04 HUNGRY! – Versaphile.com

Airdate: January 28, 2023
Source: Crunchyroll
Transcribers: Versaphile and schakerin

Transcript cleanup in progress.

Summary

Vash meets Nicholas, a suspicious undertaker who carries a huge cross. Before they could get to know each other, though, they are attacked by a huge worm, swallowing them and the building they were in. (TVDB)

Carrying His Own Tombstone

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(Opens on a large piece of meat roasting over a fire and three masked men around it eating noisily. A medium-sized worm carcass.)

Masked man 1: Mmm, so good

Masked man 2: There’s nothing that beats a belly full of fresh meat!

Masked man 3: Maybe, but before I die, I wanna chow down on some grub made from plants!

Masked man 1: And I wanna be king of the sand!

Masked man 3: Shut up! You’re gonna get me as pissed off as the worms were today.

Masked man 2: What the…?

(Scene transitions to a view of the expanse of desert, where a single man in black, Nicholas D. Wolfwood, is walking. He carries a huge cross on his back.)

Masked man 2: Huh, that guy. Yall see him?

Masked man 3: Why’s he wearing a suit out here?

Masked man 1: He’s not long for this world.

Masked man 3: At least he’s prepared– dead man’s got his own tombstone!

(All three masked men laugh. The scene changes to a close-up of Nicholas D. Wolfwood’s face as he sweats and pants in the heat.)

(Title card: #04 HUNGRY!)

(Opening sequence)

Bandit A	Fresh meat is the best meat!
Bandit B	I’d love to try plant-based food before I die!
Bandit C	How extravagant!
Bandit B	Anyway, the Worms were awfully irritated today.
Bandit A	Hm?
Bandit A	What’s with that guy?
Bandit B	He’s in a suit in the middle of the desert!
Bandit C	He’s not long for this world.
Bandit B	No kidding! He’s carrying his own tombstone!

He Hasn’t Eaten

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(Scene opens on an aerial view of the reporter’s vehicle, then changes to a view inside from outside the front windshield. Roberto looks out the window, bored. Meryl Stryfe drives. Vash the Stampede is sprawled out in the backseat, sound asleep and snoring softly.)

Man on the radio: Three days have passed since tragedy struck Jeneora Rock.

Meryl Stryfe: (sighs) Rocked the big baby to sleep…

Radio: Officials say the incident* was caused by wanted criminal Vash the Stampede. He’s said to be traveling with both a man and a woman, both of whom have been identified as possible accomplices. The Seven Cities Military Police have added the pair to their search as persons of interest.

Meryl Stryfe: Incredible! So now we’re wanted too?!

Roberto: If this gets back around to headquarters, we’re sacked.

Meryl Stryfe: (groans nervously)

Radio: Next up, your weather forecast–

Roberto: (turns the radio off)

Meryl Stryfe: (sighs)

Roberto: (picks up a sandwich wrapped in paper and motions it slightly towards Meryl) It was his. But he hasn’t touched it.

Meryl Stryfe: Huh? I can’t steal his food.

Roberto: He hasn’t had a bite since that whole mess went down.

(A shot of Vash the Stampede dozing in the backseat through the rearview mirror.)

Roberto: What’s going through that spikey head of his…? Heh, I suppose that’s between him and God. Hm?

(External view of the vehicle, surrounded by endless sand dunes. A mass of green light, similar to an aurora, extends before them.)

Meryl Stryfe: Huh? A sandstorm?

Roberto: Close, but no cigar. More like a worm-storm.

Meryl Stryfe: (shudders and groans)

Roberto: Around these parts, worms are considered an important source of protein. If you can stomach their appearance, they make for pretty decent food.Meryl Stryfe: Suddenly starvation doesn’t sound all that bad to me…

Radio Host	It’s been three days since the tragedy in Jeneora Rock.
Radio Host	The chain of incidents has been linked to the wanted criminal Vash the Stampede.
Meryl	I can’t believe he’s sleeping so soundly.
Radio Host	Additionally, a man and a woman have been identified as possible accomplices.
Radio Host	The seven cities’ military police are also searching for them as persons of interest.
Meryl	So now we’re wanted, too?
Roberto	If headquarters finds out, we’ll be fired.
Radio Host	And now, the weather for the seven cities…
Roberto	It’s his. He doesn’t want it.
Meryl	What? But yesterday…
Roberto	He hasn’t eaten. Not since that day.
Roberto	Only god really knows what goes on inside someone.
Meryl	A sandstorm?
Roberto	No, those are…
Roberto	Worms.
Roberto	In these parts, they’re an important source of protein.
Roberto	If you can stomach the way they look, they’re not bad.
Meryl	I think stomaching that would be the hard part.

