SCENE 1
OPENING CRAWL
In the beginning of the world... the foundation only just formed, the laws of all creation as yet unwritten...
there are neither names... nor shapes... because there is no one to understand what these things are.
--Opening line of Kojiki [The Chronicle of Ancient Japan]
(Long shot, the image of a bird appears...)
SCENE 2
THE WHOLE TOWN
(Offscreen, the sound of a distant gunshot)
BOY: Huh?
(Enter HARUWO)
BOY: It's Haruwo!
SCENE 3
YAKUZA HEADQUARTERS
BLOND YAKUZA: It's that brat! Dammit!
LONG-HAIRED YAKUZA: Hey! What'd he take?
BLOND YAKUZA: What the--? Bastard!
LONG-HAIRED YAKUZA: Quit it, don't waste your bullets. I'm goin' down there!
BLOND YAKUZA: Right!
YAKUZA BOSS: Was that guy Haruwo?
YAKUZA UNDERLING: Um... This is the first time I've seen him, too.
YAKUZA BOSS: Hmmph!
YAKUZA UNDERLING: Um...
YAKUZA BOSS: What'd he take?
YAKUZA UNDERLING: Uh, uh... Huh?
YAKUZA APPRENTICE: Huh? I don't know about money, but the fridge is empty.
YAKUZA BOSS: He just took food? What the hell are you talking about?
PAKU: Cheese.
LONG-HAIRED YAKUZA: Thanks for coming in!
BLOND YAKUZA: Sorry about all this!
PAKU: Yo.
PAKU: Settle down, Shimada-san.
YAKUZA BOSS: Oh, hey! Paku-san!(Hits his knee)That kid really caused some damage! Made a mockery of us right in our own house!
PAKU: Yep, he's special, that one. Forgive me, but... seriously, sending those goons? Forget about it.
YAKUZA BOSS: Uh...
PAKU: I'll go too.
YAKUZA BOSS: Oh! Would you do that for me?
PAKU: Hey, that's what bouncers are for, right?
YAKUZA BOSS: What is it with this kid? Jumping outta here from this height like it was nothing!
PAKU: Bah. They say the little hellion's developing quite a reputation around here, but... he's nothing but a stray cat.
YAKUZA UNDERLING: (poking the glass) Ow!
YAKUZA BOSS: Hmmph!
TITLE CARD: A BOY'S ADVENTURE: A FULL-COLOR ANIMATED MOTION PICTURE
SCENE 4
CAPTION: THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY: FORTY-FIVE MINUTES EARLIER
IN THE STREET
STREET PERSON A: Whad'ya think? An orphan?
STREET PERSON B: Hmm.
STREET PERSON A: Commuter from the ghetto?
STREET PERSON B: (snickers)
STREET PERSON C: (a woman) The war may be over, but you'd never know it.
STREET PERSON B: Yeah...
STREET PERSON A: I heard he broke into one of the stores controlled by Shimada.
STREET PERSON B: Well, that's---
STREET PERSON A: He's a stray dog.
STREET PERSON B: One of those sad bastards just living from day to day.
STREET PERSON C: Ugh! How disgusting!
STREET PERSON A: Why come all the way out to a place like this just to die?
STREET PERSON C: That girl--isn't she his girlfriend?
STREET PERSON B: Mm.
HANAE: Taro! Taro, baby... Please, don't die!
STREET PERSON A: Look, in her arms... Kids giving birth to kids. It never ends.
HANAE: Taro...
TARO: Hanae...?
HANAE: Taro!?
TARO: The kid...
HANAE: He's here!
TARO: Jiroh, I'm sorry... If it hadn't been for my clumsy attempt at robbery...
HANAE: Okay, enough. We'll look for another place to work... Wait-- Taro-chan--!
HARUWO: Dumbass. This is what happens when amateurs get into stealing. It screws everything up for the rest of us.
HANAE: Why, you... You want to try saying that again? You don't have a clue about what's going on here.
HARUWO: I got the general idea.
HANAE: Yeah?
HARUWO: A couple of retards have sex without thinking, she gets knocked up without any money to raise a child with, he can't find a job...
So, worrying about where his next meal's coming from, he finally turns to amateur crime, where his incompetence gets him left for dead by the yakuza.
Shimada... Huh?
HANAE: You...
HARUWO: Did Shimada--
HANAE: You listen to me!
HARUWO: (shrugs)
HANAE: A guy like you...
