THE STRANGER

Originally Aired: November 13, 1998
Written by: Marc Scott Zicree
Directed by: Don McCutcheon

At Rachel’s house, Rachel opens her closet and looks through her clothes, her dad is behind her. She looks at a particular jacket.

RACHEL:
What was I thinking? (she takes out two coats and holds them up for her dad to see) What do you think?

DAD:
I think we’re going hiking, kiddo. You don’t have to be color coordinated. I mean, who’s going to see you? Squirrels and birds? (begins to walk out)

RACHEL:
(picks a coat and takes it off the hanger) You’d be surprised. Some of them might actually be close personal friends.

DAD:
(walking down stairs) Really Rachel, I don’t know where you get your vanity. (looks in the mirror to fix his hair)

RACHEL:
(walking down stairs) Haven’t a clue.

Her dad opens up the front door where Visser Three and several controllers are. A controller graps Rachel’s father. Another controller grabs Rachel.

RACHEL:
No, let him go! Let him go! Let him go! Dad!

DAD:
Let her go. I’ll do anything.

RACHEL:
No! No!

VISSER 3:
Steady! Tilt his head.

RACHEL:
No, let him go! Let him go! Let him go!

Visser Three opens up a container which reveals a Yeerk. He takes a pair of tweezers and picks it up and leans in over Rachel’s dad.

RACHEL:
No! No! No!

Rachel wakes up in bed, in her room, tossing and turning.

RACHEL:
Dad! Dad!

Rachel’s little sister comes running in.

SISTER:
(whispering) Rachel... Rachel!

RACHEL:
(panting) A dream. It’s just a dream. Where’s Dad?

SISTER:
(looks at Rachel, oddly) He doesn’t live here anymore.

RACHEL:
Oh... oh, right. Right.

SISTER:
Can I stay with you until you fall asleep.

RACHEL:
Yeah. Sure.

Rachel’s sister crawls in bed with her.

THEME

Rachel stretches in her living room.

RACHEL:
(narrating) I’ve always been into gymnastics. Because it’s fun, and because it’s just you and your body. You practice, you get better. It’s controllable. Not like life, where slugs decide to invade Earth, your mom and dad split up.

A hand pushes the doorbell. Rachel walks over to the front door and opens it. Her dad is standing there.

RACHEL:
Oh!

DAD:
Hey, kiddo.

RACHEL:
Hi. Uh, you okay? I mean, it’s not Saturday.

DAD:
I have some news. (walks in and closes door)

RACHEL:
Good news or bad news? (walks over to a sports bottle and takes a sip)

DAD:
Good news, I hope. You ever hear of Carla Belnikof?

RACHEL:
Are you kidding? She only coached the last three gold medal winners.

DAD:
I’ve talked to her about you. She wants to take you on as a student.

RACHEL:
Don’t even joke.

DAD:
It’s no joke.

RACHEL:
But... but that’s great. Uh, w-wait a minute. She’s like a thousand miles away.

DAD:
Rachel, I’ve been offered a job. It’s a better job, I wouldn’t just be the weekend anchor man. I’d have the 6:00 and the 11:00 broadcast. The only thing is--

RACHEL:
It’s a thousand miles away. (sits down on the couch)

DAD:
Rachel, I want you to come with me.

RACHEL:
Will Mom and Sara come?

DAD:
We can come and visit them as often as you like, it’s... Sara’s too little to come. But Rachel, I really want you to come with me. (sits next to her) I’ve talked this over with you mom and-- and she thinks it’s a wonderful oppurtunity for you. She-- she said that it’s up to you.

RACHEL:
(gets up and walks out)

DAD:
Rachel, wait!

RACHEL:
(goes up to her room, sits on her bed and holds her pillow)

DAD:
(comes in) I’m guessing you’re a little upset by this.

RACHEL:
Carla Belnikoff would never take me.

DAD:
You’re wrong. You have the talent. I know this would mean changing schools but I think this could okay. They have serious mountains there. It’s a huge sports town. It would be just like in the old days. (sits down on bed) Rachel... I’ve just missed you, sweetheart.

RACHEL:
Me too. I have to think it over.

DAD:
Okay. You let me know. (begins to walk out) Rachel... I love you, honey.

