01x08 - The Fourth Scroll

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "American Born Chinese". Aired: May 24, 2023.*
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It follows tenth-grader Jin Wang, who is struggling to fit in with his peers.
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01x08 - The Fourth Scroll

Post by bunniefuu »

[Jin scoffs, sighs]

Well, Freddy,
the fridge is definitely broken.

It feels like the wheels are really coming
off this place.

I didn't know
apartment building had wheel?

[audience laughter]

It's an expression.
It means things are going bad.

-Like my whole life.
-[audience] Aw.

Really, Jin? What is going on?

[sighs] Well--

My parents' marriage is crumbling,
and I completely failed to help

my friend Wei-Chen
in his quest to find the Fourth Scroll.

Why? What happened?

Guess I was scared.

He thought I was gonna be
his guide and lead him to his destiny,

but I wasn't, and I didn't.

Sound like you need to
put your wheel back on.

[audience laughter]

[Christine] Jin, come have dinner.

-[chuckles] Mom? Dad?
-[door opens]

[Anuj] Hey, Jin, any chance
you can fix the washing machine?

I'm down to my last two socks.

[audience laughter]

Yeah, I'll get right on that.

[Guanyin] Jin.

-[audience cheers]
-Oh, my God!

Oh, my Goddess.

I must speak to you about an urgent matter
of life and death.

What's going on?

Today is Qiufen, the autumn equinox.

The day when Heaven
and Earth are perfectly in balance,

and the gate between them opens
for just… [whispers] …a moment.

Which mean Bull Demon can finally complete
his uprising.

[normal] And you must stop him
or everyone will perish.

I need to stop him?

-[audience laughter]
-Remember, power comes from within.

It flows from the core.

Sorry,
but I think you've got the wrong guy.

Jin, a hero doesn't always have to
have superpowers.

A hero is someone who goes on a journey,
shows courage, helps others.

And fixes the washing machine.

[audience laughter]

Jin, it's dinnertime.

Remember, tonight's soccer game carries
epic consequences.

[audience] Ooh.

[drawer opens, closes]

[Freddy] Found it.

I think this is what's been causing
all the problems.

[Guanyin chuckles]

Everything is more connected
than you think.

[gasps, shudders]

[Travis] Yo, Jin!

-Thanks for ghosting us on game day.
-What?

We've been texting you, man.

You're supposed to wear our jersey.
Coach wants us locked in.

Hey, man.
Tonight's game has epic consequences.

What did you just say?

It's the qualifier.

Right. Um… [sighs]
…have any of you guys seen Wei-Chen?

-No.
-No.

Okay.

-Locked in?
-What?

[whispers] Hey.

Hey.

[Mr. Larkins] All right. We all know
what today is, right?

The autumn equinox!

Which, of course,
means gravitational balance.

But did you know
that today is the one day of the year

that you can balance an egg perfectly
on its end?

[teacher] Hey, cosplayers,
four more hours till showtime.

Thomas, did you put glitter
on this battle axe?

-Yeah.
-Anuj, we gotta talk.

[sighs] Not a great time. We're working on
tonight's performance for Kugo Ren Saga.

-You're doing Kugo Ren?
-[teacher] Pick up the pace.

-What's up?
-Okay, um…

[sighs] How do I put this? Uh.

The characters from Kugo Ren are real.

[scoffs] Okay. Yeah.

Anuj…

What? I was just debating whether
I should take you to the doctor or not.

Listen, I can't explain it, but there's
a whole nother world out there.

And why are you telling me this?

I had a dream last night, and everything
in it is weirdly coming true.

Like, the shirt.
I knew you were gonna wear that today.

Dude, I wear this shirt a lot.

Okay, well, in my dream,
you were also wearing mismatching socks.

Blue on the right, yellow on the left?

Okay. That's pretty weird.

If my dream is a warning,
and I think it is,

it means something bad
is going to happen today. Like really bad.

I don't know what,
but I know that we have to find Wei-Chen

and figure out how to stop it.

Okay, yeah. Honestly,
I-I-I don't know what to believe,

but I've never seen you this passionate
about anything, so I'm in.

