01x05 - The Debut

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"The Debut"

"The Debut"

Now we know!

"The Debut"

The phantom mayhem was

caused by an equipment failure.

But if you slack off,

it will happen again!

So keep on your toes! Dismissed!

Did you see how

disappointed Barbie looked?

Rose and I know nothing about

the soot processing equipment.

The Star Bearers handle that.

Barbie must've been sleeping on the job.

Well done, Emilico!

Exchanging letters with you helped.

I never expected a handmade

doll as your reply. Thank you.

I still can't write very well,

so I let my sewing do the talking.

It's about time to return to our rooms.

So it is. We must hurry.

Bye, everyone!

Goodbye!

I really enjoyed that.

Mistress Sarah.

The debut is tomorrow?!

You've been so busy.

There was no chance to tell you.

And we couldn't study together.

Will you make that face at the debut?

You need not clean

anymore today. Go to bed now.

But!

Your job right now is to sleep.

Yes, ma'am. Good night.

Wait.

Come here.

Laugh.

Huh?

Now, act sad.

Oh, um

That's enough.

Huh? What was that all about?

Never mind. Hurry up and get to bed.

I've caused Mistress Kate

nothing but trouble.

I don't understand what she is feeling.

I wonder if Mia understands

everything that Mistress Sarah is feeling.

Mistress Sarah, I beg you to

give me the opportunity to grow.

Very well.

Mistress Kate told me about scorches.

She said they are soot that gathered

and started to move with ill intent.

But if that happens after

soot gathers together awhile

Will Rolly be all right?

But it's been a while,

and he hasn't done anything bad yet.

He's full of Mistress Kate's

goodwill! He'll be fine!

We're not supposed to

go outside of the house.

I wonder if there are people out there

and whether I can meet them.

Maybe I'd learn lots of new things

if I became a Star Bearer.

If so, I want to be a Star Bearer!

We must

become

Star Bearers!

We shall be the ones who gain

Lord Grandfather's approval.

We haven't had our debut,

yet you waste your time with that failure!

Mia, you are to serve Sarah alone!

You are meant to make Sarah shine!

You are exceptional!

I wonder what Mistress Kate wants.

Does she want to be a Star Bearer?

But first, the debut.

If I fail at the debut,

I'll probably be discarded.

I'll never see Mistress Kate again.

I wonder if she has any friends.

I wonder what she likes to do.

I don't know anything about Mistress Kate.

I really want to make it past the debut.

Listen, Shaun.

Yes, Master John?

The debut is tomorrow.

Your nightly watch duty must be tiring,

so enough cleaning. Go rest.

Not yet.

Why?

It's my duty to finish

cleaning my master's room.

Your master, John,

is telling you to go rest.

But I cannot rest while

your room is still dirty.

You're always so stubborn.

And you haven't worn your glasses lately.

You used to wear them here.

I want to get used to not wearing them.

Plus, I have sharp ears and a good nose.

I'll wear them for detailed cleaning.

But why are you wearing glasses?

You finally asked about the glasses!

John asked a veiled doll

to find a pair just like yours!

Now there's no reason

for you not to wear glasses.

Master John, I should be

the one trying to match you.

You don't appreciate

John's attempt at a compromise?

Forgive me.

But if I don't properly

fulfill my role as a living doll,

it will lead to a poor debut evaluation.

You have a point there, Shaun.

Let's dispense with the glasses.

But get some rest. At least

fulfill one of John's requests.

Very well.

John will turn in, too.

Good night, Master John.

I have never given

Mistress Shirley a kiss good night.

Tomorrow, I'll fail at the debut,

and that will be the end of my life here.

Rum, are you okay with that?

It doesn't matter, Rummy!

I don't have anyone who

I could be friends with her,

but it's already too late.

Black Sheep, Good-for-Nothing, and

What was the other one, Ricky?

Sunshine, Master Patrick.

Yes, that was it!

Competition like that can only

serve to make Patrick look good.

There is one more candidate

on dimwitted Roses' team,

but she is not much of a threat.

So then, the only viable

candidate tomorrow is Patrick.

Ricky, you are a fine face.

Patrick is sure to be a Star Bearer.

Then he shall have

Lord Grandfather's love.

All who dare stand in

the way shall be struck down.

We must dispose of

Shadows House's excess baggage.

Patrick will sort

the garbage at the debut.

Will you help, Ricky?

Gladly. I will take out the

garbage once you have sorted it.

Ricky, that's the look.

That is Patrick's face, the look

of contempt for those beneath us.

Don't ever forget that face.

All done with your morning cleaning, Lou?

Then we shall pretty you up.

In addition to paintings, we can also

take and display photos at the debut.

It shall be wonderful!

Let's try some makeup, too.

Oh, how pretty. What a joy it is

to see Louise's face like this.

Aren't you happy, too, Lou?

Of course, Mistress Louise.

Oh, what flawless skin.

Louise simply must touch it.

Oh dear, we must start over

so that you'll look pretty.

I have to wear that?

That's right. We must hide

you before the debut.

A pleasure to meet you. I am Edward,

a special doll who lives in

Lord Grandfather's wing of the house.

Lord Grandfather's wing?

What does it mean to be special?

Now then, this way to the debut hall.

A question for the dolls.

Why do you suppose this corridor

to Lord Grandfather's wing is so long?

Is it a security measure?

