(Trumpet Fanfare)
The ACTION PACK Presents Yet Another Gloriosus-Hammerhead Production
TEASER:
The wind’s howling sounds in the background as we hear
a falcon’s cry. FADE FROM BLACK TO a falcon soaring in a clear blue
sky. PAN DOWN from the falcon to reveal the silhouette of several
mounted figures swathed in heavy fur cloaks. Two of them bear falcons
perched on their arms.
(Voice Over) “Look well, my sons,” CUT
TO the stern visage of the speaker, “This is what comes to those who would
rely on the dead to achieve their aims.” PAN TO speaker’s view, revealing
a valley filled with petrified warriors. (Voice Over) “Rely on yourself
to gain what you want in this life.”
(Young Voice Over) “And what do YOU
want in this life, father,” CUT TO the elder mongol, who looks at his questioner
and smiles.
“I want what’s best in life,” he says,
“Tell me, Belgutai, what is best in life?”
The young son, squints his eyes as he looks to his father,
“The open steppe, a fleet horse, a falcon at your wrist, and the wind in
your hair.”
“WRONG!” exclaims Yisugei, “Temuchin,
what is best in life?”
His eldest son answered without hesitation, “To crush
your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their
women.”
“HA-HA, that’s correct. Come,
we march on Chin!”
CUT TO the soaring falcon, while in the background we hear galloping
horses, and shouted orders.
FADE TO CLOSE UP of K’ao Hsin awakening from her meditations.
“What is it, Mistress?” asked a servant.
K’ao Hsin sits in stunned silence before answering her
earnest questioner, “The Golden Horde advances on the Wings of the Falcon.
Oh, to whom can we apply for help? Lao Ma, please guide me.”
CUT TO a pair of horses, one a Palomino, the other a Chestnut, galloping
across the grassy plains.
Music swells and OPENING TITLES -
A lone equine figure in a verdant field, as clouds billow and rush
overhead, "In a time of Myth and Legend, of Spirits and Demigods …"
Shot of a team of horses pulling a chariot, "… A horse was considered
nothing but a beast of burden …"
Now a galloping Argo, in full harness, fording a stream with the warrior
princess on her back, "… but one would challenge this assumption …"
Title Display: ARGO, MARE OF JUSTICE
Shot of a galloping Argo with Autolycus riding her barebacked, "… She
was Argo, Mare of Justice …"
A shot of a galloping Chestnut Mare, "… The Passion …"
A PAN-SHOT of a herd of wild horses streaming across the screen, "…
The Fury …"
Poseidon rising out of the surf before a challenging Argo, "… The Danger
…"
CLOSE-UP of Argo rearing against a reddening sky, " … Her courage will
change the world."
ACT ONE
Subtitles sequentially appear:
ARGO AND THE GOLDEN HORDE
Guest Starring:
Sammo Hung
Jet Li
Marie Matiko
Ken Matsudaira
George Takei
Chow Yun-Fat
Anthony Wong
Across the verdant plains of Chin our mares race, urgently striving to reach what was once the Palace of Lao-Ma.
*And you know our help is needed here,
how?* asked the Chestnut Mare.
*I saw it in a dream,* explained Argo.
*I saw a golden falcon sweeping over these vast fields, and under its ever-growing
shadow, the crops were withering.*
*So there won’t be any grain to eat?*
*No, silly,* the Palomino snorted. *According
to Gabrielle, dreams are very rarely literal. I recognized the landmarks,
so I know where to go, but I still have no idea what the threat is.*
Ruffian whinnied her skepticism, *Argo, sounds to me like
you got an over-ripe batch of hay.*
Argo’s ears flipped back as she replied, *My rider used
to have these dreams, so why not me?*
ESTABLISHING SHOT The refugees fleeing across the plains, close-up of
the refugee trail, with families and their belongings bundled up on Ox-drawn,
or Man-drawn wagons, or otherwise herding their cattle and livestock.
(Voice Over (K’ao Hsin)) “Look at them,
like leaves caught in a storm.”
CUT TO K’ao Hsin and Lin Qi, standing in Lao Ma’s old study. In
the background is a large wicker cage holding a dozen pigeons. Their
cooing provides the background noise.
“K’ao Hsin, the monks have offered their
monastery as temporary refuge for these people’s trip south, but they are
not prepared to take this many of them.”
The young woman nodded her understanding. “Then we must
make the tunnels available.” Lin Qi looked uncomfortable with this decision.
“What is it, Lin Qi? After all we’ve been through, there shouldn’t
be any hesitation.”
“Dear, K’ao Hsin, your compassion is
truly worthy of your mother; but we cannot house the refugees here, for
we cannot guarantee their safety.”
“Lin Qi? If we do not provide for them,
who will?”
“We have to have our fields clear to
fight these Barbarians, if we concern ourselves with these refugees, we
will be in no position to offer resistance.”
K’ao Hsin sighed, and looked back out the large window.
“They are our neighbors, Lin Qi, we will provide for them, for that is
what we’d want them to do were our situations reverse,” the young warrior
started. “But have no fear, I’ve sent a messenger pigeon to An Lu-Shan
asking for his assistance.”
“Then it shall be as you command, my lady,”
consented the warrior as his noble lady drew in her breath. “What
is it?”
“Look there!” she exclaimed, pointing
out the window. “The gods have not abandoned us.”
CUT TO K’ao Hsin’s POV: Cutting across the field of refugees are
two beautiful mares. CUT TO Close up of Argo and Ruffian ably making
their way through the press of the crowds to the palace.
