Creative Juices

[Opening Scene: Audition Stage ― Voice of Tomorrow]
A soft spotlight.
Contestant number, #40816 sings the chorus of "Hero" by Mariah Carey, voice trembling with emotion:
"Then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on..."
Camera pans out to reveal the square-shaped stage with a V-shaped wall behind. Through the lens ― it looks like the performers are inside a glowing cube.
Audience Applause
The crowd erupts as the 17th act steps offstage.
Male Voiceover (cheerful and polished):
"What a stunning performance by Asano Joy, representing Kumagaya, Saitama! Don't go anywhere―our final act of the evening is just moments away!"
The signature "Voice of Tomorrow" jingle swells in the background as the screen fades to commercial.

[Backstage - Control Booth]
The director barks through the headset, focused and sharp.
"Cue the hosts and prep the last performer! Back live in three minutes!"

[Main Entrance ― Studio Lobby]
The doors slide open. In walks a confident life coach, followed by two young hopefuls.
Aiko, 50, Japanese, athletic and vibrant, radiates energy. She gestures with open hands, guiding the Nepalese and Pakistani contestants through the corridor.
Aiko (in fluent English):
"Welcome to Voice of Tomorrow. Our motto? 'Music with Purpose, Songs We Can Trust.' Keep that in mind."
The two glance around the gleaming hallway as crew members hustle past.
Aiko:
"Now, the show's geared toward original songwriting. But if you've got a killer cover? No problem―you can still audition with that."
She stops and faces them with a warm smile.
Aiko:
"Questions before we go any further?"
The Pakistani contestant raises his hand, earnest.
Pakistani Artist:
"Yes―if we perform our own songs, are they protected? I mean, copyright-wise?"
Aiko's smile turn sly.
Aiko:
"Smart question. And yes―your work is protected under our General Conditions policy. All written there in detail."
She gestures for them to follow.
Aiko:
"Come on, let's go over it in my office."

[Backstage: Control Room]
The director raises a hand and starts the countdown.
"We're live in... three... two... one... rolling!"

[Studio Stage]
Spotlights sweep across the crowd as the hosts walk on stage, all smiles and ready.
Enter Erika, a female Japanese-Brazilian talent ― a radiant artist with sharp-tongue.
Beside her, Ryuji, a Japanese music producer, polished and subtle.
They switch fluently between English, Japanese, and Portuguese, adding charm to the show.
Erika:
"And once again, a reminder: the winner receives ¥1,000,000―tax free!
"Ryuji:
"Join now! But please... no gospel songs on your audition!"
They explain eligibility rules: are limit, appropriate visa status, and genre boundaries.

[Back Stage: Next Performer ― Cassy Rivera]
The personal assistant of Judith Mirano.Cassy, petite and unassuming, keeps her round glasses inside the case, now wearing contacts.
She's nervous―but hides it.
She never told Judith she was auditioning.
The spotlight hits Cassy. She begins singing "Reflection" by Lea Salonga. Pure head tones. Crystal high notes. The judges exchange glances. It was indeed, a splendid performance by Ms. Rivera!

[Results Time: Envelope Reveal Ceremony]
Only 18 participants that day.
Each receives a sealed envelope.
Green Cube Card = Failed.
Red Cube Card = Passed.
Tension builds. One by one, each contestant opened the envelope...
#40800 - Green. A silent nod from the host. Then a Brazilian bouncer with X-Spence Corp patch uniform escorts #40800 into a side room.
#40801 - Green. She followed #40800, and entered the room.
#40802 - Green. The young artist got upset. Supposed to be walking out. But the bouncer stopped him and asked him to follow #40801.
#40803 - Red. Applause. She's led upstairs to the Talent Manager's Office....until finally:
#40817 - Cassy. She whisper in her mind: "This is for you, Lola (her grandmother), You will be cured soon."
She opens the envelope...Red Cube Card!
Tears well in her eyes. She bows deeply.
7 out of 18 passed.

[After the Show: Quiet Evening, Dry Streets]

The city hums under the soft glow of streetlights. Neon signs flicker across windows and polished pavement.

Cassy hurries down the sidewalk, clutching her shoulder bag tight. Her breath fogs in the cool air as she ducks into an old telephone booth, its lights buzzing faintly.

Inside, she rifles through her bag and pulls out a worn address book. Her hands are steady, but her eyes shine with urgency.

She pauses—her finger lands on one entry.
有料老人ホームハートライフ二川
Yuuryou Roujin Houmu Hāto Raifu Futagawa
(Heart Life Futagawa Nursing Home)

She lifts the scratched-up receiver, feeds a few coins into the slot. The tone beeps. She dials.

A pause. Then the line clicks.
Cassy (teary-eyed, smiling):
“Lola! I made it! I passed!”

[Darkroom Scene: Failed Contestants]
11 participants seated quietly. Aiko offers barley tea and comforting words.
"Failure is just feedback. You are still valuable."
Five minutes pass.
Suddenly―They freeze.
Eyes wide, blank. Limbs stiff, but they rise and walk―like zombie. Slow and senseless.
In line... one by one, toward single glowing booth.

[Inside the glowing booth ― Creative Juice Extractor]
A flash―like a camera and a sound of an old scanner.
Aiko get one SD card with a label, "#40800", from a case. She inserted it on a slot at the side of control panel. Pressed enter.
The screen of the control panel flashes the audition video of #40800 while the contestant is still inside the booth.
Then, creative energy extracted... condensed into glowing green gelatinous fluid... fed into cube-shaped canisters.
Cube pulses.
Juice fills. Glows.
Just before #40800 exit from the booth, Aiko said, "Thank you for sharing your creative juices!"

[Final Scene: Ryuji's Call]
A lone janitor glides his mop across the studio lobby floor. The echo of water and plastic wheels fills the now-empty space. The show is long over. Silence lingers like a ghost. Only the minimal sound of rain outside runs out from the well-acoustic treated wall of the studio.
At the far end of the corridor, one room remains lit―its frosted glass faintly pulsing with monitor light.
Inside, a computer screen flickers, displaying a notification in bold text: "Storm Maker System ― Updated to Version 2.0"
Ryuji, leaning back in a swivel chair, glances at the screen. He picks up a discreet burner phone as it buzzes on the desk.
A smirk curls across his face.
Ryuji (calm, precise):
"Dr. Takahashi and I are still here. Running your requested upgrades. The new version's stable―we're about to run a software test using fresh creative juices from all eleven failed contestants."
(The new software begins to transfer files. Sounding like a beat of a brush sticks on a snare drum.)
"Everything's proceeding exactly as you hoped, Ms. Mirano."
A subtle glint flickers in his eyes―cold, calculating.
Fade to black.


[Next: Avocado]