Bocchi the Rock! (2022) s01e02 Episode Script

1
20 minutes… Another 20 minutes…
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
A FEW DAYS AGO
Nijika texted me yesterday.
Let's talk about about
our future as a band!
See you at Starry tomorrow!
The joy of getting a text
from someone who isn't family
was enough to carry me this far, but…
I can already picture
the disapproving glares
a Blandy McBlanderson like me
will get when I walk through the door.
I was fine going in the other day
since Nijika-chan was with me.
Someone, please come so I can get in.
I want to tag along with another person.
Five minutes.
Five more minutes and I'll enter.
Make it ten.
15. I'll do it in 15 minutes, for sure.
What's she doing?
Wait.
I want to see what she does next.
Put the popcorn away.
Alright!
Let's get on with our very first
Kessoku Band Member's Meeting!
And applause! Clap, clap, clappity clap.
So, uh…
Come to think of it, we aren't exactly
close, so I don't know where to start!
How brutally honest!
I expected this to happen
so I had this prepared.
Nice!
I see something extreme on it.
Round and round it goes,
where it stops nobody knows.
SAY SOMETHING ABOUT SCHOOL
Say something about school!
In other words, school talk!
-After you.
-Huh!?
Well, um…
are you both from the same school?
Yeah, we go to Shimo High.
We go there since we live nearby.
Oh, you both live in Shimokitazawa.
Don't you go to Shuka High?
Don't you live in the area?
No, I live outside the prefecture.
It's two hours per trip.
-Two hours?
-But why?
I wanted to be far away
where no one knew my past.
Okay, that's enough school talk!
Sorry for being such a loner at school
that I don't have any
fun stories to share.
Don't sweat it, really!
Ryo here doesn't have
a long list of friends either!
Yup. It's Nijika and no one else.
Eh? Badump.
Ryo-san.
She's just like me.
She spends her free time
exploring abandoned buildings
or visiting second-hand clothing stores.
I take that back!
Being alone is a way of life to her!
The socially inept struggle of
going into clothing stores alone!
The gap between us is so huge and deep,
there's no way to reach the other side!
I almost fell into my habit of
making assumptions.
Bocchi-chan,
let's talk about something fun!
Next up are our favourite tunes!
A.K.A.
Music talk.
Mu-Music talk.
For me, it'd be melocore
and Japanese punk rock.
I like techno ballads.
I'm also into whatever
charts in Saudi Arabia--
Try again without lying.
-I did not.
-How about you?
Me, I…
I like anything that doesn't
trigger my adolescence complex.
Adolescence complex?
Allow me to explain!
Songs that fall into this category
are about summer, the blue sea,
fireworks, fleeting love, and the like.
Dazzling, invigorating tunes
about subjects
sorely missing from Hitori's school life.
-Lyrics like that only depress me.
-Hello?
-Meanwhile, she loves bands whose songs…
-Bocchi-chan?
…reflect her resentment towards her youth.
Sure do.
Then I found out my favorite band had
been part of their school's popular crowd
and suddenly I didn't know them anymore.
Please don't go off to
your own little world.
Rock is relatable because
it's performed by underdogs.
Songs by those with
fulfilling lives aren't rock.
We're falling apart here!
Have you tried using a cable tie?
Sooo…
Our first gig was instrumental,
but I'd like to have a vocalist next.
Is that so?
The guitarist who bailed
was meant to sing too.
Where could she have gone?
That runaway guitarist.
Did she have people problems like me?
No way!
She wouldn't even have
the guts to run if she did!
The search for a vocalist continues.
I can't carry a tune.
Perhaps Bocchi-chan could?
Didn't think so.
What about Ryo-san?
Make me the frontman
and I'll stand out so much
the band will end once I go solo.
Where does all that confidence come from?
How I envy her. I could use some of that.
I know! Let's make a song
once we find a vocalist!
Ryo can compose, and you can write
lyrics that'll run foul of the censors.
Who, me?
Pretty good idea, don't you think?
Are all those years of lunch breaks
spent at the library paying off here?
And what will you do?
Let's discuss our quota.
Could you be any more obvious?
Umm, what quota?
Our last gig was done through a door deal.
The venue demands a minimum attendance
by imposing a ticket quota on the band.
Sell ten tickets!
Profits from exceeding the quota
are split between the band and venue.
However, any unmet sales
come out of the band's pocket.
