The Killer
By
Walter Hill
Based on the Hong Kong Action Film by
John Woo
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. l.
FADE IN:
EXT. LANTAU ISLAND - NIGHT
The largest of Hong Kong's outlying islands...
Rural villages.
Not much evidence of the twentieth century except television aerials --
Dominated by a mountain at it's center.
LANTAU PEAK
A thousand meters high.
Remote.
Isolated.
A road winds up through clouds to an ancient Buddhist monastery ~t the top of
the hill.
INT. PO LIN MONASTERY - NIGHT
The walls lined with traditional Buddhist paintings and statues.
Thousands of candles illuminate an enormous image of the seated Buddha.
A gray robed MONK moves through the room lighting more candles --
JEFF
Appears in the doorway.
Suit, tie, overcoat, scarf.
He removes his shoes.
Enters the room.
TEMPLE
He walks to the front of the shrine.
Lights a joss stick, places it on the altar...
Tums and walks to the back of the room.
Sits down next to a MAN --
Similarly dressed, same age.
Chinese.
Carries a briefcase.
SIDNEY
Do you follow the eight fold path?
He hands Jeff the briefcase --
4/6/92 D.G., %W.H. 2.
SIDNEY
I used to come here when, I was very young. My
Father brought me. He thought it was a place of
perfect tranquility...Do you believe in God?
JEFF
(smiles)
Everyone believes in God.
SIDNEY
There are atheists --
JEFF
They believe in luck. It's the same thing.
Jeff snaps open the briefcase.
INSERT - INSIDE THE BRIEFCASE
A thick layer of sealed packets containing fresh Swiss banknotes.
Two 9mm WALTHERS.
A photograph of a middle aged CHINESE MAN.
SIDNEY
Want to count it?
JEFF
I trust you.
SIDNEY
You know who he is?
Jeff knows.
SIDNEY
You have a problem?
e
Jeff doesn't.
Closes the briefcase.
SIDNEY
A very bad man -- Nobody will ever miss him.
SOUND OVER - JENNY'S SONG BEGINS:
A slow, sad, distinctly Chinese song.
The musical accompaniment is Western.
Blues guitar.
Keyboards.
The voice is a woman's.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 3.
JEFF
As he walks through the temple --
EXT. PO LIN MONASTERY - NIGHT
Jeff comes out the huge doors.
Looks off at the city of Hong Kong across the harbor --
A million lights.
Beautiful, cooly remote...
JEFF - VERY CLOSE
The look in his eyes --
A moment of contemplation --
Tinged with regret?
He turns and moves off as THE SONG continues...
DISSOLVE.
EXT. TSIMSHATSUI DISTRICT - KOWLOON - NIGHT
The heart of Hong Kong's night life --
A massive NEON EXPLOSION of bars, restaurants, shops, cocktail lounges...
Five star luxe class hotels the size of airline terminals.
Nightclubs with lavish floor shows --
Chic discos -- every possible kind of restaurant...
EXT. WUCHOW DRAGON NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
On a side street off Nathan road --
A small private club.
Rolls', Daimlers, Mercedes parked in front --
An elegant building with a traditional Chinese facade.
INT. WUCHOW DRAGON NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
Expensively decorated with lacquered furniture, Chinese antiques --
A few knots of men at tables laden with bottles of liquor. Cognac, expensive Scotch...
Hostesses in Cheong Sams --
All nationalities.
Private rooms in back for gambling, opium, deals, sex...
Against the wall on a platform performing THE SONG;
A three piece group with a Woman Singer.
She is JENNY KWAN.
Late twenties. Beautiful.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 4.
JEFF
Dark suit, top coat, silk scarf --
He declines the hat check.
Looks over the room.
Sees Jenny for the first time --
JENNY KWAN
Singing --
For a brief moment their eyes meet --
VESTIBULE
A HOSTESS approaches Jeff.
He follows her through the Main Room past Jenny --
Toward the private cubicles...
As JENNY'S SONG ENDS --
INT. PRIVATE ROOM - WUCHOW DRAGON
High stakes PAI KAO.
The MAN IN THE BRIEFCASE PHOTO, and three others at the table --
Big time CHINESE GANGSTERS.
And they look it.
Tough, cruel, very ugly.
BODYGUARDS stand around lean against the walls fill the doorways...
No noise except the SLAPPING of the tiles on the table as the game progresses.
INT. CORRIDOR - WUCHOW DRAGON
The Hostess speaks quietly to Jeff - indicates down the hallway --
then leaves.
Jeff moves down the corridor, eyes the doorways
Stops near the fourth door...
He leans up against the wall outside the room.
Pulls on a pair of thin white gloves.
Brings one of the WALTHERS up out of his coat --
Knocks lightly on the door.
A BODYGUARD cautiously opens the door.
And the FIREFIGHT BEGINS --
Jeff FIRES TWO SHOTS into his stomach.
Then drives into him, forcing the door open --
Rolls into the room...
4/6/92 D.G., %W.H. 5.
INT. PRIVATE ROOM - WUCHOW DRAGON
Jeff lands on his back, now with a pistol in each hand --
BLOWS AWAY the two GUARDS.
MAN IN THE PHOTO
Reaches for his gun --
JEFF
Immediately on his feet with his arms extended in each direction -- A cross with a gun
at each end.
He looks down the barrel of the pistol in his right hand.
It's trained on the Man In The Photo.
Without looking he SHOOTS a GUARD drawing a gun behind him.
MAN IN THE PHOTO
His gun half drawn --
Staring at the barrel of Jeff s gun pointed at him...
JEFF
Hesitates...
Then BLASTS a hole in the man's forehead.
FIRES three more in his chest with the other gun.
Wheels around and BLOWS AWAY a THUG who has come through the door behind
him.
The SOUND of a SHOTGUN PUMP --
Jeff leaps to his right as the SHOTGUN FIRES.
He avoids the full impact of the BLAST --
Takes some PELLETS in his back.
SMALL BAR
The BARTENDER pumps the shotgun for a second BLAST --
Jeff moves toward him CONTINUOUSLY FIRING both pistols.
Every bullet rips into the Bartender's body.
His second pellet blast FIRES uselessly into the ceiling.
JEFF
Out of ammunition and targets...
He drops both pistols --
Starts for the door.
4/6/92 D.G., O'.H. 6.
SMALL BAR
An already WOUNDED THUG finds life --
Goes for the BARTENDER'S SHOTGUN... --
WIDE SHOT
Jeff sees one of the Thug's PISTOLS on the card table --
He steps on the edge of the table, catapulting the revolver through the air and into his
hand!
Aims and FIRES.
THUG
JERKING and TWISTING as the slugs TEAR into him --
JEFF
Turns and walks to the doorway.
Hears a SOUND.
He raises the pistol to fire, stops when he sees...
JENNY
Standing in the doorway.
She freezes.
Jeff s gun pointed at her head --
JEFF & JENNY
He holds the gun on her.
A BULLET SPLINTERS the door jamb beside his head.
She jumps out of the way.
Jeff BLASTS a THUG in the distance behind her --
INT. CORRIDOR - WUCHOW DRAGON
Jenny runs down the corridor back toward the main room of the club...
Jeff gaining on her from behind --
He Tackles her just as ANOTHER THUG FIRES a blast --
Intended for him --
It would have hit her...
From the floor Jeff BLASTS the THUG before he can fire again --
Jenny struggles to get up --
ANOTHER THUG with a gun appears en the other side of her.
Jeff shoots across Jenny's face --
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 7.
JENNY - IN JEFF'S ARMS
The MUZZLE FLASH of the gun firing --
An inch in front of her eyes...
THUG
Killed instantly
JENNY & JEFF
Jenny SCREAMING...
Thrashing around, violently, blindly --
Blood pouring from her eyes.
Jeff tries to hold her down --
She struggles away from him --
Never stops SCREAMING.
Jeff holds her down, bandages her eyes with his silk scarf.
She SCREAMS, SCREAMS, SCREAMS again...
He holds on to her -- then lets go -- moves off --
Face contorted in grief.
DISSOLVE.
INT. PO LIN MONASTERY - LANTAU ISLAND - NIGHT
The face of the Buddha fills the screen...
Serene, immutable.
Jeffs SCREAM echoes o.s.
JEFF
Stripped to the waist.
Lying on his stomach --
He SCREAMS AGAIN in agony...
TEMPLE
Behind Jeff, Sidney works with a forceps --
Pulling a slug out of his back.
Clunk.
Drops the pellet in a bowl held by a GRAY-ROBED NUN with a shaved head.
It isn't the only slug in the bowl.
SIDNEY
They took her to the Royal Hong Kong. Straight to
Emergency. I know a woman who works there. We
can find out how she's doing.
JEFF
You've already talked to her?
4/6/92 D.G.. V'.H. 8.
SIDNEY
Yes. She says her condition doesn't seem very good.
DISSOLVE.
INT. ROYAL HONG KONG HOSPITAL WARD - JENNY'S FACE
Hands remove the gauze bandages covering her eyes.
The area around them is black and bruised, scabbed.
She tries to focus --
Panic begins when she realizes she can't see --
JENNY
I can't see...
DOCTOR V.O.
...the impact from the bullet exploding out of the
gun...
JENNY
I can't see.
DOCTOR V.O.
...may have damaged the optic --
JENNY
Will I be blind?
WIDER
She turns, faces the doctor, a nurse --
And hovering not too far away...SERGEANT CHANG.
DOCTOR
Can you see anything?
JENNY
Light. Shapes. Everything's blurred. Nothing's
clear.
DOCTOR
It may only be temporary. It depends on the
amount of damage to the optic nerve...
JENNY
Will I be blind?
DOCTOR
There's no way to tell right now.
Jenny begins to quietly weep...
CHANG
I'm Sergeant Chang from the police. Did you see the
man who did this to you?
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 9.
Her face changes as she remembers --
CHANG
Could you describe him?
SUBLIMINAL SHOT - JEFF
As Jenny remembers him.
Jeff standing full front --
Both hands hang at his sides...
He raises the hand with a PISTOL.
Levels it straight at CAMERA.
FIRES.
A WASH OF BLOOD seeps across the screen --
INT. ROYAL HONG KONG HOSPITAL WARD - JENNY
She covers her face with her hands...
JENNY
Please leave me alone.
CHANG
I'm sorry...
JENNY
Please.
Chang just looks at her.
DISSOLVE.
EXT. STREET - WANCHAI DISTRICT - NIGHT
A blitz of NEON.
Bars and clubs.
Wanchai is the older decaying sister of the Tsimshatsui District --
A little worn under the garish make-up.
JENNY SINGS O.S.
The same SONG from earlier...
TITLE: SIX MONTHS LATER.
INT. PALE FLOWER COCKTAIL LOUNGE - WANCHAI - NIGHT
A small bar with a few simple wooden tables.
Indifferent decor.
4/6/92 D.G.. M/.H. 10.
Jenny accompanies herself on an electric keyboard.
Wears dark glasses...
JEFF
sits alone at a table.
Nursing a drink.
Watching her --
As the K)NG continues...
EXT. KAI TAK AIRPORT - DAY
A 747 bumps down on the tarmac.
Taxis to the terminal --
INT. TERMINAL - PASSPORT CONTROL - KAI TAK - DAY
Chang and a UNIFORMED COP wait by the passport control desk.
The Uniform directs Chang's attention to A BLACK MAN in a dark suit.
Chang approaches him.
CHANG
Excuse me, are you F.B.I. Agent Lee?
LEE
How'd you guess?
CHANG
Welcome to Hong Kong. I hope you will have a
productive visit.
LEE
Thank you. I look forward to getting acquainted.
CHANG
Your first visit to Hong Kong?
LEE
Yes. My first time here.
CHANG
My superiors are looking forward to meeting you.
LEE
It will be my pleasure, I'm sure.
This completes the official bullshit.
They look at one another.
Smile.
4/6/92 D.G.. V/.H. I l.
INT. ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE HQ - SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS'
OFFICE - DAY
The space still feels grandly colonial.
Overhead fans.
Parquet floors.
ROGERS sits behind his desk, examining Lee's credentials.
English, middle aged.
Uniformed.
ROGERS
I've been asked to give you all the help I can. I'm
afraid that will be very little. We have rather a lot of
our own problems just at the moment.
LEE
The man in the picture is wanted on Federal charges
in the United States.
He points to a PHOTOGRAPH in the dossier in front of Rogers.
Rogers picks it up.
INSERT - PHOTOGRAPH
A candid shot of Jeff in a restaurant --
OFFICE
Rogers drops the photo.
ROGERS
As I told you on the telephone, neither his name nor
his picture shows up on our computer.
LEE
Our sources say that he's living in Hong Kong...
Rogers is reading the file.
ROGERS
He's charged with "depriving a citizen of his civil
rights"..? You'll pardon me, but this seems a rather
trivial offense...
LEE
He deprived this citizen of his civil rights by putting
seven bullets in his head and body.
ROGERS
I'm told there are hundreds of murders a day in your
country. What's so special about this one to take you
so far out of your jurisdiction?
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 12.
LEE
This particular citizen was a politician. Corrupt,
Mafia connected, a drug trafficker, but a politician.
So the Bureau does not want to appear unenthusiastic
in the pursuit of his killer.
ROGERS
You'll pardon my own lack of enthusiasm.
LEE
We also believe he is a contract killer with at least
twenty-five notches on his gun.
ROGERS
(perfunctory)
Not a bad number. You'll find killers for hire are
rather common in Hong Kong...Of course we'll help
you in any way we can.
LEE
I'll try not to be a burden.
ROGERS
Please remember you have neither authority nor
jurisdiction here, which means if you do find him,
you will inform us and we will decide what action, if
any, is to be taken. You are not to apprehend him in
any way yourself. Do you understand me?
LEE
Perfectly.
ROGERS
And I'll have your gun.
LEE
I don't carry it on social occasions.
ROGERS
You will not carry a gun on any occasion in the
Colony.
LEE
I wouldn't dream of it.
This actually gets a smile from Rogers.
ROGERS
As you're here, there is something you could do for
us. If you'd like..?
LEE
(smiles)
I hope ii doesn't involve carrying a gun.
Rogers is already speaking into intercom.
4/6/92 D.G.. W.H. 13.
ROGERS
Ask Sergeant Chang to come in, please.
INT. PALE FLOWER NIGHTCLUB - WANCHAI - NIGHT
Another night.
Jenny sings ANOTHER SONG.
There is an oversized brandy snifter on top of her keyboard.
Across the way Jeff stands at the bar, watching her.
