STRAYERS: “Orion's Last Gleaming” Story by Steven Today Script by Ricky Galahad, Andrew F. Hallman, UN Owen and Steven Today 1ST ROUGH DRAFT September 9, 1997 2ND ROUGH DRAFT May 25, 1998 Road Rovers characters, names, situations, and the Road Rover Universe are the property of Warner Bros. In no way is this script connected to Warner Bros. in any way, shape or form. Strayers’ characters, names, situations, and the Strayer universe are Copyright 1996-1998 by Steven Today (sftoday@netwave.net). All rights reserved. Nitro appears courtesy of Amanda Stephenson. Ricky Gallant appears courtesy of Ricky Galahad. Star appears courtesy of Kathrine Gore. This document may not be publicized or reproduced in any way, shape, or form. It must remain fully intact and not be altered in any way. It is strictly used for not-for-profit entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. “Orion's Last Gleaming” FADE IN EXTERIOR: DESERT - HIGHWAY It is early morning in a vast open area in the southwest region of the United States. Sand goes off in all directions; Cacti and tumbleweed speckle the landscape. Off far in the distance are some mountains. A two-lane highway, which has seen much use but little repair, stretches forever in both directions. BEAR (VOICE OVER, DEEP RASPY VOICE) The highway. Unforgiving. Endless. Forgotten. We have a lot in common. A very sleek black motorcycle appears and speeds down the highway. Seated on it is a large furry figure wearing a helmet. Both driver and cycle continue on away. EXTERIOR: CYCLBORG - DRIVER SEAT The Cyclborg is a sleek and high tech jet-black motorcycle. It has several closed compartments for storage. On the fuel tank and the handlebars are several buttons, switches and dials. There is also a video screen here which is currently displaying an electronic road map of the area. On the side of it is a large symbol of the Strayers (An image of a red horse with glowing eyes galloping down a highway). The license plate reads: "BEAR". The driver is a male Wolf-Mutant (having a human body [but MUCH larger] with a wolf head, tail, fur, claws, etc.); this particular one is Rabid. He is covered with red fur except his hands and feet, which are highlighted with black fur. There is also a large white patch on his stomach. His left eye is blue, and his right eye is green. He is wearing fingerless gloves, a vest, shorts and boots made of a rubbery/metallic material that can deflect bullets. They are all oversized to fit him in his larger form. All his clothes bear the Strayer's symbol. Covering his head is a helmet that likewise has the Strayer's symbol; a smoke glass visor covers his eyes. He continues to guide the Cyclborg down the highway. BEAR (VOICE OVER, DEEP RASPY VOICE) They use to call me Steven Today. I was a Malamuit Eskimo. I dwelt on the dark side of the law. I wasn't really bad, but I was nothing to write home to mom about either. When the lawless came around, I pretended they weren't there. When they did injustice to the people around me, I closed my eyes. When the authorities came looking for witnesses, I became mute. I took my dumb act to such an extreme that I allowed the evils to pollute my people's sacred lands with nuclear waste. That is when the act ended. A criminal by the name of Ross Dole learned my secrets. He used them to exploit me, and I was forced to do his dirty work. My task was to destroy the Road Rovers. In case you don't know, the Road Rovers are the shiniest light of the law. They are Cano-Sapiens. Part dog. Part super human. All virtuous. They fight to protect the innocent and the weak. Both man and beast. Fortunately for them, they were able to stop Ross and gave him what he deserved. Unfortunately for me, I suffered a freak accident in the process of my own doing. I was transformed from a human to a Cano-Sapien. Later I had another accident and I was turned into Rabid, the Wolf version of this. The Rovers are able to transform back to their pre-Transdogmafier state any time they wish, but I can't. I have managed to transform myself into various forms in my travels, even back to my human form. But I was meant to be a dog, so here I am. Perhaps it is for the best. I have a new wife. A new life. A new start. Because of this, a deal was struck with the Justice Department. I am now a Strayer, deputized by the United States government to uphold the law and bring those dark elements to justice. By any means necessary. Nitro, Amani and Puffball are the other Strayers that work in my unit. We're called the Grizzlies. I'm the unit leader. We work in conjunction with the Road Rovers and roam the highways of America. But we are not alone. There are other Strayers out there. Some are Cano-Sapiens. Some are just humans with bad attitudes. But I have an edge on all of them. I'm both. Rabid continues down the highway. FADE OUT The words "Strayers" appears along with the Strayer symbol then disappears. FADE IN EXTERIOR: RURAL AREA – SUNNYSIDE COUNTRY CLUB A magnificent resort located in a wonderful provincial district. There is a huge mansion like building, a gigantic fountain, and a quaint forest in that back. Sandwiched between the forest and the building is an 18-hole golf course. INTERIOR: SUNNYSIDE COUNTRY CLUB – ADMISSIONS BUILDING This is an enormous structure found in the center of the club. The glass doors open automatically. Toward the right is the waiting room, filled with cushioned seats and large potted plants. On the left is a mammoth big-screen television with several chairs encircling it. Directly in front as you enter is the reception desk. Standing behind it is Samson Rigitonie, an Italian man with a mustache, black hair, and brown eyes. He is wearing a powder blue suit. Suddenly a female Collie Cano-Sapien that looks very similar to Colleen bursts into the lobby. She is wearing a plain black shirt, torn blue jeans, and a black belt with a gold buckle. Her feet are bare. FEMALE COLLIE (FRANTIC, SLIGHT RUSSIAN ACCENT) HELP! Please, I need to see the Road Rovers immediately!!! Samson looks the intruder over suspiciously. SAMSON (SNOTTY, SLIGHT ITALIAN ACCENT) I am sorry, but the Rovers at this moment are out back in a heated battle. They cannot to be disturbed for anything. FEMALE COLLIE (FRENZIED) But this is important! Samson shows no remorse. SAMSON (INDIFFERENT) There’s nothing I can do. I'm afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave miss. The Collie rushes up to the desk, reaches over and grabs Samson by the collar. She pulls him up to her face. FEMALE COLLIE (ANGRY) I don't have time for this! Don’t you realize that lives are at stake! Tell me where they are darn it! Samson shows some fear but tries to hide it. SAMSON (UNEASY) If I did that, it would be MY life on the line. The Collie grins mischievously. FEMALE COLLIE (SMUG) Oh, but it IS your life on the line. Now tell me! Samson begins to sweat, but holds firm. Once his assailant bares her teeth however, he cracks. SAMSON (TERRIFIED) Okay! Okay! They're out that way fighting it out! Samson points toward the back door. FEMALE COLLIE (PLEASED) Thanks. Keep up the good work. The Collie releases Samson, who staggers back. The Collie then turns and rushes out the back door. EXTERIOR: SUNNYSIDE COUNTRY CLUB – GOLF COURSE This is a course with plenty of shrubs, sand traps, etc. We can hear tiny birds chirping from the surrounding trees. A group of Cano-Sapiens can be seen playing the last hole. These are the Road Rovers. Hunter (a male Golden Retriever) is in a red shirt, brown slacks, and has a brown belt with gold buckle. The buckle has an “R” engraved in it, and he is also wearing a red hat. We notice a tuft of fur sticking out of the top of his polo shirt where the two buttons usually are. Colleen (a female Collie) is in a teal shirt with the brown pants and a belt. Shag (a male Sheepdog who retains his canine appearance) is standing off to the side observing the action. Exile (a male Siberian Husky) is in a yellow polo shirt with the buttons done up. He has black pants and a belt. Unlike the rest of the Rovers, he isn’t wearing gloves and we can see his hands and claws. They happen to be white and made up of only four fingers. Blitz (a male Doberman) is in a green and red plaid shirt. He dons a purple and blue plaid golf cap with a puff of cotton on top, and orange and yellow pants. Hunter is lining up his club and tries to sink his ball, but he misses slightly. HUNTER (DISAPPOINTED, AMERICAN ACCENT) Cat! I almost sunk it! BLITZ (EGOTISTICAL, THICK GERMAN ACCENT) Ha! Almost only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and when Shag is using his missile launcher. Shag grumbles something and the rest ignore Blitz. Colleen looks over the scorecard. COLLEEN (PONDERING, THICK BRITISH ACCENT) Let's see... according to my calculations that eliminates you, Shag and me. What’s his name and my “Icy Blue Hard Candy” are currently tied. All the other Rovers look at Exile. EXILE (EMBARRASED, THICK RUSSIAN ACCENT) Colleen I thought we agree... Colleen walks over to Exile, pulls his shirt to her and gives him a big kiss on the lips that totally silences him. She smiles as she backs away. COLLEEN (ROMANTIC) What was that “Icy Pop”? EXILE (GIGGLING) Nothing my “Collie Taffy”. Blitz folds his arms. BLITZ (DISGUSTED) Don't you two know the rules? No disgusting behavior on the course. And that is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen! Colleen and Exile ignore Blitz. They embrace again and kiss once more. As they hug each other, Colleen’s tail moves up and down Exile's leg. After a few gentle caresses, her tail intertwines with Exile’s. They continue to kiss passionately. BLITZ (REVOLTED) Hey, can we get on with this game? HUNTER (SMUG) Leave them alone Blitz. You're just mad because you don't have Colleen involved with you, and no one is dating you anymore. BLITZ (MAD) Hey! It's better then going out with that tramp Dixie! HUNTER (INFURIATED) HEY! Don't call her that! BLITZ (TAUNTING) I will if I want to. It's soooooo true. Hunter leaps on top of Blitz and wrestles him to the ground. HUNTER (CRAZED) TAKE THAT BACK!!! BLITZ (SCARED) All right! All right! I take it back. She isn't a tramp. Exile and Colleen break apart. COLLEEN (PLEASED) If you’re quite through gents, and I use the term loosely, can we get back to the task at hand? It’s your turn “Fluffy”. Blitz growls angrily, but gets up anyway. He then takes aim and sinks the ball easily. He howls in victory, doing cartwheels and back flips across the ground. BLITZ (ARROGANT) HA! I win! EXILE (BOTHERED) Don't be a sore winner Blinky. And gameski is not over yet. Exile takes a stance, lines up his club and swings. VOICE (OVERJOYED, FROM BEHIND) Exile!!! This distracts Exile as he hits the ball. It rims around the cup several times, but doesn't go in. Blitz jumps up and down with joy. BLITZ (EXCITED) I win! I win! I told you I won! Everyone is disappointed. Exile glares angrily at his clubs. After a few seconds, his eyes glow bright red and two spectacular crimson beams expel from them. After the rays strike the club; they melt into a silver puddle on the ground. The female Collie from before runs up to the Rovers. All are angry but Blitz, and give her the stink eye. She is taken back. FEMALE COLLIE (WARY) Uh... Did I come at a bad time? Exile's anger turns to surprise when he realizes who it is. EXILE (SHOCKED) Glitzy? The Collie rushes up to Exile, pushes Colleen out of the way, jumps into his arms and kisses him. Colleen falls back into Blitz. BLITZ (PASSIONATE) Hi pretty girl doggy. Blitz spins Colleen around and kisses her. BLITZ (DEMENTED, MUFFLED) To the victor go the spoils... Colleen struggles and breaks Blitz’s hold on her. COLLEEN (OUTRAGED) HOW DARE YOU! NEWSPAPER! Colleen flips Blitz over her shoulder and he lands in the pond. Meanwhile, Exile pries Glitzy off his lips and drops her. EXILE (STUNNED) It is you! The girl I was going to be married to, but dumped me for my best friend Brigand! GLITZY (CONCEITED, IN PAIN) Why did you do that? I doubt you found anyone else. You aren't exactly the best dog in the world. In fact on a scale of 1-10, you’d probably be a negative 5. Who could love you but me? Exile points behind Glitzy. EXILE (WOUNDED) Well there is Colleen. She is girlfriend. Glitzy looks behind her and sees what Exile is talking about. Colleen is fuming. Glitzy smirks proudly. GLITZY (SMUG) Hmmm. A Collie. I guess you never really got over me, huh? Incensed, Colleen begins rolling up her sleeves. COLLEEN (HOSTILE) So YOU’RE the one he told me about, the one that caused him so much pain. You dump him without a sense of regret and one day just show up and expect everything to be okay? Well I'll show you... Colleen is about to confront Glitzy, but Exile intervenes. EXILE (INTERVENING) Wait comrade Colleen. Let's at least hear what see wants. Glitzy smiles, but remains vicious. GLITZY (SNOBBISH) At least you aren't TOO slow Exile. Colleen glares at Glitzy, but backs off. GLITZY (SERIOUS) I am here because I have information about Parvo. He has built a new device the Cano-Mutant Sapienizer. This device creates Cano-Mutants loyal to him, but look more like Cano-Sapiens so they can infiltrate Rover and Strayer units. Fortunately he hasn't got the loyalty part down. They did it to a number of other dogs including myself as an experiment, but we managed to retain our free will. I escaped and came here to enlist your help. You must save the others! Some of the Rovers are skeptical, but Exile believes her. EXILE (BLUNT, TO HUNTER) Comrade Hunter, we must help them. HUNTER (HONEST) I’d love to buddy, but we can't. We have that peace treaty thing to go to. We’ll have to let the authorities handle this one. EXILE (ZEALOUS) But comrade, they are no match for Parvo and his Cano-Mutants! Even WE have a hard timeski! HUNTER (STERN) Despite that we still can't. We have our orders, and they come first. I’m very sorry. Exile growls loudly. Hunter turns to the rest of the Rovers. HUNTER (CURT) We’d better get going guys. We’re done here. Exile remains where he is as the rest of the Rovers start moving off. After a few moments, Hunter turns back to him. HUNTER (STRICT) Let’s go Exile. Exile softens. EXILE (MODEST) May I at least say goodbyeski? HUNTER (FIRM) Okay. But make it quick, we don’t want to be late. Exile nods and Hunter exits. Glitzy just stares at Exile, unsure what to do. Exile reaches in his pocket and scribbles something on his scorecard. He then hands it to Glitzy and walks out without saying anything. Glitzy examines it. GLITZY (AMUSED, TO HERSELF) What’s this, his phone number? Glitzy’s attitude soon changes. All that is written on the back of the card is the phrase: “Mount Rushmore”. Glitzy isn’t sure what to think. She shoves the card in her pocket and runs off. EXTERIOR: SOUTH DAKOTA – MOUNT RUSHMORE This is a beautifully forested area. Carved into the mountain are the shapes and faces of four Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. At the apex of the mountain, thousands of feet above the ground, an incredible battle rages. Completely outnumbered, the Grizzlies valiantly battle the combined forces of General Gustav Havoc (from “Where Rover’s Dare”) and Captain Zachary Storm (from “Storm From The Pacific” and “Take Me To Your Leader”). On top of G.W., Nitro, Amani, and Puffball are confronting Havoc and his forces, while Rabid is fighting Storm directly above Abe’s head. Gustav Havoc is wearing a tan collar shirt, brown pants, a red vest, and a black tie. He has short black hair, but it is starting to recede. Zachary Storm is wearing light blue army fatigues, a black cape, and has red hair. Nitro is a female Wolf-Sapien (a wolf that has gone through the Cano-Sapien process) that stands at 5’8” tall. She has gray fur with white paws and a white stripe from her neck, down her belly and to her tail. She has a thick black mane with a white strip down the middle of it, and the ends are also white. She has blue-green eyes. She is wearing blue jeans, a black T-shirt with the Strayer symbol on it, and black boots. Amani is a young Native American female with long black hair and a small knapsack on her back. She is wearing a black jumpsuit, leather boots, and gloves. They all have the Strayer symbol on them. She is also wearing a headband, bracelet and belt of Indian design. Puffball is a female Burmese cat in Felo-Mutant form. All the other soldiers are wearing red army uniforms, black boots and red berets. EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE – ABRAHAM LINCOLN Just above this head, Storm is showing incredible resilience for someone facing an opponent more than twice his size. Cheating usually helps in that respect. STORM (DEMENTED, AMERICAN ACCENT) You may have gotten in my way for destroying the other American wonders, but you won't stop the charges I have planted all across the faces of these presidents! Havoc, Parvo, the Eliminator, and I will be forever remembered after these faces are blown up and replaced with our own! We shall have our rightful places in history! RABID (MOCKING, AMERICAN ACCENT) Don’t they already have a monument to the Stooges? STORM (IRATE) There were only three of them! Wait a minute. I mean- RABID (UPSET) Hey! SHEMP was a Stooge all right! STORM (HARSH) He was NOT! But rather than debate this, how ‘bout I just kill you? Rabid looks Storm over. RABID (SARCASTIC) You’re not getting enough lithium are you? STORM (SATISFIED) Life can be tough on the road, what can I say? Storm charges Rabid, who sidesteps him. Sticking his foot out, he causes Storm to fall flat on his face. Storm is quickly on his feet again. Rabid crosses his arms. RABID (SEDATE) So where are Parvo and Miss “broken record”? Why aren’t they’re forces here as well? STORM (DERANGED) Fool! They have nothing to do with this! The only reason their faces are being included is because we respect them as fellow villains. Besides, anyone who has had to put up with you meddling Strayers and Rovers ought to be honored. RABID (DISDAINFUL) Ooo. Aren’t you a charmer. STORM (PLEASED) At any rate, they’re gonna look REAL dorky! RABID (RIDICULING) That goes without saying doesn’t it? Storm rushes at Rabid and takes several wild hooks, but they all miss. Rabid then shoves Storm down on his back. RABID (SMUG) This really is becoming silly. STORM (CONQUERED) Fine. I give up. Storm remains down. As Rabid goes over to him however, Storm grabs some dirt from the ground and flings it into Rabid’s eyes. Temporarily blinded, Storm easily pummels him. Rabid is soon forced toward the edge of the precipice. STORM (INSANE) I had enough of you meddlesome Strayers! You’re about to have the distinct honor of imitating Kevin Costner’s career! Storm gets a running start and leaps into the air, his right foot extended and his left tucked in. Rabid, still trying to clear the grime from his eyes, is unable to get out of the way. Storm’s foot impacts Rabid right on the chest, sending him flying off the mountain face. Rabid plummets helplessly toward the depths below. EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE – GEORGE WASHINGTON Nitro, Amani and Puffball have gathered behind a group of boulders. Havoc, along with about a dozen soldiers, are pinning the Strayers down with gunfire. When Nitro sees Rabid falling however, she jumps to her feet in a frenzy. NITRO (HORRIFIED, AMERICAN ACCENT) Noooooooo! Puffball quickly grabs Nitro and pulls her back down. Several bullets whiz by, just missing her head. Nitro pushes everyone away. EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE – CLIFF SIDE Rabid paws at the air, but naturally there is nothing. Time seems to flow at an anemic pace as Rabid continues to fall, almost as if he is in limbo. He feels all hope for survival flowing from him, all his thoughts focusing on his one true love. He closes his eyes and things dematerialize around him. Numerous thoughts race through Rabid’s mind, as he watches nothing but the darkness. His memories begin to surface. FADE OUT Rabid flashes to the time it all started... FADE IN BEAR (CONFUSED) I'm not really sure. But it feels like I'm being watched. Hunter smiles. HUNTER (SARCASTIC) Bear. You crazy nut. We're watching you. Blitz rolls his eyes. BLITZ (DRY) Oh ya. The Baddies are going to tremble with fear from the likes of you. The gang chuckles once or twice. Bear keeps looking and sniffing. BEAR (CONFUSED) Actually, it seems like. Like. Bear stops and looks at the other Rovers; he shrugs his shoulders. BEAR (FRUSTRATED) Like I've got to get used to being a dog. Bear turns and looks at Hubert. BEAR (EMBARRASSED) Please Professor, lead on. Hubert smiles, turns and starts down the hall. Bear and the Rovers follow. After they leave something stirs in the shadows. A Timber Wolf steps out into the light. She is gray in color. She has white paws and a white stripe from her neck, down her belly and to her tail. She has blue-green eyes. As the wolf looks down the hall in the direction the group has exited, she cocks her head. Suddenly, she turns and dashes down the corridor in the opposite direction. FADE OUT The setting switches to first contact... FADE IN BEAR (SHOCKED) You're a wolf! NITRO (BLUNT) Actually, I'm a Wolf-Sapien. Caused by the Transdogmafier. Ever heard of it? Bear regains control and nods. BEAR (SARCASTIC) Vaguely. Bear eyes over Nitro and smiles. (THE SCENE ADVANCES) Bear climbs off the motorcycle and walks over to Nitro. He holds his hand out to her. NITRO (PLEASED) My name is Nitro. BEAR (PLEASANT) I'm Bear. Nitro takes Bear's hand. NITRO (PLEASED) I know. Bear and Nitro shake hands. (THE SCENE ADVANCES) BEAR (CONFUSED) Well where were you the night I sneaked in and had the accident with the Transdogmafier? NITRO (BLUNT) I was out in the caverns. I sometimes like to get away and think. I missed you that night. BEAR (COLD) I wish you had been there and stopped me. I would still be human. NITRO (SLY) I'm glad I didn't. BEAR (CONFUSED) Huh? NITRO (BLUNT) Don't we have a mission to complete? BEAR (UNEASY) Oh yeah. Right. Bear bends down towards the duffel bag. FADE OUT The situation switches to their first intimate encounter... FADE IN NITRO (STERN) No. Seriously. All joking aside. Do you really want me here? BEAR (HONEST) Of course. You're my partner. NITRO (HOPEFUL) You mean it? BEAR (HONEST) Yes. I look forward to working with you for a long time to come. NITRO (RELIEVED) Thanks. Nitro lays her head down again on Bear's shoulder. NITRO (PLEASED) Because being part of a team is very important to me. BEAR (UNDERSTANDING) Same here. Nitro closes her eyes. BEAR (SARCASTIC) Besides, I need someone to clean up after me. Nitro's eyes spring open. NITRO (ANNOYED) Don't you ever stop kidding around? BEAR (HONEST) I did, a few seconds ago. But fear not, I only joke around his people I like. And I like you a lot. Nitro raises her head again