卧虎藏龙 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

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?



  			LI

  	I am.  He has always been our

  	greatest protector.



  			YU

  	I don't understand.  How can you

  	part with it?  It has always been

  	with you.



  			LI

  	Too many men have died at its edge.

  	It only looks pure because blood

  	washes so easily from its blade.



  			YU

  	You use it justly, you're worthy of

  	it.



  			LI

  	It's time for me to leave it behind.



  			YU

  	So what will you do now?



Li doesn't reply.



  			YU

  	Come with me to Peking.  You can

  	give the sword to Sir Te yourself.

  	It'll be just like old times.



  			LI

  	First I must visit my master's

  	grave.  It's been many years since

  	Jade Fox murdered him.  I have yet

  	to avenge his death.  And yet I'm

  	thinking of quitting.  I must pray

  	for his forgiveness.



  			YU

  	Join me once you have finished.  I

  	can wait for you in Peking.



  			LI

  	Perhaps.



EXT. THE GATE TO PEKING. DAY



Customs officials have just finished checking the contents

in a row of carriages bearing the Sun Security insignia.

The caravan slowly passes through the checkpoint into the

boundaries of Peking.  Yu, riding a handsome horse and

clearly the leader, watches as her crew clears inspection.



  			GUARDS

  	Ok.  Pass.



  			YU

  	Thanks.  Let's go into the city.



EXT. OUTSIDE A DEPOT. DAY



Workers are busy unloading the contents from the carriages.

Boss Giao is checking off the merchandise -- a cargo of

medicinal herbs.



  			GIAO

  	Everything got here safely.  I'm

  	much obliged.



  			YU

  	Just doing my job.



  			GIAO

  	Sun Security has been the best

  	since your father started it.

  	You're a credit to his memory.



  			YU

  	Thank you.



  			GIAO

  	I mean it.



EXT. DAY. PEKING



From a gray tiled roof, we can see Peking's magnificent grid

of houses extending miles and miles out, freshly painted by

the morning sun.



EXT. PEKING STREET. DAY



Dusty and congested as always, people, horses, and carriages

are fighting to get through the boulevards.



A group of jugglers perform at a corner.



Yu surveys the busy street from on top of her horse.



INT. TE'S GREAT HALL - DAY



Yu presents the sword to Sir Te.



  			SIR TE

  	This is Li's personal sword, a

  	great hero's weapon!  He is the

  	only one in the world worthy of

  	carrying it.  It's too fine a gift.

  	I cannot accept it.



  			YU

  	Sir Te!  It has brought him as much

  	trouble as glory.  Help him to

  	leave these troubles behind.

  	Otherwise, he'll never be able to

  	start anew.



  			SIR TE

  	All right.  I'll act as the sword's

  	custodian.



De Lu, the head servant, enters.



  			DE LU

  	Governor Yu has arrived.



  			SIR TE

  	I must change.



  			YU

  		(getting up)

  	You've always been so good to Li Mu

  	Bai and me.  Please accept our

  	thanks.



  			SIR TE

  	Please do not be such a stranger.

  	You'll stay the night as my guest.

  	Now, Shu Lien... tell me something.

  	And forgive me for prying.  Your

  	father was a great friend to me,

  	and I think of you as my own

  	daughter.



  			YU

  	Please, Sir Te, what is it?



  			SIR TE

  	Li Mu Bai giving up his sword and

  	his warrior days... maybe he's

  	trying to tell you something?



  			YU

  	I don't know...



  			SIR TE

  	Don't be coy.  I've always known

  	about your feelings for each other.

  	All these years, it's a shame...

  	neither of you is brave enough to

  	admit the truth to the other.

  	You're both wasting precious time.



  			YU

  	I beg your pardon.  Li Mu Bai and I

  	aren't cowards.



  			SIR TE

  	When it comes to emotions, even

  	great heroes can be idiots.  Tell

  	me if Li Mu Bai is not more open

  	the next time you see him.  I'll

  	give him an earful!



INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY



Yu and De Lu approach the study.



  			DE LU

  	Sir Te said to leave the sword in

  	here.



De Lu opens the door and is startled to find a young woman

inside.  The woman is studying the sheets of calligraphy

hanging on the walls.



  			DE LU

  	Who are you?



  			JEN

  	I'm your guest today.  I am Governor

  	Yu's daughter.



  			DE LU

  	This is Sir Te's study.  You are

  	here to...



  			JEN

  	I was looking for a quiet corner.



  			DE LU

  	I am Sir Te's head servant.  And

  	this is another of our guests.



INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY



Yu gently lays the sword, still in its sheath, in Jen's hands.



  			JEN

  	It's heavy for such a thin piece of

  	metal!



  			YU

  	The handle is heavy.  And the blade

  	is no ordinary metal.  Still, the

  	sword is the lightest of weapons.

  	You're just not used to handling it.



  			JEN

  	But I have had much practice.  As a

  	child in the West, a platoon lived

  	with us.  They'd let me play with

  	their weapons.  The scabbard is so

  	beautiful.



  			YU

  	Beautiful but dangerous.  Once you

  	see it tainted with blood, its

  	beauty is hard to admire.  It's 400

  	years old.



  			JEN

  	Exquisite!  You said it belongs to...



  			YU

  	My friend Li Mu Bai.  He's given it

  	to Sir Te as a gift.



  			JEN

  	Li Mu Bai!  The famous warrior?

  	Why would he give his sword to Sir

  	Te?



  			YU

  	You're too young to understand.



  			JEN

  	You're a sword fighter too?



Yu yanks the sword out of the sheath.  An eerie sound

resonates within the study.  Jen is even more impressed.



  			YU

  	Yes, I am.  But I prefer the

  	machete.  Certain moves, however,

  	call for a sword.



  			JEN

  	Really?



Yu puts the sword back in the case.



  			JEN

  		(longingly)

  	It must be exciting to be a fighter,

  	to be totally free!



  			YU

  	Fighters have rules too: friendship,

  	trust, integrity... Without rules,

  	we wouldn't survive for long.



  			JEN

  	I've read all about people like you.

  	Roaming wild, beating up anyone who

  	gets in your way!



  			YU

  	Writers wouldn't sell many books if

  	they told how it really is.



  			JEN

  	But you're just like the characters

  	in the stories.



  			YU

  	Sure.  No place to bathe for days,

  	sleeping in flea-infested beds...

  	They tell you all about that in

  	those books?



  			JEN

  	You know what I mean.  I'm getting

  	married soon, but I haven't lived

  	the life I want.



  			YU

  	So I heard.  Congratulations.  It's

  	the most important step in a

  	woman's life, isn't it?



  			JEN

  	You're not married, are you?



  			YU

  	What do you think?



  			JEN

  	No!  You couldn't roam around

  	freely if you were.



  			YU

  	You're probably right.



Yu studies Jen.  The room falls silent for a moment.



EXT. SIDE COURT YARD - DAY



It's dusk and the sky is beautiful orange and purple.  Jen

is leaving the study escorted by her maid.  She turns to Yu

for a final good-bye.  Yu seems intrigued by the encounter.



EXT. SIR TE'S COMPOUND - NIGHT



Two lighted lanterns are raised up.



INT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT



Sir Te hands the sword to Governor Yu.



  			SIR TE

  	Go ahead, Governor Yu.



Governor Yu is impressed by the opulence and elegance of the

sword.  He closes his eyes to guess the weight of the sword.

Te snubs out the flame from a candle, then slides the sword

out from its sheath.  The sword gives off a luminous blue

glow in the dark.



  			SIR TE

  	Two feet 9 inches long.  1 inch

  	wide.  The handle is 1 inch deep,

  	2.6 inches wide.  Seven-tenths of

  	an inch thick.  With seven rubies

  	missing from the hilt.  You can

  	tell the design dates back to

  	before the Chin era.  Engraved with

  	a technique lost by the time of the

  	Han Dynasty.



  			GOVERNOR YU

  	Your knowledge is remarkable, Sir Te.



  			SIR TE

  	A sword by itself rules nothing.

  	It comes alive only through skillful

  	manipulation.



  			GOVERNOR YU

  	I see your point.  Please continue.



  			SIR TE

  	The Imperial Court isn't the

  	problem.  With royalty and officials

  	everywhere, the Royal Guard keeps

  	security tight.  But Peking is not

  	like the West.  Here, you'll find

  	all sorts of characters.  Proceed

  	with caution in your quest for law

  	and order.  Don't depend only on

  	the court.  Contacts in the Giang

  	Hu underworld can ensure your

  	position.  Be strong, yet supple.

  	This is the way to rule.



INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT



A maid warms her hands in a basin of hot water for Jen, then

walks over to Jen and helps remove her earrings.  Someone

knocks and the maid goes to answer the door.



  			MAID

  	Governess...



