Episode 11- Musical

Episode 11: Mama Misao-Sweet Natsuki-Phantom of the Clubroom

[NATSUKI PROTAGONIST]

It's a quiet morning in the Takara household.
Most people in town are heading off to work or bringing their kids to school.
I'd be waiting for the bus right now, but I don't get to enjoy a good meal every day.
I'll get papa to drive me to school when I'm finished, but for now I just want to enjoy my bacon and eggs.
While I'm gobbling down my breakfast, I overhear papa groaning and grumbling.
He grizzly-bears into the room and drops into the seat across from me.

NATSUKI: "What's your issue this morning?"

[SONG 1: It Sucks to be a Doki]

HOSHI: Hi, Natsuki.
HOSHI: I'm disappointed.

NATSUKI: Huh? What's the matter?

HOSHI: Just life.

NATSUKI: I don't think I get it.

HOSHI: Me either! I mean, look at me!
HOSHI: I'm out of an 8 year college career, and I always thought -

NATSUKI: What?

HOSHI: No, it sounds stupid.

NATSUKI: Aww, come on Papa!

HOSHI: When I was little I thought I would be...

NATSUKI: What?

HOSHI: A big comedian on late night TV
HOSHI: But now I'm raising you
HOSHI: And as you can see
HOSHI: I'm not

NATSUKI: Nope!

HOSHI: Oh well.

NATSUKI: Mmmhm!

HOSHI: It sucks to be me.

NATSUKI: Nooo.

HOSHI: It sucks to be me.

NATSUKI: No!

HOSHI: It sucks to be broke and unemployed in the year 2018.
HOSHI: It sucks to be me.

[Later that day in the Literature Club]

MONIKA: Your dad thinks his life sucks?

NATSUKI: Guess so.

MONIKA: His problems aren't so bad!
MONIKA: I'm kinda pretty
MONIKA: And pretty damn smart.

NATSUKI: You are!

MONIKA: Thanks!
MONIKA: I like romantic things like music and art.
MONIKA: And as you know I have a gigantic heart
MONIKA: So whyyyyy
MONIKA: Am I still a virgin?!
MONIKA: UGH!
MONIKA: It sucks to be me!
MONIKA: It sucks to be me.

[ Two separate points in time ]

HOSHI: It sucks to be me.
HOSHI: It sucks to be Hoshi...

MONIKA: It sucks to be Moni...

HOSHI: To not have a job!

MONIKA: To feel super lonely!

BOTH: It sucks to be me!

[ Return to just the Literature Club ]

MONIKA: Hey, Dan, Sayori, can you settle something for us?
MONIKA: Do you have a second?

DAN: Ah, sure.

MONIKA: Whose life sucks more?
MONIKA: Her Dad's or mine?

DAN: Mine!
DAN: We're next door neighbours!

SAYORI: We're as close as people can get.

DAN: We've been the best of friends...

SAYORI: Ever since the day we met!

DAN: So she knows lots of ways to make me really upset.

SAYORI: Huh?

DAN: Oh, every day is an aggravation.

SAYORI: Come on, that's an exaggeration!

DAN: You leave your clothes out, I clean up every shirt!

SAYORI: Oh yeah?
SAYORI: You do such bad, bad things like being such a meanie jerk!

DAN: You make that very small neighbourhood we share
DAN: A hell!

SAYORI: So do you!
SAYORI: T-That's why I'm in there too!

DAN: It sucks to be me!

SAYORI: No, it stinks to be me!

MONIKA: It sucks to be me!

NATSUKI: It sucks to be Papa!

ALL: Is there anybody here it doesn't suck to be?
ALL: It sucks to be me!

[ Later that day in the Salvato household ]

SOJIRO: You're serious, Monika?

MONIKA: Yes, my life sucks!

