TRANSFORMERS: THE WAR WITHIN #6
21
TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS
SHELL GAME #1
SCRIPT
Simon Furman
Page 1 (SPLASH):
1. Dramatic, up angle on MAGMATRON (BW robot mode). Hes stood on
a rocky cliff edge, on prehistoric BW Earth. He gestures wide, with
an its all mine! expression. Magmatron is a real warrior-leader,
someone who bellows his challenge at an enemy, inviting them to
their death at his hands. Go to town on the sheer barbarian delight
he takes in warfare. Its what he lives for! Behind him (distance,
airborne) we can see the Autobot shuttlecraft heading upwards, into
the high atmosphere, the Maximals on their way home (as per Nemesis
pt2).
PNL:
PLANET EARTH:
PNL:
180,000 YEARS BC
MAGMATRON:
MINE ALL MINE!
2 (LINK):
THE BEAST WARS ARE OVER
MAGMATRON: AND THE WAR FOR CYBERTRON BEGINS HERE!
Pages 2-3 (DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD):
1. Main pic. Drop Magmatron (and behind him the other Predacons
-- see next pic) into the far background (small). Theyre stood at
the edge (and further back from) a sheer cliff, overlooking a deep
(dry) river gulley. There, crashed (but essentially intact) is the
Nemesis (the vast Decepticon spacecraft from the final two episodes
of the BW TV series). Try and emphasise the sheer scale of the
Nemesis in relation to the BW characters.
MAGMATRON: WHAT A PHYRRIC VICTORY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO INHERIT
A CYBERTRON CHANGED IRREVOCABLY BY THE ERRANT TIDES OF TIME.
2 (LINK): LET MEGATRONS INSANE DREAMS OF TEMPORAL CONQUEST DIE
HERE, ON THIS BACKWATER PLANET. THE FUTURE
2. Go in on Magmatron again, but this time wide enough to
include his fellow Predacons: DRILL BIT, MANTERROR, SPITTOR,
RAZORBEAST (actually a Maximal deep cover agent with a Predacon
insignia), IGUANUS and TRANSQUITO (all robot mode). Theres an
encampment and some surrounding/background (Cybertronian) hardware
(see p5).
MAGMATRON:
BELONGS TO MAGMATRON!
2 (LINK): MY ARMY WILL DOUBLE IN SIZE AT STROKE, AND IGNOBLE
SURRENDER AND CAPITULATION WILL TURN TO GLORIOUS INSURRECTION AND
OVERTHROW! PREDACONS
3. Small pic: in the high atmosphere the Autobot shuttle enters
(and disappears into) a Transwarp portal, reality rippling around
it.
DIALOGUE PNL: LET US BEGIN!
Page 4:
1. Angle on the various Preds, Drill Bit foremost (practically
salivating with glee at what hes done).
MAGMATRON: DRILL BIT, I TAKE IT YOU HAVE ENSURED NEITHER THE
MAXIMALS NOR THE CAPTIVE MEGATRON WILL EVER MAKE IT BACK TO
CYBERTRON.
DRILL BIT: YESS! THE TRANSWARP AGITATOR WAS DELIVERED,
UNDETECTED, AS PER YOUR INSTRUCTIONS.
MAGMATRON: GOOD. IT WOULDNT DO AT ALL TO HAVE THE HIGH COUNCIL
SANCTION ANY WELL-INTENTIONED RESCUE/RETRIEVAL MISSIONS
2. Angle on Manterror, Spittor and Iguanus, all ready, waiting
for the command to be given. Theres no dissent here. All Magmatrons
warriors are fiercely loyal.
MAGMATRON: NOT WHEN I HAVE OTHER PLANS FOR THE COMRADES OPTIMUS
PRIMAL AND HIS HARDY CREW FORSOOK IN THEIR UNDERSTANDABLY INDECENT
HASTE TO LEAVE THIS ROCK.
2 (LINK):
MANTERROR, SPITTOR, IGUANUS
3. The trio transform to beast modes, running/leaping off at
speed.
MAGMATRON: AS SOON AS THE ACTIVATION SIGNAL IS BROADCAST, I WANT
IN-SITU, REALTIME REPORTS. VECTOR COORDINATES HAVE BEEN STREAMED TO
YOUR NETWORK PROTOSERVERS
2 (LINK):
NOW GO!
