EPISODE 1
A WORLD AS WE KNOW
A WORLD AS WE KNOW
IT WAS AN AVERAGE DAY EVERY DAY FOR YOUNG KAI. HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD, A SENIOR AT UTOPIA HIGH SCHOOL IN LONG BEACH, CA. KAI GOT ALONG WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYONE. BUT, LIKE ANY AVERAGE AMERICAN TEENAGER, HE HAD HIS SHARE OF BULLIES. KAI WAS A SINGLE CHILD, RAISED BY HIS FATHER; LUCIO. HIS MOTHER WALKED ON HIM AND HIS FATHER WHEN HE WAS JUST A YOUNG BOY. HIS FATHER WAS AN EIGHTY YEAR OLD, RETIRED CONSTRUCTION WORKER. HIS WORK WAS CUT SHORT DUE TO HIS HEALTH ISSUES.
“KAI, DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP MY MEDS AFTER SCHOOL PLEASE!” SAID, LUCIO. “I WON’T DAD! I’LL SEE YOU LATER!” KAI REPLIED. AS KAI WAS WALKING TO THE BUS STATION TO SCHOOL, HE HEARS A YELL FROM A DISTANCE. “KAI!, HEY KAI!” AS THE SHOUTS GET CLOSER, HE NOTICES IT WAS HIS BEST FRIEND, ARLEY. “HEY DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?!?” ARLEY ASKED. “WHAT NEWS?” KAI REPLIED. “THEY SAID THAT THEIR MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE PEOPLE DISAPPEARING RANDOMLY, WITHOUT A TRACE! AND NOW IT’S BEEN HAPPENING THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES.”
“ARLEY, ITS L.A. NO OFFENSE BUT THAT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR US, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE HAVE ONE OF THE WORST CRIME RATES IN THE WORLD HERE.” THE BUS PULLED UP AND OPENED ITS DOORS. AS THE TWO WALKED IN, THEY NOTICED SOME FELLOW CLASSMATES. “HEY, HAVE YOU TRIED TALKING TO MISA YET?” ASKED, ARLEY. “I MEAN I TALK TO HER ALL THE TIME, BUT IF YOU’RE WONDERING IF I HAVE ASKED HER TO THE PROM YET, NO. I KNOW WE GET ALONG BUT SHE PROBABLY HAS A DATE ALREADY; IF NOT PROBABLY HAS A THOUSAND OTHER GUYS SHE’D RATHER GO WITH.” EXPLAINED KAI.
“HEY KAI, HOW ARE YOU?” ASKED, MISA. “GOOD JUST GOT A FULL SCHEDULE AHEAD OF ME TODAY. WHAT ABOUT YOU?”
“OH THAT’S TOO BAD, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF YOU WANTED TO BE MY DATE FOR PROM.” SAID, MISA. “WAIT WHAT!?! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD’VE HAD A DATE ALREADY!?!” EXCLAIMED, KAI. “WELL I WASN’T SURE I WANTED TO GO BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER ASKING ME. BUT, MY MOTHER SAID IN JAPAN IT’S THE GIRLS WHO ASK THE BOYS OUT. SO I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE MY CHANCE… SO WHAT DO YOU SAY?” SHE SADLY ASKED.
“YES!!! YES!!! YESS!!!” KAI YELLED, AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS. “OK SEE YOU AT PROM TONIGHT, KAI.”
“ALRIGHT, KAI! WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THAT? HAHAHA. I’M GLAD YOU’RE GOING WITH MISA TO PROM, NOW WE CAN DOUBLE DATE! I’LL TELL LEXI.” SAID, ARLEY. “ALRIGHT, I GOTTA GO RENT A TUX, CLEAN UP AND BORROW MY DAD’S CAR. BUT I’M EXCITED! JUST GOT TO GET THROUGH SCHOOL.”
