Tengukuri...Copyrighted in the US 2023 Page #20

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54 - EXT - THE INN - DAY

It is morning, we’re looking at The Inn. Mikki walks through the lobby and out the front door, down the steps and out on to the main path. She continues to walk through the main part of the village alone. Occasionally she smiles and waves at villagers that greet her. We’re just following her. She heads right to the part of the village that produces hard items, the blacksmith, the potter, textile shop, etc. She passes a couple shops, continuing to greet people. She turns again and walks into a ground level shop filled with the sounds of hammering. The blacksmith shop. She walks through the front door.

MIKKI:

Konichiwa.

BLACKSMITH:

Mikki-san, Konichiwa! ***How are you today?***

MIKKI:

***I am well. Is Shoju here? He teach me today.***

BLACKSMITH:

***Yes, he is out back, he is waiting for you. Have fun my sweet.***

MIKKI:

Uh… Domo arrigato.

Mikki walks out the back door to a “product testing area.” Shoju, the blacksmith’s apprentice is facing a wooden man and fumbling with something in his hands. He kneels down into a crouch, then springs up with lighting speed and throws two shuriken at the wooden dummy, they land right in the Adam’s apple.

MIKKI:

Whoa! That was awesome.

Shoju turns to Mikki, smiles and bows.

SHOJU:

Mikki-san, hello. ***Thank you for being on time.***

Mikki doesn’t understand but has developed grace enough to move along in conversation. There is a confidence and maturity in her that we have not seen yet. She bows.

MIKKI:

***Teach today?***

SHOJU:

Yes, yes. Come, come.

He waves her over. Shoju is 22 or 23 with boyish features but manly hands. He keeps physical distance from Mikki at all times to show his honor and protect hers. Their interactions can be construed as big brother and little sister. Their interactions appear very sweet this way. He has in his hands and on a table next to them a display of freshly crafted throwing stars. They appear razor sharp, finely crafted.

SHOJU:

Shuriken. Bo-shuriken, kunai-gata shuriken, matsuba-gata shuriken.

MIKKI:

Bo-shuriken, kunai-gata shuriken, mastuba…

SHOJU:

Matsuba-gata

MIKKI:

Matsuba-gata

SHOJU:

Hai.

Shoju demonstrates how to hold the different shuriken, explaining in Japanese. After many un-understood Japanese words, he motions to Mikki that it is her turn to try. She lines up her first shot toward the dummy, releases and comes up short.

SHOJU:

***Relax, more power, less control, relax.***

MIKKI:

Hai.

She tries again and makes contact with the abdomen.

MIKKI:

Whoa!! That was awesome, I did it!!

SHOJU:

Good. Good.

They are both very happy.

SHOJU:

***Again.***

Mikki chooses another, and tries again. This time it has plenty of power but it misses the target completely.

MIKKI:

Ahhh!!! Dang it!

SHOJU:

***You cannot think, you are too tense and need to breath, relax Mikki-san.***

He demonstrates breathing, he closes his eyes and wiggles slightly to demonstrate being relaxed. Mikki copies him, not understanding completely. He breaths, she copies, he does not stop this until she is in a focused rhythm. Then he motions to the target.

SHOJU:

More.

She throws the next and bang! Right in the middle of the face.

MIKKI:

Ohhhhh!! Yahtzee!!

SHOJU:

Good Mikki-san, ***You are a natural with your hands, but need to breath, need to relax.***

MIKKI:

***Relax*** Hai. Relax.

She tries everything again the same…breaths…is focused…Adam’s apple shot. They have a moment of celebration. They continue over some music. Trying different shuriken. They laugh, and are serious. She just gets better and better with each shot. Mikki is a gifted learner. The day passes a bit and they try their hands at bow and arrow, and even a big broad sword. Shoju always keeps his distance, never lays a hand on her, but celebrates her. She seems a natural at everything. On Mikki’s last shot, Mason can be seen walking up behind them out of the back of the shop, he is blurred but you know it is him. She nails one last bo-shuriken to the throat of the dummy. Mason claps from behind.

MASON:

***Very good, Mik, very good.***

MIKKI:

Uncle Mason!! Did you see me?! I’m kickin some butt!!

Mason and Shoju bow to each other. He approaches them and reaches out to handle the shuriken still in Mikki’s hand.

MIKKI:

You try, you have to stay really relaxed.

Mason handles the weapon. He recognizes that one of the shuriken looks an awful lot like a long hairpin. A flash/snapshot of the The Horseman with his long hair and antenna like hairpins flash into his mind. He has journalist Mason face for a moment, then hands it back.

MASON:

I’m good. I’m proud’a you though. You’re a natural.

MIKKI:

Well, we’ve been practicing for a while now.

Shoju is all smiles. He doesn’t understand much of what they are saying.

MASON:

Hey lets let Shoju get back to work ok? We’re gonna go help make some food for some big meal this evening. It’s like a … going away party or something. Yua’s cousins, big village thing tonight.

MIKKI:

Oh yeah, they’re going to Germany right? Learning some vet stuff, right? Animal doctor stuff?

MASON:

Ya. Shoju…Domo arrigato gozaimas.

He bows to Shoju.

MIKKI:

Domo arrigato, Shoju. I had a lot of fun today. Domo.

They bow. The blacksmith can be seen from behind, blurry as Mason was but obviously watching them.

SHOJU:

Good, good. ***You did very well today Mikki-san, it was my honor to teach you. I will see you this evening.***

MASON:

Hai. Sayonara Shoju-san.

They complete customary goodbyes and bows and go their own ways. Mason and Mikki walk back in to the shop, the Blacksmith pats Mason on the shoulder and then they fade in to the darkness. Shoju is picking up all the pieces behind the shop. The Blacksmith comes back out.

THE BLACKSMITH:

***When you are finished I have something to tell you, come inside.***

SHOJU:

***Yes Master, I will be right there.***

We see The Blacksmith turn and look out the front of the shop, he watches Mason and Mikki walk away. Cut.

55 - EXT - COMMUNITY HALL - DAY

People can be seen coming in and out of the community Center, it is a large, open Japanese style building, a single room, made for large get togethers. Out behind the building is a massive flower guardian, fountains and seating, all pathed by wood plank flooring and torches for the evening. Mikki walks out and dumps out some water off the front porch into a large bowl that we see dogs now running toward. She goes back in. Mason walks out a moment later, he is carrying a cat. He goes to put the cat down on the steps but notices the dogs then goes around the side of the building. (The camera stopped in front of the building, but will walk inside in a moment). Mason walks back in view and heads in the front doors. The cat can be scene working its way back in. A moment later Mikki walks out with the cat in hand and heads the opposite direction Mason went. The dogs finish drinking and start to wander off. Mikki walks back in view and heads inside. Clanging and movement and laughter can be heard from inside. The camera now walks inside. Food tables line the Hall. Grills run down the center of the room. The roof has been retracted for the occasion and it is wide open air above. Food is being prepared in every direction. As the camera looks around, Mason and Mikki are working no different then anyone else in the village, they are not the stars of the show right now, they are part of Tengukuri. One of the old women in the village is sitting on a wooden stool in front of a bowl of vegetable being cut and peeled. She leans back too far in her chair and starts to fall backward. No one catches her and down she goes ass over tea kettle. People are biting their tongues not to laugh as a few people run to her to make sure she is ok. Mikki is among them. The woman is laughing very hard. She waves to let everyone know she is fine, everyone starts laughing. Cut.

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