ZETSUAI 1989 Koji: (Monologue) It was the summer of my fifth grade when that person suddenly appeared before my eyes. His movements...the power of it, it overwhelmed the other players out there. His eyes were like that of a wild animal^Òs...those bright magnetic eyes. After I saw him that day, that feeling inside me...it was something I will never forget for as long as I live. *** (Title intro.) *** (Scene: Gas station) Male voice: It^Òs raining very hard, let me lend you an umbrella. Izumi: No, I^Òd like to jog home. (Pushes door open) I^Òm leaving. Male voice: Take it easy. (Izumi jogs, passing a billboard with Koji^Òs picture. He runs on, leaps over the unconscious form of Koji then walks back and looks down at him.) *** (Scene: Koji wakes to see Izumi sleeping next to him. Startled, he sits up quickly.) Koji: (Thought) I have no interest sleeping with men... Izumi: (Reaches over and feels Koji^Òs forehead) You^Òre still burning up. You bastard! (Slaps Koji) Whoever you are, I don^Òt care. But if you pass out from drinking in middle of a rain storm, you^Òll die! Koji: You- (Coughs) Izumi: You^Òll be fine. Go back to sleep. (Looks at the clock) Oh, no! (Gets up) Hey, I have to go to a practice. Until the fever lowers, you just rest here. (From the doorway) I fixed some food, help yourself. Since your clothes were dirtied, I asked my teacher to wash them. Koji: (Holding his head) Teacher? Who^Òs that? Izumi: None of your business. You^Òre sick, just get some sleep. (Runs down the stairs) Koji: What the...? That guy...(Closes eyes) My head^Òs killing me. (Lies back, thought:) I remember taking someone^Òs car while I was at Chususan. Then I went to Nanso...then abandoned the car at Chudo...went drinking at...(Closes eyes, falling asleep) *** (Scene: At Koji^Òs manager^Òs office) Male voice: Really? Koji caught a flu? Female voice: I^Òm sorry, please cancel... Overlapping male voice: No, he^Òs not hospitalized. (Toshuyuki sighs and closes door) Katsumi: What a troublesome guy. We lose contact with him and everything gets screwed up. he should^Òve alt least told me where he was going. What a thoughtless man. Toshuyuki: Katsumi, you really don^Òt know where he is? Katsumi: I don^Òt know. Toshi, you can^Òt worry too much about a man like him. Man on TV: It^Òs too bad. Koji Nanjo had caught a flu and now he^Òs recovering at home. Woman on TV: It^Òs really awful! Man on TV: For now, please enjoy the video of Nanjo^Òs latest song, "The Crimson Scar". *** (Scene: Izumi runs by a TV store with all the screens displaying Koji^Òs video. Izumi pauses and stares at it. Scene fades to Izumi looking at Koji^Òs sleeping form. He lies back.) Izumi: (Thought:) This man must be.... *** (Scene pans over buildings littered with Koji^Òs campaign ads.) Female voice 1: You saw the news last night? Female voice 2: They said Koji caught a flu. I was so worried that I cried. Female voice 1: They said he may have laryngitis also. Female voice 2: Really? What if his condition gets worse? Female voice 1: I^Òll die! *** (Scene pans over Koji^Òs sleeping profile.) Izumi: Koji, get up! Koji: Manager, please let me sleep for five more minutes. Izumi: )Puzzled. A moment later, he sneezes. Koji sits up and looks at him) Excuse me. Koji: (Feels Izumi^Òs forehead) You have a fever. You should rest for two-three days. Izumi: (Slaps Koji^Òs hand aside) Tomorrow^Òs the big meet and I can^Òt stop practicing. Koji: Sick people should rest. Isn^Òt that what you told me yesterday? Izumi: I am not sick. Even if I was a little feverish, I won^Òt stop playing soccer. I^Òll fall behind. Koji: Fall behind? You^Òre not cute* at all. (Slang for annoying or stubborn) Izumi: You should talk. You think you ought to stay away from home? Don^Òt lie to me, you^Òre Koji Nanjo aren^Òt you? Did you run away? Work becoming