and looks at Bear, she smiles. She pushes him gently, like a little girl who really likes a boy. NITRO (TEASING) Stop it. BEAR (HONEST) It's true. Nitro pushes him again. NITRO (TEASING) Stop it. Nitro giggles like a schoolgirl and Bear smiles. FADE OUT The period changes again, but this time there is only gloom. AMANI (CAUTIOUS, VOICE OVER, SLIGHT NATIVE AMERICAN ACCENT) Look. I like Nitro. And I sympathize with her, really I do. But the fact remains that every time we go out on a mission she's putting us all at risk. BEAR (DEFENSIVE, VOICE OVER) We can handle it. AMANI (ANNOYED, VOICE OVER) No we can't. And this proves it. You were lucky this time. Next time you might not be so lucky. None of us might. She has to be relieved. BEAR (UPSET, VOICE OVER) No! No way! AMANI (STERN, VOICE OVER) You know this has to be. BEAR (UPSET, VOICE OVER) All she has left is this unit! I'm not going to destroy her by taking that away from her! AMANI (HONEST, VOICE OVER) No matter who gets hurt? BEAR (DEFENSIVE, VOICE OVER) Don't give me that. When we signed on we all knew there would be a good chance none of us would be standing at the end. AMANI (CAUTIOUS, VOICE OVER) Risk is one thing. Suicide is another. BEAR (DEFENSIVE, VOICE OVER) Look. My order stands. Nitro stays. AMANI (REALIZING, VOICE OVER) That is what this is all about. You want me to be the bad guy. BEAR (BLUNT, VOICE OVER) I won't agree with you. All I'll say is that you're a lot tougher than me. AMANI (ANNOYED, VOICE OVER) Don't give me that. You've taken on Parvo and a host of others. I've seen you stare down Cano-Mutants. It has nothing about being tough. (A BRIEF PAUSE) AMANI (HONEST, VOICE OVER) It has to do with your heart. You love Nitro. BEAR (SHOCKED, VOICE OVER) How can you say that? AMANI (SARCASTIC, VOICE OVER) How can I not? I see how you look at her. How you act when she is near and isn't. How you talk about her. There is no doubt about it. You're head over heels for her. BEAR (DEFENSIVE, VOICE OVER) You're wrong! Dead wrong! AMANI (STERN, VOICE OVER) The only one you're lying to is yourself. We've been together since the beginning. We're friends as well as work partners. You can fool the other Strayers and Rovers, they don't see you all the time. But me, you can't. BEAR (DEFEATED, VOICE OVER) Okay. I admit. It's true. She is my world. My life. I love her more than anything. (THE SCENE ADVANCES) FADE IN BEAR (SERIOUS) Look Nitro. There is something I've been meaning to get off my chest for some time. NITRO (CONCERNED) Yes? BEAR (SERIOUS) I don't know how to say it. So I'll just blurt it out. Bear starts several times but each time nothing comes out of his mouth. BEAR (FRUSTRATED) Who am I kidding? I can't do this. NITRO (WORRIED) You're one strange dog. Bear hangs his head in defeat. NITRO (WORRIED) Let's get back to the others. Nitro turns and begins to leave. Bear quickly looks up. BEAR (EXCITED) I love you! Nitro stops, pauses, and then turns to him. She smiles. NITRO (PLEASED) I like you too Bear. BEAR (SERIOUS) No. I mean I LOVE you. NITRO (PLEASED) Yes. You're a good friend. BEAR (DEADLY SERIOUS) You don't understand. I'm talking LOVE here. NITRO (CONFUSED) Love. As is boyfriend, girlfriend? BEAR (HONEST) Most definitely. Bear steps up to Nitro. BEAR (SERIOUS) I've felt this way for some time. NITRO (CONFUSED) How do you know it is love? BEAR (PASSIONATE) Whenever you're near fireworks go off. The world is alive and beautiful. I'm ready to take on an army of Cano-Mutants. But when you're gone, life is not worth living. All I say, all I do revolves around you. I love you with all my heart. There is no doubting that. Nitro holds her arms. NITRO (SARCASTIC) I suppose this is the part where I'm suppose to through my arms around you, hug you and squeeze you and say yes I love you too. Bear frowns. BEAR (HONEST) No, I don't expect you to feel the same way I do. But don't you feel anything for me? Nitro chuckles. NITRO (LAUGHING) Here. Let me show you exactly how I feel. Nitro unfolds her arms, reaches out to Bear and grabs his head. She then kisses him on the lips long and passionately. She then lets go of him and looks at him, he is stunned. BEAR (CONFUSED) I'm confused. Was that a yes or a no? Nitro hugs him. NITRO (VERY PLEASED) A most definite yes. I love you Bear. Oh so very much. Bear hugs Nitro too. FADE OUT And finally... FADE IN INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - INFIRMARY This is a small room with three beds. It is crammed with all sorts of medical equipment and cabinets of medical drugs. There is one door leading in and out. Rabid is sitting on one of the tables. The Rovers and Strayers surround him; they are each armed with the weapons they fought the Wolf-Mutants with. Nitro is on the side and is very anxious. The Master and Hubert are off in the corner conferring. Finally, they nod and move towards the others. Nitro rushes up too. NITRO (ANXIOUS) Well? The Master smiles. MASTER (PLEASED, AMERICAN ACCENT) I'm happy to report that I was wrong. HUBERT (PLEASED, AMERICAN ACCENT) All tests indicate that this IS Bear. Everyone cheers and lowers their weapons. Nitro sighs with relief. She takes his hand and squeezes it; they look at each other and smile. HUBERT (PLEASED) All traces of the Mutator are gone from his system. MASTER (PLEASED) He is completely cured. EXILE (CONFUSED) How could this be? COLLEEN (SLY) I'm telling you. It was the kiss. MASTER (UNEASY) Actually, I think it had more to do with Bear not being a true Cano. Nice he was a human turned into a dog the Mutator had no Cano cells to latch onto. In the end they rejected his body. With no where to go they all died. NITRO (ANXIOUS) So Bear is going to be okay? HUBERT (PLEASED) Of course. Oh, he'll feel weak for a bit. The Mutator was what was giving him his super strength. But after a full recovery, I honestly feel he will return to his normal Cano-Sapien attributes. AMANI (ANXIOUS) Then he'll be able to return to duty? HUBERT (PLEASED) Of course. AMANI (ANXIOUS) So we won't have to go work for Prowler? MASTER (PLEASED) Yes. The Grizzlies will remain intact. Amani cheers. NITRO (PLEASED) Not until after our wedding. Everyone looks at Nitro, shocked. EVERYONE BUT NITRO AND RABID (SHOCKED) Wedding! NITRO (PROUD) Yes. Bear proposed to me. HUNTER (PLEASED) Way to go dude! BLITZ (PLEASED) Ya. Congratulations. Shag slaps Rabid on the back. Colleen looks at Exile. COLLEEN (SLY) Give you any ideas? Exile is very uneasy, he looks at Rabid. EXILE (UNEASY) So when is the wedding? NITRO (PLEASED) Right away. Rabid looks at Nitro. RABID (UNSURE) What is the rush? NITRO (PLEASED) Are you crazy? I almost lost you. I'm not going to let that happen again. RABID (UNSURE) I think we're rushing it. NITRO (CONCERNED) What are you trying to say? Rabid pauses. RABID (CAUTIOUS) I'm taking back the offer. NITRO (SHOCKED) What! Why? RABID (CONFUSED) Look at me! I'm a wolf now! NITRO (CONFUSED) What is wrong with being a wolf? RABID (CONFUSED) Nothing. But it's not me! NITRO (CONFUSED) Well I think it looks great on you. You were a dog before but that didn't stop you from proposing. Rabid pauses. RABID (CONCERNED) The truth is that my physical body has changed. What makes you so sure that my mental state hasn't? NITRO (UPBEAT) Come on Bear. We're about to become husband and wife. Our lives are going to completely change. Once we say I DO we'll never be the same. But it will be for the better. RABID (CONCERNED) How can you be so sure? NITRO (SARCASTIC) I'm a wolf. I know these things. Rabid pauses once again. RABID (DISAPPOINTED) I'm sorry Nitro. I really am. But I can't honestly stick to my commitment. Too many things have happened since then. NITRO (ANNOYED) Is that your final word? RABID (DISAPPOINTED) Unfortunately, yes. NITRO (DEFIANT) Fine. Then I guess it is up to me. Nitro leans down on one knee, still holding Rabid's hand. RABID (CONFUSED) What are you doing? NITRO (PASSIONATE) Bear. You are the love of my life. You are my world. You are my universe. My life begins and ends with you. You are my existence. Would you marry me? RABID (CONFUSED) How could you ask me such a thing? Haven't you been listening? NITRO (PASSIONATE) Yes. But I feel that a person is not flesh and fur. Not just the surface. But deep down in him. Nothing can change that. Not drugs. Not Mutator’s. Nothing. Only you can. I know you are the same Bear that I feel in love with. So I'll ask again. Will you marry me? RABID (SHOCKED) How can you ask? I tried to kill you. Twice! NITRO (SARCASTIC) Consider it our first fight. RABID (ANNOYED) I'm serious! NITRO (STERN) So am I! The most serious I have ever been! I don't want to go by another day. Another hour. Another minute without you by my side. So would you marry me? RABID (ANNOYED) How could I say yes? NITRO (PASSIONATE) Look. I'm going to ask you one more time. The decision will be all yours. But before you answer I ask one thing. Look into your heart. If the answer is no. Then say no. If it is yes, say yes. But I want to hear what you feel not what you think. So. Bear. Will you marry me? Rabid pauses, thinks then smiles. RABID (SARCASTIC) How could I refuse such a stubborn woman? Yes Nitro. I WILL marry you. Nitro jumps to her feet, grabs Rabid and hugs him. NITRO (EXCITED) Thank you Bear! You made me the happiest woman alive! Twice! They continue to hug emotionally. FADE OUT First there is only darkness. Then there is a voice over of Bear saying fervently: “I love her more than anything”, and then the word “anything” is repeated over and over again. FADE IN EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE – CLIFF SIDE The view is now of Rabid’s closed eyes. The word “anything” is still being repeated. VOICE (SMUG, FROM THE RIGHT) If this is how all your plans are going to end, I may have to request a new assignment. Rabid’s eyes flip open instantly. He smiles when he sees the owner of the voice. Cyc is swooping down; he now has a set of wings and rocket engines. RABID (TEASING) What makes you think any other unit would want you Cyc? Besides, all Strayer units already have one of you! Cyc swoops down and Rabid grabs onto the handlebars in front of him. He quickly pulls himself on Cyc. CYC (IRRITATED, ELECTRONIC VOICE) I suppose that’s closest thing I’ll ever get to an expression of gratitude huh? RABID (SCORNING) What do you expect, a medal? Or would you prefer a kiss? CYC (AGGRAVATED) Just forget I said anything. RABID (EASYGOING) Chill out Cyc. You know I appreciate you. There is a brief pause. CYC (SARCASTIC) Yeah, I know. Who else can you get to clean up after you? RABID (IRKED) Hey! Just fly me back up okay? CYC (BEAMING) Whatever. Cyc makes a b-line toward the top of the mountain. EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE – GEORGE WASHINGTON Nitro, Amani and Puffball are still being corralled by the crossfire. Amani looks back to Nitro, who has tears streaming down her face. AMANI (SEVERE) Snap out of it Nitro! We need you! Nitro, who had her head down, glances up. Her eyes are red and puffy. NITRO (SHATTERED) Just leave me alone all right? AMANI (AFLAME) We’re going to be DEAD if I do! NITRO (LIFELESS) I’m already dead. My life was extinguished with Rabid’s. AMANI (APPALLED) How can you say that? The best way to honor your loved one’s isn’t to curl up and wither away, but to LIVE dammit! Atrophy won’t provide ANY solutions. Think about what you would want him to do if YOU passed on! Nitro remains obstinate. She pounds her fist to her chest. NITRO (STOIC) If this is empty... Nitro then points to her head. NITRO (APATHETIC) This doesn’t matter. Amani rolls her eyes and sighs. AMANI (BOTHERED) Curse “Jerry Maguire”. I hated that movie. Amani slides over to Nitro and grabs her shoulders. AMANI (STERN) Look Nitro, I care for Bear as greatly as you do. But regardless of how much I feel like running from this and hiding within myself, we need to press on. The side that win’s the fight is the one that perseveres when it’s greatest warrior falls. Sitting there feeling sorry for yourself only degrades everything he taught you. Now is NOT the time to give in. You CAN do this. Nitro locks eyes with Amani. She smiles and wipes the tears from her beautiful emerald eyes. She glares and bares her teeth. NITRO (STRONG) You’re right. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. AMANI (CAUTIOUSLY) No. Matthew 19:26, with God all things are possible. Nitro gazes at Amani suspiciously. NITRO (BAFFLED) How did you know-? AMANI (ADAMANT) Let’s just do this okay? For him. Nitro smiles. NITRO (EARNEST) For my soul then. Nitro and Amani grin at each other. VOICE (ENTERTAINED, FROM BEHIND) Awwww. Isn’t that sweet. I feel honored. Nitro and Amani’s faces light up. The whip around quickly and spot Bear looking at them from Cyc. RABID (MORBID) Nice speech by the way Amani. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I was with you until your “do it for him” thing. I never got too excited about those kinds of remarks. NITRO AND AMANI (EXUBERANT) RABID!!! You’re alive! RABID (NONCHALANT) What can I say? God was watching. Cyc makes a sound that resembles the clearing of a throat. Rabid grins. RABID (PLEASANT) And so was Cyc. You can thank him later. So Nitro, how about giving these punks a taste of your Grammy-award-winning voice while I take care of evil “Captain America” over here? NITRO (FANCIFUL, IMITATING BUNNY) You got it sugar. Amani cringes when she hears this. AMANI (REVOLTED) Ewwww. Wrong character and DEFINITELY the wrong show. Nitro readies herself as Rabid zooms off on Cyc. EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE – ABRAHAM LINCOLN Storm is crouching next to a small trigger box, an old-fashioned one that is set off by lifting the handle up and then down. He is busy attaching numerous red and yellow wires to it. The thin cables travel along the ground and then disappear over the edge of the crag. Rabid sudden appears and jumps off Cyc. RABID (TAUNTING, IMITATING BATMAN) You’ll never get away with this Joker! STORM (OVERBEARING) Oh, but I already have. I’ve linked every explosive on this mountain to this trigger before me. Once I push it, all will be complete. RABID (REVIEWING) On second thought, this is more “Power Rangers” than anything else. Storm sneers. STORM (HURT) Wow. Now THAT was a low blow. Even from you. RABID (SATISFIED) I’m just being plain evil today. Rabid dashes toward Storm, who lifts the handle on the trigger box. Quickly, before Storm can bring the knob down, Rabid places his hand in the way. He growls when the bottom of the control stick comes down on the top of his paw. Rabid whacks Storm away with his left arm and then wedges the trigger box off his right hand. Before he can smash the device however Storm collides into him, causing Rabid to drop the mechanism and be knocked backwards. They end up on the ground together a few feet away. Both jump to their feet, staring each other down. STORM (PSYCHOTIC) Don’t you get it? You can’t win. Heroics are all nice and fine in the movies, but this is reality pal. Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Princess Diana, they all died horrible deaths at the hands of others. Yet guys like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Saddam Hussein, they can control entire nations. Some are even honored to this day. Evil always triumphs in the real world because it’s not afraid to do whatever it takes to succeed. Virtuous people are stupid because they let morality restrict them. RABID (OVERWROUGHT) They may have had power, but they did nothing with it. How can you call the pain and suffering of millions a triumph? Those that were good were the one’s who truly accomplished something. They changed people’s perspectives, touched lives. Their efforts provided genuine prosperity. STORM (SNOBBY) If being righteous is so great, why do individuals like them perish while the corrupt thrive? RABID (DOWNHEARTED) Their blood is on all our hands. But at least they will be hands and hearts that are changed for the better. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and that in the end there will be vindication. STORM (CAUSTIC) Faith is a stupid thing to have in a world that lives by greed and egocentrism. Trust no one but yourself. Think with your head and put your heart in a closet. It makes you stronger. RABID (VEXED) Doing that is a sure way to ENFEEBLE yourself. Faith is a far more powerful guide than reason. Reason can only go so far, but faith has no boundaries. Rationality can be challenged and defeated, but no one can destroy your beliefs. STORM (ABRUPTLY) Maybe not, but monuments can be. And as soon as you’re out of the way, I’ll obliterate this one! Storm races at Rabid and grabs him around the waist. Using his momentum, Storm forces him back into a tree. Once Rabid’s back strikes the trunk, Storm proceeds to pummel Rabid in the side and stomach. Rabid responds with a kick in the gut and a fist to the nose of Storm. While his opponent is dazed, Rabid grabs him by the collar and throws him a good twelve feet. Storm gets a nice face and mouth full of dirt. Rabid walks over and picks up the initiation device. Storm faces Rabid, but remains seated on the ground. RABID (RIDICULING) Tasty? STORM (SARCASTIC) Sure. Storm runs at Rabid again. This time however, he stops short and sweeps Rabid’s legs out from under him. The trigger mechanism drops to the earth again. Storm lunges on Rabid and attempts to choke him. Rabid grabs Storm by the chest and lifts him off himself. He then tosses Storm off into a group of bushes. Storm lands hard and groans. He remains on the ground this time. Rabid retrieves the activation box. STORM (INSOLENT, IN PAIN) You’re only delaying the inevitable! RABID (SCORNING) You don’t say. Rabid reaches down and rips all the wires from the box. He then crushes the device itself in his paws. RABID (SMUG) I’d say the inevitable just happened. Storm struggles to his feet and grins. He reaches into his shirt pocket and produces a remote control. Rabid’s mouth drops open. RABID (STUNNED) What the-? STORM (OVERCONFIDENT) Did you really think that the box you smashed was the only way I had to set off the explosives? Foolish mutt. RABID (FLUSTERED) But then why-? STORM (EGOTISTICAL) Why did I bother with it? I thought it would have made for a better show. But since I no longer have that option, I guess I’ll just go with efficiency and simplicity. Rabid is too shocked to react. Too far away to do anything, he simply watches Storm helplessly. Storm gets a deranged expression on his face and his smile widens. His finger moves toward the red execution button. STORM (BANEFUL) I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Storm’s finger falls upon the button. When nothing happens, his smirk vanishes. He presses the button several more times, but nothing happens. He looks at Rabid. STORM (DUMBFOUNDED) I don’t understand. This should work! Rabid smiles sheepishly. He extends his right paw to reveal a torn metal antenna. RABID (SMUG) Remote controls usually need one of these to work. I took the liberty of ripping this off when you we’re trying to choke me. Storm hurls the device to the ground, breaking it into a dozen pieces. STORM (INFURIATED) I’m gonna use your head for a step stool! Storm rushes at Rabid, who ducks his roundhouse kick. Rabid whacks him across the face and forces him back. They continue to fight. EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE – GEORGE WASHINGTON Havoc has gathered all his troops together, and they are busy pelting the group of rocks containing the Grizzlies with bullets. Nitro is able stand upright safely behind a large boulder. She takes a deep breath and lets out a piercing cry in the direction of the attackers. The howl lasts about five seconds and totally depletes Nitro of all her strength. When she is finished, she wobbles and collapses to the ground. The wail causes the soldiers to twinge a little bit, but nothing else happens. Havoc yells at them. HAVOC (HASTILY, THICK AUSTRIAN ACCENT) Idiots! Don’t just stand there. Shoot them! They all nod and take aim. Before they can fire however, all their weapons begin to vibrate madly. The men drop their guns to ground and they burst in a cataclysmic explosion. Amani takes these few moments to reach in her backpack and pull out a handful of Petri pistols. The Grizzlies emerge and fire upon Havoc and his men. They try and run, but they are all being frozen one by one. EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE – ABRAHAM LINCOLN Rabid is busy putting the finishing touches on Storm. One final punch lays him out on the ground. Rabid joins his team. RABID (IMPRESSED) Beautiful as always Nitro. Mariah Carey has nothing on you. NITRO (SINCERE) Thanks honey. Rabid smiles and looks up dreamily. RABID (CAPRICIOUS) Except for a nice pair of- NITRO (WRATHFUL) What?!? Rabid gazes at Nitro. RABID (TICKLED) Auto’s. She’s rich. I like classic cars, what can I say? NITRO (SLY) Like 68’ Mustangs? Rabid smile fades. RABID (COLD) Don’t bring him into this. NITRO (COMPLACENT) You brought in another woman. Why can’t I bring in a guy? RABID (SOLEMN) I was only joking around. You’re treading on serious grounds. Nitro stalks over to Rabid, purposely swaying her hips gently. She then envelops him in her arms. NITRO (ELATED) We’re done here honey. Why not give him a buzz? I’m sure he’s around someplace. Rabid tries to turn away, but Nitro cradles his face forward again. She seals the deal with a kiss that can only be described as pure electricity. Rabid smirks when Nitro pulls away. RABID (JOVIAL) All right. I guess it couldn’t hurt. Rabid and Nitro’s lips come together again. Both their tails can be seen wagging happily in the cool breeze. Amani and Puffball can only shake their heads and sign. EXTERIOR: MOUNT RUSHMORE - BASE The Grizzlies are gathered around Cyc and Sylvia at the bottom of the mountain as they watch Storm, Havoc and their men being carted away by the authorities. Sylvia is an ordinary looking full size pickup truck on the outside, but the interior is very high tech. She has a winch on the front, and large fog lamps on the roof and bumper. There is also a roll bar behind the cab. Sylvia's license plate reads "Buoy 1". Rabid and Nitro are still at it. A commotion a few feet away finally causes enough on a disturbance to break them apart. The Grizzlies observe what is going on, and start making their way toward the racket. We can see Glitzy arguing with one of the federal agents on the scene. GLITZY (HURRIED) Can I please go look around? I don’t know why, but I NEED to be here. All I have is this note... FEDERAL AGENT #1 (DETACHED, AMERICAN ACCENT) I’m sorry miss, but this is a restricted area. I’m going to have to ask you to leave immediately. GLITZY (HURT) Why does everyone keep shafting me!?! Look, I’ve got this- FEDERAL AGENT #1 (IMPASSIVE) Regardless