"Instinctive: Battlecry" Assignment 7 - First Draft By Erik Amill Yumi, daughter of a peasant farmer and a member of a small clan of rats who live deep in the woods of Mount Mitake, seeks revenge upon the nobleman that killed her friend. Characters: * Yumi - Member of the Nezumi clan of Mount Mitake. Daughter of a peasant farmer. A local nobleman, Prince Suzuki Ren, killed her friend Makoto. Yumi seeks to avenge his death. * Misaki - Member of the Nezumi clan of Mount Mitake. Mother of Makoto. She tries to persuade Yumi to respect her wishes and give up her plans of vengeance. * Makoto - Member of the Nezumi clan of Mount Mitake. Son of Misaki and long time friend of Yumi. He lost his life in a duel with Prince Suzuki Ren. * Prince Suzuki Ren - A nobleman from Edo with a taste for the hunt. He killed Makoto in a duel of honor. He has a penchant for ditching his guard detail when in the woods near Mount Mitake. * Guards Notes: Based on what I've learned of the language over the years, I can only give approximate pronunciations of the names. I think I'm right though I might just be slaughtering them like so many others. Neyasha (Nay-Yah-Sha), Misaki (Me-Sa-Key), Makoto (Mah-Coat-Oh), Mitake (Me-Tah-Kay), Tokugawa (Toe-Coo-Gah-Wah). Act 1: Loss Fade in on a landscape, mountainous and green. It's a shot of modern-day Mount Mitake, Japan shot from Tokyo Bay. There are planes and other items to suggest the time period is the modern-day. We hear in the background the voice of an Old Man telling a story passed through the generations of his family. As the man speaks, the image of the modern-day landscape fades away. The image is replaced by one of rustic carts, open landscape and the towering Edo Castle as we are taken back through time to the Feudal era. Old Man: Come child. Let me tell you a story of your ancestors. It happened long ago on the hillside of Mount Mitake. The sun shone brightly on that day... The Narrator's voice trails off as we fade to a slow pan of an old village deep in the forest. A small label fades in stating "Nezumi Village." There we see human-like rat creatures dressed in period clothing. Many are simple farmers and peasants. One such female peasant is seen running through the village toward a particular thatch-roofed house. Yumi: (Running) Misaki! (Beat) Misaki! Cut to the inside of the thatch-roofed house. Yumi comes through the doorway. She stops for a beat as her look of tiredness turns to horror at the sight of Makoto's lifeless body lying on the floor in ceremonial burial dress. His mother, Misaki, kneels by her son saying prayers and holding a sword. Yumi: Ma- Makoto? But... how? Who? Misaki looks up from her prayers and turns to Yumi. Tears stream down her face though she doesn't seem aware that she is crying. She doesn't quite make eye contact with Yumi. It is more like she is looking through her to something else. Tears begin to well up in Yumi's eyes when she sees this. Misaki: Yumi? She slowly stands and makes her way to Yumi. Misaki makes it about two steps then collapses into her. We can see that Misaki's shoulder is bandaged up and fresh blood has seeped through, nearly soaking the dressings. Yumi can barely stay standing and falls to one knee under Misaki's weight and her own grief. Yumi: Misaki! Cut to Yumi and Misaki in a small bedroom. Misaki is asleep on a mat as Yumi tends to her wounds. There is a bowl full of water with bloodied bandages next to it, they are the ones from before. Misaki begins to come to. Misaki: (Wearily) Yumi...? (Beat) Makoto! Misaki becomes startled at the change of scenery and attempts to sit up. Yumi drops the cloth she was rinsing and stops her before Misaki injures herself further. A wave of pain comes over Misaki and she lies back down. After a beat, Yumi returns to ringing the water out of the cloth and placing it on Misaki's forehead. Yumi: Just rest. I... I took care of everything. Makoto will be at peace. (Beat) Misaki... what happened? Misaki: It happened so fast. Makoto and I went walking by the forest's edge. He wanted to speak with me about something but, before he could, we saw him... Cut to an open field at the edge of the forest. Everything is shown with a slight sepia tint to underline that this is a flashback sequence. Misaki and Makoto are walking along in the shade; Makoto is batting at the tall grass with a stick and Misaki is holding the brim of her hat. Makoto has his sword at his side. Makoto: Mom, I have something to ask you. Misaki: Yes, dear? Makoto: You know I'm almost eighteen... and there comes a time in every boy's life when he has to make certain choices. Misaki: (Smiles) I see. So... Makoto: I was wondering... (Beat) I was wondering