Nina the Starry Bride (2024) s01e01 Episode Script

♪
[NINA]
This man.
He's going to kill me
for the second time.
But first, I beg.
[AZURE]
Bring the criminal forward.
I trust that you understand
deception against the crown
is a serious crime.
I know.
[NINA] Please
look at me one last time.
♪
[birds chirping]
[WOMAN 1]
Stop! Thief!
[MAN 1]
You'll pay!
[Nina panting]
Nina, over here!
[Nina grunts]
♪
[MAN 1]
Street rat!
[Nina panting]
[MAN 1]
Damn it!
Hey, Saji.
Nina. You're back.
Don't push yourself, Colin.
Are you sure you should be
sitting up like that?
[COLIN] Hm.
I feel just fine.
Now tell me how it went!
We scored big!
That's our Nina!
[NINA] The three of us
truly lived hand-to-mouth,
occasionally stealing valuables
from the wealthy to scrape by.
♪
[NINA] There was a plague
five years ago
that claimed a lot of lives.
After losing our families,
we did whatever
was necessary to survive.
Saji and Colin
had each other at least,
and I completed
our little group.
Seems like a lot
of good stuff in here.
Whoa, Nina, look at this!
[COLIN]
Lapis lazuli, like your eyes.
And the sky before dawn.
Hey, cut it out.
[COLIN]
But they're so pretty.
It's a shame
to hide them all the time.
Use your head!
The slavers would all be
after her if she didn't, Colin!
Hmm.
[SAJI] You don't see
eyes like hers every day.
They're so rare,
a lot of rich folk would do
anything to own 'em.
[NINA]
I'll make us some food.
[NINA] We were always hungry
and never had any money,
but it was pleasant enough.
Your cooking's the worst, Nina!
Food this bad
should be illegal!
-True!
-Shut your mouths!
[Colin laughs]
[NINA]
We made it work.
We even shared
some fun and laughter.
[all laughing]
[NINA]
Silly me.
I thought
those days would last forever.
♪
[Colin breathing heavily]
[SAJI]
His fever isn't going down.
He's not gonna make it.
What are you saying?
We can go to a doctor.
It's not over till it's over!
Sure, and where will
we get the money for that?
Huh?
It's too late.
Everything really is
"written in the stars."
[SAJI] The poor are born
under a poor star,
and the rich are born
under a rich star.
And that's that.
t's all decided
the moment you're born.
No.
That isn't true!
Someday,
we could change things!
Forget "someday!"
Colin probably won't even live
to see the sun rise tomorrow.
You can only
talk about "someday"
because you're not family.
[SAJI]
You're just an outsider!
I see.
Uh
[NINA]
Idiot!
I'll figure something out.
Just you wait and see!
[footsteps receding]
[punching]
Had enough?
Steal again, and it'll be
the last thing you do!
Scram, guttersnipe.
[footsteps receding]
[NINA]
Turns out, I'm the idiot.
As his real brother,
this is harder on Saji.
[breathes shakily]
[water burbling]
[NINA]
No one has eyes like mine.
I really am
all alone in the world.
There must be
someone out there.
[crying]
[rain pattering]
[NINA]
One single person.
I just
want to be special to someone.
Anyone.
[Nina sobs]
[rain pattering]
[footsteps approaching]
The princess?
[AZURE] She could not
have survived that.
This is unfathomable.
[DYTUS]
What now?
[AZURE]
We shall keep this a secret
and find a stand-in, quickly.
[rain splattering]
Alisha.
Nina.
I'm sorry about the other day.
Huh!
Oh, that's okay.
It's my fault.
[chuckles softly]
Let's get going.
There's somewhere special
that I wanna take you.
[NINA]
Sure. Of course, I'll go.
Huh?
-It's empty.
-[SAJI] Listen.
We can't keep living like this.
It's a dead end.
Uh, Saji?
[SAJI]
And that's why
this is the only option.
[door slams open]
[Nina breathes heavily]
[SAJI]
Sorry, Nina.
[door shuts]
[NINA]
He sold me.
They're slavers!
[whimpering]
[groans]
[thuds]
[AZURE]
Be gentle with him.
He must remain unblemished.
[DYTUS]
Right. Forgive me.
[crying]
[NINA]
Saji.
[NINA]
I don't understand.
What did I do?