Plant Station

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(Roberto chuckles heartily, but is quickly cut off when he looks forward again and notices Nicholas D. Wolfwood suddenly in front of the car. He reaches over Meryl Stryfe and wrenches the wheel to the left, but the vehicle fishtails and the satellite attached to the back slams into him and flings him offscreen.)

(Everybody in the car groans. Vash the Stampede sits back up from where he’d fallen, dramatically with a gasp.)

(The group runs up to the fallen Nicholas D. Wolfwood and crouch down to see if he’s alright.)

Meryl Stryfe: Hey! Are you okay?!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (groans on the ground cartoonishly with blood on his face, twitching)

(Scene changes to Meryl driving the vehicle wildly over the sand dunes across the landscape in the distance. In the foreground, the three masked men from earlier watch with confusion as they transport two medium-sized worms they’ve hunted. The scene transitions back into the vehicle.)

Meryl Stryfe: There’s no dying on my watch, mister!

(Vash the Stampede is in the backseat trying to keep Nicholas D. Wolfwood from being thrown around too much.)
Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (passes out)

(Scene transitions to a run-down fuel station. On the roof is a large stylized lightbulb and a sign underneath that says “PLANT”. Meryl jumps out of the vehicle, skids around the back, then bursts through the front door of the station.)

Meryl Stryfe: We need help! This man is hurt! Th… huh?

(The four walk into the station to see the dead bodies of two people, a man and a woman, with bullet wounds and covered in blood.)

Roberto: Our roadkill’s got nothing on them…

Meryl Stryfe: This level of violence… Could it be…?

Roberto: Could it be who?

(Nicholas D. Wolfwood, who was being supported by Vash the Stampede, stands up on his own. A small banging sound comes from an old locker in the corner of the room. After a moment, Vash the Stampede goes to investigate. He opens the door and looks down to see a child crouched and hiding, shivering with fear.)

Meryl	Are you all right?!
Meryl	You’re not dying on me!
Meryl	Excuse me! This man is hurt…
Roberto	It’s too late for these folks.
Meryl	They came all the way out here?
Nicholas	They?
Nicholas	Okay…

Funeral

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(Scene change to outside the station. Roberto is charging the vehicle. Nicholas D. Wolfwood sighs as he hefts his cross over to where the bodies of the two adults are buried.)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (places his cross firmly in the sand between the two burial mounds. It tilts to one side. He pulls out a bottle of water and uncaps it.) And… there! Uh… Heavenly Father, who art in heaven… (drinks from the bottle, then pours some in his hand) Forgive us our sins, oh Lord, as we forgive those who sin against us. (Throws the water in his hand over one grave and repeats the action again over the other.) Please welcome their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed into your… into your… What is it? Welcome them into your humble abode…?

(Vash the Stampede and Meryl Stryfe look on suspiciously and make noises of confusion. They look at each other in doubt)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Into your pearly gates? Nah, that sounds odd… Deliver unto them… deliverance? Not quite, but I’m getting there. (The cross starts to fall over and he fumbles ungracefully trying to catch it before it falls onto one of the graves. He rights it, coughs, and puts his hands together in prayer.) Um. Make sure there’s some empty chairs, they’re kingdom coming, so!

Meryl Stryfe: That’s enough! You’re not really a priest, huh?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: No, I’m not. I’m an undertaker. Scram, will ya, you’re messing with my mojo.

Meryl Stryfe: (grunts) What’s with the cross? You lookin to crucify somebody? It’s like, stupidly big. (Reaches out to it)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Woah there. No touchy, little lady.Meryl Stryfe: You…

Nicholas	O father in heaven,
Nicholas	forgive us our sins as we forgive our neighbors.
Nicholas	May you accept our fallen brethren
Nicholas	and welcome the departed to your…
Nicholas	What is it?
Nicholas	Welcome them to your… dinner?
Nicholas	No, that’s a meal.
Nicholas	Deliver them unto your… design?
Nicholas	No, nobody’s talking about fashion.
Nicholas	Uh, give us a drive…
Nicholas	He’s not your chauffeur, you idiot.
Meryl	Are you really a priest?
Nicholas	I’m no priest. Just an undertaker.
Nicholas	Now back off. You’re ruining it.
Meryl	Anyway, what’s this cross? It’s way too huge.
Nicholas	Hey, keep your mitts off of it.
Meryl	What?

You Still Deserve To Eat

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Vash the Stampede: Take it easy… (glances pointedly to where the kid is staring blankly at the graves)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (walks over to the kid, pulling a red lollipop out of the inside of his blazer and unwrapping it. He sticks it in his mouth, crouches down to the kid’s level, then pulls out another and offers it to them.) Hey. You lookin’ hungry. It’s yummy.

Meryl Stryfe: Just leave the kid be–

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: I’m like you. I lost my parents, too. Grew up in an orphanage.

