LITTLE SAMURAI
Script Written by
Joanna White
EXT. JAPANESE VILLAGE STREET - DAY
SOLDIERS, 30s and 40s, march through muddy streets with
solemn expressions. One SOLDIER, 36, bulky with samurai
armor, holds the reins of a horse pulling a cart behind it.
Inside the cart, lies the body of HIJIME IWASHITA, 38,
muscular and covered in blood. His katana rests on his body.
INT. IWASHITA HOUSE - DAY
MEGUMI IWASHITA, 37, beautiful and elegant, cooks food over a
fire in a kitchen. TOSHI IWASHITA, 12, small and short, runs
into the room.
TOSHI
Do you need help with anything
else, Mother?
Megumi looks up from the food and smiles.
MEGUMI
I need water brought in from the...
Someone KNOCKS on the door, which interrupts her. Megumi
walks to the door and opens in. Soldier walks in the room and
bows to her politely.
SOLDIER
Megumi Iwashita?
Megumi nods and watches him closely.
MEGUMI
Yes, that is me. What is it?
SOLDIER
I am so sorry to have to tell you
this, but your husband, Hijime, was
killed in battle.
Megumi collapses onto the floor. Toshi screams and shoves
passed the Soldier outside the door.
EXT. IWASHITA HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Toshi runs behind the cart and stares at his father’s dead
body. Megumi follows behind him and crawls into the cart. She
collapses onto Hijime, sobbing loudly.
SOLDIER
This belongs to you, Miss.
The Soldier grabs Hijime’s sword and hands it to her. She
throws it to the ground, and falls back onto Hijime’s body.
Toshi sees the sword, and picks it up. He falters underneath
its weight, but then holds it in both hands. Unsteadily, he
walks to the front yard and stabs the sword into the ground.
A piece of cloth is tied to the hilt of the sword. It
flutters in the wind, accompanied by cherry blossoms from a
nearby tree.
Toshi grasps the hilt with his head lowered to the ground.
His shoulders shake, implying that he’s crying, but his face
is hidden from view.
EXT. SHRINE - DAY
Toshi and Megumi stand side-by-side in front of a shrine.
Megumi sobs quietly and places a hand on Hijme’s grave. After
a minute, she walks away.
Toshi stays there, and kneels in front of the grave. He opens
his hand, revealing the piece of cloth from before. He slides
it underneath a rock in front of the headstone.
INT. ROOM - NIGHT
Toshi looks around an empty room. In the corner sits an armor
stand, dressed in full samurai body armor. Toshi walks up and
stands in front of it, barely reaching the waist.
He looks down at his feet and back up at the helmet.
Realizing he’s too short, he steps away, looking at the rest
of the room.
Along the side of one wall, is a low desk with papers still
scattered around it. Toshi glances at them and reads the
Japanese letters.
He continues walking around the room, until he sees a stand
in the corner. On it, sits his father’s katana and wakazashi.
He kneels in front of them and bows low to the ground.
TOSHI
I will bring you honor, Father.
Megumi walks into the room, watching him. She sighs, and
blinks back tears. Toshi glides his hands along the katana,
smiling to himself.
MEGUMI
I wish you were here to see him,
Hijime.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Megumi shuffles through papers. With a frustrated sigh, she
throws them all down.
TOSHI
Is everything alright, Mother?
Megumi blinks back tears, and nods.
MEGUMI
Everything is just fine, Toshi. No
need to worry.
Toshi hesitates.
TOSHI
But, Mother...
Megumi throws the papers down and stands up. She gently
caresses his cheek and kisses his forehead.
MEGUMI
Go. Fetch the water from the well.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Toshi yawns and stretches his muscles. His hair is unkempt.
Megumi speaks with a BUSINESSMAN, 46, plump and round. Toshi
hides around a corner, listening in.
MEGUMI
I just need some more time to grow
more spices. As soon as they bloom,
I can sell them all, and the profit
will be more than enough to pay you
what we owe.
The Businessman shakes his head and huffs.
BUSINESSMAN
No. It’s already two weeks late. I
know you’ve been through a lot with
Hijime’s death, but I need that
payment.
Megumi nods, and purses her lips.
MEGUMI
I understand. You’ll get your
payment.
The Businessman sighs.
BUSINESSMAN
I better.
He stands and leaves the house. As soon as he is gone, Megumi
takes a shaky breath, and sobs softly.
Toshi walks into the room and wraps his arms around her. She
looks up at him and wipes her eyes.
