#cont’d from my last post

[gieoki]

crowning myself as gardener susie ceo. thanks

[vinylmango]

Flower Delivery (pt. 3)

ex!Nicholas alexander chavez x ex!black!reader

Warnings: obsessive behaviors (cont’d), he’s your scene partner…turned kinda lover (kissing only), Ryan Murphy jumpscare (yikes), mentions of episode 4 of grotesquerie (just one scene)

Requests:

no cause you’re most recent nicholas chavez fic ATE DOWNNN girl pls write another i beg. or literally just other nicholas chavez fics cause your writing is incredible!! - 🍒

And

I know you literally just posted flower delivery part 2 but I need part three! It’s sooooo good!!!! - anon

Description: Just when you think your life is back on track and you landed a new leading role, he’s thrust back into your life when you find out he’s in the show too. Now as you start filming, you aren’t really sure what you want anymore.

Word count: 2.9k words

Note: Sorry for the delay on part 3, work has been working lol, but I really appreciate all of the kindness and love everyone has been showing my posts/page <3 I ended up writing this four different times before I finally decided I liked it lol and I decided to make it longer to make up for my lack of content since I posted the last one.

Also I know the timeline is a little wonky in this in terms of Nicholas’ filming schedule for Monsters and Grotesquerie, so let’s just pretend he finished filming for Monsters completely before starting filming for Grotesquerie.

Thanks for the request 🍒 and anon!

part one part two

masterlist

You couldn’t believe it, it was almost too good to be true. There hadn’t been any surprise deliveries or week-night break-ins for the past six months. It was almost like he just disappeared for the past six months, and part of you was relieved since you no longer had to worry about his annoying and unhinged behavior; but another part of you secretly missed him, although you had been trying to convince yourself that it was only because you had gotten so used to his presence that now it was just…different.

Since the last time he had showed up at your place unannounced you had finished the project you had been working on and landed a new lead role in a brand new Ryan Murphy project, Grotesquerie.

Although you were well aware of the controversies surrounding the director, your new agency convinced you to take the role. It was so different from anything you had ever done before, and you had been wanting to try the horror genre. It was so new, in fact, that you hadn’t even had the opportunity to meet the rest of the cast since you hadn’t auditioned in the traditional way and Ryan himself had asked you to take the role.

You were up bright and early to be on set for the first day of filming for Grotesquerie. You arrived on set at 6:30 and headed straight to the hair and makeup trailer after briefly saying hello to Ryan, the production team, and the other writers that were on set. You still hadn’t seen your scene partners, assuming they were in hair and makeup as well.

You fell into a comfortable conversation with the hair stylist and makeup artist, telling them about your other project and how you were a fairly new actor.

“Girl, don’t talk down about yourself like that. Everyone starts somewhere.” The makeup artist, Darryl, told you squeezing your shoulder as Keisha, your hair stylist, nodded in the mirror.

“Thanks.” You smiled at the pair of them before you all turned when your trailer door opened. A woman with bright red hair and green eyes walking in with a small smile on her face.

“Hey Sue!” Darryl and Keisha smiled and waved at her.

“Hey D. Hi Keisha!” The middle aged woman smiled. “Hi (y/n), it’s great to meet you. I’m Sue. I’m just here to make sure your wardrobe is correct for the upcoming scene.” She explained as you nodded. “We had a slight change to the filming schedule to work around scheduling conflicts for some of our crew so we’ll be filming a little out of order today.”

“Oh ok. No worries.” You smiled. “What’s the change?”

“Our intimacy coordinator has to pick her son up from school early today so we have to get the scenes she’s involved with out of the way first.” She explained. “When you’re done with hair and makeup and have your wardrobe on then she’ll quickly meet with you to discuss the way it will be filmed.”

“Ok. Thanks for the heads up, Sue.” You smiled again, though Darryl and Keisha could tell you were becoming anxious when Sue left.

“Don’t be nervous, (Y/n). Sarah, our intimacy coordinator, is amazing.” Keisha reassured you.

“And I know this is obviously your job, but the actor is…hot.” Darryl added after a slight pause. You and Keisha laughed as he pretended to fan himself.

Hair and makeup finished shortly after that and you were dressed and ready to go after Keisha made sure that the habit you wore in the scene was placed correctly.

You exited the trailer as you noticed a dark haired woman with curly hair was talking to a tall, broad man, dressed in a jacket with a thick white towel wrapped around his waist…your scene partner. Darryl was right. At least from the back, the man was hot and muscular.

Your hands grew clammy as you walked up to them, Sarah smiling and waving you over. You wore a small smile as you approached. The smile was replaced with your jaw nearly dropping when the man who was to be your scene partner turned around causing you to almost stop in your tracks. “(Y/n) have you met Nicholas yet?” Sarah asked as you joined their conversation.

“Yeah. We’ve…uh…met before.” You said, fighting against the lump in your throat that was forming. Your mouth was so dry it felt like you might choke. You swallowed visibly as Nicholas smirked at you.

You glanced over his appearance. Although the jacket he was wearing was pretty loose around him and pretty much hid his upper body completely, you could still tell he was way more muscular than he had been when you saw him last.

“Great!” She smiled with a clap of her hands. “Let’s head inside and talk through the scene then.” You and Nicholas nodded as you followed her inside the filming location. “Alright so the way the scene currently lays this out is (Y/n) you’ll come from the doorway to sit in this chair, Nicholas you’ll come from the bathroom there and then walk over to the door, close it, and then stand in front of the chair. You’ll say your lines and then (y/n) you’ll stand and you’ll walk backwards until you get to here.” She stopped at the dresser that was sitting below the cross that was on the wall. “Nicholas you’ll lift (y/n) and put her down sitting on the dresser and then the scene will play out…any questions about that?” She asks as you both shake your heads no. “Alright. Anything either of you don’t feel comfortable doing?”

“I’m ok.” Nicholas said, though you could feel his eyes burning into the side of your face.

“I’m good.” You agreed, looking at Sarah instead.

“Great!” She smiled. “And the intimacy garments are ok? Do either of you want a different one?”

“This one is ok, thanks Sarah.” You told her as Nicholas agreed.

“It’s good, thanks Sarah.”

“Alright, great. Thank you guys. I’ll be behind the camera the whole time so if we need to do a few takes I’ll be here to help with anything. If you want to try something else at any time we can do that too.” She explained as you both nodded.

How did you always manage to get yourself into situations like these?

She excused herself, telling the pair of you that she was off to get the production team and Ryan to let them know you both were good to go. Nicholas turned to you, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, and an almost wolfish grin on his face.

You had to admit that he did look really good. The way he was leaning allowed you to see his abs between the gap in the jacket since he hadn’t zipped it up. “You’re staring.”

“You’re the one smirking at me.” You redirected as he stood up off the wall and took a step closer to you.

“Like what you see?” His voice seemed deeper, huskier, as his dark eyes scanned over you before settling back on yours. He sent you a wink as Ryan and the production team followed by Sarah came back and Nicholas walked past you to his mark, handing his jacket to an assistant as you went into the hallway to wait for the scene to start.

“Action!” You heard the sound of the water shut off and you peaked your head into Father Charlie’s room before coming to stand in the doorway.

He glanced back before walking to stand a few paces in front of you next to the bed, the towel low on his hips and water droplets cascading down his chest. His hair was pushed back from his face and wet as if he really had just gotten out of the shower. “You were watching me. Earlier in the rec room.” He paused, watching your expression but you remained neutral. “Anything worth seeing?”

“It…It was…” you paused for a moment, letting out a breath. “An exhalation of God’s glory through physical prowess.”

“Yeah?” Nicholas sat on the bed, his face turned slightly down but his eyes raised to look over at you. A slow smile appeared on his face. That was not scripted, you knew that for sure. “It’s kinda become my side hustle.” He said after a second. Back to the script. He said his other lines as you continued to sit in the chair, back stiff against the back of the chair as your hands laid in your lap.

“They say…it’s a sin of the flesh, but, I say-“ he began to say as you cut him off with your lines.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which is in you? Therefore honor God with your bodies.” You responded softly as he nodded, breathing out a simple ‘Yes’.

He stood up from the bed and stopped to stand in front of you, your gaze following him. He smirked at you, something the camera didn’t catch, before dropping the expression and walking to the door and closing it. To say your heart was beating fast would’ve been an understatement.

“This is exactly what they’re talking about right now at the Vatican.” You zoned out for a moment after he started delivering his lines, walking to stand in front of you again. You zoned back in when you heard the end of his line “celibacy, for those in the cloth.”

He reached over to you as you sharply inhaled when his fingers played with the cross necklace you wore. That wasn’t scripted either. You could see that he enjoyed catching you off guard and no one was yelling cut because the extra touches made sense for your characters.

“That’s…That’s difficult to imagine.” Your voice caught and he smirked as you looked up at him and swallowed thickly. It was an honest mistake on your part, but Nicholas was eating it up. At moments it was hard to tell whether he was currently in the mindset of Father Charlie Mayhew or Nicholas Chavez.

He licked his lips, still holding onto the necklace, his voice lowering. “Is it really so difficult?” He said more but you zoned out again when his hand released your necklace and unbuttoned your vest. He was delivering his lines while standing to the side of you, bent down in your face, so your faces were only inches apart.

You dropped the newspaper in your hand as he continued unbuttoning your vest, slowly. You hadn’t meant to, but no one yelled cut again, so you assumed it was fine. “The church is dying, Mother Eva.” He said as you breathed out again, not breaking eye contact. You could see in his eyes that he was amused, he definitely was enjoying this scene.

He delivered more lines and bent in closer to you and you couldn’t help your instinctive reaction. Your lips parted as if you were preparing for him to kiss you, like he used to do. All of this was like a flashback to how it used to be, and yeah, he had been unhinged but there was no denying that he was incredibly passionate.

“They know that change must come.” He said softly, your nose touching his before he stepped back completely from you, this time standing directly in front of you. He looked down at you as you took the opportunity to look over his body before looking down at the towel like you were supposed to do. You followed the scene instructions and pulled the towel from around his waist, letting it fall to the floor with a soft thud. You looked back up slowly at his face, your lips slightly parted as you watched him.

“It is still a sin.” You said as he picked your hand up and kissed your hand and wrist. He walked you over to the dresser like the scene outlined.

“We are…and we always will be.” He backed you up into the dresser, your shoes hitting it causing it to bump against the wall.

“Sinners.” You finished, practically whispering as your eyes looked over his face as he picked you up onto the dresser, his hands running down your sides as he stood in between your legs and your lips practically touched.

“So fuck it.” You could feel the movement of his lips against yours as he spoke, pulling the vest from your arms as you pushed your chest into him to get the vest off. He began unbuttoning your shirt and pulled the edge off one shoulder as he began to kiss there, your hands going to his hair.

Someone behind the camera coughed and the loud “Cut!” pulled you both completely out of the scene. You let out a gasp as Nicholas pressed a lingering kiss to your neck before stepping back.

You blinked a few times, your hands holding onto the edge of the dresser, as you let out a breath. You didn’t miss the way Nicholas wore a smug expression, but your smile widened when you pointed down subtly.

Nicholas raised his shoulders in a shrug as he secured the towel back around his waist. “Let’s take 15 and run it again. Thanks Jerry for ruining that take!” Ryan called passive aggressively. Jerry, the man who coughed, looked as if he wanted the earth to swallow him up.

You slid off the dresser and walked to your trailer, not noticing the way Nicholas excused himself just after you, easily falling into step behind you.

You fell onto the couch with a huff, annoyed at yourself for being reminded of the past. You were over him, there was no way you were going to entertain him again. All he did was bring chaos into your life.

“He broke into your apartment, remember?” You whispered to yourself, eyes widening when your trailer door opened and in walked Nicholas, closing and locking the door behind him.

“I know you still feel the same way I do.” He started as you shook your head. He stepped closer to you, standing in front of you much like the scene you had just had.

“You’re wrong.” He shook his head, smiling at your stubbornness.

“I saw the way you were looking at me. You got into it. It wasn’t just acting.”

“Says the guy who just tried to give me an unscripted hickey.” You retorted defensively, standing up suddenly and poking him. He caught your hand, intertwining your fingers with his as he pulled you closer, leaning down so he was only a couple inches away from your lips.

“Tell me you don’t want this.” He whispered as you remained quiet. “Tell me you don’t want me to ki-“ He was cut off by your lips crashing into his. You weren’t even thinking at that point. He was intoxicating, everything about him was intoxicating and you knew that you should just stay away, but it was him. It was hard to make rational decisions when he was so close and his very presence cleared all of the rationality from your brain.

He pulled back after the heated kiss, a smirk on his face as he looked at you. “So I was right.” He remarked, there goes the cockiness.

“Oh my God, just shut up.” You rolled your eyes before he obliged and pulled you close, his hands traveling up and down your body as yours ran through his hair and held onto his shoulders and biceps. He broke the kiss again to plant kisses from your lips to your neck, his teeth scraping against the sensitive skin on your neck, surely leaving a mark that you weren’t sure how you would explain.

“We shouldn’t be doing this.” You said, but you didn’t pull away from him. “The camera is going to see all of the marks you're leaving and we won’t be able to explain it away.”

“We’re filming a sex scene. It’ll be fine.” He decided as your nails ran down his arms, careful of the makeup and special effects on his back.

He groaned against your lips when a loud knock at the trailer door interrupted your activities. “They’re ready for you on set. Hair and makeup is just going to do some touch ups before we shoot again.” An assistant called as you placed a hand on his chest and stepped back.

“See you on set.” You said before stepping out of the trailer and walking over towards where Keisha and Darryl were waiting to do touch ups.

“(Y/n), why is your makeup so messed up around your mouth? Y'all didn’t even shoot a kiss yet.”

Let me know what else you’d like to see or share any ideas you might have!

[everdreamtheseclowns]

INTRO ──★ ˙♦️ ̟ !!

“Salutations, dudes, dudettes, and every single solidarity pixel of the world wide web! Time-traveler Chester Titor here! Ever wanted to see what happens when you give a demonic killer clown that lurks from the depths of your nightmares and his most devoted mortal follower, both of which are currently stuck in the ancient year 1955, access to modern day social media? Well, You’ve come to the right place!” -🛸

CONT’D BELOW CUT!! (Including character intros, basic etiquette, boundaries, etc.)

.★⋅.──────.˳★˳.──────.⋅★.

CHARACTERS ──★ ˙♦️ ̟ !!

Unlikely (Nightmare Clown) ♠️🃏

“Anon” (Mask Clown) ♥️🤡

Chester Titor 🛸👽

.★⋅.──────.˳★˳.──────.⋅★.

“Now that you’re here, let’s talk about the two circus freaks that this account is reallly about! (I mean…sure, i’m apart of this whole thing too, but…c’mon, read the room!)”-🛸

“Let’s start off with the big man himself—The night hag, The primordial chucklenuts from the void, The grin reaper! The-“-🛸

“The clown that’ll be the reason you end up in a horrifically overdue grave?” -🃏

“…well dang, i was just hamming you up! No need to get your taco in a twist, man!” -🛸

“Mmmmhmm~ that’s what i thought, Titor. Now make like an egg n’ beat it for me. Lest i end up scramblin’ you like one!”-🃏

“SO not cool, dude… but i’ll dip.”-🛸

“Good, good…now…”-🃏

♠️🃏”What say you to a little GAME?”🃏♦️

MEET UNLIKELY! (AKA The Nightmare Clown)

(Biologically) 100+ years old, (Physically/Mentally in his late 30s-early 50s

Voice Headcanon: DJ Grooves (AHiT)

Speech indicator: signed with 🃏, ♠️/♦️ + RED text!

He isn’t the sweetest ball of sunshine around, feel free to expect the worst from him. He’s just peachy when he wants to be though

He likes human contact! Go ahead, approach the clown! he won’t bite! (Reverse psychology woooooo)

A sore winner and a sore loser. A sore player even. Every last ounce of him is sore. Yeah.

The only thing bigger than himself is his ego. Followed by his appetite, greed, and sportsmanship (or rather the lack thereof). All of which are at an unrecordable size.

Despite his knack for bloodshed, and all things carnage, he has a strong sweet tooth! He favors the more sugary cuisines (Cotton candy, cake, ice cream, anything that stands out to him)

Totally doesn’t secretly run an underground society of mortals wearing clown masks that devote their entire existence to him

.★⋅.──────.˳★˳.──────.⋅★.

“…What’s the fun in playing all these games if you know you’re going to win? It’s kind of anticlimactic methinks”-🛸

“What isn’t the fun ‘bout it? It’s definitely funner when you don’t got a pathetic lil’ morsel in your ear screamin’ about some “YoUr gAmE iS rIgGeD!!””-🃏

“Heyyyy!!! I don’t scream like that :c”-🛸

“I don’t mind it one bit though! After all, it ain’t like they’re gonna be screamin’ their heads off any longer—once they’re CUT CLEAN OFF!”-🃏

“True, however, there’s a possibility that they’d still be alive for a short duration of time afterward, considering that bodiless heads can still function semi-properly, albeit for only a few seconds. But yes, they physically be incapable of screaming post-decapitation.”-🤡

“Hey! Where’d you come from?”-🛸

“…”-🤡

“Ya see? I even got my own second in command to back me up! Where’s yours, Titor? Scared her off or somethin?”-🃏

“…moving on.”-🛸

“It’s…!”-🛸

♣️🤡”ANON!”🤡♥️

MEET “ANON”!

⚠️NOTE: “Anon” is a PLACEHOLDER NAME for the Clown Mask man in TNMN. This character has no official name as of the moment this is all being typed. This section is subject to change in the future, if any more information regarding this guy’s identity is revealed in the tnmn canon.⚠️

33 years old. (8/11/1922)

Voice Headcanon, in the cases where he rarely speaks out: L Lawliet (Death Note)

Speech indicators: signed with ���, ♥️/♣️, BLUE text + small letters

Small text will be used for his speech, since i headcanon him to speak in a very soft tone, by default. Only ever raising his voice when experiencing intense, overwhelming emotions

Isn’t good with presenting himself, and social cues. Has trouble communicating his thoughts, and feelings properly—considering how many would assume, upon initial meeting, that he lacks them.

Unlikely’s right hand man. Does errands and chores for the Big Top, all the while luring pedestrians into playing his boss’s inevitable games.

Rarely speaks, unless talking in regards to his boss (Unlikely), or to add onto a conversation

Knows too much. The government fears him.

Is neighbors with Chester, knew him before the incident occurred (2/9/1955), but didn’t become proper friends with him until then.

When he isn’t talking, he’d normally either write his thoughts out, draw, or reply with simple gestures.

.★⋅.──────.˳★˳.──────.⋅★.

“Alright, Chestnut. You’re up…”-🃏

“Oh? Already?? Cool beans!”-🛸

“Yea, yea…don’t go all grandiose, grandpa. This ain’t about you, y’hear?…”-🃏

“Ughh,, fiiine…”-🛸

“But lemme just…ahem…”-🛸

“ohh boy.”-🃏

“Salutations, dudes, dudettes, and every single solidarity pixel of the world wide web! It’s (as seen on the news) Time-Traveler…

🐄🛸CHESTER TITOR, HERE!!🛸👽

47 years old (6/24/1908)

Voice Headcanon: Fiddleford McGucket (Gravity Falls)

Speech Indicators: Occasional typing quirks/modern “slang”, 👽/🛸/��, PURPLE text

He was on the daily newspaper. Twice! Such an achievement, i know.

Rots the brains of civilians nationwide with his obscure 21st century Pop/Internet culture references

Has an exact 42% chance of popping up during asks, even if they don’t have anything to do with him.

May or may not be friends with Aliens

.★⋅.──────.˳★˳.──────.⋅★.

“Well, that’s just about enough out of us! Next stop: basic rules and etiquette! Bye-byeonara!”-🛸

BLOG RULES ──★ ˙♣️ ̟ !!

Basic blog rules:

The blog will open and close every so often to prevent influxes of asks. If there’s a lack of asks at the time of closing, they’ll stay open for a day or two

No Anonymous asks, for now. This fandom (TNMN) has a bad problem with anons and askboxes, as one who’s been in the Tumblr community for a while now should know. As per the beginning of this askblog’s existence, I’ll be keeping Anonymous asks off, for safety reasons.

Though i accept and often play into suggestive jokes about the three (🛸,🃏,🤡), borderline N$F₩ asks will be discarded. The person running this askblog (@gabbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ) is a MINOR!!

