PATLABOR - THE MOVIE

Translated by Daisuke Suzuki
Revision 2 by William Chow 
Additional work by Mike Jackson

                                -----------

SOMEWHERE in Tokyo Bay.

A man is standing on a platform facing the sea. He is carrying a 
raven, and a group of people behind him are calling him back. With a 
wry smile he jumps off, and the bird flies away.



LATE NIGHT, at the JSDF training grounds at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

Helldivers (paratroop-labors) are dropping from heavy transport 
aircraft. As they near the ground they fire jets to slow their descent.

        ----------
"Planning and Story: Headgear "
        ----------

"First unit to command craft. Landing completed. The key sector 
has been secured!"

"Command vehicle to transport. Commence second drop!"

More labors drop from the transport aircraft.

        ----------
"Conceptual work: Masami Yuhki. Screenplay: Kazumori Itoh."
        ----------

The footsoldiers and paratroop-labors advance. A helldiver pilot 
scans the area.

"Zero-one to command! Target sighted! Direction zero-two, distance 
twelve-hundred!... Target confirmed!"

BOOM!

        ----------
"Character design: Akemi Takada, Mechanical design: Yutaka 
Izubuchi"
        ----------

A hail of gunfire greets the soldiers. Their target, the prototype for 
the HAL-X-10 Heavy Attack Labor, emerges from the forest, and 
continues to fire. It activates its Hover unit.

        ----------
"Direction: Sawai Kouji, Animation Supervisor: Kazuchika Kise"
        ----------

Overhead, a scout chopper traces the HAL-X-10.

"Target heading direction zero-three. Velocity 40 kph. We will 
commence air-to-ground engagement upon visual contact! Ground 
personnel, be advised!"

The troops continue to advance.

        ----------
"Art: Atsuyoshi Ogura, Music: Kenji Kawai"
        ----------

The chopper formation closes in.

        ----------
"Recording Engineer: Shigeharu Shiba, Camera: Akinobu Yoshida"
        ----------

The attack choppers fire ATMs at the HAL-X-10, scoring direct hits 
on the hover unit. The heavy labor detaches the unit and returns 
fire.

        ----------
"Layout: Takashi Watanabe, Tanaka, Color Designer: Sayuri Ike"
        ----------

The troops hide and wait for the HAL-X-10. The heavy labor 
searches the area with laser sensors. A wire trap springs up, 
completely enveloping it.

"FIRE!"

The concentrated gunfire shreds the labor. Afterwards, the soldiers 
begin to investigate, and a chopper descends towards the wreckage.

        ----------
"Producer:Unosawa Noburo, Tadashi Kubo"
        ----------

A soldier opens the heavy labor's hatch, and finds it empty. There 
was never anybody operating it!

        ----------
"Director: Mamoru Oshii.
        ----------

Title:
'PATLABOR - THE MOVIE'



OVER TOKYO BAY

The pilot of the Shinohara Heavy Industries' chopper is speaking:

"...and  that's the Second Kisarazu Artificial Island. 450,000 square 
meters in total area. That and the artificial island off the coast of 
Kawasaki are the key points of this project; when it's done, the 
project will be in its final stage, and we'll construct a 15 km long dike 
to connect both islands to each other, and to Kawasaki and Kisarazu 
on the mainland. When the project is complete it will not only 
provide a highway that circumvents the metropolis,  but it'll use tidal 
height differences to drain the water from the area. In ten years it'll 
have created 45,000 hectares of new land, enough to eliminate our 
land problems for the rest of the century.Tokyo will be an eternal 
paradise, like Babillon. Project Babillon, the biggest project of the 
century. 

        With the difficulty of the adjustments facing the involved 
sectors, it may not have been completed in this century, but labor 
systems made it possible. The basic research had been completed in 
the late 80's, but if it hadn't been for the massive demand for the 
project it would never have developed this quickly. As a matter of 
fact, we have a total of 3600 labors working here, large and small. 
That's about 40% of the labors working in the entire country.

        A labor is a machine that can do the work of tens of 
experienced workers in only a short time, and this ocean project 
works through an intensive use of them. An old fairytale is now 
coming true. Mind you, we're now getting things like labor-crimes, 
which we couldn't have imagined either... Oh, that's your specialty 
isn't it?"

(Noa and Asuma are half asleep. Noa wakes up and punches 
Asuma)

NOA:            !! Boink!

ASUMA:  "Wha...?"

PILOT (still talking, oblivious to what's happening behind him): "Oh, 
there it is, 5 o'clock. 500 meters in length, 150 meters high. It's the 
platform that handles the maintenance of all the labors working on 
the project. We call it the Ark"

(NOA and ASUMA lean out the window to look at it)

NOA:            "Tell me, why's it called the Ark?"

ASUMA:  " How the hell should I know?"



INSIDE the Ark

(Chief Shinobu Nagumo of the 1st unit is testing out a new labor 
(type-0). An engineer is in the control booth, talking with her over 
the radio)

SHINOBU:        "Deactivating systems 1 to 5. Display functioning 
normally..."

ENGINEER:       " See? It's working perfectly, right?"

SHINOBU:        " There seem to be no problems  so far."

ENGINEER:       "Come on, there won't be any problems! To begin 
with, we checked thoroughly before we even brought it in here.  Was 
it Shige-san, from your place?  It's good to be careful, but he's too 
careful.  Anyway, there haven't been any problems with the ones 
that were taken over there, right? The guys from Hachiouji have 
been pushing me to get the OK to roll out car #2 and start production 
of the others."

SHINOBU:        "...I'll start it up with the backup this time..."

ENGINEER:       "Oh, wait. Two people from the second unit are here 
to pick you up."

SHINOBU:        "The second unit?"

(NOA and ASUMA appear at the labor's feet. SHINOBU turns on the 
audio system to eavesdrop.)

ASUMA:  "Holy... Whaddya think Noa? Wasn't it worth coming 
over?"

NOA:            "I don't like this kid..."

ASUMA:  "What?! You said you wanted to see it, so I made all the 
excuses to get here, and then this's your attitude?!"

NOA:            "Sorry, it just slipped out..."

SHINOBU:        "Okay, let's call it a day."

ENGINEER:       "Roger."

(SHINOBU gets out of the Type-0, slides down the pole, and walks 
up to NOA and ASUMA)

ASUMA:  "Officers Shinohara and Izumi reporting. Here to pick up 
Chief Nagumo."

SHINOBU:        "Well, that was quick enough. I didn't know you 
two were coming."

ASUMA:  "We hitched a ride on a civilian chopper that happened to 
drop by SV2 (Special Vehicles Police, Unit 2), ma'am. The 
maintenance squad's ferry is on the way... but if possible, while we 
wait for it, I was wondering..."

SHINOBU:        "You're Goto-san's men alright. I don't know how 
you sniffed it out, but you can test ride it if you like. Though, officer 
Izumi doesn't seem to like it..."

NOA:            "Looks like she heard us..."

ASUMA:  "That's 'cause you didn't watch what you were saying. 
Now she'll have it out for you."

NOA:            "But what I said was true. He looks a bit villainous."

ASUMA:  "That's a matter of opinion. Once it's officially registered 
it'll be called a Type-0, the final version of the Type-98. It's also the 
first designed to be run soley by HOS."

NOA:            "What's HOS?"

ASUMA:  "You don't know a thing about software do you? It's a 
sytem program that makes labors run more efficiently."

NOA:            "Oh, the OS (Operating System)..."

ASUMA:  "HOS is the revolutionary OS that Shinohara released two 
months ago.  Even when installed in a conventional labor it increases 
performance by 30%. Hyper Operating System, HOS. Most labors now 
have their mainframes re-written to HOS."

NOA:            "But no matter how good the vehicle is, all it come's 
down to is the pilot's-"

NOA and ASUMA: "-brains and guts!"

ASUMA:  "-Good!"

P.A. SYSTEM "Chief Nagumo of SV2, your ferry has arrived. Please 
go to deck A-12."

ASUMA:  "WHAT?! It's here already?"

SHINOBU:        "Come on, let's go."



(The group is walking down a catwalk in the Ark)

ASUMA:  "Wow! Just like the world of giants!"

NOA:            "It's all in labor size..."

SHINOBU:        "I'm gonna leave you two behind if you don't hurry 
up."

(On an elevator. NOA is hopping about, looking around)

ASUMA:  "Chief Nagumo, can I ask you a question?"

SHINOBU:        "If it's about this place, I doubt I know any more 
than you..."

ASUMA:  "No, it's about the Type-0... Why is it here?"

SHINOBU:        "You know that three of them were issued to the 
New York police as an experiment..."

ASUMA:  "Yeah. You mean that crazy story about how Kanuka 
might become chief of the first labor unit there, right?"

SHINOBU:        "Shige-san, who went over there to give technical 
assistance, phoned me and asked if we could have it checked inside 
and out by someone from SV2. Well, here we have access to 
Shinohara's labor facilities, and we're close to the second command 
station.  It's the perfect place to keep it secret."

ASUMA:  "Is there a problem then?"

SHINOBU:        "Certainly not. If there was, it would've caused big 
trouble already. It's just that it was Shige-san who asked, so I 
couldn't ignore it."



BACK in SV2,  in the Captain's office.

SHINOBU:        "...Extension of the training period? But I had your 
word that we'd have everybody back this week!"

