Written by: William Thomas Quick
Directed by: Charles Siebert
Transcribed by: Octavia
Kung Lao: Paolo Montalban
Siro: Daniel Bernhardt
Taja: Kristanna Loken
Shang Tsung: Bruce Locke
Vorpax: Tracy Douglas
Raiden: Jeffrey Meek
Ankha: Tahitia Hicks.
Kiri: Sung Hi Lee.
Noob Saibot: Kimble Sultan.
Peddler: Petrus Antonius
Beggar: Jack A. Carroll.
We open with in the Zhu Zin market place. Traders and merchants busy about selling their wares. We see KUNG LAO and SIRO strolling through. As Siro is stopped by a female merchant offering some jewellery, Kung Lao walks ahead to check out a knife seller�s store. Siro politely refuses and is walking towards Kung Lao when a pickpocket sneaks his hand into Siro�s pocket. Immediately Siro grabs his arm and twists it. The thief cries out. Siro holds him up by the lapels. Kung Lao turns round.
Thief (A): My hand slipped!
Siro: Good way to get your fingers broken!
He shoves the pickpocket away and walks up to the knife stall.
Kung Lao: Pickpocket?
Siro: Would-be pickpocket.
Kung Lao walks to the other side of the stall, and then turns to Siro.
Kung Lao: I�m heading back.
Kung Lao walks towards the Trading Post and then calls back to Siro.
Kung Lao: Siro? Are you coming?
Siro: Go ahead. I�ll see you in a minute.
Kung Lao leaves. Siro examines one of the knives.
Knife-seller: Interested?
Siro: Maybe. How much?
The knife-seller begins to tell him but suddenly stops short, focusing on someone behind Siro in terror.
Siro: What?
He turns round to see the thief brandishing a baton at him.
Siro: Guess you want your hand broken after all.
Thief (A): More likely it�s gonna be your head.
Three more thieves, all with their heads covered, appear beside him.
Siro: Glad you brought help.
Thief(A): Take him!
[Transcriber�s Note - The thieves are A, B, C, and D]
A lunges at Siro with the baton but Siro dodges it and left front kicks A. A falls forward. Siro spins round and right side kicks D in the stomach. Siro moves to sweep C to the ground but the thief back flips three times away. Siro right waist blocks C�s right front kick and A�s front kick but is then right hook punched in the face by C. He turns round and, pulling B�s arm down, hits B with a right hook punch, and then turns to D who right front kicks Siro�s head. Siro spins around and left elbows A in the face but he then is hit by C�s front kick. Siro recovers and, after right side kicking C away, whirls round to face D. He blocks D�s two left punches with his right arm and then left punches D in the stomach. D falls back. Siro executes a right spinning hooking kick to B who ducks and counters with a right front kick to Siro�s head. Siro falls back into D�s right side kick and is then swept to the ground by A. The thieves regroup. Siro kip ups.
A runs towards Siro swinging the baton but Siro turns and right spin hook kicks it out of his hand. A falls to the ground. As D aims a flying right kick at him and as C dive rolls towards him, Siro cartwheels past both of them and right side kicks B in the stomach. Siro turns round, grabs D�s right arm, pulls him down and then right front kicks his butt. D doubles over and Siro right axe-kicks his back. D goes down to the ground in a saochi. He evades A�s right flying front kick, blocks A�s right punch and then right hook punches his jaw. A falls back. Siro turns to C and does two right front machine gun kicks at him; C blocks both attacks and does a right hook punch. Siro vertical blocks the hook punch and sends the thief sprawling with a left roundhouse kick.
Siro whirls round in a right spinning hooking kick aimed at A who evades it. A left upper blocks Siro�s right punch and right blocks Siro�s left punch, then left front kicks his stomach. Siro falls back into D, who grabs him in a bear hug. As D lifts him up, Siro kicks both feet out and hits A in the chest. A falls back. Siro drops to the ground and grabs D in a headlock, knees him and then throws the thief to the ground. Siro turns to meet B�s right spinning hooking kick straight in the face but he soon recovers and sends B to the ground with a right spinning side kick. From where he fell, A discovers a stash of staffs (how convenient.) He keeps one and tosses one to each of his men.
C somersaults forward and Siro kicks him back down with a left side kick. Siro ducks down to avoid A�s thrust with the staff and then sweeps the thief to the floor. He ducks under D�s thrust and vertical blocks B�s thrust with his left arm. He parries several blows with his arms, left hook punches B away and then, while butterfly kicking D to the ground, grabs his staff and then strikes the thief with it. He spins the staff around and turns to face A. Siro parries three blows from A and then hits A in the face with the staff. A falls back. He twirls the staff around with his fingers. B approaches. They parry four hits until Siro uppercuts his chin, causing B to fall backwards. From behind, C deals Siro a sneaky right side kick to the back. Siro falls forward and drops the staff.
Siro rolls to his feet as C approaches. He ducks under C�s left hook kick, drops to the ground and sweeps C off his feet. A moves into the centre and tries to right side kick Siro twice. Siro blocks both and counters with a right hook punch, a left hook punch, another right hook and another left; A blocks all the attacks and comes up with a right hook and then a left hook of his own, which Siro blocks and counters with a palm heel attack to the face. A sprawls backwards. C runs forward in a 540 kick which Siro ducks under. Siro ducks under B�s left side kick, left blocks his right punch and then uppercuts the thief. B stumbles as A gets up.
