You Can Also Use Music from Inception to Make Anything Badass. . . But I Won't This Time.

LAST TIME. . .


WE NOW CONTINUE.

CUT TO:

EXT, Shinjuku MS Department Store, Day

There is a subdued air to Shinjuku right now. Nonetheless, there are at least some of the usual crowds flooding the streets in front of the massive, brand new Shinjuku MS Department Store. Amidst the crowds, we see MAKOTO, impatiently scanning the area for Sempai, her cell phone in hand. After a moment, she gets a text message. Based on Makoto's expression, this message is even more confusing than the last, but she just rolls her eyes and heads off.

CUT TO:

INT, Train Car

USAGI, once again, rides the train, the outside buildings passing on by in a blur. This time, she doesn't seem to know where she's going. She glances up at one of the TV's that lie above the train doors. The TV's have resumed playing their usual mix of commercials and public service announcements, rather than news about the Big Sight attack. We see one commercial come to an end, followed by an ad for the "Brand New Shinjuku MS Department Store."

We CUT TO:

The commercial. It's the usual glossy, gaudy, FX-filled, J-pop blasting commercial one would expect for a Japanese department store. The only thing that matters is that we see TWO WOMEN, one JAPANESE, the other fashionably CAUCASIAN, running excitedly through the store, gleefully scrutinizing the wares.

We CUT TO:

USAGI, watching the TV. Something about this commercial has caught her eye.

CUT TO:

INT, Connecting Hallway

A nearly bare hallway, one of many branches of the larger complex that connects the underground mall levels of the department store to the nearby Shinjuku subway station. MAKOTO walks down the hall. A couple of people pass her on by, while one young man leans against a wall. After a few moments of looking for Semapi, she gives up and pulls out her cell phone. We hear a faint RING- Makoto makes nothing of it at first.

MAKOTO

(to herself, but audible)

Goddamit Sempai, where are you?

The young man against the wall turns to face MAKOTO. The RINGING gets slightly louder, so that MAKOTO begins to notice it. Then, the young man speaks.

BULLY

Sempai?

Makoto recognizes the voice-- it's the bully she dealt with two days ago-- and turns to face him.

BULLY

That. Is. Adorable! Did he have a pet name for you, too?

MAKOTO

How the hell did you get that phone?

BULLY

You know, that is a good question. I'll get back to it- it actually relates somewhat to the topic at hand. You see, me? I'd go with Nariko.

(beat)

I had a dog named Nariko once.

MAKOTO'S eyes flare with rage.

BULLY

There we go! That's the psychopathic bitch I remember! I picked a good spot, you gotta give me that. Don't have to worry about police down here. You can cry, "Help me!", all you want, as loud as you want. No-one can hear you.

(beat)

Whaddaya say? Shall we finish this?

MAKOTO

(contemptuously)

Fuck you.

With that MAKOTO starts walks away. About fifty feet away, we see two young men, leaning inconspicuously against the walls, much like BULLY was a moment ago.

BULLY

I was surprised a handsome fellow like "Se-m-pa-i" would waste his time with you. Now, the girl he was making out with when I snatched his phone? She was a cute one! God-damn!

MAKOTO stops.

BULLY

You know, I'm honestly a little disappointed, going to all this trouble. Stealing that asshole's phone, luring you all the way here. I mean. . .

(shrugs)

You actually thought that he. . . would come back to you. How hard could it really have been to outsmart you?

JUMP CUT TO:

BULLY SLAMMING INTO A WALL, his NOSE BLEEDING, his ARMS WRAPPED AROUND HIS ABDOMEN. No longer able to stand, he slides down on to the floor. MAKOTO, SEMPAI'S phone in hand and nearly in tears, walks up to him.

MAKOTO

You know nothing.

We then hear the two young men in the hall laughing at BULLY.

BULLY

(coughing)

Shut up!

MAKOTO begins to walk away. The young men, who we now realize are fairly large and athletic, continue laughing.

BULLY

(coughing)

I said shut up!

Makoto then realizes that BULLY was talking to the two young men, not her. These men, a couple of THUGS, were with him the whole time. Makoto, now getting really worried, tries to avoid the thugs as they approaches.

THUG #1

(sleazy)

Hey, you got some for me?

MAKOTO tries to ignore him.

THUG #1

C'mon, where's mine?

The THUG reaches out to grope MAKOTO, but she slides away.

MAKOTO

Get out of my way!

THUG #2 runs behind and grabs MAKOTO'S buttocks. MAKOTO swings around. The THUGS are now CIRCLING MAKOTO, as she tries to keep her eye on the both of them. THUG #1 assumes a loose, bouncy fighting stance, DANCING AROUND MAKOTO. Distracted for a split second by this, Makoto turns to THUG #2 barely in time to see him SWING AT HER. She DUCKS, avoiding his blow. But with perfect timing, THUG #1 KICKS AT MAKOTO as she rises back up. MAKOTO BLOCKS THE KICK, but it KNOCKS HER ON HER SIDE. MAKOTO ROLLS OVER and quickly recovers, but THUG #2, already nearly on top of MAKOTO, takes a swing at her. MAKOTO GRABS THUG #2'S FIST and, using his own momentum, FLIPS HIM OVER, Aikido style. THUG #1 rushes toward MAKOTO, with BULLY walking toward them from a distance, still cradling his belly. MAKOTO, still barely holding THUG #2 in a wrist lock, sidekicks THUG #1 in the gut- he recoils, but is only barely phazed. Makoto releases THUG #2 and makes a run for it, with BULLY and the THUGS in hot pursuit.

