Loco in Yokohama

 

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INT. JUNICHIRO AND TOMOMI’S APARTMENT- NIGHT

Tomomi and Junichiro are seated at the dining table eating yakisoba and salad, and drinking wine.

TOMOMI

This is pretty good. You cook

like a  real Japanese.

Junichiro gives her a look. A look like she’d struck a soft spot. But, it was so brief, Tomomi, busy feeding her face, didn’t even catch it.

TOMOMI (cont’d)

Who teach you how to cook like this?

JUNICHIRO

My mom…she said my father had taught her, but I doubt it.

TOMOMI

Why?

JUNICHIRO

Cuz, from what you tell me, real Japanese men can’t cook.

Tomomi must have caught something in his tone, for she looked up from her plate.

TOMOMI

Eeee! Are you angry?

JUNICHIRO

Of course not. I love when people tell me

what I am and what I’m not. Don’t you?

TOMOMI

You don’t understand me. I mean…

JUNICHIRO

Don’t worry, I know what you meant.

Somehow, I always know what you mean.

Even when your English was

totally fucked up I understood.

Tomomi stops eating and eyes him.

TOMOMI

If I want real Japanese man I will not

be with you, deshou? Real Japanese

men is shit! I told you that.

JUNICHIRO

Can we just enjoy a meal without the Japan

bashing tonight? Messes with my digestion.

TOMOMI

You wanna talk about Loco, again?

JUNICHIRO

Beats talking about how you’re too

Japanese and how I’m not real Japanese.

TOMOMI

(under her breath)

Geezus!

JUNICHIRO

…And don’t spit my words at me!

TOMOMI

Ok, I’m sorry, ok? You wanna be like a real

Japanese? Fine. Go to Japan and be

like a real Japanese. See if you be happy.

JUNICHIRO

Fuck Japan! That’s not my point!

My point is I don’t like the way you

say I’m not real Japanese!

TOMOMI

バカヤロウ!

JUNICHIRO

And don’t be using words I don’t understand. Speak English!

TOMOMI

Well, it’s the truth, deshou? You is not real Japanese.

And I happy you is not real Japanese.

JUNICHIRO

Loco is right about y’all.

TOMOMI

Loco is not Japanese, too. He think he know

Japanese because he can speak Japanese

and he live in Japan a few years. So what!

Only real Japanese knows real Japanese!

JUNICHIRO

You wanna know why I dig his writing?

Cuz I don’t know how the fuck he does it!

All I have is one uh y’all and I’m ready to put

your ass through a fucking wall sometimes!

Tomomi smiles at this like Junichiro had used a term of endearment.

TOMOMI

(In a young girl’s voice)

But you don’t, Go-Shujin-sama. Because

you love Momo-chan, deshou?

She rises from her chair, walks over to Junichiro and begins massaging his shoulders and neck and rubbing his chest. He relaxes under her skillful touch, and we can see his anger melting away. We get the feeling this is not an unusual occurrence.

JUNICHIRO

Oh, that feels wonderful!

TOMOMI

(same voice)

I like make you happy.

JUNICHIRO

I’m sorry I yelled at you, Momo.

TOMOMI

You don’t has to be sorry.

You can do anything you wants

to me…sensei.

Junichiro looks over his shoulder at Tomomi and smiles lasciviously. She returns it demurely. The word “sensei” is obviously a code word between them and obviously one of a sexual nature. Junichiro faces forward again.

JUNICHIRO

Why are you out of uniform, Tomomi-chan?

TOMOMI

(same voice)

I’m so sorry, Sasaki-sensei. It’s in my locker.

JUNICHIRO

You know the punishment for not wearing your uniform!

TOMOMI

Please Sasaki sensei, don’t tell my

father. He’ll…he’ll kill me. I do

anything, ANYTHING! Please!

Though Junichiro can’t, we can see that Tomomi is very thrilled about the cos-play.

JUNICHIRO

Go put on your uniform, and we’ll

discuss your punishment later.

Suddenly we hear R.Kelly’s STEP IN THE NAME OF LOVE coming from the I-PHONE on the table. Junichiro grabs it, peeks at the screen. Tomomi continues massaging, reading the screen over his shoulders.

JUNICHIRO

It’s my Moms.

(into the phone)

Hey Ma! (beat) Nah, Momo and I are

just eating dinner. (beat) She’s good.

(To Tomomi) She asked ‘how are you?’

TOMOMI

(Loudly)

Hi Ms. Williams! I’m fine, thank you. And you?

JUNICHIRO

Did you hear that? (beat) (To Tomomi)

 she says she’s fine, but getting old

and wondering when I’m gonna give her some…

(into the phone) I’m not saying all that. So, what’s up?

(beat) Ma, I told you. I got a career to think about.

I can’t be having no…anyway, we’ll talk about that later. (beat)

What? (beat) I know, but she…listen, Ma, this ain’t the time.

(beat) Ok, I’ll stop by tomorrow. (beat) Love you, too. Peace!

He disconnects the call and places the phone on the table. Tomomi takes a seat and gives him some serious eye contact.

TOMOMI

She hates me, deshou?

JUNICHIRO

Yep! You can say that.

TOMOMI

I thought so.

JUNICHIRO

You know, black people…they don’t trust

real Japanese people. Only Geisha and Ninja.

TOMOMI

Eeeee! Your mother don’t trust me?

JUNICHIRO

You’re a real Japanese, deshou?

TOMOMI

Of course!

JUNICHIRO

Don’t you know, a real Japanese man

broke my mother’s heart about 28 years ago.

TOMOMI

What? Who? Are you playing to me?

JUNICHIRO

No. About this, I’m very serious.

TOMOMI

I don’t understand. 28 years ago…what?

JUNICHIRO

I’m talking about my father!

Now, he is a real Japanese!

Now she gets it.

TOMOMI

Sokka! You never talk about your father.

JUNICHIRO

And I aint about to start now…go take your

bath and get ready! Sensei’s feeling really ”H” tonight!

She rises and bows obediently.

TOMOMI

Hai!

BEGIN MUSIC: Bill Wither’s “Who is he, and what is he to you?”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYw-1o0GCyI

Tomomi walks off towards the closet, pulls out a sailor-style Japanese school girl uniform (the same uniform from scene 1), holds it up against her body,  looking too thrilled. She apparently loves costume play.

Once Tomomi has gone into the bathroom Junichiro walks over to his computer, sits down and begins typing. We can see it is a comment on Loco in Yokohama, a response to Loco’s post: “Can you be more Japanese?” He re-reads what he has written and then, looking satisfied, he presses SEND.

Behind his computer is his wall of fame. He stares at the picture in the center. The one of him at his graduation, his mother, DEVONA WILLIAMS, hugging him. He smiles in reminiscence of that day.

Then he opens a draw in the cabinet beneath the desk and pulls out a folder. Within it we see some photos. He pulls out one of his mother, much younger, smiling, holding a little yellow baby. Beside her stands a real Japanese man, looking like he’s trying to hide all the love in the world inside of a tight grin.

END MUSIC

 FADE OUT