Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
EXT. WEDDING PROCESSION - DAY
The noise and color of a wedding procession. A marching band heralds the occasion,
as throngs of onlookers fight to get a glimpse of the groom, Gou Jun Pei,
who trots by on a handsome white horse.
INT. WEDDING CARRIAGE - DAY
Jen's head is completely covered in red cloth, as she rides silently in the
bride's carriage.
EXT. BALCONY OVERLOOKING WEDDING PROCESSION - DAY
Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien watch the festivities from a balcony of the city
gate.
SHU LIEN
You think Jade Fox will show up?
LI
She's out there, but I doubt she'll show herself. We'll
keep our eyes open. Sooner or later, she'll come for the girl.
INT. WEDDING CARRIAGE - DAY
A small arrow flies into the carriage. Jen calmly lifts the red cloth from
her face and pulls the arrow out of the panelling inside the carriage.
We hear Lo's voice from outside the carriage, but Jen doesn't seem to notice.
LO
(v.o.) Jen! Come with me! You're mine!
Lo runs wildly into the crowd.
LO
Come with me to the desert! Jen! Come with me to Xin Jiang!
The guards surround Lo, but he escapes.
EXT. BEIJING STREET - DAY
Lo leaps and lands right in front of Li Mu Bai, his fingers pressed against
Lo's neck. Shu Lien comes running around the corner and sees them.
LI
Where is Jade Fox?
Shu Lien jumps in and pushes Li away.
SHU LIEN
(to Lo) Come with me! Hurry!
INT. CITY OUTSKIRTS - DAY
Lo sits dejectedly, having told his story to Shu Lien and Li, who look him
over.
SHU LIEN
(to Lo) You thought she'd give it all up and go back West
with you?
LO
She's mine.
LI
Either way, you are no good to her dead. With the Gou
and Yu clans hunting you, you'll soon be in their hands.
LO
I don't care anymore.
LI
If you truly loved her, you wouldn't say that.
SHU LIEN
Don't you want to see her again?
LO
All right.
LI
I'll write you an introduction. Take it to Wudan. Wait
there for news from me.
LO
All right.
EXT. TE COMPOUND - NIGHT
Shu Lien and Li enter, as other men and women race through the compound, a
sense of panic in the air. Shu Lien gives Li a look. Li shrugs.
INT. TE'S HALL - NIGHT
A crowd, including Li and Shu Lien, stand by as Te opens the empty sword case,
his voice rising.
SIR TE
When will this end? They take it, they put it back, they
take it again. My home is turning into a warehouse.
Bo bursts into the hall, bows to Te.
SIR TE
Speak!
BO
Jen has run away! Gou found the wedding chamber empty.
Governor Yu requests your assistance. You know the Giang Hu underworld. He
wants to find her, and keep her from harm.
LI
Sir Te, leave this to us. Don't worry.
INT. TEA STALL - DAY
Jen, dressed like a man, arrives at the tea stall. She places her sword on
the table, which catches the attention of a couple of Giang Hu martial arts
characters sitting nearby.
WAITRESS
What can I serve you?
As the waitress turns to leave, Jen grabs her by the arm.
JEN
The cup is dirty.
The flustered waitress apologizes and takes the cup away. The men approach
Jen.
GANGSTER A
Hello. What is your name?
JEN
(without lifting her eyes) Long.
GANGSTER B
It's young Master Long. My apologies. I'm Iron Eagle Sung
and this is my brother in arms, Flying Cougar Li Yun. What brings you to Huai
An, and where are you headed, Master Long?
JEN
Anywhere there's action.
The two men exchange glances.
GANGSTER A
In that case, perhaps we could be of assistance.
JEN
Don't bother.
GANGSTER A
You don't seem to understand.
JEN
So what if I don't?
GANGSTER B
We have ways of helping you understand.
The two pull out their weapons which are immediately chopped into scraps by
Jen.
GANGSTER A
(stunned) Are you related to Li Mu Bai?
JEN
He is my defeated foe!
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien pass a cup back and forth as Bo tends to the horses
in the background.
SHU LIEN
Have some tea.
As Shu Lien passes the cup to Li, their fingers touch. Embarrassed, Li pulls
back.
LI
Shu Lien... The things we touch have no permanence. My
master would say... there is nothing we can hold on to in this world. Only
by letting go can we truly possess what is real.
