An Inevitable Outcome Feature

                             Written and Directed
                            by C. Richard Davies

                                TOGETHER AGAIN

                                 1996 Chapter

                             Based on the works of
                      Naoko Takeuchi, Rumiko Takahashi,
                     Kosuke Fujishima, Matsumoto Izumi,
                              Masaki Kajishima,
                     and various interpretations therof.

                                 Incorporating
                         original characters created
                            by C. Richard Davies

                     Dedicated to John Biles, Fred Herriot,
                               and Larry Mann.

                                    ACT TWO   

Establishing Shot:  Sunrise in Nerima.  A bird chirps.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
                    The next day dawned without any
                    signs of that which had happened
                    just before midnight ... no, wait.  

Cut to late night Nerima, full moon.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
                    There were quite a few important
                    things on the second day which went
                    on before sunrise.  

For example --  Cut to a street in Nerima, rather cold and sterile in the moonlight. 
AYEKA walks down the street, clutching her arms to herself to hold in 
heat, and looking about anxiously.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
                    -- a certain Princess of Jurai was
                    walking the streets of Tokyo, scared
                    for the first time in nearly a year.
                    IMITATES AYEKA "Bitterly did I
                    repent at that moment the foolhardy
                    plan which I had formed at home.  

AYEKA pulls the X-Files tankoubon that she bought yesterday out of her 
purse and glares at it.

                                     AYEKA
 		   Lousy Guidelost piece of crap.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   STILL IMITATING "I acknowledged
 		   that the situation was of my own
 		   making, however."

                                     AYEKA
 		   Somehow ... somehow I *know* that
 		   this is Ryouko's fault.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   I think that I would have been a
 		   little more upset by Ayeka's efforts
 		   to rewrite her story to her own
 		   satisfaction if I hadn't realized
 		   that I do the same thing sometimes.  

AYEKA hears a scuffling noise behind her, and begins walking again, doing 
her best to show no fear.  We see her passing an alley ... and then the 
GANGERS crawl out of the shadows of the alley.  They are an extremely 
scruffy looking company; if this were a few decades down the road, one 
would expect them to have very obvious cyberwear.  As it is, they have 
tattoos, broken teeth, hair that looks like it should be on the head of a 
Dragonball character, etc.  They head out of the alley and start following 
AYEKA.  She hears them, and her face shows her concern.

                                 AYEKA (V.O.)
 		   If I use my powers, I can probably
 		   deal very easily with whoever or
 		   whatever is following me ... but it
 		   *will* draw attention, and that's
  		   not what I --  

AYEKA looks up and examines the buildings, being careful not to slow down.

                                 AYEKA (V.O.)
 		   Perhaps not.  The citizens of this
 		   area are probably inured to violent
 		   noises ... but --  

Just then she passes another alley entrance ... and a very large ganger 
jumps out in front of her.

                                   GANGER #1
 		   PLEASANT Boo!  

AYEKA lets out a shriek, and jumps back -- right into the grasp of another 
GANGER, a thin but wiry one.  He holds her arms spread out, her feet a few 
inches off the ground.

                                   GANGER #2
 		   PERFECT DICTION Well, well, look
 		   what we have here.  A nice young
 		   lady, out on a stroll.

                                     AYEKA
 		   MORE ANGRY THAN AFRAID LET ME GO!  

A GANGER with red circles tattooed under his eyes steps up in front of 
AYEKA, and caresses her cheek with one hand and her hip with the other.

                                   GANGER #3
 		   Now why would we do that when we
 		   could all have such f-- OWWW!  

GANGER #3 backs away from AYEKA, clutching the sensitive section of his 
anatomy that she hs just kneed.  Nearby, an authoritative GANGER wearing 
wire-rim glasses sighs deeply.

                                   GANGER #4
 		   When will you guys learn to hold
 		   their feet when you're doing this
 		   routine?  Short One, go handle it.  

A very short GANGER, who has been laughing at GANGER #3's suffering, looks 
indignant.

                                   GANGER #5
 		   Why do I always have to --

                                   GANGER #4
 		   Short One.  *Skirt*.  

GANGER #5 blinks, stares at AYEKA's sailor fuku skirt, and darts down to 
grab her ankles firmly.  Then he peeks up her skirt.

                                   GANGER #5
 		   Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!

                                     AYEKA
 		   OUTRAGED THAT'S IT!  

Her expression grows focused, and unseen by the GANGERS, tiny nexi of 
force resembling small wooden logs begin to materialize around them --  

-- only to suddenly vanish when GANGER ##4 slaps AYEKA, disrupting her 
concentration.

                                   GANGER #3

 		   Why didn't you do that when she --

                                   GANGER #3
 		   HARSH Shut up.  She's not scared
 		   as much as she should be ... there's
 		   something wrong here.  BEAT  Maybe
 		   she's one of those ... *Soldiers*.  

AYEKA blinks, confused.

                                   GANGER #2
 		   Hey ... you're right!  Who *else*
 		   would be wandering around *our*
 		   domain in a schoolgirl outfit at
 		   this time of night?

                                   GANGER #4
 		   And you know what that means, don't
 		   you?  BEAT  Evidently not.  It
 		   means that we can start selling
 		   pictures of her and make a fortune
 		   from the perverts who --

                                 SHAMPOO (O.S.)
 		   SNORT You sound like pervert
 		   girl's nasty sister.  

The faces of all the GANGERS fall instantly, while AYEKA looks about, 
confused.

                                   GANGER #4
 		   MOURNFULLY Oh, *dung*.  

The GANGERS' heads turn as one to look at a nearby rooftop.  SHAMPOO is 
sitting on the edge, her legs dangling, and smiling almost coquettishly.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   WAVES FINGERS Hello, boys!
 		   Shampoo *so* glad to see you out of
 		   hospital again.  Shampoo *miss* you
 		   tons and tons!  

GANGER #4 looks down at GANGER #5.

                                   GANGER #4
 		   It has been nice to know you.  

SHAMPOO pulls out one of her bonbori from behind her back, and caresses 
its head almost lovingly.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   WISTFUL Shampoo wishes that her
 		   husband would spar with her, but he
 		   ... too busy.  CHEERFUL So Shampoo
 		   very glad you-all volunteer to help.  

And then she leaps down, and the fight begins.  It is horribly uneven. 
The GANGERS are more interested in getting the hell away from her than in 
fighting with her, but she declines to let them have that option.  Of 
course, AYEKA gets loose during the fight, and tries to stay the heck out 
of the crazy melee.  Unfortunately, one of the GANGERS gets knocked back 
into her, causing her to fall to the ground, and scattering her purse. 
AYEKA quickly gets back up and anxiously checks to see that the sailor 
fuku is undamaged, thus not noticing the condition of her purse, nor the 
small piece of paper which has landed in a muddy puddle.  A few moments 
later, it's all over.  A few of the GANGERS are littered unconsciously 
over the landscape, but most of them have been put to flight.  SHAMPOO 
surveys the area with a disatisfied expression.  When she speaks next it 
is in Mandarin.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   I didn't even break a sweat.  I've
 		   *got* to find a better class of
 		   thug to abuse.  

She becomes aware of AYEKA suddenly, and speaks to her in Japanese.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   PERFUNCTORY All right?  

AYEKA nods, still a bit startled.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   Fine.  Go on way.  

She turns to leave.  AYEKA remembers her manners, and speaks in fluent 
Mandarin.

                                     AYEKA
 		   Thank you very much.  

SHAMPOO freezes in place, then slowly turns to look back at AYEKA, 
startled.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   MANDARIN Excuse me?

                                     AYEKA
 		   Thank you very much for helping me
 		   with my problems with these --  

AYEKA breaks off as SHAMPOO comes up to her slowly, and begins to examine 
her face carefully.

                                     AYEKA
 		   CONFUSED Um, is something wrong?

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   SUSPICIOUS You're not ... but you
 		   aren't Japanese either.  BEAT  So
 		   where did you get that sailor suit?

                                     AYEKA
 		   SWALLOWS Um ... a friend gave it
 		   to me ... so that I could blend in.
 		   BEAT Is it really that obvious
 		   that I'm not --

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   SAD SMILE Only to a fellow alien.

                                     AYEKA
 		   STUNNED *You're* an *alien*?  

SHAMPOO briefly rolls her eyes.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   No, no, alien is also foreigner.  We
 		   are neither of us Japanese ... so we
 		   are the evil aliens in their eyes.

                                     AYEKA
 		   SAD Are they truly that fearful?  

SHAMPOO kicks one of the unconscious thugs.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   Ask this pillar of the community.
 		   I caught him spraying graffiti on
 		   the wall of our restaurant one day.
 		   TINNY JAPANESE "Chinese whore go
 		   home no da!"  

AYEKA flinches.  SHAMPOO smiles slightly.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   But words only make one stronger,
 		   for they cannot kill.  BEAT  Are
 		   you sure that you're all right?

                                     AYEKA
 		   SMILES Very fine, thank you.
 		   Well, I must be going.  My train
 		   will be coming shortly and --

She looks down at her purse and notes the fact that it has upended.  Her 
face falls.

                                     AYEKA
 		   Oh no!  
She starts to gather up her possessions.  SHAMPOO watches curiously. 
AYEKA finally comes to the piece of paper in the muddy puddle.  She stares 
at the ruined railpass with a look of horror.

                                     AYEKA
 		   TRAGIC Noooooo ...

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   BLINKS Something is wrong?

                                     AYEKA
 		   TEARY VOICE Something is wrong.
		   My railpass ... without this, I
 		   don't know how I can get h-- back
 		   to where my friends are.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   Can't you call them and have them
 		   come pick you up?  

AYEKA produces a half-melted phone card from her purse.  SHAMPOO blinks.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   I didn't know it was *possible* to
  		   go that far over the limit.

                                     AYEKA
 		   What am I going to do?  I -- I've
 		   been wandering around for hours,
 		   waiting for the damn train to show
 		   up, and now ... now I don't know
 	 	   what I'm going to do ...  

SHAMPOO stares at her with an odd expression on her face ... which clears, 
finally, just before she nods.  She taps AYEKA on her shoulder.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   You can come rest at my place, all
 		   right?

                                     AYEKA
 		   BLINKS But --

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   Get some rest -- you look dead on
 		   your feet -- and then you can use
 		   our phone to call your friends.

                                     AYEKA
 		   But ... I don't want to be an
 		   inconvenience --  

SHAMPOO waves her hand dismissively.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   No trouble!  Besides, it's the least
 		   I can do for someone who speaks a
 		   civilized language.  

AYEKA blinks at that, then pushes herself to her feet, and bows slightly. 
SHAMPOO bows back, deeper.  AYEKA returns the bow, only deeper.  SHAMPOO 
returns the deep bow.  AYEKA bows once more, even deeper.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   Okay, if we keep this up we'll be
 		   here all night.  Let's go.  

SHAMPOO starts to walk down the street, followed closely by AYEKA, who 
stares at her with a strange half-smile on her face.

                                    AKANE (V.O.)
 		   Seeing Shampoo through Ayeka's eyes
 		   was ... startling.  BEAT  I will
 		   *never* like her.  I don't *want*
 		   to like her.  She's mean-spirited
 		   and vicious, and she's tried to kill
 		   me.  BEAT  But ... I guess it's
 		   more honest to say that I don't
 		   understand her.  Like she says, she
 		   is an alien to us, just as much as
 		   Ayeka is ... but Ayeka at least
  		   *tries* to make herself seem like
 		   less of a strange visitor from
 		   another world.  BEAT  Anyway, at
 		   about the same time, in another part
 		   of the city ...  

Cut to AETHAN perched on the edge of the roof of a twenty-story building, 
looking much like a gargoyle.  He does not move, he does not breathe.  His 
eyes stare down at the ground without really seeing.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Dammit.  

We flash back, through a gauzy haze, to the previous evening.  AETHAN and 
MINAKO are seated on a park bench together.

                                     MINAKO
                    Look, I think that I love you --

                                    AETHAN
                    I love you too, but --  

He is suddenly crushed by MINAKO's wild embrace, and she kisses him with  
passion.  AETHAN's eyes are wide.  This goes on for several minutes before  
she releases him.

                                    AETHAN
                    TRYING TO REGAIN COMPOSURE -- but
                    don't you think that you're moving
                    just a little too fast?  QUICK
                    Evidently not.  

Cut back to AETHAN on the building, as he winces at the memory.  

Cut to the flashback.  AETHAN reaches out and takes MINAKO's hand in his. 
An ofuda streaks out of the  darkness and slams into AETHAN's face, right 
between the eyebrows.  MINAKO stares at it, confused.  AETHAN slowly 
reaches up to tear the scroll off of his face, and stands, his fangs 
clearly in evidence.

                                    AETHAN
                    Do you *mind*?  

RAYE is standing a few feet away.

                                     RAYE
                    Stopping you from putting the moves
                    on my friend?  Not at all, gaki.  

MINAKO stands, her face very angry.

                                    MINAKO
                    Raye!  You promised that you weren't
                    going to do this sort of thing!

                                     RAYE
                    I said I wouldn't do it unless he
                    showed signs of getting out of
                    control.  He was --

                                    MINAKO
                    He was *holding* *my* *hand*.

                                     RAYE
                    Sure, first he holds your hand, then
                    he's clasping your shoulder, then
                    it's down your shirt --

                                    MINAKO
                    SHOCKED RAYE!  

Cut back to reality.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Dammit dammit dammit.  How do I fix
 		   *this*?  

He shakes his head and goes back to staring at the street below.  Slowly, 
a small point of light begins to descend from the night sky to the ground. 
AETHAN notices this, and is visibly startled.  Wehn the small point of 
light is a foot or so above the ground, it pulses brightly ... leaving 
behind a young man (MICHAEL GIDEON) dressed in blue jeans and a black 
t-shirt.  He is currently on his knees, gasping for breath.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Okay.  Okay.  Next time I do that,
 		   I'm getting SCUBA gear beforehand.  

AETHAN is *very* surprised.

                                    AETHAN
 		   WHISPERED Michael?

                                    MICHAEL
 		   BELLOWS Aethan!!!  I know that
 		   you're somewhere around here?  I
 		   gotta talk to you!  

AETHAN turns to mist.  He rematerializes on the ground, standing behind 
MICHAEL.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   BELLOWS It's important, man!  Very
 		   big stuff!  As big as --

                                    AETHAN
 		   So talk.  

MICHAEL spins around, startled.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Gah!  

A smile spreads slowly across AETHAN's face.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Hello, Michael.  Are you well?

                                    MICHAEL
 		   POINTS, STUTTERS Y-y-you, man, you
 		   r-really enjoy yankin' my ch-chain,
 		   don't you?

                                    AETHAN
 		   NODS SOBERLY Indeed.  BEAT What
 		   does that mean?  

MICHAEL visibly gives up, and grabs AETHAN in a sudden bear hug.  AETHAN 
smiles, and gently slaps MICHAEL on his back.  MICHAEL lets go and takes a 
step back.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Am I well?  Well, I am ... okay.  I
 		   think I finally got long-distance
 		   teleportation down, since I was in
 		   Liverpool before.  This is Tokyo,
 		   right?

