The Dragon Gate (1994) - full transcript

[gentle music]

- [Ken] Ken means the
sword, do means the way.

Ken-do, the way of the sword.

The sword is the living
soul of the warrior.

There is nothing
between heaven and earth

that a warrior need fear
with such a living soul.

[dramatic music]

[gentle music]

[men shouting]

[shouting in a foreign language]

[Sensei shouting]
Hajumae! [Begin!]



[Sensei shouting] Yamae! [Stop!]

- Ken, when you come in
like that you need to use

your hips more, not your arms.

[Ken]. Hai! [Yes!]

- You need to get in close
because in the old days

you had to get in close
so you could do like this.

You see?

- [Ken] [speaking in
a foreign language]

[dramatic music]

[Sensei shouting]
Yamae! [End Of Match!]

♪ I sit here watching
you walk out my door ♪

♪ We're going through
this one more time ♪

♪ I found I want you
more than ever before ♪

♪ But I just have no
more tears left to cry ♪



[dramatic music]
[men shouting]

[spectators cheering]

[tense music]

Hajumae! [Begin!]

[dramatic music]
[men shouting]

[shouting in a foreign language]

[dramatic music]

[speaking in a foreign language]

[gentle music]

[gentle music]

[car horn beeping]

[gentle music continues]

- Sensei, what is it I have
to do to beat this guy?

- You have to reach
deep down inside.

- How do I do that?

- You have to select a
tutor with inherent wisdom.

[dramatic music]

[shouting in a foreign language]

[men shouting]
[dramatic music]

[shouting in a foreign language]

[suspenseful music]

[gentle music]

[dramatic music]
[men shouting]

[speaking in a foreign language]

[men shouting]

[shouting in a foreign language]

[triumphant music]

- Very nice match.

- Sensei, thank you
for teaching me.

Sensei, I'm troubled
by something.

When I'm in a match I seem
to disappear into the match.

After it's over I can't
remember anything that happened.

It's as if I wasn't there.

It seems natural
but is it proper?

- That is as it should be.

That is the way.

To defeat your opponent you
must become one with them.

- Sensei, how do I cut with
the sword if I do not do it?

- The sword cuts.

- But how do I wait
for a cut to happen

if I'm no longer there?

- Practice, it will happen.

Sword, goal, ego, will
melt into another one.

Take the sword and cut.

[gentle music]

- Where are you going?

- I'm going home.

- What?

- Well, if I'm gonna be
ignored I may as well

be at my own house.

- Helen, you know I have to
be in court tomorrow at 8:30.

- I just feel like all we
ever do is go to the movies

and dinner and go to sleep.

- That's not true.

- Yeah, it is true.

- Last week you
wanted to go clubbing.

- Yeah, but you wouldn't
even dance with me.

- I'm just not a
dancing kind of guy.

- I'm not asking you
to marry me, you know.

I'm just asking you
to spend a little bit

of quality time with me.

- You know what my life is.

You know what I'm
trying to accomplish.

I'm doing the best I can.

- Well you have three
nights a week to do Kendo.

Why do you have to spend
so much time doing that?

- It's something I feel
very strongly about.

When I do Kendo I feel
alive, exhilarated.

There's something
powerful happening

and it's so
essential to my life.

I don't know, I just
have this really strong

pull to this art.

It just feels right.

It's like I'm being
trained for something.

I can feel it but I can't
tell you what it is.

- I think we've reached
the end here Ken.

I want you to just think
about what I've said

and you call me.

You know, I think
that you're making

a really terrible mistake.

- Maybe not.

- Bye.

[bell chiming]
[waves crashing]

- They say there is a
woman with golden hair.

The woman in a sheet.

I keep looking for her.

Maybe she will tell me.

- Hey Ken.

- How you doing?

- Good to see you.
- Good.

[gentle piano music]

- Thank you.

- [Ken] You okay?

- Yeah, it's just been
one of those nights.

- I hope it works out okay.

- Thanks.

- Be careful.

