Naoku: Sengoku Era Kitsune
#5 of Written Word
Temple maiden Naoku wants to take up a blade to defend her lord and land. Will she succeed, or will the village weapons master have her calling it quits?
A screenplay I've been working on for about a month or two, and is a work of fiction:
Naoku: Sengoku Era Kitsune
OVER BLACK:
Title appears in stylized Japanese characters
English subtitles appear under underlined Japanese characters.
TITLE
Naoku: Sengoku Era Kitsune
The text fades to black.
EXT. YAMAHATA VILLAGE SQUARE--NIGHT
SFX: Music
SFX: Chatter
Text appears in Japanese characters.
The Japanese characters morph into English subtitles.
TITLE
SENGOKU ERA, YAMAHATA VILLAGE, JAPAN
Slow fade to a lively street parade in mid-procession at night. Closeup on various anthropomorphic animals dancing and performing in period clothing. A temple's outer facade looms in the background as the camera pans up to the village's skyline.
SFX: Ten gong?
TEXT: YAMAHATA TEMPLE
INT. YAMAHATA TEMPLE
A naginata rests on a set of display hooks. Along with the naginata, other weapons sit on display: swords, daggers, spears, sickles and still more, both bladed and blunt. A roaring fire lights the display room from a stone fire pit set into the floor. A single inhabitant, NAOKU, a white bipedal kitsune with three tails wears a simple gray robe. She tends to an ornate pot occupied by a Japanese maple tree sapling.
NAOKU
How about some water, Kiiko-chan? Wouldn't want Lord Aotsuna thinking I don't water you, would we?
The plant stands silently.
NAOKU
That's okay, no need to answer. I know you're the strong and silent type.... Now what did I do with that watering urn?
Closeup on a clawed hand clapping on Naoku's shoulder. The hand's owner, a large brown bear, laughs.
AOTSUNA (O.S.)
Talking to the tree again, are you, Naoku?
Naoku flinches, gasping in surprise and embarrassment.
NAOKU
L-Lord Aotsuna--! F-forgive me, I-I didn't hear you come in.
Aotsuna waves dismissively.
AOTSUNA
Heh heh heh, not to worry, not to worry. I simply came to check on you. Tell me, how are you doing?
Naoku looks taken aback.
NAOKU
H-how am I doing?
Lord Aotsuna nods.
AOTSUNA
Yes. How. Are you. Doing?
Naoku rests a hand on her hip while brushing her silver hair out of her eye, swishing her three tails absent-mindedly.
NAOKU
May I speak freely, my lord?
Lord Aotsuna nods.
AOTSUNA
You may.
Naoku shifts uncomfortably.
NAOKU
I--I have served Your Lordship faithfully for years now. Yet... yet I must ask, my lord....
AOTSUNA
Yes?
NAOKU:
I... I wish to learn how to wield a blade, my lord. A...a proper blade, as Your Lordship wields.
Lord Aotsuna walks over to the weapons display, selecting the naginata with an air of reverence.
AOTSUNA
I do not see any harm in your request.
Aotsuna performs a horizontal spin with the naginata, followed by a diagonal uppercut to the right, an overhead twirl and an overhead slash directly in front of him.
AOTSUNA (cont.)
However, I must ask, why?
NAOKU
Why, my lord?
AOTSUNA
Yes. Why do you wish to take up a blade?
Closeup on Naoku as she closes her eyes in thought. Her silver hair falls across her left eye, her posture relaxing.
AOTSUNA
Hm?
.
Naoku breathes deeply, slowly opening her eyes.
AOTSUNA (cont.)
You will answer your lord. Why do you wish to take up a blade?
NAOKU
To further serve Your Lordship, and to defend this temple from those who would seek to dishonor and desecrate it and what it stands for.
Lord Aotsuna nods, returning the naginata to its display.
AOTSUNA
Hmph. I must meditate on this. But I am not unsympathetic. Until I have reached a decision, you may take up the staff.
Naoku reaches out for the naginata.
NAOKU
My lord, if I may--?
Aotsuna eases her hand down, smiling.
AOTSUNA
I have spoken.
Pair shot of Lord Aotsuna and Naoku.
AOTSUNA (cont.)
Until I have fully made up my mind, you may train with the staff.
Aotsuna presents Naoku with an elegant staff.
AOTSUNA
Your training shall begin tomorrow morning. For now, rest; gather both your strength and resolve, for you will need both if you wish to survive our weapon master's training.
