American Shaolin
Screenplay by Keith W. Strandberg
Produced by Keith W. Strandberg
Directed by Lucas Lowe
Cast List:
Reese Madigan Drew Carson
Cliff Lenderman D.S.
Daniel Dae Kim Gao
Billy Chang Li
Alice Zhang Hung Ashena
Trent Bushey Trevor Gottitall
Kim Chan Master Kwan
FADE IN:
EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE – NIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THE NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTS OF THE CITY SHINING BRIGHTLY.
EXT. WORKOUT AREA – SAME NIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT OF MASTER KWAN'S SCHOOL, A RAMSHACKLE BUILDING IN A BURNED OUT ROW OF STORES.
His is the only one still occupied, and it doesn't look that permanent.
In the window is a cardboard, handwritten sign that reads "Kwan's Shaolin
Kung Fu". What remains visible behind the poster and the security grate is
an IMPRESSION of
people moving and milling around.
INT. WORKOUT AREA – SAME NIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT OF KWAN'S SHAOLIN KUNG FU SCHOOL.
The students are doing their own thing, and they are a mixture of old and
young, men and women. They are not dressed alike, as they would be in a Karate
school: they are dressed in old T-shirts and tattered sweat pants. This is not
a wealthy school, by any means, and that is typified by the appearance of SIFU KWAN, who is walking through
the students as they train. He is wizened old man, 70 years old if he is a day,
and he is dressed in a fraying Chinese jacket, scruffy cloth shoes and a
discolored Chinese T-shirt.
ANGLE ON A YOUNG ADULT
Struggling through a horse stance, his face in real pain. He is trying
his best to hold the stance, but his legs are quivering. He drops out of the
stance onto his knees. Master Kwan is right beside him.
YOUNG ADULT
Sifu Kwan, was that long enough? It's been 10 minutes...
Sifu Kwan shakes his head and puts his hands behind his back as he walks
past the student.
KWAN
At Shaolin Temple, in misty Songshan mountains, We monks
trained in iron palm until our hands bled...
(beat)
... then we trained some more.
He walks on, leaving a puzzled student behind.
YOUNG ADULT
(getting back into horse stance)
I guess not...
ANGLE ON KWAN
As he walks around the different people training. As one woman is moving
through an intricate series of movements, he sighs and rearranges her hands.
KWAN
Tiger grasps his tail, not hamburger!
He moves on, studying the room with his eyes, often glancing toward the
door, and then toward the small clock on a table near the door. It is late, and
Kwan is obviously waiting for someone to arrive. As he is waiting, a young STUDENT comes up to Kwan.
STUDENT
Master Kwan, when can I learn flying kicks? I see Bruce
Lee...
KWAN
Bruce Lee actor, we fighters, warriors. A sparrow in
flight is beautiful, but a side kick to the ribs is effective. Show me.
The boy shrugs and then starts throwing side kicks. Kwan is half looking
at the boy and half looking towards the door and the clock. The boy throws
three or four kicks and then stops. He is watching Kwan watching the door. Kwan
sees him, and turns back to him.
KWAN (CONT'D)
(shaking his head)
A Shaolin warrior lets nothing intrude. Continue, never
mind.
He continues to kick, and Kwan continues to look at the door. Finally,
the student stops kicking, half-heartedly bows to the master, and then moves to
the side of the workout room. Kwan doesn't know he's gone. Kwan turns around,
forgetting for a moment what he is doing, and comes face to face with the
mother of a student, MRS. RODRIGUEZ, and she is holding a uniform of some sort.
She smiles widely at him and holds up the uniform. It is beautiful, obviously
hand made, and on the back is embroidered: "Kwan's Shaolin" and
underneath that is "Drew Carson". Kwan takes in the entire outfit,
while the rest of the class is gathering around to have a look. They are all
very impressed.
KWAN (CONT'D)
Never in my days at the Shaolin Temple have I seen
uniform as beautiful as this. Thank you, Mrs. Rodriguez. I wish Drew were here
to thank you himself. Ta ma de!
This last he says looking at the empty door.
MOTHER
I only hope it brings him luck in the tournament.
