FADE IN:
INT. JAPANESE COURTROOM -- DAY (FEUDAL ERA)
LORD MATSUMOTO, 40's, sits in his throne looking at the man
in front of him. Behind him a clan crest hangs behind him.
He is about to decide the fate of the man in front of him.
He leans back.
MATSUMOTO
Step forward!
TAKEDA, 30's, takes several steps toward the throne, his
head bowed in respect. His walk is calm and graceful. He
kneels down on both knees, bowing his head down.
MATSUMOTO (CONT'D)
Takeda, you have dishonored me. You
have dishonored me greatly.
Tekeda lifts his head up, but still on his knees.
MATSUMOTO (CONT'D)
Without honor, how can I put my trust
into you. I ask myself this question,
Takeda, and I come up with no answers.
For the dishonor you have brought to
your Daimyo and court, you are for
this moment forth banished.
Two guards approach Tekeda's side. The guards seem cautious
of what Takeda could do.
MATSUMOTO (CONT'D)
You may only return once you have
regained your honor and your Daimyo's
trust. Now leave my sight.
Tekeda turns with the guards at his sides. A tiny smirk on
his face. The guards still prepare for him to attack.
EXT. TAKEDA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Takeda approaches his house to gather his belongings. As he
nears the front door, out steps a young woman. It is Otsu,
his love.
She has Takeda's belongings on her back and is dressed as if
she were going on a long journey.
TAKEDA
Otsu.
A relieved look on Otsu's face to see him return.
OTSU
Takeda. You have returned. I prayed
that you would.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.
Takeda and Otsu kiss. Takeda brushes the hair in front of
Otsu's face.
TAKEDA
It went as we had hoped. No longer
am a killer for some old man that I
care not about. No longer will I
possess these nightmares that keep
me awake all night.
OTSU
We can start over. Like we always
dreamed. This is our chance, Takeda.
Let us take it.
Takeda removes the large bag off of Otsu's back and puts it
on his back.
TAKEDA
Come Otsu. We must leave now.
EXT. SNOWY FIELD -- NIGHT
The snow falls on a small make-shift tent. Through its thin
walls we can see the glow of a warm fire. The sound singing
can be heard emanating from inside as well.
INT. TENT -- NIGHT
Takeda sits on the ground, singing his heart out. He is
swinging a bottle of SAKE around in a drunken manner. Otsu
is in a similar state.
It's been a week since Takeda has been banished.
From outside we hear a voice calling.
KORADAKO
Takeda!
Takeda and Otsu share a look. Takeda grabs his sword, while
not letting go of the sake.
KORADAKO (CONT'D)
Takeda! I know your in there! I
have tracked you for 7 days. Tonight
is the night I return home with your
head. Come out coward.
EXT. SNOWY FIELD -- CONTINUOUS
Takeda emerges from the tent, a bottle of sake in one hand,
and his sword in his other.
He looks back at Otsu. He drops the sake on the ground and
grips the sword with both hands.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.
Takeda takes a few steps towards Koradako. His calm stride
and gracefulness is still present, even while drunk.
Before him stands Koradako, 20's, an assassin from his old
clan.
Otsu watches from the tent. She is clearly afraid for the
drunken Takeda.
The snow is falling and all is quite in the forest surrounding
the field.
Koradako can see Takeda is drunk. He doesn't care though.
KORADAKO
You have much to drink tonight,
Takeda. You think that will save
you? I'm afraid not. Matsumoto
wishes I kill you, Takeda. That is
what I plan on doing.
Takeda seems startled by the word Matsumoto.
TAKEDA
Why does Matsumoto command this? He
has banished me, and I have left.
There is no more business between
us. Let me live in peace.
Koradako laughs.
KORADAKO
Matsumoto doesn't trust you. You
will never live in peace. In a way,
you are fortunate I end it tonight
for you.
Koradako charges Takeda. Takeda deflects his attack with
ease. It's obvious Takeda is one not to be taken lately.
Even being drunk, he deflects the attack.
TAKEDA
Leave now while you still have legs
to walk with.
Koradako attacks again. Their sword clash. Both men are
highly skilled and fight gracefully. Takeda is more
defensive.
KORADAKO
I have killed many men Takeda. Many
far more skilled than you.
Koradako swings hard. Takeda dodges it but his feet slip.
Takeda falls to ground.
OTSU (O.S.)