- Oh, careful.

- What can I get you?

- A mineral water,
ice with lemon.

- I know [indistinct] and I
also know he's gonna be back.

- Hey!

- Excuse me.

- You got one of those
bodies I'd launch

a thousand ships for.

- Please.

- Well, I guess a blow
job's out of the question?

- I guess it is.

- Honey.

I just spoke to the
sitter, the kids are fine.

We can stay another
hour, no problem.

- You're messing with my sex
life over here, all right?

- Excuse us.

- Ah, listen, I'm communicating
with this woman here.

- I think you've had enough.

[gentle piano music]

- Jack.

Jack, Jack, take it easy, man.

- I can take him on.

[indistinct]

- Of all the parties in town

and you had to
pick this one, huh?

I didn't know you were
friends with the Walshes?

- I do some litigation
work for his firm.

- You always introduce
yourself this way?

- No, I made an
exception for you.

- Pretty quick with
your hands I see.

- It's all in the eyes.

Besides, he was drunk.

- You're just saying that.

- No, it's true.

If you watch an opponent's
eyes you can see everything

he's gonna do.

- So am I one of your opponents?

- I'm not sure I know.

- Well can't you tell just
by looking in my eyes?

- They're still beautiful eyes.

- Do you wanna dance?

- You know I don't dance.

- You don't dance
or you won't dance?

Come on Ken it'll be fun.

I won't bite, I promise.

- Sorry, I just feel stupid.

- Please.

So, what's changed then, huh?

[dramatic music]

[gentle piano music]

- Thanks.

[upbeat music]

- No. No, no, no.

[Helen screaming]

[man grunting]

[man spluttering]

[Ken groaning]

[man groaning]

[dramatic music]

[gentle music]

- The sound of the drums
at The Dragon Gate echo

the impermanence of all things.

The hues of the flowers
in the tea tree declare

that those who flourished
must be brought alone.

- Who are you?

- My name is Shin'ichi.

Friend, teacher,
guide, poet, et cetera.

Are you all right?

- Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm okay.

- You're looking for something.

- Yeah.

When I was attacked I
was looking for this guy

dressed in black.

He was with a really
pretty blonde woman.

They were over there.

- I know of whom you speak.

- Where'd they go?

Was she still with him?

- Yes she's still with him.

- Damn.

Trouble with the
ladies, is that it?

- Bad judgment.

I mean if there was a room
full of a hundred women

and 99 are right for
me and one isn't,

I'll pick the wrong one.

- Ah, I see.

- Did you see them leave?

- Not long ago across
the Bridge of Lights.

- The Bridge of Lights?

- The walkway across the ave
of the stars in Century City.

I know The Shadow.

- Who is he?

- He will make a very
formidable opponent.

- Who said anything
about fighting?

- Your caution is welcome,
your wisdom refreshing.

But I am not here to teach you.

I can only show you
the way to your answer.

- What is my question?

- Prepare your soul.

I will wait for you at
the Bridge of Lights.

[dramatic music]

Let me leave you with this.

Always move toward the light.

- What?

- When you cross the
vortex you will no longer

be able to return.

- What do you mean I
won't be able to return?

- No matter what happens.

Unless and until you answer
the riddle of the 23 questions.

- What is the riddle?

- I can't tell you that.

The Cloistered Woman
can tell you the riddle

but don't let her show
you her ring of gold.

- Ring of gold.

Is this the "Legend of Zelda"?

- Pay attention.

She's treacherous.

You have to focus on your goal.

You have to concentrate
when you meet her

or else you'll lose all
the desire to complete

what it is you started out
to do in the first place.

Helen will disappear
from your memory.

The Shadow will escape.

- Okay, okay.

I think I'm getting this.

- You sure?

Good.

Lastly, let me leave you
with these words which may be

the greatest gift
of all but you have

to repeat them continuously.

They are very profound
and powerful words.

You understand?

I'll only speak them
once so pay attention.

You ready?

- Yes.

