Neon Genesis Evangelion
Episode 23'
ADV PLATINUM DVD Subtitle Script
Translated by Kuni Kimura, additional translation by Shoko Oono

*****


KAJI (ANSWERING MACHINE):
Katsuragi, it's me.
I've probably put you through a lot of trouble 
by the time you're listening to this.
I'm sorry. Tell Ritchan I said I'm sorry too.
Also, since I've troubled you so much anyway,
there's this flower I've been growing...
It'd make me happy if you'd water it for me.
Shinji knows where it is.
Katsuragi, the truth is with you.
Go forward without any hesitation.
If I ever get to see you again,
I'll say the words I wasn't able to say eight years ago.
Bye.

MISATO:
The phone that won't ring...

TEXT:
Sorry, but don't bother me.
Working

SHINJI:
Miss Misato's still cooped up today.

TEXT:
Do not enter without permission.
If you do, I'll kill you!

SHINJI:
Asuka...
I wonder if she won't be coming back again today?

*****

HIKARI (MONO):
She won't go to school and she won't go back home.
She just keeps playing games.

ASUKA:
Hikari?

HIKARI:
What is it?

ASUKA:
Wanna go to sleep?

HIKARI:
Okay...

*****

ASUKA:
I'm sorry. Am I a bother?

HIKARI:
No, not at all.

ASUKA:
I wasn't able to win in my Eva.
I'm not worth anything anymore.
Not anywhere.
I hate it. I hate it all. I hate everyone.
But what I hate the most is myself.
Somehow, I feel like nothing matters anymore.

HIKARI:
I think it's okay for you to do whatever you want and I won't say anything,
because I think you did your best, Asuka.

*****

RITSUKO:
I see, so she passed away.
Yes, probably, even cats eventually reach the end of their lives.
Don't cry anymore, Grandma. 
I will. When I get some time, I'll come home for a bit.
I haven't visited Mother's grave in three years either.
I'll call you next time. 
Okay, I'm hanging up now.

RITSUKO:
So, she died.

*****

SUBTITLE:
Episode #23'
Tears

*****

?? (OFF):
It is impossible for us to recover the Lance of Longinus.

?? (OFF):
Why did you use it?

?? (OFF):
We still do not have the planned number of the Eva series.

IKARI:
I made destroying the Angel my first priority.
It was an unavoidable situation.

??:
Unavoidable, was it?
You should make your excuses more convincing than that.

??:
Your recent actions have become intolerable.

IKARI:
Fuyutsuki, we're in the middle of deliberations here.
All right.
An Angel is currently drawing near.
Let us continue this at another time.

??:
If your seat is still waiting for you, that is.

KEEL:
Ikari... Does he intend to betray Seele?

*****

MISATO:
I'll be there in fifteen minutes.
Launch Unit 00 from Number 32. Send Unit 02 as backup.
That's right, Commander Ikari's orders still stand for Unit 01.
I don't have the authority to lift the suspension on it.
Bye.

MISATO:
visual confirmation of the Angel...

*****

WOMAN (OFF):
Unit 00 launched, heading for intercept point.

HYUGA:
Unit 02 on standby at current location.

IKARI:
No, launch her.

HYUGA:
Commander!

IKARI:
It doesn't matter. She can at least serve as a decoy.

HYUGA:
Yes, Sir.

*****

MAN (OFF):
Eva Unit 02, prepare for launch.

ASUKA:
Here I am, shamelessly back in the pilot's seat.
I'm so bad at letting things go.

IBUKI (OFF):
Unit 02, please go to Gate 8.
Launch as soon as your deployment position has been determined.

ASUKA:
I'll only be in the way, even if I go out there.

AOBA (OFF):
Target approaching. It has crossed the Gora Final Line of Defense.

ASUKA:
I don't care anymore.

*****

AOBA (OFF):
Target hovering over Ohwakudani, continuing to rotate in place.

HYUGA:
Target's AT Field is still active.

RITSUKO:
What were you doing?

MISATO:
I won't waste time on excuses. What's the situation?

AOBA:
We've been in a persistent deadlock.

HYUGA:
Pattern cycling from blue to orange!

MISATO:
What does that mean?

IBUKI:
Magi indicates it cannot find a solution.

