BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

“China Moon”

Aired Episode Transcript – original air date: January 15, 1988

Opening credits:

Beauty and the Beast

Starring

Linda Hamilton

Ron Perlman

as “Vincent”

Roy Dotrice

Jay Acovone

Ren Woods

“China Moon”

Guest Starring (in alphabetical order)

Rosalind Chao

Dennis Dun

James Hong

Peter Kwong

Victor Wong

Director of Photography

Frank Beascoechea A.S.C.

Production Designer

John Mansbridge

Editor

Howard Kunin A.C.E.

Theme by

Lee Holdridge

Music by

Don Davis

Supervising Producer

Ron Koslow

Co-Supervising Producer

Stephen Kurzfeld

Producer

David Peckinpah

Produced by

Harvey Frand

Co-Producer

John David

Created by

Ron Koslow

Written by

Cynthia Benjamin

Directed by

Christopher Leitch

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INTERIOR - TUNNELS

Various tunnel scenes fade in and out: the spiral staircase, a wide domed tunnel, and the whispering bridge. Rhythmic tapping on the pipes echos in the chambers. Tapping now turns into whispers. Vincent sits on the edge of the bridge. The cave is vast with many bridges lit throughout.

 Vincent stands book in hand; he closes it preparing to leave when he hears the sounds of celebration coming from above.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT - CHINATOWN

The Chinese New Year celebration is going on in the streets of Chinatown. Firecrackers are going off, cymbals are crashing, and participants are dressed up in colorful clothing.  People wearing a dragon costume are twisting through the crowd. The mood is joyful, celebratory.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR  - WHISPERING BRIDGE

Vincent stands on the bridge listening to the celebration. He pauses for a moment, looks at his book, and proceeds to leave.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT - CHINATOWN

The celebration continues in Chinatown, with more fireworks and various dragon costumes. From the street, there is building on the right.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - DINING ROOM

There are many people seated along a rectangular table. Shin Li Chiang, an elderly man, stands at the head of the table holding up his glass. Seated to his right is his grandson Peter, and to his left, Peter’s bride-to-be, Lin Wong, who doesn’t reflect the celebratory mood outside.

CHIANG

To my grandson and his fiancé, may the new year,

 the Year of the Dragon, be a joyous one to both of you,

 a time of new beginnings and reaffirmation of old traditions.

 He looks over at Lin, who looks down, clearly uncomfortable.

CHIANG

(to Lin)

We welcome you into our family, Lin Wong. 

Please give my best regards to your grandfather. 

This will be a union of two proud families whose

 bloodlines will intermingle into a fine grandchild.

Peter stands. Makes a gesture of gratitude with his hands.

PETER

歡 迎 各 位, 恭 賀 新 喜, 新 年 快 樂

(Welcome! Best wishes for a new year to come and happy new year.)

Thank you Grandfather...

(raises his glass)

We appreciate your good wishes and your plans for our future.

 You will have your grandson.

Lin is uncomfortable about these plans for her future, as Chiang speaks.

CHIANG

好 仔, 後 生 仔

(laughing heartily: Good, good boy)

Chiang drinks from his glass.The rest of the party raises their glasses in salute and take a drink.

Lin does not raise her glass and is addressed by Peter.

PETER

(to Lin)

Are you all right? You look so pale.

CHIANG

Ah...(indistinct)

Just a nervous bride, that’s all.

(chuckles)

 It’s a quality to be admired in an age where

tradition holds so little value for most young people,

 and that is why your union means so much.

 It is very important.

 Never lose sight of that, my children.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - GENERAL LEE’S

Bruce, a member of the Tong gang is knocking things off shelves. He takes a meat cleaver and violently slaps it down several times.  He walks up to Henry Pei, who is being held by another Tong member, Tommy, and grabs one of his arms. He holds the other arm and together the two drag Henry into a storage area and toss him into a table full of supplies. Henry tries to resist. They rough him up and then issue their threat.

BRUCE

Find yourself a new girlfriend, Henry.

Tommy kicks Henry in the chest and when he doubles over, grabs the back of his shirt, flinging him against a work table.  He jerks him around to face him.

BRUCE

We don’t want to have to come back here again.

  Understood?

Henry leans heavily on the table for support, panting but does not verbally respond.

BRUCE

That’s good, Henry.

Henry gets punched in the face and falls to the ground.

HENRY

(yells in pain)

Ahhh!

Then a box of oranges is tossed on top of him. The two thugs walk away.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

 Dr. Wong is preparing a mixture of herbs at a table, carefully weighing them out and pouring them into a bowl and pounding them with a pestle. He taps the side of the bowl with a ring. He dumps the ground herbs out onto a pile of others that are already on a piece of paper, lightly murmuring to himself.  He carefully folds the paper over the mixture and tapes it shut. Behind him are wooden storage drawers of all sizes and a display case to the left.

