COBRA KAI SEASON 4 SCREENPLAY

by EightiesPower

The next chapter in the Cobra Kai saga, meant to faithfully continue the creative vision set up in the show. Impatient to see if Johnny and Daniel will manage to set aside their differences to jointly stave off the threat posed by Kreese... and his old war buddy? How about giving this screenplay a go, then? Minimal description, 90% dialogue, a quick and entertaining read!

8. Episode 7

EPISODE VII

FADE IN

INT. DIAZ' APARTMENT - CRACK OF DAWN

We fade in on MIGUEL lying flat in his bed, his face given an orange taint by the sun emerging from under the horizon. His eyes open, close, repeat the motion a few times in a rapid succession, finally settle on open with a great effort.

He thrusts his hand out, feels for his phone on the bedstand, grabs it, moves it to his face. 5:52. He turns off the alarm clock, then undertakes to sit up straight, only for his back to flop down again less than halfway through. He lets out a painful groan through gritted teeth, sucks in air, puts his hands under his spine and frowns deeply upon groping it.

He starts shifting his body clockwise with his legs, gradually shoving his lower half towards the edge of the bed. Finally, his pelvis goes over the edge, and his full body slides down from the bed, forced into a sitting position by the bedframe propping up his back.

The ensuing pain elicits a spasm rippling throughout Miguel's body. He cries out in near agony, bites down on his arm to stifle the sound. His jaws clamp hard on his flesh, forming deep creases on the skin. He stays like that for a while, as we watch the teeth's clasp slowly relent and eventually let go, leaving rather prominent bite marks. He takes a few deep breaths, grabs the bed's frame, slowly hauls himself up, beads of sweat squeezing out of the folds across his forehead. An erect stance finally achieved, back stiff upright as if mounted on a steel armature, he allows himself a tentative relieved sigh. Then, with a hand firmly planted on the lower half of his spine, he steps to the wardrobe...

Cut to the outside of the bathroom, as Miguel walks out, somewhat refreshed and in fresh clothes. He moves about furtively, shuts the door behind him with exponential care. He moves to the kitchen, snatches a few breadsticks out of a cupboard, and while munching on them quietly tears out a pink page out of a paper block and scribbles down a quick message which he then sticks on the fridge.

"Training super early today, didn't want to wake you, took breakfast. Love, Miggy"

He slinks outside, goes to his bike, bends his knees to reach and open the lock, then adjusts the handlebar, raising it all the way up. He gets onto the bike, groans when he still has to bend his back to reach the bar, lets go, straightens out, sighs.

He takes out his phone, calls Sam. "The number cannot be reached."

MIGUEL

What the hell... she blocked me or something?!

He mulls his options for a moment, looks down, sighs again. Finally, he slides his behind from the seat onto the bike's frame. Now he is able to use the bike with his spine fully erect, though his knees brush against his arms with every turn of the pedals. He shakes his head at his predicament, then rides off, towards the sunrise.

We hold onto the shot, seeing Miguel turn a corner and disappear, leaving a still scene of the empty courtyard. We linger on this for a spell, until the tranquility is broken by the vrooming of an engine and screeching of tires, as the familiar BMW barrels into the yard, skidding to a halt in between the doors to the Diaz' and Johnny's apartment. From the lowered windows emerge hands bearing uzis set to full auto, and before even fully taking aim they begin blasting away at Johnny's door and window.

POV of the driveby shooters as the window shatters and the door instantly becomes riddled with tarpit black craters. In the back of the apartment we see a human silhouette - backlit and hence featureless to us. It goes down under the hail of bullets instantly, as does the wall-mounted TV.

Cut to CARMEN being jolted out of her sleep by the racket, with YAYA lying beside her springing up to cling firmly onto her. Carmen embraces her in turn, her eyes and mouth wide with terror. She cries out as Yaya mutters prayers under her breath.

Cut back to Johnny's apartment as it continues to be ravaged by the firing squad. We watch glassware explode, chairs get dismembered and flipped over, lightbulbs burst into glass confetti, pieces of wallpaper flake off, small spouts of dust blowing up from the bullet-plowed floor, until, finally, the uzi magazines run out of rounds.

We cut to the face of the TEAR-EYED MAN, looking out the car window, gun in front of him, perusing the devastation.

TEAR-EYED MAN

(in Spanish) Alright, smoked out all the cockroaches in that dump. Let's hightail outta here.

Cut to formerly GOLD-TOOTHED and now GAP-TOOTHED MAN, sitting in the back, looking at him hesitantly.

GAP-TOOTHED MAN

(in Spanish) You sure we hit the right spot?

TEAR-EYED MAN

(incredulous stare) Am I sure? Now you thought to ask that? Well, shit, I don't know, why don't you go and check? You can take a scooter back to our place afterwards!

GAP-TOOTHED MAN

Geez, don't have to snap at me like that!

TEAR-EYED MAN

Don't like it? Then don't talk like you gulped down the rest of your brain cells along with your teeth. Rodrigo, what are you waiting for?!

Cut to the broad view of the courtyard, as the BMW revs up and, with tires screeching blasts out of the scene. A moment later, the door to Diaz' apartment swings open, and, with an exaggerated movements meant to mimic cops on TV shows, Carmen leaps out, still in her night gown, gripping the gun in both hands, arms extended as far away from her body as possible, her trigger discipline... lacking. She spins around as Yaya picks through the doorframe.

CARMEN

(panting) Looks like they're gone...

She starts crab-walking towards Johnny's apartment, gun pointed in the direction the Men drove off into. Yaya follows her out, darting from cover to cover. Carmen finally reaches Johnny's Swiss cheese-turned door, now slightly ajar and barely holding onto its hinges. She lets out a choked gasp as she grabs the handle and opens it. Walking inside, she stifles a cry as her bare feet step onto broken glass strewn on the floor. She makes a few measured movements deeper into the room, inspecting the damage with a desperate expression. As she almost makes her way to the entrance to the bedroom in the back, she catches sight of what is lying on the floor inside, and her eyes go wide with shock.

On the bedroom floor, peppered with bulletholes, lies the cardboard cutout of Kreese. It is sprinled with glass shards from the lamp standing behind it, which was illuminating it from the back prior to the assault.

Carmen frowns, evidently confused, yet we quickly register relief on her face as she realizes this means Johnny was not here for his execution. With a weight off her shoulders she turns around to Yaya standing just outside the entrance door.

CARMEN

No one's here, mom!

YAYA

Gracias a dios!

She clasps her hands and looks to the sky with gratitude. Carmen walks towards her to embrace her, but her pace slows down midway, as she notices that Yaya has her back to someone likewise coming toward her. Carmen opens her mouth to cry out a warning, but she is beaten to the punch by the voice of...

HOMELESS LADY

Hola! Hold your horses there, abuela! No the time to thank your daddy-in-the-sky just yet! Gotta divide the spoils first!

YAYA

(turns to face her, startled) Qué?

HOMELESS LADY

That's right, don't be actin' as if you don't know the rules! I've been around enough to know they're the same everywhere. The top dog on the block always gets the first dibs, and this bitch here is the top dog on this block!

CARMEN

(making her way to the door, face uncomprehending) I'm sorry, what is this about?

HOMELESS LADY

Uhh, so your friend already scouted the premises! (to Carmen) We're good to loot then, huh?!

CARMEN

(aghast) Good to loot? What are you talking about, lady?!

HOMELESS LADY

Hah! Think I didn't see you racing for this cesspool the moment the hit squad was gone?! You came down like a pair of vultures! But vultures wait for the wolves to sate themselves if they know what's good for them!

CARMEN

(frowning) What?! You think we came here to... to loot?! (slackjawed) How dare you... We came to help!

HOMELESS LADY

Phah, spare me your fake outrage, seńorita. To help, right (points to the gun in Carmen's hand). Help the gang finish the job maybe. But I don't blame you. Always was suspicious about that golden boy. The whole thing with the karate joint, least convincing scam I've ever seen! Bet it was all a laundering operation and he got caught cookin' the books!

CARMEN

(at utter loss) What...?

HOMELESS LADY

Yeah, can you imagine he had me holding a cardboard sign pointing to that place?! It's like he was intentionally puttin' up a front of a total dimwit! Pretending not to know you do the marketing on Facebook now, who was gonna believe that?! ... but enough reminiscing, gotta save some for the eulogy. Now, seńoritas, kindly get out of my way while I go peruse the wares...

CARMEN

(features grow hard) You're not going inside this house...

HOMELESS LADY

Ha! Says who?! (pointing to the gun again) You're not gonna scare me with this toy. I bet you don't have the nads to use it anyway!

She makes a bold step towards Carmen, who takes a step back herself, and shakily raises the gun while wincing from the glass crackling under her foot.

CARMEN

(near-hysterical) I WARN YOU, STAY BACK!

HOMELESS LADY

(smirks while looking at her feet) Hey, careful there, John McClane...

She moves closer and is about to make a grab for the gun, when...

... she is slammed and pushed aside by YAYA charging her with a war cry on her lips. The Lady staggers, engaged in a frantic dance to remain upright, a look of shock on her face, as Yaya proceeds to wail on her while a continuous incoherent scream pours out. The scream soon becomes mixed with a shrill shriek of the Lady, resulting in an ear-grating cacophony, leading Carmen to grab her head in dismay, as she watches the altercation, petrified.

The Lady lashes out with her overlong and filthy fingernails, striking at Yaya's eyes, but missing them ever so slightly, instead piercing the skin on her brow and cheek. Yaya's face reddens in fury.

YAYA

(in Spanish) KEEP YOUR PAWS OUT OF MY FACE, YOU FILTHY ANIMAL!

She swats the next nail strike with surprising force, then launches into a series of vicious slaps to the Lady's face, in alternating directions, while seizing her scraggly hair with her other hand. The Lady hisses in defiance, thrusts her mouth at Yaya's wrist, trying to sink her fangs in, but Yaya intercepts her by grabbing her jaw and shoving her head back. The Lady flails her arms, attempting at once to retain her balance and rake Yaya's flesh with her nails, but only succeeds in tearing away a piece of her gown before Yaya jumps back. She looks at the damage, outraged.

YAYA

ˇPerra! That was a gift from Miggy!

She dashes at the Lady, grabs her by the collar of her rags, spins, and with an amazonian yell throws her at Johnny's broken window. But just before she releases her, the Lady's fingernail hooks onto Yaya's earring, and with her being hurtled away, it tears the ring off, leaving a gash in Yaya's earlobe. The Lady stumbles - right by Carmen, who skitters away with a panicked yelp - her shins slam into the wall, she trips and falls through the hole inside the apartment, landing on the broken glass. She jumps to her feet with a cry of pain, and starts frantically sweeping the tiny shards off her clothes and hair. Yaya stares at her, panting, the consciousness of the last few moments slowly starting to reflect on her visage. The Lady then leaps over the wall and, taking advantage of having Carmen in between her and Yaya, dashes for the courtyard's opening into the street. Once there, she stops, turns, and looks at the two women with venom in her eyes. She holds up her fist - we can see Yaya's bloodied earring inside her tight grasp.

HOMELESS LADY

YOU GREEDY FUCKIN' BEANERS! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS, YOU HEAR ME! (addresses the earring) POX ON YOU AND YOUR SPAWN! MAY YOUR FEET SHRIVEL, YOUR CUNTS SEAL SHUT, AND YOUR WOMBS BEAR MAGGOTS! THIS ISN'T OVER!

The Women look in disgust as the Lady turns on her heel and disappears around the corner. Carmen directs her confused gaze to Yaya, who crosses herself and begins muttering prayers. She respectfully waits for her to finish.

YAYA

Oh, Father, thank you for sending a fiend to fight for me in this moment of need, but now I pray that you pluck him out of my breast and send it back to deepest hell, so his evil can defile this world no longer...

CARMEN

(a touch skeptical) A fiend?

YAYA

(crosses herself again) Si, Carmencita, didn't you see how I was possessed then? Clearly there was devilry at work!

CARMEN

It did seem like someone else woke up inside of you... Well, between your possession and Johnny's intervention, we sure are making new enemies at a rapid pace...

YAYA

(waves her hand) Oh, I wouldn't worry about that bum. Who is she gonna bring with her next time, sewer rats?

CARMEN

Now you sound like Johnny. After that tirade of hers, you think she's going to give up?

YAYA

Aah, that was nothing, you can hear worse from every second gypsy after you turn them down. She probably stole her curses from one of them.

CARMEN

(shakes her head) If you say so... alright, let's have a look at your cuts before these curses start coming true.

YAYA

Cuts? What cuts? (she puts a hand to the side of her head with the punctured cheek and torn earlobe after Carmen points at it, then examines her bloodied palm) Madre de Dios! And my earring's gone too!

CARMEN

Nevermind the earring. Let the magpie have her trinket. C'mon, mom, let's go fix you up.

Carmen puts her arm around Yaya's shoulders and walks her home as Yaya gropes her torn ear, wincing each time. On the way, Carmen notices a piece of paper tied to a small rock lying next to their door, and with a curious look stoops to pick it up.

CUT TO

INT. DODGE CARAVAN - CRACK OF DAWN

We cut to JOHNNY, lying in the back of the car, unshaven and in rumpled daytime clothes. His eyes open after a few false starts. His hand reaches up and digs crusted pus out of his eyeballs. He wipes the fingers on the upholstery, then gropes on the car floor until he finds an uncrushed can of Coors and then lifts it to his raised mouth, greedily gulping what few drops drip down onto his tongue. Once the trickle comes to a stop, he squashes the can and throws it on the floor. Then, with a groan, he sits up, looks at the rear-view mirror, scowls in disapproval upon the sight of his face, and opens the door.

Cut to the outside of the car as Johnny steps out, looking groggy. As he stretches his bones, we can see that the car is parked by Miyagi-Do's fence. Johnny tilts his head, neck bones creaking, then walks towards the gate to the dojo.

JOHNNY

(looks down at his body) Shit, forgot my gi. Maybe I'll find a spare there somewhere...

Cut to...

INT. MIYAGI-DO

We follow JOHNNY's POV as he slides the door open, only to be set aback by the sight of the room's furniture piled up in front of him, including a number of blades of various types all pointed in his direction. He takes a step back.

JOHNNY

What the hell...?

Guarded now, he slides the door all the way open, examines the ramshackle barricade, carefully pushes the jutting blades away, though without much difficulty...

JOHNNY

(under his breath) Told 'em to sharpen these things...

Next he squeezes into a gap between the piled up furniture and the dojo's wall and makes his way in, to the grinding noise of the obstacles being pushed back.

Just as Johnny squeezes himself all the way in, we see SAM on the opposite side of the hall, pressed into a corner, curled up in a foetal position, her hand gripping a dagger tightly and pressing it to her chest. The creaking sound jolts her awake. She springs up, eyes wide in alarm, but when her vision adjusts itself and she recognizes Johnny, she gasps, drops the dagger, and sprints towards him, jumping into his arms with a joyful exclamation.

SAM

OH THANK GOD, IT'S YOU!

JOHNNY

(hugs her awkwardly) Whoa! Calm down, sweetheart! Yeah, it's me, glad you could tell. Wouldn't fault you if you didn't. So that roadblock wasn't to keep me out? What the hell happened here?! (gets a whiff of her smell) You've been here all night?!

SAM

(reluctantly letting go of him) Oh, you're not gonna believe me! It was terrible!

JOHNNY

Oh really? Well, give it a try anyway.

SAM

I was here by myself... needed time alone, when... someone came here, I think he wanted to attack me! Scared the hell out of me!

JOHNNY

Yeah, I don't find this hard to believe at all. So which one was it?

SAM

I... I don't know who it was, he was so tall, dressed all in black. And he had a mask, oh my God the mask...

JOHNNY

(frowns, puzzled) What about the mask?

SAM

It was horrible, it was the face of... Mr Miyagi...

JOHNNY

(eyebrows arc up) You serious?! A Mr Miyagi mask? Didn't know you guys sell merch!

SAM

WE DON'T! I've never seen this mask before in my life! I've no idea where he would get one... or how.

JOHNNY

Well that's pretty out there, gotta admit. You sure it was Miyagi's face? I mean, old Asian dudes don't exactly look all that diff...

SAM

YES, IT WAS MR MIYAGI! That man... he spoke to me pretending to be him too! He knew who I was!

JOHNNY

Couldn't it be Kreese?

SAM

(shakes her head) Not unless he was walking on stilts. And that voice... it didn't sound like him either. I get chills just hearing it in my mind!

