Lulu in Honolulu (5 page)

CUT!! This is mega important about the Hawaiian monk seal. Their real, Hawaiian name is
Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua
. Don't ask me to ever say it, but it means “dog that runs in rough water.” They're supposed to be protected from being hurt or hunted, but their population is still going down. Monk seals are native to Hawaii, and that means they're not found anywhere else in the whole wide world. They're only one of two native Hawaiian mammals. The other is a bat (and if I'm gonna wanna save an animal, well, it's hard to pick a bat). Now, back to: ACTION!!

EXT. LANIKAI BEACH—10 MINUTES LATER

CAMERA WIDE SHOT of all the kids jumping out of the battered van. They race down a narrow path through bamboo hedges and come out onto a wide beach. Lulu leads the Ohana kids' stampede. Her hair flaps under her ALOHA cap. Uncle Akamu, even though he's a grandpa, sprints way ahead. He hauls plastic poles and netting, and wears an orange vest that says “Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team O'ahu” on the back.

Uncle Akamu stops a hundred feet away from a black, furry BODY about four feet long. It doesn't move. Uncle Akamu puts up his large, browned hands. The kids slow and approach carefully. He puts his left forefinger to his lips and everyone becomes quiet.

LULU

(whispering to Noelani)

Seeing a monk seal is like one of my Hawaii dreams come true.

Silently, Uncle Akamu and the children stake poles and attach netting. When they finish, they all sit and watch the black, fuzzy seal pup sleep.

UNCLE AKAMU

(speaking soft and low)

Keiki, mahalo
. We put up this temporary pen to let this baby rest so nothing disturbs him.

LULU

Or her.

UNCLE AKAMU

Right. I'm not sure yet.

Maleko flops down on his back
.

MALEKO

Hey, I can totally see how this guy could snooze here all day. This sand feels like a hundred pillows.

UNCLE AKAMU

Baby seals are born on soft sand. When they are big and strong enough, their mamas teach them to swim.

LULU

And till then, doesn't she have to feed her baby?

UNCLE AKAMU

(stares out to sea and his eyes rest on the postcard-perfect Mokulua Islands off shore)

Yes.

Noelani pulls up her legs under her chin. She closes her eyes and buries her face in her knees.

UNCLE AKAMU

(turns from the sea to look at Lulu)

Their mamas nurse them for about six weeks.

(looks around to all the kids)

Keiki
, I don't know exactly how old this one is. But young. Not more than fifty pounds. They're not usually without their mamas till they're about two hundred pounds—

Lulu forgets about being still and quiet. She pushes herself up off the sand and looks around.

LULU

(sounding frantic)

Then where's its mother? We haven't seen her.

Other kids now get to their feet and start scanning the beach and ocean.

Uncle Akamu remains sitting.

UNCLE AKAMU

(voice stern but so quiet it can barely be heard over the swooshing waves)

Sit.

All the children do as they are told, very quickly.

UNCLE AKAMU

(his eyes stare into the eyes of each child for a moment)

Lulu is right to worry that something happened to this baby's mama. It is our
kuleana
now. Our job. Our responsibility is to protect this little one.

Warm, sweet chanting and a steady drumbeat drift toward the kids, the baby seal, and then out over the ocean.

All turn around to see Auntie Moana and Caridyn coming toward them. Dozens of VOLUNTEERS in orange vests follow behind them. They carry a stretcher, blankets, and bottles of milk. A stethoscope swings from one woman's neck.

EXT. MOKULUA DRIVE—ONE HOUR LATER

The Ohana campers sit on the front lawn of the house where Uncle Akamu's van remains parked in a friend's driveway. They eat a late lunch.

LULU

(in between bites of sandwich)

You're not hungry, Noe?
(swallows)
How about a sip of my pineapple soda?

Lulu holds out a glass bottle to her friend. Noelani shakes her head.

LULU

Are you worrying about the baby seal's mother?

