Legend of Johnny Lingo, The (2003)

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR: Not everything is known about
the history of the South Pacific.

When I sailed to the islands
I took along a notebook

to fill with descriptions of the
people and places I visited.

But the only story that still
interests me is the one told

by a soft-spoken,
serious young man

who welcomed me into his home.

His story began the evening
of a terrible storm.

[THUNDER CRACKS]

In those days, many of the islanders still
looked to the old gods for protection.

So while the wind
and the rains raged outside,

they huddled around their
chief praying for a miracle.

[BABY CRYING]

[CRYING]

The Council has decided that this
child is a gift from the gods.

The question is, which god?

After much reflection

I believe the child was sent
by the God of Blessedness.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Therefore, he will be
brought up as my son.

And will become the future
chief of Malio Island.

[ALL EXCLAIMING]

Husband, what is it
you are saying?

You already have a son. Our son!

The child will be
schooled in our tradition

and prepared by the elders to one
day take over the role of chief.

Pua, my son.

This child will one
day be a great chief,

esteemed by all island peoples.

I name him Tamariki O Tangaroa.

[ALL LAUGHING]

He's peeing on the Chief.

Husband, already the child is
raining his blessings on you.

Yes, it may be true that
the infant has been favored

by the gods to
survive such a storm.

But, I still question
by which god.

But it was your husband
that said that...

Oh, surely, you do not consider
the storm to be a good sign?

There's another.

Look at the strange mark
on the child's bottom.

This hideous red mark

is as red as flaming fire,

fire that consumes
everything that it touches.

And only the God of Mischief

would send such a child straight
from the pit of the underworld.

NARRATOR: Three years of
hate-filled gossip about the boy

had finally taken its toll.

The Chief assembled
the Council of Elders

and reluctantly denounced Tama as
his son and heir to his title.

Is there anyone else
willing to take Tama in?

Chief,

I could do with some help.

Pull, boy, pull!

We'll make a fisherman
out of you yet.

Good boy!

NARRATOR: In the
years that followed,

Tama tried hard to
become a good fisherman,

hoping that this could be the home
and family he'd always longed for.

[GIGGLING]

When the fisherman and his
wife had a baby of their own,

Tama's fears about being passed
to another family returned.

So he made a plan that would
take him across the waves

to Malio's homeland
and paradise.

BOY: I see something!
It's coming from over there!

It's Tama! Let's go get him!

Keeping it a secret from the island
bullies was the biggest challenge.

Hurry! He's getting away!

There, you go that way.

I got him!

[GRUNTS]

[LAUGHS]

You're nothing but a weakling.

And you and your slimy friends are
uglier than the eels I catch.

We'll see who's uglier once
we get finished with you!

[GRUNTS]

Let's get out of here!

I'll tell you one thing!
I'm telling on you!

Hey! Hey you!

Climb any further and you'll
end up like your friends.

They're not my friends, stupid.

Ow!

Don't call me stupid, stupid.

Can I just have my pack?

Why are you carrying a
woman's comb in your pack?

Just give me my bag, nosy!

I know, those boys were after
you because you're a thief.

I'm not a thief!

Those boys hate me
because I'm bad!

And you'll find out how bad if
you don't throw down my pack!

[GRUNTS]

They don't like me either.

Maybe I'm bad, too.

[BABY CRYING]

[SCREAMING]

My baby!

Save my baby!

[SOBBING]

[SOBBING] My baby!

Rewa! It's your baby!

If the boy was where he
was supposed to be,

he could have
prevented the fire.

I'm sorry, my Chief,

but I have to
think of my family.

If no one else is
prepared to take Tama in

then he will be returned to the
ocean waves that brought him here,

never to be seen again.

Father. Huh?

Perhaps Tama could
help me with my chores.

[GROANS]

I speak for my father who
is not feeling well today.

We'll take him.

Children are not allowed to
speak at council meetings!

I doubt we'd understand
her kava-addled father anyway.

We'll... We'll take the boy.

Uh, my, uh,

good-for-nothing
daughter is right.

An extra pair of hands
would be, uh, useful.

[GRUNTS]

[HUMMING]

Hey!

If that stacking isn't
finished by sunset,

there'll be no food
for the both of you.

He always says that,
but most of the time I eat.

Great.

And if it wasn't for your meddling
I'd be off this island by now.

You'd have died if
they'd cast you adrift.

Anything would be better than living with
the island drunk and his ugly daughter.

[CHUCKLING]

I remember when they found you.

"Gift of the gods."

The Chief spoke over
you with such pride,

claiming you as his own son.

[LAUGHING]

Yeah, well, look at you now,

slaving away for me, Pioi,

the most unfortunate
man on the island.

And you know why?

Father, please.

Because of her!

My beautiful wife, Lalani died

giving birth to Mahana.

At least you could've
inherited her beauty.

You're plain,
and utterly unattractive.

I'll be lucky to get two tough
chickens as a wedding dowry for you.