FUKUSHIMA:      " Yes, but things have changed. The First unit's 
training on the Type-0 is being extended for another week."

SHINOBU:        "I demand a complete explanation. We're already 
overworking the Second Unit, and they have problems to begin with 
(Goto makes a face, but Shinobu ignores him). If we have to work 
them even harder, there's no telling what kind of disaster we could 
have. And I'm sure if we brought back the First Unit now they'd do 
just fine."

(Outside, SHINSHI has been eavesdropping on the conversation. He 
leaves hastily to report the bad news to the others.)

FUKUSHIMA:" Nagumo-kun. This descision came from the main 
department. There's nothing I can do."

SHINOBU:        "Then I'll report to the main department myself, 
and I will personally ask the Guard Division Chief to return the First 
Unit."

FUKUSHIMA:" Wait! Look, this goes against my better judgement, 
so try to keep it a secret. In the early morning, the day before 
yesterday, the JSDF 7th Sector's prototype heavy labor suddenly ran 
away during a wind tunnel test. It escaped from the base, and it 
actually took the paratroop labor unit to stop it. They don't know 
what caused the prototype to run away, and it was so heavily 
damaged that examinations haven't helped. They must've been really 
panicked to have trashed it instead of taking it in one piece."

SHINOBU:        "But what does that have to do with this?"

FUKUSHIMA:" The labor in question was built by Shinohara Heavy 
Industries, and it had the same OS as the Type-0. And I should also 
mention, though they're trying to hide this information, that at the 
time it ran away the labor was said to be unmanned. You get the 
picture, I assume? This could become a real problem. We'll have to 
practice self-restraint, as of right now."



In the Second Unit office

(Everybody is depressed by the news, except OHTA, who is lifting 
weights)

ASUMA:  "What? It's a joke, right? Seriously?...(His head drops) 
Darn it. I hope this'll be over soon."

OHTA:   "That's a rotten attitude! Until the First Unit comes back, 
we're the only ones who can protect this city from criminals!"

ASUMA:  "And who's gonna protect our human rights?"

OHTA:   "We don't have any!!"

NOA:            "Shocking, isn't it Shinshi-san?"

SHINSHI:        "Yeah...I've only been home three times this month. 
It's a certified marriage crisis."

OHTA:   "That's why you shouldn't have gotten married!"

ASUMA:  "Stationed in the middle of the reclaimed lands, far away 
from your family..."

NOA:            "But hey, aren't we getting more dispatches these 
days?"

P.A.:           "Call from sector 7, 205 at Shimoya, Taitoh Ward! 
Second Unit report to the site! Repeat, 205 at Shimoya, Taitoh 
Ward..."

ASUMA:  "Of course. As soon as you said it. Darn..."

EVERYBODY:      "Let's Go!!"



In HANGAR

SAKAKI: "Roll out the trailer! Hurry up with that revolver cannon! 
I'll personnally murder any snails, so move it!"



At SHIMOYA

(Residents are fleeing in panic. A squad car is parked in the middle 
of the chaos, and an officer is directing the crowds)

OFFICER 1:      "A dangerous labor is out of control and moving this 
way! Please evacuate the area!"

(A group of people are watching the spectacle from a roof. Another 
officer is trying get them to evacuate)

OFFICER 2:      "Run!! Didn't you hear me? I said run! Oh, here it 
comes!!"

(Crash! The runaway labor steps on the officers' car)



OVERHEAD

(An observation 'copter is relaying the info)

"This is Sakura Fubuki 12 to Chief Goto of SV2, Second Unit. The 
target's been Eye-Deed as a Yotsubishi Tyrant 2000, from a 
construction site on Kokusai Street. It's moving at 4km an hour and 
destroying civilian buildings."



ON THE WAY

(As he hears the report, Goto picks up the radio)

GOTO:           "Shinohara, keep going along the river; try to get 
ahead of that labor. Car #2, start up immediately and get in pursuit 
of the target."



AT THE SITE

(Car #2's carrier parks. The pilot of Ingram#2 is one happy man...)

OHTA:   "Roger! Beginning start-up."

SHINSHI:        "Ohta-san, remember! Think of the driver's safety 
first! You know what I mean!!"

OHTA:   "Shut Up! Quick response based on the situation!  Believe 
in your judgement at the scene!"

                "Wouldn't it be better if you just said it out loud?  Don't 
use the gun."

SHINSHI:        "Raise him..."

(He gestures 'get him out of here'. The deck rises, and car #2 steps 
off. Cheers.)



(Meanwhile, car #1's carrier is rolling down a street)

ASUMA:  "The Yotsuboshi Tyrant is one of those heavy classes. It's 
not very fast, but a lot of power is guaranteed. Watch it."

NOA:            "I don't like these..."



(Car #2 starts chasing the runaway labor)

OFFICER:        "Hey! He went that way! That bastard crushed my squad 
car! Make him pay!"

OHTA:   "Leave it to me!"

(Crash! He steps on the squad car himself)

OFFICER:        "YOU MORON! I HOPE YOU DROP DEAD!"

(Aboard the runaway...)

DRIVER: "Somebody! Help me!"

OHTA:   "You! Driving the labor! This is the SV2, Second Unit! 
Hang on, I'm here to rescue you!"

DRIVER: "Second Unit? I'm dead!"

OHTA:   ">grrrrr< I was being nice to you, just because you're a tax 
payer! Well, no more Mr. Nice guy! Bastard!"

(OHTA grabs the labor from behind, but the rear covering gives 
way and Ingram #2 falls down.)



OVERHEAD

"This is Sakura Fubuki 12, observing for Chief Goto. 102 is 
pummeling the runaway labor in the middle of a residential area. Oh, 
now it's kicking... a drop kick now... Can't you do something about 
him?"



ASUMA:  "Target and car #2 closing in. It's coming Noa!"

(The Tyrant 2000 appears, dragging Ingram #1)

OHTA:   "Hey, do something about the driver! This thing's too 
strong!"

(NOA rips away the cockpit. Rescue complete.)

ASUMA:  "Ohta! Use the stun stick! Hit the S-RAM unit in the left 
chest area; you can finish it with one shot!"

(OHTA does so. The Tyrant wiggles a bit, then stops.)

OHTA:   "Alright, done! Let's go grab some lunch"

(Suddenly the Tyrant starts up again, pushing Ingram #2)

ASUMA:  "WHAT?!"

OHTA:   "What on Earth..."

(Ingram #2 is pushed into the canal. OHTA pulls out his gun)

NOA:            "Ohta-san, don't!"

GOTO(calmly):" All trailers, prepare to move out."

OHTA:   "You just bought the farm!"

(He fires on the labor. One of the shots hits the cooling system, and 
super-cooled gasses freeze OHTA solid. The voice of Sakura Fubuki 
12 comes over his ice-covered radio:)

"Mission complete. Target has been completely destroyed, damage 
to surrounding area extensive."



BACK at the hangar

(The Ingrams are being moved onto the maintenance pad)

SAKAKI: "Give it a careful washing, then dry it!"

                "Okay."

SAKAKI: "And where's the twit who dropped the labor into the 
river?!"

                "He's taking a bath out back."

SAKAKI: "Okay, tell him to report to me when he's done."

                "Yes sir."



ABOVE

SHINOBU:        "Reactivation? You mean to tell me that a 
deactivated labor started up again, without a driver?"

ASUMA:  "I couldn't beleive it myself, even though I saw it with 
my own eyes. And that idiot filled it with so many holes there's 
nothing left to examine."

GOTO:           "Could you have made a mistake? You guys are 
tired, you've had a lot of dispatches..."

SHINOBU:        "What caused the original problem? What did the 
driver have to say?"

ASUMA:  "The usual sort of thing. It just started-up all of a sudden 
during work..."

GOTO:           "Sure, of course he said that. After all, he caused 
one hell of a mess."

ASUMA:  "But don't you think it's kind of unnatural? Until two 
months ago nothing like this ever happened.  We have 22 cases so 
far this month. I wish we could run away. What do we do with this 
report?"

GOTO:           "What do YOU do? Do you think the brass would 
accept this? As far as the police and the manufacturers are 
concerned, today's labors are totally incapable of running away; 
program malfunctions couldn't cause this kind of accident. We'll just 
have to settle for driver error. There won't be any legal action, not 
when all they have is the testimony of the driver and a black-listed 
labor unit member."

(NOA comes out of the office, munching chips.)

ASUMA:  "Noa!"

NOA:            "What is it? I"m not giving you any! This is my last 
bag!"

ASUMA:  "Can you dig out the dispatch records for this month, and 
copies of the reports?"

NOA:            "What do you want those for?"

ASUMA:  "Just do it. (He grabs some chips, ignoring her protests) 
Hey Old Man!! Can I use the fridge?!"

SAKAKI: "The computer room?...(He looks at Goto, who gestures 
'please') Alright. Go ahead."

ASUMA:  "Thank-you!"

SHINOBU:        "You're so good at using people."

GOTO:           "This isn't any of your business is it? What's it got 
to do with the Type-0?"

SHINSHI:        "Chief! There's a phonecall for you from Matsui-san 
of the Investigation division!"

GOTO:           "Fine! I'll take it in my office."

SHINOBU:        "What have you started?"

GOTO:           "Why, interested?"

(He goes back to his office. After a moment SHINOBU follows. She 
sighs)



SOMEWHERE in Tokyo

(Inspector Matsui and his partner Katayama are looking around an 
abandoned 'river apartment' near the Sumida river.  When he looks 
out the window he finds the view blocked by a highrise. A bird cage 
is lying about.)



