Ep 33 – The Search Begins

SCENE STARTS: (Mirai and Daichi are walking on a path to the Japanese park.)

MIRAI: How much further until we get there?

DAICHI: We’ve only been walking for about five minutes.

MIRAI: I think I used up all my energy demanding a refund from that hotel…

DAICHI: Sorry about my family. Old habits die hard. Which reminds me…

SFX: (Poof sound as Daichi switches to his tanuki form.)

DAICHI: Better for me to be in my Tanuki form when we enter the park.

MIRAI: Why did everyone look human in the town if it’s so very clear that everyone’s a creature?

DAICHI: You never know who’ll show up! Can you imagine if a group of tourists stopped by and all they saw were creatures going to the market and eating at restaurants and whatever?! Usually, they’ll leave once they realize there’s nothing interesting, but you showed up all alone and vulnerable, and even checked into the hotel! 

MIRAI: I’m not vulnerable! I’ve made it this far, haven’t I?

DAICHI: Surprisingly… But as I was saying; I am now a Tanuki, and you are now a Kitsune.  Although us being together might get some stares… Creatures like us don’t really hang out. I don’t think I even know any Kitsunes. 

MIRAI: Whatever! They can deal with it. What’s wrong with having friends outside your circle? Now, how will we know when we get to the park? The one in New Jersey had rules about coming at specific times. 

DAICHI: It’s more lax here. It’s not like a lot of people will accidentally wander in. It’s more likely that someone gets taken in and brought here instead. 

MIRAI: Well that makes me feel better… 

DAICHI: Don’t worry, it’s day time! The chances of you dying are very slim right now.

MIRAI: But what about afterwards?! 

DAICHI: There’s a shrine dedicated to the gods. As long as we get there by nightfall, we’ll be fine. 

MIRAI: Oh! A shrine! That makes me feel better. Like a savepoint in a video game. 

DAICHI: What’s a video game?

MIRAI: Oh, well now I know what we can chat about as we walk forever…

MUSIC: (“Proserpina Bops” plays as we fade out and move to the next scene.)

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (They arrive in the park.)

MIRAI: You know, I don’t know why I thought it’d look special or anything, it… really is just a park.

DAICHI: That’s why we have our town. Not all of us enjoy sleeping on dirt. But a lot of us do have ties with nature, so it’s important that the park remains the way it is.

MIRAI: Does it have a similar layout to the one I’ve been hearing about? A pond, fields, mountains, and whatnot?

DAICHI: Sounds like it. I think most parks have a good range of environments, but it depends on what kind of creatures decide to stay here.  

MIRAI: Okay, so where should we start? 

DAICHI: Well, like I said, not too many people wander in here, so the creatures will clearly know about your brother’s arrival. We should just ask one of them.

MIRAI: Cool! Who’s the nicest creature we can find around here?

SFX: (They start walking.)

DAICHI: Hmm, hard to tell. But you’ve got your mask, so even if they’re a bit rude, they won’t attack you for being human.

MIRAI: Would they attack me for being a kitsune?

DAICHI:… (mulls it over) Good point, let’s just go straight to the shrine and look around there, just to be safe.

MIRAI: Okay, how far is the shrine from here?

DAICHI: It’s in the very center of the park, so about a half day’s walk at least.

MIRAI: Half a day?! I don’t think I’ve walked this much before… (huffs) Okay, then let’s talk about the history of Japanese Idols. You know, at first it seems very different from how traditional performances are done, but then it becomes very obvious once you compare the two— 

DAICHI: Y-you know what, maybe you should fill me in more about the whole situation. I only really know that you’re here for your brother.

MIRAI: Oh yeah, you actually haven’t listened to any of the audio! 

Okay, so long story short, this girl Alina discovers a park just like this one in America and she meets a guy there named Sam. Turns out Sam helps out in the park cuz he loves animals and his cousin is a demigod!

DAICHI: Uh.. Ah! Explains how he has access to the park.

MIRAI: Right? And Sam told Alina not to tell anyone else about it, but she told her friend Drew, and later on, my other brother Junpei and our pet dog about it. Our pet dog is named Dog and is really a martian by the way.