This kindling is
far too expensive.

[CHATTERING]

Where have you been, Tama?
We missed you on the beach.

He's been spending time
with his new girlfriend.

[GIRLS LAUGHING]

I thought I was your girlfriend.

I was just saving
my first kiss for you.

[LAUGHING]

I'd rather kiss a slimy eel than
put my lips on yours, Miriama.

[LAUGHS]

Shut up, Mahana, you ugly!

Why don't you
ever comb your hair?

Because she couldn't get one
through that rat's nest.

I like her hair. It's sort of...

wild. Yeah, wild like the sea.

A very stormy sea
that'll make you throw up.

Well, at least my hair doesn't smell
like someone's thrown up on it.

Well, at least we've
remembered to wash.

Poo! You smell like a pig.

And you look like a pig.

[LAUGHING]

The only pig around here is the one
that squeals like one. Now scat!

[SCREAMING]

They're right. My hair is ugly.

The only thing pretty
about those three

are the flowers
they have in their hair.

[GIGGLES]

You don't need it.

It's been a long time
since anyone came.

I'm going for a swim.

What if my father finds out?

Who cares?

Come on! Beat you in!

[SHOUTING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[SCREAMS]

Hey, look what I found.
A wishbone.

What did you wish for?

If I tell you
then it won't come true.

Please?

You know the rules.

I know what you wished for.

To push rotten fruit into the
faces of Miriama and her friends.

Yes, but I have
other dreams too.

Hey, I'm sorry
about your mother.

I'm not.

Well, at least she doesn't have to see
what a worthless daughter she had.

I don't think you're worthless.

And if I could,
I'd give your father

three very plump chickens
as a wedding dowry.

You are both as thick
as the wood you chop.

[SHOUTS]

You.

You're the cause
of all my troubles.

You brought a curse
to this island.

The night they found you was the
same night my beautiful Lalani died!

And you!

It's your fault I took
this stupid boy in!

Get out! Get out!

Get back where you belong!

Stop, Father!
You're hurting him!

[GRUNTS]

[SOBBING]

[WHIMPERING]

[SOBBING] Mahana.

I don't know what I
would do without you.

I'm gonna leave this place.
Do you want to come with me?

Where?

Out there. Beyond the waves,

where no one can hurt us.

Malio's homeland? Do you really
believe there is such a place?

If there is, we'll find it.

But we have no boat.

Did you steal these things?

No, I borrowed them.

Don't worry, Mahana.

Tomorrow, the ocean will
take us away from here.

[SNORES]

[MUMBLING IN SLEEP]

Let's hurry, come on!

Where are your things?

I can't go.

What do you mean?

If I go, who will
look after my father?

Forget your father.
He's a mean drunk.

But he's still my father.

Then I'll stay.

No, go. Find Malio's homeland.

But promise me that

you won't forget me.

Wait.

This was with me
when I was found.

I think it was my mother's.

One day I'll come back
to take care of you.

I promise.

[GASPING]

[GRUNTS]

Yeah!

Yes!

I'll search the horizon
every day.

NARRATOR: When one glances
at a map of the Pacific,

its thousands of islands
seem to crowd on one another.

Tama found out that
between these islands

there were lonely wide
stretches of open ocean.

How's the boy doing?

Looks like he's starting to stir.
I'll be back.

Am I in heaven?

Not quite.

You are lucky you
washed up when you did.

Here. Drink this.

It is the juice of the noni.

It will bring the blood
back into your cheeks.

So,

if I'm not dead,
then you're not a demon?

[CHUCKLES] My former wives
will say that I am.

But, no. I am quite human.

Everyone here calls
me Chief Steward.

I will have some
clothes brought to you.

Well, you must be the most fortunate
boy in all of the Pacific

to have ended up here in the
home of the great Johnny Lingo.

Johnny who?

Johnny Lingo. The wealthiest
trader in all the islands.

Where have you been, boy, that
you've never heard of him?

Well, quickly now.
You get dressed.

I'll be back to
take you to meet him.

[GIGGLING]

I'll see you after dinner.

[GIGGLING]

NARRATOR: Tama's mind
was full of questions.

But unfortunately, he had learned that
some adults could not be trusted.

He wondered if Johnny Lingo
would be any different.

So he kept quiet,

by doing what comes naturally
to most twelve-year-olds.

I'm glad to see
you have an appetite.

You must be feeling better.

It's a very unusual
sea vessel you arrived on.

Did you build it yourself?

The question is, what were the
circumstances that brought you here?

For all we know,
he could be a runaway.

Runaway? No, no, you see...

I was sailing. Yeah, that...

Yeah, that's right. It's
slowly coming back to me.

I was sailing with other boys from
our small but wealthy island.

Sounds wonderfully idyllic.

Yes. Yes, it was.

Whatever that means.

Anyway, we had just
sailed beyond the waves

when suddenly a big storm
came out of nowhere.

And, well, here I am.

Here you are.

The question is, where is this small
but extremely wealthy island?