                                    AETHAN
 		   Correct.  Very impressive.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Yeah, but it'll take a while before I
 		   get used to it ... the Void is *very*
 		   cold, man.

                                    AETHAN
 		   NOD Yes, that fits with the usual
 		   description of the "Empty Places" in
 		   the Hermetic Texts.  BEAT  All
 		   right, what's so vital that you risk
 		   your health and sanity to come find
 		   me?

                                    MICHAEL
 		   You're gonna say that I'm shitting
 		   you, but I'm not.  Okay?  BEAT
 		   Madeline told me to come find you.  

AETHAN nods slowly.

                                    AETHAN
 		   I see.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Really?  You bel--

                                    AETHAN
 		   SHAKES HEAD No, but since you
 		   assure me that you are not, as you
 		   say, "shitting me", I presume that
 		   you have some way of establishing
 		   your bona fides as a courier from
 		   *my* guardian angel.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Yeah.  TAPS HEAD  Take a look.  

AETHAN grimaces.

                                    AETHAN
 		   I *hate* telepathy.  BEAT  Very
 		   well.  

He pulls one of his gloves off, and slowly reaches out to press his left 
hand to MICHAEL's left cheek.  MICHAEL flinches for a second at the chill 
of his touch, then settles in, closing his eyes.  AETHAN closes his eyes 
as well, murmuring in a Latin sounding language.  

Cut to black.  Against that black appears the image of a woman with long, 
dark hair and pale skin, dressed in a white toga (MADELINE).

                                   MADELINE
 		   He's telling the truth.  I met with
 		   him.  

AETHAN pulls back, nodding.  MICHAEL opens his eyes.

                                    AETHAN
 		   SOBER All right.  Convey unto me
 		   the message given unto thee by my
 		   aethereal patron.  

MICHAEL takes a moment to revew everything, then nods shortly.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Right.  There were two main parts to
  		   it.  They're apparently interrelated
 		   ... anyway, the first is a warning,
 		   but not for you.  You're supposed to
 		   act as another link in the chain for
 		   this warning.  BREATH  "Three will
 		   go in, two will come out."  I think
 		   that you'll know to pass it on at an
 		   appropriate moment, but she didn't
 		   say so, so don't --

                                    AETHAN
 		   All right.  And the other?

                                    MICHAEL
 		   This is "marching orders" for you, I
 		   guess.  You have to protect the misty
 		   cloud, at all costs.  BEAT Does
 		   that make *any* sense to you?

                                    AETHAN
 		   None whatever, which makes it fairly
 		   standard for commands from Madeline.
 		   It's not as bad as the time I was
 		   told that I had to play chess with
 		   death as the scorekeeper.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   So what happened?

                                    AETHAN
 		   I didn't understand it until I saw
 		   the face of the young man who served
 		   Roosevelt his last cup of cocoa,
 		   while we were playing our last game.
 		   BEAT Time-delayed poison, you see.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Roosevelt?  As in, Franklin *Delano*
 		   Rossevelt --

                                    AETHAN
 		   Well it certainly wasn't Theodore, I
 		   was in England then --

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Daaaamn.

                                    AETHAN
 		   In any event, Michael, I doubt that
 		   you've made arrangements for a place
 		   to stay.  I'd be happy to let you
 		   crash at my hotel room.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   That'd be great.  YAWN  'Scuse.
 		   Man, I guess I musta been runnning
 		   on adrenaline.  That jump took more
 		   out of me than I figured.

                                    AETHAN
  		   You'll be all right?  If necessary,
 		   I can carry you; it's not uncommon
 		   for the local execs to do so, after
 		   a debauch.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   SHAKES HEAD I'll be fine.  Just
 		   don't expect me to go jumping on
 		   rooftops ...

                                    AETHAN
 		   Wouldn't dream of it.  BEAT
 		   Michael, did Madeline give you any
 		   indication as to why she didn't give
 		   me the messages directly?

                                    MICHAEL
 		   THINKS Uh ... no.  Nothing I
 		   picked up on, and like you said, I
 		   didn't even bother trying to read
 		   her mind.  BEAT Hey, maybe *I'm*
 		   this cloud you're supposed to --

                                    AETHAN
 		   I don't think so, Michael.  

AETHAN starts walking.  MICHAEL follows close to him.  We see them from 
above.

                                    AETHAN
 		   So how is your Japanese, anyway?

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Well, it could be a lot better, but
 		   I think I figured out a way around
 		   it when I was in the Pyrenees a few
 		   weeks ago.  What you might call "the
 		   gift of tongues".

                                    AETHAN
 		   STARTLED  Seriously?

                                    MICHAEL
 		   The Basque guerillas sure seemed to
 		   *think* I was speaking Euskady to
 		   'em.  

Cut to the halls of the underground base that KENT emerged from.  NINIANE 
walks purposefully down the stairs leading to the vehicle bay.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   But if almost everyone in Tokyo was
 		   unaware of what was about to happen,
 		   there was one person elsewhere in the
 		   world who knew that *something* was
 		   afoot.  

NINIANE opens the door to the garage and marches across the concrete 
floor, the clacking of her high heels blends with the sounds of manual 
labor.  She approaches what looks like a firing range, where ANDREW, 
STENGOVITCH, and a short, wiry man in his early forties (BRAN) are engaged 
in some work on a pair of large, cyllindrical devices with glass globes on 
the business end pointed at a wall of foam padding.  They are mounted on 
the back of a heavy truck, with a seat placed between them.  ANDREW, who 
has been tinkering with the globe on the right side of the seat, finally 
nods to himself.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Okay, let's see what this peashooter
 		   can do.  

He slides down the tube, and gestures for BRAN to take the seat.  BRAN 
sits and starts to work the two joystick controls in front of the seat, 
causing the right handed tube to point at the foam.  BRAN pulls a pair of 
goggles over his eyes.  ANDREW looks down over the side of the truck, to 
note that STENGOVITCH is staring at the foam.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Goggles on, Stengy.  

STENGOVITCH expresses disgust at his nickname, but puts on his goggles 
anyway.  Satisfied, ANDREW pulls his goggles down from his head as well. 
To the side, NINIANE passes two of her fingers before her eyes, causing 
the air in front of them to darken.  ANDREW turns a key mounted into the 
base of the left tube, which begins to glow and hum.

                                    ANDREW
 		   You may fire when ready.  

BRAN, smiling grimly, flips up a catch over the big red button on the 
right joystick.  He takes a deep breath, and presses down on the button. 
Immediately, the globe lights up brilliantly, and a half second later a 
thin beam of green light streaks toward the foam, burning into it.  It 
holds out for a short interval, before the humming of the tube begins to 
become a low whine.  BRAN releases the red button, causing the hum to sink 
to its original level.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Time?  

STENGOVITCH checks a digital pocket watch.

                                  STENGOVITCH
  		   Twenty seven point zero four
 		   seconds.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Okay, check it.  

STENGOVITCH stands, peels off the goggles, and runs over to the foam wall. 
He pulls a small ruler out of his overall pocket, and measures the hole 
cut by the beam.

                                  STENGOVITCH
 		   Diameter twelve point one milli-
 		   metres.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Hmph.  

STENGOVITCH produces a small rod from the same pocket and holds it up to 
the hole.  He presses a button on the side of the rod, and a display 
lights up a second later.

                                  STENGOVITCH
 		   All the way through.  It's reading
 		   a depth of three metres, and the
 		   other side is concrete.  

BRAN looks at ANDREW

                                     BRAN
 		   Three meters of high density foam.  

ANDREW cups his chin and nods.

                                    ANDREW
 		   I think ... we can get it a little
 		   narrower.  I'm gonna want at least
 		   six meters of penetration ...  

NINIANE banishes the darkness in front of her face.

                                    NINIANE
 		   Andrew.  I need to speak with you.  

ANDREW looks up, annoyed.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Right.  TO BRAN Get more of that
 		   foam up from the stores, and start
 		   working on focusing the beam

                                     BRAN
 		   On it.  

ANDREW clambers down from the truck bed.  Running his hands together in a 
reflexive gesture, he walks over to NINIANE.

                                    NINIANE
 		   What *is* that thing?

                                    ANDREW
 		   Behold, the Dragonslayer.  BEAT
 		   High powered maser, with a low power
 		   targeting laser along the length of
 		   the beam to confuse people.  Useless
 		   against any kind of metal or ceramic
 		   armor ... but against organics?

                                    NINIANE
 		   What in the world are we doing with
 		   such a weapon?

                                      ANDREW
 		   Reason Number One:  Making sure no
 		   one else has it.  Reason Number Two:
 		   Like I said, it's a Dragonslayer.  

NINIANE looks at ANDREW as though she's not quite sure if he's sane or 
not.  He returns her look with inscrutability.

                                     NINIANE
 		   You *aren't* seriously proposing to
 		   use something like this against
 		   *that*, are you?

                                     ANDREW
 		   Bound to happen eventually.

                                    NINIANE
 		   STUNNED That is a child's toy
 		   against the Sleeper in the Pacific.
 		   If you imagine for one second that
 		   your artificery will suffice in
 		   a confrontation with --

                                    ANDREW
 		   BLUNT Save it.  Is this little
 		   lecture what you came to talk to me
 		   about?  

NINIANE takes a deep breath.

                                    NINIANE
 		   CALM No.  BEAT  Something is
 		   happening in Japan.  I would
 		   estimate a Gamma-class situation,
 		   possibly developing into a Delta
 		   class unless steps are taken.
   		   BEAT I am being conservative.

ANDREW stares at her for a moment, then nods.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Okay.  I'll check with the boys at
 		   Fuji base, see if they report any
 		   anomalies --

                                    NINIANE
 		   QUIET Don't you trust my report?

                                    ANDREW
 		   QUIZZICAL This a trick question?
 	 	   BEAT Of course not.  I don't trust
 		   any man, woman, or child on this
 		   Earth.  The exception being Kent.
 		   Anyway, we gotta get confirmation
 		   from onsite for a Gamma-class
 		   situation.  

ANDREW heads off towards the exit, leaving NINIANE fuming.

                                    NINIANE
 		   Kent trusts my judgement.

                                    ANDREW
 		   News to me.  

She stares at his retreating back.

                                    NINIANE
 		   *McGovern* trusted my judgement.  

ANDREW is at the door.  He tosses his parting shot over his shoulder.

                                    ANDREW
 		   And look where that got him.  

NINIANE snaps back as though slapped.  Her eyes glow momentarily, but with 
an effort she holds her anger in.  Off to one side, BRAN and STENGOVITCH 
are watching nervously.

                                  STENGOVITCH
 		   MUTTERED How's it go again?  "Do
 		   not meddle in the affairs of wizards
 		   for --"  

NINIANE does not look back.

                                    NINIANE
 		   -- for they dance on the bones of
 		   those foolish enough to speak of
 		   them behind their backs.  

She marches towards the door, her heels clicking once more. STENGOVITCH 
swallows, noisily.  BRAN stares at him, amused.

                                     BRAN
 		   Oughtn't you go get the foam the
 		   Chief wanted?  

STENGOVITCH glowers, but finally gives in.

                                  STENGOVITCH
 		   Sure, Pops.

                                     BRAN
 		   That's *DOCTOR* to you, *youth*!  

Cut to the establishing shot of sunrise in Nerima.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   And so, after a rather eventful
 		   night, the next day dawned.  I was
 		   at the train station that morning
 		   just in time to see the train that I
 		   was going to ride home break down,
 		   leaving me stranded in Nekomi for
 		   a few hours.  Naturally, I called my
  		   family to let them know I'd be a
 		   little late, and naturally, they
 		   were all out of the house.  Why?
 		   GRAND Tegasajutsu -- the ancient
 		   art of umbrella fighting.  

Cut to a pair of gi-clad youths fighting with umbrellas in a ring, inside 
a large gymnasium.  Their movements are one part kendo, one part fencing, 
and one part pentjak silat.  SOUUN, KENT, KASUMI, NABIKI, and RANMA are 
seated in a rather large audience section.  KENT is fascinated; so is 
KASUMI, but not with the match.

                                     KENT
 		   HUSHED Incredible ... I'd heard
 		   rumors and folktales, but I never
 		   dreamed that anyone actually still
 		   *practiced* tegasajutsu.

                                    KASUMI
 		   Oh yes.  There are only a small
 		   handful of them, but it's a very
 		   useful self-defense tool, I'm told.
 		   BEAT Ranma, doesn't one of your
 		   friends practice tegasajutsu?

                                     RANMA
 		   GRUDGINGLY Yeah.  Sorta ...

                                    NABIKI
 		   MUTTERED Now if he'll just *show*
 		   so that I can win those bets ...

                                     RANMA
 		   He'll never make it.  When we were
 		   kids he got lost in a --

                                    NABIKI
 		   Ranma, *dear*, I would love to hear
 		   many stories of the halcyon days of
 		   the youth of Saotome and Hibiki,
 		   teenage martial arts demigods, but
 		   only when I'm trying to cope with
 		   insomnia.  BEAT  He'll show.  I
 		   told him Akane would be here.

                                     RANMA
 		   In other words, you lied.

                                    NABIKI
 		   No I didn't.  Do you think she'd
 		   pass up something like this if she
 		   were in town?  So Akane *would* be
 		   here ... if she were in Nerima.  

RANMA tries to find fault with that statement, and can't.  So he just 
stares gloomily at the ring.  A few moments later, the exhibition match 
comes to a climax -- one of the fighters swings his umbrella over his head 
and brings it down towards the other in a two handed blow that the other 
just barely manages to parry --  

-- and a crunching sound is heard.  The  umbrella of the fighter who swung 
the overhand blow has snapped in two.  The fighter stares at the half that 
he still clings to, and slowly sinks to his knees.  The victorious fighter 
stands, and manfully represses the urge to gloat over his fallen opponent, 
who is cradling the remnants of his umbrella, his lips moving in a silent 
haiku on the subject of dying young.  Since the author can no more write 
decent haiku than good combat scenes, you'll just have to take his word 
that it's very moving.

                                     KENT
 		   MUSINGLY Perhaps sometimes the
 		   best offense is a good defense.

                                    KASUMI
 		   Ara?

                                     KENT
 		   Nothing, never mind.

                                     SOUUN
 		   And now, Kent, we shall see the
 		   skill of one of the last true
 		   masters of the art -- the great
 		   Shujin Tega.  

From off, there is a long, high-pitched scream.  KENT and RANMA both leap 
to their feet almost instinctively, as a small OLD WOMAN comes running out 
of one of the changing rooms.  She is in hysterics.  RANMA is in motion 
first, heading down towhere the old woman is crouched, with KENT following 
only a few moments behind.  RANMA leans down to look at the OLD WOMAN.

                                     RANMA
 		   Hey, what's wrong?  

The OLD WOMAN either cannot or will not answer, and babbles instead.  KENT 
kneels down until he's at eye level with her.  He speaks in Korean.

                                     KENT
 		   Grandmother.  

The OLD WOMAN stops babbling abruptly as she hears a gentle voice and a 
familiar language.

                                     KENT
 		   What has happened, Grandmother?  

She points a quavering hand to the door she fled out of.

