"Power Surge" - 1st Draft - DiTillio" 44.
BEAST WARS
"Power Surge"
FADE IN:
EXT. THE SKY - TIGHT ON EAGLE
A great Eagle soars majestically through the sky. Suddenly from OS comes a:
TERRORSAUR(OS)
(SCREEEECHHHH)
Before the Eagle can flee, the great winged shape of TERRORSAUR(B) zooms into frame, jaws agape. He swallows the bird whole, CRUNCH!
TERRORSAUR(B)
As the Pterodactyl moves toward camera, he seems to smile.
TERRORSAUR(B)
Its good to be a Predacon.
WIDER
Terrosaur continues his flight, when suddenly he sees something which makes his eyes widen.
TERRORSAUR
By the Inferno!
POV - TERRORSAUR(B) - A FLOATING MOUNTAIN
An impossible sight, but there it is, an entire mountain wafting gently over the Earth about a mile up.
LONG SHOT - TERRORSAUR(B), THE MOUNTAIN
Terrosaur banks; glides toward the mountain.
EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP
Terrorsaur lands near the rim of a carter. This close, we can HEAR the throb of power surging within the mountain. Terrorsaur feels it beneath his feet.
TERRORSAUR(B)
Power. This rock's alive with it.
He turns, moves up to the edge of the crater and marvels!
TERRORSAUR(B)
Energon!!!
REVERSE ANGLE - THE CRATER
The crater is filled with huge Energon crystals.
TERRORSAUR(con't., VO)
Enough to power an army --
TERRORSAUR(B)
is very pleased.
TERRORSAUR(con't.)
I have to chance a scan -- Terrorsaur -- TERRORIZE!
TERRORSAUR(B) - TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE
Terrorsaur TRANSFORMS into his Robot Mode. No sooner is the transformation complete then Terrorsaur's circuits start to spark. His onboard computer sounds a warning:
COMPUTER VOICE(VO)
Danger, Energon surge. Return to Beast Mode or stasis lock is imminent.
WIDE - TERRORSAUR(R)
Terrorsaur(R) ignores the warning.
TERRORSAUR(R)
I must act fast. A small sample will do --.
FOLLOW Terrosaur as he jumps down into the crater and reaches out a hand to one of the huge crystals. But when he touches the crystal there is an ENERGY SURGE from it. His robot body shakes as the power bristles over his entire body.
TERRORSAUR(R)
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
And then the shaking stops and Terrorsaur's head rises. He slowly raises his hands to his eyes. The power still crackles from his hands but it is now in his control.
TERRORSAUR
The Energon's been absorbed directly into my superstructure. I've never felt such power! I'm invincible!!!
CLOSE ON TERRORSAUR(R)
As his eyes glow with new power. He LAUGHS, then utters a single word:
TERRORSAUR(R)
Megatron --
EXT. THE CRATER
Terrorsaur(R) soars into the sky as if shot from a cannon. There is a sonic BOOM as he goes. The BOOM is overheard by:
QUICK CUT TO:
EXT. JUNGLE BENEATH THE FLOATING MOUNTAIN - CHEETOR(B)
CHEETOR looks upwards, reacts:
CHEETOR(B)
Jumping Gyros, I've never seen Terrorsaur move like that. But he won't leave me in the dust...
Cheetor zooms off, following Terrorsaur's flight path.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. THE PREDACON BASE
* MEGATRON(B), SCORPONOK(B), WASPINATOR(B; hovering), and TARANTULAS(B) are gathered on a slope leading up to their base. Megatron is about to demonstrate something. In one of his hands he holds a triangular box with blinking lights.
MEGATRON(con't.)
I've programmed this target box with the Maximals' energy signatures. Now watch --
Megatron lets the box go. It hovers up the slope away from them. Suddenly -
SIZZLE, BOOM, a hidden laser, pops up from a rocky outcropping, BLASTS the test device to smithereens.
The Predacons react with wicked, CHUCKLES, BUZZES etc.
MEGATRON
Excellent! With a few more of these in place, this area will become a death trap for the Maximals.