No...
INT. JAPANESE COURTROOM -- DAY (FEUDAL ERA)
LORD MATSUMOTO, 40's, sits in his throne looking at the man
in front of him. Behind him a clan crest hangs behind him.
He is about to decide the fate of the man in front of him.
He leans back.
MATSUMOTO
Step forward!
TAKEDA, 30's, takes several steps toward the throne, his
head bowed in respect. His walk is calm and graceful. He
kneels down on both knees, bowing his head down.
MATSUMOTO (CONT'D)
Takeda, you have dishonored me. You
have dishonored me greatly.
Tekeda lifts his head up, but still on his knees.
MATSUMOTO (CONT'D)
Without honor, how can I put my trust
into you. I ask myself this question,
Takeda, and I come up with no answers.
For the dishonor you have brought to
your Daimyo and court, you are for
this moment forth banished.
Two guards approach Tekeda's side. The guards seem cautious
of what Takeda could do.
MATSUMOTO (CONT'D)
You may only return once you have
regained your honor and your Daimyo's
trust. Now leave my sight.
Tekeda turns with the guards at his sides. A tiny smirk on
his face. The guards still prepare for him to attack.
EXT. TAKEDA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Takeda approaches his house to gather his belongings. As he
nears the front door, out steps a young woman. It is Otsu,
his love.
She has Takeda's belongings on her back and is dressed as if
she were going on a long journey.
TAKEDA
Otsu.
A relieved look on Otsu's face to see him return.
OTSU
Takeda. You have returned. I prayed
that you would.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.
Takeda and Otsu kiss. Takeda brushes the hair in front of
Otsu's face.
TAKEDA
It went as we had hoped. No longer
am a killer for some old man that I
care not about. No longer will I
possess these nightmares that keep
me awake all night.
OTSU
We can start over. Like we always
dreamed. This is our chance, Takeda.
Let us take it.
Takeda removes the large bag off of Otsu's back and puts it
on his back.
TAKEDA
Come Otsu. We must leave now.
EXT. SNOWY FIELD -- NIGHT
The snow falls on a small make-shift tent. Through its thin
walls we can see the glow of a warm fire. The sound singing
can be heard emanating from inside as well.
INT. TENT -- NIGHT
Takeda sits on the ground, singing his heart out. He is
swinging a bottle of SAKE around in a drunken manner. Otsu
is in a similar state.
It's been a week since Takeda has been banished.
From outside we hear a voice calling.
KORADAKO
Takeda!
Takeda and Otsu share a look. Takeda grabs his sword, while
not letting go of the sake.
KORADAKO (CONT'D)
Takeda! I know your in there! I
have tracked you for 7 days. Tonight
is the night I return home with your
head. Come out coward.
EXT. SNOWY FIELD -- CONTINUOUS
Takeda emerges from the tent, a bottle of sake in one hand,
and his sword in his other.
He looks back at Otsu. He drops the sake on the ground and
grips the sword with both hands.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.
Takeda takes a few steps towards Koradako. His calm stride
and gracefulness is still present, even while drunk.
Before him stands Koradako, 20's, an assassin from his old
clan.
Otsu watches from the tent. She is clearly afraid for the
drunken Takeda.
The snow is falling and all is quite in the forest surrounding
the field.
Koradako can see Takeda is drunk. He doesn't care though.
KORADAKO
You have much to drink tonight,
Takeda. You think that will save
you? I'm afraid not. Matsumoto
wishes I kill you, Takeda. That is
what I plan on doing.
Takeda seems startled by the word Matsumoto.
TAKEDA
Why does Matsumoto command this? He
has banished me, and I have left.
There is no more business between
us. Let me live in peace.
Koradako laughs.
KORADAKO
Matsumoto doesn't trust you. You
will never live in peace. In a way,
you are fortunate I end it tonight
for you.
Koradako charges Takeda. Takeda deflects his attack with
ease. It's obvious Takeda is one not to be taken lately.
Even being drunk, he deflects the attack.
TAKEDA
Leave now while you still have legs
to walk with.
Koradako attacks again. Their sword clash. Both men are
highly skilled and fight gracefully. Takeda is more
defensive.
KORADAKO
I have killed many men Takeda. Many
far more skilled than you.
Koradako swings hard. Takeda dodges it but his feet slip.
Takeda falls to ground.
OTSU (O.S.)
No...
