the cutting room mirror

Part 3

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This is a sub-page of Proto:Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium.

Wreckage#

In a slight diversion from the main mission, the Phab Phive investigate a wrecked something-or-other northwest of the town of Nalya and stumble upon its main control system.

May Script

This...
there's something shining.

August Script

This...there's lights flashing.

Final Script

This..there're lights flashing.

I know what it is
Move over, Chaz!

Wow, pretty impressive.

It's a pretty hard security code
to break, but...there!
We can now access the main
computer's memory!

What's this?

Look! It says that this is the
space ship that escaped from
Parma a thousand years ago!

What! Really?!
But...Parma exploded
a thousand years ago!?

Oh, you know about that?

Yes...I learned about it
at the academy.

May Script

Parma, the first planet of the
Algo solar system,
was destroyed in AW 1284 when
the man-made satellite, Gaira,
crashed on it...
Today, the only vestiges of
Parma is the asteroid belt.

Final Script

Parma, the first planet of the
Algo solar system,
was destroyed in AW 1284 when
the artificial satellite, Gaira,
crashed into it...
Today, the only vestige of
Parma is the asteroid belt.

Translation Notes
The later scripts avoid using the term "man-made" when describing the satellites, and instead use the word "artificial". Two possibilities: This was changed either because Parmanians aren't actually human, or because they thought "man-made" was a gendered term.

But there were people
that were able to escape!

According to the records...
just before the explosion,
some people were able to
escape...
This space ship was damaged,
and became trapped in orbit
around Motavia.
They floated around in space
until all the humans aboard
died. But the computer was
able to sustain itself with
its self-repairing mechanisms.

They all...died?

According to the flight chart...
the orbit slowly decayed over
the last thousand years...
the ship finally crashed here!

Then...that means all the
Parmanians perished?!

May Script

Oh no. This is not the only ship
that escaped from Parma!
It seems that other similar
ships were able to escape
successfully.
Most of them landed either in
Motavia or Dezolis, but
it looks like some of them went
right out of the Algo solar
system.
I can't get an accurate number,
but it looks like some tens of
ships.

Final Script

Wait... This is not the only
ship that escaped from Parma!
It seems that other similar
ships were able to escape
successfully.
Most of them landed either in
Motavia or Dezolis, but
it looks like some of them went
right out of the Algo solar
system.
I can't get an accurate number,
but it looks like some tens of
ships.

Translation Notes
The term used here in the Japanese version, "数十", could translate to either "tens" or "dozens" of ships. The exact number isn't important: What the player is supposed to take away from this is that only a few score of ships made it out of the system.

...So they're still continuing
their flight...
somewhere in the universe...

Zio's Fort#

On their way to the top of Zio's fortress, the force encounter a strange pupilless man.

You are...

May Script

I am Juza. Consider it
impossible to get into the
presence of
Zio.
Unless you defeat me!

Final Script

I am Juza. You will never get
near
Zio - unless you defeat me!


...so they defeat him, and find an artificial humanoid bound to a wall at the top of the tower. PhantasyStarIVCutsceneRescueDemi1.png PhantasyStarIVCutsceneRescueDemi2.png PhantasyStarIVCutsceneRescueDemi3.png

Who...who are you?

Alys Brangwin and company.

Thank you very much!
You are all injured,
are you not?

Allow me, it's the least I can
do to show my gratitude.

Huh...? I feel strength welling
inside me!?

May Script

It's my 'Medical Power.'
My name is Demi, and I am in
charge of controlling 'Nurvus.'

August Script

It's my 'Medical Power.'
My name is Demi, and I am in
charge of controlling Nurvus.

Final Script

It's my Medical Power.
My name is Demi, and I am in
charge of controlling Nurvus.

Whew! I heard she was supposed
to be an Android,
but this is beyond my
expectations!

She's no different than a human
being!

May Script

Be that as it may.
Demi, could you stop the
transmission of energy to the
system that's malfunctioning?
it, right?

