Episode 3

Title card

"A Rose Blooms Upon a Grave" is the third episode of the ''Patalliro'' anime, originally airing on April 15, 1982.

## Summary

Patalliro is about to be crowned king. However, an assassin lurks about ready to finish him off.

## Story Recap

One month after the death of the King, it is time to prepare for the coronation ceremony of the New King of Malynera. Patalliro receives a call from Bancoran to inform him that Thatcher’s killer is an officer of the International Diamond Syndicate (IDS). Patalliro knows them well as Malynera has a world-famous diamond mine. The IDS has a monopoly over all the diamond transactions worldwide and Patalliro has incurred their wrath by withdrawing for the organisation to do independent. Patalliro further informs Bancoran that the coronation ceremony will take place one later and has invited Bancoran to the event.

Back in London, the IDS convenes a top-secret meeting behind veiled screens. The Boss of IDS is seen stroking a cat on his lap while commenting that “No.4” was tasked with the “Malynera job” but No. 4 reports that the mission with Thatcher has failed.  No.9’s son aka No.9 Junior (who is representing his father whom has taken ill) chides No.4 for failing in his mission and proceeds to assault No.4 with a flying dagger. No.4 is removed from the meeting. No. 9 Jr requests for the Boss to let him take up the mantle of removing Patalliro as the next King to which the Boss agrees. The screen lifts up to reveal that No.9 Jr is a bishounen.

Bancoran arrives in Malynera and Patalliro introduces Bancoran as his bodyguard from England to “Junior” (No. 9 Jr ) who is currently in disguise as the journalist from BBC who is covering Patalliro’s life story and the coronation event.  Junior falls for the charms of Bancoran, the Bishounen Killer, on first sight.

Patalliro shows Bancoran and Junior the venue for the coronation ceremony which is a temple used for tourist attraction. Going in deeper into the temple grounds, Patalliro reveals that there is a cemetery underground. The way leading to the cemetery is a complex labyrinth as the ancestors of the Malynera Royal Family are buried in there with their jewels and is to thwart grave robbers. Patalliro heads bac to attend a cabinet meeting and leaves Bancoran and Junior in the basement.

Junior is fascinated and starts taking photos excitedly. In his excitement, he misses a step and Bancoran suavely moves in to embrace Junior princess style to prevent Junior from falling. At this point, things turn sensual and Bancoran makes a move on Junior as Bancoran warms Junior’s body against the cold temple grounds….

Back in his room, Junior develops the photos he has taken and observes that the temple structure is similar to the Egyptian Pyramids when the tomb is improperly infiltrated, the ceiling of the tomb will collapse. Junior thus plans to crumble the ceiling of the tomb which is the floor of the temple during the coronation ceremony. However, he is hesitant to harm Bancoran.

Meanwhile, Patalliro is busy with his coronation practise but finds both Bancoran and Junior spending lots of time together. Bancoran heads to Junior room to find Junior has left his blazer jacket lying on the bed. Bancoran hangs up Junior’s blazer only to find an IDS emblem inside the blazer. This shocks Bancoran and he being ransacking the room for any suspicious items, only to find a fuse for an explosive device.

In the morning of Coronation Day, Bancoran searches the premises and asks Patalliro how many people are attending the coronation event to which Patalliro replies that it is a day of festivities and hence the whole nation of Malynera will make their way to the temple. Bancoran senses something amiss and just as he was about to proceed to the temple, Junior appears and asks Bancoran to go to another interesting place he found and that they will be back by ceremony time. Bancoran leaves with Junior after leaving a request with Patalliro.

Junior brings Bancoran to a field of wild roses to admire the beauty of nature but shortly after which Bancoran expresses his desire to head to the temple. Junior attempts to delay Bancoran by flaunting his charms and also reminding Bancoran that he only needs to be back by Coronation time. Bancoran succumbs to Junior’s seduction and both indulge in some couple-time.

The next scene shows Junior and Bancoran awaking from their romantic siesta and soon it time for the Coronation Ceremony. When Bancoran tries to head to the Coronation Ceremony, once again Junior expresses his hesitation and Bancoran reminds Junior that he needs to cover the event as a journalist to which Junior says that he doesn’t care.

Immediately after this exchange, an explosion is heard from the direction of the temple and Bancoran voices his thoughts aloud and asks if someone might have sabotage the ceremony. Junior does not seem concerned and Bancoran articulates further that the temple is a big place and the explosion might not have its intended effect to which Junior retorts what if the explosion was on the ceiling of the tunnels causing the temple floor to collapse. At this point Bancoran realises that Junior has just confessed his M.O. and rushes to the temple tunnels, zooming off in his red Porsche, leaving Junior behind. Just as Junior contemplates that Bancoran is too late, a crow flies pass the high noon sun and Junior realises that the coronation ceremony has yet to start.

Bancoran reaches the temple grounds and Patalliro asks if the blast engineered by the soldiers was acceptable and Bancoran asks Patalliro to evacuate everyone but Patalliro refuses without hearing the reason as they are numerous VIPs such as ambassadors and media. Bancoran exclaims that there is a bomb and if Patalliro has forgotten the event with Thatcher (see Episode 2). Patalliro understands and proceeds to rub his face against the glove hand of Bancoran.

Junior arrives at the temple to see it devoid of any activity. With a wild rose in hand, Junior walks towards the empty throne of Malynera. There he spots Bancoran with his signature cigar waiting behind a temple pillar. Melancholic music plays in the background and Junior walks towards Bancoran, accusing him of being a liar to which Bancoran replies that Junior too has lied. Junior asks Bancoran for his true identity to which Bancoran reveals that he is an ranked an MI6 agent, ranked Major. Junior expresses that it isn’t surprising as Bancoran cannot simply be a mere bodyguard. Bancoran askes for Junior’s real name as he only knew him as Junior to which Junior replies that his real name is Bjorn. Junior kisses the rose in his hand and throws it into the air thereafter. Bancoran drops his cigar and soon an exchange of dagger versus bullet ensues. Junior is shot and the dagger misses Bancoran as it went slightly above the left shoulder of its intended target. Junior falls to the ground and Bancoran whispers “Bjorn”.

Right after, the planted bomb explodes and the temple starts to shake violently. Bancoran is fore to evacuate leaving Junior’s body behind. Soon, the temple ground gives way and all the pillars of the temple crumble along. Junior’s body is buried along…

Bancoran escapes unscathed and watches the temple monument collapse spectacularly from afar. Patalliro walks up to Bancoran and cracks a cryptic joke.

In the last segments, Patalliro is shown wearing the crown of Malynera and that the coronation ceremony has taken place in the palace reception hall at the third level with 2 to 3 people falling right out of the windows as the venue was too cramped to house that many guests. Bancoran requests Patalliro to arrange for a flight out of Malynera asap appearing to be still distraught over Junior’s demise. Wanting to be left alone, Patalliro leaves Bancoran to his own and Bancoran vows to crush the IDS for Bjorn’s sake.

The next day, Patalliro sees Bancoran off at the airport only to be sent off in a fighter jet plane at Mach 3 or 4 speed. Patalliro exclaims that this was to fulfil Bancoran’s request for a flight out of Malynera asap and so he sent Bancoran back in Malynera’s fastest plane.

## Differences From The Manga

The second half of the adapted chapter is covered here, the first half is already covered in the previous episode.