AFTER SCHOOL, KAI SKIPPED THE BUS AND TOOK A TAXI STRAIGHT HOME. KAI ENTERED HIS HOUSE, TOOK A SHOWER, AND GRABBED HIS FATHER’S KEYS AND LEFT A NOTE.
“HEY, DAD BORROWED THE CAR; I GOT A DATE FOR PROM SO I WENT TO RUN GRAB EVERYTHING I NEED FOR TONIGHT. I DON’T THINK I CAN GRAB THE MEDS FOR YOU TODAY BUT I CAN GET THEM TOMORROW. AND SINCE ITS SATURDAY, I WON’T HAVE SCHOOL SO I’LL BE FREE TO PICK UP AS SOON AS THEY OPEN. THANKS – LOVE KAI – “
KAI STORMED OUT OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT AND WENT ON WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE DAY. AFTER HOURS OF GETTING READY, HE FINALLY PICKS UP MISA FROM HER HOUSE. “WOW YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL, MISA.” KAI EXPLAINED, AS MISA STEPPED OUTSIDE HER FRONT DOOR. THE COUPLE TOOK SOME PHOTOS.
“YOU TWO HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE, KIDS.” SAID MISA’S MOTHER BEFORE SHE HEADS BACK INSIDE. THE TWO DRIVE OFF INTO THE NIGHT. KAI GLANCES AT MISA FOR A MOMENT, “NEXT STOP IS PROM.”
THE NIGHT GOES ON AND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL IS HAVING FUN. KAI AND MISA MEET UP WITH ARLEY AND LEXI. THEY DANCED AND SHARED STORIES ALL NIGHT LONG. “WELP, IT’S TIME FOR ME AND LEXI TO GET OUT OF HERE. HER FATHER WILL KILL ME IF I DON’T BRING HER BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT.” SAID ARLEY. “HE WON’T KILL YOU.” LEXI SAID WITH A SMILE. “HE’LL PROBABLY JUST CALL THE COPS, HIRE A SEARCH TEAM AND BEAT YOU SILLY.” “THAT’S SO MUCH BETTER…” ARLEY SAID WITH A SIGH. THEY ALL SAID THEIR GOODBYES AND WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS.
“I SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE YOU HOME TOO MISA. I DON’T WANT YOUR MOTHER TO BE WORRIED ABOUT YOU TOO. PLUS, I KINDA TOOK MY FATHER’S CAR WITHOUT PERMISSION…” “HAHAHA SO UNLIKE YOU KAI ITAGAKI. BUT OK, LET’S GO HOME.”
AS THEY PULL UP TO MISA’S HOME. THEY NOTICED SOME OF THE HOSUE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. “LOOKS LIKE MY MOM IS STILL AWAKE. WELL I HAD A GREAT TIME TONIGHT. THANK YOU.” MISA THEN LEANS IN AND KISSES KAI. KAI EYES OPEN WIDE AND FEELS SMITTEN AFTER BEING KISSED BY MISA. “I’LL SEE YOU IN SCHOOL MONDAY?” ASKED MISA. “YES, OF COURSE.” MISA THEN LEAVES THE CAR AND IS WELCOMED HOME BY HER MOTHER AT THE FRONT DOOR.
KAI DRIVES UP AND PARKS THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. AS HE ENTERS THE HOUSE, HE NOTICES THAT IT HAPPENS TO BE A LITTLE QUIETER AND DARKER THAN USUAL. AS KAI WALKS AROUND THE HOUSE, HE BEGINS TURNING ON THE LIGHTS. “EVERYTHING IS IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT FROM BEFORE I LEFT THE HOUSE.” KAI THOUGHT TO HIMSELF. KAI STARTED PACING FASTER TOWARDS HIS FATHER’S ROOM.
