The Dead Lands (2020) s01e03 Episode Script

1 [HAUNTING MUSIC.]
[STONE SCRAPES.]
The dead - they sigh to me.
[MEN GRUNT.]
They tell me to seek a warrior more monster than man [GROWLS.]
and only he can help me save my people.
[GASPS.]
WOMAN: There is a break between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
[MEN GROWL, GRUNT.]
The spirits of the dead can no longer reach their ancestors and are forced back into the world [ROARS.]
back into their decaying bodies.
[GRUNTS.]
If you heal this breach, who wouldn't welcome you then? Your ancestors refuse you an afterlife.
- We will let you return.
- What? You're Waka Nuku Rau.
You can help my tribe, if the legends are true about you.
What is it that I'm to do for your tribe? The dead took my father.
Save him, and I'll give you my blood.
You were meant to kill the girl, and now the gods are displeased.
Kill the girl.
[ROARS.]
You're frightened of the dead.
[ROARS.]
What if they can't make you do anything? If they could, I wouldn't be here, would I? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
My uncle's tribe lives there, in the tunnels and caves.
Is it true that my brother has gone from the light of this world? Your uncle is a shaman of great power.
He's hiding something.
[ROARS.]
Mehe, I loved Father as much as you, but he did not have Uncle's strength.
You're not fit to lead.
Get away from them! He wants to sacrifice our children.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
I challenge you for the leadership of the tribes.
[GRUNTS.]
- [GRUNTS.]
- [GRUNTS.]
You should have killed me.
Where is your honour? Is there none in this tribe anymore? Greetings, Waka Nuku Rau.
There is a boy held captive by three sisters - powerful witches.
Find this boy.
You see, he knows the name of the one who broke the world.
And the girl - Mehe.
- Protect her, Waka Nuku Rau for she has a gift that not even she knows she possesses.
[GRUNTS.]
[DISTANT ROARS, SCREAMS.]
[ROARS.]
[DISTANT ROARS, SCREAMS.]
[BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY.]
[ROARS, SNARLS.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[DISTANT ROARS, SCREAMS.]
[TWIGS CRACK.]
- [BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY.]
- [DISTANT ROARS, SCREAMS.]
Where's the boy? [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
Te Hau! [CREATURE GROWLS.]
Te Hau! [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[CREATURE GROWLS, ROARS.]
[DISTANT SCREAM.]
[YELLS, GROANS.]
[YELLS, SPLUTTERS.]
Leave him! Where's your honour? Help me! WOMAN CALLS: tenei tauira nau e Rongo.
E oho e ara e! Hoki mai ra koe ki taiao.
Whiti or a! Maranga mai ki runga! [GASPS, CHOKES.]
Bring him.
What is it? He's possessed by a tipua - an evil spirit.
And there are more coming even now.
[CHOKING CONTINUES.]
[MAN CHOKES, YELLS.]
Is she a witch? WOMEN CHANT: Tenei te ara, te ara ka iri.
O Hine I te aio.
O Hine I te rangi tuhaha.
O Hine kino ano hoki.
Ki enei tauira nau e Hine.
- Tenei te ara, te ara ka iri.
- [SPLUTTERS, GROANS.]
- O Hine I te aio.
- What do you see, boy? I walked in the kingdom below the edge of the world.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
He's coming.
Who? Who's coming? [WHIMPERS.]
[SCREAMS.]
Captions by Able.
[BIRDSONG.]
Where are you? Speak to me! You have all of these wonderful ideas.
'Find the witches, ' you say, but you don't tell me how.
You look quite mad, you know, when you do that - talk to the dead.
Maybe I am mad.
Have you thought of that? I'm considering it.
[SCOFFS.]
They speak to me, but they make no sense.
They never come when they're wanted, and they sneak up in the night, like rats in my mind.
And they told you to find these witches? More the boy they hold captive.
Why? Because he knows who broke the world and keeps the dead from the afterlife.
Don't get too excited.
No one's heard of these witches or the boy.
I've asked everyone.
Even my uncle? That madman wouldn't tell us where to shit.
And he wants your blood unless you've forgotten.
Do you have a better idea? [BIRDSONG.]
Come on, then.
Tohungia te ngaki o mate.
Tohungia te ranaki kero.
Kia rere arorangi atu na.
Aku tao.
Will you speak with me, Uncle? I need your help.
[SCOFFS.]
Three witches - sisters.
