Stage 31 "NERV Loses Power"

Cover page: Misato and Kaji (college-era?) leaning against a car in
casual clothing

Scene: Eva units in their cages, children inside the entry plugs, Misato
on monitor

Misato (narrowed eyes): Shinji, good work...
Shinji (apprehensive): Uh... Thanks.
Misato (angry): ... Is what I'd like to say, but you know what I mean,
right!? If your start had been even one second slower we'd all be dead!!
Shinji: I know. I'm sorry...
Misato (shouting): When you get out of there you wait in the locker
room! -And don't even think of running and hiding! I've got a few things
I want to say to you!!
Shinji (resigned to his fate): Yes, sir...

Scene: Misato walking angrily toward the locker room - meets Kaji at the
elevators

Kaji: Oh? What are you so angry about?
Misato: None of your business.
(presses elevator button) And don't follow me!
Kaji: I have business in this direction, too.
Still, you came up with a pretty daring strategy again this time. The
slightest mistake and it could have all been over.
Misato (entering elevator): I'm going to scold the child that made that
'slightest mistake'. What on earth was he thinking...
Kaji: Battling unknown entities while baby-sitting children - it's an
incredible job when you think about it.
Misato (holding head): Don't say any more - it makes my head hurt.
(The elevator stops suddenly.)
Misato: Wha-? Why did it stop?
(The lights go out.)
Misato/Kaji: ......
Misato: You didn't press any strange buttons, did you?
Kaji: No...

Scene: Shinji, Asuka and Rei walking in the dark

Asuka: Hey! Why did the lights suddenly go out? I can't see a thing!
Shinji: Maybe it's a power failure.
Rei (from directly behind Asuka): If it was just a power failure, the
standby power would have come on at once. It's been 5 minutes and it's
still dark - something's wrong.
Asuka: Will you please not suddenly start talking in the dark in that
empty voice of yours? It's spooky!
Rei: Maybe there's been some kind of accident. Anyway, it's no use
staying here - let's go to the Command center.
Asuka: Hey, wait a minute! Since when did 'Silence' become the leader!?
Shinji: Cut it out. We can't do anything if we fight.
Let's follow Ayanami and go to the Command Center for orders.
Asuka (sulking): Whatever... but you're walking too fast! How can you
walk that fast in the dark?
Rei: Sorry... I've memorized the structure by heart/like it's a part of
me.
Shinji: ......
Asuka: Hmpf. Well it's not my fault that I haven't been here as long as
you.

Scene: Command Center

Shigeru: Negative! The standby power supply won't come on line!
Ritsuko: How many circuits are still active?
Makoto: 1.2% of the total - just the old circuits from No. 2567!
Ritsuko: Route all remaining operational power supplies to MAGI and the
Central Dogma!
Maya: But that will interfere with life-support in the entire facility.
Ritsuko: It can't be helped. This is a top priority concern.
Aoba, investigate the cause of the failure at once.
Shigeru: Yes.
Ritsuko: Hyuga, go and check on the three pilots.
Makoto: Okay! (runs into Asuka) Oh!
Asuka: Wha-!
(sitting on ground rubbing behind) Ooouuch!
Makoto: Y...you kids... You made it here on your own?
Asuka: Dr. Akagi! What's happening!?
Ritsuko: I'm not sure... Main, sub, and standby. I can't believe that
all three systems failed simultaneously.
Shigeru:  Which means...
Ritsuko: The breakers didn't just operate on their own - they were
activated on purpose by someone. (to the children) By the way, you
didn't see Misato on your way here? She should have been headed your
way.
Shinji: Now that you mention it... no.
Rei: Maybe we just missed each other.
Ritsuko: That's a problem... I hope Misato comes back soon - she's in
charge of the facility right now.
Asuka: Ah!! What about Kaji? He's not here! Where is he!?
Maya: I saw him walking down the corridor with Misato just before the
power failure.
Asuka (shocked): !!
(worried) I wonder what those two are doing in the dark...
Maya: Isn't that going a bit far?
Asuka (low voice): Shinji-
Shinji (startled): !!
Asuka: Come with me to look for them.
Shinji: I knew you'd say that...
Asuka (to Rei): You come too. You're useful for walking in the dark.
Rei: No. It's not my concern.
Asuka: I knew you'd say that! Well then, just the two of us will go!
Come on, Shinji.
(Asuka grabs Shinji's ear and tows him along.)
Ritsuko: Wait a minute, you two! Don't act impulsively!
Asuka: It's _not_ impulsive. We're going to look for Major Katsuragi.
Ritsuko: Tsk... Well, we can't bother with them now. Maya, check the
wired emergency lines.
Maya: Yes.

