Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Page #3

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Governor Yu is impressed by the opulence and elegance of the

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

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

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

glow in the dark.

SIR TE:

Two feet 9 inches long. 1 inch

wide. The handle is 1 inch deep,

2.6 inches wide. Seven-tenths of

an inch thick. With seven rubies

missing from the hilt. You can

tell the design dates back to

before the Chin era. Engraved with

a technique lost by the time of the

Han Dynasty.

GOVERNOR YU:

Your knowledge is remarkable, Sir Te.

SIR TE:

A sword by itself rules nothing.

It comes alive only through skillful

manipulation.

GOVERNOR YU:

I see your point. Please continue.

SIR TE:

The Imperial Court isn't the

problem. With royalty and officials

everywhere, the Royal Guard keeps

security tight. But Peking is not

like the West. Here, you'll find

all sorts of characters. Proceed

with caution in your quest for law

and order. Don't depend only on

the court. Contacts in the Giang

Hu underworld can ensure your

position. Be strong, yet supple.

This is the way to rule.

INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT

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

walks over to Jen and helps remove her earrings. Someone

knocks and the maid goes to answer the door.

MAID:

Governess...

GOVERNESS:

Let me do it.

The maid leaves as the governess enters the room.

JEN:

Please sit.

GOVERNESS:

I've made you silk pajamas. Do you

want to change into them?

JEN:

Put them down.

GOVERNESS:

I heard you met Shu Lien today.

JEN:

Do you know her?

GOVERNESS:

She's one of those. Your mother

would not want you consorting with

her kind.

Jen shoots her an angry look.

JEN:

I'll socialize with whomever I

please.

GOVERNESS:

Don't invite danger into your

father's house.

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

JEN:

I'm tired now.

GOVERNESS:

Go to bed then. Miss has grown up,

and is getting married soon. God

knows what the future will bring.

JEN:

It will be just the same. Enough!

I'm tired.

GOVERNESS:

Autumn is coming. I'll shut the

windows for you.

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

thinking.

EXT. TE'S COMPOUND - NIGHT

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

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

MASTER BO:

Chilly, eh?

NIGHTMAN:

Yes, Master Bo.

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

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

A masked figure silently opens the window and enters the

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

wraps the sword.

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

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

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

roof as Bo yells out.

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