Chiharu Assimilates - A screenplay

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

Steam issues from a boiling pot of water that threatens to overflow.

A wooden cutting board lies on the counter stained several different colors with a knife balancing on its edge.

FATHER (40) stands at a sink washing his index finger under the faucet, wincing. He curses in Japanese.

FATHER

Shimatta!

Father is surrounded on both sides by moving boxes. He looks out the window to an early morning. The view is overwhelmingly green. A large maple hints of fall.

The pot boils over with a HISS.

Father curses again and runs over to the pot, blows on the water, and then turns down the heat.

He sucks on his finger.

CHIHARU (14) enters. They speak in Japanese with subtitles throughout the scene.

[*Note: All Japanese dialogue in brackets.]

CHIHARU

[Good morning.]

FATHER

Good morning!]

CHIHARU

[What are you making?]

FATHER

[Lunch. Did you sleep well?]

Chiharu nods while making her way to the stove. All burners are in use and burnt splashes of food cover most of the surface. She cautiously peers inside each pot and pan.

CHIHARU

[You shouldn't try to make so many things at once.]

FATHER

[Well, you want variety, don't you?]

CHIHARU

[I can make my own lunches. Mom taught me--]

FATHER

[I can make lunches too.]

CHIHARU

[Aren't you going to be late for work?]

FATHER

[Yeah... I'll start making lunches at night. For today, we'll have a late morning breakfast!]

Father smiles and rummages through one of the boxes. He finds a plate, rinses it in the sink, wipes it on a dry rag, and hands it to Chiharu.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[Let's eat!]

KITCHEN - MORNING - LATER

Chiharu and Father sit a table with two small areas cleared for food. The rest of the table is laden with boxes.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[The country here is beautiful, isn't it?]

CHIHARU

[Yes! It looks nothing like the pictures.]

FATHER

[What pictures? You've only seen pictures of New York.]

CHIHARU

[We're pretty close to New York, aren't we? We should visit. Mom always wanted to go there.]

Father nods.

FATHER

[I spoke to a man the other day and I couldn't understand a word he said. I think they speak a different dialect here.]

Chiharu's eyes widen.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[Don't worry, you'll adapt.]

CHIHARU

[Why didn't you tell me?]

FATHER

[I just learned.]

Beat.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[You’ll be okay.]

Father leaves the room and returns with a plastic bag. He hands it to Chiharu. She looks confused before opening the bag to reveal a red leather satchel. She gasps.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[I got it before we left.]

She peers inside and looks in all the pockets.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[I don't know about the uniform policy here, but I thought red would be safe.]

Chiharu laughs and hugs her dad. He smiles.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[Sorry we didn't get it for you when you first started middle school. Your mom's surgery--]

CHIHARU

[Thank you so much.]

FATHER

[Well, it's probably time to get ready for school.]

Chiharu looks at the clock: 8:15. Her eyes widen.

CHIHARU

[I'm already late!]

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING

Chiharu sprints through the hallway, satchel bouncing on her side as she frantically glances from a note in her hand to several doors on both sides. She passes a billboard with school flyers. At the top of the billboard it reads: "MEMPHIS SCHOOL DISTRICT."

Chiharu stops at a door at the end of the hall and looks between the note in her hand and the door plaque several times before entering. She opens the door with trembling hands.

INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS

Chiharu enters a classroom of Caucasian 14 year-old students garbed in clothing from the 80s. In addition to the 80s decor, MR. ANDERSON (40s) and most of the STUDENTS have thick Southern accents. Mr. Anderson wears fairly casual clothing and looks to have the build of a teacher who coaches after school.

The class stares blankly at Chiharu. Chiharu sees Mr. Anderson and bows her head slightly, eyes turned down. She speaks with a strong accent.

CHIHARU

I'm... New student!

Students laugh as Chiharu offers her papers, blushing. Mr. Anderson looks down at the papers.

The following words throughout this scene are meant to be a representation of Chiharu's perspective. They are an exaggerated take on a Southern accent and should only barely register for English speakers, much as they barely register for Chiharu.

