The Dead Lands (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Tell the Dead I'm Coming - full transcript

Waka is sent back from the Afterlife to find honor and redemption.

The Dead

they sigh to me,

and I heed them.

I listen to their sighs.

They tell me to seek a warrior

more monster than man.

His sins are far beyond counting

but so are his skills...

and only he can help
me save my people.

It's said he will do things
no other man would dare do,

because other men
fear The Dead



fear offending them.

And they know we all
meet them in the end.

Wake up, why don't you?

Finally. Is this how
you welcome your heroes?

Open up!

Kati tena.

Questions.

He was once a man

a very bad man,

much like you, Waka Nuku Rau.

Did you think we would
let someone like you

into our most cherished place?

Look into your heart.

Where there should
be honour and a soul,



there is nothing
but an empty hole

filled with your meaninglessness
and dishonourable acts.

Your ancestors refuse
you an afterlife.

So we will let you return.

What?!

There is much for you to do,
Waka Nuku Rau, believe me.

Redeem yourself in
the world, find honour

so that you may be
forgiven your sins.

Although, there are
so very many sins to forgive.

Now make your choice,

or that is your fate

neither living nor dead,

trapped in between,

life force ripped from
his tongue and his eyes.

Fine.

But I don't believe any of this.

And if you ask me,
this is all some trick.

Wives!

Wives!

I have a tale to tell.

Marama!

Nga!

Where are you?

Useless.

Seeing things now.

Father.

I snared a bird.

You stop our business for this?

She's mad.

That's unnatural.
What happened to it?

Is that important enough
for you, my brother?

It's a sign, isn't it?

Yes.

Of your stupidity.

It is tapu to bring such
an impure thing here.

The whole village will
need to be cleansed now,

- and you'll help.
- But it is a sign.

And beyond my knowledge.

But something must be
wrong with the land

when it rejects its children.

We'll call a rahui
be cleansed of this.

Mehe...

- you exposed everyone.
- Could be a curse.

Makutu.

Your spirit is
my greatest joy...

and greatest fear.

Bend to you role in life.

Marama.

Why?

What is it?

Marama.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Wake up.

Wake up!

Stop it. Stop it!

He iro ke koe.

What the fuck?

Hei tino kai maku!

Really?

Maku to mata e kai!

Get up. Get up.

Ah!

Hey!

Who are you?

Let me down. Come on! Come on!

Who are you and
why are you here?

Go fuck yourself!

You're a fool. Fools won't last
long in this world any more.

Run! You can't hide from me.

Once I took whatever I wanted,
when I wanted it.

But see how I've changed.

Who are you talking to?

You're the stupid one, not me.

I knew you were here.

I dug this chamber.
These are my lands.

You're... You're Waka Nuku Rau.

I came to find you
so you can help-

What I saw am I dead?

What?

Am I dead?

No.

Unless I am too.

- Well, what are they?
- I don't know.

But if I hadn't found this,

I'd be dead.

And there are other things too

that have crossed into this
world from the afterlife.

What?

The priestess of my tribe says
the veil between light and dark

is breaking.
And those things out there,

they're proof of it,
aren't they?

They only come at night.

During the day, they
run from Tamanuitera.

Yours, if you help my tribe.

It's called Te Kapua.
It's our greatest treasure.

My wives

they never had love for
me when they were alive.

I'm sorry, but you
can't help them now.

But you can help my tribe, if
the legends are true about you.

And what do they say?

That you're the
greatest living fighter

that this land has
given birth to...

Probably true.

And will do
anything for a price.

My father will
give you anything.

I'm leaving.

I'm not sticking around for
those things to come for me.

- Yes, but-
- And I'm better off alone.

You're safe here.
I give you permission to stay.

- Please.
- It's a good hole.

- Please!
- No.

Look, I don't want to help you,

understand? What are you to me?

You're nothing

nothing to me.

Why would I help her anyway?

I'm the one who needs help.

How am I supposed to find
honour in this world?

There's no honour here.

Fuck!

Give it.

Have you returned
just to steal from me?

Perhaps.

Well balanced, I suppose.

Do you always give up so easily?

Father.

Papa!

Papa!

Mehe.

- What can you do against that?
- No. We have to go in.

Struck it with a killing blow,
and it did nothing.

What was it?

Not of the world of the living.

- We have to go in.
- And do what,

against a creature
we can't kill?

Will no one go in with me?

Mehe, he's dead,

as will you be if you go.

Where are you going?

South, to find Waka Nuku Rau.

I forbid it.

Forbid whatever you want.
You won't help me,

but he might.

Mehe, to enter
his lands is death.

He drinks the blood
of those who do.

Then I'll have
something he wants.

Mehe.

Mehe!

What is it that I'm
to do for your tribe?

There better be honour in it.

I know your reputation.
It's not for honour.

- We'll have to sleep here.
- How far is it?

Another day. Maybe more.

All right, five days.

All you do is tell lies.

You might not have
come if I told you.

Well, we could sleep up
there if you're so worried.

A warrior doesn't hide
in the trees, girl.

Somebody's got to
look after you.

He tino mate tera.

Upoko kohua.

We can't let him stay like that.

He's one of my people.

