Original subtitles

AAH!

STOP!

I WAS TOLD

THAT THE MYSTERIES OF THIS PLAY WOULD BRING ENLIGHTENMENT.

I HAVE SEEN,

I HAVE LISTENED,

YET UNDERSTOOD NOTHING.

I REGRET THAT YOU DID NOT.

PERHAPS THE SHAOLIN PRIEST CAN EXPLAIN THIS PLAY.

TAKE ME INTO THE GARDEN WHERE IT IS COOL.

HOW ARE YOU CALLED?

KWAI CHANG CAINE.

I HAVE INVITED YOU HERE AS A COMPLIMENT.

YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THIS AN HONOR...

TO TAKE TEA WITH ME.

Caine: I AM FLATTERED.

Master Kan: YOUR TREAD

MUST BE LIGHT AND SURE,

AS THOUGH YOUR PATH WERE UPON RICE PAPER.

IT IS SAID A SHAOLIN PRIEST CAN WALK THROUGH WALLS.

LOOKED FOR...

HE CANNOT BE SEEN.

LISTENED FOR...

HE CANNOT BE HEARD.

TOUCHED?

HE CANNOT BE FELT.

THIS RICE PAPER IS THE TEST--

FRAGILE AS THE WINGS

OF THE DRAGONFLY,

CLINGING AS THE COCOON

OF THE SILKWORM.

WHEN YOU CAN WALK ITS LENGTH

AND LEAVE NO TRACE,

YOU WILL HAVE LEARNED.

YOU MAY SIT.

YOU MAY STAY HERE, AND NO ONE WILL QUESTION IT

BECAUSE I AM CHENUNG.

YOU KNOW, MY FATHER IS DYING.

YES. IT IS SAD. I AM SORRY.

DO YOU NOT WISH TO KNOW

WHY HE SPENDS HIS SMALL STRENGTH

WATCHING A PLAY FROM A FOREIGN LAND?

YES.

MY FATHER HOPES TO LEARN THE SECRETS OF DEATH...

BEFORE HE DIES.

IT WOULD BE PROPER FOR YOU TO DRINK

NOW THAT I HAVE DONE SO.

YOU SAID ONE CAN KNOW DEATH BEFORE HE DIES.

YES. BY WATCHING THE PLAY.

THE PLAY?

YOU DID UNDERSTAND THE PLAY, DIDN'T YOU?

YES. I LOVED IT. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

WHY DID MY LIKING OF THE PLAY AMUSE YOU, CHENUNG?

IT IS OF NO IMPORTANCE.

I JUST FIND IT LAUGHABLE, THE LOWBORN,

WHO FEEDS ON TEMPLE GRAIN,

SHOULD TAKE SUCH AN INTEREST IN ENTERTAINMENT

MORE SUITABLE FOR NOBILITY.

YOU CONFUSE ME.

DO NOT THE PLAYERS PERFORM FOR EVERYONE?

PERHAPS.

YOU SAID ONE CAN KNOW DEATH BY WATCHING THE PLAY.

YES. BY SEEING THE WARRIOR'S JOURNEY

THROUGH THE LAND OF THE DEAD.

Chenung's father: PLEASE LEAVE, ALL OF YOU.

MASTER KAN, COME CLOSER.

I HAVE NOT LED A BLAMELESS LIFE.

I HAVE DISCOVERED

THERE ARE 3 KINDS OF POWER...

WEALTH, A GUN, KNOWLEDGE.

I VALUE THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE.

HOW WILL KNOWLEDGE AID YOU NOW?

IF I...

I SPEAK THE RIGHT PRAYER

IN THE PROPER MANNER...

TO THE RIGHT GODS...

I WILL SEEK AMENDS.

AND WITH YOUR HELP,

MAYBE I CAN BUILD A NEW AND BIGGER TEMPLE

FOR YOUR GODS.

I CANNOT.

YOU DO NOT WISH MY MONEY?

WHAT YOU ASK

CAN ONLY COME FROM WITHIN YOU

THROUGH UNDERSTANDING.

IN MY SEARCH FOR WEALTH...

MAYBE I SERVED THE WRONG GOD.

MAYBE I...

