An Inevitable Outcome Feature
Written and Directed
by C. Richard Davies
TOGETHER AGAIN
1996 Chapter
Based on the works of
Naoko Takeuchi, Rumiko Takahashi,
Kosuke Fujishima, Matsumoto Izumi,
Masaki Kajishima,
and various interpretations therof.
Incorporating
original characters created
by C. Richard Davies
Dedicated to John Biles, Frank Herriot,
and Larry Mann.
ACT ONE
Establishing Shot: Nerima at high noon. The sun is shining brightly, and
the whole neighborhood seems almost polarized into light and darkness, as
if to create a black and white image. As we move closer, we see little
bits of colour, but until we approach the Tendou dojo, with its walls and
garden, it still seems fairly bleached. As we draw even nearer, we hear
voices uttering low battle cries. Finally, we enter the doors of the
Tendou home, moving slowly, listening to the battle cries grow louder as
we approach the training hall proper.
Inside the training hall, TENDOU SOUUN is watching as his latest class of
pupils works through the beginning exercises of the Musabetsu Kakuto
style. The students are a mixed lot, as one might expect -- they range
from teenagers to men in their early middle ages. Most seem to be in
better than average shape, though not remarkably so. They are all dressed
in white gi.
>From the rear, we see a young man, also dressed in white gi, with a
pony-tail, advising a number of the students on their exercises. He
gestures cleanly and forcefully as he does so.
In the distance, the phone rings. SOUUN looks up as he hears the noise.
He starts to count on his fingers. He starts out with seven, drops two
immediately, slowly lowers two others, and then stares at the three
fingers he has left. He looks at the young man, looks down at his hand
again ... and then a look of great realization crosses his face.
SOUUN
Ah! Kasumi has gone shopping!
SOUUN pushes himself to his feet, and starts to rush off out of the dojo.
We see the young man -- who is beyond any doubt, SAOTOME RANMA, though
slightly more mature than he was at the end of his story -- look over his
shoulder and roll his eyes.
We see SOUUN arrive at the telephone, which has been ringing constantly
over this, place his hand over the reciever, cough into his fist, and pick
up the phone.
SOUUN
Moshi moshi. Tendou no dojou.
SOUUN seems startled to hear whatever he hears on the other end of the
line, and his mouth spreads in a large smile as he does.
AKANE (V.O.)
It all started when my father got
a phone call from -- no, wait a
minute.
The scene freezes in the middle of SOUUN's exclamation.
AKANE (V.O.)
Strictly speaking, it didn't begin
there. I could say that it began
nearly two decades before that, when
the man my father had been speaking
to had first met our family. Or a
decade before *that*, when he first
came to Japan; or three decades
before that, when ... and so on,
back to the very first moment.
BEAT But to be even a little bit
accurate, it had begun a few hours
before that.
Cut to a city street in chaos. Fires are burning, sirens are screaming,
so are people. The side of a building explodes, and a man -- shaved bald,
wearing bulky black armor, with an eyepatch targeting device over one eye,
carrying a huge bazooka-like device -- laughs madly at the carnage he's
causing, as do his several colleagues, each cast from a similar mold. The
man looks for another target ... and then freezes, visibly paling as he
looks down the street. He anxiously gestures for his colleagues to look
where he's looking, and they all react with intense fear.
Down the street, a man (early thirties?) is standing against the rising
sun. His hair is a dark black, his skin tanned. He stands above average
height, and his black trenchcoat hides the details of his slender yet
muscular build. He wears glasses. We close in on his eyes for a moment
-- they are gray, with strange flecks of gold in the iris. He reaches up
with his gloved left hand to remove the glasses, flicking the frame shut
as he pulls them away. He deliberately assumes a martial arts stance.
KENT
You're under arrest.
For a second, nothing happens ... then, roaring, the criminals charge
towards him ...
And KENT wakes up. He blinks as he lies in bed, staring at the clock on
his bedside table, the red numbers "0628" illuminating his glasses. KENT
sits up in bed, his shirt and boxers showing off both his *very* muscular
arms and legs, and the large number of scars from old injuries on his
limbs and chest. He picks up his glasses, puts them on, and gets out of
bed.
We see him, wearing a red robe and slippers, wandering down a darkened
corridor towards a lit room, which has the look of a kitchenette -- a
sink, stove, refrierator and cupboards. A man (ANDREW DELAFONTAINE, early
fifties?), with a bushy moustache, mostly bald with wisps of hair on the
sides of his head, wearing blue mechanic's coveralls, is sitting at a
table in the room. He does a crossword puzzle in pen while taking
occasional drinks from a cup of coffee. He looks up at KENT as he enters
the room. ANDREW speaks in a New Yorker accent that screams "fake".
ANDREW
Mornin'. Coffee?
KENT shakes his head, and walks to the refrigerator, opening it up to take
out a carton of orange juice, and getting a glass out of one of the
cupboards at the same time. ANDREW shakes his head, and tsks.
ANDREW
That stuff'll kill you.
KENT pauses, sets down the cup, opens the carton, and drinks directly from
the carton. ANDREW watches. KENT finishes the carton, sets it down, and
comes to sit/slump at the table. ANDREW folds up his copy of the New York
Times.
ANDREW
That bad, huh? What was it, Sheila?
KENT shakes his head.
ANDREW
Theresa?
KENT shakes his head.
KENT
The one where I'm a supercop.
ANDREW
SNORTS An' I still say that ain't
that different from what we do.
KENT
And I still say it is. BEAT So
what's on the agenda for today?
ANDREW
Nothin' planned, but the Austrians
been askin' us to do somethin' about
the dragons in their --
KENT
Unless they produce some evidence
the the tatzelwurmen are of xeno-
or magical origin, we do nothing.
Same with the kraken in the Baltic
... on the other hand, it might do
to examine that a little more
closely, if there seems to be an
increase in cult business there.
KENT falls silent, and ANDREW just stares at him.
ANDREW
Nobody should remember all that.
You need a vacation.
KENT
Secret Masters of the World don't
take vacations. BEAT I'd like a
few days off, but --
ANDREW
Who's gonna tell you no?
KENT
What if something happens and I'm --
ANDREW
Welcome to the era of global
communications! If you are on the
planet Earth, there's nowhere we
can't get in touch with you!
KENT
And how long will it take to --
ANDREW
Welcome to the era of having more
cutting edge vehicles than the US
Air Force!
KENT appears to consider the idea for a moment, lost in thought. ANDREW
drinks the last of his coffee.
KENT
All right.
ANDREW
BLINKS Seriously?
KENT
If I recall correctly, there's
nothing coming up in the next few
days --
ANDREW
Great! We can head up to Alaska,
get some fishing done --
KENT continues as though he hadn't been interrupted.
KENT
-- that my duly designated second
in command can't handle.
ANDREW gapes. KENT smiles thinly.
ANDREW
Dirty pool!
KENT
It was your idea. And until -- and
unless -- McGovern comes back,
you're the only operator on staff
with the experience to handle it
all.
ANDREW
Awww, shit.
KENT stands up, and stretches, seeming somehow more vital and energetic
now that he's made his decision.
KENT
Guess I'd better get packed.
ANDREW
So where you goin'?
KENT
Back to Japan, I think. Maybe I'll
pop in on my old teacher. I think
a week should be enough, and we have
to address the UN Security Council
Monday after next anyway, so ...
ANDREW
Right. I'll keep things on an even
keel here.
KENT starts to walk out of the room.
ANDREW
Give my regards to Lum.
KENT
SARCASM Ha ha. If I meet *any*
aliens over there, they had best
keep the hell out of my way.
KENT exits. He walks down the hallway, with decidedly more spring in his
step.
NINIANE (O.S.)
FLAT Running away?
KENT pauses, and turns to look back the way he came. NINIANE is a tall
woman (late twenties?) with very light (almost white) blonde hair to her
waist and deep blue eyes. Her expression is hard and unfriendly. She
wears a white shawl over a grey sweater, a tan skirt that extends to her
ankles, and red shoes. Her face is noticeably barren of makeup and
jewelry.
KENT
I don't see why taking a vacation is
considering running away.
NINIANE
You are once more trying to avoid
your destiny --
KENT
-- which you refuse to tell me
anything about, Niniane.
NINIANE
Why should I explain that which you
seek so avidly to avoid?
KENT
Got me there.
He starts walking away.
NINIANE
I did a divination about you.
KENT pauses.
KENT
And?
NINIANE
Do you want to know the results?
KENT
I can tell that you're just burning
to tell me, so yes.
NINIANE
"Three will go in. Two will come
out."
KENT turns to look at her.
KENT
I see. BEAT You realize, of
course, that this is one of those
prophecies that is doomed to be
remembered only after it's too
late to do anything about it?
NINIANE
Yes. But I felt obligated to
report it all the same, even if you
will ignore it.
KENT
Ah yes. BEAT Doubtless it's your
destiny to report useless prophecies
to those who won't listen -- in
which case, of course, you mustn't
run from it. After all CLAPS it's
fate.
KENT turns and walks down the corridor, turning a corner as he does.
NINIANE follows him with an impassive expression.
NINIANE
I daresay he thinks he won that
little exchange. How cute.
NINIANE turns and walks down the corridor to the kitchenette. A young
woman (PATRICIA DELAFONTAINE, late teens?) steps out of one of the other
rooms (which we can distantly see is a bathroom). She has short
red-auburn hair and amber eyes, and is wearing a short bathrobe over
pyjamas. She nervously looks down the corridor the way KENT went.
PATRICIA
Running away?
She starts down the corridor after him.
KENT, now dressed in casual clothes -- a black vest over a white shirt and
blue jeans -- and carrying a suitcase in one hand and a brown leather
jacket slung over his shoulder, walks up a staircase. PATRICIA appears at
the bottom.
PATRICIA
Kent?
A look of annoyance mixed with something else -- longing, perhaps? --
crosses KENT's face. He doesn't stop. PATRICIA continues to follow him.
PATRICIA
Kent, I need to talk to you.
KENT
So talk.
PATRICIA
Look, I know that you're upset about
my practice scores, but --
KENT
Then you know more than I do.
PATRICIA pauses.
PATRICIA
You're not upset about my practice
scores?
KENT
I didn't say that.
PATRICIA
Then --
KENT
Right now, Patricia, I don't *care*
about your practice scores. I am on
vacation.
They arrive at the top of the staircase, and KENT taps in a security code
at the door. It opens into a huge parking garage/hangar bay -- filled
with various high tech vehicles: cars that look like they belong in a
science fiction movie, black helicopters, a flying saucer (a closer look
will reveal it to be the Avro Arrow), vehicles from Supermarionation shows
G.I. Joe gear; and not far away, a Chrysler Cordoba. A young man (perhaps
13) with purply-black hair and a bored expression is dusting the
windshield. He looks up as KENT and PATRICIA approach.
PATRICIA
Vacation? Where are you going?
KENT
Japan. I'll be back in a few days.
He takes a look at the Cordoba.
KENT
Looks good, Mr. Stengovitch.
STENGOVITCH
Thank you sir.
KENT pops open the trunk, and goes to slide his suitcase in.
PATRICIA
Um, so you'll be back in a week?
KENT
That *is* what I said.
PATRICIA
Right. Uh, there's something we
need to talk about.
KENT
Go ahead. Talk.
KENT closes the trunk.
PATRICIA
Well, it's kind of hard to talk
abo-- uh, to you when you won't
stand still.
KENT comes to a dead stop and turns to look at PATRICIA with an incurious
expression.
KENT
I'm waiting.
PATRICIA
Uh ... well ... we haven't had a lot
of time to talk about what happened
on --
KENT
I should not have had sex with you
whem we were on Dr. Michel Andro's
island headquarters three weeks ago.
STENGOVITCH stops pretending to pack up his vehicle cleaning kit while
eavesdropping on their conversation and just plain listens in. PATRICIA
blinks, a shocked expression on her face.
PATRICIA
... had ... sex?
KENT
That is what you were trying to
avoid talking about directly, is it
not?
PATRICIA
Uh. Well. I ... wouldn't have put
like ... that. I would have said
when we ...
KENT
Boinked?
PATRICIA is blushing ferociously.
PATRICIA
Um, no ...
KENT
Screwed? BEAT F--
PATRICIA
Made love!
KENT's face is expressionless as he tosses his jacket in the car.
KENT
We didn't do that.
PATRICIA
Kent, I really want to talk about
our relationship, but you're --
KENT
Our relationship is extraordinarily
simple. I am the Commanding Officer
of the Planetary Defense Force; you
are one of my agents. The fact that
we have had sexual intercourse
complicates matters. I am doing my
best to pretend it never happened; I
suggest that you do the same.
KENT slides into the car's driver seat.
PATRICIA
I can't pretend it never happened!
I *wanted* --
KENT turns to look at her with an annoyed, disdainful expression.
KENT
Don't be ridiculous. You aren't in
love with me, and I'm certainly not
in love with you. So just give up
on those silly, pointless romantic
dreams you've been having about me
since you got here; they aren't
going to happen. Stop being such a
child, for God's sake.
PATRICIA reacts as if she's been slapped a few dozen times. KENT stares
up at her with a disgusted look on his face, then slams the car door shut,
and starts the engine. He drives towards an upward leading ramp as
PATRICIA stands at watches, her mouth half open. As he disappears out of
sight, she appears to find her voice.
PATRICIA
OH YEAH?! OH YEAH?! KENT, YOU ...
... YOU ... BIG MEANIE!
PATRICIA abruptly notices that STENGOVITCH is staring up at her with a
fascinated expression, and realizes that she's still in her pyjamas. She
flushes.
PATRICIA
So I don't have a snappy comeback.
Sue me.
She marches off towards the exit. STENGOVITCH smiles, and keeps packing
his gear.
We see KENT driving up a steep inclined tunnel, a look of intense
self-loathing on his face. He presses a button on the dashboard.
