THE RELEASE

Originally Aired: February 21, 1999
Story by: Marc Scott Zicree
Written by: Carl Ellsworth
Directed by: Robert K. Sprogis

In the classroom at school:

MR. PERKINS:
Okay, now. I thought some of you might be venturing into the wilderness this summer for the sole purpose of becoming one with nature.

JAKE:
We just call it "camping," Mr. Perkins.

CLASS:
(laughs)

MR. PERKINS:
"Camping" is a fancy word, Jake. Tents, sleeping bags, pots, pans, maps, compasses. What happens when all that goes away? (gets up from desk and walks around the classroom while speaking) No food, noway of knowing where you are. How do you survive?

MARCO:
I get on my cell phone and order a pizza.

CLASS:
(laughs)

MR. PERKINS:
You're lucky I like you, Marco.

JAKE:
Is that thin and crispy or deep dish?

JAKE & MARCO:
Hand-tossed.

MR. PERKINS:
Now, I've hiked cross-country three times and I can tell you, nothing ever goes the way you plan when you're in the middle nowhere. (Walks back over to his desk) So, for tomorrow, I want you to come up with five techniques that you think would help a person survive when they're in the wilderness. Here's one example you can't use. (Reaches under the desk and pulls out a large jar of crickets) Now, these crickets, can be found in any local forest or wilderness area and... (Pulls out a cricket and holds it) are an excellent source of nourishment.

STUDENT:
He won't eat it.

Mr. Perkins smiles and pops the cricket into his mouth. The class groan and squeal in disgust. Jake and Rachel look in disgust while Marco laughs. One student even leaves the classroom covering his mouth. Rachel looks back at Marco, who is still laughing.

MARCO:
What? That was great.

Rachel turns back around and the bell rings. Students stand up to leave including Rachel.

RACHEL:
That could have been one of us.

Marco's smile disappears as he takes that in. Rachel goes back to her desk to get her stuff. Students walk out of the room as Jake and Marco gather their things and begin to leave. Mr. Perkins opens his hand with the cricket in it. Later on, Marco locks the door to his locker. In the hallway, Mr. Perkins stumbles in, crashing into students. Marco watches him.

MARCO:
That's what you get for eating crickets.

Mr. Perkins struggles to get up the stairs, gasping and panting.

STUDENT:
Did you see that?

He gets to his office, closes the door and locks it. He bumps into a bookcase and throws his suitcase down. He runs over and shuts the blinds. He sits at his desk and turns on a lamp. Then, he picks up the phone and dials a number.

MR. PERKINS:
(Weakly) Yeah...557 here. I'll take care of things on my end. You won't see me for the rest of the day. I'll be in class tomorrow.

He hangs up and rips the phone jack out of the wall. The phone crashes on the floor. He takes his arm and sweeps it across the desk, knocking things down and turning the lamp off.

THEME

At the mall, in the cyberia area, Rachel, Ax, Cassie, Marco and Jake sit in front of a computer.

MARCO:
So, I see Perkins looking like he's at death's door. And, I just sit there and watch him. I don't even go to help or ask him if everything's okay 'cause he might be a Yeerk. I'm losing myself here, guys.

RACHEL:
And may you never find you.

MARCO:
Rachel, I'm serious.

RACHEL:
I'm sorry. In class today, I thought Perkins was trying to tell us something--like he knows something about us.

MARCO:
Where'd you get that?

RACHEL:
Well, why's he all of a sudden talking about survival and being without food and water and stuff?

A young teenage girl stumbles out of some double doors, looking around, oddly.

RACHEL:
It's just weird.

MARCO:
No way, Perkins is cool. Right, Jake? (Jake is looking at the girl) Right, Jake?

Jake nods over to the girl.

GIRL:
(Walking around to various people; weakly) I'm free. He's a Yeerk... free. (Walks over to the group) I'm free! It's out. The Yeerk's out. Freedom.

MARCO:
Somebody say something.

AX:
Freed controller. (Rachel looks at him)

CASSIE:
Look.

A man walks out of the same doors.

CASSIE:
But guys, he could be a controller. Should we do something before he sees her?

MARCO:
He already has.

GIRL:
Freedom. Free yourselves.

JAKE:
We're going in. Marco, distraction. Ax, Cassie, clear the barn. Come on, Rachel, let's go.

They all scatter. Ax stands up.

AX:
Prince Jake. Prince Jake!

CASSIE:
Come on. Ax, come on. (Grabs his arm and pulls him along)

GIRL:
Free yourselves.