Nam

Nam

Myoho

Myoho

Renge

Renge

Kyo

Kyo

But when do I use them?

- Use your inherent wisdom.

Farewell.

- What's gonna happen?

- Just run and you'll find out.

- Run?

- Run. And something
will happen.

Run.

[tense music]

[buzzing]

[dramatic music]

- You're in good hands.

You deserve a break today.

[dramatic music]

I'd rather fight than switch.

Be all that you can be.

You got the right one baby.

[Ken screaming]

[woman screaming]

- What the hell's going on here?

[Helen screaming]

[dramatic music]

[tense music]

[man shouting]

[man groaning]

[men shouting]

[man groaning]

[man shouting]

[dramatic music]

[man shouting]

[dramatic music]

[men shouting]

[dramatic music]

[men shouting]

[dramatic music]

[gentle music]

I am seeking The Cloistered
Woman, she has a riddle for me.

23 questions.

- Shh.

[gentle music]

Please refresh yourself.

You must be hungry.

Please join me in these foods.

- I will, but first I
must lay down my soul.

[gentle music continues]

[shimmering music]

Will you join me?

- Yes, of course I will.

[water flowing]
[birds tweeting]

[upbeat music]

Dance with me?

- I don't dance.

- Oh, they say never
give a sword to a man

who doesn't dance.

Try it.

[upbeat music]

[dramatic music]

[Ken coughing]

- Kenny, I can't
move your sword.

- Well of course you
can't, it's my soul.

No one can be responsible
for someone else's soul.

[dramatic music]

[water flowing]
[birds tweeting]

- [Shin'ichi] Ken, I
warned you not to look

at her ring of gold.

If she dies the riddle
will be lost forever

and you will forget
your mission.

You will forget everything
you set out to do.

You will lose all desire
to complete your mission.

- No.

Go away, leave me alone.

- Please I've tried
everything I can.

What else can I do?

- Go away.

[gentle music]

[Shin'ichi speaking
in a foreign language]

[Ken chanting] Nam
myoho renge kyo.

- Let's see, how
shall I reward you?

- What is a riddle
of 23 questions?

- You remember by my ring.

- The illusions are
real to those who sleep.

We have awakened.

I have given you the
rarest gift of all, life.

Have you no appreciation?

- Yes, I am in your debt.

- What is the riddle?

- It's neither existing
nor nonexisting.

Without cause or condition.

Without self or others.

Neither square nor round.

Neither short nor long.

Without appearance
or disappearance.

Without birth or death.

Neither created nor emanating.

Neither made nor produced.

Neither sitting nor lying.

Neither calm nor quiet.

Without advance or retreat.

Without safety or danger.

Without merit or demerit.

[upbeat music]

- Neither walking nor stopping.

Neither moving nor rolling.

Neither calm nor quiet.

Without advance or retreat.

Ah, I see you found
the path of light.

- Was it you who
spoke the riddle?

- I might've said something,
I really can't recall.

I'm so hungry and tired.

- You've just said part of
the riddle of 23 questions.

- What are you raving about?

Nevermind. I'm really
too tired to talk.

- I can't go back until
I answered that riddle.

Do you know it?

- I'm hungry.

- If I get you some food
will you tell me the answer

to the riddle?

- Maybe.

- What kind of food do you like?

- Careful now.

What I say may
render you horrified.

- Please, just tell
me what you want

and I'll get it for you.

- I drink warm human blood.

If you can provide that I
will impart such as I know

of this riddle.

- Teach me the
answer to the riddle

and I will get
you what you want.

- Oh no, first you feed
me, then I'll talk.

Where are you gonna
find such food anyway?

- Right here, me.
I'm still warm.

Teach me the answer
to the riddle

and I'll give you my blood.

- Right?

I'll teach and
then you'll run off

and I'll still be hungry.

- I've come a great distance
to save someone I care

a great deal about.

If I cannot answer that
riddle I will not succeed

and my life will be
worthless anyway.

- Just so, just so.

The flowers or the mango tree
are many but there are few

which turn into fruit.