DAICHI: Uh… okay?

MIRAI: Yeah, so, Sam and Alina got into this huge fight, because again, she wasn’t supposed to tell people about it, and also, Sam thought Junpei was Jun-nii, so he freaked out even more because… oh my god, wait, I just realized… My brother might be gay???

DAICHI: Wait, which brother?

MIRAI: Jun-nii! Sam confessed his love for Jun-nii!

DAICHI: Oh… but that brother is somewhere here right?

MIRAI: Yeah, so it turns out, Jun-nii and his friend Jessica— 

DAICHI: Not another person…

MIRAI:— created a new monster in the park to protect themselves, but it instead created a huge mess and so their park might close and for some reason, Sam can’t hear, Jessica can’t see, and Jun-nii lost his memories!

DAICHI: Huh…

MIRAI: Sorry, that was a terrible explanation, wasn’t it.

DAICHI: Well yes, but… What you said about those three at the end? It kinda sounds like those monkeys.

MIRAI: What monkeys?

DAICHI: Oh man, you don’t know the monkeys either? Right, you don’t know much about Japanese creatures to begin with… That might be an issue in the park, especially if you’re pretending to be a kitsune.

MIRAI: Oh, you’re right. Do you think it’s a dead giveaway if I speak in English? Maybe it’ll be better for you to talk.

DAICHI: That’s fine with me. What was your brother’s name again, Junichi? What’s he look like?

MIRAI: I can show you a picture! He doesn’t have any distinctive features, but he wears glasses and his hair’s a little curly. Like mine! He’s really shy around people, but he really likes talking about what book he’s reading. Oh, he probably has a huge backpack or something because he’s been traveling around all this time.

DAICHI: Okay, I think that’s doable. Glasses, backpack, probably has a book… Okay, got it. 

MIRAI: Hey wait, doesn’t that look like a person right there? 

SFX: (They both stop walking and look.)

DAICHI: Huh, it does… Let’s go say hi, but remember, stay cautious, and… oh! And your mask!

MIRAI: Right, right, um… Okay, I’m ready. Nyah! 

DAICHI: (snickers) That’s not what a fox sounds like! Didn’t you meet one on your way here? 

MIRAI: Yes! But I mean, she was like, all mysterious and seductive, and uhhhhh.

DAICHI: Okay, just let me do the talking…

MIRAI: I tried my best…

SFX: (They walk to the figure. It gets bigger and bigger as they get closer.) 

MUSIC: (“False Alarm” plays.)

MIRAI: (whispers) Okay, it’s too late to stop now, but that person is definitely not my brother. He’s also not really wearing clothes!

DAICHI: I don’t even know if he’s human… He looks like he’s 2.5 meters tall.

MIRAI: I don’t think we should do this.

DAICHI: You said it yourself that it’s too late, look, he totally sees us!

SFX: (In the background, the stranger calls out and says, “Hey! Hello!”)

MIRAI: (gags) Do you smell that? That is pungent. Okay, you talk then.

DAICHI: What?! You have to come with!

MIRAI: You know what my brother looks like, I don’t need to be here!

DAICHI: Yes… You… Do! 

MIRAI: No, I… Don’t!

SFX: (Daichi starts tugging Mirai along with him. They bicker as they get to the creature.)

DAICHI: (ahem) すみません！あの、ちょっと質問があります。。。

KAPRE: Whoa! Japanese! Right on man. Mind if I smoke?

SFX: (Kapre lights his cigar.)

MIRAI: Um… are you not a Japanese creature?

KAPRE: Creature?! Oh man, I’m supposed to be on vacation. Do I not look human?

MIRAI: You’re uh, a bit above the average height.

KAPRE: Oh, (realizes) hold on, I’ll sit on the ground. Sorry about that. 

SFX: (Kinda a thump as the Kapre sits down.)

KAPRE: Man, isn’t nature wonderful? (Hw takes a deep breath.)

DAICHI: So, who are you?