Final Script

Be that as it may.
Demi, can you stop the
transmission of energy to the
system that's malfunctioning?
You're the only one who can do
it, right?

Translation Notes
There's a misplaced control code somewhere in the May script, leading to an entire line of dialogue being skipped.

Yes. I, too, have tried to
freeze the entire system,
but...

Go no further.

Who's that!

That voice! It's Zio!

Wh...what is this?
I feel...this incredible menace!

Zio! You son of a...!

May Script

Watch your tonuge son. So you
thought you would sneak in while
the owner's out.

Final Script

Watch your tongue son. So you
thought you would sneak in while
the owner's out, eh, you little
sneak thief?

Translation Notes
In the Japanese version, Zio calls the party "どろぼう猫", which could literally translate to "cat-thief". Strangely, this isn't in the May draft, so either they coincidentally added a similar line to later drafts, or there was still someone translating the Japanese text at that point.

Take a look at your own evil
self before you dare put us
down!
Think about all you've done!

May Script

Hmmph. So I've wrought damage
to Motavia.
What's wrong with eliminating
worms.

Final Script

Hmmph. So I've wrought damage
to Motavia.
What's wrong with eliminating
worms?

Worms?
You dare call us worms?!
You...you...
I cannot forgive you!

May Script

Heh, heh, heh. Now, now. That's
the expression I want to see.
A face with pain and anguish,
a face with fear pleading for
help,
a face quivering with anger!
Go on, get angry!
Suffer! Be sad!
That would truly be the ultimate
offering to me and my great god!

Final Script

Heh, heh, heh. Now, now. That's
the expression I want to see!
A face filled with pain and
anguish, begging fearfully
for help, a face quivering
with anger!
Go on, get angry!
Suffer! Be sad!
That would truly be the ultimate
offering to me and my great god!

Translation Notes
The editor(s) clearly had a lot of fun with Zio's dialogue in later drafts. The same quality of rewriting comes up with a different villain much later in the game.

Your god?

Son of a...!
Blast! Come on!
Let's go everyone!

Wait, Chaz!
Zio! Do you understand what's
going on?
If we don't stop the systems
that are running out of control,
Motavia itself is going to
become uninhabitable.
You must let Demi...

May Script

Total annihilation of life,
What a fine thing.
Death to all that has lives!
Destruction to all that has
form!
That is indeed my desire!

Final Script

Total annihilation of life,
What a fine thing!
Death to all that lives!
Destruction to all that has
form!
That is indeed my desire!

That's crazy!

May Script

My god does not allow any life
forms in Algo!
Everything must be reverted to
nothingness
.
And I, with these very hands,
will do just that!

Final Script

My god will not tolerate any
life forms in Algo!
Everything must be wiped out.

And I, with these very hands,
will do just that!

That means you yourself
will be gone too!

May Script

If my god wishes that to be so
that is also my wish.

Final Script

If my god wishes that to be so,
that is also my wish.

You...you're out of your mind!

May Script

Fun and games are over with.
Anyone who dares get in my way
shall perish.
My humble self who has taken it
upon myself to do the wish of my
god will be cursed by thee.
Oh, the greatest, my one and
only ultimate god, 'Dark Force'!

Final Script

Fun and games are over with.
Anyone who dares get in my way
shall perish.
My humble self, who has taken it
upon myself to do the wish of my
god, shall destroy thee.
Oh, the greatest, my one and
only ultimate god, Dark Force!

Translation Notes
Another subject error - Zio's line in the May draft should be "shall curse thee".

'Dark Force'?

They try to attack Zio, but he just shrugs off their attacks. Zio sets forth to conjuring an image of Dark Force, which blasts a black wave of energy at Chaz. PhantasyStarIVCutsceneBlackWave1.png

Chaz! Careful! Ahhhh!

Alys?

We're in trouble!

We'd better make a temporary
retreat!

I think you're right.

We...we've lost!

Blast it!