WONG

(chuckles)

Ha! It’s been twenty years since I first

 prescribed these herbs for your father.

He walks around the counter passing a lamp and a Chinese wall painting. A figure stands slightly shadowed behind a beaded curtain. It’s Vincent.

VINCENT

I remember coming here as a child.

Wong passes through the beaded curtain as he speaks.

WONG

Yes, long before Lin came to live with me.

(he hands the packet to Vincent)

I’m so pleased you became friends with her.

VINCENT

I’ve cherished her friendship and yours.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT- STREET OUTSIDE HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

There is a siren wailing in the distance. A limousine pulls up to the curb. In the back of the limo is Lin and Peter.

PETER

(as he twists his hand with hers)

You think you’re fooling me, don’t you?

LIN

(looking away)

No.

PETER

The way you behaved tonight,

 it was unacceptable.

LIN

(not making eye contact)

I was only nervous,

as your grandfather said.

PETER

In the future…you will smile when

you’re expected to smile,

 you will show your gratitude.

He grabs her chin and roughly turns her face towards him.

PETER

Look at me when I’m talking to you.

 I know you’re still seeing Pei,

 and it must stop.

She jerks her head out of his grip and exits the limo onto the street. The limo driver shuts the door. The window lowers, and Lin turns around.

PETER

(to Lin)

Our marriage is very important to my grandfather,

 which makes it very important to me.

The window raises, and the limo pulls away.  Lin begins to walk down the street when her name is called out from behind.

HENRY

Lin!

Henry approaches Lin.

LIN

Henry...

He reaches for her and she sees he has been in some kind of trouble.

LIN

What happened?

 Who did this to you?

HENRY

Nothing, forget about it.

LIN

It was Peter’s friends, wasn’t it?

HENRY

They tore up the restaurant.

LIN

(sighs)

I’m sorry.

Lin and Henry embrace.

LIN

I love you.

HENRY

(looking around)

Did they make the announcement?

LIN

Chiang did at dinner tonight.

Grandfather’s agreed to the wedding date.

HENRY

When?

LIN

Three weeks.

HENRY

Then we’ll leave tonight…now!

LIN

We have nowhere to go, and if we do run away,

what happens to grandfather?

HENRY

They won’t hurt him.

(Lin sighs)

 You’ve listened to too many of your grandfather’s

stories. Those people don’t rule the world.

LIN

They rule our world.

HENRY

No. We’re a part of each other. Nothing else matters.

 We’ll find a way to be together.  I promise.

He kisses her, they embrace, and then part both looking to make sure no one has seen them together.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

VINCENT

(to Wong)

I’ll see you again soon.

Wong nods to Vincent. The doorbells ring and Lin walks in.

WONG

(walks over to Lin)

Oh, Lin, h…how did it go with you?

LIN

Why must it be this way? 

You know I don’t love him.

WONG

Shhh, please let’s not talk about it now.

  We have a guest.

Lin looks up and sees Vincent behind the beaded curtain.

LIN

Vincent.

VINCENT

What has made you so unhappy?

LIN

(displeased)

Hasn’t my grandfather told you? 

I’m to be married.

VINCENT

A wedding should be a time of joy.

LIN

Not in Chinatown.

She turns away and goes through a curtain into another room. The curtains rustle with her frustration.

WONG

(calling after her)

Lin!

(to Vincent)

Well, I should have told you before...

Lin is to marry Peter Chiang, grandson

 of one of the most powerful men in Chinatown.

VINCENT

She does not love him.

WONG

Well, perhaps she will learn to love him,

it’s going to be a good marriage.

(Vincent looks down)

 I have known Chiang Lo Yu for a long time,

and it was he who helped me bring Lin over from Taipei.

 Now she thinks she’s in love with another.

  A poor boy. What can he hope to give her?

VINCENT

His heart.

Wong looks down and turns away at these words.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT - CENTRAL PARK AND THE CITY

VINCENT

Why does it sometimes seem as though

 the world conspires to keep lovers apart?

FADE TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT - CATHERINE’S BALCONY

Catherine and Vincent are standing together looking out at the city. Light noises of the city fill the air.

CATHERINE

Or brings them together when it’s impossible.

At these words, they turn to look at each other.

VINCENT

There’s a man Catherine, a good man, who for more years

than I can count has helped us selflessly, kept our secrets.

 I know him. I know how gentle and wise he is and

 how much he loves his granddaughter.

 Yet now he is trying to force her to marry a man she does not love.

CATHERINE

How could he do that?

 This is the twentieth century,

there are no more arranged marriages.

VINCENT

Not in your world or in mine.

 But Chinatown is another world,

 apart from both of ours.

CATHERINE

How does the girl feel?

VINCENT

She’s angry and afraid. She would like

 to comply with her grandfather’s wishes,

 but her heart is crying out against it.

CATHERINE

Would you like me to talk to her, Vincent?

