COMPETITION: Feature Film
TITLE: Gongzhufen([FONT=宋]公主坟[/FONT],or Tomb of the Princess)
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: A Chinese-American undergrad interning in a large Beijing bank falls for the bank president’s daughter. Over the course oftwo months, he tries proving he can offer something to a girl who seems to have everything.
FULL SYNOPSIS: Justin Tai is a Chinese-American undergraduate interning in a large Beijing bank, who falls for the bank president’s daughter, Weng Huilan. He takes her on a date to the National Grand Theatre using tickets borrowed from a classmate interning there, and narrowlymakes it to her home near Gongzhufen subway station before her curfew.
The next day, the bank president, Weng Yikun, asks him howmuch money he’s spending on Huilan, knowing full well that Justin doesn’t makeenough as an intern to spend very much. Justin doesn’t know how to answer the question, so Yikun decides to setup a test: he tells Justin that Huilan’s birthday is approaching in just over amonth, and he should host a surprise party for her at Vics, a nightclub fa rbeyond Justin’s income range.
To pass the test, Justin gets a second job tutoring Business English, which quickly turns into a series of one-on-one therapy sessions for stressed-out Beijing professionals, including two students introduced byHuilan: a beautiful, older, PR consultant named Ting, and a single investment banker named Mao who makes constant visits to his three-year-old ‘niece’. Ting is unhappily engaged, and takes it out on Justin by relentlessly pursuing him. Since Justin needs the money, he keeps teaching Ting regardless, but avoids any romantic entanglements. Maooffers Justin a post-college job if he keeps secret the existence of hisniece. Justin, eager to stay in Beijingafter graduation, agrees.
In the meantime, Huilan grows increasingly suspicious of Justin’s relationship with Ting. To calm Huilan down and deflect Ting’s loneliness, Justin introduces Ting to Mao, taking the two of them, as well as Huilan, to a double date. All seems well, but the following week, Ting discovers Mao’s niece is a child from a previous marriage and Mao discovers Ting is engaged. Both are highly offended and stop interacting with Justin.
Out of options, Justin meets to tell Huilan the truth: that he’s too poor for her, and, furthermore, is unlikely to be working in Beijingafter graduation. Huilan reveals that Ting and Mao were her friends, and they’ve told her everything Justin has done. She then calls her father, who writes Justina large check for Huilan’s birthday and tells Justin to repay it by continuing to take care of her. Justin and Huilan meet in Beijing after graduation; the film concludes with a shot of Justin and Huilan ice skating in Houhai.
SAMPLE SCRIPT EXCERPT
EVENING BLUES FILL THE SCREEN
There are o.s. shouts of ‘taxi!’, and loud cell phone chatter– all of it buoyed over residual ENGINES and HORNS of cars and busses unseen. A bright white egg mushrooms from the bottom of the screen, becoming the titanium and glass latticework ofthe NATIONAL GRAND THEATRE.
JUSTIN TAI (V.O.)
When I turned twenty-one, my dad gave me two pieces of advice.
We drift through the latticework, into a milieu of residual symphonicnoises and polite, excited, banter, and focus on a well-dressed, mutuallyattractive, early-twenties MAN and WOMAN threading their way through the strings and voices, leaving a trail of ‘excuse mes’ and ‘pardon mes’. They finally push their way to the frontdoor, and the man instinctively holds the door open for the woman. She strides through with a quiet sense of grace, as if expecting someone to take a picture of her high, scarlet cheekbones simply for walking through a door.
JUSTIN (V.O.)
The first was an oldsaying about Beijing.
We follow the couple as they glide across a walkway flanked by pools of water and covered with similarly well-dressed people. In the background, the Great Hall of the People and Monument to the People’s Heroes shine with a soft glow.
JUSTIN (V.O.)
The East Side is rich, and the West Side has class.
We follow the couple to Chang’An avenue, and the man tries and fails to hail a taxi.
JUSTIN (V.O.)
My parents grew up on the East Side, but they didn’t fit the mold.
We see the man point at his wristwatch, and then lead the woman down a set of stairs. We back away from the stairs to see a red tile sign reading ‘Tian’anmen West Station’.