Well.

When the winds
ripped my sail off,

the mast swung around and hit my
head so hard I can't remember.

Really?

Yes.

Really.

Not a thing.

Maybe your memory will
come back over time.

Maybe.

Well, since you're
with us a while longer,

tomorrow, I'll start to
show you around our island.

♪ Pretty lady on my mind

♪ Got me gone again

♪ She tell me it's all in a line

♪ And it's on again

♪ But I won't worry I'll be free

♪ Yeah

♪ I'll be the only child
of the love I see

♪ I've been known
to take my time

♪ I've been told
that I'm all right

♪ I don't know if I'm your kind

♪ All I know is that you are

♪ On my mind

♪ You're on mind

NARRATOR: This had to be the
paradise of Tama's dreams.

But he wasn't so sure
about Johnny Lingo.

That boy is a long
way from home.

Malio, to be specific.

I wouldn't quite
describe it as idyllic.

So, the boy is a liar
and a runaway.

What's he running
from, I wonder.

Trouble. And that is
all he will bring.

I disagree.

Now, there's a treasure
hidden deep within everyone.

The adventure is to discover it.

Where's your spirit
of adventure?

You do not have the strength for
these sorts of adventures anymore.

Weren't we once
wayward boys, too?

There is a great difference between
being an orphan and a lying runaway.

Yes, but both are driven
by a will to survive.

You have to agree
the boy's a survivor.

Leave him survive
somewhere else.

We should take him
back to Malio.

It'd be an
interesting challenge.

What is the challenge?

To take a common stone and
polish it into a valuable gem.

The polishing this boy will need
will take far too much time.

It'll be entertaining.

[SIGHS]

I'm going to bed.

Put that over here.

From our latest voyage.

Now, the real value of this cargo
is what it can do to help people.

Help people?

Yeah, you see those
men over there?

They used to be sl*ves.
Now they're free.

I bought their freedom.
They work for what they earn.

They can come and
go as they please.

You see, Tama, riches should be
used for the benefit of others.

I don't understand.

I hope one day you will.

What you see before you has
taken a lifetime to acquire.

When I was a little older than you I was
taught to value such things above all else.

I see you've already begun to
collect your own treasure.

These animals are like
huge grazing coconuts.

But their milk is much richer.

They'll produce a herd one day,

which I believe will be worth
more than my entire treasury.

[MOOING]

Huh?

They're known as cows.
They're really quite harmless.

I don't care what you say.
I'm not coming down!

Well, perhaps when you become
a little more confident

you can learn to
take care of them.

Well, at least he can't get
into any trouble up there.

[PANTING]

[SONG PLAYING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

Wake up! Get dressed
and come with me!

Did you leave the gate open
when you left the cow paddock?

No.

Cows might be smarter
than little boys,

but they don't know
how to open gates.

Because of your carelessness,
the cow got out

and ate fireweed,
and now it is sick.

I didn't let it out!

Tama, don't be afraid to admit
it when you have made a mistake.

It's part of growing up.

It doesn't matter what I say!

No one ever believes me anyway!

Ah, let him run.

We're better off without him.

I told you the boy was trouble.

The cow will be fine.

The boy made a mistake.

He left the gate open
because he was daydreaming.

His mind is definitely somewhere else.
He's hiding something.

I've often seen him fingering
that woven band he wears.

It's obviously something
to do with his past.

For someone who's suffering
from memory loss,

he sure spends a lot of
time thinking about it.

Well, what do you suggest we do?

Send him back to Malio.
Let them deal with him.

I've got an even better idea.

Why don't I just
hand him over to you?

The boy is good for nothing.
Why bother?

Why can't you just
admit you were wrong?

Have patience, my friend.

Our path to manhood
wasn't so easy.

We made our share of mistakes.

Or is your memory going
as well as the boy's?

Mmm.

Ugh.

[GRUNTING]

I caught him. Tried to flee
in one of your canoes.

I'm sorry, Johnny.

Why, boy?

Haven't I fed you, given you
full run of the island?

Until you found something
to blame on me,

then you just traded me away like
everyone else, to a bully like him.

You little...

Yes, I am a trader.

Maybe we could settle this whole
affair with a simple exchange.

I will trade all you have taken
from me for your woven band.

I don't want your gold.

This is worth more than all
of it, and your stupid cows.

So why is this band so valuable?

It was given to me by the only
person who has ever cared about me.

By a girl. On Malio Island?

Yes.

I promised I'll go back to
take care of her, and I will.

Well, well. True love.

Something unfortunately
that has escaped me.

As you rightly say, a treasure
more valuable than gold.

It could be just another
one of his stories.

Johnny. He broke the law.

Although your intentions were
honorable, your actions were not.

Therefore under our law you
will be bound to this island

to work off the debt for a period
of no less than seven years.

Seven years? I'll be an old man!

Or we could set him
afloat as shark bait.

The choice is yours, Tama.
What will it be?

I will work off my debt.