Scene: Inside the elevator

Kaji: Phew, we've been here for nearly an hour...
Misato: I wonder how much longer we're going to be trapped in here. It's
so hot...
Kaji: The air conditioning isn't working. If you're that hot, why don't
you take off your jacket?
Misato (clutching her jacket firmly around her): Don't let the situation
give you any funny ideas. It's no use trying to continue what happened
the other night. I was drunk then - you caught me off guard...
Kaji: Well I was drunk, too.
Honestly, what was I thinking - trying to kiss you like that.
Misato: Well being told that sure makes me feel better...
Kaji: Come to think of it, our entire relationship started after letting
nature take its course in a drunken fervor. But I don't regret it at all
- Sluffing university, lying around naked all day, fighting over trivial
matters...
Meeting you, starting a relationship, living together for two years...
Those two years alone were the best time in my life - like something
that happened in a different world.
Misato: How can you say things like that with a straight face?
Kaji: It doesn't matter whether or not you believe me, but I hold the
two years we spent together dear in my heart. (slightly sad expression)
No matter what happens to me from here on, I know I'll be able to die
without any regrets.
Misato (looking strangely at Kaji): Wha...What do you mean by that?
Kaji: Nothing particular. Just that with the world the way it is, you
never know what's going to happen.
Misato: Hmmm... Well, if you say so...
By the way, I hate to interrupt such a serious topic, (strained face)
but I think I'm about to wet my pants.
Kaji (also with strained face): No...!

Scene: Asuka and Shinji walking through dark corridors - Asuka carrying
a torchlight

Asuka: Hey, Shinji... Where are we?
Shinji: I told you we should have stopped walking around at random!
Let's go back to the Command Center - If an Angel attacked right now
there would be trouble! Come on!
Asuka: If I _knew_ the way back don't you think we'd _be_ back by now?
(pause) Shinji, have you kissed First yet?
(Shinji bangs his head into a pipe in the dark.)
Shinji: Wha-! What are you saying!
Asuka: Oh, please... You two _are_ a couple, aren't you? Although I
can't for the world understand what you see in Doll Girl.
Shinji: Don't - Don't just arbitrarily decide things like that! Ayanami
and I are not a couple!
Asuka: Oh, is that so?  Hmmm...
Shinji (sulking): Yes, that's so. It's not like that with Ayanami...
(thinking) My feelings toward Ayanami can't be described with such
simple words as 'like' or 'want to be a couple'. How best to say it?
It's like she's a part of me that was torn away long, long ago.
Asuka (laughing): Of course not - how silly of me. After all, if _I_
haven't kissed yet, you couldn't have possibly have.
Shinji: .....
Asuka (impishly): Then, do you want to kiss me?
Shinji: Wha-!  Don't be stupid!
Asuka: Oh, you're afraid... even though it's just for fun.
(turns to continue down corridor) I guess you are a coward after all.
But then I knew that from the start.
Shinji (miffed): I... I'm not scared of a little kiss!
Asuka: Oh, really? Then it's okay, right?
Shinji (tensely): Y...Yes.
Asuka: Okay - close your eyes.
(Shinji closes his eyes - Asuka approaches Shinji.)
Asuka: Here goes...

Scene: Inside elevator - Misato on Kaji's shoulders trying to open the
emergency hatch in the ceiling

Misato: Damnit! Why doesn't it open!? Open, you @#$%!!
Oh, no... I don't think I can hold it any longer.
Kaji (grimacing): Please don't let it go in this position...
(The lights come on.)
Kaji: Wha-?
(The elevator starts with a jerk and Misato/Kaji lose their balance.)
Misato/Kaji: Ahhh!!
Misato: No! Don't let me fall! (grabs at Kaji's head)
Kaji: Don't cover my eyes! My eyes!!
Misato/Kaji (tumbling to the floor): Aaahhhhh!! *thud*

Scene: Shinji and Asuka puckered up in front of the opening elevator
doors - Shinji with his eyes closed, Asuka looking into the elevator at
Misato and Kaji who lie on the floor, entangled in each other's arms

Asuka (shocked/appalled expression): What are you two doing, Kaji!?
(Shinji still with eyes closed - shaking)
Kaji (shocked expression): Wha...What are _you_ two doing!?
(Misato with arms around Kaji - shocked/embarrassed expression)

Ending telop: "Poor Shinji - all puckered up and nowhere to go..."

- End Stage 31 -