FADE TO The dun-colored ponies, and be-robed Mongols moving South.
Wending their way through the passes, orders are issued
over the noise of the advancing troops as they clear the valley of the
petrified army. Il-Khan Arghun gallops up to his Khan, who is supervising
his army’s progress.
“My Khan, we will soon be approaching
the lands of Lao Ma.”
“Very good, Arghun,” complemented Yisugei.
“Temuchin, and our scouts, have set out to find us a suitable battlefield
where we shall meet the armies of Chin.”
“Yes, my Khan; and what do you want
done with An Lu-Shan’s spies that we’ve captured?”
Yisugei stroked his mustache as he thought on the matter.
“Let them go,” he finally decided. “We can always hope that their
report will draw out his entire army to face us.”
Arghun grinned, “Very good, my Khan. All we need
is for Lao Ma’s daughter to ask for his assistance, and our trap will be
set. Do you think SHE might suspect something?”
“Hardly … she’ll be more concerned with
the well-being of her neighbors that we’ve displaced, than with fighting
us.”
“But Lin Qi is a capable commander,
wouldn’t he advise her otherwise?”
“Lin Qi is her faithful lap-dog, what
she decides, he will do. And what does a woman know about waging
war, anywise … eh?” sneered the Khan.
ACT TWO
CUT TO Exterior, K’ao Hsin is stroking Argo’s head, as the Golden Mare
nuzzles her. Beside her is a bemused Lin Qi.
“My lady,” began the captain of the
guards. “I’m pleased that the presence of these mares give you comfort,
but how can they possibly be of assistance to us?”
K’ao Hsin smiled. “We can gain wisdom even from
the animals, if we but listen.” She then turned towards Lin Qi.
“This is Xena’s own mount, and certainly she must have picked up some tricks
of the trade from her rider.”
Lin Qi exhaled gustily, “As you wish, K’ao Hsin.
But, if you will excuse me, I believe I can of more use to you recruiting
from the refugees to bolster our own forces.”
Ruffian watched Lin Qi stalk away from them as Argo knickered.
“He’s a good man, Argo,” said K’ao Hsin. “He just has problems believing
in those things beyond his understanding.”
CUT TO A cattle filled field, where Argo and Ruffian are foraging for
grass. The lowing of the cattle provide background noise as the two
horses discuss the situation.
Ruffian snorted and pranced over to her golden companion
who was lunching on some grass. The golden mare’s ears twitching
and swiveling in response to her surroundings. *A Horde?* the chestnut
asked. *We’re going to fight a Horde? Argo? Mate? I know I’ve done
some bone-headed things in my days, but tackling an army?* Ruffian suddenly
shouldered an ox who had wandered too close to them. *And will you
scoot … private conversation!* she snorted at the beast who just looked
at her while he chewed his cud, before taking another step closer to the
pair. With a whinny, Ruffian skittered away, and then shouldered
into the ox again, with even greater determination. The ox calmly
relented, and rejoined his brethren as the chestnut mare looked on in exasperation.
*Aargh! Never have I met slower witted animals then these oxen.*
*Easy Ruffian,* Argo soothed.
*What did you expect from beasts that have to be led by the nose?
Now, if you’d just relax, I’ve got some ideas on how to deal with this
horde.*
*But Argo, we’re not talking about some
petty warlord’s band here.*
*I know, I know … but the principles
should be the same, and in any case, we won’t be tackling them alone.
What with K’ao Hsin’s guards, and the help the expect to receive, the odds
will be nowhere near as bad as those Xena faced.*
*Uh-huh, and just how are WE going to
stop them?*
Argo looked up from her grazing, and began to make her
way out of the cattle herd. *Well, if you’d follow me, I’ll show
you.” Argo remarked archly, flipping her tail to get the chestnut
to come along.
DIAGONAL WIPE (bottom-right to top-left) a deeply shadowed ravine.
It is late afternoon, and the Mongolian scouting party, led by Temuchin,
is returning from their reconnaissance.
“This will be the best way,” remarked
Commander Mukali to Temuchin, “the pass is wide and clear, and more than
able to accommodate our army.”
Temuchin grinned at the observation. “Indeed, by
this time tomorrow we shall be in possession of the lands beyond, and what
armies may come will have to fight on fields of OUR choosing.”
The scouts laughed while their stout mounts cantered back
through the chasm. Suddenly the troop stopped at the sound of a whinny
reverberating throughout the defile. The riders quickly scanned their
surroundings as their horses danced about in surprise.
“Look! Up there!” cried one of the scouts,
pointing.
CUT TO the scout’s POV. Atop the darkened overhang of the ravine,
two horses stood, looking down at the Mongols. The mares’ golden
and chestnut hides standing out clearly against the clear blue skies.
“Ho! This must be a vision. Have
you ever seen anything so lovely?” asked Mukali.
CUT TO the Mongols at the foot of the slope.
“Indeed not,” exclaimed Temuchin, “They
are the most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen,” at this, his own mount snorted
and let loose with a whinny of complaint. “Next to you, Tyfun, my
friend,” comforted the Mongol, as he stroked his mount’s neck. “I
meant to say, ‘Next to my splendid steed, they are the most beautiful horses
I’ve ever seen.’” The dun-colored mount whuffled, accepting his rider’s
apology.
Another neigh filled the ravine, as the horses disappear
from the Mongol’s view, and the drumming sound of hoof-beats began to resound
throughout the chasm.
