Tengukuri...Copyrighted in the US 2023 Page #24

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MASON:

I wanna go home Mik.

MIKKI:

Everything’s okay Uncle Mase. Don’t talk, just catch your breath.

They lay for a moment. The Old Man tends to Mason. Mason’s eyes look free. He is realizing not only are the ninja of Tengukuri real, but he just kicked four ninja asses. The Old Man puts the bowl and towel down. He focuses his best to speak English.

THE OLD MAN:

Whatever you come Tengukuri to find Mason-san, you already have inside you. Your fear lead your life. It make you tiger, unpredictable, fierce, dangerous. No more. Your father find this here too. Jeremiah Neely, scary tiger. But you not him. You are ***Dragons in the Shadows.*** Dragons in the Shadows.

Mason looks like a man on an acid trip. Laying on his back, in an ancient dojo in some lost village in Japan, having just held far more than his own against four real life ninja, after 6-8 weeks getting to know the entire village which he now realizes LIVES the heart of ninjutsu, and is a secret worth keeping. His entire story here was just for him and Mikki. It is too personal to even tell. Last shot is above the three of them. Tenderness & Sacrifice. Cut.

67 - EXT - TENGUKURI - DAY

The sun rises above the dojo on a perfectly sunny day. Light fills the village.

From above we explore the town (see map). For the viewer, we can see everywhere in the village has built some sort of memory. From the Cherry Path to the trails, waterfall and river. Through the production area, The community center and into the farming area. Down the main path, and past villagers homes. People are out, but nothing is really bustling. Eight or nine men can be seen from behind walking toward The Inn carrying club like pieces of wood in their hands. Two of the men have burlap bags around their shoulders. They pass Juku, The Gardener’s house, Yua is out front. She looks up and sees them, her face is serious, one of the men wave. She cautiously waves back. They continue walking. Finally, they arrive at The Inn. Sobo is out front, she barely makes eye contact with them while she shakes her head in affirmation. She seems sad. Four of the men walk inside. Cut.

68 - INT - THE INN - DAY

Mason and Mikki are sound asleep in the same room, separate mats. Mason hears a knock on the door and wakes. As he goes to the door and slides it open, he sees four men, each holding sticks. He is immediately frustrated, assuming he has tainted their honor during the fight.

Among the four men, we see The Horseman, Shoju and Hakaima.

MASON:

Look, guys, I’m f***in done…I’m sorry, I just want to go home with my niece, I didn’t mean any disrespect…I…

Hakaima interrupts.

HAKAIMA:

Mason-san, please, come with us. Please, come…

The other men smile, assuring him that everything is ok.

MASON:

Ya got sticks, clearly this is payback… no? Some lesson? I’m done guys. I just want to get this baby girl home to her mama.

The men laugh, they are jovial, and happy to see him. This confuses him.

HAKAIMA:

Please come…show…please…

He affirms with a nod and goes to wake up Mikki. He nods first in affirmation, but then shakes his head in disbelief.

MASON:

Hey…hey…baby girl. I’m gonna go with these guys ok? Hey…will you be ok honey?

She looks over his shoulder and sees the men and smiles. She knows it’s ok. Half asleep, eyes closed…

MIKKI:

Have fun Uncle Mase.

He is puzzled by her confidence. He goes back to the men, holds up five fingers.

MASON:

Five minutes, outside. Okay.

HAKAIMA:

Hai.

The man bows and smiles. Cut.

69 - EXT - BASEBALL PATH - DAY

The men walk through the woods laughing and smiling. The Horseman, Shoju and Hakaima are beat to sh*t. All of the men seem very happy, Mason is so very apprehensive. He doesn’t want another fight. He has decided that he does NOT want to die here. The path opens up to a small field with a creek running through it. Mason is trailing behind. Apprehensive. The men scatter about the field, some of them look back at Mason and smile and that’s when Mason realizes… they are all standing on a perfectly homemade baseball field. One of the men runs to a home plate made out of one large stone. He throws up a rock and smacks it across the field and makes a run toward another clearly playing first base. All of the others get into fielding positions. The two men with the bags drop them and pull out very old and very worn baseball mitts. The men all run and grab one. Mason notices a pile of rocks that are all quite round pyramided up around home plate. There doesn’t seem to be a real competitive game in mind here, just baseball without the pitcher. This is a dawning moment and a moment that the viewer sees as closure in many ways. Mason smiles and chuckles. He is so very happy. Did Mikki know he would end up here? He realizes that he is perfectly safe in this moment, he was always safe here. Light classical guitar music backs their play of a game Mason loves so dearly. We watch the men play in montage fashion. There is no pitcher, In these moments he realizes that it is time to go home. He grabs the brim of his Mariner’s hat and runs toward the mitt bag to grab an old glove. He smells it and smiles, then runs over to shortstop position. The men have all kicked off footwear to play in bare feet. We watch them play for several minutes, they laugh and cheer each other on. There are no innings, just hitting, fielding and playing. They all are enjoying the freedom of who they are…immensely. Cut

70 - EXT - THE INN - DAY

Twilight is approaching. There is a bustle around the outside of The Inn. Horses are being readied. Every familiar face is there. People are smiling, they are talking and embracing, laughing. Mikki is walking around to everyone and hugging them deeply. Villagers are putting gifts in her hands and loading items in their saddle bags. We are to recognize all the interactions they have had. Mason is tying his bag to his horse. Sobo approaches him in tears, bo in one hand and something wrapped in paper in the other.

MASON:

Ohhh! Sweet, sweet Sobo. Domo arrigato gozaimas, sweet, sweet Sobo. Grammy. My love, what is this?

She hands him what is wrapped in paper.

MASON:

Oh sh*t, your rice bread. Oh my gosh, I wish this would make it all the way home, but it’ll be lucky to make it out of the village.

SOBO:

(Crying)***You are always here with us. Always. You are wonderful. Take care of my sweet baby Mikki. She is destined for greatness. She has outlearned you here!***

She laughs through her tears. Mason doesn’t understand but looks her in the eyes as she touches his face and hugs him deeply. Shoju can be seen approaching from behind Sobo. Sobo notices, pats Mason on the chest, wipes away some tears and walks away. Shoju bows. Mason bows in return, keeping eye contact. Mason reaches out for a hug.

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