May Script

Chaz! It won't work! Even Res
won't repair Alys's wounds!

Final Script

Chaz! It's no good! Even Gires
won't repair Alys's wounds!

Translation Notes
An editor must have thought that changing Res to the more powerful Gires would really emphasize how dire Alys's situation is.

No! Alys!

May Script

We'd better return to
the nearest village, Chaz!

Final Script

We'd better return to
my village, Chaz!

Translation Notes
Hahn just says "a village" in the Japanese version, but the closet village to Zio's Fort would be either Mile or Kadary. Since they end up in Krup, it was changed to "my village" in later English drafts.

Alys... sniff

Krup#

Alys...

I have no idea what
these symptoms are...

May Script

It looks like she isn't
getting any better.

Final Script

It appears she isn't getting
any better.

That Zio...there was something
different about him from other
enemies I've fought!

She refuses everything.
It's as if she's...
possessed by some evil power.

Damn you! Zio you devil!

May Script

We can rescue Demi,
if we shut down Nurvus...

Final Script

Can we save her
if we shut down Nurvus?

Translation Notes
Hahn's line in the May script should be "We've rescued Demi, so once we shut down Nurvus..." The final English line is close enough.

No, that won't work.
Nurvus is located in the
basement of Zio's Fort!
Actually, Zio has erected this
fort on top of Nurvus.

Oh, below that invisible
barrier!!

So we'll have to defeat
Zio after all!

Alys mentions that Rune should know some way to dispel the magic barrier. Rika says that magic should have ceased to exist ages ago, but Chaz confirms that he saw Rune using magic - Flaeli to be precise.

That's right...so if you can
get the cooperation of...
Rune...ooo!

Alys!
Chaz, who is Rune?

Oh, he's a disgusting,
conceited jerk!
I hate to admit it,
but we may have no choice
but to ask for his help.

Didn't Rune go off somewhere
with Grandfather Dorin?

May Script

If he's with
Grandfather Dorin...
perhaps he's gone to the
'Ladea Tower.'

Final Script

If he's with Grandfather
Dorin...
Perhaps he's gone to the
'Ladea Tower.'

Because he was saying something
about opening the gates to the
Ladea Tower.

Gryz goes on to say the tower is located beyond the quicksand in the east. Rune and Grandfather Dorin probably magiced their way across it, but Chaz and the rest aren't so lucky. Demi reveals that there's a "Land Rover", an all-purpose armor-plated car capable of moving across quicksand, in a hidden Machine Center south of Krup. Hahn agrees to stay behind to look after Alys.

Overworld#

South of Krup, a giant machine center rise out of the ground.

May Script

Yikes! You scared me!

Final Script

Yikes! That scared me!

Please, feel free
to enter.

Machine Center#

This place is still alive...
It has become independent from
Seed and Nurvus!

A lot of other machines are
housed here,
but they haven't been used for
a long time.
They probably need some
repairs.

I have no idea what these
machines are, but this is
some place.
You're pretty adept at
handling these machines.
Were you caught by Zio while
you were trying to get the
system back under control?

Yes, that's right.
Zio is very violent.

Very funny.

Translation Notes
This is an...oddly translated line. For more information, read this article from Legends of Localization.

Defeating Zio is not going to
solve the problem.

What? Isn't the system being
out of control a result of
Zio's doing?

May Script

Yes, that's so. The real cause
of the problem is that 'Zelan'
has been issuing abnormal
commands.

Final Script

No. The real cause of the
problem is that Zelan
has been issuing abnormal
commands.

Translation Notes
Rika originally asked if Zio wasn't responsible for the system going out of control (でも、みなさん、ジオを倒しても根本的解決にはなりませんのよ?), so "Yes, that's so." made sense there. Since Rika's question was rewritten, Demi's response had to be rewritten too.

Impossible! Not Zelan!

Zelan, what's that?

May Script

'Zelan' is the comprehensive
control base that controls the
Algo solar system's
environmental maintenance
system.
It's an orbiting station on the
other side of Motavia.

