The Tongue-Cut Sparrow

SCENE 1 — INT. MODERN HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

ALICE (18) is putting her younger sister to bed. CELIA (12) is a bit small for her age. Beside her bed on a small table within arm's reach is a blue inhaler.

ALICE: Well then, what story would you like to hear toni—

CELIA: Tell me about the one about Suzume.

ALICE: Again? I've told you that one so many times. Are you sure you don't want to hear another one?

CELIA: I wanna hear about the sparrows.

ALICE: Alright then. Once upon a time...

SCENE 2 — INT. HOUSE - DOORWAY - DAY

ALICE (O.S.): There were two sisters who lived alone at the edge of a great forest. The older sister Anna was fit and strong so she would work in the field. The younger sister Carol was much weaker and lacked her elder sister's stamina so she would take care of the housework instead. The elder sister was a gentle and kind soul who looked after her younger sister. But her younger sister was always complaining about something or another.

Carol is muttering something aggressively to Anna and she nods while smiling without changing her expression. Carol soon turns around and goes back inside.

SCENE 3 — EXT. RICE FIELD - DAY

ALICE (O.S.): During the day, Anna would work until evening and then return before it got dark.

Anna is tilling the earth and the sun is at its peak. She looks up and sees the sun has gone down. She wipes her brow and leaves the field.

SCENE 4 — INT. HOUSE - DOORWAY - EVENING

Anna walks through the door and a sparrow SUZUME greets her, chirping loudly. Suzume flies and lands on her shoulder and rubs her head against Anna's affectionately. Carol also meets her sister at the doorway, but she has a frown on her face.

ALICE (O.S.): Recently Anna had found a young feeble sparrow near the woods. The bird who she came to call Suzume reminded her of her sister. Anna took the little bird home and gave her food from her own meals. Eventually, Suzume recovered and would fly about happily and sing loudly.

SCENE 5 — EXT. HOUSE - FRONT YARD - EVENING

CAROL: When are you going to get rid of that sparrow? All it does is eat and make noise all day.

ANNA: I'll keep her in my room when I'm gone and I'll give her some of my meals, so you don't need to worry about that.

CAROL: Fine. (mumbles)

ALICE (O.S.): After listening to Carol's complaints Anna would play with Suzume, teaching her tricks and watching her fly about happily.

SCENE 6 — INT. HOUSE - DOORWAY - DAY

ANNA: Remember to leave some food out for Suzume from my own meal.

CAROL: Yes, yes. Now hurry along.

SCENE 7 — INT. HOUSE - LAUNDRY ROOM - NOON

ALICE (O.S.): Now despite Anna's reminder to set aside some food for Suzume, Carol did not remember. She had made some rice starch for the laundry and left the bowl open as she left to get the clothes.

Carol leaves the room. Suzume flutters in and sees the bowl of rice starch. She looks around and sees nothing else then starts eating the starch.

ALICE (O.S.): Suzume had grown quite hungry by noon. And so, she ventured out of Anna's room looking for her meal. She came upon the bowl of starch unattended thinking it was for her and ate it all.

Carol returns to the room and is surprised by the empty bowl.

CAROL: Where did my starch go?

Suzume flew in front of her and bowed her head.

SUZUME: It is I who have taken the starch. I thought it was some food put out for me in that basin, and I ate it all. If I have made a mistake I beg you to forgive me!

ALICE (O.S.): The sparrow was a truthful bird and anyone else would have forgiven the bird for its mistake but Carol never liked the sparrow and saw this as an opportunity to get rid of her.

CAROL: You stupid bird! That was for the clothes not for eating! I suppose you ate my starch with that tongue of yours! Let's see you try that again without it.

Carol grabbed the bird who had still been kneeling and cut off Suzume's tongue with scissors. After this, she shoos her out of the house. Suzume flies away without returning.

CAROL: Now I have to make more starch.