Do you know them? Told you he won't help us.
- Let's kill him.
- You should.
He's right.
Years ago I warned your father about you.
You're dangerous.
From the day you were born, I felt it.
Do you know these women - yes or no? They protect his sacred places.
No one enters those lands.
Tell us how to get there.
[EXHALES.]
Willingly.
He's lying.
Why would you? I was planning a makutu, one that would dry your ovaries, and far worse to you.
And now? Now I don't need to if you go to that place.
There is a cave.
What is it? It's protection against sorcery.
- Can I share it with Waka? - Don't.
If he's bewitched, it will teach you whether these women are to be trusted or not.
- Do you see? - I see you don't like him.
Do you really believe he's changed? He's trying.
Listen to me.
Keep this to yourself.
Let him be the warning.
Be clever, like your father taught you to be.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
Your uncle said we need to reach the cave before dark.
Your uncle said we need to reach the cave before dark.
Ka kite taua.
We won't make it like this.
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[PERCUSSIVE MUSIC.]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES.]
Don't make me leave you behind, girl! [LAUGHS.]
[INTENSE MUSIC.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
- Bastard.
- I heard that.
- [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
- You're not as fit as you look.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
You're not as stupid as you sound.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
Your uncle was telling the truth.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
We can sleep there tonight.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[MUSIC RISES.]
[GROANS.]
Go away.
I'm not killing the girl.
I'm not doing it, I said.
I've decided to seek honour in the world.
[LAUGHS.]
Honour? [LAUGHS.]
You? This should provide me with much entertainment.
I'm glad I can amuse you.
This girl you're with - this high-born Ariki.
You think she's an innocent? - She uses you.
- No.
She's smart, that one.
She uses you to honour her own ancestors.
She's different, I tell you.
Oh, you're such a bad judge of character.
You always were.
She's preparing to sacrifice you right now.
Keep your lies.
I'll show you.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Do you want to see your future or not? [TENSE MUSIC RISES.]
You could give yourself to Te Waonui, because you want death.
[WEAPON STRIKES FLESH.]
[GASPS.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
Not friendly, I admit.
The girl has protection against their sorcery.
So? Has she offered it to you? She will.
[SCOFFS.]
We'll see.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[DRIPS ECHO.]
I'm not drinking that.
I will give you protection against these witches.
[LIQUID SPLASHES.]
[SIGHS, BURPS.]
[COUGHS.]
[BIRDSONG.]
What are you doing? You like eating, don't you? [BIRDSONG.]
You all right? [BIRDSONG CONTINUES.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
What is it? Are you afraid? Yes.
[TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
WOMEN SING: Na Tane I kake ake Ko te Toi huarewa Ko te ara tiatia Ka tae ki Tikitiki o rangi Ki rauroha, I rau nei ona ingoa - Ki Rangiatea - Where's the third one? I rau nei mga kete O te wananga.
- Heke iho ai - I don't know.
But don't kill anyone - at least until we speak to them.
Can you do that just this once? Unless they try something.
We welcome you as our guests.
Please, come, before night folds in on the world.
[LOW, TENSE MUSIC.]
You don't want to be outside at night - believe me.
[INSECTS CHIRP.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
We don't poison our guests.
How do you kill them? Forgive my friend.
He's an idiot.
We search for a boy who came this way.
We offer sanctuary to anyone who passes.
Not what I've heard.
No? You sacrifice people to Te Waonui.
That's what they say.
Shut up.
Well? We are the guardians of this land.
And, yes, we make offerings to Te Waonui so that he protects it.
And this boy? He came this way and it took him.
What was it? A tipua of some kind.
Here, forest spirits have always walked in this world, as they did in ancient times.
But since the dead have returned, something else has also slipped into this world - something new.
So don't go out at night, unless you want the same.
And the boy? He left before we could help him.
But we offer you refuge for as long as you need it.
She's lying.
Perhaps, but did you have to be so obvious? It's in my nature.
One of us should always stay awake.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[SIGHS.]
[SIGHS.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[DISTANT RUSTLE.]
[MOREPORK CALLS DISTANTLY.]
[TENSE MUSIC RISES.]
- I wouldn't.
- [GASPS.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
I'm not frightened of the dead.
There are worse things than the dead, warrior.
[MOREPORK CALLS DISTANTLY.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
- [WEAPONS CLASH.]
- [GRUNTS, BREATHES HEAVILY.]
