Chapter 11:
Pavane
Enharmonic
Episode 11: Pavane
CHILDHOOD FLASHBACK:
EXT. PARK - DAY
Yuuki and Asami, still in elementary school, sit on the gently swaying swing set after Yuuki delivers some unfortunate news.
ASAMI
So you’re moving away?
YUUKI
Yeah.
ASAMI
Will you come back?
YUUKI
I don’t know…
ASAMI
Oh…
The two sit across from each other with a downtrodden mood.
YUUKI
Oh I know! I can come visit you once I’m old enough? Maybe when I’m 16 or 17? I’ll be a high schooler by then!
ASAMI
That’s such a long time from now. Will you even remember me?
Asami starts tearing up.
YUUKI
Don’t worry I’ll remember. Here, I’ll promise to visit you in the future.
Yuuki raises a finger for a pinky promise.
ASAMI
Okay. Remember me.
FADE:
EXT. CAMPUS - DAY
There’s less than a month left of the spring semester and everyone’s in crunch mode. While Yuuki and Eric walk over to film club, Yuuki finally opens up to Eric about what’s been going on.
ERIC
Seriously? Your parents did that?
YUUKI
Yeah. That’s why I’ve been missing in action.
ERIC
Damn. That makes a lot of sense… And have you talked to your parents?
YUUKI
No…
ERIC
You need to talk to them! Being an only child, my father wasn’t very fond of the idea of me studying film or becoming an actor, but after having a genuine conversation with him, he finally agreed to support me.
YUUKI
Isn’t your mom an actress too?
ERIC
Yes… it took some convincing from her too…
YUUKI
Right. I don’t think it’ll be that easy for me.
ERIC
You won’t know until you try!
INT. FILM CLUB ROOM - DAY
They make it to the club room and Yuuki immediately spots Asami, who seems to be preoccupied. They hold eye contact, but immediately look away.
ERIC
But talking to Asami is probably your priority for now.
FADE:
After a while, Asami finishes up her part on the storyboards. She brushes her hand against her forehead.
ASAMI (V.O.)
Aaaaand done! Film climax is complete!
She gets out of her chair and takes a quick stretch break. Maya approaches her.
MAYA
Heyo- How’s it going?
ASAMI
Just finished up the scene!
MAYA
Oooh let me see!
Asami hands Maya the stack of paper filled with dialogue and thumbnails.
MAYA
They look so good!! Asami, you’ve improved so much since this project first started! You should seriously be proud of yourself.
ASAMI
For once I actually am! I’m so used to creating full illustrations, so doing loose, gestural sketches had a learning curve, but I’m proud of what I can make now!
MAYA
Yesss get it, gurl!
Maya gives Asami a quick side hug. Asami sighs and her smile fades. Maya automatically is able to tell what’s in her friend’s mind.
MAYA
Have you talked to Yuuki yet?
ASAMI
No…
Maya lets out a strangled breath.
MAYA
I know confrontation is hard, but you’ll feel a lot better once you talk to him.
ASAMI
I know… I should’ve listened to Kai’s advice. I’ve been talking to Yuuki for the past few months, but that doesn’t mean I know everything that has happened during the past 9 years I wasn’t with him. I should’ve known better to not be so pushy about these things. This is all my fault.
MAYA
Stop blaming yourself. You only tried reaching out to him to help… but you should seriously talk to him. If you don’t say anything right now… There might not be a relationship to come back to. And I’m talking from personal experience.
ASAMI
You’re right.
Asami looks at the time, there's still a good amount of it left until the meeting ends.
ASAMI
You know what? I’ll go talk to him right now. He’s in one of the music practice rooms right?
MAYA
Yeah I think so.
ASAMI
Okay. I’ll be back! Give the storyboards to Monica.
Asami rushes over to the music department area. Her anxiety worsens as she gets closer. She can feel her heartbeat rushing into her head.
ASAMI (V.O.)
You’ve got this. I’m going to be fine. I just need to talk to him. That’s it.
She finds the music practice rooms and peeks into the rooms to look for Yuuki. She can’t find him anywhere. There’s a room that has his laptop and backpack scattered inside, but he’s not present.
ASAMI
Huh? Where is he?
Disappointed at her failed attempt of reaching out to Yuuki, Asami gives up her search. Right as she passes a bigger auditorium, she hears someone performing a piece.