  			GOVERNESS

  	Let me do it.



The maid leaves as the governess enters the room.



  			JEN

  	Please sit.



  			GOVERNESS

  	I've made you silk pajamas.  Do you

  	want to change into them?



  			JEN

  	Put them down.



  			GOVERNESS

  	I heard you met Shu Lien today.



  			JEN

  	Do you know her?



  			GOVERNESS

  	She's one of those.  Your mother

  	would not want you consorting with

  	her kind.



Jen shoots her an angry look.



  			JEN

  	I'll socialize with whomever I

  	please.



  			GOVERNESS

  	Don't invite danger into your

  	father's house.



She's about to say something, then thinks better of it.



  			JEN

  	I'm tired now.



  			GOVERNESS

  	Go to bed then.  Miss has grown up,

  	and is getting married soon.  God

  	knows what the future will bring.



  			JEN

  	It will be just the same.  Enough!

  	I'm tired.



  			GOVERNESS

  	Autumn is coming.  I'll shut the

  	windows for you.



The governess leaves.  Jen sits on the side of her bed,

thinking.



EXT. TE'S COMPOUND - NIGHT



A wide shot of the compound.  A patrol man greets Master Bo,

Sir Te's head of security.  The place is serene.



  			MASTER BO

  	Chilly, eh?



  			NIGHTMAN

  	Yes, Master Bo.



As Bo walks on, shadows rustle in a treetop in the background.



EXT./INT. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF TE'S STUDY - NIGHT



A masked figure silently opens the window and enters the

room.  It moves swiftly to the sword case, opens it, and

wraps the sword.



Bo enters, sees the thief, who leaps up to the ceiling.  The

thief steps over Bo and out into the courtyard.  Bo tries to

stop the thief, who easily outwits him, jumping onto the

roof as Bo yells out.



  			BO

  	Someone help!  Stop him!  He's on

  	the roof!  The sword's been stolen!

  	Stop thief!  Stop him!



The thief skips a few times and jumps off to a side street.



Bo grabs a pole and runs, as gongs begin to sound, alerting

people to the theft.  People rush outside, Yu Shu Lien among

them.



EXT. PEKING STREET - NIGHT



Bo runs through the streets.  The thief is nowhere in sight.

Suddenly, there are sounds of weapons clashing.  Bo hurries

towards the source.



EXT. AN ALLEY OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT



Bo is surprised to see the hooded figure battling with two

other fighters -- Tsai (male, 40s) and May, his daughter.



  			TSAI

  	It's Jade Fox!



  			MAY

  	We must avenge mother!



The hooded figure does a gravity defying flip and soars over

a wall, just as Bo arrives.



  			BO

  	Do something!  He's getting away!



EXT. PEKING ROOFTOP - NIGHT



The thief runs atop a roof -- right into Yu.  Yu and the

hooded figure face off.



  			YU

  	Return the sword, and I'll let you

  	go.



The figure just regards her, slightly shifting weight.



Yu attacks, but the figure repels her.



  			YU

  	You've been trained at Wudan?



The figure answers by leaping to another rooftop.  Yu

catches up, and resumes her attack with a relentless series

of lightning-quick blows.



EXT. ALLEY OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT



Bo follows Tsai and May, who are quickly walking away.



  			TSAI

  	You're mistaken.  We're just street

  	performers.  We were rehearsing.



  			MAY

  	Father!



  			BO

  	You were rehearsing?  Who are you

  	trying to fool?



May wants to respond but is again cut off by Tsai.  They run

off.



  			BO

  	Where did that thief go?



Bo looks around and discovers he had chased the thief into

Governor Yu's compound.



  			BO

  	Governor Yu's house!



EXT. ROOF TOP



Yu and the Black Figure continue to fight.



  			YU

  	Get down here!  Give back the sword!



EXT. GOVERNOR YU'S - NIGHT



Yu slowly gets the upper hand in her fight with the thief.

A small arrow cuts across the night and flies toward Yu.

She catches it, but the masked figure takes the opportunity

to get away.



Yu pauses to feel the arrow in her hand, standing in the

empty courtyard.



EXT. TE'S SIDE ENTRANCE - DAY



De Lu escorts Yu into Te's.



  			DE LU

  	Sir Te awaits you.



INT. TE'S GREAT HALL - DAY



Men are standing at attention.  Bo is giving his account of

what happened, as Yu enters.



  			BO

  	I'm sure the thief is in the Yu

  	household.



  			SIR TE

  	How dare you imply?



  			BO

  	But I say --



  			SIR TE

  	-- Enough.



The men hustle out.  Bo can barely contain his frustration.



  			YU

  	Has Governor Yu ever seen the sword?



  			SIR TE

  	Yes, though I doubt he's involved

  	in this.



  			YU

  	But the sword could be in his

  	compound.



  			SIR TE

  	Then someone's trying to set him up.

  	We should inform Li Mu Bai.



EXT. OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT



Madam Yu is returning from temple.  The governess is helping

her out of the carriage.  Servants are peeling bills off a

wall across the street.



  			MADAM YU

  	What is it?



  			MAID

  	Madam Yu, someone's put up posters.



A partially torn flyer with the words "Jade Fox will not

escape justice!" is seen on the ground.



  			MADAM YU

  	Let me see.



  			GOVERNESS

  	Someone is after Jade Fox.

  	Preposterous, looking for her here!



Madam Yu nods and walks inside, as the Governess tosses the

flyer away and follows her.



A hand scoops up the flyer -- it is Yu.  She studies it,

then puts it in her pocket, and moves on.



EXT. BRIDGE - DAY



Bo is searching for the Tsais.  The bridge is full of

jugglers.  But the two are nowhere to be found.



EXT. PEKING STREET - DAY



Bo quizzes a homeless man.



  			BO

  	Where are they?



  			HOMELESS MAN

  	I don't know.  I haven't seen them

  	in two days.



Bo is about to give up when he looks up and sees May walking

quickly into an alley.  Bo follows her.



EXT. IN FRONT OF TSAI'S HOUSE



May walks into a dilapidated house surrounded by a broken-

down bamboo fence.  Bo inches closer and sees May and Tsai

oiling their weapons.



INT. BO'S ROOM - DAY



Jen practices calligraphy.  The governess is by her side

embroidering and throwing occasional glances at Jen.  The

maid enters.



  			MAID

  	There is a Miss Shu Lien here to

  	see you.



Jen stops and looks up at them.



  			GOVERNESS

  	Miss is busy right now.



  			MAID

  	I'll tell her.



  			JEN

  	Show her in.



The governess shoots her a look.



  			GOVERNESS

  	This spells trouble.



  			JEN

  	I have a guest.



The governess gets up to leave just as the maid shows Yu in.



  			MAID

  	This way please.



The governess and Yu exchange quick glances.  The governess

bows slightly and departs.



  			JEN

  	I've missed you.



  			YU

  	How so?



  			JEN

  	I'm bored.



Yu sees the calligraphy.



  			YU

  	You're doing calligraphy?



  			JEN

  	I'll write your name.  Just for fun.



Jen writes Yu's name with great confidence and swiftness.



  			YU

  	I never realized my name looks like

  	"sword."



Jen freezes slightly.



  			YU

  	You write gracefully.  Calligraphy

  	is so similar to fencing.



  			JEN

  	Maybe it is.  I wouldn't know.



The maid enters with tea.



  			JEN

  	Please.



  			YU

  	Thank you for seeing me.  I hear

  	your wedding day is near.  You must

  	be overwhelmed by the preparations.



  			JEN

  	I'm hardly doing a thing.  The less

  	I think of it the better.  My

  	parents are arranging everything.

  	The Gous are a very powerful family.

  	My marrying one will be good for my

  	father's career.



  			YU

  	You are fornuate to marry into such

  	a noble family.



  			JEN

  	Am I?  I wish I were like the

  	heroes in the books I read.  Like

  	you and Li Mu Bai.  I guess I'm

  	happy to be marrying.  But to be

  	free to live my own life, to choose

  	whom I love... That is true

  	happiness.



  			YU

  	Do you think so?  Let me tell you a

  	story.



  			JEN

  	About you and Li Mu Bai?



  			YU

  	Yes.  Did you know I was once

  	engaged to be married?



  			JEN

  	No, really?



  			YU

  	His name was Meng Si Zhao.  He was

  	a brother to Li Mu Bai by oath.

  	One day, while in battle, he was

  	killed by the sword of Li Mu Bai's

  	enemy.  After, Li Mu Bai and I went

  	through a lot together.  Our

  	feelings for each other grew

  	stronger.  But how could we dishonor

  	Meng's memory?  So the freedom you

  	talk about, I too desire it.  But I

  	have never tasted it.



  			JEN

  	Too bad for Meng, but it's not your

  	fault, or Li Mu Bai's.