It's so the lords can

feel safe and secure.

Living dolls shouldn't

think about such things.

We have some promising dolls as well.

Now, let the debut begin.

Are debuts always this empty?

We can't meet Lord Grandfather yet?

The living dolls may remove their veils,

and you are free to speak.

You are the candidates for today's debut.

Show me what you've got.

Umm

Hmm?

The shadow masters are getting anxious.

They don't know what to do.

We'll be rated according

to what we do here.

I can't mess this up.

"Show me what you've got"?

What does that even mean?!

Master John!

There's food here.

Perhaps we should help ourselves.

Kate shall have some tea to start.

Louise shall have something to eat.

So, your name is Kate, is it?

Yes.

Having never met another shadow

before made Louise quite anxious.

Really? Let's be friends.

No. There is no need for that.

Huh?

Look, look!

This is Louise's face. Isn't it so pretty?

It is.

Right? So glad you agree.

One becomes so anxious

without an objective opinion.

You may tell Louise how wonderful she is.

No, thank you.

Oh, but your face says you would

like to keep looking at Louise.

That makeup makes Lou look even prettier.

Forgive me, Mistress Kate!

Your face isn't anything special.

What did you say?

Look at Patrick's face.

It's nothing like

It's nothing like

The fake smile of one who

doesn't know her place.

Right! It's an expression

you could not possibly make.

How rude! What an atrocious personality!

Atrocious? I beg to differ.

Patrick's face has

a marvelous personality.

Faces have personalities?

N-No! It's Patrick's marvelous

personality that exudes from his face!

Very well, if you say so.

Mistress Louise rose one rank

because the correct way to view

living dolls is as mere faces.

But that is kind of sad.

No! I must remember

my "don't fret" notebook.

Fret not over

Rum.

Rum.

Why don't you try talking to your

shadow master with your finger?

You know, like you did with me that time?

You know about Rummy?

Rummy! I talk to my stuffed toy,

Rolly, just like Rum talks to you.

Would you like some tea?

Oh no! I left Mistress Kate all alone!

A face that forgot where its body was.

No need to be so aggressive.

It's a party. Let's have fun.

Shaun is fulfilling his role as a face.

I-It's so

It's so yummy! It makes one

want to roll upon the floor!

Mistress Kate is acting like me now.

You're no ice queen.

You're so expressive about food.

You're John's cup of tea.

Listen, Kate. That face's behavior

has been atrocious today.

And what's with the name Emilico?

What of it?

Faces must have a name.

It's one of the rules.

Emilico? What a strange name.

A name closer to one's own is customary.

Huh?

Who knows about that shy one,

but the rest of us have such names.

Louise and Lou, John and Shaun,

Patrick and Ricky

It's one's own face, so it's only natural.

Kate must not like her face.

It is a face so unloved.

This won't do. If we remain

so emotionally distant,

we shall fail the debut.

What is wrong with her?

Why won't she act as Kate wishes?

We must be more like Sarah and Mia.

But she frets over trivial matters.

She befriends other faces.

She let that name issue get to her.

Living dolls exist only

to be a shadow's face.

Fretting over trivial matters

amounts to defying your master.

Come what may, a doll must swear

to be ever loyal to its master.

Living dolls need not befriend each other.

What an elegant tune.

Who knew special dolls

could play the piano?

Maybe he wants us to dance to see

if we're at one with each other.

Oh, um, very well. Shall we dance, Ricky?

Oh my! Louise loves to dance.

We've practiced this dance

so very much, haven't we, Lou?

They practiced?

I don't know how to dance.

One can easily see that Louise truly

loves her face, or in short, herself.

She is leading Lou, and Lou is

surrendering to her master.

But with Patrick,

Ricky leads him at times.

Ricky is spotlighting Patrick

without standing out too much.

They are in harmony with

their similar personalities.

We're falling behind.

Emilico will never be Kate's face.

Isn't there some way

we can pass the debut?

Kate doesn't want to get eliminated here.

There is something she must do.

Would you care to dance

Mistress Shirley?

Thank you.

Shall we join them, Shaun?

Don't give up.

Mistress Kate! Forgive me

for feeling discouraged.

I won't give up!

I was wrong.

It was I who was not

paying attention to Emilico.

Very well. Let's dance, Emilico.

But first laugh.

Laugh out loud.

A grand laugh.

That's it. You are fine

just the way you are.

I was never seeking

to be the perfect shadow.

Follow Kate's lead.

Her secret talent will handle the rest.

Huh? My legs are moving on their own.

Surrender yourself to Kate,

and you'll be fine.

Emilico

look how well I can control soot now.

You're hopeless. So many blunders.

You won't ignore those in need,

and you fret over trivial matters.

You're a terrible living doll.

But I think the truly unique

part of you is wonderful.

Plus, you try hard

and are nice to everyone.

But I'd like you to pay

attention to me sometimes.

How dare a living doll

treat a shadow so rudely.

Being judged by a doll was

intolerable from the start.

Where is your shadow, Edward?

I am a special living doll.

Are you suggesting a high-ranking shadow

must appear before

a lowly shadow like you?

Still, you are shadows.

I should have paid you more respect.

Let me apologize by

showing you our lovely garden.

This way, please.

A splendid idea.

Louise would love to see it.

What do you think you're doing?

Huh?

Eat your sweets.

Next episode, "The Garden Labyrinth."