VINCENT

I think Lin would like that.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR DAY - HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

The hustle and bustle of daytime in Chinatown.  Pedestrians pass on the street in front Dr. Wong’s shop.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

Lin is behind the counter preparing a package for a customer.

LIN

Thank you, Mr. Fung.

She collects the money from him and puts it in the cash drawer.

LIN

(coming around the counter)

After my parents’ death, Mr. Chiang

paid for my passage from China.

 He even arranged for my visa.

(she joins Catherine who is already seated at a table)

My grandfather feels he owes him a great debt.

Catherine is seated at a small table with a tea set and a plate of pastries. Lin pours Catherine a cup of tea from an ornate red and white tea pot.

CATHERINE

Well, indebtedness is one thing,

but does that give him the right

 to choose who you marry?

LIN

(sets down the tea pot)

I wish it were as simple as you make it sound,

 but you are not Chinese, you don’t understand our ways.

  My grandfather is my only living relation.

 Everything I’ve been taught tells me it’s my duty to obey him.

CATHERINE

I don’t think you have to be Chinese to understand that.

 I felt that way for most of my life.

(sighs)

 For me, it was my father.  He always had very specific ideas

 about who I should be, what I should do…

until somehow, in ways that I still don’t understand,

 they became my ideas.  It took Vincent to show me

that the truth is in your heart, and you should follow it.

LIN

Wish I could.

CATHERINE

Vincent mentioned another young man.

LIN

Henry.

(smiles)

I don’t know how to tell you about him,  he’s…

he’s wonderful.  He’s good, strong, and gentle, and he loves me.

(pauses)

 They beat him last night, as a warning to stay away.

CATHERINE

Who?

LIN

Some gang members hired by Mr. Chiang.

 They broke into his restaurant, destroyed everything.

CATHERINE

I can help you do something about that.

LIN

(alarmed)

Oh, no, Miss Chandler, please…I…I…I don’t

 think Henry would want that.  We’ll... we’ll be all right.

Lin takes a sip of her tea. Catherine isn’t so sure things will be all right.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - GENERAL LEE’S

Broken dishes are being swept up by Henry’s friend and employee, Eddie. Henry comes to him handing him a check.

HENRY

I know the check’s a few days late.

EDDIE

Forget it.

Eddie turns to place some of the broken dishes into the trash.

HENRY

Come on, man. You have to pay rent too.

 Don’t look so worried, it’s good…at least till Tuesday.

EDDIE

Thanks.

HENRY

You’ve been a good friend, Eddie.

More than a good friend, a brother.

 Whatever happens…I want you to know

 I appreciate your standing by me like this.

They hear a noise coming from the back of the restaurant, a dog barks. Henry goes through the kitchen to investigate. A cook is preparing vegetables and other items as Henry walks in. Slowly he approaches the back door and sees Lin. He rushes out to her.

HENRY

What are you doing here?

LIN

Don’t worry we’re alone.

HENRY

(looks around to see if anyone has seen them)

Are you sure?

LIN

(kissing him)

Yes.

HENRY

You’re pretty reckless.

LIN

I’m not reckless, I’m in love.

HENRY

With us it’s almost the same thing.

LIN

Not anymore. We’re leaving this place, tomorrow night.

HENRY

What are you talking about? Where?

LIN

There’s this place I know of... a forgotten place that’s secret

and safe.  I’ve been there only once, but I know its people.

 One is a very good friend I’m sure he’ll welcome us.

HENRY

Who is this friend?  How come I don’t know him?

LIN

(sighs)

I can’t explain.

HENRY

Why not?

LIN

Because it is truly beyond words.

When you meet him, when you see this place,

you’ll understand. But for now I can only ask you to trust me.

HENRY

(caresses her face)

Of course I trust you.

LIN

Then meet me at my grandfather’s store tomorrow

 night, 9:00. But you must tell no one.

HENRY

It sounds like a fairy tale.

LIN

Yes, I know.

They kiss deeply while unbeknownst to the couple, Eddie watches from the doorway.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INTERIOR DAY - JOE’S OFFICE

Catherine is standing looking through some paperwork. Joe is heard speaking with another employee.

JOE

Thank you, Debbie.

CATHERINE

(standing in front of Joe)

And our next court date for the Demarco case is the 19th.

Joe is seated on a couch in the office, also going over some paperwork.

JOE

Great, that about wraps it up.

CATHERINE

What do you know about Chinatown?

JOE

Great flick…

(Catherine rolls her eyes)

Okay, Radcliffe, what’s the problem?

CATHERINE

I’m trying to help a young restaurant owner down there.

JOE

He willing to help himself?

CATHERINE

I don’t know. I’ll find out today.

JOE

I ever tell you about Jack Millhouse?

 Guy I went to law school with?

She shakes her head no. Joe gets up and moves around to his desk.

