A Tale of Two Brothers The lights dim, the curtains pull back, somewhat jerkily. This is not a modern establishment. Pa-pah pa-pah pa-pah pa-pah pa-pa-pah Pa-pah pa-pah pa-pah pa-paaaaah pa! And so it begins...5 minutes of naff adverts, yawn! Then we're on to the films you'll be seeing next, the ones where having seen the trailer you know you've seen all the best bits it has to offer. Finally, yes finally, the adverts for the gunk that the cinema calls refreshments; gallon buckets of petro-chemical derived, sugar saturated liquid, hot dogs that dogs won't touch and ice creams guaranteed to melt into your lap or fall off the stick. At last the certificate for the main feature comes up and the cinema hushes to an expectant silence, or perhaps the audience are just sitting stunned in toxic shock from the diabetes inducing levels of sugar in their bloodstreams. The opening credits come up. *Flash* MILF Associates proudly presents *Flash* in association with Mixed Kebab Productions *Flash* and Torrent of Filth (Distribution) Inc. *Flash* a Crouching Dog, Hidden Duck film *Flash* with special effects from Gibbli Industrial Bile & Flange *Flash* Starring Jimmy Woo as Jimmy Tong and Lee Chung as Yew Tong in *Flash* A TALE OF TWO BROTHERS How exciting!!! Scene 1 It's 5 years ago, the lighting is low, the camera, high above the floor captures the two big doors opening and letting light flood into the old museum room. It is filled with cases of ancient Chinese relics; scrolls, plates, weapons, clothing. 6 people enter, their shadows reaching far into the room. They walk confidently, a large, older man in the centre of the group along side a man dressed in white. The doors at the other end of the room open, shedding more light into the interior. The camera sweeps dramatically down from the ceiling position coming in behind the first group of men and clonking the big man on the back of the head, who being a seasoned actor ignores it. The camera jerks slightly, possibly because the director has just slapped the camera boom operator across the back of the head, before it settles over the shoulder of the big man so we can see what he sees. Coming from the opposite direction are another group of men, younger on the whole, a cocky swagger to their strides, a group identifiable by the man at its centre and his right hand man, or at least it would be if the camera focussed correctly...oops, there it goes. Now we can see that despite the swagger, the man is nervous, twitchy, but his younger, good looking companion is playing it cool, suave and nonchalant. The two groups stop some 10 feet apart, eying each other up, sizing up the obvious opposition. "So Ying Liao", the large man says, "what is it you wanted to see me about?" "We need to discuss promotions," the nervous man says. "Boss" he adds as an afterthought. "Yours I presume Ying?" "Like we discussed, sir" "And these friends of yours, they'd like some of the action too?" "We've worked hard for you and ..." A man reaches into his jacket, his opposite number swings open his coat to reveal a shotgun. Within seconds the first rounds are flying. [Within seconds the director is shouting "Not yet!!", to no avail.] One man jumps athletically to the top of a display cabinet as a spray of shotgun pellets shatters the glass underneath him. He has time to get off a few rounds into his opponent who tumbles back with minor wounds, crashing into another different cabinet. [Nice work the stunties and effects guys thinks the director. The camera man asks the director if he should stop filming. The director responds by slapping him across the head.] Xiang Xiao, dressed strangely inappropriately for a gunfight in his trademark white suit, pulls out a long barrelled pistol and seeks cover. Jimmy Tong advances, albeit somewhat slowly from the back [which attracts the derision of the director], guns blazing, but not hitting much. Meanwhile one of Jimmy's goons advances on the big boss. A rival goon lets loose with his shotgun but only succeeds in blowing the head off a stuffed horse carrying a mannequin dressed in 16th century royal armour, which falls sideways off the horse. Dust and stuffing clouds the air. The old triad boss draws two swords and marches forward, quick and graceful despite his bulk, slicing the goon down as he goes past him. He seeks the upstart rival. The would-be-boss is reluctant to meet him, tentative, hoping like Jimmy perhaps that his henchmen will do the work first. The first shotgun guy lying in the cabinet clears his head and realises that although he's lost his shotgun, he's surrounded by ancient weapons. He grabs a throwing axe and a huge ceremonial club before hurling himself with a scream back into the fray. One the other side of the room Jimmy is hit and is knocked sideways into a cabinet full of old scrolls. The gunman re-aims and pulls the trigger for the killing shot. Jimmy can only watch...as one of his friends throws himself in the path of the bullet, going down hard on the limestone floor, now slick with blood. Jimmy pulls his own guns and the gunman does the Uzi tango before collapsing. Jimmy slides across the floor and cradles his dying friend. Meanwhile the guy balanced on the cabinet, firing in all directions leaps onto an all glass cabinet, but a shot from Xiang Xiao shatters the top underneath him and he falls onto the vicious, razor sharp remains of the cabinet's sides. He pulls on the triggers of his auto-pistols as he is sliced in two, accidentally shooting his own men in the back. Carnage! Suddenly a small dog runs from behind a statue dodging between the legs of the combatants followed closely by a duck. The duck pursues the dog and catches the canine just before the double doors at the end of the room. The two tumble out of sight in a cacophony of furious quacks and barks. Jimmy takes the opportunity to get the jump on the goon by the double doors who is still stunned by the strange interruption. The bullets thud into and through him and he reels backwards, arms flailing, crashes into one of the heavy doors which slowly opens further under his weight and he slides down and sideways leaving a bloody slash across the door. The guy with the ancient weapons attacks Ying Liao and a goon, hurling the axe into the goon who collapses out of view grimly holding the handle of the axe buried in his skull. The guy then attacks Liao, bringing the huge club across in a rib crushing blow. Liao deftly steps aside, grabs the handle of the club and with a twist of a wrist he removes he club from the guy's hands and knocks him down with it. To Liao's surprise (and the directors) the guy won't give up he's still fighting. Angry, Liao raises the club and brings it crashing down, the guy rolling across the floor avoids the worst of the blow. This one just won't die. The club comes down again and still the guy takes it. Worried, Liao notices the big boss advancing on him. He drops the club and simply shoots the guy before turning his guns on the boss, who isn't there anymore. Liao retreats. Jimmy, burning with anger at the death of his friend lets loose a volley of shoots at Xiang Xiao, one catching Xiao in the leg who ducks out of view and crawls away. Jimmy is about to pursue when he hears Liao calling for help. He lets Xiao go and leaps to his boss' defence. Liao is backing up rapidly, holding a bleeding arm whilst the bulk of the Triad boss, expertly wielding two swords bears down upon him. Jimmy shoots the big man twice. He staggers but doesn't fall. Liao slips on the blood soaked floor, screaming as he goes down. Jimmy shoots again, and again, and again and finally the big man collapses to his knees. The swords drop to his side, his breathing heavy and laboured. Liao uses a cabinet to lever himself up. A smile spreads across his face. He approaches the big man, 'My time' he says and draws a beautiful silver and bone handled revolver. The gun is put to the big man's head, who spits blood onto Liao's trousers before Liao pulls the trigger. Liao looks at Jimmy and smiles. A sound from behind Jimmy attracts his attention, Xiang Xiao trying to escape back the way he came. Jimmy runs down the room and catches the man in white. He points his gun at the man but Liao's voice from behind him stays the