Riot Stories

New World Monkeys

God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.

- Voltaire

FADE IN

Int. Club Wicked, A trendy fetish club in Shibuya. Night

OTTO

I like it.

Pretty freaky, huh?

OTTO

The candle light, the chandelier…it’s so Baroque.

Did you see the piano across the hall there? Or maybe it’s a harpsichord.

OTTO

Where’s Liberace when you need him?

JD
He’s dead, of course. But I could see his ghost taking refuge in a place like this.

Otto:

You come here often?

Been a long time. Not since my first night in Tokyo.

Now you’re the new kid and I’m the veteran.

Otto

Passin’ the torch.

They clink beer bottles together

OTTO

How do they say cheers?

Kampai.

OTTO

Kampai!

You jet-lagged?

OTTO

I feel just fine. Maybe it’ll just catch up with me.

Maybe you’ll elude it.

OTTO

Doubtful. That was a long damn flight.

Middle-aged person of unknown gender in black dress and high heels dances next to

adjacent booth

OTTO

I think it’s a man.

I think it’s a ladyman.

Otto

Is it common here?

Not where you’ll be. The other end of the spectrum, the big city.

OTTO

Which do you prefer?

I need ‘em both. Yin and yang.

OTTO

I hear you on that.

We’re birds of a feather

OTTO

Too bad you’re leavin as I’m coming.

I’ll be back, don’t worry.

They toast

EXT Train station Higashi-Nozumi DAY

MICKEY

What’s up?

OTTO

Off to the big city.

Mickey

Little early for that?

Otto

Got to pick up my credit card. Left it in a restaurant.

Mickey

Cross your fingers they have it.

Otto

I looked into it. They have it.

Mickey

You heard what happened to Bobby?

OTTO

They told me he got knocked flat. Riding his cycle.

MICKEY

Not just that. They gotta fuckin rebuild his whole leg.

OTTO

The poker star is gonna need a wheelchair.

MICKEY

He could come in with crutches and an eyepatch.

OTTO

It would just add to his mystique. Is the game on Wednesday still on?

MICKEY

Should be. With Bobby gone people won’t be so afraid to play.

OTTO

Well, Bradley is back in Saipan chasing after that blonde.

MICKEY

What a nut. Every time I hear about him he’s chasing after someone.

Otto

Here comes your buddy.

MICKEY

We’re heading off to Kyoto.

OTTO

I’m jealous. I’m just gonna hang out here this weekend. I’m broke.

MICKEY

They still haven’t paid you?

OTTO

I got it in writing now that payment’s coming.

MICKEY

Fuckin’ bureaucracy. “You’re check is in the mail.”

OTTO

Tell me about it. I’ve been really scrapin’ lately.

MICKEY

Good thing you got friends.

OTTO

Yeah they keep me going. Then there’s mom. Always good for a hundred bucks.

MICKEY

Who ever thought mom would still be payin’ the bills?

OTTO

Sad. They better pay me soon.

By the way, what was up with Jerry last Friday—he seemed a little pissy.

MICKEY

Oh, it’s nothing. He’s a pretty good guy. He was just hearing some bad news back in the States. His uncle or something. Car wreck.

OTTO

Oh, that’s too bad.

MICKEY

Hey, I got a friend, Morris, coming in from Michigan. Isn’t that where you’re from, originally?

OTTO

Yeah, maybe we’ll meet up again Friday.

But I may have to go up to Shimoda.

MICKEY

Shimoda’s beautiful. What the hell brings you up there?

OTTO

Oh, there’s this conference. Actually more like a retreat.

MICKEY

That’s nice up there. Bring your camera. Oh well, gotta run. Gonna miss Brooks. He didn’t even see me.

OTTO

See you.

MICKEY

Itte rasshai!

INT-OUTBACK RESTAURANT- NIGHT

Bradley: Usually I just go out to the noodle shop.

OTTO

I always seem to end up here.

BRADLEY

We’ve got different styles.

OTTO

You’re more frugal.

BRADLEY

That’s for sure.

OTTO

There’s one thing about those noodle shops. The

way the natives slurp those noodles. Drives me crazy.

BRADLEY

I’ve been out here longer than you. Ya get used to it.

How bout another martini?

OTTO

One more, kudasai!

Too strong?

OTTO

That was just right.

Okay, I make the same.

BRADLEY

This seafood’s pretty good. I gotta start coming out here.

OTTO

That lady looks like Yoko.

BRADLEY

Right across from us?

OTTO

Yes, a slightly younger version of her.

BRADLEY

Did you sleep with her too?

OTTO

Nah, I don’t know anyone who did.

BRADLEY

She used to hang on to JD a bit.

OTTO

They had a weird thing goin’ on. She wouldn’t actually get together with him in public, but at closing time they would head off together.

BRADLEY

Head off where?

OTTO

Into the night. Probably JD’s place.

BRADLEY

What an unlikely couple.