KWAN
Luck is no concern, Mrs. Rodriguez. Shaolin warriors
depend on heart and soul – that's how they saved the T'ang emporer.
He looks again at the door, then claps his hands together, gathering his
students around him.
KWAN (CONT'D)
Xie Xie, Mrs. Rodriguez.
(to class)
During my time training at the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of the
martial arts, I was lucky (glance at Mrs. Rodriguez)... er... fortunate to have
the best instructors in the world train me. But, there was also time for
individual training – where skills were honed like the blade of a sword. Now,
it is that time for you.
He turns to go.
One of the students, before he can leave, clears his throat.
STUDENT 2
What do you want us to do?
KWAN
When the blind follow the blind, they both fall over the
cliff. Understand?
STUDENT 2
No.
The others mutter "No" and shake their heads, confused.
KWAN
No matter.
He exits, leaving his students staring vacantly after him.
They look at each other, honestly not knowing what to do.
EXT. DREW GARAGE – SAME NIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT OF OLD
GARAGE.
It is kind of spooky, and there are no lights on outside. There is
candlelight inside, and it is moving around – an effect not unlike a ghost
carrying a candelabra.
INT. DREW GARAGE – SAME NIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT OF INTERIOR.
The area is dilapidated, but very clean, with all kinds of kung fu and
Chinese paraphenalia lying around. Around the corner comes the spooky light,
and (with music building to a crescendo), we see DREW
CARSON, a muscular 16/17 year old, bowls
of flaming wax on his bare shoulders, moving through the garage, practicing his
kung fu maneuvers. He is kicking, punching, etc., occasionally spilling hot wax
on his skin (INSERT).
In the background is a TV, and on it is showing a martial arts movie.
ANGLE ON KWAN
Who is quietly settling into a shadowy corner of the garage, watching
Drew.
ANGLE ON DREW
As he continues to move around the workout area, his arms and body moving
as he tries to match the movements on the TV.
Suddenly, Kwan jumps out of the shadows, attacking. Drew reacts
instantly, evading the attack, the wax sloshing around in the bowls but not
spilling (INSERT SHOT HERE).
Kwan continues the attack, and Drew evades, their movements matching the
movements on the TV almost move for move. It is a beautiful ballet, and Drew
ends it by sweeping Kwan down to the ground. When Kwan hits the ground, hard,
his face is lit by the TV screen.
ANGLE ON DREW
Who, for the first time, sees that it is Kwan.
DREW
MASTER KWAN!
He hurries over to his master, a concerned look on his face.
He leans down to help Kwan up, forgetting about the bowls of hot wax. It
pours down on Kwan, scalding him, as well as running down Drew's chest. Kwan
struggles to get up, while at the same time trying to wipe the hot wax off.
DREW (CONT'D)
Master Kwan! I'm sorry, very sorry!
KWAN
(blustering)
I'm OK, never mind! What are you doing anyway?
DREW
Is taking the glued-on cups of wax off his shoulders, while peeling the
already hard wax off his chest.
DREW
Practicing. I saw it in this movie...
Kwan shakes his head and walks over to Drew, standing in front of him.
KWAN
Why didn't you come to class? Why waste time with
this... Should study tapes of opponent.
DREW
I'll still win. Besides, the Shaolin monks never had
tapes to study... they did it this way... right?
KWAN
Not quite – our drills at the temple had meaning. If we
had tapes, we would have watched them.
Drew starts to protest, but Kwan doesn't even let him start.
KWAN (CONT'D)
"The warrior who knows himself and his opponent
will win 100 times in 100 battles." Study the tapes I gave you. All these
years of one on one training – you're the best I've ever taught.
DREW
The best?
KWAN
Best white boy, maybe. Just fight like a Shaolin warrior
– the rest will take care of itself.
(picks up tape)
Face reality, before it breaks your jaw!
Drew holds out his hand for the tape, and Kwan slaps it into his hand.
Drew smiles a defeated smile and turns toward the VCR, when Drew's stepfather,
BOB, walks in. He is a big, overweight man, and he is very angry.
BOB
(shouting)
Are you screwing around with this stuff again?
DREW
Look, Bob, I'm not bothering you, am I?
