The Mole 2: Anime Edition

Episode Nine

Week Nine Moll Poll: Mitsune- 33%, Jenrya- 22%, Takeshi- 17%

English/Japanese Name Changes
Gary Oak/Shigeru Ookida

Contestants
Akane- Tomboy: "Ranma ½")
Jenrya- Puppy Watcher: "Digimon Tamers"
Kasumi- Romantic Tension: "Pocket Monsters"
Keitaro- Resident Manager: "Love Hina"
Kenji- Research Assistant: "Pocket Monsters"
Miaka- Student/Priestess: "Fushigi Yuugi"
Mitsune- Slacker: "Love Hina"
Motoko- Kendo Girl: "Love Hina"
Ranma- Freak of Nature: "Ranma ½"
Ruki- Card Shark: "Digimon Tamers"
Takato- Goggle Boy: "Digimon Tamers"
Takeshi- Hugh Hefner-Wannabe: "Pocket Monsters"
Tamahome- Bishonen: "Fushigi Yuugi"
Washu- Genius: "Tenchi Muyo"

Episode Nine
(Mike is walking along a creek outside Livorno, Italy.)
Mike: The numbers are starting to dwindle. What was fourteen at the beginning is now down to six. And while there are fewer suspects out there, the competition is as fierce as ever. Every person must have at least some certainty about who the Mole is in order to survive. Akane Tendo played well, concentrated, and demonstrated the skills of a true martial artist. That should say something about those succeeding her.

Washu: This is exactly what I wanted. Hopefully now Jenrya and I can really concentrate on this game, and hopefully get rid of Tamahome and a few of the other people. Who said this game was hard?

Takeshi: I’m sorry to see Akane go. She was a real asset to the team, she worked at helping us win… and she was really, really cute on the side.

Tamahome: My "partner-in-crime" is gone. Am I surprised? Yes. Am I worried? A little. Am I out of the game? Not by a long shot. Akane made mistakes. I know what they were, and I can learn from them.

Day Twenty
(Takeshi is in his room when Kenji enters.)

Kenji: Takeshi, who do you think the Mole is?

Takeshi: Me?

Kenji: Yeah. You’ve been aligning yourself with Kitsune. Do you think she’s the Mole or not? If you did, it would be rather stupid to form a coalition with her.

Takeshi: I think history proves me wrong.

Kenji: Sorry Takeshi, if aligning with the Mole is a good strategy, you can mail the winner’s check to Keitaro Urashima.

Takeshi: Never mind. I’m seriously starting to think it could be her.

Kenji: Oh. What about Tamahome? Didn’t you suspect him once?

Takeshi: Um… no… that was just to trick Kasumi.

Kenji: Ah… that’s um… right. So who is it then? Who did you put down on the quiz?

Takeshi: Actually… it was Akane.

Kenji: Um… Akane?

Takeshi: It’s not like I answered her for all the questions. I had some serious doubts about her. Most of the answers were for Kitsune.

Kenji: So you are voting for Kitsune?

Takeshi: Pretty much, yes. Why?

Kenji: I don’t know. I’m starting to have my doubts. After that whole briefcase thing, I’m doubting if she’s it or not.

Takeshi: Really? After that briefcase thing, I’m almost sure it’s her.

Kenji: What do you mean? She was the only one that didn’t want to sacrifice the money. Hardly Mole-ish activity Takeshi.

Takeshi: Exactly. That’s why she did it. I mean, she really fought to try to earn the money, but in the end we didn’t get anything. It makes her look good, but she doesn’t have to put any money into the pot.

Kenji: Interesting theory. For some reason, I just can’t buy into it though.

Takeshi: Well, I can’t take the quiz for you. You’ll just have to figure it out on your own.

(Kenji nods.)

Challenge Eighteen
(A hill outside town. Barb is holding a laser gun and addresses the six players.)
Barb: Finally- time to play with guns.

(Cheers from the six.)
Barb: This is a game that combines "capture the flag" and "king of the hill," and could earn the group 30,000 yen. About three hundred yards away, up on a hill, is a flag. The goal for the group is to reach that flag in under half an hour. Time, however, isn’t the issue. The issue will be the three snipers situated on the ground and in a helicopter that will be pursuing you. And what better enemies than three different rivals? Let’s meet them now.

(With a confident smile, Kentaro Sakata from Love Hina enters. He is non-chalantly carrying a similar gun to Barb’s.)
Barb: The self-proclaimed love rival of Keitaro Urashima, fighting for the heart of Naru Narusegawa- Kentaro Sakata.

(With an even more confident, and borderline cocky, smile, Pokémon’s Shigeru Ookida enters with gun.)
Barb: Proof positive that arrogance is more tolerable when you have success to back it up, Satoshi’s rival Shigeru Ookida. And finally, Ranma Saotome’s very own rival in just about every sense of the word… Ryoga Habiki!

(Nothing.)

Barb: Um… Ryoga Habiki?

(Still nothing. Barb pulls out her cell phone.)

Barb: Manny! Where’s Ryoga? Don’t tell me you gave him directions… uh huh… what do you mean trust you? We’re on the air you know?!

(While Barb continues to argue, Kenji turns to the group.)

Kenji: Do you think this ever happens to the ABC version?

