THE ANIM-AZING RACE 4
*
O.K, we return to Japan, we’re gonna get cold, and we’re gonna have fun. It’s time to fly for the first time in the race, and boy it’s not gonna be pretty.
Returning from an alternate world, to then return to mainland Tokyo and then head off to Hokkaido, feh. All in a days work for Yuko.
But is it that simple…the only thing simple is how quickly things can change…
…enjoy the Diamond Daydreams (Kita e) leg!
*
(Quick shot of the 11 teams escaping Koizumi’s summer villa and heading into the depths of the ocean…)
Yuko: 11 teams made their way from the god world of Haruhi Suzumiya, and went into a very alternate world inhabited by a young girl named Kino, and her journey around it. Here, after everyone met up, teams near the back suddenly shot up to the front thanks to their bonds…
Yume:
Yume…that’s a good name. O.K, I’ll help you through…just direct me where to go…
Yamato: You’ve
been thinking about baby names again haven’t you?
(Miyu just
blushes, but Yamato takes the motorad. They strap on helmets provided and begin
to move…other teams look on in shock…)
Bob: How did they…
Yuko: …whilst stronger teams faltered behind…
(Lastly, the
Himuros are really getting annoyed…)
Izumi: This is why
I was afraid of this race…
Izumi: My mother and I have never really become close, even in recent times. This was the worst challenge they could have come up for us, and we are blowing it.
Yuko: An unusual
friendship started between the bad ass Nagi and the sweet nun in training Sara…
Nagi: Hit a pawn
of God? Hell no…
Sara: …then maybe
I’ll smite you…
(Nagi freaks out
as Bob chuckles as Sara and Yakumo slow down. Bob holds his hand out to Sara
who accepts it…)
Bob: That’s for
being able to embarrass Nagi…though we still need to work on shutting him up…
Sara: O.K, I’ll
work on that!
Nagi: Bob!!!
Yuko: …and Reggina showed her worth on the motorrad
keeping in touch with well known driver Rally Vincent.
Saga: O.K, let’s…
Rally: HOW THE
HELL DID YOU GET AHEAD?!
(Shot of Rally and
May in the distance, though Rally’s voice could be heard a mile away…Saga just
stands there looking cute for a moment before grabbing her grandmother’s back
and scuttling out there…)
Rally: Geez…I lost to a grandmother and a kid? *chuckles evilly* They are going down…
Yuko: However, Jinnai didn’t give himself any admirers throughout the leg…
Jinnai: Hurry, I now have a person I want to destroy
and this will be as delicious as the melting strawberry sundae in my mouth!
Nanami: I just won’t laugh at you for ordering that…
(The two get their clue, Jinnai smirks at Izumi and
they run off…)
Izumi: Dammit…
Keiko: Just eat…
Yuko: The fact that ninjas Gai and Lee couldn’t use their powers on a motorrad, and failed to realise why they were not completing the detour made them fall behind…
Man: Y-You can’t
be normal!!! You moved in so fast…is this some ability advanced from mind
reading…
Lee: Mind reading?
Well, Neji can pretty much come close to doing that…
Man: Y-YOU KNOW A
READER? GO AWAYYY!
(The man locks
himself inside…Gai pounds on the door…)
Gai: Open up, we
just want to…
(It’s no good. Gai looks set to break the door…but doesn’t…)
Yuko: …whilst engaged
lovey-duvey pairing Miyu and Yamato stayed ahead all the way to the end.
Yuko: …you are team number one!
Miyu: OH MY GOD!!!
(Miyu is lifted up by Yamato who hug each other and
scream happily. Yamato looks really happy…)
Yuko: The Himuros
struggled to the end…but they survived.
Keiko: Thank you.
(…pause…)
Kino: …you are team number 10.
Yuko: Whilst Gai and
Lee, two favourites, arrived at the mat last…and were eliminated.
Yuko: Gai and Rock
Lee…you are the last team to arrive.
(Lee seems
shocked. Gai not so much but you can tell they are disappointed….)
Yuko: I’m sorry to tell you, that you have been eliminated from the race.
Yuko: Now…10 teams
remain. Who will be eliminated…next?
*
TEAMS REMAINING;
BOB/NAGI – BEST
FRIENDS – TENJHO TENGE
GAI/ROCK LEE – MASTER/STUDENT – NARUTO
KATSUHIKO/NANAMI
(THE JINNAIS) – BROTHER AND SISTER – EL HAZARD
KEIKO/IZUMI –
MOTHER/DAUGHTER – PRINCESS NINE
MIYU/YAMATO –
ENGAGED – SUPERGALS
TAMAYO/KOTAROU – CHILDHOOD FRIENDS –
ANGELIC LAYER
RALLY/MINNIE MAY –
WORKING PARTNERS – GUNSMITH CATS
ROY/HUGHES –
FRIENDS IN THE MILITARY – FULL METAL ALCHEMIST
SAGA/REGGINA –
GRANDAUGHTER AND GRANDMOTHER – TINY SNOW FAIRY SUGAR
SARA/YAKUMO – BEST
FRIENDS – SCHOOL RUMBLE
SOUSUKE/KANAME –
CLASSMATES – FULL METAL PANIC
TYLOR/YAMAMOTO
– CAPTAIN AND LIETUENANT – IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR
*
(Shot of the cabin home of Kino’s Shishou or master, where she and Kino are enjoying a relax along with 20 other guests and Yuko among them. Yuko takes the time to narrate…)
Yuko: This is a cabin home of a famous master of gun, literary and martial arts where, now semi-retired, this veteran is the teacher of Kino, a master gunslinger in her own right. This quaint river home, surrounded by natural woodland and peace, was the 2nd Pit Stop on a race around the anime world. Teams arrive here for a mandatory rest, which allows them to eat…
(Shot of Shishou’s home made cooking, which Kino is trying her best not to drool at herself. Kaname, Tylor and Roy seem to be the ones who are enjoying it the most…)
Yuko: …sleep…
(Rally finally managed to get her hands on Saga but Saga decided to take a nap – Rally realised it was real after 2 hours of waiting for her to get up…)
Yuko: …and mingle with the other teams.
(Shot of some teams doing what they normally do, Nagi is training in a lake as Bob jogs, Izumi joins him as does Miyu, whilst Kino is training with Rally on the side, as Keiko and Yakumo have a relaxing talk on the side, lastly Nanami joins Reggina for some wisdom…the poor girl needs it…)
Yuko: The 10 teams have no idea what is in store for them. They must find the yellow and red route markers on this trip around the world…which will bring more surprises than they probably expected. Will alliances be made? Will friendships be broken? Will anyone like Jinnai?
(Silence…)
*
Yuko: Miyu and Yamato, who were the first to arrive at
4.35pm…will depart at 4.35am.
(Shot of the lovely couple quite refreshed as they open the clue…)
Miyu: Yuko has arranged this trip for you so drive yourselves to the Land of Wizards and get ready for some primitive flying…
*
(Shot of Yuko at a small field overseeing what appears to be a tunnel created by magic. Yuko smiles as she explains this first part.)
Yuko: Teams must travel via motorrad to the Land of Wizards – a town ironically more agricultural based, yet here is where a primitive flying machine captured the heart of our Kino here. Once there, they must find a girl named Nimya, the inventor of this machine, and take a ride over to this field, where they will return back to the main world thanks to my intervention. Once there, they will arrive in Narita, where they will head over to Haneda Airport, where they will find their next clue at the doors.
*
Miyu: …you have 9000 yen for this leg of the race…let’s go Yamato-kun!
Yamato: Right behind you Miyu!
Miyu: Winning that leg was the best thing that can happen – not only did it prove we can do this, it made other teams wary of us. Not that’s a good thing as people will see us as a threat, but at the same time, it will give respect to us that we’re not pushovers. We intend to stay in this lead.
(Yamato goes in front as Miyu tightens her grip around his waist as they make sure Yume is powered up, Miyu gets the map and they begin to ride…)
*
Miyu: Ah, the breeze feels good Yamato-kun…
Yamato: Better enjoy it…this could be a trip we’re not going to enjoy…but at least we’re returning to Japan, though at an airport…
Miyu: Not to worry! Most of these teams are as new as us when it comes to planes…
*
4.46AM
SARA/YAKUMO – 2ND PLACE
Sara: …land of Wizards…
Yakumo: Sara, we’d best hurry…
Sara: Yeah, we can’t beat those two on the bike and we’ve only got a minute head start…though maybe…
Yakumo: Sara…we shouldn’t…
Sara: I know…causing an accident by embarrassment isn’t funny…
(Yakumo tries to scan Sara’s mind to see if she was serious or not…results were inconclusive…)
Yakumo: Sara is coming out of her shell more than I am
here, and it’s working. Some of the stronger teams are worried about what we
can do…and I must admit that I’m enjoying being in the top half than the
bottom…
*
4.47AM
BOB/NAGI – 3RD PLACE
Nagi: O.K, let’s get on the bike and see if we can get ahead…
Bob: You just don’t want blondie distracting you again right?
Nagi: Shut up! And I’m blonde as well!
(Bob just smiles as they hop on Chiaki…)
Bob: Nagi is enjoying himself, no matter how hard he
denies it. It’s competition, he’s come 1st, then 3rd, and
wants to stay in those three places…specifically the first one. He knows when
to have fun and when to kick ass, so I’m not worried…and if I am, a quick punch
to the face usually sorts things out…
(With the Rumble girls literally 60 seconds ahead of them, Bob checks the map once and begins to drive…)
*
Sara: Shall I let them pass?
(Shot of Bob coming up fast – obviously Bob’s motorcycle skills are superior to everyone in the race anyway, so Yakumo just nods…)
Yakumo: We’re all going to the same place…
Sara: …just we know where we’re going.
(Bob and Nagi pass the Rumble girls as Bob smiles…)
Bob: Time to put this baby into overdrive…
(Bob turns on the gas as they begin to stretch their lead…)
*
4.54AM – SAGA/REGGINA – 4TH PLACE
(Shot of the German team opening their clue and reading…)
Saga: Let’s go grandma, hurry hurry!
Reggina: Oh, this is the spirit of winning!
Saga: Yes…and I don’t want May and Rally after my blood again…
(Reggina chuckles…)
Reggina: Saga is very smart and very determined, but
she’s still just a young girl. Everyone here is older than her and she is
treated like a kid – which does annoy her slightly. She wants to prove that she
is as good, if not better, than the teams here…hopefully she can get that
chance…
(The Gutsy Granny and her lovely granddaughter hop on Sugar, and try their best to try and get to the top 3…)
*
4.56AM – MAY/RALLY
(Both girls sneeze…)
Rally: Damn, I know that in Japan you sneeze if someone is talking about you, but did it apply to German girls?
May: Whatever, let’s ride…
(The two hop on, and begin to see if can they get their vengeance…)
Rally: I will admit that my ego had a little hitch
when Reggina beat me on the bikes – but it also proved that anybody can do well
in this race. I’m not underestimating those girls anymore, nor anyone else. The
race is on baby, and the wind is blowing through my hair in anticipation of
what may happen next…
*
5.00AM
(Shot of Miyu and Yamato arriving at the lands of
Wizards…)
Miyu: That was quick…
Yamato: Let’s see what we have to wait for…
(The early morning sun is rising as they look for Nimya…it quickly becomes obvious where she lives…)
Miyu: The plane over there a give away?
Yamato: Pretty much…
(The two run over…just as the door opens and a yawning but mostly genki girl in what looks like dusty brown pilot clothes approaches…)
Miyu: You were waiting for us?
Nimya: Nah…this is just when I start.
(Yamato sees the sign – OPEN FROM 5AM TO 7PM…)
Yamato: Luck is definitely on our side…
Nimya: So…you’re first up?
Miyu: Yeah…but is there only one plane?
Nimya: Yeah, but apparently after I gave Yuko some of my blueprints, she said she’ll be able to send back the plane after you’ve finished straight back…
(Both sweatdrop)
Miyu: Miyu is afraid of Yuko…
Nimya: Well, all aboard!
(Nimya supplies goggles for the two as she begins the piloting. It’s rickety and it’s slow to take off, but once it does…)
Miyu: Yay!
(Nimya slow ascends and then as the island comes into quick view, she begins to descend. It’s a simple ride and fast, so Yuko is already awaiting them as they land…)
Yuko: O.K, you can just turn and move forward…
Nimya: But the island is too small to rise…
Yuko: Just trust me.
(Nimya shrugs as the Gals reps get out and Yuko shows them…a door…in the island.)
Miyu: Dare I ask…how the heck?
Yuko: There is only destiny…but do you take it?
Miyu: Ah, what the heck…
(Miyu grabs Yamatos hand and they enter the door…which is one of Yuko’s tunnels. It’s a short jog away as they exit a Kingdom Hearts-esque keyhole (and not one of my rare jabs at Acen)…)
*
(…and arrive at a bus station outside Haneda airport.)
Miyu: Back in Japan…
Yamato: So clue?
(The two look as they realise the clue isn’t nearby. They see the route marker in the distance on a terminal waiting as they run like heck…they open…)
MIYU-YAMATO – 1ST AT ROUTE MARKER
Miyu: Travel to Hakodate, Hokkaido by plane and then locate the Akanagi Fish Store…
*
(We cut to our first host today, and considering she’s a talk host by profession it’s quite appropriate. Meet Shoko Saibara, the talk show host of the popular Cappuccino Break, a talk show where people give their romance questions to Shoko who answers them on air.)
Shoko: Teams must travel to Hakodate, Hokkaido, and then locate this popular fish market run by the Akanagi family. It is there, where teams will find their next clue.
*
Miyu: Cool, we’re flying now!
Yamato: We just flew…but O.K, we need to get to Hakodate…but when do the buses move?
Miyu: We can just walk to the terminal there and ask….
Yamato: Fine, let’s go.
(The two move…as back at Shishou’s…)
*
5.06AM
SOUSUKE/KANAME – 6TH PLACE
Kaname: …O.K, Wizards…not like that’s too farfetched…
Sousuke: The only magic which I know of is…
Kaname: Don’t even go there…we’re getting away from Mythril here, this time we work for true reward, so I’m dragging you away from work even if it kills me…
(Sousuke isn’t dragged, but instead gets the surprisingly tight grip of Kaname around his waist as they begin to ride…)
Kaname: This idiot would be lost here without me, but
at the time, he can kick ass. If we can just keep at it and avoid any problems,
we’ll be back in the upper half – we just need the right leg…
*
5.07AM – LAND OF WIZARDS
(Shot of Bob and Nagi arriving at the land and they’ve made good time…)
Bob: I rock.
Nagi: Yeah yeah…
(The two run off as they’ve obviously overtaken the girls as they easily spot the plane, Nagi smirks.)
Nagi: Only one…that means the girls have to wait. Excellent.
Bob: You just want to make sure you’re not near them right?
Nagi: Shut up.
