ACT I - SCENE 5
[We see a horse galloping in the fields at night.]
[We see an above shot of the silhouette of the horse, carrying two human figures on its back, galloping in the fields of night.]
[From the field level, we see the sun slowly starting to rise over the remains of the Kingdom. Suddenly, WHOOSH! The horse carrying the two human figures gallops right past the camera.]
[The Emperor and Empress are sleeping close to the remains of the Palace. The Girl is sleeping in another patch next to the palace, a good distance away from the Empress and Emperor. The galloping is heard and increases in volume, causing the Emperor's eyes to widen.]
[The Emperor swiftly grabs his Bamboo stick and rises to his feet as he bellows out a warning through the town.]
Emperor: (bellowing) STRANGER!
[The bellow instantly wakes up the Empress and The Girl, who grab their sticks.]
[We see three different shots of the townspeople instantly waking up, and grabbing their various weapons, from sticks to bamboo sticks.]
[The Emperor approaches the galloping sound as the sun continues to make the area a little brighter, but not at 100% yet.]
[We see an empty void past the Kingdom remains where the galloping is heard from.]
[The Emperor grips his weapon tight as the Empress joins her husband at his side.]
Emperor: Thank you. I felt uneasy.
Empress: I'm here for you, my dear.
[The galloping gets louder. Suddenly, the horse approaches but stops with a loud neigh and a slight buck. Suddenly, we hear the voice of Samurai Jack as two human hands, with arms covered in a kimono, raise up in declaration.]
Jack: AKU HAS BEEN DESTROYED!
[We see two side-by-side shots: 1. The Emperor and Empress' eyes widen in shock at the realization. 2. The Girl's eyes widen in shock in realization.]
[The full image goes to the Empress and Emperor. They declare together.]
Empress & Emperor: (simultaneously) OUR SON HAS RETURNED!
[The entire town cheers in victory as Samurai Jack jumps from the horse and out of the shadows to embrace his family.]
[All of the Kingdom's people run towards Jack, shouting and cheering in victory.]
[The Girl, smiling with tears in her eyes, runs towards the scene among the cheering and shouting.]
[The entire town raises Jack on their shoulders in victory. Jack is smiling and laughing at his victory mob.]
[The Girl joins in the mob.]
[Another human shadow silhouette, a female with short hair, jumps from the horse and onto the ground.]
[Hearing this, the Emperor instantly draws his bamboo stick towards the shadow.]
Emperor: WAIT! STRANGER!
[The town stops and turns towards the shadow. Jack, realizing, interjects firmly and jumps from the mob toward his Father.]
Jack: Father, WAIT! This is no stranger.
Emperor: What, my son?
[Jack explains as he extends his hand toward the human shadow. The shadow takes his hand and walks forward, revealing herself to be Ashi, still in her black, corrupted suit. Smiling, her hair is down to her normal, shoulder length state.]
Jack: Everyone, this is Ashi.
Ashi: Hello, everyone.
Jack: Without her help, I would have never destroyed Aku.
Empress: What?
Jack: It's a long story, Mother.
Ashi: A very long story.
[The Girl is concerned at what she sees.]
[We see Jack and Ashi's hands holding each other gingerly.]
[The Girl swallows with a slight hint of trembling.]
[The Emperor and Empress are happy that their son has a friend, maybe a companion.]
Emperor: I see. I suppose you will start telling it as we rebuild our Kingdom.
Jack: Yes, of course. There's plenty to tell.
Ashi: It might take years to tell it all.
Empress: Years? Weren't you gone just a month?
Jack: No, Mother. It was much longer than that for me.
Empress: How?
Ashi: Aku. He had the power to send people through time.
[Everyone gasps in awe. The Emperor is especially perplexed.]
Jack: In the end, Ashi found that same power to get me back here.
[Everyone gasps again, including The Girl.]
Empress: So, your friend brought you home?
Jack: Yes. And Mother, I haven't considered Ashi just my friend for a long time.
[The sun starts to fill the Kingdom as Jack kneels down towards Ashi, catching her and the rest of the Kingdom off guard. While Kingdom gasps in awe, Ashi is simply confused.]
[The Girl gasps and starts tearing up at the sight. She doesn't like the sight one bit.]
Jack: Ashi, from the moment we first kissed, I knew you were more than a Princess that I have heard in my bedtime stories.
[We see two images. On the left, the Empress and Emperor watch the scene unfold, embracing each other. On the right, the Kingdom's civilians gasp in awe, with some couples holding onto each other.]
Jack: You are not only the most beautiful creature I have ever met, but you are the strongest soul I have ever known. The challenges we have both faced has shown me that together, nothing can ever stop us, not even the ultimate evil.
[We see two more images. On the left, Ashi is smiling in awe as her eyes fill up with tears of joy. On the right, we see The Girl tearing up with tears of fear, shaking her head in disbelief. Jack continues his declaration.]
Jack: In my life, I have not had the opportunity to imagine the perfect mate for me. I just did not have the time or the luxury to. But, I am glad we met, because I do not have to imagine anymore.
[The screen goes full on Jack and Ashi. Jack is still kneeling, holding onto Ashi's hand. Ashi is still in awe.]
Jack: Ashi, in my kingdom, I am a Prince. And, a Prince needs a Princess. Will you be mine?
[At this point, the sun has fully engulfed the Kingdom. Ashi becomes weak at the knees as she struggles to catch her breath. But, after a moment, Ashi grabs Jack, dips him, and plants a HUGE kiss on him. The crowd erupts in celebration.]
[The Girl can't take any more. She runs off, sobbing.]
[The Emperor and Empress rejoice at the sight. The Empress has tears of joy in her eyes.]
[Ashi breaks her kiss with Jack.]
Ashi: The honor is mine, Prince Jack.
Jack: Thank you, Princess Ashi.
[Ashi giggles and kisses her man again.]
[From above, we see another image of the town celebrating the engagement as the sun continues rising.]