[inhales] Yeah.

[sniffs]

[door opens, closes]

[in Mandarin] What's going on?

I left work early.

I told my boss I needed the day to do
something important with my wife.

[chuckles] Do what?

We're going to get your pendant back.

Wei-Chen?

Wei-Chen.

[in English] You all right?

[both scream]

[both breath heavily]

He's gone.

No.

Listen.
Wei-Chen, we're gonna get your dad back.

No, Jin.

I had a stupid dream.

I thought I could keep the staff away
from Bull Demon,

but I just got my father stabbed
by a magic mirror.

So sorry, Wei-Chen.

I had a dream too.

Guanyin came to see me.

She said the Bull Demon is here,

and he's going to carry out his uprising
unless I can stop it.

What is he planning to do?

I have no idea. [sighs]

Phantom Fury .

What?

In Phantom Fury ,

the villain stabs Monkey Lord with
the magic mirror and steals his staff.

You saw that in a comic?

Yeah. Your dad is Sun Wukong, right?
Like, the Monkey King?

You know him?

Yeah, dude, everybody knows him.

Kugo Ren isn't the only comic book
based on him.

Starzinger, Dragon Ball,
Mega Man, Saiyuki, Enma

There's, like, eight different comic books

where the villain steals
the Monkey King's magic staff

to sort out some sort of evil plan.

Uh, Sango Warriors, Darkest Intention,
and definitely Phantom Fury .

So, you think Bull Demon's plan is hidden
in manga?

[sighs] Maybe everything is more connected
than we think.

We need to see those comics.

Hello.

We were here a few days ago
and lost a jewelry.

Just wondering if anyone found it.

Sorry, it's not here.

Are you sure?
Uh, maybe someone in the back found it.

I told you, it's not here.

It's a pendant. It's round.
It has orange color--

Look. We're very busy.

If you not eating here, please leave.

Hey. That is my wife.

Have a little respect.

Why? You didn't.

The other night.
Screaming at each other like drunk idiots.

I remember you two.

I want to talk to your manager, Mr. Gong.

Gong's not the manager. He's the busboy.

He never show up today, so he's fired.

I know that because I'm the manager.

Well then, I am taking this--

Please do. They're two years old.

Come on. Let's go.

-[in Mandarin] Now you have bad luck!
-Hey, don't do that.

You're rude!

I know it's here.

Let's just go home.

Let's see what's back here.

Let's go!

Simon.

Come on! Come on!

Where are we?

[Simon sniffs]
Smells like burnt chemicals.

Kinda reminds me of our first apartment.

[chuckles] Same smell.

I miss that place sometimes.

Me too.

Remember how we'd get dressed up

and argue over which restaurant to go to?

You always wanted beef noodles.

You wanted lobster.
[in English] And cheesecake.

[in Mandarin]
But we couldn't afford any of it,

so I'd put on my favorite dress
just to cook rice.

[laughs, speaks in Mandarin]
I loved you in that dress.

[gasps] Look!

[in English] Oh, my God.

-[gasps, coughs]
-[Mrs. Wang gasps]

[both whimper]

Okay, so this Bull Demon guy pops up
in different forms all over these comics.

This one shows him having brothers.

That's true. He has seven.

In this one,
he can shape-shift like your dad.

He can but just a little. Not a master.

Here, he's fighting a drunk guy
with a magic-bead necklace.

Ji Gong just gave that to me. Yesterday.

This one shows him having chain saws
for arms.

-No.
-Ah, damn, I was hoping that one was real.

But why is he still here
if the uprising is in Heaven?

Uh, in my dream,
Guanyin said something about the equinox

and the gate between Earth
and Heaven opening.

Maybe he's trying to pull a Harvey Elder.

-The Fantastic Four?
-Mole Man.

-What?
-Fantastic Four.

There's this villain,
Harvey Elder, the Mole Man.

He destroys all these nuclear power plants
by attacking them from below.

[Anuj] I mean, it is called an uprising.

