CHANGES: AN ANIMORPHS MOVIE

Originally Aired: February 20, 2000
Written by: Ron Oliver
Directed by: Ron Oliver

Opens at the Museum of Science and Technology. A night watch man is patrolling. He walks past a display of a vet working on a golden retriever. He pauses to because he appears to have smelled something. Sniffing himself with an "hmm?" he walks off. As soon as he's gone the dog snaps to attention. It's Jake.

JAKE T.S.:
Well, he's gone.

Cut to a duck who has been sitting still on a nearby table. It's Marco.

MARCO T.S.:
Well good, because I'm starting to feel like somebody's main course over here.

Both Jake and Marco demorph.

MARCO:
You got the camera?

Jake lifts the blanket he's been lying on and reveals a camera.

JAKE:
Let's go.

Cut to Jake and Marco sneaking around the museum.

MARCO:
Dude, let me ask you something. How come you always get to do the cool things? Like dogs, and tigers and stuff and I always get to be like, a duck?

JAKE:
What do you have against ducks?

MARCO:
Nothing. I like ducks, but why can't you be the duck?

JAKE:
*laughs* Sorry man, but I can't afford the bill.

MARCO:
Oh haha, why don't you just let me handle the jokes, okay?

They arrive in what appears to be the space wing. Jake spots a display with an alien looking device sitting in it. He points to it.

JAKE:
There it is.

MARCO:
Okay. So what makes you think that this thing is Andalite?

JAKE:
I knew it when I saw it on the field trip this afternoon.

Jake starts taking pictures of the device.

JAKE:
You know, when Mr. Wilson was boring everyone with his 'billion-star' routine?

MARCO:
(staring at the device curiously) Uh-huh.

JAKE:
Well, I went for a closer look. (Marco peers in closer) Go ahead. Take a look.

MARCO:
(suddenly seeing it) That's the same writing that was on Elfangor's ship.

JAKE:
I'm thinking maybe it's some kind of weapon to stop the Yeerk invasion. Can you lift it up? I want to take a shot from the bottom.

MARCO:
(as he steps over the rope protection to get the thing) You know, I'd never thought I'd be saving the world from aliens before I was old enough to get my drivers license. You ready?

JAKE:
Yeah man, go ahead.

Marco lifts up the device slightly and an alarm goes off.

MARCO:
Oh! Whoops?

Cut to the theme.

Back in the museum the guard is heading towards them.

MARCO:
Okay, what's the plan?

JAKE:
Plan? Why do I always have to come up with the plan?

MARCO:
Same reason I always have to be the duck.

JAKE:
Let's go! Come on! Let's go! (Pulls Marco and heads for an escape)

MARCO:
Pretty good plan.

JAKE:
Come on!

They both head for the exit. Cut to the exit. A dog carrying a rat on it's back and a camera in it's mouth high tails it out of there.

MARCO T.S.:
See this is what I'm talking about. You dog, me rat.

JAKE T.S.:
Just stop complaining and hold on.

The security guard is after them but he's not fast enough.

GUARD:
Oh man. I am so fired.

Cut to the same guard on the Channel 10 news. It lists him as Bob Candy, ex. museum employee. He called it last night and is hauling a box of his stuff away.

BOB:
...and the dog ran out the doors with a camera in it's mouth. Yeah. And a rat on it's back.

REPORTER (off camera):
A rat?

BOB:
Yeah. A rat. A rat!

REPORTER:
(as Bob walks away) And that's the story from downtown (they then cut to a photo of the device Jake and Marco were photographing) where this unusual piece of space garbage seems to have been the target of an attempted burglary at the Museum of Science and Technology. (They cut to a photo of a man.) In other news, police continue the search for missing television producer Martin Tessmacher who was last seen two days ago leaving for work.

The scene cuts to Visser Three in Andalite form and the missing executive who is watching in horror at the news report.

REPORTER:
The police are continuing their investigation and are..

Visser Three cuts the report short and turns towards Tessmacher.

VISSER THREE:
Very good. *Very* good.

V3 approaches the clearly agitated Tessmacher.

TESSMACHER:
What do you want from me?

VISSER THREE:
You.

V3 reaches out, touches, acquires and morph the shocked executive.

TESSMACHER/V3:
Good to be back. Take him to the cells.

TESSMACHER:
No wait! Listen to me! Hold on! Listen!

His pleas fall on deaf ears and he's dragged away. V3 approaches his henchmen.

TESSMACHER/V3:
Well, don't just stand there looking at me. We have a planet to invade.

Cut to school. A bell rings.

RACHEL:
This dance is the social event of the school season. If we don't show, it's going to look pretty suspicious.

CASSIE:
And you really think Jake's going to see it that way?

RACHEL:
He might, if he knows that he has a date.

CASSIE:
You mean me?! Rachel, I told you before, we're just friends! That's it. Just friends.

RACHEL:
(scoffs) Friends can still dance together.

CASSIE:
Well.. I don't have anything to wear.

RACHEL:
Already covered. You still have that extra money from cleaning the barn for your parents last month.

CASSIE:
That's only for emergencies.

RACHEL:
This IS an emergency. A fashion emergency. (Seeing that's she worn Cassie down she grabs her arm) Let's go.

Cut to the mall. Tobias is staring at a white tux in a prom display. Personally I think it makes the dummy (the mannequin, not Tobias) look like a waiter on a cruise, but hey, whatever floats your boat. He turns to walk away but notices a hawk along with some strange symbols spray painted on a column. Being Tobias he goes for a closer look. As he looks at the picture he flashes back to him flying around as a hawk. He pulls out the recovered disk (which he is now wearing around his neck and it the symbols on it are similar to those tattooed onto the wall.) He flashes back to a earlier memory when they recovered the disk.

TOBIAS:
It's gotta do something.

JAKE:
(who passes the disk over to Marco) Maybe it's like an instruction manual. You know. A guide to how we're suppose to beat the Yeerks.

Marco inspects it and passes it on to Cassie who looks at it and passes it on to Rachel.

RACHEL:
Why don't you hold it for safe keeping Tobias? (She puts the disk around his neck like a medal) Besides, it looks good on you.

Tobias is knocked out of his reverie by an man who knocks into him.

MAN:
Watch it!

TOBIAS:
Sorry.

Tobias tucks the disk back into his shirt, takes one more look at the picture and walks away.

Cut to Cyberia. Jake and Marco are looking over the photos that Jake took of what he thinks is an "Andalite weapon."

JAKE:
See, I still think this is a weapon. There's the trigger. There's the targeter.

MARCO:
No man. It's a transporter. (Takes the photos from Jake to point out various parts) Look. There's the signal button and there's where you get sucked in and sent to some other planet.

JAKE:
Sucked in?

MARCO:
Sucked in. I- I know these things Jake.

Ax walks into Cyberia and spots the two of them.

MARCO:
I'm telling you.

AX:
Hello.

MARCO:
Ax, what's going on? Check this out. (Hands the photos over to Ax who recognizes immediately what it is.)

AX:
What are you.... doing with thi...? How did you get pictures of an intracellular rehydration cleansing system coil?

JAKE:
Well.. You know what this thing is?

Ax is a bit uncomfortable discussing with Jake and Marco what they have pictures of.

AX:
Yes, of course. This is... all Andalites use these.

MARCO:
So what does it do?

AX:
What does it do? It's... It's quite private!

MARCO:
Oh come on man!

JAKE:
Ax, come on!

AX:
You... It's... It.. We use one of these when we... when we have to go. When we go.

MARCO:
There it is! See I told you. It's a transporter.

Ax looks at Marco as if he's grown an extra head. Jake on the other hand gets what Ax is trying to say.

