Up the Yangtze

UP THE YANGTZE by JS Lennox 760-480-4109 Registered WGA jslennox@yahoo.com 0 FADE IN: EXT. CHINA - LITTLE THREE GORGES AREA - DAY We're moving through a shroud of fog so dense you can chew it. It starts to break up and we see sharp jagged cliffs along the Daning River, a tributary of the Yangtze River in the Sichuan Province of China. We move along the wall of the sheer cliff and stop at a darkened crevice that is an opening to a small cave. Suddenly a CHINESE WORKER falls into frame dangling from a rock-climbing rig. He maneuvers himself into the crevice. INT. CAVE - LITTLE THREE GORGES AREA - DAY The opening to the cave is illuminated with the light emanating from the worker's hat. The stench from the stale cave air is so noxious that he leans to the side and vomits. Undeterred, he crawls with nervous excitement on his hands and knees avoiding several artifacts along the cave floor. Ahead of him at the back of the cave we see a badly decomposed coffin. It's made out of a single piece of hollowed out namba wood and covered with jade and gold ornaments. The worker crawls over to the coffin and pauses to look at it. He nervously touches the decayed Chinese hieroglyphics on the side. With a furtive look around him, he peels back the rotted lid. His eyes brighten as he peers inside. EXT. LITTLE THREE GORGES AREA - ABOVE THE CAVE - DAY At the top of the cliff overlooking the river, LOCAL VILLAGERS, pant legs hiked up to their thighs, sweat as they dig with tangans, a crude shovel with a specially curved blade. They are probing deep into the earth around a mound overlooking the cave. Other villagers light the fuse on some homemade dynamite and BANG! A hole is blown into the side of the cliff. A Jeep pulls up to the site. Emerging from it is RAYMOND STILLWELL, (40s) American. He watches dispassionately as the workers toil away. At the cliffs edge, WONG FEI HUNG a young, diminutive archeologist hurriedly walks over to Raymond. RAYMOND Well? Is it her tomb or not? WONG FEI One of the boat coffins was encased in gold and had three human skeletons laying outside of it. RAYMOND What does that mean? 1 WONG FEI They were probably sacrificed. The deceased was royalty. RAYMOND So it's her? WONG FEI It's the empress. Lots of little stuff like this. He gives Raymond a beautiful jade hairpin. Raymond smiles and puts it in his pocket. Wong Fei motions to a tall, SKINNY CHINESE MAN who is carrying something under a sheet. He comes over and Wong Fei removes the sheet revealing an exquisitely carved WHITE JADE TIGER. Raymond looks it over. The base of the tiger has strange markings and boat shapes. RAYMOND What do these markings say? WONG FEI No one knows. (almost with regret) But it's priceless. RAYMOND We'll see. Is there more? WONG FEI Much more. Wong Fei waves off the skinny man and Raymond walks over to the edge of the cliff. RAYMOND Strip all the gold and silver off the coffins and get rid of them. I don't want any evidence there was ever a tomb there. Collect everything, clay pots, ceramic statuettes-- whatever, and bring it back to the warehouse. He looks out over the Yangtze River. RAYMOND (CONT'D) What is it with the Chinese and water? Raymond sees some workers just standing around and grows angry. 2 RAYMOND (CONT'D) Why aren't they working? I told you the river patrols have been stepped up in this area. WONG FEI Some of the locals just came by. They're warning them about desecrating the boat coffins. Raymond shakes his head. RAYMOND Another shakedown by the local village council. Christ, Wong. Throw some money around-- get them red-faced on sorghum spirits. WONG FEI They say the site is Fengxue-- it's holy. Raymond is bored with hearing about more Chinese superstitions. RAYMOND It's always something with you people. Thousand of years of Chinese history buried in these hills-- hills soon to be submerged under 430 meters of water when the dam is finished. Will they still be holy underwater? WONG FEI The souls of dead need to be cared for so that they can be settled among the dead and not haunt the living. RAYMOND Your men are being paid a year's farming income to excavate these cliffs for me. I don't give a flying fuck about ghosts sailing around in paradise. Get them moving or I'll replace you and bring in another crew with high explosives and bulldozers. If you want to pay off your gambling debts I suggest you get your team moving. Wong Fei's face tightens. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Understood? WONG FEI I understand. 3 Wong Fei turns and walks towards a group of workers listening to TWO VILLAGE COUNCILERS. Wong Fei takes one of them aside. We see him take a large amount of cash from his pocket. EXT. LITTLE THREE GORGES AREA - CLIFF EDGE - LATER Wong Fei is looking out over the cliff. He watches as the ancient coffins are pushed out of caves and dropped into the river below. He sadly watches as they fall towards the river. But as each one hits the water, there is a sudden BRIGHT FLASH causing him to shield his eyes. SUDDENLY A SIREN SOUNDS. Wong Fei sees two Chinese patrol boats approaching from opposite ends of the river with lights flashing and sirens blaring. The workers start to scatter like cockroaches. Wong Fei runs over to Raymond who is hurriedly getting into his Jeep. RAYMOND Hide everything for now. I'll contact you. Wong Fei watches as Raymond is driven away. The other workers run down the road. EXT. CHINA - YANGTZE RIVER - SERIES OF SHOTS We see a collage of shots of the Yangtze River: little two-man fishing sampans, crowded ferries, and barges carrying gravel and coal - an aerial shot of the river reveals the giant Three Gorges Dam construction site - we see people moving as rising waters from the dam engulf entire towns - a sign marking the future water level reads 450 meters - a temporary construction barrier on the dam being blown up - millions of gallons of water gushing from a huge release valve in the dam. CUT TO: EXT. BEL AIR MANSION - BACKYARD - MORNING THE LEGEND, "FIVE MONTHS LATER" APPEARS. Water is gushing out of a broken lawn sprinkler in the backyard of a private gated estate in Bel Air. We see verandas, terraces, and a gorgeous pool surrounded by a large, lush lawn. A barefooted JONATHAN THURBER, steps out the back door of the mansion and squints from the bright sunshine. Wearing a bathrobe, Jonathan is in his early forties, tall and good-looking. He pulls a cell phone out of his bathrobe pocket and presses the speed dial. 4 JONATHAN (on phone) Hugo. (listening) I know, Melanie made me some incredible Jello shots last night. Hey, we've got a big problemo in the backyard. It's like a waterfall out here. You better get over here and fix it like pronto. (listening) Don't hang up yet. I've got a another job for you and Cloyd tonight. Be here at 4:30. (lisiening) He hangs the cell phone up and looks out at the gushing water on the lawn. INT. BEVERLY HILLS MANSION - LIVING ROOM - DAY Jonathan is laying on a couch tapping a pen on his lips. Next to him is MELANIE STERN, attractive, (late 20s). She's looking at her laptop. MELANIE (reading from laptop) So don't look at your watch while they're here... don't point your finger or a pen at anyone... Jonathan looks at his pen. MELANIE (CONT'D) Use only your right hand for everything and no gesticulating wildly. JONATHAN I never gesticulate wildly. Melanie looks at him and smiles. She leans over and kisses him. MELANIE You give me the confidence to think I can do this. JONATHAN We can do it. MELANIE Of course we. Hashim wouldn't have given me the time of day on this if it wasn't for you speaking as my partner. JONATHAN Just wish all my money wasn't tied up right now. We wouldn't need Hashim the sheik. They kiss. 5 INT. BEL AIR MANSION - KITCHEN In the large kitchen we see HUGO MARTINEZ (20s) brash, and CLOYD GONZALES (20s) shy, from Venezuela. They are preparing a variety of Arab hors d'oeuvres. Cloyd is looking at a to-do list. Hugo tastes the honey cake. HUGO (in Spanish) In Venezuela I was getting a degree in hydrology and suddenly here I am in LA-- a gardener during the day and Arab food caterer at night. Talk about irony. CLOYD (in Spanish) I don't see any irony... HUGO (in Spanish) Then talk about a depressing state of affairs. CLOYD (in Spanish) Look at Arturo Moreno. He started as a busboy in LA and now he's the owner of the Anaheim Angels. Cloyd goes over to the refrigerator. CLOYD (CONT'D) (in Spanish) Father taught us behind every great fortune there is a crime. He takes out a bowl of cucumber salad. Jonathan walks into the kitchen followed by Melanie. JONATHAN (in English) How are we doing boys? HUGO Fantastico. So why we making this Arab guy food Arab food? Why not make him some gorditas, chimichangas, salsa ranchera... JONATHAN It's a small part of the big picture thing. Shows him we'll go the extra mile. He'll appreciate it. 6 HUGO Maybe not after he tries the Baba Ghannouj. Melanie is looking at the cucumber salad. She picks out something from it and holds it out to Cloyd. MELANIE I said no pork! They can't eat pork. CLOYD Not pork. Bacon bits-- texture. Melanie sighs and looks to Jonathan. JONATHAN OK memo, guys. Muy importante. No pork, no bacon, no bacon fat. We'll have to remake the salad. The doorbell rings. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Showtime. Melanie you want to get that? Melanie rushes out of the kitchen. JONATHAN (CONT'D) (to Hugo) Just make sure you pick out all the bits. Jonathan puts his hands on Hugo and Cloyd's shoulders. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Men, this is what's called touching the elephant time. Cloyd and Hugo look at each other. JONATHAN (CONT'D) It will all bear fruit soon believe me. CLOYD If we bear fruit soon great, as long as we don't have to pick fruit. JONATHAN By helping me you will soon we'll taste the sweet nectar of the American dream. Jonathan turns and heads towards the foyer. 7 HUGO OK. Good luck with the elephant and the nectar thing. INT. BEL AIR MANSION - DINING ROOM - LATER HASHIM BIN AL DABAL (50s) a wealthy Dubai businessman sits at the front of the table in the large dining room. He has a neatly trimmed beard and wears an Armani suit. Beside him are two ARAB MEN and BADRA, an Arab woman with a hijab draped around the face and neck. At the other end is Jonathan and Melanie. The table has several Arab dishes. HASHIM It's good to see you, Melanie. Since I've been back in Dubai I miss our regular meetings. MELANIE Yes, our meetings were very productive. HASHIM (smiling) They certainly were. Hugo is passing out the cucumber salad. He looks at Badra curiously. HUGO How can you eat with that thing on? JONATHAN (clenched smile) Now, Hugo... HASHIM The answer is when strangers are not looking. Cultural restraints on individual behavior is always some form of oppression for Americans. HUGO No, sir. I'm Venezuelan. HASHIM To us it protects a woman's dignity. It protects her beauty. As for oppression, Badra is my closest advisor. All deals must meet her approval first. She's an Arab version of Karen Hughes in the Bush administration. 8 JONATHAN I myself think veils are great. Gives women a bit of mystery, don't you think? The more they cover the more the mystery. Hugo and Melanie look at him strangely. Jonathan laughs nervously. JONATHAN (CONT'D) But I digress... Associate 02 holds up a forkful of food to Badra. ASSOCIATE 02 (in Arabic) What is this? BADRA (in Arabic) It's either camel shit or the worst laban bil bayd ever made in history. He breaks out laughing. Hashim glares at him and he stops suddenly. Jonathan holds up a glass of water to toast. JONATHAN I just want to say that it's good to have you at my home and here is to a successful joint venture. Let's hope it turns out better than that Dubia ports deal. What the heck happened there? Jonathan laughs but no one else does. He clears his throat and drinks his water. JONATHAN (CONT'D) But I digress... Badra is eating the cucumber salad when her face suddenly tightens. She spits something into her hand. BADRA (in Arabic) A bacon bit in the salad! HASHIM (to Badra) Are you sure? (to Jonathan) There is pork in the salad? 9 MELANIE It must have been an accident. An accident right, Jonathan? Jonathan looks at Hugo. JONATHAN It was a kitchen mishap. A bacon bit may have inadvertantly dropped from one shelf to the other while the salad was in the refrigerator. I assure you it's the only one. He glares at Jonathan. HUGO (to Hashim) What he said. Hashim's two associates push their salads away. ON TELEVISION SCREEN - LATER On the TV screen we see animation showing the development of a lush beach resort in Mexico. ANNOUNCER (V.O.) Imagine a beach side experience beyond everyday life where you can leave the hectic world behind. Welcome to a place like no other. Introducing Hollywood Sur, premier residential and resort villas on the Baja Peninsula. INT. BEL AIR MANSION - LIVING ROOM - DAY The guests are seated in the ornate living room watching the video. They each hold business proposals in their hands. Jonathan stands to the side of the big screen television while the video plays. Cloyd comes over to him. JONATHAN (sotto) I can't believe you guys forgot to buy the prickly pear ice cream. CLOYD (sotto) We never seen a prickly pear before. 