ACT I - SCENE 7
[A few days later, we see in the Kingdom several blacksmiths working around campfires.]
[We see a blacksmith setting the waxed mounting end of a hatchet in a flame.]
[The blacksmith blows out the little flames at the waxed hatchet end.]
[CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! We see the blacksmith hammering down the sharp head of the hatchet onto the handle.]
[We see the hammered on end of the hatchet being set into the flaming campfire.]
[HISSSSSSSSSSSSS! The glowing hatchet sizzles in a wooden bucket of water, cooling it from its orange glow and generating a lot of steam.]
[WHIP! The blacksmith throws the hatchet away from him.]
[The spinning hatchet is SNATCHED out of the air by Ashi, still in her Green kimono. She swishes the hatchet around a little, and likes the feel of it. She nods to the blacksmith. The blacksmith waves in acknowledgement.]
[Using Miki techniques, we see a pair of blacksmiths setting a long two-man saw into a campfire, making it glow orange.]
[We see the big orange blade brought over to a makeshift workbench, where BLAM! a work hammer start to pound it.]
[We see a caravan of about twenty men all set for a long journey, loaded with bags, blankets, saws, and other blades. Jack and Ashi ride in front of them. Jack has his sword, and Ashi has her hatchet. Jack and Ashi wave off to their right-hand side.]
[We see The Empress, The Emperor, The Girl, and a few other women and men wave towards Jack and Ashi.]
[We see Jack and Ashi, along with the twenty men, gallop off away from the village towards what seems to be thick patch of grass in the great distance.]
[The Girl is seen waving, but then stops. She seems disappointed. Nevertheless, she heads back to work. She tends to a gentleman needing a bandage for his arm.]
[As she tends to the gentleman, The Girl looks towards the caravan again.]
[We see the civilian caravan riding off.]
[The Girl frowns in regret again, and goes back to the gentleman again.]
[THUD! In the middle of a small forest, a TALL tree falls over on the ground. We see two mighty men with the two-man saw at the point where they cut it down, celebrating with Jack, Ashi, and the rest of the caravan.]
[We see a few two-man pairs raising a pair of strong splints, carrying a portion of a tree trunk that is over 40 feet tall. The Two-Man pair ride off with the tree portion, followed by four more pairs carrying the same cargo.]
[Jack and Ashi pick up a pair of long splints, carrying a huge cloth bag full of twigs and small branches from the trees cut down.]
[The image fades to a few days later. We see several men working on the wood, making it smooth and bark free. The remaining townspeople tend to their properties.]
[We see the Emperor and Empress looking at a schematic of their palace. Curious, The Girl looks on from behind them.]
[We see The Emperor's hand pointing out some things on the roof of the palace.]
[The Emperor and Empress nod to each other in agreement. The Girl looks on, with some comfort. Jack and Ashi approach them.]
Jack: Father? Mother?
Emperor: Yes, son?
Jack: Ashi and I thought it would be a good idea to re-establish an army to protect our Kingdom from bandits and thieves.
Empress: Yes, we must. We lost all of our army to Aku.
Emperor: Yes, yes. And it's very fitting that after all those years of fighting Aku you will be the one to train our new army, son.
Empress: No one understands Aku or his tricks better than you.
The Girl: Um, if I may offer a suggestion? If it's only the townspeople here, couldn't we learn to defend ourselves?
[Ashi, initially annoyed, nods in agreement.]
Ashi: That probably would be best.
Emperor: …until more sons are born and raised to fight, I must agree with our nurse. Son, you and Ashi seek out volunteers.
Jack: Yes, father.
[The Girl is nervous, but she makes one last suggestion.]
The Girl: My Emperor, there is not very many men here, and most of them are still recovering from Aku's wrath. Can some healthy women volunteer, too?
Emperor: That's against our customs. The men must protect the women so that sons could be born.
[Ashi, initially annoyed again, sees logic in The Girl's suggestion.]
Ashi: My Emperor, the nurse has a point. With the army wiped out, we will need every one we can get. Also, you will have a daughter-in-law who has been trained from birth to fight.
[The Emperor could not believe it.]
Emperor: You?! A fighter?
Empress: From birth?
Jack: It's a very, very long story, Mother.
Ashi: A story that, in some ways, I'm ashamed of. But, can Jack help me demonstrate my skills?
Emperor: Um, very well. Just don't get hurt.
[Jack and Ashi look at each other, smiling.]
Jack: Don't worry….we won't.
Ashi: He can't. Sticks first?
Jack: Yes.
[A moment later, Jack and Ashi, with their kimonos fully on, hold a wooden stick.]
[We see the Emperor, the Empress, and The Girl watching, along with several other civilians.]
[Suddenly, Ashi and Jack engage each other in simulated combat. Jack blocks two attacks, then Ashi blocks three attacks, then misses a leg hit as Jack jumps to evade.]
[The townspeople gasp in amazement.]
[We see Jack, smiling contently, blocking seven attacks all around him.]
[We see Ashi, also smiling contently, blocking eight attacks all around her.]
[WHACK! The two sticks hit each other in front of Jack and Ashi.]
Jack: Break!
[Jack and Ashi go back to their resting position.]
[The Emperor, the Empress, and The Girl are wide-eyed impressed and amazed at what they saw.]
[Jack inquires to Ashi.]
Jack: No sticks?
Ashi: No sticks.
[Jack tosses his stick aside.]
[Ashi also tosses her stick aside.]
[Ashi and Jack swiftly engage in hand-to-hand combat. We see them engaging and blocking in 9 punching attempts, then Ashi attempts a high round kick that Jack evades. Then, they engage and block 7 more punch attempts before Jack attempts a high round kick and low round kick, which Ashi evades and somersaults over to avoid, respectively.]
[The Girl is stunned, but she starts to show intense jealousy.]
[We see Jack, smiling in confidence, blocking 5 attacks, then engaging in 4 attacks.]
[We see Ashi, smiling in confidence, engaging in 5 attacks, then blocking 4 attacks.]
[Then, Jack grabs Ashi's hand and brings her close, stifling her.]
[Jack and Ashi, smiling a bit, straggly feebly with the grip. But, Jack starts laughing a little, and Ashi joins in the laughter as the trembling grip stifles. They stop laughing, and then Ashi embraces Jack and kisses him.]
[The Girl, already jealous, hates the sight as she growls through her clinched teeth.]
The Girl: (growling through clinched teeth) …rrrrrrrrRRRR!
[Ashi and Jack break their kiss.]
Ashi: Break?
Jack: Break.
[Jack and Ashi stand apart, bow to each other, and face The Emperor, Empress, and The irritated Girl.]
[The Emperor and Empress are still wide-eyed, and look at each other.]
Emperor: Well, umm…..hmmm…..that was very impressive, Ashi. You have learned exceptionally well.
[Ashi bows to the Emperor.]
Ashi: Thank you, Emperor.
Emperor: Son, you and Ashi seek out as many volunteers as possible, men and women. Train them in hand and sword combat.
[Hearing this, The Girl swiftly checks her emotions and elects.]
The Girl: My Emperor, I would like to be the first woman to volunteer.
[Ashi becomes annoyed at The Girl. The Emperor wants to be sure.]
Emperor: My dear, your selfless service for our people is remarkable, but are you certain about this? If you're not careful, you can get hurt.
The Girl: My Emperor, the more people we have to defend the palace, the better.
Empress: Dear, the people come first.
The Girl: Yes, the people do come first….including the many unmarried women like me. There may be bandits who would want to steal us away, but if we are capable of defending ourselves, there's even a better chance of our Kingdom's survival.
[Ashi, even more annoyed, sees the logic again.]
Ashi: Again, she's making excellent arguments. I have defended myself against sick men who tried to take advantage of me. My Emperor, my Empress, allow me to train this girl and any other women who want to learn.
Jack: And while she trains the women, I'll teach the men.
[The Emperor looks to the Empress. The Empress thinks, and then nods her head, "Yes".]
Emperor: Very well. Begin at once.
[The Girl bows to the Emperor.]
The Girl: Thank you, my Emperor.
[Jack and Ashi bow to the Emperor.]
[The Emperor and Empress go back to the palace schematics.]
[The Girl approaches Ashi, who still appears to have reservations.]
Ashi: I admit, you're smarter than I thought.
The Girl: And there's a lot more to you than I thought.
[Ashi looks at The Girl with a slight scowl.]
[The Girl looks at Ashi with a slight scowl.]
The Girl: Is there a problem?
Ashi: Not as long as you understand that I can be a very hard teacher.
The Girl: I will make sure that's not a problem.
[A sudden sharp pain hits Ashi's gut, catching her and The Girl off-guard.]
The Girl: Ashi? Ashi, are you okay?
[Ashi brushes it off as if it was nothing.]
Ashi: Of course I'm okay. Just a stomach cramp.
The Girl: Some hot, herbal tea can help.
Ashi: I don't need tea, thanks!
[Jack intervenes between them again.]
Jack: Please. She was only trying to help you, Ashi. It's polite.
Ashi: I don't think it was that, Jack.
Jack: Then what?
Ashi: Ugh….I don't know. I just….I feel like I'm getting angry for no good reason.
The Girl: Maybe some silent meditation can help?
Ashi: I DON'T NEED….ugh, I just did it again. Why?!
Jack: Perhaps we should take her advice and take a break?
[Jack and Ashi walk off, leaving the girl behind.]
Ashi: (sighs) Fine. I'll rest for a moment.
[The Girl, through her envy, smiles, with a slight hint of cleverness.]
The Girl: See you soon, Sensei.