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flightworks2020-07-14 06:52 am
feralphoenix) wrote in flightworks2020-07-14 06:52 am
Entry tags:
shoujo kageki revue starlight, episode 11 script
somehow, miraculously,
Episode 11: We Are
KAREN
Hikari…chan?
GIRAFFE
Kagura… Hikari-san. You are the winner of this audition. The sparkle of all the Stage Girls is now yours. The fuel has been cast into the fire. The torch is lit. What is the Stage of Fate which you desire?
HIKARI
I don’t want it.
GIRAFFE
What?
HIKARI
I don’t need any fuel.
GIRAFFE
To perform a play that warms the breast and scorches the soul, a great deal of fuel is indispensable. Do you mean to say you will provide it all by yourself?
HIKARI
Didn’t you say you wanted to see a play you couldn’t predict? Well, this is my “Starlight.”
GIRAFFE
I see. I hereby proclaim the end of the auditions. The curtains shall now rise upon your Stage of Fate!
Who, oh who will be the one to pluck the star from the top of that tower?
The heat of a silent flame is burning in all of our chests.
This is the Wheel of Fortune
But we aren’t merely being forced to dance upon the stage
Spring forth!
I know that on that day
I saw the sparks of starlight spread
Until I’m able to touch
That faded promise…
We begin before the curtain rises,
The story is being written before our very eyes.
Now that I have been reborn,
I have been reunited with you here
Once more
ONE DAY AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
[PAPER:
NOTICE OF EXPULSION
Class 99 Year 2, Group A
Actor Education Course Seat Number 29
Kagura Hikari
In accordance with the 31st principle of Seishou Music School’s rules, we hereby announce that we have accepted the aforementioned student’s request to withdraw enrollment on May 28, 2018.]
KAREN
S-she’s dropping out?! Hikari-chan… is really dropping out?
SAKURAGI
That’s right.
KAREN
Wait a minute! I don’t get it!
MAHIRU
Karen-chan…
SAKURAGI
We have all the paperwork right here.
[Stamp:
Seishou Music School]
KAREN
This can’t be true. Hikari-chan would never just disappear all by herself like this…! She wouldn’t…
SAKURAGI
Aijou.
KAREN
Sensei, what did Hikari-chan say about this?
SAKURAGI
Nothing.
KAREN
Where does she plan to go when she drops out?!
SAKURAGI
No idea.
KAREN
Why? Why?! Why did she go off all alone?!
[Screen:
Hikari]
KAREN
This can’t be happening!
MAHIRU
Karen-chan…
AUTOMATED MESSAGE
The number you have called is currently out of range, so we cannot connect you.
KAREN
This can’t…
AUTOMATED MESSAGE
The number you have called is currently—
KAREN
There’s no way…
AUTOMATED MESSAGE
The number you have called is currently out of range, so we cannot connect you.
KAREN
This isn’t real!
TWO DAYS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
THREE DAYS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
KAREN
Ahh! Umm… ＜＜I am Karen Aijou!＞＞
[Screen:
Royal Actors’ Academy]
KAREN
＜＜From Japan! Also, I s-sometimes… want t-to… ask… Yes! Hikari Kagura!＞＞
ONE WEEK AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
POLICE OFFICER
Kagura Hikari-san, age 16. And you say you haven’t been able to reach her by phone or by text?
KAREN
Yes…
POLICE OFFICER
But the school did announce she was dropping out, correct?
KAREN
Yeah, but it has to be fake!
POLICE OFFICER
Okay. Then will you please explain things to us in a little more detail?
KAREN
Yes…
POLICE OFFICER
Where did you see her last?
MAHIRU
Ah…
KAREN
Umm… How to explain… umm…
TWO WEEKS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
KAREN
“Hikari-chan, where are you?”
[LINE messages:
…contact me. Please
Please, answer me
Say something
I’m really worried.
I’m gonna look for you, Hikari-chan
Hikari-chan, where are you?]