CUT TO Aerial view of the two mares galloping back and forth on the
cliff’s rocky ledge.
CUT TO The underside of the overhang as dust and pebbles begin to fall
and skitter down the steep slope.
CUT TO Close-up of Temuchin, his eyes widening, as he begins to shout
orders to his men to get moving, just as the overhang rumbles and begins
to crash down.
A huge cloud of dust billows through the chasm filling
the screen, as we see the shadowy forms coalesce into madly riding Mongols
galloping out of the dust cloud. They look back from where they came.
CUT TO Mongol’s POV as the dust settles, they see the once clear pass,
blocked with debris and giant boulders.
CUT TO the Mongols.
“Gah! This is that witch-daughter’s doing.
K’ao Hsin has summoned demon horses to combat us!” cried one of the scouts.
“Silence!” shouted Temuchin, reining
in his mount. “Whether she has, or not, is not important,” he explained
feverishly to his men. “She will not stop us. Those horses
will not stop us.” He said pointing at the distant equine figures.
The young Mongol then turned in his saddle and angrily shook his fist at
the two horses who were surveying their handiwork. “YOU WILL NOT
STOP US!”
CUT TO Argo and Ruffian’s POV.
*Well, isn’t he the stubborn one?* quipped
the chestnut.
*Come on, that should hold them for
a couple of days,* Argo said, turning herself around to make her way back
down the narrow path they had traveled to get there.
CUT TO the Mongols, watching the departure of the mares.
“The Khan won’t be pleased to hear about
this,” muttered the Mongol Commander.
“Then I will tell him,” promised Temuchin,
as he started to lead his men out of the defile. “But let us figure
out how to address this little problem.”
CUT TO Silhouettes of approaching ranks of tasseled spears, and flapping
banners, blackly displayed against the reddening skies of sunset as in
some shadow play, while warning drums beat, and trumpets sound and answer,
announcing their arrival.
Over the cheers of the refugees, Lin Qi studied the approaching
army from his post on the Palace walls. He grinned as he spotted
the portly figure leading the troops on his dappled gray. Grabbing
a courier Lin Qi instructed him to go to K’ao Hsin. “Tell her that
An Lu-Shan has come to aid us.”
ACT THREE
OPEN at Night, light from mounted torches cast their flickering orange
light against the steep sides of the pass, as swarms of laborers pound
and cart away the rubble blocking the ravine. To one side is a wood
and bamboo bridge, with an overseer’s platform at its apex, over which
Mongol skirmishers lead their horses. On the platform stands the
Mongol Khan, Yisugei, and his son, Temuchin.
“The bridge was a good idea,” remarked
Yisugei. “The Il-Khan, Arghun, will take the skirmishers and try
to secure our advanced positions.”
“Thank you, father. I apologize
for not being able to prevent the landslide.”
“Huh … No apologies. In life all
things are uncertain, I, however, can at least claim to know the joy of
having a son who makes me proud to be his father.”
Temuchin stood taller at Yisugei’s praise. “We will
have this cleared by morning.” The young Mongol promised.
“See that you do,” replied his sire,
gripping his shoulder. “And make sure that you, and your men, have
something to eat off our kitchen wagons. It does no good to arrive
at the battle, if you have no strength to fight with.” The Khan pointed
off towards the plains. “Look, even as we speak, our adversary arrays
his forces against us.”
CUT TO The Khan’s POV. Against the blackness, torches flame as
stars in the night’s sky, as troops are marshaled and deployed in the darkness.
Reflections of the Mongol’s own torches glint off the helmets and shields
of their skirmishers, as the men advanced, becoming shadows and fading
into the night. ZOOM IN to hear the orders being issued from the
Chin Officers, as they seek to ready their men for tomorrow’s battle.
The two giant forces groping towards each other blindly, seeking to close
with an enemy dimly perceived. CAMERA PANS to follow the sound of hoof-beats,
and creaking wheels as wagons are moved to their positions. Off in
the distance, a mountain pass glows a dim orange from the Mongol’s fires.
PULL BACK to reveal the faintly lit scene of the encamped Chin Army,
their fires providing dim illumination to their tents and wagons, as the
soldiers work towards setting up camp. Behind their lines march the
newly arriving ranks of Colonel Sun’s Division.
Argo silently bears Lin-Qi, as he makes his rounds accompanied
by Colonel Po’s head sergeant, Ya Li, who rides beside them upon Ruffian.
“So you see, Suh, we will form up our divisions, hopefully paralleling
them barbarians, what with the grounds being as you’ve described them,
Suh. And I must say this is a luverly horse you’ve got here,” commented
the large sergeant as he patted Ruffian’s neck. Ruffian’s ears pricked
up at the unexpected complement.
“Just treat her with respect,” replied
Lin-Qi, glad for the sergeant’s chatter, for it served to cover up his
own nervousness. “These horses are on loan to us, and their
owner would make the Mongols appear as welcome family coming to dinner
if anything should happen to them.”
“Yes-suh! I understand the sentiment,
being that I grew up around horses and all,” the two riders danced aside
to let some wagons rumble by. “That’d be the artillery, suh.”
“Gods,” muttered the captain.
“What use would they be? It’s not fortifications we’re going up against.”
“Well now, I wouldn’t be one to second-guess
the warlord, but I’d say they’d do some frightful hurt to the enemy formations.”
The sergeant reined in Ruffian upon hearing some shouting. “Ah, you
hear that, suh? That’d be the warlord’s own son, Colonel An Shang.”