(Group shrugs.)

Barb: Okay… fine. You’d better be right about this.

(Barb hangs up.)

Barb: He said Ryoga will be here in a minute. Let’s get the rest of you saddled up with targets and guns.

Jenrya: We get guns?

Barb: Oh yeah… that’s an extra catch. Only one of you needs to reach the flag. If one, and only one, person makes it to the flag, that person gets an exemption from the upcoming quiz. You are permitted to shoot each other if it helps you become the only one to capture the flag. It’s a good opportunity to win the money, and still earn an exemption.

(Barb leaves with the six to get set up. When they’re gone, Ryoga walks up to Shigeru and Kentaro, trying to read a map.)

Ryoga: (to Kentaro) Hey, uh… do you know which way it is to Johannesburg, South Africa?

(Kentaro and Shigeru sweatdrop simultaneously.)

Kentaro: This is the place!

Shigeru: C’mon, we’ll get you squared away.

Ryoga: Wow… after four months I’ve finally made it…

(The team is getting fitted for the challenge.)
Tamahome: (VO) I’ve been waiting for one of these. This is where it gets fun.

Kenji: (VO) Hey, you get to go around shooting people and trying to avoid getting shot. It’s all for the game, so it sounds like a blast.

(The six are now prepared and at the base of the hill.)
Barb: Again, you have thirty minutes to reach the flag. Shigeru and Ryoga are positioned somewhere on the ground while Kentaro is in the air. Shigeru and Ryoga are situated with targets, and it is possible to take them down as well. If shot, you are to hold up your hand and quietly step off to the side. You may discuss strategy if you want to, and your thirty minutes begin now.

(The group huddles up.)

Tamahome: Let’s find some place secure first.

Jenrya: There’s a patch of trees over there.

(Together, they make their way to a patch of trees about twenty yards away.)

Mitsune: How about this? Mad scramble for the flag, and whoever gets it gets it.

Takeshi: Hmm… don’t you think a serious strategy would be better?

Kenji: We should find out where they’re hiding. Anyone want to be sacrificial lamb?

(Everybody looks at Kenji.)

Kenji: Anyone besides me?

(Silence.)

Kenji: Okay, scratch that idea.

Jenrya: I’m starting to get turned on to Mitsune’s plan.

Washu: What do we do about the exemption?

Takeshi: I think we should play it by ear.

Kenji: Why not? If you think you can make it, go ahead and shoot somebody else.

Tamahome: Now that’s the team spirit, let’s go.

(They duck out and slowly proceed towards the flag. A low-flying helicopter is hovering near the flag.)

Washu: What should we do about that?

(Takeshi takes a quick shot at Kentaro on the helicopter. It obviously misses.)

Takeshi: It was worth a shot. C’mon.

(They again proceed slowly and cautiously.)

Tamahome: We have plenty of time… let’s just go carefully.

(A rustling in the bushes…)

Washu: Did anybody hear that?

(A shot from that direction, and Washu’s target flashes red, indicating a hit.)

Jenrya: Scatter!

(Mass chaos as everybody goes in every direction. Ryoga pops out of the bushes, and successfully hits Jenrya, but in the process, exposes himself long enough for Mitsune to take Ryoga out. Meanwhile, Takeshi and Kenji manages to shelter themselves behind a tree, while Tamahome and Mitsune do the same on the other side.)

Takeshi: Okay… that wasn’t good.

Kenji: We need to get the other two out of here.

Takeshi: We do?

Kenji: Yep. I’m going to level with you. I want to be the only one who gets this.

Takeshi: Why? You want the exemption?

Kenji: (sarcastic) No, I want to have a hero moment.

Takeshi: Exemption it is. But we can’t just shoot everybody.

Kenji: Let’s be clever then. Let’s position it so that Kitsune or Tamahome gets hit by the helicopter.

Takeshi: Okay… but you might want to know something.

Kenji: What’s that?

Takeshi: I want an exemption too.

(Kenji smiles)

Kenji: Of course you do.

(They step out, as do Mitsune and Tamahome. Kenji and Takeshi ease along one side, while Mitsune and Tamahome ease along the middle. Kentaro is in the helicopter, waiting for a good shot. He finds it, as Kenji runs across the middle of the field. Kentaro starts shooting. Kenji runs right behind Mitsune, and Kentaro takes her out in the process. In all this distraction, Takeshi and Tamahome have started running up the hill, with Kenji following behind them. Kentaro can’t hit any of them. Kenji crosses back to other side, drawing more fire but not getting hit. He joins Takeshi.)

Kenji: How was that?

Takeshi: Very nice. Let’s see… we’re more than halfway there, and besides us two, Tamahome’s still with us. You know what that means?

Kenji: What?

(Takeshi smiles.)

Takeshi: You are expendable.

(Takeshi shoots Kenji and continues up the hill.)

Kenji: Takeshi!!??

Takeshi: (shouting back) I told you I wanted an exemption!

(Kenji remains behind, in shock, and walks back down the hill. Mitsune taps his shoulder.)

Mitsune: It’s not as much fun when it happens to you, is it?

Kenji: Every time Takeshi does something like that, I’m surprised. But I probably shouldn’t be. He’s been aggressively pursuing exemptions for a long time. Just before I think about stabbing him in the back… he stabs me in the back. Definitely more than I bargained for.