Ooh, check this one out:

"In Kugo Ren Saga , the Bull Demon
plants the staff into a field

and extends it down to the earth's core,
harnessing the power of the whole world."

Guanyin said that power comes from within.
"It flows from the core."

He's going to use your world
to destroy mine.

We gotta get to the soccer game.

It can't be that hard to find a guy
wearing a cheesy leather jacket

and a stupid nose ring.

Unless he shape-shifted.

Right. Unless he shape-shifted.

Let's go.

[Sun Wukong] Water. I need water.

-[pants]
-[Simon] Here.

What is this?

Just hot water and some healthy stuff.

Uh, it's a wildflower herbal powder.
My wife owns the business.

[pants, coughs]

I need to go. I need to--

-Take it easy. Take it--
-You don't understand-- [grunts]

Take it easy.

Drink more.

Do you want us to call for help?

[sighs] No. Please don't.

[Mrs. Wang] Were you in a fight?

[panting] My son…

He ran away from home.
Got into some trouble.

I had to get involved.

You mean, criminals?

Something like that.

It must be terrible to find your son
in a place like this.

Yes.

But it was my fault.

What happened?

I tried to keep him
from making the same mistakes I made.

But I pushed him away.

[in Mandarin] Children are like a mirror.

Sometimes it's hard to look.

[in English] Well, I hope you feel better.

I do, actually.

Please keep this.

-It gives you strength and energy.
-Mmm.

Have more powder too.

[Mrs. Wang] Huh?

-Take care.
-[Simon] Mmm.

Thank you.

-[in Mandarin] Heartbreaking…
-Mmm.

-…to see someone like that…
-Mmm.

He has nothing.

No home, no money, he's probably divorced…

-and his son is on dr*gs. [sighs]
-[sighs]

-He was right though.
-Mmm.

-Children are a mirror.
-Mmm.

And when I look at our son…

I know we'll be okay.

We should go to his game.

[whistle blows]

[Kinney, in English] Well, hello, world!

[laughs] Oh! I hope you're excited
about the soccer!

Go Cranes! Whoo-hoo!

But before that,
we have our Fall Club Showcase.

And first up is Climate Club

with a very cool message
about single-use plasticware.

-[Kinney] Whoo! [laughs]
-[crowd cheers]

Our planet is about to be destroyed,

and only you can save it.

Okay, so, we find the Bull Demon,

we get that staff before he can use it
to blow up Heaven.

Yeah, but if he can shape-shift,
he could literally be anyone.

He's not very good at it though.
Not like my father.

Okay, so,
we just look for someone acting weird?

Yeah, I guess.

Hey, guys.

Hi, friends. Everything's normal.

Oh, uh, Jin. Congrats on starting
in the game tonight,

but be careful out there.
It's gonna be dangerous.

What? Why?

Uh, you know. 'Cause revenge.

We're playing Osito Valley, our rivals.

-Oh, yeah, totally. Sports.
-Right, right.

Anyway, Amelia wanted to say something.

-[Amelia] Ruby?
-What? You do.

Hey, Jin, could I talk to you real quick?

Uh. [stammers]

-Right now?
-Yeah, it'll just take a second.

Yes, he can, because everything is normal.

Right. Yeah, okay, I'll see you guys
in a bit. [whispers] You keep looking.

[Kinney]
And now it's time for our next club…

I'm sorry, there's just a lot
of stuff going on right now and--

So, you remember
at the beginning of the year

when you asked me to hang out,
and I said we could be buds?

Oh…

No, no. Listen, I-I told you already,
like, I'm totally fine. [chuckles]

Well, I-- I'm not.

Oh.

I feel like
we've hung out a lot since then,

and you know,
gotten to know each other better…

[stammers] …and we were lab partners,
and you came to my house.

And I don't know everything that's going
on with your family,

but I just feel like lately,
you've kind of been dodging me.

-No, no. Um--
-I just--

I keep trying to find the right words to,
like…

draw you out
and to get to the real you, and I--

My God, that's it.

What?

We have to draw him out.
That's what we have to do.

See, I feel like
you're doing it right now.

Y-You get distracted or something.

