An AE86 Matsuri
Written by Anjali Shibu

EXT. MOTORWAY IN THE CITY – MORNING
A Toyota Sprinter Trueno drives along a relatively uncongested motorway, and makes its way out of the city. The weather is pleasant, the roads dry, and Gin and June are having a conversation in said Trueno as Gin steers the car and June helps shift gears when appropriate.

JUNE (V.O.)
“Thanks again for picking me up Gin!”

GIN (V.O.)
“No worries”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Sooo… any plans for the day?”

GIN (V.O.)
“Eh, not really, you?”

JUNE (V.O.)
“…”

Gin turns to glance at June who is intently staring out the window before he turns back to the road. Gin revs the car, as an attempt to gain June’s attention.

GIN (V.O.)
“Helloooo? Earth to June?”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Gin! Oh-my-gosh – look! It’s your car!!”

June turns back and points at the car that’s racing alongside them, about to join the motorway. Gin slows down slightly, allowing the car that was alongside them to pass by, so he too can get a look at the car in question.

GIN (V.O.)
“That is a Trueno”

Gin smiles and winks at the car ahead with the pop-up headlights on his car. A moment later, the car that just joined in puts their hazard lights on and off.

JUNE (V.O.)
“What was that about?”

GIN (V.O.)
“Just saying hello”

Gin looks well pleased with himself. Before either of them could comment, the driver ahead sticks their hand out and makes the hand sign for love. June now attentive, shifts gears, and Gin keeps ample distance between themselves and the car ahead, as he follows convoy style. He checks his mirrors as he does so, while June responds in kind to the driver ahead.

GIN (V.O.)
“June… you won’t believe it.”

JUNE (V.O.)
“What?”

GIN (V.O.)
“There’s a Trueno behind us”

JUNE (V.O.)
“No way. What?!”

June checks her side view mirror and sees not just one, but a couple more Trueno’s behind as the road curves.

JUNE (V.O.)
“Gin! There’s like- five more!!”

GIN (V.O.)
“Okay, we have to follow our friend up ahead. This is insane.”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Gin? Are we like… unofficially in a convoy now??”

GIN (V.O.)
“(laughing) This is your first-time being part of a convoy, isn’t it?”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Uh-yeah! This is cool – is there a car show or something somewhere, you think?”

GIN (V.O.)
“Might be, but I’d be surprised to see these many Truenos around for a regular car show.”

 

 

Split 1 – Chasing the Truenos and falling behind
When Gin lets up on the gas and one of the Truenos gets ahead, June pipes up, encouraging Gin.

Variation #1

JUNE (V.O.)
“You’ve got this Gin, pedal to the metal!”

GIN (V.O.)
“You got it!”

Variation #2

JUNE (V.O.)
“We’re falling behind! We’ve got to catch up!”

GIN (V.O.)
“Doing my best!”

Variation #3

JUNE (V.O.)
“We’re going to lose the convoy”

GIN (V.O.)
“Not if I can help it!”

 

 

Split 2 – Chasing the Truenos and taking the lead
When the Truenos seem to fall behind, Gin and June are excited, encouraging the drivers to catch up

Variation #1

JUNE (V.O.)
“Cmon slowpokes!”

GIN (V.O.)
”(laughing) Yeah, we need a guide here!”

Variation #2

JUNE (V.O.)
“Smooth nab for lead there!”

GIN (V.O.)
“Why thank you- and now, to give it back.”

Variation #3

JUNE (V.O.)
“Better be keeping an eye on the speed limit Gin!”

GIN (V.O.)
“(smiling) I am, I am!”

 

Splits merge

Branch 1 – Gin and June successfully navigate to the AE86 Matsuri
EXT. RACETRACK – MID-MORNING
After a fun chase with an impromptu convoy, Gin and June arrive at the entrance to the AE86 Matsuri, where they line up with several other Trueno Sprinters.

GIN (V.O.)
“June…”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Yeah?”

GIN (V.O.)
“Remind me to be more spontaneous”

JUNE (V.O.)
“(laughing) just take me for more car rides and it’ll sort itself out!”