BOB
It's your attitude that bothers me, son.
DREW
I'm not your son, Bob. Lay off.
It is a threat, one that Bob almost takes up. Kwan feels the tension in
the room, and starts to say something.
BOB
(cutting him off)
Don't say a word, yellow man.
REACTION SHOT OF KWAN
Closing his already opened mouth.
BOB (CONT'D)
You're here because I told your Mom I'd see you were
taken care of... after. At least respect my wishes, and make something of
yourself... Stop wasting your time!
DREW
(sarcastic)
When I'm the best fighter in the country, I'm not going
to let you be part of my entourage...
BOB
You mean when you're in jail...
DREW
Just leave me alone, Bob, OK? I NEVER asked for anything
from you.
He spins and kicks one of the hanging bags, then walks out of the workout
room, leaving Bob and Kwan standing alone.
Kwan looks at Bob, who towers over him, and smiles sheepishly.
KWAN
Pressure. Big tournament this weekend.
He starts to walk out, but Bob follows him.
BOB
How would you have liked having to take care of a kid
you never really wanted... ?
KWAN
I wish I had the chance...
Kwan exits, and we...
EXT. TREVOR ESTATE – DAY
ESTABLISHING SHOT OF TREVOR GOTTITALL ESTATE, A HUGE PALATIAL SPREAD.
The grounds are immaculate and huge, exquisitely kept and beautifully
laid out. A gathering is around the pool and lawn area, where TREVOR and his
team are having an exhibition for their guests. Polite applause is
COMING FROM THE CROWD, ALL WELL-DRESSED AND OBVIOUSLY WELL-HEELED.
ANGLE ON TREVOR
As he knocks out an opponent.
ANGLE ON CROWD
Applauding.
ANGLE ON TREVOR
Taunting a different opponent. Trevor executes a beautiful technique and
puts the guy down and out.
ANGLE ON TEAM
(Psychologist, therapist, masseur, etc.) who are cheering Trevor on.
ANGLE ON TREVOR
As he plays with the next fighter.
TREVOR
They said you were good... ha!
He knocks the guy out with a picture perfect kick. There is no denying
that he's a superior fighter.
TREVOR (CONT'D)
Can't you get me any quality sparring partners?
The next guy comes up, but before they can start, the psychologist, DR. PFEELGUT, calls for
"Time" and motions Trevor over.
PFEELGUT
It's not enough just to win, Trevor. You have to destroy
your opponent completely, mentally and physically. Beat him once, he's a
threat. Humiliate him, and he'll fear you forever.
Trevor listens to this, nods his head once, and when Pfeelgut goes to
leave, Trevor pushes him into the pool.
Pfeelgut comes to the surface, smiling.
PFEELGUT (CONT'D)
Exactly!
Trevor goes back to the ring. He really takes it to this guy, alternately
playing with him and hurting him. As the guy tries to hold his own, the string
to his pants comes loose and they start to fall down. He grabs for them with
both hands, and Trevor starts to back up, laughing with the rest of the group.
ANGLE ON PFEELGUT
Toweling off, who is yelling to Trevor.
PFEELGUT (CONT'D)
GET HIM! NOW!!
Trevor looks at him for a moment, not really understanding, then sees
what the psychologist is saying. He lunges immediately forward and (in SLOW MOTION) knocks the guy out
while he is still trying to pull his pants up.
ANGLE ON CROWD AS THEY ENJOY THE SHOW IMMENSELY
Trevor has learned the lesson of the day, and he walks off.
INT. TREVOR HOUSE – SAME DAY
ESTABLISHING SHOT OF TREVOR BEING PAMPERED BY HIS ENTOURAGE
The masseur is massaging his shoulders, a woman is doing a pedicure and
another is doing a manicure. An exercise physiologist is going over a computer
print out with Trevor, when an old Korean master, MASTER
KIM, comes into the room.
TREVOR
Ah, Master Kim.
(to physiologist)
I'll look at these stats later.
Trevor indicates a seat near him, much lower than the one he is sitting
in. The Korean master prefers to remain standing.
TREVOR (CONT'D)
Are all you guys named Kim? So, what did you think?
KIM