I SERVED THE WRONG GOD.

Chenung: MY FATHER HOPED TO DISCOVER

WHAT AWAITS HIM WHEN HE ARRIVES AT THE LAND OF THE DEAD

SO THAT HE'D BE CERTAIN TO BE ONE OF THE FEW

RATHER THAN ONE OF THE MANY.

THE FEW? THE MANY?

IN THIS LIFE, THERE ARE MANY

WHO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR THE FEW.

THE SON OF A FARMER IS ONE OF THE MANY.

THE SON OF A MANDARIN IS ONE OF THE FEW.

IS THIS ARRANGED BEFORE BIRTH?

MY FATHER BELIEVES SO.

AS I WATCHED YOU AT THE PLAY,

I THOUGHT OF MY FATHER.

WHY?

I SAW THE MOVEMENTS OF YOUR MIND

AS YOU WERE WITH THE DOOMED WARRIOR IN THE LAND OF THE DEAD.

I SAW WHAT MIGHT HAVE PASSED FOR SENSITIVITY,

BRAVERY, SYMPATHY, AND STRENGTH,

ALL INSCRIBED ON THE TABLET OF YOUR FACE,

AS I THOUGHT OF MY FATHER WHOSE END IS NEAR

AND WHOSE FEAR IS GREAT.

HOW CLUMSY YOU TEMPLE DRUDGES ARE.

YOUR MANNERS ARE AS RUDE AS YOUR CLOTHING.

NOW I MUST CHANGE.

FORGIVE ME, PLEASE, CHENUNG.

IT WAS A FOOLISH ACT.

I FEEL PAIN.

I AM SORRY.

ANOTHER ROBE...NOW.

HURRY. MUST YOU ALWAYS WORK SO SLOWLY?

HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?

IT IS MOST... MOST ELEGANT, CHENUNG.

HAVE YOU NOT WONDERED WHY ONE OF THE FEW

TAKES TEA WITH ONE OF THE MANY?

IS IT...IS IT NOT FOR FRIENDSHIP?

YOU HAVE BEEN POISONED.

WHY?

WHY, CHENUNG?

I OBTAINED THE POISON FROM A CHEMIST.

THE FEW SIPS YOU TOOK WERE ALL THAT WAS NEEDED.

IT IS SAID YOUR MIND WILL BE CLEAR

WHEN YOU UNDERTAKE THE JOURNEY INTO THE LAND OF THE DEAD.

I HOLD THE ANTIDOTE.

IF YOU DO AS I ASK, IT IS YOURS.

WITHOUT IT, YOU WILL DIE.

PLEASE.

SUMMON THE PHYSICIAN BEFORE I DIE.

YOUR FATE MEANS LITTLE TO ME.

YOU ARE A TEMPLE SLAVE WHO NEVER SMILES,

AS ARE ALL THE OTHERS WHO KNEEL TO OLD MEN.

FOOLISH LITTLE SLAVE.

DO YOU THINK IT WISE

TO GIVE UP THE TREASURES OF THE EARTH

FOR A LONELY EXISTENCE?

WHAT...WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO?

TELL ME WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO DIE

SO THAT I MAY TELL MY FATHER.

IF YOU ALLOW ME TO DIE, THEY WILL PUNISH YOU.

NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO ME.

I CAN SAY ANYTHING, AND IT WILL BE BELIEVED.

THIS PLACE IS VAST.

IT IS UNLIKE YOUR LOWLY SHAOLIN TEMPLE.

AT THIS MOMENT, MY FATHER RESTS,

USING HIS LAST WORDS

IN ONE OF THE MANY GARDENS OF OUR PALACE.

HIS DISTANCE IS FAR. WE HEAR NOTHING FROM HIM.

HE IS UNABLE TO HEAR US.

YOU WILL BE QUESTIONED.

IT IS OF NO MATTER.

I AM ONE OF THE FEW.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE MANY.

WE ARE NOT THE SAME.

ALL MEN ARE THE SAME.

MY FATHER SAYS NOT.

AND IF I LIVE?

YOU WILL NOT LIVE...

UNLESS I GIVE YOU THE ANTIDOTE.

TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE FEELING.

