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Scene Map 60
# PG SLUGLINE
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Scene Map
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# PG SLUGLINE
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EXT. YUAN COMPOUND - DAY Security men and porters are loading wagons for a convoy. As they work, we see across the lake a lone horseman entering the village. One of the men recognizes him. WORKER
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INT. YU'S ROOM - DAY Yu, a beautiful woman in her early 30s, is finishing packing for the convoy, wrapping a few small items in a linen wrapper, as Aunt Wu bursts in. AUNT WU
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EXT. THE GATE TO PEKING. DAY Customs officials have just finished checking the contents in a row of carriages bearing the Sun Security insignia. The caravan slowly passes through the checkpoint into the boundaries of Peking. Yu, riding a handsome horse and
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INT. TE'S GREAT HALL - DAY Yu presents the sword to Sir Te. SIR TE This is Li's personal sword, a great hero's weapon! He is the
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INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY Yu and De Lu approach the study. DE LU Sir Te said to leave the sword in here.
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INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY Yu gently lays the sword, still in its sheath, in Jen's hands. JEN It's heavy for such a thin piece of metal!
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EXT. SIDE COURT YARD - DAY It's dusk and the sky is beautiful orange and purple. Jen is leaving the study escorted by her maid. She turns to Yu for a final good-bye. Yu seems intrigued by the encounter. EXT. SIR TE'S COMPOUND - NIGHT
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INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT A maid warms her hands in a basin of hot water for Jen, then walks over to Jen and helps remove her earrings. Someone knocks and the maid goes to answer the door. MAID
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EXT. TE'S COMPOUND - NIGHT A wide shot of the compound. A patrol man greets Master Bo, Sir Te's head of security. The place is serene. MASTER BO Chilly, eh?
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EXT. PEKING STREET - NIGHT Bo runs through the streets. The thief is nowhere in sight. Suddenly, there are sounds of weapons clashing. Bo hurries towards the source. EXT. AN ALLEY OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT
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EXT. PEKING ROOFTOP - NIGHT The thief runs atop a roof -- right into Yu. Yu and the hooded figure face off. YU Return the sword, and I'll let you
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EXT. ROOF TOP Yu and the Black Figure continue to fight. YU Get down here! Give back the sword! EXT. GOVERNOR YU'S - NIGHT
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INT. TE'S GREAT HALL - DAY Men are standing at attention. Bo is giving his account of what happened, as Yu enters. BO I'm sure the thief is in the Yu
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EXT. OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT Madam Yu is returning from temple. The governess is helping her out of the carriage. Servants are peeling bills off a wall across the street. MADAM YU
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EXT. BRIDGE - DAY Bo is searching for the Tsais. The bridge is full of jugglers. But the two are nowhere to be found. EXT. PEKING STREET - DAY Bo quizzes a homeless man.
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INT. BO'S ROOM - DAY Jen practices calligraphy. The governess is by her side embroidering and throwing occasional glances at Jen. The maid enters. MAID
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EXT. YU'S GARDEN - DAY The maid escorts Yu out. Yu pauses, looks around, and sees the profile of the Governess peering at her from around a corner. INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT
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INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT Jen sighs, and turns back toward her bed. EXT. STREET OUTSIDE GOVERNOR YU'S COMPOUND - NIGHT Tsai and May have been sitting, hidden in the branches of a tree, watching Jen.
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INT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT (LATER) May fans a small coal-fired grill that is boiling a sizzling pot of vegetable and meatball soup. Her father and Bo are now friendly dinner companions, much to May's delight. TSAI
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INT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT Yu is ushered into the room, to discover Sir Te talking to another man, whose back is to her. SIR TE Shu Lien, look who's here.
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EXT. YELLOW HILL - NIGHT Tsai, Bo, and May wait under an ancient tree. Bo stifles a yawn. BO The fox doesn't care much for
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EXT. TE'S - DAY Te and a group of his men look down as a cloth is removed from over the body of Tsai. Bo and May stand before them. TE This is Tsai?
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INT. TE'S STUDY - DAY Te, Li, and Yu are seated. SIR TE This needs to be resolved, and quickly.
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EXT. SIR TE'S GARDEN - DAY Yu sits with Madam Yu and Jen. They busy themselves with various items for her trousseau. MADAM YU Madam Te is certainly spoiling us
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EXT. TSAI'S HOUSE - NIGHT May opens her door, only to find Bo standing guard. MAY Why don't you come in? BO
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EXT. TE'S STUDY - NIGHT Something moves in the moonlight. A hooded figure jumps down. Li Mu Bai, who had been hiding in the shadows, comes forward. LI Isn't it a bit too late to be out?
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EXT. PEKING STREET - NIGHT The two fly over houses and bounce off of rooftops, displaying amazing floating skills. INT. ABANDONED MONASTERY - NIGHT The figure bounces into an old monastery. Li is already
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EXT. MONASTERY - NIGHT The figure leaps into the garden, but again, Li is ahead of her. The figure attacks Li, who uses his agility to evade her. Frustrated, the figure intensifies her attack.
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INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT Jen slips in through the window. She pulls off her mask, as she spots the Governess/Fox sitting and sewing. FOX You're home late... or should I say