10 Melanie stands near Hashim. He motions for her. She comes over and kneels down. HASHIM (whisper) I expect to see you later, yes? She smiles weakly and goes over to Jonathan who stands next to a large screen television. ANNOUNCER (V.O.) Surround yourself with tranquil waters and beautiful views and then experience the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in your own private villa. Jonathan stops the tape. JONATHAN As you can see we will convert the El Conquistador and Del Cortez into a condo-hotel complex. Hugo carries a tray in containing small bowls covered in whipped topping. He offers one to Badra who takes a bowl. ASSOCIATE 02 Who owns the property now? JONATHAN I wealthy Mexican industrialist. Melanie has the listing for it and we believe we have a first mover advantage on the deal. Jonathan looks at Melanie. MELANIE (clears throat) I can get him to sell. HASHIM (to Melanie) I believe you will. CRASH! Badra has dropped her dessert and shoots up from her chair covering her mouth. HASHIM (CONT'D) (in Arabic) What on earth is the matter? 11 BADRA (in Arabic) I taste alcohol. HASHIM (in Arabic) What? Are you sure? Hashim smells his dessert. One associate tastes it. ASSOCIATE 02 Yes, it's a watermelon Jell-O shot with Malibu coconut rum. Hashim stares at him. He smiles weakly. ASSOCIATE 02 (CONT'D) Just a speculation... Jonathan looks at Hugo. HUGO We saw some Jell-O in the refrigerator. We put some whipped cream on it. Jonathan puts his hands in his air. MELANIE I am so sorry, Hashim. I'm sure it was just an accident. HASHIM Yes, the rum fell from one shelf to the other in the refrigerator. Jonathan looks over to see the stern face of RON HYLAND appear at the entrance to the living room. Mid 30's and pudgy, he's very agitated. Holding some papers in his hands, he mouths "we need to talk" and waves for Jonathan to come over. JONATHAN (to guests) If you'll excuse me for a minute, a business associate is here. Melanie can you handle this? She looks at him desperately as he walks over to Ron with a big fake smile. 12 JONATHAN (CONT'D) Great to see you! He grabs Ron by the elbow and walks him out. JONATHAN (CONT'D) (sotto) Not a good time, Ron. INT. BEL AIR MANSION - FOYER - DAY Ron pushes Jonathan's arm away. RON Who the hell are those people? JONATHAN Didn't I tell you? Ron glares at Jonathan. Ron thrusts a handful of bills at Jonathan. He looks at Ron blankly. RON They're bills. A lot of them. Phone bills, grocery bills, security bills... JONATHAN Can we please deal with this tomorrow? I've got Muslim problems right now. RON I can't. You've been fired. JONATHAN Fired? Why have I been fired? Ron grabs a bill and shoves it in Jonathan's face. RON $800 from the private security company. They charge each time you set off the silent alarm and they have to come out to investigate. JONATHAN I told you setting the alarm on that nightmare of a remote device is too complex. 13 RON It is not complex! He grabs a large remote digital unit on a table and picks it up. RON (CONT'D) It is very user friendly with an electroluminescent touch display panel featuring dynamic screens and icons. Jonathan takes it from him. JONATHAN It's not intuitive at all. He presses a button on the remote and music goes on. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Here's music... (presses another button) but when I press lights... (presses another button) I think I turned on the spa bubble jets. It's got AC on here, an intercom system-RON You're going to break it. He wrestles with Jonathan for it. INT. BEL AIR MANSION - LIVING ROOM - DAY Melanie is standing in front of a disgruntled Hashim while Badra suspiciously takes a glass of water from Hugo. The INTERCOM SYSTEM CRACKLES TO LIFE. Ron and Jonathan's voices can be heard. RON (O.S.) Here's one from Gelsons. A grocery delivery bill for $650. JONATHAN (O.S.) I had the neighbors over for a couple of Shabbat dinners, so what? RON (O.S.) You're not a Jew, Jonathan. 14 JONATHAN (O.S.) I can be a Jew if it will close a deal. Melanie smiles weakly at Hashim. MELANIE I'll just go check on him-HASHIM (firm) Please stay. INT. BEL AIR MANSION - FOYER - DAY Ron is pacing around the foyer. RON And why is the Porsche not in the garage? Jonathan looks at him blankly. RON (CONT'D) (disbelieving) No. Please tell me you didn't... Tell me you didn't wreck the Porsche... JONATHAN I did not wreck the Porsche. RON Thank God... JONATHAN But someone did steal it. RON What?! JONATHAN I left it unlocked for five minutes on Ventura Blvd. The crime in this city is out of control. Ron stops, bends over and puts his hands to his knees like he's going to throw up. RON And when were you going to tell me this? JONATHAN 15 After I close this deal, now will you let me get back in there? Please? Ron notices something on the floor. RON Where are the plastic runners? (looking around) Why are there no plastic runners on the monkey pod floors? JONATHAN (dismissive) I've got important guests, Ron. I can't have them walking around on plastic. Ron suddenly lurches towards Jonathan and grabs him by the arm. RON You have guests? You can't have guests. This is not your house, Jonathan. JONATHAN Ron you're hurting me... RON This is Mel and Myrna Freedman's place. A $5.85 million preeminent residential mansion located in Los Angeles' exclusive luxury market. I talked the Freedmans into hiring you as a house sitter, remember? Because you were unemployed and couldn't afford an apartment? JONATHAN Actually I found one, but I got knocked off the Section 8 housing list in Santa Monica-RON House sitting means exactly that. Sitting. You were to sit in the house while the Freedmans were in the Hamptons for the summer. Not run up the bills, lose their car, and invite the neighbors over for the weekly Seder. JONATHAN (correcting) Shabbat. 16 RON I'm the Jew here, all right? Ron lets go of Jonathan. RON (CONT'D) You need to move out of here by this weekend. JONATHAN This weekend. C'mon, Ron. RON Nothing I can do. Freedmans saw the bills and were livid. They're bringing in a professional sitter for the rest of the summer. JONATHAN They have house sitting professionals? RON This is your own fault. I warned you over and over. Ron takes out a credit card and hands it to Jonathan. RON (CONT'D) Use this to cover some bills. But you are going to pay me back, you hear? Do not make a fool of me again. Jonathan looks at the credit card. JONATHAN I'll be able to pay you back and more soon. I've got a big hitter on the line. Just let me reel him in. RON Yeah, yeah. I heard it all before. Like the TV pilot I funded for you-- Making History? What closet shelf is that sitting on? JONATHAN I'm getting very positive feedback on that show. An executive at Universal said very positive things about it. RON Just put all the plastic runners back. The house is on the market. It needs plastic runners. 17 Ron heads to the door. Jonathan opens it and Ron steps out. Before he can close the door, Ron sticks his head back in. RON (CONT'D) I want those plastic runners back on the monkey pod by Sunday. I'm having an open house. Jonathan shuts the door. RON (O.S.) (CONT'D) (behind door) And don't touch the Mercedes! INT. BEL AIR MANSION - LIVING ROOM Jonathan walks back in the living room with a big smile. JONATHAN Sorry for the delay. My attorney stopped by with some papers for me to sign. So where were we? Everyone is staring at him. EXT. BEL AIR MANSION - DRIVEWAY - NIGHT Jonathan follows a furious Melanie over to her Lexus. JONATHAN So I don't actually own the house. So what? We can still do this deal. We'll go to one of your other investors. She fumbles for her keys. MELANIE You're a broke, unemployed, pathetic phoney. I don't need someone like that. JONATHAN You mean we don't meed someone like that. MELANIE God! I should have known you were a phony when you had us sleep in the maid's room. Now Jonathan is getting mad. He paces around. 18 JONATHAN You want to talk about phony? What about all your so-called "contacts?" When you told me Hashim was a "contact" you forgot to mention the only thing you were contacting was your mouth to his dick. She stops and glares at him. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Yeah, so let's both get real for a moment. I know all about your real job too. But I didn't disclose it because I had faith in us. She gets in her car and starts it. She looks at him. MELANIE I may be a whore who wants to sell real estate, but at least I bring assets to the table. She drives off. Jonathan walks after her. JONATHAN (yelling) I have assets! He stops and watches her car drive off. He looks back at the mansion. EXT. BEL AIR MANSION - FRONT YARD - DAY The garage doors to the mansion open and a classic late model Mercedes Benz backs out with Jonathan at the wheel. INT. MERCEDES (DRIVING) - LATE AFTERNOON Jonathan looks out the driver's side window. The scenery blurs as he drives by. A Mercedes Benz dealership catches his eye. In the window is a new Mercedes SClass. Jonathan looks at it longingly. As he turns his attention back to the road we see AN OLD CHINESE MAN STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. Jonathan JERKS THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE RIGHT just avoiding the old man. We hear TIRES SCREECHING AND METAL CRUNCHING. INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY A CLOSE UP on a flash of light in Jonathan's eye. DR. SABLE, an attractive young woman in scrubs is examining him as he sits on a hospital examination table in an emergency room. There are a few prep areas and beds next to him. They're all empty. 19 DR. SABLE You've got a small concussion. But your neurological exam was normal-- that's the good news. She smiles and turns the light off. She writes something down on his chart then grabs his hand to take his pulse. Jonathan likes the contact with her. JONATHAN I like that perfume. DR. SABLE Not perfume. It's Neutrogena. JONATHAN Aha. DR. SABLE Are you having any blurred or double vision, trouble with colors? Jonathan covers his left eye and looks at her. JONATHAN Nope. You're wearing red scrubs, right? DR. SABLE Actually they're wine, but close enough. JONATHAN Close enough. (beat) You like wine? DR. SABLE I guess-- sure. Who doesn't like wine? VOICE (O.S.) Anyone in here able recite the South Missouri State Theta Delta fraternity motto? Jonathan and Dr. Sable turn to see DR. TOM WARD, 42, standing in the doorway. Arms folded, tall and very thin, Tom has a pleasant quality to him. Jonathan is stunned to see him. He thinks for a moment. JONATHAN In both Latin and English? 20 TOM Go for it. JONATHAN Esse Quam Videri. "To be rather than to seem to be." A big smile forms on Tom's face. TOM I knew it was you! He comes over to Jonathan and hugs him. Jonathan is a bit surprised by the warmth of the embrace. TOM (CONT'D) Jonny "the Seed" Thurber. I can't believe it. JONATHAN Tommy "the Commie" Ward. Unbelievable. What the hell are you doing out west? TOM Don't tell anyone, but I'm kind of a big shot around here. I'm the CEO for the medical center. JONATHAN That's really great, Tom. TOM Hard to believe, isn't it? Probably nothing compared to you. JONATHAN You know me, into a lot of things. This and that. Real estate development, film production-- I have my fingers in a lot of things. Tom playfully punches him. TOM Same old Jonny. (beat) It's hard to believe we haven't spoke since... well, you know. Glad to hear you're doing great. JONATHAN Uh huh. So, what happened to the rural clinic in Missouri? 21 TOM Life at a not-for-profit clinic was not compatible with a status-seeking wife and two status-seeking kids. So, in 93' I took my idealism, rapped it in a hefty bag, took it out behind the tool shed, and clubbed it to death with a baseball bat. Been a corporate sellout ever since. JONATHAN No more Tommie the Commie? TOM Tried, convicted, and executed with extreme prejudice. Tom looks at Jonathan and folds his arms. He smiles at a thought. TOM (CONT'D) All the Sigma Delt brothers are doing really well. I mean really well. Remember when none of us had a pot to piss in? JONATHAN I remember a lot of pissing going on off the balcony. TOM I'm glad we ran into each other because there's something I want to invite you to. The intercom crackles to life. ANNOUNCEMENT Dr Ward. Line 32. Dr. Ward. Line 32. TOM Got to take that. Hey, if you have to go home, let me drive you. Then we can catch up, OK? Jonathan nods his head and Tom leaves. Jonathan looks at Dr. Sable. DR. SABLE I'm just dying to know why they called you Jonny the Seed. INT. TOM'S CAR - (MOVING) - DAY Tom is at the steering wheel of a new BMW. Jonathan is in the passenger seat as they drive through the exclusive Bel Air area. 22 JONATHAN A five-day boat trip down the Yangtze River? TOM Is that a great idea for the 20th reunion or what? Ray set it all up. Been doing a lot business over there. Jonathan's face stiffens at the mention of the name. Tom looks at him. TOM (CONT'D) You still...mad? JONATHAN Mad about what? That was 20 years ago. It's in the past. TOM You two were such buddies too. Jonathan looks out the window. TOM (CONT'D) It would just be great if we could all get together again, you know? Just like old times. Nick's going and Ray even managed to talk Pat into showing up. JONATHAN The Stick is going? TOM Nick The Stick is going. Jonathan smiles at the nickname. JONATHAN You think he will be dipping the stick on the trip? Getting it a little wet? Tom gives a little giggle. TOM Considering The Stick is running one of the largest brokerages in Manhattan and has a stunning wife and two kids I doubt it. JONATHAN Is that so? Huh. 23 TOM And don't forget Baha. He's flying in from Jackson Hole. Got a huge real estate firm up there. JONATHAN Baha always did know huge. At that, Tom takes his right arm off the steering wheel and holds it out while making a fist. Jonathan looks at it. JONATHAN/TOM Baha! Baby's arm holding an apple! They both laugh like school kids. Jonathan looks up to see their car has DRIFTED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE WITH ANOTHER CAR APPROACHING. He grabs Tom's arm. JONATHAN Tom... Watch it, Tom! Tom looks up just in time to JERK THE CAR BACK INTO HIS LANE just missing an oncoming car. Shaken up, Tom squints his eyes trying to focus on the road. TOM (shaken) Whew. We're not ready to die just yet, huh? EXT. BEL AIR MANSION - DRIVEWAY Tom's car drives up the looping driveway of the mansion. INT. TOM'S CAR - DAY Tom looks out the window at the mansion. He is impressed. TOM Good Lord. What the hell did you say you did again? JONATHAN It's just a place to live. TOM Looks more like a place to vacation at. Tom looks at him seriously. TOM (CONT'D) Please make this trip. Maybe bury the hatchet... 