THREE WEEKS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
[Flyer:
100th Seishou Fest
“Starlight”
CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT
Claire: Tendou Maya
Flora: Saijou Claudine
Daiba Nana
Hoshimi Junna
Tsuyuzaki Mahiru
Isurugi Futaba
Hanayagi Kaoruko
Aijou Karen]
ONE MONTH AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
SEVEN MONTHS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
AUTOMATED MESSAGE
The number you have called is currently out of range, so we cannot connect you. The number you have called is currently—
KAREN
Good morning.
[LINE messages:
I’m so lonely
Without you, I…
I still hope you’ll answer
Good morning]
KAREN
Let’s head out, Mahiru-chan.
BANANA
Ooh… It’s cold enough to freeze a banana out here.
JUNNA
The news said today’ll be the coldest day this year. I bet you’ve never been this cold before.
BANANA
Yeah. This is a first for me.
BANANA
Aren’t you cold, Karen-chan? Hot Banana~
KAREN
Dear Kagura Hikari-sama. It’s still quite cold here, but how are you doing?
[Sign:
100th]
KAREN
It’s almost time for the 100th Seishou Fest. We’re practicing every day for opening night. Group B is up late every night working on the set. It’ll be better than last year’s play… a new evolution for Starlight. This was supposed to be the first stage you and I would share.
[Stamp:
ADDRESS UNKNOWN]
KAREN
Hey, Hikari-chan… Do you still remember our promise?
JUNNA
Everyone who’s planning to keep practicing, raise your hands.
ALL
Me!
JUNNA
…and 6 members of group B’s large props team. Okay, I’ll fill out an application for everyone.
BANANA
Sorry to keep you guys waiting! Here’s Banana’s special banana sweets!
STUDENTS
Ooh, I was looking forward to this!
STUDENTS
Now I can last the rest of the day!
ALL
Aaaahhh…
SHION
Stop, stop!
BANANA, JUNNA
Huh?
SHION
Aijou-san, have you hurt yourself?
KAREN
No.
SHION
Then why is that the best performance you can give?
KIRIKO
Is this about Kagura-san?
SHION
Sigh… She dropped out half a year ago now. How long are you gonna keep pining—
MAHIRU
Amemiya-san!
SHION
Sorry. I know you’ve got it rough, but we need you to switch gears already. There’s no time left before Seishou Fest.
KAREN
Yeah. Sorry.
KIRIKO
If it’s too hard for you, we can cast somebody else. Okay?
MAHIRU
Karen-chan…
KAREN
Sorry. I’ll be okay, though!
JUNNA
That’s right. We don’t have time to waste stuck in the doldrums.
MAYA
Let’s take it from the top.
KAREN
Yeah!
MAYA
Beneath the meteor shower that only comes once every year, I met Flora—
CLAUDINE
I met Claire—
MAYA, CLAUDINE
And we met our fate.
[SCRIPT TOP NOTE:
Actual runtime 80-85 minutes!
Cut the script down by 5 pages!!]
[SCRIPT:
FLORA: It is the legend passed down in a tiny village in a tiny country, of a midsummer night’s
CLAIRE: Beneath the meteor shower that only comes once every year, I met Flora—
FLORA: I met Claire—
BOTH: And we met our fate.
The two girls hold hands and dance.
FLORA: It’s almost as though we’ve known each other forever.
CLAIRE: Let us meet again here next year.
BOTH: On the night of the Star Festival!
Music plays. Flora picks up an hourglass.
FLORA: Hey, Claire, what do you suppose this is?
CLAIRE: I have no idea. I’ve never seen its like. It’s almost like tiny fragments of stars are flowing through it.
FLORA: It’s like I’m watching the galaxy flow by.
CLAIRE: How mystical. I know, we should keep this as our private treasure!
FLORA: Like a charm, so that we can escape from this oppressive way of living someday.
CLAIRE: I hope that one day we can wear dresses that shine like comet tails, and dance from morning til night.
SONG 1: “THE STAR FESTIVAL” – FLORA, CLAIRE
If you claim a modest star,
Then you will be rewarded with modest bliss.
