ACT II – SCENE 14
[We see an image of several bonfires outside of the Kingdom, hundreds of yards apart from each other. We also see several Soldiers carrying the corpses of the fallen Bandits, along with the occasional fallen Village soldier, in a single file line in front of each bonfire.]
[We see one Soldier throwing the stripped remains of a bloody Bandit into the top of the bonfire, landing with a soft THUD! Suddenly, a louder THUD! is heard as another Soldier falls in front of the camera, straining to hold his mouth shut. He turns his head away from the camera and retches, followed by a liquid splashing sound.]
[We see the flaming inferno of a bonfire, populated by the faint, charred remains of three corpses that have been thrown in there a short time ago. Suddenly, THUD! THUD! THUD! Three more stripped bodies are thrown into the bonfire, swiftly catching fire.]
[We see Masako throw a Bandit corpse onto the bonfire, and immediately covers his mouth as he coughs and remarks on the sight and smell.]
Masako: (coughs) Ugh…..the stench…(coughs hard)
[The camera pans over to see The Empress, Jack, The Girl, and two other nurses providing aid and counseling to the Soldiers.]
[We see Jack counseling a male Soldier.]
Jack: It's never easy….honestly, it only gets harder.
[We see The Girl counseling a male Soldier.]
The Girl: We must hold on to those we love. Trust me…..with them, you will find comfort.
[We see The Empress counseling a female soldier.]
The Empress: The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart. We must live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
[A while later, SHLOP! A man-made shovel digs into the ground.]
Jack: Death is a mirror….
[SHLOP! SHLOP! SHLOP! SHLOP! Four more shovels dig into the ground.]
[A pair of dirty hands spreads ashes into a freshly dug hole.]
Jack: ….in which the entire meaning of life is reflected.
[FOOMP! The ashes are covered by soil.]
[From above, we see a vast field far away from the village where a plot of a few hundred mounds are laid. We see several Soldiers pat down the mounds, and turn around without reflection and walk back towards the village. Jack continues as they continue their walk.]
Jack: To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.
[We pan throughout the Village to see a few families reverently patting down the gravesites of their fallen family members. A couple of fortunate families who have not suffered any loss look on and provide comfort by being there for their fellow citizens. Jack continues.]
Jack: In the wake all of our battles, we must forever remain diligent. We must not waiver from the path of the wise. We must continue. The pain we feel now for our fallen must not be forgotten. Feel it. Embrace it. They are your family….our friends….our Village. Never forget what you have learned from them…through their love and sacrifice, we can continue to love and to learn from them. Rest well. Pray hard. Love one another.
[In the Royal Quarters of the Palace that evening, lit only but a few candles and where a gentle breeze makes the curtains barely flow, we see The Girl seating on carpets and blankets in deep meditation.]
[We see the face of The Girl, shown only by light candlelight, meditating deeply in silence. The gentle wind is heard through the open window. After a moment, The Girl speaks softly.]
The Girl: How are your wounds?
[Jack slowly emerges from the shadows behind The Girl, but keeps his distance.]
Jack: They are healing….slow but steady. And you?
The Girl: I am not physically wounded.
Jack: Inside?
The Girl: (inhales deeply) It is healing….slow but steady.
Jack: Very well.
[Jack starts to turn to leave, but is stopped by The Girl's words.]
The Girl: I saw them.
[Jack looks back to The Girl.]
Jack: Who?
The Girl: All of them. My father…..my brother….(opens her eyes)…..Ashi.
[Jack's eyes widen.]
Jack: You saw them?
[From above, we see Jack on the left and The Girl and candles on the right.]
The Girl: They spoke to me. Father said, "Go! Fight!" I refused.
[In widescreen, we see The Girl's eyes super focused on looking ahead as the camera pans right.]
The Girl: My brother shouted, "Go help! Jack needs you!" I shivered in fear.
[In widescreen, we see Jack's wide eyes tear up a little as the camera pans left. Jack's eyes widen even more in curiosity at the end of The Girl's statement.]
The Girl: Then, Ashi appeared and said, "Go save him! Take care of Jack! You promised!"
[Jack asks, puzzled.]
Jack: You promised Ashi?
[The Girl's eyes close and tear up, trembling a little.]
The Girl: Yes!
[The Girl rises and faces Jack.]
The Girl: Just before the wedding, she asked me to take care of you if anything happened to her. I promised her I would.
[Jack, initially perplexed, sees the logic.]
Jack: She knew….
The Girl: I think you both knew.
Jack: What?
The Girl: You knew she was a Daughter of Aku. But, I think she didn't want you or her to dwell on that at all because she loved you. She wanted to make every single moment with you more precious than the last. She wanted to embrace the love as long as she could before the inevitable.
[Jack closes his eyes and tears up.]
Jack: That is true.
The Girl: Jack, I was surprised as you are when she asked me. But after she disappeared, I knew I could never let go. She was a sister to me. And, I loved her as one. That's how I returned to the battlefield.
Jack: I am relieved and grateful that you saved me. Thank you so much.
[Jack approaches and kisses The Girl.]
The Girl: I'll never stop thanking you for saving the world….and me.
[The Girl kisses Jack again.]
The Girl: My Prince, can you allow me more time for meditation?
Jack: May I join you in meditation?
[The Girl smiles amorously.]
The Girl: I'd love it.
[The Girl leads Jack to the carpeted area. They both sit in the area, breathe deep, close their eyes, and practice meditation as the gentle breeze continues to push the curtains gently.]
[The camera slowly pans out away from Jack's face. We hear a familiar voice.]
Ashi: Let there be peace….in all of you.
[We see the ghostly silhouette of Ashi in her Gee meditating between The Girl and Jack. On Jack's left is the ghostly silhouette of The Girl's brother, and to The Girl's right is the ghostly silhouette of The Girl's Father. All are in deep, peaceful meditation. The camera gently eases back as the breeze continues through the window. FADE TO BLACK]