About the girl.

If you truly value this girl,

you must choose wisely
how you show it.

Caring for her with stolen goods

would not demonstrate
her true worth.

No, love is a most
costly commodity.

The more you're willing to pay,
the more valuable the prize.

The question is, are you
willing to pay the price?

You understand me?

Yes.

See? You're already
becoming wiser.

You may go.

Oh, uh...

I'm glad your memory
seems to be returning.

Since you have
such sticky fingers,

you should be great at picking
the fruit of the noni.

And when you've
finished this tree,

I am sure I will be able
to find you another.

Since it is my job to squeeze
the god of mischief out of you,

by the end of today you will know what
an impossible task I have been given.

NARRATOR:
Work, work and more work

was the Chief Steward's prescription
for what he thought ailed the boy.

Life in paradise was beginning to
feel a little too familiar to Tama.

Only three more barrels to go.

[SIGHS]

Since you like
gold trinkets so much.

And when you're finished
these, there is always more.

But let me warn you, every item
has been carefully written down,

so don't even think of taking
so much as a gold coin.

Since... Let me guess.

Since I got caught
I have to mend the nets.

That's right, boy.

I must be a great teacher.

[LAUGHS]

I thought you could
use this about now.

Why does he have to be so mean?

Oh, he is working you hard.

But I know it's
for your benefit.

I wish I never landed
on this stupid island.

Hey, with that kind of attitude,

the next seven years are
going to go by very slowly.

Your father must be
a great fisherman.

I don't have a father.

I was passed from
family to family

and happened to go through
the house of a fisherman.

He taught me a few things and
mending nets is one of them.

But everyone has a father.

On Malio, they believe
I came from the gods.

But not a good one.

And what do you believe?

I think it's true.

Nothing good in my
life ever seems to last.

Everything always
turns out bad in the end.

Now, listen.

Who do you think brought you safely
across the sea to this island?

Who brought you to the home
of the great Johnny Lingo?

You stop listening
to their lies, Tama.

And start believing you came
from a good and great god.

Your life will soon change.

At least the boy
is not a quitter.

Oh! Well done. We'll
have those for dinner.

Ah!

With fish that large, we'll
have to invite company.

NARRATOR: Tama proved
to be very inventive.

Especially when it came
to saving himself some work.

I hope you're not planning
on taking another trip.

Not for another six years.

You mind showing
me how it works?

You want to try?

Yes.

You want to take off your shirt?

No.

I'll be all right.

[GRUNTS]

[LAUGHING]

[GRUNTING]

[LAUGHING]

[ALL LAUGHING]

[SIGHS]

Although the boat
is light and fast,

it will only go where
the wind will blow you.

You want to be a great trader,

you must learn
how to use the wind.

Rather than being
at the mercy of the wind

I use it to take me
wherever I want to go.

But the ocean is so big.

How do you know
where you're going?

And what do you
point the boat toward?

You have to find something
to guide your course, Tama.

Something that never changes,

like the sun, the
moon and the stars.

Our ancestors used the stars
to find their way to islands

all across the Pacific.

[GRUNTING]

NARRATOR: And so it was
that the boy became a man,

and Tama found his place in the
household of the great Johnny Lingo.

[LAUGHING]

Where's my bride?

I haven't told her yet.

Friends!

I am happy to announce

it is my intention
to barter with Pioi

for his daughter Mahana's
hand in marriage.

[ALL LAUGHING]

You are lucky.

Mahana's dowry should
only cost you two chickens.

A lunch for a wife.

Now, that's not a bad barter.

[GUFFAWING]

[COUGHING]

[ALL EXPRESSING DISGUST]

My father!

[CHOKING] My son.

Mahana, it's about time
something good happened to you.

Remember, the way to a man's
heart is through his stomach.

Congratulations, Mahana, we never thought
you'd be getting married before us.

Two plump chickens
for my little Mahana.

Father, how can you do this?

Ah, it must be love!

How did she know raw
eggs were my favorite?

Well, at least with Rata as a
husband you won't go hungry.

I've taken care of you all these
years and this is how you repay me?

I was only thinking
of your happiness.

You are more concerned about
yourself than you are about me.

Barter as much as you like, I'm
not going to marry that pig!

What are you waiting for?

Do you really think some
handsome chief's son

is going to sail to our
shores and marry you?

Just look at yourself.

Who could love you?

Are you sure you just want
to go alone with the boy?

I would feel much better about this
trip if you took your normal crew.

Yes, it is time to test him.

You have said he's
much more reliable.

He's had to be. I have
kept a tight rein on him.

Well, let's give the boy
more rope, see how he fares.

What of you, my friend?
What of your health?

How will you fare?

That's the Orion's belt,
the Seven Sisters,

and that's the Southern Cross.

NARRATOR: As they traded
across the Pacific,

Tama learned why Johnny Lingo was a
friend to all the island people.

Johnny's trust in Tama
was rewarded

as he proved himself to
be a worthy apprentice.

