Yoshino screams down the well "senpai! senpai!" No sight nor sound  emerges from Asakawa & Yoshino runs for help....

 

Police & an ambulance arrive at the scene, their sirens piercing the night air. Yoshino stands behind the fence, dejectedly watching the construction hut from a distance as the paramedics bring Asakawa up. Suddenly, one of them says "There's a heartbeat!" "What's the rate?!" Yoshino's eyes widen & rushes forward just as Asakawa's brought out on the stretcher. "Get out of the way!" the paramedic yells at her but Yoshino hysterically screams "senpai! senpai!" "We're taking him to the hospital, will you ride with him?" "Yes, please." As the paramedics load Asakawa into the ambulance, Yoshino makes a tearful call to Miyashita "This is Yoshino.......senpai.....is alive.....they're sending him over to you right now." Calm & composed, Miyashita answers with relief "Alright, I'll handle everything from here." Grabbing her coat & heading for the door, Miyashita glances at the clock, 12.38pm, & frowns.

 

 The ambulance rushes to the hospital. Inside, face wet with tears, Yoshino stares at an unconscious Asakawa.

 

Miyashita comes out of a room with another doctor. As they past a waiting area, Miyashita tells the doctor "Go on ahead," & walks up to talk to Yoshino "Don't worry, he's going to be fine. The cells in his respiratory organs & blood arteries are all normal. He's still unconscious at the moment though." Yoshino, relieved, asks "What about the effect of the video?" "There were no traces of any tumor in the heart arteries." "Then, this means that the curse has been broken? This means that Yochi & I can be saved?" "Yes. In the meantime, let's wait for Asakawa to recover & run more tests." "Alright. Yoichi must be worried. I'll go give him a call." Yoshino takes a step & then suddenly stops "What about Takayama?" Miyashita looks at her in surprise "Eh?" "Wasn't Takayama sent here too?" "No." "How can it be?! I saw it with my own eyes! Takayama jumped into the well!" "But the paramedics who brought Asakawa in said that the only one in the well was Asakawa-san." "Then, where did Takayama escape to? I saw it with my own eyes!" "Let's just wait for Asakawa to regain consciousness. He'll be able to explain everything." 

 

Lying in bed, Asakawa starts to move, moaning.

 

The doctor shows Miyashita some slides "We found the Ring virus in Asakawa's bloodstream. But there is something strange. Take a look at this. Its formation has changed." Miyashita stares at the slide "The Ring is broken!" "Yes. Because of that, the virus has failed to proliferate." "Something has cut the Ring virus." "Yes." "Have you found anything else examining Asakawa-san?" "No, nothing in particular."

 

Yoshino finds Mai walking about in the hospital "Mai-san! I was just on my way to see you." Mai turns to look at her, peace on her face. Hesitatingly, Yoshino asks "About your brother, do you know what's happened to him?" "I've completely forgotten everything about my brother. I finally understand. My brother is my brother. I am who I am. No matter where he is or what he's doing, it's got nothing to do with me." Yoshino, surprised at the total change in Mai towards her brother, watches Mai turn & walk away.

 

Matsuzaki Nao appears on a radio program "Even at this moment, the rumor that people will die after watching my music video "Shiroi yo" is still being spread around. We even conducted a survey as to where & how that rumor started. There was a hidden message in the video - 'Within 13 days after watching this video, you have to make copies of it & show it to two other people. If you do that, you will be saved.' But there's no longer a need to do that. It seems that the curse has been broken. So everyone, please don't worry." 

 

A purification ceremony takes place at the construction site of the Higashiizumi Girls Academy where the well used to be. As the priest chants, men in suits stand solemnly behind, paying their respects. Yoshino walks among them, joining in the ceremony. Suddenly, the calm is broken as the winds get stronger & a strong gust topples over jars on the altar. Lighting strikes from the sky & the priest collapses to the ground.

 

Miyashita stares out the window. On the bed, Asakawa lies unconscious. The equipment monitoring his heartbeat beeping rhythmically.

 

Alone, Yoshino walks out of the gates of the school. Her cell phone rings "Hello, this is Yoshino. Ah, Kawamura-kun?" Kawamura tells her "I'm now at the radio station. I'll let you speak to Matsuzaki Nao's manager." Kawamura hands the phone over to her manager "Thanks. This is Yagi. Something bad has happened. Another high school girl has died." Shocked, Yoshino mutters "What did you say?" "She died exactly 13 days after watching the video. Her friends called the station just now. They also said that Matsuzaki Nao's lying. We also had a number of calls where they were crying, saying that they would make copies of the video & show it to others. What do we do now? Has the curse really been broken?!" Yoshino can't find an answer.