What are we waiting for? Why don't I just kill one, and then the other will talk? Is your answer to everything killing someone? It's not very subtle, you know.
It's simpler.
She wouldn't tell us anything.
So what are you gonna do? Hey? Wait till they try something, is that it? - [GRUNTS.]
- [WEAPONS CLASH.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
Do you trust me? Mostly.
All right, yes.
[GRUNTS.]
[YELLS.]
- [GROANS, BREATHES HEAVILY.]
- Never trust anyone in a fight.
[GROANS.]
Especially not me.
Bastard.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
She should learn the forest lore and not waste her time with that.
Can you fight with your forest lore? The time of the warrior is passing.
A new age is coming.
What age? The age of the dead.
[MERE WHIRRS IN AIR.]
- [GRUNTS.]
- [WEAPONS CLASH.]
[EXHALES.]
You're not awful.
Tell me the truth - where's the boy? Did you kill him? I don't care if you did.
In fact, I'd admire you.
[BOTH GRUNT.]
[BOTH GRUNT, YELL.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[BOTH GRUNT, YELL.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[LAUGHS.]
Do you want to know the truth? All of it? See it? Feel it? [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[TENSE MUSIC RISES.]
[TENSE MUSIC RISES.]
That's not for you, little one.
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
It's a god.
It reaches out into the land and keeps this place safe - if we feed it.
With blood? Only willingly given.
You could give yourself to Te Waonui.
And why would I do that? Because you want death.
I can see it in you.
It hangs on your shoulders like a heavy cloak.
Is this life so good? And what does it serve? It's meaningless - even more so now.
Here you can join the gods.
Here you can join the gods.
I was sick of this life long ago.
Yes.
And I've done things - things that cannot be undone.
Things that cannot be undone.
You can enter me now.
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
[BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY.]
[MUSIC BECOMES TENSE.]
[BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY.]
There are things I must do in this world before I earn the right to leave it.
But if I was to leave I would gladly do so between your thighs like Maui himself.
Who are you? [BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY.]
[ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC.]
[BIRDSONG.]
[LAUGHTER.]
I need to talk to my friend.
We have plenty of time - if we stay.
What are you doing? Enjoying myself.
I could get used to this.
- They both want to be my wives.
- We're not staying here.
Why not? Let the world look after itself.
- You've been bewitched.
- Have I? And what about you? What makes you so special? [TENSE MUSIC.]
And you didn't share that with me? I wanted to see if they would bewitch you, and they did - so it worked.
[SCOFFS.]
I have my own protection.
Ooh.
Do I look like a fool? [CHUCKLES.]
Well, if you're so clever, here's a question for you - where's the third sister? Maybe she went with the boy.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
WOMAN SINGS: E rere taku toto - Kia turuki mai te atarangi - Aku roimata kura - O naia, o tira - O kiri haehae - Ki Tuahu a rangi, - O kiri horipiripi.
Ki Pukenui a papa.
Ina te ngau kikino, I whakatangi ake nga papa o Maui.
- Te whakamomori e, - I whai reo ai ahau - Mou I nunumi atu ai.
- ki te kahui o te Po, po, po.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[CRIES OUT IN PAIN.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES.]
Is it worth it? The pain? Yes.
To protect the sacred places of Te Waonui.
Just you and Raepoto then? There was another.
She's gone.
Did she go off with the boy? And what if she did? Why is this boy so important to you? Were you lovers? No.
Then stay here with us.
Learn the forest lore.
I feel something in you I've not felt before.
- We can't.
- Why? The boy - he knows who broke the world.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
And you think you can fix it? We can try.
We have to try, at least.
Only the gods can separate the light from the dark, Rangi from Papa, the earth from the sky.
Who are we? We are nothing.
But the gods aren't doing anything - not that I can see.
They left more than a day ago.
You'll never find them.
Waka can.
He can track anything.
She knows where he is.
- Fertilising your tree, is he? - No.
I could have helped the boy Iwi mana kore.
'perhaps.
' [GRUNTS.]
Upoko kohua.
But their leader wouldn't listen.
- [GRUNTS, GROWLS.]
- Pokotiwha! They took our sister for protection.
- [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
- [GRUNTS.]
Be brave, sister.
[SNIFFS.]
How long? A day.
He promised to release her when they left our lands, but I don't think he will.
His name was Te Hau.
I know of him.
He's a famous fighting general, and a distant cousin of my father.