JOE

Jack was investigating some union busting going on

 in a Chinatown sweatshop when he disappeared. 

They found his body in a dumpster off Pell.

 I worked on that case for over a year.

Took me six months just to find a witness.

 Finally found this nice old guy, not afraid of anything.

(sits down)

Two days later he  was hit a car in front of his market.

10:00 in the morning. Street packed with people.

 No one saw a thing.

CATHERINE

That was just one case, Joe. This one could be different.

JOE

The Great Wall’s been around China for 2,000 years

 Radcliffe. You’re not going to tear it down overnight.

CATHERINE

No, but I can try to put a hole in it.

(pauses)

  And one more thing…no one says “flick” anymore.

Catherine begins to leave.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - BASEMENT OF HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

Vincent sits with Lin in the basement of Dr. Wong’s shop.

VINCENT

Our rules are very strict about who

 may come down and for what reason.

LIN

I know about rules. But what do your rules say about love?

  Henry is my life. From the moment I first saw him,

I knew that he was the only person who could make my life complete.

(Vincent stands)

 We don’t wish to make the tunnels our home. All we ask is

 that you offer us some sanctuary.

VINCENT

Without your grandfather’s approval…

LIN

But you know my grandfather.

VINCENT

Yes, I know him. And I know that he is also torn.

LIN

I’m sorry, Vincent. I love him, and I have always

respected his wishes. But I don’t know what else to do.

(pauses, on the edge of tears)

If you turn us away…

VINCENT

I will speak with Father. And… I will contact

you when I know something. It’s all that I can do.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - FATHER’S CHAMBER

Father is seated at his desk as Vincent paces around the chamber arguing Lin’s request to hide in the tunnels.

VINCENT

How could we possibly deny them?

FATHER

Well, to begin with, we’ve never met this Henry Pei.

How do we know we can trust him?

VINCENT

Because Lin trusts him.

FATHER

Not to mention the fact that Dr. Wong

has expressly forbidden it.

 Now we cannot just dismiss his part of this.

VINCENT

(passionately)

Lin is a woman, responsible only to herself.

 She is not Dr. Wong’s possession or any other man’s.

FATHER

But part of that responsibility includes a respect

 to the man who has done so much,

 sacrificed so much of himself for her.

VINCENT

So Lin must sacrifice herself?

 Will the satisfaction from this comfort

her during the endless gray years to come? 

Will it keep her warm on cold nights as

 she lies beside a man she does not love?

FATHER

Dr. Wong only wants what is best for Lin.

VINCENT

Only Lin knows what is best for Lin!

FATHER

(nods his head)

Very well. I’ll present her case to the council.

VINCENT

There is no longer time for that.

FATHER

Then you and I must share the responsibility of our decision.

(smiles)

VINCENT

Thank you, Father.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - GENERAL LEE’S

Catherine and Henry are seated at one of the tables in the deserted restaurant, with only Eddie watching from a distance. He is walking to the tables, placing silverware.

CATHERINE

Identify the men who assaulted you

 Henry, and we’ll make an arrest.

 At the very least, we’ll get a restraining order.

HENRY

What good will that do?

CATHERINE

It will force them to stop harassing you.

 And the good people of this neighborhood.

HENRY

Look, I appreciate what you’re doing and

 I know you’re trying to help. But the fact

 is you’re the outsider here–the police

 and you lawyers–that’s just the way it is.

CATHERINE

It doesn’t have to be. This restaurant,

this block, this neighborhood,

it’s still part of New York.

HENRY

No, Miss Chandler, it’s Chinatown.

 Now if you’ll excuse me,

 I have a restaurant to run.

CATHERINE

(slowly getting up)

I’ll do anything I can to help you and Lin.

(placing her business card on the table in front of him)

If you change your mind.

HENRY

We’ll be okay.

As she walks out the door Henry picks up the card then places it back on the table. He gets up and slowly walks through the rows of empty tables to the bar where Eddie is standing.

EDDIE

So what did the lady want?

HENRY

Forget about it. We have to talk.

EDDIE

What’s up?

HENRY

You know my father owned this place for over thirty years,

struggled his whole life to get ahead.

Now business is worse than when he was alive.

EDDIE

We’re doing all right.

HENRY

We’re just scraping by, there’s a difference.

EDDIE

Henry, what’s going on?

HENRY

I had Mr. Hon draw up papers today.

You know, a contract.

I’m signing the place over to you.

EDDIE

Come on, get serious.

HENRY

I am serious. I withdrew half the account this afternoon.

 But the books are in order,

and there’ll be enough money for a while.

(Eddie leans on the bar at this news)

 The restaurant’s yours Eddie, if you want it.

  I mean this place is as much yours as it is mine. 

Hey, we grew up here, both of us. 

Maybe with me out of the way Chiang

 will let a couple of customers through.

EDDIE

What about you?  What are you going to do?

