THE UNDERGROUND

Originally Aired: September 18, 1998
Written by: Neal Shusterman and Jeffrey Vlaming
Directed by: Ron Oliver

Opens with Marco walking down the street.

MARCO V.O.:
My name is Marco. I'd give anything to be on the other side again, just a normal kid in a regular world. But then I remember that the world isn't regular anymore. And I remember that at any minute a controller could be sneaking up on me. About to shove a slimy slug in my ear.

Marco stops infront of Jake's house. As he's waiting, Tom appears behind him.

TOM:
Looking for Jake?

MARCO:
Oh, Hey Tom. Yeah... is he up stairs?

TOM:
I don't know. Just got here.

MARCO:
Right.

Tom opens the door and Marco enters.

Cut to Marco entering Jake's room. Everyone else is there already. Cassie, Rachel and Jake are by the computer and Tobias is sitting on the bed with Homer.

CASSIE:
(off screen) I know, I did not do well.

MARCO:
Hey, Dude. We've got to stop meeting like this.

RACHEL:
We always hung out before, it'd be a bigger bust if we suddenly stopped.

CASSIE:
I Agree.

MARCO:
Yeah. By the way, your brother's here man.

JAKE:
That's why I have a door. (Takes out the disk) Okay, let's try this thing. (Gives the disk to Marco) You're the computer whiz.

MARCO:
Compared to you, maybe. (Marco slips the disk in the CD slot) Alright, lets see what happens.

RACHEL:
It doesn't look like it will fit.

JAKE:
What, you have a better idea?

Marco fools around with the computer. The computer comes up with a blue screen blinking "Ready..." He then tries to run the disk. The message "Unable to find the application that created this file..." appears along with the option of canceling or retrying.

TOBIAS:
Try "Alt Escape X"

Marco types in something and the computer screen comes up reading "Open File" and the retry option. The screen flickers and the message "System Error" appears.

TOBIAS:
What's going on?

RACHEL:
What happened?

MARCO:
It worked on "Independence Day"

JAKE:
They had Will Smith

Tom then peeks into the room.

TOM:
What're you guys doing?

RACHEL:
Just Cracking up. Marco finally said something funny.

Tom accepts this and leaves. Marco gets up to close the door, and as he does so he notices Tom sticking his finger in his ear.

Cut to everyone leaving the house.

CASSIE:
So, what's next?

JAKE:
I don't know. Any ideas? Let's sleep on it, okay?

Everyone heads off back home. Marco lingers around and picks up the basketball and starts to dribble it. Jake steals the ball away from him.

JAKE:
Oh, he takes it away! (Shoots the ball) Scores!

Tom exits the house.

JAKE:
Hey, Tom, you up for a quick game? Marco's no challenge anymore.

TOM:
Nah, I got somewhere to be.

JAKE:
Oh. Hey, do you think there's gonna be any college scouts there tonight? Going for a triple double or what?

TOM:
Nah. Team's history. I'm going somewhere else.

MARCO:
Where?

TOM:
To a new club, The Sharing. Everybody's joining.

JAKE:
Wait a second, you quit the basketball team?

TOM:
Jake, there's more to life than throwing a ball at a stupid hoop.

JAKE:
What? Basketball's like your whole life.

TOM:
Not anymore. Anyway, we do cooler things at The Sharing, and besides, the place is a magnet for girls. You guys should come. I'll see you two clowns later.

JAKE:
He quit the team.

MARCO:
You know all that stuff about how anybody can be a controller?

JAKE:
Yeah. What are you saying? What are you saying!

MARCO:
I'm just saying that it's pretty weird that your all-star all-state Mr. Basketball brother would suddenly quit playing hoops.

JAKE:
Yeah? So?

MARCO:
So, maybe Tom's not entirely under his own control.

JAKE:
They would never get to my brother!

MARCO:
What? You think he's immune?

JAKE:
He's too smart.

MARCO:
You just don't want to see it! Have you looked in his ear lately?

JAKE:
Hey, if you're looking for somebody who's acting weird, why don't you start with your father?

Marco and Jake stare at each other and then Marco leaves.

Cut to a TV screen showing a black and white werewolf movie. Marco enters the house and his dad Jeremy is lounging in front of the TV.

JEREMY:
Hey, Marco

MARCO:
Didn't you have a job interview today?

JEREMY:
Yeah, yeah I canceled.

MARCO:
Oh, right.

JEREMY:
Actually, I had something more important to do.

MARCO:
Like what?

