Two Exedran military whispercraft are in pursuit of a pair of government-issue cars, rushing along parallel highways. The countryside is semi-tropical, very lush and green. The cars are hovercraft, powered by magnetic drive engines. The whispercraft are like military helicopters, but their engines are also magnetic and make no sound. They're also in full camouflage, so that only the shimmer of their outlines can be seen above the fleeing cars.

CUT TO:

INT. - ONE OF THE CARS - DAY

JAKI ASADA, a thirty-ish man with a blank stare, sits in the passenger seat of the car, fumbling with a blood-splattered briefcase, while his henchman, JUN, drives. Between them is the body of the previous DRIVER, a blonde woman in a black Federal agent's uniform. Her brains cover the control panel of the car. In the back is another body, the driver's PARTNER. He also has a hole in his head, and his left arm has been shot in two, just above the wrist. The briefcase Jaki holds came from the man in back.

JAKI

finally retracts the brown package from the briefcase, and tosses the case into the back seat. He doesn't look happy, though. He peers up at the whispercraft buzzing just behind the car, and he scowls at Jun.

JUN

feels Jaki's glare and sheepishly darts his eyes in his employer's direction. He looks back to the control panel and snorts an uneasy laugh.

JUN
I thought these Fed cars were supposed to be fast!

JAKI
Keep your mind on the driving.

JUN
Yes, sir.

CUT TO:

INT. - THE MAIN WHISPERCRAFT - DAY

COLONEL CHI NGUYEN squats between the PILOT and CO-PILOT in the whispercraft cockpit. He is intensely watching the movement of the car below him. Chi is about forty years old, a small slender man with a long black ponytail. He has the same blank stare of concentration on his face that his adversary wears. He holds a comm unit in his hand, ready to give the command to jump.

CO-PILOT
We've crossed the city line, sir.

NGUYEN
Good. Prepare to drop camo, on my mark.

CO-PILOT
Aye, sir.

CUT TO:

EXT. - EXEDRAN COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

The cars continue, and the whispercraft accelerate to match them. The whispercraft also begin to descend.

CUT TO:

INT. - SECOND GOVERNMENT CAR - DAY

ITSUMI OKADA, Jaki's girlfriend and partner in crime, peers up at the descending whispercraft's aura. Her eyes are full of terror. She holds a bloody briefcase, just like the one Jaki holds. Her car also has two dead AGENTS in it, both in similar condition to the ones in Jaki's car.

ITSUMI

turns to her driver, SINGH, and looks worried.

ITSUMI
Can't you speed up a little?

SINGH
I've got her maxed, already. This is all she's got.

ITSUMI
It can't be all! It can't be! Don't you know some tricks or something? What kind of damn driver are you, anyway?!

Singh sighs, keeps her eyes straight ahead.

CUT TO:

INT. - THE SECOND WHISPERCRAFT - DAY

LIEUTENANT GENJIRO NAKADAI crouches at the whispercraft's open jump door, his comm unit held to his ear. Genjiro is in his mid twenties, slender and handsome, with black eyes that shine cobalt blue in the aircraft's inner lights. He also wears a long ponytail, which whips around in the wind. His body tenses as the comm unit crackles.

V.O. NGUYEN
(from the comm)
Nakadai, you ready to fly?

GENJIRO
(into the comm)
Yes, sir.

V.O. NGUYEN
Three down to mark, and jump.

GENJIRO

leans forward in the jump door.

V.O. NGUYEN
Three...two..one...jump!

Genjiro jumps.

CUT TO:

EXT. - EXEDRAN COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

The two whispercraft drop their camouflage and are now completely visible, as the two officers jump. The craft peel off, as soon as the two men are away, and put up the camo shield, again. Bullets from the cars ricochet off the shields in bright orange flashes.

Genjiro and Nguyen each drop onto the roof of a car. In one smooth movement, each one slaps a defaulter device onto the roof and then rolls off the car to the road, avoiding the shots from within the car. They take cover in the ditches and watch the cars slow and stop, their engines stopped by the magnetic defaulters.

CUT TO:

EXT. - THE GOVERNMENT CARS - DAY

INTERCUT AS NEEDED

Jaki and Itsumi jump from their cars and run, leaving their drivers behind, to cover them. They disappear into the thick foliage. The drivers fire blindly at Genjiro and Nguyen, but they can't see them.