  			YU

  	I am not an aristocrat, as you

  	are... but I must still respect a

  	woman's duties.



  			JEN

  	Don't distance us.  From now on,

  	let's be like sisters.



  			YU

  	Then as a sister, let me wish you

  	happiness in your marriage.



EXT. YU'S GARDEN - DAY



The maid escorts Yu out.  Yu pauses, looks around, and sees

the profile of the Governess peering at her from around a

corner.



INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT



Moonlight spills into the room, as Jen rises sleeplessly

from bed and looks out the window.  A light breeze stirs her

hair.  The sound of the wind rises, and slowly her face

dissolves, into...



INT./EXT. CARRIAGE/MONGOLIAN DESERT - DAY



...the face of a younger, less sophisticated Jen, as she

lets the dry desert air flow through her hair.  She sits in

a carriage, part of a caravan, with guards on horseback,

that is traveling through the spectacular desert.  Across

from her sits her mother, of whom she is barely cognizant.



  			MADAM YU

  	What a godforsaken place!  Can't

  	your father be appointed closer to

  	civilization?  Jen... are you

  	listening to me?



Jen is still looking out the side of the carriage, at a

beautiful mountainside.



INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT



Jen sighs, and turns back toward her bed.



EXT. STREET OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT



Tsai and May have been sitting, hidden in the branches of a

tree, watching Jen.



  			TSAI

  	Let's go!



They drop down silently and walk away.  From another rooftop,

Lo looks silently on.



EXT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT



Tsai and May enter the house.



INT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT



Inside the tiny house, they discover a hooded figure going

through their belongings.



Immediately Tsai throws a knife, which rips off the figure's

mask -- revealing Bo.  Tsai has another long knife at his

throat.



  			TSAI

  	Who are you?



  			BO

  	Wait!  I'm a friend!



Tsai pauses.



INT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT (LATER)



May fans a small coal-fired grill that is boiling a sizzling

pot of vegetable and meatball soup.  Her father and Bo are

now friendly dinner companions, much to May's delight.



  			TSAI

  	I don't care about your sword.



  			BO

  	Why were you spying on the Yus?



  			TSAI

  	I'm looking for someone.  Jade Fox.

  	I'm a police inspector from Shaan

  	Xi, Gen Su district.  Jade Fox is a

  	master criminal.  I hear she

  	infiltrated the Yus.  She must have

  	come with them when they transferred

  	here.  But with Yu's reputation, I

  	can't just go in and accuse her.



  			BO

  	This Jade Fox is a woman?



  			TSAI

  	Yes.



  			BO

  	Then leave her to me.



  			TSAI

  	Pardon me, but I doubt you can

  	handle her.  My wife was quite a

  	martial arts expert.  Jade Fox

  	killed her.  So you see, this is

  	personal.  Leave her to me.



  			MAY

  	It's ready!

  		(re: the soup)





  			BO

  	I'm ready for anything!



Bo fishes into the pot with his chopsticks.  May intercepts

him with her own chopsticks.



  			MAY

  	Father gets first dip.



Tsai stiffens and snaps his chopsticks, not to pick up a

meatball but to catch an incoming dart.  A dart wrapped with

a note.  Bo jumps up.



  			TSAI

  	They're gone.



  			MAY

  	What does it say?



  			TSAI

  	"We'll settle this at midnight on

  	Yellow Hill."  Good, the fox is out

  	of her hole.



INT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT



Yu is ushered into the room, to discover Sir Te talking to

another man, whose back is to her.



  			SIR TE

  	Shu Lien, look who's here.



The man turns around -- it's Li Mu Bai.



EXT. TE'S HALL - NIGHT



Yu and Li Mu Bai sit together.



  			LI

  	Sir Te believes it's a ploy cast

  	suspicion on Governor Yu.



  			YU

  	But something is going on at the Yu

  	household.



  			LI

  	What have you discovered?



From her sleeve, Yu removes the flyer.  Li takes it, his

face darkening.



  			LI

  	Jade Fox?  Impossible.



  			YU

  	You always suspected she'd fled to

  	the West.



  			LI

  	I didn't think she'd dare come back

  	to Peking!



  			YU

  	Is there any place safer than under

  	the nose of Governor Yu?



  			LI

  	So I shall avenge my master's death

  	after all.



  			YU

  	Be careful.  Sir Te requires

  	discretion.  Official business is

  	difficult enough.  Don't let

  	personal feelings make it worse.

  	And I don't know... even this

  	poster... could be some sort of trap.



  			LI

  	Did you see who posted it?



Yu pauses.



  			YU

  	No.



  			LI

  	It says Jade Fox is hiding at Yu's.

  	On the night of the theft there was

  	a brawl near Yu's.  Were you

  	involved?



  			YU

  	It was Bo, Sir Te's man.  I hear he

  	followed the thief to the Yus'.



  			LI

  	Have you questioned him yet?



  			YU

  	No, not yet...



  			LI

  	But your men are watching over Yu's

  	compund?



  			YU

  	No, I'd already sent them home.

  	You can blame me for losing the

  	sword, but please trust that I'll

  	get it back soon using my own

  	methods.



  			LI

  	That's not what I meant.  I don't

  	care about the sword.



  			YU

  	What do you mean?  Didn't you come

  	back here for it?



  			LI

  	I don't know it was stolen until I

  	got here.



  			YU

  	Then, why did you come?



  			LI

  	Well, we had talked...



De Lu enters.



  			DE LU

  	Pardon my intrusion.  Master Li,

  	your room is ready.



  			LI

  	Thank you.  Please lead the way.



EXT. YELLOW HILL - NIGHT



Tsai, Bo, and May wait under an ancient tree.  Bo stifles a

yawn.



  			BO

  	The fox doesn't care much for

  	punctuality.  Still no sign of her.



An old lady struggles up the hill, wearing a floppy hat over

her face, holding a cane.  The three exchange glances.



  			TSAI

  	Enough!  Show yourself.



The old woman shrinks in fear, but then throws off her

disguise and unveils herself -- the Governess.



  			FOX

  	Tsai... you dog!  You will pay for

  	your stubbornness.



  			BO

  	That's what you think, old witch!



  			TSAI

  	If you surrender now, you'll suffer

  	less.  But if you resist, I won't

  	stop until you're dead.



  			MAY

  	Father!  Let me avenge my mother's

  	death.



  			FOX

  	You'll soon end up like her, you

  	little whore!



  			BO

  	You'll pay for that!



A fierce battle begins, the main fighting between Tsai and

Fox, with May and Bo getting a stab in occasionally, when

the opportunity presents itself.



  			TSAI

  		(to Bo)

  	She's going to paralyze you!



Using acupressure, Fox disables Bo.  May shoots an arrow at

her, but she catches it and flings it back, hitting May.



  			TSAI

  	May!



Fox then disables Tsai, but just as she goes for the kill,

Li Mu Bai flies down from the treetops and steps between them.



  			FOX

  	Tsai, you filthy mongrel!  An ambush!



  			MAY

  	Father, are you all right?



Li addresses Fox.



  			LI

  	Wudan should have gotten rid of you

  	long ago.  It's been a long time,

  	Jade Fox!  You don't remember me...

  	But you should remember my master.

  	You infiltrated Wudan while I was

  	away.  You stole our master!  Now

  	it's time for you to pay!



  			FOX

  	Your master underestimated us women.

  	Sure, he'd sleep with me, but he

  	would never teach me.  He deserved

  	to die by a woman's hand!



  			LI

  	You stole the secrets of Wudan's

  	highest martial arts.  But after

  	ten years of training, your moves

  	are still undisciplined.  And

  	today, under a Wudan sword... you

  	will die!



Li easily brings Fox to the ground.



Li raises his sword to the prostrate Fox.  A figure masked

in black appears next to Fox, sword extended, saving her.



  			FOX

  	Disciple, we'll kill them all!



  			FIGURE IN BLACK

  	Let's go!



  			BO

  	Another one!



  			FOX

  	I must get rid of Tsai!



Fox fights Tsai, Bo, and May, as Li addresses the masked

figure.



  			LI

  	Who are you?  Why is the Green

  	Destiny in your possession?



  			FIGURE IN BLACK

  	What's it to you?



  			LI

  	My name is Li Mu Bai.  The Green

  	Destiny is mine.  Jade Fox can't be

  	your master.  Where did you learn

  	that "Xuan Piu" move?



  			FIGURE IN BLACK

  	I'm just playing around.



  			LI

  	Tell me, who is your master?



  			FIGURE IN BLACK

  	Let's go!



  			FOX

  	We must kill them!



Tsai throws his blade at Fox, who catches it and throws it

back, hitting him in the head.  Fox and the masked figure

leap away.



May drops to the ground, cradling her dead father's head.

Bo kneels beside her.



  			MAY

  	Father!