IGUANUS: SIR! YOU HEARD LIEGE MAGMATRON, BEAST MODES MOVE!
MANTERROR:
IN YOUR CASE, SPITTOR HOP TO IT!
SPITTOR/FX:
PTIU!
4. Angle on Transquito, transforming/taking to the air in beast
mode.
MAGMATRON: TRANSQUITO YOURE ON LOOSE END DETAIL. WASPINATOR IS
M.I.A. MAKE SURE THATS A PERMANENT CONDITION.
TRANSQUITO: VRZZ CONZZIDER IT DONE!
Page 5:
1. Angle on Razorbeast. Hes working on a mobile console/control
unit, feeding in data, aligning a massive dish/antennae array
(comprising five or six individual dishes). Theres a stack of
mainframe hardware with display screens and a portable generator or
three. Magmatron moves over to join him.
MAGMATRON: RAZORBEAST HOW LONG UNTIL THE TRANSMITTER DISH IS
ALIGNED?
RAZORBEAST:
LOCAL TIME, ABOUT FORTY-ONE MINUTES.
MAGMATRON:
WHY THE DELAY?
2. Tight on Razorbeast (matter-of-fact) as he pulls up a
holosphere map of prehistoric Earth (Ill see if I can find actual
reference maps for the continental landmasses of this time).
Pinprick dots of lights pepper the globe (not all on land).
RAZORBEAST: YOU WANT THEM ALL, RIGHT? THAT TAKES TIME. THE
STASIS PODS ARE SCATTERED WORLDWIDE, SOME AT OCEAN DEPTH. I HAVE TO
COMPENSATE FOR AMBIENT PRESSURE, ALTITUDE, VARIANT CLIMACTIC
MAGMATRON:
YES, YES.
3. Magmatron stalks off (towards us), forcing himself to be
patient (but only more or less succeeding).
MAGMABEAST: ALL VERY FASCINATING, IM SURE.
2 (LINK): JUST LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS THE YOURE READY TO SEND
THE SHELL SIGNAL. I WANT TO GREET MY NEW WARRIORS PERSONALLY.
RAZORBEAST:
RIGHT.
4. Angle past Razorbeast, foreground. He watches as Magmatron
moves off, towards a field-ops tent, a sort of foil-material
structure that serves as Magmatrons private space.
5. New angle on Razorbeast, tense/urgent. Satisfied that
Magmatron is a safe distance away, he turns to another console,
keying in instructions.
RAZORBEAST:
CMON, CMON.
6. Inset: tight in on one of the dishes, as it rotates, pointing
up at the sky.
RAZORBEAST (OFF): ONE OF YOU
Page 6:
1. Cut to; RATTRAP (tight in), int. shuttle. Hes shaken awake by
OPTIMUS PRIMAL (as per the TF Summer Special story).
OPTIMUS PRIMAL: WAKE UP!
2 (LINK):
RATTRAP!
RATTRAP:
WH-?
2. Widen to include Primal. He looks down at Rattrap,
concerned/amused.
PNL: AUTOBOT SHUTTLECRAFT, IN THE TRANSWARP FUNNEL:
RATTRAP:
OP-OPTIMUS? I
OPTIMUS PRIMAL: MUST HAVE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED SLEEP MODE. I
GUESS WERE ALL PRETTY BEAT NOT SURPRISING AFTER WHAT WEVE BEEN
THROUGH.
RATTRAP: RIIGHT. NOTHING LIKE A FEW REALITY-WARPIN ROUNDS WITH
MEGATRON AN HIS BOOT-BOYS TO LULL YOU INTO A GENTLE SLUMBER!
3. New angle/wide (past Rattrap, extreme foreground), taking in
the other Maximals (RHINOX, SILVERBOLT, BLACKARACHNIA &
CHEETOR). All characters robot mode. Try for a bit of subtle
hostility in their poses, though their expressions are benign.
RATTRAP: HAD THIS WEIRD, WEIRD DREAM! I WAS WITH THESE MAXIMALS,
GUYS ID NEVER SEEN, AND THEY--
CHEETOR: WHAT? SUDDENLY WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPANY FOR YOU?