too difficult? Someone who didn^Òt like you after you? There must be a major reason. Koji: Nothing. There^Òs no reason. Izumi: I heard there^Òs chaos at your managerial staff^Òs office. No doubt the entertainment industry will also- Koji: (Cuts in) There^Òs nothing wrong with my career. My situation with women is in disarray, that^Òs all. Izumi: I can^Òt stand people who can^Òt take care of their own problems. (Gets up) Now that you^Òre better, please leave. Your clothes are clean. I left it over there. I left your wallet in my desk. (Leaves) (Koji hold self, quivering.) Koji: (Thought:) What^Òs going on? My body^Òs in shock. That feeling... *** (Scene: Koji pulls the desk drawer out, gets his wallet and puts on his shirt. He notices and takes out the picture with the three Izumi kids in front of an orphanage.) Koji: (Thought:) That boy...he grew up in an orphanage. (Slips the picture back and closes the drawer.) *** (Setting: Water running off tap, female voices in background.) Female voice 1: Koji Nanjo used to be a head honcho around here. He loves to fight. Everyone knows not to pick a fight with him, they know he^Òs no coward. Female voice 2: You^Òre lying! Female voice 1: Really! My brother used to be in his class when Koji was in Junior High. Female voice 2: How come? Female voice 1: Nanjo Koji^Òs from this area. (Izumi appears startled) Female voice 2: I didn^Òt know that... *** (Scene: A taxi drives up to the orphanage depicted in the picture. Koji steps out and confronts a woman at the playground.) Woman: So, it was you. Takuto called me in the middle of the night to ask me how to care for the sick and what to cook for them. He said you had a very high fever. He was really worried but now, it seemed you^Òre much better. Koji: Thanks to all you blessings. Sorry for all the trouble. This place here, Takuto told me...and about his parents also... Woman: Really? Even though he^Òs only five years-old, something like that will have an everlasting impression. Mother killing the father... Koji: (In shock) Mother killing the father.....? Izumi: (Opens the front gate) Teacher, thanks for yesterday- (Sees Koji) What are you doing here? *** (Scene: On a cat walk over night traffic) Izumi: What do you want? Say it. Koji: Your situation, I am a little concerned. Why was he murdered? Your mother killed your father? Izumi: (Surprised then angry. Grabs Koji by his shirt) How did you know about that? (Koji takes Izumi^Òs hand off him and forces it away.) Izumi: (Winces) You- Koji: That^Òs not relevant. I^Òm just asking. Izumi: Whatever your intentions are, I don^Òt know. But if you come any closer, I will not forgive you. (Turns and leaves) (Koji goes into a mild shock, staring after Izumi.) Koji: (Thought:) That look...Why am I so persistent? It must be- (Izumi falls, fainting.) *** (Setting: Izumi lies in his darkened bedroom.) Izumi: I have to go. If not, I^Òll be fired. Koji: I know. Just go to sleep. Izumi: Who are you? Why are you here suddenly? (Koji closes door as Izumi falls asleep.) *** (Scene: At Club D) Female voice 1: Look there! Could such kind of man exist? Female voice 2: No way, he can^Òt be real! Female voice 3: Ummmm, not bad at all. Female voice 2: Who is he? *** (Scene: Gas station) Koji: (As a car drives off) Thank you. Worker: Is Izumi sick? You^Òre his friend? Koji: Yes. *** (Scene: Koji running) Koji: (Thought:) From seven to eleven he works as a waiter at a club and twelve to three at the gas station. Then he jogs home. He^Òs also part of the school^Òs athletic team. What kind of a guy is he? This is the first time I cared so much about another person. No, this is the second. What are you doing Nanjo Koji? Snap out of it. Why did you let that guy get you so messed up? *** (Scene: At a soccer field) Opponent player 1: We just keep on the game