SOJIRO: Your life sucks?
SOJIRO: Am I hearing you correctly? Hah!
SOJIRO: I moved to this city
SOJIRO: For opportunities.
SOJIRO: Took all the steps to become a teacher.
SOJIRO: But I'm still with the Police.
SOJIRO: And I have two daughters
SOJIRO: To raise and to feed
SOJIRO: Without a spouse!
SOJIRO: And my job is dangerous!
SOJIRO: And I'm getting older!
SOJIRO: And I have an unemployed teenager!
SOJIRO: And we have lots of bills to pay!
SOJIRO: It sucks to be me!
SOJIRO: It sucks to be me!
SOJIRO: I said it
SOJIRO: Sucks-Sucks-Sucks-Sucks
SOJIRO: Sucks-Sucks-Sucks-Sucks
SOJIRO: Sucks-Sucks-Sucks-Sucks
SOJIRO: Sucks!
SOJIRO: It sucks to be me!

[ All of them suddenly together outside of the school the next day ]

CIVILIAN: Excuse me? Officer?

SOJIRO: Hey there.

CIVILIAN: Sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for a place to live.

SOJIRO: Why are you asking me?

CIVILIAN: Well, everyone else I've asked doesn't know anything.

SOJIRO: You need to talk to the superintendent.
SOJIRO: Let me get him.

CIVILIAN: Great, thanks!

SOJIRO: Yo, Reggie!

REGGIE: I'm comin'! I'm comin'!

CIVILIAN: Oh my God!
CIVILIAN: It's Reggie FilsAime!

REGGIE: Yep. That's me!
REGGIE: I'm Reggie FilsAime
REGGIE: Nintendo's laughing stock.
REGGIE: We made a lot of money
REGGIE: That got stolen by Microsoft!
REGGIE: Now my best friend's dead
REGGIE: And I'm the butt
REGGIE: Of everyone's jokes,
REGGIE: But I'm here -
REGGIE: The Superintendent!
REGGIE: And here to help you!

ALL: It sucks to be you!

MONIKA: You win!

ALL: It sucks to be you!

HOSHI: I feel better now!

REGGIE: Try having people stopping you to tell you
REGGIE: "My body is ready."
REGGIE: It gets old.

ALL: It sucks to be you
ALL: Sucks to be you
ALL: (Sucks to be me)
ALL: Sucks to be you
ALL: (Sucks to be you)
ALL: Sucks to be you
ALL: (Sucks to be us)
ALL: But not when
ALL: We're together.
ALL: We're together
ALL: In this city with skies so blue!
ALL: We live in a city with skies, blue!
ALL: Our friends do too!
ALL: 'Til our dreams
ALL: Come true,
ALL: We live in the city with skies, blue!
[SONG END]

And then it started raining.

MONIKA: Ahaha!
MONIKA: Well, they _were_ blue.

And we all went about our day, until the next literature club meeting.
When I step into the clubroom, I immediately notice something out of the ordinary.
Monika, our beautiful, talented, and inspiring club president is here before I am, and she appears to be writing on the chalkboard at the front of the room.
Yuri is sitting in one of the front row seats, paying strict attention to what ever is being described on the board.

NATSUKI: "What are you writing?"

Monika makes a swift turn in surprise.

MONIKA: Oh!
MONIKA: Natsuki!

YURI: Greetings, Natsuki.

Monika gives me a warm smile, one which, oddly seems a lot more genuine than most of her smiles.

MONIKA: I didn't even hear you come in. Ahaha!
MONIKA: I'm just writing the official rules of the literature club!

NATSUKI: "Umm..."
NATSUKI: "Wait, rules?"
NATSUKI: "Why do we need rules???"

Monika leers to the side.

MONIKA: Well, you know, some of us need more guidance than others.

NATSUKI: "You mean Misao?"

A nervous smile bends across Monika's face.

MONIKA: Ahaha, well...
MONIKA: Let me run them by you!

Monika clears her throat.

[SONG 2: Simple Rules] - Parody of Possibility from C STUDENTS

MONIKA: Let me explain these simple rules that I,
MONIKA: Have made for me and you, and why,
MONIKA: They'll help us as we go about our day.

NATSUKI: I just fail to see the point because
NATSUKI: We're just a little disjointed club.
NATSUKI: With rules, I can't see a way that we will grow two feet.

MONIKA: Without some laws that we should abide by
MONIKA: We'll surely watch this book club die
MONIKA: Just trust in them, and you'll see why, I swear!

YURI: She has a point...

NATSUKI: But if you're pushy and say "no!"
NATSUKI: How do you expect to grow
NATSUKI: This tiny club from what it is into a prayer?

YURI: That was a stretch...

