Tengukuri...Copyrighted in the US 2023 Page #10

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MASON:

Ya I know. But my D-bird isn’t very nice either. And she’s beautiful.

MIKKI:

She’s nice. To some people. She’s like you. She’s sweet, but uh, kinda bitey sometimes.

They laugh together.

MASON:

I’m getting kinda antsy. Do you wanna go out?

MIKKI:

Ok.

MASON:

Alright lets do dis. Konichiwa, Arrigato, Sumimasen, remember those three things.

They jump up off the beds and scramble to get their things together. Setting up for the montage.

MASON:

We only have one night here, and we’re on the train to Osaka in the morning. We’ll get to hang more when we come back through.

MIKKI:

Cool. Ya I want to see that museum you were telling me about.

MASON:

Oh, the digital museum thing, ya (fade out).

The scene fades as the two head to the door. And Southbound Montage begins.

Digital Museum

Listening Bar

Anime Stores

Gadget Stores

Sleeping

The tire of traveling

Train to Osaka

24 - EXT. - OSAKA STREET - NIGHT

Mason and Mikki are walking casually down a small back street in Osaka, pausing to look in windows to see what is open and what is happening. People are out everywhere. Mason makes his way to an a-frame sign and motions for Mikki.

MASON:

This is the spot, I can feel it. They have noodles you’ll like, and vegetables I like…this is the spot, K?

MIKKI:

K. Sounds good.

Mason and Mikki head inside through a sliding door.

25 - INT. - OSAKA RESTAURANT - NIGHT

The restaurant is basically a square table directly to the side of a visible kitchen. The table is half full, they are met with pleasantries and laughter. They bow to their new neighbors and do their best to communicate.

MASON:

Konichiwa. (Motions to the table and asks to sit)

The patrons are jovial and welcoming.

RIKU:

Konichiwa. American? You like speak English?

They take a seat, Mason is surprised.

MASON:

Yes! Thank you very much. Do you mind if we join you?

RIKU:

Oh, Please, please, sit, sit.

MASON:

Domo Arrigato. My name is Mason. This is my niece Mikki.

RIKU:

Hai, Riku.

Riku points to himself, bows and introduces two other men, and two women, all in their late 20’s. They are laughing a lot and talking to each other. The entire scene is very friendly. Mason and Mikki make eye contact and bow in kind.

MASON:

It’s nice to meet you all. What is good to eat? My niece wants noodles.

A waitress comes to the table with food for the others and asks Mason what they want.

MASON:

Ichi biru, Onegaishimasu. Ni yasai to ramen… and uhhhh…..

He looks at Riku for help.

RIKU:

Atsuage, Piman no nikusume, onegaishimasu.

The waitress bows and goes to the kitchen. There is conversation and what sounds like celebration coming from the kitchen. Mikki thinks it’s real funny. Riku is smiling, gives a thumbs up and turns to talk to his friends.

MIKKI:

What are we getting?

MASON:

I ordered us ramen noodles, some veggies, he ordered us some fried tofu, and something else, I’m not real sure, but we’re gonna go ahead and eat it.

MIKKI:

Okay, I’ll try. Why don’t you talk to them about Tengukuri? Maybe one of them knows something about it.

The waitress returns with Mason’s beer and he takes a long drink of it.

MASON:

They all look a little young for fairy tales. I don’t want to be weird. We’ll just see where conversation leads.

Riku’s attention turns back to Mason.

RIKU:

Mason-san, what brings you to Osaka, Japan?

The table grows quiet. Mikki looks at Mason as if to ask, “Did you need a sign?” He is slightly uncomfortable suddenly. He takes another drink of his beer.

MASON:

Uh, I’m a writer. And I’m searching for some answers to some things I’ve heard. And I never miss a chance to come to your beautiful country.

RIKU:

Oh, arrigato, arrigato.

Riku translates. One of the girls with Riku speaks up.

GIRL 1

What you search for?

MASON:

A village…trapped in time.

The others don’t understand, Riku translates.

GIRL 1

Japan have many village like this you speak.

They talk quickly between themselves, then one of the other men speaks up.

MAN 2

Tengukuri?

MASON:

Hai. That’s right. You know it?

Riku translates and the man goes on. Riku translates for Mason.

RIKU:

He says, “It where goblin sleep. Even government know this. No one who go to Tengukuri, talk about Tengukuri.” You come to talk about Tengukuri?

MASON:

Domo arrigato. I came to hopefully tell its story. Maybe help Americans stop stereotyping everything outside of its own culture. Stop believing that everything they see on T.V. is perfectly well represented.

RIKU:

You tell the truth. You are a truth writer? Kampai, to truth!

They all cheers, exchanging thoughtful looks. Fast forward, drinks and food. Jazz plays. Fade out.

26 - EXT. - OUTSIDE OSAKA RESTAURANT - NIGHT

The girls pour out of the restaurant first, then the boys. Mason leads the men out, they are enamored with their new friend, and the girls are doting over Mikki and teaching her Japanese words. Everyone is hugging. Riku stops to talk to Mason, more serious.

RIKU:

Mason, very nice to meet you both and I want you to hear something. People say (Speaking Japanese first); “Bring Goblins to where Goblins sleep, both be awake.” You understand?

Mason is very good at making anyone feel heard, validated, most of the time. He nods.

MASON:

I do, I absolutely do Riku. Thank you so much for that. I’ll continue to approach Tengukuri with the purest heart possible. And thank you so much for the time with your friends tonight, I’m so glad you were here. I felt a little less bumbley tonight.

Riku is confused by the word choice but he gets the drift, he is very serious. now.

RIKU:

I mean, don’t bring luggage from heart to Tengukuri.

Mason’s turn to be confused.

MASON:

Thanks buddy, really.

They shake hands and bow, Mason closes his eyes. He opens them as he turns to look over his shoulder and get eyes on Mikki, the girls are nowhere in sight. Mason starts to panic.

MASON:

Mikki!! Where the hell did everyone go man?

As he turns to look at Riku, no one is there, everything seems to be closed that was open a minute earlier. Mason spins around, he is the only person out, the street seems darker. In the distance we see the man in black, with the Tengu mask, his arms crossed in front of him. Mason begins to run in the mans direction toward an intersection but is unaware of him. The man in black fades into the shadows. Mason gets to the corner of a building and looks left, no one is there, he looks right and we see the group walking down the street.

MASON:

Hey!! Did you forget something?

They all turn toward him and laugh, motioning him to the group.

MIKKI:

C’mon Uncle Mase! They’re walking us back to the Inn!

Mason heads toward the group. He’s puzzled. He had deep fear…only because he thought for one second that anything bad could have happened to Mikki. Fade out.

27 - EXT - TRAIN - DAY

Mason and Mikki sit on a train. She is nodding off on his shoulder but a bump wakes her up.

MASON:

You ok?

MIKKI:

Ya, I’m just tired.

MASON:

You can put your head over there, the put your stinky feet up if you want.

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