EXT. SHIGANSHINA - AFTERNOON

Repulsive Soldier MR. EREN JAGER is arguing with smart Soldier MS. MIKASA ACKERMAN. EREN tries to hug MIKASA but she shakes him off.

EREN

Please Mikasa, don't leave me.

MIKASA

I'm sorry Eren, but I'm looking for somebody a bit more brave. Somebody who faces his fears head on, instead of running away.

EREN

I am such a person!

MIKASA frowns.

MIKASA

I'm sorry, Eren. I just don't feel excited by this relationship anymore.

MIKASA leaves.

EREN sits down, looking defeated.

Moments later, kind Soldier MR. ARMIN ARLERT barges in looking flustered.

EREN

Goodness, Armin! Is everything okay?

ARMIN

I'm afraid not.

EREN

What is it? Don't keep me in suspense...

ARMIN

It's ... a titan ... I saw an evil titan eat a bunch of citizens!

EREN

Defenseless citizens?

ARMIN

Yes, defenseless citizens!

EREN

Bloomin' heck, Armin! We've got to do something.

ARMIN

I agree, but I wouldn't know where to start.

EREN

You can start by telling me where this happened.

ARMIN

I was...

ARMIN fans himself and begins to wheeze.

EREN

Focus Armin, focus! Where did it happen?

ARMIN

trost! That's right - trost!

EREN springs up and begins to run.

EXT. A ROAD - CONTINUOUS

EREN rushes along the street, followed by ARMIN. They take a short cut through some back gardens, jumping fences along the way.

EXT. TROST - SHORTLY AFTER

REINER BRAUN an evil titan terrorises two citizens.

EREN, closely followed by ARMIN, rushes towards REINER, but suddenly stops in his tracks.

ARMIN

What is is? What's the matter?

EREN

That's not just any old titan, that's Reiner Braun!

ARMIN

Who's Reiner Braun?

EREN

Who's Reiner Braun? Who's Reiner Braun? Only the most evil titan in the universe!

ARMIN

Blinkin' knickers, Eren! We're going to need some help if we're going to stop the most evil titan in the universe!

EREN

You can say that again.

ARMIN

Blinkin' knickers, Eren! We're going to need some help if we're going to stop the most evil titan in the universe!

EREN

I'm going to need swords, lots of swords.

Reiner turns and sees Eren and Armin. He grins an evil grin.

REINER

Eren Jager, we meet again.

ARMIN

You've met?

EREN

Yes. It was a long, long time ago...

EXT. A PARK - BACK IN TIME

A young EREN is sitting in a park listening to some orchestral music, when suddenly a dark shadow casts over him.

He looks up and sees REINER. He takes off his headphones.

REINER

Would you like some toffees?

EREN's eyes light up, but then he studies REINER more closely, and looks uneasy.

EREN

I don't know, you look kind of evil.

REINER

Me? No. I'm not evil. I'm the least evil titan in the world.

EREN

Wait, you're a titan?

EREN runs away, screaming.

EXT. TROST - PRESENT DAY

REINER

You were a coward then, and you are a coward now.

ARMIN

(To EREN) You ran away?

EREN

(To ARMIN) I was a young child. What was I supposed to do?

EREN turns to REINER.

EREN

I may have run away from you then, but I won't run away this time!

EREN runs away.

He turns back and shouts.

EREN

I mean, I am running away, but I'll be back - with swords.

REINER

I'm not scared of you.

EREN

You should be.

EXT. STOHESS - LATER THAT DAY

EREN and ARMIN walk around searching for something.

EREN

I feel sure I left my swords somewhere around here.

ARMIN

Are you sure? It does seem like an odd place to keep deadly swords.

EREN

You know nothing Armin Arlert.

ARMIN

We've been searching for ages. I really don't think they're here.

Suddenly, REINER appears, holding a pair of swords.

REINER

Looking for something?

ARMIN

Crikey, Eren, he's got your swords.

EREN

Tell me something I don't already know!

ARMIN

The earth's circumference at the equator is about 40,075 km.

EREN

I know that already!

ARMIN

I want to kill the titans.

REINER

(appalled) Dude!

While REINER is looking at ARMIN with disgust, EREN lunges forward and grabs his deadly swords. He wields them, triumphantly.

EREN

Prepare to die, you evil potato!

REINER

No please! All I did was eat a bunch of citizens!

MIKASA enters, unseen by any of the others.

EREN

I cannot tolerate that kind of behaviour! Those citizens were defenceless! Well now they have a defender - and that's me! Eren Jager defender of innocent citizens.

REINER

Don't hurt me! Please!

EREN

Give me one good reason why I shouldn't use these swords on you right away!

REINER

Because Eren, I am your father.

EREN looks stunned for a few moments, but then collects himself.

EREN

No you're not!

REINER

Ah well, it had to be worth a try.

REINER tries to grab the swords but EREN dodges out of the way.

EREN

Who's the daddy now? Huh? Huh?

Unexpectedly, REINER slumps to the ground.

ARMIN

Did he just faint?

EREN

I think so. Well that's disappointing. I was rather hoping for a more dramatic conclusion, involving my deadly swords.

EREN crouches over REINER's body.

ARMIN

Be careful, Eren. It could be a trick.

EREN

No, it's not a trick. It appears that... It would seem... Reiner Braun is dead!

EREN

What?

EREN

Yes, it appears that I scared him to death.

ARMIN claps his hands.

ARMIN

So your swords did save the day, after all.

MIKASA steps forward.

MIKASA

Is it true? Did you kill the evil titan?

EREN

Mikasa how long have you been...?

MIKASA puts her arm around EREN.

MIKASA

Long enough.

EREN

Then you saw it for yourself. I killed Reiner Braun.

MIKASA

Then the citizens are safe?

EREN

It does seem that way!

A crowd of vulnerable citizens enter, looking relived.

MIKASA

You are their hero.

The citizens bow to EREN.

EREN

There is no need to bow to me. I seek no worship. The knowledge that Reiner Braun will never eat citizens ever again, is enough for me.

MIKASA

You are humble as well as brave!

One of the citizens passes EREN an old key

MIKASA

I think they want you to have it, as a symbol of their gratitude.

EREN

I couldn't possibly.

Pause.

EREN

Well, if you insist.

EREN takes the key.

EREN

Thank you.

The citizens bow their heads once more, and leave.

EREN turns to MIKASA.

EREN

Does this mean you want me back?

MIKASA

Oh, Eren, of course I want you back!

EREN smiles for a few seconds, but then looks defiant.

EREN

Well you can't have me.

MIKASA

WHAT?

EREN

You had no faith in me. You had to see my scare a titan to death before you would believe in me. I don't want a lover like that.

MIKASA

But...

EREN

Please leave. I want to spend time with the one person who stayed with me through thick and thin - my best friend, Armin.

ARMIN grins.

MIKASA

But...

ARMIN

You heard the gentleman. Now be off with you. Skidaddle! Shoo!

MIKASA

Eren?

EREN

I'm sorry Mikasa, but I think you should skidaddle.

MIKASA leaves.

ARMIN turns to EREN.

ARMIN

Did you mean that? You know ... that I'm your best friend?

EREN

Of course you are!

The two walk off arm in arm.

Suddenly ARMIN stops.

ARMIN

When I said I want to kill the titans, you know I was just trying to distract the titan don't you?

THE END