JEREMY:
I went down to the cemetery, put some fresh flowers out for you mom.

MARCO:
Oh. Well, there'll be other job interviews.

JEREMY:
Yeah.

MARCO:
Want me to call for a pizza?

JEREMY:
Sure, that'd be great.

Pans to a photo of Marco and his dad and mom all hugging and smiling.

Cut to Rachel and Tobias walking down the street.

RACHEL:
Thanks for walking with me.

TOBIAS:
Sure.

RACHEL:
Um, where do you live, anyway?

TOBIAS:
Down on Grove, with my aunt. Last year I used to live with this other uncle. I kind of get passed around.

RACHEL:
That must be rough.

TOBIAS:
It's alright. I gotta get going.

RACHEL:
You know, I saw a hawk flying over my house this morning.

TOBIAS:
What makes you think it was me?

RACHEL:
Something about the way it flew.

TOBIAS:
Do you ever wish you could just... fly away?

RACHEL:
Sometimes

Suddenly Sara, Rachel's sister, appears at the door with a camera.

SARA:
Smile! (Takes picture) Now you have a picture of your new boy friend.

RACHEL:
Sara!

Sara laughs and runs into the house.

Cut to school the next day. Students are walking around.

GIRL:
...exams coming up.

BOY:
Yeah, you're right. Oh yeah, we really should..

Marco is walking when he sees Chapman. He tries to go the other way but Chapman sees him.

CHAPMAN:
Stop right there, Marco.

MARCO:
Yes, Mr. Chapman.

CHAPMAN:
You know, it always bothers me when the grades of one of our best students begin to drop.

MARCO:
Well, if I find that student, I'll tell him you said so.

CHAPMAN:
Levity won't get you out of this. Maybe what you need are some friends that will be a better influence. (He sees a lizard and stomps at it and misses) Disgusting creatures.

Marco and Chapman part. Chapman pauses to look at a banner for The Sharing.

Cut to Marco entering a science lab where Jake is waiting.

JAKE:
I didn't think you'd show.

MARCO:
Oh, what are you, kidding? I live for science lab make-ups, bro. (Takes lizard out of the cage)

JAKE:
Hey, careful. I dropped one earlier, I can't find it.

MARCO:
Yeah. I saw it in the hallway. Chapman almost stepped on it. Listen, about what happened yesterday...

JAKE:
I'll forget it, if you will.

MARCO:
I mean, we're dealing with some serious stuff here. It's a little more drastic than finding a zit. We were bound to go ballistic sooner or later, you know? You know?

JAKE:
I'm sorry.

MARCO:
Me too, man.

CHAPMAN:
(from the hallway off screen) Buckmeyer Over here.

Jake and Marco sneak to the door to listen.

CHAPMAN:
Have you had any success in locating the Andalites?

BUCKMEYER:
Not yet, but we're still looking.

CHAPMAN:
That's unacceptable.

BUCKMEYER:
We know they're using human morphs. Approximately the same age as my host body.

CHAPMAN:
Just find them.

BUCKMEYER:
Yes, sir.

CHAPMAN:
Now, go stand watch while I check the entrance to the pool.

BUCKMEYER:
Yes sir.

Jake and Marco look at the lizard down in Marco's hand.

Cut to Jake and Marco in lizard morph running out of the class room.

JAKE T.S.:
Chapman went that way.

MARCO T.S.:
Jake, I can't see very well.

JAKE T.S.:
Weird, I can't see colors.

MARCO T.S.:
Whoa! My tongue! It can smell things!

JAKE T.S.:
It's between classes!

MARCO T.S.:
So. Scared. Run. Hide!

JAKE T.S.:
Get a grip!

MARCO T.S.:
Get a grip? Get a grip! Man, this skink is one nervous animal.

Chapman enters a janitors closet and Jake and Marco follow.

JAKE T.S.:
Watch out.

CHAPMAN:
Is everything ready for tonight?

TOM:
Everything's arranged.

CHAPMAN:
Show me.

Tom turns a faucet and soap dish which opens a secret passage.

JAKE T.S.:
Tom! No!

MARCO T.S.:
Jake! I'm sorry, man.

CHAPMAN:
Very impressive. But it's been three days, regeneration must begin tonight at sundown.

TOM:
I need the kandrona nutrients. How many new hosts will be there?

CHAPMAN:
50 new members from The Sharing, but your host's brother is not among them. Why?

TOM:
Jake has a very strong will. He may be a problem for us. If he doesn't cooperate, we may have to correct the problem.

Chapman notices a certain two lizards sitting on a shelf.