GIN (V.O.)
“(excitedly) Okay- Ooh, now that’s a classic, from the anime”

Gin points out a black and white Trueno that’s parked on the side, with people posing by it.

JUNE (V.O.)
“Gin look, there’s a super sparkly one too! Oh, and one inspired by the Desert Flyer!!”

As Gin and June admire the cars and inch forward with the procession, one of the coordinators drops by their car.

RAM (V.O.)
“Hiya folks, my name’s Ram as you can see from my tag – could I have your festival pass please?”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Oh, uh… we kind of, followed our friends here (indicates the cars ahead)…”

RAM (V.O.)
“No pass, no problem. Must be your lucky day, ‘cause I’ve got a couple passes left to hand out.”

Gin and June give each other a fist bump as Ram briefly disappears before returning with a badge. As he returns, he places a little metal disk on the front of the car.

RAM (V.O.)
“Okay, snaps right on, and since you arrived with our promo party, it’s on the house my friends.”

GIN (V.O.)
“That is come coincidence. Thanks, dude!”

RAM (V.O.)
“No worries, man, you two have a great time”

With a smile Ram gives the two a salute and then walks down to the next car in line. Gin and June inch ahead, and watch as the car in front revs its engines before it shoots onto the track, and disappears around the bend. A few seconds later, a different Trueno comes into view from the other side, drifts towards them, and cuts into the exit lane.

JUNE (V.O.)
“Holy wow.”

GIN (V.O.)
“(nodding) Yeah. Damn.”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Do we also have to- you know?”

The Trueno that was just before them makes a sudden reappearance, as it barrels down the track and slows down just enough to do a few donuts, before it too rolls into the exit lane

GIN (V.O.)
“It’s now or never – guess we’re part of the promotions team now!”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Oh this is gonna be great!!”

GIN (V.O.)
“Ready?”

JUNE (V.O.)
“When you are!”

Gin hits the gas with a smile and the car shoots forward onto the tarmac. June’s anticipation can be felt as they approach the turn.

GIN (V.O.)
“June? Powerslide or drift?”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Powerslide!”

As they reach the apex, Gin hits the clutch, turns the steering wheel, and perfectly in sync, June pulls on the handbrake to lock the rear wheels.

There is a hush from the crowd for a couple seconds as Gin and June attempt to execute the turn.

The Trueno’s back-end slews out and June waits for the car to rotate as Gin steers into the slide. June releases the hand-brake in sync with Gin, who lets the clutch out and gets back on the throttle to exit the slide, marking a perfect curved path.

The crowd goes absolutely wild, cheering Gin and June as they slow down and drive to the exit lane.

JUNE (V.O.)
“That was perfect!”

Gin gives June a fist bump as they drive to the exit lane, where the other cars are lined up and rolling along parade-style. Drivers in the cars ahead wave to the crowd, and the crowd captures the moment – the festive atmosphere, the reverence of the fans, the drivers, the cars!

As Gin and June wave to the crowd, both spot the exit gates looming closer and closer, where the cars’ driver’s give one last wave as they disappear into traffic and the mundane.

JUNE (V.O.)
“(disappointed) Well, I guess that’s the end of an adventure”

Branch 2 – Gin and June lose the Trueno convoy
After a fun chase where Gin and June unfortunately lose the impromptu convoy, Gin and June decide to navigate to June’s place.

JUNE (V.O.)
“(disappointed) Looks like we’ve lost them”

GIN (V.O.)
“Looks like it.”

Brief silence

Branches 1 & 2 Pathways merge 

GIN (V.O.)
“It’s going to make a great story though.”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Mhmm, I can tell you now, my mum’s going to be sooo jealous!”

GIN (V.O.)
“We better head back then, and tell her all about it. I didn’t realise Esme was a huge Sprinter fan.”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Huge doesn’t cover it – she set up the fan club and started the ‘Sprinter’ Taxi service.”

GIN (V.O.)
“A living legend clearly.”

JUNE (V.O.)
“Oh, you bet!”

 

FADE TO BLACK.