KIWI STORY PENDING TITLE Written by Brian Johnson & Ivan Cruz

Based on the Maori Legend "How the kiwi lost it's wings"

EXT. DARK LUSH GREEN FOREST - DAY The forest is dimly lit, through the deep green trees appears TANE MAHUTA, god of the forest. He looks around with pleasure at his domain, the moss, the rocks, the plants of the ground. His gaze travels upward toward his pride and joy, the trees. Tane sees a fallen tree in the distance, he takes a close look at the fallen tree and then sees bugs crawl out of it, he crushes it with ease. His eyes move around the forest he sees a once majestic Kowhai tree wilt before his eyes. The color drains from around him as he sees the treetops, their leaves are dim, their trunks are turning greyish, their limbs don't so much sway in the breeze as lift weakly, then fall to their sides. Leaves dry and fall off the branches. A swarm-like sound is heard. Tane Mahuta looks closely at the roots and sees they are black, he looks closer and sees their surface is moving. He looks even closer and see insects, looking like normal bugs, but with exaggerated, almost evil features. The insects crawl in and over the trees, taking bites, burrowing into the wood, leaving destruction in their wake. Tane Mahuta could not rid of them without destroying the same roots they feed on. His gigantic totem-like physique has always been of great help when it comes to protecting the forest, but not when the threat is attacking from within. He breathes heavily. He turns around and sees the forest roof, the colour that once covered his domain is being sucked dry by the vicious plague. Tane Mahuta collapses on the ground, his tears flood the forest floor, his pain is palpable in the air. Suddenly the sky is filled with plumage, bright colors of every type. Tane Mahuta gestures to the birds, then waves his arm toward the decaying forest. TANE MAHUTA Something is eating my children, I need one of you to come down from the forest roof and save them. Nothing is heard but the sound of the breeze. Tane Mahuta turns to TUI. TANE MAHUTA (CONTD) (His voice croaked) Tui, will you come down from the forest roof?

2.

Tui steps forward, preening his bright, multi-colored plumage there is a cockiness to his walk, he is particularly showing of the beautiful pattern around his neck. Tui steps forward then looks at the trees, his eyes following their trunks down to the ground. As his gaze nears the ground the light dims, until only the faint outlines of the environment can be seen and the bugs constantly moving. Suddenly the bugs eyes open and lock with Tui's. Tui hides beneath his wings, trembling and shaking his head. TUI (ON-SCREEN TYPOGRAPHY) No... Its too dark and scary. Nothing is heard but the sound of the breeze. Tane Mahuta turns to PIPIWHARAUROA (Cuckoo), his eyes pleading. TANE MAHUTA (In a desperate manner) Cuckoo, would you? Cuckoo looks down to the forest floor, and up at the light filtering through their leaves. Out of the corner of his eye he sees his wife. He gazes at her, and their half built nest. Cuckoo starts at this idea and scuttles back to his frame of a nest, nuzzling with his wife. CUCKOO (ON-SCREEN TYPOGRAPHY) No... I want to finish building my nest. Nothing is heard but the sound of the breeze. Tane Mahuta turns to PUKEKO. TANE MAHUTA (In a desperate questioning manner) Pukeko? PUKEKO looks at the trees, much like Tui did. But as his gaze follows the trunks down, he focuses in on a leaf at the base of one tree. On the tip of the branch a drop of water gathers and falls. Pukekos gaze follows the drip as it travels to the forest floor, the world growing ever darker, it lands with an exaggerated splash the sound echoing. We pull back slightly to reveal a wider view of the forest floor, with drips and puddles, wet looking ground. Water sounds fill our ears. Pukeko looks back to Tane Mahuta, then looks away, shaking his head.

3.

PUKEKO (ON-SCREEN TYPOGRAPHY) No... Its too wet and cold. Tane Mahuta gazes at the branches of the trees, all filled with birds, all awkwardly avoiding his gaze, or looking at their feet, shamed. Desperation and tears fill his eyes as his glance passes from forest floor to silent branches. A voice is heard behind the wall of silent birds. KIWI (ON-SCREEN TYPOGRAPHY) Ill do it. The crowd of birds shifts to the sound of kiwis voice. Tane Mahuta is overjoyed but realized that he must warn kiwi of what it meant to be on the ground. TANE MAHUTA You will have to grow long strong legs to roam the ground and lose your colourful feathered wings to help you blend in with the ground. Kiwi peeks over the edge of the branch he is on and looks down to the forest floor. He sees everything the earlier birds did. He sees his wife, his family, he sees the cold damp earth and caught a glimpse of the bugs that lie at the forest floor. TANE MAHUTA (CONTD) Kiwi... Will you still do it? He slowly bows his head and turns to his family to have one last moment together. His wife and children spread their wings to share one last hug. KIWI (ON-SCREEN TYPOGRAPHY) (Whilst hugging his family) I need to protect our home... Kiwi locks his eyes with his wife, both their eyes tear up as they gaze into one anothers. His wife smiles with a reassuring nod as if saying understand. Kiwi gives them one last good look and... ...leaps off. His children gasp and run to the ledge where Kiwi jumped, but their mother holds them back. They turn to her, nuzzle in and sob. As he falls Tane Mahuta turns to Tui, anger in his eyes. He clenches his fist and two white markings appear on Tui's throat. Tui turns away, covering his throat with his wings.

4.

TANE MAHUTA Tui! From now on you will wear these two white feathers as the mark of a coward. Kiwi continues to fall. Kiwi's legs thicken. Tane Mahuta turns to Cuckoo. He waves his arm and Cuckoo's nest explodes in a spray of sticks. TANE MAHUTA (CONTD) Cuckoo! Since you were too busy building your nest I now forbid you to build a nest ever again. Cuckoo looks on in shock then turns to Tane Mahuta as if to say "where will I live?!" Tane Mahuta points his finger toward a dilapidated old nest, broken egg shells lying inside. Cuckoo leads his wife inside. Kiwi continues to fall and spreads his wings to slow himself down. Tane Mahuta turns to Pukeko points towards the back of the forest and tells him that he is now exiled to the swamps. TANE MAHUTA (CONTD) And you Pukeko will now exiled to the swamps. As kiwi he hits the ground his wings fall away, almost as if blown by a breeze, Tane Mahuta smiles, kiwi puffs his chest mildly, and begins pecking at the bugs at the trees roots, which lightly grow green as he begins to eat. Tane Mahuta looks over to Kiwis family. Kiwis wife stares at Tane Mahuta and nods. TANE MAHUTA (CONTD) And you kiwi... you will become the most beloved bird of all and will never roam the ground alone. Kiwis family joins him and they roam the ground and start saving the forest together. The forest starts to slowly come back to life as Kiwi and his family eat the insects. THE END