TOM:
Sir?

CHAPMAN:
What do we have here? (Picks up a lizard, which happens to be Marco)

MARCO T.S.:
Jake! Help!

JAKE T.S.:
Stay Calm. Just stay calm!

CHAPMAN:
Nasty little creature.

MARCO T.S.:
Jake! Help!

CHAPMAN:
Disgusting thing.

JAKE T.S.:
Stay calm. Just stay calm!

MARCO T.S.:
Jake! Help me!

JAKE T.S.:
Marco, be cool!

Chapman drops Marco. Marco and Jake run out the door as Chapman leaves.

Cut to the hall where Chapman is looking for the lizards. He walks away. There's some rumbling inside some lockers where Jake and Marco are demorphing.

MARCO:
Next time, we use a phone booth, dude. Don't worry man, we're gonna help your brother.

Cut to the Animorphs walking to the zoo at night.

CASSIE:
Jake, I'm really sorry about your brother.

JAKE:
I'm gonna set him free no matter what it takes. And when we do, I'm gonna take that yeerk inside of his head and squash it like a bug.

TOBIAS:
At least now we know that the yeerks need some sort of a booster treatment every three days.

RACHEL:
And we know a way into this pool. Whatever that is.

MARCO:
Yeah, you'd think that Elfangor would've given us an instruction manual, or somethin'

RACHEL:
You mean before or after he went toe to toe with Visser Three?

TOBIAS:
Well, maybe that's what the disk is for!

MARCO:
We need an instruction manual for that too!

They stop infront of a locked gate.

CASSIE:
This is where my mom works. With all of the exotic animals.

MARCO:
Exotic? Like rare chickens or somethin'?

JAKE:
Hey, listen. If we're going to fight the yeerks, I think we're going to need something a little more dangerous than a rat, a cat, and a dog.

MARCO:
How dangerous is dangerous, dude?

JAKE:
This looks tricky, I'll give you a boost.

MARCO:
Why do I have to go first???

JAKE:
Because you're small. I can get you up there.

MARCO:
You're the leader, why don't you go first?

JAKE:
Okay, you boost me.

MARCO:
(Looks up at the fence) Man, that's barbed wire, baboso!

Meanwhile it seems like Cassie has keys to the fence. She, Rachel and Tobias are now on the other side of the fence and interrupt Jake and Marco.

CASSIE:
You guys almost finished?

MARCO:
My bad dude.

Cut to the five of them inside the zoo.

JAKE:
Wow!

RACHEL:
Whoa!

JAKE:
Look at that!

MARCO:
They've all been fed, right, Cas?

RACHEL:
What is it?

CASSIE:
It's a white, Bengal tiger. Now, watch his eyes. If they dilate, just back away very, very slowly.
Jake walks into the cage.

MARCO:
Slowly?

CASSIE:
Remember, all you have to do is touch it to acquire it's DNA.

RACHEL:
Just make a fuffer sound.

JAKE:
A what?

CASSIE:
Fuffer. Like this, fvvvv, fvvvv. See, it calms him down.

JAKE:
Yeah, sure.

CASSIE:
Easy, Jake. Slowly

JAKE:
Fvvvv. Fvvvv.. Hey, buddy. Fvvv....fvvv..

CASSIE:
Remember, when you acquire it's DNA, it'll go into a trance.

MARCO:
How about that moment before the trance when it rips his arm off?

JAKE:
This one's for you, Tom. (Jake proceeds to acquire the tiger)

CASSIE:
Yes.

RACHEL:
Cool.

CASSIE:
Okay, Rach, you're next.

Cut to Rachel in a cage with the lion. She has finished acquiring it and is leaving.

RACHEL:
I've got it. Rachel the lionhearted.

MARCO:
Yeah, well, Marco the chicken hearted says lets go before we become lunch.

JAKE:
Good idea.

Cut to everyone leaving the zoo.

MARCO:
Hey Jake, don't take this the wrong way but, um...should you should leave Elfangor's disk in your room?

JAKE:
You're right, but I already thought of that. (Pats his pocket) From now on, It goes where I go.

MARCO:
Cool. We're gonna help your brother, bro, I promise.

RACHEL:
You think we'll pass as human controllers?

JAKE:
We'll find out tonight.

Cut to the empty school being slowly filled with Controllers. Marco and Jake peek out from behind a wall and join the line. Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias follow. When the reach the pool's entrance they hesitate.

MARCO:
Go on, Go move!

Cut to the Yeerk pool. Free humans are screaming everywhere.

