Tengukuri...Copyrighted in the US 2023 Page #22

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58 - EXT - THE BANK BY THE RIVER - NIGHT

Mason and TH walk through tall grass. At the edge of the tall grass TH slows and looks at Mason sternly. This is the only man Mason has ever felt a fear of in his life. TH covers his mouth with a flat palm and his knuckles toward his face. Mason understands, “STFU.” He crouches, Mason mirrors his every move. TH points to a tree across the river, then to some debris on the ground, it looks like a blanket … or clothes. That’s when Mason sees Shoju and Mikki, up in a tree across the river, trying to be silent. Two bears circle below them. The drama is remarkably quiet beyond the winds blowing through the trees. TH motions toward the branches of the nearby leaves then makes an action like something flowing over him.

Mason understands, “We are down wind.” Mason nods as he understands. Now what?? TH disappears into the dark brush. Mason watches the scene for what seems like forever. Then he hears…

THE HORSEMAN:

Uus!!!!!!!!

The bears approach TH violently. He runs to a tree and runs up. He removes a bow and arrow from his back and calmly, as if he’s done this before, prepares his bow and arrow. He draws back and the first shot is true straight through an eye of the first approaching bear. He then looks obviously in Mason’s direction. Mason looks at the tree Mikki and Shoju are in. He takes off running toward it. The look in his eyes is now fearful but unyielding. As he gets close to the tree, the second bear, with an arrow in its shoulder, turns and heads toward him. TH yells and shoots it in the back with another arrow. Mason turns and screams violently,He throws his arms up to make himself bigger, he looks back up the tree as if to say goodbye, and runs toward the bear. Cut to black. 4 seconds later we hear Shoju and Mikki coming down the tree. Eyes open. Snapshots for the moment.

TH is walking toward them.

They are wide eyed and in shock.

The bear is on the ground not really moving.

Mason is on his hands and knees.

MIKKI:

Uncle Mason!!

They all run to him. But he lifts his head, then a hand.

MASON:

It’s fine, I’m fine.

Mikki and Mason embrace. She cries very hard. TH puts his hand on Mason’s back. Shoju stands at a distance, a respectful look on his face. Villagers are walking to the hillside now. TH goes to talk to them, there is shock and fear. The wind is blowing very hard. Mason looks at Shoju. His face turns to rage.

MASON:

You! What the hell were doing out here alone with my niece?!!

MIKKI:

Uncle Mason no! He was showing me something!

MASON:

Oh I’ve never heard that before! You almost got her killed!

Mason gets up and stomps toward Shoju. Shoju bows. Mason gets him with a speedy southpaw left cross. Mikki comes running over.

MASON:

You motherf***er! You run off when no one is watching with a little girl! I ought to break your f***ing neck!

MIKKI:

Mason stop it!! He saw something that scared him, a goblin, he found something! He wanted to show me!

More villagers approach. Mikki is getting embarrassed. TH comes over and puts a hand on Mason’s shoulder. He spins around ready to fight until he sees it’s him. He pumps the brakes.

Mikki runs off up the bank. It is a windy and chaotic moment of wreckage. Wide angle view. Cut.

59 - INT - THE INN - NIGHT

Mikki storms in the front door crying. Eyes still on the closed door. It slides open and Mason walks through.

MASON:

Mikki wait. I’m sorry.

MIKKI:

Save it! You shouldn’t drink, you know?

MASON:

What?

MIKKI:

You’re an ass when you drink, you’re stupid and scary!

Mason is speechless.

MIKKI:

I was having so much fun tonight. And Shoju has been like a big brother. He was just trying to show me something that scared him, something he found. It had to do with you and you ruined it all. I came to find you to tell you I was leaving and you were so focused on Yua…I tried to get your attention but I realized you were drinking and I just left, and I’m sorry, but you shouldn’t have hit him, he didn’t do anything wrong and you almost got killed, I was so scared!!

MASON:

Mik look, I’m…I’m sorry. I freak out because I’m scared. I was scared for you before I got down there, I’m scared I’m gonna lose you…and your mom for that matter. I’d die for you Mik. I know I can get a little wild, but I’m not bad. I’m sorry.

MIKKI:

Poor Mason.

Mikki mocks him.

MASON:

Hey! Don’t fu-friggin act like that.

MIKKI:

You gonna try to scare me Mason? Like you scare other people. You’re a bully! I bet Papa didn’t teach you that. I bet you learned that being in love with yourself, being the one that matters the most. Always pointing at other people, telling the truth, just because it hurts.

MASON:

F*** you Mikki!

She is shocked, scared, only because he’s been drinking. Mason has some attitude.

MASON:

This has been the best trip I’ve ever been on and at the same time the worst because I’ve been completely consumed making sure you’re safe … and ok. I’m f***in tired of it.

MIKKI:

Oh we’re back to you’re being afraid huh? You’re fear is too much for me.

MASON:

Look, I’m absolutely exhausted from being here and regretting dragging you into this.

Mikki is devastated. The little girl in her returns.

MIKKI:

Do you wish I woulda stayed home?

Mason is lost for words. His silence is damaging.

MASON:

Of course not, Mik.

She doesn’t believe him. She storms off to her room, he tries, but she’s gone, she slams the door and it startles him. Cut.

60 - INT - THE INN - NIGHT

Mason sits up in his room alone and in different clothes, it is dark but some moonlight above paper thin walls and a small candle. It’s quiet. His hair is down (Comfortably Numb 2020).

Snapshots of his time in Tengukuri flash. Mason looks like sh*t, half drunk still, dirty. He starts shaking. Snapshots now, of him.

He’s talking to himself.

Scratching at his body hard.

Curled up tightly, knees to his face, crying.

Pulling hard at his hair.

He crawls on his hands and knees over to his bag and pulls out a small but ancient looking knife.

A snapshot of Shoju giving him the knife.

Crying, he gathers up his hair into a single handful.

He reaches behind his head with the knife and so very unevenly cuts his pony tail off. In doing so he slices his hand quite badly. Mason brings his hand into view with the hair in it. It is like a moment where someone has killed something and is now panicking trying to bring it back to life. Hair and blood. Hair and blood. He puts the handful of hair back up to his head.

MASON:

No, no, no, no, no…

He doesn’t want to accept what he just did. He completely breaks down in tears and curls up in a ball, he cries and wails very hard.

61 - EXT - THE INN - NIGHT

The InnKeeper and The Horseman sit outside, passing a pipe. They can hear Mason crying. They mournfully shake their heads. Torches crackle. The wind has calmed. Mason wails like a child frightened and in pain.

62 - INT - THE INN - NIGHT

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