If you claim a great star,
Then you will be rewarded with great fame.
However, if you claim both,
Then your wish shall be granted for eternity.
To gather starlight is to absolve one’s sins
The starlight gatherer is a miracle of the night]
CLAUDINE
It’s almost as though we’ve known each other forever.
MAYA
Let us meet again here next year.
MAYA, CLAUDINE
On the night of the Star Festival!
KAREN
What’s wrong with me…? I can’t… feel anything. Not the nervousness of standing on the stage… Not the exhilaration of singing in the theater… All the sparkle that I used to feel onstage…
SHION
Huh?
MAHIRU
Karen-chan?
KAREN
I don’t… get it anymore. Why am I acting? Hikari-chan is gone now… so why am I still onstage? This is wrong… I’m supposed to love theater. Why don’t I know why I’m acting?
HIKARI
In that audition… If you can’t get chosen, it’s all over. You’ll lose what’s most important to you as a Stage Girl.
KAREN
Oh, I get it. I still don’t understand, but I get it now. This is the most important thing Hikari-chan lost.
MAHIRU
Karen-chan…
KAREN
Hikari-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!
[Stamp:
ADDRESS UNKNOWN]
MAYA
Auditions where we plunder one another’s sparkle. The fuel necessary for a play… The joy, the blessedness, the excitement of being onstage. The happiness of dancing, the sweetness of singing. The light that illuminates the stage. When that was stolen from Kagura-san, her Stage Girl self died.
CLAUDINE
But we haven’t lost anything. Not our joy, our blessedness, our excitement.
FUTABA
I guess Kagura didn’t take ours away.
KAORUKO
But why? It would have made her Top Star, so why…?
MAHIRU
I think it’s more that… she COULDN’T take it. She didn’t want to take Karen-chan’s sparkle.
FUTABA
So, she spared us in the bargain.
KAORUKO
It’s not like we asked for her pity.
BANANA
But then, if Hikari-chan still has no sparkle… then where is she, and what is she doing?
HIKARI
This is my “Starlight.”
KAREN
Maybe Banana was right. Maybe Starlight really is a sad story where friends get torn apart.
KAREN
I can’t read this by myself, Hikari-chan.
KAREN
＜＜This is a story, of a nea… neabu? And distant planet…＞＞
MAHIRU
Karen-chan, I’m home. Banana-chan made us some dinner…
MAHIRU
Are you translating Starlight?
KAREN
Yeah.
KAREN
“If you claim a modest star, then you will be rewarded with modest bliss. If you claim a great star, then you will be rewarded with great fame.”
[Book:
Super Easy English!
If you can read this, you can understand anything!]
KAREN
“However, if you claim both, then your wish will be granted for all eternity. To gather starlight is to absolve one’s sins. The starlight gatherer is a miracle of the night.” Flora’s eyes were seared by the star’s light, and she fell from the tower. Left behind at the tower’s top, in penance for her crime of trying to take the star for herself, Claire… Huh? She was imprisoned in the tower as its newest sinner. Imprisoned? But in Starlight as I know it, Flora falls off the tower, and she and Claire are separated forever, and that’s where the play ends… Sometimes there are little differences in the way that’s portrayed or in the script. But… I guess Claire was always trapped in the tower. Wait, in the tower…? Then that must mean…!
KAREN
Hikari-chan…! Hikari-chan…!! Hikari-chan!!!
KAREN
What if she’s still trapped on that stage as a punishment for trying to take the star? But… that’s… that’s not OUR stage. We still haven’t taken the stage together. OUR play still hasn’t even begun!! Answer me, Hikari-chan! We still… aren’t Starlight yet!!!
KAREN
Hikari-chan…!
KAREN
Stand up straight with your best posture
Stare straight ahead with grace
Today, too, the blue sky is endlessly tall
JUNNA (crosstalk)
The sin of trying to claim the star, huh…
JUNNA
Bright as the sun,
We take our cues from the blooming flowers
For there’s meaning in every encounter
JUNNA
Then that would make every one of us Stage Girls who tried to become Top Star sinful creatures. But so what?