ma’am, you can’t be here. Now if you’ll just make your way to your right, I’m sure we can find someone to lead you... Glitzy grabs the official by the collar and pulls him up to her face. GLITZY (RASH) Look, I don’t have time for this! There are lives at stake and- This time Glitzy’s approach has less desirable effects. The agent shoves her off himself and to the ground. FEDERAL AGENT #1 (INHOSPITABLE) Bennett! Hanson! Escort this lady off the premises immediately. If she resists, cuff her! Glitzy gets to her feet and wipes herself off. Two men immediately appear on either side of her. GLITZY (AGGRESSIVE) You’re making a big mistake. FEDERAL AGENT #1 (ASSUMING) Not from what I’m looking at. Glitzy glares and tries to charge him, but the two men next to her grab her by the arms. They begin dragging her away. The Grizzlies appear and walk over to the agent. Rabid turns to him. RABID (RIGID) What’s going on Andrews? ANDREWS (ACADEMIC) Nothing to worry about sir. I’ve got it under control. Rabid nods and starts to leave, but then he spots Glitzy. RABID (ENGROSSED) Huh? It that... hey! Stop! The two men carrying off Glitzy halt and look back. RABID (UPSET) What do you think you’re doing? Let her go! Andrews is shocked. ANDREWS (ASTONISHED) But sir, she was- RABID (IRRITATED) What? Walking around? She can be here if she wants to stupid. Glitzy smiles and rips her arms from the grasp of the two agents. She begins walking back over to the Grizzlies. ANDREWS (PROTESTING) But- RABID (FIRM) No arguments Andrews. You’ve got business to attend to don’t you? Andrews gazes angrily at Rabid, but walks off. Glitzy smiles when she passes him and joins the Strayers. Rabid looks to Glitzy. RABID (THINKING) I don’t get it, why- Glitzy grabs Rabid by the neck and plants an intense kiss on his lips. Everyone but her just stands there wide-eyed. Everyone is still speechless after Glitzy breaks off. RABID (FLABBERGASTED) What was that for? GLITZY (BENEVOLENT) For helping me out back there. RABID (GLAD) Wow. I love this friendship thing. I still don’t understand why he was trying to take you- Rabid becomes distracted as Glitzy grins and begins running her finger along his chest. Nitro is still too stunned to respond. RABID (DISTRACTED) Uh... I like the new outfit Colleen, how long you been using it? Glitzy frowns. GLITZY (CONFUSED) What are you talking about comrade? Nitro finally recovers. NITRO (PENSIVE) Comrade? RABID (COGNIZANT) Wait a minute. You’re not Colleen. Glitzy backs away. GLITZY (OFFENDED) I should think not. AMANI (DISTURBED) Weird. PUFFBALL (PERPLEXED, BROKEN ENGLISH) Who are you? What you doing here? GLITZY (UNEASY) My name is Glitzy. I’m here because Exile gave me this note that- RABID (OBSERVANT) Exile? GLITZY (NERVOUS) Yes. I tried to get help from the Rovers, but they had other things to attend to. This card he gave me said “Mount Rushmore” on it. So I made my way over here as fast as I could. NITRO (BLUNT) If Exile sent her here, he must have meant for us to help her out. Rabid nods. He looks to Glitzy. RABID (CALM) So what’s you story? Glitzy retells her tale. The Strayers are skeptical. AMANI (DOUBTFUL) I don’t know about this. NITRO (SKEPTICAL) For all we know, she could be a spy herself. Even if her story is true, she may just be lying to us about still having her free will. RABID (SUSPICIOUS) I’m not sure I like the idea of following someone I just met. Even someone I completely trust. CYC (DISPLEASED, FROM BEHIND Unfortunately, that is exactly what we’re going to be doing. Everyone turns back to Cyc. CYC (DISGRUNTLED) I’m afraid our job isn’t done quite yet. I’ve just received a message from Exile verifying Miss Glitzy’s story. In addition we have new orders from RRMC to follow her directions and try and find out where Parvo’s base is. If it does in fact exist, we are then to proceed in freeing the prisoners. All the Grizzlies sigh. Glitzy grins. RABID (WEARY) All right. Amani, take down Glitzy’s directions and get everything together. I’m going to make a call. Rabid walks off toward Cyc. Amani goes over to Glitzy. AMANI (BLUNT) So where we going? Glitzy looks out over the tops of the trees, the wind blowing her hair across her face. GLITZY (ENTHRALLED) The Rocky Mountains. The view switches to Bear sitting on Cyc. He is staring down at the electronic screen before him. VOICE (POLITE, OVER SCREEN, AMERICAN ACCENT) I didn’t think you’d ever speak to me after the way I left. RABID (RELAXED, INTO SCREEN) It’s been over a month already. Was I supposed to remain angry forever? After all, I know the true reason you had to go. VOICE (REGRETFUL) Still, it was wrong of me to go without saying goodbye properly. I hope you didn’t get the wrong idea. RABID (HONEST) You’re thinking of Colleen, not me. VOICE (SULLEN) How could I not? It’s hard not to remember your only love. The one you live for. The one you can never reveal yourself to. RABID (CURIOUS) What about Shadow? Did you know-? VOICE (FRANK) That he wanted to kill me? Yes. I can sense him sometimes if I totally stress my senses. If you ever need me- RABID (HASTILY) NO! You know the terms of my agreement. No one can know. YOU’RE not even supposed to know. Divine intervention is the only reason I can think of that he accepted your knowledge of him. VOICE (DISCONSOLATE) If this ever comes to the surface, both of us are going to be facing treason even though we know we’re doing the right thing. RABID (GLUM) No. Just me. You’ve never confronted him like I have. It’s only because of me that you’re keeping quiet. Your name will never come up. VOICE (MOROSE) What if it comes down to having to finally go after him? A lot of lives will be at stake. A lot of people will die in the process. Will you still insist I stay out of this? RABID (STALWART) If it were at all possible I would. What disturbs me is that if anyone does find out about Shadow and orders a massive cat hunt, you’re probably going to be thrown into this anyway. With your enhanced senses your involvement would be crucial to the success of such a mission. If I can prevent it in any way though, I will. VOICE (EXASPERATED) I should be there. All my friends will be putting their lives on the line, including you. Including Colleen. RABID (INSOLENT) What makes you think I’d tell you? VOICE (AGHAST) You wouldn’t... RABID (UNFEELING) I would. I doubt you’d be able to keep you focus on Shadow and off Cain. You’d only be risking your life pointlessly. VOICE (UPSET) You’re wrong. I’m after Cain now because I want to protect everyone from what he’d do to them. But Shadow would be my first priority. What is the use of my quest if no one is alive when I get back? I’d drop everything and come back the instant you tell me to. RABID (HONEST) What about right now? We’ve got a mission we could use your help on if you could come down. VOICE (UNEASY) Uh... now? I... can’t. I’ve got a lead on Cain’s location that I have to check out. BEAR (FAIR) Exactly my point. You can’t serve two masters. VOICE (DEFENSIVE) This is different. It’s just another mission. If it were Shadow you know I would. BEAR (CANDID) Do I? VOICE (AGITATED) YES! The Rovers and Grizzlies will always come first over my own worries. You know that! RABID (OPEN) I know. But why would I let you risk your life if I can prevent it? VOICE (PERTURBED) This is too much! RABID (DISINTERESTED) Sorry. That’s the way it is. VOICE (BOTHERED) Fine. I’d better get going. RABID (QUICKLY) I’m thinking this mission shouldn’t take too long. How about meeting us at Mollies afterwards? VOICE (FAVORABLE) I suppose I can swing it. When? RABID (CURT) Later tonight. We’ll talk. The scene now switches to an undetermined highway in the Midwest. We see a six-foot tall Wolf/Cano-Sapien driving down the highway in a 68’ Mustang convertible. He is watching another electronic screen with Bear on it. This is Ricky (from “The Trailing Beast” and “Twice As Much Trouble, Twice As Much Pain”). He is 50% Grey wolf, 25% Alaskan Husky, and 25% Siberian Husky. He has the physical build of a husky, but the appearance of a wolf. He a blue-green emerald eyes, azure fur except for his paws and the soles of his feet which are white, and a black nose. He is wearing faded blue jeans, black basketball shoes, and a white T-shirt with a large color picture of a Grey Wolf on the back. The picture cannot be seen because of the black polyester sports jacket he is wearing over his shirt. The jacket contains nylon lining, and has two yellow stripes circling the nylon at the wrists. Around his neck is a shoelace type thread that is suspending a polished wood cross. He also has on a pair of black, Predator 8 sunglasses by Rayban. RICKY (COURTEOUS) Okay. I’ll meet you there. See ya. The picture switches back to Bear. RABID (SINCERE) See you Ricky. The screen now goes black. Rabid watches it for a few seconds before getting up. He goes back over to the others. They all watch him as he approaches. RABID (FATIGUED) So what’s the deal? NITRO (BLUNT) Glitzy says Parvo’s base is concealed deep within the Rocky Mountains. Because of the radar, she says we have to land in front and take a trail to the hideout itself. RABID (APATHETIC) All right. Let’s get moving then. Everyone nods. Nitro goes with Rabid and Glitzy follows Amani and Puffball to Sylvia. The Grizzlies immediately start their vehicle and drive off. Storm can be seen struggling in the background. As the Strayers travel down the road, wide wings sprout out from the sides of the Cyclborg, as well as a V shaped tail. A set of large jet engines also pop out from the back of the vehicle. Meanwhile, as Sylvia trails from behind, the sides of the bed of the truck fold down. They then swing out like wings, and the tailgate twists and flips up to form a tail. A team of jet engines comes out from the sides. The engines on both the Cyclborg and Sylvia fire, accelerating the duo of vehicles to incredible velocities. They quickly reach air speed and takeoff, climbing skyward. Both vehicles soon disappear off screen. EXTERIOR: PARTS UNKNOWN – HIGHWAY The view is of Ricky driving down the road again. His screen has just shut off and he is returning his attention to the street in front of him. Suddenly however, a red light flashes. He presses a button, and the electronic screen activates again. He smiles and then looks back up at the road again. RICKY (SMOOTH, INTO SCREEN) Hey babe. What’s up? VOICE (INSULTED, OVER SCREEN, AMERICAN ACCENT) Are you having some type of Prowler complex or something? I told you not to call me that. RICKY (LIGHTLY, INTO SCREEN) Sorry. VOICE (SARCASTIC, OVER SCREEN) Besides, I prefer chick. Ricky chuckles. RICKY (AMUSED, INTO SCREEN) Girl, that’s why I love you. You know how to roll with the punches. Besides Rabid and Nitro, everyone else is just too stiff for me. Ricky glances down at the screen. We now see that it is Star (from “Wedding Bell Blues”) he is talking to. She is a female German Shepherd wearing a pair of black shades. Not as cool as Ricky’s, but not bad either. We can see her face and the top of her red shirt. Over it she has a gold locket in the shape of a heart. Her left ear hangs floppily on her forehead. She ruffles her bangs with her left hand. STAR (SURPRISED, OVER SCREEN) Really? RICKY (SINCERE, INTO SCREEN) Yeah. You’re the coolest friend I’ve got. Not that I have a whole lot of friends to begin with. STAR (DEFLATED, OVER SCREEN) Oh. Star’s mood diminishes slightly. Apparently the “F” word didn’t please her all that much. STAR (HONEST, OVER SCREEN) You’d have more friends if you were around more. Why’d you leave? RICKY (RESERVED, INTO SCREEN) Sorry, but I can’t tell you. I have my reasons. STAR (ARTFUL, OVER SCREEN) I’ll bet Rabid knows. RICKY (SHOCKED, INTO SCREEN) How did you know that? STAR (PLEASED, OVER SCREEN) Ah... so he DOES know. Ricky mumbles and groans. RICKY (ANNOYED, INTO SCREEN) Did you want something? STAR (CALCULATING, OVER SCREEN, UNDER HER BREATH) Yes. But I’ll save that for another day. RICKY (CONFUSED, OVER SCREEN) What? STAR (ABRUPT, OVER SCREEN) The Master wants your help down in Nebraska. Apparently they’ve had some disappearances they can’t solve. RICKY (HOSTILE, INTO SCREEN) Can’t he send another Rover of Strayer unit to handle it? I’m busy. STAR (SUSPICIOUS, OVER SCREEN) Doing what? The Master has already given you special treatment by allowing you to work on the road, alone even. You’re not even a Rover or a Strayer! You had your chance, but you declined. Why? RICKY (EVEN-TEMPERED, INTO SCREEN) Let’s just say that I’m the wild card. I’m only called in if every other possible option has been used. STAR (PERSISTENT, OVER SCREEN) And why is that? RICKY (BOLD, INTO SCREEN) Personal obligations. It’s for everyone else’s safety, which is why the Master allows it. STAR (RELENTLESS, OVER SCREEN) And WHAT may I ask are those commitments? RICKY (EVASIVE, INTO SCREEN) Again, that’s personal. Currently however, you can tell the Master that I’m following a lead, and can’t be trusted to keep my focus on a new mission. He’ll understand, trust me. STAR (DISAPPOINTED, OVER SCREEN) Whatever. RICKY (BLUNT, INTO SCREEN) Tell the Master that I’m meeting the Grizzlies at Mollies after their mission is complete. He can reach me there if he wants to chew me out. STAR (MODERATE, OVER SCREEN) Mollies huh? Should be fun I suppose. RICKY (CANDID, INTO SCREEN) Yeah dude, it’s gonna be pretty sweet actually. I haven’t kicked it with Rabid since I left. I miss those days. I kind of miss him too. STAR (CLEVER, OVER SCREEN) Anyone else you miss? RICKY (SMUG, INTO SCREEN) Yeah. But that’s between me, Rabid and God. STAR (SHREWD, OVER SCREEN) Interesting. RICKY (EARNEST, INTO SCREEN) And Star... STAR (HOPEFUL, OVER SCREEN) Yes? RICKY (COMPLACENT, INTO SCREEN) Leave Rabid alone. He won’t tell you anything more than I will. STAR (DISGRUNTLED) Rats. RICKY (SUAVE, INTO SCREEN) See ya babe. STAR (ANGRY, OVER SCREEN) What did- Ricky flips off the screen, cutting Star off. He grins stupidly, realizing how silly he was acting toward her. He sticks in a PFR (Pray For Rain) CD and continues driving down the highway. The picture focuses on the license plate of Ricky’s 68’ Mustang as it zooms off. It reads: “Immanuel”. EXTERIOR: MANHATTAN – SKYLINE It’s midday in this bustling metropolis. The sun is beaming in brilliantly over the pinnacles of the numerous skyscrapers dispersed throughout the landscape. There are literally hundreds of cars zipping through the streets, with thousands of people filling the boulevards and avenues of the city. EXTERIOR: MANHATTAN – EAST RIVER This is a massive river separating Manhattan Island from Long Island. It is also the body of water that connects the New York Bay to the Long Island Sound Bay. It is roughly fifteen miles long, with Manhattan and the Bronx on its West bank. On its East bank lie Brooklyn and Queens. Certain rapids along the river have been made accessible through the blasting out of rock shoals. Sitting on the perimeter of the West coast side of the East River is the UN Building. The noonday sun shimmers majestically on the waters below. EXTERIOR: MANHATTAN – UNITED NATIONS BUILDING This is an enormous compound that is made up of two huge rectangular structures, one extending vertical and the other horizontal. The entire building is covered with well-polished glass, giving the complex an almost mirror like appearance. The UN is made up of the General Assembly Hall, the Secretariat Building, the Conference Building, and the Dag Hammarskjo 1d Library. Out front is a colossal parking lot with a few trees lining the area. Directly in front of the UN building is a column of flags numbering several dozen. Suddenly a black stretch limousine pulls up in front of the UN. The driver gets out and goes over to the door to the passenger section. He opens it and a tall Caucasian gentleman steps out. His black hair is slicked back and he has on a pair of dark glasses. His glossy shoes are the first thing that you’d notice about him. He goes directly for the front door. INTERIOR: UNITED NATIONS BUILDING - HALLWAY We follow the man as he travels through the inside of the UN. We notice countless guards standing around and talking into walkie-talkies. Everything is completely formal inside. The man spots the doors to the General Assembly Hall and makes his way toward it. After showing identification to the guards out front, they begin checking him for weapons or any other items of the sort. INTERIOR: UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL Set up almost like a gigantic auditorium, this is where all member countries of the UN meet during the general assembly. Seated in the center at the far end from the doors is the desk for the current president for the conference. The twenty-one vice-presidents are placed directly behind. The rest of the participants are positioned in the large collection of seats facing them, set up in a crescent shape. The U.S representative is holding the president’s seat for this particular meeting. The Rovers are standing at the back near the doors. Exile and Shag are looking at the double issue of ”Redwood Monthly”, and throwing out the occasional whistle. Blitz has a very dazed look on his face at he files his nails. Hunter is standing next to one of the doors, watching everything attentively. Colleen is leaning against the wall with a very bored expression on her face. She comes to life when the man strolls in. He goes directly up to one of the attendants, who then hastily walks directly up to the president’s desk. Everyone stops talking, shocked. He whisper’s into the U.S. representative’s ear. She is wearing a blue vest with a white shirt under it, and a blue skirt. She has on very tasteful gold earrings, matching her blond hair well. She goes right for the microphone in front of her. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (SEDATE, AMERICAN ACCENT) We’ll put aside the discussion on nuclear arms for a brief second while I make an important announcement. Everyone watches nervously as the president clears her throat. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (STAID) There will, in fact, be vegetarian burgers at the luncheon tomorrow. Half the room cheers. The man exits. Colleen shakes her head as she walks over to Hunter. COLLEEN (TROUBLED) Humans. Go figure. Everything returns to as it was before. Colleen starts to fall asleep. COLLEEN (BOTHERED) Heh. This is a much better use of our time than going after Parvo. Colleen takes seat on the ground. Hunter is a little irritated, but doesn’t say anything. EXTERIOR: SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDWEST – SOUTHERN ROCKIES As one of the four principal sections that comprise the Rocky Mountains, the Southern Rockies extend from central New Mexico, through Colorado, and up to the Great Divide in the South section of Wyoming. It contains not only the broadest and highest regions, but also encompasses the Rocky Mountain National Park. EXTERIOR: SOUTHERN ROCKIES – ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Located in Northern Colorado, this reserve is filled with spectacular peaks and gorges, alpine lakes, and wide valleys. Glacial action is the main cause for the rugged beauty of the park. The highest summit in the sanctuary is Longs Peak, which reaches an elevation of 14,256 feet. Sharing the park with roughly 700 species of plants are such animals as wapitis (American elk), Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mule deer, black bears, coyotes, and golden eagles. EXTERIOR: ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK – TRAIL RIDGE ROAD This path transverses the park from East to West, crossing the Continental Divide through Milner Pass. The abundance of wild flowers is spectacular. The setting sun beams down magnificently over the apex of the surrounding mountains, and the tops of the trees. We can see Glitzy leading the Grizzlies along a specific trail. On their right is the Falls River, its crystal clear waters being the epitome of naturalistic splendor. The gorgeous surroundings put Nitro in an agreeable mood again. Being on Rabid’s right, she puts her left arm around his waist and rests her head on his shoulder. He responds by putting his right arm around her. NITRO (INTIMATELY) We should come here for a visit sometime. Spend the day. It’s so stunning and peaceful. Can you imagine anything more wonderful than what you see before you? RABID (TENDERLY) I don’t have to imagine. I’ve got my arm around the loveliest vision in the entire universe. Nitro nudges Rabid, playful. NITRO (SARCASTIC) Your charms continue to amaze me. Or is it just because you don’t want to pay for a vacation over here? Rabid smiles. RABID (SUAVE) Why travel if you’ve got paradise right in front of you? NITRO (LOVINGLY) You’re full of it. Please don’t stop. Rabid and Nitro get closer together. Amani begins to pout. AMANI (SULKY) Why doesn’t Hubbie say those kinds of things to me? PUFFBALL (BLUNT) If he did, we lose all audience. There are already too many mushy couples as it is. AMANI (CERTAIN) Can’t disagree with that. Amani increases her pace and catches up with Glitzy. AMANI (BLUNT) How much farther is it? Glitzy licks her lips. GLITZY (OFFHAND) Oh... it won’t be much longer. Glitzy and the Strayers eventually near the end of the river. They then take a right and disappear into a small clump of forest. INTERIOR: ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK - WOODLAND The enclosing trees create a nice canopy from the sun. Tiny birds can be heard chirping inside. Glitzy leads the Grizzlies along a trail within the territory. Amani and Puffball are walking front, with Rabid and Nitro beginning to lag behind. Rabid is lost in thought. RABID (DISTRACTED) This is just so wonderful. NITRO (SINCERE) I know. It’s a shame there aren’t more areas like this around. RABID (CANDID) Actually I was taking about how my life has turned out. I can’t help but feel blessed. NITRO (SURPRISED) No regrets? About how your entire life has gone? RABID (HONEST) A little I suppose. But considering that the path I took led to you, I would do it a thousand times over. NITRO (SOFTLY) What about your family? Your HUMAN family I mean. It will consume you just as it did me until you have closure. RABID (FERVENT) I already do. Your faith in me is all I need. The heavens opened and were kind enough to loan me an angel. Even here I can see the halo resting above your head. You saw me through all my troubles, all my pain. I treasure you beyond the mortal concept of devotion and love. You are my life, transcending everything I am. I like to think of it as “Paradise Regained”. NITRO (SMUG) I like to think of it as heaven on earth. RABID (FIERY) I like to... Rabid’s ears perk up and his voice trails off. NITRO (CONCERNED) What is it? RABID (THINKING) The forest. It’s silent. Why-? All of a sudden, a dozen Cano-Mutant's emerge