B recovers and does two machine gun left side kicks at Siro who evades them. Siro blocks B�s right punch but is hit in the stomach by A�s right side kick. B grabs Siro�s left hand and jerks him down while C approaches. C ducks under Siro�s right circle knife hand strike, grabs Siro�s hand and front kicks him in the stomach. While B and C hold Siro down, A and D both front kick Siro in the face. Siro flies backwards, landing on a stall. The stall falls to pieces as the walls are smashed by Siro�s fall and the silk clothes tumble down onto him. He lies there for a moment, stunned, until his hand finds the baton previously dropped by A. He slowly gets to his feet.
Siro attacks but his slow attack shows that he is exhausted and injured. He lunges the baton twice at A, who steps back easily to evade it. He pauses for a moment to catch his breath on the ground and then brings the baton up at A but the thief catches his arm and pulls him back. A then right clockwise circle punches his face while C flying right side kicks his back. Siro falls to the ground and doesn�t get up. A runs towards him, raising the baton in preparation to smash Siro�s head with it.
Opening credits.
The baton descends towards Siro�s head but suddenly the thief�s arm is stopped in mid descent. We see Kung Lao. He grabs the thief�s arm and pulls it backwards.
Kung Lao: How about I even the odds a little?
He right punches the thief in the stomach. Thief A falls back and rejoins his friends. Kung Lao goes into a guard position as the thieves prepare to attack.
Thief (A): Wait, wait, wait. I know him! They say he won Mortal Kombat!
Terrified, the thieves dash off. Kung Lao turns and kneels down beside Siro.
Kung Lao: Are you OK?
Siro: Yeah.
Kung Lao: Why didn�t you call out?
Siro stands up, holding his stomach, wincing in pain.
Siro: I thought I could handle it.
Kung Lao supports Siro�s weight on his shoulder and helps him a few steps before Siro jerks himself away.
Siro: Look, I said I was all right
Kung Lao: You don�t look very good.
He holds his fingers up to Siro�s eyes.
Siro: How would you feel? I can�t believe you had to.
Kung Lao: There were four of them.
Siro: And you still had to step in!
Kung Lao: Yes, after you practically killed three of them.
Siro sighs and turns away.
Kung Lao: I just wish you�d called for me.
Siro turns around.
Siro: You�re right. Listen, you go ahead. I�ll be along in a minute.
Kung Lao: You sure you�re all right?
Siro: I�m fine. I never got a good look at that knife I wanted to buy.
Kung Lao: OK. I�ll see you later.
He leaves. Siro turns back to the knife-seller�s stall. The knife seller shows him the blade again. Suddenly we hear a voice behind him.
Voice: Forgive the intrusion, sir�
Siro whirls around. We see ANKHA, a young girl wearing a cloak behind him.
Ankha: I saw what happened. Perhaps I could help.
Siro: (sceptically) Help with what?
Ankha slowly approaches.
Ankha: I have a friend. She�s a very talented woman. I was thinking that maybe we could use her mind-
Siro: (angrily) Do I look like I need a couple of women right now?
Ankha smiles.
Ankha: There�s always time for two like us.
Siro: Oh, take off.
Ankha: I�m sorry, I think you misunderstand me. My friend is a seer. She know things. She could help you.
Siro: Hey, you saw what happened. I lost a fight. How can a fortune teller help me with that?
Ankha: It�s her speciality. It�s her speciality. Come to the Street of Oils and ask for the House of the Falcon.
She presses an object into his palm.
Siro: I don�t-
Ankha: It�s a gift you�ll never forget. I promise.
She smiles and leaves. Siro looks at the little model of a falcon that she has given to him.
Cut to the Trading Post. Siro slowly opens the door and shuts it behind him. TAJA comes down into the courtyard, eating an apple.
Taja: How�s the head?
Siro: News travels fast when you get your butt kicked.
Taja: Yeah, by four guys. What were you thinking? Kung Lao said they were huge.
Siro walks up to her.
Siro: Not too big for his reputation.
Taja: At least they hit you in a safe spot - your thick head.
She laughs.
Siro: You think this is funny, Taja, huh?
Taja looks at him surprised.
Taja: Sorry I brought it up.
Siro: Not as sorry as I am.
She leaves. Kung Lao enters.
Kung Lao: Taja just wants to know you�re all right. So do I.
Siro: I�M FINE! I told you both! What else do you want, should I fall down on my knees and thank you for your help?
Kung Lao: Of course not and you know it. I just wanted to say, I think I know how you�re feeling.
Siro: Oh, do you?
Kung Lao: Yeah. You�re big, you�re fast, you�re a tremendous fighter, and you�re not used to losing.
Siro: Guess I better re-think that.
Kung Lao: Come on, Siro, anybody would have had trouble out there today.
Siro: Anybody?
Kung Lao: What-do you mean me?
Siro: (angrily) Oh, you heard them, "Mortal Kombat Champion."
Kung Lao: Believe me, I lost plenty of fights while I was training.
Siro: Well, what happened to me wasn�t training.
He starts to storm out.
Kung Lao: Maybe training�s the problem! (Siro stops) If you don�t want to lose any more fights, why don�t you work harder?
Siro whirls round and moves towards him.
Siro: (furiously) You watch it, Kung Lao, I haven�t exactly been sitting on my ass all these years!
Kung Lao: You work hard - maybe you just need a little more focus. Concentration. Fighting�s as much thinking as it is doing.
Siro: Well, your focus and concentration didn�t help save Jen, did it?
Silence. Siro continues to glare furiously at Kung Lao but this time, the normally calm and peaceful Kung Lao glares back.
Kung Lao: (quietly but full of fury) Damn you, Siro. Even if you ever learn to ask someone for help, don�t bother calling me.
Siro: (angrily) Don�t worry. I don�t need your help.
He walks out, leaving Kung Lao standing quietly alone in the courtyard.