 

In her bedroom, a high school girl Ayako calls a friend "Hello Miyako? What did you want to talk to me about?" "It's about Yumiko. She really died. It was exactly 13 days after watching the video. It's a lie that the curse has been broken. Aren't we lucky that we didn't see it?" Stunned, Ayako doesn't answer. Miyako asks "Are you listening Ayako? Ayako?" Ayako drops the phone & falling to her knees in front of her TV. Ejecting the video tape out of the player, she stares at the label on the tape in horror - Matsuzaki Nao.

 

Arai, a high school boy, watches the Matsuzaki Nao video when his cell phone rings "Hi!" "Arai?! I'm glad I got a hold of you." "Oh. What is it?" "The video I gave you just now, you haven't seen it yet have you? Don't watch it!" Arai stares at the TV "Why not?" "It doesn't matter why! Just don't watch it!" Arai stares at the TV screen as it goes blank "Hm?"

 

In darkness, Yoshino sits in Miyashita's lab worrying. The door opens & Miyashita enters, hitting the switch throwing light into the room "Ah, Yoshino-san. What's wrong? Did the purification ceremony go smoothly?" "Something happened & it was stopped halfway." "What?!" "The curse hasn't been broken! Another high school girl has died after watching the video!" "But think about it, Asakawa-san is still alive! I am doing everything we can to find out what it was that happened to only Asakawa-san! Alright? & also, let me watch the video. I need to verify as to what sort of stimulus is in the video that actually activates the virus." "But if you do that you will also....." "We're running out of time! I need every clue I can get my hands on! You understand, don't you?!" 

 

Miyashita stares intently at the Matsuzaki Nao music video, Yoshino beside her watching without protest.

 

Mai returns to her room & stares out through the window, the light throwing shadows of the blinds on her face.

 

Miyashita watches the video, frustration showing at not being able to see anything unusual. Yoshino hands her a CD "This is the message that Takayama discovered inscribed in the video." Slotting the CD into computer, Miyashita stares at the images on screen "I see. The actual images are superimposed on the nensha images. So as long as we watch the video, the message will get across. That's to say, unconsciously, we will get this message. It will hit deep, directly into our subconscious & activate the Ring virus." "But exactly when did we get infected with the Ring virus? If no one is infected with the virus before hand, watching the video would have no effect at all!" "You're asking where the Ring virus came from?" "Yes." "The Ring virus has always been in our DNA right from the very beginning. In our DNA exists various viruses that people have contracted before in the past. Only a mere 5% of the human DNA is actually known what it's being used for. The remaining 95% is completely unknown." "So you're saying that the Ring virus was hiding in the unknown portion of the DNA?" "Yes, & then the stimulus from watching the video suddenly activates it."

 

In Asakawa's room, Yoshino stares out the window into the night.

 

 

I have one day & 22 hours left...

 

 

Asakawa suddenly moans in pain, waving is arm about. Yoshino takes his arm when she notices scarred tissue on it.

 

Yoshino races down the corridor, Miyashita on her heels. Rushing into Asakawa's room, Yoshino shows Miyashita the markings on his arm. Miyashita mutters "It reads X, Y, V." "What does it mean?"

 

Asakawa suddenly regains consciousness & looks towards the window, dazed. Stepping out into the corridor, Asakawa looks about. "senpai!" Yoshino runs up & throws her arms around him "I'm so glad you're alright!" "Yoshino, I?" "They brought you back up from the well. Don't worry! You've made it past the time limit! You have been saved!" "Does this mean that the curse has been broken? Yoshino!" The expression on Yoshino's face darkens. Asakawa frowns.

 

Ayako makes copies of the video. At school, she walks around the corner with two of her friends following her "What's wrong?" Ayako tells them "Please help me!" "What's wrong? Tell us, we'll listen." Ayako takes out two video tapes from a plastic bag "This....it's Matsuzaki Nao's video. I saw it. I'll die soon. That's why I want you two to watch this. Could you? If you don't I'll die! Please?!" 

