ONE WORD - BAMBOO

So after visiting oneword.com this Tuesday, I discovered that the word I would be using as inspiration for writing a script this week would be bamboo. Before this Tuesday I knew practically nothing about bamboo, and I had absolutely no idea what kind of a script I would write using bamboo as a theme. But one of the cool things about this idea is that I'm going to inevitably be forced to stretch my boundaries a bit. So because I didn't know anything about bamboo, I started reading up on it. I discovered some pretty interesting things regarding bamboo, and one of the interesting things I discovered led to the script I've written below. Please forgive me for any grammatical or spelling gaffes. Because of the short time I had to complete it, this all unedited and raw, and my only chance to read over it to make corrections was while I was writing it. With that said, here is my very first One Word script - The Golden Lemur.

PAGE ONE

Panel 1. A well-groomed, middle-aged Japanese man named Takagi wearing an impeccable black suit sits at a table in a Japanese restaurant. He is the only person in the restaurant. His posture is relaxed, and he is holding a steaming cup of tea in one of his hands. There is an empty bowl, an empty plate, and a pair of chopsticks sitting on the table in front of him. There is also a pot of tea on the table.

Panel 2. Another middle-aged Japanese man named Han, dressed in the attire of a Japanese chef, enters the seating area of the restaurant from the kitchen holding a tray with a soup pot, and a dish with food on it. Takagi is watching Han as he enters the room and lifts his tea cup in a greeting.

TAKAGI:
Ah--there you are. I was afraid you’d keep me waiting all night.

HAN:
My apologies for the delay, Mr. Takagi.

Panel 3. Han has reached the table where Takagi is sitting, and is standing beside it with the tray of food. Takagi is looking at the tray of food with an eager expression, and Han seems ashamed.

TAKAGI:
I don’t mind the wait. The anticipation of a good meal is half the enjoyment. I know what you have to offer will be well worth the wait.

Panel 4. Han is setting the tray on a nearby table, and Takagi is peering around Han to look at the spread of food. He is rubbing his hands together and licking his chops. Han is peering backward out of the corner of his eye at Takagi with an expression of displeasure.

TAKAGI:
Oh, my--I think you’ve outdone yourself this time, Han. It all looks incredible.

HAN:
I thank you for the compliment.

PAGE TWO

Panel 1. Han has lifted the lid of the pot to present the contents to Takagi, and steam rises from the soup within. Takagi seems more eager than ever to delve into the culinary delights.

HAN:
Might I recommend beginning with our house special? This is one of our more popular dishes--a seasoned broth with fresh bamboo shoots over steamed rice.

TAKAGI:
As tempting as that offer is, Han--I’m quite famished. I’d like to start with the sashimi if you don’t mind.

Panel 2. Han is placing food on the plate in front of Takagi. Takagi is snapping his wooden chopsticks where they are connected at the bottom as he greedily eyes the food.

HAN:
As you wish.

Panel 3. Han is walking away from the table in the foreground, but Takagi is gesturing at Han with the hunk of food held between his chopsticks.

HAN:
If there is nothing else, I shall retire to the kitchen.

TAKAGI:
I’d much prefer it if you remained, Han. I find it exasperatingly dull to dine alone.

Panel 4. Han returns to stand beside the table as Takagi places the hunk of food into his mouth.

HAN:
As you wish.

Panel 5. Takagi is talking to Han around a mouthful of food. Takagi is looking around at the interior of the restaurant, taking it all in. Han is looking at Takagi with distaste.

TAKAGI:
I noticed the pictures of your delightful family scattered about. Where are they tonight?

HAN:
My family is at home. I did not think their presence would be required for a single patron.

PAGE THREE

Panel 1. Takagi is smiling now and holding another hunk of food between his chopsticks as he chats with Han.

TAKAGI:
That was probably a good idea. We can discuss our business more effectively without--unnecessary distraction. They are a very lovely family though, Han.

HAN:
Yes, they are. It would be a shame if something unfortunate were to befall them.

Panel 2. Takagi is amused as he prepares to place the hunk of food in his mouth.

TAKAGI:
You’re a pretty funny guy, Han. I like you. And you’re right--that would be a shame. But you know that’s exactly what will happen if you refuse my offer, don’t you?

HAN:
Yes. Yes, I do.