JUN

searches the ditch area, looking for Nguyen. He has temporarily stopped firing, and squints his eyes. He turns just in time to get a shuriken blade in his throat. He fires his gun as he falls back into the car.

NGUYEN

does not stop to look into the car. He takes off after Jaki.

CUT TO:

INT. - THE SECOND CAR - DAY

Singh isn't going to be as stupid as Jun. She huddles down in the car and waits, keeps her gun at the ready. She sees Genjiro's shadow on the window, and her gun follows it. Then the shadow disappears. Singh waits, panting and sweating from tension. She hears nothing, so she sits up. She doesn't see him, anywhere. She opens the door, to take the defaulter off the roof.

CUT TO:

EXT. - SECOND CAR - DAY

The moment Singh steps from the car, Genjiro is on her. He leaps from behind the car. She screams and fires wildly at him, but he's too fast for her to follow. He easily takes her gun and knocks her out with it.

CUT TO:

INT. - SECOND CAR - DAY

Genjiro leans into the car to take the dead driver's handcuffs, and the gruesome sight inside almost makes him retch. He gingerly takes the handcuffs from the driver's belt, trying not to look at the body. He then handcuffs Singh to the door and tosses her gun into the back seat, out of her reach.

CUT TO:

EXT. - SECOND CAR - DAY

Genjiro wipes his face and turns from the car. Itsumi now has a considerable lead on him, so he takes off into the woods and begins to look for tracks. He finds some broken branches and footprints, and begins following them.

CUT TO:

EXT. - EXEDRAN WOODS - DAY

Nguyen has not lost his quarry. Jaki is only a few yards ahead of him, close enough that he occasionally stops to turn and shoot at Nguyen. Jaki runs and backtracks and changes direction often, hoping to shake Nguyen, but Nguyen stays with him. The chase continues for some distance, until they approach a small walled house, in a clearing. Jaki is all out of breath, now, and pauses at the front of the house, ready to fire at Nguyen, again, but he doesn't see him, this time. He visibly relaxes, and slips through the gate.

CUT TO:

EXT. - THE WALLED COURTYARD - DAY

Jaki closes the gate behind him, and is about to latch it when he sees a shadow falling across his arm. Before he finishes looking up, Nguyen jumps from the top of the wall and knocks Jaki to the ground. The gun fires.

Nguyen shoves Jaki's gun hand out of the way and simultaneously crushes his windpipe with his fist. The gun fires, again, into the air. Jaki gurgles, choking to death on his own blood.

NGUYEN

pauses, long enough to spit out a mouthful of his own blood. This angers him.

NGUYEN
Son...of...a...bitch!

Nguyen grabs Jaki's head and neck and yanks them in two different directions, breaking his neck. Jaki stops moving. Nguyen sits up, his right hand pressed against the wound in his chest. The pressure from his hand doesn't slow the bleeding; blood runs between his fingers and spills all over his lap and Jaki's body.

NGUYEN
Shit!

The brown package lies next to Jaki's body, and Nguyen snatches it. He pushes himself up, and staggers back into the wall.

NGUYEN
(mumbling)
Shit...shit...shit...

He is now very dizzy and pale, but he staggers back out of the courtyard, holding the package in front of his chest. He sees Genjiro approaching from the woods, and he scowls at him. Genjiro runs faster, when he sees his commander. Nguyen is extremely angry.

NGUYEN
Where the hell have you been, Nakadai? Where's Okada?

GENJIRO
(looking ashamed)
I'm sorry, sir. I lost her.

NGUYEN
You lost her?!

He staggers one step closer, looking furious.

NGUYEN
What do you mean, you fucking lost her?! What the hell...
(coughing)
What the hell is the matter with you?

GENJIRO
(frowning)
Are you okay, sir?

Nguyen is having trouble breathing, now. He's nearly gasping, and every gasp makes him angrier.

NGUYEN
I'm fine. Call the damn transport.

GENJIRO
I already did, sir. They're in the other clearing.

NGUYEN
Then let's go.

GENJIRO
What about Asada?

NGUYEN
Bastard's dead. Let's fucking go!

GENJIRO
(looking confused)
Don't you want me to look for Okada?

Nguyen is growing visibly weaker. He looks as if he's about to pass out. His gasps are now accompanied by choking coughs.

NGUYEN
No. I want you to come back with me.
You're...you're not ready to go solo.
(staggering)
Oh...shit...