HENRY

I can’t tell you. But I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.

EDDIE

I don’t know what to say.

HENRY

Just promise me you’ll take care of the place.

(pauses)

 Hey, come on, Eddie.

Henry holds out his hand, and after a moment Eddie takes it.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT - HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

A lone taxi drives down the street and comes to a stop in front of Dr. Wong’s shop. Henry gets out with is suitcase, looking around. Lin steps out of the shop to greet him and they embrace.

LIN

(giggles)

Henry.

HENRY

Hey, no, what…?

LIN

Shh...grandfather’s still awake.

 We’ll have to go around back.

HENRY

What do you mean?

 I thought we were leaving.

LIN

We are. You’ll see. Come on.

They start to go around the building when suddenly Peter steps out. They turn and run the other way, but Bruce and Tommy stop them. Henry pushes Lin.

HENRY

Run, Lin, run!

He swings his suitcase at the approaching men giving Lin a chance to get away. The two men grab Henry and hold him against the wall.

PETER

(indistinct)

Get her.  I’ll take care of him.

He pulls out a switchblade knife threatening Henry with it. The other men go after Lin. 

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

Lin has made it to the basement and pulls away a counter revealing a secret entrance to the tunnels. She pulls it shut behind her just as the men come running down the stairs.

BRUCE

Tommy, check over there.

They rummage through the basement tossing things out of there way, looking for Lin. They cannot find her.

TOMMY

(frustrated)

Hey!

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT - HIN YUEN HONG CHINESE HERB CO

On the sidewalk in front of Dr. Wong’s shop, Henry is confronted by Peter.

PETER

I warned you, Pei, but you were stupid.

He lunges at Henry with the knife. Henry grabs Peter’s hands forcing them high up over their heads. He struggles as the knife comes down closer and closer, suddenly he pulls Peter’s hands down towards him and side steps. He falls to the sidewalk and the knife goes into Peter inflicting a mortal wound. Peter hits the wall and slowly slides down it.  Henry stares in horror, crawling away, then stands and runs.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

EXTERIOR DAY - CHINATOWN

A tall, ornate building in Chinatown. This is the Tong Headquarters.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - MR. CHIANG’S OFFICE

Bruce is swinging Peter’s knife open and closed as he walks around a room filled with others who are seated in front of the desk of Mr. Chiang. Chiang turns in this chair to face the men.

CHIANG

The line has been broken.

(leans on his desk with a cigarette in hand)

My grandson, Peter, is dead. Nothing we do will bring

 him back to me. But I want the ears and eyes

 of Chinatown open. I want Henry Pei found today.

殺 死 他

(Kill him!)

BRUCE

Ready!

The Tong leave the office.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR DAY - STREET IN CHINATOWN

Henry is walking down the street towards his restaurant when he spots Eddie speaking with some of Peter’s gang members. He seems them hand Eddie some money and realizes that Eddie was the one that tipped Peter off.  He walks away confused and upset.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICES

Catherine and Joe are walking through the common room.

JOE

Hey, did you hear about the Chiang murder?

CATHERINE

Two minutes ago.

JOE

Well? You think this has anything to

 do with that kid you were so interested...?

CATHERINE

(frustrated)

I don’t know.

JOE

What do you mean you don’t know?

CATHERINE

I mean you were right. I spent all day yesterday

walking up and down Mott Street asking questions.

 All I got out of it was a pair of sore feet.

JOE

I’m not gonna say “I told you so.”

CATHERINE

(smiles)

Yeah, you’ll just think it.

JOE

Well for what it’s worth, your buddy, Jerry Poholski is

on the case.  If you find out anything let him know, huh?

Joe walks away as Catherine sits down at her desk.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR DAY - STREET

Sirens are in the background. Henry calls Catherine from a pay phone on the street.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR  - CATHERINE’S DESK

CATHERINE

(picking up the phone)

Catherine Chandler.

HENRY

It’s Henry Pei. I didn’t know who else to call.

CATHERINE

Tell me what happened, Henry.

(Catherine grabs a pencil and paper)

Henry holds the phone, thinking for a moment.

CATHERINE

Henry, you have to trust me. I can help you.

Henry sighs and begins to speak.

HENRY

Lin talked about someplace,

a safe place, that we could go.

CATHERINE

Yeah? Where?

HENRY

That’s just it: I don’t know. She was real mysterious…

wouldn’t tell me anything except that she had a friend there.

 I don’t know who. I was supposed to meet Lin

 last night at her grandfather’s store.

Peter Chiang, he found out about it, and…

CATHERINE

Go on.

HENRY

He was going to kill me. I didn’t…

I was just protecting myself, I swear.

CATHERINE

I believe you. Where are you now?

HENRY

In Soho.

CATHERINE

Okay, uh, I’ll meet you there.

HENRY

No, you don’t understand!

I’m dead if anyone sees me around here.

