ACT I -SCENE 4
[It's about ten days later. The sky is still overcast with blood-red clouds. We see the Emperor outside the mine entrance with a bamboo stick in hand, using it as a makeshift weapon for the time being. He is healed up, and nowhere near as malnourished as before. He tries to use the bamboo stick like a sword, but he quickly stops as he groans in pain.]
Emperor: Uuuuuugh. What good am I?
[The Girl, still in rags but with less bruises and cuts, approaches the Emperor.]
The Girl: You sent for me, My Emperor?
Emperor: Yes. I have heard remarkable comments from the people about your nursing and care. I thank you and commend you for your selfless service for our people.
[The Girl gasps and gawks at the praise from her Emperor.]
The Girl: Oh, My Emperor….to hear your words…I-I am honored.
Emperor: What did you do before Aku came?
The Girl: Oh, um, I was only eight when Aku came. All I did was chase crickets in the fields and play games.
Emperor: Who taught you your nursing skills?
The Girl: I learned from the women, sir.
Emperor: And your family?
[The Girl stops and chokes up a little. The Emperor sees this, and understands.]
Emperor: Aku?
The Girl: My father fought against Aku, like our soldiers did….and, he….he never returned.
[The Emperor goes and comforts The Girl.]
Emperor: Oh, my child. Your father will be honored, never forgotten….as will all of our countrymen who bravely fought and died against Aku.
[The Emperor feebly hugs The Girl, who reciprocates gingerly. Suddenly, the blood-red clouds start to dissipate and let the sun shine through. The Emperor and The Girl shield their eyes from the increasingly bright light filling up the mine and the world outside. The Girl is curious, but the Emperor swiftly realizes the jubilant truth.]
The Girl: Oh, ow! What is-? Is that-?
Emperor: The sun! It has returned! My son!
[The Emperor goes back inside the mine as The Girl, putting it together, realizes what the Emperor has realized. She swiftly follows the Emperor inside.]
[Inside the mine, among the resting civilians, The Emperor jubilantly shouts the truth as The Girl watches with a big smile.]
Emperor: MY PEOPLE! THE SUN HAS RETURNED TO THE SKY! AKU IS DESTROYED! MY SON IS VICTORIOUS!
[The civilians instantly stand and cheer as they rejoice in the victory. The Girl also shouts a victory cheer. The Emperor shouts out the words that they have been wanting to hear for many years.]
Emperor: LET'S GO HOME!
[The civilians shout and rejoice again as a few civilians help the wounded to their feet.]
[From afar, we see all of the civilians leave the mine entrance and adjust to the sun-filled world.]
[The Emperor leads the way for his people.]
[Among the walking townspeople, The Girl helps the middle-aged woman with the gentlemen that they both tended to. They all smile at each other.]
[We see a close-up of The Girl. She's smiling in relief. She's also anticipating the near future.]
The Girl: Welcome home, My Prince.
[From above, we see the group of people walk across dead flat lands.]
[The image fades to seeing the group of people walking across a patch of land that has very little green growing.]
[The image fades to the group of people walk along a slowly rising river, populated by some new, fresh grass.]
[The image fades to the group of people approaching what appears to be the burnt remains of the Kingdom. Most of the residential buildings are burnt down to the ground, but the palace is barely identifiable as about 78% of it was destroyed by fire. The remains in the Kingdom are surrounded by small patches of green grass.]
[The Emperor stops in front of the palace and looks up.]
[From behind, we see the Emperor looking up at his home. As the image pans up, we see the image fade to an imagery of the Palace in its former glorious form. We hear the Emperor speak through a choked voice.]
Emperor: The Palace….
[We see the Emperor's eyes tearing up. The Girl comes forward to him.]
The Girl: My Emperor, we can all help in rebuilding the palace. It will be the shining jewel of the lands.
[We see the Emperor open his eyes in thought. He turns to The Girl.]
Emperor: Not yet. The comfort and safety of my people comes first. We'll rebuild our homes first, then we can proceed with the Palace.
[A man points out something.]
Man1: My Emperor, I fear that will take some time in itself. There are no trees around us.
[The people look around.]
[Outside the Kingdom, there is nothing but scorched land and very scarce plants.]
[We see the Emperor scowl.]
[The Emperor address his people.]
Emperor: Go to your homes. Determine what can be salvaged, and then determine what is needed for reconstruction. Once my son returns, we will begin a quest for supplies.
