The Killer

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.

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