Nguyen collapses and Genjiro catches him, sinks to the ground with him. Genjiro now has blood all over him, too. The blood has begun to stream over Nguyen's lip. Genjiro looks scared.

GENJIRO
Oh my God! He shot you!

NGUYEN
No...fucking...kidding.

GENJIRO
Chi...Chi, please don't die, now! I can't do this without you!

Nguyen's eyes are halfway closed, now, and he's running out of breath, altogether. His voice is very soft.

NGUYEN
Heh...I've had worse.
(he frowns)
And I thought I told you...not to call me that...outs...

Nguyen makes a choking noise. His body jerks, then goes limp in Genjiro's arms. Genjiro is horrified.

GENJIRO
Colonel?! Oh no...God! How can you do this to me?!
(staring at Nguyen)
You...you got blood all over me! The least you could do is stick around to apologize! God! I don't know what to do without you!
(He stands up, lifting Nguyen's body.)

GENJIRO
I thought you were supposed to be invincible. What happened to that, huh?
(looks at Nguyen as though he expects an answer)
Huh? And...and you've had worse, huh? Well, I'm sorry, but I can't imagine what's worse than a bullet in the heart.
(He shifts Nguyen's body in his arms.)

GENJIRO
As a matter of fact, I don't think there is anything worse. So, with all due respect, sir, I don't think you know what the crap you're talking about.
(He begins walking back to the transport.)

GENJIRO
You're the toughest bastard I've ever seen. Anyone else would have died, instantly.
(He stops, catches himself.)

GENJIRO
God. I'm talking to a corpse.

He proceeds silently through the trees toward the transport, and sees SGTS CHAN and MORIOKA waiting with the side doors open. They stand and salute as he approaches. Genjiro just nods at them.

GENJIRO
Colonel Nguyen needs to go back to HQ. I'm afraid his heart is broken. I also have a package for General Fuchida.

Chan and Morioka take Nguyen's body into the transport and lay it onto the bench seat along the port wall.

CHAN
What happened, sir?

GENJIRO
Asada shot him.
(he offers the package)
Here's the package.

Chan takes the package, and Genjiro climbs into the transport. He squats next to the bench and begins taking Nguyen's shinobi weapons.

GENJIRO
Take good care of him for me.

MORIOKA
You're not coming, sir?

Genjiro opens Nguyen's flight suit and dips his right palm into the blood on his chest, leaving a handprint.

GENJIRO
No. Not yet. I'm not finished.

Genjiro paints blood around his eyes, like a Kabuki actor, then licks a little of the blood off the side of his finger. Chan and Morioka watch, in shock. Genjiro turns and jumps back out of the transport. The two sergeants are still staring at him.

CHAN
Oh, man...he's cracked.

MORIOKA
Uh-huh...

Genjiro walks away, not looking back. His gaze is fixed straight ahead, and his eyes glisten with a hint of madness. He pulls his flight suit open with his left hand.

GENJIRO
Well, Chi, now that you're dead...
(He presses his bloody hand onto his chest, leaving a print.)
I guess it won't hurt you, if I steal your power.

CUT TO:

INT. - GUA INTELLIGENCE HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT

Chan and Morioka bring Nguyen's body into the medical wing, where they are met by GENERAL FUCHIDA, his aide, DOUGLAS and two staff doctors, SUNG and WILLIAMS. Fuchida is in his forties, a stern looking man with aristocratic features and piercing eyes. Sung and Williams are both in their fifties, and both career military men. Douglas is in his late twenties.

The doctors take Nguyen's body from Chan and Morioka, which frees up their hands to salute to Fuchida. The general returns their salutes, but seems only halfway aware of them. His attention is on Nguyen, and on the dismayed expressions on the faces of the doctors. They have stretched Nguyen's body out on a gurney and are examining him.

FUCHIDA
(almost an afterthought)
At ease, sergeants.

Chan edges forward and offers him the package.

CHAN
Sir, Lieutenant Nakadai said I was to give this to you.

Fuchida looks at them long enough to take the package, then returns his attention to Nguyen.

FUCHIDA
Yes, thank you.

The sergeants continue standing there, looking as though they expect to be dismissed. Fuchida seems to have already forgotten them. He moves closer to the gurney.

FUCHIDA
Is he dead?

WILLIAMS
Yes, sir.