if I should ask for Yumi's... Makoto is interrupted as an arrow strikes Misaki in the back of her shoulder. Misaki spins with the impact and crumbles to the ground. Makoto: Mother! Makoto kneels to help his mother. A human nobleman in a silk outfit rides up. He has a hunting bow in hand and a quiver of arrows. At this time, the image fades to black. We cut back to the room with Yumi and Misaki. Misaki: When I came to, the man was gone. Makoto was lying on the ground leaning against his sword. I went to him but I was too late. The last words he said were... Quickly cut to the flashback. Makoto is leaning against his sword. There is a line of blood coming from his mouth. His eyes are locked on the ground. His voice is weak and he is on the verge of death. Makoto: Tell Yumi... do not blame Prince Suzuki. I die... with honor. Makoto breathes one last breath and dies where he lay. Fade out to Makoto's funeral pyre. Yumi and Misaki stand there with the rest of the village and watch the flames as they rise into the cool night sky. Fade to a close up of Yumi gripping Makoto's sword. We hear Misaki and Yumi's voices over the scene. Misaki: Yumi... I want you to have this. Yumi: (Shocked) Misaki! I... I can't... Misaki: This sword has been passed down my family for five generations. Wipe to Yumi and Misaki standing in Misaki's house. She hands Yumi the sword Makoto was seen with in the earlier flashback. Misaki: Since my only son, Makoto, has passed... (Hands the sword to Yumi) I want you to have it. Yumi: Misaki... Wipe back to Makoto's funeral and Yumi. She grips the sword even tighter as we hear her voice over the scene. There is a look of determination on her face. Yumi: I swear upon my life, I will honor Makoto's memory. Fade to black. End Act 1. Act 2: The Innkeeper Cut to a day shot of the city of Edo. Prince Suzuki Ren rides through the streets on horseback flanked on both sides by two guards. As they make their way through the crowded city streets, a man in tattered clothing is roughly thrown out of an inn. The inn's keeper, a gruff man with a scar down the right side of his face, is yelling at him. Ren stops to investigate the situation. Innkeeper: ... And stay out! Raggedy Man: Please, sir. I beg you! Give a tired man a night or maybe a scrap of food. Ren: What seems to be the problem? Innkeeper: This... Beggar... comes in asking for food and shelter. Turns out that this dog doesn't have a coin to his name! Raggedy Man: Please sir, have mercy! I was assaulted in my travels from my village near Osaka. Bandits made off with my money. I have come here on official business to see Lord Tokugawa! My village depends on it! Innkeeper: (Insulted) Liar! You are just another beggar trying to get free food and board! Ren: Enough! Innkeeper, what is the price of a night's stay? Innkeeper: One Ryo. Ren: Guard! Please escort this man to my residence. Give him food and a fresh set of clothes. (To the Raggedy Man) My apologies, but I cannot give you a room in my home. Instead, I shall pay for you to stay for as many nights as you need. Raggedy Man: Oh, thank you! Thank you, my lord! Ren: (To Innkeeper) If you ever treat your fellow countrymen in such a rude manner, I will personally see to it no one stays to your inn again. Here is twenty-five Ryo. This should cover any expenses this man will have. Innkeeper: (Embarrassed) How dare you speak to me like that! I'll have you know Prince Suzuki is a good friend of mine and... Guard: Hold your tongue! Show respect when you speak to Prince Suzuki! The Innkeeper, flabbergasted by the whole situation, grunts and storms back into his inn defeated. As Ren, his Guard and the Raggedy Man ride off; a small female figure steps out from the shadows of an alley next the inn. She carries Makoto's sword. Fade to the inside of the inn. Through the windows, a full moon can be seen. Night has fallen and much time has passed. The Innkeeper is conversing with a ruff looking band of thugs by lamplight about the situation earlier. On a table is a map of Ren's house with various entrances marked out. The Innkeeper leads the conversation as the thugs grunt with approval. The female figure from before is sitting in the far side of the inn drinking tea. She is listening in to their conversation. Innkeeper: You five are the toughest bandits in all of Edo, no, in all Japan! I have hired you to kill Prince Suzuki! (Thugs react) It took some digging but I found out the Prince's guard changes every six hours. The night guards are not well trained. You should not encounter any problems once inside. Lead Thug: What if we find guards inside? Innkeeper: (Laughing it off) Nothing you, the best bandits in all Japan, can't