Cut to the courtyard next morning. Siro walks in, fingering the small little falcon talisman that Ankha gave him. After looking at it for a moment, he finally decides to go to the seer. He strides towards the door, opens it and dashes out, running into Taja who was just coming in. She falls to the side, catches herself and smiles at him.
Taja: Hey, you almost ran me over.
Siro ignores her and goes out into the streets. Taja follows him.
Taja: This is the part where you say you�re sorry.
Siro: (sarcastic) Yeah, yeah, yeah, OK, I�m sorry.
Taja stops him and blocks his path.
Taja: Boy, you�ve gone from touchy to a total jackass, you know that.
Siro: Taja, I�m seriously not in the mood for another talk.
He tries to get past her. She stops him.
Siro: Now get out of my way.
Taja: Siro, you really need to calm down here. You�re very quickly losing friends.
Siro sighs.
Siro: You�re right. I�m sorry. It�s just that I�m in a hurry.
He moves to leave but she stops him again.
Taja: Where are you going?
Siro: To talk to someone.
Taja: You just said you didn�t want to talk to anybody and now you have an appointment to check? Who is it?
Siro: I don�t know.
He moves past her and through the market place. Taja follows.
Taja: You don�t want to talk to someone you�ve never met?
Siro sighs, stops and turns round.
Siro: All right. I got a tip on the street about a� fortune teller
Taja: Oh, lord.
Siro: Well, look, apparently she�s supposed to be very good, and� and her friend said she could help me, I don�t know, to be a better fighter�
Taja: Boy, this business with the thieves really smacked your pride around, didn�t it? (Siro is silent) I�ll go with you then.
Siro: I think it�s best that I go alone.
Taja: In this state, you�ll end up getting fleeced out of your clothes.
She takes Siro�s arm and walks through the bazaar with him.
Taja: (spooky accent) Now let�s go look in your crystal ball�
Cut to another part of the city. Taja and Siro walk through another market place.
Taja: Not the greatest part of town, is it?
Siro turns round to her.
Siro: What�s the matter? Afraid the seers will put a spell on you?
Taja: Yeah, the spell of feeling really stupid!
They carry on walking
Taja: Come on, let�s just ask somebody where we are and get this over with.
She spots a beggar sitting on side of the path and sits down beside him.
Taja: House of the Falcon?
Beggar: Never heard of it.
Taja: You�re kidding. Should be around here somewhere.
Beggar: Doesn�t ring a bell...
He shakes his pot of money. Taja smiles.
Taja: (to Siro) Pay the nice man.
Siro drops a silver coin into the beggar�s collection tin.
Beggar: Around the corner.
Taja: (to Siro) Your future awaits.
They get up and leave. The beggar bites down on Siro�s coin to check its authenticity and then shrugs.
Cut to the House of the Falcon. A wooden carving of a falcon hangs down from a beam. Despite the fact that there is no wind, it sways to and from violently. Taja and Siro enter down the alley and look at the sign.
Taja: Atmosphere�s everything in this business.
They turn to the door. Taja holds out her hand to knock on it but before she can do so, it mysteriously opens from inside to reveal Ankha. She smiles at Siro.
Ankha: You�ve made a wise choice.
Taja looks at Ankha�s "outfit" (or lack of one! ), and rolls her eyes at Siro.
Taja: No wonder you wanted to come. So first thing�s first, how much is this going to cost?
Ankha: (shrugs) First visit�s always free. (she holds the door open) Please.
They enter.
Cut to the main chamber in the House of the Falcon. Ankha enters through a beaded door, followed by Siro and Taja. Ankha looks to right to Kiri�s chamber.
Ankha: She senses you�ve come.
Taja: As soon as you tell her, right?
Ankha: You�ll see. She knows so many things.
She goes into Kiri�s chamber.
Taja: (sceptical) Really. Put on enough spooky stuff and suddenly you�re in magic land.
Siro looks at the seer�s collection of strange objects curiously. Taja regards them sceptically. She examines a pointed feather while Siro checks out an eagle�s talon.
Siro: (smiling) While we�re here, we might as well see what�s underneath all these pretty wrappings.
Ankha comes out from Kiri�s chamber through a beaded door. The beads are painted so that when put together, they make a yin-yang sign. She motions for them to come into the centre of the room.
Ankha: Come.
Taja and Siro turn round. Ankha points towards the beaded door.
Ankha: My friend, Kiri.
KIRI enters. She is Chinese, with shoulder length brown hair and wearing few clothes. Her costume is white and blue - a glittery white bikini top with blue edgings, one long elbow length glove on her left arm and a scrap of the same material dangling as a triangular pointed skirt. Siro and Taja stare at her. Kiri walks towards them.
Siro: Um�I�m Siro, and this is Taja.
Kiri motions for him to sit down at the table. She sits down opposite from him and stares at him.
Kiri: (without breaking eye contact with Siro) Ankha, come to me.
Ankha moves over to Kiri and starts rubbing her shoulders. Kiri puts her hand on Ankha�s leg. Shocked, Taja moves forward into the light. Kiri smiles at her.
Taja: (confused) Go right ahead... I don�t want to miss any of this.
Kiri: So young, so beautiful. And strong willed. You do not believe.
Taja: Only what I can see.
Ankha: Kiri will make you a believer.
Kiri: Watch.
While Ankha continues to stroke her, Kiri holds out her hand, inviting Siro to place his palm in hers. Taja sits down beside Siro. Kiri waves her hand over his palm and then makes a cut in it with her nail. Blood starts to flow. Siro winces with pain.
Ankha: (whispers) Beautiful cut!
Kiri: The blood follows the path of your destiny. You are a mighty warrior�
Taja: That�s what you get for free?
Kiri: There�s more. Much more. You face a great task...and yet you feel doubt. You question your own skills.