Naoku bows deeply.
NAOKU
Thank you, my lord. I will not fail you.
AOTSUNA
Ah, you honor me, but I am the final step on your path. First you must be shown the way.
Focus in on Naoku eying the elegant staff before cutting to black.
TITLE
The following morning...
EXT. YAMAHATA TEMPLE--EARLY MORNING
SFX: Six gong strikes.
Establishing shot of sunrise against the village foreground.
NAOKU (V.O.)
Today's the day! Time to give it my a--
Naoku is heard falling head over heels.
NAOKU (V.O.)
Aaah! Rrrrrr...I'm gonna be late! And if I'm late then I won't be able to give it my all, and if I don't give it my all, then I'll be letting down the weapon master and more importantly Lord Aotsuna, and that--CANNOT--happen!
SFX: Running.
EXT. YAMAHATA TRAINING FIELD--DAY
TITLE
YAMAHATA TRAINING FIELD
A black flag billows in a gentle wind. The flag is adorned with a stylized white paw print and three claw marks; two are crossed at the bottom, and one is in a center line. Naoku stands below the flag, her hands on her waist, hair disheveled, wearing a battle dress and underskirt. An elegant staff is slung on her back. A bipedal raccoon wearing a wakizashi and katana at his hip clad in cloth robes and leather armor eyes her with an air of superiority.
NAOKU
Furumi-sensei?
The raccoon stays silent, folding his arms over his chest. He nods.
NAOKU
Lord Aotsuna said I needed to report here for training?
The raccoon smiles a tight-lipped smile.
FURUMI
You must be the new girl I was told about late last night, yes? Well, listen up, newbie. You will address me as Sensei or Master. I will not hold your hand, nor will I give you any special treatment because of your being a woman. Do I make myself understood?
NAOKU
Yes, Sensei.
Furumi holds out his hand.
FURUMI
Your staff. Give it here.
NAOKU
What?
FURUMI
Your staff. Let me see it.
Naoku removes the staff from its sling, passing it to the raccoon with both hands.
Furumi inspects Naoku's staff, turning it in his grasp.
FURUMI
You would use one of our lord's weapons to train?
Naoku frowns, looking down to the ground.
NAOKU
Yes.
Naoku looks up quickly.
NAOKU (cont.)
But I have a good reason for it, honest!
FURUMI
Hmph....
Furumi presents the staff to Naoku, pulls back, then strikes Naoku's calf muscle, making her fall.
NAOKU
Ow! Kuso...! H-hey! What was that for?!
FURUMI
You are not ready for weapons yet. You need to get stronger.
NAOKU
And...
Naoku lifts herself up to standing.
NAOKU (cont.)
...how might I get stronger, master?
Furumi points with the staff to a pair of buckets next to a well.
Closeup on a pair of wooden buckets.
FURUMI
I am glad you ask. You see those empty buckets? You can start by filling them up a quarter of the way full each, and carrying them to the bathhouse. If you get tired, report back to me, and I'll let you try again. Do you understand?
NAOKU
Yes, master.
FURUMI
Good. Hajime!
Naoku fills each bucket a quarter of the way full before returning to Furumi.
NAOKU
Sensei?
Furumi is asleep underneath the shade of a tree.
NAOKU
Master?
Furumi's ears perk up. Yawning, he blearily opens his eyes.
FURUMI
Hm? What is it?
NAOKU
I, er, had a question about your lesson.
FURUMI
Yeah? What?
NAOKU
Um, how should I carry the buckets?
FURUMI
However you want...
Furumi points a finger at Naoku's chest.
FURUMI (cont.)
...so long as you're the one carrying them. No cheating. No asking someone else to do this task for you. Now go on. Remember, if you get tired, report back here and I'll let you try again. Now, off with you.
NAOKU
Hai, Sensei!
Naoku grabs one of the buckets and tucks it under her arm. Furumi watches with a smirk.
FURUMI
Oh, and before I forget... Lord Aotsuna likes his bath water steaming. You might want to remember that little bit of information should you wish to be in his good graces.
NAOKU
Yes, Sensei.
FURUMI
And one more thing. He usually takes a bath around noon. So...tick-tock.
Naoku's eyes go wide in horror.
NAOKU
But! But! But that means--!
Naoku runs off with inhuman speed.
FURUMI
Heh, heh. That oughta get her motivated.