Stage 51 - MOTHER

Cover: Naked Shinji curled up in fetal position (upside down)

Scene: Rei praying on balcony overlooking Eva-01 cage
Rei (projecting mentally): I am you. You are me -- what I was long ago.
(image of Eva-01 without restraining armor, with numerous tubes connected)
Eva-01 (replying mentally): Yes, you are me. And I am what you once were. So,
why do you interfere!?
Rei (projecting mentally): No -- you mustn't take away Ikari. Give him back to
me.

Scene: Shinji in his internal world, screaming and struggling frantically
against a human-sized apparition of Eva-01 without restraining armor, with
numerous tubes connected.
Eva-01: What's the matter? You want to become one with me, don't you?
Shinji (screaming): No!
Eva-01: Let us go to a world without pain or sorrow, an endless world.
Shinji (screaming): Stop it! Let me go! You aren't my mother! No! I don't want
to stay here! Help! Mother! MOTHER!!
(A bright light appears behind Eva-01 and a shining apparition of a
long-haired(!?) woman rises out of Eva-01's back. Shinji stares in puzzlement
and then wonder at the apparition whose features are indistinct. The
apparition reaches out with both hands toward Shinji, and a bright light
begins to shine between its hands. Shinji at first flinches and then closes
his eyes as he is enveloped in the light.)

Scene: Misato crying and clutching at Shinji's empty school uniform amidst the
spilled LCL
Misato (crying): What good is science... if it can't even save a single
person... (shouting at the silent Eva-01) Give me back Shinji! Give him back!!

Scene: A seashore with gentle waves. Shinji floats naked in the waves, and
then stands up and looks toward the shore to see Yui sitting in a chair
holding an infant in the shade of a large tree, with Gendo standing nearby.
Shinji stands up and stares at the scene, which zooms in to show that Yui is
breast-feeding the infant Shinji.
Gendo: How can one live following Second Impact? This child... in this Hell...

Yui: No, as long as there is the will to go on living, anywhere can be a
heaven. After all, you're alive, and there is the chance to find happiness
everywhere.
Gendo (pushing up glasses): ...Yes, I guess that's so...
Shinji (thinking): My feet can't move. I wonder why? I want to go running to
my mother at once, but I can't move even a single step, as if my feet were
frozen.
(Yui and Gendo look up and over at Shinji)
Yui (gently): Shinji, it's okay. You can come over here. Won't your feet
move?  (Shinji stands motionless) Or, is where you really want to go not to
me, but instead to the infinite sea stretching behind you? Wherever you go, I
will always be there watching you. You have to choose the path you will follow
by yourself. Listen, you can hear voices calling to you from across the sea.
(Shinji looks back over his shoulder, then turns and floats over the sea, yet
somehow appearing to be swimming underwater)
Shinji (thinking): Smell... the smell of other people? Ayanami? Misato...?

Scene: Back in the cage, there is a popping sound like the clapping of hands,
and Misato looks over to see the naked Shinji lying face down in the puddle of
LCL.
Misao (not quite believing her eyes): Shi...Shinji...!?
Maya: Doctor! It's Shinji...! (tears in eyes) We succeeded!
Ritsuko (stunned/subdued): ... but not by my power, probably.
Rei (slumping down behind railing): Thank goodness, Ikari.
(Kaji stands behind a wall behind Rei, apparently having observed the entire
proceedings in secret. He takes out and lights a cigarette with a drawn and
weary face.)
Kaji (thinking): My final assignment...? (reaches into shirt pocket, pulls out
red Nerv telephone card and stares silently at it for a moment) It looks like
the red of blood.

- End Stage 51