Chief of War (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

1
Now, this is a musket.
It's a gun, a weapon.
- Gun.
- Gun.
- Weapon.
- Weapon.
- Weapon. That's right. Yeah.
- Weapon.
Ball. Wad. Powder.
- [IMITATES EXPLOSION] Yeah?
- [IMITATES EXPLOSION] Yeah.
- [MUMBLES] Mouth?
- Mouth?
- [SPEAKS HAWAIIAN]
- There was a cape? The red?
Red mouth.
- Weapon.
- Red-mouthed weapon. That's right.
Lion.
[CHILDREN] Lion.
[JOHN ROARS]
[CHILDREN ROAR IN DISTANCE]
[SIGHS]
Barrel. Butt. Trigger.
Cock. Flint.
Frizzen.
Now you're learning.
That's good.
[HAMMER COCKS]
[IN HAWAIIAN] I thought you would be
back in Maui by now.
I did not think I would have
to come to Oʻahu for you.
[GRUNTS]
Oʻahu has not fallen
as easily as we thought.
And you did not come to Oʻahu.
I summoned you.
You are my advisor.
The Maui Chiefs are
eager for further conquest.
They are hopeful to see
the Prophecy fulfilled.
Let us hope we can be worthy of it.
My Prince.
Your father is waiting for you
with his war party.
What war party?
We can't hold much longer.
There are only a few strongholds left.
Kahekili acts on the visions
his god shows him.
If we kill Kahekili,
the vision dies with him.
How?
Our spies have poisoned the food
of the King's Council.
They should return shortly.
[BUSHES RUSTLING]
[WARRIOR GASPS]
Your desperation has done this,
old friend.
You are lineage of the great Kākuhihewa.
Kneel before the Prophesied King
and the last
of Oʻahu's Chiefs will follow.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[CAPTIVES WHIMPERING, CRYING]
Wait!
Please. Not my family.
I pledge to you my loyalty,
my King.
[SCOFFS, SIGHS]
Loyalty?
[SCOFFS]
Loyalty.
You chose poison for me.
Now choose it for one of them.
What?
[WHIMPERS]
Please.
Not this.
[KAHEKILI] Your bloodline
is not worthy to serve
in the Kingdom of Thunder.
Kill them all.
[GRUNTS]
- [SHOUTS IN HAWAIIAN]
- [CAPTIVE WHIMPERING]
[CHIEF SCREAMS]
[CAPTIVE SPLUTTERS, CHOKES]
[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
[GRUNTS]
[GRUNTS]
[GRUNTING]
[GASPS, GRUNTS]
[GASPS, GRUNTS]
[WARRIOR] Where is he?
He's on the shore.
[WARRIORS] There's Kamehameha!
[WARRIORS LAUGHING]
You've been spending
much of your time here.
You missed another council meeting.
This is no way to lead your district.
Here, with my warriors,
we yield results.
At the council, we yield more talk.
There is news from Kaʻū.
Your uncle's health grows worse.
His time as king is growing short.
He has asked for you
and your cousin.
[KING COUGHING]
He is here, Father.
Some have questioned
why I keep the relics of the Paleskin
among the trophies of conquered Chiefs.
Captain Cook was a great Chief.
He was an ignorant navigator,
surrounded by weak men.
Nothing more.
Stand Kamehameha.
I am on the journey of death.
My time is too short for formalities.
[COUGHING]
King Kahekili grows stronger
and will come to our shores.
I fear the gods will deny me
the greatest battle
in the history of our kingdoms.
When I die,
how will you protect Hawaiʻi?
You hold the great God of War.
No king has lost when
I will call Kahekili to
the blackened earth of Kaʻū.
Here with the great God of War
we will destroy him
and silence the thunder he worships.
What say you, Kamehameha?
Should the day come
you are no longer with us,
Keōua will be king.
I will follow where he leads.
[GRUNTS]
Keōua is not king today.
Speak your mind.
How would you protect our kingdom?
I would increase our food storage.
In the battle of Kamokuhī,
Hawaiʻi forces
attacked a post in Lānaʻi.
With no food,
the warriors were forced to eat
wild roots of kūpala,
bringing a great
sickness of loose bowels.
Hawaiʻi lost,
not for lack of warriors or spears
but lack of food.
Even if we began today
it would take nine months
to have enough storage.
I have already begun.
We have storage huts near
every sacred site in Kohala's district.
[COUGHING]
I must rest.
that went before were affrighted."
"Surely such are
the dwellings of the wicked."
Uh, you said you would tell me of
your travels.
Uh
A Ala Alaska?
Yes, Alaska.
Alaska.
- Hmm.
- It is, um, real?
Oh, it is real.
A land of endless white snow.
Frozen rain.
[MOKU] Kaʻahumanu.
Stay, John.
Our lesson for today is not over.
[IN HAWAIIAN] It is time.
when John Young is here.
[IN HAWAIIAN] He is neither warrior
nor Chief
and of no importance to me.
The High Priest said you marry tonight
under the moon of Māhealani.
Not yet, please.
[CREW CHATTERING]
Take a generous pour, gentlemen.
