Stage 27 "Party" Cover page: Asuka and Hikari in their school uniforms - Asuka standing behind Hikari with her hands on Hikari's shoulders Scene: Decrepit facility in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a chain-link fence. Kaji, sweaty and disheveled, sneaks into the facility with hand on gun in shoulder holster only to find the facility empty - abandoned. Kaji (thinking): Just as I expected... 106 out of the 108 companies connected to the Marduke Agency are dummies, and this makes the 107th. (Sits down in chair and lights cigarette) The Marduke Agency - an advisory body established under the direct control of the Instrumentality Committee for the purpose of selecting Evangelion pilots... and yet an organization without clear form. Still, the person controlling the show from behind the scenes is undoubtedly... Scene: Gendo standing on hill overlooking the facility with the infamous Gendo-smile/smirk. Scene: Shinji, Touji and Kensuke walking home dejectedly from school Kensuke: What are you going to do about the midterm tests starting the day after tomorrow? Touji: What am I going to do? If I knew that I wouldn't be so worried. Shinji: Just the thought of it ties my stomach in knots... Touji: Ikari! Weren't you an honor student at your old school? Shinji: Yeah, but I haven't had time to study since coming here. Touji: Okay! In that case we'll just have to hold a study session at Ikari's place! Kensuke: Agreed!! Shinji: Why does it have to be at my place!? Touji/Kensuke: Because we get to see Misato!! Shinji: I thought so... She probably hasn't come home from work yet. Touji/Kensuke: We'll wait!! (The three enter the apartment and stare wide-eyed at the mountains of boxes piled up in Shinji's room.) Touji: What the heck are all these boxes? Shinji: I don't know... Kensuke: This _is_ your room, isn't it? (Asuka appears) Asuka: Sorry, but from today this is _my_ room. Touji (looking like he's seen a ghost): Yikes!! It lives!!! Asuka: What do you mean, 'It lives!'? What am I, a ghost or something!? Shinji: Souryuu... What are you doing here? Asuka (impish smile): Misato invited me. I really wanted to live by myself, but she insisted. Shinji: Without telling me...? Asuka (angrily): You have a problem with that? (aside to Shinji) You're going to be perfect for helping me to relieve stress. We're going to have _lots_ of fun... Shinji (thinking): Yeah, but what about _my_ stress? Asuka: Still, Japanese houses are so small! I can't even fit half of my things into this room. Shinji - Hurry up and move your things into the adjoining storage room! Shinji: What..? (finds his things piled on top of desk) Hey!! (Shinji carrying his things down the hallway - Touji/Kensuke following behind) Touji: Poor guy, Ikari... Kensuke: Lucky guy, Ikari... Shinji: Hey - cut it out and help me move my things. (Misato comes home) Misato: I'm home! Is everyone getting along? Shinji: Misato!! Touji/Kensuke (blushing): Hello... Shinji: How could you do this without telling me!? Misato: Sorry, it was decided so quickly - and Asuka said that she wanted to come. Shinji: Huh? Misato: I couldn't just take you and then refuse her, now could I? Shinji: Well... Misato: Besides, she said herself that she wanted to come. She must have really enjoyed the 5 days you two spent together, right? Shinji: Well... I don't know... Touji (shouting): You spent 5 days together with Asuka!? Kensuke (tears flowing): Some guys have all the luck!! Shinji (holding head): _Will_ _you_ _two_ _shut_ _up_!? Kensuke: !! - Misato, did you get promoted? Misato: What-? Kensuke (bowing): Congratulations! Misato: Th... thanks. Shinji: What? Promoted? Touji: What? Kensuke (glaring): You mean you two didn't notice!? Katsuragi's collar ensigns have changed to two stripes! Right? Misato (embarrassed): Well... yes. Touji: The only one here who would notice that is you... Misato (thinking): This kid's a little scary... Kensuke: All right! We've got to have a celebration!! (hand-written sign on wall) Misato - congratulations on your promotion! Asuka - congratulations on your new home! Kensuke: A toast! To Katsuragi's promotion and Souryuu's new home! (Asuka, Shinji, Touji, Misato, Pen^2 sitting around table w/ grill, Kensuke standing and placing strips of meat on the grill.) Asuka: Why do we have to have a yakiniku (grilled meat) party? Shinji: Don't ask me. It was Kensuke's doing. Kensuke: Hey! What are you mumbling about! You're supposed to be eating! Eat! Eat!! Shinji: What happened to the study session? Touji: You said it ties your stomach in knots? Well it ties mine in knots, too. Misato (thinking): As long as there's beer, I guess I can stand anything... besides, it's free... (Hikari enters apartment with flowers) Hikari: Hello? Asuka: Hikari! Come sit over here. Touji: Huh? What's the Class President doing here? Asuka (whispering): I invited her. It'd be a pretty shabby party with only hopeless guys - especially you. Touji (shouting): What do you mean!! Hikari (to Misato): Pleased to meet you. I'm Horaki. I hope you don't mind me coming... Misato: Not at all. At a party like this, the more people the better. Hiraki: Asuka, are you really going to live with Ikari? Asuka (nonchalantly): That's right. Strategy demands it. Shinji (muffled laugh/thinking): What do mean 'strategy'? She's just showing off like usual... Asuka (crossly): What are you snickering about? Shinji: Nothing... Hiraki: Asuka, is Kaji coming? He's really cute, isn't he? Asuka: Kaji... I've been trying to call him for 3 days now but he doesn't answer. I wanted to see him, too. Misato (smirking): He said he had business in Matsushiro. He's probably up there chasing some girl's behind. (doorbell rings - Kaji enters) Kaji: Good evening, all. What's this, somebody's birthday? Asuka: Kaji!! Misato (shocked): Ge!!! Misato (turning her back): Asuka moved in and I got promoted. But I don't recall anyone inviting you! Kaji: How unkind - and I even brought souvenirs from Matsushiro... Asuka (grabbing Kaji's arm): Did you bring something for me? Kaji: This is for you, Asuka. Asuka: How nice! Thank you, Kaji. (heart marks) Touji: How come you treat us differently that him? Asuka: What did you expect? You can't treat the moon and a paramecium the same, now can you? Touji: Are you calling me a paramecium? Asuka: Yes! You're a paramecium, Shinji is a water flea, and Aida (Kensuke) is a mitochondria. Touji (aside to Kaji): Don't be fooled - she may have a cute face, but she's really a monster. Asuka: Hey! What are you telling Kaji!! Touji: Bad attitude, foul mouth, violent tendencies... Why, she even punched and kicked this big guy - and you could see her panties the whole time. Asuka: Stop it! Touji: And if you knew the difference between the facade and reality, this mean-spirited wench is completely- Asuka: I said stop it!! (picture of fist and stars - Asuka lands a roundhouse punch to Touji's jaw. Touji drops like a stone and everyone looks on stunned. Asuka has a shocked expression as if, "What have I done?") Asuka: Uh... uh... This guy's really funny! You barely touch him and he falls down! Touji (holding jaw): What do you mean 'touch'!? You hit me with all you had - revealing your true nature! Misato: Oh, we had an inkling. Kaji: You need work on your acting, Asuka. Asuka (pained expression): I'm not... acting... Misato: Asuka, you're not in front of your foster parents anymore. You don't have to go out of your way to play a good kid. (Asuka looks up at Misato with a soft expression.) Shinji (aside to Asuka): See, I told you so. Asuka (narrowing eyes): You know, Shinji, I've been wanting to say something to you for a while now... (grabs Shinji around neck and starts to play-choke him) Asuka: You're an impertinent little sh**!! Shinji: Help!! I'm a pacifist!! (Hiraki tries to calm down Asuka - Shinji escapes toward a cowering Touji/Kensuke - Misato and Kaji look on, laughing) Shinji (monologue): That was the first time I had partied/played around with so many people - the first time I had had such a good time. But deep in my heart I felt that those good times couldn't last - that soon there would be pain and suffering once again... - End Stage 27 -