MARCO:
Right?

JAKE:
No. Uh.. I-I don't think that's what he's getting at. Ax do you mean to tell me that we risked getting caught to take pictures of an Andalite...

AX:
(quickly trying to say it as it's an embarrassing subject) A receptacle like a receptacle..

MARCO:
A recepti..? (realization hits him like a ten ton weight) Oh! It's a toilet?!

AX:
Yes.

MARCO:
And I touched it?!

AX:
Did you?

MARCO:
Yes!

AX:
I'm sorry.

Cassie and Rachel enter Cyberia and head over towards their table.

RACHEL:
Well, we're never going to be allowed in *that* store again.

CASSIE:
I said I was sorry. It's just that saleswoman totally bugged me.

RACHEL:
Okay, but did you have to climb on top of the counter and scream "Animals are people too" at the top of your lungs?

Jake and Marco start to laugh.

MARCO:
Who? Wha..? Did you really do that?

CASSIE:
Okay, so I kinda got carried away.

RACHEL:
Yeah, we both did. Like right out of the place.

CASSIE:
There's this company called January Rose and they test make up on animals.

MARCO:
So what's wrong with that? A little lipstick never hurt anybody.

CASSIE:
Unless they stick it in your eye.

MARCO:
Ouch.

AX:
They stick it in your eye?

CASSIE:
Their testing lab is in the factory here in town. I think we should go there and try to set all those poor animals free.

JAKE:
No Cass, that's not such a good idea. We have enough battles on our hands at is it. If we start turning into animals every time we want to be heros, the Yeerks are going to find us in about.. Hmm..

Jake and Marco both look at their watch and simultaneously announce:

JAKE AND MARCO:
Ten seconds.

AX:
Or less.

CASSIE:
(In disbelief) So we're just suppose to sit back and let all of this happen?

JAKE:
(sheepishly) You could write them a letter or something.

MARCO:
Yeah.

CASSIE:
Maybe I just will. (She gets up and leaves in a huff)

MARCO:
See what you did?

Jake is slightly clueless and Rachel lets him have it.

RACHEL:
You know it was hard enough for me to even get her near a make up counter. The least you could do is be a little understanding.

MARCO:
Yeah Jake.

JAKE:
About what?

RACHEL:
Duh! About the school dance.

JAKE:
How was any of this about the school dance?

RACHEL:
That's why we came to the mall in the first place -- to get Cassie something to wear to the dance so we could all go together. You know. Tobias and me. You can Cassie.

MARCO:
Ooh.. Jake! Shame, shame, shame on you pal.

JAKE:
Cassie and me? Like a date?

RACHEL:
What's wrong with that?

JAKE:
Nothing! Rach, it's just that we're in the middle of an alien invasion. Excuse me for not thinking about something as normal as a school dance.

MARCO:
Yeah Rachel.

RACHEL:
Maybe it wouldn't hurt you to do that once in a while.

MARCO:
You're so inconsiderate Jake.

AX:
This is interesting. I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

Cut to Cassie's barn. Jake enters hesitantly.

JAKE:
Hey.

CASSIE:
Hey.

As Jake approaches her and Cassie turns around to face him with a monkey on her shoulder they both blurt out the same thing:

JAKE AND CASSIE:
I'm sorry.

JAKE:
You first.

CASSIE:
No, no, you first.

JAKE:
Look, I didn't mean to ignore you before. I'm sorry.

CASSIE:
That's okay. I'm sorry if I kinda went off the deep end too. It's just... the thought of people hurting animals makes me a little crazy.

JAKE:
Yeah. So where is the January Rose place anyway?

CASSIE:
Are you serious?

JAKE:
Well yeah. I mean what's the point of having a special power if you don't use it to do the right thing? BUT there is one catch.

CASSIE:
What?

JAKE:
Well... I still need a date for the dance. You know, if you're not too busy.

Cassie smiles. She's not too busy.

Cut to the Shempco building who's motto is "Changing the world one molecule at a time."

Inside the lab Jake and Cassie have morphed monkeys and are being transported in a cage.

JAKE T.S.:
Man, I am dying for a banana right about now.

CASSIE T.S.:
(As they are being wheeled into a lab filled with animal cages with animals in them) Okay, this is the place.

The man places their cages on a table and leaves.

CASSIE T.S.:
They're gone. Let's do it.

They use their monkey paws to open the cage. Cassie makes it out and demorphs but Jake is still in the cage.

CASSIE:
Okay, come on! Remember if you stay like that for more than two hours you can't change back. Talk to me Jake. Jake you're letting the monkey instinct take over. Come on!

Before Cassie can do anything (like open the cage like she should have done during her impromptu speech) she hears a noise.

CASSIE:
Someone's coming. (She ducks and hides)

A lab technician walks in and looks around suspiciously. He then goes over to Jake's cage.

TECHIE:
Hey little fella. Want to be famous? (Holds out a piece of banana)

JAKE T.S.:
Banana! Mmm...

As Jake eats his banana and Cassie watches in horror the techie picks the cage up and brings it into another room. Cassie takes a look at the sign and her jaw drops.

CASSIE:
"Experimentation room".

The techie enters the room with a female scientist in it.

TECHIE:
This one just came in.

SCIENTIST:
Oh good.

JAKE T.S.:
(who's clearly out of it) Monkey toys! This is fun!

Cassie is right behind them in a cockroach morph.

CASSIE T.S.:
I'm right behind you Jake!

SCIENTIST:
Did anyone see you?

TECHIE:
Come on Glaser, I'm a professional. (He swipes his access card to gain entrance to the next room and since the card is attached to a chain which in turn is attached to his pants, he rips 'em)

GLASER:
Let's go, Mr. Professional.

Glaser leaves and the techie picks up Jake and his cage and follows. Unbeknownst to him Cassie is stuck on the cage as well.

CASSIE T.S.:
I get the feeling these aren't regular scientists.

Cut to the outside. Glaser and the unnamed fellow look like their sneaking out the back way. Jake seems like he's high on something and is throughly enjoying being shanghaied.

JAKE T.S.:
I love this monkey business! This is great. This is so great. Monkey business!

CASSIE T.S.:
Snap out of it Jake.

JAKE T.S.:
What? This is fun!

GLASER:
(checking her watch) It's two o' clock.

CASSIE T.S.:
Did you hear that? It's two o'clock. You've been a monkey for almost an hour.

Jake is still in monkey euphoria and doesn't comprehend the idea of being trapped.

JAKE T.S.:
I'm going for a ride. A ride!

GLASER:
Let's go.

They close the door to the Jeep they've loaded Cassie and Jake in.

CASSIE T.S.:
Jake, concentrate. Fight the monkey instinct or in another hour you will be one forever.

They drive off and the scene cuts to the grand opening of ‘January Rose'. A woman with a horrible purple sunglasses and outfit to match waves to the press gathered around.

WOMAN:
Thank you. Thank you all for coming here today for the unveiling of this wonderful new building! The new home of January Rose cosmetics. As you know I am Edina Rose, founder and president of January Rose Cosmetics.

The small crowds claps politely.

EDINA:
Thank you, thank you. I couldn't be more proud. And so, without further ado..

A woman hands Edina Rose what looks like a large pair of gold colored safety scissors. Before she can cut the ribbon she is interrupted by a car honking. It's the Jeep carrying Jake and Cassie! Glaser pops out and runs on stage shoving Edina aside. Everyone is murmuring in confusion.

GLASER:
Listen to me. All of you. We are the Animal Rights Freedom Fighters. Do not buy anything from this woman or her company.

As Glaser is making a scene her accomplice is transporting animals to the stage. He grabs the cage with Jake in it.