                                   OLD WOMAN
 		   Tega ...  

KENT considers, nods, and speaks gently.

                                     KENT
 		   Rest.  

She swallows, and nods once.  RANMA has been watching this exchange with 
mounting confusion.

                                     RANMA
 		   Did she say something about Tega?

                                     KENT
 		   NODS Wait here.

                                     RANMA
 		   Hey?!  Why --

                                     KENT
 		   Just a h-- um, someone should stay
 		   with this lady, and --

                                     RANMA
 		   You know how to talk with her, I
 		   don't, so --

                                   OLD WOMAN
 		   JAPANESE I ... I am sorry, I did
 		   not realize where I was.  

KENT smiles at RANMA, briefly, before standing and heading into the 
changing room.  RANMA is annoyed.

                                     RANMA
 		   All I need now is --

                                 RYOUGA (O.S.)
 		   Saotome!  What are you doing to that
 		   old woman!

                                     RANMA
 		   STARES SKYWARD Come on, I didn't
 		   even *say* it!  

Cut to the inside of the changing room.  KENT moves slowly towards the 
showers.  While there is a faint mist in the air, there is no sound of 
running water.  KENT keeps looking from one side to the other, never 
turning his head, only moving his eyes.  He is close enough to the shower 
stalls now to hear the slow, steady dripping.  KENT's face is a cool mask, 
not showing any emotion.  He stands before a shower stall with the curtain 
closed in front of it.  Through the curtain we can see a dark mass.  KENT 
lets out a deep breath, and with a single rapid motion pulls back the 
curtain.  

We see a single drop of red fall and splash to the floor of the shower.  

We see KENT's eye blink, and hear the curtain being pulled back.  

Outside the changing room, RANMA is fending off RYOUGA, while NABIKI has 
come down to where they are and is trying to talk to RYOUGA.

                                    NABIKI
 		   Well, Ryouga, I'm sad to tell you
 		   that --

                                     RANMA
 		   Why don't you just do what you do
 		   best, Ryouga?

                                    RYOUGA
 		   SHUT UP, RANMA!  TO NABIKI Just a
 		   moment, Nabiki-san, while I punish
 		   him for betraying Akane-san with
 		   that woman --

                                    NABIKI
 		   NONPLUSSED Right.  Ryouga, do you
 		   listen to yourself when you say
 		   stuff like that?  

RYOUGA looks at the confused OLD WOMAN for a second.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   STUBBORN It could happen.  

RANMA looks completely disgusted with the idea.

                                    NABIKI
 		   *Any*way, Ryouga, you entered this
 		   tournament to demonstrate your
 		   skills in tegasajutsu, but if you go
 		   beating up an opponent who doesn't
 		   practice that form, you won't be
 		   doing anything for your reputation,
 		   which isn't that great as it is.

                                 NABIKI (V.O.)
 		   Besides, I haven't made any side bets
 		   on that sort of thing.

                                    NABIKI
 		   So where's the percentage?  You can
 		   kick Ranma's tail any day --

                                     RANMA
 		   Like hell he can.

                                    NABIKI
 		   GLARES -- but a match like this
 		   comes once in a decade, if that.
 		   Have you forgotten your dream?

                                    RYOUGA
 		   My dream ...  

We close in on RYOUGA's eye.  

RYOUGA stands in the centre of a ring, naked to the waist and victorious 
over an opponent (who looks like an unconscious bearded RANMA).  Still he 
does not seem happy

                                    VOICES
 		   Look!  There is the skilled and
 		   honorable practitioner of the art of
 		   fighting with an umbrella!  Isn't he
 		   noble in his dedication to his art
 		   to the exclusion of all else?

                                    RYOUGA
 		   Oh the loneliness of victory ...

                                 AKANE (O.S.)
 		   Ryouga-sama ...  

RYOUGA turns to look out of the ring, and sees AKANE (dressed not unlike 
Talia Shire in the final moments of the original Rocky) standing alone in 
the stands.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   Akane-san!  

The image freezes momentarily.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   Okay.  Well before this point, I had
 		   more or less figured out that Ryouga
 		   had a crush of sorts on me, which
 		   explained why Ukyou had always been
 		   able to manipulate him like she had.
 		   It was still a shock to discover
 		   just how ... obsessed he was about
 		   me ...   The image de-freezes.

                                     AKANE
 		   Oh, Ryouga-sama, I never dreamed
 	 	   that you could be so puissant.  I 
		   forswear my silly, adolsescent
 		   infatuation with Ranma in favor
 		   of a healthy mature relationship
 		   with you!  

The first glimpse of hope appears on RYOUGA's face, only to be shattered 
by the sound of many pigs oinking.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   But, Akane-san ... what about Akari-
 		   chan?  

AKANE bows her head for a moment.  Then she lifts it up, with tears in her 
eyes.

                                     AKANE
 		   For your sake, Ryouga-sama, I shall
 		   learn to love her too!  

Hope shines on RYOUGA's face.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   AKANE-SAN!  

AKANE's lips move, but it is NABIKI's voice we hear.

                                  NABIKI (V.O.)
 		   RYOUGA!  Leggo of me!  

RYOUGA blinks.  He is holding NABIKI tightly by the shoulders.  She is 
staring up at him with genuine fright in her eyes.  RYOUGA becomes aware 
that every eye in the gymnasium is on him.  He lets out a small, sick 
laugh, and releases his grip on NABIKI.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   Yes.  Ahem.  Yes.  TO RANMA  Your
 		   punishment can wait for another day.
 		   I am going to demonstrate my skill
 		   against the great Shujin Tega!  

KENT has silently stepped through the door to the changing room.

                                     KENT
 		   No you aren't.  

RYOUGA, startled, stares blinkingly at KENT, who doesn't meet his gaze.

                                     KENT
 		   Nabiki-san, please call the police.
 		   BEAT And an ambulance, as well.  

The OLD WOMAN begins to sob again.  NABIKI opens her mouth to say 
something in reply, then nods and heads off.

                                     RANMA
 		   SWALLOWS Is he ...  

KENT nods, once.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   Wha?  Who're you?  What's happened
 		   to Shujin-sensei?

                                     KENT
 		   He's gone.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   What do you mean, gone?  

KENT, who stands a fair height over RYOUGA, leans in toward him.

                                     KENT
 		   SOFT He is *dead*.  

RYOUGA is shocked by this.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   De--  

He pushes past KENT, heading for the door.

                                     KENT
 		   Boy.  

RYOUGA pauses, and turns back to look at KENT angrily ... and sees that 
KENT isn't bothering to look at him.

                                     KENT
 		   If you go in there, you will learn
 		   beyond any hope of unlearning, that
 		   the martial arts cannot beat all
 		   adversaries.  If you go in there,
 		   you will never feel safe again.  

RYOUGA stares at him for a moment ... then snorts.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   Yeah, right.  

RYOUGA walks through the door.  KENT looks up at the confused, murmuing 
crowd.

                                     KENT
 		   CLEAR AND CALM Ladies and gentle-
 		   men, there has been an unfortunate
 		   occurance, but it's important for
 		   everyone to remain --

                                  RYOUGA (O.S.)
 		   EEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

                                     KENT
 		   -- calm.  

Cut to a strange, surreal place.  RYOUKO stares directly at our point of 
view, her face set in a strange smile.

                                    RYOUKO 
		   SULTRY Well, well ... this is very
 		   interesting.  You've made my life a
 		   living hell, and now I find out the
 		   reason.  BEAT  You.  Want.  Me.  

RYOUKO's lips keep moving, but the voice is different.

                                 SHAMPOO (V.O.)
 		   To make breakfast?  

Cut to AYEKA, blinking.  She stares up at SHAMPOO, dressed now in her 
waitress outfit.

                                     AYEKA
 		   Oh.  Uh ... my goodness.  What time
 		   is it?

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   A little after nine in the morning.
 		   We haven't opened yet, but we will
 		   soon so --  

AYEKA takes a look around at the futon and the room that she's in.  It 
contains a number of photos of SHAMPOO with RANMA (okay, a number of 
photos of SHAMPOO glomping onto RANMA, with him looking as though he'd 
rather be anywhere else), a few trophies, and not a lot else.

                                     AYEKA
 		   Oh dear -- did I put you out of your
 		   bed last night?

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   DISMISSIVE Nah, I just took a
 		   shower and curled up in the corner.
 		   No big deal.  JOKING  You woke me
 		   up a few times with your groaning,
 		   though.  

AYEKA's face goes very pale.

                                     AYEKA
 		   SMALL I did?

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   JOKING Hot dream about your lover?

                                     AYEKA
 		   SHOCKED NO!  Not at *all*!  It's
 		   nothing like that --

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   AMUSED Okay, okay, I'll take your
 		   word for it.  BEAT  Breakfast,
 		   then?

                                     AYEKA
 		   Thank you very much.  

SHAMPOO smiles, and heads out of the room.  AYEKA collapses in nervous 
exhaustion as soon as the door closes.

                                     AYEKA
 		   Why ... why would *I* be having
 		   dreams about that withered, evil,
 		   foul, wicked, ugly, stupid, violent
 		   *alien* --  

AYEKA falls silent.  
Cut to the interior of the Nekohanten's dining area, a little while later. 
AYEKA is finishing off a bowl of rice while SHAMPOO cleans tables.

                                     AYEKA
 		   I honestly can't thank you enough
 		   for this.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   And I honestly can't keep saying
 		   "It's no big deal" much more.  It
 		   *is* sort of my fault that your
 		   pass got destroyed last night ...
 		   and I know what it's like to be
 		   alone in a country where nobody
 		   understands you.  

SHAMPOO heads back behind the counter, picks up the phone, and sets it in 
front of AYEKA.  She produces a phone card from within her blouse, and 
hands it to AYEKA.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   Well?

                                     AYEKA
 		   But what if what happened to my
 		   other card happens this time, too?

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   WAVES HAND Don't be silly, that
 		   couldn't happen more than once.  

AYEKA stares nervously at the card, then swipes it through the card reader 
attached to the phone.  

Cut to WASHUU's laboratory.  WASHUU is asleep at her console.  The screen 
shows a diagram of a hemispherical dome covering the area of the Masaki 
shrine and vicinity, with lots of notes indicating the dome's resilience 
against various forces.  A sudden buzzing noise awakens WASHUU.  She 
stares blearily at the screen as it changes to display TENCHI on the 
phone.

                               TENCHI (MONITOR)
 		   Ayeka-san, for God's sake, what are
 		   you doing in Tokyo?  BEAT No, I'm
 		   *not* angry, I'm ... let's not go
 		   into that.  But --  

WASHUU's face goes through several stages of panic, before hardening.  She 
reaches out to press a certain button on the console.

                                 MIHOSHI (O.S)
 		   Ano ... Washuu-chan?  

WASHUU flinches, and slowly turns to look over her shoulder at MIHOSHI, 
who is standing nearby.  Her hands are folded in front of her as she looks 
earnestly at WASHUU.

                                    WASHUU
 		   Mihoshi?  How did you get in here?

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   BLINK Um, I used the main entrance,
 		   just like anyone else --

                                    WASHUU
 		   No you didn't.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		    Yes I did.

                                    WASHUU
 		   No you *didn't*.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		    Yes, I really really did.

                                    WASHUU
 		   CRAZED NO, YOU DIDN'T!  I closed
 		   the only entrance to my lab
 		   yesterday, and there is no way in
 		   the universe you could *possibly*
 		   have gotten in here --

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   CONFUSED Why did you do something
 		   like that?  

WASHUU stops in mid-rant.  She takes a long, shuddering breath.

                                    WASHUU
 		   *VERY* CONTROLLED I'm doing a very
 		   dangerous experiment, Mihoshi.  You
 		   are very lucky that I'm taking a
 		   break, or you might have had your
 		   molecules scattered over a hundred
 		   thousand alternate universes.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   AWED That would hurt.  BEAT  So
 		   you're watching home movies on your
 		   break?

                                    WASHUU
 		   BLINKS Um, yes.  Yes I am.  

She taps a button on the console, dropping the sound coming from the 
monitor -- on which we now see TENCHI still on the phone, with SASAMI 
clamoring to use it.

                                     MIHOSHI
 		   This is really good camera work.  

MIHOSHI sits down, and watches, entranced by the imagery.  WASHUU stares 
at her, looks at the button, stares at MIHOSHI again.  Her face is 
chagrined.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   SMILING I remember watching home
 		   movies with my parents back home.
 		   Oh the scrapes I got into when I
 		   was a youth ...

                                    WASHUU
 		   WEAK Started early, huh?

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   I think family is the most important
 		   thing in the world.  Don't you think
 		   so, Washuu-chan?

                                    WASHUU
 		   SWALLOWS Yes, it's a very important
 		   thing.  There's nothing that I
 		   wouldn't do to protect my daughter,
 		   Mihoshi.  Nothing.  

WASHUU is holding a hand behind her back.  An energy bolt begins to form 
in that hand.  MIHOSHI blinks.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   Oh!  I didn't just mean that.  I
 		   meant ... well, what I mean is ...
 		   what I'm trying to say --

                                    WASHUU
 		   TEETH CLENCHED Mihoshi, please get
 		   to the point.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   DEEP BREATH Well, what I'm trying
 		   to say is that I like to think of
 		   you and Tenchi and Sasami-chan and
 		   all the rest as part of my family
 		   too.  

WASHUU's face freezes.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   So ... please don't shut yourself
 	  	   off from us like that?  You should
 		   have seen how upset Tenchi was when
 		   he came looking for you and couldn't
 		   get in ...

                                    WASHUU
 		   VERY QUIET Really.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   If the experiments are really that
 		   dangerous, you should post warnings,
 		   but it's really important for us to
 		   be able to get to you if you need
 		   help, Washuu-chan!  

WASHUU steals a look over her shoulder.  TENCHI nods a few times, and 
hangs up.  WASHUU winces at the imagined noise, and turns back to look at 
MIHOSHI.

                                    WASHUU
 		   QUIET  Mihoshi ... you're quite
 		   right.  I'll post those warnings
 		   immediately.  BEAT  Was there
 		   anything else?  

MIHOSHI gives it some thought, then shakes her head enthusiastically.

                                    MIHOSHI
 		   Well, I guess I'd better go see if
 		   anything's changed.  BEAT I really
 		   hope that Ayeka-san is okay ...
 		   BEAT Washuu-chan, do you have any
 		   way of --

                                    WASHUU
 		   SHAKES HEAD I'm very sorry, but
 		   all my resources are tied up in this
 		   experiment, Mihoshi.  I ... I hope
 		   that she's all right, too.  

MIHOSHI nods, and scampers off.  WASHUU watches her go, almost rising out 
of the seat as she turns out of sight ... then settling down.  She turns 
to stare at the monitor, which shows TENCHI speaking (silently) with 
RYOUKO.  She watches them with a tired, desperate expression for a moment, 
and then closes her eyes.  

And then WASHUU starts to scream.  

Cut to the exterior of Ucchan's, in Nerima.  It is a little before noon. 
RANMA approaches the entrance, looking tired and upset.  He takes the 
handle of the door in hand, breathes deeply for a moment, and then slides 
open the door.  

