Kubo and the Two Strings Page #2

His Mother eats just a little. A bit of rice falls onto her

chin.

Kubo uses his chopsticks to gently put the grains of rice

back into her mouth. There is clearly something wrong with

his mother. *

INT. ENTRANCE KUBO’S CAVE - EARLY MORNING *

Kubo walks his mother over and she kneels on a mat in the *

shadow of the cave entrance, staring down at the angry white

crests of the waves.

Kubo sits beside her. He works intently, folding those sheets

of paper he stacked earlier into an assortment of origami

figures.

There is a tiger, a deer, and a snake, each as impressive as

the next. His nimble hands make swift and expert work of it.

It’s kind of incredible.

Kubo leans forward, grinning from ear to ear as he plays with *

a paper samurai, showing it to his unresponsive mother. *

But then Kubo stops, and gets closer to lean on his mother’s *

shoulder as the sun rises. *

A BELL CHIMES in the distance, triggering him instantly into *

action.

As the orange light of dawn begins to fill the cave, he *

hurries over to where the shamisen leans against the wall and *

scoops it up with one hand. He grabs the netsuke and all his *

origami figures, hastily packs them into his bag and it over *

his shoulder. *

Before he leaves he notices a strand of hair has fallen in *

front of his mother’s face. He gently reaches out and pushes *

it back into place.

Kubo looks at his mother’s staring empty eyes and rests his *

hand on her shoulder for a moment before running off. *

(0300 JTV) JOURNEY TO THE VILLAGE

DRAFT:
01.05.16

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

5/92

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:

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