Te Hau is a noble and honourable warrior.
I'm sure he'll listen to me.
We need to catch them.
She said not to go out in the night.
'There are things worse than the dead.
' That's what she said.
My sister would have made shrines along the way.
Just make sure you enter them before night falls.
- This is a bad idea.
- This is the only idea.
If you bring my sister back to us, I'll exorcise the spirit from the boy.
If he survives, you'll get your name.
[SIGHS.]
[TENSE, ADVENTUROUS MUSIC.]
[ADVENTUROUS MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY.]
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[ADVENTUROUS MUSIC CONTINUES.]
How did they get this far in one day, carrying a man? - You must have missed it.
- I missed nothing [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
Or Hine lied.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[LOW, HAUNTING MUSIC.]
[MOREPORK CALLS DISTANTLY.]
The circle is broken.
[MOREPORK CALLS DISTANTLY.]
What now? Get inside.
[GRUNTS, BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[WINGS FLUTTER.]
We need to remember what she did.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[WINGS FLUTTER, BIRD CALLS.]
Remember quickly.
Kia turuki mai te atarangi O naia, o tira Ki Tuahu a rangi.
Is it working? - Ki Pukenui a papa - [DISTANT GROWL.]
- [BUSHES RUSTLE.]
- papa o Maui.
Ki Pukenui a papa, I whakatangi ake nga papa o Maui.
[CREATURE GROWLS, BUSHES RUSTLE.]
Ki Pukenui a papa - I whakatangi ake nga - There's something out there.
papa o Maui, ahau ki te kahui o te po.
[GRUNTS.]
[CRIES OUT IN PAIN.]
[GRUNTS.]
Hurry up.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[GASPS, BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[BUSHES RUSTLE, CREATURE GROWLS.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[GHOSTLY WHISPERS.]
[CREATURE GROWLS.]
[CREATURE GROWLS.]
- [THUNDER BOOMS.]
- [SNARLS.]
- [BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY.]
- [THUNDER CONTINUES.]
MAN: Mehe.
Mehe, help me.
Father? Help me, Mehe.
Please.
Please let me in.
Father? - Father! - [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
- Why do you forsake me? - Mehe, it's not him.
Please let me in.
Father? [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
- Please, Mehe.
- It's not him.
- Papa! - Listen to me.
Look at me.
Look at me! Stop.
It's not him.
- It's not him.
- Papa! No! No! It's not him! It's not him.
It's not- - It's not him.
It's not him.
- [SOBS.]
WHISPERS: It's not.
I know it's not.
- Please, Mehe - Go away! [GROWLS, BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[TENSE MUSIC RISES.]
VOICE ECHOES: Waka Nuku Rau.
Waka Nuku Rau.
[ROARS, GROWLS.]
[SNARLS.]
[BIRDSONG.]
[LOW, TENSE MUSIC.]
Oh! [SIGHS.]
I'm not sleeping outside again.
Let's find this shit-eating boy.
[BIRDSONG.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[GROANS, BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[COUGHS.]
[BOY CHOKES, SPLUTTERS.]
Build your shrine.
We need protection.
I can't protect us like this.
Hako.
[BOY GROANS, SPLUTTERS.]
[BOY GROANS, WHIMPERS.]
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
Get her! [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[SIGHS.]
[GROANS, COUGHS.]
We're close.
Night is coming.
They'll be looking for somewhere to hide.
[BUSHES RUSTLE, CREATURE GROWLS.]
[BUSHES RUSTLE.]
[ROAR.]
[ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY, WHIMPERS.]
I caught her.
[CHUCKLES.]
And found these two.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[BOY WHIMPERS, GROANS.]
Te Hau? I'm Mehe Te Wehiwehi, daughter of the chief, Ihi, of the Ngati Ararau tribe.
Your father is an honourable man.
He was an honourable man, yes.
[BOY WHIMPERS, BREATHES HEAVILY.]
My slave.
Get water! Before night falls.
Get water! You should let me teach him some manners.
He's impossible, but there's very little choice of slaves these days.
Did you hear that? Hm? Did you hear what she said? I don't look like a slave.
I'm nobody's slave.
And I serve no one.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Kia turuki mai te atarangi O naia, o tira Ki Tuahu a rangi, Ki Pukenui a papa.
[LAUGHS.]
Call me a slave again and I'll kill you.
If they knew who you were [BOY WHIMPERS.]
