Thandiwe Newton credited as playing...
Eshe
- [after Mufasa has won the race]
- Eshe: Well done Taka, well done.
- Young Taka: I thought you said you were fast. I had to let you win.
- Mufasa Cub: Well I did just go days with no sleep all right.
- Young Taka: Anyways come on Mufasa, let's get into trouble.
- [They both run off and play]
- Obasi: Eshe. What has happened? Are you hurt?
- Eshe: [hoarsely] They were huge, white as ghosts. Like nothing I've seen before. Obasi had Mufasa not been there, I...
- [She looks over to see Taka standing nearby he hunches his shoulders with an ashamed expression]
- Eshe: Taka...
- Obasi: I owe you a great debt, Mufasa.
- Mufasa: We need to prepare. They're downwind... less than a day away.
- Obasi: No. You couldn't possibly know this.
- Mufasa: Send a scout, and you'll see! They'll be coming for us.
- Obasi: Chigaru.
- [Chigaru runs off]
- Taka: Father, please. Let me explain.
- Obasi: Not here. Not now.
- Eshe: Taka, come.
- [Chigaru returns to report back to Obasi]
- Chigaru: Obasi!
- Obasi: Chigaru, I'm here! What did you see?
- Chigaru: They're coming this way, Obasi! Two lions for every one of ours, each one bigger than the next but none as mighty as Kiros, their terrifying king.
- Obasi: Outsiders. The stories were all true. I must protect the bloodline, Eshe. The future of this pride. Taka, you are that future.
- Taka: Future? Dad, what do you mean?
- Obasi: I'm sending you away. Far from here. You will leave and start a new life, a new beginning. I need you to go with him, Mufasa... to pledge your loyalty.
- Chigaru: They'll arrive with the sunrise.
- Mufasa: Where will we go, Eshe? Without you, I have no home.
- Eshe: Mufasa, you and Taka together, that... that is home.
- Mufasa: Eshe...
- Eshe: Mufasa, look out there. Beyond the light, you know what I see? I see the place your mother told you about, a place beyond the river's end, across the deepest canyon, on the other side of the mountains, a place beyond the horizon itself. A pride land so green, so... perfect... that to see it is to see...
- Mufasa: Milele.
- Eshe: Yes. Forever.
- Mufasa: My parents spoke of Milele often. My mother told me it was where we were going.
- Eshe: And don't you see, Mufasa? You must keep going. You must continue your journey toward the light.
- Mufasa: Please, Eshe. I can't lose you.
- Eshe: You have my love always, Mufasa. But your family is still out there... waiting for you. I can feel their presence... and I know you can too. Go. Go, Mufasa. Find your way home.
- Taka: Mother? Please forgive me. I beg you.
- Eshe: There's no need, my love. Taka, your moment of courage will come.
- [She knows him]
- Eshe: Now, both of you, go. Go and find your place in the Circle of Life.
- [after saving her son and Mufasa from crocodiles]
- Eshe: I told you to wait for me!
- Young Taka: It's not my fault, Mum. I came down for a drink and saw him floating by. I'd like you to meet Mufasa.
- Eshe: Ugh. You're lucky those crocs were young and afraid to fight. Let's go!
- Young Taka: We can't just leave him here!
- Eshe: Rules are rules, Taka. Obasi will never accept a stray.
- Mufasa Cub: I'm not a stray. I'm just... lost.
- Young Taka: See? He's just lost.
- Mufasa Cub: There was a... A flood. My parents, they tried to save me. Do you know which way is home?
- Eshe: Home? To be lost is to learn the way.
- [She nuzzles him]
- Eshe: Call me Eshe.
- Mufasa Cub: I'm tired, Eshe.
- Young Taka: Come on. It's this way.
- Obasi: I was trying to nap, Eshe. The all-important nap of kings. Only to be awoken by the disgusting, hideous, revolting stench of a stray. When we come upon an outsider, tell me, what do we do?
- Eshe: Obasi... I know.
- Obasi: Eat it!
- Young Taka: But... I found him, Dad! I saved his life!
- Obasi: Taka, we do not associate with outsiders. The only true bond is blood. I've heard stories of lions twice our size. These outsiders will devour everything in their path.
- Eshe: [condescendingly] Does he look like he's going to devour you?
- Obasi: [Mufasa grins up at him] That smell is disgusting. I'm not even sure I could eat this kibeti!
- Mufasa Cub: I'm not a kibeti. I'm a Mufasa.
- Obasi: Do you even know what Mufasa means?
- Mufasa Cub: [questioningly] No.
- Obasi: It means king!
- [He lunges at Mufasa who dodges out of the way he takes a swipe at Mufasa before slowing his pace while Mufasa runs ahead of him]
- Obasi: And that's me. You better start running, little Mufasa... for your life.
- Mufasa Cub: If I run, you'll never catch me. I'm the fastest cub that ever lived. My father told me so
- Obasi: Ooh. Taka... you have a challenge. They will race to the Dead Tree and back. And when the prince defeats him, I will finish him in one bite.
- Eshe: What if Mufasa wins?
- [meaningfully]
- Eshe: if he wins, he lives Obasi. He stays with me.
- Obasi: You have my word. Let the race begin!
- [as both Mufasa and Taka start to race Obasi cruelly causes him to trip]
- Obasi: Clumsy little stray.
- [Eshe picks up Mufasa and gently tosses him]
- Eshe: Run Mufasa!
- [She turns to reprimand her husband]
- Eshe: You did not have to do that!
- Obasi: Taka is the future king. He has to win his first challenge.
- Eshe: [admonishing] No, Obasi! To be a true king, he must earn it. Don't take that away from him.
- Mufasa: Why are we stopping?
- Eshe: Close your eyes and tell me what you hear, what you... feel.
- Mufasa: There's a herd of antelope heading across the dry lakebed. About half a day from here?
- Eshe: And how do you know they're not gazelles?
- Mufasa: Their steps are too heavy. Moving way too slow.
- Eshe: What else? Come on. You can do it.
- Mufasa: Um. When the wind hits their horns it moves up instead of across. So, definitely antelope horns.
- Eshe: Very good. What is it, Mufasa? What's wrong?
- Mufasa: Sometimes, I get a scent. It's barely a trace on the wind, and it smells like home. Then it's gone.
- Eshe: Mufasa, your parents are still out there. We can keep looking.
- Mufasa: I lost them, Eshe. You're wasting your time training me like this.
- Eshe: But these skills you have, no other male has them.
- Mufasa: Obasi will never accept me. I'll never be his blood, his... family.
- Eshe: But you are my family. And if Obasi could see how... gifted you are...
- Mufasa: Well, maybe I like being a stray, you know. No rules, no responsibility. I'm the lucky one, Eshe.
- Eshe: What do you mean, Mufasa?
- Mufasa: I never have to be like Taka. I never have to be king.