The Mole: Anime Edition

Episode Two

Akito Tenkawa- Pilot/Cook: "Nadesico"
Akito Hayama- Student: "Child’s Toy"
Naru Narusegawa- Student: "Love Hina"
Ruri Hoshino- Navigator: "Nadesico"
Sakura Kinomoto- Student/Shoujo Heroine: "Cardcaptor Sakura"
Sana Kurata- Child Actress: "Child’s Toy"
Satoshi Sekai- Animal Trainer: "Pocket Monsters"
Taichi Yagami- Student: "Digimon"
Tenchi Masaki- Apprentice Shrinesman: "Tenchi Muyo"
Tomoyo Daidouji- Student: "Cardcaptor Sakura"
 

Day Four
(Barb appears on a beach in Monte Carlo.)

Barb: Naru Narusegawa became the Mole’s first victim last time. Nobody really cared, since "Love Hina" ain’t that big yet. But just in case there are some fans out there, let's get all mopey about her getting voted off… er, executed.

(Shot of Tomoyo in front of a black background.)
Tomoyo: It’s a shame she’s gone. I really liked her, she wanted to have fun, she didn’t let this game get in the way of making friends with everybody. Naru was cool.

(Shot of Sana in the black background.)
Sana: Naru was the only person who sided with me on staying in Paris. Therefore, she was the only person who I didn’t suspect as being the Mole. I don’t know where to start thinking now!

(Shot of Satoshi in the black background.)
Satoshi: No offense, but this is a tough game, and although Naru was great, you can’t grieve over her absence. There’s too much to watch out for, and if we let our guard down worrying about Naru, the Mole can take every penny away from us.
 

(The whole group is seated around a dinner table.)
Akito: I mean, to do well in that quiz, you pretty much have to be lucky as well as smart. We all have our suspicions, but it’s impossible to narrow it down to one person.

Sakura: It doesn’t matter too much who’s done suspicious stuff. I mean, I don’t think I’ve done anything really suspicious, who here has ruled me out as a possibility?

(The others look around nervously. Nobody raises their hands. After a couple seconds, Tomoyo quickly pops her hand up.)
Sakura: Hoe… thanks Tomoyo.

Tenchi: Well you’re right, anybody could still be the Mole. No matter what the situation is, we can not trust anybody on this team. Even inside our shows. Akito can’t trust Ruri, Sana can’t trust Hayama…

Sana: I don’t trust him anyway!!

Tenchi: And no Tomoyo- you can not trust Sakura.

Taichi: Certainly a downer, but it’s the truth. It could still be anybody.

(Taichi now appears in front of the black screen.)
Taichi: It’s tough to get used to, especially for me. I go through this massive adventure which required trust and faith in everybody on the team, and now I’m in something where you can’t take your eyes off of anybody for a second. It’ll take some getting used to.
 

(View from a video camera of the table, with a record button at the upper right and "Tomoyo Cam" labeled at the bottom.)
Tomoyo: (OS) Here’s all my friends in the group.

(The camera turns to each character as Tomoyo names them.)

Tomoyo: Here’s Ruri, and Akito, and there’s Taichi, and Satoshi.

(Satoshi has a half-smile and is shaking his head. Turn to Sana, holding a peace sign at the camera.)

Tomoyo: Sana-chan, Akito number two, Tenchi… and here’s Sakura-chan.

(Sakura has a sweatdrop, and is nervously waving.)
Sakura: Hoe...
 

(Night shots of the hotel, and everybody sleeping.)
Barb: (VO) After the first three days, it’s been quite a successful trip, thus far, with $115,000 added to the pot. The nine are eager to add more to it, but the next assignment will be quite a doozy. To set this up, we had to hire some "special operatives" for this task. With none available, we settled for the next best alternative…

(Night-vision shot of Tenchi Muyo’s Kiyone and Mihoshi, in uniform, holding guns, sneaking into the hotel.)
Kiyone: (quiet, but demanding) Alright Mihoshi! You remember the assignment!

Mihoshi: Kidnap Tenchi?

Kiyone: No! (brief pause) Kidnap Taichi! (more mellow) Although I suppose it doesn’t make a difference.

Mihoshi: So we can kidnap Tenchi instead?

Kiyone: No, they said Taichi, so we’d better make it Taichi. Come on!

(They sneak across the hotel grounds, as seen through night-vision, and enter a floor of rooms.)

Kiyone: Now, which one did they say was Taichi’s?

Mihoshi: I think it was this one!

(Mihoshi uses a skeleton key and opens a room. Through night-vision, it’s actually Akito’s, who is wearing only boxers, standing in panic. Behind him, a film projector is showing an episode of his favorite anime, Gekiganger 3.)

Akito: (shocked) Ahh!! Who the hell are…!!

Mihoshi: Sorry! Wrong room!

(Mihoshi shuts the door, then turns to Kiyone, who is visibly angry.)

