Tengukuri...Copyrighted in the US 2023 Page #13

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MIKKI:

So what do we do now?

MASON:

Well, we start just…talking to people.

MIKKI:

Ya? What do you ask? How do you ask? You think anybody speaks English?

MASON:

Ya know…I’d be surprised if no one does, but’ll be surprised if we find them.

They nod in silent agreement and continue walking. Mason points over to a group of three women and one man, working a small garden in front of a modest building. He waves.

MASON:

Konichiwa!

GARDEN MAN:

Konichiwa! (Goes on in Japanese)

MASON:

See, it’s that easy. (Whispered to Mikki) This is a beautiful garden!

Mason motions to the garden and smiles. The Garden Man motions them over. He speaks in Japanese, very quickly. The women walk over and greet them. Garden Man laughs and hands Mason the farm tool he is working with, it’s very old, maybe rusty, pitted, visibly sharp though. He puts his hand on Mason’s back and leads him gently to the spot he was working in the garden. The women do the same with Mikki. Unthreatening. Mason picks up words here and there as the man and the women all pour out Japanese and try to introduce themselves. *****Music here***** They all work the garden together this way, we watch baskets fill with a day’s harvest. People walking by and looking, and the light change and the day is clearly moving on. Mason looks down at the old tool in his hands and realizes what he somehow missed all day…it’s a Kama, Mason saw the women using sais, and one using a tonfa, it seems to shock him.

MASON:

Mik! Hey!

She looks up.

MASON:

Ninja weapons.

Mikki looks down at the sai in her hand, it takes a second to get it.

MIKKI:

Whaaaaaa??

Every one looks up at the word “ninja,” creepy vibe suddenly. Work stops (they were clearly almost done, but it feels sudden). The man smiles and approaches Mason with his hand out.

***NOW INDICATES SUBTITLED JAPANESE***

GARDEN MAN:

***Mason-san, happy happy. Go, wash. Tonight, you eat with us. Families together.***

Mason smiles and bows.

MASON:

Hai, Juku-san, Domo arrigato gozaimas. Hai. ***Tonight*** we’d love to eat with you.

MIKKI:

Domo arrigato. Sayonara

They all say their goodbyes and bows. Mason and Mikki walk away from the garden as the other four clean up.

MASON:

C’mon Mik. We’re gonna go clean up and then come back, I think to eat with their family.

MIKKI:

Cool.

MASON:

Did you have fun?

MIKKI:

Ya that was awesome.

Shot from behind, they walk back down the main path.

36 - EXT - MAIN PATH - DAY

Late day; Mason and Mikki walk down the main path back toward the house they worked at earlier.

MASON:

I’m not gonna lie, my hands are kinda sore.

MIKKI:

Ya, that was a weird first day.

MASON:

This whole place is weird. Like, I don’t know, like there’s life behind every single move that a person makes. Zat make sense?

MIKKI:

Ya, it does. It felt like, the way those girls were teaching me to use my hands, I could see myself using those same motions cooking or painting…fighting.

MASON:

Ya, exactly. (PAUSE) So much life in every breath here.

As the two approach the gardened home, they notice a night watchman on each side of the road. The men clack nunchaku in their hands, alerting the people inside that someone is approaching. Mason and Mikki notice the practice and look at each other with a “wtf” look.

The Garden Man comes out with other men. Mason and Mikki are surprised.

MASON:

Juku-San, Konichiwa!

THE GARDEN MAN:

Mason-san, Konichiwa! ***My Friend, I’m so glad you could join us. Your labors are helping feed 3 families gathering here tonight.***

MASON:

(Laughing) Ok, ok, ***slower, slower, Japanese***

The men have clearly started drinking already. The get together is more than just three families, there are fifty plus people there. They are walked inside where it is Japanese chaos, food, smiling people & cups of alcohol. Chaotic but fun scene, introductions abound, Juku, The Garden Man, shows them the food now prepared that they had harvested earlier. Mason and Mikki are celebratory, happy and lost in time here. Quick Break.

37 - EXT - GARDEN MAN’S BACK PATIO - NIGHT

Mason and Mikki are sitting, feet dangling off the patio, holding beverages and laughing. They overlook a small fish pond. A woman can be seen -blurry- opening a sliding door and closing it, coming toward them.

YUA:

Hello! American? English?

MASON:

Oh my God! Yes! American! English!

MIKKI:

What?! No way?!

YUA:

Oh! Hello! I am Yua, this my uncle’s house. Thank you for helping our village eat together tonight.

MASON:

So cool! I’m Mason Neely, this is my niece, Mikki. Thank you so much for having us.

YUA:

Yes, Mason and Mikki, yes, I hear. Uh, I am from Tengukuri, but I study in San Francisco, horticulture. Then I come back home, to help my home. Now I am home and I am glad you’re here.

MASON:

We haven’t heard English in a while, it’s kinda nice.

YUA:

I thought that when I hear you here.

MASON:

Well thank you for coming to meet us, this place is beautiful and …uh… old fashioned and … ya, I’ve been kind of speechless since we got here.

MIKKI:

I think it’s awesome.

YUA:

I think my home awesome too! Why you come to Tengukuri?

MASON:

Uh, I, uh, write stories. And someone I met back home told me a story about your village and I just had to come and see if it was true. I love Japan. Every time I’ve been here I’ve felt at home. And I just had to bring my favorite niece in the whole world.

MIKKI:

Ha, your only niece.

MASON:

Ya. I wish I could have brought my dog. HA.

They have a laugh.

YUA:

These my favorite people too. Four families here tonight, One clan. One corner of Tengukuri. And we have many dogs to love here. What your plans for your time here?

MASON:

Well, meet people, hopefully talk and just hang out with people. We’ll earn our keep in exchange for time and stories. HA. As a writer I guess I’ll know the stories when I see them.

YUA:

There are many stories here. I hope you find them, and honor them. I will go to village messengers tomorrow and tell people who you are. Then you wander through, ok? Take your time. I will meet you down the cherry path in two days, ok? I go out of town tomorrow.

MASON:

Cherry path, two days, of course, thank you so much. And thank you for talking to people, we won’t be a burden at all, or disrespectful. Can I ask, is Tengukuri safe, for the most part? Is there places we shouldn’t go?

YUA:

Tengukuri, no fear person, Mason-san. You are safe from people here, animal wander through village, get past outer guards sometimes, that your only concern. Be watchful at night.

MASON:

Ok, thank you so much.

YUA:

My pleasure to meet you both. I go back inside now, come eat more, I introduce you to my family and friends.

MIKKI:

I want more food.

MASON:

Word, I’m in. We’ll be in in just a minute.

YUA:

Word, yes, HA, yes, whenever you ready.

MASON:

A pleasure to meet you Yua, thank you for finding us.

YUA:

Oh yes, well, you not lost

They have a strange laugh together. She was lovingly serious though, and intentional. They thank each other again and Yua goes back inside.

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