Visits and Revelations by David Bateson Script interpretation by David Eddy. The characters of Ranma 1/2 are the property of Takahashi Rumiko and her licencees. ================================================================ Part 2: Mrs Saotome at the Nekohanten. Ranko Tells Some of the Truth! [Open with the obligatory slow pan of Nerima. It is late morning and the weather is clear and sunny. People can be seen going about their business.] [Zoom in on a park. We see Nodoka and Ranma (as a female) sitting on a park bench, taking in the beauty of the abundant growth of spring. A few other people can be seen enjoying the park but none are nearby.] Ranma-chan: It's beautiful, ne? Nodoka: Hai, Ranko-chan, it is. This is my favorite time of year. The weather is pleasant and the park seems so vibrant in its spring clothes under the warm sun. So much nicer than in winter, when the trees are bare and everything is hidden under a blanket of whiteness. Ranma: It *is* very nice. But I think winter has its own charms... The uninterrupted form of the branches etched against the sky... Nodoka: [smiles] You're very poetic, Ranko-chan. [she looks around again] I think the park is best in spring, when it's dressed in flowers and light. Like girls, Ranko-chan, who are at their best in feminine clothes and summer sunshine. [Ranma looks at Nodoka, a little miffed.] Ranma: I'll wear what I like, thank you. Nodoka: [looks innocent] I didn't mention anything about girls who wear boys' clothes and hide their beauty like the winter snow hides the beauty of the park. [smiles] [Ranma looks embarrassed and angry.] Ranma: Please *don't* mention it. [Nodoka laughs. Ranma eventually joins in.] [Fade to an exterior shot of the Nekohanten. We see onna Ranma and Nodoka standing outside. Ranma leads Nodoka inside.] [Cut to an interior shot. The restaurant is open for business, and many of the tables are occupied. Shampoo is waiting tables and looks up as the door opens to see Ranma and Nodoka enter. She leaps over to them.] Shampoo: Welcome to the Nekohanten! [she bows to Nodoka] Delighted to meet mother-in-law at last! [grabs Ranma by the wrist and drags her off] Come this way! Your table is over here. [Cologne meets them at the table with a tray bearing three bowls of soup.] Cologne: [serving the soup] Please sit down. I'll bring the rest over later. Ranma: [looking around at the busy restaurant] Business looks good, old lady. Isn't it hard to manage all by yourself? Cologne: You are welcome to help if you wish, "Ranko". Shampoo has to talk with Nodoka. [Ranma opens her mouth to say something, but Nodoka beats her to it.] Nodoka: Ranko-chan will be delighted to help. Ranko: I should be at the table. Mousse can always help out. Shampoo: [shaking her head] Mousse is not here. Mousse was threatening to be noisy, so I had to cool him down. Cologne: Don't worry about him. He'll be fine in a day or two. Nodoka-san, Ranko would be very useful right now. Nodoka: [looks confused] Ranko would be delighted to help. Cologne: Thank you. [Grabs onna Ranma and throws her into the kitchen.] Please have a good time. [She grabs Ranma's bowl of soup and hops off.] [Bangs and crashes echo out of the kitchen. Ranma-chan's voice can be heard shouting _You old bat!_ and _I'll get you!_ Nodoka eyes the kitchen door uncertainly.] Shampoo: [leaning forward over the table] Is anything wrong with the soup, Mother-in-law? Nodoka: [starts and looks at Shampoo] I'm sorry for not eating. I'm a little distracted at the moment. [Shampoo glances at the kitchen with a smile.] Shampoo: Don't worry. Great-grandmother *likes* Ranko. She only fights with her to teach new techniques. Ranko refuses to be Great-grandmother's pupil so this is the only way. It happens all the time, nobody gets hurt. Great-grandmother and Ranko are far too skilled for accidents. [Nodoka looks unconvinced but starts on her soup.] [The noise from the kitchen comes to a halt. Shortly afterwards Ranma, who is now wearing one of Shampoo's outfits, comes out with a load of bowls and an angry expression. Shampoo waves at Ranma, then turns to Nodoka.] Shampoo: Told you everything would turn out alright. [Nodoka smiles and nods.] Nodoka: And what do you think of her style? Shampoo: [grins] She's a natural waitress! [Ranma, who is passing close enough to hear what they are saying, looks daggers at Shampoo. Shampoo smiles and waves at Ranma who stalks off to the kitchen.] [A few moments later Ranma returns from the kitchen carrying Nodoka