Kubo and the Two Strings Page #2

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EXT. MOUNTAIN PATH - DAWN

Kubo scrambles down the rocky path with practiced ease, his

shamisen occasionally smacking against his hip with a dull

harmonic BUMP, like when you jostle a guitar.

In the distance a cluster of buildings peek out from behind a

brightly ornate gateway. Kubo plays with his origami samurai *

as he walks. *

Kubo continues along the path over a bridge into the village, *

to a hubbub of activity beyond --*

(0400 STT) STORY TIME

EXT. CENTRAL AVENUE - DAY

It’s later in the morning and the main thoroughfare has

become a vibrant pageant of peasantry and peddlers

celebrating the second day of the Obon Festival.

-A puppeteer operates an elaborate dragon marionette over

the heads of SQUEALING CHILDREN.

-FISHERMEN proudly waggle their pungent produce. Crustaceans

crawl over each other in open crates.

- A PATIENT DAD AND HIS YOUNG DAUGHTER browse the lanterns

being crafted by skilled artisans.

-HIGH CLASS LADIES barter and haggle for the most fashionable

festival garments.

- MERCHANTS pitch their wares to VILLAGERS from dusty carts.

-MEN gamble on elaborate tile games. Two old curmudgeons sit

in stony-faced contemplation over a chess-like game of Shoji.

And lining the street is the feudal Japanese equivalent of

the Venice Beach boardwalk. A row of BEGGARS and STREET

PERFORMERS, competing for coins, handouts, and attention:

-A hunched beggar woman, KAMEYO sits in the street, with a *

bowl in front of her.

She smiles warmly when she sees Kubo walking toward her. She

miraculously straightens up and seems much less woeful.

KAMEYO:

Well hello, Kubo!

He slides his shamisen off his shoulder and sits down next to

her. Kubo peeks over the lip of the bowl.

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KUBO:

How is it today?

KAMEYO:

Not a bad crowd. I got two pennies

and a lint ball.

She fishes around in the bowl and pulls out a clump of fluff.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

This is pretty good lint.

Kubo CHUCKLES and the old woman turns to him.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

And what do you have planned today?

KUBO:

Oh, you know. The usual.

KAMEYO:

(grins)

Monsters?

KUBO:

Of course.

KAMEYO:

You think you can work in a fire

breathing chicken?

Kubo fixes her with a look.

KUBO:

The chicken again?

KAMEYO:

(defensive)

The chicken is funny.

Kubo rolls his eye, but he’s clearly enjoying this.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

A touch of comedy to balance the

whole thing out. They’re going to

be throwing money at you, I just

know it.

(thinks this over)

Or they’ll throw something at you,

I don’t know.

KUBO:

(LAUGHS)

Okay, I’ll see what I can do.

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Kubo stands to leave, but the old woman has one more thing.

KAMEYO:

And do you plan on finishing the

story this time, young man?

Kubo just smiles and walks into the center of the square.

In one graceful motion, Kubo drops his bag of origami *

creatures on the ground and spins his shamisen around.

He grabs the bachi pick from his belt and raises it into the

air, ready to strike.

KUBO:

IF YOU MUST BLINK, DO IT NOW!

He then brings it down across the strings, striking a

beautifully resonant chord.

With this, the entire dynamic of the marketplace changes.

-Mid-haggle, merchants and their customers GASP.

-The Shoji players look up from their game. One takes

advantage of the distraction and cheats a winning move while

the other is facing the other way.

-Children watching the puppeteer look over and the puppeteer

turns the head of his dragon, to see what is going on before

the children cheer and run towards Kubo.

SHOUTING ceases, CHATTER trails off. Even the TRILLING of *

songbirds in their cages and a distant dog’s BARKING stop.

Everything is silent. All heads are turned.

Kameyo moves through the gathering onlookers, pushing a man

aside.

Kubo stands confidently in the center, his shamisen gleaming

in the sun. Excited WHISPERS ripple through the crowd.

KUBO (CONT’D)

PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING

YOU SEE AND HEAR. NO MATTER HOW

UNUSUAL IT MAY SEEM!

As he paces, Kubo sizes up the circle forming around him.

KUBO (CONT’D)

AND PLEASE BE WARNED. IF YOU

FIDGET. IF YOU LOOK AWAY. IF YOU

FORGET ANY PART OF WHAT I TELL YOU,

EVEN FOR AN INSTANT...

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And by this point, there’s really no more need for Kubo to

shout. The entire crowd has fallen still and silent.

He points to a woman and WHISPERS dramatically.

KUBO (CONT’D)

Then our hero will surely perish!

He suddenly shifts into a dramatic pose, plucking his

shamisen like a rock star. He strums a simple theme, and a

red blur shoots from his pack, somersaulting the full length

of the circle before landing at Kubo’s feet.

The crowd CHEERS at the appearance of this origami hero.

Kubo puts up a hand to silence them again, and continues:

KUBO (CONT’D)

Hanzo was a mighty samurai. But he

was alone; his family taken from

him, his kingdom in ruins, and his *

army destroyed by the dreaded Moon

King! You may recall, Hanzo was

roaming the distant Farlands in

search of a magical suit of armor;

the only weapon in the whole world

that could protect him from the

power of the Moon King. This armor

was made up of three pieces. The

first...

Kubo pauses waiting for the audience to participate and spins

suddenly, pointing to a group of children. HASHI is standing

behind them, pushes his way through to answer.

HASHI:

Oh, oh, oh!!! I know! I know! The

Sword Unbreakable!

Kubo smiles and continues to play. A sheet of paper shoots

from his bag and forms into a samurai sword that hovers in

the air before the crowd.

Kubo sprints over to an adorable little girl, skidding to a

halt in front of her.

KUBO:

The second...?

MARI:

The Breastplate Imp...

(struggling)

Impen...

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Her father, HOSATO leans down and WHISPERS something into her

ear.

MARI (CONT’D)

Impen-a-truh-bubble! Yeah!

The crowd LAUGHS and APPLAUDS the little girl whose cheeks

bloom red with pride.

Kubo plucks the second string and we see an ornate

breastplate form and hover next to the sword.

KUBO:

And finally, the third weapon, the

final piece of the armor...

KAMEYO:

I know this one! Pick me!

Kubo nods at her.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

The Helmet Invulnerable!

The expectant crowd turn to Kubo for affirmation. He plucks

the third string and a beautiful helmet forms. The crowd

CHEERS. He begins circling the audience, building the

tension.

KUBO:

Before Hanzo could claim the armor

and unite the pieces to reveal

their true power, he was attacked

by the Moon King’s beasts! *

Kubo plucks a dissonant chord and spins suddenly.

A sheet of paper shoots up, folding in mid air, transforming

into a monstrous spider. *

The spider creature springs forward and Hanzo charges to meet

it, slashing at its legs with his little paper sword.

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