BLACKARACHNIA: THE RAT HAS IMAGINARY FRIENDS, CHEETOR. NOT
SURPRISING, REALLY WITH NO REAL ONES TO CALL HIS OWN!
SILVERBOLT: NOW, NOW, BLACKARACHNIA. BE CHARITABLE
2 (LINK): OPTIMUS PRIMAL IS CORRECT. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
TOGETHER. LET US NOT BICKER NOW.
RHINOX:
FH! WHY CHANGE THE HABIT OF A LIFETIME?
Page 7:
1. Tight on Primal, bleeding into an image from the first season
of Beast Wars a generic (and of your choice) Maximals versus Preds
(original beast modes) fight scene, but maybe including characters
(such as DINOBOT, TERRORSAUR and TIGATRON).
PRIMAL: SILVERBOLT IS RIGHT, RHINOX. WEVE COME QUITE A WAY, WE
SIX. WHAT STARTED OUT AS A FAIRLY ROUTINE SCIENTIFIC SURVEY
MISSION
2 (LINK): QUICKLY TURNED INTO A PITCHED BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL.
DIALOGUE PNL: IF WE WERENT TRYING TO STOP MEGATRON KILLING US
DIRECTLY
2. Flashback (from Season 2), as (within the Ark) BW Megatron
prepares to blast the deactivated/slumped figure of G1 OPTIMUS
PRIME.
DIALOGUE PNL: WE WERE FIGHTING A REARGUARD ACTION, DESPERATELY
TRYING TO PREVENT HIM REWRITING HISTORY ITSELF!
DIALOGUE PNL: OUR PROXIMITY TO THE ARK AND OUR SLUMBERING
ANCESTORS INITIATED A TERRIFYING SPIRAL OF EVENTS
3. Flashback (from Season 3), as the Nemesis (airborne) shatters
the volcanic peak (containing the Ark) with a powerful tractor
beam.
DIALOGUE PNL: WHICH CLUMINATED IN MEGATRON COMMANDEERING THE
NEMESIS, THE DECEPTICONS DEADLY BATTLECRUISER, AND SO NEARLY WIPING
US ALL OUT.
4. Now. Angle past Primal to Rattrap, whos staring past (rather
than at) him.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL: I THINK WEVE EARNED A REST, DONT YOU? WERE SO
NEARLY HOME NOW LETS TRY NOT TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART BEFORE WE GET
THERE.
2 (LINK):
OK, RATTRAP?
5. Reverse angle, Rattraps pov (more or less). Behind/around
Primal we can see (in their beast modes) OPTIMUS MINOR, WOLFANG and
BONECRUSHER. Op Minor is actually hanging off Primal, extending a
beseeching hand towards us.
PRIMAL:
RATTRAP?
OPTIMUS MINOR: WHY?
2 (LINK):
WHY?
Page 8:1. Same, but now were suddenly on BW Earth (instead of
the shuttle), a dark/forested area. Optimus Minor is hanging off a
tree, Wolfang and Bonecrusher circling around it towards us, heads
lowered, pawing the ground, as if about to attack.
OPTIMUS MINOR: WERE MAXIMALS, LIKE YOU. AND YOU ABANDONED
US!
BONECRUSHER: DONT WASTE YOUR VOCAL INITIATORS, MINOR
2 (LINK):
HE DOESNT CARE!
WOLFANG: OH, HELL CARE. HELL CARE WHEN WERE GONE AND WHAT TAKES
OVER COMES AHUNTING!
RATTRAP:
BUT
2. Angle on Rattrap, moving forwards, confused. Scene is still
forest/BW Earth.
RATTRAP: I DONT UNDERSTAND! YOU KNOW ME BUT I I DONT KNOW
YOU!
WOLFANG:
YOU WILL
3. Dramatic, as Wolfang (snarling, mouth open) suddenly leaps up
at/towards us, claws out, ready to rake. Rattrap (extreme
foreground) throws up his arms in a vain attempt to protect
himself.
WOLFANG:
YOU WILL!