We see a flat, deserted landscape, late at night. A section of the ground
pulls away to reveal the end of the tunnel, just as the Cordoba emerges
from the darkness. The Cordoba drives onto a public right of way, and
heads down the road. It approaches a chain fence with a single gate,
patroled on both sides by armed security guards, one of whom waves it to a
stop. KENT slows down to a crawl, holding up to the window an unusual
badge whose principal element is a pyramid with an eye at the top. The
security guard blanches, almost saluting, and waves KENT through the gate.
KENT drives past a sign which reads
WARNING
RESTRICTED AREA
USE OF DEADLY FORCE
IS AUTHORIZED
KENT drives.
AKANE (V.O.)
It's strange to think about Kent
Masefield, because in a way I feel
that I know him as well as I know
myself, but in another way I realize
that I never knew him at all, and
that I never will. BEAT He drove
all night through the desert of
Nevada, until he came at last to
Las Vegas. Making arrangements for
his trip to Japan took a few hours,
but he was finally booked for a
flight that would arrive in Tokyo
International around eleven A.M.
When the rising sun finally dawned
over Japan, he was on his way.
BEAT That morning, I was getting
packed to head home for a brief
visit with my family. I was looking
forward to seeing my sisters and ...
well, I wanted to see Ranma again,
too. BEAT But the way that I
started my day was fairly boring.
Cut to a shot of KASUGA KYOUSUKE brushing his teeth while looking in the
mirror. He bends down and (out of shot) spits out the toothpaste.
In the bedroom of their hotel room, AYUKAWA MADOKA is buttoning up her
shirt and looking at herself in the mirror.
MADOKA
So what was the dream about, anyway?
KYOUSUKE starts to shave with an electric razor.
KYOUSUKE
Well, I'm never really know what my
dreams are about until after they've
come true ... and every time I make
a guess, I wind up getting egg all
over my face ... like that time I
saw you acting submissive in a bunny
suit.
MADOKA pauses as she brushes some lint off her short skirt. She directs
an *extremely* unpleasant look towards the open washroom door. KYOUSUKE
comes out of the door, still shaving, and stares at her uncomprehendingly.
KYOUSUKE
Is something wr--
He pauses, and the hand that moves the razor is momentarily stilled.
KYOUSUKE
I never told you about that, did I?
MADOKA
FLAT Good guess.
KYOUSUKE
I intended to. Really I did. I had
this marvellous image in my head of
us laughing our heads off over it.
BEAT Of course, we were both into
our twilight years in my image --
MADOKA's lips turn up in a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.
MADOKA
FLAT Cute. SIGH Now, what did
you see in your dream, *this* time?
KYOUSUKE relaxes.
KYOUSUKE
I saw a little man dancing around
on a hill. He reminded me of that
one character on that show -- uh,
"Many Mountains"?
MADOKA
Twin Peaks?
KYOUSUKE
SHRUG And then I heard a great
booming female voice say "Three will
go in, two will come out."
MADOKA
INTERESTED Did it sound like my
voice?
KYOUSUKE
Nooo ... not like any woman that
I've ever met. BEAT But then
the darkness above the dancing
man grew very dark, and a great
male voice cried out.
KYOUSUKE is silent.
MADOKA
Cried out what?
KYOUSUKE
"Get your butt down here or you and
your family are on CNN."
MADOKA
CNN?
KYOUSUKE
I just have them, I don't make them
up.
MADOKA looks dubious.
Cut to a shot of the Masaki household, looking peaceful. There is a
sudden crashing noise from the kitchen.
Cut to a shot of SASAMI sitting on the floor of the kitchen, quietly
crying into her hands, as she sits in front of a pile of shattered
dishes. TENCHI enters the kitchen at a run, and blinks in shock at what
he sees.
TENCHI
Sasami-chan?!?
SASAMI looks up with a humiliated and exhausted expression.
SASAMI
I'm sorry, Tenchi-niichan. I broke
the dishes.
TENCHI bends down to speak to her eye to eye, a gentle, worried expression
on his face.
TENCHI
Hey, it's all right. It was an
accident, right? It's not your
fault.
SASAMI nods, not looking directly at TENCHI.
TENCHI
Sasami-chan, is something wrong?
You've been looking awfully tired
recently.
SASAMI
Well ...
AYEKA comes into the kitchen, looking curious. She's startled to see
SASAMI on the floor.
AYEKA
Sasami-chan? What happened?
SASAMI doesn't look at her older sister.
SASAMI
Oneechan, I ... I broke all of
Nobuyuki-ojichan's dishes ...
TENCHI
Sasami-chan, it's not that bad,
we've still got plenty of other
dishes.
AYEKA
Were you hurt?
SASAMI shakes her head.
TENCHI
I'll clean this up, Sasami-chan,
you go take a rest.
SASAMI
But I made the mess, and --
TENCHI
It's okay! It's not such a big
mess.
SASAMI nods sadly, and gets up. She walks to the door, followed closely
by AYEKA, who pauses to look over her shoulder as TENCHI starts to pick up
the pieces of the dishes. He notices.
TENCHI
Ayeka-san, could you look after
Sasami-chan? She seems a little
tired today ...
AYEKA
Certainly, Tenchi-sama.
He smiles at her, and goes back to work. AYEKA spends a few more seconds
looking longingly at him, then turns to follow SASAMI into the living
room.
In the living room, SASAMI has plopped down on the couch, looking
depressed. Above, RYOUKO has curled up in her usual spot to take a
catnap. AYEKA comes into the room with a serious expression.
AYEKA
All right, Sasami, what happened?
SASAMI
Oneechan, I --
AYEKA
I've seen you carry larger loads of
dishes than that without trouble.
But you look terribly exhausted.
Tenchi said --
RYOUKO's right eye pops open. SASAMI looks shocked.
SASAMI
Oh no! I ... Oneechan, promise!
AYEKA
Promise what?
SASAMI
I don't want to worry Tenchi-niichan
with my problems ... promise me that
you won't tell him about them!
AYEKA
Well ...
SASAMI
Promise!
AYEKA
All right, I promise that I won't
tell him ...
SASAMI holds up the little finger of her right hand.
SASAMI
Pinky swear!
AYEKA stares at her, baffled.
AYEKA
Whaaat?
SASAMI
I read about this in Nobuyuki-
ojichan's manga -- people who swear
an oath by linking their pinkies
have to keep it, or else.
AYEKA
Or else what?
SASAMI
The one who didn't break the oath
can stick red hot needles in the
oathbreaker's eyes.
AYEKA
APPALLED Sasami!
SASAMI lowers her hand.
SASAMI
All right. BEAT I've been having
trouble sleeping.
AYEKA
Why?
SASAMI
Well ... I've been reading one of
Noboyuki-ojichan's manga.
AYEKA
The one with the red hot needles?
SASAMI
Oh, no. That's a nice one. BEAT
This is one about these two secret
agents who go around finding out
monsters. It's kind of ... creepy.
AYEKA
What is this manga?
SASAMI
It's called, "The X-Files". And ...
well, I've been ... having night-
mares about it ... I wake up in the
middle of the night, and I'm too
scared to go back to sleep.
AYEKA
COMPASSIONATELY Oh, Sasami ... why
didn't you wake me up? I would have
helped you ...
SASAMI
EMBARRASSED Well, you were kind of
... um ... you always sounded like
you were having *really* nice dreams
about --
AYEKA colours. Above, RYOUKO controls her amusement with effort, grinning
evilly.
AYEKA
I see. Well, Sasami, you should
still have woken me up ... and after
all, I never remember my dreams if
I don't wake up in the middle of
them. So, if you had woken me up,
I would have been able to comfort
you, and you would have helped me
have a wonderful memory.
SASAMI
Really?
AYEKA
Yes. Now, why don't you go get this
manga that's been causing you night-
mares? I want to have a look at it.
SASAMI
Okay!
SASAMI hops off the couch, seeming a little more invigorated. AYEKA
watches her dash away with a small, quiet smile.
AYEKA
FLAT Well?
RYOUKO abruptly materializes just behind her.
RYOUKO
So how long did you know I was here?
AYEKA
Long enough. BEAT You realize,
of course, that she extracted no
promise from you to not tell Tenchi
about her problems?
RYOUKO blinks, and then a slow, ironic smile crosses her features.
RYOUKO
Verrrry sly, brat princess.
AYEKA
I'm learning from you, withered
mummy.
They pause, turn to look at one another, and smile large, insincere smiles
that don't even begin to reach their eyes. Then revert to normal.
AYEKA
Only if this doesn't get better in
the next few days.
RYOUKO
Sure. BEAT Believe me or don't,
Ayeka, but I do like your little
sister, and I don't want to see her
in pain like that.
AYEKA
I don't, of course.
RYOUKO
Of course. BEAT So, what *are*
YOUR dreams about MY Tenchi like?
AYEKA is visibly shocked.
AYEKA
You *must* be joking.
RYOUKO
You owe me one --
AYEKA
Even if I were to *lie* to my little
sister when I said that I couldn't
remember my dreams, do you seriously
imagine that I would under any
circumstances confide their content
to you, you ... you ... BANE OF MY
EXISTANCE?
RYOUKO is silent for a moment.
RYOUKO
I'll tell you about mine.
AYEKA
LEAVE!
RYOUKO gives AYEKA the hairy eyeball, and dematerializes. AYEKA looks up
to check her usual perch, and sighs in relief that RYOUKO's not there.
SASAMI comes into the room, holding the manga tankoubon in her hands.
SASAMI
Here it is, oneechan. This isn't
one of the really scary ones ...
AYEKA takes the tankoubon, and begins to leaf through it. She pauses.
AYEKA
Aha. I think I know why you like
reading this, Sasami-chan.
SASAMI blushes, and giggles.
AYEKA
He *is* a very handsome hero. BEAT
Hum ... "alien abduction". Oh, how
silly. We have this system under
a complete quarantine.
SASAMI
Then it's just made up? The text at
the back says that people say these
things really happened to them.
AYEKA begins to flip to the back of the tankoubon.
AYEKA
Well then they are *lying*, Sasami-
chan. There are no civilized races
in this part of the galaxy who would
do such things, and --
AYEKA stops abruptly as she looks down at the tankoubon. Everything is
very still for a moment. Then the tankoubon slips out of her fingers.
SASAMI
SHOCKED Oneechan!
AYEKA turns to look at SASAMI with a calm expression.
AYEKA
UNRUFFLED Yes?
SASAMI
Uh ... a-are you all right?
AYEKA
Perfectly fine. SERIOUS Sasami-
chan, I don't think you should
read anymore of this manga, if it's
giving you nightmares.
SASAMI
But --
AYEKA
No buts. Mother Funaho and our
Mother would be *furious* with me if
they knew that I was letting you
read things which caused you to have
nightmares. RISES UP; PICKS UP THE
MANGA Now, I think you should rest
for the rest of the day, like Tenchi
asked you to.
AYEKA heads off.
SASAMI
But ... I'm supposed to do the
shopping today, with Mihoshi.
AYEKA's face goes horribly panic-stricken, and then calms down as she
turns to look at SASAMI.
AYEKA
I'll do it. I have some things I
want to do in town today anyway.
SASAMI
Really?
AYEKA nods, and turns to go away, with a look of mortal terror on her
face. She walks into the foyer of the house just as NOBOYUKI is coming
down the stairs.
NOBOYUKI
Ah, Ayeka-san, come to see me off
to work? How kind and --
AYEKA
Ahem. Ojisan, I was hoping that you
could tell me about this manga.
She hands him the tankoubon. He peers at it.
NOBOYUKI
Ah, yes ... this is the one that's
based on that American TV show ...
very popular. BEAT Oh, this is
the one with the text piece about
the aliens ...
NOBOYUKI suddenly blinks, and realizes exactly to whom he is speaking.
AYEKA gazes at him wordlessly.
NOBOYUKI
But of course, real aliens are
nothing like that ...
AYEKA
I was wondering, ojisan, do you have
any of the other tankoubon in this
series?
NOBOYUKI
CONSIDERS, SHAKES HEADNo, the
store in town doesn't carry this
publisher. I bought it the last
time I was in Tokyo. I didn't
really like it, so --
AYEKA
STARTLED Tokyo? Oh dear.
NOBOYUKI
Uh, is something --
AYEKA
Oh no. No, but ojisan, Sasami found
this manga, and the things she saw
in it caused her to have nightmares.
When you get back from work this
evening, could you do something to
... um, *organize* your collection
so that anything that a ... tender
impressionable young girl might not
be ready for is out of the way?
NOBOYUKI immediately strikes a dramatic pose.
NOBOYUKI
Never fear, Ayeka-san ... I shall
strive with every breath in my body
to guard the fragile and delicate
dreams of your dear, sweet, cute
little sister. So swears Masaki
Noboyuki!
AYEKA has her hands clasped together.
AYEKA
BREATHILY Ojisan!
NOBOYUKI drops the pose.
NOBOYUKI
Well, I'm off.
He heads out the door. AYEKA, still holding her hands clasped together,
visibly gags.
We watch, from high above, as NOBOYUKI walks down the path leading to the
gates of the Masaki shrine.
AKANE (V.O.)
From the descriptions of him that
I've been given, Tenchi's father
seems a lot like my own -- they
both like to project the image that
they've been dropped into a strange
and unfathomable situation, but the
truth of the matter is that they're
enjoying every second of it. BEAT
But in any event, my story now turns
to someone who reminds me of me.
Cut to a shot of a pair of feet in red high-heels, one of which is tapping
impatiently against a floor. Between the legs, beyond a ventilator, we
can see the tarmack of an airport.
AKANE (V.O.)
In fact, when I first met her, I
wondered if that was what I'd look
like if I kept my hair long ...
We see RAYE HINO turn to look over her shoulder, her face locked in a
frown. She is dressed in a red jacket over a pale pink shirt, and tight
black pants.
RAYE
It's bad enough he's coming at all,
can't he be on *time*?
