Script

SIDE 1

(The FA FAMILY ANCESTORS emerge from behind the scrolls: LAOZI, Honor; LIN, Loyalty; ZHANG, Strength; HONG, Destiny; and YUN, Love. The ANCESTORS bow to the ENSEMBLE. The ENSEMBLE bows back to the ANCESTORS and sits. LAOZI claps twice, then raises his hands as though he were conducting an orchestra.)

LAOZI

I ask the heavens to bring forth... wind!

(The ENSEMBLE creates a whistling wind. LAOZI claps; the ENSEMBLE is silent.)

An army!

(The ENSEMBLE creates marching sounds. LAOZI claps; the ENSEMBLE is silent.)

An avalanche!

(The ENSEMBLE creates avalanche sounds. LAOZI claps; the ENSEMBLE is silent. The ANCESTORS bow to the audience.)

Welcome, friends!

YUN

Welcome to ancient China!

LIN

Welcome to the story of Mulan!

HONG

It is a story of adventure...

ZHANG

And historic battles.

LAOZI

But most importantly, it is a story of Honor...

LIN

Of Loyalty...

ZHANG

Of Strength...

HONG

Of Destiny...

YUN

And of Love.

HONG

Here in ancient China, we believe that our destinies are written in stone.

LIN

Traditions are handed down.

ZHANG

From dynasty to dynasty. Unchanged.

YUN

We honor the way life has always been for our family...

LAOZI

And will continue to be...

ANCESTORS

For eternity.

(Song: "Written In Stone")

ZHANG

We are the Fa family Ancestors.

LIN

Many years ago we lived and walked the roads of China, just like our great-great-granddaughter, Mulan.

HONG

And now we watch over her from the heavens.

ZHANG

We belong not to the present but to the past.

YUN

We guide Mulan from afar, through wisdom and love.

LAOZI

Here in China, each person has a place and knows his duty.

LIN

Or her duty.

HONG

As the emperor is the father of China...

ZHANG

...so the father is the emperor of his family.

(ZHANG claps twice. FA ZHOU and FATHERS enter. They stand proud, hands on hips, in traditional warrior positions.)

SIDE 2

(MULAN exits. FA ZHOU wakes up - sensing something.)

FA ZHOU & MUSHU

Mulan!

(FA LI and GRANDMOTHER FA awaken. ALL run off after MULAN.)

LIN

I knew it! I knew that Mulan was a troublemaker from the start. Now she's run off and joined the Chinese Army.

ZHANG

And disguised as a man, no less!

HONG

A woman in the army? That breaks all tradition.

YUN

But she's just trying to save her father's life by fighting in his place.

LAOZI

She'll be discovered, Fa Zhou will be forever shamed, dishonor will come to the family, and traditional values will disintegrate.

LIN

My children never caused such problems. They all became acupuncturists.

HONG

Well, we can't all be acupuncturists.

ZHANG

No. Your great-great-granddaughter had to be a cross-dresser!

YUN

This is no time to argue. If they discover that Mulan is a girl, the punishment is death.

MUSHU

For impersonating a man?

LIN

Yes, that is the law. And if Mulan dies...

LAOZI

It would be the end of the Fa family.

HONG

Someone must go and bring Mulan back to safety.

MUSHU

I'll go!

ZHANG

(ignoring him)
But who? Although we Ancestors can see far, we cannot leave the sanctity of the Temple.

MUSHU

I'm not an Ancestor! I'm a dragon! Let me go!

LIN

Quiet, Mushu. This is serious.

MUSHU

I know it's serious! Who is the only non-Ancestor here? Who can walk the earth, and do the dirty work for you? Maybe a...

ZHANG

...lowly gong banger?

YUN

A former Guardian who has been cast out of the Temple in disgrace?

HONG

For making a terrible mistake involving Confucious, a silkworm and...

ANCESTORS

...the near downfall of a dynasty?

MUSHU

And Mushu was his name-o!

LIN

Impertinent mascot.

MUSHU

I just want a chance to earn my way back in the Temple - this is where I belong. Let me help Mulan.

LAOZI

Unfortunately, Mushu is our only hope.

HONG

There is no one else who can save Mulan.

(The ANCESTORS reluctantly nod in agreement.)

YUN

Go! Go and bring back our Mulan!

MUSHU

Wow! Thank you! This just proves how much you believe in me!

LIN

Actually, this just proves how desperate we are.

ZHANG

Mulan's future now rests with you.

HONG

As does the destiny of the Fa family.

(The ANCESTORS retreat.)

MUSHU

(calling after them)
Don't you worry about a thing! Just save a place for me between Strength and Honor! Love and Destiny! Between Hot and Stuff!

(A confident MUSHU leaves the Temple.)

SIDE 3

(Fa Family Temple. The ANCESTORS appear. MUSHU enters.)

MUSHU

Do you see that? Do you? She brought home honor, a sword, and a cute guy! What else does a dragon have to do to get an upgrade around here?

(The ANCESTORS look to one another, then part to make a space for MUSHU.)

Wait, really? You guys are going to let me back into the Temple, after all I did?

HONG

Yes, Mushu.

LAOZI

Absolutely.

MUSHU

I'm not just a lowly mascot anymore?

ZHANG

It seems that this "lowly mascot" has helped to save China.

LAOZI

And our family honor.

YUN

Thank you. And...

LIN

Welcome home.

(MUSHU takes his place among the ANCESTORS. LAOZI reveals a new banner: the Dao, the Chinese symbol for Pathway/Change. He places it between Love and Destiny.)

LAOZI

We have chosen the symbol of the Dao, the Pathway.

YUN

The symbol for Change.

ZHANG

For you have taught us the wisdom of transformation.

MUSHU

But isn t it against some ancient rule or something?

LIN

Perhaps. But you know&

HONG

& nothing is written in stone.

(MUSHU stands proudly among them.)

MUSHU

Guess who s back in the Guardian business? Call out for egg rolls! There s going to be a party!

(MULAN enters and looks up toward the ANCESTORS)