and Shampoo's next course. As Ranma places the dishes on the table, Nodoka stops her with a hand on her arm.] Nodoka: You look very nice in that outfit, Ranko-chan. [Ranma slumps a bit and sighs.] Ranma: Please, *don't* mention it. [Nodoka smiles at onna Ranma. Shampoo stifles laughter.] Nodoka: [as Ranma walks away] I'll get her into a pretty dress yet. [Shampoo loses control and starts laughing aloud. Nodoka looks confused.] [They eat in silence for a little while. Finally Nodoka eyes Shampoo curiously.] Nodoka: Tell me, Shampoo, how did you meet Ranma? Shampoo: He came to village with his father one day. It was the day of the village's annual martial arts competition. Shampoo won the competition and become tribe champion. Great honor. The prize was a feast. Ranma and his father had been eating Shampoo's prize. Shampoo challenged Ranma. Ranma defeated Shampoo with a single blow. [she sighs happily] So strong! Nodoka: So why does that make him your husband? Shampoo: Joketsuzoku have laws about outsiders. If any of the village warriors is ever defeated by an outsider, the law is strict. If the outsider is woman, she must die. If she gets away, the defeated one must chase he until one or the other dies. If the outsider is a man, he becomes her husband. Nodoka: What if the warrior is male? [Shampoo frowns in confusion.] Shampoo: All village warriors are female. Nodoka: Really? Why is that? Shampoo: [shrugs] Village women are stronger; they make the best warriors. Always been that way. [Nodoka looks a little confused at this.] Nodoka: What if the outsider doesn't want to marry the warrior? Shampoo: Never happen. To marry a Joketsuzoku warrior is a great honor. All Joketsuzoku women are beautiful. What man would not want to marry? [Nodoka eyes Cologne, who is currently behind the counter perched on her stick, thoughtfully.] Nodoka: But Ranma has at least two other iinazuke. What about them? Shampoo: Ranma has a duty by clan law. He *must* marry me. The other girls are weak; they don't count. Nodoka: I don't think that a tribal custom that Ranma doesn't support is a basis for a sound marriage. Perhaps you would be better off seeking another man to defeat you? Shampoo: [vehemently] Clan law must take precedence! Ranma is Shampoo's by right! He will come to realize that sooner or later! He cannot avoid it! [Nodoka looks a little taken aback and leans away from her.] Shampoo: [continuing, in a normal voice] Besides... Maybe there is another outsider who could defeat me but... Will he be of the right age? Will they have Ranma's honor, kindness, and loyalty? [Her voice becomes wistful; images of Ranma appear behind Shampoo] Would another man have Ranma's smile... or his laugh... or his courage? [almost pleading] How could another take Ranma's place? [Shampoo slumps in her chair and looks at the floor for a second then looks up, straight at Nodoka, with tears at the edge of her eyes. Cut to a tight shot of just the two of them.] Shampoo: Shampoo love Ranma. [she sits up straight and she continues in a merciless voice] ...And Shampoo will fight for him as long as can. [Nodoka smiles enigmatically.] Nodoka: Love and devotion are the best things to build a marriage on. [Shampoo focusses on Nodoka and brightens.] [Zoom out to show that everyone else in the restaurant is staring at her. They have obviously been listening. Shampoo blushes. Ranma-chan is standing a short distance away with a very troubled expression.] ============================================================ C O M M E R C I A L B R E A K ============================================================ [Fade in to an interior shot of the Nekohanten. Ranma, Nodoka, Cologne, and Shampoo are standing at the entrance saying goodbye. Ranma is still wearing Shampoo's waitress outfit.] [We see Nodoka lean forward and kiss Shampoo on the cheek.] Nodoka: Thank you, dear. Ranma is lucky that you love him. [Ranma-chan looks somewhat upset at this.] Ranma: [murmuring to herself] That's one way of looking at it. [Shampoo smiles wickedly at Ranma.] Shampoo: "Ranko", please tell Tendo Kasumi-san, Shampoo will bring dinner around tonight. Nodoka: That really isn't necessary, Shampoo. Shampoo: Please, mother-in-law, Shampoo often do this. Shampoo likes to take food to Tendo house; Ranma likes Shampoo's cooking very much. [Ranma edges behind Nodoka at this, her mouth clamped shut. Shampoo smiles wickedly at Ranma again before opening the door and bowing.] Shampoo: Thank you for coming. Please come again. [Fade