Final Script

Zelan is the central control
for the Algo solar system's
environmental maintenance
systems.

It's an orbiting station on the
other side of Motavia.

Translation Notes
As established previously, there are multiple environmental maintenance systems on Motavia.

Wow.

May Script

How are we going to get there?!

August Script

It will be quite a challenge
to get there.

Final Script

How are we going to get there?!

Translation Notes
One of two lines that was changed in the August script, then changed back for the final draft.

First, let's think about
defeating Zio and stopping
Nurvus!

Yeah, you're right.
It's not enough just defeating
Zio? If that's the case this
makes me worry about...
Dark Force!

May Script

Don't worry, it'll be alright!
I'll start the Land Rover
moving!
Let's go outside.
The Land Rover will be
waiting.

Final Script

Don't worry, it'll be alright!
I'll start the Land Rover up!
Let's go outside.
It will be waiting.


Monsen#

A quick stop at the town of Monsen across the giant quicksand pit.

Th...there's been earthquakes
recently...

As if on cue, another earthquake! Gryz starts spinning around.

Ahhhhh!
Help!

Yikes!
Wh...what's wrong, Gryz!

May Script

Oh, I get it!
Gryz's afraid of earthquakes,
aren't you, Gryz!

Final Script

Oh, I get it!
Gryz's afraid of earthquakes,
aren't you, Gryz?

Huh? Is that true?

What if I am afraid?
I can't help it!

Ha, ha, ha!
What a coward!

Oh, shut up!

At any rate,
with earthquakes happening so
often like this, it's a real
problem.

May Script

I'm sure...that the Plate System
is the cause of all this!

Final Script

I'm sure that the Plate System
is the cause of all this!

Plate System?

May Script

It's a system located just north
of here which controls Motavia's
planet surface.

I'm sure that system is
malfunctioning!

Final Script

It's a system located just north
of here which controls the
tectonic plates of
Motavia's
surface.
I'm sure that system is
malfunctioning!

Translation Notes
The Japanese script states that the system controls the crust of Motavia. Tectonic plates include both the crust and the uppermost mantle, but it is called the Plate System in both versions, so...there you go.

May Script

Well, if that's the case,
let's hurry up shut it down!

Final Script

Well, if that's the case,
let's shut it down!

Translation Notes
Instead of adding the "and" to the May draft, the later scripts just cut the line down a bit.

Some townspeople run up to the party.

May Script

What? You are going to stop
these earthquakes?

Final Script

What? You're going to stop
these earthquakes?

Oh, thank you very much!

What? Er...
we're kind of busy...

More townspeople come running in!

May Script

Oh, you'll do it?
Ahhhhh!


Final Script

Please. You must stop these
quakes.
Please.

Translation Notes
The citizens come off a little crazy in the May script; Hopefully that's a scream of appreciation, not rage.

But...

May Script

I wish you luck!

Final Script

Thanks!

They leave as quickly as they came.

Plate System#

In a dead end hallway, Chaz finds an interesting chest. Well, not the chest; What's interesting is what's inside.

May Script

What?
There's some weird machines
here.

Final Script

What?
There're some weird machines
here.

Weird! Don't be so rude.
These are spare parts for
androids.

Spare parts?

May Script

Yes, they look like weapon units
that are installed internally.
Let's see...they seem to be in
working order.
And they look like they will fit
my body.
I will install them right away.
Will you close your eyes and
turn your back?

Final Script

Yes, they look like internal
weapon units.
Let's see...they seem to be in
working order.
And they look like they will
fit.
I will install them right away.
Will you close your eyes and
turn your back?

Huh? Why?

Just do it,  Chaz!

Oh...

The screen fades to black for a bit as installation noises play, then fades back in.

Hmmm...
OK everybody, I'm done.
Now I'm powered up!

Translation Notes
The Japanese script states that she's powered up by 48%. Not sure what the exact percentage was removed.