Our view changes to show MINAKO AINO (jean jacket, yellow blouse, denim
skirt) and LITA KINO (white overalls over a green blouse) standing a few
steps behind RAYE.
MINAKO
Raye, don't you think you're being
just a little too concerned?
RAYE
No. I don't think I'm being
"concerned" enough. BEAT I can't
believe that you invited him to come
*visit* ...
LITA
Well, he did kind of take me and
Mina in out of the kindness of his
heart --
RAYE
Ha!
LITA
-- when we went to Canada a couple
months ago. Don't you think we
ought to return the favor?
RAYE
Oh, yes, what a brilliant idea.
Having escaped his snares --
MINAKO
He was never even *around*.
RAYE
-- let's invite the monster to come
try again on our home ground. God.
MINAKO and LITA lower their heads in an exasperated sigh. MINA lifts her
head first.
MINAKO
Raye ... what is *with* you?
RAYE
Gee, one of my friends is dating a
vampire --
MINAKO
SCHOOLTEACHER VampYre. And it's
not really *dating* -- we've talked
on the phone a few times ... he's a
*really* NICE guy, Raye, if you'd
just give him half a chance --
RAYE
He'll use whatever hypnosis trick
he's used on you to bend me to his
will.
MINA
GROWL Raye ...!
LITA
Raye, come on. So you sensed evil
from Aethan when you met him three
years ago ... he's probably done
a lot of things he's not proud of
in his life, and he's lived an
awful long time.
RAYE
Correction: I didn't *just* sense
evil from him, I sensed *incredible*
amounts of it!
MINA
Fourteen *hundred* years, Raye.
Don't judge a man until you've
hatched!
LITA
WINCES That's "until you've
walked a mile in his shoes", Mina.
MINA
Yeah! That too!
RAYE
What I don't get is why *you're*
standing up for him, Lita. You've
never met him, and --
LITA
But I *have* spoken to him on the
phone. He seemed like a nice,
friendly guy, Raye, and --
RAYE
SARCASM He reminded you of your
old boyfriend?
LITA's face goes very still, and very cold. She turns abruptly, and walks
away from where RAYE and MINA are standing.
MINA
ANGRY Way to go, Raye. Are you so
pissed off about Aethan coming to
visit that you forgot that the
reason we went to Canada in the
*first* place was for Lita to be
with her sempai as he died? SHOUTS
LITA!
She dashes off in the direction that LITA went. From RAYE's stricken
expression, she clearly *did* forget that.
RAYE
Dammit.
Behind RAYE, outside the window, we see a plane descending to land.
Cut to the inside of WASHUU's workshop. She is busily typing on her
terminal.
We see a close up of the plane. KENT is in one of the window seats,
looking out.
We see WASHUU typing.
The plane lowers its landing gear.
WASHUU types.
The plane lands.
WASHUU jerks at her seat, standing stock still for a moment.
WASHUU
No. Not here. Not this country.
DESPAIRING Not this *planet* ...
Not while *I'm* here ...
She taps out a certain code on her keyboard. A holographic sign with the
word "SEALED" on it appears.
Cut to the outside of WASHUU's laboratory in the Masaki household. AYEKA
approaches the distinctively crab-marked door ... just as it vanishes.
AYEKA blinks, and taps the wall where the door used to be. Nothing.
AYEKA slowly turns and walks around to the staircase, looking very
uncertain.
Cut to the exterior of the Masaki home. MIHOSHI, dressed in casual
clothes, walks towards the van parked in the driveway, followed closely by
SASAMI.
SASAMI
Mihoshi-neechan, please make sure
that my sister doesn't get into
trouble in town?
MIHOSHI
Of course, Sasami! As a Galaxy
Police Inspector, I must defend and
support the innocent whenever --
SASAMI holds up her small hands.
SASAMI
But ... try and stay out of trouble
yourself, too, okay? I don't think
oneechan would like being involved
in a high speed chase like the last
time we went for groceries.
MIHOSHI
B-but Sasami -- I'm a Galaxy Police
Inspector ... I *have* to --
SASAMI
I know, I know ... but ... THINKS
FAST ... isn't there something in
the Galactic Legal Code about how
Inspectors are supposed to make a
formal offer of assistance to local
authorities before you start helping
out?
MIHOSHI
EYES WIDE Uh ... well ... I'll
have to check. BEAT But ...
Sasami, if I make a formal offer of
assistance to the police in town,
won't that break the quarantine?
SASAMI
SHOCKED You're right, Mihoshi! Oh
dear! Do you realize what this
means?
MIHOSHI
Yes! BEAT I'll have to ask
Tenchi for permission before I make
the offer.
SASAMI lowers her head and lets out a deep sigh.
Inside the house, TENCHI is heading for the front door. He opens it to
see SASAMI standing beside the van, while MIHOSHI is in the driver's seat.
SASAMI
CALL Tenchi-niichan! Have you
seen oneechan?
TENCHI
CALL No ... shouldn't ...
He hears the sound of someone coming down the stairs behind him. TENCHI
turns to look over his shoulder ... and boggles. He turns completely
around.
AYEKA is wearing a black school uniform (if perchance the viewer has seen
Tenchi Muyo: In Love, the viewer will recognize the style at once as that
worn by Tenchi's mother, Achika) as she descends the stairs. She smiles
demurely at TENCHI, who is beyond shocked.
TENCHI
A-a-a-yeka-san ...
AYEKA
I hope that you don't mind my
borrowing one of your mother's old
school uniforms, Tenchi-sama ... I
know how precious her things are to
you ...
TENCHI
Uh. Uh. Uh, w-why?
AYEKA
Well, my usual kimono is all right
for here -- even if any guests of
your father or grandfather should
come, I can explain it as the
vestments of a shrine maiden for
this shrine ... but if I'm going
into town, it's hardly appropriate,
is it? BEAT Achika-sama and I
were almost the same size ...
TENCHI
BLURT It looks very good on you,
Ayeka-san!
AYEKA blushes. There is the sound of a honking horn.
MIHOSHI (O.S.)
Ayeka-saaaan!
AYEKA
COUGHS Well, I must be off.
She starts towards the door. TENCHI follows her with his eyes, and just
as she crosses the threshold, he visibly gathers his courage.
TENCHI
Ayeka-san.
AYEKA turns with a hopeful look on her face.
AYEKA
Yes, Tenchi-sama?
TENCHI
DEEP BREATH Please try very hard
to not damage my mother's dress.
AYEKA's face collapses for a moment, and then she smile strainedly.
AYEKA
I will try ...
And then she walks out the door. TENCHI continues to follow her with his
eyes. RYOUKO materializes behind him, her face twisted into a mask of
jealousy and anger. Her teeth are clenched, and her fangs prominent.
TENCHI sighs, and turns in the direction where she happens to be standing.
TENCHI
YAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
Outside, AYEKA sits in the passenger seat of the van, and smiles politely
at MIHOSHI. MIHOSHI smiles back sunnily. They sit still for several
moments.
AYEKA
Mihoshi? Shall we go?
MIHOSHI
Uh-huh! BEAT As soon as you do up
your seatbelt.
AYEKA blinks, and then nods.
AYEKA
Yes. Yes, of course.
She clumsily gets the seatbelt to work, encountering a fair amount of
difficulty as she does so. Finally, she is all buckled up, and MIHOSHI
starts the engine.
Outside the car, SASAMI waves at her older sister, who waves back. The
car takes off with a jump forward, driving off the screen. There is a
brief squeal of brakes, and then the van begins to back up. AYEKA is
wearing a look of utter terror.
MIHOSHI
Sorry, sorry! I *always* forget to
put it in reverse, sorry!
>From high above, we see the van eventually get turned around and start
heading for the open road.
AKANE (V.O.)
By the eleventh hour on that first
day, things had begun to start
moving ... which brings us back to
the beginning ...
In the airport, we see KENT approach a bank of phones, carrying his
luggage in his left hand and wearing the jacket. He picks up the phone,
inserts a phone card, and dials a number.
Cut to the Tendou Dojo, where SOUUN is watching RANMA teach the class. In
the distance, the phone rings. SOUUN looks up as he hears the noise. He
starts to count on his fingers. He starts out with seven, drops two
immediately, slowly lowers two others, and then stares at the three
fingers he has left. He looks at RANMA, looks down at his hand again ...
and then a look of great realization crosses his face.
SOUUN
Ah! Kasumi has gone shopping!
SOUUN pushes himself to his feet, and starts to rush off out of the dojo.
We see the RANMA look over his shoulder and roll his eyes.
We see SOUUN arrive at the telephone, which has been ringing constantly
over this, place his hand over the reciever, cough into his fist, and pick
up the phone.
SOUUN
Moshi moshi. Tendou no dojou.
KENT (PHONE)
Tendou-san. I hope I find you well.
SOUUN seems startled to hear KENT's voice, and his mouth spreads in a
large smile as he does. He speaks in badly accented English.
SOUUN
Mister Masefield! It is a good day
indeed!
KENT (PHONE)
I am very glad to hear that. I'm
visiting Japan for a few weeks, and
I hope that I'll be able to stop by
for a visit.
Cut to the airport.
SOUUN (PHONE)
Visit? No, no! I insist that you
stay here!
KENT
Tendou-san, I couldn't impose on you
like --
SOUUN (PHONE)
Impose?! Never! It is the least
that I can do for an old student!
KENT
WEARY If I don't, you're going to
that demon head technique on me when
I visit, aren't you?
SOUUN (PHONE)
I am wounded! Wounded by your lack
of regard for my hospitality!
KENT holds the phone a ways away from his face as the sound of SOUUN
sobbing his heart out explodes forth from it. His face is that of a man
who has been through this several times before. After a few moments, the
sobbing dies down to a bearable level, and KENT brings the phone back to
his face.
KENT
Gomen nasai, Tendou-sensei. I will
be honored if you would permit me
to rest beneath your roof.
SOUUN (PHONE)
Ah, but I am honored even more by
your presence!
Cut to the Tendou home, where SOUUN is grinning like a maniac.
KENT (PHONE)
If you insist, Tendou-sensei.
SOUUN
When will you arrive?
KENT (PHONE)
Ano ... maybe an hour, if traffic
is as heavy as the last time I
was in Tokyo.
SOUUN
We shall all be waiting!
KENT (PHONE)
I am looking forward to seeing you
and Rumiko-san again ... until
then.
SOUUN
NODS Until th-- Ru--
Kent-san!
There is an audible click, and a beeping noise ensues. SOUUN looks
aghast.
SOUUN
Oh dear ...
KASUMI (who at 22 looks even more lovely than she did at 19) walks into
the kitchen, carrying a large bag of groceries which she begins to
unpack. SOUUN comes into the kitchen, looking by turns anxious and
exuberant.
SOUUN
Kasumi.
KASUMI
Yes, father?
SOUUN
Do you know where Nabiki is?
KASUMI
THINKS She told me that she would
be dealing with several of the local
businessmen today ... something to
do with tomorrow's tegasajutsu
tournament.
SOUUN
Did she tell you whether or not she
would come home for lunch?
KASUMI
No, she didn't ...
NABIKI is standing behind SOUUN. She looks tired, and is dressed in
fashionable clothes -- a pair of pants, a beige blouse, and a red tie.
NABIKI
But I decided to anyway.
SOUUN jumps, his fingers in the "shock" position.
SOUUN
Ah! Nabiki, please don't startle
your poor old father like that!
NABIKI
NOT SORRY Sorry.
SOUUN
I need to speak to the two of you,
and also to Ranma.
NABIKI
About ... ?
SOUUN grins in response. NABIKI stares blankly at him for a moment ...
then a look of raw panic suffuses her features.
NABIKI
Oh god. No. Don't tell me that you
agreed to marry one of your *other*
daughters to another one of your old
friends' sons and he just showed up
today ...
SOUUN
VERGE OF TEARS Nabiki! How can
you say such a thing?!
KASUMI comes over and consoles her father. NABIKI rolls her eyes. SOUUN
straightens.
SOUUN
No, no prospective fiancee has come
calling. But I would rather wait
until Ranma is done with the lesson.
RANMA strolls into the room, having changed out of his gi, taken a quick
bath, and changed into his usual red chinese shirt and black trousers.
RANMA
Well, I am.
SOUUN
Ah! Ranma --
RANMA
IGNORES HIM Pretty good class, I
think. Most of them are getting
something out of it.
SOUUN
Ranma --
RANMA
Only a couple are really good,
though.
SOUUN
Ranma --
RANMA
And I think that Yuusaku guy is
crazy.
SOUUN
Ranma!
RANMA
"I have to be the strongest man in
New York?" What's up with *that*?
SOUUN's head swells up to several times its normal size, his skin turns
green, and his tongue vibrates in the wake of his yell.
SOUUN
RANNNNMAAA!
RANMA looks up at the demon head with vague interest.
RANMA
Yo?
SOUUN reverts to normal, and just looks annoyed.
SOUUN
I need to speak to the three of you.
A moment later, KASUMI, NABIKI, and RANMA (in that order) are sitting on
the opposite side of the breakfast table from SOUUN.
SOUUN
Ahem. An old student of the Tendou
Ryuu of Musabetsu Kakutou is coming
to stay at the dojo for a week.
KASUMI
An old student of yours, father?
SOUUN
Yes, from America.
NABIKI
America? Wow.
RANMA
Just 'cause he's from America
doesn't mean he's great or nothing.
NABIKI and KASUMI slowly turn to stare at RANMA. Then they exchange a
look.
NABIKI
Scary, isn't it?
KASUMI
I think it's *sweet*.
RANMA
CONFUSED Huh?
NABIKI
Private joke, Ranma.
SOUUN
AHEM. This student's name is
Kenneth Masefield.
KASUMI
STARTLED Mr. Masefield?
SOUUN
PLEASED You remember him, Kasumi?
KASUMI
Oh yes! TO NABIKI AND RANMA He
lived here when I was four, and you
were only two years old, Nabiki.
