Mulan

Hua Zhou: There have been many tales

of the great warrior, Mulan

But, ancestors, this one is mine

Here she is

A young shoot, all green

unaware of the blade.

If you had such a daughter

her chi the boundless energy of life itself

speaking through her every motion

could you tell her that only a son could wield chi?

That a daughter would risk shame, dishonour, exile?

Ancestors, I could not

Hua Zhou: This way,

that's the last one

Gently

Mulan, forget the chicken

It will come back

No!

Tell me your sister is not the cause of this.

Mulan!

Take control of yourself!

Hua Zhou: Mulan, listen very carefully

No!

Mulan, what happened when you fell off the roof?

It was like you were a bird

Don't panic

There's a spider crawling in your hair

You know I'm afraid of spiders

This is not one of your tricks is it, Mulan?

Don't worry, if you hold very still

I will squash it

Li: It is because I'm trying to protect Mulan

that I say this

Mulan is young

She is still learning how to control herself

You make excuses for her

You forget, Mulan is a daughter, not a son.

A daughter brings honour through marriage

Any man would be fortunate to marry either of our daughters

Including Mulan.

I ask you, what man will want to marry a girl

who flits around rooftops, chasing chickens?

Xiu gives me no trouble

The matchmaker will find a good husband for her.

It is Mulan I worry about

They'll call her a witch

It's time you talked to her

Do you know why the phoenix

sits at the entrance of our shrine?

She is the emissary for our ancestors

But I broke her

Some say the phoenix is consumed by flame

and emerges again.

I think she can survive a broken wing.

Your chi is strong, Mulan

But chi is for Warriors

not daughters.

Soon, you'll be a young woman

and it is time for you

to hide your gift away.

To...

to silence its voice

I say this to protect you

That is my job

Your job is to bring honour to the family

Do you think you can do that?

Rourans? It can't be

Close the gates!

Take out the leader!

Guard: He's way too strong!

Xian Niang: You, you'll do.

Chancellor: Your Majesty

six of our northern garrisons along the Silk Road

have fallen in a coordinated attack

All trade has been disrupted

If we allow this to continue,

it could be the end of the kingdom.

And my citizens?

Slaughtered

This soldier is the only survivour

I fear more attacks will follow

Who is responsible?

Rourans, Your Majesty.

Their leader calls himself Böri Khan

I killed Böri Khan

It is his son

He has united the tribes

and resurrected the Rouran army

If I may, Your Imperial Majesty

Emperor: You may speak

Böri Khan fights alongside a woman

Her chi is beyond imagining

There is no place for witches in this kingdom

It is forbidden to use the power of chi

in destructive ways.

And yet, it is her skill

that leads the Rouran army to victory.

She has trained an elite force of shadow Warriors

to assist Böri Khan

Emperor: We're not afraid of dark magic

We'll destroy this Rouran army and their witch

Here's my decree.

We'll build a mighty army

Every family will supply one man

We'll protect our beloved people

and crush these murderers

Deploy the Imperial Army

The dynasty will not be threatened

Böri Khan: So, you have news

Xian Niang: The Emperor sends his army

to defend the Silk Road

Böri Khan: Good.

We will crush every garrison

until the Imperial Army is on its knees

And then

the Imperial City will be laid bare

The Emperor will be mine to kill

You have proved useful, witch

Xian Niang: Not witch

Warrior

I could tear you to pieces before you blink

Böri Khan: But you won't

Remember what you want

a place where your powers will not be vilified

A place where you are accepted for who you are

You won't get what you want without me

When I found you on a desert steppe

wandering alone

you were exiled,

a scorned dog

When I sit on the throne, that dog will have a home

We will finish what we started

And you will see to it

that nothing and no one stands in my way

Black Wind and I rode alongside

two rabbits running side by side

I think one was a male, one was a female.

But you know, you can't really tell

when they're running that fast

When I go riding tomorrow, I will try to find them again

Maybe they'll still be there

We have excellent news

The matchmaker has found you an auspicious match

Yes, Mulan, it is decided

Come and sit down

It is what is best for our family

Yes

It is best

I will bring honour to us all

I'm truly blessed to be in the presence

of such enchanting women

I have no doubt today will be a momentous day for the Hua

Never mind that we must be on time

Mulan: I'm starving

I already told you, you cannot eat

It will ruin your makeup

The fiercest winter storm could not destroy this makeup

Xiu, look at my face What am I feeling?

Xiu: I have no idea

Exactly

This is my sad face This is my curious face

And now I'm confused

Quiet

Composed

Graceful

Elegant

Poised

Polite

These are the qualities

we see in a good wife

These are the qualities

we see in Mulan.

When a wife serves her husband

she must be silent

She must be

invisible

She must be

Is something wrong?

No, Madam Matchmaker Thank you

It's ideal for the teapot

to remain in the center of the table

Mulan: Yes, I understand

But I think the teapot should remain where it is

Move the teapot

Girl!

Dishonour to the Hua family

They have failed to raise a good daughter

Village Magistrate: Citizens!

Citizens, we are under attack from Northern Invaders

Our land is at war

By edict of His Imperial Majesty,

the Son of Heaven

every family must contribute one man to fight

One man from every house

Wáng family

Chin family

Dù family

Hua family

I am Hua Zhou

I served the Imperial Army