CHINA RED

by Bruce W. Durbin

  CHAPTER 32

  It's dawn, as Chung steps out of a torn hole in the airplane, vapor envelops him and Kung, then floats away, as the wine seeps from the container and onto the ground. Chung and Kung both double over, vomiting.

  More vapor flows out of the airplane, as Lee steps out. He looks down at Chung and Kung, then picks up the pry bar, beginning to beat them, with intense anger.

  Suddenly, Lee is seized by pain and he drops the pry bar, with his face contorting in pain. Lee screams, then grabs his stomach, dropping down to his knees.

  There's a noise.

  The men look behind the airplane, seeing the scattered containers. There's a louder noise.

  One of the containers seems to move. The men stagger to their feet and start to step back. Suddenly, the container violently moves. There is shock on their faces, as Kung screams.

  CHAPTER 33

  It's dawn and at the village, several of the Chinese Village Men are quickly walking down a trail. They carry packs and poles. CHAPTER 34

  In the remote area, the helicopter speeds just above the landscape, as the sun breaks above the horizon.

  Inside the helicopter, Doug flies the helicopter, with Rachel in the front seat, snapping photographs, as Tommy sits in the backseat.

  Rachael, "Seriously? No radio?"

  Doug, "Makes it easier that way."

  Rachel gives Doug a questioning look.

  Doug, "Okay, I stole it. Evidently, I didn't pick the right..."

  Tommy, pointing down, "There."

  They all look down, seeing the scattered air cargo containers, which reflect the rising sun's rays.

  There's a brief pause, as Doug moves the helicopter around, then lands.

  The helicopter lands, with Tommy and Rachel quickly getting out. They start to move towards the containers, as the rotor blades begin to slowly stop spinning.

  There's a brief pause and then Doug gets out of the helicopter, hurrying up to Tommy and Rachel.

  In the near distance, they see the crashed airplane and then the vehicle truck. They start to move up towards the airplane.

  CHAPTER 35

  Inside the Cargo Airport Office, Timothy is arguing with Supervisor. Timothy, "How can you not know where the airplane crashed?" Supervisor, with a Chinese accent, "We have search planes tracing the route

  they took and..."

  Timothy, "What about tracking devices?"

  Supervisor, nervously, "Sometimes..."

  Jim, "Yeah, what about the transponders?"

  Supervisor and Timothy turn slightly, seeing Jim.

  Supervisor, almost stammering, "We're doing everything we can...to find the

  airplane. As soon as we locate the plane, then..."

  Jim, with authority, "How long? An hour? A day? A week? A month?

  How long, until you find it?"

  Supervisor starts to say something, then stops. He swallows, takes his time,

  as though he's trying to think.

  Jim, "The more time you take to answer my questions, makes me think that

  you're lying."

  Supervisor quickly answers, "I can take your names and phone numbers.

  When I receive an update, I will let you know."

  Supervisor looks from Timothy to Jim, putting on a forced smile. Supervisor, "At least it was a cargo flight, not like we're talking

  passengers..."

  Supervisor frowns and shakes his head, "Well, except for the flight crew.

  Your cargo was insured, so, at least you haven't lost..."

  Timothy and Jim both stare at Supervisor.

  CHAPTER 36

  At the crash site, Tommy, Doug, and Rachel move up to a container, seeing that it has been pried open. Doug moves and runs his hand over the seam.

  Doug, "This wasn't caused by the crash."

  Rachel, "The flight crew. We need to find..."

  Doug, "It won't be pretty, maybe you'd better..."

  Rachel pushes his arm down and passes him.

  Rachel, "You forget, I was a photojournalist in Afghanistan. There's nothing, I haven't seen."

  Rachel continues walking. Doug starts to join her, but is bumped by Tommy, who walks past him.

  Tommy, to Doug, "She just put you in your place...she might be a keeper."

  Tommy and Rachel continue walking. Doug looks around, then hurries after them. Rachel starts to take photographs, as Tommy looks around, then back down at a torn body.

  Doug moves up and stops, looking down at the torn body.

  Doug, "He's not one of the flight crew."

  Rachel, "What do you mean?"

