12 Concubine

By

Wolf N.

Harrison Gish

Anthony Lowe

Miguel Rojas

 

Nov. 2003

 

EXT. – Corn field

 

Yellow corn is swaying in the breeze, soon the clang of metal on metal begins to fade in.

 

CUT TO

 

A peasant is fighting two men, and is winning the fight.  There are possibly other people on the ground hurt.

 

FIGHT SCENE

 

                                                                        PEASANT

                        With your lives, I will undo the injustice you have done to me.

 

During the fight, he yells out the names of stances.

 

The two men, clothed identically, grunt as they receive physical punishment.

 

CUT TO

 

LS of battle, and our Hero walks into the frame, and watches the fight for a brief moment.

 

                                                                        HERO

                        Stop assaulting these defenseless men, you cur!

 

                                                                        PEASANT

                        This is our fight, keep out!  Get the hell out of here!

 

  The hero joins in the battle, defending the two men who are losing the fight.

 

MORE FIGHT SCENE

 

The Hero manages to get the peasant in a disadvantaged position, allowing one of the two men, who have been nursing their wounds in the background, to kill him.  As he is dying, he whispersÉ

 

PEASANT

Xiang HuanÉ. Xiang HuanÉ

 

HENCHMAN

                        Got him!

 

The fight is over, and all the men rest in a momentary silence.  ThenÉ

 

                                                                        HENCHMAN #1

                        Thank you for your help.  We wouldnÕt have survived without you.

 

                                                                       

HENCHMAN #2

                        Your skills with a sword are very impressive.  IÕve only seen them equaled

                        By one man.

 

                                                                        HERO

                        (sullen, quiet) And who would that be?

 

                                                                        HENCHMAN #1

                        Our magistrate.  He is a master swordsman – IÕm sure he would be

                        Impressed with your abilities.  Why did you help us?

 

                                                                        HERO

                        Whenever I see those in a disadvantaged position, I try to help them.

 

                                                                        HENCHMAN #1

                        I admire you.  Maybe weÕll meet again.

 

The two men, helping a third off the ground, limp out of the frame.

 

CU

 

Our hero inspects the body and robs him of a precious object – his pendant.

 

Our hero leaves, and walks down a long road.  Along his journey he spies a young fair concubine, gathering water (Yellow Earth ripoff).  He approaches her.  There is music and they are swirling around each other, falling in love.

 

The hero leans in to kiss her.

 

CONCUBINE 

(Turning away) IÕm sorry.

 

CUT TO Warlord – hiding behind a tree, sees them almost kiss.

 

HERO

WhatÕs wroing?

 

CONCUBINE

IÕm sorry, but I am a Concubine.  (pauses)

A warlord killed my family and took me to be his concubineÉonly my father escaped.

He is coming to free me from my sorrow.
 

HERO

Come with me, I will love you unlike any other man.

 

 

 

He playfully follows her, and they fall in love.

 

Along the way, the Warlord sees him following his concubine and becomes angry.  He approaches the hero.

 

WARLORD

(yells) What are you doing?!

 

HERO

What business is it of yours?

 

MINI FIGHT SCENE

 

WARLORD

Your skills are formidable.

 

 HER0

You too are no novice to the sword.

 

WARLORD

LetÕs see if your mental abilities are as swift. 

Meet me at my castle tonight.

 

CUT TO WarlordÕs castle – drunken henchmen, hilarity ensues

 

INT.  CUT TO ROOM IN CASTLE

 

The two men sit at a few chairs.  The concubine enters with a tray of tea.  As she leans in to put the tray on the table in front of them the warlord brushes her cheek.  She shies away and glances at the hero.  As she flinches she spills a bit of tea on the table.

 

WARLORD

Clearly you are fond of Concubine 12.  Do you play Go?

(A henchmen brings in a board and sets it between them)

IÕm myself am quite fond of it.  If you can beat me, (touches Concubine 12) anything I own is yours.

 

The concubine sits in middle of the two men, next to the Go board.

 The warlord gestures to the board.

 

Make your move.

 

They begin to play.   It is a battle of wits, inter-cut with a fight scene in autumn trees.

 

Eventually the hero makes his winning, but the Warlord deceitfully attempts to stab him, taking his dagger out from beneath the table. 

 

The concubine suddenly saves his life by stabbing him in the neck with something.  The hero and the concubine immediately embrace.

 

CUT TO Roof of the castle.

 

CONCUBINE

Now that we have defeated the warlord, I am freed of my bondage.

 

HERO

Will you remain within these walls?

 

CONCUBINE

No, this castle holds too many bitter memories.  If only I could find my father (pause) I will follow you on your travels, for I have no home...

 

CUT TO the two of them looking into the distance.

 

CONCUBINE

Éhowever, my heart has finally found a home.

 

They lean in to kiss, and the pendant our Hero took from the peasant falls out of his shirt.  He leans to pick it up, but she reaches quickly.

 

CONCUBINE

Where did you get this?  My father had one exactly like it!

 

CUT TO Hero flashing back to killing her father.  Her father lays on the ground, whispering her real Chinese name with his dying breaths.

 

HERO

What is your real name?

 

CONCUBINE

Xiang Huan.

 

Realizing that he has murdered her father, and is stricken with guilt.  He leaves hastily, to her dismay.

 

CUT TO final shot of the hero, a silhouette, walking off into the distance, alone, much as he entered