THAT NIGHT

(Noa comes out of the ready-room and yawns. She takes a peek in 
the chief's office. Goto is on the phone.)

GOTO (in bad English):" Yes. Shige Shiba from Tokyo Police, Special 
Vehicle Second Command. Absent? Oh yeah, Kanuka Clancy. Yes..."

(Noa walks into the fridge)

NOA:            "Are you still at it?"

ASUMA:  "Is that you Noa? Don't stay in here, you might catch a 
cold. Go get some sleep. You never know when you'll get a dispatch."

NOA:            "Right... you too, Asuma."



NEXT MORNING

(The maintenance crew are drying their futons and laundry. Noa is 
the field behind the barracks, helping Hiromi with his tommato 
patch.)

NOA:            "Wow!"

HIROMI: "They're smaller than usual. I wasn't able to give them all 
the attention they needed."

NOA:            "You're good at this, Hiromi-chan. Everyone'll be so 
pleased."

HIROMI: "Well then, Izumi-san, please pick some. We aren't 
sending them to market, so just take the red, ripe ones."

NOA:            "Sure... By the way, where's Asuma? I thought he 
said he'd help, too."

HIROMI: "He said he was on his way to the chief's office.  Looked 
like he'd pulled an all-nighter; it may have something to do with 
that..."

NOA:            "Hmmm. Hey, why don't we go share these with the 
chief?"

(She picks one.)



THE CHIEF'S OFFICE

(Asuma is reporting his conclusion from last nights research to 
Goto, Shinobu, and Sakaki.)

ASUMA:  "Taking into consideration each labor's manufacturer, 
condition, and the background of each driver,  I've found only one 
common factor among the runaways. All of them, regardless of 
manufacturer, have a Shinohara HOS mainframe."

SHINOBU:        "But 80% of registered labors  carry HOS..."

ASUMA:  "Maybe, but it was in 100% of the runaways. And another 
thing; the increase in runaway cases began two months ago, 
coinciding with the date HOS was released. It can't be a coincidence - 
HOS has some fatal defect. I think we should submit this data to the 
department chiefs, and press Shinohara to reveal the HOS program!"

GOTO:           "Hmmm."

ASUMA:  "Chief?!"

GOTO:           "HOS is a revolutionary OS, and it has monopolized 
the field. If there should be any defect it would ruin Shinohara. 
Besides, the officials who approve labor OSs aren't total fools either. 
If there was any defect in HOS it should have been detected during 
de-bug."

ASUMA:  "But...!"

GOTO:           "Listen. Let's say there is some relationship 
between the runaways and HOS, as you said. But what if HOS isn't 
defective?"

ASUMA:  "Wha...?"

GOTO:           "I mean, what if the runaways aren't due to some 
bug, but due to something intentionally programmed?"

ASUMA:  "!!!"

(Goto takes out a report and hands it to Shinobu)

GOTO:           "Would you read this for us? This's the first report 
from Matsui-san."

SHINOBU:        "Report on Eiichi Hoba..."

ASUMA:  "Hoba?... You mean Eiichi Hoba, the programmer?"

GOTO:           "Eiichi Hoba, the ace of Shinohara's software 
development division. He's the genius programmer who single-
handedly developed HOS. Or rather, he was..."

SHINOBU:        "Estimated age: 30. Returned from MIT in '97, and 
was immediately hired by Shinohara Heavy Industries. Registered 
address unknown. Profile unknown. Criminal record unknown. 
Height:  approximately 170cm. Physical character, including major 
illnrss unknown... What is this?"

GOTO:           "Not only Shinohara's personnel computer, but 
school, city hall - all of his personal records have been erased. He's 
far beyond simple suspiscion..."

ASUMA:  "Then it's a piece of cake.  Just bust him and bring him in 
for questioning."

GOTO:           "We can't"

ASUMA:  "Can't? Why?"

GOTO:           "Five days ago he was sent to the Shinohara line at 
the Ark, and jumped into the sea. His body was never found. We 
certainly started a bit late on this. Just when we started sniffing 
around HOS... If we'd only done something earlier... Dammit. Oh well. 
Bug, program, either way it looks like HOS is the culprit. Now we 
have to figure out the big picture, and how Hoba fits in. We'll leave 
the investigation of Hoba to Matsui-san, and... why are you making a 
face, Shinohara?"

ASUMA:  "Then you knew it was HOS all along. Boy, do I look like a 
fool, working all night..."

GOTO:           "If nothing turns up, you WILL. We still don't know 
what triggers the runaway. I want you to continue with your 
analysis - assuming of course you still want to?"

ASUMA:  "YES!!!"

GOTO:           "Oh, and this matter should just be between those 
of us in this room."

ASUMA:  "Why's that?"

GOTO:           "Don't you remember? Following last month's 
orders from on high, Shige-san rewrote the Type 98's OS to HOS."

ASUMA:  "!!!"

GOTO:           "If there's a relation between HOS and the 
runaways, then the 98s are also carrying that risk. Despite that, if 
there's a dispatch order, we have to go. Revealing this information 
would only serve to worry the men."

SAKAKI: "I'm going over to Hachiouji."

GOTO:           "Old Man..."

SAKAKI: "I got things I wanna check. I'm not gonna interfere with 
your investigation."

ASUMA:  "I'd like to go too, Chief! Please, can I?"

GOTO:           "I probably don't have to tell you this, but..."

ASUMA:  "I'll restrain myself!!!"



(Asuma is puzzled to find a tomato lying in front of the office)

SAKAKI: "Whattaya doing? Move it!"



IN GOTO'S OFFICE

(watching Sakaki's car leave)

SHINOBU:        "Are you sure about this?"

GOTO:           "They'll be back by tonight. If we get a dispatch 
order I'll take over the command car."

SHINOBU:        "something I don't get"

GOTO:           "It's so ironic. The father is the president of a major 
labor manufacturer, and the son is in the police labor unit. On top of 
that they're constantly opposed, like cats and dogs. But it's up to 
Shinohara to make the decision. I don't like forcing people to make 
decisions, or ordering them to do so..."



HACHIOUJI FACTORY

(JITSUYAMA and SAKAKI stand on a catwalk, overlooking the labor 
production line)

JITSUYAMA:      "Now that production for project Babillon is done 
for awhile, we're concentrating on export. We just recently increased 
production on this line by 30%."

SAKAKI: "I see."

JITSUYAMA:      "You know, even though I see this view every day, 
I still feel like I'm dreaming. Fifty years since Mr. Shinohara and I 
started a small parts factory for the US occupational force. Then we 
grew from vehicle parts to  machine manufacturing. We started on 
industrial robot development the year Asuma-san was born. And 
now the monsters called labors are flowing down the line. But I'm 
lost... I studied a lot, but fifth generation computer or system 
engineering - I just can't handle them. As a mechanic... I really feel 
lonely..."

SAKAKI: "I'm just about the same. Everybody was constantly 
kicking me upstairs as a 'Vehicle God' or something, but when it 
comes to software I'm basically a beginner... There's no way I can 
compete with Shige or any of the younger guys..."

JITSUYAMA:      "But Sakaki-san is..."

SAKAKI: "There's no point in fossil engineers sitting around 
comforting each other. No matter how technology develops, there's 
one thing that holds true. As long as the human side - those who 
make the machines, those who maintain the machines, and those who 
handle the machines, don't do anything bad, the machines won't play 
foul. But Jitsuyama-san, I didn't come here as the SV2 maintenance 
squad leader, to meet the manager of Shinohara Industries' Hachiouji 
factory. I came to speak openly,  as two mechanics who have spent 
more time with machines than with their wives. Your company's HOS, 
is it safe?"

JITSUYAMA:      "That sure wasn't what I expected you to say... This 
company's future depends on HOS. It's been well received 
everywhere. As a matter of fact, Project Babillon's construction time 
has been reduced by 30%."

SAKAKI: "That's not what I'm asking. How is it?"

JITSUYAMA:      "It's safe. You have my guarantee."



THE FACTORY DATA ROOM

ASUMA:  "Okay, got the copy finished."

(As he puts back a disk, he finds something very interesting...)

                "The master copy of HOS..."

(He dumps the disk in the drive. HOS starts up.)

                "Attach to CD-01"

                "Enter author password"

(Asuma thinks for a bit, then enters the programmer's name)

                "E...H...O...B...A......Ehoba? (Jehovah)"

(The monitor displays a passage from the Old Testament King 
James Version)

                "Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the 
LORD did there confound the language of all the earth; and from 
thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the 
earth." (Genesis 11-9)



(Asuma doesn't get it. Suddenly the printer behind him starts 
printing out a single word- 'Babel'. Then all the monitors begin to 
display the same thing.)



FACTORY CONTROL ROOM

(An operator is talking to Jitsuyama over a radio. The abnormality 
is spreading all over the factory.)

OP:             "It's spreading steadily! No, I don't know the exact rate! 
What? We can't do that!"

JITSUYAMA:      "Just do it! Shut down the main computer! Did you 
forget we're connected to the computers at other factories, too?!

(Sakaki looks up and sees Asuma stumbling quickly along an upper 
catwalk)

SAKAKI: "!!!...That little twit!"



OUTSIDE THE FACTORY

(Sakaki's car speeds away)

ASUMA:  "Damn! Did that surprise me or what?"

