Mana's First Hunt
{Scene opens on Seto's room. He is doing a new picture of Mana as
she grows into adulthood.}
SETO:
Oh, Aknamkanon... every day Mana grows more beautiful, into a Queen that
will someday make us all very proud. {He paints a crown on Yugi, next to
Mana.} But this child Yugi grows stronger. And Mai fills his heart with
hate. I am very worried, Aknamkanon. Things are not going well.
{Wind blows, rattling Seto's gourds.}
SETO:
Hmm? You have a plan?
{One gourd falls, splitting in half. Seto holds up the two halves
against the painting of Mana and Yugi, and brings them together until
they join.}
SETO:
What? Yugi... Mana... together? This is the plan? Are you
crazy? This will never work! Oh, Aknamkanon, you been up there too long.
Your head is in the clouds!
{Wind blows hard at Seto}
SETO:
Okay, okay, okay! Okay! All right-- okay! I don't think this is going
to work... but I trust you. I just hope you know what you are doing!
{Camera trucks back, upwards, away from Seto. Scene shifts to Mai's
rocky home, where the grown Yugi is sitting on a rock while Mai slinks
around him.}
MAI:
You are ready! Nice... very nice. You have the same
blackness in your soul that Bakura had. What is your destiny?
YUGI:
I will avenge Bakura... take his place in the Pride Lands.
MAI:
Yes! What have I taught you?
YUGI:
Atem is the enemy.
MAI:
And what must you do?
YUGI:
I must kill him!
{Servents cheer in reply. Scene switches back to Pride Rock, where
Mana is emerging to take part in her first hunt. Tea is walking
towards Atem, who is sitting at the end of the assembled servents. He
looks quite worried and sad, but he sighs gently and forces a smile
when Tea reaches him.}
RANDOM SERVENTS:
Wow, her first hunt! You must be so proud, Tea. Here she is!
{Mana emerges from over a hill on the trail. She looks at Seto, who
is standing next to the path. She looks worried until Seto speaks to
her.}
SETO:
Mana.
{Mahando alights nearby. Joey and Tristan embrace goofily.}
RANDOM SERVANT:
Good luck, Mana! She'll be great. Her first hunt! You can do it! It's
your day, Mana. My, how you've grown! Good luck, Mana!
{Tea and Mana hug. Atem is looking vaguely glum.}
TEA:
You'll do just fine.
MANA:
Daddy... you have to promise to let me do this on my own. Promise?
{Atem glances at Tea, who raises her eyebrows at him. He rolls his
eyes upward acquiescently.}
ATEM:
All right... I promise.
{They hug; Joey and Tristan break into tears. Mana looks back,
and then runs off into the fields. Atem moves surreptitiously over to
Joey and Tristan.}
ATEM:
Make sure she doesn't get hurt.
{Joey and Tristan begin humming in a show of nonchalance, and sidle
away off the rock until they drop over the side and out of view.}
{Mana is hunting. Trying to be quiet, she steps on a branch, which
cracks and sends a herd of antelope running. Mana runs frustratedly
after them. Scene switches to a burst of steam; we are back in the
Elephant Graveyard. Ryou and Rebecca are standing on a ledge.}
RYOU:
Yeecch. This place is even creepier since the hyenas ran off.
REBECCA:
{She's holding kindling} Mmmh. Gee.
RYOU:
I'm not scared, okay?
{They jump down next to one of the spouts; Rebecca drops the kindling
against the edge.}
RYOU:
I just don't know why we have to be here, that's all. If Yugi was so
special, why does he need us?... I never even had a CHANCE! Yaaah! {he
gets his back side burned by a jet of hot gas from the ground}
{Rebecca watches him with amusement, then her face lights up as the near
spout bursts, lighting the sticks ablaze.}
REBECCA:
That's it! Now come on... Mana has started her hunt. We have to move
quickly.
{Ryou grabs his burning stick, and leans his head over the vent's edge;
it goes off, scorching his face.}
RYOU:
Oooh! Fire! {he laughs crazily and bounds off after Rebecca.}
{Scene switches to the open fields, where Joey and Tristan are
following after Mana. We see Tristan's head sticking up above the
grass. Joey rises up next to it, sees his head, yelps in surprise, and
ducks back down. The two cross a clearing military-fashion, sniffing
the air, and they dart from tree to tree with SWAT-team-style "Hup!