with weapons. Before anyone can react, they are all fired upon. Soon everyone but Rabid is stunned unconscious, and he himself is on all fours. Groggily he looks up and sees Glitzy walk over to one of the Mutant’s. Even with blurred eyes, Rabid recognizes one of the assailants. RABID (DAZED) I can’t believe it. I thought- Rabid is blasted several more times. All goes dark. EXTERIOR: SOMEWHERE IN THE FAR EAST – ISOLATED DESERT Fierce dust storms are ripping through the entire region. The unforgiving sun beams down across the harsh landscape, heating the sand to ridiculous temperatures. EXTERIOR: ISOLATED DESERT – PROVISIONAL BASE Set is the middle of this scorching wasteland is a makeshift camp. There are about six or seven Cano-Mutants in desert-type camouflaged army uniforms standing guard and doing other odd tasks. EXTERIOR: PROVISIONAL BASE – MAIN TENT There are a few tables and chairs in the area, sticking out against the sand floor. The Grizzlies are lying benumbed on the ground, Glitzy nowhere to be seen. All of them are wearing strange electronic collars around their necks. INTERIOR: RABID – DARKNESS We now see from Rabid’s point of view. His eyes are still closed and we can’t see anything. The sound of footsteps can be heard. VOICE (CONCEITED, THROUGH DARKNESS, AMERICAN ACCENT) Sleep while you can my friend. When you awake, you’re going to wish you had stayed senseless. A second pair of feet can be heard walking in. VOICE (SCORNING, THROUGH DARKNESS, AMERICAN ACCENT) As opposed to being senseless all the time like you? We hear growling from the first speaker. VOICE (DELIGHTED, THROUGH DARKNESS) Please say you’re going to attack me. You know how much I love the taste of canine flesh. The growling instantly ceases. VOICE (OVERBEARING, THROUGH DARKNESS) I thought not. Wake them up now. We hear the sound of someone walking away, and then coming back. VOICE (UPSET, THROUGH DARKNESS) You idiot! Don’t use water or you might mess up the collars! Maybe even set them off, and then who’d do the job for us? We made them waterproof, but you never know. Just go over and shake them until they wake up. The first individual can be perceived walking over. VOICE (COLDHEARTED, THROUGH DARKNESS) Get up you wimp. We now see a view of Rabid’s face. His eyes open slowly. Rabid sneers when he recognizes his enemy. RABID (MALICIOUS) Mauler. Mauler (from “Severed Blood”) is standing above a wearied Rabid with a huge grin on his face. He is a male bulldog Cano-Mutant. MAULER (EGOTISTICAL) Ah... so you remember me. How nice. RABID (SUSPICIOUS) Why did you bring us here? VOICE (EVIL, FROM BEHIND) I assure you, it wasn’t his choice. You have me to thank for you still being alive. Rabid’s heart stops when he hears the second voice. He turns around and his jaw drops. He is completely shocked. Standing before him is a panther that looks a lot like Shadow, but obviously different. His physical features are distinct and he doesn’t have an electronic box over his throat. Mauler reaches out and throws a blaster on the ground a few feet from Rabid. MAULER (MALEVOLENT) Stun guns. I WANTED TO USE THE REAL THING! Rabid glares at him. Mauler’s loud cry wakes the rest of the Grizzlies up. They groggily get to their feet. They are soon looking around at their surroundings. They spot Mauler, but then their eyes focus on the other individual in the room. NITRO (CONFUSED) Who are you? The panther smiles. PANTHER (ARROGANT) I’m disappointed. With all the Strayers and Rovers I’ve killed over the years, I would have figured everyone would know me by now. I guess I should start trying harder. Fear overcomes everyone. Rabid is especially effected because he should have realized who it was. RABID (SHOCKED) GRENDLE! I can’t believe it! Reports had you vanished to parts unknown. GRENDLE (SMUG) As you can see, such correspondences are fatally incorrect. Much like my associate Mauler here, I’m alive and well and... HERE. AMANI (HOSTILE) What do you want with us? Grendle glances at Amani and grins. GRENDLE (CONCEITED) And the human speaks. I’ve often wondered what the voices of the lowest ants on earth sounded like. Usually I only get to hear their screams. Puffball step in front of Amani and hisses. PUFFBALL (FEARLESS) I kill you if you try and hurt mistress. As Puffball says this, Mauler backs off slightly. Grendle doesn’t even flinch. He sighs instead. GRENDLE (COMPLACENT) Such a shame you let yourself be corrupted and weakened by these pathetic creatures. Even now I can see your potential, especially in your eyes. There’s a fire in them that none of these other insects have. Proud. Strong. Courageous. If you were to join me I could make you invincible. Puffball bares her teeth and claws. Mauler is becoming very uneasy, but Grendle could care less. Despite the malice and evil within Grendle, he does have one undeniable quality. He truly is afraid of nothing. GRENDLE (BLUNT) Too bad. Just thought I’d give you one last chance to rule the world with me. Mauler appears to be hurt, this doesn't concern Grendle. GRENDLE (BLUNT) But fear not, I won’t hurt your “precious” mistress. I need all of you alive. RABID (WARY) Why? What is this about? Revenge? We’ve never even seen you before, let alone given you a reason to hold a grudge against us. Grendle smirks. GRENDLE (DISDAINFUL) All I want is for you to use your lives to serve me. Rabid eyes the weapon in front of him. The Grizzlies are about to charge, but Mauler pulls out a small remote control. He presses a button and piercing jolts of electricity are sent through the collars to the Grizzlies. They crumple to the ground in pain. GRENDLE (ANNOYED) Enough Mauler! Those devices, though they can kill, are to be used for punishment. We don't want our little ant colony damaged so soon. Once Mauler releases the button, the suffering stops. MAULER (CURT) I just wanted to show them who is boss. The Grizzlies are silent. GRENDLE (ANNOYED) I hope you and not indicating that you have any authority, Mauler. Even over your own destiny. Mauler quickly looks at Grendle. MAULER (FRIGHTEN) Of course not! You are the supreme one. Grendle nods, then focuses on the Grizzlies. GRENDLE (ENTERTAINED) Like the little gifts I gave you? Has some “shock” value doesn’t it? These trinkets will allow us to track your movements across the entire world. Their range is unlimited. MAULER (DISTRUSTFUL) Watch what you say and don’t try anything funny. We’ve also implanted communication chips within the neckpieces. We can hear everything you say to each other. GRENDLE (ANGRY) Shut up you fool! Mauler shuts up. GRENDLE (CANDID) In addition, don’t even think about trying to tamper with the collars. I’ve wired all of them with a self-destruction system. Only I can remove the collars without it going off. Should you press your luck, the device will explode and take your heads with it. It will also set off the acid packs contained inside. Quite gruesome actually, even by MY standards. RABID (SARCASTIC) Trying to melt heads that aren’t there? Brilliant. GRENDLE (GRIM) The acid will dissolve your bodies, leaving just your heads as nice little trophies. AMANI (DISBELIEVING) Why are you doing this? Some type of vendetta? Like we said, we’ve never seen you before. What could you possibly have against us? GRENDLE (HAUGHTY) Your minds are far too puny to grasp the plans I have. Revenge wouldn’t be something I would need to have. You’re all bugs to me. AMANI (SARCASTIC) I suppose you tested under Professor Atwater NITRO (BOTHERED) I suppose you’ll tell us your reasoning then. GRENDLE (SATISFIED) To save you the mental stress, yes. I need you for a special mission. RABID (DIRECT) And what might that be? Grendle motions with his paw. GRENDLE (ABRUPT) Follow me and you shall see. As first the Grizzlies don't move, but they notice Mauler is holding his finger over the "Pain Button." With no choice they comply. EXTERIOR: DESERT – CRYPTIC RUINS This is a large excavation site that goes far beneath the earth. It’s obvious that this area has only recently been dug up. Grendle guides the Grizzlies down a ramp heading deeper into the quarry area. INTERIOR: CRYPTIC RUINS - FOREGROUND The ramp leads into a spacious cave. Only the ray of sun from the surface illuminates the room. Lying bound and gagged in the middle of the domain is Sydney (from “Gold and Retrievers”). She is wearing a collar just like the Grizzlies, and has a blindfold over her eyes. Grendle walks over to Sydney and releases her. INTERIOR: CRYPTIC RUINS – FOREGROUND The ramp leads into a spacious cave. Only the ray of sun from the surface illuminates the room. Lying bound hands to feet and gagged in the middle of the domain is Sydney (from "Gold and Retrievers"). She is wearing a collar just like the Grizzlies, and has a blindfold over her eyes. GRENDLE (TAUNTING) Comfy my little worm? Sydney barks some insults into her gag but they are muffled and unintelligible. She squirms on the floor, twisting and pulling on her restraints but they hold firm. Grendle turns to the others. GRENDLE (BLUNT) This is Sydney. She’s on loan from Parvo. She’ll be aiding you in this task I have for you. The Grizzlies are confused, Grendle in uninterested. He turns back to Sydney who has stopped struggling vainly; she just lies on the floor panting heavily. He raises a paw and extends his razor sharp claws and slices the rope that binds her wrists in one swipe freeing her hands. Sydney quickly removes her blindfold and gag, she sits up. She stares angrily at Grendle, he notices this. GRENDLE (CURT) Chop, chop wormy. Let's not leave your little friends waiting. Sydney proceeds to untie her feet; Grendle turns back to the others. GRENDLE (ANNOYED) The human species. The males are slow but the females are just impossible. With Sydney completely free and Grenade's attention diverted, she prepares to attack him. Grendle doesn't even look back to her. GRENDLE (STERN) Don't think about it wormy, even you can be replaced. Grendle extends all his claws, he growls. Sydney notices this and backs off. She pulls herself up to her feet. SYDNEY (BLUNT, AUSTRALIAN ACCENT) I don't know what your problem is. I was just getting up. Grendle retracts his claws, turns, and heads down a torch lit hallway. The Grizzlies are still confused about what this is all about, but they continue to follow anyway helpless. Sydney follows as Mauler watches them carefully as he brings up the rear. INTERIOR: CRYPTIN RUINS – INNER PASSAGE The surrounding dirt walls are coarse and moist. Only the light from the torch keeps the darkness from overcoming everything. The group presses on. INTERIOR: CRYPTIC RUINS – CORRIDOR OF ORION The route eventually leads everyone into an enormous chamber in the heart of the archeological remains. Grendle strolls into the center of the room and dips the torch into a shallow circular basin. It ignites and illuminates most of the room. Grendle then goes around and lights the various torches in the walls. Once he does, the Grizzlies notice all the unusual hexagon holes filling the entire area. On their left is an assortment of long, odd-shaped rods embedded in a short stand. To the right is a weird dial. It almost looks like an ancient timepiece. Directly in front of them is a peculiar barrier of some sort. Contained within the wall is the framework for a huge panel. Grendle walks toward the wall. GRENDLE (DETACHED) At this very moment, we’re standing inside the Corridor of Orion. And once I manage to unlock its power, I’ll be standing at the top of the world. RABID (MOCKING) Hey, you can do that right now. I’ll be happy to send you to the North Pole is you want. Grendle pretends not to hear Rabid. He continues. GRENDLE (HUMDRUM) A long time ago, likely a few thousand years, a tribe of ancient people captured the secret of Orion: the stars themselves. Unfortunately for them, it was a power so potent and awesome that it eventually destroyed them. The devastation was so complete that modern archeologists haven’t been able to discern what tribe this actually was. NITRO (SNEERING) Bummer. Must have been a drag on their social life. MAULER (COLD) Just keep quiet. GRENDLE (ANNOYED) Anyway, this force could neither be controlled nor destroyed. So instead they locked it behind this gate, hoping to forever seal it away from the rest of humanity. The last three surviving members of the primitive civilization then took the three “Keys” that open the barrier, and scattered them across the globe. Think of it as a last ditch effort to prevent anyone else from experiencing the horror of the power that had destroyed them. AMANI (SARCASTIC) Gee. How selfish of them huh? Grendle whips around and Glares at the Grizzlies. GRENDLE (SOLEMN) This is where you come in. You’re going to help me get the “Keys” to this gate so I can release the power of Orion. With it, I’m going to seize power over the world. Man will be eliminated and once more us cats will have our proper place at the top of the food chain. I, of course, will be in control. I’ll have the power. I’ll have everything! RABID (GRAVE) Mark 9:36, What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? GRENDLE (COCKY) How does such rubbish apply to me? I’m not a man. Rabid sighs. RABID (PERTURBED) You’re probably right. You don’t have a soul either. Grendle grins. GRENDLE (IMPUDENT) I don’t believe I can disagree with that. Why do I need my body degraded by something so prone to feelings and weaknesses? But I was just wondering. Who’s Mark? Rabid glares at Grendle. Before the tension mounts any further, Sydney steps forward. SYDNEY (UPSET, SLIGHT AUSTRALIAN ACCENT) This is stupid. You’re doing this over some silly myth! The power of Orion doesn’t exist! NITRO (OBSTINATE) Either way, we won’t help you. GRENDLE (SMUG) R-e-a-l-l-y? Grendle motions to Mauler, who nods and presses a button on the remote control again. Jolts of electricity floor the Grizzlies in agony. Rabid clutches Nitro tightly to himself, but he’s helpless to do anything to stop the anguish. This makes the anguish all the greater for him. GRENDLE (IMMODEST) Now what do you say? Rabid glances to Nitro. Tears begin to fill his eyes, but it’s not from the electricity. RABID (DEFIANT) Go to hell you son of a- Rabid breaks off as the distress subdues him. Grendle motions for Mauler to stop, which he eventually does. GRENDLE (COMPASSIONLESS) I can see you’d be willing to die before you’d help me. Frankly that doesn’t have any appeal because that won’t get the mission done. But since you won’t accept my proposal, I have no choice but to kill you. However, I have one last thing to show you before I end all your lives. Follow me. Grendle begins making his way toward the surface. Mauler forces the worn out Grizzlies to follow. EXTERIOR: DESERT – SAND DUNE Grendle leads the Grizzlies out of the ruins and over to an area right next to the base. We see Glitzy and Brigand tied down to stakes in the sand. There are four Cano-Mutant's watching over them. They are both sweating profusely from the heat. Grendle stands next to Glitzy and Brigand, making sure not to block the sun from them. PUFFBALL (APPALLED) This how you treat all cohorts? GRENDLE (UNFEELING) I assure you, Glitzy is far from being on my side. The only reason she agreed to help us lead you into a trap is because she was desperate to save her boyfriend over here. This is the only value I find in love, trust and loyalty. You can twist it to get people to do what you want. NITRO (ALARMED) Sheesh. You must be a blast at parties. GRENDLE (HEARTLESS) But now they’ll serve an even better purpose... insurance. Even with their thick coats, they won’t be able to last more than a few days out here. Just long enough to complete your mission. AMANI (STUBBORN) Why should that matter? We’re not helping and you’re going to kill us. GRENDLE (SHORT) Before you stick to that stance, consider this. You may be all full and willing to die for your beliefs, but do you not also have a duty to protect the innocent? If you refuse me and I kill you, these two civilians will die a horrible and painful death out here. But, if you do the task I ask, I’ll remove the collars and let all of you go. NITRO (DISBELIEVING) Why should we trust you? You wouldn’t keep your word to anyone, especially not us. GRENDLE (SEDATE) With Orion I have no reason to kill any of you. I would already have won. You may not trust me, but do you have a choice? You have a duty to do everything you can to save their lives. Doing the mission gives you more of a chance than not doing it at all. AMANI (SKEPTICAL) Since when do you care about things like “honor” and “duty”? GRENDLE (HONEST) Like I said, when it belongs to others and I can use it to manipulate them. Like now. AMANI (OFFENDED) If you think we’re- RABID (BLUNT) We’ll do it. Grendle grins. Everyone turns to Rabid, shocked. PUFFBALL (STARTLED) What? AMANI (STUNNED) How can you say that? He’ll just kill all of us anyway once we succeed! RABID (STRAIGHTFORWARD) That may be, but we all took an oath regardless. If this gives them even a single iota more of a chance to get out of here alive, we’re doing it. That’s an order. AMANI (AGHAST) I’m going to have to voice my disapproval over this. Why do his dirty work and then have all of us die anyway? NITRO (SINCERE) I have to agree with Rabid on this one. Amani whips a glance to Nitro. AMANI (SHOCKED) Say it isn’t so! Is this some type of boyfriend-girlfriend thing? NITRO (DEFENSIVE) Of course not. I don’t like this any more than you do. But Rabid’s right. We have an obligation to exhaust every single possibility before surrendering anyone’s lives, especially those of the common people. Nitro and Rabid look at each other and smiles. Amani folds her arms and shakes her head. AMANI (AGITATED) I’m thinking mutiny here Puffball. PUFFBALL (FRANK) You do alone then. AMANI (STARTLED) WHAT?!? You’ve NEVER taken Rabid’s side over mine before. In fact, you’ve ALWAYS agreed with me! PUFFBALL (CANDID) I sorry. But Rabid has good point. Amani is too overwhelmed to come up with anything to say. Puffball goes over to her, pleading. PUFFBALL (REGRETFUL) Do not be mad with me. You always be my mistress. I die for you. But this is time when you wrong. We need to protect other people. Amani still refuses to budge. AMANI (OBSTINATE) I’m sorry, but I can’t. I can’t go back to working for the bad guys again. I won’t. I didn’t even know what I was doing the first time, but even then it still hurt when I found out that all that I’d worked for had caused the deaths of so many innocent. The main reason I agreed to join the Grizzlies in the first place wasn’t because our home was destroyed. I only said that to hide the truth. The real reason we became Strayers is because I felt like I needed to make right all that I’d done wrong. If I go back now, I’ll feel even worse than before because I’d be doing it out of my own free will. There’s no way I’d ever work for such an individual ever again, especially since our labors would bring about the fall of the entire world. How can you even ask me to do such a thing? Puffball kneels, almost like she has reverted back to her pre-Mutant form. Her mannerisms resemble that of a kitten. PUFFBALL (PLEADING) Please. If we not do this, you die right now. I not want that, not for anything. I do whatever it takes to save your life, even if it means serving him. But I need you too. Amani looks deep into Puffball’s eyes. There is nothing but sincerity. She still won’t change her mind. Rabid finally goes over to Amani and puts his arm around her. She refuses to give him any attention. RABID (SOFTLY) Believe me Amani, your past will never go away. No matter how many people you help, the regret will always exist in the back of your mind. I also became a Strayer to right the wrongs I had done, but my beliefs changed. It changed when I met you. This catches Amani’s attention. She glances up and locks eyes with Rabid. His stare is piercing. AMANI (BEWILDERED) Me? RABID (TRUTHFUL) Yes. You’ve been a great addition to our team, but you also gave me perhaps the most important lesson I’ve ever learned. This job we’ve taken, these obligations we have, should never be about us and our need to chase away our own pain and remorse. It’s about protecting other’s so they don’t have to experience the things we have. Rather than us, the focus should be the them, the innocent. I realized that when you first joined us. I let the bigger picture of trying to catch Parvo cloud my judgement. Trying to beat evil to justify the mistakes I had made. I was wrong. If I had done my real duty, perhaps you’d still have a normal life, still have your home. Don’t let your sorrow control you. Help us save them, because we need you. I need you. Amani is overcome. She begins to cry, but holds it back. She wipes a lone tear that had managed to escape, and nods her head. AMANI (EMOTIONAL) All right. Let’s get this over with... you jerk. Rabid smirks. So does Grendle. GRENDLE (RIDICULING) That is perhaps the most... pathetic display I’ve ever seen in my life. But as long as I get what I want, doesn’t matter to me. SYDNEY (PERPLEXED) What about me? I’ve only got expertise in South American cultures. I’d be of no use to you for this. GRENDLE (COLD) Then you can die right now. RABID (SERIOUS) She comes or none of us go. Grendle nearly laughs out loud at this point. GRENDLE (ENTERTAINED) Amazing. Just when I think you can’t get any more pitiful, you do. Fine. As long as you succeed I don’t care how many of you go. NITRO (UPSET) Save us the pep talk will you? But as long as we’re doing this, will you explain why you can’t just dig down into the chamber from above? GRENDLE (SCORNFUL) Bravo. That is probably the first intelligent question any of you have asked. You see our sensors haven’t been able to penetrate that deep within the ground. The ruins are so old that trying the burrow in the wrong place may bury the treasure forever. I’m not willing to take that chance. However if you fail, I’ll kill all of you and do that. I suggest you get going immediately. Time is not on your side, especially with regard to the civilians being alive when you get back. RABID (PENSIVE) I don’t see our vehicles here. Unless you’ve got some space age mechanism, I don’t think we can walk that fast. GRENDLE (PRESUMPTUOUS) Point taken, but not respected. This way. Grendle leads the group to a special jet sitting behind the camp. GRENDLE (DIRECT) I’m well aware of your motorcycle’s unique capabilities. Therefore, I’ve arranged for transportation myself. Inside you’ll find various devices to aid you in your quest. Grendle and Mauler begin walking away. SYDNEY (SARCASTIC) That it? No words of encouragement? Grendle glances over his shoulder. GRENDLE (HARD) Don’t fail. For your sake. The only help I can give you is that one of the “Key Holders” went to Egypt. Grendle and Mauler disappear. The Grizzlies and Sydney waste no time