TV Special Summaries – Special 3: Protect! The Last Great Performance!
Japanese Title: 守れ！最後の大舞台
Air Date: 2003-12-14
Running Time: 46 minutes
Opening: Bon Voyage! (4th Opening)
Ending: Family (Special Ending)
TV Special Information
Every so often, Toei produces a year-end TV special for One Piece. “Protect! The Last Great Performance!” was the third, and aired on December 14, 2003 on Fuji TV. However, Episode 175 of the anime actually aired right after, before the end of the year. This special aired just eight months after the second TV special.
TV Special Summary
The Straw Hats come to an island that is the home of Randolph, the lead actor of a troupe who performs great plays at the Randolph Theater. After three actors leave the troupe, the Straw Hats get to join in the play, but the first half turns out to be a disaster. During the intermission, several Marine soldiers come to arrest Randolph, and aboard the Marine ship he meets his former Marine subordinate, Governor. Luffy and the Straw Hats fight to protect the Randolph Theater from the attacks of the Marine ships so that Randolph can finish his farewell performance. In the end, Randolph’s views of pirates are changed and the theater is saved.
TV Special Retelling
This retelling avoids no spoilers. Those who do not wish to have the plot of the movie ruined for them should not read this retelling.
The special opens with a man with shaggy grey hair sitting upon a box, claiming that he will fight as long as he lives, never forgetting a certain someone. He declares that he will fight ntil every pirate lies dead at his feet, then collapses and starts coughing. The scene shifts to a man handing out fliers for a certain play, performed by Randolph's troop. the Straw Hats see the poster of Randolph's play, and a shopkeeper tells them that it will be Randolph's last performance. He explains that Randolph's troupe uses their ship as a theater. The Straw Hats arrive at the Randolph Theater, and so Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy run ahead and inside. They run behind a green curtain and find various stage props, playing around with them. Nami tells Sanji to stop them, but it turns out that Sanji has joined in. At that moment, the Straw Hats hear some noise, and they head to the stage to find the old man from before in a sword duel with another man. He declares the same lines he declared at the beginning of the special. The man handing out flyers arrives and says it was a great performance. It turns out that the old man is Randolph, and his troupe tells him to make it an unforgettable performance since it will be his last.
At that moment, a woman in a yellow dress with pink hair steps in and says she's leaving the troupe, calling the others worn-out. The man in the red coat who had handed out flyers begs her not to, since the curtain raises in 30 minutes, but the woman says goodbye to Randolph and leaves. Randolph says to let her go, since people run out all the time. The man complains that they don't have any female performers, but Nami steps up to the task, asking for a 100,000 berry fee. The troupe, lovestruck, accepts her offer, and so Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper start begging for parts too. Zoro and Sanji refuse to get on stage, though, but Robin says taht it could be fun. Sanji goes off and saying that he and Robin can be a couple, leaving Zoro alone in a huff.
Later, the Randolph Theater is shown being set up for the final performance of Randolph. Usopp steps out on stage wearing a costume, and talks about a peaceful island, but does not leave right after saying his lines. He pads the part until the man in the red coat pulls him off stage. Usopp struggles, trying to get back on. Later, Chopper comes on stage dressed as a camel, with Nami on her back, and so Robin plays a villager, being very dramatic in her part. Usopp comes back on, declaring that pirates are coming, and so much of Randolph's troupe steps on stage, dressed as pirates, and attacks the others. Sanji comes on stage, reading his scrip that he is supposed to attack Nami, but can't do it. As Luffy steps on in a monkey suit, another pirate steps up and shoots Nami. Nami is surprised to check the script and see that her character is killed off, thinking it was a rewrite. One actor tells Robin that she is overplaying her part as Usopp continues to narrate the story. Nami then tells Luffy that there is no monkey in the script, bt Luffy says he's doing it because he likes it and continues to bound around. He accidentally kicks one of the pirates off of the stage, making Zoro think it was the signal, so he turns the lever designated to him. This causes the whole stage to turn, and pandemonium ensues, making the whole performance a disaster.