Hup! Hup!" noises. Joey leaps into a hollow log and gestures as though
with a two-way radio.}
JOEY:
Tango-Charley-Alpha. What's your position?
TRISTAN:
Uhhh... Upright... {now smiling} head turned slightly to the
left....
JOEY:
Why do I bother? {he scans the horizon, framing Mana in his fingers}
Ah hah.{Mana is stalking the antelope again. She carefully steps over some
stones with her feet, but knocks them over, alerting the antelope into running yet again.
She jumps up and gives
chase as the herd turns and dashes away from her, directly toward Joey
and Tristan, who shriek in fright.}
JOEY:
This must be where the deer and the antelope play!
{The antelope pass; Joey and Tristan shriek again when they turn and
see Mana standing there, panting. Joey recovers and chuckles guiltily
as Mana recovers her breath, panting.}
MANA:
Joey... what are you doing here?
JOEY:
Uh... shopping! We thought a nice pelt for our room... some throw
pillows, {Tristan nods in the background} a little potpourri...
MANA:
My father sent you. After he promised to let me do this on my own-- he
lied!
JOEY:
No... he just doesn't want you to get hurt!
MANA:
I should have known he'd never give me a real chance.
{Mana runs past them, still breathing hard.}
MANA:
I'll do this on my own. Away from the Pride Lands!
JOEY:
Hey! Wait! Come back! Oh... who can keep track of her? Mana-- come
back! {He hops up, and him and Tristan run after her-- but she's far
ahead already.} Oh... she's gone again! Somebody's gotta tie a
boomerang around her neck! Somebody's gotta get a beeper for this kid!
{Scene switches to where Mana has run, toward the edge of the Pride
Lands. Ryou and Rebecca are standing above, with their flaming sticks.}
RYOU:
Let's light fire! {they run down the slope, Ryou laughing madly} Roasty
toasty princess... roasty toasty princess... {he lights the grass in
several places, hopping around in circles. Soon he is standing in the
center of the circle of flames} Hey, is it hot in here, or is that just
me? Fire! Yowww!
{Ryou rockets into the air and lands a good distance away, where he
resumes laughing maniacally.}
REBECCA:
{growls at him from off-screen} Grr... come on! {she drags him off}
{Scene switches to the antelope grazing in the valley, along with
various birds. The antelope spook at something near Mana, and they
turn and begin to gallop off. Mana gives chase. Soon, though, she
notices the fire burning on the horizon, and the antelope turn and run
back in her direction. She panics, turns, and begins to run back the
way she came; antelope and birds follow her. Scene changes to a high
knoll above the flames, where Mai and Yugi sit watching.}
MAI:
The plan is in motion. Go!
{Yugi runs down the slope, toward Pride Rock. Camera switches to Pride
Rock, where Atem is pacing with Mahando several steps away.}
MAHANDO:
Don't worry, Atem. She'll be fine. What could happen?
{Atem looks up and gasps as he sees the smoke rising.}
ATEM:
No... no! Mana! {he turns to Mahando} Mahando! Run ahead. Find her!
{Mana is following a pair of zebras away from the flames, but finds
herself trapped and hemmed in on all sides, choking on the thick smoke.
She sees a high stone overhang above the flames; she jumps up and tries
to climb up the side, but she falls unconscious upon reaching the top.
Yugi appears from the smoke and looms over her; she wakes for a moment
and sees himsmirking down at her, then loses consciousness
again. Yugi grabs her waist and lifts her in his arms,and begins to carry her away from the fire.
He leaps across chasms with flames roaring, and then tumbles with Mana down a slope into a
pool of water, where Mana begins to sink. Yugi dives for her and drags
her to shore. Mahando, standing overhead, watches the event.}
MAHANDO:
I must tell Atem!
{Mahando runs back to Pride Rock. Yugi drags Mana to shore, and she
wakes up, gasping for breath.}
MANA:
Where am I?
YUGI:
You're safe... in the Pride Lands.
MANA:
The Pride Lands... no! Why did you bring me here? Who do
you think you are?
