The Rapier or The Role of a Heroby

Don Thomas

Don Thomas4101 Bible Grove Rd.Lexington TN, 38351Home # 731-845-5450Cell Phone # 731-834-4172

FADE-IN

EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY

INT. KIYOMITSU'S HIDEOUT - LATER

In a large room is Kyitomitsu and Gloria, who is tied to achair.

GLORIA REYNOLDSYou are never going to get away withthis!

KIYOMITSUGet away with it? I already have,your friend the Rapier and his partnerhave been brought to their knees. Iam afraid that they are no longerwith us.

Gloria looks very upset.

GLORIA REYNOLDSJason?

KIYOMITSUYes, your lover the Rapier is dead.

GLORIA REYNOLDSYou bastard! You're going to getyours, and when you do, I'm going tolaugh!

KIYOMITSUYou would do well to learn your place, concubine.

GLORIA REYNOLDSConcubine? Never!

KIYOMITSUDid you think that you had a choicein it my dear? In time you willlearn to worship me, as all othersdo.

A man dressed in samurai armor comes into the room andwhispers in his ear.

KIYOMITSU (CONT'D)Interesting, you know what to do,tell the others to prepare. He willbe coming and we should be ready.

GLORIA REYNOLDSWho? Who's coming?

2.

KIYOMITSUIt seems that your lover is moreresourceful then I thought. I expectthat he is on his way to rescue youat this very moment.

GLORIA REYNOLDSJason, I knew you weren't dead.

Kiyomitsu goes over to Gloria and smiles.

KIYOMITSUNo my dear, he is not dead yet. Buteven if he does get past my men, hewill be as you say, "Out of the fryingpan and into the fire!"

Kiyomitsu then grabs one of the front legs of the chair Gloriais in and raises it effortlessly over his head. Gloria looksterrified.

GLORIA REYNOLDSHow is this possible?

KIYOMITSUAh, you have not noticed my newnecklace I am wearing.

Gloria looks and sees the Claw of the Dragon.

GLORIA REYNOLDSYou're wearing the necklace, I don'tunderstand?

Kiyomitsu places her chair back on the ground.

KIYOMITSUA special property of the claw. Fordescendants of the Jade Warrior itgive the wearer the strength andpower of the dragon that he killed.

GLORIA REYNOLDSYou don't really expect me to actuallybelieve that?

KIYOMITSUBelieve what you will, but thatdisplay of strength was just a sampleof what I am capable of. If Rapieris foolish enough to come here, thenhe will die like a dog.

Kiyomitsu laughs menacingly.

3.

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

Charlie is driving down the dark road, as he passes threecars parked on the side of the road, they turn on their lightsand start to follow.

INT. JENNY - CONTINUOUS

THE RAPIERWe've got company, a couple of cars,maybe three.

CHARLIE GUNNOkay boss, I'm on it.

Charlie hits the gas and the car accelerates.

EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS

One of the cars is starting to creep up.

INT. JENNY - CONTINUOUS

THE RAPIEROne of them is getting close.

Shots ring out as the back glass is shot out by the gunfire. Charlie swerves the car wildly and The Rapier pulls out hisgun and returns the fire.

CHARLIE GUNNTime to see if Hank knew what he wasdoing.

Charlie flips a switch.

EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS

Oil pours out of the Jenny and spills out on the road.

It causes the car right behind them to slide off of the road,where it crashes into a vegetable stand.

The other two cars swerve to the other side of the road andcontinue their advance.

INT. JENNY - CONTINUOUS

THE RAPIERGood job Charlie. Looks like Hankdid his work well. Be careful herecomes the other two!

EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS

As the second car drives up, one of the men gets out of thecar on its side rail and aims a tommy gun at Jenny.

4.

CHARLIE GUNNYou have to give these guys credit,they're fast learners.

The back of the car is showered with bullets. The Rapiergets down in the back of the car.

INT. JENNY - CONTINUOUS

THE RAPIERDamn, that's a little close! Whydid he stop?

CHARLIE GUNNGun must have jammed.

THE RAPIERWho knows Charlie, with a littleluck we might actually make it toGloria.

The Rapier takes careful aim and shoots the man with thetommy gun and falls off of the car.

The driver of the car races up to their car and slams intothe back end.

CHARLIE GUNNThis guy is pissing me off. Get offmy tail!

Charlie flips the other switch.

EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS

The tire spikes come out, blowing several of the first car'stires out.

The driver looses control of the car and it flips end overend.