SHU LIEN
Not everything is an illusion. My hand... wasn't that
real?
LI
Your hand, rough and callused from machete practice...
All this time, I've never had the courage to touch it.
Li takes Shu Lien's hand and presses it to his face.
LI
Giang Hu is a world of tigers and dragons, full of corruption...
I tried sincerely to give it up but I have brought us only trouble.
SHU LIEN
To repress one's feelings only makes them stronger.
LI
You're right, but I don't know what to do. I want to be
with you... just like this. It gives me a sense of peace.
Li Mu Bai smiles.
INT. STAR RESTAURANT - DAY
Jen walks upstairs. A waiter greets her.
WAITER
Please follow me.
JEN
I want a clean room.
WAITER
We have plenty. Your order?
Jen again sets her sword on the table as she sits down.
JEN
Steamed whole cod, bite-size meatballs, a little starchy,
but keep the sauce light, shark fin soup, mixed vegetables, and some warm
wine.
WAITER
(dazed) I have to order from a bigger restaurant.
JEN
Hurry then.
The waiter gauges Jen for an instant before bouncing off to place the orders.
Jen checks her pouch and sees there's not much money left.
A large group of Giang Hu characters enters. They survey the restaurant and
quickly find Jen upstairs.
GIANG HU A
That's him.
MI BIAO
I am Iron Arm Mi. I heard a true master has arrived. I
have come to seek a lesson.
Jen ignores him.
MI BIAO
(bristles) You asked for it!
Mi charges and attacks Jen, who is still sitting sipping tea. Jen barely lifts
a finger and disposes of Mi with a poke at a sensitive pressure point. This
provokes a reaction from the other men.
JEN
What kind of Iron Arm are you?
FLYING MACHETE CHANG
You have amazing technique! I am Flying Machete. Are you
related to Southern Crane?
JEN
Southern Duck? I don't eat anything with two feet. Who could
remember such long-winded names?
GOU JUN SIHUNG
Li Mu Bai is your defeated foe, and you don't know his master,
Southern Crane?
JEN
Who are you?
GOU JUN SIHUNG
I'm Shining Phoenix Mountain Gou.
JEN
(furious) Gou? I hate that name. It makes me puke! Too bad you're named
Gou. You'll be the first to feel my sword today.
Jen leaps up and dives into battle. The men all use different kinds of weapons,
but they all succumb to the powerful Green Destiny.
MONK JING
Hold it! Don't you know Monk Jing?
JEN
A monk, in a place like this? You need a lesson!
MONK JING
Who are you?
She smiles, and leaps again into action after unsheathing the Green Destiny.
JEN
Who am I? I am... I am the Invincible Sword Goddess. Armed
with the Incredible... Green Destiny. Be you Li or Southern Crane... lower
your head... and ask for mercy. I am the desert dragon. I leave no trace.
Today I fly over Eu-Mei. Tomorrow... I'll kick over Wudan Mountain!
Jen is in a frenzy, slashing and maiming as she speaks.
INT. STAR RESTAURANT - DAY
Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai are surrounded by the variously bandaged men who battled
with Jen.
FLYING MACHETE CHANG
We politely asked for a friendly match, but she showed
no respect, and attacked us. Everyone came by to teach her a lesson.
MI BIAO
Her sword was just too powerful.
MONK JING
I've traveled everywhere, but never met anyone so uncivilized.
SHINING PHOENIX MOUNTAIN GOU
(heavily bandaged) She kept accusing me of being Gou Jun Pei's brother. Who is
this Gou, anyway?
SHU LIEN
Her husband.
The men all nod their heads.
EXT. OUTSIDE HWAI AN - DAY
Li Mu Bai and Shu Lien ride together.
LI
(to Yu) We're close to your headquarters. Go home and
check in.
SHU LIEN
What about you?
LI
I'll look around and catch up later.
SHU LIEN
Not a bad idea. Tonight we'll get a good night's sleep
at headquarters.
Shu Lien takes a fork off the road. Thunder can be heard in the darkening
sky.
EXT. SUN COMPOUND - DAY
A group of security men are practicing Kung Fu in the front yard of Sun Security.
They stop when Shu Lien enters.
SECURITY MAN A
Mistress, It's you! you're back.
SHU LIEN
How's everything here?
