Ignition Episode #10: What Do You Want To Be? By Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney INT. KENJI'S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM KENJI walks into the room to see NOKIA sitting on the couch, looking at something off screen with an expression of concern. KENJI What's up? NOKIA (blinks, turns to Kenji) It's... Civiko. I think something's happened to her. KENJI What... do you mean? NOKIA (sigh) I wish I knew; she won't come out of there. KENJI What? Kenji lets out a long sigh and starts walking to the bathroom. When he comes to the door he knocks. KENJI (CONT'D) You in there? CIVIKO (heard from inside) No. KENJI Come on, open the door. CIVIKO (heard from inside) B-but... KENJI (firmly) Open the door. Please. After a long pause, the door slowly opens. Civiko stands there, but she's holding the steering wheel that had been on her head before in her hands. It looks like she's been crying. KENJI (CONT'D) What... happened? CIVIKO (looking at the steering wheel) I... I don't know... It just came off. KENJI Do you feel alright? CIVIKO I'm... I'm scared. Kenji looks at her for a long moment. CIVIKO (CONT'D) What? Isn't this where you tell me everything's going to be fine? KENJI (sigh) I wish I could, but I really don't know what's going on. CIVIKO Kenji... KENJI Look, I want you to stay home and get some rest today, alright? CIVIKO But-- KENJI I have to go to school. CIVIKO I'm... gonna miss you then... KENJI (2 beats) I'll see you this afternoon. EXT. SCHOOL WALKWAY - DAY Kenji and MIMI are walking together. MIMI You were late again you know... KENJI Car troubles. MIMI It must suck to be the one guy in the world who can be late to school because your car is having emotional problems. KENJI (annoyed) The steering wheel on her head just fell off. She seems okay, but it's got her really scared. MIMI (sigh) Sorry... I didn't mean anything by it. Kenji stops short and looks ahead. KAORU and ANGEL are walking together, towards Kenji and Mimi. The pair are attracting a lot of attention; Kaoru is beaming and Angel seems to have fully regained her composure from before. MIMI (CONT'D) (rolls eyes) Surprising those two survived each other. KENJI (under his breath) They're both equally screwed up. KAORU (waving) Hey guys! Kenji rolls his eyes and frowns as he and Mimi come closer. They stop just in front of Kaoru and Angel. MIMI Hey. Angel puts her arms around Kaoru from behind and smiles seductively. KAORU (turning red) How's it going? Kenji shrugs. MIMI Pretty good! What about you two? Kaoru laughs nervously. ANGEL Oh, we've been having fun. KENJI I'm sure. Angel pauses to stick her tongue out at Kenji. Only Kenji notices, and he just continues his flat stare, raising one eyebrow *very* slightly. KENJI (CONT'D) One question. KAORU Huh? KENJI (to Angel) Who was it that created you? ANGEL Hmmmmm? Oh, that's-- CHASTITY (O.S.) None of your concern! Everyone turns to see CHASTITY standing there, flanked by four burly THUGS. Chastity is a tall, voluptuous woman with short black hair styled with two "horns" on the sides; she wears a small tank top that doesn't quite cover the bottoms of her breasts, is attached at the top by a ring around her neck, and has a female symbol with devil horns on it. She also wears a black G-string, black leather chaps, black boots, and a small black leather armband just below the shoulder of her left arm. She has an arrogant, half-lidded expression, and her least movement is all swagger. There's a malicious glint in her eyes as she grins at Kenji & co. KENJI I can see we're off to a great start today... CHASTITY Now... Which one of you is Kenji Asakawa? Kenji is about to respond, but MIMI Who wants to know? Chastity gets in Mimi's face. CHASTITY Think you're tough, huh?! Not exactly what I expected from someone with a name like Kenji Asakawa, but that doesn't matter! Kaoru and Angel watch the exchange, unsure of what to say or do. KENJI (ahem) CHASTITY And what the hell do you want, punk?! KENJI For starters, I want to tell you you're an idiot. A vein in Chastity's forehead bulges and the grabs Kenji by the collar. CHASTITY What did you say?! KENJI (sigh) ...and secondly, I wanted to point out that *I'm* Kenji Asakawa. CHASTITY Oh, is that so? KENJI And finally, I want to know who you are and what the hell you want. CHASTITY That part's easy! I'm here to--! DREAMY (O.S.) KENJI-SEMPAAAAAAI! Everyone except Chastity turns to see what's going