PART II

ACT II

SCENE I

(Fuyutsuki's office. CONN, lacking his fedora, stands before FUYUTSUKI, sitting behind his desk, while RITSUKO stands to the side and GENDO stands to CONN's side. RITSUKO looks rather baffled while FUYUTSUKI has a raised eyebrow.)

GENDO: A "Indigo Child", archivist?

CONN: Yes, sir.

(A moment of silence passes, then GENDO bursts out laughing. CONN looks absolutely terrified, the hidden limp in his right leg becoming visible.)

GENDO: You certainly have your head in the clouds. You are quite certain it was Shinji that Rei was speaking to?

CONN: Well, she could have been hallucinating, but I hope she was not, Commander Ikari. A genuine Indigo Child! Wouldn't that be something?

FUYUTSUKI: And Toji believes this to not be the case?

CONN: He doesn't believe Shinji to be… Well, he just does not think Rei is an Indigo Child. He believes that somehow Shinji will return.

GENDO: How, archivist?

CONN: (The limp in his right leg is once more hidden.) I don't know, sir. He has not gone into detail.

FUYUTSUKI: Mr. O'Sullivan, I am making the decision to assign you to supervising Rei for the time being. Is that acceptable, Ikari?

GENDO: So, the archivist might better be able to report on Rei?

FUYUTSUKI: He will still work in the archives while Rei is in school and attending to her other duties.

GENDO: It is acceptable, but all reports will be made directly to me.

CONN: I would not like that, sir. May I not simply report to Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki instead? I like him better than I do you, Commander Ikari.

GENDO: Your honesty is refreshing, archivist.

CONN: Does that mean I will be reporting to Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki then?

GENDO: No.

CONN: (Annoyed.) Battle of Kadesh! (A realization hits him.) … Of course! What a fool I've been! (FUYUTSUKI raises an eyebrow, but otherwise remains stoic, while RITSUKO is nothing short of baffled and GENDO just stares, stoic as ever.)

GENDO: Have you something to add, archivist?

CONN: Sorry, can't stay! I have to get back to the archives before Vladimirovich's threat goes into effect.

GENDO: I told Mr. Vladimirovich to be gentle with you if you return late, did I not?

CONN: Did you? I must have not been paying attention.

GENDO: Clearly. Now, do you have something to add?

CONN: (Quietly.) Yes… (He begins walking back and forth. Once more at his regular volume.) Yes, yes, of course, of course, I do indeed have something to add, something in relation to Shinji Ikari, your son, the Third Child, the Pilot of Evangelion Unit-01, the Shinji Ikari who was Shinji Ikari-ing around. (He trips, but regains his footing. He clears his throat.) What I have to say is in relation to Shinji Ikari, your son, the Third Child, the Pilot of Evagelion Unit-01, the Shinji Ikari who was Shinji Ikari-ing around! But what is "Shinji Ikari-ing around?" Let us first define it! "Shinji Ikari-ing around" can be defined as— (He pauses as he realizes that GENDO is actually glaring at him from behind the visor.) Am I dismissed?

GENDO: (Coldly.) Skip your feigned insanity and get to the point, archivist.

CONN: (Aside.) Damn, that usually works. (He looks at GENDO, still glaring at him.) Ah, yes, well, I have referred to this recent Angel as a living Bermuda Triangle and back in 1970, there had been a Bermuda Triangle case of a plane being catapulted back to where it had started. It all happened in the same day! Evangelion Unit-01 may reappear exactly where it had been in mere hours!

GENDO: With the Angel?

CONN: Maybe, at least let's hope not!

GENDO: I will allow a wait of twenty-four hours. If Unit-01 has not reappeared in that amount of time, it and its pilot will be declared lost.

CONN: (Under his breath.) Your own flesh and blood. You unsympathetic bastard.

GENDO: You are dismissed, archivist.

Conn: (Glaring at GENDO, he taps his walking stick against his right foot three times.) Yes, Commander Ikari. (He begins make his EXIT before stopping and addressing the audience.) You know, I used to wonder how many of my co-workers would daydream about killing our commander. That day, on my walk back to headquarters I had lost my hat to a strong breeze that sent it out into traffic where it then got crushed beyond belief. At that moment, I was picturing pushing Commander Ikari out in front of a bus. (He EXITS.)

RITSUKO: (Shakes her head.) He really is strange. Given the chance I would like to dissect his brain.

GENDO: Were I a lesser man, I would have blown his brains out. Still, if the Mughal emperor Akbar had his jester Birbal, then the archivist is mine… Returning to the subject we were on before the archivist arrived to report on Rei, I have come to the conclusion that with Unit-01 lost we must proceed with Project Shikinami in the event anything should happen to the pilot and that includes having Shikinami conditioned.

RITSUKO: (Suspiciously.) In the event?

GENDO: Yes. In the event.

RITSUKO: W-What do you think is going to happen to Asuka?

GENDO: The same thing we have always known could happen… Or that which might be required.

FUYUTSUKI: And just what do you think will be required, Ikari?

GENDO: Send for Head Archivist Vladimirovich and Agent Hawk.

RITSUKO: Kenzaki's subordinate and that Russian Cyclops?

FUYUTSUKI: Why, Ikari?

GENDO: I have reason to speak with them.

RITSUKO: What reason?

GENDO: You are both dismissed.

FUYUTSUKI: T-This is my office, Ikari.

GENDO: (Without even taking a look.) Yes, so it is… In that case, I will speak with the two of you later. (EXITS.)

RITSUKO: I don't like this.

FUYUTSUKI: Nor do I, Dr. Akagi, and I for one have no intention to send for either Hawk or Vladimirovich. I suppose one of us will have to though, I cannot make some excuse based on my age, though I wish I could. I am not quite so old. I am nearly sixty and we cannot both say it slipped our minds.

RITSUKO: I shall go and fetch Vladimirovich, Deputy Commander.

FUYUTSUKI: Are you sure of that, Dr. Akagi?

RITSUKO: Yes, Deputy Commander.

FUYUTSUKI: Alright then, that just leaves for me to go and find Hawk… I don't trust that man.

RITSUKO: Kaji doesn't trust him either.

FUYUTSUKI: He's a smart man.

RITSUKO: Major Katsuragi doesn't think so.

FUYUTSUKI: They have a complicated relationship as many people do, yet there are just as many who lack such complications.

RITSUKO: Sometimes things become less complicated.

FUYUTSUKI: Yes… Yes, sometimes they do. Nevertheless, we have work to do, Dr. Akagi… We all do. There are strange days ahead, I'm sure. (EXEUNT.)