TOSHI
It will be alright, Mother.
Slowly, she nods and then the tears fall. They hug each other
tightly.
EXT. IWASHITA HOUSE - DAY
Toshi runs outside and picks up a stick off the ground. He
holds it clumsily with his right hand below his left toward
the top of the hilt.
He swings it a few times, but drops it. With a sigh, he picks
it up off the ground, and swings it again shakily.
INT. IWASHITA HOUSE - NIGHT
Toshi carries in a bucket of water. He is covered in sweat
and looks tired.
EXT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
As soon as he steps outside, he picks up the stick again, and
swings it in practice.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Toshi stands outside the doors of a dojo, watching the
SAMURAI, 30s, tall, train. One SAMURAI RECRUIT holds a
bukuto over his head.
He shifts his right foot back into a defensive stance. HARADA
GENNOSUKE, 45, tall, shoulder length black hair, stands in
front of all the samurai, training them.
HARADA
Begin!
The Samurai Recruit steps forward with his right foot. At the
same time, he swings the bukuto down, and yells out loud.
Harada turns and sees Toshi at the door. Toshi gasps and
steps back, as Harada towers over him.
HARADA (CONT’D)
Get out of here, Mutt! You’re too
small!
Toshi swallows, but darts off.
EXT. IWASHITA HOUSE - DAY
Toshi picks up the stick and tries to stand like the Samurai
Recruit did. His legs tangle around each other, and he falls.
He throws the stick to the ground with a grunt.
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Toshi grabs his father’s armor and throws it on the floor. He
yells unintelligible words and stomps on the chest plate. As
he grabs the helmet, he stares into his reflection.
TOSHI
I’m too small!
He kicks the helmet across the room. It slams against the
wall with a loud THUMP.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Toshi carries a bucket full of water and sets it on the
counter in the kitchen.
Megumi sits at a table, reading more
papers. Tears fall down her face, and she rubs her tired
eyes.
Toshi looks out the door and stares at the stick on the
ground. He turns away from it, and goes to his own bedroom.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Toshi stares at his father’s katana. His eyes shift to his
father’s desk. Slowly, he shuffles through them and picks up
several old papers.
TOSHI (V.O.)
Keep your dominant hand above your
other.
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Toshi walks outside and picks up the stick. He grabs it,
holding it awkwardly with his hands too close to the top of
the hilt.
TOSHI (V.O.)
On the hilt of your katana, clench
them around the middle to steady
your weight. Hold it above your
head to keep...
HIJIME (V.O.)
Hold it above your head to keep the
power in your upper arms. As you
bring it down, exhale, and step
forward with your right foot.
Toshi slides his right foot back and holds the stick over his
head. He steps forward, and brings it down, exhaling slowly.
HIJME (V.O.)
Remember that no matter how small
you are, with dedication and proper
training, you can win against any
opponent.
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Toshi clenches the papers to his chest and stands up.
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Toshi holds the stick over his head, steps forward and brings
it down, yelling out loud.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Megumi stands inside the door, gazing outside. She watches
Toshi and smiles to herself.
MEGUMI
Thank you, Hijme.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Toshi brings the stick down and steps forward. His knees
wobble and collapses from beneath him. Frustrated, he throws
the stick, pounding his fists against the ground.
TOSHI
You said anyone who was small could
do this! I’ve been doing it for
days now and I still can’t get it
right! Even you couldn’t do it! You
got yourself killed!
He screams, pounding his fists into the ground repetitively.
A CLOAKED FIGURE, tall, masculine, leans against a tree
across from him.
CLOAKED FIGURE
That’s it? One day of work and
you’re just going to give up?
Already?
The Cloaked Figure laughs. Toshi glares at them and growls.
He scrambles over to pick up the stick and charges at the
figure.
The Cloaked Figure easily dodges him, but Toshi relentlessly
swings it above his head and brings it downward.
No matter how many times the Cloaked Figure steps out of the
way, Toshi keeps trying. At last, he collapses on the ground,
panting and breathing hard.
CLOAKED FIGURE (CONT’D)
You have your Father’s
determination in you. Meet me here
again tomorrow night.
Toshi glares at the ground, watching his shaking hands. When
he looks back up, the Cloaked Figure is gone.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Toshi yawns and stretches, slowly sitting up. He goes into
his father’s room, kneeling before his father’s armor.
TOSHI
Help me, Father. Help me become a
samurai like you were.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
The Cloaked Figure leans against a tree, watching Toshi as he
brings the stick downward again and again. The figure walks
up to Toshi, slipping into a stance.
