[Cut to a front view of Kano's head and shoulders as she lies on
her futon, her eyes shut. Her eyes snap open, slowly shut again, then
open again more slowly, tentatively. She might moan a bit. She turns
her head to the left.]
[Shot of an electric clock reading 9:08 PM.]
[Cut back to Kano's head and shoulders. She settles back for a moment
and shuts her eyes.]
[Beat.]
[SFX: The hinges of the door creaking open.]
[Kano looks up (to the right) at the sound of the door.]
Yukino: [off; calling downstairs] She went to bed early, Tsukino. Guess
she was real tired...No, I don't think she did eat. I left food for her
but...Yeah, I guess she could be feeling sick, maybe... Actually, I'm
not feeling so good myself. I should probably turn in early, that's
what I was about to do...yeah, I guess I do sound a little hoarse.
Could be the 'flu, you don't know...You wanna tell Mom and Dad we went
to bed?...Okay, Tsukino. Study hard now. Good night.
[SFX: The door creaking shut.]
[SFX: Footsteps across the carpet.]
[Kano shoves her head into her pillow.]
[Shot of Kano from the waist up, lying on her stomach on the futon,
still in her uniform. A pair of arms draw a sheet over Kano.]
[Cut back to Kano's head and shoulders. She looks up to see who has
come in.]
[Shot in the dim light, from the floor, of Yukino's bare feet and her
ankles, covered by the sweatpants. The pants fall to the floor, and
Yukino steps out of them.]
[Shot of Yukino, from the waist up, her bare back turned to the camera.
She puts on her nightshirt.]
[Shot of Yukino's face from right profile. She has taken out her
barrettes. Her expression is sad, pensive, not a little guilty; her
eyes are puffy, as if she has been crying.]
[Cut back to Kano's head and shoulders. She frowns and turns her head
left, away from Yukino.]
Kano: [nastily] Oh. It's just you.
[SFX: Yukino drawing her sheets over herself.]
[Shot from above of Tsukino's (empty) futon and of Kano in her futon
under her sheets, her head turned to the viewer's right, an unpleasant
expression on her face. As before, Yukino is off camera to the left.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; softly] If you're still awake, you should probably go eat
your dinner before Tsukino eats it on you. She just got back.
Kano: Maybe I'm not hungry. Did that ever happen to you?
Yukino: [off; concerned] It's not good to go to bed without eating
anything.
Kano: [unimpressed] You don't say.
Yukino: [off] Did I wake you?
[Close up of Kano's head and shoulders from above, poking out of the
futon. She screws her eyes shut.]
Kano: What do you care whether I was asleep or not? Didn't stop you
yelling all the way down the stairs. You wanna shut up and let me go
back to sleep?
Yukino: [off; thoughtful, apologetic] Yes. [beat] Yes, I probably
should.
Kano: [relieved] Yes, you should.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; tentatively] Kano?
Kano: [through her teeth] Now what?
Yukino: [off] I know this sounds weird, but I was thinking of Mrs.
Thibodeaux tonight for some reason. You have her for English, right?
[Kano opens her eyes.]
Kano: Yeah, what about it?
Yukino: [off] Just wondering how she was. I haven't seen her in a
while, is all.
Kano: Fine, far as I can tell. Why?
Yukino: [off] I wondered if I should go visit her one of these days. Of
course I don't know if she remembers me, but...
Kano: [disgusted] Oh, she remembers you all right. You're all she talks
about. I can't even cough without setting her going about how cool you
are. I'm sure that brings you great satisfaction. Happy now?
Yukino: [off] I thought you might say that.
Kano: Is that a fact? Then why'd you ask?
Yukino: [off] She thought the world of me, even more than the other
teachers did. Someone'd screw up, she'd be like, "Why can't you apply
yourself like Miyazawa?" [beat] Guess she still is. [beat] She really
shouldn't, you know. Someone needs to tell her that.
[Kano screws her eyes shut again.]
Kano: Nice to know your heart bleeds for me. You done?
Yukino: [off] I was just thinking, you see...
Kano: [ironic] You were? Call the papers!
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] It occurred to me...she never saw me like I am at home.
If she had, she wouldn't have used me to beat people over the head
with.
[Kano opens her eyes, appears to think about that.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] Am I wrong?
Kano: I dunno. [suddenly screws her eyes shut] Is there a point to all
this? Because if there is you'd better get to it fast.
Yukino: [off] I don't suppose you ever mentioned what I was like at
home to Mrs. Thibodeaux, did you?
Kano: No. What'd be the point? Why, is it my fault she thinks you're
God now? Are you going somewhere with this or not?
Yukino: [off] Kind of. I wanted to ask you...
[Kano opens her eyes, turns left to look towards Yukino.]
[Shot from the floor, from Kano's perspective, of Yukino lying under
the covers of her futon, her head poking out, her face turned from the
camera.]
Yukino: I just wondered if you wanted me to tell her myself, somehow.
[Close up of Kano's face as she looks to her right towards Yukino's
futon (straight ahead from camera's perspective) poking out from under
the futon, her hands clasped to the viewer's right just beside her
chin. Her expression is suddenly curious.]
Kano: Huh?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: This is information she needs. I mean...she really shouldn't be
holding me up to the world as something I'm not. Least of all to you,
you know better. I didn't know how much it bothered you, but I guess it
does. [beat; she might shift under her sheets] Problem is, I'm not sure
how I can really do that. Do you have any ideas?
[Shot from above of Kano's face as she looks right (viewer's left)
towards Yukino's futon.]
Kano: What did you have in mind?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: I don't know. [beat] Actually...you know that picture of me in
the living room?
[Shot from above of Kano's face as she looks right (viewer's left)
towards Yukino's futon.]
Kano: Yeah, your junior high graduation photo. What about it?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: I was thinking I should go to South Shirakawa and burn it right
in front of her.
[Shot of Kano suddenly sitting up in her futon.]
Kano: [scandalized] _What?_
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera. She might shift under the sheet a little.]
Yukino: I wouldn't go in my uniform either. She'd have to see what I
was really like. So I'd have to go in my sweatsuit and my glasses.
[beat] Or naked. Doesn't matter. It'd get her attention either way.
[Shot of Kano sitting up in her futon, looking to her right towards
Yukino, a suitably scandalized look on her face.]
Kano: [horrified] No KIDDING it would! Hers and the whole city's!
Forget you--do you think _I'd_ ever live that down?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: [apologetic] No. I guess you wouldn't either. That would be
very self-centered of me, wouldn't it?
[Cut back to Kano sitting up in her futon, suddenly looking very
angry.]
Kano: _Sister. _Dear._ If you even _dare_ try something like that
I'll...
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: Don't worry. I'm not going to. [shifts under her sheets] But I
don't have a clue what else I can do.
[Cut back to Kano sitting up in her futon, scowling.]
Kano: [at the end of her tether] I don't know either. How about
nothing? Why don't you just leave me alone for once in your life, for
Pete's sake? Let me sleep, maybe? Oooooooooh...!
[Full length shot from above of Kano throwing herself back on her
futon, pulling the sheets back over herself and screwing her eyes
shut.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; tentatively] Kano...
Kano: [angrily] I don't want to know, okay? Just shut up and leave me
alone!
Yukino: [off] I don't know if you want to or not. Problem is I don't
really know how to say it.
Kano: What if I don't care?
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; apologetic] Look...I really shouldn't have laid into you
like that. I should have known better...
Kano: Yeah, maybe you should have.
Yukino: [off; gently] I guess I mean...I don't know what to do right
now, Kano. I don't know what to say. I never had my heart broken like
this...
[Close up of Kano's head turned to viewer's right, poking out of her
futon. She is by now clearly irritated.]
Kano: No, you haven't had your heart broken like me. Maybe you should
try it sometime. You know what, sis? I'm just hoping and praying for
the day Arima dumps you so you can see what us mere mortals have to go
through. Then you can lecture me all you want. 'Til then don't talk to
me about it any more, all right? Since when have you cared how I felt
anyway?
[Kano covers her head with the sheet.]
[Shot from above of Tsukino's empty futon and Kano's futon. Kano is now
completely covered by the sheet.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; thoughtful, not at all ironic] I wonder when myself.
[Shot from under the sheet of Kano's left profile from the waist up,
her face turned towards the camera (away from Yukino), her eyes screwed
shut.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] I don't plan to tell Mom and Dad where you were.
[Kano opens her eyes for a moment.]
Kano: Oh. [shuts her eyes again; grudgingly] Thanks for covering my
butt, I guess.
Yukino: [off] That's okay. [beat] That wasn't the only reason I did it,
though.
Kano: [guarded] Is that a fact?
Yukino: [off] I figured you'd been yelled at enough...
Kano: [ironic] You don't say.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] That, and I kind of owed you from Christmas Eve.
[Kano opens her eyes again.]
Kano: What makes you say that?
Yukino: You see...Arima would have gotten in a lot more trouble than I
would have. And I mean a _lot_ more trouble. I don't know what Dad
would have done to Arima if he'd found out about what we did. [beat]
I'm not sure I want to. [beat] I don't think I ever told you how
grateful I am for what you did for us. So I figured you'd appreciate me
doing the same thing for you and Asapin. [beat] Good night, Kano.
[Beat. Kano might blink once or twice.]
Kano: [suddenly confused] Waitasec.
[Full length shot of Kano's futon from her right profile. She suddenly
sits up and turns towards Yukino.]
Kano: [genuinely curious] What made you think I was going to tell Dad
anything at all?
[Shot from Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: Dad wanted to make sure Arima didn't do anything to me. That's
why he told you and Tsukino to stay up until I got in.
[Shot of Kano from her right profile, sitting up in her futon, facing
towards Yukino. She shuts her eyes in disgust; she might groan a bit.]
Kano: [disgusted] Oh for...come _on_, sis, it's not like I care what
you guys do together, right? I'm not a kid you know.
[Shot from the floor of the head of Kano's futon. She slumps back down
onto it, head turned towards the ceiling, her eyes shut.]
Kano: [a bit peeved] Anyway, where did Dad think he got off telling me
and Tsukino to interfere with your date? Not like your relationship's
any of his business. 'Sides, all it'd have done is started a fight, and
I actually kind of like Arima. And even if I didn't they don't pay us
enough for espionage...
Yukino: [off] Except that's just it, Kano. One day it's going to become
Dad's business whether he likes it or not. And there's going to be a
fight anyway. And there's not a thing any of us can do about it.
[Close up of Kano's head from right profile. Her eyes open.]
Kano: What do you mean?
Yukino: [off] Because one fine day Arima might ask to marry me, or
somebody'll ask Tsukino or you to marry them, and it'll become Dad's
business. [beat] I don't know what'll happen then.
[Kano turns her head towards the camera (i.e. towards Yukino).]
[Shot from Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: We're his little princesses, Kano. We're all Dad's got. He's
not ready to give us up. [beat] Arima told me that night I'm all he's
got. And he might have meant it too. Kano, Arima put someone in the
hospital who never even _met_ me, never mind harmed me, just because
the guy _joked_ about taking me from him. It's a miracle he's not
sitting in jail.
[Cut back to Kano's face. The idea seems to have unnerved her as well.]
Yukino: [off] And that scares me, Kano, because I don't know what
they're capable of. And I don't want either of them to get hurt. I
don't want anyone hurt because of me.
[Kano suddenly scowls, screws up her eyes again.]
Kano: [ironic] Oh, my heart bleeds. I'm crying, I _don't_ think! [opens
her eyes, raises her voice; contemptuously] Couldn't we all use a guy
who'd kill someone to defend our honor, _if any_? You think I don't
know what you're like?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Kano: [off] You get off on the idea that Arima and Dad think you're so
fucking special they'd tear each other to pieces for you, don't you,
pardon my _French_? [laughs harshly] Actually, come to think of it,
knowing you, you probably get off on the idea so much that making out
with Arima's just the icing on the cake! If you're so worried about Dad
kicking Arima's butt because you were making out with him, keep your
hands to yourself from now on!
[Cut back to Kano's face. She screws her eyes shut again.]
Kano: [almost spitting the words] You make me sick! [turns away]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] Kano...
Kano: Shut up!
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; trying again, almost begging] Kano, please. I want...
Kano: It's all about _you_, isn't it? [covers herself with the sheet]
[Shot from under the sheet of Kano's head and shoulders from left
profile, her face turned towards the camera (away from Yukino), her
eyes screwed shut.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] That's what I'm afraid of, Kano.
Kano: [through her teeth] Listen, do you _want_ me to slug you? Because
I'm ready to do it just about now.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] I'd let you, too. I'd let you do a lot worse besides.
[Kano's eyes snap open.]
[Full length shot of Kano's futon from her right profile. She suddenly
sits up and turns towards Yukino.]
Kano: What's that supposed to mean?
[Shot from Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: [a little sadly] Kano, did you really know what we did when we
were alone? Really and truly?
[Shot of Kano's head and shoulders. She is silent a moment, a bit taken
aback by the question, then goes back on the offensive.]
Kano: [her intelligence insulted] What are you asking me a question
like that for? I'm not a kid, you know!
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] I'm asking...
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino.]
Yukino: ...because if you weren't going to tell on me and Arima no
matter what, I need to know why you said anything at all.
[Cut back to Kano's face.]
Kano: What? [not sure how to answer] I dunno. To piss you off.
[combative again] I don't know! What's your point anyway?
Yukino: [off] I think I made it your business, Kano.
Kano: [taken aback] Huh?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino. Yukino might shift under her
covers.]
Yukino: [softly, not a hint of accusation in her voice] Because if it
hadn't become your business, I don't think you'd have said anything at
all. [beat] Kano, I need you to promise me something. Promise me that
at Asapin's you didn't try to...to...[trails off]
[Cut back to Kano's face. She seems confused by the question.]
Kano: Try to what?
[The penny apparently drops; she suddenly is silent, reflective, a
little embarrassed, the anger going out of her face for a moment. She
turns away from Yukino's futon.]
[Beat.]
[Shot of Kano from just beyond Yukino's futon. Yukino's body is covered
with her sheet; her face is still not visible, being just off camera to
viewer's left. Kano is sitting up in bed, looking away from Yukino's
futon.]
Kano: Sis, he never touched me. He wouldn't...[looks up] Hey.
[Close up of Kano's head and shoulders. She looks towards Yukino's
futon again, suddenly furious.]
Kano: HEY!
[Shot of Kano's right profile from the neck down as she sits up in bed.
She quickly stands up and walks toward the camera (i.e. towards
Yukino's futon).]
[Shot from above and to the left of Yukino's futon. Yukino's head and
body are turned to camera left; however, she has drawn her sheet over
her face, so it is still not visible.]
Kano: [off; from above] I'm not a tramp like you!
[Shot of Kano's right profile from the waist up as she looks down on
Yukino, looking ready to kill.]
Kano: Is that what you're insinuating? Huh?
[Shot from above and to the left of Yukino's futon, just about from
Kano's perspective if she had been kneeling down beside her. Yukino's
head and body are turned to camera left, her face still obscured by the
sheet.]
Kano: [off] You're gonna say stuff like that, look at me when you do
it!
[Beat.]
[Kano's hands pull the sheet off.]
[Close up on Yukino's torso. Kano's hands roughly grab Yukino's
shoulders.]