Kid: (takes the proffered lollipop)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: See, yummy! Heh, no matter how heavy the cross is you carry, you deserve food. And to laugh. (smiles for the kid and points at the corners of his mouth. He chuckles and stands up)

Kid: (wimpers with the lollipop in their mouth)

Vash	Hey, you two.
Nicholas	Here.
Nicholas	You’re hungry, right?
Nicholas	It’s good.
Meryl	Maybe you should leave him be‚
Nicholas	I lost my parents, too. I grew up in an orphanage.
Nicholas	Good, right?
Nicholas	No matter how heavy a cross you carry,
Nicholas	you still deserve to eat. You still deserve to laugh.

My Rates

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Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (walks back over to Vash the Stampede and Meryl Stryfe and holds out a slip of paper to them)

Vash the Stampede: Huh? (takes the paper, looks at it, and makes a silly noise of surprise)

Meryl Stryfe: (leans over to see and makes a noise of surprise)

(shot reveals that the slip of paper says:

INVOICE

$$20,000 )

Vash the Stampede: TWENTY THOUSAND?!

Meryl Stryfe: What a ripoff!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: You probably should have asked for my rates before hiring me.

Meryl Stryfe: Hold on, we didn’t hire anyone, you volunteered before we had the chance!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: No I didn’t.

Meryl Stryfe: There are witnesses!

Roberto: (walks towards the group) Are we wrapping this up?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood (background, concurrent): [indistinguishable]

Vash the Stampede: (offers Roberto the piece of paper)

Meryl Stryfe (background, concurrent): As a reporter it’s my duty to expose injustice!

Roberto: Heh, what con artist is stupid enough to charge this price?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood (background, concurrently): [indistinguishable sentence] Cough up the dough already!

Roberto: Speaking of conning, shouldn’t you be injured or something? You did get hit by a big-ass truck, after all.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: I’m tough. The Man Upstairs blessed me in that way.

Roberto: (chuckles while sizing Nicholas D. Wolfwood up)

(an extremely high-pitched noise starts and the environment starts to rumble. the whole group struggles to stay upright.)

Meryl Stryfe: Earthquake?!

Vash the Stampede: I don’t think so!

(an aerial shot shows the area around the fueling station shifting dangerously before being swallowed up by a giant worm)
Vash the Stampede: It’s a grand worm!

Vash	Twenty thousand?!
Meryl	What a rip-off!
Nicholas	You should’ve asked my rates before asking me to work, dolts.
Meryl	You volunteered yourself before we even could!
Nicholas	Did not.
Meryl	You can’t talk your way out of this!
Nicholas	Man, you’re dogged.
Roberto	Are we done?
Meryl	I won’t brook this injustice!
Roberto	Wait, what’s this ridiculous price?
Nicholas	What? Stop blabbering and pay up!
Roberto	By the way, aren’t you hurt? You got hit by a car, but you look fine.
Nicholas	Yeah, I’m tough. It’s my saving grace.
Meryl	An earthquake?
Vash	No, this is…
Vash	A Grand Worm!
Roberto	No way!

Detached Electron Network

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(the crew tumbles down the worm’s throat in a river of sand, yelling. Vash the Stampede is first, followed by Meryl Stryfe holding the kid, Nicholas D. Wolfwood holding his cross, and Roberto in order. They groan and sit up when they hit the ground. A large chunk of metal lands beside Meryl Stryfe and the kid)

Roberto: Incoming!

Meryl Stryfe: (gasps, the color draining from her face)

(the truck and the rest of the fueling station hurtle towards the two, but Vash the Stampede sweeps them away before they’re crushed. the dust settles)

Vash the Stampede: You guys aren’t hurt, are you?

Meryl Stryfe: No, thanks to you.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (stalks over and grumbles)

Meryl Stryfe: Ew. Pretty dang musty down here.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Watch where you’re walkin’ little lady.

Meryl Stryfe: Huh? (sees a skeleton scattered on the ground and shrieks when a small worm flies out of an eye socket and right past her) Uh-ugh, grody…

Vash the Stampede: Wait a sec. Check ‘em out.

(the small worm flies near the belly-wall of the grand worm. The wall lights up with bioluminescence wherever the small worm flies, as if communicating)

Meryl Stryfe: It’s like they’re talking… I’ve heard something about worms being interconnected.

Roberto: You’ve heard right; that’s its detached electron network. The bigger the worm, the more detached electrons it holds. Judging by his size, this guy must be a pillar of his community.

Meryl Stryfe: Which means?Roberto: Which means we’re inside the head honcho.

Vash	Are you okay?
Meryl	Yes, thank you.
Meryl	Ew, it’s so damp.
Nicholas	Watch your step.
Meryl	Come on!
Vash	Wait, take a look.
Meryl	They’re resonating?
Meryl	So it’s true. The Worms really are interconnected.
Roberto	That’s their detached electron network.
Roberto	The bigger the Worm, the more detached electrons it holds.
Roberto	This guy must be the pillar of the Worms in the area.
Meryl	Meaning?
Roberto	He’s the boss around here.

