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For other topics with a similar title, see Black Lagoon (disambiguation).

The Black Lagoon is the first episode of the Black Lagoon anime. It originally aired in Japan on April 8, 2006.

Summary[]

While on a business trip at sea for his company, Rokurō Okajima is abducted by the members of the Lagoon Company.

Plot[]

In the background of Japan, the Japanese salaryman Rokurō Okajima recalls how he has made it to a businessman's city after somehow graduating from state university. In his dreary life in the city of winter, he is bossed around by his superior Fujiwara, though he wishes to take his place in order to remain sane. However, Rokurō claims that such a life is faraway while he is away in the South China Sea. On the cargo ship Melanesia, he is punched by a pirate, Dutch, who asks him again if the disk that the latter holds is the Asahi Heavy Industrial Co. package that Rokurō is supposed to deliver to his chief in Borneo. Though the salaryman confirms and wants to know why they need him, Dutch tells him to quiet while his fellow pirate, Revy, suggests shooting Rokurō in the kneecaps to make him fess up. Dutch responds that it will not be necessary. Below them, in the PT boat Black Lagoon, Benny radios to Dutch that a vessel, possibly a Filipino Navy patrol boat, is heading their way from Subic Bay.

As the unarmed crew members of Melanesia continue to keep their heads down, Dutch orders Benny to start the engines. He then warns the sailors not to pursue him since he has a torpedo boat, giving them a half hour to stay put. Hearing this, Rokurō expresses his relief until Revy points her pistol at him, sternly informing him that he is coming with them. The nervous salaryman believes she is joking but is shocked when Revy genuinely forces him onboard the Black Lagoon. In the bridge, Dutch radios his client Balalaika, informing her that he has the package. Pleased, Balalaika remarks that she enjoys smart work. In Japan, at Asahi Industries HQ, Materials Procuerment Department Chief Kageyama tells his fellow board members in a closed meeting that Bougainvillea Trade Company contacted them around 4 p.m. concerning negotiations for the stolen disk. He elaborates that the company is a front for the Russian Mafia that has continued to displace the Chinese Mafia in Southeast Asia, causing the Director to ask what they would want. Kageyama guesses that the Russians want control of the shipping route where the deal is to occur.

Realizing that the Russian Mafia is blackmailing them, the Vice President comments that it will be the biggest scandal in Asahi Industries' history if the contents of the disk are leaked to the public. Being handed a report from Jakarta, Kageyama relays to the board that according to a local Chinese merchant, the Russians have yet to receive the disk. Smiling maliciously, he proposes stopping the disk from reaching the Russians. Replying that he understands, the Vice President permits Kageyama to resolve the matter and choose whatever means necessary. In the sea, at sunset, Dutch berates Revy for taking a hostage, but she reasons that they can get more money than the measly $20,000 for their current job. Benny states that her plan is simpleminded, causing Revy to threaten to kill him. Poking holes through her plan, Dutch rhetorically asks her if she knows who to call, how to negotiate, and how to wire the ransom to a bank account. Furious, Revy shoots at Rokurō and yells that they should throw him overboard. As Rock sits unharmed but terrified, Dutch restrains her until she agrees to calm down.

On deck, Dutch takes Rokurō on a break, giving him a cigarette. The salaryman asks what will happen to himself, with Dutch saying that he will contact his company somehow and set up a trade. Disappointed that the incident will go on his permanent record, Rokurō gloomily looks ahead. Dutch specifies that the Lagoon Company are just deliverymen working for a client, summarizing that he brushes up against the law occasionally to be able to eat. As Rock thinks to himself that he may have Stockholm Syndrome, Dutch asks for his name. That night, back in Japan, Fujiwara apologizes to the Director for not informing him that the employee Rokurō Okajime was captured. Hearing him state that Rokurō was one of the few people who could be entrusted to deliver the disk, the Director calms down and asks Kageyama about his insight. Repeating what he said earlier, Kageyama answers that their company is in crisis and cannot handle any more delays. He asserts that he has subcontracted the E.O. Company to send their professionals.

Meanwhile, in Thailand, at the Lagoon Company dry dock in Roanapur, Black Lagoon docks and the pirates disembark. Dutch orders "Rock" to come with, confusing him. Benny tells the salaryman that he means him, asking him if he wants to go out for a drink. Soon, they arrive at the Yellow Flag. Inside, Rock is surprised at the tense atmosphere and everyone carrying a gun with them, comparing it to a bar in cowboy westerns. Complimenting his analogy, Dutch notes that the Yellow Flag was founded by ARVN soldiers who then began taking in fugitive soldiers. Exhausted, Rokurō mutters that he does not like confrontations. When Dutch leaves the bar counter to make a call, Benny assures "Rock" that Dutch is a bit eccentric but cool-headed, adding that he has partnered with him for the past two years. Rock observes that Benny seems different from everyone else in town. Talking about his own past, Benny recalls that he was at a university in Florida when he angered both the FBI and the mafia. Interrupting him, Revy finishes the story by boasting that she saved him before he could be violently killed. She advises Benny not to reminisce and pours a drink of rum for herself and Rock. Gulping down a glass, Revy claims that rum is tougher than beer, insulting Rock for lacking the guts to challenge a woman.