execution. "Keep this one. We need him." "But sir." "No Jimmy. Xiang Xiao knows the system. He works for us now." Jimmy returns. "You have done well Jimmy. Here, this is for you. A token of my gratitude." He hands Jimmy the beautiful silver revolver. Scene 2 We cut to a fancy office somewhere at night. The windows give spectacular views across the water [care of a friend of a friend who works in the offices and says the boss never locks his door]. The new Triad boss, Ying Liao, confronts Jimmy. "The past 3 years have been tough Jimmy. We are under pressure and I fear that there may be dissidents within the organisation. Xiang has been helping me purge the worst. As a result I have I decided all must take a loyalty test." "You know I am loyal to you boss. What is this test?" "Kill your sister-in-law." "What!?" "It is a simple request." "I cannot kill family. My brother...would never forgive me." "Your triad brothers will." "I could never forgive me. No way boss. There must be something else!" cries Jimmy. "The Triad is your family Jimmy Tong." "Sorry Boss, but I cannot do this. This is madness." The boss stares at his desk and says in a low voice "It's a shame if that is the way you think Jimmy, it's a shame." Scene 3 A big dinner in a private room in a big hotel. All the Triad is there. The tables are groaning with food [the film budget is groaning too]. The boss gives a big speech and announces the man in white, Xiang Xiao is to be the new Head of Operations, which basically means he is confirmed as his right hand man. Jimmy is aghast. That was a formal position ear- marked for him! Xiao looks smugly at B1across the room. Scene 4 Night time. Camera pans in on two people dropping over the railing to a balcony on the top level of a very posh 3 story block of glass and stone built luxury flats. One fiddles with the lock on the big, glass doors, opens them silently and they sneak in. The camera cuts to Jimmy Tong returning to the same block of flats, staggering up the path to the main door. He is drunk. He steps in awkwardly, climbs the atrium stairs, semi-hauling himself up using the banister and then at the very top he fumbles in his pockets for a while before bringing out a key and opening his front door. It is dark. Closing and bolting the door behind him it takes him a while to find the light switch before he moves off to the kitchen area to get something to eat. Meanwhile from outside we see one of the intruders escaping with a rucksack of goods from Jimmy's flat, onto the balcony, down the outside and off across the manicured grass, flitting from shrubbery to shrubbery. The remaining intruder is trying to get across the huge lounge for the front door and is spotted by Jimmy. With a shout he jumps clumsily onto the kitchen work surface, runs along it and flings himself towards the intruder and misses, ending up in a heap up against the wall. The intruder makes it to the door and starts opening the locks. Jimmy manages to get up and grab the intruder from behind. It's a woman. She gives him a hard elbow in the stomach and he staggers back, allowing her to get out the door. They struggle for it. Her accomplice on a motorbike near the entrance to the flats sees the struggle on the top floor of the atrium and rides the bike into the building and up the main stairs. The girl gets the better of Jimmy, pushes him backwards and slams the door on him. She jumps on the motorbike and they zoom off down the stairs. [nice work the stunt team]. Jimmy rushes back into the room, grabs his pistol and heads for the balcony. He arrives in time to get off a volley of shots at the departing motorcycle currently fishtailing across the slippery lawn. A bullet destroys the rear tyre, throwing the riders as it hits a tree and explodes. The riders stagger off into the night. Returning to the flat Jimmy looks to see what has been taken. A few rings, some money, and then he realises...his beautiful bone handled revolver. Scene 5 We see a woman walking along a quiet street. She stops at a block of flats and starts looking into her handbag for something. In near shot a bone handled revolver and suited arm comes into view. The gun goes off once. The women collapses like a puppet with its strings suddenly cut. Scene 6 It is a rainy day, it always is for these scenes. There are certain cinematic protocols to be followed you know. At the graveyard Yew Tong and family, including the brother's cousin, Lucas Ash, are gathered around the grave. Then Jimmy turns up. An argument inevitably starts. Jimmy pleads his innocence, his brother screaming abuse at him tells him of the damning police report. A fight starts which Lucas Ash breaks up. Yew struggles to get to Jimmy. A police siren sounds in the background and Jimmy makes a break for it, disappearing into the trees as the cars come into shot. Scene 7 A few weeks later Yew is back at school attending to detention with his usual deviant pupil, Emily Cho. She is dressed in her usual school girl outfit, short skirt, tie hanging loosely around her neck and sitting on the edge of her desk in front of her teacher. She asks him about his absence from work for the last two weeks and he explains about the death of his wife. He goes on and tells her about his need for revenge but his incompetence in such matters and his brother's association with a Triad gang and his prowess with the gun. She says that she will kill Jimmy for him. He laughs and she beats him up. Yew is stunned and she explains that she is the granddaughter of an old ninja monk, Wiki Wikki, who lives a semi-reclusive life on the south side of he island. He could teach Yew to fight and avenge his wife's death. Yew agrees. She cancels detention and they leave in Yew's old car. They arrive at a quiet location and walk up to the shack to the meet the old man. He comes out to greet them and starts by berating his granddaughter for wearing such a short skirt. She sighs. After discussion over tea the old monk eventually agrees to teach Yew but says that it cannot be rushed. The training will take a year. Scene 8 Jimmy meanwhile has fled the police and the Triad by retreating to Shenzhen, not far from Hong Kong. Without ready funds or access to them Jimmy decides to rob a bank. Having identified a suitably small establishment on the corner of a main street and a small side street he nonchalantly strolls in through the front door and joins a queue. The teller is protected by a glass screen with a slot in it. Not much room for manoeuvre here. When he gets to the till BI pulls his pistol so that only the teller can see it. "This is a robbery," says Jimmy. "Put used notes of mixed denomination into a sack. NOW!" The teller presses an emergency button with her knee and starts to slowly sort out some money. The guard in a hidden security room comes out and tells Jimmy to drop the pistol. Jimmy spins and shoots, knocking the guard down and out. People in the lobby start to scream and this attracts the attention of others on the street. A policeman comes in, is shot at and retreats rapidly back out again. Customers are panicking. Tellers are panicking. Jimmy tells them all to go round to the side and behind the tills. A teller opens the locked door and they all file in. Long seconds pass as the teller fills the sack. Meanwhile in the safe room at the other end of the building two other robbers are hard at work. They've broken in through the wall from the tailors next door. Explosives are stacked, yes stacked, around the safe bolted to the wall and floor. One of the young men is a fancy dressed Japanese fellow, Aruda Kawazaki, the other a slightly wild looking Chinese man, Chen Zen-Yi. The two robbers move to a suitably safe distance and the . One of them, a man with slightly crazy eyes, presses the remote. There is a momentary pause. The teller hands over the sack to Jimmy. WHOOOOOMMPPPPPPP!!!! The whole building shakes. Jimmy involuntarily drops to one knee. "What the fuck!?!" Alarms start going all over the place and the sprinkler system comes on. The safe has blown itself through the wall of the safe room, across the corridor that leads down to the main lobby where Jimmy is, through the wall opposite and has finally come to a rest against the far wall of the office beyond. The door