Split Up

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Kid: (starts to wander off in the direction of the small worm)

Meryl Stryfe: (reaching out to them) Woah, don’t!

Vash the Stampede: Hey…!

Kid: (scurries up a mound and out of sight)

Meryl Stryfe: Come back!

(scene transitions to Meryl Stryfe and Vash the Stampede arriving in a clearing with four tunnel openings. Nicholas D. Wolfwood and Roberto arrive behind them at a slower pace.)

Vash the Stampede: Now which one would our friend choose…?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: The kiddo is quite the twinkle toes.

Roberto: Your toes might be twinklin’ if you put down that cross.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Sorry, big man, can’t work without it. You never know when you might need an undertaker…

Roberto: Hm…

Meryl Stryfe: We can’t waste time.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Right, then let’s split up. The far one’s yours, needle-noggin–

Vash the Stampede: Who, me?!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: –little lady, you’re next to him–

Meryl Stryfe: That’s Meryl Stryfe to you!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: –old drunkle, take number three.

Roberto: (sighs deeply)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: This last one is all mine.

Meryl Stryfe: Who died and made you king, huh?!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Hey, we can’t waste time.Roberto: (pulls out a small gun, a derringer, and loads two bullets into it before sliding it shut)

Meryl	Oh, hey!
Meryl	Wait!
Vash	Which hole did he go into?
Nicholas	I envy kids and their light feet.
Roberto	Why don’t you put down that cross, then?
Nicholas	It’s the tool of my trade. How would I make a living if I offloaded it?
Meryl	We need to hurry.
Nicholas	Then we should split up.
Nicholas	Needle-noggin, you take the farthest one.
Vash	Needle-noggin?
Nicholas	Little missy can take the next one.
Meryl	My name is Meryl Stryfe!
Nicholas	Uncle Downer can go there.
Nicholas	And I’ll take that one.
Meryl	Why’re you calling the shots?
Nicholas	I thought you were in a hurry.

In The Tunnel

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(scene change to inside tunnel two, where Meryl Stryfe is crawling on hands and knees with a flashlight in her hand)

Meryl Stryfe: This is idiotic. I bet he’s just trying to make a buck; that weirdo profits off death. (She hears something and shudders, turning back to check behind her.) So, nobody’s out there to get me, yeah…? (She turns forward again and looks ahead to see the kid’s crumpled form further down the tunnel. She gasps, moves into a crouch, and runs over.) I’m almost to you!

Kid: (makes quiet, pained noises)

Meryl Stryfe: (lets out a sigh) I’m right here.

(scene transitions to a first person view of something rushing towards the two of them from behind Meryl Stryfe. She turns back at the last second and yelps. The flashlight drops to the ground.)

(Mid-episode eyecatch)

Meryl	I don’t get it.
Meryl	Why split up when there’s no telling what could happen?
Meryl	N-No one’s there, right?
Meryl	Are you all right?!
Meryl	Thank goodness.

I Can See It In His Eyes

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(scene opens on a shot of ten cigarette butts on the ground. Nicholas D. Wolfwood drops an eleventh and grinds it underfoot. He lights another. Vash the Stampede emerges from one of the tunnels)

Vash the Stampede: Well, I got nothin’. No trace of ‘em.

Roberto: (emerges from the tunnel next to Vash the Stampede’s, grumbling) Nothing here, either.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: I say we call it. If we don’t figure a way outta here soon, we’re dead too.

Vash the Stampede: Come on, nobody’s dead, okay? Soon as we find them, we’ll go.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (scoffs) Just jumpin’ to risk your life for theirs, huh? Got a God complex or a death wish? Heh, guess time will tell.

(a small worm flies by. Nicholas D. Wolfwood snatches it out of the air and immediately bites its head off. He tosses the body and spits after it.)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: You only get one life, y’know? (he snatches another small worm from the air) Self-sacrifice might satisfy the ego, but don’t throw your life away. (he tosses the worm to Vash the Stampede, who catches it) Survival’s everything.

Vash the Stampede: (observes the worm in his grasp. after a few seconds, he sets it free)

Roberto: Slow your roll, Stampede. They always take the first bite to get your guard down, then lace the rest with poison before passing it to you, the target. It’s a textbook assassination technique.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Huh?

Roberto: I’m a reporter, after all. And though our agency’s not much to write home about, we get decent intel. I heard something the other day, something about folks who could control the worms around here.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Heh. You accusing me? Then allow me to remind you: I’m trapped in here too.

Roberto: If you’re so innocent, how about you unwrap that precious cross of yours and let me take a look?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: I’m getting real tired of this game.

Roberto: (pulls out his derringer) Based on the way you’re lugging it around, it’s safe to say it’s not a standard wooden cross. Now give us a little peek, why don’t’cha?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: What, are you gonna make me? That derringer’s too light to do much damage, but… you can try.