JOHNNY

Damn! Well, I'll still eat my headband if CK wasn't behind this. Guess I was right to warn Dan they would strike again. But even I didn't expect they'd do it so soon.

SAM

My dad must be going crazy with worry at this point. What time is it?

JOHNNY

Uhh... (he takes out his smartphone) Five forty. (looking at the phone, a bulb lights up in his head) Why didn't you call him? Or the cops for that matter?

SAM

I left my phone outside. Was too chicken to go get it.

JOHNNY

Then I guess I'd better let him know you're here with me now... though on second thought it didn't work out so well the last time I did that... (regards her disheveled and obviously hungover appearance)... and the circumstances are more than a little alike.

SAM

(absorbed in thought) Dad must've gone to bed early last night, otherwise he would have come here looking for me by now.

JOHNNY

Maybe he went to my house first. There would be a nasty little surprise waiting for him there if he did.

SAM

What do you mean?

JOHNNY

Oh, nothing special, just a little something to keep unwanted visitors out. Ever seen Home Alone?

SAM

Who hasn't?

JOHNNY

Never know with kids these days. Anyway, let's say I took a little inspiration from that one.

SAM

Oh my, then I really hope dad doesn't think of going there. Same with the mailman... or anyone for that matter.

JOHNNY

The mailman you don't have to worry about. There's a designated trash bin for my mail outside.

SAM

That's a relief... Anyway, he would probably track my phone like he did last time.

JOHNNY

Right, you can spy on these things. No way I would be walking around with that gizmo back in my day knowing my old man could use it to check where I am at any time. You kids really have no self-respect.

SAM

Yeah, ok boomer. So, uh, will you help me get this cleaned up before dad shows up?

JOHNNY

Sure, but what's with the haste? (points to the furniture) That stuff is some priceless Miyagi heirloom you've just manhandled?

SAM

It's not about that... Now that you're here, I've been able to look back on that night a bit more clearly. That man... whoever he was, you're probably right he's with Cobra Kai. Giving me a fright must've been the whole point. If I tell dad about this... he's going to get frightened too, and that'll probably mean the end of our training here, maybe the end of our training full stop...

JOHNNY

...which is exactly what CK would want.

SAM

(nods) Maybe that was the actual intent here, too. We can't give them that win now, can we?

JOHNNY

Right. So now what, we gonna play coy about this?

SAM

(gives him a hard look) Well, assuming we can both keep our mouths shut, like you obviously couldn't about the last talk we had.

JOHNNY

Hey, I only told Dan enough to make him take CK seriously. I said nothing about Robby or you.

SAM

It was still enough to make him suspicious about me. Now as far as you're concerned, you just found me asleep here, ok?

JOHNNY

You've got it, smarty-pants. Alright, let's clear out this mess.

Cut to the inside of Miyagi-Do now more or less in order. Sam is wiping the sweat off her brow, while Johnny is rubbing disinfectant into the palm of his hand - a bleeding cut is now running across it.

JOHNNY

(wincing) Dammit, out of all the knives here duller than toddler's gums, I had to grab the one that was actually sharp...

SAM

(a faint look of guilt) So-rry, I actually took to sharpening those after you made fun of them, but gave up after getting this one done. Should've warned you, but I totally forgot about this...

JOHNNY

Swell, just my luck. Guess I should bandage it now... uh, to hell with this! (he pulls his belt out of his pants, wraps it around the cut, and ties a knot on his hand) That'll do.

SAM

(eyeroll) Sure, why not, a bandage wouldn't be badass, right?

JOHNNY

Damn straight.

SAM

(frowns) Your pants are going to hold on?

JOHNNY

(shrugs) Probably. I've had those since I were about forty pounds lighter, so pretty sure they'll stick.

SAM

Consider me reassured.

JOHNNY

That reminds me, any spare gis around here?

SAM

Uhh, your size? Probably not. But that's ok... (looks him over) I mean, that's fine...

JOHNNY

Hey, you're not exactly fresh out of a detergent commercial yourself! Now that the room's been cleaned up, you should be next one on the list.

SAM

Well, the closest thing to a bathroom here is the pond... and let's just say I'm not taking a dip in it anytime soon. No make up kit at hand either... but at least I don't look like I spent the night wedged between a garbage container and a burn barrel! Why did you come here like this? You got evicted or something?

JOHNNY

Not exactly, but I did have to relocate for a bit. Just a temporary thing, hopefully.

SAM

Why was that?

JOHNNY

As far as you're concerned, a burst crapper pipe

SAM

(frowns) Alright, not gonna push it. So both of us were vagrants last night, huh?

JOHNNY

Guess misery really does love company.

SAM

Well, how about we make the best of it, Sensei?

JOHNNY

What do you suggest?

SAM

(she lowers her eyes) This night, before I finally tuned out, I was cowering in the corner here, trembling like an aspen leaf, feeling panicked, helpless like a little girl. It was... humiliating, shameful. Thought I was through being a victim, but now I see how little it takes to pull me back in that space. (she looks up) And I hate it, it makes me sick. I need to shake this feeling off somehow, and the only way I can think of is for you, Sensei, to light a fire under my butt again.

JOHNNY

Hold on, you're saying you wanna...

SAM

Spar, yes. Before the others show up.

JOHNNY

What?! No, forget about it! Training snotty teens is one thing, but training snotty hungover teens, now that's above my paygrade!

SAM

C'mon, that's not fair! You're just as hungover as I am, you think I didn't notice?!

JOHNNY

Yeah, well, I've got decades of experience dealing with that under my belt...

SAM

Right, no doubt you're like... obsidian belt when it comes to drinking. But I'm only asking for us to spar! With how similar state we're in, this is a perfect opportunity! Don't be a... what was it you called my dad then... a sourpuss!

JOHNNY

Oh, bringin' out the big guns now, are we? Alright, Samshine, you're about to get your wish, just don't say later that it was my idea. Where did you leave the protectors?

SAM

Uh, never mind those, I want to do this for real.

JOHNNY

(shakes his head) You sure you're ok? Sounds like something really got into you.

SAM

Less talking and more calculating risk, Sensei.

JOHNNY

(smirks) Cheeky runt. Just like your father. But that's good, the more you run your mouth now, the more I'm gonna enjoy it later. (under his breath) Though I'll probably regret it afterwards.

SAM

(jumps in place) You ready, Sensei?

JOHNNY

(assumes a fighting stance) Ready if you are. (looks at the "bandaged" left hand, puts it under his back) Guess I've knocked this one out of commission myself this time.

Sam leaps forwards with a scream,launches into a dervish-like spin, throwing an unbroken succession of roundhouse kicks with one leg after another. Johnny steps back to evade them, going back all the way to the edge of the mat, but just as he runs out of room, he notices Sam's movements becoming more wobbly, and seizes the moment by grabbing the foot as it swings past his nose, and doing a jumping roll in place, which sends Sam into a barrel roll leading to a hard landing on her back.

Johnny gathers himself up first, Sam obviously looking woozy.

JOHNNY

Sorry if I made your head spin more than it already was. Not a bad start, but don't overdo it, kiddo.

Sam tucks her knees in and rolls onto her feet... only to start stumbling around as if she was a Star Trek extra while the Enterprise is under fire. Johnny looks on with amusement.

JOHNNY

This is what happens when you give no regard to what your body can handle... Now granted, this is more important when you get closer to my age, but even now you're not a cyborg.

Sam puts a hand to her eyes, stops in place, swaying a little. Finally she regains control, and with a slightly humbler expression proceeds to fling quick jabs, trying to break through Johnny's one-handed guard, adding knee strikes directed at his arm to the mix whenever her fists are swatted away by his karate chops. Johnny swings his arm like crazy to intercept with one limb the strikes carried out by three separate limbs. Eventually Sam's knee strike connects, throwing his arm awry. Sam immediately follows up with a cross punch to his face. Johnny manages to dodge the full force of the blow by tilting his head sideways, resulting in the fist glancing off his cheek. As Sam withdraws her arm, he wraps his left arm around hers, spins his chest, backsweeps her, and throws his body (and in turn hers) to the ground.

SAM

HEY! You weren't supposed to use that arm!

JOHNNY

Said who?! We're not gonna play on easy mode forever here, unless you just wanna learn to fight amputees?

He releases her arm, gets to his feet and faces her, only to see Sam, still in half-prone position, propel herself at his leg, slam his shin with her shoulder and push it out from under him, making him topple forward. Her legs wrap around his other leg as he falls.

JOHNNY

Hey, I wasn't ready yet!

SAM

Can't always play on easy mode, Sensei.

JOHNNY

Clever girl...

Now it is the turn for Sam to release Johnny, who stands up, shakes his shoulders with a dignified expression, and turns, as Sam gets up and springs into the air for a jumping side kick. Johnny leans back in a nick of time and gives the outstretched leg an upward shove, sending Sam into a 360 degree vertical loop in the air. As her head comes to point to the ground, he dives in, wraps her arms around her waist, and wrenches her body up mid-fall, so that his chest acts as a cushion when she goes down. He lets out a groan as her full weight comes down on him.

JOHNNY

Ugh!... You know what? All these hoppin' kicks? Save 'em for Asian flicks, they ain't worth the hype. As a general rule, whatever you do, better do it with at least one limb on the ground... or your opponent.

SAM

(lying on him, in no apparent hurry to get off, teasingly) Oh really? What about the crane kick, Sensei?

JOHNNY

Bah, forget about the crane kick! Flashy bullshit move. Only reason it worked on me then was I utterly didn't see it coming. Haunts me to this day how I could miss such obvious telegraphing too...

SAM

Left you a wound that wouldn't heal, didn't it?

JOHNNY

Yeah, it won't heal 'till me and Dan sign up for the old-valley... (trying to shift under her) Speaking of old, you tryin' to ground my brittle bones to dust here?

SAM

Thought it was girls that had brittle bones?

JOHNNY

Girls and senior citizens, alright? Now git...

He is interrupted by the dojo door sliding open to reveal...

MIGUEL

(eyes wide, brows up, mouth agape) Whoa, Sensei?! Sam?! You're alright?!

Sam just stares at him. Johnny smiles awkwardly.

JOHNNY

(belabouredly) Hi, Champ. Yeah, everything's fine here, don't mind us. Another early bird, huh? Actually, could you give us a second here, we're kind of in the middle of things right now.

SAM

(rolls of Johnny, springs to her feet) Actually, Sensei, how about having him join us?

JOHNNY

(gets up laboriously, a frown on his face as he stretches his bones) Sure, your wish is my command, Miyagi-Doe. So what, you two are gonna gang up on me now?

SAM

(licks her lip) Well, I was rather thinking a little sparring match between me and the Eagle Fang champ, with you as the referee, Sensei. (shoots Miguel a glance) How about that?

MIGUEL

(dejectedly) Sam, please... (to Johnny) Look, Sensei, I don't think I feel up to this right now.

JOHNNY

(looking inquisitive) Something wrong?

SAM

(mockingly) Seems like someone had a long night...

MIGUEL

(frustrated) N-nothing, it's just...

JOHNNY

Well, I'd be happy to take a little break, but if the champ isn't up to it, then what can you do? Can't put pressure on our star now, can we? Hey, we should be glad we don't need to send his agent to get him out of his trailer!

MIGUEL

(irked) Alright, alright, Sensei, got the message, don't have to tease me no more. (sighs) I'll do it.

The corner of Sam's mouth curls up, but her eyes just continue to stare piercingly at Miguel with no change of expression.

JOHNNY

Great! This should be fun. (to Sam) Let's give the champ a moment to warm up, shall we?

SAM

Of course, Sensei.

MIGUEL

So I guess this is a "no gi" day?

JOHNNY

(shrugs) A "no gi" day after a "yes gin" night, makes sense, don't it?

Miguel frowns in response.

MIGUEL

Oh, and what happened to your hand?

JOHNNY

(awkward grimace) Shaving accident.

Miguel's frown furrows deeper.

We cut to Miguel doing stretching exercises, his expression sullen, doing his best to conceal the excruciating pain he is under. Meanwhile, Sam is going through her kata routine, but even faster and fiercer than we saw her do it previously. Every time Miguel musters up the resolve to peek at her, he is answered by a steely cold glare. Johnny's eyes dart from one to the other, narrowed. He begins to suspect something is up.

Finally, Miguel finishes his warm-up and walks to the edge of the mat. Sam mirrors him, though moving in a more robotic manner, her sight sliding off him as if he warranted no more attention than a practice dummy.

JOHNNY

Alright, I don't have to repeat the rules to you I hope. Now bow.

Miguel draws in breath, bends his back, clenches his teeth as he straightens up. Sam bows full ninety degrees, maintaining customary eye contact, yet seemingly looking straight through him. Miguel assumes a defensive pose. Johnny utters the kiai.

MIGUEL

(pleadingly) Sam, just please be reasonable...

Ignoring the plea, Sam dashes toward him, doing a low spinning sweep as soon as she gets in range. With Miguel hopping over her sweeping leg, she immediately draws it back and from a crouched stance does a forward roll. As her feet turn towards Miguel, she shoots both her legs out like coiled springs at Miguel's chest. Miguel blocks with his crossed forearms, but the force of the blow nearly throws him off-balance, making him stoop and bend his knees. Sam falls prostrate, raises herself on one arm, and delivers a crouching roundhouse kick. Miguel shields his head and neck with his shoulder, lets out a tortured cry as Sam's ankle connects and sends shockwaves from the shoulder to his spine. Using the inertia from the force of impact, he rolls away, targeting Sam's lifting arm with his own sweeping kick, making Sam fall on her side. He tries to leap to his feet, but only receives a painful spasm in his back for the effort. So instead, as Sam gets up, he rotates on the floor, seizes her ankle with both of his feet, and with a heave of his shoulders spins his body around its axis to bring her down. Sam crashes onto the mat, and the ensuing daze gives Miguel time to gather himself up.

The opponents face each other. Sam shakes her head violently as she stands up, resumes her numb piercing glare. Miguel's features are etched with distress.

MIGUEL

Sam, there is really no need for this...

SAM

Who said anything about need? I'm having fun. Don't you, honey? Besides, we've only just started. (looks at Johnny) Sensei, awarded any points yet?

JOHNNY

(shakes his head, regarding her skeptically) Got an impression this is about more than points to you.

SAM

(tilts her head) Looks like Sensei isn't happy with our showing so far. Do you want to leave him disappointed, champ?

Before he can answer, Sam advances with her fists raised, begins throwing jabs at Miguel, which he blocks with his knuckles. The blows are not very forceful, which prompts him to intercept one by grabbing Sam's wrist, but upon doing so, Sam in turn uses her free hand to grab Miguel's outstretched arm, leaps up from the ground, uses her hands and the purchase inadvertently provided by Miguel to twist her body in the air, and delivers a powerful horizontal kick to his side. Miguel folds with a grunt of pain as he stumbles away, his expression now growing impatient and reproachful. Sam collects herself after dropping on her hands, and smirks at Johnny.

SAM

I held onto something this time.

MIGUEL

(through gritted teeth) Alright, this has gone far enough.

SAM

Umm, has it? I say you still have ways to go before I'm finished, honey. But maybe I'll give you a headstart this time. After all, why should the lady always make the first move?

MIGUEL

(shakes his head) You've no idea how much you sound like her now... and at her worst, too.

SAM

Aaah, well how could I hope to measure up to her at her best? I'm just a spoilt rich girl, while she... why, one hell of a Catwoman from the looks of it!

MIGUEL

You've got it all wrong, Sam. Those scratches didn't come from her for one.

SAM

Then who did they come from, hmm? Did you bring her a kitten for a peace offering only for it to not work out?

JOHNNY

(under his breath) Wait a minute, did I just get suckered into mediating their relationship squabbles?

MIGUEL

Some goons jumped her outside her house and I stepped in. Not just me, either. Robby was there, too.

Johnny's brows arc up.

SAM

(laughs out loud) Robby?! Keeps getting more interesting! So you dueled for the damsel then? Well, congratulations on your hard-won victory! (fury in her voice) Hope it was worth it!

(as she speaks, we notice a thin vertical shaft of sunlight forming in the background behind her)

She advances, and so does Miguel, who is also the first to throw a hook. Sam leans back midstride, slides under the blow and past Miguel, and strikes with a back elbow to his knee joint. The leg buckles and Miguel drops on his knee, teeth clenched.

MIGUEL

SAM, WHAT THE HELL?!