RATTRAP:
NO, WAIT
4. Angle on Rattrap (wide). Were back on the shuttle. His arms
are up (as per last pic), but of course theres no Wolfang. Its just
the other Maximals, staring at him (as if hes lost his mind). No
ones very sympathetic.
RATTRAP:
DONT!
OPTIMUS PRIMAL: RATTRAP? OH FOR PITYS SAKE WHATS WRONG WITH
YOU?
CHEETOR:
SON OF THE SEWERS LOST IT BIG TIME.
RHINOX:
INDEED. BEAST WARS-SYNDROME, ANYONE?
Page 9:
1. Primal puts one massive hand in the small of Rattraps back,
firmly steering him towards a makeshift C.R/regeneration chamber
(set up inside the shuttle). As Primal does this, he signals to
Rhinox.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL: RATTRAP, I BELIEVE A SPELL IN THE C.R. CHAMBER
IS CALLED FOR. PERHAPS THERES SOME AH, INTERNAL DAMAGE.
RATTRAP: WH-? NO WAIT. IM FINE. LISTEN, THERES NOTHING WRONG
WITH ME.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL: RIGHT, RIGHT.
2. Rattrap is more or less shoved towards the C.R chamber, its
door opening (Rhinox stood there, blocking the exit route to the
rear/cargo sections of the shuttle).
OPTIMUS PRIMAL: JUST A QUICK CYCLE, SORT OUT ANY LOOSE
CONNECTIONS. RHINOX
RHINOX: RIGHT THIS WAY WELL HAVE YOU TUNED UP AND SPAT OUT IN NO
TIME.
RATTRAP:
I SAID
3. Dramatic, as Rattrap ducks sideways, fast, rolling under
Primals (massive) gathering hands.
RATTRAP:
IM FINE!
OPTIMUS PRIMAL: HH?
SILVERBOLT (off): UNFORTUNATELY, MY LESS-THAN-FRAGRANT
FRIEND
4. Rattrap comes up, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia and Cheetor,
closing in. Their expressions are cold, hard, unfriendly (to say
the least). Fists are clenched, Blackarachnias venom stingers
glowing hot.
SILVERBOLT:
WE INSIST!
CHEETOR:
YOURE GOIN DOWN I MEAN, IN
BLACKARACHNIA: PIECE-BY-PIECE IF NECESSARY!
RATTRAP:
WH-WHAT
5. Ext. view of the shuttle (in the Transwarp funnel). Around
them, the energy patterns swirl violently, black tongues of
lightning crackling.
RATTRAP (within): THE FRAGS GOIN ON?
Page 10:
1. Cut to: BW Earth. Angle on Magmatron, sat within his
field-ops tent, in deep contemplation.
PNL:
EARTH, PREDACON FIELD BIVOUAC:
DIALOGUE PNL: MAGMATRON WE WANT YOU TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE BUT
DISCREET WATCH ON MAXIMAL STAGING POSTS
2. Flashback. Cybertron, deep within a fortified (secret)
Predacon military installation. Magmatron (retro-fitted into a
pre-BW robot mode) is sat (in a pivoting tactical/command chair)
facing a three-screen comm. station, on which we see (one per
screen) the TRI-PREDACUS COUNCIL.
TP COUNCIL 1/JAG: AND REPORT ANY UNSCHEDULED ACTIVITY. OUR
EFFORTS TO DIVERT THE TRANSWARP WAVE APPEAR TO HAVE SUCCEEDED, BUT
SHOULD THAT CHANGE WE MUST ACT.
TP COUNCIL 2/JAG:ITS DOWN TO US TO PUT OUR OWN HOUSE IN
ORDER!
TP COUNCIL 3/JAG:OUR AGENT HAS BEEN DESPATCHED TO NULLIFY THE
THREAT POSED BY THE RENEGADE WE EXPECT CLOSURE SHORTLY.
MAGMATRON: I AM MONITORING ALL MAXIMAL CHANNELS, EVEN THE ONES
THEY THINK WE DONT KNOW ABOUT. SO FAR NO ONES RAISED ANY RED
FLAGS.
3. Screen images: the Tri-Predacus Council.
TP COUNCIL 3/JAG:GOOD, GOOD. YOUR LOYAL SERVICE TO PREDCACON
CAUSE IS, AS ALWAYS, GREATLY APPRECIATED.