(Tamahome is running up the hill, dodging shots from Kentaro. Takeshi is playing much smarter, and cautiously running up one side. Tamahome is still dodging everything when Takeshi ducks down on the hill and starts crawling up. He turns to Tamahome. Tamahome dives to dodge Kentaro’s shot, but is hit in mid-air. Takeshi shakes his head, then slowly crawls up the hill. The flag is very close by, but so is Shigeru, in a position to take out anyone who approaches it. Takeshi stays out of sight and quietly slinks around to try to take out Shigeru. He quietly ends up to one side of him, but loses his footing for a second. Shigeru hears it, and stands up. In very dramatic fashion, both Shigeru and Takeshi pull out their guns and shoot each other simultaneously. They pause for about three seconds without knowing who was hit. Remember- it’s anime. Dramatic shots of both of them waiting, until Shigeru flashes his cocky smile and poses with his gun. Takeshi looks down and sees his target flashing red. He frowns.)

Takeshi: Shoot.

Shigeru: Correction Takeshi- shot! You lose!

(Takeshi shakes his head. Caption: "Challenge Failed")

(Shot of the players getting into a van.)
Tamahome: (VO) I think that’s the second challenge in a row that we lost because a couple of us got selfish. We could have used Kenji up there; I definitely think Takeshi acted a bit quickly in shooting him.

Mitsune: (VO) I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what Takeshi did. After that stunt he pulled to get me shot, Kenji deserved it.

Takeshi: (VO) I was hoping that Tamahome was going to get a little farther. I thought that between him and me, one of us would make it. After he got shot, I just did what I could.

(Barb is calmly driving the van while the most of the six players argue. Washu quietly relaxes in the front seat. Mitsune and Tamahome are in the middle while Jenrya, Kenji, and Takeshi occupy the back.)

Takeshi: Don’t tell me you wouldn’t have shot me, Kenji.

Kenji: Well… maybe. Not in that situation. I would definitely have waited.

Mitsune: You didn’t wait to get me out of there.

Kenji: I was drawing fire. The plan was for me to cut across and have Kentaro shoot at me while Takeshi and Tamahome made a break for the flag. You just got in the way.

Mitsune: (not believing) Right, sure I did.

Jenrya: I suppose that with Tamahome with you, there actually were pretty good odds that you would have made it.

Takeshi: That was my logic. I didn’t expect Tamahome to get shot.

Tamahome: I wasn’t expecting it either. I could have sworn I dodged that shot.

Mitsune: Yare yare… it happens.

Tamahome: I guess. Takeshi, you wouldn’t have shot me right?

Takeshi: Definitely not while Shigeru was still around. Once he was out of the picture… maybe.

Jenrya: Makes sense.

Washu: So what it all comes down to is- we’re a pretty pathetic team.

Barb: Amen to that!

(The six stare at Barb.)

Barb: Um… sorry. But you are!

(Shot of the van arriving at a hotel in Livorno. Mike waits outside.)

Mike: (VO) After that defeat, the teams arrive in Livorno, on the Western coast. For all they know, it’s just another end to another day. But once again, we love to challenge normality.

(Barb joins Mike and greets the team.)

Barb: We have a little announcement to make in terms of the room assignments. As Washu remembers, after Ruki got executed, you were moved in with Akane for a couple rounds. Now that Motoko and Akane are gone, this leaves Mitsune and Washu alone. I’m sure you two are wondering if we’re going to save even more money and pair you two up. The answer is yes- but only for tonight. Tomorrow night, regardless of who gets executed, Mitsune and Washu have their own rooms for the duration of the game. If one of the guys gets executed next, your roommate flies solo for the remainder of the game.

Mike: At this point I would like to ask if the guys are happy with the room assignments of Kenji and Takeshi in one room, with Jenrya and Tamahome in the other.

(After some hesitation, they nod.)

Mike: Okay then. The bellboy will take you to your rooms for tonight.

(The six gather their bags as a bellboy takes the three up to their rooms.)
Mike: (VO) It is important to get this squared away now, as a slight problem emerges upstairs.

(Upstairs, the bellboy looks through a ring of keys, trying to find the right one for Kenji and Takeshi’s room. He can’t.)

Kenji: Where’s the key?

(The bellboy shrugs his shoulders and tries to find the key for Jenrya and Tamahome’s room. Again, he can’t.)

Jenrya: What’s wrong?

(The key for Mitsune and Washu’s room is also missing. The bellboy shrugs as the six head back downstairs.)
Mike: (VO) The players notice that the room keys have turned up missing. Instead of a peaceful night’s rest as they had all expected, two separate tests have just begun.

(Downstairs, Mike and Barb are sitting on a couch in the lobby when the six arrive. They stand up.)

Barb: (smiling) Something wrong?

Jenrya: Yeah, our keys are gone.

Mitsune: Is the Mole behind this?

(Mike decides to fly with it instead of answering in the negative.)
Mike: Um… yeah… sure. The um… Mole… has placed your keys in very precarious positions in the area. You six will have the task of retrieving them. Not only is there money at stake, but if you fail to get the keys… you’re sleeping in the van.

