Bill casts a glance at the stone steps he just decended.
BILL:
Just seeing those steps again makes me ache. You're gonna have plenty of fun carrying buckets of water up and down that f***er.
THE BRIDE:
Why did he accept me?
BILL:
Because he's a very very very old man. And like all rotten bastards, when they get old, they become lonely. Not that that has any effect on their disposition. But they do learn the value of company.
THE BRIDE:
When will I see you again?
BILL:
That's the title of my favorite soul song of the Seventies.
THE BRIDE:
What?
BILL:
Nothing. When he tells me you're done.
THE BRIDE:
When do you think that might be?
BILL:
That my dearest, all depends on you. Now remember, no backtalk, no sarcasm.
Least not for the first year.
You're going to have to let him warm up for you. He hates Caucasians, despises Americans, and has nothing but contempt for women, so in your case, that may take a little while. Adios.
ZOOM... The jeep speeds off down the road...leaving the Bride all alone, somewhere in the middle of China.
She begins the journey before her by ascending the 100 steps to Pai Mei.
INT. THE WHITE LOTUS TEMPLE The huge temple is exactly like it must have been a hundred years ago, except now it's empty and dusty.
The Bride enters, She's winded from climbing up those f***in steps.
THE BRIDE:
(yelling) Hello! Her Voice ECHOES in the cavernous temple.
PAI MEI's VOICE ECHOES back; PAI MEI'S VOICE(O.S.) Up the stairs, yankee woman! A beautiful(but dusty) Mahagony staircase leads to Pai Mei's private chamber.
THE BRIDE:
(to herself) More stairs, Jesus Christ.
The still unseen Man's voice BOOMS back; PAI MEI'S VOICE(O.S.) If it is Christ you seek, turn back now.
She climbs the wooden staircase.
INT. PAI MEI'S PRIVATE CHAMBER
PAI MEI'S POV:
We see through Pei Mei's pupils, through a sheer scarlet scrim that hangs down in front of his sitting area. The Bride enters the room.