EXT. TE'S - DAY



Te and a group of his men look down as a cloth is removed

from over the body of Tsai.  Bo and May stand before them.



  			TE

  	This is Tsai?



  			MAY

  	My father.  Police Inspector from

  	Shaan.



  			TE

  	This should be reported to Governor

  	Yu.  The victim is an officer.  You

  	believe the killer is hiding out in

  	his compound.



  			YU

  	I'd bet my life on it!



  			TE

  		(to Li and Yu)

  	Come with me.



He exits the room.



INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY



Te, Li, and Yu are seated.



  			SIR TE

  	This needs to be resolved, and

  	quickly.



  			LI

  	I'll get into the Yu household and

  	get her.  I'll ferret out Fox and

  	her gang.



  			YU

  	We must be careful.  Governor Yu is

  	a court official, and in charge of

  	security.  Any disturbance will

  	cast suspicion on him.  It might

  	get Sir Te in trouble.



  			SIR TE

  	This is a delicate matter.



  			YU

  	Sir Te, can you find some excuse to

  	invite Madam Yu and her daughter?



  			SIR TE

  	What do you have in mind?



  			YU

  	The best way to trap a fox is

  	through her cubs.



Sir Te and Li look puzzled.



EXT. SIR TE'S GARDEN - DAY



Yu sits with Madam Yu and Jen.  They busy themselves with

various items for her trousseau.



  			MADAM YU

  	Madam Te is certainly spoiling us

  	with these wedding gifts.  She's

  	being so considerate.



  			YU

  	I'm sorry she's not feeling well

  	enough to receive you today.



  			MADAM YU

  	I heard Sir Te lost something.  And

  	now Madame Te's not feeling well...



Jen sits silently reading.



  			YU

  	We know who stole the missing item.

  	If the thief returns it, I'm sure

  	Sir Te will pursue the matter no

  	further.



  			MADAM YU

  	That's good.  Sometimes the help

  	can't keep their hands to themselves.

  	It's very embarassing.



  			YU

  	Sir Te knows that even well-meaning

  	people can make mistakes... that

  	can bring ruin to themselves and

  	their families.



  			MADAM YU

  	But don't be too lenient.



  			YU

  	No mercy will be shown toward the

  	murderer who turned up in Peking.



  			MADAM YU

  	A murderer?



  			YU

  	Yes.  The very killer of Li Mu

  	Bai's own master.  Last night, she

  	killed a policeman who had tracked

  	her down.



  			MADAM YU

  	A female criminal!  Now that's news!



Jen becomes visibly upset.



  			JEN

  	You say she killed a policeman?



  			YU

  	Yes, from the West.  He went

  	undercover and and followed her

  	here,



  			MADAM YU

  	Maybe the murderer and the thief

  	are one and the same.



  			YU

  	I doubt it.  This thief... it very

  	unusual...



As Yu speaks, she lifts the tea pot to pour Jen some tea.

As she finishes speaking, she looks into Jen's face and the

pot slips from her hand.  Without even looking down, Jen

instinctively catches the pot with a lightning-fast move.



  			YU

  	...And most likely smarter than a

  	mere killer.



Sir Te and Li Mu Bai walk by.



  			JEN

  		(formal)

  	Greetings, Sir Te.



  			SIR TE

  	Hello, Madam Yu.  This is Li Mu

  	Bai, the renowned swordsman.



  			LI

  	Delighted to meet you.



Li sizes Jen up.



  			TE

  	Miss Yu is soon to be married.



  			LI

  	Congratulations.



EXT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT



May opens her door, only to find Bo standing guard.



  			MAY

  	Why don't you come in?



  			BO

  	I'm standing guard.



  			MAY

  	Come in.  It's cold.



She turns back inside, hesitates, then turns back to him.



  			MAY

  	Come in.  We don't have to fear

  	Jade Fox if we're together.



EXT. TE COMPOUND - NIGHT



A still, dark night.



EXT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT



Something moves in the moonlight.  A hooded figure jumps down.



Li Mu Bai, who had been hiding in the shadows, comes forward.



  			LI

  	Isn't it a bit too late to be out?

  	You've brought me the sword?



  			FIGURE

  	I do as I please.



The masked figure lunges away, but Li Mu Bai leaps with

incredible speed and grabs the sword from her.



  			LI

  	Where's your master?



  			FIGURE

  	What's it to you?



The figure floats away.  Li chases after her.



EXT. PEKING STREET - NIGHT



The two fly over houses and bounce off of rooftops,

displaying amazing floating skills.



INT. ABANDONED MONASTERY - NIGHT



The figure bounces into an old monastery.  Li is already

there.



  			LI

  	Had enough flying?  You've got

  	potential.  You've studied the

  	Wudan Manual but you don't

  	understand it.  You need a real

  	master.



The figure doesn't respond, but we sense the pride in her

eyes.



  			FIGURE

  	Do you think you are a real master?



  			LI

  	Like most things, I am nothing.

  	It's the same for this sword.  All

  	of it is simply a state of mind.



  			FIGURE

  	Stop talking like a monk!  Just

  	fight!



  			LI

  	Then tell me where Jade Fox is.



  			FIGURE

  	On guard!



  			LI

  	Real sharpness comes without effort.



EXT. MONASTERY - NIGHT



The figure leaps into the garden, but again, Li is ahead of

her.



The figure attacks Li, who uses his agility to evade her.

Frustrated, the figure intensifies her attack.



The figure, losing composure, attacks wildly.  Li gets even

more elusive, using a branch to repel her.



  			LI

  	No growth without assistant.  No

  	action without reaction.  No desire

  	without restraint.  Now give

  	yourself up and find yourself again.

  	There is a lesson for you.



Li now holds the stick to her mask, gently raising it

slightly.



  			FIGURE

  	Go ahead.



  			LI

  	Why should I?  You need practice.

  	I can teach you to fight with the

  	Green Destiny, but first you must

  	learn to hold it in stillness.



  			FIGURE

  	Why do you want to teach me?



  			LI

  	I've always wanted a disciple

  	worthy of Wudan's secrets.



  			FIGURE

  	And if I use them to kill you?



  			LI

  	That's a risk I'm willing to take.

  	Deep down, you're good.  Even Jade

  	Fox couldn't corrupt you.



The figure's eyes cloud with tears.



  			FIGURE

  	Wudan is a whorehouse!  Keep your

  	lessons!



The figure swirls and takes off, leaving a rueful Li standing

alone in the monastery.



INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT



Jen slips in through the window.  She pulls off her mask, as

she spots the Governess/Fox sitting and sewing.



  			FOX

  	You're home late... or should I say

  	early?



  			JEN

  	Why are you still here?  You killed

  	a policeman.  You should leave!

  	You'll bring ruin on my whole family.



  			FOX

  	They wouldn't have found me if you

  	hadn't stolen the sword.  Like a

  	little girl, you thought stealing

  	would be fun?  You, too, are

  	responsible for that death.  Come

  	with me.  You don't want to waste

  	your life as the wife of some

  	bureaucrat.  Denied your talent...

  	As a master and disciple we will

  	rule.



  			JEN

  	I'll never live as a thief!



  			FOX

  	You're already a thief.



  			JEN

  	That was just for fun.  How can I

  	leave?  Where would I go?



  			FOX

  	Wherever we want.  We'll get rid of

  	anyone in our way.  Even your father.



  			JEN

  	Shut up!



  			FOX

  	It's the Giang Hu fighter

  	lifestyle... kill or be killed.

  	Exciting, isn't it?



  			JEN

  	I owe you nothing.



  			FOX

  	Yes, you do!  You are still my

  	disciple.



Jen lunges at the Governess, and the two exchange a few

blows.  Jen presses her finger against one of the Governess's

pressure points, disabling her.  Jen pushes her across the

room.



  			JEN

  	You think you've been teaching me

  	all these years from the manual?

  	You couldn't even decipher the

  	symbols!



  			FOX

  	I studied the diagrams.  But you

  	hid the details!



  			JEN

  	You wouldn't have understood, even

  	if I had tried to explain.  You

  	know... you've gone as far as you

  	can go.  I hid my skills so as not

  	to hurt you.



  			FOX

  	If I hadn't seen you fight with Li

  	Mu Bai, I'd still be ignorant of

  	all you've hidden from me.



  			JEN

  	Master... I started learning from

  	you in secret when I was 10.  You

  	enchanted me with the world of

  	Giang Hu.  But once I realized I

  	could surpass you, I became so

  	frightened!  Everything fell apart.

  	I had no one to guide me, no one to

  	learn from.



  			FOX

  	Believe me, I've a lesson or two

  	left to teach you!



Fox exits.



EXT. GOVERNOR YU'S GATE - DAY



The Governess leaves, a small sack over her back.



