Elfen Lied Anime Episode Two - Annihilation ~ Vernichtung



Prologue

( It is raining, and on the beach, we see a fenced area, not filthy but with junk strewn about. Inside of a makeshift structure constructed with plastic crates and a tarp, a young girl cuddles with a small dog. Most of the rain and seemingly none of the cold is kept out. She is wearing a cream/yellow sweater/blouse with brown-black hair and standard schoolgirl shoes. She sits both despondently and resigned to their condition. The dog looks at her.)

Mayu: I guess we're both hungry, huh? ( SUB : We're both hungry, huh? )

( She is shaken from her hunger-born torpor by the sudden sound of what is revealed to be a helicopter shown in the distance as the scene shifts. In this case, it is a military transport copter. Inside of it, the team leader begins to prep his men for their mission. )

Chief: Listen up! Our target has an unidentified weapon with a two-meter effective lethal range. ( SUB : Our target has an unidentified weapon with a two meter radius. )

Bando : Unidentified —meaning what? ( SUB : Unidentified? What the hell's that mean? )

( Bando is sarcastic in his questioning )

Chief: The specifics are unknown. ( SUB : Its specifics are unknown. )

Bando: Right. ( SUB : Man... )

Chief: The police have already scrambled. They're searching the city now. Once we receive her location, we'll immediately head to the site. ( SUB : The police are already working on searching the city. Once we receive the information, we'll immediately head to the site. )

( Bando yawns and finally begins to rise despite his CO's glare, stunning his fellow SAT members )

Chief: Bando!

Bando: Later, Chief! ( SUB : That's stupid. )

( The rain and the wind pummel them as Bando opens the rear loading ramp of the copter, but he shows no concern for this or them )

Chief: What are you doing? ( SUB : What're you doing? )

Bando: If this target is so dangerous we can shoot without warning, well then, looks like it's hunt or be hunted. I know how it goes! Drop me off already. ( SUB : This target is someone we can shoot without warning, right? Then it's hunt or be hunted : It's one or the other! Hurry up and drop me off! )

( By the ocean's surf at the shore, we see a hand reaching through the shifting water as the tide comes and goes ; It is Nyu, bent over and digging through the sand, looking cold and desperate as she mewls )

TITLE AND INTRO SEQUENCE

Act One


( Back at Maple House, we see the outer perimeter and stairwells in the rain ; Cutting to inside, Kouta sits alone and stares at the shell that Nyu broke in two lying on the dining area table )

Kouta: Oh. That's right.

( He recalls Yuka's words about the shell and Nyu's actions )

Yuka (flashback voiceover): I think…she understood. She knew the seashell made you sad.

( SUB : Since you looked sad she might have thought the seashell was bad. )

( Rising, he stares at the Grandfather Clock ; he is in his slippers, but prepares to join Yuka in the search for Nyu. )

Kouta : Huh?

( Kouta hears a knock at the door ; He assumes it is someone he knows, perhaps Yuka )
Kouta : Hey, quit fooling around! Come on! You know it's not lock—huh?

( SUB : What're you doing? It's not locked. )
( Outside are two dour-looking men in overcoats ; One of them immediately pokes his head in. )

Detective A : For some reason, I always thought this place was vacant.

( SUB : I thought this was a vacant house. )

Kouta : …Yeah, I, uh, moved in here today. Can I help you?

( SUB : I moved in here today. Excuse me, but... )

( The shorter and older of the two flashes a badge ; The larger and younger one speaks first. )

Detective B : We're the police.

Detective A : If you'll cooperate for a minute, we need your help with our investigation.

( SUB : We'd like you to take a moment to cooperate with our investigation. )

( There is an element of good/bad cop already evident in their demeanor ; they are practiced partners, and to them most of this is utterly routine ; the youth of the larger one counters this somewhat )

Kouta : Why's that? Did something happen?

( SUB : Did something happen? )

( Kouta seems a bit surprised by all this ; the look of an already-draining eventful day is showing on his face. )

Detective A : You seen a girl around? She looks like this.

( SUB : Have you seen a girl like this? )

( Kouta sees a picture of Nyu, though this is obviously Lucy from her looks and demeanor ; The origin and setting of the photo is uncertain ; it looks recent ; If Kouta notes how different she looks, he shows no sign of this beyond recognition of her face ; the police for their part do not seem to catch this recognition. )

Kouta : Why do you ask? Did she do something wrong?

( SUB : Did she do something? )

( Kouta's question receives a pushback response ; The larger younger detective gets agitated ; whether this is part of their routine is uncertain. )

Detective B: Hey! Why don't you leave the questioning to us? So have you seen her? Or haven't you?

( SUB : Hey! We're the ones asking the questions! Have you seen her or not? )

( The older detective waves his partner off, perhaps sincerely, perhaps routinely. )

Detective A: It's all right! She's just a missing person, after all.

( SUB : Cool it. She's just a missing person. )

( Kouta now feigns indifference/confusion ; whether it fools the police is uncertain. )

Kouta : Missing…person?…I don't know her.

( SUB : Missing? I don't know her. )

( Whatever their thoughts on Kouta's veracity, the older lead detective seems to accept this calmly. )

Detective A: I see. If you happen to run into her, would you please contact the police? Thanks for your help. Let's go.