Many people set out
to reach their goal

but there comes a time
when they fail to make

sufficient efforts, they
get thrown off the track

as it were.

- Wait, you can't leave.

- Warrior, you're
on the right track.

You're closer than you know.

[dramatic music]

- [Ken] Helen!

Helen!

Helen!

Helen!

Helen!

Helen!

- You. You.

Yes. Yes.

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music intensifies]

[man groaning]

[tense music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[Helen sobbing]

- It's okay.

It's okay. We're safe.

We're safe, okay.

We'll be okay.

We're safe now.

[Helen sobbing]

Okay.

[whooshing]

We'll rest here for a while
and then we'll move on.

- Do you even know where we are?

- Yeah, sort of.

I mean, I know how to get home.

- How?

- Well, we cross
the Bridge of Light

and I know how to
get back there.

- What's the matter then?

- Well, I can't leave
until I answer this riddle

of 23 questions.

- But you know what
the answer is, right?

- Shh, it's nothing.

- Come on, tell me what it
is 'cause maybe I know it.

- Okay.

It's neither existing
or non-existing.

Without cause or condition.

Without self or others.

It's neither round nor square.

Neither short nor long.

Without appearance
or disappearance.

Without birth or death.

Neither emanating or created.

Neither made or produced.

- Neither calm nor quiet.

Without advance or retreat.

Without safety nor danger.

Without merit or demerit.

- It's neither blue nor yellow.

Neither red nor white.

Neither this nor that.

- Mm.

- Neither crimson nor purple.

Without variety of color.

- Mm-hmm.

[dramatic music]

- You owe me the
answer to the riddle.

You can run but you cannot hide.

- Run from what?

- The answer to the riddle.

- I'm not running from anything.

I'm still willing to
perform as we agreed.

I must know the
answer to that riddle.

- Like I say, you can
run but you cannot hide.

- Wait.

- [Helen] What is it?

- Nothing.

- Oh, will you stop
with this please

and just tell me
what is going on.

- I don't know.

I just feel like I'm being
driven towards something.

- I'm leaving.

- Helen, just be patient,
I'll get you home.

- No, that's okay Ken.

I can get myself
home, thank you.

- Helen.

[Helen screaming]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[tense music]

[dramatic music]

[tense music]

[Ken shouting]

[men shouting]
[men groaning]

[dramatic music]

[man groaning]

[Ken shouting]

[dramatic music]

[man groaning]

[dramatic music]

[men shouting]

[dramatic music]

[man shouting]

[tense music]

[man shouting]

[man groaning]

- Ken!

[tense music]

[dramatic music]

[man shouting]

[dramatic music]

[Ken shouting]

[dramatic music]

[Ken groaning]

[dramatic music]

[men shouting]

[Helen screaming]

[men shouting]

[tense music]

[Ken groaning]

[Helen screaming]

[man laughing]

[Helen sobbing]

[Ken groaning]

[Helen sobbing]

[man laughing]
[Ken groaning]

[Helen screaming]

[tense music]

[Helen screaming]

[Ken groaning]

[Helen screaming]

[Ken groaning]

[Helen screaming]

- No!

[Helen screaming]

- I don't. Why her?

Why are you doing this?

[tense music]

[Helen screaming]

[tense music]

[Helen screaming]

[bones cracking]

No!

[men laughing]

[dramatic music]

[wind whistling]

[dramatic music]

[man groaning]

[somber music]

[dramatic music]

[wind whistling]

[haunting music]

[Ken chanting] Nam
myoho renge kyo.

[triumphant music]

[Ken chanting in a
foreign language]

- [Shin'ichi] Be holding
the thus come one

[speaking in a foreign language]
sitting in the lions seat.

The assembly of heavenly
gods, dragon kings, asuras

and others constantly
reign down upon him

with beautiful white
Mandara blossoms.

As all of us offer to that
[speaking in a foreign language]

who healed his wounds and at
last he was able to attain

the highest way.