ALICE (O.S.): Carol grumbled without a hint of remorse.

SCENE 8 — INT. HOUSE - DOORWAY - EVENING

Anna returns home and looks around expectantly. When Suzume doesn't greet her, she looks around the house.

ANNA: Have you seen Suzume?

CAROL: That dirty bird? No. It must have flown off or something.

ALICE (O.S.): Anna continues to search for her friend, calling loudly in all parts of the house again and again.

CAROL: Fine! I'll tell you what happened if you just be quiet!

Carol told her sister what had transpired between her and the sparrow.

ANNA: How horrible! How could you do such a thing!

SCENE 9 — INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

ALICE (O.S.): Anna is so sad about the treatment of her friend that she cannot sleep. But she makes up her mind to search for her friend the next day and finally manages to get some rest.

SCENE 10 — EXT. WOODS EDGE - NOON

Anna searches, calls and whistles for the sparrow dappled in sunlight as the shadows lengthen while she continues to search until late in the afternoon.

ANNA: Suzume! Where oh where does my tongue-cut sparrow stay?

SCENE 11 — EXT. OUTSIDE BAMBOO GROVE - AFTERNOON

Near a bamboo grove, Anna finds the sparrow Suzume who bows her head and chirps happily performing the tricks Anna taught her.

ALICE (O.S.): Near a large bamboo grove Suzume flies down to greet Anna. She spoke to Anna as if nothing were wrong with her tongue and performed her usual tricks with joy. Anna apologized for her sister's behavior and was surprised but happy as to how eloquently she could speak without her tongue. The sparrow opened her beak and showed her that a new one had grown in the place of the old one.

SUZUME: Think nothing of it. I am quite well now.

ALICE (O.S.): Anna realized that her friend was no ordinary bird but a fairy. She was quite happy and had forgotten her fatigue from searching all day. Simply happy because her friend was happy and not bitter from Carol's harsh treatment.

SUZUME: You must be tired after searching all day. Come inside and rest.

Suzume leads Anna into her home.

SCENE 12 — INT. SPARROW'S HOUSE FOYER - AFTERNOON

The sparrow transforms into a BEAUTIFUL LADY and shows Anna around her home. It is much bigger on the inside than it seems from the outside. It is filled with many rooms all decorated with luxurious paintings, furniture, and expensive treasures.

ALICE (O.S.): Inside her home, Suzume took on a human form. She shows Anna her home and introduces her to her sisters.

SCENE 13 — INT. SPARROW'S HOUSE LIVING ROOM - AFTERNOON

ALICE (O.S.): Suzume's sisters serve Anna many delicious foods and entertain her with songs and dances.

SCENE 14 — INT. SPARROW'S HOUSE PARLOUR - EVENING

The sun begins to set and the shadows cast grow longer.

ALICE (O.S.): Though Anna enjoyed the company of Suzume and her family, the setting of the sun reminded her that she must return home.

ANNA: Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening but I must leave. Please forgive my sister for her actions.

SUZUME: Please stay the night. You are more than welcome to do so and leave in the morning.

ANNA: I thank you for your kind hospitality, but I must refuse. My sister would worry for my sake and I for her if something were to happen to her.

SUZUME: I see. In that case, please take one of these gifts with you.

Suzume claps her hands and two servants return carrying two boxes and place them on the floor. One large, about half the size of Anna, and the other small, about the size of a shoebox.

ANNA: In that case, I will take the lighter box — it is quite dark outside, and I don't wish to injure myself on the way home.

SCENE 15 — EXT. OUTSIDE BAMBOO GROVE - EVENING

SUZUME: Please feel free to return at any time.

ANNA: I will whenever I have time. I am glad to know that you are healthy and well my friend.

SCENE 16 — INT. HOUSE - DOORWAY - NIGHT

Anna returns home and the moon is high in the sky. Carol lights a candle, revealed to have been waiting for Anna.

