(I ring Rei's bell. No answer. I get into her apartment.)
C: Hello? Rei? Are you at home?
R: (Dejected) Who is it?
C: Hy! It's me, Cetacious.
R: What do you want?
C: We had a date, remember?
R: (Dejected) Aw. Yes.
(She walks silently towards me and stands on my side. I give her a bouquet of blue roses.)
C: For you. They look good with your hair.
(I smile. She holds the roses, but doesn't look at them, smell them or anything.)
C: Well, how about we go for some ice cream or something?
R: What's your point?
C: M-My point? What do you mean what's my point?... We have a date...
R: So?
C: So we should go out and do something.
R: Why?
C: Cause that's what a date is about!
R: I don't see the use. I'm staying here.
(I think for a moment. Silence.)
C: Look, Rei, not everything in this live must have a direct,... physical use. (No answer) You could... I think you could give it a try. I mean, you could try to do something just because you want to. Liberate yourself, at least just a bit. It could be... useful.
(Rei looks at me a little skeptically but still believing.)
C: So, are we going onto the date?
R: I don't want to.
C: C'mon! It's gonna be fun!
R: Fun?
C: Just come.
(She doesn't say a thing. We get into the elevator.)
C: You're an EVA pilot, right?
R: Yes.
C: And what kinda stuff do you do?
R: I pilot an EVA.
C: Sounds interesting.
R: It is not.
(The elevator stops. We go onto the street.)
C: Well, I want to be a writer some day. I haven't published anything yet, but everybody I know says I write prey well. I think I'll start posting fan-fics on the web. But enough about me. Lets get back to you. (She doesn't seem to want to) Who do you work with, there at NERV?
R: Other EVA pilots are Ikari Shinji and Langley Asuka Soryu. At command are mayor Katsuragi and commander Ikari. The commander's work is of great quality.
C: I see... Go on, tell me more... How do you feel about them?... Do you... like them? Do you dislike them?
(No answer. We get to the ice-cream shop)
C: Well, here we are. What would you like?
R: I'm not hungry.
C: C'mon. Ask for anything. I'll invite you.
(Silence. I sigh. We sit down. Pause.)
C: I know you do have a will, Rei. I know you have feelings. You just don't want to admit it. What is it that makes you hide Rei? What do you fear? Is it maybe something that happened to you when you were small? (She looks away) Your parents...? Please, tell me. Things aren't that painful once you share them. Let me help you. I won't tell anyone. I swear.
(Rei stands up and starts walking home. I follow her.)
C: Rei, wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean any offence. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.
(She gets into the building and slams the door in my face. She doesn't want to recognize it, but I know tonight she has made a step in her life, against her will, but forward.)