handle! Lead Thug: It's too risky. The Thugs begin to rustle and mumble amongst themselves. The Innkeeper becomes nervous as the Thugs stand up and make their way to the door. He rushes to the doorway and stands in front of them. The Thugs stop for and reach for their swords. Innkeeper: I'll double the pay to the man who brings me the head of Prince Suzuki! Lead Thug: (Coldly) Fine. You better be right Innkeeper, or it will be your head I come for next. The Lead Thug pushes the Innkeeper aside as he and the bandits leave. The Innkeeper falls to the floor, shaken from his near death experience. After a beat, the female figure leaves the inn. Makoto's sword gleams in the moonlight. Fade to black. End Act 2. Act 3: Moonlit Raid Cut to a long shot of Edo. A dark female figure is seen jumping across the clay tile rooftops. She wears tight fitting clothing and is silhouetted against a moonlit and star-filled sky. From her posture and her landings, we can tell she is not well versed in this sort of thing. Cut to a close-up of the figure. It is Yumi. Her long hair is tied up tight and there is a nervous yet determined look in her eyes, like one about to go into a long battle. She gets two houses away from the residence of Suzuki Ren and stops. She sits down and closes her eyes, attempting to catch her breath and her thoughts. As she does, a ghostly hand touches her on the shoulder. Quick dissolve to a flashback of Yumi and Makoto as children. They are running through the forest playing a game of tag. Makoto is way ahead of Yumi. Makoto: Tag! You're it! Yumi: No fair, Makoto! You're going too fast! Makoto: (Laughing) Hurry up, Yumi! I want to show you something! The forest ends and a field of wildflowers and tall grass can be seen. Makoto happily sits and waits for Yumi to catch up. He picks a white wildflower from the field. Makoto: Come on Yumi! Little Yumi is breathing hard as she runs. Before she emerges from the forest's edge, she trips on an uncovered root and lands hard on the ground. She sits up and begins to cry. Makoto comes back into the woods to get her, holding out his hand to help her up. Makoto: It's okay, Yumi. Don't cry. I'll take care of you. Yumi: (Looks up a Makoto) ~ Sniff ~ You... You will? Makoto puts the wildflower behind Yumi's ear and wipes a tear from her eye. Makoto: Sure! I'll always be there, Yumi. Always... Makoto's words echo in Yumi's ears as the sounds of reality interrupt her memories. Cut back to the rooftop where Yumi is resting. She opens her eyes as sounds of the thugs are heard passing just underneath Yumi's position out of frame. Yumi: (Longingly) Makoto... Yumi stands up, steps back, and leaps on to the next roof... continuing her journey toward the Prince's residence. Cut to the thugs as they approach the gates to the house. The guards - two older, strong-looking men who have the appearance that they have seen their share of fighting - are seen walking across the property outside the gates, not noticing the thugs hidden in the shadows. They turn to each other and make their way inside. After a beat, their replacements walk out. Even in the moonlight, these two look like fresh recruits. The Lead Thug makes his way out of the shadows towards the guards while the other thugs quietly flank the gate. Guard: Who goes there? Lead Thug: (Hand on his sword) Just... a humble man, I assure you. Is Prince Suzuki in? Guard: Prince Suzuki Ren is resting. State your business! Lead Thug: To be honest, I've come for his head. With that, the other thugs appear out of the shadows and jump the two guards. After a beat, the job is done and the guards slump dead to the floor. Silhouetted in the moonlight, Yumi leaps over the gate and the heads of the thugs onto the house's roof. The Lead Thug quiets his crew down and they make their way onto the house's grounds. Fade to black. End Act 3. Act 4: Fated Encounter Dissolve to Yumi outside the Prince's room, her shadow is seen through window on the floor. The Prince is seen resting quietly in his bed. Yumi slips in through the window, stepping quietly as she enters. She creeps up to the Prince's bed and draws Makoto's sword, leaning in to make the kill. We can see from her posture and her grip on the blade that she is not formally trained in the fine art of the katana. She goes in for the kill but she hesitates. Makoto's Voice: Yumi... Yumi... Cut to a flashback of Makoto on his knees, propped up against his sword and dying. Makoto: Do not blame Prince Suzuki. Yumi's Voice: No! Cut back to the room. Yumi falls backwards, collapsing to her knees in grief. The sword falls harmlessly to the floor and she sobs into her hands. A hand touches her on the shoulder like the