You are ready! [inspects him] Nice, very nice. [chuckles darkly] You have the same blackness in your soul that Scar had. What is your destiny?
I will avenge Scar, take his place in the Pride Lands.
Yes. What have I taught you?
Simba is the enemy.
I must kill him!
Father, how could you break your promise?
It's a good thing I did. I almost lost you. No more hunts for you; not ever!
But I was doing just fine! Even before Kovu--
Kovu?
Hey! You! How dare you save the King's daughter?
You saved her? Why?
I humbly ask to join your pride.
I have left the Outsiders. I'm a rogue. Judge me now, for what I am... Or am I to be blamed for a crime I didn't commit?
See that? See that? Look at that! It's really pretty.
What? Oh yeah! Um-- look, there's one that looks like a baby rabbit. See the fluffy tail?
Yeah... hey! There's one that looks like two lions killing each other for a scrap of meat. [Kiara grimaces] Ohh, I've never done this before.
Really? My father and I used to do this all the time. He says all the great Kings of the past are up there.
Do you think Scar is up there? [gets up and moves off] No one here thinks he's very great... do they?
My father said there was a darkness in Scar that he couldn't escape.
Maybe there's a darkness in me, too.
Father... I am lost. Kovu is one of them. Scar's heir. How can I accept him?
Simba?
I was seeking counsel from the great kings.
Did they help?
Oh, Simba. You want so much to walk the path expected of you. Perhaps Kovu does not.
I can see them down there just as easily as you can. Get to know them and see. [she nuzzles under Simba's head]
Scar couldn't let go of his hate, and in the end, it destroyed him.
I've never heard the story of Scar that way. He truly was a killer.
Fire is a killer. Sometimes, what's left behind can grow better than the generation before... [unearths a small plant from the dust] ...if given the chance.
Scar... watch over my poor Nuka. [turns to Kovu] You! [slashes her son] What have you done?
I-I-I didn't mean to... It wasn't my fault, I... [snarls] I did nothing!
Exactly! And in doing so, you betrayed your pride. Betrayed Scar!
I want nothing more to do with him!!
You cannot escape it! Nuka is dead because of you!
No.
You've killed your own brother!
NO! [flees]
Simba, I had nothing to do with--
You don't belong here.
Please. I ask your forgiveness.
Silence! [turns back to Kovu] When you first came here, you asked for judgment, and I pass it now.
Judgement! We don't want you! Put him on trial! Judgement Day is here! Yes! Judgement! Judgement! Your day is--
Exile!
Kovu! [Kovu doesn't back down] Move.
Stand aside.
Daddy, this has to stop.
You're even weaker than I thought. Get out of the way!
You'll never hurt Kiara, or Simba! Not while I'm here.
Stay out of this.
A wise king once told me, "We are one." I didn't understand him then. [smiles] Now I do.
But-- they--
Them...us. Look at them...they are us. What differences do you see? (Aren't we all part of the Circle of Life?)
Vitani! Now!
No, Mother! [faces Kiara then back to Zira] Kiara's right. [walks to join Simba's pride] Enough.
If you will not fight... then you will die as well. [the other Outsiders, disgusted by Zira's words, also go to stand with Simba, leaving Zira standing alone] Wh-- wha-- where are you going?! Get back here!
Let it go, Zira. It's time to put the past behind us.
I'll never let it go! This is for you, Scar!
[Zira snarls and leaps at Simba, but Kiara pushes her away, and both start rolling down towards the river]
Oof! [Kovu jumps to his paws and glares at Kiara.] [growls]
Who are you, Pride Lander? [growls]
What are you doing?
You always do what Daddy says?
Betcha do! Bet you're Daddy's little girl. [laughs] [Kiara looks downcast for getting sad. Kovu walks off.] An Outsider doesn't need anybody. [strides across a "log" into the middle of the swamp.] I take care of myself!
Cool!
RUN!!!
Whoa, man, did you see the size of those teeth? They were goin'... [mimics growling; rolls over on her back and laughs] He was just totally eatin' you up right there, and I jumped on his head, and I bopped him so good. [The camera moves back to show Zira crouching in the grass some distance away] We make such a good team. And you... you were really brave.
Yeah? You were pretty brave too. My name's Kovu.
I'm Kiara. [She crouches down playfully, waving her tail; she reaches out and bats him] Tag! You're it! [She jumps back, laughing; instead of chasing, Kovu just looks at her silently. She tries again] Tag! You're it! You're it! [still gets no response; he just stares at her] Hello? You run; I tag. Get it? What's the matter? Don't you know how to play? [getting an idea, she crouches down and goes back to playing his style, with bared teeth and growls. He gets the idea and playfully growls back, but suddenly he finds himself growling at Simba's leg. Simba roars, and Zira jumps out of the grass and roars back]
Zira.
