Dandelion (2026) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[panting]
[man] Let's see.
There was a monk who once said,
"This world's full of suffering,
and heaven is the afterlife"
-[runner panting]
-"Rely on Buddha and invoke him."
-[moans softly]
-[man] "The ticket to heaven is here."
[runner grunting]
[man] And to those who came
to me with that very ticket,
I said to them, "Paradise?"
"That's the world
where you've been until now."
-[cyclist and runner grunting]
-[man] "Oh, you suffered?"
"Well, of course.
All you ever did was invoke Buddha."
-Quit it!
-[jaunty music playing]
-Just give up already!
-[runner grunting]
[man] "Rather than being convinced
by the imagination of monks,
wouldn't it be better
to chase your own dreams?"
"Because here, at most,
you'll just get chased by us angels."
"The promised land is
far beyond your reach."
Hey! Old Man!
Will you just stop already and pass on!
Quit being stubborn
and hanging on to the past!
You know, stubborn men aren't popular
with girls in the afterlife!
Ah, shut your face, you delinquent angel!
It was my stubbornness
that won my wife's heart!
So don't underestimate me!
[man] Neither the living nor the dead
should dwell on the past.
It just gets you stuck.
Too many people are stuck
in this boring world because of that.
And we're the cleaners.
It's our job to get them out of it.
Damn it!
I'm Tetsuo Tanba from the Dandelion Squad,
21st Unit of the Japanese
Angel Federation's Escort Department.
-Hey, Tetsu.
-[Tetsuo continues panting]
You really should pedal faster.
We keep going at this speed
and he's going to outrun us.
This is Misaki Kurogane.
Leader of the Dandelion Squad.
She looks like a brat,
but she's a formidable warrior
and strong enough to defeat
the ghost of Japan's greatest swordsman.
Says the one stuffing her face
with a red bean bun!
What the hell are you tagging along for?
-[wind gusts]
-[chimes tinkle]
[echoing] I wanna feel
the wind in my hair.
[Tetsuo] Then join a biker gang!
-[whooshing]
-[runner panting]
Damn it! A bike is no match
for the willpower of souls!
This is exactly why I've been trying
to request a car!
[Misaki] We don't need a car.
Besides, we're angels. We have wings.
And an angel's wings are tenacious.
The hell? You think
you're a baseball coach?
You're giving Little League quotes
while we're playing the World Series!
Tetsu, let me pedal. This Little Leaguer
wants to show you her wings.
Yeah, right. You've got
bean sprouts for legs.
And anyway, that position would be
totally immodest--
[screaming]
Wha… what the hell?
How do your muscles even work?!
Doesn't matter. Just watch the road.
[panting] Ya!
[shrieks]
-[man's voice echoes]
-[metal clatters]
[clicking]
[Misaki] H 44-10
Harukichi Nakamura, 76 years old.
Looks like he slipped
in the bathroom a month ago.
Hit his head pretty hard and died.
-Yep. The face matches.
-[Harukichi groans]
No doubt about it. It's him, all right.
[Tetsuo] Right, then.
Man, you gave us a lot of trouble.
-[screams]
-Well, brace yourself.
I'll send you to the other side.
Come on w, w, w, wait a second!
Won't you hear me out at least?
I've got a lot going on right now.
It's okay to have
a lot going on. [chuckles softly]
Because when I shoot you between the eyes
with this Tamakin Soul-Buster Gun,
doesn't matter what you're carrying.
You'll reach the afterlife
with all your baggage.
TAMAKIN SOUL-BUSTER GUN
So you can keep it with you forever.
What's that supposed to mean?!
Are you kidding me?!
That's just sweeping
problems under the rug!
That doesn't solve the core issue.
Plus, I won't be able to die in peace.
Talk to a priest if you have a confession.
Angels ain't got time.
We're too busy listening to the dead
whine about their damn regrets.
Please! Just listen!
Listen to me for one second.
Please just hear me out!
It's not anything crazy, I swear.
All I want to do is have the opportunity
to say sorry to my wife.
Hey. Talking's over.
Why the need to apologize?
The hell?
Uh, well, it's a bit embarrassing.
Let me see now. How do I put this?
The thing is, I had
a big fight with her right before I died.
