Original subtitles

[Music playing]

MOTHER NATURE: I am Mother Nature,

Designer of all the things you see and all the things you are.

For millions of years, Father Time and I

Have worked hand-in-hand to make the world

A better place to live in.

All things considered, we think we've done fairly well.

We have made our mistakes.

There was one about 10 thousand years ago

When we tried a topsy turvy experiment with the human race.

At that time, in a village called Wongo,

We made all the women beautiful and all the men brutes.

We put all the handsome men in the tribe of Goona,

Many days' march to the south.

And we made the Goona girls, well, not beautiful.

It didn't work.

Why?

[Squawk]

The wild women of Wongo.

King of Wongo, why do you come to the Temple

Of the Dragon God?

The maidens of Wongo are ready for marriage.

I come to ask you and the God to receive them.

We will ask the Great Dragon.

Come.

[Hissing]

[Squawking]

[Snoring]

[Laughing]

Stop!

[Crying]

Hush.

They pushed me.

Hush.

Hush.

Girls.

Omoo.

Where have you been?

Get to your work, all of you.

[Snort]

[Snoring]

[Conch blowing]

Ahgo brings you the kill.

It is good.

His father will buy you tonight.

Ahgo takes his kill to Omoo.

My father buys Omoo for me tonight.

[Squawk]

[Squawking]

MAN: Hey! Hey!

Hey!

A stranger.

I've never seen a man from another village.

Get into the hut.

He carries the Wing of the White Bird of Peace.

Oh, this is like a dream I've had.

I never could have dreamed of a man like that.

Are you certain it's a man.

I have a feeling that makes me certain.

What?

What?

What?

What?

It's a man.

It must be.

Oh, no.

It's a God, I'm sure.

Bird?

Bird?

They must not kill it.

Back.

Fathers of Wongo, my name is Engor.

I come in peace.

Be in peace.

I come to speak the words of my father, King of Goona.

We will hear the words of the King of Goona.

Sit.

Have you eaten?

No.

I am hungry.

Bring food.

We will hear the words from the King of Goona.

My father has fear.

Fear?

What gives him fear?

We will both take it.

I will take it.

I will take it.

You do not yet give orders to the king's daughter, Ahgo.

A tribe of many men come in big canoes,

Bringing war to the coast.

Oh, no.

Here we go.

Break it up.

Break it up.

Break it up.

If you have hunger, stranger, eat.

I have never seen a woman like this before.

She is like any other.

She is not like those in Goona.

Give him the food.

In Wongo, you do not touch a maiden who is not yours.

Omoo, go.

Now give us the words from the King of Goona.

There is a strange tribe of men,

Some say they are like apes.

From where do the ape men come?

ENGOR: From the sea.

No men live in the sea.

These people have big canoes.

They come by night.

Next day, they have gone, leaving many dead.

We have seen no ape men.

We have heard of no ape men.

You know these things now.

I have given you my father's words.

Why does the King of Goona wish us to know these things?

My father fears the ape men will come to Goona.

Wongo does not fear.

King of Wongo, the ape men will come.

If not today, at some time.

We do not fear.

My father wishes you and all of Wongo

To come to the village of Goona.

There is much food.

You have brave young men, and so have we.

It is true.

Our men are brave.

With your men and our men, we can kill the ape men.

Are there many like you in Goona?

Are you the strongest?

I came because I am my father's son, to bring his words.

Many in Goona are stronger than I.

Do all the men of Goona also have women's skins?

If the young man thinks he can puncture my skin, he may try.

He is young.

Perhaps a little foolish this day with love.

Do you have more words from your father, the King of Goona?

Only that your journey there should be taken quickly.

We will give you the words for your father tomorrow.

Ahgo.

The stranger, tonight, will sleep

In the hut of the young men.

If harm comes to him, we will have your life.

You have commanded.

I saw such a man as that once, in my youth, in the forest.

I killed him.

Good.

We will talk.

Will he stay in Wongo, do you think?

If I can find a way to keep him.

What way can there be?

I know a way.

Don't even say that.

The Dragon God will be angry.

I would keep him even if that happens.

You have seen our foolish women.

We have all seen.

We have been shamed.

The women have shamed us before this man with a woman's skin.

But a man's body.

We do not have women's faces, and I would not want one.

We are men.

And if we went to Goona, we should find our women

Running after men like him.

As for me, I had rather fight ape men.

I have seen no ape men.

Do we know that there are ape men?

I do not know it.

This is a trick.

If the King of Goona wanted our women,

How could he get them more easily than to send his son

With some wild story to get them to his village,

And we ourselves die there under Goona spears?

That would be easy.

Does anyone disagree?

Oh, King, do we go to Goona?

KING OF WONGO: We do not go.

That will be our answer.

If we do not go, we do not have to send any words at all.