 

Outside the school soccer club, Arai's friend says "Arai, you really didn't watch the video, did you?" Arai lies "I didn't." "I'm glad! I was going to do something terrible to you. Give it back to me. You brought it with you, didn't you?" "Ah, I forgot it, sorry. I'll bring it next time." Arai hurriedly leaves, bumping into someone "Sorry," & runs off.

 

Asakawa stares out the window in shock "The curse hasn't been broken yet?" Yoshino adds "If we don't stop it, the video will start to spread." Asakawa frowns "Then why was I saved?" Miyashita hands him a Polaroid "Take a look at this." Asakawa takes a look of the picture of his arm with the markings "X,Y,V" on it. Yoshino explains "You were moving about last night & suddenly, those letters appeared on your right arm. It was just for a short while." Asakawa rolls up his sleeve to see nothing on his arm & frowns, looking at the picture "X,Y,V?" Miyashita asks "I'd like you to try to recall what happened in the well." "At that moment....after Takayama had died....Sadako appeared....I was totally entranced....." 

 

Flashback to Asakawa, Takayama in his arms, saying "revenge can't save any one....let it go!!!!" Arms shoot out from beneath the water & strangles him, pulling him down under the surface of the water. Asakawa tells Miyashita & Yoshino "At that moment, I noticed some marks carved into the side of the well. I didn't count it but I knew that there were 13 marks there. After that.....yes.....I felt Sadako enter my body. Sadako survived for 13 days after falling into the well, trapped. With every sunrise & sunset, she would keep count as she felt hatred for all mankind. The hatred.....was....excruciating...." Yoshino & Miyashita get anxious as Asakawa grows weak "senpai!" "Let's take a break." However Asakawa insists "I'm alright. We're running out of time." Looking at Yoshino, he adds "You & Yoichi...." Taking the picture & looking at it again, Asakawa suddenly says "It was Takayama! He held onto me & tried to tell me something." Yoshino says "But it's very strange. You were the only one that was brought out of the well. Takayama was not in the well!" "That's ridiculous! He died in my arms!" 

 

Mai sneaks into Miyashita's lab & ruffles through some documents on her desk, opening the drawers. Pulling out a file, she finds her test results & then spots the 8mm film in one of the drawers.

 

Yoshino brings Yoichi & his grandparent to visit "Papa falling sick all of a sudden, isn't he rather careless." Yoichi nods. Yoichi adds "Tell him he's a weakling afterwards!" 

 

The door knocks & Asakawa answers "Yes?" When nothing happens, he says "Come in." The door opens this time & Yoichi yells "Papa!" "Yoichi!" Asakawa looks at his parents "Sorry to worry you." "You look pretty good." Yoichi gives Asakawa a drawing "This is Papa!" "Oh, this is good! Yoichi, you should call me 'Dad' & not 'Papa' anymore." Yoichi thinks about it & then chirps "Yes Papa!" "I'm sorry. I haven't been able to keep my promise to spend some time with you. I'll make sure I'll get well by the weekend." "Really? Hurry & get better!" "I will."

 

Asakawa finds his parents in the cafeteria & solemnly tells them "Yoichi might die." "What did you say?!" "Because of my carelessness, I let Yoichi watch a video tape. The video contains a curse. Those who watch it will die in 13 days." "That's....that's ridiculous!" "You might not believe it but it is true. Many people have already died. Right now, everyone's desperately trying to find a way to stop this. But we're running out of time. The time limit is 6pm tomorrow evening." "Tomorrow? You're saying that Yoichi will die tomorrow?!" "Yes." "Is there a way to prevent that from happening?" Asakawa stares at his parents "Yes." "What is it?" "If it comes to that, I want to show you both the video. That will save Yoichi. If you then make copies of the video & show it to other people, you will be alright. If we can't find a way to break the curse by tomorrow evening....." His father assures him "Don't worry about it. If that will save Yoichi I will do it. Your Mom will do it too, yes?" Asakawa's mother nods & his father tells him "Don't worry about us. You do you best to find the way to break this curse." Touched, Asakawa tells them "Thanks Dad, Mom...." Getting up & staring out the window, Asakawa doesn't notice Yoichi watching them from a distance, having listened to his father's heart aching plea.

 

Back in his room, Asakawa stares at the Polaroid.

 

 

just what happened

when I was inside that well?