( SUB : I see. If you see her, could you contact the police? Thanks. Let's go. )

Detective B: Right.

( SUB : Okay. )

( The policemen depart ; Kouta puts on his shoes and heads out to find Yuka and Nyu ; suddenly he turns and looks back. )

Kouta : Oh! Should I lock the door?

( SUB : Oh. I didn't lock the door. )

( What he chooses on this is not shown. )

Act Two


( On the stormy coastline, Bando and Satou walk and search ; They are in full gear, including camoflauge body armor. )

Satou : This is Satou from Bando Team. We've arrived at Yuigahama. We're continuing the search. ( Gets off walkie-talkie. ) We've only been authorized to search the coastlines. We're supposed to stay away from populated areas.

( SUB : This is Satou from Bando Group. We've arrived Yuighama. We'll continue the search. (To Bando) We're only authorized to search the coastlines. Please don't go to where people are around. )

( Trash is strewn about the beach, almost as much a feature as the driftwood. The soldiers are seen as in profile against the waves, the concrete wall between the boardwalk above and the beach always visible )

Bando : That's up to our enemy.

Satou: They said that she uses some kind of special weapon, but what do you think it is? How am I supposed to defend myself, if it's a weapon we don't know anything about?

( SUB : They said that our enemy carries a special weapon, but what do you think it is? I don't know how to handle it if it's a weapon we don't know anything about. )

( Bando turns on Satou with a fury )

Bando: Shut up! Would it kill you to shut your damn mouth? If you don't quit whining, you'll be the first casualty.

( SUB : Shut up! Can't you keep your mouth shut for awhile? If you keep whining, I'll take you out first. )

( Nervous, and his chatter instantly stopped, Satou notes something ahead of them )

Satou: Uh, Bando?

( SUB : Leader! )

( He gestures behind Bando )

Bando: Huh?

( Bando sees and then licks his chops at the sight of Nyu digging through the surf on all fours )

Bando: Bin-go.

( SUB : Bingo! )

( Nyu finds something in the surf and is pleased by it, a small smile forming )

Nyu: Nyu…

( Nyu hears something and turns around )

Nyu: Nyu?

( By Gokurakuji Train Station, people are waiting in the rain by the tracks, whose safety gates are down ; Three are shown holding umbrellas ; In the background are shops, lighted and open for business ; by the tracks, schedules and warnings against crossing the tracks are visible; the gate mechanism is a standard yellow with black stripes; Down the street where the shops are is Yuka ; seeing the police substation, she enters, and the station officer is meeting with the same police detectives Kouta dealt with just before )

Yuka: Excuse me! Can you help me? I'm looking for a friend of mine who's lost.

( SUB : Excuse me...There's someone who's lost, and... )

( They only take partial notice of her entrance and keep talking till they slowly realize this may be part of their search for Lucy )

( Back at the beachfront, the one who walked up on Nyu is revealed to be Kouta, at first seen standing over her near the water; he kneels down and covers them both with his umbrella )

Kouta: What are you doing out here? It's pouring rain! Oh man.

( SUB : What're you doing in a place like this? )

( His anger is gone, his face all concern for Nyu; he sees her trembling, and falling forward almost as though to pray )

Kouta: Oh, you're shivering. We can't fix things here. Let's go.

( SUB : Geez...You're shivering. What'll I do with you? Here. )

( We see she is holding something in one of her hands ; Kouta does not )

Nyu: Nyu?

Kouta: Come on, get up.

( SUB : Now stand up. Can you get up? )

( Nyu is almost crying ; Kouta holds her hand tp help her up; but as he gets up, he is struck in the back of his head with the butt of a rifle )

Nyu: Nyu! Nyu! Nyu!

( We see a uniformed lower torso as Nyu checks on Kouta, who is painfully clutching the back of his head while lying in the sand ; He is Nyu's only concern )

Bando: Hmm.

( Bando grabs at Nyu's head and both soldiers are plainly stunned by what he finds )

Bando: Whoa. Horns, just like they said! She's got 'em growing out of her skull.

( SUB : Oh, yeah, they're sticking out. The horns are sticking out from her head. )

( Satou shows fear, even through his face cover )

Satou: You probably shouldn't get too close.

( Bando is dismissive, bordering on contempt, not even looking at him this time )

Bando: I told you already to shut up!

( SUB : Shut up! Keep quiet! )

( Kouta wakes, and looks with anger at his attackers )

Kouta: What? Hey! Who are you guys?

( SUB : What're you guys? )

( Satou draws his weapon as Kouta sits up partway, looking confused ; Bando looks back to Satou )

Bando: Let's see. They gave us the green light to kill any witnesses. Right, Satou?

( SUB : Let's see now. It was okay to kill witnesses too, right, Satou? )

( Satou's eyes show this isn't the case )

Satou: Uh, no… those weren't the orders. We'd have to call HQ.

( SUB : No, we don't have any orders like that. We should contact Headquarters first. )

Kouta: What, "kill"? What do you mean, "kill"?

