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Stop!
l was told
that the mysteries of this play
would bring enlightenment.
l have seen, l have listened,
yet understood nothing.
l regret that you did not.
Perhaps the Shaolin priest
can explain this play.
Take me into the garden
where it is cool.
How are you called?
Kwai Chang Caine.
l have invited you here
as a compliment.
You should consider this an honor
to take tea with me.
l am flattered.
Your tread must be light and sure
as though your path
were upon rice paper.
It is said a Shaolin priest
can walk through walls.
Looked for, he cannot be seen.
Listened for, he cannot be heard.
Touched, he cannot be felt.
This rice paper is the test.
Fragile as the wings of the dragonfly,
clinging as the cocoon of the silkworm.
When you can walk its length
and leave no trace
you will have learned.
You may sit.
You may stay here
and no one will question it
because l am Shen Ung.
You know my father is dying.
Yes.
lt is sad.
l am sorry.
Do you not wish to know
why he spends his small strength
watching a play from a foreign land?
Yes.
My father hopes to learn
the secrets of death
before he dies.
lt would be proper for you to drink,
now that l have done so.
You said one can know death
before he dies.
Yes.
By watching the play.
-The play?
-You did understand the play, didn't you?
Yes.
l loved it.
lt was beautiful.
Why did my liking of the play
amuse you, Shen Ung?
lt is of no importance.
l just find it laughable
that a lowborn
who feeds on temple grain
should take such an interest in
entertainment more suitable for nobility.
You confuse me.
Do not the players
perform for everyone?
Perhaps.
You said one can know death
by watching the play.
Yes, by seeing the warrior's journey
through the land of the dead.
Please leave, all of you.
Master Kan, come closer.
l have not led a blameless life.
l have discovered
there are three kinds of power.
Wealth.
The gun.
Knowledge.
l value the power of knowledge.
How will knowledge aid you now?
lf l.
l speak the right prayer
in the proper manner
to the right gods
l will seek amends.
And with your help
maybe l can build
a new and bigger temple
for your gods.
l cannot.
You do not wish my money?
What you ask can only come
from within you
through understanding.
ln my search for wealth
maybe l served the wrong god.
Maybe l.
l served the wrong god.
My father hoped to discover what awaits
him when he arrives in the land of the dead.
So that he be certain
to be one of the few
rather than one of the many.
The few? The many?
ln this life there are many
who sacrifice themselves for the few.
The son of a farmer
is one of the many.
The son of a mandarin
is one of the few.
-ls this arranged before birth?
-My father believes so.
As l watched you at the play,
l thought of my father.
Why?
l saw the movements of your mind
as you were with the doomed warrior
in the land of the dead.
l saw what might have passed for
sensitivity, bravery
sympathy and strength
all inscribed on the tablet of your face
as l thought of my father,
whose end is near
and whose fear is great.
How clumsy you temple drudges are.
Your manners are as rude as your clothing.
Now l must change.
Forgive me, please, Shen Ung.
lt was a foolish act.
l feel pain.
l am sorry.
Another robe.
Now.
Hurry.
Must you always work so slowly?
How do you like it?
lt is most.
Most elegant, Shen Ung.
Have you not wondered why one of the few
takes tea with one of the many?
ls it--? ls it not for friendship?
You have been poisoned.
Why?
Why, Shen Ung?
l obtained the poison from a chemist.
The few sips you took
were all that was needed.
lt is said your mind will be clear
when you undertake the journey
into the land of the dead.
l hold the antidote.
lf you do as l ask, it is yours.
Without it, you will die.
Please
summon a physician before l die.
Your fate means little to me.
You are a temple slave
who never smiles
as are all the others
who kneel to old men.
Foolish little slave.
Do you think it wise
to give up the treasures of the earth
for a lonely existence?
What--? What would you have me do?
Tell me what it feels like to die,
so that l may tell my father.
lf you allow me to die,
they will punish you.