CUT TO two mounted officers, one with a ring crest on his helmet, another
with a half disk, both crests were framed by tall plumes. Behind
them rolled wagons, and ranks of spears. The babble of the soldiers
fill the air.
“No …” drawled Colonel Shang, with rapidly
diminishing patience. “You are not forming here, you are forming
to our left. THAT way.” Colonel Sun nodded as Shang pointed in the
direction he wanted the men to go. The two barely noticed their being
joined by Lin-Qi and the sergeant.
“Certainly, you must be able to tell
me if we are on good ground,” demanded Colonel Sun.
“All I know is that the Mongol’s are
that way,” countered Shang, indicating the orange glow of the distant pass.
“We just arrived in the twilight of dusk ourselves, so we have no idea
how the ground lies.”
“Gah! What a way to fight a war.”
Sun shook his head in dismay, anticipating the headaches he’d have to endure
for the rest of the night. “Yes? What can we do for you?” He asked
the recent arrivals.
“Good evening, I’m Lin-Qi,” began K’ao
Hsin’s champion hesitantly, “And I believe you know Sergeant Li?
From Colonel Po’s Division.”
“Yes, yes, and what is he doing on an
officer’s mount?” demanded Colonel Shang.
The two horses started, Ruffian letting loose a snort.
“With all due respect, suh. The lady, K’ao Hsin, herself, loaned
me this horse, so I’d more ably coordinate things with her Captain, here
… suh.”
The two colonels looked back at Lin-Qi with a new respect.
“Ah, please excuse us,” began Colonel Sun.
Colonel Shang nodded his agreement with Sun’s apology.
“Yes, night maneuvers are a bear to deal with in the best of conditions,
please excuse our shortness.”
“I understand,” Lin-Qi replied. “Battles
seem never to be fought at our convenience.”
“HA! Now there speaks a veteran,” Colonel
Sun exclaimed delightedly, clapping the young warrior on his shoulder.
“Will we have the pleasure of fighting beside your men in tomorrow’s battle?”
Lin-Qi nodded. “Yes, they were attached to Colonel
Po’s men, when he first arrived.”
Colonel Sun scowled at Shang, who shrugged. “The
warlord, my father, thought they’d fight the hardest, if they were directly
protecting their own Palace.”
PAN TO Silhouette of Palace. ZOOM IN on a large, brightly lit
window.
CUT TO Main Palace Chamber, An Lu-Shan sits opposite K’ao Hsin over
cups of tea, while shouted orders rise up from the outside night.
The campfires are visible through the large window.
K’ao Hsin bowed to her guest. “Again I must thank
you, An Lu-Shan, for coming to our aid.”
The portly warlord held up his hand to stem her gratitude.
“No thanks are necessary. I am sorry, though, that my army must still
arrive throughout the night. I hope that our noise won’t disturb
your sleep.”
“But the noise shall be as a lullaby
to me,” responded the young lady smilingly. “I shall sleep all the
better, knowing that our saviors have come to my kingdom’s assistance.”
An Lu-Shan sipped at his tea, as he looked closely at
his hostess. “I hope that my troops won’t disappoint you,” the warlord
said gently. “I just wish there was more time to make ready.
The Khan is a capable and determined foe, and not to be taken lightly.”
“Indeed, and I thought you prided yourself
on being the Master Warrior of the northern provinces.”
“HA! Well, I may have made some
boasts to that effect. It is just as well that I brought the black-powder
rockets with which to fight him.”
K’ao Hsin looked at the stout warlord in shock.
“An Lu-Shan,” she remonstrated. “The production and use of Black
Powder has been forbidden by the Emperor, himself.”
The warlord smiled, “My lady, K’ao Hsin, that is true.
However, the Mongols are here, and the forbidden city is a long ways away.”
An Lu-Shan finished his tea, stood and bowed to his hostess. “With
your permission? While my son is a more than capable officer, trying to
orchestrate an army at night is not something I should leave to anyone
else.”
“Then ready your men, An Lu-Shan.
Hopefully, tomorrow, fortune will smile on us.”
“I will, and who knows? Perhaps
we will have a surprise or two in store for these Mongols.” The famed
warlord, departed walking past the camera.
FADE TO Morning. CLOSE-UP of mist shrouded grasses, and a forest
of galloping hooves. PULL BACK to reveal darkly dressed Mongolians
being closely pursued by the brightly caparisoned Chin counterparts.
The Chin officer resplendent in his black-lacquered armor, and helmet crested
with tall feathers bracketing a gold crescent. Some of the Chin lancers,
have arrows sticking out of their armor, as the Mongolians try to disengage.
A Mongol turns in his saddle and looses an arrow that strikes the officer
full in the chest, throwing him from his horse. Momentum tumbles
him, until he lies in the dust, dead.
LONG SHOT of the pursuit, as the Chin soldiers rein their horses back,
turn, and run in the face of the Mongolian reinforcements cresting the
hill, and charging them.
CUT TO An Lu-Shan’s pavilion. An Lu-Shan walks into frame while
strapping on his armor. The noise of battle the skirmish is heard
in the background. A dusty runner, in his battered armor, comes to
deliver his report.
“Sire, we’ve been unsuccessful in driving
the Mongols from the heights.”
CUT TO the warlord, his eyes widening in anger.
“What fool ordered this attempt!” cried
the warlord. “We’ve yet to realign our forces.”
“It was Colonel Po, sire.”