TECHIE:
Okay buddy, you're on.

As the techie transports Jake, Cassie slips off the cage and scurries away.

GLASER:
Edina Rose is responsible for abuse against animals. They take innocent, defenseless creatures like these (gestures to a rabbit and Jake the monkey boy) and subject them to horrifying tests just so that you people can wear lipstick or use shampoo. Do you really want to hurt these poor citizens of the earth for the sake of beauty? (As Glaser is speaking Edina's aide in a similarly terrifying purple outfit is spraying the cages with what looks like cologne, Glaser's cohort stops her.)

EDINA:
(Pushing Glaser aside) Look, people, glamour does not come without a price. (She grabs Glaser and forces her from the stage while addressing her.) Look, if you leave now I won't press charges and I'll give you a free make over.

Glaser looks at her in disgust and shakes her off to address the crowd once again.

GLASER:
What do we want?

GLASER, THE TECHIE AND SOME OF THE CROWD:
Animal rights!

GLASER:
When do we want it?

GLASER, TECHIE, AND THE CROWD:
Now!

Apparently she's got the crowd worked up and to Edina's complete dismay they're all chanting with her. Cut to Rachel's room. She's picked out her dress for the dance and I suppose like many girls getting ready for the dance she's holding it up and picturing what she's going to look like. She so engrossed in it she doesn't hear anyone enter and is deaf to the cry of a hawk, it's when Tobias' speaks up she realizes she's not alone.

TOBIAS T.S.:
It's beautiful.

RACHEL:
Uh.. Tobias!

Tobias morphs into his human form.

RACHEL:
You weren't suppose to see this until the dance. So, uh, did you uh.. get your tux?

TOBIAS:
Uh.. (he looks down sheepishly)

RACHEL:
If you need some help picking out the color or something...

TOBIAS:
No it's not that. Umm. I can't go.

RACHEL:
What? Why?

TOBIAS:
Something came up. Uh... I just can't go. Okay?

RACHEL:
No it's not okay. You promised.

TOBIAS:
I know. I'm a jerk. It's not for another week. You can find somebody else.

RACHEL:
You mean somebody who's not going to turn into a bird before the end of the night?

TOBIAS:
Yeah, somebody like that.

RACHEL:
So we won't stay for the last dance. I don't care how much time we have, just as long as we're together.

TOBIAS:
I'm sorry. (Demorphs into his hawk form and is out the window.)

RACHEL:
Tobias! Tobias!

Before Rachel can follow him to try to convince him to go or beat the living daylights out of him her phone rings.

RACHEL:
Rachel's Used Dress Shop.

MARCO:
Rach. Turn on channel five.

RACHEL:
(turns on the tv) Got it. (On TV is Glaser still leading her protest against January Rose)

MARCO:
Isn't that the company Cassie was talking about?

RACHEL:
Yeah it is. (She spots someone familiar on the newscast) Uh oh.

MARCO:
(Seeing Cassie on TV as well) Are you seeing what I'm seeing?

RACHEL:
I thought she was going with Jake.

MARCO:
(Spots something that could be Jake) Is that him?

RACHEL:
(Also seeing the closeup of the monkey) You don't think...

MARCO:
I'll meet you there. (He hangs up and is out of the house.)

Cut back to the dedication with Glaser and Edina fighting over the podium.

GLASER:
Free the beast!

EDINA:
Animals are ours to wear and eat!

The crowd has gotten closer to the two bickering women, Edina's aide is trying to scare them off with the giant safety scissor and Glaser's friend is handing out pamphlets. In the chaos Cassie makes her way to Jake's cage.

CASSIE:
Gotcha. (She brings Jake to the parking lot away from the commotion) Okay Jake, you can change back now. (Apparently she's spoken too soon because a security guard is hovering above her) Uh.. This isn't what it looks like. (The guard shakes his head with a condescending smile. Busted.)

Back at the mini rally Edina has won and security is escorting the two-man "Animal Rights Freedom Fighters" and the rabbit and Monkey!Jake away.

EDINA:
My apologies ladies and gentlemen for that... unfortunate interruption.

Cassie not giving much thought to if there are any controllers around pushes her way through the crowd while shouting to Jake.

CASSIE:
Jake! You've only got two minutes left!

Suddenly a bear rears up behind Edina! The press scatters in horror while Edina shoves her aide in between her and the bear so she can make her escape. The aide tries to ward off the bear with her perfume as if it were mace. It doesn't work. Cassie meanwhile is trying to free Jake, but again the security guard, ignoring the bear threat and going for the obviously more important monkey theft, is right behind Cassie.

CASSIE:
Hi again.

Before the guard can arrest her for monkey poaching a German Shepard growls behind him. Having done his brave deed for the day the guard flees in terror. The dog takes off. Edina is wandering around the parking lot, and like a native New Yorker walks right into the path of an incoming news van. Before she's splattered however, the dog leaps in and shoves her out of the way. The dog leave and Edina's aide comes running in.

AIDE:
Oh my!

EDINA:
Oh my.

AIDE:
Are you okay?

EDINA:
Umm.. yeah. I'm fine. I'm all right.

AIDE:
I think that dog saved your life.

The dog and Edina get a good look at one another. Then her aide starts spraying her with whatever it is that she's been spraying around the whole time. Shaken out of her reverie Edina leaves and so does the dog. Meanwhile Cassie has finally gotten Jake to an isolated location so he can demorph.

CASSIE:
(checking her watch) Fifteen seconds. (She starts to open the cage) I've almost got it. It's okay.

As she opens the cage door and fully human Jake pops out.

JAKE:
(sighing in relief and the banana stuck to his hand) That was close.

CASSIE:
Yeah. For a minute there I thought I was going to have to go to the dance with Curious George.

JAKE:
Very funny. Come on. Let's go.

Cut to Cyberia where Cassie is getting a drink. Jake and Rachel are there as well.

CASSIE:
Look guys, I'm sorry. It was my fault we got into all the mess and after all the trouble we didn't even get anywhere.

RACHEL:
Oh yeah? (She looks towards the TV)

EDINA ROSE:
(on tv) And so. Given the recent events here at January Rose Cosmetics, I have decided to reconsider all further testing of our products on animals. No further question.

JAKE:
Well, here's to change.

RACHEL:
Here's to changing the world.

CASSIE:
(toasting with Jake and Rachel) I'll drink to that.

JAKE:
I wonder what's holding Marco up?

CASSIE:
He should be here by now.

Cut to the woods where Marco is still in dog morph. Seeing no one around he demorphs. As he leaves he does not notice a boy with glasses and a video camera taping everything.

BOY:
Wow! Wow. Wow.

Cut to the boy in his room. He's watching the clip of Marco demorphing on his computer. Suddenly he hears something on his tv.

ANNOUNCER:
The strange, the bizarre, the unusual -- It's the World's Weirdest Videos tonight at eight. And if you have a really weird video you could win $10,000! Call 1-800-555-0199 for more information. Operators are standing by.

The boy immediately picks up his phone to dial.

BOY:
Hello? World's Weirdest Videos? I have a video for you!

Cut to school. The bell is ringing and people are going to and from class. The kid who has the video of Marco morphing is sitting on the stairs writing.

BOY V.O.:
"Dear World's Weirdest Videos, enclosed please find the video I think you'd agree is worth the $10,000 first prize you offer on your show. This tape is the real thing and proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that..."

He trails off when he sees Rachel and Cassie walking his way.

BOY V.O.:
"..that ...Rachel is.."

At this point he starts saying what he thinks.

BOY:
...the most beautiful girl in the world.

