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.
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