And I walked away
when things were still awkward between us.
I know it's too late,
but I still want to apologize
for that somehow.
And I know it's impossible
to do that in this current form.
Yep.
There's no way a spirit
can ever make contact with the living.
Pathetically sad.
You stayed here over that?
I bet the old hag's happy.
[Harukichi] What did you say?!
Surely as a man, you should understand
that desire to spend your final moments
with the partner who shared
every joy and heartbreak with you
for most of your life!
[Tetsuo] Of course not. I'm single.
[Harukichi] There must've been
someone you loved that much!
[Tetsuo] Of course.
Professional wrestler Antonio Inoki.
-[Misaki] By the way…
-Huh?
If your wife was so dear to you,
then what did you fight about?
Huh? Hmm.
-Well, you see…
-[somber piano music playing]
-[Harukichi] It's because…
-[gasps]
…I decided to eat her favorite pudding.
-She was looking forward to it.
-[music winds down]
-Bye-bye.
-Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Wait! Just wait!
We're talking about pudding!
Who could possibly resist?
Especially when it's right in front of ya!
Don't ya get it, you coldhearted bastard?!
-[Tetsuo] Most can resist.
-[Misaki] No, not many can resist.
As a matter of fact, I'm one of them.
I once stole my mom's flan
who then beat the crap out of me.
[echoing] So it's true.
I'm a pudding-cess!
[echoing]
[moans quizzically]
[Tetsuo] Okay.
So what?
NAKAYAMA
What the hell?
Are we seriously gonna help
this old guy resolve his regret
just because you share a love for pudding?
A pudding-cess does not abandon
her pudding-ce.
Especially in his time of need!
We're pudding together
an alliance! [laughs]
[Tetsuo] I think your brains
are full of pudding.
Oh jeez.
-I swear it always ends up like this.
-[funky music playing]
Always taking on extra work
that never pays off.
First of all, she can't even see us,
let alone talk to us.
So what are you gonna do about that?
You've no way of contacting her.
Pudding-sister, this might be impossible.
Of course not.
Everything's gonna be fine, pudding-bro.
Oh! Really? Great!
BODY = SOUL
[Misaki] All we need to do is get
your wife's state to match yours. Simple.
SOUL = SOUL
[Tetsuo] Hang on. You can't mean…
We're going to pull your wife's soul
right out of her own body.
But that's totally murdering her!
[Misaki] Nah.
It's simple astral projection.
Hold on! You know that's illegal, right?!
[Misaki] It's fine.
I'll put her in her body once we're done.
Gah! That brat!
I'm having nothing to do with it.
[rustling]
[clears throat]
-[chanting]
-[eerie music playing]
[voice becomes layered]
-Hmm!
-[bell dings]
[dull thud]
Okay. All done.
[groans]
[Tetsuo and Harukichi] Well, okay, but…
Who the hell is that?!
I've gotta say, your wife certainly looks
striking when you're up close to her.
You have a very unique way
of viewing this world.
Why did someone else's soul
just come out of my wife's body?
And where the hell is my wife?!
[jaunty music playing]
Where the hell is his wife?
Uh, I don't know.
[groans]
-Where… the hell… is… his… wife?!
-[man groaning]
[chuckles]
Hey, you're not too bad, are ya?
You remind me of my mom,
who I left here in this world.
But I don't know anything
about this old lady.
I happened to find her body
by pure chance a little while ago.
I'm a good-natured wandering spirit,
so I took it to keep it safe.
Well, I guess I'll be shovin' off now.
Good luck with her.
Wandering spirits usually go after
empty bodies. You should protect her and--
-[gunshot]
-[groans] Ah!
That's rich coming from you.
Hey Captain,
this is becoming a real pain in the ass.
Yeah.
It looks like your wife's soul
was already absent
by the time
the pig in the sweater took over.
I'm guessing
that she's wandering around somewhere,
unaware that she's out of her body.
[Harukichi] Really? I don't know.
My wife isn't clever enough
to do something like that.
Your wife's not doing it.
This thing is all about you.
You know about curses, don't you?
They're created
by people's strong emotions.
-[eerie music playing]
-A soul is just a pile of emotions.
So right now,
all you are is just a walking curse.