I didn't know that he was one of
Father's students, but I suppose
it's not surprising -- he was so
kind, and gentle, and brave, and
handsome, and --
NABIKI
This explains *so* much ...
SOUUN
Yes, he was a good friend to both
me and to ... TRAILS OFF, HEAD
BOWED
RANMA starts to roll his eyes in disgust. SOUUN looks up, holding back
the tears.
SOUUN
... to my beloved wife and our
children.
RANMA is visibly startled.
SOUUN
And that is why I have gathered you
here. After Mr. Masefield left the
dojo, I lost track of him, and so he
does not yet know of ... our loss.
I believe that he will be shaken by
this event, and not wish to intrude
on our grief. But he has been too
good a friend to the Tendou family
-- of which you *will* one day be a
part, Ranma --
RANMA looks as though he is going to momentarily protest, but finally
settles down.
SOUUN
-- to let him go elsewhere for
lodging. So, I would ask the three
of you to spare no effort to make
him feel welcome in our home.
RANMA
SARCASTIC Excuse me, honored
father, but this *isn't* my home ...
so what --
SOUUN
Ranma, I ask only that you make him
feel welcome in the dojo. If he
should wish to spar, you should spar
with him. EVIL GRIN I think that
you will find the experience to be
one of great interest to one of your
skills.
RANMA
NOT SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF THAT Uh,
right. So when does he get here?
SOUUN
Very shortly ...
Cut to the airport waiting lounge. RAYE has been joined again by MINA,
LITA (who is standing as far from RAYE as she can), AMY (wearing a blue
jacket over a white shirt and blue skirt), DARIEN (wearing his trademark
green jacket, black shirt, and grey trousers) and SERENA (wearing her
black and white high school uniform).
RAYE
So when does he get here?
MINA
Very shortly ... I saw that his
plane had just arrived.
SERENA
Do I have time to get another ice
cream?
DARIEN looks embarrassed, while RAYE glowers at her.
RAYE
Sure. Fatten yourself up for the
monster --
SERENA
RAAAAYE! Why are you being so mean
to Mina's boyfriend?!
RAYE gets in SERENA's face.
RAYE
WHISPER Because her boyfriend is a
VAMPIRE, you *idiot*!
SERENA promptly sticks her tongue out at RAYE, who retaliates in the same
way, signalling the start of yet another one of RAYE and SERENA's tongue
wars. The others watch with an almost jaded attitude.
AMY
I asked Reenie once if they were
still doing that in Crystal Tokyo.
She told me that I didn't really
want to know the answer to that
question ...
MINA
In other words, yes?
AMY
She seemed to be implying that, yes.
LITA
Depressing thought ...
SERENA finally breaks off the war.
SERENA
Well, I don't care if he is a ...
one of those things. If Mina likes
him, that's good enough for me.
And it ought to be good enough for
*other* people, even perpetual
grouchin' machines.
RAYE snorts and looks away.
SERENA
And now, I feel proud of myself for
having stood up for my friend's
boyfriend, so I shall reward myself.
BEAT A nice hot fudge sundae will
do nicely.
She dashes off, not watching where she's going -- and slams into AETHAN
DEGALES, who is wearing his usual gray trenchcoat. They are both knocked
down. AETHAN recovers first.
AETHAN
Ms. Tsukino. We *must* stop meeting
like this ...
MINA rushes over to help AETHAN to his feet, while DARIEN does the same
for SERENA, and the others gather around. RAYE stares hostilely at AETHAN
as MINA gives him a big hug.
MINA
You're here! You're really here!
AETHAN
Well, yes. BEAT Did you think I
would be elsewhere?
MINA
GRINS WRYLY Smart ass.
AETHAN
Ladies ... and gentle*man*. Most of
you I know by reputation, at least.
TO LITA Ms. Kino and I *almost*
met in Vancouver ...
LITA
And I'm sorry we didn't. That would
really have made that trip more
interesting.
AETHAN
SYMPATHETIC Yes ... um, my much
belated condolences, by the way.
LITA
SAD SMILE Thanks.
AETHAN
TO AMY And you are Ms. Mizuno, if
I'm not mistaken.
AMY
Correct. I'm glad to make your
aquaintance, Mr. DeGales.
AETHAN
Ms. Tsukino and I met briefly the
last time I visited Japan --
RAYE
SHOCKED What?
AETHAN
She was shopping with Minako-chan
and they ran into me. BEAT Well,
*she* did ...
SERENA
Okay, okay, okay, no need to drag
things like that up ...
AETHAN
And you are ... Ms. Hino, correct.
RAYE
SHORT Yes.
AETHAN stares at RAYE with a confused expression, which she returns as an
almost angry glare.
AETHAN
SHRUGS Very nice to meet you.
RAYE
HEAVY SARCASM Likewise, I'm sure.
AETHAN blinks before turning to look at DARIEN who is standing behind
SERENA.
AETHAN
HESITANT And ... you ... you are
... um ...
DARIEN
I'm Darien Chiba.
AETHAN
Ah yes! Cape Boy!
DARIEN flinches, MINA blushes heavily, while everyone else stares.
AETHAN
CONFUSED What? BEAT Mina, when
you said that you all called him
that --
MINA
*Kind* of a joke ...
AETHAN
Oh. Uh ... my apologies ...
DARIEN
Never mind, no big deal. BEAT Um,
I take it that you *know* ...
AETHAN
Yes. BEAT; GLOBAL You need not
worry, however; I've much practice
in keeping secrets. Yours are
safe with me.
LITA
Of course they are! We trust you,
*don't* *we*, *Raye*?
RAYE is idly fiddling with one of her ofuda behind her back.
RAYE
FLAT Sure.
Cut to the parking lot of a supermarket, as AYEKA and MIHOSHI walk out,
carrying large bags of groceries as they walk to the van.
AYEKA
Are you sure that we got everything,
Mihoshi?
MIHOSHI
Yep! I wish we hadn't forgotten the
list, but I'm pretty sure that I
remember everything that was on it.
They put the groceries in the back of the van, and MIHOSHI hops into the
driver's seat. AYEKA appears to be thinking very intently as she walks
around to the passenger's side. Just as MIHOSHI starts the van --
AYEKA
Mihoshi! I just remembered!
MIHOSHI
Huh? What?
AYEKA
FAST Sasami told me to pick up
something that she had forgotten to
put on the list that she gave you.
MIHOSHI
She did? What was it?
AYEKA
STUMPED Uh ... well ... INSPIRED
Haggis!
MIHOSHI
Oh, wow! I've never even heard of
that ... is it any good?
AYEKA
Well, I've never had it either ...
and we won't unless I go get it!
MIHOSHI
I can --
AYEKA
No, no, Mihoshi, I should have
remembered, so I'll go get it. You
just stay right here until I come
back.
AYEKA smiles sunnily at MIHOSHI, who smiles right back. Then AYEKA hops
out of the car, and heads off towards the market.
MIHOSHI
Gee ... she's so nice to help me out
like this.
MIHOSHI does not notice AYEKA stealthily heading out of the market almost
immediately after she went in.
We cut to the ticket window of a train station, and watch as AYEKA buys a
ticket for Tokyo, and boards the train a few moments later. She watches
the country side flit past as she sits in her seat, a nervous expression
on her face.
AKANE (V.O.)
I can only imagine what that train
ride -- the first that she'd ever
taken, according to her -- was like
for Princess Ayeka. BEAT By this
point, I was almost finished packing
my luggage for my own trip home.
I still had no idea what was going
on there -- for some reason, my
father completely forgot that I
would be coming back the next day,
and so hadn't called me to tell me
about our guest.
A taxi cab pulls up to the gates of the Tendou home, and KENT steps out,
his suitcase in his hand. He approaches the gates, and ****. The door
flies open, and SOUUN stands there, beaming, with tears flowing down his
face.
SOUUN
AH! KENT MASEFIELD HAS AT LAST
RETURNED TO MY HUMBLE DOJO!
KENT doesn't even blink at SOUUN's rampant overemotionalism. He bows,
politely.
KENT
Konbonwa, sensei. You are well, I
hope.
SOUUN
Indeed, yes! Come in, come in!
KENT follows SOUUN into the house, admiring the garden.
KENT
Nothing's changed ...
SOUUN
NERVOUS I wouldn't say that.
KENT
Well, everything looks more or less
as I remember it --
Off to the side, there is a sudden splash.
KENT
What was that?
RANMA (now female and drenched) and NABIKI come around the side of the
house.
RANMA
IRRITATED I can't believe you
*did* that!
NABIKI
Your fiancee paid for quite a few
dunkings. Just business, nothing
personal.
KENT
Ah, this must be Nabiki.
SOUUN nods enthusiastically, while NABIKI is brought up short by the
comment. RANMA snorts, unsurprised.
NABIKI
Uh ... Mr. Masefield?
KENT
Yes, Nabiki-san.
NABIKI
How ... how did you recognize me?
I mean, I was only two years old
when you were here ...
KENT
Yes ... the "terrible twos".
REMINISCENT Most children go
Go through a period where all they
say is "NO!" when anyone says
anything to them. You were going
through that stage when I was here.
BEAT Except all you said was,
"Pay me!"
NABIKI looks horrified. RANMA looks nonplussed.
NABIKI
WEAK That was an attempt at humour
... right?
KENT
Well, you did it a small number of
times.
NABIKI sighs with relief.
KENT
When I was present, at least.
NABIKI looks faintly ill. KENT turns to look at RANMA.
KENT
And ... you're ... Akane?
RANMA
SNORT OF LAUGHTER Uh ... no. No.
I'm Ranma, Akane's fiancee.
Dead silence descends on the area. SOUUN looks up at the sky in a
mournful manner. KENT turns slowly to look at him.
KENT
I had no idea you were so broad-
minded, Sensei.
NABIKI
SWEETLY Oh, Ranma-chan ...
RANMA remembers, and face faults.
KENT
Well, it's not that big a deal, if
your daughter is --
SOUUN
Nonono! You see, Ranma is cursed!
KASUMI (O.S.)
Just a moment.
KASUMI, wearing a *spotless* apron, her best slippers, and a small amount
of make-up (MUCH more than she usually wears) comes out of the house
carrying a kettle, which she promptly splashes on RANMA. The well-known
transformation takes place. KENT blinks.
KENT
Well, well ... very interesting.
KASUMI
Konbonwa, Masefield-san.
KENT turns his attention to KASUMI, and smiles politely.
KENT
Konbonwa, Kasumi-ch-- No, I should
call you "Kasumi-san", now.
KASUMI
RAPID No, no, if you would rather
call me Kasumi-chan, please do so,
for are you not our guest?
KENT
CONFUSED All right ... but then
you should call me by my personal
name as well.
KASUMI takes a deep breath.
KASUMI
K-k-k-k-kent.
RANMA and NABIKI are staring at this, slightly apalled.
RANMA
WHISPER She's acting like Tofu did
whenever she was around.
NABIKI
WHISPER Has he been released from
that sanitorium yet?
KENT turns back to SOUUN.
KENT
So, Sensei, where is --
SOUUN
BOISTEROUS Well, don't stand out
here in the garden, come in, come
in!
KASUMI takes another deep breath.
KASUMI
GENTLY REMONSTRATIVE Father.
SOUUN pauses in his attempts to push KENT into the house as he stares
confusedly over his shoulder at him. SOUUN coughs into his hand.
SOUUN
Masefield-san ... I must admit
something.
KENT
What?
SOUUN
My wife ... my dear, dear wife ...
Tears are flowing down SOUUN's face, and KENT looks at him in shock.
KENT
Sensei ... can it be that Rumiko-san
has ...
SOUNN nods once, and KASUMI and NABIKI solemnly bow their heads.
KENT
... has left you?
SOUUN nods again, while NABIKI looks up with the sick expression of one
who can see a train wreck about to happen.
KENT
I know that your arguments were at
times intense, but --
SOUUN looks up, horrified.
KENT
-- I never in my life dreamed that
Rumiko-san would *divorce* you,
or --
NABIKI and RANMA both lower their heads, making disgusted noises.
SOUUN
NO!!! Not that kind of leavetaking!
KENT suddenly understands.
KENT
She is ... oh, Sensei, forgive me!
Had I known, I --
SOUUN
NODS I regret that you did not
give us an address where you could
be reached, Kent-san ...
KENT
But ... Sensei, I did. BEAT I
remembered, on my last day in
Japan, that I hadn't given you a
way to stay in touch, so I tried
to reach you, but ... you were
out. So I got in touch with your
friend, Mr. Saotome, and gave him
a paper with my address on it,
and --
SOUUN
AGGGGH!
Cut to a brief shot of the Tokyo Zoo Panda Enclosure. A rather large
panda appears to sneeze.
Cut to RANMA leading KENT (who has hung up his jacket) into the dojo.
KENT looks around, with a fond expression on his face.
RANMA
So what do you do, anyway?
KENT
Hm?
RANMA
In America. What do you do?
KENT appears to give the question a great deal of thought.
KENT
I ... I work for the government.
RANMA
Doing what? BEAT No, wait, lemme
guess ... you could tell me but then
you'd hafta kill me.
KENT
SINCERE Yes. BEAT So you're
going to inherit this dojo?
RANMA
Yep. BEAT What do you practice?
KENT
Oh, a little bit of a lot of things.
A bit of kickboxing, some capoeira.
I got started learning Jun Fan Kung
Fu ...
RANMA
Jun Fan? THINKS Hey, wasn't that
the one that --
KENT
Yep. That's why I got interested in
"Anything Goes".
RANMA
Huh. BEAT Wanna spar?
KENT gives the question some thought, then shrugs.
KENT
All right. I'm a bit out of
practice, though.
RANMA assumes a ready stance. KENT slowly, and with the same movements as
in his dream, removes his glasses, setting them down on the floor
alongside the wall.
RANMA
SEMI-MOCKING You can see all right
without those, right?
KENT
VERY CALM Yes. Whenever you're
ready.