plan. All we have to do is keep an eye out for one of their players. Opponent player 2: This is only half time. Home team player: Ah! Got taken two points just before half time. They^Òve gotten better. Serika: Big brother! Izumi: (Look over) What the...? Even you came, Serika. Serika: I^Òm here to cheer you on. You have to win! Izumi: Ah- (Looks over as Koji speaks) Koji: What a cute little sister. (Waves) Please to meet you. Serika: (Looks over and back to Izumi, blushes) Big brother...? Izumi: You... You are so hard-headed. Koji: I just came to see you play with that fever so I can laugh at you when you pass out. Izumi: Very sorry but I don^Òt intend on passing out. Koji: It doesn^Òt matter. You shouldn^Òt be forcing yourself to play with that fever. Why did you come out to the field at all? Izumi: What did you say? Koji: If you^Òre going to lose, please do so in an amusing way. (Izumi grimaces) Coach: Izumi! Second half^Òs beginning! (Izumi storms off) Serika: Big brother! (Glances to Koji, blushes and looks down) May I ask, what is your relation to my brother? Koji: Friends. Serika: Really?! I^Òve never heard him talk about it. That^Òs great. Koji: Great? Why^Òs that? Serika: My brother^Òs very good to my little brother and I but toward other people... His coldness towards them even surprises me. That^Òs why he^Òs often alone. (Izumi was passed the ball. He kicks and scores.) Serika: incredible! Koji: (Wide eyed, thought:) So he^Òs that person! (Flashback:) Six years ago, like a nail being driven through my heart...that magnetic look. So that^Òs him! (Izumi scores again. His team rejoices the win. Izumi stands alone, eyes closed and held up.) Koji: (Thought:) So that^Òs why my heart^Òs been restless. That^Òs why my body went into shock. Izumi starts to fall backwards, fainting.) Serika: Big brother! (Koji drops his shades and catches him.) Female 1: Look! Isn^Òt that Koji Nanjo? Female 2: Nanjo Koji? You^Òre lying! Female 3: It^Òs Koji! Female 4: Koji! Nanjo Koji! (The gathered crowd calls out Koji^Òs name, waves, taking pictures.) Koji: (Annoyed) Enough! Quiet down! (Crowd sighs in disappointment.) Serika: (Thought:) Nanjo Koji^Òs big brother^Òs friend? *** (Scene: Hospital) Doctor: It^Òs a lung infection. If he improves overnight, he should be fine. Just in case something serious happens, please notify his guardian to come here. Serika: Yes. (Leans over Izumi) Big brother? Koji: Who^Òs the guardian? Serika: It^Òs my mother. Koji: Yours? Serika: My foster mother that took in me and my younger brother. (Gets up and leaves) I^Òll go and make the phone call. Izumi: (Weakly raises his arm) Did I...Did I win...the game? Koji: (Takes Izumi^Òs raised hand, runs his other hand through Izumi^Òs hair) Don^Òt worry, you won. You^Òre burning up. Didn^Òt I tell you so? But you played very well. Izumi: (Smiles, a tear trickles from the closed eyes) Father... (Koji, mesmerized by Izumi^Òs tear, focuses on his lips. He starts to lean forward to kiss them. At the last moment he pulls back and leaps away form the bed.) Koji: (Thought:) What am I doing?! Awhile ago I- (Puts his hand over his mouth) Snap out of it Nanjo Koji! You^Òre screwing yourself up....(Bites his tongue) Because he shed a tear for that moment- Serika: (Returns) My mother said she^Òs on her way. Koji: (Thought:) Calm down, my heart... Serika: Mr. Nanjo, you^Òre bleeding. Koji: (Pulls Serika to him and embraces her) Just what^Òs going on with me? Why did I act that way toward a man? It felt like.... *** (Scene: Katsumi driving in his car. His mind echoes Toshuyuki^Òs words.) Toshuyuki: Koji appeared at a soccer game? Why? Katsumi, hurry and bring him home. Katsumi: (To self) He^Òs not the kind of guy that^Òll come home when you tell him to. That^Òll call for a performance, too. *** (Scene: Koji lying in bed with