TELL ME.

TELL ME.

TELL ME.

TELL ME.

TELL ME.

BLESS ATHIL...

BRIGHT ATHIL, WHO GIVES US THE MANIOC AND THE MAIZE.

BLESS ATHIL...

BRIGHT ATHIL, WHO GIVES US THE MANIOC AND THE MAIZE.

BLESS ATHIL...

BRIGHT ATHIL, WHO GIVES US THE MANIOC AND THE MAIZE.

BLESS ATHIL...

WHO SUSTAINS OUR LIVES AND GIVES US OUR PURPOSE,

WHO SUSTAINS OUR BEING AND GIVES US...

POWER!

COME AWAY BEFORE THE WALLS COLLAPSE.

HOW?

WITH THE HELP OF ATHIL,

WHO SUSTAINS OUR LIVES AND GIVES US POWER.

ONLY THROUGH HIS COMPASSION

CAN YOU BE LED TO FREEDOM.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

I SEE NO WAY TO LEAVE THIS PLACE.

HOW CAN THIS BE DONE?

BY ACCEPTING ATHIL AS YOUR GOD...

AND BY ACCEPTING THE GIFT--HIS GIFT OF YOUR LIFE.

HIS GIFT OF MY LIFE?

SPEAK THESE WORDS...

BLESS ATHIL.

BLESS ATHIL.

BLESS ATHIL, WHO SUSTAINS OUR LIVES AND GIVES US PURPOSE.

COME LIVE WITH US THAT YOU MAY BE SAVED.

I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT NOT TO BELIEVE IN GODS.

WOULD YOU RATHER DIE HERE ALONE IN THE DARK

THAN ACCEPT THE BLESSING OF A GOD?

SOON THIS SMALL POCKET IN THE EARTH WILL CLOSE FOREVER.

I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO BELIEVE IN MEN.

I CANNOT ACCEPT YOUR WORDS.

Chenung: TELL ME WHAT YOU SAW IN THE LAND OF THE DEAD,

AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE ANTIDOTE.

TELL ME WHAT YOU SAW IN THE LAND OF DEATH,

AND I WILL SAVE YOU FROM THE POISON THAT BURNS IN YOUR BODY.

EVEN AS YOU SLEPT, I COULD SEE YOUR EYES DART BENEATH YOUR LIDS

AS THOUGH YOU WATCHED SOME INWARD WONDER.

TELL ME WHAT YOU SAW.

ONLY A MAN.

HE TOLD ME THE NAME OF THE GOD.

HE TOLD ME TO WORSHIP THIS GOD AS HE DID,

THAT I MIGHT BE SAVED.

THEN TELL ME THE NAME OF THIS GOD.

HOW CAN I BE SURE THE VIAL DOES NOT CONTAIN MORE POISON?

I SWEAR TO YOU, THIS IS THE ANTIDOTE. NOW, TELL ME.

Warrior: BLESS ATHIL...

BRIGHT ATHIL, WHO GIVES US THE MANIOC AND THE MAIZE.

BLESS ATHIL...

BRIGHT ATHIL, WHO SUSTAINS OUR LIVES AND GIVES US PURPOSE,

WHO SUSTAINS OUR BEING AND GIVES US...

POWER!

BLESS ATHIL.

YOU CHOOSE TO DIE?

BLESS ATHIL, WHO SUSTAINS OUR LIVES AND GIVES US PURPOSE.

BLESS ATHIL...

BRIGHT ATHIL, WHO SUSTAINS OUR LIVES AND GIVES US PURPOSE.

BLESS ATHIL, BRIGHT ATHIL,

WHO SUSTAINS OUR LIVES AND GIVES US OUR PURPOSE.

THEN YOU MUST BE BROUGHT TO ACCEPT OUR HELP

FOR YOUR OWN WELFARE.

Warrior: SUBMIT.

SUBMIT!

COME TO ATHIL.

SUBMIT.

SUBMIT... AND BLESS ATHIL.

TELL ME THE NAME OF THIS GOD...

THE NAME AND HOW TO WORSHIP.

IF YOU TELL ME, I WILL RETURN YOUR LIFE TO YOU.