The figure brings a knife-hand toward Toshi’s stick and he’s
unable to dodge. The stick flies out of his hands.
CLOAKED FIGURE
Doing this move is the basics of
all techniques. What good will it
do you if you cannot hang on to
your sword?
TOSHI
I can’t! I’m not strong enough!
CLOAKED FIGURE
Then why should I waste my time
with you?
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Toshi yawns and stretches, waking up. He walks into his
father’s room and kneels in front of it.
Megumi watches him from the door, before going into the
kitchen, staring at the pile of papers.
CLOAKED FIGURE (V.O.)
You need to build up your strength.
A samurai has powerful muscles in
his arms.
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Toshi carries the water bucket outside. Before he fills it at
the well, he walks over to the tree and tries to pick up a
boulder.
It won’t even budge. Frustrated, he yells and tries again. He
manages to scoot it a few feet over, but he still can’t grasp
it.
CLOAKED FIGURE (V.O.)
You are too small, so lifting a
katana will not be easy for you.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Toshi kneels in front of his father’s armor, holding the
katana in his hands for several hours.
CLOAKED FIGURE
Build up your strength!
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Toshi puts the bucket on top of the well, and picks up the
boulder. He struggles beneath its weight and drops it. With a
grunt, he picks it up again and holds it.
He takes one shaky step, before he drops it again.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Toshi kneels in front of his father’s armor, once again
holding the katana in his hands for hours.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Toshi lifts the katana in the air, but the Cloaked Figure
bats it away.
CLOAKED FIGURE (V.O.)
You must always keep a hold of his
katana. The moment your opponent
disarms you will be your last.
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Toshi carries a water bucket to the well, filling it. Before
he brings the bucket back inside the house, he grabs the
katana.
Shifting his feet into a stance, he clenches his
hands around the hilt, tighter this time.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Toshi brings the sword down, as the Cloaked Figure walks
around him in a circle. Toshi shifts his feet into a
different stance, jabbing it forward.
He stumbles and the Cloaked Figure darts over to him and
keeps him upright.
CLOAKED FIGURE (V.O.)
Your determination will only get
you so far, Toshi! You must build
up your strength much more than
what it is now.
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Toshi lifts up the boulder, carrying it around the yard. He
struggles beneath its weight, but he manages to do it without
falling.
CLOAKED FIGURE (V.O.)
Your size will mean nothing once
you are stronger! If you can keep
your katana in your hands, then you
will be much faster than men twice
your age!
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Toshi jumps and twirls, swinging the katana from left to
right. He leaps into the air, striking the tree several feet
higher than his own height.
CLOAKED FIGURE (V.O.)
You will move with continuous
movements. Use your speed to your
advantage. If they cannot see you,
then you can win.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Toshi kneels in front of his father’s armor, holding the
katana. He picks it up with his right hand, and then grabs
the water bucket in his left.
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Swinging the katana with his right hand, he fills the water
bucket with the left. Once it’s filled, he leaves it there,
and then walks over to the boulder.
Keeping a hold of the sword with his right hand, he picks the
boulder up with his left and runs around the yard, never
dropping either of them.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Toshi swings the katana, darting around the Cloaked Figure
quickly. They trade blows back and forth, but he never drops
the katana.
The Cloaked Figure lowers his hands.
CLOAKED FIGURE
You’ve done well, Toshi.
The figure turns to leave the yard, but Toshi dashes toward
him.
TOSHI
Wait! Who are you?
Glancing at Toshi over his shoulder, the Cloaked Figure
smiles, though his face is still hidden from view.
CLOAKED FIGURE
See you around, Mutt.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Toshi carries a bucket of water inside and sets it on the
table. He pauses when he sees Megumi speaking with the
Businessman.
MEGUMI
Please just... I need more time!
The Businessman shakes his head.
BUSINESSMAN
I have given you enough time. This
is it. Either you pay me in two
days, or you’ll be forced to leave
your home.
As he leaves, Megumi collapses onto the ground, sobbing
loudly. Toshi runs up to her and hugs her. She shakes her
head.
MEGUMI
I can’t... there is no way I can
get the money that quickly! We have
nowhere to go. Without your
father’s income serving a diaymo...
INT. DOJO - DAY
Toshi walks into the dojo’s main room. The samurai in the
room turn and look at him. Harada glares at him.
HARADA
I thought I told you to stay away.