SAM

(shrugs, innocent expression) Oops... (looks at the increasingly disgruntled Johnny) Well, it's not like anyone ever got disqualified for one illegal move, right Sensei?

She springs up, then primes herself for a roundhouse kick. With a dogged scowl, Miguel dodges the strike by thrusting his legs out, shifting from a kneel to a split, and lowering his head at the same time. Then he raises his body with his hands and spins it, tripping Sam over with the outstretched leg. Sam falls into a backroll, gets onto a crouching stance, then lunges herself at Miguel with an angry snarl. Facing her, Miguel throws himself onto his back, gasping at the impact, his legs still spread out, and as Sam lands on top of him, he clamps them shut, catching her waist with his knees as in a vise, then, using her forward momentum as a source of propulsion, he rolls back, grabs her shoulders, and with the force of his all four limbs throws her back behind himself.

Sam goes flying, lands hard outside of the mat, rolls uncontrollably until she comes to a halt right before the door, now fully slid open by...

SAM

Hi, dad! Mind giving me a hand?

DANIEL

(incredulous) SAM?! (looks up) JOHNNY?!... Miguel?!... What in God's name are you guys doing?!

JOHNNY

Morning, Dan. Well, what does it look like we're doing? Making up time after that whole hospital mishap.

MIGUEL

Uh, hello Mr LaRusso, sorry for throwing Sam around like this. Things got... heated.

DANIEL

(as he helps Sam up) With just the three of you here I can imagine. So what, you guys've been pulling an all-nighter here?

JOHNNY

Oh, so it's morning already? Time sure flies.

DANIEL

(sniffs the air, frowns) And I can tell what's been getting you through the night. (gives Johnny a lookover, his arms drop) Have you got no shame at all, Johnny? Going to our students like this? (eyes on Sam now) And you aren't much better! What's wrong with you?! Why is your phone turned off? Me and mom were out of our minds this morning!

JOHNNY

(under his breath) Should've gotten used to it by now...

SAM

(guilty look) The phone... uh, suffered an accident. Sorry, me and Miguel got so tired yesterday, we decided to snuggle inside here for the night. (turns to Miguel) Isn't that right, honey?

MIGUEL

Uh, yeah, may not have been the best call in hindsight. Sorry, Mr LaRusso.

DANIEL

(resigned) It's still Daniel, Miguel. It's alright, I'm fairly sure you're the least to blame here. You're the only one out of the whole lot who doesn't look like a drunk tank resident. (to Sam, skeptically) Honey, you've been acting strange lately, and I don't know what to make of it. For now, no more night escapades, is that clear?!

SAM

(eyes lowered) Yes, dad. Sorry.

DANIEL

(to Johnny) And you. Mind if we have a talk outside?

JOHNNY

(shrugs, to the others) Well, excuse me, ladies and gents, guess I'm bein' called to the principal's office.

He follows Daniel out of the dojo.

Cut to the outside, as Daniel slides the door shut behind him. His features rapidly grow angry.

DANIEL

Alright, Johnny, now listen very carefully. My patience is running thin with you! What in God's name were you doing here making them do karate instead of taking her home where she belongs right now?!

JOHNNY

(snorts) For your information, I'm not her nanny. And calm down, I only got here some time before you did. Sparring was your girl's idea, and I figured moving a little would help her... recover. Everything is alright now, you can take a chill pill, boss.

DANIEL

So you weren't here during the night?

JOHNNY

Nope, what you think I'm homeless?

DANIEL

(looks him over again) Could fool me. Well then how about you don't come here to give classes when you're obviously no more than one foot out of a booze binge?

JOHNNY

Uh, come on, Dan, you're blowing things out of proportion. Had a couple beers last night maybe. By the time I was fully warmed up, they'd be none-the-wiser.

DANIEL

If they first lost their sense of smell, maybe.

JOHNNY

Nothing a breath mint wouldn't fix. Got one? (looks down on his clothes) Oh, and a spare gi would come in handy now, too.

DANIEL

(eyeroll) Sorry, Johnny, I don't have any spare gis for adults. I may have a pair of clown shoes lying around, though. Would fit you perfectly now.

JOHNNY

Uh, no thanks, had this job once already, put me off kids for about a decade.

DANIEL

(incredulous) You worked as a clown?

JOHNNY

Incognito, yeah. Don't ask.

DANIEL

As if one needed any more reasons to hate those guys... (growing stern) Alright, enough clowning around. We need to get back to our yesterday's conversation.

JOHNNY

What yester... Oh, yeah, right. Sorry, nothing new to report.

DANIEL

(points to the dojo, voice lowered) Was it her?!

JOHNNY

What, you mean was it her that broke into LaRusso Auto? Not as far as I know.

DANIEL

Don't play dumb! Was she your source?!

JOHNNY

Oh, she's a source alright. A source of not insignificant back pain today for me and Miguel apparently. It seems for him she's also a source of an altogether different sort of pain right now.

DANIEL

What the hell are you babbling about?! Is she the source you mentioned yesterday!

JOHNNY

Oh, that source! Haha, sorry, completely forgot about that. Nah, don't be ridiculous, Dan. What, you think she'd go behind your back like this?

DANIEL

(shakes his head) I don't know anymore. I feel like I've been losing touch with her a little lately... ever since we started teaching together actually...

JOHNNY

Sorry to hear that pal, probably just a phase... Though it's almost like a zero sum game between the two of us.

DANIEL

What do you mean?

JOHNNY

Well, you're having problems with your kid, meanwhile I feel like I'm making some inroads with mine.

DANIEL

With Robby?! You've talked to him?!

JOHNNY

More than once the last couple of days. First time... well, I gave him some tough daddy love. The second... he actually came to me, thought I was in trouble and came running.

DANIEL

Well how is he? Kreese hasn't got to him?

JOHNNY

I don't think so. He seems to be doing ok. In fact, judging by the company he keeps he's got over your daughter right quick.

DANIEL

You mean he's now with...

JOHNNY

Your daughter's arch nemesis, yeah. Crazy how things can go, huh? Like we were trapped in some cheap soap.

DANIEL

Well, that's certainly going to make things more difficult for us...

JOHNNY

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Wouldn't write either of them off, actually. Recently I talked to her too. Never really did when she was my student, funnily enough.

DANIEL

Huh. (almost whispering) So what is she like?

JOHNNY

Guarded, standoffish. Does her damnest to give off a tough vibe. But I've seen enough to know now that this is mostly an act. I say if I drag Robby across the line, she'll follow.

DANIEL

Well, I don't know how I'd feel about that, and I don't even want to think what Sam's reaction would be.

JOHNNY

Assuming whatever's going on between Sam and Miguel right now is sorted out, and that Robby manages to keep that particular volcano from erupting again, I don't see why they would need to stay at each other's throats forever... In fact, a good fair match could go a long way, as the two of us can vouch for.

DANIEL

Right, you did hand me that medal after messing with me six ways from Sunday for weeks.

JOHNNY

Don't think I ever thought as highly of you as I did in that very moment... and that's despite the fact you cheated.

DANIEL

Uh, you with that cheating again. But anyway, not sure if it works as neatly with girls as with boys. Boys fight, then go for a drink... or the other way around. Girls... uh, it's more complicated with them, trust me.

JOHNNY

Gonna take your word for it. Still, I say it's worth givin' a shot... after we get rid of Kreese and co., of course.

DANIEL

Right, can't take any shortcuts here. (looks to the gate, sees more STUDENTS entering) Which means we have to give them proper lessons.

JOHNNY

You insinuating something?

DANIEL

Just that I think you're in no condition to be doing any senseing right now, no offense. How about you go put yourself in order and come back later, huh? Don't worry, I will take it from here, I've got a definite idea for today's lesson.

JOHNNY

You tryin' to get rid of me so you can abuse these poor kids?! Not gonna work, fella. Whatever scheme you've come up with, I'll be here to see it.

DANIEL

(eyeroll) Like I'd dare poaching on your turf, Johnny. Alright, you want to stay, whatever. Just don't disturb us... Actually, your sight in itself may be disturbing, so please keep more or less out of sight, ok?

JOHNNY

Hey, don't try to imply I look so bad without a shave! (smirks) Your daughter, for one, didn't seem to mind.

DANIEL

(sighs) How could I ever think giving you private lessons with Sam would end in anything other than giving you ammo to use against me? Alright, get that smug mug of yours outta here.

JOHNNY

(as he turns to walk off) About that breath mint?

DANIEL

Go suck on rocks, Johnny. We've got plenty of these around here.

JOHNNY

(looks at the inscribed rock) Don't want to accidentally chew on some piece of ancient Japanese wisdom.

DANIEL

Too bad, that's about the only way you'd ever absorb any.

JOHNNY

You mean fortune cookies don't count?

DANIEL

Not if you eat the insert too.

Conceding defeat, Johnny walks off to the edge of the garden as the students congregate, DEMETRI among them.

DEMETRI

(to Daniel) Good morning, Sensei! Sure feels good to be back on familiar and solid ground. (frowns) What's with those scratches?

He indicates a largely unbroken thin horizontal line etched into the side of the dojo.

DANIEL

Hello, Demetri... wait, what? (he walks over to the spot, slides a finger along the mark, then moves briskly to the door) Sam, Miguel! You can come out now!

The two exit the building, Miguel hobbling, his eyes lowered, Sam's looking straight ahead, her expression enigmatic.

DANIEL

(points to the scratch) Can you guys tell me who or what did this?

Miguel shakes his head with genuine surprise, Sam does her best to play ignorant.

SAM

Maybe it was some animal?

DANIEL

Like what, a cougar?

MITCH

(coming over) Or a giant hedgehog.

CHRIS

(walking after him) Right, Sonic the Hedgehog maybe.

DEMETRI

Probably someone was just driving by carelessly... but speaking of hedgehogs...

He looks up at the gate, others follow his gaze, and we see HAWK stepping through it, his forearm in a cast, his other hand behind his back. Mitch, Miguel and a few others cheer at the sight, Daniel looks surprised, though he allows himself a tentative smile. Sam's eyes widen, her smile... more pronounced.

HAWK

(coming over to DANIEL, slightly awkward) Hello, Sensei. (indicates the cast) Hope this doesn't consign me to the bench.

DANIEL

(beaming) Good to see you, Hawk. Don't worry, we will work around it. In fact, I think today's will be a perfect lesson for you to start with.

HAWK

(gratitude showing on his face) Thank you, Sensei. And, uh, thank you for the gift you sent me. I... well, hope you like what I've done with it.

He brings his healthy hand forward; it's holding the bonsai tree, its branches now turned into rows of razor-sharp looking spikes...

DANIEL

(carefully taking the tree from Hawk, turning it in his hands, amazed) Whoa! This... this is rad! I mean... (looks back at Hawk) I suppose I should've expected no less from you...

HAWK

(blushing) Glad you like it, Sensei. I call it the Shrike.

DEMETRI

(eyeballs popping) Hold on! You mean like the Shrike from...

HAWK

(reluctantly) From Hyperion, yeah.

DEMETRI

(grinning ear to ear, turns to the others) Well, everyone! I'm happy to report that, despite appearances, we've got our old Eli back! Not ashamed to admit his nerdiness any more! So what did you think about...

As he starts turning back towards Hawk, the latter crouches behind him, and with a heave of his torso rams the cast into Demetri's buttocks. Demetri jumps with a startled shriek.

HAWK

Yea, think again, Demetri! Old Eli's dead and buried! There's only Hawk... though the Shrike is cool.

DEMETRI

(massages his buttocks) Asshole!

HAWK

Mine's ok, what about yours? (grabs the cast, puts it to his nose, sniffs it, grimaces) Ew, I'd say you should visit a proctologist, Demetri, it made my cast smell worse than it already did.

DEMETRI

Already heard enough unsolicited medical advice from your girlfriend, thank you very much!

DANIEL

(shakes his head, under his breath) Uh, boys, what you gonna do? (raises his voice) Alright, cool it with the hijinks, guys! Everyone, fall in!

The students line up in front of the dojo. Mitch frowns and wrinkles his nose as he approaches his spot.

MITCH

Yuck, the pool smells rank!

CHRIS

That's what happens when you brush your teeth in it.

MITCH

Screw you, man! Maybe it's you that shouldn't have washed your butt in it?!

CHRIS

Still wouldn't smell as bad.

DANIEL

It sounds like you guys are volunteering to clean that pool up!

Both clam up instantly.

DANIEL

(looking over his congregation, noticing with a slight frown that Miguel and Sam are standing more apart than usual. He bows to the students, and after they bow back, speaks) Ok, good morning, everyone! Me and Sensei Lawrence decided that I should take the reins today, to make up for my recent absence. I'm going to take this opportunity to introduce you to a very special type of exercise...

DEMETRI

(under his breath) They are really going to keep trying to one-up each other, aren't they?

DANIEL

... this exercise should be helpful to all of you, however I did choose it primarily with our more recently joined friends in mind. Our friends have learned... were told at the very start of their karate education that the proper way of fighting is to strike first, which obviously equates to striking fast. Now, I'm not going to dispute this rule (shoots a glance at Johnny, who watches his speech suspiciously), but I am going to ask you to forget it for a time. Because if you start off doing something, anything, fast, odds are the manner in which you'll learn to do it will be sloppy. And sloppy is no way to do karate, alright? (he notices the frowning looks from some of Johnny's students, turns up the volume of his voice) Now you may not even realize that there's anything... suboptimal about the moves you're performing, you've develped muscle memory to do them in a certain way and it now seems natural to you. But there's a way to expose these flaws, and it's high time you utilized it. (spreads his arms out) What's the method, you ask? It's very simple. You're going to practice all the usual kicks, punches, sweeps, the whole gamut, but instead of doing them at your usual frantic pace, you're going to do them slowly.

He pauses for effect. The students look at each other, most appearing skeptical.

CHRIS

How slow are we talking about, Sensei?

DANIEL

Let me put it this way, Chris. (motions to the ground) You see this grass? Well, adjust your speed to the pace of its growth.

DEMETRI

So it's like we're filming Matrix... but without high-framerate cameras?

DANIEL

(smiles) Don't worry, Demetri, I won't have you running up walls. I've been hearing you already had your share of that recently. We'll start with the most basic of offensive moves.

SAM

And just what are we supposed to accomplish this way?

DANIEL

Oh, I have no doubt you'll be surprised at how much room for improvement for you this will uncover after you try it. Once you begin, you will realize how much you've been relying on the force of momentum to carry you through the motions. How much you've been fighting against your own body to force the desired results instead of having it act as a unified, balanced mechanism. You will feel every unwanted twitch, contraction, every conunterintuitve reflex that's been polluting your performance, you will realize that some, hopefully not all, of your techniques will have to be learned anew, without shortcuts and without compromises.

MIGUEL

So you're saying we basically have to start over with our training, Sensei?

DANIEL

It's not so much starting over as it is starting on a new level, Miguel. I'm not asking you to forget what you've learned. What I'm asking... is that you do kind of what I believe you had to do to get out of the wheelchair. You knew how to walk, but to actually walk again you had to learn it in a new way, step by step so to speak, a way that had to account for every muscle and tendon in your legs and every motion involved in the process. So... (addresses the whole group) I want you all to imagine you're Miguel (Sam's facial muscles twitch ever so slightly) at the very moment he decided to abandon his crutches, to take his first real unassisted new step, a step that had to be perfect in order to sustain him. (Miguel nods, smiling with understanding now)

JOHNNY

(under his breath) What the hell is he trying to say, that I've trained these kids to be karate cripples?! Prick makes it sound like it was him that got Miguel through his recovery...

DANIEL

I can honestly warn you this is going to be frustrating at first. Your bodies won't easily give up on their old accustomed ways of doing things, they will try to break free and rush out as you rein them in. But if you persist and continue to fine-tune them at this micro level, in time... you may achieve a sense of flow to your movements that will put a whole new meaning to how you experience the practice of karate.

He breaks off at last, his eyes regard the students again, this time seeing them somewhat more warmed up to the idea.

DANIEL (cont'd)

Alright, hope I made the case for slow karate. Now let's see how it will go. Start with whatever move you're most comfortable with and go from there.

The students spread out, assume their fighting stances, most start with punches, Hawk and Sam being the exceptions. Daniel begins coursing among them, hands clasped behind his back, and we are subjected to a little surreal picture of one man moving at normal speed among a crowd of karate fighters attacking the air as if trying to tear through invisible slabs of jello. Johnny shakes his head in amusement watching the proceedings.