You've earned it.
[FRIEND] Some for Kaʻiana too.
[CREWMATE] Still don't know why
Captain pulled him from the water.
Sand lovin' devils
would never do that for us.
He saved the captain.
They killed John over there.
Figured you'd care more about
that than your brown-bellied friend.
If it were up to me, we'd go back
and take the island for ourselves.
That's why ain't nothing
left up to you, Marley.
[SCOFFS] You just an idiot
masquerading as a fool.
Sailing open waters together
does not make us equal.
Don't you forget that, boy.
Your ration.
If you don't want it,
sell it or trade with one of the men.
They have nothing I want.
You spend more time with these guns
than you do with the crew.
I am not crew.
I go home after trade.
They need me there.
Yes.
Your Prophecy.
[SCOFFS]
As far as I've seen, Kaʻiana,
men of every color do unspeakable things
for their gods
and the prophesies they believe in.
I must go back.
Uh-huh. I guess you'll get your chance.
Captain says we should reach
Zamboanga in the next day or so.
You'll be heading home after that.
Is it true in Zamboanga
you can get anything?
For a price.
[PANTING]
[IN HAWAIIAN] Father!
Why force me to marry now?
King Kalaniʻōpuʻu is near death.
Soon Kamehameha will face
more responsibility.
You continue to speak of politics
but have yet to tell me
the real reason I am here.
Kamehameha needs you.
[SIGHS]
I will be one of many wives to come.
What need does he have of me?
I believe Kamehameha
to be the Prophesied One.
How can this be?
[SIGHS]
I was Chief to Kamehameha's father.
I was there the night he was born.
It was the same night the
prophetic star burned across the sky.
While everyone
waited for a king to rise,
I saw a king born.
[SIGHS]
But he is hesitant to accept who he is.
But you
trust in who you are.
I need you to show
him how to do the same.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[ROCK STRIKES TREE]
I have heard of your abilities
as a warrior.
[IN HAWAIIAN] I heard you are to marry.
[GRUNTS]
[BELL RINGING]
[CREW CHATTERING]
[CAPTAIN] Listen up!
To those of you leaving us once we dock,
I wish you well
and thank you for your work.
For those staying on
for the expedition back to Alaska,
remain close
and conduct yourselves appropriately.
You know, don't get lost
at the bottom of a mug
- or between the legs of some lass.
- [CREW LAUGHS]
Prepare the cargo.
The faster we unload,
the faster we all get paid.
That's a King's ransom
you're holding in your hands, Kaʻiana.
Men will trade for this?
Oh, yes.
And nothing better
than grog and a hot bath.
[CHUCKLES]
[CHATTERING]
[FRIEND] I know a place
where the grog and the food are good,
but the women are ugly.
That's just how I like it.
Let's go.
[METAL BANGING]
How may I be of service?
- We trade.
- You would like to buy it?
[KAʻIANA] Need more.
[GUNSMITH] How many more?
Many.
[GUNSMITH LAUGHS]
You thought you could just go in there
and buy yourself
an army's worth of guns?
[CHUCKLES] Come on.
We can talk about it over some food.
Hey.
Wait here. I may be a minute or two.
[DRUNK] You!
You!
What are you supposed to be?
[BURPS]
You look like a fucking peacock.
- What is that [GASPS, GROANS]
- [GROWLING]
[IN HAWAIIAN] You there.
A Chief of Maui here?
You're Hawaiian.
Come.
[GROANS]
[SCOFFS, GRUNTS]
in Zamboanga's crown of shit.
If you are looking for trade,
I am your woman.
I've been everywhere,
so I can get you anything.
- [HISSES]
- [WOMAN GASPS]
My name is Waineʻe,
but the Haole can never pronounce it.
So they call me Vai.
Who the hell are you?
[IN HAWAIIAN]
I am Kaʻiana, son of ʻAhuʻula.
ʻAhuʻula?
find himself in Zamboanga?
[FRIEND] We was lost.
We got lucky in finding them islands.
Picked him up along the way.
Your ship is still here?
[FRIEND] For a few more days.
Captain has another expedition planned,
said he'd take Kaʻiana home after that.
But first, we get red-mouth weapon.
I don't know how you're gonna get
enough guns for an army.
Why do you need guns?
[IN HAWAIIAN]
I made a mistake. I must fix it.
It must have been a big mistake.
[IN SPANISH] Go!
Go!
Kaʻiana.
And change into something
that does not turn too many heads.
I can get your guns.
[IN HAWAIIAN] Why help me?
are going to help me.
[KAʻIANA] Mmm.
We have just finished the
longest haul this ship has ever seen.
Right.
Now, I have no love
for these Spanish bastards,
but they pay well [LAUGHS]
and they are hungry
for anything that I might bring 'em.
But what kind of deal would I need
from the likes of, you know, you?
Yeah?
Kaʻiana needs guns.
Guns?
I couldn't get you guns if I wanted to.
It's too much trouble
with the officials, you know.
I have friends who work around them.
Ah.
So smugglers? Right.
So you're looking for a loan.