Noelani stares down at her ankles.

NOELANI

I'm worrying about my mom.

Lulu puts down her sandwich and soda, and studies her friend. She's never heard her talk about her mom before.

NOELANI

(continues in a super soft voice)

My mom's a Marine. She's off at sea, and I never know where exactly. I worry all the time she's not coming back and then I'll be just like that little fuzzy seal, alone on the beach.

Lulu reaches to hug her friend when…

BEEP, BEEP. A car horn blares on the quiet street. WIDE CAMERA SHOT as the car passes neat houses and gardens and heads closer.

Lulu looks up to see Khloe, Carole, and Cate sitting in a red convertible.

The car slows and then stops. Lulu gets up and stumbles over the curb.

LULU

(speaks super fast)

Aloha
! Hey, we just helped save a baby monk seal! And, turns out, she's a girl! We're not sure where her mother is. Uncle Akamu is gonna sit on the beach all night to see if her mother comes back and if—

KHLOE

Well, here's
my
mom. Mom, this is Lulu…

(speaking her last name extra loud)

…HARRISON.

MRS. LYONS

(bubbly and excited)

Hiya, Lulu. I know all about your parents making a movie on the island. I really should meet them! I grew up right here on O'ahu, and I know everyone. I'm sure I can be helpful.

LULU

(to Mrs. Lyons)

Aloha
, Mrs. Lyons.

Mrs. Lyons picks up her iPhone.

MRS. LYONS

(to Lulu)

Excuse me, sweetie. Have to answer a text. Someone's always looking for me.

Her pink nails clack on the screen.

KHLOE

So, are your mom and dad really going to be at the hula-off tomorrow?

CATE

'Cause we know making a movie is lots cooler than watching Ohana Camp try and hula.

(giggles nervously)

Khloe notices Noelani sitting on the curb.

KHLOE

(calls to Noelani)

NOE!

Noelani gets up and stands next to Lulu.

KHLOE

Are you gonna dance tomorrow?

Noelani stares down at her toes. Lulu rushes into the awkward silence.

LULU

I'm excited that my parents are going to be at the hula-off to meet my Ohana friends.

CAROLE

We'll believe it when we see it.

Lulu leans on the convertible.

LULU

(friendly)

It's too bad you're not on our team anymore.

Mrs. Lyons puts her phone away.

KHLOE

Mom! C'mon! We gotta get home and try on our costumes!

Khloe gives the puffy garment bag laying across her lap a little shake.

NOELANI

You have costumes?

CAROLE

Don't you?

LULU

(voice low, like she's sharing something)

We have a secret weapon.

Noelani gives Lulu the “what are you talking about” look. Lulu just winks back.

LULU

(turning back to Khloe and the Cs)

See ya tomorrow. But…

(pauses for dramatic effect)

…beware of our secret weapon! It's super-looper incredible.

Mrs. Lyons wiggles her long, pink-polished fingernails as the red convertible drives off.

NOELANI

(to Lulu)

But we don't have a secret weapon.

LULU

Sure we do! It's you! You're the best hula dancer on the island.

Noelani studies her toes more closely than ever.

CUT!! Do you ever have one of those roller-coaster days? The kind that goes up really high and then races you back down? Then zooms you up and down a few more times? Well, that's this day. First, I was so excited to see that baby monk seal that I ran on muscles I didn't know I had. But when I started thinking something happened to her mother, I panicked. When the rescuers arrived, I got excited again. Learning about Noelani's mom, I felt myself starting to worry again. I have been so caught up in everything, I forgot about tomorrow's hula-off! So, instead of letting that roller coaster zip me down, I've got to get to work on Operation Secret Weapon and Operation Beg My Parents. OK, now that you understand what a roller-coaster day can be like, I better get back to the script. I've got a busy night ahead: ACTION!!

INT. ALAN WONG'S RESTAURANT, KING STREET— THURSDAY, 7 P.M.