MR. ANDERSON

(rapidly)

Lay-sree-cum-plass-shoo-play-truh-

day-Wuts-uh-yoo-ruh-nay-muh?

Chiharu leans forward, mouth slightly open. Teacher points at the papers.

MR. ANDERSON (CONT'D)

(rapidly)

Dis-suh-yoo-ah-ray-nay-muh?

Chiharu looks blankly at the papers.

MR.ANDERSON (CONT'D)

(slow and loud)

                Ow. Do. Yoo-oo.Say-yuh. Your name?

CHIHARU

My name is Chiharu.

MR. ANDERSON

Gu-kray-day.

Teacher rolls his eyes as if exasperated. Students laugh.

MR. ANDERSON (CONT'D)

Tay-kuh-yoo-ruh-see-yeet-uh Ch-HAIR-oo.

Mr. Anderson gestures to an open seat at the back of the class. Chiharu continues to look confused. He steps forward toward the seat he indicated, and motions slowly with a dramatic sweep of his arm toward the seat. He smiles with mock patience at Chiharu.

The class laughs again as Chiharu blushes and moves toward the seat indicated. He resumes teaching.

The bell rings and ANNE (14), a pretty blond girl, waves to a boy behind Chiharu. Chiharu smiles and waves back.

Chiharu races to Anne's side and introduces herself.

SOUNDS OF STUDENTS TALKING AND GATHERING THEIR BELONGINGS.

Chiharu speaks haltingly but has a relieved smile throughout the exchange. Anne walks out of the class not bothering to wait for Chiharu. Chiharu follows.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Anne continues down the hallway, walking faster than Chiharu.

Chiharu does her best to keep pace. She takes out a paper and shows this to Anne.

CHIHARU

Do you have same class?

Chiharu points to her list of classes. Anne glances at the paper and then looks back at Chiharu.

ANNE

No.

CHIHARU

Ah.

ANNE

I gotta go, sorry.

CHIHARU

Anne?

ANNE

I'm busy.

Anne quickly turns the corner and loses Chiharu. Chiharu looks as if she's about to follow, but slows her pace nearly stopping. Students rush past her.

John (14) with DAN (14) and FRIENDS (14) yells from behind.

JOHN

Moo-vuh ow-wut-thu-huh-wu-hay-ay!

Chiharu, eyes wide, stops and turns around.

JOHN (CONT'D)

Moo-vuh ow-wut-thu-huh-wu-hay-ay!

Chiharu moves aside. Friends of John laugh.

MONTAGE

Every new day, Chiharu's clothing changes.

Chiharu attempts to talk to different groups of students. Some groups ignore her, other groups laugh, mocking her accent.

New day: Chiharu sits alone, red satchel at her feet, eating lunch out of her bento box with chopsticks. Students pass by giving her a wide berth.

New day: Chiharu sits at the same vacant table, studying. She looks up to see students at another table watching her. They laugh as they use their fingers to pull at the corners of their eyes.

New day: Chiharu exits the bathroom with puffy eyes.

JILL (14), heavily freckled with messy red hair, approaches Ilene and says something to her. They both laugh. Jill takes a seat by her side.

CUT TO:

CLOSE-UP OF ILENE'S FACE

Ilene touches the corner of her eye, slightly pulling her skin.

CUT TO:

CHIHARU

Chiharu immediately stops and turns the other direction.

CUT TO:

ILENE AND JILL

Ilene finishes wiping away a tear from her laughter, oblivious to Chiharu.

New day: Chiharu raises her hand in class. MS. ROBERTS (30s), a tall woman wearing a blazer with defined shoulder pads, calls on Chiharu.

MS. ROBERTS

Ch-HAIR-roo.

CHIHARU

It's Chi-ha-ru.

Ms. Roberts rolls her eyes.

New day: Chiharu is handed back a math test in class. It reads "100%" at the top. She smiles as other students grumble about their grades.

DAN (14), a bulkier kid with a mullet, looks from his test with a 95% to Chiharu's and resentfully shakes his head.

New day: Chiharu wanders empty halls, passing a noisy lunch-room. She looks bored.