  Tommy moves and squats down, looking at something on the ground.

  Doug, "Flight crew members and it doesn't matter whether they're flying for some big name company or some small company...flight crew members would NEVER wear..."

  Doug points down at the feet of the torn body, with black, lace-up boots coming into view (Chung and Kung).

  Tommy, "We need to get back to the helicopter."

  Doug, "We don't want to waste..."

  Tommy gives Doug a hard look, with Doug seeming to understand.

  Doug, "Yeah, we should get out of here, before..."

  Rachel, "If this body isn't one of the flight crew, then we need to..."

  Doug quickly moves, grabs Rachel's arm, and starts to move her back towards the helicopter. Rachel starts to struggle.

  Rachel, "What the hell do you think you're doing? I'm a big girl and..."

  Doug moves Rachel up to where Tommy had been squatting down. Tommy points down.

  Rachel, "So?"

  Tommy, "Know what's worse than wild dogs?"

  Rachel, "I'm not in the mood to play your games."

  Tommy gets closer and points, with Rachel now seeing a large TIGER print.

  Tommy, "That's a tiger print and...it's a big one."

  Rachel jerks free, then looks at Tommy. Doug grabs her arm again.

  Rachael, annoyed, "Seriously? Tiger? Like..."

  There's a loud noise and they all turn to the side, then become frozen in place.

  They see TIGER, which is standing a short distance away, carrying a body in its mouth. TIGER looks at the group, then releases the body, which drops to the ground.

  Rachel, softly, "What, what are we going to..."

  CHAPTER 37

  Doug starts to pull at Rachel, who is staring at the TIGER. Tommy starts to raise the handgun. Rachel finally relents and turns around, as Doug begins to slowly lead her towards the helicopter.

  Doug, over his shoulder, "Buddy?"

  Tommy, softly,. "Go..."

  Doug, "Tommy, you can't..."

  Tommy, sternly, "Go...damn it. Go."

  Doug and Rachel start to move towards the helicopter, as TIGER takes a couple of steps towards Tommy, who is slowly raising the handgun.

  CHAPTER 38

  Outside of the airport, Jim is on his cell phone.

  Jim, "They're saying none of the tracking devices are working and that, so far, none of the search planes have located anything. No, I don't think it was them. Sometimes, shit just happens, but..."

  Jim looks, as Timothy walks out of the airport, looks around, then gets on his cell phone.

  Jim, "There's another guy, who is kinda nervous about them not being able to find the plane. "

  Timothy hurries to his car, then stops, takes out his cell phone, slightly looks at Jim, then quickly dials a number.

  Timothy, into the phone, "No, they can't find it."

  Timothy quickly goes angry and slightly raises his voice, "Because it was OUR only option."

  Timothy fights to control his anger, as he turns slightly, seeing Jim, who is looking at him. Timothy turns away, "We need to send out our own search teams...fortunately, the route was in a desolate...remote area, so..."

  Timothy turns back around, facing Jim, "We shouldn't have to worry about human..."

  Jim stares at Timothy, into the phone, "Interference. Nah, I'm waiting for you and
the pilot to show up."

  Timothy, into his phone, "If Seth, isn't here by the time the pilot is ready to leave...I'm not waiting for him....yes, I'll let you know."

  Jim and Timothy end their calls, at the same time, then stare at each other.

  CHAPTER 39

  Inside an office, Mikey, in his 50's, comes into view, as he nervously talks on a telephone. He periodically reaches up, wiping sweat from his forehead.

  As Mikey turns around, his office comes into view, revealing that it's cluttered with WILD ANIMAL memorabilia.

  Mikey, "If I had manifested the TIGER as a TIGER, then it would have been reported to the authorities. If the authorities had been alerted, then...yes, yes, I'm doing everything I can to find the tiger and...other animals."

  CHAPTER 40

  At the crash site, Doug and Rachel are almost to the helicopter. Rachel chances a look over her shoulder, seeing that Tommy is carefully taking steps backwards, as the TIGER continues to slowly advance.

  Suddenly, the TIGER charges, with Tommy quickly raising the handgun and firing, but missing.

