Tengukuri...Copyrighted in the US 2023 Page #14

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MASON:

That’s rad. I hope she’s around A LOT.

MIKKI:

She’s pretty.

MASON:

Uh, she’s like your age.

MIKKI:

She’s a college student Uncle Mase!

MASON:

Ya and I’m like a hundred…I’m just grateful to meet someone else that speaks English. I mean, Osaka was the last time we heard that, right?

MIKKI:

A hundred. Ya. Ya, Osaka. Crazy. I wonder how many twelve year olds get to do what I’m doing?

MASON:

Not many honey. From any country. And I may not always be able to offer adventures like this. Some seasons are just going to be us doing the same things over and over again in the same places, but we’ll share in the memories of our journeys. Ya know?

MIKKI:

Ya. I want more food.

MASON:

Word. Lets go.

They get up and head toward the sliding door, as it opens the group gets loud as though they are guests of honor. Cut with door sliding shut.

38 - EXT - CHERRY PATH - DAY

Mason and Mikki are walking on a dirt path lined by robust blooming cherry trees. Blossoms litter the ground and float through the air. A slight breeze is about them.

MIKKI:

How far do you think we’re supposed to go?

MASON:

Uh, I don’t know, you think we were supposed to stop somewhere back there?

MIKKI:

I’m twelve. (Deadpan)

MASON:

Uh yeah, I don’t know. We’ll just go up a little bit further. It’s funny, it’s like people here hang out in pockets, never alone, and some spots are just void of anyone. Have you noticed that?

MIKKI:

I’ve noticed it’s either people, or no people, is that what you mean?

MASON:

Ya, it just seems … unique to me.

MIKKI:

Oh look, somebody.

Up ahead a person can be seen walking down out of a meadow on the side of the path where trees appear to be clearing, other people become visible. They are sitting on the ground. The person gets to the middle of the road and starts waving a big happy wave. Yua.

MIKKI:

Hey it’s Yua! Hi Yua!!

YUA:

Konichiwa!! ***Come join us***

MASON & MIKKI

Konichiwa!!

They continue toward Yua, reach her, greet her, and she leads them over to the field.

YUA:

This ***Blossom Field*** Blossom Field. It is place where all village come to celebrate Cherry Blossoms. Sakura sacred to Japanese people. Today you join us to celebrate and be together.

MASON:

This place is absolutely beautiful.

YUA:

Every child that has ever grown up in Tengukuri has worked this place, learned about the Sakura, learned from the Sakura. It is hundreds of years old.

MIKKI:

Wow…

MASON:

This is really incredible.

Small groups and individuals are scattered about peaceably all around the meadow. Some eat, some talk, many just sitting, maybe meditating as if hearing wisdom pour out of the breeze. She motions over to a big animal skin rug a couple people sit near and on.

YUA:

Come, sit.

MASON:

This is amazing, what is this?

Mason kneels to touch rug.

YUA:

This bear skin rug. It has been in my family for generations.

They all sit and look around. Some people don’t even seem to notice them, others point and smile and even wave.

YUA:

Do you take food or drink?

They both turn it down. Yua speaks with the others nearby, offering and serving them food, then turns attention back to them.

YUA:

Do you have many Sakura where you are from?

MASON:

We do actually, in fact it’s been a historically Japanese influenced area where we live. We have Cherry Blossom festivals … but, they don’t look anything like this. I mean, I guess we’re trying to do the same thing, but like a lot of what we do as Americans, things tend to turn in to typical American chaos and self-centeredness. We’re like a carbon copy of things that we don’t really understand and never experienced but we deny that we are just a copy at all.

YUA:

Hai. I see this in America.

MASON:

Hmm. Ya I bet you did. Oopsie poopsie.

Quiet. They watch the world around with curiosity.

YUA:

Where are you from?

MASON:

Seattle, Washington, on the west coast. Do you know it?

YUA:

Oh yes! I know Seattle. I have cousin that leave Tengukuri, she live in Seattle, I stay there two night when I go to San Francisco. You both live there?

MIKKI:

Ya. I live with my mom and her boyfriend Lee.

Yua looks at Mason to see if there is anyone he lives with. He catches it.

MASON:

I live with my dog. And I bug them all the time.

He is uncomfortable. He goes in to work mode.

MASON:

Yua, if this is such a central part of this village’s history tell me why. Why is it so significant here?

YUA:

Not just here, all Japan. When I was in America I see something that drives so much choices. Death. Really, fear of death, so people avoid; nicer homes, more electronics, more medicine, more t.v. less air of nature, less birds, less health, less life. In Japan, death part of life. Not the saddest part, just a part.

MASON:

See, I’ve always found that hard to understand, or hard to accept. When the end comes, it sucks, to lose people, to lose yourself. It’s so final, so devastating. So yeah, life is about staving that off and protecting the people you love from it. Death is a cancer, it picks us all apart, one cell at a time.

YUA:

For only a short time the blossoms bless our lives. Only a short time we bloom Mason-san, but amazing how colorful it is. The blossoms fall to ground and return to dirt. They always bloom again somehow. No matter how strong the winter. How beautiful it is to see one blossom at a time, it feels like you can watch the early blossoms growing. Death is only a single petal falling to the ground, one at a time they fall, one at a time they bloom again. Life is bigger than death. In Japan, there is a good death, in America, it seem death only sad, no hope in something new. Sakura never bloom the same way twice.

Mason seems troubled and relieved by this as he watches. Mikki watches him intently.

YUA:

As a girl, I lay here and look up. Just watch.

MASON:

That sounds nice.

YUA:

Please, lay. Look up at all the life. All people not blossom, all people tree.

Mason and Mikki obligingly lay down and look up. They are head to head almost. They lay as we look up between the trees at the sky. Life can be seen, and felt flitting about. The trees seem to breath. (INSTRUMENTAL GUITAR)

MIKKI:

I wonder what mom is doing.

MASON:

I bet she’s missing you like crazy.

MIKKI:

I miss her a lot right now. But it’s not bad…

Mikki’s eyes begin to well up with tears, but she is smiling.

MASON:

My baby sister is so amazing. I love her more than anything but you. love you Mik.

MIKKI:

I love you Uncle Mason. I never want to lose you. I’m afraid to lose you.

MASON:

I’m afraid I’ll fail you Michelle.

As they sit and stare at the skies and the blossoms and life all about them, we are zoomed out to the beauty of it all. Mason and Mikki become lost in the life that surrounds them.

YUA:

I think you not come to Tengukuri to fail, Mason-san. There is phone in closest village, one day on horse. I can take you.

Mikki sits up.

MIKKI:

Really?! Uncle Mason, can we go? I know it’s probably far but I’d really like to call home.

MASON:

Sure Mik, yeah. Maybe… in a few days, or when’s it convenient for you Yua? I’d be happy to pay…or whatever for something like that.

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