( SUB : What do you mean, kill? )

( Bando's rifle barrel goes right in Kouta's face as his eyes go wide; Bando is standing directly over him )

Bando: Isn't it obvious, dumbass? The word "kill" means I pull the trigger. The gun goes off and your brains splatter all over the sand. The beach gets bloody and you get dead.

( SUB : You don't understand, dumbass? Kill means I pull the trigger like this. And then, your brains splatter all over and you'll die. )

( Quickly, Kouta rises, seizing a confused Nyu's hand as they dash off )

Kouta: Nyu! Run!

( SUB : Nyu, run! )

( As Satou seems to be trying to contact HQ, Bando calmly squeezes his trigger, firing near the feet of the fleeing pair; Satou looks up from his call. )

Satou: Huh?

( They stop suddenly, both looking very much afraid. The pair turn back to look at Bando, with Nyu looking to Kouta for guidance. A first-person POV sees Bando walking towards and bearing down on Kouta and Nyu; A stair-well/ramp up to the boardwalk is only inches behind them, but it may as well not be there. )

Bando: I'm on a hunt, and your girlfriend's my prey.

( SUB : She's my prey. )

( Kouta is plainly fearful and Nyu even more so; Bando aims his gun point-blank at Kouta )

Bando: Now get out of my way!

( SUB : Stay outta my way! )

( Bando kicks Kouta, who goes down hard )

Nyu: Nyu! Nyu!

( Nyu mewls and begins to weep over Kouta )

Bando: Well, well. This has been a little too easy. Let's make it fun. How 'bout it?

( SUB : Well, you're gonna let me have some fun, right? )

( Bando puts his gun in Nyu's face; she is confused and afraid but uncomprehending of anything beyond this )

( Back at the train station's police substation, Yuka is speaking to the uniformed officer. )

Police officer: Missing? How old is she?

( SUB : A missing person? Around what age? )

( The two detectives are on the phone and only partly notice her; the conversation is about their search )

Yuka: Um, well…

( SUB : Well... )

( Yuka begins to remember Nyu breaking the shell )

Detective B: Yes. Right. Understood.

( SUB : Yes. Yes. Understood. )

( Just as they finish, Yuka makes her realization. )

Yuka: Oh yeah. Never mind.

( SUB : Oh, yeah. )

( Between the two detectives and Yuka, the uniformed officer has divided attention )

Police officer: Hmm?

( Leaving just prior to giving a description of Nyu, Yuka's inquiry never really catches the full attention of the detectives )

Yuka: I think I just figured out where she is. Sorry for bothering you!

( SUB : Oh, well. I just remembered someplace where she's likely to be. Sorry for bothering you. )

( The uniformed officer turns back to the detectives )

Police officer: Sorry, you were telling me something before I stepped out?

( SUB : Sorry that I had to step out during the conversation. )

( The younger, larger detective hangs up and the two prepare to leave )

Detective A: Oh, that's all right. We're just having a little trouble with a missing person.

( SUB : No, that's all right. Our missing person seems to be pretty troublesome, though. )

( Detective B leans in and whispers to Detective A )

Detective B: The Special Assault Teams are searching the coastline without our approval. Those SAT jerks! What in the hell could they be thinking?

( SUB : I was told the SAT's searching the coastlines without asking us. Geez, I don't get what they're thinking. )

Detective A: I hope they're at least keeping a low profile. (To Uniformed Officer) Well then, we're counting on ya!

( SUB : I don't want them to act too conspicuously. (To Uniformed Officer) Well, then, I'm counting on you. )

( The police officer bows as his visitors finally leave )

Police officer: Yes, sir!

( Police Officer looks over at the desk )

Police officer: A vicious murderer. And she looks like that?

( SUB : A vicious murderer. A girl like this, huh? )

( By the phone/fax, the picture of Nyu/Lucy sits on the desk, with Yuka never having glimpsed nor seen it. )

( Yuka walks in the rain, her eyes closing and then looking around as she dashes down a colorful tiled path running parallel to the beach area; Seeing something, she dashes down the ramp/stairwell, running to the fallen Kouta, tossing aside her umbrella. )

Yuka: Kouta! Kouta! Are you all right?

( SUB : Kouta! Kouta! Come on, Kouta! )

( Deeply concerned, she gets down on her knees as she looks him over. )

Yuka: Kouta, what happened? I'll go call an ambulance!

( SUB : What? What happened? Oh, I'll call an ambulance right away! )

( Kouta rouses briefly, still in obvious pain. )

Kouta: Nyu! Where's Nyu?

( Yuka goes off to call an ambulance; Kouta rouses once again ; Yuka scans the empty beach as though to ascertain what happened; As he falls away again, she once more goes to his side )

Yuka: Kouta! You'll be OK! Kouta!

( SUB : Kouta! Hang in there! Kouta! )

( Cut to a view of her umbrella in the sand ; Red flashes and sirens are heard and seen as far away as the makeshift shelter the young girl and her dog were in. )

Act Three


( The soldiers are moving; Bando is dragging a crying Nyu by one of her feet while she is on her back ; she is holding onto Kouta's umbrella for dear life ; Satou looks down at her, and then at Bando. )

Satou: Is this the right girl? She's not acting like any killer I know. Bando!

