1X18 THE DRAGON

Airing Week of: 5/14/01

A clipper ship delivers strangers, a Samurai master and his apprentice, to a strange land. After the master is murdered, the young initiate, Kami, vows to avenge the killers - and walks right into one of Montoya's traps, one pitting the Japanese warrior against the Queen of Swords. Will Kami seek the truth, or be blinded by revenge?

WRITER: Durnford King
DIRECTOR: Terry Ingram

GUEST STARRING

SUNG HI LEE as Kami
BURT KWOUK as Master Kiyomasa
DARRELL D'SILVA as Armando
DOMINGO BELTRÁN as Marco
FERNANDO MORALEDA as Miguel

"The Dragon" was a very fascinating episode. The writer introduced a great story of loyalty and honor, but at the same time offered a lesson in truth vs. vengeance. There was a good blend of Spanish vs. Japanese swordfighting. The actress Sung Hi Lee, who played Kami the apprentice, was a great adversary for the Queen. The fight scene between these two warriors was interesting to watch with each one of them using their own style of swordfighting.

The dialog between Kami and Tessa on the hill made a good point in the story. Kami was pursuing revenge against the person who killed her master and called Tessa a coward for not finding his killers. Tessa understood Kami's motive, but defended herself as Tessa and not as the Queen. In Kami's case, the killer was known, in Tessa's she still has not been able to learn who killed her father. I thought this scene was played out really well.

As usual Colonel Montoya does he dirty little deeds of manipulation and deception. Its amazing how he manages to plan everything so well, only to be defeated by the Queen. I just love the tactics he uses to get what he wants, but his plans always backfire on him. I really liked how the writer introduced more of Montoya's past. Funny how Montoya knew so much about Japanese culture when he called himself a "Shogun". Could it have been when he was much younger, his father the bureaucrat traveled to Japan as an Ambassador to Spain and he was exposed to the culture. He definitely knew a lot about a samurai's personality. He mentioned that over the years he had assembled a modest collection of weapons. How could be have made such a collection? Maybe Montoya made a trip through the orient and served military time in Japan? I thought Dr. Helm's comments to Tessa about Montoya wearing a kimono to review his troops was really funny. In any case, the writer introduced more information on Colonel Montoya and his love for weapons and Japanese culture. Very interesting. It was also funny to see Montoya miss his opportunity to kill the Queen when one of his own soldiers gets in the way of him trying to shoot her. Once again, the soldiers are incompetent fools. Lucky for the Queen though.

There was that look of regret on the Queen's face again when she had to kill Armando. The Queen hates to kill, but only does it in self-defense. In this case she killed him to protect and save Kami's life. With Armando's death, I wonder how many the Queen has killed in total?

I really liked the episode and thought the story was different.

THESE WERE THE BEST LINES OF THE STORY:

MARTA: Tessa, Te Gusta�.para un pañolón. (Tessa, do you like�.for a shawl)
TESSA: Ah�ha�.que bonita (how beautiful)�..dale caballito (hurry up little horse)�.let's go.
MARTA: Silk from the orient, such a luxury�.hum, so soft�.its hard to imagine it comes from worms.
TESSA: Thank you Marta�now every time I wear it I'll have that image on my mind�.what's that ahead?�.Marta!
MARTA: Its too late.
TESSA: He's dead?

MARTA: Only his body�.ancients old�strong in life�.stronger after death.
TESSA: We need to get her to Dr. Helm.

KAMI: Master Kiyomasa was the only family I've ever known.
MONTOYA: But you feel responsible for your masters death�.you believe you've shamed your ancestors.
KAMI: It is true.
MONTOYA: Guilt�.it's a terrible thing to have to live with.
KAMI: Then I shall not live.
MONTOYA: Forgive me, but is it far more honorable to confront your enemies then to be treated to death.
KAMI: No other way of the samurai.
MONTOYA: I do not presume to have the wisdom of your late master, but�one thing I do know�it is not you who should die for this, but the killers.