It's been a long time.

I'm looking
forward to our trade.

Our people's health
has benefited enormously

from the noni plant
found on your island.

Yes. The noni is a treasure.

Now, I hope you will
not disappoint me.

I need something unique for the
dowry of my son's bride-to-be.

The boy must pay for
his carelessness!

Forgive my young apprentice
for his stupidity.

I can assure you it was
an innocent mistake.

The gods must be appeased. The
drink is an offering to them.

Your piglet might as well
have spat in their faces!

Please, choose what you will.

The gods are not impressed
with earthly possessions.

Only a life will satisfy
their thirst for justice.

But there must be something in my treasury
that would satisfy the gods' appetite.

I have heard that you have
animals on your island

that have the ability to
produce the sweetest milk.

A cow would certainly be an enviable
dowry for your future daughter-in-law.

Perhaps the gods would be
pleased with such a trade.

So be it.

I will deliver the animal
personally on my next trip.

Very well, the boy will
stay here until you return.

That is impossible.

The canoe needs at least two to
sail it on such a long voyage.

I will have a hostage
or the trade is off!

Then let me stay.

I am too old to
sail the vessel alone.

No, no. It was my mistake.
I will stay.

Someone is going to stay.

The other needs to be back here with
the beast by the next full moon,

or blood will be spilled.

But what if I don't
make it back in time?

What if you're... I am k*lled?

Then you will have to take care of the
Chief Steward for the rest of his days.

But why would you do
such a thing for me?

Because I believe in you.

I will stay. Now go.

Before the chief changes his mind
and we both stay here permanently.

I won't let you down.

[BLOWS]

Get the ropes!

Where's Johnny?

What have you done with Johnny?

Johnny's being held for ransom.

I've come to get a cow
to trade for his life.

You want me to believe you sailed
that canoe back here all on your own?

I don't care what you believe.

All I know is we need to get
back before they k*ll him.

Well, what are we waiting for?

If you're a good enough sailor
to get back here on your own,

you can get us back there
in time to save Johnny.

I have selected the best cow
from Johnny Lingo's herd.

It is my hope that this
offering will appease the gods

and bless your son's marriage.

We accept your offerings.

You have proven yourself
to be a man of honor.

The gods are indeed pleased.

Did they mistreat you?

They were hospitable.

You would have been
missing these.

What took you so long?

Sorry, old friend, you
know how I hate to travel.

I thought I'd let him chart the course.
You know? Give him enough rope.

He sailed it with
total precision.

You would have been proud.

Tomorrow, we travel to Turtle
Island for the dowry ceremony.

You will all be there as my
honored guests, of course.

NARRATOR: It was the
custom in those days

for a young man to
give his father-in-law

a gift for his daughter's
hand in marriage.

A cow as a marriage dowry.

Never before had a bride been so
highly valued in all the islands.

Who are you?

I'm here with Johnny Lingo.

If I've caused
any offence, forgive me.

I asked you who you were.

Not who you were here with.

Who are your parents?

I was abandoned in a canoe as an infant
and washed up on the islands of Malio.

I don't know my parents.

Turn around.

[EXCLAIMS]

My grandson!

My grandson!

Nearly 20 years ago,

my eldest son and then chief

left our island to present
to his wife's people

their firstborn son.

Until this day,

none of them were
ever seen again.

[ALL EXCLAIMING]

There can be no mistaking...

He looks just like
my eldest son.

Handsome, just like him.

He is the rightful heir to the
chieftainship of Turtle Island.

Therefore he must be reinstated

immediately.

[ALL CHATTERING]

You mustn't be afraid.

I'll be here to help you
fulfill your birthright.

And what about my uncle?

Oh, he'll be fine.

With the dowry he's received, he'll
have wealth and very few cares.

He means a great deal to
you, this Johnny Lingo?

It's enough that this old woman

has lived to see the son
of her beloved first born.

I am glad you've
found a father to love.

Perhaps the gods,
in their wisdom

have planned another destiny
for you, my grandson.

Wait!

Wait up!

Shark bait,
heading this way fast.

Ah, he's all right.

Of course he is.

He's a chief's son.

[ALL CHEERING]

Thank you.

It's good to be home
amongst my people.

My family.

And now if you'll excuse me...

I need to speak with Tama.

I'm failing, Tama.

No, you're not.
You're just tired.

We shouldn't have come up here.
I don't want to be here.

Listen to me. Please.

You know, when I was a
boy I was much like you.

Got into all sorts of trouble.

And one day,
fortune smiled on me

and I met up with my namesake.

And here lies the beginning of
the legend of Johnny Lingo.

Like you, I had been caught doing wrong
and was forced to work off my debt.

Somehow, although I knew
the punishment was hard,

I knew he cared for me.

And so I worked hard
to please him.

When he died he left
everything to me.

Including his name.

An offer which I am
now extending to you.

You're not going to die.

Stop it, Tama.
I need you to be strong.

Well, why didn't you tell me?
I could have done something.

