Chapter 1 Part A
Le premier chapitre Partie A

O  Afternoon. The Dueling Arena.

Touga's Voice: The memories of the rose... Atop the hill, a white castle juts into into the pure blue sky. A white horse is beside the river, drinking. And beside it, "he" stood...

The clash of sword on sword.
Their faces aren't visible, but two young men are fighting.
On each of their breasts is a rose.
And, although her face can't be seen either, a young woman is watching over the duel.

+

Touga: He knew. He could only act according to a predetermined equation. He was for the sake of the world; the world was for the sake of you.

It's Touga Kiryuu's bedroom.
It's dark inside.
Shiori Takatsuki is also there, in the bed.

Shiori: What are you talking about?
Touga: Once upon a time, there was the Rose Prince, who made all the girls of the world into princesses.

+

The dueling arena.
The violent back-and-forth continues, but soon one of the swords scatters one of the roses.

Shiori's Voice: ...so, why am I not a princess?
Touga's Voice: Because the prince's little sister shut him away in a tower.

The boy who won wraps his arm around the girl's waist.
At that moment, a phone begins to ring...

+

Touga: Nobody has seen the prince since.

Touga's hand, picking up the receiver.

Telephone (Akio's Voice): And so, we were wrapped in the darkness called sadness... at the ends of the world.


O  A river, in the past.
(Opening Credits.) In monochrome:

A small boat, bobbing in a raging current.
A single young girl is riding in it.
She's desperately gripping the violently rocking boat.
However, her youthful resistance is ultimately useless, and she's thrown from the boat.
Her strength is already spent, and she sinks towards the bottom of the water - no, of the dark void.

At that moment:
Out of the darkness, something shining rises towards the surface, and begins to illuminate the girl.
Sensing that surprising radiance, the girl dimly opens her closed eyes.
The shining thing is actually "a prince."
The prince catches the girl in his arms.

+

The girl comes to her senses back on the boat.
She sees the prince fly into the sky, riding a white horse.
Before him is a castle.
The tower's bells start to ring...

[Main Title]

O  A panorama of the middle school building.

O  Classroom 2A. During lunch break.
Class has just ended, and the classroom is noisy.
Occasionally we hear a burst of light-hearted laughter.
By the window is Utena Tenjou, wearing a boy's uniform.
There's a group of female students looking at her with great interest.
Utena stands, glancing at the murmuring classroom out of the corner of her eye.
Then:

Wakaba's Voice: Utena Tenjou.

She turns to see Shinohara Wakaba.

Wakaba: So, what do you think of your first day at your new school?
Utena: (smiling) Well, I'm sure I'll enjoy it here if there's a cute girl like you around.
Wakaba: (blushing slightly) Aw...
Utena: I think the two of us will get along.
Wakaba: I'll show you around the school!

They leave together.

Utena: What's your name?
Wakaba: Wakaba Shinohara!

Wakaba looks over her shoulder at the girls remaining in the classroom, and winks. The nuance is 'I did it!"


O  Lunch break. The campus community.

The forms of the students.
And a panorama of the entire school.

E-ko's Voice: Hi, everyone! If you can hear us, then listen up! We're the Ohtori Academy Broadcasting Club duo, E-ko...
F-ko's Voice: ...and F-ko, reporting in...

+

Insert.

E-ko & F-ko: ...with the lunchtime campus broadcast!

In the broadcasting room, two students are sitting across from each other, facing a mike: E-ko and F-ko.
However, we can't see their faces, only the projection of their shadows on the wall.

+

E-ko's Voice: It turned out to be a cool, beautiful day today. If you brought your lunch, you should eat it outside!
F-ko's Voice: You shouldn't try that. You'll be inviting a capricious passing rain.
E-ko's Voice: Wait a minute, the weather report never said anything about that.
F-ko's Voice: The rain in my heart is sure to cloud the sky above.
E-ko's Voice: Did you get dumped again?
F-ko's Voice: Is there something wrong with me!?
E-ko's Voice: Everyone! If you're going to scribble mischief on your sleeping boyfriend's back, make sure he doesn't have swim class the next day!

We see Wakaba, giving Utena a tour of the school.

+

A corridor.

Utena and Wakaba are walking together.

Utena: (a little hesitant) Hey... Over at the high school building...

Before them, we hear the shrill voices of female students.

Utena: What's going on?
Wakaba: Oh, it must be the Fencing Club.

+

The Fencing Club facility.
There's a group of female students looking down at the piste (the court used in fencing) from the second floor corridors, shouting things like "Mickey!" "Juri-sama!" "Prince!" and so on in high-pitched voices.
Standing out among them is Shori, who's shouting "Juri-san!"
Utena and Wakaba also stop alongside the female students, and follow their gaze.

