The Empty Theatre

Wings, Kabuki Theatre, Night

On stage, behind the curtains, Kaoru sits down on a cushion. The student playing Minamoto Raiko is sitting beside her. They are in position for the start of the play.

In the darkness, Kaoru slaps her cheeks to hype herself up. She has a face of fierce determination.

Kaoru: “Alright!”

Kaoru looks onward. The curtains open. Bright lights turn the world white.

Title card: Onnagata. Episode 10.

Main Stage, Kabuki Theatre, Night

The main stage is set up in two halves. Upstage, near the back, is a wooden set designed to appear like the entrance to a traditional Japanese mansion. Downstage, closer to the audience, the stage is empty and bare.

The student playing Minamoto Raiko sits at the front of the mansion, atop a cushion. Kaoru, playing Hirai Yasumasa, sits next to him.

Kaoru looks out at the audience. The theatre is full of people. They all look on with interest and begin to clap and cheer.

Wings, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Ōemon watches the stage from the wings. He has his arms folded and a plain expression. Jun is also watching beside him.

Without looking at Jun, Ōemon speaks.

Ōemon: “It’s annoying, isn’t it, Jun? Every play, we finish memorising everything weeks before the show date. We’d spend so many rehearsals making almost no improvement. I always think to myself, we only need half the practice time they give us.”

Ōemon: “It isn’t until I actually get on stage, and the show begins, that I realise how wrong I am.”

Main Stage, Kabuki Theatre, Night

There is a close-up of Kaoru’s hands. She has her hands on her thighs as she sits formally.

Kaoru’s hands clench tightly. Her arms begin to shake.

Ōemon (Off-panel): “We’re not given too much practice time. We’re not given nearly enough.”

Kaoru glances at the audience. There are so many of them. It appears as if there are more than what can fit inside the theatre.

Ōemon (Off-panel): “Because, while it’s important to get the dialogue and choreography perfect, that’s not why we practise so much.”

A close-up of Kaoru’s face. Her face is contorted with fear. The atmosphere is heavy. She can barely breathe. She struggles to hide her shaking. Beads of sweat gather at her forehead.

Ōemon (Off-panel): “Stage fright. No matter how much we practise, the moment we step on stage, our minds go blank and we forget everything.”

Wings, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Ōemon smiles lazily as he watches Kaoru’s terror. There’s a sense that he’s enjoying watching Kaoru struggle, but also that he’s confident she’ll succeed.

Jun, on the other hand, looks a little bit worried.

Main Stage, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Kaoru is clenching her jaws tightly. The pressure is almost too much for her. She grips her costume even tighter. Her eyes are wide.

In front of her, the student playing Kochō is on stage, speaking. He is dressed in a simple yet still beautiful dress.

Kaoru (Narration): “Damn it, it’s going to be my line soon!”

Kaoru is struggling to breathe.

Kaoru (Narration): “Calm down…calm down!”

Kochō gestures with his arm at the mansion downstage.

Kochō: “Excuse me. Is anybody around?”

Kaoru forces herself to stand up. She claws at her thighs, trying her hardest to stop them from shaking.

Kaoru manages to hide her fear and speak her line almost perfectly. Her expression is one of confidence.

Kaoru: “M-may I ask who it is?”

Inside her mind, Kaoru curses herself.

Kaoru (Narration): “Damn it, I stuttered!”

Kochō: “Would you mind telling our lord that Kochō received medicine prescribed by the chief officer of the medical department?”

Kaoru continues to act confidently, pretending as though she didn’t stutter. She hides the fact that she is internally panicking.

Kaoru: “Certainly. I will lead you to Lord Raikō when he feels better.”

The audience has pleased expressions. They are enjoying themselves. None of them has noticed Kaoru’s panic.

Kaoru hides a clenched fist behind her back. She has a determined and fierce look on her face.

Kaoru (Narration): “I can’t make a mistake like that again!”