a woman.) Woman: (Leans over Koji) You thinking about a new lover, little brother? Always the same. It^Òs okay if you play with women but don^Òt play with this one. It^Òs not good for you. Koji: A big star like you, could it be good for you to be with me? Woman: I don't know. (Plays with Koji^Òs dog tags) Are you really sixteen years-old? At this age, you^Òre nothing like a high school kid. Everything seemed very clear to you. You^Òre terrible! (Kisses Koji, who didn^Òt respond) Koji: I^Òd like to borrow your car. *** (Scene: Koji driving through the dark, desolate highway, picking up speed.) *** (Setting: Hospital, Izumi^Òs room) Serika: He^Òs waking up. Big Brother? Doctor: The fever^Òs down, should be no more problems. Just stay in the hospital for a couple more days and he^Òll be fine. Guardian: Thank you. Izumi: What happened to me? Serika: You don^Òt remember? At the competition yesterday, you fainted after the game. Mr. Nanjo delivered you here. Izumi: Him? Really? So that hand I felt in my hair, it was just a dream. Katsumi: Excuse me. Serika: Oh, that man came by awhile ago. Katsumi: I^Òm Shibuya Katsumi, Koji^Òs friend. Izumi: Him? Katsumi: I have a question to ask you. He^Òs not willing to come back to show business, why? Izumi: Why would I know something like that? Katsumi: Don^Òt say that. Please tell me. It^Òs been difficult to just track you down to this hospital. (Koji enters) The main attraction appears. Koji: Shibuya, what are you doing here? Katsumi: What else would I be doing here? I^Òm here to bring you home. Koji: I^Òm not going home. Please tell Toshuyuki. Katsumi: I knew you were going to say that but I can^Òt let you continue like this. (Holds up a newspaper) It^Òs already become like this. Look! (Tosses it on Izumi^Òs bed. Izumi^Òs eyes widens) Disappearing suddenly was already making headlines. (Izumi picks up the paper) So everyone^Òs going to investigate everything. What is a rock star doing with a young boy that witnessed a parent^Òs murder twelve years ago? This has become a hot news item. Of course, you never thought it would come to this. Izumi: (Softly) Get out. (Shouts) Get out of here! Serika: Big brother! Izumi: Why did you come? Why did you have to intrude into my life? Even your face, I don^Òt want to see it! Koji: (Turns toward door) The incident that happened was unfortunate but you^Òre not the one who committed the murder. Why are you holding on to someone else^Òs past? (Furious, Izumi threw his water pitcher at Koji. It struck the wall, shattering. One piece grazed Koji^Òs cheek.) *** (Scene: At Toshuyuki^Òs office. Koji looks grimly out of the window.) Toshuyuki: Regardless, we have to follow today^Òs schedule. Now, you have to go to a photo session then complete a shoot at Chusan...then film a video at- Are you listening to me, Koji? Koji: (Thought, in Izumi^Òs voice:) I don^Òt know anything! Just get out! *** (Koji^Òs song/video spliced with various scenes.) (Scene 1: Backstage) Serika: I^Òm sorry. I wanted to see you. Since yesterday, he hasn^Òt said a word. Koji: Really? How is he? Serika: He should be discharged from the hospital tomorrow. (Gasps when a photographer peers around the corner and snaps a picture just as Koji looks over.) *** (Scene 2: The picture taken appeared in newspaper with headline: "...Koji Nanjo^Òs new lover?" *** (Scene 3: Reporters and cameramen crowding at Izumi^Òs apartment door, shouting questions over each other.) Izumi: (Annoyed, closes door on them) Go home! Reporter 1: Please talk to us. We knew you were the sole witness to the murder. Reporter 2: Nanjo and your sister, is there something going on between them? Reporter 3: A word or two, come on! *** (Scene 4: Katsumi at steering wheel, chauffeuring Koji) Katsumi: There^Òs a tragedy involving Takuto. He was almost killed by the mother