( SUB : It may be the wrong person. She seems too different from the person in the report. Leader! )

( Never turning around, Bando looks annoyed to even acknowledge, let alone answer him. )

Bando: Yeah. And how many other girls do you know with horns sticking out of their head?

( SUB : Have you seen any Human with horns sticking out besides her? ) . )

Satou: Sure, but…

( SUB : But... )

( Keeping a pace behind, Satou picks up and uses his call equipment )

Satou: This is Bando Team, over. We've apprehended a female matching the suspect's description. We're located at Yuigahama.

( SUB : This is Satou at Bando Group. We captured someone who appears to be Lucy. We're at Yuighama... )

( Bando turns, rears up his gun-butt, strikes Satou and then crushes his walkie-talkie. )

Bando: Don't try to undermine me! I'm just having a little fun here.

( SUB : Don't do anything without my orders! Now, the fun begins. )

( They are seen through the beach netting on a nearby fence ; Bando holds Nyu, who is still uncomprehending, up by her hair while shoving his gun-barrel into her face, then shoves her forward; Kouta's umbrella falls out of her hand and opens in the wind, landing away from them. )

Bando: I hear you're a big-time badass, right? Show me what you got. Let's rock and roll!

( SUB : You've killed so many up until now, right? Let's have a duel. A duel! )

( In shadow, Bando kicks Nyu )

Bando: What the hell is wrong with you? So are you a killer or not? Put up a fight! Come on!

( SUB : What the hell's wrong with you? You're a bloodthirsty killer, aren't you? Give me a beating, come on! )

( Bando looks at her, disgustedly, as she cowers in fear and confusion against the side of a rowboat ; Sees she is holding something within one clenched hand )

Bando: Hey, wait a second. What're you trying to hide? Show it to me!

( SUB : Hey, wait a second. Show it to me! Hey! )

( Satou waves )

Satou: Hold on! What if it's her secret weapon?

( SUB : Could it be the lethal weapon? )

( Nyu holds and hides whatever this thing is, as though pleading with him not to take it. )

Bando: (To Satou) You really are completely stupid! (To Nyu) If you have a secret weapon, you'd better use it. Now!

( SUB : Don't be stupid! If you have the so-called weapon, bring it on! Now! )

( Through the netting we see the three of them and the rowboat's insides; Nyu flees and slips inside the rowboat. )
Bando: Man, what a letdown.

( SUB : I don't care anymore. )

( Bando is repulsed; He strikes Nyu across the head, with her tearing down netting as she falls; Satou seems relieved, thinking it is done. )

Satou: What? Oh, well… Bando!

( SUB : Well, Leader! )

( Bando turns and walks away, taking off his mask and helmet .)

Bando: Satou, go ahead and shoot her.

( SUB : Satou, you can go ahead and kill her. )

( Bando begins to try and light a cigarette )

Satou: What?

( The lighter sputters in the rain as Bando has his back turned to Satou )

Bando: I said kill her. That's the mission, right?

( SUB : I said kill her. It's our job, right? )

Satou: But…sir!

( SUB : But... )

Bando: Shoot her already! It's an order.

( SUB : Never mind, just shoot. It's an order. )

( Satou walks over and lowers his gun to aim at it Nyu inside the rowboat )

Satou: Yes, sir…I'm sorry Miss, but I'm just carrying out my orders.

( SUB : Roger. Sorry. This is my job. )

( What we can see of his shows not eagerness but resignation; focus shifts to Nyu caught in the netting inside the rowboat, her clothes somewhat askew. )

Bando: Ugh, damn it!

( SUB : Shit! )

( Satou cocks his gun as the focus shifts to Bando, frustrated by his attempts to light the lighter; he covers it from the rain as the report of Satou's rifle is heard, and it lights; a spray of blood is seen on Bando, and on the fencing/netting as well. )

Bando: Huh? What?

( SUB : What the...? )

( Nearby, the little dog and the girl sit ; the dog hears the gunshot and mewls; The girl, both tired and hungry, is holding him close. )

( Back by the soldiers, we see a spray of blood on the pole, like a coat of paint, while shredded pieces of netting fly and float everywhere ; It is Satou's blood, a hole punched clear through his torso; He is still alive, so suddenly did this happen, and his gun is still firmly in his hand. )

Satou: Ban-do—

( SUB : Leader... )

( Satou's warning is cut off as is his right arm as he turns around, pain and fear quite apparent on his face ; Gun and arm fall to the ground before a stunned Bando ; Satou can only stare in shock at his mortal wounds; His head falls off, bringing a geyser of blood from his neck-stump; The body falls away as Nyu rises slowly from behind the rowboat. )

Bando: What the hell are you?

( Bando cannot know that this is Lucy, not Nyu anymore, rising as though she had been napping. )

Bando: There's no way—

( SUB : Is this for real? )

( Through hair that covers one eye, staring at Bando as though to drill through him by sight alone, Lucy regards her new target. )

Bando: Huh?

( Bando drops his cigarette and quickly opens fire; at point blank range his bullets are simply turned away, with Lucy not even looking up or at him; His discarded helmet is quickly crushed by an unseen force with a visible imprint. )

Bando: A hand?