FUCHIDA
Completely?

WILLIAMS
I'm afraid so, sir. There's nothing I can do for him, this time.

FUCHIDA
Damn.
(notices the hand print on Nguyen's chest)
What the hell is that?

SGT. MORIOKA
Um, Lieutenant Nakadai did that, sir. He stuck his hand in the blood, painted his face with it, and then...ate some. I think he's gone round the bend, sir.

Fuchida suddenly pays attention to the sergeants.

FUCHIDA
Where is he, now?

MORIOKA
I don't know, sir. He left. Said he wasn't finished.

FUCHIDA
(He tries to conceal his outrage, but his eyes flash)
You let him leave in that condition?

MORIOKA
Well, yes, sir. I'm not in the habit of questioning officers, sir. Even when they act nutty.

FUCHIDA
Damn.
(turning to Douglas)
Get Zhuravskaya down here.

DOUGLAS
(salutes and leaves)
Yes, sir.

FUCHIDA
(turns back to the sergeants)
You two get back to the transport and ready it for flight. I want you to take Major Zhuravskaya to the place you last saw Lieutenant Nakadai.
(glances back at Nguyen)
I want him back here by morning, and I don't want him looking like Nguyen. Understood?

CHAN
(salutes)
Yes, sir!

MORIOKA
(salutes)
Yes, sir!

They leave, and Fuchida turns back toward Nguyen. He stares at him, but speaks to the doctors.

FUCHIDA
Clean him up...and send him home.

CUT TO:

EXT. - ASADA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Genjiro has returned to Asada's house. He enters the courtyard, ignoring Jaki's body and staying in the shadows. He finds a hiding place in a dark corner. The blood around his eyes has begun to drain down onto his cheeks, and his windblown hair is falling out of the ponytail, making him look wild. He's waiting for Itsumi, knowing she'll come to check on her man. He waits a long while.

ITSUMI

creeps out of the house, keeping herself in darkness. Only her outline can be seen, in the shadows. She looks around, decides it's safe and emerges into the light to kneel beside Jaki. She can't see Genjiro moving, now that she's in the light.

ITSUMI
Jaki?

She touches his arm, then jerks it back, realizing he's dead. She bolts to her feet and backs away, clutching the front of her blouse. She backs right into Genjiro's arms. She starts to scream, but he muffles it, closing his hand around her throat.

GENJIRO
Please don't scream, sweetie. I hate that sound. It makes me feel violent.
(he kisses her cheek)
Promise me you won't scream, huh? Because, if you do, I'll crush your little windpipe. Deal?

Itsumi nods. Genjiro releases his grip.

GENJIRO
Very good! Extra breaths for Itsumi!

ITSUMI
What do you want? Jaki's dead. I can't possibly be of any use to you!

GENJIRO
Oh, but you can, Itsumi-sweet! You took the other package, dumpling. What did you do with it?

ITSUMI
I...I destroyed it! I burned it!

GENJIRO
(shaking his head)
Tsk, tsk. Bad move, sweetling. Well, since I can't use you, anymore, I guess I'll just have to kill you.

He closes his hand around her throat, again. She fights, looking terrified.

ITSUMI
No! Wait! No! I didn't destroy it! I hid it! I hid it in the house! In the secret room!

GENJIRO
The secret room?

ITSUMI
Yes. Jaki built it for me to hide in, when there was trouble. That's where I went tonight.

GENJIRO
Why'd you come out so soon?

ITSUMI
Because it was quiet, and Jaki didn't come for me. I was scared.

GENJIRO
Take me to this room.

ITSUMI
(nods)
It's in the middle of the house.

GENJIRO
(pushing her ahead of him)
Fine. You lead.

CUT TO:

INT. - ASADA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Itsumi leads Genjiro through the dark house, and into a hallway. She stops and taps the floor with a foot.

ITSUMI
It's here. Under the floor.

GENJIRO
So...open it.

She touches the light panel, and the floor drops open, revealing some steps.

GENJIRO
The light panel is the switch? Couldn't anyone open it?

ITSUMI
(leading him down the steps)
Oh, no! The door switch only reads two authorized prints. Mine and...Jaki's.

GENJIRO
Quaint. Ever hear of an overrider?

ITSUMI
What? This thing reads hand prints, not codes.