Mihoshi: You know, he looked pretty good with no shirt on!

Kiyone: Come on!

(They reach Taichi’s room, open it, and barge in.)

Kiyone: Freeze dirtbag!! This is the Galaxy Police!

Taichi: Dirtbag?

Kiyone: Get dressed, you’re coming with us!

[Montage of Taichi being blindfolded and led out into a van by Kiyone, with Mihoshi travels along. They approach the van.]

Mihoshi: I call shotgun!!

[Another montage as Kiyone drives Mihoshi and Taichi along a highway.]
Taichi: (a tad muffled) Uh, guys, I have to go to the bathroom!

Mihoshi: Should’ve thought of that before you were kidnapped!

(They continue driving)
 

Day Five
(At breakfast, all but Taichi and Akito are seated, eating quietly.)

Tomoyo: Sakura, did you hear anything last night?

Hayama: You heard it too?

Tomoyo: Yeah, sounded like someone was making a huge fuss in the halls.

(Akito arrives, hearing the last statement.)

Akito: The halls? Heck, some crazy women barged into my room at like 2:00 AM last night!

Tenchi: You’re kidding me? What did she look like?

Akito: Brownish skin, blond hair, had a blue police uniform... I think.

Tenchi: Sounds like a friend of mine.

Tomoyo: Did she say anything?

Akito: Only that she had the wrong room.

(Tenchi stands up)

Tenchi: Oh my God, it was Mihoshi!!

Sakura: Hey, is somebody missing here?

Satoshi: Where’s Tai?

(Manny walks in on cue)

Manny: He’s gone, kidnapped by the Galaxy Police. Your task is quite simple… find him. Barb was able to persue the captors to Monaco, but they lost her. We’ll be flying there immediately to attempt to get him back.

Sakura: What is this, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"

Manny: Time is of the essence, for we believe that Taichi is under some very uncomfortable circumstances.

(Shot of a small castle room, unnecessarily candlelit despite a window providing plenty of light. Kiyone is shackling Taichi’s legs, while Mihoshi has an iron mask, and is preparing to put it on his head. There’s a slight problem, as his hair is too large for the mask to fit over.)

Mihoshi: Kiyone, we’ve got a little problem here.
 

Assignment Three
(Monaco. Shot of Barb, leisurely sipping tea at a restaurant, as the other nine arrive, very frantic and urgent.)

Barb: Okay, poor Taichi’s been arrested by the Galaxy Police, and is being held here until they can send him off to HQ. We received this video from the GP.

(Shot of Taichi, chained up, wearing an extra large iron mask. Even so, holes have been specially cut to allow his hair to escape.)

Taichi: Guys, I think this is some sort of challenge, so listen up- they drove me for like forty-five minutes, we got on a boat, and now I think I’m in some sort of castle. I know, because Mihoshi won’t shut up about this place.

Mihoshi: Look, there’s a cannon on the roof!

(Barb turns off the video, slightly annoyed.)

Barb: Ruri?

Ruri: Baka?

Barb: Thank you. You will have two hours to find and rescue Taichi. To do that, you will have to divide into three groups. Three people will be on a boat, which you will have to operate on your own. Two will be in a helicopter, piloted by Manny.

Manny: Don’t worry, I got my piloting license at…

Barb: (bored) Readington Community College, we know. Finally, three will go in a van. We obtained the services of Rei Sagami, Sana’s driver, manager… (smiling a bit) and former pimp…

(Sana smiles and winks at Barb.)

Barb: …to drive the van. You will also get one free thirty-second phone call to Taichi.

[They make the call, but they don’t really get much additional information, since Mihoshi already blabbed about the cannon.]

Barb: Okay. You all get walkie-talkies to talk to each other, and the van team gets a cell phone to call me when they think they know the location, or Taichi. Every call to Taichi, though, will cost an extra $5,000. Rescue him in two hours, and get $50,000. If you are ready, the two hours begin… now!

[Montage of the group determining who will do what. Eventually, Satoshi and Sana are seen heading for Manny in the helicopter.]
Barb: (VO) After dividing the team up, Sana and Satoshi are on the helicopter team.

(Tenchi is seen driving the boat, while Akito holds up binoculars and Sakura looks through a couple pamphlets on the floor of the boat.)
Barb: (VO) Akito, Sakura, and Tenchi are on the boat team…

(Hayama, Ruri, and Tomoyo get into the van. Rei Sagami, the tall, dark-haired, handsome manager from Child’s Toy is in the driver’s seat, wearing sunglasses as usual. He smiles a bit when he sees Hayama.)
Rei: You two don’t actually trust Hayama, do you?

Ruri/Tomoyo: (plainly) No.

Rei: Good.

Tomoyo: Hey, look, maps.

(They rifle through maps of Monaco and surrounding area.)
 

(In the helicopter, Sana sees a pouch and pulls out a key, showing it to Satoshi.)
Sana: Look, I found a key!

