A SAMURAI'S TALE TITLE CARD: A SAMURAI'S TALE SFX: A powerful motorcycle engine revs... then stops. SFX: A woman's high heels CLICK rapidly. FADE IN: EXT. DARK ALLEY - CENTRAL TOKYO PREFECTURE - NIGHT SARA, an attractive young woman, runs into view, the brief glimpse we get of her face reveals she's terrified. And with good reason. A huge MAN appears at the far end of the alley. He lumbers after her, his footsteps thumping, his distorted shadow and long coat make him look even bigger. His name is KEMONO and he is a killer. One of Sara's goddamn heels snaps and she falls against the wall, just barely stopping herself from taking a dive. She staggers on, off-balance. She looks back over her shoulder again and Kemono is only ten steps away from her. He wears a grinning horned demon mask. Or is it a mask? He stops, they face each other. KEMONO You should know that your bodyguards died shamefully. I cut off their hands so they could not commit seppuku. They wriggled and moaned as their life's blood leaked out. SARA The only thing I know is that they willingly died to protect me. They will be reborn as warriors. Kemono chuckles, a sound like grating gravel. KEMONO Warriors with no hands. Kemono reaches inside his coat and draws a katana, a deadly samurai sword, its slightly curved blade gleams with the threat of death. KEMONO Your turn to die. Sara raises her chin proudly. It is the end and she knows it, but she will never beg this dog for her life. Something drops down between them from above, a shape, it crouches low, absorbing kinetic energy, and then it slowly straightens. It is a man, tall and slim and wearing a long coat. His long, spiked blond hair falls over his eyes. His name is KISHI. Sara frowns with uncertainly because she does not know who this is. Another killer, perhaps. Here to fight over who gets to eviscerate her. Kishi turns his head slightly to look at her and jerks his chin, telling her to begone. Sara reacts as if she has been insulted! How dare a stranger give her orders! And with an impertinent jerk of his chin, no less! Her stupid pride stops her from fleeing. KEMONO Well, well, well, who have we here? Another bodyguard? Better than the last pair, I hope! Kishi just stands there, his head bowed, arms by his sides. KEMONO The silent type, eh? Let's see if I can make you talk. Kemono swings his sword so fast it almost can't be caught on camera, surely Kishi must be decapitated by the cut! But Kishi has drawn his own sword and blocked Kemono's cut, a lightning-fast defense. CLANG! They both stand frozen, their swords locked. KEMONO You are a swordsman of some skill, I perceive. But can you stand against my typhoon? Kemono attacks with a series of 69 slashes, a blur of steel that's just too fast to follow, it's as if there are multiple swords zipping through the air, not just the one. And Kishi blocks every cut, so their clashing swords create a DEAFENING CACOPHONY that echoes off the alley walls. Sara claps her hands over her ears, it's so loud. Abruptly the skirmish ends. There is silence, but filled with the promise of more violence to come. Kemono steps back, his sword raised in a defensive posture, ready for Kishi's counterattack. But Kishi just stands there, sword pointed at the ground. His head bowed, hair covering his eyes. KEMONO You are to be congratulated. No one has survived my typhoon before. But of course it was only a diversion, to distract you from the death stroke. Kishi's head comes up. If we could see his eyes, they would express puzzlement. He slowly turns his head to look back over his shoulder. We see it at the same time he does -- a knife hilt sticking in his back. The blade is deep inside him. Sara's eyes widen in realization. She claps her hand over her open mouth. Kemono's grin becomes even wider, as if his mask is alive. Or is a mask? Is it his true face? KEMONO While you were focused on deflecting my typhoon, I hypnotized your mistress into stabbing you with her tanto. Kishi tries to reach the knife hilt so he can pull it out, but he cannot. He slowly sinks down onto his knees. His numb fingers open and he drops his sword, it hits the ground with a sad CLANG. KEMONO A technique I was taught by an old ninja who I believe was part demon. When I finally cut his head off, a blue flame burned for days. And his head kept screaming! He just wouldn't shut up. Sara lunges forward and picks up Kishi's sword. She grips it with both hands and points it at Kemono. She moves her feet further apart, adopting a fighting stance. KEMONO Ah, a new challenger. I almost admire your courage, lady. But you only postpone the inevitable by moments. SARA You talk too much, dog fvcker. Kemono's eyes narrow, he didn't like that. KEMONO When they find your body, they will admire the perfect symmetry of your two halves. SARA No. When they find your body, they will wonder what happened to your balls. Kemono pauses to consider this odd thought. He glances down, perhaps having some strange premonition that something is not quite right. He looks up at Sara, his mask twisted by surprise. A thick droplet of blood drips from the tip of Sara's sword. Kemono's gaze follows the droplet as it falls to the ground, where it SPLATS. A hint of what is to come. Blood sprays from Kemono's crotch, it's as if a fire hydrant just got opened wide, except it's blood gushing out under high pressure, his blood. Gushing, on and on, for long seconds. Sara is drenched but doesn't even flinch, her gaze is steady as she watches Kemono slowly keel over like a chopped tree. Kemono lies on his back, gasping. Blood still pumps from his crotch, though the pressure is lower now. Soon his heart stops beating and the bleeding stops. His unseeing eyes stare up at the sky. Sara lowers her sword, and wipes her face with the back of her hand. SARA If you are reborn, then you will be reborn without your balls. They are mine now. KISHI (croaking voice) It was a masterful stroke. Sara whirls round, surprised Kishi is still alive. She crouches down beside him. SARA My father believed it was wise for women to learn the way of the blade. We practiced for hours every day. I am sorry I stabbed you. KISHI Dark magic directed your hand. It is not your fault. SARA I have to leave you, I must continue with my mission. It is my duty. I apologize for abandoning you, after you defended me. She stands up and half-turns to go... but pauses. SARA Why did you defend me? KISHI Perhaps I did not enjoy seeing a young woman menaced by a fiend. SARA Is that your answer? KISHI No. My answer is much less pleasant. You carry upon your person a message scroll intended for my master's eyes. Sara stares at him, as chill realization washes over her. KISHI Your father's invitation of alliance against the North Prefecture Yakuza must be refused. Other clans would form their own alliances and tensions would escalate quickly. We are not ready for that, not yet. It would spare my master much embarrassment if the scroll was not delivered. SARA Why did you not simply kill me and take the scroll? KISHI It must be returned to your father without my master ever seeing it, you understand? Spies in your father's house will report this. The situation will be defused. SARA And if I do not? KISHI Then none of us benefit and war is inevitable. Sara indicates the dead Kemono. SARA And him? KISHI A demon enforcer for the Lower East Prefecture Yakuza. He would have made certain my master bore the blame for your death. What better way to start a war? It's what the demons want. Kishi indicates the far end of the alley. KISHI You will find his motorcycle waiting. Avoid the underpasses. More like him wait in the dark. Sara thinks about it. She moves to Kemono's body and searches his coat pockets. Finds a set of keys. SARA Thank you for saving my life. KISHI No. You saved yourself, brave lady. Kishi dies, his duty done. Sad shamisen (Japanese 3-string lute) music plays as Sara reflects on this. She walks away, but stops to snap off her other shoe heel, so at least she can walk evenly. She continues on her way. She reaches the end of the alley, and is gone. SFX: A powerful motorcycle engine revs... then roars off into the night, to become lost in the distance. FADE OUT 10/2024
Scribbled for Halloween 2024 contest on the screenwritingforums.com message board.
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