If i end up discarding or never answering your ask, it’s possibly because I was uncomfortable with it. I hate to do it, but. Yeah.

I may be on/off with this blog due to real life issues (in this specific case, School and other projects.) BUT i will make time for it though!

Please note that most of the stuff i make these characters say and do are based around HEADCANONS!! Their actions and thoughts aren’t entirely correct, unless proven otherwise by canon (or by Nachosamagames himself). However, i attempt to stay as close to whatever goes on in said canon as possible, aside from throwing in my theories and personal twists in there.

[resowrites]

Illumë (cont’d)- ROP Oneshot.

Summary: When a Noldorin elf wishes for her life cycle to end permanently, Mairon (now Annatar), an old acquaintance from ages long past, suggests they cooperate in order to achieve their aims. But with her past catching up to her and the options soon dwindling, will she put her trust in Annatar at last - despite whatever his true motives may be? (This story is a continuation from this post but can easily be read separately).

Pairings: AU!Annatar, Unnamed!female elf.

Warnings: Dark-ish themes, brief mentions of character suicide/death, descriptions of pain, angst, ambiguity, dialogue heavy, hastily written/lightly proofread.

WC: 2739

A/N: Hi folks, I know it’s been a while and there’s not a huge ROP following here but getting my ideas down helps me start writing properly again so for those who do enjoy this, thanks and I may continue it depending on whether I have the time. It’s not really ROP or canon based but you do need a rough idea of events leading up to the second age. Enjoy - R x

My work must not be copied, reposted, or translated elsewhere. Gifs/pics not my own, no copyright infringement intended. Thanks for visiting.

Illumë (cont’d)- ROP Oneshot.

All around her was emptiness. Tall columns outlined her view and a cold mist hung in the air. How long she had been where she stood she didn't know. She could see no one else and yet didn't seem to be alone. At last, she wondered why she was rooted to her spot though she felt no desire to leave. It appeared she was waiting for something though she could make no guess as to what.

"You know why you are here." A loud voice came from high overhead and in front of her, a tower-like being filled the dim space. She couldn't tell if they were clad in dark robes or were formless like much of the space around her. The only light piercing the darkness came from their beam-like eyes. "And in agreeing to enter my halls you accept full judgement of your deeds. Is this understood?" Finding her voice, she answered back into the void.

"It is."

"Why then, pray, did you answer my summons?"

"I-I don't understand, my Lord."

"You sacrificed your fëa, thereby facilitating your delivery unto this realm. For what purpose?" She breathed as deeply as she could, knowing this would be her one and only chance.

"I wish only to be free of my previous life… and of this one."

"I will ask a final time, for what purpose?" She began to shake.

"I feel my time has ended." Her words echoed into the depths.

"This is but the decision of Eru alone--"

"But if I am an expression of His will, why must my feelings be dismissed?"

"You consider yourself our equal, if not Eru Himself?"

"I know only my own heart, which you, too, are privy."

"Do you now question my ability? Are your grievances unmended?"

"My desire is unchanged, my Lord. I only ask how my request can be considered so provocative when it's surely not the first of its kind?" She knew she had never spoken so rashly before, but overriding her fear was a sense of urgency she couldn't explain. It was some time before the figure spoke again.

"You have lost your respect for life and those who govern it, this much is true--"

"All the better I be banished, then--" The figure suddenly seemed to shift, morphing into two. The split however was unequal and the smaller figure moved closer to her as it spoke. The voice seemed feminine but no less grave.

"Your position is not one of isolation. There is another who wishes to be with you once more. I believe you know of whom I speak."

"Thank you, my Lady? But… I wish only to be free of this cycle--"

"And what have you done to deserve a fate of your choosing?" The original phantom resumed speaking, but where their counterpart went she couldn't see. "Evil wakes again in Middle-earth and you have done naught to discourage it. Do you now walk this path yourself?"

"I walk my own path. And not being a supreme being, I don't see how I could determine any destiny but my own--"

"Enough!" Their voice boomed terrible and loud. "You will return to Middle-earth and aid your kin. Refuse this chance and you will not find my next judgement so forgiving. Your doom is decided and I, Mandos, have spoken."

***

"W-w… where am I?"

"You are safe. Now, rest." She moved her head as much as she could from side to side. The walls were cast in the low glow of a fire somewhere beyond her line of sight. Several yards to her right she could just see the outline of a tall chair and the fair head resting against it. Her body felt leaden and weak.

"What have you done to me?"

"You are as I found you," he continued in anticipation of her next question, "you have been here, in my home, almost a fortnight. Now please go back to sleep."

"Why did you bring me here?"

"To ensure your safety--"

"My isolation, you mean…" He sighed and lowered the book he'd been reading.

"You are hardly more isolated now than you were before."

"Then why can't I move?"

"I don't know--" her cheeks coloured.

"Stop these tricks and let me leave. I never want to cast eyes upon you again."

"You are free to leave when you are recovered. Presently you need care--"

"I can care for myself--"

"I don't doubt it, but until you are able to feed yourself, walk, or even sit up, here you will remain. If you wish to try and regain your strength, I suggest you rest."

"And how am I to rest? Knowing where I am or that you stand watch--" pain ripped through her side.

"What's wrong? What do you feel?" He sprung from his chair and towards the bed.

"It's like a… fire. At first, it was in my legs but now I feel it in my sides." She lay quietly for a moment, exhausted at having to speak. When she looked over at him again, he stood still, deep in thought. She could see the reflection of the hearth in his black eyes. It was then that the pain surged, filling the whole of her body with an agony so intense, all her thought was bent to it. Despite her thrashing, he quickly pulled the covers from the bed. When he tried to hold her down, she screamed.

"Do not touch me! I know it is you who does this to me--"

"Be still, and focus your mind to mine!" He tried to meet her gaze but instinctively she shut her eyes. She wouldn't look into the depths of such evil. Suddenly she found herself still once more, though struggling for breath and drenched in sweat. The pain had vanished as inexplicably as it arrived. She also realised he was no longer beside her though he soon returned carrying a large pitcher. She was too weak to fight him any further, and her thirst was so great that the cold sweet liquid he made her drink felt like a thousand blows to the stomach. Eventually, she fell back into the bed, gasping for breath. He thought now at least she would be forced to rest but she had no intention of slipping back into sleep. "Why do you do this to me?" He sighed and pulled his chair closer before taking a seat.

"Your pain does not stem from me. As I have explained, you were unconscious when I found you. Do you not recall what happened before you were returned here?" Her eyes darted back and forth.

"Returned?"

"Do you not remember? Were you not bought before the Valar?" Her memory slowly returned though it felt more like a far-off dream.

"I remember very little…"

"You surprise me. The Valar are hardly in the habit of returning elves to Middle-earth… especially so quickly." She swallowed but said nothing. "In fact, you are the last that I remember." This she also knew to be untrue.

"Is that so? I can hardly imagine a worse punishment."

"And was that their reason for sending you back? I imagine the Doomsman himself had much to say…"

"Well, at least I dared to face him." His eyes hardened.

"Only to beg him to cast you into oblivion--" once again she felt rage fill the back of her throat.

"I have never once begged for anything in all my long years. Desperation is one emotion I will not stoop to."

"So you simply accepted their refusal to grant your wish? I hardly think so, you have a sharp enough tongue when it suits." She sighed.

"I shan't go back and forth, it amounts to nothing. I won't join you, as I've explained. As soon as I'm recovered I will do whatever I can to be rid of this place."

"And go where exactly?"

"I don't see how it even concerns you--"

"Don't be churlish. If it didn't concern me I would have left you naked and starved on the floor of that hovel you've been hiding in--"

"Well, why didn't you? What do you want with me? You know I won't bend to you. You have absolutely nothing to gain by keeping me here."

"There is everything to gain. If for once you would look forward instead of back you could see it for yourself. In any event, you no longer have a choice. To be banished from this life and the next requires a commitment to deeds you would no doubt consider unthinkable…"

"Yet you would run the risk of such banishment yourself--"

"I have no intention of failing in my quest. Yet all you would need to do is hand yourself over to the Valar once more--"

"To what end? They would only imprison me."

"Not if you refused to repent, even they do not expend effort on a lost cause."

"You suppose. You have no proof of what you say and therefore your plan could well be for naught."

"Then what do you propose to do? Either way, you will never see the Blessed Realm again, and if you have no other plans here it seems mine is the only option."

"And what is your plan, exactly? It takes less than you possess to control these lands. You could have ruled countless kingdoms in your time, Lord knows you have helped raze plenty. But it will never be enough. You wish only to be as they are - a true god. And in a jealous fury, you will continue to take your revenge as you may." He folded his hands.

"You think the matter so plain?"

"Well surely if you sought true dominion it would not be over creatures as insignificant as us? But what are you to one god let alone the rest? You run not from their judgement but from your own bounds." He watched her for a moment.

"How like a child you are at times."

"I admit it was an obvious observation…"

"I meant for letting your own lack of hardship colour your judgement. Pity, I considered yours among the more balanced of elven minds."

"And I expected yours to be hardier--" he lept from his chair.

"What would you know of hardiness? You, who were loved into being, cherished to the last, and now being deprived of this, consider yourself burdened? I have lived greater agonies thrice over--"

"You would have me believe you are even capable of agony?"

"And how would you know? I do not appear now as I have always been."

"That was long ago, and you have done naught to improve or even redeem yourself."

"Don't be a fool. What has your nobility bought you other than misery? Goodness goes unpaid, you have now heard as much from the Valar's own mouths. What you wish shall never be granted for it is not their design--"

"But that too is your destiny. Eventually, you will be cast beyond the walls of the world as he was, though I dare say you are as purposeless now as you would be then."

"My purpose is as yours should be, to do as I wish whatever the confines. We still have agency, we need not live entirely as they choose--"

"And still you would choose wickedness."

"Yet Elves cannot truly perish and men are at least spared that fate, how could you deem the hastening of either outcome to be wicked?"

"But that consideration does not extend to how you dispense such mercy. I was there when Gondolin fell. I witnessed the whole of Beleriand disappear into memory. Doriath, Nargothrond… all are vanquished. Yet you would wreak greater destruction still and expect me to be a willing participant. You are not only cruel, you are brutal. And no silver tongue will belie this." He allowed himself a small smile and retook his seat.

"It's a pity you were unable to keep your temper in check, I'm sure with enough humility you may even have been reunited with your beloved… was that not your true purpose in leaving?"

"I have no beloved. And until you mentioned him the thought hadn't even crossed my mind--"

"No? Then why, pray, does he attempt to make contact with you?"

"What do you mean?" He sighed.

"The fire, child. How else would Maedhros make his presence known? It's smart, I must say. About the smartest thing he's done--"

"I don’t believe you.”

“Search your heart, you know it to be the truth.” She gritted her teeth.

“He can set me alight for true - my position is unchanged." His eyes seemed to come alive.

"So you refused him? Were you not offered to be joined again in Valinor?"

"I told you. He wasn't mentioned."

"Good. You deserve a mate who won't wait until after death to fight for you--"

"And I am to believe you are that mate?" His jaw tensed but he held her gaze. "Then I offer you a choice. Return to Valinor as my prisoner. It may be the only way either of us will escape further punishment. Then we may each do as we please, and you will finally have a small measure of peace." For a while, all they could do was stare at one another.

"There will be no peace for me. Nor you, I suspect."

"Why not? The Valar would be given an opportunity to ensnare you without direct interference--"

"Do you not believe they are capable of this already? Besides they won't entrust me to an elf, nor consider my return an adequate penance."

"We could at least try, or would that not fit in with your grand scheme?"

"I might ask you the same question. Our only real chance is to remain here and work together." Something flickered across his eyes. "Or does this frighten you? She turned to look away from him. "Do my words unnerve you? Surely if you have seen fit to detail my faults you can accept the same in return? You won't acknowledge your own darkness. You have it in you, I know. I also know that it was you who scorned Maedhros, not the other way around--"

"Stop--"

"That is what caused him to leap to his death--"

"I said stop--"

"And you have carried the guilt ever since, so much so you would rather stop existing entirely than live another minute with it--"

"You know nothing--" tears splashed her face.

"Yet you have rejected him again. That is why you fear us becoming closer, you know we have far more in common than you dared hope…" With all the strength she could muster, she pulled herself up against the headrest.

"We are nothing alike. And you don't desire me, not truly. You wish only to control. I am fit to pursue because I am far beyond your reach. What matters most to you means nothing to me. And where I yearn for nothingness you flee from it. But I cannot be overcome. You cannot frighten or command me. Over me, you hold no dominion. So you will fight, rail against the injustices you feel you have suffered, while all around you Middle-earth will change, your name eventually powerless and distant. I am your destiny writ large, Mairon. So tell me, is it worth it? You will find another maiden to do your bidding, I'm sure. But you will not have me. Now go, I wish to sleep." Slowly, he rose to his feet. But he stood awhile, choosing his next words carefully. Failing this, he strode towards her and sat down on the edge of the bed. When he took her hand in his, she flinched.

"… How little you understand me. But this I will remedy. I will show you all that is to be achieved here, how much we might achieve as one. Good night, I hope you sleep well." To her tired mind, he seemed to melt into the shadows the moment he stood. Sleep no longer eluded her. But he had revealed his true intentions and so this much at least, she had already achieved. However, escaping him now would take far more than she had realised. As much as she dreaded the very idea, her only chance lay in the fire. If she could submit when it tried to consume her once more, perhaps help would be found beyond Middle-earth.

To be updated on when I post please follow @resowrites and turn on post notifications.

[transformers-mosaic]

Transformers: Mosaic - "Ever The Pessimist"

Earliest evidence posted on November 29th, 2007

Story - Logan Rogan Script, Colours, Letters - wadapan Art - Andy Short

deviantART

wada sez: This is it, folks, we’re almost at the end: tomorrow will be the last post on the archive! But as for this strip—writer Logan Rogan clearly had a soft spot for Dreadwind and Darkwing, as for BotCon 2009, he self-published a full-length comic starring the characters: “Limelight: Dreadwind”. This one-page strip, however, was seemingly never completed; I found the finished lineart over on Andy Short’s deviantART, and hoped to track down the original script—but sadly, Short seems to have left the Transformers community, per his inactivity over on TFW2005, while Logan Rogan simply did not reply to my @ on twitter. Without a script to go off, I decided to try and reverse-engineer what the story in the comic might’ve been like, writing my own dialogue to suit the artwork. Keep reading for a full process breakdown.

From the character designs, it’s obvious that this strip is set in IDW continuity; Dreadwind and Darkwing appeared as part of a Decepticon infiltration unit on the planet Nebulos in Stormbringer (identifiable as the setting of this strip by the architecture of the alien city). They had a fairly minor role in the story, with the Nebulos scenes mostly serving to set the stakes for what Thunderwing might do to Cybertron. Darkwing seems to be the leader of the gang; he orders a token resistance against the monster to satisfy Megatron, planning to flee the moment things get rough.

They’re last seen in issue #3, seemingly having escaped—but in the artwork in this strip, Dreadwind is in a crater for some reason. There’s not a moment in the canonical events where this could’ve taken place, so they must’ve had one last run-in with Thunderwing as he was leaving.

I sketched out the rough shape of the script on my phone while doing some shopping. Here’s what I wrote:

Panel 1

DREADWIND: He’s coming BACK to finish us off.

DREADWIND (CONT’D): You know, I used to ADMIRE that guy. When the war was at its peak, he was like, “We are going to DESTROY this planet.” And he was so SURE of it. He literally turned himself into a MONSTER so HE could be the one to do it.

DREADWIND (CONT’D) : When you think about it, he was the ULTIMATE PESSIMIST.

Panel 2

DARKWING: He’s GONE back to Cybertron. RAZORCLAW is preparing to fight him.

DREADWIND: They’ll lose.

DARKWING: Megatron DOESN’T LOSE.

Panel 3

DARKWING: Look, we did it! Forget about phases 1-5, ol’ Thunderwing just took us straight to phase six. Mission accomplished.

Panel 4

DREADWIND: Megatron will see right through us, you know that? We FAILED to stop Thunderwing, and worse than that, we hardly even TRIED. Face it, we were never going to die to aliens or Autobots. It was always going to be our own team, breaking us down for scrap. That’s all we’re good for.

Panel 5

DARKWING: Right. Well are you gonna get up, or-

DREADWIND: -I’m up, I’m up.

Panel 6

DREADWIND: I bet all the good stuff got incinerated.

DARKWING: You never change, do you? EVER THE PESSIMIST.

My only requirement with the script was that I wanted to incorporate the title directly into the story, because I always liked it when Mosaic strips did that.

So yeah, fairly close to what I ended up with, I just tightened it up in a few places as I was getting it on the page. In Stormbringer itself, Dreadwind barely gets a speaking line; in fact, at one point I considered making Dreadwind near-silent, with most of the script just being Dreadwind’s inner monologue. You can imagine how this might’ve worked:

DREADWIND (NARRATION): He’s coming back to finish us off.

DARKWING: Looks like he’s gone back to Cybertron. They’re going to fight him.

DREADWIND (NARRATION): They’ll lose.

I liked the idea of Darkwing kind of reading his brother’s mind, while Dreadwind is so lost in his own sullenness that he’s constantly coming up with new worse-case scenarios in his head. In the end, I felt like the comic itself didn’t support the interpretation of Dreadwind as a particularly introspective character. In particular, Dreadwind later shows up (and dies) under Mike Costa’s pen, and during that appearance, he’s very talkative!

In the end, I tried to pitch the tone of the dialogue at exactly the halfway point between Simon Furman’s style in Stormbringer, and James Roberts’ style in More than Meets the Eye. The colouring style was also intended to fall halfway between Josh Burcham’s work on the former and Joana Lafuente’s work on the latter. This is because Skullcruncher, another member of the Nebulos infiltration unit, later reappeared as a stand-up comedian in More than Meets the Eye issue #45. I liked the idea that the rest of his infiltration crew are More than Meets the Eye characters by extension, if that makes any sense.

For the lettering, I simply referenced Robbie Robbins’ work on the original comic, using those rounded-rectangle speech bubbles with little nicks in the corners. I also looked to the original comic for inspiration for the colours, though obviously I can’t remotely compete with Burcham’s work. I spent a lot of time building up the atmosphere of the flames. In the final panel, there’s a dismembered arm, which I decided to identify as belonging to Ruckus by colouring it purple. To the Jack Lawrence reading this, sorry not sorry!

I wanted to do a character study of Dreadwind by taking his pessimism seriously, drawing a parallel between him and Thunderwing. Much of Stormbringer has an oddly straightforward environmentalist bent, and I wanted to inject some of my own cynicism regarding the future.

In the first panel, I wanted Dreadwind to say “he actually did it the absolute madlad”, but it just didn’t feel right for him to use the word “lad”, it would’ve been too human in that moment.

I liked the idea that, from Darkwing’s perspective, they kind of end up in a best-case scenario: they survive Thunderwing, and he practically does their job for them, cutting short what could’ve been years of boring subterfuge. Of course, Dreadwind would never see it that way!

The irony of the story, as I’ve scripted it, is something that would’ve been impossible for the story to account for as originally written in 2007—namely, although Dreadwind is mostly wrong in his predictions (Thunderwing is really gone, Megatron is really going to win, the Decepticons seemingly won’t care about anything that happened on Nebulos), he’s right in the worst way: both Darkwing and Dreadwind really will end up being ripped apart by their fellow Decepticons and used for spare parts, and it will be personal.

On another level, I think I wanted to inject a little bit of my own mixed feelings towards the Mosaic archive as a whole. Like, in the context of this project, I’m just a talker—people like Rogan, and Short, and all the others, they were doers. But now’s not quite the time to get into it. If you check back tomorrow, I’ll have much more to say on the experience of curating this archive. See you then...

[littlemissidontcare]

honestly guys.. how can you say that about her especially given the last month? Now, i know you guys can’t stand her but try to be honest / this and the rest of your ask are complete bullshit. The only reason why this woman isn’t posting or doing anything publicly is because she was called out pretty badly early in the summer. She is LUCKY that she isn’t widely known because if someone like J.Lo or whomever else had had such an embarrassing series of events take place, she’d be the laughing stock of the season.

May: Very obviously forced lunch with Lily James. Came right on the tail of Seb being spotted out with only Lily a week prior. White-knuckling Sebastian’s hand. Staring at the camera. He shakes shit up by starting a fight to embarrass her (love me some Leo spite 😂).