And the sparring match begins. Initially, RANMA is holding back quite a
bit, out of overconfidence -- after all, his opponent is older, has bad
sight, and has described himself as being out of practice. A few minutes
into the fight RANMA begins to re-assess the situation; KENT hasn't laid a
blow on him, but he hasn't been able to score a significant hit either.
RANMA frowns, and ups the intensity of his assault just a bit. KENT is
blocking or dodging everything RANMA throws at him. His style is a bit
less flamboyant than RANMA's usual means of fighting, but considering that
they're indoors, RANMA isn't doing most of his usual acrobatics.
Cut to the dining room, where SOUUN is listening with a pleased air to the
sounds of the fight in the distance. NABIKI is munching at an apple.
NABIKI
So this Kent guy is good?
SOUUN
Oh yes. Ranma will get quite an
education out of this. The boy
needs a lesson in humility.
NABIKI
He's that good? Seriously?
SOUUN
The best student I ever taught.
NABIKI
Huh. BEAT So, you think he
can win, even if Ranma pulls out
his special maneuvers? Like, say,
his ... what's it called again?
Hiryuu Shoten Ha?
SOUUN starts. The kiai noises from the dojo are getting even louder, as
if the fight is growing more and more intense ...
NABIKI
Be a shame if the dojo was blown up
as part of a lesson in humility.
SOUUN grows very pale, and stands.
RANMA (O.S.)
KACHUU TENSHIN AMURIGAKEN!
SOUUN starts running out of the room. NABIKI watches with vague interest.
NABIKI
BORED On the other hand, when you
think about the insurance we have on
that part of the house --
KENT (O.S.)
[SECOND HAND OF THE PHOENIX!!!]
NABIKI starts at the words shouted in Cantonese.
Cut back to the dojo. RANMA is performing the Tenshin Amaurigaken, and
staring in shock as KENT's hands move just as fast, blocking every punch.
RANMA finally disengages and steps back to start something else, and KENT
does a fairly spectacular jumping spin kick that comes within a milimeter
of RANMA's nose. RANMA jumps back, now *very* wary, his red battle aura
much in evidence. KENT's aura is also glowing, but less intensely. It is
gray.
Outside the doors to the Dojo, SOUUN arrives at a run.
RANMA (O.S.)
Okay. No more foolin' around.
MOUKO --
SOUUN flings open the door.
SOUUN
RANMAAAAA!
RANMA
TAKIBASHA!
The bolt of Ranma's ki leaps forth from his hands. KENT's eyes grow wide
in shock as it comes toward him. He holds out his hands ...
... and the "Roaring Lion Bullet" slams into those hands, forcing KENT's
elbows to bend under the pressure. His teeth clench, and sweat runs down
his forehead as he struggles to keep his arms steady against the force of
the shrinking ball of vital energy -- and slowly but surely loses the
struggle. The "Bullet" is no larger than a ping-pong ball when his arms
finally press into his chest, throwing him backwards into the wall of the
dojo. There is a loud crunch, and KENT slowly slides to the floor, his
head slumped.
RANMA has been watching this with an amazed expression. For a moment, he
and SOUUN stand in shock at what has just transpired.
Then KENT lifts his head, and makes a vague sigh/gasp of relief/pain. His
eyes are very blurry.
SOUUN
KENT!
KENT
DAZED Dit shomeone git the number
of dat freight drain?
SOUUN and RANMA both rush forward. KENT's eyes start to clear.
SOUUN
OUTRAGED RANMA! THAT WAS THE MOST
IRRESPONSIBLE --
KENT
Sensei?
SOUUN
-- FOOLISH ACT OF PETTY --
KENT
Tendou-san.
SOUUN is distracted from his harangue of RANMA.
KENT
I'm okay. I was a little out of it
for a while, but I'm okay now.
KENT slowly pushes himself to his feet, his slow and delicate movements
giving his words the lie -- he's obviously in some amount of pain.
KENT
That was probably the best work-out
I've had in ages ...
SOUUN
Are you sure you're all right?
KENT
WEARY Sensei, you *know* that I'm
a fast healer. I didn't break
anything, so I should be completely
fine in a few hours, assuming I get
some rest.
SOUUN
Very well. ABRUPTLY BURSTS INTO
TEARS Ah, Masefield-kun, the shame
I would have known had you perished
within my home, on the first day of
your visit to Japan, no less!
KENT gives RANMA a bemused look. RANMA looks back at KENT in shock.
Cut to the inside of the baths. RANMA is already seated in the tub,
casting occasional glances over his shoulder. The faint sound of
scrubbing can be heard, followed by a splash. Then a pair of feet walk
over to the tub, and KENT steps in, giving the obligatory buttshot. He
settles down into the tub with an *immense* sigh of pleasure.
RANMA
Ummm ...
KENT
EYES CLOSED Yes?
RANMA
Those ... little round scars on your
chest. Are those from bullets?
KENT
I think so. It was a long time ago.
RANMA
Man ... what kind of --
KENT
You had it right the first time,
Saotome-san.
RANMA blinks, and then screws up his face to think. Then he realizes.
RANMA
"You could tell me, but then you'd
have to kill me?"
KENT
Or make sure that you wouldn't tell
anyone else in some other way.
RANMA
But if that's the kind of life that
you've been leading, then --
KENT
OPENS EYES; ANNOYED Then what?
RANMA
Then you should've been able to wipe
up the floor with me! I mean --
KENT
Kid, you're better'n me. It's just
that simple. I'm good, but you're
tougher, faster, you know more wild
stuff than I do, and you're younger.
BEAT Hell, if I'd been as good as
you are when I was your age ... on
second thought, let's not talk about
that.
RANMA
But you shoulda been able to pick up
more stuff, if you've been leading
that kind of a life for --
KENT
Let me guess, your life has been one
long martial arts duel, right?
RANMA
Uh, pretty much. I've been training
since I was about three --
KENT
RUBS FOREHEAD Hoo boy.
RANMA
COCKY -- and I've been pretty much
the best around here for the last
three years. Well, except
for the Old Ghoul and the Old Lech.
KENT
BLINKS I refuse to say "Huh?".
BEAT Well, anyway, while I *have*
been at this for longer than you've
been alive, I didn't start as early
as you, and not everyone that I've
run up against has been a martial
artist. Some have had other ways of
doing things that were just as
deadly.
RANMA
SNORT Yeah, right. A true martial
artist can take anybody --
KENT slaps the side of his chest where RANMA was gazing earlier.
KENT
These say you're wrong, Ranma. The
arts are invaluable, but they can't
win every fight. BEAT Suppose
that someone sent a ninja after you.
RANMA
I'd fight 'em.
KENT
But ninjas don't engage in standup
fights. They use stealth and
trickery to get close to their
victim and strike a lethal blow.
RANMA
But you learn to anticipate attack
when you're a martial artist.
KENT
Yes, but that doesn't always work.
I mean, you didn't notice that there
was a ninja over there until I said
so, right?
RANMA spins around to look where KENT indicated, obviously startled. From
behind a convenient cloud of steam steps KONATSU, carrying a steamer such
as beekeepers use.
KONATSU
ICILY POLITE Good day, Saotome
Ranma.
RANMA
RELIEVED Oh. It's just you,
Konatsu.
KENT mouths the words "it's just you" with a confused expression.
KONATSU
Indeed. BEAT Just me.
RANMA
Haven't seen you in a long while.
Whatcha been --
KONATSU produces a scroll from somewhere in hir blouse.
KONATSU
I am bid to give you this message,
Saotome Ranma, written by the hand
of your fiancee, Kuonji Ukyou.
RANMA
VERY STARTLED Ucch-- Ukyou?
KONATSU
Indeed. Ukyou-sama. TEARS Take
the scroll, Saotome Ranma, take it
that I might leave your presence
and return to bathe in hers as I
tell her of its arrival in your
hands, and recieve the greatest
gift in all the world -- the words
"Good work," from Ukyou-sama's lips.
RANMA, who snatched the scroll somewhere around "Take the scroll" and
started to read it, ignoring KONATSU, looks up suddenly.
RANMA
Uh, I really don't think Ukyou wrote
this, Konatsu.
KONATSU
STARTLED Wh-wh-at?
RANMA
Well, for starters, Ukyou would
never start a letter off with "I
love you, I love you, Ukyou-sama,
I know that it's wrong, but --"
KONATSU lets out a girlish cry of shock, and grabs the scroll from RANMA's
hand, colouring as s/he quickly ascertains its contents, then grabbing
another scroll from hir blouse. A quick check, and then it is handed to
RANMA, who reads it. KENT is watching this exchange with a confused yet
amused expression.
RANMA
So Ukyou wants to meet with me,
huh?
KONATSU
COOL If that is what she wrote,
that must be what she wishes.
RANMA is silent for a long moment.
RANMA
So how's she doing?
KONATSU
GUARDED Never better.
RANMA
ANNOYED Come on, Konatsu, the last
time I saw her was over a year ago
at the wedding. Where's she been?
The Ucch-- her restaurant was closed
last time I checked there, but now
she's back? What's been going --
KONATSU
It is not for me to say, Saotome
Ranma. If you would know, come and
speak with her.
RANMA stares at KONATSU's unmoving face.
RANMA
Okay. Tell her I'll come down
tomorrow, after the tournament.
KONATSU
I shall.
RANMA
EVIL GRIN Unless you'd like me to
write it on a scroll so there'd be
a chance you'd screw up and give
your declaration to her?
KONATSU gazes at RANMA with something akin to hatred in hir eyes.
RANMA
So why didn't she send it by way of
okonomiyaki, anyway?
KONATSU
CONTROLLED She was concerned that
you would be upset in rememberance
of the okonomiyaki which she brought
to your aborted wedding.
RANMA
Huh. Makes sense ... anyway, see
you around, Konatsu.
KONATSU
Not if I see you first, Saotome
Ranma.
KONATSU releases another burst of steam from the can, and when it
disperses s/he is gone.
KENT
What an interesting young man.
RANMA nods, and then does a double take.
RANMA
Wait a minute. Young *man*? How --
KENT
Well, it's kind of obvious from the
... you know -- and the ... well,
you know ...
RANMA
No. I *don't* know. I never knew
until after I found out that he was
a guy. How do you *know*?
KENT
I ... I thought it was obvious,
really.
RANMA
Just a minute.
RANMA stands up, and steps out of the shot. There is a sudden splash.
KENT's eyes bulge.
RANMA (FEM) (O.S.)
Okay, male or --
KENT
MORTIFIED Please put some clothes
on.
Cut to the interior of a manga shop in Jyuuban. It is the Japanese
equivalent of a "hole-in-the-wall" comic book store run by a fan -- in
this case, an overweight, sweaty otaku who is busily reading "I *Will*
Forgive You", an *extremely* ecchi parody of the magical girls fighting
team genre. He doesn't even look up as the bell rings announcing the
arrival of a customer, nor when the customer's shadow falls across him.
AYEKA (O.S.)
Excuse me.
The OTAKU looks up with a bored expression, which quickly turns into a
leer as he sees AYEKA's face and figure.
OTAKU
Yeeeeeesss?
AYEKA
NERVOUS Um ... I was wondering if
you have any tankoubon of the
"X-Files"?
OTAKU
"X-Files". Ah yes, we do. It's an
okay book --
AYEKA
POLITELY Thank you.
She heads off to look in the stacks for it, but the OTAKU keeps talking.
OTAKU
-- but that's not what aliens are
really like.
AYEKA
UNINTERESTED Oh really.
She starts to search the titles.
OTAKU
No, they'll probably be more like
the Angels. Or maybe like the
Demon Beasts!
AYEKA
I'm sure that I wouldn't know.
OTAKU
SHOCKED Hast thou never seen
"Demon Beast Invasion"?
AYEKA
SEMI-DESPERATE Can't say that I
have. Why don't you --
OTAKU
WARM TO TOPIC The Demon Beasts are
the original inhabitants of this
world, but it long ago ceased to be
suitable for them to live on, so
they left. But in this age, they
have returned with a way to make
this world fit for them.
AYEKA is suddenly interested ... this sounds somewhat familiar.
AYEKA
And that way is?
OTAKU
EYES GLOWING By taking human women
and RA--
RAYE (O.S.)
AHEM.
AYEKA and the OTAKU look over at RAYE, who is standing in the doorway with
a disgusted expression.
OTAKU
COWED Hi-hino-san.
RAYE
Otsuka-san. I believe that I told
you that recounting the storyline
of "Demon Beast Invasion" was not
nice, nor a good way to keep your
customer base intact.
OTAKU
TERRIFIED Uh ... well, she asked
for it.
RAYE
BLINKS; TO AYEKA You *asked* for
a description of one of the most
perverted anime ever made?
AYEKA
UPSET CERTAINLY NOT! I was only
trying to ... ahem, I have no
interest in that sort of thing at
all. I will leave at once.
OTAKU
But -- but -- but, miss, what about
the manga you *were* aft--
AYEKA
SCORNFUL I've no doubt that I can
acquire a copy of the X-Files in a
different store, which store will
have a proprietor who treats his
customers with *respect*.
She storms out the door, leaving RAYE behind. RAYE waves "bye-bye" with a
cold, satisfied smile, and heads out after her.
OTAKU
DESPAIRING Out of all the manga
shops in all the world, why does she
have to *keep* coming into mine?
He doesn't notice the ofuda pasted to his shop door.
Outside, AYEKA is walking away with an embarassed expression on her face.
RAYE catches up with her.
RAYE
Listen, there's a *much* better
store not too far from here. I'm
pretty sure that you'll be able to
find whatever it is that you're
after there.
AYEKA
*SLIGHTLY* SUSPICIOUS Ah. Thank
you.
RAYE
No problem. I really hate that
jerk back there ... he's such a pig.
He used to go out of his way to
scare his female customers by coming
onto them ... until he tried it with
me. EVIL GRIN
AYEKA
Why would he be so foolish as to
try and drive away half of his
customers?