[Post-it:
I will take hold of my own star!]
KAREN, JUNNA
We sow others’ dreams like seeds, so we mustn’t forget our own dreams
The future is unpredictable! Come, open the curtain!
JUNNA
I don’t care what names others call me. I will take hold of my own star! So give Kagura-san a message from me. I’ll be waiting for her onstage!
KAREN
Okay!
MAHIRU
We are Stage Girls
We were born Stage Girls
With courage we stretch out our hands
And our fingers draw gentle arcs
MAHIRU
We have our own separate opening acts, and we all follow our own stage directions… but we still met each other and came to stand on the same stage.
MAHIRU
We are Stage Girls
We must carry love in our hearts at all times
We follow our hopes closely as we raise our feet
So that we never waver
MAHIRU
We have our misunderstandings, and we butt heads, but we were able to find our own sparkle together. I’m sure we met for a reason. So… I’ll be waiting for you onstage.
KAREN, MAHIRU
For us, all the world’s a stage!
FUTABA
The stage has kept us chained to each other, huh…
KAORUKO
Purse your lips tightly
It doesn’t matter how cowardly you might feel
KAORUKO
We’re only here because we had theater.
KAREN, FUTABA, KAORUKO
You’re alright as long as you don’t cry off-cue
FUTABA
We share the same stage, we share our meals…
KAORUKO
…so we Stage Girls stay connected!
FUTABA
Even if you can’t quite
Reach your ideal self
FUTABA
I’ll be waiting onstage.
KAORUKO
I’ll be waiting.
BANANA
You’re still much closer than you were yesterday
BANANA
A light that never goes out… Excitement and passion that never run dry… An eternal moment etched into your heart forever.
BANANA
We’re evolving every day, so keep an eye on us
All our frustration and regrets
BANANA
I guess we can only burn so fiercely in this moment because it has an end after all. So I want to live that moment together. I’ll be waiting onstage.
KAREN, BANANA
Will surely fuel our growth tomorrow
KAREN
We are Stage Girls
We were born Stage Girls
CLAUDINE
With courage we stretch out our hands
And our fingers draw gentle arcs
CLAUDINE
The stage is a Stage Girl’s heart. Song is our pulse. Passion is our blood. The stage keeps us alive!
MAYA
No matter how we are hurt or if we are felled, the stage will bring us back to life.
KAREN, CLAUDINE
We are Stage Girls
We are Stage Girls with room to grow
MAYA
We must hold our heads high at all times
For that makes us magnificent
MAYA
A Stage Girl can be reborn as infinitely as any phoenix. Therefore…
KAREN, MAYA
We are Stage Girls
We must carry love in our hearts at all times
CLAUDINE
Je t’attends sur scène! (I’ll be waiting onstage!)
MAYA
I shall await you onstage.
KAREN, MAYA, CLAUDINE
We follow our hopes closely as we raise our feet
So that we never waver
JUNNA, MAHIRU, FUTABA, KAORUKO, BANANA
The world has awaited us for so long
KAREN
For us…
ALL
The whole world’s a stage!
KAREN
Wait for me onstage!
KAREN
That’s…!
[Screen:
You have 99 unread messages.
Latest message:
Do you remember our promise?]
[Ticket:
Special Ticket
STAGE OF FATE
Do You Remember Our Promise?
Kagura Hikari
This ticket allows entrance for one Stage Girl only.
Any questions about this performance
Do not intrude on the stage
There may be unannounced changes to the cast]
KAREN
A ticket…
KAREN
Hikari…chan…
KAREN
I belong to the 99th class of the Seishou Music School! Seat 1, Aijou Karen! Here I come!
I’ve been watching you all along
It seems like you’ve left your loneliness behind
Tonight too the moon is smiling down at me
Please turn my way, and fly me to the star
I couldn’t tell you how I felt
So I imagined other lives and I’ll try acting them out
Because I want to catch your eye
Oh fly me to the star
HIKARI
I do remember our promise.