Suddenly we see what he sees. The halls empty, some heavenly choir is singing ‘hallelujah!' Rachel is kind of transparent (a cross between a ghost and an angel) and is walking towards him with a smile. (IMHO, it's not 'good ghostly' like at the end of 'Closure' it's 'sappy ghostly'. Good lord I haven't seen something so drenched in saccharine since the end of 'Triangle'!) He's knocked back into the real world when someone bumps into him.

Rachel meanwhile heads towards her locker. Tucked into it is a rose. She smiles.

RACHEL:
(to herself) Surprise.

(side note: I could have sworn she said 'Tobias' but 'surprise' is what shows up on the closed captioning, and I suppose she could've said 'Surprise' it's like 3 am at this point and I've been up since god knows when, I dunno.)

BOY:
Smells good huh? I bought it for you. It's a gift.

RACHEL:
Oh! Well... thank you.. Howard?

BOY:
Harold. Harold.

RACHEL:
Sorry.

HAROLD:
(trying to be cool and shrug it off) That's okay. Happens all the time.

RACHEL:
Thanks again for the flower, Harold. I'll see you later.

Rachel tries to make a break for it, but her unfortunate choice of parting words trap her.

HAROLD:
Uh, when?

RACHEL:
What?

HAROLD:
Well, you said 'see you later.' 'See you later' when? Like after school? Cause I was thinking we could get a hamburger. I know this great little place. They serve organic meat, you know? The cows aren't hurt or anything.

RACHEL:
I'm a vegetarian. (Seizing the moment she escapes)

HAROLD:
Groovy.

Despite the fact that he actually uses the word "groovy" he believes he's got something that will interest her and catches up with Rachel, much to her dismay.

HAROLD:
You want to see something really neat? Something you've never seen before? Something that's going to make me a million dollars?

RACHEL:
Like what?

HAROLD:
(pulls a tape out of his bag) Like a *dog* turning into a guy.

RACHEL:
(Suddenly interested and for good reason) Show me.

Cut to Jake in the barn. Cassie, Ax and Marco are there as well.

JAKE:
On video? Who is this Howard guy?

RACHEL:
His name's Harold. He's the president of the AV club at school. He was out at the park shooting some scenes for this movie he's making and he saw a dog change into a guy.

MARCO:
Hey, I didn't seen anybody out there, okay?

JAKE:
See, now this is why you always have to change into the rat and the duck, because nobody want to videotape a duck.

RACHEL:
The thing is the videotape's pretty dark. It could be anybody.

CASSIE:
Yeah, until Howard...

AX:
It's Harold.

CASSIE:
Until Harold sends the tape to... Who's he sending it to?

RACHEL:
World's Weirdest Videos. He's trying to win the grand prize. $10,000.

MARCO:
Hey. I'm worth 10k? How cool is that?

CASSIE:
You know it's going to be pretty uncool, they clean it up for broadcast. With the right computer program, you're face is going to be seen on every television set from here to Hong Kong. The Yeerks are going to find you in a minute.

MARCO:
We gotta get that tape back! Does anybody have any idea where his Howard guy lives?

CASSIE, RACHEL, JAKE AND AX:
*Harold!*

MARCO:
Whatever.

Cut to Harold's house that night. He's sleeping soundly while two white mice sneak in. His room is a mess of space stuff and electronics.

JAKE T.S.:
'Interesting' place.

MARCO T.S.:
Yeah. Who's his decorator? Obi-wan Kenobi?

JAKE T.S.:
Let's find that tape. Marco, down here. (They leap down onto a pile of tapes) Oh man. There's so many tapes! Which one is it? (Harold turns over in his sleep and they spy a tape in his arms!) Look!

Suddenly a cat meows.

MARCO T.S.:
Oh brother.

JAKE T.S.:
Cutter to 3 o'clock. Aww man. Nice kitty.

The cat has leapt up on a chair and is eyeing the mice.

MARCO T.S.:
Don't eat us dude.

JAKE T.S.:
I would suggest a quick change.

MARCO T.S.:
I would agree.

The both demorph and the cat seeing that her prey aren't so small leaves.

JAKE:
Okay, you get the tape.

MARCO:
Whoah!

Marco loses his balance and falls off the desk.

JAKE:
Ssh! Ssh...

Harold's a sound sleeper, but he talks in his sleep.

HAROLD:
Klingons! Kling..

Marco picks himself up from the floor and gives Harold an odd look. Sneaking up to Harold he puts on his best 'Scotty' accent. (If you're even remotely familiar with the original Star Trek series you'd get this).

MARCO:
Captain Kirk. It's me Mr. Scott.

HAROLD:
(still in dreamland) Scotty?

MARCO:
(still in character) I cannot give you no more power Captain. We need your dilithium crystals. You've got to give them to me.

HAROLD:
Oh sure Scotty, no problem.

Marco reaches over to take the tape, but 'Captain Kirk' isn't giving it up easily.

HAROLD:
You know, I never really liked Dr. McCoy.

Marco looks at him weird and finally pries the tape from him.

MARCO:
Now lets get out of here before he confuses me for one of those weird alien girls.

Cut to Jake's room. Marco inserts their newly acquired tape into the VCR for a peek while Cassie and Rachel watch.

MARCO:
See? And you guys were worried. No problem. When you need the job done you gotta send in a professional. Watch.

They watch the tape and instead of seeing the amazing dog turn into a boy they see Harold dressed up in poorly made costumes.

HAROLD:
(on tape dressed as an alien, a big boxy alien with a metal strainer on it's head, but an alien nonetheless) I come in peace. I bring you greetings from my planet.

RACHEL:
This isn't what he showed me.

CASSIE:
What?

On tape he starts laughing manically and points a toy weapon at the screen. He shoots at whatever..

RACHEL:
That's that movie he's making!

Cut back to the tape. It's still Harold, this time he's dressed like Raggedy Ann. I suppose someone has been watching a bit too much Kids in the Hall.

HAROLD:
(as the girl) Ahh! Invaders from Pluto!

RACHEL:
(whacking Marco with a pillow) You guys got the wrong tape!

MARCO:
Jake?

Cut to Rachel getting off the phone with a sigh.

RACHEL:
He's gone. His mom says he's on his way to the tv station to drop off the tape. (Everyone sighs in defeat) But she also says he's stopping at the mall before he gets there.

JAKE:
Let's go.

Cut to the mall. They're standing in the middle of the plaza.

CASSIE:
He could be anywhere!

MARCO:
Guys, it's Harold Nesbit. He's either at the video arcade, the computer shop or the all-day Star Wars marathon.

JAKE:
We've got to cover the exits and work our way in. First one to find him, just grab the tape, all right?

They break to search for Harold and end up running into each other.

MARCO:
Watch out.

We follow everyone around for a few seconds and as Rachel walks past the carousel Tobias spots her. He's about to follow her when he sees a guy spray painting the same hawk he saw earlier on to the carousel's sign.

TOBIAS:
Hey!

Busted! The guy then leaps over the railing and runs into the moving carousel. In a nifty homage (well that's what it looks like to me) to Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train' Tobias chases the guy through the ride. No dead ride attendants, out of control spinning or flying kiddies in this version though. The guy leaps off and runs, Tobias follows but loses him. In frustration he goes back to the sign with the freshly painted on hawk. With a total disregard for others (and in should he be in NYC his own safety) he grabs a part of a man's newspaper and presses it onto the fresh paint. Viola! He's got a print.

Meanwhile Cassie, looking for Harold spots Ax coming out of a store with a variety of items.

CASSIE:
Ax! Ax!

It looks like he might have heard her, but before she can get to him he scurries away.