June: Honestly nothing I can care to dig through my memory for until the end of the month. We catch her STALKING Seb on the fashion show livestream. Big yikes. People on Twitter are like “lol she’s crazy.” THEN she shows up in Malta and we get unretouched pics of her there. Her face is literally frozen and we see what she actually looks like. Embarrassing. Fire your injector.

July: She gets desperate. The first week of the month is hilariously messy. NEEDS to let us know she’s at Benz’s house for the 4th after Sebastian is spotted talking to EmRata in Paris. Pap walk on the 5th. Photos show up mysteriously on tumblr in the wee hours of the morning on the 6th and then disappear. ZERO trace of them on the internet until around 10 AM, EST. The photos are…weird. He lets her hold in pinky for about five seconds before he yanks it away and she has to make it look like she pulled away to point to something. They have a chaperone with them, yet again. Sebastian looks so angry and mean that it’s actually uncomfortable to look at. That same day she posts three photos from Malta on Insta, and is CALLED OUT in the comments when she tries to say “I’m actually quite shy.” She gets so embarrassed that she deletes the entire comment thread.

July, cont’d: LOL this is great because we’re barely two weeks into the month and sis has been served a massive helping of Get Fucked every day 😂 DM has Enty on her Podcast and he obliterates her without stuttering once. Confirms that she’s a gf for hire, extremely opportunistic, etc. Also says they’re PR. THE FOLLOWING WEEK! DM talks about them again, saying that Annabelle had mutual friends set them up and he set major boundaries from the beginning. They (probably he, let’s be real) don’t even consider each other boyfriend and girlfriend. Annabelle goes radio silent for a week. Shows up at one of Anastasia’s, like, five PR dinners the following week. It’s such an obvious attempt at damage control that nobody gives a fuck.

A cruel, cruel summer for her, indeed. It’s not that she wants to hide. She’s probably been advised to hide.

[vatt-world]

hi

SCENE 1 – INT. ANITA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT A tiny, cluttered studio. Scripts are spread across the floor, Post-its cling to the wall in color-coded chaos. Sheet music is scribbled with red ink.

Anita, 29, intense but burnt out, presses piano keys mechanically. Nothing lands.

She exhales. Closes the piano.

ANITA (to herself) Come on. Just one chorus that works.

She crumples a page. Shoots it into the trash. Misses.

She opens her phone and records a voice memo.

ANITA (V.O.) Memo to self: Act One—rewrite “Running Again.” Chorus isn’t working. Oh—and stop doubting yourself. (sarcastic) Seriously. That’s helpful.

Ping. A text from JACK (Ex): "Still ignoring me? I deserve an answer."

She stares. Deletes it.

SCENE 2 – INT. DANCE STUDIO – DAY A small class of kids on Zoom follows Anita through a fast routine.

ANITA And five-six-seven—again!

Marcus, 40s, smug and checked-out, leans against the door. After class, he approaches.

MARCUS (on phone) Walk-ins just paid cash. You’ll cover Sasha’s classes again this week, right?

ANITA That’s… the third week in a row.

MARCUS (on phone) You’re good with the kids. Smile more, Anita. You’ll get better tips.

He walks off.

Anita clenches her jaw. A student taps her leg. She smiles, but the exhaustion is real.

SCENE 3 – EXT. SIDEWALK – EVENING Anita exits the studio. Her tote bag is overstuffed with notebooks. She walks briskly, nearly colliding with—

BILL, 30, unshaven, magnetic, a bit too charming. He stumbles backward.

BILL Whoa—sorry! Hey! You dropped this.

He holds up a small laminated card.

ANITA (pats bag) Oh wow. That’s my ID.

ANITA (beat) I didn’t even know I dropped it. Thanks.

BILL No problem. Hey, I’m looking for Jane’s Carousel?

ANITA That’s… not far. I can tell you, or—

She hesitates. Then gestures.

ANITA (CONT’D) I’ll show you. If you want.

Bill smiles. Anita second-guesses herself.

ANITA (CONT’D) Or I can tell you. I can show you or tell you. Up to you. I don't care. Either way. It'd be better if I show you, I think.

BILL Hope I'm not pulling you from anything.

ANITA No.

They start walking.

BILL I'm Bill, by the way.

ANITA Anita.

BILL Nice to meet you, Anita.

ANITA Nice.

BILL Is it always this hot?

ANITA This time of year.

Anita’s ex-boyfriend calls again. She sees the name, doesn’t answer. It goes to voicemail.

SCENE 4 – EXT. WATERFRONT PROMENADE – TWILIGHT They walk. Bill snaps a photo of the skyline.

BILL It’s really pretty down here.

He flips his phone to selfie mode.

BILL (CONT’D) Your turn. Be iconic.

ANITA Iconic? I’m more… “awkward standing girl #2.”

She twirls. He snaps the photo mid-spin.

BILL (CONT’D) Boom.

They sit on a nearby bench. Laughter gives way to quiet.

SCENE 5 – EXT. COFFEE STAND – LATER Bill and Anita wait for drinks. She laughs as he scrolls TikTok dance fails.

BILL So… it’s Friday. Plans?

ANITA Going to the movies. With friends.

BILL Nice. Which one?

ANITA Avengers. I love it.

BILL Didn’t know it was back in theaters.

ANITA It’s a re-release.

BILL Got a favorite movie?

ANITA (grinning) I’m not saying.

BILL Come on, I won’t judge.

She pulls up a poster on her phone and shows it.

ANITA Dear John.

BILL You’re joking.

ANITA Nope.

BILL Alright.

She checks her phone. Her face shifts.

ANITA I’m late. Gotta run. Teaching again tonight.

SCENE 6 – INT. ANITA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT Anita sits on the floor, laptop open. She FaceTimes her best friend, MIRA (30s, opinionated, warm), who’s mid-makeup routine.

MIRA You look… like someone who hasn’t seen the sun in 9 days.

ANITA I’m writing. Or trying to.

MIRA What’s the hold-up?

ANITA The chorus still sucks. The story’s strong, but I keep second-guessing the emotional beats. (beat) Also, I met this guy. Kind of annoying. Kind of charming. The producer who came to the showcase last year finally responded. Said, ‘Send me something tight.’

Anita smirks. Glances at the crumpled lyrics pile beside her.

SCENE 7 – EXT. FERRY TERMINAL – SUNSET Anita waits. Her phone’s dead. She frowns at the schedule.

BILL (O.S.) Missed it?

He appears, holding a ridiculous vintage hat.

ANITA You again. Yeah. Coming from a lesson I was teaching at the studio. Now dead phone. No clue when it’s coming.

Bill checks his phone.

BILL Next one's in an hour.

ANITA That hat is… something else.

BILL Hey, it’s for an audition. Sixties thing. I kind of love it.

She leans in, adjusts the brim with both hands.

ANITA It was crooked. That’s better. (beat) I’ve been writing a musical. That hat could work.

BILL What’s it about?

ANITA It’s kind of… about my mom. Sort of. She performed in community theater. Used art to survive.

BILL That’s beautiful. What's the main character want?

ANITA To make sense of her life. Through songs. Through travel. Through… something bigger than what she was given.

ANITA (CONT’D) I’ve been writing this musical for years. I just… don’t know if I can pull it off.

BILL (CONT’D) Can I read it? Your script?

ANITA Maybe. If you promise not to fix it.

BILL No promises.

She spots something.

ANITA Wait—are those…?

BILL Yep. Bought for an audition.

ANITA Put them on.

BILL Right now?

He puts them on.

ANITA Let’s film this for TikTok. Something fun.

BILL Now your turn.

Anita’s ex-boyfriend calls again. She sees the name, doesn’t answer. It goes to voicemail.

SCENE 8 – INT. STUDIO – NIGHT Anita dances alone. Mirror reflects her hesitance. She stops, checks the time.

BILL (O.S.) Knock knock.

He enters, holding her script.

BILL (CONT’D) I read the script. It’s raw. Messy. Personal. Beautiful.

ANITA Yeah?

BILL Yeah. As the lead character travels the world, maybe add some foreign language? The mom’s lullaby—what if it starts in English, then slides into Hindi?

ANITA I don’t speak it fluently.

BILL I can help. Just… small phrases.

She hesitates.

ANITA Okay. But only if it feels real.

He nods. They stand in front of the mirror.

SCENE 9 – INT. STUDIO OFFICE – NEXT MORNING Anita approaches Marcus with her check stub.

ANITA This doesn’t cover all my classes.

MARCUS It’s what I can offer right now. Take it or leave it.

She takes a breath—then walks straight past him.

INT. STUDIO – MOMENTS LATER Bill walks in. Sees Anita, furious. She hands him the stub.

ANITA I’m not doing this again. Three weeks. Subbing for other teachers. Doubling classes. I get paid 100 dollars.

BILL Want me to talk to him?

ANITA Ok. He’s at the studio. Probably counting cash from walk-ins.

Bill storms off into the studio.

INT. STUDIO – CONTINUOUS Bill confronts Marcus. After a heated discussion, Marcus agrees to a raise.

BILL He agreed to a raise.

ANITA You didn’t have to.

BILL I had to.

SCENE 10 – INT. CAFE – DAY Anita and Bill sit at a corner table, laptop open between them.

ANITA Scene four—her monologue at the train station—it’s too abstract.

BILL Make it about the moment she decides not to leave.

ANITA She wants something more. Not escape. Just… meaning.

BILL Like you?

ANITA Exactly.

He leans in.

BILL You’re not writing her. You’re writing you.

She leans back.

ANITA Don’t psychoanalyze me, musical boy.

They laugh.

Anita’s phone buzzes. Text from Producer: "Let’s talk. I’m interested."

She stares at it, breath caught.

ANITA (V.O.) This might be it.

SCENE 11 – INT. PRODUCER’S OFFICE – DAY A sleek, minimalist office. Anita sits nervously across from the Producer (50s, sharp, no-nonsense), clutching a marked-up draft.

PRODUCER (on phone) I’ve been following your project. The potential’s there. It’s bold. Intimate.

ANITA It’s about finding identity. Through art. Through leaving home. Through staying connected to something lost.

PRODUCER (on phone) Right. But I need a hook. Something commercial. Something “big.”

He taps the script.

PRODUCER (CONT’D) (on phone) The writing? Solid. But the structure—loose. keep working on it

SCENE 12 – INT. ANITA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT Anita sits on the floor, staring at her phone. Draft pages surround her like fallen leaves.

A knock. It’s Bill, holding two paper bags.

BILL You missed dinner. I brought dumplings. And… dumpling-shaped cookies?

He sits across from her.

ANITA The producer wants to fund it.

BILL That’s amazing!

ANITA If I drop you.

Beat.

BILL Oh.

ANITA I said no. But… it shook me. I don’t know how to protect this show.

BILL We protect it together.

They sit in quiet solidarity. She pulls a Post-it off the wall, hands it to him. It reads: “Scene 6 – Rewrite.”

ANITA Let’s start here.

BILL Opening monologue: starts too vague. Needs stakes.

ANITA How do we show she has something to lose?

BILL What do you feel like you’re risking?

Anita considers this, surprised.

ANITA Being forgotten. Like my mom. She sang her heart out to five people and no spotlight.

BILL Then let’s write that.

She smiles, emotional. Anita’s ex-boyfriend calls again. She looks at the phone. Lets it ring. No hesitation this time.

INT. STUDIO – EVENING Anita’s phone vibrates again. Jack. She stares at it, frozen.

BILL Pick it up.

ANITA I can’t. He’s my ex. He’s going to mess up everything… the musical, my head—everything.

BILL If you don’t pick it up… he’s not going to stop calling.

A long beat. Anita finally answers.

ANITA (sighs) Hello?

JACK (V.O.) Honey. Honey, are you okay?

ANITA I’m fine.

JACK (V.O.) I called the FBI,—hell, I hired a private investigator.

ANITA Jack, come on. I’m fine. Just… give me a break.

JACK (V.O.) I thought you were dead or kidnapped!

ANITA We're over. It’s done. You have to understand that.

JACK (V.O.) No, we’re working this out. Right now. I enrolled in a program, I gave up drinking.

ANITA God, shut up. It doesn’t even matter anymore. (beat) You know why? Because I’m with someone.

JACK (V.O.) You’re what?

ANITA I’m with someone. And he thinks I’m beautiful.

JACK (V.O.) You’re with a guy? Don’t do this.

ANITA He’s standing right here.

JACK (V.O.) Put him on the phone.

ANITA Fine. You want to talk to him? Here. (she holds out the phone to Bill) Please. Just say something.

BILL I’m not talking to your ex-boyfriend.

ANITA Please. Anything.

Bill takes the phone reluctantly.

BILL Hello?

JACK (V.O.) Who the hell are you, huh?

BILL Look, man, I’m just—

JACK (V.O.) If you so much as touched her—I swear I’ll come over there with a shotgun. She’s mine. She will always be mine!

BILL You need to back off.

JACK (V.O.) Put her back on. Now.

ANITA Hello?

JACK (V.O.) I’m driving to your place right now. I’m gonna burn every last piece of your crap.

ANITA Oh god…

BILL What did he say?

ANITA He’s going to my house. To burn my stuff. (tearful) He’ll destroy pictures of my grandmother.

BILL Okay. Let me handle it.

SCENE 23 – EXT. PARK – SUNSET They sit on a bench surrounded by scripts and coffee cups. A soft golden hour.

ANITA We’re getting closer. The show feels like… it’s breathing now.

BILL It’s you. You gave it lungs.

ANITA It’s us.

He looks at her. Something hangs between them.

BILL Can I ask something stupid?

ANITA Please. I’ve done interpretive scarf mime today. No judgment.

BILL Do you ever imagine… what happens after? When the lights go down?

ANITA Sometimes. (beat) But I’m trying to stay here. In the middle of it.

She taps his notepad.

ANITA (CONT’D) We’re building something. Let’s get it right.

They smile—unspoken, growing connection.

SCENE 24 – INT. STUDIO – EARLY EVENING Anita walks in with new props—fabric swatches, a worn tambourine, and a folded vision board.

Bill’s tinkering with a lighting console.

ANITA Look what I found—my mom’s tambourine. Glitter and all.

She shakes it. It jingles.

BILL (laughs) It belongs in Act One. The mother’s memory scene.

ANITA Exactly.

She lays out fabric ideas. Bill doesn’t look up.

BILL I’ve been thinking… we should scale bigger. LED screens, transitions. Make it feel epic.

ANITA We don’t need that. The show’s intimate.

BILL Sure, but small doesn’t mean cheap. We want impact, right?

ANITA Impact doesn’t mean spectacle. It means truth.

Tension grows.

BILL Why won’t you even try something new?

ANITA Because it’s not a gimmick. It’s my story.

A beat.

BILL Maybe we’re not on the same team.

ANITA (quiet but firm) Maybe we’re not.

A beat. Anita turns away… then stops.

Bill Wait. Let me say something.

ANITA Go ahead.

Bill At first, I didn’t care. I just needed something.

ANITA So why now?

Bill Because I saw you care. I saw your work. And I started to care too. But I got scared.

ANITA Of what?

Bill Everything. Rent. Money. My dad. If I made this work… maybe it’d fix things.

He steps closer, unsure.

ANITA I don’t know… Show me you really care.

(continued in next message due to length)

(continued from previous message)

SCENE 25 – INT. TATTOO SHOP – NIGHT Bill, drunk and determined, stumbles in.

TATTOO ARTIST You sure about this?

BILL Yeah. It matters.

He holds up a crumpled napkin: “The Music Is the Map.”

TATTOO ARTIST Left tricep it is.

As the machine buzzes, Bill closes his eyes.

BILL (V.O.) This is it. Show her I care. Show her I mean it.

SCENE 26 – INT. STUDIO – DAY Anita tunes the keyboard. Bill enters, arm bandaged under his sleeve.

BILL Hey.

She turns. Notices his wince.

ANITA What did you do?

He pulls up his sleeve. Reveals the raw tattoo.

BILL To prove I care.

She stares.

ANITA You got the title… tattooed?

BILL I was drunk. But it felt right.

ANITA It’s kind of… a mess.

BILL I know. But the feeling was real.

She touches the edge of the bandage, then his hand.

ANITA Okay. Let’s fix it. The tattoo. The show. Everything.

They sit side-by-side again.

SCENE 27 – INT. STUDIO – NIGHT A montage:

Anita scribbling lyrics furiously

Bill coordinating costume fittings

Tech rehearsal mishaps

Anita directing cast with clear vision

Bill in the background, following her lead

This time—she's steering the ship.

ANITA (V.O.) I used to think if I told the story right, it would heal something. Now I just want it to land true.

The stage lights flicker on. Everything is almost ready.

SCENE 28 – INT. ANITA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT Anita lies awake. The phone buzzes.

TEXT FROM PRODUCER: “London offer still open. Solo billing. Clean slate. You’re ready.”

She stares at it, heart pounding. Then, she writes a message:

ANITA (TEXTING): “I told the story right. That was always the goal. I’m not going alone.”

She hits send.

SCENE 21 – INT. STUDIO – DRESS REHEARSAL – NIGHT The studio buzzes with final preparations. Costumes everywhere. Stage lights flicker on.

Anita emerges wearing a vintage dress and an oversized wig.

ANITA Okay, this is… a lot.

She twirls. Reaches for the wig. It won’t budge.

ANITA (CONT’D) Wait—it’s stuck. Like, seriously stuck.

BILL Here—let me—

ANITA Be gentle. That’s my scalp.

He gently tries to untwist it. They laugh.

BILL Okay, on three—one, two—

POP! The wig flies off. Lands on the lighting board. Lights flicker.

ANITA Oh my god.

BILL You broke the light with your head.

ANITA And you wore that boa last week. So we’re even.

They collapse into laughter.

ANITA (CONT’D) Let’s get back to work. Curtain’s coming.

ANITA (CONT’D) Wait—can I see that?

INT. STUDIO – LATER ANITA He wants to bring it to London. But… he doesn’t think you should be part of it.

Bill freezes.

Bill What? Why?

ANITA He says the musical needs a different creative direction. “The producer ran with it. I didn’t want to lose the momentum.” It’s a marketability issue.he says Bill So after everything, they want to cut me out?

ANITA I’ll talk to him. I’m not okay with it either.

Bill (voice cracking) We’ve put everything into this. All of ourselves. And now I get sidelined?

ANITA Bill, I swear—this isn’t over. You matter. I’m going to fight for you.

Bill Will they even listen to you? Or has it already been decided?

She doesn’t answer.

Bill (CONT'D) I gave this everything I had. If they take it away… what’s left?

ANITA (quietly) We’ll figure it out.

INT. ANITA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT Anita sits on the edge of her bed, phone to her ear. Her notebook is untouched beside her.

ANITA (into phone) I tried. But the producer isn’t listening. He wants to replace you.

INT. COFFEE SHOP – DAY – FEW WEEKS LATER Anita, more composed, speaks into her phone.

ANITA Hey… how’s it going? I’m back in the city.

Bill (V.O.) So you just erased me? After everything?

SCENE 25 – EXT. NYC STREET – DAY A few days later. Anita exits a coffee shop, scripts under her arm.

Bill spots her across the street.

BILL Hey. Didn’t expect to see you so soon.

ANITA London didn’t feel right. I didn’t end up going.

BILL I’ve been rewriting. A new show. My own story this time. But… I’m stuck.

ANITA What do you need?

BILL Perspective. Your voice in the room.

She studies him, wary but open. He offers her a script. She takes it.

SCENE 26 – INT. STUDIO – DAY Anita and Bill sit side-by-side again—coffee cups, notebooks, and open laptops between them. But this time, Anita takes the lead.

ANITA Act One—we open with your first audition. The failure. The sweat. That weird hat.

BILL Bold choice.

ANITA We show the fear. The desperation. Not just “I want to perform,” but “I need to be heard.”

BILL And what about you?

ANITA I’m not writing myself in. Not this time. But you’ll know it’s me in the details.

She taps a Post-it: “Speak what you’re afraid to say.”

INT. STUDIO – LATER Bill pulls out a ridiculous outfit: glitter blazer, feather boa, cowboy hat.

BILL (defensive) This is for the opening monologue. And I would be wearing—

ANITA Tell me you wouldn’t wear that on stage.

BILL (already putting it on) Tell me why I shouldn’t.

He strikes a pose, full diva energy. Lights in the studio flicker to life as Bill tweaks the console, creating a new lighting sequence.

ANITA (calling out) Don’t touch the tech!