 

 

Asakawa recalls Takayama, dying in his arms, telling him "Please stop my mother's revenge.....with your own hands. You must hurry...hurry....." Asakawa gets out of bed & takes out his jacket. Miyashita enters the room "Asakawa-san! Where are you going?" "I'm going over to Takayama's home to look around." "Whatever for?" "He's dead. While we were inside the well, he was trying to tell me something. Maybe, at the moment of his death, he knew the answer to ending this." Asakawa grabs the picture "These three letters. He's trying to give us a message as to how we can be saved. If he's still alive, there would have been no need for him to do that. I'm sure that I'll find something at his place." 

 

Weakly, Asakawa walks out of the hospital & heads for his car. Yoshino calls out "senpai! I heard from Miyashita what you're going to do. In the state you're in, I doubt you can do it alone. I'll go with you. Key please." Asakawa hands her the key to the car without protest.

 

In the car with Yoshino driving, Asakawa stares at the photograph "What is this X,Y,V?" "I've been thinking about it this while. Why is it not Z but V? Does the V stand for Video?" "I've thought about that too. V could stand for Virus too." "Is it really the letters of the alphabet?" 

 

At Takayama's home, they search through the various books & journals scattered all over the house. Weak, Asakawa suddenly falls over. Yoshino anxiously goes over to steady him "senpai! Are you alright?" Putting a hand on his forehead, she exclaims "You've got a fever?!" "I'm fine." "No you're not! Leave the rest to me." "If we can't find a way to break the curse by 6pm tomorrow evening....." The resulting thought silences any further protest from Yoshino.

 

Flipping through more journals, Asakawa comes across a piece of work titled Heredity of Memory. Going through the pages, Asakawa spots something "Yoshino!" "Yes?" Showing it to her, Asakawa says "Take a look at this. It looks like those letters weren't the alphabet after all." Asakawa recalls Takayama telling him "You must hurry....hurry....." Takayama reaches out with his bloodied hand & puts it over the wound on Asakawa's neck. Comprehension dawns on Asakawa "That's it!" 

 

Back at the lab, Asakawa shows Miyashita Takayama's journal "Look at this." Pointing out at the various formulae & diagrams on the pages, Asakawa says "The multiplication sign X....there's a Y here too....." Miyashita looks at the title of the journal "Heredity of Memory." Asakawa explains "Just before he died, he touched the wound on my neck with the wound on his hand." Miyashita looks at him in surprise "He touched your wound.....you're saying that blood from his mixed with yours?" "Yes, that's how I was saved." Miyashita looks back at him in disbelief "Eh?"

 

Pacing in her lab, Miyashita reads the entire journal ".....mixing & matching, X, Y....."

 

Ayako walks down the school corridor & overhears a bunch of her school mates talking "Did you hear? Apparently Ayako watched that video." "Then very soon she'll....." "Stay away from her or she'll show you the video." "That's scary!" They suddenly spot Ayako & hurry away from her.

 

Arai approaches Natsumi on his way to school. She greets him unsuspectingly "Morning, Arai-kun." "Morning. Uhm, come over to my place later." "What for?" "There's something I want to show you." 

 

Miyashita rushes down the corridor, heading for Asakawa's room. Asakawa looks at her "You found out what V stands for?" "Yes, there was a hint hidden in this thesis after all," Miyashita replies, handing him Takayama's journal. "It is possible to reconstruct the neural system in the brain by willpower. & over an extended period of time, the inherited genes will be transformed. It's the same principal as inheriting memory. The power of one's will can be transferred into the inherited genes." "Did Takayama do that at the moment of his death?" "It's possible. He changed the DNA in his own body to be able to arrest the proliferation of the Ring virus. V does not stand for video nor virus. It stands for Vaccine. If we have the DNA from Takayama's body, we might be able to stop the Ring virus from propagating. In other words, we extract the DNA from the cells in his body & create a vaccine. This is the DNA vaccine. Injecting this into the blood stream might be able to prevent the Ring virus from spreading. I'm pretty sure that is what happened inside your body." "So there's would be no need to show the video to anyone?" "However, we need Takayama's body." "Wait a minute, isn't it  possible to use my blood?" "The DNA vaccine has to be created so that it will rearrange the DNA in the cells to not produce the tumor. The DNA in your body has already gone through the process & has already been transformed. That's why we need the original DNA from Takayama's body." 

 

Asakawa heads for the construction site at the Higashiizumi Girls Academy to find the well sealed up with concrete.

 

 

Where is Takayama?

