ᴋᴜɴɢ ғᴜ ᴘᴀɴᴅᴀ 𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠

Chapter 11: The Origins of Tai Lung

INT. BUNKHOUSE - EVENING

Close on Po, who grimaces.

PO

"Aaaoo...whoohoo...EEEee...hee-hee... I thought you said acupuncture would make me feel better."

Mantis pops up from behind Po holding a handful of needles and sticks Po again.

MANTIS

"Trust me, it will. It's just not easy finding the right nerve points under all this—"

PO

"Fat?"

MANTIS

"Fur, I was gonna say fur."

PO

"Sure, you were."

MANTIS

"Who am I to judge a warrior based on his size? I mean -- look at me."

Po looks for Mantis...

MANTIS (O.C.) (CONT'D)

"I'm over here."

...But Mantis is now on his other shoulder. He jabs another needle into Po.

PO

"Ow!"

VIPER

"Maybe you should take a look at this again."

Viper is holding a diagram of acupuncture meridians (onto which someone has overlaid a drawing of a panda.) next to her is Kenji, Brooklynn and Sammy who's been observing Po

MANTIS

(Read: diagram)

"Oh! Okay."

Quick cuts to Monkey meditating in his room and Crane doing calligraphy in his. Po's yelps distract them.

PO

"Ow! Don't...

(laughing)

Stop it, stop-- Yow! I know Master Shifu's trying to inspire me and all, but if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was trying to get rid of me."

Po chuckles. The others look at each other and chuckle awkwardly.

MANTIS

"I know he can seem kind of heartless—"

BROOKLYNN

"He always acted that way ever since."

SAMMY

"Ever since the Beginning."

He violently jabs another needle in Po.

MANTIS (CONT'D)

"But, ya know, he wasn't always like that."

SAMMY

"What do mean guys."

VIPER

"According to legend, there was once a time when Master Shifu actually used to smile."

PO

"No."

MANTIS

"Yes."

Cut to Tigress out in the hallway. She can hear them talking.

VIPER

"But that was before..."

PO

"Before what?"