Running Schedule
Opening Titles – Music – Whale sounds -Images of the Whales.
Giving birth to the twins – Close up on faces. Family gather at the hospital – mourning the loss of the mother and baby.
Koro (grandfather) and Porourangi (father) argue in the hospital corridor. Porourangi says his daughter’s name will be Paikea – Koro says he can’t use that name. Porourangi walks away.
Koro attempts to bless the baby boy and tells Nanny Flowers to take the girl out. She stays close and Koro gets mad. She hands him the crying baby and it calms quickly. “See, she likes you”. Nanny Flowers asks her younger son, Rawiri to look out for Pai.
Pai aged 11 close to Koro holding the Whale tooth around his neck – shot pulls out to reveal they are on a bike together.
Views of the township – establishing shots of the community.
Koro gently pushes Pai off the bike. She goes inside to find Nanny Flowers and her friends playing cards. Pai tells them off for smoking and talks about the upcoming school concert.
Pai walks along road practising for the concert. ‘If you ask what this house is called I will tell you…it is called Whitireia’
Concert – farting whale – laughter from audience, Koro thumps stick to restore dignity.
Pai’s father Porourangi turns up. Porourangi greets his family. Koro and Porourangi in the meeting house. Looking at the carvings Koro says ‘They’ve been waiting for you’.
Breakfast for Porourangi – Koro has already gone to fix the septic tank. Porourangi leaves to help. Rawiri turns up to eat Porourangi’s breakfast. Nanny Flowers: “Your timing is spooky, boy”
School – Koro on bike, clips Hemi around the ears. “What’s that for?” “The concert”. Koro rides home with Paikea on the bike.
Paikea watches Koro fix the outboard motor. She tells him about having to make a speech about where she came from. Koro talks about the Ancestors and Hawaiki. Koro shows her the rope and asks “What do you see?”, “Lots of bits of rope all twisted together”. The rope breaks but Pai ties it together and starts the outboard while Koro is away. He tells her off.
Slide show of Porourangi’s art exhibition, with Pai, Nanny Flowers, Rawiri and his girlfriend. Koro bursts through the screen, bringing Pai’s teacher. He makes Porourangi start the show from the beginning. Porourangi accidentally shows photos of his German girlfriend Ana. When asked who it is he explains that he’s been seeing her and that she is pregnant.
Paikea runs out to the waka that Porourangi stopped carving when she was born. Porourangi comes to comfort her and talk to her. He explains that “Koro needs a prophet to lead our people out of the darkness and make everything alright again”. Porourangi suggests Pai returns to Germany with him.
Koro and Pai on the bike going around the front lawn. Rest of the family waiting. “Are you ready to go Pai?”, “One more go”. Goodbyes to Porourangi and Pai. Koro returns inside without saying goodbye to Porourangi.
From the car looking out to sea. Whale Music. Pai asks to stop the car; she wants to go home.
Pai interrupts Koro’s meeting to tell him “I’m back”. He ignores her.
After school, Hemi tells Pai Koro won’t be picking her up and about the school to teach the boys. Pai decides to wait. The boys and their families wait at the Marae. Nanny makes Koro wait until Pai joins them. Karanga between Nanny Flowers and Paikea leading the boys onto the Marae.
Paikea sits in the front row, Koro tells her to sit at the back because she is a girl – she refuses and is sent away from the Marae.
Pai watches through the window to learn what the boys are taught. During the taiaha training, Pai tries to copy the boys. Hemi hits Koro and is sent away. He gives Pai some pointers on how to hold and use the taiaha. Koro is angered by this.
Pai sitting in the waka looking out to sea. Whale music. Is joined by Nanny who tells her that Rawiri used to be good with a taiaha.
Pai takes Rawiri’s golf/taiaha trophy to Rawiri and asks him to teach her. Koro on the beach with the boat – Rawiri jogging past – exchange of glances. Pai on the bike overtaking the bus.
Hemi’s father turns up to the boy’s school. Koro greets him and tells Hemi to perform first. Hemi’s father leaves immediately after Hemi’s performance with his mates. Hemi is upset and is round the back of the building crying.
Pai finds Hemi crying. He tells her to go away. They fight with taiahas. Pai wins. Koro hears the taiahas and tells them they have broken the tapu. Pai is made to apologise to the other boys – repeatedly until she means it.
The boys go out on the boat with Koro and Rawiri. Hemi is left behind. Final test and explanation of the significance of the whale tooth. Koro throws it into the sea for the boys to retrieve. They surface without it.
On their return Koro takes to his bed. Paikea is sent to stay with Rawiri. Pai hears Koro calling to the ancestors; nothing is happening so she calls too.
Pai goes out on the boat with Rawiri and his mates. Asks where Koro threw the whale tooth and dives in to get it. She is underwater for a long time. Pai reappears with a crayfish and Koro’s whale tooth necklace. Rawiri gives the crayfish and whale tooth to Nanny Flowers. But she doesn’t think Koro is ready for it yet.
Pai gives an invitation to the concert to Koro, and tells him he’s her guest of honour. The concert scene opens with teacups laid out and people bringing food. Pai requests a chair is left for Koro.
Pai is announced winner of the speech competition. Cuts between Koro getting ready to go to the concert and Pai’s speech. Pai dedicates her speech to her Koro. She suggests that there should not be a single leader, but many leaders.
On leaving the house Koro hears the whales. He finds them stranded on the beach. Locals come to help save the whales. Koro notices the large whale – Paikea’s whale. They try to move it, but are unsuccessful.
Pai climbs up on the whale and rides it out to sea – totally unafraid. The other whales follow. When the locals realise, Nanny Flowers calls for her mokopuna. The boys begin singing.
Now Nanny gives the whale tooth to Koro. He looks puzzled and asks “Which one?” – she retorts “What do you mean which one?”
At the hospital, family and friends are waiting. Pai in a hospital bed with Koro beside her. She is wearing the whale tooth necklace. He addresses her as “Wise Leader”
The waka is finished and is being launched. Porourangi has returned home with pregnant Ana. Close-up of Pai chanting with Koro beside her, shot pulls out to reveal that they are on the waka.
Voice Over of Pai saying “My name is Paikea Apirana …I’m not a prophet, but I know our people will keep going forward.”
Opening Titles – Music – Whale sounds -Images of the Whales.
Giving birth to the twins – Close up on faces. Family gather at the hospital – mourning the loss of the mother and baby.
Koro (grandfather) and Porourangi (father) argue in the hospital corridor. Porourangi says his daughter’s name will be Paikea – Koro says he can’t use that name. Porourangi walks away.
Koro attempts to bless the baby boy and tells Nanny Flowers to take the girl out. She stays close and Koro gets mad. She hands him the crying baby and it calms quickly. “See, she likes you”. Nanny Flowers asks her younger son, Rawiri to look out for Pai.
Pai aged 11 close to Koro holding the Whale tooth around his neck – shot pulls out to reveal they are on a bike together.
Views of the township – establishing shots of the community.
Koro gently pushes Pai off the bike. She goes inside to find Nanny Flowers and her friends playing cards. Pai tells them off for smoking and talks about the upcoming school concert.
Pai walks along road practising for the concert. ‘If you ask what this house is called I will tell you…it is called Whitireia’
Concert – farting whale – laughter from audience, Koro thumps stick to restore dignity.
Pai’s father Porourangi turns up. Porourangi greets his family. Koro and Porourangi in the meeting house. Looking at the carvings Koro says ‘They’ve been waiting for you’.
Breakfast for Porourangi – Koro has already gone to fix the septic tank. Porourangi leaves to help. Rawiri turns up to eat Porourangi’s breakfast. Nanny Flowers: “Your timing is spooky, boy”
School – Koro on bike, clips Hemi around the ears. “What’s that for?” “The concert”. Koro rides home with Paikea on the bike.
Paikea watches Koro fix the outboard motor. She tells him about having to make a speech about where she came from. Koro talks about the Ancestors and Hawaiki. Koro shows her the rope and asks “What do you see?”, “Lots of bits of rope all twisted together”. The rope breaks but Pai ties it together and starts the outboard while Koro is away. He tells her off.