KAPRE: I’m a Kapre. Visiting from the Philippines. The trees in Japan during this time of year are sickkk. 

DAICHI: Um, thank you?

MIRAI: We’re actually looking for my brother in this park. Have you seen him? Around 6 feet, glasses, human… You get what I’m saying?

KAPRE: Human, human…Wait, are you a human??

MIRAI: (To Daichi) See this is why you have to do the talking!

DAICHI: That’s your fault!

KAPRE: Oh man, I love humans! They’re so small and cute and sometimes, we have staring contests, but whenever I try and get too close, they run away…

MIRAI: Something tells me they didn’t realize it was a staring contest…

DAICHI: So I guess that means you haven’t seen another human here.

KAPRE: Nope, sorry. I actually just got here recently myself. But I’d love to know more about you, ha? 

MIRAI: Oh, well okay. My name is Mirai, and this is Daichi. (DAICHI: Hey.) I’m visiting Japan right now myself, but you know, we should get going.

SFX: (They start walking off.)

KAPRE: Huh, no, wait, wait, wait, that’s it? You guys don’t want to hang out? 

DAICHI: Um, we’re a little busy…

KAPRE: Oh that’s okay! I’m not! Say, do you guys know what a Kapre is?

MIRAI: I guess, we’re being rude. You said you’re from the Phillipines right?

KAPRE: Yup! But rumor has it, our name is derived from Arabic, meaning non-believer. 

DAICHI: How did an Arabic name get to the Philippines?

KAPRE: Oh, well uh pretty awkward history to be honest. You know how Spain is pretty close to Northern Africa, right? Well they picked up some Arabic because of that and coined the term to mean someone with darker skin. The name popularized again when the Spanish and Portugese colonizers conquered the Philippines and used the country as a route for the slave trade. 

MIRAI: (Astonished) I learned none of this in school!

KAPRE: Yeah… I’m pretty sure there’s a ton of negative stereotypes associated with me because of that … You know, I never understood humans and their hatred of melanin talega…

DAICHI: So how did a name that referred to darker skin people become a mythological creature?

KAPRE: We’ve always been in the Philippines! We just didn’t have a name until all of a sudden it was an issue that a huge dark figure was hanging around. Weird no?

MIRAI: I think you need to study up on what “reading the room” means.

KAPRE: Well, I’ve never been indoors before, so I’m not too familiar with rooms.

MIRAI: I… have no words. 

KAPRE: No yeah, trees are my homies. They’re just the best place to chill and smoke, you know?

DAICHI: So, I think it’s pretty obvious, but looks can be deceiving sometimes; what kind of creature are you?

KAPRE: Ah hm… labels are pretty weird yeah? I’m pretty much just someone who sits by trees. I don’t know if there’s a name for that. 

DAICHI: Hmm some kind of tree spirit then perhaps? Do you have any stories about your kind?

KAPRE: Oh you know, we’re pretty chill creatures. Sometimes we play around with travelers lost in the woods. But you know, nothing mean, you know? Just funny to see people freak out. 

MIRAI: Oh… that’s not really all that nice.

KAPRE: Nah, it’s even funnier the darker it gets you know? Then they really start panicking. All you gotta do is rustle some leaves and make some noises like ooh, ooh, and then they start running! (laughs out loud) Oh man, it never gets old! 

DAICHI: (nervous) Heh heh, so it seems like you’re also a bit of a trickster type yourself huh?

KAPRE: Wha– trick– No, no. It’s not a trick. It’s all a joke. For fun you know? Say, we should play a joke as well.

DAICHI: I don’t think that’s a good idea…

MIRAI: Yeah, thanks for telling us your story, but we really need to be going now.

KAPRE: Huh, what! But I was hoping maybe we could travel together, you know? 

MIRAI: But we don’t know you.

KAPRE: I just told you what I am!

DAICHI: Yeah but that doesn’t mean we know you.

KAPRE: How could you say that, I thought we were friends! I came all the way to Japan and talked to you guys, and this is how you treat me?

SFX: (The Kapre starts throwing a fit, huffing and puffing. Music starts here.)