RANMA walks into the dusty interior of Ucchan's.

                                     RANMA
 		   Okay, Ukyou, whaddaya wanna talk ...
 		   to ... me ... about ...  

He trails off, staring at UKYOU, who is seated at one of the tables in the 
dining area, facing away from him.  She doesn't look up as she nurses a 
quiet bowl of sake.  UKYOU is dressed in a yellow blouse and a light blue 
skirt.  She does *not* have her distinctive hair ribbon.  After a moment, 
she rises, and slowly turns to look at RANMA.  Her eyes have dark circles 
under them.

                                     UKYOU
 		   SLOW, MEASURED Hello, Ranma.

                                     RANMA
 		   Uh.  Er.  SWALLOW  Um, how's it
  		   been going ... Ukyou?

                                     UKYOU
 		   ... Fairly well, thank you.  BEAT
 		   I've been out of town for a while.
 		   I just got back this week.

                                     RANMA
 		   Oh?  I ... well, I mean, I noticed
 		   that you weren't working out of
 		   here, anymore, but ... you didn't
 		   tell me what was going on, so ...

                                     UKYOU
 		   NOD I know.  That's one of my
 		   problems, I think ... I'm not as
 		   direct as you are, Ran-- BEAT
 		   Ranma ... I try to be too subtle.
 		   BEAT Just like when we were kids.
 		   I never told you that I was a girl.
 		   I thought you knew ... so I didn't
 		   have to tell you.  I should have
 		   though.  I should have told you ...
 		   but ...  

RANMA takes a step closer to UKYOU.

                                     RANMA
 		   So ... what happened?  Over this
 		   last year, I mean --

                                     UKYOU
 		   Since I tried to murder Akane, you
 		   mean?  

RANMA takes a step *back* from UKYOU.

                                     RANMA
 		   I didn't say that.

                                     UKYOU
 		   It's true enough.  I honestly wanted
 		   to kill her rather than let her
 		   marry you.  BEAT  Before I would
 		   have let that happen, I would have
 		   killed her, you, the Tendous, your
 		   father, your *mother* ... and I
 		   would have laughed as I did.  I'd
 		   laugh and laugh and --  

UKYOU suddenly draws in a long, shuddering breath and slumps down in her 
seat, covering her face.  RANMA stares at her, appalled ... until he sees 
her shoulder quivering.  Then he starts towards her.

                                     RANMA
 		   SOFT Ucchan ...  

UKYOU lifts her head up.  Her eyes are bright with tears.

                                     UKYOU
 		   Don't.  Not yet.  Not until you know
 		   why --

                                      RANMA
 		   Ucchan ... it's okay, it was probably
 		   all Shampoo's idea, right?  You just
 		   went along with it to make sure that
 		   things didn't get too out of --  

UKYOU shakes her head.

                                     UKYOU
 		   No.  BEAT  Ranch--  Ranma, this is
 		   what happened.  BEAT  Do you
 		   remember how, a little more than a
 		   year ago, I got sick?

                                     RANMA
 		   Uh, yeah!  Of course I do.  I was
 		   really ... um, concerned.  But, so
 		   was everyone ...

                                     UKYOU
 		   DRY Right.  BEAT  Well, after a
 		   while, it seemed as though I had
 		   gotten better ... but I hadn't.  I
 		   was still very sick for a few months
 		   after I got better ... but it only
 		   showed up in the way that I acted.

                                     RANMA
 		   You mean --

                                     UKYOU
 		   NOT LISTENING It was like watching
 		   myself through a haze, Ranma ...I
 		   saw what I was doing, but it wasn't
 		   *real* to me.  BEAT  Afterwards,
 		   when we all ran home, Konatsu tried
 		   to talk to me about something -- I
 		   don't remember what, but ... I tried
 		   to take his head off with my spat
 		   when he did.

                                     RANMA
 		   Ucchan!

                                     UKYOU
 		   Konatsu is very very fast, did you
 		   know that?  BEAT  I woke up ...
 		   in the hospital that he'd managed
 		   to find.  BEAT  The cure took six
 		   months, and it almost killed me when
 		   it took effect and I realized what
  		   I'd done.  trembling  I was a
 		   murderer, Ranma --

                                     RANMA
 		   No!  Dammit, nobody really got hurt!

                                     UKYOU
 		   But if you *intend* to do something
 		   then --

                                     RANMA
 		   Then nothing!  Actions matter, not
 		   thoughts!  Hell, I've *wanted* to
 		   tear Ryouga's head off more times
 		   than I can count, but I *don't*.

                                     UKYOU
 		   I *tried*.

                                     RANMA
 		   You didn't *succeed*.  DEEP BREATH
 		   You were sick, Ucchan!  Do you think
 		   I'm gonna go hating you 'cause you
 		   were sick?  

UKYOU slowly turns to gaze at RANMA, something akin to hope being born in 
her eyes.

                                     UKYOU
 		   You mean that you *forgive* me?

                                     RANMA
 		   Hell, yes!  Ucchan, you're my best
 		   friend in this whole crazy world!
 		   I'm just upset that you didn't try
 		   and talk to me sooner!  Am I *that*
 		   intimidating?  

UKYOU lets out a long, shuddering breath ...

                                     UKYOU
 		   Ranchan ...  

And quite suddenly she flings herself at him, glomping onto him (thusly 
scaring the heck out of him) and resting her chin on his shoulder.

                                     UKYOU
 		   Yes ... you *are* that intimidating
 		   Whenever I see you, I see the little
 		   boy who always managed to defeat me
 		   every day as I defended my father's
 		   okonomiyaki cart --

                                     RANMA
 		   STRANGLED Ucchan?

                                     UKYOU
 		   Yes, Ranchan?

                                     RANMA
 		   I can't breathe.  

UKYOU releases her tight grip on RANMA, stepping back as she does so.  She 
smiles winsomely.

                                     UKYOU
 		   I'm sorry, Ranchan, it's just ...
 		   if you've missed me, I've missed you
 		   just as much.  

RANMA nods, getting his breath back.

                                     RANMA
 		   Well, yeah.  Course you did.  BEAT
 		   Lemme tell ya, there've been times
 		   when I could really have used
 		   someone to talk to.  

UKYOU heads behind the grill.

                                     UKYOU
 		   Tell me about them.  I want to know
 		   all about your year.  

RANMA takes his usual seat.

                                     RANMA
 		   Well ... after the fiasco, my dad
 		   and Mr. Tendou finally fell out.
 		   "Otousan" blamed oyaji for most of
 		   the damage to the dojo, and insisted
 		   that he pay up somehow.  

UKYOU has begun to cook the first okonomiyaki.

                                     UKYOU
 		   And since your father has never paid
 		   his way in his life --

                                     RANMA
 		   He ran.  But not fast enough to get
 		   away from my mom.  Anyway, she and
 		   Mr. Tendou came up with a way to
 		   make some money off of dad.

                                     UKYOU
 		   Make him teach lessons at the dojo?  

She tosses him the okonomiyaki, which has a partial heart drawn on it. 
RANMA doesn't notice.

                                     RANMA
 		   SNORT Yeah, right.  The world
 		   needs more people with the neko-ken.
 		   BEAT No, they sold him to the
 		   Tokyo Zoo with instructions to only
 		   bathe him in cold water.  

RANMA starts to eat the okonomiyaki.  UKYOU pauses in her preparation of 
the second to look up, startled.

                                     UKYOU
 		   Seriously?  GRINNING  You *sold*
 		   your father to pay for his crimes?

                                     RANMA
 		   Well, it wasn't *me*, it was --  

UKYOU begins to laugh, a laughter which is located somewhere between 
healthy amusement and maniacal hysteria, tending more toward the former 
than the latter.  RANMA pauses to stare at her a bit anxiously.

                                     UKYOU
 		   REGAINING COMPOSURE I'm sorry, but
 		   ... that's so much *better* than
 		   anything that I ever planned for
 		   him, Ranchan.

                                     RANMA
 		   Um ... thanks, I think.  Like I
 		   said, it wasn't really my idea, but
 		   ... BEAT Anyway, even that wasn't
 		   enough to fix all the damages to
 		   the dojo.  Mr. Tendou finally came
 		   to the conclusion that he needed
 		   students -- regular ones, not drop-
 		   ins like Ryouga and the rest of
 		   them.  *This* is where I came in.
 		   I spent most of last winter goin'
  		   around and giving public demos of
  		   musabetsu kakutou.  It was kinda
 		   fun.  I learned a few new tricks.
 		   So now we've got a couple classes
 		   running all the time, and we're
 		   doing okay.

                                     UKYOU
 		   I'm glad to hear that the Tendous
 		   weren't too hurt by what happened.
 		   But ... Ranchan, shouldn't you have
 		   started university last year?  

She tosses him the second okonomiyaki, with the first kanji of his name 
written on it.  He chows down.

                                     RANMA
 		   SHRUGS Yeah, but I ain't had any
 		   time ... and let's face it, what am
 		   I gonna do at university anyway?
 		   Yeah, having a piece of paper would
 		   probably help the rep of the school,
 		   but ... maybe later.  I'm too damn
 		   busy now.  BEAT  One good thing
 		   about university, though.

                                    UKYOU
 		   What's that?

                                    RANMA
 		   Me and Akane get along *great* now
 		   that we never see each other.  

UKYOU pauses in her preparation of the third, fourth, and fifth 
okonomiyaki to look up, startled.

                                     UKYOU
 		   You mean she went off without you?

                                     RANMA
 		   SOURLY Yeah.  She's taking classes
 		   at some college in Nekomi.  She's
 		   supposed to be coming home later
 		   today, and it'll be the first time
 		   I've seen her in --

                                     UKYOU
 		   HOPEFUL Looking forward to it?

                                     RANMA
 		   REFLEXIVE Why would I look forward
 		   to seeing that uncute, bad tempered,
 		   suspicious tomboy?!  

RANMA bends down and starts taking large, savage bites out of his 
okonomiyaki.  UKYOU stares up at the ceiling with a beatific look on her 
face and whispers (as though *screaming*) "Thank you".  She reverts to 
normal before RANMA looks up.

                                     RANMA
 		   Still, I'm hoping that it'll be ...
 		   well, as calm as it *can* be.  With
 		   the day being like it's been so far,
 		   I don't need any more hassles from
 		   her.  

UKYOU sends the three finished okonomiyaki across to RANMA.

                                     UKYOU
 		   What happened?

                                     RANMA
 		   SIGH Hear about the tegasajutsu
 		   competition?

                                     UKYOU
 		   Yeah, but ... BEAT Oh, Ranchan,
 		   you didn't try and fight Ryouga with
 		   his own style, did you?

                                     RANMA
 		   Nah.  BEAT Well, not yet.  No,
 		   what happened was there was a murder
 		   at the gym while the tournament was
 		   just getting started.

                                     UKYOU
 		   SHOCKED Murder?  Someone *died*?

                                     RANMA
 		   Yeah.  Ryouga didn't seem to be
 		   handling it very well, either.  

Cut to RYOUGA in a dimly lit chamber.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   PANICKED Look, I swear that I know
 		   nothing about it!  I was nowhere
 		   near the place ... no, I don't have
 		   an alibi ... but I swear!  I'd swear
 		   on my mother's grave ... if I knew
 		   where it was, or that she was dead,
 		   but ... I mean, I've *threatened*
 		   to hurt people badly, but I would
 		   never, ever do anything that awful
 		   to another human being ... I-I-I-I
 		   wouldn't even know where to start,
 		   and --  

The two POLICE investigators who have been listening take a moment to 
converse behind their hands.

                                   POLICE #1
 		   SOFT What'd we ask him again?

                                   POLICE #2
 		   SOFT I *think* it was something
 		   about the condition of the body
 		   when he saw it.  Are you sure that
 		   we don't have anything on this
 		   guy?

                                   POLICE #1
 		   Apparently, there was a file, but
 		   it kept getting lost or misplaced.  

We pull back from the windowed door to the interrogation room, leaving 
RYOUGA still babbling, and move sideways to another windowed door, through 
which we can see KENT seated, his arms crossed over his chest and his face 
set in a frown.  INSPECTOR ZENIGATA (*not* Interpol's Zenigata, but a 
distant relative) is seated across the table from KENT, and engaged in a 
staring contest with him.  Neither man moves.  Finally, ZENIGATA swallows 
visibly.  KENT still doesn't blink.

                                   ZENIGATA
 		   You probably don't remember me, do
 		   you ... Mr. Masefield.  BEAT  I
 		   was only a junior clerk when you
 		   last visited Nerima.  BEAT  I
 		   still remember how my superiors
 		   complained every time you were
 		   present at the scene of one of those
 		   crimes, but always produced enough
 		   evidence to demonstrate someone else
 		   was the guilty party.  BEAT  You
 		   drove some of my superiors to drink.

                                     KENT
 		   I discovered the body under the
 		   circumstances which I have already
 		   described.  If you intend to arrest
 		   me, please do so.

                                   ZENIGATA
 		   What, and deny you the chance to
 		   solve the case, thus demonstrating
 		   the idiocy of the police once more?

                                     KENT
 		   I'm on vacation.  I don't feel
 		   obligated.  

ZENIGATA stares at him with a very cold expression, and then stands.

                                   ZENIGATA
 		   Very well.  You will, of course, be
 		   required to remain in this district
 		   for the duration of our inquiry.

                                     KENT
 		   I will remain in this district for
 		   the duration of my vacation and not
 		   one moment longer.

                                   ZENIGATA
 		   It is *very* unwise to insult the
 		   police in such a manner, Mr. --

  KENT stands.  He looms over the Inspector.

                                     KENT
 		   It would be *unbelievably* unwise
 		   for you to harass that old woman
 		   simply because she is of Korean
  		   descent.  

ZENIGATA blinks, very startled.

                                     KENT
 		   You blind, bigoted, petty idiot.
 		   You truly have no idea what you're
 		   dealing with, do you?  You're so far
 		   out of your league that it's not
 		   even funny.  BEAT  I could kill
 		   you right now in any of a thousand
 		   ways, and the only question that
  		   *my* superiors would ask would be
 		   why did I consent to be interrogated
 		   in the first place.  But you're not
 		   worth my time.  Good day.  

KENT walks around ZENIGATA, opens the door, and steps out without saying 
another word.  

ZENIGATA blinks.  He is seated at the table, but KENT is gone from the 
other side.  ZENIGATA turns to stare at the dark mirror on the wall of the 
interrogation room.

                                   ZENIGATA
 		   What just happened?  

A VOICE comes from above, through an intercom.

                                     VOICE
 		   CONFUSED You spent a few moments
 		   staring at one another ... and then
 		   he got up and left, while you kept
 		   right on staring.  

Cut to the hallway.  KENT walks down to the waiting area, where SOUUN is 
seated.  SOUUN quickly stands.

                                     KENT
 		   DISTRACTED Thank you for waiting,
 		   Sensei.

                                     SOUUN
 		   Of course.  Were you able to assist
 		   the police.

                                     KENT
 		   Well, with personnel if nothing else
 		   ... um, yes.  

Suddenly, the sounds of a squabble break out down the hallway.  KENT and 
SOUUN look to see RYOUGA being physically ejected from the interrogation 
room.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   But ... but ...