[uplifting music]

[Ken chanting in a
foreign language]

[gentle music]

- Let it to be known that
the soul is for the purpose

of punishing evil.

In the hands of a coward
nothing will be accomplished.

[gentle music]

[wind howling]

[dramatic music]

[gentle music]

[uplifting music]

[gentle music]

[dramatic music]

[gentle music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music intensifies]

[Ken shouting]

[dramatic music continues]

[Ken shouting]

[dramatic music intensifies]

[gentle music]

[Ken shouting]

[dramatic music]

[Ken shouting]

[tense music]

[tense music intensifies]

[dramatic music]

[men groaning]

[tense music]

[Ken shouting]

[tense music]

[Ken shouting]

[Ken groaning]

[dramatic music]

[men shouting]

[assassin groaning]

[dramatic music]

[Ken shouting]

[dramatic music]

[assassin shouting]

[Ken shouting]

[dramatic music]

- When the student is ready,
the teacher shall appear.

Please forgive me
for deceiving you.

I disguised myself
to test your spirit.

Plus, it is not so bad
being a wolf in this place.

What is the nature
of these tears?

- They're tears of joy.

It's as if my life
is now a golden one.

Me. It's me.

That's the answer to the riddle.

Me.

My life is neither
existing nor non-existing.

Neither round nor square.

Neither short nor long.

Without appearance
or disappearance.

I feel free.

I am free.

It's as if everything
is so clear.

I'm in the mind of creation.

I know everything.

- Those who realize that all
phenomena in the physical

universe are manifestations
of enlightenment have no need

for good friends
to instruct them.

One thinks exactly as the
enlightened one thinks,

does exactly as he does,
speaks as he speaks,

acts as he acts.

Such a person is free of
offenses and hindrances

and enjoys complete freedom.

Ha.

Will you stay here or return?

- I have to go back.

- But you could stay here

and enjoy your
enlightenment for eternity.

- But that's not
the Warrior's way.

If I don't return then
everything I've learned

will be wasted.

- Thus it is so.

[gentle music]

Those who visit this place
can instantly rid themselves

of the sins they have committed
since the infinite past

and transform their illusions
into wisdom, their error

into truth and their
suffering into freedom.

In China there is a waterfall
called The Dragon Gate.

Its waters plunge a hundred
feet, swifter than an arrow shot

by a strong archer.

It is said that thousands of
carp gather in the basin below

hoping to climb the falls
and that any which succeeds

will turn into a dragon.

However, not a single carp
out of a hundred, a thousand

or even 10,000 can climb
the falls not even after

10 or 20 years.

Some are swept away by the
strong currents, some fall prey

to eagles, hawks, kites and
owls, and others are netted,

scooped up or even shot with
arrows by fishermen who line

either bank of the wide falls.

Such is the difficulty a carp
faces in becoming a dragon.

Life is just like the waterfall,
it's always a struggle

and if you don't keep
fighting you get dragged away

by the currents or
caught by the fishermen.

Each of us has a
mission to attain

enlightenment or happiness.

The eagles, hawks, owls
and fishermen represent

the diluted desires, greeds
and demons of our own creation

that test and tempt us off
the track to our happiness.

Death is inevitable
but one's happiness

and enlightenment are eternal.

There are no accidents in
life, everything happens

for a reason.

Every event is a
gift to teach us

and it is with
that understanding

that we must live our lives.

- Hey Ken.

- How you doing?

- Good to see you buddy.

- Having a good time?

- Oh, a great time.

If you're looking for
Helen she's inside.

- Oh really?

- Enjoy.
- Okay.

[upbeat music]

Hi.

- Hi.

- Shall we dance?

- You're sure?

- I'm sure.

- Okay. Let's dance.

[upbeat music continues]

[gentle music]

- I am the warrior.

I am the [speaking in
a foreign language].

Lifetime after lifetime.

I have always been the [speaking
in a foreign language].

I am ever vigilant.

I have climbed The Dragon Gate.

[gentle music continues]

[tense music]