[cackling] Die! Die! I'll kill you all!
Even your love for someone
can turn into a powerful weapon.
A weapon powerful enough to pull
someone else's soul into our world.
That's all you are now.
But there's no way
I would have wanted to do such a thing!
You really wanted
to see your wife, correct?
[Harukichi grunts]
Even without evil intent,
you bring harm to those you love.
Dead people are
the true monsters around here.
Because you foolishly clung on
to the idea of correcting a life
that was already over,
you'll eventually become a monster.
-[Misaki] Tetsu.
-Hmm?
Now is really not the time
to be talking about this stuff.
We've got to hurry up
and find his wife's soul.
Otherwise, her empty body
will start to perish.
-[somber music playing]
-Pudding-bro, can you… [gasps]
[hushed] Pudding-bro…
[Harukichi crying] I was such an idiot.
I didn't realize what was precious to me
until I lost everything.
[Tetsuo gasps]
[Harukichi sobs]
Then when I finally realized it,
it was too late.
I'm sorry, my love.
If only I'd realized things sooner,
I… I could have done so much more for you.
[sniffles] But now it's too late.
[screaming] Yow, ow, ow, ow!
Ow! That hurts!
[Tetsuo] It's not too late because there's
something you can do right now.
-So stop whining and do it.
-[Harukichi continues screaming]
[Tetsuo] Because the only time
to take action is now,
and the only place to do it is here.
It's pointless trying to
dwell on the past or depend on the future.
[Harukichi sobbing, whimpering]
It's just a waste of time.
Doing that will
only make you miss the present.
There has to be something only you can do.
This is your last chance,
so don't blow it.
[Harukichi] Yeah! I get it! Ow! All right!
Just let go of my ear!
You're gonna rip it of!
For real!
[phone buzzing]
-Yeah? What do you want?!
-[eerie music plays]
This is the Violet Squad, you idiot!
Oh, Tanba, it's you.
It's been a while, you old dog.
Tell me, you still being bossed around
by that bratty girl?
I'll vent about her to you later.
-But right now, can you do me a favor?
-You're so heavy!
[gasping]
You're looking for an old woman
separated from her body?
I need more than that!
There are old women like that everywhere!
What does she look like?
Like a bulldog on the verge of starvation.
Huh? The hell did you just say?!
She may look like a bulldog,
but on the inside,
she's a Maltese, you bastard!
-[dance music playing]
-A bulldog crossed with a Maltese?
Sorry, but I'm afraid
that doesn't ring a bell.
Although it's likely
that an aggressive angel
will take her out
before confirming her identity.
Thanks, but I don't need a heads-up.
I just need intel.
-I have valuable intel.
-[Tetsuo] You do?!
I have that footage I've been looking for.
Rikidozan versus Mas Oyama.
Wrestling fighting karate.
I highly recommend it.
It really gets the adrenaline going.
That's not what I asked for!
But let me borrow it later, okay!?
[man] Tetsuo.
Is this about that 20,000 yen
you still owe me?
What? Breaking up… I can't hear…
Connection… Try again…
[man] Wait! Hold on!
I think I saw that bulldog woman.
[Tetsuo] Wait, really?
-Where is she?
-Hmm.
It'll cost ya… 20,000.
[woman gasping, whimpering]
What is going on?!
-[horn blaring]
-Why… is someone trying to run me over?!
-[groans] Come on, lady! Why do you think?
-Hey, boss. I think you drink too much.
[woman] Listen, boys!
I don't know who sent you hit men,
but whoever it was,
they got the wrong person!
Why do you wanna kill an old lady
who's just out for a walk?!
Hey, you make it sound like
we're the bad guys here!
We're not! We're just angels
who've been sent here to come and get you.
You know how it goes,
to guide you to the afterlife.
As if somebody like you
is actually an angel!
-Were you fired?
-[frenetic music playing]
It's more likely they laid you off
and you've gone crazy!
Well, what can we do?
I mean, come on,
she's not even aware that she's died yet.
[grunts] Damn, I can't seem to aim right.
Get it together, me.
Don't let the alcohol affect me too much.
[Harukichi] Stop right there!
DANDELION SQUAD
If you lay a finger on my wife,
I'll… I'll… do… something! Just you see!