[Shot from left profile of Kano as she kneels beside Yukino's futon,
still furious.]
Kano: I said LOOK AT ME...! [suddenly taken aback; trails off] Huh?
[Shot from above of Yukino from the waist up. Yukino, clad in her
nightshirt, is lying on her side, staring blankly as if through Kano,
her mouth slightly open, looking for all the world like a corpse,
except for the tears in her eyes and the occasional heaving sob, which,
perhaps, she had been trying to stifle through the sheets.]
[Shot from above, from the ceiling perhaps, of Yukino lying on her
futon, and Kano, kneeling to her left.]
[Beat.]
[Close up on Yukino's torso. Kano's hands slowly let go of Yukino's
shoulders.]
[Close up of Yukino's face. She slowly looks up towards Kano.]
[Shot from Yukino's perspective of Kano, kneeling down beside her. All
the anger is gone from her expression; she now looks concerned, perhaps
a little afraid.]
Kano: [very softly] Sis?
[Black screen.]
[SFX: Someone roughly grabbing another's body.]
[Shot of Yukino, right, on her knees in front of Kano, left, embracing
her tightly, as if clinging to her for dear life; her face is hidden
from view behind the back of Kano's head. Kano does not resist, but
does not at first return the embrace; her arms hang limp to her sides.]
[Close up of Kano's face from over Yukino's left shoulder. She is
stunned into silence, clearly not sure what to think or do.]
Yukino: [off; softly, tenderly, but extremely sadly] No, love. I'm not
accusing you of a single thing. I'm just happy you're home and you're
safe.
[Close up of Yukino's face from over Kano's left shoulder, her
expression a mask of guilt and shame, her eyes shut.]
Yukino: But I think I might have done something horrible to you, Kano.
[Close up of Kano's face.]
Yukino: [off] You weren't asleep. I _knew_ you weren't asleep, and for
all I knew you could hear everything.
[Close up of Yukino's face from over Kano's left shoulder.]
Yukino: But I went ahead and did it just the same. [sobs silently but
visibly, biting her lip; she is clearly struggling not to break down
completely] Shit, why didn't I just invite you and Tsukino to join the
party while I was at it? Or call up Mom and Dad just so I didn't miss
anyone?
[Close up of Kano's face. Her confusion has turned to shock; she might
look a little sick.]
Yukino: [off; in self-mockery, not a bit of mirth in her voice] "Merry
Christmas, Dad! Us girls are having a blast over here with Arima! Hey,
don't get pissed off, I'll make it up to you, I promise! Oh, I know!
Dad, you always said I was hotter than Mom, right? You up for some
family fun?"
Kano: [horrified] My God...sis, why are you telling me this?
[Close up of Yukino's face from over Kano's left shoulder.]
Yukino: [sobs] Because I'm _ashamed_ of it, Kano! I don't know how you
can even look at that couch any more, never mind me...
[Shot of Kano's back. Yukino's arms, clasped around it in a bearhug,
tighten around Kano.]
Yukino: [off; her voice cracking] Oh God, Kano, I was so scared...!
[Close up of Yukino's face from over Kano's left shoulder.]
Yukino: When Aya told me you'd been at her place, and I looked through
my stuff and realized the map to Asapin's was in there as well...
[Close up of Kano from the waist up, this time from right profile,
still in Yukino's embrace. She has gone beyond confusion to simply
being overwhelmed.]
Yukino: [sobs; endearing] ...and I came home and you'd obviously been
and gone because you'd left the kitchen in a mess like you always do,
you silly thing...[sobs; starts to babble]...and I realized where you
had to have gone, and I panicked and I called Asapin but he had no idea
where you were, and I couldn't even go look because you could have been
anywhere, and for all I knew some pervert had gotten his hands on you
and left you dead in some alley and I thought I'd go mad...oh God,
Kano, if you'd gotten hurt because you thought you needed to give
yourself to a man so you could be a big girl and you could be special
just like me, I'd have...oh dear merciful God...oh Kano, what have I
done to you?
[She lets go of Kano's body, and takes Kano's face in her hands. We now
see Yukino's face in left profile. There are fresh tears in her (now
open) eyes; she smiles a gentle smile trying to be reassuring but
betraying heartbreak, the smile of a mother to a dying child;
throughout her next speech she might stroke Kano's hair and kiss her
frantically on the forehead and cheeks ad lib.]
Yukino: [babbling frantically] Kano, I'm so sorry! I don't want you to
be like me! I don't want you to ever be _anything_ like me! _I'm_ the
horrible one! _I'm_ the showoff! _I'm_ the liar! _I'm_ the coward!
_I'm_ the slut! _I'm_ the one who's dirty and disgusting! Not you! All
I want you to be is the good, happy little girl that everyone loved and
always set her big sister straight and never hurt a living soul and was
always so much better than her big sister ever was, now and forever!
I'll do anything to get her back, anything at all! I won't be
disgusting any more, I promise! [laughs through her sobs] Who needs a
silly boyfriend anyway? I don't want one any more, not if it's going to
hurt my little Kano, or Daddy, or anybody! I don't want to hurt anyone
any more! Least of all you! I'm going to be the big sister I should
have been for you all along, Kano! Can I, please? You won't be sorry, I
promise! I won't do anything bad to you any more! I'll always be a good
example for you! I'll always stick by you, through thick and thin,
you'll see! I'll always be right by your side! I'll keep you safe from
everything bad, now and forever, and you won't have to cry any more...!
[Close up of Yukino's face from the front. She suddenly stops her
tirade; her smile evaporates; she hangs her head, no longer able to
look Kano in the eye.]
[Shot from the front of Kano's head and shoulders. Yukino's hands let
Kano's face go and slowly fall away towards Kano's shoulders.]
Yukino: [off] But it wouldn't make the least bit of difference, would
it? [beat] I don't know what you think I am. I can't give you Asapin.
And even if I could, I can't make you happy, can I? I was the one who
made you unhappy to begin with. I can't protect you from the whole
world if I can't protect you from myself...
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, her eyes hidden my her
bangs. She bites her lip. Tears start to flow down her cheeks.]
[Shot of Yukino from left profile, from the neck down. She takes Kano
in her arms again and holds Kano's head to her own chest, Kano's face
turned right (towards the camera) and with that begins to weep
bitterly, perhaps as if Kano were dead in her arms. She might resume
stroking Kano's hair. For her part Kano's expression, at first still
overwhelmed, turns slowly to being clearly upset herself, a little
fearful, a little guilty as well.]
[Beat.]
[Shot of the view of the city from the window of the Miyazawa girls'
bedroom. The red aircraft warning lights of the factory are visible in
the distance, winking on and off.]
[Beat.]
[Close up on Kano's face from the front. She does not look at Yukino as
she speaks to her, perhaps out of shame.]
Kano: [clearly worried] Sis...Asaba said he wouldn't tell you I was at
his place. That must have been why he said he hadn't seen me. He must
have thought you'd be angry.
[Close up front view of Yukino's face, tears streaming down, her eyes
hidden by her bangs.]
Yukino: [struggling to speak through her tears; trying to sound
reassuring] Why did you think I'd be angry with you, love? You didn't
do anything wrong...
[Beat.]
[Close up on Kano's face.]
Kano: Sis...what if I had? [beat] What if I was as dirty and disgusting
as you?
[Close up front view of Yukino's face, tears streaming down, her eyes
hidden by her bangs.]
Yukino: [trying to cry out through her tears; succeeding mostly in
croaking] _No!_ Don't say that! Don't even think that! It's not true! I
don't want it to be true! Not my little angel!
[Close up on Kano's face. She might draw a deep breath, as if gathering
courage.]
Kano: [trying again] Sis...that night...you weren't very loud at all. I
couldn't have heard you from upstairs if I tried. I just said that to
upset you.
[Close up of Yukino's hand on Kano's head. Yukino stops stroking Kano's
hair; however, the hand does not move from Kano's head.]
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. She looks down towards
her chest (i.e. towards Kano), more than a little shocked.]
Yukino: [still choked] What do you mean?
[Close up on Kano's face. Her expression is clearly ashamed.]
Kano: [embarrassed; struggling to explain] You see...I couldn't fall
back asleep, and I didn't hear the door slam...so I knew he couldn't
have left, and I thought you guys must be kissing or something...and I
was curious, so I thought I'd go listen and I could tease you in the
morning about it, maybe.
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, still shocked but
attentive.]
Kano: [off] And I crept downstairs as far as I could where I couldn't
see you, but I knew you guys wouldn't be able to see me, so I could
hear everything, pretty much...and I guess I figured you'd kiss or call
each other silly names that I could tease you about in the morning, and
that'd be it...[her voice might begin to waver in fear]...if I'd known
what you were really going to do, I'd have never dared, sis, honest...
but I guess I didn't...or maybe I did, but I blocked it out or some
darn thing...I was like, "Yukino and Arima doing it? Get real!"
[Close up on Kano's face. Fear has been added to shame; she might bite
her lip in apprehension.]
Kano: [struggling to continue] And...and by the time I realized what
you were doing I couldn't move, because I knew if I made a noise you'd
hear me and rip me to shreds and it'd be my own fault...or at least
that's what I told myself, but I think maybe part of me didn't want to
move either...
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, shocked but attentive.]
Kano: [off; her voice trembling] ...it didn't sound anything like in
the movies or TV or anything...it wasn't like anything I'd ever heard
in my life...so I knew I shouldn't be there, but I couldn't stop
listening...and I just sat there like a statue with my heart pounding
in my chest, until I guess you were finished and I heard someone get up
off the couch and start walking towards the stairs, and I finally
snapped out of it and I panicked and moved as fast as I could back
towards the room and dove into bed.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [finally; she has gotten her breath back while Kano spoke; not
at all angry, more unsure what to think] Kano...why did you tell me
that just now?
[Shot of Yukino from the neck down, embracing Kano. Kano extricates
herself from the embrace.]
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. She raises her head to
follow Kano's face as Kano moves to a more upright position.]
Kano: [off] Because...I guess...
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. She looks down and to the
left, not daring to look Yukino in the eye quite yet, and now looks
extremely ashamed.]
Kano: I guess...I wanted to say I was sorry for violating your privacy
like that.
[Close up of Kano's hands, clasped in her lap. She squeezes them
together in apprehension.]
Kano: [off] Because I didn't have any right. And...I'm sorry for
running off like that and for saying all those mean things to you and
blaming you because Asaba didn't like me or saying you didn't care
about me, because it wasn't true...
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. She slowly lifts her head to
look at Yukino. She is now upset as well as ashamed.]
Kano: ...because I did a bunch of dumb stuff because I wanted to be all
grown up and I didn't know what I was doing, and I had no right to hurt
you like that, and I'm really sorry, and it really wasn't your fault,
and I really don't hate you, and I don't want you to torture yourself
any more.
[Front view of Yukino's head and shoulders. Kano's hand might reach out
to wipe away some of her tears.]
Kano: [off] Don't cry any more, sis, please?
[Beat.]
Yukino: [finally; struggling not to start crying again] Oh, Kano...
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders.]
Kano: You were crying downstairs, weren't you? Because I yelled at you
like that.
[Front view of Yukino's head and shoulders. She nods, smiles sadly.]
Yukino: Just a little. [laughs a bit] Okay, make that a lot.
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. Now that it is clear that
Yukino is not going to skin her alive she has relaxed a bit, but she
still looks a little upset.]
Yukino: [off] But you know, Kano, I don't think I would have cried so
much, if I hadn't thought it was true. Because if you hated me, I
thought, I deserved every bit of it...
[Kano hangs her head in shame once more.]
Kano: Sis...you said you'd never had your heart broken by a guy...
Yukino: [off] What do you mean?
Kano: I mean...[looks up] I don't think it really matters, because I
think I did a bang-up job all on my own.
[Shot from the neck down of the two girls as they kneel before each
other. Yukino takes Kano's hands in hers; she might rub them gently.]
Yukino: [off; softly] Oh, Kano...
Kano: [off] You were really worried about me, huh?
Yukino: [off; reflective] Yes. Yes, I guess I was.
[Beat.]
Kano: [off] I'm really grateful. That you wanted so badly for me to be
safe, I mean. [laughs a bit] I guess I never realized you had it in
you.
Yukino: [off; tenderly] It's okay...
[Beat.]
Kano: [off] You know, sis...when you came upstairs tonight, you looked
a lot like Mom did, on New Year's. Real loving, but real sad. You know
what I mean?
Yukino: [off; thoughtful] I think so.
Kano: [off] Actually, now I think of it, for a moment I thought it was
her putting the covers over me. But that was you, right?
Yukino: [off; laughs a little] Figured it was the least I could do.
Kano: [off; tentatively] Sis...this is going to sound real weird,
but...
Yukino: [off; curious] But what?
Kano: [off] If I tell you, you gotta promise not to get mad, okay?
Yukino: [off] Okay. I promise.
[Beat.]
Kano: [off] I didn't realize it until now myself, but...tonight you
sounded like you did that night.
Yukino: [off; she catches her breath; she might tighten her grip on
Kano's hands; a bit scandalized] Like _that_ night? What's that
supposed to mean?
Kano: [off] I'd never heard you talk like that before, ever. So it was
weird, but it was really nice. Real soft and gentle and tender.
Like...I don't know how to say this exactly but...if I didn't know any
better I'd have said like a mother.
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. Shock has mostly given
way to incomprehension.]
Yukino: A mother?
[Close up of Kano's face from right profile. She is now smiling.]
Kano: Hm-hmm. Really caring and protective and stuff. [beat] I didn't
hear the voice again until tonight. So I guess I didn't make the
connection myself until now. [beat] I bet you'd make a great mom, sis.
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. She looks pleased, though
a bit embarrassed, but for all that thoughtful; she laughs a bit; she
might blush, look away from Kano.]
Yukino: Thanks, I think...what can I say, I've turned into a real
mother hen lately. Can't think why...
[Shot from the neck down of the two girls as they kneel before each
other. Yukino is still holding Kano's hands in hers.]
Kano: [off; reassuring] You don't have to apologize for it. I really
like you this way.
Yukino: [off; pleased, but embarrassed] Oh yeah?
Kano: [off] Yeah.
[Close up on Yukino's and Kano's hands. Kano extricates her right hand
from Yukino's and starts to raise it.]
Kano: [off] But, you know, sis...
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. Kano has placed her right
hand on Yukino's left cheek; Yukino looks surprised.]
Kano: [off] I'm not so sure I'll be needing a mom much longer.
Yukino: I don't understand...
Kano: [off] I guess I mean...even if you tried you can't protect me
forever from doing dumb stuff, right? I mean, Mom really _is_ my mom,
and she couldn't stop me from running off to Asaba's.
[Close up of Kano's face from right profile. She is still smiling, but
the smile is now less admiration than reassurance.]
Kano: As for you...it's not something you should think you have to do.
I really appreciate it, but it's not your job, really it's not. You can
look after Arima, maybe. You can't look after the whole world.
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, Kano's hand on her
cheek.]
Kano: [off] Besides, I'm thinking that all this started because I
didn't want to be a little girl that someone needed to protect any
more.
Yukino: [still not understanding] But...isn't there anything I can do
for you at all?
[Close up of Kano's face from right profile.]
