Cross-Culture
Cross-Culture
ESTABLISHING SHOT - H.K.P.D. BUILDING - DAY
This is the Hong Kong Police Department Building, a hub of activity with people coming and going.
SUPER: "HONG KONG - MAY 7, 1997"
INT. STATION - DAY
The activity continues inside the Station House. Suspects are booked in the outer office. Detectives work at their desks in the inner office.
DETECTIVE KEVIN CHIN (early 30’s) is at his computer terminal. Another DETECTIVE walks by.
All the dialogue in this scene is in Chinese, with English subtitles.
DETECTIVE
Chin, Captain wants to see you. Now.
Chin walks to the captain's glass door. Knocks gingerly. CAPTAIN CHARLIE TSUANG (muscular, 50) waves him into --
INT. OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
CAPTAIN
Shut the door, Detective.
CHIN
Yes, sir.
CAPTAIN
Your orders just came in. Your flight to the U.S. leaves tonight. You're clear on the procedure?
CHIN
As we discussed, Captain. I have not, nor do I plan to tell anyone about my assignment.
CAPTAIN
Very good. Very good, Chin. What about your family, your friends? Will they have a problem with you leaving for such an extended period of time?
CHIN
That is why you placed me in this assignment, Captain. I have no family, and no real friends to speak of. I will honor you, sir, and all of Hong Kong.
CAPTAIN
I am confident you will, Detective Chin. Dismissed.
Chin starts to leave.
CAPTAIN (CONT’D)
Detective?
CHIN
Yes, sir?
CAPTAIN
Say hi to Mickey Mouse for me.
CHIN
Yes, sir!
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
Five men stand huddled together, a light breeze rustling paper and garbage around their feet. They are all dressed similarly, wearing black clothes, sweater hoods over their heads. HAING SOO (late 20’s) has the attention of his group, as he outlines their plan of attack. This scene is also spoken in Chinese with English subtitles.
SOO
Tran, you and Kain follow me into the store. Anyone moves, mow them down. Vinh, you and Lu are my lookout at the front. Any problems, either handle them yourselves, or yell in to me.
He pulls a 12-gauge shotgun from under his trench coat and cocks it.
SOO (CONT’D)
I'll take care of it. Whatever it is. Everyone got their pieces?
They all whip out their guns, showing them for approval to Soo.
KUANG LU CHUANG (mid-20’s) hesitantly pulls out his piece.
SOO (CONT’D)
Lewis? Something wrong?
KUANG LU
No, cousin, everything's fine. It's just--
SOO
I know this is your first time running with us. Stick with Vinh, he'll show you what to do.
EXT. GROCERY MARKET - NIGHT
Kuang Lu and VINH (19) stand guard on either side of the entrance, as the other three barge in.
SOO and his two underlings violently throw people to the ground and shout threats in Chinese. Soo moves to the CASHIER. Shoves the barrel of the 12-gauge into his face.
INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS
Detective Chin approaches the store, music playing. An AIRLINE TICKET rests on a travel bag beside him. He whistles along with the radio. SEES Kuang Lu and Vinh standing guard outside of the grocery store. Stops whistling. Pulls his car slowly to the curb, his eyes glued to the thugs.
Chin steps out of the car, left hand behind his back, and a police issue .45 nestled between his fingers. Approaches the store, his face void of expression.
CHIN
Hey, fellas, what's going on?
They stare at Chin, nervous and unsure of how to react. Chin catches a glimpse of Soo inside the store, his shotgun leveled at the head of the SHOPKEEPER. Chin quickly backs up two steps. Pulls his revolver, covering Kuang Lu and Vinh.
CHIN (CONT’D)
Freeze! Police!
Both men look at Chin, then inside the store, where Soo is now exiting, heading straight towards the detective. Chin sees him. Trains his gun on Soo's approaching body.
Soo levels his twelve-gauge at Chin and unloads the chamber, twice, straight into Chin's chest. The detective hurtles backward. Trips over the curb. Falls into the street. Blood soaks his entire torso.
Kuang Lu and Vinh stare blankly at the carnage. TRAN and KAIN exit the store, a bundle of bills stuffed in their pockets. Kain is chewing on something that looks curiously like beef jerky. He is more concentrated on tearing into the leathery meat than on what's lying in the street.
Soo tosses the murder weapon at Kuang Lu, who fumbles with it. Soo walks to Chin's bloody body. Lifts his head up by his hair.
SOO
One cop. Medium rare.
(turns to his cronies)
We've got to get him out of here.
VINH
That's his car, across the street.
SOO
Let's go.
He drags Chin's body across the quiet street, the other four men silently walking behind them.
EXT. DIRT FIELD - NIGHT
The five men surround Chin's corpse, his travel bag and airline ticket at Soo's side.
SOO
Looks like our boy was taking a trip somewhere.
He rustles through Chin's bag.
SOO (CONT’D)
What do we have here?
He removes a two-page, typewritten memo, a passport, and a wad of American traveler's checks.
SOO (CONT’D)
Lewis, come here.
(Kuang Lu comes)
You read English, don't you?
KUANG LU
Yeah, Haing, I do.
SOO
Read this.
He hands him the memo, which Kuang Lu reads in English.
KUANG LU
Detective Kevin Chin, of the Hong Kong police, is hereby invited to participate in a special taskforce devised and implemented by the Los Angeles police department. As a guest of the L.A.P.D., your accommodations and living expenses will be supplied to you, in exchange for a guarantee of six months' service in our office. Paired with a partner, or part of a team, you will be required to perform various duties relating to the investigation and apprehension of Hong Kong nationals. Arresting and prosecuting these perpetrators, who have fled the province and are operating illegally in the United States, will be the focus of your duties here. Your identity as a member of the H.K.P.D. will be suppressed during your stay here, and you will be required to report only to your American superiors. No contact will be allowed between you and your department, for the security of our taskforce, as well as for your own personal safety. We look forward to acquiring your particular talents and professionalism, and hope that your experience in L.A. will be a valuable and rewarding one. Signed, Los Angeles Police Chief Samuel P. Taylor.
While Kuang Lu speaks, Soo looks at the officer's clothes, sizing up Kuang Lu. He squints at the passport, his eyes darting between Kuang Lu and the face in the photo. He walks over to Kuang Lu. Puts the passport up to his face.
SOO
Well, Lu, it looks like you're going to America.
All the color in Kuang Lu's face instantly drains.