The play continues as Kaoru steps aside. Minamoto Raiko gestures with his hand and speaks.

Wings, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Ōemon smiles.

Ōemon: “Not bad.”

Jun lets out a sigh of relief at Kaoru overcoming her stage fright.

Jun: “Thank god.”

Ōemon: “Don’t get too comfortable. Kaoru was always a given. Keiji is the one I’m worried about.”

Jun has a determined look.

Jun: “He’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”

Main Stage, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Keiji steps onto the stage. He is dressed as the travelling monk, Chichu, and holding a walking stick prop. He smiles.

Keiji raises his walking stick and speaks to the audience.

Keiji: “Though it is a beautiful night with the clear moon, misty clouds suddenly rise in the middle of the night and hide the moon.”

The audience has impressed expressions.

Wings, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Ōemon looks surprised. Jun smiles proudly.

Main Stage, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Kaoru frowns to herself. Keiji hasn’t made a single mistake yet.

Keiji smiles confidently and continues to recite his lines to the audience.

Keiji: “The spirit of a spider can appear in this world and torment brilliant warrior Raikō, just as the cloud…”

A close-up of Keiji’s feet. He steps on a bit of his own costume.

Keiji’s expression quickly turns to one of panic.

Keiji: “...hides the moon.”

Keiji trips. Smack! He falls onto the stage floor.

There is a moment of silence as he is on the floor. The audience has shocked expressions.

Wing, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Ōemon puts a hand to his head.

Ōemon: “Oh dear.”

Jun covers his mouth.

Main Stage, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Some of the audience are tempted to laugh. They put a hand over their mouths, hiding their smiles behind. It is not malicious, but just an instinctual reaction.

Keiji pushes himself up. His cheeks are flushed with embarrassment. As he tries to get up, he looks out at the audience. His gaze focuses on the front row, where there is an empty seat. It is the only empty seat in the entire theatre.

Suddenly, Keiji’s mind goes blank with darkness. His eyes widen. The air is heavy. He struggles to control his breathing.

The audiences begin to distort. He imagines their laughter as callous and cruel. Their image appears evil and malicious.

In reality, the audience look concerned. Keiji is frozen still. Some of the audience are whispering to each other in hushed voices.

Audience Member 1: “Is he okay?”

Audience Member 2: “What’s happening?”

Wing, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Ōemon frowns.

Ōemon: “Crap. At this rate, we might have to cancel the play.”

Jun looks very concerned.

Jun: “Keiji…”

Main Stage, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Keiji is still on the floor, too shocked to move.

Kaoru has a frustrated expression. She clenches a fist and takes a step in his direction.

Kaoru (Narration): “I have to get him out of it, but I can’t just break character!”

Inside Keiji’s mind, everything is slowly turning black. He imagines himself sinking into a pool of darkness, unable to claw himself out. He remembers everything

Keiji (Narration): “I don’t belong here.”

Keiji claws at his head.

Keiji (Narration): “Nobody wants me here.”

The pool of darkness rises higher and higher. They come up to his neck and threaten to drown him.

Keiji (Narration): “I’m sorry, everyone. I disappointed you again.”

A close-up of Keiji’s eyes. They shut tight as the darkness covers them.

Everything is black.

Suddenly, there is a close-up of Jun’s mouth. He whispers something.

Jun: “Keiji. You can do this.”

Keiji’s eyes open.

The world is white. There is no darkness. No pressure. No sense of evil. There is only a gentle, bright light, reminiscent of the first time he ever saw Jun.

The theatre is empty. The world is empty. There is nobody. Nobody, except for Keiji and Jun. Everything is gentle and beautiful.

Jun smiles at Keiji. He is as kind and beautiful as the first time Keiji saw him.

Jun: “You can do this.”

Keiji’s expression shifts. His despair vanishes. His spirit is reinvigorated.

Back in reality, Keiji and Jun look at each other across the stage. Keiji smiles back at him confidently before getting up.

He is ready to continue the play.