The other car which was close behind slams into the overturnedcar.

INT. JENNY - CONTINUOUS

CHARLIE GUNN (CONT'D)What the hell?

THE RAPIERWhat is it Charlie?

CHARLIE GUNNWe've got several men up ahead heavilyarmed and waiting for us.

THE RAPIERCan you run past them?

5.

CHARLIE GUNNMaybe, but it's going to be thickwith bullets. There is one thingthat I could try, but I don't knowif it'll work.

THE RAPIERWhat's the alternative if you don't?

CHARLIE GUNNWe die in a hail of bullets.

THE RAPIERDo it then!

CHARLIE GUNNOkay boss, hold on!

Charlie hits the nitrous oxide and the car's accelerationdoubles.

EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS

The car races to where the men are waiting. Charlie getsdown as best as he can as gunfire shatters the frontwindshield and riddles all over the car.

One man stands in the road and Charlie hits him and flipshim over the car.

INT. JENNY - CONTINUOUS

CHARLIE GUNNWe are coming up on the front gate!

THE RAPIERSmash through it Charlie, we don'thave time to be polite!

EXT. FRONT GATE - CONTINUOUS

The car smashes through the gate.

After hitting it, the car turns over and lands on its side.

For a moment the car just sits there.

INT. JENNY - CONTINUOUS

THE RAPIERYou okay Charlie?

CHARLIE GUNNYeah, those seat belts really didthe job.

6.

THE RAPIERYeah they did, we have to make ourway to the main house.

EXT. COMPOUND - CONTINUOUS

They both get out of the car, and Charlie grabs his tommygun.

KIYOMITSU'S HENCHMAN #1Get them, do not allow them in themaster's home.

Charlie and the Rapier shoot several men, but more are coming.

The two of them stand nearly back to back. They shoot andmaneuver to avoid being shot.

A bullet hits Charlie in the shoulder but he keeps firing.

Kyomitsu's men drop one by one until only a few are left.

THE RAPIERHow are you doing Charlie?

CHARLIE GUNNOut of bullets, couple of shots leftin my pistol. Took one in the rightshoulder, but I'm fine.

THE RAPIERYeah, I'm down to my last couple ofbullets.

CHARLIE GUNNIts okay, just make every shot count.

They shoot the last few that are standing.

As they fall two samurai dressed in full armor come out withswords drawn.

CHARLIE GUNN (CONT'D)Please tell me you have a few bulletsleft for those two jokers?

THE RAPIERWish I could.

CHARLIE GUNNI'll take the one on the right.

The Rapier draws his sword as Charlie pulls out a knife froma holster on the back of his waist.

The Rapier hits his sword against the katana of the samurai,and the samurai parries his move.

7.

The other samurai looks at Charlie and smiles.

SAMURAIHa Ha, what do you think you aregoing to do with that little weapon? Prepare to die foolish one.

The Samurai advances menacingly.

Charlie holds the knife ready to attack the Samurai, then heturns and grabs the knife by its tip and throws it into theneck of the Samurai.

CHARLIE GUNNWell, that for starters...

As his samurai falls to the ground, Charlie grabs his swordand stabs him in the chest making sure that he's dead.

THE RAPIERDoesn't it frustrate you that youare being beat by a two-bit Hollywoodactor with little, if any, actingskill?

The Samurai that is fighting The Rapier gets enraged andcharges him.

The Rapier side steps him effortlessly and stabs him deep inthe thigh.

As he reels in pain, The Rapier hits him in the stomach andhe doubles over.

CHARLIE GUNNTake this you son of a bitch!

Charlie also stabs his samurai sword deep into the Samurai'schest.

They both turn to the sound of clapping.

THE DRAGON LORDVery, very impressive hero! Youhave skill far surpassing what Ithought. My men lie scattered orslain. Now, there is just me, betweenyou and your love.

THE RAPIERYou're a dead man Kiyomitsu!

The Rapier charges at The Dragon Lord, and tries to stab hisrapier deep into his chest, but it is like hitting stone.

THE DRAGON LORDSomething wrong hero?

8.

The Dragon Lord smashes his fist through the Rapier's sword.

The Rapier looks at his broken weapon amazed.

THE RAPIERWhat the hell?

The Dragon Lord then hits the Rapier knocking him flyinginto the air.

THE DRAGON LORDAnd that was a glancing blow hero. The futility of your situation shouldbe fully obvious to you at this point.

Charlie rushes at The Dragon Lord and hits him hard in theface with a left, and then a harder right, then a left again.

