Sang
Nila Utama
By Nate Yong
Theme: History Adventure/
Action
Setting : 13th
Century , Location : SE-Asia, Story Location : Sumatra, Palembang
Main Characters : Sang
Nila Utama (Prince of Palembang)
Omar (Man servant),
Carla ( chief’s daughter, Utama’s love
interest)
Mauli (King of Sriwijaya)
Utama’s descendent’s 10 year old
daughter Sita
Singa( a huge stripeless Tiger with a
semi Mane),
Sang Nila Utama: 20 year
Prince, highly skilled in Silat, single blade sword and shield, however he is
spoilt. Winning in sparring battle in the palace courtyard due to his royal status.
Omar: 50 year old balding
man servant, self spoken and highly skilled in ancient stick fighting however
appearance is deceiving as a servant. He fought during the king’s war.(King-
Utama’s father)
Mauli: King whom is
ambitious and wants to rule the whole of indonesian’s peninsula. Skilled in
weapons and warfare, he held a mighty long range Halberg.
Sita : Present day 10 year
old primary school kid whom was being told the story of Utama by his father –
tradition pass down.
Singa: a large tiger,
Semi-mane with less stripes on upper torso.
protector of Temasek. (CGI)
Log Line:
An arrogant Prince drop down from grace under the defeat
of his kingdom after being deceived by his royal status fought back from his
grief by hunting down Singa the Lion and reclaiming his royal throne.
The Pitch:
Utama is a 20-year-old Prince of Palembang 1299. He is
the King’s only son, although skilled he has never face a real battle. All the
fights and sparring he was trained were predominantly fixed. He was arrogant,
snobbish, impulsive and disrespectful to life. On a hunting trip invited by the
Queen of Sumatra he accidently discovered Temasek and set foot upon the island.
Utama’s first encounter with Singa was brief, intrigue by the mane of the beast
and the legend of the protector spoken by Omar his manservant; he secretly harbors
the desire to hunt Singa down. His encounter with the beast later on would have
nearly killed him. Utama were welcome by the village of Temasek and fell in
love with the chief’s daughter Carla. While intoxicated during a night feast,
he declares his love and would retrieve Singa’s head to prove his worth. He was
recalled during the hunt as war has fallen on Palembang, Utama returns to
Palembang in a horrendous defeat by the King of Sriwijiya Mauli, loses his
Kingdom and fell from grace. Utama escapes to Temasek in dire consequences and
face his own fears of royal deceit knowing the hard truth about his father’s
love for him. He regains his confidence by hunting down Singa and reclaims his
royal throne in an epic battle.
Synopsis:
Act 1 :
Sita (Utama’s descendent) had a bickering dispute with
her close friend Cheryl in present time when she reads out from a Primary 4 textbook
reference on the history of Sang Nila Utama. Sita claims her dad been telling
her the story since she was 4. Story begins when Cheryl contemplate to listen
to Sita.
Sang Nila Utama’s an impulsive 20 yr old Prince whom is
spoilt, deceived his whole life by the love of the King, thinks he is
invincible and had the arrogance that the world was under his feet with the
pretense of the King’s power. Utama was invited to Sumatra by the Queen for a
deer hunting trip. During the chase he nearly slip off at the edge of the cliff
and discovered an island across the ocean with white sandy beach that captures
his fascination.
The Prince’s crew took a vessel with a few men
and set sail to the island. Half way across the channel a thunderstorm struck
and Utama was force to throw down his crown into the sea out of superstitious
reason to stop the storm. After the storm subsided, they pulled in the boat and
set on the white sandy beach. Utama felt the soft sand by his hands as exotic
birds flutters off. They were greeted by a thunderous roar in the jungle when
Utama witness the mighty Tiger swipe off a goat in a ferocious predatory
encounter. For the first time in his life he had never feel anxiety of such
magnitude. The goat was locked in the beast’s canine and as the beast turn it’s
head before making his way, it stares hard at Utama. At that instance, Utama
felt Death piercing right into his eyes. Intrigue by the magnificent beast’s
mane and power, he secretly harbors his desire to trap the beast.
