"Secret Asian Man" is a crack ROK special forces operative who was hand-picked and trained by an ultra-secret black-ops group to conduct behind-enemy-lines suicide missions that the general public never hears about nor can ever even imagine.

His name is Kim, captain, a simple soldier with Korean traditional Confusian values. The only child of an orphaned Korean War refugee, both his parents are deceased. He was raised with the hope that someday the two Koreas and their families can reunite. Until then, however, vigilance is vital. Aside from his father's vague recollection of a cousin he once played with as a child in a tiny fishing village in the northwest region of the peninsula, he has no family. The army was his family.

Kim's mentor, General Han, commands the black ops unit and answers directly to the ambitious head of the national defense, Secretary Lee, slated to be the next president, ruthlessly ambitious, backed by special interests who covet North Korea and its considerable commercial potential.

Lee and his group heavily fund U.S. Senator Helen Roman's presidential bid. Roman's sexless, bland personage and an uncanny ability to adapt to shifting political winds are the winning formula and becomes the first woman President of the United States of America. The new Madame President is grateful to the Korean contributors and never fails to pay her debts. She meets with her Security Council and gives the green light to topple the North Korean ruling class...

Opening scene:

Extreme slow fade from black. Dim flickering lights become gradually brighter to show moonlight reflecting off the blue black water as a C-17 Globemaster III air transport skims over the Sea of Japan, due west.

Amid the din of the turbine engines, Kim blips open his ruggedized laptop to go over the mission one final time as Captain Park, Kim's alternate, looks on. A metallic voice describes in detail various arms and equipment as rapid images flash across the LCD screen. Cut to CG animation, a commando ankle-tethered to a pack, parachute into the darkness. A rubber life raft inflates with gear intact upon impact, followed by streams of maps, photos, charts, etc. Kim has mixed feelings about the mission. A US-ROK joint operation but not well coordinated with last minute changes. Something not right about the mission but Kim dismisses it.

Cut to two men in large conference room (long shot): Overhead lights carve deep shadows into their weathered faces. They speak in low tones but General Han is visibly upset, "...but he's my best man! He's a son to--"

"Look, I don't have to tell you; there are powerful forces at work here. Nothing, nothing will stop it now."

"We're fabricating the whole goddam intelligence so why not his... sacrifice?"

Cut to CU of Lee's hands as he pulls out a pack of cigarette, offers one, takes one, and lights both. Drags & exhales slowly, "That would be lying...(smirk). Besides, people love dead heroes and who're we to deny..."

Cut to air transport:

Drop zone is dead ahead and Kim is preparing his parachute. Stealthily, a hand wielding a commando knife rips into the combat-packed raft with Kim's essential gear.

Good to go, Kim shuffles to the rear of the C-17 as Park tethered to a line pulls the pack to the edge of the aircraft. He attaches one end of a bungie chord to the pack and the other around Kim's ankles. Kim sees Park crack a smile as mouths "Ready" but releases the pack into the blackness before Kim can respond. WIthout hesitation, Kim jumps head first (sound: Kim's deep breaths, wind as he free falls, chute snaps open, etc). The pack tugs at his ankle as he flips his night vision device to survey the seascape below his feet. He watches his pack plunge into the frigid water. Kim soon follow, escapes his harness, but sees white spray spewing out as the raft inflates. Everything begins to submerge. Kim tries to salvage but cuts the chord. Bobbing back up to the surface, he calmly activates the abort transmission device attached to his webbing.

Cut to secret sub monitoring the mission:

The Petty Officer manning the mission console sees the red abort light blink and as he turns to report, a hand reaches over to shut it off. The hand is attached to his commanding offer. With mouth still open, the PO stares blankly at the CO.

Cut to Kim. On his back conserving energy. The salty water is gently lapping against his face as Kim ponders the billions of stars sparkling in the black sky. Moonless night. Dead calm. Believing that the rescue sub will surface any minute now. (Fades, dissolves to signify passage of time). Then, the first twilight. Kim begins to realized something is very wrong. Trying to relax, he begins to sing a popular song he liked as a youth. As the camera zooms out, the first light of dawn reveals the ocean's vast horizon.

Not feeling the cold anymore, he wants to sleep. Kim is startled by something hard, rock-like, brush by. It's a giant tortoise. He latches on and as luck would have it, heading west toward land.

(Option #1 opening credit with "Secret Agent Man" music)

It was a set-up from the beginning. False but plausible intelligence regarding the North's WMD capabilities were manufactured to sway world opinion in support of direct military action. But they need something more... something personal that could rally the troops and hit home with the unsuspecting populace. They decide they need to personalize the matter with a sacrificial lamb. Kim is chosen for the job.

The scheme works like a charm. The fabricated evidence is presented to the UN and the hero angle is played up to the hilt. The media portrays Kim as the brave hero who gave his life to secure the irrefutable intelligence. The public eats it up. Millions watch on a wreath is laid on Kim's posthumous headstone.