Siro: What else do you see?
Kiri: You are a proud man...
Taja: (laughing) Everyone knows that!
Siro is about to tell her to shut up when Kiri intervenes.
Kiri: No, say nothing. Let her doubt. But for you, it is all here...a path to greatness.
Siro: How? What greatness?
Kiri: Zhu Zin is built on the ruins of other cities. Buried with them are ancient mysteries.
Siro: What�s that got to do with me?
Kiri: In the darkest depth, there is a mystical shrine, guarded by two powerful warriors. Defeat them and their skills will flow into you. From that moment, you alone will fight as an army.
Siro: Defeat two men...and my life will change?
Ankha: Kung Lao defeated only one. Shang Tsung. If the tales are true.
Siro and Taja exchange a look.
Kiri: But Ankha is correct. Men fear and respect your friend for only one battle.
Taja: Siro, this is a joke! Hidden cities, mystical warriors...
Ankha: The disbelief is boring.
Kiri: I offer you this: a path to greatness.
We hear the sounds of men yelling his name, praising him, in Siro�s head as he dreams of the great reputation of a warrior.
Kiri: Just regard me if you can...but look deep in your own heart and see if you wish to be one of the greatest warriors on Earth is all I ask.
Ankha continues to stroke Kiri�s shoulders while Kiri�s hands trail down her leg.
Siro: You really know that defeating these warriors will increase my power?
Kiri: Tenfold. A hundredfold!
Taja: Wait. If these warriors exist, how come others - everyone for that matter - hasn�t gone down there to defeat them?
Kiri: Many have, and they are dead. These guards are fighters, chosen for their skills. Only one with great courage can hope to defeat them.
Siro: Why have you told me this?
Kiri: It is you who sought me. I only read what I see. But the blood does not lie. You are one of few who could dare challenge the depths of Zhu Zin. Your journey begins at the Underworld Gate. Follow the talisman, follow your destiny!
Taja: Why don�t you *follow* me, Siro, let�s get out of here!
She stands up and tosses a few coins onto Kiri�s table.
Taja: Nothing�s for free.
She leaves. Siro slowly follows her, and with one last look at Kiri, leaves the room. Ankha follows to show them out. Kiri smiles.
Cut to outside of the House of the Falcon. Taja opens the door and Siro comes out after her. Ankha shuts the door behind them.
Siro: (whispering) Look, I know she�s weird but-
Taja: Weird doesn�t begin to cover it. And how about her friend, huh! I mean, you know this all just hocus-pocus crap, right?
Siro: Yeah of course, but why?
Taja: Who knows? To sucker us into coming back, probably. Come on, let�s go home.
She turns and exits the alley. Siro pulls out the model of the falcon from his pocket and smiles at it.
Cut to the Trading Post courtyard, dawn. Kung Lao holds onto a hook dangling from a chain off the ceiling and lifts himself up on it, testing its stability. He then fastens the Ming Dynasty�s equivalent to a punching bag - an old sack filled with hay. He punches it once, lets it swing a few times, and then turns to another piece of equipment, tying rope around a beam of wood. (forgot the name of the apparatus) RAIDEN walks into the courtyard.
Raiden: I thought Siro helped set up.
Kung Lao: He does. But he�s not here. (Raiden leans against the wall and watches him) He got up early and left. I don�t where or when he�ll be back. And frankly, I don�t care.
Raiden: (smiling) OK...there�s a story in here somewhere.
Kung Lao angrily whirls round.
Kung Lao: We got into it yesterday.
Raiden: "Into" it?
Kung Lao: He did something stupid.
Raiden: (smirking) Great, I love it, tell me!
Kung Lao: He was attacked by four men and instead of calling for help, he almost got killed!
Raiden: Almost? What a pity. (on Kung Lao�s look) Oh, nothing against Siro, it�s just that, um, a story�s always better when someone gets killed.
Kung Lao: Well, he came damn close. I stepped in and he turned against me!
Raiden: Hurt his pride.
Kung Lao: False pride, foolish pride with him. (a beat) He said things I can�t forget.
Raiden: Because your pride won�t allow it?
Kung Lao: Because my anger won�t.
Raiden: Often just another word for the same thing. (a beat) (casually) Look, sorry about the squabble. Probably lost a good friend there. I�m off.
He turns to leave.
Kung Lao: Raiden?
Raiden walks back.
Raiden: Hmm?
Kung Lao: I don�t really want to lose Siro�s friendship.
Raiden: You probably should have thought about that before you got "into" it with him.
Kung Lao looks down. Raiden teleports onto the roof of the Trading Post.
Raiden: You know, Kung Lao, there�s yet another face of pride. It�s called forgiveness.
Cut to the Underworld Gate. Siro, holding a flaming torch, shoves his weight against the old iron door, trying to break it open. Taja walks into the alley.
Taja: I knew you were planning this. You disappeared all day so I came here and waited.
Siro: Very clever. Now either leave or give me a hand.
Taja: It�s rusted shut. Which means people don�t go here which means you shouldn�t either.
Siro: If you�re so worried, come along.
He gives the door one final shove, causing it to break open.
Taja: Siro, don�t.
Siro: If there�s any chance what Kiri said is true, I want to see it. Good-bye.
He enters into the dark passage. Taja paces up and down outside.
Taja: You stupid fool. (shouting) Come back!
Siro: (off screen) No!
Taja sighs.
Taja: If you don�t die down there, I�ll kill you.
She enters the passage. From a dark corner of the alley, Ankha emerges. She smiles and then heads back home.
Cut to inside the passageways. Siro and Taja walk through a dark underground path. Siro waves the torch around, illuminating their path.
