Explaining Dual!
by Ammadeau
[Scene: A mostly empty film set. There are backdrops from NGE in the background, along with models of various EVAs. Most of the main NGE cast is there, except Asuka, either lounging in chairs or eating from the small buffet that has been set up. They're obviously waiting for someone and clearly bored.]
[A young man enters, dressed in casual clothes. He wears a name tag that identifies him as Ammadeau.]
Amm: So is everyone clear on why we're here? Everyone: No! Amm: All right, I'll explain. We're going to have you, the NGE cast, reenact the first two episodes of Dual! to show that it isn't some rip-off of NGE. Aoba: But I thought it was-- [Maya covers his mouth with a hand.] Maya: You want to work, don't you? [Ritsuko stands up and makes for the exit.] Amm: Where are you going? Ritsuko(turning around): I find that logic highly suspect. I don't think I will be doing this. [Ammadeau checks script, which he holds in his hands.] Amm: In this, you'll be the head of Nerv. Ritsuko(smiling): Then again, it shouldn't take too long. [Ritsuko returns to her seat.] Gendo(frowning slightly): If she is the head of Nerv in this, what is my role? [Ammadeau studies script.] Amm: I guess you can the leader of the Angels. Lorenz refused to participate. [Before he can say anything, Ammadeau shows Gendo what he would have to do in this as the head of this Nerv.] Gendo: That should be fine, then. Shinji: What about me? Amm: You basically play yourself, only you have visions of giant robots and everyone makes fun of you for it. [Before Shinji can object, Utena runs into the room, nearly out of breath.] Utena: Sorry I'm late. I had to rescue Anthy again. [Ammadeau blinks in surprise at her.] Amm: What are you doing here? Utena: Isn't this auditions for duelists? Amm: No, it's for a reenactment of Dual!, a new anime by Pioneer that looks a little too much like NGE. Utena: First that magazine and now this. You mean I ran all this way for nothing? Amm(looking at script): I suppose I could find a part for you somewhere in here... [Looks around] Hey, where's Asuka? Shinji: In her trailer. She refuses to come out until we need her. Amm(turning to face Utena): I guess you can have Asuka's part then. Now that that's all settled, let's get started.
*** Dual! (Performed by the NGE cast, with guest star Utena from Utena. Directed by Ammadeau. Based on an anime by Pioneer.)
Shinji was an average boy. He went to an average school, got average grades, and went home to average parents. There wasn't a thing that was strange about him, nope, no sir, well except the fact that he often had visions of giant robots battling equally giant alien invaders who seemed to spend most of their time wrecking the city around them. Other than that, he was entirely normal. Well, there was one other little thing, but we'll get to that soon enough.
It was the typical day for him. Have a hallucination on the way to school while other kids pointed and laughed at him. Feeling he was about the die from a missile he saw coming straight at him in class. Having his classmates laugh at him. Sending his latest visions to his web page that his classmate Kenske had encouraged him to set up (who was also the only person who didn't make fun of him). Have the others... well, you get the idea.
What was different that day was a message on his bulletin board signed 'Utena.' Shinji was a bit surprised to find a pink-haired girl reading over his shoulder. Though even that wasn't as strange as the mouse-thing on her shoulder, which was eating the modem line. It looked at him and said, "Chu?" Shinji was so startled that he nearly jumped away from her. "Shinji Ikari?" she asked. "Yes." "You're the one who's writing a story about having visions of robots, aren't you? Is it true that you really see them?" Shinji denies it, of course, thinking that she would just make fun of him. While Utena makes a mysterious phone call, Shinji has another one of his freaky hallucinations that blows up where he's standing. Utena walked before him, incidentally standing over an area he saw as a hole. "You really can see it, can't you?" "I know it isn't reality, but it seems so real Utena-sempai!" "You know my name?" "You're well known, after all." "So are you." Shinji frowned, knowing what he was well known for.
A few scenes where Shinji and Utena are talking, mostly about his odd visions. Some extras borrowed from Ranma 1/2 see this, get jealous that the number one babe at school (despite wearing a boy's uniform) is talking to such a loser, and try to beat him up, but Utena saves him in the nick of time by dragging him into a lingerie shop, where no sane man enters unless against his will. Eventually, this all leads to Utena's home.
*** [Inside house, Ritsuko is intently studying script while Ammadeau is preparing for upcoming interior shots.]
Ritsuko: Do I really have to do this? Amm: Yeah, but it's only once. Well, twice really. The rest isn't as bad and you get to be the head of Nerv. Ritsuko: Maybe I should have stuck to being the head scientist. Amm: Kaji's still available as your replacement. Ritsuko: All right, I'll do it. You don't have to threaten me like that. [Outside house, Utena and Shinji are standing around, waiting for the shooting to begin again. Shinji is studying the set.] Shinji: This is a pretty strange house for Japan. I don't remember this being part of the NGE set. Utena: Actually, it's the exterior of my dorm. I don't know how Ammadeau got a hold of it. [Ammdeau walks onto the set.] Amm: All right, places everyone!
*** Shinji was more than a little surprised when a strange blonde woman raced out of the house and locked him a power-hug that was quickly cutting off his circulation. "You're the one, aren't you? Aren't you?" the woman said enthusiastically as she squeezed the life out of him. Shinji looked to Utena and managed to choke out, "Help me." Utena frowned. "Wait a minute, I know that voice." She pulled off the blonde wig to reveal... "Wakaba? What are you doing here?" Soon Utena found herself once again the victim of her friend's enthusiastic hugs. "This nice lady offered me the part of her stunt double! I didn't even know you were working here too! Isn't this great?" "Yeah, great," Utena answered with a definite lack of enthusiasm. *** [Off-stage, Ammadeau, who looks ready to tear his hair out, is confronting Ritsuko, who's smiling.]
Amm: Look, I don't want to know how you found her. Her pay is coming out of your salary. Ritsuko: Fine. Amm: All right, next scene everyone!
*** The outside of the house was nice, but the inside looked to be about as well maintained as the Addam's Family mansion. Things only got worse as Ritsuko, the real one this time, lead them into the basement, by the light of a candle. All sorts of esoteric machinery lurked in the shadows. "What is this place?" Shinji whispered to Utena as they carefully made their way down the stone staircase. "The lab set from Young Frankenstien," Utena whispered back. "It was the only one that Ammadeau could find." "Enough shop talk," Ritsuko told them as she threw a big switch. "We're here." Massive overhead lights flickered on to reveal what appeared to be some sort of cross between a dungeon and a mad scientist's laboratory. What looked to be an old-fashioned electric chair sat in the middle of the room. It was this that Ritusko ultimately lead them to. "All right, get in. Let's get this scene over with," she told Shinji as she gestured to the chair. "No way I'm getting in that thing. Why couldn't it be an entry plug or something familiar?" "Because an entry plug wouldn't fit in the basement. Come one now, it's perfectly harmless. I just need to use it to take a few readings, that's all." "Why does it smell of burnt flesh then?" "That's just because of the leather straps," Ritsuko explained quickly as she practically shoved him into the chair and started to tighten the restraints. "Hey! Wait a minute here! Why don't I get a stunt double?" Utena placed a hand on Shinji's shoulder, looking him right in the eyes as she said, "Don't worry, everything will be all right." "Yeah," Shinji said distantly, blushing heavily.
*** [Ritsuko is off-stage and is currently explaining the script to her stunt double Wakaba, who doesn't seem to be getting it. They are both dressed in lab-coats and Wakaba is wearing a blonde wig.]
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