RAYE
Like I said, he's a chauvinist pig.
He'd probably prefer it if girls
were barefoot and illiterate, and
the only reason he doesn't complete
the triangle is that he's a wuss in
that department.
A fair amount of that goes over AYEKA's head. She smiles confusedly and
nods. RAYE stares at her a bit oddly, then notices her uniform.
RAYE
I don't recognize your colours.
What school do you go to?
AYEKA
PANICKED I ... I am here in Tokyo
on a field trip.
RAYE
Oh, cool! My class went to Osaka
for our trip. MOCK YAWN; BEAT So
you want me to show you this store?
It's right by this place where I'm
headed anyway.
AYEKA
That would be very nice. BOW
Masaki Ayeka.
RAYE
BOW Hino Raye. Pleased to meet
you. Come on.
RAYE indicates the direction that they should go with a nod of her head,
and starts off. AYEKA follows, with a surprised expression on her face.
We change to a view of them from above.
AKANE (V.O.)
It's important to realize that
Princess Ayeka's exposure to people
from Earth up until this point had
been more or less limited to Tenchi,
whom she preferred to see as a
Jurain, and his father, whom she
basically viewed as a nuisance. The
handful of visitors to the secluded
Masaki shrine hadn't really given
her any idea what ordinary people
were like. BEAT Raye Hino is an
incredible contradiction at times --
she likes to present the image of
being haughty and even mean-hearted,
but she is actually very kind and
friendly. BEAT If she reminds me
of me, sometimes, she reminds me of
Ranma a lot too. BEAT Speaking of
whom --
Cut to a shot of RANMA taking *great* pains to eat slowly, almost as
though he's pacing himself ... which isn't too surprising when one
considers the huge banquet that is set on the Tendou table. NABIKI is
seated beside him, staring at the huge outlay with small eyes. SOUUN is
eating with dignity and decorum and drinking a lot of sake. KASUMI is
staring at KENT with an anxious expression as he chews a bit of sukiyaki.
He swallows, and turns to meet KASUMI's gaze. A long silent moment
passes.
KENT
Delicious. Beyond any doubt, some
of the finest sukiyaki that I've ever
tasted.
KASUMI
THRILLED Really?
NABIKI and RANMA are watching this exchange with faintly ill expressions.
KENT
VERY SOLEMN Kasumi-san, in all my
years, I have tasted better sukiyaki
than this once. BEAT And do you
know who made *that* sukiyaki,
Kasumi-san?
KASUMI
Mother ...
KENT lowers his head ... in embarassment, we realize a moment later, as
SOUUN has begun to bawl once more across the table. He recovers fairly
quickly.
RANMA
So, anyway, what exactly was Mrs.
Tendou like?
SOUUN begins to tear up again.
RANMA
I can't get a straight answer from
anyone here, you see.
KENT
Rumiko-san ... well, as I've just
said, she was one of the best cooks
I've ever known. She could make
anything taste good.
He smiles at NABIKI.
KENT
Most Japanese housewives handle the
family finances --
Everyone looks at SOUUN who is sobbing.
KENT
-- for ... lots of reasons. But
Rumiko-san was even better than
normal at it. She was also one of
the best *accountants* I've ever
known.
NABIKI looks a strange combination of startled and pleased at this
knowledge.
KENT
She wasn't really interested in
martial arts.
RANMA nods decisively. A tiny crayon drawing appears over his head. A
little figure marked MRS. TENDOU -- who looks frighteningly like AKANE --
is dressed up in a gi and tries to break a playing card with a chop. Her
hand rebounds and is very swollen and red.
MRS. TENDOU
TINNY OWIEOWIEOWIEOWIEOWIE!
AKANE (V.O.)
Baka.
KENT's next words shatter RANMA's dream.
KENT
Which was probably for the best. I
hate to admit it, but Rumiko-san
had a *terrible* temper.
RANMA looks shocked.
KENT
If she *had* had training in the
arts ... she would have been an
unstoppable elemental force!
RANMA has another vision of a crayon version of the dojo in ruins, and
MRS. TENDOU chasing SOUUN around with a huge mallet.
MRS. TENDOU
TINNY SOUUN NO BAKA!
AKANE (V.O.)
If I'd been there, listening to this
and watching Ranma's expression, I
probably would have followed my
mother's example at this point.
KENT
But she was usually justified in her
outbursts -- forgive me, Sensei, but
you tended to do a lot of things to
irritate Rumiko-san very easily.
SOUUN looks up with a tearful expression.
SOUUN
SOLEMN Yes. You need not ask for
forgiveness, Kent-san, what you say
is far too true. SOB Oh, I would
give anything to hear her yelling
at me for a fool once more!
KASUMI
CRYING Oh father! Oh mother!
NABIKI
DEADPAN Oh God I'm never getting
married, *ever*.
RANMA
MUTTER Great, I hadda get the one
who got the temper. BEAT Could
things get any worse?
The sliding door to the dining room slams open, revealing a VERY angry
HAPPOSAI.
RANMA
MUTTER I just HAD to ask.
HAPPOSAI
SOUUN!
SOUUN
Ah! Master! What a pleasant --
HAPPOSAI
You have insulted and dishonored
your master! Moreso than I have
ever been dishonored before!
RANMA
Hey, jiji. What're you talking
about?
HAPPOSAI
A year ago it was! Then did I
seek to slake my thirst on a
jug of water which had been set
aside for me, as befits my status
and reputation.
KENT (O.S.)
Kasumi-san, who is this person?
HAPPOSAI
And what was done to me after I had
slaked my thirst? Foul hands were
placed upon my person, and I was
cruelly prodded to force me to
regurgitate my drink. I took an
appropriate vengeance -- and for
that was I punished further.
HAPPOSAI points at SOUUN, doing a mediocre job of impersonating the wrath
of God. This next sequence is dominated by HAPPOSAI's face and upper
body. He either ignores or pretends to ignore the comments interspersed
with his rant.
HAPPOSAI
And then did *this* *one* set upon
me in a moment of weakness --
RANMA (O.S.)
How come nobody told me about this?
HAPPOSAI
-- beguiling me with a faded but
still great beauty --
SOUUN (O.S.)
Your mother asked me not to.
HAPPOSAI
-- and seized me and bound me in
chains I dared not break, for fear
of destroying something of precious
value!
NABIKI (O.S.)
So that's what happened to all our
underwear.
HAPPOSAI
I was then placed in a shipping box,
and sent on a slow boat to China!
NABIKI (O.S.)
Why not airmail?
HAPPOSAI
And thence to Jyusenkyou!
NABIKI (O.S.)
Oh, right. "Thrift."
HAPPOSAI
Condemning me to the foulest of foul
fates!
KENT (O.S.)
Jyusenkyou is where Ranma was cursed,
right?
HAPPOSAI
For in the letter attached to the
crate was addressed to the Guardians
of Jyusenkyou!
KENT (O.S.)
I think I can guess where this is
going now.
HAPPOSAI
And it read "When the springs settle
down, please drop this crate in --"
I shudder to even think it!
RANMA (O.S.)
Oh, man, couldn't you think of
something better to do than give him
my curse so that he'd be occupied
with groping himself all the time?
HAPPOSAI
"-- in the spring of the drowned
EUNUCH!"
Dead silence.
RANMA (O.S.)
O-kay, forget I said anything.
HAPPOSAI
Fortunately, you reckoned without
the naivete of the younger Guardian
of those Cursed Springs.
RANMA (O.S.)
Oh, man, he went after Plum? That's
just sick.
HAPPOSAI
Believing me to be a confused and
senile fool --
NABIKI (O.S.)
My what a stretch.
HAPPOSAI
-- she freed me from my chains, and
I rewarded her with a gentle pat on
the head, and was off to seek my
revenge! You will bow down before
me, Souun! Bow!
SOUUN whips around, the devil's head in full swing.
SOUUN
Never!
HAPPOSAI is startled by this sudden display of spine. SOUUN returns to
normal, and stands to stare HAPPOSAI down.
SOUUN
For a year you lived here, engaging
in your perversions, terrorizing my
daughters, intimidating me, and
freeloading on our home! No more,
Happosai! No more! Hencefore, YOU
SHALL PAY RENT!
Dead silence descends as RANMA, NABIKI, KENT, and (yes, even) KASUMI stare
at SOUUN with odd expressions on their faces.
NABIKI
Dad, he has no income.
Neither SOUUN nor HAPPOSAI give any sign of having heard.
HAPPOSAI
So? And how will you enforce this
new law upon me, *student*?
SOUUN
I have with me now the two greatest
students of the Musabetsu Kakutou
whom I have ever trained! Alone
each is your equal! Together, they
will bring you to heel!
HAPPOSAI
Ha! You are drunk, *student*! So
you see double, for there is only
Ranma here, and --
SOUUN
In fact no, master, I have not
touched sake all evening!
NABIKI
Now that's a lie.
SOUUN
Behold the other greatest student
of Anything Goes Martial Arts --
POINTS KENT MASEFIELD!
KENT finishes chewing something, and swallows.
KENT
Hi, pleased to meet you.
HAPPOSAI stares at KENT with saucer wide eyes. He looks up at SOUUN.
HAPPOSAI
VERY QUIET Souun ... my boy ...
you joke with your poor master,
right? In hope of averting my
terrible wrath upon you and your
house by teaching me to laugh once
more?
SOUUN
No, *master*, I --
HAPPOSAI
FURIOUS YOU TAUGHT THE SECRETS OF
THE ARTS TO ONE OF *THEM*?
Everyone blinks.
HAPPOSAI
FURIOUS TO AN AMERICAN?
KENT sets down his chopsticks, and starts to clean himself up.
HAPPOSAI
It cannot be ... that we have
forgotten this much. That we have
forgotten what they did!
SOUUN
GENUINELY UNCOMFORTABLE Master,
that was so long ago ...
KENT begins to stand.
KENT
I cannot blame him for his anger,
Sensei. Perhaps I should l--
HAPPOSAI
We cannot have forgotten how they
LET THEIR WOMEN *BURN* THEIR *BRAS*!
Dead silence once more. KENT sits.
KENT
Then again, maybe I can.
HAPPOSAI
If we had not known that they were
uncultured barbarians, that would
have proven it!
RANMA stands up.
RANMA
Oh, for pity's sake --
HAPPOSAI
Ah, Ranma m'boy! You will eject
this boorish outsider, won't you?
RANMA
"Boorish outsider" meaning you?
RANMA cracks his knuckles.
HAPPOSAI
SHOCKED Ranma ... you cannot mean
to take the part of this gaijin
against your master?
RANMA
First, you ain't my master. Second,
I don't need to be taking anybody's
part to have a reason to kick your
butt. Third, nobody here cares
about underwear war crimes but you!
And as for the "gaijin" bunk, jiji,
I've fought this guy. He's good,
not as good as me, but it's got
nothing to do with where he's from.
BEAT I have one hell of a lot
more respect for him than I do for
you, master or no!
HAPPOSAI looks genuinely shocked.
HAPPOSAI
I was wrong. I was wrong when I
said that I had never been so
insulted as when I was punished
in that way. *NOW* I have never
been so insulted and dishonored.
HAPPOSAI leaps up into the air.
HAPPOSAI
HAPPODARIAKIN!
The bomb flies out of his hand towards the table --
And everything freezes, turning a cold shade of blue.
AKANE (V.O.)
Even now, after I know how Kent
Masefield was able to do what he
did then, it stuns me.
The only things in the room that are not the same cold blue are KENT's
eyes. They flicker up to the Happodariakin that is hovering beneath
Happosai's arm.
KENT (V.O.)
Bomb.
His eyes flicker to the left. Something catches his attention, and he
blinks.
KENT (V.O.)
Yes.
He blinks again.
Everything begins to move again, in VERY slow motion. KENT begins to jump
to the left the instant motion begins, as the bomb drops with mercurial
slowness. We see the shock on NABIKI's face, the disappointment of
KASUMI, the horror on RANMA and SOUUN's faces, and the savage exultation
that HAPPOSAI is clearly feeling.
And then KENT slowly stands up, holding a broom, which he swings, as
though he were moving through thick water, towards the bomb as it falls.
The combs of the broom smack into the Happodariakin, sending it looping
back out of the dining room, through the still open sliding door that
leads to the garden.
Everything speeds up to normal. The Happodariakin explodes harmlessly in
the garden. HAPPOSAI lands on the table, startled. He looks around.
HAPPOSAI
Boom? Where boom?
RANMA grabs him, his face a mask of rage.
RANMA
SHOUTED BOOOM!
HAPPOSAI blinks.
RANMA
You sick, twisted, evil little man!
Do you have any idea what you almost
*did*? SHOUTED The CODE! WE DO
*NOT* USE SPECIAL TECHNIQUES ON
THOSE WHO CAN'T FIGHT BACK!
KASUMI
BLINKS Oh. I'm sorry, ojiisan,
Nabiki and I should have left when
you began shouting. BEAT I think
that I will faint now.
And she does.
RANMA
God, Plum was right, you *are* a
senile idiot!
HAPPOSAI
WARNINGLY Ranma ...
RANMA walks out into the early evening air.
RANMA
Get the hell away from here, and
never come back, you *freak*!
HAPPOSAI
FURIOUS Ranma, you will take that
back, or I will wreak a terrible --
RANMA dropkicks HAPPOSAI into the air. HAPPOSAI goes sailing off into the
sky.
HAPPOSAI (O.S.)
-- VEEEEEANNNNGEAAAANCE!
RANMA
SNORT Yeah, right.
NABIKI is still seated stock-still at the table. Her eyes resemble
saucers.
NABIKI
He tried to --
KENT
CALMING But he didn't, and he's
gone now, Nabiki-san. It's all
right, isn't it, Sensei?
KENT turns to look at SOUUN ... who fainted some time ago. KENT quite
visibly bites something back. NABIKI comes unsteadily to her feet.