SAKAKI: "Did you leave anything behind that they could trace to 
you?"

ASUMA:  "No way. But the only people who know the lock 
combination to the room  are me and Jitsuyama, so they'll figure it 
out sooner or later."

SAKAKI: "Guess we can't go back there for a while..."

ASUMA:  "But we did get the data we needed. If something that 
risky is in the master copy, then even Shinohara Industries hasn't 
broken the protection on HOS. We have eight thousand labors lurking 
around Tokyo with a suspicious OS, and God only knows what's in it."

SAKAKI: "It's bad news alright, and sooner or later some of the 
sharper folks'll start to notice. Eventually the little lady (Noa) will 
find out too. We'd better deal with this quickly."



SOMEWHERE IN TOKYO

(Matsui and Katayama are still on the trail of Ehoba. They walk 
through sections of town ignored by time, and through fields of junk. 
They enter another battered room. Matsui opens a window and 
notices a high rise...)

MATSUI: "We can see that again..."

KAT:            "Oh? We saw it from every  room... but that's pretty 
common in today's Tokyo... must be a coincidence. I still don't get this 
Hoba guy. I mean labor related jobs have really high salaries, right? 
So why did he choose all these battered apartments; 26 of them in 
three years?"

MATSUI: "Don't you think it might be the best way to keep from 
being traced, especially in this town? Buildings about to be 
demolished to make way for redevelopment are just as good as 
battered ones. No neighbors to be interrogated."

KAT:            "If he was that cautious, then why'd he leave 
behind a change-of-address at city hall? And this after breaking into 
the files and not only erasing his personal data at work, but at his 
school over-seas.

MATSUI: "As if he were showing off, eh?"

(A construction worker peeks into the room)

WORKER: "Hey, Officers. You through yet?"

KAT:            "Oh, thank-you. Sorry about that."

(A labor starts demolishing the house. Matsui sits on what was 
once part of a public bath. Katayama comes back with a soft drink.)

MATSUI: "Maybe he wanted to show us something."

KAT:            "Show us what? What for?"

MATSUI: "To find that out, I guess I'll have to follow our man 
Hoba's trail."

KAT:            "Matsui-san, are you sure we can screw around like 
this?"

MATSUI: "The chief won't say anything for a while. That's the way 
things always work."

KAT:            "That's what I don't understand! Us, in the Crime 
Investigation Division, working at the request of the Guard Division! 
That man, Goto, what is he?"

MATSUI: "'Razor' Goto. He's notorious at headquarters."

KAT:            "Then how come he's stuck out in the middle of the 
reclaimed land?"

MATSUI: "Cause he was too sharp. Let's go."

KAT:            "Wait!"



IN THE FRIDGE

(Asuma is still at it. Goto is looking at the update)

ASUMA:  "This shows the geographical distribution of the 
runaways."

(the occurrences are distributed into three areas)

GOTO:           "They're pretty concentrated alright. Riverside 
Redevelopment, Shinjuku Subdowntown Development, Ariake Harbor 
City... But Shinohara, aren't they the areas that have the greatest 
concentrations of labors to begin with?"

ASUMA:  "I thought so too. This is the distribution of labors in 
Tokyo."

(More labor concentrations appear)

GOTO:           "I see. Interesting."

ASUMA:  "There are other areas of concentration, but the incidents 
only occurred in these limited areas."

GOTO:           "So there's something in those areas that triggers 
the runaways. But what is it?"

ASUMA:  "I've been inputting anything and everything that comes 
to mind, and searching for a comman factor, but...the conditions are 
so vague... It's just no good... I wish Shige-san was here..."

GOTO:           "Shinohara, why don't you take a break? You didn't 
get any sleep again last night, did you?"

ASUMA:  "I can't. We don't know when our own Type 98s might 
start doing something..."

GOTO:           "Look, just go out and get some fresh air!"



AT THE HANGAR

(Maintenance crews are watching TV, eating their midnight snack.)

ANNOUNCER:" Yesterday's dream is today's hope, and tomorrow's 
reality. Making a step towards the realization of a fulfilled tomorrow, 
is Project Babillon. A challenge to the 21st century!"

(Noa enters with a basket full of tomatoes)

NOA:            "Sorry to keep you waiting!"

MAINT.CREW:" ALL RIGHT!!!!"

NOA:            "One each!"

(They storm the basket. Asuma enters, yawning.)

                "Hey, Asuma. Why don't you have one?"

ASUMA:  "Oh. A tomato?"

NOA:            "Come on. You look like you need the most 
vitamins."

ASUMA:  "Why couldn't you get something more gutsy...!"

(Asuma stares at the tomato)

NOA:            "What's wrong? I washed them."

ASUMA:  "Noa... did you..."

(He grabs Noa's hand)

                "Come with me!"

NOA:            "What is it?"

ASUMA:  "Just come! Say I've got a date with you!"

(He takes her away, while the crew looks on)

NOA:            "What the hell's this about? You can just DROP 
DEAD! ASSHOLE!"



ON NOA'S SCOOTER

NOA:            "Did you actually get permission to leave?"

ASUMA:  "The chief said get some fresh air! That's close enough, 
right?"

NOA:            "But we're both still in uniform, riding double on a 
scooter, without helmets... and I still think it's too risky. Someone 
might see us together."

ASUMA:  "Don't worry about it! I already checked the patrol 
schedules for the squad cars."

NOA:            "I'm not talking about that!"

ASUMA:  "What?"

NOA:            "I said I'm not talking about that!"

ASUMA:  "Then what are you talking about?"

NOA:            "...dammit! Just let it go!"

ASUMA:  "Okay!"



AT "GEGE", A RESTAURANT

                "Thank-you for waiting. 20 inch slop pizza, ethnic style."

NOA:            "Are you sure about this? Looks like we're 
attracting attention..."

ASUMA:  "Relax. Just act natural and there won't be any problem."

NOA:            "Right. Cheers! But really, why'd you suddenly 
decide to treat me?"

ASUMA:  "Well..."

NOA:            "I see..."

ASUMA:  "By the way, Noa..."

NOA:            "Yes?"

ASUMA:  "How's Alphonse been doing lately?"

NOA:            "He's doing great, of course.... Why do you ask?"

ASUMA:  "Just wanted to know..."

NOA:            "Alphonse is always doing great... Sakaki-san and 
everyone in the maintenance squad take good care of him...(Her voice 
starts to get shaky) He's been a good boy to me, and...and he's doing 
just great! He's not gonna run away!"

(She starts to cry)

ASUMA:  "You did hear us, after all..."

(He hands her a napkin. She blows her nose)

NOA:            "Tell me- Alphonse won't run away, right?"

ASUMA:  "I don't know. I still don't know what triggers the 
runaway...The only man who did know is dead, and we haven't yet 
figured it out."

NOA:            "Then we can just rewrite the OS! If HOS isn't online 
anymore..."

ASUMA:  "Rewriting the OS would have to be done at the 
manufaturer, and to do that we'd have to fill out the proper 
paperwork. Unless we come up with some proof of what causes the 
runaways, the top brass'll never approve it."

NOA:            "But if we leave them like this and Alphonse runs 
away, then... he'll be destroyed, right? Like the labors me and Ohta-
san destroyed..."

ASUMA:  "Noa, just give me a little more time. I'll find the 
solution."

NOA:            "Forward and backup are two-in-one."

ASUMA:  "The pilot shall follow the order of command."

NOA:            "Come on..."

ASUMA:  "Let's eat. It's gonna get cold."

NOA(looking outside): "Look, just like Alphonse."

ASUMA:  "?"

NOA:            "Alphonse I, the dog I had when I was little."

ASUMA:  "Oh? Then the present one is the second?"

NOA:            "Nope; number 3. The second was a cat."

ASUMA:  "Hunh? What's he doing?"

NOA:            "He must've heard something. Dogs can hear some 
sounds that humans can't. The wind must be whistling somewhere..."

ASUMA:  "Wind whistling..."

NOA:            "What's wrong? You look funny..."

ASUMA:  "Wind... sound... sounds inaudible to humans..."



AFTERWARDS

(Asuma is on Noa's scooter)

ASUMA:  "Noa, I've got to borrow this! There's something I have to 
check out, fast!"

NOA:            "Borrow? Then how am supposed to get back?"

ASUMA:  "And when you get back, tell the the chief to wait for my 
phonecall! See ya!"

NOA:            "Wait! Damn you Asuma! I HATE YOU!"



AT JITSUYAMA'S HOME

ASUMA:  "I couldn't get hold of my old man. The main office 
wouldn't tell me anything, and when I phoned home they said he 
hasn't been back for a while."

JITSUYAMA:      "He's a busy man. Sorry the place is a mess; my 
daughter and her children came over."

ASUMA:  "Oh. Your grandchildren?"

JITSUYAMA:      "I guess beer is out if you're still on duty... I'll make 
you some coffee."

ASUMA:  "Before you do that, I want to know what sound 
frequency triggers the labor runaways."

JITSUYAMA:      "....................."

(Asuma takes out a pen cap and blows across it. It whistles.)