Kano: You can help me be a big girl. Will you do that for me?
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, Kano's hand on her cheek.
Yukino is smiling gratefully, as if honored to take on the assignment.]
Yukino: [nodding] Yes. I'd like that very much.
[Close up on Yukino's hands, which are still gently holding Kano's left
hand.]
Kano: [off] Sis...?
Yukino: [off; softly] Yes?
Kano: [off] Asaba wouldn't tell me who he liked. Do you know?
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] Yes. Yes, I think I do.
Kano: [off] Who is it?
Yukino: [off; laughing sadly] Not me, thank God. [beat] Is that who you
were afraid it was?
Kano: [off] Maybe a little.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] I'm not really supposed to know, though, so that's all I
can tell you. [beat] I'm sorry.
Kano: [off] 'Sokay. It doesn't matter any more.
Yukino: [off; concerned] Will you be okay, Kano? Really and truly?
[Kano squeezes Yukino's hand.]
Kano: [off] I think so, yes.
[Beat.]
[Still of the box of chocolates sitting on the desk.]
Yukino: [off] Kano...
Kano: [off] Yes?
Yukino: [off] What are you going to do with those chocolates now?
Kano: [off] I dunno.
Yukino: [off; laughs a bit] You don't know, Dad might like to be
humored for one more year.
[Beat.]
Kano: [off] Actually, Sis...do you want them?
Yukino: [off; taken aback] What? Me?
Kano: [off] Uh-huh.
Yukino: [off; unsure how to react] I don't know...Arima doesn't like
chocolate, you know...
Kano: [off] So give 'em to Tsubasa.
Yukino: [off] I guess she'd eat them, sure, but...
Kano: [off; laughs] Just take 'em, already.
Yukino: [off; laughs with her] Okay, whatever...
Kano: [off; reflective] Anyway...this is probably going to sound really
weird, but...
Yukino: [off] What?
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. She is smiling.]
Kano: [off] I'm not sure they were ever really for Asapin to start
with.
[Front view of Yukino's head and shoulders. She appears not to know
what to make of Kano's remark.]
[Beat.]
[Black screen.]
[Caption in white type: THUS KANO AND YUKINO MIYAZAWA WERE FOR THE
FIRST TIME ABLE TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO EACH OTHER'S GAZE, NOT AS GIRLS
BUT AS YOUNG WOMEN.]
[Caption in white type: HOWEVER, THERE IS NO ROOM HERE TO REPEAT ALL OF
WHICH THEY SPOKE THAT NIGHT.]
[Caption in white type: WITH THAT IN MIND, WE MOVE FORWARD TO WHAT
TRANSPIRED WHEN THEY EMERGED FROM THEIR CHAMBER.]
[Cut to Kano, now clad in a T-shirt and shorts, attacking some takeout
food like a starving man (and indeed she is starving, having skipped
dinner).]
Tsukino: [off] Kano, you mind not spraying bits of rice all over my
notebook? Do you have any idea how gross that is?
Kano: [in between bites] Your fault for studying at the kitchen table.
[Shot of Tsukino seated at the kitchen table, surrounded by books and
notes, and looking peeved.]
Tsukino: I couldn't study anywhere else, with you guys upstairs! I
thought you were sick anyway...
[Cut back to Kano, still attacking the takeout.]
Kano: [in between bites] I was. Can't you tell? Say, Mom, this stuff
kicks butt. Where'd you guys go anyway?
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; gushing] To Murasaki's. Best sushi I've ever had.
Didn't you think it was lovely, dear?
Mr. Miyazawa: [off] Not as lovely as the chocolates, honey!
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off] Oh, stop! [titters] I should confess, though...the
ones I really wanted to get you were gone from Chocolatier Kawasaki
before I got around to buying them. I'm sorry...
[Close up on Kano's face from the front. She looks left (towards her
mother and father off camera), ceasing in her attack on the food and
looking pensive.]
Mr. Miyazawa: [off] Oh, come on, honey, it's all right!
[Cut back to Tsukino, who has turned back to her studies.]
Mr. Miyazawa: [off] Why, the night's not even over for me! Not 'til
I've gotten chocolate from the other women in my life!
[Cue bulging vein at extreme camera left.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; not amused] Namely...?
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; putting her at ease] Why, my little princesses of
course!
[Beat.]
[Cue sweatdrop at extreme camera right.]
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; expectant] Well?
Tsukino: [unimpressed] Dad, I've been too busy studying.
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; thunderstruck] You don't mean...
[Cut back to Kano, now eating more demurely.]
Kano: [careful not to show her hand] I've had other stuff going on.
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; clutching at a straw] Yukino, surely...
Yukino: [off; apologetic] Dad, I kind of have a man. Pretty possessive,
too. If he heard he'd kick my ass.
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; heartbroken] You mean...none of you bothered?
Really? [sobs] I've been betrayed! Oh, but what can this be but the
price of my own infidelity? Miyako, I'm sorry! You're the only one for
me, now and forever! Will you ever forgive me?
[Cue sweatdrop at extreme camera left.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; nervous] If it means you'll stop being so silly,
I'll forgive you anything, my dear...
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; sobbing for joy] Oh, thank you, love!
[End sweatdrop.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; consolatory] But, dear, the fact is they're not
children any more...
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; sobbing; he might blow his nose] I know...
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; coyly] In any case, when you come upstairs
there'll be another box waiting for you. I can't wait for you to unwrap
it...
[Kano suddenly turns green and puts her chopsticks down.]
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; perking up] You mean you _do_ forgive me? Oh,
darling...!
[Shot of Tsukino at the table surrounded by books. She is
sweatdropping, hanging her head.]
Tsukino: Mom, just so you know, I could have gone my whole life without
hearing that...
[Cut back to Kano, still quite green.]
Kano: That's it. I'm done. I think I've had a relapse. I'm going back
to bed...
[Cue sweatdrop at extreme camera left.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; denying everything, not terribly convincingly] Oh,
for heaven's sake...a box of chocolates, of course! What on earth did
you think I meant?
Kano: [not buying it] Then bring it downstairs and let's see it.
[The sweatdrops at camera left rapidly multiply.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off] What?...No! Only your father gets to see it!
Yukino: [off; letting her mother off the hook] Mom, Dad, before you
guys turn in...
[Close up of Kano's face from the front. She looks attentive at the
sound of Yukino's voice off camera left, turns to look.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off] Yes, Yukino?
Yukino: [off] That picture of me in the front room. My junior high
grad. picture...
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off] What about it?
[Shot of the framed picture of Yukino, sitting on a table in the front
room. It is the picture of Yukino, or rather her public image, that in
Kano's imagination filled an entire wall; in reality it is only 20x25
cm. (i.e. 8"x10"), a reasonable size for a graduation photo, but large
enough to be prominent in the room.]
Yukino: [off] I was thinking...I don't really like it any more. Would
you mind if I took it down?
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; puzzled] Well, if that's really what you want, I
suppose...
[Front view of Mrs. Miyazawa's head and shoulders. She has let her hair
down for her night out.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [concerned]...but why? What's wrong with it? You look
wonderful in it...
Yukino: [off] That's kind of the problem...
Mrs. Miyazawa: [puzzled] I don't understand...what do you mean?
Yukino: [off] It'd take a while to explain...let's just say I'm not
proud of who I was back then. She's not much of a role model.
[Front view of Yukino's head and shoulders. She is smiling a bit
sheepishly.]
Yukino: So I'd rather it not be staring at the back of Tsukino
and Kano's necks any more.
[Shot of Tsukino at the table surrounded by books. She is looking up, a
look of slight incomprehension on her face.]
[Close up of Kano's face as she looks left towards Yukino, looking
thoughtful. She might smile slightly, knowingly.]
[Cut to a shot of the Karekano characters dressed as the mob outside
Jacques'
(Yukino's) door from "La chienne noire du raconteur," the priest
(Asaba) and
the
woodcutter (Kano) at their head.]
Yukino: [to the crowd, as loudly as possible without shouting] Wait!
Narrator: ...he said to them, and they were silent for a moment.
[Shot from inside the door of the crowd, who turn to look at him.]
[Close up of Yukino from the waist up as she speaks. The camera might
pan up
slightly as she does so.]
Yukino: Very well. If the dog has harmed someone, then the dog must
pay.
There
is something I need to do before you condemn me. To do it I must go
inside
and
get my gun. Believe me, I will not use it against you. If I do, feel
free to
respond in kind, and my death will be on my own head.
[Shot of Kano and Asaba disputing the issue for a moment, until Asaba
finally
makes a gesture of approval.]
Narrator: [VO] The woodcutter objected, saying it was another trick,
but the
priest overruled him and allowed Jacques to go get his gun.
[Still of Yukino going inside the door.]
Narrator: [VO] So Jacques went inside...
[Still of Yukino emerging from the door in her farmer's costume,
holding a
rifle.]
Narrator: [VO] ...got his gun...
[Still of the crowd gathered outside the barn; Yukino stands before
them
loading
the gun.]
Narrator: [VO] ...and led the crowd to his barn...
[Close up of Yukino's face, right profile, whistling.]
[SFX: A man whistling, as if to call a dog.]
Narrator: [VO] ...where he made as if to call the dog...
[Still of Yukino from the crowd's perspective, her back to the camera,
walking
to the back of the barn.]
Narrator: [VO] ...and headed behind the barn out of sight.
[Shot of the crowd standing around in confusion.]
[Beat.]
[SFX: A gunshot ringing out.]
[Still of the backyard dog; now there is a bullet hole, out of which
drips
blood.]
[Close up of Tsubasa's face, as she bites her lip.]
[Shot of Rika the novice fainting, causing Aya the nun to panic for a
moment.]
[Shot of Yukino emerging from behind the barn, and slowly walking up to
the
crowd.]
[Front view of the people at the head of the crowd, Asaba the priest
and Kano
the woodcutter among them, watching Yukino as she walks up to meet
them. At
last
Yukino emerges, her back to the camera.]
Yukino: There. It is done.
[Shot of Yukino, left, from waist up, right profile, standing before
Asaba
and
Kano, right, to address them.]
Yukino: That is the end of the dog. Has justice been served?
[Beat.]
Asaba: Yes, I think so.
[Close up on Kano as she reflects.]
Kano: I think so too.
[Shot of Yukino, her back turned to the camera, watching as Kano, then
Asaba,
then everybody else, begin to walk away.]
[Close up of Yukino's face, right profile, as she watches them go, her
expression pensive.]
Narrator: [VO] And everyone was satisfied that that was the end of the
dog.
So
they went away and left Jacques in peace for the rest of his life.
Little girl: [VO; protesting] Hey! No fair!
Narrator: [VO; suddenly thrown off, prosaic] What do you mean?
[Cut to a little boy (possibly kindergarten-age Hiroyuki Miyazawa), and
a
little
girl (it might be kindergarten-age Miyako), sitting on the floor at the
head
of
the _Karekano_ characters dressed in their period French Canadian
costumes.
Peropero might be sitting on Miyako's lap. They look a little peeved.]
Miyako: He just told another lie!
Hiroyuki: [cynical] Yeah! Is this sort of stuff supposed to teach us
good
morals?
[Peropero barks.]
Narrator: [off; a bit irritated] That's not the point!
Hiroyuki: Yeah? So what is the point?
[Close up of a hand (Yukino's) pointing emphatically into the air.]
Narrator: [off] The point is...
[Cut to a full-length shot of the narrator, our first look at her. It
is SD
Yukino herself, dressed as Jacques. She finally drops the (fake) French
Canadian
accent.]
Yukino: Don't tell the world you have a big black dog that doesn't
exist, or
you
may find one day that you are no longer the dog's master.
[Close up of Hiroyuki sitting on the floor. He turns his nose up in
disgust.]
Hiroyuki: [dismissive] How dumb were those people anyway?
[Cut back to the close up of Kano's face; she is still smiling.]
Kano: [to herself] They weren't the only ones.
[Cut to a still of South Shirakawa Public School.]
[Caption: NEXT DAY]
[SFX: A bell rings to dismiss classes.]
[Close up on a classroom sign reading 2-C.]
Class rep: [female; off] Stand. [beat] Bow.
Teacher: [off] Good afternoon.
[SFX: Students are heard leaving their seats.]
[Still of the scene inside the classroom. Students are eating their
lunch, or are standing around at each other's desks conversing, or are
reading comics, or are studying for the next class, and thus and so
forth.]
[Cut to front view of Kano, sitting at her desk clad in her winter
uniform, cheerfully eating her boxed lunch.]
[Close up on a front view of Kano's face as she puts some rice in her
mouth.]
Asaba Fangirl Leader: [off] So, Miyazawa!
[Kano looks up left to acknowledge her.]
[Shot from Kano's perspective of the fangirl leader looking down on
Kano, a smirk on her face, surrounded by attendant fangirls.]
Fangirl Leader: After all that boasting the other day, you're not
escaping us until you tell us of your _inevitable_ rejection by Hideaki
Asaba!
[Shot from the waist up of Kano sitting at her desk, surrounded by
fangirls.]
Megumi: [off] Yes, Kano!
[Kano looks right.]
[Shot from the waist up of Megumi's left profile as she hangs over
Kano's desk, a genuinely interested look on her face.]
Megumi: How'd it go with Asaba?
[Cut back to Kano sitting at her desk. She puts down her chopsticks and
has herself a scary laugh.]
Kano: [finally; creepily] You really want to know, don't you?
[Shot of Kano at her desk, center, with the fangirl leader, at left,
standing over her right shoulder, her arms folded, while Megumi stands
at Kano's right. Fangirls are standing around the three listening
attentively.]
Megumi: Yes! Tell us!
[Cut back to full-screen shot of Kano at her desk. She rises.]
[Shot of the scene around Kano's desk. Kano (now SD) is now standing in
the center of the crowd.]
Kano: [narrative; to the crowd, as melodramatically as possible] After
my detective work had discovered the top-secret location of the
residence of Mr. Asaba...[the fangirls ooh and aah ad lib.]...I was
able to deliver not only the chocolates but also a home-cooked dinner
to the great man, which he ate with gusto and for which he thanked me
profusely...
[The oohing and aahing turns to squeals.]
[Front view of the fangirl leader from the waist up, looking
unimpressed.]
Leader: [not buying this] And?
[Cut back to SD Kano in the center of the crowd telling her story.]
Kano: [still melodramatic] Finally, at the end of the evening, I worked
up the courage to ask...[turns right profile to the camera; sprouts big
starry girl's comic eyes, clasps hands in supplication] "Oh, Asaba, let
me be yours!" [turns face back to the camera, her eyes shut; a tone of
regret] To which, alas, he responded...[turns right profile to the
camera; looks as glamorous as possible; imitates Asaba's voice, badly]
"I'm sorry, but my heart belongs to another." [turns back to the
camera; covers face with hands; sobs melodramatically] And my sleeves
grew damp with tears...
[Front view of the fangirl leader from the waist up, looking
triumphant.]
Leader: Ah-HAH! I knew you'd be rejected! You were a fool to expect
anything else!
[Kano suddenly gets in her face. She lifts a finger demonstratively, a
smirk now all over her face.]
Kano: Ah, but can you claim even to have been rejected by the great
Hideaki Asaba?
[The fangirl leader suddenly looks nervous, sweatdrops.]