on. Chastity grinds her teeth and makes loud growling/engine revving noises. DREAMY wearing a red and pink sailor fuku over her usual clothes and is running full-tilt towards Kenji, holding what looks to be a bento lunch wrapped in pink cloth. KAORU What the...? Dreamy comes to a halt front of Kenji; she blushes and proffers the bento to him. He stares at her for a long moment. Dreamy starts to get nervous. DREAMY (blushing) K-kenji-sempai... I brought you some lunch... KENJI (taking the bento) Um... Thanks... ANGEL What's with her? KENJI I think she's running a dating sim game again. KAORU Woah... A game console girl? KENJI Don't remind me. Mimi blinks, having noticed that Chastity is glowing red; even her lackeys are getting nervous. MIMI Um... CHASTITY (shouting) Don't ignore me! (to Kenji) We're here to beat you up, so let's get down to business! DREAMY (blink) Kenji-sempai... Dreamy pulls out a CD wallet, then presses the eject button on her forehead. Her eyes go blank, but she continues to remove the CD in the CD tray and replace it with one from the CD wallet. As the CD tray closes, her eyes become more focused. MIMI What's...? Dreamy suddenly has a mad light in her eyes as she abruptly rips off her sailor fuku. DREAMY ORA ORA ORA ORA ORAAAA! NIPPON ICHI~! KENJI Oh _god_... CHASTITY Who the hell do you think you are?! DREAMY You can call me Dreamy! What's your name? CHASTITY I'm Chastity, and--! DREAMY It DOESN'T MATTER what your name is! I don't care if you're Chastity or Infidelity or *Stupidity* the Skank of South Central Sacramento! If you try to lay one finger -- ONE _finger_ -- on Kenji I'm going to give my right boot a good polishing and stick it straight up your CANDY ASS! KAORU My head hurts... CHASTITY Fine then! We'll settle this here and now! DREAMY You'd like that, wouldn't you? It's *easy* to talk big when you've got your four thick-necked morons -- Moe, Larry, Curly, and *Jackass* -- to back you up, but I've got a better idea! CHASTITY Oh? And what the hell would that be? DREAMY *You* and *me* -- one on one. The biker ho-bag and the Great One, live this Sunday at ReVengeance! CHASTITY Sounds good! After all, I won't need any help to whip *your* ass. Chastity strides away and her thugs follow. MIMI So... what in the blue hell just happened? KENJI (sigh) Whenever she puts a game in it partly takes over her personality. MIMI And... what kind of game was *that*? KENJI Pro-wrestling. MIMI Oh... kay... Kenji walks up to Dreamy and presses her eject button; Dreamy's eyes glaze over as Kenji swaps discs and pushes the CD tray back in. KAORU Then... what just happened? KENJI I think... she challenged "Chastity" to a match at the next Pay-Per-View event. KAORU Could things get any stranger? KENJI Yes, but hopefully they won't. EXT. KENJI'S HOUSE, FRONT YARD PINKY is relaxing on the grass. She turns her head sideways and sees a small gray CAT standing there looking at her. PINKY Hi there! ^_^ CAT (cocks head to one side) Meow. PINKY Meow? CAT Meow. PINKY Okay. ^_^ The cat tentatively takes a few steps closer to Pinky. PINKY (CONT'D) Meow? CAT Meow. The cat comes right up next to Pinky's face and sniffs at her. PINKY That tickles... The cat hops up onto Pinky's chest. CAT Meow. PINKY Meow? CAT Meow? PINKY (shrugs) Meow meow. CAT Meow. =^.^= PINKY Meow! ^_^ CAT Meow! =^.^= INT. AYAKO'S ROOM AYAKO glares at Chastity, who is lounging on Ayako's bed. AYAKO What do you _mean_, you're going to wait until _Sunday_? CHASTITY Just what I said. I'm gonna take down his game girl right in front of the guy, then whip his ass, and then take down anyone else who gets in my way. Pretty simple, huh? AYAKO (annoyed, sarcastic) Breathtakingly so. CHASTITY (grins) Glad you see things my way. AYAKO Fine... And her name was "Dreamy" you said? CHASTITY Somethin' like that. AYAKO Fine. Go and entertain yourself somewhere else. CHASTITY Hmmm... I think I can have a lot of fun around here... Ayako frowns. As before, she seems to loom up over Chastity, becoming more fearsome and powerful-looking; she's surrounded by a blue glow and electricity crackles. Chastity blinks, looking very afraid. AYAKO Do NOT press me. I made you, and if I so desired I could UN-make you just as easily. Chastity nods numbly. Suddenly there's a knock at the door. Ayako stops short; the glow around her fades away and she turns to the door, suddenly looking very cute. She opens the door and smiles. AYAKO (CONT'D) Hi mama! CHASTITY (quietly) Scary... AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) Hello, Ayako-chan! I made some snacks if you're hungry. AYAKO Wai! AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) Are you having another one of your little friends over? AYAKO Yeah, but she has to leave. Chastity blinks, and starts climbing out the window. AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) (a little disappointed) Oh, that's such a shame. AYAKO Um, mama? AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) What is it? AYAKO I was kind of wondering... I wanted one of those Panther^2 video game things. AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) Oh really? Well... you've been very good - as usual -- so we'll see about it this weekend. AYAKO Wai! I love you mama! EXT. STREET OUTSIDE AYAKO'S HOUSE Chastity walks very quickly, occasionally looking back behind her. CHASTITY Man, something about her is just plain screwed up... And coming from an anthropomorphic motorcycle that's saying something. INT. KENJI'S HOUSE, KITCHEN TOASTY is stirring the steaming contents of a pot on the stove while KIMIKO is lounging in a chair by the kitchen table and reading a magazine. 2 beats. Toasty sighs and turns to Kimiko. TOASTY Can I ask you something? KIMIKO Hm? Sure. TOASTY What's it like... to be human? KIMIKO It's... It's like... TOASTY Like what? KIMIKO (sighs, smiles) Like something you can't really explain. TOASTY That doesn't help much... KIMIKO (shrugs) It's not like I have anything else to compare it to; I don't have any experience in being a toaster. Why're you asking anyway? Is this because of... Civiko? TOASTY What if she's turning into a normal human? What if that'll happen to all of us? What then? KIMIKO That's the thing about being human; it means you're made to do so many different things that you choose what you want to do. TOASTY Sounds scary... KIMIKO That's the other thing; it's never all good or all bad. The real question is, if you become human what do *you* want to do? Toasty sighs. 1 beat. She blushes and smiles. KIMIKO (CONT'D) (rolls eyes) You're thinking about my brother, aren't you? TOASTY (blushing furiously) H-huh?! KIMIKO Kyosuke I mean; it seems like a perfect relationship so far -- you like to make toast and he likes to eat toast, and neither of you really has any sense of time or place about it. TOASTY Well... um... KIMIKO (conspiratorially) Go for it. He could use someone like you to take care of him. TOASTY You think so? Kimiko stands up and look out the window; KYOSUKE, accompanied by his BAND MEMBERS, are trying to play some sort of rock music but not quite succeeding. As if that weren't enough, Kyosuke is wearing neon-green pants, a black mesh shirt, bright red suspenders, goggles with neon-orange lenses, and one angel wing made of blue styrofoam. KIMIKO He definitely needs _something_. INT. KENJI'S ROOM - DAY Civiko sits on Kenji's bed by herself, clutching her steering wheel. She looks worried and sad, and is rocking back and forth. Nokia pokes her head into the room. NOKIA Civiko... What's wrong? CIVIKO Go away. NOKIA (sigh) What's wrong? CIVIKO I'm... I thought... But I'm no good anymore. I tried to turn into a car again but... it won't work no matter what I do! Nokia sits down next to Civiko. NOKIA (putting her arms around Civiko) Even if you're not a car anymore, you're still important. CIVIKO Why would I be? He'll be busy at school and work and I'll have to just stay home. NOKIA No you won't; he can still make time for you. CIVIKO I'm sorry Nokia... I have to go somewhere. NOKIA (shrug) Then go. INT. MOD'S BURGER Kenji and Mimi are having lunch. MIMI Can I ask you something? Kenji shrugs. MIMI (CONT'D) What do you want to be -- when you grow up? KENJI If I knew that I probably wouldn't be taking going to the college I could get through the escalator program. MIMI If you become another salaryman clone I won't forgive you, you know. KENJI (shrug) You probably wouldn't make a very good O.L. either. MIMI That's why I'm studying electronics. KENJI (sarcastic) Sounds exciting. MIMI (rolls eyes) Lots of memorization. Wanna know Ohm's Law? EXT. COLLEGE WALKWAY GINJI is confronting Kaoru. GINJI How DARE you! I'm your club president, and you stole such a glorious opportunity right out of my grasp! KAORU As I recall, you were too dumbfounded to say or do anything at the time. GINJI That has nothing to do with it! Civiko approaches Kaoru tentatively, holding