I don't see that anything has
changed.

It looks that way doesn't it?
Well, soon you shall see.

Huh?

It's the new weapon
'Phononmezer!'
I can't wait to try it out!

Maser]]," not "mezer".

Later...

This is the control center of
the Plate System!

The system is down!
Now there won't be any more
earthquakes! Hooray!

May Script

Yes, we'll be all right for the
time being.
But this doesn't solve the
problem you know.
The abnormalities will not go
away unless we stop Nurvus,
and in particular, Zelan!

Final Script

Yes, we'll be all right for the
time being.
But this doesn't solve the
problem, you know.
The abnormalities will not end
unless we shut down Nurvus -
and maybe even Zelan!

Translation Notes
Demi already stated that Zelan is the real cause of the problems on Motavia, so the May line is correct - there's no "maybe even" about it.

Yes, you're right...
And, in order to do so...first,
we must get to Zio!

Right!

Ladea Tower#

In Ladea Tower, the group encounters Rune again. He says that he's searching for something called the Psycho-wand, the only thing that has the power to dispel Zio's magic barrier. Rune agrees to let the party accompany him while he searches for the Psycho-wand.

At the top of the tower, the party finds a chest protected by a crystal barrier.

So, this is the Psycho-wand!

We can now break the barrier!

Rune approaches the barrier and it shatters into pieces.

Ha, ha, ha! This is it!
I've been waiting for this
moment!

A winged monster appears and places its scythe-like appendages around the chest.

Upon the decree of Zio I am
taking the Psycho-wand!

You're Zio's underling!?

May Script

Hmmph, what a brain dead kid
you are.
Chaz, don't give him the
Psycho-wand!

Final Script

Hmmph, what a brain dead kid
you are.
Chaz, don't let him get
the Psycho-wand!

Translation Notes
Rune really doesn't think much of Chaz in the May draft.

You don't have to tell me that!
Stop ordering me around all the
time!

Come on!
Is this any time to bicker?
It's coming!

So they beat the winged fiend, but suddenly Rune and Rika feel uneasy. Rune orders the party back to Krup...

Krup#

Alys's condition has turned for the worse, and Rune and the others are powerless. She says her final words to Rune and Chaz and, surrounded by the people closest to her, quietly passes on.

Late at night, after the burial, Chaz confides to Rune that while the hunter business is lucrative, with Alys gone, he doesn't know what to fight for except for avenging her death. Rune questions if he thinks she was only fighting for money, and if fighting technique is the only thing Chaz learned from her, before leaving to let him ruminate on that.

A bit later, Rika tells Chaz that she's glad she was able to leave the Bio-plant; That even though Seed taught her about all kinds of things, it's different from experiencing them: Like the smell of the ocean, the bustling of a town, and the warmth of people. Chaz comforts and thanks her in turn.

The next day, at Alys's resting place...

May & August Scripts

I'm going to return to
the academy.
I think it's best to report on
what has happened so far.
I plan to convince the academy
to come up with plan of action.

Final Script

I'm going to return to
the academy.
I think it's best to report on
what has happened so far.
I plan to convince the academy
to come up with a plan of
action.

Translation Notes
The October prototype still uses the grammatically incorrect line from the earlier draft.

Good. I'm counting on you,
Hahn!

I'm also going to return home.
The children are waiting for me.

Chaz, keep your spirits up!

Chaz takes one last look at Alys's tombstone...

OK! We'd better go too!

Zio's Fort#

The party returns to Zio's Fort to finish the fight.

Everybody, out of the way!
...One, two, three!

Rune dispels the barrier blocking the way to the basement.

Underneath here is Nurvus,
the center of the entire control
system!

May Script

Zio...is Zio in there?

Final Script

Zio! Is Zio in there?

Chaz, I know how you feel, but...
right now,
we've got to shut down Nurvus!

We don't have time to talk about
it!
We must hurry!