Leader: [defensive] Uh, well...that's beside the point...!
[The fangirls suddenly look irritated at their leader.]
Random Fangirl: Yoko, you poser! You said you'd been rejected by Asaba
three times!
[Cut back to the fangirl leader, who hangs her head in shame, and moves
off camera. Kano looks triumphant.]
Fangirl: [off; a tone of leadership now in her own voice] Come on,
show's over!
[Cut back to SD Kano in the center of the crowd. The deposed fangirl
leader exits left, hanging her head. The crowd slowly disperses in
disappointment, and not a little disgust.]
Megumi: Are you sure that's how it happened?
[Front view of Megumi from the waist up, looking skeptical.]
Megumi: It sounds like something from a book by Ayaki Sawai...
[Shot from the waist up of normal Kano's left profile. She suddenly
looks thoughtful.]
Kano: [to Megumi] So what if it did? What would it prove, except that
anybody can be Ayaki Sawai?
[Cut back to Megumi, looking thunderstruck.]
Megumi: [horrified, as if by a blasphemous remark] Kano!
[Front view of Kano from the chest down, her hands folded in front of
her. Megumi suddenly takes the hands in hers, forcing Kano to turn to
camera right towards her.]
Megumi: [off] Repeat after me. "Nobody is Ayaki Sawai. Ayaki Sawai is
God."
[Shot from the waist up of Kano's right profile, her hands in Megumi's.
She is smiling, a bit defiantly.]
Kano: "Anyone can be Aya Sawada. Aya Sawada's bad news."
[Shot from the waist up of Megumi's left profile. She is shocked,
unsure what to make of this.]
Megumi: Kano, are you feeling all right? Who's Aya Sawada?
[Shot from the waist up of Kano's right profile, her hands in Megumi's,
still smiling, but not at all boastfully.]
Kano: [quietly, with not a hint of conceit] That's her real name. Ayaki
Sawai's real name, I mean. I've met her once or twice. She goes to my
sister's school.
[Front view of Megumi from the waist up. Shock has given way to
confusion.]
Megumi: She does? How old is she?
[Front view of Kano from the waist up. Her expression has gone
neutral.]
Kano: [nonchalant] I dunno. Sixteen, maybe? She's in my sister's grade.
[Shot of Megumi's and Kano's outstretched arms, Kano's hands in
Megumi's. She lets them go, and the arms of both girls slowly fall.]
Megumi: [off; a bit surprised] Oh. Okay.
[Beat.]
[Front view of Megumi from the waist up.]
Megumi: [curious] What's she like? Is she nice?
[Full length shot of SD Kano sweatdropping, scratching her head.]
Kano: Ehhhh...actually she's a bit of a butthead.
[Front view of normal Kano's head and shoulders.]
Kano: [smiling] But she's okay.
[Front view of Megumi's head and shoulders, an attentive look on her
face.]
Kano: [off] Really modest, too. She'd freak if she heard someone call
her God. [beat; Megumi might look a bit ashamed] Actually, pretty
normal all around. I guess anybody can be famous, really, if they work
hard enough. It's no big deal. I'm not gonna run around and tell the
whole world I know Ayaki Sawai. [beat] Just you.
[Beat.]
Megumi: Say...so are you all right about it?
Kano: [off] About what?
Megumi: Asaba turning you down. [beat] That's what he did, right?
Kano: [off] You haven't told _me_ about how you made out...
[Megumi suddenly looks away, embarrassed.]
Megumi: What's to tell? He likes somebody else...
Kano: [off] Nope! Not good enough!
[Megumi looks up, not understanding.]
[Shot of the two girls standing before each other, Kano at left, Megumi
at right.]
Kano: [completely serious] You know, if you don't trust me to tell me
about the guy you like, I can't tell you about Asaba.
[Megumi slowly hangs her head. Kano suddenly looks concerned.]
Kano: Megumi? Did I say something wrong?
Megumi: [a bit upset] No, Kano.
[Front view of Megumi from the waist down, hanging her head.]
Megumi: It was just a bit rough on me, okay? I don't want to talk about
it right now...
Kano: [off] Later, maybe? After school maybe you wanna go somewhere?
[beat; trying to tempt her] My treat...!
[Shot of Kano's arms as she takes Megumi's hands in hers.]
Kano: [more serious, softly] But if we're really and truly friends,
then I need to know. I care about you, Megumi.
[Close up on Megumi's head and shoulders. She looks up; there might be
tears in her eyes.]
Megumi: [accepting; smiling through her tears] Okay!
[Front view from the waist up of SD Kano, pointing to the sky. Mount
Fuji might be in the background.]
Kano: And when we're done, we can go on to talk about that fan comic of
yours with which we shall conquer the world!
[Left profile shot of Megumi from the waist up, who is suddenly looking
unnerved at Kano's enthusiasm.]
Megumi: What, my _Nanami_ comic?
[Kano suddenly steps on camera, getting in her face a bit.]
Kano: [dismissive] Forget Nanami. She sucks.
Megumi: [confused] She does?
Kano: [clarifying] Well, no, the show's okay, but face it, the girl's
bad news...Anyway! We can't conquer the world with a comic based on
somebody else's characters! We are our own women, Megumi! We need to
find our own voices! Our own themes! Our own identities! Our own cool
circle name!
[Front view of Megumi's head and shoulders, as she looks more and more
overwhelmed.]
Kano: [off] With me as writer and you as artist, we'll kick ass
together! Who knows, maybe we can even sell our work somewhere and
become professionals!
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders, as she waxes exuberant.]
Kano: We'll be bigger than Ayaki Sawai! The world is our oyster,
Megumi!
Megumi: [off] But what will we write about?
[Kano settles down a bit, though she's still cheerful.]
Kano: [a bit more seriously] What we know more about than our readers.
[Shot of Megumi's hands in Kano's. Kano squeezes a bit.]
Kano: Like our first loves...
[Front view of Megumi's head and shoulders. She suddenly looks away,
reluctant.]
Megumi: I'm not sure I could...
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. She is completely serious.]
Kano: Megumi, that's all Aya ever writes about. What she knows more
about than anyone else. [suddenly smiles] Don't worry! We can change
the details so nobody gets embarrassed, but aside from that, it'll be
okay. Who knows? Maybe somebody'll learn from it, you don't know...
[Front view of Megumi's head and shoulders. That seems to have
satisfied her.]
Megumi: Okay. [beat; suddenly thinking of something] What are we going
to call ourselves though?
[Shot of the two girls, now SD, standing before each other.]
Kano: [enthusiastic] Studio Poutine!
Megumi: [confused] Studio Poutine?
Kano: You know, poutine! Like in _Nanami_!
Megumi: [suddenly smiling, conspiratorially] Okay!
Kano: So you in?
Megumi: Sure!
Kano: [dramatically] And thus, a new era in the history of Japanese
comics has begun!
[Kano starts to sing the ending theme to _Nanami_, i.e. Gilles
Vigneault's "Gens du pays":]
Kano: [singing] Men of our land, now is your turn
To let yourselves speak of _amour_...
[prosaic] Sing, Meg!
Kano and Megumi: [in harmony] Men of our land, now is your turn
To let yourselves speak of _amour_...
[Dissolve to white, as Kano's and Megumi's singing fades into the
French version as recorded by Vigneault himself:]
Voice: [male, in French, perhaps in a different key]
Gens du pays, c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour...
Gens du pays, c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour...
[Then, in black type:]
[At left, in French: Et à ce moment
Les perce-neiges de février
S'epanouirent enfin.
[At right, in Japanese: And at that moment
The snowdrops of February
Did blossom at last.]
[Caption: in French: A SUIVRE
in English: TO BE CONTINUED
in Japanese: TSUZUKU]
[Caption: OMAKE
BLAME UKYOU KUONJI (ukyoukwnji@aol.com) FOR THIS SEGMENT]
[Cut to the film set of The Storyteller's Black Dog story. The picture
is slightly flickery, like an old film should be, and everyone is still
dressed in traditional French Canadian garb and gathered around
Jacques' barn. Kano is the first to acknowledge the camera, and she
moves toward it, speaking as she approaches]
Kano: The preceding story has been a work of fanfiction, for use solely
for entertainment purposes...[beat; looks thoughtful] although, if
you've learned anything from us, that's cool, too.
[Close up of Kano from the shoulders up. Peropero is perched on her
shoulder, but we can still see the rest of the cast behind her.]
Kano: Paul Corrigan and Studio Poutine are in no way affiliated with
Masami Tsuda and Hakusensha, the rightful owners on _Karekano_ and all
characters therein.
[The remainder of the cast nods vigorously over her shoulder.]
[Cut to side view shot of Kano from the waist up. Peropero leaps from
her shoulder as she turns to face the new camera angle. Only Asaba, as
the priest, and Yukino, as Jacques, are also visible in this shot.]
Kano: Besides, I never really wanted Asaba, anyway...
[Asaba looks thoroughly disappointed.]
Voice from crowd: [it might be Megumi] So what _did_ you want?
Another: [it might be Yukino, realizing what is to come] Oh God, no...
Kano: [ignoring question, hefting ax to her shoulder] I always wanted
to be...A LUMBERJACK!
[BGM: Upright piano music as Kano begins the famous spiel.]
Kano: Leaping from tree to tree as they float down the mighty rivers of
B--
[Cut to the crowd, looking irate]
Crowd: QUEBEC!
[Cut back to now-SD Kano, sweatdropping]
Kano: Ah, heh-heh, right. So, what kind of trees are we famous for here
in Quebec, anyway?
[Piano music stops abruptly. Cut back to crowd. Synchronized blink of
confusion, then everyone turns to his neighbor.
Crowd: [conferring ad lib.] Do you know?
Haven't any ideas...
What rivers come to think of it?
The St. Lawrence, yeah, but...
From Ungava Bay? That's just tundra!
Kano: [off] Right.
[Piano intro resumes. Cut back to Kano]
Kano: With my best buddies by my side [Megumi sidles alongside of her,
and Arima, Yukino and Asaba stand behind the two of them], we'd sing,
sing, sing!
Kano [singing lustily]: Oh, I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay...
[Yukino and Asaba nod firmly]
I sleep all night, and I work all day!
[Cut back to crowd, where 'Sister' Aya is conducting the others in the
refrain.]
Crowd [also singing]: She's a lumberjack and she's okay
She sleeps all night, and she works all day!
[Cut back to Kano. Arima, Yukino and Asaba may be humming in the
background.]
Kano: I cut down trees...
[she swings her ax, unsteadily...it's heavier than she'd expected]
I eat my lunch,
[Megumi hands her a bento]
I go to the lavva-treeee
[she blushes slightly]
On Wednesdays I go shoppin',
And have hot poutine for tea!
[Behind her, Asaba holds up a gravy-and-cheese-covered french fry, a
blissful expression on his face as he bites into it.]
[Cut to the crowd.]
Crowd: She cuts down trees, she eats her lunch,
She goes to the lavva-treeee,
On Wednesdays she goes shoppin',
And has hot poutine for tea!
She's a lumberjack and she's okay,
She sleeps all night, and she works all day!
[Back to Kano. There is a Quebec flag flying behind SD-Asaba, who is
still blissed-out from the poutine. Arima and Yukino are still humming
along in the background, but they're looking at Asaba with some concern
rather than at the camera. A French Canadian folksong is playing
discordantly in the background, evidently emanating from behind Asaba.
Kano does not notice any of this.]
Kano: I cut down trees
[She drops the ax]
I skip and jump
[She and Megumi sashay around each other]
I like to press wild flowers
[She bends down out of shot, returning with a freshly-picked lily]
I put on women's clothing,
And hang around in bars.
[At this last line Asaba snaps out of it to stare at Kano, but we don't
have much time to dwell on this fact...]
[Cut to crowd again]
Crowd: She cuts down trees, she skips and jumps
She likes to press wild flowers
She puts on women's clothing,
And hangs around in bars...?
[With this line, the crowd becomes hesitant and looks at each other in
concern.]
[Sudden jump cut. The crowd seems to have recovered from the last
line, and is once again singing heartily. The crowd is also larger by
half, since there are a fair number of half-drunk Koreans who have
joined the chorus. The quality of the singing decays as the (sober)
regular cast members stop and stare at the interlopers, who, being
half-drunk, are not nearly as good at staying on key]
She's a lumberjack and she's okay,
She sleeps all night, and she works all day!
[Back to Kano, who is oblivious to the chorus.]
Kano: I cut down trees, I wear high heels,
suspenders and a braaa...
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like my dear mamaaa!
[Back to the chorus, now once again without the Koreans.]
Crowd: She cuts down trees, she wears high heels,
suspenders and a braaa...
She wishes she'd been girly
Just like her dear mamaaa!
[Kano can be heard still holding out 'mamaaaaa' as the crowd continues]
Crowd: She's a lumberjack and she's...
Kano: Hey! Hold it! Hold it! [the crowd trails off ad lib] Aren't you
gonna complain and pelt me with fruit or something?
Asaba [stepping forward]: What for?
Kano: Well, you know, for saying I wear women's clothing and all that.
[Asaba looks puzzled for a moment.]
Asaba: But you're a girl. That's okay for you to do. Hell, it's okay if
you wanna dress in _guy's_ clothing [indicating the plaid flannel shirt
she is wearing], too. Now, if I said _I_ wanted to dress in girls
clothing...
Yukino's sycophants: [in crowd] Waaah! Asaba, how could you?! And we
thought you were so bishonen! [they exit]
Arima: [in crowd] Yeah, that's the problem.
Asaba: [calling after them] I said IF! Sheesh...see if I ever read
_them_ the Song of Songs again...
Kano: So it's okay if I'm wearing suspenders and a bra...?
Asaba: Well, yeah, of course it's... whaddya doing?
[It's painfully obvious what Kano's doing...she's stripping down to her
bra and garters. Or trying to.]
[Arima rushes forward with the Quebec flag from Asaba's poutine, and
drapes Kano with it, just as she undoes her work pants and lets them
fall to the ground.]
Arima: [sweatdropping like mad] I think we've done this already in this
fic...why don't we give it a rest?
Kano: [coyly] Why? It's a dream sequence, right? So it doesn't matter
if I get naked here...
[Yukino grabs Kano's arm and playfully twists it behind her]
Yukino: It'll matter in a second or two, girl...
Kano: Ow! Owowow! Leggo my arm! Leggo--!
[Cut to the Miyazawa girls' bedroom. Kano continues to protest ad lib.
Tsukino sits up, disgusted.]
Tsukino: KANO! Cripes, wake up and let me sleep! The singing was okay,
but the yelling is a real pain.
[Close up on Kano on her futon, her covers still up to her neck. Her
arm is tucked under her head. She lifts her head, and looks at her
arm.]
Kano: It's asleep.
Tsukino: Well, I'd like to join it. Either pipe down, or go to the
couch.
[She flops back down onto her futon]
[Shot of Kano's futon as she stands up. The bottom half of her pajamas
are at her ankles.]
Kano: [nervously] The _couch_? Are you some kind of perv...[falls over]
Awk!
[White screen.]
[Caption: TSUZUKU]
her futon, her eyes shut. Her eyes snap open, slowly shut again, then
open again more slowly, tentatively. She might moan a bit. She turns
her head to the left.]