To her surprise, he gulps down a glass and retorts that she should not underestimate the drinking endurance of a Japanese salaryman. As Rock and Revy mutually order the bartender to give them all the Bacardi he has, Benny reminds Rock that he claimed to hate confrontations. Speaking with Balalaika over the phone, Dutch learns about Asahi Industries' strange response. In her office, Balalaika forces a Chinese man who fell for her trap to tell Dutch what he did. The beaten man confesses that his boss Wan arranged for Extra Order mercenaries to go to Roanapur. As the Russian men prepare to execute the man, Balalaika warns Dutch to avoid dying. At the same time, outside the Yellow Flag, the E.O. Captain prepares a grenade as Rock and Revy begin their drinking contest. The pirates are interrupted by several grenades being thrown inside, killing a few customers and destroying the lights. As the mercenaries relentlessly shoot into the bar, Rokurō scurries behind the counter, where the nonchalant Revy learns that Bao has bulletproofed the bar to withstand .50 caliber rounds. Dutch asks everyone if they are alive, which Revy confirms while Benny runs to the back exit.

As Rock panics and disparages his situation, Revy tells him to stop whining, and Dutch orders her to show the mercenaries why she is called Two Hands. Entering the bar, the mercenaries scout the area for living people and are taken off guard by Revy's expert shooting. As she gleefully kills the men with ease, she soon takes cover again behind the counter. Angered, Bao asks her how many times she has destroyed his bar, warning her that she will pay for the damage or else will "weld [her] asshole shut" if she comes back. Dutch informs Rock that they should part ways, causing the latter to plead with him to let him come. Reluctantly agreeing, Dutch tells Revy to depart, and he shoots a couple of men outside the bar. When everyone quickly gets into Benny's car, Benny drives everyone to safety as Revy tosses a grenade at the remaining mercenaries. Quickly after the attack, one mercenary, Storm, informs his captain that 16 men are dead while 8 are wounded, apologizing for underestimating them. Amazed with the fight, the E.O. Captain jokes that he has not had a tough enemy to fight, contrasting it to the old men and children whom they shot in Liberia.

Out at sea, Dutch remarks that they will be at the Belawan port soon. Learning that Benny has contacted his company, Rock becomes shocked that he will be dropped off in Malaya if negotiations do not go well. Rock chastises him for dragging him from place to place, but Revy in turn criticizes him for pleading for their help while using their PT boat as a personal taxi. Although he has a gun in his face, Rock ignores it when Dutch gives him an earpiece to listen to his boss Kageyama calling him. To his shock, the salaryman learns that Asahi Industries agreed to help a war-torn country with the development of nuclear weapons to counter a drop in sales. Elaborating the disk contains the weapon plans, Kageyama summarizes that the story cannot be made public and therefore, Rock must disappear into the South China Sea for the sake of Asahi Industries' 50,000 employees. He claims that Rock will posthumously be promoted and the company leaders will attend his funeral, finishing the call by proclaiming that the mercenaries should be near the pirates soon. Leaving a naval carrier in a gunship, the E.O. Captain and Mayer prepare to kill the Lagoon Company and Rock.

On deck, Revy watches Rock vomit but is informed by Benny that something is chasing them. To their surprise, they see the powerful gunship fly at them, so Dutch tries outmaneuvering them while the E.O. Captain is giddy to attack them. When he is handed a rifle by Revy, Rock is terrified and hides under a torpedo launcher when the gunship shoots at them. As she shoots at the gunship, Revy is angered that Rock is trying to flee with a life vest, tackling him to the floor. In the gunship, Mayer wonders why the captain does not destroy the boat since they have the clear advantage and superior weaponry. The E.O. Captain reasons that it will be more fun to watch the pirates die slowly and cower in fear. Furious, Rock shouts and asks why he has to suffer in such a manner, throwing his rifle into the sea.