“That IDIOT; it won’t be the Mongols
who kill me, but my own officers! Colonel Sun! Colonel Shang!
Ready your men, it appears this battle has started without us.”
ACT FOUR
CUT TO rear shot of massed ranks of infantry, a mounted officer waves
his sword signaling the charge. Trumpets sound, and a cry is raised from
the Chin ranks as the blue-clad guards in K’ao Hsin’s service, and the
crimsoned uniformed soldiers of Colonel Po’s Division lurch forward towards
the swarming black-clad Mongols. CUT TO the front ranks of spear-men
as they determinedly advance, only to fall under the rain of incoming arrows.
A crash is heard with the impact of the Mongols against
the rank and file of the Chin army.
CUT TO Mongol’s POV, Temuchin is looking at the action occurring on
his left.
“The Il-Khan started too soon,” the
young Mongol muttered to himself before turning to his right to witness
the banners of his father’s, and Commander Jebe’s, Divisions signal the
attack. Temuchin raised the cry, “Commander Mukali! Signal our attack!”
CUT TO distant shot of the Mongol horde sweeping down upon the miss-aligned
divisions of the Chin army.
CUT TO An Lu-Shan mounting his dappled gray stallion.
“Steady, Ironshanks, we shall be to
battle soon enough,” the warlord swung himself over and stood in his mount’s
stirrups to survey the battlefield. His eyes swept the grounds before
him, before settling on his own left flank. “GAH! This is what I
get for trying to marshal the men in the dark. You there!” He shouted
at the rider at his side. “Go tell Colonel Sun to wheel his men across
the creek to align with the rest of our divisions.”
With an enthusiastic “Sire!” the young messenger galloped
off.
“Damn Po!” the warlord cursed.
“If he survives this battle, I’ll kill him myself!”
CUT TO the sun rising in the sky, shining redly through the dust cloud
raised by the colliding armies. The ringing of blades, and the cries
of soldiers are heard.
CUT TO Lin-Qi in the midst of a fiercely fought melee, his straight
blade clashing against the curved saber of the Mongol, before the Mongol
is hauled physically from his saddle and tossed towards a black-clad archer
by Sergeant Li, standing in the stirrups of Ruffian.
“They’re pressing us back, suh! What
are your orders!” Sergeant Li shouted above the din of battle.
“Where are Po’s officers?”
“The good ones have gone down – AND
WILL YOU KINDLY NOT STRIKE AT MY HORSE!” Li cried at the startled Mongol,
barely parrying the Mongol’s slash with his own straight blade.
“Oh! My apologies!” cried the Mongol,
just as Ruffian landed a solid kick to the rider knocking him onto a forest
of Chin spears.
“As I was saying, Suh! Those that
remain I wouldn’t trust to go to the bathroom without supervision!”
“Damn!” Lin-Qi cursed as he rebuffed
the attacks of yet another determined opponent. “If you can get me
some room, I’ll think of something.”
“Suh! Yes-suh!” Sergeant Li turned
himself about, issuing orders to the guardsmen who had remained close to
them. The blue-clad soldiers set their mouths in a determined grin
as they charged into the teeth of the Mongol cavalry, parrying saber strikes
with their lances, and managed to force a cordon around their captain and
the sergeant.
Lin-Qi, stood in Argo’s stirrups, surveying how the press
was going. “Sergeant! Have the men reform about our wagons, we’ll
make a stand there!”
"Yes-suh!” saluted the sergeant.
“All right you apes, fall back and reform about the wagons. At the
double!” Suddenly Lin-Qi doubled over in his saddle, as Argo danced
about, struggling to keep him seated.
Sergeant Li reached over to steady his superior as they
fell back under the relentless Mongol pressure. The captain’s side
pierced by a black arrow.
CUT TO Il-Khan Arghun exhorting his men.
“Archers, loose yet another round to
their rear! We’ll put them to rout yet!”
CUT TO a swarm of arrows ascending from the Mongol ranks.
CUT TO K’ao Hsin looking out her window at the battle. CUT TO
K’ao Hsin POV as she witnesses the near collapse of the Sun’s Division
on the Chin’s left under pressure of the Mongol’s right. Nearest
the Palace, she notices the remainder of Po’s Division and her guards on
the Chin’s right, being forced out of contact with the rest of An Lu-Shan’s
army, their backs towards the palace, and being pressed back against their
own luggage under the continuing hail of arrows. ZOOM IN to An Lu-Shan
sending half his reserves to bolster Sun’s Division, as he leads the rest
to prevent the imminent Mongol breakthrough. CUT TO K’ao Hsin’s face,
a look of barely concealed horror cracks her composure as she witnesses
Lin-Qi falter.
“My lady! It is not safe for you in
here!” cried one of K’ao Hsin’s handmaiders.
“But I must know how the battle goes,”
replied K’ao Hsin just as a forest of arrows slammed into the window frame,
and the ceiling, with a single black shaft sprouting from her arm.
The noble lady looked at the arrow in shock, as if it was some kind of
apparition that had just appeared. “How extraordinary,” she managed
as her ladies in waiting pulled her out of the chamber.
“You’ll know our destiny soon enough,
I fear,” her handmaiden said grimly, breaking off the fletches, and pulling
the shaft the rest of the way through, before bandaging her lady’s arm.
CUT TO a dismounted Sergeant Li helping lower Lin-Qi off of Argo while
calling for a medic. They are next to a wagon, with the backs of
red and blue uniforms impinging as the Mongol onslaught makes itself felt
to even the rearmost ranks of the formation, the medic pulls the arrow
from the Lin-Qi’s side, and quickly binds the wound.