( Lucy splits the rowboat in two and raises up the pieces as Bando keeps firing, still not looking up ; Lucy's vectors are visible to the audience, but not to Bando ; The arms move forward like missiles, as Bando dashes for cover ; Lucy's power tears through netting and fencing alike, and hurls all available trash at Bando, not moving a muscle except for her slow walk forward, her power pummeling the metal barrels Bando is hiding behind for cover. )

Bando: Ha-ha! You're just throwing blind until you hit me.…Throwing?

( SUB : You're just trying to throw stuff at me till you hit! Throwing? )

( Bando flashes back to his mission briefing. )

SAT Chief (voiceover): Listen up! Our target has an unidentified weapon with a two-meter effective lethal range.

( SUB : Our target has a weapon that causes certain death within a two meter radius. )

( He briefly raises his head, then ducks again while taking projectile fire. )

Bando: So that's it. Two-meter-long invisible hands. Quite a weapon!

( SUB : So that's it. Two-meter invisible hands. Those are your... )

( Behind the barrels and ducked down, Bando smiles despite or because of the danger he is in, and the challenge it presents; he has found the foe he was promised, and is in his glory; Lucy hurls Satou's body, where it hits a corrugated metal wall; it begins to seem like this was for range-finding and possibly a distraction. Lucy throws another rowboat, hitting Bando's position. The barrels bounce as the rowboat strikes, their contents igniting as Bando rolls away; Lucy then ups the ante by raising up a mid-sized motorboat, which Bando fires an explosive shell into before she can hurl it; again he is smiling. )

Bando: You know, this is kind of fun!

( SUB : This is fun! )

( The noise from the battle wakes the small dog, who yelps, rousing the sleeping girl in the makeshift shelter; she looks about. )

Mayu: What's that?

( SUB : What is it? )

( Bando chances another glimpse at his distant attacker, slowly drawing closer )

Bando: Wow. This is just too cool, huh?

( SUB : Geez. This is too cool, huh? )

( Again finding cover, Bando sees the still-advancing Lucy, but he also spots a grenade on Satou's body, very near to where Lucy is headed; Lucy almost sees him before he ducks back down, smiling like a hungry man who has just spotted a large meal; His look is one that is very nearly ecstatic; Ducked down, his eyes close as he takes in the noise from Lucy's footfalls, gauging her position, until her splash in a puddle of blood and water tells him she is in position for him to shoot and explode the grenade he spotted )

Bando: OK, you freak of nature! Time to die!

( SUB : Die! You occult bitch! )

( Rising from his hiding place, he opens his eyes and smiles, aims at the grenade, but quickly sees that Lucy now has Satou's machine gun, and appears to know how to use it. )

Bando: Hey…that's not fair. You're cheating!

( SUB : That's not fair, is it? )

( In the distance, the girl again turns her head at the sound of gunfire. )

Mayu: Huh?

( Bando begins to show slight signs of shock, fear and even panic as he lowers his weapon slightly; Lucy begins to fire on him; Bando is hit, and falls back, his flak jacket taking most but by no means all of the impact; Suddenly he finds himself sprawled with Lucy standing over him, looking down on him with complete and utter disdain. )

Lucy: Do you enjoy this?

( SUB : Are you enjoying this? )

( Determined to regain his dignity and edge, Bando makes an effort to reach for his pistol. )

Bando: Bitch!

( SUB : You damn bitch! )

( Bando's attempt to raise and fire his weapon is met with the severing of his right arm; He yells in agony. Lucy seems to be unmoved either way, neither empathetic nor joyful at his pain. )

Bando: You bitch! You bitch! How dare you… cut my arm off?

( SUB : You bitch! How dare you...How dare you cut my arm off? You bitch! )

( As he tries to strike at her with his left arm, it is quickly bent back and broken, and Bando yells once again. )

Bando: Just wait! Wait and see! See what happens! I won't forget you! I'll come find you!

( SUB : Just wait and see. I'll never forget your face! )

( Lucy drives her 'arms' into Bando's eyes, destroying them both; bleeding and in pain, he thrashes about pointlessly. )

Bando: I'll kill you! I'll kill you! Damn you!

( SUB : I'll kill you! I'll kill you, damn it! I'll kill you! )

( Arms emerge from Lucy's head; She is prepared to finish Bando off. )

Lucy: Fun's over.

( SUB : This isn't fun anymore. )

( The arms begin to strangle Bando as he continues to thrash about; At this moment, Lucy notices she still has whatever Nyu found on the beach and was holding onto, and takes a look at it; She seizes, cries out and grabs at her head. Lucy falls to the sand, but when she looks up, a reversion has occurred. )

Nyu: Nyu?

( The sight of Bando's wounds and massive blood loss badly scares Nyu; Bando still thrashes and twists in pain and rage as she begins to cry. )

Bando: Why don't you finish me if you're so tough? Why don't you come back and finish what you started? Come on!

( SUB : Hey, where'd the hell you go? Come back! )

( Nyu's look is one of purest confusion; in the makeshift shelter, the girl and the dog ascertain where the noise is coming from; they see Nyu run by them in a blind panic. The dog mewls after she is gone. )

Bando: Hey! Where the hell are you? Where the hell did ya go?