Rachel and Jake walk up behind the girl. Rachel turns her around.

RACHEL:
Hey.

Marco gets up from where he was sitting with a plate full of food. The girl backs away from Rachel and Jake.

GIRL:
Yeerk... Yeerks. (She backs up into two young men, obviously controllers)

JAKE:
What's up with her?

MAN:
It's okay, she's a friend of ours. We'll get her home.

They take the girl away, as she desperately looks to Jake and Rachel for help. Meanwhile, Marco has strolled up behind Jake and Rachel with the plate.

JAKE:
(Sighs) Great.

He turns around, right into Marco...and the food. The plate lands right on his shirt.

JAKE:
Even better.

At Visser Three's headquarters, Visser Three is talking to Visser One, who is a 3D holograph.

VISSER 1:
Visser Three. Do you know why I assigned the Earth invasion to you?

VISSER 3:
Because of my proven expertise in--

VISSER 1:
Because any fool could have done it and you're at the top of the list.

VISSER 3:
It's under control Visser. While we have had our setbacks--

VISSER 1:
Setbacks? You call the controller's destruction a setback.

VISSER 3:
But because of our energy needs, we've transported the human controllers to the Mother Ship's Yeerk Pool. It's cloaked, just above the Earth's atmosphere.

VISSER 1:
But you can't possibly reenergize every controller.

VISSER 3:
Which is why I've ordered high-ranking Yeerks to be reenergized first. (Picks up a strange looking can) They will eliminate any controller whose Yeerk is near death. I also plan to use the Earth's media to calm suspicion, calling it a flu--a very contagious flu. (Begins to crush the can)

VISSER 1:
From now on, I expect only forward progress. Any more "setbacks" will result in termination. And I don't mean from your duties.

VISSER 3:
Of course, Visser. (Visser One's hologram disappears and Visser Three completely crushes the can and throws it, angrily) Of course!

At Cassie's barn, Jake, Marco and Rachel walk in:

MARCO:
Well, that rescue went smoothly.

JAKE:
Best one yet.

RACHEL:
We tried.

CASSIE:
Sorry it didn't go so well.

TOBIAS:
(thought-speak) We were ready for her.

AX:
(stands up) I've got some news.

MARCO:
They've called a truce and they've decided to go home.

Ax looks at Marco, questioningly. Marco, Rachel and Jake laugh.

JAKE:
Just fill us in, Ax.

AX:
I heard a few reports about a flu epidemic on the radio. The reporters are saying it's highly contagious. The authorities are quarantining all those that are infected.

RACHEL:
A new way for Yeerks to get hosts?

MARCO:
(snaps fingers) Maybe Perkins has this flu..

JAKE:
Tom's been kind of sick.

CASSIE:
And we just saw a freed controller.

JAKE:
You know, the Kandrona was the Yeerk's main energy source. Maybe they're getting sick without it.

TOBIAS:
(thought-speak) But we destroyed the Kandrona weeks ago. Why is this just happening now?

AX:
That was not the only Kandrona. Perhaps the Yeerks have been using another source that has finally broken down.

RACHEL:
(stands up) This is big, you guys. Controllers suddenly free and human again? At first people will just think they're crazy.

JAKE:
But after twenty, thirty, maybe a hundred people start yelling about Yeerks...

CASSIE:
There's no way they can keep that covered up.

MARCO:
Then maybe everybody will finally see... the truth is out there.

Visser Three walks into some double doors at his headquarters, Mr. Chapman following him.

MR. CHAPMAN:
The teacher, Perkins. I've put him in charge of rounding up the student hosts.

VISSER 3:
And what about Innis 335, the one in the host body of Tom?

MR. CHAPMAN:
Don't worry about Tom. He's on our priority list. Perkins is to take him to the new pickup spot tonight.

VISSER 3:
Good. We must work quickly. We can't afford to lose anymore. Freed controllers must not be allowed to survive and reveal the secrecy of our invasion. Is that understood?

MR. CHAPMAN:
Yes, Visser.

Visser Three waves Mr. Chapman away and sighs in exasperation.

At Jake's house, Tom lies in his bed, shivering. His mother walks in with a TV tray with soup on it.

MOM:
Here you go, Tom.

TOM:
(looks over at the clock as his mother puts the TV tray in his lap)

MOM:
Okay? You should try and take a nap after you eat.

TOM:
It's just a stupid bug, Mom.

MOM:
Okay.

TOM:
Thanks for the soup.

Mom walks to the end of the bed and neatens the blanket. Jake and Marco appear in the doorway. As she walks away, Tom looks at the clock. 5:57.