Simba. [Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa arrive behind Simba, with other lionesses] Nala.
Zira.
Timon, Pumbaa. Great. Now that we all know each other, GET OUTTA OUR PRIDE LANDS!
Your Pride Lands? [snarls, scaring him making Timon leap backward over Pumbaa's head in fear] These lands belong to Scar.
I banished you from the Pride Lands. Now you, and your young cub, get out. [Kovu and Kiara hide farther behind their parents]
Oh, haven't you met my son, Kovu? He was hand-chosen by Scar to follow in his pawprints and become king. [Simba growls as Kovu shivers, looking worried]
Kovu was the last born before you exiled us to the Outlands, where we have little food, less water.
You know the penalty for returning to the Pride Lands.
But the child does not. However, if you need your pound of flesh, here. [nudges a terrified Kovu over to Simba, who glares at him. Kovu shivers in fright]
Take him and get out. We're finished here. [turns around and picks Kiara up with his mouth as he's getting ready to leave]
Oh, no, Simba. We have barely begun. [looks down at Kiara and chuckles evilly, then turns and picks up Kovu]
Bye.
Kovu, Kovu, Kovu. Scar wasn't even his father. He just took 'im in. [to Vitani, who is biting on a root] Oh, hey, Vitani. Where's little termite Kovu, the "Chosen One"? [touches the root with a claw; it snaps, and Vitani tumbles backward; Nuka guffaws]
Nuka! Where's Kovu? Did you leave him out there on his own again?
Hey, it's every lion for himself out here. [scratches himself] That little termite's got to learn to be on his own.
Mother's going to be mad. She told you to watch him.
Oh, who cares? I should've been the Chosen One. I'm the oldest, I'm the strongest, I'm the smartest-- OH, THESE TERMITES! [starts crazily biting every place he can find on his body, and rolls around on the ground; Vitani watches, smirking] I could be a leader if she'd just give me a chance!
Yeah? Don't think I won't.
Oh, yeah? [laughs] Here's your chance.
What? Oh. Mother. Mother, hi! [laughs nervously] Mother, I caught some field mice for your dinner. I left 'em by the, um, by the-- Okay. [Zira drops Kovu. Vitani pounces next to him]
Hey, Kovu. You want to fight? [She mock-snarls; he looks earnest]
It's not his fault; I went off on my own. [Zira turns on Kovu, backing him along the ground with her words]
What were you doing?
N-nothing!
Who has made us Outsiders?
Simba!
Who killed Scar?
Simba!
And what have I told you about them?!
Sorry, mother! Sh-she didn't seem so bad. I-I, I thought we could be--
Friends?! You thought you'd get to the daughter, and Simba would welcome you with open arms? What an idea! [she reconsiders and smiles] What... an idea! You brilliant child. I'm so proud of you. [She kneads the frightened Kovu with unsheathed claws and scratching his hair] You have the same conniving mind that made Scar so...powerful.
Ooh, yuck. [Zira snarls and glares at Nuka, who laughs nervously; Zira then picks up Kovu and carries him into a cave, as Nuka glowers] Ugh. [sarcastically] Chosen One.
I now see the path to our glorious return to power!
But I don't want--
Hush! [softly] Hush, my little one. You must be exhausted. [sings] ♪ Sleep, my little Kovu. Let your dreams take wing. ♪
♪ One day when you're big and strong, you will be a king. ♪
Good night.
Good night, my little prince. Tomorrow, your training intensifies. [singing] ♪ I've been exiled, persecuted, left alone with no defense. ♪
♪ When I think of what that brute did, I get a little tense. ♪
♪ But I dream a dream so pretty, that I don't feel so depressed. ♪
♪ 'Cause it soothes my inner kitty, and it helps me get some rest. ♪
♪ The sound of Simba's dying gasp. ♪
♪ His daughter squealing in my grasp. ♪
♪ His lionesses' mournful cry; That's my lullaby. ♪
♪ Now the past I've tried forgetting, and my foes I could forgive. ♪
♪ Trouble is I knows it's petty, but I hate to let them live. ♪
♪ So you found yourself somebody who'd chase Simba up a tree. ♪
♪ Oh, the final battle may be bloody, but that kind of works for me. ♪
♪ The melody of angry growls. ♪
♪ A counterpoint of painful howls. ♪
♪ A symphony of death; oh, my. ♪
♪ That's my lullaby. ♪
♪ Scar is gone, but Zira's still around, to love this little lad. ♪
♪ Till he learns to be a killer, with a lust for being bad. ♪
Sleep, ya little termite! Uh-- I mean, ♪ precious little thing. ♪
♪ One day when you're big and strong-- ♪
♪ You will be a king. ♪
♪ The pounding of the drums of war! ♪
♪ The thrill of Kovu's mighty roar! ♪
The joy of vengeance!
