SCENE ONE
EXT. GARDEN – EVENING
Budding flowers shiver in the evening breeze, surrounding a cobblestone walk way. There is an oriental-style shrine, which is old and overcome with moss. Positioned in front is the kneeling figure of Yong Soo. That strained expression is still apparent on his face.
PAN TO – A THICK-BROWED MALE
Underneath a wooden structure stands the thin WANG KAORU, 15, a Chinese boy clad in a western suit, contrasting the traditional clothes that the other wears. He hesitates, before walking down the path, stopping right behind Yong Soo.
KAORU
(passively)
You ran away.
SMASH CUT:
INT. CONFERENCE HALL - SAME
Two men are screaming at each other, identified as IVAN BRAGINSKI, 23, and ALFRED F. JONES, 19. Ivan is a tall, large man with a large coat and a thick RUSSIAN ACCENT. Alfred is a young man with a loud voice, sporting a bomber jacket. They are shouting comments at each other in their own languages. In the b.g., men and women in professional attire watch, wary.
IVAN
On d'yavol!
ALFRED
Better the devil in his house than a Russian!
Ivan's childish face twists with rage. He picks up his signature VODKA BOTTLE, hurling it at Alfred. It flies dangerously close to his head, before crashing against the wall.
SFX: Glass SHATTERING against a wall
Ivan begins to be restrained by a helpless TORIS LORINAITIS, 19.
IVAN
Tebya ne ebut, ti ne podmakhivai!
Yong Soo stares on, a pained look on his face. His eyes shift over to Hyung Soo, and their eyes meet, but the other looks away.
A FIGHT breaks out between Ivan and Alfred.
A short, blond man named ARTHUR KIRKLAND, 26, is the first to move.
ARTHUR
Oy!
A chair CRASHES against the floor. The retreating footsteps of Yong Soo are faint against the yelling.
FADE IN:
KAORU
I didn't imagine having to come all the way here. Mr. Kirkland has instructed me-
Kaoru clears his throat, correcting himself.
KAORU (CONT'D)
Father. Father has instructed me to come and retrieve you, to bring you back to the hotel.
Yong Soo remains unresponsive, staring off with a far-away look in his eyes. Kaoru pauses, before moving beside Yong Soo, kneeling. It is obvious that the suit is ill-fitted, as Kaoru has a difficult time positioning himself. Yong Soo turns his body away from him.
KAORU (CONT'D)
He also wishes to speak with you about a manner which he informed me that you know of. Father. And Mr. Jones, as well.
YONG SOO
(wavering)
I don't wish to speak with them.
KAORU
Is this about Hyung S-?
YONG SOO
(cutting him off)
Of course not! I don't want to talk! Why don't you understand that, Kaoru?
Kaoru flinches, staring at Yong Soo with blank eyes.
KAORU
I apologize for my insolence.
It is obvious that Kaoru is not only formal, but respectful and polite in his speech.
Yong pauses, turning his head towards Kaoru. His expression is soft.
YONG SOO
Sorry. I just... I feel as if there's a part of me missing.
A moment passes. Yong Soo lets out a nervous laugh, but Kaoru seems to be contemplating his words.
YONG SOO (CONT'D)
That... That was really corny wasn't it?
KAORU
No. It was not corny at all. It makes sense, I suppose. I cannot say that I understand what you are going through, but...
Kaoru gingerly lays his hand on Yong Soo's, squeezing. In return, he smiles sadly at Kaoru. It's the most emotion that either of them are able to convey at that moment.
YONG SOO
(sarcastically)
Of course it wasn't. Now come on, Kaoru. It mustn't be comfortable sitting in that mud.
Kaoru scrambles to his feet, to discover that Yong Soo was, in fact, joking. He narrows his eyes at him, brushing the wrinkles out of his suit. Yong Soo makes a face at Kaoru when he turns his back, staying firmly in his spot. Not once has he smiled. Kaoru turns around again, glancing curiously at him.
KAORU
Yong Soo, are you really just going to sit there and ignore me?
YONG SOO
(beat)
Yes, and no. Well, no, I wasn't ignoring you. And yes, I am going to sit here. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm praying.
KAORU
If you are mistaken, that is a Shinto shrine, Yong Soo.
Yong Soo glances around, and discovers that it is indeed a SHINTO SHRINE. He raises his hands in defeat, standing.