EXT. TE'S COURTYARD - DAY



Li practices fluently with Green Destiny in hand, beautifully

at ease with the weapon.  He spins around to find Yu standing

in the doorway.



  			YU

  	The sword is back... are you happy?



Li smiles.



  			LI

  	I admit, getting it back makes me

  	realize how much I'd missed it.



  			YU

  	But it's not your sword anymore.

  	You gave it to Sir Te.



  			LI

  	True.  But I must borrow it for one

  	last mission.  Jade Fox must die at

  	its edge.  Did you know what you

  	were hiding when you covered for

  	that girl?



  			YU

  	My job was to get the sword back,

  	without embarassing anyone.  I

  	wasn't about to ruin her life, or

  	her father's.



  			LI

  	You did your job well.  But, this

  	girl... I saw her last night.



  			YU

  	I knew she would intrigue you.



  			LI

  	She needs direction... and training.



  			YU

  	She's an aristocrat's daughter.

  	She's not one of us.  In any case,

  	it will all be over soon.  You'll

  	kill Fox, and she'll marry.



  			LI

  	That's not for her.  She should

  	come to Wudan and become a disciple.



  			YU

  	But Wudan does not accept women.



  			LI

  	For her, they might make an

  	exception.  If not, I'm afraid

  	she'll become a poisoned dragon.



  			YU

  	It's not our affair.  Even if Wudan

  	accepts her, her husband might

  	object.



  			LI

  	I thought by giving away the sword,

  	I could escape the Giang Hu world.

  	But the cycle of bloodshed continues.



  			YU

  	I wish there were something more I

  	could do to help you.



  			LI

  	Just be patient with me, Shu Lien.



INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT



Jen is asleep.  A noise awakens her.



Lo opens the window and sneaks in -- right into the point of

Jen's waiting sword.



Jen's sword drops to the ground.



  			JEN

  	Lo?



  			LO

  	Jen!



Lo grabs her by the wrist.



  			JEN

  	You shouldn't have come.



  			LO

  	With all the traffic on your

  	rooftop these days... it took me a

  	while to get in here.  I can't wait

  	any longer.  I was wrong to let you

  	go.  Come back with me.  You'll be

  	happy in the desert.  You'll be

  	free there.



Jen turns back to him and rests herself briefly in his arms

again.



  			JEN

  	You've been looking for me all this

  	time?



FLASHBACK: FOUR YEARS EARLIER



INT./EXT. CARRIAGE/MONGOLIAN DESERT - DAY



Jen holds up a comb, with daylight shining through it.  Jen

admires the piece, her most prized possession.



Madam Yu sits opposite her.



  			MADAM YU

  	Jen... stop playing with it.



Jen looks out over the desert, as the wind picks up and the

sky darkens.



  			JEN

  	I won't break it.



EXT. CARRIAGE/MONGOLIAN DESERT - DAY



Lo and a group of armed bandits descend on the caravan.



  			GUARD A

  	It's Dark Cloud!  Dark Cloud is

  	coming!



His warning is useless.  From Jen's pov, we see the guards

slaughtered in a hail of arrows and swords.



  			MADAM YU

  	Lower the shade, don't let them see

  	you!



  			DARK CLOUD (LO)

  	Don't touch the women!



Though unharmed, Madam Yu immediately faints.  Lo approaches

the carriage and grabs the comb from Jen's hand.



She bolts from the carriage, and, once outside, bends down

and grabs a lance from the body of a dead guard, whose horse

flails beside him.



She looks up to see the gang of bandits already making their

escape on horseback.



  			LO

  	Let's go!



EXT. DESERT - DAY



Jen and Lo ride across the desert floor at breakneck speed.



  			LO

  	Come get your comb.



She tries to jab him with the lance, but he grabs it and

flings her off her horse.



  			LO

  	Hurry back to your mother.



Lo rides on as she charges after her horse.



EXT. DESERT BLUFF - DAY



A group of bandits is dividing up the loot, as Jen rides up,

keeping a respectable distance.  They notice her and rise as

she dismounts.



One of them saunters over to her and stands, grinning, a few

feet away.



In a second, she's slammed his balls into his stomach and

knocked his nose into his face.  He crumples to the sand.



The other bandits stop laughing, quickly exchange glances,

and charge her at once.



In a matter of seconds, they're either on the ground or

dragging their fallen comrades back.



Lo calls out and stops the fight.



  			LO

  	She's mine.



EXT. DESERT - DAY



Lo and Jen ride, if not side-by-side, then parallel, about

20 feet apart.  Their pace has slowed considerably.  In

fact, they're dead tired.



  			LO

  	Let's stop a moment.



  			JEN

  	Give it back!



  			LO

  		(shouting a bit)

  	You're tired.  You need rest.  Your

  	horse needs water.  There's a creek

  	up here.



He dismounts, looks down at the dry creek bed.



  			LO

  	Well, there used to be!  What's

  	your name?  I'm Lo.  The Hans call

  	me Dark Cloud.  I'm not that tall

  	or big, but I'm quick as lightning.



  			JEN

  	My comb!



She kicks him.  They fight ferociously until Lo, exhausted,

collapses.  She kicks him a few times, then collapses too.



INT. CAVE - DAY



Jen comes to and finds herself wrapped in a blanket of

animal fur.  She sits up with a start and checks her clothes.

Looking around, she realizes she's in a cave.  Next to her

are a lamp, some hunting equipment, and a neat row of sharp

arrows.  She quickly grabs one of the arrows.



  			LO

  	If you like that arrow, I can make

  	you a bow.  Great for hunting wild

  	chicken.  They're delicious.



Jen raises one of the arrows, going on the attack again, but

her legs betray her and she falls.



  			LO

  	You need to eat, understand?  Then

  	you'll have the strength to fight.

  	Understand?



He helps her up, then pours her some horse milk from a sac.

He hands her a small chunk of food, which she first accepts

grudgingly, then, her hunger getting the better of her, she

starts to wolf it down.



  			LO

  	You're eating too fast.  Slowly.



EXT. CAVE - DAY



Lo walks out into a barren mountain landscape.  A chicken

roasts over a fire.  Lo whistles.



Jen appears suddenly with a rock and knocks it over his head.

Lo passes out as Jen scurries away.



EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE AND DESERT - DAY



Jen tries to find her way among the treacherous stony

terrain, her lips chapped and fingers bloody and blistered.

But soon she passes out.



INT. CAVE - NIGHT



Jen again awakes inside the cave.  Lo tries to feed her some

water, but she chokes, and tries to push him away, only to

find that her legs and hands are tied up.



  			LO

  	You've got quite a temper.  It's

  	better this way.



  			JEN

  	You coward!



  			LO

  	Still in a bad mood?  At least

  	you're speaking.  What's your name?



Jen spits at Lo.



  			LO

  	I didn't think the Hans had names

  	like that.



Later: She weaves in and out of consciousness.  In the

flickering lights, she sees Lo sharpening his arrows.



Later, he pulls back an opaque curtain to reveal a makeshift

bathroom -- a water-filled cavity serves as a tub.



He rises as Jen sobs at the sight of her imprisoned and

dishevelled body.  He comes over and unties her.



  			LO

  	Relax.  If I had wanted to, I would

  	already have done it.  You must be

  	dying for a bath.  Fresh water's

  	hard to get here.  But I managed to

  	bring some up.  You can wear my

  	clothes when you're done.  They're

  	clean.  Don't worry.  I'll sing, so

  	you'll know where I am.  After the

  	bath, you'll be calmer.



Jen nods and the bandit releases her.  He starts to sing as

he walks out.  Jen waits until the sound recedes before

closing the curtain behind her and dipping into the pit.

While she bathes, she listens to his singing, a loud

rendition of a tribal song.  Lo apparently doesn't remember

all the lyrics, and la-las his way through more than a few

passages.  Jen smiles.



INT. CAVE - NIGHT



Jen grimaces as Lo pulls the last of some cactus needles

from the soles of her feet.



  			LO

  	No more hitting on the head!  All

  	this trouble for a comb?



  			JEN

  	It's mine.  It means a lot to me.

  	A barbarian like you wouldn't

  	understand.



  			LO

  	Not true.  I can use it to pick

  	fleas from my horse.



  			JEN

  	By the way, I'm a real Manchurian.



  			LO

  	I'm sorry... I guessed wrong.  I

  	though you were a Han.



  			JEN

  	Give me back my comb.



  			LO

  	I don't take orders from anyone.



  			JEN

  	Give it back.



Jen impulsively grabs an arrow and stabs Lo, drawing a

little blood from his chest.  Furious, Lo lunges at her and

they tussle briefly.  Finally, Lo gets on top of Jen, and

the scuffling becomes more like foreplay.  Violence turns

into unleashed passion.



EXT. DESERT OASIS - DAY



Lo and Jen ride across the desert.  Jen holds tightly to him.



