Dandelion (2026) s01e04 Episode Script

1
-[suspenseful dance-pop music playing]
-[man and woman panting]
[man grunts]
[panting continues]
NF HOBBY
[suspenseful dance-pop music continues]
[sighs]
Any sign of him?
[grunts] Mm-mm.
[man] We're in trouble now.
Where'd he run off to?
[whirs]
[music fades]
-[sportscaster on TV] Inoki's got him…
-[Tetsuo] Here he comes! Yes! Yes!
[squealing]
Even as a spirit, Inoki's still Inoki!
-[Kyoga] Ugh. Typical.
-Huh?
-Slacking off during work hours.
-Eh, shut up.
They gave captain the day off.
So it's only fair I rest my legs a bit.
I don't follow your logic.
Angels do double the work.
Therefore, I have to relax twice as hard.
Don't worry.
Soon enough, every day is going to feel
like a summer vacation for both of you.
[tuts] Just when I'm free
of that pint-size maniac,
here comes the spoiled brat.
[Kyoga] At least
the simpleminded delinquent is here too.
What?!
Anyway, what's wrong with your captain?
Is she out sick?
No, no.
She took paid leave today.
Paid leave?
[laughing] Is she taking
a trip or something?
Yeah, a trip to the human world.
She went to the human world?
[chief] Uh, so, to briefly summarize,
over in the Send-Off Department,
our squads are working hard and giving it
their all to meet the new daily quotas.
[chuckles] My, my.
That's certainly very admirable.
Make sure you actually hit those quotas.
It would be such a shame
if your department had to be disbanded
for poor performance.
[grunts] Our people are doing
the best they can in the field.
It doesn't help anybody
when you trample those efforts--
-[Daigoro] Results are everything.
-[gasps]
Without results,
it wouldn't matter even if they
worked themselves to the bone.
Effort is nothing.
[huffs]
[Daigoro] Squads that fail
to meet their quotas will be disbanded.
That policy will not change. Next.
[man] Uh, yes, sir.
Um, the latest
from Reincarnation Division is, uh…
Well, in terms of quotas, we, uh…
[chief] Chairman Kyoga.
It's always a pleasure
to make these reports.
And it's always my pleasure
to receive them, Chief.
-Uh! No, no.
-[loud pop]
Please, Mr. Chairman!
No need for that. [chuckles]
Yes, well, uh, you'll be glad to hear
your boy Masaki is working hard.
He joined
the underperforming Dandelion Squad
He's really devoted himself
to turning it around.
You must be so very proud
to have such an excellent son.
Excellent?
Hmm.
Don't go easy on him
just because he's my son.
Be as critical as you must.
Good day.
[chief splutters]
[easy rhythmic music playing]
-[magical chiming]
-[woman] Here you are. Pardon the wait.
Ah! I can't wait to dig in!
Ah-um!
Mm. Mm! This is what I've been missing!
[chief] Here.
If you take that,
you'll be able to spend time
in the world below just like any human.
Thank you, Chief. I will.
[clears throat] Remember,
it only lasts for 24 hours.
Right. I understand.
[Misaki sighs happily] Ah!
Everything's so delicious!
Wow. You sure had an appetite, miss.
I had a blast just watching you.
You know what? One more.
You're… not finished?
That was such a treat!
And now, it's time.
[easy rhythmic music continues]
[music subsides]
-[Tetsuo] So, you're stalking girls now?
-[gasps]
Weird hobby.
I'd think a rich kid could afford better.
So, you figured out anything?
Learned Captain's secret weakness?
[scoffs] I'm not playing along.
Clearly, you know everything already.
Whatever.
It's not like I'd expect you to tell me.
-Now, excuse me.
-[whirring]
It's a long story.
Ah, jeez. [tuts]
Never thought I'd become
the geezer boring newbies
about the olden days.
It was many years ago…
Back then, I was the top-performing member
of the Rose Squad.
My Squad was the largest
and most elite group
in the Send-Off Department.
[pensive music playing]
[sighing]
-[man] Hey, it's Tetsu the Mad Dog!
-Hmm?
Your numbers this month
are off the charts again, you little shit.
I don't know why they don't
just make you captain of the Rose Squad.
Come on, I'm not interested in that.
[man] That's a shame,
Everybody here knows
you're the very best in the department.
But here we are, stuck with this ass of
a captain. I don't care who his father--
[Daigoro] No private conversations
while on duty.
-Oh.
-[Tetsuo] Hmm?
Well, well,
if it isn't our brave captain himself,
Mr. Daigoro Kyoga.
My apologies for slipping up.
This guy.
I heard
he was supposed to be promoted right away
through his family's connections,
but hasn't delivered results, so it looks
like he's stuck with us in the field.
[Tetsuo] I guess
even a rich boy's got his own problems.
