[Daniel LaRusso makes a video ad]
Inner peace. Focus. Balance. These are just some of the skills that you will master when you join Miyagi-do Karate. I'm Daniel LaRusso, and before I was the number one auto dealer in the Valley, I was two-time All Valley Under-18 Champion. Now, you can learn the secrets of Okinawan karate, true karate, by joining the Miyagi-do team. Don't be a snake in the grass. Be a champion. Tweet us at hashtag TeamMiyagiDo. And all lessons are free. That's right, free. Because at Miyagi-do, it's not about the money. It's about the karate.
[Johnny Lawrence makes his own video ad for Cobra Kai]
There's a lot of talk going around the Valley about free karate. But everyone knows that in life, you get what you pay for. You wanna really kick the competition? [Johnny kicks a bonsai tree into pieces] Then you need to get your ass over to Cobra Kai. Screw that lame meditation bullshit. What you need is bone-crunching, face-smashing, good ol' American karate. [Johnny punches and elbows a body opponent bag] Enough about self-defense. Learn self-offense. Don't be a pussy. Join Cobra Kai, and let me teach you [clenches fist] the Way of the Fist.
All right, did we get it?
All right, great. Just make sure the Cobra Kai snake comes in at the end, all right? I want it to really pop. Make it chrome. And throw "Thunderstruck" under it.
I'm pretty sure the rights for that song will cost too much.
No, I already own it. Cassette's in the car. Oh, and put one of those hash browns at the end. You know, like, "Hash brown. Team Cobra Kai," or something. And then send it to the Internet!
[Demetri has posted a one-star review of Cobra Kai on Yelp; Hawk confronts him about it at a comic book store]
You think I'm afraid of you? I know who you really are, Eli. So, why don't you, Rocksteady, and Bebop just leave me alone, okay?
[Demetri turns around to see two other Cobra Kai members approaching him]
Great. So this is what it comes to: gang assault.
Take it down, or we take you down.
[Daniel explains to his new students what Cobra Kai is really about]
Cobra Kai sells power, strength, and when I joined I was, well, I was weak. It was 1985, I had just won my first All-Valley, and, Mr. Miyagi didn't want me to compete anymore. He never really like the idea of fighting for trophies in the first place. So, you know, I-we got into this big argument, and what did I do? I joined Cobra Kai. I learned to strike first, strike hard, show no mercy, and it turned me into an angry and violent kid. It changed me.
You never told me about any of this.
It's not something I'm proud of, Sam. And my point is anyone can be seduced by Cobra Kai, even me, and I'll admit: Cobra Kai makes you feel stronger, tougher, but it will also get you in trouble. And that's what happened to me. I'm just lucky Mr Miyagi was willing to take me back. So remember, it doesn't matter who anyone was before they stepped into this dojo. All that matters is that right now, today, we are all Miyagi-Do.
[Johnny and Tommy have some campfire drinks, but some things needed to be said]
TTommy
Today was fun, Johnny.
You still got some moves, man. You should stop by the dojo sometime.
TTommy
Yeah, right. Just like the good old days. [reflects] Man, where did all that time go?
TTommy
Man, there was something I never told you. Didn't think you needed to know, but screw it. [deep breath] I was in love with Ali.
TTommy
Yeah. Freshman year. We were in the same homeroom. We used to talk all the time. I was building up the courage to ask her out, [looks at Johnny] when someone else struck first. That's why I joined Cobra Kai. I wanted to have the balls that you had. Without the smell. [he and Johnny laugh and drink]
I don't think I ever really got over her. I mean, I dated plenty of babes after, but I never really let my guard down with any of them, you know? Not like with Ali.
TTommy
You still got one thing that's more important than anything, Johnny.
TTommy
Time. You still have time.
TTommy
Meet someone new, change your life. Do what you wanna do.
I don't know. Right now, all I wanna do is make sure my students don't make the same mistakes that we did. I don't want them to look back at their life full of regret.
TTommy
You'll do it, Johnny. [looks at him] You're the champ.
Ah, hey, Johnny. Here to congratulate me on my victory?
JLJohnny Lawerence
About what you've been putting in my students' heads since I've been gone.
The same lessons I taught you, the way of the fist: strike first, strike hard, no mercy.
Yeah, that's where we have a problem.
Yeah. Cobra Kai needs to change. What you taught didn't work back then and it doesn't work now.
Well, whaddya want to change it to? Something nice and snugly like a blanket?
No. Cobra Kai will always be badass. But there's a difference between no mercy and no honor.
Ah... honor. Lemme tell you something. When you're in a war, the other side never fights with any "honor." Take it from me. Trust me; I know, I've been there. Be glad that you don't know.
Yeah, I don't know what shit you went through back then, but these are good kids, and they don't need to relive our mistakes.
The only "mistake" is teaching them weakness. Like what you did when you backed down from LaRusso's challenge. Is that what the new Cobra Kai is all about?
You trying to get me riled up? It's not gonna work. I am responsible for these students.
And I am responsible for you. I'm worried about you, Johnny. I see what's gonna happen; you're gonna let your guard down, and that's gonna leave you vulnerable.
Maybe that's what you think, but this is my dojo, and I make the rules.
Your dojo? You forget who started Cobra Kai?
I haven't forgotten anything. You know what? I'm sorry, I thought this could work, but I was wrong.
We're done. I don't ever wanna see you in this dojo again.
Okay. The app is downloaded. What type of women are you looking to meet? Super hot babes. Dumb question. Okay. What are your likes?