There's nothing anyone could have done.
This is your time, Tama.

And what about
the Chief Steward?

He will be as loyal a friend
to you as he has been to me.

I'm depending on you.

We're depending on you.

Bring me the chest
on the dresser.

I thought it was lost.

Never despise the small things.

They have the potential
to become great.

Ulani fixed it for you and
made it so it would fit.

Thank you.

Although my namesake was the
wisest man I ever knew,

the one thing he did not encourage
me to do was to follow my heart.

It is time for you to
consider such things.

My wish is that you have a son

to continue the work
of Johnny Lingo.

He loved you very much.

I promise never to regard you
as shark bait ever again.

I promise never to
regard you as the shark.

Well, as the new Johnny Lingo,

what is your first
order of business?

Prepare the canoe.

You're going on a voyage.

NARRATOR: Tama now turned his
thoughts to Johnny's last request.

So he sent the Chief Steward to
find out what had become of Mahana.

I am the Chief Steward
of Johnny Lingo,

the greatest trader
in all the islands.

We have never been
to your island before

because we believed that
a cold, dark place like this

had nothing of value to trade.

[PEOPLE MUMBLING]

However, we are humbled to learn

that Malio has not only
the most beautiful,

but the most virtuous of all
young women in the islands.

[WHOOPING]

Therefore, Johnny Lingo himself
intends to travel to your island

and personally select a bride.

[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING EXCITEDLY]

Yes, yes.

We are indeed
honored by your visit

and look forward to hosting
the celebrated Johnny Lingo.

In fact, we intend welcoming
him with a great feast.

ALL: Yes!

Please, accept the
juice of the noni

as a gift from Johnny Lingo
to the people of Malio Island.

A feast would be the
perfect opportunity

for Johnny to select a bride.

[ALL CHEERING]

I wonder if he'll be as
handsome as he is rich?

His wealth makes him
very attractive to me.

I knew I was destined for greater
things than to grow old on this island.

Johnny Lingo is coming for me.

Perhaps if you tidied
yourself up a bit,

combed your hair,
you could attend the feast.

I'd rather pluck, stuff and
eat a peacock than marry one.

And that's the only way I'd
sit down to feast with one.

A little peacock
would taste good

compared to these weeds
you keep feeding me.

Don't comb so hard. Do you want
me to be bald on my wedding day?

I don't know why you're bothering.
I'm far more beautiful.

The only thing that you have
more than me, sister, is years.

I hope you will not find
my request at all insulting

but under the circumstances

I respectfully ask
that Miriama's betrothal

to your most esteemed
son be withdrawn.

Only until after Johnny
Lingo's visit, of course.

[CHUCKLES]

A reluctant bride brings
shame on both our families.

If this is what you
want, so be it.

Pua!

We'll find you a better wife!

WOMAN 1: Please, please, come
in and meet my daughter.

CHIEF STEWARD: I'm sure
she's very wonderful.

WOMAN 2: My granddaughter
would make a dutiful wife.

WOMAN 1: Well, but what
about my daughter?

CHIEF STEWARD: No, thank you.

MAN: My daughter
or my pig. You choose.

CHIEF STEWARD: Wonderful.
She's beautiful.

I will let Johnny know.

You must... WOMAN 3: Hello!

May I come in?

I knew you must be
tired after a long day.

So I thought I should bring you
something that would really

satisfy a man's appetite.

You know my daughter is the most
sought-after young woman on the island.

So I thought if you could
introduce her to Johnny first,

I could certainly
make it worth your while.

Of that I am sure.

However... I am
only following orders.

No more wives. Oh, please.
No more wives!

Yesterday, she would
have married me.

Today her mother chased
me away with a broom.

We were supposed to meet and
go for a moonlight walk.

Those walks are never the
same when you're on your own.

Her father told me
I wasn't even welcome.

No matter how much
fish I brought.

The women have gone mad
over this Johnny Lingo.

I hope we get to host him
at our own welcoming party.

We are honored to welcome
the great Johnny Lingo.

You bring much esteem
to our humble shores.

We hope after tonight's feast

you will have reason to
return to our island often.

Welcome home, Johnny.

Have you seen Mahana?

Nah. Maybe she'll be
at the feast tonight.

NARRATOR: No one recognized
Tama as the outcast

that had so mysteriously
disappeared from their island.

He wondered if Mahana
still remembered him

and the promises they had made
to one another so long ago.

Silly-looking peacock.

[DRUMS BEATING]

There's one island beauty
that's not here tonight.

Come on, let's go.

This is a complete
waste of time.

Where's Mahana?

Mahana, my flower,
where are you?

Mahana! Marry me!

I don't care if you're the last
woman left on this island.

Don't marry me!

[ALL LAUGHING]

Mahana, beautiful
Mahana, marry me!

[ALL LAUGHING]

[GRUNTS]

Hurry up! Let's get out of here!

I'm going to get you for this!

Natiti is a real island flower.