HE OPENS THE DOOR TO CHECK ON HIS FATHER. “DAD…?” HE TURNS ON THE LIGHTS AND SEES HIS FATHER ON HIS SIDE. SILENCE AND FEAR BEGIN TO FILL THE AIR. KAI TURNS IS FATHER TO HIS BACK. “DAD…..” HE SEES HIS FATHER’S FACE IS BLACK AND BLUE. THE TOUCH OF HIS SKIN IS ICE COLD. "DAD! WAKE UP! PLEASE WAKE UP! I'M SORRY! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!!! WAKE UP PLEASE!" KAI RUSHES FOR HIS PHONE AND CALLS 911.
MINUTES FELT LIKE YEARS AS HE STOOD ALONE IN THE COLD DARK ROOM WITH HIS FATHER. THE FIREFIGHTERS AND AMBULANCE MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE ROOM. THE ROOM SEEMS TO FADE OUT AROUND KAI AS EVERYTHING IS TAKING PLACE.
KAI JUMPS IN THE AMBULANCE TRUCK AND RIDES ALONG WITH HIS FATHER. KAI SITS AND WAITS FOR HIS FATHER IN THE WAITING ROOM. MOMENTS AFTER, THE DOCTOR COMES OUT AND REACHES OUT TO KAI.
"I'M SORRY KAI BUT WE COULD NOT SAVE YOUR FATHER. IT SEEMS HIS HEART STOPPED SOMETIME THROUGHOUT THE DAY."
IMMEDIATELY, KAI SINKS DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE ONLY THING RUSHING THROUGH HIS MIND IS THE THAT LAST NOTE HE LEFT HIS FATHER AND THINKING HAD HE ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO GRAB HIS FATHER'S MEDICINE, HIS FATHER WOULD HAVE STILL BE ALIVE.
A FEW DAYS HAVE GONE BY KAI JUMPS IN THE AMBULANCE TRUCK AND RIDES ALONG WITH HIS FATHER. KAI SITS AND WAITS FOR HIS FATHER IN THE WAITING ROOM. MOMENTS AFTER, THE DOCTOR COMES OUT AND REACHES OUT TO KAI.
"I'M SORRY KAI BUT WE COULD NOT SAVE YOUR FATHER. IT SEEMS HIS HEART STOPPED SOMETIME THROUGHOUT THE DAY."
IMMEDIATELY, KAI SINKS DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE ONLY THING RUSHING THROUGH HIS MIND IS THE THAT LAST NOTE HE LEFT HIS FATHER AND THINKING HAD HE ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO GRAB HIS FATHER'S MEDICINE, HIS FATHER WOULD HAVE STILL BE ALIVE.
“KAI, DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP MY MEDS AFTER SCHOOL PLEASE!” SAID, LUCIO. “I WON’T DAD! I’LL SEE YOU LATER!” KAI REPLIED. AS KAI WAS WALKING TO THE BUS STATION TO SCHOOL, HE HEARS A YELL FROM A DISTANCE. “KAI!, HEY KAI!” AS THE SHOUTS GET CLOSER, HE NOTICES IT WAS HIS BEST FRIEND, ARLEY. “HEY DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?!?” ARLEY ASKED. “WHAT NEWS?” KAI REPLIED. “THEY SAID THAT THEIR MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE PEOPLE DISAPPEARING RANDOMLY, WITHOUT A TRACE! AND NOW IT’S BEEN HAPPENING THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES.”
“ARLEY, ITS L.A. NO OFFENSE BUT THAT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR US, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE HAVE ONE OF THE WORST CRIME RATES IN THE WORLD HERE.” THE BUS PULLED UP AND OPENED ITS DOORS. AS THE TWO WALKED IN, THEY NOTICED SOME FELLOW CLASSMATES. “HEY, HAVE YOU TRIED TALKING TO MISA YET?” ASKED, ARLEY. “I MEAN I TALK TO HER ALL THE TIME, BUT IF YOU’RE WONDERING IF I HAVE ASKED HER TO THE PROM YET, NO. I KNOW WE GET ALONG BUT SHE PROBABLY HAS A DATE ALREADY; IF NOT PROBABLY HAS A THOUSAND OTHER GUYS SHE’D RATHER GO WITH.” EXPLAINED KAI.
