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' 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
embarrassing 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 could 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 waist.
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 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.