"Rose Garden of Horrors"
by Reanna King miki_no_shoujo@yahoo.com
mailto:miki_no_shoujo@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/himemiya_akio
based on the film directed by Frank Oz, which was based on the off-Broadway
musical "Little Shop of Horrors" by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman,
which was based on the original film by Roger Corman
ACT I
Scene 4
(The courtyard, a week later. MIKI walks by the Rose Garden. There are Band-Aids on each of his ten fingers. He looks tired and slightly pale. His eyes light up as he distantly hears "Hikari Sasu Niwa." He runs in the direction of the sound)
(The music room. We see someone playing at the piano. As we move in closer, we see that it's… KOZUE. MIKI enters, looking astonished)
MIKI: (thinking to himself) Kozue… playing the piano? Could it and everything else really have been caused by that plant?
(KOZUE stops and looks at MIKI)
KOZUE: Ohayo, Miki. How are you? Your music teacher was here earlier.
MIKI: He was?
KOZUE: He was. He told me to tell you that he's sorry, whatever that means… (she notices the Band-Aids) Miki, what's with all the Band-Aids? How is it that you keep hurting yourself?
(MIKI doesn't notice the question at first)
MIKI: (thinking) It couldn't have been the plant, could it? (speaks) Well, I… I just seem to have gotten kind of clumsy lately… that's all.
(KOZUE gets up and walks over to MIKI)
KOZUE: Seems like it all started when you brought that plant home. Miki, whatever it is, it has me worried. (She reaches out to MIKI, but instead of trying to kiss or touch him (or pull a sword from him, for that matter), she feels his forehead) Well, you don't feel hot, but… Ohtori-san you've been late to class five times in the last two weeks. In fact, told me he'd like to speak with you about it.
MIKI: (beat) All right, then. But now, I have to go. (MIKI leaves)
KOZUE: He's acting so strange…
(The Rose Garden. ANTHY stands inside, gazing at THE PLANT, which is now a full five feet tall. MIKI enters)
MIKI: Hi, Anthy.
(ANTHY turns. She didn't notice him enter)
ANTHY: Oh, hello, Miki. Your plant has gotten so big. Pretty soon there won't be room in here for it.
MIKI: We may have to move it outside.
ANTHY: If you ever have to, I'll help you.
MIKI: (turns to ANTHY and smiles) Arigato.
ANTHY: Miki… don't you think it's strange that there's only one rose on the entire plant?
MIKI: I do… but then, I still think maybe this is a different breed of rose.
ANTHY: Anyway, it's about lunchtime… I should go, I told Utena-sama I would make lunch for us… would you like to join us, Miki?
MIKI: (thrilled) Sure!
(MIKI and ANTHY leave)
(We see KYOUICHI SAIONJI walking in the courtyard. He passes by the SHADOW PLAY GIRLS)
SAIONJI: Have you seen Anthy?
A-KO: (smugly) Do you know? Do you know? She's not available right now.
SAIONJI: What's that supposed to mean?
B-KO: Have you heard the news? She's busy. So you can just go slap yourself. The last thing Anthy needs is you beating up on her.
SAIONJI: You don't understand the relationship I have with Anthy, do you?
C-KO: What are you talking about?
SAIONJI: Despite what all of you think, Anthy is mine, and she likes it that way. She loves me. And I'll tell you why.
"DUELIST!" (originally "DENTIST!")
lead vocal: SAIONJI, SHADOW PLAY GIRLS
(Music in. SHADOW GIRLS clap in rhythm)
WHEN I ENROLLED HERE WORD SOON GOT AROUND
ABOUT THE WAY OF LIVING LIFE I'D FOUND
LIKE SOLVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HANDS AND SWORD
AND BEING NASTY JUST 'CAUSE I WAS BORED
I GOT A LETTER THAT WAS WRITTEN IN RED
HERE'S WHAT THAT LETTER SAID:
SHADOW PLAY GIRLS: What did it say?
IT SAID THAT I HAD QUALIFIED
TO WIN THE BRIDE
AND WHAT IT SAID NEXT JUST FILLED ME WITH PRIDE
"YOU'LL BE A DUELIST!
DON'T LOSE YOUR TALENT FOR BEING AN ASS
YOU'LL BE A DUELIST!
IT'S WHY WE CHOSE YOU FROM ALL IN YOUR CLASS
YOUR TEMPER'S TOO STRONG FOR DEBATE CLUB
THE ART CLUB WOULD SUIT YOU STILL LESS."