Satoshi: Good… (to walkie-talkie) Boat team, have you found any…

Sana: (rapping) Sana-chan has found a key, now we’ll go and save Tai…

(Manny and Satoshi mercifully interrupt)

Manny/Satoshi: No rapping in the helicopter please.

(Sana sits down, as Manny and Satoshi are still staring at her.)

Sana: Look out!

(The copter dips out of control for a second, Manny quickly recovers.)
 

(On the boat, Akito is talking to Satoshi while Sakura rifles through the brochures.)
Akito: No clues, all we got are some binoculars.

(Sakura looks up.)

Sakura: Akito-san? That looks like a castle up there.

Akito: Yeah, we got a suspicious looking castle at one o’clock. Satoshi, can you see any cannons on the roof?

(From the helicopter, Satoshi looks at some cannonballs on the roof of the castle.)
Satoshi: No, but there are some cannonballs there.

Akito: (VO) Well, you know what they say… where there are balls…

Satoshi: There are Pokémon!!

(From the boat, Akito looks annoyed.)

Akito: Uh, no. We’ll dock over there and check it out. Floor it Tenchi!

Tenchi: Why aren’t you driving, you’re the pilot!

Akito: I’m a cook!

Tenchi: (annoyed) Yeah, yeah.
 

(The Van team has gotten the message, and is on the scene, with Hayama and Tomoyo looking at cannonballs.)

Tomoyo: We have cannonballs, but no cannons.

Hayama: Waste of good ammo. Call Barb, see if this is the spot.

(Barb is standing on the roof of a castle with a cannon on top, decked out in a lounge chair. Her phone rings.)

Barb: Bresnick.

Hayama: Hey, is Taichi in Castle… uh… the big ugly castle in Monaco?

Barb: Nope.

Hayama: (VO) Seriously?

Barb: Yep.

Hayama: (VO) Dammit.

Barb: Bingo.

(Back to Hayama, Tomoyo, and Ruri.)

Tomoyo: Why don’t we call Taichi to see if he hears the helicopter.

Ruri: It costs $5,000.

Tomoyo: It’s worth it, isn’t it?

(Shot of Kiyone, who has a phone in Taichi’s ear.)

Hayama: (VO) Taichi. Can you hear the helicopter?

Taichi: The what?

Hayama: (VO) Helicopter.

Taichi: Hey man, I can’t hear you, the helicopter’s too loud!

(Shot of Hayama, Ruri, and Tomoyo.)

Hayama: Get the helicopter to fly away.

[Shot of Manny flying the helicopter away from the castle.]

[Shot of Taichi and Kiyone.]

Hayama: (OS) Can you hear the…

Kiyone: (hanging up the phone) Alright Yagami, time’s up!

(She begins to walk away.)

Kiyone: Hey, I make a pretty good kidnapper! I have something to fall back on now!
 

(Shot of the van team, as Ruri and Tomoyo are running up the castle grounds.)

Barb: (VO) Despite the lack of confirmation, the Van Team continues to investigate the premises, with Ruri and Tomoyo going on foot and Hayama taking the van.

[Montage of Ruri and Tomoyo finishing up the investigation, and getting a call on the talkie.]

Tomoyo: Hello?

Satoshi: (VO) This is Satoshi, what we’re going to do is meet back where we started. You guys take the van and you can all drive us up to the castle.

Tomoyo: That’s going to be a problem. Hayama’s not here right now. He’s supposed to be, but he’s not.

Satoshi: (VO) We’ve got a problem too, Sana wants to land this, she’s feeling a bit sick.

Sana: (VO) I am not! I feel just fine, you tell them that I am just fine and…

Satoshi: (VO) Never mind.

(Ruri grabs the talkie)

Ruri: Another problem we’ve got is that we don’t know that this is the castle. We have to look at different locations too.

Satoshi: (VO) Right, right. Over and out.

Ruri: Sana’s sick, and we can’t find Hayama. That’s not good.

Tomoyo: Those two are really causing problems for us. Have you ever heard of that Child’s Toy show anyway?

Ruri: Yes.

Tomoyo: Something suspicious about that name.

(Shot of the copter.)

Satoshi: They lost Hayama, left him alone in the van.

Sana: Bad move.

Satoshi: Yeah. He very well could be the Mole.

Sana: Mole, my butt! Hayama driving around with my manager! I feel sorry for Rei-kun right now.

(Shot of Rei driving with Hayama in the front seat.)

Hayama: My how the tables have turned, huh Sagami? You work for me now.

(Rei looks apprehensive. Shot of the van as it makes a very dangerous U-turn, and heads back towards the girls.)

(On the boat, Tenchi turns to Akito.)

Tenchi: I’m getting tired, you take over. I don’t care if you are a cook, you should still be able to drive this thing.

(Tenchi and Akito switch places. Tenchi takes a look at the brochure Sakura has.)

Tenchi: What’s that?

