* www.able.co.nz Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Able 2018 GIRL: 'Many centuries before I was born, gods ruled the world. 'The demons were kept at bay. 'There was peace. 'The Monkey King was born into this age. 'Some say he was the mightiest of all the gods, 'with powers and skills beyond imagining. 'But then everything changed. 'The Monkey King was lost, 'banished by his enemies, 'never to return. 'All goodness was forced into hiding and the demons took over. '500 years later, 'chaos reigns. 'The gods are gone. 'But I believe in the Monkey King. 'Sometimes when you've waited for something your whole life, 'when it arrives, you feel scared. 'The warriors are here. 'It is time to find the Monkey King.' (OWL HOOTS) Welcome. My name is... Uh, we are so very excited to... Oh. OK, I'm not actually... (SIGHS) ..a servant. (MONK CHANTS) Na ninekah alookah enumbah kudantai calaporeekah. Na ninekah alookah enumbah kudantai calaporeekah. Our world is at its darkest point. The demon forces rule us and our gods are all dead or in hiding. What can you tell me of the Monkey King? MONK: Monkey was protector of the gods and an exceptional fighter. He could summon a cloud and fly on it, duplicate himself into an army, shrink himself to the size of an ant at will. - He was destroyed centuries ago. - What is myth and what is truth? This is the Monkey King's crown. Some of the ancient records claim the demons didn't kill Monkey but, rather, buried him in stone. It has taken a lifetime of searching but we believe he is here, in this valley. - Now your mission... - (LIQUID SPLASHES) Sorry. Are` Are you finished with this? (CROCKERY CLATTERS) Thank you for the tea. Go and do your study now, please. Your mission is to help us find Monkey and release him with the crown. And once he is released? You must find the Sacred Scrolls and bring them to the Western Mountains. Here, only with the scrolls can we defeat the evil that has besieged our world. From tonight, Gaxin, you will receive a new name. Your new name will be Tripitaka. Tripitaka? It is a sacred name known only to the gods and when they hear it, they will know you are the chosen one. (DOOR OPENS, THUNDER CRASHES) WARRIOR: The demons have found us. (THUNDER RUMBLES, CRASHES) (WIND WHISTLES) (EERIE MUSIC) (BOTH GRUNT) - (POWER ZAPS) - (WARRIORS GRUNT) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (GRUNTS) FONT DEMON: Tell me where the crown is! SCHOLAR: You must hide. Go! (GASPS) This... can't be! I'm... Tripi... (GASPS) - You are no-one. - (GRUNTS) (THUNDER CRACKS) Where is the crown? - (METAL CLASHES) - (SCHOLAR GASPS, GROANS) - (GURGLES) - Your gods have deserted you. Your rebellion is meaningless. (WOOD CREAKS, STONE SCRAPES) (THUNDER CRACKS) - (GASPS SOFTLY) - Enjoy this parting gift. What am I to do? You must live. (SNIFFLES) You know everything. You must find the Monkey King. Take this. Hope must never die. (WIND WHISTLES) (WALLS CRUMBLE) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (THUNDER CRACKS) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) No! It's you! You've been here all along. Why now? Wake up, please! (SOBS) Monkey! (SOBS) Wake up! * (EAGLE SCREECHES) GIRL: 'I had finally found where the Monkey King was imprisoned, 'but the crown that could release him was in the hands of demons. 'I was alone. 'The Scholar had taken me in when I was a baby, given me everything, 'and now he was gone.' Here you are, love. Looks like you could do with a feed. - (MAGGOTS SQUELCH) - (LAUGHS) 'All I could do was keep his words in my heart ` "hope must never die". 'But it's hard to have hope on an empty belly.' - What? - Can I get some food? I don't know. Can you? Uh, may I have some food? Yes, you may. Haven't seen you before. Who are you? - MAN: Hey, come here! - (MEN SHOUT) Excuse me. - (OBJECTS THUD, GLASS SHATTERS) - MAN: Ohh! MONICA: Oi! I saw what happened. I told you clowns if you can't behave yourself, you can go down to that tea house down the road. GIRL: 'I see the monk and I think of Tripitaka. 'Suddenly my hunger isn't so important.' That'll be two crowns for the soup. - I don't have any money. - Do I look like your mother? I don't know. I never knew my mother. Look, I don't run a charity. You'll have to work it off. - Can you wash dishes? - Yes, I can. (CROCKERY CLATTERS) (DRINK SPLASHES) (CROCKERY CLATTERS) I'll take your board out of your wage, like your food. Thank you. (MONICA SIGHS) WOMAN: 'I have walked from the North Water. 