2 (LINK): YOU UNDERSTAND, WHERE THE RENEGADE CLEARLY DOES NOT,
THAT WE MUST BIDE OUR TIME, GROW STRONG
TP COUNCIL 1/JAG: BEFORE RAISING OUR BATTLE STANDARD ONCE MORE.
TRI-PREDACUS COUNCIL
4. On Magmatron, severe, expression dark, hooded.
TP COUNCIL 1/JAG: SIGNING OFF.
MAGMATRON: OVER-CAUTIOUS, PREVARICATING FOOLS BY THE TIME THEY
FINALLY DECIDE TO ACT, ANY WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WILL BE LONG
GONE.
2 (LINK):
TRI-PREDACUS AGENT
5. Screen image of BW RAVAGE (robot mode), in the cockpit of his
Transwarp cruiser (as per The Agenda), smiling in good
double-dealing style.
MAGMATRON: PREPARE TO TRANSMIT TACTICAL PLANETARY SCANS!
Page 11:
1. Cut to: Razorbeast (now), within the Predacon encampment. He
stares up at us, tense, lost in thought
PNL:
OUTSIDE:
DIALOGUE PNL: YOU REALISE, RAZORBEAST, ONCE YOURE IN YOURE ON
YOUR OWN!
2. Flashback: Cybertron, a former Maximal frontier fort.
Razorbeast (retro-design, Cybertronian robot mode with clear
Maximal insignia) walks the battlement-style walls with LIO CONVOY
(also robot mode). The fort is disused or so it seems from above
ground.
LIO CONVOY: OFFICIALLY, THIS UNIT DOESNT EXIST, THIS DISCUSSION
NEVER TOOK PLACE, YOUR MISSION IS IN NO WAY OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED
BY THE MAXIMAL IMPERIUM. IF YOURE DISCOVERED, YOULL BE CUT LOOSE,
DISAVOWED.
2 (LINK):
UNDERSTOOD?
RAZORBEAST: UNDERSTOOD. I THINK ITS SAFE TO SAY, LIO CONVOY
3. On Lio Convoy. He stops, deadly serious.
RAZORBEAST:
YOULL MAKE A GREAT POLITICIAN!
LIO CONVOY: THIS ISNT A LAUGHING MATTER. OFFICIALLY, HOSTILITIES
ARE OVER, FINISHED. MAXIMAL-PREDACON, WERE ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY.
BUT WE KNOW DIFFERENT. FORGET MEGATRON, HES A LOOSE CANNON, THE
REAL ENEMY
4. Down angle on the eerily deserted open courtyard of the fort.
Most stuffs been stripped and shipped out. Lio and Razorbeast
descend a metal framework staircase to ground level, a concealed
hatch opening just beyond the bottom step (light spilling out).
LIO CONVOY: IS SAT ON THE BI-PARTATE COMMITTEE FOR STATE
AFFAIRS.
RAZORBEAST:
MAGMATRON.
LIO CONVOY: RIGHT. BOTS LIKE HIM DONT JUST HANG UP THEIR
STRATO-LAUNCHERS AND SIT ON A JUDICIAL BODY.
2 (LINK): HES RECRUITING WE KNOW THAT. HES PLANNING BUT WE DONT
KNOW WHAT. SOMETHING BIG, SOMETHING BAD.
RAZORBEAST: AND IF ITS SOMETHING IMMINENT? IF I CANT REPORT BACK
IN TIME?
5. Razorbeast watches as Lio Convoy descends into the
underground section of the fort, disappearing from view. Razorbeast
doesnt follow.
LIO CONVOY:
THEN DO WHAT YOU CAN.
2 (LINK):
AND START RUNNING!
Page 12:
1. Int. Maximal shuttle. As Rattrap dives clear, a ripped out
and thrown bit of systems hardware impacting against a bulkhead
(explosively), just missing him.
PNL:
THE TRANSWARP FUNNEL:
RHINOX (OFF): HOLD STILL!
FX:
KRSHK!RATTRAP:
LET ME GET BACK TYA ON THAT
2 (LINK):
NAH!
