Kubo and the Two Strings Page #11

MONKEY (CONT’D)

This conversation is over. Monkeys

don’t swim.

BEETLE:

(grinning)

Not to worry. Monkey see, monkey

do!

Monkey GROWLS, shaking her head.

MONKEY:

How long have you been waiting to

say that?

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BEETLE (ALT)

Ever since I met you. What were we

‘grown-up conversation’-ing about?

MONKEY:

You’re ridiculous, you’re just

absolutely ridiculous. Ridiculous!

Crossing the lake is a ridiculous

idea. It’s not your fault...

there’s no sense left in your head.

BEETLE:

(frowns)

I think I resent that.

(an afterthought)

And I may not know everything...

MONKEY:

Anything.

BEETLE:

Anything. But I do know Kubo is

more capable than you think he is!

You’re being a tiny bit

overprotective here.

MONKEY:

I’m being a lot overprotective

here. It’s my job to make sure Kubo

is safe. And that...

(points to the lake)

...is not safe. You...

(points at Beetle)

... are not safe!

Bigger pieces of debris are shifting now. Hunks of rotten

driftwood and uprooted bushes. They float and twist behind

Monkey’s back toward Kubo as he continues playing.

MONKEY (CONT’D)

Kubo is just a child!

BEETLE:

And an incredibly gifted one! He

just saved our lives!

MONKEY:

Yes, he is very powerful, but he

still has much to learn!

Monkey stops. Beetle is staring over her shoulder with his

mouth open.

*

*

*

*

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MONKEY (CONT’D)

WHAT?

She turns around to see what he’s looking at.

Drifting out from the shallows behind the rocks is a huge and

magnificent “origami” boat, created entirely out of magically

beach combed detritus!

BEETLE:

Fast learner.

He nudges Monkey, whose jaw is also hanging open.

Hanzo Origami eyes the boat up and down, then gives his seal

of approval by confidently pointing his sword at the deck.

BEETLE (CONT’D)

(to Kubo)

Did you know you could do that?

Kubo thinks for a beat. Then, he plucks a final note and a

massive sail woven from leaves and grass suddenly unfurls,

billowing in the morning breeze.

Monkey looks at Kubo. She’s not smiling exactly, but there’s

a hint of pride.

MONKEY:

Show off.

One by one our heroes hop aboard the great boat.

And as the sun rises higher in the sky, the boat sails away

across the water.

(2300 KUB) KUBO’S BOAT

EXT. KUBO’S SAIL BOAT - THE LONG LAKE - AFTERNOON

We can tell our heroes have been sailing for some time now.

The boat is a tiny speck on the vast lake.

Beetle and Kubo stand near the side of the boat. Beetle is

leaning over Kubo’s diminutive shoulders, helping him draw

back his bow and take aim.

BEETLE:

Okay now, take a deep breath. Clear

your mind... guess I got that part

covered.

He throws Kubo a wink. Kubo grins.

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BEETLE (CONT’D)

Now draw back slowly. That’s it.

Now close one eye... guess you’ve

got that part covered...

Kubo GIGGLES and gives Beetle a mock shove with his elbow.

BEETLE (CONT’D)

Concentrate on what is directly in

front of you and let everything

else fall away... aaand...

release!

ANGLE ON a fish swimming just under the surface of the water

as it is suddenly speared by one of Beetle’s arrows.

BEETLE (CONT’D)

Perfect shot! Perfect shot! *

Monkey knuckles up behind Beetle and sits down, smirking.

MONKEY:

Not bad. And what’s your plan for

getting the fish into the boat so

we can actually eat it?

We see the fish float past camera, then sink into the water.

Beetle looks a little deflated but rallies with his typical

bravura.

BEETLE:

Well, I said I was teaching him how *

to shoot, not fish. Fishing is, uh, *

tomorrow’s lesson. *

Still smirking, Monkey swipes another arrow out of his hand.

MONKEY:

Give me that.

BEETLE:

Woah, grabby Monkey. *

Monkey reaches into Kubo’s pack pulling out a length of rope

which she ties to the arrow, grinning slyly and clearly

enjoying herself.

MONKEY:

Now try it.

Beetle takes the arrow off her, then reaches around to help

Kubo draw back the bow.

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BEETLE:

Okay, now pull back and...

Zip! Bullseye! Another fish harpooned. Kubo and Beetle both

let out a CHEER.

BEETLE (CONT’D)

(to Monkey)

The rope was a pretty good idea!

The rope on the arrow tightens and Beetle yanks the fish into

the boat.

MONKEY:

And you’re not an awful shot.

Kubo eyes the two of them, smirking.

KUBO:

Okay, now you two are being weird.

EXT. BOAT DECK-MINUTES LATER

Beetle and Kubo drop their haul of fish onto the deck. Beetle

starts looking around, like he’s trying to find something.

BEETLE:

We’re gonna need something to cut

this wi-

There’s a SWISH of air and the fish is transformed into

perfectly cut sashimi.

Beetle and Kubo stare at Monkey. She shrugs.

MONKEY:

Sword Unbreakable.

They all sit down together. It’s a nice, quiet, gentle

moment. Our three heroes, eating under the sun. Kubo sits

right between Beetle and Monkey, but he isn’t really eating.

Beetle, on the other hand, is stuffing his face. Hanzo

Origami stands on his lap, using his tiny paper sword to

lance chunks of fish from a makeshift plate and toss them up

into Beetle’s open mouth. *

Monkey watches sourly.

MONKEY (CONT’D)

Must you play with your food?

She grimaces as Beetle replies with a full mouth.

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BEETLE:

Yes.

He notices Kubo looking at them with an odd look on his face.

BEETLE (CONT’D)

What’s the matter, Kubo? You act

like you’ve never had a meal

sitting between a monkey and a

beetle before.

KUBO:

I’ve never had a meal sitting

between anyone before.

Monkey’s face softens.

MONKEY:

Come on. Eat. You need energy. And *

this is much better than whale

soup.

Kubo smiles. Takes a bite of food. Beetle chews thoughtfully

as he stares at Kubo now, clearly thinking about his comment.

BEETLE:

Kubo, question:
before you started

on your heroic quest, what were you

like? *

KUBO *

Well, I looked after my mother, *

mostly. And I told stories. About

mighty warriors seeking revenge,

with battles and monsters and

magic. I was pretty good at telling

them. Not so good at ending them.

There’s silence for a moment and Kubo seems lost in

recollection.

KUBO (CONT’D)

Sometimes I would tell my mother

stories about little things. Like

skimming rocks across the river. Or

catching fireflies in the mulberry

fields. *

Both Monkey and Beetle have stopped eating and listen

intently as Kubo goes on, his voice quieter.

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KUBO (CONT’D)

And when I told those stories I

could see her eyes were mostly

clear. I could tell she saw me,

really saw me. And I could see her

too. Her real self. Her spirit.

Trying to find its way out. It was *

beautiful.

Monkey & Beetle look at each other, not quite sure how to

respond to this. Finally, it is Beetle who offers...

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