1 CLOUDS AND WATER A Martial Arts Screenplay By Ivan Mayne Everything is defined by a change of state . EXT . FOREST PATH DAY The setting is 18th Century China . We see as a pair of feet enter the frame . These are battered and scarred feet, tied up with bandages at various points . Slowly it is revealed that these feet are that of an equally tattered and scarred figure . He is a man, around 40 - 50, tall and ragged, obviously a man who has been through a lot in life, battered by the winds of change and chance . His face, though, is admittedly handsome, and despite the number of scars that are on it and the amount of unshaven beard stubble that lies on it . We see that around his waist he proudly carries a sword, and in one hand he is holding a pipe, which he regularly holds up to his mouth and smokes . The forest path is in the early stages of spring and the flowers are in full bloom . The man puts the pipe to his mouth and takes a long draw on it . Then he looks forward into the distance . He is hesitant to go forth at this point, and we do not know for what reason . A soft wisp of smoke emerges from his mouth . In his eyes there is a faraway look . We see as he twirls his pipe between his fingers with incredible dexterity . Then we hear a voice calling out to him, it is that of a young girl . VOICE Master, wait up for me! The man turns around, and we see that there is a young girl following him . This is a wide - eyed and innocent - looking young girl, she is strangely, for a servant girl, much less torn and tattered looking than her master, who seems to do so willingly . She also carries a sword with her . The man takes another draw on his pipe .