 

 

Mai walks down the stairs when Yoshino calls out "Mai-san!" Mai stops & looks up. Yoshino asks "Mai-san, your brother hasn't contacted you, right?" "That's right." "Don't be shocked, listen to me...your brother might be......" "My brother is not dead. My brother is still alive."

 

Asakawa drives over to Mai's house just in time to see her come out. She walks round the back of the house, disappearing through the surrounding trees.

 

At the hospital, Miyashita makes a presentation to a panel of doctors. One of them stare at her skeptically "A cursed video?" Miyashita replies "Yes. That video activates an inherent virus that is latent in the cells. The virus is able to keep track of time. Exactly 13 days after it is activated by watching this video, it detonates, creating a tumor in the heart arteries. In order to stop this virus from taking more victims, I think the organization needs to come up with some countermeasure." "Wait a minute. Do you know what you're saying? An inherent virus? That Ring virus? Well, even if such a virus might exist, but to say that it is activated & spread by a cursed video, & on top of that the video was created using nensha? Needless to say it is more than a little unbelievable." "For sure we can come up with a lot of reasons to refute that but the Ring virus definitely exists! We are about to come up with the antibodies here in our own lab, so please, the university needs to....." "Miyashita-san! It's not like you to mix science & cult together! This is a complete waste of time. It's enough." "Please wait," starts Miyashita but the doctors ignore her & file out of the room.

 

Yoshino arrives at the radio station "Kawamura-kun!" "Yoshino-san! We've been waiting for you! Something terrible is happening." Entering the studio, they hear the manager Yagi on the phone "....we'll be able to give you an answer soon. Yes, yes." Hanging up, he sees Yoshino & says "There's been a flood of calls to the station with questions like "Is it really alright not to show the video to others', 'I don't have anyone to show the video to, could you introduce someone'...if it carries on like this, there'll be a panic. Please tell us some way to stop this."  

 

Mai takes a taxi into what looks like an old deserted construction site. Asakawa trails behind. Looking out his window, Asakawa stares in shock "Takayama!" With his back to him, Takayama sits in a wheelchair, unmoving. Getting out of his car, Asakawa yells "Takayama!" However, Takayama doesn't respond. Mai approaches her brother & turning around, looks at Asakawa.

 

At Ayako's school, a poster stuck on the wall gives notice that the movie club will be showing a video in the school auditorium. Ayako walks into the room just in time to hear students saying "I'll put the tape in." "Ah, make sure you get it right. Twilight Flight is first, Tokyo Calling is second." "Right." Ayako comes out round the corner as a thought crosses her mind & she reaches for the video tape in her bag.

 

Walking along, Natsumi asks Arai "What is it that you want to show me?" "Oh." "You said so this morning." "It's a secret. You'll find out when we get home." "I look forward to it." Arai walks on, looking like his conscience is bothering him.

 

When Asakawa approaches, Mai shouts "Don't come any closer! If you come I'll die! I will die together with my brother!" Mai pushes Takayama on the wheelchair to the edge where there's a steep drop into a deep pit. Asakawa yells "Don't do anything stupid!" "I've seen that 8mm film! I learnt for the first time why I was brought into this world for. I learnt for the first time why I loved someone. I loved someone that I was meant to kill! I lived so that I could do that! It was a love that was programmed." "Then why don't you live your real life now?! You can do it!" "This is my real life. These are my real feelings. Even now, I love my brother. No matter what anyone says, I love him. I just want to carry on like this, I'll stay by my brother's side." "Do you think that your brother will be happy if you do that?!" "Don't you dare lie to me! I know everything! All you want is my brother's body! You only want the DNA in his cells! No one's even given my brother a thought! You can figure out how to stop the hatred yourselves. Yoichi-kun & Yoshino-san can die just like my brother did. If you do that it will end. If you don't show the tape to anyone everything will end! But no one can do that. You're all cowards. You're all selfish! That's why you only want my brother's body. I will never allow you to use my brother now!" "You're right. I am a coward. I am selfish. For Yoichi's sake it doesn't matter what happens to others! There is nothing else I can do! What else can I do?!!" But there is one thing you have to believe. Why did your brother choose to die? Because you were important to him. You meant the world to him." Mai yells "Don't talk rubbish!" & starts pushing the wheelchair towards the edge. Asakawa yells "Stop it!" but Mai smiles to herself "From now on my brother will be mine & only mine." "Stop! Mai-san!" Asakawa stares in horror & the wheelchair approaches the edge.

