Stage 49 - Kiss

Cover: Rei in school uniform in reclining pose suggestive of certain *cough* recent Gainax telephone
cards and model kits, against a background of Eva-01's bandaged head
(Note: Not that this image has ミanything- to do with this month's stage...) -_-

Scene: Shinji floating against an imaginary/internal background
Shinji (thinking): Where am I? What is this? I should be inside the Eva-01 entry plug... (hears crying
sounds) Someone is crying... (Shinji looks down to see his young self and a dark shadow/silhouette)
Shinji: That's me... I'm crying. (the silhouette brightens to show Gendo, back turned and walking away
with suitcase in hand) And that's... my father?
Young Shinji: Don't go, father! Don't leave me!
Gendo (without looking back): Don't be so selfish. And behave yourself at your uncle's place.
Young Shinji (crying): Where's Mother? Where did Mother go!?
Gendo: Your Mother is dead.
Shinji: That's a lie!!
Gendo (finally looking back): It's not a lie. You should have seen it, too. (points) There -- look
behind you.
(Shinji turns around and sees a large humanoid shape with numerous tubes and cables connected to it.
The eyes of the large being light up.)
Shinji: Mother...
(The being changes into the bandaged Eva-01.)
Shinji: No, this is... Eva.
Gendo: Shinji, Get in that and fight. You are the pilot.
Shinji (shouting): No!! Why do you mean now! You don't need me, do you!?
(The scene changes abruptly and Shinji finds himself in his plug suit inside the entry plug which is
being filled with LCL. The scene then changes to Eva-01 destroying Eva-03, including a shot of Touji's
bloody face.)
Shinji: No!! Stop, father! Stop it!! NOOOOOOO!!
(Shinji's screams echo through the flashback.)
(The scene changes to show Shinji and his father inside a room with a circular floor pattern. Shinji
is on his hands and knees, while Gendo stands a short distance away.)
Shinji (enraged, shaking): You... you killed Touji. You killed mother...You betrayed me!! You! You!!
YOU!!
(A knife appears in Shinji's hands as he lunges forward and thrusts it into Gendo's chest. Blood
spurts out, and Gendo falls forward motionless on the floor. Shinji stops in shock, clutches his face
and screams.)

Scene: Eva-01 repaired and in the cage with numerous cables and tubes connected. Telop: "THE THIRTIETH
DAY"
Announcements: Current LCL density maintaining at 36.
   No problems with oxygen density.
   Radiated electronic pulses normal.
   Waveform pattern B.
   All measuring instruments operating normally.
(Asuka looking down somewhat worriedly at the exposed entry plug section from above)
Asuka (mumbling to herself): That idiot... He still isn't back after a month. I wonder what will
happen. (thinking) Surely he won't stay like that forever...
(Kaji's hand comes down on Asuka's shoulder)
Kaji: Worried about Shinji?
Asuka (turning in surprise): Kaji? (shifts gears) Sorry to disappoint you, but I was just gloating
that now I'll get more action time.
Kaji: Still putting on a strong face, I see... If you don't learn to show your true feelings
sometimes, you'll never get a boyfriend.
Asuka (striking at Kaji): I'm -not- putting on a strong face! And I don't need any boyfriend other
than you!
Kaji (catching Asuka's fist easily, laughing): Whoops! That's the spirit. (interlinks fingers with
Asuka's) Asuka, I'm also worried about Shinji's condition, but I'm sure he is fighting with all his
might as well. (softly) So you do your best on your end, too. (releases Asuka's hand and leaves with a
small wave) Later...
Asuka (puzzled): Kaji...?

Scene: Ritsuko and Maya at a workstation -- Report cover: OPERATIONS PLAN, EP2-type Salvage Procedure
Outline (Including LP3-type Complementation Procedure)
Maya: To complete the outline for Shinji's salvage plan in just one month -- You've done it again,
Doctor Akagi.
Ritsuko: Sorry to disappoint, but the original plan isn't mine. (types at keyboard) It's experimental
data from 10 years ago.
Maya: You mean the same thing has happened before?
Ritsuko: It happened during the Eva development, before I joined here. But it seems my mother was
present.
Maya: Your mother ミ you mean Dr. Akagi Naoko, who developed the Magi system, right? What were the
results at that time?
Ritsuko (emotionless): Failure.
Maya: Huh?
Ritsuko: They failed. And it was probably from that point that Commander Ikari changed.

Scene: Kaji opens a sliding door marked A-II Mission Planning Section and enters the room to see
Misato typing at a computer
Misato (flatly, without turning around): What do you want?
Kaji: You mean I can't come here unless I want something? (holds up a McDonalds paper bag) You haven't
been sleeping or eating much lately. Are you okay?
Misato: At a time like this I can't just sleep and eat like nothing has happened. (pauses) ...... I
investigated Shinji's school. Who would have thought that all members of his class were pilot
candidates... Just how far does Nerv's reach extend?
Kaji (holding up bag): Let's leave difficult matters like that for after you have eaten. Look, I
brought your favorite ミ McDonald's hamburgers.
Misato (stands, irritated): I don't think you will just blurt everything out to me but... (turns to
face Kaji) Why is Adam, who will destroy humankind, being protected underground? What is Commander
Ikari trying to do with it? And just what is the Instrumentality Project?
Kaji (slightly taken aback): Katsuragi -- calm down a bit.
Misato (agitated, shouting): How can the Commander and Ritsuko remain so calm with Shinji in that
condition!? What is Nerv's true purpose!?
(Kaji moves forward quickly with determination in his eyes, and catches the surprised Misato in a full
embrace, deftly releasing the Misato's ponytail clip so that her hair falls loosely over her
shoulders.)
Misato: Wha!
Kaji (softly): Be quiet for just a bit.
Misato (flustered): What are you doing!?
Kaji (taking Misato's face in his hands): Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and just forget about
Nerv for a bit.
(Kaji kisses Misato deeply. Misato responds for a bit, then starts to struggle.)
Misato: Nn... Ungh... Sto... Stop it!! (slams her hands into Kaji's chest, pushing him away)
Misato (still slightly flushed): What are you thinking! This is neither the time nor the place!
Kaji (clutching chest, coughing): I see you can still call on that brute strength of yours... (tries
to shrug it off) I was just trying to get you to relax a bit.
Misato (shouting): That sort of thing does -not- make me relax! Get out, you idiot!! (throws hamburger
at Kaji)
Kaji: Okay, okay. I'm leaving. (pauses at door) Katsuragi, my feelings haven't changed from 8 years
ago. I still and will always [love you]... (turns to look briefly at Misato as the door closes)
(Misato stares silently at the closed door with a slightly dazed expression and her hand on her lips.)

- End Stage 49