I AM A DUELIST
AND I AM THE BEST!
SHADOW PLAY GIRLS: Here he is, girls! Saionji-sama's back!
Watch him handle that sword! Oh my god!
He's a duelist and he wins duels any way that he can
Who'd ever want to be engaged to this clod?
SAIONJI: I AM A DUELIST!
GIRLS: (HOLY MOSES)
SAIONJI: AND I FEEL BEST WHEN I ACT LIKE A PRICK
I AM A DUELIST
GIRLS: (SLASHING ROSES)
SAIONJI: AND BEING MEAN IS THE WAY I GET KICKS
IT'S SWELL WHEN I TELL VICIOUS RUMORS
I GUESS I'M EXPRESSING MY SENSE OF HUMOR
GIRLS: (DUELIST!)
SAIONJI: AND THOUGH IT MAY CAUSE MY TEACHERS DISTRESS…
SOMEWHERE! SOMEWHERE, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE
I KNOW. I KNOW END OF THE WORLD'S PROUD OF ME!
'CAUSE I'M A DUELIST
AND I'M THE BEST!
(SAIONJI stops singing and turns to the SHADOW PLAY GIRLS)
SAIONJI: So now you see that nothing anyone does or says can take Anthy away from me. (he walks off to search for ANTHY some more)
SHADOW PLAY GIRLS: Whatever.
(fade out)
(It's now nighttime. MIKI stands alone in the Rose Garden, not feeding THE PLANT… just talking to it)
MIKI: (pats THE PLANT'S head) Kozue is right… I have been pretty anemic lately, haven't I? Is it really you that's making everything go so perfectly for me around here?
(THE PLANT wilts again. Its head, vines and leaves slump to the ground)
MIKI: Not again… Two-chan, I don't have much left. (looks at his bandaged hands) Just let me heal a little more, okay? Then we'll start in on the left hand-
(Suddenly, THE PLANT opens its "mouth" in the middle of its flower and speaks)
THE PLANT: feed ME!
MIKI: (stunned) Nani?!
THE PLANT: feed ME!
MIKI: Two-chan! You talked! I didn't know you could-
THE PLANT: (lifts its head) feed me, Kaoru! Feed me now!
MIKI: (looks at his bandaged hands) I… can't!
THE PLANT: But I'm hungry!
MIKI: Look, if I give up any more I might faint… again… What do you want me to do? Slit my wrists?
THE PLANT: (expressing interest) Mmmm…
MIKI: (nervously) Oh, boy!…
THE PLANT: I need blood, Kaoru!
MIKI: (shocked, covers his ears) Two-chan, stoppit!
"FEED ME"
lead vocal: MIKI, THE PLANT
THE PLANT: (sings) FEED ME
MIKI: I don't want to hear this!
THE PLANT: FEED ME
MIKI: Does it have to be mine?
THE PLANT: FEED ME
MIKI: Where do you expect me to get it from?
THE PLANT: FEED ME KAORU
FEED ME ALL NIGHT LONG
That's right, boy! YOU CAN DO IT
FEED ME KAORU
FEED ME ALL NIGHT LONG
'CAUSE IF YOU FEED ME, KAORU
I CAN GROW UP BIG AND STRONG!
MIKI: What do you expect me to do? Kill someone?
THE PLANT: I'll make it worth your while.
MIKI: Two-chan! Don't talk like that!
THE PLANT: Think about it, Kaoru. Ever since you bought me, things have been going better and better for you. It's no coincidence!
MIKI: But… that's impossible! You're just a plant… an inanimate object. You can't--
(THE PLANT pulls in MIKI closer with a tendril)
THE PLANT: You call that inanimate? Think it over. I can get you anything you want…
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE SCHOOL'S STAR?
WITH A SHINY NEW RED CAR
HOW'D YOU LIKE TO FENCE AND GET REALLY FAR?
WELL YOU CAN GET IT!
If ya want it, baby!
HOW'D YOU LIKE TO WIN EVERY DUEL?
MAKING TOUGA LOOK LIKE A FOOL?
STICK WITH ME-- I'LL MAKE YOU REAL COOL
AND YOU'LL GET IT!
MIKI: (pulls away) No thanks, Two-chan.
IF YOU FEED ME, YOU'LL HAVE ME
YOU'LL HAVE EVERYTHING
JUST TAKE A CHANCE, THEN YOU'LL SEE
YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I CAN GIVE
I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO LIVE
YOU'LL KNOW THAT I MEAN EVERY WORD I SING
COME ON, KAORU! DON'T BE A WUSS!