 

Suddenly, Takayama's hand reaches back & grabs Mai's. Mai stops, the wheelchair barely inches from the edge. She stares at his hand on hers & then sees her brother turn around slowly & look at her. "onichan!" Takayama stares at her lovingly, saying "Live!" Tears roll down Mai's cheeks as he grasps her hand tightly. Slowly turning away, his voice echoing "I'll always love you." Mai falls to her knees crying. Asakawa approaches & with one hand on the wheelchair, looks up above giving a big sigh of relief.

 

Asakawa takes Takayama's body to Musashino Medical University. The doctor explains the procedure as he puts test tubes of chemicals into the centrifuge "We're introducing the DNA extracted from Takayama's body into the colon bacillus. We're going to start creating the vaccine with the colon bacillus. This is the resulting DNA vaccine. We'll then introduce it to the cell culture created from the superintendent from Yatsugatake. If it checks the proliferation of the cells, then the resulting vaccine should be effective in countering the Ring virus." Miyashita looks through the microscope "It looks like it's stopped the cells from multiplying." "Yes, the vaccine is effective." Smiling with relief, Yoshino says "This is what Takayama left behind for us. We'll be saved." Miyashita quietly confers with the doctor who then leaves. Miyashita looks worried & Asakawa anxiously asks "Reiko-san, that vaccine will be able to save Yoichi & Yoshino won't it? & also everyone of those who have seen the video?" Miyashita looks away, not answering immediately. Yoshino frowns "Miyashita-sensei!" Miyashita finally tells them "No. We can't use it yet. In the meantime, make copies of the video!" Asakawa asks "Why?!" "Although we have confirmation that the vaccine does stop the Ring virus from proliferating but it's just in a clinical experiment. It's still too dangerous for it to be used right away. We still haven't tested it to see if it will be effective against the virus in the human body. We don't know what complications will result with human body cells." "If that's the case the vaccine will never be used!" "11 more days. Please, after 11 days, there'll be a possibility. I'll use it to test it on myself. I saw the video the day before. So after 11 days, we'll be able to confirm if the vaccine will work. Without that confirmation the vaccine cannot be used!" "sensei!" "Even then as a doctor, I'm pushing the boundaries." "That will be too late! The video is spreading right now. In 11 days times it will be too late! Test it on me. Please sensei! Test it on me!" Miyashita stares at the intensity in Yoshino's eyes. Asakawa remains silent, filled with dread.

 

With a video & Yoichi's drawing in his hand, Asakawa gets into his car. The clock says 4.43pm. With a heavy heart, Asakawa sighs & makes a phone call "Dad, I'm coming over to see you....I want you to watch the video....." 

 

Miyashita stares at Yoshino "You're really going through with this?" Bravely, Yoshino replies "I'm positive it'll work. I believe in it. Please."  Without further ado, Yoshino gets into bed & Miyashita prepares to inject the vaccine into Yoshino. "Miyashita-sensei." "Hm?" "I've got a favor to ask. Please tell everyone that I am not afraid, that I believe that I'll be saved. Go on Matsuzaki Nao's radio show & tell everyone that there's no need to show anyone the video. Please tell everyone." Miyashita nods & Yoshino smiles. The doctor then injects the vaccine into Yoshino's intravenous drip.

 

Asakawa pulls out of the parking lot just as Miyashita walks up to the front of the university. Stopping, Asakawa gets out of the car. "Asakawa-san." "How's Yoshino?" "She's fine." With much difficulty, Asakawa confesses "I'm going to show the tape to my parents right now. I am not as brave as you or Yoshino." Miyashita nods "I understand. There's no more time. Hurry."

 

In Ayako's school, the viewing of the videos are starting. A girl announces "Everyone, take a seat! We're going to be watching a really exciting film. The tape is all ready. Have fun!" Ayako surreptitiously walks out of the room. Around the corner, she holds out the video in her hand, it's the video of the first movie to be screened, titled Twilight Flight.

 

Arai gets a drink for Natsumi who takes it from him "Thanks." Getting up, Arai tells her "I'm going to go buy something." "I'll go with you." "There's no need, you take a seat." Handing her a bunch of videos, he says "Watch these videos & wait for me." Arai walks out.

 

At the radio station, Matsuzaki Nao goes on air "I have a guest with me today. She is Miyashita-sensei from the Musashino Medical University, Pathology Department. She has a message for all of those who have watched that video....."