AOBA:
We don't have enough data to come to an answer.

RITSUKO:
But one thing's certain. That shape isn't a fixed form.

MISATO:
So we can't make the first move.

*****

MISATO (RADIO - OFF):
Rei, we're going to wait and watch for a while.

REI:
No, it's coming.

MISATO:
Rei, counter it!

HYUGA:
It's no use! She won't make it in time!

AOBA:
Target is in physical contact with Unit 00!

MISATO:
How is Unit 00's AT Field?!

IBUKI:
Operational, but the Angel is eroding it!

RITSUKO:
The Angel is aggressively seeking to make first contact? With Unit 00?

IBUKI:
Danger! It's invading Unit 00's organic parts!

MISATO:
Launch Eva Unit 02!
Send her to rescue and back up Rei!

IBUKI (RADIO - OFF):
Target making further inroads!

RITSUKO:
This is dangerous. 
Over five percent has been biologically fused already.

MISATO:
Asuka, close your distance by 300, deploy your AT Field at maximum,
and fire the Palette Gun into the target's rear!
Got it? Eva Unit 02, lift off!

MISATO:
Move out, Asuka. What's the matter? What's wrong with Unit 02?!

IBUKI:
It's no good! The synch rate is in the single digits!

MISATO:
Asuka!

ASUKA:
It won't move. It just won't move!

MISATO:
She'll only be a sitting duck out there! Bring her back! Quickly!

*****

REI:
Who's there?
Me?
The me inside the Eva.
No, I can sense that there's someone other than me.
Who are you?
An Angel? The person that we call an Angel?

REI VOICE:
Won't you become one with me?

REI:
No. I am me. I am not you.

REI VOICE:
I see, but it's no use. It's too late now.
I'll share what's in my heart with you.
I'll share this feeling with you.
Doesn't it hurt? See? 
Doesn't your heart ache?

REI:
Hurt? No, you're wrong. It's...
...loneliness?
Yes, it's loneliness, isn't it?

REI VOICE:
Loneliness? I don't understand.

REI:
You hate being alone, don't you?
There are so many of us, and yet, you hate being alone.
That is what loneliness is.

REI VOICE:
That is what is inside your heart.
That is your own heart, overflowing with sorrow.

*****

REI:
These are tears? The one crying is me?

MISATO:
Rei!

IKARI:
The suspension on Unit 01 has been lifted as of now.
Send him out immediately. 
Send him out.

MISATO:
Yes, Sir.

ASUKA:
What? You didn't send him out for me.

MISATO (RADIO - OFF):
Deploy your AT Field. Rescue Rei immediately.

SHINJI:
Okay!

REI:
Ikari?

MISATO:
Shinji, attack it with the Prog Knife!

REI VOICE:
It hurts.
It hurts, Ikari.

REI:
This is my heart wanting to become one with Ikari?
No.

IBUKI:
The AT Field has been reversed! It will be eroded away at once!

RITSUKO:
Does she intend to contain the Angel?!

IBUKI:
The Field has reached its limit!
The core will not be able to maintain it at this rate!

MISATO:
Rei, abandon the Eva and get out of there!

REI:
No.
If I go, the AT Field will disappear. So, I can't.

MISATO:
Rei, do you mean to die?

IBUKI:
The core is collapsing! Critical point exceeded!

AOBA (OFF):
Target has been destroyed.

MISATO:
At this time, this operation is officially over.
Change our status to Class One Alert.

HYUGA (OFF):
Roger that. Switching immediately to Condition Yellow.

MISATO:
What about Unit 00's status?

IBUKI (OFF):
Ejection of the entry plug has not been confirmed.

MISATO:
Hurry the rescue operation for the survivor.

RITSUKO (OFF):
If there is one, that is.

*****

EYECATCH B:
EPISODE #23':
REI III

*****

MAN (OFF):
No antibiotic substance from the 16th Angel has been found thus far.
We will continue searching.

MAN (OFF):
Level C traces are spreading towards the southwest.

MAN:
Dr. Akagi!

RITSUKO:
What happened here will be classified top secret.
Take back the plug. Dispose of everything else.

MAN:
Roger that.

MAN:
Let's get to work! Quickly!