Vash the Stampede: (chuckles nervously and holds his hands out placatingly) We’re all friends here, aren’t we…?

Roberto: Just trust me with this one. This guy’s the type of killer to do his work with a smile.

Vash the Stampede: Nah, I think I’ve gotta disagree with you, there.

Roberto: And what makes you so sure?

Vash the Stampede: (smiles warmly at Nicholas D. Wolfwood) Those are the eyes of a good guy.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (stares back for a moment before looking away, grumbling) …I’ll take that as a compliment.Vash the Stampede: (turns back to where Roberto was standing and chuckles) Good guy, see? (he notices Roberto has disappeared) Roberto…?

Vash	No luck. I can’t find them anywhere.
Roberto	Me neither.
Nicholas	That’s enough. You should find a way out unless you wanna die, too.
Vash	I’m sure they’re both fine. We’ll find and help them.
Nicholas	So you’d risk your life for theirs?
Nicholas	Self-sacrifice on self-sacrifice… You’re a weird one.
Nicholas	You only get one life.
Nicholas	You have to fight for it, no matter who you hurt in the process.
Nicholas	There’s no other way to survive.
Roberto	Watch out, Stampede.
Roberto	They take the first bite to get your guard down,
Roberto	then lace what they pass to their target with poison.
Roberto	Standard stuff for assassins.
Nicholas	Huh?
Roberto	Our news agency isn’t much to be proud of,
Roberto	but one thing we do have is a good intel network.
Roberto	I’ve heard about humans who control Worms.
Nicholas	Who, me?
Nicholas	That makes no sense, you dolt. I’m stuck in here with you.
Roberto	In that case, let me check out that precious cross of yours.
Nicholas	This isn’t funny anymore.
Roberto	From the look of it, it’s too heavy to be a mere cross.
Roberto	Give me a peek inside, why don’t you?
Nicholas	Why don’t you make me?
Nicholas	With your derringer that looks too light to be a real gun, hmm?
Vash	Come on, you two.
Roberto	Stampede, this is a man who can kill with a smile on his face.
Vash	No, I don’t think so.
Roberto	Why’s that?
Vash	I can see it in his eyes.
Nicholas	You really mess with me.
Vash	See?
Vash	Roberto?

Lost

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(scene changes to Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood walking through a narrow corridor. Vash the Stampede swings a flashlight back and forth.)

Vash the Stampede: Meryl! Roberto!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: It’s pointless. They’re long digested by now.

Vash the Stampede: I dunno, this place is covered in all sorts of remains. Worms might not be the speediest digesters. Plus, no reporter-shaped skeletons.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: All that to say…?

Vash the Stampede: That it’s way too early to throw in the old towel.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Fine. But wandering in circles isn’t the best strategy.

Vash the Stampede: (stops and checks behind him)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Maybe they already found a way outta here. Maybe we’re the lost ones.Vash the Stampede: Hey, hey! Eheheh, no more scaring me, please and thank you!

Vash	Meryl!
Vash	Roberto!
Nicholas	It’s pointless. They’ve all been digested.
Vash	This place is covered in skeletons, so the Worms can’t digest that much.
Vash	Besides, I haven’t seen a single one of their bones.
Nicholas	What about it?
Vash	It’s too early to give up.
Nicholas	So, how long do you want to keep wandering in circles?
Vash	Um…
Nicholas	Maybe we’re the lost ones, not them.
Vash	Come on… Stop trying to scare me.

Worm Spout

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(scene transitions briefly to a first-person view of something rushing at the two. They both turn around. Scene transitions again to outside in the desert, where the grand worm peaks above the sands and blows Vash the Stampede, Nicholas D. Wolfwood, and the cross out of its blowhole high into the sky. They scream and land hard on the sand)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: We were in the damn thing’s nose?!

Vash the Stampede: (sneezes and shakes sand from his ear)

Masked man 1: (calling from a distance) Hey, are you guys okay?!

Masked man 3: Now that was a worm spout!

Masked man 1: Hurry up, y’all, it’s behind you!

Masked man 2: I’ve never seen one so massive!

(the three call out concurrently, indistinguishable)

Masked man 2: Hey, don’t you wanna live?!

(the sand starts to rumble, Vash the Stampede stands up and turns to move towards the worm in the distance. Nicholas D. Wolfwood grabs him by the shoulder)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Hey, stop! You won! Quit while you’re ahead!

Vash the Stampede: (shakes off his hand)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (falls flat on his back, growls) There’s no guarantee you’re gonna be so lucky in round two!

Vash the Stampede: …you should go now.

Masked man 1: What the hell are you doing?!

Masked man 2: You’re toast!

Masked man 3: This way!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: You fool!

