Wu Han’s Sacrifice and Indy’s Blood Oath: The Ballroom’s Crucible of Vengeance
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Indy presents Nurhachi's ashes, but Willie spills some, enraging Lao; Wu Han, Indy's ally, appears and holds Lao at gunpoint, turning the tables and demanding the antidote.
Lao's son fatally shoots Wu Han, and as Wu Han dies, Indy vows revenge, only to face Lao's taunts and the effects of the poison.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Frightened but opportunistic—her survival instincts override any loyalty, and she seizes the chance to escape with the antidote and diamond, leaving Indy to his fate.
Willie Scott, initially oblivious to the tension, becomes a pawn in the negotiation when Indy threatens her with a knife. She seizes the antidote vial during the chaos, slipping it down her dress and fleeing the ballroom, prioritizing her own survival and the diamond over Indy’s desperate need for the antidote. Her actions reflect her opportunistic nature and self-preservation instincts.
- • Secure the diamond and antidote for herself
- • Escape the violent chaos unharmed
- • Indy is too distracted to stop her
- • The antidote is more valuable than helping him
Resigned and peaceful in death, yet determined to help Indy until his last breath—his loyalty is unwavering, even in the face of betrayal.
Wu Han, disguised as a waiter, intervenes by holding Lao Che at gunpoint to force the release of the antidote. He is fatally shot in the back by Chen and dies in Indy’s arms, delivering his final words—‘I go first, Indy’—before succumbing to his wounds. His death marks a turning point, igniting Indy’s vengeance and shifting the narrative from negotiation to all-out war.
- • Force Lao Che to release the antidote
- • Protect Indiana Jones at all costs
- • Indy’s life is worth sacrificing for
- • Lao Che must be stopped
Initially triumphant and sadistic, then horrified and in agony as the flaming skewer impales him—his death is a turning point, fueling Indy’s rage.
Chen, Lao Che’s sadistic son, fatally shoots Wu Han in the back with a silenced pistol, then grins perversely as Indy is consumed by grief. His gloating is short-lived, however, as Indy grabs a flaming skewer and hurls it across the table, impaling Chen and setting him ablaze. Chen’s death is brutal and symbolic, marking the beginning of Indy’s vengeful rampage.
- • Obey Lao Che’s orders without question
- • Humiliate and kill Wu Han
- • Indy is weakened and can be killed easily
- • Wu Han’s death will break Indy
Cold, triumphant, and slightly unnerved as Indy’s retaliation disrupts his carefully laid plans—his arrogance is tested by the chaos he helped unleash.
Lao Che, smug and calculating, orchestrates the poisoning of Indiana Jones and orders Chen to assassinate Wu Han. He revels in Indy’s desperation, refusing to hand over the antidote until the ashes of Nurhachi are surrendered. As the chaos unfolds, he watches with cold amusement, but his control slips as Indy’s retaliation escalates, forcing him to flee the ballroom.
- • Acquire the ashes of Nurhachi at any cost
- • Humiliate and destroy Indiana Jones
- • Indy is weakened and can be broken
- • Wu Han’s death will demoralize Indy further
A storm of grief, rage, and desperation—his humanity fractured by Wu Han’s death and the poison’s agony, yet his survival instincts and combat skills remain razor-sharp.
Indiana Jones, poisoned and grieving, is consumed by rage after Wu Han’s murder. He grabs a flaming skewer of roasted pigeons and hurls it across the table, impaling Chen and setting him ablaze. Indy then somersaults Kao Kan onto the table, retrieves the antidote vial, and engages in a desperate brawl to reclaim it from Willie Scott, who seizes it for herself. His actions are driven by a mix of grief, vengeance, and survival instinct, as the poison weakens him and the chaos escalates.
- • Retrieve the antidote to survive the poison
- • Avenge Wu Han’s death by destroying Chen and disrupting Lao Che’s operation
- • Wu Han’s death demands retribution
- • The antidote is his only chance to survive and continue the fight
Focused and aggressive—his actions are driven by loyalty to Lao Che and a desire to suppress Indy’s resistance.