+

Within the piste are the forms of Miki and Juri, wearing protectors and with swords drawn.
At the signal, they thrust with their swords simultaneously.
They deflect each others' attacks: their swordplay is magnificent.
Soon, as though the outcome had been decided, the two politely sheathe their swords and remove their masks.
The girls' cheers swell.
Juri and Miki meet each others' eyes.

Miki: (smiling boldly) I haven't given up yet.
Juri: The piano suits you better.

+

Utena: ...It sure is popular.
Wakaba: Of course, because it's Juri-sempai and Mickey!

On the screen, close-ups of Juri and Miki, as if from a telescope.

Wakaba: ...All the girls call her "the Prince." Perhaps she'll be your rival...

In a corridor across from them is a long-haired male student, Touga Kiryuu.
Utena and Touga meet each others' eyes from a distance.

Wakaba: (oblivious) And the boy is Miki Kaoru. His nickname is "Mickey." He's still a first-year junior high student, but he's a genius who's taking a bunch of college-level classes. He's cute and popular, but they say he can't get a girlfriend because his twin sister interferes... Huh?

Wakaba suddenly realizes that Utena is no longer beside her.

+

O  The sky.
Dark clouds have come.
There's the faint sound of thunder.

+

O  The courtyard. A flower bed of roses.
It's started to shower, and it's getting wet.

O  The landing of a staircase.
Through the glass of a window, we see the rain falling heavily.
Utena is watching it.
Touga is beside her.

Touga: It's really started to come down.
Utena: It'll stop soon. I hear it's a capricious passing rain.
Touga: It's been two years... no, more.
Utena: ...
Touga: Remember our promise to go to the planetarium? We've yet to go.
Utena: Don't misunderstand.
Touga: Misunderstand?
Utena: I'm not who I used to be. I didn't come here chasing you. I'm surprised. That you've come to this academy, too.

The rain continues to fall outside the window.

Touga: ...How come you're dressed like that?
Utena: A prince. I decided after we separated... that I'd try to live with high aspirations.

Touga casually glances at a western-style painting adorning the wall.
Utena takes a look, too.
It shows a castle, and a young girl seen from behind. (We don't know it yet, but the girl is Himemiya Anthy.)
Touga gently touches the left side of the picture frame.
Utena happens to notice that he has a ring on his finger.

Utena: What's that?
Touga: Hmm?
Utena: That ring...
Touga: (smiles broadly)
Utena: (acting tough) I see. You're engaged to someone.
Touga: This led me to this academy.
Utena: ...
Touga: The Seal of the Rose.
Utena: ....of the rose...

O  The school building, and the sky.
The rain, which started suddenly, has now abruptly stopped again.
The blue sky and sun are emerging from behind the clouds.

O  The courtyard. The flower bed of roses.
The flower garden stands at the root of the school building.
There, a row of roses are blooming.
Sunlight strikes the moisture dripping from the petals of the flowers.
Alone, Utena passes through the now puddle-filled courtyard.
She sees the flower garden, and stops walking.

Utena: ...roses.

Utena walks into the garden.
When she does, suddenly the bud of one of the roses slowly begins to open.
Utena watches, enthralled.
Inside the flower, she sees a ring.

Utena: (astonished, taking it) This is...

It's a Rose Seal, just like the one Touga had earlier.

Utena: ...!

Suddenly, Utena senses something and looks up at the school building beside her.
A surprisingly vivid rainbow is arching across the sky.
And... on the roof.
At the place where one end of the rainbow meets, there's a girl.
As soon as Utena notices her, she disappears.

Utena: ...

Utena enters the building.

O  Rooftop - Hanging garden
Utena has climbed to the roof, and sees before her a meadow of roses.
The clouds and rainbow are beautiful, now that the rain is over.
It's like the garden is in the sky.
Utena is dazzled by the overwhelming beauty.
Without thinking, she takes a step into the roses.
Then she walks over to the edge of the hanging garden.
It's the same place she saw the girl earlier.
The fence only comes about up to her knees, and we see that the sharp precipice of the cliff is only a few centimeters away.
Utena peers down over the deadly cliff.
We hear the wind blowing,
At that moment:

A Girl's Voice: Aren't you scared?

A girl's voice comes from behind her.
When she turns around, Himemiya Anthy is standing there.

Utena: ...
Anthy: Aren't you scared, standing there?

As she says this, Anthy moves to stand next to the cliff, just like Utena.

Utena: (looking at the rose garden) These roses are amazing.
Anthy: This is my rose garden.
Utena: Yours?

Anthy, with a slight smile, climbs onto the fence.

