—Think about something else. You said you were at the bottom of the ocean?
—I’m not sure if talking about the time I thought I was going to die is the best thing to keep me from thinking about how I’m going to die.
—Never mind then. Are your palms sweaty? Those bars can get slippery when they’re wet.
—Ha! Ha! Very funny. Eva, how do you say asshole in Spanish?
—Don’t answer that, Eva. He just wants some attention. Speaking of assholes, Vincent, you said Mr. Warm and Fuzzy filled you in?
—Yeah he did. I think he felt bad you had to learn of all this from Ryan of all people.
—Fuck him.
—I told him you’d be mad.
—I’m not mad. I just don’t wanna see him again. Ever.
—Good. Glad I was wrong. I hate it when you’re angry.
—You’re not? He lied to you too, you know.
—He didn’t exactly … You know what? We’re being rude. Let’s talk about something else. Eva, I don’t know the first thing about you. Tell me something, anything.
[I don’t—]
Come on! It’ll keep your mind off that ladder. Never mind that, it’ll keep my mind off that ladder. I don’t know about you but I’m scared shitless, in a … really … manly way. Tell me something interesting.
[Hmmm … Do you know who I was named after?]
I’d say Eva Perón.
—Eva’s from Puerto Rico, Vincent, not Argentina.
[I was named after a robot.]
—That is interesting.
—Oh yeah. You have his attention now.
[I was born on the day of the parade when the EDC was created. My parents were the biggest geeks ever, huge science-fiction fans. Themis was the greatest thing they’d ever seen. They wanted to name me after her, but they somehow thought everyone would start naming their kid Themis, so they named me after another big robot.]
A robot?
[Yes. Eva’s a common name in Spanish, but apparently, it’s also the name of a giant robot, from a Japanese anime they really liked. It’s old. I never saw it.]
—Eva is for Evangelion? That is so cool!
—Of course, Vincent knows all about it.
—Yeah! It’s awesome! But ours is bigger.
—Eva, I think you have a fan now.
—I … We have it on DVD, you know.
—Oh, do we?
—Yep.
—OK! OK! If Eva’s never seen it, we can watch it together … He’s smiling, isn’t he?
[Yes. So are you.]
I guess I am—
—Well, it’s not as cool as being named after a giant robot, but I was also named after a TV character.
—Really? Who?
—Ron Perlman, with makeup. My mom told me once how much she liked watching Beauty and the Beast while she was pregnant with me. It was in French, of course, and whoever dubbed Linda Hamilton had a really phony accent, but my mom loved it when she called the Beast by name. Oh Vincent! That’s where she got the name.
—How come you never told me that?
—I kinda forgot, to be honest.
—Your parents named you after the Beast. That’s strange.
—Oh, I said that’s where my mom got the name. I’m sure she never told my dad. He never would have gone along with that. Though I can’t imagine my father spending much time looking for baby names. She was probably on her own for this.
[Hey, guys? There’s white stuff storming into the room below us.]
Shit!
—That’s what I thought. Vincent, can you pick up the pace a little?
—I’m going as fast as I can. How fast is the room filling with gas?
—Well, it’s higher than it was a second ago. I’d say fast. Eva, try to go a little— [AHHHH!]
It’s OK. I got you.
[Are you OK?]
I’m fine. Your shoe almost tore my ear off, but I’ll live.
—Is everyone all right? I don’t want to look down.
—We’re fine, Vincent! Keep climbing! Go Eva! Go! I’ll catch you if you fall.
[Kara?]
Yes.
[You should take my place. I’ll go behind you.]
We’re almost there, Eva. Vincent, a couple more and that’s it.
—I’m at the top. I can’t reach the hatch.
—It’s a couple feet away. You have to hold on with one hand.
—I can’t!
—Sure you can! Hold on with your left hand and stretch your right arm.
—I can’t reach it.
—You have to look, Vincent. Hurry! There! Just a bit to the right. You got it. Now climb down one step and grab the ledge.
—I’m scared!
—You got this! Let go of your left hand and push with your legs. Hard! Yes! You got it! Climb in and I’ll give you Eva! … Eva, I want you to lean against the shaft. Put your legs on that bar here and let me climb between you and the ladder. See, I got you. Vincent, we’re running out of time, I’m gonna hold her with my right arm and give her to you. You have to grab her.
—Hurry, the smoke’s right below you.
—I know! Are you ready? Ready Eva? Go! Grab her! Grab her! Do you have her?
—Yes! Come on Eva! Get inside.
—There’s no time, Vincent. Close the hatch behind her.
—Kara, don’t be stupid! Come on Eva, pull yourself in. I have to get past you to get Kara. Hold on, Kara! I’m coming.
—There’s no time.
—Yes there is! Just one sec!
—You’re a father now. Take care of her.
—No DON’T!
—I love you.
—Don’t close the hatch! KARA! NO!
[Stop.]
KARAAA! Eva, move out of the way!