Siro: Sure you want to come?
Taja: Yeah sure. If only to see your sorry face when it turns out to be noth-ing!
They reach a fork. Siro looks at both paths and holds up his falcon model.
Siro: Kiri said the talisman will guide us.
Suddenly the talisman glows red for a moment. Siro nearly drops it in his shock.
Siro: Whoa! It�s like it knows we�re talking about it.
Taja: Spooky. (to the talisman) So�guide us.
Siro points the talisman at each path. The one to the right causes the falcon to glow a bright, dazzling red. Siro smiles.
Siro: I guess it�s this way. Let�s go.
Siro moves to go down the path and then turns round to Taja, smiling.
Siro: So far so good. This thing is working!
He walks down it a bit more and then turns round again.
Siro: Kiri must be for real! Exciting, huh?
Taja: (sarcastic) Very.
Cut to the bazaar. Kung Lao walks up to the knife-seller�s stall.
Kung Lao: Evening.
Knife-seller: You looking for a blade?
Kung Lao: Me? No. Actually a friend of mine was looking at a knife...
Knife-seller: Yes, I remember, the big man in the fight. An excellent blade.
He whips out the knife.
Knife-seller: This one?
Kung Lao smiles.
Kung Lao: How much?
Cut to the underground passage. Siro and Taja walk through the pitch black passageway. The sound of rats can be heard. They are now deep underground and the floor is coated with some sort of sticky, oily mud. Siro holds his torch up. Suddenly he stumbles on something.
Siro: Careful, Taja!
Taja: What is it?
Siro points his torch down to see the leg-bone of a skeleton sticking out into the path. He shoves it back onto the ledge where the rest of its body is.
Siro: You don�t want to know.
They carry on walking. Siro holds the talisman up. It glows bright red.
Taja: Bones, rats�I�m starting to seriously hate this place.
Siro: Hate it later. We�re very close. Come on.
He eagerly quickens his pace up the passage. Taja reluctantly follows.
Cut to the House of the Falcon. Kiri sits at her table, divining by her tarot cards. Ankha walks in.
Kiri: Well?
Ankha: They�re on their way.
Ankha sits down beside her, smiling.
Kiri: They?
Ankha: The girl went also.
Kiri: Interesting after all her doubting.
Ankha: If they fail, I�ll be happy to know she�s dead.
Kiri: Jealous of a child like that?
Ankha is silent for a while.
Ankha: Yeah. Perhaps because she�s dying down there and I wanna kill her.
Ankha rests her head on Kiri�s shoulder. Kiri strokes her hair.
Kiri: Sweet Ankha. So loyal and comforting. (a beat) No, the woman is nothing. And don�t think of failure, think of success. As I do.
Cut to a cavern in the underground passageway. Taja slips and just manages to catch herself.
Taja: That�s the third time I�ve slipped! What is this?
Siro holds the torch up to her and then to the floor and wall.
Siro: Some kind of oil. It�s all over the place.
He puts his finger on the wall to show sticky black oil on it. Then they turn and approach an iron gate. Above the gate is a carved symbol of the falcon.
Siro: Same falcon! We�re right on track.
He opens the cobweb covered gate and they step into another cavern. A screeching noise is heard. Taja gazes around her in fright.
Taja: Did you hear that?
Siro: What?
Taja: Siro, I don�t like this; something�s not right.
Siro: It�s exactly right, something is down here, come on!
Before them is another gate. Siro moves to open it but Taja stops him.
Taja: Look, you�re the one with the good instincts, can�t you feel that there is something very wrong?
Siro: I do have good instincts and they�re telling me Kiri was right. Let�s go! Come on.
He opens and goes through the gate.
Taja: (mimicking) Kiri was right, let�s go, come on!
She follows him.
They enter the large area. A big stone statue of a falcon is at the front of the room. The lower half of the room is filled with smoke that glows with a red hue. Siro gazes round at the place, smiling.
Siro: We need more light.
Siro picks up a wooden torch from the wall, hands it to Taja and ignites it with his own torch. With the extra light, suddenly we see the face of a warrior before them. Taja screams. She whirls round to see another warrior on the other side.
Siro: Easy! They�re just statues.
He knocks on one. Stone.
Siro: See.
Taja looks at the other one and calms down.
Taja: What are they doing here?
Siro: They�re just ceremonial warriors. (he walks next to Taja) Where are the real guards?
Taja: They�re not here, ok? Are you satisfied? Let�s go, Siro, please!
Siro: After all this way? No! Hey, if I can find these guys and fight them, it�ll be worth it!
Taja: Well, you�re on your own. I�m leaving.
Siro: Alone? Go back to the tunnel and wait. I�m going to check further.
Taja: OK, but hurry. I�m not going to wait long.
She leaves. Siro holds up his torch and walks further into the smoke.
Cut back to the Trading Post, night. Kung Lao opens the door and enters the Trading Post, holding Siro�s present. He looks around for his friends.
Kung Lao: Siro! Taja! Hey guys, where are you?
Silence.
Kung Lao: (to himself) Where did they go this late?
He turns and goes back out of the door to the streets, confused.
Cut back to the Shrine. Siro steps in further, waving his torch around to look at the room fully. His eyes scan the darkness, eagerly looking for the warriors. At the front of the room, he sees the statue of the falcon and gazes at it.
His instincts suddenly start to warn him, and he slowly turns around to look behind him. There is nothing there but the two stone statues of the warriors.
But suddenly, as fate would have it, the two statues burst out from their stone prison in the walls, having turned human-ish. They jump down from the walls.