Rachel meanwhile has parked herself in front of a 'Radio Shack' (or so it looks like to me) and is trying to figure out where Harold could be. It just so happens Harold's in the store. He sees Rachel and goes out to greet her.

HAROLD:
Rachel?

RACHEL:
Harold. Hi. Wow, it's so good to see you.

HAROLD:
Really? Uh. Cool. Uh, so, you want to hang?

RACHEL:
Actually I wanted to see that video tape you showed me yesterday. It was so interesting. (She turns Harold around and starts going through his bag.)

HAROLD:
Uh. Actually, I don't have it anymore. I dropped it off at the tv station on my way over. So, you want to go for that hamburger now? Organic.

Cut to Cassie and Marco at Cyberia having a snack.

MARCO:
No way! (Looks around and lowers his voice) There's no way Ax has one of those alien slugs inside his head okay?

CASSIE:
You should have seen him. He was acting so weird, I mean even for Ax.

Jake and Rachel enter.

RACHEL:
So, how do you feel about moving to Tibet?

MARCO:
I never really thought about it.

JAKE:
Well, it's about the only place on this planet that doesn't have The World's Weirdest Video show. It's also the only place that isn't going to see you change from dog to doofus.

CASSIE:
In other words, Howard's already sent the tape.

RACHEL:
Harold.

MARCO:
Let's not start that again.

JAKE:
Listen. As soon as they play that video on tv your cover's going to be blown sky-high.

MARCO:
(getting up) Then we gotta make sure they don't run it.

JAKE:
(stopping Marco) Hey. Buddy. You've have to be AWOL on this mission.

RACHEL:
They've probably already watched the tape and even if they don't recognize your face, they'll definitely recognize that hair of yours.

Jake snickers.

RACHEL:
(turning to Jake) So come on cousin, I think it's time that we got into tv. (They leave)

MARCO:
What's wrong with my hair?

Cut to Channel 10 TV station where a delivery person is delivering a box.

RECEPTIONIST:
I'm sorry, Mr. Goldstone isn't available right now. Can I take a message? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. (seeing the delivery guy, who's apparently a regular, she greets him) Hey Jack. (Now back to work) Um. Okay. Well, I'll get him to call you as soon as he gets back in.

He enters an office and drops off a box. Unbeknownst to him there's a little hole in the side and two lizards by the name of Jake and Rachel crawl out.

JAKE T.S.:
Let's move out.

RACHEL T.S.:
Wait a second, Jake. (Spies a fly) Mmm.. That looks good. I didn't have lunch.

JAKE T.S.:
Rach! That's disgusting!

RACHEL T.S.:
I can't help it. I'm a lizard. I love flies.

JAKE T.S.:
You're also Rachel.... and a vegetarian?

Rachel demorphs.

RACHEL:
Blecch! Remind me to eat before we go on any more missions.

JAKE:
Okay, all we need to do is walk down this corridor, sneak into the tape room, find Harold's tape and get out. This is a piece of cake.

RECEPTIONIST:
(out in the hall) Hi Mr. Goldstone.

RACHEL:
Hide. (She and Jake quickly disappear)

GOLDSTONE:
So, Mr. Tessmacher, you really think your new show is going to be a hit for us here at IBS?

TESSMACHER:
Put it this way Mr. Goldstone. (Taps tape) This show is going to change the world.

Jake and Rachel peer out from their hiding place in the closet.

Cuts to Ax carrying a duffel bag to the woods. He doesn't notice Cassie watching him. She follows him to a abandoned looking underground shelter. He enters the crypt. Meanwhile Marco has snuck up on Cassie.

MARCO:
Hey.

CASSIE:
What are you doing here?

MARCO:
Well, I thought about what you said, about Ax. So I figured I'd follow you, just in case.

Ax exits with a now empty duffel bag and walks right past their hiding space.

Meanwhile Mr. Goldstone and Tessmacher (along with Jake and Rachel) are watching what looks like a really cheezy early 80's after school special.

GIRL #1:
(on TV) But Chris, you promised me you'd help me with my homework tonight.

GIRL #2:
And you told me you'd take me to the movies tonight.

CHRIS:
Whoops. Me and my big mouth!

This is the show that's going to be pulling in the ratings?

GOLDSTONE:
Well, it does have a certain.... something..

TESSMACHER:
Oh give it another few minutes. Now that you'll find yourself unable to turn it off.

CHRIS:
(on TV) Mr. Withers! It's my birthday!

JAKE:
He's kidding right? I mean, even Yeerks wouldn't watch this stuff.

The tape continues and when Chris utters what appears to be his catch phrase "Me and my big mouth" there's a series of flashes and GOLDSTONE seems hypnotized. To Jake and Rachel's horror Tessmacher pulls out a Yeerk from a container he was carrying and infects Goldstone.

TESSMACHER:
Stand.

Goldstone stands.

TESSMACHER:
I want this broadcast tonight. 8 o'clock. Understood?

GOLDSTONE:
(ejecting the tape) Understood Visser Three.

The two controllers exit and the two Animorphs are able to leave their closet.

RACHEL:
Visser Three has a new body.

JAKE:
Yeah, with the same plan: taking the world over, one ear at a time. You know, if the show makes it to television it's going to hypnotize anybody who watches it.

RACHEL:
And they won't be able to fight back when the Yeerks infest them.

JAKE:
That's why we have to cancel it -- right now.

Cut back to Marco and Cassie who are entering Ax's little home away from home. Neither seems to eager to step into the underground facility.

MARCO:
Hey, ladies first.

Inside it's dark and dank. Not a pleasant place.

MARCO:
You see anything?

CASSIE:
Yeah, up ahead. There's a light. Come on.

They follow the light to the end of the tunnel, where they're a greeted by the sight of strange contraption.

CASSIE:
Ax has been one busy little Andalite.

The camera pans out and whatever it is, it looks like the top of a water tower to me.

Back at Channel 10 studios a guy hurries into a studio with a tape in hand.

GUY:
New show. "Me and My Big Mouth". Goldstone wants it on at eight. Instead of World's Weirdest Videos.

The guy inserts the tape and sets it to play at 8. Suddenly the man in the office who hasn't said a world sees a snake and leaps out of his seat and goes running. The guy who brought in the video is confused.

GUY:
What? What's the matter? (He sees the snake) Snake! Snake!

As he bolts out of the room Jake, who has been hiding behind the door, slams it shut and destroys the electronic lock. Rachel demorphs.

JAKE:
We gotta make sure that show doesn't get on the air.

Cut back to Marco and Cassie who are inspecting whatever it is that Ax has built. When they open it, they find a seat inside. Before they can further investigate, they hear a noise.

CASSIE:
Someone's coming.

They duck behind some boxes to hide and observe as Ax enters with more materials. Marco then accidentally knocks over something and alerts Ax to their presence.

AX:
Hello? (Marco and Cassie stand letting him see them). Marco... H-hello Marco.... and Cassie. Uh. Uh. I'm surprised to see you here. Uh. Uh.

CASSIE:
Not as surprised as we are.

MARCO:
You want to tell us what you're doing Ax?

AX:
Of course. Uh. Yes. Uh. I... I... for the, I-I've been, uh, searching -- (sighs) I'm building a ship.

CASSIE:
Oh, we know that Ax, but, what is it for?

AX:
What's it...? For me. I'm going home.

Back at the station Jake and Rachel are trying to stop 'Must See TV' from airing.

JAKE:
I saw him put it in one of these. (Crouching in front of the deck) Here. (He tries to eject the tape, but with no avail) It's on automatic timer. I can't get it out.

RACHEL:
Jake. The show goes on in four minutes.

