REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD

by Jordan Mounteer

FADE IN

INT. PRIVATE CHAMBERS – DAY

A very trim and fit man, who takes on the appearance of an athlete, is gripping a smooth, deadly looking katana in one hand.  He walks over to a chair, where another man is sitting, bound and gagged.

KHAN
Tell me.....where they are.

KHAN rips the gag off of the man.

MAN
I...will never tell you!!

KHAN
The price for such treachery....for such..defilement.....is a price you are willing to pay?

MAN
I pay.....with my own blood if need be.

KHAN
So shall it be if you do not speak...

MAN
Then finish it...finish it, coward!!

KHAN
Your daughter....will make an excellent addition to my harem when he find them.  But....I am willing to cooperate with you, old man.  Tell me where they are, and I assure you no harm will come to them.

MAN
I....no!!  NO!!!  End it....

KHAN
(Angrily)
So be it.....so be it, old man!!!

KHAN grips the sword and comes down at an angle on the old man's head.  There is a grisly crunch as the head is decapitated and rolls to the ground.  KHAN sneers and looks to a YOUNG BOY who approaches.

KHAN
Tell the troops to move out...search ever forest, every valley until they find them!  I...will not....accept failure.  Go!

FADE OUT

EXT. FOREST – DAY

Two men are in the forest when one of them, a lean, well trimmed one, leaps down from a rock.

TANNER
Ay, Furoch!  There's no use in this.  That buck has gotten to far out of range.

FUROCH
My bow has never failed me.....we'll find him.

TANNER
Have it your way.....

The two keep going for awhile and then they reach a cliff where TANNER looks back over the valley, and sees smoke.

TANNER
Eh, look down there.

FUROCH
(Turns)
Smoke...

TANNER
Aye....and from the village I'd warrant.

The two look at each other for an instant and beging to scramble down the slope.  They stumble through trees and branches and rocks and finally arrive at the village.

EXT. VILLAGE – DAY

The village is burnt and shattered and dead bodes litter the ground.  Smoke billows from several areas.  FUROCH has fear on his face as he rounds a corner and looks down at a body.

FUROCH
Noo....

TANNER
(Sees the body)
Muriel....

FUROCH
Muriel...Muriel!

The girl in his arms looks up.  She has blood from a wound on her temple and passes in and out of consciousness.

FUROCH
Muriel.....no, no!  Who did this...who did this to you?

MURIEL
(Gasping)
The....Snakeheads.....army....

TANNER
Bastards.....

FUROCH
Muriel.....I.....this can't be-

MURIEL
I...can't...won't last long....my injuries....too deep.

FUROCH
(In tears)
Noo...no!  We'll find help....we'll heal you...you'll be fine.

MURIEL
(Smiles)
You know that.....won't happen.

FUROCH
....Please.....don't....

MURIEL
It...was my time....
PAUSE
Do me one thing.....brother.

FUROCH
Yes....

MURIEL
Don't let me....die...in vain.  Don't let him....get away with it.  Avenge me.....it's...alll...I ask.

MURIEL dies and FUROCH grimaces for a second before lifting his head to the skies.  He lets out a bloody shriek as the camera ZOOMS out from a birds eye view of him kneeling over MURIEL.

EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS – EVENING

KHAN is practicing some martial arts when a MESSENGER arrives.  KHAN stops and walks over to the MESSENGER.

KHAN
What news?

MESSENGER
The....that is....the village was found my Lord.  It was done as you commanded....no survivors.

KHAN
Ha!!  Excellent...let is serve as reminder to all that I rule this land...not some rowdy band of peasants.
PAUSE
Ahh....was there something else?

MESSENGER
(Hesitantly)
I....that is to say, sir.  Not everyone was accounted for......when they rounded them up, they were missing a head count of two.

KHAN
What.....what?  Why did they leave two unpunished??

MESSENGER
They....could not find the other two missing.....they were assumed to be fictitious....that perhaps our reports were inaccurate.

KHAN
I see.  You are excused.

The MESSENGER leaves and KHAN turns around.  His face portrays worry as he gets back to practicing.

