Niten Ichi (Two Swords as One)

Two Swords as One (Niten Ichi)

a We Massacre Productions

short film

This was a short film, written to demonstrate a fight scene, and connect with a larger overarching story. Jay Brooks on the run from a debt collecting Mean K, turns to his clever brother for assistance.

Actors: Jay (Brooks?),

Mean K (Ken Anthony?)

Two Locations; the Dojo and Jay's apartment/house (perhaps the Ace or Brooks place, somewhere like a bachelor pad)

Based on concepts from Miyamoto Musashi, Everywhere All At Once, and Bruce Wayne's League of shadows training

Phone call - Brooks is frantic - 

Get a shot of a ninja sword in the living - 

phone call jumps back and forth between 

Jay in a living room and Mark in a dojo

Jay: Yo, Mark, I need you to get over here really quick! (Exterior at a martial arts school)

Mark: Yo, dude, what's going on?

Jay: They're coming for me. I don't have much time. 

Mark: Hold on dude. Who is coming for you?

Jay: Mean K. He bought up everyone's debt in the area and now he is making examples....

Mark: Ah, shit, man. You ran up some more debt with these guys, man.

Jay: (fast and scared) No, no, no, no brother. The, the, the, this guy is different, man. He's mean. 

Mark: Right, I hear ya. So now you need me to fight your battles for you, huh?

Jay: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 

Mark: What happened? You been getting cold cards?

Jay: I needed some quick cash and it was a sure thing.

Mark: The only thing that is a sure thing, is nothing is a sure thing. Especially when playing with the Aces. 

Jay: Mark, I don't need your philosophy, I need your protection. Can you get over here right now, brother, I need you.

Mark: Jay, you only call me brother when you need something. Ever since your dad died, you've not had anyone left to mooch off of. Maybe finally get what you need...

Jay: If it's a fucking clean shave, I'm gonna be pissed.

Mark: No, I mean maybe a run in with this guy will give you a wake up call and you'll finally get your life back together:

Jay: No, no, no, no, Mark. It isn't like that, I've been trying to change and I didn't really want to hit up mom for the cash so I went out on a limb.

Mark: Like Neil Armstrong?

Jay: What!?

Mark: You know he went out on a LEM. L, E, M, Get it? 

Jay: Fuck, Mark, I need help. 

Mark: Have you gone to the cops?

Jay: No, of course not, man. I came to you, you have training. 

Mark: Oh, yeah. My training. 

Jay: Yeah and because you're my brother, Mark. I came to you. My father always told me to turn to you. He loved you, Mark.

Mark: You have a real way with words, you know that? Let me lock up and I'll be right over.

Jay: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you...

Mark: Yeah, bye. 

Interior of Jay's house....we hear knocking and Jay peaks out and then lets Mark inside. 

Jay: Hurry up, dude, get inside. 

Mark: Oh, so I'm brother on the phone, but I get here and all the sudden I'm dude.

Jay: Just get inside, okay!

Mark: When's he supposed to get here? 

Jay: Any minute....he comes from pretty far away

Mark: So this guy has been around a while?

Jay: Yeah, he's pretty big too.

Mark: Muscles don't win fights, Jay. I'll have him tapping out pretty quick. 

Jay: What's the plan? I let him in and you start fucking him up?

Mark: Something like that.

Jay: Well what do you want to do?

Mark: Well...

Jay: What happens if he dies? 

Mark: I'll probably just put him to sleep or something and he'll back off.

Jay: What if he is too tough and that doesn't work?

Mark: There are no tough guys when it comes to a choke. 

Jay: So what do we do...

Mark: Here's the plan...now we 

(fade to black)

Knock on the door...It's Mean K...he's opens the door and walks inside

Mean K: (flips on the light) 

Jay: Surprise!!! 

Mean K: The fa....

The place is decorated like a birthday party.

Mark enters the room with a birthday cake.

Mark: I heard you were coming so I baked a cake.

Mean K: Huh?

Mark: (Cheap shots Mean K with a kick to the nads and when he bends forward he smashes the cake in to his face)

Mark: Jay, run! 

Jay runs outside, flipping the light off, and closing the door. 

Mean K: (having trouble seeing and he hears several doors shut)

Mark's voice: You've become a terrible thought.

Mean K: Come out here, show yourself. (going room to room)

Mark's voice: I'm here with you. Seek and you shall find!

Mean K: (opens another door and looks) Show yourself. 

Mark's voice: Here I am.

 (Mean K turns around and is decked by Mark who blocks a big right hand, into a hamburger patty waist lock and into a back take, Mean K powers over and in the Mark's guard...cut to a side shot of Mark locking up a kimura lock/arm bar and speaking) 

Mark: Whatever your determination or will power, it is foolish to try to change the nature of things. Things work the way they do because that is the way of things. To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead. That said, It must also be very regrettable to die with one's sword still sheathed.

Mean K: (cut to Mean K's side and we see the sword blade buried in Mark's ribs) I agree....

Mark: (coughs up blood)

....Fade to black....