Outside the two guys have called in reinforcements. Mainly Tessmacher and Goldstone.

GUY:
There's a huge snake in the control room.

GOLDSTONE:
(tries the electronic keypad) It's locked, and the code doesn't work.

TESSMACHER:
Open it.

Fortunately they've brought along a guy with a flame thrower. They slowly burn their way through the lock. Back in the room Rachel watches the countdown.

RACHEL:
Two minutes.

JAKE:
One of these buttons have got to do something.

Rachel goes to look around for something and spies what they were her for originally.

RACHEL:
Got it!

JAKE:
The right button?

RACHEL:
No, I found Howard's tape.

JAKE:
I thought his name was Harold?

Cut back to Ax, Cassie, and Marco.

MARCO:
So if this works and you actually make it back to your planet, you're going to bring back some help, right?

AX:
(Imitating a western) Relax pilgrim. Here comes the celery.

CASSIE:
I think he means 'calvary'.

MARCO:
Yeah, yeah.

AX:
Yes, calvary. Okay, I'm ready to test now. Please stand by. (He quickly clears Marco and Cassie out by shoving 'em out)

MARCO:
Ax, Ax!

AX:
Thank you! Sorry Cassie.

CASSIE:
That's okay.

Ax shuts the door and beings his countdown. Cassie and Marco, realizing that they don't want to be standing next to the prototype ship when it takes off, goes behind some crates for cover.

AX:
Ten.. Five..

Cut to Jake and Rachel. Jake has stuck his hand into the VCR to try to manually remove the tape. (Let me tell you, I've tried it, it ain't going happen.)

RACHEL:
Four seconds.

Cut to Marco and Cassie.

AX:
Three.

Cut to Visser Three/Tessmacher.

TESSMACHER:
Two.

Cut back to Jake and Rachel. Jake realizes it's too late.

JAKE:
One.

Cut back to Ax. He hits the launch button but quickly finds out parts from the local mall do not create a good ship. The whole thing sparks and there's a mini explosion. The door to the compound flies open and off it's hinges, and sparks scatter everywhere. The sparks then hit a nearby power line and what I did to my house, Ax does to the whole town. In seconds power is gone everywhere.

Cut to Harold who looks like he was working on his computer.

HAROLD:
Hey. What the.. ?

Cut back to Jake and Rachel. The power outage automatically stops the time and the tape pops out.

JAKE:
I got it.

Outside they stop working for a second to state the obvious.

GUY:
The power's down.

Inside Rachel sees the door open.

RACHEL:
The door.

Outside everyone is still in awe at the fact that the power's gone. Then Visser Three gets a hold of himself and tries to get in.

TESSMACHER:
Get out of my way.

He opens the door, only to be pushed by a dog carrying a lizard on it's back and a tape in it's mouth. It's Jake, the Golden Retriever 'Greyhound'.

RACHEL T.S.:
We're out of here!

TESSMACHER:
Andalites!

Tessmacher and Goldstone try to chase after them.

Cut to Cassie, Ax, and Marco. They've safely made it out and are standing in the dark. There's no power anywhere.

MARCO:
Man, it looks like you did a number on the whole city Ax.

CASSIE:
Hey, one good thing about it. You can see the stars better.

AX:
Yes.

MARCO:
Okay, so you didn't make it home. Look at it this way, you've got family right here. You know what I mean.

AX:
Family.

Cut to Harold who's on the phone and not happy.

HAROLD:
I don't care if the power's out. I want to see my tape on TV. I want my $10,000! (There's a click and dial tone) Hello! Hello? Hello...?

Cut to Cyberia

REPORTER V.O.:
(on TV) ...and the city was plunged into total darkness. Elsewhere in the city emergency crews responded to a flurry of 911 calls. Today the mayor held a conference praising the emergency crews for responding so promptly...

We see Tobias sitting at computer terminal scanning in the photo of the hawk using a hand held scanner. He saves and uploads the images to the web and as he searches for a match, he receives an incoming message. Curious he takes a look.

TOBIAS:
(reading the message to himself) "Join us if you want to save the world."

Cut to the next day or so. Tobias is walking down a street and he gets to the corner of Fourth and Carson. He turns into the alley and sees that the hawk and symbols are tattooed all over the walls. He comes across a gate and against better judgement enters. He enters a building that looks like it hasn't been inhabited in a while but sees a surveillance camera and knows better. He then knocks on the door with the same hawk painting and is greeted by the same guy he was chasing through the mall.

TOBIAS:
I thought it was going to be you. So you want to tell why you've been spray painting hawks all over time.

The guy doesn't answer. Instead he steps aside and allows Tobias to enter. Which he does. (*sigh* Doesn't it strike anyone else as a bad idea?) As he enters two people converge on him and grab him.

TOBIAS:
Hey, hey! What is this?

A guy sitting in a couch facing away from the door speaks.

GUY:
Don't worry.

He gets up an approaches Tobias with an object he's been holding. It looks kind of like a skinny frozen lava lamp.

Cut to a track. Girls are running. One of them sees Marco sitting on the bench patting a rabbit and approaches him.

GIRL:
Aww.. What a cute bunny. What's it's name?

MARCO:
I really don't have a name for her yet. What's yours?

GIRL:
Naomi.

MARCO:
Hey, I got it. I'll call her Naomi. After you.

NAOMI:
Really? I'm honored.

MARCO:
Do you have a date for the dance yet?

Naomi suddenly makes a face as the rabbit on Marco's lap starts making weird noises.

NAOMI:
Ugh. I think there's something wrong with your rabbit.

The rabbit seems to be having convulsions of some kind.

MARCO:
(picking up the animal) Excuse me.

Marco runs into a wooded area and puts the rabbit down where it promptly apologizes for it's behavior.

AX T.S.:
I'm sorry Marco, I couldn't hold it any longer.

MARCO:
Okay. Okay. Just... stay here. All right?

Marco leaves to chase down Naomi and Ax begins to demorphs and the rabbit goes from white to blue. Apparently they've finished jogging because he enters to school to find her. He heads towards the stairs but is blocked by "Do Not Enter" signs and two huge guys.

GUY:
Whoah. Sorry kid, this area's off limits.

MARCO:
There's this girl I have to talk to...

GUY:
Well you're going to have to talk to her somewhere else. We got a gas leak.

MARCO:
I don't smell anything.

GUY:
I don't care what you smell. Nobody's getting down there. Don't you have a class or something?

MARCO:
All right. All right. I'm gone. (He begins to leave) Let me tell you. You're not going to get anywhere in your career with an attitude like that pal.

GUY:
Get out of here.

Marco leaves but eyes the guy suspiciously.

Back to Tobias and his blatant show of bad judgement. Kids, do not follow his example and walk into strange buildings alone. The frozen lava lamp appears to be some sort of scanner.

GUY:
It's okay. He's clean.

TOBIAS:
What do you mean "clean"?

GUY:
You're Yeerk-free.

TOBIAS:
What's a Yeerk?

GUY:
(laughs) You don't have to play dumb with us. We've all been there. We've all been controlled.

TOBIAS:
Yeah right. I'm out of here.

He turns to leave but his way is blocked by the guy who originally answered the door. Until we get a name, he'll be called Guy#2.

GUY #2:
You don't have to be afraid of us dude. We're not running on slug power anymore. We're the good guys.

Cut back to the school. Cassie approaches Jake with a large box tucked under her arm.

CASSIE:
Jake.

JAKE:
Hey Cass. What's up?

CASSIE:
Um. Well I thought that with, uh... you know, saving the world and everything you probably haven't had a chance to get anything to wear to the dance tonight.

JAKE:
Oh Cassie! I- I totally forgot.