Nothing will happen to me.
l can say anything
and it will be believed.
This place is vast.
lt is unlike your lowly Shaolin temple.
At this moment, my father rests
using his last words in one
of the many gardens of our palace.
Though his distance is far.
We hear nothing from him.
He is unable to hear us.
-You will be questioned.
-lt is of no matter.
l am one of the few.
You are one of the many.
We are not the same.
All men are the same.
My father says not.
And if l live?
You will not live,
unless l give you the antidote.
Tell me what you are feeling.
Tell me.
Tell me.
Tell me.
Tell me.
Tell me.
Bless Atl.
Bright Atl, who gives us
the manioc and the maize.
Bless Atl.
Bright Atl, who gives us
the manioc and the maize.
Bless Atl.
Bright Atl, who gives us
the manioc and the maize.
Bless Atl.
Who sustains our lives
and gives us our purpose.
Who sustains our being
and gives us power.
Come away, before the walls collapse.
-How?
-With the help of Atl
who sustains our lives
and gives us power.
Only through his compassion
can you be led to freedom.
l do not understand.
l see no way to leave this place.
-How can this be done?
-By accepting Atl as your god
and by accepting the gift, his gift,
of your life.
-His gift? Of my life?
-Speak these words:
Bless Atl.
Bless Atl.
Bless Atl, who sustains our lives
and gives us purpose.
Come live with us,
that you may be saved.
l have been taught
not to believe in gods.
Would you rather die here alone in the dark
than accept the blessing of a god?
Soon this small pocket in the earth
will close forever.
l have been taught to believe in men.
l cannot accept your words.
Tell me what you saw
in the land of the dead
and l will give you the antidote.
Tell me what you saw
in the land of death
and l will save you from the poison
that burns in your body.
Even as you slept, l could see your eyes
dart beneath your lids
as though you watched some
inward wonder.
Tell me what you saw.
Only a man.
He told me the name of a god.
He told me to worship this god
as he did
that l might be saved.
Tell me the name of this god.
How can l be sure
the vial does not contain
more poison?
l swear to you, this is the antidote.
Now tell me!
Bless Atl.
Bright Atl, who gives us
the manioc and the maize.
Bless Atl.
Bright Atl, who sustains our lives
and gives us a purpose.
Who sustains our being.
Coward.
Bless Atl.
You choose to die?
Bless Atl, who sustains our lives
and gives us purpose.
Bless Atl.
Bright Atl, who sustains our lives
and gives us purpose.
Bless Atl.
Bright Atl,
who sustains our lives
and gives us our purpose.
Then you must be brought to accept
our help for your own welfare.
Submit.
Submit.
Come to Atl.
Submit.
Submit.
And bless Atl.
Tell me the name of this god.
The name and how to worship.
lf you tell me,
l will return your life to you.
You do not have the power.
lt is not a matter of power
but of cure.
l alone can save you.
l have the antidote.
Now tell me.
l will tell you nothing.
l believe what you have
is more of the poison
-and not the antidote.
-You are wrong!
You behave with a weak mind.
You are brainless.
Prove it to me, then.
Drink so that l may see
that it is not more of the poison.
Do as you wish.
l care no longer.
Die!
Die.
Die.
Die.
Die.
Die.
Desire for wealth never brought me
what l had expected.
What did you hope for?
Happiness.
And what of your son?
What do you wish for him?
At first, l thought l wanted my son to act
as l have had to do.
But now l know
it's not the life l wish for him.
Caine.
l will give you more than life.
These and more.
All for you.
lf you will tell me the name of the god
and how to worship him.
Bless Atl.
l beg you.
Say the words.
Submit and bless Atl.
Bless Atl.
The tea is cold and bitter
like you are.
Tell me about the tea, Shen Ung.
Then l will tell you something
you wish to hear.
The tea? The poison has brought
madness to you.
There is little time, none of it
to waste on words about tea.