JOHNNY

(to himself) Guy may have a gift of the gab, but talk about a clownshow!

Daniel stops by a STUDENT doing a karate chop, steps behind him, then grabs his shoulder and forearm and adjusts the movement.

DANIEL

Your elbow isn't moving in sync with your shoulder. Try again like this.

He pats the student on the back, then moves on. He frowns as he notices BERT and NATE engaged in a slow-motion fight. Nate is throwing a hook at Bert's face, while Bert is "dodging" it in slow-mo. Nate's fist adjusts its course, then slooowly squeezes itself into Bert's cheek, flattening it and deforming his mouth, all while Bert utters a long slowed-down groan. This goes on until Nate's fist knocks Bert' glasses off. As they fall to the ground, at normal speed, Bert's hand darts out, at full speed, to pluck them from the air.

NATE

(mouth agape) Whoooaaa, mmmaaaan, yoouu theee Flllaaashhh ooor sssooommmeeettthiiing?

BERT

Iiii uuussseeed mmmyyy tuuurrrboooo chaaarrrgeeeerrr.

Daniel sighs, goes over to Hawk, who, with a dogged expression, struggles to maintain balance while doing a painstakingly slow high front kick, but stumbling when it comes the time to turn his standing foot sideways. His frustration mounts at an increased rather than decreased pace.

DANIEL

Told you to start with simpler moves. Don't want you to fall and injure your arm.

HAWK

I'll be fine, Sensei. I just... I can't do this move without speed.

DANIEL

Well, see, this is what I told you about how we use momentum to make up for our technical flaws. You throw out your leg, only concerned with getting that strike across, and not with whether your stance maintains balance throughout. (he kneels at Hawk's side, places his hand on his foot and applies pressure to the tendons above the heel and to the ankle) You have to focus on this foot first, on how it's planted on the ground, and on how to shift it in a way that doesn't destabilize you. Don't immediately go for a full kick. Start with just thrusting your knee, then go on from there once you have it down pat.

HAWK

(awkward) Alright, Sensei, I'll try. Thank you.

DANIEL

(stands up, smiling) You're welcome, Hawk. Keep at it, it'll start clicking into place eventually.

Hawk nods, resumes the movement, this time staring down at his standing foot as it wobbles and pivots while feeling out an optimal position, but also casting quick glances to the side. Daniel notices those while turning away, follows the direction of these peeks, and sees Sam observing them with the corner of her eye as she slowly stretches out her leg, gearing up for a full one eighty degree drop kick, with the corners of her mouth curled up a little. Behind her and still some distance away, Miguel is dealing out slow uppercuts, though in what seems to be a rather halfhearted manner. His stance is noticeably askew due to his full weight being shifted onto one leg.

Daniel proceeds in their direction, while uttering parting words to Hawk.

DANIEL

Remember not to get frustrated. Clear your mind of any notions of how adept you should be at any given move. Allow yourself trial and error, and imagine you've got all the time in the world. That's how you get closer to achieving that flow.

HAWK

Yes, Sensei. (under his breath, to Demetri) It's like listening to Moon once she gets all worked up.

DEMETRI

The two would probably get along, true. (stares transfixed at his hand karate chopping the air at a pace so slow as to be almost imperceptible) You know, I think I could get to like this exercise. It's like I can literally feel atoms parting before my hand.

HAWK

Careful not to split any.

DEMETRI

(chortles) See, now this is the kind of nerd humor you could try more often instead of that tryhard asshole shit.

HAWK

(shrugs) Why not have both? Variety is the spice of life.

DEMETRI

(quickly points with his head towards Sam) So you've been looking to introduce more variety into your life already?

Hawk smirks in response, saying nothing.

Cut to Daniel walking up to Sam and Miguel with a slightly concerned expression. Sam greets him with a smile which however does not strike him as genuine.

DANIEL

Nice going, Sam. Wish I could still stretch myself out like this... but I can see a muscle twitching here (indicates the back of her left leg's thigh). Something's not quite right, try to work it out.

SAM

Maybe I just need vitamins?

DANIEL

Well then try to be outside more during the day and less during the night. (moves over to Miguel) Now you look like you could do with a boost, and a more extreme one, too. Something the matter?

MIGUEL

Sorry, Sensei, I guess I'm just kinda worn out after last night, not feeling fully up to snuff.

DANIEL

Hey, that's alright. If you can't focus, then try it some other time. This is for you to learn things about your body and how it functions. I don't have to be there for you to hold your hand.

MIGUEL

(cheerless smile) So it's like going through puberty again?

DANIEL

Karate puberty, kinda, yeah. (squeezes Miguel's shoulder) Take a breather, champ, after my girl kept you up all night I'm sure you deserve it.

Sam frowns slightly as Daniel winks at her. Miguel gives another forced smile, then puts his body at ease, and walks off towards where Johnny is stationed, now with only minor limp in his step.

Daniel looks at him go with tenderness but also certain amount of concern. He is brought out of his contemplation when he hears the ringing of his phone from the inside of the dojo.

DANIEL

(sighs) Will I ever be allowed to get through a class without that thing going off?! Hope I'm not about to hear about Tom Cole again.

He goes to answer the call. We cut to Miguel, moving past Mitch trying and failing miserably at performing a slowed-down roundhouse kick.

MITCH

(after falling on his behind) Crap! Anyone's got the number for these camouflaged ninjas they use in those Chinese ping-pong videos? Need someone to hold me up!

CHRIS

Nope, but I could put you in touch with a tower crane operator.

MITCH

You've got his number filed under "taxi"?

CHRIS

Nah, "debris disposal", which is why I thought of him when looking at you.

Miguel chuckles (though with obvious melancholy) as he helps Mitch up (grimacing as he pulls at his hand). Then he goes over to Johnny, who regards him quizzically.

JOHNNY

Callin' it a day already? Not so psyched for karate sleep inducement exercise?

MIGUEL

No, Sensei, it's not about that, I don't think it's so silly as you make it sound. It's just that I can't keep my mind on training right now.

JOHNNY

That bad, huh?

MIGUEL

So you noticed?

JOHNNY

Noticed?! You kiddin?! Your girl was like she wanted to splatter you all over the walls!

MIGUEL

Alright, alright, please keep it down, Sensei! I don't want the whole dojo to know about our argument.

JOHNNY

With that death stare she's been givin' you, I say unless you set things straight fast, people are gonna put two and two together anyway.

MIGUEL

Well, about that... I'm kinda lost right now, was hoping you could give me some advice here?

JOHNNY

Uh, kid, what the hell gave you the idea that bouncing between one karate chick and another was gonna end well? Back in my day you'd go looking for a pick-up to aerobics classes... So I've gathered you had another run-in with Miss Furious? And Robby too? Well, walk me through it, what was that all about?

MIGUEL

(snorts) Miss Furious?! Hey, that's a good name for her actually! Well, don't tell anyone you know this from me, but Ms Furious was behind the hit on Hawk. (Johnny's brows go up) I figured I'd go negotiate with her, given our past and all. What ended up happening was we fought off a bunch of thugs who were trying to have their way with her. Robby showed up to help, too. That's why I have these stitches and bruises all over.

JOHNNY

So you rode in on a white horse, huh? And how did the lady in distress react?

MIGUEL

Well, we talked... then we screamed, then it got... physical (Johnny smirks)... but without anything indecent! I think I got her to see reason at least somewhat, and we parted peacefully. But then I came here to see Sam and she smelled Tory's perfume on me, and that gave her ideas I can't talk her out of... though in retrospect I admit I kinda flubbed explaining to her what actually happened at first... (solemnly) Oh, and there's one more thing.

JOHNNY

(alerted) What?

MIGUEL

I'm pretty sure Robby took out one of these guys permanently.

JOHNNY

(almost jumps up from his seat) What?! You sayin' Robby killed someone?! You sure?!

MIGUEL

(nods gravely) Smashed a bloke's skull with a skateboard. He looked pretty damn dead afterwards.

JOHNNY

God dammit, Robby! What the hell were you thinkin'?! Jesus, if they get him for it, he won't be out of jail 'till I'm slobbering into a bib in a nursing home!

MIGUEL

Sorry you had to hear this from me, Sensei. Those guys looked like serious trouble, too. Like some cartel goons.

JOHNNY

Keeps gettin' better an' better. He did it with a skateboard, you say? Son of a bitch, I think I saw the two of them just a while before that happened. Damn it, should've grabbed them both by the scruffs of their necks and seated them the hell down to give them a little talkin' to.

MIGUEL

(smiles ruefully) As much as I'd like to see that, Sensei, you can't blame yourself for not knowing in advance such a thing would happen... (apologetic) I suppose whatever problem I'm having now must seem trivial compared to what you're going through at the moment...

JOHNNY

No, don't say that, Miguel. Not much I can do for Robby right now, maybe I can at least do something for you. So you're sayin' Miss Samshine's not gonna listen to reason? Huh, well that's so unlike a LaRusso...

MIGUEL

I think she's offended that I would go talk to Tory after everything that's happened between them.

JOHNNY

Well, it sounds like you did the right thing, whatever she may be thinking about it. I say the last thing you should do is apologize.

MIGUEL

(frowns) You sure about that?

JOHNNY

(nods) You apologize and that'll only be proof for her she was right to be mad at you in the first place. I say you stand firm, keep your chin up, don't let her shout you down. After all, you did this to make things better for all of you. Did you or did you not?!

MIGUEL

Yes, I did, but...

JOHNNY

Well then act like it! Don't twist yourself into knots trying to explain things, that's what the guilty ones do! Behave like you've got nothing to answer for! You do that and she may eventually start feeling ashamed for giving you shit about this.

MIGUEL

(skeptically) May...

JOHNNY

(shrugs) Or ignore what I say and prostrate yourself before her. See if that works out for you. Two types of men in this world - doormats and doorkickers. Easier to be a doormat, but from my experience girls prefer a doorkicker even if they're loath to admit it. But then what the hell do I know, I'm just a dumb boomer...

MIGUEL

(snorts) Boomer?! Didn't know you had that word in your vocabulary. Someone called you that, Sensei?

JOHNNY

May have...

MIGUEL

Well then I assure you I don't think of you like this. You're my father, Sensei. You've been my father long before you started dating my mom... and I appreciate you're willing to talk to me about this stuff. Who else could I ask about this if it weren't for you?

JOHNNY

(smiles, obviously moved) Anytime, Miguel, anytime.

MIGUEL

Thanks, Sensei... dad.

Cut to Daniel inside the dojo, picking up the phone, showing surprise upon looking at the screen, accepting the call.

DANIEL

Mrs Diaz, hello, what a pleasant surprise, how are you doing!... Well, we're fine, what can I help you with? Miguel is here with us if that's what you're calling about... Certainly, I'd be happy to help in whatever way I can... Especially if it has to do with Miguel!... Stay with us? Why, what happened?... Oh, of course, if you don't feel comfortable talking about it on the phone... So how long a stay we're talking about?... I see. Well, I'd certainly be happy to host Miguel while this matter is being sorted out, and I'm sure the rest of my family will not object, as long as he's willing, of course... Sure, I will tell him he's absolutely welcome at our house. I can say we have some experience hosting boys his age at this point... You're welcome, don't worry about it, I hope this matter can be resolved soon, but in the meantime we're all too happy to help... God bless you too, Mrs Diaz, bye.

Cut to CARMEN, holding the phone while sitting at the table at home, alone, misty-eyed, a piece of paper in her hand. We switch POV to see the writing. It says (in Spanish): "You've seen what I can do here. Now you've got 48 hours to come to Webster Ave, 47 if you don't want Yaya to get checked in at one of those fancy facilities they've got at the border... and if you don't want Miggy to be handed a one-way ticket for a chartered flight home, a special offer he can't refuse. Love, Manny." She crumples the paper as she puts down the phone, letting out a sob...

Cut back to Daniel as he ends the call, eyes lingering on the screen, his expression deeply perplexed. He dials Amanda's number.

Cut to Johnny and Miguel sitting together, chatting casually now, though neither can hide his heavy heart. We see Hawk approaching them.

HAWK

Hey, what's goin' on, Serpiente? Couldn't keep up with the pace?

MIGUEL

Just having one of my bad days, Hawk. They have a tendency of coming after rough nights.

HAWK

Rough nights, huh? That's why you looked like you'd already gone through ten rounds on the mat by the time we started?

MIGUEL

Pretty much, yeah. What can I say, haven't exactly been giving my body its due rest lately.

HAWK

So you want me to make the recovery before you do or what? You're the champ, doesn't mean you have to stay hardcore day in day out. I hope at least whoever you've been goin' hardcore on came out lookin' worse than you do.

MIGUEL

Thanks for your concern, Hawk. And yeah, that'd be a good bet to make.

HAWK

Cool, but save some of these schmucks for me, ok? I too have a score to settle.

MIGUEL

Uh, it's not this kind of schmucks I'm talking about.

HAWK

Not Cobra Kai?

MIGUEL

Not any Cobra Kai we know and love. Plus it was in defense of someone. I suggest you stick to that yourself too.

HAWK

Well, don't consider me converted to the ways of Miyagi-Do just yet... even if a certain someone from their side seems to be makin' eyes at me.

MIGUEL

What are you saying?!

HAWK

Givin' you a fair warning, Serpiente. Your princess' lustful gaze is goin' where it shouldn't.

MIGUEL

(ruffled) Hey don't talk about her like that!

HAWK

Ooh, sorry dude. What, you gonna beat up a cripple now?!

MIGUEL

Think that little cast makes you a cripple?! Give me a break!... But seriously, thanks for coming clean with me on this, I appreciate it.

HAWK

I did say we're for life, didn't I?

MIGUEL

(smiles) You did, and I can see now that you really meant it.

HAWK

(shrugs) Well, you are lucky I've got a date with Moon lined up.

MIGUEL

(beaming) Hey, I'm happy for you, man. And you're doing the right thing. Trust me, dealing with two chicks at the same time - not worth it.

HAWK

Right, who could take this much craziness at once?

MIGUEL

And this many punches to the face?

HAWK

Sure... though I think there are some guys who are into it.

MIGUEL

Ooof, yeah, but I don't think it's the face they want punched.

HAWK

Yeah, how about we drop this subject...

MIGUEL

No argument here.

They quiet down just as Demetri enters the scene.

DEMETRI

Heeey, you mind if I join your clobbered club here? What you guys scheming about? How you're going to make the next lesson about hyperspeed karate?

MIGUEL

Anyone here looks to you like they're up for anything hyperspeed?

DEMETRI

Well, maybe your Sensei, seeing as he'd only have to bark the order and then step back and watch.

JOHNNY

Sounds like someone's looking to get hyperspeed kicked out of the club.

DEMETRI

Oh c'mon! At least let me try out the membership benefits?... This club got any?

MIGUEL

Having someone to grumble to about your relationship woes counts?

DEMETRI

Wouldn't have any use for that. Being Yas' good little handmaiden suits me just fine.

HAWK

(under his breath) Talk about the guys that are into humiliation. (speaks up) Hey, think your Yas Queen would be up for coming with Moon and me to the bowling alley tomorrow night? Obviously it'd be pointless to ask if you'd be up for it...

DEMETRI

Bowling alley? You? With your hand?

HAWK

Well if I use my left hand, others might just have a shot at winning. So what do you say?

DEMETRI

Got your other shot out with that left hand already? Anyway, I think she could be persuaded, with just the right amount of sweet sweet supplication.

HAWK

(shudders with a disgusted grimace) Alright, spare me the details of your bondage, Demetri. I'm only asking because I know Moon would like that, not because I enjoy the company of that prima donna.

DEMETRI

Oh, Hawk, it makes my heart melt to see you so considerate. Alright, you can expect us there aaalmost hundred percent.

HAWK

(mock-wipes his brow) I was so worried Yas... you would refuse.

DEMETRI

Looking forward to busting your balls, pal.

HAWK

Now that would be a welcome reversal for you, huh?

Demetri opens his mouth to utter a retort, but he stops himself as he hears approaching steps behind him. He turns to see...

DANIEL

Hey, isn't it a bit early for you all to be taking a break?

DEMETRI

Oh, we're totally dishing out karate moves, Sensei. It's just, you know, too slow for the naked eye to see.

DANIEL

I'm sure you are, Demetri. Miguel, can we talk for a second, just the two of us?

MIGUEL

(gets up, nonplussed) Sure, Sensei, what is it?

DANIEL

(as he motions him aside, voice lowered) I've got a call from your mom, she told me she wanted to clear this with me first before letting you know. Have you heard from her already?