MONIKA: Simple Rule: Respect yourself!

NATSUKI: That's a stupid rule, members might have depression or anxiety!

MONIKA: A Simple Rule: Express yourself!

NATSUKI: That is a really pushy one.

MONIKA: These simple rules will show you how it's done!

NATSUKI: You really expect this club to grow if you make pointless rules that don't even deal with literature?

MONIKA: They aren't pointless! A healthy self-image is essential to produce the best work possible!

NATSUKI: That's a pretty big leap in logic. You can't just say stuff that you think a psychologist would say and present it as inspirational advice.

YURI: Natsuki, Monika, please. Let me try to explain.
YURI: Some days you're on top and you think nobody can stop you,
YURI: And some days you feel nothing but pain.
YURI: You have no motivation, your work isn't from the heart
YURI: And to write a single letter is your bane.

NAT & MONI: Tell me about it.

YURI: Things don't always work, and you think God's being a jerk,
YURI: but you can just complain and throw a hissy fit.
YURI: We must all try our best, as a writer on a quest,
YURI: To write poems until they're good as they can get!

ALL THREE: Simple Rule: Respect yourself!
ALL THREE: What's the point of stupid rules if you have nobody to follow them?
ALL THREE: Simple Rule: Express Yourself!

MONIKA: Respect each others differences...

ALL THREE: ...This whole high school will be our witnesses!
[SONG END]

NATSUKI: "Well, I guess having _some_ rules around here could help."

MONIKA: No, but you're right.
MONIKA: I should get rid of some of them.

YURI: I am glad to see you two come to a consensus.

Suddenly, the others enter.

SAYORI: Wow!!!
SAYORI: Are we writing poems on the board today!?

MONIKA: Ahaha!
MONIKA: No, silly!
MONIKA: These are the rules of the Literature Club!
MONIKA: But I'm going to start erasing so--

SAYORI: Wow! Monika!
SAYORI: You're such a responsible leader!

MISAO: No, rules are g*y.

DAN: No! Sayori is right!
DAN: Monika, you're so...
DAN: Coordinated!

SAYORI: Hooray for Monika!
SAYORI: Looking out for everybody's interests!!!

MISAO: What?!
MISAO: I'm a part of "everybody!"
MISAO: I don't want some g*y rules!
MISAO: What is this?
MISAO: 'Respect Yourself?'
MISAO: 'Don't attack others?'
MISAO: How do you expect me to follow either of these rules?!

NATSUKI: "Calm down, Misao!"
NATSUKI: "She's erasing some of them."
NATSUKI: 'She's rational, unlike you."
NATSUKI: "With her guidance, we're sure to become as big as the Drama Club!"

MISAO: Dude, the Drama Club is full of eggheads who watch way too much TV.

NATSUKI: "D-Dude?!"

MISAO: Yes.

NATSUKI: "Anyway..."
NATSUKI: "Key word in your sentence: full of"

MISAO: That was two words.

NATSUKI: "Ugh whatever, stupid!"
NATSUKI: "With Monika Salvato as our president, we're sure to land on the map!"

DAN: Cheers for our Ms. Salvato!

SAYORI: Hooray!

MONIKA: Awww...
MONIKA: Thanks, you guys.
MONIKA: That was really inspirational!
MONIKA: And all I did was write some rules on a chalkboard, ahaha...
MONIKA: We may have started off with just a few members, but soon...
MONIKA: Soon we're going _straight to the top!_
MONIKA: Ahaha!

[SONG 3: Ms. Salvato!]

MONIKA: The Debate Club is where I would go.
MONIKA: Day by day - Just the same drama show!
MONIKA: But today, I've a club of my own.
MONIKA: Just trust me
MONIKA: And you'll see
MONIKA: The lessons books can bestow!

MONIKA: I made sure every day was fun.
MONIKA: Pushed the limits of what book clubs have done!
MONIKA: Write those poems, okay everyone -
MONIKA: I'm the head
MONIKA: And I said
MONIKA: This meeting has begun!

SAYORI: Woohoo!

CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Ms. Salvato
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Inspiration!
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: For the Literature Club!
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: You're a blessing, it's true
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: And we're part of your crew
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Could we do what you do?
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: We really doubt it!