24 JONATHAN There is no hatchet to bury. Honestly. (pause) I've just got a lot of business obligations right now. Tom holds out his hand. TOM OK, brother. JONATHAN We can have lunch when you get back. TOM Sure. Jonathan gets out of the car. He walks around to Tom's side. TOM (CONT'D) It was a great time, you know? JONATHAN What's that? TOM Sigma Delta house. Everything I've done since then-it's been wonderful. But that time with you guys-- It was something. JONATHAN Yeah, it was. Jonathan taps on the roof of the car and watches Tom pull away. INT. BEL AIR MANSION - MAID'S ROOM - NIGHT The maid's room is a mess with clothes all over the bed and open suitcases on the floor. The television is on and we see the business program Cavuto and Friends on Fox News. INT. BEL AIR MANSION - MAID'S ROOM BATHROOM - NIGHT Jonathan is in the shower with water pouring over his head. He turns the water off, steps out, and towels off. He looks at himself in the mirror. He turns and looks at his profile and then leans in to look at his face and scowls. 25 JONATHAN (to reflection) I'd love a pot to piss in.... On the TV we hear NEIL CAVUTO speaking. ON THE TV SCREEN Neil Cavuto sits at his desk. CAVUTO My next guest is chairman and chief executive of Lucent Oil, a privately held exploration and production company. But Pat Lucent is a one-time actor who has long been enamored of the television business and there are rumors the company is planning on opening up their own TV studio. He's currently in Beijing. Greetings, Pat. INT. BEL AIR MANSION - MAID'S ROOM - NIGHT Recognizing the name, Jonathan comes out of the bathroom with a towel around his neck. He grabs a remote and turns up the volume on the television. ON THE TELEVISION we see PAT LUCENT early forties, nebbish, sitting in a Chinese television studio with Beijing as a backdrop. PAT Thanks for having me, Neil. CAVUTO First, tell us what you're doing in China. PAT Neil, I'm working with the Chinese government to exchange some technology equipment for oil drilling. JONATHAN (to himself) Lazy Eyed Pat. CAVUTO With profits rolling in due to the price of oil, it looks like Lucent Oil has gone on a buying spree into other industries. It's been speculated that you have designs on television production. Now, you've been coy about it, but one persistent rumor has Lucent acquiring Multiverse Studios. 26 Jonathan goes over and sits on the bed in front of the television. PAT We're exploring it, Neil. Whether it's Multiverse Studios or someone else, we'd like to get into it in a small way and begin doing three to four shows a year. CAVUTO Tell us also about the Christian Business Forum. PAT We began it originally in the St. Louis Evangelical Church. We wanted to help Christian business owners and to help them find one another. We see the church as a family so its natural to call someone in the family first when it comes to business. Jonathan thinks for a moment then punches in a number on his cell phone. JONATHAN (on phone) Hi Tom. Guess who? (listening) Yeah. You know, I was thinking I could use a vacation. EXT. LOS ANGELES AIRPORT - DAY Jonathan and Hugo are dragging luggage through the LAX lobby. HUGO You sure the Freedmans cleared me to go with you? They never gave me vacation time before. They never even gave me Saturday off before. JONATHAN Don't worry about the Freedmans. Just follow my lead and we'll both come out fine on this. Just make sure you learn how to operate the camera. HUGO I can do it. In college I used to film weddings for Hugo Chavez's cronies. 27 EXT. CHONGQING - CHINA - NIGHT Series of shots of the brightly lit, bustling port city of Chongqing. We see light of boats that move along the Yangtze River, which flows through the downtown area. EXT. TAXI (MOVING) - NIGHT Jonathan sits in the back of a taxi while Hugo sticks his head out the passenger window filming scenery shots with a Sony HDV Camcorder. INT. CHONGQING HOTEL - HALLWAY - EVENING Jonathan is walking in the lobby of an upscale Chinese hotel looking for the banquet room. Hugo follows him. Jonathan stops a passing CHINESE COUPLE. JONATHAN Excuse me. Do you know where the banquet room is? They wave their hands conveying they don't speak English. He nods as they move away. VOICE (O.S.) Hello, Jonathan. Jonathan turns around and is shocked to see MEGAN HOBBS (40s), cigarette in hand, sitting on a lobby couch. She's no longer the athletic, vibrant girl he knew in college, but she still looks good. JONATHAN (stunned) What are you doing here? MEGAN I guess I should have expected that. And I'm fine, thanks. JONATHAN I just didn't expect you here. MEGAN Is it going to be a problem? JONATHAN For me? Why would it be a problem? TOM (V.O.) Jonathan! Ni Hao! Welcome to China! 28 Jonathan turns to see Tom standing by the doors to the banquet room. He motions towards him. INT. CHONGQING BANQUET ROOM - LATER A small banquet room area of the hotel. In the back we see a round table with Jonathan and Tom talking. A nearby buffet table is filled with food and beer. Behind it a banner says "Theta Delta Class of 86." TWO WAITERS are placing on the table a wide assortment of sweet and savory dim sum dishes. Hugo is fiddling with the light on the video camera. TOM (looking at Hugo) Executive assistant, huh? We see Hugo drop the camera light bulb into his beer. He drys it off with his mouth. JONATHAN As long as there's been a Big Cheese, there have been assistants to the Big Cheese. TOM OK, brother cheese, but you're not the only big cheese on this boat. Tom looks over at the banquet room door. We see a man enter. It's Raymond Stillwell. He goes over and hands Megan some cigarettes. Raymond glances over at Jonathan who looks away. After pausing for a moment, he comes over. RAYMOND Long time, Jonny. Raymond holds his hand out. Tom looks at Jonathan wondering if he will shake it. Jonathan stares at Raymond for a moment then shakes his hand limply. JONATHAN Hello, Ray. Beat. RAYMOND You look good. JONATHAN Feel good. 29 RAYMOND Tom was telling about your place in Bel Air. I'm impressed. JONATHAN Nothing really. RAYMOND Tom was telling me that Nick and Baha both backed out. Too bad. Haven't seen Lazy Eye yet either. Jonathan looks at Tom. He's concerned. JONATHAN Pat's not coming? Hugo gets the video camera light working and shines it in Raymond's face. RAYMOND (squinting) What the fuck... TOM Pat! Everyone turns to see PAT JACKSON, (43) walk into the banquet room. Short and nebbish, he hardly looks like a wealthy oilman. PAT This where the Theta Delta doins is? Tom comes over and gives Pat a big hug. TOM And I was beginning to think brother Pat was going to disappoint us. PAT Missouri loves company, you know. Raymond sticks his hand out, his other holding a beer. RAYMOND Well, looky here. It's Lazy Eye Lucent. Pat winces at the nickname. PAT Been a while since I've been called that. 30 RAYMOND (O.S.) I'm just pulling your dick, Pat. Come here you, idiot. Raymond grabs Pat and gives him a big hug, spilling beer all over him. RAYMOND (CONT'D) You don't take shit from anybody anymore except your Sigma Delt brothers. Pat looks over at Megan. PAT Long time, Megan. You're still as beautiful as ever. She gives him a warm hug. MEGAN Pat Lucent. My, my, my. And how is Mrs Lucent? PAT She's my rock. Thanks for asking. JONATHAN Hey, Pat. I hear you've been in China for the past few weeks. PAT Yeah, I was picking up some test equipment to bring back. Looks like I'm going to have to take it with me on the boat. (pause) Man, it's been a long time. Pat grabs Jonathan's hand and shakes it. JONATHAN Everyone keeps telling me that. PAT Jonathan you're looking-- well you look pretty much the same. JONATHAN Backsliding begins when knee bending stops. 31 PAT (surprised) OK. RAYMOND (to Pat) So who knew this pimply little frat brother who hid in his room all day would suddenly become a big oil tycoon? MEGAN I did. JONATHAN I did too. RAYMOND Well, fuck me then. Here's to Pat. They hold their drinks up and toast. INT. CHONGQING BANQUET ROOM - LATER Everyone is sitting at the table. They are well fed and have a few drinks in them. Pat is conversing with Megan and Jonathan talks to Tom. The waiters pick up the serving plates around them. Jonathan nervously eyes Raymond who leans his chair against the wall with a cigar in his mouth. Hugo is hitting on a couple of cute CHINESE WAITRESSES. PAT (to Megan) I wasn't so lucky. In my initiation, me and Nick had to streak the girls dorms on parents open-house night. MEGAN (laughing) Oh God. PAT True story. Fortunately, we were allowed to wear masks, but considering Nick is 6' 5" and I was the only redheaded freckle face guy on campus it didn't take much brain power to figure out who we were. Tom stands up and taps the side of his glass with a spoon. Jonathan motions to Hugo and he quickly grabs the camera and trains it on Tom. 32 TOM I just want to say how really very happy I am that you all, my Theta Delta brothers-- and one beautiful Alpha Gam (pointing to Megan) made it for this very special 20th reunion trip. It's been a long time since most of us have seen each other. (beat) Maybe you've been hearing it all along but you didn't realize it. Maybe you've been seeing it but you didn't know what you were seeing. What I'm talking about is our bond. Fraternity life has nothing to do with Greek letters or keg parties-RAYMOND Bullshit. TOM It's about lasting bonds that transcend friendship. I hope I can experience that one more time over the next five days. PAT Amen, brother. TOM There's a destiny that makes us Theta Delt brothers. Someone once said "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." I'm too drunk to remember who the hell said it, but-HUGO Ralph Waldo Emerson. Tom raises his beer to Hugo TOM Thank you, executive assistant to Jonathan. HUGO De nada. TOM Anyway, to my Sigma Delt brothers, none walks his trail alone. 33 Everyone nods and agrees as they tap their glasses and Tom sits down. Jonathan watches as Megan drapes her arms around Raymond. EXT. CHONGQING DOCK - DAY A long wooden ramp leads to the Chongqing dock area for boarding several moored cruise ships. Hugo cautiously walks backwards along the ramp as he tries to film Jonathan, Tom, Raymond and Megan heading to the boat. Behind them several CHINESE WORKERS carry their luggage. The boat is a luxurious, medium-sized cruise ship called the REGAL PRINCESS. Near the boarding plank, some members of the crew have formed into a hapless looking BRASS BAND. The young SHIP CAPTAIN with round face conducts them as they play what is an execrable attempt at welcoming music. Tom and Raymond walk by them. RAYMOND Someone pay them to shutup. It's not helping my hangover. TOM Let's hope he can steer a ship better than he conducts. Pat is standing next to three small crates marked Lucent Oil. THREE CREW MEMBERS are putting them on dollies and transporting them onto the ship. He goes over and gets in line behind other PASSENGERS on the boarding plank. Tom looks out at the Yangtze River. TOM (CONT'D) (to Jonathan) Just look at it. The Yangtze River, the cradle of Chinese civilization. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - LOBBY - DAY The passengers file through the large, circular lobby. It's elaborately decorated with polished wood and glass. MEI NIANG the perky cruise director is explaining to the tourists what is on the ship. MEI NIANG We have several attractive and comfortable on-board facilities. These include a viewing tower, a library, a sun-deck, night club, beauty salon, and massage service. Several YOUNG ATTENDANTS in starched jackets and white gloves are helping groups of people find their rooms. The Theta Delta group crowds around Tom. 34 MEI NIANG (CONT'D) We also have kite flying, Chinese history, and language lessons with early morning Tai Chi shadow boxing with Dr. Liu. TOM Give these guys here your boarding pass and they'll lead you to your room. Raymond and Megan hand an attendant their passes and they follow him down the hall. Hugo looks through a brochure and comes over to Jonathan. HUGO Hey, boss. I get a deluxe room? JONATHAN Technically it's called a standard. HUGO So technically I got a shitty room. JONATHAN (sotto) It's all I could afford. Pat and Tom are conversing as two attendants take his bags. PAT Tom, I took the liberty of upgrading the ticket you sent me and took the Shangri-la suite. I hope you don't mind. TOM Why should I mind? INT. REGAL PRINCESS - DELUXE SUITE - DAY An attendant opens the door as Tom and Jonathan enter. They look around at the room. TOM Well, what do you think? JONATHAN I think I'll call it home for the next five days. 35 INT. REGAL PRINCESS - CABIN - DAY Hugo enters their small cabin with an attendant following. He looks around and isn't impressed. HUGO (in Spanish) Where the hell is the window? ATTENDANT 02 Excuse me? HUGO (in English) Window. No window. ATTENDANT 02 (smiling) Yes. No window. Hugo looks at him then opens the bathroom door and looks in. The shower is directly above the toilet. He looks at the attendant. ATTENDANT 02 (CONT'D) We call it showlet. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - BRIDGE - NIGHT The captain motions for the JUNIOR CAPTAIN to move the ship away from the dock. EXT. YANGTZE RIVER - NIGHT We see the Regal Princess moving south on the Yangtze River. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - RESTAURANT DECK - NIGHT The back doors to the restaurant are opened revealing a buffet table with a fabulous spread of dishes. A sign nearby says "Captain's Welcome Aboard Party". We see the captain having a discussion with a couple of GERMAN PASSENGERS as they drink sparkling wine. CAPTAIN The Yangtze is about 6,300 kilometers. It's the longest river in China and the third longest one in the world. 36 GERMAN MAN As the water level rises because of the Three Gorges Dam and the river widens, won't many ancient sites be covered forever? CAPTAIN Some will, but many have been moved to higher ground. The rising water will not detract from the magnificence of the gorges though, I assure you. Jonathan and Hugo are next to the buffet table. Raymond walks by Jonathan. He stops like he's about to say something but keeps moving. Hugo carries the camera by his side as he stuffs his face with food. HUGO This food is delicious. I'm bringing some back to my really small room later. JONATHAN How about shooting some video of the group? HUGO No problemo. Hugo holds the camera up and starts filming the party. THROUGH THE VIDEO CAMERA - We see Tom talking with the captain. They hold their drinks up and toast. The camera pans over to Raymond who is talking on his cell phone. Hugo puts the camera down and looks over by the railing. He sees a a Chinese woman GONG, (18) pretty, waving at him. He waves back at her and holds the camera up. THROUGH THE VIDEO CAMERA - Gong has disappeared. Hugo lowers the camera but doesn't see Gong anymore. He shrugs it off and picks it up again points it at Jonathan who is looking over the railing. Jonathan breathes in the fresh air expansively. Megan strides casually over to him holding a glass of champagne. His body noticeably tenses as she approaches. There is an uncomfortable silence. MEGAN First time to China? JONATHAN China? No. 37 MEGAN Me too. Beat. MEGAN (CONT'D) I was thinking the first time we met was on a boat. Remember that? At my sorority's annual formal? Jonathan smiles at the thought. MEGAN (CONT'D) What a memory. JONATHAN I remember all the girls in the sorority were busted as a junkyard fence. MEGAN They were not! JONATHAN One of your sisters came to our house and practically pimped me and the brothers out to go over there. MEGAN C'mon now. JONATHAN We didn't care how ugly the girls were, we were promised an open bar. The problem was she lied and it was a cash bar. MEGAN You're being mean. JONATHAN Mean is forcing us to sit and watch ten whales shake their cellulite to "Get Down Tonight" at $2 a beer. That's Abu Grahib torture tactics. Megan is laughing at the memory. MEGAN You're bad. Some of my sisters were "big boned" let's put it that way. (beat) I remember you being such the gentleman to me. 38 Jonathan stops smiling. He suddenly realizes he's been enjoying his time with her. He grows serious. JONATHAN Sure it was me? MEGAN Of course. That's why I fell for you. Just then Raymond walks over. Jonathan looks uncomfortable. RAYMOND How's it going over here? JONATHAN Excuse me. Jonathan walks off as Megan watches him. She takes a big gulp of her champagne. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - NIGHT Jonathan is walking alone on the upper deck with a drink in his hand. He leans over the railing and looks at the river below. Suddenly there is a gust of wind over his head. Glancing to his right he notices a woman walking on the deck. Through the moonlight we see that she is a beautiful Chinese woman. This is JIANG LI (20s), small. A small breeze blows off the river on her face. She closes her eyes as the night air hits her. Jonathan walks towards her. She looks at him. JONATHAN Good evening. She nods. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Nice night for a stroll on the deck, huh? She looks at the river. JONATHAN (CONT'D) I'm sorry, here I am assuming you speak English. Probably have no idea what the hell I'm saying. JIANG LI I can understand you. JONATHAN Really? Great. It's a beautiful night, isn't it? 39 JIANG LI Yes it is. JONATHAN So what's your name? JIANG LI You can call me Jiang Li. JONATHAN That's nice. Does it mean anything? JIANG LI It means beautiful river. JONATHAN Well, I'm Jonathan. JIANG LI What does Jonathan mean? JONATHAN It means very, very nice guy from America. She smiles. JIANG LI Is that so? JONATHAN Would I lie to you? So what brings you to the Regal Princess? TOM (V.O.) Hey, Jonathan! Jonathan turns around to see Tom and Hugo at the other end of the deck. TOM (CONT'D) What are you doing over there? C'mon, Hugo got the chef to make some Jello shots! JONATHAN (to himself) Again with the Jello shots... (to Tom) OK, I'll be right there! 40 HUGO Hurry, the crew loves them! He turns back to Jiang Li. JONATHAN What kind of help do you-But she is gone. He looks around but she has disappeared. EXT. YANGTZE RIVER - MORNING We see the steep banks of the Yangtze dotted with old and recently relocated settlements, power plants and factories belching smoke. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - MORNING It is early morning as the sun attempt to break through the hazy mist hanging over the Yangtze River. At the back of the ship, Pat is with a small GROUP OF CHINESE LADIES practicing tai chi shadow boxing from a very old tai chi master DR. LIU. They are all on one leg with arms akimbo. Pat looks at the old woman next to him. PAT I used to do Taebo, you know? She smiles not having any idea what he said. The swaying of the boat makes it hard for Pat to keep his balance and he falls over as the ladies giggle. EXT. FENGDU - DAY The ship is docking in front of the ancient ghost city of Fengdu. We see a long suspension bridge crossing the Yangtze River. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - DAY Jonathan and Tom stand on the top deck with Hugo filming them. They are looking at the city of Fengdu, a pincushion of half-finished buildings and gleaming hotels. The city contains several Buddhist and Taoist temples. TOM The gateway to hell. JONATHAN What's that? Tom points to the city on the hill. 41 TOM Fengdu, our first shore excursion. That's what the locals believe. They say it's a ghost city. According to Chinese legend the dead come to Fengdu and the devils go to hell. Jonathan watches as a TOUR GUIDE on shore from another ship is leading a GROUP OF TOURISTS up the long stairway towards the city. EXT. FENGDU - DAY We see Pat, Jonathan, Raymond and Hugo reach the top of the stairs. They are worn out. Mei Niang is happily waiting for them. MEI NIANG Gentlemen, there are many stairs and steep pathways to climb in Fengdu, but walking sticks are available to buy. JONATHAN I'd like to take a stick and beat the guy who built those stairs. PAT I'd pay to watch that. MEI NIANG Excuse me? JONATHAN Nothing... Behind them, an exhausted Tom makes it to the last step and sits down. His breathing is hoarse as he tries to catch his breath. Jonathan comes over and sits down next to him while Hugo films them. JONATHAN (CONT'D) You gonna make it? TOM Just give me a second. My lungs are taking some time to get used to the Chinese air pollution. The Fengdu chair lift being broken doesn't exactly help either. (to Hugo) Don't film this. It's boring. He takes a deep breath and gets up. 42 EXT. FENGDU - BUDDHIST TEMPLE - DAY Terrifying statues sit outside a small Buddhist temple in a small courtyard. Jonathan and Pat stand observing them. Tom looks at a brochure. Raymond is looking around nervously. TOM It says there used to be an ancient sect of ghost worshippers that used to live here. Jonathan looks at the line of small stands selling post cards and trinkets surrounding the temple. JONATHAN I think they evolved into tourist dollar worshippers. Tom looks up at a fearsome statue. TOM This statue describes the Chinese afterlife or hell. That's where people who disobey ancient Chinese morals are punished in every horrifying way. PAT It makes you think. TOM About what? PAT I don't know. I was just trying to keep the conversation going. Raymond locks eyes with a very large Chinese man standing in a crowd of TOURISTS. This is TUNG. Tung is standing with his large hand firmly on the shoulder of a nervous looking Wong Fei. Tung motions with his eyes for Raymond to look in the other direction. Raymond looks over to see a short, fat Chinese man on a cell phone. This is WANG HO. We can see that Raymond recognizes him. Raymond goes over to a small table selling trinkets. He grabs a roll of Chinese fire crackers and pays the VENDOR. He lights the roll and rolls it towards an unaware Wang Ho. BANG! BANG BANG! The firecrackers are set off sending Wang Ho ducking for cover on a porch. Pat, Jonathan, and Tom look around bemused. Jonathan notices Raymond grabbing Wong Fei by one arm and Tung grabbing his other. They head off down an alleyway. 43 JONATHAN (to Pat, Tom) I'll meet up with you later, guys. (to Hugo) C'mon Hugo. TOM You sure? A lot of gruesome statues left to observe. Tom watches as Jonathan and Hugo head in the direction Raymond was going. EXT. SNOW JADE CAVE - DAY Jonathan and Hugo watch Raymond, Wong Fei, and Tung enter into the opening in the side of a hill. The sign above it says SNOW JADE CAVE. INT. SNOWY JADE CAVE -DAY Jonathan and Hugo enter the cave entrance. It's a multi-level cave with breathtaking stalactite formations lit up with colored lighting. They creep along the walls. HUGO Why we following this guy? JONATHAN No reason. HUGO That means you must not like him. Jonathan looks at him. HUGO (CONT'D) I'm very perceptive. They walk down into a large opening. In the corner is a small opening with construction cones and tape around it blocking it off from tourists. Behind the tape Jonathan can see Raymond in a heated discussion with Wong Fei. Tung menaces Wong Fei from behind. RAYMOND What do you mean this isn't the real Fengdu? WONG FEI The real Fengdu was on the other side of the river. It's now underwater. 44 RAYMOND Just tell me where her stuff is. Jonathan motions for Hugo to film Raymond and Wong Fei. He pulls out the camera and turns it on. WONG FEI I work here so I hid some smaller pieces. Wong Fei reaches under a large flat rock and pulls a small case out. He hands it too Raymond. WONG FEI (CONT'D) The larger pieces are in Wuhan further down the river. At my brothers. Raymond motions to Tung and he viciously grabs Wong Fei tightly by the shoulder. He winces in pain. RAYMOND The large pieces are the most valuable. WONG FEI (in pain) They're safe. I promise. RAYMOND This better not be a scam for more money. WONG FEI No scam. After they flooded the old Fengdu city we moved them. They're down river in Wuhan. RAYMOND In four days they're going through customs in cases marked oil drilling equipment. Don't make a fool out of me. A SMALL ROCK FALLS AT RAYMOND'S FEET. He turns to see THREE YOUNG CHINESE MEN with long hair and wearing very traditional Chinese clothing standing just above him in an adjoining cave. He motions for Tung to let go of Raymond. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Let's get out of here. (to Wong Fei) Don't fuck with me. 45 They walk out of the area. Jonathan and Hugo leave quietly behind them. Wong Fei looks up at the three Chinese men. WONG FEI I have no choice! The Chinese men SUDDENLY LEAP FROM THE LEDGE AND FORM INTO WISPS OF SMOKE SHAPED LIKE TIGERS. THEY FLOAT IN FRONT OF WONG FEI AS IF READY TO ATTACK. He screams something in Chinese and runs out of the cave. EXT. FENGDU - BUDDHIST TEMPLE - DAY Jonathan and Hugo stand around looking for Pat and Tom. JONATHAN Maybe they headed back to the boat. HUGO That's what I would do. Jonathan turns to his left to see Wang Ho staring at him. JONATHAN How's it going? Wang Ho doesn't say anything. TOM (V.O.) There you guys are! Jonathan turns to see Tom and Pat approaching. He turns back to see Wang Ho still staring at him. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - DAY Pat and Tom are leaning over the railing and looking at the beautiful Yangtze River scenery. Hugo is nearby taking some photographs. TOM How's your wife's condition, Pat? PAT She's much better, thanks. TOM I'm glad. 46 PAT Thanks for that doctor referral. He's amazing. TOM Hey, I'm just glad he could help. PAT He did and thank God she's improved enough where I can go abroad without too much worry. TOM That's really great to hear. PAT Her faith through the whole ordeal-- it never wavered. Funny, but it actually strengthened mine. Watching her struggle-- it was the most difficult thing I ever had to do. TOM It can be devastating for a family to go through that. Tom looks out over the Yangtze River. TOM (CONT'D) I was wondering why the Yangtze River is all brown. PAT No idea, but a close Chinese friend of mine-- a very faithful Christian-- told me he grew up along the Yangtze and back then the river was a beautiful blue. TOM Huh. It's not blue anymore. PAT It was lined with trees, abundant plant and animal life. So beautiful in fact that it had been the subject of poets and painters. He's trying to start a business to clean it up. TOM Now look at it. PAT I promised him I'd help out if I could. Jonathan comes over to them. 47 JONATHAN What are we looking at brothers? TOM The river. Look how brown it is. JONATHAN Price of industrialization. China's a growing company. What can you do? Heck, Pat can see that. PAT I think we can all become better stewards of God's Earth. JONATHAN (correcting himself) Sure, that's what I meant. Industrialize with a conscience. TOM An oil baron with a conscience? PAT Lucent Oil takes a backseat to no one when it comes to the environment. And my conscience comes from professing a love of God and God's creation. HUGO I know why it's brown. They look over at Hugo. TOM You do? HUGO It's how you say... cultivation. Too much cultivation by farmers. Long time ago, the trees could drink the rain. But now all rainwater goes in the river with much soil during flooding season. Pat starts to walk with Hugo down the ship deck. PAT So it's the flooding. 48 HUGO Flooding can be a beneficial and renewing natural event. River flooding is the principal force controlling biological and geological interactions. PAT How do you know all this? HUGO I used to study it before my current job. Jonathan watches as Hugo and Pat walk down the ship walkway. EXT. SMALL DOCK - LITTLE THREE GORGES HARBOR - DAY Jonathan, Tom, Raymond, and Pat disembark from a ferry docked at a small harbor. They transfer to a small sampan boat containing FOUR ROWERS. EXT. SMALL TRIBUTARY - LITTLE THREE GORGES - DAY A steamy haze hangs over the steep cliffs as the sampan moves down the narrow tributary. The rowers are singing a traditional Chinese song. Along the cliffs walls are several caves and a few exposed wooden coffin supported by wooden beams. Tom is amazed by the scenery. TOM You can't buy beauty like this can you? JONATHAN It is amazing. PAT The water is supposed to be some 250 meters higher in this area just since last year. Tom and Pat are looking at one boat coffin hanging high up on the side of a steep cliff wall. TOM Would you look at that. PAT Wonder who did it. Or maybe why they did it. RAYMOND It was the Ba people. 49 TOM Ba people? RAYMOND Ancient river kingdom in this area. Very little is known about them, but lots of myths and legends. It's said the soul of the first King of Ba, Lin Jun, transformed into a white tiger on his death and ever since the Ba revered the white tiger as a sacred creature. Legend has it that they sacrificed humans to tigers. PAT How the heck did they manage to get those coffins up there? CHINESE LADY (O.S.) They flew. They both look over on the sampan to an older CHINESE LADY. She looks very serious. TOM I beg your pardon? CHINESE LADY They could fly. TOM Who could fly? CHINESE LADY Ba people. Raymond shakes his head and smiles. TOM Ba people. They could fly. Well, I'll be damned. We see some CHINESE PEOPLE on the shore. One of them wades into the water towards their sampan. The man comes up alongside and manages to climb aboard in front of the tour guide. We see that it's the skinny man that showed Stillwell the white jade tiger statue. SKINNY CHINESE MAN You buy! Buy now! He holds up some soggy post cards. 50 PAT He's crude, but that man has a future in capitalism. The skinny man notices Raymond. SKINNY CHINESE MAN Stillwell! Stillwell! Hello! Raymond glares at him. TOM Raymond is this a friend of yours? RAYMOND I don't know. Probably worked for me at some dig around here. The tour guide waves off the skinny man and practically pushes him into the water. The sampan continues on down the river. LATER - FURTHER DOWN THE RIVER Raymond comes over and sits next to Pat who is taking pictures of the scenery. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Is this beautiful or what? PAT It sure is. RAYMOND The history here is amazing. (beat) Have you done any dabbling in antiquities? PAT No, not really. I have some 18th and early 19th century British timepieces. RAYMOND The Asian antiquities market is exploding right now. I work with a lot of wealthy collectors. Guys decorating their Jackson Hole log cabins with everything from ancient Buddhas stuff to Etruscan vases. PAT I'm not really well versed in that area. 51 RAYMOND I can help you with that. Show you what to look for. And I won't treat you like someone walking in off the street who I'd probably show fakes. Tell me what you want, I'll get the real shit from the warehouse and sell it to you below market rate. I sold Tom an incredible terra-cotta vase. (to Tom) Isn't that right, Tom? TOM Got it in my den. Jonathan looks over at Raymond. RAYMOND I work with the top art houses on both coasts. Right now, there's big interest in product from interest from emerging markets like China. Just then the boat rocks forward. The water current dramatically picks up speed. Strong rapids begin to rock the sampan. Showers of water fall on the people in the sampan. Suddenly a LARGE WAVE HITS THE SIDE OF THE BOAT. JONATHAN IS KNOCKED OVERBOARD. PAT MAN OVERBOARD! The rowers struggle for the sampan to reach Jonathan, but he is carried away by the rapids. He struggles to stay above water but the rapids pull him under. EXT. UNDERWATER - DAY POV FROM JONATHAN - Bubbles come from Jonathan's mouth as he struggles to reach the surface. Through the sunlight arcing through the water, we see a WHITE GLOW ALMOST IN THE SHAPE OF A TIGER. Jonathan stretches out his hand towards it. FADE TO BLACK EXT. LITTLE THREE GORGES - SHORELINE - DAY POV FROM JONATHAN - He opens his eyes to the bright sky. He's laying by the water on a muddy shore. He turns over and starts to cough up some of the river water. We see a pair of female feet next to him. JONATHAN What happened? I remember I couldn't breathe...and then... 52 He rubs his eyes and looks up to see Jiang Li. JONATHAN (CONT'D) It's you. Jiang Li, right? JIANG LI How do you feel? JONATHAN Like I just drank half the Yangtze. How did I get on shore? JIANG LI How is not important. It's important that you're alive. JONATHAN (coughing) You don't think the river is polluted, do you? JIANG LI When I was little we swam in the Yangtze to purify ourselves. We thought is could remove all that soiled a life. JONATHAN I need to get back to my boat. JIANG LI It's coming. She points to the sampan upriver heading towards them. Jonathan sits up. JONATHAN (waving) Hey! Jonathan stands up and waves at the sampan. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Here they come. (turning to Jiang Li) You're going back with us, right-Jiang Li is gone. He looks around and there is no sign of her. TOM (O.S.) Jonathan! 53 Tom is at the front of the sampan waving. Jonathan slowly wades out into the water towards the sampan. He looks back for Jiang Li. Pat and Raymond grab him and lift him into the sampan. TOM (CONT'D) You had us scared out of our wits. One minute we saw you in the water and the next you disappeared. PAT How did you get to shore? He searches the shoreline for Jiang Li but she's gone. JONATHAN I have no idea. INT. CRUISE SHIP - DINING ROOM - NIGHT Hugo is moving through the crowded dining room of the Regal Princess shooting with his video camera. He comes over to Raymond and Megan's table. They are in a serious discussion. MEGAN I've warned you about this before. RAYMOND There's nothing to worry about. MEGAN And I've heard that before. RAYMOND For once, how about trusting me? MEGAN We've tried that. RAYMOND We've never tried that! She looks up to see Hugo turning his camera towards them. MEGAN We'll talk about this later. Her mood suddenly brightens. She waves at Hugo as he comes forward. She holds up her wine glass up and toasts for the camera. 54 MEGAN (CONT'D) (to video camera) Hi everyone from the Yangtze River. We are having a great time! Right, Raymond? RAYMOND (monotone) Great time. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - NIGHT Jonathan is standing by the railing looking at the stars. He has a beer in his hands. We see Hugo standing next to Gong further down the deck. He's trying to film her but is having trouble with the video camera. Jonathan is about to call him over when he can sense someone behind him. MEGAN (V.O.) I heard about what happened to you. He turns to see Megan looking at him concerned. She is smoking a cigarette. MEGAN (CONT'D) You, OK? JONATHAN I'm fine. MEGAN How'd it happen? JONATHAN Just fell in. No big deal. Beat. MEGAN I guess small talk just isn't possible between us. We weren't much good at it anyway. Along with other things. That remark gets under Jonathan's skin. JONATHAN Other things? MEGAN Like listening to each other. 55 JONATHAN You mean listening to you. MEGAN Sometimes. How did we ever manage six months together? The rule was cute and popular sorority girls never dated one guy for more than two months. Exceptions of course for fraternity presidents and varsity athletes. JONATHAN And me. MEGAN And even if you're in a relationship, always flirt with other guys. And if your guy even talks to a girl, you must pout and dump him until he chases after you. And he would. She steps closer to him. MEGAN (CONT'D) You used to chase after me. JONATHAN I used to. Before your father put me in jail. Beat. MEGAN There was nothing I could do. JONATHAN You could have, but Raymond distracted you. Jonathan unexpectedly lets it all out. JONATHAN (CONT'D) One of the wealthiest families in Missouri. Your father could have gotten those charges dropped. He owned that restaurant. It was a stupid fraternity prank that got out of hand. MEGAN My father had no influence on the arson investigation JONATHAN I'm not stupid. He had plenty of influence. 56 MEGAN I couldn't go against my family. You knew that. It was a difficult time for me. I fell to pieces. JONATHAN (sarcastic) At least you had Raymond there to pick you up. MEGAN I was... alone. Angry I guess because you weren't there. You and I argued every time I visited you. Ray and I were smoking pot a lot and talking. He listened to me. He gives a derisive smile and goes over to sit on a lawn chair. He takes a big swig of beer. MEGAN (CONT'D) It just happened. I didn't plan it. Can't you move beyond it by now? JONATHAN I moved on a long time ago. My life's great. MEGAN Is it? MEGAN (CONT'D) Everything worthwhile is in front of you. Not behind. RAYMOND (O.S.) What's going on, Megan? We see Raymond standing at the entrance to the mezzanine. Megan throws her cigarette in the river. She walks by Jonathan. MEGAN (to Raymond) Just talking. (to Jonathan) Good night. Raymond looks at her and then at Jonathan. Jonathan takes a deep breath. He lays his head back and looks up at the stars. He closes his eyes for a second, but opens them when he senses a BRIGHT FLASH pass over his head. He sits up and looks around. Jiang Li is in the same spot he saw her in the other night. He gets up and goes over to her. 57 JONATHAN You're father's not David Copperfield, is he? JIANG LI My father was a local magistrate. He taught me to play music, write, and read the Chinese classics. Jonathan smiles. She begins moving down the walkway. He follows her. She stops to look out over the river. JIANG LI (CONT'D) My people love the river. It's vital to our physical life and spiritual lives. But water can also destroy as well as create. Jonathan is more interested in her beauty. JONATHAN God you're beautiful. Tell me about your husband. JIANG LI My husband died a long time ago. JONATHAN That's a tragedy. JIANG LI He was not a nice man. His own troops killed him. JONATHAN That's another tragedy. JIANG LI What are you looking for in China? JONATHAN Me? I'm just here looking for the next deal. Looking for success over the next hill. Looking for someone to give me a nice massage after a hard day of work. JIANG LI Maybe you should find a wife. JONATHAN Too much commitment. I'm thinking about one night at a time. 58 JIANG LI Is this kind of talk successful with many American women? JONATHAN I guess it depends on the amount of alcohol involved. She laughs and walks into some shadows hanging over the deck. She stops and turns to look at him. She spreads her arms and RISES UP AND FLIES OFF THE SHIP. Jonathan's jaw drops as he watches her disappear into the darkness. JONATHAN (CONT'D) What the... Hugo! Hugo looks over. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Hurry up! C'mere! Jonathan is waving frantically for him. Hugo fumbles with the camera. As he turns away from Gong she LIFTS UP INTO THE AIR AND OFF THE SHIP. JONATHAN (CONT'D) (pointing at Gong) Look! Hugo turns around and is shocked to see GONG RISING INTO THE AIR. Jonathan rushes towards him. HUGO Dios Mio! JONATHAN Film her! Hugo nervously points the camera up but it is too late. JONATHAN (CONT'D) What the hell is going on? HUGO Ghosts! There are Chinese ghosts on the ship! Oh, God! JONATHAN I guess-- what the hell? I don't know how else to explain it... 59 HUGO Chinese ghosts! Jonathan and Hugo stand around on the empty deck. They get nervous. HUGO (CONT'D) Maybe we should go inside. JONATHAN I'm way ahead of you. They both sprint towards the door to the lobby. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - DECK HALL - MORNING Hugo and Jonathan are wearing workout clothes. They stand outside the door to the ship gymnasium. JONATHAN We don't talk to anybody about what we saw. They'll think we're crazy. Hugo is not paying attention. HUGO She was such a pretty ghost... JONATHAN Listen to me. Not a word. We don't want people thinking we are nut jobs. Keep your eye on the ball. Jonathan puts on some headphones and opens the cabin door. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - GYM - MORNING Pat is sweating heavily as he does sets on a bench press machine in the ship's small gymnasium. Jonathan walks in listening to Christian rock. Hugo follows him in filming. JONATHAN Hey, Pat. Surprise seeing you here. PAT (grunting) Hey, Jonathan. JONATHAN (pulling the headphones from his ear) What's that? 60 PAT I said "Hey." JONATHAN Sorry. Just playing a little Christian rock. Really gets me into the right frame of mind for the day. PAT I see. JONATHAN (singing) "Seems to easy to call you savior Not close enough to call you a god." Pat looks over as he struggles to finish a repetition. Jonathan puts his hand on the bar to help him. He then slams the weight down. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Good. Now give me ten more... PAT (exhausted) I can't. Jonathan acts like a drill sergeant. JONATHAN Give me ten or just like old times or I'm flicking you in the balls! Pat is having none of it and sits up. PAT (firm) I don't do things like that anymore. JONATHAN I guess that candy ass weight will do for now! (softening) Remember how I used to ride you in college when we worked out? PAT Yeah, I didn't like it then either. Jonathan sits down in front of the lat machine. He sets the weight and starts to do some pull downs. 61 JONATHAN You don't mind Hugo filming do you? Just thought I'd document the trip. PAT I'm used to it. JONATHAN I was thinking of taking the footage and cutting it into an interesting little 30 minute show. Just for fun, you know? PAT Sounds like fun. Pat stands up and towels off the machine. JONATHAN Remember when we used to have those theater nights at the frat house? You were a pretty good actor back then. PAT Remember you had a pretty darn good Elvis impersonation. JONATHAN (like Elvis) Thank you very much. Pat goes over and pulls a towel out of his workout bag. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Yeah, I've been doing some producing in LA. PAT Really? Producing what? JONATHAN My production company just did a pilot for a reality game show. It's about contestants who have to answer historical questions by participating in the historical reenactment. Like the shooting of Lincoln-one contestant is Booth and one is Lincoln, all in costume at Ford Theater. PAT Characters, huh? 62 HUGO It's really good! You should buy it! Jonathan glares over at Hugo. HUGO (CONT'D) (meekly) You know, if you want. JONATHAN It's got a lot of potential. We call it Making History. Got two show runners fighting over it as we speak. Just need the right people to back it. Being in oil, I doubt you have any contacts in show business. PAT I take it you've heard that we're looking at investing in a TV studio. JONATHAN I think we've heard that somewhere. You know, I have a copy online. I'll send you the link. PAT Sounds good. I'll check it out. I'm out of here. Time for a nice Chinese massage. Pat walks out of the gym. Jonathan looks at Hugo with a big smile on his face. He high fives Hugo. JONATHAN That's how you do business in America, my friend! INT. REGAL PRINCESS - BANQUEST ROOM - DAY We see Jonathan enter the banquet room and see Tom seated at some tables with a small group of passengers. He walks towards them and sits down next to Tom. In front of them is a female INSTRUCTOR. She is standing by a slide projector and clicks a button. We see a slide of an ancient vase with markings on the side. They show what looks like a stick figure in a small boat. INSTRUCTOR The next group of people from the Hubei province are the mysterious Ba people who lived in the Three Gorges area over four thousand years ago. The next slide is of the Yangtze River. 63 INSTRUCTOR (CONT'D) The Ba lived along the Yangtze River, died in their boats, and made boat coffins to sail into the afterlife. The next slide is of coffins hanging on the side of a sheer cliff along the Yangtze River. INSTRUCTOR (CONT'D) On cliffs on both sides of the Yangtze, many of their hanging coffins can be found. TOM I've heard somewhere they could fly. He smiles and looks at Jonathan. Jonathan does not smile. TOM (CONT'D) Someone mentioned that to me. INSTRUCTOR That is one of the myths of the Ba people. JONATHAN Do we know it's a myth? INSTRUCTOR That they could fly? JONATHAN Yes. What if it's not a myth? Tom and the others look at him. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Hypothetically speaking. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - DAY Hugo is walking very nervously around the top deck. He holds his camera carefully scanning the sky for any flying women. The Captain walks by and tips his hat. HUGO Good afternoon. CAPTAIN Good afternoon. Hugo sees something in the sky. 64 HUGO Look! What is that?! He fumbles with the camera to turn it on. The Captain looks up. CAPTAIN Yes. It's a Frogmouth. Good eyes. He is very rare bird! He gives a thumbs up and smiles at Hugo who disapointingly puts the camera down. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - BANQUEST ROOM - DAY The next slide is of a ransacked Ba tomb. INSTRUCTOR There is much we don't know and many of the Ba artifacts are stolen from ransacked tombs and end up in some penthouse display case. We see a slide showing several artifacts including tools and devices such as ancient instruments. INSTRUCTOR (CONT'D) For the Ba, there was a cause effect relationship between dead and living. Descendents who provided care of ancestors' tombs could expect good fortune and the well being of ancestors in the afterlife. The rising Yangtze may bury what little is left of the Ba together with their history. We may never know what truly happened to them. Jonathan raises his hand. JONATHAN I'm interested in learning more about flying ghosts. The instructor looks at him strangely. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOM AND JONATHAN CABIN - NIGHT Tom is laying on the bed in his cabin room. He is sweating profusely and having trouble focusing. He leans over to the night stand and takes out a bottle of pills. He struggles to take the cap off. He pops some pills and breathes deeply. He glances over at a picture of his wife and kids. Just then an excited Jonathan walk into the room. 65 JONATHAN Sorry, Tom. Did I wake you? Tom slowly raises himself to a sitting position. TOM No, not at all. Just getting up. Jonathan looks at his sweating face. JONATHAN You feel OK? TOM I'm right as rain, my friend. Tom shakily stands up. Jonathan looks at him. JONATHAN Don't take this the wrong way, but have you noticed anything strange on this ship? TOM No, can't say I have. Strange like what? JONATHAN I don't know... TOM This have something to do with your strange flying ghost questions earlier? JONATHAN No, I don't know... It's nothing. Tom puts his hand on Jonathan's shoulder. TOM You OK? INT. REGAL PRINCESS - BANQUET ROOM - NIGHT The banquet room is filled with music and drums as the crew puts on a cultural costume show. One crew member bangs on a bronze drum as two others stalk the dinner guests wearing a white tiger costume. Tom, Jonathan and Pat are at a table pounding down drinks. The tiger passes by. TOM Here tiger, tiger. 66 JONATHAN (doing Apocalypse Now impression) Never get out of the boat. Never get out of the boat. Jonathan points an invisible gun at the tiger. PAT Never get out of the boat unless you're going all the way. Raymond shows up. TOM There's the Ray man. PAT Ray man! RAYMOND You brothers drinking without telling me? TOM We didn't want to wake the wife. RAYMOND C'mon now. Raymond sits down at the table and grabs a beer. Jonathan stares at him. RAYMOND (CONT'D) What's up Jonathan? JONATHAN Not much. Raymond holds up a beer. RAYMOND Here's to the cruise of our lives. He takes a guzzle. TOM Hey, speaking of boats, remember the Tri Zetas used to build that pool in their front yard for that spring party every year called Poseidon Adventure? And they had that dumb boat they floated in it. 67 JONATHAN Oh yeah, and remember Pat was working at Dow Chemical and-PAT (interrupting) Esso. TOM You got a hold of some chemical powder that turned water into a gel-like substance. Jonny and Ray threw it in the pool the night before and the powder solidified, and turned the entire pool of water into a pool of hair gel-- and they had to dump that shit into the street. Raymond and Jonathan smile at the memory. They both glance at each other. JONATHAN Here's to Pat and his chemical powder. They all toast. RAYMOND (to Pat) So, Pat. Have you given any thought to investing in some antiquities? I've got a great collection to show you. PAT I'm interested. I need to learn more about that market. Jonathan stares over at Raymond. JONATHAN Isn't the antiquities market a shady underworld of tomb robbers, smugglers and small-time dealers? RAYMOND Yeah well, don't believe everything you hear. JONATHAN I believe what I see not what I hear. EXT. YANGTZE RIVER - DAY 68 The Regal Princess moves south along the Yangtze River. We see breathtaking hillside temples, carved into towering, sheer cliffs. Also, along the bank is a huge sign that shows in meters where the water will stand in 2009. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - DAY It's windy out as Jonathan is walking outside on the top deck. He leans over the railing looking at the scenery when he sees someone standing at the very front of the ship. It's Jiang Li standing alone at the bow. The wind is blowing her hair and clothing. Jonathan looks around desperately for someone else, but no one is around. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - BOW - DAY We see Jonathan cautiously approach Jiang Li from behind. JONATHAN Hello... She turns around to look at him. He looks at her nervously. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Should I be afraid? JIANG LI You're the only one I can talk to on this boat. JONATHAN So are you... what are you? JIANG LI I am Empress Jiang Li member of the family of Li Yuan, and ally of Shung Gi. JONATHAN I mean are you human? JIANG LI The souls of dead need to be cared for so they do not haunt the living. JONATHAN Is that what's happening? I'm being haunted? Hey, I'm from Los Angeles. I don't know the first thing about China. Before this trip the only Chinese person I've seen is some old guy I almost ran over-(thinking) 69 Wait-- is that it? I killed one of your relatives and now I'm being haunted? Jiang Li looks down at her hand. In it is a round, solid gold object. JIANG LI We call the lines of magnetic force the dragon current. It has two forms: the yin represented by the white tiger, and the yang represented by the blue dragon. The Luopan will locate an area where the chi of the land and sky are brought into perfect balance. Jiang Li sees a few passengers coming out of a door so SHE FLOATS UPWARDS AND FLIES OFF THE SHIP. Jonathan watches as she disappears into the sky. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - LOBBY - NIGHT The lobby is empty except for a drunk Raymond and a bemused, beautiful Chinese woman. This is BAO (20s). She is cornered against the wall as he leans into her. RAYMOND (slurred speech) You are-- dare I say it-- freeking hot. BAO Freeking hot? RAYMOND You're Chinese... How the hell do I explain "freeking"? Look, you're just gorgeous. BAO Thank you, Ray. RAYMOND Don't thank me. It's a fact. Don't thank people because they give facts. Just accept it. He looks around. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Why don't we-- my little China doll-- go back to your room? BAO I can't do that, Ray. 70 RAYMOND Why, because your society says it's wrong? BAO Not just that. RAYMOND Look, I like you. I like you a lot in the hour we've spent together. In fact, I want to give you something. He fumbles in his pocket. RAYMOND (CONT'D) I got something here... Aha. He pulls out a beautiful jade hair pin. He proudly shows it to her. Bao stares at it for moment and looks at Raymond. He looks at her and suddenly HER FACE TURNS INTO A GHOSTLY WHITE APPARITION. SHE LETS OUT A SCREAM. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Oh fuck! He falls back on his butt. The Bao spirit hovers over him. He covers his eyes. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Our father full of grace... give us our day bread and... Bao vanishes into the ship's ventilation duct leaving a trail of white phosphorescence. Raymond separates the fingers over his eyes and looks around. RAYMOND (CONT'D) ...lead us not into temptation... EXT. WUHAN - DAY The Regal Princess is moored next to the city of Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province. EXT. HU BU XIANG STREET - WUHAN - DAY The street is filled with lively snack shops selling exotic foods. Nearby martial arts performance by FOUR MARTIAL ARTISTS who show off their feats of strength, with fists, feet, swords, and other weapons. EXT. OUTDOOR RESTAURANT - WUHAN - DAY 71 We see Jonathan, Hugo, Tom, Pat, Raymond, and Megan sitting at an outdoor restaurant. There are several beers on the table. TWO WAITERS come over to the table carrying several plates. The plates are filled with such foods as peppery fried snails, steamed lobster, and Chinese dumplings. TOM Unusual menu, Raymond. How'd you find this place? Raymond is not listening. His mind is still on what happened to him last night. Pat looks at his plate. PAT And this is? WAITER 01 Duck neck. PAT Duck neck? WAITER 01 Yes. Delicious. TOM When in Rome, Pat. PAT If it was Rome, I would have ordered the lasagna. TOM This is the life. We're in an ancient Chinese city eating fried snails, dumplings, and duck neck. Drink it up, brothers. Tom takes a knife and heartily cuts into his duck neck. He takes a bite and looks at Hugo, Raymond, and Jonathan. They all look very nervous. TOM (CONT'D) (mouthful) What's the matter with you guys? Jonathan stares at his beer glass. JONATHAN Is it me or does this beer taste like piss? RAYMOND Don't know. Haven't had piss in years. 