Barb: Boys hop into said van with Mike while the girls can come with me.

(They do so.)

Mitsune: This is just unbelievable. We lose that challenge miserably, and suffer through a long car ride with all six of us and Barb stuffed in a van. And *now* we have to do a challenge where our hotel rooms are at stake. I knew I should have slept on the ride over.

Challenge Nineteen
(The van pulls up by a creek, one about ten feet wide. Sticking in the water are a series of pylons. By the side of the creek where the van pulls up, there are several wood planks, a golf cart, and a large barrel on a pedestal. On the other side are two poles with a key dangling off of each. Mike, Jenrya, Kenji, Takeshi, and Tamahome exit the van.)
Mike: Don’t ask us how, but the keys to your two rooms got stuck on them poles on the other side of this creek. Your job will be to get across this creek using these planks and the pylons. The only catch is that you can’t get wet in the process.

(The four start to head to the planks, but Mike stops them.)

Mike: Hey, hey, hold on. You forgot about the time limit. We’re going to try something a little bit different with this challenge. This barrel here has a hole at the bottom. When I pull the stopper, there’s enough water in here to last four minutes. When the water runs out, time’s up. However, one of you can take this golf cart here to a station 100 yards down the road to retrieve another barrel of water, which can be brought back in order to refill this one. There are plenty of barrels out there, if you can keep the pace up. If you can get both keys before the well runs dry, 20,000 yen is added to the pot and more importantly, you sleep in warm beds. If you are ready…

(Mike pulls the stopper on the barrel.)

Mike: Go.

Kenji: Somebody get some more water.

Takeshi: Shouldn’t we…

Kenji: Now! Tamahome, go!

Tamahome: Why me?

Jenrya: Just do it!

Tamahome: All right already…

(Tamahome jumps on the cart and drives towards the station while the other three start to figure out how to place the pylons.)

Takeshi: Somebody should wait for Tamahome and help fill the barrel.

Kenji: Good idea.

Jenrya: Okay, let’s figure this out. I don’t want to sleep in a van with you two and Tamahome.

Kenji: What would be really bad is if the girls lost too.

Takeshi: And that would be bad… how?

(Kenji and Jenrya sweatdrop.)

Challenge Twenty
(Barb leads Mitsune and Washu into a parking lot. Painted on the ground is a six-by-six grid. Looking overhead, there are nine large boxes, one of which is painted red, positioned on the grid as seen below. Each letter indicates a box, i.e. the A’s represent one box, the B’s represent a second. Box "R" indicates the red box. X’s indicate open spaces. On the right side of the third row, to the right of box "D" is an immovable step ladder.)

XXHCCC
XXHXXX
FRRGXD
FXXGXD
FXAAAE
BBBXXE

(Barb walks Mitsune and Washu through all of the boxes through narrow gaps to the red box.)

Barb: The challenge… is not simple. You saw that step ladder? You will need to find some way to get this red box positioned next to the ladder. The key is on top of this box. The problem, of course, are the other boxes. That, and the fact that each box can only move in two directions.

(Barb demonstrates by moving box F up and down.)
Barb: Some boxes can only move up and down, while some can only move left and right. All boxes must stay in the grid. You will have twenty minutes to retrieve the key. Do so and 20,000 yen is added to the pot, and you have a room to sleep in. Your thirty minutes start when you move the first key.

(To follow along, it’s important to know that boxes arranged vertically like F, G, and D move up and down while boxes arranged horizontally like A, B, and C move left and right. Before moving anything, Mitsune and Washu have a look at the layout and go near the stepladder.)

Mitsune: (pointing to D and G) Well… it looks like we need to move these two.

Washu: That’s more difficult than it looks.

(Washu looks at C, which is trapped and can’t move.)

Mitsune: Well… let’s see here…

(Mitsune winds a path around the boxes, finally ending up at Box B. Washu follows.)

Mitsune: Looks like it starts here.

(Mitsune pushes box B one square to the right.)

Barb: Your twenty minutes begin now.

(Back at the creek, Takeshi finishes filling the barrel. Meanwhile Jenrya and Kenji have started placing a couple planks on the pylons. Jenrya walks across to a pylon.)

Jenrya: Hand me another plank.

(Kenji does so, and Jenrya tries fitting it to another pylon. It isn’t long enough.)

Jenrya: Kenji, it’s not long enough.

Kenji: It’s not?

Jenrya: No.

(Jenrya walks back with the plank.)

Jenrya: Aren’t there any other ones?

Kenji: That was the longest one.

Jenrya: Takeshi, how much time do we have left?

(Tamahome arrives with another barrel.)

Takeshi: Plenty.

Kenji: Do any of the shorter ones fit this first gap?

Jenrya: Let’s see…

(After some work, Mitsune and Washu have moved the boxes so that this is the new position-
XXXCCC
XXHXXX
RRHGXD
FXXGXD
FXAAAE
FBBBXE

Washu pulls box C three places to the left. Mitsune pulls box D two places to the top.)

Mitsune: Okay… now what?

Washu: (pointing at G and H) These two are in our way.

Mitsune: Goodie… what do we do?

Washu: Let me think for a minute.

Mitsune: How much time do we have left?

Barb: You have ten minutes.

Washu: Swell.