Sakura: This was on the floor. It’s of some castle down in Canne… looks pretty nice.

Tenchi: Castle??!!

Akito: Canne??!!

(Shot of the boat as it does a very dangerous (and extremely impressive) turn, doing a couple 360s on the way, to the strains of the Nadesico theme song, "You Get To Burning.")

Tenchi: Are you sure you aren’t a pilot?
 

(In the helicopter, Satoshi is somewhat miffed, talking to Sana.)

Satoshi: So it’s in Canne now. How long did it take the boat guys to find that out?

Manny: (sarcastic) Oh, yeah, Ash, like you’re a genius at stuff like that.

Sana: Isn’t his name Satoshi?

Manny: Whatever.

[Everybody approaches a castle in Canne, and a castle nearby. Barb is on the roof, by the cannon.]

Satoshi: (to the talkie, VO) Hey, everybody, this is it!

Sana: Barb’s on the roof, I see her!

Satoshi: Yeah. Manny, let’s land this bird.

(Barb pulls out her phone as she sees the helicopter landing.)

Barb: Van team, listen up. You have to hook up with Boat team. There, the six of you, plus Rei if he’s still sane, can go to the island this castle’s on. Each vehicle has a key that will open one of three locks to free Taichi, so all members must be present. You have about fifteen minutes. Good luck.

(The helicopter lands, and Satoshi and Sana meet Barb on the roof. Satoshi immediately goes over to the edge, and sees the boat, with all six, headed towards the island.)

Satoshi: (excited) Alright! They’re coming!

Sana: I’ll go down and meet them.

Satoshi: (excited) Okay! Good! We might actually pull this off!

(Sana runs off, Satoshi glances at her, then back to the ledge. He looks up, looks back at where Sana ran to, then to Barb.)

Satoshi: (less excited) Did she just go the wrong way?

Barb: Don’t ask me, I’m just the host.

[The boat docks, as Satoshi calls for them, on the radio, waving his arms.)

Satoshi: Everybody get up here! You guys have to hustle, we don’t have much time left!

[The six from the boat run like crazy. Satoshi runs down to outside Taichi’s cell. Akito is the first to arrive, with the keys. Satoshi high-fives him. Sakura and Tomoyo are next.]

(Display map of the castle, and a very crudely drawn Sana (something like a five-year-old’s perception) on the roof, with the dock on the left, and the helipad on the right.)
Manny: (OS) As it turns out, Sana took the path to the helipad instead of to the dock.

[Outside Tai’s cell. Everybody but Sana is there. They are calling for Sana frantically. Barb has a watch.]

Barb: Ten seconds left.

(She counts down the seconds, to zero. Caption- "Mission Failed")

Sakura: Fifty thousand, lost. Aw...

Akito: How could she not hear us? This island isn’t that big.

Tenchi: I don’t care how big this island is; I feel like I want to vote her off of it right about now.

Akito: Satoshi, why’d you two separate? You didn’t even give her the radio.

Hayama: Five bucks says she started rapping on the way down.

Sakura: I’d rather have the fifty thousand.

(Five minutes later, Sana arrives, with Manny.)

Sana: Sorry, I didn’t realize the boat dock was (pointing) that way.

(Tenchi, Akito, and Satoshi face fault. Sana heads for the cell.)

Sana: Well, come on! Let’s…

Hayama: Too late.

(Sana throws her key to the ground.)

Sana: Shoot.

Satoshi: Well, if you wouldn’t have left the roof, we would have won.

Sana: What? You told me to leave the roof!

Satoshi: No I didn’t, you went off on your own!

Sana: You said I should! You thought it was a good idea.

[While Sana and Satoshi argue, and as Tenchi, Tomoyo, and Akito join the argument, Hayama silently walks over, picks up the keys (all thrown down in anger), and begins to unlock the cell door. As he does, Mihoshi is on the other side, brandishing a gun to Hayama’s head.]

Mihoshi: Stop in the name of the Galaxy…

(Hayama, still unemotional, delivers a karate chop to Mihoshi’s head, sending her to the ground.)

Taichi: Jeez, did you guys forget about me or something?

(Hayama continues to unlock Taichi.)
Sakura: (VO) It looks like we’ve got two different stories from Satoshi and Sana. I can’t tell exactly what happened, and who’s telling the truth.

Ruri: (VO) We’re all trying to sort this out in our heads, and it’s hard to tell whether either Satoshi and Sana were trying to sabotage the mission, or whether they’re both just complete idiots.

(Satoshi, Sana, Tenchi, Tomoyo, and Akito are still arguing.)
Tenchi: (VO) I said yesterday that we can’t trust anybody! Satoshi trusted Sana and we lost 50-thousand because of it. The problem is deciding whether it’s Sana’s fault for getting lost, or Satoshi’s fault for letting Sana get lost. Another problem is deciding if Sana or Satoshi caused that problem on purpose.