In other words, it costs
moolah until we make it big.
Nice and precise!
I called on a lot of my friends
yesterday, so we broke even.
It doesn't look like we can
count on it happening again.
Figures.
Ryo has no friends to ask.
Bocchi-chan…
Sorry! We're not holding it against you.
Please bring some life
back into those eyes!
I have lots of imaginary
friends if they count.
Hitori-chan rocks!
You're a national treasure!
We'll need tens of thousands
of yen for our gigs,
so we should each be getting
jobs to cover all our fees!
Okay.
Get a job?
That's the loudest you've been all day.
Hell no. I refuse to work.
I'm frightened. Society is scary!
A piggy bank?
My mother saved this for my wedding.
Please take this and spare me
from the horrors of employment.
-What are we, monsters?
-Thanks. We'll make good use of--
We will not!
Those are your important savings!
Ah, but…
I don't want to work! Not when…
Um, ah… Welcome.
-This will happen…
-Do you want it warmed uh, up?
THIS CASHIER'S SO AWKWARD LMAO
Welcome… do you…
Then this…
On account of appalling customer service,
the prosecution pleads
for the death sentence!
Well, I guess it's the death
penalty for you.
This is absolutely how it'll turn out!
-Hey Bocchi-chan? Bocchi-chan!
-What?
You weren't listening, were you?
I'm sorry… what was it?
You'll be working here.
Work… here?
Ryo and I will be around too.
You have nothing to fear!
It's a comfy and friendly workplace.
You'll see many bands while working
-I don't want to work, ever!
-the drinks counter and stuff.
How about it?
Say no! Say it! You have to decline!
I'm all yours…
Really? Thanks!
-Sorry, me…
-Work will be
-I would've declined
-even more fun now!
if I weren't such a hot mess.
I'll be in charge of our band's budget.
Wouldn't Ryo-san be better for that?
What're you implying?
Listen up, Bocchi-chan.
Ryo actually spends money like water!
She's well off and gets a big allowance,
but she splurges it all on instruments
so she's always broke!
Blush.
What part of that was a compliment?
Let's do our best to hold our next gig!
We'll have our major debut
while we're still students!
Work starts next week.
Come here straight after school!
See you Bocchi.
R-Right.
Which brings me to
the day before my first job.
It's been 30 minutes now,
surely I'll catch a cold.
Forgive me, I promise to put
effort into everything but work.
Mum, she's reenacting the Titanic!
Catch that cold!
Catch that cold! Catch that cold!
Catch that damn coooold!
Curse my healthy body.
I'll have to fake it then.
Oh, it's Nijika-chan.
Morning! Today's the day.
You're probably nervous
but we've got your back.
We'll get through this together!
She's so kind to me
even when I'm trying to play hooky!
I have seen the error of my ways.
You opened my eyes and are leading me on
the road to being a respectable person.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Excuse me, what?
Here I am.
You can do this, Bocchi. You will do this!
Come on girl, you can do it!
Tickets aren't up for sale until 5:00.
We're not open yet.
Does she work here?
I-I must look so suspicious!
I have to explain myself!
Ah, um, let's not be… too hasty.
Practice what you preach.
So you're the new part-timer.
Should've just said so.
P-Pardon me.
I'm the manager. Good to have you.
I-It's a pleasure to be here.
She's a little scary.
I can't handle her kind.
Save me, Nijika-chan!
Wait a sec,
you're the guitarist in the box!
What was your name… Masked Mango?
A new nickname, for me!? I love her!
Masked M-M-Mango, at your service!
Like hell it is!
Come on Sis, don't give out
nicknames willy-nilly!
Sis! You're Nijika's sister?
I told you before when I
first brought you here.
Huh?
The live house we're
playing at today is called Starry.
My sister runs the place.
We actually live in
the apartment above it.
I couldn't hear her over
the sound of my beating heart.
Y-Y-Yes, you did.
Well, there you have it.
No need to be on your toes.
Right, Sis?
You will call me manager here.
And keep our personal affairs out of work.
Can't you see you're scaring her?
Let's start with clearing the tables.
After that we can mop…
Hold on, where's Bocchi-chan?
Sorry for crawling into a dark,
cramped place for a break.
A bit soon for that!
You can learn about the drinks over here.
Here's the tonic water.
Beer is in this dispenser.
Cocktails are on the back shelf.