Half of Chinatown is looking for me.

 I have to find Lin.

CATHERINE

Okay, can you get uptown?

HENRY

Yeah, why?

CATHERINE

I’ll explain when I see you.

 Meet me on the corner of 51^st and Lexington.

Catherine hangs up the phone. As Henry leaves the phone booth, he is followed by Bruce and Tommy.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR DAY - STREET

Catherine exits a building to meet Henry. As she walks down the street, Henry meets up with her.

HENRY

Miss Chandler.

CATHERINE

Are you all right?

HENRY

I’m not hurt, if that’s what you mean.

 I’d be better if I knew that Lin was safe.

CATHERINE

I’m going to take you to her right now.

HENRY

You know where she is?

CATHERINE

Henry, first there are some things

 I should tell you about the place we’re

 going. Things you probably won’t

 understand until you see them.

As they hurry down the street together, Catherine and Henry are unaware that they are being followed.  Henry looks behind and sees the Tong men.

HENRY

Miss Chandler!

He takes her arm and they begin to run. They run down an alley past a taxi cab. The cab driver opens his door just as the two Tong are close, giving Henry and Catherine time to run into a building.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - BUILDING

They fly down the stairs and into the basement.  Catherine opens a secret entrance to the tunnels and they hurry through. The men enter the building and race down the steps after them.

CATHERINE

Down the steps!

They climb down metal rungs set into the brick wall and run through a tunnel reaching a steel door. Catherine knocks frantically on it.

The Tong men climb down the metal rungs and into the tunnels in pursuit. Catherine knocks on the door again. No answer.

HENRY

Now what?

CATHERINE

Don’t worry.

The door slides open and Vincent is there.

CATHERINE

Come through.

Henry freezes when he sees Vincent. Catherine reaches out and grabs him, pushing him through the doorway, and then pulls the iron gate behind her. Vincent shuts the door. The two Tong reach what looks like a dead end to them and turn around.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - FATHER’S CHAMBER

Father is seated at his desk, flipping through the pages of a book. His glasses are perched at the end of his nose. He looks up at the entrance when he hears someone approach. It’s Vincent, followed by Henry and Catherine. Lin is already there. When she sees Henry, she flies into his arms. Catherine and Vincent exchange a look.

LIN

Henry!

HENRY

(looking around the chamber)

I still can’t believe all this is real.

LIN

Believe it!

VINCENT

It’s as real as your love.

HENRY

(to Lin)

There’s something I have to tell you…

A disgruntled voice speaking Chinese intrudes, as Dr. Wong is led into the chamber.

WONG

快 一 點, 快 快 快...

(Hurry up, hurry...)

FATHER

(standing)

Ah, my dear old friend.

WONG

Huh!

FATHER

Please, try to understand.

WONG

Are you aware that Peter Chiang was murdered?

HENRY

(shouting)

He was trying to kill me!

WONG

Doesn’t matter what he was doing, he’s dead. 

And now Chiang Shin Li won’t rest until he tastes revenge.  

He’ll kill you both.

LIN

Grandfather, I’m sorry.

WONG

You don’t know what you’ve done, child. By coming

down here, you’ve endangered these people.

VINCENT

The responsibility lies with all of us.

 Henry and Lin will be safe here.

WONG

No one is safe, it’s you who don’t understand!

The Tong know about these tunnels.

They’ve been using it for over a century.

(Vincent and Father share a look of shock)

  They’ll send down a whole army.

FATHER

(sinking into his chair)

Oh, God.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INTERIOR - BASEMENT

Young men dressed in black surround Chiang who is clothed in a ceremonial robe holding two swords. One of the men, Chan, places a trunk in the middle of the group as Chiang speaks.

CHIANG

A hundred years ago, when we risked our very lives

 to walk these foreign streets. Our ancestors

honeycombed all of Chinatown with tunnels...

 and we took refuge in those tunnels during

times of trouble. Now those who have betrayed

us have taken refuge down there. 

They think themselves safe from harm.

(chuckles)

 They are wrong.

He opens the truck which holds an assortment of weapons.

CHIANG

Guns are worse than useless in dark places

where the wall press close. We will arm ourselves...

with weapons of our ancestors and defeat them.

He pulls a large knife out of the trunk and hands it to one of the men, Yueh.

CHIANG

給 你

(To you...)

. 

He hands another sword he has been holding to Chan. 

CHIANG 

這 個 給 你

(This one to you...)

CHIANG

(to the others, pointing to the chest)

Choose!

Each man retrieves a weapon from the trunk. One of the men, Bruce, has a gun tucked into his belt despite what Chiang has said.

BRUCE

And what if there are others down there?

Chiang raises his sword.

CHIANG

傻 瓜

(You idiot!)

There is only the girl…and the dead. Follow me!

He turns and ducks into an entrance to the tunnels. One by one the members of the Tong enter..