falls off with a clang. The contents steam. The man at a desk in this dust filled office blinks, blinks again and faints, falling sideways off his chair. "Perhaps a tad too much," says Zen-Yi through the smoke and dust. "Still your remote worked well Aruda" His partner shakes his head and dust falls off. He makes for the safe through the holes in the interior walls. Looking to his right he sees a gunfight breaking out in the lobby between some man with a pistol holding a sack and someone outside. Now he's confused. Zen-Yi bumps into the back of him and he too stares down the dusty corridor. What on earth is going on down there? Suddenly a truck bursts through the main doors and special police start jumping out. Jimmy decides enough is enough and starts a rear guard action, retreating backwards down the corridor towards the two safe crackers. In response Zen-Yi brings up a crossbow, quickly cocks it and slots an explosive headed bolt into the mechanism. Aruda makes for the safe. Jimmy fires at the police squad. Some thing metallic and fast moving whistles past his ear, hits a fire extinguisher on the wall which fractures and shoots sideways off it's mount, catches a policeman in the stomach and he and an unfortunate colleague behind him disappear off backwards behind the truck with a scream. Jimmy looks behind him at Zen-Yi. Zen-Yi grins at him and waves. Whilst the help is welcome, that is not the sort of grin Jimmy ever likes to see. Zen-Yi holds up a small electronic box with a red button on it. Jimmy stares. This is no ordinary red button. This is a big red button. Only crazy people have boxes with buttons that big on it. Zen-Yi makes a big thing of pressing the button, his hand starting high above his head before he bring a pointed finger down onto the box. Outside in the streets small charges dropped in the litter, in bins, under parked cars go off with blinding flashes and palls of smoke. The general public flee in all directions causing chaos. A teller brings up a shotgun, pushes it through the slot in the glass and fires. The blast knocks Jimmy backwards but luckily it was not too accurate. The wall takes the brunt of it adding to the flying dust, dirty water and confusion. Another bolt whips through the air, through the slot and takes out the cashier with the shotgun. Jimmy looks behind him again. Zen-Yi motions him to come up the corridor. Jimmy pauses, clearly wondering which direction is actually safer. Meanwhile the staff and customers are being ushered out from behind the teller's desks. Seeing an opportunity, aAn old man with a stick grabs handfuls of cash and stuffs it into his pockets. A policeman failing to see what the man is doing, gives him a helping arm out and onto the street. The old man scuttles away as fast as his legs will carry him. Aruda meanwhile is gathering up sack loads of cash from the safe. Some of it a bit crispy around the edges. "Come on Aruda," shouts Zen-Yi as he and Jimmy retreat back through the hole in the wall caused by the fast moving safe. They all dash back the way Aruda and Zen-Yi came. The tailor's gives onto a side street. As they arrive in the shop three police arrive at the door. In the ensuing firefight all are hurt but the police are forced to beat a retreat. The three robbers rush out of the tailors. "Where's your getaway vehicle?" asks Jimmy. "Don't have one," replies Aruda. "Fat lot of good." "Where's yours." "Don't have one either." "Well then, RUN!" At the top of the street more police turn the corner from the main street . Firing as they run the robbers turn a corner into another side street and come to a motley group of scooters. Aruda quickly gets three of them started and they pull away as the pursuing police round the corner. Barely in control they accelerate away but more police are ahead. They swing right into a crowded side street. It is narrow and cobbled with a rain water gully running down the middle. It is lined with small shops and stalls. Drying clothing hangs across the from the flats above the shops. Shoppers dive out of the way as the 3 scooters careen up the street, slipping and sliding on the cobbles, the riders ducking below the low washing. Zen-Yi ends up with several bits of clothing wrapped around him including a large cupped bra around his neck. This he finds most amusing and with one hand drops some smoke grenades into the cups from his belt. He starts merrily tossing them behind him. Aruda meanwhile loses control on the difficult surface and the scooter goes down on it's side, throwing Aruda off. Cursing and coughing in the smoke from one of Zen-Yi's grenades he gets back to it, jumps on and starts pulling away. With a burst of speed an heroic policeman manages to reach the scooter and he grabs the luggage rack at the back of the machine. He tries to throw the machine and rider off balance but it is already accelerating away too hard and he is merely pulled off his feet and dragged up the street. Jimmy crashes into a stall of vegetables (inevitably. Like I said, there are certain protocols to adhere to in this genre). The vegetables scatter across the street, Zen-Yi sliding through them. He kicks out at a melon as he goes past sending it crashing through the window of a herbalist shop and swings right into a narrow alley behind Jimmy. Aruda is still trying to ditch the policeman who is not merely hanging on doggedly but is pulling himself up the length of the scooter and trying to grab Aruda. Aruda responds by kicking back at him. This causes the scooter to veer off to the right hand side of the street, through a set of tables outside a tea shop scattering customers, drinks and seating everywhere. The scooter then careens off towards the other side of the street, through a pile of cardboard boxes, slides along wall, the bodywork breaking off as it goes. Aruda has to bring his left leg up out of the way and then seeing what is coming decides it's time to get off, tumbling away before coming rest on his back looking up at a very surprised young lady. "Hello gorgeous," he says. The scooter meets the bottom of a broken pallet resting at an angle on some wooden chests, mounts the pallet, zips up the makeshift ramp and flies through the air straight into the open side of a huge metal waste container. There is an explosion of rubbish and then silence. The lady drops her shopping on Aruda, who yelps, gets up and runs for the alley. Jimmy and Zen-Yi have reached the top of it. There is a narrow footbridge over a canal. Chugging along below is a small tug hauling a couple of empty barges. Jimmy and Zen-Yi dump the scooters and leap onto the tug. The captain and his mate are very surprised, the latter even more so when Jimmy and Zen-Yi draw weapons. He leaps off the tug into the canal. Aruda arrives at the bridge to see the tug moving away. Jimmy is arguing vociferously with the captain. Jimmy brings out his pistol again and Aruda hears the engine back down. Zen-Yi screams at him to run and leap onto the barge. He breaks into a run along the narrow walkway beside the canal, just manages to get level with the still moving barge and leaps, legs pedalling in the air. Zen-Yi who is now standing at the back of the barge gets ready. Aruda falls short and lands in the canal. He comes to the surface, gasping for air, a sack of notes he was carrying bobs up away from him. Zen-Yi grabs a hook pole and pauses briefly before deciding to help Aruda rather than fish out the money. The tug pulls away again and the money bag caught in the sudden back wash is pushed to the edge of the canal. An old man, his pockets already stuffed with notes looks down in disbelief, clambers down a ladder at a speed which defies his age and grabs the sodden bag. He grins. A police car appears on the other side of the canal and turns along the adjacent road. Jimmy urges the captain to speed up and make for the open water. The tug the captain, seeing the police car tries to force Jimmy out of the cabin. A rather damp Aruda joins the struggle and they manhandle the captain to the edge of the tug and throw him overboard. Meanwhile, under fire from the police car, Zen-Yi is lining his crossbow up again. He fires, the bolt goes through the front tyre and the driver loses control. The car veers off the