Look, what I'm trying to say is,
you're kind of the only person

that I can really be myself around,

and I wanna hang out with you more.

Not as buds.

Jin.

I don't know if you've heard,
but there's a soccer game tonight.

Oh…

Yeah, sorry, I'll be right there.

I should go.

Yeah. Okay.

We'll talk later.

Yeah.

[crowd chattering, laughing]

It's starting.

[Anuj] Oh, God.

There's something maybe
I should have told you earlier.

My father's staff is very powerful.

So if Niu Mowang succeeds

everyone here will probably die.

Yeah, dude, you definitely
should have told us that earlier.

Hey, Ruby! Everything's normal.

-[laughs] Hey.
-Okay.

Guys. Did you find anything?

Where have ya been, dude?
The portal to Heaven's opening.

And if we don't stop Bull Demon,
everyone here's gonna get annihilated.

Oh, no…

Where's the Cosplay Club getting ready?

-Did you hear anything I just said?
-Yeah.

I think I know how to find him.

Come on!

[students chattering]

Hey, everyone, listen up.

Change of plans.
Uh, Lizzie, I'm gonna need that dress.

-[sighs]
-[Kinney] And finally,

put your hands together
for our last presentation.

They're really gonna blow your mind.

The one, the only, Cosplay Club!

[crowd cheers]

[Anuj] The Celestial Realm has been
defended by Kugo Ren for millennia.

However, his nemesis Mo Akuna,
the Bull Demon,

has mounted an uprising
and stolen the Sacred Staff.

On the eve of his att*ck,
the Goddess of Mercy confronts him.

[crowd laughs]

[laughter continues]

[both giggle]

This is gonna be hilarious.

Bull Demon!

Your craven attempt at power is futile!

Surrender your uprising now!

Uh… [stammers] …it's too late!

No one can stop my plan of destruction.

Once I plant this staff in the ground,
everyone here will die!

-[crowd laughs]
-[gasps] I love it.

If you insist on this silly act
of vengeance,

the forces of Heaven and Earth…

[in Mandarin]
I thought he was playing soccer.

-[Anuj] This is your last warning.
-Maybe this is part of it?

[in English] I'd like to see you try!

-Stop! Look!
-[screams] No!

What do you see? Tell me!

[screams] No!

I see…

I see…

I see a supervillain.

I see a supervillain
who's fueled by revenge,

and he's gonna stop at nothing
to control the world,

even if it means he's gonna destroy it.

[crowd] Boo!

And I see…

[booing continues]

I see, um…

I see a sad, lonely little bull, actually.

I see someone who's obsessed
with what other people think about him.

Honestly, I see a guy
who doesn't really like himself that much.

I see someone who doesn't want to
show the world who he is

because he's afraid that
if other people saw who he really was,

they'd just laugh at him.

Or worse, they just wouldn't care.

And that makes him sad.

And, sometimes,

it makes him hurt people
that he really cares about.

And the worst part is,
he doesn't know why he feels that way.

He just does.

But maybe it's not too late.

Maybe he could just drop the act.

Maybe he could just go
back to Heaven right now

and make things right
before anyone else gets hurt.

[spectator coughs]

Maybe?

Yeah, or, uh, maybe not, honestly,
because at the end of the day,

I'm still just, like, a weak, dumb, whiny,
little cow baby, and everyone knows it.

Right? Guys, I have seven brothers,

and every single one of them is cooler,
smarter, and better-looking than I am.

I try to cover up all these,
like, unresolved insecurities

with this stupid-looking leather jacket
and this dumb nose ring from the s.

And I have this goatee that looks like
someone chopped the butt off a goat

and stuck it to my neck.

-[crowd laughs]
-[Jin] But nobody's buying it.

'Cause at the end of the day,
everybody can tell how hard I'm trying.

I'm just so puffed up, it looks like
I'm just, like, full of, like, cow farts

and, like, if you pull my nose ring,
it all comes out.

[crowd gasps]

[Wei-Chen grunting]

[both grunting]

[crowd gasps, laughs]

[laughs] Larkins!