                                   POLICE #1
 		   Just *leave*, damn you!  WE get the
 		   message, you know *nothing* about
 		   this case.  LEAVE!  

They finally get him out the door, and shut it behind him.  RYOUGA stares, 
not fully comprehending.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   Am I under arrest?

                                     KENT
 		   This ... person is one of Ranma's
 		   friends?

                                     SOUUN
 		   In a manner of speaking.  He wants
 		   to kill him over a loaf of bread.

                                     KENT
 		   I see -- WHAT?  BEAT  No, never
 		   mind.  Sensei, I have to go and do
 		   some things in town ... I will be
 		   back by supper.  In any case, I'd
 		   be deeply indebted if you'd take
 		   him back to the dojo with you.

                                     SOUUN
 		   Certainly ... but why?

                                     KENT
 		   A hunch.  

KENT bows and heads off, lost in thought.  SOUUN goes over to get RYOUGA.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   Kent's display of his psychic powers
 		   did not, as he believed it might,
 		   lead to Inspector Zenigata's removal
 		   from the police force.  BEAT  I
 		   used to wonder at times if the
 		   secrecy that psychics, magic users,
 		   and some martial artists almost
 		   obsess over is really intended to
 		   protect them, of if it's designed to
 		   provide them with something to laugh
 		   about as they walk among the
 		   "mundanes".  Certainly many of them
 		   don't seem to take it as seriously
 		   as they ought to ... for example:   

Cut to a pair of ornate, closed doors.  Beside them is a chalk sign which 
reads:

                              KASUGA FAMILY REUNION
                         Members of the Kasuga Family
                                     ONLY
                                   May Enter
                            Unless You have Godlike
                                 ESPer Powers
                        In Which Case We Can't Stop You
                                  Now Can We?

Cut to insides a large dining room with a raised stage and a podium. 
Several elderly people are seated at the head table.  KASUGA-OJIISAN is 
speaking.

                                    OJIISAN
 		   -- and so, by the simple virtue of
 		   having outlived all my aunts and
 		   uncles, I am to be considered the
 		   head of the family.  It is a silly
 		   and irresponsible way to choose a
 		   leader, and I have enjoyed the
 		   heck out of it.  

We see the many branches of the Kasuga family of psychics -- focusing for 
several moments on KYOUSUKE, MANAMI, and KURUMI (neither of whom have 
changed very much).  There are four chairs around the table.

                                    OJIISAN
 		   And so, in the spirit of silliness
 		   and irresponsibility, let us toast.
 		   SUDDENLY SERIOUS To those who are
 		   not silly, who are responsible; who
 		   come into our lives, taking the
 		   burden of our secret as their own.
 		   To those who are no longer with us.  

KYOUSUKE looks sadly at the unset place at his family's table.  OJIISAN 
notices.

                                    OJIISAN
 		   And to those whom we hope will soon
 		   be able to join us.  To the other
 		   part of our family.  Kampai.  

The toast is made.  We close in on KYOUSUKE's left eyeball ...  

... and pull out of MADOKA's left eyeball.  She and several other people, 
all in fancy dress, are seated in a waiting room.  Beside her is seated a 
light haired young man (SHIKEN) who is obviously very put out by the 
situation.  He is talking, but MADOKA is not paying any attention to him.

                                    SHIKEN
 		   -- don't you agree?  BEAT  Ma'am?

                                    MADOKA
 		   BLINK Excuse me?

                                    SHIKEN
 		   Don't you agree that it's ridiculous
 		   that we should be forced to wait out
 		   here while the family members are
 		   doing some ... family bonding thing?

                                    MADOKA
 		   Not really.

                                    SHIKEN
 		   But ... have you been through this
 		   before, then?

                                    MADOKA
 		   Yes.  Once.

                                    SHIKEN
 		   Then do you have any idea what goes
 		   on?  

MADOKA stares at him for a moment, then nods soberly.  She looks around to 
make sure no one is listening, then bends close to SHIKEN's ear.

                                    MADOKA
 		   I think it involves cannibalism.  

SHIKEN clearly believes her completely, and is shocked.

                                    SHIKEN
 		   Why ... why that's *horrible*.
 		   BEAT Well.  When I marry Akane --  

MADOKA is visibly startled.

                                    SHIKEN
 		   -- I'll make it quite clear that
 		   that sort of thing is unacceptible,
 		   and --

                                    MADOKA
 		   Excuse me.  You're ... engaged to
 		   marry Kasuga Akane-san?

                                    SHIKEN
 		   Yes.  Do you know her?

                                    MADOKA
 		   I thought I ... er, yes, I do.  I
 		   haven't seen her in years, though.

                                    SHIKEN
 		   INTRODUCTORY Koyama Shiken.

                                    MADOKA
 		   Ayukawa Madoka.

                                    SHIKEN
 		   THINKS Ayukawa ... I think I've
 		   heard that name somewhere before
 		   now ...  

The doors to the dining room open up, and a young woman in a waiter's 
uniform gestures for all those waiting to enter.  SHIKEN stands, with a 
frightened yet eager expression on his face.  MADOKA watches him go, 
shakes his head, and stands herself.

                                    MADOKA
 		   MUTTERED Who'd have thought?  

Cut to a hotel room.  There is the sound of a shower running.  MICHAEL is 
curled up in bed, sleeping peacefully, when the phone rings.  The phone 
moves telekinetically to his ear.  MICHAEL never even opens his eyes.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   HALF ASLEEP Yo?

                                 MINAKO (TEL)
 		   Uh ... I think I have the wrong
 		   number, sorry.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   'Sawright.  

The phone hangs up.  A minute later, it rings again.  MICHAEL's eyes blink 
open, and he grabs the floating phone.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   BARK Hello?

                                 MINAKO (TEL)
 		   Is ... there an Aethan DeGales
 		   there?  

MICHAEL closes his eyes.

                                MICHAEL (V.O.)
 		   Aethan, phone for you.  Some girl.  

The sounds of the shower stop.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Just a minute.  

AETHAN comes out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. 
His skin seems to be very pink, instead of its usual pallor.  MICHALE 
holds out the phone to him, and then curls up again.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Minako?

                                 MINAKO (TEL)
 		   Um ... hi.

  	                          AETHAN
 		   Hello.

                                 MINAKO (TEL)
 		   Are you still angry at me?

  	                          AETHAN
 		   I never was angry at *you*.

                                 MINAKO (TEL)
 		   Really?  QUICK Yeah, yeah, yeah,
 		   you wouldn't say something like that
  		   if it wasn't true.    So ...
  		   do you wanna do something today?

  	                          AETHAN
 		   I would very much enjoy going out
 		   with you today.  Where did you have
 		   in mind?

                                 MINAKO (TEL)
 		   Well, there's this shopping mall in
 	 	   Nerima that just opened up.  I've
 		   wanted to see it for a while now,
 		   and --

  	                          AETHAN
 		   That sounds good, Minako.  Shall I
 		   meet you at your place?

                                 MINAKO (TEL)
 		   Yeah!  Um, when will you be here?

  	                          AETHAN
 		   An hour, no more.  I'll see you
 		   then.

                                 MINAKO (TEL)
 		   Seeya!  

AETHAN hangs up the phone, plucks the reciever out of MICHAEL's 
telekinetic grip, and sets it down.  MICHAEL doesn't look up.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   Awfully young, isn't she?

  	                          AETHAN
 		   By my age, the difference between
 		   your years and hers are neglible.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   I thought you prefered older women.  

AETHAN heads into the bathroom.

  	                          AETHAN
 		   She has a very old soul.  

MICHAEL reacts as though stabbed.

                                    MICHAEL
 		   No ... you didn't just use *that*
 		   old chestnut, did you?

                                 AETHAN (O.S.)
 		   *Verrry* old soul.  

MICHAEL pounds his head against the pillow.  

Cut to NINIANE, seated in a large, dimly lit reading room, immersed in a 
thick tome entitled "De Vermis Mysteriis".

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   Meanwhile, another old soul was
 		   waiting impatiently.  In a way,
 		   Niniane puzzles me more than any
  		   of the others.  She *should* have
 		   known, just as much as Washuu and
 		   Tsunami did, what was happening,
 		   but it wasn't until she was as up
 		   to her neck in it as the rest of
 		   us that she did.  

ANDREW steps into the reading room.  NINIANE doesn't look up.

                                    ANDREW
 		   I finally managed to get in touch
 		   with Fuji Base.  Around midnight,
 		   Japanese time, something happened
 		   there.

                                    NINIANE
 		   Really.  

She delicately blows on her left thumb and pointer finger, then uses those 
digits to turn the page of the tome.

                                    ANDREW
 		   They're not sure *what* it was, but
 		   it knocked out all their commo gear,
 		   as well as setting the construction
 		   for Fuji-2 back --

                                    NINIANE
 		   BORED Is that the aerial battle
 		   fortress made out of tin foil or
 		   the one made out of balsa?

                                    ANDREW
 		   Okay, go ahead, laugh.  Meanwhile,
 		   Kunikida's getting permission from
 		   the Japanese government for us to
 		   come in and investigate.  I assume
 		   that you want in.   

NINIANE looks up.

                                    NINIANE
 		   Correct.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Fine, we launch in an hour.  Be
 		   ready by then.  

ANDREW turns to go.

                                    NINIANE
 		   I'll take an apology now.  

ANDREW looks back.

                                    ANDREW
 		   For what?

                                    NINIANE
 		   For doubting my veracity.

                                    ANDREW
 		   BLINKS Which part of "We need to
 		   get on-site confirmation," do you
 		   not understand?  

NINIANE stands.

                                    NINIANE
 		   If *Kent had said that there was a
 		   Gamma-class situation --

                                    ANDREW
 		   He's on-site, technically.

                                    NINIANE
 		   -- in *Brazil*, you would have been
 		   damn the archers, charge!

                                    ANDREW
 		   CONSIDERS Yeah, probably.

                                    NINIANE
 		   And you see nothing wrong with this?

                                    ANDREW
 		   No.  He's *Kent*.  You're *not*.  

ANDREW turns and marches away, while NINIANE glares daggers at his back. 
When he closes the door behind him, NINIANE angrily throws her tome at the 
floor.  

Cut to a shot of a different, equally heavily book dropping to hit the 
floor.  MINAKO bends down to pick it up.

                                    MINAKO
 		   Drat.  

She sets it back on the shelf, and hurries away to where AETHAN is 
examining the Japanese edition of "Vampire:  The Masquerade" (Kyuketsuki: 
Masukaraido) with bemused interest.  MINAKO peers over his shoulder.

                                    MINAKO
 		   See any friends?

                                    AETHAN
 		   snort No indeed.  The original
 		   publisher of this gave me a turn a
  		   few years back when they come up
  		   with something that *was* real.
 		   But this is almost all nonsense,
 		   and what they get right is ...
 		   well, to be charitable, they get
 		   a few things that we've let slip
 		   into the public domain.

                                    MINAKO
 		   Like the tanning booth thing?

                                    AETHAN
 		   Like the tanning booth thing.
 		   CASUAL You *do* realize that we
  		   are being followed.  

MINAKO doesn't look up.

                                    MINAKO
 		   We are?  Dammit!  I knew I shouldn't
 		   have told Amy about this.  

A few metres away, AMY, SERENA, LITA, and RAYE are peering at AETHAN and 
MINAKO from around the corners of the bookshelves.

                                      AMY
 		   SIGH I wish she hadn't told me
 		   about this ...

                                     RAYE
 		   You did the right thing, telling the
 		   rest of us, though.

                                     LITA
 		   Yeah.  Now we can make sure that no
 		   overzealous religious fanatics mess
 		   with their date.  

RAYE and LITA share an extremely unfriendly look.

                                    SERENA
 		   Not to mention scoping them out in
 		   the process.  Ooh, what a hunk.

                                     RAYE
 		   Se-REE-na!

                                    SERENA
 		   SERIOUS Raye, why can't you just
 		   be happy for Mina like the rest of
 		   us?

                                     RAYE
 		   Because I don't *trust* that guy!
 		   He's gonna break her heart, if he
 		   doesn't actually *hurt* her in a
 		   physical sense, and I wouldn't be
  		   surprised if he did.

                                      AMY
 		   Raye, by all accounts, Aethan is
 		   a decent entity.  I don't think
 		   this is a terribly rational way of
 		   dealing with any *potential*
 		   problem that he might pose to her.

                                     RAYE
 		   I'm not a terribly rational person.

                                      AMY
 		   COOL I'd noticed.

                                     LITA
 		   Hey, where'd they go?  

They all peer around the corner.  AETHAN and MINAKO have escaped.

                                     RAYE
 		   Argh!  Now we're going to have to
 		   search though this whole damn
 		   mall again --

                                     LITA
 		   Assuming they didn't decide to go
 		   elsewhere.  

RAYE starts grinding her teeth.

                                     RAYE
 		   Okay.  I think we ought to split up.
 		   We can cover more ground that way.

                                     LITA
 		   Uh-uh, Raye.  No way am I gonna let
 		   you go off on your lonesome so that
 		   you can mess up their date.  BEAT
 		   Serena, what do you think?

                                    SERENA
 		   Ummmm ... well ... Raye, do you
 		   promise that you won't try and break
 		   them up?

                                     RAYE
 		   If I see him slavering over her --

  SERENA points out the wrist communicator they're all wearing.

                                     RAYE
 		   GRUDGINGLY -- I'll call all of you
 		   before I do anything.

                                    SERENA
 		   Okay, then there's no problem, right
 		   Lita?

                                     LITA
 		   SLOW Right ...  

They split up.  

Cut to the parking lot of the shopping mall.  The Masaki family van pulls 
into a parking space.  MIHOSHI hops out of the driver's seat, while TENCHI 
climbs out of the passenger side.  RYOUKO and SASAMI exit from the rear of 
the vehicle.

                                    TENCHI
 		   Okay, I think this is the mall where
 		   Ayeka said that she'd meet us.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Pretty big place.

                                    TENCHI
 		   Yeah ...

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Maybe we should split up to look for
 		   her?

                                    TENCHI
 		   SUSPICIOUS Ryouko, you wouldn't be
 		   planning to do something to Ayeka if
 		   you found her?

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Does that sound like the sort of
 		   thing I'd do?

                                    TENCHI
 		   Yes.

                                    SASAMI
 		   Ryouko-neechan ...

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Okay, okay, I *promise* that I won't
 		   try anything with Ayeka ...

                                    TENCHI
 		   All right.  Whether we find her or
 	  	   not, we all meet back here in an
 		   hour, all right?  

A quick group nod, and they head into the shopping mall.  

Cut to an entrance on the far side of the building from where TENCHI and 
company have entered.  AYEKA and SHAMPOO approach.

                                     AYEKA
 		   Once more, thank you very much.  If
 		   ever you are in the Okayama region,
  		   please feel free to visit the Masaki
  		   shrine.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   NODS I may take you up on that.
 		   From what you say, it sounds like a
 		   good place to train.  

They bow politely, and AYEKA heads into the shopping mall.  SHAMPOO gazes 
up at the sun.