Panel 3. Takagi is chewing his food and talking around it again.

TAKAGI:
Your restaurant is doing quite well. You’re beginning to make a name for yourself in the city, and along with that comes enormous profit. I see no reason why we cannot both prosper from your good fortune.

Panel 4. Takagi has placed his chopsticks down on his nearly empty plate.

TAKAGI:
That certainly does hit the spot. Your skill at food preparation is unparalleled, Han. I daresay you have no peers.

Panel 5. The pot of soup is in the foreground, placed between the positions of Takagi and Han in the background. Takagi and Han are both looking over at the pot of soup.

TAKAGI:
But I must also say--the scent of that soup has been on my mind from the first moment I smelled it. Would you mind serving me some?

HAN:
As you wish.

PAGE FOUR

Panel 1. Han is spooning a ladle full of soup over a bowl of rice in front of Takagi. Takagi is practically licking his chops, spoon in hand.

TAKAGI:
Do you mind if I ask you a question, Han?

HAN:
I do not mind at all.

Panel 2. Takagi is dipping his spoon into the mixture of soup and rice steaming on the table before him. Han is watching Takagi closely.

TAKAGI:
I’ve always wondered about the name of this place. The Golden Lemur is a bit of an odd choice, don’t you think? Is there a story behind it, or did you draw it out of a hat--or what?

HAN:
There most certainly is a story behind the name. Would you like to hear it?

Panel 3. Takagi is holding a spoonful of steaming soup with one hand, and gesturing at the empty seat across from him with his other. Han is bowing his head slightly in response to Takagi’s request.

TAKAGI:
Only if you’ll agree to join me at the table.

HAN:
Yes--of course.

Panel 4. Takagi is blowing softly on his spoonful of steaming soup. Han is sitting across from Takagi now, and is speaking to him.

HAN:
As you are aware, my specialty as a chef is in utilizing the edible shoots of bamboo in most of my dishes. Bamboo can be prepared in a variety of ways--it can be fermented, sliced, boiled, fried or even pickled.

Panel 5. Takagi is shoveling the large spoonful of soup into his mouth. Han is watching Takagi with a calm expression on his face as he continues to speak.

HAN:
I prefer to use fresh stalks in my dishes. I have also used the hollows of the larger stalks to prepare other types of food. Cooking food in bamboo enhances the flavors in subtle, but rewarding ways.

PAGE FIVE

Panel 1. Takagi is holding another large spoonful, and is looking inquisitively at Han. Han is smiling ever so slightly at Takagi as he responds.

TAKAGI:
But what does that have to do with the name of your establishment?

HAN:
Ah, yes. There is an animal found on the island of Madagascar known as the golden bamboo lemur.

Panel 2. Takagi is eating another spoonful. Han is continuing his story, his expression still calm and peaceful.

HAN:
It is a fairly nondescript animal--not much different than the other lemurs found on the island. But there is one very specific feature of the golden bamboo lemur that sets it apart.

Panel 3. Takagi is pulling gently at his collar with one hand as he holds another large spoonful of soup with his other. He has a slightly strained expression on his face. He is having difficulty breathing. Han is watching him closely.

HAN:
It has the unique ability to consume the shoots of the giant bamboo without any adverse effects.

TAKAGI:
But--but what is unique about that? People eat bamboo every day.

Panel 4. Takagi has dropped the spoonful of soup from his fingers were it splatters on the tabletop. He is now actively gripping his throat, his face panicked, unable to breathe. Han is observing Takagi calmly as he continues his story.

HAN:
Yes, they do. But what most people do not realize--and what must be becoming apparent to you now--is that giant bamboo is quite poisonous if it is not properly prepared.

Panel 5. Takagi has his body stretched across the table in an effort to grab Han. Takagi’s fingers are curled into hooks, with one hand gripping the table cloth and the other grasping for Han. The dishes of food are scattering and clattering to the floor in his wake. Han is still speaking to Takagi with measured calm.

HAN:
The golden bamboo lemur consumes enough cyanide to kill a grown man each and every day of its life. How it does this is a mystery, but one that has fascinated me ever since I was a small child.

PAGE SIX

Splash Panel. Han is calmly pouring himself a cup of tea while sitting at his seat. Takagi is still stretched across the table, but he is dead.

HAN:
And now you know the reason for the name of my restaurant.