"KUBO:" "If you must blink, do it now." "Pay careful attention to everything you see and hear," "(THUNDER RUMBLING) no matter how unusual it may seem." "(GASPS)" "(GRUNTS)" "And please be warned, if you fidget, if you look away, if you forget any part of what I tell you, even for an instant," "then our hero will surely perish." "(BABY CRYING)" "His name is Kubo." "His grandfather stole something from him." "(CONTINUES CRYING)" "And that really is the least of it." "Ow!" "(MOTHER GROANS)" "(BLOWS)" "(BELL TOLLING)" "(ROARING)" "(LAUGHING)" "(GROWLS) (SHRIEKS)" "(CRYING)" "Well, hello, Kubo." "(LAUGHS) How was it today?" "It wasn't a bad crowd." "I got two pennies and a lint ball." "This is pretty good lint." "And what have you got planned for today?" "Oh, you know, the usual." "Monsters?" "Of course." "You think you can work in a fire-breathing chicken?" "The chicken again?" "The chicken is funny." "A touch of comedy to balance the whole thing out." "They're gonna be throwing money at you." "I just know it." "Uh, they'll throw something at you." "I don't know." "(CHUCKLES) Okay, I'll see what I can do." "And do you plan on finishing the story this time, young man?" "If you must blink, do it now." "(STRUMS)" "(GASPS) (PEOPLE GASP)" "(GASPS)" "ALL:" "Yay!" "Pay careful attention to everything you see and hear, no matter how unusual it may seem." "And please be warned, if you fidget, if you look away, if you forget any part of what I tell you, even for an instant, then our hero will surely perish." "(STRUMMING INSTRUMENT)" "(CROWD EXCLAIMS)" "(CROWD APPLAUDING)" "Hanzo was a mighty samurai, but he was alone." "His family taken from him, his kingdom in ruins, and his army destroyed by the dreaded Moon King." "You may recall," "Hanzo was roaming the distant Far Lands in search of a magical suit of armor." "The only weapon in the whole world that could protect him from the power of the Moon King." "This armor was made up of three pieces." "The first..." "Oh!" "I know!" "I know!" "The sword unbreakable." "(CROWD CLAPPING)" "The second..." "The breastplate..." "(STUTTERS)" "Impenetrable." "Impenetra-bubble!" "Yeah!" "(CROWD LAUGHS)" "And finally, the third weapon, the final piece of the armor..." "I know this one." "Pick me!" "The helmet invulnerable!" "(CROWD CLAPPING)" "Before Hanzo could claim the armor and unite the pieces to reveal their true power, he was attacked by the Moon King's beast." "(ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)" "(INAUDIBLE)" "(CROWD GASPS)" "Oh, yes!" "(CROWD CLAPPING) (SQUAWKS)" "(LAUGHS) Kill the chicken!" "Rip it to pieces." "(SQUAWKING)" "(ALL APPLAUDING)" "(CROWD GASPS)" "(CROWD LAUGHS)" "(SQUAWKS)" "Oh, my." "(INAUDIBLE)" "(CROWD EXCLAIMS)" "(LAUGHING)" "(RETCHES)" "Hanzo was filled with rage." "His soul tormented by the grief of a family stolen from him!" "At last, our hero was face-to-face with his nemesis, the Moon King." "(BELL TOLLING)" "(CROWD CHATTERING)" "So, be sure to come back tomorrow." "(CROWD MOANS) What?" "Oh, come on!" "People like an ending." "Where are you going?" "No, you can't..." "You can't leave!" "(WEAKLY) Kubo." "Kubo." "KUBO:" "Yes, Mother." "I'm here." "(SIGHS)" "Hungry?" "MOTHER:" "And even though he could barely see his own hand in front of his face," "Hanzo and his army of loyal samurai pressed on through the blizzard." "(MIMICS WHOOSHING)" "(GIGGLES)" "And suddenly, as quickly as it had started, the storm cleared before him." "Hanzo breathed a sigh of relief, for he was home." "His fortress?" "The Beetle Clan castle!" "Yes." "At the very edge of the Far Lands, hidden from the Moon King by powerful magic." "And then what happened, when he got to the castle?" "When who got to the castle?" "Hanzo!" "My father!" "Hanzo..." "Hanzo was at the castle?" "He..." "Just give me a second." "I'm..." "No." "It's gone." "I can't..." "I'm sorry, Kubo." "Perhaps I could recall a different story." "Mother, what was Father like?" "Oh." "This one is easy." "Hanzo was a mighty warrior, skilled with sword and bow." "No, what was he really like?" "When he wasn't fighting, when he was with us." "(EXHALES)" "He was just like you." "Like me?" "Yes." "Strong, and clever, and funny, and, oh, so handsome." "Ugh." "Mother." "(CHUCKLING) Come on!" "Never forget how much he loved you, Kubo." "He died protecting us." "Did the Moon King..." "Uh." "Your grandfather." "Did Grandfather and your sisters really kill my father?" "It can't be true, can it?" "They're family." "No, they are