Cut to Johnny, straining to listen in on the conversation.

MIGUEL

Uh, no... Heard about what?

DANIEL

I'm not really sure what this is about, thought that maybe you'd know. She asked me to let you stay at our house for some time, and I agreed. Does this make any sense to you?

MIGUEL

(startled) No, I... I don't understand why she would ask this of you!... I, I'm gonna call her.

DANIEL

Sure Miguel, just remember we are here for you, whatever might be going on.

MIGUEL

Thank you, Sensei, I appreciate it, but I don't get it...

He breaks off, turns to go get his phone, only to see Johnny standing in front of him.

JOHNNY

Well, I think I do, Miguel. Your mom... had an unexpected visitor...

A close-up of Miguel's face as his features stretch out in mounting bewilderment...

CUT TO

INT. COBRA KAI DOJO - AFTERNOON

We cut to TORY and ROBBY as they enter the dojo together. Inside, they are subjected to the sight of the other STUDENTS already positioned in rows, facing TERRY SILVER, in sensei garb, hands on his hips, overseeing the gathering with a regal bearing, with KREESE standing slightly to the back. A fine-tuned warm smile appears on his face as he gives a slight nod to the newcomers.

SILVER

Glad you're here, friends. Please fall in, don't worry about your gis, there's an urgent announcement to be made.

Robby and Tory exchange looks as they take their places among the Students. Silver's eyes sweep over everyone once more before he proceeds to talk.

SILVER

Very well then, once again greetings to my precious Cobra Kai quiver. As you have undoubtedly noticed, my instructors have not joined us today. Some of you may already have an idea as to why. As for the rest of you, well, let me just say that their conduct has fallen far short of my most modest expectations, and as such, they have been made aware that their services would no longer be required. (sighs of relief erupt between the rows, Tory and Robby exchange puzzled looks again) I realize now the extent of the distress their presence has caused in many of you, an extent that definitely surpassed what any conscientious sensei should deem acceptable for his students. As such, I now deem an apology to you all to be in order. (he bows with apparent contrition) Please allow me to express my sincerest regret for having individuals such as these in my employ, and for offering their less than satisfactory services to your Sensei and my friend. (straightens back up) I am fully aware that trust once severed may take forever to mend... Hence I wish to waste no time making amends. I would like to offer you all a field trip of a quite special kind, a trip to the northern reaches of the Rocky Mountains, to a location where top-secret martial arts sessions have been taking place since the beginning of their existence in these lands. I will be honored to lead our next lesson there, and I assure you the significance of that place will become clear to you once you... experience it. (excited murmurs resound among the students, Robby regards Silver with evident skepticism) Anyone willing to take me up on this offer should report back here within two hours. You will be given a ride to the airport afterwards, where my jet will be awaiting you. I promise to fly you back the same night... Oh, and bring warm clothes if you're coming. That, and a no-liability clause signed by your parents or legal guardians you can pick up on your way out. Now, are there any questions.

KYLER

Yeah, uh, where exactly are we going?

SILVER

Wind River range, Wyoming, west of the Gannett Glacier. (smirks) As I've said, you may want to bring more than your gis for the trip. That's as much as I'm willing to disclose. You're just going to have to see for yourselves.

TORY

What are we going to do once we get there?

SILVER

(shrugs) Practice, spar, nothing out of the ordinary for you. It is the properties of the place that will make all the difference... (voice raised) Any other questions? (Students just give uncertain looks) Very well, that's all from me then, once more, please accept my apologies, and I hope to see you all again shortly.

He bows again, then walks out of the dojo, patting a stack of pages laid near the entrance on his way out. The chimes ring him farewell.

KREESE

(stepping forward) At ease. You've heard the man, we're going out, no usual class today. You're dismissed. Go pack your mittens.

Now it is the Students' turn to bow as they then scramble for the locker room to change from their gis and make the trip home and back in the allotted time. A few forsake the locker room and dash out of the dojo still in their karate garb. Only Robby and Tory remain in their spots, waiting for the other Students to vacate the scene. They exchange a knowing look, then walk to Kreese's office.

Cut o the inside of the office as Kreese's bespectacled eyes shift from the desk to the door as it is being knocked on.

KREESE

Come in.

Tory and Robby step inside, their expressions uneasy.

KREESE

Uh, yes, I expected you. Sit down. (neither Robby nor Tory appear inclined to take the one available chair)... or don't. So, what is it you came here to talk about?

ROBBY

Has Silver told you what happened?

KREESE

He told me his attack dogs came back with tails tucked between their legs, and he got them to sing. So you two were able to handle them by yourselves? Well, congratulations, someone here finally giving me reasons to feel proud.

TORY

It wasn't just us exactly, but whatever. Did they sing why we had to fight them off?

KREESE

Sang enough for us to draw our conclusions. Hence them being relieved of their duties. Sensei Silver assured me it wouldn't stop at that.

ROBBY

And you trust him on this?

KREESE

(nods, frowning) I trust him more than any man I know. Sensei...

ROBBY

...But why?! Is this guy even a real sensei?! Everything about him screams fraud!

KREESE

(icily) Do not interrupt me again, Robby. And do not presume you have the wisdom to judge a man like Sensei Silver. He and I... we took the path to karate mastery together. He may have started on that path as a follower of mine, but he continued on that path long after I ceased to walk it in order to become a sensei myself. What he has learned since then, I... I feel it may go beyond even my understanding. His manner may be more ... flamboyant than you're used to, but what this man can offer you... (shakes his head) is without compare.

TORY

That path you speak of, where did it lead you?

KREESE

It led through hell, Tory. A green, rotten, muggy, sweltering hell. And it led us to places that this... (looks around) this complacent worldcould only have seen in its deepest nightmares.

TORY

Why would you go to such a place?

KREESE

Because we felt it was an appropriate course for dead men like us. We thought we were in hell already, so we may us well head down into its lower circles. We knew nothing then, but through pain and deprivation we learned. We kept going, thinking each time we've reached the limit of what a human body can endure, only to be proven wrong again and again, left not knowing if it was a blessing that we survived, or a curse that we were to suffer forever. And so it went until...

He goes quiet, his mouth left partly open, his eyes staring as if into some other reality.

ROBBY

(softly) Until what?

KREESE

(in a monotone voice, like a man hypnotized) Until we came to the point where the end of our journey was taking shape on the horizon. Then in the night I had a... I was given a premonition of what I would have to do to reach it... and I shirked from it, I pulled out, I left Terry on his own under the cover of that same night.

ROBBY

What was it that you would have to do to get to your goal?

KREESE

Face everything that I ever held dear, dead or alive, as if for the first time once more, and then kill it, over and over again, until every last bit of it would be ground to ashes and purged out of my mind... irreversibly. I... I couldn't make that sacrifice. The horror... the horror of it was what finally broke my will to push ahead.

TORY

(uncomprehending) How could such a thing even be possible?

KREESE

Back there, our notions of what is or isn't possible... hold little sway.

ROBBY

And you think Silver went all the way?

KREESE

(nods solemnly) Yes, I think he showed strength where I faltered. The next time I met him... he was a changed man.

ROBBY

So is it trust you have in him... or is it fear. (he and Kreese lock eyes) Fear of one who was willing to go to places your conscience blocked you from?

Kreese does not answer, merely staring into Robby's eyes with a deep scowl. Robby maintains eye contact, his look unwavering, though with beads of cold sweat running down his brow. Finally, Kreese' gaze lets up, to be directed at the desk again.

KREESE

(coolly) You'd best get ready for the trip. You are coming with us, I presume?

ROBBY

(looks at Tory, her expression deeply perplexed) Yes, Sensei, we're coming...

CUT TO

EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - AFTERNOON

We cut to the sight of a Cessna Citation Sovereign, Silver's private jet, parked and with its stairs lowered. The view gets obscured by a limousine coming to a halt in front of our POV. We see the CHAUFFEUR step out of the car, then open the door for the passengers, who consist of the STUDENTS, including TORY and ROBBY, and KREESE. As the passengers spill out of the limousine, they see SILVER coming down the stairs, his hands held up and to the sides.

SILVER

Welcome, friends! Welcome aboard the SilverJet! Not to be confused with that bankrupt limey line Silverjet. This one won't leave you stranded in some shithole while the management is desperately looking for a Mid-East oil baron clueless enough to bail them out. Oh no, this one's got Silver's Seal of Solidity, so climb aboard, make yourselves comfortable, and don't worry about anything. We'll be at Haas Airport in no time, and from there we'll switch to another mode of transportation. (he walks off the steps, motions Students in) I'm afraid most of our usual refreshments are off limits at the moment, seeing as you have to remain of sound mind for our lesson, but feel free to badger the crew for soda or coffee. The latter would be recommended in fact, for there's still a long day ahead of us. (he gestures Robby and Tory to stop as they approach the stairs). Now you, Poster Boy, madam, will you accept my humble invitation to join me in my private cabin?

ROBBY

(eyebrows going up) And what exactly do we owe this privilege to?

SILVER

Oh, the privilege is all mine! But of course, you performing that job for me with such proficiency, and you both representing the best of our dojo certainly entitles you to special amenities.

ROBBY

(looks to Kreese, who gives him a slight nod, then to Tory, finally shrugs) Alright then, lead the way, Sensei.

SILVER

(seeming oblivious to the mockery in Robby's voice) After you, my star students. Go all the way up.

Robby ascends the stairs with Tory and then Silver in tow. At the top he is met by a HOSTESS in a skimpy uniform, who, with a snow-white smile, motions him to another set of stairs inside the jet.

ROBBY

(looking over the hostess) Thought we were going somewhere cold?

SILVER

Jessica here is staying put. Someone has to keep the couches warm, isn't that right, honey?

JESSICA

(smiling unflinchingly) Of course, Mr Silver sir.

Tory gives them a questioning look as they continue to ascend...

INT. SILVER'S PRIVATE CABIN

They enter a cramped compartment with a low ceiling. Two leather-bound couches flank a tiny round glass coffee table. There are no windows here, only what looks like a wall-mounted phone, an intercom, and a small luggage compartment.

SILVER

Apologize for the limited space. This section... was not part of the original design, hence the... compromises we had to make to fit it in.

ROBBY

(taking the seat, shifting to make room for Tory) That a phone over there? Is it from this century?

SILVER

Oh, that?! (guffaws) Only barely, indeed. But it is technology I've come to rely on. It's a satellite phone, you can make a call with it from anywhere on earth.

TORY

You're a well-traveled man.

SILVER

A restless soul would be a more appropriate description. Motion is life. Stasis is death... Perhaps I can interest you in something to drink? I told the passengers alcohol's off the table mostly since I didn't want them to raid my bar cabinet, but for you I can absolutely make an exception.

ROBBY

Uhh, thanks, you made it sound like the coming lesson will best be experienced sober. (Tory nods along)

SILVER

That is true. A wise choice. Very well, allow me then to thank you once again for carrying out so diligently the task I entrusted you with. I can reassure you that if it weren't for you, we wouldn't be able to set our little plan in motion.

ROBBY

What sort of plan was it, anyway?

SILVER

Uh, just a handful of sand thrown into the cogs of our competition. Something to keep them occupied.

ROBBY

Wasn't a bomb or anything, right?

SILVER

(chortles) Haha, no, as you can see I'm fully equipped to drop bombs from up high. No, it was just a little spanner in Danny boy's works. Don't worry, it was nothing that should weigh on your conscience... nothing to weigh on it any further, I mean.

ROBBY

What are you talking about?

SILVER

Oh, well, perhaps I've been presumptuous, perhaps I've been wrong to assume what happened yesterday was your first rodeo...

ROBBY

(frowns) You mean the...

SILVER

The fate of the smiling man, of course. Or rather, the man whose last smile left is the rictus grin of death. (casually) My employee, too.

ROBBY

Uh, look, Sensei Silver, I'm sorry about your loss, but...

TORY

That scumbag tried to rape me!

SILVER

(nodding slowly) So I have gathered. Now don't you worry, I haven't brought you here to extract damages out of you, or even chastise you about it in particular. The man was a lousy employee, truth be told. And you sent him off in a way I can only wish I could apply to all my underperforming underlings. Saved me the bill on the severance package, too! (guffaws)

ROBBY

So why have you brought us here?

SILVER

Well, I'd like to hear your impressions. So was it your first dance with the devil under a pale moonlight?

ROBBY

Assuming I interpret this question correctly, then yes.

SILVER

Did the dance sweep you off your feet? Did you feel the rush of blood as if a dam burst inside your veins?

ROBBY

I, uh, I don't think it quite registered with me at first...

SILVER

You mean your conscious mind didn't register it, but the little beast inside you did, didn't it? After you split the guy's skull, the fight went on, is that right? What do you remember of it?

ROBBY

Well, I guess I went pretty ham on these goons.

TORY

(protesting tone) He fought to protect us!

SILVER

(disregarding Tory, a shark grin) You felt the bloodlust, you admit it. Wasn't it exhilarating to indulge it? Didn't you feel power surging through you? Weren't you left craving for more?!

ROBBY

I... it may have gone to my head a bit.

SILVER

Oh no, don't talk as if you were in the grip of some delirium. It wasn't a grip that came over you, it was a release.

TORY

A release of what?

SILVER

A man's most primal, fundamental desire, the yang to sex' yin, the death-dealing instinct, pent-up through a lifetime of society-mandated suppression. Congratulations, Robby, you're now on the side of those who have broken through that conditioning. Wittingly or not, you've torn off the chastity belt you've been shackled with throughout your life. A virgin no longer (winks to Tory, who is regarding him with a disturbed expression).

ROBBY

Thanks, but I'm not sure if I'm happy to be in this club.

SILVER

Why, it beats even the mile high club, my boy! Don't turn your back to the road that's now been laid open for you. The "normal" life will leave you with deep-seated longing, one that you'll never satiate so long as you play according to society's rules. A real life is the one that feeds upon life. And you, Robby, have the opportunity to live your life to the fullest... if you can throw off the fake "morals" that the weak have been imposing upon the strong.

ROBBY

The strong... like you, you mean?

SILVER

I dare say I have no regrets about the life I've led. Man's a predator by nature, and it is a predator's lifestyle that befits him. You've already received the taste of what such life entails. You have no reason to cower before the prospect of it.

ROBBY

I do not cower before it.

SILVER

(leans in) Then embrace it, Robby! Start carving your path through life instead of being funneled through it like through a cattle chute. You do that, and I'll be there for you to show where the fences got their weak points. This old wolf knows a thing or two about that.

ROBBY

And how do I know I won't just be funneled down another chute?

SILVER

You won't have to know it, you'll feel it, Robby. (leans back) Trussst me on this.

ROBBY

(skeptically) Yeah, I'll think about that.

SILVER

Careful, you think too much, and you may let thoughts other than your own talk over you.

ROBBY

I think my own thoughts, don't worry.

SILVER

Is that so? Most people don't...

Silver reclines on his couch, arms clasped behind his head, eyes closed, an ironic smirk on his face.

SILVER

You may go join your peers if you wish. Just remember - the window to seize this opportunity will not stay open forever.

Tory and Robby head out, in some hurry. Silver then punches a button on the intercom. Jessica's chirpy voice comes out.

JESSICA

Yes, Mr Silver sir? How can I be of service?

SILVER

Bring me a glass of Chianti... with a leg of lamb... medium rare. Also make sure my friend John is well-attended... Oh, and one more thing. If Kyler, the Asian jock, asks for anything to drink, make sure to add the special ingredient...

CUT TO

EXT. HAAS AIRPORT - EVENING

We cut to a sweeping vista of the sun setting behind the orange horizon in the background, and the dark, orange-outlined shape of the SilverJet setting on the runway in the foreground, a traffic control tower to the side. The plane lands and comes to a halt, and as the stairs are being lowered, a bus drives up alongside it.

Cut to the inside of the plane as SILVER descends from his cabin to meet the PASSENGERS gathering for departure.

SILVER

Hope you're all well-rested after the journey and that the SilverJet and its crew left you with nothing to be desired. Now, we are still a ways off from our destination, but don't worry, we'll continue not to be bound to land for most of the way remaining...

He steps aside so as not to block the way to the now open exit, and motions for the others to disembark. ROBBY and TORY are the last to leave along with KREESE, who is stopped by Silver on the way out.

SILVER

Having a pleasant journey so far, Captain? Will you accompany me for the rest of the way?