[Shot of an electric clock reading 9:08 PM.]
[Cut back to Kano's head and shoulders. She settles back for a moment
and shuts her eyes.]
[Beat.]
[SFX: The hinges of the door creaking open.]
[Kano looks up (to the right) at the sound of the door.]
Yukino: [off; calling downstairs] She went to bed early, Tsukino. Guess
she was real tired...No, I don't think she did eat. I left food for her
but...Yeah, I guess she could be feeling sick, maybe... Actually, I'm
not feeling so good myself. I should probably turn in early, that's
what I was about to do...yeah, I guess I do sound a little hoarse.
Could be the 'flu, you don't know...You wanna tell Mom and Dad we went
to bed?...Okay, Tsukino. Study hard now. Good night.
[SFX: The door creaking shut.]
[SFX: Footsteps across the carpet.]
[Kano shoves her head into her pillow.]
[Shot of Kano from the waist up, lying on her stomach on the futon,
still in her uniform. A pair of arms draw a sheet over Kano.]
[Cut back to Kano's head and shoulders. She looks up to see who has
come in.]
[Shot in the dim light, from the floor, of Yukino's bare feet and her
ankles, covered by the sweatpants. The pants fall to the floor, and
Yukino steps out of them.]
[Shot of Yukino, from the waist up, her bare back turned to the camera.
She puts on her nightshirt.]
[Shot of Yukino's face from right profile. She has taken out her
barrettes. Her expression is sad, pensive, not a little guilty; her
eyes are puffy, as if she has been crying.]
[Cut back to Kano's head and shoulders. She frowns and turns her head
left, away from Yukino.]
Kano: [nastily] Oh. It's just you.
[SFX: Yukino drawing her sheets over herself.]
[Shot from above of Tsukino's (empty) futon and of Kano in her futon
under her sheets, her head turned to the viewer's right, an unpleasant
expression on her face. As before, Yukino is off camera to the left.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; softly] If you're still awake, you should probably go eat
your dinner before Tsukino eats it on you. She just got back.
Kano: Maybe I'm not hungry. Did that ever happen to you?
Yukino: [off; concerned] It's not good to go to bed without eating
anything.
Kano: [unimpressed] You don't say.
Yukino: [off] Did I wake you?
[Close up of Kano's head and shoulders from above, poking out of the
futon. She screws her eyes shut.]
Kano: What do you care whether I was asleep or not? Didn't stop you
yelling all the way down the stairs. You wanna shut up and let me go
back to sleep?
Yukino: [off; thoughtful, apologetic] Yes. [beat] Yes, I probably
should.
Kano: [relieved] Yes, you should.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; tentatively] Kano?
Kano: [through her teeth] Now what?
Yukino: [off] I know this sounds weird, but I was thinking of Mrs.
Thibodeaux tonight for some reason. You have her for English, right?
[Kano opens her eyes.]
Kano: Yeah, what about it?
Yukino: [off] Just wondering how she was. I haven't seen her in a
while, is all.
Kano: Fine, far as I can tell. Why?
Yukino: [off] I wondered if I should go visit her one of these days. Of
course I don't know if she remembers me, but...
Kano: [disgusted] Oh, she remembers you all right. You're all she talks
about. I can't even cough without setting her going about how cool you
are. I'm sure that brings you great satisfaction. Happy now?
Yukino: [off] I thought you might say that.
Kano: Is that a fact? Then why'd you ask?
Yukino: [off] She thought the world of me, even more than the other
teachers did. Someone'd screw up, she'd be like, "Why can't you apply
yourself like Miyazawa?" [beat] Guess she still is. [beat] She really
shouldn't, you know. Someone needs to tell her that.
[Kano screws her eyes shut again.]
Kano: Nice to know your heart bleeds for me. You done?
Yukino: [off] I was just thinking, you see...
Kano: [ironic] You were? Call the papers!
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] It occurred to me...she never saw me like I am at home.
If she had, she wouldn't have used me to beat people over the head
with.
[Kano opens her eyes, appears to think about that.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] Am I wrong?
Kano: I dunno. [suddenly screws her eyes shut] Is there a point to all
this? Because if there is you'd better get to it fast.
Yukino: [off] I don't suppose you ever mentioned what I was like at
home to Mrs. Thibodeaux, did you?
Kano: No. What'd be the point? Why, is it my fault she thinks you're
God now? Are you going somewhere with this or not?
Yukino: [off] Kind of. I wanted to ask you...
[Kano opens her eyes, turns left to look towards Yukino.]
[Shot from the floor, from Kano's perspective, of Yukino lying under
the covers of her futon, her head poking out, her face turned from the
camera.]
Yukino: I just wondered if you wanted me to tell her myself, somehow.
[Close up of Kano's face as she looks to her right towards Yukino's
futon (straight ahead from camera's perspective) poking out from under
the futon, her hands clasped to the viewer's right just beside her
chin. Her expression is suddenly curious.]
Kano: Huh?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: This is information she needs. I mean...she really shouldn't be
holding me up to the world as something I'm not. Least of all to you,
you know better. I didn't know how much it bothered you, but I guess it
does. [beat; she might shift under her sheets] Problem is, I'm not sure
how I can really do that. Do you have any ideas?
[Shot from above of Kano's face as she looks right (viewer's left)
towards Yukino's futon.]
Kano: What did you have in mind?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: I don't know. [beat] Actually...you know that picture of me in
the living room?
[Shot from above of Kano's face as she looks right (viewer's left)
towards Yukino's futon.]
Kano: Yeah, your junior high graduation photo. What about it?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: I was thinking I should go to South Shirakawa and burn it right
in front of her.
[Shot of Kano suddenly sitting up in her futon.]
Kano: [scandalized] _What?_
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera. She might shift under the sheet a little.]
Yukino: I wouldn't go in my uniform either. She'd have to see what I
was really like. So I'd have to go in my sweatsuit and my glasses.
[beat] Or naked. Doesn't matter. It'd get her attention either way.
[Shot of Kano sitting up in her futon, looking to her right towards
Yukino, a suitably scandalized look on her face.]
Kano: [horrified] No KIDDING it would! Hers and the whole city's!
Forget you--do you think _I'd_ ever live that down?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: [apologetic] No. I guess you wouldn't either. That would be
very self-centered of me, wouldn't it?
[Cut back to Kano sitting up in her futon, suddenly looking very
angry.]
Kano: _Sister. _Dear._ If you even _dare_ try something like that
I'll...
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: Don't worry. I'm not going to. [shifts under her sheets] But I
don't have a clue what else I can do.
[Cut back to Kano sitting up in her futon, scowling.]
Kano: [at the end of her tether] I don't know either. How about
nothing? Why don't you just leave me alone for once in your life, for
Pete's sake? Let me sleep, maybe? Oooooooooh...!
[Full length shot from above of Kano throwing herself back on her
futon, pulling the sheets back over herself and screwing her eyes
shut.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; tentatively] Kano...
Kano: [angrily] I don't want to know, okay? Just shut up and leave me
alone!
Yukino: [off] I don't know if you want to or not. Problem is I don't
really know how to say it.
Kano: What if I don't care?
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; apologetic] Look...I really shouldn't have laid into you
like that. I should have known better...
Kano: Yeah, maybe you should have.
Yukino: [off; gently] I guess I mean...I don't know what to do right
now, Kano. I don't know what to say. I never had my heart broken like
this...
[Close up of Kano's head turned to viewer's right, poking out of her
futon. She is by now clearly irritated.]
Kano: No, you haven't had your heart broken like me. Maybe you should
try it sometime. You know what, sis? I'm just hoping and praying for
the day Arima dumps you so you can see what us mere mortals have to go
through. Then you can lecture me all you want. 'Til then don't talk to
me about it any more, all right? Since when have you cared how I felt
anyway?
[Kano covers her head with the sheet.]
[Shot from above of Tsukino's empty futon and Kano's futon. Kano is now
completely covered by the sheet.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; thoughtful, not at all ironic] I wonder when myself.
[Shot from under the sheet of Kano's left profile from the waist up,
her face turned towards the camera (away from Yukino), her eyes screwed
shut.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] I don't plan to tell Mom and Dad where you were.
[Kano opens her eyes for a moment.]
Kano: Oh. [shuts her eyes again; grudgingly] Thanks for covering my
butt, I guess.
Yukino: [off] That's okay. [beat] That wasn't the only reason I did it,
though.
Kano: [guarded] Is that a fact?
Yukino: [off] I figured you'd been yelled at enough...
Kano: [ironic] You don't say.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] That, and I kind of owed you from Christmas Eve.
[Kano opens her eyes again.]
Kano: What makes you say that?
Yukino: You see...Arima would have gotten in a lot more trouble than I
would have. And I mean a _lot_ more trouble. I don't know what Dad
would have done to Arima if he'd found out about what we did. [beat]
I'm not sure I want to. [beat] I don't think I ever told you how
grateful I am for what you did for us. So I figured you'd appreciate me
doing the same thing for you and Asapin. [beat] Good night, Kano.
[Beat. Kano might blink once or twice.]
Kano: [suddenly confused] Waitasec.
[Full length shot of Kano's futon from her right profile. She suddenly
sits up and turns towards Yukino.]
Kano: [genuinely curious] What made you think I was going to tell Dad
anything at all?
[Shot from Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: Dad wanted to make sure Arima didn't do anything to me. That's
why he told you and Tsukino to stay up until I got in.
[Shot of Kano from her right profile, sitting up in her futon, facing
towards Yukino. She shuts her eyes in disgust; she might groan a bit.]
Kano: [disgusted] Oh for...come _on_, sis, it's not like I care what
you guys do together, right? I'm not a kid you know.
[Shot from the floor of the head of Kano's futon. She slumps back down
onto it, head turned towards the ceiling, her eyes shut.]
Kano: [a bit peeved] Anyway, where did Dad think he got off telling me
and Tsukino to interfere with your date? Not like your relationship's
any of his business. 'Sides, all it'd have done is started a fight, and
I actually kind of like Arima. And even if I didn't they don't pay us
enough for espionage...
Yukino: [off] Except that's just it, Kano. One day it's going to become
Dad's business whether he likes it or not. And there's going to be a
fight anyway. And there's not a thing any of us can do about it.
[Close up of Kano's head from right profile. Her eyes open.]
Kano: What do you mean?
Yukino: [off] Because one fine day Arima might ask to marry me, or
somebody'll ask Tsukino or you to marry them, and it'll become Dad's
business. [beat] I don't know what'll happen then.
[Kano turns her head towards the camera (i.e. towards Yukino).]
[Shot from Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: We're his little princesses, Kano. We're all Dad's got. He's
not ready to give us up. [beat] Arima told me that night I'm all he's
got. And he might have meant it too. Kano, Arima put someone in the
hospital who never even _met_ me, never mind harmed me, just because
the guy _joked_ about taking me from him. It's a miracle he's not
sitting in jail.
[Cut back to Kano's face. The idea seems to have unnerved her as well.]
Yukino: [off] And that scares me, Kano, because I don't know what
they're capable of. And I don't want either of them to get hurt. I
don't want anyone hurt because of me.
[Kano suddenly scowls, screws up her eyes again.]
Kano: [ironic] Oh, my heart bleeds. I'm crying, I _don't_ think! [opens
her eyes, raises her voice; contemptuously] Couldn't we all use a guy
who'd kill someone to defend our honor, _if any_? You think I don't
know what you're like?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Kano: [off] You get off on the idea that Arima and Dad think you're so
fucking special they'd tear each other to pieces for you, don't you,
pardon my _French_? [laughs harshly] Actually, come to think of it,
knowing you, you probably get off on the idea so much that making out
with Arima's just the icing on the cake! If you're so worried about Dad
kicking Arima's butt because you were making out with him, keep your
hands to yourself from now on!
[Cut back to Kano's face. She screws her eyes shut again.]
Kano: [almost spitting the words] You make me sick! [turns away]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] Kano...
Kano: Shut up!
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off; trying again, almost begging] Kano, please. I want...
Kano: It's all about _you_, isn't it? [covers herself with the sheet]
[Shot from under the sheet of Kano's head and shoulders from left
profile, her face turned towards the camera (away from Yukino), her
eyes screwed shut.]
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] That's what I'm afraid of, Kano.
Kano: [through her teeth] Listen, do you _want_ me to slug you? Because
I'm ready to do it just about now.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] I'd let you, too. I'd let you do a lot worse besides.
[Kano's eyes snap open.]
[Full length shot of Kano's futon from her right profile. She suddenly
sits up and turns towards Yukino.]
Kano: What's that supposed to mean?
[Shot from Kano's perspective of Yukino lying under her futon, her
face away from the camera.]
Yukino: [a little sadly] Kano, did you really know what we did when we
were alone? Really and truly?
[Shot of Kano's head and shoulders. She is silent a moment, a bit taken
aback by the question, then goes back on the offensive.]
Kano: [her intelligence insulted] What are you asking me a question
like that for? I'm not a kid, you know!
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] I'm asking...
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino.]
Yukino: ...because if you weren't going to tell on me and Arima no
matter what, I need to know why you said anything at all.
[Cut back to Kano's face.]
Kano: What? [not sure how to answer] I dunno. To piss you off.
[combative again] I don't know! What's your point anyway?
Yukino: [off] I think I made it your business, Kano.
Kano: [taken aback] Huh?
[Cut back to Kano's perspective of Yukino. Yukino might shift under her
covers.]
Yukino: [softly, not a hint of accusation in her voice] Because if it
hadn't become your business, I don't think you'd have said anything at
all. [beat] Kano, I need you to promise me something. Promise me that
at Asapin's you didn't try to...to...[trails off]
[Cut back to Kano's face. She seems confused by the question.]
Kano: Try to what?
[The penny apparently drops; she suddenly is silent, reflective, a
little embarrassed, the anger going out of her face for a moment. She
turns away from Yukino's futon.]
[Beat.]
[Shot of Kano from just beyond Yukino's futon. Yukino's body is covered
with her sheet; her face is still not visible, being just off camera to
viewer's left. Kano is sitting up in bed, looking away from Yukino's
futon.]
Kano: Sis, he never touched me. He wouldn't...[looks up] Hey.
[Close up of Kano's head and shoulders. She looks towards Yukino's
futon again, suddenly furious.]
Kano: HEY!
[Shot of Kano's right profile from the neck down as she sits up in bed.
She quickly stands up and walks toward the camera (i.e. towards
Yukino's futon).]
[Shot from above and to the left of Yukino's futon. Yukino's head and
body are turned to camera left; however, she has drawn her sheet over
her face, so it is still not visible.]
Kano: [off; from above] I'm not a tramp like you!
[Shot of Kano's right profile from the waist up as she looks down on
Yukino, looking ready to kill.]
Kano: Is that what you're insinuating? Huh?
[Shot from above and to the left of Yukino's futon, just about from
Kano's perspective if she had been kneeling down beside her. Yukino's
head and body are turned to camera left, her face still obscured by the
sheet.]
Kano: [off] You're gonna say stuff like that, look at me when you do
it!
[Beat.]
[Kano's hands pull the sheet off.]
[Close up on Yukino's torso. Kano's hands roughly grab Yukino's
shoulders.]
[Shot from left profile of Kano as she kneels beside Yukino's futon,
still furious.]