(Shot of Nimya already waiting after Yuko’s help got her back. Bob and Nagi run over…)
Nimya: So you big strapping boys going to take a ride?
Nagi: That was so wrong…
(Nimya sets them up, as Nagi strains his ears to listen for a motorrad…none coming…)
Nagi: O.K, let’s get this show on the road!
Nimya: Roger!
(The plane takes off as the wavy ride is soon over, as Nagi seems to keep looking over his shoulder…)
Bob: Nagi, eyes up front…
Nagi: Oh sure…
(The two land as Yuko welcomes them into the portal – the two run quickly…)
*
Yamato: Bob and Nagi…
(The two spot them exiting as they turn to enter a terminal, which was a longer way away than they expected…)
Miyu: Let’s just see…
(Early morning of course and the first flights are being set up – they check out someone at Nippon Airlines…)
Miyu: Excuse me, we need to get to Hakkodate…
(Miyu quickly does catch attention and an attendant quickly searches online…)
Attendant: The first flight to Hakkodate is at 7am…
Miyu: Yay!
Attendant: …unfortunately, it’s sold out.
(Miyu nearly faints, but Yamato catches her.)
Yamato: When is the next flight?
Attendant: Let’s see…(types)…that would be at 10.40am. Standby on the first flight is already full as it’s the first flight to Hokkaido…
Yamato: Fine, we’ll take the 10.40 then…
(The two get the tickets…)
Miyu: We could all be together again…
Yamato: Well, it worked last time – we got to the top. This time we’ve got to stay…
*
Bob: More planes huh?
Nagi: And no idea when or where we are going to go, so just go blindly…
Bob: That, or just go into one of the terminals that other people are going…even at just past 5, it’s busy.
Nagi: Your common sense scares me sometimes…
*
5.11am
(Shot of Sara and Yakumo with Nimya as they begin to fly…)
Sara: In AR news, a miracle has occurred…Nagi knew what he was doing!
Yakumo: Sara…
(Joking aside, the two land safely as Yuko let’s them travel…)
*
5.15am
TYLOR/YAMAMOTO – 7TH PLACE
Tylor: Land of Wizards…a magical place, I like it!
Yamamoto: Whatever Captain, let’s just make sure we don’t lag too far behind now…
Tylor: Yes sir…
(Yamamoto takes to the motorrad…)
Yamamoto: It’s been a mixed back of tricks so far,
luck has been on and off for us, and we want to win with skill. We are going
through this a bit half eaten and we need to go full throttle. The Captain will
have to adjust to prove he is not just a captain in name…
(The two begin their ride as back at the airport…)
*
Miyu: …we might as well tell you because it’s obvious – the fight we’ve got is the 10.40am as the 7am is fully booked…
(Yamato even shows Bob the ticket…)
Yamato: A police officer doesn’t lie…
Nagi: Fine…we’d best get in line then.
(They do and fortunately it’s not too long as they get their tickets to Hakkodate, as Miyu and Yamato find a space to try and get comfy…)
Miyu: This is the hard part…the waiting…
*
Sara: Looks like we’ve got a happy crowd!
Miyu: Ah, girls!
Yamato: You mean my company isn’t enough…
Miyu: But Miyu is afraid of men…you know that…
Yamato: Nice try…you’re tougher than anybody here and you know it…
(Miyu bobs her tongue out at Yamato as Yakumo smiles. The two are beginning the same routine and get the same answer…)
Attendant: We can only book you on the 10.40am.
Sara: Fine…it’s a direct flight…can’t be much better…
*
5.25am – SAGA/REGGINA
(Saga and Reggina are on the plane as Rally and May are forced to wait…)
Rally: I’ve suddenly got an urge to put Saga in a bag…
May: Beat us again huh?
(The two go through the routine of getting through the portal and to the airport. They quickly locate the clue…)
Saga: Hakkodate…plane?
(Saga smiles…)
Saga: O.K, let’s find a phone…
Reggina: This is your domain Saga.
Saga: (smiles) I’m nothing if I’m not prepared.
Saga: The airport is 10 minutes away…yet that would be
too obvious. Everyone in their state and them being Japanese mostly would go
straight to the first option. I learned about travel before I came in Japan and
how to prepare. We need every advantage we can get…
(Shot of Saga and Reggina hiding out of shot as a few minutes later, Rally and May pop into view…)
Rally: Gah…airports…
May: Clue first, then moan.
(Rally and May quickly search, completely miss Saga on the phone, and then see the route marker…they open…)
Rally: I don’t think this will be as convenient as it will ever be…let’s get our butts over there and go strangle Saga…
May: Roger that!
(In the phone booth…)
Saga: *sneezes* Excuse me…
Operator: No worries young lady. Now, the first flight directly to Hakkodate is at 10.40am…
Saga: Is there something earlier that connected to Hakkodate that would arrive before 10.40am?
Operator: Well…yes…there is a flight at 7.40am to Okadame, and then a connection flight to Hakodate at 10.15am…
Saga: That’s a 25 minute advantage over any teams on the direct flight automatically not to mention the time it takes to get there…
Operator: It’s about 50 minutes from Okadame to Hakkodate, and about 1 hrs 20 minutes from Haneda to Hakkodate.
Saga: That works…can we get that?
(A few tense moments…)
Operator: Yes, you are on the flight, a miss Saga and Reggina Bergman. You can collect your tickets from the Nippon Collection Counter immediately.
Saga: We’ll be there in 10 minutes…thank you ever so much!
(Saga puts the phone down and Reggina hugs her granddaughter…)
Reggina: You were wonderful!
Saga: I wonder how many others thought of this…
*
(Answer…)
Rally: So we’re all on the same flight then?
(Shot of Rally and May with their Hakkodate 10.40am tickets…)
Yakumo: Um…you said you saw Saga before you?
Rally: Yeah, that cute little brat seems to enjoy just beating me to the punch…never thought they’d be so much trouble…
May: The point I think Yakumo is trying to say, is that they’re not here.
Rally: Ah…there’s a point…
Yamato: Odd…
Bob: Maybe they’re just waiting for a bus…Reggina is in her 60s remember, they may want to rest as much as they can…
Nagi: Considering we’re on the same flight, I don’t think it matters anyway…
*
(Shot of Saga and Reggina using a different entrance after asking about the signs and where to pick up tickets (they don’t know katagana well, but Saga’s cuteness is a universal language and gets help easily), avoiding the other teams spotting them as they go to the counter…)
Worker: The Bergman’s?
Saga: Yes!
(They hand over their tickets to Saga as they bow and look for the flight info…)
Saga: Nippon Airways, Gate 5 at 7.40am…
Reggina: We’ve got 2 hours now to kill without the other teams noticing what we did…
Saga: Not a problem…
(Reggina is surprised at Saga’s confidence…)
*
5.35am
(Shot of Kaname and Sousuke now back in Tokyo, as they head over to the terminals…)
(…all the teams are now there, and Saga is now showing her skills as a storyteller…keep that in mind…)
Saga: We got the same ones as you; we just booked them by phone…we didn’t feel like running especially when we learned there was plenty of seats available…
Bob: Fair enough…
Miyu: Ah, Sousuke and Kana-chan are here!
Kaname: KANA-CHAN?
(Sousuke and Kaname get ready to get in line, as Reggina looks over two gates across…the line to Okadame…)
*
Kaname: So, we might as well just find a place to sit and rest now for the next few hours if everyone is going to be here…
Sousuke: Chidori, this is a dangerous environment..we should…
(Kaname gets the Harisen out…)
Miyu: This is so similar to Naka-sen and Ran it’s not even funny…though if feels more like Ran is battling with Rei-kun…
(Shot of Saga and Nagi trying to ‘avoid’ Rally and Sara respectively as they now have a lot of time to kill…O.K, all but one team…)
*
5.40AM
(Shot of Tylor and Yamamoto on the plane (being used to it) and then getting weirded out by the portal that Yuko has created, before reaching Haneda…)
Tylor: Airports? Spaceports? Same thing…
Yamamoto: Captain, this time isn’t as confusing as how you’re trying to make it out to be…we’d better find the clue…
(They do so quickly, and begin to walk to the main terminal as they are about to get a greeting from the other teams…)
*
Tylor: We’re even, we’re happy and…
Kaname: Do you want to get hit?
Tylor: Scary Yuriko lady…
Yamamoto: No, I just think that is just the natural reaction of anybody near you which isn’t on the Soyokaze…
Tylor: Ah, you worry too much…we’re all together right?
(Cue…)
Saga: Excuse me, where are the toilets? I can’t read the…
Miyu: Over there sweetie – it’s all the way down though…
Saga: Thanks – Grandma, can you come with me please?
(Reggina gets what Saga is up to…)
Reggina: Of course dear…
(Saga grabs her grandmothers hand to head over to the toilets…or should I say, wait in line for their flight to Okadame, which is 2 hours away…)
Sara: Hope they don’t get lost…
Miyu: Aw, they’ll be fine. They’re the one team no-one can hate anyway, they haven’t got a sneaky bone in their body…
*
5.55am
ROY/HUGHES – 8TH PLACE
Hughes: O.K, let’s rock and roll…
Roy: Let’s just get up the pack…
(The two get on their motorrad and begin another treacherous navigation…)
Roy: Being from the past in a world that doesn’t seem
to be comprehended by the other teams is a real disadvantage – and even in
worlds like this one when we’re on equal footing we still tend to suck at. So
now it’s not Roy Mustang who is playing – it’s the Flame Alchemist, and I’m
ready to roast…
*
(Back at the airport, teams are now having a walk around with all the time in the world to spare, shot of Miyu and Yamato walking with Sara and Yakumo, looking at souvenirs…shot of Tylor and Yamamoto just looking around at the airport, Kaname occasionally hitting Sousuke when his nature around the crowded airport appears to get the better of him, and Rally and May enjoying a coffee with Bob and Nagi – unaware that about 50 feet away from them, Saga and Reggina are currently getting ready to get into the waiting area upstairs for their flight…)
*
6.02AM
KATSUHIKO/NANAMI (TEAM JINNAI) – 9TH PLACE
Jinnai: Ha ha! We are off to a world of magic…perfect!
Nanami: It won’t be that easy considering where we are at the moment brother…
Jinnai: We were able to dispose of those ninjas and everyone was afraid of them, and those two behind us are terrified…
Nanami: It was blind luck brother, and the last thing I want on my back is that scary baseball girl’s eyes stuck in my back…
Jinnai: Then let’s dominate!
(Jinnai laughs as Nanami shakes her head…)
Nanami: I’m amazed we’re still in this already – the
setbacks and lack of communication between us and yet we’re still here. I know
when I’m screwed and yet I don’t feel that yet…my brother is a pain in the ass,
but when it comes to being ruthless, he is unbeatable, and I get the feeling,
like it or not, we’re going to need that…
(The two hop on their motorrad (Groucho of course) and begin to navigate their way to the Land of Wizards…)
*
6.10AM
Keiko: Land of Wizards…
Izumi: Let’s go mother, those bastards in front of us only left a few minutes ago…
Keiko: Izumi, language…
Izumi: I’m sorry mother, but that is the NICEST thing I can call them…
Izumi: Being in last is something neither myself or my
mother are used to and we’ve been near the back for both legs so far. And I’m
sick of it…but worse, one team has really being pissing me off, namely the
Jinnais. I don’t mind over-confidence, heck, I can be guilty of it, but his
verges on insanity and wanting to crush every team here. I’m not exactly friendly
with any of the teams, but the one thing I know they would agree with me…we
want the Jinnais out of the race.
(Keiko boogies as they drive like heck…)
*
6.25AM
(Shot of Roy and Maes entering Haneda after their own little detour through Yuko’s portal…)
Roy: The more things change, the more they stay the same…
Hughes: Yeah, just face facts and admit we’re confused…
(After getting the clue, they realise they have to get to the terminals – fortunately the buses are up and running and they catch one to get there quickly…where they are immediately welcomed into the world of airport frenzy…)
*
Roy: So…we have to get tickets to this place…
(One of the Nippon Airways staff explains it to them…they are directed to the queuing area for the flight they need to get to…seeing the queues also makes Hughes notice something…)
Hughes: Hmm…none of the teams seem to be around, yet I’m certain…
Roy: Huh, what?
(Hughes shakes his head…)
Hughes: Must be my fatherly instict, but I’m certain I saw Saga-chan in a queue as we waited here…is this the right one?
(Confirmation on being on the direct flight at 10.40am to Hakkodate makes Roy happy…)
Roy: It’s right – you must have been mistaken. If everyone is on this flight, we’re all even…
Hughes: I guess I must have been seeing things…lack of sleep…
Rally: Ah!
(Roy smiles…)
Roy: Caught up I’m afraid, and we need a rematch!
Rally: Heh, you don’t have a chance old man…
Roy: HEY, I’M IN MY TWENTIES! AT LEAST I DON’T HAVE A KID…
May: WH-AT W-AS T-HAT?
(May goes into giggly psycho mode as Roy smartly backs off – if he used his flame abilities on her, he’d probably find himself on the barbeque as well…)
Hughes: Where are the others?
(Shot of Bob and Nagi joining them…)
Bob: Everyone has split up and just doing a bit of walking around – we’re all gonna be on the same flight unless they sell out before the other teams coming in…
Hughes: It’s just the brother/sister and mother/daughter combos left to come right?
Nagi: Yeah…man, I wanna smack that punk Jinnai in the mouth so bad…his laughing in his sleep last night was so f***ing annoying…
Hughes: Language…
Bob: Sorry, just we got the short straw when sharing rooms last night in the cabin…
Roy: Oh yeah…
Nagi: Hey, you tried to swap straws so you could be with the girls!
Roy: Me?
(Shot of Yakumo and Kaname in unison getting a twitch…)
Kaname: For some reason I want to smack Roy Mustang in the mouth now…
*
6.30AM
(Shot of team Jinnai also making the flight across to Yuko – one victory laugh through the portal and the Jinnai’s get their next clue…)
Jinnai: Ah, so now we travel to conquer the race in style! First class only…
Nanami: It’s economy only stupid…
Jinnai: You mean I have to share with the ignorant masses on that plane?
Nanami: Yes, and what’s more, you’re going to shut up about it unless you want to be thrown off the plane!
Jinnai: Jesus, what torture have I come for?
(Nonetheless, the two wait for a shuttle to come, and hope on, occasionally making sure the Himuros aren’t there…)
*
6.40AM
(They were 10 minutes behind though after finding the Land and then heading to the plane to Yuko…once at the airport and find the clue, they are all business though…)
Keiko: Here’s one…
Izumi: Right…
(The two hope on a shuttle just passing and immediately run…)
*
Nanami: Thank you very much…
Jinnai: That took us longer than expected…
Nanami: Well, it doesn’t help when you ask help to find the right agency by calling the staff ‘hey ignorant person…’
(Seeing the Jinnais get their tickets to the 10.40am is not a good sight as Miyu and Yamato see them return…)
Miyu: So we are all on this flight, unless they are sold out and the Himuros miss it…
Jinnai: Ah ha, we’ve caught up! And now it’s our time to dominate!