HARUWO: A guy like me, who doesn't even know his own parents' faces, you mean? Even so, that's still no excuse. Dying's the worst kind of fuck-up. Dying is...
HANAE: Well, what am I supposed to do? I don't have any options now.
HARUWO: You could always sell your body. It's not as if--
HANAE: I've had just about enough out of you.
HARUWO: Whatever. You'll wish you'd asked me to help you. Tetsuwo! Paako! Take her to old man Ackle's place.
TETSUWO: So... You comin'?
SCENE 5
CAPTION: THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS RETURNS TO THE PRESENT TIME
SHOPPING DISTRICT
YAKUZA (in unison): Stop! Hey! (etc.)
GOGGLES-WEARING FRIEND: Mm?
GOGGLES-WEARING FRIEND: Haruwo, whatcha doin'?
HARUWO: Kinda busy right now!
GOGGLES-WEARING FRIEND: Huh?
LONG-HAIRED YAKUZA: Goddammit... Stop right there!
BLOND YAKUZA: Out of our way!
LONG-HAIRED YAKUZA: That little-- Oops-- Yaaaaaaaaagh!
HARUWO: Loser. Huh? Yikes! (jumps over truck)
HARUWO: Eh? Er...
BLACK JERSEY YAKUZA: Aw yeah! That's as far as you go! Freeze!
HARUWO: "Aw yeah," huh?
YAKUZA (in unison): No way!
LONG-HAIRED YAKUZA: Oof!
BLACK JERSEY YAKUZA:) Gah!
BLOND YAKUZA: Eee...!
HARUWO: (battle cry)
BLOND YAKUZA: Aiii--!
POMPADOUR YAKUZA: He's getting away!
HARUWO: Tsk tsk...
BACK ALLEYWAY
YAKUZA GANGLEADER: That way! Outta my way! Come back here!
You little... Dammit... Ugh... Oof...
Get back here, you little... Stop! Just...
Wa.. Wait... Aah! (stumbles) Lousy punk!
HARUWO: Ooh, somebody's gettin' chewed out for this one!
YAKUZA GANGLEADER: Shut up!
HARUWO: Later...
SHOPPING DISTRICT
PAKU: Another embarrassing display.
BIG-CHIN YAKUZA: Paku-san.
PAKU: What?
BIG-CHIN YAKUZA: Please... Could you...
PAKU: Tsk.
OUTDOOR LAUNDRY
EMBROIDERED JACKET YAKUZA: Waitwaitwait! (whispering) What the--? Aah!
...(shot of the sky) Yiyiyi! Oww! Stop-- Owww!
Stopitstopit! Yaaah! Owowowowowow!
Aaaaaaaaaah!
HARUWO: Heh heh.
SOME YAKUZA: He's up there!
SCENE 6
CAPTION: MEANWHILE, AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY
IN FRONT OF ACKLE'S HOUSE
TETSUWO: Hey gramps!
ACKLE: Eh?
TETSUWO: Gramps!
ACKLE: What's going on?
TETSUWO: This is bad, gramps--real bad!
HANAE: (gasps)
ACKLE: What? Why're you looking at me like that?
HANAE: Electroplants?
ACKLE: Well done! I so rarely get to examine anything anymore...
TETSUWO: Yeah yeah, forget about that! This guy--
ACKLE: Now, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were being a little rude.
HANAE: My parents were killed in the war. Your mechanical body... It's a bit... like the...
ACKLE: The electronic-implant troopers, yes. I understand how you feel, but please don't get the wrong idea. I'm nothing like them.
Hmm? This one's barely alive! We have to move fast. Tetsuwo, get everything ready!
SCENE 7
IN THE STREET
YAKUZA (in unison):
Hey! He's over there! Up there!
Bring the cars around!
There he is! Head him off! (etc.)
CONSTRUCTION SITE
HARUWO: Huh? What the--
BIG-CHIN YAKUZA: Don't let him get out!
HARUWO: These guys just don't know when to quit!
YAKUZA (in unison): (battle cries)
DOWN-JACKET YAKUZA Gah!
HARUWO: (battle cry)
- DURING HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING - ad-lib shrieks and screams
HARUWO: Let... Me... Go! ...Huh?
PAKU: Classy, you guys. Real classy. Hey.
HARUWO: Wha... Pa-- Paku... san?
SCENE 8
ACKLE'S HOUSE
ACKLE: I'm afraid he's not going to make it, young lady.
HANAE: Huh?