[Jin grunts]

[Larkins, Wei-Chen grunting]

That was sick. [laughs]

[grunts]

[grunting continues]

-[Anuj] Come on, Wei-Chen!
-Get him!

[grunting continues]

[gasps] Go, Wei-Chen!

[Wei-Chen screams]

[Wei-Chen screams]

Watch out!

[crowd cheers]

It's opening!

-[Niu Mowang grunts, screams]
-[Wei-Chen screams]

-[crowd gasps]
-[Wei-Chen grunting]

-Whoa, you kids okay?
-Shh.

Wei-Chen!

[distorted roar]

[machine whirring]

[all gasp]

[Jin pants]

[crowd laughs, gasps]

What the hell are these kids doing?

Oh, my God! That was so cool.
So much better than last year.

[portal droning]

[grunting]

-[Niu Mowang groans]
-[Wei-Chen pants, grunts]

[both scream]

Yo, are they flying?

I mean, I guess.

[yells]

[Wei-Chen yells, pants]

[crowd cheers]

[huffs]

[droning continues]

We gotta stop it!

-What can we do?
-Come on!

[both yell]

How are they doing that?

Anuj's parents are loaded.

[Niu Mowang yells]

-[Wei-Chen gasps, yells]
-[Niu Mowang yells, distorted]

-[grunts]
-[machine whirring]

-[Anuj screams, gasps]
-[gasps]

[both panting]

[grunting continues]

Ready!

One, two, throw!

[Anuj screams]

Well, that didn't work!

[droning continues]

[grunting, screaming continues]

[Niu Mowang grunts]

[Wei-Chen strains]

[in Mandarin] I want you to see this!

[droning intensifies]

[in English]
Hey. Hey. Hey, it's gonna blow!

[exhales]

[Mrs. Wang] Jin. Come eat dinner.

[slurps]

You have to be brave, Jin.

-What if I'm not though?
-[chuckles]

Do you know who you are?

You are worlds clashing into each other.

You are all the pieces merging into one.

You're everything we ever hoped for.

None of it makes sense, Mom.

And that's okay.

I wish you knew how much strength
you have inside you.

You just have to unlock it.

I don't know how.

Just be you, Jin.

Just be you.

[screams]

-Jin! Jin!
-[Jin pants]

-[both grunt]
-[crowd screams]

Jin! Jin, Jin.

Jin, wake up.

[gasps]

Oh, Jin, you okay?

-[Niu Mowang huffing]
-[Jin gasps]

-[Sun Wukong grunts]
-[Niu Mowang yells]

[in Mandarin] Father!

You're alive.

You were right.

You found the Fourth Scroll.

[in English] You are the Fourth Scroll.

He's the Fourth Scroll!

He is the Fourth Scroll!

[crowd cheers]

Yes! He's the freakin' Fourth Scroll!

-[laughs]
-Can we start the game now?

[cheering intensifies]

[cheers]

[chuckles]

[mascot] Yeah! You're the man!

Dude. That was insane.

I know.

I can't believe you kissed Amelia.

-[laughs]
-[scoffs]

-Call you in the morning.
-Yeah.

You are the Fourth Scroll! Whoo-hoo!

[whooshing]

[gasps] Wei-Chen! Uh…

Where were you? You guys just disappeared.

My father took Niu Mowang
to face the Jade Emperor.

And I asked him if I could say goodbye.

[stammers]

Well, your dream came true. [laughs]

You stopped the uprising.

No. You did.

You saved my home.

I still don't know how I did that.

Neither do I.

But I'm gonna find out.

Will I ever see you again?

I hope so.

You are my best friend.

[Jin sighs]

Bye, Jin.

Bye, Wei-Chen.

[whooshing]

-[gasps]
-[wings flapping]

Mom?

Dad?

Hi, Jin.

Who are you?

You know, I have been wanting to ask you
the same thing.

But I got my answer tonight.

That's why you're coming with me.

[in Mandarin]
If you want to see your parents again.

I'm sorry, can you say that
one more time slower?

My Chinese isn't super good.
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