Kano: I said LOOK AT ME...! [suddenly taken aback; trails off] Huh?
[Shot from above of Yukino from the waist up. Yukino, clad in her
nightshirt, is lying on her side, staring blankly as if through Kano,
her mouth slightly open, looking for all the world like a corpse,
except for the tears in her eyes and the occasional heaving sob, which,
perhaps, she had been trying to stifle through the sheets.]
[Shot from above, from the ceiling perhaps, of Yukino lying on her
futon, and Kano, kneeling to her left.]
[Beat.]
[Close up on Yukino's torso. Kano's hands slowly let go of Yukino's
shoulders.]
[Close up of Yukino's face. She slowly looks up towards Kano.]
[Shot from Yukino's perspective of Kano, kneeling down beside her. All
the anger is gone from her expression; she now looks concerned, perhaps
a little afraid.]
Kano: [very softly] Sis?
[Black screen.]
[SFX: Someone roughly grabbing another's body.]
[Shot of Yukino, right, on her knees in front of Kano, left, embracing
her tightly, as if clinging to her for dear life; her face is hidden
from view behind the back of Kano's head. Kano does not resist, but
does not at first return the embrace; her arms hang limp to her sides.]
[Close up of Kano's face from over Yukino's left shoulder. She is
stunned into silence, clearly not sure what to think or do.]
Yukino: [off; softly, tenderly, but extremely sadly] No, love. I'm not
accusing you of a single thing. I'm just happy you're home and you're
safe.
[Close up of Yukino's face from over Kano's left shoulder, her
expression a mask of guilt and shame, her eyes shut.]
Yukino: But I think I might have done something horrible to you, Kano.
[Close up of Kano's face.]
Yukino: [off] You weren't asleep. I _knew_ you weren't asleep, and for
all I knew you could hear everything.
[Close up of Yukino's face from over Kano's left shoulder.]
Yukino: But I went ahead and did it just the same. [sobs silently but
visibly, biting her lip; she is clearly struggling not to break down
completely] Shit, why didn't I just invite you and Tsukino to join the
party while I was at it? Or call up Mom and Dad just so I didn't miss
anyone?
[Close up of Kano's face. Her confusion has turned to shock; she might
look a little sick.]
Yukino: [off; in self-mockery, not a bit of mirth in her voice] "Merry
Christmas, Dad! Us girls are having a blast over here with Arima! Hey,
don't get pissed off, I'll make it up to you, I promise! Oh, I know!
Dad, you always said I was hotter than Mom, right? You up for some
family fun?"
Kano: [horrified] My God...sis, why are you telling me this?
[Close up of Yukino's face from over Kano's left shoulder.]
Yukino: [sobs] Because I'm _ashamed_ of it, Kano! I don't know how you
can even look at that couch any more, never mind me...
[Shot of Kano's back. Yukino's arms, clasped around it in a bearhug,
tighten around Kano.]
Yukino: [off; her voice cracking] Oh God, Kano, I was so scared...!
[Close up of Yukino's face from over Kano's left shoulder.]
Yukino: When Aya told me you'd been at her place, and I looked through
my stuff and realized the map to Asapin's was in there as well...
[Close up of Kano from the waist up, this time from right profile,
still in Yukino's embrace. She has gone beyond confusion to simply
being overwhelmed.]
Yukino: [sobs; endearing] ...and I came home and you'd obviously been
and gone because you'd left the kitchen in a mess like you always do,
you silly thing...[sobs; starts to babble]...and I realized where you
had to have gone, and I panicked and I called Asapin but he had no idea
where you were, and I couldn't even go look because you could have been
anywhere, and for all I knew some pervert had gotten his hands on you
and left you dead in some alley and I thought I'd go mad...oh God,
Kano, if you'd gotten hurt because you thought you needed to give
yourself to a man so you could be a big girl and you could be special
just like me, I'd have...oh dear merciful God...oh Kano, what have I
done to you?
[She lets go of Kano's body, and takes Kano's face in her hands. We now
see Yukino's face in left profile. There are fresh tears in her (now
open) eyes; she smiles a gentle smile trying to be reassuring but
betraying heartbreak, the smile of a mother to a dying child;
throughout her next speech she might stroke Kano's hair and kiss her
frantically on the forehead and cheeks ad lib.]
Yukino: [babbling frantically] Kano, I'm so sorry! I don't want you to
be like me! I don't want you to ever be _anything_ like me! _I'm_ the
horrible one! _I'm_ the showoff! _I'm_ the liar! _I'm_ the coward!
_I'm_ the slut! _I'm_ the one who's dirty and disgusting! Not you! All
I want you to be is the good, happy little girl that everyone loved and
always set her big sister straight and never hurt a living soul and was
always so much better than her big sister ever was, now and forever!
I'll do anything to get her back, anything at all! I won't be
disgusting any more, I promise! [laughs through her sobs] Who needs a
silly boyfriend anyway? I don't want one any more, not if it's going to
hurt my little Kano, or Daddy, or anybody! I don't want to hurt anyone
any more! Least of all you! I'm going to be the big sister I should
have been for you all along, Kano! Can I, please? You won't be sorry, I
promise! I won't do anything bad to you any more! I'll always be a good
example for you! I'll always stick by you, through thick and thin,
you'll see! I'll always be right by your side! I'll keep you safe from
everything bad, now and forever, and you won't have to cry any more...!
[Close up of Yukino's face from the front. She suddenly stops her
tirade; her smile evaporates; she hangs her head, no longer able to
look Kano in the eye.]
[Shot from the front of Kano's head and shoulders. Yukino's hands let
Kano's face go and slowly fall away towards Kano's shoulders.]
Yukino: [off] But it wouldn't make the least bit of difference, would
it? [beat] I don't know what you think I am. I can't give you Asapin.
And even if I could, I can't make you happy, can I? I was the one who
made you unhappy to begin with. I can't protect you from the whole
world if I can't protect you from myself...
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, her eyes hidden my her
bangs. She bites her lip. Tears start to flow down her cheeks.]
[Shot of Yukino from left profile, from the neck down. She takes Kano
in her arms again and holds Kano's head to her own chest, Kano's face
turned right (towards the camera) and with that begins to weep
bitterly, perhaps as if Kano were dead in her arms. She might resume
stroking Kano's hair. For her part Kano's expression, at first still
overwhelmed, turns slowly to being clearly upset herself, a little
fearful, a little guilty as well.]
[Beat.]
[Shot of the view of the city from the window of the Miyazawa girls'
bedroom. The red aircraft warning lights of the factory are visible in
the distance, winking on and off.]
[Beat.]
[Close up on Kano's face from the front. She does not look at Yukino as
she speaks to her, perhaps out of shame.]
Kano: [clearly worried] Sis...Asaba said he wouldn't tell you I was at
his place. That must have been why he said he hadn't seen me. He must
have thought you'd be angry.
[Close up front view of Yukino's face, tears streaming down, her eyes
hidden by her bangs.]
Yukino: [struggling to speak through her tears; trying to sound
reassuring] Why did you think I'd be angry with you, love? You didn't
do anything wrong...
[Beat.]
[Close up on Kano's face.]
Kano: Sis...what if I had? [beat] What if I was as dirty and disgusting
as you?
[Close up front view of Yukino's face, tears streaming down, her eyes
hidden by her bangs.]
Yukino: [trying to cry out through her tears; succeeding mostly in
croaking] _No!_ Don't say that! Don't even think that! It's not true! I
don't want it to be true! Not my little angel!
[Close up on Kano's face. She might draw a deep breath, as if gathering
courage.]
Kano: [trying again] Sis...that night...you weren't very loud at all. I
couldn't have heard you from upstairs if I tried. I just said that to
upset you.
[Close up of Yukino's hand on Kano's head. Yukino stops stroking Kano's
hair; however, the hand does not move from Kano's head.]
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. She looks down towards
her chest (i.e. towards Kano), more than a little shocked.]
Yukino: [still choked] What do you mean?
[Close up on Kano's face. Her expression is clearly ashamed.]
Kano: [embarrassed; struggling to explain] You see...I couldn't fall
back asleep, and I didn't hear the door slam...so I knew he couldn't
have left, and I thought you guys must be kissing or something...and I
was curious, so I thought I'd go listen and I could tease you in the
morning about it, maybe.
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, still shocked but
attentive.]
Kano: [off] And I crept downstairs as far as I could where I couldn't
see you, but I knew you guys wouldn't be able to see me, so I could
hear everything, pretty much...and I guess I figured you'd kiss or call
each other silly names that I could tease you about in the morning, and
that'd be it...[her voice might begin to waver in fear]...if I'd known
what you were really going to do, I'd have never dared, sis, honest...
but I guess I didn't...or maybe I did, but I blocked it out or some
darn thing...I was like, "Yukino and Arima doing it? Get real!"
[Close up on Kano's face. Fear has been added to shame; she might bite
her lip in apprehension.]
Kano: [struggling to continue] And...and by the time I realized what
you were doing I couldn't move, because I knew if I made a noise you'd
hear me and rip me to shreds and it'd be my own fault...or at least
that's what I told myself, but I think maybe part of me didn't want to
move either...
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, shocked but attentive.]
Kano: [off; her voice trembling] ...it didn't sound anything like in
the movies or TV or anything...it wasn't like anything I'd ever heard
in my life...so I knew I shouldn't be there, but I couldn't stop
listening...and I just sat there like a statue with my heart pounding
in my chest, until I guess you were finished and I heard someone get up
off the couch and start walking towards the stairs, and I finally
snapped out of it and I panicked and moved as fast as I could back
towards the room and dove into bed.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [finally; she has gotten her breath back while Kano spoke; not
at all angry, more unsure what to think] Kano...why did you tell me
that just now?
[Shot of Yukino from the neck down, embracing Kano. Kano extricates
herself from the embrace.]
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. She raises her head to
follow Kano's face as Kano moves to a more upright position.]
Kano: [off] Because...I guess...
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. She looks down and to the
left, not daring to look Yukino in the eye quite yet, and now looks
extremely ashamed.]
Kano: I guess...I wanted to say I was sorry for violating your privacy
like that.
[Close up of Kano's hands, clasped in her lap. She squeezes them
together in apprehension.]
Kano: [off] Because I didn't have any right. And...I'm sorry for
running off like that and for saying all those mean things to you and
blaming you because Asaba didn't like me or saying you didn't care
about me, because it wasn't true...
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. She slowly lifts her head to
look at Yukino. She is now upset as well as ashamed.]
Kano: ...because I did a bunch of dumb stuff because I wanted to be all
grown up and I didn't know what I was doing, and I had no right to hurt
you like that, and I'm really sorry, and it really wasn't your fault,
and I really don't hate you, and I don't want you to torture yourself
any more.
[Front view of Yukino's head and shoulders. Kano's hand might reach out
to wipe away some of her tears.]
Kano: [off] Don't cry any more, sis, please?
[Beat.]
Yukino: [finally; struggling not to start crying again] Oh, Kano...
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders.]
Kano: You were crying downstairs, weren't you? Because I yelled at you
like that.
[Front view of Yukino's head and shoulders. She nods, smiles sadly.]
Yukino: Just a little. [laughs a bit] Okay, make that a lot.
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. Now that it is clear that
Yukino is not going to skin her alive she has relaxed a bit, but she
still looks a little upset.]
Yukino: [off] But you know, Kano, I don't think I would have cried so
much, if I hadn't thought it was true. Because if you hated me, I
thought, I deserved every bit of it...
[Kano hangs her head in shame once more.]
Kano: Sis...you said you'd never had your heart broken by a guy...
Yukino: [off] What do you mean?
Kano: I mean...[looks up] I don't think it really matters, because I
think I did a bang-up job all on my own.
[Shot from the neck down of the two girls as they kneel before each
other. Yukino takes Kano's hands in hers; she might rub them gently.]
Yukino: [off; softly] Oh, Kano...
Kano: [off] You were really worried about me, huh?
Yukino: [off; reflective] Yes. Yes, I guess I was.
[Beat.]
Kano: [off] I'm really grateful. That you wanted so badly for me to be
safe, I mean. [laughs a bit] I guess I never realized you had it in
you.
Yukino: [off; tenderly] It's okay...
[Beat.]
Kano: [off] You know, sis...when you came upstairs tonight, you looked
a lot like Mom did, on New Year's. Real loving, but real sad. You know
what I mean?
Yukino: [off; thoughtful] I think so.
Kano: [off] Actually, now I think of it, for a moment I thought it was
her putting the covers over me. But that was you, right?
Yukino: [off; laughs a little] Figured it was the least I could do.
Kano: [off; tentatively] Sis...this is going to sound real weird,
but...
Yukino: [off; curious] But what?
Kano: [off] If I tell you, you gotta promise not to get mad, okay?
Yukino: [off] Okay. I promise.
[Beat.]
Kano: [off] I didn't realize it until now myself, but...tonight you
sounded like you did that night.
Yukino: [off; she catches her breath; she might tighten her grip on
Kano's hands; a bit scandalized] Like _that_ night? What's that
supposed to mean?
Kano: [off] I'd never heard you talk like that before, ever. So it was
weird, but it was really nice. Real soft and gentle and tender.
Like...I don't know how to say this exactly but...if I didn't know any
better I'd have said like a mother.
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. Shock has mostly given
way to incomprehension.]
Yukino: A mother?
[Close up of Kano's face from right profile. She is now smiling.]
Kano: Hm-hmm. Really caring and protective and stuff. [beat] I didn't
hear the voice again until tonight. So I guess I didn't make the
connection myself until now. [beat] I bet you'd make a great mom, sis.
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. She looks pleased, though
a bit embarrassed, but for all that thoughtful; she laughs a bit; she
might blush, look away from Kano.]
Yukino: Thanks, I think...what can I say, I've turned into a real
mother hen lately. Can't think why...
[Shot from the neck down of the two girls as they kneel before each
other. Yukino is still holding Kano's hands in hers.]
Kano: [off; reassuring] You don't have to apologize for it. I really
like you this way.
Yukino: [off; pleased, but embarrassed] Oh yeah?
Kano: [off] Yeah.
[Close up on Yukino's and Kano's hands. Kano extricates her right hand
from Yukino's and starts to raise it.]
Kano: [off] But, you know, sis...
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile. Kano has placed her right
hand on Yukino's left cheek; Yukino looks surprised.]
Kano: [off] I'm not so sure I'll be needing a mom much longer.
Yukino: I don't understand...
Kano: [off] I guess I mean...even if you tried you can't protect me
forever from doing dumb stuff, right? I mean, Mom really _is_ my mom,
and she couldn't stop me from running off to Asaba's.
[Close up of Kano's face from right profile. She is still smiling, but
the smile is now less admiration than reassurance.]
Kano: As for you...it's not something you should think you have to do.
I really appreciate it, but it's not your job, really it's not. You can
look after Arima, maybe. You can't look after the whole world.
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, Kano's hand on her
cheek.]
Kano: [off] Besides, I'm thinking that all this started because I
didn't want to be a little girl that someone needed to protect any
more.
Yukino: [still not understanding] But...isn't there anything I can do
for you at all?
[Close up of Kano's face from right profile.]
Kano: You can help me be a big girl. Will you do that for me?