RACHEL:
(sighs deeply) Okay. (gets up and talks to herself) Reasons I should go: (sighs and closes door) No more trying to get rid of an army of Yeerk controllers who are taking over the planet. And... I wouldn’t have to listen to any more of Marco’s bad jokes. Hmm, it’s tempting. (she looks over at a picture of her with her sister on her back in front of the school sign) Reasons I should stay... (walks over and picks up the picture and looks at herself in the mirror)

At Visser Three’s headquarters:

VISSER 3:
(groans) Endless research hours, countless attempts and still it’s secrets are a mystery to me.

SCIENTIST:
We’re fairly sure we’ve hit a breakthrough

VISSER 3:
(growls) “Fairly?”

SCIENTIST:
The disk we recovered from Elfangor’s crash site... you recovered from the crash site... we’ve calibrated our instruments to open the disk with Andalite DNA. If you could just return to your Andalite host form, sir?

VISSER 3:
(morphs into an Andalite)

SCIENTIST:
Good. Are we ready? (another scientist nods in the background) Just place your hand on the disk.

VISSER 3:
(walks over and puts his hand on a glass box encasing the disk. There is an electrical sound and he is thrown to the floor)

SCIENTIST:
(gets nervous and tense)

VISSER 3:
(gets up) Let me show you a joke of mine! (takes his sharp tail and points it at the scientist’s neck)

SCIENTIST:
Visser, please! The disk must be calibrated to a specific Andalite DNA. A chosen one.

VISSER 3:
Those Andalite bandits are the key. Give the order to every CONTROLLER:
fan out! Tear this town apart.

In the woods, Marco, Cassie, Rachel and Jake take a walk.

MARCO:
It’s not that I’m dense, I get it. When one of you’s a bird-boy and the other one is a horse-like scorpion thing you meet in out-of-the-way places, that’s all. (a mosquito buzzes and lands on his neck. He slaps it and flicks it to the ground) But I still hate nature.

CASSIE:
(puts her hands on Marco’s shoulders) That was a waste of a perfectly good bug. You could have aquired it.

MARCO:
Look I don’t acquire anything that’s aquiring my blood.

CASSIE:
(laughs)

JAKE:
So, Rach, what are you going to tell you dad.

RACHEL:
What do mean, what am I going to tell him? We’re kind of in the middle of an interstellar war here.

JAKE:
I’m sorry.

RACHEL:
That’s all we ever seem to be saying to each other, lately. I mean, where are getting? We kick the Yeerks they hop around for a minute and then they go back to exactly whatever it is they were doing.

MARCO:
Hey, I don’t like this. You’re--you’re starting to sound like me.

JAKE:
We can’t give up.

RACHEL:
I know. I just wish this was multiple choice.

CASSIE:
Come on, Ax is waiting for us.

Meanwhile at the river, a rope is lassoed around Ax, who is in his Andalite form. He screams in fright. Tobias, who is perched on a branch, is startled by the sudden change of events.

TOBIAS:
(thought-speak) Ax, no, I’ll help you!

AX:
(t-s) No, Tobias, there are too many. Fly away! Warn the others. Warn Prince Jake.

TOBIAS:
(as he flies away, t-s) Stay tough, Ax.

As the group keeps walking, Tobias whooshes in from behind, almost taking Marco’s arm off.

TOBIAS:
(t-s) Jake, guys, follow me. (perches on a tree)

MARCO:
(points at Tobias) Don’t do that, okay.

TOBIAS:
(t-s) Ax is in trouble.

The group runs off. As they enter a clearing, Cassie sees an Andalite, from behind, his arms tied to trees.

CASSIE:
There he is.

JAKE:
Everyone down (they all duck down)

CASSIE:
Watch out, it might be a trap.

JAKE:
I don’t like this. (they all stand up and start walking)

TOBIAS:
(flying, t-s) Hurry, before the controllers come back. (he goes over and lands on Marco’s arm) Over this way.

MARCO:
You sure you got the directions straight?

TOBIAS:
(t-s) I’m sure, Marco.

JAKE:
Keep your eyes peeled.

As Jake walks, his leg trips up a string. A net comes falling down on the group, Tobias included.

MARCO:
Hey, what’s going on.

TOBIAS:
(t-s) No, they got us!

CASSIE:
Hey!

MARCO:
What is this?

ALL:
(shouting and yelling)

An Andalite transforms into Visser Three.

VISSER 3:
Concern for a fallen comrade. I knew that would bring you all. (he is joined by many controllers) We Yeerks are more practical. We’re survivors.

MARCO:
We gotta get out of here. Let’s morphs.