getting into their vehicle and taking off. INTERIOR: JET - COCKPIT There are various chairs and equipment contained here. There are all sorts of electronic machines and devices for use. Puffball is flying with Amani in the navigator’s seat. Everyone else is gathered around a screen showing a map of the area around and containing Egypt. RABID (DISGRUNTLED) The information about Orion contained within this computer’s database is minimal at best. It confirms that Egypt should be our final destination, but no specific place. SYDNEY (FIRM) Set a course for Giza. The “Key Holder” there was believed to be in the area of the Sphinx. All the Grizzlies are taken by surprise. AMANI (ASTONISHED) I thought you were only prudent in South American lore? SYDNEY (EXPLAINING) Orion is one of the biggest legends in the annals of archeology. Kind of like the Ark of the Covenant. I didn’t want to let on about that to Grendle. He seems a little full blown already. NITRO (DEFLATED) Unfortunately, the collars we’re wearing have transmission gadgets inside each of them. They probably heard everything anyway. Grendle suddenly speaks over the Jet’s radio. GRENDLE (SMUG, OVER RADIO) You are correct my little fly. One added benefit is that the while you can’t hear me, I can hear everything you say. So don’t even think about contacting any other Rovers or Strayers, or everyone dies. Have a nice trip. Keep the ant farm intact. The radio goes dead. Everyone looks amongst each other grimly. EXTERIOR: EGYPT – SKY The sun is beginning to vanish behind the horizon as the Grizzlies fly over Giza in their jet. Below we can see the Pyramids, and a few moments later, the Sphinx. The jet banks down sharply and lands a few hundred feet from the target. EXTERIOR: EGYPT – GIZA One of the suburbs of Cairo, Giza contains not only the Great Sphinx, but also the Great Pyramids of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre and Menkaure. The Grizzlies start making their way toward the Sphinx as soon at they disembark from the jet. EXTERIOR: GIZA - SPHINX Sitting in a tall wall of stone, the Sphinx looms over the ground below. The foundation itself is assembled is a rather erratic pattern. The Grizzlies can be seen running toward the Sphinx. Before they can reach their goal however, a tour steps in the way. There are about thirty Americans and one Egyptian guide. The Grizzlies and Sydney are forced to stop and wait. EGYPTIAN GUIDE (LOFTY, THICK ARABIC ACCENT) As I was saying, these three pyramids, despite the fact they seem to be identical on all sides, are actually meant to be facing east across the Nile. In front, as you can see, is the Great Sphinx. RABID (FRIGHTENED, UNDER HIS BREATH) Oh no! History lesson! Everybody run! Nitro elbows Rabid. NITRO (AMUSED) Just pipe down. We can’t be watching cartoons all the time. I enjoy this kind of stuff. Rabid, being a guy, is forced to give in. As usual, the gender numbers are not in his favor. Pity is accepted graciously. EGYPTIAN GUIDE (SEDATE) One of the great architectural accomplishments in the history of man, the head itself is 19 feet (5.8 meters) high from the chin to the forehead, and is 91 feet (27.7 meters) in circumference. The paws alone extend out 56 feet (17 meters)! As a whole, the Sphinx is approximately 66 feet (20 meters) tall and 240 feet (73 meters) long. Rabid begins twitching as the guide continues. RABID (MISERABLE, UNDER HIS BREATH) The horror... the horror... EGYPTIAN GUIDE (BORING) According to ancient texts, the Sphinx was a supernatural monster in many archaic fables. It would have the body of lion to symbolize courage, and the head of a human. Usually it would be in the likeness of the reigning pharaoh, perhaps as a means of appeasement or obedience. This particular one has the head of Khafre, which would explain why it is in front of his tomb and not the others. We can further see this by the large column in front of the Sphinx, which has a plaque set into it commemorating that this monument was in fact made by Khafre to idolize himself. It’s almost as old as the Sphinx itself. A distant and empty expression comes over Rabid. RABID (WEARIED, UNDER HIS BREATH) I’ll bet Jaime Kellner is behind all this. Somebody make it stop! EGYPTIAN GUIDE (TIRESOME) As far as the tale of the Sphinx, it originated here in Egypt before spreading to the Syrians, Phoenicians, and finally the Greeks. It was these people that gave the Sphinx the head and bust of a woman. They also added eagle’s wings to represent majesty, and a long serpent’s tail to suggest wiliness. In fact, later Greek literature indicated that the Sphinx was not a monster at all, but a beautiful, wise, mysterious woman. It’s from the Egyptians that the Greeks adapted the Sphinx into their mythology. The guide now directs everyone attention to the body of the Sphinx. Rabid is... suffering in a sense. RABID (TORMENTED, UNDER HIS BREATH) Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Amani whacks Rabid on the shoulder with her hand. AMANI (ANNOYED) Hilarious. Mark 15:34, Jesus’ famous last words. Well, one of them anyway. How can you even PRONOUNCE that? Rabid smiles. EGYPTIAN GUIDE (MONOTONE) Looking closely, you can see that the head and bust of this statue was carved from a large, solid block of granite left in a quarry from the Great Pyramid. The paws are also made of stone. Some scholars think that there was once a temple that stood between the legs of the Sphinx, and Egyptians would go there to worship the rising sun. The sacrificial alter that now stands here was actually built many centuries later by the Romans. It’s debated whether the Sphinx was constructed in 2600 BC or 2500 BC. We’ll just say that people who are now long dead made it a long time ago. Now if you’ll follow me this way, we’re going to take a closer like at the Pyramid of Khufu, often considered the greatest Pyramid ever made. The tour leaves. The Grizzlies and Sydney immediately go toward the Sphinx, but Rabid stands there a little dazed. Nitro goes back to snap him out of it. NITRO (CONCERNED) Are you okay honey? RABID (DAZED) Huh? Where am I? Is “Animaniacs” on yet? NITRO (BOTHERED) Just come over here. Nitro takes Rabid by the arm and leads him over to everyone else. They are busy examining the sculpture. EXTERIOR: SPHINX – BASE Unlike most other monuments, the Sphinx has no distinct foundation. Instead it sits on a huge mass of rock that extends many feet to either side, and back and forth. Everyone has a computerized scanner in their hands and are busy inspecting the Sphinx for any sign of the “Key”. They can’t find anything. PUFFBALL (BLUNT) Scan show that structure is solid. No secret doors. AMANI (DEFEATED) Now what? Sydney thinks for a moment. SYDNEY (BAFFLED) I don’t understand. I distinctly remember hearing stories about there being a hidden section from some colleagues of mine. NITRO (REASONING) Maybe they were thinking of another monument. Perhaps one of the Pyramids instead? RABID (HONEST) We’ve scanned the area several times already. There’s nothing. I’m thinking if we... Suddenly Sydney’s eyes light up and she snaps her fingers. SYDNEY (REALIZING) Wait a minute! I had this wrong. RABID (UNEASY) Don’t tell we’re supposed to be in Kansas instead. SYDNEY (IRRITATED) No. We’re in the right place, just checking out the wrong thing. The concealed chamber wasn’t in the Sphinx, but under the pillar in front of it! Apparently some Americans were running routine tests for oil, and stumbled upon a small underground passage. I believe it was directly under the base of the column with the memorial plaque in it. They were planning to explore the section further, but the Egyptian government put a stop to it. Some bogus diplomatic reasons. The investigation of the newly found room was simply closed. Rabid shrugs his shoulders. They decide to check it out. EXTERIOR: SPHINX – COMMEMORATIVE PILLAR This is a massive bedrock column that stands a good 50 feet high, and is about 5 feet in circumference. Fixed at about eye level is an old bronze plaque acknowledging Khafre as the maker of the Sphinx. The Grizzlies follow the lead and find that Sydney is correct. AMANI (SINCERE) Our instruments confirm that there is some type of room below us, but there doesn’t seem to be any way down. RABID (DOUBTFUL) I have a feeling we’re not going to anymore support from the Egyptian government than the first ones who found this. We don’t exactly look like your everyday tourists. NITRO (CANDID) Even if we did, it would take forever to dig our way down. SYDNEY (CURIOUS) What can we do then? RABID (UPBEAT) Look for someone endowed with incredible power? AMANI (SARCASTIC) Sure pal. Maybe we can find another Moses wandering around. RABID (EARNEST) Moses was in Midian. He didn’t come here until afterwards. AMANI (AGITATED, IMITATING COLLEEN) Heh heh. Now there’s- RABID (STAID) Shhhh! Don’t step on anybody’s lines! AMANI (ANNOYED) You know what. I- NITRO (NERVOUS) Hey! Where did Sydney go? The Grizzlies look around and notice that Sydney is in fact missing. As first they are concerned, but then they spot her back over next to the Sphinx. She has her scanner hooked to her belt, and is running her hand along the base of the Sphinx. They decide to join her. NITRO (CONFUSED) What’s wrong? We already checked this area remember? SYDNEY (DISTRACTED) It’s not that. It’s just... well... I’ve always dreamed about exploring the Sphinx further. My fascination has always been with spectacular man-made structures. Pyramids, monuments, that kind of stuff. I would have studied ancient Egyptian buildings, but my parents were against it. They didn’t feel that I had a real future in Egyptian culture. They thought it was so old, everything would have been found already. So I was forced to study South American civilizations instead. It left me with the possibility for discovery, with enough great things to look at in the process. Sydney begins walking to her left, keeping her hand on the foundation of the Sphinx. SYDNEY (SINCERE) I’ve always hoped of coming to Egypt and uncovering something spectacular, just to prove my folks wrong. Maybe it was just wishful... The mechanism at Sydney’s waist begins to beep, interrupting her train of thought. She looks down at it, then at the Grizzlies who are busy looking at her. They walk over to her. Sydney stops and pulls out the device from her pocket. She begins scanning the wall in front of her. She smiles. SYDNEY (CURT) Hold on a second. This part of the wall is hollow inside. Puffball looks to Rabid, who nods when he is sure no one is looking. She goes over to the barrier and knocks it down. Everyone quickly steps inside when the coast is clear. INTERIOR: SPHINX – UNDERGROUND TUNNEL Unbending gloom surrounds them. With the sun nearly gone, what little light they have is quickly diminishing. Amani and Sydney each pull out a tiny flashlight from their pockets. All they can see is a twisting staircase that twirls around a center pillar as it moves downward. There is moss growing on the steps and cobwebs hiding in every crevice. AMANI (REPELLED) Disgusting. I hate spiders. Sydney looks over the edge of the stairs and directs her flashlight down. She is unable to see the bottom. SYDNEY (DISTURBED, TO HERSELF) Something creepy is going to happen and I’m not going to like it. NITRO (PRYING) What was that? SYDNEY (WARY) Nothing. Rabid smirks. RABID (SNICKERING) Would you prefer I go first? SYDNEY (AGGRAVATED) Just keep quite. I’m going. Rabid shrugs his shoulders mockingly. The Grizzlies begin descending the stairs. Sydney is in front, followed closely by Rabid and then Nitro. Amani comes next with Puffball at the end. RABID (PLAYFUL, IMITATING YOUNG PLUCKY) Grizzlies go down the hole... Sydney looks over her shoulder at Rabid. SYDNEY (ANNOYED) Do you mind? Rabid only chuckles. They continue. After a few minutes, they can no longer see the opening at the surface. Nothing but darkness can be observed above and below them. Sydney’s grip on her flashlight starts to increase. Rabid notices this and smiles. He begins talking into Sydney’s ear over her shoulder. RABID (MISCHIEVOUS, SPOOKY VOICE) Hello... Sydney. What’s YOUR favorite scary movie? Sydney whips around and shoves Rabid. SYDNEY (BOTHERED) Will you knock it off??? You’re freaking me out! Rabid doesn’t retaliate. He does, however, begin to enjoy Sydney’s uneasiness. He starts making sounds from Friday the 13th. RABID (SLY) Chu chu chu chu... cha cha cha cha... Sydney yells without turning around. SYDNEY (ANXIOUS) Hey! Quit it! That’s not funny! NITRO (AMUSED) I beg to differ. Sydney begins to get steamed, which only makes her all the more paranoid. Rabid suddenly grabs Sydney by the shoulders. RABID (SINGING, IMITATING BARNEY) I love you. You love me. We’re a- Sydney screams at the top of her lungs. She stands petrified for a few moments. Both Nitro and Amani whack Rabid. RABID (FLUSTERED) What? AMANI (UPSET) How could you? NITRO (ANGRY) I’ve heard of trying to scare someone, but doing THAT was just plain HORRIFYING. Rabid lowers his head and then glances at Sydney. RABID (APOLOGETIC) I’m sorry Sydney. I went too far with that last one. No one should EVER have to live through THAT. SYDNEY (SOLEMN) I’m in my mid-twenties at that the show STILL managed to scar me for life. NEVER go there. Rabid can only nod. The Grizzlies and Sydney continue their journey into the center of the murkiness. INTERIOR: UNDERGROUND TUNNEL – LOWER CHASM The staircase leads the group several hundred feet below the earth. A nasty aroma of mud and corroding dead creatures resonates throughout the area. After about twenty feet, the Grizzlies come to a large wall. The whole thing is covered with hieroglyphics. Sydney attempts to translate the pictures. Rabid is impatient. RABID (RESTLESS) Well what does it say? SYDNEY (GRUMPY) Do you want to do this? Sydney shakes her head. SYDNEY (DISPLEASED) If only I had managed to stay awake in Ancient Egypt class, this might be a little easier to understand. RABID (IRONICAL) Oh Sydney. Where’s the dedication? SYDNEY (BOTHERED) Let’s just say that it was about as interesting as Sanskrit 101. And about half as easy. But anyway, from what I can make out, it says “What animal walks on four legs in the morning, on two at noon, and on three at night?” RABID/PUFFBALL (EXCITED, SIMULTANEOUS) A CAT/DOG AFTER A FIGHT WITH A DOG/CAT! Rabid and Puffball stare at each other. RABID/PUFFBALL (MAD, SIMULTANEOUS) HEY! Nitro, Amani and Sydney just shake their heads. Amani steps forward. AMANI (CALM) You’re both wrong. It’s man. PUFFBALL (SURPRISED) Man? RABID (SKEPTICAL) Yeah right. SYDNEY (FORTHRIGHT) Actually I believe Amani’s correct. RABID (PERPLEXED) Huh? How is that possible? Rabid’s mouth drops open. Amani grins from ear to ear. SYDNEY (PONDERING) If the same people who made the Sphinx created the column out front and this passage, they must have also been aware of the legend of the Sphinx. According to the myth, the Sphinx frequented the roads of Thebes, posing a riddle to all those who passed by it. It would then devour them when they failed to get the right answer. After many had died at the hands of the Sphinx, the Theban hero Oedipus finally answered the question correctly. The monster then killed herself and Oedipus was made king by the citizens. I believe that this was the riddle that Oedipus had answered to defeat the Sphinx. RABID (BLUNT) Oh. Nice to know, but I was simply wondering how AMANI could have possibly known that. AMANI (HAPLESS) Well the reason is, unfortunately, because I had to read “Oedipus Rex” in high school. He eventually gouges his eyes out when he finds out the queen is actually his mother. NITRO (REVOLTED) I did not have to know that. AMANI (FRANK) The answer was man because during the morning, his infancy, he crawls on all fours. At noon, supposedly his adulthood, he walks on two feet. And when the darkness of old age overcome him, man uses a stick for better support when he walks. Hence a third foot. Sydney nods. She turns her attention back to the wall, and notices several images under the question. One of them happens to be of a man. After a moment’s hesitation, she pushes the figure. At first nothing happens. A few seconds later however, part of the wall slides away and reveals a hidden room. Amani goes in first, followed by everyone else. INTERIOR: LOWER CHASM – SECRET CHAMBER The room is pretty much empty except for a giant column set into the floor toward the back of the room. All along the walls are triangular- shaped areas for torches about six feet off the ground. Each protrudes out horizontally about a foot and then slants off at a 45-degree angle back into the wall. They are all unlit however. The rancid smell from before increases in potency. As soon as the group enters the area, the wall slams shut sealing them in. They try to pry the entrance back open, but it is all in vain. They search hastily for another exit, but there is none. After surveying the room with her flashlight, Amani spots a few skeletons lying on the ground. AMANI (APPARENT) That can’t be a good sign. RABID (TAUNTING) You study that in high school too? AMANI (SARCASTIC) Uh huh. It was in a class called “Rabid is a- NITRO (IRATE) Shut up you guys! Listen to that. SYDNEY (BEFUDDLED) I don’t hear anything. AMANI (ABASHED) Me either. RABID (TENSE) Oh boy. AMANI (FEIGNED) What? RABID (UNSETTLED) What I’m detecting is not a good thing. Rabid points to his right. RABID (STERN) Point your flashlights over there. Amani and Sydney are confused, but they do it anyway. They instantly see hundreds of scorpions scurrying across the floor toward them. AMANI (SCARED) Ahhhhh! Go back to the spiders! Go back to the spiders! Everyone dashes over to the other side of the room, but the scorpions follow. Desperate, they all climb on top of the pillar. It’s just big enough to fit everyone. The scorpions try to climb up, but it is too steep. Everyone sighs with relief. Rabid grins. RABID (MERRY) Gather around everyone. Group hug! Everyone glares at him. AMANI (DISCONCERTED) What is with you on this mission? Be serious for once! Rabid grimaces. RABID (ANNOYED) How boring. PUFFBALL (HONEST) Better bored than dead. Rabid folds his arms. RABID (AGITATED) Crud. Where’s Ricky when I need him? NITRO (SINCERE) That’s a good question. Someone has to save us. Rabid does his best Will Smith impression. RABID (CONFIDENT) Just chill woman! Everything’s gonna be all right. Out of nowhere, the column they’re standing begins to sink to the floor. It is moving at a snail-like pace. Everyone stares at Rabid. AMANI (BITTER) Ooo. Good one! Rabid looks up in thought. RABID (AWARE) Oh yeah. I forgot that didn’t work in the movie either. SYDNEY (MORBID) I don’t suppose anyone has a ten-gallon can of bug spray hidden someplace hmmm? AMANI (SHARP) I’ll bet that Rabid has one in his FRONT pocket. NITRO (QUESTIONING) No... I doubt it. Both Rabid and Nitro grin. Everyone else nearly pukes. Amani slaps her forehead with her right hand. AMANI (DISPLEASED) Oh geez. Why didn’t I see that one coming? No one knows what else to say. The focus switches back to the scorpions. NITRO (IRRIATED) This sucks man. We picked the right answer and everything but our bodies are still gonna go cold in a minute. PUFFBALL (VEXED) I think we’ve been screwed. What a gyp. AMANI (UNHAPPY) I can’t believe we’re actually goin’ down. There’s gotta be some type of unwritten rule against this. Rabid rolls his eyes. RABID (MACHO) Skirts. Can’t work with them... the end. I need to have some homies bad. A brother can’t survive on woman alone. Everyone glares at Rabid again. Shouldn’t have gone there. They’re about to bring the thunder, but Sydney stops them. SYDNEY (EAGER) You guys, look up there! That opening in the wall wasn’t there before. Everyone sees what she is talking about. It is slightly below the ceiling and directly above them. Unfortunately it’s a good ten of twelve feet up and out of their reach. AMANI (EXASPERATED) Nuts! I had a hook and rope in my backpack, before Grendle decided to relieve me of it. NITRO (DISAPPOINTED, TO RABID) If only you were a little bit taller. RABID (UPSET) Nothing is EVER good enough for you women is it? Sure I’m over seven feet tall and I can lift several hundred pounds, but nooooo! YOU have to obsess about my height! NITRO (EASYGOING) Why must you turn everything into a gender issue? You’re so sensitive. AMANI (ANGRY) Hey! Can you guys save the “Geraldo” stuff for later? We need a plan. RABID (STIMULATED) Can do. Time to make a human pyramid! AMANI (CUTTING) I meant a plan that will actually work. RABID (SOMBER) Do I look like Hunter? I’m serious. If we can get someone up there, that person can help lift everyone else up. AMANI (DUBIOUS) I don’t know- NITRO (HARSHLY) Forget it! Let’s just do it! We don’t have time to argue. Rabid and Puffball get down and Nitro gets on top of them. Amani steps onto the formation but still can’t reach the top. AMANI (STRAINING) I need a boost! Sydney takes Amani’s foot in her hands and pushes her up. Once Amani reaches the top, she reaches down to grab Sydney. The pillar is now only a few feet from the floor. The pyramid comes down. Puffball and Rabid now follow Sydney example and support Nitro’s feet. One giant effort sends her vertical in the air, at which point she grabs onto the outstretched hands of Sydney and Amani. They pull her up. Puffball and Rabid now look at each other. PUFFBALL (STRAIGHTFORWARD) What now? RABID (BLUNT) I’ll give you a boost up. PUFFBALL (INQUISITIVE) What you do then? RABID (CURT) Don’t worry. I know what to do. PUFFBALL (SKEPTICAL) What that? RABID (ANNOYED) Look, would you rather have to haul MY big butt up there? Puffball instantly gets into position. He tosses Puffball up and the other three catch her, but she weighs too much to be pulled up. Rabid then leaps and pushes her feet from behind, and they are finally able to bring Puffball up. Rabid remains on the pillar alone. It is now only about five feet above the ground. NITRO (HURRIED) Now what? RABID (NONCHALANT) Now you guys go get the “Key”. Realization fills everyone. AMANI (STARTLED) You son of a- NITRO (FURIOUS) How could you?!? RABID (MODERATE) I knew there was no way we could get everyone up in time. You guys can still make it without me. NITRO (FRANTIC) Well I can’t! Either you get up here right now or I’m coming down! RABID (UNEASY) Don’t do anything stupid. NITRO (ENRAGED) That means jack squat coming from you! RABID (COMPOSED) I’m sorry. It wouldn’t have worked any other way. No one else had the strength to get everyone else up. NITRO (INCENSED) Fine you selfish jerk. Let’s go. AMANI (STUNNED) What? We can’t just- NITRO (COLD) We can’t reach him and he’s too stubborn to try and get up. No use waiting just to see him die. We’ve got civilians to save. Nitro storms off. No one can believe what she’s saying, but follow