Anthy: I'm the chairman's sister, so I get special treatment.
Utena: ...
Anthy: But in reality, it's me that's captive to the roses.

The deadly fall is just one step away, but Anthy seems completely unconcerned as she walks along on top of the fence.
Her skirt rustles in the breeze.
Anthy walks over to Utena on the fence.

Anthy: What did you come to this academy to do?

The two of them gaze at each other.
Anthy sees the ring in Utena's hand.

Anthy: That's...

Anthy, as if losing her balance, falls towards Utena.

Utena: Whoa!

Utena immediately catches her in her arms.
The two are now embracing each other.
Anthy reaches out her hand to grab away the ring, but Utena pulls away from her.

Utena: It's mine! This Seal of the Rose.
Anthy: ! How do you know that name?
Utena: ...

Then:

Saionji: What are you doing?

At the entrance to the rose garden stands a tall boy holding a sheathed katana.

Saionji: What are you doing with the Rose Bride?
Utena: The Rose... Bride?

Saionji, walking directly halfway towards them:

Saionji: Move away from Anthy.

Saionji points the scabbard at Utena.

Saionji: Only authorized persons are allowed here.

At that moment, Saionji's eyes fall on the Rose Seal that Utena's holding.

Saionji: Oh, so you're a Duelist?
Utena: ...Duelist?
Saionji: My apologies. I was under the impression that my opponent today was to be Touga.
Utena: (shaken inside) "Touga..." do you mean Touga Kiryuu?

She sees that Saionji is wearing the same ring.

Utena: What is this ring?
Saionji: What do you mean, what? This Seal of the Rose is proof that you're a Duelist, able to duel for possession of the Rose Bride.
Utena: Duelist? (to Anthy) To win you?
Saionji: You possess the Seal of the Rose, but you really don't know anything at all, do you? Are you not my opponent for today?
Utena: ...

+

Insert. Utena's memory.
Touga is showing her the ring.

Touga: This led me to this academy. The Seal of the Rose.

+

Utena has put on a determined expression.

Anthy: Ah...

Anthy moves to stop her, but Utena slides the Seal of the Rose onto her finger.
The moment she does so, an iron door closes by its own volition, sealing off the roof's elevator.
The roof changes into a dueling arena.

Saionji: Anthy, prepare us.
Anthy: ...

Among the rows of blooming red roses, there's a single green one.
Anthy picks it, and affixes it to Saionji's chest.
Saionji casually kisses Anthy on the check.

Utena: (watching the kiss) ...

Similarly, there's a single white rose.
This time, Anthy affixes it to Utena.

Anthy: The person whose rose is knocked from their chest loses. (suddenly noticing) Do you have a sword?
Utena: Sword?
Anthy: Do you really know anything about the ring? Now's your chance to take it off.
Just then, the school bells resound through the post-rain sky.

Saionji: So you're without a weapon... how lucky.

Saionji draws his katana from its scabbard.

Anthy: Saionji-sama, one isn't permitted to duel without a sword...

Saionji picks up a nearby bamboo broom and throws it at Utena.

Utena: ...
Saionji: Any complaints now?
Anthy: But, is this person really...
Saionji: Shut up. The duel begins when the bells ring. You forget yourself.

Saionji violently pushes Anthy away.
She falls, struck.
Seeing this, Utena becomes angry.

Utena: Don't you hit your girlfriend!
Saionji: Girlfriend? She's the Rose Bride. In other words, since I'm the current winner of the duels, she's my possession!
Utena: Your possession!?
Saionji: Haa!

Saionji comes at Utena all-out, slashing and aiming for her rose.
Utena leaps back, creating some distance.

Saionji: Looks like this will be an easy victory.

Utena steps on the broom section of the bamboo broom she's holding, clearing it off and creating a makeshift wooden sword.

Utena: (with an angry expression) Are you really trading a girl around by duel? Regardless of how she feels?

Saionji pursues Utena, brandishing his sword.
Utena can barely hold him off with the bamboo stick.

Utena: Answer me! Does everyone who owns one of these rings really duel in order to win her?

Anthy's expression.

Saionji: What are you talking about now!?

He cuts through half of Utena's bamboo stick, sending it flying.

Utena: That katana.. is real?
Saionji: (inadvertently holding back with his sword) Her feelings? You don't understand anything! She's the Rose Bride!
Utena: You're the one who doesn't understand anything! Is there any girl who'd be happy to be traded through duels?

Anthy's expression.

Saionji: It's over!

Saionji again swings with his sword.
Utena will surely die.
But then...
Anthy nestles up to Utena, as if to protect her.

Anthy: Saionji-sama... it seems this person really doesn't know anything.
Saionji: Didn't I tell you not to get in the way?