JUSTIN (V.O.)
But Huilan came from the West Side, and her family fit in all the way.
Smash cut to:
INT. LINE ONE SUBWAY CAR
The subway car rolls and shakes, and even at this late time of night, is filled with Beijingers of all shapes and sizes. A tired overhead vent fan struggles to keep everybody cool.
In spite of the heat, though, the woman still retains her sense of grace. She then looks at the man with affectionate eyes and draws him in even closer, then sneaks a quick kiss.
JUSTIN (V.O.)
Thankfully, Huilan was only classy when it mattered.
The car comes to a stop and the man and woman exit; we follow them onto a cavernous platform bedecked in marble pillars. The man and woman stride briskly for the exit and we lose them in the crowd; we then rise and focus in on one of the subway station signs that reads ‘Tomb of the Princess’.
Fade in to:
TITLE CARD: ‘Tomb of the Princess’
Smash cut to:
INT. APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY
We see the man and woman, panting slightly, arrive in front of a plain-looking apartment door draped with leftover Chinese New Year decorations.
JUSTIN (V.O.)
His other piece ofadvice: it’s usually pretty hard to date your boss.
We see the woman smile wickedly, then lean in for a kiss,which the man passionately returns.
JUSTIN (V.O.)
But dating his daughter? That’s even worse.
We see the two back away from the kiss. The man leans forward to knock on the door, but before he can, the door opens of its own accord, revealing WENG YIKUN, a thin, short, salt-and-pepper man in his late forties wearing a crooked half-smileand a plain black polo shirt.
YIKUN
Justin! So glad to see you. And you brought Huilan home safe and right ontime.
Yikun steps aside, leaving the door open. Justin stands there with a sort ofstandoffish air. Huilan gives her date aquick peck on the cheek, and then disappears into the living room.
YIKUN
(with gentleexasperation)
Well? What are you waiting for? Do come in.
Justin tilts his head in a quick bow.
JUSTIN
Thank you, boss, but I’ve got some comps to do tonight.
YIKUN
On who?
JUSTIN
American Bromide.
Yikun nods, pats him on the shoulder.
YIKUN
Well, can’t argue with that.
(a beat)
Feel free to copy me in on your work – better yet, just come up to my office at ten tomorrow morning.
JUSTIN
Will do. Thanks, and good night.
Justin turns to leave. Yikun stands there, a full smile growing on his face.
YIKUN
Oh, and one more thing.
Justin turns back.
YIKUN
Next time you kids are out this late, just call Xiao Fan. He’ll pick you up. Huilan has his number.
Yikun closes the door with a casual shove. After a quick three-second count, Justin letsout a deep breath, and pries loose his top collar button.
Smash cut to:
INT. YIKUN’S OFFICE
We see bookshelves spanning twenty languages along twoadjoining walls. Along the far side fromthe doors are plate-glass windows overlooking the steel and glass of Financial Street, along with a coffee table and pair of rattan chairs. Facing south is a large mahogany desk andleather chair. The desk is remarkably free of clutter, supporting only a laptop, a flag, and a placard reading ‘CEO’. Above the bookshelves, a clock reads twelve past ten. The big leather chair isempty.
Justin stands in the doorway, unsure of what to do. Before he can react, the doors close behindhim, and a lean, tanned hand claps him on the shoulder. Justin finally turns around, but is then turned another hundred eighty degrees towards his original direction by the hand on his shoulder and pointed towards the coffee table near the plate glass windows.
YIKUN
(chuckling)
You better work onthat, kiddo. If you were in the army, you’d probably be dead by now.
Justin begins walking to one of the small woven seats.
JUSTIN
Will- will do.
Yikun follows Justin to the table, sets out two cups of teaand a pack of Zhonghua filters. Heoffers Justin a cup and a smoke.
YIKUN
Need a light?
Justin shakes his head.
JUSTIN
I’m sorry, I don’t smoke. But thank you for the tea.
Yikun lets out a deep belly laugh.
YIKUN
Good, very good. No need to apologize – that was the right thing to say.
(turning serious)
Now let’s get down to business.