The Prince’s crew were
greeted by the village chief Rahim after a formal introduction and was invited
to a party during nightfall. He fell in love with the chief’s daughter Carla
and under the influence of alcohol and impulse declares to hunt down the Singa
(not knowing that the beast is the island protector) to prove his love.
Act 2:
Utama impulsive nature
uses a goat and set a trap that lures Singa into a ravine, he challenges the
beast head on with sword and shield. His sword was deflected by a single paw
swipe and the shield was shattered by Singa enormous might. The beast stands
one feet away and stare into the soul of its prey. It breathes heavily in front
of Utama and let out a roar that sent shivers onto Utama’s spine. Singa was
about to deliver the fatal blow when Omar distract the beast from beating of
the drums. Utama returns to the village with bruises.
War beckons on the Kingdom at Palembang, Mauli
the king of Sriwijaya had assembled an army over the years and had decide to
invade Palembang. He marches in front of his royal warriors in a military inspection.
Accompanied by his witch doctor advisor, he made his way to a podium held his Halberd
and makes a speech and declares a decree of war.
Utama returns to fight the war only to be
defeated by Mauli. Mauli killed the king in front of Utama and hang his head at
the gates of the palace. Utama was ridiculed, tortured and humiliated and was
thrown into the cell. Mauli reveal the conspiracy with the Queen of Sumatra,
the deer hunting trip was a plan to assassinate Utama’s father and he went
instead. With the help of Omar, he escapes through the sewer infested with
leeches and emerges from a river under the noses of crocodiles. Utama jumps onto
a boat and escape to Temasek. He found out the hard truths by himself and Omar
that all the battles at the courtyard were arrange by his father. Grief,
forsaken and a forlorn figure. Utama was a daily drunkard and a pathetic
figure. Spur on by his love Carla, he regain his skills under the guidance of
Omar.
Act 3:
One day Singa kills
another villager and Utama decides for another hunt.
(triple hunt sequence) He
hunts down Singa and win the final battle however at the final moment when he
was about to kill Singa, 2 cubs emerges from the bushes and he finally
understood Singa kills because it has to, not because it wants to. He had learn
the value of life and his respect for nature. His transformation to a real
warrior and returns to Palembang to capture his lost Kingdom. ---------- End of part 1
Teaser Ending:
Sita invites Cheryl’s family over to her house for Hari
Raya Celebration. Cheryl’s Dad ask about the ancient Kris ( snake like dagger)
with a gold plated scabbard on the décor display. Sita’s dad mention that it’s
a family heirloom. (it was never mention that Sita was Utama’s descendent till
now). Screen play ends.
Act 1 Scene 1
INT . PONGGOL PRIMARY
SCHOOL – DAY FADE
IN
Cheryl reads from her text
book on history of Sang Nila Utama
CHERYL
Woah, the history of Singapore, Temasek!
Sita startled by Cheryl
excitement walks over
SITA
Hey Cher, what you reading?
CHERYL
History, my dad says I am going to be excited
with history lessons
Especially the history of Singapore. He was
right, I was
Paying
attention in class just now when Mr Tan was reading the passage on Sang Nila
Utama’s encounter with the Lion, that’s how we got our country’s name. Imagine
you meeting a lion once you set foot on the beach.
SITA
It’s a
Tiger.
CHERYL
Huh?
SITA
It’s a
Tiger. Utama encounters a Tiger. Not a lion,
Lions don’t
exist in South East Asia.
CHERYL
But the book
says..
SITA
Forget the
book, I listen to the story every night since I was 4.
It’s my
bedtime story.
CHERYL
Are you
serious? You sound like you know more than Mr Tan?
SITA
Well, it’s
up to you to believe me
Math Teacher Ms Wong walks
in and the class greets and turns silence
Sita Turns to Cheryl
SITA (whispers)
If you are interested in Utama, I can tell
you on the way home..
