Ignition Episode #9: What She Learned In the Place Between Winning and Losing By Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney INT. KENJI'S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - DAY DREAMY and PINKY are watching TV. SUPERIMPOSE an empty meter at the bottom of the frame. PINKY So where's Kenji? The meter is filled up a little bit with red. DREAMY School. PINKY Oh... This show's kinda neat. ^_^ The meter fills a little more. DREAMY It's a commercial. PINKY Oh... Where's Kenji anyway? The meter fills quite a bit more. DREAMY (getting a little irritated) SCHOOL. PINKY Oh... okay. Two beats. PINKY (CONT'D) What about Civiko? The meter fills up even more. DREAMY (very mad, standing up) WHAT. DO. YOU. THINK?!?! PINKY I dunno. The meter is now nearly full. PINKY (CONT'D) Maybe she went with Kenji somewhere! But... I wonder where he could've gone... The meter finally is completely full and the bar of red starts flashing. Dreamy is now glowing red. EXT. KENJI'S HOUSE DREAMY (O.S.) BUSTER TORNADO! There is a loud crashing sound from inside the house. PINKY (O.S.) Hey! Were you trying to hit me or something? 'Cuz you missed... DREAMY (O.S.) AAAAAAHHH! *SUPER* BUSTER TORNADO! EXT. COLLEGE RACE COURSE - DAY The Civic and the Corvette sit side-by-side at the starting line, with KAORU standing on the center line in front of them. KAORU THREE! CLOSE SHOT OF THE CIVIC CIVIKO (V.O.) Maybe you believe in me, Kenji-sama, KAORU TWO CIVIKO (V.O.) But... I never thought that there might be someone better for you. KAORU ONE! CIVIKO (V.O.) If I can do this... KAORU GO! Both cars floor it. CIVIKO (V.O.) If I can do this... I'll know. The Corvette rockets ahead of the Civic, and quickly takes a huge lead. KENJI, MIMI, GINJI, and Kaoru watch as the cars speed off into the distance. KAORU If you go up the steps over there you can get a better view of the whole race. Mimi shrugs and takes a hold of Kenji's arm, dragging him towards the steps. Ginji follows dazedly. EXT. RACE COURSE The Corvette is speeding ahead, when suddenly a very sharp turn starts coming up. The 'vette slams on the brakes and manages to glide through the corner safely. Meanwhile, the Civic comes up from behind; we can hear the airy, high pitched sound of a turbo. ANGEL (V.O.) (shock/horror) WHAT?! She's going to crash! CIVIKO (V.O.) Thank you, Kyosuke-san. The Civic brakes, steers into the turn and begins skidding -- a high-pitched sound of squealing tires is heard as the Civic begins countersteering, coming out of the drift neck-and-neck with the Corvette. ANGEL (V.O.) That's impossible! CIVIKO (V.O.) I guess you don't know too much about racing after all! ANGEL (V.O.) (infuriated) Quiet! I *will* defeat you! The Corvette speeds up, taking the lead again, only to find that another corner is coming up. ANGEL (V.O.) (CONT'D) If you can do it, then so can I! And better! The Corvette brakes and attempts a drift -- but doesn't countersteer. The front of the Corvette turns too far and it slows almost to a halt as it winds up almost pointing perpendicular to the track. The Civic does another drift and zips past, taking the lead while the Corvette is still trying to recover. EXT. OBSERVATION AREA ABOVE RACE COURSE - MOMENTS LATER Kenji, Mimi, and Ginji are watching the race below. GINJI How? How could she be losing?! KYOSUKE (O.S.) It's simple, really. Everyone turns around to see KYOSUKE, standing just behind them, looking down at the race with interest. KENJI So what the hell are you doing here? KYOSUKE I had a feeling it would be dramatically appropriate. GINJI Who the hell are you? KYOSUKE (dramatic flourish) *I* am none other than Asakawa Kyosuke, but you may call me... Kyosuke The Madman! GINJI Y-you! But why? I thought you retired! KYOSUKE (patting Kenji on the shoulder) Just checking up on my little bro. GINJI (to Kenji) HE'S you're older brother? KENJI This freeloader highway star wannabe? Yes. Kyosuke takes a moment to run his fingers through his hair and adjust his sunglasses. KYOSUKE In any case, in response to your question, this race is a classic example of power versus handling. MIMI So... Civiko's way better at taking turns but when Angel's on a straightaway she'll win every time. KYOSUKE Correct. How... did you know that it's called an "Angel"? KENJI That's how she introduced herself. KYOSUKE Wha...? KENJI Someone else has one of those rocks. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. RACE COURSE The Corvette has already caught up to the Civic and is beginning to pull ahead, but another corner is coming up. KENJI (V.O.) She wouldn't say who sent her, but "Angel" just showed up and started making trouble. The Corvette tries another drift -- only to find that the Civic has slowed down slightly and is powering through the curve. KYOSUKE (V.O.) What's she like? KENJI (V.O.) ... Attractive, arrogant, and a little vicious. The Corvette comes out of the drift pretty smoothly and floors it in pursuit of the Civic. KYOSUKE (V.O.) She's naive. She might be able to hide it while in human form, but it shows all too clearly in her racing technique. GINJI (V.O.) It's like... she knows how to drive but has no idea how to race... I can't help but imagine what it'd be like if someone actually taught her how. EXT. OBSERVATION AREA ABOVE RACE COURSE KYOSUKE Do you know how many races Civiko has been in? GINJI How many? KYOSUKE One. GINJI And... she drives like *that*?! A grin slowly spreads across Kyosuke's face. EXT. RACE COURSE The Civic has the lead but the Corvette is very quickly coming up from behind. CIVIKO (V.O.) She's getting better... Every time she tries a drift she gets better at doing it. The Civic's turbo lets out more high-pitched squeaks, and the Civic is spurred ever faster, but the Corvette is still gaining. CIVIKO (V.O.) (CONT'D) But I'm getting better too. This isn't as much fun as the last time -- it's too serious for that. But I can see now; on this course I don't have to drift -- sometimes I can just power through a corner and go even faster. The Corvette passes, and goes into a drift at the next turn. The Civic drifts also, and the two cars slide through the corner side-by-side. EXT. RACE COURSE, STARTING LINE Kaoru stands by himself, holding a checkered flag in one hand and a stopwatch in the other. The sound of engines and squealing tires can be heard in the distance. KAORU No wonder he won the race against Takashi the Demon. "Civiko" *is* the car -- she knows her own body, and driving is what she was made for. No human could learn that quickly. (beat) And... I really wish Keiichi were here so I didn't have to stand around talking to myself. EXT. OBSERVATION AREA ABOVE RACE COURSE MIMI Angel's learning... GINJI They've nearly finished the first lap. That car looked like it has just come off of a showroom floor, but now... KYOSUKE (to Kenji) Nothing to say? Kenji shrugs, intent on the race. KYOSUKE (CONT'D) Who do *you* think will win? Kenji looks down at where the Corvette is trying to pass the Civic yet again. KENJI Angel's too angry. When a person gets like that they do stupid things. EXT. RACE COURSE ANGEL (V.O.) (furious) WHY?! Every time I get ahead she just passes me at the next turn!!! CIVIKO (V.O.) (as though sticking her tongue out) Nyeah! I have about 180 horsepower right now... what about you? ANGEL (V.O.) Three-fifty!!! The two cars pass the finish line, whipping past Kaoru, who's looking at his stopwatch in awe. CIVIKO (V.O.) (laughing) Guess that's one-thirty too much! INT. BLACK MAGIC CLUB ROOM AYAKO is browsing through an arcane tome of some sort, while RICHMOND, now with all of his arms and legs in casts, looks a bit concerned. RICHMOND Mistress... AYAKO (annoyed) What now? RICHMOND I don't mean to question your wisdom, but I *am* curious; what will making him fall in love with Angel accomplish? AYAKO (rolls eyes) She's going to make him her plaything, and then throw him away so he can feel the same pain and rejection he caused my sempai. RICHMOND And if it doesn't work? AYAKO (angry, wielding a squeaky mallet) Are you trying to say that my plan is flawed? RICHMOND N-no! Of course not! It's just that... AYAKO WHAT? RICHMOND (sigh) He isn't *normal* -- I don't know if he'll be susceptible to Angel's charms. AYAKO (shrugs) If that's so... then I'll just have to come up with an even more brilliant plan. RICHMOND Of course! EXT. RACE COURSE The Civic and the Corvette are still neck and neck as they fly past the finish line a second time; the Corvette is currently ahead, but not by much. CIVIKO (V.O.) What I really wanna know is why you're doing this! ANGEL (V.O.) My mistress has commanded it! CIVIKO (V.O.) Oh? And who's she? ANGEL (V.O.) None of your business! The two cars come to