BILL Too late. I’ve watched like five YouTube tutorials.

STROBE LIGHTS FLASH.

ANITA Oh my god. Stop!

They both laugh as the lights pulse and the music cues up.

Few days later, he arrives with a glued-up beer belly costume. She laughs.

INT. BILL’S APARTMENT – NIGHT Dim light. A quiet energy hums in the room.

BILL A producer reached out. He’s interested.

ANITA Wait—really? That’s huge!

BILL He wants a showcase. One night only. No crowd—just him and his team.

ANITA That’s scary… but incredible.

BILL Yeah. And terrifying. What if I screw it up?

ANITA Then we learn. But what if it’s the night everything opens up?

BILL Exactly. This might be it.

INT. STUDIO – AFTER THE SHOWCASE – NIGHT Pizza boxes, tea mugs, scattered notebooks.

Bill and Anita sit on the couch—exhausted but wired.

BILL I wrote it. Premiered it. It actually happened. (laughs) Still doesn’t feel real.

A quiet beat. He notices her expression.

BILL (CONT’D) What? You don’t look happy.

ANITA No, I’m…

BILL It’s 1 a.m. Can we eat and crash?

ANITA Sure.

But he watches her. Feels the shift.

BILL So you are mad.

ANITA No.

BILL Then what’s going on?

ANITA It’s not a big deal.

BILL Don’t say that. I can’t sleep if you’re upset. Tell me.

A long beat.

ANITA Where’s my name?

BILL What?

ANITA I saw the flyer. The website. The program. Nothing. Not even a thank you.

BILL Anita, it’s a solo show. That’s… the format.

ANITA So now it’s all yours? Even the parts we built together? (quietly) You used my words.

BILL I didn’t use you. I wrote what I felt. What we experienced.

BILL (CONT’D) What are you saying? You want credit?

ANITA (hurt) Don’t reduce it like that.

BILL I’m not. I just… I had a draft before you came on.

ANITA It’s not about recognition. It’s about truth.

A long silence. Her voice softens.

ANITA (CONT’D) The script is beautiful. I’m proud of you. (beat) But do you really think it would be what it is… if we hadn’t done it together?

Bill exhales. The weight of it settles in.

BILL (softly) No.

ANITA That’s all I wanted to hear.

[nickblaine]

season 5 script summaries

links to previous script summaries: season 4, season 3, season 2, season 1, seasons 1/2 cont’d also, check my tht scripts tag for gifs, excerpts, and more details

i got the librarian’s email about season 5 scripts, and even though driving to and parking at WGAW has become a literal nightmare, i said fuck it and flew (crawled in traffic) down there the very next day. i wanted to see what the mood was like during the strike, anyway.

the staff had the library running business as usual, but the energy was high and there were pro-union shirts everywhere. there were a couple of guys on the first floor making literal piles of picket signs. i chatted with them for a minute and they said everyone was mostly out on the streets, picketing at every major studio in the city. rock on WGA ✊

i was on a time limit to beat rush hour, so when i read the season 5 scripts it was only Nick scenes. i searched for all instances of his name and wrote down everything i could. i may go back to read the rest of the season, but i can’t make any promises on when that will be.

before i begin (same as last time):

• everything described here is from the official scripts that are archived at the Writers Guild in Los Angeles. • the scripts i read are final drafts. there is no “writing in the margins.” everything described is from dialogue and script direction that was used on set. (click for an example) • the library has a strict no copies/photos rule in place which is why i summarize what i read. • anything in italics is a direct quote for the sake of clarity. • feel free to ask questions and i’ll answer to the best of my ability. my private notes are pretty detailed, but if i need to do more research i may save the answer for a future library visit. • please do not share this post without my permission. thank you in advance for respecting my wishes.

5x01 - Morning

Nick and Rose’s morning scene in this episode is more or less the same as this early script draft. The only difference is after Nick tells Rose her coffee is good, there’s an additional line that says: “It’s a lie, and they both know it. Rose appreciates the polite kindness.”

5x02 - Ballet

There was a short scene of Nick and Joseph Lawrence having a private chat at the airport before meeting with Serena Joy. It was cut from the episode, but you can see it in the trailer.

In this scene, Lawrence confides in Nick that he’s nervous about the meeting with Serena because - in his words - “You had to let your girlfriend go after Fred.”

Nick assures Lawrence that they’re going to spin it as a savvy political move by blaming the Americans for killing Fred. Lawrence still chastises him for not doing his job. Then the conversation pivots (a little clunkily) to this line from the trailer:

NICK: Serena doesn’t know what happened.

LAWRENCE: Doesn’t matter what she knows. It matters what she believes.

When they meet Serena on the tarmac, she instantly has suspicions that they were responsible for Fred’s death. The conversation is tense until they all see Fred’s body getting rolled off the plane, then Serena needles Nick’s guilt and pokes at it with her “Fred saw promise in you” speech.

As they are leaving the tarmac, there’s a line that says “Nick acknowledges Mark with a nod” and Lawrence notices it. In the episode you can see Nick and Mark exchange looks in the background as they leave, but otherwise Lawrence doesn’t notice.

At the Putnam’s party later in the episode, you may have noticed that after the Handmaids arrive, Esther and Nick share a notable look. The script describes this as a fraught moment in which Nick is filled with remorse and wishing he could do more. It also says Esther remembers Nick from when he and the Eyes arrested her, and she’s visibly pissed about it. As they walk away from each other, “Nick can’t help but be reminded of June.”

While Serena Joy is manipulating the Commanders into broadcasting Fred’s funeral, Nick steps in because he’s moved by her bravery and “attempting to atone for his hand in killing Fred.”

In the secret meeting between Nick and Mark there were a few cut lines of dialogue. Most notable is after Nick tells him he just tries to stay out of trouble, Mark replies, “Catches up to everyone, at some point.“

Opaque, Nick thinks about that. How long does he think he can keep going?

Ok, so the end of the episode when the funeral is on TV in Canada, I’m happy to report that Nick IS mentioned in June’s inner dialogue. The scene describes her recognizing who is onscreen with Serena. First she sees Lawrence, and then... “And finally, most painfully -- NICK.” (Yes, in all caps like that, lol.)

5x03 - Border

Cute June inner-dialogue when Lily asks her if Nick’s a big Jezebels guy: “June doesn’t know how to explain what type of “guy” Nick is.”

The awkward Lawrence residence dinner scene. Commander Mackenzie genuinely loves Rose (”old friend of the family”) and is instantly distrustful of Nick. Serena doesn’t buy Nick and Rose’s relationship as genuine either, and tries to subtly acknowledge Rose’s close relationship with June’s daughter’s parents by telling him how lucky he is. Nick is tense, but then his banter with Rose relaxes him, making Serena surprised to observe real affection in their relationship.

During the dinner itself, Mackenzie is just making everyone extremely uncomfortable by bringing up June. Nothing too interesting in the script here, it’s mostly just dialogue.

There is a cut line after dinner when Nick and Rose are leaving, and she says to him, “Well I wouldn’t say that’s the most relaxing dinner party I’ve ever been to.” (He responds “Yeah. No.”) Then he spots Mark all alone. Script says Rose understands what he’s about to do. “Nick squeezes her hand, then heads over to Mark.”

The script emphasizes here that Nick is unsure talking to Mark is a good idea, but he really wants to be the one to tell June about Rose before Serena does.

Mackenzie scares the shit out of him in this scene, and the “fuck” Nick mutters at the end was originally not spoken out loud (”OFF NICK, fuck.”) but I’m so glad it was.

Alright, phone call scene. One of our few big Osblaine moments!

NICK: June. Hi.

June suddenly feels like everything is going to be okay.

This scene is mostly dialogue. The final product is all the acting that goes into it. It does say Nick is stressed to relay upsetting information about Hannah and Rose. When June hears about Rose, she knew this was coming eventually, but it’s still a blow. It also describes how painful and hard this is for both of them. But at the end of the call, right after June tells Nick to be happy, is my favorite line in the whole script:

It’s an impossible ask, maybe, for these two to be truly happy without each other.

After the phone call, there is a cut scene between Nick and Rose where they simply look at each other.

Rose knows exactly who he was on the phone with, and what he said to her.

She looks worried for him, knowing it wasn’t easy.

He nods to her -- it’s done.

5x06 - Together

According to the script, Lawrence only invited Warren Putnam over to his house to get Nick on board with killing him. Warren repulses Nick so he’s down.

The next scene they’re in is when they execute Warren. (Such a good scene.) After Nick shoots him in the head, the script describes the camera hanging onto Nick and “his soldier’s stoicism.”

Then it cuts straight to Rose in the Blaine home. “She’s disappointed in him and he knows it.”

Now this scene threw me off. It’s written much differently than how Max acted it. Nick is actually a lot more warm toward Rose in the script, much like how all their previous scenes were. Several lines of Nick’s dialogue were changed (”Can I help?” became “You gonna tell me what’s going on?” onscreen) and his body language comes across way more cold and defensive than what’s described on paper.

As for Rose, she isn’t soothed by Nick’s assurances here. And that’s it for this episode.

5x08 - Motherland

New Bethlehem opens with another cut private moment between Lawrence and Nick.

Nick is brooding by the water, “still grappling with the moral and emotional consequences of shooting Warren in the head.” Lawrence finds him and tries to prod, but Nick gives him nothing.

LAWRENCE: You look a little more moody and broody than usual. Really, you sleeping okay?  

NICK: I’m fine.

Lawrence moves on because they have work to do. He reminds Nick he’s counting on him.

Lawrence gives his New Bethlehem speech to the other Commanders. When one of them pushes back, “that’s the cue for Nick, the muscle. Enough carrots, time for sticks.”

After Nick bullies the Commanders and Lawrence consolidates his power, the script describes these two as a “dynamic duo” lol

Okay, brace yourselves, there’s a cut Osblaine scene up next. I had no idea this existed, I don’t think there are any shots of it in the trailer.

It takes place after June visits Serena in the detention center and realizes she can’t help Hannah unless she’s there. If you watch that part you will see her pull out Lawrence’s burner phone as she leaves. But instead of going to Lawrence’s office like she does in the filmed version, in the script she calls Lawrence and just says, “I want to talk to Nick.”

It cuts to the next night at the border wall between Gilead and Canada. June is waiting on the Canada side as flying drone searchlights swoop across the electrified fence. (All described in dramatic detail.) She sees Nick appear on the other side. They look at each other, waiting, and once the searchlights clear they move to meet each other at the fence.

JUNE: I need to know if this is for real. I need to know that Hannah and my family will be safe.

NICK: I know. You will be. I promise.

JUNE: How can you promise that?

NICK: Things are changing, people are scared of Lawrence. I’m in a position now where i can make sure you’ll be safe.

JUNE: I want to believe you.

NICK: June. You can finally be with Hannah, watch over her. Isn’t that what you always wanted?

She nods.

NICK (CONT’D): Then please. Come back.

“To me,” he means. June’s heart is torn.

At this point the searchlights return and they have to separate. This scene is written like a soap opera. “They can’t help but reach out to each other, almost brushing fingertips before they move apart and run back, escaping the lights.”

Photo of this scene from Max’s IG:

Later in the episode, Lawrence is back in New Bethlehem with Nick. Nick asks which way June is leaning and Lawrence says it’s toward yes. The script says here that Nick understands that Lawrence is trying to manipulate him, but he can’t help but be cautiously optimistic at the idea of having June and Nichole in New Bethlehem with him.

By the end of the conversation, Nick is “considering.”

5x09 - Allegiance

We’ll skip to 27 minutes into the episode, when June sits with Mark after the failed mission. Mark catches June off guard by bringing up Nick. She’s taken aback by the revelation that he turned down Mark’s offer, but Mark says she can still persuade him. The script says “June imagines the prospect of Nick in Toronto” which I think you can see pretty clearly on Lizzie’s face lol.

Then we cut to the big Osblaine reunion.

Lots of dramatic buildup in the script leading up to their conversation. I don’t know how to describe it other than to show you:

She looks toward the courtyard. And there he is --

NICK

Waiting for her. Strained.

JUNE

Takes a beat to soak him in. She gets out.

OUTSIDE

June approaches Nick, their eyes locked.

Like, damn. They love building tension with these two.

Anyway, dialogue proceeds as it does in the show. Nick tells June that his wife’s pregnant and June has the wind knocked out of her. She’s described as “appalled by Nick’s commitment to Gilead, but understanding of his loyalty to Rose and their future child.”

And then--

JUNE: I want what’s best for both our families.

They look at each other.

A giant chasm between them now. But they’ve shared so much. So much trauma. So much love. A daughter.

JUNE (CONT’D): Well. This is a fine mess, isn’t it?

This scene is once again described as painful for both of them. “She tries to keep it together. How can they part? How can they say goodbye?”

Before Nick says “I love you” he was supposed to wrap his arms around her, but in the final cut they keep their distance.

5x10 - Safe

Just wanna note that when Nick shows up on the bridge to meet Mark, it was originally written so American soldiers yank Nick out of his car, handcuff him, and drag him across the bridge to Mark. We were deprived.

Also the first thing out of Nick’s mouth here was supposed to be, “How is she?”

In the hospital, Mark is telling Nick what’s going on but, “Nick can’t even speak. Looking at June, with her black and blue eyes.”

Mark gets the hint and leaves Nick alone. An interesting thing to note is that the line “it’s probably better if she doesn’t know I was here” is NOT in the script. At all.

The rest of the scene is sweet and simple.

Nick crosses, sits beside June.

A beat. Nick takes her hand.

Says nothing as he watches her sleep.

And that’s it.

Mark and Nick’s second scene on the bridge is just as short and to the point. In fact it’s almost entirely dialogue, so the emotions you see onscreen came from acting and directing. The only notable difference here is when Mark tells Nick he could’ve run away with June, he was scripted to give actual examples of where. “Maybe not to Canada, but there are -- places you could’ve gone. Idaho, the Westward Territories.” (Hopefully foreshadowing lol.)

At the party, it is scripted that Rose tries to greet Nick when he arrives and he doesn’t even acknowledge her. Like she doesn’t even exist.

There isn’t much description to accompany the punch. There is a line that says if Nick wasn’t pulled off of Lawrence than he’d be happy to keep on whaling on him. It also describes Lawrence as “rattled” and Rose as “humiliated.”

At the train station, during June’s goodbye to Mark, she asks him to tell Nick that she and Nichole are safe as a nod to their phone call in episode 3. The only descriptive line here is, “A beat, as Mark clocks the deep and selfless connection between Nick and June.”

The final scene I have notes for is Nick and Rose’s breakup in jail.

There are a couple parts of their scripted conversation that didn’t make it onscreen. Starting with right after Rose tells him a good man wouldn’t leave his wife every time his girlfriend calls, Nick’s response was supposed to be, “she was almost killed.” Then Rose laments that she thought she was lucky that someone like [Nick] would deign to be with someone like [her.] Nick says, “I was the lucky one” and she tells him to shut up.

Then there’s the “You will never let go of her, will you?” line from the show. Nick explains that he tried, but Rose retorts with, “Who knows what that woman will bring to our door. I have to protect our son.” Nick is described as scared now, and pleads with her not to leave.

Now I have no idea if that “our son” drop was supposed to be a legitimate reveal or just hopeful Gilead thinking. The script says nothing else about it and it was cut from the show. But it will be fun to speculate as we wait for the final season.

[murfeelee]

End of Year Collage - Best of 2022

Rules: Find your fave pics of your story or your blog in general and post them up in a collage! :D it can be 1 picture or 100 whatever you want. But just reflect on your fave moments in your story or on your blog. It can be cute moments or pictures you’re just really proud of.

I did this last year and decided to make one for 2022, to celebrate simming, the one source of joy I got out of another crapfest of a year.

I did even less simming this year than I’ve ever done, so some months once again have no entries, which depresses me. I doubt 2023 will be any better, but here’s hoping! 🤞🤞

MY THOUGHTS (for each month) under the cut:

January: New Years Miniset

I did diddly squat in January, just uploaded my New Years miniset that I had made for Magnus Bane’s birthday the December before.

February #1: Lunar New Year | February #2: Black Girl Magic Collection

Still no gameplay this month, but I got a lot done as far as CC, uploading my regularly scheduled holiday sets for Lunar New Year and Black History Month. Shortest month of the frikkin year, but I’m always swamped in February.

March #1: BLEACH \(^0^)/ | March #2: Let them eat cake!

I went nuts in March, trying to rush to get as much Bleach inspired gameplay done as possible before my schoolwork and birthday plans for April all caught up with me. Didn’t get nearly as much done as I wanted, but I had fun, regardless. Ironically enough however, y’all were more interested in one silly post I made where my Sakura & Ryuu sims assassinated Marie Antoinette! XD

April: Modern Male Witch Project Part 5

My latest installment recreating Brenna-Ivy’s Modern Mages went off without a hitch. Made an EFFTON of CC for y’all on my birthday, and had a blast!

May: Didn’t do any simming in May, as I needed to recover from blitzing the last 3 months.

June #1: The Untamed cont’d | June #2: Pride Month: Asian LGBT+

I took advantage of my Summer Break from school to continue my The Untamed gameplay. Some of my favorite posts ever, right there. Plus, it was Pride Month, so I was able to double-time it with Hanguang-Jun(e) Month and an cool Asian-themed LGBT series of weekly posts from some of my fave fandom ships: Nagron, Malec, WangXian, Andynh, and Adoribull.

July: Mighty Nein

I did more of the Modern Male Project, but definitely the best gameplay of the month (and arguably my whole YEAR) came from my Critical Role inspired posts. Y’all were going bananas; I loved seeing how many D&D fans were out there! I’m definitely doing more this year, it was way too much fun.

August: TW3 Skellige

My witcher!household went a-viking in Ard Skellig, as I tested out a bunch of new CC I was uploading that month. 

September: Nada. I was in the TRENCHES at school; I got hit with one massive project after another, ISTG it was like the department wanted to see if I would effing crack under pressure. STILL HERE, WENCHES. I hate grad school.

October: The Untamed cont’d

Halloween was the perfect time to deal with Wen Ning, so I HAD to squeeze in some more Untamed gameplay for the holidays. 

November: Wei Wuxian’s Halloween/Birthday

I was late posting in time for WWX’s bday on Halloween, but was just glad I managed to make a post I’d been dying to do for a LONG while, showing Wei WuXian get reincarnated as Mo XuanYu.

December: Interview with the Vampire

Y’all. Y’all know? How effing HAPPY I am that AMC made this dang show? I love every bit of it; eff the book purists. This is how you do an adaptation RIGHT, by ELEVATING the source material and updating the content for modern audiences. BRAVO.

________________________________________________

Thank you everybody, followers, mutuals, lurkers, and all simmers who continue to support me and The Sims 3, and like my content!

Happy Simming, and Happy New Year!

[radiosandrecordings]

I found the start of a script I was working on in.. apparently June last year. It was supposed to be for a podfic because I wanted to do my own travelling-to-the-safehouse fic but apparently this is as far as I got. I think it’s pretty good though so may as well post it. Left in all the ah... More creative notes I was apparently giving myself for direction.  [Tape clicks on] 

[Sound of two sets of footsteps on stone, reverberating around a confined tunnel. Possibly water drip?]

JON [Firm, but soft. Like a memory foam mattress.] Martin? Are you still with me?

MARTIN [As if distracted, snapping back to himself]  … What? Oh, yes, yes, still… Still here. Sorry it’s just- [He falters, struggling for the words]  Hard. With- With everything. It’s all a bit… [A pause. He’s making vague hand gestures with one hand.] A bit much. 

JON [Flatly] Oh. [Realising] Oh!- Do you- Do you want me to let go of your-

[Walking stops around here] 

MARTIN (OVERLAPPING)  [Firmly, almost panicked] No! Uh- No. No. This is… This is good. 

JON [Trying not to sound pleased. Failing]  Oh! Uh- Good. Good. 

[Several beats of silence as the walking starts up again]

MARTIN  … It’s grounding, really. Everything else is… A lot. Even breathing feels weird. I’m too… Hyper-aware. Of my own lungs. Not sure I breathed in there, not properly anyway. You just kind of dissolve into the background. Even yourself is too much company. Your whole body just kind of feels like a limb you’ve been sitting on too long, all the blood flowed out of it. So it’s… Nice. To have you. As a- As a focus point. 

JON [Muttered] Something to be said about anchors, and all that.

MARTIN  What was that?

JON Nothing, just a… Bit of a personal joke. 