YONG SOO
Okay, you got me. When Kiku was my 'boss', he converted me.
The look on Kaoru's face shows that he hadn't found that joke funny. Still, Yong Soo's mood has brightened considerably.
YONG SOO (CONT'D)
Don't look at me like that. I'm coming, so you better not have a spaz at me.
Still not amused, Kaoru resumes walking while he lets Yong Soo catch up with him.
INT. CONFERENCE HALL - SAME
Otherwise empty, the men seen earlier, Arthur and Alfred, are standing at the far end of the room as Kaoru and Yong Soo enter the room. They are BICKERING.
ARTHUR
You just want this to escalate because of Ivan!
ALFRED
No! Of course not- that would be like kicking a puppy... But a puppy you want to kick.
(pauses)
Wait, wait, that came out wrong. What I'm trying to say is that we have to fight for this! Ivan is the one who's going to start something—it's not like I'm the one crossing the line or anything!
ARTHUR
No, you're not crossing the line. You're taking a flying leap over the line!
KAORU
Excuse me, father. Am I interrupting something?
Arthur and Alfred, who look as if they're just about to hit each other, turn to face Kaoru. Alfred's eyes narrow as Kaoru BOWS towards them, but Arthur looks unpleased, clearing his throat. Kaoru quickly straightens himself.
KAORU
Forgive me, but I have retrieved Yong Soo as you have requested, father.
ARTHUR
Ah! Yes, of course. Thank you, Kaoru.
ALFRED
(mimicking)
Thank you, Kaoru.
Arthur straightens his tie, shooting a glare at Alfred as he gestures for them to approach. Kaoru frowns at the mess left behind from the early scuffle as glass crunches under his shoes. Yong Soo drags his feet against the floor as he walks towards the two men. He hardly acknowledges the Englishman, but instead nods towards Alfred.
ARTHUR
We were just discussing the threat of another war, and we came to the conclusion that there is not threat at all. Even the Soviet Union isn't that stupid-
ALFRED
No we did not, so don't you go around putting those words in my mouth! And that communist pig is just so dastardly evil that he doesn't care about funding or anything! He doesn't care if he All he cares about is making the whole world 'one with mother Russia'. He's going to attack, no matter what you think! It's... It's...
Alfred seems to be at a lost off words.
YONG SOO
Inevitable is the right word.
ALFRED
See, Artie! He agrees with me! Why can't you just see that I'm the hero and I'm right and you're wrong?
ARTHUR
(exasperated)
That's because he and I-
ALFRED
Yeah, yeah! Whatever. He's not a gentleman and you are. Was that what you were going to say?
Arthur falls quiet, staring intensely at the man. A silence falls over them, but after a moment-
YONG SOO
Why the hell am I here?
Kaoru murmurs Yong Soo's name under his breath as Arthur wheels around to stare incredulously at him.
ARTHUR
...Excuse me?
YONG SOO
You seemed to make a big deal of getting me over here-at least, that's how Kaoru made it seem. Now come on, did you have something important to say, or are you just going to waste my time?
Alfred whistles as Arthur stares at Yong Soo.
YONG SOO (CONT'D)
For the, Alfred, I think we're pretty safe. I mean, my brother and his people they... They wouldn't do something like that to me.
Arthur is wearing a smug look on his face, which seems to say 'I win, Alfred'.
ALFRED
Have I taught you nothing? It's not that your brother would or anything, but the Soviet Union would, those damn Commies. You can't trust them, so that means you can't trust your brother! You can't even trust China anymore!
YONG SOO
I... That isn't true.
He seems hurt. Yong Soo narrows his eyes and wrinkles his nose at Alfred.
YONG SOO (CONT'D)
And don't you DARE say that about my brother! You don't know him like I do, you haven't spent your entire life with him! You... You're just as bad as the Soviet Union! You're just as bad as him.
For once in his life, Alfred is so infuriated that he is speechless. Yong Soo turns on his heel and darts out of the conference room, stumbling over his robes.
PAN TO – KAORU, who is shaking his head disapprovingly.
KAORU
Why does he run away so much? Excuse me, father, but may I be allowed to go after him?
Arthur is already walking over to an ornamental glass cabinet filled with bottles of liquor. He glances back as he pulls a BOTTLE OF GIN out.
ARTHUR
What? Oh, do whatever you want.
Kaoru catches himself, mid-bow, and nods, exiting the room.
END OF SCENE ONE