2. Wide, as Rattrap transforms to TM vehicle mode. Powering
between Rhinoxs legs, his hands sweeping empty air, trying to catch
him.
RATTRAP: I DONT KNOW WHATS GOT INTO ALLA YOU, BUT I AINT STICKIN
AROUND TO ANALYSE YOUR DEEP-ROOTED PSYCHOSES.
2 (LINK): ITS PROBABLY TDO WITH YOUR PROTO-HATCHER. USUALLY
IS.
3. As Rattrap speeds out (through a hatchway) of the main
forward cockpit/compartment, Blacharachnia opens up firing her
leg/venom blasters. Multiple (explosive) impacts pepper the
surrounding bulkhead and a couple clip Cheetor (beast mode,
pursuing).
BLACKARACHNIA: VERMIN! MY VEMON BOLTS WILL
CHEETOR:
HEY! WATCH--
2 (LINK):
FHN! GHT!
SFX:
VRAP! VRAP! VRAP!4. Rather than continue the pursuit (of
Rattrap), Cheetor (hurt) turns, ready to fight
CHEETOR:
THAT HURT!
2 (LINK): I SHOULDVE KNOWN. WE HAUL YOUR TOXIC TUSH OUTTA THE
FIRE AND SOON AS YOURE SAFE YOU TURN ON US!
CHEETOR:
WELL
Page 13:
1. Cheetor springs/pounces, slamming into Blackarachnia,
Silverbolt immediately moving to intercept.
CHEETOR:
NOW ITS MY TURN!
SILVERBOLT: NO! HARM ONE SCABROUS HAIR ON HER CEPHALOTHORAX AND
ILL KNOCK THE SPOTS OFF YOU!
2. On Rattrap, as he emerges into the rear cargo hold (moving
towards us). Theres no one behind him. We can see the main
Transwarp initiators, added in by Rhinox pre-launch.
RATTRAP: MAN, THIS IS SO FREAKED-UP, BUT AT LEAST THEY SEEM TO
HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME FOR THE MO--
3. Reverse angle/dramatic: ahead of Rattrap (blocking, it seems,
his way forward) are Optimus Minor, Bonecrusher and Wolfang (all
now robot mode). Minor holds up a hand, stop.
RATTRAP:
WHU-?
OPTIMUS MINOR: STOP!
2 (LINK):
GO BACK!
WOLFANG:
NOW!
RATTRAP:
CANT
4. Rattrap (unable to stop in time) rolls right through them,
but of course the figures are intangible, phantoms. Rattrap
screeches to a halt beyond them.
RATTRAP:
OH.
OPTIMUS MINOR: ITS STARTED AGAIN. HERE.
2 (LINK):
GO BACK!
Page 14:
1. Angle on Rattrap (alone), as the whole shuttle bucks
violently, bulkheads stretching/warping. The ship lists, Rattrap
skidding sideways.
DIALOGUE PNL: BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!
FX:
EEURRNK!RATTRAP:
HH! WHAT NOW?
2. Ext. view of the shuttle, an angle that favors the captive
TM2 MEGATRON. The Transwarp funnel is destabilising rapidly,
conditions worsening. The shuttle itself seems slightly out of
synch, warped.
3. Tighter in on Megatron (in pain, but his rage the more
dominant feature of his expression). We can clearly see the
magno-clamp devices holding him pinned. He strains against
them.
4. Tight in on Megatrons (non-Dragon head) hand/arm. One of
magno-clamp nodes flies off into space
5. and (same angle) the hand/arm comes free!
Page 15:
1. BW Earth, Predacon encampment. Tight on Magmatron (outside
again), commanding.
PNL:
PREDACON FIELD BIVOUAC:
MAGMATRON:
TIMES UP.
2. Widen: Razorbeast ready at the control podium, the dishes
pointing in various directions.
MAGMATRON:
I WANT THE SHELL SIGNAL SENT NOW.
RAZORBEAST:
WERE SET.
2 (LINK): THE PAN-GLOBAL ACTIVATION PULSE HAS BEEN CODED. IM
READY TO TRANSMIT.
