Anime Hidden Figures - Episode 2

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Hi! Welcome to Episode 2 of Anime Hidden Figures ( a mockumentary presented to you by Rory)

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Smash to-

Title Card

🎬 ANIME HIDDEN FIGURES — Episode 2

"Steve: The Man Behind the Bullies"

COLD OPEN

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INT. INTERVIEW ROOM – DAY

Steve sits stiffly in a metal chair, fiddling with a juice box.

Steve: Hi. I'm Steve. (beat) I'm the guy who pays children to bully the main character.

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Smash cut to:

TITLE CARD — ANIME HIDDEN FIGURES

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EXT. SCHOOL ROOFTOP – DAY

Rory walks past a faint explosion, calm as ever.

Rory: I'm Rory. Used to be a cameraman. Now I run the crew that makes sure the hero's world actually works. (points down at courtyard) And today, we meet the man whose job is... morally complicated.

Camera pans down to Steve kneeling in the courtyard, carefully arranging envelopes.

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INT. INTERVIEW ROOM

Rory: So... what genres do you usually work in?

Steve: Mostly shonen... lots of fighting, growing up, emotional breakthroughs...

Rory: That's interesting. (nods)

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EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD – MORNING

Steve kneels in front of THREE RANDOM KIDS holding envelopes and juice boxes.

Steve: Alright, team. Gentle shove, small insult, no property damage. Got it?

Kid #1: Is "you're mid" an insult?

Steve: ...Close enough.

Kid #2: Do we get a PS5?

Steve: No. You get stickers. (holds up stickers labeled "Certified Plot Device")

Kid #3: (hyping himself up) I can do this.

Steve: (nods) Yup. You'll be fine.

Kid #3: (gently pushes a swing) Was that okay?

Steve: Perfect. You're saving the story.

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EXT. BEHIND SCHOOL

The kids rehearse.

Kid #1: (reading from crumpled script) Your hair is... statistically unimpressive?

MC (passing by): Huh?

Dramatic aura flares, a tiny breeze appears.

Steve: Yes! That's good! (aside to camera) He's going to awaken his powers any week now. We're proud.

Kid #3 slightly pushes the MC and runs back nervously.

Kid #3: Was that okay?

Steve: (soft, approving) Yes. Exactly. You're... saving the story.

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INT. INTERVIEW ROOM

Rory: ...And the heroes that come first to mind?

Steve: Naruto. Asta. (softly)

Yeah, I was the guy who paid those kids to bully and ignore Naruto. Yeah, I paid those strangers in the Magic Knight Entrance Exam to say mean stuff about Asta.

(looks guilty)

I am truly sorry, but it's kinda part of my contract.
(pauses)
Now... look. They're both REALLY STRONG. I still feel guilty though.

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EXT. SCHOOL GATE — AFTERNOON

MC walks by obliviously.

Kid #1: (reading) Your haircut is... suboptimal.

Kid #3 taps the MC lightly, then runs back to Steve.

Kid #3: How was that?

Steve: (whispers) Perfect. You did great. You're saving the story.

He glances off-camera.

Steve: Yeah...

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EXT. SWINGS — AFTER SCHOOL

Kid #2: Steve's nice. Gives us snacks after.

Kid #3: The MC said my shove helped him grow emotionally.

I feel... proud... but also weird.

Kid #1: Steve apologizes every time before we even start. (points at juice boxes) And the juice boxes are pretty good.

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INT. INTERVIEW ROOM

Rory: Do you feel bad about it?

Steve: (heavy sigh)
Every day. Kids, heroes, myself... anyone watching.
But someone's gotta nudge the hero into greatness. Apparently, I look like the kind of guy who can convince children to commit light emotional mischief.

Rory: And... what do you do in your free time?

Steve: I... I sit. Drink juice boxes. Think about how morally complex my job is. Sometimes I knit. But mostly... I sit.

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EXT. SIDEWALK — SUNSET

Steve walks home carrying leftover stickers and a juice box.

Steve: Some people throw punches. Some cast spells. I... hand out emotional obstacles.

He sighs, smiling faintly.

Steve: Everybody's got a role.

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INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY

Rory: Steve might not be on posters, but without him, the story wouldn't even start. (points to camera)

Next up... we meet the people chasing explosions for a living.

Cut to Cameraman #2 running from a fireball.

END OF EPISODE 2

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Up next:

ANIME HIDDEN FIGURES - Episode 3

"The guys behind those epic frames"

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