(the grand worm charges at them and opens its mouth to swallow them. Vash the Stampede stands unflinching as it swallows the two of them)

Nicholas	So we were in its nose…
Bandit A	Hey, you guys! Are you all right?!
Bandit C	It’s a Worm spout!
Bandit B	I’ve never seen such a big one before!
Bandit C	Run! Hurry! Behind you!
Bandits	Beat it! Hurry! Run! Come on!
Nicholas	Hey, hey! You just lucked out and you’re gonna throw it all away?
Nicholas	There’s no guarantee you’ll get lucky again!
Vash	You should run.
Bandit A	Don’t do it!
Bandit B	You’ll die!
Bandit C	Run! Hurry!
Nicholas	You fool…

Zazie The Beast

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(scene transitions to the inside of the worm. Vash the Stampede gets up from the ground as many small worms fly past in the same direction. The kid stands atop a large mound, back turned towards Vash the Stampede. The small worms seem to be flying towards them.)

Vash the Stampede: You’re alive.

Kid: (turns around) Huh? (runs towards Vash the Stampede and hugs him around the waist.)

Vash the Stampede: (loosely hugging the kid back) You’re alright now.

(a thud draws Vash the Stampede’s attention behind him. Nicholas D. Wolfwood stands there with the cross upright)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: You’ve known me for all of a day. And you’ve let me out of your sight at least a few dozen times now.

Vash the Stampede: Well, I mean, you haven’t shot me yet, have you?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (chuckles humorlessly)

(the kid breaks free of Vash the Stampede’s grasp, jumping backwards up the mound, athletic in a way a kid wouldn’t be. A high pitched whining noise starts)

Vash the Stampede: The tiny buzzing sound… it must be you. You’re the one controlling the worms.

Kid?: Oh, well that’s weird. Regular old humans shouldn’t be able to hear that sound at all. Congrats, I guess you’re onto me, huh?

Vash the Stampede: Did you murder that couple?

Kid?: It’s funny, whenever humans see a kid hanging around grown-ups, they assume they’re a family.

Vash the Stampede: Can you please just tell me where my friends are?

Kid?: You came back for the girl and the old guy? (giggles, removes their hat, revealing themself as Zazie the Beast, wearing an entirely different wardrobe) I don’t understand you at all… You would sacrifice your life for a tiny chance to save theirs?

(the texture of the inside of the worm changes, becoming softer, slicker, and dripping a viscous liquid.)

Vash the Stampede: C’mon, just give them back, okay?!

Zazie the Beast: Look, if you’re so certain I have them then why don’t you make me? (skips off away from Vash the Stampede)

Vash the Stampede: (struggles to remain upright as his feet start to get swallowed up by the soft ground)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: And you left yourself wide open. Again.

(fabric flutters, revealing Nicholas D. Wolfwood’s large cross-shaped gun. He swings it around with a flourish, turning the skull-shaped trigger which reveals a large machine gun attachment inside.)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (chuckling) You hungry? (fires the gun in Vash the Stampede’s direction, a few bullets freeing his feet from the soft ground while others fire past Zazie the Beast and into the wall of the worm in the shape of a large circle) Then eat this!

(The section of wall is sucked out, leaving a gaping hole to the outside. The grand worm is shown leaping and arcing high into the air)

Vash the Stampede: Who are you?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Just an undertaker.

Zazie the Beast: Bye! See ya! Well, maybe. Chances are you won’t even make it out of here. Real shame, huh? (cackles. an insectoid mask with wings covers their face and the cackles turn high-pitched. They’re lifted by the mask wings and float out of the hole in the side of the grand worm, joining a legion of small worms)

Vash the Stampede: Hey, come back!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (switches attachments on the gun and swings it around several times in a series of flourishes) Anyone who tries to eat me… has hell to pay! Make sure your dinner doesn’t bite back!

(Nicholas D. Wolfwood fires a powerful laser, piercing the worm. From outside its shown moving in a full circle from the back of the grand worm, slicing it in half down the middle. Blood explodes out of the grand worm as it collapses to the sand. The masked men watch on in the distance. After a few moments they turn to each other and giggle, clapping their hands with excitement.)

Vash	You’re…
Vash	You’re all right now.
Nicholas	A little too careless, aren’t we?
Nicholas	We only met today. How many times have you let me out of your sight?
Vash	Yet not once did you shoot me.
Vash	That unique mosquito sound…
Vash	So you’re the one controlling the Worms.
Zazie	That’s odd. It should be inaudible to regular humans.
Zazie	Good job seeing through my disguise.
Vash	Did you kill that couple, too?
Zazie	Humans always assume it’s a family
Zazie	when they see a group of adults and children.
Vash	Where are Meryl and Roberto?
Zazie	You came back for them?
Zazie	I simply don’t understand…
Zazie	Didn’t you realize returning for them would get you killed?
Vash	Give them back!
Zazie	If you must know what happened to them, then make me talk.
Vash	Damn it…
Nicholas	You’re leaving yourself wide open again.
Nicholas	Eat this.
Nicholas	Pathetic Worm!
Vash	Who are you?
Nicholas	Just an undertaker.
Zazie	I’ll be seeing you.
Zazie	That is… assuming you get out of here alive.
Vash	Hey, wait!
Nicholas	You’re not getting away, Worm.
Nicholas	I’m a tough nut to crack.

