CAPSCR Nobuhiro
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NOBUHIRO written by Aidan Cole [email protected] 636-459-5118 FADE IN: INT. ROOM - NIGHT Black. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) It was a time of the Sengoku. “A Country at War.” Tsuki no Shizuku (Traditional Japanese music) plays. A CANDLE is lit. ANIMATED images of Japanese paintings flow across the screen, depicting the 1467 Ōnin War. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) The collapse of the feudal military government of Japan, The Ashikaga Shogunate. A painting of the Shugunate, feudal lords, getting killed. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) Various samurai warlords and their clans fought for control in the power vacuum. Swords CLASH, men YELL, horses GALLOP. A painting of samurai armies battling. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) In their struggle for power, a group of anarchists called the Ikkō- ikki, made themselves known. A painting of the Ikkō-ikki, dirty and poor peasant farmers, executing samurai, women, children and burning their villages. Women and children SCREAM. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) Loyal to no one, they fight without conscious or mercy. Without honor. Wishing to destroy the samurai. No clan welcomes them. Not even mine. Paintings show the present. A painting of The Oda Clan family crest: a Black and Golden Flower. The petals rotate. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) The Oda Clan. Below the family crest is the Oda Family, their samurai army behind them. SHUGO HIDÉ sits with his wife and kids. 2. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) My father, the Shugo, protector of the Owari Province. He trains me and my three siblings in preparation for the war we will inherit. It’s “us against them” my father says. The final painting is a sunrise with a cherry blossom tree on a small hill, outside the Nagoya Village. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) I dream of an end to our war. But before I can unite our country, I must unite my family. The painting BECOMES REALITY. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. OWARI PROVINCE, NAGOYA VILLAGE - SUNRISE SUPER: Japan, 1550 CHILDREN run up the hill, LAUGHING. NOBUHIRO (V.O.) I hope I’m not too late. The Oda children have wooden katanas. NOBUHIRO (18) runs ahead. NAGA (16) chases him. OICHI (14), kind but stern, holds MASU’S (8) hand. OICHI Naga, wait for us! NAGA Halt, Ikko scum! Nobuhiro raises a peach. NOBUHIRO Come and get it, “Master Kygo.” Naga charges. They playfully fight under the tree. Naga spins, hitting Nobuhiro’s hand and LAUNCHING the peach into the tree. It lands on a branch. The brothers exchange a look. They continue fighting. 3. OICHI Guard me while I go get it. MASU Okay. She climbs. Masu holds his little katana, acting tough. Nobuhiro pushes Naga down the hill. NOBUHIRO Yield or die brother! NAGA Hiro look! NOBUHIRO Really? You think I’ll fall for that? NAGA No really. Oichi! Naga runs past Nobuhiro. He turns. Oichi has the peach. NOBUHIRO Oichi! I had it first! Masu points his katana at his brothers. MASU Stop you thieves! Naga and Nobuhiro exchange a smile. Nobuhiro passes Masu and climbs. Naga tackles Masu. NOBUHIRO Oichi, you know I had it first! She chuckles and climbs higher. Nobuhiro follows. She holds the peach high and opens her mouth. NOBUHIRO Oichi no! No... don’t you dare! Naga sees her. NAGA Oichi don’t! She takes a bite. Naga gets on his knees. 4. NAGA (dramatic) NOOOOOO! Masu copies him. NOBUHIRO Okay, you had your fun. Give me a bite. OICHI Sorry, I promised Masu a bite first. Masu, you want it? Masu runs under Oichi. Masu catches the peach and takes a few bites. NOBUHIRO What? That’s not fair! Naga takes the peach from him. NAGA Alright my turn, little rat. MASU (chewing) I’m not a rat! Give it back! Naga holds Masu back. Nobuhiro climbs to Oichi. NOBUHIRO See what you started? Nobuhiro pushes her and she falls. Nobuhiro grabs her foot at the last second. She hangs from the tree in a nervous panic. OICHI Nobuhiro! Nobuhiro pull me up! Nobuhiro smiles. NOBUHIRO Say you’re sorry. OICHI What?! NOBUHIRO Say you’re sorry or I drop you. Naga and Masu, entertained, are still eating the peach. 5. NAGA (chewing) Yeah, Oichi, apologize. OICHI Shut up Naga! MASU NAGA Give me the peach! It’s my (swallows) turn. Look, either you apologize or I TRY to catch you, and I don’t want to drop the peach. OICHI Alright! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Nobuhiro smiles maniacally. NOBUHIRO Naga, CATCH! Naga’s eyes widen. Nobuhiro drops her. NAGA Shit! Naga drops the peach and catches her. Nobuhiro climbs down. Oichi punches him. OICHI You could’ve killed me! NOBUHIRO Ow, stop! I knew he would catch you! Oichi stomps away. Masu punches Nobuhiro in the crotch. MASU You’re mean! Nobuhiro falls. Masu follows Oichi. Naga meets Nobuhiro with the dirty peach. A pause. NAGA Here, I don’t want it anymore. Nobuhiro stands, annoyed. He takes a bite. NOBUHIRO Mmm... worth it. 6. A distant bell RINGS. NOBUHIRO We’re late for training! The two brothers run down the hill. EXT. NAGOYA CASTLE, TRAINING YARD - DAY A large area within the castle walls. Filled with wooden dummies, targets for archery, platforms for practicing balance, surround Master MASAHÍDE (40s). His hair in a bun, black cloak with red lining on his sleeves, barefoot. Full beard. Loves his students but trains them hard. Naga, Nobuhiro and Oichi in the free space arena, Masu on the wooden platforms. Naga and Nobuhiro bare foot and blindfolded. Oichi sits and watches. She hopes Naga wins. The children’s father, ODA NOBUHÍDE (46) or SHUGO HIDÉ, watches from the castle, expecting the best from his children. He’s tall and strong. Paranoid for the safety of his family and village. MASAHÍDE Nobuhiro and Naga. Step forward. He gives them their katanas. MASAHÍDE You know what to do. They go to opposite sides of the arena and bow to each other. MASAHÍDE Begin. They raise their katanas, slithering toward each other, listening for the slightest sounds. MASAHÍDE Legend says the most powerful samurai can charge into a battlefield of smoke and still know where his enemy stands! Naga throws a rock to trick Nobuhiro. He doesn’t flinch. 7. MASAHÍDE The most resourceful samurai will let the wind tell him where the next strike will be. Masu does a handstand on a tall wooden pole, switching from one hand to the other. Masahíde looks at Masu. MASAHÍDE ...and the most honorable samurai, will maintain inner peace throughout the entire battle. A bird lands on Masu’s foot. MASU (to the bird) Hello. MASAHÍDE Nagamasu! MASU Yes Master! Sorry Master! He whistles at the bird. The bird flies away. Masahíde squints. The two boys are a few feet apart. They hear each other’s breathing. Naga’s breath is faster. Oichi holds hers. Everything is still. Masahíde tosses a small rock between the boys. Masu falls off the pole and the boys start fighting. Masahíde runs to comfort Masu. MASAHÍDE In battle you will be distracted on all sides with meaningless noise. Keep your balance no matter what’s around you. MASU Yes master. Masahíde smiles and dusts him off. MASAHÍDE What did you say to that bird? 8. MASU Just to go away. Masahíde smiles. MASAHÍDE (to himself) He’s still young. (to Masu) Try again. Masu climbs the pole. Naga swings his katana. Nobuhiro dodges and hits Naga in the leg. He falls. Naga rolls in retreat. Masahíde approaches Oichi. MASAHÍDE Run straight through them without getting hit. She gives a concerned look. MASAHÍDE On the battlefield the enemy will block your path. You must find a way through. You’re welcome to join the fight if you wish, but again, don’t get hit. She smiles manically at Nobuhiro. OICHI Yes, Master. She sprints to her brothers. NOBUHIRO Oichi, stay out of this! NAGA Oichi, is that you?! MASAHÍDE Stay focused, boys! The battlefield is full of other enemies. Remain focused but be aware of your surroundings. Oichi jumps off Nobuhiro’s back and reaches the other side. She turns and runs back, confusing the boys. 9. NOBUHIRO Stop Oichi! Naga hits Nobuhiro’s arm. NAGA I can hear you. Nobuhiro’s anger grows. Oichi punches Nobuhiro. OICHI That’s for pushing me off the tree. NOBUHIRO Well, if you weren’t so scared maybe father would finally give you a REAL katana. Oichi kicks Nobuhiro to the ground. Naga hears him fall. NAGA Master, do I win? MASAHÍDE Not until one of you yields. Nobuhiro stands. NOBUHIRO I’ll never yield! I am a samurai! They have Shugo’s attention. Nobuhiro widens his stance, ready. Nobuhiro catches her arm and twists it. He punches her in the face and stomach, throwing her out of the arena. She cries in pain. NAGA Oichi! You alright? She doesn’t answer. NOBUNAGA MASAHÍDE Master?! Keep fighting! NAGA Nobuhiro, I’ll make you pay, wherever you are. Naga, enraged, sprints to Nobuhiro. He stops suddenly and Nobuhiro swings, missing. Naga LAUNCHES himself at Nobuhiro. He punches him, HARD. Nobuhiro, in his rage, kicks Naga off. 10. Nobuhiro strikes down, next to Naga’s head, missing again. Naga hears where Nobuhiro’s katana hit the ground. He grabs it. NAGA There you are. Naga pulls Nobuhiro’s katana to him and jump kicks his throat. Nobuhiro releases his katana and falls, coughing. Naga strikes Nobuhiro with two katanas. NOBUHIRO I yield! MASAHÍDE Yamete! (Stop!) He stops. Nobuhiro removes his blindfold and kicks Naga in the face. He falls. NOBUHIRO That hurt! MASAHÍDE Nobuhiro! Yamete! Masahíde rushes to Nobuhiro.