American Shaolin

Drew holds his broom over his head, nodding his head to the imaginary crowd.

DREW

The crowd is going wild.

Just then, out of the shadows comes an attacking staff, SLAMMING into Drew's unprotected stomach!

Drew, ready to double over in pain, hears the staff hit the frisbee, and stands up straight, adjusting the frisbee that saved his stomach.

Before he can react, the staff SMACKS him in the back of the head and sends him pitching to the floor.

ANGLE ON DREW

As he lands face down in the pile of dust and dirt he already swept up.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – EVENING

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF TEMPLE COURTYARD, THE SUN SETTING IN THE DISTANCE.

Drew is standing in front of a painting-statue of Bodhidharma, one in which he is made to look extremely fierce.

San De walks up behind Drew and stands there for a moment.

SAN DE

He was an amazing monk...

DREW

Yeah, what's up with him?

SAN DE

Come with me...

San De walks away, and Drew follows him.

INT. SAN DE'S CHAMBERS – SAME NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF SAN DE BREWING TEA.

The room is filled with paintings and scrolls. A Golden Sash hangs in a place of honor.

San De puts the tea leaves into the pot, then soaks them with boiling water. He pours the water out, then repeats the process several times. His movements are all very precise and careful – it almost looks like a martial art kata.

SAN DE

Legend states that Bodhidharma gave us tea. Once, while meditating, Bodhidharma fell asleep, a natural reaction we all have to fight against.

San De looks pointedly at Drew, who doesn't meet his eyes.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

When he awoke, he was so enraged at his eyelids for betraying him, he tore them off and threw them to the ground.

(beat)

From those eyelids grew the first tea bush. You see, even the leaves look like eyelids.

San De shows Drew a tea leaf.

DREW

Impossible.

SAN DE

Nothing is impossible if your spirit is pure, and your will is strong.

The tea is ready, and San De begins to pour for Drew.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

I understand you've been questioning some of the teachings of the temple...

DREW

It's just not the way I was taught...

San De keeps pouring into Drew's cup. It is getting to the rim. San De is not stopping.

DREW (CONT'D)

Master! Stop! No more will go in!

San De continues pouring until the tea runs all over the table.

SAN DE

Exactly! You are like this cup, full of what you have learned. How can we show you Shaolin unless you first empty your cup?

He picks up the cup and tosses the tea through an open window. He now pours into the empty cup.

SAN DE (CONT'D)

The rules and disciplines of the temple exist to free you, not restrict you. They keep your mind from harmful thoughts.

(beat)

Drink your tea.

Drew nods and sips at his tea.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS TEACHING A SOFT STYLE OF SHAOLIN WU SHU.

His body moves with the wind, bending and swaying. Another monk is attacking him with a hard style, and the soft style is very effective.

Drew and Li try it, and Drew is having a lot of trouble. He is used to training hard style, and the soft style seems too weak for him. D.S. comes over.

DREW

It's not fighting – I feel like I'm dancing or something... This soft stuff is unnatural – Fighting should be hard, tough...

The D.S. holds out his hand, in a tight fist.

D.S.

If my hand was always like this, what would you call it?

DREW

(after a beat)

Deformed.

He opens his hand, letting it go limp.

D.S.

And if it was always like this?

DREW (CONT'D)

Again, deformed.

The D.S. nods and walks off, leaving Drew to stare questioningly at Li.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF TEMPLE COURTYARD, WHERE ALL THE DISCIPLES ARE COLLECTED.

They are not dressed in their monastic robes, however. They are in street clothes.

It is their day off!

A monk comes down the line, handing out hats to the disciples. They put them on, and wait for instructions from the D.S.

D.S.

Remember, let no one know you are disciples at the Shaolin Temple, but do not forget that you are. Dzai Jyan.

They file out.

EXT. SHAOLIN TEMPLE – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THE DISCIPLES EXITING THE TEMPLE.

As soon as they are out, the serious faces break into smiles, and they are teenagers again. Some of the disciples run off to join relatives waiting for them in the courtyard, while a group of them stick together.

Drew is walking with Li, Wu and several others.

ANGLE ON THE GROUP

As they walk through the small town outside of the temple.

They pass by Ashema's stand, but only the Bau Bau is there.

Drew bows to the Bau Bau, then slips off his hat, rubbing his bald head for Bau Bau to see. Bau Bau laughs, and the rest of the guys rush up to Drew, forcing his hat back on his head.

LI

Drew! We're not supposed to...

DREW

Chill out, guys! It's our day off!

He bows to Bau Bau and then they walk off.

They walk through the small town, checking it out.

They walk through the countryside, enjoying their freedom.

Drew has brought a frisbee with him, and they are tossing it around.