72 PAT Hey, remember that drink we made-- that wicked mix Tom called "Summer Brew"? What was it, a six pack, bottle of vodka and a can of frozen cranberry juice concentrate. JONATHAN I remember it went down like water and then kicked you in the nuts after about three glasses. RAYMOND It was a great way to lose all motor skills and black out completely. Raymond takes a huge swig of beer letting it pour down his cheeks. TOM Raymond, are you, OK? MEGAN He's been like this all morning. RAYMOND I'm not cracking up if that's what you mean. TOM Good. That's not my field. Megan glances at her watch. MEGAN Raymond, can you go get me some Wulong Tea to bring back as a souvenir? RAYMOND Huh? MEGAN A gift. I need Chinese Wulong tea for gifts. There's a place a few blocks down the street. You remember the place. RAYMOND Oh, yeah. (to the others) I'll be back later. 73 He gets up and dodges some cars to cross the street. The others watch him, Jonathan in particular. TOM The Ray man is a bit off today. MEGAN Just leave him be. He'll be fine. Jonathan gets up. JONATHAN I've got to run to the bathroom. Jonathan walks towards the restaurant and when he is out of view from the others, he ducks behind a bus. He then heads across the street in Raymond's direction. EXT. A WUHAN STREET - DAY Raymond is standing at a street corner. We see Raymond watching him. A small truck pulls up to Raymond and he gets in. Jonathan looks around and flags down a taxi. INT. TAXI - DAY Jonathan's POV- Through taxi windshield - We are following the small truck. EXT. A WUHAN STREET - DAY The small truck parks at a curb by an apartment house. The engine is running. The taxi Jonathan is in stops 100 feet in back. Jonathan gets out and stands behind a telephone pole. INT. SMALL TRUCK - AFTERNOON A PIECE OF PAPER scrawled with an address. We PULL BACK TO REVEAL Tung, holding the paper and looking out at the apartment. Raymond sits in the driver's seat. RAYMOND You sure Wong Fei is in there? TUNG I just talked to him. RAYMOND Where is he? 74 EXT. A WUHAN STREET - DAY A dark sedan pulls up alongside Jonathan. Jonathan peers in the side window of the car. We see Wang Ho sitting in the passenger seat. He casually glances over and looks at Jonathan. We see he recognizes him. BY THE SMALL TRUCK - A small garage door opens next to the small truck. Wong Fei hurries out with a hand cart containing three crates. Tung gets out and helps him load the crates in the back of the truck. Raymond sticks his head out the passenger window. RAYMOND Make sure that's all of it. Tung glares at Wong Fei. WONG FEI That's all of it. RAYMOND'S POV: Through the windshield - A dark sedan is approaching from the front. RAYMOND (to Tung) Move it, Tung! Tung hops in the truck and backs up quickly. Tung sees the sedan blocking him from behind. He makes a turn down an alley. BY WANG HO SEDAN - Wang Ho flashes his badge at Jonathan. WANG HO Get in! JONATHAN What? WANG HO Get in now! Jonathan reluctantly gets in the back of the sedan. The sedan takes off after the small truck INT./EXT. - CAR CHASE MONTAGE JUMP CUT BETWEEN the truck and the two sedans. Now - The small truck flies down a small alley, followed closely by - The sedan, an AGENT driving with Wang Ho in the front and Jonathan in the back. 75 INSIDE THE SEDAN JONATHAN What's happening and who are you? Wang Ho shows Jonathan his ID. WANG HO Special agents for the State Cultural Heritage Administration. JONATHAN What do you want from me? WANG HO We're tracking some priceless antiquities that were robbed from a tomb along the Yangtze. We believe they're about to be smuggled out of the country and this is the second time I've seen you while we were doing surveillance on an archeologist called Wong Fei. JONATHAN I don't know anything about cultural artifacts and never heard of him. Wang Ho looks back at him. WANG HO He's working for an American. JONATHAN It's not me. IN THE SMALL TRUCKWhile Tung is driving for dear life, Raymond is freaking out. RAYMOND You've GOT to lose them. They catch me and my life is shit. TUNG You're life is over. Stealing antiquities you get death sentence. RAYMOND Step on it! 76 IN THE SEDAN JONATHAN You've got the wrong American. WANG HO Tell us the right one and we'll let you go. OUT IN THE STREET The small truck and two sedans race through traffic. IN THE SMALL TRUCK RAYMOND (to Tung) Lose these guys and I'll double your pay! IN THE SEDAN WANG HO How are the empress's belongings being smuggled out? JONATHAN I don't know any empress! OUT IN THE STREET The small truck is speeding on the upper part of a traffic circle, while down below them - The sedans turn towards one of the roadways. IN THE SEDAN WANG HO (in Chinese to driver) You're losing them! Right Right Right!!! OUT IN THE STREET At the last second the driver takes the right turn but runs into A HUGE TRAFFIC JAM. We see the small truck race down a small road with no one following. IN THE SEDAN Wang Ho glares at the driver who meekly raises his hands. Wang Ho looks back at Jonathan. 77 JONATHAN I really can't help you. WANG HO Get out. Jonathan climbs out of the car. He looks at Wang Ho. JONATHAN What's the name of the empress? WANG HO Jiang Li the dowager empress. Why? JONATHAN No reason. The sedan drives off. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - SHIP DECK - DAY We see Tom and some Chinese passengers into a spirited game of pai gow, fueled by bottles of Chinese beer and steamed dumplings. Jonathan is walking along the ship deck with Hugo with his arm around him. JONATHAN Near as I can tell she's an empress from about three thousand years ago. Raymond raided her tomb. HUGO Like Indy Jones? JONATHAN Yes, just like Indy Jones. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Right now we need to worry about more concrete things. Like the TV show. They walk up to Pat who is sitting in a lawn chair next to a BUDDHIST MONK in traditional clothing. They are having a friendly religious contest. PAT He who is without sin be the first to throw a stone. The monk smiles. 78 MONK Do not look at the fault of others or what others have done or not done. JONATHAN Hey, Pat. Pat looks up briefly at Jonathan. PAT (to Jonathan) How's it going? (to monk) You will know the truth and the truth will make you free. JONATHAN (to Pat) Is this some sort of religious trivia? PAT My friend here is trying to show me how much Buddha and Jesus have in common. The monk thinks for a moment. MONK One who acts on truth is happy in this world and beyond. PAT (to monk) That's good. How about this one? Everyone who believes in me will never die. MONK Those who have sufficient love for me are all headed for heaven. Pat shakes his head. PAT You're good. JONATHAN (to Pat) Hey, Don't suppose you had a chance to check out the link for the pilot. 79 PAT Yes I did. Let's discuss it tonight over dinner. JONATHAN Looking forward to it. Jonathan and Hugo walk off. We see Jonathan give Hugo the thumbs up sign. Pat goes back to talking to the monk. PAT Let's try this one -- He came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. The monk thinks for a moment. MONK He walks upon the water without parting it as if on solid ground. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - DINING ROOM - NIGHT Jonathan, Hugo, Pat, and Tom eating dinner in the dining room. Pat holds up a bottle of wine. PAT More wine, anyone? TOM Mas vino, por favor. Pat fills Tom's glass. TOM (CONT'D) Ah... What can a wine maker buy one half so precious as he sells? HUGO Omar Khayyam. TOM Ten points to Hugo! Exelente, amigo HUGO Thanks. PAT Hugo, you continue to amaze me. 80 JONATHAN So Pat, you took a look at Making History? PAT I did. I think it has some potential. Jonathan looks over at Hugo. JONATHAN That's what I want to hear. PAT But I'm going to pass. JONATHAN (stunned) Pass? PAT Our studio isn't doing game shows. We're focussing on Christian programming. JONATHAN (desperate) The show is done from a Christian perspective. PAT It is? I didn't see that. JONATHAN In the sense that I'm a Christian as you know. A very dedicated Christian. PAT Yes, I see that, but the show is not Christian. It's just a game show. Pat leans back to stop a passing WAITER. PAT (CONT'D) (to waiter) Can we get more wine here? (to Pat) If you have any other pilots that fit I'll be glad to look at them. 81 JONATHAN (weakly) We always have something in production. Jonathan leans back in his chair. He's crestfallen. Hugo looks over at him. INT REGAL PRINCESS - BAR - NIGHT We see Megan sitting at the small cruise ship bar. Nearby is a small dance floor. Jazz is playing on the stereo. Megan has a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other. She finishes the drink and motions for another. We see Jonathan enter and sit at the other end of the bar. A BARTENDER comes over. JONATHAN Beer, please. MEGAN Don't you hate drinking alone? JONATHAN Better than not drinking at all. The bartender brings him a drink. Jonathan gulps it down. Megan stands up and walks over to him. MEGAN C'mon, let's dance. JONATHAN What? MEGAN Let's dance. JONATHAN I don't want to dance. She grabs his arm. MEGAN Than lead me around the floor. He gets up and follows her over to the dance floor. She puts her arms around him. He is uncomfortable. JONATHAN Don't you have a husband to go home to? 82 MEGAN Not right now I don't. JONATHAN At some point you do. MEGAN Just like college. You're still threatened by other guys. JONATHAN And wasn't I right about that? MEGAN And who said he's my husband? JONATHAN You're not married? MEGAN I let people think we are. But technically no. JONATHAN Just like college. Still dangling men on a string. Megan smiles. JONATHAN (CONT'D) You trust him? MEGAN Raymond? I've always had enough money where I didn't have to trust any man. (beat) You and me were always good dance partners. I guess we were good at some things. Jonathan tightens his arms around her. JONATHAN I think we still are. He kisses her. He's been dying to do that for 20 years. They kiss passionately. Over at the entrance to the bar we see Raymond glaring at them. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - CORRIDOR - NIGHT Pat, Hugo, and Tom are stumbling down the corridor laughing and blind drunk. Pat is in the lead. 83 HUGO So who was the Phantom Shitter? TOM It is a Sigma Delta mystery to this day. No one knows which brother it was. Every bed in the fraternity was shit on at one point or another so we don't know. PAT I think it was Baha. TOM I've seen Baha's shit and it was quite copious compared to the Phantom Shitter's. Darker too. HUGO Copious? TOM You know, a lot. A lot of shit. PAT Where did you see Baha's shit? TOM That camping trip south of the border. You remember... Tom slows down behind Pat and Hugo. PAT Oh yeah. Hugo looks out a porthole. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - DECK - NIGHT The three long haired Chinese men from the Jade Cave are looking back at Hugo in the porthole. THEY RISE UP AND FLY AWAY. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - CORRIDOR - NIGHT Hugo looks back horrified. HUGO Oh God. They're all over! Pat stumbles back and looks in the porthole. 84 PAT'S VOICE Who is? HUGO This boat is haunted! Ghosts! They fly! Fly like frogmouth... Pat and Tom look at each other. They break out laughing. Pat stumbles forward. HUGO (CONT'D) If I was sober I could better-- you know talk. Tom's eyes suddenly roll into the back of his head and he collapses to the floor. Hugo turns around to see him fall. HUGO (CONT'D) Pat, something is wrong with Tom! Pat rushes back to Tom. PAT You OK, Tom? EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - LOBBY - NIGHT Jonathan is walking through the lobby towards the outside of the ship. Raymond is standing in front of him at the doorway. Jonathan looks at him uncomfortably. RAYMOND Where you headed? JONATHAN Just getting some fresh air. Raymond suddenly DROPS AN OVERHEAD RIGHT ON JONATHAN'S MOUTH. Jonathan crumples to the ground. RAYMOND That's for messing with Megan. Jonathan is on one knee. He casually wipes the blood from his mouth as Raymond hovers over him fists clenched. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Did you hear what I just said?! JONATHAN I heard you... 85 Jonathan turns and SLUGS Raymond in the stomach, doubling him over. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Loud and clear. Raymond coughs and straightens up. He turns to Jonathan with his fists up. JONATHAN (CONT'D) This is a long time coming. Jonathan STRAIGHT JABS Raymond in the face snapping his head back. Raymond spits out blood. He charges Jonathan and bear hugs him. They dance around trying to get leverage before Jonathan pulls him to the floor. Both crash hard through the door and out onto the deck. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - DECK - NIGHT Rolling over and over on the deck. Jonathan is stronger and gets on top. He pummels Raymond in the face. A Purser sees them fighting and runs off. RAYMOND C'mon! Get it all out of your system! You'll feel better. Raymond manages to push Jonathan off and stand up. The move around each other clumsily throwing punches. Jonathan does a roundhouse kick into Raymond's kidney. Raymond winces in pain. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Still practicing, huh? Another roundhouse slams right into Raymond's shoulder. Raymond punches back hitting Jonathan in the chin. They are breathing heavily and drooling saliva and blood. Each punch and kick makes them dizzier. JONATHAN I'm going to tell her what you're really doing on this trip. RAYMOND And what is that? JONATHAN You robbed an empress's tomb and you're sneaking her treasure out of China. A cop asked me about you 86 and I was going to turn you in, but this whole frat reunion thing made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Raymond spits and looks at Jonathan through clenched teeth. RAYMOND You don't know shit. JONATHAN You're bribing customs officials and going to hide the stuff in Pat's oil drilling equipment. You're figuring his contacts with the Chinese government would let them look the other way. Breathing heavily, Raymond stops punching and looks at Jonathan. He laughs. RAYMOND You think you're going to get her back with that? JONATHAN That's not why I'm doing it. RAYMOND No? You're still hung up on her, it's obvious. (beat) Oh, and just who do you think is running this operation? Sweating and bewildered, Jonathan looks up at Raymond. RAYMOND (CONT'D) You really forgot what she was like, didn't you? I just follow orders. She's been running an antiquities smuggling network over the last fifteen years that's grabbed 20,000 idols, paintings and statues. Hell, she had the balls to dismantled a Mughal pavilion the size of a small house and get it to a buyer in Trenton, New Jersey. Jonathan can't believe it. RAYMOND (CONT'D) While we're on honesty hour, how's the house sitting business going? Jonathan is surprised. 87 JONATHAN You know about that? RAYMOND We checked you out. Thought you might be a good mark for some of the stolen antiquities. I guess not, huh? JONATHAN This time you robbed the wrong tomb because the owner is out looking for you! Jonathan charges Raymond but he moves to the side and Jonathan crashes into some steel piping knocking himself out. Breathing heavy, Raymond puts his hands on his knees. He glance over to his right. The three long haired Chinese men are staring at him. THEY MORPH INTO THREE TIGERS. Raymond starts to shake. He turns to run, but crashes into a pole knocking himself out. He lays on the deck near an unconscionce Jonathan. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - DECK - LATER POV JONATHAN. He opens his eyes to see Jiang Li looking over him. JONATHAN (sleepy) The Empress... Jonathan bolts awake realizing it's her. He sits up on his knees. His face is bruised and battered. JONATHAN (CONT'D) What do you want from me? JIANG LI My father used to say if one tosses a brick into a collection basket for a righteous cause, jade will soon follow to support the cause. JONATHAN What the hell does it have to do with me? JIANG LI I have found the place for me and my court. JONATHAN What place? 88 JIANG LI Where I can rest. Jonathan looks at her. INT. REGAL PRINCESS - DELUXE SUITE Jonathan enters his cabin. Tom is resting on the bed. He wakes as Jonathan shut the door. TOM What time is it? JONATHAN A little after seven. Tom looks at Jonathan's bruised and battered face. TOM My God. JONATHAN You should see the other guy. TOM What happened? Jonathan goes over to the sink and puts water on his face. JONATHAN Settling a score from the past. TOM (realizing) Is it settled? Jonathan doesn't answer and stares at himself in the mirror. Tom gets up and goes over to the window and looks out. TOM (CONT'D) We're not far from the dam. Tom stares sadly out the window. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - LATER Raymond is leaning over a railing drinking a beer. Jonathan comes up behind him. Raymond spins around suddenly expecting a ghost. He relaxes when he sees it's Jonathan. They look at each other, laugh. 89 JONATHAN Looks like you've just seen a ghost. Raymond turns and looks out over the river. RAYMOND Didn't I kick your ass the last time we fought? JONATHAN What did we fight about? RAYMOND You know. That short blond with the big tits. JONATHAN (drinking the beer) Sandy Rose? RAYMOND No, big tits. JONATHAN Oh, Flo Damasco. I kicked your ass. RAYMOND I think I'm cracking up. JONATHAN Join the club. Raymond looks at Jonathan. JONATHAN (CONT'D) Your tomb robbing has unleashed something. RAYMOND The dowager empress? JONATHAN She wants her stuff back. RAYMOND She-- you've talked to her? Jonathan nods. 90 RAYMOND (CONT'D) I don't believe this. A couple of other tombs around here-- some strange shit happened, but I shook it off...Now... (remembering) The souls of dead needed to be fed and nourished so that they could be settled among the dead and not haunt the living. JONATHAN What? RAYMOND Nothing. Anyway, Megan decided it was too hot to try and smuggle the stuff out so she cut a deal with a local art dealer. They're doing the deal tomorrow. She doesn't believe or care about any of this ghost stuff. (beat) God, she's poison. Jonathan looks at him. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Luckiest thing you ever did was get arrested that night. Shit, I've spent the last twenty years being somebody else. Somebody I don't like. Beat. JONATHAN Remember when I first asked her to wear our fraternity pin? Raymond looks at him and smiles. RAYMOND And all the brothers got you shitfaced until you could barely see straight... JONATHAN And you stripped me and painted Megan's name on my chest, threw me in the trunk of Baha's Chevy, and drove over to her sorority, then tied me to a tree in front of her house. RAYMOND Oh man, we sat on the curb drinking beers as the girls came out to look at you. Megan took too much 91 pleasure in watching you suffer. That should have been my warning. They smile at the thought. A long pause as Jonathan studies Raymond's face. JONATHAN Maybe it's time to come clean. Come clean with yourself, the police, everything. EXT. THREE GORGES DAM - DAY The giant dam rises out of the water through a steamy haze. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - THREE GORGES DAM - DAY Mei Niang stands on the top deck along the railing with the dam in the background. Several passengers are listening to her while they take pictures. MEI NIANG The Three Gorges ship elevator will lift the Regal Princess over the height of a Statue of Liberty in under 45 minutes. Over the course of three hours the ship will passes through the five locks of the dam that will drop it 112 meters from one side to the other. EXT. THREE GORGES DAM - DAY We see the Regal Princess enter the first lock of the Three Gorges Dam. EXT. REGAL PRINCESS - TOP DECK - DAY Jonathan, Tom, Raymond and Pat stand on the deck looking at the immense Three Gorges Dam lock system around them. EXT. THREE GORGES DAM - DAY Jonathan, Hugo, and Raymond are walking along the railing to the Three Gorges Dam. We can see the Regal Princess in one of the locks below. RAYMOND Did he say where he was going? JONATHAN No. Just left early in the morning. Hugo sees someone up ahead. HUGO Look! 92 Jonathan turns to see Tom standing on the other side of the observer platform railing. One step forward and he will fall 300 feet. He has a faraway look in his eyes. Jonathan and Hugo walk slowly towards him. JONATHAN What are you doing, Tom? TOM Just walk away, Jonathan. I have to do this... JONATHAN You don't have to do anything. TOM Please walk away. JONATHAN Now I can't do that. Remember what you said about Tri Delt brothers? None goes his way alone. Tom looks at him. TOM Brain stem glioma. Median survival time of patients is 24 to 40 weeks. Can't stop the inevitable. JONATHAN God, I'm sorry. (beat) What about new therapies, drugs? TOM You forget I'm a doctor, Jonny. I already had the honeymoon period between radiation and reoccurrence. I should have taken more advantage of that time-- The tumor has progressed so far that my body will soon totally shut down. JONATHAN Let's talk, Tommy. TOM I know all too well what something like this can do to a family. I'll be totally dependent on my family. It go on for days, weeks or even months. I can't do that to them. Pat shows up. 93 PAT What's going on? JONATHAN (to Pat) Sit tight. (to Tom) Then the brothers will help. TOM I'll be like a baby-- feeding through a tube, bathing, everything. It's a horrible time for everyone involved. JONATHAN You told us that none goes his way alone. TOM But it isn't true. We've barely seen each other over the last twenty years. JONATHAN Then we have to make up the time, right guys. PAT Tom don't do this. We need you. RAYMOND C'mon brother. We've still got time. Tom wipes the tears from his eyes. He takes a deep breath and relaxes. TOM Hell, another few months with you guys feeding me might be kind of amusing. EXT. THREE GORGES DAM - OBSERVER PLATFORM - MORNING It's early morning and the dam observer platform is covered in a foggy haze. The platform towers over the dam lock system. A LARGER RUSSIAN MAN stands wearing sunglasses and smoking cigarettes. He flicks one on the ground next to several others and stamps it out. Through the fog we see Megan arrive approach with Tung behind her. He is towing a dolly with three crates. They say Lucent Oil on them. RUSSIAN Is it all there? 94 MEGAN Everything from the tomb. You have the money? RUSSIAN It's all here. MEGAN We need to do this now. Before we get to Huangshan. From behind the Russian we see Wang Ho emerge with two POLICE OFFICERS. Lehua looks angrily at the Russian. MEGAN (CONT'D) You bastard. RUSSIAN Sorry, darling. They had their hooks into me deep. WANG HO (to Megan) You're under arrest for the robbery of Chinese cultural artifacts. The officers draw their weapons and circle Megan and Tung. Through the fog the Russian senses something move past his head. Megan and Tung also notice something moving around them. Then, out of nowhere, a terrible GROWLING SOUND of a tiger is heard. Some strange black forms emerge through the fog. The Russian and Wang Ho look behind them and freezes in fright. A ghostly white tiger is walking towards the Russian.. Before he can cry out, the tiger leaps on him and envelopes him in a dark haze. He falls backward on the ground. We see him struggle but he realizes he's struggling with nothing. The officers see ghostly tigers swarm around them. The dark forms encircle the three crates. They spin around like a tornado and suddenly the crates are gone. Everything is silent. Everyone looks at the spot where the crates were and then look at each other. EXT. THREE GORGES DAM - HILLSIDE - LATER A light rain falls on a beautiful hillside overlooking the Three Gorges Dam. Next to a large tree, Raymond, Jonathan, and Hugo are digging a hole into the soft earth. Wong Fei stands by the three crates of Jiang Li's possessions. VARIOUS SHOTS of Wong Fei and Jonathan carefully burying the remains of Jiang Li and her court as the others watch. We see ghostly images of Jiang Li with Bao next to her and the three long haired Chinese. 95 EXT - DOCK - HUANGSHAN CITY - DAY Tom, Pat, Tom, Raymond, and Hugo are coming off the Regal Princess ramp carrying their luggage. Other passengers are behind them. TOM So Megan is staying in China? RAYMOND The police have many questions for her. JONATHAN Ray supplied them with enough information that even her father will be hard pressed getting her off. PAT (to Raymond) What about you? RAYMOND My punishment is to never come back to China. Jonathan smiles and shakes hands with Pat, Raymond, and Tom. JONATHAN Looks like Hugo and me are headed back to LA. PAT Maybe not. I've been talking to Hugo and I want him to head up a company I'm starting here to research a Yangtze clean up. Jonathan looks at Pat surprised. JONATHAN That's great. (to Hugo) You deserve it, man. HUGO I told him I'd only do it with my partner. JONATHAN Me? PAT You guys are booked on a trip to New York. I'll see you there in three days. 96 RAYMOND And we all meet at Tom's in one week, right? They all agree. Jonathan gives Tom a hug. TOM I've been hearing and seeing it all along but didn't realize it. JONATHAN Me too, brother. INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT Tom is sitting on an airplane looking at a picture of his wife and kids. He takes a present from his bag. It says "From your brother Pat." Tom opens it. Its a framed picture of a saying from the Bible. He reads it. PAT'S VOICE "I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed." Tom smiles. INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT Jonathan is sitting next to a snoring Hugo on their way back to America. He peers out the airplane window. He checks his pocket and takes something out. It's Jiang Li's Luopan. He holds it in his hand and smiles. HUGO'S VIDEO - We see various footage filmed by Hugo of the fraternity brothers on the cruise. EXT. CHINA - LITTLE THREE GORGES AREA - DAY The shroud covered cliffs of the Yangtze River. We pass by some of the hanging coffins on the cliffs but we also see some are submerged underwater. 97 EXT. YANGTZE RIVER - DAY We see several cruise boats heading up and down the Yangtze River. As we pass by each one we see a LONE PASSENGER, solemn and unsettling, standing on the upper deck. THE SOUND OF CYMBALS AND A DRUM behind them as we FADE OUT 98