also. Instead, he suffered a serious wound on his left hip. The kids spent some time at the orphanage. His two siblings were adopted by a wealthy couple but he refused to be taken in. He went to work to support himself instead. Koji: (Thought:) The wound on his left hip... *** (Scene 5: A little boy runs towards Izumi, crying) Boy: Big brother Takuto! (Runs into Izumi^Òs arms) Izumi: What^Òs wrong? Did you get into another fight? Katsumi^Òs voice in background: He^Òs a prodigal in soccer but he turned down all the offers to go national. Boy: Everyone said I was a murder convict^Òs son! It^Òs not true! They^Òre lying, right? (Izumi grits his teeth, recalling his own childhood) *** (Scene 6: Flashback to when Izumi was a child) Child voice 1: Murderer^Òs son! Child voice 2: Don^Òt go near him or you^Òll be killed too! Child voice 3: Your mother^Òs a killer! Adult female^Òs voice: Don^Òt play with a child like that! Katsumi^Òs voice in background: (Izumi, as a child, runs off from the taunting voices) He lives alone, refusing any help and refusing to be near or close to anyone. His frigid attitude; there must be many tragedies that followed in his life. Koji: (At end of his music video, thought:) The wound he^Òs hidden for over ten years, I^Òm going to tear it open. *** (Scene: Katsumi looks through the blinds to a sports field in Koji^Òs apartment) Katsumi: From here, you can see Izumi^Òs school^Òs sports field. You planned to move here some time ago but before you move, let the office know. Don^Òt just go, "I^Òm going to move" without telling us where. You^Òre such a problem, really. Koji: Just how long are you going to lecture me, Shibuya? Katsumi: Just what happened between you and Izumi? Koji: I don^Òt know. Katsumi: Are you going to create another scandal? Koji: I won^Òt encounter him again. Katsumi: (Sighs and smiles) What you say and what you do are not the same, Koji. (Exits) *** (Scene: Koji looks out to the field though the blinds) Koji: (Thought:) Just what is this? My body^Òs reacting faster than my head. (Watching Izumi run on the track) Maybe if I am with a woman now, perhaps I won^Òt feel this way. My body^Òs reacting like my heart...just like last time. (Scene fades into images of making love to Izumi in his head. He squeezes his eyes shut to end it.) Stop this! This kind of feeling...I have to end it! *** (Scene: Serika^Òs standing at a street corner in the rain. Izumi comes up to her. Koji watches from a car across the street.) Izumi: Serika, what are you doing here? Serika: I^Òve been waiting for you. Izumi: What happened? Serika: It^Òs nothing like that. Izumi: Really? Serika: Big brother, when is your next meet? Izumi: Uh...You don^Òt need to come. Serika: Why? The last meet, you didn^Òt tell me the time also. How come? Izumi: No reason. Let^Òs go. Serika: I^Òm sorry, big brother. Izumi: Why did you suddenly-? Serika: Within this twelve years, you could^Òve gone into national levels but you won^Òt do it. You refused it all because you^Òre afraid if you^Òre known, everyone will know about our past. We can^Òt take it any more, that^Òs why. Because of us, you won^Òt pursue your dream in soccer, right? Izumi: That^Òs not it. Serika: It^Òs okay now. Please don^Òt bear this cross any more! Please give it all in your soccer career! Izumi: That^Òs not it! Koji: What^Òs not it? (Shuts the car door) What she said was right. Serika: Mr. Nanjo... Izumi: You! You think you^Òre doing me a favor coming here now? Koji: (Approaches them) I apologize. I don^Òt really have any specific intentions to be here. But, you love soccer and you^Òre concerned about your brother and sister. You can^Òt leave soccer because of this...because you want to be the best in Japan. Those who didn^Òt think much of you, they would feel embarrassed if they found out why you^Òre holding