MOM:
Hi, guys. How was school?

JAKE:
Average. How's Tom.

MOM:
Some sort of flu hit him out of nowhere.

MARCO:
We've heard it's going around.

Jake, Marco and Homer (Jake's golden retriever) walk into Jake's bedroom. Jake closes the door.

JAKE:
I think it's time we take Tom to the barn.

MARCO:
And tie him up like we did with you until the slug slides out.

JAKE:
It worked for me, didn't it.

MARCO:
Yeah, but that was different.

JAKE:
(angrily) How was that different? It's just because you couldn't get your mother back last time, that I can't get my brother back this time? Huh, it that it?

MARCO:
No way, Jake. I'm with you all the way. But your brother is looking pretty sick in that bed. How are we going to get him past your mom?

JAKE:
Wait till she falls asleep.

Marco opens the door. Jake's and Tom's mom is standing in Tom's doorway.

MOM:
Tom, where do you think you're going.

MARCO:
Looks like we're already too late.

JAKE:
(peeks out his door)

MOM:
You're sick.

TOM:
I'm fine, Mom. (stumbles out) There's a Sharing meeting that I can't miss. And my friend's waiting for me outside. I'm feeling a lot better. (car horn honks)

MOM:
Tom!

JAKE:
(runs to the window to see Tom walk to a van, stumbling and coughing) Tom! (runs towards the door. Marco grabs his arm)

MARCO:
Jake, don't do this. Let him go.

JAKE:
I've let him go too many times. (he takes his arm out of Marco's grasp)

Jake runs out. As the van starts to leave, Jake and Marco run out after the van, with Jake yelling after them.

JAKE:
Tom! Tom, come back! I'm not going to let you go! I know all about you and The Sharing! I know everything!

The van screeches to a halt. Marco pulls Jake to a stop.

MARCO:
What are you doing?!

COMMERCIAL

The people in the van look like their talking to each other. Then the van rolls off.

MARCO:
(breathes out) Jake, my friend. That was way too... (looks over and Jake is gone) close.

The van drives over a road and comes to a stop. A golden retriever (Jake) runs behind. He hides in the bushes. Tom and the other person get out and walk into the forest. Jake follows. They come to Mr. Perkins, who has been waiting.

MR. PERKINS:
I'll take him.

TOM:
Where are you taking me?

MR. PERKINS:
To the pickup site.

TOM:
(sighs wearily) It's not supposed to be this far.

MR. PERKINS:
There's been a change in plan. Don't exhaust yourself by asking questions.

They walk to a shack. Jake follows and puts his forepaws on a windowsill, watching as Mr. Perkins has Tom sit in a chair. You can see one of the paws, at close range, as it morphs back into a human hand. Then the reflection in the window shows the dog's face as it morphs back into Jake's.

TOM:
You won't get away with this.

MR. PERKINS:
I've been through this myself, Tom. (tying Tom to the chair) You're going to feel really bad, but pretty soon you'll be your old self again.

Behind Jake, an animal snarls. Jake looks back but sees nothing.

TOM:
We'll track you down. You know we'll get you again. There's nowhere to run, Perkins. There's nowhere to go.

MR. PERKINS:
Well, tomorrow, you'll join me to running to nowhere and there'll be others.

TOM:
You'll never get enough. You'll be all alone. And you'll never be able to trust anybody. Your efforts are futile.

MR. PERKINS:
So are yours.

A wolf walks up behind Jake.

MR. PERKINS:
Why don't you make it easier on yourself and relax? (takes a pot and puts it up to Tom's nose) Chicken soup?

As Jake turns away from the window and leans against the shack, you can hear a morphing noise nearby. Jake begins to crawl towards the shack entrance but a hand grabs his shoulder and pulls him back, startling him.

MARCO:
I said I was with you all the way.

JAKE:
It's Perkins, he's on our side.

MARCO:
I know, I heard. He's got it under control.

JAKE:
I want to go help him. (begins to crawl towards the shack entrance)

MARCO:
(grabs Jake's shoulder and pulls him back) No, no, no, no. It's too risky. Tom's still a controller. He can't see you till this is over.

JAKE:
(looks up at the window)

MARCO:
We'll come back. I promise.

JAKE:
(looks up at window again) Okay, let's go.

They crawl away. At Cassie's barn:

JAKE:
You won't believe it.

CASSIE:
Jake! We've been wondering what happened to you guys.

TOBIAS:
(thought-speak) I was about to go looking for you two.

JAKE:
Perkins has Tom.