anyway. Rabid sits down where his is. RABID (FLAT) I surrender my soul to you Lord. Rabid closes his eyes. Suddenly something drops into his lap. He opens them and finds himself staring right at Nitro. NITRO (ZEALOUS) If you’re going to give up on life, I might as well too. What’s a body without love and a soul to go along with it? RABID (SULLEN) You’ve just signed your own death sentence. NITRO (FERVENT) You signed it for me when you took my heart. We are one to the end. RABID (EMOTIONAL) We always will be. Rabid and Nitro embrace each other, finding each other’s lips by simply looking for the sweet taste of nectar. They close their eyes for the last time; each focusing on a vision that can only be viewed with the spirit. Amani and the rest watch helplessly. AMANI (MOVED) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Never was that verse so true as it is now. Amani closes her eyes as the tears begin. Nitro and Rabid’s lips separate, but they keep their faces a mere inch apart. The trivial distance itself traversed by the internal bond between them. NITRO (BURNING) Fools to the end. Fools for each other. What could be more perfect? Rabid looks deep into Nitro’s eyes, though the physical body could never fully express what he’s truly feeling inside. RABID (AFFECTIONATE) The earth will weep for centuries to come, for it is about to lose the most dazzling maiden it will ever know. Heaven on the other hand will rejoice for a thousand years, for it is about to welcome back it’s most marvelous angel. Rabid and Nitro come together again. Amani watches them through her glazed pupils, sadness looming over her like dark cloud. Without warning however, her face comes to life and her eyes spring open. She wipes away the moisture from her face and begins staring across the room. He eyes examine everything in the entire chamber. Her attention returns to Rabid and Nitro. AMANI (THRILLED) Yoo Hoo! You gonna just sit there grossing everyone out, or are you going to get a move on so we can finish this mission? Nitro and Rabid split and glance up at Amani. RABID AND NITRO (BEWILDERED) Say what? AMANI (HASTILY) Way out at nine o’clock! The pair gazes to their left and spots the rows of light fixtures along the wall that Amani is talking about. They lead right up to the opening, but it’s too far away to reach. The scorpions completely cover the floor, and the column is almost completely gone. NITRO (WARY) What can we do? We can’t reach them! RABID (BOLD) Get up on my shoulders and I’ll take you there. NITRO (UNAFFECTED) Try again buddy. Even Achilles couldn’t make across this floor. Our target is over twenty feet away. RABID (PERSISTENT) I’ll move REALLY fast then. NITRO (SEVERE) No deal. Rabid thinks for a moment. He starts coming down from the pillar. RABID (RUSHED) Get ready to run. NITRO (OBSTINATE) I told you I’m not going for it. RABID (DIRECT) Not that. Just standing here, I can tell this column is fairly old. If I brace myself between this wall here and the pillar, I might be able to topple it. We can use it to stand on. NITRO (TROUBLED) That might have worked before, but it’s only four feet long now. RABID (FORWARD) We’ll just have to roll it! NITRO (DISCONSOLATE) Oh goody. The boots I’m wearing will really help. Rabid ignores Nitro. He immediately starts pushing against the column. His new position has left him just a foot off the ground, and the scorpions are snapping at him. At last the pillar gives way and topples. Rabid moves acrobatically, getting onto the column just before it falls. RABID (ALARMED) Let’s get this thing rolling! Those bugs will be able to get on here if we stay stationary too long! Rabid and Nitro start walking back slowly. They eventually get the pillar moving forward. The sound of crunching scorpions can be heard as they go along. When they are about five feet from the wall, they jump and grab onto a pair of light fixtures. The outlets immediately begin to break under their weight. RABID (FEARFUL) Make a break for it! Nitro and Rabid begin moving to their right by grabbing the fixtures adjacent to them. Each breaks as soon as they have gotten to the next one. Eventually they run out of things to grab. Desperate, Nitro leaps for the opening and is then pulled up. Rabid comes up a little short, but Puffball manages to grab him before he falls. Both look back at the snapping scorpions behind them, and then to each other. NITRO (EVIDENT) That was too close. RABID (BOTHERED) It would have been easier if you hadn’t insisted on coming down. NITRO (SMUG) If I hadn’t gone down, you’d be dead. And so would my heart. RABID (PLEASED) True enough. Rabid and Nitro are about to get all mushy again, but Amani (thankfully) intervenes. AMANI (SHAKEN) Yeah. Yeah. Can we get going? We’re on a very rigid schedule. PUFFBALL (JOKING) Collars rather tight aren’t they? Amani sighs. AMANI (EXASPERATED) It’s gonna be one of those whimsically days, I can just tell. Amani drudges off. Rabid grins. RABID (AMUSED) Someone got stood up because of a lab experiment last night. Nitro giggles. Everyone rises and follows Amani down the passage. The corridor is completely dark. We notice several rats scampering across the stone ground, their tiny claws clicking daintily against the floor. About half a mile in, they come to a second room. INTERIOR: LOWER CHASM – CENTRAL AREA Unlike the previous chamber, this one is filled will all sorts of prehistoric items on the floor and along the walls. On their extreme right is a staircase leading upward. Soft white light is emanating from this region, providing good illumination for the entire room. In the very middle of the chamber is a small pillar. On it rests a large marble slab with ancient characters inscribe in it. Sydney and Amani both put away their flashlights. Amani points toward the staircase on the right. AMANI (STAID) That better be a way out. NITRO (REASONING) The sunshine is white instead of yellow. Must be just after sunset. Sydney goes over to the column with the tablet and begins analyzing it. Encircling the pillar in big letters in a word written in a foreign language, she reads it. SYDNEY (OUT LOUD) Power. Sydney smiles. SYDNEY (JUBILANT) This is it! It says The Way of Orion on it. This must be the first key! Sweetness baby! Everyone stares at her. RABID (CONFUSED) Sweetness baby? Sydney shrugs her shoulders. SYDNEY (COMPOSED) Sorry. This is exciting for me. RABID (AWAITING) Does it tell us anything else? Sydney goes over the stone plate again. SYDNEY (GRADUALLY, TRANSLATING) Um... blah... blah... ah! It says: The beginning of eternity, the end of time and space. The beginning of every end, and the end of every place. RABID (UNRESERVED) Sounds like Heaven or Hell. AMANI (WITTY) Or Alabama. SYDNEY (HONEST) Pretty much every ancient civilization was pagan in that they believed in many gods instead of just one. They probably had different ideas about the afterlife than we do. NITRO (INTERESTED) What could it be then? No one can figure it out. Puffball scratches her head. PUFFBALL (DISSIPATED) The letter E? RABID (ABASHED) Huh? SYDNEY (ECSTATIC) Wait a minute. She's right! Think about the riddle! Sydney goes over to the "e" in the word "Power". She pushes it and it slides in easily. A false bottom pops out with a second stone tablet. SYDNEY (CLEAR) This one also says The Way of Orion on it. We need to be more careful. Things are not always the way they seem. There's no telling how many bogus KEYS there are. RABID (JADED) Does THIS ONE give us the location of the other KEYS? Sydney inspects the slab. SYDNEY (ENGROSSED, TRANSLATING) You have passed the first test and this is your prize. But do not let pride consume you, or it will be your demise. There is a difficult road to travel before success can be achieved. Pride will tell you things will be easy, but don't be deceived. The second key is what you desire to find next in your quest. Yet before you answer this next riddle, much thought should you invest. It is neither in a vault, in a town, or even in an edifice. You will instead find it where Nebuchadnezzar II made an oasis. Sydney glances up. RABID (BEFUDDLED) What in the-? NITRO (DEAD) It'll take us forever to- RABID (AFLAME) I've got it! Everyone else is shocked. AMANI (WOWED) What do you mean? RABID (BLUNT) The key part was Nebuchadnezzar. He was the king of Babylon around 600 BC. He made the Hanging Gardens during his reign. Being in a desert, that's pretty close to making an oasis in my book. SYDNEY (SURPRISED) You're right. But how could you figure it out that fast? Rabid smiles. RABID (SMUG) I'm an ammeter Bible scholar. Remember? Nitro gazes at Rabid and touches his cheek. NITRO (AFFECTIONATE) And a cute one at that. Rabid's smile broadens, he and Nitro gaze lovingly at each other. Amani notices this, she groans. AMANI (ANNOYED) Come on Indiana Gigolo. Let's get moving before I throw up. The Grizzlies chuckle. Sydney places the tablet under her arm. They make their way up the staircase to the surface. EXTERIOR: SURFACE – GREAT PYRAMID The land is empty as darkness begins to fall over the land. Out of nowhere, part of the side of the pyramid opens up and the Grizzlies step out with Sydney. The wall closes again and vanishes as if an opening was never there. Amani takes a deep breath. AMANI (REVIVED) Ah... fresh air. Nitro turns to Rabid and puts her arms around his neck. They begin to kiss again and again. Amani notices this of course. AMANI (WEARIED) Heh. I still feel sick. Amani walks over to Sydney. AMANI (THINKING) Where was it we parked again? SYDNEY (CURT) I thought you were keeping track of that. Amani puts her face in her left hand. AMANI (FRUSTRATED) This is not my day. Rabid and Nitro join the others. RABID (UPBEAT) Cheer up. At least we’ve got a third of the puzzle. We hear the several distinct clicks. Like the cocking of safeties. The Grizzlies rotate slowly and are instantly staring down the barrels of two dozen M-16’s. The owners of the guns are all wearing brown uniforms. One in particular steps forward. VOICE (SUPERCILIOUS) Correction. You HAD a third of the puzzle. The Grizzlies instantly recognize who it is. Rabid jeers at the owner of the utterance. RABID (LOATHSOME) Dole! Rabid continues staring hatefully at Ross Dole (from “Fur of Dog, Skin of Human, Heart of Hero”). He is a middle-aged African American male in a gray business suit. Nitro puts her hands on Rabid’s right shoulder. NITRO (PLAYFUL, TO RABID) You really are doing quite well at getting down that sneer and venomous tone dear. Rabid turns to Nitro and smiles. RABID (APPRECIATIVE) Thanks honey. I try my best. Rabid and Nitro stare fondly into each other’s eyes. Sydney leans over to whisper in Amani’s ear, who has an irritated expression on her face. SYDNEY (WHISPER, TROUBLED, SPORT-LIKE) Do they do this often? AMANI (SICKENED, COLLEEN-LIKE) Oh... way more than the typical stomach can handle usually. Ross paces back and forth arrogantly. ROSS (HAUGHTY, IMITATING RENE BELLOQ) Dr. Jones. Again we see there is nothing you can possess which I cannot take away. Everyone moans in pain. RABID (DISGUSTED) Just don’t start calling me “Indy”. ROSS (SMUG) All right then... Junior... hand over the tablet. It would be such a strain to have to pry it from your cold dead hands. Rabid sees all the weapons aimed at them and sighs. RABID (SCORNING) Sydney. Will you do the honors in giving the crazy man what he wants? ROSS (PROVOKED) Excuse me? RABID (CONTEMPTUOUS) Oh, sorry. Sydney. Will you do the honors in giving the “rationally challenged” individual what he wants? Ross glares at Rabid. Sydney hesitates, but eventually surrenders the slab to Dole. This pleases him greatly. He goes over to Rabid and pats him several times on the head. ROSS (PROUD) That’s a VERY GOOD dog. How about a biscuit as a treat? Rabid bares his teeth. ROSS (UNRUFFLED) Careful little doggie. Don’t be biting the hand that feeds you. RABID (MALEVOLENT) How about I just rip it off? Rabid growls, but this only entertains Ross even more. He then notices the collar Rabid has on and smirks. He runs his fingers along it, admiring it as an adult would admire a silly trinket a child might bring home after a day in the backyard. ROSS (INSULTING) Nice. Looks good on you. Very becoming in my opinion. Rabid is about two seconds from taking off Ross’ head with his fangs regardless of the consequences. Above everything else, he absolutely HATES collars. AMANI (UNFRIENDLY) What is all this about? Run out of people to manipulate? Ross turns his attention to Amani, perhaps saving the Grizzlies from certain death had Ross continued to aggravate Rabid further. ROSS (SELF-IMPORTANT) Does it look like I’m alone? Dirty secrets outnumber the stars in the sky. I lost my reserves due to those accursed Rovers, but I always have enough dirt to elicit aid from someone. SYDNEY (HOSTILE) Why are you here Dole? Ross grins. ROSS (SATISFIED) Sydney... so you remember me. Most of your darker past went up in flames, so you have the Rovers to thank for that. But don’t be so sure you’ve escaped my grasp just yet. The Grizzlies are shocked when they realize that Sydney and Dole know each other quite well. They fully expected this to be her first meeting with him. SYDNEY (DEFIANT) You can’t scare me anymore. The past is just that. People have a right to be free of former mistakes, to have a fresh start. I’m not the same person I was seven years ago. I won’t let my previous actions control me anymore. And you are no longer able to either. ROSS (HEARTLESS) True I may not have your dark history anymore, but how long do you think that will last? You are an ambitious young woman in a very competitive field Sydney and the pressure will get to you. Sooner or later you will falter, and I’ll be there to snatch you up once more. Your hands won’t stay clean for long. No one’s ever does. That is why I will always have power over people. Everyone believes they can get away with doing wrong once in a while. They never think anyone will ever find out their crimes until it’s too late. Until the consequences have already wrapped themselves around their throats so tight that any hope they ever had for discretion and freedom is long squeezed out by the time retribution comes. When of course, I find them. SYDNEY (SARCASTIC) So you’re the self-appointed eternal “judge” huh? You are only doing your part in providing vindication for people’s wrongs. ROSS (CONCEITED) Precisely. People do evil on their own. I simply serve as a balance of power. If there were no consequences for their actions, would they ever mend their ways? I provide a service. PUFFBALL (AGNOSTIC) What big load of crap. NITRO (LEERING) Someone should probably hand you a shovel. You do it for your own gain, not for any higher purpose. ROSS (RELAXED) On the contrary, the greater good IS my goal. It just so happens I am able to gain a few benefits for myself along the way. RABID (RESENTFUL) So what kind of “greater good” are you doing by stealing from us? ROSS (BRAZEN) The word “steal” is such an ugly word. I prefer to call it “creative redistribution of desired goods”. AMANI (REVOLTED, TO HERSELF) Ewwww. Not this economists crap again. Stinkin’ Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes. What a nightmare. ROSS (CONFIDENT) In any case, I’ve been after the secret of Orion for quite a while, but Grendle has been of no help. Unfortunately I can never get any dirt on him because he never leaves anyone alive. Not that he would care anyway. That’s why he sent you here instead of coming himself. I’ve been following his whereabouts for a while, so he probably thought you could get the KEYS without my knowledge of it. But as most learn, no one can ever get rid of me. RABID (AFFIRMATIVE, UNDER HIS BREATH) Tell me about it. ROSS (THINKING) Hmmm. You sound like we have done business before. But I don't remember ever digging up any dirt on you, Rabid. Not that I haven't tried. You have been extremely difficult. It is as if you popped up out of no where. Care to explain this? Rabid becomes uneasy. RABID (UNEASY) Er, well. Hey! Can't we just get on with this? Ross smiles. ROSS (CONTENTED) I knew the only clue Grendle had was that one KEY was here at the Sphinx, so I decided to wait. When I saw you guys arrive, somehow I just knew you’d find the KEY for me. RABID (BRAVE) This isn’t over Ross. ROSS (POMPOUS) On the contrary, this contest was over as soon as I got involved. But since I can’t have any witnesses... Ross motions at the men surround the Grizzlies. They all take aim with their guns. Rabid steps in front of Nitro, one last heroic gesture in a world full of ruthless evil. ROSS (PLEASED) Good idea. If the rest of you will all do the same, we can save some bullets. How about it? No one else moves. Ross shrugs. ROSS (CANDID) Just thought I’d ask. After all- Out of nowhere comes the loud blaring of police sirens. Everyone looks behind them as a dozen jeeps drive up, stopping a few feet from Ross and his men. Local law enforcement officers jump out and point their weapons at everyone. One of the native policemen yells something angrily in Arabic. One of Ross’ men speaks over his shoulder. HENCHMAN #1 (TENSE, AMERICAN ACCENT) What do you want to do boss? ROSS (SNICKERING) We’ll do this like in the old days. The first one to die... loses! One of the Egyptian men pulls out a bullhorn. EGYPTIAN POLICEMAN #1 (STRICT, THICK ARABIC ACCENT) Everyone put down their weapons and come out with your hand up! You are completely surrounded! ROSS (DELIBERATING) Sounds vaguely familiar... Obini? Who is that? OBINI (SHOCKED) Ross Dole? ROSS (UNAWARE) Really? That’s my name too. The henchman regains Ross’ attention. HENCHMAN #1 (UNEASY) I would prefer a different plan sir. ROSS (CRUEL) Fine. Keep them busy. Everyone meet across the border. HENCHMAN #1 (PERPLEXED) Keep them busy for wh- Ross makes a break for it. The local police open fire and Ross’ men respond with their own barrage of bullets. Confusion overcomes everyone. Before Ross can get away however, Nitro sticks her foot out. This causes him to fall on his face and drop the tablet. Rabid quickly picks up the plate. RABID (QUICKLY) Let’s get outta here now! Rabid runs off and the rest follow him. Amani is a little upset. AMANI (STUPEFIED) If you knew where the jet was, why didn’t you say so? Honestly, sometimes I feel like- RABID (HARSH) Can we discuss this later? Sheesh. No respect. The resident authorities pursue the Grizzlies when they notice them leaving the area with something. Ross’ men use the opportunity to get away without being noticed. The Grizzlies manage to make it back to their plane just before the local police can get there, and instantly take off. The native officers can only watch. INTERIOR: JET - COCKPIT Rabid is at the controls, with everyone else gather around him. Everyone sighs with relief when they see they aren’t being followed. Rabid grins as he grabs the controls. RABID (EXHILARATED, IMITATING MAVERICK) I feel the need... GRIZZLIES (ENTHUSIASTIC, FROM TOP GUN) ... the need for speed! Sydney eyes them suspiciously. SYDNEY (DISTURBED) I hope you’re not this goofy all the time. NITRO (NONCHALANT) Nah. Not usually. Just THIS MISSION for some reason. I don’t what’s gotten into us, but I like it! SYDNEY (SHAKEN) Hoo boy. Everything is interrupted by the boisterous sound of an alarm. RABID (APPREHENSIVE) I... uh... NITRO (AMIABLE) H-o-n-e-y? You’re up... RABID (JITTERY) Uh... um... oh jeez. Something, something, yeah, sarcastic quote, blah, insert funny line here, etc. WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!? AMANI (EMBITTERED) Cheater. PUFFBALL (DIRECT) Six planes on radar. Coming in at one o’clock. RABID (OPTIMISTIC) Friendly? AMANI (CYNICAL) F-16’s? I doubt it. Rabid grips the controls and smiles sheepishly. RABID (WILD, IMITATING CAPTAIN JIMMY WILDER) Let’s kick the tires and light the fires big daddy! PUFFBALL (NERVOUS) Uh... this plane has no weapons. SYDNEY (DULL) And incidentally, Wilder gets shot down in “Independence Day”. RABID (EMBARRASSED) Oops. NITRO (SMUG) Care to try that again? AMANI (PLEASED) And without the “oops”? Rabid tries to think of what to do as the Egyptian fighters surround them. One of the pilots comes over the radio. EGYPTIAN PILOT #1 (AGGRESSIVE, OVER RADIO, THICK ARABIC ACCENT) Foreign vessel. This is Lieutenant Holaki Munabasu of the mighty nation of Egypt. We demand that you land your jet immediately or we will have no choice but to use forcible measures. Rabid takes the transceiver in his hand. RABID (RASHLY, INTO RADIO) Attention Lieutenant Munabasu, this is Rabid, leader of the Grizzlies. We are a Strayer unit that works for the U.S. government. We have federal clearance. Please break off you pursuit. If you want to go after someone, I suggest the group of criminals running away on foot below us. MUNABASU (ONSTINATE, OVER RADIO) That’s a negative sir. We are well aware that you have a historical item in your possession. If you land and surrender the object to us, you will be free to go. Otherwise we will have no choice but to open fire on you to bring you down. RABID (DISORDERLY, INTO RADIO) I repeat Lieutenant; we work the U.S. government! We have national authorization! Please cease your pursuance. MUNABASU (BULLHEADED, OVER RADIO) What you’re asking is impossible. I cannot willingly let you leave with whatever you have with you right now. If you land, give proper explanation, and go through the right channels, then you are free to leave. Until then I must insist you land. RABID (UPSET, INTO RADIO) I don’t have the time nor the permission to give you what you desire! I guarantee there is NO OTHER way! MUNABASU (RESOLUTE, OVER RADIO) I’m afraid your explanation is unacceptable. Even if I believed you guys had federal support, you are out of your area of jurisdiction. I will ask you one last time, land now. RABID (DEFEATED, INTO RADIO) I can’t do that. I’m sorry. MUNABASU (DISGRUNTLED, OVER RADIO) So am I. The radio goes dead and Rabid puts down the transceiver. Everyone can guess what is about to occur. Rabid glances to Nitro. RABID (SUCCINCT) How far until we are out of their airspace? NITRO (DISMAYED) Two minutes at least. RABID (FORLORN) Think we can outrun them? NITRO (SOUR) Can a man outrun a cheetah? Rabid looks out of the corner of his eye at everyone else. RABID (BLUNT) Anybody have any ideas? AMANI (HONEST) Nothing that isn’t biting or sarcastic I’m afraid. Rabid eyes Amani. He begins thinking. RABID (SPIRITED) Hmmm. What would Macgyver do in this situation? Everyone else becomes fed up. NITRO (ANGRY) Forget Macgyver! Rabid it taken back. RABID (ASTONISHED) You’re asking an awful lot. NITRO (AGGRAVATED) No! That’s not what I...! Just make sure this remains a SMOKE-FREE flight okay? I’ve got an idea! Nitro runs over to a section of the jet’s controls. She begins looking over them frantically, occasional pressing a button. Puffball