Really? Like what?
Huh? Dandelion Squad?
What in the world do you
broke-ass angels want?!
If you're thinkin' about
stealin' our prey, you can back off!
That's a violation
of the underworld code, Article 42!
You're the ones who are breaking the law,
you damn idiots!
Did you check the register?
That woman you're chasing isn't dead yet!
Do you think I was born yesterday, fool?
I'm calling your bluff!
-[Tetsuo] I'm not bluffing, idiot!
-We're not stopping this car!
-Outta the way, nitwit!
-[Tetsuo] Moron!
-You're the idiot!
-[man] We're not stopping!
[Tetsuo] Shut up!
[man] We'll keep driving until you're
nothing but a dot on the horizon!
See ya! Idiot! Moron!
[grunts]
Hey! Pedal faster, man!
Your wife's gonna die!
[screaming]
For… my… wife!
-[groans]
-[frenetic music continues]
What?! Those tenacious bastards!
You stupid drunken angel!
Are you trying to get me
to kill you right now?!
Hey! Idiot! I can't balance! [screams]
Captain!
Old guy!
Asshole!
You did this. It's all your fault!
[man] No, it's not.
This is definitely all on you.
[Tetsuo] Well, it doesn't matter now.
Just stop the car, okay? I'm serious.
Come on! I'm begging you!
[man] Just let go, you bastard!
I told you I'm not stopping!
[Tetsuo] Oh crap! Oh no!
I'm falling! I'm falling! I'm falling!
[man] Hey, guys! Help me out here!
This is finally our chance!
We can take down Tetsu the Mad Dog!
-[bell rings]
-[man whimpering] Whoa!
What?!
Captain! But when did you…
-[tires screeching]
-[Tetsuo screaming]
Brakes! Hit the brakes!
[man] I'm begging you too!
Please hit the brakes! Stop the car!
"Hit the brakes"? What's that?
[men screaming]
[Misaki] Oh, I don't know.
Is this one the brake?
[Tetsuo screaming] No!
That's totally the opposite!
[woman panting]
[screams]
[squeak]
-What?! You ran her over!
-Oopsie daisy.
You actually ran her over!
What do you mean "oopsie daisy"?
That doesn't help!
Just hold the wheel! Focus on the road!
[tires squeal]
[grunting]
[men scream]
[loud crash]
[Harukichi] What just happened!?
How could that even happen?!
I'm so confused!
-Those idiots! Huh?
-[loud crunch]
[ominous musical sting] Ah ♪
Oh no! Honey! Why did this happen to you?
Stay with me, honey.
Damn it. Who did such a terrible thing?
Honey. Sweetheart!
Yes! Yes! Wake up, you old hag!
[woman whimpers, groans]
What? Is that you?
Yes! It's me my love!
Just what exactly is going on around here?
Are you here to guide me to the afterlife?
[Harukichi] Don't be ridiculous!
Whatever happened today, it's fine.
You're fine. A soul doesn't die
that easily, you know.
You'll be back to normal
once you're in your own body, you fool!
Oh, I see you're
still as noisy as ever, huh?
You just can't stop yelling
even when you're in my dreams.
Wha… This isn't a dream, my love.
I was trying to apologize to you
and became an earthbound spirit!
[woman] An earthbound spirit?
Are you stupid or something?
Don't call me stupid!
I was just trying to apologize to you!
[woman] And that, in itself, is stupid.
Huh?
[woman] Now, you listen to me.
My life isn't so cheap
that a few apologies will make up for it.
There are so many layers to life.
Silly pleasantries won't work.
Doesn't matter
how our farewell turned out.
We spent 50 years of our lives together.
That will never change.
So we don't need
to dress up that life together
with cheap, flowery words.
I really cherish our life together,
messy as it was.
But it was also
so vibrant and wonderful at times.
You know,
people can't choose how they die,
but they can live however they want to.
-That's the most important part.
-[tender music playing]
[woman] Even though you didn't die smiling
when you were alive,
we had such a wonderful time together,
full of laughter.
What else could you possibly need?
Why start whining about things now,
at the end? Shame on you.
It hurts me to see.
[voice breaking] So just go already,
all right?
[Harukichi] You're so sassy.
Even at the very end of my life.