                                    SHAMPOO
 		   About two in the afternoon.  The
 		   umbrella fighting competition should
 		   be about over.  BEAT  Time to go
 		   remind my husband that I still
 		   exist ...  

She walks off, passing KENT MASEFIELD, who seems to be deep in thought as 
he enters the shopping mall.  

Cut to a pet shop in the shopping mall.  SERENA is gazing at a bunny.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   I actually think that what happened
 		   at this point may be one of the most
 		   significant events in history.

                                SASAMI (O.S.)
 		   Excuse me, oneesan?  

SERENA turns blinkingly to look at SASAMI, who is dressed in a "normal" 
outfit for a girl of her age.  SERENA crouches down to be at eye level 
with her.

                                    SERENA
 		   Yes?

                                    SASAMI
 		   I'm looking for my big sister.  Have
 		   you seen a pretty lady with dark
 		   hair and red-brown eyes?

                                    SERENA
 		   Hmmm.  Except for the eyes, she
 		   sounds like my friend Raye ... but
 		   no, I haven't seen anyone like
 		   that.  

SASAMI looks very frustrated.

                                    SASAMI
 		   She said she'd be here, and I don't
  		   know where to start looking for her,
 		   and --

                                    SERENA
 		   Wait a minute, are you searching
 		   all by yourself?

                                    SASAMI
 		   Well, yes ...

                                    SERENA
 		   Oh, geez, that's not safe!  Well,
 		   it's probably not as bad as going
 		   around in Juuban by yourself, but
 		   ... I've heard very strange rumors
 		   about this neighborhood.  BEAT
 		   Listen, why don't I take you over
 		   to the security desk, and we can
 		   have them page her?

                                    SASAMI
 		   Gee, thanks!  

SERENA extends a hand to SASAMI, who takes it.  They walk off together, 
not realizing that they're walking *away* from the security desk, which is 
located right next to the pet shop.  

Cut to the lingerie section of a clothing store.  RAYE walks through it 
alertly, but she is also acutely conscious of all the frilly undergarments 
around her.  She finally pauses to examine a bustier, running a finger 
along the lace.  Her eyes slowly close ...

                                RYOUKO (O.S.)
 		   Are you going to pick that up or
 		   not?  'Cause if you're not, I'd like
 		   to try it on.  

RAYE's eyes snap open.  She is quite embarassed, and naturally gets rather 
angry.  She spins around to yell at the person who has so upset her ... 
and her mouth hangs open.  

RYOUKO, carrying a small pile of lingerie under her arm, stares  
irritatedly at RAYE.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   What?  

RAYE closes her mouth slowly, and starts to back away.

                                     RAYE
 		   SHAKES HEAD Noooothing.  

She turns and heads off quickly. RYOUKO stares, then shrugs.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Weirdo.  

RAYE finally stops in an isolated corner of the store, and flips up the 
lid of her wrist communicator, and presses all four buttons on it.

Cut to LITA, wandering down the concourse of the mall.  Her wrist 
commnunicator beeps, and she flips up the lid.

                               RAYE (DISTORTED)
 		   I haven't found Mina, but I think
  		   I've found something *really* bad!  

LITA is looking down at her watch, and doesn't see TENCHI walking past 
her.  

Cut to AMY, who is sitting at a table in a restaurant with MINAKO and 
AETHAN.

                                     AMY
 		   -- was a bit shocked, but ... well,
 		   I think my cousin has been dating a
  		   vampyre as well.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Truly?

                                     AMY
 		   NOD She keeps dropping little
 		   hints, and --  

AMY's wrist communicator begins to beep.  AMY opens it up.

                               RAYE (DISTORTED)
 		   Amy, come quickly, I --

                                     AMY
 		   I've found Mina, by the way.

                               RAYE (DISTORTED)
 		   Good, bring her!  We'll need her!
 		   Get to the Penmart, quick!  

MINAKO blinks.

                                    MINAKO
 		   It's nice to be needed, I guess.
 		   BEAT Aethan, I --  

AETHAN nods.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Go on.  If you need me, I will be
 		   there in a twinkling.  

AMY and MINAKO stand, and head off.

                                    MINAKO
 		   It's a good thing that you're
 		   wearing your communicator, Amy,
 		   because --  

Cut to MINAKO's bedroom.  ARTEMIS leaps up onto the dressing table and 
sees the beeping communicator.

                                    ARTEMIS
 		   AAGH!  She forgot it again!  

Cut to RAYE's location.  She is staring intently at the wrist 
communicator.  Only the yellow and white lights are still blinking.

                                     RAYE
 		   Come *on*, Serena, where *are* you?  

Cut to SERENA and SASAMI having ice cream cones while seated on a bench.

                                    SASAMI
 		   Uh ... Serena-neechan, your watch is
 		   beeping.

                                 SERENA (V.O.)
 		   Hmmm ... it's probably just Raye
 		   calling to let us know that she's
 		   found Mina.  Well, the others can
 		   probably keep them from killing each
 		   other, but if I go off, who'll look
 		   after Sasami-chan?  So, I guess I'd
 		   better be responsible and stay here.

                                    SERENA
 		   It's just an alarm to remind me that
 		   ... um, my lunch break at my school
 		   is almost over.  Yeah.  Nothing
 		   important.  

Cut to RAYE still staring at the communicator with an irritated 
expression.

                                     RAYE
 		   ... irresponsible little ... OOOH!  

She stabs the white button, and shuts the communicator's cover.  

Cut back to SERENA.

                                    SERENA
 		   See?  Just stopped.

                                    SASAMI
 		   Oh.  BEAT Anyway, I think I'd like
 		   to have a little brother like you
 		   do, Serena-neechan.

                                    SERENA
 		   SHAKES HER HEAD No way ... they're
 		   *way* too big a pain in the neck.
 		   I wanted a little sister --  

Cut to RAYE standing at the entrance to the clothing store, as AMY, LITA, 
and MINAKO come a-running.

                                     LITA
 		   Where's Serena?

                                     RAYE
 		   IMPATIENT She didn't answer her
 		   beeper, we'll just have to deal with
 		   this on our own.  BEAT  There's a
 		   demon in this store.  It's walking
 		   around buying lingerie.  

Dead silence greets RAYE's pronouncement.

                                    MINAKO
 		   Raye, are you feeling well?

                                     RAYE
 		   YES!  Dammit, I sensed vast amounts
 		   of malevolent power coming from this
  		   "person".

                                    MINAKO
 		   But you also sense malevolent power
 		   from Aethan.

                                     RAYE
 		   Your point being?  

The others sigh, and bow their heads.

                                     RAYE
 		   Look, better to be safe than sorry!
 		   Do we *really* want a repeat of what
  		   happened in a certain park three
  		   years ago?  

MINAKO jerks as though she has been slapped.

                                    MINAKO
 		   Okay.  Okay, Raye ... we'll go in,
 		   see what's happening ...

                                     RAYE
 		   Right!

                                    MINAKO
 		   ... and if you're wrong, you'll
 		   apologize to Aethan.  

RAYE's eyes bulge.

                                     RAYE
 		   WHAT?

                                    MINAKO
 		   If you're wrong about this, then you
 		   could be wrong about him, couldn't
 		   you?  BEAT  If you don't agree, we
  		   don't go in. You're *not* in charge
  		   here.  

Her face is stern and set.  RAYE closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath.

                                     RAYE
 		   ... iagree.

                                    MINAKO
 		   BLINK Seriously?  

RAYE nods shortly.

                                    MINAKO
 		   Wow.  You're easier to bluff out
 		   than I thought!  BEAT Let's head
 		   for the bathrooms ... I think it's
 		   time to reapply some ... makeup.  

MINAKO runs into the store.  RAYE has a pole-axed expression on her face. 
AMY and LITA share a look.

                                     LITA
 		   Think she'll learn from this?

                                      AMY
 		   She rarely does ...  

They start after MINAKO, with RAYE following closely behind a few moments 
later.  

Cut to a hot ramen stand.  AETHAN sits on the bench in front of it.

                                    AETHAN
 		   One bowl, please.  

Seated beside him is KENT, busily consuming a dish of noodles. Neither 
looks at the other.  They speak in English.

                                     KENT
 		   Aethan.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Kent.  

There is a long silence as AETHAN's bowl of soup is delivered and paid 
for.  He holds it in his hands.

                                    AETHAN
 		   I heard about Bartholomew.  You have
 		   my condolences.

                                     KENT
 		   Thank you.  BEAT  I heard about
 		   the Shadowfall.  Your people did
 		   good work.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Yes they did.  It didn't save them,
 		   but they did the job.  BEAT  What
 		   do you want of me, Kent?

                                     KENT
 		   Something is wrong in this city.
 		   There was a murder this morning
 		   which no living human could have
 		   committed.  Do you know anything?

                                    AETHAN
 		   Nothing about this.  BEAT However,
 		   I was instructed to deliver a
 		   warning to someone when I felt it
 		   was time to do so.  I believe that
 		   now is the time.  BEAT  "Three
 		   will go in, two will come out."  

KENT turns to look at him.

                                     KENT
 		   Did you receive this from your
 		   "mysterious patron"?

                                    AETHAN
 		   NODS Indeed.  BEAT  Anything
 		   else?

                                     KENT
 		   I am alone.  BEAT  If it comes to
  		   a fight, will you help?  

AETHAN gazes down into his bowl.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Ever since the Shadows fell ...
 		   ever since Celestine died a mortal
 		   ... I have felt very strange.  I
 		   finally remembered, recently, when
 		   I last felt this way. LOOKS UP
 		   'Twas on the eve of Hastings. BEAT
 		   I feel as though an age is ending,
 		   Kent.  Our age.  And I wonder who
 		   shall take up the torch in our
 		   failing hands.  BEAT  Yes.  When
 		   you call for me, I shall come.
 		   ODD SMILE And possibly not alone.
 		   Not all the Shadows fell, and ... I
 		   travel in odd company these days.

                                     KENT
 		   I don't doubt. RISES I cannot say
 		   how much of a warning I can give
 		   you, but I shall try to give as much
 		   as I can.  BEAT Aren't you going
 		   to eat that?

                                    AETHAN
 		   Eh?  BEAT Oh, this.  No.  It's to
 		   warm my hands.  The young lady I am
 		   with commented on how cold my touch
 		   can be.  So ...  

KENT nods and turns to go.

                                    AETHAN
 		   Kent.  BEAT  Have you felt as I
 		   have said?  That Yeats' great rough
  		   beast had begun to slouch its way
  		   towards Jerusalem to be born?  

KENT is silent and still for a long moment.

                                     KENT
		   No.  BEAT  The only great beast I
  		   know of still sleeps, and hopefully
  		   shall for some time to come. BEAT
 		   Stay sharp, Aethan.  

He walks off, alone.  

Cut to RYOUKO, carrying a somewhat larger pile of lingerie and whistling  
as she walks casually towards the check-out counter.

                                 RAYE (O.S.)
 		   Hold it right there!  

RYOUKO halts, and slowly turns towards the sound of the voice.  Sailor 
Mars, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus are all standing on 
various objects that lift them a level above her head.  RYOUKO blinks.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   MUTTERED You have *got* to be
 		   kidding me.

                                     RAYE
 		   I don't know how you were able to
 		   trick all the other people here, but
 		   I can see past your cute act to the
 		   vicious demon within!

                                    RYOUKO
 		   MUTTERED Candid Camera ... got to
 		   be ...

                                     RAYE
 		   And in the names of planets Mars --

                                    MINAKO
 		   -- Venus --

                                     AMY
 		   -- Mercury --

                                     LITA
 		   -- and Jupiter, we will right wrongs
 		   and --  

RYOUKO starts to edge away.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   MUTTERED Or maybe this is all just
 		   some weird dream, like the one I had
 		   about me and --  

RAYE notices.

                                     RAYE
 		   I SAID HOLD IT!  MARS FIRE IGNITE!  

A jet of flame leaps out towards RYOUKO, who is knocked back into a rack 
of dresses by the force of the fire.  She is unhurt, but the underwear is 
burnt badly.  She holds up a halter-top brassiere, and watches it slowly 
disintegrate into ashes.    

RYOUKO is pissed.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   HISSED All right, little girls.
 		   You wanna play?  We'll play.  

RYOUKO manifests her sword with a sweeping gesture and leaps into the air, 
diving towards RAYE.  MINAKO notes the sword, and nods.  She presses her 
fists together in a horizontal bar.

                                    MINAKO
 		   VENUS LOVELY BLADE!  

She pulls the fists apart, and a bright yellow blade materializes in the 
space between.  MINAKO is leaping even as she does so, and manages to 
parry RYOUKO's slashing strike towards RAYE.

                                     RAYE
 		   Told you so ...  

MINAKO has RYOUKO's blade locked, but RYOUKO is slowly forcing the two 
blades down towards RAYE ... thus leaving her back wide open.

                                     LITA
 		   JUPITER ...

                                      AMY
 		   SHINEY ...

                                     LITA
 		   THUNDERCLAP ...

                                      AMY
 		   AQUA ...

                                     LITA
 		   ZAP!

                                      AMY
 		   ILLUSION!  

The two attacks combine, increasing their combined power exponentially, 
and slam into RYOUKO's back.  RYOUKO lets out a hollow scream, and her 
sword dematerializes as she falls to the ground, her eyes closed.

                                     LITA
 		   SIGH Well, that wasn't as hard as
 		   I --  

RYOUKO's eyes blink open, and she shoots back up into the air again, 
hovering in clear sight of all four of the Sailors and glowing blue.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   SCARY THAT.  HURT.  

She swivels around and directs an energy blast in AMY's direction, which 
AMY just barely dodges and which carves out a two foot diameter hole in 
the wall behind her.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Please permit me to return the
  		   favor!  

Cut to the entrance.  We see people fleeing the store in panic as the 
sounds of the fight can be heard in the distance.  TENCHI approaches and 
looks up in shock.

                               FLEEING BYSTANDER
 		   Run!  Run!  It's the Sailor Senshi
 		   fighting some demon!  Run!

                                    TENCHI
 		   RESIGNED Ryouko ...   

Cut to the bench where SASAMI and SERENA are licking at their ice cream 
cones.

                                    SASAMI
 		   No, really, Serena-neechan, I think
 		   you'd make a great big sister!  I
 		   don't understand why your little
 		   brother is such a pain when he has
 		   you for an example!  

SERENA is blushing immensely.

                                    SERENA
 		   Aw, stop it!  You're embarassing --  

Just then the crowd of people running from the fight in the clothing store 
surge past them.

                               FLEEING BYSTANDER
 		   Run!  Run!  It's the Sailor Senshi
 		   fighting some demon!  Run!  

SERENA and SASAMI are both stricken.

                                 SERENA (V.O.)
 		   Oh no!  The Scouts need me!  But --

                                    SASAMI
               QUICK Serena-neechan!  I saw my
 		   oneesan running past!

                                    SERENA
 		   Really!  Well then --  

SASAMI gets up and starts heading after the crowd.

                                    SASAMI
 		   I'd better hurry up and catch her!
 		   Thanks for the ice cream, Serena-
 		   neechan!

                                    SERENA
 		   Bye!  