JAKE:
No. No, they don’t know we’re not Andalites.

VISSER 3:
That’s why we’ll win, you know. And coming in this inferior human form. Such poor judgment. Struggle all you want, you won’t break it. I have the disk and now I have you. Is this a great world or what?

The group continues to struggle, then there is a white flash and the net disappears, leaving a disbeliefed group free.

JAKE:
What’s going on?

RACHEL:
What? What happened?

JAKE:
I don’t know.

MARCO:
Hey, guys, get a load of this. (points towards Visser Three and the controllers, who are completely frozen) Either Visser Three suddenly decided to become a mime or... well, I don’t have a second theory.

Tobias, in his human form, appears.

TOBIAS:
At least we’re not in the net.

Everyone looks at him, shocked.

RACHEL:
Tobias! It’s you! (runs over to him and hugs him)

CASSIE:
Why are the Yeerks doing this?

JAKE:
I don’t think that they are.

A voice sounds.

VOICE:
Very good, Jake. (a translucent hologram of a man floats in the air) And quite corrent.

MARCO:
All right, I’m ready to wake up now, ‘cause this dream is getting too weird.

CASSIE:
(without taking her eyes off the man, she reaches over and pinches Marco on the arm)

MARCO:
Ow!

CASSIE:
You’re not dreaming.

MARCO:
Well, you’re supposed to pinch yourself.

RACHEL:
Who... what are you?

MAN:
I am an Ellimist.

MARCO:
You know, that’s very informative.

ELLIMIST:
You cannot begin to understand who we are.

JAKE:
You knew my name.

ELLIMIST:
We are a race of beings, all-powerful. We can cross millions of light years in an instant. We can make entire worlds disappear. We can stop time itself. (looks at Visser Three and the controllers)

JAKE:
You did all this? Why?

ELLIMIST:
Because... you must decide.

RACHEL:
Decide what?

ELLIMIST:
The fate of your race.

COMMERCIAL

MARCO:
Oh. Is that all?

JAKE:
You’re not human. You’re not Yeerk either?

ELLIMIST:
We are a race of beings more powerful than either yet we don’t interfere with the affairs of others.

JAKE:
I call that interfering in a big way. (Looking at Visser Three, frozen)

MARCO:
Not that we’re complaining or anything, of course.

ELLIMIST:
Sometimes when an advanced race is in danger of becoming extinct, we step in to save a few members.

CASSIE:
Are you saying the human race is going to become extinct?

ELLIMIST:
The Yeerks are technologically superior to you. They will continue to infest the human race. The Andalites will oppose them but they’ll lose. The Yeerks will win. Soon, the only humans left will be those you call human controllers. (looks at the frozen controllers) Shame. Such a lovely world.

RACHEL:
Why come here just to tell us we’re dead meat?

ELLIMIST:
I have an offer for you. We can save a few members of the human race. But we have a planet where we can relocate you, some members of your families, a few non-human Earth species.

TOBIAS:
You want to send us to some kind of alien zoo?

ELLIMIST:
Uh... sanctuary.

RACHEL:
Why us?

ELLIMIST:
You alone, as free humans, know what’s happening. The decision is yours. Stay on Earth and fight a battle you’ll lose or save yourselves and those you love.

RACHEL:
Those you love...

JAKE:
This is nuts. We are not the people who should be making this decision.

ELLIMIST:
I don’t make the rules, merely the offer. But I will say this: if you do decide to accept, you all must agree.

RACHEL:
Tobias... will he be human ?

ELLIMIST:
Yes.

TOBIAS:
And what happens to Ax... if we say yes?

ELLIMIST:
It can be arranged that no harm will befall him.

JAKE:
Tom... he’d be okay?

ELLIMIST:
Yes, we can pick a happier time.

MARCO:
My mom?

ELLIMIST:
Perhaps.

CASSIE:
And if we say no?

ELLIMIST:
Then you go back to before...

JAKE:
All of us in the net.

RACHEL:
And Tobias...

ELLIMIST:
As he was... a hawk.

RACHEL:
I say yes.

JAKE:
Rachel!

TOBIAS:
You don’t have to do this for me.

RACHEL:
It’s not just for you, Tobias. Think of it! No more fighting. Our families together again, safe.

JAKE:
We can’t give up.

MARCO:
Whoa, whoa! Where’s it say that, dude? We were almost out for the count till Obi-wan here shows up and gives us a freebie. I say we grab it.