FEED ME NOW AND SAY GOODBYE TO MIKI THE PUSS
BE A LITTLE BOLD FOR ONCE, BOY. DON'T MAKE A FUSS
AND JUST GET IT!
(MIKI begins to sing)
I DON'T KNOW… … I DON'T KNOW
ALTHOUGH
THOUGH THERE ARE HIGH EXPECTATIONS
I CAN'T GROW
WITH THE BLOOD
OF RELATIONS
THE PLANT: You like that Anthy girl, right? Get me a little lunch and she and anything else you want is yours!
THE PLANT: BE A PRO, DO EVERYTHING RIGHT
HAVE A DATE FOR EVERY NIGHT
A LITTLE NOOKIE'D HELP TO BRING UP THAT HEIGHT
AND YOU'LL GET IT.
MIKI: GEE, I'D LIKE TO ACE EVERY TEST
NEVER BE NERVOUS, NEVER BE STRESSED
BEING CALM AND COOL, WHO WOULD EVER HAVE GUESSED?
THE PLANT: So just get it!
AND IF YOU STILL DON'T HAVE THE NERVE
IF YOU REALLY NEED A REASON WHY
WATCH YOUR CLASSMATES AND OBSERVE
A LOT OF THEM DESERVE TO DIE!
MIKI: Two-chan, don't say that!
THE PLANT: But it's true, right?
MIKI: (shakes his head) NO!
THE PLANT: Look right out there, Kaoru. (THE PLANT uses a tendril to gesture outside. Outside we see SAIONJI and ANTHY)
SAIONJI: (yelling) Where have you been? Do you know how long I've been looking for you?
ANTHY: I'm sorry, Saionji-sama.
SAIONJI: Get over here!
(ANTHY walks over, whereupon SAIONJI slaps ANTHY hard. ANTHY falls to the ground)
SAIONJI: Pathetic.
(MIKI and THE PLANT look at each other for a few seconds)
THE PLANT: Well, Kaoru?
(Both THE PLANT and MIKI sing--- THE PLANT sings excitedly, MIKI sings angrily)
IF YOU WANT A GOOD EXCUSE
SAIONJI'S THE BEST ONE I SEE
TIME TO END THIS GUY'S ABUSE
THE GUY SURE LOOKS LIKE PLANT FOOD TO ME.
THE GUY SURE LOOKS LIKE PLANT FOOD TO ME.
THE GUY SURE LOOKS LIKE PLANT FOOD TO ME!
MIKI: HE'S SO NASTY, SLAPPING HER 'ROUND!
THE PLANT: CURSING ALL OHTORI WITH HIS VOICES FOUL SOUND!
MIKI: YOU NEED BLOOD, AND HE'S THE BEST THAT WE'VE FOUND
THE PLANT: I NEED BLOOD, AND HE'S THE BEST THAT WE'VE FOUND
BOTH: YOU (I) NEED BLOOD, AND HE'S THE BEST THAT WE'VE FOUND!
THE PLANT: So go get it!
(The door opens. SAIONJI enters looking pretty grumpy)
SAIONJI: What's going on here, Miki-kun? I thought I heard… (unsure) …singing?
MIKI: (nervously) No, no, just me and the plant, that's all.
SAIONJI: Right, the plant… So, how are things for you right now, Miki?
MIKI: Uh, better than ever.
SAIONJI: That's right. It looks like things are really looking up for you. It's been almost… miraculous. (smiles. Obviously, he heard about THE PLANT'S capabilities) And that plant… has just been getting bigger and bigger, hasn't it? So what do you feed it? Anything special?
MIKI: Nothing special.
(SAIONJI walks closer to THE PLANT)
SAIONJI: But it's a secret, right?
MIKI: R-right, a secret.
SAIONJI: Such a big rose… you're sure you don't need anyone to help you to take care of it? (obviously, he wants to share in the spoils that THE PLANT offers MIKI)
MIKI: (is silent)
SAIONJI: (turns to face MIKI. His back is now toward THE PLANT) Well? What do I have to do?
MIKI: Well…
(Suddenly, THE PLANT opens up its gaping maw and chomps down on SAIONJI. MIKI screams and covers his eyes in horror)
MIKI: Two-chan!!! (MIKI backs away and runs out of the garden hysterically)