Bocchi the Rock! (2022) s01e01 Episode Script

1
If you want to play hide and seek,
gather around me and speak!
-I do! I wanna!
-Do I deserve to join them?
-What's the matter, Hitori-chan?
-Lost in thought, the girl was alone
having botched her chance to participate.
On the school trip,
-Have this.
-the lonely girl shared her meal
with her teacher.
I'm home.
Having no club activity to keep
her busy, she comes straight home.
The only messages she receives are
from either her parents or advertisers.
That girl is me, Hitori Gotoh,
a first-year middle school student.
Sometimes I wonder
if this is the life I want to lead.
But… I always freeze at
the first syllable when I speak.
And I can't look people in the eye.
This introverted life suits me just fine.
-You watching this?
-No.
I used to be the guy who pretended
to read in the corner of the classroom.
I had no friends.
Now you're part of a super popular
band known to every teen.
Well, even introverts have
a chance to shine in a band.
Is that so?
Please give a warm welcome to
In Storms performing their song Trigger.
-What's up?
-D-Dad, lend me your guitar!
Sure.
Th-Thanks!
Hitori's finally going for it.
Could someone like me,
be like them if I started a band?
I'll do this!
I'm going to master the guitar!
Then I'll form a band in school and…
E, A, G?
Why is it teaching me the alphabet?
We'll perform at the school festival
and everyone will be all over me.
THREE YEARS LATER
All over… me?
I liked dark, cramped spaces
So I'd bury my face deep in my hood
My eyes resented the heartless world
But yearned for love
I liked being soaked by the rain
Because my face looked better clouded over
I pretended to be afraid of the storm
While waiting for the sky to burst
Strum through the light's distortion
I want to make thunder roar
Drum beyond the pain
What can I do?
This fierce pounding is out of control
Strum in a harmonizing quartet
I want to cause a revolution
Drum in a lamenting forte
What can I do?
My savage nature is beyond wild
I put in six hours of practice a day so
I could play before a crowd
I never quit
Yet middle school
Was over before I knew it
So much for that performance
At the school festival!
Recruited exactly zero people
As band members!
Didn't even make any friends to begin with
All three years!
This time, for sure
High school is where
I'll form my freakin' band!
Fast forward
a month after that declaration
I'm this close to becoming a hermit
The guitar my only salvation
Lyrics and composition: Me.
From my closet with love.
Instead of having the neighbours report
my shitty song
as late night noise pollution,
I should upload my latest
cover of that hit band.
It's been some time since
I took my dad's suggestion
and uploaded my guitar videos
under the alias Guitar Hero.
My previous video
has been getting comments.
My views are increasing and
they're praising my skills.
Reality may suck, but who cares as long as
I'm getting all this attention online.
Everyone here is
a gloomy introvert just like me.
I played this
with my band at the school fe--
I did my best.
I brought CDs and left them on my desk.
Someone, talk to me!
I flaunted my band merch.
Talk to me!
I put in a request for
the lunchtime broadcast…
The next song was requested by
Gotoh-san of class 2-A.
…to play the death metal song I was into.
I'm gonna gonna gonna
Pulverise your skull!
The flashbacks won't stop!
Get out! Out of my head!
I PLAYED THIS WITH MY BAND AT THE SCHOOL
FESTIVAL! WE ROCKED THE STUDENT BODY!
That must've been so nice.
TWO REPLIES
I PLAYED IT WITH MY BAND TOO!
MAN, I WISH THERE WERE SOMEONE
WHO PLAYED THE GUITAR IN MY SCHOOL
That's…
That's it!
Check me out!
I'm rocking that band girl look.
Major 'This girl means business'
aura going on.
I'm sure someone will want to
strike up a conversation.
There'll be no time to rest
at this year's festival!
So, about that corgi butt…
-Where are we next?
-Science room B.
Up for some karaoke and stuff later?
-Sure, I'm so in.
-Really?
What'll we sing?
Huh?
Did my midnight high make me overdo it?
I was practically holding up
a neon sign saying I'm into bands.
Maybe they didn't want to
approach me in spite of it?
No, no, no! My fragile mind will crumble!
Yikes! Look at that!
Forget crumble,
my mind would be obliterated
if I'm being laughed at!
Gosh, it's so darn cute!
-So soothing.
-A guitar…
Hey, Kita-chan.
Kita-chan?
Oh, sorry. What's up?
I knew it wouldn't be this easy.
I can't wait for others to make a move
and expect everything to work out.
Anyone here must be wallowing
in their solitude like me.
-That man's household must be in shambles.
-Daddy!
Sorry to keep you waiting dear.
No worries. Let's go eat something.
It's a picture perfect family!
I'm sorry for assuming
you were miserable like me.
Oh, I passed 30K subs.
That's right,
online is where I truly belong.
