Arlong Park part 10
*8 years ago, a young Nami finishes drawing a map.*
Nami: It’s done!
*Later, Nami stares at a book on the top shelf of a bookstore.*
Nami: Now if I can just get that book.
*She looks around to see if no one is around. She then climbs up the ladder to grab it and hides it in her clothes.*
Store owner: Is that you Nami? You need any help, there?
Nami: Oh, no. I’m just looking. I’ll be going now.
*But as she walks away from the door, she bumps into Genzo and drops the book.*
Store owner: That’s too bad.
Genzo: Damn it, Nami! Not again!
*Genzo carries her as he walks through the village.*
Nami: Let me go! I’m not a cat!
Genzo: You little urchin! How many times do I need to tell you that stealing is wrong?!
Nami: How else am I supposed to get what I need? I don’t have any money! Cheapskate!
*Genzo takes Nami back to her house and knocks on the door.*
Genzo: Bellemere! I caught her stealing again! Now open this door!
*Bellemere answers the door.*
Bellemere: What do you want now? Oh, you’re back. That was a quick trip.
Nami: I got a ride!
Genzo: Listen, you better gain control of her before she whines up in a jail cell.
Bellemere: Thanks for the advice. Haven’t you ever seen something you ever wanted and just wanted to take it?
Genzo: You’re the reason she acts this way!
Bellemere: Relax, I was just kidding. I hope you were kind enough to pay for her.
*She acts flirtatious around Genzo.*
Genzo: Um, Bellemere…
Bellemere: Thanks so much, I don't have the money right now. I’ll pay you somehow. Does that sound good?
*He quickly backs away while his face is red.*
Genzo: You can’t say things like that!
Nami: Hahahahaha!
Bellemere: Look, he’s as red as a beet! Now then, laugh it up while you still can, Nami.
*She hits Nami over the head.*
Bellemere: Do that again and you won’t be able to stand for a week!
Nami: Sorry! It’s just that I really need that book, Bellemere.
Bellemere: Then why didn’t you ask if I would buy it for you?
Nami: Cause I know you can’t afford it.
Bellemere: Of course I can. There’s money left over from the last harvest.
Nami: But I heard them in the village. They say the weather’s been so good lately, that means everyone’s tangerines will seal. Which means we can’t raise our price or we may be able to sell at all.
Bellemere: They don’t know what they’re talking about.
Nojiko: Way to go, Nami! If I had stolen it, there’s no way I would have been caught.
*Bellemere hits both of them.*
Bellemere: No more stealing! Right?
Nojiko: I was just joking, that’s all!
Nami: That really hurt!
Bellemere: Hahahahaha! I’m sorry, but one thing’s for sure. The maps you draw are so amazing, Nami.
*She takes a look at one of them.*
Bellemere: I see that you can draw land maps now, as well as sea charts.
Nami: That’s a map of our island, isn’t it?
Bellemere: No one will believe that such a little girl drew this all by herself.
Nami: I wanted the book so I’d be able to start studying navigation.
Bellemere: Navigation as well?
Nojiko: You’re gonna be a navigator?
Nami: That’s right. I’m gonna guide ships all around the oceans of the world, it will be great! And I’ll be able to make maps of all the far off places I’ll go!
Bellemere: So, this island map is the first step to realizing your dream. Is that it?
Nami: Mhm.
Nami: A world map, huh? Nami, I have no doubt your dream will come true.
*Later that night*
Nami: Hey, Bellemere, why haven’t you been eating dinner with us?
Bellemere: I’ve been eating tangerines. I’m on a diet, that’s all.
Nojiko: Then I don’t want to eat, either.
Bellemere: What's with all the drama? You need to eat because you are a growing girl.
Nojiko: Why do you keep lying to us?! You don’t eat because we don’t have enough money to buy food, that’s why!
Nami: Really?
Nojiko: You’re starving yourself so that we don’t go hungry!
Bellemere: Tangerines replenish my skin with the power of liquid sunlight. And they’re the only reason I’m such a ravishing young beauty, even though I’m 30.
Nami: But your hands are all yellow.
Bellemere: Would you just shut up and eat your food already!
*Bellemere finished sewing a dress with a lion on it for Nami.*
Bellemere: Here you go, Nami! A Bellemere one of a kind original!
Nami: Great, a hand me down.
Bellemere: True, but it suits you.
Nami: The lion used to be a sunflower.
Nojiko: Quit complaining! You have to take my hand me down or you don’t get any new clothes!
Nami: But it’s no fair, you get new clothes all the time and all mine are used!
Nojiko: I get old clothes too, you know! So suck it up, Nami, and take what you can get! Understand?!
Nami: We didn’t come from the same parents, anyway! We’re not real sisters, so who cares!
Bellemere: Nami!