“HEY KAI, HOW ARE YOU?” ASKED, MISA. “GOOD JUST GOT A FULL SCHEDULE AHEAD OF ME TODAY. WHAT ABOUT YOU?”
“OH THAT’S TOO BAD, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF YOU WANTED TO BE MY DATE FOR PROM.” SAID, MISA. “WAIT WHAT!?! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD’VE HAD A DATE ALREADY!?!” EXCLAIMED, KAI. “WELL I WASN’T SURE I WANTED TO GO BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER ASKING ME. BUT, MY MOTHER SAID IN JAPAN IT’S THE GIRLS WHO ASK THE BOYS OUT. SO I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE MY CHANCE… SO WHAT DO YOU SAY?” SHE SADLY ASKED.
“YES!!! YES!!! YESS!!!” KAI YELLED, AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS. “OK SEE YOU AT PROM TONIGHT, KAI.”
“ALRIGHT, KAI! WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THAT? HAHAHA. I’M GLAD YOU’RE GOING WITH MISA TO PROM, NOW WE CAN DOUBLE DATE! I’LL TELL LEXI.” SAID, ARLEY. “ALRIGHT, I GOTTA GO RENT A TUX, CLEAN UP AND BORROW MY DAD’S CAR. BUT I’M EXCITED! JUST GOT TO GET THROUGH SCHOOL.”
AFTER SCHOOL, KAI SKIPPED THE BUS AND TOOK A TAXI STRAIGHT HOME. KAI ENTERED HIS HOUSE, TOOK A SHOWER, AND GRABBED HIS FATHER’S KEYS AND LEFT A NOTE.
“HEY, DAD BORROWED THE CAR; I GOT A DATE FOR PROM SO I WENT TO RUN GRAB EVERYTHING I NEED FOR TONIGHT. I DON’T THINK I CAN GRAB THE MEDS FOR YOU TODAY BUT I CAN GET THEM TOMORROW. AND SINCE ITS SATURDAY, I WON’T HAVE SCHOOL SO I’LL BE FREE TO PICK UP AS SOON AS THEY OPEN. THANKS – LOVE KAI – “
KAI STORMED OUT OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT AND WENT ON WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE DAY. AFTER HOURS OF GETTING READY, HE FINALLY PICKS UP MISA FROM HER HOUSE. “WOW YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL, MISA.” KAI EXPLAINED, AS MISA STEPPED OUTSIDE HER FRONT DOOR. THE COUPLE TOOK SOME PHOTOS.
“YOU TWO HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE, KIDS.” SAID MISA’S MOTHER BEFORE SHE HEADS BACK INSIDE. THE TWO DRIVE OFF INTO THE NIGHT. KAI GLANCES AT MISA FOR A MOMENT, “NEXT STOP IS PROM.”
THE NIGHT GOES ON AND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL IS HAVING FUN. KAI AND MISA MEET UP WITH ARLEY AND LEXI. THEY DANCED AND SHARED STORIES ALL NIGHT LONG. “WELP, IT’S TIME FOR ME AND LEXI TO GET OUT OF HERE. HER FATHER WILL KILL ME IF I DON’T BRING HER BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT.” SAID ARLEY. “HE WON’T KILL YOU.” LEXI SAID WITH A SMILE. “HE’LL PROBABLY JUST CALL THE COPS, HIRE A SEARCH TEAM AND BEAT YOU SILLY.” “THAT’S SO MUCH BETTER…” ARLEY SAID WITH A SIGH. THEY ALL SAID THEIR GOODBYES AND WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS.
“I SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE YOU HOME TOO MISA. I DON’T WANT YOUR MOTHER TO BE WORRIED ABOUT YOU TOO. PLUS, I KINDA TOOK MY FATHER’S CAR WITHOUT PERMISSION…” “HAHAHA SO UNLIKE YOU KAI ITAGAKI. BUT OK, LET’S GO HOME.”