Were you that angry?
Or was I just an outsider
to you all this time?
[crying]
[NINA]
My heart.
It hurts so much.
-[NINA] I'm dying.
-[AZURE] Is the boy crying?
[DYTUS]
Naturally.
He's a child.
Scared.
[AZURE]
No matter.
Let's check his eyes.
Everything hinges on them.
Show me.
Huh?
There they are.
Deep blue eyes.
[NINA]
Golden eyes.
A beast's eyes.
♪
Still, the boy is filthy.
That stench is awful.
-Take off his clothing.
-Yes, sir.
[gasps]
Stop!
Take your hands off me!
Ow! He's running off.
Grab him!
It's useless to fight us.
-Calm down, would you?
-Let me go!
[AZURE]
Hold still!
We're just changing you
out of those filthy clothes!
[NINA]
Please, no!
Stop it!
[thuds]
[breathes shakily]
It's a girl.
But why would she have
been masquerading as a boy?
A poor orphan girl
with blue eyes?
I imagine it must've been
to avoid the slavers.
What shall we do?
This will suit
our plans perfectly.
There's no need
to disguise a boy.
She can be more than
a temporary stopgap.
You.
Girl.
[Nina whimpers]
Today, you shall die.
[AZURE]
And then
live as a princess.
[whimpering]
[thuds]
[COURT LADY 1]
Slow down!
I need you to wait, miss!
[NINA] I'm not gonna wait
just because you say so!
[thuds]
[AZURE]
Quite the commotion.
Prince Azure!
Actually, it's her.
[NINA]
Ouch, that hurt.
[gasps]
Huh?!
Can it be?
The filthy boy we brought here?
Hey, you're him!
You're Mister Golden Eyes!
[sighs]
Beneath those lovely clothes,
you're still the same
on the inside.
What does that mean?
Just who are you?
[AZURE]
Kneel, girl.
[gasps]
Hmm.
[AZURE] You are not permitted
to talk back.
From this moment on,
you are Alisha,
our priestess-princess
and the very heart
of our proud nation.
With eyes of lapis lazuli,
like the God of the stars.
[AZURE]
For the next three months,
you shall learn
to act like a princess,
and dress the part,
after which
you will marry the crown prince
set to ascend
the throne of Galgada.
[AZURE]
And that is that.
[AZURE] This deception
must never be discovered.
That is now
henceforth your duty.
Are we understood?
Hmm.
[both gasp]
It's clear that you hold
a lot of sway around here.
[NINA] There's no point
in being afraid.
I have nothing left to lose.
But don't forget that
you're asking me for a favor!
Hmm?
[AZURE]
Hmm.
Why are you pointing
the hilt at me?
[gasps]
Look!
All I'm sayin'
is to fix your attitude!
And also tell me who you are!
[NINA]
Otherwise, I'm out of here.
I mean it, Goldie,
so don't test me!
[AZURE]
Oh?
A peasant like you
has a home to return to?
[gasps]
I see your crudely-made point.
I beg you,
forgive my prior rudeness.
No way.
He really apologized?
[AZURE]
Princess.
For these three months,
I shall be your tutor.
You may think of me
as the master of your training.
Azure Seth Fortna is my name,
the kingdom of Fortna's
second prince.
[NINA]
Yes!
Must I repeat myself yet again?
Do not say "yes"
so aggressively.
-Now, once more!
-All right.
[NINA]
Screw you, Goldie!
He's been making me
repeat the same stupid thing
over and over again
all morning.
Care to explain
that expression?
[scoffs]
You can't expect me
to remember this stuff
when you throw it
at me all at once!
Besides, I can't even
read or write yet.
That makes it difficult.
I am well aware.
Thus, our repetition
of simple phrases
at the moment.
We have little time to prepare.
[NINA]
To prepare for what?
In just three days' time,
you shall have
an audience with the king.
Huh?
An audience?
Doesn't that mean
I'll be meeting him?
You sure that's smart?
He doesn't know
I'm a substitute, right?
'Cause if not, I mean,
do I really look
that much like Alisha?
Not even remotely.
Not one small bit.
Huh?
You are similar
only in the color of your eyes.
[COURT LADY 1]
Princess Alisha
was the daughter
of the late third queen,
and since she was chosen
to succeed the astral priestess
shortly after birth,
she was raised
in the astral villa.