SECURITY MAN A
Fine. You've been gone a while.
SHU LIEN
Yes, and I leave again tomorrow. Your wife was due?
AH WAI
Yeah, a baby girl.
SHU LIEN
Good!
AH WAI
I'll be happy if she's half as strong as you.
SHU LIEN
Mrs. Wu...
AUNT WU
You're back!
SHU LIEN
How's the arm? Still sore?
AUNT WU
Much better. You've been gone so long.
SHU LIEN
Li Mu Bai is coming to stay the night.
AUNT WU
(excited) I'll go and make up his room!
Aunt Wu hustles out. Shu Lien goes into her own room.
INT. HALL OF ANCESTRAL WORSHIP
Shu Lien lights incense for her former fiance Meng. Hearing something, she
turns to see a dishevelled Jen standing outside downstairs.
JEN
Sister Shu Lien...
INT. SHU LIEN'S ROOM - DAY
Shu Lien eases her guard, then opens a drawer, and takes out some clothes.
Jen, wearing just white underclothing, sets herself on the edge of Shu Lien's
bed. Shu Lien brings over the clothes.
SHU LIEN
Here you must be in proper attire.
JEN
I'm just borrowing some clean clothes. I'm not staying.
SHU LIEN
I'll give them to you.
JEN
I was just passing by and wondered how you were.
Jen tries to hide her anxiety but finally breaks down on Shu Lien's shoulder
in tears.
JEN
You, sister...
SHU LIEN
Look at the trouble you've caused. Now you know what Giang
Hu life is really like. If you think of me as your sister, let me give you
some sisterly advice. You can run from marriage, but not your parents.
JEN
They forced me to marry!
SHU LIEN
Go back to them first. Then you can decide about Lo.
JEN
You know about Lo?
SHU LIEN
He really loves you. Come back to Peking with me. We'll find
a solution.
JEN
Where is he now?
SHU LIEN
Li Mu Bai has made arrangements. He sent him to Wudan
Mountain.
JEN
You're working together to set me up! I'm leaving!
SHU LIEN
How dare you accuse us? I always knew you had stolen the
sword! I've done nothing but protect you and your family. And you're repaid
me with nothing but contempt. Li Mu Bai himself spared you, and all you do
is insult him. We wanted some peace and you've ruined it all! You're no sister
of mine!
JEN
What do I care? You were never a real friend anyway. But I
wonder, how long could you last as my enemy?
Jen gets up to leave. Shu Lien intercepts her.
SHU LIEN
Put the sword down!
Jen jumps out.
INT. SUN COURTYARD - DAY
Jen soars out to the front courtyard where the guards are still practicing.
They raise their weapons at the sight of an intruder.
SHU LIEN
(calling out) Jen!
Jen greets Shu Lien with the Green Destiny.
SHU LIEN
Everyone out. Shut the doors.
The men leave.
SHU LIEN
Fine... the friendship is over.
Shu Lien scoops up a weapon from one of many lying around and begins her battle
with Jen.
Shu Lien uses every weapon that's available against Jen but none are any match
for the Green Destiny.
After slicing through another set of Shu Lien's weapons, Jen looks admiringly
at the Green Destiny in her hands.
SHU LIEN
Don't touch it! That's Li Mu Bai's sword.
JEN
Come and get it if you can.
SHU LIEN
Without the Green Destiny, you are nothing.
JEN
Don't be a sore loser. Go ahead. Take your pick. I'll
wait. Go ahead.
Shu Lien picks up a huge broad sword and attacks. Just as the Green Destiny
slices it in half, Shu Lien holds the broken blade at Jen's neck. She pauses
before hurting Jen, then pulls back.
SHU LIEN
Give me the sword.
Jen, taking advantage of Shu Lien's trust, slices her arm.
JEN
Take it!
Shu Lien, her shoulder bleeding, falls back as Li Mu Bai jumps in.
LI
(enraged) Stop it! You don't deserve the Green Destiny.
JEN
Not another lecture! On guard!
LI
Let's end this here.
JEN
Only the sword will settle this.
Jen soars up to the rooftop, with Li right on her tail.
EXT. LAKE - DAY
Jen floats over the lake, Li close behind.