[high-pitched, melodic chiming]
[dramatic music playing]
[Harukichi] Very well, then!
I'm going, but not because you told me to!
But let me say one last thing.
And it may sound cheap or whatever.
And I may sound like a fool, you old bag.
But for the 50 years we spent together,
we had our ups and downs, that's for sure.
But wow! It was such a blast!
[chuckling] You old bag!
[laughter echoing]
[music fades]
[woman] Right back at ya, ya damn geezer.
[bird squawking]
Jeez, this is ridiculous.
I never even carried
my own mother on my back.
And you know what?
Damn, she stinks.
Smells like horse shit, you know?
[sniffs] It's the course of nature
that people's breath gets smelly
when they're older.
So don't make such a fuss.
Otherwise, you're just gonna wake her up.
Hey. Are you aware
that every hole in your face is leaking?
I can't believe you got emotional
over such a boring and mundane farewell.
[blows]
[Misaki] It makes no difference.
My tears will flow if they want to.
[sniffs]
Anyway, my mom once said to me
that tears are actually
a woman's greatest weapon.
Not only do they calm men down,
but they can win them over too.
[Tetsuo] That's quite a mom.
You know, instead of weaponizing tears,
you could kill with a smile.
You know, the world changes,
depending on what lens you see it through.
If you have the courage to laugh,
and not only when things are fun,
but when they're tough,
you know, really tough?
Then nothing will ever scare you.
Even hell itself would feel like heaven.
You know,
a man who's always so stone-faced
is never really that convincing.
What was that?
Before you continue your lecture
about how I should smile more,
perhaps you should show me how it's done.
[groans softly]
It's… just like this.
-You're such a creep.
-[Tetsuo grunts]
Your ugly heart
is written all over your face.
You're not an angel.
You're much more like a devil.
[woman laughing]
-[Tetsuo] What's so funny, old lady?
-[woman] She's right, you are a creep!
[Tetsuo] Damn it! Were you pretending
to be asleep this whole time?
You stink! Horseshit woman!
[woman] Horseshit?
At least compare me to something alive!
-[Tetsuo] Shut up! You stink! Get off me!
-[woman] So rude!
-You are a creep!
-[Misaki] Good grief.
Problem solved. For now.
[rumbling]
[solemn, ambient music playing]
THE NETHERWORLD
JAPANESE ANGEL FEDERATION HQ
Just what do you think you're doing?!
I keep saying this.
We angels have quotas to meet. Quotas!
Do you know what they are?
Wasting too much time in chasing down
just one spirit is so… [grunts]
Super sour! And it's also well soaked!
The longer that you soak it,
the more pickled the plum becomes.
Please! Lend me 30,000! [whimpers]
Sure, but it'll be 50% interest.
Everyone, listen up!
[yawns loudly]
PRO WRESTLING
-[running footsteps approach]
-[Misaki] Wait for me!
[chuckles]
Well, just what could I do?
All right.
It's time for the morning handover--
No sense of urgency at all.
[sighs]
[yells, gasps] Ah!
Wait, aren't you…
[Tetsuo] Who are you?
You're oozing unpleasant hormones
from every inch of your body.
Hey, Tetsuo!
-This is Mr Yuichi Kyoga!
-[bell rings]
[man] Son of the chairman
of the Archangel Federation itself!
-[whoosh]
-He's the son… of the chairman?!
[woman] He's the top of the top
in the netherworld.
-Huh. He ain't that much.
-What's wrong with you!?
Did you not hear what I said!?
Chief of the Send-Off Department,
I have one request.
Don't call me "the son."
At work, I am Yuichi Kyoga, Councillor
of the Japanese Angel Federation.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
That's too long. Why don't we call him
"Mr. Longname" instead?
Sh!
With Diagoro Kyoga,
the chairman, at its head,
the Kyoga family now have full control
over everything
at the Japanese Archangel Federation.
[Tetsuo] Daigoro… Kyoga…
-[Yuichi] Mister.
-[Tetsuo] Uh.
[Yuichi] You should use "mister"
when talking about your superiors.
-Huh?
-Tetsuo!
Mr. Yuichi Kyoga, sir.
What brings you
to our humble office today?
Mm.