another corner; the Corvette does a rather skilled drift, but the Civic powers through, taking the lead. ANGEL (V.O.) (CONT'D) How the hell are you doing that?! CIVIKO (V.O.) (mockingly) None of your business! ANGEL (V.O.) B-but...! I can't do that! CIVIKO (V.O.) (laughing) Kinda' sad that you can't even figure out why. Angel makes sounds of abject rage and the Corvette floors it. CIVIKO (V.O.) (CONT'D) Only one more lap to go! EXT. OBSERVATION AREA ABOVE RACE COURSE MIMI This is the last lap, right? GINJI Yeah... MIMI What's happening to the Corvette? KENJI She's getting too angry. MIMI You think so? KENJI (nods) She's flooring it the whole time. Bad idea. EXT. RACE COURSE The Civic is pulling ahead of the Corvette, which clumsily drifts its way through each turn. CIVIKO (V.O.) (quietly, pity) Oh my god... She's going to crash... (beat) I can't let her do that. The Civic slows down a little, and starts doing very wide drifts through the center of each turn, effectively blocking the Corvette from passing. ANGEL (V.O.) GET OUT OF MY WAY! EXT. OBSERVATION AREA ABOVE RACE COURSE Kenji looks down at the race and blinks in faint surprise. MIMI What? KENJI Hm? MIMI I saw it just now! You looked surprised at something! Kenji points at where the two cars are racing. MIMI (CONT'D) What? KENJI She slowed down, and now she's trying really hard to keep Angel from passing. KYOSUKE (smiles) If you ask me, it means she's more mature than you thought. Kenji gives Kyosuke an irate look, then turns his attention back to the race. GINJI If... if you want to meet them at the finish we'd better start back down there soon. EXT. RACE COURSE The two cars are headed towards the finish line; the Civic weaves left and right on the straightaway, and the Corvette relentlessly turns and swerves and tries to pull ahead, but the Civic pulls past the finish line first. Kenji, Mimi, Ginji, and Kyosuke are coming down the steps as the Corvette passes the finish line. MIMI She won! She really did it! KYOSUKE (to Kenji) That's one hell of a car you've got there. Kenji is startled to find Civiko throwing herself at him. He stands there for a moment, then tousles her hair. KENJI You really surprised me. CIVIKO Y-you mean you didn't think I'd win?! KENJI I wasn't talking about that. Kenji and Civiko turn to see Angel standing there, facing away from them, her head lowered. KAORU (to Angel) It's okay, you'll-- Angel turns around, revealing giant, watery eyes and her mouth contorted. ANGEL (sobbing) I lost! I can't believe it! (fountain tears) WAAAAAAAAAH! Angel sits on the ground, folding her arms around her legs, and continues loudly crying. CIVIKO (sigh) She looks all grown up, but she's actually just a kid inside. Kyosuke and Kaoru start moving towards Angel at the same time. Then they notice each other, and glare at one another. KYOSUKE I am obviously better suited to handle this situation. KAORU Riiight. And your toast-girl will be perfectly alright with this too, huh? Kyosuke stops short and blushes for a moment. KYOSUKE Well... er... Kaoru smiles triumphantly and approaches Angel. KAORU Hey, it's okay... Angel looks up at him for a moment, sniffles a bit, then grabs him around the waist and starts sobbing (fountain tears and all) again. Kaoru starts turning pale. KAORU (CONT'D) She's... strong... ANGEL (shaking Kaoru) HOW?! How could I LOSE?! Kaoru passes out and limply flops backwards in Angel's grip, but she doesn't let go. GINJI Damn you! That should be me! KYOSUKE (adjusting sunglasses) You're welcome to it. But for now... I must be going. EXT. COLLEGE PARKING LOT - AFTERNOON Kenji stands by the Civic with the door open, about to get in; Mimi stands nearby. MIMI You're heading home? KENJI Yeah. MIMI Um... Any chance I could get a ride with you? Kenji gives her a flat stare for three beats, then shrugs and presses the unlocking button inside the door. INT. AYAKO'S ROOM Angel sits on the bed, looking sullen, with Kaoru unconscious on the floor. Richmond is standing silently in a corner. Ayako glares at Angel. AYAKO So what happened _exactly_? Angel sits there and pouts. AYAKO (CONT'D) Answer me! ANGEL (fountain tears) I lost! I can't _believe_ it! AYAKO Lost? Lost what?! ANGEL THE RACE! I have almost twice the horsepower and I lost! AYAKO Why would you want to have the power of a horse? ANGEL You don't know anything about cars! You