her steering wheel in one hand. CIVIKO Excuse me... GINJI *I* am the superior car enthusiast and student! CIVIKO Um... GINJI What exactly have you done that would merit any attention at all?! KAORU Well, for starters-- GINJI Don't talk back to your sempai! KAORU But you asked me a ques-- GINJI SILENCE! CIVIKO Excuse me... KAORU Why? Because I'm the leader of a street racing team and you're not? GINJI Ah yes... Your "Black Blunders"? CIVIKO Um... KAORU (dryly) Thunders. GINJI I will NOT tolerate--! CIVIKO STOP IT! I just need to ask one little question and you two can't stop arguing!!! Ginji and Kaoru stop short and remain silent. CIVIKO (CONT'D) Do either of you know where Kenji is?! KAORU Huh? Oh, he went out to lunch with Mimi. I think they were going to the burger place down the street. CIVIKO Okay! Thanks! The two of them watch Civiko as she irately stalks away. INT. MOD'S BURGER Mimi and Kenji continue their meal. KENJI I've kinda been wondering... MIMI About what? KENJI Your name. MIMI (chuckles) Oh -- "Mimi" is actually my nickname from high school. My *real* name is Minami Mizuno. For a while they called me "Mimimi" or "Three-Mi," but it got shortened after a while. 2 beats of silence. MIMI (CONT'D) No inane comments? Kenji shrugs. MIMI (CONT'D) Jeez... Why do you even put up with me then? KENJI Probably because you're almost as bad as me. MIMI Pft. I can't even tell if that was a compliment or an insult. EXT. STREET Civiko walks along by herself at a hurried pace, still clutching the steering wheel. She seems worried, and continually casts glances all over the place. She stops short in front of Mod's Burger, where she sees Kenji and Mimi sitting and talking over lunch. INT. MOD'S BURGER MIMI (taking off her glasses) You are so different from any other guy I've met. KENJI I can't say I've encountered many girls that match your description either. MIMI (smiles) We should hang out more often. KENJI I see you every day at school and then you come and pester me at work too. Mimi slowly leans closer and closer to him. EXT. STREET Civiko is intently watching -- it looks as though Mimi is about to kiss Kenji. CIVIKO (quietly, almost crying) Kenji... How could you? (sudden anguished yelling) NOOOOOOOOO! INT. MOD'S BURGER Kenji turns to see Civiko running away from the restaurant. He starts to stand up and finds Mimi is holding onto his arm. MIMI Let her go. Kenji looks at Mimi for a long moment, then frees his hand and takes off at a run. Mimi watches her go. CLOSE-UP of Mimi cleaning her glasses with her eyes just out of the shot. A tear runs down her cheek and lands on one of the lenses of her glasses. EXT. STREET Civiko is running exceptionally fast; she doesn't even see Kenji running after her. CIVIKO (V.O.) He doesn't need me anymore... And when a car isn't of any use to anyone there's only one place for the car to go! INT. KENJI'S ROOM Nokia is sitting on Kenji's bed in thought when she suddenly starts singing Fur Elise. She does her usual thumb-and-pinky formation and answers the call herself. NOKIA Hello? (beat) Mimi? Oh, we met you at the beach, right? (2 beats) I see... Do you know which way they went? (beat) Thank you. I'll do whatever I can. WIPE RIGHT TO: EXT. KENJI'S HOUSE, DRIVEWAY Kyosuke's beat up old car peels out with an ear-splitting roar and an unpleasant cloud of exhaust. INT. KYOSUKE'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER Kyosuke is driving with a look of grim determination. Toasty is sitting next to him, and Nokia and Kimiko are in the back seat. TOASTY So... You think there'll be danger? KYOSUKE I have a nagging feeling someone is about to do something very stupid. Pinky suddenly pops up from the seat next to Nokia, with the gray cat sitting on her shoulder. PINKY (happily) Meow! NOKIA What? PINKY That means "hi" in cat language. ^_^ CAT Meow! NOKIA And... what was that? PINKY He said his name is Gray. KIMIKO That sounded the same. PINKY And there's also "meow" -- it means "I'm hungry." ^_^ KYOSUKE Are you trying to ruin the tension of the moment? PINKY (sticks her tongue out for a moment) Meow! KYOSUKE I don't even want to know what that meant. Kyosuke makes a sharp turn and accelerates. EXT. STREET Kenji is still running; it's obvious that he's very tired, but he presses on as fast as he can anyway. He peers into the distance, but can't see any sign of Civiko. It's obvious he's entering a more industrial area. KENJI Where the hell could she