GENJIRO
Yeah, but there's still a mathematical basis, isn't there? The print is only the access door. There's still a calculation, a mathematical code, that runs through the brain. An overrider goes around the access door, and straight to the core brain. Nice, huh?

ITSUMI
Yeah. Yeah, that makes me feel really safe.

CUT TO:

INT. - THE SECRET ROOM - NIGHT

The room is very small, about 9 feet square. Inside is a small table, a folding chaise-type lounge chair, a blanket and pillow, and a small bin filled with canned food and utensils.

GENJIRO
How cozy. You could actually stay in this closet?

ITSUMI
I've stayed in here four days, before. Why don't you let go of me, now? You're hurting me.

GENJIRO
(letting go of her)
I guess you're not going to run away, in here. Where's that package?

ITSUMI
It's in the box. I'll get it.

She picks up the package, and also a gun. Before she raises all the way back up, Genjiro has moved behind her, but still about four feet away.

GENJIRO
I don't think you want that piece of metal, Itsumi. It's dangerous.

Itsumi doesn't move, still clutching the pistol.

GENJIRO
(laughing)
Do you honestly think you're faster than me?

She looks back at him, and slowly stands up the rest of the way. She's still holding onto the gun.

ITSUMI
What do you mean? You don't have a gun.

GENJIRO
I don't need a gun.

He has already assumed a throwing position, and has nine shuriken blades fanned out in his left hand. Itsumi stares at the blades, and is now sweating. She remains still for several beats, then suddenly moves to her left, spinning toward Genjiro and firing the pistol.

He moves at the same time toward his left, and tosses one blade. Her shot misses and lodges in the wall, but his blade hits the mark. It sinks into her right shoulder, and she drops the gun and screams.

Genjiro slowly approaches her.

GENJIRO
I tried to warn you.

Itsumi backs into the wall, still clutching the package.

GENJIRO
I really, really wish you hadn't shot at me, Itsumi. I didn't want to hurt you.
(he edges closer)
But now, I guess I have no choice. I can't have you running loose, wanting to shoot me. I don't like being shot. It's very unpleasant.

Itsumi begins crying in panic. She throws the package at him.

ITSUMI
Take your stupid package! Just go away! Leave me alone!

GENJIRO
(very close to her, now)
I'm sorry, Itsumi, but I can't do that. As soon as I turn around, you'll go for that gun, again.

ITSUMI
No! No! I wouldn't do that!

GENJIRO
How can I trust you, sweetie? You just tried to kill me. Why don't you drop the scared little girl act, huh?

His expression hardens as he speaks, and he clenches his right fist.

GENJIRO
Stand up straight, and die like the ruthless, murdering, bitch you are.

He uses a powerful knuckle strike to her lower sternum, timed perfectly with the word "bitch." Her body jerks, then slides to the floor, blood dribbling over her chin. Genjiro squats beside her, his head canted to one side.

GENJIRO
Aww...poor Itsumi! Did I break your little heart? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Two broken hearts in one day. Now that's rough.

He leans forward and kisses her lips, staining his own with her blood.

GENJIRO
Well, that's life, huh, sweetheart?

He stands and takes the package, then starts up the steps.

CUT TO:

INT. - ASADA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Genjiro emerges from the stairway and walks down the hall. Before he gets all the way to the front door, he sees MAJOR ILYANA ZHURAVSKAYA in the courtyard, kneeling beside Jaki's body. He continues on toward her, quietly.

ILYANA

stands up, holding her pistol, unaware of Genjiro's silent approach.

GENJIRO
Hello, Ilyana. I figured they'd send you.

She spins toward him, and takes a closer look at him. His hair has completely fallen loose, now, and he looks totally mad.

ILYANA
Genjiro! What's that on your face? Are you hurt?

GENJIRO
(laughing)
Ha! No, I'm just great! Here!
(tosses her the package)
It's the other half!

ILYANA
Genjiro, you have to come back, now.

GENJIRO
(frowning)
No! I don't want to go back, now. I'm having a good time.

ILYANA
Booba, don't make me shoot you. I will, you know.

GENJIRO
(he smiles, again, but wistfully)
Oh. Well. I guess I'm finished, here, anyway.

He takes a step closer and spreads his arms.

GENJIRO
Go ahead and shoot. Just make sure you don't miss. I promise I won't take as long to die as Chi did.

Ilyana looks unruffled. She stuffs the package under her belt.