ASUMA:  "The Sumitomo Building at Shinjuku Subdowntown. The 
Twin Building at Riverside Park 21. Both of them are high rises with 
a blow-through structure that acts like a giant whistle when the 
wind blows. The Ariake harp bridge that connects Daiba and Chiba - 
its wire should vibrate, also making a whistle... Inaudible sounds to 
humans, but quite audible to a labor's sensitive receptors. That's 
what triggered all these recent runaways. Labor work places are 
concentrated in areas of the city or in construction sites where such 
sounds are easily produced. Hoba was quite a genius, choosing low 
frequency sounds to trigger the runaway.

        "It's no coincidence that he joined Shinohara, which was behind 
in the field. My old man was trying to go up against the major 
corporations, and if possible monopolize the market, so he was easily 
hooked by HOS - the bait. As he wanted, labor OS is now dominated 
by HOS, and that's what's gonna kill Shinohara Industries. That's why 
I can't get ahold of him, because he's realized what HOS is and he's 
running all over town, right?"

JITSUYAMA:      "Asuma-san... If that's made public now... Shinohara 
will be..."

ASUMA:  "Jitchan, if it isn't me, it'll be somebody else; sooner or 
later somebody'll reach the same conclusions. I wan't you to make an 
announcement about the matter. You don't want to turn labors into 
villains, do you?"



NEXT MORNING, AT THE GATE TO SV2

(Asuma got a lift back. The scooter is out of gas, so he's pushing it 
back to the barracks. He yawns. Noa runs towards him.)

NOA:            "Asuma!"

ASUMA:  "I'm back!"

NOA:            "Asuma!"

ASUMA:  "Rejoice Noa! Your noble sacrifice has been rewarded!"

NOA:            "Asuma! Asuma!"

(Noa looks concerned)

ASUMA:  "?"



THE CAPTAIN'S OFFICE

FUKUSHIMA: "Officer Asuma Shinohara. You're being suspended for 
two weeks. I assume you know the reasons."

ASUMA:  "No, I don't!"

FUKUSHIMA: "Alright, then I'll spell it out for you: Leaving the base 
without permission while on standby. Nearly using blackmail to illicit 
testimony, by invading an ordinary citizen's home. Unauthorized use 
of a private computer. Riding double with a colleague, and without a 
helmet. Drinking and driving, as well as other various traffic 
violations. And more to come! Under normal circumstances you 
would be put to a disciplinary comittee for such intolerable violations 
of the regulations. But this is not the time, and since Chief Goto so 
strongly petitioned your case, we'll quietly settle the matter like this. 
You should be grateful to him, since he's willing to sacrifice himself 
to save his men.

ASUMA:  "I have a question! What's happened to the Shinohara 
Heavy Industries case?"

FUKUSHIMA: "That isn't really any of your concern, but if we just 
left it at that you'd be a wreck. Generally this is not something an 
officer would have anything to do with. Late last night, the president 
of Shinohara Industries himself filed a report to the Ministry of 
International Trade and Industry, stating that HOS has a major flaw. 
Taking the matter quite seriously, the cabinet held an emergency 
meeting early this morning. They accepted Shinohara's case and 
settled on rewriting HOS back to conventional OS. To prevent any 
unnecessary panic this process will be carried out and described as a 
rewrite to a new version of HOS, free of charge."

ASUMA:  "You're kidding! What about Shinohara Industries' 
responsibility! I'm being punished, and he's getting away! Isn't it 
more fair to punish both sides in a fight?!"

FUKUSHIMA: "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK THE POLICE ARE 
FOR?! POLICE INVESTIGATIONS ARE NOT MEANT TO SUPPORT 
FAMILY FEUDS!!!"

ASUMA:  "Well, how about that. You guys knew the truth and you 
were dealing under the table the whole time!"

FUKUSHIMA: "Well, having someone in the Guard division, who 
doesn't even have the authority to investigate, snooping around 
without the permission of his superior, is IMPERMISSABLE!!"



AFTERWARDS, ON THE VERANDA

GOTO:           "He must have figured that it's better to have 
admitted the fault himself than to have it pointed out by someone 
else. The government's more concerned about the public turning 
against labors than about Shinohara's responsibility...Project Babillon 
is involved, and if that sinks, so will they. So they stay silent about 
Shinohara, they keep it quiet and cover it up... That's about it; don't 
get depressed, you did a great job... We may have all had the data, 
but you reached the conclusion by yourself. Though that last move 
wasn't so good."

ASUMA:  "But how did the captain find out about the scooter ride?"

GOTO:           "Oh, that? I forced Izumi to spit it out, and then I 
informed him."

ASUMA:  ".... CHIEF?!"

GOTO:           "You're tired aren't you? Well, now you can stop 
working and concentrate on the investigation."

ASUMA:  "Investigation... Are you still thinking of continuing that?"

GOTO:           "You're so fatalistic for your age. Even Shinohara 
itself doesn't have a complete grasp on the matter. If the solution 
was as simple as a rewrite, Hoba wouldn't have killed himself so 
early on. Don't you agree?"

ASUMA:  "Then... you still beleive in the 'Hoba's intentional crime' 
hypothesis."

GOTO:           "What do you think, Shinohara?"

ASUMA:  "I think so too..."

(Sakaki comes up)

SAKAKI: "Asuma! He's back!"



THE SECOND UNIT OFFICE

(Asuma runs in)

ASUMA:  "SHIGE-SAAAAAN!!!"

SHIGE(In bad English again): "HELLO!"

ASUMA:  "...What's that costume?..."

SHIGE:  "I could ask you the same thing. What're you doing in 
street clothes?"

ASUMA:  "Well, this and that happened and I got suspended for 
two weeks."

OHTA:   "If you'd talked to us beforehand that may not have 
happened. It's the price you pay for not thinking about teamwork."

ASUMA:  "Oh? Which button do I have to push to make you say 
'teamwork'?"

OHTA:   "WHAT?!"

SHIGE:  "Please, calm down, both of you... try to honor my safe 
return..."

NOA:            "Oh, Shige-san, please fill out the form for program 
re-writing."

SHIGE:  "?"

ASUMA:  "Right! Sorry to put you to work as soon you get back, but 
could you?"

SHIGE:  "Do a rewrite?"

NOA:            "Yeah!"

SHIGE:  "For the 98?"

ASUMA:  "Of the OS!"

SHIGE:  "?"

ASUMA:  "What's the problem?! We can't have HOS aboard! It's the 
reason I was killing myself working... and got suspended..."

SHIGE:  "I never did the rewrite to HOS."

ASUMA:  "What?! But we got the order from headquarters..."

SHIGE:  "So, I just pretended to rewrite. I threw in a dummy 
activation display and sent back the diskette. Inside is the same old 
OS. But you didn't have any problems, did you? Well. I sure was glad 
when I got the news over there that HOS was a chancy thing. But  it's 
all thanks to Sakaki's training. Even if it was good, I didn't feel like 
putting in some suspicious new HOS. If anything happened I'd take 
full responsibility; so off I went, secret in my heart. Well, it sure was 
a success! Right? But nobody ever heard about this?... Funny... I told 
Goto-san when he called me international long-distance..."

NOA:            "You told the Chief?"

SHINSHI:        "In other words, he knew that if he didn't tell you, 
Asuma-san, you'd work hard enough to kill yourself...He's at it 
again..."

ASUMA:  "Now I know how Noa was feeling earlier...He's been 
playing me like a puppet... That middle-aged weasel..."

NOA:            "Poor Asuma..."

ASUMA:  "A CURSE ON HIMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"



SOMEWHERE IN TOKYO AGAIN

(Matsui and Katayama have found Hoba's home. Matsui comes 
across a tambourine...)

                "1-3 Eiichi Hoba"

(Katayama notices a 1999 calender, which must've been put there 
recently)

KAT:            "Matsui-san!"

MATSUI: "Hey!"

(They flip the calendar, and find a scribble on the wall behind it)

KAT:            "It's in English...'He bound the heavens also..."

(Voices continue as the camera switches to the backyard of SV2, 
where the maintenance crews are fishing. Goto and Matsui are there)

GOTO:           "...and came down: and darkness was under his feet 
(Psalms 18-9)... It's one of the psalms in the Old Testament. It 
must've been written there by Hoba himself. But I still can't beleive 
you found the house where he was born."

MATSUI: "It was nothing, really. All I did was trace the adress 
changes and that was where I ended up. But that's it, I can't go any 
further...dead end. That area of town was deserted during the 80s, 
when there was that sharp increase in land prices. After the National 
Land Act it was forgotten. 

But how strange this city is... As I traced his path I started to feel 
as though time were leaving me behind... What you think of as a 
familiar sight starts to rot away here and there; you look away for a 
moment and when you turn back it's gone. Gone before you even 
know what it meant. In this town, the past is a worthless thing..."

GOTO:           "Look at it this way. The place where we're talking 
now was sea until a little while ago. And in a few years there'll be a 
huge city in front of us. And then, someday, that will become the 
worthless past. It's like a continual bad joke. That's probably what 
Hoba was trying to say... 'Where do we go? What are we?'"

MATSUI: "What's that?"

GOTO:           "An inscription. It was left on a wall by a Viking 
captain in ancient Europe."

MAINT.CREW:"You bozo! Snap it harder!"

MATSUI: "Then..."

GOTO:           "Sorry I asked you to work on such a selfish 
endeavor..."

(They stare at each other for a moment)

                "Before you go...what's your opinion?"

MATSUI: "He's it, Goto-san, definately it. But if he's a goner, then I 
guess there's not much more an inspector can do..."

GOTO:           "I owe you for this one. I'll make it up to you some 
day..."