Regardless of the fact that Anthy is there, Saionji moves to strike.

Utena: Watch out!

Utena moves to protect Anthy.
Seizing the opportunity, Saionji's sword goes for Utena's chest.
He misses the rose, but tears through the buttons on Utena's uniform, revealing the swelling beneath.

Saionji: You're... a girl?
Utena: I don't remember saying that I was a boy.

Utena is protecting Anthy.
For a moment, it looks as if their lips are accidentally going to touch...
And in the next moment,

Utena: Huh?
Saionji: !

Anthy suddenly changes from her school uniform to her Rose Bride dress.
(Anthy is surprised herself.)
At the same time, a light begins to crystallize in Anthy's chest...

Saionji: (overawed) What...?
Utena: Taa!

Utena draws that 'sword' from Anthy's chest, and brandishes it with a battle cry.
The sword on Saionji's chest scatters.

O  Tower
The bells ring.


O  Student Council Room - Watchtower
Touga is watching the proceedings using opera glasses.

Touga: Wonderful.

The sounds of a piano float quietly through the air.
Also in the spacious watch tower is a piano, which Miki is playing.
Standing next to the piano is Juri.

Juri: (to Touga) Weren't you supposed to be the one dueling today?
Miki: So there's a Duelist besides those of us in the Student Council... the Ends of the World didn't contact us about it at all. What on earth is he thinking?
Touga: (smiling audaciously) Perhaps he's always watching us from afar. Well, anyone with high aspirations can be chosen as a Duelist.
Miki: A man...
Juri: ...or a woman.
Touga: ...or someone in a coffin.

As he says this, Touga's eye falls on a western-style painting of a castle on the wall of the room. Next to it is the shape of a prince, standing in the darkness.

Last edited by Dallbun (12-13-2017 07:17:35 PM)

Interesting, I'd completely forgotten about the movie manga (even though I own a copy in storage somewhere.) Doesn't it also open with Touga talking to a (Shiori placeholder) girl about the plot? Is the conversation the same?

I wonder when in the development process the manga script started to diverge from the movie one...

Dallbun honey, you know I love you forever for doing things like this! I'd love to comment on the content but I can't actually read it until I'm not sick anymore. I'm looking forward to it very much though. Thank you!

Enokido wrote this? Oh wow, he's my idol!

I wonder why Utena acts so nonchalant when Anthy tells her she's really imprisoned by the roses, though. That's not something someone would tell a complete stranger.

The next part should be coming in the next day or two, but first I had a couple comments about the first one.

Riri-kins wrote:

Enokido wrote this? Oh wow, he's my idol!

Yeah, Enokido wrote a lot of Utena. And I should have made it more clear: the forward is indeed written by him specifically. He seems like a pretty cool guy, doesn't he?

I wonder why Utena acts so nonchalant when Anthy tells her she's really imprisoned by the roses, though. That's not something someone would tell a complete stranger.

Oh, I don't know if she's nonchalant... it's just, how the heck do you respond to something like that, anyway?

teyhy wrote:

It's funny, I read the movie manga and some of the scenes are quite alike. Specially Anthy noticing Utena's ring.

As well as Anthy walking up on the dangerous fence.

RhythmFusion wrote:

The thing I noticed is, in this early version of the script not only is it implied earlier on that Touga is dead, but it seems the other duelists are able to interact with him in spite of that instead of Utena, Anthy and Shiori being the only ones who can see him.

Yeah, it shares that with the movie manga, too. A few other differences:

Obviously, we get a head start on the cosmological talk. I like the flashback to two generic boys dueling over Anthy, because it emphasizes the cyclical/eternal nature of the duels.

Utena sees Anthy up on the garden before she ascends to it. In the movie, she's just curious about the falling roses.

Anthy is surprised when the Sword of Dios emerges from her, while in the movie she produces it on her own initiative. That seems important.

The key visual components, like the hanging rose garden, are there from the start, but Enokido doesn't seem to have come up with the more bizarre imagery. I guess whoever was heading up the visual aspect came in later and said "you know what this classroom scene needs? Sliding chalkboards!" "Let's make the school designed by M.C. Escher!" "A garden on the roof of a building is so passe. Let's make it a huge suspended platform, instead!" I wonder if it was Ikuhara's doing.

Anthy: Saionji-sama, one isn’t permitted to duel without a sword…

Saionji picks up a nearby bamboo broom and throws it at Utena.

Utena: …
Saionji: Any complaints now?

Interestingly, in the final version, it's Saionji who says you can't duel without a sword, and Utena who grabs the bamboo pole and asks if he has any complaints.

Last edited by Dallbun (10-02-2010 11:56:33 PM)