SERENA dashes off in the direction that the crowd was fleeing from.  

Cut to another part of the mall.  AYEKA walks down the hallway, looking 
for a familiar face.  She hears a distant rumble, and jumps to the side 
just as the crowd of FRIGHTENED BYSTANDERS dash past.

                               FLEEING BYSTANDER
 		   Run!  Run!  It's the Sailor Soldiers
 		   fighting some demon!  Run!  

AYEKA closes her eyes, sighs, and nods.

                                    AYEKA
 		   Of course.  BEAT  What in the
 		   world are Sailor Soldiers?

                                SASAMI (O.S.)
 		   ONEESAN!  

SASAMI runs up to her sister, and they share a tight embrace.  SASAMI is 
crying, a little.

                                    AYEKA
 		   I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry ...  

There is a sudden bawling from the sidelines, and AYEKA and SASAMI both 
turn to see MIHOSHI sobbing her eyes out.

                                   MIHOSHI
 		   I'm sorry, Ayeka-san, I'm *so* sorry
 		   that you had to come all the way to
 		   Tokyo to get that stuff so that
 		   Sasami could make haggis and ... oh,
 		   this is all too dramatic!  

SASAMI, who knows what haggis is, reacts with nausea.

                                    AYEKA
 		   QUICK Yes, well, let's go and see
 		   what we can do for Ryouko's newest
 		   victims.  

Cut to the exit of the shopping mall.  KENT exits, looking very 
distracted.  Immediately after he wanders out of sight, the crowd bursts 
out the door, still panicking.  

Cut to the battlefield inside the shopping center.  RYOUKO is dancing 
rings around Mars, Jupiter, and Venus, while Mercury has stepped back to 
try and analyze the situation.  RYOUKO keeps sending stray energy bolts 
her way to throw her off-balance.  Of course, the fire, lightning, laser 
bolts, and coruscating bolts of radiant energy have not been kind to the 
store's decor.  LITA suddenly manages to get in close enough to grab 
RYOUKO in a headlock and immobilise one of her arms.  RYOUKO shoots up 
towards the ceiling, but LITA keeps on holding on.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   All right, you living spark plug ...
 		   let's see you take a little of your
 		   own medicine!  

RYOUKO charges her aura with electrical energy.  LITA lets out a hollow 
scream, but somehow manages to keep her muscles clenched around RYOUKO's 
throat.

                                     LITA
 		   MMMMMMAAAAARRRRRRRSSSSSS!  

RAYE swallows, and then grows very still.

                                     RAYE
 		   Mars.  

Her left hand glows with her symbol and a red light.

                                     RAYE
 		   Flame.  

The light pulses, forming a bow of fire and an arrow, already set in 
place.  She pulls back on an invisible string.  

RYOUKO stares down at RAYE even as she continues to electrocute LITA. 
Their eyes meet.  

And RYOUKO sees death in RAYE's eyes.

                                     RAYE
 		   SNI--  

RYOUKO suddenly teleports, leaving LITA in midair.  RAYE banishes her 
attack, while MINA rushes forward to catch LITA before she hits the 
ground.  LITA is groggy and her uniform is smoking, but she's otherwise 
all right.  RAYE breathes a sigh of relief ... and then feels a breath on 
her neck.  

RYOUKO is standing immediately behind her, with her energy sword out and 
blazing.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   SOFT All right.  No more foreplay.  

She hefts her sword high, and swings it downward at RAYE and --  

A hurled ice cream cone knocks her off balance.  RAYE blinks.

                                SERENA (O.S.)
 		   How dare you destroy this excellent
 		   shop of fine clothing and menace my
 		   friends at the same time?  

RYOUKO gazes at SERENA, now transformed to Sailor Moon, and standing a 
little ways away, flanked by MINA and AMY.  LITA is weakly bringing up the 
rear.  The ice cream is quickly melting on RYOUKO's head.

                                    SERENA
 		   Even if the manager forgives you, I
 		   won't!  I am the pretty sailor-
 		   suited soldier of love and justice,
 		   Sailor Moon!  In the name of the
 	 	   moon ... YOU'RE GONNA GET IT!  

RYOUKO blinks.  She lets out a long sigh, and covers her eyes with one of 
her hands.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   MUFFLED Look, why don't we just
 		   call it a draw?  

SERENA blinks repeatedly.

                                    SERENA
 		   Um ... what?

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Look ... even *I* can only take so
 		   much inanity in one day ... let's
 		   just pretend this whole embarrassing
 		   incident never happened, and I'll go
 		   my way and let you go yours --

                                    TENCHI (O.S.)
 		   That's a very mature attitude to
 		   take, Ryouko.

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Oh, damn ...  

TENCHI steps around the remains of one of the store's shoe stands, looking 
very annoyed.

                                    TENCHI
 		   It's a shame it didn't occur to you
 		   *while* you were destroying this
 		   store ...

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Um!  Tenchi!  Uh ... well, you see,
 		   it was like this ... I was looking
 		   for you-know-who and I thought I
 		   might find her here among all these
 		   girly clothes and then these ...
 		   people just *attacked* me without
 		   *any* provocation and without giving
 		   me a chance to explain or --

                                    TENCHI
 		   SARCASM Gee, where've I heard
 		   *that* before?  

RAYE has stealthily made her way back to the other Sailors.

                                     RAYE
 		   No reason?  You call you being a
 		   demon no reason?

                                    RYOUKO
 		   A demon?  Me?  That's absurd! BEAT
 		   I'm just a simple, honest space
 		   pirate.

                                    TENCHI
 		   SHOCKED Ryouko!

                                    RYOUKO
 		   Right, sorry, *retired* space --

AYEKA, SASAMI, and MIHOSHI arrive suddenly.  AYEKA looks at the battle 
damage with a cynical, "I-knew-it", air ... then sees and is seen by RAYE. 
They stare at each other.  AYEKA closes her eyes and re-opens them.  She 
stares at RAYE confusedly.  

From AYEKA's perspective, we see an image of RAYE in her normal clothes 
(what she was wearing before she transformed) superimpose itself over RAYE 
in her uniform.

                                    AYEKA
 		   Raye-san?  

RAYE blinks, VERY startled.

                                     RAYE
 		   Um ... who?  I --

  SASAMI looks in equal confusion at SERENA.

                                    SASAMI
 		   Serena-neechan?  Why are you wearing
 		   that swimsuit when there's no pool
 		   in this mall?

                                    SERENA
 		   BLINK Sasami-chan ... you can
 		   recognize me?

                                     SASAMI
 		   Well, yes!  Of course!  BEAT  Why
 		   shouldn't I?  

AMY has been quietly working with her computer since TENCHI arrived ... 
and she looks up now.

                                     AMY
 		   Sailor Moon ... none of these people
 		   are human beings.  

There is a long silence as that sinks in.

                                   SERENA
 		   NERVOUS You know, this truce idea
 		   sounds ... really, really nice.  

Cut to WASHUU's laboratory.  WASHUU is slumped, staring at a diagram that 
looks a bit like the schematics that SKULD was examining earlier.  Her 
eyes are even more bloodshot then before.  There is a rustling noise 
behind her, and WASHUU lets out a sigh.

                                    WASHUU
 		   Come to gloat, Tsunami?  

MADELINE's face is cool.

                                   MADELINE
 		   Wrong.  

WASHUU wearily looks over her shoulder, and flinches.

                                    WASHUU
 		   Awwww ... not one of you guys ...
 		   not today ...

                                   MADELINE
 		   I take it from your perusal of these
 		   patterns that you failed in your
 		   efforts to keep your daughter and
 		   her friends out of the growing
 		   maelstrom?

                                    WASHUU
 		   Yep.  BEAT They're doomed, aren't
 		   they.

                                   MADELINE
 		   Perhaps not.  BEAT  Know, Washuu,
  		   that we have been preparing for this
  		   exact moment for nearly a millenium.
 		   *If* our pawn succeeds, those near
 		   to him *should* be protected.  Lend
 		   their strength to him ...

                                    WASHUU
 		   INTERRUPT How do I know that I can
 		   trust you?

                                   MADELINE
 		   You are fully aware, Washuu, that it
  		   is impossible for us to lie.

                                    WASHUU
 		   I am *also* fully aware that what is
 		   about to transpire is impossible for
 		   you to fully calculate and predict.
 		   How can you be *sure* that my child
 		   will survive this Gathering intact?

                                   MADELINE
   		   You of all entities should be aware
 		   that no one *ever* emerges from the
 		   Gathering "intact".  But think,
 		   Washuu, think.  Is there any place
 		   safer to be during the Gathering
  		   than at the side of the Defender?

                                    WASHUU
 		   Go back a few million years and say
 		   that to my mother.  

MADELINE blinks, non-plussed.

                                    WASHUU
 		   Oh, I'll do it, all right.  I s'pose
 		   you've been honing your weapons for
 		   so long that the slightest touch on
 		   your part would make them useless?

                                   MADELINE
 		   Correct.  BEAT  Well, then?  

WASHUU casually taps a key on her keyboard.  

Cut to the parking lot of the shopping mall where the Masaki van is 
parked.  All four tires suddenly blow out.  

Cut to the base.  ANDREW, who has changed out of his overalls into a set 
of beige combat fatigues, is walking down the hallway at a fast pace.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
               In Nekomi, the train had finally
  		   been fixed, and I had started my way
 		   home.  Everywhere, it seems, things
  		   were beginning to speed up.    

There is a flash of light beside ANDREW, startling him.  A tall, lanky man 
with short cropped blond hair and green eyes (ALISTAIR MCGOVERN) is 
standing beside him, wearing a long black trenchcoat and a fedora.  He 
starts walking immediately.

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   Don't stop.  

ANDREW hurries to catch up with him.

                                    ANDREW
 		   McGovern?!  But --

                                   MCGOVERN
               It's nice to see you again, too.

                                    ANDREW
 		   But we all thought you were dead!

                                   MCGOVERN
               STARTLED Really?  BEAT  Wow.  It
 		   worked better than I thought, then.
 		   You were supposed to.  You had to
 		   find your way into this Gathering
 		   without my guidance, before I could
 		   come and help out.

                                    ANDREW
 		   CONFUSED Gathering?  BEAT  Then
 		   there *is* a Gamma class situation
 		   in Japan?

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   Gamma?  No.  BEAT Omega, if things
 		   go wrong.

                                    ANDREW
 		   APPALLED Shit.

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   What have you done so far?  

They reach an elevator.  ANDREW swipes a card through a scanner, and the 
door opens.  They step in.  The elevator is very silent.

                                    ANDREW
 		   The Helifortress is fueling now,
 		   Patricia is on board, I've called in
 		   the Ops teams and put them on stand
 		   by.

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   Who've you got manning the boards
 		   back here?

                                    ANDREW
 		   Well ... the new girl.  Came on
  		   after you ... uh, *left*.  Got a
 		   real knack for computers ...

                                   MCGOVERN
   		   Linda Maverick?

                                    ANDREW
 		   That's the one.

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   Good.  She's a cyberpsi.

                                    ANDREW
 		   WHAT?

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   I don't *know* how she slipped past,
 		   Andrew, but she did.  It's not an
 		   issue now, but if this works like it
 		   ought to, she'll be important.  Make
 		   it seem like you always knew, get
 		   her working in design -- you'd be
 		   amazed what you can do by combining
 		   a CAD tool with a direct neural
 		   interface to the computer.

                                    ANDREW
 		   So you know how this all works out?

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   Sort of.  

The doors to the elevator open, and they are in a hangar.  The immense 
bulk of the Helifortress -- a vehicle about the size of a jumbo jet with 
helicopter blades set in its wings fills the space.

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   You have, I hope, guessed that I'm
 		   from the future?

                                    ANDREW
  		   Yeah, a while back.  BEAT I don't
 		   suppose you know a Corporal Ted --

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   Not now, Andrew.  BEAT  The only
 		   primary source for this sequence of
 		   events was lost a long time ago.
 		   But we've worked a few details out,
 		   and ... BEAT Based on probability
 		   studies, humanity has three days to
 		   live if extraordinary measures are
 		   not taken within that time.  

ANDREW is beyond aghast.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Three days?

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   Highest probability is that the
 		   forces involved devastate the planet
 		   and then move on to other worlds.
 		   Next highest involve the Gathered
 		   heroes giving their lives to defeat
 		   the forces, leaving the immediate
 		   future in the hands of SEELE.

                                    ANDREW
 		   DISGUSTED *Those* idiots?  C'mon.

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   I'm quite serious.  They aren't
 		   involved in this mess, but they will
 		   profit from it.  BEAT  Slimmer
 		   probabilities have this as a typical
 		   victory of the Defender --

                                    ANDREW
 		   Who?

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   -- which means that universal
 		   armageddon is postponed another
 		   moment longer.  Those are the ones
 		   that we're aiming for, by the way.  

ANDREW stands in front ot MCGOVERN.  NINIANE comes down the steps leading 
up to the interior of the Helifortress.  ANDREW is blocking her view of 
MCGOVERN.

                                    ANDREW
 		   There's something you're not tellin'
 		   me.  

MCGOVERN shrugs, and smiles.

                                    ANDREW
 		   Okay, whatever.  I trust you.  What
 		   do you --

                                   NINIANE
 		   ACIDLY I thought you trusted no
  		   one on this Earth.  Who is --

MCGOVERN peers around ANDREW's shoulder, smiling broadly and goofily.

                                   MCGOVERN
 		   I'm newly arrived, so I don't get in
 		   his bad books as much.  BEAT Hi,
 		   love.  

NINIANE's eyes bulge, and her jaw drops.  And then she's running to throw 
herself at him, shoving ANDREW out of the way, sobbing, covering his face 
with kisses, behaving like a much younger woman -- but still taking time 
to throw a triumphant glare at ANDREW, who wearily looks away.  

Cut to a reinforced cargo hold.  PATRICIA, wearing a set of clothes that 
vaguely resemble a typical Japanese schoolgirl's phys ed uniform, is 
leaning against the wall.  She looks very anxious.

                               ANDREW (INTERCOM)
 		   Patricia?

                                   PATRICIA
 		   Yes?

                               ANDREW (INTERCOM)
 		   Are you ready?  

PATRICIA looks as though she wants to say no ... but she closes her eyes, 
and swallows.

                                   PATRICIA
 		   I have to be.  There's no one else.

                               ANDREW (INTERCOM)
 		   Right.  BEAT  We'll be taking off
 		   in just a few minutes.  It's a few
 		   hours to Japan, so if you wanna get
 		   some sleep ...  

PATRICIA nods, then grins sheepishly at her mistake.

                                   PATRICIA
 		   Right, Uncle.  I'll be fine.  

She pulls a thin, silver capsule out of her belt, and stares at it.

                                   PATRICIA
 		   WHISPERED I have to be fine.

                             MUSIC VIDEO SEQUENCE #1  
As the opening bars of Europe's "The Final Countdown" begin to play, we  
cut to the cockpit of the Helifortress, where Andrew is completing the 
preflight checklist.  He gazes at PATRICIA's image on a monitor set into 
the control panel with a vague look of regret on his face ... then shakes 
his head, and goes back to work.  