YUGI:
I think I'm the one who just saved your life!
MANA:
Look! I had everything under control!
YUGI:
Not from where I'm standing.
MANA:
Then move downwind.
{The two confront each other. Mana begins jumping from side to side,
as she had done in their earlier encounter as kids. Soon Yugi's
interest is piqued.}
YUGI:
What are you doing?
MANA:
{recognizing him} Yugi?
ATEM:
{off-screen} Mana!
{Atem and the servents from Pride Rock arrive. Atem jumps in front
of Mana, snarling.}
TEA:
Mana! You're all right.
ATEM:
Mana! {he begins snarling at Yugi}
MANA:
Father... how could you break your promise?
ATEM:
It's a good thing I did. I almost lost you. No more hunts for you; not
ever!
MANA:
But I was doing just fine! Even before Yugi--
ATEM:
Yugi? {he growls at Yugi }
TEA:
{surprised at his ferocity} Atem? {Atem glares at Tea, who is now
off-screen}
{Seto has arrived, and is standing on the hillside behind Atem.}
SETO:
Hey! You! How dare you save the Pharoah's daughter?
ATEM:
You saved her? Why?
YUGI:
I humbly ask to join your kingdom.
ATEM:
No! You were banished with the other Outsiders.
YUGI:
I have left the Outsiders. I am a rogue. Judge me now, for what I am...
or am I to be blamed for a crime I didn't commit?
{Atem snarls and paces around. Tea looks hard at him.}
TEA:
Atem... you owe him our daughter's life.
MAHANDO:
Mmm... yes, sire. Clearly we are in his debt... and royal protocol
demands that all debts be paid. Though in this case you might want to
make an exception.
{Atem paces a few moments more, then comes to a decision.}
ATEM:
Hmmm. My father's law will prevail. For now, I reserve judgment. We'll
see who you really are.
{Yugi smiles inwardly and looks sidelong at Mana, who smiles back at
him. Mahando turns his back on Yugi.}
MAHANDO:
Hmph! Riffraff.
{Mahando walks off. All make their way back to Pride Rock, with Yugi
walking behind Atem and mummbling to himself.}
{Scene opens on Seto's room. He is doing a new picture of Mana as
she grows into adulthood.}
SETO:
Oh, Aknamkanon... every day Mana grows more beautiful, into a Queen that
will someday make us all very proud. {He paints a crown on Yugi, next to
Mana.} But this child Yugi grows stronger. And Mai fills his heart with
hate. I am very worried, Aknamkanon. Things are not going well.
{Wind blows, rattling Seto's gourds.}
SETO:
Hmm? You have a plan?
{One gourd falls, splitting in half. Seto holds up the two halves
against the painting of Mana and Yugi, and brings them together until
they join.}
SETO:
What? Yugi... Mana... together? This is the plan? Are you
crazy? This will never work! Oh, Aknamkanon, you been up there too long.
Your head is in the clouds!
{Wind blows hard at Seto}
SETO:
Okay, okay, okay! Okay! All right-- okay! I don't think this is going
to work... but I trust you. I just hope you know what you are doing!
{Camera trucks back, upwards, away from Seto. Scene shifts to Mai's
rocky home, where the grown Yugi is sitting on a rock while Mai slinks
around him.}
MAI:
You are ready! Nice... very nice. You have the same
blackness in your soul that Bakura had. What is your destiny?
YUGI:
I will avenge Bakura... take his place in the Pride Lands.
MAI:
Yes! What have I taught you?
YUGI:
Atem is the enemy.
MAI:
And what must you do?
YUGI:
I must kill him!
{Servents cheer in reply. Scene switches back to Pride Rock, where
Mana is emerging to take part in her first hunt. Tea is walking
towards Atem, who is sitting at the end of the assembled servents. He
looks quite worried and sad, but he sighs gently and forces a smile
when Tea reaches him.}
RANDOM SERVENTS:
Wow, her first hunt! You must be so proud, Tea. Here she is!
{Mana emerges from over a hill on the trail. She looks at Seto, who
is standing next to the path. She looks worried until Seto speaks to
her.}
SETO:
Mana.