back. Izumi: Shut up! You think I didn^Òt think about that?! Everyone said they understand me! What do they know?! (Throws soccer ball into the street) This is what I think of soccer! (Koji and Izumi stares at each other. Ball rolls and rests in middle of the street.) Serika: (Breaks into a run toward the ball) Big brother is an idiot! (As Serika crouches down to retrieve the ball, a truck appears. Izumi starts to go toward Serika but Koji pulls him back as he rushes out to push Serika out of the way. The truck screeches to a stop a distance away. Izumi runs up to them.) Izumi: (Sees blood on Koji, horrified) Koji... Trucker: (Gets out of the truck) Is he okay? Izumi: Hurry! Call an ambulance! Hurry up! Koji: (Struggles up) No...don^Òt call...No need. It^Òs nothing. Izumi: What are you talking about? You^Òre bleeding so much- Koji: I^Òm fine. Just take care of the situation between you and your sister. (Walks toward his car) If you let it drag on, it^Òll only compound the problem. (Izumi appears to be mystified.) Serika: Big brother! Please go to him! He^Òs hurt! Big brother! Izumi: (Whispers) Why? (Koji reaches his car. Izumi stands up) Izumi: Why did you run in front of the truck? Why did you push me aside? Koji: Didn^Òt you have a match to go to? (Izumi watches Koji drive off, speechless.) *** (Scene: At Koji^Òs concert. His left arm in a sling. Katsumi and Toshuyuki watches from the stage wing.) Toshuyuki: Did he really break his left shoulder? Katsumi: Yes. Toshuyuki: How? Katsumi: Don^Òt know. When I picked him up this morning, he^Òd already done it. Toshiyuki: He didn^Òt have it treated by a doctor. Should he continue to perform after an hour and half? Katsumi: (Sighs) He said the pain^Òs the form of retribution he needed. (Music continues. Scene shifts to Izumi lying on the floor of his apartment listening to the same song on a CD player; Koji^Òs CD with a note from Serika scattered next to him. As Izumi^Òs eyes opens, he recalls:) (Flashback) Mother: I^Òm sorry, Takuto! I love your father! I love your father to death! I refuse to let your father go on like this...thinking he could leave me...abandon me.... Father: Takuto, leave here. Izumi: No! Mother: I love you...(Stabs father) I love you so much that I don^Òt even want myself. Please tell me why! Please explain it to me, Takuto! (End flashback sequence) *** (Scene: Izumi catching his breath at a solo soccer practice.) Izumi: (Thought:) I can^Òt tell you why. How could I tell you about something that I don^Òt even understand myself? (A soccer ball rolls up to Izumi, taps his foot. He glances up to see Koji leaning against the goal post.) Koji: What are you practicing, kicking balls into a guardless goal? Izumi: Mind your own business. (Picks up a ball) Koji: You can kick very well into a defenseless goal but if you can get one in on me, it may be a little scary. (Removes jacket) Izumi: (Drops ball) If you think you can, just try to block one of my balls. (Izumi kicks one ball after another into the net. Finally, Koji sees another coming and focuses on it. He catches it, slides from the impact. Izumi appeared stunned.) Koji: I got it! Izumi: Luck! Next one! Koji: Go ahead! (Sun setting. Koji^Òs sitting in front of the goal. Izumi^Òs kneeling. Both catching their breathes.) Izumi: What a stubborn guy. Koji: I did block them. Izumi: You^Òre up to par playing the game but if I kicked it toward your left, why didn^Òt you use your left hand to catch the ball? (Comes to a sudden realization, looks to Koji) You must^Òve been hurt when- Koji: After it^Òs completely healed, when I can use my left arm, I know I can be your adversary playing your level. Izumi: What the? Why do you want to be a goal keeper? Koji: Because I like watching your soccer games. I^Òm a fan. Your soccer fan. Izumi: What a strange thing