Miyu: (sighs) Sara-chan? Can you exorcise him please?
Sara: (sighs) As much as I would like to, it might constitute as a time penalty for affecting the opposition…
Yamato: Trust me on this – if we got all the other teams permission saying you’ll do it, we’ll share the time penalty…he’s got to be possessed or something…
Yakumo: He is…unnerving…
Sousuke: Do you want me to de-stablise him?
Kaname: Time penalty?
Yamato: Sara, can you echo what I said to you for them as well…
(Despite the Jinnai torture, they spot the Himuros coming down. Izumi ignores the Jinnais and the other teams for the moment and wait patiently to see if they can get on this flight…)
Assistant: Yes, we’ve got a few seats left…you’re on the 10.40am flight to Hakkodate.
Keiko: Was there a rush of other two people teams that came here for this flight in the last few hours?
Assistant: Yes, about 7 or 8 pairs…
Keiko: Excellent.
(They go, but Izumi notes…)
Izumi: 7 or 8…but there are 10 teams…
Keiko: She may have got it wrong…(calls)…Yamazaki-san, did everyone get their tickets here?
Miyu: Yes – Miyu and Yamato were the first here, and everyone has come to this counter, except for Saga-chan, they got theirs from the phone.
Keiko: Good.
(Izumi however notes that a few teams aren’t around, specifically Saga and Reggina…)
Izumi: Something’s not right…
*
(Attention – boarding is now ready for the 7.40am
flight from Haneda to Okadame, Hokkaido…)
(Shot of Saga and Reggina standing up, ready to get in their seats and praying this works…)
Reggina: For us, this could pay off big time.
Saga: I know…I don’t want the others to think bad of me – especially May, Miyu and Sara – but we need every chance we can get…
Reggina: I know dear…if this works…
(Saga clutches her grandmother’s hand as they board the plane, as 40 minutes later they will know if their gamble has paid off…)
Saga: Greta told me before we left – you’re my rival
so don’t embarrass me. If you need to play sneakily, do it. It’s not your
style, but in a race of athletes, you won’t win. She’s right…and it’s not being
sneaky, it’s preparing ahead. I just hope this doesn’t make me hated…they are
some great people here but I want to win as much as they do…
*
(We fast forward a bit as a few teams catch a bit more sleep if they can, except the noise makes it hard, and Izumi is very concerned…)
Izumi: Something isn’t right mother…I’ve think every team is walking around except for the German pair.
Keiko: Miyu said they were all waiting at the counter and now they are doing their own thing…
Izumi: I know – and we’re caught up with everyone, but I just can’t shake the fact that I can’t find them…are they doing something else or…
Keiko: Izumi, those two are the friendliest people on this race – they know they can’t win and are just enjoying their time as best as they can…they won’t be here because they’re in Japan for the first time and probably just taking in a few sights…I mean, look there…
(Shot of Roy and Hughes taking in the large bustling airport atmosphere outside…)
Keiko: I wouldn’t worry.
(Izumi nods, but she still is concerned…)
*
7.40AM
(Nobody picks up on the last calls for the flight to Hokkaido and a shot of Saga and Reggina relaxing as best as they can as they fly out…)
Yuko: Saga and Reggina are on a 7.40am flight to
Okadame, with a connecting flight to Hakkodate at 10.15am. Everyone else is on
a direct flight to Hakkodate at 10.40am.
(It’s going to be a long wait, and Izumi has another problem…Jinnai.)
Jinnai: …listen, you don’t have to be in my face to realising your own incompetence woman!
Izumi: I’m not – I’m just saying what no-one else has the guts to say – you’re a moron of the upmost highest quality and I hope you get thrown off the plane into a volcano in Guam…
Jinnai: Ha, you think that, but in reality you realise you’re no match for me, so you’re taking it out on…
Izumi: Oh, so the fact that everyone hates your guts has escaped your attention then. Must be nice to be ignorant…or stupid.
Jinnai: Woman, do you know who I am?
Izumi: An idiot, a moron, a guy whose ass would be broken in half by at least half the people here, myself included, if it wasn’t for the rules?
(Bob, Nagi, Sara, Yakumo, Kaname, Sousuke, Miyu, Yamato, Rally, May, Roy and Hughes, all in different locations, all seem to want to agree on something…whilst Tylor enjoys a panini bread in a café and Yamamoto enjoys a coffee…)
Nanami: Hold it there…
(Surprisingly, his sister breaks them up…)
Nanami: Hey, don’t get me wrong – this guy is a pain in the ass and you have no idea what he done to me and my friends in the past…but…
(Nanami puts her foot down…)
Nanami: …he’s still my brother and my teammate, and whilst we will want to kill each other on the race, I want to win the money. And if we have to use his tactics to do it, so be it. So mark my words Himuro, if you get in our way, you’re going down…
(Izumi pauses for a moment…)
Izumi: We’ll see.
(Izumi simply walks off, perhaps surprised by Nanami’s interruption there but she walks over to join Team Tylor for a drink…)
Yamamoto: Miss Himuro, are you O.K?
Keiko: I think so…but my daughter…
Tylor: What’s wrong?
Izumi: Don’t say anything…I’ll probably snap at you as well, and at least for the time being, you haven’t deserved it…
Yamamoto: That’s…a first…the Jinnais I guess?
Keiko: Yeah…my daughter’s headstrong, and she’s used to arguing, but normally it’s out of respect – not out of hate.
(The Jinnais sit down on a bench, as they all get a chance to cool off…)
*
(Fast forward to 9.15am as Saga and Reggina dock off at
Okadame…)
9.15AM – OKADAME (SAGA/REGGINA)
Saga: We’ve literally got an hour to make the connecting flight to Hakkodate…let’s see…
(They hope on a shuttle to a terminal, and Saga asks an attendant for help due to her lack of written Japanese…)
Attendant: Sure – Hakkodate flights are at Terminal 5 – the shuttle from here to the terminal should be here in 5 minutes…
Saga: Thank you very much…
(The two wait in the shuttle queue…)
*
9.20AM
(Now another team realises something is wrong…)
Yakumo: Sara…
Sara: Yeah, I noticed. All the teams are gathering…
Yakumo: But where’s Saga-chan and Reggina-san…
Sara: Izumi seemed a little concerned about them – and that means two options. One, they are looking round and lost track of time or two…
Yakumo: …they’ve…
Sara: …they’ve found another flight. (Sara checks the time) I’m going to make a phone call…Yakumo…
(The two slip out of sight as Sara makes a phone call to the front desk…)
Sara: Excuse me, but where there any connecting flights that could have been made to Hakkodate aside from the direct one at 10.40am…
(A few moments…)
Attendant: There were two. A 9.15am flight to New Chitose
and then from there to Hakkodate at 11.35am…or a 7.40am flight from Okodame and
then connecting in Kaoodate at 10.15am.
Sara: I see…and by any chance on the earlier flight, was there two friends of ours on there named Saga and Reggina Bergman?
(Another moment of pause…)
Attendant: Yes, I can confirm they were on that flight. It will have just landed in Okadame so it’s a tight connection, but it’s possible.
Sara: I see…thank you.
(Ending the call…)
Sara: Those two may have gotten on a flight connecting and could arrive quite a bit before us…if they make it.
Yakumo: It’s quite risky though…
Sara: If they did do it though…and it works…
(Sara smiles)
Sara: …good for them. They feel they can’t win or people think they can’t…and they may have outsmarted all of us…or of course could be in last. But they could…
Yakumo: …have a huge advantage.
Sara: We’ll keep it quiet until we’re on the plane…makes it more fun to see the shocks on their faces…
Yakumo: Sara, you’re having too much fun with this…
*
(Shot of Saga and Reggina trotting as quickly as possible after the shuttle drops them at Terminal 5. They find the queue to Hakkodate, and see the flight is boarding at 9.50am.)
Reggina: Half an hour in line…
(The line isn’t huge thankfully, and in 20 minutes…)
Attendant: Ah, you speak Japanese!
Saga: Yep, we’re German but we’re enjoying this trip…
Attendant: Well, aren’t you sweet? Well, we’ll be boarding in 10 minutes and leaving at 10.15 on the dot, so just sit down and I hope you enjoy your trip.
Reggina: (smiles) We will, thank you.
(As soon as they are through security, Saga jumps and squeals…)
Saga: We did it!
Reggina: You’re were magnificent Saga…
(The two hug as Saga cries a little…)
Saga: This is proof that we can race with the best of
them and if everything works out, we’ll have at least an hour and a half
advantage over everyone else. Sometimes it’s not the strongest, it’s the
smartest who wins, and here, I can take pride that a 13 year old girl
outsmarted all those adults…
*
10.00AM
(All the teams back at Haneda now are ready to board for the 10.40am flight and now they realise in queue, they are short one team…)
Hughes: Hey…they aren’t here!!!
Roy: Who?
Hughes: The little girl and her grandma…
Jinnai: Ha, they got lost…
Sara: (smiles) I don’t think so…
Hughes: Sara-chan?
Roy: You said you saw them in a queue but I thought you were just hallucinating…
Izumi: But this is the only direct flight there as we missed the early one…
Miyu: Yes, we couldn’t get on the earliest one so there’s no way…
Sara: There was ANOTHER flight we didn’t know about and somehow they did – I just checked it. There was a connecting flight in Okodame…
Rally: Okodame…
Tylor: Oh, it’s in Hokkaido…
(A few mouths drop…)
Kaname: When did that go?
Sara: At 7.40am. And a connecting flight at 10.15am – they may have missed it as it’s a tight connection, but…
Nagi: …if they made it…
(Bob chuckles…)
Nagi: Bob?
Bob: You do realise…we’ve just got owned by an 13 year old German girl…
Jinnai: They…they won’t have made it – I refuse to be beaten that way…
Yamato: Face it…they planned ahead, and they are now ahead of us…if they got on. (chuckles) And I can’t hate them for it…they outsmarted all of us…
(The one smiling the most is Rally…)
Rally: I knew it…I knew those two would be trouble…Saga, I swear I will be getting you once I see you…
Rally: From what Sara said, Saga and Reggina may have
found an earlier flight through a connection, and from Izumi and Hughes said,
they managed to avoid being noticed for a while. All I can say is…well done you
little girl Saga, you managed to somehow shoot down 18 people’s egos in one
shot and realise…you want to win. And you CAN win…
10.15AM
(Shot of Saga and Reggina taking off to Hakkodate…)
Saga: Celebrate grandma?
Reggina: Of course.
(They settle for orange juice, but it’s a short kampai for the two as they get ready to race…)
*
10.40AM
HANEDA TO HAKKODATE
(All the other 9 teams are now heading directly to Hakkodate, all in shock, amusement or despair of the knowledge of Saga and Reggina’s earlier flight – whilst some hold onto the fact they have missed it, most of them are accepting that they are on there…)
*
11.05AM
HAKKODATE, HOKKAIDO
(…and they’re right. Shot of Saga and Reggina taking in the colder area and they quickly add coats to their clothing apparel, though being in a town bordering Austria, they are more used to it than other teams…)
Saga: Taxi, where’s…ah!
(Saga and Reggina quickly get in a taxi rank and not too long as they are picked up…)
Reggina: Akanagi Fish Market please?
(The driver gives a thumbs up as they get ready to travel to downtown Hakkodate for some fishy fun…)
*
(It’s a bit of a drive into the main centre, and the traffic is mostly packed. However, upon entry to the large market centre, Saga and Reggina get off and realise they are better off walking…)
Saga: So the market is somewhere down there?
Driver: Yes – it’s near the bottom but traffic is horrendous there…
Saga: Thank you!
(The two run down a bit as they quickly realise they don’t have to run. They enjoy the larget marketplace, very similar to their hometown in many respects, and after a few pointers from strangers, they get to the fishmarkets…)
Reggina: O.K, Akanagi…Akanagi…how I wish I could read Japanese…
Saga: Grandma, over there!
(Where words fail, visuals succeed. The red and yellow marker with the envelopes are on and ready. Saga trots her little self over there and grabs the clue…)
Saga: (opens it) A detour!
SAGA/REGGINA – 1ST TO DETOUR (11.34AM)
Reggina: Fish…or Finn…
*
(Shot of our next host, the genki shop worker and daughter of the main businesswoman, Atsuko Akanagi. She’s the epitome of a tomboy, but she’s cute and bubbly, always working hard even when her friends are all having fun at college. She’s our next host for the race.)
Atsuko: A detour is a choice between two tasks, each with
it’s own pros and cons. In this detour, teams must take on board two words
which sound appropriate, but in fact are very different…fish or finn.
*
(Shot of the market where Atsuko is shown with a helper as she rushes across taking boxes of fish, small and large, crabs, squid, lobster, etc. And of course, she falls at one point…she recovers though to explain the detour.)
Atsuko: In Fish, teams must complete 5 deliveries of 5 different ingredients to five locations around Hakkodate. Supplied with a map, they must find the right location and give the right ingredient to each location and get a stamp confirming they’ve done it. Once they’ve got 5 stamps, they must return to this market, where my mom will give them the next clue.
(Shot of Atsuko rubbing her knee as she gets up…)
Atsuko: The task is right here so it’s convienent, but navigating the crowded streets of Hakkodate carrying fish may be extremely physical tiring. But if they can work up the strength and navigate well, they will finish fast.
(The next shot is of an ice skating rink. Here, we see a beautiful blonde gaijin girl spiralling on the ice like it was second nature. Two young Japanese boys are also with her as Atsuko explains the other detour…)
Atsuko: In Finn, teams must travel to Hoshimi in the nearby main town of Sapporo by train and find the Makomanai Ice Rink. Once there, they must find Suomi Kitano, a Finnish Olympic figure skating champion along with her two friends Haruto and Kuda. There, they must perform a four way circular motion across the ice individually. Once done, they will receive their next clue.
(Shot of the said motion with Suomi, Haruto and Kuda. Suomi is having a lot of fun but Haruto and Kuda seem to be a bit wary as she keeps going faster…)
Atsuko: The task is not physically demanding, but the time taking to locate the ice rink, not to mention getting on the ice, may take a while.
*
Saga: We can’t do fish…
Reggina: I have to agree…let’s find the train…
Saga: Sure…besides anything to do with snow will make me happy?
Reggina: Really…
Saga: (smiles) Really.
