao at his mercy. At the last minute, Gao stands up and cold cocks Drew, who sags to the ground.

TIGHT ON DREW

Who is trying to get his bearings.

DREW

Lucky shot, slant eye!

ANGLE ON GAO

Who gives him a mean look.

GAO

You stink, American!

ANGLE ON DREW

Who stands up, mad.

DREW

That's it! You're dead meat!

He comes at Gao, and they start fighting again, throwing all kinds of acrobatic kicks and techniques.

A gong sounds, O.S., and Gao and Drew stop, bow to each other, and then embrace, smiling.

DREW (CONT'D)

Saved by the bell...

GAO

I had you...

Drew moves off to the side to get a drink of water, and to towel off. As he rubs his neck, D.S. comes up to him.

D.S.

San De wants to see you, in his chambers.

Drew raises his eyebrows, then looks over at Gao and Li. He rolls up his towel and snaps Gao with it as he walks by.

DREW

I wonder what you did now...

INT. SAN DE CHAMBER – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DREW AND SAN DE SITTING ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER.

San De has an ornately embroidered golden box in his hand, and he is showing it to Drew.

SAN DE

You are to deliver this scroll to the Arhat living on the Jade Mountain. This is your quest. The scroll that is in this box is more precious than life. Guard it well.

DREW

I will, Master.

SAN DE

If you deliver this, you may ask this master, the most advanced monk of the Shaolin tradition, any question you wish, and he must answer it.

San De takes out a map of the area.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

This map will lead you to the Jade Mountain. Let nothing deter from safeguarding the sacred scroll. You leave first thing tomorrow morning.

(beat)

You must return within three day... or don't bother to return at all.

San De stands and bows to Drew. Drew returns the bow, takes the map and the box, then leaves the chamber.

EXT. TEMPLE – EARLY MORNING