CUT TO:
EXT. ROAD – DAY

Both FUROCH and TANNER arrive at an abandoned road, empty in both all directions.

TANNER
You're mind is set then?

FUROCH
Is not yours?

TANNER
I...just wanted to make sure.

FUROCH
Do you hesitate?

TANNER
(Angrily)
No....your sister was as much family to me as she was to you.  I will not dishonor her.....even should death follow in my footsteps.

FUROCH
(Smiles)
Good.  I knew where your heart was.  

TANNER
When do we pursue such bloody redemption?

FUROCH
Eventually....we need help.

The two of them walk into a shady part aside from the road and FUROCH looks up into the trees.

FUROCH
I call upon the Ward!!  I call upon the Shepherd of the Forest!  Hear my cry!!

FUROCH and TANNER wait speculatively for a second, scanning the forest.  Eventually a MAN emerges from the trees, a wild look in his eyes, a machete on his back.  He is clad in forest bound attire and has a scarf tied about his head.

TANNER
The....Shepherd.

SHEPHERD
Who summons me from grove and cliff?

FUROCH
I do.  I have come to ask for resolution to your promise...your oath.

SHEPHERD
I am still bound to you.

FUROCH
Then...join us.

SHEPHERD
Your face is empty.....and death has despoiled your eyes.

FUROCH
Our tribe.....is gone, dead.  We seek vengeance.

SHEPHERD
A worthy passion.

FUROCH
So the game is set.  This day we mete out salvation at the tips of our blades.

TANNER
Let it be done.

EXT. GARDEN – DAY

TANNER, FUROCH, and the SHEPHERD reach the garden, where KHAN is waiting for them.  KHAN looks at them and smiles.

KHAN
Excellent...the rebels.  So my duty is confirmed.

TANNER
So is your Fate!

KHAN
Ha!  Puny mortal!!  I shall crush you.

KHAN rushes at them, but the three hold their ground.

A fight ensues with TANNER, FUROCH, and the SHEPHERD attacking KHAN.  KHAN is very powerful and fends himself very well.  Eventually after some time of fighting, he manages to fling TANNER aside.  Whirling around, he fires off a dagger that lodges in TANNER'S throat.  TANNER dies rather suddenly.

FUROCH
Nooooo!!

FUROCH and the SHEPHERD are now fighting quite ferociously, and as the fight progresses, KHAN manages to strike fatally at the SHEPHERD, who groans as he topples over.  FUROCH is now facing KHAN alone, and from TANNER'S body he reaches up and retrieves a second sword.

KHAN
You're friends are finished!  And now I shall have a third victory this day!!

FUROCH
(Sternly)
My words are in my swords.....let them adjudicate your claim.

FUROCH and KHAN fight with immense energy and passion, FUROCH with two swords but KHAN equally matched in strength with his big sword.  Eventually FUROCH seems tired, and as KHAN knocks away one of his swords, FUROCH puts on a persona of defeat.

KHAN
And now....you shall join your comrades and loved ones....

KHAN comes forward with his sword and is about to bury it in FUROCH when FUROCH surprisingly turns in a slick move and shoves his sword up into KHAN'S diaphgram.  KHAN seems surprised as he gropes at the sword in his body.  He coughs...staggers backward.....and falls down...dead.

FUROCH bends over to retrieve his sword as the SHEPHERD gasps.  FUROCH bends down next to him.

SHEPHERD
I...my friend.  You fought....bravely.  My death....will be...honorable.  Seek peace in the knowledge of that.....

FUROCH
And you?

SHEPHERD
My wound is by the heart.  My time dwindles.  But yours....shall live on.

FUROCH
In emptiness only.

SHEPHERD
In whatever....future you make it.  Don't go sadly.  Go bravely.  Know that righteousness brims in your actions, your movement....go in peace....friend.

FUROCH stands up and goes over to KHAN.

FUROCH
Now.....those you have dispelled shall rest in peace.  My sister.....and my friends.....are avenged.  Let this be the end they sought, the end I sought.....

FUROCH gets up and walks across the garden, two katanas in hand as he moves toward some unknown future.

FADE OUT

THE END