Episode II – Town, Wall, Toga, Toga, Toga

It's been awhile, but I thought it was time to finally get this uploaded. Enjoy!




(Scene: Morning at Old Home. We pan down while hearing a girl struggling to get dressed while finding a place for her wings to go.)

Rakka: Grunt, whine, grunt, bounce. Man, if I ever decide to hit the beach as a Haibane, I'll have to remember to wear a bikini. There's no way I'm wearing a one piece.

(Rakka finally manages to get her wings to go where she wants them to)

Rakka: Cool! That subtle nod to the theme of this episode is complete! Still, I'm stuck wearing this potato sack of a dress. What cult did I just walk into?

Unexplained kids: Reki!!

Reki: Sorry, I can only allow you in here long enough to break up Rakka's introspection. Head outside and wait for your next scene.

(The children race outside, ad libbing their way out the door)

Reki: I'm glad the dress fits.

Rakka: It fits, but I pulled three potatoes out of it before I came out here.

Reki: We're not really that fashionable, but you're getting ahead of me. Since I'm the only adult Haibane here at the moment, you should probably assume that I'm sort of the leader here. I haven't really said that, but I'd love for you to infer it.

Rakka: Oh, fair enough, what to do next?

Reki: Come see the scenery on the balcony. It'll give the show a chance to introduce the surroundings.

(Rakka does so, as we see her walk out into the light)

Rakka: Woah, I'm blinded by the light. It's almost too much for me to take in at once, which I hope is consistent with the theme here.

(Rakka looks around, and it's the town alright. Melancholic music plays as Rakka surveys her new digs)

Rakka: These shoes are too loud. There goes my plan of sneaking out of here at night. I wonder if anyone's ever tried that before.

Reki: What was that?

Rakka: Oh, uh, Nothing, Reki. I'm just musing that this whole thing is new to me.

Reki: I understand. I mean, you'd think it'd be self-evident by now, but I guess it's good to reiterate the plot for the new comers.

Rakka: I have no idea who I am or where I'm from. I know deep down that...

Unnamed little Girl: Wow, you get moody easily, I'm here to brighten your mood and cheer up the audience.

Rakka: Oh thanks. This fish out of the water thing is new for me.

Unnamed little Girl: I guess I'm not going to be any help with that. Still, watch this.

(ULG sticks out her hands and beats her wings together. It's actually a pretty cool trick, and could probably win you a few bar bets provided you didn't look like a 6-year-old girl with wings)

ANNOYING ANIME FANS: I wonder if Haibane can get drunk. I mean, if they aren't human, what type of blood do they have? Do they have better livers? I'll have to dress up as a Haibane and ask the producers at the next con.

CREEPY ANIME FANS: Wow, I wonder what Hikari and Kana are like drunk...

Rakka: Gross! Anyway, letsee..OW! I think I pulled something.

Reki: Oh, let me properly introduce the audience to Hana by scolding her. It's a pretty cool, backhanded way to give names of people.

(Reki's back to asserting her authority by combing out Rakka's wings.)

Reki: Hold Still. This whole scene is being done to re-iterate the point about your newfound life, while showing how unprepared you are for the real world.

Rakka: I can't help it! It's all involunatry. (*wing spasm*) Sorry!

Reki: Don't Worry, you lose too many more and I'm going to make you a pillow.

Unexplained Children: Since we're kids, we're reserving the right to pester you with questions and show off how cute we can be. It's one of our few talents. The other one is confusing the audience as to our origins.

Reki: That's fine for now, but you should really allow me to make myself the center of...

Kuu: Hey! We're in this show, too you know!

Reki: Rats..I mean good morning!

(Kuu, Hikari, Kana, and Nemu are on the ground. Nemu and Kana are standing by bicycles, while the other two are not. Hikari has breakfast in her hands, while Kuu is clearly empty-handed)

INTELLECTUAL ANIME FANS: I get it! Kuu is the only person without something in her hands, symbolizing her lack of desire, therefore demonstrating her ability to leave her life as a Haibane behind. This show is so Zen Buddhist in its philosophy.

Kuu: Actually, I'm just the youngest and didn't think of others' burdens due to my own immaturity. Sorry to burst that bubble.

Hikari: We've got breakfast!