ghostly hand did before. Ren: Please, do not cry. Yumi: (Slightly muffled) Why? How could you kill Makoto? Ren: I see. You have come to kill me then. Yumi reaches for Makoto's sword and rises to her feet. She lifts the sword like one would a heavy weight, ready to attack Ren. Ren calmly takes a relaxed stance, ready to disarm Yumi yet not wanting to scare her into action. Yumi steps towards Ren but drops Makoto's sword to the ground before she can strike. Instead, she falls into Ren sobbing and pounding weakly on his chest. Ren drops his guard and puts his arm around her waist in an attempt to comfort her. Yumi: Damn you! You killed Makoto. You shot his mother then struck him down! Ren: It was a stray arrow. I tried to help but my guard came. Before I could stop them, it was over. He fought honorably. Yumi begins to calm down. After a beat, Yumi steps back from Ren with her head down. Ren: I am deeply sorry for your loss. Yumi wipes a tear from her eye and reaches for Makoto's sword. Before she can sheath it, her ear twitches. She looks towards the door and takes a step back, ready to fight. Ren gets back into a defensive position. Ren: (Agitated) Look, I don't want to fight you. Yumi: (Alert) Someone is coming. Ren moves toward his swords as Yumi takes a position in the shadows. She is looking more anxious as time goes by. Yumi: There are five men coming. They have been sent to kill you. Ren: (Sword in hand) How do you know this? Yumi: I overheard their plan at the inn. The owner hired them. He wants your head. Ren: Let them come. They will find I am not easy prey. The two grow silent. A beat passes as commotion outside the door draws closer. Finally, the Lead Thug comes through the door. His sword glisten in the moonlight, covered with the blood of Ren's guards. He points the sword at Ren. The other thugs file in behind him, unable to enter the room. Lead Thug: Are you Prince Suzuki Ren? Ren: I am. Lead Thug: I've come for your head! The Lead Thug comes at Ren from the side, sliding over and swinging up at Ren's chest. Ren blocks the attack and is pushed back against the wall. Yumi stabs the first thug to try and come in through the side. He falls and his other associates come in over his body swinging wildly at Yumi. She blocks the first blow with Makoto's sword but it is knocked out of her hands and she is sent flying back. Ren: No! Ren turns to help Yumi, taking out two more of the thugs. The Lead Thug takes advantage of this and strikes Ren hard in the head with the back of his sword. Ren drops to the ground. Yumi: Prince Suzuki! The last of the Lead Thugs associates grabs Yumi and locks her arms behind her back. The Lead Thug steps over Ren and walks up to Yumi, whose head is grabbed from behind by the thug holding her. He forces her to look up into the Lead Thugs face. Lead Thug: What do we have here? (Gets in close to Yumi's face) What are you, some kind of... demon? Yumi spits in the Lead Thugs face. The thug holding Yumi hits her hard on the head. The Lead Thug stands up, wipes the spit from his face and smiles. Yumi watches him as he moves toward Ren, lifting his head up. Lead Thug: (To Ren) First, I'm going to kill your little Neyasha. Then, I'm going to take your head. Yumi quickly drops to her knees, catching the thug holding her by surprise. She catches the thug square on the chin with her shoulder. His grip loosens enough for her to break loose and slash his throat open with her claws. The Lead Thug tries to move in for the kill but is tripped by Ren. The Lead Thug kicks Ren off of him and barrels after Yumi, backing her into a corner. Yumi trips over a dead body and lands hard on the ground. As he raises his sword to strike Yumi, he is run through from behind. The Lead Thug crumbles to the ground as Ren removes Makoto's sword from the dead man's back. Ren holds out his hand to help her up. The room fades out. Only Yumi and a ghostly image of Makoto remain, his posture and position is that of Ren's. Makoto: I'll always be there for you, Yumi. I'll be there no matter what. Yumi: Thank you. Fade back to the room. Ren helps Yumi up. Ren takes Makoto's sword and hands it back to Yumi. The scene fades to out. The Old Man's voice comes in over the scene. Fade in on Yumi, escorted by Ren, walking across the open field at dawn. She turns and bows to Ren, Ren bows back, and Yumi disappears back into the forest. Old Man: Yumi did not get the revenge she sought that night. Instead, she gained a friend and an ally. Prince Suzuki neither forgot the girl and that night, nor did hunt in the field again. And the people of our small village, the Nezumi of Mount Mitake, were forever called "Neyasha." Fade to Black. The End.