( SUB : Hey, where the hell are you? Where'd the hell you go? )

( The girl sees Kouta's umbrella, lost earlier, and goes to pick it up; using it, she heads over to Bando as the dog lightly barks after her. The umbrella says 'Kaede House' on the handle; The girl looks and sees the mutilated Bando still flailing wildly. )

Mayu: Excuse me. What happened to you? Sir?

( SUB : Excuse me. What happened? )

( She shows obvious and logical concern that his movement is only making the bleeding worse. A helpless Bando keeps right on thrashing like an eel in a bucket. )

Bando: I'll fucking kill you! I swear I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!

( SUB : I'll fuckin' kill you! I'll kill you! )

Mayu: Excuse me, sir?

( SUB : Mayu : Excuse me. )

( Fearful but realizing his peril, the girl gathers her courage, closes her eyes and cries out, loud enough to overcome his screaming. )

Mayu: Stop moving around!

( SUB : Don't move! )

( The girl ties off his arm stump with a rope tourniquet as Bando becomes somewhat calmer. )

Bando: Who are you?

( The girl and the dog turn to leave; she looks Bando over before she does. )

Mayu: All right. I'm gonna go get an ambulance. Please don't move if you don't have to.

( SUB : I'll go get an ambulance now, so please don't move so recklessly! )

( The girl and the dog dash off, the dog responding happily, oblivious that anything is really wrong. Bando hears a helicopter in the distance. It seems likely to be a recovery unit. )

Bando: Shit.

___

Act Four


( Outside a hospital, trees sway in the wind and rain; the small building is of an older design; sirens are heard in the distance; inside it, Yuka sits by Kouta's side, a concerned look on her face. An IV drip is attached to his right arm at the wrist; The walls are faded; this structure shows its age in many visible cues, from the walls to the equipment; Kouta's forehead is bandaged; He begins at last to rouse as Yuka calls out to him. )

Yuka: Kouta! Kouta!

( His eyes open and he looks around confusedly. )

Kouta: Yuka. What is this? Where am I?

( SUB : Oh, Yuka. Where am I? )

( Yuka sits up from her chair, actually a green stool. )

Yuka: What's going on? What happened? Are you okay?

( The two police detectives who Kouta met earlier enter the hospital room; the older one talks while his younger colleague hangs back, seeming to look at Yuka, who is now just offscreen. )

Detective A: Please, excuse us. Well, well! Looks like we meet again.

( SUB : Please, excuse us. So we meet again. )

Detective B: We'll need a moment alone.

( SUB : Give us a moment alone . )

( Outside the room, Yuka's worry is evident; she waits on a green couch, opposite windows being pounded by rain; next to her is what once might have been a laundry chute, now appearing to be sealed off by the position of the couch itself; a stairwell foyer with stairs leading both ways is in the distance; the hospital room door window is stylized, again confirming the hospital's age; inside the room, Kouta is sitting up in bed. )

Detective A: A soldier with a machine gun, you say? Seems more likely you had a run-in with some bikers carrying Saturday night specials, don't you think?

( SUB : A soldier with a machine gun, huh? In short, you're saying that you were attacked by some guys like motorcycle gangsters with model guns. )

( Kouta is openly annoyed at this outright dismissal of his account. )

Kouta: No, I don't! They were soldiers!

( SUB : No, I'm not. It was definitely... )

( The older detective folds his arms. )

Detective A: The girl who was with you earlier said she didn't see any soldiers. If only we had another witness…

( SUB : The girl who was here earlier said she didn't see anyone like that. If only there were another witness. )

( Kouta starts openly. )

Kouta: Witness? Nyu! There was a girl! There was a girl with me at the beach! Is she safe?

( SUB : Witness?...Nyu...There was a girl at the beach. Is she safe? )

Detective A: Hmm?

( The younger detective leans into Kouta's face, seeming a bit frantic. )

Detective B: This girl witness, who was she?

( SUB : Who was she? )

( Kouta realizes he must now fudge his story, his face showing worry over saying too much and selling the lie he must now tell. )

Kouta: Yeah…I don't know. I just happened to see her.

( SUB : I don't know. I just happened to see her. )

( The detectives now shift to a neutral stance to aid their interrogation. )

Detective B: Anything strange about her?

( SUB : What were some of her distinguishing characteristics? )

Kouta: I can't think of anything strange.

( SUB : Characteristics. I can't think of anything in particular. )

( From neutral to slightly more aggressive, the younger detective presses. )

Detective B: Hairstyle, clothing, strange behavior! Did you see or notice anything unusual on her head?

( SUB : Things like hairstyle, age or something like that! Especially if you saw something on her head! )

( Having allowed his partner to apply the pressure, the older detective now ratchets things down, hoping to relax Kouta and jog his memory, or perhaps break his account. )

Detective A: It's all right! Just think and tell us whatever it is you do remember.