See
afraid that's not
a business I entertain, either.
You will be repaid
with a business endeavor men kill for.
[CAPTAIN] Sandalwood?
[SPEAKS HAWAIIAN]
that a trader from Zamboanga can sell it
for five times its value
in both China and Europe.
And our islands have
mountains full of it.
You want to start a sandalwood trade?
[VAI] We would be partners.
It will make you richer
than you ever thought possible.
[CAPTAIN] Well,
we would only be one ship, you know.
So how would we compete
against East India?
They do not know
where our small islands lie.
And you will have Kaʻiana
to help convince the chiefs of our home
to allow it.
You sell our home?
[SPEAKS HAWAIIAN]
The trade would be ours.
The money to benefit our people.
It will work, Kaʻiana.
I have thought about
this for many years.
Yeah, it could work.
You have been gone too long.
[IN HAWAIIAN]
You see the world like the Paleskin.
You should too, Kaʻiana.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[GRUNTS]
It was not always like this here.
This was their home
before the Spanish came.
They took everything.
They will come to our islands.
Turn that into another Zamboanga.
[SCOFFS]
We will fight them.
With what? Your spear?
That is no match for their guns
and the Pale-man's greed
is stronger than
any god or prophesy you fight for.
There has to be another way.
It is only a matter of time
before our waters will
be full of foreign ships,
all of which to trade
or to take what we have.
Sandalwood is money,
and money is all the Pale-man respect.
Maybe all you respect, too.
We can control the future of our people.
But we cannot do it without you,
Kaʻiana.
You are the only chief
who knows what will come to our shores.
Either we control the trade
or we lose everything.
Get your guns and let us return home.
[PERSON SPEAKING SPANISH]
[CAPTIVE GRUNTING]
Good evening, Captain Metcalfe.
[MARLEY] Captain Metcalfe.
Do I know you?
I'm Marley,
a blacksmith and armorer by trade.
I have crew, Mr. Marley.
I'm not looking for a job, Captain.
There's a cluster of
unmapped islands deep in the Pacific.
Untouched by the hands of Christian men.
Whoever takes these islands
can control the pathways of the Pacific
from Alaska to Canton.
Why, we'd be
the kings of our own paradise.
Why bring this to me?
I've seen the Sand Savage up close.
They are a warrior people with
no fear of musket and cannon,
as of yet.
Few trade-captains
would be willing to do
what must be done in order to
[SIGHS] tame them.
[IN HAWAIIAN] Father.
So you know,
your mother and I did not betroth you
without careful consideration.
You have a duty to your Chief.
You think that I would give
my only daughter away out of duty?
[SIGHS]
As king,
Kamehameha will face many unknowns.
The gods have made it
clear to me, Kaʻahumanu,
the person he needs is you.
Then why have the gods kept
their secrets from me?
As a Chief's wife,
my first duty is to bear him a son,
an heir to help spread his legacy.
The Prophetess saw nothing for me.
She said the seed of Kamehameha
cannot live in me.
What does that mean?
It means I will never bear him children.
When he sees there is no future with me,
he will turn to a wife
that can carry his child.
I am so sorry, Father,
but I will never be what you hoped for.
Never tell him this.
[CHATTERING]
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Well, what's your name?
Ah.
Come on. You show me the way.
[PERSON SINGING IN HAWAIIAN]
[SINGING CONTINUES]
[SINGING STOPS]
Greetings to you,
the finest blossom of East Maui.
[SINGING RESUMES]
[SINGING CONTINUES]
As his newest wife,
you will share his bed as we do.
Your life will be in service of his.
Do not fight it, Kaʻahumanu.
Your children will bring
the union of Hawaiʻi with Maui.
It is a blessing.
Hoʻomaukeiki.
The gods ask Kaʻahumanu
to give Kamehameha a son.
To the woman in the rising flame,
there was a seeking of the lost.
Now it is found.
A mate is found,
one to share the chills of winter.
The sky is changing.
Hākoʻilani,
the house of respite is secured.
Love has made a plea
that you two become united.
Here is a perch,
a heavenly resting place.
You two are now one.
The darkness withdraws.
The east is beginning to brighten.
For the day is here at last!
The night is kapu
until the light of the day arrives.
You are wedded,
free to each other.
The prayer has taken flight.
The day is here.
The prayer is said.
The kapu is freed.
I pray the gods have blessed us
this night.
Yes, my Chief.
[MARLEY] You move real easy in the dark
with that nigger skin,
don't ya, boy?
What the hell are you doing here,
Marley?
[CHUCKLES]
- I just Captain asked me to
- [GUN COCKS]
Captain never told you nothing.
Yeah.
Well, why don't we wait for him
to come back
and we'll see what he said.
[GUN COCKS]
[GRUNTS]
[GRUNTING, GROANING]
He'd be worth more alive than dead.
[PANTING]
[MARLEY] Did ya hear that?
I'm gonna send you
back where you belong.
[GRUNTS, EXCLAIMS]
No. No.
No! No
[PANTING]
[GRUNTS]
[GRUNTS]
Get out of here.
[GRUNTS]