ASAMI
Wait. I know this song.
INT. RECITAL HALL - DAY
As she gets closer, she recognizes the melody as Ravel’s Pavane for a Dead Princess. She stretches out a shaky hand and quietly opens the door. It’s Yuuki. The room is dim with a bright spotlight on the stage. There’s a grand piano in the center. She’s in awe. She remains frozen at the entrance until the music ends, not wanting to disturb him, but also enjoying the melody.
Yuuki finishes the piece and looks towards the entrance. They lock eyes.
ASAMI
oH sorry… I- uh was just wondering what you were up to. That was amazing.
YUUKI
Thanks.
He looks sad as he dips his head towards the keys. She takes this as her cue to get closer and figure out what’s wrong.
ASAMI
Were you thinking about your mom?
Yuuki looks up, surprised.
YUUKI
Yeah. How’d you know?
ASAMI
I remember she used to play that piece a lot when we were younger. She wanted you to be able to play it, right?
YUUKI
Yeah.
ASAMI
She must be happy that you know it now!
YUUKI
I’ve never played it for her.
ASAMI
What? Why not?
YUUKI
I guess… we drifted apart. She probably doesn’t care anymore.
Asami starts to find Yuuki’s expression unreadable as there appears to be a mix of anger among the sadness.
ASAMI
You should play it for her when you go back to New York!
YUUKI
I don’t know. I don’t know if I’ll ever go back.
Asami looks down at Yuuki, unsure of what to say.
ASAMI
Don’t say that… I’m sure your parents still care about you.
YUUKI
Their actions don’t say that… But that’s just how they are. They’ve never been that expressive or straight forward about those things.
ASAMI
Tough love.
YUUKI
Yup.
The air turns tense. Asami breaks the silence.
ASAMI
Can we talk?
YUUKI
Yeah. I think we need to.
ASAMI
I’m really sorry about what happened the other day.
YUUKI
You don’t have to apologize. It’s really not your fault. So uh… Things have been a bit hectic recently. I actually got into an argument with my mom and she… ugh. You know how she is. She always somehow manages to screw up my life.
ASAMI
Yeah… That seems like the recent pattern…
YUUKI
Just know what none of this is your fault. I should’ve told you what was going on. Honestly, you’re probably the one who would’ve understood me the most.
ASAMI
I really need to apologize though. I really don’t know why I lashed out at you that time. I guess I was scared. Scared that we’d end up losing our friendship again.
YUUKI
I don’t blame you. I did break the promise we made when I moved away.
ASAMI
It’s fine. We were just kids back then. Maybe I was being selfish and naive, thinking everything would work out perfectly.
YUUKI
What I did in the past is bringing back all this pain. Everything would’ve worked out if it weren’t for me.
A heartbeat of a sigh passes in Yuuki’s throat.
YUUKI (CONT’D)
Back in January when you first saw me at the cafe that night, I thought you’d be mad at me.
ASAMI
Mad about what?
YUUKI
For breaking the promise. But you weren’t/ You just welcomed me back into your life like nothing happened. I was seriously grateful for that. I really wanted this to work.
ASAMI
Then… Why didn’t you reach out to me during the past few weeks?
YUUKI
I didn’t want to trouble you with my problems. I thought leaving you out of all of this drama was the right decision, but maybe I was wrong.
ASAMI
I should’ve been less intrusive in the first place. We all have things that we want to keep to ourselves.
YUUKI
You have the right to ask. I could’ve given you a better explanation. Instead, I treated you like shit cause I couldn’t think of what to see without telling you everything.
ASAMI
You can tell me anything! You think it’ll burden me, but it pains me more to see you like this. Even if I can’t help with the problem directly, you can still talk to me.
YUUKI
Are you sure? I really don’t wanna waste your time with my problems. I’m sure you have better things to be doing.
ASAMI
No. You are my number one priority at the moment. I want to help you.
They both smile.
YUUKI
Thanks, Asami.
Yuuki goes on to explain everything that happened between him and his mom. Asami listens intently.
ASAMI
I think what Eric said is right. You should talk to your parents.
YUUKI
I really don’t think anything good will come out of talking to them.
ASAMI
From what you’ve told me, it seems like you never had the opportunity to fully explain yourself. Music is really your thing! I want your parents to understand that too.
YUUKI
You’re right. I’ll talk to them.
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