monsters." "Grandfather and my sisters stole your eye, Kubo." "They must never find you again." "Never!" "You must always stay hidden from the night sky, or they will find you and they'll take you away from me." "Promise me you will never let this happen." "Promise me, Kubo!" "(MIMICKING VOICE) Don't be sad, Kubo." "Kubo?" "Remember what you must do, Kubo?" "(CHUCKLES)" "Remember?" "(SIGHS)" "Keep you with me at all times, Mr. Monkey." "And?" "And keep Father's robe on my back at all times." "Yes, Kubo." "And there's one more thing." "Never, ever stay out after dark." "Huh?" "Remember?" "Yes, Mr. Monkey." "Good boy." "(CHUCKLING)" "(YAWNS)" "Bedtime." "(BLOWS)" "(MOTHER PANTING)" "Mother, wake up." "You're dreaming." "No." "Kubo." "Kubo, is that you?" "Yes, Mother." "I'm here." "Kubo, what happened to your eye?" "(MUSIC PLAYING)" "(LAUGHING)" "KAMEYO:" "Paper boy!" "Here, here!" "Come on." "Come on." "Come sit next to me." "I got us a good spot here." "What do you think?" "I got myself all spruced up for the big day." "(CHUCKLES)" "Mmm." "I do so love the festival." "A time to celebrate." "You know, it's a shame you never stay past sundown." "There's fireworks, and singing, and dancing, and feasting, of course." "(LAUGHING)" "But the best part of all..." "Do you see those lamps and altars?" "We use those to speak to the loved ones that left us behind." "We listen to their tales, and guide their safe return to the blissful pure land." "Really?" "Did you speak to someone?" "Yes, I did." "My husband." "His voice was as clear and loud as the one you use for your stories." "In 72 years, he never had a thing to say." "Now he's gone, I can't shut him up." "(LAUGHING)" "(CHUCKLES)" "You have someone you wanna talk to, huh?" "Very much." "Well, what's stopping you?" "Don't I need a lamp?" "Well, I'll bet you could make a really nice one with that paper folding thing you do." "You see, not just a pretty face, huh?" "(LAUGHS)" "Now, hurry along." "Go!" "There's still time before dark." "Go!" "Get out of here." "(CHUCKLES)" "Place the lamp at the altar." "(CHUCKLES) Very good." "What do we do next, Daddy?" "Now we pray." "We ask her spirit to honor us with its light." "Grandma, will you please honor..." "Shh. (CHUCKLES)" "Softly, softly." "(BLOWS)" "Hello, Father." "I hope you're well." "I mean, I know you're dead, but I hope everything is okay." "Look, it's your robe." "Mother says I'll grow into it." "She says you were a great leader who died protecting me." "Saving one of my eyes." "Two would have been ideal, but thanks anyway." "Father, I'm worried about Mother." "With every day that goes by, she drifts further away." "She talks a lot about you, but..." "But I just don't know." "I don't think she remembers what's real anymore." "I don't know what's real anymore." "I just wish you were here, so I could talk to you, see you, find out what I should do." "Daddy, Daddy, she's here!" "Grandma is here!" "Now it's time for the final part." "We have to help her get back to the spirit world." "(MOANS) But she just got here." "MAN: (CHUCKLES) Come on." "Father?" "Hello?" "Anytime." "(MAN LAUGHING)" "(BELL TOLLING)" "Fine!" "I don't need you anyway." "(GRUNTS)" "(GASPS) Kubo." "I'm sorry." "(AIR WHOOSHING)" "WOMEN:" "Kubo." "Kubo." "Little boy." "What happened to your eye?" "Who are you?" "How do you know my name?" "We are your family, Kubo." "Your mother's sisters." "And we've been looking for you for so long." "It's so lovely to meet you, Kubo." "Face-to-face." "(BOTH LAUGHING) (GASPS)" "Come, Kubo." "Come to your aunties." "No reason to be afraid, Kubo." "(GASPS)" "We just need your other eye." "Your grandfather admires it so." "(PANTING) (SISTERS LAUGHING)" "(FIREWORKS CRACKING) Help!" "Help!" "Somebody help!" "Help!" "Look out!" "Run!" "(CROWD SCREAMING)" "(PANTING)" "(GRUNTS)" "SISTERS:" "We're here, Kubo." "Your family has come for you." "(GRUNTS)" "Kubo." "Mother." "(SISTERS LAUGHING)" "Kubo, you must find the armor." "It's your only chance." "Remember this." "(GASPS)" "Mother!" "Mother!" "No!" "Mother!" "MONKEY:" "Kubo." "Kubo!" "Can you hear me, Kubo?" "(GASPS)" "I said your mother is gone." "Your village is destroyed." "Burned to the ground." "We landed here in the Far Lands." "Your enemies aren't far behind." "We must search for shelter before your grandfather comes." "We need to go now." "Come on, get up, let's go." "Once we're inside, you might be tempted to complain about the odor." "Keep in mind my sense of smell is 10 times stronger than yours." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "(YAWNS)" "You have questions, I can tell." "Who..." "You get three." "I think I have more." "Three, but first you're gonna eat." "Why only three?" "Okay, that was your first question." "What?" "I don't understand what's happening!" "Who are you?" "You don't recognize me?" "All these years, you had to keep me in your pack." "Well, now you know why." "But you were a wooden charm." "You were this big." "I called that charm "Mr. Monkey."" "And if I were alive at that point," "I might have found that insulting." "Look, your mother used the last of her magic to save you and bring me to life." "Here." "Drink." "(SNIFFS AND RETCHES)" "It smells." "Everything in here smells." "Drink it." "I don't want it." "I said drink it." "You're a mean monkey, aren't you?" "Yes." "Yes, I am." "And that's three." "You're out of questions now, so just listen." "I'm here to protect you, Kubo." "And that means you have to do as I say." "So, if you don't eat, you'll be weak." "If you're weak, you'll be slow." "If you're slow, you'll die." "(SLURPS AND EXCLAIMS)" "It's too hot!" "(BLOWS)" "Drink." "(LOUD SLURPING)" "Oh, excuse me." "(LOUD SLURPING CONTINUES)" "Okay, you better start taking this seriously, Kubo." "This is real." "This is not a story." "Those things, your aunts, they never get hungry." "They never sleep." "They will find you!" "And if we're not prepared, they'll kill me and take your other eye." "What are we gonna do?" "We're going to find the armor." "It's the only thing that can protect you." "So it's real." "Really real." "Don't worry." "I'm not going to keep it." "I pulled that from her head." "I didn't mean to." "Your mother was very powerful." "She blessed your robes so that when the need was most, they would fly you away." "She used the last of that power to bring me to life." "This bracelet, her hair, it's a memory." "And memories are powerful things, Kubo." "Never lose it." "One more question?" "Last one." "Do you know where it is?" "The armor?" "No." "No, I don't." "Now, go to sleep." "Goodnight, Monkey." "MONKEY: (WHISPERING) Kubo." "Kubo." "You were talking in your sleep." "You were dreaming, calling out to your father, and then the paper flew out of your bag and folded itself into him." "He's been standing there for hours, quietly judging us." "I'm not even convinced this counts as origami." "I could swear scissors were involved." "Ow." "Back home in the cave, my mother's dreams did this, and the paper always unfolded itself by morning." "What's that about?" "What are you doing?" "I guess this is how my father answered me." "Hmm." "I'm tempted to say that entrusting our fate to the guidance of a small paper man seems like a bad idea." "But it's the best bad idea we have." "(BIRD CHIRPING)" "(PLAYING INSTRUMENT)" "(BOTH CHIRPING)" "(MUSIC STOPS) (SCREAMS)" "(KUBO LAUGHING)" "You're growing stronger." "You might not wanna look quite so pleased about that." "We grow stronger, the world grows more dangerous." "Life has a funny way of keeping things balanced." "Monkey, do you ever say anything encouraging?" "I encourage you not to die." "(MIMICKING) "I encourage you not to die."" "(STRUMS)" "(GRUNTS)" "(GROWLING)" "Mosquitoes." "Annoying." "(BUZZING)" "(GULPS)" "Wasn't me, I swear." "Paper runs out, as does patience." "I didn't ask them to do that." "The second time." "I didn't!" "At least, not exactly." "I mean, I felt it, but..." "Magic is not meant to be easy." "You need to learn control." "Concentrate on what you're doing, and always remember, don't mess with the monkey." "Tread carefully, Kubo." "This isn't one of your stories." "How do you know?" "Maybe it is." "And I'm the valiant hero and you're the mean monkey." "(SIGHS) Heroes come and go." "Any moment, something terrible could come out of nowhere and..." "KUBO:" "Monkey!" "(GASPS) Kubo!" "Monkey, wait." "He wasn't trying to hurt me." "He just wanted..." "Hanzo." "Hanzo?" "Hanzo." "(CHUCKLING)" "I still think I'm gonna stab him." "Why must you always assume the worst?" "Oh!" "Oh!" "Pardon me for not trusting this giant, spiky, insect-monster that just kidnapped you." "Hanzo." "Yes, I remember him." "I think, maybe, he was my master." "What?" "What did you say?" "We had a crest." "A samurai crest." "Have you seen this crest before?" "(BEETLE GASPS)" "This is a miracle." "You have our robes." "You're wearing our robes!" "Why are you wearing our robes?" "He doesn't have to answer your