Kao Kan, Lao Che’s second son, draws a pistol on Indy during negotiations and later engages in the brawl, attacking Indy and contributing to the chaos. He is somersaulted onto the table by Indy, scattering the ashes of Nurhachi and escalating the violence. His actions reflect his loyalty to Lao Che and his willingness to use brute force to achieve his father’s goals.
- • Protect Lao Che and his interests
- • Subdue Indiana Jones
- • Indy is a threat that must be eliminated
- • Lao Che’s authority must be upheld at all costs
Focused and aggressive—driven by loyalty to Lao Che and a desire to eliminate Indy’s threat.
Lao Che’s men, initially tense and watchful, escalate into violent action as the chaos unfolds. They open fire on Indy, contributing to the ballroom’s descent into pandemonium. Their actions reflect their loyalty to Lao Che and their willingness to use brute force to suppress resistance. One stomps on Indy’s hand, causing him to lose the antidote vial, while others shoot at him as he takes cover behind the fountain.
- • Protect Lao Che and his interests
- • Subdue Indiana Jones
- • Indy is a threat that must be eliminated
- • Lao Che’s authority must be upheld at all costs
Shocked and confused—he is merely a bystander whose prop becomes a weapon in Indy’s hands.
The real waiter, holding a flaming skewer of roasted pigeons, is grabbed by Indy and used as an improvised weapon. The skewer is hurled across the table, impaling Chen and setting him ablaze. The waiter is caught off-guard, his role in the chaos unintentional but pivotal—his flaming dish becomes the instrument of Chen’s death.
- • Serve the guests (original intent)
- • Survive the sudden violence
- • This is just another night at work
- • The skewer is for serving, not fighting
The cigarette girl, who earlier lit Indy’s cigarette, is a peripheral witness to the unfolding chaos. She is not directly …
The muscular slave, who earlier struck the gong, is a symbolic figure in the ballroom’s opulence. During the chaos, he …
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The **champagne glass with poison residue** is the vehicle of Lao Che’s betrayal. Indy drinks from it, unknowingly ingesting the poison, which Lao reveals with sadistic glee. The glass’s residue—visible at the bottom—confirms the poisoning, and Indy’s subsequent symptoms (sweating, trembling) drive the urgency of the scene. The glass becomes a symbol of deception and the fragility of trust in the negotiation.
The **antidote vial**, a small glass container of liquid, is the object of Indy’s desperate struggle. Lao Che uses it as leverage, refusing to hand it over until Indy surrenders the ashes of Nurhachi. When Wu Han is shot, Indy reaches for the vial, but it rolls across the table and is kicked around in the chaos. Willie Scott eventually grabs it and hides it in her dress, denying Indy his only chance at survival. The vial’s loss symbolizes the fracturing of trust and the escalation of the conflict into all-out war.
The **sacred box containing Nurhachi’s ashes** is the MacGuffin driving the negotiation. Indy presents it as payment for the antidote, but when Willie Scott jostles the table, some ashes spill out, enraging Lao Che. The box’s desecration escalates the tension, and when Kao Kan is somersaulted onto the table, the ashes billow into Lao’s face, adding to the chaos. The box’s contents symbolize the cultural and historical stakes of the confrontation, while its physical disruption mirrors the unraveling of the negotiation.
Chen’s **silver-plated silenced pistol** is the weapon that fatally shoots Wu Han. The gun’s suppressed shot allows Chen to assassinate Wu Han without drawing immediate attention, adding to the betrayal’s stealth and brutality. The pistol’s use marks the moment when the negotiation collapses into violence, and its silencer underscores the cold, calculated nature of Lao Che’s crime syndicate.
The **flaming skewer of roasted pigeons**, held by a real waiter, becomes the instrument of Chen’s death. Indy grabs the skewer mid-flambé, hurls it across the table, and impales Chen, setting him ablaze. The skewer’s flames symbolize Indy’s vengeful fury, turning a mundane serving dish into a weapon of retribution. Its flaming state amplifies the brutality of the moment, marking a turning point in the confrontation.