EXT. BAMBOO FOREST - DAY
Jen runs into a sea of bamboo. She appears to have lost Li but is not slowing
down. Her white clothes are now stained with blood and mud. The wind had picked
up and every breeze sounds like an air attack by Li.
The two leap onto the tips of the bamboo trees and begin their dances and
dodges. They glance off bamboos and each other while staying afloat. Finally
Jen lands on the same stick of bamboo as Li. The two hold their positions
for a while, as the bamboo bends.
LI
I only let you go because I wanted to see the real you.
Jen tries to shake Li off the bamboo but Li recovers nicely.
JEN
What do you know about a true heart?
Li suddenly leaps off the bamboo tree. The bamboo straightens up and throws
Jen toward the ground. Jen quickly pulls herself up and charges at Li.
Jen chases after Li, into a clearing, out of the bamboo forest.
EXT. RIVER - DAY
Jen finally catches up to Li, who is standing on a rock about a few feet wide
amid the rapids. Jen vaults onto the rock and scuffles with Li. Jen loses
her balance.
JEN
What do you want?
LI
What I've always wanted, to teach you.
JEN
All right. If you can take back the sword in three moves,
I'll go with you.
Li takes the sword back.
JEN
Give it back!
LI
Kneel!
JEN
Never!
LI
Then you have no use for the sword.
Li throws the sword into the rapids.
Jen dives in to retrieve it. He follows Jen downstream by hopping from one
rock to another. Jen recovers the sword but is herself drowning. Suddenly
Jade Fox swings into the rapids and fishes Jen out. Jade Fox carries the unconscious
Jen away. Li gives chase, but loses them.
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY
It's raining. Inside an old factory, Jade Fox heats some medicine paste and
then dips a needle in the paste. She burns the needle point, causing a blue
smoke. She lights some incense and puts it in a burner near Jen, who is barely
conscious.
JADE FOX
Sooner or later, they'd drag you back to Peking. Your
parents will never accept you again. But why go home? We've gone this far,
we won't stop now. You'll always be my lady. At last, we'll be our own masters.
We'll be happy. That's the most important thing. All we have left is each
other, right? Lie down and rest.
Jen is too weak to respond.
Fox leaves Jen clutching the Green Destiny.
EXT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY
Fox scurries ahead in the rain. Her eyes catch something, but she keeps moving.
INT. SUN COMPOUND - DAY
Aunt Wu finishes bandaging Shu Lien.
AUNT WU
She's crazy. You should have killed her.
SHU LIEN
I didn't have the heart.
AUNT WU
Well, Li Mu Bai can do it.
Shu Lien senses movement at the window. Looking out, she sees Jade Fox in
the distance.
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY
Jen wakes up, flushed from fever. She takes a sip from a cup of water -- it's
empty. She tosses the cup, gets up, and walks into the rain.
EXT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY
Jen walks out, raises her face into the rain, and drinks the raindrops. Thirst
quenched, she turns around and finds Li Mu Bai standing there. Jen limps towards
him while mumbling.
JEN
Is it me or the sword you want?
Jen falls into Li, who checks her pulse and looks at her eyes.
LI
You've been drugged!
Li carries her inside, kicking away the incense burner.
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY
Li lays his hands on Jen's back; she slowly comes to.
LI
Where is Jade Fox?
Jen gestures that she doesn't know. Shu Lien and Bo enter. Shu Lien looks
at Jen.
SHU LIEN
What happened?
LI
Jade Fox drugged her. How did you get here?
SHU LIEN
We followed Jade Fox.
Instantaneously, a flurry of darts flies directly in Jen's direction. Li Mu
Bai and Shu Lien swipe miraculously at them all, sending them flinging hither
and thither.
Jade Fox shows herself. Li attacks her. She falls back, bleeding to death.
LI
And so you die.
FOX
And so shall you!
Li touches his neck and pulls a single needle from his neck.
SHU LIEN
A poisoned needle!
FOX
You deserve to die, but the life I was hoping to take... was
Jen's. Ten years I devoted to you. But you deceived me! You hid the manual's
true meaning. I never improved... but your progress was limitless! You know
what poison is? An eight-year-old girl, full of deceit. That's poison! Jen!
My only family... my only enemy...
Jade Fox dies. Shu Lien rushed to her.
SHU LIEN
You can't die! Tell us what poison you used! You can't
die! Tell us the antidote! You can't let Li Mu Bai die!