HELM: Ok, no more dancing for him.
TESSA: Feeling better Dr. Helm?
HELM: Better than them�.I'll say one thing�.she is good for business.
TESSA: She's a menace�what she did to those men is criminal�I'm surprised Colonel Montoya hasn't arrested her yet?
HELM: Yes, does seem to be taking an unhealthy interest in her isn't he?�.I wouldn't be surprised to see him wearing a kimono the next time he reviews the troops.
TESSA: (Swatting him with her fan over his head)�You are cruel.
HELM: No, but really?�Anyone else who beats his soldiers to a pulp is measuring them for a noose.
TESSA: I see what you are saying�your afraid Colonel Montoya has plans for the young lady�.someone of her skills would be great use to him.
HELM: Certainly she can fight, but she's only one girl.
TESSA: �.All alone in a strange land.
HELM: �.Yes, it must be very frightening.
TESSA: You're not suggesting that she stay with me, are you Dr. Helm?
HELM: No�.not at all.
TESSA: Oh�it might be best to keep her away from the Colonel.
HELM: Yeah, that certainly wouldn't hurt.
TESSA: It would be the decent thing to do�.you know it's a great idea Dr. Helm�.I hope you feel better�.I'm going to go and invite her immediately.

MONTOYA: I have something for you�a gift�one work of art for another�.over the years I have assembled a modest collection of weapons�.it would be a great honor for me if you were to use these to fulfill your sake of obligation.
KAMI: Where can I find the bandits?
MONTOYA: Those men are just pawns in the game�.it is their master you seek.
KAMI: Where can I find him?
MONTOYA: What makes you think it is a man?

TESSA: We lost them.
KAMI: A true warrior does not run from her enemy.
TESSA: Whatever you say�but let's get you home safely�.how did you know we were being followed?
KAMI: I didn't.
TESSA: �.Then what are these for?
KAMI: The revenge of my ancestors�.I will need them to kill the Queen of Swords.

KAMI: You intrude on my peace.
TESSA: Kami, if I've done anything to insult you�.
KAMI: I had a chance to avenge my master's death and you stole that from me.
TESSA: I understand�.my father was also murdered.
KAMI: �.And what have you done about it?
TESSA: Kami, revenge is not�.
KAMI: Are his killers dead?
TESSA: No
KAMI: �.So you allow them to go free�.it was a simple question.
TESSA: Don't judge me�.you don't know anything about me.
KAMI: You follow the way of the mouse�.I follow the way of the dragon�.and don't ever get in my way again.

TESSA: I'm not going to hide.
MARTA: Hide!�.did I say hide?
TESSA: What would you call it?
MARTA: I would call it just�.not being around�.she fights, she prays�.that's all she knows.
TESSA: I can't just stand by and let Montoya use her.
MARTA: Tessa, the cards tell me she's not alone.
TESSA: That's impossible�.only two people were on that ship and one of them is dead.
MARTA: She has guides�ancient and powerful.
TESSA: �.And dead.
MARTA: Her blood is samurai�.she can not allow herself to fail�.she will die first.
TESSA: Then I'll find the man who murdered her master and it will all be over.
MARTA: �.And what if she finds the Queen of Swords first?
TESSA: Then we have a problem.

MARTA: The colonel can't be trusted.
KAMI: I heard it from the bandit's lips.
MARTA: Colonel could have forced him to lie.
KAMI: I appreciate your concern�but the time for words has past.
MARTA: Make sure your passion doesn't cloud your judgement.
KAMI: The voice of a thousand ancestors cry out for vengeance.
MARTA: Are you sure its their voice you hear?�.Or is it your own anger talking.
KAMI: How dare you speak to me of those things�..you know nothing of them.
MARTA: You're not the only one with ancient teachers.
KAMI: I must go.
MARTA: Careful when you look for the dragon�.careful its not inside you.
KAMI: I will seek out the Queen of Swords and only one of us shall live.
MARTA: Kami, before you seek vengeance�first seek the truth.

KAMI: You saved my life.
QUEEN: Montoya lied to you.
KAMI: �.and because of me you were falsely accused.
QUEEN: Its not the first time that its happened.

QUEEN: Drop the pistol Colonel�.you'll be dead before you reload.
MONTOYA: �..Sad, but true I'm afraid�it seems you ladies have me at a disadvantage.
QUEEN: As usual.
MONTOYA: �.Until we meet again�.ladies.

~Margie~

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