(Scene: All around a large table. The children are eating breakfast. Reki is pouring hot tea, presumably into a sort of basin. She may just be pouring it into a paper bag for all we know, since we've yet to be well-versed in Haibane culture.)

Nemu: How are you doing, Rakka?

Rakka: Not bad. My wings only act up now if the plot calls for it. Otherwise, they're just fine.

Reki: It's time for some exposition – this room we're having breakfast in is mine, even if we all consider it a guest room.

Nemu: I'm just going to keep talking to Reki to further this along, as well as help with the inference that we're obviously the oldest and get along rather well.

Reki: Good idea, meanwhile I'm going to light up in front of these kids. Anyone mind?

Nemu: Not really, but this might be a good time to remind everyone of our names and sources thereof.

Kana: Nemu sleeps hard-core, dude!

Rakka: Hard Core? Has that type of slang has followed me out here?

Kuu: Is that cool were you're from, or is it outdated?

Rakka: I don't remember, but it seems out of place for such a serene, quaint setting.

Kana: It's post-modern, Like the fact that we're all sitting by a Western-styled table even though we have Japanese names. Makes you think, huh?

Rakka: Oh yeah, names. This is probably a good time to re-introduce everyone.

Kana: But first, the kids:

Previously Unnamed Little Girl: I'm Hana, which means flower.

Rakka: I'll take your word for it.

Shorta: I dreamt about Cake, really!

Still unnamed little boy: Don't lie!

Shorta: You can't say I didn't, you were Never There!

Reki: That's enough! Your attitude Ain't No Good.

Rakka: Reki, what's your name mean?

(Silence. Lots and lots of silence)

Reki: ...

Little Boy: Stones!

Reki: Pretty much. I guess I'd better tease you just a little with my gloomy dream. We all can't be nostalgic and have fluffy memories, can we?

Kuu: That's it, we were getting somewhere character-development wise. I'm going to have to break this up.

Rakka: Yeah, Reki. Show, don't tell.

Reki: I'll make note of that for later. Speaking of which, I'm glad Kuu implied Rakka needed my permission to leave for awhile.

Hikari: We're off!

Reki: Take it slowly, Rakka. You're still a newborn.

Rakka: Thanks for reinterating the theme! See ya!

(Reki stays with the kids while the others exit to a group of strings. It's pretty peppy for this world.)

Kuu: Wee! My arms are stretched out like wings! I haven't a care in the world! Don't I look content?

Rakka: She's so cute and carefree!

(Kuu takes Rakka's hand as they go flying down the hill. Not literally, of course. We think. After a few seconds of finding her balance, Rakka eases into things and smiles as the camera moves towards the horizon.)

Rakka: Now that's a metaphor if I've ever seen one!

Kuu: Stop on this bridge. We're far enough out of Old Home that we need to establish location.

(Rakka looks around and sees a lot of farm land, windmills, and buildings that look run-down. The other three catch up.)

Rakka: So we're in rural Iowa?

Nemu: It's exposition time. That's our living quarters. It has an ambiguous history, which lends to a air of mystery. Pretty cool, huh?

Hikari: We call it Old Home, which makes it sound like a place for people with dementia, but it's really not.

Kana: We all live there with the unexplained children and an old woman. It totally sounds like a plot to a sitcom, but it isn't.

Rakka: Thanks for explaining things for me. I think I'm starting to get an idea of how things run in this world. I think I'm getting my footing, so to speak.

Nemu: Really? I'm glad you think that, since there's a monkey wrench heading your way right now.

(A wingless farmer without any wings drives by on a tractor, which is carrying a bale of hay. The tractor has no wings either. Rakka stops to observe both of these twists in the plot.)

Rakka: Huh? Hey, we are you guys going?

Hikari: We kept walking while you didn't. That's our way of saying that this is normal in this world. It adds to the whole “fish out of water” experience for you.

Rakka: Why don't they have wings?

Hikari: Loaded answer time, sit back this may take awhile.

Kana: The humans are letting us live in their town. We're so low on the totem pole that we may only use things the humans don't want any more.

Rakka: That means you must listen to a lot of Kathie Lee Gifford's CDs.

Kana: Yeah, it sucks. However, we're supposed to be getting a huge shipment of Fergie in about 9 months.

(The girls arrive in town and it is, as expected, quaint. The European structure gives an idealistic, timeless feel to the town. A calm guitar and harmoica play in the background.)