(The two begin to see if they can get a taxi to get to the main Hakkodate Station…)
*
(Shot of the other 9 teams on the plane as they realise that technically they are joint for last place…and thoughts spring to…)
Rally: With Saga possibly ahead of us it was a problem. On the other hand, if they missed their flight, they had already used the Fast Forward…and quite a few teams had their eyes on it…us included as we’re hoping we won’t be in Japan for a while…
Keiko: I think Izumi is getting fed up of being at the
back, and her temper is starting to catch up with her. I’ve suggested that
taking the Fast Forward to give us some breathing space now might be a good
idea…
Tylor: The Fast Forward is an ingenious idea! Get to the
front and not do any work…however, depending on what we have to do the Fast
Forward may be better when it’s something that doesn’t suck…
*
(Shot of a new host, film director in glasses, Kyoko Asahina (and the second Asahina to appear in just three legs and yes, joke on the film director…) takes the stage. Whilst quite demanding as a film director, she’s very talented and skilful and only wants to best. Now a lot calmer, she takes over hosting duties.)
Kyoko: There’s only one fast forward on this leg of the race – the team that gets the Fast Forward can skip all tasks and head straight to the Pit Stop. However, once a team uses the Fast Forward, they cannot use another one for the remainder of the race, so they must decide when it is most advantageous to go for it…
*
(Shot of a large sweet shop in the middle of Sapporo. Kyoko explains.)
Kyoko: To claim this Fast Forward, teams must go through over 100 boxes of Ryuon Confectionaries best jam based sweets, helped by worker Akari Harada (insert AR3 reference here). Throughout the amount of sweets, in one box under one of the holes they will find the Fast Forward, but they must eat the sweets before they can get it.
*
Saga: So when is the next train to Hoshimi?
Attendant: There’s one in about 8 minutes?
Reggina: That’s fine.
(The two pay…)
Saga: It’s probably quicker to do the other one for most of these teams, but hopefully we’ve still got a time advantage to take this detour…
Reggina: Of course, someone could take the Fast Forward…
Saga: (slaps her head) I forgot about that!
Reggina: Then let’s make sure we keep a good lead then…
Saga: Right!
11.50AM
(Shot of the two going to Hoshimi which is just two stops away and takes another 8 minutes…the two are more relaxed than any racer should have any right to be…)
*
11.58AM - HOSHIMI
(The two immediately hail a cab as they ask to get to the Makomanai Ice Rink – the driver is easily O.K with this as Saga checks the time…)
Saga: From now on here, the other teams will probably be docking in so we’d better hurry when we get there…
(The rink isn’t too far away and in about 5 minutes they make it – they immediately get in and ask the worker about their situation…)
Attendant: Just follow through there and get ready to be suited up…don’t worry, you won’t miss them…
(The two nod as Reggina chuckles a little…)
Reggina: A revisit to my youth now…
Reggina: I loved skating when I was young – Saga
herself is a good skater herself and I’m just wondering 50 years on can I still
even hold myself? Oh well…an old lady doesn’t have much fun and I’ve been
riding motorbikes already so let’s just see…
*
(Shot of Saga and Reggina changing and getting into ice skates. They steadily make themselves approach the rink where Suomi is fairly obviously – lean, trim, wavy blonde hair, creamy skin and opal eyes, she is clearly different from everyone else as the Finnish girl slowly down from a spin to see her first performers.)
Suomi: Wow, are you European?
Reggina: Yes, dear, we’re German…
Suomi: Wow! This is a first – I mean let’s have fun…eh? Haruto? Kuda?
(The two are very embarrassed about Saga…)
Kuda: Um…Miss…er…
Haruto: Hey, stop that!
Kuda: But she’s pretty!
Haruto: Oh…don’t make Suomi jealous then…
Kuda: Th-that’s…
(Saga tries not to be embarrassed, fortunately Suomi steps in.)
Suomi: O.K you mini-cassanovas – these two are here to skate and nothing more or less. So who goes first?
Reggina: I’ll go – I’ll need to get back into the swing of things…
Suomi: O.K Miss…Reggina if I remember?
(Reggina nods as Suomi takes her hand, Haruto takes Regginas and Kuda’s takes Suomi and Kuda’s. Reggina seems a bit tense…)
Suomi: You can skate right?
Reggina: Yes…though was a long time ago…
Suomi: Just let the guys lead you and follow through…we’ll go slow and if you want to speed up, just ask.
(Reggina nods as Suomi begins. It’s a slow pace, and Reggina’s knees buckle slightly as she has to get used to it. Suomi is able to adjust easily though her two young friends aren’t as skilled and have to adjust as well. Fortunately, the grandmother doesn’t have to be too slow for long…as she’s able to get back into the groove at her own pace.)
Saga: Go grandma!
(Encourage by Saga, Reggina turns easily as they make the half way point, she’s able to slow down as the ice begins to make her slip, Suomi grabs her hand tighter to help her as they circle down. A bit of dizziness forces Reggina to stop for a moment, but is able to continue without too many problems.)
Suomi: There we go!
(Reggina is all smiles as she slowly tags in Saga who is very excited. Suomi, with a little mischievous chuckle, lets Haruto grabs both her and Saga’s hands, and same with Kuda, leaving them a bit more red than they expected…)
Suomi: Let’s go!
(Fortunately, Saga is way into it. She giggles all the way and indeed, seems a bit better than Kuda at skating and about equal with Haruto, so they are able to go at a much quicker pace. Suomi slows down only once because Saga got a bit overexcited and she had to put on the brakes. After making sure the German girl is O.K, the 4 continue their skate around the rink…)
Suomi: O.K, and…brake!
(The four do as Saga shakes a little but is all smiles.)
Saga: That was fun!
Suomi: Well done! And now for your reward!
(Suomi hands Saga the next clue, Saga thanks Suomi and her crew, and heads out there joining Reggina whilst trying to get changed she tears the envelope…)
Saga: Travel…to Sapporo and look for the National Sapporo Hospital…
*
(We return to Kyoko filming some peppermint fields near the main hospital. She explains this next route marker…)
Kyoko: Teams must find this national hospital, the main one in the main city of Hokkaido, Sapporo. Once there, they will head inside and search for their next clue…
*
Saga: O.K, let’s go…
Reggina: I suggest you get changed somewhere else though dear…
(Shot of Haruto and Kuda turning their heads away as Saga gets embarrassed herself as they get to the changing rooms…)
Suomi: (sly) Ecchi…
Haruto: You’re not even Japanese, how do you know that word?
(Suomi just chuckles…)
*
(Shot of the two now outside and wondering how to get to Sapporo – inside the rink they get some help from the staff…)
Worker: Take the train – it’s quicker and cheaper. A taxi would cost probably 9000 yen…
Reggina: That clinches it…and hopefully we’ve still got enough time on the others now…
Saga: Let’s worry about that when we cross that bridge grandma…
(The two ask to call a cab to the train station…as it arrives, a plane is almost arriving at Hakkodate as well…)
12.15PM
*
(Time for the mad airport scramble. All the teams escape and it becomes a matter of speed of course to get the hell out of there. In the lead are Bob and Nagi, followed closely by Roy/Hughes and Sousuke/Kaname…)
Bob: Taxi!
Hughes: What he said…we’re more trustworthy…
Kaname: But I’m prettier to look at…
Roy: Sorry, that won’t wo…
(Shot of a taxi moving towards Chidori first. The men all flap their mouths open. Kaname just smirks as she and Sousuke get in…)
Kaname: Akanagi Fish Market and step on it…
Sousuke: I suggest you do so.
(Sousuke’s voice enough seems to put the driver on edge and gets his skates on…fortunately two more taxis comes and the FMA and Tenjho teams are quickly following…)
Nagi: O.K, we need to get to a fish market of all places…
Bob: Town square…
Hughes: Never underestimate the power of a cute face…you of all people should know that…
Roy: Shut up…I hate it when I’m wrong…
(The other teams are now in a taxi rank queue or just hopping around trying to flag one outside…)
5TH PLACE – RALLY/MAY
Rally: Heh, we got a chance now…
May: Do we take the FF?
Rally: Let’s see what the task is first…
6TH PLACE – JINNAI/NANAMI
Jinnai: See, we powered through everyone and now we have a chance to get ahead…
Nanami: Just sooth your ego please…and wait until if we are not last…
7TH PLACE – TYLOR/YAMAMOTO
Tylor: I can get my skates on when we need to…
Yamamoto: I just wished that would happen more often than not, especially in this race…
8TH PLACE – KEIKO/IZUMI
Keiko: We got the jump start because we were closer to the plane…
Izumi: The fact that the two ‘nice’ teams were seated at the back probably helped our cause…
9TH PLACE – MIYU/YAMATO
Miyu: This sucks…1st to worst…
Yamato: Not quite, we’re ahead of one team.
Miyu: Yeah, true…just it’s one of the few teams I actually like…which makes it even more sucky…
Sara: I hate slowing you down Yakumo…
Yakumo: Don’t worry Sara, let’s build from here and hope we can get to the market before the other teams…
Sara: Still hurts though…
(All 9 other teams are now on a taxi to the Akanagi Fish Market, whilst the other team…)
*
12.16PM
HOSHIMI STATION
(A smaller station but they get the news they want to hear…)
Attendant: Next train to Sapporo is in 12 minutes…
Saga: We’ll take two please.
(The two don’t know that the other teams have touched in but wait and hope that they’ve still got a good enough lead to avoid anyone beating them…bar of course, anyone using the Fast Forward…)
*
(Shot of Rally/May, Tylor/Yamamoto, Izumi/Keiko and also now Jinnai/Nanami and Sara/Yakumo looking over the Fast Forward…)
Nanami: My brother at one point is obsessed with winning, but at the other, feels that it’s too soon to take the Fast Forward. Well, considering how much we’ve screwed up so far, now is as good a time to take it, especially if that baseball girl thinking about taking it…
Yakumo: Sara seemed upset about leaving the airport last,
so we’re considering the Fast Forward. Our main concern is if other teams ahead
of us are also thinking of taking it, so we need to play by ear…
*
12.28PM
HOSHIMO TO SAPPORO
Saga: Well, let’s hope…
Reggina: Come on.
(The two leave on the train, which takes around 45 minutes as they sit down and have a short rest…)
*
12.45PM
HAKKODATE TOWN SQUARE
(With the square being easily known, it’s near impossible to get lost and the first team to make it here is the team that left first…)
Kaname: Ah, it must be here…this is where I can navigate Sousuke…
Sousuke: I’m a trained navigator Chidori in espionage, night fighting…
Kaname: ….scouting fish markets?
(Pause…)
Sousuke: That’s a negative.
Kaname: Then come on!
(The two run with Bob/Nagi and Roy/Hughes on their tail…)
Kaname: Let’s see…got to be…ah, south!
(Kaname saw a street map and is now following it – in reality, it’s not hard to find and the Akanagi sign is of course easier for Chidori to find being Japanese. Sousuke is dragged as they find the clue.)
Kaname: Let’s see…(rips)…detour – Fish or Finn.
(They both read it…)
Kaname: Either stink of fish or fall flat on my ass – neither good options, but I did say I could navigate…you think you can carry some fish?
Sousuke: That won’t be a problem.
Kaname: O.K, fish…and hopefully a shower later…
(The FMP pair head inside the market where Atsuko is waiting.)
Atsuko: Ah welcome, what will be be?
Kaname: 5 boxes of your freshest produce please for delivery!
Atsuko: Of course…there are 5 locations here you have to deliver them and you get a map. You have to walk, but you can come back here to take what you want – you don’t need to carry them all at once.
Kaname: Sousuke, how many can you carry?
(Sousuke tries it out. He’s able to do three with ease as Kaname nods.)
Kaname: That works – let’s take the sea urchin, squid and crab first. I’ll navigate.
Sousuke: Affirmative.
(Sousuke heaves his load as Kaname begins to navigate. Meanwhile, Bob and Nagi are just on their way…)
Bob: Sousuke is carrying stuff…physical challenge?
Nagi: Perfect for us.
(The two rip their clue and immediately choose Fish.)
Bob: I’ll take 2 and you take 3, or other way round?
Nagi: We need to know where we’re going though…
Bob: We can do it. I’ll take two and use one hand to see where we’re going…
Nagi: O.K…
(Nagi picks up three with ease, and Bob lifts up two in one arm whilst using his left hand to read the map. He quickly nods and uses both hands to carry.)
Bob: I think I got it…
(Bob and Nagi leave just as Roy and Hughes get the clue…)
Hughes: Fish or Finn…
Roy: Ice probably isn’t good for a flame alchemist…
Hughes: Good point, let’s do fish…
Roy: Another chance to stretch your muscles after years of paper pushing…
(Ignoring that, they enter, Roy flirts with Atsuko (until she comments she has a boyfriend) Roy takes two though and Hughes takes one and takes the map…)
Hughes: Let’s just take it easy…
(4 locations are in the market square, the last one is outside the square though where someone will be waiting in particular. Other teams are now showing up…)
RALLY/MAY – 4TH PLACE
(Shot of Rally and May who didn’t get the luxury of being able to follow Nagi/Bob as the non Japanese literate Roy/Hughes did…and are moving a little confused…)
Rally: Damn, we’d better ask someone…
(Rally and May do so as the Jinnais and Keiko/Izumi also make it…)
Izumi: Of all teams…
(Izumi and Keiko however navigate the markets well – Jinnai however…)
Jinnai: How hard can it be to find a fish market? All these people stink of fish anyway…
(Not the wisest words as Jinnai gets a few choice looks – Nanami tries to pacify them…)
(…Izumi spots Rally and May asking directions as Izumi sees the fish market.)
Izumi: Let’s see…Fish or Finn…
(Izumi sees both and shakes her head…)
Izumi: Neither of them are up our alley…let’s take the Fast Forward. (she opens the envelope) You must go through over 100 boxes of Ryuon Confectionaries best jam based sweets, and find the Fast Forward in one of the holes from the sweets…you up for a sweet tooth mom?
Keiko: Why not? Need something sweet considering the competition…
(Izumi and Keiko head back as Rally and May pass them – Rally’s eagle eyes spot Izumi holding the FF…)
Rally: Nuts…baseball girl got the Fast Forward…
May: We can beat them Rally…
Rally: Too risky, any head start is bad…
(Shot of Tylor and Yamamoto now arriving as Yamamoto searches for a map…)
Yamamoto: Let’s see…
(He sees Kaname then outside a sweet shop, with a delivery of uni (sea urchin roe) to them…)
Kaname: Can we have your stamp please?
Lady: Certainly dear.
(Kaname gets her 1st stamp as Sousuke is able to move more easier as she navigates like an expert…)
Yamamoto: Detour Tylor…looks physical…
Tylor: Screw that then…fast forward it is…
Yamamoto: Let’s just check first…
Rally: Hmm…shall we fish?