NARRATOR: Tama couldn't
believe he was now desired

by the very girls who had so cruelly
teased him and Mahana as children.

Viane comes from
a very good family.

You may consider Miriama
slightly attractive,

but virtuous? Huh, no.

Her virtue I would
certainly question.

Are you sure we have seen all the
eligible young women on the island?

Yes, we have.

There is one other girl.

Unfortunately, she's simple in
the head and extremely plain.

I need to see all the women on the
island before I can make a decision.

We will visit this
girl in the morning.

Good night.

Oh, well.

Even the great Johnny Lingo gets
tired after a long journey.

Where's that daughter
of yours, Pioi?

I'm so sorry,

but Mahana goes to the headlands
every morning at this time to

search the horizon.

It's as if she's, uh,
waiting for someone.

She's still waiting for me.

Oh, she's really quite mad.

Pioi, tell our
distinguished guest

there is really
no point in looking for her.

No. There's no point.

No point at all.

I'll be the judge of that.
Please take me to her.

She has no friends,
no social skills.

No one ever wants to go and see her
and she's always fighting boys.

What are you all
doing here? Go away!

Pioi! Where are your
daughter's manners?

She's embarrassing us in
front of our honored guests.

I don't care if I'm embarrassing you.
I'm not coming down.

Mahana, you ugly, come
down from that tree now.

Now, if you don't mind, Johnny Lingo would
like to speak to the young lady alone.

But she's extremely dangerous.

As your son well knows.

I'll take my chances.

Come on. Come now,
let's leave them.

I didn't see you at
the feast last night.

Why should you care?

Did it hurt your pride not to have the
ugliest girl on the island flaunt herself?

Surely you don't
think that of yourself?

Why else would you
have come here?

Doesn't being the wife of Johnny
Lingo have any appeal to you at all?

No.

Why not?

That cloak might impress all the other
island girls, but to me you just look

like a silly-looking peacock.

[CLEARS THROAT]

So what does impress you then?

Certainly not a
fat-head like you.

What? I'm not
a fat-head. You are.

Yes, you are. No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

You're as stubborn as those
stupid cows I used to look after.

You don't know
anything about me.

Mahana? Mahana!

[GRUNTS]

NARRATOR: Tama had intended to
tell Mahana who he really was,

but somehow it all went wrong.

I'm not communicating
well with her.

She doesn't seem to have any
problem communicating with you.

[CHUCKLES]

I can't believe she's not interested
in marrying Johnny Lingo.

Ah, it took me years to
begin to care for you at all.

You can't expect
to come back here

and have her fall in love
with you in just one day.

I guess we could be here for
longer than I expected.

What am I going to do?

She thinks I'm a fat-head.

[CHUCKLES]

The more I hear about this
Mahana the more I like her.

[ALL CLAMORING]

Please! Please!

Johnny will decide today.

But where is he now?

He has gone to
wrestle with his decision.

You are all so beautiful

he is finding it even harder
than he ever imagined.

I tell you, it is so difficult

it has given him
a very sore head.

[ALL EXCLAIMING]

Mahana!

Mahana, will you
come out, please?

Fine. I'll wait here
till you decide to talk.

I can't come out!
You've got my clothes!

All right, then.
I'll give you your clothes,

if you'll answer
one question for me.

That's not a fair trade!

Johnny Lingo didn't become the
greatest trader in all the islands

by not realizing a golden
opportunity when he sees one.

All right then.

Leave my clothes
and I'll come out.

What do you want?

Why do you go to the
headlands every day?

What business is it of yours?

A fat-head like you
could never understand.

You made your fortune
in trading and tricks.

I've heard stories about
the great Johnny Lingo.

You haven't
answered my question.

Why do you go to the
headlands every day?

Are you looking for someone?

Yes.

But he's never coming back.

No, wait. Wait. Wait.

Wait, tell me.

Please.

I need to know.

A boy left here.

He promised he'd come back.

Every morning and
every evening since then

I've searched the horizon
waiting for him.

Do you know what it's like

to have your hopes
rise with the sun

only to have them crushed
each time it sets?

He's a liar like everyone else.

He forgot his promise
and I hate him.

Maybe he is dead.

What sort of fool does that make me
waiting eight years for a ghost?

I'm sorry he caused
you so much pain.

Perhaps the boy
never forgot his promise.

I hope one day he can
prove that to you.

I have no chance.

We should set sail and let
her believe the boy is dead.

Get up.

You did not become Johnny
Lingo by being a quitter.

Well, what can I do?

She hates me whether
I'm Johnny or Tama.

What did Johnny say?

Love was the most
expensive commodity.

The more you are willing to pay,
the more valuable the price.

The question is, are you
willing to pay the price?

[ALL CHATTERING EXCITEDLY]

A decision has been made.

I am happy to announce that Johnny
Lingo has finally made a decision.

In the hope that she will
accept him as a worthy husband,

he has resolved to
barter for Mahana.

[ALL EXCLAIMING IN SURPRISE]

What?