I Still Deserve To Eat And Laugh

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(Scene change to later in the evening. A large, juicy piece of worm roasts atop a fire. Nicholas D. Wolfwood, Meryl Stryfe, and the three masked men sit around the fire. Everyone but Meryl Stryfe has a large chunk of roasted worm.)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: The fresher the better, that’s what I say.

Meryl Stryfe: Ugh.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: What’s wrong? You still feeling sick?

Meryl Stryfe: Oh, no. I’m all good, thank you. Though we may have our differences, I appreciate you saving m–

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (thrusting his chunk of worm up to Meryl Stryfe’s face) Here! Dig in.

Meryl Stryfe: (gags) I’ll have to pass…

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (wrestles with Meryl Stryfe, pushing the worm meat into her face) Are any of you freaks interested in survival? Come on! Open wide!

Meryl Stryfe: (struggles)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: It’s good…!

Meryl Stryfe: Hands off me! This behavior is unacceptable!

Roberto: (standing separately from the group with Vash the Stampede) What a guy… His weapon of salvation is a weapon of mass destruction… that explains its weight.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood (background, concurrent): It’s okay! I’m helping!

Meryl Stryfe (background, concurrent): More like torturing me! Get off!!

Vash the Stampede: (chuckles)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood (background, concurrent): Can’t have the little lady getting [indistinguishable]

Roberto: I did try to warn you he’s bad news.

Meryl Stryfe (background, concurrent): I am a perfectly average-sized woman!

Vash the Stampede: It’s thanks to him we’re not all melting in a worm right now.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood (background, concurrent): [indistinguishable]

Roberto: You’re seriously gonna thank the gun-slinging psycho for slinging the gun? Bit too generous if you ask me.

Vash the Stampede: Heard that one before… (walks off to join the rest of the group)

Roberto: Well… then it might be time to listen.

Vash the Stampede: (waves over his shoulder at Roberto without looking back)

Roberto: Heh.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (standing on opposite sides of the fire from Meryl Stryfe) You’re going to starve to death.

Meryl Stryfe: That’s my choice to make!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: It’s pretty childish to be picky.

Meryl Stryfe: Hilarious coming from you.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Hey, I ate my dinner.

Vash the Stampede: (sits down between them and grabs a chunk of worm meat from the roast. takes a huge bite)

Meryl Stryfe: (gasps) Look at you!

Vash the Stampede: I think I deserve to eat and laugh and stuff, don’t you?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (smiles at Vash the Stampede and chuckles quietly. He holds out his hand) The name’s Nicholas D. Wolfwood.

Vash the Stampede: Vash the Stampede.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Needle noggin.Vash the Stampede: Pardon me?

Nicholas	Fresh meat is definitely the best!
Nicholas	What, you still feeling sick?
Meryl	No, I’m fine thanks to you…
Meryl	I appreciate you saving me‚Äî
Nicholas	Here, eat.
Meryl	I’m fine…
Nicholas	You’re not going so survive like that.
Nicholas	Come on! Eat up!
Meryl	Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!
Roberto	I see now. The cross is actually a machine gun.
Roberto	No wonder it’s so heavy.
Roberto	I told you he’s bad news.
Vash	But we made it through thanks to him.
Roberto	You’d thank a villain for his vagaries?
Roberto	That’s a little too generous.
Vash	I get that a lot.
Roberto	Then fix it already…
Nicholas	Just eat up already.
Meryl	I told you, I’m fine.
Nicholas	Don’t be picky with your food.
Meryl	That’s not the deal.
Nicholas	Then what is?
Meryl	Vash…
Vash	I still deserve to eat and laugh, right?
Nicholas	The name’s Nicholas D. Wolfwood.
Vash	Vash the Stampede‚Äî
Nicholas	Needle-noggin.
Vash	N-Needle-noggin?

Tagging Along

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Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (walks away) Well, better get movin’.

Meryl Stryfe: Huh? You think you’re coming with us?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: With the kind of folks y’all are dealing with? You could use an undertaker.

Meryl Stryfe: Gee, thanks, but no.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Half off! Whaddya say?

Meryl Stryfe: Yeah, no thank you!

Roberto: (lighting a cigarette) You should ask him why he thinks he can charge us.

Meryl Stryfe: Just tell this con artist to get lost!

Roberto: I’d love to, but it’s not like we ever got permission to run with the Stampede.