[Transcriber�s Note - the two guards will be referred to as A and B]
A and B front somersault in. Siro charges towards them and swings his flaming torch at A, who leans back to evade it. He swings again but A right front kicks his arm, knocking the torch out of Siro�s hand. Siro left waist blocks A�s right front kick and right waist blocks B�s right front kick. He left knife hand blocks A�s right punch and then right blocks B�s right spinning hooking kick. Siro then front somersaults away.
Siro right waist blocks A�s right side kick, then turns and left blocks B�s right side kick. He right upper arm blocks B�s left punch then left punches him in the stomach. B stumbles back. Siro does a left spinning hooking kick to A but the guard ducks it. Siro then goes into a butterfly kick which both avoid. On landing, Siro is front kicked in the face by A. He moves to right punch the guard but A blocks it and right punches him in the stomach. Siro doubles over and B downwards elbow strikes his back. A front kicks his stomach and then B leaps up and twin front kicks his chest, sending Siro flying backwards across the room. He slowly gets to his feet, now covered in oil from the floor.
A aerial cartwheels towards him and then right side kicks him in the stomach. B flips in, vaults over A and kicks Siro�s face. Siro reels back. He upper blocks B�s right side kick but has his right ankle low kicked by A. He reels round into B�s left front kick. Siro recovers and right blocks A�s right punch but is then kicked in the face. Siro stumbles to the side and falls against the wall. B closes in on him. He right front kicks Siro in the gut and then knees him in the face.
Suddenly Taja appears and shoves an iron rod into A. He doubles over and then shatters into pottery fragments. B charges towards her and she does the same to him. With both warriors now just scraps on the floor, she drops the rod and dashes over to Siro who has collapsed on the ground.
Taja helps him to his feet. He is covered in oil and coughing, very weak.
Taja: Are you OK?
Siro: If you hadn�t come�
Taja: I heard the fight. Why the hell didn�t you call for me? (she grabs a torch off the wall)God, Siro, are you ever going to learn? Come on, let�s go, who knows what else is down here!
She is about to go through the gate but Siro grabs her.
Siro: Do you feel anything?
Taja: Yeah. Fear. Panic. Loathing.
Siro: No, I mean, in your body!
He stares at her closely.
Taja: What?
Siro: You�re the one who killed the two warriors. Did their powers go into you? Are you stronger like Kiri said?
Taja: Of course not, it was all a crock.
Siro: Those were for real. Are you sure you don�t feel anything?
Taja: Yeah, I feel weak-kneed from being stared out of mind. Now come on, let�s go.
She opens the gate and storms through it. Siro slowly follows.
Cut back to the Trading Post. Siro and Taja run up to it and try to open the door.
Taja: It�s locked.
Siro takes out his key.
Siro: Kung Lao must have gone out.
Taja: Yeah, probably to look for us.
Siro: We�re not in any shape to go looking for him.
He unlocks the door and they go in.
Back inside the Trading Post, Siro has showered and wears clean trousers. He holds his oil covered clothes in his hands. Taja leans against the wall, having a drink.
Siro: I don�t get it. Kiri knew about the place and the warriors but she was wrong about their powers being transferred to the victor.
Taja: Whole thing sounds like a set-up.
Siro: For what?
Taja: I don�t know, to have us killed?
Siro: But why?
Taja: I�m not the fortune teller, go ask Kiri.
Siro: Oh, believe me, I will.
He drops the clothes on the ground and turns to Taja, sheepishly.
Siro: Look, ...uh...do you think we can keep this whole thing to ourselves? I really don�t want to get into it with Kung Lao again.
Taja: Tell you what: I won�t say a word if you get rid of those clothes. (she holds up her hand to her nose to waft the smell away) They reek.
Siro smiles.
Siro: I�ll burn them in the morning. Let�s get some rest.
As they walk out of the courtyard, the camera pans down to the pile of clothes. In the background, we see Siro going up the stairs and Taja through another door.
Siro: Goodnight.
Taja: Goodnight.
As they leave, we see the oil mysteriously slither off the clothes and away...
Cut to outside the Trading Post.
The oil slides under the door and along the street.
Cut to outside the House of the Falcon.
The oil slithers down the alley...
Inside the House of the Falcon, Kiri lies on her front on a bed. Ankha straddles her and is massaging her shoulders and back. Kiri rests her head on a pillow.
Kiri: Mmm...you have a wonderful touch...
She opens her eyes and looks up.
Kiri: Yes! Finally...
Ankha: Is he-
Kiri: Yes. Free at last.
The puddle of oil slips into their room and coalesces into NOOB SAIBOT, a dark figure made out of solid oil. He glares at Ankha, who moves off Kiri as the seer sits up.
Kiri: Noob Saibot.
Noob: (to Ankha) Leave us!
Kiri strokes Ankha�s face.
Kiri: She stays. We have no secrets.
Noob: A new trifle of yours?
Kiri: As I said, we have no secrets
Noob: It was you that sent the two that killed the General�s guards.
Kiri: Who else?
Noob: And if Shao Kahn learns you�ve betrayed him
Kiri: But I haven�t. The Emperor has given me a task. One that we can complete together.
Noob: You still serve him even though he has banished me from Outworld and forced me to live in that black hell?
Kiri: He does not tolerate failure. Nor do I.
Noob: I have never failed you!
Kiri: On the contrary. You have served me well. (she smiles) In many ways.
Ankha: How has he served you?
Kiri strokes her cheek.
Kiri: (to Ankha) Now, now, he is an old friend who I need now. (to Noob)That is why I sent the mortals to defeat the warriors guarding you.
Noob: I have traded one prison for another. The Emperor will kill me if I try to return to my realm!
Kiri: No, earn his favour, return home a hero.
Noob: How so?
Kiri: Kill one man and Shao Kahn will be in your debt.