KREESE

A magnificent plane you've got, Terry, and some of the crew... (casts a glance at grinning JESSICA)... indeed leave nothing to be desired. Sure I will go with you. What's our next step?

SILVER

Can't take a plane to where we're going now, so we'll have to split our merry band (looks at Tory and Robby). Our star students are welcome to stick around with us too, though.

KREESE

I'm sure they'll be happy to.

The pair exchanges troubled looks as they are ushered outside. We cut to an external shot where everyone is herded into the bus, with Silver taking a spot beside the driver. The bus doors close and the vehicle takes off. We then cut to a close-up view of the Students' faces, looking out the windows curiously, as the bus enters a big chessboard of helipads, rather sparsely occupied, and stops before two Super Pumas and one EC135 chopper, all jet black, pilots standing stiff as ramrods in front of them. Gasps of excitement can be heard among the group.

SILVER

(addressing the crowd) Alright, these beauties will serve as your taxis to the Wind River Range, look to the jet jockeys and take the seats as they show you. (to Kreese and the pair) Captain, my Cobra Couple, your seats on the SilverStinger (indicates the EC135) await.

ROBBY

Then I guess it's time to get to da choppa.

SILVER

(chuckles) How apropos our predator discussion.

KREESE

You guys talked about movies?

SILVER

Not quite, though I did basically encourage Poster Boy here to live one.

KREESE

As long as it's not "Johnny Got His Gun."

SILVER

More along the lines of "Johnny Handsome". (winks at Robby, who does not look flattered)

The four of them board the SilverStinger while the Pilots motion the other students to one or the other Super Puma. Finally, everyone has taken their seat and the choppers rev up their rotor blades and take off.

CUT TO

INT. SILVERSTINGER - EVENING

We are inside of Silver's chopper as the Passengers look out the windows at the snow-capped mountain range stretching out before them, dimly illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun, giving it a somewhat foreboding appearance. Below them, seemingly endless expanses of forest pass by, interspersed with lakes, rivers, and the odd lonely winding road. Strong gusts of wind can be heard thumping against the chopper's metal shell.

Silver sits by the door, looking down through its windowpane, with an all-too-pronounced self-satisfied smirk. Finally he addresses Kreese, who sits opposite him.

SILVER

Been a while since you rode one of those wildcats, isn't that right, Cap'n?

KREESE

First time since Nam.

SILVER

Best time we had back then was aboard the Huyes, don't you think?!

KREESE

(tilts his head) If anything back there counted as a 'good time' then that'd probably be it.

SILVER

More than the 'good time' with clap-ridden whores we had there, that's for sure.

KREESE

(cautious nod) Even on the ground, seeing the Cobras in action... that was something to behold, too.

SILVER

Oooh, the Cobras, yeah, the harbingers of hellfire. We'd look at them like they were Valkyries coming down from Valhalla... except they would take back Charlies by incinerating them with napalm... well, them and a few of of our boys every once in a while, but let's not be too finicky. I can tell you, I may not have grown to hate that fuckin' war as much if I had spent it in the cockpit of one of these.

KREESE

Those who never had to step foot in the jungle were the ones that won the lottery. But you didn't have to pilot the Cobra to rain death from above. You remember Gun-ho Gunnar?

SILVER

(bursts out) Oh yeah, that fucking maniac! He'd burn through his weight's worth of M60 rounds in a single half hour flight! Son of a bitch must have single-handedly made them step up production output back home. Like he thought bullets were fucking seeds and he was trying to plant the jungle back after it got sprayed with Agent Orange! You know what happened to him?

KREESE

I remember. I was with him then, a routine recon patrol. He walked off to take a dump, set off a trap, a stake drove into his gut. I remember shit spilling from the hole when they pulled it out... (turns to Tory) Apologies for the... graphic details, my dear.

TORY

(seemingly unmoved) It's alright, Sensei.

SILVER

(a little more somber) Hell of a way to go. I'm surprised it wasn't lead that spilled out. With the jaw on this guy, you'd think he munched on bullets for exercise.

KREESE

The guy would blow through his ammo supply first chance he got. Wouldn't be left with any to chew on. On the huey, you wouldn't tear him away from the gun, he'd unload on anything that moved, any village we flew over. Charlie-controlled or not, was all the same to him.

SILVER

C'mon, Cap'n, they were all Charlies, some just figured they could fleece Uncle Sam and the GIs for a bit before stabbing us in the back. Good ol' Gunnar had the right idea, raze the shit to the ground, leave a smoldering crater for the commies. I'd say as much - when I saw him behind that M60, I don't think I've ever seen a man so in his element ever since. It's like he was fuckin' born to squeeze that trigger.

KREESE

A job a monkey could do. Hardly anything to brag about.

SILVER

We are monkeys, Cap'n. Chimps go into bouts of blood frenzy same as us, but we... we have the potential to make this frenzy sublime... biblical in scope. Ever read the Bible? It's one massacre after another. Same with the Quran. Poor dumb Gunnar, he may have technically amounted to little more than an extension of that gun, but boy did he drink his fill. What more could there be to a life like his?

ROBBY

(cutting in) Is it even a life at all?

SILVER

(snorts) Oh, but it is. A culmination of life in fact, an epitome, a being stripped of all fears, doubts, distractions, the closest man can reach to the very essence... You know the story by Kafka, Metamorphosis?

ROBBY

(as Kreese nods) May have read the Sparknotes.

SILVER

Nabokov said about it that if the poor sod-turned-bug hadn't died at the end, he would have sprung wings and flown off. Well, you know what I say about Johnny's Got His Gun?

KREESE

We're all ears.

SILVER

(rises from his seat) That if the poor limbless, eyeless, mouthless bastard in that one wasn't set on making himself into an anti-war hero, he could've got himself strapped to the underbelly of a Cobra, an M60 shoved where his dick once was, and he could be happier than ever as a human gun turret, winged and blasting away eternal.

He walks over the door, unlocks it, slides it open, letting in a rush of howling, freezing cold wind. The Passengers huddle in shock, as Silver turns his back to the opening, grabs the edges, assuming a cross-like stance, and leans out of the chopper, throwing his head back and greedily gulping the icy air, as his ponytail flaps madly in the racing airstream. Finally he leans back in to gaze with eyes shining... no, burning like white phosphorus at the others, who stare at him dumbfoundedly.

SILVER

(at the top of his lungs) Uuuhh, to sense the power of this metal beast tearing through the atmosphere, what more do you need to feel alive?! Maybe only the throbbing of rounds fired from the chamber, faster than the eye can see!

KREESE

Terry, for God's sake, close the door!

SILVER

Close it?! Maybe you'd like to close it, Johnny? Or your Poster Boy? Close the door on me for good?! (leans back out) All it would take is a little push, you may not get another chance so soon! I wouldn't even be mad! This is a proper way for a man to die! By way of annihilating force! What do you say, Johnny? You saved my life all these years ago, don't you want to fix that now?!

KREESE

Don't be ridiculous, Terry! Get back inside!

SILVER

(a cruel laugh) Oh no, it's you who is getting outside (directs his fiendish gaze at Kreese and the others, who look uncomprehendingly and with mounting terror... suddenly, his smile turns mellow, his tone casual) I can see our stop from here. You guys better suit up.

He pulls himself back inside the chopper, slides the door mostly closed. Looks at them like nothing happened.

KREESE

(stupefied) Terry... what the hell was tha...

SILVER

Oh, don't worry about it, Cap'n, you know my taste for theatrics. I did want to give you a fair shot, yes. I owe you my life after all, only right that I allow you to take back what's yours.

KREESE

(low voice) Why... why would I want to take your life?

SILVER

(momentary shark grin) Maybe because you regret bringing me up there all these years ago, maybe because you don't like what came back out... (again reassuring expression, laying his hand on Kreese's shoulder as the chopper shakes from the landing impact) But I am glad you didn't take the opportunity. Now how about we drop by our old friend tomorrow?

KREESE

(frowning) You mean...

SILVER

(nods) Yeeess, I'd say a little courtesy visit is long overdue, how about you? I have... scouted his premises so that I know exactly how to make a surprise entrance. And I even have a gift all packed-up and ready!

KREESE

A gift, huh?

SILVER

Oh yes, it's gonna be a real nail-biter to see him unpack it, maybe even more than a nail biter (chuckles smugly).

KREESE

(cautiously) Alright, sign me up.

SILVER

Excellent. (to Tory and Robby) Alright, you guys bundled up? Then time to head out.

He slides the door open to reveal a ten or so yard wide stretch of relatively flat, snow-encrusted surface, with a beaten path leading up and through a narrow ravine, snaking between massive ice-glazed rock outcroppings, and with the bottom lined with small weathered cobbles. As the other helicopters take turns landing, unloading its human cargo, then flying away into the night and taking their lights with them, Silver steps in front of the growing, shivering crowd, pulls out a flare and lights it up.

SILVER

Now listen up, my quivering quiver! We're dozens of miles away from civilization and only yards away at any point from a steep plunge to your deaths! You will follow me now like I was the Pied Piper... unless you want to take your chances getting back on your own, but then I should warn you - this is no run-of-the-mill hiking trail.

He turns to and proceeds up the path to the ravine, the light in his flare dancing to the rhythm of the blazing wind. The Students follow in tight formation, looking at each other uneasily.

We cut to a view of the flare-led procession coming to a radically narrowed stretch of the ravine, its right side now solid rock wall, and the outcroppings forming its left side abruptly breaking off, leaving a multiple yards wide opening into the abyss below, requiring the hikers to hug the right wall - punctured with metal spikes to give additional purchase - to get to the other side of the narrow and perilous interval. Silver turns to his followers as he nears the stretch.

SILVER

Don't rely on your feet too much here. The path is slippery, and if you don't hold on, then we'll see you a thousand feet below... if we ever find your body, that is.

He puts the flare between his teeth, and begins crab-walking along the narrow ledge, his hands darting from one spike to the next.

Tory stops just before the the path narrows into a shelf, lets the others pass by her. Robby notices this and backtracks, to see her barely stopping herself from hyperventilating.

ROBBY

You ok?

TORY

(draws in air, puts on a brave face) Yeah... I'm ok.

ROBBY

Not a fan of heights, I reckon? Hey, don't sweat it, I'll be right behind you.

Tory gives him a look, then braces herself and heads for the ledge. Robby follows. As she makes one cautious step after the next, Tory is struggling to keep looking straight ahead, but when she steps on one particularly slippery spot and her foot slides forward into nothingness, her head jerks down as she pulls her body back from taking the foot's lead. The sight of the dark chasm causes her to hyperventilate again, and she clutches the spikes so tightly her knuckles turn white.

Robby stops behind her, speaks out trying to sound reassuring.

ROBBY (cont'd)

It's alright now, you're doing great. Just a few more steps...

TORY

Oh shut up, Robby. Just give me a moment...

With her eyes closed, she lifts her head up, presses her forehead to the icy rock, takes a few more deep breaths, finally allows herself to open her eyes again. In front of her stretches an endless dark canopy of innumerable stars in their inscrutable arrangements, with the luminous halo of the Milky Way manifesting like a tear in the fabric of the cosmos. Tory takes in the vista as if spellbound, with Robby not failing to notice that.

ROBBY

Amazing, huh? Never looked at the sky this high up.

TORY

(shakes her head, whispering) It's... wonderful.

Robby's hand tentatively lets go of the spike, then feels its way towards Tory's hand, and gently slides onto it. Tory's hand lets go too, and turns around to grasp his. They stay like that for a moment, the last two on the ledge, until impatient shouts from the other side force them to resume their crossing.

We cut to another view inside the ravine, illuminated only by starlight reflecting in the snow and ice. A yawning black round void takes up a large section of the otherwise solid mountain wall on one side. The scene gradually lightens up, as the flare in Silver's hand emerges coming up the slope, followed by Silver himself, his brows and mustache frosted. He approaches the void, which now takes on the jagged contours of a cave entrance, reaching up to at least twice his height, and wide enough that it would take several people standing in a row to span its breadth. Silver stops before the imposing opening, turns to face the Students trailing in his footsteps, and speaks up, his voice echoing in the mountain's expanses.

SILVER

This is it, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Smilodon Cave! A cave where sabretooth tigers' bones were found mixed with those of early men, a place where savage battles to the death have been waged dating to the aeons primordial, leaving only crushed, slashed and gnawed upon remains to bear them mute witness. These witnesses now bid you, the next generation of warriors, their silent welcome. But don't worry, (he smirks)you fight with enough fervor and you may just avoid joining their ranks and having your bones petrified in permafrost.

KYLER

So we've gone all this way to check out a cave with some old bones?

SILVER

It's not just a cave, Mr Okumoto! Not even just a cave whose very walls have been permeated with blood and sweat of combat... It is also a cave located nearly ten thousand feet above sea level, which means you won't just be fighting here for victory... You'll be fighting for every dose of oxygen you take, as that particular element is of... short supply at this height.

The Students exchange incredulous looks, a reaction that brings a mischievous grin to Silver's face. He points with the flare, which is about to run out, inside the cave.

SILVER

Now make yourselves at home, everybody!

He leads the way inside, soon becoming an insignificant orb of light in pitch-black darkness. The Students begin hesitantly following him inside.

ROBBY

(to Kreese) You've ever been here?

Kreese shakes his head as he heads inside. Robby and Tory look at each other, then with a sigh step into the tomblike murk.

TORY

(now almost totally submerged in darkness) It feels warmer here...

They make a few steps in, only to be blinded by the sudden explosion of light discharged by massive stage lights mounted in both lower and upper corners of the cavern, an explosion followed by the screeching and flapping of wings of startled bats scrambling to fly out of the cave. As the Students' eyes adjust - a few kids ducking in terror as the bats zoom over their heads - they are faced with the sight of giant, roughly cubic rock chamber, its ceiling festooned with ominous javelin-like stalactites, some reaching all the the way down to the rock-strewn ground glittering with moisture, forming pillars and giving the site a vague temple-like quality. A quality further intensified by skulls and other bones, human and animal, some intact, most fractured or broken, lining the corners like in an ossuary chapel, and the large scale primitive paintings adorning the walls, of stickman-like human forms among various prehistoric game animals as well as svelte quadripedal shapes with huge fangs obviously meant to represent the sabertooths - all rendered in a rusty pigment.

RICKENBERGER

(among astonished murmurs, his mouth agape) Holy crap, this is incredible! How come I've never heard of this place?!

SILVER

(smiling with satisfaction, stepping away from a wall-mounted light-switch lever) It is quite breath-taking, isn't it? Well, let's just say this place is not exactly open to the public.

RICKENBERGER

But isn't this federal ground?

SILVER

Technically, it is, but not all federal ground allows the same level of access. For some sites you need... special privileges.

(walking to and pointing to one of the paintings) According to some theories these paintings were made to commemorate every creature that breathed its last within the cave's walls... and were drawn with the very same creature's blood... (he turns to the Students with a wicked glint in the eyes) So... any prospective painters among you?

ROBBY

(doing his best to ignore the implication) How could they reach so high?

SILVER

(shrugs) There are tales of giants in ancient America... there are tales of rock climbers, too. Pick whichever seems more plausible to you.

He marches off to the opposite end of the cavern, where we can see steam floating up. He approaches what turns out to be a small hot spring flanked by club-shaped stalagmites. He draws in the humid air audibly, turns back to the gathering.

SILVER

(to Kreese) Sensei, would you be so kind as to give our quiver a warm-up? It's been too long since I last took a dip here... or just tell 'em to take care of it themselves and come join me. There's... just about enough room for two.

With a sweeping movement, he takes off his jacket, then his blazer and undershirt, and finally unbuckles his belt and as his pants flop down, throws himself backwards into the pool, the steaming water churning as he hits the surface. He lets out a contented murmur, puts his back against the pool's edge, lifts his arms from the water and spreads them out, and assumes a resting position, though obviously taking advantage of the pool serving as a good vantage point to watch over the rest of the cave.

KREESE

Enticing, but I'd rather stay dry. (to the Students). Alright, take your winter clothes off, won't be needing them here. (looks to Silver) Then I'd say you're going to prepare for a tournament at ten thousand feet.

SILVER

(nods with a malign smirk) Reading my mind, Sensei...