questions." "Anyway, who are you?" "Many years ago, I was cursed." "Trapped in this cursed state." "Cursed to wander the Far Lands." "Cursed or curs-ed." "No comrades, no master." "Not even a name or a single memory of the noble warrior I once was." "You used to be a man?" "No, not just any man." "A samurai." "I mean, I'm pretty certain." "Look, I had the stuff." "I mean, I'm either a samurai or a really bad hoarder." "Either way, inside my thorax beats the heart of a warrior." "If you have no memory, how can you be certain of anything?" "Because I get flashes." "They come about from objects I find on my travels." "Sometimes it's a sound." "Or a smell." "(SNIFFS) You must get a lot of flashes." "The memories, they fade." "And all I'm left with is the sense that I was once part of something much greater." "Monkey, can I tell him?" "I really don't think that's a good idea." "He has a right." "Absolutely not." "But..." "I..." "No "buts." No!" "What?" "Tell me what?" "Hanzo was my father." "Kubo!" "(LAUGHS)" "This is a miracle." "I have found the son of my master." "Don't even." "Oh." "Whatever brings you to these lands, whatever your quest, it is now my quest, too." "I will join you, and I will give my life for you, if necessary." "Wow." "You will?" "What?" "Do you think that's possible?" "Look, kid, I mean, I know how these quests go." "People die all the time." "They drop like flies." "That doesn't matter." "(CLATTERING) 'Cause I have a feeling this is my destiny." "No, it isn't!" "We can't trust anything you say, because you can't trust anything you say." "We don't know anything about you." "(KUBO PLAYING INSTRUMENT)" "Monkey, you said it yourself." "Our quest is a difficult one." "A samurai, even a cursed one with no memory, that looks like a bug, could be helpful." "Yes, I am certain I could be helpful." "Indispensable." "In what way?" "Firing an arrow into a wall is hardly what I call..." "Impressive." "Oh, look at that." "Literally, the first time I've ever done it." "Just tell me of our quest, and I will quickly demonstrate my numerous indispensabilities." "Well, that's kind of a long story." "You've got my attention." "I promise I won't even blink." "I actually don't think I even can blink." "Do I have eyelids?" "MONKEY:" "Fine." "Walk and talk." "Hanzo has found a path." "BEETLE:" "So, you used to be a toy monkey." "MONKEY:" "Kubo, I really don't see how this part is important to our story." "I kept her in my pocket." "She was only like this big. (MONKEY CLEARS THROAT)" "Okay, Kubo, that's enough." "Tiny." "And she was called "Mr. Monkey."" "I wasn't a toy." "I was a charm." "(LAUGHS) Of course you were." "(BEETLE GRUNTING)" "That doesn't look good." "MONKEY:" "Don't touch anything." "He did it." "(RUMBLING)" "(BEETLE GRUNTING)" "BEETLE:" "Okay." "(CONTINUES GRUNTING)" "No." "No." "No." "(STRAINING)" "(GROANS)" "Yes." "(SCOFFS) (BEETLE GRUNTING)" "(BOTH STRAINING)" "MONKEY:" "Kubo, look." "The sword unbreakable." "It could be a trap." "(BEETLE CLEARS THROAT)" "Allow me." "What, it's not a trap if you do it?" "Stealth is my middle name." "You don't even have a first name." "Don't worry." "I got this." "(GRUNTS)" "(LAUGHS)" "The mighty Beetle is victorious!" "(RUMBLING) (YELPS)" "I don't got this." "I don't got this!" "Oh, for crying out loud!" "I invoke the sword unbreakable!" "(GRUNTS)" "It broke." "So, does it just mean the handle or..." "I'm a little disappointed with this magic sword." "It's not the right sword, you idiot!" "(ROARS)" "Look!" "BEETLE:" "The sword!" "It's in his head." "Hey!" "I've got a bone to pick with you." "See, because he's made of bones." "You're an embarrassment." "BEETLE:" "Uh..." "This is problematic." "(GRUNTS)" "(GRUNTS)" "Enough with the arrows!" "(BOTH GRUNT)" "(PLAYING INSTRUMENT)" "(KUBO SCREAMS)" "Oh, foot!" "(LOUD IMPACT)" "(FLUTTERING)" "KUBO:" "You can fly?" "Apparently, yes!" "(LAUGHS) (GRUNTS)" "(GROANING)" "(SCREAMING)" "(BOTH EXCLAIMING)" "(GRUNTS AND GROANS)" "(GRUNTING)" "(GRUNTING)" "Are you sure it isn't the sword unfindable?" "I think I found it!" "(STRAINING)" "A hand here." "Anyone?" "(YELPS)" "(SCREAMING) Anyone else?" "(SCREAMING)" "Kubo!" "(GASPS)" "(GRUNTING)" "(GRUNTS) Kubo!" "Monkey!" "(EXCLAIMS) Whoa!" "No!" "Kubo!" "(SCREAMS AND GRUNTS)" "Huh." "(BOTH GRUNTING)" "(GRUNTING)" "Yes!" "BEETLE:" "Thank goodness that's over." "(ALL SCREAMING)" "(SCREAMING CONTINUES)" "Everything turning black." "MONKEY:" "Then open your eyes." "Oh." "I can't feel my wings." "You didn't