Mahana! Oh, she's ugly.

The man must be mad.

Mad and blind.

I don't care if
he is mad or blind.

What about all the gold and the
silk I'll never get to wear?

Well, I'm glad that's all over.

So am I.

NARRATOR:
When word reached Mahana

that Johnny Lingo had
chosen her as his bride,

she went to the headland thinking
of the boy who never returned.

[SONG PLAYING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

Johnny Lingo would like to
know what you would consider

to be a fair exchange for
your daughter's hand.

Although my daughter may not
appear to be a great beauty,

she certainly can cook,
tend the taro patch,

chop wood and keep
a very tidy house.

Yeah, when she's not
throwing things at you.

[ALL LAUGHING]

That may be so,
but no one can question

Mahana's virtue.

She has been a devoted daughter

all these years to
a broken-down father

who does not deserve her loyalty

or her love.

And that kind of devotion

is worth more than any gold.

But even I, Pioi,

a poor and ignorant man,

has heard of the wealth of
the great Johnny Lingo.

A story has reached our shores

of a cow

given as a wedding
dowry for a bride.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Therefore, I ask for

[COUGHING]

I'm sorry.
I don't think I heard you.

Would you repeat that?

[COUGHING]

[STAMMERING] Two cows.

Did I hear you correctly?
Did you ask for two cows?

Johnny Lingo is insulted!

Don't you realize that he can have any wife
from any of the islands that he wants?

And you ask for two cows?

Johnny Lingo offers
eight cows for Mahana!

[COWS MOOING]

[SHOUTING IN JOY]

I release you from your
father's bridal agreement.

But you will honor me
by keeping the cows.

They will help take care
of you and your father.

I hope you are both very happy.

[SIGHS] Try and forget the past.

But why?

Why are you doing this?

A long time ago I made a promise
to somebody I cared for very much.

This is my way of
keeping that promise.

Why the eight cows?

[EXHALES]

There's one for every year.

My band?

Tama?

Is that you?

Mahana...

I have loved you all my life.

That's for the eight years.

And this...

This is for coming back.

I can't believe Tama is Johnny Lingo.
I can't believe that...

Oh, silence, woman!

Please forgive
a foolish old man.

The curse that was placed
on Tama and Mahana

as children was broken.

Because they'd never stopped
believing in one another,

and that's something even
a hundred cows can't buy.

Did I get it right?

Yes.

Johnny, come here,
your father's busy.

I'm sorry.

You've been more than
generous with your time.

I should've gone hours ago.

You'll have to
forgive my husband.

He never tires
of telling that story.

I could tell it and live it
a hundred times more.

Thank you very much, sir.

It's my pleasure.

As we said goodbye that day,

I knew that the
legend of Johnny Lingo

would live on forever.

MAN: ♪ I have always loved you

♪ I hope to for a lifetime

♪ The promise made

♪ By this heart of mine

♪ Hold the line

♪ You know one day I will come

♪ I will come for you

WOMAN: ♪ You don't know
what it's like

♪ For all your hopes to rise

♪ To see them fall again

♪ With the setting sun

♪ In my heart, you're the one

♪ I know one day you will come

♪ You will come for me

BOTH: ♪ I will comfort you

♪ We will grow old forever

♪ Together in love

♪ To settle in the calm

♪ Following love's frown

♪ It's just you and I

♪ Never let you down

♪ I will never let you down

♪ Tamahana

♪ E he galo koe

♪ I toku loto

♪ Tamahana

♪ It's just you and I

♪ For a lifetime

♪ I will always love you

♪ And not just for this lifetime

♪ The promise made

♪ By this heart of mine

♪ You're the one

♪ I knew one day you would come

♪ And you would come for me

♪ I will comfort you

♪ We will grow old forever

♪ Together in love

♪ To settle in the calm

♪ Following love's frown

♪ It's just you and I

♪ Never let you down

♪ I will never let you down

♪ Tamahana

♪ E he galo koe

♪ I toku loto

♪ Tamahana

♪ It's just you and I

♪ For a lifetime

♪ I will always love you

♪ And not just for this lifetime

♪ The promise made

♪ By this heart of mine

♪ You're the one

♪ I knew one day you would come

♪ And you would come for me

♪ I will comfort you

♪ We will grow old forever

♪ Together in love

♪ To settle in the calm

♪ Following love's frown

♪ It's just you and I

♪ Never let you down

♪ I will never let you down

♪ Tamahana

♪ E he galo koe

♪ I toku loto

♪ Tamahana

♪ It's just you and I

♪ For all time

♪ Tamahana

♪ E he galo koe

♪ I toku loto

♪ Tamahana

♪ It's just you and I

♪ For all time

♪ Tamahana

♪ E he galo koe

♪ I toku loto

♪ Tamahana

♪ It's just you and I

♪ For all time

♪ Tamahana

♪ E he galo koe

♪ I toku loto

♪ Tamahana

♪ It's just you and I