At that moment, Randolph arrives, dressed as a Marine captain, and he draws his sword, stepping toward the stage and challenging the pirates. In the intermission, people step out onto the ship's deck and talk about how great Randolph's performance was. Backstage, Nami demands why she doesn't have more scenes. Usopp complains that the pirates all end up getting killed by Randolph's character, but one actor says that it can't be helped since Randolph is an ex-Marine lieutenant. The actor explains that he used to travel with his family as an acting troupe. However, one day their troupe was attacked by pirates, and his family was killed. Randolph then enlisted in the Marines and vowed to fight pirates, and so later on went to form another troupe and return to the theater. He now performs to give courage to those who have lost their families to pirates. It was Randolph's moving words that encouraged the other actors to join his troupe. However, an old wound from a pirate attack has forced him toward retirement since his body can hardly handle acting anymore.
The man in the red coat rushes down to Randolph and tells him that Luffy is a pirate of the Straw Hat Pirates. Randolph storms into the backstage area, punching Luffy in the face and sending him flying, calling pirates scum. The others try to convince Randolph that they're adventurers and aren't murderers, but Randolph won't listen. Luffy then stands up, telling the others not to touch Randolph, and Randolph is at a standoff with Luffy. The man in the red coat mentions that Luffy has a 100 million berry bounty. Randolph then charges at Luffy, and the two engage in a great fight, narrowly avoiding each other's punches. Luffy manages to knock Randolph over, but Randolph just gets back up, telling Luffy not to celebrate. Luffy replies that one punch isn't enough to surpass Randolph's spirit. Randolph puts up his dukes again, and so the Luffy and Randolph begin to resume their fight when Randolph points at a bentou on the floor. This distracts Luffy, so Randolph can getin a punch that sends Luffy flying. Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Pistol on Randolph, but Randolph avoids it. Luffy's fist strikes a shelf that ends up crashing on top of Randolph.
Frantically, the other actors pull the wreckage off of Randolph, but Randolph claims that he can handle it. Randolph mentions that the intermission is almost over, and that he will continue his fight with Luffy after the play. As the second half of the play is ready to begin, the other actors worry if Randolph is in good enough condition. Backstage, Nami mentions that she used to think the same as Randolph, that all pirates were scum, but then mentions that Randolph had never met the Straw Hat Pirates before. Suddenly, a cannon is fired, interrupting everything, and a Marine ship heads straight for Randolph's theater. A Marine soldier steps off and walks over to Randolph, telling him that he is under arrest for stealing weapons. Several other soldiers find various weapons in a storeroom of the theater, and so Randolph is handcuffed despite the protests of his troupe. Luffy then calls down to the Marines from the top of the theater, saying that he and Randolph still need to settle things. He tells the Marines that he is a pirate, freaking out Nami and Usopp, but Luffy remains steadfast. However, Randolph tells Luffy not to get involved, and so Randolph is marched aboard the Marine ship. The townspeople call out to Randolph, begging for him to come back, but he is taken away.
On the ship, Randolph kneels before a former subordinate of his, a man in a great throne with a chameleon on his lap and and wiry moustache on his face. He is called Governor, and a flashback shows how he dreamed of advancing the ranks of the Marines, even selling out his fellow soldiers. He reports to Lieutenant Randolph, who is fully aware of Governor having killed his fellow soldiers. Randolph sends in Governor for a court martial, and Governor swears revenge as he is taken away. Governor explains that this happened 30 years ago, and that it took him thirty years to return to the Marines and reach the rank of Commander. He declares that it is all thanks to Randolph. Governor is interrupted by Luffy, who says that Governor looks like an idiot, shocking Governor. Governor pulls a switch that causes Luffy to fall through a trapdoor. At that moment, the three actors who left Randolph's troupe, including the actress with pink hair, come in, as they are in line with Governor. Randolph is astounded at Governor's lengths to get revenge. Governor then steps up to Randolph and taunts him, since it was the day of Randolph's final performance. He pours a bottle of wine on Randolph's head, then kicks him in the gut. Randolph is thrown into a dungeon cell, and Governor tells him that he will be sending him in for a court martial.