be going?! EXT. JUNKYARD Civiko hurries amid heaps of sundered metal and parts of old cars and bicycles. From her expression, it's clear that she finds this place more than a little creepy. She turns a corner and finds herself face to face with a twisted hunk of metal that might've once been an '85 Civic and screams. EXT. STREET Kenji stops short and looks up. KENJI Oh shit... That was her! He starts running, faster than before. EXT. JUNKYARD Civiko continues picking her way among the wrecks of old cars until she finds a massive piece of machinery; a conveyor belt leads to a crane, which picks the cars up one by one and feeds them into the huge machine. Civiko climbs up onto the slow-moving conveyor belt and sits on the hood of a rusted old car. CIVIKO This is it. Now I won't be a bother to him anymore. EXT. STREET Kenji finds himself standing in front of the entrance to the junkyard. He regards the sign numbly for a moment. KENJI No... Kenji takes a deep breath and runs into the junkyard. EXT. JUNKYARD The car that Civiko is sitting on gets picked up by the crane. She watches as she and the car are slowly lowered into the compactor. KENJI (O.S.) CIVIKO! Civiko blinks and turns to see Kenji below. KENJI (CONT'D) What are you doing?! CIVIKO I'm sorry. This is goodbye. As long as you're happy it doesn't matter what happens to me. CLOSE-UP OF KENJI KENJI _Idiot_. Kenji runs towards the compactor and climbs the ladder on its side as fast as he can. CIVIKO It's not safe! KENJI You're telling _me_ that?! Kenji is climbing over the top just as the car Civiko is sitting on is positioned over the compactor. For a beat the crane pauses and everything is silent. Then the car is released and begins to fall. Kenji gasps and lunges over the top of the compactor; he reaches his hand out and manages to catch Civiko's hand as she falls. Kenji is yanked down by her weight and the two of them find themselves dangling over the jaws of the compactor, supported only by one of Kenji's hands. CIVIKO Why? You don't need me... KENJI (angry) You really think that!? CIVIKO You... you have Mimi... KENJI Oh really?! Then why the *hell* am I here, dangling over certain DEATH on your account?! Civiko blinks, looking up at Kenji in shock. CIVIKO Y-you mean...? KENJI Don't worry about that right now! If you have time to contemplate anything, try to think of a way to get us out of this because I CAN'T HOLD ON MUCH LONGER! The jaws of the compactor begin to close and the entire machine starts to shake. Kenji's hand begins to slip. CIVIKO Just let me go... KENJI One, I'm not willing to do that, and Two, even if I did it wouldn't help me much! CIVIKO I never wanted it to end like this. KENJI Funny, me _neither_! Kenji's hand has almost come loose, and the jaws of the compactor have nearly closed. KENJI (CONT'D) We're gonna die. I can't even begin to tell you how much this sucks. Suddenly a heavy chain is dangled alongside Kenji and Civiko. Kenji looks up to see Kyosuke standing above them, holding the chain. KYOSUKE Better late than never, eh little bro? Kenji heaves a sigh of relief and he and Civiko begin climbing up the chain to safety. Suddenly the compactor jerks; Civiko loses her grip for a hear-stopping second; Kenji looks down in abject horror, only to find that Civiko has caught hold of his leg. She looks down into the closing compactor, then up at Kenji, and smiles. She lets go of the steering wheel, letting it fall into the compactor as it closes. She and Kenji continue climbing up the chain, coming over the side to find that Toasty, Pinky, Nokia, and Kimiko were also helping hold the chain. They all quickly climb down to the ground. Civiko looks at Kenji apprehensively. CIVIKO Um... I... KENJI Don't say a thing. Just _promise_ me you'll never do anything like that _ever_ again. Okay? Civiko looks at him for a long moment, tears welling up in her eyes, and nods, then puts her arms around Kenji and begins crying in earnest. Kenji pauses for two beats before putting one arm around her and gently stroking her hair with the other. FADE OUT. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney blackbird@blackbird.nu Blackbird's Domain http://www.blackbird.nu/ The Official Thrash Home Page http://thrash.blackbird.nu/ Knight Kevlar of the Immortal Frog Silver Knight of Mihoshi "Be nice to me; I might just develop psychokinetic powers and destroy Tokyo!" ------------------------------------------------------------------