Chairman So, the dictator, is checkmated. Self-preservation forces him to accept the surrender package, whereby he and 3,000 of his closest cronies and immediate family members are relocated to a remote island off Baluchistan, afforded with modern buildings and conveniences, thanks to the generosity of the American taxpayer. Costly, yes, but cheaper than a foolhardy invasion and occupation vis-a-vis Iraq. He is also allowed to retain his extensive secret bank accounts, certain illicit transactions (provided they don't conflict with the established order), and limited travel depending on his behavior.

Kim washes ashore on a remote beach. He crawls and finds a rocky refuge and takes stock - Glock, 2 mags, assault knife, wrist GPS. Everything was on the sunken raft. Now what? Exhausted, and with warm sunshine beading down, he passes out.

How long have I been out, Kim wonders? Then, he realizes something woke him up. He lifts his head and there, a young girl is singing and dancing on the beach. She stops to pick up a driftwood and scrawls something on the sand. But the next wave washes away what was there at which she laughs in delight and resumes her song and dance. Kim is captivated. Just then, he sneezes and gives himself away.

The startled girl freezes in her tracks and furtively scans her surroundings.

Seeing her apprehension, he slowly gets to his knees and decides to call out,

"Hello there."

He offers a hand towards her.

"Don't be afraid. I'm a friend. My name is Kim. What's yours?"

The young girl remains suspicious but stays put while her mind races,

"Who is he? How long has he been there? His accent is so strange..."

Kim takes a couple of steps forward, brushing himself,

"I... I think I'm lost. Can you help me?"

Still, she cannot find her voice and can't seem to move, paralyzed. Should she run and yell for help? Who is this stranger with his funny accent? He has a pleasant face and a pleasing smile, a soothing voice, but...

"I won't hurt you. I'm just lost and trying to find my way. My name is Kim and what's yours? Are you from here? That was a dumb question..."

Finally, she finds her voice, "My name is Hae Ja, and I am from a village just over those dunes."

"Oh, so nice to meet you. What is the name of your village?"

"It's called Moon Chun."

Kim recalls details of his mission, Moon Chun... Moon Chun... jees, he should be 30 kilometers up the beach. Obviously, this mission is over, he thinks. Head south and report back, although... close visual observation of the target may be of value. But how? He plops down on the sand as he figures out his next move, the girl momentarily forgotten.

Hae Ja slowly sits as well, maintaining a safe distance.

Kim continues to analyze the situation in his mind but is interrupted.

"What? Oh... yes. I am from the south."

That was a mistake; she may be a hostile.

Seeming to read his mind, she says,

"You're in danger; there're spies everywhere. You should hide. I know a cave just around those rocks and you'll be safe there. Come. Come with me."

Hae Ja quickly gets up and runs toward the rocks. Kim thinks for a second and follows her.

"You'll be safe here. No one knows about this place except my brother and I."

"Where is your brother?"

"He was conscripted into the army. I haven't seen him in months. As soon as he returns, we're planning to run away. See? We've been saving supplies for our journey south."

"You are a brave girl. What about your parents?"

Hae Ja bows her head and says softly,

"They both passed away, a few years ago."

It's getting late. All the villagers think she's quirky by their standards, but people are naturally suspicious and she's been gone too long. She promises to return with provisions.

Following morning, she brings him what meager food she could. While he eats, Hae Ja asks many questions about the outside world. Her eyes shine as Kim clumsily tries to satisfy her insatiable curiosity.

Kim is determined to salvage what he can of the mission. His main concern is that she may be caught and tortured. He figures that Hae Ja is already in danger for hiding him, so he decides to further enlist her help. He tells her what he remembers about the terrain of the target site from the mission briefing.

Hae Ja knows exactly the area he's describing because everyone is forced to work there on a rotational basis, including her, and draws him a crude map. Kim will jump off tonight and if everything goes well, he should be back before dawn. As she leaves, they promise to meet at their hideaway cave in the morning.

A suspicious villager, curious about her frequent comings and goings, followed her to the beach and hides behind a sand dune. He spies Kim wave to Hae Ja from the cave as she heads back to her village. The village spy quickly reports back to his superiors. Rather than arresting her right away, they decide to bide their time.

The map Hae Ja drew was very accurate and he has no trouble locating the suspected WMD site - about ten kilometers west of Moon Chun. He scales the outer perimeter wall and is surprised to find the facility lightly guarded. Once atop the roof of the main building, he slips through a skylight and observes all the activities. Soon he realizes that this is no WMD manufacturing facility but a pachinko factory. He decides to return to HQ as soon as possible with this vital information.

Kim makes it back to the rocky hideaway without detection. He dozes at the mouth of the cave as he waits for Hae Ja for a final rendezvous. At dawn, armed with AK-47's and with high hopes of catching a traitor along with a southern spy, the village militia follow Hae Ja but give themselves away. She panics and breaks into a run.

Something wakes him, and lifting his head, Kim sees Hae Ja running towards her waving her arms. He is happy to see her and, with a broad smile, waves back.

(This is a crucial scene; slow motion, sound delay)

She runs towards him (slow motion).

Hae Ja calls out (mouthing the word),

"O PA!" (Trans: "Brother!")

