Episode 36: Survive! Bellemere, the Mother, and Nami's Family!
Air Date: 2000-08-09
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Run! Run! Run! (2nd Ending)
Manga Chapters: Chapter 78 (6-19/19), Chapter 79 (1-18/18), Chapter 80 (1-9/19)
Short Summary
Arlong and his crew come to Bellemere's house, demanding her payment. Genzo manages to help out Bellemere by claiming that she lives alone, but Bellemere stands up and declares herself the mother of Nami and Nojiko. Arlong shoots and kills Bellemere for not being able to pay. Nami is then taken away by Arlong's crew after it is found out that she is an excellent cartographer. Upon returning, it is disovered that she has made a deal with Arlong to buy back the village for 100 million berries. After the flashback, Nezumi of the Marines comes to Nami's house, demanding her treasure.
In-Depth Summary
The episode opens with Arlong and his mermen crew standing around the outside of Bellemere's house. Bellemere calls to them that the door is open, so Arlong opens the door, but finds the house dark inside. Bellemere leaps from out of nowhere, knocking Arlong to the ground, and with her foot planted firmly on his chest she has a rifle pointed in his mouth, saying she was a former Marine. Arlong snaps the barrel of the rifle with his jaws, however, and as the shards fly everywhere Bellemere falls back. Meanwhile, Nami and Nojiko are running for Bellemere's house, but are stopped by the doctor, who says in this situation he must tell them something cruel. At Bellemere's house Arlong repeatedly stomps on Bellemere's arm, breaking it horribly. Genzo arrives and helps Bellemere up, asking her how much money she has. She replies that she only has 100,000 berries. Hatchi points out that there's a meal for three in the house, but Genzo reacts by saying that he and a good friend were coming over for dinner. Kurobi chekcs the census and sees that Bellemere was never married or had children, so this could be true. Genzo is glad to everything could work out.
Arlong's crew, satisfied with their payment, start to leave, but Bellemere declares that the money is for her two daughters, and not for her. Everyone freezes in shock, and Nami and Nojiko run up to Bellemere, crying and begging her not to die. Nami cries that she has to show Bellemere the map of the world she will draw, and Bellemere tells her to fulfill her dream. Genzo stands up to Arlong with a gun in each hand, but Kurobi knocks him down swiftly. As the villagers attack the mermen, they are all knocked back, and Bellemere stands up to Arlong, who puts a gun to her chest. Arlong laughs and pulls the trigger, and so Bellemere falls back, dead. Nami and Nojiko watch in horror, memories flooding through their heads as they see their surrogate mother die. Arlong laughs that this is the fate of those who do not pay up, and he picks up Nami, valuing her map-making skills. Nami screams and begs as the Arlong crew turns to leave. As they are leaving, Genzo stands up to stop them, but Kurobi cuts him down. Nojiko struggles to free Nami, but to no avail and so Nami is taken captive. Later, Nojiko kneels by Bellemere's grave, telling her that Nami is gone.
After Genzo is bandaged up, the villagers discuss what to do about Arlong. Genzo explains that the Marines are the only ones who can stop Arlong, but have their hands full with the Grand Line. As they are talking, Nami returns to the village, greeted by Nojiko. However, Nami pulls herself away, showing the Arlong tattoo on her arm. She announces that she is joining Arlong's crew, drawing maps for them, and they will give her money. The villagers are outraged, and Genzo tells her to never show up again. Crying, Nami runs off. That night, Nojiko finds Nami sobbing by a tree. Nami explains that she made a deal with Arlong, that she will buy back the village for 100 million berries. Nojiko asks if it will be hard to be with someone she hates so much, but Nami insists that she will manage. The flashback then ends.
After hearing the story, Zoro is asleep while Usopp and Sanji are shocked. Sanji yells about what he will do to someone who hurts Nami, but Nojiko knocks him out, telling him not to interfere. She then remembers seeing Nami one day, explaining that she had become a thief, taking advantage of the era by stealing from pirates. Though greatly hurt, she took one million berries. The scene shifts to Nami in her home, thinking how she only has seven million berries left to pay, and that with her new skills she can do it in one trip. Meanwhile, in town, Luffy walks along, walking past Nezumi and several Marine soldiers, curious about them. Nezumi and the soldiers arrive at Nami's house, led by Genzo, and tell her that her treasure will officially become property of the government, since she is a thief. Nami is horrified as the episode draws to a close.
Mumbo230’s Notes
This episode is one of the most memorable in the series, as many fans will agree. This episode esplains Nami's distant attitude throughout the story arc thus far. It also explains why Genzo is covered in scars.
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