Elevator opens to the third floor. Lulu bursts out. Alexis lingers in the elevator, giving Lulu a good head start.

Lulu still wears the sandy, damp, fishy-smelly clothes from her day at Ohana Camp—a SURF KAUAI T-shirt, orange skirt, and grungy, checkered Vans with the white squares colored in orange. At least Alexis got her to peel off her SPF 50 pants and shirt. Alexis wears a cropped, white, flowing cami with a semi-sheer mint maxi skirt and Stella McCartney thick-strapped sandals with a metal heel. She carries a nude tote, and her hair is twisted up in a tight bun.

Alexis feels pretty sure that if anyone she knows happens to see her with Lulu in this hyper-fancy, mega-cool casual restaurant, they'd never know she and Lulu are related.

The girls stop when they see the hostess. Lulu pulls off her ALOHA cap for the first time in hours. Her hair is completely flat on top and raging wild from her ears down.

ALEXIS

(in her most commanding L.A. teen girl voice)

Excuse me. We're here to have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Harrison.

HOSTESS

Sure. They're out on the terrace. Follow me.

They enter the dimly lit restaurant. Alexis slyly checks out the other diners. Lulu wanders behind, checking out wood panels along the walls.

LULU

(to the hostess and pointing to the wall)

Pardon me, are those koa wood?

HOSTESS

Yes, they are.

Lulu squeezes between chairs. She reaches out to touch the wood-paneled wall and bumps, bangs, and brushes the back and hair of a distinguished Japanese gentleman.

LULU

(calls out)

Lex! Koa trees in Hawaii are like the Truffula trees in
The Lorax
. Remember that Dr. Seuss book? All the beautiful Truffula trees get chopped down.

ALEXIS

I skipped picture books and went straight for
Teen Vogue
. Which explains why you look like you stepped out of the pages of a Dr. Seuss book and I look, well,
très
chic. Now c'mon.

Alexis reaches out to tug Lulu's wrist. Lulu pulls away and knocks a waiter as he places down a hot platter of steamy clams. It teeters on the edge of the table. Within seconds, it plops into the neatly dressed gentleman's lap.

Lulu reaches to pick up the plate from the floor and bangs over a jar of peanut butter that had been on the corner of the table. It nearly hits her head.

LULU

Geez peas!

HOSTESS

(gushes)

Oh! Mr. Sanyo, I am terribly…

Alexis yanks Lulu away and out toward the patio.

ALEXIS

(angry whisper)

K. That's kinda a mega disaster. That guy's the owner and president of the studio that's making Mom and Dad's movie!

LULU

(whispers back)

Yeah, but he doesn't know who we are!

They reach their parents' table in the far corner of the glassed-in patio. Lulu stumbles into one of two empty chairs facing the dining room. Her dad and mom sit Celebrity Style—their backs to the other diners, so people don't recognize them and come over, asking for autographs.

LULU

Aloha
, Mom and Dad!

Fiona daintily sniffs.

LINC

(smile playing on his lips)

Someone smells fishy.

ALEXIS

We're late because Lulu had to be picked up all the way at Lanikai beach.

Linc smacks his elbows on the table and leans forward.

LINC

Lu, you smell like some kinda sea creature.

LULU

It was because of the monk seal. Right when we were gonna practice for the hula-off, we had to go save the seal pup.

(pauses to draw a breath)

So, can you come tomorrow? Remember? I asked you before. My Ohana Camp's in the O'ahu Hula-off. It's at twelve noon.

Fiona bends toward Lulu, looking her in the eyes. She's firm and clearly used to being in control of a situation.

FIONA

First, tell us the big fish story.

ALEXIS

It's really boring. I've heard it ten times.

Lulu grabs an eggroll from the table and chomps off the end. Steam floats out. Lulu's eyes water from the heat in her mouth.

Alexis shakes her long hair.