road, through the railings and pitches into the canal. Laughing, the three robbers introduce themselves to each other as the tug clears the end of the canal and heads out into the open water. Scene 9 Later, hiding in the corner of a low-life, run down bar Jimmy explains his situation to Zen-Yi and Aruda. Drunk and maudlin he vows to return to Hong Kong and find out who really killed his brother's wife, clear his name, reek a terrible revenge on Ying Liao the boss and Xiang Xiao and return to the bosom of his family. Drunk but rather happy, and very much joining in with the swing of things Zen-Yi and Aruda swear to help him. Scene 10 Emily arrives at her grandfather's and slides the car to a halt. Yew and Wikki Wikki look up in surprise. Jumping out of the old car she runs up the slope to the old man's shack. "What on earth are you doing driving a car at your age?" admonishes Yew. "And what on earth do you think you are wearing you hussy!?" asks her grandfather. She stares at them. "What?" they chorus. "Don't you want to hear the news? I didn't come here just to be insulted by a couple of old men!" "Old?", says Yew "Don't give me your lip young lady. No respect for their elders the younger generation. I blame the teachers." He glances at Yew. "If they just ..." "Your brother is back in town," she interjects. "What?" "Your brother, Jimmy, he's back in Hong Kong. A friend of a friend heard from someone that he had been seen. My friend told me and she and I went that night to have a look." "Where?" "You went to have a look young lady? At night? What about your homework?" Ignoring her Grandfather Emily continues, "He's holding up in a room at the top of a nightclub with a couple of new cronies. Didn't see them. It's definitely him. My friend asked a barman there who he was. 'Friend of the owner' he replied. 'Name something like Jimmy' he said." "Having done no homework, you went to a nightclub?" "I must go there. I must confront and kill the evil bastard! I need to finish up here with your grandfather. Can you make contact with my cousin?" "The big, black guy yeah?" "Black?" "Granddad!" "Yes, that's him." "A nightclub! A place I have no doubt where nefarious young men in overly tight trousers hang about and drink alcohol. A place of vice and..." "Oh for heaven's sake granddad!" Scene 12 A shot of a very plush office from near the carpet. There is a desk, paintings on the wall. A pair of legs step into view. We hear a voice say "So you have planted the seed?" "Yes sir," replies another voice. "Send some men to intercept the lot of them. We can clear up this once and for all and leave no loose ends behind." "Sir!" The legs turn and we hear the soft sound of their departure. A door closes. "I do not like loose ends," says the voice. Scene 13 So Yew, SSKWTKB and Wikki Wikki meet up with Lucas and head for the nightclub. Wikki Wikki is not happy as Emily is with them...going to this den of iniquity. As they approach he eyes the place suspiciously. They enter the club. It is noisy and busy. Several guys are looking at Emily. Wikki Wikki's worst fears are realised. He stares back at them. They stare back. He doesn't blink...at all. They look away. The group push through the crowds and head up two flights of stairs to the second floor. Some suspicious looking men follow them. Yew strides along purposefully, people eating at the sushi bar or having drinks watch him go by. Aruda and Zen-Yi, also sitting at a bar notice him. Aruda also notices Emily. "Hello," says Aruda shyly. Emily looks at Aruda like he is something she scraped off her shoe. What was that? Shit woman, if that was supposed to be a look of love I'd hate to see you when you're angry. Can we please try again? "Hello," says Aruda shyly. "Yeah, whatever," replies Emily Back in the film Emily walks off, her grandfather beams at the young man as he walks past. Meanwhile Zen-Yi and Aruda have noticed some suspicious looking guys hanging around. So has Lucas. They seem to be taking a lot of interest in the group, especially as Yew approaches the private lounge in the corner of the building. Yew opens the door. Jimmy is inside. So is a 'dancer'. "Little Puppy!" says Jimmy in a welcoming voice. Lucas winces. "You total bastard," replies Yew. And so the merry reunion starts. The members of each group gather around, introducing themselves, Aruda sidling up to Emily, Emily sidling away, Wikki Wikki watching both whilst trying to concentrate on what Zen-Yi is saying to him about Shenzhen. The argument is heated. Lucas steps in several times to prevent violence and Yew throws him on his back. Wikki Wikki and Zen-Yi have noticed more dodgy looking dudes are approaching, occupying key positions. Finally, after much persuasion from the rest Yew acquiesces and agrees to a temporary truce. The others believe Jimmy but Yew is still suspicious. He doesn't have much time to think about it when Zen-Yi gives a cry as two Triad goons start to bring weapons out. A huge firefight starts. The few remaining punters run for their lives down the stairs in the corner that lead directly to the side street. Within a few minutes the new team have pretty much destroyed much of the upper story of the nightclub. Emily is busy using her trademark neck stun to take down goons and her grandfather is stalking about, swords at the ready. Punters downstairs are streaming out of the building, probably because although the loud music might have drowned out the sound of pistol fire, it probably didn't drown the sound of Lucas' shotgun (generally peppering the ceiling, the floor, the furniture) and most certainly didn't drown out the sound of Zen-Yi's high explosive tipped bolts from his crossbow. A more senior triad thug is pinned across a table and blabs like a goodun. He has heard rumours that Jimmy was set up because he refused the big boss, Ying Liao's request of a show of fealty. Jimmy says "Told you so Little Puppy." Yew looks unconvinced. "Please stop calling me Little Puppy." "But that is what we've always called you." "Only until I was ten." Jimmy merely grins at his brother. The henchman says he has heard rumours that a strange old man, tall and thin has been seen talking with Ying Liao or Xiang Xiao. He is rumoured to be a terrifying contract killer called The Thin Man. The group also discover that Xiang Xiao is flying off to Central America to meet a Columbian drugs cartel but that he has a secret country abode, and it is here that he keeps all his personal details. The group have to abandon the club in a hurry when sirens are heard. Jimmy and Yew rush down the backstairs, taking out two goons coming up the stairs as they go. They come out onto the crowded street and quickly mingle and blend in. The remainder of the group attempt to go down the main stairs but there are lots of goons coming up. Whilst Zen-Yi holds them off, by destroying the stair well, the rest make a break for the lift. They wait...they wait. They turn around and look for an alternative but more goons are now coming up the back stairs. The lift door opens and two goons stand ready. Wikki Wikki and Emily go straight into action and the goons are cut down in a trice. The group bundle into the lift, spraying the club with gunfire to keep the goons at bay and descend to the ground floor. As they emerge a shotgun blast peppers the wall and ceiling above them. They look at Lucas. Can't be him, he's inside the lift. They see a barman standing with an old shotgun trying to stop shaking enough to drop another couple of cartridges in. Emily dashes from the lift, vaults the bar top and takes the terrified barman down as she comes across. The barman screams and pleads for mercy. Emily hits him a couple of times. Wikki Wikki comes up and berates her for use of unnecessary violence, most unbecoming of one so trained. "Sorry grandfather," she says, kicking the barman again. "Emily Cho! Enough. Have I taught you nothing?" "You have indeed taught me well grandfather. I know for example that THIS..." she delivers a swift pointed toe tick. "AGGHH!!" "...hurts a great deal." "You just comes out of there now young lady. Now! Without further resort to violence. I did not take you under my wing to see you behave like a cheap thug as well as the cheap hussy that you appear to