NABIKI
I think I'm gonna go make like
'neechan and dad ... but up in my
room ...
RANMA comes back in and plops himself down to finish his dinner.
RANMA
Okay. If you're not gonna finish
your sukiyaki, can I --
KENT stares at RANMA, appalled.
NABIKI
DAZED Sure, Ranma ...
RANMA
No charge?
NABIKI
EXPLODES No *shit* there's no
charge you goddamn insensitive
baka hentai *bastard*!
RANMA is a bit startled by NABIKI's vehemence. She slowly walks away as
he and KENT stare.
RANMA
Geez ...
KENT
mild Ranma, out of curiousity, do
your encounters with that person
usually end with you kicking him
away as he screams vengeance?
RANMA
RUEFUL Yeah, pretty much.
KENT
EDGE CREEPING IN And he usually
comes back?
RANMA pauses before the food gets to his mouth.
RANMA
Uh ... yeah. Every time.
KENT
So, in other words, there's a fairly
good chance that he'll come back
this time too?
KENT glares at RANMA for a few moments, then stands and heads out after
NABIKI. RANMA is still for a bit after that.
RANMA
Shit.
KENT catches up with NABIKI as she's going up the stairs.
KENT
Are you going to be all right?
NABIKI
AGHAST Of *course* I'm not. A
deadly master of ancient martial
arts has just sworn vengeance on
my father's house, and that includes
me. BEAT I have *got* to get
out of this place.
KENT
You're an adult. Why are you still
living here?
NABIKI
DEEP SIGH Whenever I thought about
the future, I always saw myself as
a financial bigshot. BEAT But
it's a hell of a long way from being
the school gossip monger and selling
photos to per-- people, to being on
Fortune's Five Hundred. I'm making
money, but not enough to live on my
own *and* finance my education.
BEAT Can I ask you something?
KENT
It seems a fair exchange.
NABIKI
BLINKS Uh ... anyway, what was
the code that Ranma was yelling at
the old freak about?
KENT
It's a discipline that most of the
really powerful martial artists of
the world subscribe to. It's more
of a code of proper conduct than
any sort of moral code ... one of
its tenets is that it's improper
to use special fighting techniques
against someone who can't use
something roughly equal. BEAT I
don't know when it started, but
it's the reason that a lot of
martial artists train in remote
places -- so non-martial artists
won't get hit by a stray hadouken
or something like that.
NABIKI
So what happens to people who
break this code?
KENT
Nobody who follows it will train or
spar with them.
NABIKI looks at him expectantly. He looks back with an expressionless
face.
NABIKI
FLAT That's it?
KENT nods.
NABIKI
FLAT They don't attempt to punish
the violator?
KENT
Being excluded from honorable
competition is thought to be --
NABIKI
That is a *dumb* code.
KENT
SHRUGS It's the only one we've
got.
NABIKI
SNORTS Well, I'm going to go
try and not have a nightmare filled
sleep now. You can go back and be
all solicitous to Kasumi, now.
KENT
Solicitous?
NABIKI gives him a weary, disgusted look.
NABIKI
MINCING "The best sukiyaki I've
ever tasted"? What, like you're
some conoisseur of sukiyaki?
KENT
I don't claim to be a conoisseur,
but --
NABIKI
Unless they've got kickass sukiyaki
restaurants in ... where are you
from again?
KENT
I was born in Kansas, but I moved to
New York when I was a few years old.
These days I live in --
NABIKI
I don't *care*. BEAT You're
trying to pull something on my
sister ... how many times can you
have had sukiyaki, anyway?
KENT slowly steps up closer to NABIKI.
KENT
For the first, I'm not. Your older
sister has a crush on me, and I'm
trying to deal with it as best as I
can. But her cooking is marvelous.
And as for the second ... I think I
had sukiyaki for the first time when
your father was only about four
years old.
NABIKI
Oh, come on ... you're only, what,
thirty, thirty-five?
KENT
SHAKES HEAD I'll be fifty on July
first of this year. BEAT I age
very well, but my family's just like
that.
NABIKI is startled.
NABIKI
No way. You can't be -- you've got
to be lying.
KENT
I don't lie.
NABIKI
You and every politician in the --
KENT
Nabiki. I don't lie.
NABIKI stares at him, scared a bit.
NABIKI
WHISPERED What are you?
KENT
WHISPERED Just a traveller, that's
all. I've been other things, but
all that I am now is a traveller.
NABIKI swallows and starts to head up the stairs.
KENT
You don't have to worry about the
old man, Nabiki. He only wants
revenge on Ranma and me. You can
sleep peacefully. BEAT But if
you have any dreams about this
Kunou fellow, try and work out of
them, he doesn't seem like a
healthy person to be attracted to.
NABIKI halts in midstep, and turns back to look ... but KENT has already
walked away silently.
Cut to a shot of an outdoor cafe, with AYEKA and RAYE sitting and enjoying
some nice iced tea, and laughing their heads off. An X-FILES tankoubon is
held in AYEKA's hand.
AYEKA
... but the good part was watching
her doing the dishes for a month!
HAHAHA!
RAYE
Heheeh! Oh, wow, that's funny! I
wish life at our temple was anywhere
nearly as interesting.
AYEKA
Oh, don't sell yourself so short.
That account of the young man there
and how he became so maniacally
jealous when he saw you with that
... very *handsome* woman was
just as amusing. BEAT; WICKED
And he sounds *very* ardent, too.
RAYE
Oh yeah. BEAT But ... he's just
not my type. A BIT SAD I'm still
looking for my type.
AYEKA
SOMBER Well, I've found him. Now
if we could just find time to be
together without interruptions.
RAYE
Yeah. It's terrible when people just
... won't leave you in peace to be
with the one you really care about.
AYEKA
HEATED And then try to monopolize
him and steal him away!
RAYE nods, solemnly. AYEKA looks for a moment like she's about to start
ranting ... then collapses.
AYEKA
If I could only be *sure* of how he
felt.
RAYE
Let me guess, he keeps everything
under a tight lock and doesn't even
hint at how he feels?
AYEKA
Nnnno ... not really. BEAT It's
just that he's so different from
what I was expecting. I thought
that love, when if finally came to
me, would be a great, mighty, proud
hero. BEAT And what I got was an
ordinary, gentle, humble, sweet
man. BEAT But brave. Very, very
brave ... just as brave as the hero
of my dreams. BEAT Maybe braver.
RAYE's eyes are far away.
RAYE
Love always surprises ... you think
that someone is the last person on
Earth that you'd ever want to be
with ... and one day you'd realize
that you'd give anything to be able
to say how you really feel. And it
scares you to think how much you
love ...
AYEKA
Yes. BEAT But I can't be forceful
about it, or he'll think I'm just as
bad as *she* is ...
There's a sudden beeping noise. AYEKA starts.
RAYE
Oh! CHECKS WRIST Sorry, my watch
is set to go off every night at
seven, to remind me that I have to
do a ceremony. But Chad said he'd
do it for me, tonight, so I'll let
him --
AYEKA
SHARP Seven o'clock?
RAYE nods.
AYEKA
Oh dear.
Cut back to the street by the supermarket. MIHOSHI has started to eat the
groceries as she stares nervously at the doors of the supermarket. A man
comes out lock the doors, and then walks away.
MIHOSHI
TEARFUL I think something's wrong.
Cut back to the cafe as AYEKA stands quickly, startling RAYE. She drops a
few coins on the table.
AYEKA
I'm very sorry, Hino-san, but I have
to hurry, or I'll get in trouble
with ... my tour group.
RAYE
Yeah, I understand. Ayeka-san?
AYEKA
Yes?
RAYE
Um ... well, I sometimes do fire
readings for romance ... if you
could come by the temple while
you're in Tokyo, I'd be glad to
find out if this Tenchi guy
really does love you.
AYEKA
Oh. Uh ... well, I'll try, but I
have such a busy schedule! So,
I can't really say. I will try,
though. Thank you for all your
help, Hino-san.
RAYE
No problem.
AYEKA
DASHING OFF Good bye!
RAYE
Bye ...
RAYE smiles suddenly.
RAYE
Nice girl. Really ... a little
*stiff*, but...
AYEKA dashes through the streets of Tokyo, coming at last to the ticket
window of a train station. She gasps for air.
AYEKA
Huh ... hwh ... hwhen does the next
train for ******** leave?
TICKET CLERK
Last train already left. Doesn't
start again til tomorrow morning,
around 5.
AYEKA
WHAAAAAAAAAAT?
Cut to the TENCHI household, with TENCHI standing in the doorway looking
anxious.
TENCHI
Dammit ... Mihoshi-san and Ayeka-san
should have been back by now ...
There's the sound of a phone ringing in the house. TENCHI turns and runs
back into the house, but SASAMI gets to the phone before he does.
SASAMI
CONCERNED Moshi moshi? BEAT
Mihoshi-neechan! Where are you?
BEAT What? Mihoshi ... Mihoshi,
I can't understand you ... please,
Mihoshi, stop crying!
She stares at the phone for a moment, then looks up at TENCHI with a
pained expression.
SASAMI
Tenchi-niichan, could you ...?
TENCHI smiles wearily, and takes the phone.
TENCHI
Mihoshi-san?
The *wail* that comes from the phone at that point is so intense that
TENCHI holds the phone away from his ear and looks rather dazed for a
moment. He brings it back up as the wail subsides.
TENCHI
Mihoshi-san, what's wrong? BEAT
No, Mihoshi, I'm not ... No! I
promise that I won't yell at you.
BEAT I *promise*. BEAT No, I
won't pinky swear, because we can't
link our pinkies over the *phone*,
Mihoshi. Please, just tell me what
has happened, so that I can --
TENCHI is silent for a long time as he listens.
TENCHI
What?! No, Mihoshi, I'm not yelling
at you. BEAT Really! BEAT
Mihoshi, just come home. BEAT No,
nobody here is mad at you. Just
come home, so we can figure out what
happened together, okay? BEAT
Yes, see you soon.
He hangs up, avoiding looking at SASAMI.
SASAMI
HESITANT Tenchi-niichan?
TENCHI
SLOWLY Sasami-chan, your sister
went into the supermarket to get
some food that they'd forgotten to
get the first time they went in ...
and she never came out. BEAT And
the store is closed now, and Mihoshi
is in a panic.
SASAMI
SHOCKED Oneechan?
TENCHI
Don't worry, Sasami ... I promise you
that nothing is going to happen to
your sister --
Cut to WASHUU's laboratory. She is working furiously at her console, a
terrified expression on her face. A monitor displays what is going on
with TENCHI and SASAMI.
TENCHI (MONITOR)
-- is going to happen to your sister
because ... because she doesn't have
anything to be afraid of --
WASHUU
MANIC Boy are *you* wrong. DEEP
breath Okay. Okay. For once,
Mihoshi's dumb luck is working on my
side, blocking Ayeka's call home
like that, too bad for her but hey
can't play koshi without killing a
few storns. And a simple button
will mangle her phone card when --
She idly casts a look at the monitor, and sees TENCHI holding onto SASAMI,
who is crying freely. TENCHI is only barely holding back his own tears of
fear.
WASHUU
CONVINCING SELF I have to do it.
BEAT We can't get involved, I'm
just trying to protect you all,
Ayeka has made her own bed --
Her hand is hovering over a button, but she doesn't look at it, staring at
the monitor instead. RYOUKO materializes on the scene.
RYOUKO (MONITOR)
Hey, what's wrong?
TENCHI (MONITOR)
Ayeka has ... vanished, Ryouko.
There is a brief silence.
RYOUKO (MONITOR)
And?
SASAMI (MONITOR)
FURIOUS RYOUKO!
RYOUKO holds up her hands.
RYOUKO (MONITOR)
Hey, hey, calm down, I'm joking!
SASAMI (MONITOR)
FURIOUS IT'S *NOT* FUNNY!
The phone rings. WASHUU realizes that she still hasn't pressed the
button. On the monitor, RYOUKO picks up the phone.
RYOUKO (MONITOR)
Mo-- BEAT AYEKA?
WASHUU
No ...
RYOUKO (MONITOR)
Where *are* you?
WASHUU
NO!
WASHUU stabs down the button.
RYOUKO (MONITOR)
Tokyo?! BEAT Hello? Ayeka?
TENCHI (MONITOR)
Ryouko, what --
RYOUKO (MONITOR)
It got disconnected!
WASHUU
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, daughter, but
you don't know what you're getting
into if you go to Tokyo right now.
The price is too high ...
Cut to a gray, formless place. TSUNAMI stands before a portal, watching
WASHUU.
TSUNAMI
WHISPERED Oh, Sister, you know not
what you do ... this makes it all
inevitable.
AKANE (V.O.)
If it was hard to write calmly about
what happened with my family the
night before I came home, it is
harder yet to write about what
Washuu-chan calmly admitted to doing
to Ayeka-san, or what Sasami-chan
told me about Tsunami. I don't
think I'll ever understand how these
godlike beings can find themselves
so helpless ... but in any event ...
Cut to a park bench in Tokyo, later on in the evening. AETHAN and MINAKO
are sitting close together, looking up at the sky.
MINAKO
I wish we were out in the country.
Then we'd be looking up at the stars
instead of all this light pollution.
AETHAN
Truely.
MINAKO
You know ... my parents are out of
town again ... so you could stay at
my place, instead of that hotel.
AETHAN
GRINING I doubt that the guardian
of your virtue would approve.
MINAKO
BLUSH Artemis can go take a hike
on a short pier. I mean, just
because you're at my house doesn't
mean anything would happen ...
AETHAN
Minako, I appreciate the offer, but
I've already booked the hotel room
for a week, and it would be terribly
rude to cancel now. BEAT Besides,
I'd rather not have to share a
bathroom with you ...
MINAKO
Well, how are you gonna cope when
we're living together?
AETHAN gives MINAKO a slightly shocked look.
AETHAN
When was *this* decision made?