New day: Chiharu sits in another class. Mr. Anderson calls on her.

MR. ANDERSON

Ch-HAIR-oo.

Chiharu cringes but says nothing.

New day: Chiharu sits in the abandoned hallway with her red satchel and looks out the window at the FALLING LEAVES.

FALLING LEAVES turn to FALLING SNOW which turns to BUDDING TREES. It is now Spring.

END MONTAGE.

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

On a clean stovetop, a covered pot sits with condensation collecting on the glass lid.

Chiharu enters the kitchen, eyes the pot, and stops. She looks around.

CHIHARU

[Dad?]

No response. She turns off the stove.

Chiharu opens the fridge to reveal a bento box inside. She takes it out as her father walks in.

FATHER

[Good morning!]

CHIHARU

[Don’t you have work?]

FATHER

[It's a holiday, apparently.]

He walks over to the pot.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[Let's have breakfast together!]

INT. KITCHEN - NOT MUCH LATER

Chiharu and Father eat at a clean table with bowls filled with miso soup and a mixed rice dish on the side. Silence.

FATHER (CONT'D)

[I was thinking we could go to the mall later today... Get you some new clothes. I know you used to like doing that kind of thing with your mom.]

CHIHARU

[I have a lot of homework to do today.]

FATHER

Ah.

Chiharu looks up at her father and softens her response.

CHIHARU

[But we can go if you want.]

FATHER

[That’s okay.]

Father forces a smile. Chiharu looks at the clock: 7:40.

CHIHARU

[I should get going.]

FATHER

[Have a good day.]

Chiharu waves goodbye and exits the kitchen.

INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY

SOUND OF STUDENTS TALKING AND EATING.

Chiharu sits alone at a table with an open bento box, a large textbook propped up in front of her, and an open spiral-bound notebook to the side. She eats awkwardly with a plastic fork as she studies. Close by is a line of students waiting for food. Anne is one of the students in line and is close in proximity to Chiharu's table.

DAN

Hey Chink, I saw what you got on

the paper.

Chiharu doesn't look up. Her accent is far less pronounced than it was at the beginning.

CHIHARU

I'm Japanese.

DAN

What?

CHIHARU

I'm not Chinese--I'm a Jap. It's a different country.

Chiharu scribbles something in her notebook.

DAN

Who cares?

Chiharu turns the page in her book. Dan frowns and then puts his hand on her book.

DAN (CONT'D)

Hey, I'm talking to you.

Chiharu looks up. Anne is now watching the exchange.

DAN(CONT'D)

So how'd you do it? Someone writing your papers for you?

CHIHARU

I don't cheat.

She tries to pull the book away, but he doesn't remove his hand.

DAN

You don't even speak English.

CHIHARU

...I don't?

Chiharu tries not to smile.

CHIHARU (CONT'D)

Well, for someone who doesn't know the difference between Chinese and Japanese, you speak excellent Japanese.

Chiharu struggles to take his hand off the book.

DAN

What's that supposed to mean?

CHIHARU

Give me back my book.

DAN

How the hell did you of all people get a better grade than me on an English paper, Ch-HAIR-oo?

Chiharu visibly flinches at his last word. People begin walking around Anne as she stands transfixed, watching the scene.

CHIHARU

I'm smarter than you.

Beat.

DAN

That was a stupid thing to say.

Dan snatches the textbook away from her. Chiharu stands and tries to grab it back. Anne rushes forward to intervene but collides into Jill who is trying to get around her. Jill is pushed into Chiharu's table.

The movement of the table surprises Dan and he drops the book onto an open bento box filled with food.

Chiharu's bento box flies upward. The food once inside strikes her face and shirt.

Face beet-red, Chiharu hurriedly wipes her face and clothing with a small paper napkin. Tears collect as she tries to turn away from onlookers while cleaning the mess.

Anne stands dumbfounded with her hand over her mouth and then comes forward.

ANNE

I am SO sorry.

DAN

Don't be sorry! That was

incredible!

Dan and FRIENDS OF DAN laugh.

ANNE

You're a bully, Dan.

