Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Brenda Song: Akemi

Quotes 

• [Akemi enters a private room. Taigen is looking in the mirror, frustrated about the bald spot on the back of his head] 

  Taigen : Argh!

  Akemi : It's not so bad. You can shave the front. It's how all the noblemen wear their hair. Very fashionable.

  Taigen : Why didn't he just kill me?

  Akemi : The gods have shown you a longer path.

  Taigen : Ugh.

  Akemi : You still have me. We'll be married, and...

  Taigen : Your father will never allow it now.

  Akemi : I can convince my father.

  Taigen : And have everyone mock me? I'd rather cut myself open now. The cut is so clean. A masterful cut.

  Akemi : You can't kill yourself over a brawl with some monster. It wasn't even a duel. It was an attack. Did he officially challenge you? Victory cannot come from dishonor. Therefore, you never lost. Had he challenged you, he'd be dead.

  [Taigen turns to look at Akemi. Akemi gets up, then Taigen gets up. They stare at each other] 

  Akemi : I can see it now. You challenge him. And like a dog, he comes running. He faces you. An onryo. His demon eyes. But your courage drives him back like a squall against the sea. You unsheathe your magnificent sword.

  [Akemi places her hand between Taigen's legs. He gasps softly. Akemi disrobes him] 

  Taigen : Akemi. Are you sure?

  [Akemi places a finger on his lips and shushes him. She then disrobes herself before Taigen. He stares. Akemi then pushes him on the floor and straddles him] 

  Akemi : He lunges at you, but his sword is no match for yours. You strike with your blade.

  [Akemi lowers herself on Taigen. She winces in response] 

  Akemi : You draw his blood. His eyes like two angry waves in a storm. They try to suck you in, but you're too strong. You thrust your sword into him again. And again. And again.

  [Taigen moans in carnal pleasure] 

  Akemi : A final cut. You feel the hot spray of blood.

  [Akemi arches her back and lifts her head] 

  Akemi : Glory!

  [Akemi looks at herself in the mirror. She dismounts Taigen, gets up, and puts on a robe. She then sits in front of the mirror] 

  Akemi : Come now. Let's shave your head.

  Taigen : No. You're right. That monster didn't fight honorably. So my honor can still be restored. I must find him. Challenge him and kill him for all to see.

  Akemi : But we're supposed to marry. You can't leave. He could be anywhere. It could take months to find him.

  Taigen : He's looking for Heiji Shindo. Arrogant enough to go straight to him. He'll need a boat. Mihonoseki. He must have left a trail.

  Akemi : But what if he kills you this time?

  [Taigen looks at Akemi, but he then leaves] 

• [Akemi sits outside of Mizu's room. She opens the a pot of sake. She pulls out a vial of liquid from the pocket of her kimono, removes the bottle cap, puts two drops in the sake, and stirs the liquid] 

  Akemi : May I serve you?

  [Akemi opens the door, enters, and places the tray on the floor. She then pours sake. She lifts the serving to Mizu, who turns around to face her. Akemi looks at Mizu in surprise] 

  Akemi : Your eyes!

  Mizu : Whatever clever insult comes next is not as clever as you think.

  Akemi : [gasps]  They're beautiful.

  [Mizu raises her eyebrows in surprise over Akemi's compliment. She then takes the serving a sake from Akemi] 

  Akemi : A color I've never seen outside the sea and sky.

  Mizu : Huh, I see. Your Madame explained how it's some essential part of the soul that draws men to brothels when it's only naked flattery. Do men usually fall for this?

  Akemi : The ones I've known. Yes.

  Mizu : [lifts the cup of sake and looks at it]  I thought it was tea. I don't drink.

  Akemi : [bowing]  Madame thought you might prefer sake to help you relax. Maybe just a sip.

  Mizu : If you'll join me. I have ugly business coming.

  [Mizu serves Akemi a serving of sake and passes her the cup] 

  Mizu : Suddenly, I'm glad for company.

  [Akemi hesitates, but takes the cup with a feigned smile. Mizu smirks] 

  Mizu : To flattery.

  [Mizu slowly moves the cup to her lips. Akemi watches. However, Mizu doesn't drink it] 

  Mizu : Hot.

  Akemi : Where I'm from, that's how the men prefer it. Kyoto.

  Mizu : I've only been there once, recently.

  Akemi : Beautiful, isn't it?

  Mizu : Dirty and crowded. Full of puffed-up crows posing as swordsmen. I beat the most ridiculous samurai there. If you can call him that. I cut off his chignon. Then he came chasing after me, demanding a rematch, saying I ruined his engagement. I think he was angrier about his hair than his marriage. What was his name? I can't remember. Anyway, he's dead now.

  Akemi : [gasps]  What?

  Mizu : Oh yeah. I killed him.

  [Enraged, Akemi pulls out a tiny knife and lunges at Mizu. Mizu quickly disarms her and grabs her. Prostitutes hear the commotion] 

  Prostitute : She's good.

  [Mizu straddles Akemi and pins her on the floor] 

  Akemi : Let me go! Get off me!

  Mizu : You think I don't remember you? Princess Akemi of the Tokunobu clan. You drugged my cup.

  Akemi : I wish it was poison! Oh, Taigen!

  [Akemi begins to sob; Mizu rolls her eyes] 

  Mizu : Oh, shut up. I didn't kill him. I left him with his life and a contract to fight.

  [Mizu gets off Akemi and stands up] 

  Akemi : He's alive? Where is he?

  Mizu : You came all this way to save a doomed engagement? Your father probably lined up a nice young replacement lord to marry.

  Akemi : The shogun's son.

  Mizu : Women in our world don't have a single good option. Except you. Like some magical forest creature, you could have anything you want, and then you beg to eat trash.

  [Mizu turns her back at Akemi. Akemi grabs her knife and again lunges at Mizu. The screen goes black] 

• Ringo : You got a girl. A *pretty* girl.

  [Akemi is tied up] 

  Ringo : Wait, how does that work?

  Mizu : She's not a girl. She's a princess. She's Taigen's princess, and she tried to kill me. She screams, kill her. She moves, kill her.

  Ringo : What? I can't kill her.

  Mizu : What do you think an apprentice does?

  [Ringo tries to glare intimidatingly at Akemi. Mizu leaves] 

  Akemi : Do you have to stare?

  Ringo : [looks away]  Sorry.

• [Goro washes and massages Akemi's feet] 

  Goro : These feet were never meant for the open road. So soft, like... fresh tofu.

  Seki : Akemi. What is this?

  Akemi : [scoffs]  You old goat, stop following me. You can't afford me. My fans follow me everywhere. I just left Shimabara's most exclusive brothel to find employments somewhere worthy of my talents as a courtesan.

  Goro : You'd fetch an astronomical price! I've been a purveyor all my life. Plenty of girls pretend to be a princess. You really could be one. I never sold a girl half as elegant as you.

  Akemi : [chuckles]  No one has. My koto playing once brought an entire room of samurai to orgasm.

  Seki : Hmph.

  Akemi : Didn't have to lift my hem.

  Seki : That's enough. Akemi, come with me.

  Goro : Take your shriveled old dick and go cry for some other girl. This one's in Goro's care now.