MIRAI: Whoa, why are you getting upset? It’s not like we forced you to come here. And it takes time to be friends with someone.

KAPRE: And that’s… why… I kept offering to hang out! But you won’t listen!

SFX: (The air starts smoking thanks to the Kapre angrily smoking his cigar. Daichi and Mirai start coughing.)

DAICHI: (To Mirai) The smoke must be coming from the Kapre’s cigar. (To the Kapre) W-we told you, we’re looking for someone. We can hang out again when we find him! 

KAPRE: No! No! I want to hang out now!

SFX: (The smoke becomes too much to handle as Mirai and Daichi start coughing. Soon they are having trouble seeing as well.)

MIRAI: (coughs) Daichi? Where are you?

DAICHI: I haven’t moved! I’m right here!

MIRAI: Where?! I don’t see you at all. 

DAICHI: Are you walking?! Don’t! I’ll come to you.

MIRAI: Wait! You sound too far away now!

KAPRE: If you won’t be friends with me, then you two can’t be friends either!

DAICHI: Please! Kapre, it was a misunderstanding. We can be friends! 

MIRAI: Yes! You know, Daichi is a Tanuki, wouldn’t it be cool to learn about that? He’s also a trickster type!

KAPRE: I. Am. NOT. A trickster type! I am a good creature!! But now you’ve made me mad! You know what? You don’t deserve to have me as a friend. I could have probably helped you find your brother, but noooo. Good luck surviving the rest of your trip, for this is what you get for angering a Kapre… 

SFX: (The Kapre disappears, but the smoke remains. Some noises come from all directions, like bushes rustling, or a creepy animal sound)

MIRAI: What? Wait! (pauses) Ugh, what do we do now?

DAICHI: Mirai! It’s too late! Just, get out of the smoke as soon as you can. Let’s rendezvous at the shrine! You know where it is. 

MIRAI: Do I?!

DAICHI: Yes! Remember, it’s in the center of the park. On a hill. You really can’t miss it. And remember, you must get there by nightfall! It’ll be the only way to stay safe.

MIRAI: (scared) Okay…

DAICHI: Be a fox, Mirai. I know you can. I’ll see you soon. 

SFX: (Daichi runs off somewhere and Mirai begins to walk as well, the background slowly fades away, indicating how alone Mirai is.) 

MIRAI: (panting) Okay Mirai, be a fox. Be like… a fox. Be brave and cunning and… all alone… like a fox. 

FADE OUT.

CREDITS: 

Residents of Proserpina is a production written and produced by Angela Yeh. Directed by Angela Yeh. Featuring in order the voices of Vida Shi, Zerreth, Pao Panganiban, Spencer Hiroshi Field, Christine, Sam McDonald, Angela Yeh, Maddie Shallan, Skyler Giordano, Ben Pollizi, Ashley Dawson, Sara Roncero-Menendez, and Madi.

Dialogue edited by Angela Yeh. Sound design by Rebecca Liu. Mixed and Mastered by Angela Yeh. Script edited by Sara Roncero-Menendez. Original music by Hoa Pham. Season 4 cover art by Molly James. Series logo by Macy Tang. For more information about the show, please go to our website residentsofproserpinapark.com 

AFTER CREDITS SCENE: (Junichi is alone in the park by the waters.)

JUNI: (panting) Okay, I think I can officially say… that I’m lost. 

KAPPA: Ah! You there. Yes, human child!

JUNI: W-what?! 

KAPPA: I knew it. It is you. What are you doing here?

JUNI: You know me??

KAPPA: Of course I know you. You very nearly tortured me every time you would visit. I moved all this way only to see you here, probably back to cause chaos in another park! Uh!

JUNI: But I just got here! And wait. Are you a Kappa? Can I see your dish?

SFX: (Juni reaches in to try and touch the Kappa.)

KAPPA: This is exactly what I mean! Ooh.. I see your insistent harassment is still a problem. I’m warning you. Do you not cause trouble again, Junichi. We all barely survived the last time. 

SFX: (The Kappa leaves under the water.)

JUNI: Wait! What does that mean?