ILYANA
Oh for God's sake!

GENJIRO
Eh? Not going to shoot?
(puts his arms down and backs up)
Then I guess I can leave, huh?

ILYANA
You idiot.

Ilyana whips her pistol up and fires into a sudden burst of smoke. Genjiro has thrown a little smoke bomb and disappeared. When the smoke dissipates, Ilyana can't see him anywhere, and it spooks her.

ILYANA
Jesus Christ!

She backs up, scanning the darkness for him.

ILYANA
Genjiro! Genjiro, stop playing with me! Come out! Now!
(no sound at all)
Genjiro?
(still no sound)
Shit.
(She pops open her comm unit.)
Chan, run an infrared scan on the house and grounds. I'm in the courtyard. Advise of any other patterns you find.

V.O. CHAN
(from the comm)
Yes, ma'am. Scan engaged.

ILYANA
Morioka, get some floodlamps in here.

V.O. MORIOKA
(from comm)
Want me to bring the handheld heatseekers, too?

ILYANA
Yes.

V.O. MORIOKA
(from the comm)
Will do, Major.

Ilyana moves forward, still scanning the courtyard.

ILYANA
(softly)
You can't hide from me, Nakadai. I'm expecting your little Shinobi tricks, now. Let's see if you can turn off your body heat.

Morioka enters with the lamps and heatseekers. Ilyana takes one of each and turns them both on. The lamp lights up the courtyard like a ball park. There's no sign of Genjiro.

ILYANA
Go ahead and start the search.
(stopping him as he turns)
But watch your back. He's acting strange.

Morioka nods, carefully walking off through the house.

V.O. CHAN
(from the comm)
Major.

ILYANA
Go ahead.

V.O. CHAN
I've only got two human patterns. Yours and Morioka's.

ILYANA
What? He couldn't have gone half a kilometer already!
(she thinks)
Chan, do you see any mechanical hot spots? Boilers, generators, that sort of thing?

V.O. CHAN
Yeah. I've got a hot spot in the east wing. Looks like a power unit or something. Could be blocking us. Nothing else, though.

ILYANA
I'm going inside. Keep up the scan, and get ready to move.

V.O. CHAN
Yes, ma'am.

Ilyana heads for the house. She's smiling, now.

ILYANA
(softly, to herself)
Think you're clever, don't you, Genjiro? I won't give you any warning, this time.

CUT TO:

INT. - ASADA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Ilyana follows a hallway to the east wing of the house, where Chan's scan had picked up a hot spot. She enters the room with the machinery and floods it with light from her lamp. No sign of Genjiro. She checks every possible hiding place, even looks inside the unit's shell, but Genjiro isn't there. She's at a loss now, and looks frustrated.

ILYANA
(into the comm)
Chan, have you got anything else? I've got negative contact in the east wing.

V.O. CHAN
(from the comm)
No, ma'am. That's the only signal I see.

ILYANA
Morioka, how about you? Got anything at all?

V.O. MORIOKA
I found Itsumi Okada's body, but no sign of Nakadai.

ILYANA
Pull out then. He must be beyond short range and moving. Chan, hover and pick us up in the courtyard. And call in someone to clean up this mess.

CUT TO:

EXT. - ASADA'S COURTYARD - NIGHT

The whispercraft transport hovers over the courtyard and a drop link descends from it. Ilyana and Morioka step on to the bar and ride up into the craft, one at a time.

CUT TO:

INT. - THE WHISPERCRAFT COCKPIT - NIGHT

ILYANA

puts on her night vision helmet as Morioka climbs into the craft. The door shuts behind him. Ilyana and Morioka fasten their belts. Ilyana leans toward the control panel and toggles through the scan displays, going from short range to long range, which is three kilometers. She sees nothing until the edge of Edo comes into range, and the heat from the city blurs the edge of the display.

ILYANA
Nothing. Damn it! We've got to find him. Fuchida will have all our heads, if we don't.
(She sits back, turns to Chan.)
Head toward the city.

CUT TO:

EXT. - COUNTRYSIDE JUST OUTSIDE EDO - NIGHT

Genjiro is running toward the city. He slows and stops, on a hill above the city, to catch his breath. The city looks beautiful from his vantage point; millions of colored lights swim in the darkness like a sea of stars. A faint rainbow haze hangs over the skyline, giving a misty look to the city, as though it was a dream image.