DAN

I didn't do anything! So shut your mouth.

One of Dan's friends, John, whispers into his ear. He looks up to see Ms. Roberts watching the exchange. Dan nods and gets up to leave.

DAN

(To his friends)

I didn't even plan that!

They continue laughing as they depart.

Anne crouches down and picks up an empty, cracked bento box on the ground and tries to hand it to Chiharu. Chiharu is busy cleaning off her textbook.

Anne holds the bento box and stands awkwardly as she waits for Chiharu to finish. She decides to sit down in an empty seat.

ANNE

You've got some...

Anne leans forward to pick rice off Chiharu's hair. Chiharu flinches away from Anne. Anne relents.

ANNE (CONT'D)

I'm so sorry, Ch-HAIR-oo.

Chiharu glares at Anne.

CHIHARU

My name is Chiharu.

Chiharu snatches the bento box out of Anne's hands and leaves Anne close to tears.

EXT. SCHOOL BUS STOP -DAY

Chiharu sits waiting for the bus, holding a textbook in front of her chest.

The bus arrives.

Ilene approaches Chiharu.

ILENE

Hey Ch-HAIR-oo, I'm starting this group for...

Chiharu cringes, but pretends not to hear her. Ilene positions herself in front of Chiharu.

ILENE (CONT'D)

Hi.

CHIHARU

Hi.

ILENE

Oh wow, did you spill something on yourself?

CHIHARU

No, it's part of the design on my shirt.

ILENE

I--

CHIHARU

I don't need a study group.

ILENE

I wasn't inviting you to a study

group. It's for a club.

CHIHARU

I'm busy.

ILENE

You know, maybe you'd have more friends if you weren't such a jerk.

Ilene walks away. The bus arrives. Chiharu boards.

INT. LIVING ROOM -AFTERNOON

Chiharu enters the front door, textbook still in her arms, satchel draped over her shoulder. She sits on the couch and sets her satchel down.

Chiharu unloads the satchel's contents: another book, bento box, pencil case, etc. She places each item on the coffee table.

Chiharu briefly leaves the room and returns with a plain black backpack with a tag still on. She places her books and other objects inside. She stops at the bento box.

Chiharu opens her discarded red satchel to place the bento box inside.

She finishes filling her black backpack and after zipping it closed, she takes the red satchel and leaves the room.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Chiharu discards the red satchel in the trash.

SOUND OF A DOOR CLOSING.

Chiharu looks up, startled. She quickly rips a new paper towel from a paper towel stand nearby and covers the satchel in the trash.

Father enters the kitchen. He looks Chiharu up and down.

There are no subtitles.

FATHER

Gakkou de dou shita no?

CHIHARU

I want to start buying my lunch at school.

Father responds in a strong accent.

FATHER

Okay... Why are you covered in

stain?

CHIHARU

I spilled on myself. Can I have

lunch money?

FATHER

You don't want the lunch I make for you?

Beat.

CHIHARU

If we can't afford it, that's fine.

FATHER

I can afford it.

CHIHARU

Thank you.

Chiharu starts to leave.

FATHER

Doko ni itteru no, ima?

CHIHARU

I'm going to wash up.

Chiharu exits.

INT. SCHOOL OFFICE -DAY

A couple of students sit in a waiting area, Chiharu among them. She carries her black backpack and wears nondescript clothing. The school counselor walks out of his office. MR. MOORE (late 20s) has a friendly, welcoming smile.

MR. MOORE

I have a Chi...

Chiharu stands.

CHIHARU

That's me.

Chiharu follows Mr. Moore into his office.

INT. MR. MOORE'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

MR. MOORE

So how do you say your name?

CHIHARU

That's actually why I wanted to

meet with you.

MR. MOORE

Oh?

CHIHARU

Yes, I'd like to have it noted somewhere on my files that I go by Chelsea.

MR. MOORE

Oh, okay. Yeah, we can write that in.

CHIHARU

Thank you. That's all.

MR. MOORE

Well, then. I'll take care of that. Have a great first day of high school, Chelsea.

Chelsea nods and exits his office.

THE END