(Sound)

From the rear, a bullet penetrates Hae Ja's heart.

(Sound of rifle crack, followed by the bullet impacting and exiting her body)

Hae Ja's body crumples as momentum carries her forward, and lands face down. (Montage)

(This is the only death scene in the film.)

Kim escapes and reaches the DMZ. He surrenders without incident. Under questioning, without revealing his identity or mission, he strongly advises his interrogators to contact Gen. Han with the password, "Baengma-goji."

Although still pissed about losing his best man (a son, really), Gen. Han is amazed how well the plan is working. Maybe Kim's sacrifice was of value, after all. An aide knocks twice, enters and hands Han a piece of paper, Sir, this just in."

Han is flabbergasted. It's not possible that Kim is still alive. Now, I'm really in a world of hurt, he thinks. What to do? After much internal anguish, Han turns against his better judgment and chooses to save Kim's life.

Kim is lead to the secret debriefing room where Han is smoking a cigarette in a corner, his upper body in shadows. Kim is appraised of the situation. Han, in a matter-of-fact tone, offers him 2 options:

1. Han personally shoots him and his body scattered near the DMZ or

2. Kim gets a second chance in life with a new identity and loses himself among the twelve million souls in the city of Seoul.

(Three years later)

U.S. President Rodman's popularity ratings are at a record high, Lee is a shoe-in to the top political office and Han retires from the military to become CEO of a multinational conglomerate with an extensive portfolio. Kim is a janitor/handyman in a Gold Gym and lives in the basement boiler room. His only pleasure in life is working out when the gym empties. With no friends or family, he leads a hermitic life. Although he never watches TV, listen to radio or read the newspapers, he can't escape the latest media hysteria:

"MISSING STAR: DAY 14", "A NATION IN AGONY" etc.

Apparently, some bad guys abducted the beloved national treasure, Pam Pack -film celebrity, popular singer and dancer. Recently, she took up altruistic causes to boost her fledging image. While she's posing next to a wretched poor's death bed in a Sudanese refugee camp, kidnappers disguised as a TV camera crew abduct her. It happens with military precision, and the video of the operation is played over and over. The authorities have no leads and the culprits do not make ransom demands nor any type of claims.

Kim is taking a cigarette break in the parking lot behind the gym when a stranger walks by and whispers something as he passes. A signal. The man waits nonchalantly at the end of the street. Kim is hesitant but years of training takes over and he follows the messenger. He is lead to a Starbucks down the next block. Sitting in a dark corner is none other than Gen. Han. Kim almost didn't recognize his former commander in the chic civies.

"This soy latte, is wonderful! Want one?"

"No, thank you, General."

"I've retired. How do I look?"

"Prosperous, sir."

(TV)

"THEORIES AND WILD SPECULATION ABOUND AS TO WHAT HAS BEFALLEN TO OUR BELOVED NATIONAL TREASURE, PAM PACK. AFTER TWO WEEKS, AUTHORITIES STILL HAVE NO CLUE. ONE CAN ONLY SPECULATE AS TO HER FATE, AND HERE WITH US TODAY, TO DISCUSS THE LATEST..."

"Say, how 'bout this missing movie star thing? What a fucking frenzy... " "What's this all about, General?" Well, I've been thinking about you a lot lately. Just wanted to see you and, see how you're doing?"

"Fine, sir. It's good of you to ask. Was that all, sir?"

Han takes a couple of sips, and finally, speaks up.

"Understand, I'm no longer active... but listen, I've been approached by the highest level to put a team together for a special mission. Interested?"

"Sir, with all due respects, I'm not sure if I can handle any more acts of generosity after that last offer, General. So, thank you, sir, but no thank you."

Feeling somewhat vindicated, Kim turns to leave. Han heads him off.

"E-ey, son, com'on now. I can see you're still bitter but if you're gonna' dwell in the past, why not think of the key role you played in reuniting our country? And imagine the utter joy you brought to all the families. Now, that alone is worth sacrificing one's life, is it not? In your case, you got a second chance. Granted, it wasn't much of a choice but circumstances at that time dictated it... (pause) However, circumstances change and we have a situation here. I mean to exploit that situation to its maximum extent, understand? And, I'm asking YOU for a second chance. How 'bout it?"

Last update : 26-APR-06

STILL TO COME:

Turns out that Pam Pack is Lee's mistress and he can't live without her. All indicators point to Mr. So, the ex-dictator, as the culprit. Americans think it's silly and don't want to get dirty and refuses any involvement. Besides, Rodman's ratings are at its peak and they don't want anything to jeopardize her reelection chances. As a last resort, Lee turns to Han for help.

Kim accepts the mission. He travels to Acachon (southern France) where he's trained by a beautiful French DCISS agent, Chantall, in the art of Texas Hold'em for a huge poker tournament in Monte Carlo. Those who make the final table will then play for $25 million winner-take-all at the ex-despot's island. Mr. So loves Texas Hold'em and paid plenty to have the poker legends - Brunson, Lederer, Ivey, Chan, etc.- play the final table for the world's biggest poker stakes ever.