Characters and cast[]

  • Rokurō "Rock" Okajima — Daisuke Namikawa (Japanese), Brad Swaile (English)
  • Revy — Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese), Maryke Hendrikse (English)
  • Dutch — Tsutomu Isobe (Japanese), Dean Redman (English)
  • Benny — Hiroaki Hirata (Japanese), Brian Drummond (English)
  • Balalaika — Mami Koyama (Japanese), Patricia Drake (English)
  • Kageyama — Jouji Nakata (Japanese), Ross Douglas (English)
  • Fujiwara — Ken'ichi Morozumi (Japanese), Hiro Kanagawa (English)
  • Director — Yosuke Akimoto (Japanese), Richard Newman (English)
  • Vice President — Takaya Hashi (Japanese), Michael Dobson (English)
  • Bao — Shirō Saitō (Japanese), Alec Willows (English)
  • Boris — Non-speaking role
  • Sun Yee On gangster — Tōru Nara (Japanese), Scott McNeil (English)
  • E.O. Captain — Masahiko Tanaka (Japanese), Paul Dobson (English)
  • Storm — Yōichi Nishijima (Japanese), Louis Chirillo (English)
  • Mayer — Yūichi Nakamura (Japanese), Alistair Abell (English)
  • Shop woman — Komina Matsushita (Japanese), Tabitha St. Germain (English)

Songs used[]

  • Opening Theme — Red Fraction (by Mell)
  • Rock describes his life in Japan — Dark Side of the Moon
  • Dutch comforts Rock, "Stockholm Syndrome" — Tear Drops to Earth
  • Rock follows Benny, wonders what city he is in — Tadpole Dance
  • Rock and Lagoon Company drinking in bar — Don't Let Me Join Now
  • Grenades thrown in bar; mercenaries start shooting — The Way to Last Night
  • Why Revy is called Two Hands — Don't Stop! (guitar version)
  • Rock angry at Dutch, Kageyama calls his now-former employee — 66 Steps
  • Gunship chases the Black Lagoon — Make a Bet
  • Ending Theme — Don't Look Behind (ending version)

Differences from the manga[]

  • Rokurō's narration about his life in Japan at the beginning of the episode is exclusive to the anime.
  • The Black Lagoon has machine guns on her turrets only in the manga, although the turrets only appear in Chapter 00 and not for the rest of the manga and not at all in the anime.
  • In the first half of the chapter, Revy's hair is neck-length and untied but later ties it into a ponytail. In this episode, her hair is long in length and tied up from the beginning.
  • The conversation between Dutch and Rokurō on the ship's deck has some slight differences. In the manga, Rokurō asks him if he knows about the contents on the disk, with Dutch replying that snooping on such information would shorten his life. He tells Rock that he would drop him off at a Thai port and leave him on his own, then climbing back down into the bridge. In the anime, Dutch says that he is doing the job since pirates also have to make a living and eat, in addition to Rock remarking that he is feeling Stockholm Syndrome. Dutch also stays on the ship's deck and sits with Rock instead of going back into the bridge.
  • The brief scene where the Black Lagoon docks at the Lagoon Company dry dock and Benny telling Rock that he could come with them to the bar is only in the anime. The adjacent brief scene where Rock asks what exactly is Roanapur is only in the anime.
  • In the anime, when Rock drinks a glass of alcohol to anger Revy, he specifies that he had to drink at parties and social events as a salaryman.
  • Balalaika specifying the new drop-off location as Palawan Island is only in the manga. In the anime, Dutch heads to the port of Belawan instead.
  • In the manga, the Extra Order mercenaries walk right into the bar and jokingly greet everyone, then tossing some grenades as a "gift." In the anime, the mercenaries do not walk inside and immediately toss in grenades from outside the bar during Rock and Revy's drinking contest.
  • Bao's line that he had his bar bulletproofed is only in the anime.
  • In the manga, when Dutch tells Revy to show the mercenaries why she is called Two Hands, she immediately begins shooting. In the anime, the enemy gunfire temporarily ceases so that the mercenaries can check the bar for survivors, and then Revy began shooting at them.
  • Revy's answer to Bao's question of how many times she has destroyed his bar is manga-exclusive.
  • Mayer informing the E.O. Captain that "Pretoria HQ" is allowing them to fight the enemy to their own preference is only in the manga. Likewise, Mayer's compliment that the Japanese company is generous with their spending is anime-only.
  • In the manga after the phone call with his boss, Rock vomits once in the boat's bridge and then again on deck. In the anime, Rock only vomits on deck.
  • During the helicopter chase, Revy gives Rock a firearm in the anime, but in the manga Rock does not get a firearm and only takes cover. Additionally, Rock takes cover under a torpedo launcher in the anime.
  • In the manga, it is shown that there is a third pilot in the gunship besides the Captain and Mayer. In the anime, only the Captain and Mayer are seen.
  • In the manga when Rock decides to escape the boat but is stopped by Revy tackling him, Rock immediately points out the helicopter's proximity. In the anime, after being tackled, Rock angrily gets up and tosses his gun into the sea.
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