TERRORSAUR(OS)
Just the sort of plan, a cowardly lizard like yourself would conceive of Megatron --
Megatron WHIRLS, as do the other Predacons, as Terrorsaur(R) lands and faces them.
TERRORSAUR(con't.)
Which is why I am assuming command of the Predacons.
This is astounding news and the Predacons react accordingly. GRUMBLE, BUZZZ, HISS. Megatron looks warily at Terrorsaur.
MEGATRON
I thought you'd already learned your lesson about challenging me, Terrosaur.
TERRORSAUR
Today I'm the teacher. If you have the courage --
Megatron looks at him with bemused amazement. Then:
MEGATRON
Very well. I could use some amusement. Megatron - TERRORIZE!
MEGATRON - TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE
Megatron TRANSFORMS to Robot Mode and immediately lifts a wrist launcher toward Terrorsaur. He FIRES!
TERRORSAUR
is hit by the missile and there is an explosion which obscures him for a beat, then as it clears, we see that Terrorsaur stands unharmed. He smiles.
TERRORSAUR
That was amusing. But not so funny as this --
Terrorsaur's missile launchers come to bear and he FIRES them in a rapid salvo (NOTE: These should look more powerful than usual)
MEGATRON(R)
tries to dodge but there are too many missiles and he is smashed backwards. He rolls down a slope.
MEGATRON
Aghhhhhhhhhh!
* WASPINATOR(R), TARANTULAS(B), SCORPONOK(B)
THey look down, impressed.
TARANTULAS
(low CHUCKLE)
SCORPONOK
Megatron?!
MEGATRON(R)
bangs to a stop on the slope. With a low growl, he rises up and looks uphill for Terrorsaur, all his weaponry locking into firing position. He is enraged.
MEGATRON(R)
Terrorsaur, you treacherous worm, I'll finish you forever.
TERRORSAUR(OS)
I don't think so --
The voice comes from behind Megatron and he whirls, only to see --
Terrorsaur's plasma rifle trained right on him, at point-blank range. Terrorsaur FIRES (And again, the blast is more powerful than usual). It --
SMASHES Megatron before he can even launch a missile. He staggers back.
WIDER - TERRORSAUR, MEGATRON
Terrorsaur comes on, firing a steady stream of plasma bursts at Megatron, driving him toward a cliff edge. Megatron shrieks as he pitches backward over the cliff....
LONG - MEGATRON
As he falls:
MEGATRON
Ahhhhhhhhhhh--
And IMPACTS. Robot limbs go flying and Megatron is scrap. Half buried in rock is what remains. Yet there is still a glow in those fierce eyes. And then with a SFX like a motor running down, the glow is extinguished.
* EXT. PREDACON BASE - TARANTULAS(B), WASPINATOR (B) SCORPONOK(B)
They are astounded!
SCORPONOK
Megatron is destroyed.
* WASPINATOR
Waspinator does not believe it.
TARANTULAS
(whispered to himself)
Terrorsaur has never had that much power?
Suddenly with a ROAR, Terrosaur(R) flies into their midst, lands, his rifle in hand. He seems to bristle with his new-found power. They step back.
TERRORSAUR(R)
Megatron is scrap. I'm your leader now. Does anyone want to argue about it?
The Predacons exchange brief glances. No they don't.
Close as Terrorsaur moves toward them, his whole being radiating power, the frenzy of power in his voice.
TERRORSAUR(R)
Good. Then charge yourselves for battle. The Maximals will be the next to taste my power!
The Predacons shift about uneasily, as we cut to:
EXT. A VANTAGE POINT BELOW THE PREDACON BASE - CHEETOR
Cheetor looks up, he has witnessed the entire scene.
CHEETOR
(To himself)
Ultra-bad.
Cheetor dashes off, as we...
FADE OUT.
End Act One
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
EXT. PREDACON BASE (CONTINUOUS)
* Tarantulas (B), Scorponok(B) and Waspinator(B) as Terrosaur(R) struts before them, giving orders to
TERRORSAUR
Here are my orders. Waspinator and I --
Terrorsaur suddenly sways as the glow of power around him starts to FADE away. The other Predacons exchange confused glances as he turns his back on them.