Noob: A mortal?
Kiri: Yes.
Noob: Done!
Kiri: Do not underestimate your challenge. Others have failed.
Noob: No human is my equal!
Kiri: Hmm...If you�ve heard any rumour...
Noob: What is his name?
Kiri: Kung Lao.
She gets up and walks towards him.
Kiri: And when he�s dead...perhaps we can all celebrate...
She smiles at Ankha who smiles back.
Cut to the Trading Post, next day. Siro enters the dining area, carrying Kung Lao�s wrapped up present, smiling. Taja is already there.
Taja: Morning.
Siro: Morning.
Taja: What�s that?
Siro unwraps it and examines the knife. He smiles.
Siro: From Kung Lao. He must slipped in during the night and left it on the table.
Taja: Peace offering.
Siro: Yeah. Have you seen him?
Taja: Courtyard. He was up at *dawn*, already working out.
She rolls her eyes as if she cannot imagine getting up at such an hour. Siro and Taja walk out over the balcony. Kung Lao stands in the courtyard, taking a drink of water. Siro takes the knife out of the parcel.
Siro: (smiling) Kung Lao! (Kung Lao turns round) Got your present!
Kung Lao: I hope it suits you.
Suddenly the puddle of oil appears and transforms into Noob Saibot, standing on a ledge by the balcony on the other side. Siro and Taja look at him in horror.
Taja: My god!
Noob: Kung Lao!
Kung Lao turns round to see Noob Saibot.
Kung Lao: Who are you?
Noob: Your executioner! The time and place of your death will be of my choosing, but know this, you will die!
With that, he liquefies himself again and disappears. Siro and Taja dash from the balcony down into the courtyard and stand beside Kung Lao. Kung Lao keeps his eyes fixed on the spot where Noob was.
Taja: What was that?
Siro: And how did he get up there?
Kung Lao: Whatever it is, we can�t let it loose in Zhu Zin.
Siro jumps up onto the ledge where Noob was. Taja turns to Kung Lao.
Taja: Kung Lao, he just said he was here to kill you!
Kung Lao: Believe me, I heard him. Did you see him from above?
Siro spots a splodge of oil that Noob has left. He touches it and then recognises it. While he rolls the oil on his fingers, Taja and Kung Lao converse.
Taja: Yeah, we saw him, but I don�t know how he got up here, he just sort of appeared. There�s something I need to tell you. Siro, I think we should let him-
They both look up to see that Siro has vanished.
Taja: Damn, not again. I think I know...
She grabs Kung Lao and drags him out of the courtyard.
Cut to the House of the Falcon. Siro storms in. Ankha sits on the sofa, wearing a towel and drying her hair.
Siro: Where is she?
Ankha: She�s just finishing her bath. (calls into the other room) Kiri, our warrior�s returned!
Kiri sashays in, wearing a towel around her. She beams at Siro and sits down beside Ankha.
Kiri: Ah, our hero! You did well, I trust.
Siro: I should kill you both.
Kiri: (innocently) Hmm...kill us? For what? I just told you your fortune. (to Ankha) Ankha, my oils.
Ankha picks up a jar.
Ankha: (to Siro) Just relax. Try a massage.
Angrily, Siro knocks the jar out of her hand. It smashes on the floor. Kiri looks at it.
Siro: (to Kiri) You, talk to me!
Kiri: Pity, they were expensive.
Siro suddenly spots something on the floor and goes over to examine it. It is another blob of Noob�s oil.
Siro: He was here.
Kiri: Who?
Siro picks up a candle.
Siro: That thing you had me free from that oily hell.
He puts the candle to the oil, causing it to go into flames. Siro glares at the two.
Siro: Don�t play with me!
Ankha: Intriguing thought - us playing together!
Kiri and Ankha giggle. Siro storms over and grabs Kiri, jerking her to her feet and holding her.
Siro: You depraved bitch! Where�s that monster?
Kiri glares at him.
Kiri: That "monster" is a warrior with skills beyond your comprehension. (she looks at him, seductively) He has come to kill Kung Lao.
Siro: No. It won�t happen. I won�t let it.
Kiri smiles.
Kiri: Better hurry then.
Siro glares at her and shoves her back onto the bed.
Kiri: Follow your destiny, Siro!
They giggle and stroke each other.
Cut to the Underworld gate. Taja leads Kung Lao towards it.
Kung Lao: A fortune teller? What has she got to do with any of this? (Taja shoves the door open) Why do you think Siro came here? Taja?
Taja: That black thing that threatened to kill you, I think is somehow connected to this Kiri woman.
Kung Lao: And-?
Taja: And if I�m right, Siro�s in trouble. We have to hurry - I�ll tell you the rest on the way.
Cut to Noob�s prison. The statue of the falcon still overlooks and guards the arena. We see Taja, holding a flaming torch, and Kung Lao dashing up to the gate. They open it and enter.
Taja: I�m betting he felt responsible for that thing that threatened you, and he took off alone to destroy it!
Kung Lao: He�ll get himself killed. Siro!
They look around frantically for him.
Taja: Come on, Siro, where are you? Siro!
Kung Lao: Siro!
Nothing.
Taja: Oh god, what if we�re too late?
Kung Lao: Take it easy, Taja, we don�t even know-
Suddenly he is interrupted by the slow emergence of Noob Saibot from the oil on the floor. Taja and Kung Lao look on, terrified. Noob coalesces into solid form and goes into a fighting stance. As Taja backs away with the torch, Kung Lao goes into a guarding position.