MONIKA: Awww, guys, I'm not _that_ great.

CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Ms. Salvato
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: You're an angel
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Show us which way to go!
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: At your behest we do our assignments

MONIKA: Good - that shows a proper alignment!

CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: You're our friend, our idol, our leader

MONIKA: Be proud! Call yourself a reader!

CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: You're Ms. Salvato!

MISAO: F*ck, Monika, I never realized everyone kissed your *ss this hard.

MONIKA: Ahaha! What can I say, I'm the president!

NATSUKI: Manga's a form of literature,
NATSUKI: Yes it is, there's a lesson to learn!

YURI: Novels are for adults, and preferred.

NAT & YURI: She's a jerk
NAT & YURI: But we work
NAT & YURI: In our president's herd.

MISAO: We're not eggheads, like some b*tches say.
MONIKA: Awe.
MISAO: We're a whole other level of g*y!
MONIKA: Hey!
MISAO: Though I guess some of us, make it easy to stay...
MISAO: But whatever
MISAO: I'm never reading.
MISAO: That's insane!

MISAO: Still...

CLUB MEMBERS: Ms. Salvato's
CLUB MEMBERS: Got the answers
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: We'll advance with
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Her help!

SAYORI: I'm her vice!

CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Your talents are so vast
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: You've got tubs full of class!
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: What a wonderful lass!
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: We simply love you!

MONIKA: Awwwe, you're making me blush, now!

CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Ms. Salvato!
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: You're so splendid!
CLUB MEMBERS EXCEPT MISAO: Guide us into the light!

SAY & DAN: You've a class your own above other classes!

MONIKA: We're gonna kick some Debate Club ***COUGH COUGH***

NAT & YURI: With you, slowly, our club's surmounting

CLUB MEMBERS: We'll write poems, two dozen and counting!
CLUB MEMBERS: Cause you're Miss - You're Miss

MONIKA: Salvato!

CLUB MEMBERS: Salvato!
[SONG END]

MONIKA: Ahahahaha!

SAYORI: Ehehe!

YURI: That was cute.

MONIKA: Thank you, guys!
MONIKA: That means a lot to me!

Monika smiles genuinely.
She pulls us all into a grouphug.

MISAO: Yo, what the f*ck!
MISAO: Get off!

NATSUKI: "H-Hey!!!"

MONIKA: Awwwe, you guys!
MONIKA: You're the best club members a girl could ask for!
MONIKA: Ahaha!

Monika finally lets us leave the group hug.
Ugh, I hate hugs sometimes.

NATSUKI: "Well, since we're all here, can we split off into our own groups, now?"
NATSUKI: "I wanted to talk to Dan."

DAN: Me?

Everyone in the room looks at me and Dan.
Ugh! I hate it when they do that!
It's not like I like him or anything!

NATSUKI: "Yes, you dolt!"

MONIKA: Sure! I'll just be up here scanning through some books to read.

NATSUKI: "Alright, Dan, let's go."

And so I grabbed Dan by his arm, and off we went to the closet at the back of the club room.

[SONG 4: Play With Me!]
NATSUKI: Won't you come along and play with me?
NATSUKI: Come on, it'll be such a good time!
NATSUKI: Reading manga's easy as can be!
NATSUKI: Read from the top, read from the right!

DAN: Natsuki, I've lived here all my life!
DAN: Except for the few years I didn't!
DAN: I know that you don't read left to right!
DAN: I'm not a total idiot.

NATSUKI: I know! Let's go on an adventure!
NATSUKI: Just you and me!
NATSUKI: Not that I would mind if anyone
NATSUKI: Joined the party.
NATSUKI: I have so many books to choose from!
NATSUKI: Follow my lead!
NATSUKI: At the very moment we are done,
NATSUKI: You'll be smiling!

DAN: Wow! I really like that character's--
DAN: EH! Smaller build and her cute eyes!
NATSUKI: Dan that's super gross why would you say
NATSUKI: That in front of someone her size?
DAN: Sorry I did not mean to offend
DAN: I should have honestly realized
NATSUKI: No, Dan, don't go saying it like that
NATSUKI: It sounds even worse when you lie!