Next Episode: Revue Starlight
GIRAFFE
Girls’ Opera, Revue Starlight! You understand.
Episode 11: We Are
KAREN
Hikari…chan?
GIRAFFE
Kagura… Hikari-san. You are the winner of this audition. The sparkle of all the Stage Girls is now yours. The fuel has been cast into the fire. The torch is lit. What is the Stage of Fate which you desire?
HIKARI
I don’t want it.
GIRAFFE
What?
HIKARI
I don’t need any fuel.
GIRAFFE
To perform a play that warms the breast and scorches the soul, a great deal of fuel is indispensable. Do you mean to say you will provide it all by yourself?
HIKARI
Didn’t you say you wanted to see a play you couldn’t predict? Well, this is my “Starlight.”
GIRAFFE
I see. I hereby proclaim the end of the auditions. The curtains shall now rise upon your Stage of Fate!
Who, oh who will be the one to pluck the star from the top of that tower?
The heat of a silent flame is burning in all of our chests.
This is the Wheel of Fortune
But we aren’t merely being forced to dance upon the stage
Spring forth!
I know that on that day
I saw the sparks of starlight spread
Until I’m able to touch
That faded promise…
We begin before the curtain rises,
The story is being written before our very eyes.
Now that I have been reborn,
I have been reunited with you here
Once more
ONE DAY AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
[PAPER:
NOTICE OF EXPULSION
Class 99 Year 2, Group A
Actor Education Course Seat Number 29
Kagura Hikari
In accordance with the 31st principle of Seishou Music School’s rules, we hereby announce that we have accepted the aforementioned student’s request to withdraw enrollment on May 28, 2018.]
KAREN
S-she’s dropping out?! Hikari-chan… is really dropping out?
SAKURAGI
That’s right.
KAREN
Wait a minute! I don’t get it!
MAHIRU
Karen-chan…
SAKURAGI
We have all the paperwork right here.
[Stamp:
Seishou Music School]
KAREN
This can’t be true. Hikari-chan would never just disappear all by herself like this…! She wouldn’t…
SAKURAGI
Aijou.
KAREN
Sensei, what did Hikari-chan say about this?
SAKURAGI
Nothing.
KAREN
Where does she plan to go when she drops out?!
SAKURAGI
No idea.
KAREN
Why? Why?! Why did she go off all alone?!
[Screen:
Hikari]
KAREN
This can’t be happening!
MAHIRU
Karen-chan…
AUTOMATED MESSAGE
The number you have called is currently out of range, so we cannot connect you.
KAREN
This can’t…
AUTOMATED MESSAGE
The number you have called is currently—
KAREN
There’s no way…
AUTOMATED MESSAGE
The number you have called is currently out of range, so we cannot connect you.
KAREN
This isn’t real!
TWO DAYS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
THREE DAYS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
KAREN
Ahh! Umm… ＜＜I am Karen Aijou!＞＞
[Screen:
Royal Actors’ Academy]
KAREN
＜＜From Japan! Also, I s-sometimes… want t-to… ask… Yes! Hikari Kagura!＞＞
ONE WEEK AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
POLICE OFFICER
Kagura Hikari-san, age 16. And you say you haven’t been able to reach her by phone or by text?
KAREN
Yes…
POLICE OFFICER
But the school did announce she was dropping out, correct?
KAREN
Yeah, but it has to be fake!
POLICE OFFICER
Okay. Then will you please explain things to us in a little more detail?
KAREN
Yes…
POLICE OFFICER
Where did you see her last?
MAHIRU
Ah…
KAREN
Umm… How to explain… umm…
TWO WEEKS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
KAREN
“Hikari-chan, where are you?”
[LINE messages:
…contact me. Please
Please, answer me
Say something
I’m really worried.
I’m gonna look for you, Hikari-chan
Hikari-chan, where are you?]