( SUB : Could you just tell us whatever you remember? )

( Kouta fakes a moment of realization, hoping that it is believed. )

Kouta: I know I said girl, but…she must've been college age. And…she had short hair. She was a little overweight…

( SUB : I said it was a girl but she was about the age of a college student. She had short hair and was a little overweight. )

( The older detective stands up, seeming satisfied, his younger partner looking decidedly less so. )

Detective A: Great! That's plenty. Sorry to have bothered you when you were injured. I woulda left you alone, but the doctor said you were healthy. I'd still take it easy for a day or two.

( SUB : Okay, that's enough. Sorry to bother you when you're injured. I was told by the doctor earlier that your injury isn't that bad. Go home carefully. )

( They begin to leave the room, with this perhaps being a ploy to trip Kouta up. )

Kouta: Hold on! I swear one guy had a machine gun!

( SUB : But it really was someone with a machine gun! )

Detective A: Yeah, well, there are a bunch of biker gangs around here. We'll make sure that your incident gets reported. It'd be smart to forget all about it.

( SUB : There are many motorcycle gangsters around here. We'll duly take care of your crime report. You should forget about it, for your own good. )

( Kouta shows his suspicion at the urging to forget it all. )

( At the beachfront, the girl and the dog find that Bando is gone, leaving the girl utterly confused. The Kaede-Sou's umbrella is still in her hands )

( The interior of a taxi-cab; seen is the back of the driver's head and the reflection of his eyes; A traffic light is seen through the windshield; A plaque with information is shown, but it is not rendered precisely enough to be legible, on the cab's partition between the passenger and the driver; Kouta and Yuka sit together, with Kouta's head still bandaged. His mind is elsewhere. )

Kouta: God, l really hope she hasn't been killed.

( SUB : I hope she hasn't been killed. )

( Yuka is startled and confused at this. )

Yuka: What?

( SUB : What? What did you say? )

( Kouta looks away from her, out his side's passenger's window )

Kouta: Nothing.

( With an umbrella in hand, Kouta is left by the stone stairwell leading up to Maple House; The cab's headlights shine ahead of it; the sides of the stair path are lined with greenery wet from the rain. )

Yuka: Well, I'll stop by again tomorrow. Are you sure you're OK?

( SUB : Then, I'll stop by again tomorrow. Are you sure you're okay? )

Kouta: I'm fine, I'm fine! I'll…see you later.

( SUB : I'm fine, I'm fine. See you then. )

( The cab pulls away and we see Kouta from Yuka's POV, with him receding in the distance, a view she is perhaps familiar with; As she sits down, we see that the cab's seats are a blue material. )

( Kouta walks up the path on the rain-soaked steps; pink petals, loosened by wind and rain, are falling on the steps and around the house. Next to the house's entrance, Kouta finds Nyu, hunched over in a corner. She looks at him almost pleadingly. )

Kouta: Ah!

( From her palm, she produces what she had kept all through the ordeal with Bando; it is a replacement seashell, nearly identical to the one she broke; Kouta's eyes go wide to realize she had been searching for this all along. Her presentation shows how precious she regards it as being. )

Nyu: Nyu.

( Kouta kneels down and embraces her, dropping his umbrella as he does; Nyu opens and closes her eyes. )

Kouta: I'm sorry.

( Her face shows her confusion. )

Nyu: Nyu?

Kouta: Thank you.

( Now, it shows her delight. )

Nyu: Nyu!

( Yuka sits and watches the passing streets from the back of the cab; she looks dejected, and very lost in thought; Her memories flash back to Gokurakuji Train Station, seeing Kouta and Kanae off as their time together ended. The scene contains elements that do not completely match with later accounts of this time or their lives in general; Yuka is seen from behind wearing a kimono as Kouta's family leaves. )

Child Yuka: Kouta! Come back next year, OK? Don't forget about me!

( SUB : Kouta! Please come again next year! Don't forget about me! )

( We see a close-up of Kouta's smiling face. )

Child Kouta: Yeah! Of course I'll come back next year. After all, I like you!

( SUB : Yeah! I'll come next year again, Yuka, since I like you. )

( In the present, she closes her eyes sadly; she opens them as she seems to make a connection. )

Yuka: That was eight years ago, wasn't it?

( SUB : It's been eight years since then, hasn't it? ) . )

Taxi Driver: Sorry?

( SUB : Yes? )

( Yuka smiles as she speaks to the driver. )

Yuka: Oh! No…nothing.

( SUB : No, nothing. )

( A jingling sound makes her realize something. )

Yuka: Ah! The key! Oh, please go back!

( SUB : The key. Sir! )

( Nyu is red-cheeked and sneezing; Her shirt is soaked through and clinging noticeably and awkwardly; Kouta searches through a bag of his clothes, trying and somewhat failing not to look at the shape of her breasts through the shirt; They are before the dining table as Nyu watches Kouta. )

Kouta: OK, who are you, anyway? Those two guys, those two soldiers, the police… you've got everybody acting strange.

( SUB : Hey, who are you? Those guys...those soldiers and the police are definitely acting strange. )

( Nyu reacts as a toddler might. )

Nyu: Nyu?

( Kouta's face betrays how foolish he feels as he realizes who he's talking to. )

Kouta: Not like you know what I'm asking. But anyway, I've made up my mind and I'm not going to let them take you, no matter what happens. All right? Change into this.

