SEQUENCE
by Scott K. Jamison
[Ranma 1/2 and associated characters created by Rumiko Takahashi, and NA
rights are held by Viz Communications. No infringement is intended.]
Part Two
(Fade back in on a futon. It's occupied, but all we can see of
the sleeper is a lump of black hair with a pigtail sticking out.)
NODOKA (off): Ranma, time to get up, sleepyhead.
RANMA: *Mmble* Do I hafta, Mom? Mom?! Mom!!
(Head lifts off the pillow, though the picture stays focused on
the futon as the blanket floats down. We hear running, then a hugging
sound.)
RANMA (off): Mom, I love you!
NODOKA (off): I love you too, honeybunch. You're my very favorite daughter.
RANMA (off): Oh, Mom...did you say "daughter"?
NODOKA (off): Of course, dear. You thought I was going to say "hedgehog"?
RANMA (off): Mirror! Where's the mirror? (Running noises) AAGGHH!
(Switch to the mirror, which shows female Ranma, but with two
changes. Her hair is black, like male Ranma's (or the manga version) and
she has male Ranma's voice. She looks appalled. Ranma pats herself down.)
RANMA: I'm a girl.
(Nodoka moves into the frame and straightens Ranma's pajama top.)
NODOKA: Just like always, dear. No point in acting surprised now.
RANMA: I'm a girl.
NODOKA (beginning to lose patience): Yes! Now get dressed for school.
Your friend Akane should be by soon to pick you up.
RANMA: Akane?
(Nodoka leaves, a concerned expression on her face. As Ranma
rummages through the closet, the camera pans the room, and we see that it
is indeed a teenaged girl's living quarters. There are pictures on the
wall of female Ranma at various ages.)
RANMA: None of my Chinese outfits? Well, if I must, I'll go with this
tacky uniform...
(Switch to the front of an apartment building, where Akane (long
hair, like at the beginning of the series) waits impatiently. The front
door opens, and Ranma steps out, dressed in the Furikan High outfit.)
RANMA: Uh, hi, Akane. Say, I recognize this place.
AKANE: Duh! You've only lived here forever!
RANMA: Um, right. Say, I'm not engaged to you, right?
AKANE: Don't be silly! We're both girls!
RANMA: Just checking. [I guess you could call it fair. If I'm a girl
(and neither hot nor cold water works on me now, so I guess I am), I'm
not engaged to any girls. And since I never was a man, I don't have to
get embarrassed about losing my manhood. This could actually work out!]
AKANE: C'mon, Ranmaa!
(They start walking to school.)
AKANE: Any news on Hikaru?
RANMA: Who?
AKANE: Hikaru, the brother you haven't seen in ten years? The one
that's supposed to come home tomorrow with your father?
RANMA: Oh, that Hikaru? No, nothing new. [I have a brother? Bet he's
engaged to Akane, poor fellow.] (Smirk)
AKANE: Hurry up, Ranma!
(They run.)
(Furinkan High's gate, where we see...aw, you guessed!)
KUNOU: Ranma Saotome! Akane Tendou! Rejoice! For I, Tatewaki Kunou,
the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, shall today make one of you my bride!
RANMA: What are you babbling about this time?
(Kunou blinks in surprise.)
AKANE: Same thing he always does. Both our families engaged us to him
when we were little. Since neither of us wants to marry the loon, we
made a deal. The first one to lose a fight to him has to go through with it.
KUNOU: Just so! And now, when the tide of destiny has--
(Ranma boots him in the head.)
RANMA: Less talk. More fighting.
(they go to it in earnest, but it soon becomes clear Ranma has
the upper hand.)
YUKA: Gee, Akane, looks like Ranma's been practicing.
AKANE: I've never seen those moves from her before. Wonder where she
learned them?
(Kunou is spread in a fine paste on the ground.)
RANMA: Sorry, Akane, should have left some for you.
AKANE: That's all right. *You* can be the most violent, uncute,
unfeminine girl in school today.
RANMA: Ook! [I'm engaged to Kunou? Eeewww! Maybe this isn't such a
good deal after all.] (checks notebook) [Sewing class?]
TO BE CONTINUED!
SKJAM!
majks@cyberx.com
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