EXT. CAVE - NIGHT



Lo and Jen lie in the bath together.



  			LO

  	When I was a boy, one night, I saw

  	a thousand shooting stars.  I

  	thought, where did they all go?

  	I'm an orphan.  I used to look for

  	stars alone.  I thought if I rode

  	to the other end of the desert, I'd

  	find them.  I've been riding in the

  	desert ever since.



  			JEN

  	And so, the little boy became a

  	fearsome bandit.  He couldn't find

  	the stars, so he stole my comb.



Lo pauses.



  			LO

  	Out here, you always fight for

  	survival.  You have to be part of a

  	gang to stand a chance.  Slowly,

  	your gang becomes your family.  All

  	that Dark Cloud stuff is just to

  	scare people and make my life easier.



  			JEN

  	So you're still that little boy

  	looking for shooting stars.



  			LO

  	I am a man.  And now I've found the

  	brightest star of all.



EXT. DESERT - DAY



Lo sees uniformed men through his binoculars.



  			LO

  	Your father's men are looking for

  	you.



Jen doesn't respond.



EXT. DESERT - DAY



Lo and Jen ride through a mountain pass.



EXT. CLIFF - DAY



Lo and Jen stand at the crest of a cliff.  Lo looks over,

viewing the desert valley below, as Jen joins him.  They see

a troop of uniformed men riding by in the distance.



  			LO

  	Your father's men are still looking

  	for you.  They're still out there,

  	circling closer.



  			JEN

  	Let them look.



  			LO

  	It is trouble for me.



Jen bites her lip.



  			JEN

  	Don't send me back!



  			LO

  	You must decide.  You might get

  	tired of this life.  You might

  	begin to miss your family.  If it

  	were our daughter, we'd look for

  	her too.  She would miss us.  Jen...

  	I want you to be mine forever.  I

  	will make my mark on the world.  I

  	will earn your parents' respect.

  	We have a legend.  Anyone who dares

  	to jump from the mountain, God will

  	grant his wish.  Long ago, a young

  	man's parents were ill, so he

  	jumped.  He didn't die.  He wasn't

  	even hurt.  He floated away, far

  	away, never to return.  He knew his

  	wish had come true.  If you believe,

  	it will happen.  The elders say, "A

  	faithful heart makes wishes come

  	true."



INT. TENT - DAY



Jen and Lo kiss.  Jen takes the jade comb out of her hair

and presses it into his palm.  Jen starts to cry.  They

embrace.



  			JEN

  	Keep it safe.  Return it to me when

  	we are together again.



  			LO

  	I will.



  			JEN

  		(smiling painfully)

  	If you don't, I'll come after you.

  	And I won't let you off so easy.



EXT. TENT - DAY



Jen quietly walks out and stands sadly in the early morning

light.



End of flashback.



INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT



  			LO

  	Wherever I went, someone always

  	recognized me.  I really tried.

  	Later, I heard you came to Peking.

  	I was afraid I'd never see you

  	again.  So I came.  I can't let you

  	marry.



Jen is about to respond when a servant's voice is heard from

outside the door.



  			JEN

  		(whispering)

  	Go.



  			LO

  	Jen...



  			JEN

  		(through her tears)

  	Don't ever come back.



Lo hovers at the window frame.



  			LO

  	So it's over?



Jen pauses.



  			JEN

  	Yes.



Lo thrusts a small object in her hand.



He lifts his legs through the window, and drops out of

sight, just as Jen's door is opened from the hall.



  			MAID

  	We heard noises.



  			JEN

  	It was just a cat.



The maid pauses, then dutifully exits, closing the door.



Jen opens up her palm; gasping, she sees the comb that Lo

has given her.



EXT. WEDDING PROCESSION - DAY



The noise and color of a wedding procession.  A marching

band heralds the occasion, as throngs of onlookers fight to

get a glimpse of the groom, Gou Jun Pei, who trots by on a

handsome white horse.



INT. WEDDING CARRIAGE - DAY



Jen's head is completely covered in red cloth, as she rides

silently in the bride's carriage.



EXT. BALCONY OVERLOOKING WEDDING PROCESSION - DAY



Li and Yu watch the festivities from a balcony of the city

gate.



  			YU

  	You think Jade Fox will show up?



  			LI

  	She's out there, but I doubt she'll

  	show herself.  We'll keep our eyes

  	open.  Sooner or later, she'll come

  	for the girl.



INT. WEDDING CARRIAGE - DAY



A small arrow flies into the carriage.  Jen calmly lifts the

red cloth from her face and pulls the arrow out of the

panelling inside the carriage.



We hear Lo's voice from outside the carriage, but Jen

doesn't seem to notice.



  			LO

  		(v.o.)

  	Jen!  Come with me!  You're mine!



Lo runs wildly into the crowd.



  			LO

  	Come with me to the desert!  Jen!

  	Come with me to Xin Jiang!



The guards surround Lo, but he escapes.



EXT. BEIJING STREET - DAY



Lo leaps and lands right in front of Li Mu Bai, his fingers

pressed against Lo's neck.  Yu comes running around the

corner and sees them.



  			LI

  	Where is Jade Fox?



Yu jumps in and pushes Li away.



  			YU

  		(to Lo)

  	Come with me!  Hurry!



INT. CITY OUTSKIRTS - DAY



Lo sits dejectedly, having told his story to Yu and Li, who

look him over.



  			YU

  		(to Lo)

  	You thought she'd give it all up

  	and go back West with you?



  			LO

  	She's mine.



  			LI

  	Either way, you are no good to her

  	dead.  With the Gou and Yu clans

  	hunting you, you'll soon be in

  	their hands.



  			LO

  	I don't care anymore.



  			LI

  	If you truly loved her, you wouldn't

  	say that.



  			YU

  	Don't you want to see her again.



  			LI

  	All right.  I'll write you an

  	introduction.  Take it to Wudan.

  	Wait there for news from me.



  			LO

  	All right.



EXT. TE COMPOUND - NIGHT



Yu and Li enter, as other men and women race through the

compound, a sense of panic in the air.  Yu gives Li a look.

Li shrugs.



INT. TE'S HALL - NIGHT



A crowd, including Li and Yu, stand by as Te opens the empty

sword case, his voice rising.



  			SIR TE

  	When will this end?  They take it,

  	they put it back, they take it

  	again.  My home is turning into a

  	warehouse.



Bo bursts into the hall, bows to Te.



  			TE

  	Speak!



  			BO

  	Jen has run away!  Gou found the

  	wedding chamber empty.  Governor Yu

  	requests your assistance.  You know

  	the Giang Hu underworld.  He wants

  	to find her, and keep her from harm.



  			LI

  	Sir Te, leave this to us.  Don't

  	worry.



INT. TEA STALL - DAY



Jen arrives at the tea stall.  She places her sword on the

table, which catches the attention of a couple of Giang Hu

martial arts characters sitting nearby.



  			WAITRESS

  	What can I serve you?



As the waitress turns to leave, Jen grabs her by the arm.



  			JEN

  	The cup is dirty.



The flustered waitress apologizes and takes the cup away.

The men approach Jen.



  			GANGSTER A

  	Hello.  What is your name?



  			JEN

  		(without lifting her eyes)

  	Long.



  			GANGSTER B

  	It's young Master Long.  My

  	apologies.  I'm Iron Eagle Sung and

  	this is my brother in arms, Flying

  	Cougar Li Yun.  What brings you to

  	Huai An, and where are you headed,

  	Master Long?



  			JEN

  	Anywhere there's action.



The two men exchange glances.



  			GANGSTER A

  	In that case, perhaps we could be

  	of assistance.



  			JEN

  	Don't bother.



  			GANGSTER A

  	You don't seem to understand.



  			JEN

  	So what if I don't?



  			GANGSTER B

  	We have ways of helping you

  	understand.



The two pull out their weapons which are immediately chopped

into scraps by Jen.



  			GANGSTER A

  		(stunned)

  	Are you related to Li Mu Bai?



  			JEN

  	He is my defeated foe!



EXT. WOODS - DAY



Li and Yu pass a cup back and forth as Bo tends to the

horses in the background.



  			YU

  	Have some tea.



As Yu passes the cup to Li, their fingers touch.

Embarrassed, Li pulls back.



  			LI

  	Shu Lien... The things we touch

  	have no permanence.  My master

  	would say... there is nothing we

  	can hold on to in this world.  Only

  	by letting go can we truly possess

  	what is real.



  			YU

  	Not everything is an illusion.  My

  	hand... wasn't that real?



  			LI

  	Your hand, rough and callused from

  	machete practice... All this time,

  	I've never had the courage to touch

  	it.



Li takes Yu's hand and presses it to his face.



  			LI

  	Giang Hu is a world of tigers and

  	dragons, full of corruption... I

  	tried sincerely to give it up but I

  	have brought us only trouble.



