Suzanne Pleshette: Zira

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Zira

Simba: Zira.
Zira: Simba.
[sees the lionesses, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa confronting her]
Zira: Nala.
Nala: Zira.
Timon: Timon, Pumbaa. Great! Now, that we all know each other, GET OUT OF OUR PRIDE LANDS!
Zira: *Your* Pride Lands?
[roars thunderously at Timon, who cowers behind Pumbaa's head]

Simba: Kiara?
Zira: Kovu! Move.
Simba: Stand aside.
Kiara: Daddy, this has to stop.
Zira: You're even weaker than I thought. Get out of the way!
Kovu: You'll never hurt Kiara *or* Simba! Not while I'm here.
[Zira snarls]
Simba: Stay out of this.
Kiara: A wise king once told me, "We are one." I didn't understand him then. Now I do.
Simba: But... they...
Kiara: Them? Us? Look at them! They *are* us. What differences do you see?

Zira: You are ready.
[chuckles as she circles a now adult Kovu]
Zira: Nice. Very... nice. You have the same blackness in your soul that Scar had. What is your destiny?
Kovu: I will avenge Scar, take his place in the Pride Lands.
Zira: Yes! What have I taught you?
Kovu: Simba is the enemy.
Zira: And... what... must... you do?
Kovu: I must *kill* him!
[the Outsiders roar]

Zira: Vitani, now!
Vitani: No, Mother.
[looks at Simba's pride, then at Zira]
Vitani: Kiara's right.
[walks over to Kovu's side]
Vitani: Enough.
Zira: If you will not fight, then you will die as well.
[all of the remaining Outsiders head towards Simba and his pride]
Zira: Where are you going? Get back here!
Simba: Let it go, Zira. It's time to put the past behind us.
Zira: [now alone] I'll *never* let it go!
[camera points to more logs blocking the river and back to Zira showing her eyes]
Zira: This is for you, Scar.

Kiara: [Alternate Scene]
[Zira is clinging onto the rock for her life when Kiara reaches out her paw to help]
Kiara: Zira, give me your paw!
Zira: [after looking down at the flood below, Zira grins disturbingly at Kiara and whispers vehemently] . No! Never!
[Lets go of the rock and falls into the swollen valley below]
Zira: .

Zira: Kovu was the last born before you exiled us to the Outlands where we have little food, less water.
Simba: You know the penalty for returning to the Pride Lands!
Zira: But the child does *not*! However, if you need your pound of flesh, here.
[pushes Kovu towards Simba]
Simba: Take him and get out. We're finished here.
[picks up Kiara delicately]
Zira: Oh, no, Simba. We have barely begun.
[chuckles at Kiara and picks up Kovu]

Zira: These lands belong to Scar!
Simba: I banished you from the Pride Lands! Now, you *and* your young cub, get out!
Zira: Oh! Haven't you met my son, Kovu? He was hand chosen by Scar to follow in his pawprints and become king.

Zira: Scar, watch over my poor Nuka.
[furiously turns to Kovu]
Zira: You!
[slashes at Kovu, giving him a scratch over his eye just like Scar's]
Zira: What have you done?
Kovu: I didn't... I-I didn't mean to, i-it wasn't my fault, I... I did *nothing*!
Zira: Exactly! And in doing so, you betrayed your pride! Betrayed Scar!
Kovu: I want nothing more to *do with him*!
Zira: You cannot escape it! Nuka is dead because of *you*!
Kovu: No.
Zira: You've killed your own brother!
Kovu: NO!
[flees; the Outsiders roar at him]
Zira: Let him go. Simba has hurt me for the last time! Now he has corrupted *Kovu*! Listen to me. Simba is injured and weak! Now is the time to attack! We will take his entire kingdom by *force*!
[laughs evilly; the Outsiders roar in triumph; fade to black]