In the Wings, Part II

ANNOUNCER: Welcome back. Now we are now about to show you the one on one interviews that we had with each of the young stars that represent the five Gundam pilots. The questions were simple and to the point. However, some of the answers were not. Take a look.

<HEERO>

Heero is seated with the interviewer's back facing the camera. The room is bare with dim lighting.

INTERVIEWER: So, Mr. Yuy, if you had to sum up your character in one sentence, what it be?

HEERO: He's a prozac poster child that even prozac can't help.

INTERVIEWER: He's that bad, huh?

HEERO: Yeah, he is. But let's face it, any guy that can set his own broken bones, self destruct as many times as he does, and still can't kill a whiny girl that's stalking him, he's got issues.

INTERVIEWER: Now, when you refer to the whiny girl that's stalking him, you're referring to Relena Peacecraft, right?

HEERO: Who else?

INTERVIEWER: You don't like her too much, do you?

HEERO shakes his head.

INTERVIEWER: I see. But you two have this on screen romance thing going on here.

HEERO: Yeah, we do, but that's just it. It's on screen and stays there. Off screen, I run as fast as I can to get away from her.

INTERVIEWER: So what's the hardest thing for you while you're on the set? Besides your acting with Relena.

HEERO: I'd have to say trying not to laugh too hard at Zechs.

INTERVIEWER: Laugh? At the Lightening Count?

HEERO: Well, get a load of the hair and the helmet. And you never see him after the show. He's one of the funniest guys you would ever meet.

INTERVIEWER: Really? Now that surprises me.

HEERO: Yeah, he's the life of a party. You should get an interview with him.

INTERVIEWER: I'll try, but time is limited. Thank you for doing this.

HEERO: No problem.

INTERVIEWER: Oh come on. Let's have a better line than that.

HEERO: <laughs> Okay. Mission Complete.

<DUO>

Similar set up that Heero had.

INTERVIEWER: Before we start with the serious questions, I have one that I just have to ask.

DUO: Shoot. Figuratively speaking.

INTERVIEWER: Is that hair real? Or is it just a wig or extension?

DUO: No, it's real. I'd let you pull on it but I still have bad memories from the schoolyard.

INTERVIEWER: Understood, thanks anyways. So, what's it like being the most loved Gundam pilot in the series?

DUO: <lets out an exaggerated sigh> Oh my. It's wonderful. You have this cool machine you pilot, or at least let people think you know how to fly. Cool hair, cool looks...you're just all around cool. No matter what you do, you're cool. I love it.

INTERVIEWER: Are you anything like your character? Do you find yourself having to act a lot or are you pretty much the same on and off the screen?

DUO: All depends on the day. Sometimes I can just walk through the door, onto the set and just continue with my life, as it seems. Other times, I have to put a little more bounce in my step, if you will. But also, I've never had to life the kind of life Duo Maxwell had. I never grew up in a Catholic orphanage, I never had people die that were close to me while I was growing up. So, I have to improvise on some stuff.

INTERVIEWER: Do you find yourself improvising a lot?

DUO: Only when it comes to some heavy scenes. Which there really isn't all that many with Duo.

INTERVIEWER: Would you say that Duo is a serious character or the comic relief of the show?

DUO: I wouldn't go as far as to say that he's comic relief. Duo thinks that fighting is a big computer game and he has all these extra lives saved up. But it's all a front. He knows what's going on. He just chooses to ignore it.

INTERVIEWER: One final question before we go, what is the hardest thing to do on the set?

DUO: Work with Heero. It's like acting with a wall. And it's not like he's a bad actor; he's a very good one. It's his character, he's so empty that there's nothing to play off of. It's a challenge, but a good one.

<TROWA>

Same setting.

INTERVIEWER: Okay. The same question that I asked Duo. The hair- is it real?

TROWA: <laughs> Yeah, it's really my hair, but I normally don't wear it like this.

INTERVIEWER: So, what's your secret?

TROWA: Extra strong hair gel. And lots of shampoo to wash it out at night.

INTERVIEWER: I see. Does the hairstyle cause any kind of problems on the set? I mean, for instance, they have to stop shooting because it droops and has to be fixed or any kind of complications like that?

TROWA: Well, there was this one time that the make up artist was new and they pulled it over to the wrong side. And I always have to be careful about turning around fast.

INTERVIEWER: <laughs> Okay. Do you do all the stunt work yourself? Your character is know for his acrobatic skills.

TROWA: Yes, I do all the stunt work myself. It really isn't all that hard when you have spring boards and mattresses to land on. It's actually quite fun.

INTERVIEWER: My next question is about Catherine. Is she your sister or girlfriend?

TROWA: <laughs> I knew this was coming. And I think I know the question after this too. Let me just go on the record and say, my poor character needs some kind sympathy, especially in the way of fan fictions. They always pair me up with two people: Quatre, which I'm not even going to go into and I wish other people wouldn't, and Catherine, who could be my sister. So either way, I lose. It's my sister or a guy and I don't want either one.

INTERVIEWER: Well, that clears up the rest of the interview then.

TROWA: Sorry, I didn't mean to take up the rest of the questions.