 

Miyashita goes on air "13 days ago, a friend of mine watched that video that is cursed. Tonight at 6.09pm, in about an hour or, will mark the time limit that she has to live." Arai, loitering outside his house, Ayako in school, listen to the broadcast "....even if you're serious, no one believes you. But everyone of you knows that something dreadful is happening around you, don't you. Just because of one video tape, the world might be destroyed. But please believe this, you're not alone. There are others like you who have seen the video tape & are fighting to stay alive. Everyone is on your side."

 

Asakawa arrives home & reaches for the tape in the passenger seat. Staring at the clock, 5.19pm. From above, Yoichi yells "Papa!" Asakawa gets out of the car "Yoichi!" "I'm coming down, wait for me!" 

 

Miyashita continues "That video contains the hatred of a girl who lived in misery 22 years ago. Her intention was to get hatred to spread. If you make copies of the tape & show it to two other people, you will be saved. If the people who see it do the same, they'll be saved as well. & going on like this, hatred spreads. But what happens as this goes on? We all know the answer if we stop & think. All of the people around us that we hurt will harbor ill will towards you. That's why the only ones that we can stop the hatred from spreading." 

 

At the foot of the apartment building, Asakawa quietly holds on to Yoichi. "Papa?" "Yoichi, listen to me alright?" "What's wrong?" "Don't worry about anything, leave everything to me. Alright?" Yoichi frowns & finally nods.

 

Mai, Arai, Ayako, Yoshino all listen to Miyashita's voice "We have identified a virus that is activated when one watches the video tape. It's called the Ring virus. & we have created a vaccine to counter that virus. This vaccine was created by someone who used the power of his mind to rearrange the DNA in his own body. He sacrifice his own life to save someone he loved. The DNA in his body was transformed just before his death. & this DNA was created to counter the DNA of hate. But herein lies a problem. Right now no one knows if the DNA vaccine truly works or not. There has to be someone who is willing to be the first to take the risk. My own friend has now volunteered herself to be that person. She refused to show the video tape to anyone & has been injected with the vaccine. Soon,  love & hate will do battle in her body." Tears flow from Yoshino as she lies in bed listening to the program.

 

Asakawa carries Yoichi back into the apartment & grimly looks at his parents "Dad...." Without a word, his father nods.

 

Miyashita continues "If there is anyone who has made a copy of the tape & about to show it to someone, please wait for a little while more. If my friend survives past the time limit, it will mean that love has triumphed over hatred. There will be no need to make copies of the tape anymore. The DNA vaccine will definitely save everyone. But if we fail....no one has the right to stop you from doing what you choose to do....to kill your own friends....."

 

Asakawa tells his father "I'm sorry. We didn't manage to find anything." "What are you saying?! This is for Yoichi. Hurry & show us the tape." "Are you sure it's alright?" His father nods in total understanding. Asakawa looks at his mother "You too Mom?" Worriedly, she nods. As he takes the tape from his bag, he sees Yoichi staring at him.

 

Miyashita adds "But there is one last thing I will say. We will never be defeated by hatred. Think about the evolution of life. Living things have always wreaked havoc on earth, hatred has always been out to destroy love. But love has never been destroyed. Why? Because love is much stronger than hatred. Love has been the strategy of the proliferation of life for over 30 million years. It is the most ingenious device in the scheme of things. If anyone has even the slightest hesitation about making copies of the tape, if you have the slightest feelings for someone over yourself, it means that love will never die. In that instant, hatred will have lost."

 

The tape in Ayako's hand drops to the floor & she rushes into the room just as one of the girls say "Now without further ado, let's watch the movie." Ayako shoves her away from the player & ejects the tape.

 

Arai runs back into the house yelling "Natsumi! Natsumi!" Just as Natsumi's about to insert the tape into the player, Arai grabs it out of her hands.