YOU DO NOT HAVE THE POWER.

IT IS NOT A MATTER OF POWER BUT OF CURE.

I ALONE CAN SAVE YOU. I HAVE THE ANTIDOTE.

NOW, TELL ME.

I WILL TELL YOU NOTHING.

I BELIEVE WHAT YOU HAVE IS MORE OF THE POISON

AND NOT THE ANTIDOTE.

YOU ARE WRONG!

YOU BEHAVE WITH A WEAK MIND.

YOU ARE BRAINLESS!

PROVE IT TO ME, THEN.

DRINK THAT I MAY SEE THAT IT IS NOT MORE OF THE POISON.

DO AS YOU WISH.

I CARE NO LONGER! DIE!

DIE!

DIE!

DIE!

DIE!

DIE!

Chenung's father: DESIRE FOR WEALTH NEVER BROUGHT ME

WHAT I HAD EXPECTED.

WHAT DID YOU HOPE FOR?

HAPPINESS.

AND WHAT OF YOUR SON?

WHAT DO YOU WISH FOR HIM?

AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I WANTED MY SON

TO ACT AS I HAVE HAD TO DO,

BUT NOW I KNOW IT'S NOT THE LIFE I WISH FOR HIM.

CAINE, I WILL GIVE YOU MORE THAN LIFE.

THESE...AND MORE!

ALL FOR YOU, IF YOU WILL TELL ME

THE NAME OF THE GOD AND HOW TO WORSHIP HIM.

Warrior: BLESS ATHIL...

I BEG YOU!

SAY THE WORDS.

SUBMIT AND BLESS ATHIL!

BLESS ATHIL!

THE TEA IS COLD AND BITTER... LIKE YOU ARE.

TELL ME ABOUT THE TEA, CHENUNG.

THEN I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING YOU WISH TO HEAR.

THE TEA? THE POISON HAS BROUGHT MADNESS TO YOU.

THERE'S LITTLE TIME, NONE OF IT TO WASTE ON WORDS ABOUT TEA.

TELL ME ABOUT THE TEA, AND I WILL TELL YOU--

ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE LAND OF THE DEAD.

TELL ME ABOUT THE TEA.

VERY WELL, THEN. BUT QUICKLY.

THE TEA CEREMONY IS AN ART PASSED ON FROM ROYAL HANDS.

IT IS AN ART OF THE EDUCATED AND REQUIRES

MUCH SCHOOLING TO MASTER ITS GRACES.

YES. I REMEMBER HOW GRACEFUL YOU WERE

WHEN YOU PLACED THE TEACUPS ON THE GOLDEN TRAY

AND PRESENTED THEM TO ME IN A FORMAL MANNER.

SINCE YOU UNDERSTAND, THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER TO SAY.

THE TEA IS OF NOBLE ORIGIN.

THE CEREMONY IS FOR THE FEW.

BUT I AM ONE OF THE MANY.

I KNOW THAT YOU ARE.

POISONED TEA IS FOR ONE OF THE MANY,

AS IS THE DEATH YOU WILL SOON FACE

IF YOU DO NOT TELL ME WHAT I WISH.

IT IS EASY TO DIE IN BATTLE,

WITH THE BLOOD SINGING IN YOUR VEINS.

IS NOT DEATH ALSO FOR THOSE OF THE FEW, LIKE YOUR FATHER?

DO NOT TOY WITH ME! TELL ME WHAT I WISH TO HEAR.

I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT THE ART OF TEA GREW FROM HUMBLE POVERTY,

WITH HOT WATER

AND A FEW HERBS AND GRASSES.

THE POOREST OF MEN COULD SERVE A VISITOR WITH THE GREATEST DIGNITY.

I WILL TALK NO FURTHER OF TEA!

THEN LISTEN OF THE TEA, CHENUNG.

DO YOU RECALL WHEN, IN ERROR,

I SPILLED A FEW DROPS OF TEA ON YOUR ROBE?

OF COURSE. IT WAS AN AWKWARD ACT.

AND YOU WENT BEHIND THE SCREEN TO PUT ON A NEW GARMENT.

DID YOU NOT WATCH ME WHILE I SAT HERE BY THE TABLE?