Indy’s **knife** is initially used as a threat against Willie Scott, pressing it against her ribs to force Lao Che’s compliance. Later, Indy jabs it into the table in a defiant gesture, but it is quickly overshadowed by the escalating violence. The knife represents Indy’s desperation and willingness to use force, though its role is brief compared to the chaos that follows.
The **serving cart** becomes Indy’s improvised vehicle and weapon. After grabbing it, he rides it into an unsuspecting gunman, sending him flying into a row of ice buckets. The cart’s wheeled mobility allows Indy to navigate the chaotic ballroom, dodge bullets, and pursue the antidote. Its use underscores Indy’s resourcefulness and the desperation of the moment, turning a mundane object into a tool of survival.
The **golden broadsword from the Chinese warrior statue** is Indy’s final improvised weapon. After diving behind the fountain and taking cover, he leaps onto the stage, grabs the sword, and uses it to defend himself against Lao Che’s gunmen. The sword’s golden sheen contrasts with the brutality of the fight, symbolizing Indy’s adaptation to the ballroom’s opulent yet deadly environment. Its use marks the climax of his retaliatory rampage.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The **ballroom** is the primary battleground for this event, transforming from a place of opulent negotiation to one of violent chaos. Initially, it is filled with smoke, champagne, and caviar, where Lao Che and Indy engage in a tense standoff. As the confrontation escalates, the ballroom becomes a warzone—gunfire, flaming skewers, and fleeing patrons create a cacophony of destruction. The ballroom’s grandeur contrasts sharply with the brutality of the action, symbolizing the collision of civilization and savagery.
The **ballroom dance floor** becomes a chaotic battleground as the confrontation escalates. The marble floor is slippery from spilled ice and champagne, making it difficult to move quickly. Willie Scott chases the diamond across it, while Indy scrambles to retrieve the antidote vial. The floor’s slick surface adds to the chaos, as characters slip and struggle to maintain their footing amid the gunfire and fleeing patrons.
The **negotiation table** is the epicenter of the confrontation, where Indy, Lao Che, Willie Scott, and Wu Han initially gather. It is piled with cash, jewels, the antidote vial, the box of ashes, and the poison. As the chaos unfolds, the table becomes a battleground—Kao Kan is somersaulted onto it, scattering the ashes, and Indy dives across it to retrieve the antidote. The table’s surface is marked by spilled champagne, ashes, and the residue of the poison, symbolizing the collapse of the negotiation and the escalation into violence.
The **ballroom fountain** serves as Indy’s makeshift shield during the gunfight. As Lao Che’s men open fire, Indy dives behind the fountain, using its stone basin to block bullets. The fountain’s water jets add to the chaos, splashing as bullets strike nearby. Its practical role is to provide cover, while its symbolic significance lies in the contrast between its elegant design and the brutal violence unfolding around it.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Lao Che’s **Crime Syndicate** is the antagonistic force driving the confrontation. Through Lao Che, Chen, and Kao Kan, the syndicate demonstrates its ruthlessness—poisoning Indy, assassinating Wu Han, and engaging in a violent brawl to suppress resistance. The syndicate’s actions reflect its willingness to use extreme measures to achieve its goals, including the acquisition of the ashes of Nurhachi and the elimination of perceived threats like Indy. The chaos in the ballroom underscores the syndicate’s power and the consequences of crossing them.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Indy is poisoned by Lao Che, leading to the chaotic rooftop escape as he seeks the antidote."
Key Dialogue
"{speaker: WU HAN, dialogue: Not this time, my friend... I followed you on many adventures—but into the great Unknown Mystery, I go first, Indy...}"
"{speaker: LAO CHE, dialogue: Don’t be sad, Dr. Jones—you will soon join him.}"
"{speaker: INDIANA JONES, dialogue: If I wasn’t dying, I’d kill her...}"