CASSIE:
Maybe it’s better to save some of Earth than none.

JAKE:
No, you can’t just show up here and tell us we’re going to lose. You can’t know that.

ELLIMIST:
You must see what I see.

There’s a white flash and the kids are suddenly in a clearing, where rubble is all over the place and the sky is a dull yellow.

TOBIAS:
Where are we?

MARCO:
Looks like somebody turned up the sun too high.

RACHEL:
So just when did all this happen?

JAKE:
It hasn’t yet. Look at the trees. The sky. The Ellinist said, “You must see what I see.” Don’t you get it? We’re in the future.

The group walks around among the rubble.

MARCO:
Okay, okay. There’s no people around. It looks like my room.

There’s a loud noise in the sky and as the kids look up, they see a large ship zooming over head. They see a tall tower with a beam shooting out of the top into a lake.

JAKE:
Yeerk Wold.

CASSIE:
They made it as ugly as they are.

MARCO:
You mean they’ve all got Yeerks inside them?

JAKE:
Everyone’s a controller now. (they see some people walk by) Just keep cool. We’ll blend in. You know, I don’t recognize anything. The Yeerks must have built all this--

RACHEL:
After they won.

MARCO:
Wait a minute. I know that building. (points to the tall building) That’s the E.G.S. Tower.

CASSIE:
What’s that on top of it?

TOBIAS:
It’s a Kandrona... like we saw at the Yeerk Pool.

MARCO:
You’re right. Well, tell them they’ve turned it up too high.

JAKE:
Remember what Ax said, the Kandrona was like the Yeerks’ home world sun. The Kandrona shines into Yeerk Pool and feeds the Yeerks.

CASSIE:
So that must mean...

MARCO:
Beautiful Lake Yeerk.

CASSIE:
It’s right there in the open.

TOBIAS:
They’re not afraid anyone’s going to mess with it.

RACHEL:
There musn’t be any free humans anywhere.

VISSER 3:
Except right here.

The kids look to see Visser Three with a couple of controllers.

TOBIAS:
Visser Three.

VISSER 3:
It’s Visser One, now.

The kids begin to run away but controllers stop them.

VISSER 1:
Hold it! We don’t want to harm you. We want to welcome you. Me and my best warrior.

A blonde woman walks out from behind Visser One.

WOMAN:
Hello Rachel.

RACHEL:
(walks up to the woman)

WOMAN:
Can’t quite place me?

RACHEL:
You’re me.

OLDER RACHEL:
All grown up.

CASSIE:
You’re a controller.

OLDER RACHEL:
Doesn’t mean we still can’t be friends, Cassie.

JAKE:
You knew we’d be here, because you remember being here.

RACHEL:
So that means you know what decision we make.

OLDER RACHEL:
The right one, of course. You were always so cocky, cousin. Five kids against an alien empire. Slam dunk.

TOBIAS:
So you’re saying we’re all controllers?

OLDER RACHEL:
Oh no, not you, Tobias.

VISSER 1:
I’d never had hawk before. Even roasted, you were tough and stringy until I added barbecue sauce. (chuckles)

RACHEL:
(notices a knife on older Rachel)

OLDER RACHEL:
And I had a drumstick.

RACHEL:
(grabs the knife) No! (puts it up to Visser One’s face)

The Ellimist puts his hand in front of the knice and everything goes to normal, except for the frozen aliens.

ELLIMIST:
There, there Rachel. No need to shout. (he disappears for a second. Rachel drops the knife. The Ellimist appears in the another spot) It all vanishes... like a dream.

JAKE:
I’ve changed my vote. It’s yes.

RACHEL:
Jake!

JAKE:
Look, I’m not going to let them get you Rachel.

ELLIMIST:
Very well.

RACHEL:
Wait! What you showed us, was it the definite future or just a possible one?

ELLIMIST:
It is the most probable one.

RACHEL:
But not the only one! We leave and it’s game over. The Yeerks win. Everything we saw, it will be because we made it happened, not the Yeerks. Us. We can’t sit back while they make the world like that. No. No way.

JAKE:
Yeah. You’re right.

CASSIE:
Home sweet home.

RACHEL:
Tobias...

TOBIAS:
I actually starting to enjoy the taste of rodent. (Rachel holds his hand) Okay, we go back.

ELLIMIST:
Very well. The decision is yours.

There’s a white flash and the group fof kids are back in the net.

MARCO:
You know, on the other hand...