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - FATHER’S CHAMBER

Lin and Henry enter the chamber from the top entrance and make their way down to Catherine, who is standing at the lower entrance.

FATHER

I want our fastest runners posted as sentries--adults only,

no children.  I don’t want to endanger the children.

 Oh by the way, are they safely back?

VINCENT

Kipper returned a few minutes ago.

 He was the last. Mary is with them.

FATHER

Good. We’ll get Winslow and Michael to stay

with them as well, in case…

in case the unthinkable happens.

(pauses)

 Oh and tell Pascal I want an all-quiet on the pipes.

 We’re going to seal ourselves tight. 

We’ll raise the false walls here…here…and here.

 Mouse will turn off the lights when the intruders

have first been sighted. Let them wander around

in the dark for a few hours, perhaps they’ll give up.

WONG

(laughing)

You do not know Chiang. He is relentless.

If he must search a whole year he

 will until he finds a road down here.

HENRY

It’s me he wants. I’m the one who killed Peter.

LIN

(pleading)

Henry, don’t leave me.

HENRY

I have to do something don’t you understand?

 This is my fight.

VINCENT

There will be no fight if we can help it.

We will do everything in our power to avoid bloodshed.

HENRY

And what if you can’t?

VINCENT

This is our home they threaten.

We will do what we must.

HENRY

You don’t know them.

VINCENT

Chiang does not know us.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - TUNNELS

Armed with weapons and flashlights, Chiang’s men walk through the tunnels. They stop while Chiang consults a map.

CHIANG

All right, Yueh, you take Kuo and Chan,

go this way. The rest of you follow me.

The men split up in different directions. A tunnel sentry follows their progress.

Yueh’s group reaches a chained and barred gate. Chan, using his sword slashes through the chain with a yell. They open the gate as the tunnel sentry watches.

Meanwhile, Chiang and his group are hurrying through another tunnel when the lights suddenly go dark.

TOMMY

The lights!

CHIANG

It means nothing.

TOMMY

They know we’re here!

CHIANG

And we know they are close.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - FATHER’S CHAMBER

Father is walking into the chamber from the tunnel, slowly making his way down to his desk. Lin, Henry, Dr. Wong, Catherine and Vincent are all there waiting.

FATHER

They’ve found our hidden doors and secret passageways.

Both groups have penetrated into the lower levels

CATHERINE

Are you sure?

FATHER

Jamie saw them pass.  We’ve been safe for so long and now

they bring their violence and their hatred to our very home.

Father sits down at his desk, with a fearful sigh. Vincent walks over and places a comforting hand on Father’s shoulder.

VINCENT

They’ve given us no choice.

FATHER

(to Vincent)

None.

They exchange a knowing look. Vincent turns to leave the chamber. Catherine is suddenly aware of what Vincent is about to do. She looks terrified and she gets up from her chair.

VINCENT

If I’m not back within the hour, you must flee.

He puts on his cloak. Catherine stops him with a hand on his chest as he moves to pass by her.

CATHERINE

(looking deeply into his eyes)

Come back to me, Vincent.

He leaves the chamber.

FADE TO:

INTERIOR - TUNNELS

Kuo is cautiously moving through the tunnel, swinging the chain he chose as a weapon. Yueh and Chan are behind him following.

As they pass under a low tunnelway, the last man, Chan, is suddenly pulled up by Vincent who covers his mouth with his hand.  He emits a soft growl as he pulls the intruder up.

YUEH

Chan? Chan, where are you?

Suddenly Chan’s lifeless body is tossed down in front of him, and as Yueh stares, Vincent leaps down behind him. Yueh turns with his knife. Vincent growls and takes him down to the ground by the throat. Fog swirls around them and as it thickens they are gone from sight.

Kuo continues on and shines the beam of his flashlight around in the thick fog, but can see nothing. He is alone. Suddenly he hears a growl and Vincent rising out of the fog, roaring intensely. Kuo swings the chain, but Vincent has again disappeared into the fog only to come up behind him. He grabs him and pulls him down.

KUO

Ahhh!

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - TUNNELS

Chiang leads his group through the tunnels to a chamber with several ledges and entrances.  Suddenly they hear growling.

TOMMY

I don’t like this.

CHIANG

Silence!

They hear another growl which echoes through the chamber. Then men look around in fear.

CHIANG

It’s nothing!  An animal. A wild dog

 that crawls beneath the earth.

Vincent’s snarls are amplified and bounce through the chamber.

TOMMY

That’s no dog!

CHIANG

(shouting)

Give us Lin Wong and Henry Pei and we’ll let you live!

His shouts echo. He is answered by a loud growl.

CHIANG

Spread out, find him and kill him!

Tommy leaves with the remaining Tong member, Bruce is off by himself.  Chiang looks around the chamber and stands with his back to a wall.  Meanwhile, Vincent attacks the Tong member with Tommy, pulling him off his feet and then throwing him to the ground. 