WHAT?

ONE ROBE WAS PULLED OVER MY HEAD,

THE OTHER PUT ON ME.

WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED WITH YOU?

YOU THINK I FEARED YOU MIGHT STEAL THE GOLDEN TRAY?

NO, NOT THE TRAY.

ALRIGHT. I SHALL PLAY ONLY A FEW MOMENTS MORE.

WHAT DID YOU STEAL?

YOUR LIFE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WHILE YOU WERE BEHIND THAT SCREEN,

I CHANGED THE PLACEMENT OF THE TEACUPS.

I HELD THE CUP INTENDED FOR ONE OF THE FEW.

YOU HELD THE CUP INTENDED FOR ONE OF THE MANY.

WHY DO YOU LIE THIS WAY? IT CANNOT HELP YOU.

IF I DRANK FROM YOUR CUP,

WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN POISONED AS YOU?

YOU DRANK LATER... AND LESS THAN I DID,

BUT ADDED TO THOSE COLD AND BITTER SIPS TAKEN JUST MOMENTS AGO,

YOU HAVE CONSUMED ENOUGH TO DIE.

YOU HAVE BEEN POISONED, CHENUNG.

IT IS SAID YOUR MIND WILL BE CLEAR

WHEN YOU UNDERTAKE THE JOURNEY INTO THE LAND OF THE DEAD.

WHAT A MONSTER YOU ARE!

YOU WOULD MURDER THE SON OF A MANDARIN

WHO FOR LOVE OF HIS DYING FATHER SEEKS ANSWERS FOR HIM?

BUT YOU MURDER ME TO FIND THESE ANSWERS.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE MANY!

YOUR LIFE HAS NO MEANING!

I AM ONE OF THE FEW!

MY LIFE SHAPES THE PEOPLE'S DESTINY!

WAIT. THE ANTIDOTE, CHENUNG.

TAKE IT FROM YOUR ROBE.

TAKE IT AND DRINK.

I HATE YOU, CAINE,

MORE THAN THE MOST LOATHSOME INSECT THAT CRAWLS THROUGH EARTH!

I PRAY TO THE GODS THAT ONE DAY

I MIGHT CRUSH YOU LIKE A SCORPION

TILL YOU BREATHE NO MORE!

COME TO ATHIL...

TO ACCEPT HIS COMPASSION AS YOUR ONLY SALVATION.

IT IS YOU WHO WILL BE VICTORIOUS.

I ASK SO THAT YOU MAY BE SAVED.

IF YOU WILL NOT COME TO ATHIL, YOU WILL BE FORCED.

HOW CAN I BE FORCED WHEN I AM ONLY A DREAM?

IT IS TRUTH.

IF YOU DOUBT, TOUCH YOUR WOUND.

BLESS ATHIL.

SPEAK THE WORDS!

BLESS ATHIL.

NO.

YOU WILL NOT DIE IN BATTLE.

Man: THAT IS THE REMAINING AMOUNT HE WILL NEED.

I WOULD NEVER HAVE SUMMONED YOU HERE, GREAT ONE,

HAD NOT THE MATTER BEEN THIS URGENT.

Master Kan: HOW DID YOU KNOW SO QUICKLY WHAT TO DO?

IT WAS THE EASIEST PART OF IT

AND YET THE PART THAT CONCERNED ME MOST GRAVELY.

IT IS THE REASON I ASKED

THAT THE YOUTH'S FATHER COME HERE.

I SOLD THE BOY AN EXPENSIVE COMPOUND, A POISON,

JUST A SHORT TIME AGO.

THE ANTIDOTE I GAVE WAS FOR THAT POISON.

FORGIVE ME, MY GREAT LORD.

I WISH TO EXPRESS MY FEAR THAT YOUR SON,

IN HIS DEEP GRIEF FOR YOU,

HAS TRIED TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE.

IT IS A LIE, FATHER.

I WAS TRICKED.

I WAS POISONED.

WHO DID THIS TO YOU?

A BOY.

I DO NOT KNOW HIS NAME.

WHERE IS YOUNG CAINE?

DID NOT YOU AND HE LEAVE THE NO PLAY TOGETHER?

