Konnichiwa & Arigato ‘AKA’ Konnichiwa Moment

Konnichiwa fellow #screenwriter. This is De Jarous Bell. Welcome to The Plot Researcher blog where the film speaks for itself. Today we're going to discuss the first time ever I saw your face: What’s so special about the first meeting of two primary characters.

The title of today’s post is Konnichiwa & Arigato

When your hero first meets a major character of the story, they should say ‘Konnichiwa’ and ‘Arigato’. These are Japanese words that mean ‘Good Afternoon‘ and ‘Thank You ‘, respectively. In the context of drama though, they mean much more. In film, the dialogue of every first meeting should assure the maximum dramatic value of the relationship between the two characters to the plot. It should tell us that we want to stick around for future encounters because we are – in fact – going to receive what we signed up for by watching this film. And, subtext is the rule, but there more than subtext. Let’s look at three examples:

When Beatrix “kiddo” meets Hattori Hanzo in Kill Bill Volume 1, 2003. This is where I conceived the Konnichiwa Moment concept. When I first studied this film with my researcher's eyes, it dawned on me that this is no mere conversation. It’s a credentials inspection – who are you and what do you want with me. Their conversation is eerily like a request for the password and secret handshake for some secret society. It may not be apparent to onlookers that some underlying process is occurring, but it is. Hanzo needs to know why she wants one of his swords and who is she to even know his swords exist. At first, he has this façade about him of a Japanese Kung Fu movie stereotype, flirting with a beautiful American patron in his restaurant. But, as the conversation progresses, the two banter their true identities out of each other, and they become paramount to each other. To watch her navigate this vetting process gives value to the commencement of this sequence – the continuing of the story. And, it makes us stay to see her get what she came for and how the two characters proceed in that desire line. The Konnichiwa Moment generates that interest. So, it’s not mere entertainment.

Next, when Melanie meets Mrs. Hayworth in The Birds, 1963. This is my favorite subtext scene. And, it’s another ‘who are you’ moment. Except the tone of this meeting is more like ‘who the ____ are you’. These two ladies are crossed with each other the moment Mrs. Hayworth realized that behind her mysteriousness, Melanie is really interested in Mitch. Again, this vetting process ensures us that future interactions will take the story somewhere interesting.

Finally, Death Note, 2006 - when Light Yagami (AKA Kira) meets Hideki Ryuga (Codename: L). Kira’s the killer of criminals and L is the top detective in the world. Both think that they are justice. But, neither knows the other’s identity. Currently, Ryuga’s just this weird kid who sat behind Light in the college entrance exam. Light noticed Ryuga because he sits with his knees in his chest and his feet on the chair.

Now, in some films, the tension has already been built up around the later meeting of two primary characters (ex. Neo and Agent Smith in The Matrix, 1999). The same Konnichiwa Moment still occurs though. And, the standard is the same – there’s probably a higher standard even, from the build up – on the quality of exchange. This is the case with Light’s and Ryuga’s first meeting.

Light and Ryuga meet at the University Entrance Ceremony. The two tied with perfect scores on the entrance exam, so both had to share the stage and give the Freshman address. On the way to their seats, Ryuga begins to divulge pertinent information about the Kira investigation and Light’s father as the head of the MPA. He even has a psychological profile on Light, and it makes Light doubt if he should engage in a conversation or not. Then, Light hears the words, “I am L.” This power play sends Kira into an internal meltdown of doubt about his next moves, and thusly seals the deal: these two are going to be a great matchup.

Because of the Konnichiwa & Arigato scene, each character involved is now paramount to each other and have a purpose going forward, but they must drag it out of each other through some combination of subtext, banter, small talk, wit, comedy, awkwardness, ellipses, sarcasm, whatever is appropriate.

I hope this gets you further down the road to understanding story. You can also read the full blog post at www.theplotresearcher.com/arigato and at www.steemit.com/@dejarousbell.

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