Mitsune: Don’t you have any ideas?

Washu: I’m working on it! Don’t rush me!

Mitsune: We can move this one.

(Mitsune pulls box G two places to the top.)

Washu: There ya go. Now we just have one to worry about.

Mitsune: And how would we move that?

Washu: Hmm…

(Washu walks over to box E)

Washu: What if we try this?

(Washu pulls box E two places up.)

Mitsune: Hold on, now we’re going backwards. That’s right in front of the ladder.

Washu: I know what I’m doing… or at least I hope so.

(Back at the pylons circuit, Jenrya and Kenji have bridged all the gaps except for the final one. Jenrya unsuccessfully tries to fit a plank over the last gap.)

Jenrya: This one doesn’t fit.

Kenji: It doesn’t? That’s impossible!

(Kenji hops on the bridges and carefully navigates his way to Jenrya.)

Jenrya: It’s too tight to try it. This can’t be it.

Takeshi: (OS) Guys, Tamahome and I can’t keep up this pace, we’re barely keeping this filled as it is.

(Shot of Tamahome driving the cart with a barrel behind him.)

Takeshi: (OS) C’mon Tamahome, we’re running out of juice. Floor it!

Tamahome: I am flooring it. This is just a very slow cart.

(Tamahome arrives and he and Takeshi start to fill the leaking barrel. Tamahome looks over at Jenrya and Kenji.)

Tamahome: Hey! Are you two going to need more time?

Jenrya: I don’t know. It would be close.

Kenji: Better safe than sorry.

Takeshi: (OS) Hey, watch where you’re pouring.

(Shot of Tamahome, who has been missing the spout, and pouring onto the ground.)

Tamahome: Shoot…

Takeshi: They’ll definitely need another barrel now. I’ll cover for you.

(Tamahome takes off while Takeshi continues pouring.)

Kenji: Wait! I got it! Move this one over there, and give me that one.

Jenrya: That… could work!

(Jenrya does so.)

Takeshi: Hurry up… I don’t know if Tamahome’s going to get here in time.

(Kenji and Jenrya hustle and get the last board in place. Meanwhile, Takeshi’s looking at the barrel, which is almost empty.)

Takeshi: It’s running out!

(Kenji and Jenrya finish up, rush to grab the keys, and both hustle back across the creek. They make it just in time, as the last few drops fall from the barrel. Jenrya and Kenji sigh in relief, while Takeshi goes up to congratulate them. Tamahome arrives soon afterwards. Caption: "Challenge Completed")

Tamahome: Did we get it?

Jenrya: Yeah.

Kenji: Barely.

Takeshi: That was too close.

Jenrya: Whatever. Let’s just get out of here and get some sleep.

(Agreement as they take off.)

Kenji: We sort of worked together on that one. None of us were on our A games, but we pulled it off somehow. Given the way some of us were behaving though, you have to wonder how hard we would have tried if our hotel rooms weren’t at stake. For some of us, it probably wouldn’t be much.

(In the parking lot, this is the new position:
CCCGXD
XXXGXD
RRXXXE
FXHXXE
FXHAAA
FBBBXX

Mitsune pushes box R as far to the right as she can. When she finishes, Washu pulls up box H one spot. Caption: "2:00 Remaining")

Washu: I think we got it. Get ready to move that last one…

(Washu pulls box A the left. Mitsune pushes box E downwards one square, which allows Washu to push box R all the way to the right, next to the stepladder. Mitsune climbs up on the ladder, and retrieves the key on top of the box. Caption: "Challenge Completed")

Washu: Hey… no problemo, right?

Mitsune: I guess not… well it’s more money, I guess.

Washu: Yep!

(Mitsune and Washu head with Barb back into the hotel.)
Mitsune: Something didn’t seem right with all that. Considering some of the stuff we’ve been through, that puzzle wasn’t extremely hard. Still, Washu had problems with it. She’s the smartest person in the universe… we should’ve gotten that done in half the time.

(Washu and Jenrya are talking in Jenrya’s room.)

Jenrya: The only really suspicious thing was Tamahome. He was filling the barrel and he spilled a lot of it. We really cut things close because of that.

Washu: No kidding? I thought you didn’t suspect him.

Jenrya: I don’t know. I’m just saying what he did.

Washu: What about Takeshi? I know you were suspecting him.

Jenrya: Nothing. I mean, I was doing the planks, so I couldn’t keep an eye on him, but I didn’t see anything. He seemed clean.

Washu: Huh. Well… should we focus on taking out Tamahome or change targets?

Jenrya: Let’s get Tamahome out first, then we’ll worry about the others.

Washu: Right. See ya!

(Washu walks out.)
Washu: I’m still committed to this coalition with Jenny. Just because Akane got bumped doesn’t mean we’re stopping here. I think I can trust him, and hopefully we can get into the finals together.

Day Twenty-One
(The Tyrrhenian coastline near Livorno. The six players exit the van, all of them in beach attire. Mike and Barb follows. Immediately, Takeshi sees the beach patrons in all their two-piece goodness.)
Takeshi: Now this is a challenge setting I can get into!

(Takeshi starts to head towards a couple sun-bathing beauties when Kenji grabs him by the ear and walks away.)