 

With his parents seated in front of the TV, Asakawa inserts the tape into the player "Yoichi, come over here." Yoichi doesn't move & Asakawa gets up, goes over, takes his hand "Come with me." Holding on to him in front of the player, Asakawa tells him "Right now you've got to show Grandpa & Grandma this video. Press the button." Taking Yoichi's hand, Asakawa forces it towards the play button but Yoichi pulls stubbornly pulls away. "Yoichi, you promised me, didn't you? You said that you would do as I say." Willfully, Yoichi gets up & walks away "I don't want to." "Yoichi, Yoichi...." "But if Grandpa & Grandma watch that video, they might die, right?" "If Grandpa & Grandma do not watch the tape, you might die." "But I love Grandpa & Grandma." "Listen to me Yoichi!" "I don't want to!" Asakawa yells "Yoichi!" But Yoichi yells back "I don't want to! I hate Papa when you're like that!" Asakawa slaps Yoichi across the cheek & Yoichi starts crying. Asakawa, grabs Yoichi & hugs him as Yoichi cries "But you saw the video too didn't you? Then how come you were saved?" "I took some medicine." "Then I'll drink the medicine too!" "You can't!" Asakawa holds him out & looks at him "I was saved by chance. If the medicine doesn't work, you'll die!" "I...." "Do you know what it means to die?!" "I'm not afraid! I've got you Papa! You'll always be with me, right?" Tears flow as Asakawa hugs Yoichi.

 

Asakawa rushes Yoichi to the hospital & the vaccine is administered to him.

 

Miyashita walks in to see Asakawa by his son's bedside. Yoichi says "Papa!" Asakawa takes Yoichi's hand "I'll be right here." They look over in the next bed to see Yoshino lying still, her eyes shut. Asakawa glances worriedly at the clock as it ticks away, 6.08pm.

 

6.09pm. The moment of truth arrives. & passes. Miyashita & the doctor check on Yoshino & Yoichi. Asakawa, holding onto his son's hand, feels Yoichi's move & looks up to see Yoichi open his eyes "Papa!" With tears of relieve, Asakawa mutters "Yoichi," reaching out to touch his son's face.

 

Miyashita smiles & sees Yoshino opens her eyes "Yoshino-san!" "sensei..." Miyashita calls out with relief "Asakawa-san!" Asakawa turns around & Yoshino calls out tearfully "senpai....." Overcome with emotion, Asakawa breaks down & cries.

 

At the radio station, the news is received with joy & relief. Matsuzaki Nao announces on air "We have just heard that the vaccine works. This time for sure, the curse is broken." 

 

Sitting on the stairs alone & tears flowing down her face, Ayako rips out the film from the video tape. Looking up, she sees her friends standing by her.

 

In his room, Arai does the same, ripping out all the film from the video tapes, making a mess on the floor. Getting up, he puts his arms around Natsuki, hugging her close to him.

 

At the site of the well, flashes of a woman dress in white walk away in the night.

 

Mai sits on the floor, flipping though the pages of a book. Takayama's spirit suddenly appears in the room & watches his sister. Mai suddenly feels something & looks up, no one's there.

 

Asakawa hugs Yoichi tightly & he grumbles "It hurts Dad!" Asakawa looks at him in shock "Dad?" Yoichi nods & Asakawa grins, hugging Yoichi tightly. Yoichi mumbles "Owww!" 

 

Watching, Yoshino & Miyashita smile.

 

Asakawa pulls up at the kindergarten & Yoichi scrambles out. Asakawa sounds the horn "parp, parp-parp-parp, parp" & Yoichi turns around waving "Bye bye!" With a grin, Asakawa drives off.

 

 

.....owari

 

 

 

 

 

~ CJ's final thoughts ~

 

This was a good drama but talk about loopholes galore. So who killed Professor Kaneda? & how does the virus know when to stop mutating if one had shown copies of the video to two other people? Psychologically? What about Abe, Miyashita's lab assistant? Did he really commit suicide or was he taken care of by Nagao's men in suits? At least I can accept that they killed the detective Kashiwada. If it had been Takayama he wouldn't have had to use a knife.

 

As far as characters go, I found Yoshino irritating to say the least. Persistence I can handle, perpetual hysteria I absolutely cannot abide. Thank heavens for Miyashita's calm & collected presence, she made a soothing balance to the increasing annoyance I felt towards Yoshino with each passing episode. I wasn't convinced by Yamamoto Kei's portrayal of the older Professor Nagao at all. Even when he was confessing he didn't come across evil enough. I'm usually kinder on the non-hysterical type so wasn't so critical of Yanagiba & as Asakawa, & Nagase as Takayama. I thought the kid who played Yoichi was exceptionally good in the final couple of scenes.

 

As for the medical aspects of the story, well, for the most part, I gather it was pretty much all a fiction of the writer's imagination. I could find no trace of the poison Gobrel mentioned in any of the research I did. The medical facts on viruses & fatality rates didn't quite tally either. I wasn't convinced at all by the medical explanations but then again, it is only a drama.