VISSER THREE T.S.:
Move Faster! We have many hosts to regenerate tonight! I will be in my chambers, notify me when it is done.

CONTROLLER:
Yes, Visser Three!

Cassie is separated from the others and put in a line. Another controller grabs Marco.

CONTROLLER:
You! Stay in the regeneration line!

Pans around the pool. Some Yeerks are leaving their hosts. Some non-infested people are being dragged away kicking and screaming. Cuts to a Hork-Bajir. Cuts back to the Animorphs.

RACHEL:
Jake, look. Tom.

Cuts to Tom as his yeerk enters the pool.

TOM:
(now free) No, Let go of me! You can't put that thing back in me!

CONTROLLER:
Keep those free hosts quiet.

CONTROLLER:
(To Jake, Rachel, Tobias, and Marco) Get in line

TOBIAS:
We report directly to Visser Three. Get out of our way.

The Controller looks at them and allows them to go.

MARCO:
Good. Yeah.

Cuts to Cassie still in the line. Cuts back to the others as they hide behind some rocks.

JAKE:
We've got to do something.

Cuts to Cassie who is now up at the pool. Cut back to the others.

JAKE:
There's Cassie.

Cut back to Cassie who's pretending she's a controller.

JAKE:
What is she doing?

RACHEL:
I don't know!

CONTROLLER:
Is something wrong?

JAKE:
C'mon, let's distract him.

RACHEL:
Do it. Quick.

Jake and Rachel go off in one direction while Tobias and Marco head off in the other.

CASSIE:
I'm having a hard time getting out of her ear.

Cut to Tobias morphing the hawk. Cut back to Cassie and the Controllers.

CONTROLLER:
Turn your head.

CASSIE:
(Cassie sees a stone and picks it up) I'm almost free. (She drops the stone in the pool and the Controllers start to take her away) No! Don't put that thing back in my ear! Let go of me!

Rachel appears in lion morph and roars. A controller is shoved into the pool.

TOBIAS T.S.:
Rachel! You have Visser Three to your right and two Hork-Bajir behind you!

RACHEL T.S.:
Thanks, Tobias.

VISSER THREE T.S.:
What is going on out there?!

Cuts to Marco who sneaks behind a controller and flips a switch releasing the free people from their cages.

VISSER THREE T.S.:
Stop them you fools!

Cut to Rachel who has demorphed and is going with the crowd of escapees.

Cut to Jake who is running with Cassie. Jake breaks away and morphs into a tiger and chases the controllers in the opposite direction.

CHAPMAN:
The door! controller!

A Controller hits a switch to close the door.

RACHEL:
Cassie! Hurry up!

Cassie squeezes through just as it closes. Cut to Chapman who is with a group of captured escapees. Tom is one of them.

CHAPMAN:
Where'd they go? Did anyone see their faces?

Jake who has demorphed runs towards an exit, but Chapman spots him.

CHAPMAN:
Hey you! Stop right there!

Jake keeps on running and hits a closed door. He quickly morphs to lizard and escapes. Chapman has reached the dead end and notices that Visser Three is behind him.

CHAPMAN:
We did our best!

VISSER THREE:
You have failed once again. (Smacks Chapman)

CHAPMAN:
Ahhh!!

Cut to Jake, Marco, Rachel and Cassie running down an empty street. They stop.

JAKE:
(Turning to Marco who is behind the rest of them) You okay?

Marco nods.

MARCO V.O.:
Yeah, I'd give anything to be just a regular kid again. But, no, now I get to change my shape more often than I change my underwear. But when I saw Jake's brother and all the others trapped, taken over, controlled, I realized I was one of the lucky ones.

RACHEL:
That was wild!

CASSIE:
I'm just glad we're all okay.

JAKE:
Tom's not.

CASSIE:
There'll be another time, Jake. We'll get him back, okay?

MARCO:
Tobias, you did it again. (Motions to a hawk on a street sign) If it wasn't for Tobias, I'd be road kill. Thanks, Tobias.

RACHEL:
Tobias?

JAKE:
That's, not him.

MARCO:
What? You mean I've been talking to a bird all the way back?

The hawk that's not Tobias flies away.

RACHEL:
No. You don't think... Tobias?

JAKE:
Rachel, I'm sure he made it out.... (the others are not so sure) Tobias?

CASSIE:
Tobias!

RACHEL:
Tobias!

MARCO:
Tobias!

Pans out to show them walking around yelling for Tobias.

© Scholastic Entertainment / Transcript by Pam