Tell me about the tea,
and l will tell you--
About your journey
through the land of the dead?
Tell me about the tea.
Very well, then, but quickly.
A tea ceremony is an art
passed on from royal hands.
lt is an art of the educated and requires
much schooling to master its graces.
Yes, l remember how graceful you were
when you placed the teacups
on the golden tray, and presented
them to me in a formal manner.
Since you understand,
there is nothing further to say.
The tea is of noble origin.
The ceremony is for the few.
But l am one of the many.
l know that you are.
Poison tea is for one of the many
as is the death you will soon face
if you do not tell me what l wish.
lt is easy to die in battle
with the blood singing in your veins.
ls not death also for those of the few,
like your father?
Do not toy with me!
Tell me what l wish to hear!
l have been taught that the art of tea
grew from humble poverty
with hot water
and a few herbs and grasses.
The poorest of men could serve a visitor
with the greatest dignity.
l will talk no further of tea!
Then listen of the tea, Shen Ung.
Do you recall when, in error, l spilled
a few drops of tea on your robe?
Of course.
lt was an awkward act.
And you went behind the screen
to put on a new garment?
Did you not watch me
while l sat here by the table?
What?
One robe was pulled over my head,
the other put on me.
Why should l be concerned with you?
Do you think l feared
you might steal the golden tray?
No, not the tray.
All right.
l shall play
only a few moments more.
What did you steal?
Your life.
What do you mean?
While you were behind that screen
l changed the placement
of the teacups.
l held the cup
intended for one of the few.
You held the cup
intended for one of the many.
Why do you lie this way?
lt cannot help you.
lf l drank from your cup,
why have l not been poisoned as you?
You drank later
and less than l did.
But added to those
cold and bitter sips
taken just moments ago
you have consumed enough to die.
You have been poisoned, Shen Ung.
lt is said your mind will be clear
when you undertake the journey
into the land of the dead.
What a monster you are!
You would ***
the son of a mandarin?
Who for love of his dying father
seeks answers for him.
But you'd *** me
to find these answers.
You are one of the many!
Your life has no meaning.
l am one of the few!
My life shapes the people's destiny!
Wait.
The antidote, Shen Ung.
Take it from your robe.
Take it and drink.
l hate you, Caine!
More than the most loathsome insect
that crawls through earth.
l pray to the gods that one day
l might crush you like a scorpion
till you breathe no more!
Come to Atl.
To accept his compassion
is your only salvation.
lt is you who will be victorious.
l ask so that you may be saved.
lf you will not come to Atl
you will be forced.
How can l be forced
when l am only of a dream?
lt is truth.
lf you doubt,
touch your wound.
Bless Atl.
Speak the words!
Bless Atl.
No.
You will not die in battle.
That is the remaining amount
he will need.
l would never have summoned
you here, great one
had not the matter been this urgent.
How did you know so quickly
what to do?
lt was the easiest part of it
and yet the part
that concerned me most gravely.
lt is the reason l asked
that the youth's father come here.
l sold the boy
an expensive compound
a poison, just a short time ago.
The antidote l gave
was for that poison.
Forgive me, my great lord.
l wish to express my fear that your son,
in his deep grief for you
has tried to take his own life.
lt is a lie, Father.
l was tricked.
l was poisoned.
Who did this to you?
A boy.
l do not know his name.
Where is young Caine?
Did not you and he
leave the No play together?
l do not remember.
You seek to make amends before death.
l ask you
begin now by drawing the truth
from your son.
Shen Ung.
lt is a trifle, Father.
The boy mistakenly drank the poison
as l did.
But he is well now.
How do you know?
At first he became wet with fever
and closed his eyes like me.
Then he awakened and spoke clearly
the way we do now.
Which of you took the poison first?
lt was not me.
We must hurry.
That is the nature of the poison.
You sleep, you wake,
you sleep again.
lt can repeat itself one or two times.