continues to watch the sonar monitor. PUFFBALL (DIRECT) Planes have circle around and come directly for us. Sensor say their ammunition banks are full and hot. SYDNEY (CONFUSED) Hot? RABID (CRITICAL) They’re ready to make us just a distant memory. Everybody hang on! Rabid slams the control stick forward abruptly and brings the plane to a sharp dive. EXTERIOR: GIZA SKY – JET The Grizzlies plane stops plummeting and levels out just fifty feet above the ground. The Egyptian fighters quickly follow. When they are close enough, they open fire on the jet. Rabid takes them into a tight barrel roll and then makes a sharp left cut to avoid the bullets. INTERIOR: JET - COCKPIT With the exception of Rabid, everyone else has been tossed toward the back. Nitro goes over to the navigator’s seat and straps herself in before continuing to look over the control panel. Rabid sees this and yells over his shoulder. RABID (HASTILY) Uh... your captain would like to direct you to the “fasten your seatbelt” sign that um... does not exist. He strongly suggests that you observe it. Rabid makes a sudden right turn and tosses Amani, Sydney and Puffball toward the left side of the cabin. He then makes a few adjustments to their trajectory before glancing back a second time. RABID (UNCERTAIN) How we doin’ back there? AMANI (SIMPLE) Not good. I think I broke a necklace. RABID (WEARY) I was referring to the F-16’s! AMANI (COGNIZANT) Oh. Right. Puffball dashes over to the radar. PUFFBALL (CONTRITE) They still on us. Employed in V-shaped flight pattern. RABID (HEAVY) They’re making sure we can’t break left or right without them being able to follow us easily. SYDNEY (APPREHENSIVE) I don’t like it. In roughly a minute they won’t be able to follow us. What are they doing? RABID (PROMPT) Check the weapon sensors. Puffball nods and she complies. Her eyes light up. PUFFBALL (EXCITED) Dog! RABID (UNSETTLED) Excuse me? PUFFBALL (ALARMED) Fighters lock missiles onto us! RABID (FEARFUL) What?!? Blind mice or snakes?!? PUFFBALL (TRUE) Definitely vipers. RABID (EVEN) Oh dog is right. AMANI (CONCERNED) Is “vipers” what I think it is? RABID (DOWNCAST) Unfortunately yes. NITRO (DEFENSIVE) But I love Battlestar Galactica! RABID (BLUNT) Wrong kind of Viper, dear. SYDNEY (DREADING) Can’t you dodge the missiles? RABID (CURT) Only for a little while. If they were regular projectiles we might have a chance, but not with snakes on our tail. A GOOD pilot can get away from maybe one or two of these, but a dozen will down even the best. Compared to the best I happen to be nobody, and as far as I know, NOBODY gets away from a dozen heat-seekers! SYDNEY (COMPREHENDING) Oh dog. RABID, AMANI AND PUFFBALL (GRIM, SIMULTANEOUSLY) That was our sentiment exactly! SYDNEY (OFFHAND) Actually I was referring to the last joke. It sounds good when you say it originally, but you eventually realize it doesn’t work. Rabid and Amani think about and then concur. Nitro, frustrated by being able to find what she is looking for, takes off her seatbelt. She then jumps up, whips around, and glares angrily at everyone else. Rabid and the rest freeze when they catch Nitro’s soul piercing stare. PUFFBALL (DISTRAUGHT) Missiles locked onto us! They preparing to fire! Nitro grunts and goes back to what she was doing before. At long last she smiles. NITRO (THRILLED) Ha! Found it! Nitro presses a button on the control panel. EXTERIOR: GIZA SKY – EGYPTIAN FORMATION The planes are holding their positions behind the Grizzlies jet. INTERIOR: TOP GUN – COCKPIT The view is of the lead fighter with Munabasu in it. His seat is surrounded with all types of instruments. MUNABASU (ACADEMIC) Targeting conformation achieved. Prepare to launch rockets on my count. Five... four... three... two... All of sudden every single thingamajig on Munabasu’s fighter goes haywire. Upheaval ensues. EXTERIOR: GIZA SKY – EGYPTIAN FORMATION All pursuing jets swagger badly and fall off. They all are able to recover before crashing. INTERIOR: JET - COCKPIT Everyone watches as the fighters break off. RABID (PUZZLED) What did you do Nitro? NITRO (OPEN) Jamming device. I turned it off so I think they’ll be okay. AMANI (BAFFLED) Why’d you turn it off? NITRO (PLAIN) We’re out of their airspace already. They can’t follow us. Once they realize Nitro’s correct, they all cheer. INTERIOR: TOP GUN - COCKPIT All of Munabasu’s equipment has returned to normal and he has regained control of his plane. He then realizes the Grizzlies have gotten away. MUNABASU (CRUSHED) Everyone cease and desist, it’s too late. EGYPTIAN PILOT #1 (CONCERNED, THICK ARABIC ACCENT) What are we going to do sir? MUNABASU (STRAIGHTFORWARD) Pray they were telling the truth. For our sake. The fighters now turn around and fly back. INTERIOR: JET – COCKPIT Everyone cheers when they see the F-16’s leave. Every takes their seats and settle down. Rabid begins watching Sydney out of the corner of his eye, who is busy examining the tablet. She notices this and responds without even looking up. SYDNEY (PEACEFUL) You know your fiancée is sitting right over there. Rabid is a little embarrassed. RABID (WARY) Sorry. I uh... its just that... SYDNEY (DETERMINED) Spit it out man... Er, dog. You hardly seem like the shy type. RABID (INSULTED) Don’t flatter yourself. It’s not about that. You jump to too many unwarranted conclusions. SYDNEY (SMUG) I’m within my rights if you don’t have the guts to speak up. Rabid sighs as he begins to picture Dixie. RABID (DISMAYED) Fast, aggressive and headstrong. Just my luck. I know there’s another type of woman out there somewhere, just not where I am. SYDNEY (CONTENTIOUS) I take it this is something personal. If this makes you uncomfortable we don’t have to talk about it. RABID (CAUTIOUS) It’s just that... I never thought you’d worked for Dole before. It took me a little by surprise. Sydney stops short. She gently places the slab on the ground. SYDNEY (EFFECTED) Yeah. Me too. RABID (REMORSEFUL) I apologize. It probably isn’t any of my- SYDNEY (DULL) No. It’s all right. I’m not defensive about it. A little regretful maybe, but I won’t hide it. Part of the healing process is admitting you did something wrong and coming clean. It’s really only then that you can get help. RABID (FRANK) And you got help? SYDNEY (HONEST) If I had, I wouldn’t be here right now. Rabid is silent. Sydney goes over to him and leans on the backrest of his chair. SYDNEY (MOVED) I was just 21 at the time, fresh out of college. I went down to Colombia to be the assistant for a well-known South American archeologist. We also spent some time in Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. Anyway, I eventually decided to go to Brazil on my own. I didn’t have a passport so I snuck in. It was there that I discovered a rare Amazonian artifact. Because I didn’t have permission to be in Brazil, I arranged for certain... less than lawful means of getting it out of the country. When I got back to Colombia I claimed I found the artifact in one of the excavation sites over there. I won several grants because of it spanning over the next five to ten years. That’s when Ross Dole appeared to me. He threatened to destroy me with his knowledge of my little Brazilian trip if I didn’t agree to work for him, so I was caught. That’s when I was sent to work for a Parvo, someone I’m sure you’re familiar with. I’ve been in this mess ever since. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t regret what I did. It’s pure torture. But you’re one of the “good guys”, so you probably wouldn’t have any idea what I’m talking about. RABID (BREEZY) Oh... I think I have a pretty good idea. SYDNEY (DOUBTFUL) Yeah right. Well, that’s the story. RABID (SOLEMN) I see. I feel for you, I really do. Probably more than you know. But there’s just one thing I’m trying to figure out. SYDNEY (DISCONCERTED) What’s that? RABID (CRUEL) You were 21 at the time. You mentioned several grants over the next five to ten years. So that would make you HOW old? Sydney’s eyes flare up. SYDNEY (INFURIATED) THAT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!! Sydney storms back to her seat and pouts. Rabid chuckles. He glances where the screen might be. RABID (SARCASTIC) THE most sensitive subject there is. Remember that men. Rabid laughs. No one else finds it funny. EXTERIOR: GIZA SKY – JET We watch as the Grizzlies disappear into the night. FADE OUT NOTE FROM AUTHOR: The following section contains material that is inappropriate for Democrats, Republicans, small children, most pets, and certain household appliances. FADE IN INTERIOR: UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL The mind numbing insanity ensues. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (BOTHERED, RAISING VOICE) Okay everyone, settle down. There will be plenty of time to discuss the morality of eating meat after we settle the issue of economic stability. Speaking particularly to the representative of Switzerland, NO we cannot let Saddam have the Middle East. Don’t even ask about Bosnia. And will the representative from Russia PLEASE refrain from calling the representative from Germany “weird boy”? SHE just doesn’t appreciate it! The English representative gains the floor. He smiles. REPRESENTATIVE FROM GREAT BRITAIN (INFANTILE, THICK ENGLISH ACCENT) I was just wondering Janie Wanie... U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (ENRAGED, SCREAMING) We are in the UN! Don’t call me that! I’m the president of this hearing and I demand the respect due to me! REPRESENTATIVE FROM GREAT BRITAIN (KITTENISH, CHILDISH VOICE) Awwww. Does my little snookums not like that? Stop complaining then pookie wookie, it only makes you look cuter. The U.S. representative sighs. She hides her face in her hands. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (DIRE) Did you have a question or not Mr. Phillips? REPRESENTATIVE FROM GREAT BRITAIN (FANCIFUL) Yes Mrs. Phillips... do you want to go for a walk on the beach tonight after this is all over? U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (RAVING) What beach Mark? We’re in Manhattan! REPRESENTATIVE FROM GREAT BRITAIN (CANDID) How about Manhattan Beach? She thinks about and is infuriated by her own mistake. She jumps up in her seat. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (PROVOKED) THAT’S IT! WE’RE TAKING FIVE! The U.S. representative begins making her was for her quarters. Everyone is too shocked to move. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (DEPLETED) I need some coffee. Maybe a sandwich. Some Prozac might help. I wonder if I still that bottle of lithium... She disappears in a room and shuts the door behind her. Hunter has observed the whole thing and registers little reaction. His eyes hand droopy and wrinkled. HUNTER (SARCASTIC) Uh... huh. THIS is really happening. Hunter pinches himself. Nothing changes. His eyes shoot open. HUNTER (STARTLED) Oh my. That really did happen. We’re doomed. Colleen opens the door just a crack and peeks in. She spots Hunter and motions to him. He walks casually out of the room. INTERIOR: UNITED NATIONS BUILDING - HALLWAY Exile and Blitz are gathered outside waiting for Hunter. Colleen goes over and stands next to them as Hunter comes out. EXILE (SOMBER) We have big problemski comrade. HUNTER (GLUM) I know. Our representatives are all nuts. BLITZ (PRESSING) It’s not that Hunter. This is something we didn’t already know. Something quite worrisome. HUNTER (TRAPPED) Oh. So you found out. Sorry guys, it’s Colleen’s turn. Exile and Blitz get wide-eyed. EXILE AND BLITZ (FRIGHTENED) WHAT DID YOU SAY? Hunter diverts his eyes, trying to avoid the question. HUNTER (EVADING) Uh... nothing. Worrisome you say? What in particular? Is Parvo on the loose again? Exile and Blitz look nervously at each other; Shag whimpers. They eventually give Hunter their attention. EXILE (BRIEF) Nyet. HUNTER (FRETFUL) The Eliminator at work? EXILE (OFFICIOUS) Nyet. HUNTER (EMPTY-HEADED) Colleen in one of her moods? Exile looks at Colleen. She folds her arms angrily. COLLEEN (MAD) No! Exile shrugs. EXILE (INCIDENTAL) That may be a possibility, but I am talking about our comrades the Grizzlies. HUNTER (INSIPID) Why? What kind of mood are they in? Colleen intervenes. COLLEEN (EXASPERATED) No! It has nothing to do with that! We’re just concerned because they haven’t reported back yet. We got news of their victory over Storm and Havoc hours ago. HUNTER (DULL) Traffic? BLITZ (VEXED) They can fly Hunter. HUNTER (IRRATIONAL) Air traffic? Everyone sighs. Shag suddenly walks in and whispers something in Hunter’s ear. He turns to address everyone. HUNTER (BLUNT) The Master just sent us a message from headquarters. COLLEEN (UNSTRUNG) What is it? HUNTER (NAÏVE) It’s a bunch of large, yellow illuminated buildings in the shape of fire hydrants, but that’s not important right now. The rest of the Rovers exchange glances. COLLEEN (ANNOYED) I was referring to the message. HUNTER (SIMPLE) It’s a report sent between several people. Colleen gives a “look” into the screen. EXILE (DIRECT) What WAS the message Hunter? HUNTER (CASUAL) Oh right. Well the Master wanted to mention that Ricky was going to meet the Grizzlies at Mollies tonight. That’s probably where they are right now. Colleen is obviously distressed at the mention of Ricky’s name. COLLEEN (RHETORICAL) Is that so? HUNTER (UNCONCERNED) Yeah. I wouldn’t worry about it. The Grizzlies will probably check in tomorrow afternoon. They’ll probably want to sleep in. You guys all know how they can celebrate. Everyone nods. Hunter goes back over to the door to the General Assembly Hall and opens it. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (DERANGED, FROM INSIDE) Can we PLEASE get back to business? To answer your question, I have no control over oil prices whatsoever. Huh? I believe bombing OPEC headquarters is a little rash don’t you think. I’m what? It’s your own fault for getting that kind of car! Buy American man, buy American! Do you want to step outside right now? Do you? Hunter gives a look to everyone. HUNTER (UNCOMFORTABLE) I believe there are a LOT bigger things to be worried about than the Grizzlies. Case in point. They’ll be fine. VOICE #1 (IMPASSIVE, FROM INSIDE) I’d kill for some tacos. VOICE #2 (EMPHATIC, FROM INSIDE) Jack’s tacos rock! U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (APPALLED, FROM INSIDE) HAVE WE ALL LOST OUR MIND’S??? This is supposed to be a hearing to discuss important world issues! Hunter shakes his head and goes back into the fray. EXTERIOR: SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTHWEST – DESERT HIGHWAY The cold moon shines brightly in the black sky above, a celestial orb placed in the middle of emptiness. Faint silhouettes are cast upon the ground as a result of the light from above, filling the area like decrepit phantoms long forgotten by time. The night has brought a peace to the landscape, a quelling of the storms of life and in life. EXTERIOR: DESERT HIGHWAY - MOLLIES This is a greasy-spoon type restaurant with a gigantic parking lot and a rusted drive-up window. A big sign on the tattered roof reads "MOLLIES" and several signs on the windows say "All Mutants are Welcome". There are all kinds of trash on the dirt ground, blown around by the wind. The are a few old street lamps illuminating the area. EXTERIOR: MOLLIES – PARKING LOT There are a few Cyclborgs and various other vehicles stationed here, but the hour of night has left the lot quite empty. There are a few Cano-Mutants, Felo-Mutants, Cano-Sapiens and humans loitering around outside. The smell of smoke and exhaust fumes is overpowering. We notice a 68” Mustang parked out front. EXTERIOR: SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTHWEST – DESERT HIGHWAY We glance down the pitch-dark road and hear the engine of a vehicle. A pair of brilliant headlights is approaching. We now watch a tire of the car as it spins around and around. EXTERIOR: MOLLIES – PARKING LOT The guys out front watch as an automobile pulls up. It’s a Street Rover (from “The Dog That Knew Too Much”). The focus switches to the Road Rover symbol on one of the hubcaps. We perceive a car door opening, someone stepping out and then the door shutting. All we can see is an obscure shadow of the individual against the side of the vehicle. The guys out front look at the undetermined person as they approach, but don’t do much else. INTERIOR: MOLLIES – EATING AREA Definitely nothing to cheer about. One might suspect that you’d find a few health inspectors locked in a back room someplace. The grease on the tables themselves may be alive. There are many booths along the walls and the windows, with dozens of stools lined in front of the counter. A large, mean-looking woman is sitting behind the counter smoking a cigarette. This is Mollie. Just think of Roseanne, only nastier, unrefined and a whole lot bigger. Maybe not TOO much bigger. Star Wars Cantina music is playing in the background. There are three Cano-Sapiens and a gruff human sitting at the counter drinking. There are a pair of Cano-Mutants off in a booth on the left and a pair of Cano-Sapiens in a booth in front and to the right. Placed in a booth on the right in the farthest back corner is Ricky. He has a very gloomy look on his face and is nursing a fizz less 7-up. We hear the door open and footsteps coming over. They stop next to Ricky, but he doesn’t look up. All we can see is Ricky’s head down to the table. VOICE (SARCASTIC, FEMALE VOICE) You sure you should be having one of those? RICKY (BITTER) Well, I haven’t actually taken a sip yet. I’m waiting for some high- powered executive to walk through that door, see me sitting here with this, and offer me a multi-million dollar endorsement contract. VOICE (INTERESTED) How long have you been here with that one drink? MOLLIE (ANNOYED, GRUFF AMERICAN ACCENT) Over... SIX... hours. Ricky puts on his charms, smiling irresistibly. RICKY (CAPTIVATING) Thanks Mollie. You’re a real friend. Mollie softens, grunts, and then disappears inside the kitchen. Ricky becomes melancholy again. VOICE (DISCONCERTED) I thought you hated to use your good looks for those kinds of things. You said it... uh... makes you feel cheap or something right? RICKY (APATHETIC) It does. But I don’t feel like being moral today. VOICE (FRANK) I’m surprised it worked on Mollie. Putting aside the fact that she’s human, she doesn’t seem like the type that can be enchanted. RICKY (INDIFFERENT) Mollie has a whole other side to her that she keeps hidden. Painful past experiences can do that to you. As far as the human-canine thing, you’d be surprised. Ever since the Sapienization boom a few years ago, people have had more and more experiences with individuals like us. Just like when the slaves were first freed, people initially had a lot of hatred and prejudice toward us. But we are now finding that physical attraction can cross species barriers just as it crossed racial barriers. If you think about, we’re really not that different. Sure we’re still genetically incompatible, but our needs and desires are still the same. In almost every case, the transdogmafiers have been making canines more than just physically human-like. VOICE (PERPLEXED) That still doesn’t explain anything. Are you saying there are individuals that all species can find beautiful? RICKY (OPEN) That was true a long time before the transdogmafier ever existed. People are just exploring it more now that we can actually communicate with them. We see a pair of brown hands appear on the table in front of Ricky. Her face is right up to Ricky’s left ear, but still out of the picture. VOICE (SENSUAL) And what are you looking for? Another wolf? Or perhaps you’d prefer Michelle Pfeiffer or something. Ricky smiles and turns his face to look at the other individual. We now see that it’s Star. RICKY (SMUG) You know you don’t have to get that close. All five of my senses were heightened when I went through the Cano-Sapien process, and hearing happens to be a sense. Why don’t you take a seat? Ricky slides in. Star grins. STAR (PLEASANT) Sure thing. Now answer my question. Star sits on Ricky’s right. He mellows down. RICKY (CHEERFUL) First of all, as I keep trying to tell everyone, I’m only half wolf. Obviously because of my outward appearance it must be my more dominant side, but it isn’t a determining factor. Looks never are. Second, I’m pretty old fashioned. Tall beautiful blond women never did it for me. I want someone nice and furry that I can snuggle up with. And wrap my life around. A fluffy tail is nice. But most important, she’s gotta be a jester. Can’t stick with someone who doesn’t know the value of a good joke. Heart and mind are what I look at. Ricky loses his train of thought. RICKY (SULKY) But at this point I’d probably settle for someone who’d give me the time of day. STAR (CORDIAL) It’s 11:46. Ricky glances up. RICKY (CONFUSED) Huh? STAR (GENTLE) He never showed up huh? Ricky looks down again. RICKY (SULLEN) No. Star puts her right hand on Ricky’s thigh. He doesn’t notice. STAR (KIND) I’m sure he had a good reason. RICKY (NEGATIVE) Yeah. He’s mad at me for leaving when I said I wouldn’t. STAR (BLUNT) Why did you leave? RICKY (TOUCHY) It’s personal. Can we drop it? STAR (DEFENSIVE) Okay. It’s all right. Star looks around nervously. She spots a green object hanging down between them from the ceiling above. STAR (ROMANTIC) Ooo. We’re under a mistletoe. Give you any ideas? Ricky sees what Star is talking about. RICKY (CARELESS) Well I never ate dinner, so I am kind of hungry. But of course a Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it. STAR (RESOLUTE) So can a kiss if you really mean it. RICKY (BEWILDERED) Uh... right. But anyway, that’s not a Mistletoe. I don’t WHAT that is. It might be some left over mash potatoes or something. STAR (REVOLTED) Ewwww, gross! Ricky and Star are both smiling when their eyes meet. Their grins don’t soften exactly, but change in some way. A way hard to describe. Not for better or for worse, just deeper. RICKY (SINCERE) Thanks for coming. I appreciate it. STAR (EASYGOING) Anything for a... Star thinks about it and comes with the more acceptable answer. STAR (POSITIVE) ...friend. I’m sure Rabid will explain everything later. In the meantime I’ve got nothing pressing at hand. I’ll be happy to wait for them with you if you want. RABID (GRATEFUL) That would be great. Thank you bum. Star smirks. STAR (PLEASED) No problem bum. Mollie comes out and looks at them. MOLLIE (IRRITATED) Hey! If she’s gonna stay here she’d better order something! RICKY (PLAYFUL) How ‘bout a Pepsi my angel? STAR (FROLICSOME) You read my mind sweetie. Ricky and Star laugh. Mollie rolls her eyes. MOLLIE (BOTHERED) Fine. Just keep your tails where I can see them. I happen to be running a clean joint here. Mollie vanishes again. Ricky talks out of the corner of his mouth. She MUST be talking with regard to the law. STAR (SUPPORTING) Oh yeah. They laugh again. Star takes Ricky’s left arm and puts it around her. She then leans against him smiling. He is taken completely by surprise. He begins to remove his arm, then hesitates and keeps it where it is. He looks down on her head and swallows. Ricky becomes lost in thought. There are times that even in company you feel completely alone. And in his mind, Ricky really was. FADE OUT The words “The Next Morning...” materialize on the screen. *VISIT SPIRIT’S SPOT AT: MUTTSROCK/Rover.html!!!