[snarling]
[chief] Tetsuo.
Can I have a word?
-[Tetsuo] Yeah, sure.
-[chair rolls]
BREAK ROOM
[Tetsuo] A monster-like spirit?
They're quite the formidable opponent.
Even all the angels from our branch office
working together couldn't handle this one.
[Tetsuo] Who do you think this spirit was?
Former wrestler or something?
Go find this spirit
and help it to pass on.
Who, me?
I don't mind, but still…
[chief] If you can take care of this,
the angels from our branch office
will owe you a very big favor.
[chuckles] Sure they will.
Plus, you'd be
that much closer to a promotion.
[spluttering]
You little punk! That's not what I meant!
There's nothing wrong with it.
You can be honest.
[snarling]
Well, in any case, if you do succeed,
it'll be a great achievement for us both.
However, if you fail,
our reputation
and the branch office's honor
will be ruined.
Got it? It's all-or-nothing.
You're the only one I can trust
with a job this important, Tetsuo.
[Tetsuo] How should we celebrate?
Barbecue or sushi?
If you succeed,
I'll treat you to whatever you want.
-[Tetsuo] I'll have both!
-[chief splutters] Both?!
-Very well…
-[Tetsuo] Really?
-[birds twittering]
-[kids laughing]
-[girl] This way! This way!
-[boy] Okay.
[Tetsuo] Jeez.
When I heard there was a monster,
I couldn't wait to find out who it was.
You're just some kid.
What?!
Yep, that's right. I bet you're shocked.
-Damn right! You were an elite angel?!
-[quirky music playing]
Hey, wait a minute!
[Kyoga] Was this in an alternate reality?
[Tetsuo] No, no, no.
The most surprising part is
that Captain used to be a human!
[bellows] Ah! No way!
That is complete and utter nonsense.
Humans and angels are…
they're entirely different beings.
What you're talking about is impossible.
Normally, yes.
Nothing personal.
I'm just doing my job. What…
-[rock music playing]
-[gasps]
-[grunts]
-[gunshot]
[grunts]
-[sniffs]
-[Tetsuo] What the hell?
Let me go! Hey! Hey! I said let me go!
[screaming]
[loud thud]
[groans]
-[Misaki] I think you dropped something.
-[groans]
Hey, that's my Tamakin!
You little… Give it back!
[inhales]
Bleh!
[Tetsuo] Okay, pip-squeak.
Now you've pissed off an adult!
I'm not gonna hold back!
-[Misaki] Aye!
-Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
-[Misaki] Aye!
-Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
-[Misaki] Aye!
-[screaming]
[gasping]
[heaving]
All right, you.
Time for Inoki-style!
-[chief yelps]
-[Tetsuo] Cobra twist!
Octopus hold!
-[chief] Stop!
-[Tetsuo] Roundhouse kick.
Antonio Inoki's full arsenal!
[roars] With his fighting spirit
coursing through my body…
-[bell dinging]
-[Tetsuo] …I'm unbeatable!
Hey, my mom loves pro wrestling.
She and I used to watch it together.
So, do you also like
Stan Hansen and Hulk Hogan?
[Misaki] I'm more about Tiger Jeet Singh.
[Tetsuo] Same!
[birds twittering]
Thanks for earlier.
Huh?
I always wanted to try out
some pro wrestling moves
on a real opponent.
You didn't when you were alive?
I was too sick when I was alive.
I spent most of my life just lying in bed.
Being a pro wrestler was my dream.
When I got close to the end,
I lost the ability to speak.
-[poignant music playing]
-I couldn't even tell my mom, "Thanks."
"Thanks for giving me… a dream."
[music builds]
-Hey.
-Huh?
You think it'd be okay…
if I went to say goodbye to my mom?
I'm sorry, but that's forbidden.
[gasps]
Stop it! Don't look at me like that!
-That spirit is…
-[Tetsuo] Don't look at me like that!
-Could it be?
-[Tetsuo] I can't take it!
Any minute,
I'm afraid they're going to realize
who you really are.
Is this it?
Better make this quick, okay?
One more thing. Don't tell…
-[chief] Tetsuo!
-[gasps]
Whoa! What are you guys doing here?
Hand over the spirit, Tetsuo.
Don't make a scene.
[Tetsuo] Chief!
What the hell is this?
You said you'd let me handle it.
[Daigoro] The situation has changed.
[Tetsuo grunts] Captain Kyoga?
The mother of that spirit next to you
is a former angel.
An angel who used to be a human,
and a human who used to be an angel.
Now I'm sure this is nonsense.
It sounds like a lie.
But it's not. It's the truth.
[Kyoga] Hey.
This is the first time I've heard
that my father was working in the field.
You know, everyone was young once.
[Kyoga] Mm.