But if the antidote isn't given
there is one final time
when you wake no more.
l understand little here.
lt does not matter.
Why?
Because l am not one of those
who have names.
You come here because you must.
lt is only proper that the many
should submit to the few.
l was bidden to attend you
to the very end.
l was told you need only cry,
''Bless Atl''
and all will be saved.
You cannot go outside?
There is no outside.
How can this be?
lt is the will of Atl,
our god of fire
who lives in a great cavern.
Bless Atl, who feeds us
and tends to our needs.
Once our people lived in a glittering city
in the center of a crystal lake
and dined on thousands of birds.
There was no sacrifice then
and everyone followed
the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl.
One day, a giant hand came out of the sea
and loosed the birds.
There was starvation everywhere.
Our god had abandoned us.
Deep in the cave, the people found
a new and greater god, Atl.
Now we live in these caverns,
where we hide from the wrath of time
making sacrifice to Atl.
-Why is there a need for sacrifice?
-lt is the will of Atl.
Without a suitable sacrifice
his compact with the people of the sun
is broken
and we shall all die.
But l am not from this place.
l was going elsewhere.
There is no elsewhere.
You are the one.
To be suitable for the sacrifice,
one must betray his own god.
Our people all bless Atl.
None would dare betray him.
None are suitable.
l am yours
to take
if you wish.
He is in a deep delirium.
lf he wakes from this dream
he will live.
lf he does not wake, he will die.
Why do you stop?
l am here to please you
in any manner you wish.
You offer me beauty
that surpasses dreams.
-Yet l cannot receive it.
-Why?
l am unable to give you
what you ask in return.
Nothing is asked of you.
You are to receive
the grandest of honors.
When you please Atl,
you shall become as he
a god
and live for all time.
l wish to live only as a man.
They will treat you as none other.
Your strong body will be brought forth
and stretched upon the altar.
Your wrists and ankles
will be placed over the troughs
carved into the stone
so that your blood may be collected
in Atl's cup.
Your chest will be bared
to Atl's gaze
and the sharp flint knife
raised high.
The stroke will be sure
and your heart
still beating
will be presented to Atl.
Bless Atl, who gives us our purpose.
Bless Atl
who feeds us and tends to our needs.
Kwai Chang Caine
l did as l had been taught.
l thought the life of one of the many
to matter little
if it could serve one of the few.
l wanted to know the land of death
for my father
whom l love above all else.
Yet my father
has spoken with your master
and learned he has worshipped
the wrong gods.
Though l know that you hate me
with all of your being
l pray that a time will come when
you will find a place within yourself
for forgiveness.
Submit!
Submit! Bless Atl.
You are the enemy
who is not the enemy.
We are of the many
not of the few.
We are necessary
and useful.
We have life.
My son asks forgiveness of the boy
as he lies lifeless before him.
Yet, Master Kan
it was a temple student
who poisoned my son.
Yet l suppose it was justified.
No.
lt could never be justified.
l did not poison your son.
l only told him
that l moved the teacups.
He believed he had been poisoned.
He is well.
He must rest.
Master Kan
come closer.
Much time has passed before me
in this life.
l have now reached
a point of my deepest sorrow
that l was not able to learn
more of the.
The earth that has much to teach.
You asked me
to save the life of your boy.
l did that.
For which l am eternally grateful.
Please
help me in my final moments.
What am l able to do?
l thought my son was one of the few.
But it seems he is meant to be
one of the many.
Please
take him into your Shaolin temple.
He is older than the ones
we begin to train.
And he must prove himself worthy.
He would be required
to undertake difficult tests
of the mind and body.
And if he fails the tests?
And if he does not prove worthy?
Then he would be dismissed.
Then you.
You must dismiss him if he fails.
Thank you, Master.
Master Kan.
You have gone through much.
Perhaps the experience
of being so close to death
will be of help in your future life.
[ENGLlSH]