Kaerimichi #2 - Script The second story to Mitsuru Adachi's Kaerimichi (The Way Back). This one's not about ghosts, but does have a paranormal theme whereby the protagonist -- a young boy -- travels back in time, to 1959. A social statement on the loss of childhood in the Japanese society today, perhaps? p1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAZUHIRO - NARRATION Night-class didn't begin until four that day. // I left home in the afternoon, got onto the train, and only after the door had closed did I remember this. // I really felt like returning home. // But since I'd got more than the usual allowance from mom for doing well in last month's tests, I thought I'd drop by the shopping mall instead. p2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- (KAZUHIRO FALLS ASLEEP IN THE TRAIN. HE WAKES UP AND ALIGHTS) p3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- (TRAIN GOES OFF. KAZUHIRO SUDDENLY FINDS HIMSELF AT AN OLD STATION) p4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIGN Ticketing Gate p5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWSPAPER Showa 34 (1959) 27 October // NEWSPAPER (XCU) Showa 34 // KAZUHIRO - NARRATION I didn't panic. // Though this was the first time something like this had happened to me, such situations were common on TV and in comics. Of course, I realise this was what they call going back in time. // And in the end, the hero always manages to get back to his world. // That's why I didn't panic. (WALKS RIGHT INTO THE POLE) p6 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was only worried if I could still make it for the four o'clock class. // KAZUHIRO Other than stationery... The telephone card and wallet... p7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- YAMA You're not local, are you? Where you're from? // KAZUHIRO From a far away place. (Narration) These kids...they look so grown-up! // YAMA Wanna play baseball with us? // KAZUHIRO - NARRATION Baseball? That!? // (Narration) I need to put on my uniform, my gear before I can play. Ah! No thanks. // Sorry! // (Narration) I knew then that my phonecard was of no use. p8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- BAKER (right hand) Milk (left hand) Uemuru Bread // BANK NOTE 1000 yen // COIN 500 yen, Showa 59 // 10 yen, Showa 61 // (XCU) Showa 61 p9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- YAMA Ah, the kid from just now -- p10 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAZUHIRO - NARRATION Besides, there's nothing else for me to do. YAMA Hey! Don't be lazy! KAZUHIRO - NARRATION It's not because I wanted to make friends... // What's more... YAMA That'll do, Take! Now go get some taro. KAZUHIRO - NARRATION It's not because I get to have taro after tidying up... (stomach growls) p11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAZUHIRO He went back home to get taro? YAMA Idiot! Of course he's getting it from the field! // KAZUHIRO Ah! Take's family are farmers? YAMA They're fishmongers. // KAZUHIRO Ah.... // (Narration) I better not ask anymore... // TAKE YAMA! The taro's are here! p12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAZUHIRO - NARRATION He's not going to eat the stones as well, is he...? YAMA Kazuhiro, catch! // KAZUHIRO Hot! Hot! // TAKE Keep it in your pocket. It'll keep you warm. p13 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAZUHIRO - NARRATION Besides, there's nothing else for me to do. // Ah! Ah! Danger! p14 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- YAMA Here goes! // KAZUHIRO AHH!!! // .... p15 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- KIDS Yama! // YAMA Yo!! // KIDS Brrrr....it's cold..! // KAZUHIRO When I dig my hand into my pocket, the stone's just comfortably warm. p16 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOY I heard they're going to build a huge factory here. // And over that empty lot, they're going to build a shopping mall. My dad says it's even going to have a playground on its roof! p17 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- YAMA The man with the picture-story show, has he come? (NB: Yama refers to the man as 'ossan', uncouthed abbr for 'uncle') // BOYS Not yet. YAMA That so? He was already here this time yesterday. // KAZUHIRO What time does he normally come? YAMA Not sure. Usually around now. p18 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- (KAZUHIRO FINDS HIMSELF ALONG THE CORRIDORS OF THE NIGHT-SCHOOL. BELL CHIMES FOR CLASS) p19 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAZUHIRO - NARRATION What's left in my pocket is but a cold piece of stone. -- END --