Friday, June 19, 1998

MULAN: Chapter II

Promise: Fearful that her ailing father will be drafted into the Chinese military, Mulan takes his spot -- though, as a girl living under a patriarchal regime, she is technically unqualified to serve. She cleverly impersonates a man and goes off to train with fellow recruits. Accompanied by her dragon, Mushu, she uses her smarts to help ward off a Hun invasion, falling in love with a dashing captain along the way.

CHAPTER 2: Mulan's Town

Mulan: [Using chopsticks to balance a grain of rice] Quiet and demure... graceful... polite... [taking a bite] delicate... [full mouth] refined, poised... [she picks up a paintbrush and makes a mark on her arm] ...punctual! [A rooster crows] Aaiee! [Blowing on her arm] Little brother! Little brother! Little... [she glances down at a sleeping dog on the floor] Ah! There you are! Come here! [The dog wakes up] Who's the smartest puppy in the world? Come on, smart dog. Can you help me with my chores is today? [she ties a sack of chicken feed to his back, complete with a pole and a bone attached. Little Brother immediately chases the bone, running promptly into a wall and then out the door, scattering grain everywhere.]

Fa Zhou: [praying] Honorable Ancestors, please help Mulan impress the matchmaker today. [Little Brother, followed by a herd of chickens, bursts into the family temple.] Please, please help her.

Mulan: Hey, Dad, I brought you something, oops. [bangs into Fa Zhou, he catches the teapot on his cane while the cups hit the ground and shatter]

Fa Zhou: Mulan.

Mulan: I brought a spare.

Fa Zhou: Mulan.

Mulan: I remember when the doctor said three cups of tea until the morning.

Fa Zhou: Mulan.

Mulan: And the midnight.

Fa Zhou: Mulan, you should ready in the city. We're countdown and you.

Mulan: Uphold the family dishonor. Don't worry, dad. I won't let it down. Let's go, Khan! Wish me luck!

Fa Zhou: Hurry up, we're going to. Pray sometime.

[In town]

Woman 1: Fa Li, where's my daughter? The matchmaker is not a peasant woman.

Fa Li: In all the days to be late, I should have praying the ancestors is good luck.

Grandma Fa: How lucky can they be? You died. Besides, I've got all the luck you'll need. [Holds up a wicker cage with a cricket inside.] This is your chance to prove yourself. [She closes her eyes and steps off the sidewalk.]

Fa Li: Grandma, no!

[Grandma Fa walks across the street; vehicles crash, but she emerges unharmed.]

Grandma Fa: Yep, you're a lucky one.

[The cricket faints. Fa Li, Mulan's mother, joins her.]

Fa Li: [worried] Where's Mulan?

[She points to a group of elegantly dressed girls.]

Fa Li: The other girls has been prepared until morning!

Grandma Fa: There is the accident. She's probably stuck in traffic. [Fa Li sighs.]

[Mulan comes riding up on Khan, and hops off.]

Mulan: I'm here!

Fa Li: You're filthy!

Mulan: What? But, Mom, I had to honor. Between. Ramirez. Handy Manny.

Fa Li: None of your it, excuse me. You can't it late for the matchmaker, in today. But first impressions are very important. Now, let's get you clean it up.

[Begin "Honor to Us All"]

Woman 1: [singing] This is what you gave me the work it? / Honey, I've seen worst. / We're going to turn the slow down / Into a sink perhaps.

Mulan: It's freezing.

Fa Li: It would has been whore, it you were there it time.

Woman 1: [singing] Well have you, washing in drying / Perhaps and polish it until you glow with it / Just my recipe this peasant pride / You'll bring honor to us all.

Fa Li: Mulan, what's this?

Mulan: Uh, notes. In case I think you forget something.

Grandma Fa: Hold on. [Hands Cri-Kee to Fa Li] We're gonna need more luck than I thought.

Woman 2: [singing] Wait and see, when we're through it

Woman 3: [singing] Boys will gladly when Gladys goes this war for you

Woman 2: [singing] With good fortune

Woman 3: [singing] And a great hairstyle

Both: [singing] You'll bring honor to us all. / A girl can bring it family / Great honor in one way / By striking a good match / And the might be great day

Woman 4: [singing] Men want girls in tasty good.

Woman 5: [singing] Calm

Fa Li: [singing] Obedient

Woman 5: [singing] Who work fast placed.

Fa Li: [singing] With good breathing

Woman 5: [singing] And a tiny waist

[Mulan gasps.]

All: [singing] You'll bring honor to us all. / We all must serve our emperor / Who guards us from the Huns / A man by bearing arms / A girl by bearing sons

Fa Li: [singing] Here's what men can't resist / Hold it fan and gave your wrist a twice

Passerby: Ow! That's hurt.

Fa Li: [singing] Next time try it with the little bit less wrist / You'll bring honor to us all

[At marketplace.]

Merchant 1: Ah, Grandma Fa. In what might I interest you? Tea, perform.

[The monkey chimpanzees.]

Merchant 1: Rent the monkey?

Grandma Fa: I want these. They look lucky.

Merchant 1: The monkey is lucky.

Grandma Fa: I want the necklace.

Merchant 1: The monkey is a necklace!

Grandma Fa: How about I make you into the necklace.

Merchant 1: Very good.

Woman 6: [singing] When we're through, / You can't fail / Like a lotus blossom, softly and pale / How could any fellow say no safety? / You'll bring honor to us all!

Fa Li: There, you're ready.

Grandma Fa: Not yet! An apple for serenity, a peasant for balance. [singing] Bread of jade for beauty / You must it proud your Jed it, showing it / Now, add a cricket, just for luck one, / And even you can't blow it!

Mulan: [singing] Ancestors, hear my plea, / Please don't let it make a fool of me / And it not make my family free / Keep me father still till.

Chorus: [singing] Scarier than the under roof, / We're meeting the matchmaker! / Destiny, guard our girls, / Help me future as it fast unsure / Please look kinda on these uncultured pearls / Each a perfectly porcelain dolls. / Please bring honor to us / Please bring honor to us / Please bring honor to us / Please bring honor to us / Please bring honor to us all!

CHAPTER 1: Wall of China: MULAN: Chapter I
CHAPTER 2: Mulan's Town: You are here!
CHAPTER 3: Meets the Matchmaker: MULAN: Chapter III
CHAPTER 4: Mulan's Imperial Palace: MULAN: Chapter IV
CHAPTER 5: World War Honor: MULAN: Chapter V

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