JON (CONT’D)  Anyway. I think there’s light ahead, hopefully this should be the end of the tunnel. No idea where it’ll spit us out though. 

MARTIN Guess we’ll see. 

[Beat]

Just… Don’t let go?

JON  [Unbearly fond. Get it together, gayboy]  ‘Course not. 

[Tape clicks off]

[Tape clicks on] 

[They’re outside. There are outside noises. You know what those sound like, don’t you? I know you’ve been at home for 3 months but please. Please try and remember. Is there wind outside? Maybe a pigeon? It’s south bank there has to be pigeons. You remember pigeons, right? Also, river noises. Boat.]

MARTIN Are we at-

JON (OVERLAPPING) Southbank. Yes. 

MARTIN Southbank? But the river, we’d have to have- 

JON (OVERLAPPING)  Yes, I’m… Not quite sure the same physics applies, when it comes to those tunnels. They’ve spent more time being moved around by a Leitner than not. I think they end where they want to end. Bloody miracle we’re not halfway to Twickenham. Or still in London at all for that matter. 

MARTIN  ...Right.

[He absolutely does not get it] 

MARTIN (CONT’D) [He lets out a breath]  Can we just- Can we just sit? For a minute? 

JON  [Quiet]  Of course, of course…

[Movement as they make their way to a bench and sit]

[A seagull squawks overhead]

MARTIN  The sunrise is nice… 

JON  [Clearly not looking at the sunrise] Yeah, it is…

MARTIN  Do you have any idea what time it is?

JON  I’d say… Just coming up on seven.

MARTIN What, Beholding goes to the trouble of telling you that and it can’t even pin it to the minute? 

JON Martin, not to sound like the most stereotypical Englishman in the world, but we’re on South Bank. I just looked over at Big Ben. 

MARTIN Oh- Er- Right. 

[A sigh. He relaxes from all the wound up tension]

… God it really is just there isn’t it. Like, it’s one of those things that, if you didn’t grow up here, you don’t really get that it’s… Real, y’know? It’s like, you can see it every day and never quite get past the notion that it’s something that only exists as… Cheap, shitty fridge magnets and… And novelty t-shirts. 

… Does that make sense? No, no sorry I’m rambling-

JON (CUTTING HIM OFF) [Quick, reassuring]  No, no I get what you mean. 

[A pause. He’s searching for something to fill the empty air, desperate not to leave a silence between them. It’s only tangentially on topic, but it will do]

… I grew up in Bournemouth. Did I ever tell you that? 

MARTIN [Voice slightly shaky, but solidifying]  Not in as many words, no. I think you mentioned it, on a… Tape. At some point. Not directly.

[He hesitates] 

… Do you want to tell me about it?

JON [Hesitant. He may not have been Lonely, but he’s spent a fair amount of time trying to diminish himself] Only if you want me to. 

MARTIN But do you want to tell me about it?

JON [Meekly] … Probably not the best story for now, actually. Not terribly interesting. And when it is, it’s just a bit… Miserable, really. Childhood orphaning never really leads upwards in the ways Dickens would have you believe. 

MARTIN ...Some other time then?

JON [Stumbles slightly, as if shocked by the knowledge that there will be times that aren’t this. NOW YOU’VE THROWN HIM OFF HIS RHYTHM!]  Y-yes. Some other time. 

[Pause. 5 Seconds? Ambience. Sound of voices around has started to filter in.]

JON [Slow] I was just… I was thinking. About what- What Peter Lukas said, back in…  [With vehemence] There. And how it was… Partially true, in a way. We may not know each that well but… I’d like to change that. If- If you do. 

MARTIN [Soft] I would like that. 

[Content hum] 

… Tell me something non-miserable, then. 

JON What?

MARTIN About yourself. Something that isn’t, I dunno, doom and gloom. What about, mmm, favourite colour?

JON [Amused, mock scolding] Are you five?

MARTIN Humour me!

JON Fine, fine… Actually, no. 

MARTIN No?

JON  No, you tell me what you think it is. 

MARTIN [Under his breath] I tell you what I think…

[Contemplative] Okay. Okay. What is… What is Jonathan Sims’ favourite colour… You used to wear a lot of green around the office, dark jumpers and tweed jackets and stuff… But I’m half convinced you just thought it was a ‘professional’ colour, to match your fancy new job. I think it’s… I think it’s purple. 

JON [Surprised]  Purple? Why 

MARTIN When… When you were in the hospital… Georgie stuck some photos up on the wall next to your bed. Old ones, polaroids, but in a kind of artsy way since they clearly weren’t from anywhere before the 2000′s. They were you in uni, and you had this ridiculous purple streak in your hair. So… Purple. 

JON [Quietly mouthing the words along, not quite processing] Had a purple streak in Uni…

[Startled, just processed fully the implications] Wait, you met Georgie?

MARTIN  Not in the hospital, a bit later in the Institute yeah, but… That’s another story for later. No, we never met in the hospital, I never quite felt…

[Grimace] Up to company, when I was there.

JON Right, of course.  I remember that, though. Some time in my second year; I got a bit tired of people assuming I was a post-grad student and thought I’d try and dye my grey streaks purple. It fit in with the sort of… Aesthetic, I was cultivating at the time. 

MARTIN [Absentmindedly, almost as if he doesn’t realise he’s saying it] I always liked your grey streaks.

JON [Shocked Pikachu but he’s got Dreamworks single raised eyebrow syndrome] Oh?

MARTIN [Oh shit, oh fuck, did I say that out loud] It’s just… Y’know. Nice. Not something you should want to hide. 

[Quickly changing the subject] … You didn’t answer though. Am I right or wrong? 

JON [Slow, amused. In a visual medium he’d be spreading his hands out] You got me.

MARTIN [Inordinately pleased] Really? Huh. Okay.  Guess mine. And no Knowing!

JON Oh, gosh, uhm… Yellow?

MARTIN [Hah!] Green! 

JON [Audibly :D because Martin laughed] Green? Why? 

MARTIN [Hummed] Mm, I dunno. Just something about it. 

[Volume of crowd has increased considerably now]

MARTIN [Slightly more nervous. The slight break in conversation gave him time to notice the people beginning to crowd around]

- 

I apparently didn’t get to include it in the script, but it was going to be a reveal later that actually, Jon doesn’t have a favourite colour. He just agreed because he wanted to make Martin happy. 

[soracities]

i think i have adhd. i've told my parents but i haven't gotten a diagnosis yet. i doubt i will.

there's this teacher i really trust, but i still don't know whether i can tell her or not.

- 15yo anon

(thank you for the kind words. i really do my like my tutor because he helped me get better marks and is proud of me, but ths might be the first time a student of his failed, that's why i'm.... scared)

(cont’d /2 also i live in asia so i'm unsure whether my teacher will believe me or not, or whether she'll call my parents. she is the best teacher i've ever met and i try very hard in her subject, i'm glad she's my class-teacher (homeroom teacher in usa, i think), but i'm still a bit anxious. it's just how things work here.

/3 i once again apologise for the many asks i sent. that being said, my tutor was really angry at me yesterday but today he pulled me aside, asked me the topics i struggled with and then told me that i was a good kid and it would be a shame if i didn't get good marks. that i needed to work a bit harder and that he'll help me with it, and i shouldn't be afraid of asking doubts. i am so encouraged by this that in half an hour, i plan to do math, chemistry and a language i lost most my marks in. there is probably another exam session in two weeks, maximum three. thank you for the support and tolerating all my asks, and hopefully if i send you another ask, it will be three weeks later where i tell you i passed my math exam with good marks!

- fifteen year old anon)

i'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but please don't apologise -- i'm so, so, so glad that you came out of that class with a sense of encouragement and that your teacher pulled you aside in the way that he did and offered you support, i really, truly am.

i really don't know what the best way forward for you would be regarding your concerns about having adhd, and i really wish i could offer you more in this: i don't want to overstep the mark, or give advice based on assumptions about the process and how to go about talking about it or reaching out for help because i'm not in any way familiar with what would be best for you where you are: the best i can do is ask that if anyone has ever had any similar concerns or experiences, especially with growing up or living in asia then please do share them if you can (i'm aware "asia" is very vague here; i don't know exactly what part you are from, anon, but it's not something you need to share publicly for your own sake).

i'm really very sorry for all the added stress you went through, especially with your last ask when you fell ill -- given everything you have gone through in such a short amount of time it's not surprising and i'm sorry you had to deal with what you described on top of everything else. i genuinely hope that you are feeling somewhat better now, or if not, then that you are able to recover as soon as possible and that the past few days have been even just slightly kinder to you. you have had so much to deal with, but for what it's worth i'm so proud of you for trying your best through it all even when you are not getting the support you should be. it matters and it counts that you’re trying. i really, really hope you know that.

edit: as i said a few days ago, i will post the messages i got in response to you. hopefully they will mean something for you, even if a few days / a week have passed since you first wrote to me ♡

[blowingoffsteam2]

1/2 Hi sorry to bug you! I was looking over those novel caps you posted and noticed the wording is different from the source I'm reading from. For the most part, they're the same and get the same basic idea across, but the dialogue and wording in mine is different. Now I'm wondering which reading is official and which could possibly be translated from a different source? May I ask where you got that cap of the novel from :O? I only ask because I wanna be sure I'm reading from a proper source lol

Cont’d: Omg SORRY haha just now realized you posted the source in another post. You can disregard my last two messages!

——-

Oh yeah lol I just used Goldpanner’s translation bc I was too lazy to open my computer and find the official translation. In any case I like reading fan translations when I can to compare to the official one because often times the official translations just use the exact dialogue from the game instead of doing their own translation. Which is usually fine but sometimes details get lost or it’s just easier to spot certain intentional parallels or callbacks with another translation.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Wednesday, April 20 – Thursday, April 21

DAWN: Are we the International House of something? BUFFY: Nope. Got up early, and it felt like a breakfast kind of morning. (puts pancakes from the pan onto a plate) Okay, what kind of syrup do you want on your pancakes? DAWN: (amazed) Syrups have kinds?

~~Entropy~~

The Sunnydale Herald is still looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Temporary Allies (Buffy, Spike, PG) by badly_knitted

I Want a New Drug (Giles, Oz, Giles/Buffy, M) by TheScholarlyStrumpet

A Weird Gig (crossover with DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Spike, Spike/Drusilla, T) by SeaSpectre160

A Love in the Darkness (Buffy/Spike, not rated) by ialwayscomewhenyoucall

Bleeding Poetry: October 30, 1997 and November 25, 1997 (Spike/Buffy, worksafe, collection rated NC-17) by Dusty

Poker (Spike/Buffy, worksafe, collection rated R) by EllieRose101

Heart (Spike/Buffy, PG-13) by Holly

[Chaptered Fiction]

Ghosts in Sunnydale, Chapter 1 (crossover with Danny Phantom, Scoobies, G) by Kree_Minory

Перемирие, Chapter 1-6 (Angel/Buffy, Angelus/Buffy, T, in Russian) by B_E_S. COMPLETE!

Come Back to Me, Chapter 28 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by honeygirl51885

En hurlant à Une Lune de Béton ; Le souffle des mots comme tel de la poussière chantante dans le soleil comme brise caresse.... L'histoire d'un poète Vampire, Chapter 9 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17, in French) by Violette-Milka

Enemies with Benefits, Chapter 10 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by Ifeelittoo21

The Fairytale, Chapter 24 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by Dusty

Falling in Love, Chapter 6-8 (Spike/Buffy, PG-13) by Wonder and Ashes

Mortal Allies Series, Episode 5: War and Roses, Chapter 15 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by Passion4Spike

Of Monsters and Men, Chapter 3 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by feedingthefire

Seven, Chapter 19 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by Holly

Soul Purpose, Chapter 6 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by B_Red

Teach Me How: ReMastered, Chapter 3-4 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by Grief Counseling

Unliving Conditions, Chapter 4 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by MrsAkers

Use It or Lose It, Chapter 19 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by Dynamite

What Lies Within, Chapter 2 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by cawthraven

Why Are There 26 Letters?, Chapter 9 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by Indi_Shaw

Death Is Buffy's Next Great Adventure, Chapter 80 (crossover with "Harry Potter", Buffy, FR15) by Sharie

Last Days of May, Chapter 8 (Buffy/Spike, T) by Myrabeth

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Manips: My favorite character (Willow, worksafe, flashing gifs) by emmatheslayer

Pencil drawing: Buffy (worksafe) by johndibiase

Video: Buffy & Angel || I Fall Apart (Buffy/Angel(-us)) by Tifa&Rinoa

[Reviews & Recaps]

I don’t hate 1x6 the pack... by womanaction

Which [episode] do you prefer and why (cont'd) by TamsinValencia and others

What Season Would You Rewrite? (cont'd) by atiredonnie, Cohen, epimetrius

Any Deaf or HOH Buffy fans also absolutely love the episode Hush? by DeterioratingHuman

If you do rewatches, which episodes do you skip? by potterhead123456

Finally finished the whole Buffy universe with the Angel series finale by Lobothehobosexual

PODCAST: Pop Culture Role Call: Lickin' Bones - Angel S02E08 - The Shroud of Rahmon

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[Recs]

Fandom history: Buffy/Spike Fandom Circa 1997 AKA The Start - Uphill Both Ways Essay by Mala shared by aleababe

Buffy ReVamped (a live show in the UK) recced by Auzzymm

Looking for a Spuffy fanfic that is more of a non Spuffy by TigerJean

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[Fandom Discussions]

Blackbeard, Ed and Izzy; Angel, Angelus and Spike by alas-poor-cesario

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it’s not like btvs vampires can’t eat food, it’s just that all food is junk food for them by july-19th-club

also in triangle when spike is like buffy will you pleeeeeeeease pay attention to me by july-19th-club

I still can’t believe they gave Ethan Rayne over to the US military by layer-of-slayers

having characters that don’t age… can be hilarious by bleedingastigmatism

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Would Amy still feel an animosity toward Willow if the latter had welcomed her back into the Scooby gang? (cont'd) by Kendar, VampireSlayer07, Bop

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Why do I feel so sorry for Darla?!.... by AJ_Babe

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[tsunfucker]

The End of Evangelion [Theatrical Trailer]

(Screen text:  So, everybody just go and die...)

Staff (in Japanese alphabetical order)

Random women's voices: You don't really know if it's love until after the infatuation stops. Men just want a mother figure who'll spoil them. Men...You doit with them once and they think they own you. Ritsuko? Yeah, that's okay,too. You'll be sorry for that. That's not romantic in the least. Men are all scum... Don't think I'm going to forgive you!

----------------------------------------- TITLE SCREEN:  THE END OF EVANGELION Neon Genesis Evangelion Cinema Edition - Air/Sincerely Yours  (My Pure Heart For You) -----------------------------------------

(Screen text:  Then, why are you here?) (Screen text:  ...Is it okay for me to be here?) -----------------------------------------

Premiering July 19 (Sat.) Advance tickets including original poster on sale. General admission: 1500 yen     Students: 1200 yen Created by the EVA Production Committee (Project EVA) Distributed by Toei Studios, Inc. This film is animated. -----------------------------------------

TITLE SCREEN:  THE END OF EVANGELION Neon Genesis Evangelion Cinema Edition - Air/Sincerely Yours (My Pure Heart For You) Premiering July 19 (Sat.) Created by the EVA Production Committee (Project EVA) Distributed by Toei Studios, Inc. -----------------------------------------

Toei Studios, Inc. logo in triangle

Eirin (Eiga Rinri Kitei Kanri Iinkai = Motion Picture Code of Ethics Committee) registration in circle

(Vertical screen text:  Neon Genesis Evangelion Cinema Edition)

The End of Evangelion Episode 25: Air/Love is destructive. :Translated Script

OPENING SCENE Shinji stands silently before the lake created by the explosion of EVA-00, triggered by Rei in episode number 23, which also destroyed Tokyo-3.

SCENE:  Hospital - 1st Cranial Nerve Department Shinji in Asuka's hospital room (No. 303), Asuka lying in bed -----------------------------------

Background announcement: Sections 2 and 3 of the East Wing will close at 6 p.m. today. Staff are requested to finish all work by 4: 30 p.m.

Shinji: I... I'm scared of both Misato and Ayanami... Help me... Help me, Asuka. Hey... Wake up! Come on... Wake up! Come on... Hey... Asuka... Asuka... ASUKA!! Help me... Help me... Help me... Help me... Help me! Call me an idiot like usual! HEY!!

(Shinji shakes Asuka roughly so that she rolls onto her back... Her hospital gown opens to reveal her naked except for her underwear... Shinji locks the door to the sickroom and his breathing gradually becomes faster and heavier ending with a muffled grunt (off screen). He stares down at the ejaculated fluids covering his right hand.)

I... I'm scum...

----------------------------------- TITLE SCREEN:  Episode 25 - Air -----------------------------------

SCENE:  NERV Command Center- Makoto, Shigeru and Maya talk as they sit in the dark and drink coffee. -----------------------------------

Maya (off screen): What!?  Total prohibition of access to and from Headquarters!?

Makoto (off screen): I guess we're still at First Level Alert...

Maya (off screen): Why?  Wasn't Kaworu* the last angel?  (*Literally: "that boy")

Shigeru: That's right.  All the angels have been destroyed.

Makoto: Isn't there supposed to be peace now?

Maya: Then, what'll happen to NERV? and the Evas? I wish Dr. Akagi was here...

Shigeru: NERV will probably be disbanded, and who knows what'll happen to us.

Makoto (off screen): We'll just have to stick it out until the Instrumentality Project starts.

SCENE:  Misato in her car - turnout overlooking the new lake (Tokyo-3) -----------------------------------

Misato (to herself): Having reached its limit as a colony of flawed and separate entities, Humankind is to be artificially evolved into a perfect single being. The Instrumentality Project... An ideal world... And to achieve this the Committee plans to use not Adam or NERV, but Eva. Just like Kaji predicted.

SCENE:  SEELE monoliths - Gendo and Fuyutsuki -----------------------------------

SEELE 01 (Keel): The promised time has come. With the Lance of Longinus now lost, complementation using Lilith is impossible. Our only hope is to proceed with EVA-01, Lilith's sole clone.

Gendo: While different from SEELE's scenario...

Fuyutsuki: Humans have existed to create Eva.  (ambiguous)

Gendo: Humans should evolve into a new world.  That is the purpose of the Eva series.

SEELE 09: We have no intention of giving up our human forms simply to enter the Ark called Eva.

SEELE 12: It is merely a rite of passage... To bring about the rebirth in those who are imprisoned.

SEELE 05(?): The fate of destruction is also the joy of rebirth.

SEELE 04(?): A sacrament to unite God, humans, and all other life forms in death.

Gendo: Death gives birth to nothing.

SEELE 01 (Keel): Then death is what you shall have.

(SEELE monoliths disappear)

Fuyutsuki: Humans exist because they have the will to live... And that is the reason she remained within Eva.

SCENE:  Rei lying in bed in her apartment.  She wakes up (looking surprisingly like Yui), looks out the window to see the full moon illuminating the night sky, and leaves.  Gendo's glasses lie twisted and broken on the floor behind her. -----------------------------------

SCENE:  Shinji lying awake in his room with his headphones on The tape counter reads 00:00:00 and the battery indicator flashes empty. -----------------------------------

SCENE:  The new lake (The ruins of Tokyo-3) -----------------------------------

SCENE:  NERV Computer Room Misato hacks into the system using a laptop computer. -----------------------------------

Misato: So, this is the truth behind Second Impact... (Screen flashes and alarm sounds) Have they noticed me!? No, that's not it! It's starting!

SCENE:  NERV Command Center Alarms sound... emergency indicators light... -----------------------------------

NERV operator (background - male): No. 6 net - audio communications severed! Goura ground circuit, inoperative!

Fuyutsuki (to phone): Switch the left side over to blue emergency communications! Use the satellites if you have to!  That's right! What's the situation on the right?

Person on Phone: Negative!  All outgoing network and data lines are being cut off!!

Fuyutsuki: Are they after MAGI?

Shigeru (off screen): Data entry from all external nodes. (on screen) They're hacking the MAGI system!

Fuyutsuki: Just as I thought.  Is it coming from MAGI-2 in Matsushiro (Tokyo-2)?

Shigeru: No, it's at least 5 MAGI type units. Hacking verified from Germany, China, the U.S....

Fuyutsuki: SEELE is mustering all of their forces.  5 to 1 odds... Not good.

Shigeru (off screen): No. 4 firewall breached!