  			YU

  	To repress one's feelings only

  	makes them stronger.



  			LI

  	You're right, but I don't know what

  	to do.  I want to be with you...

  	just like this.  It gives me a

  	sense of peace.



Li Mu Bai smiles.



INT. STAR RESTAURANT - DAY



Jen walks upstairs.  A waiter greets her.



  			WAITER

  	Please follow me.



  			JEN

  	I want a clean room.



  			WAITER

  	We have plenty.  Your order?



Jen again sets her sword on the table as she sits down.



  			JEN

  	Steamed whole cod, bite-size

  	meatballs, a little starchy, but

  	keep the sauce light, shark fin

  	soup, mixed vegetables, and some

  	warm wine.



  			WAITER

  		(dazed)

  	I have to order from a bigger

  	restaurant.



  			JEN

  	Hurry then.



The waiter gauges Jen for an instant before bouncing off to

place the orders.  Jen checks her pouch and sees there's not

much money left.



A large group of Giang Hu characters enters.  They survey

the restaurant and quickly find Jen upstairs.



  			GIANG HU A

  	That's him.



  			MI BIAO

  	I am Iron Arm Mi.  I heard a true

  	master has arrived.  I have come to

  	seek a lesson.



Jen ignores him.



  			MI BIAO

  		(bristles)

  	You asked for it!



Mi charges and attacks Jen, who is still sitting sipping tea.

Jen barely lifts a finger and disposes of Mi with a poke at

a sensitive pressure point.  This provokes a reaction from

the other men.



  			JEN

  	What kind of Iron Arm are you?



  			FLYING MACHETE CHANG

  	You have amazing technique!  I am

  	Flying Machete.  Are you related to

  	Southern Crane?



  			JEN

  	Southern Duck?  I don't eat anything

  	with two feet.  Who could remember

  	such long-winded names?



  			GOU JUN SIHUNG

  	Li Mu Bai is your defeated foe, and

  	you don't know his master, Southern

  	Crane?



  			JEN

  	Who are you?



  			GOU JUN SIHUNG

  	I'm Shining Phoenix Mountain Gou.



  			JEN

  		(furious)

  	Gou?  I hate that name.  It makes

  	me puke!  Too bad you're named Gou.

  	You'll be the first to feel my

  	sword today.



Jen leaps up and dives into battle.  The men all use

different kinds of weapons, but they all succumb to the

powerful Green Destiny.



  			MONK JING

  	Hold it!  Don't you know Monk Jing?



  			JEN

  	A monk, in a place like this?  You

  	need a lesson!



  			MONK JING

  	Who are you?



She smiles, and leaps again into action after unsheathing

the Green Destiny.



  			JEN

  	Who am I?  I am... I am the

  	Invincible Sword Goddess.  Armed

  	with the Incredible... Green

  	Destiny.  Be you Li or Southern

  	Crane... lower your head... and ask

  	for mercy.  I am the desert dragon.

  	I leave no trace.  Today I fly over

  	Eu-Mei.  Tomorrow... I'll kick over

  	Wudan Mountain!



Jen is in a frenzy, slashing and maiming as she speaks.



INT. STAR RESTAURANT - DAY



Yu and Li are surrounded by the variously bandaged men who

battled with Jen.



  			FLYING MACHETE CHANG

  	We politely asked for a friendly

  	match, but she showed no respect,

  	and attacked us.  Everyone came by

  	to teach her a lesson.



  			MI BIAO

  	Her sword was just too powerful.



  			MONK JING

  	I've traveled everywhere, but never

  	met anyone so uncivilized.



  			SHINING PHOENIX MOUNTAIN GOD

  		(heavily bandaged)

  	She kept accusing me of being Gou

  	Jun Pei's brother.  Who is this

  	Gou, anyway?



  			YU

  	Her husband.



The men all nod their heads.



EXT. OUTSIDE HWAI AN - DAY



Li and Yu ride together.



  			LI

  		(to Yu)

  	We're close to your headquarters.

  	Go home and check in.



  			YU

  	What about you?



  			LI

  	I'll look around and catch up later.



  			YU

  	Not a bad idea.  Tonight we'll get

  	a good night's sleep at headquarters.



Yu takes a fork off the road.  Thunder can be heard in the

darkening sky.



EXT. SUN COMPOUND - DAY



A group of security men are practicing Kung Fu in the front

yard of Sun Security.  They stop when Yu enters.



  			SECURITY MAN A

  	Mistress, you're back.



  			YU

  	It's you!  How's everything here?



  			CAPTAIN

  	Fine.  You've been gone a while.



  			YU

  	Yes, and I leave again tomorrow.

  	Your wife was due?



  			AH WAI

  	Yeah, a baby girl.



  			YU

  	Good!



  			AH WAI

  	I'll be happy if she's half as

  	strong as you.



  			YU

  	Mrs. Wu...



  			AUNT WU

  	You're back!



  			YU

  	How's the arm?  Still sore?



  			AUNT WU

  	Much better.  You've been gone so

  	long.



  			YU

  	Li Mu Bai is coming to stay the

  	night.



  			AUNT WU

  		(excited)

  	I'll go and make up his room!



Aunt Wu hustles out.  Yu goes into her own room.



INT. HALL OF ANCESTRAL WORSHIP



Yu lights incense for her former fianc?Meng.  Hearing

something, she turns to see a dishevelled Jen standing

outside downstairs.



  			JEN

  	Sister Shu Lien...



INT. YU'S ROOM - DAY



Yu eases her guard, then opens a drawer, and takes out some

clothes.  Jen, wearing just white underclothing, sets

herself on the edge of Yu's bed.  Yu brings over the clothes.



  			YU

  	Here you must be in proper attire.



  			JEN

  	I'm just borrowing some clean

  	clothes.  I'm not staying.



  			YU

  	I'll give them to you.



  			JEN

  	I was just passing by and wondered

  	how you were.



Jen tries to hide her anxiety but finally breaks down on

Yu's shoulder in tears.



  			JEN

  	You, sister...



  			YU

  	Look at the trouble you've caused.

  	Now you know what Giang Hu life is

  	really like.  If you think of me as

  	your sister, let me give you some

  	sisterly advice.  You can run from

  	marriage, but not your parents.



  			JEN

  	They forced me to marry!



  			YU

  	Go back to them first.  Then you

  	can decide about Lo.



  			JEN

  	You know about Lo?



  			YU

  	He really loves you.  Come back to

  	Peking with me.  We'll find a

  	solution.



  			JEN

  	Where is he now?



  			YU

  	Li Mu Bai has made arrangements.

  	He sent him to Wudan Mountain.



  			JEN

  	You're working together to set me

  	up!  I'm leaving!



  			YU

  	How dare you accuse us?  I always

  	knew you had stolen the sword!

  	I've done nothing but protect you

  	and your family.  And you're repaid

  	me with nothing but contempt.  Li

  	Mu Bai himself spared you, and all

  	you do is insult him.  We wanted

  	some peace and you've ruined it all!

  	You're no sister of mine!



  			JEN

  	What do I care?  You were never a

  	real friend anyway.  But I wonder,

  	how long could you last as my enemy?



Jen gets up to leave.  Yu intercepts her.



  			YU

  	Put the sword down!



Jen jumps out.



INT. YUAN COURTYARD - DAY



Jen soars out to the front courtyard where the guards are

still practicing.



They raise their weapons at the sight of an intruder.



  			YU

  		(calling out)

  	Jen!



Jen greets Yu with the Green Destiny.



  			YU

  	Everyone out.  Shut the doors.



The men leave.



  			YU

  	Fine... the friendship is over.



Yu scoops up a weapon from one of many lying around and

begins her battle with Jen.



Yu uses every weapon that's available against Jen but none

are any match for the Green Destiny.



After slicing through another set of Yu's weapons, Jen looks

admiringly at the Green Destiny in her hands.



  			YU

  	Don't touch it!  That's Li Mu Bai's

  	sword.



  			JEN

  	Come and get it if you can.



  			YU

  	Without the Green Destiny, you are

  	nothing.



  			JEN

  	Don't be a sore loser.  Go ahead.

  	Take your pick.  I'll wait.  Go

  	ahead.



Yu picks up a huge broad sword and attacks.  Just as the

Green Destiny slices it in half, Yu holds the broken blade

at Jen's neck.  She pauses before hurting Jen, then pulls

back.



  			YU

  	Give me the sword.



Jen, taking advantage of Yu's trust, slices her arm.



  			JEN

  	Take it!



Yu, her shoulder bleeding, falls back as Li Mu Bai jumps in.



  			LI

  		(enraged)

  	Stop it!  You don't deserve the

  	Green Destiny.



  			JEN

  	Not another lecture!  On guard!



  			LI

  	Let's end this here.



