ACT I - SCENE 13
[The image overlooking the kingdom fades to the Winter season, where snow has covered the entire area. At this point, we see the palace has built some walls and the first floor is complete, but there is still many stories to go. The remaining kingdom is almost complete, aside from one or two buildings, the residents homes are taking shape.]
[Among the snow flurries falling and blankets, we see several townspeople making food or keeping warm around a couple campfires.]
[We see a family inside a home keeping warm near a lit fireplace. Even their canine pet is snuggling close to the young children to keep warm.]
[We see a young couple near a fireplace inside another building, sharing a hot cup of tea together in each other's arms, all wrapped up in a blanket together.]
[In the cold, Ashi and the women are embracing the cold weather elements by performing push-ups in the valley of snow. The women, including The Girl, are all decked out in thin, kimono-like wear that has sleeves for the legs and arms, but the feet and hands are bare. The women are panting with chattering teeth and decorated with flakes of snow as they exhales layers of steam from their lungs.]
[A moment later, we see the women lying still on their back in a relatively deep blanket of snow. Ashi seems pretty well adjusted to the environment. But the camera pans along the women, all of their teeth chattering louder. The camera ends on The Girl, her eyes wide open in shock of the elemental condition. She exhales a thick path of steam through her chattering teeth.]
[Ashi, still lying in the blanket, speaks towards her volunteers.]
Ashi: When you're in a battle for your life, the elements will be the furthest thing from your mind. But, to become a better fighter you must-
[The image instantly cuts to Jack, lying in his blanket of snow, speaking commandingly to his volunteers.]
Jack: Embrace the elements. If they are on your side, nothing will stand in your way.
[The camera zooms out to reveal that Jack is only in his kimono undergarment, well-adjusted to the environment. The camera then pans around showing all of the male volunteers, also stripped down to their kimono undergarment and shivering with eyes wide open as they lie on the blanket of snow. The camera ends on Norio, who exclaims at the shock.]
Norio: (shivering, in shock) WHOA—UOA!
[A moment later in the snow flurries, Jack has his sword out. He and the men are still in their kimono undergarments. There are only three swords, from the bandits, in the hands of only three other volunteers. Jack instructs.]
Jack: The blade should be treated as an extension of your arm. Always keep it under control, away from those you love, and in front of those who threaten you. Not only is it meant to attack, but more importantly, it is meant to defend. Defend not only you, but also the ones you love.
[We see Ashi with a sword, taken from the bandits, showing it to the women. There are three other swords, one each in the hands of three women, including The Girl. Ashi teaches.]
Ashi: This extension has to be sharp to attack, but also strong to protect. The way you use it must be flowing and fast. Any little mistake could lead to injury or death. We will spend the remaining time until the wedding mastering the blades.
Women: Hai, sensei!
[Ashi stands in the flurries in front of The Girl. Both women are holding wooden sticks that are length of the swords, as are the remaining women who are gathered around to watch.]
Ashi: We'll start with basic defense. Let's start high….
[Ashi slowly performs twelve torso attacks, all blocked by The Girl. Ashi talks during this.]
Ashi: These slash attacks can provide you with opportunity to look down low for an attack point.
The Girl: So, these are not meant to hurt?
Ashi: It only hurts if there is no defense. I was just talking about a strategic advantage.
[Suddenly, Ashi attempts to attack The Girl's leg, but The Girl swiftly jumps to evade it, and goes for an upper torso attack, which Ashi swiftly defends. Ashi smiles.]
Ashi: Good job. You found the opportunity.
[The Girl smiles and goes back to ready position.]
The Girl: Thank you. How about some lower attacks without jumping?
[Ashi nods. Ashi begins with twelve slow attacks towards The Girl's legs, all defended with the sticks. Ashi talks during this.]
Ashi: While it's never a bad idea to jump and evade these, it doesn't leave your feet planted on the ground, and you give up some control of the fight.
The Girl: So, when is it appropriate to jump?
Ashi: When you feel cornered and need a brief escape.
[Ashi stops the last attack near The Girl's right leg as she holds her stick there.]