CASSIE:
No, it's okay because... (she holds out the box which bears the label 'Skeefington's' with a little top hat, walking stick and glove)

JAKE:
What's this? (He opens the box to reveal a tux)

CASSIE:
It was my grandfather's. He wore it to marry my grandma. It's been up in the attic ever since, and he was your size, so I thought that you could wear it.

JAKE:
Yeah, Cassie, this is amazing. We are going to be the best dressed couple at the dance. (Suddenly he realizes what he's said) Except, you know, we're not really a couple so it's...

CASSIE:
(nodding vigorously) Exactly. Yeah.

JAKE:
Friends.

CASSIE:
Friends.

JAKE:
Friends. We're just... friends.

CASSIE:
Yeah.

JAKE:
So, uh... do friends like us go for a cappuccino?

CASSIE:
You mean, like, with double foam?

JAKE:
Yeah, like, with double foam and maybe some chocolate powder.

CASSIE:
I think friends like us do.

We then cut back to Tobias who is trying to earn an Emmy for his 'You people are insane, I've never heard of Yeerks Before' performance. He's sitting down with three guys and a girl.

TOBIAS:
Look. You guys, I'm telling you the truth here. I don't have a clue what you're talking about.

Guys 1 and 2 look at each other and scoff at this poor display of ignorance. As they talk the scene cuts to the Yeerk pool and illustrates their story.

GUY:
We're talking about Yeerks. Space slugs taking over the world. They get in to your head. They control you.

GUY #2:
But every couple of days they've gotta get juiced up again. In these big pools of, like, water and they leave you alone for a while. Long enough for you to remember who you are and what's really going on.

GUY:
That's how I got away.

We see how he was able to escape while controllers were busy with another unwilling host. The scene cuts back to the present.

GUY:
I tried to tell somebody about it -- the police -- anyone, but the ones who would listen either thought I was crazy or... they were already under Yeerk control.

GUY #2:
Same thing pretty much happened to us. But we started to find each other, one by one. On the net. With secret messages on the walls. We picked the hawk 'cause it's a bird of prey -- just like how we're going to hunt these Yeerks down and get rid of them. Are you ready to join us?

TOBIAS:
I'm not here to join anything. I saw your signs. I thought it was some kind of bird-watching club or something.

Guy #1 is not convinced that Tobias is as clueless as he claims.

TOBIAS:
Look, you guys have your fun with your little make believe alien invasion game. I gotta go.

GUY:
I'm sorry you can't do that.

Another guy (the one who hasn't spoken yet) tries to hold him, but Tobias shrugs him off.

TOBIAS:
Don't touch me.

GUY #2:
You know too much dude. If you get caught, you're going to tell them where we are.

TOBIAS:
All right. All right. I'll join you.

As soon as everyone's relaxed Tobias tries to run for it, but he doesn't get too far.

MIX OF VOICES:
Come here! He's getting away! (Swarms of freed controllers descend and grab him) I've got him! I've got him.

As they grab him, one girl pulls at the rope around his neck which loosens in her grip and the disk falls to the ground. Guy#2 picks it up and hands it off to Guy#1

GUY #2:
Looks like someone wasn't telling us the whole story.

GUY:
All right Mr. Bird-watcher. Where'd you get this?

Cut to an older lady working with some VR equipment. Apparently their underground network goes much further than the original four Tobias encountered.

LADY:
Oh, I'm not getting anywhere with it. (She looks up and sees Tobias) Who's this?

GUY:
He hasn't told us yet. Check out what he's wearing. (He hands her the disk).

GUY #2:
Revlon's a genius. When she escaped from the Yeerk pool she took like half of their equipment with her.

REVLON:
I still can't figure most of it out. (Inspecting the disk) It's Andalite all right. See this writing down here? You could save me a lot of time if you told me what this does.

TOBIAS:
I don't know. I found it at a construction site across town, and... well that's why I came here. I saw the same writing on your signs and I figured...

GUY:
Figured there was going to be a reward.

TOBIAS:
No, I figured maybe you needed it back.

REVLON:
Could be anything. Could be jewelry. Could be.... wait..

Revlon searches among the knick-knacks she had and finds what she's looking for. She inserts the disk into a similar device that Visser 3 had used in season one episodes and the disk starts spinning.

GUY #2:
What's it doing?

REVLON:
It's an electronic signal.

GUY:
See what it says. (He reaches for the VR gear that Revlon was working on earlier but she stops him)

REVLON:
If it's a signal designed for alien brains, it could destroy a human one.

GUY:
So what are we suppose to do?

TOBIAS:
I'll try it. If you promise to let me go.

GUY:
You heard Revlon. You could be seriously hurt or worse.

TOBIAS:
Look. If your story is true, then it's already worse, and if it's not... Well if it's not, then I go free. Do we have a deal?

The three freed controllers silently debate it amongst themselves.

Cut back to school. It's over and Marco's sneaking around. He enters the area that was previously off limits to him. Going in to the basement or at least lower levels of the building he sees something bad.

MARCO:
Man, oh man.

Suddenly he sees someone coming his way. A few seconds later the man passes where Marco was before. Marco morphed a lizard and is currently clinging on to the walls.

MARCO T.S.:
Close. Too close.

He tries to sneak away in lizard morph but is picked up by a teacher or janitor or someone and put into a wire cage in the science room.

MARCO T.S.:
Oh man. If I change back into human these wires are going to slice me up like salami. Let me out of here! Let me out!

Cut to the dance where everyone's all happy and smiling. Well maybe not everyone. Chapman approaches Rachel.

CHAPMAN:
Hello Rachel. You look lovely tonight. Remember to be in the gym at 9:00pm sharp. That's when we crown the king and queen of swing.

Rachel has been smiling the whole time. When Chapman leaves she scowls.

RACHEL:
Yeerk.

Jake and Cassie then enter all dressed up.

CASSIE:
Hey Rach.

RACHEL:
I can't believe it. You actually got my cousin out of his basketball shoes for a night.

CASSIE:
No, uh, Tobias?

RACHEL:
He said he wasn't coming, and he didn't. At least he's a man of his word. Besides, it gives me a chance to dance with Marco, and Jake, and...

Rachel doesn't get to finish her sentence because before she gets the chance Ax interrupts in a bright blue tux and an afro straight from 'Shaft'.

AX:
Did you just say 'dance', Rachel? I can dance with you.

RACHEL:
I would be honored to dance with you Ax.

AX:
Good. (He clumsily offers Rachel his arm and she takes it. The four of them enter the gym)

JAKE:
Has anyone seen Marco yet?

CASSIE:
You know Marco -- he's probably still standing in front of the mirror working on his hair.

Cut to Marco still in the cage. Oh how wrong you are Cassie..

MARCO T.S.:
Oh man. What time is it? (Sees the clock outside) 7:00?! I've only got thirty minutes to get out of here or I spend the rest of my life wearing lizard skin. Help! Somebody! Help!

Cut back to the dance. Ax is about to drink the punch from the spoon when he hear's Marco's cries for help.

MARCO T.S.:
Help! Help!

AX:
Marco. Marco?

Cut to Ax slowly making his way up the stairs and walking around the hall.

AX:
(whispering) Marco.

MARCO T.S.:
Ax! Get me out of here!

AX:
Marco, where are you? (He peers into the room and sees the lizard that is Marco) Marco? Marco.

MARCO T.S.:
Ax! Get me out of here.

Cut to Tobias putting the gear on and getting ready to find out what's on the disk or fry his brain trying (ooh... shades of First Person Shooter.. but I digress...)

GUY #2:
Man, you don't have to do this.

