CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON

"CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON"  

by

Wang Hui Ling and James Schamus and Tsai Kuo Jung

Based on the novel

by

Wang Du Lu

FADE IN:

EXT.  YUAN COMPOUND - DAY

Security men and porters are loading wagons for a convoy. As they work, we see across the lake a lone horseman entering the village. One of the men recognizes him.
 

                                                WORKER

                        Master Li is here!

ANGLE ON LI MU BAI, thirties, powerful and handsome.

In the background, old AUNT WU, at the sight of Li Mu Bai, drops her parcels and runs excitedly into the building.

INT.  YUAN HALLWAY - DAY

Aunt Wu runs hurriedly through the halls.

                                                AUNT WU

                        Shu Lien!

INT.  YU'S ROOM - DAY

YU, a beautiful woman in her early 30s, is finishing packing for the convoy, wrapping a few small items in a linen wrapper as Aunt Wu bursts in.

                                                AUNT WU

                        Li Mu Bai is here!

INT.  YUAN PRACTICE HALL - DAY

                                                LI

                        How's everything?

                                                AUNT WU

                        Fine. Please come in.

Yu sits, composed, as Aunt Wu ushers Li in. Li carries a large object, wrapped in silk.

Yu smiles.

                                                YU

                        Mu Bai... It's been too long.

                                                LI

                        It has.

                                    (he glances around the room)

                        How's business?

                                                YU

                        Good. And how are you?

                                                LI

                        Fine.

An awkward pause.

                                                YU

                        Monk Zheng said you were at Wudan

                        Mountain. He said you were practicing

                        deep meditation.

                                                LI

                        Yes.

                                                YU

                        The mountain must be so peaceful... I

                        envy you. My work keeps me so busy, I

                        hardly get any rest.

                                                LI

                        I left the training early.

                                                YU

                        Why? You're a Wudan fighter. Training

                        is everything.

                                                LI

                        During my meditation training... I came

                        to a place of deep silence... I was

                        surrounded by light... Time and space

                        disappeared. I had come to a place my

                        master had never told me about.

                                                YU

                        You were enlightened?

                                                LI

                        No. I didn't feel the bliss of

                        enlightenment. Instead... I was

                        surrounded by an endless sorrow. I

                        couldn't bear it. I broke off my

                        meditation. I couldn't go on. There

                        was something... pulling me back.

                                                YU

                        What was it?

                                                LI

                        Something I can't let go of. You are

                        leaving soon?

                                                YU

                        We're preparing a convoy for a delivery

                        to Peking.

                                                LI

                        Perhaps I could ask you to deliver

                        something to Sir Te for me.

Li unwraps the object. It is an ancient, astonishingly beautiful sword.

                                                YU

                        The Green Destiny Sword? You're giving

                        it to Sir Te?