Slide show of Porourangi’s art exhibition, with Pai, Nanny Flowers, Rawiri and his girlfriend. Koro bursts through the screen, bringing Pai’s teacher. He makes Porourangi start the show from the beginning. Porourangi accidentally shows photos of his German girlfriend Ana. When asked who it is he explains that he’s been seeing her and that she is pregnant.
Paikea runs out to the waka that Porourangi stopped carving when she was born. Porourangi comes to comfort her and talk to her. He explains that “Koro needs a prophet to lead our people out of the darkness and make everything alright again”. Porourangi suggests Pai returns to Germany with him.
Koro and Pai on the bike going around the front lawn. Rest of the family waiting. “Are you ready to go Pai?”, “One more go”. Goodbyes to Porourangi and Pai. Koro returns inside without saying goodbye to Porourangi.
From the car looking out to sea. Whale Music. Pai asks to stop the car; she wants to go home.
Pai interrupts Koro’s meeting to tell him “I’m back”. He ignores her.
After school, Hemi tells Pai Koro won’t be picking her up and about the school to teach the boys. Pai decides to wait. The boys and their families wait at the Marae. Nanny makes Koro wait until Pai joins them. Karanga between Nanny Flowers and Paikea leading the boys onto the Marae.
Paikea sits in the front row, Koro tells her to sit at the back because she is a girl – she refuses and is sent away from the Marae.
Pai watches through the window to learn what the boys are taught. During the taiaha training, Pai tries to copy the boys. Hemi hits Koro and is sent away. He gives Pai some pointers on how to hold and use the taiaha. Koro is angered by this.
Pai sitting in the waka looking out to sea. Whale music. Is joined by Nanny who tells her that Rawiri used to be good with a taiaha.
Pai takes Rawiri’s golf/taiaha trophy to Rawiri and asks him to teach her. Koro on the beach with the boat – Rawiri jogging past – exchange of glances. Pai on the bike overtaking the bus.
Hemi’s father turns up to the boy’s school. Koro greets him and tells Hemi to perform first. Hemi’s father leaves immediately after Hemi’s performance with his mates. Hemi is upset and is round the back of the building crying.
Pai finds Hemi crying. He tells her to go away. They fight with taiahas. Pai wins. Koro hears the taiahas and tells them they have broken the tapu. Pai is made to apologise to the other boys – repeatedly until she means it.
The boys go out on the boat with Koro and Rawiri. Hemi is left behind. Final test and explanation of the significance of the whale tooth. Koro throws it into the sea for the boys to retrieve. They surface without it.
On their return Koro takes to his bed. Paikea is sent to stay with Rawiri. Pai hears Koro calling to the ancestors; nothing is happening so she calls too.
Pai goes out on the boat with Rawiri and his mates. Asks where Koro threw the whale tooth and dives in to get it. She is underwater for a long time. Pai reappears with a crayfish and Koro’s whale tooth necklace. Rawiri gives the crayfish and whale tooth to Nanny Flowers. But she doesn’t think Koro is ready for it yet.
Pai gives an invitation to the concert to Koro, and tells him he’s her guest of honour. The concert scene opens with teacups laid out and people bringing food. Pai requests a chair is left for Koro.
Pai is announced winner of the speech competition. Cuts between Koro getting ready to go to the concert and Pai’s speech. Pai dedicates her speech to her Koro. She suggests that there should not be a single leader, but many leaders.
On leaving the house Koro hears the whales. He finds them stranded on the beach. Locals come to help save the whales. Koro notices the large whale – Paikea’s whale. They try to move it, but are unsuccessful.
Pai climbs up on the whale and rides it out to sea – totally unafraid. The other whales follow. When the locals realise, Nanny Flowers calls for her mokopuna. The boys begin singing.
Now Nanny gives the whale tooth to Koro. He looks puzzled and asks “Which one?” – she retorts “What do you mean which one?”
At the hospital, family and friends are waiting. Pai in a hospital bed with Koro beside her. She is wearing the whale tooth necklace. He addresses her as “Wise Leader”
The waka is finished and is being launched. Porourangi has returned home with pregnant Ana. Close-up of Pai chanting with Koro beside her, shot pulls out to reveal that they are on the waka.
Voice Over of Pai saying “My name is Paikea Apirana …I’m not a prophet, but I know our people will keep going forward.”