to say. (Lies down on his side) No matter, I still would like to thank you for saving my sister and going to work for me. Koji: Please don^Òt let it bother you. I like doing things for you. Would you be willing to let me practice with you again? Izumi: Don^Òt be silly. You^Òre a very busy celebrity. Koji: I^Òll make time. I^Òll rearrange my schedule. Izumi: (After a pause, his voice even) Do you have someone in your life? Koji: (Startled) I do. I love her very much. Izumi: You said you love her very much...what does it feel like? Koji: I want to be with her. To be near her. To protect her. To forget myself so I can devote myself to her. I want to touch her...to idealize her. That^Òs what it^Òs like. Izumi: Really? Could one person love another this much? (Gets up) I can^Òt understand it. Koji: The competition tomorrow, let me be there to see you win. Izumi: No need for you to say it. I will win. (Runs off) Koji: (Stares after him, thought:) Yes, that^Òs how you should be. *** Koji: (Monologue) Izumi Takuto said he will be victorious and he was. One win after another. Finally, he took his team into the National final.) *** (Scene: At the National championship game. One player from opposing team trips Izumi. He falls and gets up.) Izumi: Damn it... Announcer: The opposing defense won^Òt let Izumi near the ball. Katsumi: The opposing team saw everything very clearly. All they have to do is stay on Izumi. Announcer: There^Òs not much time left. (Izumi^Òs school team) is in for a hard battle/ (Izumi falls again. Referee blows his whistle. Izumi runs along the side field.) Izumi: (Thought:) Only if I could get to the ball. (Izumi falls again when a player slides into him. He lies on the field, holding his leg.) Announcer: Is Izumi all right? He^Òd fallen many times already. He looked like he^Òd hurt his leg. Katsumi: How is he going to go on like that? Koji, let^Òs go. You^Òve got a show to do today. Koji: (A tear wells up and falls. Thought:) Damn it! I^Òm so near but I can^Òt help him. (Izumi gets up) Announcer: He looks like he^Òs okay. How long is the opposing defense going to pin down Izumi? (Koji bursts into a run down the stadium.) Katsumi: You idiot! Koji! (Koji leaps over the railing and onto the field. A referee turns to him.) Koji: Pass the ball to Izumi! Referee: You can^Òt enter the ball field! Koji: Don^Òt just stand there like idiots! Just pass the ball to Izumi! You^Òll win! (Izumi charges and takes the ball away) Announcer: The ball^Òs taken by Izumi! The competition^Òs nearing its climax! This could make or break the game! Katsumi: Amazing... Announcer: What a player! He may take it all the way to the goal! (Izumi makes one hard kick at the goal. The ball goes in, breaking the net.) Announcer: Score!!! The game is over! (Izumi^Òs team) is victorious! The team will be heading out to compete internationally. Koji: (Leaning over the railing. Thought:) I^Òve been alive for sixteen years. I^Òve never had this kind of obsessive feeling before. It was as if I was out there, chasing after that ball... *** (Scene: Katsumi^Òs driving Koji in his car. Koji stares out of the window passively.) Katsumi: Koji, I^Òve known you for a long time but I am shocked by this. What you^Òre feeling, it^Òs love isn^Òt it? You can^Òt go on like this because soon you^Òll be forced to stop. No, you must stop. Koji: Why? Katsumi: Takuto^Òs a soccer star. He^Òs virtually unrivaled. Today^Òs match brought him into international competition level and it also gave the scouts a chance to take a look at him. With his abilities, no doubt he^Òll be drafted. And because of how good he is, he^Òll be picked up by other countries^Ò teams. If so, you won^Òt be able to pursue him anymore. (Koji appears to be horrified.) *** (Scene: Izumi^Òs school) Coach: We^Òve just received word form the