JEN
She used Purple Yin... Purple Yin poison. It goes straight
to the heart.
LI
My blood will soon reverse its flow. It's the same poison
she used to kill my master. There is no antidote.
SHU LIEN
That can't be! Everything has an antithesis! Why not this?
JEN
The antidote exists. She taught it to me. The formula
is simple, but it takes time to prepare. Trust me. As you have helped me,
let me help you.
LI
All right. Hurry. I will hold on as long as I can.
SHU LIEN
(takes the hairpin from her hair) Take my horse and go
to the compound. Give this to Mrs. Wu. She'll help you. Hurry!
JEN
Spare your energy. I'll be back!
EXT. ABANDONED FACTORY - NIGHT
Bo is burying Fox in the rain.
EXT. SUN COMPOUND - NIGHT
The guards surround Jen. She pushes past them.
JEN
Where is Mrs. Wu?
Aunt Wu comes running out.
AUNT WU
Stop it!
Jen pulls out Shu Lien's hairpin.
JEN
Shu Lien told me to show you this.
AUNT WU
Let her in.
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - NIGHT
Shu Lien sits across from Li Mu Bai, whose pose is almost meditational, eerily
calm.
SHU LIEN
Mu Bai, hold on. Give me some hope...
LI
Shu Lien...
SHU LIEN
Save your strength.
LI
My life is departing. I've only one breath left.
SHU LIEN
Use it to meditate. Free yourself from this world as you
have been taught. Let your soul rise to eternity with your last breath. Do
not waste it... for me.
LI
I've already wasted my whole life. I want to tell you
with my last breath... I have always loved you. I would rather be a ghost,
drifting by your side... as a condemned soul... than enter heaven without
you. Because of your love... I will never be a lonely spirit.
Shu Lien cries.
She kisses him lightly. He closes his eyes.
EXT. PATH - DAY
As the sun rises, Jen rides speedily, clutching the medicine in her hands.
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY
Li Mu Bai is in Shu Lien's arms. They're holding hands. The sun shines in.
Shu Lien slowly releases Li's stiff fingers -- he is dead.
Jen is at the door.
JEN
He's gone?
Bo peeks over Jen's shoulder.
Shu Lien rises and picks up Green Destiny. Jen kneels. Shu Lien raises the
sword, but doesn't kill her.
SHU LIEN
Bo... please take this sword back to Sir Te.
He takes the sword from her.
Shu Lien takes the hairpin from Jen's hand and puts into Jen's hair.
SHU LIEN
Now you must go to Wudan Mountain. Lo awaits you there. Promise
me one thing, whatever path you take in this life... be true to yourself.
EXT. WU TAN TEMPLE - DAY
Jen climbs up toward the temple, finally reaching the temple gate, and sees
Lo standing there.
He runs to her. She greets him.
INT. WU TAN TEMPLE - NIGHT
Jen and Lo make love.
INT. WU TAN TEMPLE - DAY
Lo wakes up to find the jade comb on the pillow beside him, Jen gone.
EXT. WU TAN MOUNTAIN - DAY
Lo catches up to Jen, who stands on a bridge. The gorges below are shrouded
in clouds. She looks back at him.
JEN
Do you remember the legend of the young man?
LO
"A faithful heart makes wishes come true."
JEN
Make a wish, Lo.
Lo pauses.
LO
(closing his eyes) To be back in the desert, together
again.
Jen smiles, turns, and leaps into the clouds. They seem to catch her gently,
before she disappears into them.
Lo remains standing, a smile on his face, tears rolling down his cheeks.
THE END.
Previous Page
CAST
| Li Mu Bai | .... | Chow Yun-Fat |
| Yu Shu Lien | .... | Michelle Yeoh |
| Jen Yu | .... | Zhang Ziyi |
| Lo | .... | Chang Chen |
| Sir Te | .... | Lung Sihung |
| Jade Fox | .... | Cheng Pei-Pei |
| Governor Yu | .... | Li Fazeng |
| Bo | .... | Gao Xian |
| Madam Yu | .... | Hai Yan |
| Inspector Tsai | .... | Wang Deming |
| May | .... | Li Li |
| Aunt Wu | .... | Huang Suying |
| De Lu | .... | Zhang Jinting |
| Maid | .... | Yang Rei |