THREE WEEKS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
[Flyer:
100th Seishou Fest
“Starlight”
CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT
Claire: Tendou Maya
Flora: Saijou Claudine
Daiba Nana
Hoshimi Junna
Tsuyuzaki Mahiru
Isurugi Futaba
Hanayagi Kaoruko
Aijou Karen]
ONE MONTH AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
SEVEN MONTHS AFTER
THE AUDITIONS ENDED
AUTOMATED MESSAGE
The number you have called is currently out of range, so we cannot connect you. The number you have called is currently—
KAREN
Good morning.
[LINE messages:
I’m so lonely
Without you, I…
I still hope you’ll answer
Good morning]
KAREN
Let’s head out, Mahiru-chan.
BANANA
Ooh… It’s cold enough to freeze a banana out here.
JUNNA
The news said today’ll be the coldest day this year. I bet you’ve never been this cold before.
BANANA
Yeah. This is a first for me.
BANANA
Aren’t you cold, Karen-chan? Hot Banana~
KAREN
Dear Kagura Hikari-sama. It’s still quite cold here, but how are you doing?
[Sign:
100th]
KAREN
It’s almost time for the 100th Seishou Fest. We’re practicing every day for opening night. Group B is up late every night working on the set. It’ll be better than last year’s play… a new evolution for Starlight. This was supposed to be the first stage you and I would share.
[Stamp:
ADDRESS UNKNOWN]
KAREN
Hey, Hikari-chan… Do you still remember our promise?
JUNNA
Everyone who’s planning to keep practicing, raise your hands.
ALL
Me!
JUNNA
…and 6 members of group B’s large props team. Okay, I’ll fill out an application for everyone.
BANANA
Sorry to keep you guys waiting! Here’s Banana’s special banana sweets!
STUDENTS
Ooh, I was looking forward to this!
STUDENTS
Now I can last the rest of the day!
ALL
Aaaahhh…
SHION
Stop, stop!
BANANA, JUNNA
Huh?
SHION
Aijou-san, have you hurt yourself?
KAREN
No.
SHION
Then why is that the best performance you can give?
KIRIKO
Is this about Kagura-san?
SHION
Sigh… She dropped out half a year ago now. How long are you gonna keep pining—
MAHIRU
Amemiya-san!
SHION
Sorry. I know you’ve got it rough, but we need you to switch gears already. There’s no time left before Seishou Fest.
KAREN
Yeah. Sorry.
KIRIKO
If it’s too hard for you, we can cast somebody else. Okay?
MAHIRU
Karen-chan…
KAREN
Sorry. I’ll be okay, though!
JUNNA
That’s right. We don’t have time to waste stuck in the doldrums.
MAYA
Let’s take it from the top.
KAREN
Yeah!
MAYA
Beneath the meteor shower that only comes once every year, I met Flora—
CLAUDINE
I met Claire—
MAYA, CLAUDINE
And we met our fate.
[SCRIPT TOP NOTE:
Actual runtime 80-85 minutes!
Cut the script down by 5 pages!!]
[SCRIPT:
FLORA: It is the legend passed down in a tiny village in a tiny country, of a midsummer night’s
CLAIRE: Beneath the meteor shower that only comes once every year, I met Flora—
FLORA: I met Claire—
BOTH: And we met our fate.
The two girls hold hands and dance.
FLORA: It’s almost as though we’ve known each other forever.
CLAIRE: Let us meet again here next year.
BOTH: On the night of the Star Festival!
Music plays. Flora picks up an hourglass.
FLORA: Hey, Claire, what do you suppose this is?
CLAIRE: I have no idea. I’ve never seen its like. It’s almost like tiny fragments of stars are flowing through it.
FLORA: It’s like I’m watching the galaxy flow by.
CLAIRE: How mystical. I know, we should keep this as our private treasure!
FLORA: Like a charm, so that we can escape from this oppressive way of living someday.
CLAIRE: I hope that one day we can wear dresses that shine like comet tails, and dance from morning til night.
SONG 1: “THE STAR FESTIVAL” – FLORA, CLAIRE
If you claim a modest star,
Then you will be rewarded with modest bliss.
If you claim a great star,
Then you will be rewarded with great fame.
However, if you claim both,
Then your wish shall be granted for eternity.
