This particular scene shows Koro’s testing of the boys to choose the future chief of his tribe. Koro threw a carved stone into the ocean and asked the boys to retrieve it; however none of the boys were able to find the stone. Sadly Koro returned to his house to grieve. When Kahu found out about this she asked her uncle Rawiri and Nanny Flowers to take her out on the boat. She then went and successfully retrieved the stone, which proved her ability to become the chief of the tribe even though she was a girl.

1. Exterior. Ocean. Summer. Very Early Morning. Extreme Long shot.

CAMERA points at the sun just rising slowly over the horizon.

CAMERA tilts down to the boat and zooms in slowly to a MS.

KORO begins prayers. Faint sounds of KORO’s prayers in the background and gets louder. Suddenly KORO stops and throws a carved stone into the ocean.

1. Close up shot. Eye level.

KORO’s face is strict

KORO

One of you must bring that stone back to me to become the chief of the tribe.

1. Medium shot of the boys. High Angle.

KORO

Go now!

CAMERA pans across the boat as the BOYS one by one jumps into the water and disappears.

1. Close up of KORO’s watch.

Shoot for one minute thirty seconds then fast forward the film to see clock hands moving quickly.

CAMERA cuts to shoot the calm water after 20 seconds.

CAMERA cuts back to watch.

CAMERA cuts again to calm water.

CAMERA cuts back to watch.

1. Long shot of water.

One by one the BOYs pop up and gasp for air.

1. Medium Shot.

KORO

Which one of you got it?

1. Medium shot of Boys in the Water. High Angle.

BOYS look at each other, no one answers.

1. Close Up. Eye Level.

KORO is shocked.

KORO

Okay boys, you’ve done well, let’s get you all home.

Sad eerie music playing.

1. Exterior. Over water. Summer. Late Afternoon. Long Shot.

Little boat is going back.

CAMERA zooms out from Long Shot of boat to Extreme Long Shot of the sunset.

1. Interior. Koro’s room. Late Afternoon. Close Up of KORO.

KORO is weeping.

1. Exterior. Veranda of House. Late Afternoon. Medium Shot

PAI and UNCLE RAWIRI sitting on the steps of the Veranda

KAHU

What’s wrong with my Koro? Is it because of the stone?

UNCLE RAWIRI surprised.

How did you know that?

KAHU

One of the boys told me, I wish I could make Paka happy again.

1. Exterior. The Beach. Next Day. Early Morning. Extreme Long Shot.

Next day. CAMERA shoots the sunrise.

1. Interior. Rawiri’s room. Early Morning. Medium Shot.

RAWIRI getting up. Clock shows 5:30. RAWIRI opens the door to get out, but KAHU walks infront.

KAHU

Can I come for a ride in your boat, Uncle Rawiri?

RAWIRI surprised

Yea sure, no problem.

1. Exterior. Near Boat. Medium Shot

RAWIRI and KAHU are getting read to row out to sea, when NANNY FLOWERS arrives.

NANNY FLOWERS

Hey, wait for me! I can’t stand to hear the old Paka feeling sorry for himself. Mmmm, what a beautiful day! The sun is shining.

NANNY FLOWERS gets on the boat.

1. Exterior. Boat on in the Water. Medium Shot.

RAWIRI is rowing the boat.

KAHU

Uncle Rawiri, Where did Koro drop the stone?

NANNY FLOWERS

What stone?

UNCLE RAWIRI

Koro dropped a stone into the water and asked the boys to retrieve it.

NANNY FLOWERS

Show me where he threw it.

RAWIRI rows to the place where KORO threw the stone.

1. High Angle. Medium Shot.

CAMERA is shooting the seemingly bottomless water. Pans and tilts to boat and NANNY FLOWERS

NANNY FLOWERS
Goodness, No wonder those boys couldn’t get it. This is deep.

1. Close Up Shot of KAHU over shoulder of NANNY FLOWERS.

KAHU

Does Koro really want it back?

1. Close Up Shot of NANNY FLOWERS over shoulder of KAHU.

NANNY FLOWERS
Yeah, I suppose he must, the old paka. Well serve him right for –

1. Medium Shot.

KAHU

I’ll get it.

KAHU dives into the water.

NANNY FLOWERS is shocked

NANNY FLOWERS

Oh no! Go after her, Rawiri, Go.

NANNY FLOWERS pushes RAWIRI into the water.

1. Underwater. Long Shot.

Majestic music begins playing underwater.

CAMERA view is blurry, dark. CAMERA moves around rapidly looking for KAHU. CAMERA finally spots KAHU at the seafloor.

CAMERA moves after and zooms in to Medium Shot of KAHU.

KAHU is searching the sea floor for the carved stone, but having difficulty.

1. Above water. Medium Shot.

Two white shapes (DOLPHINS) flashes by in the water.

NANNY FLOWERS thought it was sharks.

NANNY FLOWERS

Oh no!

1. Underwater. Long Shot.

CAMERA zooms slowly to Medium Shot.

Two DOLPHINS swim over the KAHU, starts swimming around her.

KAHU grabs the fins of the dolphin. DOLPHINS take her to another area of the sea floor.

CAMERA tracks across to that area of the sea floor following KAHU.

1. Underwater. Extra Close Up.

CAMERA shoots the carved stone in the sea floor hidden between some seaweed.

KAHU’s hand reaches in and picks up the carved stone.

1. Underwater. Medium Shot.

KAHU grabs the dolphin’s fin again and rises to the surface.

Halfway KAHU leaves dolphin, kisses it goodbye. KAHU picks up a crayfish.

1. Exterior. Boat. Medium shot.

RAWIRI is treading water.

CAMERA pans to NANNY.

NANNY is crying thinking KAHU drowned.

KAHU suddenly pops out of the water. Holding on to the boat..

KAHU laughs and lifts up a crayfish.

KAHU

I’m all right, Nanny. This is for Paka’s tea.

KAHU drops the crayfish into the boat.

KAHU

And you can give him back his stone.

KAHU places the stone into NANNY FLOWER’s hands.

1. Boat. Close Up of NANNY FLOWERS.

NANNY looks shocked.

Strange and sad music begins playing.

1. Boat. Medium Shot.

They climb into the boat.

When KAHU looks away, NANNY FLOWERS says to RAWIRI.

NANNY FLOWERS

Not a word about this to Koro Apirana

RAWIRI nods and looks across the ocean.

1. Exterior. House. Close up.

Camera pans slowly across the carving of their ancestor, the whale rider Paikea riding his whale.

1. Exterior. Beach. Long shot.

KAHU, NANNY FLOWERS, and RAWIRI walking home.

KAHU skips ahead of NANNY FLOWERS and RAWIRI.

1. Exterior. Beach. Medium Shot.

NANNY FLOWERS looking concerned.

NANNY FLOWERS

Not a word Rawiri. Not a word about the stone or our Kahu. He’s not ready yet.

RAWIRI nods.

CAMERA slowly zooms out and Crane away from them to a High Angle Shot across the ocean and slows down on the carving of the whale rider.