Kenji: I think I’ve figured out why you weren’t in the second season.

Mike: I think it’s time we unwound a bit and had some fun in the sun. But we don’t have any time budgeted. Instead, we have a major challenge that can net the group 40,000 yen. Come with me.

(Mike and the six board a boat, which takes off and heads towards an island a mile away. Barb remains behind. The boat lands on the island, and the seven disembark. Nearby on the island is a jet ski, a surfboard, an inflatable dinghy, some diving gear, and another motor boat, which is manned by Nadesico pilot Izumi Maki and communications officer Megumi Raynard. Their boat has water-skis attached.)

Mike: This island is a mile away from the coast. The challenge will be for all six of you to reach the mainland within seventy-five minutes. To do that, we have a variety of transportation methods arranged for you six. Each of you will choose one different item- the motor boat we got here on, a jet ski, a dinghy, diving gear, a surfboard, and some water-skis. The person on the motor boat will have to operate it themselves while the person using the water-skis will be pulled by Izumi here.

Izumi: (dark) Cameo… summon the turtle.

(Izumi chuckles at her joke.)

Mike: Megumi will spot and inform Izumi when you fall off. Once you determine who gets what, each person will use their item to travel to the mainland. The next person can not leave until I get the signal from Barb that they’ve arrived. Each of you have to make it on your own, so assigning the right person the right items is crucial to success. And you may do that now.

(They huddle up.)
Jenrya: (VO) In a challenge as big as this, you really have to watch everybody and what their ideas are. It’s extremely difficult to pay attention to it, but it can be a big step in the right direction.

(They are finishing up the discussion.)

Jenrya: You sure you can drive the boat?

Mitsune: No problem!

Takeshi: That and the water-skis are going to be the most important to get the right person on.

Kenji: I’ll be fine. I’ve water-skied before… once… I’m sure it’ll come back to me.

Washu: And you can swim Tamahome?

Tamahome: I’m not Akane, Washu. I can swim.

Takeshi: Since the motor boat’s obviously the fastest, I think Kitsune should go last.

(agreement from everybody.)

Washu: I’ll go first.

Kenji: Okay.

(They break out of the huddle and head to their items. Washu looks at her jet-ski.)

Washu: Looks simple enough.

Mike: Whenever you’re ready Washu, the time begins.

Washu: Here goes nothing…

(Washu stands up, starts it up, and takes off.)

Mike: The seventy-five minutes begins now.

Tamahome: Should I get another barrel of water?

(Shot of Washu driving the jet-ski. She has some problems initially, but slowly gets the hang of it and goes at a steady pace. Meanwhile, on the shoreline, Barb is talking on her cell phone when she sees Washu approaching.)

Barb: Yeah, I don’t understand it either… hold on Lori, I have to make another call. Call me back in an hour.

(Back on the island, Kenji and Mitsune are inspecting the dinghy with Jenrya.)

Mitsune: Looks good.

Kenji: How long do you think it’ll take you?

Jenrya: Not sure.

(Mike gets the call.)

Mike: Next!

(Jenrya runs the dinghy as far out into the water as he can. When he can’t go any farther, he boards the dinghy and starts rowing. Caption: "69:34 Remaining")

(Jenrya is visibly struggling with the dinghy.)
Mike: (VO) Jenrya has several problems rowing his dinghy. As a result, it takes him over twenty minutes to travel the one mile, giving the other four players less than fifty minutes to cross.

(Mike finally receives a call from Barb.)

Mike: Okay. Izumi, you’re clear for take off.

Izumi: Take off. Take it all off…

(Izumi snickers.)

Megumi: Um… Kenji’s getting impatient.

(Izumi takes off, with Kenji following behind. Kenji goes for a little while, but falls after about thirty seconds.)

Megumi: He’s down!

(Izumi turns around to retrieve Kenji.)

(Montage of scenes of Kenji traveling.)
Mike: (VO) Kenji struggles initially, but gets the hang of it in time.

(Back at the island, Takeshi and Tamahome are helping Mitsune get the motor boat ready. Tamahome has most of his diving gear on.)

Mitsune: How fast are you two going to go?

Tamahome: I’m not the best swimmer out there, but I can hold my own. I won’t take as long as Jenrya- trust me.

Takeshi: I don’t think anybody could take as long as Jenrya did.

Mitsune: How about you Takeshi? Do you know how to surf?

Takeshi: Not really, but it’s not like it would help. These aren’t good surfing conditions.

Tamahome: Are you just going to swim then?

Takeshi: I think so. I’ll see what I can do when I get closer to shore.

Tamahome: I better get ready. Can you two handle this?

Mitsune: Yeah, we’ll be fine.

(The boat is beached and Kenji quickly hustles to the finish line. He has a pleased smile as he crosses.)

Barb: (on the phone) Okay Mike, you can send the next one.

Jenrya: What’s so funny?

Kenji: Nothing… I just haven’t water-skied in awhile. That was a lot of fun!

Washu: Well I can’t say anything about fun, but we’re kinda behind schedule, don’t you think?

Jenrya: That’s what Mitsune’s for.

Kenji: (to Barb) How much time’s left?

Barb: Forty minutes and change.

Washu: Tamahome and Takeshi are on their own… this could be close.