MAGMATRON: THEN DO IT. IF ITS ALL THE SAME TO YOU, RAZORBEAST,
ID RATHER NOT SPEND ANY MORE TIME ON THIS MISBEGOTTEN WORLD THAN IS
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
3. Tight on Razorbeast, as he pushes up a main level/handle,
energy readings spiking on an attached display.
RAZORBEAST:
RIGHT, YEAH. HERE WE GO
FX:
SHRMMMMM!4. Widen again. Magmatron looks towards a distant
horizon (though theres nothing of note to be seen).
MAGMATRON:
REPORT!
2 (LINK):
IGUANUS
Page 16:
1. Cut to: Iguanus (still beast mode), clinging (head downwards)
to a sheer rock face, above a (crash-)landed Stasis Pod, observing.
The Pod has been activated, its dish/scanning array extended.
IGUANUS: ITS STARTED. THE STASIS POD IS GO-ONE, SCANNING FOR A
COMPATIBLE LIFEFORM TEMPLATE
2. Cut to: Manterror (beast mode), on a wind-lashed beach,
watching from within a cave mouth. Another Pod rests in the
shallows, battered by the waves. Its opaque surface has gone
semi-transparent, a shape (vague, part-formed) visible within.
JAG (no tail):
MANTERROR?
MANTERROR: GOT ME A LIVE ONE HERE. THE PROTOMATTER IS
COALESCING.
3. Cut to: Spittor. Were high on an icy glacier. The Pod there
begins to open, energy and steam released in a cloud.
JAG (no tail):
SPITTOR?
SPITTOR:
YEAH, UH-HUH. HEH-HEH. HERE IT COMES
4. Back to Iguanus: from within his now open Pod RETRAX (robot
mode) unfurls/stands (confused/disorientated). He bears a clear
Predacon insignia.
IGUANUS: NANO-REGENERATION COMPLETE. ITS A PREDACON!
5. Back to Manterror: out of the Pod steps (unsteady) SNAPPER,
also clearly a Predacon.
MANTERROR:
PREDACON
Page 17:
1. Cut to: Magmatron, pleased. Background, Razorbeast can be
seen moving slowly back, away from the control podium. Drill Bit
sees this.
MAGMATRON: ITS WORKING! THE SHELL CODE IN THE ACTIVATION SIGNAL
IS MASS-CONVERTING THE MAXIMAL PROTOFORMS
2 (LINK):
MY ARMY AWAKENS!
JAG (no tail):
WHAT? NO! ITS
2. Magmatron reacts.
MAGMATRON:
SPITTOR?
JAG:
RROWRGH!
JAG:
FNNH--
MAGMATRON:
SPITTOR! REPORT
3. Cut to: Spittor, prone/dazed (on his back in the snow). Over
him, raging, is POLAR CLAW (robot mode). His Maximal symbol is
evident.
MAGMATRON/JAG: WHATS HAPPENING?
SPITTOR:
Muh-MAXIMAL
2 (LINK):
ITS A MAXIMAL!
MAGMATRON/JAG:WHAT?
4. Back to the encampment. As (background) Magmatron rages,
Drill Bit steps up, blocking Razorbeasts gradual retreat.
MAGMATRON:
THATS IMPOSSIBLE!
2 (LINK):
UNLESS
DRILL BIT:
HEY! WHERED YOU THINK YOURE
Page 18:
1. Dramatic, as (with no hesitation) Razorbeast transforms to
beast/wild boar mode, driving forward at the startled Drill Bit,
goring him with his tusks.
DRILL BIT:
GNNUFF!
RAZORBEAST:
COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY
2. As Drill Bit staggers/drops, Razorbeast leaps over him,
hitting the ground running. Background, Magmatron turns,
alerted.
RAZORBEAST: I DONT HAVE TIME TO HANG AROUND AND FINISH THE
JOB!
2 (LINK):
BUT ILL BE BACK!
MAGMATRON:
RAZORBEAST?
3. Magmatron (making no attempt to pursue), expression
smoldering, watches as Razorbeast charges off, in no time at all
opening up a great distance.
MAGMATRON:
RAZORBEAST
DIALOGUE PNL: AND IF ITS SOMETHING IMMINENT? IF I CANT REPORT
BACK IN TIME?
DIALOGUE PNL: THEN DO WHAT YOU CAN.