be!" "Aghhh!" At this point the director says cut and the stunt man playing the barman gets up. A certain actress decides that damn the cameras and she attempts to hit the stuntman again, hard. "What the kcuf are you doing he says," slapping her attack away. She goes for her patented nerve pinch, which has little effect because it is a film move and not a real life attack. She kicks him in the shins in instead. "You crazy bitch," the poor stuntman exclaims as he hobbles away. "I'm not working for this chicken-shit outfit again!" Silence falls in the set. The guys lugging out lights and cameras are all watching. "What?" says the actress. The director gives her an exasperated look, and then goes off quickly to placate his best stuntman. Meanwhile back in the film B1and Yew dive down a side street to look for escape. Jimmy spots a young couple getting into a modern saloon. Jimmy starts marching up towards them and Yew realises what he is about to do. "That's stealing," says Yew. "Oh for heaven's sake, do you want to go to prison brother? Being involved in a massive gangland killing?" "It's not right." "Won't get another teaching job with a record like that Little Pu..." "Don't'! OK, let's get it over with." "You! Shove off," says Jimmy to the man as he is about to climb into the driver's seat. The man looks up, Jimmy snatches the keys from his hand and punches him in the stomach. The man falls aside. Yew dashes for the other side of the car, glaring at Jimmy. "You didn't have to do that," he says. Yew leans in front of the girlfriend, his hand on the open door jam. "Sorry," he says to her. "Feck off!" is the reply he gets from the girlfriend and she pushes quickly past him, slamming the door on Yew's fingers. Jumping in pain Yew nearly falls over. Jimmy leaps into the driver's seat. "Get out girl." She brings her handbag flying around, no mean feat in the confined space and catches Jimmy in the face with it. A struggle then ensues with Jimmy trying to pin her down, whilst Yew, his injured hand clamped under an armpit uses his good arm to get the door open and drag her out, apologizing all the while. Finally after much kicking and screaming Jimmy, leaning heavily across the woman, gives up and pulls out his pistol. "Now get out," he pants. The girl eases her way out of the car. "Sorry," says Yew "Bastard," she says, kicks Yew in the leg and runs. Moving awkwardly Yew falls into the car. "Next time we just run huh?" he says. Jimmy starts the car and they manage to zoom off into the night. "So who is this Thin Man Jimmy?" "Pah. A ghost. A tale told when Triad members have had too much to drink." "So he doesn't actually exist?" "No. This is a man rumoured to have been killed many times and yet he keeps coming back, a man who fought for Chiang Kai-shek against the communists, the Japanese and then the communists again. He fought against the Allies in Korea, against everyone in Vietnam and has been a contract killer ever since. No morals, no code, no judgement, just does the job and expects high payment in return." Outside the club Lucas looks around for a car to his liking. He finally comes to a Honda sports coupe and Aruda has it open in a trice. They jump into the front seats. Emily jumps in the cramped back. Aruda tries to jump in from the other side of the car but is jabbed in the spine by Wikki Wikki and whilst the young man is momentarily stunned he jumps in next to his granddaughter. The police come tearing around the corner and Lucas guns the coupe in the direction they came from, buying a bit of extra time as the police are forced to do a rapid U-turn. Lucas drives like a maniac. Zen-Yi is much impressed. The police are not and more cars join the pursuit. Lucas leaves a train of destruction behind him as he weaves through the late night traffic, other vehicles scattering before them. On the motorway he swings off at the last second onto the slipway to the tunnel, the tailing police car missing the turn and sliding to a halt further down the motorway. As they approach the tunnel Lucas tells them to brace themselves, they are going to have to crash the toll barrier. "Open the sun roof," shouts Zen-Yi, a gleam in his eye. "What?" "Just do it," he says loading a bolt into his crossbow. "You're not..." comes a voice from the back. "Oh yeah. Hold the car steady Mr Ash." Lucas narrows his eyes as he aims the car at the fast approaching barriers. Zen-Yi stands up and levels the crossbow. At the last second he lets fly. The bolt impacts on the narrow barrier arm and blows it to pieces. Zen-Yi drops back in as the car shoots through the huge explosion. Looking behind Aruda and Zen-Yi can see that the barrier has gone, as have the sides of two kiosks and a car has been tipped on it's side. "Hmmm, still a bit strong perhaps," says Aruda. "heh, heh, heh, heh" is the only reply he gets from his friend. Lucas drives like a demon through the night into Kowloon and after shaking off the remaining police dumps the car in a park. "We can walk to Yew's house from here," says Lucas, grinning. He and Zen-Yi jump out. Those on the back seat tumble out, relieved still be alive. Scene 14 Reunited back in Yew's house, the group discuss the next step. They agree that with Xiao away it is an ideal opportunity to gather evidence. A series of reconnoitres reveal some useful information. There are guards at the entrance to the private road. The Xiao property is one of several down the private road, each with its own extensive grounds, each walled. Xiao's property has a substantial contingent of guards at the gate. The final survey, done by plane, reveals that the house is huge with guard towers around the walls and regular patrols. Now that's security. They notice the small golf course and a helipad, a helipad, a helipad. Plans for aerial attack and/or escape spring into life and occupy the group for some time. Finally after further ground work and casual banter with a chatty van driver that a big party is planned for the Saturday evening. Even the Mayor of Hong Kong is turning up. Local companies are supplying the food and most importantly (a point subsequently over looked by most of the party) the staff to be on site to cook and serve. This piece of information drives the group into a frenzy of plan generation. Should they pose as a company providing food? Can they get a van made up to look good? Can they get a van? What if the guards have a list of companies involved? What food should they be providing? What if the meringues get broken? Who here knows how to cook? How many grenades does a 30cm diameter trifle hold? Should they pose as entertainers? Could they get the van close and go in over the wall? Should they scale the wall from a neighbour's property under cover of the party? What time does the chicken have to go on? The idea that they could gun their way past the guards at the beginning of the private road causes a big moral debate about the fact that the guards probably don't want to be there, are probably being paid peanuts, probably have children and elderly relatives to support. "So?" says Jimmy. This comment prompts another furious argument between the brothers reopening old wounds. Several confused phone calls are made to various catering companies. None seem to know how many grenades fit in a trifle, except one which asks whether they require smoke or Mk. 4 fragmentation. Zen-Yi makes a note of the company for his next party. At last peace reigns and a plan is assembled. The party will hijack a van from a suitable purveyor of fine foods and go in as the caterers. There then follows a long debate about where they should grab the van. At the delicatessen? On the road to the area? On the private road? Where on the private road? Are explosives allowed? The clock ticks on to late afternoon. The party drive up to the entrance of the private road in an old van of HCs. The guards stop them. Jimmy draws his pistol but keeps it low and is reprimanded by his brother in a furious, whispered voice. The guards are bribed and they scuttle away. The old van 'breaks down' along the private road in a nice blind spot, safe from the security cameras. The delivery can arrives. The party flag it down, grab the occupants and tie them up in the back of their old jalopy. A quick