ACKLE: Mm. His internal organs are failing, and... Well, I suggest you watch over him until his final moments.
HANAE: I... I see.
TETSUWO: No way, gramps! Just give him some 'lectroplants! Like yours!
ACKLE: Don't be ridiculous! His brain is all that's left of him! Think of the cost!
Well, there'd be quite a few bills to pay.
But that's not what I'm talking about.
Look at my body.
Think long and hard about what you're suggesting.
The boy could never live like this.
His entire body, a twisted mass of iron, for all the world to see...
It's... a harsh life.
Learning to use the implanted limbs, periodic maintenance,
the public eye.
It's an enormous price to pay, one he would continue to bear for the rest of his life.
Facing that... (while looking back) ...would break his heart.
ACKLE: To this day, the masses see us as little more than tools of war.
I myself am condemned to doing low-grade work out here in the wastelands.
PAAKO: All right, we get it!
ACKLE: Mm? Sorry... The anaesthetic is doing its job.
The rest is up to you.
Use this room as you wish. Tetsuwo...
SCENE 9
CONSTRUCTION SITE
HARUWO:Paku-san... I-- How could... Paku-san-- You're one of Shimada's men?
PAKU: Hey, I'm getting older too, y'know. Lately I've been paying the bills as a bouncer.
HARUWO: But, Paku-san, Shimada? I mean, that's... I had no idea, I--
PAKU: How've you been, Haru? Good? You still following all the things I taught you?
HARUWO: Y-- Yes.
PAKU: Really? (hits him) Is that so?
HARUWO: Aagh... (reacting) Gah!
YAKUZA (in unison):
You okay?
Oww...
Ahh... (etc.)
PAKU: Really following them? Perfectly? You sure you didn't overlook anything? Huh?
YAKUZA (in unison): (gasping)
HARUWO: Aa... Gah... Hah...
PAKU: Whaddya think?
YAKUZA (in unison): Whoa...
PAKU: No answer, Haru? How about this: Never, ever, fuck up the job.
Dying--for any reason--is the ultimate fuck-up.
No excuses. Your dad gets in your way... Kill your dad. (to Yakuza) Hey--
YAKUZA (in unison): Er, uh...
(Haruo screams as the yakuza hit and kick him)
PAKU: Honestly, this kid. Hasn't changed at all...
Right, I'll take it from here. Hold him down. Let's put the little thief away.
Man, what a joke. My reputation as a bouncer's in the toilet, thanks to you.
Well, no hard feelings. Just doing my job, Haru. Hold him. (breaks his arm)
HARUWO: Aaaaaaaaaa!
PAKU: This was a small-time offense. I'll speak to Shimada-san about calling the matter settled.
A little horseplay that got out of hand. Anyway, take care of yourself. Chin up.
(Paku and the yakuza leave)
HARUWO: Uhn...
HARUWO: Nnnn...Ptui! Ahhh, shit.
SCENE 10
CAPTION: SUBSEQUENTLY, TWO HOURS AFTERWARDS
ACKLE'S ROOM
ACKLE: You are the most imbecilic--
HARUWO: You be quiet. I was just unprepared, that's all.
ACKLE: Breaking into Shimada's den, of all places...
HARUWO: Grr, that Paku pisses me off so much!
ACKLE: Still shaken up, huh?
HARUWO: The hell I am!
ACKLE: It's pretty hard to act tough with your teeth looking like that.
HARUWO: My... tee...? My teeeeeeeeth!
ACKLE: (laughter) Quite a sight, aren't they? Well, they were just baby teeth anyhow, right?
HARUWO: These are adult teeth!
ACKLE: I see, I see. And how're those pubic hairs coming along?
HARUWO: Shut your cake-hole!
HARUWO: I am so going to kill Paku, damn him! This is totally unforgivable!
ACKLE: (laughter)
(a brief pause)
HARUWO: Uh...
ACKLE: Mm?
(HANAE enters)
HARUWO: Hey, uh-- how's your man doing?
So, I kinda ran into some trouble, but anyway,
here's some of the loot I nabbed so smoothly, check it out--it may not seem like it, but I'm a highly trained...
Eh...? Hey... Hey...?
HANAE: Taro... just... died.
(Hanae starts sobbing)
HARUWO: Old man. My arm's good enough. Stick a cast on it.
SCENE 11
CAPTION: SUBSEQUENTLY, NINETY-EIGHT MINUTES AFTERWARDS
IN FRONT OF ACKLE'S HOUSE
HANAE: Hey, where're you going?