4. On Razorbeast, thundering across the dry, dusty landscape
towards us, alone.
DIALOGUE PNL: AND START RUNNING!
Page 19:
1. Ext. view of the shuttle. Bits of plating and external
hardware are flying off it. The distortion in the Transwarp funnel
is intense.
PNL:
TRANSWARP FUNNEL:
BLN (from within): GREAT, JUST GREAT
2. Int. shuttle/cargo area. Rattrap (robot mode) kneels in front
of an exposed section of the Transwarp drive (clearly not part of
the original shuttle technology), steadying himself against the
shuddering/bucking ride.
RATTRAP: ALL THEM HOURS I SPENT FETCHIN AND CARRYIN FOR RHINOX
WHILE HE FITTED THE TRANSWARP DRIVE
2 (LINK): AND I NEVER ONCE THOUGHT TO ASK HOW IT WORKS!
3. Rattrap glances towards the hatchway (closed, bolted) to the
forward section of the craft. Stood in front of it, now
semi-transparent, are Optimus Minor, Wolfang and Boncrusher (robot
mode).
RATTRAP: AN YOU GUYS JUST WHEN I NEED SOME CONSTRUCTIVE CHATTER,
YOU GO ALL STRONG AND SILENT ON ME.
2 (LINK): GO BACK, HUH? EASY FER YOU TO SAY. IM NOT EVEN SURE
THIS THING HAS A REVERSE GEA--
4. Same: as the solid metal door/hatch is torn loose from its
framework, ripped out. Metal moorings shear off, buckle. The
ghostly Maximals are gone.
RATTRAP:
--AARH!
SFX:
SKAARCH!5. Stood in the hatchway is Optimus Primal (robot mode).
He looks crazed, maddened, ready to tear something/anything apart
with his bare hands.
Page 20:
1. On Rattrap, galvanised into action. With a kind of weary
acknowledgement that he really doesnt have time to get technical,
he grabs ahold of an important-looking cable within the main
Transwarp mechanism
RATTRAP:
AHH WELL, IF IN DOUBT
2. and (tight in) pulls it loose. Energy flares slightly
SFX:
SHA-!3. and (wide) hes hurled backwards violently across the
cargo hold.
SFX:
VAMMM!4. Ext. shuttle, as the stars (of normal space) return to
sharp focus
5. and then the shuttle is snapped backwards, a blur of
hyper-motion.
Page 21:
1. Int. shuttle: on Rattrap. Hes dazed, scrunched up against a
bulkhead, sprawled. The vibration and turbulence have stopped.
PRIMAL (off):
RATTRAP?
2. Up angle (Rattraps slightly blurred pov) on Optimuus Primal.
He leans in, concerned, the madness abated.
PRIMAL:
RATTRAP?
2 (LINK):
WHAT DID YOU DO? WHERE ARE WE?
RATTRAP:
OHH I DON REALLY KNOW
3. On Primal (sharp focus). He reacts.
RATTRAP (off): MAYBE BACK WHERE WE STARTED.
2 (LINK):
ON EARTH.
PRIMAL:
WELL
4. Wide angle, as Primal helps Rattrap to his feet. Behind them,
the bulkhead glows hot
PRIMAL:
THATS JUST PRIME!
2 (LINK): WE SPEND NEARLY THREE CYCLES TRYING TO GET OFF THIS
PLANET AND WITHIN A FEW CHRONOKLIKS OF CYBERTRON YOU DECIDE TO PULL
THE PLUG. I ASK YOU CAN THIS SITUATION GET ANY WORSE?
5. and then melts, revealing daylight beyond. Both Primal and
Rattrap react.
RATTRAP: UH. THE SHORT, ALMOST INEVITABLE ANSWER
Page 22 (SPLASH):
1. Dramatic angle (past Primal and Rattrap and through the
slagged, now open, bulkhead) on Dragon-mode Megatron, airborne,
wings spread (outside the shuttle). Steam and flame dance around
his gaping, fanged maw.
RATTRAP:
IS YE-ESS!
PRIMAL:
MEGATRON!
OUTRO PNL:
TO BE CONTINUED
Transformers: Beast Wars #1 1st Draft Script Simon Furman
