Tengukuri...Copyrighted in the US 2023 Page #17

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YUA:

Sleep well friend. Eat well. Dream well. See you tomorrow.

Mason waves and stares. She has his attention. Sobo interrupts his thoughts and somewhat aggressively urges him inside. He walks toward Mikki and grabs some of her things. They both head in. Mason is still watching Yua. Mikki is intently watching him. Sobo motions them both inside from behind. She looks back at Yua and laughs lightly. Cut.

45 - INT - THE INN - DAY

It’s morning. Black, but the girls can be heard training with the bo out back. Mason is sleeping. His eyes open and his face goes sad, in pain. He closes his eyes and tosses and turns for a minute. Uncomfortable, he gets up. He stretches his body. It appears to be changing, growing more hairy, even dirty looking. Less elegant. He gets up and puts on a few more pieces of clothing, his Mariner’s hat. He walks out into the main lobby then to the back.

Sobo, Yua and Mikki, all working the bo. He watches them so delicately but precisely work the bo. They all look like ninja. They stop and Yua looks back. She smiles excitedly and waves. He returns the sentiment.

MIKKI:

Mornin Uncle Mase!

Sobo waves and mumbles Japanese at him. She leaves view and Mikki follows. Yua trots quickly to Mason.

YUA:

Konichiwa Mason-san. ***Good Morning***

MASON:

***Good Morning, Yua. How are you? Did you sleep well?**

YUA:

***Ah, Mason-san, your Japanese sounds so natural. I am good, tired from the riding, but good. I slept very well. Very good dreams.***

MASON:

Ok, did you say you had very good, uh, d..dreams? Is that right?

YUA:

Hai, yes, you are like parrot that make the sound but don’t know words meaning.

MASON:

HA! That’s good, ya. Ya I am.

They look around, enthusiastic about each other’s presence.

YUA:

So, I was thinking, and I already talk to Mikki, which, it’s funny, she was only okay if you are ok, I was going to take her out in the town. You be with Mason-san today. You like that plan?

Hesitant. Thoughtful, Mason agrees. His smile disappears. He fakes it.

MASON:

Ya, ok. If that’s what Mik wants, I could use the time to really explore. Sure.

YUA:

Ok good. Lets go eat, then we leave. Or you stay, or whatever you doing. We leave.

They walk off together.

MASON:

I feel like all you do is eat.

Cut.

46 - EXT - CHERRY PATH - DAY

Mason is walking by himself up the path. Very sunny. As he is almost to the meadow he turns his attention to a small path that leads into an unusually heavily canopied mini- forest off to the right. Returning to Tengukuri he saw two men in black walking, into the tree line, then vanish like vapor. He walks toward the path and examines its beginnings. It looks intentional, thick and camoflauged but intentional. He looks up into the ominous tree line and heads toward the darkness. He doesn’t evaporate though, he methodically places his footsteps one by one and eventually leaves the camera’s view.

47 - EXT - THE TRAILS - DAY

The Trails seem basketed in and dark, dirt paths that loop around everywhere. Four other people are scattered in pairs. They are trotting along the path, exercising; what is this place. Mason is puzzled. He starts on the trail if front of him that leads upward. He watches one of the pairs. They face each other and bow. They get back on the trail together and walk. One of them then disappears, like vapor, the other starts a dead sprint and then poof! Seems to disappear.

MASON:

What the hell?

Mason climbs the trail with curiosity, and looks back at the other pair. They are gone. Mason speaks to himself.

MASON:

Alright f***ers, you trying to play some sorta game? I got your game right here.

He heads deeper into the trails. So many choices, so many turns on the trails, but they all loop back around, never dead ending. He continues to see the pairs, then they seem to disappear. This goes on for a few montage minutes, until Mason becomes so dizzied by it all and leans up against a tree. He looks around out of breath and confused. He yells:

MASON:

Konichiwa!!!?? … Konichiwa!!!??

Off in the distance can be heard several men … “Mason-san” … long pause … Konichiwa!!!

MASON:

You’re messing with me. What the friggin hell?

Out of breath, he heads down the trails he’s been working his way up. He’s shaking his head, frustrated, BAM!!

NINJA 1

Mason-San, ***We were just on the trails, are you ok?***

Mason is scared shitless, this guys seemed to appear out of nowhere.

MASON:

Oh my God dude, I’m ok. You scared the piss out of me.

NINJA 1

Sumimasen. Sumimasen. ***We are practicing twilight eyes. Trails copy twilight. Would you like to try?***

MASON:

Sumimasen. ***I don’t understand*** You’re “rehearsing” ***practicing something*** Something “eyes” ***eyes*** I don’t know what the hell you guys are doing or saying, show me.

NINJA 2

Come Mason-san, come.!

Mason jumps in fright, that dude wasn’t standing to his left a minute ago.

MASON:

Holy sh*t!! Christ on a cookie! Where the fRick did you come from!?

NINJA 2

***Come with us***

The two urge him on. Return of the Jedi rotating fade. Cut.

48 - EXT - THE TRAILS - DAY

Ninja 2 can be seen trotting along the path. From a 45 degree angle behind him on his right, out of a bush, silently and with a knife hand strike like a lightning bolt comes Mason.

MASON:

(Whispered) Sayonara.

NINJA 2

Ahhhh!! Mason-san ***You are a fast learner, very good, I didn’t…***

Ninja 1 comes from the other side, seemingly out of nowhere, with a barrage of attacks. Comedically enough…

NINJA 1

(Whispered) Sayonara.

NINJA 2 seems unfazed. He brushes him off.

NINJA 2

Hai, domo arrigato.

He never breaks eye contact with Mason.

MASON:

Arrigato.

The three laugh together in great joy and fellowship. Cut.

48 - EXT - TRAIL HEAD - DAY

Twilight for real. Five men are together (Shoju, Hakaima, two others). The locals are talking as Mason ties his shoes and laughs. Mason is arguing with them. They all get up and begin to walk off together, one puts an arm around Mason. It’s non-stop chatter and happiness. They walk down the main path.

49- Voiceover time. Pen-over

Mason’s voice can be heard, clearly reading from his own writings about his time in Tengukuri. His handwriting can be seen sporadically on the screen. We watch him and Mikki farming, training bo, catching fish, riding horses, walking the trails and sitting in a bloom vanishing meadow. (Pearsonal instrumental)

The Days are running together now.

I feel as trapped in time as this place seems to be.

So much peace here, harmony I guess.

Why do I keep getting so pissed off??

Can’t stop thinking about Dickey.

I miss Delilah-girl so bad.

Mikki is lost in the goodness of this place…the purity.

What’s in the shadows? There’s something lurking in the dark.

There’s a building up the hill, I want to know what it’s for.

I miss Meg. She’s the only adult I have…

Why do I keep getting so f***in angry!!??

Maybe I’m wrong about Lee. Petey could be a real dick.

We’ve met this old man, he’s magical.

The old man said, "it’s not about control but submission.”

I can’t go home

I want to watch the M’s smoke the Angels, that smug ass Dylan.

I wish I was a SEAL.

I love Mikki more than anything. I want to die for her.

I want a drink. It’s been weeks.

I miss my dad more than anything.

He would have stayed here.

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