Tengukuri...Copyrighted in the US 2023 Page #25

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MASON:

Come here sh*t ass. Get over here.

They embrace.

MASON:

Thank you for everything. Thank you for being there for Mikki. Domo arrigato gozaimas, ***for everything.*** Domo arrigato, Shoju.

Shoju has something wrapped in a cloth. He unwraps and presents it to Mason. He speaks slow, calculated and limited English.

SHOJU:

I find. This for you, Mason.

Halfway unwrapped, Mason takes hold and looks down to to see a very ancient looking Tengu mask. The men share a moment. Mason looks up humbly and apologetically.

MASON:

This is what you found? I’m so sorry brother.

Mason grabs on to him tightly. They release their embrace and look at each other. Their eyes are saying everything that their tongues cannot. Shoju bows again. Mason bows again. This time he closes his eyes. Mason takes off his Mariner’s hat and puts it on Shoju. Shoju smiles big. The Horseman touches Mason’s back.

THE HORSEMAN:

Mason-san. ***Time for final goodbye.***

Mason doesn’t understand. Yua can be heard about 20 feet away as she mounts a horse.

YUA:

Time for goodbye!

THE HORSEMAN:

Tengukuri goodbye.

The two lock eyes. Mason nods. They mount their horses and wave final goodbyes to everyone. Mason, Mikki, Yua and The Horseman can be seen heading away from The Inn, not the way the came in, down the Main Path toward the Cherry Path. The villagers are cheering and shouting praises and pleasantries toward them. Fade.

71 - EXT - BEYOND THE CHERRY PATH - NIGHT

Mason, Mikki, Yua and The Horseman ride down away from the plateau of Tengukuri. Ahead of them is a lot of darkness, but with great trust they follow The Horseman. The Horseman stops and turns his horse.

THE HORSEMAN:

***Stop. Look.***

Everyone slows and stops as they turn their horses to look back at the forest up the hill that surrounds Tengukuri. Torches have been lit among the cherry blossoms. It is hard to differentiate between sparks and cherry blossoms. A bright quarter moon is out over the plateau and the four sit on their horses and stare at the spectacle.

THE HORSEMAN:

Tengukuri goodbye.

Yua and The Horseman smile in great pride. Mason crinkles his eyebrows in a mix of many emotions. Mikki is crying softly. Cut.

72 - EXT - CAMPFIRE - NIGHT

The Horseman is sleeping just under his horse. Mikki is just beside Mason, asleep. They appear to be in the same spot they camped on their way back from the river town in which they received the call about Dickey, up against a large stone. Mason and Yua stare at a fire silently. They sit very close to each other but are not interlocked in any way.

MASON:

Yua, What does Kuri mean?

She laughs softly.

YUA:

You not figure it out?

MASON:

Well, obviously not.

Flirtingly.

YUA:

Kuri mean chestnut. Chestnut tree…

She looks at him, slightly disappointed that he hasn’t put this together yet.

YUA:

There is a monster that protects our village and all that Tengukuri has ever been. It has been told for century that the monster came here to destroy village long ago but warrior from the village fight with great honor and kill monster. Monster honor that. They bury it up hill before Cherry Path. Kuri grow there. Chestnut tree. Village build dojo around sapling. Tengukuri - Goblin Chestnut. Sometimes we need monsters Mason-san, they change destinies. They fight different, make us stronger.

Silence between them as they look up at the skies. Mason shakes his head in disbelief, he is humbled. What looks like fireflies, or flaming cherry blossoms can be seen blowing past them. They snuggle up close and look at the sky. Mason looks over and stares at Mikki, fast asleep.

MASON:

She doesn’t need a monster.

YUA:

She have you.

Mason looks at the sky. He is lost in it all. He can’t believe he’s going home, and he can’t believe he’s leaving. Mason and Yua snuggle in closer, but still do not interlock. Cut.

73 - EXT - RIVERSIDE - DAY

The riverside scene is chaotic. Yua can be seen aggressively negotiating with riverboat men in Japanese, in the distance. It doesn’t seem to be going well. The riverboat captains look over at Mikki and Mason with spite. The Horseman sees this. Mason and Mikki are simply watching all the action from a table outside the establishment in which he got the news about Dickey.

MASON:

You wanna call your mom from here?

MIKKI:

Nah. I’ll call from Osaka, or Tokyo or whatever.

Mason is impressed by Mikki’s sense of self. He smiles. Everything is ok. He looks up at The Horseman who stands attentive right next to their table, leaned up against an exterior wall.

MASON:

Alright. We’ll just watch the friggin show then…

Mikki looks around. The Horseman is frustrated watching the Rivermen hassle Yua. He walks over to the boat. The Rivermen are immediately intimidated. The Horseman speaks to them as if he is telling them exactly what is going to happen and when. They quickly oblige. Yua is frustrated by this. She seems to be telling them off in a distant shot of the exchange. She then walks away. The Rivermen hold their heads low. She approaches Mason and Mikki shaking her head in disgust.

YUA:

Ok, They ready for you. Don’t forget all gifts.

MASON:

Yua…

She looks at him with her full attention. Mason seems speechless for a moment.

MASON:

Look… uh…we were so blessed…um…the universe smiled upon us with the gift of you…I don’t know what we’d have done without you…I just…

She cuts him off.

YUA:

Mason…I see you again. Okay? Get Mikki home to Meghan. You great man.

MASON:

Yua…

Mason is lost for words.

YUA:

Go now… Tengukuri always place for you. .

Mason hugs her like two people that simply love each other for the sake of love. No strings attached. The Horseman’s hand can be felt on Mason’s back.

MASON:

Always creeping up on me aren’t you dude?

The Horseman is smiling. They hug.

THE HORSEMAN:

Goodbye Mason.

MASON:

Goodbye…Ninja.

The two embrace again.

MASON:

Thank you. Domo arrigato gozaimas.

They bow to each other. Mikki can now be seen latched on to Yua like a parasite.

MASON:

Mik, lets go.

She stays for a moment. Then releases. She walks by The Horseman and smiles; he pushes her like a little sister and she giggles. She looks back at him as he winks and gives her a ‘hang loose.’” She shakes her head in affirmation. Mason gives his final gestures then walks to the river boat. The crew take their luggage and direct them to a seat just in front of a big diesel engine. Mason looks back at the two and gives a “Who knows?” gesture. Everyone smiles. Mikki is nervous. The deck hands remove lines from the dock and Mason and Mikki begin to head up river away from Yua and The Horseman, who are still waving goodbye on the docks. Fade.

74 - INT - AIRPLANE - DAY

Mikki and Mason are relaxed and on a plane. She is drawing but has headphones in and a movie on. People are in day time flight mode, just average people. He is staring at television show with his eyes only, he deep in thought but not troubled. She draws, then looks up at him, draws again, looks up, draws, until she gets his attention.

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