HARUWO: ...To settle things once and for all.
ACKLE: Revenge.
HARUWO: That's not what I said!
HANAE: Wai-- Stop!
HARUWO: Old man! Hop on! I need you to work the clutch until I get up to second gear!
HANAE: Wait a minute! You don't... This is dangerous!
HARUWO: This ain't none of your business. Hit it!
HANAE: But... Wait... Come back!
ACKLE: If she catches up?
HARUWO: I'm shifting into third. After that, find a way to slow her down!
ACKLE: Mm-hmm. You be careful, now!
HANAE: Wait up-- Yah!
ACKLE: Oof! (they collide)
HANAE: Aah! I'm so sorry! What do I--
(Tetsuwo rides up)
TETSUWO: All aboard!
SCENE 12
ON THE ROAD/FESTIVAL GROUNDS/ON THE ROAD II; KIDS ARE HANGING OUT
GOGGLES-WEARING FRIEND: Haruwo, still busy? (Haruwo passes by on his bike) Huh?
Now there's something you don't see every day!
TETSUWO'S GANG, CHASING AFTER HARUWO
TETSUWO: "Something you don't see every day?" You know what that means: Haruwo's finally about to get serious.
HANAE: What kind of boy is Haruwo?
ACKLE: A bad, bad boy. Nothing more.
TETSUWO: And all the kids around here know it! Relax, enjoy the show!
TEMPLE FESTIVAL ENTRANCE
BIG-CHIN YAKUZA: Huh? Aah!
( Haruwo swoops down on him )
BIG-CHIN YAKUZA: Gaah!
YAKUZA (YOSHIHIKO): H-hey! (on the walkie-talkie) This is Yohihiko! It's Haruwo! That Haruwo guy's here! One of our men's already down!
FESTIVAL GROUNDS
YAKUZA GANGLEADER: Idiot! What the hell are you doing? Where are you now? Paku-san, it's Haruwo!
HARUWO AND HIS BIKE CRASH THE PARTY. ASSORTED SCREAMING.
YAKUZA (DOWN COAT): Come on, muthafucka!
Yeeah! Bring it on! Yeeeeeeah!
(Gets run over) Yeaa--aaaagh! Owowow!
HARUWO LAYS THE SMACKDOWN ON THE YAKUZA
SCENE 13
A SHRINE AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE FAIRGROUNDS
PAKU: For your own safety, please stay back. This could get serious--deadly serious.
YAKUZA BOSS: Hey... Who the hell is this kid?
PAKU: I know him. From my unit. I was his superior officer.
Well, he... Back then... I'm not sure if "superior" is the best choice of words.
YAKUZA BOSS: You mean he outmatches you?
PAKU: Hey... Hey. Gimme your dosu. And the gun. (offscreen, the sound of a motorbike) Hm? He's here!
(enter Haruwo)
(Fight scene in front of a motorcycle bonfire)
PAKU: Ooh, that stung.
(Onlookers begin to gather)
IN THE CROWD:
Hey! Hey!
Whoa!
What's going' on? (etc.)
GLASSES-WEARING ONLOOKER: Aw... this can't be good.
KID ONLOOKER: It's Haruwo!
SCENE 14
FESTIVAL GROUNDS
TETSUWO: Aw... Wicked! (grinning)
HANAE:Haruwo!
AT THE SHRINE, HARUWO AND PAKU FACE OFF, THEN FIGHT
(Paku and Haruwo clash)
(Hanae and the others arrive)
TETSUWO: Outta the way! Move it!
HANAE: 'Scuse us.
HANAE: Haruwo!
HARUWO: You... What the hell are you doing here, you idiots!
You're gonna get in the way! What were you thinking? Tetsuwo! You brought them here, didn't you!
TETSUWO: Haruwo! Behind you!
(Haruwo gets sliced)
TETSUWO: Yo, you need a hand?
HARUWO: Sit the fuck down.
TETSUWO: What? Hey! That was kinda harsh, after everything we went through to be here!
PAKU: Now that's not like you. Gotten soft, have ya?
HARUWO: Well, you've gotten old.
PAKU: Heh heh... Ain't that the truth.
HARUWO: Why can't you stop living in the past? There's no connection between us anymore.
PAKU: Alas there is, I'm sorry to say. A stray-cat-burglar and the bodyguard who chases him... That's our connection!
(More hand-to-hand fighting)
YAKUZA BOSS: Hey... (whispering) C'mere. Get ready to grab the girl.