  			JEN

  	Only the sword will settle this.



Jen soars up to the rooftop, with Li right on her tail.



EXT. LAKE - DAY



Jen floats over the lake, Li close behind.



EXT. BAMBOO FOREST - DAY



Jen runs into a sea of bamboo.  She appears to have lost Li

but is not slowing down.  Her white clothes are now stained

with blood and mud.  The wind had picked up and every breeze

sounds like an air attack by Li.



The two leap onto the tips of the bamboo trees and begin

their dances and dodges.  They glance off bamboos and each

other while staying afloat.  Finally Jen lands on the same

stick of bamboo as Li.  The two hold their positions for a

while, as the bamboo bends.



  			LI

  	I only let you go because I wanted

  	to see the real you.



Jen tries to shake Li off the bamboo but Li recovers nicely.



  			JEN

  	What do you know about a true heart?



Li suddenly leaps off the bamboo tree.  The bamboo

straightens up and throws Jen toward the ground.  Jen

quickly pulls herself up and charges at Li.



Jen chases after Li, into a clearing, out of the bamboo

forest.



EXT. RIVER - DAY



Jen finally catches up to Li, who is standing on a rock

about a few feet wide amid the rapids.  Jen vaults onto the

rock and scuffles with Li.  Jen loses her balance.



  			JEN

  	What do you want?



  			LI

  	What I've always wanted, to teach

  	you.



  			JEN

  	All right.  If you can take back

  	the sword in three moves, I'll go

  	with you.



Li takes the sword back.



  			JEN

  	Give it back!



  			LI

  	Kneel!



  			JEN

  	Never!



  			LI

  	Then you have no use for the sword.



Li throws the sword into the rapids.



Jen dives in to retrieve it.  He follows Jen downstream by

hopping from one rock to another.  Jen recovers the sword

but is herself drowning.  Suddenly Jade Fox swings into the

rapids and fishes Jen out.  Jade Fox carries the unconscious

Jen away.  Li gives chase, but loses them.



INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY



It's raining.  Inside an old factory, Fox heats some medicine

paste and then dips a needle in the paste.  She burns the

needle point, causing a blue smoke.  She lights some incense

and puts it in a burner near Jen, who is barely conscious.



  			FOX

  	Sooner or later, they'd drag you

  	back to Peking.  Your parents will

  	never accept you again.  But why go

  	home?  We've gone this far, we

  	won't stop now.  You'll always be

  	my lady.  At last, we'll be our own

  	masters.  We'll be happy.  That's

  	the most important thing.  All we

  	have left is each other, right?

  	Lie down and rest.



Jen is too weak to respond.



Fox leaves Jen clutching the Green Destiny.



EXT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY



Fox scurries ahead in the rain.  Her eyes catch something,

but she keeps moving.



INT. YUAN COMPOUND - DAY



Aunt Wu finishes bandaging Yu.



  			AUNT WU

  	She's crazy.  You should have

  	killed her.



  			YU

  	I didn't have the heart.



  			AUNT WU

  	Well, Li Mu Bai can do it.



Yu senses movement at the window.  Looking out, she sees

Jade Fox in the distance.



INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY



Jen wakes up, flushed from fever.  She takes a sip from a

cup of water -- it's empty.  She tosses the cup, gets up,

and walks into the rain.



EXT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY



Jen walks out, raises her face into the rain, and drinks the

raindrops.  Thirst quenched, she turns around and finds Li

standing there.  Jen limps towards him while mumbling.



  			JEN

  	Is it me or the sword you want?



Jen falls into Li, who checks her pulse and looks at her eyes.



  			LI

  	You've been drugged!



Li carries her inside, kicking away the incense burner.



INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY



Li lays his hands on Jen's back; she slowly comes to.



  			LI

  	Where is Jade Fox?



Jen gestures that she doesn't know.  Yu and Bo enter.  Yu

looks at Jen.



  			YU

  	What happened?



  			LI

  	Jade Fox drugged her.  How did you

  	get here?



  			YU

  	We followed Jade Fox.



Instantaneously, a flurry of darts flies directly in Jen's

direction.  Li and Yu swipe miraculously at them all,

sending them flinging hither and thither.



Fox shows herself.  Li attacks her.  She falls back, bleeding

to death.



  			LI

  	And so you die.



Li touches his neck.



  			FOX

  	And so shall you!



Li pulls a single needle from his neck.



  			YU

  	A poisoned needle!



  			FOX

  	You deserve to die, but the life I

  	was hoping to take... was Jen's.

  	Ten years I devoted to you.  But

  	you deceived me!  You hid the

  	manual's true meaning.  I never

  	improved... but your progress was

  	limitless!  You know what poison is?

  	An eight-year-old girl, full of

  	deceit.  That's poison!  Jen!  My

  	only family... my only enemy...



Jade Fox dies.



  			YU

  	You can't die!  Tell us what poison

  	you used!  You can't die!  Tell us

  	the antidote!  You can't let Li Mu

  	Bai die!



  			JEN

  	She used Purple Yin... Purple Yin

  	poison.  It goes straight to the

  	heart.



  			LI

  	My blood will soon reverse its flow.

  	It's the same poison she used to

  	kill my master.  There is no

  	antidote.



  			YU

  	That can't be!  Everything has an

  	antithesis!  Why not this?



  			JEN

  	The antidote exists.  She taught it

  	to me.  The formula is simple, but

  	it takes time to prepare.  Trust me.

  	As you have helped me, let me help

  	you.



  			LI

  	All right.  Hurry.  I will hold on

  	as long as I can.



  			YU

  		(takes the comb from

  		her hair)

  	Take my horse and go to the compound.

  	Give this to Mrs. Wu.  She'll help

  	you.  Hurry!



  			JEN

  	Spare your energy.  I'll be back!



EXT. ABANDONED FACTORY - NIGHT



Bo is burying Fox in the rain.



EXT. YUAN COMPOUND - NIGHT



The guards surround Jen.  She pushes past them.



  			JEN

  	Where is Mrs. Wu?



Aunt Wu comes running out.



  			AUNT WU

  	Stop it!



Jen pulls out Yu's comb.



  			JEN

  	Shu Lien told me to show you this.



  			AUNT WU

  	Let her in.



INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - NIGHT



Yu sits across from Li, whose pose is almost meditational,

eerily calm.



  			YU

  	Mu Bai, hold on.  Give me some

  	hope...



  			LI

  	Shu Lien...



  			YU

  	Save your strength.



  			LI

  	My life is departing.  I've only

  	one breath left.



  			YU

  	Use it to meditate.  Free yourself

  	from this world as you have been

  	taught.  Let your soul rise to

  	eternity with your last breath.  Do

  	not waste it... for me.



  			LI

  	I've already wasted my whole life.

  	I want to tell you with my last

  	breath... I have always loved you.

  	I would rather be a ghost, drifting

  	by your side... as a condemned

  	soul... than enter heaven without

  	you.  Because of your love... I

  	will never be a lonely spirit.



Yu cries.



She kisses him lightly.  He closes his eyes.



EXT. PATH - DAY



As the sun rises, Jen rides speedily, clutching the medicine

in her hands.



INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY



Li is in Yu's arms.  They're holding hands.  The sun shines

in.  Yu slowly releases Li's stiff fingers -- he is dead.



Jen is at the door.



  			JEN

  	He's gone?



Bo peeks over Jen's shoulder.



Yu rises and picks up Green Destiny.  Jen kneels.  Yu raises

the sword, but doesn't kill her.



  			YU

  	Bo... please take this sword back

  	to Sir Te.



He takes the sword from her.



  			YU

  		(to Jen)

  	Now you must go to Wudan Mountain.

  	Lo awaits you there.  Promise me

  	one thing, whatever path you take

  	in this life... be true to yourself.



EXT. WU TAN TEMPLE - DAY



Jen climbs up toward the temple, finally reaching the temple

gate, and sees Lo standing there.



He runs to her.  She greets him.



INT. WU TAN TEMPLE - MAGIC



Jen and Lo make love.



INT. WU TAN TEMPLE - DAY



Lo wakes up to find the jade comb on the pillow beside him,

Jen gone.



EXT. WU TAN MOUNTAIN - DAY



Lo catches up to Jen, who stands on a bridge.  The gorges

below are shrouded in clouds.  She looks back at him.



  			JEN

  	Do you remember the legend of the

  	young man?



  			LO

  	"A faithful heart makes wishes come

  	true."



  			JEN

  	Make a wish, Lo.



Lo pauses.



  			LO

  		(closing his eyes)

  	To be back in the desert, together

  	again.



Jen smiles, turns, and leaps into the clouds.  They seem to

catch her gently, before she disappears into them.



Lo remains standing, a smile on his face, tears rolling down

his cheeks.



THE END.