(Katayama has been waiting for his partner and looking at the 
strange environment of SV2)

KAT:            "A Tomato patch, a chicken house, and the 
maintenance crew are all out fishing... do they really call themselves 
police?"

MATSUI: "Not police; more like defenders of justice."



GOTO'S OFFICE

(Goto is talking to Shinobu, who is changing from her uniform into 
street clothes.)

GOTO:           "Tell me, do you think I'm still overanalyzing?"

SHINOBU:        "What? I can't say really, but I am  grateful that the 
defect was found before we actually got the Type 0."

GOTO:           "I asked Kanuka to do research on Hoba's stay at 
MIT.  While he was there he was called Jehovah."

SHINOBU:        "Jehovah? That's what they call God in the Old 
Testament. It sounds alot like his real name, and he was probably 
smart enough to earn it."

(Goto's speech is voiced over a variety of shots)

GOTO:           "Well, actually there's a follow-up story to that. The 
proper pronunciation is 'Yah-weh' or 'Yah-ha-weh'. 'Je-ho-va' is an 
incorrect one that spread by accident. When he found that out he 
was insanely happy. You know, Shinobu-san, I'm starting to feel I 
understand the way this Hoba guy thinks. Looking at those high-
rises, day after day, wondering what kind of crime to commit. (from 
King James Version)  "And the Lord came down to see the city and 
the tower, which the children of men builded."   (Genesis 11-5)   
"Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there 
confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the LORD 
scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." (Genesis 11-9)



SHINOBU:        "Well, it could be coincidence..."

(she comes out of the changing space)

GOTO:           "Do you think it's a coincidence that he chose the 
Ark as the place to kill himself?  If this plan centers on a code based 
on the bible, there's no way he's going to pass over a target like 
Project Babillon.  There's more to come. These are clues left by Hoba 
himself. Another example. All 23 of the places Hoba lived overlap 
with the three labor runaway zones that Asuma pointed out. Matsui-
san was really puzzled. He said it was as though Hoba was asking  us 
to solve the mystery."

SHINOBU:        "A challenge?"

GOTO:           "He's not that sort of romantic. He wasn't going up 
against the police at all. He had great confidence in his program, or 
else he wouldn't have died before seeing the result. When he jumped 
off he was probably laughing at us, no, everybody who lives in this 
city..." 

SHINOBU:        "You know, you look so happy when you talk about 
Hoba."

GOTO:           "Oh, that's dangerous... Really?"

(He takes out a hand mirror to check)

SHINOBU:        ">sigh< Anyway, if it's that big a plot, are you sure 
those two can handle it?"

GOTO:           "I think they'll be okay..."



SHIGE'S PLACE (a suite above a grocery store)

ASUMA:  ">yawn<...I'm sleepy... and hungry..."

SHIGE:  "Okay, input's complete... Here we go..."

ASUMA:  "Okay ... what's the parameter for the simulation 
program?"

SHIGE:  "Well, if 10.21Hz is the right number, then this is corect..."

ASUMA:  "That's all the damage there'd be? ... I feel like I'm 
dealing blind. Darn it... I don't get it... I know it couldn't end with this 
little... What data could be missing?"

SHIGE:  "That inaccessible file in HOS... If that could be taken 
apart we could prove Goto-san's theory about Hoba's crime. Then we 
could spend more resources and personnel..."

ASUMA:  "Then it's a Trojan Horse program?"

SHIGE:  "Probably... That rewrite must've worsened the 
contamination, spread it even further... Such a stupid dicision..."

LANDLADY (Shouting from downstairs): "Shige-san! You have a 
guest!"

NOA:            "I've brought provisions! How was the simulation?"

ASUMA:  "It just proved how powerless we are..."

NOA:            "That's it? Here, I got a newspaper"

SHIGE:  "Thanks. Let's how  our international affairs are doing..."

ASUMA:  "Compared to 'God' I feel like a computer-loving little 
kid... Noa, couls you get me a coffee?"

SHIGE:  "Oooooo, sounds good. I only have instant; sorry."

NOA:            "Sure thing."

(The kettle whistles, vibrating a glass case. Noa turns off the gas, 
and it stops)

ASUMA:  "!!!!! Noa, turn on the gas again!"

NOA:            "?"

ASUMA:  "Just do it!"

NOA:            "What's this all about?"

(She turns on the gas again, and agin the glass vibrates)

SHIGE:  "So what?...."

(Asuma dashes to the window, looking at two high-rises and some 
power lines. He comes back to the computer and starts inputting 
additional data.)

ASUMA:  "The resonance!  There was no point in simulating the 
components individually - if objects vibrate at the same fixed 
frequency they reinforce each other's vibrations!"

(He clicks the mouse. The new estimate isn't too much different 
from the last)

SHIGE:  "Not much of a difference. The low frequency that 
initiates the first resonance is too weak. It has to kick off with 
something more powerful!"

ASUMA:  "Blow-through structure buildings, the harp bridge, iron 
pipes in construction sites, air ducts for underground facilities... 
There's gotta be something else..."

SHIGE:  "Let's see... it should be located in some big open space... 
with  no outer walls... say some multilevel structure..."

ASUMA:  " How could something like that exist in crowded 
Tokyo...oh!!"

(He gets a disk from his bag and plugs it into the drive. The info 
file on the Ark appears.)

SHIGE:  "The Ark?! How could we have been so blind?!"

ASUMA:  "I forgot that I made a copy at the Hachiouji factory... Put 
the Ark into the wind tunnel simulation, raise the windspeed 
parameter to infinite, and throw the lot into our first simulation..."

SHIGE:  "This computer doesn't have the processing capacity. 
Hang on! (He hooks his computer up to the Fridge) Okay, we've got 
the Fridge online!"

ASUMA:  "Here we go..."

NOA:            "The data's not coming back, is it?"

SHIGE:  "Here it is!"

(Map of Tokyo appears. Area of damage spreads out from the Ark. 
It continues to expand, eventually covering all of Tokyo and 2/3 of 
Kanto.)

SHIGE:  "Holy...."

ASUMA:  "What's the lowest wind velocity that can set off the 
reaction?"

SHIGE:  "...40 m/second?!!  Damn... You only get that sort of wind 
when a Typhoon hits..."

(He lies down, and glances at the newspaper)

        
        "AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!"

(He grabs the remote control, and turns the TV to a weather 
forecast)

T.V.:           "...and so this rather powerful Typhoon, #19, is now 
at the south west tip of Kii Peninsula, heading north east at a speed 
of 25 kmph. It will hit Tokyo early tomorrow morning. The typhoon's 
air pressure is 950 bar, and within 25 km of its center wind speeds 
are over 40 m/second..."

 

TOKYO POLICE HEADQUARTERS

(In a conference room. Goto has called an emergency meeting of 
the Guard Division executives, to discuss the HOS case. Everyone is 
skeptical and unwilling  to take any drastic actions that might 
jeaopardize their careers.)

                "That's it! We've heard enough! This is all just a theory!"

                "And I heard that this simulation was programmed by a 
suspended officer and the maintenance crew. Do you really expect us 
to take it seriously?"

GOTO:           "According to the Meteorological Agency, Typhoon 
#19 will strike the city early next morning. We don't have time for 
additional testing of the program. You say it's only an unproven 
theory, but it's a fact that we have no evidence to deny it either. 
When the Typhoon reaches Tokyo its heavy winds will cause the Ark 
to vibrate... That will stimulate the low-frequency howling of the 
numerous high-rises at the water front, which will itself induce the 
whirring of the buildings in downtown Tokyo. And 8000 labors 
situated all over the metropolis will become runaways.... What will 
result need not be mentioned. Labors aren't just located in the 
redevelopments around the bay, in the city center, and in the Geo-
front construction site 100 meters underground. There are also a few 
labors operating inside some nuclear reactors. If the simulation 
results become reality, I'd like to know who would take 
responsibility, and how, for not preventing the crime beforehand."

KAIHOU: "Goto-kun. The city-wide OS rewite has been completed. 
Even if Eiichi Hoba's crime existed, it is now quite irrelevent, don't 
you think?"

GOTO:           "HOS is still being analyzed, with the assisstance of 
MIT, but it's true nature has not yet been determined. The experts 
agree that it may still be hiding in the labors' memories; in that case 
it is reasonable to assume that any labors that came in contact with 
HOS are still contaminated. So will you change the direction of the 
Typhoon? Chop down the high-rises? Dismantle all 8000 labors? Or... 
You have only four choices. Your decision please."

KAIHOU: "From early tomorrow until the typhoon has passed, 
activation of all labors within city limits will be prohibited. Labor 
production lines and repair facilities will be shut down. We will 
request aid from the fire department and the defence ministry, as 
well as neighboring prefectures. That is all."

(The officials are about to leave...)

GOTO:           "Chief, there's a possibility that deactivated labors 
may start up by themselves, due to the effects of the low frequency 
noise. Did you forget about the episode with the JSDF prototype 
labor..."

FUKUSHIMA: "Goto-kun!"

KAIHOU: "What was that? I never received such a report."

GOTO:           "Then I have one more question."

FUKUSHIMA: "Will you knock it off?!"

GOTO:           "If it's caused by a Typhoon, I don't really see how 
anyone should be held responsible... I mean it's done by a Typhoon..."

KAIHOU: "Of course. If it's an act of God, it can't be helped..."