Testify!
♪ I can hear the cheering! ♪
Kovu, what a guy!
♪ Payback time is nearing, and then our flag will fly, against a blood-red sky! ♪
♪ That's...my...lulla...by! ♪ [evil laugh]
Good morning! [Kovu backs away; laughs; Kiara hops around Kovu playfully.] I'm ready for my first lesson! Surprised ya, huh? [Kovu looks back at the watering hole to see that Simba is gone.] Hey, come on! Let's go!
Ow! Ow!
Three...two...one.
[Kiara pounces at Kovu, who ducks.]
*laugh*
Whoa, whoa, whoa! [enthusiastically] Yeehaw!
*laugh* [Kovu, Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa look up and notice a herd of rhinoceroses in their path. The birds have alighted on the rhinoceroses' backs. The friends screech and skid to a halt.] *screams*
Uh...
Uh-oh.
*blow raspberries*
*snort angrily*
*scream*
Whoa!
Whoa!
Hey, rhino!
*grunt*
Good night.
Good night.
It's...kinda cold tonight, huh? Come on in.
Get him! What are you waiting for? Kovu, get him!
You're sure?
Affirmative. I saw it with my own eyes.
No. [turns and strides away from Vitani.] Kovu cannot betray us.
Scar couldn't let go of his hate, and in the end, it destroyed him.
I've never heard the story of Scar that way. He truly was a killer.
Fire is a killer. Sometimes, what's left behind can grow better than the generation before. [unearths a small plant from the dust] If given the chance. [Zira cackles from offscreen and Kovu and Simba look around and gasp. The Outsiders emerge from the shadows and stalk toward Kovu and Simba and growl. Simba looks to the side to see more Outsiders emerging.]
No. Oh, no. [Kovu and Simba look back and forth frantically.] No!
What are you doing out here, and so alone? [Simba squares off against the Outsiders and growl; she, Nuka and Vitani chuckle] Well done, Kovu. Just like we always planned.
No! [Simba snarls; looks around at the Outsiders desperately.] I didn't have anything to do with this! [looks imploringly at Simba.]
Attack!
NO!
Ah! [fights back as more Outsiders gang up on him.]
Yes! [The Outsiders slide down the side of the gorge toward Simba.] We've got him! [Outsiders snarl]
Remember your training as a unit!
[The Outsiders chase after Simba through the gorge. One jumps on his back but falls. The Outsiders growl and Simba pauses at the bottom of a log pile. He looks up to see that it leads to the top of the gorge., pants, looks behind him to see the Outsiders charging toward him. He begins to climb the log pile. As he climbs, he dislodges a log that falls toward the Outsiders. They back away in time to avoid getting hit. Zira and Vitani glare up at Simba and they snarl. Simba looks over one shoulder at the Outsiders down below. He then looks back up at the log pile. Meanwhile, Kovu stands at the top of the gorge, looking down on Simba.]
Simba!
Get him, Kovu! Get him! [Kovu runs offscreen.] Do it! NOW!
I'LL DO IT FOR YOU, MOTHER! [bounds gleefully up the logs and snickers but loses his balance] Oh! [looks down at Zira as he climbs] MOTHER, ARE YA WATCHING?! [under his breath] I'm doin' it for you, and I'm doin' it for me.
This is my moment of glory! [The log Nuka is standing on breaks, causing him to fall.] What? No!
NO!
[Nuka falls, looks up and yelps as a log crushes him. Several more logs land on top of him. Simba climbs higher, kicking more logs down the pile. Nuka struggles to free himself. He looks up in fright as more logs fall toward him as he screams. Simba climbs to safety. Meanwhile, more logs fall, raising dust. After a moment, the dust clears. Kovu bounds down to the bottom of the gorge and starts to pry the logs off Nuka, but Zira shoves Kovu aside. Zira reaches down for Nuka. Kovu backs away. Zira shoves a log aside with her head, and sees Nuka is seen hopelessly buried in logs. Nuka coughs]
Nuka. [bows her head. The scene transitions to the open savanna. Simba limps through the grass. Kiara, Zazu, Timon, and Pumbaa appear on a nearby hill.]
Father? Father! [looks at Zazu, who has alighted in a nearby tree] Zazu, get help!