CUT TO

INT. THE CAVE - NIGHT (CAPTION: SOME TIME LATER)

We cut to TORY engaged in a fight with RICKENBERGER, circling each other, both sweaty and breathing heavily, the combination of oxygen-thin and at the same time steamy air rendering the conditions positively extreme. As they move around, struggling not to slip on the wet ground, with little pebbles sent skimming away by the scurrying of their feet, a warlike rhythm is being drummed out by a number of Students sitting with their legs crossed and banging on the hollow skulls with elongated bones. After a while spent on no-contact dancing, Tory decides to go on the offensive, prompting Rickenberger to spread his legs wide to more firmly entrench himself on the spot. Tory closes in, leans back and down to plant her hand on the ground, and throws a side kick at his chest. Rickenberger absorbs the hit with his forearm pressed to his ribcage, is thrown back by the impact, but manages to maintain balance by propping himself up with his other hand. Tory follows up with a sweep, which Rickenberger dodges by launching his legs into the air and twisting his body to his left, falling on his hands and left leg, back facing Tory, raising his posterior, and throwing a back kick, which drops her to the ground before she can regain balance after the sweep. Rickenberger spins to face her and advances, ready to throw hooks, but a slippery stone makes him slide uncontrollably towards her, and Tory kicks him savagely in the ankle, tripping him over and onto her.

Rickenberger groans with pain, but is able to thrust out his elbow to slam into Tory's waist as he falls, eliciting a gasp from her in return. He grabs her by her sides and pulls himself up her body, but his face meets her fist along the way, and he recoils back, only to find his neck in a vise-like grip of Tory's thighs. His already oxygen-starved head quickly turns purple as his attempts to pull her limbs apart fail resoundingly. However, in a last-ditch attempt at setting himself free, Rickenberger throws a punch at Tory's kidneys, making her contort in pain and relax her grip enough for him to wriggle free and dart away, panting and clutching his throat as he gathers himself up. Tory gets to her feet, as Rickenberger's pallor turns from purple to furious red, and he moves in to launch into a series of hooks and uppercuts. Tory is reduced into defense, dodging and blocking, wincing as she takes an odd hit, but what initially seems like a relentless onslaught quickly runs out of steam, as it becomes apparent that Rickenberger's body has not sufficiently replenished its oxygen reserves before commencing the assault. His moves become increasingly sluggish, and his expression more groggy, finally leading up to a sloppy right hook, which, as Tory sidesteps it, pulls his body forward, giving Tory an opportunity to front-sweep him, and then jump onto his back and wrap her arm around his neck as he collapses.

Her knees pin his arms to the ground as she chokes him out with her teeth clenched as he lies face down. We cut briefly to Robby looking increasingly alarmed as Rickenberger's stirrings become more and more languid, but just as his movements cease, Tory loosens her chokehold and gets up. Rickenberger's body curls up into a foetal position as she moves off of him, and his chest heaves noisily. Tory turns to Kreese, who is about to pronounce the fight over, when his utterance is cut short by the booming voice of...

SILVER

FINISH HIM!

Tory looks at him, taken aback, then at the still prone and pathetically defenseless Rickenberger, then at the still alarmed Robby, whom she shoots a reassuring look. She then raises her fist as if to strike, and brings it down, but midway through her fist halts in place and opens in a conciliatory gesture.

TORY

(to Rickenberger) You finished?

RICKENBERGER

(jolted by the sight of the onrushing fist, his eyes bugging out in shock; it takes him a moment to comprehend what just happened, at which point he cautiously reaches out for her hand) Yeah... I'm finished.

TORY

(as she pulls him to his feet, she stares defiantly at Silver) He's finished.

Silver leers at her, chuckling to himself softly, saying nothing.

KREESE

Alright, off the... ring. Now this leaves the other half of the semifinalists...

He looks pointedly at Robby and Kyler, who waste no time getting into positions. The skull-drum rhythm resumes as the two bow to each other. We notice that Robby's expression appears somewhat faint, while Kyler's gaze seems hollow, as if there was no light behind those eyes. Kreese belts out the kiai and Kyler immediately begins darting from side to side while closing the distance to Robby, who moves in a more guarded manner, carefully studying the opponent's body language. Kyler's motions become more rapid as he inches closer, swaying his upper body from one side to the other, lurching his body at Robby only to instantly swerve off in another direction just as the other fighter is about to initiate a counter, trying to get Robby to commit to a misdirected strike - a tactic the latter has grown familiar with.

Finally, Kyler makes a sudden straight dash at Robby, who is caught by surprise enough as to hesitate away precious microseconds and be left with room only for punching counterattacks. Kyler takes Robby's jabs in a stride, slams into him with his shoulder, pushing Robby back and making his feet slide on the ground. Kyler lunges for his leg, but Robby manages to shoot his knee up and strike Kyler's breast while throwing himself onto his back. The blow takes the air out of Kyler's lungs and straightens him up, as Robby reacts with a stifled cry to his back landing on some pointy stones. He lifts his upper half, only to bring it back down as Kyler's low roundhouse kick sweeps over him. Kyler then hurls himself at prone Robby, his right shoulder first, but Robby rolls off to the side... and then rolls back as Kyler in turn hits the rough surface and yelps in pain, flinging himself at Kyler's body in an attempt to hold him down.

In the ensuing wrestling the fighters' strength is put to the test. Robby begins on top, wrapping his legs around Kyler's midsection and trying to force his arms to reach Kyler's throat, as the latter grips his wrists tightly and jerks his body to and fro trying to shove Robby to the ground. Robby's neck and forehead veins bulge as he wheezes through gritted teeth in the effort. Kyler merely stares at him with the same absent expression and sweats profusely as, degree by degree, he persists in tipping Robby to the side without allowing him to close in on his neck. Finally, with one more twist of his body and simultaneous shove of his arms, he manages to overturn him. Now it is Robby's turn to keep Kyler from getting on top. He tightens his leg grip, but the difficulty of getting oxygen in means this is done at the expense of his arms. Kyler senses the weakening of pressure and starts pushing his hands towards Robby, to which the latter reacts by suddenly pulling his arms in and headbutting Kyler as his head is forcefully jolted forward. Kyler is left blinking rapidly, but retains enough awareness to tear his hands out of Robby's faltering grip and coil his arms around Robby's shoulderblades, squeezing them hard. Robby tries to stretch out his shoulders to break Kyler's hold, but the wrestler's clasp does not relent, with his biceps instead increasingly squeezing Robby's shoulderblades into his neck, cutting off his airflow. Robby's breathing becomes a frantic gasping for air as his clouding mind realizes he is fighting a losing battle. Just before the lack of oxygen incapacitates him, he unwraps his legs from Kyler's midsection, and with a heavy shove of the now freed lower limbs he manages to extract himself from the suffocating squeeze.

Robby rolls onto his back, having burned through the last of his oxygen, his contracted respiratory tract not returning to shape quick enough to process enough thinned air in time. He wheezes as he feels his consciousness slipping away. In his blurred vision, below the chandelier of stalactites, he sees Kyler stopping short of another attack and instead leaning over him with a confused frown, only to be forcefully pushed away by frenzied...

TORY

GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM!

She kneels beside him, looks into his dazed eyes, then reaches for his head and tilts it back, pulls at his chin to open his mouth and clasps her own mouth over his to blow in air, then lifts her head up, rips his gi open, and starts pumping his chest. As she does so, Robby's tilted back head is pointed at...

...Silver, whom we now see in a close-up as he stares intently, not at Robby or Tory, but at Kyler, who is returning his gaze, transfixed, his eyes wide and his expression mindless. Even greater close-up of Silver's face, his absolutely still eyes glinting with a light unlike any to be found within the chamber. Then, with no other facial motion, he begins silently mouthing words. One word, then a second, shorter, word.

Kyler's body jerks slightly, as if swept by an electric shock. His face again registers awareness of his surroundings, and it immediately starts scanning the environment, until his attention is drawn to the spiky ceiling of the cave. He steps away from the crowd gathering around Tory and Robby.

Cut back to Robby's POV, now somewhat less hazy, as Tory again leans over his face for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. As she presses her lips to his, a cluster of stalactites becomes visible just above the crown of her head. Suddenly, a small blurry shape hurtles from outside of his field of vision and bumps with significant force into one of the mineral javelins. As the round shape bounces away, the javelin noiselessly detaches itself from the lump, and begins falling, perfectly straight down, right onto Tory. Tory blows for the final time into Robby's mouth and is about to peel her lips off when Robby's limbs shoot out in unison, seize her, squeeze her tight - to Tory's shock evident in her eyes - and push them both away from the spot, making their bodies roll in a tight embrace as the stalactite glides past them and crashes onto the ground, shattering into small chunks, which Robby's back shields Tory from.

Robby finally detaches his mouth from Tory's.

TORY

HOLY SHIT! (breathes heavily, then looks at Robby, who is smiling faintly, and has a realization) Wait a minute... you didn't need that last mouth-to-mouth, did you?

ROBBY

(grins) You were doing such a bang-up job, I couldn't stomach stopping you.

TORY

You're lucky you lost that match, Mr Keene, or your mouth would be getting a taste of something else in short order.

ROBBY

(feigning hurt feelings) So that's the thanks I get for saving your face from being turned into a popsicle shish kebab?

TORY

You got your chance to be a shining knight, what more do you want? (as they get onto their feet, with other Students cheering them and patting them on the backs) How the hell did this thing dislodge itself like that?!

ROBBY

I don't know...

He looks over other Students' shoulders to take a peek first at Kyler, now standing among the others with a face registering pure confusion, and then at Silver - sitting motionless like a poised snake behind a shroud of rising steam, his expression indecipherable, his eyes... boring through him no less penetratingly than that stalactite was set to bore through his rescuer's skull...

CUT TO

INT. LARUSSO'S HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON (CAPTION: SOME TIME EARLIER)

We cut to a view inside the house and out the window on the second floor. A feminine hand pulls away the curtain to show DANIEL's car rolling into the backyard. As the vehicle moves closer, we can discern MIGUEL in the passenger's seat next to Daniel. The hand hurriedly draws back the curtain.

Cut to the view of the front door - we hear steps approaching from outside and the door opens, revealing...

DANIEL

(smiling) Hi, Anthony, how was your day?

ANTHONY

(holding the door open) Hi, dad! It was great, how was yours... wait, what is he doing here?

He points to Miguel walking after Daniel, hauling a large bag. We switch to Anthony with his alarmed expression as AMANDA comes in and lays her hands on his shoulders, obviously notified of everything beforehand.

MIGUEL

Hello, M... Amanda.

AMANDA

(cheerfully) Hi! Didn't expect you back so soon! (to Anthony) Miguel is going to be our guest for the time being, as his family needs a place for him to stay, and you, my dear, is going to do your best to make him feel welcome and comfortable, is that right, darling?

ANTHONY

(breaks free of her grasp) WHAT?! We are going through this AGAIN?! It's been what, a couple months since we got rid of that last guy?! Is there a sign above our house saying "Karate Orphan Storage"?!

AMANDA

(perfectly measured tone) You're going to stop complaining right now or I'm going to lock you up in the broom storage. (gives Miguel her pearly white smile) You've met Anthony, I believe.

MIGUEL

(awkwardly) Uh, yes I have. (to Anthony) Hi, Anthony. Look, this is just a short-term thing, I promise I won't be a bother...

ANTHONY

WHATEVER! Sure, make yourself at home, my cereals are in the right cupboard, my toothbrush is the yellow one in the cup on the bathroom sink, and the password to my Macbook is G-O-A-W-A-Y. Help yourself to all of that! (He is about to storm off, but then stops, turns around, and throws his slippers off his feet) Oh, yeah, have a go at these too!

He walks off barefoot, fuming. The others look at each other awkwardly.

MIGUEL

Uuh... I guess we got that out of the way.

DANIEL

(uneasily) Right, just don't mind him. I'll have a talk with him... when I manage to grab ahold of him.

AMANDA

(walks to Miguel and embraces him) Yes, don't worry about anything, darling. You are a part of the family now as far as we're concerned. I'm so sorry you have to deal with such a thing, but rest assured we're here for you in all ways you may need.

MIGUEL

Thank you, Amanda. I... still think this isn't the best idea. I should be there with her... protecting her. If mom wasn't so adamant...

DANIEL

Well, if it's true that your father has won custody over you back in Ecuador, then he may get the authorities involved, in which case it'd be best for you to lay low. You're going to turn eighteen soon, and then he won't have any more power to do anything.

MIGUEL

(shakes his head) I don't get it. It's been so long, I can't believe he'd be trying to find me all this time! Or that he would even still care what was happening with me!

DANIEL

People sometimes do change their minds about this stuff...

MIGUEL

I don't even remember him all that well, but... I seriously doubt he had some big change of heart. I'm worried, worried for mom, especially.

AMANDA

You have a right to be worried, but remember she has your Sensei to watch over her.

MIGUEL

Yeah, I guess, but he can't be around her all the time.

DANIEL

You can visit her in the hospital... just be careful about it. I'll be coming over every day, too, I promise.

MIGUEL

She wouldn't even let me step foot in our home, standing outside with my bag packed already. It's all so strange...

AMANDA

She must have had her reasons. Now try to put your mind at ease. We'll get through this, don't worry. Go get some rest, your room is ready. Daniel...

DANIEL

I'll show Miguel to his room, of course. By the way, where is Sam?

AMANDA

Not sure, must've gone out I guess.

DANIEL

Probably. Alright, Miguel, come on. And let me take care of this... (he reaches for the bag)

MIGUEL

Oh no! There's no need, really...

DANIEL

C'mon, tough guy, you've got your back to think about, let me carry that.

MIGUEL

Hey, don't make me out to be a cripple!

DANIEL

(smirking) Not a cripple, a rehabilitant.

MIGUEL

Same difference...

They end up carrying the bag up the stairs together. We cut to SAM sitting at her desk, hunched over coursebooks, as the two sets of footsteps go past her door. We hear Daniel talking indistinctly on the other side of the wall, with Miguel occasionally chiming in, until Sam puts headphones on to drown out their voices...

Cut to the same scene, except noticeably dimmer. Sam is dozing in her chair, the headphones now silent. She is suddenly jolted awake by a knocking on her door. As she gets her bearings, the knocking resounds again. From the manner of knocking she can tell it is not any of her regular housemates that is standing at the door...

SAM

I'm doing homework right now.

MIGUEL

Trig?

SAM

Integrals...

MIGUEL

I could help with that, I think...

Sam sighs, gets up from her chair, walks over to and unlocks the door.

SAM

Oh, so you've moved in to be my personal math assistant, how wonderful!

MIGUEL

Well, at least then I could be useful for something here... Look, Sam, can we talk?

SAM

Got your s-tory straight already?

MIGUEL

It was straight from the get go. It was I who got it tangled up, and I'm sorry about that.

SAM

Looks like someone's got problems with geometry. Too bad, I was about to get into it next.

MIGUEL

Well then maybe you could lend me a hand with that?

SAM

Do your dirty work for you? Don't think so.

MIGUEL

There's no dirty work here, I swear! Please, Sam, can we start over?

SAM

There are only so many times we can start over, Miguel.

MIGUEL

But I'm not at fault here! Not this time! I did what I had to, for us!

SAM

(mockingly) Took one for the team, huh?

MIGUEL

Actually yeah, kind of. It gave me no pleasure to do that, if the shape I came back in didn't make that clear enough.

SAM

Poor Miguel, got out of the habit of being treated rough, hm?

MIGUEL

Well, today morning you did your best to remind me what it's like so thanks for that.

SAM

Thought you may have been feeling up for second servings after yesterday.

MIGUEL

Difference is what treatment I received yesterday was fully warranted, today's not so much.

SAM

(eyebrows bouncing up) Oh, is that so? So you came to her as a penitent, huh? Did she forgive you the grave sin you committed with me against her?

MIGUEL

What I did to her was wrong, Sam... which is not to say what she tried to do to you wasn't wrong, but I had to answer for what I did to feel in my heart that I no longer hold guilt over all this.

SAM

So did she absolve you of your guilt? Without even the need of my head on a platter? Well, I'm truly amazed to hear she's such a merciful soul. Tell me then, what did you have to do to earn her forgiveness?

MIGUEL

I helped her fight off a bunch of goons. I've told you that already.

SAM

Well, how convenient, a bunch of goons accosting a dame just as you come seeking her favor. What a story!

MIGUEL

There are witnesses, though I doubt you'd be eager to talk to any of them. But you're right it was quite a coincidence... Maybe it happened for a reason.

SAM

Uh, of course, it's Providence watching over you, what else could it be?

MIGUEL

I make no claim one way or another. The fact is what I say happened, happened. Read into it what you will.

SAM

Uh-huh, and I guess she gifted you her perfume on your way out to remember her by?