In the cell, Randolph struggles to get up, saying how he has to return to the ship and get on stage, and that he doesn't have time to fight Governor. As he reaches for the bars of his cell, Luffy arrives and pries open the bars with his bare hands. Randolph, however, turns away and claims that he hasn't fallen low enough to accept help from a pirate. Luffy then grabs Randolph, carrying him on his back, and starts charging through a whole group of Marine soldiers, tearing his way through them to get Randolph on the ship. Meanwhile, the rest of the Straw Hats draw near to the ship aboard the Going Merry. Governor hears of Luffy escaping with Randolph, and so yells that if they are not captured, he will have all of the soldiers court martialed. Luffy stretches out his arm and manages to toss Randolph over to Randolph's Theater so that his troupe can catch him. Governor fires a cannonball at the Going Merry, but Luffy leaps up and blocks it with his body. Luffy declares that he will become Pirate King, and that he won't let a single cannonball hit Randolph's ship. Randolph is inspired by Luffy's mouthing off, and so he declares to the troupe that it is time to finish the play, his farewell performance.
On the Going Merry, the Straw Hats prepare for battle. Governor orders that the Going Merry and the Randolph Theater be surrounded, and has all ships prepare to fire. Meanwhile, Zoro and Sanji approach the Marine ships on small boats. The Marine ships fire a cannonball at the theater, but Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Balloon to bounce it away. Meanwhile, at the play, Randolph continues to play his part as a Marine officer as another victim falls. Outside, Zoro uses 36-Pound Cannon to send another cannonball fired by the Marines exploding. Sanji starts kicking cannonballs toward the Marine ship, while Usopp starts firing cannonballs with his cannon. Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Balloon and Chopper uses Guard Point to block any cannonballs fired at the theater. Governor has the cannons redirected toward the Straw Hats, but the Straw Hats keep it up, Sanji blowing up Marine cannons with cannonballs he kicks. However, the small boats of Zoro and Sanji are destroyed by the Marines' cannon fire, while the Going Merry is quickly being bombarded. Robin uses the power of her Hana Hana Fruit to render some soldiers helpless and steer the cannons in different directions. Usopp fires more cannonballs, and so the Going Merry pulls up to the main Marine ship and the Straw Hats board it, Luffy and Chopper leading the charge. Sanji stands on another ship, flicking a lit cigarette onto a pile of cannonballs and blowing the whole ship to smithereens. Zoro arrives on yet another and starts hacking up the place. On the main ship, Chopper steers cannons toward the soldiers as Robin stands and watches.
On stage, Randolph continues to play his part, cutting down a pirate before he is attacked by another. On the Marine ship, Nami and Usopp have some soldiers cornered while Nami explains that she has no reason to fight them, only to be against Governor. Inside, one soldier reports to Governor that Luffy has a 100 million berry bounty, making Governor furious that he was not aware of this earlier. The soldier tells Governor that Governor was never interested in looking in the list of criminals, but rather only in advancing his rank. On stage, Randolph is giving an excellent performance as he fells the pirate captain, saying his famous lines with great passion. However, he stops at the part involving pirates lying dead at his feet, unable to say it. He instead says that rather he will fight against those that are despicable, remembering Luffy. He says that pirates are not the enemies, but people with rotten dreams and with hearts plunged in desires. Randolph explains that the island's affairs were controlled by a cruel princess and that it was Captain Baron's crew that freed them. He names the Straw Hats as brave souls as together, the seven of them decimate the Marine ships. One Marine soldier stands up against Governor, saying that Governor has no right to be a commander. Luffy then arrives in the room of Governor, and so with a great punch sends Governor flying through the roof and off into the distance, defeated at last. Randolph then finishes his lines at the play, tears in his eyes as the lights go off, and so he gets a great round of applause from the audience, taking a bow for his final performance.
Later, at sunset, the Straw Hats are shown aboard the Going Merry. Usopp wonders if Randolph ever did finish his performance. They wonder if they should have stayed to say goodbye, but Zoro says that pirates are pirates and that they will have a different path. Luffy then stands on the railing and calls to Randolph, declaring that they still hadn't finished their fight. Randolph stands on the deck of the theater, thinking how Luffy had better not forget about their fight, either, as the special draws to a close.