*****

TEXT:
Sachiel

TEXT:
The 4th Angel
Shamshiel

MAN C (OFF):
At last, we have defeated up through the 16th Angel.

TEXT:
The 5th Angel
Ramiel
The 6th Angel
Gaghiel
The 7th Angel
Israfel
The 8th Angel
Sandalphon

MAN D (OFF):
That leaves only one Angel described in Seele's Dead Sea Scrolls.

TEXT:
The 9th Angel
Matriel
The 10th Angel
Sahaqiel
The 11th Angel
Yrouel
The 12th Angel
Leliel
The 13th Angel
Baradiel
The 14th Angel
Zeruel
TEXT:
The 15th Angel
Ariel
The 16th Angel
Armisael

KEEL:
The promised time is near.
Our journey has been long and the sacrifices have been great.

MAN B:
Indeed, first, the Lance of Longinus, and now, the loss of Unit 00.

MAN A:
We have more than enough reasons to relieve Ikari of his command.

MAN C:
That man is smart enough to know the significance
of why we allowed Fuyutsuki to return safely.

MAN D:
We need another human sacrifice to counter Ikari.

KEEL:
And we need someone who knows the truth.

*****

MISATO (OFF):
Shinji, I'm coming in.

SHINJI:
Miss Misato, the tears won't come.
I feel sad, but the tears just won't come.

MISATO:
Shinji, this is about all I can do for you right now.

SHINJI:
Stop it!
Stop it, Miss Misato.

MISATO (OFF):
I'm sorry.

MISATO (MONO):
But he must be feeling lonely.
Is he afraid of women?
No, he's afraid of being intimate with people.

MISATO:
Pen Pen, come here.

MISATO (MONO):
I see, it doesn't matter who. I am the one who is lonely.

*****

FUYUTSUKI:
Rei...
She is the product of my despair and at the same time,
the vessel of your hope even now.
In the end, I suppose it was unreasonable to expect you to forget.

*****

MISATO:
Yes, hello?
What did you say?!
Shinji!

*****

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Dr. Godai of Internal Medicine 1, Dr. Godai.
Please contact Conference Room 2 immediately.

SHINJI (OFF):
Ayanami!

*****

TEXT:
Neurosurgery 1
Surgery 32nd Floor Ward
Diagnostic Radiology
X-ray Information Desk

SHINJI:
I'm so glad you're okay.
I guess my dad's not here.
Thank you for saving me.

REI:
What do you mean?

SHINJI:
What do I mean? You sacrificed Unit 00 to save me.

REI:
I see, so I saved you.

SHINJI:
Yeah, you don't remember?

REI:
No, I just don't know.
Because I think I'm probably the third one.

*****

TEXT:
Ayanami

REI:
These are tears?
This should be the first time I've seen them,
but I feel like this isn't the first time.
Am I crying?
Why am I crying?

*****

IKARI:
That's right. The First Child will be maintained in her current condition.
There is no need for new restrictions.
The same goes for the Second and the Third.
They only need to be watched.

FUYUTSUKI:
But Chairman Kiel and the rest will raise a fuss 
when they learn that Rei is alive.

IKARI:
I have offered something else to Seele's old men.
We needn't worry.

*****

KEEL:
We would like for things to proceed smoothly.
We do not wish to subject you to any more degradation and suffering.

RITSUKO:
I do not feel humiliated whatsoever.

?? (OFF):
A strong-willed woman.
I can understand why Ikari would want you by his side.

?? (OFF):
But the person who handed you to us is none other than Ikari.

KEEL:
He refused to hand over the pilot of Unit 00 for questioning.
He sent you as a substitute, Dr. Akagi.

RITSUKO (MONO):
I was sent in place of Rei?

*****

TEXT:
Sorry, but don't bother me.
Working

KAJI (VOICE RECORDING):
This is a part of the truth that you wanted.
I devised thirty-six other ways to send it to you,
but you probably won't get them.
The only definite one is this capsule.
This is everything I have to offer.
Do with it as you see fit.
The password is our very first memory together.
Bye, take care.

MISATO:
The phone that won't ring, I won't let it irritate me anymore.
Because I've accepted your feelings.

*****

?? (OFF):
Are we certain we did the right thing concerning Dr. Akagi?

?? (OFF):
She is different from Fuyutsuki. Returning her is in our best interest.