What am I supposed to say? Long walks on the beach? I like muscle cars, martial arts, and "Iron Eagle". And "Iron Eagle II". Why aren't you texting this down? Computer dating is your idea.
Look, you have to take this seriously.
It used to be simple. Find a chick in a bar. Bump into her hard, but not too hard. Pretty hard. Then you buy her a beer.
Tried and true, Diaz. That's how the cavemen did it. Cavemen. That's another like. You know, like the ones in those insurance commercials.
[sighs] Look, I think I can fill out the rest of this on my own. What about clothes? What are you wearing?
You gonna teach me about fashion now?
Class! We have a visitor.
The hell do you think you're doing?
What does it look like? I'm teaching my students.
You let them down when they needed you the most. Somebody needed to remind them what it takes to win.
[Johnny starts toward Kreese, but the Cobra Kai students block the way.]
After everything I did for you?
Miguel is in the hospital because of you. He showed mercy to Robby Keene because of you. If he dies, that's on you.
I did warn you about this. I told you not to show weakness.
This is my dojo. Oh, I forgot to tell you. When you were outta town, I had a little talk with the landlord. Turns out he doesn't like you much. But you know the problem with those handshake deals: there are no guarantees.
Of course I can. I founded Cobra Kai. It belongs to me. It always has. And it always will. I will never let my students lose... even if they have to learn the hard way. One day you'll thank me for this, Johnny.
This was a mistake. You want Cobra Kai? It's yours.
[Johnny leaves the room; Kreese watches him go.]
[Daniel goes to Cobra Kai after hours looking for Johnny]
Johnny? [In the main room, he sees a life-sized cardboard cutout of Kreese] What the hell?
[Kreese comes out of the backroom]
We're closed. [sees it's Daniel who has come to see him] The dojo's gone through some renovations. What do you think?
He's not here right now. But he'll be back. You know, it's a shame what happened at the school. Such a tragedy. But I don't really blame Robby. 'Cause you know what they say: "there's no such thing as a bad student." [Daniel begins to squirm] It must really hurt to see the Miyagi name dragged through the mud. Wish I could see the look on the little bastard's face. [Daniel clenches his hands into fists]
That "little bastard" kicked your ass...more than once. You're lucky he taught me true karate. That's why I'm not gonna fight you.
Oh but you will. It's inevitable. But this time, Johnny and I will finish it, once and for all.
You're not gonna do anything. Not while I'm around. [Daniel walks out of the dojo]
You know where to find me. [laughs as the door closes behind Daniel]
[Johnny sits at the altar with Bobby eating coffee cakes after he had drunkenly disrupted Bobby's sermon.]
I still don't understand how they get the coffee in the cake.
BBobby
Johnny...what the heck was that all about? I know you're upset, but you can't blame yourself for what Robby did.
I'm not even allowed to see him. I'm not allowed to since I'm on probation for that little incident in the parking garage.
BBobby
Yeah, well, you're lucky it was only probation.
I'm lucky I knew a priest who put in a good word with the judge, thank you very much.
BBobby
Not a priest. How about we make a deal? You promise yourself to do positive things, be a better person.
I already tried that. I put everything I had into my students, I taught them to be tough and show mercy. I thought I was doing the right thing.
Yeah? Then why did all this happen? I mean, you wanna punish me, fine. But Robby and Miguel, they're just kids.
BBobby
I know. I know. It isn't fair. But you gotta remember you don't do the right thing because it always works out. You do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. Both those kids need you, and you need to be there for them, whether it works out or not. I can help you with Robby. The detention center will let you in if you're accompanied by a member of the clergy, so, how about we meet there tomorrow?
BBobby
Good. And as for Miguel and his surgery, the church could make a nominal donation, but, we're still trying to pay for our new roof.
BBobby
Hey, why not ask your stepdad to help out? He's still loaded, isn't he?
No way. Sid? That'd be his dream come true, me groveling for his money. I'll figure something out.
[Kumiko and Daniel catch up after seeing each other again at Tomi Village Green]
After graduation, I joined the Hijikata Tatsumi Dance Company and we traveled all around the world, Sydney, Paris, Singapore..
So you got your dream. That's terrific. You got a favorite place?
Ah, let me guess, the tea.
[laughs at the English tea reference] No, I got to see the Cranberries open up for Radiohead; 1995, they played Zombie, Linger and Dreams.
[short pause] So when did you start teaching?
After I moved back to Okinawa, Aunt Yukie got sick, and this has always been my home.
I'm sorry to hear she passed. I know she was proud of you.
Arigato... although I know she wanted me to get married, I stayed - what was your word for it, a free agent?
Come on, I'm supposed to believe that a guy never got a ring on that finger?
Many tried, but... none of them fought to the death for me.
It's a hard act to follow!
I'm sorry this is absolutely surreal. I feel like I haven't seen you in like five minutes, but its been over 30 years... [Kumiko nods in assent] 30 years!
Maybe if we had Facebook and Instagram back then, we would have never lost touch. [pauses] Why did you come back to Okinawa, Daniel-san?
I told you my business is, not bad..
No. Why did you really come back?
I got my dream too, you know. I have an incredible family. I have my own business, I should be counting my blessings, but so many things have been going sideways for me lately, everybody looks to me for answers, and I'm spinning around so much I can't tell which way is up.
I used to have this nightmare that I had to go on stage and did not know the choreography. I felt out of control.
Exactly. I used to go to Mr Miyagi for help, but you know, I'm the same age now as Mr Miyagi was when he met me. He had it all figured out, I wish he could be here to help guide me.
[face lights up] I think I can make it happen.