To gather starlight is to absolve one’s sins
The starlight gatherer is a miracle of the night]
CLAUDINE
It’s almost as though we’ve known each other forever.
MAYA
Let us meet again here next year.
MAYA, CLAUDINE
On the night of the Star Festival!
KAREN
What’s wrong with me…? I can’t… feel anything. Not the nervousness of standing on the stage… Not the exhilaration of singing in the theater… All the sparkle that I used to feel onstage…
SHION
Huh?
MAHIRU
Karen-chan?
KAREN
I don’t… get it anymore. Why am I acting? Hikari-chan is gone now… so why am I still onstage? This is wrong… I’m supposed to love theater. Why don’t I know why I’m acting?
HIKARI
In that audition… If you can’t get chosen, it’s all over. You’ll lose what’s most important to you as a Stage Girl.
KAREN
Oh, I get it. I still don’t understand, but I get it now. This is the most important thing Hikari-chan lost.
MAHIRU
Karen-chan…
KAREN
Hikari-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!
[Stamp:
ADDRESS UNKNOWN]
MAYA
Auditions where we plunder one another’s sparkle. The fuel necessary for a play… The joy, the blessedness, the excitement of being onstage. The happiness of dancing, the sweetness of singing. The light that illuminates the stage. When that was stolen from Kagura-san, her Stage Girl self died.
CLAUDINE
But we haven’t lost anything. Not our joy, our blessedness, our excitement.
FUTABA
I guess Kagura didn’t take ours away.
KAORUKO
But why? It would have made her Top Star, so why…?
MAHIRU
I think it’s more that… she COULDN’T take it. She didn’t want to take Karen-chan’s sparkle.
FUTABA
So, she spared us in the bargain.
KAORUKO
It’s not like we asked for her pity.
BANANA
But then, if Hikari-chan still has no sparkle… then where is she, and what is she doing?
HIKARI
This is my “Starlight.”
KAREN
Maybe Banana was right. Maybe Starlight really is a sad story where friends get torn apart.
KAREN
I can’t read this by myself, Hikari-chan.
KAREN
＜＜This is a story, of a nea… neabu? And distant planet…＞＞
MAHIRU
Karen-chan, I’m home. Banana-chan made us some dinner…
MAHIRU
Are you translating Starlight?
KAREN
Yeah.
KAREN
“If you claim a modest star, then you will be rewarded with modest bliss. If you claim a great star, then you will be rewarded with great fame.”
[Book:
Super Easy English!
If you can read this, you can understand anything!]
KAREN
“However, if you claim both, then your wish will be granted for all eternity. To gather starlight is to absolve one’s sins. The starlight gatherer is a miracle of the night.” Flora’s eyes were seared by the star’s light, and she fell from the tower. Left behind at the tower’s top, in penance for her crime of trying to take the star for herself, Claire… Huh? She was imprisoned in the tower as its newest sinner. Imprisoned? But in Starlight as I know it, Flora falls off the tower, and she and Claire are separated forever, and that’s where the play ends… Sometimes there are little differences in the way that’s portrayed or in the script. But… I guess Claire was always trapped in the tower. Wait, in the tower…? Then that must mean…!
KAREN
Hikari-chan…! Hikari-chan…!! Hikari-chan!!!
KAREN
What if she’s still trapped on that stage as a punishment for trying to take the star? But… that’s… that’s not OUR stage. We still haven’t taken the stage together. OUR play still hasn’t even begun!! Answer me, Hikari-chan! We still… aren’t Starlight yet!!!
KAREN
Hikari-chan…!
KAREN
Stand up straight with your best posture
Stare straight ahead with grace
Today, too, the blue sky is endlessly tall
JUNNA (crosstalk)
The sin of trying to claim the star, huh…
JUNNA
Bright as the sun,
We take our cues from the blooming flowers
For there’s meaning in every encounter
JUNNA
Then that would make every one of us Stage Girls who tried to become Top Star sinful creatures. But so what?
[Post-it:
I will take hold of my own star!]