  Tommy watches, as the TIGER charges, with the snarling, bloody mouth of the TIGER zooming into view.

  Tommy fires, then closes his eyes, just as the TIGER leaps.

  Rachel watches the TIGER knock Tommy to the ground, then starts running towards them. Doug jerks Rachel around, hurrying her towards the helicopter.

  They run a short distance and then Rachel stumbles, falling to the ground.

  Doug jerks back around, trying to help her up, but sees that the TIGER is almost on them. The TIGER leaps, as it loudly ROARS.

  CHAPTER 41

  At the airport, Jim and Chinese Pilot, in his 50's, hurry towards a helicopter and get inside. There's a brief pause and then Ming hurries up to the helicopter and gets inside.

  Inside the helicopter, Pilot quickly starts the rotors, as Jim and Ming look around.

  Jim, "The supervisor was nervous enough. If you had been there..."

  Ming, "Maybe, he would have talked to me. Chinese to Chinese."

  Jim shakes his head, "Just like in the U.S., it's all about the money. If you can't offer them some money for their trouble..."

  Jim stops, as he sees Timothy and Seth getting into another helicopter. Seth is carrying several large, black bags.

  Ming, "Think we'll find it, the VIP package?"

  Jim, "Yeah..."

  Jim moves and takes out an electronic device.

  Jim, "The cell phone is still active. As long as we can maintain satellite coverage, as long as the cell phone keeps transmitting, as long as..."

  Ming, "Our luck..."

  Jim, "Good luck."

  Ming, "As long as our GOOD luck holds out, then...we'll find it."

  Jim looks back towards Timothy's helicopter, as it starts to take off.

  Jim, "But, we need to be the first ones."

  Ming follows Jim's gaze, "Probably was smuggling vases out of China."

  Jim, "Whatever he was smuggling, it has to be worth a lot of money. He's got his own hired gun."

  As Timothy's helicopter flies overhead, Jim looks up, seeing Seth. They seem to look directly at each other.

  CHAPTER 42

  At the crash site, the TIGER has fallen on Doug, who is struggling to get it off of him. Tommy hurries up, trying to help, sticking the handgun behind his back.

  Rachel gets up and then stops, seeing Lee, standing a short distance away, holding a shotgun. Tommy manages to get Doug out from under the TIGER, just as Lee, wearing a flight suit, walks up. Lee smiles, as he kicks the TIGER.

  Lee, thick Chinese accent, "Ah, my little pussy cat." Doug, Tommy, and Rachel stare at Lee, who finally looks up, smiling at them. He does a slight bow.

  Lee, "I am Chung Lee. At your service. Who's the pilot?"

  Rachel, "Doug is..."

  Lee looks from Doug to Tommy, trying to figure it out.

  Tommy, "I'm Tommy and this is..."

  Lee looks at Doug, smiling.

  Lee, "Doug?"

  Doug is starting to get suspicious.

  Doug, "Uh..."

  Lee slightly raises the shotgun, pointing it at Doug.

  CHAPTER 43

  Lee smiles at Doug, "I would like to hire you. To fly me to...anywhere." Doug, "Uh, yeah...were you on the plane?"

  Lee, smiling, "No, my yacht seemed to have ran out of water." Rachel, "Any other survivors?"

  Lee, stern look at Rachel, "I'm so sorry...did I ask for questions?" Lee turns back to Doug, pointing at him with the shotgun, "I want you to fly

  me out of here."

  Tommy, "Know what's worse than being eaten by a tiger?"

  Lee gives Tommy a mean look.

  Tommy, "Being saved by a..."

  Doug, "We can maybe use the plane's radio to..."

  Tommy starts to raise his handgun.

  Lee quickly moves forward, slamming the butt of the shotgun across

  Tommy's face, dropping him to the ground. Blood begins to seep from Tommy's face, with his body going still. Lee quickly moves, grabs Tommy's handgun, and sticks it in his pants. Rachel starts to move to help Tommy, but Lee motions with the barrel.

  Lee, "No. You know what's worse than a pushy guy with a gun?"

  Lee motions with the gun, "Being dead.:"

  Lee gives Doug a hard look, then aims the shotgun at Rachel, then at Tommy, then back at Doug.

