A Few Questions (A Sailor Moon "American" Script)

by **Konaxookami** Mon May 07, 2012 10:14 pm

A project for my film class. The idea was to adapt something you loved as a child for a new audience or transfer cartoons to live action. So I picked Sailor Moon. I used the Japanese names (and only ONE honorific with Usagi...) but they live in America-probably somewhere on the West coast in a Californian city of some sort. I took some ideas from the manga and anime and then form some of the original concept stuff that was released. Most prominently I made Haruka and Michiru actors as a tribute to their ALMOST Takarazuka Revue roots. They still do their other hobbies-but the way they meet the Inners is actually at a school theater exchange program where a few schools came together to put on a show.

This is after the whole Hotaru thing in a bit of a lull-as if one of the episodes before the end of a season to set up the next season and tie up some strings. SO I wrote a few scenes with some Haruka angst nonsense. Also-some canon points are that Marine Cathedral is a thing that most definitely happened. Also-this is a script/screenplay so yeah, there's a lot of camera nonsense-but I got lazy towards the end, so you'll have to figure it out for yourself where I gave no direction. Just assume the camera is focusing on whoever is talking if it's not stated otherwise. yup. That's all I think...

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INT-CLASSROOM-DAYTIME
CAMERA PANS IN ON HARUKA WHO IS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CLASSROOM. CLOSE UP STARTS ON TENSE KNUCKLES UP TO HER FACE WHICH IS TROUBLED. A SHOT OF THE CLOCK SHOWS THE PERIOD CLOSE TO ENDING. THE SOUND OF THE PASSING SECONDS IS ALL THAT IS HEARD.
INT-MUSIC ROOM-SAME TIME
MICHIRU IS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY, A WORRIED EXPRESSION ON HER FACE AS SHE GLANCES UP AT THE CLOCK AND THEN OUT AT THE HALLWAY. SHOT RETURNS TO HARUKA’S PROFILE AS MICHIRU LEAVES THE DOORWAY AND THE BELL RINGS
[b/]HARUKA[/b]
AS SOON AS THE BELL RINGS SHE IS OUT OF HER SEAT, HER BAG SLUNG OVER HER BODY. SHE IS STIFF AS SHE STORMS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. CAMERA FOLLOW HER FROM BEHIND AND TO TH ESIDE, SWITCHING VIEWS TO SEE HER MOVING WITH INTENT AS SHE PASSES BY MICHIRU WITHOUT A GLANCE OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. CAMERA CUTS TO FOLLOW MICHIRU AS SHE CATCHES UP WITH HER AND TAKES HER HAND IN A CLOSE SHOT. HARUKA IS STARTLED OUT OF HER SILENCE.
SURPRISED/SHOCKED Michiru?
MICHIRU
CAMERA FOLLOWS THE TWO IN FRONT OF THEM WHILE THEY WALK.
COY SMILE AS SHE PRESSES CLOSE TO HARUKA IN THE DENSELY POPULATED HALLWAYS.
Hello stranger, fancy meeting you here. A PAUSE AND HARUKA GLANCES AWAY. Where are you going?
HARUKA
AVERTING THE QUESTION-Out. SHE GLANCES AWAY TOWARDS THE END OF THE HALLWAY
It’s my free period after all.
MICHIRU
NODS BUT PURSES LIPS
See there’s the problem though Haruka-SHE TUGS ON THE JOINED HANDS AND FORCES HARUKA TO STOP NEXT TO HER You spend your free periods with my in the music room. And today you just walked past me like I wasn’t even there. SHE FROWNS, EXPRESSION WORRIED Are you alright?
HARUKA
NODS JERKILY AND GLANCES AT THEIR JOINED HANDS.
I…I have something I’ve got to do right now is all.
MICHIRU
NODS
Without me. IT IS A STATEMENT RATHER THAN A QUESTION.
HARUKA
A GUILTY LOOK ON HER FACE-SHE AVERTS HER EYES ENTIRELY TO STARE AT THE THINNING SEA OF PEOPLE IN THE HALLWAYS CAMERA CUTS TO HER PROFILE.
I’m sorry.
MICHIRU
CAMERA BACK TO HAVING BOTH IN SHOT
A QUIET LAUGH AND SHE GENTLY SHOVES HARUKA’S SHOULDER.
Why are you apologizing? You are perfectly able to go do things off on your own Haruka. SHE SMILES, WITH A TOUCH OF SADNESS CAMERA SHOT ON HER FACE ONLY Just don’t go leaving me behind okay? I don’t think I could catch you if you started to run without warning me.
HARUKA
CAMERA CUTS TO HER FACE, WHICH IS GRIM, BUT WITH A SMALL SMILE.
I’ll keep that in mind Michiru. Just-ah…don’t wait up for me for dinner tonight? I might take a while. CAMERA CUTS OUT TO THE TWO OF THEM AGAIN. SHE PECKS A KISS ON MICHIRU’S FOREHEAD, GRASPING HER ARM IN A SHORT HUG. See you soon. SHE LETS GO OF MICHIRU’S HAND AND WALKS OFF OUT OF SHOT.
MICHIRU
CAMERA CUTS TO HER FACE AGAIN, HER SMILE SAD.
See you soon Haruka…
CAMERA CUTS TO WATCH HARUKA WALK OFF THROUGH THE HALL OF PEOPLE UNTIL THE BELL RINGS AND THE SCENE ENDS.