FUKUSHIMA: "Chief!!!"

GOTO (Salutes with a grin): "Assistant Inspector Goto, returning to 
the station."



IN THE ELEVATOR

ASUMA:  "What did he mean?"

GOTO:           "As he said, it can't be helped if it's an act of God. 
Afterwards, if Hoba's crime can be proven, fine. If not, let it go as the 
Typhoon's fault. If the cat gets let out of the bag, the Captain'll take 
the fall. The old snake."

ASUMA:  "Poor Captain..."

GOTO:           "We're the poor ones. If Hoba's crime can't be 
proved, we'll be criminals. Want out?"

ASUMA:  "No. If I'm gonna regret it anyway, better something done 
than left undone."

GOTO:           "Well then. No turning back now."



(Just outside SV2 headquarters)

GOTO:           "I won't be back for awhile. Follow Shinobu-san's 
orders until then will you?"

ASUMA:  "Roger!"

(Goto walks away. Noa runs up.)

NOA:            "What's gonna happen?"

ASUMA:  "We're gonna destroy the Ark!"



AT THE HANGAR

(Sakaki's men are running around, preparing for the assault.)

SAKAKI: "After insulating the memory bank and the cockpit, get 
on with the water-proofing. We don't have much time!"

SHIGE:  "Boss! The floats are here!"

SAKAKI: "Okay, let group 3 handle it! As the crews finish their 
current jobs I'll send them down!"

OHTA:   "I got the okay! Bring out the riot gun too! We got the 
experimental explosive shells, right?! Load 'em into cartridges!"

                "What? But that's too risky..."

OHTA:   "DO IT!!!"

T.V.:           "Typhoon #19 is continuing on course. It is still 
heading north east, and will hit the Kanto area in..."

OHTA:   "YES! THE STORM IS COMING! THE STORM IS COMING!"

(In the office...)

SHINSHI:        " We'll have to purge the platforms with the 
emergency fire systems after all..."

ASUMA:  "Then the occupation of the control center is the key... 
Give me the file on the security robots..."

(The maintenance squad is welding the floats to the vehicles.  An 
anti-labor rifle arrives and is tested by Hiromi. Later, as evening 
draws, Shinobu gets a call from Goto. He is at the Fishing co-op, and 
they have agreed to tow the assault group to the Ark as they are 
opposed to project Babillon.)

SHINOBU:        "Labors are set up... Attaching the floats to the 
trailers'll be done in a couple hours... By the way, how did you get 
hold of that monster anti-labor rifle?"

GOTO:           "I begged for one from the paratroop unit in 
Kasumigaura. When I mentioned the prototype labor incident they 
rented me one immediately. I'm going over to Narita airport now. If 
worse comes to worse we may have to fight every labor in the Ark, 
so I called in a secret weapon. Yes, I mean her."



AT NARITA

CUSTOMS:        "Sight seeing?"

KANUKA: "No, combat."



AT SV2 BARRACKS

(It's starting to rain. Everyone is out back, and the maintenance 
crews are about to start on their last task.)

SHIGE:  "Let the air in!"

(The floats attached to the two labor carriers and the command car 
expand. Noa, Asuma, Ohta, Kanuka, Shinshi, and Hiromi are lined up 
in front of Goto and Shinobu.)

GOTO:           "There's nothing more for me to say. The Ark 
should be totally empty after the evacuation order, so fight as much 
as you like!"

(The officers and their labors take to the water, and Goto and 
Shinobu watch them leave.)

MAINT.CREWS: "ALRIGHT! GIVE IT ALL YOU'VE GOT!"

SHINOBU:        "Are you sure? You can still call them back! What if 
the operation is successful but you still can't prove Hoba's crime?"

GOTO:           "Then we're criminals. But if we don't do anything, 
and there's a disaster?... Then we're criminals again. Which do you 
prefer? And besides, there was no choice to begin with. If they fail 
the bay area will be devastated. If they succeed, then project 
Babillon will be crippled by the loss of the Ark. Either way we lose. 
Probably the real fight ended when Hoba jumped. Don't you agree?"

SHINOBU:        "And you still want to do this?"

GOTO:           "You really don't have the right character to be in 
the police... I really feel sorry that you always end up getting the 
short end of the stick."

SHINOBU:        "Where are you going?"

GOTO:           "We did get silent approval from  headquarters, but 
if they raise hell at the Ark, the Maritime Safety Agency and the 
Ports and Harbors Bureau won't keep quiet. I'll go over there and 
buy some time. This's a job for the chief."

SHINOBU:        "Goto-san..."

GOTO:           "Yes?"

SHINOBU:        "... No, nothing..."

GOTO:           "Then please take care of the rescue arrangements."

(He leaves)



IN OPEN WATER

(Asuma radios in)

ASUMA:  "There it is! 500 meters ahead! The Ark!"



AT THE ARK

(Two Ingrams and a command car go up an elevator. They enter 
the first level. Everybody except the forwards (Ohta and Noa) are in 
the command car.)

SHINSHI:        "Doesn't the atmosphere feel Evil?"

KANUKA: "Just like a shrine of Idols. An appropriate grave for 
a man who assumed the name of the Lord."

ASUMA:  "Listen, as long as they don't get too close, guard robots 
aren't much of a concern. But there's far too many of them, so avoid 
combat as much as possible!"

(Kanuka and Hiromi cock their guns.)

                "Ohta, take the point! Noa, bring up the rear! We'll run all 
the way!"

EVERYONE:       "CHAAAAAAAAARGE!!!!!!!!!"

(They attack. The security robots don't even have time to issue a 
warning before being reduced to scrap.)

OHTA:   "AAAHHRRR!!! Come on you worthless hunks 'a junk! I'll 
rip you apart!"

(The robots discharge electricity, damaging the command car's 
search lamp. Hiromi, Shinshi and Kanuka are firing continuously. Noa 
is checking her rear monitor.)

NOA:            "Five to the rear... eight... There's more coming!"

(Ohta and the command car enter the elevator. Ohta lays down 
cover fire as Noa tries to catch up.)

OHTA:   "Move it! RRRRAAARRRGH!"

(She reaches the elevator. The doors close.)

ASUMA:  "I told you to avoid combat!"

KANUKA: "We did, as much as possible."

(Everybody reloads their guns)

OHTA:   "Quick response based on the situation! The situation is 
changing all the time! Shuddup!"

ASUMA:  "At any rate, save ammo! We don't know what's up 
there!"

                "Roger!"

(When the elevator doors open at the level of the command center. 
The floor is packed with security robots; the assault party charges on. 
They see the lights of the command center.)

ASUMA:  "There it is!"

(Ohta's Ingram knocks away the door and Asuma and Shinshi 
stumble into the command center.)

ASUMA:  "Move it!"

SHINSHI:        "He's so rough, dammit..."

ASUMA:  "If we don't hurry this place is gonna be flooded with 
security robots!"

(Shinshi starts flipping switches.)

SHINSHI:        "Start up the emergency routines! That'll shut off 
the security automatically!"

(Asuma hits the button. Alarms sound, lights come on, and the 
emergency console appears.)

ASUMA:  "Okay, here we go..."

SHINSHI:        "This will've sounded the alarm back on land."

ASUMA:  "Well then let's see if we'll be dangerous criminals or 
heroes by the time the Maritime Safety people get here. We have 
until the weather clears. Can you hear me? I've deactivated the 
security systems."

OHTA: (over radio): "Roger! Will stand guard!"

ASUMA:  "Okay, let's take this thing apart!"

SHINSHI:        "W-wait!"

ASUMA:  "What?"

SINSHI: "A person! There's somebody in the subcontrol on the top 
level!"

ASUMA:  "WHAAAAAAAT?!!!!!!"

(On one of the monitors is an indication that somebody with an ID 
tag is up there.)

SHINSHI:        "It's no mistake. See? It's moving..."

(The computer cross files the tag with personnel records.)

                "ID #666

                E. HOBA/SHINOHARA

                NO FILE"

ASUMA:  "It can't be..."

SHINSHI:        "But he's supposed to be dead, isn't he?... Hoba's 
ghost?!"

ASUMA:  "Or some sort of trap?... can you get me into 
communication with the subcontrol?"

SHINSHI:        "Can't. The subcontrol isn't in use... It has to be 
powered up from there."

ASUMA:  "Someone has to go up and check..."

SHINSHI:        "But the time! The Typhoon's about to hit!"

(He thinks for awhile.)

ASUMA:  "Noa! Listen up!"

NOA:            "What is it?"

ASUMA:  "We've got a problem. There's a possibility that someone's 
still here, in the top floor subcontrol. A file cross-check says it's Eiichi 
Hoba."

NOA:            "!!!"

KANUKA: "It's a trap for sure!"

ASUMA:  "But somebody is still up there. Noa, will you go?"

NOA:            "Why Me?!"

ASUMA:  "It's too dangerous to go without a labor, and delicate 
decision-making  might be needed. Ohta can't handle it!"

OHTA:   "WHAT?!!!"

ASUMA:  "Go! I'll support you from here..."

NOA:            "Forward and backup are two-in-one, hunh?"

ASUMA:  "And one more thing! We don't have much time, so we'll 
proceed with the original plan at the same time!"

NOA:            "WHAAAAAAAAAT????!!!!!!!!"



BACK IN SV2

(Shinobu enters an office where the maintenance crew is gathered 
in front of a computer.)