May: How’s your skating? I won’t be able to carry anything easily…
Rally: Good point but it’s travelling…if we could drive it would be great…
May: Yeah…(sighs) I don’t like it but let’s do fish…
May: Just think of it as a shipload of bombs…
(Shot of the Jinnais now through all the evil looks from the Hakkodate faithful and we also see Bob and Nagi struggling to navigate as Bob has to remember where to go…and realises maps are weird. He has to stop and put his stock down and recall the map…)
Nanami: Detour…Fish or Finn…
Jinnai: Carrying fish is not for one of my stature…
Nanami: Geez, take it like a man unless you want to REALLY skate on thin ice…mind you, these people probably hate us…but you can’t skate worth a link…
Jinnai: But…manual labour…
Nanami: YOU…ARE…(BLEEP)…DOING IT!
(Jinnai finally shuts up and is dragged into the market…Tylor and Yamamoto are now behind as they get the clue…)
Tylor: Don’t wanna do fish…
Yamamoto: Skating?
Tylor: Hmm…probably meet some cute girls there…
Yamamoto: Not this time – luck can only get so far doing the slower detours. Let’s take the Fast Forward.
Tylor: Let’s see…(smiles)…eat lots of sweets, excellent!
Yamamoto: Not my cup of tea, but I get this feeling you can eat for two people…
Tylor: Let’s go!
(They hurry back to their taxi, where Izumi and Keiko are already on their way…via taxi…)
Keiko: This is a risky move…and probably expensive.
Izumi: I know, but if we take the main way, we should be O.K. Taking the train we risk waiting and if any other teams are taking the fast forward, we could be in trouble…
(Back with Team Tylor…)
Yamamoto: Common sense. Take the train, save money and none of the other teams ahead of us took the Fast Forward…
Tylor: There were 3 teams behind us right…
Yamamoto: Yeah, and didn’t see the Himuros, the couple or the two friends so we should be O.K…
Tylor: Let’s get to the station then…
*
(Shot of Yamato and Miyu getting ahead – Yamato being excellent at navigating is able to find the market with ease…)
Yamato: Detour…(smiles)…right up my alley.
Miyu: Let’s do it Yamato-kun!
(Yamato then shows his impressive strength – carrying 4 of the boxes (two in each arm) and Miyu carries one – Miyu is quite strong but she’s able to use the map as well this way…shot of Kaname getting a second stamp with Bob and Hughes both now on 1…)
(Lastly, Sara and Yakumo arrive and rush as they just about spot Yamato carrying 4 boxes…)
Sara: Not good…
(They get to the route marker…)
Yakumo: Detour…Fish or Finn…
Sara: I won’t be able to carry those Yakumo…but everyone else is ahead and doing this detour…
Yakumo: Don’t worry…
Sara: And someone has probably taken the Fast Forward…this isn’t what God invisioned for me…
Yakumo: We’ll do fish…let me…let me show you what I can do for this race.
Sara: Yakumo?
(Yakumo nods as they go inside. Sara gets the map and Yakumo lifts two quite easily. Sara seems to struggle with just one but adjusts it as she reads the map on top…it’s not an all out fishy warfare for the remaining 7 teams…as two of course attempt the Fast Forward…)
*
(We keep cutting with teams as we see how they are doing…it’s a longer time consuming job than they thought as Sousuke delivers his third…)
Kaname: Right, we need to get back to the fish market and pick up two more…
Sousuke: Affirmative…
Kaname: And you stink…
Sousuke: Unfortunately, also affirmative…
(As team FMP head back, team Tenge realising that relying on Bob’s memory in the crowded Hakkodate market place is not the best idea in the world…)
Bob: Geez, we’ve only got one and we keep stopping and starting…
Nagi: This sucks…so much for the power trip…
Bob: I think we’re still O.K, we’ll stop and rest and have a good look at the map…
(They do as Roy charms his way to his first catch…)
Roy: …and those crabs will taste perfectly for your features…
Old lady: Oh please, you’re embarrassing an old woman!
(Roy gets his first stamp as Hughes seems to be fine with this but with just one box each, the two are able to move a bit faster…but not all the teams are having the same luck…)
May: I…hate…you…
Rally: Hey…you got off light…
(Rally has 2 boxes, whilst May has one…and now they realise they don’t know where the hell they are going…)
May: Crap…surely it would be obvious or something?
Rally: Let’s just look at that damn map and move slowly…
Jinnai: I…hate…you…sister…
Nanami: Oh shut up…the fact that you’re slower than me proves you suck…
(The Jinnais only have one each, but Nanami seems to know where she’s going and is making steady pace…)
(Shot of Team FMP collecting their last two…well, when I say they, I mean Sousuke, but the trick is working as they collect some eel and red snapper. Kaname looks on…)
Kaname: There’s one outside here…let’s go there first…
Sousuke: Affirmative.
(Kaname runs as Sousuke trots behind – shot of Yamato however slowly starting to catch up a bit as Miyu is able to get ahead of a few others teams due to her fiance’s strength…)
Miyu: Miyu thanks you!
(One box of sea urchin is delivered as Yamato stops to take a rest, Miyu showing her strength by holding her box on her shoulder whilst checking the map. On the other hand, Sara is struggling with the one she has whilst Yakumo is hardly breaking of sweat holding two…)
Sara: This is why I cheer at the athletics’ festival and not participate in them…
Yakumo: Keep it up Sara…
(Bob and Nagi now start to move as Hughes is able to deliver his box to a local shopkeeper, as he’s able to use his hands to find where Roy has to deliver his box of squid…)
Bob: They’ve got squid…so have I…
Nagi: Screw the map, we’re following…
(Bob and Nagi not so sneakily follow the FMA pair, but keep out of dodge to make sure no-one sees them themselves. Meanwhile…)
Kaname: These are yours?
(Shot of Atsuko’s one time arranged fiancé, Joji Kurata with the quality snapper…)
Joji: Indeed, thank you very much, and thank Atsuko for me.
Kaname: Will do…come on Sousuke!
(Sousuke keeps in pace as they run to find whoever needs the eel…)
(Shot of Bob and Nagi now have managed to catch up with 3 boxes done, their advantage of having all their boxes to hand now showing now they know where the hell they are going…a quick stat count shows that Miyu and Yamato have 2 done, whilst Roy and Hughes have done their second, and Yakumo has managed to do 1 with Rally just completing her first – Team Jinnai however are surprisingly getting the hang of it and on their second…)
Jinnai: Sister, I hate you still…and I stink!
Nanami: Shut up and go faster – think of this as a way to conquer faster…
Jinnai: Any excuse works at this rate…
(Shot of Sousuke and Kaname on their way back with their last one though…they need to deliver their eel to a western area where a butcher is waiting…)
Kaname: Run!
(The school girl runs like heck as she prays no-one saw her, but it doesn’t matter, they are clearly the front runners of the detour as they get their last stamp. Sousuke does seem a little tired but Kaname puts her hand to his back and smiles.)
Kaname: Good work Sousuke.
Sousuke: It was nothing at all Chidori.
Kaname: We need to get to the shop now right?
Sousuke: Affirmative.
Kaname: Time to run…
(The two head down the streets – a few teams see that they are done – as Kaname and Sousuke head to the fish market and show Atsuko’s mother the 5 stamps. She nods in approval and hands the two their clue.)
Kaname: You rocked Sousuke!
Sousuke: I assume that’s a compliment…
Kaname: Er, yeah?
Sousuke: Well…thank you Chidori.
(They open the clue…)
SOUSUKE/KANAME – 2ND PLACE (12.55PM)
Kaname: Travel to Sapporo and look for the National Sapporo Hospital…O.K Sousuke, let’s get us checked in…
Sousuke: But we don’t need physical aid Chidori…
Kaname: (sighs) Come on…
(Kaname drags Sousuke out as they contemplate getting a taxi to Sapporo or to take the train…meanwhile other teams are starting to get the hang of it…)
Nagi: O.K, so we’ve just one more to do…
Bob: Now we know where we going and I can see the damn map…
(Bob looks through it and sees they have to go slightly out of the town to deliver their last stock…)
Nagi: Right…let’s go!
(Nagi lifts the box as we see other teams also begin to show their skills…)
Yamato: Trust me, after my early days of getting lost I’ve learnt how to give directions and learn from them…
Miyu: Poor Yamato-kun…
Yamato: Hey, don’t knock it – I was able to meet you because of that…
Miyu: (blushes) Of course…
(After starting a bit behind everyone, the Supergals pair are up to 3 boxes being done, as are the FMA pair…)
Hughes: …we’re done!
Roy: Nice try, we’ve got to get the other two remember?
Hughes: Aww…
Roy: You don’t seem to have this problem when carrying your daughter’s birthday presents…
Hughes: BUT I’M POWERED BY LOVE THEN!!!
Roy: You scare me…
(The Jinnais are getting the hang of where to go thanks to Nanami’s direction, and because Jinnai is actually being quiet they are actually getting the hang of it, as they find their third one, whilst Yakumo and Sara finish their second (and Sara relaxes a little as it was hers that went)…however, Rally and May are struggling…both physically and…)
Rally: Geez, I can’t read this damn map…
May: Rally, let’s stop…
Rally: It can’t be that heavy…
May: But if we don’t have a good look and think we’ll be screwed…let’s wave someone and see if they can help us or let us follow them…
Rally: This sucks…
(Shot of Bob and Nagi making their last signature with Joji as they run like hell back to the market whilst Sousuke and Kaname decide to take a taxi…)
Sousuke: Chidori, are our funds sufficient?
Kaname: Yeah, we’ll be O.K, it’s a fair way but we can manage it – we just need to get there as fast as possible…
(The two escape the crowded markets to head towards the main city as Bob and Nagi get their clue…)
BOB/NAGI – 3RD PLACE – 1PM
Bob: This took a lot longer but at least we didn’t have to travel…
Nagi: But now we’re heading to Sapporo…
Bob: Taxi in these streets? Probably not a good idea but getting a train to Sapporo will probably not be much faster…
Nagi: Wish we had that damn motorrad now…
Bob: (looks at money) We’ll be O.K, let’s get a cab.
Nagi: Now we’re talking my language.
(The two rush off as others begin to collect more stuff as we see the Gals teams and the FMA teams just delivering their 4th packages, and Teams Jinnai finishing their third and heading back to collect their last two…)
Nanami: See, we can do this!
Jinnai: Just shut up…
(Sara and Yakumo are looking for their third, but Rally and May are only on their second, and the busy markets aren’t the best place to attract attention as everyone is ignoring them due to them being too busy…)
Rally: We’ve done one – maybe we should have risked the Fast Forward…
May: What about the other detour?
Rally: Take even longer…let’s just look at that map again from the market and slowly follow the directions…
May: (sigh) Might as well grab another box whilst I’m doing it…
(They do so, just as they realise that the Gals team are running back after finishing their last box…)
Rally: How the hell?
(Shot of Yamato giving Atsuko’s mom the stamps and them receiving their next clue…)
Miyu: You were awesome Yamato-kun!
Yamato: I’m…not…carrying…anything else…
(Looks like Yamato may have overdone it with 4, but it has given them a good advantage…)
MIYU/YAMATO – 4TH PLACE (1.03PM)
Miyu: Sapporo here we come!
Yamato: Shall we take a taxi?
(The two check their money and nod…)
Miyu: Let’s go…
*
(Shot of a train which Tylor and Yamamoto are enjoying a relaxing ride…)
Tylor: It’s O.K, no-one who was ahead of us are taking this? They’re all sweating and stinking right?
Yamamoto: True, just worrying if someone else took the FF afterwards and went on a taxi…
Tylor: You said that due to the traffic this wouldn’t be a problem…
Yamamoto: Yeah, we should be O.K…
*
Izumi: …going down the freeway here is more expensive but there’s less traffic, so it’s a hell of a lot quicker…
Keiko: See, I do learn something on my business trips…
Izumi: Let’s hope it works in our favour…
*
HUGHES/ROY – 5TH PLACE (1.06PM)
Hughes: This is why…I do a desk job…
(Roy gets the clue and reads…)
Roy: Heh, hospital. Never too far from one of those…
Hughes: Could be worse…could be a morgue…
(After that ominous comment from Hughes, the two begin searching for a taxi, as we can see the Jinnais, Teams Rumblers and Gunsmith all starting to struggle a bit, though the Jinnais are 2 away, whilst Rumblers and Cats are 3 away – however, with Sara being able to understand kanji whilst the stronger Yakumo carries her third box, neither May or Rally have that advantage…)
(Shot of Yakumo heading over to get the last two (which she carries herself) as Sara prays for forgiveness from her best friend – Jinnai and Nanami are sharing the job as Jinnai curses his sister…May however nearly collapses…)
May: This sucks…
Rally: It’s not that heavy May…
May: It is when you’re carrying them how long without knowing where the hell we are going…
(They don’t seem to be getting much help from the locals either, as the two Americans seem to bring fear – which is weird because Sara draws the opposite…)
Sara: Is it over there?
Ironmonger: Sure – they love their urchin…
Sara: Thank you very much!
(Yakumo quickly runs, part to make sure no-one sees where she’s going and that she got a quick glimpse in that guys mind…Yakumo’s red face tells it all…)
*
Joji: There you go…
Nanami: THANK GOD…
Jinnai: NOW CAN WE GO?
Nanami: WE’VE GOT 5, LET’S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE…
(Crap. Yakumo and Sara have caught up.)
Sara: Er…hi?
Nanami: Hey th…WAIT A MINUTE, RUN LIKE HELL!
(Jinnai doesn’t have to be told twice, but Yakumo quickly moves ahead as she hands Joji the last of the produce. Joji blushes a little seeing the beautiful Japanese girl and the adorable Brit…)
Joji: Erm…sorry ladies…erm…stamp?
Yakumo: Y-Yes please…
(Yakumo avoids trying to read thoughts as Joji gives them the stamp. Fortunately for Team Jinnai, despite Yakumo’s speed, Sara is still slower than the Jinnais so they are able to find the market first…)
Nanami: And more proof that it’s better to be nice…
Jinnai: Oh shut up…
(They get to the market, get Atsuko’s mother to confirm and get their clue…)
JINNAI/NANAMI – 6TH PLACE (1.09PM)
Nanami: Sapporo…come on, let’s get a cab…
Jinnai: Order one with a shower!
Nanami: That’s not gonna be possible…
(A minute later, Yakumo and Sora get their clue…)
SARA/YAKUMO – 7TH PLACE (1.10PM)
Yakumo: Sapporo…
Sara: Shall we take a train or a taxi? Either way, we stink…
Yakumo: (embarrassed) Taxi?