*She hits Nami.*
Nojiko: Bellemere…
Bellemere: So what if you don’t have the same parents? I don’t want you ever saying something like that ever again!
Nami: I… don’t care! You’re not our real mother! You’re just some lady who’s taking care of us! You wish we’d never come here so you can buy food and clothes for yourself! You’d be better without us, wouldn’t you?! You get to be selfish and do whatever you want! I wish… I wish a rich family adopted me and my sister instead of a loser like you!
Bellemere: Well, fine… If you hate it here so much, you can go somewhere else to live. I didn’t sign up for this.
Nojiko: Stop fighting! Please, just stop!
Nami: I’m never coming back!
*She runs out the door and into the rain.*
Nojiko: No, don’t! Nami!
Nojiko: Bellemere… The 3 of us are a family and that’s the truth! Nami knows that the same! No matter what she said.
Bellemere: Look at who’s being the adult here. I blew up and you're the level headed one. Why don’t you go find Nami? I’ll make something special for dinner and we can all make up, ok?
Genzo: So, you’ve run away from home and come to the village. Now what’s the plan?
Nami:…
*He gives her some tea.*
Genzo: Drink before it gets cold.
Nami: Bellemere would be so much happier if she didn’t have to take care of us.
Genzo: And why would you say that?
Nami: Well, you need a lot of money to take care of 2 kids. And because of me, the whole village hates her right now.
Genzo: That’s progress. At least you’re considerate of others. But don’t worry. When Bellemere was your age she was a complete nightmare, terrorizing the village.
Nami: Is that true?
Genzo: Sure. Even now the village looks at her as some kind of a screw up. So you can imagine the surprise of everyone in the village when she joined up with the marines.
Nami: You mean Bellemere was in the marines?
Genzo: That’s right. She said she couldn’t stand by as pirates killed innocent people. Then she left the village. She was on the verge of death, until…
*Flashback, A young Bellemere lags wounded on a battlefield.*
Bellemere: If this is the end, then so be it…
*But she sees a 3 year old Nojiko carrying Nami as a baby. This gives Bellemere the strength to get up.*
Bellemere: Your little sister?
Nojiko: I found her.
Bellemere: How did she survive?
*They start to cry at the sight of Nami laughing.*
Genzo: That innocent child was you, Nami. And seeing how precious you were gave the right reasons to live again.
*Bellemere sails back to Cocoyoshi village with Nami and Nojiko.*
Bellemere: Doctor! I need a doctor!
Genzo: Bellemere?
Doctor: Did someone call for a doctor?! Who are these children?
Bellemere: Doctor, these children are burning up! I’m afraid they might be really sick! Please, help them!
Doctor: Alright, give them here.
*He holds onto Nami and Nojiko.*
Doctor: And we better mend those nasty wounds of yours, young lady.
Bellemere: Never mine me, just don’t let them die! Please, you have to save them! I’m begging you, doctor!
Genzo: I don't believe it. Could you say that again?
Bellemere: I said I’m going to be the mother of these 2 girls, it’s that simple.
Genzo: No way!
Doctor: That’s insane! You’re far too immature to hand this responsibility on your own!
Genzo: You can’t handle this by yourself! Just hand them over to the authorities-
Bellemere: I’ve made up my mind! You can’t deny that I’m an adult. And what I’ve lived through as a marine, it’s given me the right to be treated with more respect. I’m more than capable of raising these young girls. And nothing will stop me from raising them to be wonderful girls. So now, we’re going to be a family together. Nojiko and Nami have renewed my love of life.
*Flashback end.*
Genzo: The bond between the 3 of your girls goes far deeper than any normal family.
*Nojiko finds Nami at Genzo’s house.*
Nojiko: Nami, I thought I’d find you here!
Nami: Nojiko?
Nojiko: Come on! Bellemere’s waiting for us. She’s making us a special supper.
Nami: Sure!
Nojiko: I think she’s making your favorite!
*They begin to run back to their home.*
Genzo: Time sure does fly. It seems like only yesterday they were fighting for their lives.
Doctor: I think it makes everyone in the village happy to see those 2 girls grow through so much.
Townsfolk 1: Pirates are coming! Hide!
*The people of the village see a ship make landfall.*
Townsfolk 2: It’s the Arlong pirates!
Townsfolk 3: Arlong?! That’s impossible! Why would fishmen come here?!
Townsfolk 4: The rumor between the fishmen pirates splitting up was true!
Genzo: Nami. Nojiko. It’s too dangerous for you to be here right now. Go hide in the woods.
Genzo: You must go, now!
*Arlong and his crew walk into the village.*
Arlong: Greetings and salutations, you pathetic humans. From this moment on, this entire island and its inhabitants are part of my domain! Listen closely, from the first day of every month you will buy your lives from me! $100,000 for adults and $50,000 for children! Those who cannot pay, will die! Shashashasha!