If this man leaves here alive, our foolish women

Will never forget him.

That is true.

They're dream.

You speak words of wisdom.

But I have given my word that no harm shall come to him tonight.

It would be better done in the morning when the maidens stand

Ready to go to the temple.

Then they shall see him die and never forget that he is dead.

That is wise.

Is it agreed?

ALL: Agreed.

I do not like to kill a man who comes with a White Bird's Wing.

With this man, it must be.

In the morning, let it be.

[Squawking]

Why did the stranger come, Father?

He brought words from his father, the King of Goona.

Oh, his father's a king.

So he tells us.

I suppose Ahgo's father means to ask for me tonight.

I expect him.

OMOO: You will give me to Ahgo?

Of course.

OMOO: Father.

Yes?

It's unmaidenly for me to say it.

KING OF WONGO: What?

Well, his father is, after all, a king.

Could you not arrange to give me to the stranger?

What?

Marriage to a stranger is treason to your people,

A sacrilege to the gods, and is just cause for death.

Well, women have been carried away in war

And married to strangers, even against their will,

And have not died.

Not women of Wongo.

Go inside!

And do not come out again until the morning

When you and the maidens go to the Temple of the Dragon God.

Hey, take it easy.

Hey, take it easy.

This bag, it is nothing.

It contains only the finest shells that I've been

Able to gather in a long life.

My daughter is hardly worth so much.

She is worth much more, but this is all I have.

Will you accept them?

I am happy to accept them for my daughter.

Your son, Ahgo, is good.

Ahgo will build your daughter a hut before she

Returns from the temple.

I'm sure Ahgo will build a good hut.

I am made proud by the marriage of my son to a king's daughter.

The God has given me no son.

You are second in Wongo.

It suits me well that your son and my daughter

Will rule someday.

They will rule well.

I ask a favor.

KING OF WONGO: I grant it without knowing what it is.

AHGO'S FATHER: In the morning, let

It be my son, Ahgo, whose spear is chosen to kill the stranger.

KING OF WONGO: That is good.

It was Omoo he touched, and now she is your son's woman.

[Snoring]

[Squawk]

Omoo, they call you that.

I like it.

I have never seen a woman like you.

What are the women like in Goona?

They are like your Wongo men.

I will never be able to look at them again.

I have dreamed of a man like you.

I never thought it would come true.

I am the same as the others in Goona.

I have seen only you, and I am happy.

Oh, Dragon God, Protector of Wongo,

Once more, we send our maidens to your temple to prepare them

For marriage to our young men.

Purify them, make them worthy, and return

Them to us within one moon.

There he is.

He's beautiful.

Like the sun.

Look, he's trying to pick out Omoo.

ALL: Return our maidens to us, oh, Dragon God of Wongo.

They're going to kill Engor, now.

No.

Yes, this plan, I overheard.

Ahgo's going to throw the spear.

Oh, no.

No.

Will you try to help me save him?

Tell us how.

King of Wongo, it is far to my father's house.

I return now.

What is your answer to the King of Goona?

Our answer is we will not desert the ancient village

Of our fathers.

I will carry your words now.

But perhaps I may return.

[Squawking]

Engor, beware!

Ahgo will kill you!

[Shouting]

[Scream]

[Squawking]

Oh, Dragon God, this day, you have

Been insulted by the maidens of Wongo, and woe to the village.

Now they must leave us without our prayers

For their protection.

Never has this happened before.

Payment for this sacrilege to the God must be made in blood.

And when that God has taken blood, and not until then,

Whether it be one moon or 10, may the maidens return.

Each night, one maiden shall wait alone,

A sacrifice if the God comes.

Go.

My son, you have returned.

I am happy to be back in Goona.

The King of Wongo received you well?

They tried to kill me with a spear as I departed.

You carried the White Bird Wing?

Did you kill their spearman?

I was saved.

I was saved by the women of Wongo.

The women?

They are very unusual women, oh, my father, and very brave.

You are shamed.

I am alive.

It is good.

What about the girls?

Hmph, look at those fools.

Wongo women, indeed.

What do you mean "unusual"?

Very unusual.

Wahoo!

The God and the Priestess await us.

[Knocking]

Maidens of Wongo.

The Dragon God is angry.

Do you come to offer sacrifice?

We have awaited the God each night.

But he has not chosen a maiden.

That is why I have called you to the temple.

Dance, maidens of Wongo, before the Dragon God!

Offer yourselves to him as sacrifice!

Dance!

Dance!

Dance!

Dance!

[Squawking]

Oh yeah.

[Laughter]

[Screaming]

[Squawking]

Stop, Mona!

Let me go!

No, the God has chosen his bride.

She is gone.

I told you.

Now that blood has been spilled, we can go back to Wongo.

I'm glad it was Omoo.

Look!