Genjiro starts running, again, and keeps on until he crosses into the city, itself. Then he slows down to a walk, secure that Ilyana won't be able to pick up his body heat among the millions of others in Edo.

He approaches a bus stop, where seven PEOPLE are waiting. No one pays any attention to him, except for one young man, CARL. Carl stares at him, openly.

CARL
Say, is that blood on your clothes? You okay?

Genjiro is startled that someone is speaking to him, and he turns to face Carl.

GENJIRO
Huh?
(suddenly smiling)
Oh, this! Um...it's not real. I'm an actor. I...uh...missed my bus, a while ago. You happen to know when the next one for Oceanview runs?

CARL

pages through his electronic schedule.

CARL
Lemme see...Looks like it will be about an hour and a half.

GENJIRO
(looking panicked)
Oh no! I'll miss rehearsal! God! The director will kick me out, for sure!

Carl keeps looking at the schedule, determined to help.

CARL
Gee, that's too bad. Say, wait a minute. There's a bus in about five minutes that goes to Leeside. You can walk to Oceanview from there. It's only a few blocks.

GENJIRO
Oh, great! Thanks!

Genjiro sticks his hands into his pockets, then looks upset, again.

GENJIRO
Oh, terrific. Wonderful! This is just too much. This is the absolute worst day of my life!

CARL
What's the matter, now?

GENJIRO
Oh, I...I don't have my stupid card on me. Must be in my other jacket.

CARL
That's okay. I'll loan you a credit.

GENJIRO
No, I can't take...

CARL
Sure you can. Hey, I know how tough it is for artists to get by! Just remember me when you make it big, okay?

GENJIRO
(smiling)
Thanks! Thanks, a lot! You've just saved my life!

CARL
Hey, it's only one credit.
(pulls out his card)
Here comes your bus. Oh, my name's Carl. Carl Laughlin.

GENJIRO
Nice to meet you. I'm, uh...Jason. Jason...Ebert.
(he pronounces the surname beginning with a long A sound)

The silent bus stops, and Carl swipes his card through the reader.

CARL
Well, good luck on your rehearsal, Jason. You look wild!

GENJIRO
Thanks.

CUT TO:

INT. - THE BUS - NIGHT

Genjiro climbs onto the bus and goes all the way to the rear. There are only about five RIDERS on the bus (which has no driver; it's automated), and they all turn in their seats to stare at him. Genjiro sits and ignores them, looking out the window. He can see his own reflection in the glass, and the reflections of the other riders who are still looking at him. He focuses on his own image. He hears Nguyen's voice in his head, repeating something he had told Genjiro, much earlier.

V.O. CHI NGUYEN
If you plan to stay in this business, I'd advise you to break all ties to the outside world, to your past. Become a completely new person. It will make this job a lot easier.

Genjiro continues to stare at his reflection. The other riders are no longer looking at him.

GENJIRO
(softly)
A new person...

CUT TO:

INT. - THE WHISPERCRAFT TRANSPORT - NIGHT

Ilyana, Chan and Morioka have reached the edge of the city, but have seen no sign of Genjiro. Ilyana is frowning down at the city lights, lost in thought.

CHAN
We'll never find him, here. There are too many people and too much ground to cover.

ILYANA
Mm...

ILYANA

stops frowning, raises her night vision shield and looks back at Chan.

ILYANA
Didn't Genjiro live in Edo, before he joined EI?

CHAN
I don't know. I don't really know him.

MORIOKA
I think he did.

MORIOKA

leans forward, suddenly following her thought.

MORIOKA
You think he's going home?

ILYANA
I hope he is.
(She switches on the databank.)
I need Lieutenant Genjiro Nakadai's personal file. Find, previous address, most recent.

The computer instantly responds.

COMPUTER
One one zero one one Oceanview Boulevard, number five six five, Edo, Llasa Prefecture, Meiji Republic, Exedra, code zero seven six nine four one.

ILYANA

smiles and looks to Chan.

ILYANA
Let's go full camo. We don't want to spook him, if he's there.

CUT TO:

EXT. - BUS STOP AT LEESIDE AND PINE, EDO - NIGHT

Genjiro gets off the bus and takes off in a run toward the east, toward Oceanview. He turns south on Oceanview and continues at a leisurely pace until he comes to a mid-rise apartment building. The number above the entrance is 11011.