Sana: (VO) I guess I’m not so good at directions. But is that why everybody’s suddenly pointing a finger at me? Satoshi said I should run off, he let us get separated. It’s his fault! I think these guys need to get it through their monkey-sized skulls that sometimes people make mistakes on accident too. I can’t believe some people think I’m the Mole because of what happened.
 

Day Six
(Shot of a van, driving down a highway in France.)

Manny: Since the shops in Cannes are too freakin’ expensive, the group now travels to Crest (pronouced "cray"). After spending the night in another dingy castle, which France seems to be full of, the group is ready for their next assignment.

(Manny enters the living quarters, where the nine are now up and active.)

Manny: Okay, we’re now ready for your next assignments, and to do that, we need you to divide into three equal groups now. We need three leaders, three followers, and three people with good eyes.

(After some minor discussion, they split up into three groups.)

Manny: Okay, leaders and followers can go downstairs and await further instructions when I get back. Good Eyes? Come with me.

(Hayama, Ruri, and Tomoyo follow Manny upstairs. On the roof of the castle, Manny leads them to two watches.)

Assignment Four
Manny: Here’s how we play. There are two watches here. One is a real Cartier, one is a phony. The task is simple.

Hayama: That’s what you said about rescuing Tai.

Manny: And it should’ve been! By the way, why’s it all Van Team people here?

Tomoyo: We work so well together!

Ruri: Unless Hayama drives off on us.

Manny: Anyway, you can use whatever resources there are in the town, as long as the watches stay here. After two hours, decide which is the fake, and it will be destroyed. Guess correctly, and win $20,000. Guess wrong- and you just destroyed a watch worth twenty grand. You break it, you bought it. If you’re ready, the two hours begins now.

(The three go to work investigating the watch. Ruri is quite observant in noticing stuff, and Tomoyo seems to have a knowledge of watches, but nobody is absolutely sure.)

Hayama: Let’s go into town and get somebody who actually knows what they’re doing.

Tomoyo: Right. Write everything down and get some serial numbers.

[Shot of Tomoyo and Ruri struggling down a hill into town, stumbling a bit.]

Ruri: You think this is bad, wait until we have to go up.

(Hayama is walking down at an incredible speed, out of control. He doesn’t stumble one bit, and is perfectly calm.)

Hayama: I… can’t stop.

(Entering the town, Hayama, Ruri, and Tomoyo walk past Barb, checking her watch.)

Barb: Jeez… how long does it take to fall down a hill?

(Ruri, Hayama, and Tomoyo enter a jeweler’s shop. The jeweler at the counter says something in French.)

Tomoyo: Ruri, ask him if he can help us with the watches.

Ruri: How?

Tomoyo: Talk to him.

Ruri: Okay… (to jeweler) Can you help us?

Jeweler: Excusez-moi?

Ruri: Does anybody here speak English?

Tomoyo: Don’t you speak French?

Ruri: No.

(The three walk out of the shop. Barb is standing there watching, smiling.)
Tomoyo: I thought you spoke French, I thought you were a… multi-lingual prodigy.

Ruri: I can speak Martian.

Hayama: I don’t think that helps.

[Extended montage of them going from jeweler to jeweler, trying to find somebody that speaks English. They have little luck, and time is running down. Shot of them beginning to walk back.]

Tomoyo: Why don’t we try calling the company?

Hayama: Do they speak English?

Tomoyo: Only one way to find out.

Ruri: Better not, we only have thirty minutes.

(Barb walks by suddenly)

Barb: Correction Ruri, twenty-seven minutes.
(Barb continues off screen)

Tomoyo: I want to make sure! We can't just make a guess.

[Shot of Tomoyo calling through a pay phone. Unfortunately, nobody on the phone speaks English.]

[Shot of Hayama and Tomoyo hustling up the hill. Ruri’s slowing the group down. Caption of the timer, showing less than fifteen minutes left.]

Hayama: You coming Ruri?

Ruri: I may be a prodigy, but I’m not a track star. Uphill climbs are not my strong point.

Tomoyo: Ruri, we’re running out of time.

Ruri: I’m going as fast as I can.

(Another shot of them walking up the hill. This time, Hayama and Tomoyo are carrying Ruri up the hill. Ruri is visibly displeased.)

Ruri: Baka.

(They reach Manny, seated on top of the hill, with the watches.)

Manny: Well, what’s the call guys?

Hayama: Ruri’s heavier than she looks.

Ruri: It’s hard to say, but I think one of the jewelers said that (pointing to one watch) this watch had a phony serial number. I’m not sure.

Tomoyo: (pointing to other watch) But this watch had a sweeping second hand, and usually those are less expensive.

Hayama: (pointing to watch Tomoyo was pointing at) I say blow this one up.

Tomoyo: Hayama, you’d probably blow them both up given the chance.

Hayama: True.

Tomoyo: …but you’re probably right. Ruri?

Ruri: Sure.

Manny: Okay then. Let’s find out. To the minefield!