?? (OFF):
She has rendered distinguishing service to the Eva series.
She can be of some use to us right now.

?? (OFF):
Indeed, for the sake of mankind's future.

??:
Eight Evangelions are already being prepared.

??:
Which leaves four more.

KEEL:
The annihilation of New Tokyo-3 will be good material 
upon which to advance our plans. Hurry their completion.
That will be our promised day.

*****

SHINJI (OFF):
Yes, hello?

RITSUKO (PHONE - OFF):
Just listen to me.
I've released the restraints placed on you.
You should be able to go outside now.

SHINJI:
Miss Ritsuko?

*****

MISATO (OFF):
It's no use, not without my pass.

RITSUKO:
I see. It's Kaji's handiwork, isn't it?

MISATO:
You're going to let me see the secret in there with my own eyes.

RITSUKO:
Fine, but he's coming too.

MISATO:
Fine.

*****

SHINJI:
This looks just like Ayanami's room.

RITSUKO:
This IS Rei Ayanami's room.
This is where she was born and raised.

SHINJI:
This place?

RITSUKO:
Yes, this is where she was born.
The water and light that form Rei's subconscious
must have a strong impression of this place.

MISATO:
Dr. Akagi, this isn't what I came here to see.

RITSUKO:
I know, Misato.

*****

SHINJI:
Evas?!

RITSUKO:
The very first ones. They are the failures.
They were scrapped ten years ago.

SHINJI (OFF):
A graveyard for Evas...

RITSUKO (OFF):
It's just a garbage dump.
This is also where your mother disappeared.
You may not remember it, but I believe you were also watching 
the very moment your mother vanished.

MISATO:
Ritsuko!

*****

MISATO:
So, this is the source of the dummy plugs?

RITSUKO:
I will show you the truth.

SHINJI:
Rei Ayanami?

MISATO:
You're not saying the Evas' dummy plugs are...

RITSUKO:
That's right, the part that becomes the core of the dummy system,
and this is the manufacturing plant for it.

MISATO:
This is?!

RITSUKO (OFF):
These are just dummies.
And nothing more than parts for Rei.
Man found God and in their joy, tried to make Him theirs.
That's why there was divine retribution.
That was fifteen years ago.
The God they found had also disappeared by then.
But then, they tried to resurrect God on their own.
The result was Adam.
And imitating God, they created people from Adam.
The result was the Evas.

SHINJI (OFF):
People? They're human?

RITSUKO:
Yes, they're human.
The Evas do not intrinsically have souls,
but they have human souls embedded in them.
They were all salvaged.
The only vessel that contained a soul was Rei.
She was the only one born with a soul.
The Chamber of Gaf was empty, you see.
These things here that look like Rei have no souls.
They're just vessels.
That's why I'm going to destroy them.
Because I hate them.

MISATO:
Do you know just what you're doing?!

RITSUKO:
Yes, I know. I'm destroying them.
They're not people. They're things shaped like people.
But I lost, even to these things! I couldn't win!
I only needed to think of him, 
and I could endure any kind of humiliation!
I didn't care what happened to my body!
But he... He...
And I knew too.
I'm a fool!
Like mother, like daughter, we're both big fools!
If you want to kill me, do it.
No, I would be happy if you would do it.

MISATO:
That would be truly foolish of you.

MISATO (MONO):
The tragedy of the people possessed by the Evas...
But that goes for me too.

TEXT:
To Be Continued

*****

ED

*****

TEXT:
Preview

MISATO (OFF):
The city that the boy had been protecting disappears.
The friends that the boy had been close to leave.
The girls that the boy had been drawn to turn to fear.
Shinji has lost all his emotional supports,
but a new boy smiles upon him in the dusk.
Shinji gives himself over to the smile that seems
to envelop all the sins he has ever committed.
But a cruel fate was in store for them.
Next time: "The Final Messenger"

TEXT:
Next Time
The Final Messenger

*****


Formatted by Dr. Nick, in compliance with transcript format 1.1.
Transcript produced for the NGE Fan-Geeks Commentary Project, at
<http://www.evacommentary.org/>.
Please do not modify this file in any way, host it on other websites, or 
otherwise distribute it en masse. (The latter two policies are temporary.)