Lin-Qi blinks back his tears while the sergeant hovers
near by. “Are you all right, suh?”
With a cough, the captain answers, “I’m still moving,
and not tasting blood. I suspect I’ll live.” Through the sublime
acuity of his pain, he hears, whispered, *The Rockets.*
“Very good, suh! Come on, we’ve
a battle to fight.”
*The Rockets*
“What was that, sergeant?” Lin-Qi asked in confusion. The sergeant started to answer but was drowned out by the clamor from the arriving reinforcements.
CUT TO Argo and Ruffian.
Argo looked from her wounded rider to her Chestnut companion,
*Ruffian, see about releasing the latch on the corral, will you? This might
take a little while.*
Ruffian snorted her assent and side-stepped away from
the group, looking past the heaving formations of the Chin army.
*Oh, that’s brilliant!* she neighed in understanding as she judged her
upcoming task. *Hmmm … that’s about eleven furlongs from here to the corral
… call it twelve to skirt the fighting … Yeah!* And the throughbred darted
forward, her tail held high like a banner in the wind.
CUT TO Lin-Qi.
Shaking his head, Lin-Qi focused on the sergeant.
“The Rockets,” he said, in his confusion.
“No, good, Suh. The barbarians
are at our ranks. We can’t use them this close.”
The captain, watching Ruffian dart away, focused on her
course, and with dawning realization stated. “No, not at the Mongols.
At the corral.”
“What’s that, suh?” The sergeant
followed his superior’s gaze. “Oh, I see, suh! Very good, suh!” Ya
Li exclaimed with delight. “You men, help us here!”
Argo snorted, shaking her head, as she began to urge the
men as they hurriedly unloaded the wagon, and began setting the racks into
the grounds for the black powder rockets.
CUT TO Temuchin and Mukali, who have pulled back to make sense of the
melee that is swirling around them.
“Sir, the Il-Khan almost broke through
their right!” shouted the Mongol Commander.
“Gods above, what a mess!” exclaimed
Temuchin, standing in his stirrups to survey the situation when his eye
is caught by the sight of a speeding Chestnut. “Is that what I think
it is?” the young Mongol asked, pointing out the horse to his Commander.
CUT TO Temuchin’s POV. Then CUT TO the Mongols.
“Yessir, it’s the Demon Horse! A hundred
gold-pieces to he who brings down that horse!”
The Archers cheer and began to loft a swarm of arrows
at the Thoroughbred.
Under the arrows, Temuchin shielded his eyes, “Such a
waste,” he lamented.
CUT TO a galloping Ruffian, her ears pricked forward, CAMERA PANS following
the Chestnut Mare.
*Yee-Haaa!*
CAMERA STOPS to focus on the dust cloud raised by Ruffian’s passage
as arrows suddenly sprout in her trail.
CUT TO Mukali, his eyes opened wide in astonishment.
“Oooh, she’s fast!”
CUT TO Yiguchei leading his men onward against the still failing Chin
flank.
“Onward, my men, this day will be ours!”
the Khan cried, as he hewed his way through the massed ranks of Chin soldiers,
his bodyguard close beside him.
CUT TO Long shot of Ruffian skirting the flanking Mongols, and the extended
fringes of Colonel Sun’s Division, as the black clad soldiers sweep past
the makeshift gate of the corral K’ao Hsin had established to house the
refugee’s cattle.
Sounds of trumpets fill the air.
CUT TO An Lu-Shan riding up to Lin-Qi.
“I have to take charge of our left flank;
it’s up to you to hold the line against the Mongols. This battle
will decide the fate of Chin.”
A stunned Lin-Qi, managed to acknowledge the order and
promise “Yessir, they shall not pass.”
The warlord whirled Ironshanks about and galloped towards
the beleaguered left wing of his army, past Colonel Shang’s men who are
managing to resist the determined Mongol charge.
CUT TO Lin-Qi, who turns back to his men who are carefully laying out
a trail of black powder that will act as a fuse to safely ignite the racks
of rockets they had set up.
“Are the rockets ready to fire?” asked
the Captain.
The sergeant waited for the nod of the men who just finished
their task. “They are, suh!”
“Fire!” cried Lin-Qi. There is
an embarrassed silence as the blue-clad troopers pat themselves down looking
for some flint and steel.
CUT TO Ruffian who has managed to lift the rope loop that was holding
the gate closed.
With a great neigh, she reared up in encouragement for
the cattle to charge forth. Instead a couple of the oxen looked up
from their grazing and stared at her while they continued to chew their
cud.
CUT TO Argo, who has trotted up to the frantically searching soldiers.
She rears up, and with her fearsome war-whinny brings her iron-shod hooves
down with a crash on a conveniently placed rock, striking sparks.
The sparks ignite the black powder trail.
CUT TO Ruffian, who is still trying to get the cattle to move.
*Come on you oafs! Run! Be free!
MOVE IT!* She neighed again in her growing frustration. Suddenly
from overhead a whistling sound is heard as smoke trails arc over the herd.
Then great plumes of dirt erupt into the air with loud explosions as the
rockets strike the far end of the corral.
With panicked lowing, the cattle pressed against the gates,
and began their frantic charge down the grade towards the black-clad horsemen
in front of them, as the second wave of rockets arrived.
CUT TO Ruffian racing by the panicked herd.