I don't want to go to school anymore.
I spy a guitar!
That's a guitar, right? Can you play?
Hello?
I've been monologuing
for so long I forgot how to speak.
Sorry to come at you so suddenly.
I'm Nijika Ijichi, a second year
at Shimokitazawa High.
Umm, Hitori Gotoh, Shuka High first year.
-By the way, Hitori-chan.
-We're suddenly on a first-name basis!
How well can you play?
So-so.
I see! So like,
we're in a bit of a pinch here.
It's okay if you can't help us.
It's not like we're screwed but…
Her tone says otherwise!
I'll cut right to the chase!
Please, won't you help
my band out just for today?
Band?
We have a gig today, but our
guitarist bailed on us without warning!
-A gig!? Today!
-The songs are easy, even for beginners.
Please say yes!
I, uhh…
What?
Thanks! Off to the live house we go!
I haven't said anything!
I ended up following her.
-You come here often?
-Umm, no.
I could never step foot in this
chic and trendy part of town.
We're almost at the live house.
She sure looks like she
belongs here, like a real band girl.
I on the other hand, am in a drab
tracksuit, baggy eyes and slouched over.
I probably also reek of a weird
closet smell since I'm always in there.
Nope, I smell like mothballs.
On the other hand,
Nijika-chan smells amazing.
This is the scent of
a proper high school girl.
-Am I walking too fast?
-N-No.
The live house we're playing
at today is called Starry.
-My sister runs the place.
-They play at a live house…
It really sounds like I'm joining a band.
Oh no, my heart is racing.
Anyway!
I work part-time there.
Could it be that you've got good reflexes?
Not really, though I'm somehow
always the last one standing in dodgeball.
I-I see.
I'll be playing at a live house.
Oh god, my feet are going cold.
Quick, think of the festival
performance you've been dreaming of.
Next comes my solo tour.
At the ZEPP! The Super Arena!
Hitori! Hitori! Hitori!
I'm the girl who packed
every seat of the Budokan.
-Come again?
-Oh, nothing.
Please don't regret asking me.
Maybe I asked the wrong person.
Here we are! This is it!
Am I headed straight to hell?
Good morning!
My first live house.
This poor lighting
and constricting atmosphere…
I-It's so relaxing.
You okay, Hitori-chan?
-I'm home!
-No you're not!
Wanna ask the PA for video help?
-They'll also be on stage today.
-Bands have a scary image but
after all, they're the indoorsy type.
Shadow dwellers and introverts.
Just like me.
And that's the PA.
DRINKS RUIN THE EQUIPMENT!
Good morning.
-Sorry for being so full of myself.
-What happened to you!?
-Took you long enough.
-Ryo.
This is Hitori Gotoh, a guitarist
I miraculously found at the park!
You don't say.
Eeep, is she staring me down?
Meet our bassist, Ryo Yamada.
Hitori G-G-Gotoh,
terribly sorry for offending you.
Wait, what?
Relax, she's just a little stiff when
it comes to expressing herself.
She loves being called a weirdo.
I do not.
Maybe she does.
-By the way, the manager…
-Eh.
She told us to practice until we're up.
Also, she stormed out in a rage
to buy things after you snuck off.
Seriously? Let's head to the studio
before she comes back!
You too, Hitori-chan! Come on!
O-Okay!
Reality's a scary beast.
But I feel like many fun things
are up ahead.
Here is today's setlist and sheet music.
W-What about the other band members?
This is everyone! We're playing
as an instrumental band today!
Yeah, I can play this song.
I'll have to make up for no
vocals with my performance.
I seem to be good with the guitar.
I can do this!
Is she King Kong?
They might be shocked by my skills.
I'm a little, more like,
pretty well received online.
I have 30k subs after all.
Alright, let's do this!
Here we go.
She sucks.
What!?
-I was joking! Well, not really.
-But how!? I am Guitar Hero!
-Uhh, sorry!
-I have 30k subscribers!
-Allow me to explain!
-Huh!?
Timing yourself to others
is vital to being in a band.
Hitori, an introvert, can't even look them
in the eye, and thus isn't in sync!
She's great solo, but in a band
she's rock bottom, below water fleas!
Hi there, this is Plankton Gotoh.
She's acting like a washed up comedian!
And so, Hitori Gotoh turned to ash,
never to hold a guitar again.
BOCCHI THE ROCK! - FIN
Wait, wait, wait a sec!
Please come out!
We're about to go on stage!
I can't do this!
We're an improv band,
of course things wouldn't be smooth.
I'm not so good myself.
Well, I definitely am good.
Look this way, please?
Come back down to Earth.
I'm no help with emceeing either.
I know, I can offer my life
in a harakiri show.
A-At the very least, they'll
remember our band name.
-Sorry for sucking this bad!
-That's way too rock!