Does Captain Kurogane return home
every year… to meet with her mother?
[Tetsuo] Well…
Huh?
[panting]
We lost him. This is terrible.
[Tetsuo] Is something wrong?
Huh? Who are you?
We're Angels. We're from headquarters.
You're from Headquarters?!
This is an honor!
I'm Inomata,
an angel from the regional branch!
-And I'm Inuyama!
-[funky music playing]
[Tetsuo] Why are you two so wound up?
Because last night, we let
the spirit of a vicious criminal get away.
He died of an illness in prison,
and we tried
to make him pass on right away, but…
But our spirit got away while Inomata was,
uh, getting seconds for lunch.
What?! It was while you were taking
a leak on a telephone pole!
[Inuyama] No!
It was because you got seconds!
-[Inomata] You took a leak!
-[Inuyama] You got seconds!
So basically,
he got away because of your mistakes.
We spent all of last night
looking for him without any leads!
[grunts] If we haven't found him by now,
there's a possibility that he possessed
something and ran away.
It's a very dangerous situation.
[both continue grunting]
[music ends]
That could definitely be an issue.
We can offer our assistance.
[both sigh] Thank you,
thank you, thank you!
Okay. Well, should we split up?
-[Kyoga] Wait a minute.
-Hmm?
We won't find him like this,
just searching blindly.
[Tetsuo] Even if you have a point,
there aren't any leads.
[Kyoga] Where was the spirit last spotted?
I think it was a toy store.
In that case, if he did possess something…
Mini Proto!
If you find a toy acting suspiciously,
inform me immediately.
[Mini Proto whirring]
[woman] Misato!
Come back over here! Misato!
[Misato moans softly]
[woman] Hey, Misato!
I thought I said…
[gasps]
Misato?
[ominous music playing]
[woman] Misato?!
[footsteps running]
[man] I'm gonna use this kid
to make my escape. [laughing]
[yells]
Who the hell are you guys?!
Did you consider that a huge-ass plushie
might not be the best disguise?
Let that child go now.
Ha!
If you want me to let her go,
all you gotta do is get me a new body.
I've heard enough crap outta you.
[man] Stay back, don't come any closer.
[sinister laughter]
Don't you care what happens
to this little brat?
Bastard!
You know, I never was a patient man.
So if you don't hurry up,
there's no telling what I might do!
I'll take it up with headquarters!
But I need time to--
-[explosion]
-[Kyoga and Tetsuo grunting]
[Kyoga groaning, gasping]
Captain Kurogane!
What the hell?! Are you one of them, too?
Tell her if she comes any closer,
I'll take this kid and…
[air whooshing]
[man groans]
[screaming]
[groaning]
[woman] There you are!
Huh? [gasps]
It's all right. She's just asleep.
[woman] My baby!
That human… is Captain Kurogane's mother.
What?!
[splutters] Is that true?
[gasps] Misato! Answer me.
[groaning softly]
[gasps] Mommy?
Misato!
[sobbing] Thank goodness!
[ethereal music playing]
[Tetsuo] What do you mean
she's a… "former angel"?
[chief] I received a report from Kyoga
that the girl's spiritual abilities
were abnormally high.
So I looked into it.
[Tetsuo sighs]
Captain, were you following me?
You've got quite the hobby.
Just listen to me, Tetsuo!
That girl's mother is Asako Kurogane.
She was a former captain of the Send-Off
Department's Dandelion Squad.
She quit the department
and willingly descended
to the human world.
She's a fallen angel.
While carrying out her duties
in the world below,
she fell in love with a human.
She decided to abandon her work
and spend the rest of her life
with her beloved.
With that choice,
she gave up her status as an angel.
I can't believe you're not moved by that.
She has a connection to the department.
At least let her have a final goodbye.
-[chief] I can't do that.
-[Tetsuo gasps]
Whenever an angel chooses
to descend into the world below,
in effect, they reincarnate as a human.
That act is strictly forbidden
by the Code of Netherworld.
[Tetsuo] So what're you gonna do about it?
[chief grunts]
We're not only here for the girl,
but the mother as well.
Asako Kurogane and her daughter will both
be forcibly sent to the afterlife.
What?
You can't do that!
It's not like
this little girl's done anything wrong!
[chief] The Code of the Netherworld
is clear.
[Tetsuo snarls] "Code of the Netherworld."
"Code of the Netherworld." I don't care!
How dare you!
Speaking to a superior like--
[Tetsuo] Shut up! I wasn't asking you!
[grunts, snarling]
Come on, Chief. Can't you do anything?
[chief exhales]
It's out of my hands.
[Tetsuo grunts]
[Misaki] I don't really follow all this.
[Tetsuo exhales]
[Misaki] And I don't really care
what happens to me.
But… at the very least,
can't you save my mom?