(Shot of Tamahome swimming briskly underwater.)
Takeshi: (VO) I am really anxious. This challenge puts everybody on the spotlight, and I’m getting impatient. I can’t wait to out there and show my stuff. I’ve noticed that since the last couple challenges, the mood of the team has really changed. We’re not about having fun. We are really determined to win this challenge. It’s definitely strange- I mean I’m here on this beach with a pretty girl like Kitsune and all I can think about is how I’m going to use this surfboard.

(Mitsune is at the front of the boat, in front of the wheel. Takeshi is holding the rope that keeps the boat tied down.)

Mitsune: I feel like I want to rev this up just to see if it works.

Takeshi: Are you going to get this untied in time?

Mitsune: I don’t know.

Takeshi: Mike! Could you untie the boat when it’s her turn?

Mike: Uh… sure. I guess that’s not a problem.

Takeshi: Excellent. Good luck Kitsune!

Mitsune: Yeah, you too.

(Takeshi gets the signal to go and grabs his surfboard. Caption: "24:16 Remaining")

(Takeshi is doing about as good as he can swimming using the surfboard to stay afloat. Towards the end, he manages to ride a couple waves towards the finish line, and gets up to Barb, visibly tired. Barb gives Mike the go-ahead. Caption: "5:13 Remaining")

Tamahome: Good work.

Takeshi: That’s a lot harder than it looks.

Tamahome: At least you had a surfboard!

(Mike lifts the rope on the boat.)

Mike: All clear Mitsune!

Mitsune: Excellent.

(Mitsune starts the ignition, which revs up for about five seconds, without doing anything.)

Mitsune: C’mon…

(The boat sputters a bit.)

Mike: Having problems?

Mitsune: Yeah.

Mike: Well I can’t help you out, it’s all you. Sorry!

Mitsune: (sotto) I’m sure you are.

(After awhile, she finally gets it going, but only heads out at half the speed possible.)

(Back on shore, the other five are waiting.)

Kenji: How much time do we have left?

Barb: A buck forty.

Takeshi: She can’t be that far away, it only took us a few minutes to go out there.

Washu: You don’t think she flipped over do you?

Tamahome: I hope not. We piloted mecha, you’d think she could pilot a boat.

(Barb starts counting down from ten.)

Barb: Ten, nine, eight…

Tamahome: I don’t see her.

Barb: Seven, six, five…

Takeshi: Come on…

Barb: Four, three…

Washu: There she is!

(Mitsune can be seen driving in, somewhat slowly.)

Kenji: Is it me or is she going really slow?

Barb: Two, one… that’s all she wrote.

(Tamahome is visibly angry. Jenrya, Takeshi, and Washu are disappointed. Caption: "Challenge Failed")

Washu: How did this happen?

Takeshi: She had plenty of time to make it here.

(Mitsune finally arrives.)

Mitsune: I guess we didn’t make it.

Tamahome: What took you so long?

Mitsune: I don’t know… something wasn’t working right on the boat.

Tamahome: What do you mean?

Mitsune: I don’t know. I’m not an expert on this kind of thing. Washu?

(Washu looks at the boat, and the motor in back.)

Washu: Hmm… seems fine to me.

Tamahome: Jeez… am I the only one that’s getting tired of all this losing?

Mitsune: I’m tired of it too.

Tamahome: So don’t pull stuff like this!

Takeshi: Hey, hey, stop arguing. That won’t solve anything. We’re just going to have to accept this and hope we do better next time.

(Tamahome turns around and walks off, still miffed. Takeshi goes up to Mitsune.)

Takeshi: Are you sure there was something wrong with it?

Mitsune: Yeah. It wouldn’t start for some reason.

Takeshi: Well, don’t worry about it.

(Takeshi looks down and shakes his head, obviously disappointed at the loss. He forces a smile and looks up at Mitsune.)

Takeshi: Yare yare, right?

(Mitsune forces her own smile.)

Mitsune: I guess.

Washu: Look, you can "yare yare" all you want, we lost forty grand here. You do realize that the Mole totally creamed us in this challenge, right?

(Mitsune smiles for real.)
Mitsune: Hmm… Takeshi, we already used "yare yare." You know what that means.

(Mitsune and Takeshi look at Washu.)
Mitsune/Takeshi: Mo mantai!

(Mitsune and Takeshi walk away. Washu follows.)
Washu: Baka baka.

(Kenji and Jenrya stand up and start to walk out. Kenji’s still in a fairly good mood.)

Jenrya: Who needs translators?

Kenji: Who cares? I got to go water-skiing!

Takeshi: It’s hard to deny it any more. I’m just trying to cheer Kitsune up, but in reality- there’s a strong chance that she could be the Mole. I have to stop kidding myself. Washu’s probably right in thinking the Mole was behind us losing this challenge, and Kitsune definitely blew her part of the race.

Tamahome: I think I speak for everybody when I say I’m disappointed in how this challenge turned out. That’s our third big loss in three days, and the group is starting to feel the effects of it.

Kenji: As soon as you think this is a close group, the reality sets in and you realize that one of us really is a traitor. A few days ago we were talking about how the Mole wasn’t doing much, and now the Mole’s practically controlling the entire group.