He finishes his drink.
Approaches Jenny.
Jeff puts a wad of bills in the snifter --
Lingers a moment.
She feels his presence.
Turns her dead eyes in his direction.
JENNY
Do you have a request?
JEFF
I'm sorry. I only speak English.
JENNY
Do you wish a request?
He can't answer.
Moves away.
EXT. STREET - WANCHAI - NIGHT
Some of the other clubs on the street are already closed.
Others are closing.
Jeff comes out of the Pale Flower.
Lights a cigarette.
Moves off down the street.
INT. PALE FLOWER NIGHTCLUB - WANCHAI - NIGHT
Jenny is packing up to leave.
She takes the money from the snifter.
Puts it in her purse.
A WAITER tries to help her to the door --
JENNY
It's all right, I can manage by myself.
WAITER
Do you have a ride home?
JENNY
There's a cab stand at the end of the street.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 14
WAITER
Wait a minute. I'll walk with you..
JENNY
Please. I'll be all right by myself.
She knows the way out.
No need for the white cane she carries.
EXT. STREET - WANCHAI - NIGHT
Jenny comes out of the nightclub.
Turns left and starts up the street.
Now she needs the cane --
Behind her a MOTORCYCLE comes slowly up the street.
TWO RIDERS.
They trail her for a moment.
Speed up --
The passenger GRABS Jenny's bag.
Knocks her over.
The Driver accelerates...
Gets about ten feet. Jeff suddenly appears out of the shadows --
A FLYING KICK sends Driver and Passenger sprawling.
The motorcycle CRASHES into a flower stand --
JEFF
Pounces on the Kid with Jenny's bag
Grabs the bag as the Driver runs off.
Jeff indicates the other Kid should follow him --
He does.
And fast.
JENNY
On her hands and knees groping for her cane --
Jeff comes over to her.
Tries to help her up --
She thinks it's one of the muggers --
Wrenches free.
JENNY
Help! Get away from me.
JEFF
Wait...
She finds her cane and swings it at him.
He catches it.
Then grabs her hands.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 15.
JEFF
I m trying to help you.
She stops struggling.
JENNY
I'm sorry.
JEFF
Are you all right?
He hands her her bag.
JENNY
Thank you. Is this my bag?
JEFF
Yes. A couple of guys on a motorcycle tried to take
it. They're gone now.
JENNY
You got it back?
JEFF
It's all over now. Can I take you home?
JENNY
Thank you, but you've done enough for me already --
Starts to move off.
He falls into step next to her --
JEFF
Then, maybe you can reward me by letting me take
you home.
JENNY
You were in the club. You spoke to me, left me
money --
JEFF
I come a lot to hear you sing --
She takes his arm.
They move down the street.
JENNY
You're an American?
JEFF
From New York. It's almost the same thing. My
name is Jeff.
4/6/92 D.G.. W.H. 16.
JENNY
You speak no Cantonese?
JEFF
Twenty or thirty words...
JENNY
Then you don't understand the songs?
JEFF
It's probably better that way. Here's the car.
A BMW 850.
He opens the door and helps her into the car.
It's difficult for her.
JENNY
I hate being so helpless...
He adjusts the safety belt around her.
JENNY
I hate it. I'll never get used to it.
As he closes the door --
INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - MONGKOK DISTRICT - KOWLOON -
NIGHT
The apartment is simple and spare.
A piano.
Sophisticated sound system.
Jeff opens the door and turns on a LIGHT --
JEFF
Would you like me to have a look around? Just to be
safe?
JENNY
Thank you. Coming home alone still scares me.
JEFF
Don't you have a boyfriend?
JENNY
I got rid of him. I feel sorry enough for myself. I
didn't need any more help.
Jeff looks around the apartment.
Stops near a high table.
Looks at some photographs of Jenny --
Winning a talent contest.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 17.
Playing tennis.
An album cover.
It's painful for him.
JEFF
You sure that's the way he felt?
JENNY
It's the way I felt... Would you like something to
drink? I think I have some brandy.
JEFF
I don't want to keep you up.
JENNY
You won't be. Please have a drink. I'll have one too.
She has moved to a cabinet and is fumbling among the bottles.
JEFF
I can get it.
JENNY
It might be better. At least you'll know what you're
getting. I'm still not too good at fumbling in the
dark.
He moves to the cabinet.
JEFF
You can't see at all?
JENNY
I can see light. Shapes.
He's poured two snifters of cognac.
Gives her one.
Jenny lifts the glass to toast him.
JENNY
(smiles)
'Brighter days ahead.
They drink.
JEFF
Isn't there anything that can be done? An operation
or something?
JENNY
No. The optic nerve is damaged. They say it might
heal by itself, but it might not.
On the nearby coat rack Jeff sees his scarf --
From the night of the shooting.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 18.
Blood stained.
He touches it...
JENNY
Wouldn't you like to sit down?
He doesn't move.
JENNY
You're looking at the scarf, aren't you?
JEFF
The bloodstains are yours?
JENNY
The man who did this to me used it to bandage me.
JEFF
Why do you keep it?
JENNY
I keep momentos of all the big events in my life.
Jeff doesn't have much to say to this.
JENNY
I'm sorry I'm so bitter, but I can't stop myself --
I should be brave and cheerful. Positive and op-
timistic. But, I don't feel any of that. Maybe I will
sometime, but not now. I'm blind and depressed and
bad tempered. Good company, don't you think?
JEFF
I was never crazy about brave and cheerful.
He sits down next to her.
JENNY
I haven't seen my face in six months. I wonder if I've
lost my looks.
JEFF
You don't have to worry.
JENNY
Are you feeling sorry for me or taking advantage of
me?
JEFF
Both.
He kisses her.
She accepts the kiss.
Seems to enjoy it.
Then suddenly pulls back...
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 19.
JENNY
I think you should go.
She stands. So does he.
JEFF
Can I see you again?
JENNY
No. It's not a good idea.
JEFF
I'd like to.
JENNY
I sing every night in a bar. You can see me there.
JEFF
Okay. I'll see you tomorrow.
Moves to the door.
Looks back and smiles.
Realizes it's a smile she'll never see.
Turns and goes.
EXT. STREET - ABERDEEN DISTRICT - NIGHT
A white Daimler rolling along a quiet, narrow street --
INT. DAIMLER - CHANG - LEE
Chang drives.
Lee practices shoving a speed loader into a .357 Magnum.
CHANG
It's perfect. Eddy'll never make you for a cop.
LEE
You don't think I look like a police officer?
CHANG
Not like a local cop anyway.
LEE
Your man Eddy is a pretty bad boy?
CHANG
Not just bad. Insane. And no problem pulling the
trigger.
LEE
Great. Tell me about him. Make me hate him.
!
t
4/6/92 D.G., %W.H. 20.
CHANG
He's the local front man for the Chinese military.
They've supplied guns to every terrorist organization
you can think of. Sikhs, Tamils, Khmer Rouge...
LEE
And who do I represent?
CHANG
Unspecified. You're just a businessman. If
something~ goes wrong, don't give it a second
thought. Shoot first and ask questions later.
LEE
What's going to go wrong?
EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - DOWNTOWN HONG KONG - NIGHT
The shell of a fifty story skyscraper.
Deserted for the night.
A VAN is parked on the street in front.
Blackened rear windows.
TWO MEN visible.
Smoking cigarettes as they wait.
The Daimler pulls up.
The van turns on its HEADLIGHTS.
Lee and Chang get out of Daimler.
EDDY and a THUG get out of the van.
CHANG
Eddy. sorry we're late.
EDDY
This the customer?
CHANG
Tony Lee say hello to Eddy.
Eddy and Tony shake hands. Eddy laughs.
EDDY
Lee, huh?
A quick burst of Cantonese from Eddy to his companion.
-- Evidently a joke.
LEE
What's so funny?
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 21.
CHANG
This guy's name is Li. Eddy says maybe he's our
cousin.
LEE
More likely my brother. My old man got around
pretty good.
Chang translates.
Everybody but Li laughs.
Quick, nervous laughs.
EDDY
Let's see the money.
Chang opens the briefcase.
Shows it to Eddy.
Lined with MONEY.
He takes a packet out --
Tosses it to Eddy.
CHANG
Now, let's see the guns.
Eddy POUNDS on the hood of the van.
The rear door opens.
TWO HENCHMEN get out.
Both carrying suitcases --
They put them on the ground.
Open them.
Assault rifles, automatic weapons, pistols...
Lots of guns.
Lee goes over to examine them.
Picks up a hand gun.
Puts it through a quick inspection: trigger action magazine, chamber ejection... -
A warning NOISE from Li --
The Henchmen quickly pack up the bags.
A TRAFFIC COP on a MOTORCYCLE pulls up.
COP
What's going on here'
CHANG
Nothing. Just a little reunion.
COP
What's in the suitcases?
CHANG
Ladies underwear. The spring line.
COP
Let's have a look.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 22.
Chang takes out his wallet.
CHANG
Officer, do we really...
COP
Open 'em up. Now!
Eddy bends to open the suitcase.
Suddenly turns.
Pulls a PISTOL out of his waist band --
BLASTS the cop!
Chang SHOUTS at him --
Eddy turns the gun on Chang.
EDDY
What the fuck is this?! A set up?! You trying to set
me up?! You a cop?!
He sticks the gun right up Chang's nose.
CHANG
What are you talking about?! You know me!
EDDY
I don't know you from shit!
Eddy's friends have their guns out.
Two cover Lee.
The other levels down on Chang --
CHANG
I'm no cop.
LEE
Cut this shit out and let's do business.
EDDY
Sure. Here's how this deal is going to work. I take
the money~ keep the guns, and kill you. How does
that sound~
Before he's got the last words out --
Lee KICKS the legs out from one Thug,
Throws the other one into Eddy --
Dives to the ground.
The Thug covering Chang SHOOTS at Lee.
Misses.
Chang draws and BLASTS him.
Lee rolls and comes up, gun in hand --
BLASTING.
One Thug takes a bullet sandwich while firing at Lee --
Chang jumps on Eddy....
Thug #3 SHOOTS Chang in the leg, then BLAM! BLAM!
4/6/92 D.G., %W.H. 23.
Takes two bullets from Lee.
The big slugs death-dance him backward.
Eddy takes off running --
Lee checks on Chang, moving quickly to his side.
CHANG
I'm all right! Get him! Kill that fucker! Kill him!!
Lee takes off after Eddy --
EDDY
Running down the street.
Hears FOOTSTEPS
Turns.
Lee chasing him.
Gaining on him.
Eddy FIRES a wild shot.
He turns a corner --
LEE
Full stride --
Races around the same comer...
EXT. STREET - DOWNTOWN HONG KONG - NIGHT
Cars, people, lights.
Eddy twenty yards away.
Kneeling in the firing position.
Aims, FIRES.
Lee hits the pavement.
Eddy FIRES again.
Then runs into a crowded intersection --
Lee chases...
INTERSECTION - CITY STREETS - DOWNTOWN HONG KONG
More TRAFFIC.
Cars, buses, trucks, pedestrians --
Lee runs into the intersection.
No sign of Eddy.
Hundreds of Chinese faces.
But only one black man with a gun...
People scatter out of his way --
He sees...
EDDY
Boarding a CROWDED STREETCAR --
4/6/92 D.G., %W.H. 24.
LEE
Runs toward the streetcar --
People cutting him a wide swath...
STREETCAR
It moves off down the track.
Eddy looks out the window.
Sees Lee running toward the streetcar.
He'll never make it.
Eddy sits down next to A MIDDLE-AGED COUPLE.
Safe.
LEE
The streetcar pulling away from him.
He turns on the speed.
Chases down the track.
Running like hell.
Catches it. Jumps on the back platform.
INT. STREETCAR
Lee comes into the car.
Gun out.
LEE'S POV
Terrified people trying to get out of his way.
He sights Eddy now cringing behind a WOMAN.
Reaching for his pistol.
LEE
Raises his gun.
Takes careful aim.
People SCREAMING.
LEE
Freeze!
EDDY
Grabs the Woman as a shield with one hand.
Raises the gun with the other.
4/6/92 D.G., ~W.H. 25.
LEE
Shoots.
EDDY R WOMAN
The bullet SLAMS Eddie in the head.
He drops the gun and the Woman.
Blown backward on to a seat --
The Woman falls to the floor --
Her body constricts.
Shock.
Convulsions.
Coronary.
STREETCAR
Lee makes sure Eddy's dead.
Immediately begins giving the woman CPR.
Pounds on her chest.
Breathes into her mouth and nose.
People standing around frozen --
LEE
Help me! Goddammit! Help me!
As a WOMAN kneels to aid him --
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE H.Q. -
DAY
Rogers, Chang and Lee.
Several suited POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER
He should be deported and shipped out on the next
plane.
ROGERS
He was on special assignment at my request.
COMMISSIONER
We don't have enough cowboys and kung fu killers
of our own? You have to turn some trigger happy
American G-man loose on the streets with a gun?
ROGERS
It was in the line of duty...
4/6/92 D.G., V'.H. 26.
COMMISSIONER
On a crowded bus. With a woman directly in his line
of fire.
LEE
This guy had just killed a cop, shot two innocent
bystanders -- More innocent lives were in danger so I
shot him. You think I should have waited for him
to shoot me? Maybe a few more civilians?
COMMISSIONER
The woman died of a heart attack. You might as
well have shot her.
ROGERS
Just a moment. He shot one of the most vicious
criminals in the Colony. That the woman died is
regrettable...
COMMISSIONER
(Incredulous)
Regrettable ..?
ROGERS
Tragic, if you like, but not due to any irresponsibility
or dereliction on his part.
COMMISSIONER
He should never have been on the street with a gun.
ROGERS
That was my decision. And I will take full
responsibility for it.
COMMISSIONER
Yes, you will.
Silence.
There's nothing else for the Commissioner to say.
Rogers knows it.
CHANG
I think he ought to get a medal for killing the son of a
bitch.
INT. CORRIDOR - ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE H.Q. - DAY
Lee, Chang and Rogers leave the conference room --
LEE
You're a stand up guy. Thanks.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 27.
ROGERS
I didn't mean a word of it. I think you're a fucking
menace to public safety --
LEE
Come on. You love me.
ROGERS
I want you to get your business done and get the hell
out of Hong Kong before there's any more carnage.
LEE
Help me find my man and I'm outta here.
ROGERS
Sergeant Chang you are to assist Mr. Lee in any way
you can that does not involve the slaughter of
innocent civilians.