Everyone looks at them like the two boys are crazy.

MARCO:
Perkins is a freed controller.

RACHEL:
That's great. How'd that happen?

JAKE:
Well, I don't know. All I know is that I saw Perkins make Tom soup.

MARCO:
Perkins has Tom tied up in his shack in the woods and he's taking care of him till the Yeerk dies.

RACHEL:
This is wonderful, Jake. We get Tom back.

CASSIE:
How long has Tom been sick for?

JAKE:
For two days already

TOBIAS:
(thought-speak) That means his Yeerk should be out by tomorrow afternoon.

AX:
I'm sorry Prince Jake, but once Tom is free, he'll have to leave here. The Yeerks won't stop until they get him. They know where he lives.

JAKE:
He can fake it, pretend he's a controller.

TOBIAS:
(thought-speak) And we'll look out for him.

CASSIE:
But he's going to have to go back to the Kandrona. He'll never make it through sensors.

AX:
He couldn't keep that up for long. They'd find him out.

RACHEL:
Once a controller, always a controller? Is that what you're saying?

CASSIE:
No, it can't be like that. You make it seem like there's nothing we can do.

MARCO:
No way. Let's not go there, guys. We don't stop fighting 'cause we think the odds are impossible.

JAKE:
Because what we're doing is impossible. I mean fighting an alien race. But we're doing it and we're getting somewhere.

MARCO:
We kicked a lot of Yeerk butt.

JAKE:
I say we make a plan to help Tom once he's free.

RACHEL:
We'll bring him here.

CASSIE:
We'll get him some supplies to take with him. Some food, a sleeping bag...

AX:
That's still risky. The Yeerks could get to him before we do. This could all be an elaborate trap. We have no way of knowing for sure if Tom's really a freed controller.

JAKE:
Look, don't worry about that part. I'll know when I see him. I'll know if it's Tom.

At Jake's house, Jake's mom knocks on Tom's door.

MOM:
Tom? Feeling okay this morning? Tom, I'm coming in, okay honey? (opens the door only to see Tom's bed is empty, the TV tray still there. She walks out into the doorway) Jake.

JAKE:
(comes out of his room)

MOM:
Did Tom leave already?

JAKE:
He's not home. He went on that Sharing camping trip, remember?

MOM:
I didn't realize The Sharing meeting was an overnight camping trip.

JAKE:
Yeah, he went with his friend, the guy with the, uh, gray van.

MOM:
I never would have let him go if he told me that.

JAKE:
(sighs) He said he'd be back tomorrow. I'm sure the camping will make him a new man.

The school bell rings. The students in Mr. Perkins class gather their things.

MR. PERKINS:
Don't forget to read Chapter 7 for next class. Have a good weekend.

Jake walks up behind Mr. Perkins.

JAKE:
Mr. Perkins? (Mr. Perkins turns around) I wanna ask you something...

Marco sees them and stands up and walks over towards them.

JAKE:
About survival in the woods.

MARCO:
Jake, we're going to be late.

MR. PERKINS:
Go ahead, Jake.

JAKE:
Where do you like to go camping?

MR. PERKINS:
Lately, I've been going to Milton Park. There's good hiking there, you'd probably like it.

MARCO:
We got to check it out some time.

JAKE:
Thanks, Mr. Perkins.

The two boys walk out. They walk up some stairs.

MARCO:
What were you trying to do in there, blow our cover? Just let it all play out. (they reach the lockers)

JAKE:
I wanted to thank him.

MARCO:
I know, I'd want to do the same.

Tom walks up the stairs. Jake sees him. Marco has his back turned to him, so he doesn't know what Jake sees. Tom pushes a student.

MARCO:
What?

JAKE:
I just saw Tom.

MARCO:
What? (turns his head)

JAKE:
It didn't work, he's still a controller. We have to warn Perkins.

A door opens at the opposite end of the hall. Mr. Chapman with two security officers walk out, tensely.

MARCO:
Man, it's too late.

Jake turns his head. They both watch the three men walk down the stairs, the same way Tom did.

JAKE:
No, there's still time.

MARCO:
Jake, we do something now, the Yeerks will know that we're kids at school.

JAKE:
A chance I'm willing to take. We need more people on our side. You know we do. I owe it to Perkins. Come on.

They walk down the stairs. Mr. Perkins is reading something when Tom walks in.

TOM:
Mr. Perkins. (Perkins turns around) Bet you didn't expect to see me here.

MR. PERKINS:
Tom. You're looking well.

Mr. Chapman and the two officers walk in.