Ashi: When your opponent's weapon is here, which side is most vulnerable?
The Girl: My upper left.
Ashi: Two things can happen here. One, the opponent can spin around and swipe at your head, or two, they can bring up the quick right leg for a swift attack.
[The Girl's eyes widen.]
[In slow-motion, we see Ashi's right leg move for an upper attack. The Girl's eye spots this and duck's to evade, which she does. She also sees Ashi's stick heading for her lower leg. The Girl's stick appears to be getting to the defense in time.]
[CLACK! In normal speed, we see the two sticks make contact. The camera swiftly zooms out to reveal that The Girl has successfully defended herself from Ashi's attack. The Girl's eyes are still wide.]
[We see the surrounding women also with wide eyes at the sight.]
[Ashi smiles as she goes back to ready position. The Girl also returns to a ready position.]
Ashi: I'm impressed. Great sights and fine reaction. Well done.
The Girl: Thank you. Shall we do more?
[Ashi smiles cleverly.]
[Still in the snowfall, Jack is with the men, all still in kimono undergarments. All are holding training sticks as well. Jack and Norio engage in training combat. Jack goes to attack Norio 6 times in the torso area, but Norio blocks all. Suddenly, Jack goes for Norio's feet, but Norio jumps to evade and attacks Jack towards the head, which Jack barely defends.]
[Norio and Jack break the fight stance and step back. Then, Jack goes to a fight stance again, which Norio confidently goes to as well. Then, Jack and Norio engage in another sequence of attacks. Jack defends 8 attacks towards his torso, the last one being towards his lower foot. Seeing this, Jack thrusts his foot towards Norio's foot, which he ducks to evade, but also gets his stick up to block an ensuing attack to his crouched torso. Seeing this, Norio jumps back. Jack, seeing that Norio is rising to the challenge, nods his head in confidence in his learning.
[The remaining men, looking on, seem impressed with Norio.]
[Norio, not satisfied, motions his hand out towards Jack and issues a "come here" gesture, implying he wants more practice.]
[The men seeing this, look in awe, but then look at each other with confidence.]
[Jack, seeing Norio's gesture, smiles with confidence, jumps forward.]
[Suddenly, back in the other snow-covered valley, The Girl swiftly performs eighteen attacks with her training staff towards Ashi, who counters all: four torso attacks, high round-kick, somersaults over Ashi to her other side, a low attack, two high attacks, a low attack, a high kick, a low attack, three high attacks, a low attack, another somersault to Ashi's other side, a low attack, a high attack, and another high attack where The Girl holds to catch her breath.]
[Ashi, lightly panting, is nodding her head in approval.]
Ashi: Break.
[The Girl jumps away to a standing rest position. Ashi stands calmly and talks.]
Ashi: Very good. I'm starting to see creativity with faster speed in your approach. That will keep your opponent on his toes. Now, what if the opponent actually fought back?
[The Girl nods her head, showing a determined scowl and a clever smile.]
The Girl: The fight would get more intense.
Ashi: Prepare yourself.
The Girl: You too.
[Ashi smiles cleverly to her friend. She then jumps forward.]
[The Girl, smiling cleverly, jumps forward.]
[The remaining women gasp in awe at the sight.]
[Ashi and The Girl engage in a more intense and more evenly matched battle consisting of 40 attacks, all defended or evaded: The Girl attacks with three high attacks, Ashi attacks low then kicks high, The Girl attacks with two high, then one low and one high before somersaulting over Ashi to avoid a low kick. Ashi swiftly attacks with three high, one lo, then one high kick. The Girl counters with one high, then one low and one high before going for a low kick, which Ashi somersaults over The Girl to evade. Ashi performs a high attack followed by two low and then one high. The Girl attacks four high and then one low, backing Ashi towards a tree. The Girl tries a low kick, but Ashi jumps up off of a tree and almost gets The Girl near the tree. But The Girl swiftly diverts from the tree and counters Ashi's five high and one low attack. But, this backs The Girl towards another tree. After blocking two high and one low attack, The Girl feels the tree at her back, alerting her. Seeing a stab attack from Ashi, The Girl moves to her right to evade and kicks Ashi away. Ashi lands in the snow on her back. Before she can reclaim her staff, The Girl shows her staff at Ashi's neck, stopping Ashi.]