Tomoyo: Minefield?

(The watch is carefully placed in between numerous pieces of explosives, and a long cord stretches to where Tomoyo, Ruri, and Hayama are taking cover. Manny has a detonator.)

Ruri: Isn’t this a little much to destroy a watch?

Manny: What’s an anime show without giant explosions?

Tomoyo: Oh! Don't you see Ruri? We need things big and flashy. It's the only way to capture the true essence of action.

Manny: Right... if the explosion gives off a green aura, you have blown up the fake one. If it goes red, it’s a real watch, and the pot loses twenty grand. Ready?

Ruri: I guess so.

Manny: Cover your ears and don’t watch if you have epilepsy!!

(Manny pushes the detonator, starting a huge explosion. Fortunately, the flashy background glows green, therefore meaning they have destroyed the fake. Caption "Mission Accomplished." Tomoyo cheers.)

Hayama: Cool… can we blow up the other one now?

(Back at the base, the Good Eye team shares their success with the others.)
Sakura: Well, Tomoyo, what happened?

Tomoyo: We did it Sakura!

Hayama: While you guys were sitting on your asses, we just earned twenty grand.

[Cheers from most.]

Sana: Hayama… you actually helped get us money?

Tomoyo: I’m as surprised as you! He did very good. We all did!

Satoshi: Well, great job. Just hope the rest of us follow through.
 

Assignment Five
(The leaders and followers are being driven to a cornfield in the middle of nowhere.)

Manny: (VO) While Hayama, Ruri, and Madi… Tomoyo, get a well-deserved night off, the other six will be subjected to the next challenge.

(As the six exit the van, a caption appears, reading "Leaders- Satoshi, Taichi, Tenchi. Followers- Akito, Sakura, Sana." Manny gets out of the driver’s seat to explain the situation.)

Manny: Okay… you three are followers? Damn. Anyway… the first thing you need to do is partner up. We need one leader, and one follower in each pairing.

(They do so rather easily, although Satoshi whispers something in Taichi’s ear. Taichi laughs, and nods. They arrive at the entrance to a cornfield)

Manny: Followers- you will have to negotiate a cornfield maze, with only your eyes, and communication from your leader, who will have a bird’s eye view of the maze. You have three minutes to travel the course. Each group who does adds twenty thousand dollars to the pot. However, there is one catch. There will be two guards patrolling the maze. If you get tagged by one of them, you fail. Which two are going first?

(Tenchi and Akito step up. Manny smiles a bit.)

Manny: I see… that reminds me- I should first introduce the two guards who will be patrolling this maze. Ladies and gentlemen, especially the gentlemen, meet- Ryoko!

(Ryoko, the infamous space pirate from Tenchi Muyo steps out of the cornfield.)

Manny: …and Ryoko!

(Ryoko, the infamous space pilot from Nadeseco steps out of the cornfield, slyly.)

Ryoko (Muyo): (sweetly) Tenchi!

Ryoko (Nadesico): (sly) Tenkawa.

(Tenchi and Akito look somewhat ill, and move hands to back of necks simultaneously.)

Tenchi/Akito: (same unhappy tone) Ryoko.

Manny: Let’s get started, shall we!

(Shot of Akito fitted with all sorts of video equipment. Tenchi is lead to a post near the entrance, where Taichi and Satoshi are already seated. Tenchi puts on headphones, and looks to a monitor, showing an aerial view of the maze, and the two Ryokos, stationed near the exit.)

Akito: (VO) Tenchi seems to be very focused, and I really trust him as a partner. I can’t say whether or not he’s the Mole, but I have a hunch that even if he was, he wouldn’t lead me into the hands of those two nutcases guarding the maze. Even the Mole has to have some conscience.

Tenchi: Okay, Akito, good luck. You’re going to need it against Ryoko.

Akito: Which one?

Tenchi: Does it matter?

Manny: You have three minutes Akito. Go!

[Akito runs through the maze, with Tenchi giving some directions. Akito follows them very well, but the Ryokos still close in on him. Shot of Akito, trying to remain silent as Nadesico’s Ryoko walks by.]

Ryoko (Nadesico): Tenkawa? Tenkawa? Where the hell are you Akito?!

(Akito sneaks past her, and continues down the trail, being fed instructions very quickly by Tenchi. Tenchi’s Ryoko is pacing along, smiling, and sees Akito running on the other side of a corn "wall.")

Ryoko (Tenchi): Aw, nuts to this.

(She flies over the wall, sneaks behind Akito, and covers his eyes, still airborne.)

Ryoko (Tenchi): Guess who??

(The other Ryoko appears from behind them, angry.)

Ryoko (Nadesico): (angry) Hands off him!!

(Shot from the command post as the screen goes red, indicating defeat. Tenchi looks at Manny, confused.)

Tenchi: Ryoko just flew over the wall, she can’t do that.

Manny: I guess she just did.