Cut to the passenger compartment, where we see MCGOVERN and NINIANE seated 
in one row of seats, talking quietly together, while STENGOVITCH tries to 
peep over the back of the seat at them, until BRAN pulls him down.

                                     SONG
                       We're leaving together,  

Cut to a communications center.  A young woman with short cropped blonde 
hair is staring at a computer terminal, watching information flash across 
it.  She looks up at a big monitor to see the Helifortress' rotors begin 
to spin.

                                     SONG
                       But still it's farewell  

In the hangar bay, a large section of the roof begins to slide back, 
revealing the daylight.

                                     SONG
                    And maybe we'll come back,
                    To earth, who can tell?
                    I guess there is no one to blame
                    We're leaving ground  

The giant skids of the Helicarrier slowly retract into its body, leaving 
it hovering just above the floor.  

Cut to ANDREW's face as he silently counts down from five over the next 
line, before pulling back on the throttle.

                                    SONG
                    Will things ever be the same again?
                    It's the final countdown...  

The Helicarrier lifts up into the desert sky above Area 51, and begins to 
make its way to the East.  

Cut to the kitchen of a certain shrine in Nekomi.  BELLDANDY is cheerily 
washing dishes.  She hums while she works.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   Okay, I'll admit it.  The first time
 		   that I actually *met* Belldandy, as
 		   opposed to the times I'd seen her on
  		   campus without knowing who she was,
 		   I wondered what had happened to my
 		   oldest sister that she had that
  		   strange hair dye and those colour
  		   changing contact lenses.  BEAT  To
  		   say nothing of her ... strange
 		   fashion sense.  BEAT  And even
 		   after I *knew* that they were two
 		   different people, I kept seeing ...
 		   echoes.  BEAT  I had never seen
 		   anyone who took as much pleasure in
  		   the mundanities of life as my eldest
  		   sister ... and this week I met two.  

There is a sudden jangling alarm.  BELLDANDY is startled.

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   Oh my!  The alarm!  

She sets the plate that she's drying down, and wipes her hands on a towel, 
before heading out to see what caused the alarm.  She walks out of the 
shrine to the temple gate ...  

Where she sees Banpei (the Temple's guardian robot) standing over a charm 
covered, seriously injured MARA.

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   Mara?!

                                     MARA
 		   HOARSE Truce!

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   Truce?  BEAT  Really, Mara?  A
 		   truce?

                                     MARA
 		   No, I enjoy lying here and drowning
 		   in my own blood and feeling the tiny
 		   incisions these charms are making in
 		   my skin.  It gets me off.  BEAT
  		   YES, I REALLY WANT A TRUCE, DAMMIT!  

Cut to the living room of the temple.  BELLDANDY is gently cleaning MARA's 
wounds while KEIICHI stands by and looks on apprehensively.

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   What in the world *did* this to you?

                                     MARA
 		   SNORT That's the hell of it.  I
 		   don't know.  BEAT; NOTICES KEIICHI
 		   What're you looking at, Morisato?

                                    KEIICHI
 		   Um ... well, I --

                                     MARA
 		   COOING Oooh!  Could it be that you
 		   don't trust me?  Could it be that
 		   you *doubt* Belldandy's faith in me?
 		   OUCH!  

BELLDANDY's smile is rather strained as she pulls the cloth back from 
MARA's face.

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   You will admit, Mara, that you have
 		   not exactly given Keiichi-san reason
 		   to trust you --

                                     MARA
 		   Of course!  TO KEIICHI I'd think
 		   you were a bloody idiot if you did!
 		   BEAT Of course, I think you're a
 	 	   bloody idiot *anyway*, but OUCH!  

BELLDANDY is holding the lobe of MARA's ear between her thumb and 
forefinger.

                                     MARA
 		   ANYWAY ... the point is, there are
 		   far worse things in the hells than
 		   me.  BEAT  And last night, one of
 		   the mortals called one of the worst
 		   into this world.  

BELLDANDY gasps.

                                    KEIICHI
 		   Someone summoned a demon from ...
 		   uh, Niffelhelm?

                                     MARA
 		   You wish.  This particular being is
 		   elder than all the demons in
 		   *Nifflheim*.  He's spoken of only in
 		   whispers among the mightiest of our
 		   people.  BEAT  He is called the
 		   Adversary.

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   NODS I believe that I learnt of
 		   him in one of my graduate classes.
 		   There was not much information on
 		   him ...

                                     MARA
 		   It's said that he taught Hela how
 		   to make the Hand of Glory, and kept
 		   Fenris as a lap dog for a year,
 		   before his binding.  

There is a long silence.

                                    KEIICHI

 		   I should be impressed by those
 		   references, shouldn't I?  

MARA looks ready to make a cutting retort, then realizes that BELLDANDY is 
still holding her earlobe.

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   Those are two of the Elder Demons of
 		   Mara's office, Keiichi-san. BEAT
 		   It is also said that this Adversary
 		   told Loki where to find the Almighty
 		   in the earliest days.

                                     MARA
 		   BLINK I never heard *that* ...

                                    KEIICHI
 		   So ... what's going to happen?
 		   BEAT Is ... is the Almighty going
 		   to do something about this?

                                     MARA
 		   LAUGH Yeah, right.

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   Unfortunately, the Almighty may only
 		   intervene in the destiny of the
  		   world if he is asked to do so by a
  		   mortal, in a specific manner -- and
 		   the Silmarils have been lost a very
 		   long time, Keiichi-san.  

KEIICHI clearly doesn't get the reference.

                                    KEIICHI
 		   Oh.  Right.  BEAT So ... what *is*
 		   going to happen?  

BELLDANDY shakes her head.

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   I don't know, Keiichi-san.  Nothing
 		   like this has ever happened before.

                                     MARA
 		   So where's Urd and the brat?  OW!

                                   BELLDANDY
 		   My sisters have gone into Tokyo on
 		   some expedition of which they sought
 		   to keep me unaware.  I don't know
 		   what they might be about.  

Cut to a placid Nerima street.  An old woman (the one who occasionally 
provokes RANMA's transformation by accidentally splashing him) is walking 
slowly as two shadows fall on her.  She turns around.  SKULD and URD are 
wearing trenchcoats and mirror shades.

                                     SKULD
 		   Excuse me, we're with the Secret
 		   Police.  Have you witnessed any
 		   unusual events in this neighborhood
 		   that you'd like to discuss with us?  

The old woman slowly shakes her head and starts to back away slowly.

                                      URD
 		   I don't think this is working ...

                                     SKULD
 		   I don't get it ... I thought that
 		   Japanese people had a high degree of
 		   respect for the police --

                                      URD
 		   Skuld, I don't think the Japanese
 		   police go around wearing black
 		   trenchcoats and mirrored sunglasses.
 		   I *do* think you've been watching
 		   that American TV show too much --

                                     SKULD
 		   But Scully-sama is so intellectual!  

URD rolls her eyes.

                                      URD
 		   Right ... let's keep working on it.  

They walk along the street.  

Cut to the entrance hall of the Tendou home.  KENT is silently slipping 
off his shoes as KASUMI enters from the kitchen.

                                    KASUMI
 		   Ara!  Kent-san ... I didn't hear you
 		   come in ...

                                     KENT
 		   I forgot to announce myself.  I was
 		   thinking ...

                                    KASUMI
 		   I see ...  

KENT looks at her for a moment, and then shakes his head.

                                     KENT
 		   No ... no, I'm afraid you don't.
 		   STANDS Kasumi-san ... you are a
 		   wonderful, kind, decent, and gentle
 		   human being.  BEAT  I'm not.  It
 		   would not work out.  

KASUMI is shocked.

                                    KASUMI
 		   Then ... you know?  

KENT nods.

                                    KASUMI
 		   Oh my.  BEAT  I ... hope that I
 		   have not embarassed you by --

                                     KENT
 		   No, no.  It is very flattering, but
 		   I am ...  

He searches for the words.

                                    KASUMI
 		   Not available?

                                     KENT
 		   SHAKES HEAD Not so much that as
 		   ... I am not a good person to love,
 		   Tendou Kasumi-san.  The last three
 		   people to try ended up terribly hurt
 		   at the end.  BEAT  I hope only
 		   that I have not hurt you by waiting
 		   this long to tell you.

                                    KASUMI

 		   SMILES SADLY Oh no.  Well, perhaps
 		   a little ... from the ending of the
 		   last of my childish dreams ...

                                     KENT
 		   Forgive me.

                                    KASUMI
 		   I do. BEAT One of Ranma's friends
 		   will be cooking dinner for our
 		   family this evening, as partial
 		   recompense for ... certain events in
 		   which she was involved a year ago.
 		   Do you like okonomiyaki, Kent-san?

                                     KENT
 		   Yes ... I like it quite a bit.  

Cut to KENT looking mildly ill as he watches RANMA wolf down several 
okonomiyaki from a large stack of them.  RYOUGA and UKYOU (who are very 
carefully avoiding looking at each other) are also seated around the 
table with the Tendou family.

                                     SOUUN
 		   So, Kent-san ... how was your day
 		   after leaving the police station?

                                     KENT
 		   Well ... I did a little poking to
 		   see what more I could find out about
 		   this crime.

                                    RYOUGA
 		   Are you some sort of private
 		   investigator or something like that?

                                     KENT
 		   Yes to the "something like that"
 		   part.  BEAT  I discovered that
 		   Shujin-san was not the only martial
 		   artist to have disappeared or died
 		   mysteriously within the last twenty
 		   four hours.  

Stunned silence greets that announcement.  RANMA stops eating.

                                     KENT
 		   The first was an elderly priest of
 		   one of the local Shinto shrines,
 		   noted for the quality of his charms.
 		   He died of a heart attack a few
 		   minutes after midnight.  According
 		   to his family, he was in excellent
 		   health for a man of his age. BEAT
 		   Over the course of this day, a total
 		   of twenty people in the Nerima ward
  		   have either died of mysterious and
 		   unlikely "accidents" or simply
 		   vanished without trace.  Shujin-san
 		   was the first to have been clearly
 		   murdered, however.  But all the
 		   victims have a common quality.  

KENT sips at his tea.

                                     UKYOU
 		   *What?*  What common quality?

                                     KENT
 		   They all had either honed their
 		   training in their chosen styles of
 		   the martial arts to the point where
 		   they were possessed of nearly
 		   supernatural capabilities ... or
 		   actually practiced other arts which
 		   could be generally described as
 		   magic. BEAT In the course of my
 		   career, I have encountered a similar
 		   pattern of crimes once before.  The
 		   individual responsible for the
 		   murders in that instance was a being
 		   which, for lack of a better term, I
 		   will refer to as a demon.

                                     RANMA
 		   There's a *demon* in Nerima?

                                     KENT
 		   Yes.  And it wants to eat the souls
 		   of martial artists.  BEAT  Like I
 		   said earlier, Ranma.  Some things
 		   you can't fight with the art alone.  

He looks at RYOUGA just after he says that.  RYOUGA swallows, nervously.

                                     KENT
 		   At this point in its growth, the
 		   demon will avoid large quantities of
 		   its prey, preferring to pick it off
 		   one by one.  BEAT  For now, there
 		   is safety in numbers.  Ranma, are
 		   there any other major martial
 		   artists in town that you know about?  

RANMA thinks, and is about to shake his head ... then pauses.

                                     RANMA
 		   SLOW, GRUDGING Yeah.  There's
 		   Shampoo and the old ghoul.  Mousse
 		   is out of town right now, off on a
 		   training --

                                     KENT
 		   Is there some reason these people
 		   are named for hygeine products?

                                    NABIKI
 		   Linguistic coincidence.  We hope.

                                     KENT
 		   In any event, it might be a good
 		   idea to call them and invite them
 		   up here, for mutual protection.  It
 		   will come here eventually, and the
 		   only chance to defeat it is to make
  		   a strategy to beat it in familiar
 		   territory ...

                                     KASUMI
 		   Excuse me, Kent-san ... but if
 		   there's going to be a fight, here,
 		   should non-combatants such as myself
 		   leave?  

KENT takes a quick look at SOUUN, who is quietly having a conniption fit.

                                     KENT
 		   QUICKLY Not just yet, Kasumi-san.

                                    NABIKI
 		   Well, someone's going to have to go
 		   and pick up Akane at the train
 		   station.

                                     KENT
 		   ... Akane?

                                    NABIKI
 		   Yeah, my little sister.  Akane.
 		   AMUSED  The only person who
 		   consistently beats a certain martial
 		   arts demigod I know.  

KENT slowly turns to stare at RANMA.

                                     RANMA
 		   Hey!  It's not like that!  She --

                                     UKYOU
 		   What she does is sneak up on him
 		   and whack him with that mallet of
 		   hers.  

RYOUGA looks as though he is about to take issue with UKYOU's 
characterization of AKANE, but KENT interrupts before he can.

                                     KENT
 		   Um ... excuse me.  BEAT  This ...
 		   mallet.  She carries it around with
 		   her ... right?

                                     RANMA
 		   I guess so.  I dunno where she hides
 		   the damn thing ...

                                     KENT
 		   She always has it handy. BEAT And
 		   she only uses it when she's angry?

                                    NABIKI
 		   No.  Only when she's really angry.
 		   If she used it when she was angry,
 		   she'd use it all the --

                                     KENT
 		   Great Scott.  BEAT  In other words
 		   she can materialize a physical
 		   object from her anger-based ki?!  

The implications of that statement slowly sink in, and KENT, RANMA, and 
RYOUGA all bound to their feet at about the same time --  

Just as a great light shines into the TENDOU dining room from outside.  

Cut to the Nerima train station.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   And then I arrived.  

We see AKANE, wearing a yellow sundress and carrying a large suitcase in 
her left hand, step off the train.  She seems tired, but otherwise much 
the same.  She looks around for any sign of her famiy coming to pick her 
up, but sees no one.  This causes her to frown.  She walks out of the 
train station, and is startled.

                                     KUNOU
 		   TENDOU AKANE-SAN!  

AKANE slowly looks over her shoulder to see that KUNOU is standing nearby, 
in his usual kendo outfit, with his bokken in one hand and a bouquet of 
roses in the other.  AKANE lets out a long, slow sigh.

                                     AKANE
 		   ANNOYED Hello, Kunou-san.  How
 		   have you --

                                     KUNOU
 		   Ah, my heart is once more filled
 		   with the voice of Tendou Akane-san!
 		   Oh joyous occasion!  At last, you
 		   have fought free of the coils of
 		   foreign slavery unto which the --  

KUNOU continues to rant.

                                     AKANE
 		   MUTTERED -- foul sorceror Saotome
 		   did cruelly place you, yadda yadda
 		   yadda ... where *is* Ranma?  

It is at that point that the train station explodes.  We see AKANE's 
shocked face as she looks up at the debris flying away from it towards 
her.

                                 AKANE (V.O.)
 		   All the pieces were in place.  The
 		   Adversary was there.  The heroes had
 		   been gathered.  And I was there, as
 		   well.  BEAT  The last Gathering of
 		   the Palladins had begun.

                                TO BE CONTINUED  


Together Again: 1996 Chapter, 06/01/97