wouldn't understand! AYAKO (shrug) No, I don't. And I don't care either. You've failed me, and I will not tolerate failure. ANGEL (fearful) What're you going to do? You're not going to kill me, are you? AYAKO (annoyed) No! What do you think I am? ANGEL Then what--? AYAKO Go away and don't come back. If you keep bugging me, (glares at Richmond) like a CERTAIN SOMEONE, I might change my mind. Angel stands up indignantly. ANGEL Fine! I'll be going and I'm not coming back ever! Angel strides out the door, slamming it on the way out. A moment later Angel opens the door again, trying hard to look dignified, grabs Kaoru, slings him over her shoulder, and walks out again, slamming the door even harder. AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) Oh, you're one of Ayako's friends! Can I offer you a snack before you go? Ayako rolls her eyes and shakes her head as she sits down on the bed. ANGEL (O.S.) I'm in a bit of a hurry, so-- AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) Nonsense! Have a seat, please. ANGEL (O.S.) But--! AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) Here, here's some tea, and I'll get you some of the cake I made today. ANGEL (O.S.) I, um-- AYAKO'S MOTHER (O.S.) You have plenty of time; you must be in college, right? ANGEL (O.S.) Actually I'm a car... AYAKO Now... what could I use instead? It's clear that I didn't take Angel's potential stupidity into account... RICHMOND Could it be because she was a new, unused car? AYAKO Interesting... You're actually using your tiny little mind for something. RICHMOND Ayako-sama... AYAKO (thoughtful) I'll start looking now. Something mean, something brutal... Ayako stands up and picks up her coat. AYAKO (CONT'D) You stay here. RICHMOND (shrugs) It's not like I can walk, Ayako-sama. EXT. MIMI'S HOUSE Mimi has just gotten out of the Civic, and is leaning on the driver-side window next to Kenji. MIMI So... KENJI Hm? MIMI Here we are. KENJI And? MIMI Well... you wanna come in? KENJI (annoyed) What for? Mimi sighs and shakes her head. MIMI Jeez... There's such as thing as going too far. KENJI Fine. Just for a little bit. WIPE LEFT TO: EXT. OUTSIDE A BAR - NIGHT Several motorcycles are lined up, mostly American hogs. Ayako walks up to the door and opens it. Inside the BARTENDER and several BIKERS pause from their revelry to peer at her. BARTENDER Underage. Get out. AYAKO I don't want to come in. I want to know who's the toughest guy here. One of the bikers, an extremely tall American with black hair in a long ponytail, dressed in leather biker duds. He walks to the door and looks down at her. BIKER #1 What d'you want, little girl? AYAKO Which bike is yours? BIKER #1 (amused, points) That one over there. AYAKO Good. Ayako walks over to the bike indicated -- a Honda Valkyrie in excellent condition -- and produces her Valkyrie Stone from her pocket. It begins to glow red. BIKER #1 What the hell!? The Biker makes a move towards Ayako, but she turns towards him, eyes glowing blue, suddenly appearing much taller and more menacing. AYAKO Back off. He backs off. A red glow envelops the motorcycle. INT. MIMI'S HOUSE Kenji sits at a small table in the house. Mimi walks up to the table, puts two glasses of juice down on the table, and sits down opposite Kenji. MIMI Heck of a way to spend your first day in college. KENJI Annoying classmates, and some magic wielding freak trying to mess with me. Just like old times. MIMI (chuckles) I hope you're not putting me into either of those categories. KENJI I hope so too. MIMI That's about the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Even if you are just thinking about avoiding more trouble for yourself. KENJI (shrug) Not really; I know better than to think trying to avoid it would do me any good. MIMI Oh? Then what'll you do? KENJI Fix it. MIMI You make it sound so easy. KENJI It isn't. But most worthwhile things are like that. MIMI (sad smile) Yeah... I guess I gotta' keep on trying. KENJI (rolls eyes) This is what I get for trying to be profound. EXT. OUTSIDE BAR The biker from before lies unconscious on the ground. In the haze of a streetlamp two silhouettes can be seen; one is obviously Ayako, the other is a tall, voluptuous woman. AYAKO This time I won't fail. 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!" ------------------------------------------------------------------