CUT TO the rear of the Mongol formation, as a couple of soldiers turned
towards the sound of thunder coming from behind them. Their eyes
widened in fear, and cries of “Break off! Break off!” are heard as they
strive to get out of the way of the stampeded.
CUT TO the rear of the Chin formation, as the spear-men break ranks
despite their officers’ attempts to rally them. The mass of stampeding
cattle prevent most of the Mongol host from taking advantage of the situation,
and incidentally isolate Yisugei, his standard-bearers, and guards from
the rest of the Mongols.
CUT TO Colonel Sun reluctantly falling back as he tries to regain control
of his division, the laggards of which are cut down by the Khan and his
men. The crimson ranks halt in their flight upon sighting An Lu-Shan,
astride his noble war-horse, Ironshanks, galloping towards them.
CUT TO Yisugei wearing a big grin and calling his men to a halt.
Behind them the cattle are still streaming through the locked combatants,
effectively separating the Mongols from the left and center of the Chin
host.
CUT TO An Lu-Shan making his way to the head of the rapidly coalescing
Chin ranks of Sun’s Division.
“An Lu-Shan!” shouted Yisugei.
“We meet at last!”
“You should not have come!” returned
the warlord, reining in his mount. “For today you die!”
The Mongol Khan gave a great laugh. “HA! It will
be YOU who dies this day!” Brandishing his curved saber, Yisugei urged
his mount forward.
Giving the Mongol a quick salute with his own straight
blade, An Lu-Shan spurred Ironshanks into action.
The two mighty warriors galloped at each other, and as
they passed, the sound of steel could be heard from their cuts and parries.
Their very speed carrying the two past the other.
CUT TO Temuchin who spies his father’s standards behind the Chin lines.
Paralleling his own forces, he calls for Mukali, and some attendant horsemen
to accompany him.
“Come, Tyfun,” urged the young Mongol,
and his spirited pony started to pick up speed as the Mongols sought a
safe way to cross the fields in light of the stampede. With the passage
of the last of the cattle, the Mongols suddenly swept into the stampede’s
wake, and pierced the confused lines of Chin soldiers.
CUT TO Colonel Shang, who calls upon his officers to join him when
he sees Temuchin’s maneuver.
CUT TO the dueling generals, who make two more passes at each other,
Yisugei sporting a cut on his cheek, and An Lu-Shan missing one of his
plumes, holds onto his arm where the Mongol’s blade sliced through the
heavy cloth of his sleeve.
An Lu-Shan grimaced, and clinched his teeth in fury as
he wheels his mount about for another pass at the Khan.
Yisugei, turning his own steed, laughs joyously, and charges
again at the Chin warlord.
On this pass, An Lu-Shan snakes his sword arm over the
Mongol’s cut, and drives the point of his sword into Yisugei’s breast,
un-horsing the Mongol in the process. “HA!” He cried in victory,
lifting his sword to his men in celebration.
CUT TO the lead ranks of Sun’s Division as they cheer, and then stop
in mid-hurrah.
CUT TO shot of An Lu-Shan, whose figure is suddenly eclipsed by a galloping
Temuchin, and a whistling blade is heard. When the black clad shadow
gallops past, we see a headless body still in the saddle before it falls
off the horse.
CUT TO close-up of Shang. His expression horrified as he witnesses
the death of his father.
“NO!” cried An Shang, as he rode determinedly
through the ranks of soldiers to avenge his father’s death, outstripping
his companions. The soldiers, spying him, plead for Colonel Shang
not to ride out to engage the young Mongol.
CUT TO close-up of Temuchin, pulling back to reveal him giving his saber
a twirl and urging Tyfun forward as he charges towards An Lu-Shan’s son.
PULL BACK to wide-shot of the two hard-riding horsemen. Temuchin
on his dun-colored steppe pony, An Shang on a white stallion.
The riders swing, their swords whistling while the two
gallop past each other.
CLOSE UP of a grim Temuchin reining Tyfun around.
CUT TO Temuchin’s POV as he sees Colonel Shang and his horse turn around.
Colonel Shang’s lifeless body, topples from the saddle.
CUT TO the Mongol Commanders, Jebe and Mukali, raising their hands,
the Khan’s standard bearers dip their tall white standards, with the rear
two raising theirs again. Behind them stand the reformed ranks of
Mongol horsemen. A Mongol horn sounds, its deep clear tones cutting
across the battlefield. Another Mongol horn sounds, before the first’s
notes fade.
CUT TO an astonished Colonel Sun who makes urgent motions to someone
off camera. A higher pitched trumpet is then heard returning the
Mongol’s notes.
CUT TO a dismounted Temuchin gathering his dead sire up, and placing
the cloaked wrapped corpse upon Tyfun.
PULL BACK to reveal the Mongol’s parting before the son of the Khan.
CUT TO Commander Mukali, who watches the grim visaged Temuchin silently
ride past him, clutching his father to his chest. Tears begin forming
in Mukali’s eyes. The notes of the horns resound down the battlefield.
“Come, Temuchin,” comforted the Mongol
Commander. “Let’s go home and bury your father. Chin will wait.”
The rest of the Mongols nodded their agreement with Mukali’s
statement, and offered their own condolences as they turned away from the
massed Chin forces. Jebe looked at his comrade’s tears. “Mukali,
why do you cry?”
Mukali wiped away his tears, and nodded towards the retreating
figure. “He is Temuchin, a True Son of Yisugei and Ho-elun.