(On the monitor, Tenchi’s Ryoko flies up to the aerial camera, and mugs for it.)

Ryoko: Hi Tenchi!

(Satoshi and Taichi are scared to death, Tenchi is just annoyed, Manny is a bit apprehensive, and looks up to the air, where Ryoko is in front of the camera.)

Manny: Okay, maybe I didn’t quite think this through. New plan!

(Manny pulls out a button and pushes it, and an off-white booth appears in front of Ryoko, sucking her in. It suddenly disappears.)

Manny: She’s not working out. Who’s the next group?

Satoshi: Me and Sakura.

Manny: Okay, let me think… Satoshi and Sakura. Who best defines both Pokémon and Cardcaptor Sakura. (realizes) Duh! Okay, the substitute guard will be… James!

(Manny pushes the button, the booth appears on the ground near Satoshi as Kojiro steps out, clad in Team Rocket regalia.)

Kojiro: It’s Kojiro.

Manny: Whatever. Get your bumbling bad-guy butt over to the exit to help Ryoko.

Kojiro: Rightyo!

Satoshi: (to headset) Okay Sakura, this should be a piece of cake!

(Sakura enters the course, as Satoshi continues to give fairly clear instructions. Before long, a miscommunication results in Sakura being face to face with Kojiro.)

Kojiro: I have you now!!

Satoshi: (VO) Run!

Sakura: (very scared) If you say so!

(Sakura runs directly at Kojiro, who spreads out to make the capture. However, as he attacks, Sakura twists the other way, barely escaping his grasp and getting out of reach. Kojiro is left in the dust.)

Kojiro: What the?

(Sakura looks back at Kojiro, a bit shocked that she escaped.)

Satoshi: (VO) See, I know who we’re dealing with. Good work, now…

(Sakura, still looking back, runs smack dab into Ryoko, and falls to the ground.)

Sakura: Hoe...

(Shot of Satoshi’s screen as it turns red. Satoshi looks up in dismay.)

Tenchi: Who are you dealing with now?

Satoshi: Shut up.

Manny: Okay, Ryoko number two is doing fine, but that was just gross incompetence on Kojiro’s part.

Taichi: I don’t mind!

Manny: Nope. Gotta replace him. Besides, we can get somebody for Sana to escape from. And I think that we should get somebody’s who’s spent eleven years chasing Sana Kurata, and since he has the same seiyuu as Ruri, it saves us money in that department. Naozumi?

(Naozumi Kamura, the azure-haired young bishounen from Child’s Toy, enters the scene.)

Naozumi: What’s my role for this?

Manny: All you gotta do is get in the maze, find Sana, and touch her.

Naozumi: No problem!

(Shot of Sana being fitted with the video equipment. It looks a bit shaky.)

Sana: This… is really uncomfortable.

(Shot of Taichi, by the monitor.)

Taichi: Sana, I was stuck in an iron mask for three hours yesterday, and you call that uncomfortable??

Sana: Yes!

(Sana barges into the maze, and is practically half-way through it before Taichi even begins giving directions. Taichi steps in at a couple intervals, and Sana listens a little bit there. Eventually though, Naozumi gets in front of Sana. Before Taichi says anything, Sana barges towards Naozumi.)

Sana: Don’t be offended by this Naozumi!!

(Sana pulls her mallet out of mallet space and conks Naozumi on the head before he can get a hand on her.)

Naozumi: (woozy) No problem Sana, do what you have to do.

(Naozumi goes down. Sana continues undeterred.)

Taichi: (VO) All right Sana!

(Sana continues, and eventually runs face to face with Ryoko, but she turns a corner. Ryoko takes a different route in the same direction to cut her off. Sana suddenly cuts back and flies down the corridor, but she stops in front of Ryoko’s path.)

Sana: (referring to Ryoko’s green hair) Catch me if you can greenie!

(Ryoko turns around and chases Sana. Aerial of the map. Naozumi is still down near the exit, but Sana and Ryoko are flying around the map, zig-zagging everywhere. Taichi’s watching, with no time to relay instructions.)

Manny: (OS) Thirty seconds left.

Taichi: (somewhat frantic) Sana! We’ve got thirty seconds, head for the exit. Go right!

(Ryoko’s getting tired, and Sana is gaining ground on her. Through her helmet-cam, she can see the exit. She makes one dramatic bound for it, but is stopped in mid-air by something. Pan over to show that Naozumi has a hand on her ankle (still suspended in mid-air). He’s smiling. Sana looks really annoyed, and turns towards Naozumi.)

Sana: Didn’t I hit you?

Naozumi: Like that’s going to stop me from getting to you Sana-chan.

(Sana suddenly falls to the ground. Taichi’s screen goes red. Caption- "Mission Failed")

Taichi: Man! We almost had it! I couldn’t get anything across to her!

(Shot of the leaders, disappointed, walking back.)