[NINA]
Oh.
[COURT LADY 1]
The debut of a new priestess
takes place
at the first star festival
after she turns 16.
[NINA]
The star festival.
[NINA'S MOM] Nina.
Those are the lights of hope.
[NINA'S DAD]
Make a wish.
The astral priestess
will pray it comes true.
[NINA] When I was young,
I saw it with my mom and dad.
♪
[COLIN] It's time! What should
we wish for this year?
[SAJI] We don't have
new lanterns for that.
If only we had some money!
[NINA] And last year,
I went with Saji and Colin.
Hmm.
[COURT LADY 1]
Until that day,
the priestess would not be
permitted to leave
the astral villa,
meaning very few souls
apart from her attendants
would have ever seen her face.
Before the princess turned 16,
she was to return
to secular life,
so she could marry.
So, no need to worry.
I mean it.
Do you understand?
[gasps]
Well
I dunno how much sense
that all makes.
Then so be it.
If you manage
to pull off this audience,
you may name your reward.
That's a bribe!
We humbly beg of you!
It's partially our fault
that this came to pass.
We'll be made to pay
with our very lives.
Please help.
We need you!
Ah
[NINA] Okay, fine,
just stop groveling!
[NINA]
Prince Goldie pisses me off.
However, I feel
for these poor court ladies.
-[COURT LADY 1] Wait!
-[NINA] But
Repeat that once more.
My pleasure!
Charmed, I'm sure!
Your Majesty!
[NINA]
But
[NINA] [whimpering]
But
This is crazy hard.
I hate it!
I wanna quit.
It's not fair.
If I keep this up,
I'm gonna die!
It seems to me
she could use a little break.
[earring clattering]
Suppose you might
need some respite.
Come with me.
[birds chirping]
[gasps]
[NINA] I was cooped up
that whole time,
so I had no idea.
But I really am
at the royal palace.
♪
[NINA]
Something smells nice.
Him, I guess?
Do all nobles
have such a pleasant scent?
I bet they're born that way.
[wind blowing]
[NINA] They're nothing like
us bottom dwellers.
He's so important,
normally we'd never even
set foot on the same ground.
It's so strange.
What am I doing here?
I truly need you
for the sake
of my dear country.
[NINA]
I'm needed.
Someone needs me.
I suppose
I'll stay.
[gasps]
These clothes are amazing!
[COURT LADY 1]
You look beautiful!
That said,
please try your very best.
This has to go well.
[COURT LADY 2] If they discover
that you're an imposter,
all of our heads will be
swiftly severed
from our bodies.
Good luck.
[NINA]
Huh?
Presenting Princess Alisha!
[NINA]
If I fail, we'll die.
[door creaks open]
[NINA]
This is so intense.
And I have to fool
the King as well.
♪
[clothes rustle]
It is an honor to meet you,
Your Majesty.
I am called Alisha.
S-Seth.
Alicia Seth Fortna.
[KING]
Hmm.
There is no need for
my own daughter
to be so nervous.
Raise your head.
[NINA]
Yes, Your Majesty.
[NINA]
I'm scared.
♪
[NINA]
I'm standing before the king.
[KING]
Uh-huh.
The piercingly blue eyes
of our young princess.
No other hue could
compare to their beauty.
I fear I must apologize.
I beckoned you
to the palace on a whim.
Please forgive me.
[NINA]
Oh, no. How do I respond?
Of course.
It is no trouble.
I am simply pleased
I can be of service to you.
It is a great honor.
Do not act so stiffly.
You have come home.
And as far as your care,
did I not entrust you
to your half-brother Azure?
You did.
I shall look after her
until the day she is married.
[KING] Very good.
I know I can trust you.
[queen scoffs]
[QUEEN]
Hmm.
[chuckles]
-[QUEEN] I wonder.
-[KING] Hm?
[QUEEN] The astral priestess
traditionally performs a dance,
the one for the crown prince's
coming-of-age ceremony.
May we see it?
Perform it for Prince Muhulum.
It is our only chance
to view it, after all.
[NINA]
A dance? What dance?
[KING] But Muhulum is still
many years away
from coming of age, my dear.
Even so,
it will be entertaining.
Hasn't she trained as
a priestess for 15 years?
Would it not be
a waste to marry her off
before we have
seen a single dance?