change into the catering uniforms they've hired and they're off, Yew and Lucas up front in the cab and the rest squatting down in the back with the food between them and the rear doors. Jimmy stands and stares through the partition window to the front. Concern rises as they approach the house. These are not guards from a private security company. These are triad goons. Jimmy decides he's better keep well out of sight in case he is recognised. The guards check the credentials and then the leader asks to check the back of the van. Inside the tension rises. The occupants crouch down even more behind the boxes of food. The guard again demands for the back to be opened. "Err, I don't want the cooled stuff to get warm," says Yew. The guard eyes him suspiciously. Yew opens the back. The party crush down as far as they can. Unfortunately for them the guard climbs in and opens a box. "Meringues," says Yew helpfully. He opens another box. "Trifles," says Yew. "Well, you certainly know your desserts," the guards says sarcastically. "What the hell are you lot doing there!?" The party wonder whether to attack, panic or cry. They stare at the van floor. "It's shocking. Not a seat between the lot of you. You should be in a minibus, that's what the other caterers do, not slung in the back like this. So much for health and safety. Don't suppose you're getting paid much for this are you?" The group shake their heads, still staring at the floor. "Nothing," says Jimmy mischievously. Yew glares at him. The guard spins around to Yew and catches the glare. "Should be ashamed of yourselves treating employees like this. It's sickening that's what it is. Get this van up to the house and get these guys out." "Yes sir, sorry sir." Yew scuttles back to the cab as the rest of the group look dumbfounded. "Oo it makes me mad," the goon says as the van pulls up the driveway. Lucas drives the van up to the house and the group bundle out. The guard at the gate watches them even from this distance. They start to unload when a small, thin, extremely well dressed woman walks out. "No, no not in the front, take the food around the side and set it up on the patio. One of my staff will direct you once you're there." She turns, busily organising other staff. They start shuttling food and catering equipment around. Zen-Yi looks for places to stick his explosives. Meanwhile Lucas sees a chance and makes a break from the back of the house to the dense area of shrubs and trees beyond the lawn. He eyes up the security towers through the foliage, finds a suitable spot and crawls under a particularly dense shrub. Dropping onto his front Lucas prepares to watch the house. 'What you doing mister?' says a high voice. Lucas looks up into the face of a little boy sitting on his heals and looking sideways into the bush. He pauses briefly before saying "I'm playing a game. Shuussshh!" putting a finger up against his lips. "It's a secret game for the party tonight." "But I've got to go to bed. I'm going to miss it!" says the boy truculently. "Look here's a 10 dollar note to keep the secret," answers Lucas quickly. "Got lots of those," says the boy. 'Spoiled brat' "OK, OK how about this?" "What a shotgun cartridge? Got lots of those too. My Dad's got loads of guns." "I'm sure he has." 'and so have I and I'm going to pistol whip your little butt in a minute.' "OK what about ...this!" "What is it?" "A magic device." The boy studies it before announcing "Looks like a key ring." 'Infanticide, wonder how many years I'd get for infanticide?' "Yeah, well that's how I always remember to keep it with me." "What's it do?" asks the boy suspiciously. "Um, makes people disappear when you don't want them around." "Sounds rubbish." Trying a different tack Lucas says "Listen, why don't you go away or I'll bury you up to your neck in this soil and let the ants eat you." The boy pauses and considers the threat. "Can I get my sister?" "What?" "Can I get my sister instead?" Lucas is lost. "Can I get my sister instead and we can bury her and watch the ants eat her?" 'Only the son of a triad.' "Err, well yeah I guess so." "Coooool. I'm going to get Sun-Ling!" The boy runs off. Lucas let's his head fall onto the soil. Meanwhile the rest of the crew are beginning to reconnoitre the house, drifting off quietly into other areas of the house to look for evidence but until there are more people around it is too difficult to avoid the attentions of Mrs Xiao or her staff. Jimmy and Yew agree to leave it until the guests arrive. "Mummy, Mummy, there's a great big black man in the woods and we are going to bury Sun-Ling up to her neck in the ground and let the ants eat her." "Yes that's lovely dear. Now go and find nanny as you and your sister are going to sleep on the yacht tonight and you're leaving now." "Yeah, the yacht!" and the boy disappears at speed into house. As the guests begin to arrive, the entertainment also arrives in the form of a young man called Wan Kin and a girl of school age, Mai Sing. She is totally bald. The man sets up a microphone and sound equipment on the patio. She starts to sing and the man adjusts the sound gear. The guests all stop to watch her. "There's our cover," Jimmy says to Yew. "Wait till she gets going and then we search the house." Aruda is also staring at the singer. Emily looks on jealously. And so the time comes around, Mai Sing starts to sing and the numerous guests drift to the patio to watch and listen. The brothers, Emily, Wikki Wikki and a somewhat reluctant Aruda nip off into the house. Zen-Yi stays at the patio area watching for trouble, the detonator in his pocket. Jimmy and Yew find a room off a private suite. They can hear a telephone conversation going on. It stops and they burst in. Sitting at a desk in an office is an Triad aide Jimmy has known for some years. "Jimmy!" "Tommy Ling. Typical." "Heard you were back in town Jimmy." "Yeah, how?" Jimmy steps up and grabs Ling. Ling grabs a knife from the desk but Yew is on him in a flash grabs his arm and twists it painfully. With a yell Ling drops the knife and goes slack. Jimmy nods. "Nice one little brother. You have been busy. Now then Tommy, unless you want my ninja trained brother here to break you apart bit by bit, talk to me." The man considers the situation and blubs like a goodun. Out on the crowded patio the mayor arrives. He stands for a few seconds and watches the singer. She in turn stares back. Wan Kin looks on, uneasily. "So Xiao is running an operation on the side? The bastard! Filtering funds and sequestering away assets from the Triad?" "No Jimmy not from the Triad, from Ying Liao. Bit by bit Xiao is making our money and businesses safe." "I don't understand," says Yew. "Liao's management of the Triad has been pitiful. Without Xiao we would have gone under long ago." The mayor turns away, casting a quick glance over his shoulder and hurries into the crowd of guests. Mai watches him go intently. "How typically naïve of you Jimmy. It was Xiao who tipped off the police about your presence at your sister-in-laws funeral. He's been watching you since you got back. It was Xiao who arranged for the friend of the friend of that school girl friend of yours to hear about your return." "So it was Xiao you set up the goons to try and take us out at the nightclub?" says Yew. "I don't know. I know that Ying Liao found out about your brother's return to Hong Kong and he probably asked Xiao to kill you. "Hah. He didn't make a good job of it." "He was trying not to." "Eh?" Mai finishes her song, acknowledges the applause gracefully and goes over and talks to Wan Kin. "He's been doing what!?" exclaims Yew. "Feeding money into Jimmy's account for years, subsidising his penthouse suite and clearing up after him." "That's rubbish," interrupts Jimmy. "Xiao deemed your brother harmless, a playboy, the ideal person to act in an vice-presidential type role. He still does. All Triads need a pretty face to front them up." "I think you under estimate my abilities." "I doubt he does brother." "Xiao has been placating Liao ever since the loyalty test. Liao was going to have you killed but Xiao convinced him that you were no threat and that other members of the Triad certainly were." "But why would he protect my brother?" "I reckon that Xiao