Sakura: (VO) It’s hard to say whether the Mole had a presence in this challenge. It was really hard to communicate in there, so any screw-ups could have been honest mistakes.

Taichi: (VO) I don’t know, it felt like Sana and I couldn’t communicate, it was a real problem. I don’t know if it was technical difficulties or what, but Sana was going it alone in there. And she almost made it too.
 

Day Seven
(The nine are now gathered around the dinner table. Manny and Barb are there too. Barb raises a glass.)

Barb: As you know, tonight will be the quiz on who the Mole is. Whoever scores the lowest is the Mole’s next victim. I think it’s best that we enjoy the last meal between all of you nine.

(Shot of Hayama taking the test. His listed question is: "What team was the Mole on to rescue Taichi?")
Hayama: (VO) Taichi told me that he heard the helicopter, but he was twenty miles away from it. Either his giant hair is hiding some giant ears, or he’s playing me for a fool.

(Shot of Ruri taking the test. Her listed question is: "Does the Mole have any dead parents?" Ruri is shown answering "yes.")
Ruri: (VO) The entire boat team had that brochure in front of them the whole time. Why didn’t anybody suspect that it was a clue? Sometimes I blame it on the deterioration of public schools. Other times, it’s just the people I’m working with.

(Shot of Akito taking the test.)
Akito: (VO) My question is why it had to be Taichi that was kidnapped. That woman could’ve taken me very easily if she wanted to, but she went with Taichi.

(Shot of Tomoyo, taking the test. Her question is "Has the Mole ever come into contact with either Mihoshi or Kiyone?" Tomoyo answers "no.")
Tomoyo: (VO) I have two suspects. Along with Sana, Ruri was really struggling up the hill. I’m not much stronger than she is, but why is she having all the problems?

(Shot of Tenchi taking the test.)
Tenchi: (VO) I still think it could be anybody, although Tomoyo, Sana, and Satoshi are leading the pack. Part of it depends on who’s side I believe between Sana and Satoshi. The only one who I’m not as suspicious about is Akito, but even he casts doubts sometimes.

(Shot of Akito taking the test.)
Akito: (VO) Sure we’re friends, but Tenchi could certainly be a Mole. He seems to be raising suspicions and pointing fingers really hastily. I’ve got about four main suspects, and Tenchi’s one of them.

(Shot of Satoshi taking the test. His question is "Is the Mole’s show on American television?")
Satoshi: I’ve always had my doubts about Sana, and right now, I see no reason to stray from them. I’m answering questions with other people in mind just to be safe, but I can’t believe that Sana would be so stupid as to run the wrong way to meet people at the dock.

(Out in a paved area in the back of the hotel, the players sit in one of nine chairs. Barb approaches a desk in the front, with a laptop.)

Barb: Here we go again. Let’s see how fast we can wrap this up. I’ll put the names in, and whoever’s screen flashes red is the Mole’s second victim. He or she will have to leave immediately. Who wants to go first?

(Satoshi, Taichi, and Sana raise their hands.)

Barb: Okay, we’ll start with Satoshi.

(Barb types "SATOSHI" into the computer. It processes for a second, shot of Satoshi.)

(It flashes green.)
Barb: Next is Taichi.

(Barb types "TAICHI" into the computer. It processes for a second, shot of Taichi.)

(It flashes green.)
Barb: Next up- Sana.

(Barb types "SANA" into the computer. It processes for a second, shot of Sana.)

(It flashes green.)
Barb: We’ll hit Sakura next.

(Barb types "SAKURA" into the computer. It processes for a second, shot of an extremely worried Sakura.)

(It flashes green.)
Barb: Okay… Tenchi.

(Barb types "TENCHI" into the computer. It processes, shot of Tenchi, calm.)

(It flashes green.)
Barb: Akito Tenkawa.

(Barb types "AKITO" into the computer. It processes, shot of Akito.)

(It flashes red.)
Barb: Mr. Tenkawa?

(Akito stands up, with those "lost puppy-dog" eyes. He walks towards his bag, as Taichi shakes his hand sadly. He walks past Sakura.)

Sakura: Sorry Akito-san… but, that 360 you pulled on the boat was really cool.

Akito: You threw up afterwards!

Sakura: (smiling) It was still cool!

(Akito gets remarks from others, and Tenchi smiles, stands up, and shakes his hand. Akito smiles too and receives it. Akito picks up his bags and walks out.)
Tenchi: (OS) Feels like I’m losing another friend. Even though I was particularly good buddies with Akito, it probably wouldn’t have mattered. I would’ve felt bad after anybody was removed.

(Akito gets his bags, is escorted into a van, as it drives off.)
Akito: (VO) It is a bit sad. I had a lot more fun than I thought I would, and met some very nice, although rather strange people. But hey, after working on the Nadesico, I’ve gotten used to it. It’s a shame to be leaving already, but it was fun while it lasted.
(The van drives away, taking the Mole’s second victim with it.)

End Episode Two