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EXT. GOVERNOR YU'S GATE - DAY The Governess leaves, a small sack over her back. EXT. TE'S COURTYARD - DAY Li practices fluently with Green Destiny in hand, beautifully at ease with the weapon. He spins around to find Yu standing
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INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT Jen is asleep. A noise awakens her. Lo opens the window and sneaks in -- right into the point of Jen's waiting sword. Jen's sword drops to the ground.
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INT./EXT. CARRIAGE/MONGOLIAN DESERT - DAY Jen holds up a comb, with daylight shining through it. Jen admires the piece, her most prized possession. Madam Yu sits opposite her. MADAM YU
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EXT. DESERT - DAY Jen and Lo ride across the desert floor at breakneck speed. LO Come get your comb. She tries to jab him with the lance, but he grabs it and
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EXT. DESERT - DAY Lo and Jen ride, if not side-by-side, then parallel, about 20 feet apart. Their pace has slowed considerably. In fact, they're dead tired. LO
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INT. CAVE - DAY Jen comes to and finds herself wrapped in a blanket of animal fur. She sits up with a start and checks her clothes. Looking around, she realizes she's in a cave. Next to her are a lamp, some hunting equipment, and a neat row of sharp
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INT. CAVE - NIGHT Jen again awakes inside the cave. Lo tries to feed her some water, but she chokes, and tries to push him away, only to find that her legs and hands are tied up. LO
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INT. CAVE - NIGHT Jen grimaces as Lo pulls the last of some cactus needles from the soles of her feet. LO No more hitting on the head! All
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EXT. CAVE - NIGHT Lo and Jen lie in the bath together. LO When I was a boy, one night, I saw a thousand shooting stars. I
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EXT. DESERT - DAY Lo sees uniformed men through his binoculars. LO Your father's men are looking for you.
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INT. TENT - DAY Jen and Lo kiss. Jen takes the jade comb out of her hair and presses it into his palm. Jen starts to cry. They embrace. JEN
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INT. JEN'S ROOM - NIGHT LO Wherever I went, someone always recognized me. I really tried. Later, I heard you came to Peking.
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EXT. BALCONY OVERLOOKING WEDDING PROCESSION - DAY Li and Yu watch the festivities from a balcony of the city gate. YU You think Jade Fox will show up?
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EXT. BEIJING STREET - DAY Lo leaps and lands right in front of Li Mu Bai, his fingers pressed against Lo's neck. Yu comes running around the corner and sees them. LI
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EXT. TE COMPOUND - NIGHT Yu and Li enter, as other men and women race through the compound, a sense of panic in the air. Yu gives Li a look. Li shrugs. INT. TE'S HALL - NIGHT
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INT. TEA STALL - DAY Jen arrives at the tea stall. She places her sword on the table, which catches the attention of a couple of Giang Hu martial arts characters sitting nearby. WAITRESS
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EXT. WOODS - DAY Li and Yu pass a cup back and forth as Bo tends to the horses in the background. YU Have some tea.
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INT. STAR RESTAURANT - DAY Jen walks upstairs. A waiter greets her. WAITER Please follow me. JEN
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INT. STAR RESTAURANT - DAY Yu and Li are surrounded by the variously bandaged men who battled with Jen. FLYING MACHETE CHANG We politely asked for a friendly
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EXT. OUTSIDE HWAI AN - DAY Li and Yu ride together. LI (to Yu) We're close to your headquarters.
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EXT. SUN COMPOUND - DAY A group of security men are practicing Kung Fu in the front yard of Sun Security. They stop when Yu enters. SECURITY MAN A Mistress, you're back.
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INT. HALL OF ANCESTRAL WORSHIP Yu lights incense for her former fiancé Meng. Hearing something, she turns to see a dishevelled Jen standing outside downstairs. JEN
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INT. YUAN COURTYARD - DAY Jen soars out to the front courtyard where the guards are still practicing. They raise their weapons at the sight of an intruder. YU
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EXT. LAKE - DAY Jen floats over the lake, Li close behind. EXT. BAMBOO FOREST - DAY Jen runs into a sea of bamboo. She appears to have lost Li but is not slowing down. Her white clothes are now stained
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EXT. RIVER - DAY Jen finally catches up to Li, who is standing on a rock about a few feet wide amid the rapids. Jen vaults onto the rock and scuffles with Li. Jen loses her balance. JEN
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INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY It's raining. Inside an old factory, Fox heats some medicine paste and then dips a needle in the paste. She burns the needle point, causing a blue smoke. She lights some incense and puts it in a burner near Jen, who is barely conscious.
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INT. YUAN COMPOUND - DAY Aunt Wu finishes bandaging Yu. AUNT WU She's crazy. You should have killed her.
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INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY Li lays his hands on Jen's back; she slowly comes to. LI Where is Jade Fox? Jen gestures that she doesn't know. Yu and Bo enter. Yu
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EXT. YUAN COMPOUND - NIGHT The guards surround Jen. She pushes past them. JEN Where is Mrs. Wu? Aunt Wu comes running out.
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EXT. PATH - DAY As the sun rises, Jen rides speedily, clutching the medicine in her hands. INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - DAY Li is in Yu's arms. They're holding hands. The sun shines
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EXT. WU TAN TEMPLE - DAY Jen climbs up toward the temple, finally reaching the temple gate, and sees Lo standing there. He runs to her. She greets him. INT. WU TAN TEMPLE - MAGIC