wants to bring him down on his own. Given that it was your brother who shot him five years ago. This one is personal. Your brothers 'friends' are simply to be removed from position." "I am here in the room you know." "Shut-up, we're talking." Mai moves into the crowd and finds the mayor in the living room talking to Mrs Xiao and a few other people. As she approaches the man his bodyguards step forward. Mrs Xiao looks at the mayor, who looks backs and then waves the guards aside. "Our entertainment for the evening Mayor," says Mrs Xiao. "A most exquisite young lady wouldn't you say?" "Yes, well..." "Mai Sing, this is the mayor, mayor this is Mai Sing." "We've met before," says Mai demurely. "How splendid," says Mrs Xiao. "Where was that then?" "Oh at a special party at the government buildings," butts in the mayor. "And your house," adds Mai. She slides up next to the man and slips an arm through the mayors. "Liao is a megalomaniac and is very paranoid. Xiao has merely been feeding his fears, a bit here, a bit there, a word, some made up evidence. Nothing that Liao couldn't believe." "But why?" asks Yew. "Because he's manoeuvring to take over the Triad little puppy." Yew glares at his brother but continues. "But he was defeated by you and Liao, at the museum." "But he became number two didn't he Jimmy," says Tommy in an oily tone. "Better than you Jimmy, smarter, more cunning." Jimmy hits Tommy who staggers backwards. "I've never seen Xiang Xiao hit anyone Jimmy. You, Feung, Tashinka, Mr Hoo, all the cronies who put the fool in power. I remember that day too. I worked for the Old Boss boy!" "Watch your tongue!" "I remember the day you joined. 'Boy' you were then and you still are Jimmy. One by one Xiao has been undermining them, cutting them out of the pack, relieving them of power and taking them down. He's been feeding Liao's fears about his supporter and oh how Liao fears them. A coup just like his." "Come walk with me mayor," says Mai. "No, no I've important business to discuss here. We can walk later perhaps." "Oh no, don't let business interrupt mayor. Let us all go out and enjoy the evening air," says Mrs Xiao, clearly taking much pleasure from the mayor's obvious discomfort. Mai goes up on tiptoe and whispers into the mayor's ear. "Rape," she says. She pecks him on the neck, smiles at Mrs Xiao and leads him out. "The Thin Man is just a fairy tale Tommy." "Oh no Jimmy. I've seen him. Like a ghost, a spectre; lean, worn, torn and burning with a black fire behind those eyes. Never what to meet him again. Killed your wife," he says, nodding at Yew. "Killed at least three members of the Triad at Liao's request." "I'll kill him!" says Yew. "You can try. Many have." Mai lets go of the mayor's hand and walks backwards onto the patio singing a love song to him. The mayor, looking embarrassed smiles and jokes nervously with the other guests. Mrs Xiao looks on with a grin. Mai entices the mayor to come forward towards her, holding out her hands to him. "Go on," says Mrs Xiao. He steps forward and leans down towards Mai. "Not now girl. I'll see you later." They continue to step across the patio, Mai dancing sensuously in front of the mayor. "No mister mayor, now is definitely the time. Do I embarrass you?" she says as she passes close. "Let's just stop this now shall we!" he whispers sharply. "No. You didn't stop when I wanted you to, I didn't have a choice did I?" "Xiao's been in meetings with rival Triads and negotiating deals?" asks Jimmy. "According to the computer here there are bribes, payments to customs officials, police." "Oh yes Jimmy, he's been working hard to keep this ship afloat. More than can be said of you." "Shut it Tommy you little toady." "Ha, you don't frighten me. You're finished Jimmy. Xiao has been responsible for the recent toppling of the Red Mask Triad. You remember them Jimmy? Who'd have thought it eh? Little old us, powerful enough to bring down the Reds." "We don't have the muscle to do that, not even in the Bosses day." "Ah but then the boss groomed Xiang Xiao well, knew he was someone he could pass the reigns on to one day. Boss knew that Liao was just a thug and so were the fools that followed him. Anyway, Xiao has been working with other Triads. Safety in numbers, wolves around the bear." "My gun Tommy, where's my gun?" "The silver and bone one?" "What do you want?" the mayor says quietly, smiling at the crowd at the same time. "Oh, I want revenge mister mayor, I want revenge." She starts singing again. "Enough!" the mayor says loudly and steps backwards. "Exactly," she replies. The mayor looks surprised by the change and tone of her voice. "Rape mister mayor," she says loudly. "It is called rape and assault against a minor when a senior official forces himself on a 11 year old girl! I wasn't singing then was I? Was I mister mayor? I was crying!" "Now listen here..." In one fluid movement Mai drops a long knife out of her wide sleeve of her robe into her hand and then across the mayors neck. He looks aghast grips his neck but the bloods spurts through his fingers. He staggers as shock takes hold and Mai grabs his arm and using her leg as leverage, throws the mayor into the pool. The guests, stunned by the sight suddenly react and start to panic. The mayor's guards go for their guns. One goes down as bullets fly in from one side, Mai's roadie, Wan Kin, is standing with two pistols blazing. The remaining guard runs for cover, firing at Mai. She flips backwards a couple of times finishing the last flip by gracefully diving into the pool and then swimming under water to the far side. "No idea Jimmy. I've not ever seen it here." "Xiao must have it. It must be a trophy for him after all." "You've such an ego Jimmy. What makes you think you are so important?" Jimmy grabs Tommy by the neck. "Listen you little shit..." The sound of gunfire from the patio interrupts him. There is screaming, more gunfire, the sound of running feet. Lucas comes running across the lawn towards the pool and patio, a shotgun at the ready. Triad goons appear, surround and bundle Mrs Xiao backwards into the house. Others start aiming at Wan Kin. Lucas fires multiple shotgun rounds at the goons, pumping a new round into the barrel after each shot. The lawn and pool side take a pounding forcing Mai to keep down. Meanwhile on the other side of the pool Wan Kin, firing as he goes, runs across the patio and jumps into the pool to use the side as cover. "Holy cow what is going on?" exclaims Tommy. "Time to go Jimmy," says Yew. "But there is more we can find out." "Zen-Yi is in the process of blowing the entire building apart. You of all people should know what he's like. Let's go!" "Hello," says Lucas. "Lucas Ash at your service ma'am" "Hello Lucas Ash. I'm Mai Sing." "Nice performance. Killing the mayor eh? Not too many acts can claim that as part of the show." "A once only performance I'm afraid. My revenge is complete." "Why, what did he... 'scuse me a second." He pumps a few rounds at the retreating goons but misses. "I don't really want to talk about. Suffice it to say I was too young and not participating of my own freewill." "Ah." "Can you help me out?" Lucas grins, checks for goons, stands up and lifts Mai out of the water. "Hey Mai, mister! Come on, let's get out of here!" calls Wan Kin. "Handy fellow isn't he," says Lucas nodding at Wan Kin. "Oh yes. Roadie, manager and gun fanatic. Good combination in my line of work." They make a break for the house. Lucas and Wan Kin nod at each other in greeting. Rushing into the house they meet Jimmy, Yew and Aruda. Aruda stares at Mai. Wan Kin coughs loudly and before any greetings can take place goons appear in the huge open plan hallway from the front door. A firefight starts and the group retreat back towards the office. Turning a corner and down a set of stairs they come to a door which opens into the huge garage. Lucas grins and makes for a big SUV. He gets under the wheel and hot wires it. It fails to start, there's a flash of light, sparks, smoke and a nasty electrical burning smell. Meanwhile out side in the hallway Emily, her grandfather and Zen-Yi are trying to find a way out. Zen-Yi rather unsuccessfully attacks a big goon and is punched into unconsciousness. The girl and her grandfather leap in to help but are driven back by the gunfire. Back in the garage Wan Kin has hotwired a big limo. Lucas shrugs and slides in behind the wheel at GNs invitation. Wan Kin, Mai and the brothers jump in just in time as Lucas floors it and drives through the garage door badly damaging the front of the car. "You could have opened the door!" says Wan Kin. "How?" The car skids on the gravel as Lucas swings it left in front of the house. "This device on the dash." "Yeah, whatever. Look, Zen-Yi!" He floors it. The goons carrying Zen-Yi down the steps do not react in time and the limo ploughs into two of them, the others dive for cover.. Zen-Yi is dropped unceremoniously on the gravel. The limo doors open and Zen-Yi is dragged into the car. Jimmy fires at Mrs Xiao's limo as it speeds away from the house, and then with some goons in the house. The limo leaps forward again, throwing the occupants back. As it approaches the side of the building Lucas sees Emily and Wikki Wikki climbing out of a window. The limo swerves left and skids to a halt. "Get in!" screams Jimmy. A couple of goons fire at the limo taking out a tyre. Lucas launches the car forward again. "Let's go Lucas. Head for the road." "Not yet. One more thing to do here and our work is done." "What on earth are you talking about cousin?" "This!" The limo leaves the driveway and fishtails across the lawn. In a wild roller coaster drive Lucas manages to take out every green and flag on the golf course before he heads for the front gate. "Stop!" cries Zen-Yi. "Welcome back Mr Chen." "Stop the car. now." Lucas slams on the brakes. Zen-Yi moving painfully digs out a small electronic box from his pocket and turns the single, large red knob on it. Everyone instantly turns to look at the house now hidden from view behind a line of trees. There is a series of explosions and a huge cloud of smoke and debris rises into the air above the trees. Zen-Yi, face bruised and swelling, slumps backwards in his seat, a huge smile on his face. Scene 15 Back in hiding the group introduce themselves to Wan Kin and Mai. At a bit of loss and worried about revenge from Xiao the singer her partner decide to team up with the rest of the group. "Now what?" says Yew. "Confrontation," replies his brother. "We arrange a meeting with Xiao. He'll come. He's the sort for meetings. Meetings, committees, working groups. Pah!" "And then what. He brings his goons and wipes us out. A fine plan." "He's not behind Lei's murder Little Puppy, not directly. Liao is who we both want." "You're not after Xiao then?" says Wan Kin in surprise. "No, no point. He's not the source of our problems. He's never done anything I wouldn't do in his place. I'd hazard a guess that we're equal. He's made my life hell, I've blown his house to bits." "And the mayor is dead in his swimming pool." "Indeed. He'll take it in his stride. He's the sort. He's thinking of bigger things than us." "It's risky brother." "But we need access to Liao and Xiang Xiao is now the man to serve that dish up." Scene 16 An old office block. Rain falls steadily as the group looking down from the 8th floor spot many people converging on the building. "I hope you're right Jimmy. That's a lot of goons coming here. We can't hold that lot off." "If my contacts are right we will get away with it." "There, look, in the white suit." "So Xiao's come himself eh?" "What about Liao?" "He'll come. I'm the bait. He wants me." "Right then gang," Jimmy says, addressing the entire group. "Spread yourselves out, guard all the entry points to the floor. Yew, Lucas, come with me. This is family." Goons start running up the stair wells, checking and securing each level as they go. They reach the 8th floor and see the group waiting. Readying their weapons they nevertheless do not fire. The goons and the group eye each other up. "Jimmy. Is this Liao arriving?" "Big limo...and...yeah, that's the bastard." "He's got quite a few people too." "Personal guard. So very Liao." "Remember, you put him in power." "Yeah, well, I was young and stupid then." Liao steps into the lobby where Xiao waits. "So you've tracked them down to this place Xiang. Good work. We can put an end to the whole affair. I want Jimmy's skin nailed to the wall in my office." "Sir," acknowledges Xiao. "Let's go." They ascend to the 8th floor. As they arrive Liao orders his guards to take out the 'scum' and a firefight starts. Lead by a group of goons Liao, Xiao and the Thin Man burst into the open plan office where Jimmy, Yew and Lucas are waiting. Meanwhile in the firefight the others notice that Xiao's men are not taking part. "Jimmy" says Liao. "Liao," replies Jimmy. "Still mean and ugly then." "Shut your mouth boy. You were nothing when I first met and you'll be nothing again soon. Xiao, rid me of this fool and his kin." "Certainly sir. Things have got change Jimmy. Events move us on. Your time with the Triad is over, but I suspect you knew that already." "Get on with it Xiao. I want to get out of this building. We're venerable here." "You will stay quiet Ying Liao until I have finished." "What?!" "You will stay quiet until I have finished and then your time is your own." Yew looks at Jimmy. Jimmy smiles wryly. Liao raises his hand to strike Xiao but stops when most of the men around him bring their guns out. "For 5 years since the debacle in the museum I have fighting a rear guard action to keep this Triad afloat, to preserve the good work of The Boss and despite your gross incompetence I have done it Liao. Person by person I have seen off all the thugs and self seekers who put you in position and now I will complete my work. This Triad is now mine Liao. The Silver Dragon are now mine. We shall merge and then there will be a shake up in Hong Kong. Yew, Liao is all yours." "I want the Thin Man. I want the killer of my wife." "Then you can find him. I wish you luck. You'll need it. I last saw him at the airport where I saw him off on to a plane to South Korea. Follow if you dare. In the meantime I'll leave you and your brother with Liao." "You just shrugging off your ruined house then Xiang?" taunts Jimmy. "My wife told me all about it. I think she rather enjoyed herself. Pity about the mayor, a man with vices is man who can be controlled. We'll just have to see who we can replace the old reprobate with. You see Jimmy, anything you've done to me is too petty to react to. You're not worth it, you're simply not worth it." Xiao turns and leaves, his men backing out after him guns still levelled. Immediately they leave the gunfight breaks out, everyone diving for cover behind old desks and cabinets. Jimmy shoots down one of Liao's four bodyguards whilst Lucas shoots down a section of the ceiling. Yew scuttles for cover and looks for a way to get at the goons. Bullets fly everywhere. The room is filled with flying debris. Another two goons go down and Lucas gets hit in the shoulder which throws him to the ground unconscious. Yew makes a break for a desk to get closer. A goon takes a shot and leaves himself exposed to Jimmy who empties his pistol into him, his weapon clicking emptily. Liao rises up and levels his pistol at Yew. Jimmy flings himself in the way of the bullets and goes down heavily in front of his brother. He is dead. Bloods leaks from under his body. "No! no!" screams Yew. "Kill the wife, kill the brother, kill the husband. A whole family," says Liao as he steps up to gloat. Yew reacts like lightning, drawing the short sword from inside his jacket as he springs to his feet. Liao tries to react but before he can the sword is buried in his heart. His arms go limp and he drops the revolver, a silver revolver with an bone handle. Yew twists the sword and withdraws it. Liao stands for a few seconds and then collapses. The rest of the group turn up wounded but alive. Yew picks up the silver gun and places in Jimmy's hand. The credits role: Jimmy Tong ......... Jimmy Woo (PJ) Yew Tong ........... Lee Chung (PhilM) With Chen Zen-Yi ........ Hang Seng Wang Chu (Dave) Aruda Kawazaki ..... Shittake Mayawachi (Blob) Lucas Ash .......... Tron Carter (Sukh) Emily Cho .......... Hikey Reehaw (Dabe) Wikki Wikki ........ Nimrod Ping - (PhilJ) Wan Kin ............ Zee (Kell) and introducing Mai Sing ........... Mao Tse 'Julie' Tong (Rich)