INT. PALE FLOWER NIGHTCLUB - WANCHAI - NIGHT
Jenny at the piano bar singing.
Jeff comes through the entrance.
Walks to a table.
Passes Jenny.
She seems to sense his presence.
He takes a seat at the piano bar.
Close to her.
She's aware of him.
Knows it's him.
She sings to him.
The song finishes.
A moment...
Wen:
JEFF
How did you know it was me?
JENNY
I don't know. I just knew. Maybe now that I've lost
my sight, my other senses are getting stronger. I've
heard that's supposed to happen.
JEFF
They do that in martial arts training. Blindfold you
and make you use your other senses...I saw a lot of
Kung Fu movies when I was a kid.
o/6/92 D.G., W.H. 28.
EXT. CITY STREET - WANCHAI - NIGHT
Jeff and Jenny walk through the crowded NEON wilderness.--
JEFF
Last night you asked me if I felt sorry for you...I do.
I feel terrible about what happened to you.
She stops, looks at him
JEFF
You've already had enough sympathy. I know. You
said that too.
JENNY
Now I'm sorry about the way I talked last night.
JEFF
Are you going to apologize for feeling sorry for
yourself!
JENNY
I was. Stupid, huh?
JEFF
Do you want to get back at the one who did it to you?
JENNY
I'd like to make him blind...
A moment.
JENNY
I think he feels guilty. He tried to help me. After it
happened...He didn't do it on purpose.
JEFF
Then, you forgive him?
JENNY
No. I don't forgive him...I don't really want to talk
about this anymore.
She starts to pull away -- he takes her arm, holds her in place...
JEFF
I'm the one. I'm the one who did it. I shot you.
JENNY
Why do you tell me this? Why did you come back?
JEFF
I came back because I felt guilty. I'm telling you
because I want you. I want to be with you.
4/6/92 D.G.. V'.H. 29.
$he walks away from him -- then stops...After a moment, Jeff again moves tp
her side.
JENNY
You could have stayed with me last night.
JEFF
I couldn't...
JENNY
Why not? It would have been easy. I would have let
you. I was at the end of my resistance. Should I be
afraid? Maybe you're going to kill me?. I'm the only
witness who saw you.
JEFF
Call the police. I won't stop you.
JENNY
Why did you tell me?
JEFF
I don't feel much. At all. Ever. I'm trained not to.
But...I don't know. I had to tell you. I couldn't
deceive you. No matter...what.
JENNY
All day today, I remembered. I was hoping to see
you. I thought maybe you'd come to the bar, but
then I didn't know.
(sighs)
I'm talking to you like I've already slept with you.
You know why?
He shakes his head.
JENNY
You've already changed my life more than any man
I've ever met...
INT. JENNY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Jeff and Jenny are making love.
JENNY
When you make love, do you close your eyes?
JEFF
Sometimes.
4/6/92 D.G., O'.H. 30.
JENNY
I always did. But when you can't open them. It's
not the same. Anyway, I can't really explain it yet.
It's my first time, you know. I mean my first time
since...
He gets out of bed, moves to a cabinet.
Pours two glasses of wine from an open bottle.
JENNY
I thought it was you before you told me.
JEFF
How?
JENNY
Wouldn't you know me in the dark? My smell. My
presence...?
JEFF
Is that really true? (Hai ma?)
JENNY
It's true. (Hai ya).
He returns to the bed, hands her a glass.
JEFF
And you went with me anyway?
JENNY
That's all you need to know about me.
JEFF
You need to know more about me. I'm a killer. I
don't know how to explain it. I'm good at it. I get
paid well. I decide who I'm going to kill. It's w%at I
do. It's all I've ever done. Kill people. But I still
think of myself as a good man. And I want to be
with you. Now. Tomorrow. Next week. Next
month. Next year.
JENNY
You're in love with me. Yes? But you have to be in
love with me to justify hurting someone innocent --
JEFF
You think that's true?
JENNY
Yes. But its' good. I'll have you forever. You have
to live a long time. For me. You owe it to me.
4/6/92 D.G., %W.H. 31.
EXT. CITY STREET - WANCHAI - LONG LENS - DAY
A compressed vista of cars, pedestrians, taxis, signs, flags, trucks...
The teeming city going about its mid-day bustle.
Sidney, carrying a BROWN LEATHER BRIEFCASE, moves through the crowd.
Hops on a groaning, crowded streetcar.
INT. MOVING STREETCAR - WANCHAI - DAY
Sidney picking his way through the densely packed vehicle as it jerks down the
crowded boulevard.
He stops and grabs a strap next to a MAN READING A NEWSPAPER.
Sets his briefcase down --
Next to a similar BRIEFCASE OF BLACK LEATHER at the Man's feet.
The Man reading the newspaper pays no attention to Sidney.
The exit bell RINGS --
Many passengers begin to disembark.
The Man with the newspaper reaches down, grabs Sidney's suitcase and heads for the
exit...
SIDNEY
Watches the man with the newspaper disappear from view through the window as the
streetcar again lurches forward.
Reaches down and picks up the black suitcase.
Finds a seat.
Puts the suitcase across his lap.
Drums his fingers on it for a moment.
Then lights a cigarette.
EXT. HIGH RISE APARTMENT BUILDING - VICTORIA PEAK - DAY
Modem.
Glorious view.
JEFF
Stands on his terrace.
Middle floor.
Looks out on the harbor.
SOUND of a BUZZER.
He Tums and goes back into the apartment.
INT. JEFFS APARTMENT - VICTORIA PEAK - DAY
Sparsely furnished.
Some antiques.
Khmer Buddhas.
Burmese wall hangings.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 32.
Tibetan carpets.
Chinese paintings.
Jeff walks through the apartment to the front door.
Opens it.
Sidney comes in.
Carries the BLACK BRIEFCASE.
JEFF
The briefcase. I guess somebody's got a big
problem.
Jeff walks into the kitchen.
JEFF
'Want a beer?
SIDNEY
Sure.
Jeff appears in the kitchen doorway.
JEFF
How's the action hand?
Throws a can of beer at Sidney.
Sidney drops it.
SIDNEY
Pretty useless.
He raises his right hand, looks at the frozen fingers.
JEFF
If you don't use it, you lose it.
Jeff picks up the can.
Opens it.
Puts it in Sidney's hand.
JEFF
Is it the hand or the nerve?
SIDNEY
Just the hand.
Jeff indicates the briefcase.
JEFF
Let's see what you' got?
SIDNEY
Are you sure?
JEFF
C'mon...
4/6/92 D.G. .. W.H. 33.
Sidney opens the briefcase.
INSERT - BRIEFCASE
A disassembled rifle.
A hand gun.
A photograph.
A smiling, middle aged Chinese man.
JEFF (V.O.)
Tony Weng...
JEFF & SIDNEY
JEFF
I thought he was your boss.
SIDNEY
So did he. That's why my boss wants him dead.
JEFF
So who's your boss?
SIDNEY
It's better you don't know.
JEFF
You're right. I don't want to know...If I do this for
you, Sidney, we're clear forever. I don't owe you
anything else.
SlDNEY
You don't owe me this. You don't owe me anything.
Jeff just looks at him.
SIDNEY
You want it or not?
JEFF
I'll do it. I should do it for free. As a service to
humanity. This guy's a scumbag.
SIDNEY
It won't be easy. He's got heavy protection around
all the time.
JEFF
This is my last job. I'll do it right.
He picks up a gun.
Gives it a quick inspection...
4/6/92 D.G., V'.H. 34.
SIDNEY
Ir must be a woman.
JEFF
Yeah.
SIDNEY
The singer?
Jeff nods.
SIDNEY
Does she know about you?
Nods again.
SIDNEY
That's dangerous.
JEFF
(smiles)
Yeah...It's great.
He sights down the barrel of the gun.
Then looks at it in his hand.
JEFF
Easy to pick up. Hard to put down.
INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY
Jenny and Jeff lie naked on the bed.
Jenny is studying Jeff s face with her hands.
JENNY
I think you must be very handsome.
JEFF
I have to go away for a few days.
JENNY
Don't tell me about it. I don't want to know. I'm
happy now. That's enough.
She kisses him --
JEFF
I have a job. I can't say no to it.
She says nothing.
JEFF
I have to do it. It's the last of that life...
4/6/92 D.G.. W.H. 35.
JENNY
You don't have to do anything. Except be good to
rne.
JEFF
I have to do this. I have a friend. A man. He was
my teacher. He saved my life twice. If I do this for
him, I'm free of him. I won't owe him anything else.
I'll be gone for a couple of days. Then we'll get out
of here. Go live somewhere else.
JENNY
I've got a passport -- There's nothing here I can't
leave in a minute.
JEFF
You're sure you don't hate me?
JENNY
Not now, anyway. I'm too much in love now.
Maybe later.
INT. ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE H.Q. - FILE ROOM - DAY
Lee and Chang looking through files --
Shirt-sleeves...
Ties loosened...
They've been at this for awhile.
LEE
(holding a dossier)
This looks like my man. 'Killed a local Mr. Big and
six heavies. Walks in a nightclub by himself. A gun
in each pocket. Blows away the target and whoever
else gets in his way and walks out.
CHANG
I was on that case.
LEE
You got a whole bunch of eyewitnesses here...Male,
Caucasian, medium height, medium build... That's
the best they could do?
CHANG
I questioned most of them myself. Mainly gang
types. Nobody saw anything.
LEE
What about this girl he blinded?
CHANG
I questioned her. She was in shock. Couldn't
remember what happened.
4/6/92 D.G.. V'.H. 36.
LEE
Anybody talk to her lately?
CHANG
What for? She can't go through the mug books -- or
your photo...
LEE
She can talk. Let's get her in. Put her with an artist
and let her draw us a picture.
Chang doesn't think much of this idea.
LEE
What else you got to do? I'm telling you this is my
man.
CHANG
I have lots to do. Especially today. Unlike you. I'm
not on holiday.
LEE
I thought you were on holiday. Isn't today a holiday?
CHANG
Well, today... Today is a holiday, but...
LEE
What holiday is it?
EXT. HONG KONG HARBOR - DAY
Tuan Yang, The Dragon Boat Festival.
Spectators line the docks.
BOATS of every description dot the Harbor.
Filled with spectators.
The course is surrounded by HUNDREDS OF JUNKS.
Decorated with team colors --
DRAGON BOATS
A HUGE CANOE with a Dragons head carved a'. the bow.
Tail at the stem.
Forty or fifty rowers.
A BIG DRUM in the middle.
A drummer who times the strokes.
Eight boats row into position for the start.
AT THE DOCK
Chang & Lee sit in a POLICE LAUNCH watching.
4/6/92 D.G.. ii'.H. 37.
CHANG
The dragon boat races commemorates the death of
Chu Yuan in 288 B.C. An honest minister of state...
The last one.
THE PUBLIC ADDRESS BLARES --
P.A. VOICE (ENGLISH)
Attention all competitors. Please report to the floating
platform for the opening ceremony.
CHANG
This years honorary chairman is a respected local
businessman who is also the Colony s biggest drug
trafficker.
TONY WENG surrounded by police makes his way across the dock toward a
platform floating at water level.
He smiles and waves to the crowd...
LEE
I see you're people are taking good care of him.
CHANG
Police protection for this scum! His private army's
bigger than the police force!
LEE
What's happens now?
CHANG
He dots the eye of the dragon and the race starts.
ACROSS THE WATER
From behind a lar~e yacht --
A powerful speedboat appears.
Jeff at the wheel.
He takes out a pair of huge binoculars...
Focuses on the dock.
TONY WENG - JEFF'S POV
Through the binoculars --
Tony glad hands the crowd...
Walks down on to the floating platform.
JEFF
Puts down the binoculars --
Takes the scarf from around his neck...
4/6/92 D.G.. ii'.H. 37.
CHANG
The dragon boat races commemorates the death of
Chu Yuan in 288 B.C. An honest minister of state...
The last one.
THE PUBLIC ADDRESS BLARES --
P.A. VOICE (ENGLISH)
Attention all competitors. Please report to the floating
platform for the opening ceremony.
CHANG
This years honorary chairman is a respected local
businessman who is also the Colony s biggest drug
trafficker.
TONY WENG surrounded by police makes his way across the dock toward a
platform floating at water level.
He smiles and waves to the crowd...
LEE
I see you're people are taking good care of him.
CHANG
Police protection for this scum! His private army's
bigger than the police force!
LEE
What's happens now?
CHANG
He dots the eye of the dragon and the race starts.
ACROSS THE WATER
From behind a lar~e yacht --
A powerful speedboat appears.
Jeff at the wheel.
He takes out a pair of huge binoculars...
Focuses on the dock.
TONY WENG - JEFF'S POV
Through the binoculars --
Tony glad hands the crowd...
Walks down on to the floating platform.
JEFF
Puts down the binoculars --
Takes the scarf from around his neck...
4/6/92 D.G., V,'.H. 38.
Wraps it around his left hand.
Pulls the rifle out of its cover.
FLOATING PLATFORM
The boats have gathered at the starting line.
Tony Weng arrives.
The Dragon's Head is presented to him --
JEFF
Shoulders the rifle.
Peers through the scope.
JEFF'S POV - THROUGH THE CROSSHAIRS
The sight passes through the crowd and settles on --
Tony Weng...
As a flag obscures him --
JEFF
Lowers the rifle --
TONY WENG
A tray of paints brought to him.
He traces the brush...
Daubs it in the red paint --
BOATS
Waiting for the signal to start.
The DRUMMER is poised...
STARTER
On the platform the starter raises the starting pistol.
TONY WENG
Paints a red spot in the left eye of the dragon.
Then the right eye. Cheers.
4/6/92 D.G.. V'.H. 39.
DRUMMER
Pounding for all he's worth --
TONY WENG
Clasps his hands over his head --
The victory gesture...
JEFF
Raises the rifle to his shoulder.
FIRES.
TONY WENG - THROUGH THE SCOPE
His face in the CROSSHAIRS.
The bullet makes a small hole in his forehead --
THE RACE
Rowers furiously churning water --
Drums pounding...
PLATFORM
People on the platform gather around Weng's body...
PLAINCLOTHES COPS looking around for the direction of the
shot --
LEE
Scanning the boats with his binoculars...
LEE'S POV
He finds Jeff.
As he drops the rifle into the water --
LEE & CHANG
Lee shouts!
LEE
There!
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 40.
CHANG
Where?
LEE
It's him.
Lee races down the dock for a boat.
Chang follows.
PLATFORM
A COP talking into a walkie talkie.