I DO NOT REMEMBER.

YOU SEEK TO MAKE AMENDS BEFORE DEATH.

I ASK YOU,

BEGIN NOW BY DRAWING THE TRUTH FROM YOUR SON.

CHENUNG?

'TIS A TRIFLE, FATHER.

THE BOY MISTAKENLY

DRANK THE POISON AS I DID,

BUT HE IS WELL.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

AT FIRST HE BECAME WET WITH FEVER

AND CLOSED HIS EYES LIKE ME.

THEN HE AWAKENED

AND SPOKE CLEARLY THE WAY WE DO NOW.

WHICH OF YOU TOOK THE POISON FIRST?

IT WAS NOT ME.

WE MUST HURRY.

THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE POISON.

YOU SLEEP, YOU WAKE,

YOU SLEEP AGAIN.

IT CAN REPEAT ITSELF ONE OR 2 TIMES.

BUT IF THE ANTIDOTE ISN'T GIVEN,

THERE IS ONE FINAL TIME WHEN YOU WAKE NO MORE.

I UNDERSTAND LITTLE.

IT DOES NOT MATTER.

WHY?

BECAUSE I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE NAMES.

YOU COME HERE BECAUSE YOU MUST?

IT IS ONLY PROPER THAT THE MANY SHOULD SUBMIT TO THE FEW.

I WAS BIDDEN TO ATTEND TO YOU TO THE VERY END.

I WAS TOLD YOU NEED ONLY CRY "BLESS ATHIL," AND ALL WILL BE SAVED.

CANNOT GO OUTSIDE?

THERE IS NO OUTSIDE.

HOW CAN THIS BE?

IT IS THE WILL OF ATHIL, OUR GOD OF FIRE

WHO LIVES IN A GREAT CAVERN.

BLESS ATHIL, WHO FEEDS US AND TENDS TO OUR NEEDS.

ONCE OUR PEOPLE LIVED IN A GLITTERING CITY

IN THE CENTER OF A CRYSTAL LAKE

AND DINED ON THOUSANDS OF BIRDS.

THERE WAS NO SACRIFICE THEN,

AND EVERYONE FOLLOWED THE FEATHERED SERPENT QUETZALCOATL.

ONE DAY A GIANT HAND CAME OUT OF THE SEA AND LOOSED THE BIRDS.

THERE WAS STARVATION EVERYWHERE.

OUR GOD HAD ABANDONED US.

DEEP IN THE CAVE, THE PEOPLE FOUND

A NEW AND GREATER GOD--ATHIL.

NOW WE LIVE IN THESE CAVERNS

WHERE WE HIDE FROM THE WRATH OF TIME,

MAKING SACRIFICE TO ATHIL.

WHY IS THERE NEED FOR SACRIFICE?

IT IS THE WILL OF ATHIL.

WITHOUT A SUITABLE SACRIFICE,

HIS COMPACT WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE SUN IS BROKEN,

AND WE SHALL ALL DIE.

BUT I AM NOT FROM THIS PLACE.

I WAS GOING ELSEWHERE.

THERE IS NO ELSEWHERE.

YOU ARE THE ONE.

TO BE SUITABLE FOR THE SACRIFICE,

ONE MUST BETRAY HIS OWN GOD.

OUR PEOPLE ALL BLESS ATHIL.

NONE WOULD DARE BETRAY HIM.

NONE ARE SUITABLE.

I AM YOURS...

TO TAKE...

IF YOU WISH.

HE IS IN A DEEP DELIRIUM.

IF HE WAKES FROM THIS DREAM, HE WILL LIVE.

IF HE DOES NOT WAKE,

HE WILL DIE.

Woman: WHY DO YOU STOP?

I AM HERE TO PLEASE YOU...

IN ANY MANNER YOU WISH.

YOU OFFER ME BEAUTY THAT SURPASSES DREAMS...

YET I CANNOT RECEIVE IT.

WHY?

I AM UNABLE TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU ASK IN RETURN.

NOTHING IS ASKED OF YOU.

YOU ARE TO RECEIVE THE GRANDEST OF HONORS.