She's been through a lot.
She's been taking care of me
by herself this entire time.
Now all I want
is for her to live her life for herself,
even if it's only a little bit.
[Misaki crying]
Oh, please! [sniffles]
I beg you.
[chief sighs]
I'm truly sorry, but there's
nothing I can do to change the code.
[sniffles]
[Tetsuo] Wait a minute.
-How about this?
-[chief] Huh?
[Tetsuo] Why not have her
take over the Dandelion Squad?
She'd replace her mom.
[Misaki gasps]
[Daigoro] Please.
What are you talking about?
If she takes her mom's spot,
you got nothing to complain about, right?
Let her off the hook.
Are you stupid?
How do you expect a mere child
to perform the job of an angel?
Well, lucky for her…
I'm joining Dandelion Squad too.
Wha… what are you talking about?!
You're going to throw
everything away for one spirit?!
-[Tetsuo] Sure, doesn't matter to me.
-[grunts]
Tetsuo, you're this close to a promotion.
If you decide to team up
with that former human,
you'll regret it
for the rest of your life!
I guess that's a chance I'll have to take.
It's a lot better
than making a little kid cry.
[snarls]
That's it! I've heard enough
of this absolute nonsense!
Captain!
Tetsuo, I have great respect
for the resolve you've shown.
I'm going down with you. Hmm.
The kid's got potential.
It'd be a waste to throw it away.
[Daigoro snarls]
But this is ridiculous.
There's no way I'll allow it!
[chief] Kyoga.
You said that you wanted results?
If you let this one go,
I'll make it worth your while.
[growls softly]
[grunting]
But the decision that we made that day…
came with one big sacrifice.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!
No, please, don't worry about it.
I just noticed her as I passed by.
It was no trouble at all.
And please, let me thank you properly.
What's your name young lady?
[gasps softly]
It's okay.
Don't worry about it.
I'm just glad she's back with you.
[Tetsuo] She doesn't remember.
She doesn't know she was an angel
or recognize her daughter.
[tender piano music playing]
Erasing her mother's memories
was the condition for letting
both of them off the hook.
Even so, she still likes to catch
a glimpse of her mother doing well.
That's why Captain takes these trips.
The chief was able
to persuade the higher-ups.
Congrats. They're making you an angel.
There's still a lot
that I don't understand.
But for now, thanks.
Seriously,
I can't handle you crying like that.
[Misaki] Tears are
a girl's greatest weapon.
Huh?
Thanks, Mom. [chuckles]
She said that.
And it turns out she was right!
[Asako] Thank you so much! Really!
[Misato] Bye-bye!
How do hamburgers
for dinner tonight sound to you,
Misaki?
[gasps]
Mommy?
[sobs]
[Misato] What's wrong?
Do you have an owie somewhere?
No. It's nothing.
Nothing at all.
[Misato] Then why are you crying?
[Misaki] Remember,
tears are a girl's greatest weapon.
-[gasps]
-[bell rings]
[whooshing]
[dramatic music playing]
Careful. You shouldn't cry so easily, Mom.
Okay?
Misaki…
[sobbing]
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry… Misaki…
Don't apologize.
I'm having a lot of fun where I am.
But time's almost up.
[sobs]
-Goodbye, Mom.
-[whirring, tinkling]
[echoing] Be happy.
That's the only thing I want.
[whirring fades]
[sobs, sniffles]
Mm.
[music fades]
[bird squawks]
[Misaki] What am I supposed to do
as an angel?
I wouldn't worry
about any of that too much.
As of today, I'm your captain.
[Misaki giggles]
-Thanks.
-Huh?
[Misaki] This is something
I've always wanted.
[man] Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
Ah! I tap out! I tap out!
[man screaming]
Come on! He's getting away!
[Tetsuo panting]
[Misaki] Can't you pedal
any faster, Tetsu?
Shut up!
Don't talk to me like that, you brat!
[screaming] Yah!
Excuse me? What did you just call me?
-[Tetsuo screaming]
-I have a title now.
-I wanna hear you say it.
-[Tetsuo gasping]
[screaming] Ca… Captain!
[Misaki] I've always wanted
my own servant.
Wh…
[Tetsuo] What the hell's
that supposed to mean?!
-[Misaki humming happily]
-[upbeat music playing]
Good morning! How are you guys?
Look at you.
You're in an awfully good mood.
[Misaki] Well, I ate some yummy food
and got a good chance to relax.
Oh, right.
I found something interesting.
The hell is this? A butt-shaped key chain?
[Misaki] It's not a butt! It's a peach!
[Kyoga] Hmm.
[ominous music playing]
[man laughing maniacally]
A success!
[panting]
[man] The Spirit-Body Separator
is complete!
[dance-pop music playing]
[lyrics in Japanese]
[song fades]