[The people scatter throughout the village, going to their properties.]
[We see a man approach his devastated home. He tears up a bit.]
[We see another man, a little older, approaching his ravaged home. Not much is left. He tears up a bit.]
[We see a man, a woman, and their young child approach their nearly unrecognizable home. They cling to each other with tears in their eyes.]
[We see The Girl approaching the remains of her home. She becomes weak at the knees and sobs quietly.]
[The Emperor, after looking at the remains of his palace, looks back. He sees The Girl, kneeling and sobbing at her lost home. Seeing this, the Emperor goes towards her.]
[We see The Girl quietly sobbing. The Emperor gently approaches her.]
Emperor: My dear….I cannot imagine your pain.
[The Girl still sobs.]
Emperor: We have all lost something, my dear.
The Girl: (sobbing) I wish my father were here. He'd tell me what I can do.
[The Girl pulls out a lock of black hair in her left hand, and the origami cricket in her left hand from within her rags. The Emperor sees her possessions.]
Emperor: I trust your father taught you about putting faith in others.
The Girl: "The trust of a man is earned through the action of good faith."
[The Girl looks at The Emperor, her eyes still tear-filled.]
[The Emperor smiles at The Girl.]
Emperor: Would you like to work for me in the palace? We are in need of caretakers. We can also make a room for you to live there as well.
[The Girl's eyes light up as she smiles. She rises to her feet and bows to her Emperor.]
The Girl: My-My Emperor, it would be an honor.
Emperor: No, the honor is mine, my dear.
[The Girl rises, still smiling. She does have one more concern.]
The Girl: What about my father's land?
Emperor: Your land? Hmm….what did your father do?
The Girl: Sculpting. He made statues, sir.
Emperor: Hmm….would you want another sculptor to stay here, or would prefer it to be occupied by our people's caretakers and nurses?
[The Girl thinks for a moment, then finds content in her confident answer.]
The Girl: Nurses and caretakers, My Emperor.
Emperor: Very well. So it shall be. And since this is your land, you will supervise the reconstruction of this, the infirmary.
The Girl: Thank you, sir. Thank you so much.
[The Emperor points out one more thing in The Girl's hands.]
Emperor: They hold precious memories, yes?
The Girl: Oh, yes. A lock of my father's hair. It's all I have of him.
Emperor: And the cricket?
[The Girl blushes at the thought.]
The Girl: Oh. Sir, this was a gift from your son.
Emperor: My son?
The Girl: When we were young, we chased crickets in the field. That was my favorite thing to do as a child. That day, we failed to catch one. But your son gave me this. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever given me.
[The Emperor sees a sparkle in The Girl's eye.]
Emperor: I am proud of my son. So proud of him. I only wish he could have spent more time among our people before Aku returned….and more time with you.
The Girl: Sir?
Emperor: I can tell when a woman is in love, my dear.
[The Girl blushes.]
The Girl: Sir, I haven't….
Emperor: It's fine, my dear. Once my son returns, we can rebuild a normal life together.
[We hear a distant horse whinnying. This catches the attention of the Emperor and The Girl.]
[We see the Empress riding on horseback, accompanied by four of the town's guards. She looks around, stunned by the devastated Kingdom. She spots The Emperor down the way, and her eyes open wide in shock.]
[The Emperor smiles in relief as he sees his wife in good health.]
[The Empress dismounts from her horse and runs to her husband.]
[The Emperor, still a little frail, tries to run, but swiftly slows down as he approaches his wife.]
[The Girl watches in admiration at the sight.]
[We see the Empress embrace the Emperor in a passionate kiss.]
[The Girl smiles with her eyes wide open.]
[The Empress breaks the kiss.]
Empress: Oh, my love. What happened to you?
Emperor: We were enslaved….all of us.
Empress: Oh, my dear…I'm so happy you're alive.
Emperor: I'm so happy to see you alive and well, my love.
Empress: Our son! He was victorious?
Emperor: I haven't seen him yet, but the red clouds broke and the sun came through the mines. That was a sign of victory! Our plan worked!
[The Empress embraces her husband again, all smiles.]
[The Girl, still admiring the sight, looks back down at her hands.]
[We see the origami cricket in The Girl's hand.]
[The Girl clutches her treasures close to her and smiles in content.]
The Girl: Come home, My Prince.
[The image fades to black.]