[whirring]
[Yuichi] The board has expressed
great concern
regarding the Send-Off Department's
blatant and constant inefficiency.
-Huh?
-[tense music playing]
A surfboard?
CLAMS
[woman] A different type of board.
It's the board of directors,
the highest decision-making body
in the Japanese Angel Federation.
Every important decision is made by them.
[Tetsuo grunts]
[whirring]
So far, we've lost 10, 20, 30, 40 years.
Japanese society can't break free
from this prolonged downturn.
That growing feeling
of an unpromising future
is beginning
to wear down people's spirits.
Suicides.
Murders.
And terrorism.
Those who lose hope for the future
give up on themselves
and lash out at others.
And as a result of all this,
many people are losing
their lives in the human world.
[grunts] Mm!
[low whirring]
[snarling]
[man and woman shuddering]
As we all know, the souls of those
who die with intense attachments
and unfinished business
become earthbound spirits.
If left unattended, they can turn into
vengeful spirits and harm humans.
And life on Earth as we know it would end.
-[snarling, screeching]
-[Yuichi grunts] Mm!
Over the past 20 years,
the number of earthbound spirits
have increased fiftyfold.
Or, putting it bluntly,
Japan is facing
a Rapidly Rising Earthbound Society!
If each of you fail to comply
to meet your required daily quota,
then the human world will very soon
be flooded by earthbound spirits.
Mm.
[whirring]
DANDELION SQUAD
[whirring]
Now, from this point onward,
you all need to start
taking your work seriously.
I guarantee they are a serious bunch!
All the angels here are professional.
What's more, they always
make sure they do their utmost--
[Yuichi] Their utmost?
I doubt it, somehow.
Mm!
[whirs]
This is the performance chart
from last quarter.
Not one squad met the attainable quotas
that were expected of them.
Oh! Well… that's because, uh…
[Yuichi] Does this look like they're
doing their utmost to you?
[scoffs] You don't know
what this job's like. Shut your mouth.
Hey. Why don't you shut your mouth?
[Yuichi] Additionally,
there's one squad amongst all of them
that's had
the most catastrophic performance of all.
That's… the Dandelion Squad.
-[Tetsuo snarls]
-[man whimpering]
-[tense music playing]
-Even today, you only handled one spirit.
It seems you wasted an entire day helping
an old man fulfil his selfish whims.
Wasted, you say?
[shudders]
[chuckles]
[Yuichi] That's right. Who really cares
about a spirit's feelings?
They all perish sooner or later anyway.
Or is your flagrant irresponsibility
somewhat of a tradition
in the Dandelion Squad?
[loud crash]
[crackling]
You think you can come here talkin' trash,
ya finger snappin' asshole?
[feedback crackles]
[music builds]
[man shudders] Oh! Tetsuo!
Hey, this ain't good!
Tetsu, stop!
[Tetsuo] I'll get my work done.
After all, it's my job.
But… stay outta my way, got it?
[scoffs]
Anyway, as a reminder, focus on your quota
and make sure you work efficiently.
All payments from now on
will be performance-based.
[group murmurs]
[Yuichi] Let me make myself clear.
Squads who perform poorly
will not receive payment.
We'll never give in
to such a ridiculous threat!
We're all in this together, all right?
We all work as a team!
Your plan to provoke us like that
will never split us apart!
We're family! Right, guys?
-[phones ringing]
-[keyboards tapping]
Um, guys?
[jaunty, pensive music playing]
Now's our time to unite and work together!
Shut the hell up.
Gotta work on meeting my quota.
You okay with being walked over?
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Sorry.
[whirring]
[bellowing] Damn it!
What the hell's wrong with you all!?
SEND-OFF DEPARTMEN
I'm not gonna be bullied
into changing my ways!
I'm gonna stay true to the spirits,
just like I always do!
-Good luck Tetsu. Bye!
-[snarls]
-You're coming with me!
-Oh no…
[music ends]
OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
[dramatic musical sting plays]
Tetsuo Tanba.
[buzzing]
[man] Hello? Ah… Big Brother.
Yeah, don't worry. Everything is in place.
And now, just as Father ordered,
we can bring them all down.
[dance-pop music playing]
[lyrics in Japanese]
[songs fades]