Daily Dialogue — October 27, 2015
VIPER: I don’t understand what Master Oogway was thinking. The poor guy’s just gonna get himself killed.
CRANE: He is so mighty! The Dragon Warrior fell out of the sky on a ball of fire.
MANTIS: When he walks the very ground shakes.
TIGRESS: One would think that Master Oogway would choose someone who actually knew kung fu.
CRANE: Yeah, or could at least touch his toes.
MONEKY: Or even see his toes.
Po appears and considers the criticisms he just heard.
Inside the dorm, Po tries to sneak into his room, but accidentally pushes his way into Crane’s room instead.
PO: Oh…hey…hi. You’re up.
CRANE: Am now.
PO: I was just…uh…some day, huh? That kung fu stuff is hard work, right? Your biceps sore?
CRANE: Um, I’ve had a long and rather disappointing day, so, uh, yeah, I should probably get to sleep, now.
PO: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course.
CRANE: Okay, thanks.
PO: It’s just — oh man, I’m such a big fan! You guys were totally amazing at the battle of Weeping River. Outnumbered a thousand to one, but you didn’t stop, and you just…whoop! Yah! Ka, ka ka! (Po kicks a hole in the wall). Ooh. Sorry about that.
CRANE: Un, look, you don’t belong here.
PO: I know. I know. You’re right. I don’t have…it’s just, my whole life I’ve dreamed of —
CRANE: No, no, no. I meant, you don’t belong here. I mean in this room. This is my room. (Pats floor.) Property of Crane.
PO: Oh! Okay, right, right. So…yeah…you want to get to sleep, I’m keeping you up. We got big things tomorrow. All right. You’re awesome. Last thing I’m gonna say. Okay. Bye bye.
Po closes the door. Crane sighs and Po returns.
PO: What was that?
CRANE: I didn’t say anything.
PO: Okay. All right. Good night. Sleep well.
Po closes the door.
PO: That seemed a little bit awkward.
Po sneaks down the corridor and is confronted by Tigress.
PO: Master Tigress! Didn’t mean to wake you. Just, uh —
TIGRESS: You don’t belong here.
PO: Uh, yeah, yeah. Of course. This is your room…
TIGRESS: I mean you don’t belong in the Jade Palace. You’re a disgrace to kung fu and if you have any respect for who we are and what we do, you will be gone by morning. (Slams door shut.)
PO: (Crushed) Big fan.
— Kung Fu Panda (2008), screenplay by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, story by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Embarrassment. Today’s suggestion by Will King.
Trivia: The idea for the film was conceived by Michael Lachance, a DreamWorks Animation executive. The film was originally intended to be a parody, but director Stevenson decided instead to shoot an action comedy wuxia film that incorporates the hero’s journey narrative archetype for the lead character.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Will: “Both Po and the Furious Five are embarrassed by Po’s presence. Po feels outclassed and out of place, while the Furious Five believe he’s an interloper whose presence is purely accidental and undeserved. In this scene, the tension between them is brought to the forefront as they struggle to work out their uncomfortable relationships. The conversation between Po and Crane is one of subtext — they’re dancing around the point that neither wants to speak: Po is out of place. When Crane states ‘You don’t belong here,’ Po tries to apologize, then Crane tries to soften the blow by claiming he only means it pertaining to his room. He’s trying to be gentle. When Tigress speaks the same phrase, Po assumes she means the same about her room. But Tigress dispells any chance of misunerstanding. No subtext — she uses on-the-nose dialogue to crush Po and hopefully chase him away.”