{Mahando alights nearby. Joey and Tristan embrace goofily.}
RANDOM SERVANT:
Good luck, Mana! She'll be great. Her first hunt! You can do it! It's
your day, Mana. My, how you've grown! Good luck, Mana!
{Tea and Mana hug. Atem is looking vaguely glum.}
TEA:
You'll do just fine.
MANA:
Daddy... you have to promise to let me do this on my own. Promise?
{Atem glances at Tea, who raises her eyebrows at him. He rolls his
eyes upward acquiescently.}
ATEM:
All right... I promise.
{They hug; Joey and Tristan break into tears. Mana looks back,
and then runs off into the fields. Atem moves surreptitiously over to
Joey and Tristan.}
ATEM:
Make sure she doesn't get hurt.
{Joey and Tristan begin humming in a show of nonchalance, and sidle
away off the rock until they drop over the side and out of view.}
{Mana is hunting. Trying to be quiet, she steps on a branch, which
cracks and sends a herd of antelope running. Mana runs frustratedly
after them. Scene switches to a burst of steam; we are back in the
Elephant Graveyard. Ryou and Rebecca are standing on a ledge.}
RYOU:
Yeecch. This place is even creepier since the hyenas ran off.
REBECCA:
{She's holding kindling} Mmmh. Gee.
RYOU:
I'm not scared, okay?
{They jump down next to one of the spouts; Rebecca drops the kindling
against the edge.}
RYOU:
I just don't know why we have to be here, that's all. If Yugi was so
special, why does he need us?... I never even had a CHANCE! Yaaah! {he
gets his back side burned by a jet of hot gas from the ground}
{Rebecca watches him with amusement, then her face lights up as the near
spout bursts, lighting the sticks ablaze.}
REBECCA:
That's it! Now come on... Mana has started her hunt. We have to move
quickly.
{Ryou grabs his burning stick, and leans his head over the vent's edge;
it goes off, scorching his face.}
RYOU:
Oooh! Fire! {he laughs crazily and bounds off after Rebecca.}
{Scene switches to the open fields, where Joey and Tristan are
following after Mana. We see Tristan's head sticking up above the
grass. Joey rises up next to it, sees his head, yelps in surprise, and
ducks back down. The two cross a clearing military-fashion, sniffing
the air, and they dart from tree to tree with SWAT-team-style "Hup!
Hup! Hup!" noises. Joey leaps into a hollow log and gestures as though
with a two-way radio.}
JOEY:
Tango-Charley-Alpha. What's your position?
TRISTAN:
Uhhh... Upright... {now smiling} head turned slightly to the
left....
JOEY:
Why do I bother? {he scans the horizon, framing Mana in his fingers}
Ah hah.{Mana is stalking the antelope again. She carefully steps over some
stones with her feet, but knocks them over, alerting the antelope into running yet again.
She jumps up and gives
chase as the herd turns and dashes away from her, directly toward Joey
and Tristan, who shriek in fright.}
JOEY:
This must be where the deer and the antelope play!
{The antelope pass; Joey and Tristan shriek again when they turn and
see Mana standing there, panting. Joey recovers and chuckles guiltily
as Mana recovers her breath, panting.}
MANA:
Joey... what are you doing here?
JOEY:
Uh... shopping! We thought a nice pelt for our room... some throw
pillows, {Tristan nods in the background} a little potpourri...
MANA:
My father sent you. After he promised to let me do this on my own-- he
lied!
JOEY:
No... he just doesn't want you to get hurt!
MANA:
I should have known he'd never give me a real chance.
{Mana runs past them, still breathing hard.}
MANA:
I'll do this on my own. Away from the Pride Lands!
JOEY:
Hey! Wait! Come back! Oh... who can keep track of her? Mana-- come
back! {He hops up, and him and Tristan run after her-- but she's far
ahead already.} Oh... she's gone again! Somebody's gotta tie a
boomerang around her neck! Somebody's gotta get a beeper for this kid!
{Scene switches to where Mana has run, toward the edge of the Pride
Lands. Ryou and Rebecca are standing above, with their flaming sticks.}
RYOU:
Let's light fire! {they run down the slope, Ryou laughing madly} Roasty
toasty princess... roasty toasty princess... {he lights the grass in
several places, hopping around in circles. Soon he is standing in the
center of the circle of flames} Hey, is it hot in here, or is that just
me? Fire! Yowww!