OTTO

Not exactly Ken and Barbie. An aging drunkard and Goth boy.

BRADLEY

Opposites attract.

OTTO

You’re telling me.

INT -CLUB WICKED FETISH BAR-NIGHT

Otto

Have you been back home?

Not for a couple years. I’m in for a little culture shock.

OTTO

So am I . Coming in the other direction.

At least I learned a little Japanese. It would have been embarrassing to come home without some.

A sinewy silhouette dances in the aisle next to them.

OTTO

I think it’s a different guy.

Nah, that’s a femme. Look at the hips. Look at the small hands.

OTTO

You’ve got a better eye than I do.

JD
I’ve been to Thailand recently. You need a good eye there. Lot’s of females who aren’t so female.

OTTO

That’s what I hear.

Though I do recommend it, going down there. Cheap as hell.

OTTO

Is it?

Live like a king.

OTTO

Bangkok?

No way. I couldn’t get outta there fast enough. They have these islands to the south that are just gorgeous.

OTTO

Look over at the couch. Those two are really going to town.

Two transvestite salarymen going at it. If their wives only knew.

OTTO

They told their wives they had to work late tonight.

I always wonder.

OTTO

So where am I going to get a drink in the little town of Nomuzi.

Nozumi. Those drinks getting to ya?

OTTO

Sorry.

You can get a beer anywhere. There’s this little type of place, the izakaya,

where you get booze with your dinner and listen to music…jazz, whatever.

OTTO

Is it a bar?

Somewhere between a restaurant and a tavern.

OTTO

You went there a lot?

Sometimes. There’s an American tavern near the train station. The Roadhouse. You’ll be going there. Owner’s from Chicago. So you get the English teachers, the Toyota guys, the researchers from the Institute, all coming there to meet Fridays, Saturdays. It’s a good time.

OTTO

Here comes the waitress.

I’m gonna get another martini

OTTO

Make that two.

INT –Mark’s apartment. North Nozumi Night

Otto knocks on door, waits. Door creaks open.

Bruce

There you are, mate.

OTTO

Sorry I got here late. Never been to this part of town.

BRUCE

You can take the shoes off, or not. I don’t care.

Otto

When in Rome…

Otto takes off shoes, walks inside.

Bruce

Can I get you a beer?

Otto

How about just a soda?

Bruce

Coming right up.

Otto

Where’s Kumiko?

Bruce

At work still. Said she be late tonight.

Otto

She teaches English, right?

Bruce

She teaches Japanese…to gai-jin. Like you . Like me.

Otto walks toward television.

OTTO

Is this the Australian team.

BRUCE

Sure is. Against Japan. Should be interesting if Kumiko comes home soon.

We’ll be rooting for different teams.

OTTO

It’s still scoreless. Should be a close one.

[Hears a thud in the bathroom.]

Who’s that?

BRUCE

Gilberto. He’s in there playing poker online. Here he comes.

Gilberto enters room

BRUCE (Cont’d)

You two know each other?

OTTO

Yeah, the face is familiar.

GILBERTO

Out in Nagoya one night. That was me with Rogerio and Mickey.

OTTO

Wow. What a night! That was a while ago. We went out to that dance hall.

GILBERTO

Yeah. You know I have to get going. I have to pick up my girlfriend.

BRUCE

You can tell her how much you made playing poker.

GILBERTO

How much I lost.

Gilberto opens door.

BRUCE

Thanks for stopping by.

GILBERTO

See you later. Give me a call. Tell me how it was.

Door closes

BRUCE

It’s a good thing. My wife isn’t too crazy about him.

OTTO

Why’s that?

BRUCE

Hell, I don’t know. She’s racist. Not too crazy about Brazilians.

OTTO

Australia scored another goal.

Bruce leaves room then re-enters.

BRUCE

Wow, I didn’t think we had a chance. Maybe we’ll win the World Cup.

Here’s what I got. All the way from Morocco.

Bruce holds out chunk of hashish in his hand.

OTTO

That’s look pretty good.

BRUCE

That’s ni ma Yen. Twenty thousand.

Otto opens wallet, pulls out two crisp bills.

Otto

Here ya go.

Bruce

Sample?

OTTO

Nah, I gotta get going.

BRUCE

Careful, man. Don’t get caught with that in this county. You’ll be eatin fish-head soup.

OTTO

I’ll keep it safely stashed.

BRUCE

See you this weekend.

OTTO

See you at Jerry’s place.

INT –OUTBACK RESTAURANT-NIGHT

Bradley

That stuff catching up with you?

OTTO

It’s only my third.

Bradley

That would be starting to hit me. It’s eleven. Wanna start heading over to Motown?

OTTO

Thinking it over.

BRADLEY

Never been here before. Is there anything I should know?

OTTO

Actually, there might be some drama tonight.

BRADLEY

What are you saying? You’re gonna get in a fight tonight?