Let me go.

You cannot help.

If he comes to represent the God, it does not matter.

Ahgo's God will get his bride.

Are you afraid to fight?

If it is not the God, we can help Omoo.

Let her help herself.

You have insulted the God again.

If it were the God, he would have taken the one he wanted,

Or all of us.

I'm going to tell the King about this.

My father shall say I have acted as he

Would wish his daughter to act.

[Squawk]

They are good, Mona.

I have no hunger.

No hunger because it's Mona's turn

To wait for the God tonight.

It is not that.

I simply have no hunger.

Because you fear the God.

Don't worry, perhaps the God is more particular than you think.

Yes, I'm sure he's particular.

You have awaited the God twice, and he has not come to seek you

Any more than a man ever has.

Be still, Ahtee.

You deserve what Mona says.

You know we must remain here until the God takes blood.

It is the King's command.

We have waited twice around our numbers,

And none has been chosen.

Tonight, Mona will keep the vigil for us all.

If she is chosen, may she go with him,

Without fear and without pain.

ALL: Without fear, without pain.

If the Great Dragon comes and she escapes him,

This she may do, for if he really comes in the name

Of the God, none may escape.

ALL: None may escape.

I am ready.

I will walk with her to the place of waiting.

If you call, I will come.

But you must be awake to know in time.

I'll stay awake.

How?

I will think.

Think of what?

I'll think of a man.

A man of Wongo?

No.

Oh, wasn't he wonderful?

There never was one like him.

He said that in Goona where his father is king,

All men are like him.

It cannot be true.

I believe.

If Engor said it, then it must be true.

I'll try to imagine it can be true.

That will keep me awake.

I will stay awake in the same way,

With my spear ready in case you should call.

I will call if I must.

Good night.

Good night, Mona.

[Hiss]

[Crack]

[Scream]

[Scream]

[Scream]

So the ape men have come.

The evil men Engor came to tell us about.

They are going to Wongo.

But they might have been to Wongo already.

We'll go there.

But we can't go.

The God has not taken a bride.

The King did not say we must remain

Until the God took a bride.

He said we could not return until the insult to the God

Has been paid in blood.

The God has taken the ape men.

The blood of the ape men has paid.

That is right.

I fear for Wongo.

Let us go home.

No.

I fear the night with ape men in canoes.

Let's wait until dawn.

They are gone.

They're all gone.

Perhaps they are still hiding.

[Howls]

Hush, you will call the ape men back.

I mourn my father.

Wana is right.

Although my father was the King of Wongo, I am his daughter.

[Howls]

AHGO'S FATHER: Hey.

[Moans]

Help me.

Wana, make a fire.

I'll help.

I'll get water.

There's no hurry.

He's dead.

We'll bury him.

Ahtee, what are you doing here?

That's none of your business.

Omoo put you on watch.

Who stands guard down at the stream?

Omoo?

Omoo's no king.

A canoe came by, and I rode on it because I was hungry.

If Omoo wants a watch kept, she can keep it herself.

Ahtee is off her post.

[Squawking]

Who is Omoo to tell us what to do?

I'm tired of that.

We've been here longer than one moon,

And Omoo says do this and do that, and all of you jump.

I don't have to do anything I don't want to do,

And nobody can make me.

And I'm not going to stand watch.

The ape men will come.

Let the ape men come.

Our men are never coming back.

Do you want to live here the rest of your life

Without any men at all?

Wouldn't be like you.

Shut up.

[Cheering]

No! No!

No!

Come on, Wana.

Come on, Wana. Come on.

That's it.

Go, go, go!

Seize her.

You know the penalty.

Mona, speak.

Ahtee came from her post.

She said she feared no ape men.

She would rather see ape men in Wongo

Than live all her life with no men at all.

She said you are no king.

She must die.

Kill her.

Kill her.

Kill her.

ALL: Kill her!

I am no king.

We have no men, and our young hunters will never return.

Ahtee deserves to die, but she is right.

We do not want to live, and to grow old, and die without men.

Wongo has ended.

Tomorrow, we leave Wongo.

We can't leave.

Where can we go?

We'll go south.

South?

To Goona.

There is still nobody.

Where did they go?

I do not know.

It must be the ape men came.

I do not like it here.

This is our home.

No.

Wongo stands here, but it is not home.

It is gone.

Are we to stay with only ghosts?

We have searched the forest.

We have been to the temple.

We have found no one.

Our women were taken by the ape men.

Our hearts are heavy, but our village is here.

Let us rest.

Let us not stay here.

Follow the words of Engor, go south to Goona.

We would not be welcome.

I threw a spear at Engor.

We tried to kill him.

Engor came to ask for our spears to defend his village.

Let us go there.

There are women in Goona.

If the men of Goona fight, we will

Go on, but not back to Wongo.

Yes.