TARANTULAS
Something wrong Terrosaur -- ?
CLOSE on Terrorsaur as he activates his internal link.
TERRORSAUR
(whispered)
Diagnostic. My circuits only.
COMPUTER VOICE(VO)
Energon drain. Power down 50 percent. Stasis-lock imminent. Transform immediately.
Terrorsaur turns back to the other Predacons and tries to speak with as much bravado as before, but it is obvious some change has occurred in him.
TERRORSAUR
I must see to something before the attack. Tarantulas will command until my return.
TERRORSAUR(R) - TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE
Terrorsaur silently TRANSFORMS into Beast Mode and immediately launches himself into the sky.
* EXT. - PREDACON BASE - TARANTULAS, SCORPONOK, WASPINATOR
As they watch Terrosaur fly off.
SCORPONOK
(to Tarantulas)
What does he mean you command? I'm second-in-command!
TARANTULAS
So command --
And with that Tarantulas scuttles rapidly away after Terrorsaur, leaving Scorponok staring at Insecticon and Waspinator, not certain whether he won or lost that fight.
* WASPINATOR
* Well -- ?
SCORPONOK
Well what?!
* WASPINATOR
* If you are second in command, what is your command?
Scorponok clicks his claws nervously and moves in little circles. And then he looks down, OS and sees: see:
POV - SCORPONOK, the wreckage of Megatron.
* BACK TO SCORPONOK, WASPINATOR
As Scorponok turns to him gleefully.
SCORPONOK
Make ready the Restoration Module. We must salvage our true leader!
He turns and scuttles down toward the wreckage. * Waspinator heads for the base.
CUT TO:
EXT. EST. - MAXIMAL BASE
In the distance a blazing streak (Cheetor) approaches --
INT. MAXIMAL BASE
RHINOX(R) is on Scanner duty. He picks up a fast-moving blip.
RHINOX
Cheetor's coming in. At top speed. Better open the door.
RATTRAP(R) is "assisting" him, (though in actuality he is playing a cybertron version of cards on a computer screen.
RATTRAP
Just lemme finish this hand, I'm into this freaking puter for half a million --
A robot finger stabs down and the game disappears. WIDEN as OPTIMUS(R) hits the control pad to open the door.
RATTRAP
Aw Optimus --
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
Cheetor wouldn't be moving this fast if he didn't have something urgent to report.
Suddenly Cheetor barrels in and skiddds to a stop in front of Optimus. He is panting like crazy, out of breath from all the running and trying to talk a mile a minute --
CHEETOR
(panting, gasping, fast)
BigBot...Predacons...attacking, Megatron scrapTerrorsaur, power source, mountain...floating ---
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
Calm down Cheetor. Better Transform --
Cheetor is about out of breath anyway, so he just nods and:
CHEETOR - TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE
Cheetor TRANSFORMS into his Robot Mode. This does calm him down. Optimus moves in.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
That's better. Now tell us, slowly --
CHEETOR
Right... Terrorsaur's leading the Predacons now. He's going to attack our base.
This gets Rattrap and Rhinox's attention.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
What about Megatron?
CHEETOR
Terrorsaur scrapped him like he was a maintenance bot. He must have found some monster Energon source on that floating mountain.
RHINOX
Floating mountain?!
RATTRAP
I knew it. You got your circuits crossed kiddo! Even on this weird dirt ball, mountains don't fly.
CHEETOR
Not fly. Float. It's true O.P., I saw it. Terrorsaur flew away from it faster than I've ever seen him move.
Optimus acts, turning to Rhinox.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
Rhinox, intensify perimeter scan and see if you can get through to DinoBot and Tiger. I want the Predacons spotted.
Rhinox shakes his head but his fingers are already moving on the scanner controls. The display screen responds to his movements with streams of weird data in Cybertronix.
Optimus at another console , opens a display of a grid map.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
Now where did you see this floating mountain?