COP
It came from the direction of the fishing boats. Seal
off the harbor.
LEE R CHANG
Jump into a boat --
Chang starts the engine...
THE RACE - DRAGON BOATS
Rowers paddling furiously --
Cutting off Lee & Chang s boat...
JEFF - THROUGH BINOCULARS
Watches the police milling around.
Sees:
LEE - THROUGH BINOCULARS
His boat trying to maneuver behind the dragon boats.
JEFF
Decides it's time to leave.
He puts the boat in gear --
JEFFS BOAT
Moving slowly away from the FISHING JUNKS.
Turning away from the harbor...
Out into the bay --
4/6/92 D.G.. W'.H. 41.
POLICE LAUNCH
Loaded with COPS --
Prowls the harbor...
LEE & CHANG'S BOAT
Cuts in front of the Police Launch.
Chang gesturing wildly for them to follow.
They don't seem to pay much attention.
The boat quickly ZIG ZAGS between two big yachts --
Heads out toward the bay...
BAY
Jeff comes out into open water.
Lee and Chang in hot pursuit.
Gaining.
JEFF
He looks behind him.
Sees the follow boat...
Jeff cranks up the throttle.
BAY
Jeff s boat kicks into high speed.
Engine SCREAMING.
Pails away from Lee Bc Chang --
LEE R CHANG
Chang pushes the throttle to top speed.
It's not enough.
They're losing him --
BAY
Jeffs boat swings around behind a small island.
Vanishes from sight.
LEE & CHANG
They come around the island.
No sign of Jeff...
4/6/92 D.G.. O'.H. 42.
LEE
Call for some back up. He's got to be around here
someplace.
CHANG
I haven't got a radio.
LEE
What about the boat?
CHANG
How the hell do I know? It's not my boat.
LEE
He's got to be around --
The boat passes another island.
There are a lot of islands in this bay --
EXT. COVE - HONG KONG HARBOR - DAY
Jeff s boat heads into a small cove.
A few fishing boats.
A ramshackle landing.
Fishermen's huts on the beach.
Laundry hanging out to dry.
Nets.
Kids playing in the water.
Woods behind the beach.
Jeffs BMW hidden in the trees --
LANDING
Jeff ties the boat up to the landing.
Walks up toward the beach --
LITTLE GIRL
Five years old.
Playing in the sand.
Smiles.
Waves at Jeff --
JEFF
Waves back...
4/6/92 D.G., li'. I-I. 43.
WOODS
Gunmen.
Camouflaged in the trees...
GUNMAN A~1
A rifle.
Telescopic sight.
He raises it --
JEFF - SNIPER'S POV
Jeff in the CROSSHAIRS.
He leans down to talk to the Little Girl --
Suddenly obscured by hanging laundry.
GUNMAN #I
Lowers the rifle.
Looks O.S.
GUNMAN 02
Leaning against a shack.
Gun drawn.
A THIRD GUNMAN
Behind Jeff s car.
Another gun.
JEFF
Crouched talking to the Little Girl.
She gestures toward the woods.
He looks in the direction she's pointed...
Suddenly, he gets up and quickly moves away from her --
GUNMAN # 1
Fires.
JEFF
Dives
Hits the ground --
4/6/92 D.G., V,'.l-l. 44.
Gun drawn
FIRING.
BULLETS PUNCHING the sand all around him --
GUNMAN # 1
Shot.
Killed.
JEFF
On his feet --
Spins.
SHOOTING at the Gunman behind the shack
SECOND GUNMAN
Runs from behind the flimsy building --
FIRING.
Drums of GASOLINE nearby --
THE LITTLE GIRL
Sitting in the sand...
EXPLOSIONS all around her.
Crying --
JEFF
Shooting at the running Gunman --
Hits him.
Hits the gasoline.
The shack EXPLODES in a fireball.
EXT. BAY - LEE R CHANG'S BOAT
Outside the cove.
They see the explosion.
Chang turns the boat.
Heads into the cove, full throttle --
EXT. BEACH
Jeff running into the laundry lines --
BLASTING as he goes...
BEHIND A SHEET
Blood spurts on one of the sheets --
A Gunman shrouds himself as he falls...
4/6/92 D.G.,W.H. 45.
JEFF
Speed reloads --
BEACH
Two Gunman run out of the woods.
Jeff spins and BLASTS.
THE LITTLE GIRL
Runs toward Je ff --
CHANG R LEE'S BOAT
Powers into the cove.
Rides up onto the beach --
Chang and Lee jump out --
Chang has a gun.
Lee doesn't.
THE LITTLE GIRL
Running to Jeff --
A Gunman's bullet hits her.
JEFF
Runs for the little girl --
Covers her with hfs body.
FIRING in every direction...
GUNMAN
Bullets rip into him --
JEFF & LITTLE GIRL
He picks her up.
Runs for the car.
FIRES at Chang.
CHANG & LEE
Chang starts to shoot back.
Can't.
He'll hit the Girl.
4/6/92 D.G.. V,'.H. 46.
Lee grabs a pistol off a dead Gunman --
Quickly goes on the run after Jeff...
JEFF & LITTLE GIRL
Jeff gets to the BMW.
BLOWING AWAY the last Gunman --
He's in the car and off...
CHANG k LEE
Racing across the beach.
Head to the road --
In time to catch the BMW's exhaust as it disappears from view.
LEE
There!
EXT. ROAD - DAY
A SMALL CAR coming in the other direction --
Chang and Lee stop it...
CHANG
We'll never catch him in this thing!
LEE
Is there a hospital around here -- anywhere?
CHANG
Sacred Heart!
LEE
He'll take the girl there!
They eject the driver --
Jump in.
Take off in Jeff s direction...
INT. JEFFS CAR - DAY
The Little Girl crying --
Bleeding...
He unwraps the scarf from around his wrist.
Cushions her head with it --
EXT. SACRED HEART HOSPITAL - DAY
Jeff s car roars up to the entrance --
4/6/92 D.G., O'.H. 47.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY
Jeff runs down the corridor carrying the little girl.
She's stopped crying --
Lost consciousness...
NUNS, NURSES, INTERNS swarm around him...
Directing him to the emergency room --
DOCTOR
WHAT happened to her?
JEFF
She was shot.
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY
Jeff slams through the double doors of the emergency room.
A DOCTOR indicates a bed.
Jeff lays her down --
The EMERGENCY TEAM begins work immediately --
DOCTOR
I
DOCTOR
Oxygen. Check her blood pressure.
prepare her for surgery.
Jeff holds her hand --
The NURSE tries to push him away --
JEFF
She's going to be all right --
NURSE
We'll take good care of her,
EXT. HOSPITAL ENTRANCE - DAY
Chang and Lee pull up.
Jump out of the car --
They see Jeff"s BMW...
Lee s call was on the money.
They rush into the hospital...
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY
A curtain is drawn around the bed.
The Little Girl is being prepped for surgery --
Oxygen mask over her face...
NURSE
Blood pressure's low.
4/6/92 D.G., v,.v. 48
JEFF
Is she all right?
NUN
She's lost a lot of blood.
NURSE
Pulse is dropping.
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - DAY
The waiting room is crowded with PEOPLE --
Patients waiting to be admitted.
Friends, relatives.
Nurses.
A uniformed hospital SECURITY COP.
Chang and Lee burst into the room --
Guns drawn --
Chang holds his badge out...
CHANG
A man came through carrying a child..?
NURSE
They went to emergency.
She points
Lee heads for the door...
Chang SHOUTS instructions to the Security Cop.
CHANG
Call headquarters for backup! Don't let anyone
leave!
Follows Lee through the door --
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY
Twenty beds.
Ten on each side.
Each one partitioned by a curtain.
A corridor down the middle...
BEHIND A PARTITION
The Operating Team working on the Little Girl...
Jeff watches anxiously --
The Nun begins asking him questions.
NUN
Are you related to the patient?
4/6/92 D.G.,. ~~'. l-l. 49.
The girl is Chinese.
Jeff clearly isn't.
Suspicion in the Nun's voice.
NUN
How did it happen?
He starts to go...
NUN
Wait a minute! You can't go! I have to
register your name!
Jeff has disappeared behind the curtain --
The Nun follows him...
CORRIDOR
The Nun comes out into the corridor.
NUN
Sir...Wait...
No sign of Jeff.
Lee suddenly appears --
Coming through the doors behind her
LEE
Where is he?
The Nun is now suspicious of everything, everyone...
NUN
Who are you?
LEE
I'm with the police.
NUN
Let me see your badge.
Chang appears behind Lee, badge in hand --
CHANG
Police! He's with me!
Lee is already moving down the line of curtains --
CHANG
Where is he?
She points to the nearest curtained partition.
Lee WHIPS OPEN the curtain --
In the classic firing position.
Chang behind him --
4/6/92 D.G.. W.H. 50.
PARTITION.
Just an empty bed.
No sign of Jeff --
CORRIDOR
Lee immediately moves on to the next partition.
Also empty.
He motions for Chang to watch the exit.
Moves on to the next partition.
Whips back the curtain...
Firing position
LITTLE GIRL'S PARTITION
The Operating~ Team freezes --
Nurses SCREAM...
CHANG
We're from the police! Just go on about
your business!
Lee spins around.
His gun pointed directly at Chang --
Jeff SUDDENLY APPEARS right behind Chang!
His gun at Chang's head --
Nothing Lee can"do...
JEFF
(to Lee)
Put the gun on the floor.
Lee doesn't move.
JEFF
Okay. Fine. Say goodbye to your friend.
Lee puts the gun on the floor --
JEFF
Kick it away.
LEE
You are wanted...
JEFF
Don't talk! Do it!
Lee kicks the gun away --
Jeff takes Chang's gun.
The Operating Team continues to work on the Little Girl
j.
4/6/92 D.G., V,'.H. 51.
JEFF
Get down on the floor.
Lee and Chang do what he says --
Jeff watches the Doctor work on the Little Girl.
A pistol in each hand --
One for Lee.
One for Chang.
THE LITTLE GIRL
Shows some sign of life.
NURSE
Her pulse is rising,
(a beat)
She'.s breathing on her own.
CHANG 86 LEE
Look up --
See that Jeff is gone.
They spring to their feet --
Run to the corridor...
INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Chang and Lee race through the doors.
A GUNSHOT O.S.
INT. WAITING ROOM
Major turmoil --
People shrieking and screaming --
Lee & Chang run in...
Jeff is not to be seen.
Chang speaks to the hospital SECURITY COP.
CHANG
What happened~
COP
There was a gunshot.
LEE
Where?
COP
From over there.
4/6/92 D.G..W.H 52.
Lee & Chang fight their way through the crowd --
Find an exit on the other side of the room.
They look out the window...
THEIR POV - JEFF - THROUGH WINDOW - OUTSIDE HOSPITAL - DAY
He vaults a railing --
Runs to the parking lot
EXT. PARKING LOT - HOSPITAL - DAY
Lee & Chang run out of the hospital --
The BMW sits there.
Jeff has left in their car.
And...
They've lost him.
DISSOLVE..
INT. ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE H.Q. - ROGERS' OFFICE - DAY
Rogers, Chang, Lee.
ROGERS
Your man, as you call him, is now wanted for murder
by us which means that your official duties here are
finished. We may want you back as a witness in a
trial...
LEE
First you've got to arrest him.
ROGERS
We'll see to that.
LEE
I will remind you that he is wanted on a prior charge
in the U.S., and we will apply for extradition if you
catch him.
This doesn't sit too well with Rogers.
It wasn't intended to.
ROGERS
Extradition is the province of our respective
governments. Not for us.
LEE
The suspect may be an American citizen.
ROGERS
Don't you want to go home?
4/6/92 D.G.. O'.H. 53.
LEE
Not until my job's done.
ROGERS
Are you implying we are incapable of handling this
ourselves?
LEE
I'd just like to help out -- see this thing through to the
finish...
ROGERS
There are likely to be some politically sensitive
aspects to this case of which you are unlikely to be
aware.
LEE
I'll work under the investigating officer and merely
offer my assistance.
ROGERS
Chang will be in charge. I will leave this up to him.
A pregnant moment, then Chang smiles...
CHANG
I need all the help I can get.
And that is that.
ROGERS
You understand you will have no official status. You
will be an adviser.
LEE
I understand that.
ROGERS
(to Chang)
I'll want daily reports.
CHANG
Yes, sir.
.INT. CORRIDOR - ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE H.Q. - DAY
As they leave Rogers' office...
LEE
I guess I get to keep my gun.
CHANG
I noticed.
4/6/92 D.G.. %1.1-1. 54.
INT. POLICE H.Q. - HOMICIDE ROOM - DAY
Jeffs picture pasted up on the wall.
Lee and Chang going over files...
CHANG
The guy who got hit in the nightclub six months ago
was Weng's number two.
Lee studies the dossier
LEE
Number two what?
CHANG
In the Five Flowers Tong. Crime syndicate.
Prostitution, gambling, drugs, guns
LEE
So our man's an outside hired gun. Who's the new
number one?
CHANG
Don't know. We'll have to wait and see. Probably a
power struggle. Maybe our man will tell us.
LEE
Let's assume he did them both. I say we start with
the singer. Jenny Kwan. He risked his life for the
little girl. He's sentimental. Probably a major
marshmallow for this woman he blinded.
CHANG
He may be soft on blind girls and kids, but he's got
to be smart enough to get out of town. There were
people trying to kill him out there today. I doubt
they're just going to give up.
I
LEE
Maybe. Or maybe he's going to stick around. Solve
his own problem -- I got a feeling for this guy. I
think he s pissed off that he was crossed on the
beach. And I don't think he just stiffs the blind girl...
CHANG
Quite a guy. You sure you want to catch him?
LEE
Oh, yeah. He has to go. The man's a killer.
INT. SIDNEY'S HOUSE - DAY
A big view of Repulse Bay.
4/6/92 D.G.. W.H. 55.
An empty livingroom --
The phone RINGING
SIDNEY
Hello.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - JEFF - INTERCUT WITH SIDNEY - DAY
JEFF
I want my money.
SIDNEY
You should have left town.
JEFF
I want it tonight.
SIDNEY
You'll have it.
Jeff hangs up the phone.
Drags on a cigarette.
EXT. CRICKET GROUND - KOWLOON - DAY
Except for the Chinese servants.
It is England here.
In fact...
More England than England.
PAYNE
Large, florid man of Anglo stock.
Middle forties.
Athletic.
GROUND
The bowler runs up. Bowls.
Payne makes a towering out.
Tea is called
TEA AREA
Payne walks over to a table.
Towels off.
He is intercepted by Sidney --
PAYNE
I've never thought of you as a cricket man, Sidney.
4/6/92 D.G.. ss'.H. 56.
Sidney has no time for small talk.
SIDNEY
You didn't tell me you wanted Jeff dead.
They sit at a table as far from everyone else as possible.
A SERVANT arrives with tea.
PAYNE
Will you have tea, Sidney?
SIDNEY
Thank you.
PAYNE
I'll be Mum.
Payne pours tea for himself and Sidney.
PAYNE
Should I have told you? Would you have killed him
for me, if I had told you?
SIDNEY
Yes. But I would have counseled you against it. I
still counsel you against it.
PAYNE
Milk?
SIDNEY
No, thank you.
PAYNE
It isn't that I don't value your counsel, Sidney, but
you have conflicting loyalties in this matter.
SIDNEY
I only want what is best for this house and for you.
PAYNE
I want Jeff dead. This house wants Jeff dead. Is that
enough for you? Or do you want me to explain --
SIDNEY
I only ask that you allow me to plead for him first.
PAYNE
Then you do want an explanation. We police have
seen him. They will now begin to look for him. If
they catch him he could expose me.
SIDNEY
He doesn't know it's you. If you pay him...
4/6/92 D.G., v,~.e. 57.
PAYNE
He is connected to you. You are connected to me.
Kill him, or kill yourself.
Discussion is over.
Payne suddenly switches to Cantonese --
PAYNE
You've been the gun in the hand of this house for a
long time. First for my father and now for me. Now
that Weng and Lim are out of the way you stand to be
the new number one. But I just be absolutely sure of
your loyalty.
SIDNEY
I am the gun in your hand. You aim. I fire.
PAYNE
Prove it.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - VICTORIA PEAK - NIGHT
Sitting, waiting.
A cigarette in one hand.
Pistol in the other --
JENNY'S SONG o.s..
INT. PALE FLOWER NIGHTCLUB - WANCHAI - NIGHT
Jenny at the keyboard...
As the SONG finishes.
Lee sits down at the piano bar.
LEE
Pretty song...
She reacts to the American accent.
JENNY
Sorry, I thought you were a friend. I don't see very
well.
LEE
You sing beautifully.
JENNY
Thank you.
LEE
Is your friend an American?
JENNY
Yes.
ha
4/6/92 D.G., V,'.H. 58.
LEE
Is he coming in? I'd like to meet a countryman.
JENNY
I don't know. Would you excuse me, please?
LEE
Sure.
She gets up.
Moves off.
Chang sits down next to Lee.
LEE
She's seeing him. I know it.
CHANG
How can you be sure?
LEE
I'm telling you, Elvis is dead and Jenny Kwan is
seeing Jeff -- Can we get a twenty four hour a day
surveillance and a wire tap?
CHANG
Surveillance. Yes. I don't know about the wire
unless you've got evidence.
LEE
No. No evidence. Just instinct.
CHANG
I'll try to get it anyway.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - VICTORIA PEAK - NIGHT
He hasn't moved.
Jenny's song is still playing on the tape.
The doorbell RINGS.
Jeff crosses the room to the door.
Fast.
Rips open the door...sticks he pistol up under Sidney's chin.
Sidney stands frozen while Jeff frisks hon
SIDNEY
You don't trust me?
JEFF
Sure, I trust you, Sidney. You're my friend. My
teacher. You taught me the rules.
He pushes Sidney into the. apartment.
Gun at the back of his head.
4/6/92 D.G.. 9,'.l-l. 59.
JEFF
Still playing by the rules, Sidney?
SIDNEY
Always.
JEFF
Who was that at the beach the day before yesterday?
He pushes Sidney into a chair.
Sits down across the coffee table from him
SIDNEY
I f I knew I wouldn't tell you.
(shrugs)
The rules.
JEFF
You sold me out. What do the rules say about that?
SIDNEY
If you believe it, you have to kill me.
JEFF
How did they know I'd be there?
SIDNEY
I put your car there. They could have followed me.
It wouldn't have been hard. I wasn't looking for
anybody.
JEFF
Just careless?
SIDNEY
I didn't have any reason to be careful. I didn't know
they wanted you dead.
JEFF
Why do they want me dead?
SIDNEY
They don't want any link between them and the hits.
JEFF
I don't even know who they are. The only link
between them and the jobs I did is you. Why don't
they kill you?
SIDNEY
I'm them now. I work for them. They have my
loyalty.
JEFF
So where does that leave me?
ha
4/6/92 D. G .. W.H.. 60.
SIDNEY
I'm still your friend. You take your money and you
disappear.
Jeff smiles.
SIDNEY
H ii ya.
Sidney puts the briefcase on the table
JEFF
That the money?
SIDNEY
Count it.
Jeff puts his gun down on the table.
Reaches for the briefcase.
Sidney quickly picks up the gun.
Points it between Jeff s eyes.
A beat.
Jeff opens the briefcase.
INSERT BRIEFCASE
Empty.
JEFF A SIDNEY
This strikes Jeff as being very funny.
Sidney's not kidding.
He pulls the trigger.
An empty CLICK.
Jeff opens his other hand.
Lets the bullets fall on the floor.
His other hand pulls another gun out of his waistband --
Points it at Sidney's head.
JEFF
You bring these guys with you?
SIDNEY
What guys?
Jeff WHACKS Sidney across the head with the gun.
Tums and FIRES into the plate glass window behind him --
OW
The bullets SHATTER the glass leading to the balcony.
Rip into the body of MAN WITH A GUN --
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 61.
JEFF
Takes a new CLIP out of his coat pocket.
Jams it into his AUTO.
Nails a GUY coming through the front door.
Then leans round the wall corner...
FIRES three shots --
A BODY FALLS across the doorway...
Jeff picks up Sidney by the collar.
Hauls him to his feet.
Gun at his head --
JEFF
Why?
SIDNEY
You 're my friend, but I owe them. I swore it twenty
years ago.
JEFF
Forget the rules. These people trust you less than I
do. Who are they?
SIDNEY
The Tai Pan of the Five Flowers.
JEFF
He hired me to kill Weng and Lim? They were his
guys --
SIDNEY
They had other ideas. They were not loyal.
JEFF
Who's the Tai Pan?
Sidney hesitates.
JEFF
It doesn't make any difference if you tell me, because
you're already dead.
SIDNEY
We're both dead.
JEFF
Tell me who it is?
SIDNEY
Simon Payne.
JEFF
The head of the Five Flowers is English?
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 62.
SIDNEY
Since the opium days. The Mainland wants the legit
side to stay in Hong Kong until they take over. They
Give him a free hand on the other side. So he killed
Weng and Lim --
Jeff lowers the auto.
Walks away from Sidney...
JEFF
Get out.
SIDNEY
You're not going to kill me?
JEFF
No.
SIDNEY
Why?
JEFF
You did what I would have done. You owe them.
SIDNEY
I owe you. I'll get you your money.
JEFF
I'm giving you your life in payment for what I owe
you. We re even now. I never want to see you
again.
DISSOLVE.:
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - VICTORIA PEAK - DAY
FORENSIC COPS sift through the wreckage.
Examine the bodies.
Dust for prints.
Look for shell casings.
Chang is talking to a UNIFORMED COP.
He breaks off and crosses to Lee.
CHANG
As far as forensics concerned nobody's ever lived in
this apartment except these guys.
Referring to the bodies.
LEE
It's him.
CHANG
Your instinct?
4/6/92 D.G., W.H.. 63.
LEE
That's right.
CHANG
No prints. No clothes. No personal effects.
LEE
You show his picture to the neighbors?
CHANG
Nobody's ever seen him.
LEE
How is that possible?
CHANG
Private elevator from the garage. Even the maid's
never seen him. The place is rented to an off shore
company.
LEE
Has this been dusted?
"Wis" is the stereo system.
CHANG
Yes. Of course. We are very meticulous.
Lee presses the on button.
There's a tape in the deck.
It's JENNY'S SONG.
Lee looks at Chang.
CHANG
It's possible.
LEE
It's him.
Lee sits down in Jeffs chair.
Listens to the SONG.
DISSOLVE.
EXT. HONG KONG HARBOR - KOWLOON - DAY
Jeff on a portable phone.
INTERCUT WITH JENNY IN HER APARTMENT - MONGKOK DISTRICT -
KOWLOON - DAY
She answers the RINGING PHONE --
Next to her bed.
She's in it.
4/6/92 D.G.. O'.l-l. 64.
JENNY
Hello?
JEFF
It's me.
JENNY
I was just thinking about you.
JEFF
Anything good?
JENNY
It was so good. Want me to tell you about it?
JEFF
Not now.
JENNY
Can't you talk?
JEFF
Not really.
JENNY
ls something wrong?
JEFF
Nothing a new life won't solve. Are you ready to
travel?
JENNY
Any time you say.
JEFF
Stay that way. I'll be back for you sometime soon.
This is all the notice you're going to get.
JENNY
Any time. I'll be ready.
JEFF
It'll be soon.
He clicks off.
INT. POLICE VAN - MONGKOK DISTRICT - KOWLOON - DAY
A surveillance team listening to the conversation.
COP
Call Sergeant Chang. Right away..
4/6/92 D.G., 9,'. I-I. 65.
JEFF - HARBOR
He stares out to sea.
INT. HALLWAY - JENNY'S APARTMENT BUILDING - MONGKOK
DISTRICT - KOWLOON - DAY
Chang throws sacks of garbage down the stairs --
He is accosted by an angry OLD WOMAN, who pops out of a doorway...
WOMAN
Are you supposed to be the new janitor?
CHANG
Yes. lady.
WOMAN
What kind of way is that to do your job? Does this
look like a trash bin to you? It's a fire escape. Look
there's trash everywhere. What if there's a fire?
Chang retreats under this barrage.
Starts to collect the garbage.
CHANG
Sorry, I'll get it.
WOMAN
You think I can just fly over it? You pick that up
right now. And take it out to the bin where it
belongs. I pay my maintenance fee every month...
While he carries out the garbage --
Jeff slips by him up the stairs...
INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - MONGKOK DISTRICT - KOWLOON - DAY
Jeff lets himself into Jenny's apartment.
She looks up at him as he comes in.
As if she could see him...
JENNY
There are cops everywhere. They're using me as
bait. Stay away from me!
Jeff jumps back from the doorway.
His PISTOL out and raised.
Lee's gun is pointed at his head.
LEE
Drop it.
Jeff's gun is pointed at Lee's head.
4/6/92 D.G.. Q'.l I. 66.
JEFF
Drop it yourself.
They move into the apartment --
Each with his gun on the other.
JENNY
I'm sorry. I couldn't warn you before. They came
right after you called.
JEFF
It's not your fault.
(to Lee)
You don't look like a Hong Kong cop.
LEE
You don't look much like a Tong hatchet man.
JENNY
Why don't you go?
JEFF
He's got a gun on me. I've got one on him.
LEE
I got plenty of time. I'm not going anywhere.
JEFF
Who are you?
LEE
Ronald Lee. FBI.
JEFF
Little off your turf...
LEE
Not really. I'm assigned to you. Wherever you are
is my turf.
JEFF
My own personal FBI agent. What'd I do to get this?
LEE
Astamendi is the one we've got you for. There are
others.
JEFF
Jenny, why don't you make us some tea. Mr. Lee
and I could be here awhile...How do you figure me
for that job?
LEE
You were turned.
4/6/92 D.G.. a~ e 67.
JEFF
You've barely got a case on me for a politician so
crooked his partners offed him for being too greedy.
You're going to let the creep who paid walk. And
now you're standing here willing to die rather than let
me go.
LEE
Yeah. And we don't get paid much either. What
have you got on the creep? Maybe we can deal.
JEFF
You're willing to die to bust me on suspicion of
killing some creep?
LEE
Yeah.
JEFF
It's your job, right?
LEE
It's my job.
Nobody could doubt Lee's seriousness.
Jenny SCREAMS!
Runs in front of Lee --
Jeff's out the door.
Lee FIRES.
Too late.
Lee breaks past Jenny --
Knocks her down...
Stops to pick her up.
JENNY
Did you hit him?
But he's out the door --
INT. HALLWAY - JENNY'S APARTMENT HOUSE - DAY
Lee runs down the corridor --
Chang coming at him from the elevator...
LEE
He's here. You take downstairs. I'll take the roof.
Lee climbs out the window to the FIRE ESCAPE --
Chang runs off downstairs...
EXT. FIRE ESCAPE - JENNY'S APARTMENT HOUSE - DAY
Jeff races up the fire escape to the roof --
4/6/92 D.G.. v,'.t-t. 68.
EXT. ROOF - 31 JENNY'S APARTMENT HOUSE
Lee comes out on the roof --
Laundry lines....
A pigeon coop.
A shed which houses the air conditioning unit.
But no sign of Jeff..
Lee cautiously moves through the hanging laundry...
Takes a quick look in the shed.
Nobody there.
He moves quickly around the corner.
And runs straight into a flock of suddenly loosed hysterical PIGEONS.
Finally free of'"the birds --
He races to the edge of the building --
Leans over --
Pistol ready...
LEE'S POV
A figure on the pipes...
Climbing the side of the building --
LEE
Freeze!
It's Chang.
CHANG
Don't shoot. It's me. He's right behind me with his
gun pointed up my ass.
Jeff on the ground, level...
Steps out from behind Chang, into Lee's sightline
Pistol pointed straight up at him.
LEE
Not much Lee can do.
JEFF - LEE'S POV
Jeff disappears under a parking shelter.
LEE
Pissed.
INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - DAY
Chang is on the phone talking in Cantonese.
Lee talks to Jenny.
4/6/92 D.G.. W.H. 69.
LEE
You know he's the one who shot you. Made you
blind..
JENNY
You think that changes how I feel about him?
LEE
He's a professional killer.
JENNY
So are you.
LEE
II' I kill somebody it's because I have to and in
defense of the law.
JENNY
Innocent people don't get hurt in defense of the law?
LEE
It happens.
Her point is made.
JENNY
He's like you. He kills bad people too.
LEE
Well, there are a lot of very bad people looking to kill
him right now. I figure I may be his only ticket out
of here alive. But I need help.
JENNY
I won't help you put him in prison. I'm sure he'd
rather be dead...If I could get my sight back but it
would mean losing him -- I'd rather be blind...
LEE
And you think he feels that way about you?
JENNY
I hope he doesn't. Then he could be far away
from here.
INT. FOYER - MACGREGOR'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Sidney in the outer office.
The large carved doors open --
Payne appears.
Surrounded by four cheap suited VIETNAMESE THUGS...
4/6/92 D.G., v,.ti. 70.
PAYNE
Sidney, this is a surprise. We've been looking for
you everywhere. And now here you are large as life.
SIDNEY
I f ailed to kill Jeff.
PAYNE
I noticed.
SIDNEY
So did your men.
PAYNE
What's your point?
SIDNEY
You should keep your word and pay Jeff.
Payne
My word?
SIDNEY
Let me keep my word.
Payne is on his way out of the office.
A couple of the Thugs precede him into the elevator.
Sidney and the others follow.
PAYNE
! don't understand why you are still alive, Sidney.
The others who tried to kill Jeff are all dead.
SIDNEY
He spared me because we are friends.
PAYNE
Even though you betrayed him and tried to kill him?
SIDNEY
Yes.
PAYNE
He is a very good friend indeed. We should all have
friends like this.
Sidney doesn't disagree --
INT. UNDERGROUND AUTO GARAGE - NIGHT
The Thugs, Payne and Sidney come out of the elevator.
SIDNEY
He can be a dangerous enemy.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 71.
PAYNE
Arc you suggesting he might be dangerous to me?
SIDNEY
All he wants to do is go away. Pay him and let him
leave.
PAYNE
You know there's somebody from the American FBI
here looking for him?
SIDNEY
Yes.
PAYNE
What if. they catch him?
SIDNEY
Jeff knows the rules. He'll never talk.
PAYNE
It's a chance I'm unwilling to take.
He looks around.
PAYNE
Where the hell is the car?
(to Sidney)
I've decided to use his money as payment to the
person who brings me his head.
SIDNEY
I ask you not to do that.
PAYNE
It's already done.
SIDNEY
If it pleases you, I will beg.
Sidney gets on his knees.
Payne looks around.
Snaps his fingers.
The Bodyguards drag Sidney to his feet.
PAYNE
You've served this family well for two generations. I
promised my father you would always be taken care
of. But you are beginning to become a problem.
Don't push your luck.
A Princess Daimler pulls up.
A Thug opens the door for Payne --
Suddenly:
Jeff jumps off the floor of the car --
4/6/92 D.G., 9'.I [. 72.
BLASTS one Thug
Grabs Payne.
Gun to his head --
JEFF
You know what to say?
PAYNE
Di op the guns! Drop them!
All four remaining Thugs have in fact drawn guns --
They drop them.
JEFF
Sidney. You drive.
Sidney moves around to the driver's side.
Pulls the driver out
Gets in.
Jeff pulls Payne into the back of the car.
The car steams up the ramp, out of the garage --
INT. DAIMLER / EXT. HONG KONG STREETS - NIGHT
Sidney drives.
Jeff holds the gun on Payne --
JEFF
This is a loyalty check, Sidney. Which side are you
on?
SIDNEY
I'm on the same side as the gun.
That's enough for Jeff..
He turns to Payne.
JEFF
If you want to kill me you have to send somebody
better than me. And there's nobody better than me.
That's why you hired me in the first place. So do I
kill you or do you pay me?
PAYNE
I'll pay you, of course. I don't know how long
you II live after that.
JEFF
It's not smart to threaten a man with a gun.
PAYNE
I-low do you want the money?
JEFF
Just like the agreement. Give it to Sidney.
4/6/92 D.G.. O'.W.H. 73.
PAYNE
I won't be able to get cash till the bank opens
tomorrow.
JEFF
I'll just keep you with me until then.
PAYNE
You have my word of honor you will get the money.
JEFF
Your word stinks and you have no honor. That's
why we're all here in this car --
PAYNE
You were seen at the Weng hit. The police are
looking for you.
JEFF
That's my problem.
PAYNE
It becomes mine if they catch you.
JEFF
Don't worry. I know the rules even if you don't.
PAYNE
I know the rules. I'm good for the money. I'll pay
you..
JEFF
Maybe you're right. I don't think I could stand being
with you for the next eight hours. Sometime after
midnight, I'd get bored looking at your pretty face.
I'~l have to do something about it.
(to Sidney)
l ct me out here.
Sidney pulls over to let him out.
JEFF
I'll be in touch. Don't fuck with me about the
money. Twenty four hours. Or your dead.
He's out the door and gone.
Disappearing into the street throng
PAYNE
Il' I asked you to shoot him, would you do it?
SIDNEY
Yes. After you've paid him.
4/6/92 D.G.;.. ii I t. 74.
PAYNE
You come get the money tomorrow night.. Then we'll
see.. So far the big loser in all this is you.
INT. ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE H.Q. - ROGERS' OFFICE - DAY
Lee, Chang, Rogers..
LEE
I could have shot him, but I felt it would endanger the
civilian.
ROGERS
The Commissioner will find this a welcome change
From your previous policy. This civilian is the girl he
blinded in the Lim hit --
They acknowledge this.
ROGERS
And now she's his girlfriend. It's a novel approach
to courtship. I assume she's still under surveillance?
CHANG
Twenty four hours a day. Phone tapped and we've
lifted her passport.
ROGERS
My guess is your man is long gone by now.
LEE
l le's not going to leave without the girl. He said so.
ROGERS
And you're prepared to rely on his word?
LEE
Absolutely.
ROGERS
You'll l pardon my cynicism.
CHANG
\Ve really don't have anything else to go on --
LEE
He'll show up for the girl.
ROGERS
As we have nothing to do, but wait, I suppose we'll
wait..
4/6/92 D.G.. V,'. l-l. 75.
CHANG
We can't wait too long. Rumor on the street says
there's a big price on our man's head.
ROGERS
Who's offering?
CHANG
Five Flowers.
ROGERS
Now that Weng and Lim are dead, who's boss of
Five Flowers?
CHANG
Unclear.. Rumor says it's the mainland who ordered
the hits and it's being run from there.
LEE
The guys who ordered the hits are offering the reward
for the killer?
CHANG
That way they can deny responsibility for the deaths
of their brothers.
Lee looks incredulous.
LEE
Nice way to do business.
ROGERS
Welcome to Hong Kong, Mr. Lee.
INT. SIDNEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Jeff and Sidney.
They stare out at the lights of the city through the huge window.
JEFF
I can't fail her. I've brought her too much that's bad
already.
Jeff pours himself a small whisky.
Another for Sidney.
JEFF
Maybe it's because I'm guilty. And she forgives me.
She doesn't want anything.
Hands Sidney a glass..
4/6/92 D.G. .. W.H. 76.
JEFF
Anyway, I can't fail her. I have to stay alive for her.
At least for awhile.
SIDNEY
I'll try to make a deal with Payne, but you may have
give up the money.
JEFF
I'd rather die than let Payne not pay me...Why can't I
give up everything for her. Including my pride?
Drinks.
JEFF
I should have killed you Sidney. But you're the only
friend I have. And I need your help;
INT. NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT
Jenny sings.
PLAIN-CLOTHES COPS everywhere --
Sidney at the piano bar..
The song finishes...
Sidney a"approaches.~ -- speaks to Jenny...
ACROSS THE WAY
A plain-clothes cop watching them as he speaks into a pay
phone --
EXT. JENNY'S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
Sidney arrives in a car.
Jenny comes out with a small bag.
INT. CHANG'S CAR
Parked across the way ...
Chang talking on a pocket phone --
Chang and Lee are eating noodles.
CHANG
He just pulled up in his car -- yes we see her --
right...
Hangs up.
They watch as Jenny get into Sidney's car.
4/6/92 D.G. . ~1'.I,'. 77.
LEE
Who's that?
CHANG
I don't know.
Jenny's car leaves.
Chang starts the car.
They begin to follow
EXT. STREET - HONG KONG - DAY
Sidney's car makes a turn.
Chang and Lee's car follows --
INT. CHANG 'S C.-KR - HONG KONG STREETS
CHANG
Maybe she's going to the airport.
LEE
How far does she think she's going to get without her
passport?
CHANG
We better put the airport guys on alert, anyway.
Lee picks up the microphone to call in.
EXT. STREET - HONG KONG
Sidney's car makes another turn --
INT. CHANG'S CAR
Following Jenny's car.
CHANG
She's not going to the airport. That's where you
turn... Maybe we should pull them over.
LEE
Maybe she's going to meet our man -- They're not
trying to lose us.
4/6/92 D. Ci .. V, .!!. 78.
EXT. TAU TSEUN STREET - DAY
On the perimeter of the walled City.
Rows of dilapidated buildings.
Shops, illegal dentists..
Between buildings are dark stairways leading downward --
Jenny's car appears
Chang's car follows
CHANG V.O.
Shit. We've got a problem.
LEE V.O.
What is this place?
CHANG V.O.
The Walled City. This is where she's going. Shit.
INT. CHANG'S CAR
LEE
What's the matter?
CHANG
This place belongs to China, not Hong Kong. We
have no jurisdiction in there.
LEE
What do you mean 'we'?
CHANG
No way -- You don't want to go in there -- It's free
zone for every thief, killer, drug addict in the Colony.
And there's no law.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - WALLED CITY - DAY
A narrow passage.
Stairs leading down into gloom.
Sidney and six thugs stand in front.
Jenny s car arrives.
Sidney helps her out..
They disappear down into the darkness...
CHANG & LEE
Get out of their car.
Approach the alley.
Lee starts down the stairs
CHANG
That's it.. We don't go any further.
4/6/92 D.G. W.H. 79.
LEE
Bullshit. We'll lose her. I'm going in. Jurisdiction
doesn't mean shit to me. I haven't got any anyway.
CHANG
She's lost. If you don't know your way around in
there, you'll never get out. It's a rabbit warren in
there. With very ugly rabbits.
LEE
I'll take my chances.
Lee has started down the stairs, Chang follows...
CHANG
Listen to me. If we go down in there we won't live
half an hour. I'm not kidding. It's open season on
cops in there.
Lee's at the bottom of' the steps.
Narrow byways lead in several directions.
Like an obstacle course in a Fun House.
Stoned out junkies.
Serious looking hard guys.
No trace of Jenny or Sidney.
Lee begins to see Chang's point.
CHANG
There''s no place they can go. All we have to do is
wait them out. We have informers inside. They'll
find them.
LEE
When they do I'm going in. With or without you. I
lived through the South Bronx, I can live through
this.
They start back to the car.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - WALLED CITY - DAY
Dark, narrow, filthy. stone streets.
Houses made of stone,
Thugs in front of Sidney and Jenny lead them through the maze.
Thugs behind them.
Protection.
Human dregs littered everywhere.
A door opens.
Jeff takes Jenny in his arms.
As the door closes behind them --
4/6/92 D.G.. 1'. 80.
INT. SMALL HOUSE - WALLED CITY - DAY
JENNY
Jeff...
JEFF
I wanted to be with you. This is the best I could do.
For now anyway.
Immediately they're kissing,
Clutching,
Grabbing,
Touching,
Tearing at clothes.
Sidney's still there.
They don't care.
SIDNEY
You're not really safe here. One hour. Two at the
most...I'll meet you as soon as I've got the money.
Everything else is arranged.
They don't hear him.
Sidney leaves.
Closes the door behind him.
INT. ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE H.Q. - ROGERS' OFFICE - DAY
Rogers, Chang, and Lee..
Going over a map of the walled city --
ROGERS
We can cover almost all of it but there's no real
guarantee that they can't get out.
LEE
No word on where they are?
CHANG
Not yet. Our informants are working on it.
ROGERS
I don't really know why we're bothering -- if there
really is a price on him he won't last the night in
there.. We can't get to him in there but the Five
Flowers can.
INT. CHINESE OPERA - NIGHT
The Peking Opera.
It is an indoor/outdoor theater --
Constructed for the Opera's current tour.
4/6/92 D.G. W.H. 81.
People milling around
Stands outside sell food....
STAGE
The opera has already started.
Brilliantly painted scenery
Heavily made up actor singers.
Elaborate headdresses.
Percussion instruments on one side of the stage.
Wind instruments on the other.
Lead ACTOR-SINGER in the middle.
Shrill but intensely disciplined vocal performance.
AUDIENCE
Payne sits in front.
One of his retainers approaches him --
Whispers something .
Payne leaves his guests
Moves through the audience to the back.
The audience eats
Talks among themselves .
Normal behavior in Chinese Opera.
ENTRANCE
At the back of the theater framed in the doorway is PAUL YAO.
An assassin for hire
Payne approaches him.
PAYNE
Mr. Yao I have need of your services. Let's discuss
some details...
Affability is wasted on Paul --
They walk out on the patio.
STAGE
A rising tide of percussion
Accompanies a storm at sea...
INT. ROOM - SMALL HOUSE - WALLED CITY - NIGHT
Jeff and Jenny in bed
JEFF
We have another hour -- then we have to go.
4/6/92 D.G.. W.H. 82.
JENNY
Where?
JEFF
If everything goes right... Thailand.
JENNY
I like Thailand. Temples. Elephants.
JEFF
I hope you like boats.
JENNY
I love boats.
JEFF
We'll be on one for a few days.
JENNY
The police have my passport.
JEFF
That's one of the things that has to go right. Sidney's
getting you a new one.
They hear a SOUND.
Jeff reaches across Jenny for his gun --
JENNY
What was that?
Suddenly --
Lee bangs open the door...
Gun out.
Jeff freezes --
Mid-reach for his own pistol.
LEE
Hold it!
A moment.
LEE
Put your clothes on and let's go.
JEFF
You don't have any authority here, cop-
LEE
I got all the authority I need, right here in my hand.
Jenny has pulled the sheet up over her.
4/6/9'2 D.G. W.H. 83.
JEFF
You figure you're going to march me through the
streets in handcuffs?
LEE
Something like that.
JEFF
You think you can find your way out of here?
LEE
I got friends outside. Now cut the shit and let's go.
Suddenly Jenny has picked up Jeff's gun.
She stands.
Points it vaguely in Lee's direction.
A blind naked girl with a gun in her hand.
JENNY
Where is he?
JEFF
A little to the left.
LEE
C'mon Jenny, put the gun down! I don't want to
shoot you but Goddamn it, I will!
A moment.
JEFF
Put it down, Jenny.
JENNY
Not unless he leaves us alone.
JEFF
(to Lee)
What about it?
Lee has moved out of Jenny's line of fire.
JENNY
Get out. Or, I'll shoot.
The gun suddenly goes off
Deafening BLAST.
Kicks out of her hand.
She SCREAMS.
JENNY
I didn't mean to...It went off accidentally.
Lee picks up Jeff's gun
Jeff is helping Jenny to get dressed.
4/6/92 D.G. W.H. 84.
Chang bursts in.
Sees that Lee has everything under control...
CHANG
We have to move! Now!
JEFF
What's your hurry?
CHANG
Gunshot. People come here -- maybe five flowers --
they're going to kill you.
LEE
We wouldn't want that. Spoil all the preparations
we're making for you back home.
EXT. STREET' - WALLED CITY - NIGHT
Chang leads the way out of the small house.
Jeff and Jenny follow covered at the rear by Lee --
ACROSS THE WAY- DIRTY GLASS WINDOW
Paul Yau watching...
INSERT - YAU'S HANDS
He snicks a clip into a 9mm pistol, then checks the clip of a second auto --
HIGH SHOT-STREET - WALLED CITY - NIGHT
Chang still leads the group along --
EXT. ROOFTOPS-NIGHT
Paul Yau moves quietly along -- then quickly scrambles down a drainpipe.
CHANG
Eyes alert...
He looks back
CHANG
About two more blocks
JEFF
Mind if we stop for a cigarette?
85.
CHANG
'Not so funny. This is a very bad place...through
here
INT. KITCHEN
A filthy, rat infested area with a back door --
Jeff, Jenny, Lee, Chang come in --
Chang moves straight through to the back door --
EXT. ALLEY
The group makes its way out into the very narrow streets.
They round a corner.
Suddenly Chang goes down in a HAIL OF BULLETS --
Paul Yau BLASTING with both hands --
Jeff pulls Jenny back behind a building.
Lee comes forward with his pistol.
FIRES four times
Yao is HIT, falls back out of sight.
Lee quickly bends over Chang.
JEFF
He's dead.
Lee looks up -- Jeff holding Chang's pistol directly at his face...
JEFF
He wanted to kill me.
LEE
'Too bad he didn't. This was a good man.
JEFF
You want to do something about it?
LEE
What do you have in mind?
JEFF
Man kills your partner, you're supposed to do
something about it.
LEE
Man kills my partner, I like doing something about it.
JEFF
You wounded him. He won't make it very far. Let's
you and me have a truce and go kill the son of a bitch.
LEE
You're still under arrest.
4/6/92 86.
JEFF
We get out of here alive, we'll talk about it.
They move off.
JENNY
Jeff!
JEFF
You stay here -- you'll be okay. Five minutes. No
more. I promise.
And Jeff And Lee are gone ---
ANOTHER ALLEY
Jeff tracking...
LEE
He's leaking pretty good...over here --
Two pros on the hunt
JEFF
Yeah
Moves on...
JEFF
Here...across there --
They see the blood trail lead to a doorway in a three story stone building --
DOOR - STONE B U I L DI NG
being KICKED in -- Jeff and Lee enter, guns extended --
Two old Chinese men eating at a low table.
No one else.
They look up in fear
Lee moves to the stairwell.
LEE
Over here
They move upward
CORRIDOR
Paper lamps give a dim illumination -- thin walls --
Several doors on either side of the hall --
Lee takes one side
Jeff the other
4/6/92
87.
Each begin kicking the doors open --
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Prostitutes and their TRICKS suddenly come running out, screaming at the two
armed men --
All of them half-dressed, shouting, swearing --
JEFF - LEE
standing back to back in the corridor amid the sudden angry, fearful crowd --
LEE
Jesus Christ...
JEFF
(screams)
Shut up!
Everyone is suddenly silent...
One could hear the proverbial pin drop --
And something does.
Plop.
Again...
Plop.
Jeff and Lee look down at the floor blood...
Both simultaneously turn their guns upward and begin BLASTING --
Paul Yau in the open rafters BLASTINGback
But he is cut to ribbons by their slugs
Yao falls, crashing down at Jeff's and Lee's feet -- very dead.
A long silent moment.
Jeff and Lee find each other's eyes.
LEE
You're still under arrest.
He levels down at Jeff.
JEFF
Bullshit. You're my prisoner. You're out of bullets.
I've got two left.
LEE
Nice try, but you're the one that's bull shittin',
Jeff now levels down on Lee.
JEFF
Try your luck. I'll give you a free one.
Lee pulls the trigger.
Click.
JEFF
Like I said, I've got two left.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 88.
LEE
Just because I'm out of gas doesn't mean you're
not...
BAM!
Jeff whistles a bullet by his ear.
JEFF
I got one left. And you're my prisoner. Or you're
dead. Which is it?
A moment.
LEE
Shouldn't be too hard for you. You're a killer.
JEFF
Don't worry. It won't be hard at all.
LEE
Am I supposed to say thank you?
EXT. TUNG TAU TSEUN STREET - NIGHT
Jeff, Jenny, and Lee come out of another alley.
On to the lighted, active street.
An old, beat up car is parked there.
Covered with dust.
Looks like it hasn't been driven in weeks.
Jeff pulls a golf bag full of guns out of the trunk --
LEE
Where the hell are the cops? They're supposed to be
watching the exits.
JEFF
Never one around when you need one.
JEFF
You drive.
Tosses Lee the keys --
They get into the car.
Jeff reaches into the golf bag, SNICKS a fresh clip into his auto.
Lee starts it and they pull away...
INT. CAR
Lee drives.
Jeff and Jenny in the back.
Jenny rests her head on Jeff s shoulder.
Something causes her to raise back up --
She touches her cheek
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 89.
There's blood on it.
JENNY
This is blood, isn't it? Are you hurt?
LEE
What's the matter?
Jeff is bleeding through his shirt.
JEFF
I took one in the shoulder.
Jenny starts to pull off Jeff s coat --
JEFF
I'll be all right. I just need to get it out.
LEE
We better get you to a hospital.
JEFF
You just drive. I'll tell you where to go.
Jeff still has the gun --
She again touches his shoulder
JENNY
You're losing blood. We have to do something,
Bandage you or something. I don't know anything
about this and I can't see --
JEFF
(to Lee)
How's your field emergency medical technique.
LEE
Top of my class. And she's right we'd better do
something about your shoulder --
JEFF
Just keep going...
EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
The car pulls off the highway onto a small road.
EXT. RIVER - NIGHT
The headlights of the car illuminate Jeff, Jenny and Lee.
They sit at the edge of the water --
Lee slits open Jeff s bloodstained shirt.
A slug embedded in his arm just below the shoulder.
4/6/92 D.G., W..H. 90.
JENNY
Tell me everything you're doing.
LEE
I've just cut open his shirt. I'm looking at the wound.
It looks uglier than it is.
JEFF
Easy for you to say.
JENNY
Keep telling me.
LEE
Now I'm going to sear the wound.
JEFF
I'm lighting a cigarette.
He does.
LEE
Aren't you afraid you'll get cancer?
JEFF
I should live so long.
Lee is cutting open a shotgun shell --
LEE
Better get you something to bite on so you don't
break your teeth.
JENNY
What do you mean?
JEFF
He means it's going to hurt.
LEE
Like living hell.
Jenny has a scarf in her purse.
They twist it to give it bulk.
Jeff gives the cigarette to Jenny --
Bites down on the scarf...
JENNY
Tell me what you're doing?
LEE
1"m stanching the wound with gunpowder. Stop the
bleeding.
He pours gunpowder from the shell into the wound.
Takes the cigarette from Jenny.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 91.
Lights the gunpowder.
A FLARE as the gunpowder ignites --
Jeff convulses from the pain.
Lee struggles to hold his arms.
LEE
You all right?
Jeff can't speak.
Nods his head.
LEE
So far so good. Now for the really dangerous part.
You got to wash it off with water from this river.
Jeff moves off to the river to wash his arm.
JENNY
You're some cop
LEE
I'm just trying to keep him alive so he can be brought to
justice back home...
A pause to let the irony sink in
LEE
f m just doing my job, what's your excuse?
JENNY
I'm in love.
LEE
I don't get it -- this guy blinds you in the middle of
committing a crime -- then you just take him into your
bed. Fall in love with him. Life goes on, forgive and
forget, huh?
JENNY
I can't really explain it to myself. How could I
explain it to you.
LEE
When did you know he was the one who blinded
you?
JENNY
Before or after l went to bed with him. That's what
you want to know?
LEE
You don't have to answer. I'm just curious.
JENNY
Why shouldn't I tell you. After.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 92.
A slight chuckle from Lee.
JENNY
I know what you're thinking. And you're right.
A slight, not so demure chuckle from Jenny as Jeff returns --
JEFF
You both seem to be having a pretty good time...
LEE
We were just discussing the power of love -- how's
your arm?
JEFF
Hurts like hell, but it's better. Thanks -Which then
brings us to the big question of what to do with
you..Jenny and I have appointments to keep...
LEE
Technically you're my prisoner so I figure to go with
you...
JEFF
Sorry, we're traveling alone.
LEE
You might need some help before you're out of this.
JEFF
Are you offering?
LEE
I am.
JEFF
I accept.
They shake hands.
JENNY
(to Lee)
What about arresting him? You just said he was a
prisoner.
LEE
Well work that part out later.
They start for the car.
EXT. PO LIN MONASTERY - NIGHT
The car winds up the road to the monastery.
Pulls up into the courtyard.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 93.
LEE V.O.
I guess we're here --
JENNY V.O.
Where are we?
JEFF V.O.
Po Lin Monastery.
They get out of the car.
A MONK comes down the stairs to greet them.
He takes Jenny's hand and leads her up the stairs.
Jeff takes a leather duffel bag out of the back of the car.
LEE
How safe are we here?
JEFF
Depends.
LEE
Swell. I hope there are a lot of guns in that bag.
Jeff shakes the bag.
Clanking metal.
JEFF
No problem.
They climb the stairs into the monastery.
DISSOLVE.
INT. MACGREGOR'S OFFICE- NIGHT
Several generations of MacGregors have inhabited this office.
Anglo-Chinese decor.
Antiques.
Sidney appears in the doorway.
Ushered n by two thugs.
More thugs inside --
PAYNE
I don't want to fuck around anymore Sidney. Either
you tell me where Jeff is and keep your position in
this house, or you eat shit and die. What's it going to
be?
SIDNEY
Will you break your word?
PAYNE
(to thugs)
Take his gun.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 94.
They start to frisk Sidney.
PAYNE
I'll keep my word. He'll get the money. I just want
to be there when he gets it. Now tell me where he is.
The thug reaches inside Sidney's coat to take his gun.
Sidney reaches inside the thugs coat.
Comes up with the thugs gun first --
BLASTS him and the thug nearest him.
Payne leaps out of his chair swings his swaggerstick at Sidney's hand.
Knocks the gun out of it.
Then slashes Sidney across the face the body.
Then the face again.
Then the body.
Frenzied --
Furious --
Sidney's face a bleeding mass of flesh...
PAYNE
Don't fuck with me!
He kicks him in the ribs.
Motions to the thugs
PAYNE
Prop him up.
Two thugs swiftly lift Sidney to his feet.
Stand him up in front of Payne.
PAYNE
Who the hell do you think I am that you can tell me
what to do? Did T suddenly get to be so weak? Have I
lost so much respect that you dare question my
orders? You are a fucking flea, Sidney.
SIDNEY
We owe him the money. You gave your word.
Another slash across the face with the swagger stick --
PAYNE
My father lifted you out of the stinking pile of shit
you came from. And I took the gun out of your hand,
put a tie around your neck. 'Gave you position,
authority and my trust. You repay me with insolence.
SIDNEY
You're the tai pan. You must keep your word.
PAYNE
And that's for you to decide? Do you think I'm
weak, Sidney? That I'm not the man my father was?
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 95.
SIDNEY
Your father always kept his word.
PAYNE
And I keep mine. You're going to tell me where Jeff
is. I promise you --
He removes a case from a drawer in his desk.
Opens it.
Takes out a cleaver.
Ornate handle.
Very sharp blade...
INT. CORRIDOR PO LIN TEMPLE- NIGHT
Jeff and Jenny follow a MONK down a corridor to a cell.
The Monk pulls open the heavy door...
INT. CELL
A cot.
A small shrine.
Candles.
JEFF
You get some sleep. I'll come get you when it's
time.
JENNY
You're just getting me out of the way in case
something happens.
JEFF
Nothing's going to happen. You'll need your sleep.
It's a long trip.
She wraps her arms around him.
JEFF
I have to wait for Sidney. You'll be safe here.
JENNY
If all I wanted was to be safe, I wouldn't be with
YOU.
JEFF
From now on maybe you'll have both.
He kisses her again.
JENNY
I hope so.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 96.
He gets up to leave.
JEFF
I'll be back when it's time.
He goes.
INT. MACGREGOR'S OFFICE
Payne cuts off Sidney's tie.
Slits open his shirt.
PAYNE
I'm a very different man than my father Sidney. He
never liked to get involved in this side of our
business. I prefer not just to be involved but to be
'hands on' as the Americans say. I don't mind getting
my hands dirty or bloody...
A gout of blood spatters on Payne.
He makes the first cuts in Sidney's stomach --
PAYNE
Do you want to tell me now, or do I keep cutting?
Sidney seems to pass out.
The guards struggle to hold on to him.
His dead weight sinks to the floor.
Suddenly Sidney hurls himself backward knocking both guards over backwards.
Sidney lands on them
Rolls.
Grabs a gun off the body of a dead thug.
Blasts both guards --
PAYNE
Throws the cleaver at Sidney.
Then goes for a gun in the drawer --
SIDNEY
Dodges the cleaver.
Leaps to his feet.
ROOM
Sidney grabs Payne by the hair.
Gun at his tempIe.
The shots have brought other 'thugs.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 97.
SIDNEY
Tell them.
PAYNE
Don't shoot!
SIDNEY
Where's the fucking money?
PAYNE
Right there. In the briefcase.
There is a brown briefcase sitting undisturbed on the desk.
PAYNE
I don't think you've got any bullets left.
SIDNEY
I don't know. It's not my gun.
He sticks the gun in MacGregor's mouth.
SIDNEY
Take a chance. Let's find out.
Sidney cocks the hammer back.
Gurgled sounds of fear and protest from Payne --
l SIDNEY
Open it. I want to see the money.
Sidney takes the gun out of MacGregor's mouth.
He opens the briefcase.
l INT. GREAT HALL-PO LIN MONASTERY
Jeff and Lee pass the shrines of Bodhisattvas, various Chinese deities --
Decorated with burning incense flower offerings.
Candles.
LEE
You think your friend'll show up with the money?
JEFF
Yeah
LEE
This is the same friend who sold you out before?