Nurvus#

They reach the central control system of Nurvus, but Zio teleports in before they can reach the terminals. Zio once again summons Dark Force, but the Psycho Wand is able to dispel the invincible barrier, making his defeat inevitable. He cries out for Dark Force, but its only response is silence. Zio is totally destroyed, and Chaz and Gryz are jubilant.

May Script

At this point we're not going
to be able to stop Nurvus' with
normal operations.
I am going to connect myself to
Nurvus' system and forcibly
enter it
.

Final Script

At this point we're not going
to be able to stop Nurvus by
normal means.
I am going to connect myself
directly to Nurvus' system and
crack its security.

Translation Notes
What Demi means is that just typing something out at the central terminal isn't going to do anything, since Zelan is still issuing irregular commands, so she has to directly interface with the system. There's nothing about cracking the system's security in the Japanese or May drafts.

May Script

Forcible entry?!

Final Script

Connect directly?

May Script

Yes, this is good bye, Chaz.

Final Script

Yes, this is good-bye, Chaz.

Demi!

May Script

Good bye everybody...
Thanks for everything.

Final Script

Good-bye everybody...
Thanks for everything.

A door-sized hole opens up in the giant computer system. Demi walks in...

Access main system...
Issue top priority interrupt...

Has...has it stopped?

The operation is a success.

Demi!
Where are you now?

May Script

I'm in Nurvus' control center.
Right now, we have a condition
where
all the systems that have
been maintaining Motavia are
all halted.
Now there won't be any more
disasters.

Final Script

I'm in Nurvus' control center.
Right now, all the systems that
have been maintaining Motavia
are halted.

Now there won't be any more
disasters.

May Script

With all the systems that
maintain the environment
halted, sooner or later, the
entire planet will become
a barren land.
Unless we restore the functions
of each system!

August Script

But with all the systems that
maintain the environment
halted, sooner or later the
entire planet will become
a barren.
We must work to rescue the
functions of each system as
soon as possible
!

Final Script

But with all the systems that
maintain the environment
halted, sooner or later the
entire planet will become
barren.
We must work to rescue the
functions of each system as
soon as possible!

Translation Notes
Questionable change from the editor(s): "Restore" works better than "rescue" here.

To do that we'll have to do
something about Zelan.

May Script

That's right. As long as the
satellite is emitting these
abnormal signals, we cannot
gain control of the system.

Final Script

That's right. As long as the
satellite is sending
abnormal signals, we cannot
control the system.

Chaz. Why don't we go?

...OK!
Let's go to Zelan!

But, this Zelan, isn't it
located in outer space?

May Script

Don't worry. An emergency
shuttle is available at Nurvus.
It's being readied for you.
Please use it.
I won't be able to leave here
just now.
I must stay and maintain each
of these systems.

Final Script

Don't worry. An emergency
shuttle is available at Nurvus.
It's being readied for you.

I won't be able to leave here
just now.
I must stay and perform
maintenance on
each of these
systems.

Translation Notes
A better translation for "管理" would be "manage" or "control", not "maintain". The later drafts extrapolated from the May script to mean "perform maintenance on", which is also incorrect.

May Script

At Zelan, you should find
my master, 'Wren'.

Final Script

At Zelan, you should find
my master, Wren.

May Script

Wren? I know him!
When I was at the Bio-plant,
I often telecommunicated with
him!
About half a year ago, I was
unable to reach him on the communication circuits,
I've been concerned!
Please locate Wren at Zelan...

Final Script

Wren? I know him!
When I was at the Bio-plant,
I often telecommunicated with
him!
About half a year ago, I became
unable to reach him on the
communication circuits.
I've been concerned!
Please Chaz, let's go find
Wren at Zelan...

Translation Notes
The oddly phrased last sentence in Rika's dialogue was thankfully fixed in the final script.

Well, good luck with Zelan
everybody...
Be careful.

Outside Zio's Fort, a space station emerges from the sands. Gryz, unable to leave his little sister behind, decides to stay on Motavia.