PART I
ACT V
SCENE III
(The Bridge. RITSUKO and CONN stand conversing while the Bridge Bunnies are hard at work. RITSUKO is holding a folder in her hand while speaking to CONN, looking at the contents.)
RITSUKO: So, you have an interest in the great mysteries of the world?
CONN: I do, Dr. Akagi. Jack the Ripper, the supernatural, monsters, ancient treasures, legendary lands such as Atlantis, all of those great mysteries.
MAYA: (Turning to look at CONN.) What about what happened to Anastasia?
AOBA: (Keeping his eyes on his work.) Not much of a mystery anymore. It's been proven that she died with the rest of her family.
MAYA: (Half-shocked, half-heartbroken.) WHAT?
AOBA: Besides, even if she hadn't been she would have died of old age long ago.
CONN: (Matter-of-factly.) Yeah, that pretty much covers it.
MAYA: H-How old was she?
CONN: Seventeen, I think.
MAYA: Seventeen! That's only a few years older than the pilots!
CONN: Yes, it is, isn't?
RITSUKO: Conn, could you head over to the archives and get me the file for— (Her phone begins to ring.) Excuse me. (She answers her phone.) Hello? (EXITS.)
CONN: (Shaking his head, he walks over to MAYA.) Anastasia? Really? A little bit cliché, isn't it?
MAYA: No more cliché than Jack the Ripper and Atlantis.
CONN: (Smiling.) Yes, indeed. (He turns his head over to AOBA.) How did you now about it being proven that Anastasia was dead, First Lieutenant Aoba?
AOBA: I read it in the news some time ago. How about you?
CONN: Read it in a book… I don't know wherefore I was so surprised. Life isn't a fairy tale. If life is any indication, it is a horror story like something from Lovecraft, what with those monsters the Angels and everything… Though the mechanical monstrosities that the Children pilot are different.
AOBA: You were hoping that she survived, Conn? (He doesn't look away from his work as MAYA and HYUGA both look at CONN.)
CONN: I did, First Lieutenant Aoba. Where there is life there is hope, but alas, that only seems to be half the time.
AOBA: It happened long ago. Any hope for her was non-existent. If she wasn't killed in the revolution, she would have died later.
CONN: Yes, well, maybe she has been reincarnated, (AOBA begins shaking his head with an annoyed look upon his countenance.) maybe her reincarnation is someone we know. Wouldn't that be something?
AOBA: (Coldly.) You have your head in the clouds with this mystery stuff, Conn.
CONN: And where is yours, First Lieutenant Aoba? Stuck in your music? What are you going to do? Write a song that will cause the dogs to howl?
AOBA: (He turns to look at the archivist. Genuinely curious.) How long have you been holding onto that?
CONN: (He shrugs.) Give or take three weeks.
AOBA: I would have waited another three weeks, maybe then you'd have a better comeback. You really do have your head in the clouds, Conn. Do you have a girlfriend, boyfriend…? What are you anyway?
CONN: Well actually, I'm— (ENTER RITSUKO.)
RITSUKO: Sorry about that. Anyway, Conn, can you go and grab that file for the most recent health checks of the Children from the archives?
CONN: Health checks, Dr. Akagi? I don't recall them being sent down.
MAYA: (Grimacing.) Sorry!
RITSUKO: Alright then, Maya, you go and get that file please. (MAYA gets up and hastily EXITS, CONN smiling as he watches her leave. Smiling as well, RITSUKO shakes her head.) Everyone makes mistakes, I even made some of my own when I was her age. (Turning her attention to CONN.) Did you go out to get a book on Anglo-Saxon runes?
CONN: Yes, Doctor. I went out to get one during my lunch break. It was on sale, so it didn't cost me much.
RITSUKO: How does it compare to the text on the files?
CONN: Not very well. It was a good direction that Special Inspector Kaji pointed me in based on the surname of Asuka's paterfamilias, but alas, it was not to be… What is the full appellation of Asuka's paterfamilias anyway?
RITSUKO: You mean Kaji didn't tell you? His name is Edmund Langley.
CONN: (Incredulous.) You can't be serious! What are the names of some of his colleagues? Edward Woodstock? Isabella Bedford? John Gaunt?
RITSUKO: I don't understand the references, Conn.
CONN: Edmund of Langley, the First Duke of York, was a son of Edward III of England. Edward of Woodstock, Isabella of Bedford and John of Gaunt were some of his siblings.
RITSUKO: Not that I know of, but wouldn't that be something?
HYUGA: Something's been detected!
RITSUKO: Let's see it! (HYUGA hits a button and immediately CONN backs away in horror at what he sees upon the screen as MAYA RE-ENTERS. RITSUKO stays cool and collected.) So, a bigger fish has arrived.
CONN: Almost rather had I seen Moby Dick and fought him, than to have see, thou white ghost!
RITSUKO: Hyuga, call Major Katsuragi and inform her of what is going on!
HYUGA: Yes, Doctor! (He picks up his phone and begins dialing MISATO's number.)
RITSUKO: Aoba, call Special Inspector Kaji! Shinji is with him!
AOBA: Right! (He picks up a phone and begins dialing KAJI's numner.)
RITSUKO: Conn, go and find Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki!
CONN: At once, Dr. Akagi! (CONN hastily attempts to EXIT, only to trip and fall, hurting his right knee in the process.) Shit and fried eggs!
MAYA: Are you alright?
CONN: (Angrily.) Would I have said something as vulgar as "shit and fried eggs" if I was, Commander Ikari's— (A half-angry, half-hurt expression appears upon MAYA's countenance, causing CONN to calm down. The other two Bridge Bunnies turn and look at him, HYUGA's eyes wide and AOBA glaring at him. RITSUKO remains calm.) S-Sorry, First Lieutenant Maya.
RITSUKO: Maya, you go and find Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki. (MAYA nods and looks at CONN, who can only avert his eyes, before EXITING. RITSUKO then goes over to CONN and helps him up.) How's the knee?
CONN: Not good, it just had to be the right knee.
RITSUKO: Bit of an Achilles heel?
CONN: You could say that.
HYUGA: Major Katsuragi is on her way here with the Second Child.
AOBA: And Kaji is on his way with the Third and Fourth Child.
RITSUKO: That just leaves the First and Fifth.
CONN: (Quietly.) Rei Ayanami and the mysterious Kaworu Nagisa.
AOBA: You're only calling him that because you haven't met him!
CONN: Have any of us?
RITSUKO: That's enough. I'll send for Rei and no doubt Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki will send for Kaworu. With any hope, five Evangelions will make short work of this… white ghost.
AOBA: I doubt it. (EXEUNT.)
NOTES
The mention of Atlantis is actually a reference to Gainax's previous series "Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water". As for Anastasia, I figure that as a child one of Maya's favourite films was the animated Don Bluth film.