[The Girl, stunned at what happened, pants in fatigue while holding her staff towards Ashi's neck.]
[The remaining women are stunned at this.]
[The Girl slowly retreats from Ashi back to rest position.]
[Ashi jumps up without her training staff, still stunned at what happened.]
Ashi: Very….impressive.
[Ashi bows to The Girl.]
[The Girl, looks around, still not believing what happened.]
[The remaining women also give The Girl a bow.]
[The Girl is still stunned.]
[At the other snow valley, Jack and Norio are engaging in a more intense fight with their training staffs consisting of 46 attacks, all defended or evaded: Jack performs four high, two low, and two high before going for a low kick, which Norio jumps back to avoid. Norio lunges forward with seven swift high, three low, one high kick, one low attack, and one high attack. Jack swiftly counters with two low, three high, and one low attack before going for a high kick. Again, Norio evades and counters with a eight very fast high attacks, two low attacks, a high kick, two low kicks, and three more high attacks. But then, Jack attacks low, and suddenly makes contact with Norio's face with a fist PUNCH.]
[The punch sends Norio to the ground.]
[The remaining men wince in pain at the sight.]
[Jack stands back at rest position as Norio massages his cheek.]
Jack: You cannot let your anger get the best of you. It will trap you in its cocoon of hate and cloud your judgement, which will lead to failure.
[Norio is frustrated as he stands up.]
Norio: How can we control anger in the heat of the fight?
Jack: The most important thing is to not let the failed attacks consume your thoughts. Let it go, and keep trying. No fight has ever been won on the first attack alone. What must happen during the fight is you must keep attacking and defending until you see the one opening for victory. Once you see it, you make it count. Nothing else matters. See that moment of victory, and take it.
[Norio, still frustrated, takes a moment to meditate. He inhales deeply and exhales gently. He opens his eyes.]
Norio: I will take it.
[Jack, understanding, smiles cleverly.]
Jack: Come and claim it.
[Norio lunges forward.]
[Norio and Jack engage in a very fierce battle of 60 attacks with their training staffs, each defended or evaded. Norio performs five fast high attacks, three low, a high kick, a low attack, a high attack, and a stab. Jack comes back with two low, four high, one low, one high, a low kick which Norio somersaults over Jack to evade, and a high. Norio comes back with three high, two low, one high, one stab, two high, one stab, and a high kick, which Jack rolls away to evade. Norio still goes for a high attack, but Jack comes back with two high attacks, one stab, and three high and two low attacks. Jack goes for a low kick, but Norio does a back flip to avoid. Then, Norio and Jack charge each other, prompting Norio to go for four swift high attacks, a low kick, two high attacks, one low attack, one high attack.]
[Suddenly, in slow-motion, Norio's staff appears to be going for a high attack to the left side of Jack's face, but then suddenly backs off before contact, and instantly goes for Jack's left leg and BAM! Norio's staff hits Jack's left leg.]
[Jack reacts to the hit.]
Jack: OW!
[The remaining men open their eyes in awe at the sight.]
[Jack backs off and goes to console his left calf.]
[Norio goes to console the Prince.]
Norio: My apologies, my Prince.
[Jack, still holding his calf, responds.]
Jack: Not necessary, Norio. I'm glad to see that you succeeded again!
[Norio smiles at his Prince.]
[The men smile at the victory, and begin looking at each other, ready for more.]
[Back in the snow-filled valley, all of the women are engaging in combat training with wooden staffs.]
[We see the women facing off, one-on-one, in simulated combat with training staffs. As the camera pans over the women, we see Masako training with The Girl, Ashi training with another woman. All are engaging in intense combat.]
[We see the men facing off, one-on-one, in simulated combat with training staffs. As the camera pans over, we see Jack training with another man, and Norio is training with another man. All are engaging in intense combat. The image fades to Scene 14.]