(Paku is down; Hanae screams)
YAKUZA GANGLEADER: Nobody move!
HARUWO: Jeez! Got any more bad-guy clichés, m' man?
YAKUZA GANGLEADER: I said nobody move, stupid! You, stay back!
HARUWO: Right, right... And you, prepare yourself! (kicked from behind by Paku) Gyah!
PAKU: The gun! Hurry! That's better.
(He takes Jiroh hostage)
PAKU: Get those hands up!
HANAE: Stop!
PAKU: Everyone will kindly take ten steps back, slowly. Man! I can't believe I'm having to resort to this...
(Haruwo gets up)
PAKU: Oh, back on your feet? Well, take a good look, 'cause the battlefield's changed.
HARUWO: Ah.
PAKU: Pretty pathetic, huh? Even I think so. Bah, the wisdom of the weak, I guess you could call this.
You understand, don't you?
HARUWO: I'm disappointed in you, Paku-san.
PAKU: Heh, indeed. Well? What's it gonna be?
HARUWO: Eh? Ahhh. Yeah, let's do it.
PAKU: All right. So... One round, winner-take-all?
(The fight resumes. Haruwo's electro-implants are exposed.)
ONLOOKERS: Oh... His arm!
Is that really a boy, or...
(Ackle knocks out the yakuza gangleader while he's distracted)
(Haruwo looks at the yakuza boss)
YAKUZA BOSS: Eee! (fleeing)
(In a flash, Haruwo overtakes him)
YAKUZA BOSS: Aaa! Wai-- wait! Eee! Gah!
ONLOOKERS: Eh? What did...?
ONLOOKERS: Just an orphan...
ONLOOKERS: What incredible 'lectroplants!
ONLOOKERS: Army?
ONLOOKERS: A boy?
TETSUWO: Hey, shut up!
(Haruwo joins Ackle and the others)
ACKLE: Let's go home.
SCENE 15
CAPTION: SUBSEQUENTLY, FORTY-NINE DAYS AFTERWARDS
BY THE RIVER, TARO'S (HANAE'S HUSBAND'S) GRAVE / ACKLE'S ROOM
ACKLE: Haruwo, well... Both of his arms and legs, his sensory organs--you know, eyes and ears--are electro-implants.
His upper body also contains a reinforced framework. And everything's disguised as flesh and blood.
This stuff is incredibly advanced. As a matter of fact, even with massive injuries,
you'd never get implants like these. You only see this level of work in places like the military,
or special forces. Even I can't do things like this.
HANAE: So then... What does that make Haruwo?
ACKLE: Mmm... It makes him a real brat. That's what he is now, at least.
(images of Hanae's visit to the grave)
ACKLE: Even I don't know what to think sometimes. He just showed up out of nowhere, one day. Not long after the end of the last war.
Well, whatever the reason... I choose not to bring it up. Sometimes not asking is better.
Those with electro-implants are despised by many. That's something I certainly understand. The aftermath of the war's left us with so much hostility and mistrust...
...Even so, do you think, somehow, you could find it in yourself to reach out to him, and treat him normally? On the inside, he's still just a child.
HANAE: Sure.
ACKLE: (smiles)
IN FRONT OF ACKLE'S HOUSE
(Hanae forgets her package)
HANAE: Whoops!
HANAE: I got it!-- Uh?
HARUWO: Yeah! Apple-flavored?
ACKLE: Hold... still!
HANAE: They didn't have it... Orange okay?
HARUWO: They what? Eh, whatever. Feed me, feed me!
HANAE: Ooh, that's wild! What're you doing? (to Ackle)
ACKLE: Systems overhaul.
HANAE: (to Haruwo) Okay okay okay, wait... Here ya go!
HANAE: Hmm... What's under here?
(Hanae lifts up the towel)
HANAE: Uh...
HARUWO: Uh...
HARUWO: Hey! Get away from there, you weirdo! What're you lookin' at? What's the meaning of this? Goddamn pervert! Pervert! Creep! Freak!
(held down) Grmf! Mm! Mm! Mm! Mm!
HANAE: No way! So cuuute!
HARUWO: You little...! Don't forget, I--
HANAE: Okay, it's burned into my memory!
HARUWO: Eh? That's not what I--
ACKLE: Hold still!
HARUWO: Gah!
HANAE: Oops... Baby needs a new diaper.
HARUWO: Gross! He stinks! Don't change him in here!
ACKLE: HOLD... STILL!
CAPTION: THE END