  Lee, "You fly or...they die."

  Lee takes a step and points the barrel of the shotgun down at Tommy's head.

  Doug, "Okay, okay..."

  Doug moves towards the helicopter, with Lee carefully following him, as well as looking back at Rachel, who is bending down, trying to help Tommy.

  Lee, to Rachel, "He'll be okay...I've seen worse."

  Lee slightly laughs, as he gets into the helicopter.

  CHAPTER 44

  Inside the helicopter, Doug looks out of the window, seeing Rachel and Tommy.

  Rachel watches, as the helicopter starts to lift off.

  Inside the helicopter, Doug looks down at Rachel, just as Tommy struggles to his feet, with the helicopter passing over Rachel and Tommy.

  Rachel turns, watching as the helicopter starts to move away.

  Tommy, "What the hell was that?"

  Rachel turns and helps Tommy, looking at the gash on his forehead, where blood still drips.

  Rachel, "I don't know....it doesn't matter whether they're flying for some big name company or some small company...flight crew members would NEVER..."

  Rachel turns and looks, just as the helicopter disappears over a hill.

  Rachel, "Do that."

  Rachel turns back around to Tommy, offering a slight smile.

  Rachel, "The plane should have a first-aid kit."

  Tommy, "Yeah."

  Tommy staggers, then looks down at the dead TIGER.

  Tommy, "I know you're on vacation and expect a certain amount of entertainment, but..."

  Tommy looks at Rachel, with a hard look, "No more excitement? Okay?"

  Rachel smiles, "Yeah, no more excitement."

  Rachel and Tommy start back towards the airplane.

  CHAPTER 45

  Inside the helicopter, gauges are spinning and lights are flashing, as Doug taps the panel.

  Lee, "What is the problem?"

  Doug, "I don't know."

  Lee, "It is your helicopter...how can you not know..."

  Doug, "I stole it."

  Doug starts to fight the controls.

  Doug, "Brace yourself...we're going...down."

  The helicopter starts to spin, then hits the ground hard.

  CHAPTER 46

  At the crash site, Tommy and Rachel move up to the airplane, look around and then step inside.

  Inside the airplane, they move up to the cockpit, seeing Kao, who is on the floor, but his clothes are missing.

  Tommy, "The guy with the shotgun. That's where he got the flight suit."

  Rachel, "Why would he takes the pilot's
clothes?"

  Tommy, "Good question."

  Rachel looks at Tommy, with a questioning look.

  Tommy slightly smiles, "Sorry, it's a good question, but I sure as hell don't have a good answer."

  They see that the cockpit window has been torn apart, with Chin's seat missing.

  Tommy moves towards an overhead compartment that is already opened.

  Tommy, "They usually keep..."

  Tommy rummages around, finds nothing, then moves to another overhead compartment.

  Tommy, "The first-aid kits up front."

  Tommy rummages around, then stops. He pulls out a first-aid kit, as Rachel looks around. She looks around the inside, seeing that it's been ransacked. Rachel, "Would the crash have caused of this, this...type of damage?" Tommy looks around, then stops, seeing pry bar marks. Tommy, "No..."

  CHAPTER 47

  Inside the helicopter, Jim is looking at his electronic device, seeing a small dot. He looks out of the window.

  Ming, "Are we getting close?

  Jim, "Yeah, but the tracking device can be a little off, depending on the terrain."

  Ming, "Do you think he's alive?"

  Jim, "Yeah, he's alive...he's like some kind of fuckin' cancer that even chemo can't kill."

  Ming slightly smiles, "Ah, Jim, you are so, so descriptive."

  Jim, "Wait until I give you my hemorrhoid comparison between..."

  CHAPTER 48

  Tommy and Rachel have moved a short distance away from the airplane. They now fully seeing the vehicle.

  Tommy moves closer and sees that the back of the vehicle is filled with airplane items and items apparently from the containers.

  Rachel, "Here, me fix your head."

  Tommy starts to protest.

  Rachel, "Come on, you don't want to get infection."

  Tommy relents and leans against the vehicle, as Rachel opens the first-aid kit and begins to clean Tommy's head wound.