even know you had them five minutes ago." "Stop wriggling." "(GROANS) Here." "Is that feeling better?" "Oh, yeah." "A little to the left." "Down, just a bit." "(GROANS)" "Right there." "That's good." "Wait, you're being nice to me." "Shh." "Don't tell anyone." "KUBO:" "We did it, Beetle." "We got the sword." "(GRUNTING)" "Whoa." "Put that down, it's sharp!" "(MOCKS)" "(MOANING)" "Ooh." "Mmm." "Okay, we're done here." "Get up." "We have a lot of walking to do." "You can't be serious." "I'm always serious." "(SIGHS) Are you two going to fight, again?" "Of course not." "We're having a grown-up conversation." "You're going to fight again." "Kubo, just go over there and play with something." "Not that!" "Monkey, this is the Long Lake." "We can't walk around it." "We need to swim across." "(STRUMMING)" "I can carry Kubo." "(CHUCKLES) "Carry Kubo." That's your better idea?" "Look, I appreciate your help." "I really do." "But when it comes to the boy," "I know what's best." "Oh, is that right?" "And what's best is not to be fielding ideas from a talking cockroach." "This coming from a talking monkey." "KUBO:" "I can still hear you, you know." "Then play louder." "This conversation is over." "Monkeys don't swim. (CONTINUES PLAYING)" "Not to worry." "Monkey see, monkey do." "MONKEY:" "Oh." "MONKEY:" "How long have you been waiting to say that?" "BEETLE:" "Ever since I met you." "Hey, what were we grown-up conversation-ing about?" "Oh!" "You're ridiculous." "You're just absolutely ridiculous." "Ridiculous!" "Crossing the lake is a ridiculous idea." "It's not your fault." "There's no sense left in your head." "I think I resent that." "I may not know everything..." "(BLOWS)" "Anything." "Anything." "But I do know Kubo is more capable than you think he is." "You're being a tiny bit overprotective here." "I'm being a lot overprotective here." "It's my job to make sure Kubo is safe, and that is not safe." "You..." "You are not safe." "Kubo is just a child." "And an incredibly gifted one." "He just saved our lives." "Yes, he's very powerful, but he still has much to learn!" "What?" "Well, fast learner." "Did you know you could do that?" "(KUBO STRUMS)" "Show off." "Okay, now take a deep breath." "(INHALES DEEPLY)" "Clear your mind." "(EXHALES)" "Guess I got that part covered." "(LAUGHS)" "Now, draw back slowly." "That's it." "Close one eye." "Guess you got that part covered." "Concentrate on what is directly in front of you." "Let everything else fall away." "And release!" "(EXCLAIMS) Yeah!" "Perfect shot!" "Not bad." "And what's your plan for getting the fish into the boat, so we can actually eat it?" "Well, I said I was teaching him how to shoot, not fish." "Fishing is tomorrow's lesson." "Give me that." "Whoa." "Grabby monkey." "Now try it." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "Pull back and... (BOTH EXCLAIM)" "Whoo-hoo!" "A rope. (CHUCKLES)" "It's a pretty good idea." "Hmm." "And you're not an awful shot." "(CHUCKLES) (CHUCKLES)" "Okay, now you two are being weird." "BEETLE:" "Um..." "We're going to need something to cut this with." "Sword unbreakable." "(LAUGHS)" "(BEETLE CHUCKLES)" "Must you play with your food?" "Yes." "What's the matter, Kubo?" "You act like you've never had a meal sitting between a monkey and a beetle before." "I've never had a meal sitting between anyone before." "Come on, eat." "You need energy." "And this is much better than whale soup." "Kubo, question." "(GULPS)" "Before you started on your heroic quest, what were you like?" "Well, I looked after my mother mostly." "And I told stories about mighty warriors seeking revenge with battles, and monsters, and magic." "I was pretty good at telling them." "Not so good at ending them." "Sometimes I would tell my mother stories about little things." "Like skimming rocks across the river or catching fireflies in the mulberry fields." "And when I told those stories," "I could see her eyes were mostly clear." "I could tell she saw me." "Really saw me." "I could see her, too." "Her real self." "Her spirit trying to fight its way out." "It was beautiful." "BEETLE:" "You know something, Kubo?" "Back when you just told stories, before you went on this great adventure, you were still very much a hero." "(THUNDER RUMBLING)" "(GRUNTS)" "We're gonna have to head for shore." "Find a hiding place and..." "The second piece of armor." "The breastplate." "(THUNDER RUMBLING) It's down there?" "Okay, I got it." "Beetle, wait!" "No, don't worry." "Beetles can hold their breath under water for a very long time." "What?" "Since when?" "It's a well-known fact, Monkey." "So, you don't remember anything at all, but beetles swimming?" "That's what sticks in there?" "No, Beetle." "My mother told me a story about the Long Lake." "There's something under the water." "Oh, yeah?" "Um..." "What kind of something?" "She said there was a garden of eyes, eyes that stare into you, into your soul." "They show you secrets, things to keep you down there with them." "Forever." "Okay." "Well, I won't look directly into anyone's eyes, even if I'm being incredibly sincere." "You're gonna miss me, Monkey." "(CLICKS TONGUE)" "Be careful." "He's searching for the armor just like his insolent father." "Yes, sister." "Then we must ensure he does not find what remains." "KUBO:" "Monkey, I think he's in trouble!" "We should help him." "Kubo, your aunts are still out there." "I'm sorry." "But we have to head for shore." "(SPLASHING)" "Kubo!" "(GRUNTS)" "(GRUNTS)" "Kubo." "(SISTERS LAUGHING)" "Look at this." "I come fishing and all I reel in is a stinking ape." "How pathetic that this filthy creature is all that's left of my sister's magic." "This filthy creature will tear you apart!" "(GRUNTS)" "ECHOING VOICE:" "Kubo." "(BLOWS LANDING)" "(MONKEY GRUNTS)" "Kubo?" "I have crushed creatures who could fit this world on their fingernail." "This victory brings me no honor." "(GRUNTS)" "Imagine how you're going to feel when you lose." "I felt loss only once." "Eleven years ago, I lost my sister." "She fell in love with a fool and betrayed our father!" "(GRUNTS)" "She was an ungrateful coward!" "(GRUNTING)" "Who's the coward now?" "(GRUNTS)" "I got it!" "I got it!" "Beetle, what happened?" "Where's Kubo?" "Um..." "(SCREAMS)" "(GROWLS)" "Uh-oh. (GRUNTS)" "Get back down there!" "He's in trouble!" "I got it. (GRUNTS) (SPLASHING)" "(BOTH GRUNTING)" "VOICE: (WHISPERING) Mother." "Mother." "Mother." "Mother." "Mother." "(VOICES SCREAMING)" "(VOICES SCREAMING)" "(SISTER GRUNTS)" "It never fails to amaze me how the creatures down here fight so hard just to die another day." "Down here, there are days worth fighting for." "There is nothing down here worth anything!" "(GRUNTING)" "(GRUNTS)" "SISTER:" "It's pathetic what happened to my sister." "I looked up to her." "She was so strong." "And love made her weak." "No!" "(BOTH GRUNT)" "It made me stronger." "(GRUNTS)" "Over here." "The eyes... (COUGHING)" "It was the eyes." "They had him in a trance." "Oh, no." "No." "Come on." "Come on, Kubo." "Wake up." "Please wake up!" "(SOFTLY) Please, please wake up." "It's gonna be all right." "It's gonna be all right." "I'm here." "I'm right here." "(COUGHING)" "I saw..." "What?" "What did you see?" "I saw..." "Mother." "My son." "BEETLE:" "So, you must look more like your dad, then?" "You're staring." "Let me guess." "You have questions." "Why..." "I'll start." "First question." "If I'm Beetle and you're Monkey, why isn't he called "Boy"?" "Oh, boy." "Questions can wait." "We need sleep." "Tell us your story, then we can sleep." "Please?" "Okay." "Perhaps you can help me." "(SIGHS)" "The night I met your father..." "Mother." "(INHALES)" "My sisters and I went to the Temple of Bones to kill Hanzo." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "Oh, right." "(PLAYING INSTRUMENT)" "At the bidding of the Moon King, my sisters and I had come down from the night sky and killed many noble warriors." "Your grandfather told us that any man who found the magical armor would grow too powerful and be a threat to the heavens." "That night, I arrived at the temple before my sisters." "And there he was, the mighty Hanzo." ""You have offended my father," I told him." ""Now you must die."" "Yeah, that's so you." "Beetle." "Shh!" "We fought." "Hanzo was strong." "But then he stopped." "He looked into my eyes and uttered four simple words." "These words changed everything." ""I love you," ""Monkey"?" ""You are my quest,"" "he whispered." "I had seen the wonders of the universe, but the warmth of his gaze as I looked into his eyes..." "That..." "That I had never known." "It was his humanity I saw." "And it was more powerful than anything in my cold realm." "In recognizing his compassion," "I recognized my own." "I spared his life." "He gave me mine." "And..." "And then he gave me you." "But your grandfather found us." "His rage at my betrayal shook the heavens." "Your father and his army gave their lives, allowing me to escape with you in my arms." "Why