Kung Lao goes into a front somersault, lands on the ground, and rolls to his feet. Noob ducks down, and side kicks Kung Lao�s face. Kung Lao falls back against the wall. Kung Lao ducks under Noob�s flying spinning hooking kick, and goes into an aerial cartwheel. Noob attacks with two very low cartwheels, while Kung Lao backflips away. Kung Lao ducks under Noob�s left hooking kick, blocks his left front kick, and does a right hooking kick which Noob evades. Noob then left hook kicks Kung Lao�s face, sending him spinning, in a Hong Kong twist, to the ground.
Kung Lao gets to his feet and does two right high side kicks, which Noob left blocks. Kung Lao ducks under Noob�s right hook punch but then has his hand grabbed and his face jerked into a right slanted front kick. Noob then pushes him to the ground. Kung Lao kip ups and front handsprings to his feet. He runs past Noob, who attempts a cartwheel kick but then falls to the ground.
Kung Lao blocks Noob�s four punches but is then punched in the stomach twice. He counters with a successful right knife hand to neck and then right front kicks Noob. Noob falls down but gets to his feet. Kung Lao approaches. Noob does three right hooking kicks, but all miss Kung Lao, who counter attacks with a tornado kick. Noob stumbles back. He does a very low cartwheel to steady himself, and then ducks under Kung Lao�s left flying spinning hooking kick.
Kung Lao blocks Noob�s left punch, ducks under his right circle knife hand, and then jabs him in the stomach. Noob doubles over. Kung Lao leaps into the air, does a backwards somersault, uppercutting Noob�s chin as he flips over. Utterly exhausted, Noob sinks back into the oil. Breathless, Kung Lao looks at the oil, trying to see where Noob is. Taja holds up the torch and then suddenly sees Noob flipping to his feet behind Kung Lao.
Taja: Kung Lao!
Kung Lao whirls round and is right hook kicked by Noob, who has fully recovered all his energy from the fresh oil. Kung Lao saochis to the ground. When he gets to his feet, Noob right slanted front kicks him twice, and then left spinning hook kicks him to the ground.
Kung Lao gets to his feet and aerial cartwheels past Noob. Noob sends him back down to the ground with a flying right front kick. He gets up and does a right hooking kick which Noob evades. While Kung Lao catches his breath, Noob manipulates his oily form to turn his finger into a steel baton. He approaches Kung Lao and hits him repeatedly with it. Kung Lao tries to protect his head from the baton but is entirely at its mercy. Noob manages a successful hit to his chin, and Kung Lao falls to the floor. Taja looks anxiously at the door, as Siro enters.
Kung Lao, struggling, manages to get to his feet and do a high right side kick at Noob. Noob ignores it and carries on hitting his arms with the baton. While protecting his head, Kung Lao tries to right hook punch Noob. Noob catches his hand, places the baton under his chin, and throws him heavily over his shoulder. Kung Lao lands in a heap on the ground. Noob gets rid of the baton as Kung Lao slowly gets to his feet. While Noob approaches him, trying to right slant side kick him, Kung Lao backflips back, but is then hit by Noob�s butterfly twist. He falls to the ground again. Siro grabs a torch and lights it from the wall.
Noob cartwheels back as Kung Lao, utterly defeated, shakily gets to his feet. As he leaps towards Kung Lao, ready to finish him, Siro throws the flaming torch at him. It hits Noob in his back while he is in the air, and he falls to the ground, screaming.
Siro opens the gate and beckons frantically for the others to follow.
Siro: Come on, let�s go! Go! Go!
The three of them dash through the gate as Noob Saibot bursts into flames.
Cut to outside the Underworld gate. Finally back on the surface, Kung Lao, Siro and Taja run out of the passageway breathlessly.
Siro: What the hell were you doing down there?
Kung Lao: Us? We were looking for you!
Taja: When you disappeared, I thought for sure you had run off half-cocked again.
Siro: What? Do you think I�m nuts? Both of you guys screaming at me about my stupid pride, telling me not to be afraid to ask for help. When I realised Kiri was behind this, I went straight back to the Trading Post so the three of us could go after that think. Hey, I learned my lesson.
Taja smiles.
Kung Lao: Look, I�m sorry-
Siro puts a hand on Kung Lao�s shoulder.
Siro: Yeah. I think we both are.
Smiling, the three friends head back to the Trading Post.
Cut to the dining room in the Trading Post. Raiden sits listening to Taja and Siro�s rambling about Noob. Both Siro and Taja speak at the same time, making it nearly impossible for Raiden to understand what they�re going on about but he gets the gist.
Taja: (at the same time as Siro) I�m not quite sure what he was, if it was a guy or it was something totally different. He was just black and could disappear, and he would come up right behind you-
Siro: (at the same time as Taja) Well, you should see this guy, he was huge and he was slimy He was slimy and he had this mask that would cover his face and-
Kung Lao sits down beside Raiden.
Raiden: I know him.
Kung Lao: Wait a minute!
Kung Lao stops Taja and Siro�s rambling.
Kung Lao: Did you say you know him? You know this thing?
Raiden: His name�s Noob Saibot. He�s from a distant realm.
Taja: (sarcastically) Isn�t everyone nowadays?
Raiden: Shao Kahn banished him. Even I didn�t know he was in Earth Realm.
Siro: What is he?
Raiden: A ninja with amazing powers.
Taja: Correction - a dead ninja.
Raiden: You�re certain of that?
Taja seems slightly uncertain.
Taja: Well, he has to be. He blew up in flames. Nothing could survive that.
Raiden shrugs.
Raiden: Pray you�re right.
Cut to Noob�s prison. Mixed in with the underground cavern, we see a flashback of Kiri�s face. Then we see the statue of the falcon. From the smoke below, a puddle of oil emerges. It circles around the falcon and then slithers away...
Blackout.
End credits.