She's too fast, I can't take this all in!
I-I'll have to memorize
everything through a song!
Where did that come from?
Y-you're scaring me!
-Someone's having fun.
-I'm glad you're trying to learn
but put the guitar aside for now.
Hold on.
-You listening? No?
-She was terrible the other day.
She's good.
Nijika's too busy
trying to stop her to notice.
Her playing sounds awfully familiar.
Less goofing more working.
Why me?
All you have to do at the drinks
counter is to pour whatever's ordered.
Uh, okay.
Paying another 500 yen on top of
the entry fee gets you a drink ticket.
That's 500 per drink.
Why do they only get one?
Stop looking like we're
committing highway robbery.
For what it's worth, we count as
an eating and drinking establishment.
-What?
-I don't quite get it,
but it seems to be harder to get
a business license solely
as a live music venue.
I-I see.
So we offer beverages to meet
the food and drink requirement.
You listening?
I, I unknowingly passed the hurdle of
working for a food and drink business.
Is this… progress?
Oh hey, the customers are here.
Things are about to get busy, Bocchi-chan.
Eh?
No way, am I being thrown
to the wolves already?
What do I say?
Thank you for your continued patronizing…
That's not it!
A-At least give me some time
to rehearse. Wait, no, stop!
THANK YOU FOR COMING
She closed shop!
Excuse me, one soda please.
Coming up! Bocchi-chan, the soda.
Ah, sure!
-I'll have a ginger ale.
-Right here!
You're being rude to our customers!
I-I'm not ready to greet them!
This place is losing its dark atmosphere.
Here's your oolong tea and highball.
Where's the bathroom?
Go right and turn left at the end.
The progress was all in my head.
Bocchi-chan, look!
Hey, look. They're here.
Hey everyone, we're Alexanderism.
That band's pretty cool.
You can relax now that
the performance is starting.
Good job.
You too. What about the reception desk?
The manager took over.
She said todays bands are popular
and worth learning from.
My sister's kind of like…
Full of thorns, thorns, and more thorns
with a soft spot somewhere.
You make her seem prickly.
S-Sorry I wasn't any help and
couldn't even look people in the eye.
Want to get in this?
It's not a mango box, though.
No, she won't.
Don't worry!
It's only your first day.
You'll get used to it!
W-Why are you so nice to someone
who ranks lower than a water flea?
The thing is,
I love this place.
The only spaces for staff to interact with
customers are here and the reception.
I want everyone who drops
by to have a great time.
S-Sorry for ruining it
with my crappy hospitality.
Please, no!
That's not what I meant. When I say
everyone, it includes you.
I'd like us to have fun as work
colleagues and bandmates.
It would help if you could greet
customers with a smile someday too.
Here we go!
Check it out, they're about to play!
The floor is united.
Both the audience and
performers are having a blast.
Nothing like when I was on stage.
People pay 2000 yen to be here.
All I can offer them is the same
lame experience unless I change.
I'll have to improve, step by step,
so we can all have a good time.
Excuse me.
I'd like an orange juice.
C-Coming up!
Look her in the eye and smile.
Be friendly.
Look her in the eye. Smile. Be friendly.
H-Here you go.
Bocchi-chan, your eyes!
Thank you.
You had me worried there.
That's great! You managed to
serve someone face-to-face!
I-I gave it my all.
I'm sure you made today's gig
that much more memorable!
You took a step forward!
A step…
One step.
Only one?
It sure felt like a lot more to me!
CLOSED - TICKETS CAN BE BOUGHT FROM 5 PM
Nice work today.
Be careful on your way home.
-Bye bye.
-Thanks for today.
Ryo, aren't you going?
-I'll stay a little longer.
-Bocchi-chan!
Y-Yes?
See you later.
Y-Yeah. S-See you tomorrow!
It's over! I made it through the day!
This job isn't so bad!
I'm fired up for tomorrow!
Bocchi did her best.
She sure did.
She even said she'll see us tomorrow.
Yep.
Forming the band was worth it.
I know, I'll send her a text and tell her
we can't wait to see her tomorrow.
YOU HAVE A NEW MESSAGE
Her fever's terrible.
Get the ice bag, dear.
Should we go to the hospital?
W-Why does it have to be now?
Now that we have Bocchi-chan,
all we need is…
A new vocalist!
Who's next?
Me, I am!
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!