does Grandfather hate me?" "Oh, Kubo..." "He doesn't hate you." "He wants to make you just like him." "Blind to humanity, as I once was." "Only then can you take your place beside him as part of his family." "Cold and hard." "And perfect." "I'll never be like him, never." "I know." "He's exhausted." "Mmm." "Me, too." "I'm not tucking you in." "(GROANS)" "You're hurt." "It's just a scratch." "Monkey, why didn't you tell him sooner who you really are?" "The magic that keeps me here, it's fading." "Soon I'll be gone." "And then Kubo will be alone again." "Not alone." "He is the son of Hanzo." "I will do everything I can to keep him from harm." "Thank you, Beetle." "To know Kubo has someone to watch over him when I'm gone." "That would be a fine way to end my story." "Your story will never end." "It will be told by him and by the people he shares it with." "And by the people they share it with." "And by the people they share it with, and by the people they share it with." "And by the people..." "Beetle." "The point is your story will live on in him." "(INSTRUMENT PLAYING)" "Hello, my young friend." "Why don't you join in my song?" "But how did you..." "You're..." "Even blinder than you?" "Twice as much, to be precise." "(CHUCKLES)" "Which means I see double the truth." "This is all a dream." "Is this a good dream or a bad one?" "See for yourself." "My father's fortress." "Yes." "KUBO:" "The last piece of the armor." "It's here?" "Follow the setting sun and you'll find it, in the place that might have been your home." "Claim your birthright, Kubo." "Give this story a happy ending." "Mother!" "Beetle!" "Wake up!" "(GROGGILY) I'm up." "I'm up." "BEETLE:" "Well, I'm down." "(GROANS)" "Off." "I think I slept on something." "(GROANS)" "Sword uncomfortable." "The helmet, I know where it is." "I saw it in a dream, Beetle." "A dream?" "Well, it doesn't mean anything in particular." "I mean, I dreamed I fought a giant skeleton with swords in its head." "That really happened." "Oh, yeah." "(CHUCKLING) Beetle." "Come on, this way." "KUBO:" "I spy with my one eye something beginning with "S."" "Snow?" "No." "Snowflake?" "No." "Okay." "Oh." "Pfft." "Snow covered trees." "Nothing to do with snow." "How about "serious"?" "Stupid." "Okay, I got it." "Snow." "(CHUCKLING) He said it wasn't "snow."" "It's a song." "Well, that's not fair." "How do you see a song?" "You look." "(BIRDS HOWLING)" "MONKEY:" "Golden heron." "It's believed they hold the souls of the departed, carrying them over to wherever they need to go." "Hmm." "What are they singing?" "It's beautiful." "Many say the song's about what happens when we die." "How we don't just disappear." "We don't?" "Uh, so, what happens to us?" "Well, like Kubo's paper, we shift." "We transform so we can continue our story to another place." "The end of one story is merely the beginning of another." "I remember this place." "This was where my father prepared for his quest." "There's something I don't understand." "Why would the helmet be here?" "Kubo!" "(GRUNTS)" "(GRUNTS)" "(GRUNTS)" "(SISTER LAUGHING)" "Release us!" "Oh, sister." "I remember how we looked up to you." "Of all of us, you shone the brightest." "Such a waste." "All we ever wished was to be a family in our home among the stars." "I think we have very different definitions of family." "Don't you touch him, you witch!" "And then there's you, the thieving insect who stole my sister's soul." "What?" "(CHUCKLES)" "Oh, this is precious." "You've been together all this time and you haven't even realized?" "You took her from us." "It was only fitting we took something from you." "How swiftly those memories spilled from your head, wiping out all recollection of your obscene union." "Hanzo." "What?" "Hanzo?" "I..." "I didn't know." "(SISTER LAUGHS)" "(GRUNTS) MONKEY:" "No!" "(LAUGHING)" "I'm forgetting what I came here for." "(GRUNTING)" "(GRUNTS)" "(SCREAMS) (GASPS)" "(GRUNTS)" "(SCREAMING)" "(BOTH GRUNTING)" "(CHUCKLES)" "(GROANING) (GRUNTING)" "Mother!" "(SCREAMS)" "Shh." "It's okay." "I'm here." "Father?" "My son." "Seems I'm married to a bug." "Yeah." "But a samurai bug." "You are my quest." "You always have been." "Hanzo, keep him safe, no matter what." "I promise I will." "(GRUNTS) (BOTH GASP)" "No!" "Fly home, Kubo." "(PANTING)" "(SISTER SCREAMS)" "(STRUMS)" "(STRUMS)" "(GRUNTS)" "(GRUNTS)" "(GRUNTING)" "KAMEYO:" "Kubo?" "Is that you?" "You have to leave this place." "The Moon King, he's coming." "(CROWD EXCLAIMING)" "Grandfather!" "It's