SHINOBU:        "I heard HOS's true nature was confirmed."

SHIGE:  "Oh, chief Nagumo... Yeah, we got a call from MIT saying 
that they'd finally dissected the file."

SHINOBU:        "So what's the verdict?"

SHIGE:  "We hit the jackpot. A genuine virus was planted in HOS. 
It invades the backup memory to start off; then it changes its name 
and gets into every available space possible. There's no doubt that 
any computer that has HOS or comes in contact with HOS will be 
contaminated. By morning there's gonna be one hell of a mess... MIT 
has already started programming a vaccine, but I wonder if it'll do 
the trick..."

SHINOBU:        "If we'd known this only half a day earlier, they 
wouldn't have had to go by themselves... We can't even send in 
reinforcements..."

SHIGE:  "But this did prove Goto-san's theory... At least now we 
can arrange the rescue."

SHINOBU:        "Waitasec! You said HOS or any computers that 
came in contact with it, right?"

SHIGE:  "Yeah..."

SHINOBU:        "Then what about the Ark's main computer? 
They're using it for the purge!!"

SHIGE:  "!!!!!!!"



BACK ON THE ARK

(Alphonse is running. A computer warning sounds.)

                "D level, block 5, 30 seconds until purge. All personnel 
working in this block evacuate immediately."

(Just as Ingram #1 moves to the next block, D-5 falls away.)



IN THE COMMAND CENTER

SHINSHI:        "D-5 block is purged. Alphonse is moving from D-7 
to 9."

ASUMA:  "Get ready for the next one. Code for D-7?"

SHINSHI:        "FPD-00207. Why can't we wait until she goes up to 
the next level, and then drop the entire floor?"

ASUMA:  "If the Ark loses too much weight at once it'll become 
dangerously unstable. Don't worry; if we drop the open blocks first, it 
should eliminate quite a bit of the resonance effect. What's it like 
outside?"

SHINSHI:        "Wind velocity 35... now it's up to 36!"

ASUMA:  "D-7, here we go!"

                "D level, block 7 is purged."



SOMEWHERE IN THE ARK

(Alphonse is running. It boards the elevator as the floors she just 
passed are purged. As the wind whistles through the gaps that have 
been left by the proccess, the display monitors of deactivated labors 
suddenly turn on.)



COMMAND CENTER

ASUMA:  "Next! Code for E-2!"

(Shinshi looks at the security monitors.)

SHINSHI:        "!!! Asuma-san! Look! Blocks 3, 5 and 7 of D level, 
and all of C level! They're flooded with runaway labors!"

ASUMA:  "What?! But the wind isn't over 40m per second yet!"

SHINSHI:        "Either the simulation overlooked something, or the 
purging has worsened the effect!"

(There's a gunshot outside. Ohta is facing off with numerous 
runaways on the other side of the bridge.)

OHTA:   "Come on, you scrapheaps!

ASUMA:  "Hiromi! What's going on?!"

HIROMI: "Runaway labors are piling up at the other end of the 
bridge. Ohta-san charged in just now."

ASUMA:  "What about Kanuka?!"

HIROMI: "She left. She said she was gonna look for a weapon."

SHINSHI:        "What do we do?"

ASUMA:  "Could it be that she's..."



SOMEWHERE IN THE ARK

(Kanuka is starting up the Type 0)

TYPE 0 COMP.: "Level okay. System normal. Type-0 standing by."

ASUMA:  "Kanuka, don't! The Type-0 is too risky!"

KANUKA: "Don't worry, I'm using a system disk where the 
virus has been isolated.  Assuming all goes well I should be able to 
control it."

ASUMA:  "But what if the virus has hidden somewhere..."

KANUKA: "Then this labor will be a threat whether I use it or 
not! Besides, Ohta won't be able to hold them all off on his own. I'm 
willing to take the gamble. Clancy out!"

(The Type-0 starts moving. It kicks away the door and engages the 
runaways.)



ON THE ARK'S UPPER LEVELS

(Something pushes Alphonse down)

NOA:            "!!!"

ASUMA:  "Noa! Can you hear me?! The situation's changed!  The 
runaways have started earlier than estimated!  We don't have much 
time left, so proceed at full speed!  That is all!"

NOA:            "Thanks for telling me..."

(She is surrounded by a herd of runaways.  Various action scenes.  
She reaches the subcontrol and peeks in.)

                "!!....Birds?..."

(Behind her is the raven, with ID tag #666 attached to its leg.)



COMMAND CENTER

SHINSHI:        "The wind velocity outside is now over 40m per 
second!  We can't wait any longer!"

ASUMA:  "Noa! Answer me! Noa!"

NOA:            "The ID's around a raven's leg..."

ASUMA:  "Just report your conclusions!  Is there anybody up 
there?!"

NOA:            "No!... Nobody's here!"

(Jusat as she finishes, all the monitors in the command center go 
blank. Then they all light up with a single word: BABEL.)

ASUMA:  "!!!"

SHINSHI:        "It's not accepting any input..."

ASUMA:  "The main computer was contaminated too?!..."

HIROMI: "Control room, please respond!  Runaway labors are 
increasing! There's so many of them... I can't hold them off if they 
start crossing the bridge!  Please hurry up with that purging!"

ASUMA:  "There's gotta be something... some way... There should be 
a backup manual ignition system, something that blows away all the 
block joints without the computer relay!"

SHINSHI:        "!!!  But how do we get to the ignition point while 
we're stuck in this mess?!"

ASUMA:  "Just deal with it!"

(They start checking the info-file on a portable computer they 
brought along.)

SHINSHI:        "The top level of the main shaft, right under 
subcontrol..."

ASUMA:  "Good thing the police stress the value of human life. 
Bingo, and just in time!  It's right under Noa's feet!"



ELSEWHERE...

(Ingram #2 is heavily damaged. Ohta is using a labor-arm as a 
club.)

OHTA:   "Take that!!! AAAAAHHHRRRRR!"

(Some labors explode behind him. The Type-0 has arrived.)

OHTA:   "!!! The Type-0?!... Holy..."

(The Type-0's laser locks onto Ingram #2.)

SHINSHI:        "Ohta-san! Kanuka-san! We're gonna start purging 
the entire floor! Get back to the command center! Ohta-san!"

OHTA:   "!!!!"



AT THE MANUAL IGNITION POINT

(The hatch opens up. Noa takes out the flare gun used for the 
ignition and loads it.)

ASUMA:  "30 seconds after ignition, the entire floor should purge!  
I don't know what'll happen when the Ark loses that much weight at 
once! Listen Noa, don't move away from there after you ignite it, 
alright?!"

(Noa looks at her labor sitting outside.)

ASUMA:  "Answer me Noa!"

NOA:            "Roger!  Ignition!  Ignition confirmed!"

(Then she returns to Ingram #1.)



COMMAND CENTER

(What's left of car #2 crashes into the room, and Hiromi crawls in, 
panicking.)

HIROMI: "Kanuka-san is... Kanuka-san..."

(Lots of action. The Ark falls apart. Noa survives.)



DAWN

(Alphonse is hanging from the main shaft. The Ingram's computer 
beeps, waking her up.)

MONITOR:        "Battery Check"

(She starts the Ingram walking around.)

NOA:            "Asuma!  Shinshi-san!  Kanuka!  Hiromi-chan!  
Ohta-san! Somebody answer me!"

(A labor stands)

NOA:            "Ohta-san! .....!!!"

(It's the Type-0. They fight.)

ASUMA:  "Ow... Helluvan experie...."

(He sees the two labors)

ASUMA:  "Noa, don't!  Kanuka is aboard that thing!"

(More fighting.)

NOA:            "Kanuka!  Kanuka!  Answer me Kanuka!"

KANUKA: "....! Get out of your vehicle and run Noa!  There's no 
way you can beat this thing in hand-to-hand combat!"

NOA:            "But can't you stop it?!  What about the activation 
disk?!"

KANUKA: "I used it. AND reset the computer, and it's still 
moving!" Probably the virus entered the S-RAM for pattern study, 
and that must be adjusting the program!"

NOA:            "Where's the S-RAM?!"

KANUKA: "Behind the neck, same as in the Type-98!"

(More action. Noa blows open Alphonse's cockpit (chest) and grabs 
her shotgun.)

NOA:            "Gotcha!...!!!"

(Even more action.)

ASUMA:  "Noaaa!!!  Run! You can't win with a Type-98!"

NOA:            "Grrrrrrrrrr......."

(The action continues. Both labors fall. They are entangled in wire 
and hanging in mid-air.)

ASUMA:  "Noaaaaaa!!!"

(Noa climbs out, and crawls onto the Type-0. She opens up the S-
RAM unit and fires into it. Yet more action as the Type-0 refuses to 
die.)

NOA:            "DAMMIT!!! STOOOP!!!!!!!"

(she runs out of bullets. The Type-0 stops, and its monitor says"NO 
FILE".)

(Noa stumbles away, and falls down exhausted. Her partners run 
towards her.)

ASUMA:  "Noaaaaaaaa!"

NOA:            "... I did it..."

(In the sky, some choppers approach. Shige, Shinobu, and Goto are 
aboard.)

NOA AND ASUMA: "Yahoooo! Alright! hahahahahahahaha!"

(Sappy, movie ending stuff. If you like that sort of thing, you can 
see it in the film. I'm not describing it here.)



THE END

                                ----------