I'll bonk anyone who
heckles you with my bass.
Does hitting someone with that
stop at only being a bonk?
-Carnage is a very rock thing to do.
-It is.
There's too much
rock and rolling going on!
Besides, the only people coming to
watch us are probably my friends.
-Eh?
-And Nijika's my only friend.
The average high school girl hardly knows
what makes a good or bad performance.
She'd be roasted if she said that online.
Nothing to worry about, okay?
Easy for you to say.
Well, I certainly know what's good or bad.
You're not average, that's why.
Don't be happy about that remark.
I'm sorry.
-Look…
-Don't push her if she doesn't want to.
You have a point.
Sorry for forcing you into this.
I, no, that isn't it!
I-I was really happy
that you approached me.
I always wanted to start a band
but couldn't get any members.
That's why I switched to
uploading cover songs online.
What do you normally play?
S-So that my band
could get started right away,
I learned every hit song
from the past few years.
Wow, that's awesome!
Not at all. I mean, look at how I am now.
Maybe I was never meant to be in a band.
She only covers popular songs.
That's just like Guitar Hero.
Heard of 'em?
-Guitar Hero…
-They seem to be around our age.
That's me!
I can send you a link later if you want.
Have a listen, they're the best!
The… best…
They've been in my suggested
videos a few times. They're really good.
Right!? That name's kinda cringe though.
Is it?
I subscribed and even turned on
notifications for their channel!
I'd love to perform with them someday!
You just did.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is
all the famous guitarists must put in
a lot of work we can't see.
You can tell from their videos.
I didn't think anyone
in the real world cared about me.
Just because today didn't go well,
it doesn't mean you should give up!
It could be that we're just
kind of, you know.
Kind of…what?
Hitori-chan?
Yet here's a kind person
who paid attention to me,
called out to the likes of me.
She got up.
This miracle may never repeat itself.
Don't let it go to waste!
I-I, umm.
Did you change your mind
about not performing?
H-Hitori-chan?
I know I have to do this
but I'm still scared.
The gaze of the audience will end me.
If you're that afraid,
how about playing from inside this?
This is just like my own setup at home!
What kind of place do you live in?
Let's light up some fireworks
here in Shimokita!
She's perked up a little.
What should we call you on stage,
anyway? Hitori-chan?
Are you okay with your real name?
No, not really.
Any nicknames?
In middle school, I was
always called 'Hey you' or 'You'.
Those aren't nicknames!
I've never had friends close
enough to have nicknames.
She has no friends. Hitori botched it.
-How does Bocchi-chan sound?
-You're hitting her where it hurts!
-I'm Bocchi!
-She likes it.
I've never had a nickname before.
You're making me sad here.
Oh, I still don't know the band name.
We are Kessoku Band.
Kessoku Band… as in a cable tie?
It's impec-cable.
More like intolerable!
We are so changing it!
But why? Isn't it cute?
Yeah, I guess.
We'll discuss the name later!
It's time to get on stage!
Don't sweat it!
What's important is to have fun
even if you're not good.
Your feelings show through your sound.
Got it.
You can focus on playing better next time!
Next time?
Let's go!
There's a next time for me?
How do you do? We're Kessoku Band!
We'll be playing a few tunes
you probably know today!
What's with the box?
Feels bad to not be at my usual best
but being in a band is so fun!
I'm shining like a star…
Not!
In fact I may have even reached a new low!
I sure messed up the whole way!
You bungled your emceeing.
Excuse me!
What?
Okay you're scaring me!
I'll strive to be able to greet
my classmates by our next gig!
What resolution is that?
She's come so far.
Well, okay! In that case, let's have
a Bocchi-chan welcome party
cum performance review party!
I've had enough human interaction
for today. I'll be going now.
-Eh?
-Sorry, I must sleep.
-Wait!
-If you'll excuse me!
What?
This cable tie's not holding
anything together!
I'll get over my people problem and
show them what I can do as Guitar Hero!
For Nijika-chan, Ryo-san
and the band's sake!
I'm sorry! So sorry!
The tune that plays when my loneliness
And the pedal are stepped on
Tracks down my cheeks over and over again
The pounding of my loneliness
Is joined by the rhythm of the snare drum
To create a solid pulse
Someone, please remove
The distortion on my heart
And take a look inside me
Nobody can get inside my heart
But it's the kind of night
When I hope someone will
Distortion it's Motion
Once it starts, there's no stopping it
Limits can be overwritten with experience
Isn't that right?
Distortion is always like that
My heart takes off
Outpacing my left brain
Toward where you are
An escort to the next note
Distortion on my day-to-day anguish
The chord I play when I'm alone at night
Is it the same for you?
I spent all those days
Chasing my ideal image
Play an F chord with distortion
So loud that
The needle swings off the scale
Tune in next week!