KAREN, JUNNA
We sow others’ dreams like seeds, so we mustn’t forget our own dreams
The future is unpredictable! Come, open the curtain!
JUNNA
I don’t care what names others call me. I will take hold of my own star! So give Kagura-san a message from me. I’ll be waiting for her onstage!
KAREN
Okay!
MAHIRU
We are Stage Girls
We were born Stage Girls
With courage we stretch out our hands
And our fingers draw gentle arcs
MAHIRU
We have our own separate opening acts, and we all follow our own stage directions… but we still met each other and came to stand on the same stage.
MAHIRU
We are Stage Girls
We must carry love in our hearts at all times
We follow our hopes closely as we raise our feet
So that we never waver
MAHIRU
We have our misunderstandings, and we butt heads, but we were able to find our own sparkle together. I’m sure we met for a reason. So… I’ll be waiting for you onstage.
KAREN, MAHIRU
For us, all the world’s a stage!
FUTABA
The stage has kept us chained to each other, huh…
KAORUKO
Purse your lips tightly
It doesn’t matter how cowardly you might feel
KAORUKO
We’re only here because we had theater.
KAREN, FUTABA, KAORUKO
You’re alright as long as you don’t cry off-cue
FUTABA
We share the same stage, we share our meals…
KAORUKO
…so we Stage Girls stay connected!
FUTABA
Even if you can’t quite
Reach your ideal self
FUTABA
I’ll be waiting onstage.
KAORUKO
I’ll be waiting.
BANANA
You’re still much closer than you were yesterday
BANANA
A light that never goes out… Excitement and passion that never run dry… An eternal moment etched into your heart forever.
BANANA
We’re evolving every day, so keep an eye on us
All our frustration and regrets
BANANA
I guess we can only burn so fiercely in this moment because it has an end after all. So I want to live that moment together. I’ll be waiting onstage.
KAREN, BANANA
Will surely fuel our growth tomorrow
KAREN
We are Stage Girls
We were born Stage Girls
CLAUDINE
With courage we stretch out our hands
And our fingers draw gentle arcs
CLAUDINE
The stage is a Stage Girl’s heart. Song is our pulse. Passion is our blood. The stage keeps us alive!
MAYA
No matter how we are hurt or if we are felled, the stage will bring us back to life.
KAREN, CLAUDINE
We are Stage Girls
We are Stage Girls with room to grow
MAYA
We must hold our heads high at all times
For that makes us magnificent
MAYA
A Stage Girl can be reborn as infinitely as any phoenix. Therefore…
KAREN, MAYA
We are Stage Girls
We must carry love in our hearts at all times
CLAUDINE
Je t’attends sur scène! (I’ll be waiting onstage!)
MAYA
I shall await you onstage.
KAREN, MAYA, CLAUDINE
We follow our hopes closely as we raise our feet
So that we never waver
JUNNA, MAHIRU, FUTABA, KAORUKO, BANANA
The world has awaited us for so long
KAREN
For us…
ALL
The whole world’s a stage!
KAREN
Wait for me onstage!
KAREN
That’s…!
[Screen:
You have 99 unread messages.
Latest message:
Do you remember our promise?]
[Ticket:
Special Ticket
STAGE OF FATE
Do You Remember Our Promise?
Kagura Hikari
This ticket allows entrance for one Stage Girl only.
Any questions about this performance
Do not intrude on the stage
There may be unannounced changes to the cast]
KAREN
A ticket…
KAREN
Hikari…chan…
KAREN
I belong to the 99th class of the Seishou Music School! Seat 1, Aijou Karen! Here I come!
I’ve been watching you all along
It seems like you’ve left your loneliness behind
Tonight too the moon is smiling down at me
Please turn my way, and fly me to the star
I couldn’t tell you how I felt
So I imagined other lives and I’ll try acting them out
Because I want to catch your eye
Oh fly me to the star
HIKARI
I do remember our promise.
Next Episode: Revue Starlight
GIRAFFE
Girls’ Opera, Revue Starlight! You understand.