He will not cry … so I cry for him.”
CUT TO Lin-Qi, Sergeant Li, and the blue and crimson-clad Chin soldiers
who are now backed up upon the wagons and carts, desperately fighting to
repel the black-clad Mongols, when a piercing clarion is heard, and then
another.
The Mongols disengaged, when from behind the line of wagons,
the answering trumpet note is heard.
The dust settled, and the jostling ceased, as the Mongol’s
desisted. The Chin soldiers stand in shocked silence, their gasps
and labored breathing filling the void that was previously filled with
the din and clamor of combat. They stared in disbelief at their unexpected
deliverance from death.
“What is it?” asked Lin-Qi.
“A ‘Cease-Fighting’ has been called,
suh. And answered,” replied the sergeant. “I never thought
I’d live to see the day.”
“The fighting’s over?”
“Aye, and now we get to tally the dead,”
Ya Li remarked grimly.
PULL BACK to helicopter shot showing the still coherent Chin formations, the receding tide of the Mongols, and the then the entire field, littered with corpses revealing the extent of the Mongol advance.
ACT FIVE
CUT TO A falcon soaring in the clear blue sky, its cries filling the
air. PAN DOWN to reveal that it’s flying away from the camera, over
the pass. Continue to PAN DOWN to reveal a hill, on whose crest is
planted a tall white standard, the standard of the Mongol Khan. PULL
BACK to a rear view of a couple of Chin watching the snapping banner.
CUT TO reveal the figures to be K’ao Hsin, and Colonel Sun. Behind
them are rows of pavilions set up to treat the wounded from the battle.
“You’ve saved us all,” remarked the
lady.
Colonel Sun knelt, placing his helmet on his knee.
“I’m afraid not,” (long pause) “While we may call this a victory, it is
closer to being a mitigated disaster.”
“A mitigated disaster?” K’ao Hsin asked,
smiling. “What would an unmitigated disaster be?”
“That’s when we lose,” remarked Sun.
Pointing to the hill-top, he added. “That standard is a promise that
the Mongol’s will return. And with An Lu-Shan, and his heir dead,
you’re all that stands in their way.”
K’ao Hsin shivered, and drew her cloak more tightly about
her. “Will you serve me, Colonel Sun?”
The veteran smiled, “It would probably be for the best.
I’m sure An Lu-Shan’s subjects won’t complain too much about being under
your dominion.”
CUT TO Lin-Qi and Sergeant Ya Li in an infirmary tent. The Guard
Captain is getting his wound properly cauterized and re-bandaged.
“You did a good day’s work, suh.”
“(Grunt) You think so, sergeant?”
“Yep, you stick with me, suh, and we’ll
make an officer out of you yet … in ten or twelve years.”
Captain Lin-Qi gasped in pain even as he laughed, nodding
his approval of the sergeant’s remark.
ZOOM IN on the back ground, behind the guard captain and sergeant, where
stand two horses, a Palomino and a chestnut mare.
*Well Ruffian, our job’s done here,*
remarked the golden mare.
*I’m certainly glad of that!* the chestnut
heartily concurred, then plaintively asked. *Let’s not get involved
in any more of these battles, eh, mate?*
Argo whuffled in amusement. *Agreed … If I’ve learned
anything, it’s never get involved in a land war in Asia.*
Ruffian whinnied her agreement as the two noble mares,
turned and started to canter off into the sunset.
CAMERA PANS to follow them, going to ground level when suddenly a dark
shape blocks its view with a heavy “Clump”
CUT TO an ox grazing, when it pauses in mid-rumination and turns to
the camera.
*Hey! What did that horse mean by us
being slow-witted?*
GALLOP ON, ARGO!
GALLOP ON, RUFFIAN!
FADE TO BLACK, Roll credits.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE PLAYERS
CHIN
Argo (Palomino Mare) Melinda Clarke
Ruffian (Chestnut Thoroughbred) Danielle Cormack
Lady K’ao Hsin (Lao Ma’s daughter, introduced in PURITY) Marie
Matiko
Captain Lin-Qi (introduced in BACK IN THE BOTTLE) Antony Wong
An Lu-Shan (Ancient Chinese Warlord) Sammo Hung
Ironshanks (Dappled Gray Stallion)
Colonel An Shang (An Lu-Shan’s son and heir)
Colonel Sun
Colonel Po
Sergeant Ya Li (Veteran NCO in the Warlord’s Army)
MONGOLS
Yisugei (Khan of the Golden Horde, father of Temuchin) George
Takei
Temuchin (Who would one day become Genghis Khan) Jet Li
Tyfun (Dun Steppe Pony, Temuchin’s faithful steed)
Belgutei (Temuchin’s baby half-brother, 5th son of Yisugei)
Il-Khan Arghun (Yisugei’s deputy, contemporary of Temuchin) Chow Yun-Fat
Commander Mukali (Contemporary of Temuchin) Ken Matsudaira
Commander Jebe (Contemporary of Temuchin)
Executive Producers: Gloriosus, Hammerhand
Written by: Gloriosus
With a special thanks for their support, I really appreciate it: LRMS,
Banana o rama, scout58, argonot, Golden Mare, Smithsonian, XenaBOX
Disclaimers: Argo, K’ao Hsin, and Lin-Qi are properties
of Studio USA and Renaissance Pictures, no copyright
infringement was intended.
No Warlords were harmed during the production of this
episode. However, liberties were taken with the portrayal of the
historical personages who made an appearance.