me, Kubo!" "I know you can see me!" "MOON KING:" "Hello, grandson." "It's so good to see you at last." "(CHUCKLES) So to speak." "And I see you found the armor." "Seems your mother had a reason to bring you to this dreadful place after all." "(GRUNTS)" "I see." "I know you do." "That's how this all began." "You finally saw me." "It was my fault." "I should've listened to my parents." "Kubo, we both want the exact same thing." "You want to take my other eye." "That's what you want!" "Well, yes." "But do you know why I want it?" "Because you're old, and mean, and cruel." "Oh, now, that's a little harsh." "As long as you cling to that silly, useless eye, you can't come up to live with me." "In the heavens." "You'll be stuck down here in this hell, staring with that lonely eye at hate and heartache and suffering and death." "Where I want to take you, we have none of those things." "It'll just be you with your family." "Where you belong." "My family is gone." "You killed them." "No..." "They brought their fates upon themselves!" "They disgraced me and upset the order of everything!" "That's how your story goes." "(INHALES)" "Oh, Kubo..." "When you're up there with me, you will be beyond stories." "You will be immortal." "You will be" "(LAUGHS) infinite." "No." "You're wrong, not infinite." "All stories have an end." "Is that right?" "And how does this story end?" "I kill you." "Oh." "Very well." "Is this your wish, to do battle with a hideous monster who ruined your life, to prove your worth like your doomed father?" "How mortal." "(GRUNTING)" "(SCREAMING)" "(ROARING)" "(PANTING)" "(SHOUTS)" "(GASPS)" "(GRUNTS)" "(GRUNTS)" "(GRUNTING)" "(GRUNTS) (MOON KING LAUGHS)" "You want to be human?" "Then share their weakness!" "Suffer their humiliation!" "Feel their pain!" "(GRUNTS)" "(LAUGHING)" "This is the end of your story." "Now, take one last look with that lonely eye, one last look at this wretched place you call home." "I'm not leaving." "For every horrible thing down here, there's something far more beautiful." "My mother saw it." "So did my father." "I see it." "Even with just one eye." "Then I'll just have to rip it out of your head again, won't I?" "(PLAYING)" "If you must blink, do it now." "I know why you want my eye." "Because without it," "I can't look into the eyes of another and see their soul." "Their love..." "Everything you loved is gone!" "Everything you knew has been taken from you!" "No." "It's in my memories." "The most powerful kind of magic there is." "(GRUNTING)" "It makes us stronger than you'll ever be." "These are the memories of those we have loved and lost." "And if we hold their stories deep in our hearts, then you will never take them away from us." "(SHOUTS)" "And that really is the least of it." "(GROGGILY) Where am I?" "KUBO:" "Hello, Grandfather." "(MUMBLES INDISTINCTLY)" "Oh, hello." "What happened to your eye?" "Don't you remember?" "No, I..." "I'm sorry, young man." "But I seem to have forgotten my story." "Can you help me?" "KAMEYO:" "I'll tell him." "No, we'll all tell him." "We'll tell him everything he needs to know." "You are the kindest, sweetest man to ever live in this village." "Oh." "Oh, really?" "Yes." "GIRL:" "Uh..." "Uh..." "Every day, you walk around smiling and handing out coins to children." "Like me!" "And old women." "Oh." "You..." "You taught my kids to swim." "What?" "And you give blankets to the poor." "You're a good man." "You fed the hungry." "WOMAN:" "You always lend a helping hand." "MAN:" "You're a great example." "(CROWD AGREEING)" "It turns out I'm pretty selfless." "That's why we love you." "You know, we have something in common." "We both adore your grandson." "His name is Kubo." "Kubo?" "I'm sorry." "But I..." "But I don't remember." "Well..." "Your grandson's a storyteller." "He'll tell you all the stories you've forgotten." "Really?" "Of course." "Hello, Mother." "Father." "I know my stories can tend to get a little, um, long, so I'll keep this brief." "I'm very grateful I've had the chance to meet you both, hear your wisdom, feel your kindness, even eat a meal sitting between you." "This was a happy story." "But it could still be a whole lot happier." "I don't know exactly what the rules are or how this works, but if there were any way to..." "You know, I still need you." "(SIGHS) So I can say this has been a happy story, or I could feel it." "We could all feel it." "Then we could end this story." "Together." "(BIRDS HOWLING)" "The end." "(MUSIC PLAYING)"