Stage 55 -- Message

Cover: Kaji standing with back slightly turned, leaning against base of large ventilation
fan -- blood soils the floor

Scene: Kaji (wounded) turns to face his assailant
Kaji: So, you finally got here. What took you so long...?
(The assailant is only partially shown from the back with what looks to be scraggly hair
and the standing (open) collar of a Nerv uniform jacket. The hand that holds the pistol
(revolver fitted with laser sight) wears a white glove.)
Kaji: Go ahead... and don't miss this time...
(Pistol fires)

Scene: Late afternoon pan view of the New Tokyo-3 buildings

Scene: Misato's detention room -- Nerv Intel staff returning Misato's weapon and ID
Nerv Intel: Thank you for your cooperation.
Misato: Is that all/Is it okay?
Nerv Intel: Yes. The problem has been resolved.
Misato: I see... (takes weapon and replaces it in shoulder holster) ... and the
perpetrator?
Nerv Intel: I don't know.

Scene: Back to large ventilation fan -- Kaji lying on floor, blood-spattered and
consciousness fading
Kaji: I guess this is... the end.
(Numerous children's legs appear around Kaji and he looks up to see his childhood
friends.)
Friend: Hey, we've come to meet/take you.
(Kaji = peaceful expression)

Scene: Misato's apartment -- Misato opens the door to the living room and Pen^2 rushes
toward her squealing happily.
Misato (bending to hug Pen^2): I'm home, PenPen.
(Misato sits down heavily at the table and rests her forehead on her hands, then she sees
the message button flashing on the telephone and freezes. She stands, presses the button,
and listens to the message with a dazed/shocked look.)
Message (Kaji's voice): Katsuragi, it's me. By the time you hear this I will probably have
caused you a lot of trouble. Forgive me. If... if we are able to meet one more time, I'll
say then the words that I failed to say before. Katsuragi -- the truth is with you. Go
forward without hesitation.
Phone mechanical voice: TEL message - 12:02 p.m.
(Tears fall onto the table and Misato slumps crying to her knees before the phone)
Misato: Fool... you fool... Such a fool... (crying noises)
(Pen^2 looks up at Misato and squeaks once in a concerned manner, and Asuka enters the
room also looking concerned)
Asuka: Misato... What was that message? Why are you crying?
(Misato does not answer and just keeps crying)
Asuka: Has something happened to Kaji? (becomes a little frantic and grabs Misato's jacket
sleeve) Hey! Why won't you say anything? Say something! Misato! Hey!!

Scene: Misato's apartment, the next morning.
Shinji: I'm home.
(Silence)
Shinji: Misato...? I guess she's already gone to work...
(Shinji sees Asuka sitting with her head on her arms on the low living room table.)
Shinji: I'm home, Asu-
Asuka (crossly/harshly): Don't talk to me!
Shinji (puzzled): S...sorry...
Asuka: ..... Misato, if she'd just tell me straight out...
Shinji: ?  What are you talking about?
Asuka: It's about Kaji. Something has definitely happened -- It's obvious from the way
she's acting. She just cried all night long and wouldn't tell me anything.
(Shinji just stands and says nothing. Asuka looks over at him, then gets up and approaches
Shinji.)
Asuka: You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you? (grabs Shinji's shirt and
shouts) Because if you do and you don't tell me there's gonna be hell to pay!!
Shinji (shouting back): How could I know anything? I just got out of the hospital!
(talking normally) And before that I was inside Eva the whole time!
(Asuka stops and lets go of Shinji, dropping her arms and looking off to the side)
Asuka: Okay, fine...
(Asuka goes into her room and slams the door)
Shinji (thinking): We'll probably never see Kaji again. Kaji had to know that it would
probably come to this eventually. It was the nature of his work. But I could never tell
that to Asuka...

Scene: Misato and Hyuga leaning against Misato's car on suspension bridge overlooking Nerv
HQ pyramid
Hyuga: What's the matter? You don't look so well.
Misato: Yeah, I guess I'm just a little tired. But more importantly, is this information
true? Construction starting on Eva units up to Eva-13 in 7 countries around the world...
Hyuga: The information comes via Shanghai, from a reliable source.
Misato: I wonder why they are rushing mass production at this time?
Hyuga: Well, the two existing Eva units are both severely damaged, so maybe they are
rushing to reinforce the reserve fighting capacity?
Misato: ...I wonder... Both arms of units 5 and 6 under construction in Germany are being
rerouted to the two units here.
Hyuga: Then maybe they are hypothesizing cases with the simultaneous appearance of
multiple Angels?
Misato: Possibly, but there would be no reason to proceed in secret. I sense some haste on
the part of the Committee. Like the Committee has some other purpose.
Hyuga: Shall I try to dig a little deeper?
Misato: Yes, if you can.
Hyuga (smiling): Leave it to me!
(Hyuga leaves, Misato stays leaning against her car)
Misato (thinking): I can't just keep crying... The situation is changing so fast. (reaches
into pocket and pulls out round make-up compact) I will go forward like you said. (opens
compact and removes capsule/chip)
(Flashback of Misato/Kaji's last kiss (Stage 49) = Kaji kissing Misato deeply -> Kaji
glancing back over shoulder with knowing look -> Misato with surprised look on face ->
Compact slipped into Misato's skirt pocket)
Misato (thinking): ...together with your heart which I received at that time.

- End Stage 55