Rakka: I like this song. I'll have to remember to find the official soundtrack.

Kuu: Yeah, there's a problem with that plan...

Rakka: Why isn't anyone moving?

Nemu: I'm not really sure. It could be that we're supposed to be taking in all of the charm of this town, this being your first time here an all.

INTELLECTUAL ANIME FANS: Is it possible that this town is only alive when the Haibane arrive? I guess that all of these people are there to assist the Haibane on their mission, so when they leave the town goes into suspended animation.

Kana: Okay, now you're pushing it.

Rakka: Who are they?

Kuu: Those guys? Their mission is to find meaning where it may exist, and where it does not exist, impose it.

Nemu: They're fun to screw with. Watch this:

Nemu: Hey, Hikari, have you ever noticed that my boss at the library has been pregnant for as long as I've been a Haibane?

INTELLECTUAL ANIME FANS: -sounds of heads hitting the keyboard-

Nemu: That should take care of them for awhile.

(Rakka begins to look self-conscious about her makeshift burlap dress)

Kuu: I'd better start establishing myself as the little-big sister here quick, while I have the time.

Kana: Okay, but you mean the used clothes shop, right?

Hikari: Of course, that fact has been more or less stated already.

Kana: I know, I'm just berating it for the slower viewers. Tally ho!

(The scene changes to a used clothes store where a young man is listening to something on his old radio via headphones. It could be propaganda broadcasts from beyond the city, but we're not told. This small scene would drive the intellectual fans batty for hours, were they conscious.)

Unnamed Clerk: My dismissive voice implies that Haibane aren't on the high end of the caste system here. It looks like you've got a new face there.

Rakka: No, I've always had this face.

Hikari: She needs something a little nicer to wear for the DVD covers and wall hangings.

Unnamed Clerk: There's plenty of things next to the narrow ties and leisure suits in the back.

Rakka: Thanks!

Unnamed Clerk: Meanwhile, the rest of you...

(The clerk pulls out a box of clothes that causes the others to recoil.)

Unnamed Clerk: We give you free clothes, you get doted on, life must be easy.

Kana: It's not, but you're getting ahead of us. Rakka's not listening, which will lead to some nice dramatic irony for her later on.

(The non-Rakka Haibane start writing in a small tablet)

Rakka: Great, I assume this is going to be some point of learning for me?

Kana: We use a sheet of paper instead of money.

Unnamed Clerk: Since you're new, just sign this sheet, and leave a feather.

(Nemu yanks a feather from her back. Rakka's, not Nemu's – although that would be impressive to watch)

Rakka: There's some symbolism and metaphor there, but I'm still not certain what it means.

Unnamed Clerk: And to prove I'm not just a curmudgeon, I'll even make a few slits where your wings will go. I hope you're getting the feeling that we bend over backwards for you Haibane, and are sensing the dichotomy regarding our relationships.

(The group leaves as Rakka goes through her third outfit in less than two episodes)

Hikari: To maintain the aura of the setting, we're drinking tea.

Rakka: While we're at it, I finally heard the name of the series about 40 minutes in. What Gives?

Nemu: “Haibane Renmei” means “Charcoal Feather Federation.”

Rakka: When why not just say that?

Kana: There'd be a massive revolt by hardcore fans.

Hikari: Basically, the Renmei make sure we're taken care of. They run the place.

Rakka: Are they a mysterious group?

Kana: Would it be any fun if they weren't?

Kuu: Hey! I'm in this scene, too! I'm so carefree and disconnected from discussion about Haibane Renmei and work. I just like this little kitty! Aren't I a little free spirit?

(The other three girls continue to talk about their jobs while Kuu ad-libs)

Kuu: Speak of the devil.

Kana: They're holding market, so the Toga must be here. Take my word for it.

Rakka: Oh, yippie, another time of exposition.

(The Toga arrive with a menacing-looking dog. They're in costume and have their mouths covered. Some are pushing a large cart, while others just add to the over tone you get that the Toga are pretty mysterious.)

Toga: ... (Hi, folks. We'll be doing our impression of a mine for most of the series).

(The unwinged townspeople stare and whisper in from of the Toga. Their somewhat informal approach to this event should show their familiarity with the Toga and this tradition.)

