Open on long crane shot:  Tendo home and dojo.  Audio:
   environmental noises -- birds chirping, a jet passing overhead,
   bicycle bell, wind, traffic.  No human voices.  Dolly down to
   front of building, then around to garden and koi pond.  We see
   the shattered remains of the failed wedding of issue 38.  The
   Tendo and Saotome families, for the most part, are still in shock
   and dealing with it each in their own way:  Nodoka huddles with
   Genma, Soun sobs in the dining room, Nabiki is counting gift
   money, Kasumi is beginning to clean up, and Ranma and Akane are
   arguing.

   We can't hear what they're saying; all we hear are the
   environmental noises.  But it is a fast and furious argument,
   interspersed with quick reaction shots of the other family
   members, who are becoming increasingly agitated.  The argument
   grows in vehemence, to the point where it begins to crack even
   Kasumi's calm facade.

   The argument ends as an expression of rage, betrayal and fear
   flashes onto Akane's face and she slaps Ranma; the crack of flesh
   against flesh is the only sound from the argument that we hear,
   and it echoes like a gunshot.

   Closeup on Ranma as he struggles with his own feelings of anger
   and betrayal.  He spins on his heel and stalks to the far end of
   the yard, beyond the koi pond.

   Closeup on Akane as her face runs a gamut of emotions; then she
   turns and flees into the house.

   Closeup:  Alarm clock.  It reads 8 PM.  Pull back to reveal it is
   on the nightstand in Akane's room.  Akane is seated crosslegged
   in the middle of her bed.  She is crying.  Outside her window, it
   is dark.

   Music up.

                  AKANE
      Many times I've tried to tell you
      Many times I've cried alone
      Always I'm surprised how well you
      Cut my feelings to the bone

   She gets up and steps to the window.  Looking down, she sees
   Ranma lit in stark relief by the light from the house. He is
   sitting in zazen on the boulder by the koi pond, brooding.

                  AKANE
      Don't want to leave you really
      I've invested too much time
      To give you up that easy
      To the doubts that complicate your mind

   Kuno bursts into Akane's room and tries to embrace Akane; he is
   reciting something to her, but as before, we cannot hear what is
   being said.

                  AKANE
      We Belong to the light
      We Belong to the thunder

   Akane absently swats Kuno out her window, then leans back against
   the wall to its side.  She closes her eyes and hugs herself.

                  AKANE
      We Belong to the sound of the words
      We've both fallen under
      Whatever we deny or embrace
      For worse or for better
      We Belong, We Belong
      We Belong together


   Cut to over-the-shoulder shot of Akane in the darkened garden
   looking in on the family as they eat a late dinner.  Ranma seems
   to have recovered from their argument and is fighting with his father
   over morsels.  As the camera zooms into the open doorway, only
   Kasumi looks concerned that Akane isn't present, and after a
   glance upwards, leaves the table.  Camera pans from the doorway
   to Akane's face, which is still tear-streaked.

                  AKANE
      Maybe it's a sign of weakness
      When I don't know what to say
      Maybe I just wouldn't know
      What to do with my strength anyway

   Akane closes her eyes.  Dissolve to rapid flashback montage of
   arguments and fights.

                  AKANE
      Have we become a habit
      Do we distort the facts
      Now there's no looking forward
      Now there's no turning back

   Montage ends.  Kuno appears from behind the boulder near the pond
   and approaches Akane from the rear, his arms open as if to hug
   her.

                  AKANE
      When you say
      We Belong to the light
      We Belong to the thunder

   Akane spreads her arms wide and without knowing it knocks Kuno
   unconscious.

                  AKANE
      We Belong to the sound of the words
      We've both fallen under
      Whatever we deny or embrace
      For worse or for better
      We Belong, We Belong
      We Belong together


   Cut to interior darkened Tendo house, late at night.  Medium
   shot:  Akane at the door to the guest room.  Carefully and
   quietly, she pushes it open just a hair.  Inside, a thin wedge of
   moonlight illuminates Ranma, sprawled on his stomach on his
   futon.

   Closeup on Akane.  Love and desire war with fear in her eyes as
   she steps fully into the room.

                  AKANE
      Close your eyes and try to sleep now
      Close your eyes and try to dream
      Clear your mind and do your best
      To try and wash the palette clean

   Ranma rolls onto his back, and seemingly in his sleep...

                  RANMA
      We can't begin to know it
      How much we really care

   Closeup on Ranma as his eyes snap open.

   Cut to Akane, surprised and fearful.

   Cut back to Ranma, as he sits up and holds out his hand to her.

                  RANMA
      I hear your voice inside me
      I see your face everywhere

   Medium shot as Akane hesitates a moment, then drops to her knees
   and wraps her arms around him.  Ranma's arms are around her in a
   flash.  Camera pans in closeup around the two as they sing, and
   we see tears in the eyes of both.

             RANMA AND AKANE
      Still you say
      We Belong to the light
      We Belong to the thunder
      We Belong to the sound of the words
      We've both fallen under
      Whatever we deny or embrace
      For worse or for better
      We Belong, We Belong
      We Belong together


   As the vocals fade away, the camera pulls back to show the two in
   a deep embrace that leads to their first real kiss.  And as they
   kiss, the camera pans up and off them to reveal the despondent
   face of Kuno pressed against the window.

   FADE OUT


      "WE BELONG"
      A RANMA 1/2 SONGFIC

      by Robert M. Schroeck

      Staged around the song "We Belong", by Pat Benatar
      From her album "Tropico".
      Written by D. Navarro & R. Lowen Time
      Copyright 1984 by Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc.

      Ranma 1/2 characters trademark and copyright Rumiko Takahashi
      and her licensees and syndicators.

      All rights revert to their original owners.

      Dedicated to my wife Peggy on the occasion of our 8th wedding
      anniversary, 6/23/98.
   

This page was created on July 10, 1998.
Last modified March 12, 2011.