- He won't fear you this way.
- We could just fight now.
Te Hau is a great and noble warrior.
- You might not beat him.
- I could do it while he slept.
- Then it would be certain.
I thought you said you wanted honour.
That's what you said you wanted.
I'm rethinking it.
What does honour get anyone? Mana.
Everything.
It gets you everything.
It's gotten me nothing so far.
Listen to me, please.
Let me find out what he wants.
No one's killing anyone in their sleep.
Promise me.
Promise me.
[BOY WHIMPERS.]
[GRUNTS.]
- [SIGHS.]
- [BOY WHIMPERS.]
I'm hungry.
[SIGHS.]
Who is he? Uri.
He is the son of my chief, the great and glorious Te Rangi Turoa.
I swore an oath with blood to return him to his father.
[BOY SPLUTTERS, GROANS.]
- He's sick.
- Ae.
His mind is deranged, affected by the spirits of this place.
But my lord will heal him.
[BREATHES HEAVILY, GRUNTS.]
That man of yours - I wouldn't trust him.
I smell something on the man and it's not honour.
[BOY WHIMPERS, SCREAMS.]
So that's the famous Te Hau? WHISPERS: He's insane.
Go on.
Ina te ngau kino, Te whakamomori e Mou I nunumi atu ai.
[BOY WHIMPERS, BREATHES HEAVILY.]
- He won't let the boy go.
- How do you know? They say he had 40 men with him, and he sacrificed them all to get the boy back - all of them.
He just cares about his glory and getting the boy back to his lord.
- There's your honour for you.
- He's a noble man.
If I tell him the truth, I think he might listen.
[GRUNTS.]
[LAUGHS.]
[BONES CRACK.]
[GASPS.]
VOICE ECHOES: Waka Nuku Rau.
[CREATURE ROARS.]
Is he Waka Nuku Rau? [GROWLS.]
[COUGHS.]
He's nobody - a slave.
That is my name.
[GROWLS.]
You don't know who he is? The most dishonourable creature to walk across this earth.
You must know the name.
[ROARS.]
Waka! Stop.
You knew? Come with us.
The witches will help the boy, and then you can leave.
His dishonour has infected you like a disease.
He doesn't know what he's doing.
But he's trying, like me, to heal the world, and the boy knows how.
Is your honour more important than that? My ancestors watch over me, and they will tell stories about me - of how I saved my Lord's son, and of how I slew the great and terrible Waka Nuku Rau.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
I'll gorge on your flesh and shit you into eternity.
[SNARLS.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY, SPITS, ROARS.]
[GRUNTS.]
.
- [BOTH GRUNT.]
- [WEAPONS CLASH.]
Waka! [CRASH!.]
[GRUNTS.]
Yeha! [GRUNTS.]
[BOTH GRUNT.]
[GROWLS.]
[GROWLS.]
- [GRUNTS.]
- [BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY.]
[CREATURE HISSES.]
[GRUNTS.]
[BOTH GROWL.]
That's enough now, both of you.
[BOTH GRUNT.]
[GROWLS.]
[WEAPONS CLASH.]
Waka! [GRUNTS.]
[CREATURE HISSES.]
[SCREAMS.]
[THUNDER RUMBLES.]
Release me! [BREATHES HEAVILY.]
Don't.
It's gone.
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
I can feel it.
It must have been Te Hau.
It's lying.
[EXHALES.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
[FIRE CRACKLES.]
[WIND HOWLS.]
[LOW, TENSE MUSIC.]
- Happy now? - For what? Te Hau is dead.
You got what you wanted.
I wanted to do it.
And where's the honour in that? Perhaps honour is simply something that the powerful use against the weak to get what they want.
- You're wrong.
- We'll see.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
We should go soon.
[TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[TENSE MUSIC RISES.]
Mother! I want to talk to you.
I've got something to say.
Go on.
I can almost fill your mouth with the words.
- Can you? - Oh, speak.
Say it and let us be done for good.
You were right.
She betrayed me.
She would have happily seen those witches slit my throat.
All she cares about is her own precious neck.
If Te Hau hadn't died, who knows what she would have done? Sided with him, gone with him, left you behind - worse.
Perhaps you're not the fool I took you for, my son.
And perhaps you'll listen to me now.
[FAST-PACED PERCUSSIVE MUSIC.]
[BIRDSONG.]
[TENSE MUSIC RISES.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Captions by Able.