EXT. LUOYANG CAVES – SAME DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF GROUP AS THEY WALK IN THE HILLS HOUSING THE FAMOUS LUO YANG CAVES.

The hills are filled with Buddhist carvings.

ANGLE ON CARVINGS – INTERCUT

ANGLE ON DREW

As he walks by the carvings. The detail and the artistry are amazing.

EXT. RIVERSIDE – SAME DAY

ANGLE ON DREW AND GROUP

As they walk by a riverside park. The park is filled with people, and a group of kids swinging into the river on a rope. Drew stops to watch them, then looks back at the others.

They all shake their heads.

Drew nods his.

They continue to shake their heads.

Drew starts running towards the kids, stripping off his shirt at the same time. The others pause for a moment, then follow his lead.

ANGLE ON GROUP

As they swing into the river, trying to keep their hats on as they splash into the water. they are having the time of their life.

ANGLE ON GROUP

Resting on the bank of the river. Drew and the guys spot a group of girls down the bank from them.

DREW

Check it out, guys!

WU

Girls!

DREW

Good work, Wu. What tipped you off?

LI

(alarmed)

We are not allowed to have contact with females. It is the most serious rule of the temple.

DREW

It's a stupid rule, Li. But...

He is about to turn away, then spots Ashema as she runs down a path to the group of girls. He stands up immediately and starts over to her. He is jogging, at the same time trying to straighten his clothes and his hat.

Li starts running after Drew. The others follow.

DREW (CONT'D)

ASHEMA!

ANGLE ON ASHEMA

Who hears her name. She looks around, sees Drew but doesn't immediately recognize him. She looks around the park.

DREW (CONT'D)

ASHEMA! Here!

She looks at Drew again, and this time recognizes him. Drew arrives and impulsively he gives her a hug, genuinely very happy to see her.

Li arrives and pulls them apart.

DREW (CONT'D)

What!?!

LI

You can get kicked out of the temple for this...

DREW

Who's going to tell, Li? You?

He turns to Ashema, who has now backed off a little bit and is looking at Drew, a smile on her face, but is pretending that she is embarrassed. The other girls are gathered around, giggling.

DREW

(pointing at girls)

Not the giggle girls again! How've you been? You look great!

ASHEMA

(hiding a laugh)

You look... funny.

DREW (CONT'D)

Thanks.

ASHEMA

How do you like the temple?

DREW

Shhh... nobody's supposed to know.

Li tugs at Drew's shirt.

LI

We really shouldn't be doing this...

DREW

I'm trying to show you guys a good time.

(to Ashema)

I guess I gotta go. It was great to see you.

One of the giggle girls behind Ashema whispers something in her ear. She nods and smiles.

ASHEMA

My school is having a party this Tuesday night. Can you and your friends come?

Li and the guys immediately hem and haw their negative replies, but Drew smiles and takes Ashema's hand. The girls start to giggle again. He brings her hand up to his lips, and kisses it gently.

DREW

We'll be there.

INT. DORM ROOM – NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DORM ROOM, LI STANDING IN FRONT OF DREW, THE REST OF THE DISCIPLES GATHERED AROUND.

The room is dark – it's after lights out.

LI

Are you nuts? We can't go to a party, with GIRLS!

DREW

Why not? We're working hard, we deserve some R & R.

LI

'R & R'?

DREW

We've earned this. Back home in New York, you don't say no to a party... Where's your sense of adventure?

WU

What do you do at a 'party' with girls?

Drew smiles, knowing that he has them.

DREW

You dance, and talk. And have a good time.

LI

That clinches it, we can't dance.

WU

And we don't know how to talk to girls...

DREW

(trying to sound like an expert)

That's easy. You just talk to them like you would to the guys – you just don't tell them as much, and... not in the same way...

Drew is in over his head.

GAO

Like you know?

DREW

Look, dancing's easy. I'll show you. We'll start with slow dancing.

An OOOH escapes from the guys.

DREW (CONT'D)

Dirty dancing!

Giggles now. Drew pulls his boom box out of his backpack, and starts searching for a suitable tape.

DREW (CONT'D)

You guys grab a pillow for a partner, while I find some slow music.

The disciples have grabbed their pillows. Drew pops the cassette into his boom box and turns it on, low and sultry.

DREW (CONT'D)

Just move in time to the music, nothing elaborate. Think of it as a soft form...

The disciples move and sway in time to the music. They are treating their pillows like imaginary girls.

ANGLE ON LI

Who is holding his pillow at arm's length.

DREW WALKS BY LI

DREW (CONT'D)

Loosen up, Li. She's not going to bite!

LI

How do you know?

ANGLE ON WU

Who is really getting into it. He is dancing with his pillow cheek to cheek, and occasionally sneaking a kiss.

ANGLE ON OTHER MONKS