{Ryou rockets into the air and lands a good distance away, where he
resumes laughing maniacally.}
REBECCA:
{growls at him from off-screen} Grr... come on! {she drags him off}
{Scene switches to the antelope grazing in the valley, along with
various birds. The antelope spook at something near Mana, and they
turn and begin to gallop off. Mana gives chase. Soon, though, she
notices the fire burning on the horizon, and the antelope turn and run
back in her direction. She panics, turns, and begins to run back the
way she came; antelope and birds follow her. Scene changes to a high
knoll above the flames, where Mai and Yugi sit watching.}
MAI:
The plan is in motion. Go!
{Yugi runs down the slope, toward Pride Rock. Camera switches to Pride
Rock, where Atem is pacing with Mahando several steps away.}
MAHANDO:
Don't worry, Atem. She'll be fine. What could happen?
{Atem looks up and gasps as he sees the smoke rising.}
ATEM:
No... no! Mana! {he turns to Mahando} Mahando! Run ahead. Find her!
{Mana is following a pair of zebras away from the flames, but finds
herself trapped and hemmed in on all sides, choking on the thick smoke.
She sees a high stone overhang above the flames; she jumps up and tries
to climb up the side, but she falls unconscious upon reaching the top.
Yugi appears from the smoke and looms over her; she wakes for a moment
and sees himsmirking down at her, then loses consciousness
again. Yugi grabs her waist and lifts her in his arms,and begins to carry her away from the fire.
He leaps across chasms with flames roaring, and then tumbles with Mana down a slope into a
pool of water, where Mana begins to sink. Yugi dives for her and drags
her to shore. Mahando, standing overhead, watches the event.}
MAHANDO:
I must tell Atem!
{Mahando runs back to Pride Rock. Yugi drags Mana to shore, and she
wakes up, gasping for breath.}
MANA:
Where am I?
YUGI:
You're safe... in the Pride Lands.
MANA:
The Pride Lands... no! Why did you bring me here? Who do
you think you are?
YUGI:
I think I'm the one who just saved your life!
MANA:
Look! I had everything under control!
YUGI:
Not from where I'm standing.
MANA:
Then move downwind.
{The two confront each other. Mana begins jumping from side to side,
as she had done in their earlier encounter as kids. Soon Yugi's
interest is piqued.}
YUGI:
What are you doing?
MANA:
{recognizing him} Yugi?
ATEM:
{off-screen} Mana!
{Atem and the servents from Pride Rock arrive. Atem jumps in front
of Mana, snarling.}
TEA:
Mana! You're all right.
ATEM:
Mana! {he begins snarling at Yugi}
MANA:
Father... how could you break your promise?
ATEM:
It's a good thing I did. I almost lost you. No more hunts for you; not
ever!
MANA:
But I was doing just fine! Even before Yugi--
ATEM:
Yugi? {he growls at Yugi }
TEA:
{surprised at his ferocity} Atem? {Atem glares at Tea, who is now
off-screen}
{Seto has arrived, and is standing on the hillside behind Atem.}
SETO:
Hey! You! How dare you save the Pharoah's daughter?
ATEM:
You saved her? Why?
YUGI:
I humbly ask to join your kingdom.
ATEM:
No! You were banished with the other Outsiders.
YUGI:
I have left the Outsiders. I am a rogue. Judge me now, for what I am...
or am I to be blamed for a crime I didn't commit?
{Atem snarls and paces around. Tea looks hard at him.}
TEA:
Atem... you owe him our daughter's life.
MAHANDO:
Mmm... yes, sire. Clearly we are in his debt... and royal protocol
demands that all debts be paid. Though in this case you might want to
make an exception.
{Atem paces a few moments more, then comes to a decision.}
ATEM:
Hmmm. My father's law will prevail. For now, I reserve judgment. We'll
see who you really are.
{Yugi smiles inwardly and looks sidelong at Mana, who smiles back at
him. Mahando turns his back on Yugi.}
MAHANDO:
Hmph! Riffraff.
{Mahando walks off. All make their way back to Pride Rock, with Yugi
walking behind Atem and mummbling to himself.}