Our queen has
quite the cruel streak.
It's a display of power
over Prince Azure.
[NINA]
I can't fake this. I'm trapped.
[QUEEN] Don't you want
to see the dance, Your Majesty?
Once she's married,
you'll never have
the chance again.
[KING]
That is true.
I shall allow it.
You may begin.
[NINA]
What do I do?
[indistinct chatter]
About that. I, um
I must be honest.
I would love to.
It's just that
[NINA]
It's all over.
[AZURE]
Is that wise?
[QUEEN]
Hm.
[QUEEN]
Azure.
The princess hasn't
come of age either,
nor has she assumed
her religious duties.
Were she to dance
in her unqualified state,
it would bring misfortune
to Prince Muhulum's future.
[AZURE]
Not only that,
but the prince himself
is not present,
as he is in his chamber,
bedridden.
[KING]
Hmm.
Yes. Perhaps
Azure is correct about this.
Thank you.
The princess also
seems to feel unwell.
I suggest that we adjourn.
Yes.
[NINA]
That was a complete failure.
Our secret may be safe,
but still
I know I let him down.
♪
[NINA]
Someone like me
doesn't belong in such
a majestic place as this.
That's enough!
Goldie isn't worth
risking my life over!
And none of this
is really my problem, anyhow!
I should just run away!
Go home!
[SAJI]
Sorry, Nina.
Do I have a home to go back to?
[AZURE]
I cannot comply.
[QUEEN]
How dare you!
With what authority
are you preventing me
from moving Princess Alisha
to my wing?
I must beg your pardon.
That matter has been decided.
[NINA] That's the queen
he's arguing with.
The God of the stars
has control over fate itself.
You insist on caring
for the astral priestess.
Isn't that a coincidence?
[QUEEN]
Could it be that as the son
of the King's former wife,
you mistakenly believe
you are the rightful heir
to the throne?
Huh?!
Most assuredly not.
My only desire
is to support this country
to the best of my ability.
I truly need you for the sake
of my dear country.
[QUEEN]
His former wife, your mother,
was nothing
but a weak-willed woman.
[QUEEN]
So timid and fearful.
You, on the other hand?
[fan flutters]
You could learn a thing or two
from your mother!
[water splashes]
[queen gasps]
That was your fault.
You go and fetch it.
[NINA]
What is her problem?
[AZURE] I shall have a new one
brought to your room.
Oh, but I told you to fetch it
for me, did I not?
It is a hot day,
the perfect weather
for a nice little dip.
Hmm.
[water splashes]
[queen screams]
What is she
Uh,
Found it, Your Majesty.
The audacity.
You little
How dare you splash
your queen like that?
[water splashes]
[whimpering]
How right you are.
It is a most pleasant day
for a little dip.
[growling]
You've gone too far!
What are you doing?
Get out of my way!
I'm not finished here!
Let me go!
[QUEEN] Where do you think
you're going?
I'm not finished
with you, Azure!
[NINA]
I'm sorry.
She's awful.
I just had to.
[AZURE]
Come with me.
Dytus, handle the rest.
[DYTUS]
Sir!
[footsteps receding]
Um.
Don't be mad.
Sorry, I
I swear I only intended
to splash the queen, not you.
[whimpering]
Huh?!
[NINA]
He's so mad he's shaking?
[Azure snickers]
[NINA]
Was that
Is he laughing?
All right.
Now that's a relief.
[NINA]
What do you know?
I had no idea he could smile.
I don't get it.
I failed the audience,
and I was this close
to getting us all beheaded.
That went about
as well as I expected.
It's just like the queen
to try something.
She's predictable.
[NINA]
Huh?
It was convenient
that we were able to adjourn
before you were discovered.
[AZURE]
I shall grant your reward.
Anything you wish.
Whatever I wish?
[NINA]
Hmm.
Praise me!
[both gasp]
I want you to praise me
and I mean it.
That's my wish.
So make it feel special,
all right?
You must be joking.
Not to overstep,
but I believe she is lonely,
Prince Azure.
Please try to be kinder.
[gasps]
You did well.
I am proud of you.
[whimpering]
♪
[fire crackling]
[VOGUE] I heard
a rather interesting rumor
about Princess Alisha.
I think I'll look into it.
[fire crackling]
♪
[NINA]
"Night Two. The Lost Name."