[Close up of Yukino's face from left profile, Kano's hand on her cheek.
Yukino is smiling gratefully, as if honored to take on the assignment.]
Yukino: [nodding] Yes. I'd like that very much.
[Close up on Yukino's hands, which are still gently holding Kano's left
hand.]
Kano: [off] Sis...?
Yukino: [off; softly] Yes?
Kano: [off] Asaba wouldn't tell me who he liked. Do you know?
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] Yes. Yes, I think I do.
Kano: [off] Who is it?
Yukino: [off; laughing sadly] Not me, thank God. [beat] Is that who you
were afraid it was?
Kano: [off] Maybe a little.
[Beat.]
Yukino: [off] I'm not really supposed to know, though, so that's all I
can tell you. [beat] I'm sorry.
Kano: [off] 'Sokay. It doesn't matter any more.
Yukino: [off; concerned] Will you be okay, Kano? Really and truly?
[Kano squeezes Yukino's hand.]
Kano: [off] I think so, yes.
[Beat.]
[Still of the box of chocolates sitting on the desk.]
Yukino: [off] Kano...
Kano: [off] Yes?
Yukino: [off] What are you going to do with those chocolates now?
Kano: [off] I dunno.
Yukino: [off; laughs a bit] You don't know, Dad might like to be
humored for one more year.
[Beat.]
Kano: [off] Actually, Sis...do you want them?
Yukino: [off; taken aback] What? Me?
Kano: [off] Uh-huh.
Yukino: [off; unsure how to react] I don't know...Arima doesn't like
chocolate, you know...
Kano: [off] So give 'em to Tsubasa.
Yukino: [off] I guess she'd eat them, sure, but...
Kano: [off; laughs] Just take 'em, already.
Yukino: [off; laughs with her] Okay, whatever...
Kano: [off; reflective] Anyway...this is probably going to sound really
weird, but...
Yukino: [off] What?
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. She is smiling.]
Kano: [off] I'm not sure they were ever really for Asapin to start
with.
[Front view of Yukino's head and shoulders. She appears not to know
what to make of Kano's remark.]
[Beat.]
[Black screen.]
[Caption in white type: THUS KANO AND YUKINO MIYAZAWA WERE FOR THE
FIRST TIME ABLE TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO EACH OTHER'S GAZE, NOT AS GIRLS
BUT AS YOUNG WOMEN.]
[Caption in white type: HOWEVER, THERE IS NO ROOM HERE TO REPEAT ALL OF
WHICH THEY SPOKE THAT NIGHT.]
[Caption in white type: WITH THAT IN MIND, WE MOVE FORWARD TO WHAT
TRANSPIRED WHEN THEY EMERGED FROM THEIR CHAMBER.]
[Cut to Kano, now clad in a T-shirt and shorts, attacking some takeout
food like a starving man (and indeed she is starving, having skipped
dinner).]
Tsukino: [off] Kano, you mind not spraying bits of rice all over my
notebook? Do you have any idea how gross that is?
Kano: [in between bites] Your fault for studying at the kitchen table.
[Shot of Tsukino seated at the kitchen table, surrounded by books and
notes, and looking peeved.]
Tsukino: I couldn't study anywhere else, with you guys upstairs! I
thought you were sick anyway...
[Cut back to Kano, still attacking the takeout.]
Kano: [in between bites] I was. Can't you tell? Say, Mom, this stuff
kicks butt. Where'd you guys go anyway?
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; gushing] To Murasaki's. Best sushi I've ever had.
Didn't you think it was lovely, dear?
Mr. Miyazawa: [off] Not as lovely as the chocolates, honey!
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off] Oh, stop! [titters] I should confess, though...the
ones I really wanted to get you were gone from Chocolatier Kawasaki
before I got around to buying them. I'm sorry...
[Close up on Kano's face from the front. She looks left (towards her
mother and father off camera), ceasing in her attack on the food and
looking pensive.]
Mr. Miyazawa: [off] Oh, come on, honey, it's all right!
[Cut back to Tsukino, who has turned back to her studies.]
Mr. Miyazawa: [off] Why, the night's not even over for me! Not 'til
I've gotten chocolate from the other women in my life!
[Cue bulging vein at extreme camera left.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; not amused] Namely...?
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; putting her at ease] Why, my little princesses of
course!
[Beat.]
[Cue sweatdrop at extreme camera right.]
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; expectant] Well?
Tsukino: [unimpressed] Dad, I've been too busy studying.
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; thunderstruck] You don't mean...
[Cut back to Kano, now eating more demurely.]
Kano: [careful not to show her hand] I've had other stuff going on.
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; clutching at a straw] Yukino, surely...
Yukino: [off; apologetic] Dad, I kind of have a man. Pretty possessive,
too. If he heard he'd kick my ass.
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; heartbroken] You mean...none of you bothered?
Really? [sobs] I've been betrayed! Oh, but what can this be but the
price of my own infidelity? Miyako, I'm sorry! You're the only one for
me, now and forever! Will you ever forgive me?
[Cue sweatdrop at extreme camera left.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; nervous] If it means you'll stop being so silly,
I'll forgive you anything, my dear...
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; sobbing for joy] Oh, thank you, love!
[End sweatdrop.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; consolatory] But, dear, the fact is they're not
children any more...
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; sobbing; he might blow his nose] I know...
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; coyly] In any case, when you come upstairs
there'll be another box waiting for you. I can't wait for you to unwrap
it...
[Kano suddenly turns green and puts her chopsticks down.]
Mr. Miyazawa: [off; perking up] You mean you _do_ forgive me? Oh,
darling...!
[Shot of Tsukino at the table surrounded by books. She is
sweatdropping, hanging her head.]
Tsukino: Mom, just so you know, I could have gone my whole life without
hearing that...
[Cut back to Kano, still quite green.]
Kano: That's it. I'm done. I think I've had a relapse. I'm going back
to bed...
[Cue sweatdrop at extreme camera left.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; denying everything, not terribly convincingly] Oh,
for heaven's sake...a box of chocolates, of course! What on earth did
you think I meant?
Kano: [not buying it] Then bring it downstairs and let's see it.
[The sweatdrops at camera left rapidly multiply.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off] What?...No! Only your father gets to see it!
Yukino: [off; letting her mother off the hook] Mom, Dad, before you
guys turn in...
[Close up of Kano's face from the front. She looks attentive at the
sound of Yukino's voice off camera left, turns to look.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off] Yes, Yukino?
Yukino: [off] That picture of me in the front room. My junior high
grad. picture...
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off] What about it?
[Shot of the framed picture of Yukino, sitting on a table in the front
room. It is the picture of Yukino, or rather her public image, that in
Kano's imagination filled an entire wall; in reality it is only 20x25
cm. (i.e. 8"x10"), a reasonable size for a graduation photo, but large
enough to be prominent in the room.]
Yukino: [off] I was thinking...I don't really like it any more. Would
you mind if I took it down?
Mrs. Miyazawa: [off; puzzled] Well, if that's really what you want, I
suppose...
[Front view of Mrs. Miyazawa's head and shoulders. She has let her hair
down for her night out.]
Mrs. Miyazawa: [concerned]...but why? What's wrong with it? You look
wonderful in it...
Yukino: [off] That's kind of the problem...
Mrs. Miyazawa: [puzzled] I don't understand...what do you mean?
Yukino: [off] It'd take a while to explain...let's just say I'm not
proud of who I was back then. She's not much of a role model.
[Front view of Yukino's head and shoulders. She is smiling a bit
sheepishly.]
Yukino: So I'd rather it not be staring at the back of Tsukino
and Kano's necks any more.
[Shot of Tsukino at the table surrounded by books. She is looking up, a
look of slight incomprehension on her face.]
[Close up of Kano's face as she looks left towards Yukino, looking
thoughtful. She might smile slightly, knowingly.]
[Cut to a shot of the Karekano characters dressed as the mob outside
Jacques'
(Yukino's) door from "La chienne noire du raconteur," the priest
(Asaba) and
the
woodcutter (Kano) at their head.]
Yukino: [to the crowd, as loudly as possible without shouting] Wait!
Narrator: ...he said to them, and they were silent for a moment.
[Shot from inside the door of the crowd, who turn to look at him.]
[Close up of Yukino from the waist up as she speaks. The camera might
pan up
slightly as she does so.]
Yukino: Very well. If the dog has harmed someone, then the dog must
pay.
There
is something I need to do before you condemn me. To do it I must go
inside
and
get my gun. Believe me, I will not use it against you. If I do, feel
free to
respond in kind, and my death will be on my own head.
[Shot of Kano and Asaba disputing the issue for a moment, until Asaba
finally
makes a gesture of approval.]
Narrator: [VO] The woodcutter objected, saying it was another trick,
but the
priest overruled him and allowed Jacques to go get his gun.
[Still of Yukino going inside the door.]
Narrator: [VO] So Jacques went inside...
[Still of Yukino emerging from the door in her farmer's costume,
holding a
rifle.]
Narrator: [VO] ...got his gun...
[Still of the crowd gathered outside the barn; Yukino stands before
them
loading
the gun.]
Narrator: [VO] ...and led the crowd to his barn...
[Close up of Yukino's face, right profile, whistling.]
[SFX: A man whistling, as if to call a dog.]
Narrator: [VO] ...where he made as if to call the dog...
[Still of Yukino from the crowd's perspective, her back to the camera,
walking
to the back of the barn.]
Narrator: [VO] ...and headed behind the barn out of sight.
[Shot of the crowd standing around in confusion.]
[Beat.]
[SFX: A gunshot ringing out.]
[Still of the backyard dog; now there is a bullet hole, out of which
drips
blood.]
[Close up of Tsubasa's face, as she bites her lip.]
[Shot of Rika the novice fainting, causing Aya the nun to panic for a
moment.]
[Shot of Yukino emerging from behind the barn, and slowly walking up to
the
crowd.]
[Front view of the people at the head of the crowd, Asaba the priest
and Kano
the woodcutter among them, watching Yukino as she walks up to meet
them. At
last
Yukino emerges, her back to the camera.]
Yukino: There. It is done.
[Shot of Yukino, left, from waist up, right profile, standing before
Asaba
and
Kano, right, to address them.]
Yukino: That is the end of the dog. Has justice been served?
[Beat.]
Asaba: Yes, I think so.
[Close up on Kano as she reflects.]
Kano: I think so too.
[Shot of Yukino, her back turned to the camera, watching as Kano, then
Asaba,
then everybody else, begin to walk away.]
[Close up of Yukino's face, right profile, as she watches them go, her
expression pensive.]
Narrator: [VO] And everyone was satisfied that that was the end of the
dog.
So
they went away and left Jacques in peace for the rest of his life.
Little girl: [VO; protesting] Hey! No fair!
Narrator: [VO; suddenly thrown off, prosaic] What do you mean?
[Cut to a little boy (possibly kindergarten-age Hiroyuki Miyazawa), and
a
little
girl (it might be kindergarten-age Miyako), sitting on the floor at the
head
of
the _Karekano_ characters dressed in their period French Canadian
costumes.
Peropero might be sitting on Miyako's lap. They look a little peeved.]
Miyako: He just told another lie!
Hiroyuki: [cynical] Yeah! Is this sort of stuff supposed to teach us
good
morals?
[Peropero barks.]
Narrator: [off; a bit irritated] That's not the point!
Hiroyuki: Yeah? So what is the point?
[Close up of a hand (Yukino's) pointing emphatically into the air.]
Narrator: [off] The point is...
[Cut to a full-length shot of the narrator, our first look at her. It
is SD
Yukino herself, dressed as Jacques. She finally drops the (fake) French
Canadian
accent.]
Yukino: Don't tell the world you have a big black dog that doesn't
exist, or
you
may find one day that you are no longer the dog's master.
[Close up of Hiroyuki sitting on the floor. He turns his nose up in
disgust.]
Hiroyuki: [dismissive] How dumb were those people anyway?
[Cut back to the close up of Kano's face; she is still smiling.]
Kano: [to herself] They weren't the only ones.
[Cut to a still of South Shirakawa Public School.]
[Caption: NEXT DAY]
[SFX: A bell rings to dismiss classes.]
[Close up on a classroom sign reading 2-C.]
Class rep: [female; off] Stand. [beat] Bow.
Teacher: [off] Good afternoon.
[SFX: Students are heard leaving their seats.]
[Still of the scene inside the classroom. Students are eating their
lunch, or are standing around at each other's desks conversing, or are
reading comics, or are studying for the next class, and thus and so
forth.]
[Cut to front view of Kano, sitting at her desk clad in her winter
uniform, cheerfully eating her boxed lunch.]
[Close up on a front view of Kano's face as she puts some rice in her
mouth.]
Asaba Fangirl Leader: [off] So, Miyazawa!
[Kano looks up left to acknowledge her.]
[Shot from Kano's perspective of the fangirl leader looking down on
Kano, a smirk on her face, surrounded by attendant fangirls.]
Fangirl Leader: After all that boasting the other day, you're not
escaping us until you tell us of your _inevitable_ rejection by Hideaki
Asaba!
[Shot from the waist up of Kano sitting at her desk, surrounded by
fangirls.]
Megumi: [off] Yes, Kano!
[Kano looks right.]
[Shot from the waist up of Megumi's left profile as she hangs over
Kano's desk, a genuinely interested look on her face.]
Megumi: How'd it go with Asaba?
[Cut back to Kano sitting at her desk. She puts down her chopsticks and
has herself a scary laugh.]
Kano: [finally; creepily] You really want to know, don't you?
[Shot of Kano at her desk, center, with the fangirl leader, at left,
standing over her right shoulder, her arms folded, while Megumi stands
at Kano's right. Fangirls are standing around the three listening
attentively.]
Megumi: Yes! Tell us!
[Cut back to full-screen shot of Kano at her desk. She rises.]
[Shot of the scene around Kano's desk. Kano (now SD) is now standing in
the center of the crowd.]
Kano: [narrative; to the crowd, as melodramatically as possible] After
my detective work had discovered the top-secret location of the
residence of Mr. Asaba...[the fangirls ooh and aah ad lib.]...I was
able to deliver not only the chocolates but also a home-cooked dinner
to the great man, which he ate with gusto and for which he thanked me
profusely...
[The oohing and aahing turns to squeals.]
[Front view of the fangirl leader from the waist up, looking
unimpressed.]
Leader: [not buying this] And?
[Cut back to SD Kano in the center of the crowd telling her story.]
Kano: [still melodramatic] Finally, at the end of the evening, I worked
up the courage to ask...[turns right profile to the camera; sprouts big
starry girl's comic eyes, clasps hands in supplication] "Oh, Asaba, let
me be yours!" [turns face back to the camera, her eyes shut; a tone of
regret] To which, alas, he responded...[turns right profile to the
camera; looks as glamorous as possible; imitates Asaba's voice, badly]
"I'm sorry, but my heart belongs to another." [turns back to the
camera; covers face with hands; sobs melodramatically] And my sleeves
grew damp with tears...
[Front view of the fangirl leader from the waist up, looking
triumphant.]
Leader: Ah-HAH! I knew you'd be rejected! You were a fool to expect
anything else!
[Kano suddenly gets in her face. She lifts a finger demonstratively, a
smirk now all over her face.]