MINAKO
Well, I mean ... look, I think that
I love you --
AETHAN
I love you too, but --
He is suddenly crushed by MINAKO's wild embrace, and she kisses him with
passion. AETHAN's eyes are wide. This goes on for several minutes before
she releases him.
AETHAN
TRYING TO REGAIN COMPOSURE -- but
don't you think that you're moving
just a little too fast? QUICK
Evidently not.
MINAKO
Aethan, I've told you about Crystal
Tokyo, right? How I'm going to be
alive a thousand years from now?
AETHAN
SLOWLY Yessss?
MINAKO
Well, ever since we met, I've been
giving it a lot of thought. I don't
want to fall in love with someone
who's going to die hundreds of years
before I do ... and you don't age.
I want a man who will always be with
me and our chil--
AETHAN
GENTLE I'm sterile.
MINAKO blinks a few dozen times.
MINAKO
CONFUSED What?
AETHAN
Minako, I cannot father children.
MINAKO
Are you sure?
AETHAN
Very sure. I spent the better part
of twenty years trying without
success, several hundred years ago.
MINAKO
Really?
AETHAN
IMPATIENT Would you like details?
MINAKO
No! No. BEAT Well ... that's
not such a big deal. You're still
the only person I want to spend
eternity with --
AETHAN
Yes. *Now.*
MINAKO
What? What do you mean?
AETHAN
SIGH Minako, I'm over fourteen
hundred years old, and in those
centuries I've changed more than I
would have thought possible. At
*this* point, now, you love me. Can
you be sure that you still will in
a thousand years time? BEAT I've
never seen anyone whose love lasted
that long.
MINAKO
But I *have*! And yes, I *do*
believe that in Crystal Tokyo I will
still want to wake up and have you
be the first thing that I see.
AETHAN reaches out and takes her hand in his.
AETHAN
And I want to believe that, too, but
the point is --
The point is in fact lost to history as an ofuda streaks out of the
darkness and slams into AETHAN's face, right between the eyebrows. MINAKO
stares at it, confused. AETHAN slowly reaches up to tear the scroll off
of his face, and stands, his fangs clearly in evidence.
AETHAN
Do you *mind*?
RAYE is standing a few feet away.
RAYE
Stopping you from putting the moves
on my friend? Not at all, gaki.
AETHAN
Oh, gods' sakes ...
MINAKO also stands, her face very angry.
MINAKO
Raye! You promised that you weren't
going to do this sort of thing!
RAYE
I said I wouldn't do it unless he
showed signs of getting out of
control. He was --
MINAKO
He was *holding* *my* *hand*.
RAYE
Sure, first he holds your hand, then
he's clasping your shoulder, then
it's down your shirt --
MINAKO
SHOCKED RAYE!
AETHAN
FED UP Good night, Minako.
He starts to walk away.
MINAKO
Good n-- wait a minute!
AETHAN
No, Minako-chan, I've had a very
long day, and I need my rest. I'll
give you a call tomorrow morning,
say sevenish, all right?
MINAKO
But --
AETHAN
Ja ne.
AETHAN suddenly turns to mist, which flows away.
RAYE
He even *runs* like a Negasleeze --
MINAKO looms over RAYE.
MINAKO
RRRRAAAAYE!
RAYE
Hey, I'm just looking out for you --
MINAKO
The hell you are! Do you think it's
not as obvious as a fiddler on the
roof what you're doing?
RAYE
Obvious as a what?
MINAKO
Are you so *jealous* that you can't
stand the thought of me finding
someone to be with?
RAYE
PERPLEXED Jealous?!
MINAKO
Yes! Jealous! Serena has Darien!
Amy has Greg! Lita has ... anyway,
this is the only relationship I've
had with a guy other than my *cat*
for over four years, and you're
trying to ruin it because *you*
don't have anyone!
RAYE stares at MINAKO with a shocked look.
RAYE
Girl, you are *so* far out of it
that it's not even funny.
MINAKO
Oh, am I? Oh, *am* I?
RAYE
Yes, you are!
MINAKO
Fine. Then stay the hell away from
my lover! Who he is or what he is
are none of your business!
She storms away. RAYE stands alone for a moment.
RAYE
STRANGLED Lover?!
The scene begins to shift to an aerial view of the city.
AKANE (V.O.)
And so, almost all the players were
on the field, though only a small
handful knew that the field existed.
There remained only two final events
of relevance to this story on that
first night, each tied intimately
to the other. They began in the
vicinity of a certain temple in
Nekomi.
Cut to the front of the temple in question, then to the garage. MORISATO
KEIICHI heads towards his motorcycle, zipping up his jacket as he does
so. He climbs on.
KEIICHI
CALL Belldandy?
BELLDANDY (O.S.)
Coming, Keiichi-san!
She walks out, wearing a fashionable skirt and blazer, and slides easily
into the sidecar. KEIICHI and BELLDANDY share a quiet smile before he
guns the motor, and heads out towards the temple's main doors, which URD
-- wearing a microminiskirt and halter -- is holding open. KEIICHI pulls
to a stop just before heading out to speak to her.
KEIICHI
Um, Urd ... I don't want you to
think that I don't trust you to not
fight with Skuld --
URD
Fight? Me? Would I do that?
KEIICHI's long-suffering expression gives all the answer anyone could ever
need for that particular question.
KEIICHI
-- well, anyway, I'd like to see the
temple in one piece when we get back
from our date.
URD
Of course! Don't worry about a
thing, K-1. You two just have fun!
KEIICHI still looks nervous, but BELLDANDY is smiling sunnily as they
drive off. URD waves.
URD
WHISPER And have wild kinky sex
while you're having fun ... ah, if
only Urdesiac Number 98 was ready
to go.
URD wanders back into the temple, and spies SKULD working hard on
KEIICHI's scratchbuilt computer. The monitor displays what looks like a
map of Tokyo with a number of blinking dots on it. URD heads over.
URD
AFFECTIONATE Hey, brat, whatcha
doin'?
SKULD
My *job*. You remember, what we
*should* be doing instead of wasting
time with Keiichi -- and in your
case, aiding and abetting his
efforts to get his hentai hands on
Belldandy?
URD is interested despite herself.
URD
So those are concentrations of bugs?
SKULD
SHAKES HEAD Uh uh. Worse. Even a
concentration of bugs with about the
same density as a planet wouldn't
produce these kinds of readings --
these are nexi of improbability.
URD
Ooh baby baby! I remember those ...
aren't they supposed to be little
pockets of chaos left over from the
time of the Elder Gods?
SKULD
Supposedly. BEAT If you're dumb
and superstitious enough to believe
in the Elder Gods, at least.
URD and SKULD trade hairy eyeballs.
SKULD
Anyway, what's *really* odd about
the particular nexi that I'm
tracking is that they seem to be
mobile, although they have ...
places that they "like" to be.
Take this one in Jyuban, for
instance -- it moves around a lot
during the day, but during the
evenings it seems to stay at *this*
location. POINTS But the even
*scarier* one is this one in Nerima
-- it wasn't there when I checked
yesterday, but there was a *smaller*
one in that same location, and it
seems to be combining with that one.
URD
How do you know that it's not just
the same one that got bigger for
some reason?
SKULD
Because if a nexus of improbability
started growing at an exponential
rate -- which it would *have* to in
order to become that big -- every
divinity in Heaven would be down
here trying to contain it, and I'm
*pretty* sure that we would have
been ordered back home by now. So
no such luck ...
URD
So now what? You gonna just boot
this information upstairs?
SKULD
Well, only First Class Divinities
are supposed to do investigations of
nexi of improbability.
URD
In other words we should get
Belldandy to do it.
SKULD
Right.
URD
Yawn. Boring. The two of us can
handle it --
SKULD
Oh no you don't, Urd! If you wanna
get yourself in more trouble with
the Almighty than you already are,
go right ahead, but include me out!
URD
SLY Welllll, when you put it like
that ...
SKULD
SUSPICIOUS What?
URD
I guess we'll just have to tell
Belldandy all about it when she gets
home from her date tonight ... who
knows, maybe we'll even be able to
check it out this very night ...
SKULD
*VERY* SUSPICIOUS Uh-huh ...
URD
Keiichi will probably insist on
coming along though. BEAT You
know, if I recall correctly, my
first major discipline violation
involved a small nexus ... yeah!
It was in a nexus of improbability
that I first met that hunk Sobekh
and lost my --
SKULD plugs her ears.
SKULD
I do not want to *hear* this story!
URD
GOES FOR THE KILL Wouldn't it be
great if Keiichi and Belldandy wound
up in a nexus together and got
inspired to --
SKULD
Okay! Okay! OKAY! I'll help you
out, just quit putting disgusting
images in my head!
URD
MUTTERED Game, set, and match.
ALOUD Okay, let's go out to Nerima
tomorrow then.
Cut to high above the Temple. MARA -- a pale-skinned woman with a
symetrical tatoos on her brow and cheeks, dressed in clothing that is even
more outrageously exploitative than URD's -- is floating and looking down.
MARA
Ah-ha! So, going to check out a
nexus, are they? Well, they will
learn the hard way that such things
can be easily used to grant me my
vengeance on those rotten godesses!
So says Mara! Demon First Cla--
Huh?
MARA's gaze is suddenly drawn in the direction of Mount Fuji. She stands
stock still for a moment, then slowly begins to shake her head, clearly
shocked by something.
MARA
No way ... NO WAY!
Immediately, she is flying at top speed towards Mount Fuji.
MARA
I don't believe this! How could
anyone, even a *mortal*, be so
stupid as to try *that* summons?
Not even the Queen of Hel is that
crazy, and --
A small pebble hurtles up from the city to strike MARA between the
eyeballs, stunning her in mid monologue, and causing her to drop like a
rock. She crash lands in an alley, coming to rest on a pile of garbage.
We see her from the perspective of someone standing on the roof of a
building overlooking the alley.
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
How appropriate.
The point of view shifts to look at the gathering clouds over Mount Fuji.
Cut to the someplace high on Mount Fuji, a barren rocky clearing. A crude
*inverted* pentagram has been drawn in the ground, with a fire in the
middle. HAPPOSAI is dancing around the pentagram, chanting in Old
Tibetan. His chanting grows fervent, until at last he stands before the
apex of the pyramid.
HAPPOSAI
QUIET And now ... the sacrifice.
Tears begin to flow down his face.
HAPPOSAI
Forgive me this, my darling one!
>From within his shirt he draws a *huge* bra, and *tries* to fling it into
the fire. But he can't bring himself to do it. He tries several times,
and he cannot do it. He clutches the bra to himself.
HAPPOSAI
If there were any other way ... I
would take it! But I know of no
other way to accomplish my -- no,
*our* vengeance! So I *MUST*!
And with a horrid cry, he flings the bra into the fire at the centre of
the pentagram. It turns black and begins to crumble quickly.
HAPPOSAI
COME FORTH OH LORD OF DARKNESS!
The fire blazes up suddenly, burning so brightly that HAPPOSAI has to look
away. Our point of view is from a position somewhere along the midpoint
between him and the centre of the pentagram. The fire dies down swiftly,
but an immense shadow grows up from the shadow of the flames. HAPPOSAI
turns to look at the source of the shadow ... and pales.
HAPPOSAI
Um ... gee. I was expecting someone
... smaller.
THE ADVERSARY
WHO CALLS?
HAPPOSAI straightens.
HAPPOSAI
I, Happosai, Master of the School of
Musabetsu Kakuto, have called you
here!
THE ADVERSARY
WHY?
HAPPOSAI
You will give me the power I need to
avenge myself on my disobedient
student, Saotome Ranma, and on one
who has aided him, an American
named --
THE ADVERSARY
MASEFIELD.
HAPPOSAI seems ... shaken by that.
HAPPOSAI
Uh -- I ... I take it that you've
heard of him?
THE ADVERSARY
YES.
HAPPOSAI
ENTHUSED So much the better, for
you will be avenging yourself on
your enemy as well as mine! Such
a good deed ... ahem. I offer as
payment for your services the souls
of all who stand with our enemies
and against us!
THE ADVERSARY
INTERESTING.
HAPPOSAI
Then you agree?
THE ADVERSARY
I SPOKE OF THE WAY IN WHICH YOU
SOUGHT TO SUMMON ME. THE SACRIFICE
OF A VIRGIN IS MEANT TO BE SYMBOLIC
NOT ONLY OF LOSS OF PURITY, BUT ALSO
OF THE EXTREME DANGER WHICH AWAITS
ANYONE WHO TRAFFICKS WITH DEMONKIND.
AS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL
BREEDING FEMALES THREATENS THE
FUTURE OF YOUR SPECIES, SO DOES THIS
RITUAL. BEAT BUT INSTEAD YOU
GAVE UP THAT WHICH YOUR DISEASED
MIND VIEWS AS THE MOST PRECIOUS
THING IN THE UNIVERSE ... WHICH IS
ALSO THE SOURCE OF YOUR POWER,
PLACING YOURSELF IN JEOPARDY.
HAPPOSAI
Uh ... yeah! MUTTERED I thought
the book meant a virgin white --
The shadow moves up higher, almost touching HAPPOSAI as he looks away for
a moment. When HAPPOSAI realizes what has happened, his eyes get wide as
saucers again.
HAPPOSAI
Hey! How -- you're not supposed to
be able to leave the pentagram
without my permission!!
THE ADVERSARY
YES. THE BINDING SPELL YOU USED WAS
WELL DONE ... IT WOULD INDEED HAVE
KEPT ME IN THE PENTAGRAM INTO WHICH
YOU SUMMONED ME. BEAT IF YOU HAD
SUMMONED ME. BEAT AS I SAID ...
INTERESTING.
And the shadow rushes even higher as our point of view comes into an
extreme close up on HAPPOSAI's shocked face.
HAPPOSAI
Oh my.
Everything goes black.
AKANE (V.O.)
And that was the beginning of the
War against the Adversary.
TO BE CONTINUED
Together Again: 1996 Chapter, 04/20/98