to a shot of Nodoka and onna Ranma walking along a path along the edge of a park. They are taking their time. Nodoka looks alert and interested, admiring the scenery in the park again; Ranma looks despondent.] Nodoka: Shampoo is a beautiful girl, isn't she Ranko? And so full of vitality. [Pause. After a long moment Nodoka turns away from the park to look at Ranma and sees her long face. She stops and turns to Ranma, stooping slightly so her eyes are level with Ranma's.] Nodoka: [concerned] What's wrong, Ranko? [Ranma avoids Nodoka's eyes by looking at the ground. Nodoka waits patiently for "Ranko" to reply. Finally, unable to bear the pressure of Nodoka's gaze any longer, Ranma replies.] Ranma: [still looking at the ground] Why did you tell *both* Ukyou and Shampoo that Ranma was lucky they loved him? [Nodoka smiles gently.] Nodoka: Because he is. [she sighs] But the girls are *unlucky* that they have such competition. [She pauses a moment, reaching out to pat onna Ranma on the shoulder.] Nodoka: Don't worry about about Ranma's iinazuke, Ranko. Ranma will decide which of them he loves and then, well, things will go as things do when two people are in love. [She smiles.] I'm looking forward to hearing what Ranma-chan has to say about each girl. Ranma: [quietly] You won't get the chance, O...Obasan. Ranma's training trip won't end until after you leave. Nodoka: [still smiling] I can extend my stay, Ranko. Ranma: [looks up angrily, her fists clenched] It doesn't matter! They'll just extend the "training trip"! [Nodoka's face freezes as the full implication of what Ranma is saying hits home. The wind blows gently and cherry blossoms float by as Nodoka and Ranma-chan stare at each other. Eventually Nodoka speaks.] Nodoka: My husband and my son... you say they are hiding from me? [Ranma, trembling and on the verge of tears, just nods.] [Nodoka looks away, staring at nothing in particular, the line of her body expressing shock and disappointment.] Nodoka: [very disappointed] Ranma... Ranma: [miserable] I'm sorry... [Nodoka looks back at Ranma, surprise overlaying the sadness on her face.] Nodoka: Thank you, Ranko-chan. [comfortingly] But it's alright. It's not your fault. [Cherry blossoms blow past on the gentle breeze. Onna Ranma looks utterly miserable. After a few moments she looks down at the ground again. Nodoka looks up into the sky, looking at nothing in particular. They stand like this for a long moment.] Nodoka: [whispering] Why? [Ranko blinks and looks at Nodoka.] Ranma-chan: [nervously] Ah... Why what? [Nodoka looks down from the sky and focuses on Ranma, who trembles visibly under Nodoka's regard.] Nodoka: Why tell me about Ranma now? Why not earlier? Why tell me at all? [Ranma stares at her feet again, and speaks in a voice thick with emotion.] Ranma: I... I told you now because... because I couldn't bring myself to keep lying to you. I didn't say anything the first time you came because fa... your husband insisted that it was a matter of life and death, that we... they, Ranma and Genma, would die if you knew they were present. At first we went along to humour Genma. But when you explained the promise, everyone realised that I.. Ranma didn't, couldn't meet its terms. And nobody at the dojo wanted m-Ranma to have to commit seppuku. [Nodoka looks away from Ranma into the park, staring at nothing in particular (again).] Nodoka: [quietly] Has Dearest really failed that badly? His letters... they were so full of hope and pride until... until they stopped. [She pauses briefly, then continues in a stronger voice.] Akane-chan, Ukyou-chan, Shampoo-chan... they all love Ranma in their own way. Surely Ranma can't be a failure! Surely not! [Ranma, still looking utterly miserable, gazes at Nodoka. Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, and her lips form the word, "Mother". More cherry blossoms blow past.] [Then Ranma draws herself up and fear then determination cross her face. A tear spills unnoticed and traces a path down one cheek.] Ranma: [in a firm, slightly nervous voice] Nodoka-san! [Nodoka blinks and turns to face Ranko again.] Ranma: [swallows nervously] Nodoka-san, Ranma's problem is... is that... I'm-- Nodoka: [shouts] No! [Ranma jumps nervously and stares at her mother. Nodoka kneels in front of onna Ranma and smiles at her, then traces the path of the tear that ran down Ranma's cheek with one hand. She kisses Ranma on the other cheek, holding Ranma's head to her lips with the hand already on her face..] Nodoka: You've told me enough, Ranko-chan. I must give Dearest and Ranma a chance to find their own courage. I thank you for your honesty, friendship, and truthfulness, but I don't want you to betray your friends. [Ranma looks at Nodoka, then tries to continue.] Ranma: But... Nodoka: No more, Ranko-chan. Please. [Ranma holds Nodoka's gaze for a long moment, her expression despairing. Ranma's eyes swim with unshed tears.] Ranma: But I'll have to keep lying to you! [Ranma spins away from Nodoka's hand against her cheek and runs, leaping to a nearby rooftop and vanishing into the distance. We see a brief sparkle between Ranma and Nodoka as Ranma spins away. Nodoka stares after Ranma for a while, her hand still outstretched. She pulls her hand close to her chest and looks into it.] [Cut to a closeup of Nodoka's hand. There are tears in it, sparkling in the sunlight.] [Fade to a close exterior shot of the Tendo dojo. It is somewhat later. Akane is standing over a pile of smashed cinder blocks. She is angry. Around her are piles of the remains of cinder blocks, mute testimony to her state of mind.] [Akane takes more blocks from a large pile by the fence, setting up a challenging stack. She pauses, setting herself. Suddenly she whips into an elbow strike.] FX: Smash! [The cinder blocks have been shattered and now lie in a pile at Akane's feet.] Nodoka: Nicely done, Akane-chan. You are very skillful. [Akane spins around, her eyes big in surprise. Cut to a long two-shot of Nodoka and Akane.] Akane: Obasama! I didn't hear you approach. [she blinks, _poit_] Is it that late already? I must have lost track of time. [Nodoka looks downcast.] Nodoka: It's only three o'clock, Akane-chan. I haven't been to the last girl yet. [quietly] I drove Ranko-chan away. I didn't know where to go except back here. [Akane stares at Nodoka for a moment, then her eyes narrow.] Akane: You drove Ranko away? What sort of silliness did she get up to this time?! [Nodoka looks at Akane with an unreadable expression on her face.] Nodoka: [very softly] Akane-chan, are Ranma and Dearest really hiding from me? [Akane freezes and stares at Nodoka.] Akane: I... I... what exactly do you mean, Obasama? [Nodoka looks Akane right in the eye. Akane takes a step back, and Nodoka sighs.] Nodoka: Ranko-chan said Dearest and Ranma are hiding from me because Ranma isn't man enough. She tried to tell me more and ran off when I wouldn't let her. [Akane swallows and looks at the floor.] Akane: R... Ranko said that? [Nodoka nods.] Nodoka: [sadly] She said she couldn't lie to me anymore. [Akane shifts nervously.] Akane: [big eyes] Really? Nodoka: [smiling sadly] Yes, she said that. She tried to tell me what Ranma's problem was... but she ran off when I refused to hear it from her. Dearest and Ranma will have to face me some time. I won't let anyone else give me news that will destroy our family. [Akane looks at Nodoka, then bows formally to her.] Akane: I understand, Saotome-sama. Please forgive us for keeping secrets from you. [Nodoka puts a hand on Akane's shoulder.] Nodoka: Do you think Ranma would have to commit seppuku if I knew what his problem was? [Akane goes red and looks at the floor. Nodoka waits for a few seconds but Akane only shifts nervously. She puts her hand under Akane's chin and lifts her head.] Nodoka: Akane-chan, yesterday you said you'd never marry Ranma. But... I don't know that you were serious. Would you marry Ranma even with his un-manly problem, whatever that might be? [Akane blushes even redder and looks wildly around. She notes that they are alone, then takes a breath and faces Nodoka.] Akane: I... I would. Ranma and I... we fight a lot... but he's the most important person in my life... even though he doesn't seem to care what I feel, most of the time. [Nodoka hugs Akane.] Nodoka: It's all right, Akane-chan. I understand. [Akane leans in against Nodoka, who hugs her tighter then pulls away a fraction.] Ah... Akane-chan. I know you won't want to, but could you please go to the girl I didn't make it to, Kunou Kodachi, and give her my apologies and invite her to dinner here? [Akane looks at Nodoka then ends the hug and steps away.] Akane: [firmly, with a small smile] I can handle it. After this talk, even "Black Rose" Kodachi doesn't scare me. [Akane turns and leaves. Nodoka watches her go, then wanders around the corner of the dojo over to the carp pond. She kneels by the pond and watches the water. From their shogi board on the porch, Soun and Genma-panda watch Nodoka.]