MR. CHAPMAN:
No thanks to you, Mr. Perkins.

MR. PERKINS:
Mr. Chapman.

Marco and Jake peek over the top step of a stairway. They can just see Tom and an officer's back in the doorway.

MR. PERKINS:
I don't know what you're referring to. You must be mistaken.

Jake and Marco duck down as you can hear morphing sounds. An officer walks towards Mr. Perkins. Perkins makes a run for an open window. The two officers grab him and hold him.

TOM:
Like I said, Perkins, there's nowhere to run. Get him out of here!

MR. CHAPMAN:
Get him out of here! (to Tom) He is not to be reinfested. He is to be eliminated.

As the officers try to carry Mr. Perkins off, a white tiger jumps from the stairs onto the floor. The officers are frozen with fright and Mr. Perkins breaks free and kneels in a corner. Mr. Chapman and Tom hear the noise as the tiger chases the officers off. Tom runs out and stares at Mr. Perkins in the corner. There is a soft growling behind him and when he turns, he sees a wolf there. The wolf gives one ferocious bark that sends Tom running up a flight of stairs. The wolf heads towards Mr. Perkins but Perkins runs down the stairs. Mr. Chapman begins run out, only to encounter the tiger.

MR. CHAPMAN:
So...Andalite.

He runs back into the classroom as the tiger prowls after him.

MR. CHAPMAN:
When are you going to stop hiding behind your pathetic morphing powers and show yourself.

The tiger leaps on a table. Mr. Chapman screams as he falls backwards on the floor.

MR. CHAPMAN:
You have the advantage now, Andalite. But you'll never win.

At Visser Three's headquarters, Mr. Chapman tries to explain himself.

VISSER 3:
A tiger? Hmm.

MR. CHAPMAN:
We were defenseless.

VISSER 3:
How fortunate for Perkins that a wild animal should appear at the right place at just the right time.

TOM:
(who is also there) Yes, isn't it? Innis 226 not only failed to see that Perkins was a freed controller and that he was attempting to abduct other controllers to form a resistance with but he also failed to recognize that at least one of the renegade Andalites has been using the school as a cover.

VISSER 3:
(gives a frustrated growl) Well, Innis 226?

MR. CHAPMAN:
I've had my suspicions about an Andalite at the school for some time.

TOM:
I have an idea.

VISSER 3:
Yes?

In the forest a campfire glows in the darkness, crickets chirping. Mr. Perkins is kneeled down, reading a paper. A twig snaps causing Mr. Perkins to look up. Jake walks out from behind a tree.

JAKE:
Mr. Perkins? It's Jake.

MR. PERKINS:
Jake. (he comes out from behind Jake) I had an idea you'd find me here. (goes to his backpack and begins packing his things)

JAKE:
I brought you some supplies, some food. It should last for a while. (hands Mr. Perkins a bag)

MR. PERKINS:
I appreciate it. I don't know what I'm going to need.

JAKE:
You're the master of survival in the wilderness. What are you worried about?

MR. PERKINS:
(stands up) I think you know.

JAKE:
So where does that put us?

MR. PERKINS:
In the same position, I think. We both know too much, Jake. Maybe the less we talk to each other the safer we are. (leans down to put out the fire)

JAKE:
Uh, that's okay, I'll do it.

MR. PERKINS:
Then again...maybe we should share information when we think it could be useful to each other. (Jake is silent) Good, Jake. You've always been smart. After everything that you and your friends did for me it's only fair I go first. I know about the Andalite disk. Visser Three has it. He's close to unlocking it, Jake. He's closer than you think. (begins to walk off)

JAKE:
Mr. Perkins. My turn. You know that tiger in your class...

MR. PERKINS:
Jake... don't. Whatever... however you did what you did, I thank you. You don't owe me an explanation. If anything, I still owe you. Besides... I have a pretty vivid imagination.

JAKE:
How can we contact you?

MR. PERKINS:
I'll find you. (puts his hand out and Jake shakes it) Take care, Jake. Best of luck.

JAKE:
You too, Mr. Perkins.

MR. PERKINS:
You won't regret saving me, Jake. Whatever happens never give up.

JAKE:
That goes for you, too.

MR. PERKINS:
Deal. (walks away into the forest)

JAKE:
(narrating) We risked a lot by saving Mr. Perkins, but it paid off. We still have a ways to go on our battle against the Yeerks but that's not going to keep us from doing things the right way. Even if it means saving the world only one person at a time.

THE END

© Scholastic Entertainment / Transcript by Jasmine