(At dinner, everybody is gathered.)
Barb: This was something of a rough round, but don’t forget that you did combine for 40,000 yen last night, although I’m sure most of you were playing for your rooms. The pot now stands at 357,000 yen. Tonight is the quiz, and the ninth execution. Ganbatte!

(Shot of Jenrya taking the quiz. His question is "Who shot the Mole?")
Jenrya: (VO) Takeshi certainly made his presence felt in the flag game. He shot Kenji, then couldn’t shoot Shigeru. It was very noticeable activity, but it was definitely suspicious.

(Shot of Kenji taking the quiz. His question is "Is the Mole part Chinese?")
Kenji: (VO) You have to wonder about Tamahome. I mean, the way he spilled that water cut things really close in that puzzle game. And I didn’t really get to see him go up against Kentaro. He said he tried to dodge the shot, but how hard did he try?

(Shot of Washu taking the quiz. Her question is "Which was the Mole's transportation method in the Water game?")
Washu: (VO) All of us seemed at least a little bit angry after the water game. It wasn’t a good loss for us. But Kenji seemed perfectly happy about everything. Of all the people out there, how come he’s the one beaming positive while everybody else was hit hard by the loss?

(Shot of Tamahome taking the quiz. His question is "In what order was the Mole eliminated in the King of the Hill game?")
Tamahome: (VO) Washu got herself shot before we could even blink. I mean she was taken out so fast that I wonder if she knew what was going to happen before it did.

(Execution room. Everybody’s anxious as usual. Jenrya, Tamahome, and Washu are in the front row while Kenji, Takeshi, and Mitsune are in the back. You should know where Barb is.)

Barb: You know how it works- green means clean, red means dead. Let’s rock.

(Barb sits down in front of the computer.)

Barb: Takeshi.
(Barb types in "TAKESHI." Takeshi is somewhat nervous.)

(It flashes green. Takeshi smiles and nods.)

Barb: Mitsune.
(Barb types in "MITSUNE." Mitsune is fairly calm.)

(It flashes green. Mitsune smiles.)

Barb: Tamahome.
(Barb types in "TAMAHOME." Tamahome is quite nervous.)

(It flashes green. Tamahome sighs in relief.)

Barb: Kenji.
(Barb types in "KENJI." Kenji is a bit nervous.)

(It flashes red. Kenji shakes his head.)

Tamahome: Wow.

(Kenji stands up and gets his bag. He smiles a bit, still shaking his head as he walks out with Barb.)
Kenji: (VO) What a game. That’s all I can say. I really don’t know what else to say. I was a lot less confident than I acted, that’s for sure. I figured that I had to play aggressively to get exemptions and prevent others from getting exemptions, simply because I wasn’t very sure who the Mole is. It just goes to show you- in a game like this, you can’t take anything at face value. And believe me, everybody will learn that before this is over.

(Jenrya, Tamahome, and Washu are in the front row, ready to talk about how great a guy Kenji is. In the back, meanwhile, Takeshi hands Mitsune a party hat and a noisemaker.)

Jenrya: Kenji played the game. I think it’s hard to say that there’s anybody in this room that fought as hard as he did, and did so much to try to win.

Tamahome: And along with that, it’s also shows that the only thing that really matters is the quiz.

Washu: He was in his atmosphere here. I had never seen anybody so enthused about playing a game like this.

(Takeshi and Mitsune blow their noisemakers. The other three turn around and give them odd looks.)

(Outside, Barb is leading a complacent Kenji to the van.)

Barb: Well… I suppose you have a speech to write.

(Kenji smiles.)

Kenji: No… but remember- you can’t take anything at face value.

(Kenji gets into the van and it drives off. You can only wonder.)

End Episode Nine

Author’s Notes
This episode may seem a little bit different from some of the others. I personally felt that this episode felt more like an episode of the first season, which concentrated more heavily on the challenges, and had more arguing than alliance-forming. I usually don’t do very much when it comes to trying the side stories into the main series, but this episode is something of an exception. Given my schedule, I was pretty strapped for time and had to rush a bit to get everything written. In the context of the side stories, however, this episode was written by two anime characters while I got the week off. Read the next couple side stories to see exactly what’s going on (it also explains the cameos).

The Shigeru/Takeshi gun scene is a tribute to a phenomenon in anime commonly referred to as the "Kenshin effect" where two duelists attack each other, then wait for a while before discovering who got hit. It’s very common in anime, although a lot more fun when swords are used (I have seen it with guns though). The two examples I can think of off the top of my head (from mainstream series, at least) are the War Greymon/Machinedramon battle in Digimon Adventure and the Tenchi/Kagato battle in the sixth Tenchi OAV.

When I read about the Israeli challenge which inspired the Boxes game Mitsune and Washu played, I immediately felt nostalgic. The game in Israel used cars instead of boxes, and was a life sized version of a puzzle game I used to play in study hall during high school (hey, it beat doing homework!). The formation Mitsune and Washu was relatively simple compared to a few of the ones I’ve seen, probably because I created it myself.

Next time- Digimon Tamers finally gets a cameo! Tenchi Muyo finally gets a cameo! The other shows in the game get cameos! Oh wait… it’s the "visit from friends & family" episode. They have to get cameos. Hey- it counts, right?