committee. Because of your showing in today^Òs match, your talent^Òs been recognized. Izumi, you^Òll be sponsored to Italy to continue playing on the soccer scholarship. Izumi: (Surprised) Italy? (Izumi walks out to the top of the staircase, slides down the railing, laughs as he runs to the exit. He opens the doors, looks at the rain and shields himself with his book bag. He caught the sight of Koji by the goal posts.) Izumi: Koji- (Runs over) What are you doing? Koji: (Looks up) Izumi...I^Òve been waiting for you. (Collapses) *** (Scene at Koji^Òs apartment. Koji opens his eyes gradually and finds himself staring at the ceiling. He sits up. Izumi turns to look at him from the window.) Koji: You brought me here? Izumi: I saw you watching the sports field often from here. Didn^Òt you have something to say to me? Koji: I^Òd like to continue our soccer practices. Izumi: Idiot! It^Òs raining hard out! There^Òs no need for you to be so attentive to me nor do you need to watch over me nor encourage me- Koji: (Cuts in) I won^Òt stop it! Even if I have to lose sleep, I won^Òt give up our practice time. Izumi: (Puzzled) Why are you so persistent? Koji: Because that^Òs the only time you and I can be together. Because of that...(Shouts) That^Òs why! Izumi: What the...? You- Koji: If I wasn^Òt a performer and if I pursued soccer when I was young, I would^Òve achieved your status. (Looks over then rises from the couch) Before you go far away, I have something to tell you. (Walks toward Izumi) The one person I really love...(Pauses a step away from Izumi) It^Òs you, Izumi. (Thunder strikes) Izumi: (Softly) What did you say? Koji: I love you. (Grabs Izumi) Izumi: (Resisting) What are you doing?! (Koji pushes Izumi against the wall, knocking down a potted plant then forces Izumi down to the floor, pinning him.) Koji: What am I doing? Do you need to ask? I want to make love to you! (Koji tears open Izumi^Òs shirt. Izumi strikes Koji and as he falls backwards, he knocks a brandy bottle off the table.) Izumi: Is this some kind of a joke? I am a man! Koji: (Grabs Izumi^Òs ankle. Izumi falls back down to the floor.) Yes, because of that, even I lost hope in myself but I want to end it this way. Izumi: (Grabs the bottle and throws it at the window, shattering it) Don^Òt do this ! (Koji sees the shower of glass pieces raining down and leans over Izumi more to hover over him, shielding him. One piece strikes and sinks into Koji^Òs right shoulder. Izumi gasps.) Koji: If this continues, I^Òll only fall in love with you even more. (Takes the glass piece from his shoulder) If you leave me, I will kill you. No matter where you go, I will find you. So, before it comes to that, I would like you to stop it. (Places the bloodied glass in Izumi^Òs hand) Please kill me. (Izumi holds the bloodied glass traumatized and in shock. He recalls his mother^Òs words) Mother^Òs voice: I^Òm sorry, Takuto! I love your father! I love your father to death! Koji: You should stop me. If not...(Holds Izumi^Òs head and kisses him. Izumi struggles for a moment then weakens. Koji lowers Izumi^Òs pants, revealing the scar at his hip.) Izumi: Don^Òt touch it! (Koji stares at the scar.) Izumi: Why? Why did you have to say die? Why did you have to kill? Why did you have to think like that? Koji: (Breaks into tears) I didn^Òt want it to be like this. But if you don^Òt kill me, I might commit the worst atrocity to you... because I love you, damn it! (Izumi, his eyes distant and unfocused, lets the glass fall from his hand. Koji sobs softly.) *** (Scene: Koji kneeling, holding his bloodied shoulder.) Koji: (Monologue) There^Òs no way to go back now. From that moment on, I know I couldn^Òt achieve happiness. Now, reflecting on thoughts of you, my heart felt like it^Òs about to burst. No one can stop me now. Not even myself... fin