You’re too small.
Toshi shakes his head and pulls out his stick as if he is
unsheathing it.
TOSHI
No matter how small, with
dedication and proper training, you
can win against any opponent.
HARADA
Just why are you here, exactly?
TOSHI
I’m here to fight you and win to
prove myself against you.
Harada and the other samurai all laugh. Harada nods and
crosses his arms.
HARADA
Alright. Let’s see what you can do.
He motions a few samurai forward. They surround Toshi and
hold their bukuto’s above their heads. All at once, they
charge him.
Toshi ducks underneath one, jabbing his stick into one
samurai’s side. He slices it back and across into another
one’s jaw.
He blocks the attack from the last one, but that samurai is
larger and stronger. He presses against Toshi and Toshi
stumbles back.
Just before the last one lands an attack, Toshi darts around
him faster than the samurai can see. He brings his stick high
above his head and then slams it against the samurai’s head.
The Samurai Recruit charges toward Toshi, yelling loudly. He
swings left and then right, but Toshi dodges all of the
attacks.
He dances behind he Samurai Recruit, but the man catches on.
He turns and blocks Toshi’s attack, pushing Toshi backward.
The samurai in the room all laugh, as Toshi falls to the
ground.
HARADA (CONT’D)
As I said, you’re too small!
Toshi growls and jumps up, jabbing his stick into the back of
the Samurai Recruits neck. He falls to the ground.
Harada picks up his sword and swings it at Toshi. Toshi’s
eyes widen, but he jumps backward four steps.
Harada stalks toward him, but Toshi continues to dodge and
evade Harada’s attacks.
With a wild cry, Toshi runs toward the wall and jumps off of
it. In the air, he twists at the last second, catching Harada
off guard.
Harada turns too late, and Toshi’s stick slams against
Harada’s head.
Toshi pants, but Harada smiles at him.
HARADA (CONT’D)
Well done, Kid. Tell you what. Come
back by tomorrow morning. I’ll hire
you as one of my samurai
bodyguards.
Toshi gasps and stares at him.
TOSHI
Are you... you’re serious?
Harada nods.
HARADA
I don’t joke about a serious matter
like this. Your father, Hijme, was
one of my best guards. It’s no
wonder his son has the same skill
he had.
Toshi’s eyes brim with tears and he bows to Harada.
TOSHI
Thank you very much, sir.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Toshi dashes into the room and smiles.
TOSHI
Mother! I have great news!
Megumi walks into the room, and looks at him.
MEGUMI
What is it, Toshi?
Toshi hands her a paper signed by Harada. Megumi gasps and
her eyes widen.
MEGUMI (CONT’D)
This... This says that you are to
work for Harada Gennosuke, the
local diyamo?
Toshi nods, still smiling.
TOSHI
Yes. I start tomorrow at dawn. The
money will more than pay for what
you owe. We can keep the house!
Megumi laughs. They hug and laugh together.
EXT. MANSION HOUSE - DAY
Harada and Toshi walk side by side. They stop underneath a
grove of cherry blossom trees. The petals fall around them as
the breeze carries it.
TOSHI
Can you give me a moment? There’s
something important that I have to
get.
Harada nods.
HARADA
Do it quickly.
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Toshi grabs Hijme’s katana and wakazashi. He sheaths them
both.
EXT. SHRINE - CONTINUOUS
Toshi knees at his father’s grave.
TOSHI
Thank you, for your strength and
wisdom. I will bring you honor.
He lifts the rock and grabs the cloth. He stands, and ties it
around the hilt of his father’s katana.
EXT. BALCONY - NIGHT
Harada glances at Toshi, who stands behind him like the other
samurai in the room.
TOSHI
May I approach, sir?
Harada nods, motioning him forward. They walk a few feet
until the others can’t hear.
HARADA
What is it, Toshi?
Toshi hesitates. Harada gestures for him to speak.
TOSHI
You were the Cloaked Figure who
trained me, weren’t you?
Harada smiles.
HARADA
Why would you say that, Mutt?
Toshi grins.
HARADA (CONT’D)
Toshi?
TOSHI
Yes, sir?
HARADA
Why did you do all of this? Why did
you fight and struggle so hard?
Toshi meets his gaze.
TOSHI
Because my mother needs me.
About the Creator
Joanna White
Joanna White earned a BFA degree in Creative Writing for Entertainment at Full Sail University. Her books are available on all book platforms, and she writes epic tales for readers to disappear into and enjoy.
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