Genjiro reaches for the entrance button and stops, just as his fingers brush against it.

CUT TO:

INT. - GENERAL FUCHIDA'S PRIVATE OFFICE - DAY

In a flashback, Genjiro sits in a chair before Fuchida's desk. Genjiro has a pained expression on his face.

GENJIRO
Divorce? I don't want a divorce! We've only been married two and a half years! I don't want to leave her! I love her!

FUCHIDA
Then surely, you don't want to endanger her?

GENJIRO
Of course not! But...

FUCHIDA
There is no but, Genjiro. You've already committed to the army. Would you go back on your word? Tarnish your honor? Your family's honor?

GENJIRO

looks like a rabbit cornered by a wild cat.

GENJIRO
But...I committed to Anya, first. I have to answer to that responsibility, first.

FUCHIDA
Your responsibility to your government is primary. Disregarding that responsibility is tantamount to treason. Surely, you don't want your family to bear that shame?

GENJIRO

takes a deep, trembling breath. His voice emerges very soft.

GENJIRO
No, sir. I don't.

FUCHIDA
Good. That would be a terrible burden. Just as it would be a terrible burden on your wife, to ask her to live without you for months or even years at a time, and to ask her to live in fear for both your lives.

FUCHIDA

leans forward to emphasize his point.

FUCHIDA
Do you realize how much you would hurt her, by holding on to her?
You can't go back to her, now, in any case. You're officially dead.

CUT TO:

EXT. - THE APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

Genjiro backs away from the doors, trying to keep from crying. He walks around to the side of the building and looks up toward the windows on the fifth floor. He begins climbing up one of the rusted drainpipes, and stops beside a fifth-floor window.

ANYA BUI,

his beautiful ex-wife, sits at the table, studying. She is in her early 20's. The clock on the wall behind her reads one-thirty a.m.

GENJIRO

leans forward and reaches toward the window, as though he's going to tap on it, then stops himself and pulls back. She looks up, as if she's aware of being watched. Genjiro stays back, out of sight, until she returns her attention to her work. He sighs, staring in at her, and his eyes flood.

The drainpipe begins to crease, just below Genjiro's body. It CREAKS loudly, then leans out over the alley in a rapid descent.

GENJIRO

wraps himself around the pipe and almost falls off, when the top of the pipe strikes the next building and lodges there. He dangles like a cat on a wire, fights to get a good hold. He finally gets one, and shimmies toward the other building. He almost gets hold of the other roof when the pipe breaks at the crease and falls out from under him. He grasps wildly and manages to grab hold of the ledge, just barely. He just hangs there, for a moment, his body lying flat against the building. He climbs up onto the roof, then disappears into the building.

CUT TO:

EXT. - ALLEY OFF OCEANVIEW BLVD - NIGHT

Genjiro emerges from the building and into the alley, again. He walks back toward the main street, his head hanging low and both hands in his pockets.

A shadow appears on the pavement in front of him. Genjiro looks up to see Ilyana pointing a pistol at him. The lights behind her make a halo around her silhouette. Morioka is behind her.

ILYANA
Don't try any more tricks, Genjiro. You won't get away, this time.

GENJIRO
(keeps walking toward her)
Do I look like I care?

ILYANA
I'm serious, Nakadai. Don't move.

GENJIRO
(still going)
Go to hell.

ILYANA
What's wrong with you?

Ilyana fires. The gun makes a muffled little FWIP noise. Genjiro gasps and clutches his chest, but he doesn't fall.

GENJIRO
(scowling)
Hey...! What...?
(he looks down at the tranquilizer dart)
Tranquilizer! You...you cheated me, Ili!
(he begins to stagger)
Oh...how very...in...in... convenien...

Genjiro's eyes roll upward and he collapses.

ILYANA
You little fool.

She kneels beside him and lifts his upper body.

ILYANA
Help me carry him, Morioka.

Morioka squats and picks up Genjiro's legs. He's staring at his face.

MORIOKA
You know, he looks like a Kabuki actor, with that blood around his eyes.

ILYANA
What do you suppose? He thinks he's in a play?

MORIOKA
(standing up with her)
I don't know what he thinks. I just thought it was weird that he'd do that, and it was even weirder that he ate Colonel Nguyen's blood! I guess people just do weird stuff when they snap.

ILYANA
I hope he hasn't snapped. It would be a shame to lose him.