EXT.-BENCH IN A PARK-LATE DAY/AFTERNOON
WIDE SHOT OF MAMORU, WHO IS RELAXING ON THE BENCH, HIS LAPTOP OPEN ON HIS LAP. HE IS WORKING WITH A FOCUSED EXPRESSION AS THE CAMERA PANS IN ON HIM. HARUKA APPEARS WITHIN THE EDGE OF THE SHOT AND MAMORU LOOKS UP.
MAMORU
Tenoh? HE IS SURPRISED TO SEE HER
CAMERA CUTS TO HARUKA’S MID SHOT
HARUKA
A GRIN, ALMOST HUMORLESS.
Hey there Chiba. SHE MOTIONS TO BENCH. Mind if I sit?
MAMORU
CAMERA SWITCHES TO SHOW THEM BOTH AGAIN
FUMBLES TO MOVE OVER AND GESTURES TO OPEN SPOT.
Uh, sure Tenoh. WATCHES AS HARUKA SITS AND STARES AT HER. COUGHS. Why’re you here Tenoh?
HARUKA
CORRECTING-Haruka.
MAMORU
Huh?
HARUKA
Just call me Haruka, okay Chiba? SHE RUNS A HAND THROUGH HER HAIR. Since we…you know…SHE TRIES TO FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.
MAMORU
SAVES HER THE TROUBLE OF THINKING OF THE PROPER PHRASING.
Alright then. Haruka. Why are you here? I mean. You made it pretty clear to us that you weren’t interested in helping Sailor Moon…
HARUKA
HUNCHES OVER AND SHAKES HER HEAD.
I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here, okay? We’re not…damn it…FROWNS AND SHAKES HEAD AGAIN. We aren’t ready to fight with you just yet. Or I think it might just be me at this point.
MAMORU
LEANS FORWARD, CONFUSED.
I don’t understand, what do you mean? Compared to the Inners, you two have the most battle experience and skill. You would be a huge asset to the team, not to mention that Usako-
HARUKA
CUTS HIM OFF QUIETLY.
We can’t help them just yet. Not the way we are. A LONG PAUSE. CAMERA SIDESHOT ON HER FACE PANING OUTWARD OT THE PARK. The Inners and the Outers. We’re different, you know? The Inner’s stop threats that are internal and bred inside our Solar System. But us…we stop the things that try to come in. It’s not personal when we get rid of an enemy. They aren’t like us, you know? Different beings…different species. It’s our job to destroy things like that. So when we had to deal with…with…
MAMORU
SUPPLYING
With Hotaru?
HARUKA
NODS
With Hotaru, someone who was from the inside…It was different, because even though it was our duty to destroy the outside forces working on her-we couldn’t kill her. We weren’t allowed to kill her. Sailor Moon stopped us. It wasn’t way we worked. Not back then, or now. So when your methods worked and ours only got us killed and trounced...I decided I couldn’t fight with you. Michiru agreed with me, for whatever reason.
MAMORU
GENTLY
She cares for you. She understands. I do to, to an extent. There was a time I would do anything to learn who I really was, even endanger the Inners and Usako. HE SHAKES HIS HEAD But that’s in the past now. Like all of this is for you. I can tell you that it would mean a lot to Usako if you helped them out. Really.
HARUKA
SHAKES HEAD.
I’m not ready yet. Soon though. Once I can come to terms with myself over all of this, I’ll be able to serve my Princess in any way she needs. That much I know. I worry sometimes that Michiru might leave me behind for the Inners though. A FROWN AND SHE KNOTS HER HAND IN HER HAIR. And I knows it’s stupid and all but she just deserves so much better than me. I just…I have no conviction and every time I do I just seem to screw it all up and Michiru ends up being the one getting hurt the worst.
A BRIEF SERIES OF FLASHES OF THE MARINE CATHEDRAL AND MICHIRU GETTING KILLED ARE ADDED AND HARUKA BURIES HER HEAD IN HER ARMS.
MAMORU
Haruka…RESTS A HAND ON HER SHOULDER If you’re worried about that…you should talk to her. Michiru probably wants to understand you more than anything right now, and if there’s one thing that hurts any relationship…it’s miscommunications. Trust me.
HARUKA
DARK CHUCKLE
I’m sure I’d just screw it up, but still-SITS UP-Thank you Mamoru. I needed this. I mean-you understand it right? SHE STANDS AND MAMORU NODS. Thanks. Just…don’t go mentioning any of this to the Inners okay? The last thing I need is five middle schooler’s crowding my apartment asking to let me talk to them about feelings.
MAMORU
CHUCKLES
I’ll keep that in mind. Just-talk to Michiru okay? She’s scared you might run away for good. A PAUSE. Sometimes I think I think you might too.
HARUKA
BRISTLES AND OPENS HER MOUTH TO RETORT BUT STOPS SHORT
We were offered roles in some workshop. In New York. For Broadway. SHE KICKS THE GROUND if we accept-I mean-if we do it…will you keep them safe? The Inners? They’re…they’re good girls.
MAMORU
STANDS AND NODS
Sure. I won’t tell Usako about the New York thing either-until you’re sure.
HARUKA
NOTICES A PERSON APPROACHING IN THE DISTANCE AND NODS
Right. Thanks. By the way-your girlfriend is here. SMIRKS AND TROTS OFF-CAMERA WATCHING HER AS SHE LEAVES.
CAMERA FOCUSES ON MAMORU THEN AS HE WATCHES HER GO. USAGI SUDDENLY JUMPS INTO SHOT AND KNOCKS MAMORU OFF BALANCE
USAGI
Mamo-chan! SNUGGLES CLOSER Didja miss me? Mmm? Mmm?
MAMORU
SURPRISED BUT STILL VERY HAPPY TO SEE HER-HUGS HER TO HIS SIDE
Of course!
USAGI
LOOKS OFF WHERE HARUKA HAD WALKED OFF.
Was that Haruka-san?
MAMORU
Ah. Yeah. She needed some advice. A SMIRK AND PAUSE. You aren’t getting jealous now are you?
USAGI SPUTTERS AND STARTS TO HIT MAMORU BUT THE AUDIO FADES OUT AS HE LOOKS OFF IN THE WAY HARUKA WENT.

EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL
HARUKA IS LEANING AGAINST THE SCHOOL’S SIGN, WATCHING THE CLOCK ABOVE THE ENTRANCE. THE CLOCK TICKS TO 5:00 PM AND SHE GETS OFF OF THE SIGN AND WALKS UP TO THE STEPS AND WAITS. MICHIRU EXITS THE SCHOOL, VIOLIN AND SCHOOL WORK IN HAND. CAMERA CUTS TO HER SURPRISED FACE.
MICHIRU
BLINKS-STUNNED INTO SILENCE
You said you wouldn't be back for dinner.
THIS IS LITERALLY THE ONLY THOUGHT THAT CAN RATIONALIZE IN HER HEAD
CAMERA CUTS TO BEHIND MICHIRU’S SHOULDER TO SEE HARUKA AS SHE CHUCKLES AND WALKS UP TO MEET HER ON THE STEPS.
HARUKA
SMIRKS
I see you’re surprised. SHE TAKES MICHIRU’S SCHOOL BAG. I didn't think I'd be finished but I did so...I figured that variety’s the spice with surprises and all-so for dinner maybe we could just go to a café tonight or something? SHUFFLES ON HER FEET. Is that…okay?
MICHIRU
SILENT FOR A LONG MOMENT BUT THEN SMILES, NODDING
That sounds lovely. LEANS UP AND PECKS A KISS ON HARUKA’S CHEEK. What brought this on?
HARUKA
SHRUGS
I thought maybe it was about time I carried my weight in this relationship. I’ve been so selfish recently I felt like it might be time to spoil you a bit more. TAKES MICHIRU’S HAND AND TUGS HER TOWARDS HER BIKE OUTSIDE THE GATE.
MICHIRU
GIGGLES AND STRAPS HER VIOLIN CASE TO THE SEAT IN FRONT OF HER. TAKES THE HELMET HARUKA OFFERS.
Well, I certainly won’t complain. We’ll see how long this lasts.
WHEN HARUKA SETTLES IN FRONT OF HER SHE PUTS HER HELMET ON AND SITS, WRAPPING HER ARMS AROUND HER.
Is it because of the show offer?
HARUKA
SHAKES HEAD
No. Well. Not really. I just wanna give all of this a shot. The whole domestic thing before we go off and have to save the world or dominate the stage or something. PUTS HELMET ON. We’ll just be a couple of girls in love for a while.
MICHIRU LAUGHS AND HARUKA REVS THE BIKE AND THE SHOT CUTS TO WATCH THEM RIDE OFF.
END SCENES 5,6,7