TOBIAS:
What are my choices? Hanging out with you guys in this warehouse for the rest of my life?

REVLON:
You may feel a little strange at first.

TOBIAS:
Let's go.

Revlon starts the disk. Suddenly Tobias finds himself in the room alone. He gets up.

TOBIAS:
Hello? Hey anybody?!

He suddenly falls back into the chair, but instead of landing on the chair he falls flat on his back in to a blue limbo. He gets up and looks around curiously and hears a voice.

MAN:
Tobias.

He spins around and sees the ghostly form of Elfangor.

TOBIAS:
Elfangor. Where am I?

ELFANGOR:
You're still in the chair, in the room with the others. This is a mental hologram. It was designed to deliver a message to my son.

TOBIAS:
You have a son here on earth? Where is he?

ELFANGOR:
I am looking at him. Yes Tobias. I am your father.

Cut to Marco who's demorphing slowly.

MARCO:
Thanks man, that was too close.

RACHEL:
Good thing Ax heard you when he did.

MARCO:
Yeah.

AX:
Yeah. So can we go back to the dance now? (Ax heads towards the door)

MARCO:
Not unless you want to fall head first into a Yeerk pool.

JAKE:
It's a trap?

MARCO:
The whole gym floor has been rigged to collapse, and it's set to go tonight.

RACHEL:
At 9 o'clock. When they crown the king and queen of swing. No wonder Chapman's been so excited about having the dance.

CASSIE:
We have to stop it. We have to close down the dance.

MARCO:
A little frontal attack maybe? A lion? A tiger? A snake or two? That ought to clear the place out.

JAKE:
Yeah, and put our school on the front page of every newspaper in the country. "Dance Stopped By Rampaging Animals". No we need something a little more subtler.

Cut back to Tobias and the Freed Controllers Association

Guy #1, Revlon and everyone is watching as Tobias is going through whatever it is he's going through.

Tobias meanwhile is having a very interesting posthumous encounter with his father.

TOBIAS:
You can't be my father!

ELFANGOR:
Your mother hid the truth from you Tobias. To protect you. She wanted you to never feel that you were different. That you didn't belong.

Cut to the entrance of the building. Visser Three (still as Tessmacher) has tracked them down. They enter. He motions for his two goons to be quiet.

TESSMACHER:
Sssh. Sssh. Don't want to spoil the surprise.

As his goons make their way up the stairs they trip a laser. Inside Guy#2's beeper goes off.

GUY #2:
We've got company.

GUY:
(indicating Tobias) He's not finished yet.

REVLON:
We'll all be finished if we stick around here. We've got to bring him out. Now.

GUY:
He's almost there, just a few more seconds.

Tobias is oblivious to what's going on outside of his Star Wars-like meeting.

TOBIAS:
Why didn't you tell me this that night, when you landed here?

ELFANGOR:
There wasn't time. (Scenes from the premiere flash by to illustrate his tale) When my ship was shot down by the air fleet I had only enough strength left to give the power of change to you and your friends. I hoped it would be enough to help save yourself and your world.

TOBIAS:
But, but I watched you die. I saw this [three-toed] creature, some sort of monster. Why? You must have known the Yeerks would find you. Why did you travel all the way to earth and risk your life for people you don't even know?

ELFANGOR:
It was not for people I don't know. It was for the one that I do. I would gladly sacrifice forever with strangers, for a single moment with someone I love.

Suddenly Elfangor fades away.

TOBIAS:
No!

The gear is ripped off his face and he sees the Guy.

GUY:
We're out of here.

TOBIAS:
My father!

GUY #2:
(Seeing Tessmacher and the other storm up the stairs) Time's up.

The door is broken down and everyone's in a panic.

GUY #2:
Run!

GUY:
(Grabbing Tobias out of the chair) Move!

In their hurry to get out the disk is trampled on beyond repair. That's the end of that.

Tobias and the guy run into a room with an open window the guy closes it and props himself against it to try to keep the controllers out. When Tobias tries to help him, he refuses.

GUY:
Go. Run.

TOBIAS:
Thank you.

GUY:
Can't hold it any longer.

As the guy keeps the door closed, Tobias demorphs into a hawk and is out of there. Fortunately the guy is too busy holding the door shut so he doesn't see Tobias do his little act. The controllers break in and grab the guy.

TESSMACHER:
Hello Hugo. We've been looking for you for a long time. What did the message say? (Holding up the ruined disk)

HUGO:
I don't know. It wasn't for me.

TESSMACHER:
Get him out of here. But hold him for me. I personally want the pleasure of infesting him myself.

HUGO:
There are others you know? You can't win.

TESSMACHER:
We shall see Hugo, we shall see.

Cut back to the dance. Everyone is having a good time until they smell something. It's horrible. They all cover their noses and hightail it toward the exit. Chapman bursts in.

CHAPMAN:
What's going on in there? (Seeing the fleeing students he snaps) No! Come back here! You wanted a dance, you're going to dance! Is that understood? Hello?!

He's all alone when he realizes that it stinks. Suddenly a skunk runs out. Chapman covers his nose and runs.

RACHEL T.S.:
That's the last time I wear this perfume to a dance.

Cut to Cyberia where the dance has moved itself.

RACHEL:
We did it. We beat them.

JAKE:
Did we? I mean think about it. We might have stopped the Yeerks tonight, but they still took away our dance.

MARCO:
Way to bring the party down dude.

AX:
I don't understand this.

CASSIE:
What, Ax?

AX:
Why are you all so sad?

RACHEL:
Because we were all looking forward to the dance Ax.

AX:
The dan.. But the.. The dance is right here. You have the people from the dance and I'm sure this establishment has some sort of music playing capabilities. I- I don't understand why we can't have the dance right here and now, that's.. I don't understand that.

CASSIE:
You know Ax, for an Andalite, you almost think like a human.

Cut to the jukebox (apparently Ax was right!) A quarter is dropped in and song #69 is selected. (Not the best of songs, but whatever.) It's Tobias, and in the white tux..

RACHEL:
Tobias!

CASSIE:
Yeah, but there's something different about him.

JAKE:
He's smiling.

TOBIAS:
(to Rachel) Sorry I'm late. May I have this dance?

RACHEL:
I though you'd never ask.

Tobias leads Rachel to, I guess, the dance floor and they're the brave first couple that starts it all.

CASSIE:
So why are we still sitting here?

Jake and Cassie join them on the floor.

Marco watches then and Ax moves over towards him.

MARCO:
Don't even think about it Ax.

AX:
No, uh, of course not.

Seeing that Ax really really wanted to dance Marco gives in.

MARCO:
All right, but I lead.

AX:
We can dance?

MARCO:
Go, go..

Cuts back to Rachel and Tobias.

RACHEL:
We only have a couple of hours together. I have a curfew tonight.

TOBIAS:
"I would gladly sacrifice forever with strangers for a single moment with someone I love."

RACHEL:
That's beautiful. Shakespeare?

TOBIAS:
My father.

Cut to Ax and Marco.

AX:
I've been watching videos. See, you use your foot and stomp like that. You can hit them...

Ax proceeds to demonstrate. Scene cuts to Tobias and Rachel. As he does his closing monologue the camera pans out to show the whole scene.

TOBIAS V.O.:
My name is Tobias. I used to think I was just a regular kid, you know, nothing special. But that's not true. It never was. My father was from another planet and he loved me so much that he risked his life to come here and save me, and now it's my turn. It's my responsibility to help save the world. I can't do it alone, but I have good friends, and they're my family now. I might not know what's going to happen next but I do know one thing for sure: together, somehow, I know we're going to win.

FIN

© Scholastic Entertainment / Transcript by Pam