The wounded Tong member crawls a few feet and then lies still. Tommy runs away in fear. Bruce shines his flashlight in the tunnels looking for Vincent. Vincent growls in the dark. Bruce squeezes off a shot.

CHIANG

(shouting)

No guns!

(he sees the gunman at one of the entrances)

Stop! Stop it!

Vincent growls and there is another gun shot.

Tommy comes running into the chamber and is shot down by Bruce. His body falls in front of Chiang. Vincent rushes Bruce, grabs him and slams him hard into a wall. Chiang steps around the body of the Tommy and sees Vincent approaching him, growling.

CHIANG

(he stares at Vincent)

You are truly a demon.

VINCENT

All men are demons when their homes

and their loved ones are at risk

Chiang throws his sword down. The Tong Vincent wounded is crawling closer to the chamber.

VINCENT

What would you do if I allowed you to leave here alive?

CHIANG

I would return, again and again, each time with

more men, better prepared and better armed.   

What would you do, huh?  What would you do?! 

Kill me?!  Only a monster would kill an unarmed man.

Vincent jumps down off the ledge he was standing on to confront Chiang.  He snarls at him.  Meanwhile the wounded Tong has staggered to his feet and is now on the ledge that Vincent has just left. Chiang sees him.

CHIANG

I am fortunate that you are an honorable man.

The Tong member behind him throws a Shuriken Star. Vincent hearing it, drops to the ground.  The blade sinks into Chiang’s chest. As Chiang falls to the ground, Vincent turns to look behind him and watches as the other man collapses.  He gets up surveying the carnage.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - FATHER’S CHAMBER

A Buddhist monk lights a red candle that is in front of a statue of Budda. Flowers and others from the tunnels fill the chamber. Lin and Henry are standing in front of the monk. They touch palms.

MASTER

May you enter this marriage with love and respect for one another.

 May your years together be blessed by children. 

Your love is the sum of your being and

must be cherished until the end of your days.

  For love is truly the strongest of bonds.

Yet, for all its strengths, love is also delicate as a lotus flower,

 and requires care.

Let your courage to love serve as an inspiration

 to all who climb the highest mountains

and cross the great waters in love’s name.

Dr. Wong stands beside Lin, Catherine behind him. She is dressed in an ornate Chinese robe, her hair pulled up and secured by flowers. Father is beside Lin.

Catherine looks up longingly at Vincent, who is dressed in his best outfit and standing on the spiral stairs. They exchange a look.

FADE TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT - NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR NIGHT - CATHERINE’S BALCONY

Vincent and Catherine share a moment on the balcony after the ceremony.

VINCENT

You looked…so beautiful.

 For a moment…I allowed myself to dream.

CATHERINE

So did I.

VINCENT

They have a lifetime together.

 Our time together is always measured in minutes…seconds.

CATHERINE

Then we must learn to measure

 our lifetime in another way.

VINCENT

(sighs deeply)

Yes.

END OF ACT FOUR

FADE OUT TO END

Closing credits

Executive Producers

Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas

Executive Story Consultant

George R.R. Martin

Associate Producer

Christopher Toyne

Associate Producer

Anthony Mazzei

Co-Starring

Jerry Tondo – Eddie

Jeff Imada – Bruce

and

Key Luke – as Master

Featuring

Phil Chong – Kuo

Leigh C.Kim – Tommy

Brian Imada – Tong

Steven Ito – Tong

James Lew – Tong

Craig Ryan Ng – Yueh

Unit Production Master

Leonard Bram

1st Assistant Director

Mary Ellen Canniff

2nd Assistant Director

Bruce Alan Solow

Art Director

Woody Willis

Set Decorator

Peg Cummings

Property Master

Bill Dietz

Special Effects Coordinator

Larry Fioritto

Stunt Coordinator

Fred Lerner

Mark-up Artist

Fred Blau Jr.

Hair Stylist

Gloria Montemayor

Beast Make-up

Margaret Beserra

Costumers

Mary Taylor

Ron Hodge

Script Supervisor

Kathy Barret

Sound Mixer

Pat Mitchell

Rick Ash

Sound Editing

David Hankins

Music Editor

Don Sanders

Costume Designer

Judy Evans

Casting by

Joyce Robinson C.S.A. and Penny Ellers C.S.A.

Beast designed and created by

Rick Baker

Executive in Charge of Production

Harry Waterson

Special Thanks to Patricia Livingston

Lenses and Panaflex ® Camera by Panavision ®

The persons and events in this program are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons or events is unintentional.

Copyright © MCMLXXXVIII By Republic Pictures Corporation

All Rights Reserved

This program is protected under the laws of the United States and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition may result in civil liabilities and criminal prosecution.

In association with Ron Koslow Films

A Witt-Thomas Production

Republic Pictures ®

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