Meryl Stryfe: Come on, that isn’t the same at all!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Damn, grandpa, I wouldn’t have pegged you as the reasonable one. (snatches a cigarette from the pack still in Roberto’s hand) Thank ya, sir.

Roberto: You shouldn’t have pegged me as generous either.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Yikes, god frowns on cheapskates!

Meryl Stryfe: None for you! We can’t afford two smokers!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood: The boss man’ll have to quit.

Vash the Stampede: (gazing at the sky, chuckles) Hey guys, get a look at the sky!

Meryl Stryfe: The grown-ups are talking! Huh?

(the group looks up at the sky where thousands of flying worms make up a veritable aurora in the dark)

Meryl Stryfe: It’s gorgeous…

Roberto: …You’re aware those are all worms, aren’t you?

Meryl Stryfe: Aaand, it’s ruined. Thanks for that.

Nicholas	Welp, let’s get going.
Meryl	Wait, you’re coming with us?
Nicholas	You need someone like me, don’t you?
Nicholas	Seems you’re dealing with some unsavory types.
Meryl	Thank you, but no.
Nicholas	I won’t be too expensive.
Meryl	No, thanks.
Roberto	You should be asking why he thinks he can charge us.
Meryl	Please say something, Roberto!
Roberto	Well, we’re just tagging along without permission, too.
Meryl	It’s totally different!
Nicholas	Huh, I didn’t expect him to be the reasonable one.
Nicholas	Gimme one.
Roberto	I didn’t say you could have one.
Nicholas	Don’t be so cheap.
Meryl	No! We can’t afford any more expenditure!
Vash	Look! Check out the sky.
Meryl	What now? This is important…
Meryl	How pretty.
Roberto	Those are all Worms.
Meryl	Thanks for ruining it.

Earned Their Trust

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A closeup of Nicholas D. Wolfwood’s hand, holding a lit cigarette. Nine cigarette butts litter the ground around him. A small worm flies up to him. He is sitting on the roof of another fueling station, sitting against a pillar. The worm joins a small, dense swarm of worms behind him.
Nicholas D. Wolfwood: You overdid it. You almost got me killed, too…	Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Talk about overkill. You nearly got me too…
The swarm of worms becomes Zazie the Beast. Zazie walks up to Nicholas D. Wolfwood as stray worms fly around them.
Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Zazie the Beast. Zazie the Beast: But you earned their trust, right? Besides, killing “friends” is your favorite. You honestly couldn’t care less about human lives, could you? (chuckles) I can see it in your eyes. Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (chuckles dryly) Hah, I don’t care. I just do my job, no matter who I’m up against.	Nicholas D. Wolfwood: Zazie the Beast. Zazie the Beast: Boo-hoo, you made it out fine and ultimately earned their trust, right? Now you’ll get to kill some friends! Your favorite pastime… Be honest, you couldn’t care less about taking human lives if you tried, could you? (chuckles) I can see it in your eyes, y’know. Nicholas D. Wolfwood: (chuckles dryly) It’s no biggie. I just keep my head down and do my job. Whatever that may be.

Access To The Higher Dimension

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Vash the Stampede sleeps on top of the van, stretched out on his back with his hands behind his head and his legs crossed. His travel bag is beside him. He snores softly.
William Conrad (voiceover): What Vash the Stampede manifested at that moment–	William Conrad (voiceover): In that moment, Vash the Stampede manifested–
The inside of a large storage area in JuLai tower. The room is at least several stories high and filled with red plants. Each plant is labeled “能源来源” (“Energy Source”) on the front of its tank, in large black characters. Seven rows of thirteen plants are visible in one corner. Access elevators hang in front of them, and one rises, carrying a red plant upwards.
William Conrad: –must be the gate that allows access to the higher dimension. But it’s still locked. His morality and ethics are functioning as a defensive measure.	William Conrad: –what must have been the Gate which allows access to the higher dimension. As far as I can tell, said Gate is still locked. His morality and ethics are functioning as a defensive measure.
Two large robots carry red plants. Elendira the Crimsonnail watches them.* William Conrad stands and Millions Knives sits along a row of red plants.*
William Conrad: Your little brother is more human than anyone. Millions Knives: (chuckles) Then we’ll just have to pry it open.	William Conrad: Your younger brother is more human than most anyone. Millions Knives: (chuckles) No fear. We will pry it open.
Millions Knives manifests blades on his left hand, then lets the blades disappear again.
Millions Knives: We’ll destroy him if we have to.	Millions Knives: And if we must, we’ll destroy his very being.
The Stars α (Ending Credits) sequence plays.

End Credits Concept Art

Concept art by Tajima Koji, at the end of "HUNGRY!" In the desert, a figure watches glowing swarms of worms in the night sky. — Concept art by Tajima Koji, at the end of “HUNGRY!” In the desert, a figure watches glowing swarms of worms in the night sky.