AS THEY PULL UP TO MISA’S HOME. THEY NOTICED SOME OF THE HOSUE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. “LOOKS LIKE MY MOM IS STILL AWAKE. WELL I HAD A GREAT TIME TONIGHT. THANK YOU.” MISA THEN LEANS IN AND KISSES KAI. KAI EYES OPEN WIDE AND FEELS SMITTEN AFTER BEING KISSED BY MISA. “I’LL SEE YOU IN SCHOOL MONDAY?” ASKED MISA. “YES, OF COURSE.” MISA THEN LEAVES THE CAR AND IS WELCOMED HOME BY HER MOTHER AT THE FRONT DOOR.
KAI DRIVES UP AND PARKS THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. AS HE ENTERS THE HOUSE, HE NOTICES THAT IT HAPPENS TO BE A LITTLE QUIETER AND DARKER THAN USUAL. AS KAI WALKS AROUND THE HOUSE, HE BEGINS TURNING ON THE LIGHTS. “EVERYTHING IS IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT FROM BEFORE I LEFT THE HOUSE.” KAI THOUGHT TO HIMSELF. KAI STARTED PACING FASTER TOWARDS HIS FATHER’S ROOM.
HE OPENS THE DOOR TO CHECK ON HIS FATHER. “DAD…?” HE TURNS ON THE LIGHTS AND SEES HIS FATHER ON HIS SIDE. SILENCE AND FEAR BEGIN TO FILL THE AIR. KAI TURNS IS FATHER TO HIS BACK. “DAD…..” HE SEES HIS FATHER’S FACE IS BLACK AND BLUE. THE TOUCH OF HIS SKIN IS ICE COLD. "DAD! WAKE UP! PLEASE WAKE UP! I'M SORRY! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!!! WAKE UP PLEASE!" KAI RUSHES FOR HIS PHONE AND CALLS 911.
MINUTES FELT LIKE YEARS AS HE STOOD ALONE IN THE COLD DARK ROOM WITH HIS FATHER. THE FIREFIGHTERS AND AMBULANCE MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE ROOM. THE ROOM SEEMS TO FADE OUT AROUND KAI AS EVERYTHING IS TAKING PLACE.
KAI JUMPS IN THE AMBULANCE TRUCK AND RIDES ALONG WITH HIS FATHER. KAI SITS AND WAITS FOR HIS FATHER IN THE WAITING ROOM. MOMENTS AFTER, THE DOCTOR COMES OUT AND REACHES OUT TO KAI.
"I'M SORRY KAI BUT WE COULD NOT SAVE YOUR FATHER. IT SEEMS HIS HEART STOPPED SOMETIME THROUGHOUT THE DAY."
IMMEDIATELY, KAI SINKS DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE ONLY THING RUSHING THROUGH HIS MIND IS THE THAT LAST NOTE HE LEFT HIS FATHER AND THINKING HAD HE ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO GRAB HIS FATHER'S MEDICINE, HIS FATHER WOULD HAVE STILL BE ALIVE.
A FEW DAYS HAVE GONE BY KAI JUMPS IN THE AMBULANCE TRUCK AND RIDES ALONG WITH HIS FATHER. KAI SITS AND WAITS FOR HIS FATHER IN THE WAITING ROOM. MOMENTS AFTER, THE DOCTOR COMES OUT AND REACHES OUT TO KAI.
"I'M SORRY KAI BUT WE COULD NOT SAVE YOUR FATHER. IT SEEMS HIS HEART STOPPED SOMETIME THROUGHOUT THE DAY."
IMMEDIATELY, KAI SINKS DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE ONLY THING RUSHING THROUGH HIS MIND IS THE THAT LAST NOTE HE LEFT HIS FATHER AND THINKING HAD HE ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO GRAB HIS FATHER'S MEDICINE, HIS FATHER WOULD HAVE STILL BE ALIVE.