Makoto: Locking the main database... Negative! We can't stop their invasion!

Maya (off screen): It's entering a deeper level! (on screen) Even the back-up circuit can't stop it!

Fuyutsuki (thinking): This is bad... Capture the MAGI system and you capture everything.

SCENE:  Ritsuko in her cell -----------------------------------

Background announcement: General Quarters: Second Level Alert!  Repeat - General Quarters: Second Level Alert!

(Cell door opens)

Background announcement(cont'd): All personnel report to designated posts at once.

Ritsuko: I know... MAGI's self-defense system.

Security staff at door: Yes.  Lt. Ibuki at the No. 2 Command Center has the details.

Ritsuko: Even an abandoned woman has her uses... How egotistical.

SCENE:  Misato approaching Command Center with phone -----------------------------------

Background announcement: Second Level Alert currently in effect!  All B-floor non-combat personnel evacuate at once.

Misato: Status report?

Makoto (on phone): Hyuga here.  Tokyo-2 has just issued Special Order A-801!

Misato: 801?

Makoto (on phone): That's right.  Abolishment of special legal protection for NERV and transfer of all command to the government of Japan.

(Elevator door closes)

(NERV Command Center - Maya and Makoto)

Makoto: It's an ultimatum... Yes, and MAGI is being hacked.  Things aren't looking good.

Maya: Ibuki here. Dr. Akagi has just begun protective countermeasures.

(Misato appears on elevator)

Misato: Ritsuko!?

(Ritsuko inside MAGI)

Ritsuko: (thinking) Am I acting foolish?  Men and women are so illogical... (speaking) Isn't that right?  (reaches up to Casper) Mother...

(NERV Command Center)

NERV operator (male): Goura ground circuit recovery rate up to 0.2%

Misato: How much longer?

NERV operator (female): No. 3 cable, Hakone back-up circuit still inoperative.

Makoto (off screen): We should just make it. Dr. Akagi is amazing, one more minute to the end of page 120... And only two-and-a-half more minutes until deployment of a primary firewall.

Misato (thinking): Just hacking MAGI? They're not going to let us off that easy... probably.

Fuyutsuki: MAGI is only the first skirmish. The bastards' objective is the direct take-over of headquarters and the two remaining Eva units.

Gendo: Yes.  With not only Lilith, but even Adam in our hands....

Fuyutsuki: No wonder the old men are so worried.

(MAGI displays turn green)

Maya: Hacking against MAGI has been stopped. (off screen) A Danang Type-B defense screen has been deployed. External access is impossible for the next 62 hours.

(Ritsuko emerges from MAGI)

Ritsuko: See you in a bit, mother.

SCENE:  SEELE monoliths -----------------------------------

SEELE 06: Ikari has executed a Type-666 protection program on the MAGI system. It won't be easy to breach.

SEELE 07: It appears that we will have to forego acquisition of MAGI.

SEELE 01: I had hoped to solve this peacefully, but that is not possible now. Take over the entire headquarters directly, at once!!

SCENE:  Road by the lake - JSSDF officer with military phone -----------------------------------

JSSDF officer: Commence operations as planned.

(Soldiers pop up... aircraft fly... tanks and missiles fire... all hell breaks loose)

SCENE:  NERV Command Center Alarms sound... Screens go blank... -----------------------------------

NERV operator (female): Radar sites 8 to 17 have gone dead!

Shigeru (off screen): JSSDF tech battalion advancing through Goura defense perimeter!

Makoto (off screen): Two battalions approaching from Gotemba!

NERV operators (background): Three air squadrons confirmed approaching from Mishima. Close down Futagoyama and Komagatake routes at once! Invasion through Goura 2nd defense perimeter point A...  Currently engaging enemy.

Fuyutsuki: It seems that man's ultimate enemy is also man.

Gendo: General quarters.  Go to First Level Battle Stations.

Maya: Battle Stations!? (whispered) But the enemy isn't an Angel... They're human like us.

Makoto (whispered): But they don't think that way.

SCENE:  Outside NERV War scenes... NERV guard stabbed in back... Gates open and alarm sounds -----------------------------------

NERV Soldier: Hey, what's going on? Hello!?

NERV Lieutenant: What's going on?

NERV Soldier: The south hub-station...

(Truck explodes... Black suited troops move in.)

SCENE:  NERV Command Center - More alarms... -----------------------------------

NERV operators (male): Daigatake tunnel cut off! Fire at West No. 5 freight entrance! Invading forces have entered Level 1! (female):  South hub station off-line!

Misato: The forces attacking the west side are a decoy! If their real target is the Evas, they'll be going after the pilots! Have Shinji stand by at EVA-01, quickly!

Makoto: Affirmative!

Misato: Where's Asuka?

Shigeru: In sickroom 303.

(Shot of Asuka lying in bed)

Misato (off screen): Put her into EVA-02 anyway.

Maya: But her synchronization with Eva hasn't recovered yet.

Misato: Yes, but she'll definitely be killed if she stays there. The best place to hide her is inside EVA-02.

Maya: Affirmative! (to headset) Stop medication to pilot.  Prepare for launch!

Misato: As soon as Asuka is inside EVA-02, hide it in the underground lake. It'll be found almost immediately, but it's better than leaving it in the cage. Where's Rei?

Shigeru: Whereabouts unknown...  Unable to locate!

Misato: She'll be killed. Find her, quickly!

(Rei floating in LCL tank)

(EVA-02 launch)

Makoto: EVA-02 launched via No. 8 route. Stabilize at a depth of 70 meters.

Misato: Launch EVA-01 next! Deploy it inside the Geofront!

Shigeru: Negative! The pilot hasn't arrived yet!

Misato: What!? (Shinji verified on monitor screen) Oh, no....!

Background announcement: Closing all Central Dogma barricades up to Level 2. All non-combat personnel, evacuate via route 87.

(Shots of gates and barricades closing throughout NERV)

(NERV Command Center)

Shigeru (off screen): No. 3 underground barricade destroyed!  Enemy Forces invading Level 2!

Fuyutsuki: The JSSDF have committed almost an entire division... It's only a matter of time before they take us over completely.

Gendo: Dr. Fuyutsuki, take care of things here.

Fuyutsuki: I understand.  Give my regards to Yui.

(Shots of fighting and mayhem)

(NERV Command Center)

NERV operators (male): No response from Group 2! Communication with No. 77 Computer Room negative.

Shigeru: No. 52 monorail destroyed!

Background announcement: Explosion confirmed at No. 3 hub-station.  Numerous dead.  Damage unknown.

Makoto: This is terrible.  Even Angels would be better.

Misato (thinking): It's no surprise... We're not used to killing other humans.

(More shots of death and destruction- female NERV officer drags the body of her comrade down a passage way, only to be struck down by a barrage of bullets from an invading JSSDF soldier)

JSSDF officer: Cut the cables starting with the red ones...

(NERV Command Center)

NERV operator (male): Level 3 Block B invaded!  Defense impossible!

Shigeru (off screen): Enemy also confirmed in Block F!  Main Bypass under crossfire!

Misato: Abandon Levels 1 to 3!  Combat teams, retreat! Release Bakelite into all passages and pipes up to Section 803!

Shigeru: Affirmative!

(Shot of Bakelite being released)

Background announcement: Commence Bakelite injection from Section 703.  30 seconds to completion. Commence Bakelite injection from Section 737.  30 seconds to completion... (continues)

Misato: This should slow them down a bit.

Makoto: Major Katsuragi!  No. 47 route has been cut off... Group 3 is unable to advance! If this continues Shinji will be...!

(Shot of Shinji hiding)

(NERV Command Center)

Misato (off screen): All non-combat personnel avoid close combat. (Misato takes out and loads her pistol) (on screen) The enemy are professionals... If you can't fall back to the Dogma, it's better to surrender. (whispered to Makoto) Sorry, take care of things here.

Makoto: Sure.

SCENE: Outside NERV -----------------------------------

Background: Mt. Futagoyama under control - Seal off Nagao Pass at once! *afirmitive* Visual confirmation of No. 1 Command Center explosion...

JSSDF Division Commander: This is more difficult than expected.

Sub Commander: We never get the easy jobs.

SCENE: NERV Command Center Makoto and Shigeru take out and ready small arms. -----------------------------------

Makoto: This is bad... We were never equipped with full-scale anti-personnel defense systems.

Shigeru: Yeah.  Only counter-terrorist measures at best.

Makoto: If the JSSDF mounts a serious attack, we don't stand a chance.

Shigeru: Come to think of it, the reductions in funding for anti-personnel defense measures probably had this in mind from the beginning.

Makoto: That's entirely possible...

(Explosion in Command Center... Attacking forces move in...)

Background: No. 2 Command Center - Invaders on lower left floor.

Shigeru: (Handing pistol to Maya) Release the safety.

Maya: I... I can't shoot.

Shigeru: Of course you can! Just pretend this is training!

Maya: But I wasn't shooting at people, then!

Shigeru: Idiot! Shoot, or we're going to die!

----------------------------------- TITLE SCREEN - THE END OF EVANGELION EPISODE 25' -  Love is destructive -----------------------------------

SCENE:  Rei, staring into the tank containing the remains of her destroyed counterparts -----------------------------------

Gendo (off screen): Rei... I thought you'd be here. (on screen) The promised time has come. Let's go.

SCENE:  Dead NERV personnel litter the passageway -----------------------------------

1st soldier (off screen): Level 2 completely secured, over.

2nd soldier (on radio): No. 2 Command Center - Still unable to secure original MAGI system. Currently engaging enemy on lower left floor.

JSSDF officer (on radio): Commence heat dissipation procedures on the fifth Malbolgia at once.

(NERV officer raises arms in surrender - JSSDF officer fires a round into his head, places his foot on the body, and fires two more shots.)

JSSDF officer (female): Eva pilots are to be terminated on sight. Unconditional execution of non-combat personnel authorized.

JSSDF officer (on radio): Yanagihara and Shinjo squads, enter lower levels immediately.

(Shinji hiding... and found by three JSSDF soldiers)

Soldier: 3rd pilot found - will proceed to eliminate. (Places barrel of gun against Shinji's forehead) Nothing personal, kid.

(Misato charges in firing to the rescue)

Misato (cynically): Nothing personal here either... (Shoots soldier) Come on...  Let's get to EVA-01.

SCENE:  Misato and Shinji in parking lot- Misato listening to enemy movements on a dead soldier's radio -----------------------------------

JSSDF radio: Yamagishi squad at No. 7 cage, report your status, over. Purple unit secured. No problems with Bakelite infusion. Red unit appears to have been launched... Currently searching for launch route used.

Misato: Damn!  They're trying to prevent physical contact between Shinji and EVA-01. There's no time to lose... Quick, Shinji... (pause)  Do you want to run away, or go to Eva? - Pick one! (Shinji says nothing) -If we stay here we'll die for nothing!

Shinji (whispering): Help me, Asuka... Help me...

Misato (exasperated): Hiding behind a girl at a time like this!? Running from reality... Lying to yourself!? Doing things half-assed is the worst thing you can do! So, stand up!  Stand up!!

Shinji (whispering): No... Let me die.  I don't want to do anything.

Misato (angry): Stop talking like a spoiled brat! You're still alive, aren't you? So, do all you can to keep yourself alive, and then die afterwards!

SCENE:  NERV Command Center The battle continues... -----------------------------------

Fuyutsuki: Forget about here!  Give top priority to isolating the Terminal Dogma!

Makoto: Everything else has been destroyed... Why don't they just blow up the Command Center, too?

Shigeru: I'm sure they'd like to take us out in a single blow, but the original MAGI system is right below us.

Makoto: They want the MAGI system intact, huh?

Shigeru: But we're defenseless against BC (biological and chemical) weaponry. If they use those, we're in trouble.

Makoto: N2 weapons, too...

(As if by coincidence, an N2 warhead drops, opening up the Geofront)

Shigeru: Speak of the devil!

Makoto: Isn't that a bit extreme!?

Fuyutsuki (smirking): Playing a bit rough, aren't we?

(Numerous missiles strike the Geofront directly)

Maya: Why do they want the Evas so badly!?

SCENE:  Misato and Shinji in Misato's car - Scrapped Eva prototypes. -----------------------------------

Misato: They plan to initiate Third Impact - not with Angels, but by using the Eva series. 15 years ago, Second Impact was caused by humans on purpose. (Flashed shot: Second Impact) But that was in order to minimize the damage by returning Adam (flashed image: Giant of Light) to an embryonic state (flashed image: Embryo in attache case)  before the other Angels awoke. (flashed image: graves) Shinji, we humans were born from a being called Lilith, who is the source of life just like Adam.  We are the 18th Angel. (flashed image: DNA) The other Angels are possibilities of what we might have become - humans that gave up human form. (flashed image: Kaworu - Rei) Sadly, we had to reject each other - even though we're all human... Listen, Shinji... You must destroy all of the Eva series.  It's the only way to stay alive.

SCENE:  Office of the Prime Minister of Japan (Sounds of construction in the background) -----------------------------------

Prime Minister: The phone lines have gone dead.

(Screen text:  Nagano Prefecture, New Tokyo-2 Prime Minister's Residence, No. 3 State Office)

Secretary: Yes, sir.  Ballistic warhead impact was confirmed three minutes ago.

Prime Minister: The Instrumentality Project that NERV was secretly researching... Initiating Third Impact to annihilate mankind... The mere thought sends shivers down my spine.

Secretary: Humans must be the only creatures able to despise their own kind.

Prime Minister: All that's left is to take care of the NERV headquarters facilities.

Secretary: Do you want Germany or China to undertake the re-development?

Prime Minister: No - We won't be taken advantage of. Seal it up for 20 years, just like old Tokyo.

SCENE:  Outside in the Geofront. -----------------------------------

1st soldier (on radio): Surface heat receding. High-pressure steam discharges have also subsided.

2nd soldier (on radio): Initial location of all units completed.

JSSDF Sub Commander:: Dogma Level 3 and the purple unit have been secured.

JSSDF Commander:: And the red unit?

Intelligence officer: Found in the underground lake at a depth of 70 meters.  The pilot's status is unknown.

SCENE:  Asuka curled up in the fetal position inside EVA-02 Entry Plug -----------------------------------

Asuka: ...I'm alive...

(Shots of depth charges firing and exploding around EVA-02)

Asuka: (Whispered at first then repeated growing louder and stronger) I don't want to die... I don't want to die... I don't want to die...

(Another voice mixes with Asuka's)

I don't want to die... (You're still alive) I don't want to die... (You mustn't die yet) I don't want to die... (You must live) I don't want to die... (I won't let you die) I don't want to die... (Don't kill me) I don't want to die... (You're still alive) I don't want to die... (I won't let you die yet) I don't want to die... (You must keep living) I don't want to die... (Die for me!) I don't want to die... (You mustn't die yet!) I don't want to die... (Die!) I don't want to die... (You're alive!) I don't want to die... I don't want to DIE!!

(Flashback to Asuka as a child with mother)

Child-Asuka: Mama... So this is where you've been?  Mama!

(Asuka clasps her mother's hand and EVA-02 awakens.)

SCENE:  Geofront lake -> Giant cross-shaped explosion -----------------------------------

1st soldier: What the!?

2nd soldier: Did we get it!?

(EVA-02 emerges and starts fighting)

Asuka (thinking): Mama... Mama! I understand now... The meaning of the AT Field. It's always protecting me!  Always watching over me! (speaking) Always... always together! Mama!

(Misato and Shinji in Misato's car)

Maya (on radio): EVA-02 has activated! Asuka's okay!  She's alive!

Misato: Asuka!?

(Asuka fighting)

JSSDF officer: The cable!  That thing's power cable! Concentrate all fire power on the cable!

(Cable is severed)

Asuka: Shit!! Even without the cable... I still have 12,000 plates of special armor... and my AT Field! I can't lose! Not against you!!

(JSSDF forces are easily beaten by Eva-02 and Asuka)

SCENE:  SEELE monoliths -----------------------------------

SEELE 01: The loathsome Evangelion... Do they stand in our way yet again? It seems that one must fight fire with fire.

SCENE: EVA-05 to -13 released -> Asuka -----------------------------------

Asuka: The Eva series!? They've been completed?

(NERV Command Center)

Fuyutsuki: Deployment of all nine units equipped with the S2 system!? Isn't that a bit excessive? Or, do they plan to initiate it here!!?

(Eva series land)

Misato (on phone): Listen Asuka. You must destroy all of the EVA series. I'll have Shinji there to help assist you soon.  Do your best. (changes lines - to Makoto) We can get to EVA-01 via emergency route No. 20, right?

Makoto (on phone): Affirmative.  We've secured three seperate power sources just in case. As long as you enter within three minutes, you can reach the No. 7 cage directly.

(Misato starts dragging Shinji)

(Asuka in EVA-02)

Asuka: I have to destroy them all? Is she forgetting she's talking to a convalescent? Nine units in three and a half minutes... That works out to only 20 seconds apiece!

(Asuka attacks)

Asuka: Erst! (German: "That's one!")

SCENE:  Misato and Shinji - Emergency Elevator R-10-20 -----------------------------------

Misato: Here it is.

(Shots fire... Misato is hit, but they enter the shaft and the door closes)

1st soldier: They got away...

2nd soldier (to radio): Unable to terminate target. Standing by for orders to pursue...

JSSDF officer (on radio): Negative.  That area is scheduled for demolition. Pull back immediately.

2nd soldier: Yes, sir.

(Misato and Shinji in passageway)

Misato (slumped against wall - labored breathing): Th... That should hold them off... for a while. I'm okay... It's not as serious... as it looks. (staggers to feet and opens gate) There's still power - We can make it.

(Misato pins Shinji against gate)

-Shinji... from here out you're on your own. You have to make the decisions by yourself - without anyone's help.

Shinji: I... I can't do it.  I just can't... I can't pilot Eva if it means I'm going to hurt or even kill other people. I have no right to do that. I thought that piloting Eva was my only choice... But I was just fooling myself. I don't understand anything - I'm not worthy to pilot Eva. There's nothing that I can do for other people! I've done terrible things to Asuka, and even killed Kaworu... There isn't a shred of kindness in me! Only dishonesty and cowardice... If I can only hurt people, then I'd rather not do anything at all!

Misato (angrily): I'm not going to feel sorry for you. If you don't want to be hurt, then just die without doing anything at all!

(Shinji starts crying)

-Crying won't help you now!

(Misato's tone becomes gentler)

-You hate yourself, right? That's why you hurt other people... Because you know that hurting other people is more painful than hurting yourself. But, no matter what happens, remember that it was your decision. And that makes it worthwhile, Shinji - Because you decided by yourself! So stop lying to yourself... Think about what you can do... And then live with your decisions.

Shinji: But you're... you're not me! You don't understand anything about ME!!

(Misato slams Shinji against the gate)

Misato (harshly): So what if I'm not you!? Are you just going to give up now!? If you stay here and do nothing, I won't forgive you! I'll NEVER forgive you!!

(Misato's tone changes to desperation)

-Nobody's perfect. You realize that you've made a mistake, and then regret it... That's all I've ever known. Nothing but empty happiness and hating myself. But... I feel like I always grew from the experience!

Misato (gently): Listen, Shinji. Pilot Eva once more and find yourself. Pilot Eva to face the questions "Why did you come here?" "Why are you here?" Find your own answers. And then... after finding yourself... come back to me.

(Misato places her cross in Shinji's hand)

Misato: It's a promise. Now, go.

(Misato kisses Shinji deeply)

Misato(sultry voice): That's a grownup kiss. We'll do the rest when you get back...

(Misato pushes the stunned Shinji into the elevator and then collapses)

Misato (weakly): If I knew it would end this way... I would've done like Asuka said... And changed the carpet... Right, Pen-pen? Kaji... did I do all right?

(A ghostly Rei stands above Misato, then an explosion -> Shinji crying in elevator.  Looking at Misato's blood spattered cross and tasting her blood in his mouth, Shinji slides into the corner, sobbing.)

SCENE:  Asuka fighting Eva series -----------------------------------

(Shinji standing in front of EVA-01 encased in solidified Bakelite)

Asuka (on speaker): Jeeez!  Don't they ever stop!? And I can't even count on that idiot Shinji!!

SCENE:  Terminal Dogma - Gendo, Rei and Lilith - Ritsuko sitting at edge of LCL pool -----------------------------------

Ritsuko: I've been waiting for you.

