"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？
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 carriage. 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. PEKING - DAY
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. 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！