MONIKA: I'm the club president, I work so hard, to arrange
MONIKA: Every day to be fun for all of my club members
MONIKA: But when I see them smiling, I feel so engaged
MONIKA: I'm feeling good cause
MONIKA: It's a good cause
MONIKA: To be able to bring them together in a place
MONIKA: They feel safe.
MONIKA: So I plan
MONIKA: Out the day
MONIKA: For them.

NATSUKI: Are you having fun reading today?
NATSUKI: I hope that you're having a good time!
MISAO: L O L  reading is super g*y!
NATSUKI: Shut up, Misao, kiss my behind!
DAN: Natsuki don't worry about her!
DAN: She's just trying to get on your nerves.
DAN: Let's continue reading like we were.
DAN: That character's cute, I like her!

NATSUKI: There is more to reading than the art!
NATSUKI: Pay attention!
NATSUKI: I know that you read manga, you fart!
NATSUKI: Cause you said it!
DAN: Okay yeah, I guess that I sort of did.
DAN: That I mentioned.
NATSUKI: Stop acting as if you have no heart.
DAN: Not my intention.

NATSUKI: Do you understand now what I said?
NATSUKI: Manga's as good a form as any?
MISAO: Stop this sh*t, this song is in my head.
MONIKA: This episode will have many!
DAN: Natsuki I think I understand.
DAN: The point you are trying to make here.
DAN: But there's one more thing I have to say.
DAN: You're making a huge mistake here.

MONIKA: How I love him, my Daniel, he's a gem, yes it's true.
MONIKA: But when he talks to them, it feels like the stomach flu.
MONIKA: I might get jealous, but I'm sure that he loves me too.
MONIKA: After all I am
MONIKA: Super fly and,
MONIKA: I have lots of talent
MONIKA: That I use to make it
MONIKA: Through
MONIKA: To him
MONIKA: So I'll hope
MONIKA: That I'm in
MONIKA: His heart

NATSUKI: I had so much fun reading today!
DAN: I have to agree, that I did too!
NATSUKI: Not that I would have cared either way!
DAN: That sounds to me, a bit too tsun!
NATSUKI: Dan! That's super immature to say!
DAN: Woah woah, please don't get carried away!

MONIKA: Okay everyone!
[SONG END]

NATSUKI: "And so we shared poems, and that was the last view days for me."

NATSUKI POST THIS ENTIRE LINE ASIDE FROM "HOSHI:" FOTWARD >>>> HOSHI: Huh, sounds pretty... Musical.

NATSUKI: "Yeah, I guess."
NATSUKI: "Goodnight, Papa."

NATSUKI POST THIS ENTIRE LINE ASIDE FROM "HOSHI:" FOTWARD >>>> HOSHI: Goodnight Natsuki.

[ WAIT 2 MINUTES ]
[ MONIKA BECOMES NARRATOR ]

Elsewhere in Japan...
A girl is solemnly sitting on the edge of her bed.

[SONG 5: Heartbreak]
SAYORI: I'm just
SAYORI: Not good for
SAYORI: Anyone
SAYORI: Anything

SAYORI: Even though
SAYORI: I can try
SAYORI: To be his best friend

SAYORI: I know that
SAYORI: I want more

SAYORI: Even if it hurts

SAYORI: So I'll try
SAYORI: To admit
SAYORI: This is the end

SAYORI: Even angels could see
SAYORI: I don't have a chance.


SAYORI: So I'll hide my demons
SAYORI: For me it's too late
SAYORI: Knowing I'm the only one
SAYORI: Worthy of my hate
SAYORI: But I
SAYORI: Still try
SAYORI: To see the light
SAYORI: It's nothing but invisible
SAYORI: To me...


SAYORI: Oh Sayori,
SAYORI: They said
SAYORI: Get bad thoughts out of your head
SAYORI: Just forget them~!

SAYORI: Every day
SAYORI: Night
SAYORI: Day
SAYORI: I will cry.


SAYORI: So every day
SAYORI: I will greet you
SAYORI: And while we walk to school
SAYORI: I hope for the best

SAYORI: But every single day
SAYORI: I know that I can't keep you
SAYORI: Simply I'm not enough
SAYORI: Leave my love to rest.

SAYORI: In the noose that I know is just...
SAYORI: In my head.
[SONG END]

To be continued...