Sara: Yeah…we’ve been good with our money – let’s take the plunge…
(The two head up to call or find a taxi…leaving our American pair in despair…)
*
May: O.K, thank you…
(May is able to deliver her box but it’s only the 3rd one, and once May sees Yakumo running box free, they know they’re in trouble…)
Rally: Crap…
May: We’re know one is out of town, but we need to find the other…
Rally: Well, it’s north…that’s about it…all we can do is just move there and hope either we find it or get someone to help…
May: We’re screwed…we can’t even get revenge on Saga at this rate…
Rally: Nice joke…but I’m not laughing now…dammit…
May: Sorry…
(Rally shakes her head as she moves…)
Rally: It’s bad seeing May get depressed – she’s had a
harder life than people can imagine. She worked in a brothel after her
boyfriend had to…shall we say…disappear for a while. Her past is a touchy
subject shall we say, but she’s always bright. So seeing her like this…we need
to get lucky and fast…
*
1.13PM
SAPPORO (TRAIN STATION)
(Shot of Saga and Reggina again saving their money but still ahead as they call a taxi to get to the National Sapporo Hospital…)
Reggina: It’s not ambitious, but that’s what we are, we’re careful. We don’t make too many mistakes and it’s worked for us this leg.
Saga: (nods) I think a few teams will be trying to get taxis after which detour they do if they realise what we’ve done, but it costs money, money we may need badly for future legs…
(The two drive around for about 5 minutes but the hospital is pretty much somewhere that is quite obvious. They get there and get out…)
1.18PM (NATIONAL SAPPORO HOSPITAL)
Saga: O.K, here we go…
(The marker is on the front desk as the two get there and get their clue…)
Saga: Road Block! This person…must like to tell stories.
*
(Inside the hospital, we meet a rare host because this is the only male host of the leg. Dr Amakasu, the good (if saracastic) doctor – a young veteran of health, he is our last host for the main part of this leg.)
Dr. Amakasu: A Road Block is a task that only one person may perform. In this road block, this person must be able to show true creation to please a certain Princess Karin on this ward…
Karin: (distant) I can hear you, you do know that right?
Dr. Amakasu: Of course Princess…
(We hear pouting…)
*
(Shot of a young wavy haired girl in a hospital bed with a laptop. She’s typing away as the good doctor explains the Road Block.)
Dr. Amakasu: The person who chooses this Road Block must be able to write a short story on a laptop in our specialist room, and send it over to the website created by Karin Shiraishi, a.k.a. Princess Karin. The story must revolve around something in Hokkaido and/or romance. Once it’s been sent, it will see if it meets Karin’s approval. If it does, she will send the player an e-mail linking them to where she is. Following those directions, once they find the room she is, she will hand them the next clue.
*
Reggina: Let this old lady do this…
Saga: You’ve told me stories for so many years – this is made for you grandma.
Reggina: O.K. (Reggina opens the clue) Write a short story to do with Hokkaido and/or romance on one of the laptops which are set up to send to Karin Shiraishi…if it is approved, you will get directions from Karin for the next clue. O.K, where do I go…
(In the corner room, she notices the yellow and red marked room and the selection of workstations there. Reggina looks a little worried…)
Reggina: Never too good with computers…
(Reggina parks herself, sees the screen and realises the short story is short, as it only must fill 16 lines. Reggina sits down and begins to think…)
*
1.20PM (SAPPORO – RYUON CONFECTIONARIES…)
Izumi: Whoa…
Keiko: It’s big…
(Expensive trip but worth the time – we see team Princess Nine arrive at the Fast Forward and enter…)
(…and are promptly greeted by a cute brunette.)
Akari: Welcome, this is Ryoun, may I take your order?
(And not unlike another certain Akari, she messes up. A bit of laughter from the other patrons as she looks embarrassed…)
Kurokawa: (calling) Akari, those are two of the racers, remember?
Akari: Oh right…I’m so sorry!!!
Keiko: Hmmm…maybe you should learn something from her in humility…
Izumi: Sorry mother, Hayakawa already got that covered…
(Keiko smiles as Kurokawa, a young renegade but with a heart of gold (and a big crush on Akari) and a sweet maker in training, helps brings out the huge heart filled boxes of sweet, as Akari prepares some green tea…)
Izumi: I must admit, these look good.
Keiko: Hopefully we don’t have to eat them all though, this could take a while…
Izumi: Well, always had a sweet tooth…
(Izumi picks one from the bottom and pops it in her mouth. She chews for a while and swallows. She nods her approval.)
Izumi: Nice.
(Keiko follows her daughter as she takes ones from the top – Izumi quickens slightly in pace popping two in – it’s not usual for her normal upper class regime, but speed is the essence not decorum…)
*
1.22PM
(Rally and May drag themselves to Joji as they finally get their last stamp – they both look exhausted, but they now get a second wind and run back over to the Akanagi’s…)
Rally: That sucked…
May: Let’s just hope someone else messed up…
(After getting to the market, they get their clue and groan…)
Rally: Great…main city. No chance in hell a cab driver doesn’t know where that is…
May: Well, let’s make this simple and get a fast cab driver…
Rally: That works…
(The American duo wave for a taxi as they run upmarket and do get one, hop on and pray…)
May: Language barriers suck…did we choose the wrong game?
Rally: Our luck will better May…just hope it does so BEFORE we are eliminated…
*
(Shot of Reggina getting the hang of typing as she makes a short story about romance in Hokkaido…)
Reggina: Not being Japanese make the Hokkaido link
rather tough, but being here briefly and feeling the cold means I can make it
similar to Muhlenburg – plus the romance part isn’t hard. I’ve been through
that generation and watching others do it as well…
(Reggina is calm as she types in…but on the other hand…)
*
(Back at the sweet store…)
Keiko: This is going to be tough…
Izumi: Suck it up mom…we’re not getting much to eat in this race anyway…and sugar will keep you going…
Keiko: I’m going to be so sick at the end of this…
(No sign yet of team Tylor as Keiko takes a good gulp of tea, fortunately Akari is there for refills. Izumi seems no signs of slowing down…)
*
1.25PM
(Shot of Reggina posting her story over…)
The colds of Hokkaido only show what true warmth is about.
The warmth of friendship, companionship and love –
whether
From the family, from your soulmate, from your lover,
It doesn’t matter as long as you share this warmth with
them.
The cold of the air just brings you together more
strongly
And the beauty that surrounds you tightens it further.
Look, walk, experience this sights, sounds and sanctuary
In may be warmer, but out is where life is.
Experience it, cherish it, embrace it
Live it.
(Does it get Karin’s seal of approval?)
(Reggina waits patiently…)
*
(Shot of Izumi starts to slow down with the sweets, but…)
Izumi: (muffled) Mother…
Keiko: Izumi?
(Izumi has found it – near the top the red and yellow ribbon under a sweet is revealed. Izumi promptly eats it, drinks a cup of tea full and grabs it…)
*
(Shot of Reggina’s screen…)
‘WONDERFUL! THANK YOU SO MUCH! TO GET YOUR PRIZE, HEAD TO
ROOM 601 AND FIND ME!’
LOVE KARIN.
Reggina: 601 then?
(Reggina leaves as she realises the elevators to go to floor 6 – Saga watches her grandmother as she looks happy…)
Saga: Done it grandma?
Reggina: I think so…
(Reggina heads into the elevator…)
*
(Izumi opens the FF envelope…)
Izumi: Congratulations, you’ve won the Fast Forward, head directly to the next Pit Stop, the Sapporo Snow Festival, home to Diamond Dust…
*
(We return back now to our first host Shoko, sitting in the warmth of her radio booth watching the snow start to come down as she comments…)
Shoko: Having won the Fast Forward, Izumi and Keiko can now skip all tasks and head directly to the Pit Stop, Odori Park, one of three main sites of this equisitve Snow Festival held in Sapporo. This is a rare place where once a year, people can visit to lay claim to the famous diamond dust.
*
Izumi: O.K, let’s call a taxi again…hopefully not as expensive…
Keiko: It was worth it though…
(They look for a phone and realise there is a pay phone in the shop which they use willingly…)
*
(Shot of a healthy young girl looking as a knock on the door interrupts her thoughts…)
Karin: Ah, you must be Miss Reggina!
Reggina: Yes my dear.
Karin: Thank you for that – and here’s your prize!
(Karin hands the clue over to Reggina, who shakes the hand of the girl before escaping as fast as she can, back down the elevator…)
*
Saga: You got it!
Reggina: Of course dear!
(Saga hugs her grandmother as they open the clue…)
SAGA/REGGINA – 1st/2ND PLACE(?)
Saga: Travel to the next Pit Stop…
*
(We return now to Kyoko who is braving the cold at Inori Park, though always with her camera at the ready…)
Kyoko: Inori Park, a beautiful park where snow sculptures are shown every year at the Sapporo Snow Festival, and the picturesque location for the 3rd Pit Stop on this anime race around the world. Whoever comes last here…may be eliminated.
*
Reggina: Inori Park…
Saga: Let’s go!
Reggina: Go?
Saga: (winks) Our driver is still out there remember? I had him wait just in case…
Reggina: (smiles) Saga…you’re amazing.
*
(It’s now a two-way race for 1st place as the Himuros and the German pair head over via taxi to the park, Saga/Reggina however escape in a cab first as Izumi/Keiko didn’t ask theirs to wait and instead had to wait for another…but…)
*
Tylor: (shivers) Brr…it’s cold…
Yamamoto: Just suck it up, we need to get there fast and get the Fast Forward…
Tylor: Yeah…but I didn’t feel that cold. Just felt shivers hit me…
Yamamoto: Look, we’ve rode our luck too many times – this time we’re playing it safe and getting ahead. No complaints captain?
Tylor: Of course not…
*
Izumi: O.K, let’s hope the Germans weren’t too far ahead that they beat us to first…
Keiko: I’m not sure whether I can hate them though…they outsmarted us so if they are still first…
Izumi: Weakness for the enemy is not good – you taught me that.
Keiko: Oh, even I wouldn’t mind hugging Saga…I think Miss Vincent has got her claws on her…
Izumi: Did you ever give me that attention mom?
(A moment of silence…)
Izumi: Sorry…
Keiko: No, point taken. But that’s why we’re here, to rectify that – and hopefully this Fast Forward has done that…
*
Saga: We’re in the central area…so the driver says it’s barely a few minutes away – it’s a popular tourist attraction…
Reggina: We’re a little worried someone took the Fast Forward, we would love to say that an old lady and a child beat all these young strong teams in a leg, and this is our best chance, so if we arrived 2nd, it would be disappointing…
*
(Double shot of both taxis moving, Reggina and Saga pointing, Izumi stretching her face as we see the frost bitten park in view…)
Izumi: That’s it…
*
Reggina: Off here please!
*
(The entrance of the park as the camera zooms in as Yuko and Kyoko are shot on, Kyoko shooting the team as they enter…)
*
Kyoko: Welcome to Hokkaido!
(Shot of Saga and Reggina breathing out as they are smiling on the ‘DIAMOND DAYDREAMS mat…)
Saga: Thank you, it’s very beautiful!
Yuko: Saga and Reggina…
(Dramatic pause…)
Yuko: …you are…TEAM NUMBER ONE!
SAGA/REGGINA – 1ST PLACE (1.33PM)
(Saga’s serious façade changes and she erupts into immense joy. She glomps her grandmother as they both cry with joy. Yuko smiles and even the coldish Kyoko has to smile at this sight…)
Saga: We did it! We can do this grandma!
Reggina: We sure can dear, without a doubt…
Yuko: The doubt gone from your mind Saga that you can win this?
Saga: We’re not strong, we’re not fast…but we’re smart, and we’re co-ordinated. A lot of things we can’t do as good as these teams, but today we’ve proved we can do some things better than all these teams, and they will now realise we want to win this as much as they do…and we CAN win this.
*
(1.35PM)
(Shot of the Himuros escaping their taxi and trotting to the mat…)
Kyoko: (nods) Welcome to Hokkaido.
Izumi: Thank you very much.
Yuko: Keiko and Izumi…you are team number two.
IZUMI/KEIKO – 2ND PLACE
(They seem a bit surprised…)
Izumi: Thank you.
Keiko: Good, but not good enough.
Izumi: Proves we have to be more careful than ever, but at least we’ve got some distance on the other teams and we can start well tomorrow…
Keiko: Those two surprised us, surprised everyone today and it’s paid off. They have earned my respect, more so than certain other teams on this race, and now it’s ready to be wary of them…
*
(1.38PM)
KYOUN CONFECTIONARIES
(A shot of Tylor and Yamamoto leaving the train and catching a taxi to the sweet shop…)
Tylor: This is going to be fun…
Yamamoto: Just not too many I hope…
(However, when they get there…)
Tylor: O.K, Fast Forward ti…huh?
(Shot of the dreaded yellow sign. FAST FORWARD TAKEN.)
Yamamoto: You…you’re kidding me…
(Tylor drops to his knees…)
Tylor: This…wasn’t part of the plan…
Yamamoto: But…no-one was ahead of us…
Tylor: Well…the German girls…
Yamamoto: But they already took theirs!!! This isn’t ri…
(Yamamoto puts his hands to his head…)
Yamamoto: We screwed up…no…this was my fault…how…the…
Tylor: Lieutenant!
(Yamamoto looks at his captain who does a salute…)
Tylor: Soldiers don’t cry in battle…we lost here…but that doesn’t mean the battle is over…so straighten up and don’t you dare fall into pity!
(Tylor is surprising Yamamoto by acting like a real captain…)
Yamamoto: Captain…
Tylor: Come on, let’s get back and pray someone else made the same mistake – I’m always looking to be optimistic, so come on!
(Yamamoto nods…)
Yamamoto: Right, let’s head back to the market…
Tylor: That’s my right hand man.
(The two head back to the station…disappointed but hoping for a ray of light…)
*
(Shot of various teams in taxis as getting into Sapporo is a long and pricey journey, but with the above developments, what’s now going to happen…)
Sousuke: We’re ahead Chidori…
Kaname: Yep, unless someone took the Fast Forward – probably would at this rate…
Sousuke: It isn’t necessary for us to take that shortcut Chidori…yet.
(Kaname smiles.)
Kaname: You’re getting the hang of this Sousuke…
(The drive to Sapporo isn’t difficult, but some are having better luck than others…)
*
Bob: Did you do anything to him Nagi?
Nagi: Why?
Bob: Because he’s flying through the roads here, like he’s scared to death or something…
Nagi: Heh, as long as it gets us through…
Bob: So YOU DID DO SOMETHING…
Nagi: I didn’t say that…
*
Hughes: This is about the speed I’m used to…
Roy: That’s on carriages and the old bangers the military gives us – NOT when we’ve got a race to win…
Hughes: Is anyone behind us?
Roy: No, that’s the only positive thing…
(Shot of Miyu and Yamato in sight…)
Miyu: That’s the alchemist team!
Yamato: As an officer of the law, I make it so you must pass that team!
Miyu: (mockingly) And I thought you weren’t going to use your police authority…
Yamato: (winks) …if it works to my advantage…
Miyu: Heh, Ran is rubbing off on you…
(They close in on the FMA team…)
*
(A bit further down the pack, we see the Jinnais putting the fear in their driver to try and catch up…)
Jinnai: Dammit, how long does it take?
Driver: It’s about 40 minutes sir…
Nanami: Patience is a virtue brother, everyone else is having this same problem so just live with it!