Cheetor smiles and points at a spot on the map as we:
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SKY - TERRORSAUR(B)
He is riding the currents thru the sky, slower than usual. He mutters to himself, he is winded and tired.
TERRORSAUR(B)
The Energon must be unstable. I need more of it, enough to finish off the Maximals for good.
As he glides away -- GO TO:
EXT. JUNGLE TREETOPS BELOW TERRORSAUR
For a moment, we see nothing then, suddenly Tarantulas(B) appears atop the crown of a tree. He stops, looks upward.
CLOSE as his spider eyes glow.
TARANTULAS
That's right, lead me to your secret. Then we'll see who commands who.
CUT TO:
INT. MAXIMAL BASE - TIGHT ON RHINOX'S SCANNING SCREEN
Two blips have appeared on the screen. Symbols flash atop the blips, too quickly for a human eye to read. Widen to show Rhinox (R) watching the screen, Rattrap peering over his shoulder.
RHINOX
I got two of 'em.
Optimus and Cheetor move to the map screen.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
Patch it into the map grid.
Rhinox hits pads.
RHINOX
Looks like Terrorsaur and --
Suddenly the screen fills with weird static.
RATTRAP
What happened?
RHINOX
Energon interference. They must be near a large concentration of it.
Optimus and Cheetor are at the Map screen. The blips have disappeared but the grid is still there. Optimus hits a pad, a vector line is drawn from where the blips appeared to where Cheetor claimed the floating mountain was.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
A mountain of it, to be more precise.
CHEETOR
(gloating to Rattrap)
Told you RatBreath --
Rattrap looks toward Cheetor, with a wry grin.
RATTRAP
You ask me, you and Optimus both need to be de-bugged.
RHINOX
You know it's possible. If the Energon were unstable and there was a big enough concentration, it could lift a mountain off the ground.
Optimus steps forward.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
My thought exactly. Rattrap, rig for demolition and meet me at the roof hatch in 5 cycles.
RATTRAP
To do what?
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
Destroy that mountain before the Predacons try to secure it. Rhinox, call in the others and set the defense grid on maximum.
Optimus strides off, Rattrap sighs.
RATTRAP
It's always something.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FLOATING MOUNTAIN
Terrosaur (B) tiredly flaps his way to its surface.
EXT. HILLTOP BENEATH THE FLOATING MOUNTAIN
Tarantulas (B) appears there and immediately:
TARANTULAS(B) - TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE
TARANTULAS
Tarantulas - TERRORIZE!
He TRANSFORMS into Robot Mode. A warning message comes as he puts his grappling hook into launch position.
COMPUTER VOICE(VO)
Energon concentration in danger level. Stasis-lock in 5 cycles.
TARANTULAS
More than enough time.
He FIRES the grappling hook straight UP!
EXT. THE FLOATING MOUNTAIN
As the grappling hook CHUNKS into it:
TARANTULAS(R) - TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE
again TRANSFORMS to Beast Mode and in his spider form starts up the line toward the mountain! Meanwhile --
EXT. THE SKY - OPTIMUS PRIMAL(R), RATTRAP(B)
Optimus(R) streaks through the sky, an uneasy and protesting Rattrap(B) clinging to his back.
RATTRAP
If I wanted to fly I would've become a bat, not a rat.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
It was the fastest way. And stop wiggling, I don't want to drop you.
Rattrap looks down.
POV - RATTRAP - THE GROUND BELOW
It's a long way down; the terrain rushes by at mach speed.
BACK TO OPTIMUS PRIMAL(R), RATTRAP(B)
Rattrap GULPS as he looks down.
RATTRAP
I really, really hate this --
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
Calm down. We're here.
Rattrap looks ahead and reacts:
RATTRAP
Guess I owe the pussycat an apology.
EXT. THE FLOATING MOUNTAIN
As Optimus and Rattrap soar in for a landing.
EXT. THE SURFACE OF THE MOUNTAIN
Optimus lands, Rattrap scurries off his back and kisses the ground as:
Optimus's circuits begin to spark. His internal computer speaks: