Lulu in Honolulu (6 page)

ALEXIS

Here's the hula story. Lulu's group has a little problem: there's NO way they can win the competition tomorrow because they aren't the best. They're more like the worst.

LULU

Well, maybe we could've been better if we'd practiced today, but we couldn't because this baby seal was stranded.

LINC

(reaches out for Lulu's arm)

Girl, sometimes you just gotta cancel rehearsal.

LULU

A veterinarian from Waikiki Aquarium came and gave her a bottle. She seemed like—

A BOY and his FATHER tap Linc on the shoulder. They wear matching Hawaiian shirts. Linc slowly twists around.

FATHER

Oh. Wow! You really are Linc Harrison. My son would really like you to sign a menu.

The pudgy boy of about twelve doesn't move. The father grabs the long paper menu from the boy and holds it out to Linc, who smiles and politely signs.

ALEXIS

(ignoring the father and son)

So, will you guys come? For Lulu it's a matter of life or humiliation.

LULU

That's not totally true. We're gonna have a secret weapon.

ALEXIS

(to Lulu)

Like what? A catapult to shoot coconuts at the competition?

FIONA

(playful but firm)

Look, you two. I've got a movie to try to get back on track.

LULU

(speaking extra fast)

I just thought you guys haven't ever been able to come to see me perform in anything, and since this is a family summer, I just thought…

FIONA

(now very serious tone)

And I thought I'd have an easy summer making an action movie about a brave naval captain who saves the world, and all I get are flat performances.

(glares at Linc)

With actors bickering every moment they get.

LINC

(rising anger)

You're pushing us actors too hard.

FIONA

Well, Sanyo Studios pushes me even harder! They refuse to give me enough money to even finish the movie.

The man from Lulu's earlier mishap approaches and stands behind Linc's left shoulder.

LINC

That's not the actors' fault. Sanyo could be the world's biggest penny-pinching, stingy studio chief. His studio should just shovel over a little more money to make a spectacular action movie!

LULU

(to the man)

Aloha
, sir. Geez peas, I hope I didn't ruin your dinner. Do you want to meet my parents?

Fiona springs from her chair, but she's unable to talk.

Fiona and Linc look at each other. Their faces redden.

MR. SANYO

Oh, we all know each other already. I'm the penny-pinching cheapo. And I believe I am disturbing your dinner right now.

Mr. Sanyo begins to back away but nods toward Linc and Fiona.

MR. SANYO

Pardon me, I heard all the diners twittering about how Linc and Fiona Harrison were here. I thought I would bring my regards.

FIONA

Of course, Mr. Sanyo. So brilliant to see you. How long are you in Honolulu?

MR. SANYO

I'm on my way back to Japan from L.A.

Mr. Sanyo turns and marches away.

FIONA

What was the line, Lex, you said a moment ago? Something like “this is a matter of life and humiliation”?

INT. LULU'S BEDROOM—LATER THAT NIGHT

Lulu's room has the same blond-wood floor and bright, creamy whiteness as the rest of the house. There's bleached-white furniture and white down bedding. The differences between her room and the rest of the house: every surface of furniture is cluttered with a collection of orangey-sunrise shells, Kelly-green sea glass, and milky-colored coral Lulu's found on beach walks.

Lulu pulls an iPhone out of her I USED TO BE A PLASTIC BOTTLE tote bag. She turns the phone on and flops onto her bed next to Watson. It takes her a while, but she pulls up the list of four numbers under “Favorites” and taps NOELANI NUI. While it rings, Lulu pushes Watson's mouth out of an empty plastic container of Spam sushi.

NOELANI

Lulu? Hey.

LULU

Noelani, can you talk? We've gotta discuss something kinda, ahhhh, important.

Lulu reaches for a butterfly-shaped
li hing mui
(salty plum) lollipop from under her bed. She unwraps it and lets Watson take the first lick.

NOELANI

(concerned)

Sure. I just have to speak quietly. Tutu is sleeping. That's what it's like living with a grandma.

Lulu and Watson share the butterfly lick for lick until he crunches off a wing.

LULU

Well, I could yell this whole conversation if I wanted to. My mom and dad aren't coming home for hours. After dinner with Lex and me, they headed to a party. That's what it's like living with my parents.

NOELANI

(super-quiet voice)

Lu, don't complain. At least you know they're coming home.

LULU

(quiet voice back)

I know. Sorry, Noe. I think you're…GROSS!! Geez peas!

Watson retches up tiny chunks of lollipop and flecks of Spam. He sniffs the hot, sour-smelling mound that slowly absorbs into Lulu's white, fluffy, puffy comforter.

NOELANI

(sounding confused)

Really? That's not too nice, Lu.

LULU

Sorry. I mean Watson. A tutti-frutti-flavored
li hing mui
lollipop on top of six pieces of Spam sushi didn't agree with his tummy. He just threw up on my bed.

NOELANI

(giggling)

Lulu, you're brave to let that pug on your bed.

LULU

Hey, that's what I'm calling about. YOU really are brave.

NOELANI

Not true.

LULU

And you're the best hula dancer at Ohana Camp and probably on the whole island of O'ahu.

SILENCE.

LULU

(rubbing Watson's belly)

And if you dance in front of all of the rest of us tomorrow, we'll be able to follow you.

Noelani still doesn't respond.

LULU

(continues)

We'd be, like, your backup dancers. Most people wouldn't even notice our mistakes because they'd be amazed at how flow-y and perfectly you hula.

NOELANI

(softly, almost a whisper)

I wish I could. It's just…something in me gets scared. I freeze up at the thought.

LULU

But you won't be up there alone! We'd all be there with you.

NOELANI

That doesn't really help. I'd be facing the audience. Front and center. Oh gosh! I can't imagine it.

LULU

Here's what you do: imagine something that makes you feel…what's the brave word in Hawaiian?

NOELANI

Koa.

LULU

Yea. Think about something that makes you feel super-double-looper
koa
. Even close your eyes and let the brave thought inside you take over.

SILENCE.

Watson nibbles the sick-smelling barf.

LULU

Mega-hyper-enormous GROSS!

NOELANI

I'll think about dancing in front.

Lulu shoves Watson with her feet.

LULU

(excited)

Noe! You can totally do it. And it's the ONLY way we won't be totally pathetic tomorrow.

NOELANI

(whispering)

I know.

EXT. 'IOLANI PALACE, ON LARGE PALACE LAWN—SATURDAY MORNING

WIDE SHOT of hundreds of brightly dressed children standing around in clusters. There are so many kids it seems like every hula class, school, club, or camp sent a team to this year's hula-off.

ZOOM IN ON Ohana Camp kids sitting together on the ground in the shadows of the grand three-story 'Iolani Palace. Their faded OHANA CAMP flag, stuck into the ground near them, hangs down. There's not a puff of breeze in the hot, moist air. A big bowl of Lulu's homemade mango salsa and a tub of taro chips sit in the middle of straw beach mats. Auntie Moana walks around, making sure all the kids drink enough water. Caridyn sits with the kids and softly beats her
pahu
drum.

CUT!! Just so you know, right now, I'm over the tippy-top stressed. I'm worried about Noelani being able to lead our hula AND about Lex getting my parents off the set and here to watch. When I get up onstage, I'm gonna be shaking like a ti leaf! I wonder if, like a hundred years ago, Hawaiian kids ever felt this scared performing for the Hawaiian royalty? Did you know that Hawaii is the only state in the United States that was once its own kingdom with its own king and queen and real royal palaces? That's where we are now—on the grounds of Hawaii's fanciest palace. Back to: ACTION!!

Lulu watches Noelani's foot shake up and down.

LULU

(to Noelani)

You OK?

NOELANI

I'm super-whopper nervous.

LULU

Yeah but what's that brave word again?

NOELANI

Koa
.

LULU

Just focus on your inner
koa
.

Lulu feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns quickly, thinking it's her parents.

CLOSE-UP reveals Khloe and the Cs wearing matching aqua dresses.

They glance at Ohana kids chatting, giggling, eating, or just goofing around on the grass.

KHLOE

(to Lulu and Noelani)

How are my old partners from my Ohana Camp days? You guys danced yet?

LULU

Aloha,
you guys. Nope, we haven't.

Carole gives Lulu a once-over.

CAROLE

(to Lulu)

So where're your famous parents?

CATE

I thought we'd get your dad's autograph?

KHLOE

I wish he was here to see our dance. We're gonna win. We were perfect.

(glances at Cate and Carole)

Don't you guys think so?

CAROLE

Way for sure.

CATE

We danced
Ka wailele
o Nu‘uanu
. A song about a river or something.

NOELANI

(softly, almost to herself)

It's about a waterfall.

CAROLE

Whatever. It's a hard hula, so just doing that dance is gonna get us high points.

LULU

(looks at Noelani)

Do you know it?

Noelani nods.

Khloe and the Cs scamper off when they spot other girls wearing the same aqua costume.

NOELANI

(to Lulu)

In case you were wondering, seeing them rained on my teeny tiny
koa
flame.

Auntie Moana puts up her hand to stop Caridyn's drumming.

AUNTIE MOANA

Keiki
, listen.

Ohana campers gather around.

AUNTIE MOANA

Uncle Akamu will not be coming to play ukulele for the dance. He stayed up all night on the beach, waiting for the little one's mother. At sunrise this morning, I got him and put him to bed.

Some kids look down. Others twitch or wiggle. They do not want to be alarmed at performing without Uncle Akamu's ukulele because they know waiting and chanting for the seal pup's mother to come back is more important than hula. Still, they get nervous. No one looks at each other.

After a few quiet seconds, Lulu jumps up.

LULU

C'mon! I just heard them call Ohana Camp. Let's go.

Kids bolt up. Maleko and Liam sprint ahead.

Lulu scrambles after them. Her I USED TO BE A PLASTIC BOTTLE tote bag clonks her thigh as she runs.

LULU

Geez peas! Wait!

EXT. 'IOLANI PALACE GROUNDS, AREA BETWEEN STAGE AND JUDGE'S TABLE—CONTINUOUS

Auntie Moana
shhhs
all the kids. Lulu arrives. Between panting and pushing the stitch in her side, she reaches into her tote bag and pulls out yellow hibiscus and bobby pins.

LULU

I brought these for everyone. I almost forgot.

Lulu plunks down her tote bag and kids dive in for the flowers. Petals and fingers get crushed.

AUNTIE MOANA

Mahalo
, Lulu. You brought the Hawaii state flower.