Oh, yes! [flies away] Help! At once! Of course! [Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa rush down the hill toward Simba, who pauses, looks up wearily at their arrival and grunts]
Father. [nuzzles Simba, then pulls away and watches him with concern. Pumbaa skids to a halt in front of Simba, with Timon in his mane.]
Simba, talk to me! [spreads his arms wide] What happened?
No.
It's all right, buddy. We're here for ya.
Scar, watch over my poor Nuka. Oh... [glares over one shoulder at Kovu and angrily lunges at him] YOU!!! [Kovu looks up and Zira angrily slashes him in the face, and he yells in pain and turns away; he breathes heavily and looks back at Zira angrily, revealing a scar over his left eye.] What... have you... [juts her head at Kovu] done?!
I didn't-- I-I didn't mean to. I-- It wasn't my fault. I-I-- [steeling himself] I did nothing!
Exactly! And in doing so, you betrayed your pride. Betrayed Scar!
I want nothing more to DO WITH HIM!
You cannot escape it. [strides toward Kovu, who backs away and slips on a rock.] Nuka is dead because of you!
No.
NO!!!!!!!!! [runs away from Zira and the Outsiders, who roar]
Let him go! Simba has hurt me for the last time. [climbs a pillar of rock and stands overlooking the Outsiders, who gather below Zira.] Now, he has corrupted Kovu. [smirking] Listen to me; Simba is injured and weak. [lifts a paw] Now is the time to [slams her paw into the ground] attack! We will take his entire kingdom...BY FORCE! [the Outsiders roar in agreement as she laughs evilly]
Simba...I had nothing to do with--
You don't belong here.
Please. I ask your forgiveness.
Silence! [angrily turns back to face Kovu] When you first came here, you asked for judgment. And I pass it now!
We don't want you! Judgment! Put him on trial! Judgment day is here! Yes! Judgment! Judgment!
EXILE!
NO! [elephants start trumpeting, monkeys start chattering and zebras start whinnying, while many animals, who are gathered in rows, stamp and stomp to the beat of the music.] No! Kovu!
♪ [from offscreen] *trumpets* ♪
♪ Deception. [Kovu backs away slowly.] Disgrace. ♪
[The oryx back Kovu to the edge of a cliff until he is forced to turn tail and flee.] Pride Landers ♪ Evil as plain as the scar on his face. ♪
♪ Deception. ♪
♪ An outrage! ♪
♪ Disgrace. ♪
♪ For shame! ♪
♪ He asked for trouble the moment he came. ♪
♪ Deception! An outrage! He can't change his stripes! [Kovu flees.] Disgrace! For shame! [Kovu runs through two rows of oryx, who butt their heads as he passes.] You know these Outsider types! [Kovu runs past several ostriches, who peck him.] Evil as plain as the scar on his face. See you later, agitator! [Monkeys throw rocks at Kovu.] Just leave us alone! Deception! An outrage! [Kovu dodges the rocks.] Disgrace! [Kovu flees down several ledges.] For shame! Traitor, go back with your own! He asked for trouble the moment he came. See you later, agitator! [Simba watches as Kovu runs away. He turns his head as a flock of storks descends on Kovu from the air.] Born in grief, raised in hate, [Kovu looks up frantically at the storks. They periodically descend on and peck him.] helpless to defy his fate. [Kovu flees into a grove of trees.] Let him run. Let him live. But do not forget what we cannot forgive! [Kovu splashes into a shallow pool and looks back at Pride Rock sorrowfully. Simba glares back, his mane blowing in the wind.] And he is not one of us. [Below Pride Rock, the Pride Landers watch Kovu depart.] He has never been one of us. [Kiara dodges around the two lionesses, only to be blocked by two more. She looks over their heads desperately.] He is not one of us. [The Pride Landers shake their heads.] Not our kind. [Kovu blinks sadly.] Someone once lied to us. [Kovu looks down in the water, and his reflection ripples into Scar.] Now, we're not so blind, [Kovu splashes through his reflection. He races to the other end of the pool.] for we knew he would do what he's done, [Kovu clambers onto shore, his head drooped.] and we know that he'll never be one of [Kovu looks over one shoulder at Pride Rock.] us. ♪
♪ He is not one of us. ♪
♪ Deception. ♪
♪ Disgrace. ♪
♪ Deception. Disgrace. [Simba's head is interposed with footage of Kovu walking away. Simba turns away from Kovu.] Deception. ♪
[Kovu runs offscreen. From afar, Rafiki watches him go. Rafiki puts a hand to his forehead and shakes his head sadly.] Rafiki: Oh...
Hey, look. We are one.
Let's get out of here. We'll run away together and start a pride all our own.
You're kidding. But we're finally together.
Our place is with our pride. If we run away, they'll be divided forever.