JEFF
That's's why I'm sure hell show up.
I
I
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 98.
LEE
The same friend who sold you out to the same
people.
JEFF
I trust him.
I LEE
I never trusted anybody that much.
JEFF
Sidney was my teacher. To tell you any more would
involve telling you about a lot of crimes you don't
need to know about.
I LEE
So you know Ill come after you?
JEFF
You're a lawman, aren't you?
LEE
You should have shot me when you had the chance.
I JEFF
How could I shoot anybody with a heart as good as
yours? What I should have done was let that thug kill
YOU --
LEE
Why didn't you?
I JEFF
I told you. Your heart's good.
LEE
What about the thug? He's just a guy with a shitty
job. Maybe he had a good heart.
JEFF
No heart. Just a lot of demons.
LEE
How do you know?
JEFF
Training. Instinct. How do you know anything?
LEE
And you figure it's all right for you to just kind of
weed those bad hearted guys out --
l JEFF
I never said it was all right.
I
I
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 99.
LEE
You ever kill anyone with a good heart?
JEFF
Not lately anyway. Before I met Sidney...
He shrugs --
LEE
I get it. Sidney changed you. From an animal to a
killer with nice table manners.
JEFF
Sidney taught me the rules. My table manners could
still use a little work.
LEE
You're not going to lay all that 'honor among thieves'
bullshit on me, are you?
JEFF
Were is honor among people. Some people.
Thieves, killers, even Iawmen. It's why I trust you.
'Why you trust me.
LEE
I don't trust anyone.
JEFF
Bull shit.
LEE
You think you know me pretty well?
JEFF
Pretty well Your heart sticks out a mile.
LEE
I figure saving my life buys you six months. Then
I'm on your case again.
JEFF
'They'll never let you back on my case after tonight.
LEE
Six months far free. For saving my life and because
I'd like to see this poor misguided girl get what she
thinks she wants --
Pause --
LEE
I wish you could too, but you've got too many debts
to pay.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 100.
JEFF
The only debt I've got is to Jenny -- She's even
made me care about my own life -- now I really want
to stay alive -- I've never been scared before...
LEE
Come on, I thought you're a tough guy.
JEFF
I used to be. But maybe I lost my nerve because of a
woman.
LEE
You won't be the first one.
INT. PARKING GARAGE - PAYNE BLDG - NIGHT
The elevator opens.
Sidney and Payne get out.
Payne carries the briefcase.
Sidney still holds the gun on Payne.
He's bleeding badly.
Weak.
Getting weaker.
Three thugs come running up out of the bowels of the garage.
Guns drawn.
Sidney shouts at them in Cantonese.
They don't understand.
They're Vietnamese.
SIDNEY
You tell these assholes to do what I say or I'll shoot
you right here.
PAYNE
(to thugs)
Do what he says.
SIDNEY
Get in the elevator! Do it now!
'They hesitate.
SIDNEY
I can shoot you in the foot if I have to prove I'm
serious.
PAYNE
Do what he says! Get in the fucking elevator.
They start for the elevator.
Sidney takes one of their guns.
Puts it in his pocket.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 101.
SIDNEY
Push a button.
A button is pushed the doors close.
Sidney then BLASTS the button --
He hustles Payne over to his car.
Sidney takes the briefcase.
Throws it in the back.
Sidney gets behind the wheel.
Leaves Payne standing on the pavement.
PAYNE
You're a dead man, Sidney,
SIDNEY
Jeff told you. It's not smart to threaten a man with a
gun.
Sidney FIRES!
Hits Payne in the chest --
He drops to the pavement.
Sidney fires again to make sure.
It clicks empty.
Sidney throws the gun at prostrate, unconscious Payne.
Puts the car in gear.
Roars off.
INT. CAR
Sidney wounded bleeding, and furious.
Hurtles through the garage --
Bashes through the exit banner and out onto the street...
INT. GARAGE
Payne lying on the pavement.
In a pool of his own blood.
He pulls himself up.
Thugs arrive from the stairs.
Swarm around him.
THUGS
Boss, are you all right? You've been shot? etc.
PAYNE
Never mind me. Get after him. Kill that son of a bitch.
Payne has enough strength to bellow like a wounded bull
It costs him.
He has to be helped to his feet.
The thugs race for cars which appear immediately.
Payne is helped into one.
They roar off in pursuit.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 102.
EXT. LANTAU PEAK
Sidney's car on the road up the hill to the monastery.
INT. CAR
Sidney in bad shape --
Struggling to stay conscious.
He rounds a corner.
The Po Lin Temple comes into view.
EXT. ROAD
Some distance behind Sidney.
The headlights of Payne's cars bore up the hill.
INT. TEMPLE
Jeff and Lee sit in the same place.
Sidney and Jeff sat at the beginning.
LEE
What happens to Jenny if you don't make it?
JEFF
She'll be taken care of. I've arranged all that.
LEE
Swiss lawyers, offshore banks... Numbered
accounts.
JEFF
Something like that.
LEE
If you're so rich, how come you're hanging around
here for this money?
JEFF
I always get paid. And Sidney needs to restore his
honor by paying me.
LEE
Let him restore it by Western Union. Deposit it in
your account. Anything...get out of here while you
CAN.
JEFF
reacts to the giant front doors crashing open --
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 103.
SIDNEY
Appears in the entrance.
SIumps to his knees.
Both arms wrapped around the brief case.
He flings it on the floor.
He still wears a jacket.
His tie is cut off.
Sidney shirt is slit open.
He bleeds from the cuts in his stomach.
From the blows to his face --
WIDE
Jeff goes to him.
Kneels.
Embraces him.
JEFF
Sidney...
SIDNEY
I'm sorry it was so long in coming...l"m nothing
now. An outcast. I want to die. I want to die. Help
me. I'm already dead.
LEE
A spectator.
Until he hears the cars arriving outside.
Moves to the entrance...
SIDNEY & JEFF
Sidney has rolled over on his back.
Jeff holds his head up off the floor.
In the presence of a cop --
In the house of the Buddha --
A hard decision for Jeff....
He takes out his gun.
Puts it at Sidney s throat.
LEE
Closing the doors.
As the first headlight beams illuminate the entrance.
He turns back to Jeff.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 104.
LEE
Break out the guns --
He turns back, BOOM! Sees Jeff kill Sidney.
LEE
You can't do that in front of me.
JEFF
You don't come into this...
(snaps his fingers)
...that much!
Lee is already at the gun bag.
HALL
The doors burst open.
Two thugs firing automatic weapons just to announce their presence.
They shatter sacred, precious crockery --
But hit nobody.
Jeff turns and shoots both of them.
Exhausting all the bullets in his clip.
He takes off his tie.
Improvises a tourniquet for his arm.
A ferocity in the gesture.
A declaration of war.
LEE
PULLS an AK47 from the bag.
He takes out the next round of thugs trying the entrance.
He tosses Jeff an Uzi.
LEE
There's an army out there.
JEFF
As long as we can hold the entrance. The numbers
don't count.
They take up positions at the entrance
EXT. FRONT COURTYARD
Payne bandaged, c g an automatic --
Leading his troops.
Then is a large number of them.
And more cars coming.
He motions for them to spread out.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 105.
PAYNE
(shouting)
Find another entrance!
Thugs spread out in all directions --
INT. HALL
Lee notes the change in strategy.
LEE
Other entrances?
JEFF
Probably twenty -- Grab the bag.
Jeff takes off.
Lee grabs the bag.
Follows.
A barrage of bullets to cover their retreat.
They run through the hall.
Out the back.
Into a courtyard.
Surprise thugs coming the other way.
Quickly blown away...
But the noise attracts others --
EXT. COURTYARD
Jeff and Lee run through the courtyard.
Through an open doorway.
Thugs follow a moment later --
INT. CHAPEL
Under heavy renovation.
Scaffolding all over the place.
Images removed.
Only one way in.
Only one way out.
They barricade themselves behind shrouded pews...
Begin blowing away thugs trying to storm the entrance --
LEE
I think we're going to run out of ammunition before
they run out of guys.
But they're o.k. in here for the moment.
Except Tor the birds.
There are a lot of birds in here.
Songbirds in cages.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 106.
Screeching and twittering.
White doves left free.
Wings clipped,
Hysterically trying to fly --
INT. CELL
Jenny sitting up listening to the gunfire.
The door opens, a Monk enters.
JENNY
Who is it?
The Monk identifies himself in Cantonese.
JENNY
Who's doing the shooting? Is it the police?
MONK
I think it's gangsters.
I
INT. GREAT HALL
I Payne and thugs running through...
Grey robed monks begin to appear.
Shaved heads.
To protect the sacred images.
Payne guns down the first Monk in his way.
The thugs blast two more...
I
INT. DORMITORY
I A hundred monks roused by the gunfire.
An abbot opens the door and shouts at them.
I ABBOT
The immortals are under attack/ Protect them!
He collars a couple of them.
ABBOT
Ring the bells! Call for help!
INT. TEMPLE
Jeff and Lee holding them off at the entrance.
But the room has been breached from the roof.
Thugs begin appearing on the scaffolding.
Bells are heard ringing o.s.
LEE
I I swear I'm hearing bells.
I
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 107.
JEFF
They're calling the police.
LEE
If we're alive when they get here, you're under
arrest.
JEFF
Bullshit. You're my hostage.
The Thugs up on the scaffolding announce themselves.
Bullets hail down.
Jeff and Lee run for new cover.
Lee takes a bullet in the leg.
He crawls under the scaffolding.
JEFF
Cover the door --
Jeff fires straight up through the scaffolding...
Thugs taking it from below.
Jeff runs out of ammo.
JEFF
'Throw me a gun!
Lee slides two guns across the floor.
Reloads himself.
Thugs coming in from everywhere.
Jeff picks up the guns NAILS two at close range.
Takes a hit n the side himself.
Jeff falls under the scaffold.
He and Lee sit back to back.
JEFF
Can you walk?
LEE
Sure.
JEFF
How good a shot are you?
LEE
Top of my class.
Jeff takes a ring of shotgun shells out of the bag.
JEFF
Through the door. Right?
LEE
Any time.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 108.
Jeff throws the ring at the doorway.
It lands in front of a cluster of thugs.
Lee shoots.
Hits one of the shells.
Chain reaction.
Buckshot explodes in every direction.
Thugs blown in every direction.
Jeff grabs the briefcase.
Lee the gun bag.
They move out.
One covering the front.
The other covering the rear.
A lot of shooting and blasting.
Bells, screeching birds, whirring of wings --
INT. COURTYARD
Payne and a few thugs out hen.
Command position in the rear.
Payne carrying a submachine gun.
THUG
Boss, we better get our before the police
get here.
PAYNE
I'll worry about the fucking police.
Jeff and Lee come out at the other end of the courtyard.
LEE
Who's the gringo?
JEFF
Bust him and find out.
Full on firefight across the courtyard.
Jeff and Lee f firing constantly.
Payne and thugs returning foe.
But the thugs more concerned about getting out.
Finally they break and run.
THUG
This way, Boss.
They duck into the building.
Jeff and Lee shoot their way past the remaining thugs.
Follow Payne into the building.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 109.
INT. CORRIDOR
At the back of the building.
Where Jenny is.
Payne and the thug coming down the corridor.
The Monk leads Jenny out of the cell into the corridor.
The thug recognizes Jenny
THUG
That's Jeff's girlfriend.
Jeff and Lee appear at the other end of the corridor.
They are about to fire
They see Jenny.
The Thug takes this opportunity to shoot at them.
One shot each from Lee and Jeff takes him.
Payne grabs Jenny.
The Monk tries to stop him.
Gets shot for his efforts.
Payne sticks a gun at Jenny's temple --
PAYNE
Drop your guns. We all know how this is
played.
Jenny screams.
Tries to wrestle free.
JEFF
Jenny. Don't be afraid. I'm right here. Right in
front of you.
PAYNE
Drop your gun and don't take another step.
Jeff is walking steadily toward him.
He has not dropped his gun.
He gestures for Lee to wait.
Lee doesn't drop his gun either.
JEFF
You don't want to see the cops any more than I do.
We can both walk out of here.
PAYNE
I can handle the cops.
JEFF
Not if you shoot her.
PAYNE
I told you not to take another step.
JEFF
There's's no reason we can't walk out of here alive.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 110.
A pause.
JEFF
All I want is her and the money. Mere's a back way
out of here, and a car.
PAYNE
And you and I walk out together like old friends. Is
that it?
JEFF
the girl and the money. I have no problem with you.
PAYNE
What guarantee do I have?
JEFF
I play by the rules. My word is good. You ought to
know that.
PAYNE
What about him? He's a cop and he knows who I
Jeff suddenly SLAMS Lee over the head with his gun.
Lee slumps to the ground.
JEFF
We money and the girl. I have no other interest. I
don't care what you do with him.
PAYNE
Kill him.
JEFF
He's your problem. You want to kill an FBI agent.
You do it.
PAYNE
Aren't you for hire any more?
JEFF
Sure. Half a million U. S. Cash up front. You have
a reputation for not paying.
PAYNE
Kill him and Ill give you the girl.
JEFF
Quit fucking around! If you want to get out of here
alive let her go now. He's your problem. Do
what you want with him. But do it fast. There isn't
much time --
Payne moves the gun from Jenny's head to kill Lee.
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 111.
In that instant...
Jeff KILLS HIM with one shot.
A long moment --
Then he wraps Jenny in his arms...
JEFF
It's all right. We're going to make it.
Lee is regaining consciousness.
Jeff kneels down next to him.
JEFF
Sorry. It was the only way.
LEE
I guess I'm lucky he didn't have a lot of cash on him.
JEFF
You didn't think I was going to kill you, did you?
LEE
No. You're a pro. You don't work for free.
JEFF
We got to go.
LEE
Six months and then you start looking over your
shoulder.
He's on his feet.
LEE
You take care of her --
He embraces Jenny.
LEE
Bye, Jenny.
Jeff and Lee shake hands.
JEFF
Your story might look better to the police if you were
UNCONSCIOUS.
LEE
Oh shit...
Jeff suddenly HITS him again over the head with the gun --
Lee slumps back to the ground.
Jeff takes Jenny by the hand
And they walk out the back of the temple...
DISSOLVE:
4/6/92 D.G., W.H. 112.
EXT. SOUTH CHINA SEA - DAWN
A small boat clears the harbor.
Sails out to sea.
Jeff at the tiller.
Jenny next to him.
Her hair blowing slightly in the wind.
FADE OUT:
THE END
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