MIGUEL

Well, the fight wasn't the end of it. We got into an argument afterwards, and the argument... turned to blows.

SAM

Oh, so now you did fight her?

MIGUEL

(shakes his head) It wasn't a fight, it was me making myself into a target of her punches...

SAM

Haha, well aren't you a martyr! Next time I lose a fight I'm going to say the same thing! And these punches were all it took for you to get so... soaked in her scent?

MIGUEL

It wasn't just the punches, but... (sighs) I'm sorry, Sam, but I cannot tell you what happened then, not because I feel guilty about it but because it wouldn't be right for me to speak of it. Just please trust me when I say I didn't cheat on you then in any way, shape or form... nor did she try to get me to cheat.

SAM

(shakes her head slowly) I want to believe you, Miguel, I really do. And I'd be so easy, too, with all that conviction in your voice... but how can I be sure when I know you're capable of cheating?

MIGUEL

That's not fair, Sam, you can't hold that against me forever, you weren't single when that happened, either.

SAM

(shrugs) Well, guess I'm not being fair then. Plus I've got the excuse of being drunk that night.

MIGUEL

That's a weak excuse. And you really think I would do the same thing again when the first time led to so much pain I couldn't ignore?

SAM

I don't know, maybe you think our relationship's been... tainted by this, that you can't be happy in it knowing the sin at its core?

MIGUEL

No, Sam, I don't think that! We... we make mistakes, we screw things up, doesn't mean we can't be happy! We just have to try and mend instead of leaving things broken... especially when it's not a thing but another person that's been hurt.

SAM

(sighs) Well, I'll tell you what, you're a hell of a fixer if you've really managed to mend her.

MIGUEL

(cautious smile) If she ends up fixed, then I'm pretty sure I won't be the only one to take credit... or even the main one.

SAM

(bitterly) Don't remind me... (looks at her notebook) On the subject of fixing, how about you look at this and fix whatever I screwed up in those equations? (she tosses him the notebook) Should be easier work than yesterday, though maybe not as rewarding.

MIGUEL

(resigned) Alright, Sam, I will...

He turns to leave, but as he takes a step away, he is stopped by...

SAM

Miguel, wait. (as he turns back to her) Tell me, what happened at your home?

MIGUEL

(gives her a sad smile) My pops showed up, eleven years later. Apparently he's got custody over me and is trying to drag me back 'home' in Ecuador. Mom wants me to hole up here until he gives up or I hit my b-day. And since your parents agreed, I guess you're stuck with me for a while.

We see as Sam's acerbic expression turns into one of genuine concern...

CUT TO

INT. BAR - NIGHT (CAPTION: SOME TIME LATER)

We cut to JOHNNY, hugging a glass, his elbows splayed on the counter, his chin nearly propped up against it. He looks even less fresh than he did in the morning, his eyes lazily following the news on TV. A BARMAN approaches him, looking concerned.

BARMAN

Call you a cab home, boss?

JOHNNY

(snorts, slurs his words) I've got a car, don't you worry. And my home is a bit drafty right now, so I'd rather stick around some more. (lifts the glass) Fill that back up, I still got a few bucks left, don't you think you've squeezed me dry already.

BARMAN

(reluctantly takes the glass) No one here wants to squeeze you dry, boss. This isn't a strip club.

JOHNNY

Strip club? Damn, what's the last time I've been to one? Those were the days (chuckles). Nights so wild you'd wake up in a piss-smelling alley without your wallet the next morning. Worth every penny, hehe. Chicks didn't know all that cash I threw at them was fake anyway. Or maybe they did know? Uh, who can tell now...

BARMAN

Well, we are an honest establishment. When we throw patrons out, they get to keep their wallet. So what was that about a drafty house? A broken window?

JOHNNY

(angrily) Uuuh, that rotten son of a bitch and his pea-shooters. Thought he was gonna get the best of me! Just you wait, you greaseball, I'll get you, I don't know how, but I swear I will. You can bet the house on it!... I mean, your house, mine probably isn't worth a dime at this point.

He takes the glass from the mystified Barman, gulps down the golden liquid, then looks pensively at the half-empty glass. Suddenly, his eyes go wide as in the glass' reflection he notices MANUEL entering the bar.

JOHNNY

(under his breath) Oh you've gotta be fuckin' kiddin' me! (kisses the glass) Fortune smiles upon the bold! (Manuel walks past him to his table without giving him the slightest notice) Oh, I'll teach you to ignore me, you slug. (he lifts himself up, but his legs turn out so wobbly that he almost immediately plops back down onto the barstool) Dammit! (quieter now) Guess I better dry out a little. Now don't you go anywhere, jabron.

He continues to observe Manuel's reflection in his glass. When Manuel heads to the bar, Johnny pulls his hood on, though Manuel continues to - almost ostentatiously - pay no heed to him or any other patron. Then, Johnny notices another moving shape on the surface of his glass, and it immediately grabs his attention. Unbeknownst to him, he is looking at SILVER, wearing an identical beige blazer to the one we saw him slip out of in the cave. He walks briskly to the table where Manuel has now returned with a wine bottle and two glasses.

SILVER

Manuel! Mi hombre! How are you doing?

MANUEL

(stands up to receive Silver's bearhug, though without much enthusiasm) Silver, (Johnny's brows shoot up upon hearing that name) so you made it after all. (points to the bruises from his encounter with Johnny) I had better days.

SILVER

Made it indeed, had to fly halfway across the country, but... where there's a will there's a way as they say. Shame to hear this happened to you. I trust this matter's been taken care of?

MANUEL

So the boys say. Fuckin' imagine! Some blondie plastered lookin' fuckwad comes out of his hole while me and seńorita are having our polite conversation, and starts buttin' in on us! Thought I'd send him packin' with my piece, but then, out of fuckin' nowhere, he starts throwin' around some fuckin' kung-fu shit! Kinda like what you do, right? (Silver nods indulgently) I mean, what are the fuckin' odds, eh? I had to back down or I coulda got seńorita hit in the crossfire, I swear to God. Like what the fuck is this place, kung-fu central? Even fuckin' bums know this shit?!

SILVER

You may be onto something here, amigo, the town does seem to have a... tradition of this stuff going back to like the eighties. So a blond kung-fu guy, you say, probably no spring chicken either (Manuel nods), lived just across the door from seńorita. Interesting... (smiles) But of course this doesn't matter any more, does it?

MANUEL

The boys swear up and down they've wasted him and his place, to send a message, loud and clear.

SILVER

I'm sure they did, glad I could lend their services.

MANUEL

Yeah, gracias, Silver. (drinks the wine, cringes) Fuckin' barman told me this swill was the best fuckin' wine they've got here. Think I'm gonna slam his fuckin' nozzle against the counter if he pours me such shit again. Why did you have us meet in a dive like this anyways?

SILVER

Guess I appreciate the... aura?

MANUEL

Aura? (looks around as if trying to spot it) Of fuckin' what, puked up cheap booze?

SILVER

(shrugs) Of aching hearts, dashed hopes, agonizing desperation, bubbling resentment, naked craving and burning desire. Those are all building blocks of fortunes of men such as myself, and from time to time I enjoy coming over to places like this to be reminded they're just as bountiful now as they've ever been.

MANUEL

(dismissively) Uhh, Silver, you and your philosopherizing. So, uh, how's that whole ruse at... what was it?

SILVER

LaRusso Auto? (Manuel nods, we cut briefly to Johnny, his expression tensing up, as he strains to hold onto every word) It's going exactly according to plan, thank you so much, my friend, for helping us get the ball rolling.

MANUEL

Don't mention it. Least I could do after the favor you've done for me.

SILVER

Tom Cole's played his part flawlessly, your unwitting double's been busted, and Danny boy's been left scratching his head about all of this. Just the way I wanted.

MANUEL

You're one petty fuck, Silver, but I like that about you.

SILVER

Thank you, but there's nothing petty about what I've got in store for him. This was just the first strike, a downright prank compared to what's coming. Anyway, there's another thing I'm going to have to ask of you.

MANUEL

Well, go ahead, may as well give me an extra reason to stick around in this dump.

SILVER

I believe this is actually on your agenda already , but I'd like to reiterate - when you leave the country with your seńorita, I want you to take the boy too.

Johnny's face registers shock as he listens in.

MANUEL

Por supuesto, that's the main reason I'm here. Seńorita... (waves his hand) She's used up. I'm gonna drag her back mostly to make her pay for hidin' my chico from me. Miguel... now him I want back.

SILVER

(a cruel grin) Excellent, then I don't even have to ask this of you.

MANUEL

Not at all, but what's in it for you?

SILVER

Kid's involved in Danny boy's karate joint, and I want Danny boy... defanged as much as possible.

MANUEL

What, Miguel's into that shit, too?! Fuckin' hell, can't walk two steps here without tripping over that bullshit! Guess I better be careful around this kid at first...

SILVER

That'd probably be well-advised... (smiles warmly) but I have no doubt your... fatherly authority will prevail.

MANUEL

Oh, you can take that to the bank, I'm not gonna have my kid prancing around like some fuckin' queer (checks himself) Uh, no offense... but I'm gonna teach him how real men settle things.

SILVER

None taken, but I hope I don't have to warn you not to underestimate karate. Now excuse me for a bit...

MANUEL

Yeah, yeah, sure...

His voice trails off, as we cut back to Johnny, barely containing himself now, pulling his wallet out, throwing his last couple of banknotes on the counter, then hauling himself to his feet, and unsteadily turning towards the exit, his hooded head kept low. He makes a couple of groggy steps, when suddenly a man's shoulder slams into him. Johnny stumbles back, dropping his wallet and clinging to a table to stop himself from toppling over. He nervously adjusts his hood as the Man squats down to pick his wallet. As he stands up and hands it back to him we see it is...

SILVER

Sorry, fella. Here, you dropped this (as Johnny snatches the wallet out of his hand, Silver's eyes sweep quickly over the exposed driver license inside. His gaze then instantly darts to Johnny's face, their eyes meet, and Johnny momentarily freezes up, mesmerized by Silver's piercing glare. Silver's mouth stretches out in a grotesque grin) Well, well, well, who would've thought? Looks like I'm seeing ghosts. (raises his eyebrows) I'll see you around... Johnny boy.

Johnny snaps out of his trance, then with a mixture of anger and alarm turns away from Silver and scrambles for the exit. We hear faint voice of Manuel as Johnny bursts through the door.

MANUEL

Who the hell was that?

SILVER

Just some barfly, never mind.

We cut to Johnny staggering towards the parking lot. As he nears it, he starts looking around frantically until he spots Manuel's Lamborgini.

JOHNNY

There you are, greasewheels. You may be fast, but I ain't gonna let you slip...

He stumbles over to his Dodge Caravan, gropes for his keys inside his pockets, then drops the keys on the ground as he pulls them out, squats to pick them back up, clutches the door handle as if for dear life when he tries to stand up. He tries to put the key inside the lock, and after a few failed attempts stops in place and lets out a deep sigh.

JOHNNY (cont'd)

God damn it, no way I'll be able to stay on his tail. The hell I'm gonna do now? (he pulls his phone out) Call a fare? Ain't got money for it anyway... (looks at the Lamborgini, then at his phone again) Wait a minute, you can track this son of a bitch, yeah, that's right!

He shambles to Manuel's car, looks it over.

JOHNNY (cont'd)

Ok, now where do I put you...

He moves to the front of the car,then drops to his knees and looks underneath it.

JOHNNY (cont'd)

Guess I'm gonna have to shove it right up your guts. Now you just stay quiet, baby, this won't hurt a bit.

He slowly pushes himself underneath the car as much as he can, then reaches up with his phone and proceeds to stuff his hand into the space beside the wheel,and then further along the axle, until he is up to his shoulder inside. He pulls out his now empty arm, black with grease. But his satisfied smirk soon turns to a face of dismay.

JOHNNY (cont'd)

SON OF A... I forgot about the number!

He ducks back under the car, shoves his hand into the aperture, now with much less finesse, forces his arm in until he finally manages to grab ahold of the phone and retrieve it, now also stained with grease. He wipes the screen with the sleeve of this hoodie, starts frantically clicking.

JOHNNY (cont'd)

Uhh, where was it, where was it... (frowns, pushes his fist into his forehead) Hang on... settings, yeah, now what? (pushes the first option on the menu, which happens to be "About phone," scrolls down) Oh yeah, right! (clicks "Status") Got it!... Fuck, no way I'm gonna remember that! Gotta write this down somehow. (he looks around, sees a broken bottle lying by the curb, crawls towards it) Guess you're gonna have to do. (he picks up the bottle, then pulls back his sleeve, exposing his forearm, points the broken jagged edge to his skin, draws his breath) Alright, here it goes.

He starts 'writing' on his skin with a prickly point of the bottle's edge, leaving white lines on his skin which quickly turn red, bloody red in some spots, his eyes not leaving the grease-splotched screen. As he does so, we hear the bar's door open. Johnny directs his eyes there, startled. He sees Manuel step out the door, and scrambles to hide behind the Lamborgini.

JOHNNY (cont'd)

(as he scratches down the final numbers, under his breath) Fuck, fuck fuck, not now!

Finally he is finished. He dives under the car just as Manuel gets inside it, rams his arm into the opening with a force that would definitely set off the car alarm if Manuel didn't turn on the ignition in the same instant, wriggles his arm inside to get it deeper as Manuel turns on the GPS, and starts pulling it out just as Manuel shifts into reverse. Johnny scrambles to free his hand as the wheel starts spinning inches from his face and rending the sleeve of his hoodie, and finally wrestles it out milliseconds before having his arm run over. He rolls away as the car moves back, exposing him to the view of...

MANUEL

WHAT THE FUCK?!

He stops the car, gets out, looking furious, and advances threateningly on Johnny' whose face is concealed in the darkness by the hood.

MANUEL (cont'd)

THE FUCK WERE YOU DOIN' TO MY CAR?!

JOHNNY

(now intentionally slurring his words) That your car? She a beaut! I, uh, must've took a nap there, sorry man.

MANUEL

A NAP, HUH?! YOU FUCKIN' JUNKY WASTE OF SPACE, I'M GONNA TEACH YOU TO LAY YOUR FILTHY FUCKIN' LICE-RIDDEN HANDS ON MY CAR!

He runs up at Johnny, who stumbles away in feigned terror. Then he stops, picks up the bottle Johnny dropped earlier, and hurls it at him as Johnny retreats.

MANUEL (cont'd)

YOU'RE LUCKY I HAVEN'T BROUGHT MY BAT OR I WOULDA BASHED YOUR FUCKIN' BRAINS OUT! (under his breath) Better stay clear lest it turns out to be another one of these fuckin' kung-fu layabouts. (raises his voice) THAT'S RIGHT, RUN, YOU FUCKIN' DIRTBAG!

Satisfied, he turns back to his car, looks it over for any scratches or other damage, then gets back inside and drives out. Johnny watches him from behind a street light. As he makes sure that his phone has not fallen out from under the car, he allows himself a contented smirk.

CUT TO

EXT. LARUSSO AUTO - EARLY MORNING

We cut to the sight of a car pulling up by the dealership. Out of it steps LOUIE, who then proceeds to the building's entrance. He is about to unlock the door when he freezes up upon hearing behind him the voice of...

JOHNNY

Hey, Sloth! Your boss in there?

LOUIE

(spins towards him, irritated) You?! What does it look like to you?! No one's there yet! (sees his shirt, it's a different shirt than the one worn by him in the bar, but it has a pronounced bullet hole in the center) Wait, are you a zombie or do you get hand-me-downs from a morgue? What the hell do you want?!

JOHNNY

Think again, Eraserhead. I'm the bullet-proof man. And what do I want?... (he breaks off for a second, a look of realization on his face, then points his finger at Louie) Ratface's your buddy, is that right?

LOUIE

You mean Anoush? Yes, he is. What's it to you?

JOHNNY

He's the one's got framed, hasn't he. Well, what if I told you I can take you to the guy who set him up?

LOUIE

WHAT?! But... how would you know who that was?!

JOHNNY

Guess you'd better call me Detective Lawrence. (pulls back his sleeve in a theatrical gesture, shows Louie his arm) These numbers is how we find him, and I'm going to bring him down. The guy's dangerous and may have guards around him, so you better think hard. You want your friend to get justice... or not?

Louie eyes him with a baffled look, which slowly turns into one of determination.

LOUIE

Alright, if what you say is true... then sign me up... me and the boys.

FADE TO BLACK