But then the Dragon Lord grabs Charlie's fist in mid punchand twists it dropping Charlie to his knees in agony.

CHARLIE GUNNUghh! My hand!

THE DRAGON LORDThis is truly exhilarating! With myhelp, the Japanese forces will beunbeatable.

THE RAPIERCharlie get out of here, he's toopowerful.

CHARLIE GUNNBut.

THE RAPIERGo!

Charlie walks away from the Dragon Lord.

KIYOMITSUDoesn't matter hero. As soon as Iam done with you I will make sureyour servant pays for hisinterference. I hope that you havemade your peace with your god.

THE RAPIERWhy? What are you going to do? Talk me to death?

KIYOMITSUWhy do you keep saying these things,when you know that it only meansthat you will suffer more in theend.

9.

Kiyomitsu picks up a statuette and throws it at the Rapier.

The Rapier barely avoids it, and rolls, pausing for a momentto pick up a clump of dirt.

THE RAPIERI guess I'm just a glutton forpunishment.

The Rapier hits Kiyomitsu in the face with the dirt clod.

Kiyomitsu is temporarily blinded and uses his hand to getthe dirt out of his eyes.

THE DRAGON LORDWhere did you crawl off to hero? Itire of this.

Lights from a car shine in The Dragon Lord's face. Beforehe can react, the car slams into him. The front end of thecar wraps around the Dragon Lord but he stands there unhurt.

Charlie lays, slumped groggily over the steering wheel.

The Dragon Lord goes over to The Rapier who is looking aroundfor some sort of weapon.

THE DRAGON LORD (CONT'D)You know I wasn't really sure if Icould take that or not, but I shouldhave more faith in my abilities. After all, I am a god.

He grabs the front of the Rapier's shirt and pulls him up ashe prepares to punch him.

Charlie hits him full in the face with a shovel.

CHARLIE GUNNTake that!

As Charlie gives it everything, he's trying to overwhelm theDragon Lord with hits to the head, the Rapier heads into thehouse.

CHARLIE GUNN (CONT'D)Damn it! What does it take to putyou down?

THE DRAGON LORDNothing that you are capable of.

The Dragon Lord grabs the shovel with one hand and hitsCharlie hard with the other, knocking Charlie unconsciousand to the ground.

10.

THE DRAGON LORD (CONT'D)So, the hero tries to escape my wrathby hiding in my own home. This hasbeen amusing but it is time to putan end to it.

As the Dragon Lord walks into the house, Charlie stirs inthe background.

INT. INSIDE THE DRAGON LORD'S HOUSE.-- MOMENTS LATER

The Rapier makes his way to the room where Gloria is tied toa chair.

GLORIA REYNOLDSJason! Your alive!

THE RAPIERNot for long, he's just too damnpowerful.

The Rapier goes over to Gloria and starts to untie her hands.

GLORIA REYNOLDSIt's the necklace, the Claw of theDragon. He said that it gives himthe power of a Dragon.

He finishes untying her hands and she gets up.

THE RAPIERThat would explain it.

Gloria grabs The Rapier and kisses him passionately.

GLORIA REYNOLDSI love you Jason Graves. We have toget out of here.

He kisses her again.

THE RAPIERGloria, I'm sure that John Lancecalled the cops and they are on theirway.

GLORIA REYNOLDSJohn Lance the reporter? Well ifthe cops are on the way then theycan take care of him.

THE RAPIERHe's too powerful for the cops I'mafraid.

GLORIA REYNOLDSWhat are you going to do?

11.

THE RAPIERI am going to do what I am best at,I'm going to play the role.

They kiss again as the Dragon Lord comes into the room.

THE DRAGON LORDAh, how romantic, the lovers embracefor one last kiss before the hero isdefeated and killed.

THE RAPIERI have to admit, you're good, butyou're not unbeatable.

THE DRAGON LORDAm I not, hero?

The Dragon Lord goes to hit The Rapier in the leg, but theRapier jumps back, and the Dragon Lord shatters the marblefloor where he punches.

THE RAPIERIs that the best you can do? Powerof a dragon, and yet I'm still alive?

The Dragon Lord goes to punch The Rapier in the head, butthe Rapier ducks down at the last second and instead hepunches a hole in the wall.

THE RAPIER (CONT'D)Gloria, get out of here while youstill can!

GLORIA REYNOLDSBut Jason...

THE RAPIERGo! Now!

Gloria runs out of the room her eyes full of tears.

FADE OUT: