Kubo and the Two Strings Page #4

KUBO:

Bedtime.

Kubo walks her over to her mat and lays her down. She looks

up at him, innocent as a child.

He sits for a moment longer, watching as his mother drifts

off to sleep, and then he blows out the candle.

FADE TO BLACK.

A beat, and then:

(0700 MON) MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE

INT. KUBO’S CAVE - NIGHT

A SKITTERING sound. Kubo’s origami paper starts flying off

the cave shelf over Kubo, lying fast asleep.

Kubo blinks his bleary eye. Sits up.

CUT WIDE to reveal the roof of the cave is swimming with

origami. A constellation of paper bodies, magically twisting

and animating all around him in the air.

He looks over to see his mother on her mat, tossing and

MUMBLING in her sleep, clearly in the midst of an intense

dream.

Suddenly awake, he runs to his mother.

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KUBO:

Mother, wake up! You’re dreaming.

MOTHER:

No...

As she wakes almost instantly the paper throughout the cave

rains down, unfolded and crumpled, onto the floor.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Kubo! Kubo, is that you?

KUBO:

Yes, Mother. I’m here.

This seems to comfort her. A confused look comes across her

face.

MOTHER:

Kubo, what happened to your eye?

Kubo just looks at her sadly and she goes back to sleep.

Kubo is left staring at the mess of strewn paper, just as

before, and now we understand exactly how it all got there.

(0800 OBF) OBON FESTIVAL

EXT. CENTRAL AVENUE - DAY

We see the market square is once again bustling with *

activity. Everyone wears their finest clothes and the *

buildings all around have been decorated with colorful

Japanese lamps. The Festival is underway.

Many of the village women are participating in an elaborate

line dance made up of sweeping movements and subtle gestures.

They weave and skip past camera, revealing a busy festival

scene.

Kubo stands watching all of this. He rubs his eye and YAWNS.

KAMEYO (O.S.)

Paper boy! Here! Here! *

Kubo turns to see that same old woman. She gives a gummy grin

and looks suspiciously like she may have washed her face.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

C’mon, c’mon. Come sit next to me. *

I got us a good spot here.

Kubo ambles sleepily in her direction and sits next to her. *

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KAMEYO (CONT’D)

What do you think? I got myself all

spruced up for the big day. *

Kubo awkwardly grins at her. *

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

Ahhh... I do so love the festival. *

A time to celebrate. Y’know, it’s a *

shame you never stay past sundown.

There’s fireworks and singing and *

dancing and feasting of course... *

She playfully tickles Kubo.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

But the best part of all... *

The beggar woman grabs Kubo about the shoulder, drawing him

in close as she gestures around the square.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

Do you see those lamps and altars?

We use those to speak to the loved

ones that left us behind.

Kubo hears this and his eye widens a little.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

We listen to their tales and guide

their safe return to the blissful

pure land. *

KUBO:

Really? Did you speak to someone? *

KAMEYO:

Yes I did. My husband! His voice *

was as clear and loud as the one

you use for your stories.

(shrugs)

In seventy two years he never had a

thing to say. Now he’s gone, I *

can’t shut him up.

She LAUGHS fruitily and Kubo’s eye widens more as her words

sink in. In the background, the dance concludes to the CHEERS

of the spectators.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

You have someone you’d like to talk

to, huh?

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KUBO:

Very much!

KAMEYO:

Well, what’s stopping you? *

Kubo looks around at all the elaborately ornamented altars.

KUBO:

Don’t I need a lamp?

KAMEYO:

Well... *

She CACKLES conspiratorially into his ear.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

I bet you could make a really nice *

one with that paper folding...

thing... you do.

Kubo realizes what she’s getting at. His eye darts this way

and that as his mind fills with the possibilities.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

Y’see? Not just a pretty face, huh?

She grins broadly and gives him a friendly nudge.

KAMEYO (CONT’D)

Now hurry along! Go! There’s still

time before dark! Go! Get out of *

here. *

Smiling excitedly, Kubo runs away through the crowd, pausing

only to wave at the old woman. *

(0900 MEA) MEETING ANCESTORS

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

Carrying his bag and lamp, Kubo emerges from a wooded road *

that opens onto a serene cemetery beside a river. Replete

with beautiful plants and flowers, there’s nothing macabre

about this peaceful place.

Dozens of families are gathered among the grave markers,

setting up lamps and altars. Nearby, a HOSATO is teaching *

MARI. *

HASHI (O.S.)

It’s so great to hear your voice.

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VILLAGER 2 (O.S.)

We’ll never forget you.

VILLAGER 3 (O.S.)

It’s time to go.

VILLAGER 4

We missed you so much.

HOSATO:

Place the lamp at the Alter. Ha,

very good.

MARI:

What do we do next, Daddy?

HOSATO:

Next we pray. We ask her spirit to

honor us with its light

MARI:

(loudly)

GRANDMA, WILL YOU PLEASE HONOR...

HOSATO:

(smiling)

Shhh. Softly, softly!

Kubo finds some space and fashions a rough altar from stones. *

He dumps the origami out of his bag, then creates a simple *

yet beautiful lamp from an ivory sheet of paper as he watches *

the patient dad discuss the ritual with his daughter.

Then, copying the family, he gets on his knees and begins to *

pray. He speaks quietly, awkwardly, under his breath.

KUBO:

Hello, father.

(then)

I hope you’re well. Uh. I mean, I

know you’re dead, but I hope

everything is... okay...

Kubo thinks about that opening for a moment. He hates

everything that just came out of his mouth. He starts over,

raising his arms and gesturing to his baggy robe.

KUBO (CONT’D)

Look. It’s your robe! Mother says

I’ll grow into it.

(after a moment)

She says you were a great leader *

who died protecting me.

(MORE)

DRAFT:
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20/92

KUBO (CONT’D)

Saving one of my eyes. Two would’ve

been ideal, but... thanks anyway.

He smiles to indicate he is joking again, and then feels

immediately wretched. He decides to get right to the point.

KUBO (CONT’D)

Father, I’m worried about mother.

With every day that goes by, she

drifts further away. She talks a *

lot about you, but... but I just

don’t know. I don’t think she

remembers what’s real anymore. I

don’t know what’s real anymore...

KUBO (CONT’D)

I just wish you were here. So I

could... could talk to you... see

you... find out what I should do.

Kubo’s prayer is interrupted by a gleeful SHOUT.

MARI:

Daddy! Daddy! She’s here! Grandma *

is here! *

Kubo looks over at the family to see the wick of their lamp

suddenly burst into flame. *

HOSATO:

Now it’s time for the final part.

We have to help her get back to the

spirit world.

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