* You can feel special by making the little number on the top change all by yourself!!! FADE IN EXTERIOR: MIDDLE EAST – IRAQ Home of the cruel dictator Saddam Insane. Uh... I mean Hussein (he he). It’s listed as a Republic, but don’t believe everything you hear. The population was around 20 million in 1993, but I have a good feeling it’s more now. I television for every 19 people... fun... EXTERIOR: IRAQ – EUPHRATES RIVER Rough 2735 km (1700 mi) long, this channel runs through Turkey, Syria and Iraq before emptying into the Persian Gulf. EXTERIOR: EUPHRATES RIVER – BABYLONIAN RUINS Just slightly east of the Euphrates River are the remains of the city of Babylon. Lying about 90 km (56 mi) south of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, the Babylon of antiquity prospered because of its location across the main overland trade route connecting the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. The whole territory is rotting away in the sun; an entire metropolis now filled with only silent voices. Voices of the past, voices of history. They utter things that can only be heard with the eyes and the mind, and still it is as if you’re deaf. We notice the Grizzlies jet zoom overhead. INTERIOR: JET – COCKPIT Rabid is busy flying while the rest of the group is busy sleeping. Everyone is doing their best to snooze in their chairs, but they are very uncomfortable. Puffball has reverted back to her original form during the night, and is resting in Amani’s lap. Sydney has placed the tablet on the floor in front of her. The jet wavers slight, causing Sydney to stir. She soon opens her eyes. After a few minutes she gets up and goes over to the pilot’s seat with the slab in her hand. SYDNEY (SENSITIVE) Have you been up all night? RABID (WRY) Yes. I don’t seem to be able to control my hands unless I’m awake. And plead as I might, the plane refused to fly itself. SYDNEY (WORRIED) Are you going to be okay? RABID (HONEST) I’ll be fine. I’m a mutant. Much like those that Parvo has, I don’t require much sleep to be able to function. SYDNEY (INQUISITIVE) What about everyone else? RABID (PLAIN) Sapiens are much closer physiologically to humans. They need to sleep just like people. Let them rest a little longer. After all, they look so peaceful right now. Unexpectedly, Puffball instantly reverts back to her Felo-Mutant form. The chair soon buckles under the weight of the two of them and they are dropped to the floor. Amani screams. AMANI (AGGRIEVED) Ahhh! You’re heavy Puffball! Get off! Amani’s shriek wakes up Nitro who nearly falls out of her chair. NITRO (WILD) What? What happened? I was awake and ready! No problem! Rabid wrinkles his mouth. RABID (TROUBLED) So much for peaceful. Anyway, we’re almost at the coordinates. Nitro looks out through a window. NITRO (SUSPICIOUS) So where’s this Hanging Gardens? All I see is crumbling buildings and structures below us. SYDNEY (SAD) Unfortunately, that’s all that is left of them. Since about the 7th century, the city has been virtually as abandoned as it is now. With no one to take care of the Gardens, they vanished. EXTERIOR: EUPHRATES RIVER – BABYLON RUINS The jet lands and the Grizzlies step out with Sydney soon after. They walk among the clay and stone remains, most of it covered with vines and other shrubs. Everything is filled with cracks. A snake slithers from one opening in a structure to another. Sydney stops next to the statue of a mysterious woman. Behind the sculpture is a gigantic pool that is empty. SYDNEY (EAGER) Here she is the lady of the century. 6th century anyway. PUFFBALL (CONFUSED) What you mean? SYDNEY (INCIDENTAL) This is a stone image of Amytis, Nebuchadnezzar’s favorite wife. The Hanging Garden’s were made for her. RABID (ABSURD) Now there’s a man who’s never heard of 1-800-FLOWERS. Sydney walks over to the decaying structures that used to be the Hanging Gardens. SYDNEY (DWELLING) I wish this Wonder were still around. All we have are old paintings of what the gardens probably looked liked. They hardly capture the incredible beauty of how the real thing was. Sydney dashes over to another section of the ruins. SYDNEY (SPIRITED) Wow. Where I’m standing is the exact place Nebuchadnezzar and his wife would sit in the shade and admire the beauty of the city. Rabid smiles happily and gazes fondly at Nitro. She notices it and returns the look. RABID (EXTRAVAGANT) I would rather sit in the shade and admire the beauty of my wife. NITRO (KINKY) I doubt you’ll have to just sit and watch for long. Amani mock hangs her self. AMANI (DISTURBED) Oh for crying out loud! How can rotting buildings even turn you two on? It’s just really SICK you know that? Rabid and Nitro keep looking passionately at each other. RABID (INTENSE) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And what I happen to be looking at makes everything else seem perfect. NITRO (ARDENT) Sick? I’m afraid were terminal then Amani. There isn’t a cure on this earth for what we’ve got. Amani groans. Her motions are almost comical. AMANI (WOEFUL, TO HERSELF) All I wanted was a normal life. A house... a yard... and maybe a dog to play with on the weekends. PUFFBALL (STUNNED) A dog??? AMANI (FRENZIED, OFF ON A TANGENT) But instead I’m in the middle of a crazy man’s country standing amongst broken-down structures searching for some mysterious objects with which a crazed panther may then unlock a dark power so that he can use it to destroy ME and the rest of mankind, while I have a painful device of destruction around my neck and I’m forced to watch two wolves get mushy in front of me to gross me out!!! Rabid and Nitro take their eyes off each other and stare at Amani, who is now breathing heavily. They are both a little startled. RABID (PLACID) So what’s your point? NITRO (INTRIGUED) Yeah, chill out Amani. Amani folds her arms and sighs. AMANI (RUEFUL) Sorry. I’ve just got a lot of things on my mind. RABID (PROFOUND) Don’t sweat it. No biggie. We’ve all had lives that are full of regrets. If each of us had a chance to go back and change things so we’d have a life like everyone else’s, I honestly don’t know how many of us would be here right now. But I certainly wouldn’t trade all the friendships I’ve made over these last few years for anything. There’s no such thing as a normal life; there’s just life. We each live it as best we can. Amani thinks for a moment, then grins. AMANI (FUNNY) Has anyone told you that you often sound like a Hallmark card? RABID (SARCASTIC) Sure. I always told my parents that I either wanted to spend all my time on the road risking my life fighting dangerous villains... or working for a greeting card company. AMANI (SHORT) Cool. The Grizzlies go over and join Sydney, who is busy examining the remains of the Hanging Gardens. RABID (INTERESTED) So how did this thing work? Sydney paces back and forth looking for anything unusual. Besides her present company that is. SYDNEY (IMPRESSED) It was quite ingenious actually. The architects built great terraces of masonry and placed them one on top of the other, almost like steps. In these they planted spectacular gardens of tropical flowers and trees, and complemented them with a wonderful arboretum of palms. NITRO (DAZED) So where could the key be? SYDNEY (EXPLAINING) According to the tablet, the entrance to the domain with the second KEY is supposed to be where Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and joy is. AMANI (POSITIVE) That would be the Hanging Gardens. After all, it’s a Wonder. SYDNEY (RESOLUTE) I know, but I’ve already checked this place with my scanner. I couldn’t find anything. Then it finally hit me. PUFFBALL (PERPLEXED) What? Sydney points to Rabid and Nitro. SYDNEY (BLUNT) You guys. NITRO (FRUSTRATED) Oh Rabid! Were you rolling in IT again! Bear looks at Nitro. RABID (DEFENSIVE) No! I swear! I gave that up long ago! NITRO (FRUSTRATED) I'll be the judge of that. Nitro takes a few whiffs of Rabid. SYDNEY (ANNOYED) That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying that the answer finally came to me when Rabid and Nitro came over. Sydney goes over to Rabid. SYDNEY (PRUDENT) Think about it everyone... what do you love more than anything in this world? What do you treasure more than anything else? Rabid snaps his fingers. RABID (EXCITED) Peppermint Milkshakes! No, wait. That is Blitz's most favorite thing. NITRO (ANNOYED) I’m beginning to see what Sydney’s saying. The gardens weren’t Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and joy, but the one they were built for. Everyone goes over to the statue of Amytis. They search the empty pool and the surrounding area, but don’t find anything. PUFFBALL (DISPLEASED) What now? SYDNEY (DISAPPOINTED) I don’t understand. I was so sure- Sydney stops in mid sentence. SYDNEY (LOGICAL) Wait a minute... Sydney goes over the tablet yet another time. SYDNEY (ECSTATIC) Oh! I left something out. It says: “Where you find Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and joy you will find the entrance to the Key, BUT only when facing Babylon itself.” RABID (CANDID) I see. But aren’t we in Babylon? SYDNEY (SENSIBLE) Not exactly. Some consider the Hanging Gardens to be part of Babylon, but actually the city itself is about a mile away from here. NITRO (ANNOYED) So what now? We stare toward Babylon? SYDNEY (CURT) Actually I think it’s referring to the statue itself. AMANI (CURIOUS) What makes you think that? SYDNEY (STRAIGHTFORWARD) Well, I figure if Nebuchadnezzar and his wife liked to watch the city from over there, perhaps pointing the statue in the same direction is worth a shot. Besides, I hardly think staring a Babylon for a couple of hours will do us any good. Everyone shrugs. They go over to the statue and grab onto it. After some effort, they twist the status so it faces Babylon. When nothing happens they become annoyed. AMANI (SARCASTIC) Oh thank you great and wise Archeologist. That was a complete waste of time! Sydney shrugs her shoulders. Suddenly however, the bottom of the pool slides opens. It reveals a descending staircase. Everyone notices this. SYDNEY (DREADING) You're welcome. Amani folds her arms and "Humph" PUFFBALL (EXCITED) Oh no! More step lead down! Rabid smiles. He quickly leads the group below. INTERIOR: ANCIENT POOL - SUBTERRANEAN SECTION The stairs lead the gang several hundred feet below. Even with flashlights it becomes really difficult to see. Rabid is first this time, with Nitro after him and Sydney in the very back. Amani and Puffball and in-between. RABID (REMINISCING) Hey guys... Er, ladies... this reminds me of that mission we went on last year remember? I believe it was to those antediluvian catacombs located some- NITRO (AMAZED) Wha-? What did you just say? ANTEDILUVIAN??? RABID (UNEASY) Yeah... PUFFBALL (BAFFLED) What that mean? SYDNEY (BLUNT) Really old. RABID (CASUAL) Correct. So do you- AMANI (INTERRUPTING) Wait a minute. Since when did you start using words like that? RABID (IRRITATED) I don’t think that’s really important. I was just- AMANI (STUBBORN) No. No. I mean it. Where did you learn that? That’s just not right. Something screwy is going on here... NITRO (PLEADING) Amani... AMANI (RESIGNED) Oh all right. What about our trip to India? RABID (OFFHAND) Well I was just remembering how... Rabid trails off. He halts and everyone stops behind him. NITRO (REMOVED) Pardon? What was that? RABID (HARD) Shhhh! Do you hear that? PUFFBALL (BEFUDDLED) I hear nothing. RABID (SHORT) Hey Sydney, try and point your flashlight down at the floor in front of us about fifteen feet please. Sydney complies. When she does they see the floor moving. AMANI (CONFUSED) What the-? RABID (DISTURBED) Ugh! Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? Sydney goes behind Rabid. SYDNEY (TERRIFIED) Ooo... Asps. Very dangerous. You go first. Rabid frowns. RABID (SOUR) Great. Rabid looks up and down the serpent filled floor, wondering what he can possibly do. RABID (THINKING) Anybody have any rope? Maybe we can try and swing past them. NITRO (FLUSTERED) Then what? RABID (HONEST) Beats me. I’m just- Nitro grabs Rabid’s muzzle. NITRO (ANXIOUS) Oh no. We’ve stolen enough lines for one day. PUFFBALL (CONCERNED) What we do? RABID (EXCESSIVE) Are these burrowing snakes? NITRO (BEWILDERED) Why? RABID (SINCERE) Well, burrowing snakes are virtually blind. SYDNEY (POIGNANT) It doesn’t matter. All snakes have excellent senses of smell. RABID (CALCULATING) Hmmm. Aren’t they deaf to airborne sounds though? Can we use that to our advantage? SYDNEY (DEJECTED) They are, but they can also sense pretty much all vibrations through the ground anyway. NITRO (STRUCK) HOW do you know this kind of stuff? Sydney nervously watches the snakes coming toward the steps. SYDNEY (CANDID) Well, I don’t happen to like snakes all that much. But with all the traveling I do and the locations I go, I happen to come across quite a few of them. I thought it wise to be prudent about serpents if I wanted to stay alive longer than a few days. Personally it’s hard to imagine why all of them are down here and in such a large group. RABID (BOTHERED) So much for being able to get around them. I guess we’re going to need another way in. Amani thinks for a moment before her eyes light up. AMANI (BRISK) Wait! I’ve got a better plan. Amani reaches in her pocket and produces a small tuning fork. Everyone is confused. NITRO (AMAZED) I didn’t know you played an instrument. AMANI (ABSORBED) I don’t. I got this from Ricky. Turns out he’s trying to learn to play the guitar. RABID (AMUSED) Ricky??? Ha! Everyone stares at Rabid. RABID (PLEASED) Sorry. He’s got a nice voice and all, but have you even seen him try and play something before? Eric Clapton he’s not. PUFFBALL (PERPLEXED) Why you have that Mistress? AMANI (ENGAGED) Before we left, I borrowed this from him to try and adjust some instruments in Sylvia. Nothing big, just checking for frequency clarity and stuff like that. RABID (PERSISTENT) Why does he have a tuning fork for a guitar? And I still don’t see why you would need it to calibrate the mechanisms in Sylvia. AMANI (DISTRACTED) You ask too many questions. It disrupts the flow of the story. RABID (CONTRITE) Sorry. Amani goes to the end of the steps. She rears back and strikes the cold granite with the tool in her hand. It vibrates madly in her hand and Amani firmly holds it against the ground. All the snakes begin to hiss and then sliver off quickly. RABID (PRAGMATIC) Hmmm. Bad music really is repulsive. Cool. The Grizzlies and Sydney continue along until they arrive at another large chamber. INTERIOR: SUBTERRANEAN SECTION – KEY ROOM This area looks much like the last chamber the Grizzlies were in, a medium-sized column resting in the middle of the room. The only way out is the stairs from which they came down. There is an odd-looking key sitting on top of the pillar. The sensation of an otherworldly ascendancy pours within and grasps each stomach. But it is pushed aside and forgotten as soon as it is realized. Everyone but Rabid immediately walks toward the Key, but he hesitates and stops. Everyone glances back at him with an attitude of sheer puzzlement. AMANI (WORRIED) What is it? Rabid bites down on his lower lip, a sour taste filling his mouth, almost as if he were clenching his teeth on the bitter tang of hatred. Pure disgust coupled with a sentiment of helplessness. RABID (SHAKY) I... don’t know. I just have this funny feeling. Nitro rolls her eyes. NITRO (EXASPERATED) Oh, come on! Don’t give us that old cliché. There’s nothing to fear here. RABID (SINCERE) That’s what scares me. Sydney grimaces. SYDNEY (BOTHERED) Hey! Wasn’t that line from- GRIZZLIES (HASTILY) Shhhh!!! Sydney shakes her head. She immediate walks up and grabs the slime- covered Key in her hands. Checkmate. Fade to gray. Sydney’s face undulates mildly, a fleeting moment of transparent and indescribable energy rushing from her moist hand up through the rest of her body. A frightening aura surrounds her, a bone-chilling sensation. Gazing at the item in her hand, she can almost hear blood-curdling screams emanating from it. Sydney freezes--mouth dry with terror. She crumples to the floor and crouches nearly shell-shocked. Rabid cautiously comes up behind Sydney while licking his lips slowly. He drops languidly to one knee, his right hand draping across his adjacent thigh. He speaks in a dead whisper, fear spreading across the tiny space between each and every mind and heart in the room. RABID (WHISPERING, DELIBERATE) Are you all right? What’s wrong? Sydney, as if she were underwater for a long time and holding her breath, lets out the heavy air from her lungs in an expulsion of cold relief. Almost as if recovering from a deep shock. She swallows hard, feeling the lump travel down through her throat. SYDNEY (DUMBFOUNDED) I... I... c-c-can’t even begin to describe it. I mean, I don’t even know what happened really. As soon as I touched the Key I felt this unbelievable force come over me. Just absolutely and completely terrifying. It was a feeling that I’ve never known before. Simply and totally pure... omnipotence. The Grizzlies look around nervously at the surrounding catacombs. RABID, NITRO, AMANI AND PUFFBALL (JITTERY, SIMULTANEOUSLY) Weird... Sydney blinks several times and collects the tablet and Key tightly in her arms. Rabid tosses a sharp glimpse over his shoulder and then scampers to his feet. He stares intently toward the stairs from which they entered with a countenance of absolute graveness. Glancing down upon Sydney he abates and a warm grin spreads across his face. Without missing a beat, his furry paw extends out in front of her in a gesture of poise and assurance. RABID (COMFORTING) How about we get out of here huh? Sydney casts her diluted eyes first at his hand and then upward into his soothing gaze. She wets the edge of her lips and breaths once in and out. Staring at the outstretched palm Rabid is offering her through the tiny aperture between her overhanging bangs, Sydney forces out a superficial smile and a light grunt. SYDNEY (TIRESOME) Still trying to play Prince Charming, eh? RABID (CONDESCENDING) Just until I get it right. Sydney expels her right arm and reaches up and finds the strength that is not her own, the grip of her left arm around the artifacts increasing to an almost painful level. Her hand shivers and trembles in his, but the cold promptly vanishes. He delicately guides her to her feet, providing all the support she needs. They stare at each other, a meeting of minds--a meeting of emotions. SYDNEY (ASSURED) You know I’ve never actually trusted anyone before, not with important things. Fear can make a soul cynical. RABID (SMUG) Then it pleases me to be the first. Everyone now shares a mutual moment of dependence and ease. Then they all share a mutual moment of terror. NITRO (STARTLED) What the-? Out of nowhere a large barricade slams down in front of the entrance to the stairs, sealing the Grizzlies in the room. Everyone tries to pry the obstruction open with their hands, but they are simply scraping the chalky wall in vain. As the skin of their hands begin to peel off, they cease their efforts. RABID (UPSET) Ugh! Crud! These stinking “reversals of fortune” are really beginning to tick me off! I could’ve been at Mollies having a few drinks and sharing laughs with my best friend. But nooooo!!! Instead I had to be captured, collared and sent on a life and death mission for some supernatural power beyond mortal control that has already destroyed an entire civilization! And on top of everything we’re now gonna be trapped in a smelly and spooky underground chamber for the rest of eternity! Rabid growls out of the left side of his mouth. He suddenly recovers and becomes passive. RABID (SARDONIC) But I ain’t mad... Amani rolls her eyes and shakes her head. She lets out a thick sigh and speaks through it. AMANI (FUSSY, TO HERSELF) I swear, every guy’s a wanna-be Will Smith... The group frantically searches from another way out, but find none. Suddenly a section about three feet off the ground on one of the walls opens up. Everyone is shocked. Nitro saunters ahead waggishly, faces her back to it, and “thumbs” behind her. NITRO (SARCASTIC, IMITATING BABS) Well, now isn’t that conVENient... Amani goes over and aims her flashlight through the opening. It turns out to a long visceral passageway roughly three feet by three feet. Stretching upwards at nearly a forty-five degree angle, it’s covered with a glutinous layer of sludge and grime. Amani slides her hand across the slimy outline of the channel and manipulates the primordial ooze between her fingertips. AMANI (ABHORRED) Peachy. Shall we draw straws for who goes first? No one steps forward. Nitro lets out a labored breath. NITRO (PERTURBED) Just give me a boost... Amani smiles and Puffball complies. Nitro delicately situates her right foot in Puffball’s hands, pressing down lightly as the latter lifts. Once past the opening, Nitro begins to slide out. She quickly braces her hands and legs on the surrounding confines. The muck percolates in between her fingers and gets trapped in the fur at her knees. Nitro grimaces as she feels the gooey filth on her body. NITRO (AVERSE) Ugh. This is fun... Nitro attempts to move upward, but her grip on the encompassing bunker continues to slip. She attempts to dig her nails into the cold stone walls, but simply scrapes it futilely. Nitro bares her fangs and teeth as she growls, losing herself in her own physical efforts. Cast against the dark tunnel, her glistening white incisors are near blinding. Covered in the foul-smelling mire, she is amazingly pleasant. AMANI (SARCASTIC) Ever notice how Nitro enjoys doing all the DIRTY work. NITRO (TART) Remind me to give you all a nice HUG after this... Amani looks off in the distance from the corner of her eye. AMANI (SAUCY) You’re just too kind. Rabid chuckles softly. Without warning his ear jerks slightly and he listens nervously. RABID (ALERT) I uh... The scene switches to the laboring Nitro. Her ears react as well and she glances up quickly. After a few moments we hear a deep rumbling sound coming toward her. Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. NITRO (FRIGHTENED) I'm really getting sick and tired of being the comic relief. A huge wall of water tumbles down and slams into Nitro, instantly knocking her out of the passage.