We go south.

To Goona.

So let it be.

Young men of Goona, like your fathers forever

Since the beginning, you go now into the forest

With empty hands.

For the space of one moon, you must live in the forest

Without weapons to prove you are men.

Like your fathers.

In this time, it is the law of our Gods

That you speak to no women.

Return, hunters of Goona, when the moon is full again.

Then the maidens of Goona will await

You with a marriage feast.

[Squawk]

The women of the ape men.

Don't let them see us.

They'll kill us.

Oh, no.

These women are from Goona, I'm sure.

No, no.

Unless the ape men live in Goona.

Well, I'll ask them if it is Goona.

Do you dare go?

Guard me with your spears.

Good day, sisters of Goona.

I come in peace.

Then go in peace.

I've come with my sisters to beg food and safe shelter.

The ape men have destroyed our village.

You come from Wongo.

OMOO: How did you know?

We have heard of the Wongo women.

Mona.

Wana.

You come in peace with spears.

We're attacked!

[Screaming]

[Squawking]

The way to Goona is south.

You will be our scout.

Keep silent.

I can't go another step.

We can stop for a minute.

I'll go look ahead.

Uh-oh.

Uh-oh.

Are there any more at home like you?

[Giggle]

Hey.

Water looks good.

Let's go.

[Splashing]

It's Engor.

Engor.

Omoo.

It's the women of Wongo.

What are you doing here?

I was hoping we'd see you.

So Wongo has come to Goona after all.

Where are your friendly men?

There isn't any Wongo.

The ape men took it.

There are no more men.

Come out, and we'll cook you a meal.

We cannot eat with you.

Should not even talk with you.

Why not?

We are in the forest for the space of one moon,

All the young men of Goona.

We are without weapons.

We cannot see any women.

When we have proved that we are men like our fathers,

We may return to Goona and take our mates.

The women we saw?

Mates?

Naturally.

The Goona women.

Look at us.

Don't you like us?

Would you not rather have us for mates?

We can all go back to Wongo.

I am a man of Goona.

One day, I will be king.

If Wongo is no more, you may come to Goona.

We will meet you there.

We've met your Goona women, and they would have killed us.

It would mean death for us to go there.

ENGOR: You must go away.

We should not have talked with you at all.

What do we do now?

If they won't even speak to us, how

Are we going to persuade them?

Why can't we get them to go with us?

But they are men.

Well, that's what we came here for, wasn't it?

Did you say that all the young men were in the forest?

And they have no spears?

I told you that.

Now go.

[Squawking]

We will camp here.

You may sit.

You have bound us.

These thongs are the mark of slaves.

For that, something will happen to you.

And when it does, you will know why.

If we had fear, we'd have crawled on our stomachs

To the women of Goona.

We have no fear.

You have forgotten you are only a woman.

You do not understand men.

We think we understand men quite well.

(WHISPERING) Go away.

Go away.

Go away, go away, go away.

Hey!

If anyone else is in that tree, come down,

Or I'll put a spear through you.

I believe you would.

Engor, you spoke the truth about these women of Wongo.

This one's mine.

He's cute.

[Whistle]

Hit him again.

Hit him again.

[Twig snap]

[Squawk]

[Squawk]

Can't you catch anything but rabbits?

Very poorly seasoned too.

No salt.

MAN: Nothing like the Goona women cook.

After all, there's only one Goona.

The rest of the world is solid barbarians.

You'll have a long time to cook meat to your taste

When we get back to Wongo.

You'll do it yourself under the whip.

You're laying up troubles for yourself, girl.

The four days I spent tied up here

Will take a lot of time getting over.

We're taking you to the Temple of Wongo

To present you to the Dragon God.

It's a five-day march.

You may speak to each other if you like.

Haven't you anything to say?

Not now.

Later, you will hear something that may surprise you.

Ready?

March.

Forward, march.

[Squawking]

[Squawk] 2, 3, 4.

[Squawk] 2, 3, 4.

[Squawking]

Oh, Dragon God, we bring you men for Wongo.

We come to the temple with the men who shall be our mates.

If these are your mates, why are they bound like slaves?

We dare not unbind them.

They would flee to Goona, and there would be

None to worship the Dragon God.

Unbind their necks!

The God speaks!

There is danger!

I see spears coming to the temple!

They are here!

Spears!

Who comes with spears?

It is Ahgo and the hunters of Wongo.

We have come to present our mates to the Dragon God.

PRIESTESS: Leave your spears.

Let them enter.

Let Ahgo come forward and speak.

We men of Wongo thought our women

Were taken by the ape men.

We have found others.

We have come to present them to the Dragon God.

PRIESTESS: Your father chose Omoo for your mate.

How do you answer to that?

I will answer.

Omoo is mine.

So be it.

Well, how about that?

[Music playing]