'Our village was invaded. 'I have nowhere to go and little hope left. 'She is pure of heart and brave as the wind. 'I entrust her to you.' (READS) "Please take care of my baby. "She's quiet and never cries." - (BANGING ON DOOR) - Lights out. I'm not paying you to loll about all night. (BAWDY LAUGHTER) (MUSICIANS PLAY FOLK MUSIC) - More ale, please. - Yes, sir. (CHILLING MUSIC) I'm sorry. Uh... - What's the problem? - Uh, it was an accident. This man can have as much ale as he wishes tonight, on the house. Oh, very kind, your lady. Butterfingers. (BREATHES HEAVILY) - What are you doing out here? - I'm sorry. I just got a fright. Oh. Diddums. Do you remember what it was like? Before the gods disappeared? - How old do you think I am? - I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that. I don't know much of anything. You know how to look after yourself. Not too many girls your age could handle themselves in a place like this. I'm scared all the time. We all are, but that's the world we live in now. Just have to make the best of it. Do you think there's a way for the gods to come back? A wise man I once knew used to say, "Hope must never die." Come on. We've got work to do. (HISSING) * Do you know 'The Dance of the Moon'? - Oh, the lullaby? - Yes. - Is that what your mother sang to you when you were a kid? - Yes, she did, every night. Then I will play it just for you. Two, three, and... (PLAYS GENTLE JAZZY MUSIC) (CROWN CLINKS) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) Stop! Somebody has taken something of mine and you will suffer very badly unless I get it back. - Where is it? - Whatever's happened, I'm sure we can help you. - (GASPS) - It was the girl! What girl? - The serving girl. - Where is she? Your boss will wanna know there's a new demon in town. She's got some competition with this one. (SLURPS) You're really just gonna sit there and drink your tea like nothing's happened? Yep. (YELLS) I only want what is mine! Give me the golden crown and I will leave you in peace. A girl stole it from me! Shh. You'll be safe here. This is your monastery? - (FLAME HISSES) - If you could call it that. It was once a place of worship and wisdom. Now we just meditate. We meditate on the fate of the world and our inability to do anything about it. - Please, I have to get to the forest. Can you help? - I think it would be best to wait. - You don't understand. That demon won't stop until he finds me. - What does he want with you? It's not me he wants. It's this. Scriptures told of a god who would wear such a crown. The Monkey King is real and I know where he is. Please. I don't have time to explain. I just need to get to the forest. Once you leave this monastery, you will need a disguise. Hurry. What are you doing? There's a demon in the town. - The people need our help. - What can you do? Beg the demon away? Pray he doesn't kill you? We'll offer help where we can. Wait! Who are you, boy? I-I'm new. Where is she? Tell me or I will burn this stinking village to the ground! MAN: I don't know, I swear! You have to leave this place, demon. Go. (MONKS YELL) (SNIFFS) GIRL: 'For once, I know exactly where to go and exactly what I must do.' (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (GRUNTS, COUGHS) Are we done with the theatrics? (LOUD RUMBLING) (MONKEYS SCREECH AND HOOT) I am the Monkey King. And what in the seven hells are you supposed to be? - I am a nightmare. - (SNORTS) A nightmare? (LAUGHS) No, no, let me tell you what you are. You're a momentary distraction from what I was thinking about before I laid eyes on your disgusting yet ultimately forgettable face. And in about three seconds, I will dispatch you with a mere flick of my finger. Uh, monk, if you can fight or have any weapons, now might be a good time. No, I... I don't. Sorry. Oh, I... I have this. Alright, you snot-knuckled letter head, let's see what else you've got. (TENSE MUSIC) (POWER ZAPS) (BOTH GRUNT) Argh! You should have stayed in that mountain, Monkey King! Just the beginning, after all. Please, Monkey, I'm not your enemy. Who are you? I'm... I'm Tripitaka and I need your help. Able 2018