(Ritsuko stands and draws a gun... Asuka fighting... Back to Ritsuko)

Ritsuko: I'm sorry... I secretly altered MAGI's program earlier. A daughter's final request... Mother... die with me.

(Ritsuko presses something in her pocket, but nothing happens.)

Ritsuko: It didn't activate?  Why!? (Pulls portable terminal from pocket - Casper-3: Rejected)

(gasp) Betrayed by Casper! How could you, Mother?  Choosing your man over your own daughter...

(Gendo draws his gun)

Gendo: Ritsuko Akagi, I truly... (Gendo's lips move, but you can't hear him.)

Ritsuko (surprised, but then smiles): ... Liar....

(Gendo shoots Ritsuko, who falls back into the pool of LCL before a ghostly Rei.)

SCENE:  NERV Command Center The battle rages on - Maya monitors EVA-02 via laptop computer -----------------------------------

Makoto: What's happening outside?

Maya: Less than a minute before EVA-02 reaches its operational limit! At this rate, Asuka will...!

(Asuka fighting the Eva series)

Asuka: I can't lose!

(Shinji sitting in front of EVA-01)

Asuka (on speaker): Not with Mama watching me!

Shinji: Mama... Mother?

(Back to Asuka fighting)

Asuka: These are the last ones!

(As Asuka finishes off the last Evas, one of the Eva series' swords comes flying at her... She stops it with her AT Field, but it turns into the Lance of Longinus)

Asuka: The Lance of Longinus!?

(The Lance pierces the AT Field, then EVA-02's head... Asuka shrieks and EVA-02 powers down... Asuka clutches futilely at the controls)

(NERV Command Center)

Maya: Internal power source depleted... Operational limit reached.  EVA-02... down. What!?  The destroyed... Eva series!?

(Eva series reactivates)

Maya: The Eva series have reactivated!

Shigeru: Are they're going to finish her off!?

(Eva series flock over EVA-02  and rip it apart like carrion birds)

Makoto: What's happening?

Maya: (gagging)  I can't look!  I... I can't watch anymore!

(Maya's laptop shows EVA-02's body display blanking out piece by piece.)

Makoto: This is...?  EVA-02!?

(Geofront, where EVA-02 is being ripped apart)

Asuka (snarling): I'll kill you... Kill... kill... kill you... Kill... I'll kill you... I'll kill you all... (repeated)

(EVA-02 attempts to reactivate)

(NERV Command Center)

Makoto: Berserker?

Maya: Asuka!  Stop!!

Asuka: Kill you all... I'll kill you... I'll kill you all... (repeated)

(Asuka's arm splits in two as a Lance of Longinus splits EVA-02's arm - Eva series impale EVA-02 with their lances)

(Maya gasps - Shinji sitting in front of EVA-01)

Maya (on speaker - screaming): Shinji!!  EVA-02!  Asuka!  Asuka... she's...!

Shinji: But I can't pilot Eva...  There's nothing I can do...

(EVA-01 breaks free from the Bakelite and clutches at Shinji)

Shinji: Mother!?

(Terminal Dogma - Rei and Gendo)

Gendo: Has EVA-01 finally awakened?

(NERV headquarters pyramid explodes upwards in a giant cross which turns into wings - EVA-01  appears howling in the Geofront with a demon's face and a set of wings)

JSSDF Sub Commander: Evangelion Unit One?

JSSDF Commander: It's the devil himself!!

(Shinji subdued inside EVA-01 entry plug)

Shinji: Asuka...

(Shinji sees the mangled remains of EVA-02 and screams)

Shinji: AHHHHHH!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

(Screen text:  To be continued )

-Episode 25 End Credits spiraling in helix with end theme, Thanatos: If I Can't Be Yours)

The End of Evangelion Episode 26:  Sincerely Yours/I need you. :Translated Script

Screen text: I wish to express my deepest thanks to all the staff, cast, friends and especially the five young ladies who helped to bring this picture to its conclusion once again.

                                                                   Thank you,                                                                           Hideaki Anno

Red Cross w/ black text- THE END OF EVANGELION ----------------------------------- SCENE:  Terminal Dogma - Gendo and Rei before Lilith -----------------------------------

Gendo: Adam and I are now as one... For this is the only way to be with Yui again. The forbidden joining of Adam and Lilith.

(Rei's arm falls off)

There's no time... Your AT Field can no longer hold your shape. Let's begin, Rei. Release your AT Field, the barrier of your heart. Complement your imperfect heart, leave your useless body... Merge all souls into one. And then, take me to Yui's side.

(Gendo places his hand on Rei's left breast and begins to merge with her)

(Rei cringes as waves of pleasure course through her body, a small gasp escapes her lips.)

----------------------------------- TITLE SCREEN: Episode 26 - Sincerely Yours  (My Pure Heart For You) -----------------------------------

(EVA-01 in Geofront - Shinji subdued inside EVA-01 entry plug)

Shinji: Asuka...

(Shinji sees the mangled remains of EVA-02 and screams)

Shinji: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHH!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

(Terminal Dogma - Gendo and Rei)

Rei (startled = unspoken): Ikari...!

(EVA-01 bursts free of its restraining plates and its wings form into a cross)

(The Lance of Longinus pulls free of the moon and flies toward earth as if drawn by EVA-01)

JSSDF Intelligence Officer: Unidentified object approaching at high-speed from the outer atmosphere.

JSSDF Commander: What!?

(NERV Command Center)

Fuyutsuki: No!... Not the Lance of Longinus!?

(The Lance of Longinus stops just short of EVA-01's throat.)

SCENE:  SEELE monoliths -----------------------------------

SEELE 01: At long last our hopes are to be realized.

SEELE 04: The original Lance of Longinus has returned as well.

SEELE 09: While somewhat fewer than planned, it will have to do.

ALL (chanting): Return the Eva series to its rightful form. Evangelize humankind and restore us to our true form. With indiscriminate death and prayers, we return to our original state.

SEELE 01: And let all souls find peace. Now, let the sacrament begin!

(EVA-01 is crucified by the Eva series and lifted upwards)

SCENE:  NERV Command Center -----------------------------------

Makoto: EVA-01 has been captured!

Shigeru: Altitude 12,000 meters! ...and rising!

Fuyutsuki: SEELE bastards...  Do they plan to use EVA-01 as the well of souls!? ¹

(Eva series release EVA-01... Shinji in entry plug with marks on palms)

SCENE:  SEELE monoliths -----------------------------------

SEELE 09?: EVA-01 has been marked with the stigmata (sacred insignia).

All (chanting): To restore the Tree of Life!

SEELE 01: Our servants, the Eva series...

(Keel appears) Their existence has all been for this one moment.

(Eva series move to the positions of the Sephroticum and shine in circles around the cross of EVA-01)

SCENE:  NERV Command Center) -----------------------------------

Shigeru (off screen): The Eva series have opened up their S2 systems!

Makoto (off screen): Dimensional values inverting!  They're going negative! Measurement impossible... Numerical expression invalid!

Fuyutsuki: An anti-AT Field...

(Eva series form into the Sephiroticum (Tree of Life))

Maya: All the data are just like 15 years ago! Then... this really is... The prelude to Third Impact!

SCENE:  Outside NERV -----------------------------------

1st soldier: S2 system level critical!

Background: Abort operations!  All units pull back at once!

2nd soldier: We... We can't maintain molecular attraction any longer!

JSSDF Commander: Mission... failed...

(A massive explosion envelopes the Geofront)

SCENE:  NERV Command Center shaking from the force of the explosion -----------------------------------

Shigeru: Direct impact!  Surface layers melting!

Makoto: Second wave excavating the headquarters periphery!  It's exposing the outer hull!

Background: Main JSSDF force annihilated!

Fuyutsuki: They're just physical shock waves! Set the absorbers to maximum level - It should hold!

(The explosion expands outward from the Geofront, revealing the egg of Lilith: the Black Moon)

SCENE:  SEELE monoliths -----------------------------------

SEELE 08/09: With the Purification of the Red Earth... That bespeaks time eternal...

SEELE 11: First, return the Geofront...

Keel: To its true form.

(Pull-back shot of the Earth and Lilith's Egg)

Fuyutsuki (off screen): The egg of Lilith... the genesis of human life... the Black Moon... We have no desire to return to that empty shell, (on screen) But even that depends on the will of Lilith.

SCENE:  Terminal Dogma -----------------------------------

Gendo: It seems to have begun... Rei, take me to Yui's side.

(Rei's abdomen tightens around Gendo's hand)

Gendo: What!?

(Rei absorbs Adam's embryo along with Gendo's right arm, and rejects Gendo)

Rei: I'm not your doll.

Gendo: Why!?

Rei: Because I'm not you.

(Rei's arm reforms)

Gendo (strained): Rei...! Please! Wait... Rei!

Rei: No.  Ikari is calling me.

Gendo: Rei!

(Rei ascends to Lilith)

Rei: I'm home...

(Screen text:  Welcome back.)

(Rei is absorbed into Lilith... Lilith's heart starts beating... Her legs reform and she descends from the cross... The mask of SEELE falls off and Lillith takes Rei's form)

Gendo: Rei...

SCENE:  NERV Command Center -----------------------------------

Shigeru: Unidentified high-energy source approaching rapidly from Terminal Dogma!

Makoto: AT Field verified!  Analysis pattern blue!!

Maya: It's not... an Angel!?

Makoto: No!  It's... a person!?  It's human!

(Lilith-Rei rises through the Command Center... Lilith-Rei's hand passes through Maya, who shrieks in terror)

(Shinji inside the suspended EVA-01)

Shinji: Damn... Damn... Damn... Damn!

(Lilith-Rei appears)

Shinji: Ayanami...?  Rei...!?

(Shinji screams as Lilith-Rei focuses on EVA-01 and cups it in her hands)

Shinji: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! AHHHH!!!

SCENE:  SEELE monoliths -----------------------------------

All (chanting): Evangelion Unit 01's pilot... Complement humankind with your imperfect ego.

Keel: The moment of the Third Retribution has come.

(Eva series form into pattern)

SCENE:  NERV Command Center -----------------------------------

Shigeru: The Eva series' AT Fields are resonating!

Makoto: And amplifying further!

Fuyutsuki: Has the assimilation with Rei begun?

(Eva series take Rei's laughing faces... Shinji/EVA-01 scream and EVA-01's core is exposed... Shinji clutches futilely at the controls)

Shinji: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! ASUKA!!! AHHHHHH!!!

Shigeru: Psychograph signal down!

Makoto: Destrado² materializing!

Fuyutsuki: Surely the pilot's ego can't take much more...

SCENE:  Shinji, curled into a ball within Eva-01's entry plug -----------------------------------

Shinji (whimpering): No... No... No... No... No... No...!

Kaworu (off screen): Do you want it to stop?

(Lilith-Kaworu appears)

Shinji: Is that where you've been?  Kaworu?

(Shinji resigns himself to Kaworu's outstretched hands... The Lance of Longinus approaches EVA-01's core)

SCENE:  NERV Command Center -----------------------------------

Shigeru: Solenoid graph inverting!  ego barrier weakening!

Makoto: AT Field shifting to pattern red!

Fuyutsuki: The Fruit of Life possessed by Angels, And the Fruit of Wisdom possessed by humans...

(The Lance penetrates the core and merges with EVA-01 into the Tree of Life)

Fuyutsuki (off screen): Having obtained them both, EVA-01 has become like a God. And now it has been restored to the propagule of souls... the Tree of Life. Will it become the Ark to save humankind from the nothingness of Third Impact? Or the demon that destroys us all? Our future lies in the hands of Ikari's son.

Maya (clutching at Shigeru's sleeve): Did... Did we do the right thing?

Shigeru: How should I know!?

(Lilith-Kaworu transforms into Lilith-Rei with hands cupped around EVA-01)

Yui (voice): This Rei is your heart... Your very hopes and dreams...

Rei (voice): What do you wish for?

SCENE:  Inside Shinji's Mind (In a park - Shinji as a child) -----------------------------------

Shinji (voice): I see... It's just like when I started the cello. I thought that if I came here, I could find something...

Child A: Come on, Shinji!

Child B: Let's build a castle!

Child-Shinji (smiling): Okay.

Child A: Oh, here comes Mama!

Child B: We have to go home now!

Child A: Bye-bye!

Child A and B (laughing): Mama... Mama!

(Shinji builds a pyramid (NERV headquarters) alone, and then destroys it... Crying, he starts to build again)

(Random thought sequence - inside Shinji's mind)

Asuka: Jeeez!  I get so pissed off whenever I look at you!

Shinji: Because I'm like you...?

Child-Asuka (crying): Mama!

Asuka (sleep-talking): Ma... ma...

Shinji (staring at Misato's cross): Mama...?

Misato (voice): I wasn't able to become Shinji's mother after all...

(Kaji's and Misato's college apartment)

Misato: Mmmm, let's do it.

Kaji: Again?  Aren't you supposed to meet your friend at school today?

Misato: Hmm?  Oh yeah, Ritsuko.  It's okay, we still have time...

Kaji: We've been cooped up here for a week now...

Misato: Yeah, but I think I'm getting the hang of it... so come on...

(The lovemaking begins and continues in the background)

Misato: I probably just did this to prove that I existed.

Asuka: How idiotic!  It's just two lonely adults comforting each other.

Ritsuko (precisely): We want to feel needed, even if it's only physical.

Misato: I feel wanted, and that makes me happy.

Asuka: It's just an easy way for you feel that you're worth something.

Shinji (disgusted = thinking): This is Misato?  She does... this?

Misato: Yes, this is also me... The melting into one another's hearts... The me that Shinji doesn't know. Reality does involve pain, but you just have to accept it.

Asuka: Aaahh... I wonder if I'll act like Misato when I grow up?

(Shinji and Asuka in Misato's apartment)

Asuka: Say... wanna kiss?..

Misato: You mustn't!

Asuka: Or are you afraid?

Misato: It's not something kids should do.

Asuka: Okay, here goes...

Asuka: You don't understand anything!  Stay away from me!

Shinji: (Hand twitching) ... I do understand.

Asuka: No you don't, you IDIOT! (Asuka kicks Shinji - Shinji's hand convulses) You really think you understand me!?  You think that you can help me? That is so ARROGANT!  You couldn't possibly understand me!!

Shinji: How can I understand... If you don't say anything? You don't say anything... You don't talk to me... How can I understand you?  It's IMPOSSIBLE!!

Rei: Ikari, did you try to understand?

Shinji (sulking): I tried...

(blue image of Shinji in Asuka's sickroom from 'Air')

Asuka: Idiot!  I 'know' about your jerk-off fantasies of me. Do it again like usual...  I'll even stand here and watch.

(Rei, Asuka and Shinji inside an empty train - Asuka standing over Shinji)

Asuka: If you can't be all mine, then I don't need you!

Shinji: Then, be nice to me...

Asuka/Misato/Rei: We are nice to you.

Shinji: LIARS!!  You're all just hiding behind a smile! You just want to keep things ambiguous!

Rei: Because the truth hurts us all... Because it's very, very distressing.

Shinji: But ambiguity only makes me insecure.³

Rei: That's just an excuse...

Shinji: But it makes me afraid...  Afraid that I won't be needed again someday. It makes me uneasy!  It worries me!  Let me hear your voice! Interact with me!! Care about me!!!

(Shinji and Asuka in Misato's apartment - Asuka sitting dejectedly at table)

Shinji: I want to help you in some way... and to be with you forever.

Asuka: Then, don't do anything. Don't come near me anymore... Because all you ever do is hurt me.

Shinji: Asuka, help me!  You're... you're the only one that can!

Asuka: Liar... (Shinji cringes) To you, anybody will do! (Asuka gets up from table and backs Shinji up against the wall) You're afraid of Misato and the First... and of your mother and father, too!

Shinji: Asuka...

Asuka(cont'd): You're only using me as an escape - because that's the easiest way not to get hurt!

Shinji: Asuka, help me!

Asuka: Because that's the easiest way not to get hurt!

Shinji (desperately): Please, help me!

Asuka (angrily): You've never really liked anyone!

(Asuka shoves Shinji, who crumples to the floor, taking the coffee pot with him)

Asuka (angrily): You're all you have!  But you've never even learned to like yourself!! (staring disdainfully down at Shinji lying helplessly amidst the spilt coffee) How pathetic...

Shinji (weakly - getting to his feet): Help me... Somebody... Somebody help me... Help me... Help me... Me... Help ME!! (throws the table aside) Don't leave me alone!  Don't abandon me!  Don't kill me! (picks up a chair and throws it at Asuka's feet)

Asuka (coldly): ... No...

(Shinji strangles Asuka - Komm Susser Tod (Come Sweet Death) begins to play)

SCENE:  Third Impact (Psychological scene - Flashing, random shots: crayon drawings of death, fish in a bucket under the sun, a dog lying dead on a street, fish head in a jar...) (Flashing screen text: "Evangelism", "Dead Sea Scrolls", "Shito", Various episode titles from the TV series, etc.) -----------------------------------

Shinji: Nobody understands me.

Rei: You didn't understand anything.

Shinji: I thought it was supposed to be a world without unpleasantness... without uncertainity.

Rei: Because you thought that everyone else was like you.

Shinji: Betrayed!  You've betrayed my feelings!!

Rei: You've misunderstood from the start.  You simply assumed without asking.

Shinji: Nobody wants me.  So, everybody just die.

Rei: Then, what are those hands for?

Shinji: Nobody cares whether I exist or not... Nothing will change. So, everybody just die.

Rei: Then, what is that heart for?

Shinji: It'd be better if I wasn't here either.  So I should just die, too.

Rei: Then, why are you here?

(Shinji as a child, crying with a large travel bag next to him)

Shinji: Is it okay for me to be here?

(Screen text:  "Silence")

Shinji (screaming): NOOOOOOOOOOO!!

----------------------------------- SCENE:  NERV Command Center -----------------------------------

Makoto: Pilot's response has infinitely approached zero!

Shigeru: Eva series and Geofront passing through the E layer!  -And still rising!

(Shot of Black Moon rising)

MAGI announcement: Current altitude 220,000 km.  Entering F layer.

Makoto: All Eva units - still active!

Shigeru: The Anti-AT Field from Lilith... it's expanding further!  It's materializing!

(The earth's surface under the Black Moon turns white spreading outwards and Lilith-Rei emerges, cupping the Black Moon in her hands)

Makoto: Anti-AT Field critical limit exceeded!

Shigeru: No...!  If this continues, individual life-forms will be unable to maintain their separate entities!

(Lilith-Rei spreads her wings)

Fuyutsuki: The Chamber of Guf (Hall of Souls) has been unsealed... Has the door to the world's beginning and end finally opened?

(Souls begin to gather around the Black Moon)

(Countless Reis begin to turn people into LCL)

Rei(s): The world is overflowing with sadness. People are surrounded by emptiness... And loneliness has filled their hearts.

(In the Command Center, Makoto is dissolved into LCL by a smiling apparition of Misato... Shigeru dissolves while cowering under the console trying to escape from multiple Reis)

Fuyutsuki (smiling at Yui floating above him like an angel): Ikari, did you finally meet Yui, too?  (dissolves into LCL)

Maya (hands trembling over keyboard): AT Fields... Everyone's AT Fields are disappearing. Is this the answer?  Is this what I was searching for? (Ritsuko appears- quickly types on Maya's laptop) (gasp) Dr. Akagi...!?

Ritsuko: Maya...

Maya: Ritsuko!  Ritsuko!  Ritsuko!  Ritsuko!  Ahh!

(Maya dissolves into LCL - as her dismembered hand flies across the screen, the words "I need you." are visible on the PC display)

SCENE:  SEELE monoliths vanish one after another -----------------------------------

SEELE 01: The beginning and the end are as one. Good... Everything is as it should be...

(Keel appears... and then dissolves into LCL, leaving behind the mechanical remains of his lower body)

SCENE:  Gendo lying on floor in Terminal Dogma -----------------------------------

Gendo: I've been waiting for this moment for so long... To finally be with you again, Yui. When I'm with Shinji, I only hurt him.  So, it's better that I do nothing.

Yui: So, you were afraid of Shinji.

Gendo: I don't believe that I can be loved by others... I'm not worthy of love.

Kaworu: You're just running away.  You simply reject the world before you get hurt.

Yui: Afraid of the shapeless, invisible barriers that separate people...

Rei: You just closed your heart to others.

Gendo: So, this is my retribution.  Forgive me... Shinji.