CUT TO:

EXT, Street, Day

We see an IMMENSE ELECTRONIC SCREEN on the wall of the SHINJUKU MS DEPARTMENT STORE, with USAGI silhouetted in the foreground by the sign. After a moment of admiring the sign, USAGI looks down at some of the people passing by. She spots one particularly well dressed lady across the street and smiles, cocking her head and admiring her outfit. Curious to see how it would look on her, USAGI carelessly pulls out the DISGUISE PEN and clicks. . . but nothing happens. USAGI looks are the pen and tries again. Nothing. Usagi lowers the pen and is about to turn away when she sees MAKOTO run into the woman and knock her down. Usagi's gaze follows MAKOTO as runs down the sidewalk, stops, looks around for someone of something help her, and then darts down a small side street, pursued by BULLY and one of the THUGS.

CUT TO:

EXT, Side Street, Day

MAKOTO runs down the street, forcing herself past a couple of pedestrians, when she is TACKLED by THUG #2 and shoved into a wall. The bystanders clear out- some calling the police, others running to get help, others still just trying to get the hell outta there. THUG #2 wraps his arms around MAKOTO, but she manages to slip out. She crawls up against the wall just as BULLY and THUG #1 show up. THUG #2 stands up- the three now surround MAKOTO., ready to beat her down. MAKOTO stands up, back against the wall, and sees an elderly bystander slowly approach, trying to shoo the men away. THUG #1 turns and points at him.

THUG #1

Get lost.

MAKOTO runs up and tries to shove past THUG #1, but he PUSHES HER back against the wall. Another bystander, a middle aged salaryman, tries to pull THUG #2 away, but he easily pushes him aside. MAKOTO'S EYES fix on BULLY'S, HIS EYES on HER. THUG #1 rushes up and grabs MAKOTO- as she struggles, BULLY walks up to her. But just when it looks like there's no way out of a hurtful beating, USAGI jumps onto BULLY and starts hitting him over the head.

BULLY

Ow!- Ow-! What the-!

THUG #2, once again, laughs as BULLY is overcome by yet another teenage girl. MAKOTO, meanwhile, continues to struggle with THUG #1, who now has his hands clasped around her forearms. After a moment, USAGI and BULLY finally tip over, with USAGI landing on the concrete. USAGI lies on the ground, hurt from her hard landing. BULLY stands up over USAGI, readying to kick her while she's down. MAKOTO glimpses this, and her eyes widen. Then, for some reason, THUG #1 LETS GO of MAKOTO- she hardly notices, so focused is she on USAGI.

BULLY

(to USAGI)

You bitch!

BULLY raises his leg to kick USAGI, but then MAKOTO appears and SHOVES BULLY AWAY, with more force than anything we've seen even from her- it's an explosion of rage, one that causes the very air to burst with sound. BULLY FLIES INTO A WALL so hard, we might be forgiven for not noticing a nearby STREETLIGHT EXPLODING, as if from the sheer force of Makoto's impact. MAKOTO stands over BULLY, her eyes filled with rage. . . it takes her a moment to realize that BULLY is SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY, his SKIN PALE. MAKOTO comes back to her senses and looks around-- THUG #1 is crouched on the ground, gazing at his hands, which are frozen into a warped, painful, half-open clasping position. THUG #2 stands in shock, not sure exactly what Makoto has done. Makoto then turns to USAGI, still lying on the ground, as the sound of POLICE WHISTLES can be heard in the distance. Instictively, MAKOTO crouches down and reaches out to USAGI, but abrptly hesitates. She slowly moves her hands to USAGI, TAPS her tentatively, and then checks her for injuries.

MAKOTO

Are you alirght?!

(feels her for injuries)

Usagi!

USAGI

Yeah-! Yeah, I'm fin- uh, m-my back's hurt.

MAKOTO turns to the sound of the whistles, and then to BULLY and THUG #1-- THUG #2 has already run off. Her rage has been replaced with a look of fear.

MAKOTO

Come on.

MAKOTO drags USAGI up and away.

USAGI

Wait, what?

MAKOTO

Come on! We have to go!

MAKOTO and USAGI RUN OFF just before a pair of POLICE OFFICERS arrive.

CUT TO:

EXT, Street, Day- Continuous

MAKOTO, holding USAGI by the hand, runs down the sidewalk. After about fifty feet, MAKOTO turns and darts down into a SUBWAY ENTRANCE. USAGI resists.

USAGI

Wait! Wait, no!

MAKOTO

Come on!!

MAKOTO pulls USAGI down the entrance way.

CUT TO:

INT, Subway Station

MAKOTO inserts coins into a automated vending machine and produces two TICKETS, handing one to USAGI. The two pass through the turnstile, and USAGI follows a very nervous MAKOTO through the crowds.

INT, Bathroom- Continuous

MAKOTO enters the women's restroom, followed by USAGI. MAKOTO paces back and fourth, running her hands through her hair, mostly just trying to work off her adrenaline. Then, she stops and stands near a wall. After a moment of stillness, MAKOTO then SLAMS the side of her forearm INTO THE WALL two of three times. She then looks down and covers her face, inhaling and exhaling deeply. We hold on this shot for a second or two.