Kano: Ah, but can you claim even to have been rejected by the great
Hideaki Asaba?
[The fangirl leader suddenly looks nervous, sweatdrops.]
Leader: [defensive] Uh, well...that's beside the point...!
[The fangirls suddenly look irritated at their leader.]
Random Fangirl: Yoko, you poser! You said you'd been rejected by Asaba
three times!
[Cut back to the fangirl leader, who hangs her head in shame, and moves
off camera. Kano looks triumphant.]
Fangirl: [off; a tone of leadership now in her own voice] Come on,
show's over!
[Cut back to SD Kano in the center of the crowd. The deposed fangirl
leader exits left, hanging her head. The crowd slowly disperses in
disappointment, and not a little disgust.]
Megumi: Are you sure that's how it happened?
[Front view of Megumi from the waist up, looking skeptical.]
Megumi: It sounds like something from a book by Ayaki Sawai...
[Shot from the waist up of normal Kano's left profile. She suddenly
looks thoughtful.]
Kano: [to Megumi] So what if it did? What would it prove, except that
anybody can be Ayaki Sawai?
[Cut back to Megumi, looking thunderstruck.]
Megumi: [horrified, as if by a blasphemous remark] Kano!
[Front view of Kano from the chest down, her hands folded in front of
her. Megumi suddenly takes the hands in hers, forcing Kano to turn to
camera right towards her.]
Megumi: [off] Repeat after me. "Nobody is Ayaki Sawai. Ayaki Sawai is
God."
[Shot from the waist up of Kano's right profile, her hands in Megumi's.
She is smiling, a bit defiantly.]
Kano: "Anyone can be Aya Sawada. Aya Sawada's bad news."
[Shot from the waist up of Megumi's left profile. She is shocked,
unsure what to make of this.]
Megumi: Kano, are you feeling all right? Who's Aya Sawada?
[Shot from the waist up of Kano's right profile, her hands in Megumi's,
still smiling, but not at all boastfully.]
Kano: [quietly, with not a hint of conceit] That's her real name. Ayaki
Sawai's real name, I mean. I've met her once or twice. She goes to my
sister's school.
[Front view of Megumi from the waist up. Shock has given way to
confusion.]
Megumi: She does? How old is she?
[Front view of Kano from the waist up. Her expression has gone
neutral.]
Kano: [nonchalant] I dunno. Sixteen, maybe? She's in my sister's grade.
[Shot of Megumi's and Kano's outstretched arms, Kano's hands in
Megumi's. She lets them go, and the arms of both girls slowly fall.]
Megumi: [off; a bit surprised] Oh. Okay.
[Beat.]
[Front view of Megumi from the waist up.]
Megumi: [curious] What's she like? Is she nice?
[Full length shot of SD Kano sweatdropping, scratching her head.]
Kano: Ehhhh...actually she's a bit of a butthead.
[Front view of normal Kano's head and shoulders.]
Kano: [smiling] But she's okay.
[Front view of Megumi's head and shoulders, an attentive look on her
face.]
Kano: [off] Really modest, too. She'd freak if she heard someone call
her God. [beat; Megumi might look a bit ashamed] Actually, pretty
normal all around. I guess anybody can be famous, really, if they work
hard enough. It's no big deal. I'm not gonna run around and tell the
whole world I know Ayaki Sawai. [beat] Just you.
[Beat.]
Megumi: Say...so are you all right about it?
Kano: [off] About what?
Megumi: Asaba turning you down. [beat] That's what he did, right?
Kano: [off] You haven't told _me_ about how you made out...
[Megumi suddenly looks away, embarrassed.]
Megumi: What's to tell? He likes somebody else...
Kano: [off] Nope! Not good enough!
[Megumi looks up, not understanding.]
[Shot of the two girls standing before each other, Kano at left, Megumi
at right.]
Kano: [completely serious] You know, if you don't trust me to tell me
about the guy you like, I can't tell you about Asaba.
[Megumi slowly hangs her head. Kano suddenly looks concerned.]
Kano: Megumi? Did I say something wrong?
Megumi: [a bit upset] No, Kano.
[Front view of Megumi from the waist down, hanging her head.]
Megumi: It was just a bit rough on me, okay? I don't want to talk about
it right now...
Kano: [off] Later, maybe? After school maybe you wanna go somewhere?
[beat; trying to tempt her] My treat...!
[Shot of Kano's arms as she takes Megumi's hands in hers.]
Kano: [more serious, softly] But if we're really and truly friends,
then I need to know. I care about you, Megumi.
[Close up on Megumi's head and shoulders. She looks up; there might be
tears in her eyes.]
Megumi: [accepting; smiling through her tears] Okay!
[Front view from the waist up of SD Kano, pointing to the sky. Mount
Fuji might be in the background.]
Kano: And when we're done, we can go on to talk about that fan comic of
yours with which we shall conquer the world!
[Left profile shot of Megumi from the waist up, who is suddenly looking
unnerved at Kano's enthusiasm.]
Megumi: What, my _Nanami_ comic?
[Kano suddenly steps on camera, getting in her face a bit.]
Kano: [dismissive] Forget Nanami. She sucks.
Megumi: [confused] She does?
Kano: [clarifying] Well, no, the show's okay, but face it, the girl's
bad news...Anyway! We can't conquer the world with a comic based on
somebody else's characters! We are our own women, Megumi! We need to
find our own voices! Our own themes! Our own identities! Our own cool
circle name!
[Front view of Megumi's head and shoulders, as she looks more and more
overwhelmed.]
Kano: [off] With me as writer and you as artist, we'll kick ass
together! Who knows, maybe we can even sell our work somewhere and
become professionals!
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders, as she waxes exuberant.]
Kano: We'll be bigger than Ayaki Sawai! The world is our oyster,
Megumi!
Megumi: [off] But what will we write about?
[Kano settles down a bit, though she's still cheerful.]
Kano: [a bit more seriously] What we know more about than our readers.
[Shot of Megumi's hands in Kano's. Kano squeezes a bit.]
Kano: Like our first loves...
[Front view of Megumi's head and shoulders. She suddenly looks away,
reluctant.]
Megumi: I'm not sure I could...
[Front view of Kano's head and shoulders. She is completely serious.]
Kano: Megumi, that's all Aya ever writes about. What she knows more
about than anyone else. [suddenly smiles] Don't worry! We can change
the details so nobody gets embarrassed, but aside from that, it'll be
okay. Who knows? Maybe somebody'll learn from it, you don't know...
[Front view of Megumi's head and shoulders. That seems to have
satisfied her.]
Megumi: Okay. [beat; suddenly thinking of something] What are we going
to call ourselves though?
[Shot of the two girls, now SD, standing before each other.]
Kano: [enthusiastic] Studio Poutine!
Megumi: [confused] Studio Poutine?
Kano: You know, poutine! Like in _Nanami_!
Megumi: [suddenly smiling, conspiratorially] Okay!
Kano: So you in?
Megumi: Sure!
Kano: [dramatically] And thus, a new era in the history of Japanese
comics has begun!
[Kano starts to sing the ending theme to _Nanami_, i.e. Gilles
Vigneault's "Gens du pays":]
Kano: [singing] Men of our land, now is your turn
To let yourselves speak of _amour_...
[prosaic] Sing, Meg!
Kano and Megumi: [in harmony] Men of our land, now is your turn
To let yourselves speak of _amour_...
[Dissolve to white, as Kano's and Megumi's singing fades into the
French version as recorded by Vigneault himself:]
Voice: [male, in French, perhaps in a different key]
Gens du pays, c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour...
Gens du pays, c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour...
[Then, in black type:]
[At left, in French: Et à ce moment
Les perce-neiges de février
S'epanouirent enfin.
[At right, in Japanese: And at that moment
The snowdrops of February
Did blossom at last.]
[Caption: in French: A SUIVRE
in English: TO BE CONTINUED
in Japanese: TSUZUKU]
[Caption: OMAKE
BLAME UKYOU KUONJI (ukyoukwnji@aol.com) FOR THIS SEGMENT]
[Cut to the film set of The Storyteller's Black Dog story. The picture
is slightly flickery, like an old film should be, and everyone is still
dressed in traditional French Canadian garb and gathered around
Jacques' barn. Kano is the first to acknowledge the camera, and she
moves toward it, speaking as she approaches]
Kano: The preceding story has been a work of fanfiction, for use solely
for entertainment purposes...[beat; looks thoughtful] although, if
you've learned anything from us, that's cool, too.
[Close up of Kano from the shoulders up. Peropero is perched on her
shoulder, but we can still see the rest of the cast behind her.]
Kano: Paul Corrigan and Studio Poutine are in no way affiliated with
Masami Tsuda and Hakusensha, the rightful owners on _Karekano_ and all
characters therein.
[The remainder of the cast nods vigorously over her shoulder.]
[Cut to side view shot of Kano from the waist up. Peropero leaps from
her shoulder as she turns to face the new camera angle. Only Asaba, as
the priest, and Yukino, as Jacques, are also visible in this shot.]
Kano: Besides, I never really wanted Asaba, anyway...
[Asaba looks thoroughly disappointed.]
Voice from crowd: [it might be Megumi] So what _did_ you want?
Another: [it might be Yukino, realizing what is to come] Oh God, no...
Kano: [ignoring question, hefting ax to her shoulder] I always wanted
to be...A LUMBERJACK!
[BGM: Upright piano music as Kano begins the famous spiel.]
Kano: Leaping from tree to tree as they float down the mighty rivers of
B--
[Cut to the crowd, looking irate]
Crowd: QUEBEC!
[Cut back to now-SD Kano, sweatdropping]
Kano: Ah, heh-heh, right. So, what kind of trees are we famous for here
in Quebec, anyway?
[Piano music stops abruptly. Cut back to crowd. Synchronized blink of
confusion, then everyone turns to his neighbor.
Crowd: [conferring ad lib.] Do you know?
Haven't any ideas...
What rivers come to think of it?
The St. Lawrence, yeah, but...
From Ungava Bay? That's just tundra!
Kano: [off] Right.
[Piano intro resumes. Cut back to Kano]
Kano: With my best buddies by my side [Megumi sidles alongside of her,
and Arima, Yukino and Asaba stand behind the two of them], we'd sing,
sing, sing!
Kano [singing lustily]: Oh, I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay...
[Yukino and Asaba nod firmly]
I sleep all night, and I work all day!
[Cut back to crowd, where 'Sister' Aya is conducting the others in the
refrain.]
Crowd [also singing]: She's a lumberjack and she's okay
She sleeps all night, and she works all day!
[Cut back to Kano. Arima, Yukino and Asaba may be humming in the
background.]
Kano: I cut down trees...
[she swings her ax, unsteadily...it's heavier than she'd expected]
I eat my lunch,
[Megumi hands her a bento]
I go to the lavva-treeee
[she blushes slightly]
On Wednesdays I go shoppin',
And have hot poutine for tea!
[Behind her, Asaba holds up a gravy-and-cheese-covered french fry, a
blissful expression on his face as he bites into it.]
[Cut to the crowd.]
Crowd: She cuts down trees, she eats her lunch,
She goes to the lavva-treeee,
On Wednesdays she goes shoppin',
And has hot poutine for tea!
She's a lumberjack and she's okay,
She sleeps all night, and she works all day!
[Back to Kano. There is a Quebec flag flying behind SD-Asaba, who is
still blissed-out from the poutine. Arima and Yukino are still humming
along in the background, but they're looking at Asaba with some concern
rather than at the camera. A French Canadian folksong is playing
discordantly in the background, evidently emanating from behind Asaba.
Kano does not notice any of this.]
Kano: I cut down trees
[She drops the ax]
I skip and jump
[She and Megumi sashay around each other]
I like to press wild flowers
[She bends down out of shot, returning with a freshly-picked lily]
I put on women's clothing,
And hang around in bars.
[At this last line Asaba snaps out of it to stare at Kano, but we don't
have much time to dwell on this fact...]
[Cut to crowd again]
Crowd: She cuts down trees, she skips and jumps
She likes to press wild flowers
She puts on women's clothing,
And hangs around in bars...?
[With this line, the crowd becomes hesitant and looks at each other in
concern.]
[Sudden jump cut. The crowd seems to have recovered from the last
line, and is once again singing heartily. The crowd is also larger by
half, since there are a fair number of half-drunk Koreans who have
joined the chorus. The quality of the singing decays as the (sober)
regular cast members stop and stare at the interlopers, who, being
half-drunk, are not nearly as good at staying on key]
She's a lumberjack and she's okay,
She sleeps all night, and she works all day!
[Back to Kano, who is oblivious to the chorus.]
Kano: I cut down trees, I wear high heels,
suspenders and a braaa...
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like my dear mamaaa!
[Back to the chorus, now once again without the Koreans.]
Crowd: She cuts down trees, she wears high heels,
suspenders and a braaa...
She wishes she'd been girly
Just like her dear mamaaa!
[Kano can be heard still holding out 'mamaaaaa' as the crowd continues]
Crowd: She's a lumberjack and she's...
Kano: Hey! Hold it! Hold it! [the crowd trails off ad lib] Aren't you
gonna complain and pelt me with fruit or something?
Asaba [stepping forward]: What for?
Kano: Well, you know, for saying I wear women's clothing and all that.
[Asaba looks puzzled for a moment.]
Asaba: But you're a girl. That's okay for you to do. Hell, it's okay if
you wanna dress in _guy's_ clothing [indicating the plaid flannel shirt
she is wearing], too. Now, if I said _I_ wanted to dress in girls
clothing...
Yukino's sycophants: [in crowd] Waaah! Asaba, how could you?! And we
thought you were so bishonen! [they exit]
Arima: [in crowd] Yeah, that's the problem.
Asaba: [calling after them] I said IF! Sheesh...see if I ever read
_them_ the Song of Songs again...
Kano: So it's okay if I'm wearing suspenders and a bra...?
Asaba: Well, yeah, of course it's... whaddya doing?
[It's painfully obvious what Kano's doing...she's stripping down to her
bra and garters. Or trying to.]
[Arima rushes forward with the Quebec flag from Asaba's poutine, and
drapes Kano with it, just as she undoes her work pants and lets them
fall to the ground.]
Arima: [sweatdropping like mad] I think we've done this already in this
fic...why don't we give it a rest?
Kano: [coyly] Why? It's a dream sequence, right? So it doesn't matter
if I get naked here...
[Yukino grabs Kano's arm and playfully twists it behind her]
Yukino: It'll matter in a second or two, girl...
Kano: Ow! Owowow! Leggo my arm! Leggo--!
[Cut to the Miyazawa girls' bedroom. Kano continues to protest ad lib.
Tsukino sits up, disgusted.]
Tsukino: KANO! Cripes, wake up and let me sleep! The singing was okay,
but the yelling is a real pain.
[Close up on Kano on her futon, her covers still up to her neck. Her
arm is tucked under her head. She lifts her head, and looks at her
arm.]
Kano: It's asleep.
Tsukino: Well, I'd like to join it. Either pipe down, or go to the
couch.
[She flops back down onto her futon]
[Shot of Kano's futon as she stands up. The bottom half of her pajamas
are at her ankles.]
Kano: [nervously] The _couch_? Are you some kind of perv...[falls over]
Awk!
[White screen.]
[Caption: TSUZUKU]