( SUB : Even if I say something, I guess you won't understand it. But I've decided that I'll never let them take you. All right, change into this. )

( Again, Nyu's infantile mentality is clear as she stares at the shirt. )

Nyu: Nyu?

( Kouta gains a resigned look. His eyes go wide as he gains a determined look. He again struggles and fails not to look at Nyu's chest; the soaked shirt is now transparent. )

Kouta: Hmm…OK, that's all right. I guess I'm going to have to change your clothes myself.

( SUB : Oh, well. I guess I've got no choice but to change your clothes myself. )

( His eyes closed, Kouta feels around for the fresh shirt as a topless Nyu sits and waits; her wet shirt is now drying on the table )

Kouta: Uh…

( He continues to feel around, while Nyu's body is a reminder that while her mind is that of a child, the rest of her is not. )

Kouta: Um… shirt, shirt, shirt… Here we go! OK, Nyu. Arms in the air! Like this.

( SUB : Um....shirt, shirt, shirt...There it is. Okay, raise your arms like this. )

( Finding the shirt, he raises his own arms and Nyu follows suit without question. )

Nyu: Nyu!

( Kouta tries to position the shirt on her arms and push it onto her. )

Kouta: Don't worry. I'm keeping my eyes closed. Let me see…

( SUB : Don't worry, I'm keeping my eyes closed, so...Let me see... )

( His hands lightly brush her breasts on the way down, causing Nyu to react. )

Nyu: Nyu!

( He pulls back suddenly. )

Kouta: Sorry! Sorry!

( SUB : Sorry! )

( Nyu begins to touch and squeeze her breast, evidently enjoying the sensation. As the view switches, Kouta's eyes are once more closed tightly; He has her in a position with her head and back on the floor, with her legs raised. Her shirt is still not covering her chest; Kouta's intent is innocent, but the situation cannot help but take on sexual connotations for him, though not the confused Nyu. )

Kouta: Underwear's next. This is the big one… um, so, listen! Tr-try not to move, OK?

( SUB : Next is underwear. This is the big one. Listen, don't move, okay? )

( Her legs raised well over her head, he pulls off Nyu's shorts and underwear; The door slides open, revealing this awkward scene to Yuka, who stands stunned and as yet, silent. )

Kouta: There!

___

Epilogue


( On the island containing the Research Institute, we see an overhead view of the complex Lucy escaped from. Kurama and Shirakawa walk down the sterile halls. )

Kurama: We failed.

( SUB : So it was a failure. )

Shirakawa: Yes. From the SAT debriefing, the team had some difficulties. And we can confirm that Lucy made it ashore, but we haven't tracked her down.

( SUB : Yes. From the damage done to the SAT members, we could confirm that Lucy came ashore, but we still haven't tracked her down. )

Kurama: As gifted as she is at killing, I imagine she'll find it difficult to keep a low profile for long.

( SUB : I can't imagine that bloodthirsty killer will continue to hide quietly. )

( Shirakawa, an attractive woman with glasses, looks to be all business but her voice in comparison to her appearance shows that her emotions are at least partially in play; her hair is in a bun; her mind at least is a bit less focused. )

Shirakawa: Regardless, I hope we won't have to use Number Seven.

( SUB : That maybe so, but I don't think you need to even use # 7. )

( They stand outside a room marked with a large Red '7' on each side of the automatic door halves; A lab tech is seen; the English dub is missing his dialogue, but it is revealed in subtitles. )

Kurama: What's her condition?

( SUB : Assistant (Isobe?) Subtitled only : Since we've been performing pretty severe experiments continuously, I don't know if we can use her or not. )

( A manacled hand with blood dripping down the arm of a naked girl drizzled in blood, next to a puddle of blood; at the sound of Kurama's voice, she almost seems to come back to life. She is seen to have horns as well, meaning Lucy is not the only one of her kind. Her hair is very close to Lucy's reddish-pink as well. )

Nana: Pa-pa…

( SUB : Papa . )

Next Episode Announcer : It's too cruel to describe it with the word love. ( A bloodied but perked up Nana, still chained, speaks to Kurama who watches impassively ) What she felt was a sad imitation. ( A carving game breaks apart; Young Kouta smirks just a bit; Yuka in the present washes her face amidst tears in a green-shaded tiled porcelain sink with a single older-style faucet and water puddling inside it ) Created in a world ruled by eternal pain and despair, that synthetic emotion could only serve a single goal. ( Nyu snuggles with Kouta; Wanta is leashed outside of Maple House; Shirakawa looks at Isobe; Nana's eyes open; Mayu first enters Maple House; Bando, his eyes covered, thrashes about; Nyu's face darkened, she turns around to reveal Lucy, who sends vectors at Kouta; Kurama shows X-Rays of a Diclonius; Nyu smiles; X-Ray of a Diclonius skull. ) On the next Elfen Lied, Episode Three: Deep Feelings.

( SUB : It was already too cruel to describe it with the word love. It was a sad imitation, created in a world where only eternal pain and despair rule, only to achieve a single goal. Next Elfen Lied, Episode Three : Deep Feelings. )
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