WHEN YOU PLEASE ATHIL, YOU SHALL BECOME AS HE--

A GOD--

AND LIVE FOR ALL TIME.

I WISH TO LIVE ONLY AS A MAN.

THEY WILL TREAT YOU AS NONE OTHER.

YOUR STRONG BODY WILL BE BROUGHT FORTH

AND STRETCHED UPON THE ALTAR.

YOUR WRISTS AND ANKLES WILL BE PLACED

OVER THE TROUGHS CARVED INTO THE STONE

SO THAT YOUR BLOOD MAY BE COLLECTED IN ATHIL'S CUP.

YOUR CHEST WILL BE BARED TO ATHIL'S GAZE

AND THE SHARP FLINT KNIFE RAISED HIGH.

THE STROKE WILL BE SURE,

AND YOUR HEART,

STILL BEATING...

WILL BE PRESENTED TO ATHIL.

BLESS ATHIL, WHO GIVES US OUR PURPOSE.

BLESS ATHIL,

WHO FEEDS US AND TENDS TO OUR NEEDS.

KWAI CHANG CAINE, I DID AS I HAD BEEN TAUGHT.

I THOUGHT THE LIFE OF ONE OF THE MANY

TO MATTER LITTLE IF IT COULD SERVE ONE OF THE FEW.

I WANTED TO KNOW

THE LAND OF DEATH FOR MY FATHER,

WHOM I LOVE ABOVE ALL ELSE.

YET MY FATHER HAS SPOKEN WITH YOUR MASTER

AND LEARNED HE HAS WORSHIPED THE WRONG GODS.

THOUGH I KNOW THAT YOU HATE ME WITH ALL OF YOUR BEING,

I PRAY THAT A TIME WILL COME

WHEN YOU WILL FIND A PLACE WITHIN YOURSELF

FOR FORGIVENESS.

Warrior: SUBMIT!

SUBMIT AND BLESS ATHIL!

YOU ARE THE ENEMY WHO IS NOT THE ENEMY.

WE ARE OF THE MANY, NOT OF THE FEW.

WE ARE NECESSARY...

AND USEFUL...

IF WE HAVE LIFE.

MY SON ASKS FORGIVENESS OF THE BOY

AS HE LIES LIFELESS BEFORE HIM,

YET, MASTER KAN,

IT WAS A TEMPLE STUDENT WHO POISONED MY SON.

YET I SUPPOSE...

IT WAS JUSTIFIED.

NO.

IT COULD NEVER BE JUSTIFIED.

I DID NOT POISON YOUR SON.

I ONLY TOLD HIM THAT I MOVED THE TEACUPS.

HE BELIEVED HE HAD BEEN POISONED.

HE IS WELL.

HE MUST REST.

MASTER KAN...

COME CLOSER.

MUCH TIME HAS PASSED BEFORE ME IN THIS LIFE.

I HAVE NOW REACHED

A POINT OF MY DEEPEST SORROW--

THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO LEARN...

MORE OF...THE...

THE EARTH THAT HAS MUCH TO TEACH.

YOU ASKED ME TO SAVE THE LIFE OF YOUR BOY.

I DID THAT.

FOR WHICH I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

PLEASE...HELP ME IN MY FINAL MOMENTS.

WHAT AM I ABLE TO DO?

I THOUGHT MY SON WAS ONE OF THE FEW,

BUT IT SEEMS HE'S...

HE'S MEANT TO BE ONE OF THE MANY.

PLEASE, TAKE HIM

INTO YOUR SHAOLIN TEMPLE.

HE IS OLDER THAN THE ONES WE BEGIN TO TRAIN,

AND HE MUST PROVE HIMSELF WORTHY.

HE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO UNDERTAKE DIFFICULT TESTS

OF THE MIND AND BODY.

AND IF HE FAILS THE TESTS...

AND IF HE DOES NOT PROVE WORTHY?

THEN HE WOULD BE DISMISSED.

THEN...YOU...

YOU MUST DISMISS HIM

IF HE FAILS.

THANK YOU, MASTER... MASTER KAN.

YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH MUCH.

PERHAPS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING SO CLOSE TO DEATH

WILL BE OF HELP IN YOUR FUTURE LIFE.