CAROL: Where have you been! You didn't come home at your usual time! I've been so worried I couldn't sleep!

Anna smiles when she hears that her sister was worried.

ANNA: Now now, I'm sorry I'm late but I have a good reason for that.

ALICE (O.S.): Anna tells Carol what had happened — about where she'd found the Sparrow, her luxurious home and even the two gifts.

CAROL: Well then? What was in it?

ANNA: I'm not sure.

Anna opens the small box and finds it full to bursting with gold and precious gems.

CAROL: Wow! So much treasure!

ANNA: With this much money if we spend it carefully it'll last us the rest of our lives.

CAROL: Carefully?! Didn't you say there was another bigger box? Why didn't you take that one instead! You should go back and get it!

ALICE (O.S.): Now Anna had regretted telling her sister about the larger box. Carol could barely sleep that night thinking of the treasures she could have gained and devises a scheme to obtain them.

SCENE 17 — INT. HOUSE - DINING ROOM - MORNING

CAROL: Oh, sister, I have been so unkind to your friend. Please tell me where she lives so I may apologize.

ANNA: I am so glad to hear that. I can show you the way today.

CAROL: Ah — no I must go there myself. To show my sincerity. You stay and rest today.

ANNA: You're right. Yesterday was quite tiring. Very well. The way to Suzume's house is —

SCENE 18 — EXT. OUTSIDE BAMBOO GROVE - NOON

ALICE (O.S.): Following Anna's directions, Carol finds the Grove by noon. Suzume is surprised to see Carol but is polite and invites her into her home.

CAROL: No need to bother with that. My silly sister left behind a large box. I'm here to take it home.

Suzume claps her hands and a servant brings out the large box. Carol immediately hoists the box onto her back with some difficulty because of its weight but manages to do so.

SUZUME: That box is actua—

Carol immediately bolts homeward without listening.

ALICE (O.S.): Carol doesn't even thank Suzume but leaves as quickly as she appeared.

SCENE 19 — EXT. OUTSIDE FOREST - AFTERNOON

ALICE (O.S.): The box was quite heavy and Carol needed to stop often but eventually, her curiosity grew too great and she needed to know what was inside.

Carol puts the box down and stares at it. With a chuckle, she carefully opens it. Out sprouted a number of horrible and frightening demons with large mouths. They surround her except for a small opening.

ALICE (O.S.): Carol expected to see gold and jewels like the other box but instead, many terrifying demons jumped out of the box. They licked their lips and stared at her.

Carol screams and ran from the spot through the small opening.

ALICE (O.S.): Carol had never been so scared in her life and had forgotten her fatigue in fear and ran all the way home.

SCENE 20 — INT. HOUSE - DOORWAY - EVENING

Carol ran into the house and into the arms of her sister.

ALICE (O.S.): When she had gotten home, she told her sister what had happened.

ANNA: You're safe now.

CAROL: That darn sparrow how dare it —

ANNA: Enough! You have no right to blame her for what you deserved! It is your wickedness that has met with its reward! You told me you went to apologize but you really wanted that box. If those demons had truly wanted to harm you, do you really think you would have made it back! If you do not change your ways I will leave you by yourself — you are no longer the weak child you once were if you could carry that heavy box halfway home and then run the rest of the way!

CAROL: I'm sorry sister please do not leave me. I won't do anything like that ever again.

ALICE (O.S.): This time Carol meant it. This experience had changed her, and she repented her unkind ways. The two sisters lived the rest of their lives free of want or care, carefully spending the treasure that Suzume had given Anna.

SCENE 21 — INT. MODERN HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Alice has finished telling Celia the story and notices that she has fallen asleep. She quietly turns off the lights and exits the room leaving the door slightly ajar. Alice walks down the hallway and into the living room. In a corner of the room is an altar with a photo of two very old women smiling. Next to the photo is the small box from the fairy tale.

ALICE: (Softly) Good night.