You know what I have to do.

Kia hiwa ra! Kia hiwa ra!

No whea ra te haunga...

te ngaoko I taku pongaihu e?

Tenei te riri, te riri ka riri.

Kei taku aro?
He ware no tera tai?

Tenei te tira, te tira ka mate.

Whakina tautaua!

That's my whanau, Waka.

Ah!

Waka, stop, stop!
That's my whanau!

That's my whanau!

Stop! He's my brother.

Friendly.

You gave him Te Kapua?

Hmm? Our greatest treasure?

He's come to help.

- It's too late! We're leaving.
- No!

- Father is dead, Mehe.
- You don't know that.

What, after so much time?

And last night those
monsters attacked again.

Taken another!

Monsters.

Our lands reject us, Mehe,

for something we've done.

It's not just your lands, fool.

Our ancestors have decided
to punish the living.

Perhaps for good reason.

Even more reason to go north.

Our uncle is a powerful shaman,
and he'll protect us.

Leave...

- before it's too late.
- No.

I could force you.

I'll see you again.

Haere tonu!

How can you trust him?

How can you trust him?

Monsters.

I can see why you
wouldn't mention that.

The Dead took my father.

But he's alive I can feel it.

You can feel it.

This is a cruel joke.

Save him, and I'll
give you my blood.

Isn't that what you want?

It's what the legends say.

Believe me when I say

I've done far worse.

Help me, and I'll
give you my life.

I'm not going to die for you.

I know what's waiting
for me if I do.

I'm not dying for
you and your father.

But if it comes to it, you will.

If it helps my father.

Good. It probably will.

There.

He can't be alive
after all this time.

Know how to use it?

Useless.

See here? Like this. Ha!

So if it falls out of your
hand from all of the blood,

you won't lose it.

Ha! Strike me.

Terrible. Like this.

Hope these things
sleep during the day

and the ancestors
of this place are watching.

Aue.

Something died down here.

Here.

It's not him.

Father. Father!

Mehe.

No.

We're gonna-We're gonna
get you out of here, Papa.

It's in me.

Mehe...

kill me.

- Please.
- No!

- No, no.
- Please.

They're coming.

Do it!

- I'll do it.
- No!

Please.

Do it, Mehe.

- Do it, Mehe.
- Father.

My love.

My heart.

Move. Move!

Hurry!

Ah!

Where you going?

What's the point in acting the
hero when you're always treated

like the villain?

I hope I'm providing
you with some amusement.

We are The Dead.

We sigh at you from the Earth.
Can you hear us?

We call for repayment

repayment for the
things taken from us.

Such is the way of things.

We call, and you
must heed our call,

because we are The Dead.

Mother.

Failed again, I see.

It reminds me
of all your failures.

Unsex me that's what
you should have done,

lest I create the
thing I see before me.

I can keep you here

force you to face
those vile things.

Do it, then, you old bitch.

Do you really
think you would ever be welcomed

into the houses of The Dead?

You're stupid to think so.

But then you never
were very bright.

Good fighter...

but not too smart.

Not like your brothers.

Finally some spirit.

The ancestors of that house

did you think they'd let
you into their afterlife?

The Dead make their own choices.

And do you think that just
because you help this girl,

that you would be forgiven
for your sins?

What is it that you want?

Tell your lies,
and I'll spit on them.

Lies? No.

But I am also a fool.

In spite of myself...

I love you.

You're my blood,
and blood is everything.

I'd even let you drink mine,
if it would help you.

Come.

Come. Mm.

First, promise you
will only speak to me.

The Dead are scornful and lie.

Promise it.

You've seen the world
and what's become of it.

There is a break.

What kind of break?

Between the world of the living
and the world of The Dead.

Even the lower creatures can no
longer pass to the other side,

and the spirits of The Dead can
no longer reach their ancestors

and are forced back
into the world

back into their decaying bodies.

The Dead are vengeful

that their afterlife has
been stolen from them.

It's true.

- They don't seem very happy.
- You joke!

But their ancestors weep

because they will never
see their loved ones again.

What of it?

Neither will I.

At least I'll have some company.

If you heal this breach...

so The Dead could once
again enter the afterlife,

who wouldn't welcome you then?

Yes.

Even your own tribe,

even after what you have done,

the dishonour you
have poured upon them,

even they would welcome you.

You could die with honour
and join us in the afterlife.

Go. Seek out the
source of this atrocity.

Fix it so The Dead can rest.

And the girl...

Mehe.

Sacrifice her to the god of war

so that he may help
you in your quest.

Drink her high-born blood

to strengthen you
for what will come,

because you will fight much
that is strange and powerful.

Kill the girl.

Naku taku papara
I tuku ki te po.

Kei he to haerenga ki a Hinenui.

Tokihi wairua
ki te tihi o mauri or a.

Ka tangi kau au Aue.

Are you talking to The Dead?

Yes.

They lie

The Dead

even more than the living.

Even more than the living.

You did what needed to be done.

Take it.

Take it.

If you train every day,

you might just put up a fight...

before you die.

At least you had
a father worth loving.

I can't say the same.

You can tell them from me.

Tell them what?

Tell The Dead I'm coming.