Rakka: I've been so immersed in the details of my new life that I didn't even notice the HUGE WALLS VISIBLE FROM ANYWHERE IN TOWN. I don't know how I missed them until now. Must be providential.

Nemu: The town is surrounded by walls. Only the Toga can come in and go out. It's a little like a Baptist school in the midwestern US.

Rakka: Apparently.

Kana: There's a lot you should know, but just know this: they can't talk to us, and shouldn't touch us. I don't know what happens if they come in contact with the Haibane, but maybe we'll find out someday.

Rakka: I hope there isn't a test afterwards, this is starting to get thick.

Kana: We can't talk to them. Got that? We can't talk to them. Really. Don't try. The only people who can communicate with the Toga is a guy named the Communicator.

ANNOYING ANIME FANS: HEY! His name is “Washi!” I have proof on my downloaded fansubs which have superior translations and none of the ignorant Americanization of the R1 copies.

Kuu: Put a sock in it, kids.

Hikari: The toga use hand signals and sign language to communicate. I like pretending I'm involved in major things around here, but I'm guessing you'll pick up on that sooner or later. That's why I'm faking the sign language.

Toga: That Haibane girl just told us to bunt so the guy on second can get to third. I have no idea what that means.

Nemu: The Toga do all of this work for us and ask so little in return – no pun intended.

Kuu: Rakka, would you like an example of when you ignore some of these traditions and rules? (to the Toga, which Kana subtly implied is a bad idea) Thank you!

All Haibane: *gasp*

(The music grows dissonant while a Toga looks the way of the Haibane. He looks, well, exactly the same as before. He could be happy that a young one has broken this silly tradition, but how would we know?)

Nemu: Exit, stage right.

(The Haibane flee, save Rakka who is entranced by a crow.)

Rakka: I just took about three different takes at that crow, so make note of that.

(The Communicator taps his cane and the bird flees)

Kana: It's about time I make it known that I don't really like the crows. For now, I'll leave that open-ended and ambiguous. Remind me to expound on that later.

Rakka: If I remember, I will.

(We pan down to the shot of the town as we see the Haibane going down a dusty road and over a small bridge. There are rusted windmills in the background for some reason.)

Rakka: What's beyond the walls?

Nemu: Too soon, newbie.

Kana: I should make another joke about Nemu's narcolepsy. We've been in exposition mode from a long time.

Nemu: And I'll just make a violent threat that my demeanor suggests I will never act upon.

Rakka: Fine, just ignore me as I ponder if I used to exist outside the walls.

Kuu: And somehow, I'm the only one who heard that. Paying attention, people?

(The Haibanes arrive back at Old Home with Kuu again in flying position, which certainly has no foreshadowing or anything like that. It's probably just part of her personality.)

Nemu: The Haibane Renmei have been here, and they welcome Rakka.

Rakka (reading): “We accept you...Gooble Gobble” ... what does that mean??

Kana: Oh, never mind them, they just want your soul.

Rakka: I get that your kidding, but doesn't that just seem out of place?

(Nemu, Reki, Kana, and Hikari all have an odd conversation on how Kana is the “wild” one, which in context still makes her look really tame)

Kuu: Okay, off to bed after we establish that everyone lives in their own room in different parts of the building. It's not like we have a big slumber party every night.

CREEPY ANIME FANS: Awww.....

Rakka: Reki, you're still up? That's an awfully pensive look for someone I regard as usually upbeat and confident.

Reki: Think nothing of it. I'm just waiting up for you, but am too passive-aggressive at this point in the story to make a big deal of it.

Rakka: I think I understand, I'll put on some tea for you – which should show that I'm confident enough to be a little independent for now.

(Reki kicks back, in thought. After a few seconds of silence, a pot crashes off screen)

Rakka: Suddenly I'm exhaused and ready for bed. Does that mean the episode is wrapping up?

Reki: Yes, It also reminds us that you're still a newborn and you still need me. Really. I'm sure that's what it means.

Rakka: Oh look, my halo holder fell off. I guess the theme of the episode is fulfilled.

Reki: I think so, but I'll still be doting on you for awhile.

Rakka: I look forward to it, so goodnight. I'm sure I'll be ready to learn more from you about life as a Haibane tomorrow.

Reki: Good night.

(off screen, with her hands folded together, tapping her fingers against each other) excellent.