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

A skilled warrior must confront her past when a stolen legendary sword unleashes chaos across a breathtaking landscape.

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Overview

Poster
Unique Selling Point

This screenplay stands out in the martial arts genre by combining breathtaking action sequences with profound emotional and philosophical themes. It explores the complexities of love and duty, particularly through the lens of female empowerment, making it appealing to a diverse audience. The unique blend of traditional Chinese culture with universal themes of longing and sacrifice creates a compelling narrative that transcends cultural boundaries.

AI Verdict & Suggestions

Ratings are subjective. So you get different engines' ratings to compare.

Hover over verdict cards for Executive Summaries

Gemini
 Highly Recommend
Claude
 Recommend
GPT4
 Highly Recommend
Story Facts

Genres: Action, Drama, Romance, Adventure, Mystery, Martial Arts

Setting: Ancient China, Various locations including the Yuan Compound, Peking, and the desert

Themes: Duty vs. Desire, Fate vs. Free Will, The Corrupting Influence of Power, The Cyclical Nature of Violence

Conflict & Stakes: The central conflict revolves around Jen's struggle for autonomy against societal expectations, the pursuit of revenge against Jade Fox, and the emotional turmoil between Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, with the stakes involving love, honor, and survival.

Mood: Tense and dramatic, with moments of introspection and romance.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The intertwining of martial arts with deep emotional narratives and character development.
  • Plot Twist: The revelation of Jade Fox's true motivations and her connection to the main characters.
  • Distinctive Setting: The lush landscapes of ancient China, including bamboo forests and desert vistas, enhance the visual storytelling.
  • Innovative Ideas: The exploration of gender roles within martial arts and the societal expectations placed on women.
  • Genre Blend: A mix of action, romance, and philosophical drama that appeals to diverse audiences.

Comparable Scripts: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Last Samurai, Mulan, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Hero, The Joy Luck Club, The Phantom of the Opera, The Count of Monte Cristo, Pride and Prejudice

Script Level Analysis

Writer Exec

This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.

Screenplay Insights

Breaks down your script along various categories.

Overall Score: 8.38
Story Critique
Big-picture feedback on the story’s clarity, stakes, cohesion, and engagement.
Characters

Explores the depth, clarity, and arc of the main and supporting characters.

Emotional Analysis

Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.

Goals and Philosophical Conflict
Evaluates character motivations, obstacles, and sources of tension throughout the plot.
Themes
Analysis of the themes of the screenplay and how well they’re expressed.
Logic & Inconsistencies
Highlights any contradictions, plot holes, or logic gaps that may confuse viewers.

Scene Analysis

All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.

Scene-Level Percentile Chart
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Other Analyses

Writer Exec

This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.

Unique Voice
Assesses the distinctiveness and personality of the writer's voice.
Writer's Craft
Analyzes the writing to help the writer be aware of their skill and improve.
Memorable Lines
Spotlights standout dialogue lines with emotional or thematic power.
Tropes
Highlights common or genre-specific tropes found in the script.
World Building
Evaluates the depth, consistency, and immersion of the story's world.
Correlations
Identifies patterns in scene scores.
Loglines
Presents logline variations based on theme, genre, and hook.