INTERVIEWER: Quite all right. But could I ask you to say your famous line.

TROWA: Of course. <clears throat> Those that lay eyes on a Gundam shall never live to tell about it.

<QUATRE>

INTERVIEWER: What's it like being a blond Arabian?

QUATRE: <shrugs his shoulders> I tend to forget that I'm blond.

INTERVIEWER: You mean that this isn't your natural color?

QUATRE: <laughs> Nope. I have brown hair and brown eyes. I don't why they changed my looks so drastically. But I kind of like it. It's a cool, new look. Who knows? By the time we reach AC 195, there could be some blond Arabians.

INTERVIEWER: Do you find your character hard to play or are you naturally a quiet, gentle person?

QUATRE: Uh...hmm. That's a hard question to answer because I can say yes, I am quiet and gentle and sweet or if I deny that, then I'm saying I'm violent, nasty and loud. So, I'd have to say that Quatre is fairly close to who I am.

INTERVIEWER: Then what are some of the differences then between you and your character?

QUATRE: Well, for one, I don't think that I'm so desperate for company that I would want to fight someone just so I could see them again. Second, I wouldn't go through a war constantly saying, "We shouldn't be fighting." And I don't have forty guys hanging around me, waiting for my next word. Although, that would be kind of nice.

INTERVIEWER: So, what's up with the pink shirts?

QUATRE: I have no idea. <leans back in chair and raises voice to someone off screen> But I think that they should be changed to another color. Preferably blue.

INTERVIEWER: Do you think they'll listen?

QUATRE: No. Watch, next episode it'll be hot pink.

INTERVIEWER: They wouldn't do that, would they?

QUATRE: Well, let's look at Trowa's clown costume, Catherine's costume, Relena's outfits, Heero's shorts, need I go on?

INTERVIEWER: I see your point. So, other than getting your shirt color changed, what would you like to do in the show?

QUATRE: Good question. Let me think for a minute. <pause> Okay, you know how all the Maganacs come up to me and are always saying "Master Quatre, we would lay down our lives for you," well, one day I just want to say, "Okay." Just to get their reaction.

INTERVIEWER: But of course, being the nice and kind guy that you are, you wouldn't let them follow through?

QUATRE: No, no, not at all. I have a reputation to keep.

<WUFEI>

Same setting as others.

INTERVIEWER: Well, you are my last interview.

WUFEI: Then I'll take it easy on you then.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you. So, what's it like portraying the fifth pilot?

WUFEI: To be honest, it's kind of boring.

INTERVIEWER: Boring? How so?

WUFEI: Well, most of my lines consist of "I'm weak", or "I'm not worthy to pilot Nataku" or "Woman". Sometimes I'm allowed to go really crazy and say "You are a weak woman." But that's only on exciting days.

INTERVIEWER: I see. But you have some interesting lines, and hey, you got to fight Treize.

WUFEI: Yeah, and I also got to lose to Treize. And to quote my character, "I lost to someone better than me." Now come on, you're always going to lose to someone who's better than you are.

INTERVIEWER: So what you're saying is that your character had some issues.

WUFEI emphatically nods his head.

INTERVIEWER: Does he ever get those issues resolved?

WUFEI: I'm hoping he does. He's not as bad as he seems. He's like a forty year old trapped in this kid's body and no one understands him because they expect him to behave as a fifteen year old. When in fact, he's more mature and has lived through more than all of them put together.

INTERVIEWER: So no one in the series really understands Wufei?

WUFEI: Well, I wouldn't say that. I think there are two people who do understand him, or at least more than the others. First Treize. Treize understands war and the pain of losing a wife. I don't think he knows Wufei lost his wife, but I'm sure he can see the grief. The other person is Sally Po, who fights for freedom. Wufei just fights, but Sally sees that adult in him and respects him.

INTERVIEWER: So there's some romance between those two?

WUFEI: Uh, nothing outward, but I think it's there.

INTERVIEWER: Now, your views on women-

WUFEI: I knew that would come up. I have no problems with women whatsoever. In fact, I'm married and you can ask her.

INTERVIEWER: You're married? Really?

WUFEI: Yeah, who would guess, right?

INTERVIEWER: So what does your wife think about the series?

WUFEI: Oh she loves it. She been begging me to get her a small spot on the show. And I actually talked to the director about it.

INTERVIEWER: And what did he say?

WUFEI: He said he would think about it. In fact, I just talked to him the other day and he said he had a part written in and wanted to see my wife about it.

INTERVIEWER: And what part would that be?

WUFEI: I don't really know. I think the character's name was Dorothy.

INTERVIEWER: But I take it your wife was excited to hear about that?

WUFEI: Oh yeah. Very excited.

INTERVIEWER: Do you think you could work together on an episode?

WUFEI: Definitely. I would love to work with my wife on an episode.

INTERVIEWER: Before I go, could I just ask you to say a justice line for me?

WUFEI: <laughs> Sure, why not? Earth, show me your sense of justice!

ANNOUNCER: There you have it folks. The kids behind the kids of Gundam Wing. Not what you expected? Well, they weren't exactly what we expected either. I'm Joe Smith signing off.