Jinnai: Not good enough, I command you to go faster!
Nanami: Idiot – remember what happened to the military geek and his girlfriend? They went too fast and were penalised!
Jinnai: SO what?
Nanami: You really are an idiot…we’ll end up in last!
(That logic hits and Jinnai shuts up for the moment, as a few hundred meters behind them, Sara and Yakumo rest up…)
Sara: We stink…
Yakumo: T-This probably isn’t good for all of us…
Sara: (sly) Ah, we should really change…O.K, I’m stripping you Yakumo!
(You can see the driver nearly brake as Yakumo goes deep as the driver and Yakumo both fall of it as Sara laughs, but in the taxi a bit behind them, they aren’t joking…)
Rally: …like we have had any shame anyway!
May: I just hope Ken doesn’t see this…
Rally: Why not? He’s sees them all the time right…
May: THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT AND YOU KNOW IT!
Rally: Not like there is anything there anyway…
May: Oh shut up…
(May takes off her shirt as she gets ready to change away from the fish rich dregs she has on. Rally follows suit as the driver is rather sharply instructed to ‘keep his eyes on the road’. They throw their stuff in the side of their bags and quickly stretch out…)
Rally: If we’re last the last thing I’m going to do is stink this out…
May: We’ll catch up Rally – just believe in ourselves.
Rally: (smiles) Sure May, sure.
*It’s a long trip to Sapporo but then to the hospital as we get closer…*
1.45PM
SAPPORO: NATIONAL SAPPORO HOSPITAL
(Shot of a pumped up Kaname as Sousuke leisurely gets out…)
Sousuke: In there?
Kaname: Nice to be in a hospital and not recover from wounds Sousuke?
Sousuke: I’ll see when I’ll leave.
(The two tell their driver to wait as they run, and as they enter the hospital, they slow down and see the marker. Kaname gets there and opens the envelope.)
SOUSUKE/KANAME – 3RD PLACE
Kaname: Road Block… This person…must like to tell stories.
Sousuke: What tales would they be?
Kaname: Something suitable to cheer up people in a hospital I’d guess…which pretty much leaves most of your repertoire gone…
Sousuke: I understand. Having war stories may not be a good environment in a hospital…
Kaname: In other words, this one is mine. (opens) Ah…I get it. Time for my literary skills to be appreciated…
(She notices the laptop/workstation area quickly as Sousuke calms waits with the order ‘DON’T KILL ANYONE OF THE OTHER RACERS WHEN THEY COME IN…)
Kaname: O.K, let’s see…
(She logs on as the webpage is already on as she has to think…)
Kaname: O.K…Hokkaido or romance…or both I guess…time for my history classes work with my own knowledge…
(Kaname begins typing…)
*
1.48PM
(Shot of Bob and Nagi getting to the hospital…)
Bob: Nice to be at a hospital without recovering from broken bones…
Nagi: Since when was that?
Bob: Er…every time Maya trains with you…
Nagi: Very funny…
(The two enter the hospital, occasionally looking behind and notice Sousuke waiting at the reception desk – his gaze seems to be spooking patients and doctors alike…)
Bob: So those two got there first huh?
Nagi: But the girl isn’t there so there must be a task…
(Bob and Nagi get to the marker, glare a little at Sousuke before opening…)
Bob: Road Block, this person must like…to tell stories?
(Both pause…)
Nagi: Crap, since when did we do anything literal at school aside from messages in our own blood?
Bob: And we’re screwed.
Nagi: Gah…you’ve already done one Road Block, but you’d probably be better at this…you can at least think for a moment, I’d be probably smashing things when I can’t think…
Bob: Fine. (opens) Romance…hmm. Maybe it was the right choice…(smirks)…unless a certain blue haired martial artist comes into play…
Nagi: Ha ha, very funny…
Bob: I know…just kidding…
Nagi: Thank you…
Bob: …it’s actually blonde British nuns isn’t it…
Nagi: JUST DO THE DAMN ROAD BLOCK!!!
(Bob chuckles as he heads over, but as Nagi has to apologise to the orderlies, Kaname is almost done…)
Kaname: Ah, hopefully I won’t have to stay and chat…
(Kaname presses a button…it takes about a minute though to get her reply, but fortunately it takes that long for Bob to actually get onto a computer and to get it on…)
Bob: The only machines I like are bikes…
(After this minute, Kaname gets a message.)
‘WELL DONE, THAT WAS PERFECT! COME TO ROOM 601 FOR YOUR
REWARD!’
Kaname: Jackpot!
(Shot of her work…)
‘The forests of Hokkaido, a delicate area still
mostly unperturbed in this ongoing and changing world.
Akan, beautiful but hot with the volcanic ashes spreading
Yet cool with the crystal lakes surrounding.’
Have you seen Kushiro? Lush with it’s grasslands,
Preserved by the wetlands and the rare life there – see
The red-crowned crane if you can, it’s a beautiful sight!
And speaking of wetlands, Kirritapu is also called
The wetland of flowers – especially in the summer time!
White, purple, blue, yellow red, it’s a grassland rainbow
We need you to see it! Come on and enjoy your youth!’
(Kaname now has to find the room, passes Sousuke and Nagi (who curses) and heads up the stairs rather than the elevator, using her athletic skills to fly up…)
Kaname: Floor 6…
(She takes a few breathes but opens Room 601…)
Karin: Hello there, and you are…
Kaname: Kaname Chidori here…
Karin: Oh yes! You wrote me telling me about the parks of Hokkaido, you’re really knowledgable…I’ll travel there with my brother in a few days if I can!
Kaname: Aren’t you sick?
Karin: Not really…I’m just doing this to annoy Dr. Akamasu…
(Sweatdrops)
Karin: …here ya go!
(Karin gives the clue as Kaname smiles and gets out of there. She again runs down as Sousuke notices her come down…)
Sousuke: Got it Chidori?
Kaname: Hell yeah. Now we’re gonna kick ass and chew bubblegum…and we’re all out of bubblegum…
(Kaname opens the clue…)
Kaname: Travel to Inori Park, the home of the Sapporo Snow Festival and also the Pit Stop for this leg of the race, the last team…yeah, I get it, let’s go Sousuke!
Sousuke: Affirmative.
(As the two head to their taxi, Nagi realises their mistake…)
Nagi: Oh sh…darn it. We forgot to ask our cab to stay…
(Nagi goes and looks for a phone as back in the room, Bob is using his own experience for a romance story, but then realises it’s might be a bit risqué…)
Bob: I think I need to keep it a bit toned down…
*
(Bob is still working when the next team…er teams…enter…)
Roy: So we didn’t get a slow driver then?
Hughes: Shut up and run…
(Shot of Miyu and Yamato just behind them as they do ask the driver to stay, the FMA team however don’t…just as Nagi comes off the phones off one…)
Nagi: Dammit Bob, hurry the hell up…
(Shot of Roy and Hughes getting to the Road Block first…)
ROY/HUGHES – 5TH
PLACE
Roy: Road Block…stories…
Hughes: Mine.
(Hughes opens it and smiles.)
Hughes: Right up my alley…
(Roy reads it and groans…)
Roy: Don’t traumatise the poor girl you’re sending it too though…
MIYU/YAMATO – 6TH
PLACE
Yamato: This person must like telling stories…you wanna do it Miyu?
Miyu: Sure, I wanna tell our kids all the bedtime stories in the world!
(Yamato blushes, as Miyu opens the clue and smiles…)
Miyu: Perfect.
(She clutches Yamato’s hand once as Bob is still struggling to get something which he thinks is good – his lack of knowledge about Hokkaido means romance is the thing he’s focusing on. Hughes enters…)
Hughes: Nuts…modern technology, my mortal enemy. What’s wrong with a lot of paper?
(Hughes however sits down and is presented with the e-mail. He’s slow on the typing but seems to know what he wants to type. Miyu on the other hand immediately sits down and begins typing at lightning speed…)
Miyu: Heh, texting Yamato-kun for 3 years at this speed makes this a breeze.
(Bob sees Miyu working like lightning, as a taxi appears…fortunately it’s the one who Nagi ordered…)
*
(It doesn’t take Miyu long at all – she immediately sends as Hughes and Bob both struggle, Bob with something to write, and Hughes with using a keyboard. Miyu is very happy humming away as Bob hazard a guess…)
Bob: Something tells me your story is from experience…
Miyu: Bob-kun, you don’t know the half of it…
(Suddenly, she gets a reply. ‘AWWWWWWW…THAT’S SO SWEET! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT – COME TO ROOM 601…’)
Miyu: Bye-bee boys!
(As cute as Miyu is, her leaving strikes annoyance in Bob as he was ahead of her beforehand. And Miyu leaving so fast is shocking to all the outside members, specifically Nagi…)
Nagi: Crap…knew this would hold us up…
(Miyu heads up the elevator with a spring in her step, as she waits for a few moments before the familiar ping hits. She exits and enters Room 601…)
Karin: Miss Miyu, that was so romantic!!! I can’t believe what you went through…
Miyu: Well, it was self-inflicted, but all of it was true…
(Shot of Miyu’s short work…)
‘A lot has gone through my life
to find this love,
A gang war, blood spilled, parents splitting,
A mother leaving, tears from my body
Yet he brought me round. He changed me.
He made me realise I was human.
He made me realise how to love myself…
…and how to love others.
In my young years, my strength is overshadowed
By his own. His warmth, his smile, his charm,
Everything is what I want. And I swear by the
Ring on my finger, that is how I’ll keep it.
Yamato-kun, I love you.
By Miyu.
Karin: I think you need this…have a good life Miyu…
Miyu: Thanks!
(Miyu gets the clue as she heads down…)
1.55PM – INORI PARK
Sousuke: This is it?
Kaname: Run like hell Sousuke!
(The two do as they see the marker in the centre of the snow capped area. Kyoko and Yoko see them as Kyoko films them in as they hit the mat marked ‘DIAMOND DAYDREAMS’ on.)
Yuko: Sousuke and Kaname…you’re team number three!
Kaname: Excellent, best position we could be in Sousuke.
(Sousuke smiles a little.)
Sousuke: Doing well like this make you happy Chidori?
Kaname: Oh hell yeah!
Sousuke: Then it’s all good.
*
Miyu: Yamato-kun, let’s go!
Yamato: You were awesome Miyu, I can’t believe how fast you did this…
Miyu: Oh, you did your part as well…trust me…
(As Yamato quizzes Miyu about that, Bob and Hughes finish at the same time…and wait.)
(Problem is Karin has to read two now, so who is done first…)
(…*PING!*)
Hughes: Yosha!
(Hughes runs out as Bob sighs and waits a bit longer…Hughes work isn’t exactly too unfamiliar…)
‘Photos. I have a lot of them. Of my true loves of my
life.’
The life I lead is one of danger – a military experience
is
Not one I share to a young girl.
However, the life I share after hours is one of a very
happy
Family man. My beautiful wife Gracia, and my unbelievably
Beautiful daugher Alicia. I’d love for you to meet them
One day. Hokkaido I may not be familiar with, but love
Is the universal language, and you would understand once
You saw us together. I hope you find what I have found,
True happiness.’
(But a few moments later, Bob gets his reply…and breathes a sigh of relief.)
Bob: Thank god…
(He heads out, hoping to beat Hughes to the punch…let’s see what Bob wrote…)
that you don’t want to admit is the case. That’s been the
case
for quite some time. We’ve lived together,
We’ve stayed strong throughout and I have said I loved
her.
Yet, when it comes to committing to her, I’m afraid.
I’ve faced challenges that I thought were much harder
than this
And yet, she has and always will be my only one.
So whether she sees this or not, I am admitting now…
Chiaki, I love you. If I win this, please be
mine…forever.’
*
(Hughes has taken the elevator, but once Bob runs, he’s heading up the stairs. Nagi breathes a sigh of relief as Roy looks unconcerned, not realising the one taxi waiting for the Tenjho boys…)
Hughes: Ah, here’s a picture of my family…
Karin: Oh, so sweet! You must be a very happy man…
Hughes: Oh, absolutely…
Karin: Look I’d love to hear more but…
(Karin hurriedly gives Hughes the clue, Hughes looks a little disappointed, but hearing Bob up the stairs means he’s got to get a move on…he does as Bob nearly runs into him as he finds room 601…)
Karin: My my, for a strong guy you seem a bit sentimental…
Bob: I know. I didn’t even realise it myself.
(Karin gives Bob the clue as he again heads to the stairs, flying down there as Hughes exits the elevator…)
Hughes: O.K, got the clue…
Roy: O.K let’s see…
Bob: Nagi!
Nagi: Took your time didn’t you?
(Both teams read the clue – Bob and Nagi smile as Roy’s face drops…)
Roy: Oh no…(turns)…hey guys…
(Too late. They’ve ran back to their taxi before Roy could even attempt to negotiate. Roy curses under his breath…)
Roy: We need a taxi…
(Hughes goes over to call as Roy shakes his head…)
Roy: Things couldn’t get worse…
(Shot of a taxi coming…it contains…)
Jinnai: We’re finally here sister…
Nanami: Then lets hurry up – two teams are at the back hoping we mess up and I don’t intend for that to happen!
(They spot Roy noticing them and realise he’s coming for their taxi…Nanami quickly negotiates with the driver…)
Jinnai: Ha, nice try to foil us, but you’re not stealing our taxi – this driver is under my command!
(Jinnai allows him a laugh, but then they realise they are standing still, and quickly head inside as Roy really wishes his flame powers weren’t banned…)
*
2.00PM
(Shot of Miyu and Yamato stepping onto the mat…)
Yuko: Miyu and Yamato, you are team number 4.
MIYU/YAMATO – 4TH PLACE
Miyu: That’s good! Not first sure, but still top half…
Yamato: Still in it, that’s what counts…
*
Nanami: You don’t have a romantic bone in your body…I’m doing it…
Jinnai: But my romance for conquest…
Nanami: I’m not losing for that…geez…
(Roy and Hughes see their taxi coming and don’t even wait to hear any more of Jinnai…and then…)
Yakumo: Those…
Sara: That’s Hughes and Roy…they’re just leaving!
(Roy shakes his head…)
Roy: Girls, I feel so sorry for you…
*
(Indeed, when Nanami goes over to make her story, Sara and Yakumo see just Jinnai there…)
Jinnai: Ah ha, more victims to the waiting game!
(Sara and Yakumo, neither known for getting angry, immediately scowl. They storm over to the clue, and Yakumo makes sure Jinnai doesn’t try anything funny like blocking the marker…which he did seem like he was going to do…)
Sara: Road Block…this person…must like to tell stories.
Yakumo: I’m not too good at expressing…
Sara: I’ll do it, no problem. (She reads and smiles.) Being a child of god means I love everything…
(She briefly turns to Jinnai)
Sara: …well…almost…
(She runs over to join Nanami as Jinnai feels the force of Yakumo’s glare (the one she only does when anyone makes bad remarks about her older sister)…Jinnai actually feels a little cold around Yakumo…)
Jinnai: What is this aura, the cold chill of Hokkaido or something more sinister?