TOBIAS:
(t-s) Back to the trap.

RACHEL:
Not exactly. (holds up the knife that she took from the future) I’ve got the knife.

VISSER 3:
Let’s just have a look at you. (chuckles)

RACHEL:
(cuts throught the net)

TOBIAS:
(t-s) That’s it Rachel. Get out of here. (flies out) I’ve got Visser Three covered. (flies towards Visser Three, knocking him down, then flies to the controllers and attacks them) Get away guys, now’s the chance.

VISSER 3:
(yelling as Tobias attacks him) Controllers! Controllers! After them! (walks to the empty net and examines the hole in it) Enjoy your freedom. It will not last. Andalites!

The group runs through the forest.

JAKE:
Find Ax. Split up. Come on.

Rachel and Marco run down a hill.

MARCO:
That was some stunt you pulled with that knife.

RACHEL:
Yeah, last summer’s survival training finally paid off. Marco. (she sees a truck on the side of the road)

MARCO:
Let’s go.

They run over and look in the back. Ax is in the back in his Andalite form.

RACHEL:
Ax! (crawls in) Ax? He’s still breathing. There’s not enough time to cut him loose.

MARCO:
(looks behind them and sees controllers walking towards them) Well, leave it to me. (runs towards the front of the truck)

RACHEL:
Why doesn’t that reassure me?

MARCO:
(gets into the driver’s side and slams the door shut. He goes to turn the engine on but there’s no key in the ignition) Oh, terrific. (sees the controllers and Visser Three getting closer) Hold on. (releases the brake) Here we go.
RACHEL:
(cutting Ax loose) Hang in there, Ax.

The truck begins to move backwards, towards the controllers. Marco steers, knocking all the controllers, including Visser Three, to the ground.

MARCO:
(begins to lose control) Whoa, oh!

The truck crashes into the hillside. Rachel crawls out with Ax, in his human form, following. Marco gets out. Meanwhile, Jake and Cassie run down the hill. They meet up with Rachel, Ax and Marco.

JAKE:
You guys okay?

RACHEL:
Yeah. Okay, go. Go, go, go. (pushes them all ahead)

CONTROLLER:
They’re over there.

JAKE:
Come on, let’s go. Come on.

As the controllers reach the side of the truck, a lion roars at them.

CONTROLLER:
Let’s go, come on. Come on! (they retreat) It’s a lion, run!

The lion runs back into the forest. Later that evening, Rachel sits on the front stairs of her house, reading Dracula.

DAD:
Shouldn’t read that stuff. Give you nightmares.

RACHEL:
This? Not with my life.

DAD:
You’re not coming with me, are you.

RACHEL:
(closes book and sets it down. She stand up) I love you dad. But I’ve got stuff to do here.

DAD:
Okay. Okay. (hugs her) Well, I’ll get back as much as I can. You going to be all right? (separates from their hug)

RACHEL:
Yeah.

DAD:
You’re one amazing kid.

RACHEL:
Bent on saving the world.

DAD:
Yeah, well, if anybody could do it, it would be you. (walks away to his car) I’ll see you soon kiddo. (gets in and drives off)

MARCO:
So you’re going to continue to grace us with your presence.

RACHEL:
You were eavesdropping! (turning around and seeing Marco)

MARCO:
No... I-I was just...

TOBIAS:
(screeches)

MARCO:
Walking my bird.

TOBIAS:
(t-s) Hey Rachel.

MARCO:
(walks over to Rachel)

RACHEL:
You know, I think we did just what the Ellimist wanted. His people had those rules where he wasn’t supposed to interfere. Help us in any way. But, he wanted us free of that net. So he let me come back with the knife.

TOBIAS:
(screeches, t-s) You’re saying he bent the rules to give us an edge.

MARCO:
What a guy. You know, I’m starting to like him.

RACHEL:
I’m not going to end up a controller. (looks at Tobias) And you’re not going to be anybody’s lunch.

TOBIAS:
(t-s) That a prediction?

RACHEL:
No. It’s a promise.

MARCO:
(sits down on the stairs)

RACHEL:
(sits down with Marco, narrating) We faced a hard choice today. Save the ones you love, or risk losing them to the Yeerks. We learned that leaving here doesn’t take care of your problems, (Tobias flies off) because even if we leave with the people we love we’ll always miss the place we live in: our planet, our home.

© Scholastic Entertainment / Transcript by Jasmine