(Demon-like EVA-01 bites Gendo in half... Rei II picks up Gendo's fallen glasses. The three clones of Rei stand together.)

(Eva series impale their cores on the Lance replicas with gasps of ecstasy... Countless crosses spring up as a red wave speeds across the earth's surface... Souls flow from the Earth to the Black Moon and then into Lilith-Rei's hands... An eye appears in Lilith-Rei's forehead into which the EVA-01/Lance cross plunges itself and disappears...)

SCENE:  Inside Lilith-Rei - Shinji hears laughing voices and sees countless spirit-Reis flowing towards a red core -----------------------------------

Shinji: (gasp)Ayanami... Rei?

(Inside Shinji's mind - Flashing psychological scenes)

Random voices (Asuka, Misato, etc.): I hate you.  I wouldn't be caught dead with you!  Don't get me wrong... Do you really think I could ever like you?  You have nothing to do with my life anymore.  Get away from me!  ... and don't call me anymore! Stubborn bastard...  Don't follow me around anymore.  Your type makes me sick!  I'm sorry...  (laughter)  We're nothing more than friends. Annoying bastard...  Why don't you learn to give up?  There's no way I'd ever go back to you.  I HATE YOU!  Go away!  (laughter)  It'd be better if you'd never been born.  Dammit, get away from me!  I hate you! You're a pain in the ass!  (laughter)

(Asuka's voice) Wimp...

(Shinji, lying on his back)

Misato (over Shinji): If it's that painful, you can stop.

Rei (over Shinji): If you really don't like it, you can run away.

Misato (voice): Do you want to be at ease?  To feel at peace? Do you want to become one with me? To have our bodies and souls... become one.

Asuka (voice): But, if I have to be with you, I'd rather die!

(Empty theater - Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude (Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring) begins to play... Real-life scenes of urban Tokyo)

Shinji (voice): Hey...

Misato (voice): What?

Shinji (voice): What are dreams?

Misato (voice): Dreams?

Rei: Yes, dreams.

(Packed theater)

(Screen text:  Do you feel good?)

(Three girls standing still in crowd)

Shinji (voice): I don't understand... I don't really understand reality.

Rei (voice): So, you can't understand the gap between other's reality and your own truth.

Shinji (voice): I don't know where to find happiness.

Rei (voice): So, you can only find happiness in your dreams.

(Crowded street- camera focuses on three individuals; dressed as Misato, Rei, and Asuka)

Shinji (voice): Then, this isn't reality... Because no one is here.

Rei (voice): Yes, it's a dream.

Shinji (voice): So, I'm not here either.

Rei (voice): You were trying to remake reality with convenient fantasies.

Shinji (voice): Is that wrong?

Rei (voice): You were using fabrications to escape from reality.

Shinji (voice): Can't I dream alone?

Rei (voice): That would not be a dream.  It would just be compensating for reality.

(Packed theater -> empty theater)

Shinji (voice): Then... where is my dream?

Rei (voice): It is the continuation of reality.

Shinji (voice): Where is... my reality?

Rei (voice): It is at the end of your dream.

(Flashing Japanese text and images)

SCENE:  Blood/LCL gushes from Lilith-Rei's neck as she leans backwards Shinji and Rei merged together in the sea of LCL -----------------------------------

Shinji: Ayanami... where are we?

Rei: This is the sea of LCL... The primordial soup of life. A world without AT Fields... without your own shape. An ambiguous world where it is impossible to tell where you end and other people start. A fragile world where you exist everywhere, and thus exist nowhere.

Shinji: Have I died?

Rei: No, everything has just been joined into one. This is the world you have been hoping for... your world.

Shinji (releasing Misato's cross from his left hand): But... this isn't right.  I don't think this is right.

Rei: If you wish once more for the existence of others, the barriers of the heart will separate everyone once more... And the fear of other people will begin again.

Shinji: That's all right... (disengages Rei from him and clasps her hand) Thank you.

(Shinji and Rei, Shinji's head lying in Rei's lap)

Shinji: I feel that there were only hateful things there. So I'm sure it was okay to run away. But there was nothing good in the place I ran to, either. After all, I didn't exist there... which is the same as no one existing.

Kaworu: Is it okay for AT Fields to hurt you and others once more?

Shinji: I don't mind.  But, what are you two within my heart?

Rei: Hope.  The hope that people might be able to understand one another.

Kaworu: And the words 'I love you'.

Shinji: But that's just pretending - a self-intoxicating belief... like a prayer. It can't possibly last forever. Sooner or later I'll be betrayed... And they'll leave me. Still... I want to meet them again, because I believe my feelings at that time were real.

SCENE:  Shinji rejects Human Instrumentality, Lilith-Rei collapses backwards and her wings vanish... EVA-01 breaks out from Lilith-Rei's eye and grows wings... The Black Moon divides into sections and explodes, showering Lilith-Rei with LCL which falls to Earth and spreads outward...) -----------------------------------

Kaworu: Reality is in an unfamiliar place, and dreams are within reality.

Rei: And the truth is within your heart.

(Lilith-Rei's body begins to fall apart)

Kaworu: For it is the hearts of people that create their appearance.

Rei: And new images will change peoples' hearts and appearances. Images... the power of imagination... The power to create your own future, and to make time flow.

Kaworu: But people must act of their own free will, or nothing will change at all.

Rei: So you must find your lost self on your own... Even if you lose your own words, or become lost in others' words.

(EVA-01 grasps and splits the Lance of Longinus... The Lances impaling the Eva series burst and disappear)

Rei: Anyone can return to human form as long as they can imagine themselves in their own heart.

(The Eva series go silent and fall to Earth... Crosses rise into the heavens)

Yui (voice): Don't worry. All living things have the ability to return to their original form... and the heart to go on living. Anywhere can be heaven as long as you have the will to live. After all, you're alive... and you can find the chance to achieve happiness anywhere.

(Rei appears before the now silent EVA-01... EVA-01, the Lance, and millions of crosses continue to ascend into space)

Yui (voice): As long as the Sun, the Moon and the Earth exist, everything will be all right.

SCENE:  Water drop- Yui caressing Shinji's cheek -----------------------------------

Yui: So, you'll be okay now?

Shinji: I still don't know where to find happiness... But I'll continue to think about whether it's good to be here... whether it was good to have been born. But in the end, it's just realizing the obvious over and over again. Because I am myself.

(Shinji emerges from the sea of LCL... Lilith-Rei's head splits)

Shinji: But mother... what will you do?

(Flashback to 13 years ago - Fuyutsuki, Yui and infant-Shinji)

Fuyutsuki: Humans create Evangelion to copy God... Is this our true goal?

Yui: Yes.  Humans can only live on this planet, but Evangelion can live forever... together with the human soul that dwells within it.

(EVA-01 and the Lance of Longinus float in space)

Even after 5 billion years, when the Earth, the Moon, and even the Sun have disappeared, it will still exist as long as even one person still lives. It will be very lonely, but as long as that one person still lives...

Fuyutsuki: It will be the eternal proof that humankind has existed...

Shinji: Good-bye, mother.

----------------------------------- TITLE SCREEN - THE END OF EVANGELION ONE MORE FINAL: I need you. -----------------------------------

SCENE:  Lilith-Rei's split head... Misato's cross nailed to post... Silent Eva series stand crucified in a LCL ocean... Waves of LCL gently lapping at the shore... Asuka and Shinji lie side by side on the beach... Shinji turns to see Rei standing over the LCL sea - then Rei vanishes... Shinji moves over Asuka begins to strangle her, but with a caress of his cheek, she stops him and he starts sobbing uncontrollably. -----------------------------------

Asuka: How disgusting.

(Screen text: Fin)

-blank screen-

Notes:

1- Literally, "as a medium"

2- Destrado:    According to the theory advocated by E.Weiss, the energy of the self-destructive impulse.    It is the antonym of Libido. Its meaning is different from the energy of "Instinct of Death",    advocated by P. Federn, the master of Moltedor-Weiss.

3- Literally, "pushes me into a corner"

'Ego': The barrier of another or one's self.

"blank screen": In the original Japanese release of the film, after the screen text, 'Fin.' is shown, the screen goes completely black and no ending credits are shown.  Audiences waited in the cinema for around 5 minutes to make sure the film was really over.

[bonvoyagenoona]

Asks Queue - currently filling orders for 2022!

Thanks for your patience, everyone! Here’s where I’ll list all the asks I’ve received / completed! If you send me a shorter ask, I’ll also tag with #(your username) or #anon so that you can find my reply. Please keep in mind that there’s no timeline for this queue, and I’ll be alternating between answering these asks and posting works based on my own ideas, but I’m hoping that this helps you keep track of when I get to your requests! Also, because we all know how fickle our muses can be, I want to leave room for flexibility in the queue in case inspiration strikes! Please note that structure, order, and length are subject to change depending on where the stories take me. Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy!

LAST UPDATED: APR 6 

NEXT ASK:  A Weekend with Noona oneshot ask from @justaweird0 ​(thank you so much for reading, and yes, I have had that NYC meet-up in my mind since I finished it, hoping to get you this one-shot asap!) ​

⚠️ ASKS QUEUE FOR 2022 CLOSED ON APRIL 6 ⚠️ I’m so sorry to do this, but I’m terribly behind and need to do this to catch up with everyone! My goal is to complete these asks by the end of the year, on top of working on the various fics I have in my WIP list. Thank you so much for your asks, and I hope I can deliver!

PLANNED SHORT ASKS (up to 10K words):

​Autumn ask from @skyys-universe​ (yikes I hope I get to this before autumn is over lol)

Friends ask from @m-yg93​ (ahhhhh you sent me right into a scene with this one, lol, I might fuck around and start writing it right now ugh!!)

Lawyer ask from anon (hoo boy!)

Wedding ask from anon (already sweating 😶)

Namjoon songfic for @skyys-universe​!

Body chain costume change Jungkook for anon!

The Man who Fell to Earth Yoongi for anon!

Jungkook brownie for anon (oh man oh man oh mannn)

Tae and OC being banned from their OWN WEDDING VENUE for anon lol

Namjoon unrequited love for namaslaylife

Kittenfishing drabble about some kind of engagement/marriage/anniversary (comment here) for @thedarkwinterrose​

Bon Voyage Noona weed fic for @justaweird0​​

PLANNED LONG ASKS & CONTINUATIONS (over 10k words):

📚 Chick Lit anon’s ask for a Yoongi / Remember Me? fic (still need to read the book!)

Hideaway: Namjoon-focused (requestors: 6)

Hideaway: Jungkook-focused (requestors: 5)

Hideaway: Jimin-focused (requestors: 4)

Stressed and Pressed cont’d from “anon” (hahaha) and this anon!

Clink cont’d from this anon and your kind reviews in the comments!

Hold the Door continuation for @virgorisingproblems​!

OT7 historical drama for namaslaylife

Chat/text love story a la You’ve Got Mail for anon

Adore / Namjoon ask for @ultimatenoona

Jungkook / Jin love triangle for @rurugoeson​ and friend!

COMPLETED:

Hobi song fic request from @skyys-universe​: Feeling Good | JHS

Post-interview “Mad Lib” ask from @mochilatae: Stressed and Pressed | JJK

Elevator Dream ask from Anon: Hold the Door | KNJ

Matchmaker ask from Anon: Matchmaker | Drabble 3: The Notebook

Seokjin’s Girlfriend ask from Anon: Finger Hearts | KSJ

Hump Day ask from @mochilatae: Playing Hooky | PJM, KTH, KNJ

Want to submit a request? Don’t worry! Anon and asks are still open! Your request will be added to the 2023 ASKS QUEUE!

[nickblaine]

season 4 script summaries

previous script summaries: season 3, season 2, season 1, seasons 1/2 cont’d also, check my tht scripts tag for gifs, excerpts, and more details

good news! there are no deleted Nick/Osblaine scenes in season 4. i’ll just be summarizing the subtext that is written into the script and comparing differences to the onscreen version.

before i begin:

• everything described here is from the official scripts that are archived at the Writers Guild in Los Angeles. • the scripts i read are final drafts. there is no “writing in the margins.” everything described here is from dialogue and script direction that was used on set during filming. (you can see an example of what these scripts look like in the 4x07/4x10 links below.) • the library has strict no copies/photos rules in place which is why i can only summarize what i read. • anything in italics is a direct quote for the sake of clarity. • feel free to ask questions and i’ll answer to the best of my ability. my private notes are pretty detailed, but if i need to do more research i may save the answer for a future library visit. • please do not share this post without my permission. thank you in advance for respecting my wishes.

4x01

In prison, Nick is very aware of the Guardian in the room and can’t speak openly because of it. He speaks in code to warn Lawrence that he’s going to be executed and thank him for helping June. This establishes a pattern of Commander Blaine using Gilead code to communicate, as seen in several future scenes.

4x02

When June sees Nick at the farm, she knows immediately that he is there to arrest her.

It’s implied that Nick asking where the Handmaids are is code to June so she knows they are okay. (This is confirmed in the next episode when he does it again.)

June spends a good minute considering shooting the Eyes in a blaze of glory and making this her last stand. Nick “jerks her attention away from the decision” by saying “don’t” and telling her that he’s trying to keep her alive.

The scene ends with June saying “fuck you” before the Eyes swarm her, but this line wasn’t in the final cut.

4x03

In the van, June is “stung by [Nick’s] betrayal.”

Nick can’t speak freely to June because he assumes there are eavesdroppers. He uses code to “pass along news” to her that Mrs. Keyes is safe and the Handmaids are still free. June finds this news a relief.

Nick asks where the Handmaids are and when June doesn’t give him an answer, he actually warns her in a low voice (uncoded) that she isn’t strong enough to take what the Eyes will dish out if she doesn’t turn them in. This wasn’t in the show.

When Nick quotes the bible to her - “June hears this for what it is -- an honest wish for the woman he loves.” But Lydia “breaks the connection.”

Moving onto the Nick and Lawrence scene... I want to be clear, Nick does not expect Hannah to be used against June. This is not present in the script at all. All he asks of Lawrence is to get June to talk before the Eyes kill her, with no expectation of how it’s done. He is only thinking of keeping her alive.

Also, throughout the Nick/Lawrence scene, Lawrence thinks about Eleanor a lot. “Some women just don’t want to be saved” was a direct reference to her. Lawrence compares Nick’s love for June to his love for Eleanor, and is struck by “the simplicity of [Nick’s] wish [to keep June alive.]” But he really believes Nick needs to just let her go, like he had to let go of Eleanor. This is why he refuses to help until Nick threatens him.

Speaking of, Nick’s veiled threats are what makes Lawrence decide to take him a little more seriously.

The scene where Hannah doesn’t recognize June was written to be much shorter than what we saw onscreen. Hannah was actually supposed to be muzzled, and just the sight of her crying through the muzzle is enough to shake June into giving up the Handmaids.

The meeting on the bridge was scripted a little differently than what we see onscreen. Lizzie's directing softened the scene quite a bit.

June is muzzled, and being transferred to the Birthmobile on foot when Nick joins her side, whispering apologies as he walks with her. She ignores him until he says Hannah is safe at home. June stops and starts breaking down crying. Nick reaches out and touches her shoulder, “letting his finger trace the skin of her neck.” June reacts by embracing him. The guards try to pull them apart, but Nick just gives them a look. “He’s a Commander,” so the guards stop and let her go. Nick removes her muzzle and she cries about Hannah being scared of her. There’s a line here that I love, I have to quote in full—

“NICK: She loves you.

June tries to believe this.

NICK: I love you.

This, June believes.”

June then realizes she may never see Nick again and kisses him goodbye. Very little script direction here, it’s simply described as “just one long moment.” Then the guards lead her away.

Also, it says in the script that Alma and Brianna are hit by the train because one of the Handmaids was shot and they both reached back to help her as she was falling, causing them to miss the opening before the train hit. Janine was just dissociating and humming songs to herself the whole time, not as upset as we see her onscreen.

4x04

I just want to note here that the script confirms Janine’s current age is 23. After she changes out of her Handmaid uniform, “she looks like the 23-year-old kid she is.”

4x05

June spends this whole episode irritated at Janine and Stephen’s relationship because she feels like she failed to protect Janine, which is part of a recurring theme of June feeling like a failure throughout this season. Janine has to remind June by the end of the episode that she doesn’t need saving, and June is only trying to do so to make herself feel better.

There is no scripted response to Lawrence’s “would your heart glow” line. So Nick’s laugh was entirely unscripted lol.

The script specifically refers to Lorraine and Reese (the Marthas) as Nick’s “black market contacts.” As we know from s1, Nick has always had a connection to Gilead’s black market.

When Lorraine goes off on Nick about June, she and Reese expect a scolding from him because it’s “a suicidal way for a Martha to talk to a member of the Eyes.” But Nick just apologizes on June’s behalf, surprising them both.

In the show Nick says “I care about her” but in the script it was: “She’s all I care about. In the world.”

The Marthas are “surprised by his vulnerability, but Lorraine stays icy.” Her scripted response was actually supposed to be: “Swipe left. You’re better off without her.”

Reese hangs back and offers help to Nick because, as she says to him, “I loved someone in Gilead once, too.”

In regards to the council meeting - if I’m understanding correctly (because the scripts are kind of vague and more focused on the soapy aspects of the political standoff in this episode) - Lawrence’s goal is to get sanctions lifted, but when the council turns him down he shifts his plan to get on the council himself so he can pursue his reformation goals unopposed. This is why he agreed to bombing the ceasefire that he proposed in the first place.

Not much is said about Nick’s reaction to ordering the bombing, besides the fact that it catches him off guard and he “looks shaken by his orders to bomb June.“

4x06

When Moira confronts June trying to abandon ship and tells her that Luke never gave up on her after all those years, there was a cut part of that line where Moira said: “[Luke’s] a good guy. And he handled it pretty well when you had a baby with another man.“

4x07

Click here to read the full script that is available to the public.

4x09

When Luke suggested they ask Nick for help with Hannah, there’s not too much script direction, but there are a few interesting lines. When she says Nick would do anything for her and Holly, Luke finds that “both hurtful and hopeful.”

June is floored that Luke “is encouraging a meeting with her former lover? It’s incredibly strange. And also enticing.” It also says she had “put her relationship with Nick behind her. Locked it away. Now Luke has opened the door again.”

When she agrees to meet with Nick, Luke is described as “pleased, yet uneasy.”

As June heads off to see Nick, she and Luke are both “on edge.”

There was actually a cut moment between them and Mark before she leaves. After Mark tells her his officers will be nearby, he gives her a panic button FOB to call them if she needs help. This makes Luke freak out a little. He tells June she’s not going unless it’s safe. She doesn’t like that and insists she can take care of herself. Mark explains that while he has used this location for meetings before, he “can’t vouch for the party involved” because - in Mark’s words - “[Nick] does have a history of violence and allegiance to Gilead.” But June shuts both men down with: “He’d never hurt me or Nichole. I vouch for him. Completely.”

Once June is in the car, she exhales. “There’s no facade to put on for Luke, now that she’s alone.” She looks back at Holly and says, “Okay, we’re off. Excited to see your Dad? Yeah?“ then she smiles at Holly and says “me too.”

When she finally sees Nick, “their eyes lock. They’re both tentative. Unsure. It’s amazing to be together again, yet it doesn’t feel real.”

Nick is described as “almost overcome, so happy and relieved to see June alive and healthy.”

When they move inside, Nick tries to help June with the stroller and he’s described as “awkward” lol.

As we see in the episode, June is moved by Nick’s folder of Hannah intel. After this, “her official mission has been accomplished. She can leave. She doesn’t want to.”

The kiss has very little direction, as usual it’s all Max and Lizzie’s chemistry that makes it so good. “They can’t resist. They kiss, with longing and passion.” Then they move apart “both knowing they shouldn’t go any further.”

Nick was supposed to hold Holly “with love and wonder” per the script, but they couldn’t because of Covid protocols. It does say Holly loves her doll, though.

Their goodbye was also much different in the script. June simply buckles Holly up in the car, tells Nick she can’t thank him enough, and “tries to keep it together.” Nick tells her “keep yourself safe, and be happy.” They share a final look before she gets in the car and leaves.

On the drive home, June is just described as “[getting] emotional, but keeps moving on.”

Nick is described as “stoic, but drained by the experience” before he puts his wedding ring on.

When June returns home, Luke is “relieved” that she returned to him. June collects herself and “she has so many more steps to take, but she’s trying her best to move forward.”

4x10

Click here to read the full script that is available to the public.