(In the room, Nanami is having a little trouble…thought not about her idea, but does she want to write it?)
Nanami: I just have…to make sure he doesn’t know it’s him right?
(She begins typing as Sara also gets on and is quickly onto her work…)
Sara: There are people I love around her – whether I’m allowed to or not…
*
2.05PM
Bob: We messed up there…
Nagi: We at least beat those alchemy guys…
Yuko: True, and to prove it, Bob and Nagi, you are team number 5.
BOB/NAGI – 5TH PLACE
Bob: I just hope the message that I slowed us down will be proof enough…
Nagi: Proof enough of what?
(Bob remains silent, but the slight sign of a blush is clearly visible on his dark skin…)
*
(As the girls work on their stuff, we see Rally and May cut in, two taxis now waiting, they quickly get the hint…)
Rally: Stay here please…it could be life or death…
(The two run like hell as they enjoy the rather pleasant sigh of Jinnai being quiet. Rally shakes her head.)
Rally: How did you do it girl?
Yakumo: Erm…just…practice…
May: We almost don’t want to beat you for that reason but…
(They take the envelope…)
Rally: Road Block…This person…must like to tell stories.
May: What kind of stories…
Rally: I don’t think it’s the one you and Ken say about late at night…
(Both May and Yakumo blush…Rally slaps her head…)
Rally: But I get the feeling that you’d be better at romance slush than me…you do it…
May: I hate you.
(May opens the clue, reads, and sighs…)
May: I’m going to be so embarrassed at the end of this…
(Inside the computer room, Nanami is looking quite embarrassed as well as she types in her work, she seems to be working both themes into her writing, whilst on the other hand, Sara seems to be almost in a trance working on hers. As May enters, she sits down and seems to be thinking in a similar ways to Bob…)
May: I need to keep this PG-rated huh?
(May slowly begins to work…it’s a tense moment for the three girls…)
Rally: This sucks…our only hope is if the Germans missed the plane or if more than one team went for the Fast Forward…
Jinnai: Heh, mishaps always shape the world, and I’m confident that will happen – not that it matters because I’ll still be he…
(Yakumo’s shifty glare again freezes Jinnai. Rally puts a hand on Yakumo’s shoulder…)
Rally: Babe, if we beat you, I’m going to just apologise right now if you can deal with that ass like that…
Yakumo: R-Rally-san…
Jinnai: Now listen here…
(Yakumo again turns and Jinnai shuts up…)
*
2.11PM
Hughes: Well, we got here, I did my work!
Roy: Yeah, but we’re a team…
Hughes: …so we both forgot the taxi then, fine…at least another person gets to understand the true love of a family man…
Yuko: AHEM.
(The two are on the mat as they get interrupted by Yuko…)
Kyoko: O.K…
Yuko: ..Roy and Hughes, you are team number six.
ROY/HUGHES – 6TH PLACE
Roy: We need to keep in touch with these times otherwise we’re gonna fall behind…
Hughes: Newsflash Roy, we’re already there…
*
(Back in the computer room, someone has finished as she presses the ‘send’ button…)
Nanami: Come on, come on…
(A few moments and she gets a reply…)
(A SECRET LOVE TO ADMIT IN HOKKAIDO – HOW ROMANTIC! COME
OVER TO ROOM 601 FOR YOUR REWARD…)
Nanami: Yes!
(You can see May cringe hearing that whilst Sara doesn’t react. Nanami heads out as the sight of her leaving is not a good one for Rally or Yakumo, but Jinnai is all smiles.)
Jinnai: You’ve defeated them? Heh, you have a knack for this…
Nanami: Just get ready to run!
(Jinnai laughs and this time Yakumo can’t be bothered as she’s hoping for Sara to escape before May as Rally clutches her hands together…)
*
Karin: …does he know?
Nanami: Unfortunately no…
Karin: Will you tell him?
(Nanami blushes…Karin decides not to pry and hands her the clue…her work…)
I see you all the time – working with me, helping me,
Saving me, saving others. You are a man of all kinds,
You’ve dressed as a woman yet you are more man
Than my brother, and anyone else I know.
I’m currently in Hokkaido, away from you and
It feels so wrong. I should have been here with you
For this game. However, I won’t forget you
And hope you will see me not as a friend, but as a woman.
One of these days I will say to you that I love you…
Tomorrow, next week, next year, I don’t know…
But I will be brave, I will be strong,
My warrior of El-Hazard – mine and no-one elses.
(Nanami heads back down quickly but as she does…)
*
Sara: Yes!!!
(May immediately cringes, as Sara gets her message from
Karin as Nanami comes down. ‘GOOD TIMING AND GOOD WORK! COME OVER TO ROOM
601…’)
(Sara rushes off as Nanami is reading the clue with Jinnai…)
Jinnai: …Pit Stop, let’s leave these losers!
(Nanami and Jinnai run, and May sees Sara taking the elevator. She shakes her head…)
Rally: Come on May…
(Inside, May is struggling – the sight of her being alone is making her upset and not concentrating. She shakes her head and thinks of her boyfriend as she slowly types, hoping against hope…)
*
‘A child of god loves all. Yet, love comes in all forms.
The love of nature, the love of family, the love of food,
The love of your friends, the love of your significant
Other. However, the love I have cannot be touched.
My heart is strong, yet my feelings are overflowing.
And yet, I cannot say them. I have heard
Confessions, for my friends and for myself, on the job
And not, and yet I’ve never known to love TRULY.
I hope one day that I can experience this, as one
Person truly and hopefully for me can see me
As not a child of god, but as a woman of love.
For now, thank you my best friend,
And keep me under your brilliant light
So I can truly show love…some day.
Sara: …it’s a bit of a mixture…
Karin: You work in religion though?
Sara: Yes…only a trainee, it’s still hard though…
(Karin nods as she hands Sara her clue…Sara heads back down the elevator…and no sign of May escaping the computer room when she gets back onto the ground floor.)
Sara: Yakumo!
(Yakumo escapes as she and Sara read the clue…)
Sara: Pit Stop…Inori Park…let’s go…
(Yakumo nods, seems to bow in apology to Rally before making their exit. Rally shakes her head.)
Rally: Damn.
(Back inside, May is working as they has to think. She’s calmed down knowing there is nothing she can do…)
May: I was hoping we could last until we left Japan…
(May continues to work…it takes hers a couple more minutes before she is happy and she sends off the e-mail…and after a minute…)
(A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH AN OLDER MAN…I KNOW THE
FEELING…OR AT LEAST WISHED IT…COME ON TO ROOM 601 AND DISCUSS…)
May: O.K, maybe we can still…
(May holding on to some hope she gets to the elevator, Rally cheers her on…)
Rally: Nothing we do now, we just hope and pray…
*
May: Yeah, he’s 20 years older than me, but we’ve been in love for a long time…
Karin: You’re not very tall though are you, it seems…
May: (looks embarrassed) Yeah, there is a reason why I’m this height…
Karin: Eh?
May: N-Never mind! Have I got a clue?
(Karin nods and hands over the clue…shot of May’s work…)
‘I was not always the nicest girl, or the smartest one…
But two people saved me from a life I could have
Been subjected to for the longest time.
One is my best friend…I tease her, I make fun of her
But we worked together so well it’s ridiculous.
The other is my boyfriend – he is almost twice my age
And yet he’s loved me like no else could.
We’ve sacrificed so much for each other and yet
We’ve stayed together through right and wrong.
You two bombed my heart and we’re shooting
Towards life without looking back.
I love you guys…you have no idea how much…
May: Sorry Rally…we messed up…
*
(Shot of May going down and Rally smiling…)
Rally: Don’t worry, we’ll just enter the American one…
May: Sorry…
Rally: Don’t be sorry partner, we just had a sucky detour and we blew it…let’s just go home and get back to what we can do…
(May smiles…)
May: Thanks partner…no…friend.
(Rally puts her arm around her shoulders as they head to their taxi…)
*
Jinnai: Ha ha, we’re here!!!
Nanami: Just about, I think you scared our driver to try and crash…
Jinnai: What’s one more life when conquering the world?
Nanami: Enough when WE’D probably die as well…
(They spot Yuko and park their feet on the mat…)
Kyoko: Welcome to Inori Park.
Nanami: Thanks…
Yuko: Katsuhiko and Nanami…you’re team number 7.
Nanami: 7? That’s one better than I expected…
*
(Shot of Rally and May not really talking, looking disappointed as they head over to the Pit Stop…)
*
Sara: Shall we dispense with the theatrics Yuko?
Yuko: Aw…but it’s not fun that way…but yeah. Sara and Yakumo, you’re team number 8.
SARA/YAKUMO – 2.25PM (8TH PLACE)
(Again, Sara and Yakumo are surprised…)
Sara: Someone was behind us then?
Yakumo: Then…
*
(Shot of Rally and May parking outside the park. Rally puts her arm around her best friend’s shoulders as they solemnly walk over to Yuko…)
Rally: Hey Yuko, sorry we couldn’t be here earlier…
May: Yeah, we’re really sorry…
(Yuko pauses for a few moments…)
Yuko: Rally and Minnie May…
(Dramatic pause…)
Yuko: You’re…team NUMBER 9!!!
May: Yeah, we kn…huh?
Rally: Wait Yuko, you said 9? Are you sure you got that wrong?
Kyoko: Oh boy…(in English)…YOU DUMB AMERICANS, YOU’RE NOT LAST!
RALLY/MINNIE MAY – 9TH PLACE – 2.30PM
Rally: You’re kid…HEY WAIT A MINUTE, DUMB?!!!!
May: Easy Rally…we are not going to be angry…I’m…
(May just begins to cry with happiness, Rally hugs her best friend as both are surprised and relieved…)
Rally: B-But how is that possible? Did Saga miss her flight? Did someone mess up at the fast forward? Did Sara and Yakumo get caught in traffic or did the Jinnais get arrested or something?
(Yuko doesn’t say anything…)
*
(Shot of Tylor and Yamamoto having to travel back to the detour…)
Yamamoto: It’s very ironic. All this time I’ve been mad about our captain riding his luck and taking stupid risks. Well, these legs this risks worked, and when we take what we thought was a safe option, we blew it.
(Shot of the two reading the detour leg again, but now includes the omninious message, ‘Head Straight To The Pit Stop.’ In a way, Tylor is relieved because he doesn’t have to do anything strenuous, but on the other hand, it’s the kiss of death.)
Tylor: I like taking the easy way out, and whilst it was something I was wary of slightly, the Fast Forward was a good option, and we thought from who was ahead of us, they had all taken the detour. It seems someone BEHIND us must have beaten us there and also to the Fast Forward.
Yamamoto: We were too easy going by saving money on the
train – again, it’s a safe bet, but it obviously didn’t work for us.
*
(Shot of the two entering Inori Park this time taking a taxi all the way there. Tylor seems O.K but Yamamoto is disappointed as the two exit and make the walk of shame…)
Kyoko: Welcome to Inori Park.
Tylor: At least at the end, I’m greeted by a beautiful woman…er…two.
(It seems Tylor caught Yuko’s glare in time…Yamamoto slaps his forehead…)
Yamamoto: Even at the end, you never change Captain…
Yuko: Tylor and Yamamoto…you are the last team to arrive. I’m sorry to say you have been eliminated from the race.
Yamamoto: (nodding) It was a very interesting experience, and yet we went for the smart and safe routes, and messed up horribly.
Tylor: See, my ways are the best after all…
Yamamoto: Don’t get ahead of yourself Captain…
(The two face each other and they are both smiling. They salute each other.)
Yamamoto: Back to the Soyokaze sir and find Miss Star right?
Tylor: Yes, all aboard!
Tylor: I won’t say I’m not disappointed – there were a lot of interesting people to meet and greet. I was more enthusiastic for this than I thought I would be and just as I was getting into it, the ship stops here. Ah well…
Yamamoto: I guess sometimes the captain does know what
he’s talking about, even if he doesn’t know it…
Tylor: But I miss being the Captain, so it’s just a good
time to stop and return back into space. Let’s go Yamamoto!
Yamamoto: Yes sir!
*
Next time on the Ani-Mazing Race;
*
And another one rides the bus…er, bites the dust…
This leg was very easy for me to write as far as location due to the DVD extras that came with ADVs release of Diamond Daydreams (better known as Kita e) but the detours were a pain to think of. Because it’s such a series that focuses on 6 girls in 12 episodes (and a bonus 13th when they all meet) it had to be literally split across Hokkaido as best as it could. Fortunately, the safest and best options allowed me to do some Hokkaido research and able to come through, though the fact only one team took the ice detour made it a lot easier as well.
And here we say goodbye to one of the greatest unintentional double acts in anime history, Tylor and Yamamoto. And I am sorry to see them go – originally stated for a top 3 finish (seriously) the plot where Tylor’s wild craziness and luck actually works better than common sense was a plot that was discussed between Adam and I and caused them to be eliminated early. I’ll always have a soft spot for this series (even more so when I won the VA Draft for this show in May) and with such a diverse cast, there is something for everyone. Highly recommended.
So, are what many people thought were the weakest team in AR History surprising people after their first place finish? However, things could change next ep with the trip to America, plus the introduction of the Yield…don’t miss it…
Author notes time!
Acen introduced me to the huge amount of Kingdom Hearts cosplayers which kinda blew me away. Yes, there were some awesome ones (Anti-Sora in the masquerade in partic) but it verge on the new Naruto or FFX-2 easily. I made a comment as I was passing by saying ‘My life for a Sora cosplayer!’ A few then joked saying there are plenty here and of course my comment was, ‘Wrong Sora.’ I was dressed as Fool at the time so you can get the joke and the confusion they had on their faces. Ah, screwing with fanboys – what bliss…I could relate the Hiruma/Cloud story as well at a Tokyopop meet but…nah. Wait till next leg…J
Two Asahinas? One’s a film director? Yeah…poor Mikuru…and Akari Harada? We had an Akari (To Heart) and two Harada’s (DN Angel)…this race is beginning to haunt me already…
Yay for VA lines – Miyu’s comment of course that the Ran/Naka-sen moment felt more like Ran/Rei is of course because the Patton/Christian combo of Sousuke/Kaname also played Ran and Rei from Supergals.
All the stories were not copied and wrote by myself – soppy yes, but I can do soppy. Hopefully as well I can do the race as well…
May’s embarrassment is basically about the manga in Gunsmith Cats – there actually is a reason why she is so short, but I’d rather not explain here – let’s just say it’s to do with appeal to her boyfriend and she’s taken drastic measures to keep it like that…
Until next leg, a Japan/US period with a lot of violence, speed, power and…FOOTBALL? Don’t miss it…YA-HA!!!!