Bring The World To Your Web Page

40

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

(SAME SCENE)

The Autobots are hit by a barrage of firepower that send some of them sprawling. (APP. SFX)

ANOTHER ANGLE - ON GEARS AND CLIFFJUMPER

as the cave wall overhead is hit by more LASER BLASTS, the Autobots below are slow to react in the confusion. Cliffjumper sees the blast above...

GEARS
I knew it was a trap!

CLIFFJUMPER
Scatter!

... pushes Gears O.S. and leaps O.S. himself as part of the cave ceiling CRASHES to the ground!

ANGLE FEATURING STARSCREAM

as he levels his weapon at the enemy O.S. and FIRES.

ON BUMBLEBEE

who runs to take cover behind a stalagmite. He just makes it as the rock structure is hit and SHATTERED into stones.

BUMBLEBEE
Yipes!

Bumblebee makes another run for it, but stumbles and falls flat on his face.

ON STARSCREAM

Smiling triumphantly, he readies his weapon for another shot.

STARSCREAM
Say your prayers, Autobot!

BACK TO SHOT

Jazz moves INTO SCENE, grabs another handy stalagmite and RIPS it off at the base.

JAZZ
Stand back, Bumblebee--it's my turn at bat!

41

As the laser BLAST is shot INTO SCENE, Jazz swings the stalagmite like a baseball bat, connects with the fireball with a SFX: CRACK!, and sends it back where it came from O.S.!

ON STARSCREAM

as the laser ball flies INTO SCENE, he ducks just in time. But it hits part of the cave behind him with a tremendous EXPLOSION, knocking the Decepticon off his feet to fall O.S.

JAZZ (CONT-VO)
Yer out!!

ON SOUNDWAVE

He presses the eject button on his shoulder and his cassette holder flips open..,.

SOUNDWAVE
Laserbeak ... transform!

The mini-cassette flips out, TRANSFORMING into Laserbeak, who flies O.S.

LASERBEAK
(CONDOR SCREECH!)

ANGLE ON PROWL

He uses some rock formations as a cover as he BLASTS away at the Decepticons O.S. Suddenly Laserbeak flies INTO SCENE overhead and FIRES below, hitting the rocks and causing Prowl to be flung back.

ON RATCHET

He sees the action O.S. and extends an arm. An object that looks like little more than a wrapped ball of rope is catapulted from a tube in his arm. (SFX: TWANG!) CAMERA FOLLOWS as the "ball" unwinds to become a glowing, SIZZLING electronic net.

RATCHET
This electronic net will ground you for good, Laserbeak!

Laserbeak flies INTO PAN and into the net, causing SPARKS as he struggles and falls to the ground, wrapped in the netting.

LASERBEAK
(SCREECHES!!)

42

CLOSE ON SOUNDWAVE

Frowning, he reaches for his eject button again.

SOUNDWAVE
Ravage...

But this time Ironhide reaches INTO SHOT to grab his arm. The CAMERA PULLS BACK to include IRONHIDE...

IRONHIDE
Oh, no you don't ... not this time!

... who flings SOUNDWAVE around and into a wall with a SFX: CRASH!, causing rock and dust to fall all around!

ON MEGATRON

Watching the battle, he raises his weapon at Ironhide O.S.

MEGATRON
This time I'll blast more than your shoulder!

CLOSE ON OPTIMUS PRIME

He turns and reacts, seeing what is about to happen

OPTIMUS PRIME
Ironhide! Look out!!

ON IRONHIDE

brushing off his hands at a job well done as the dust around him settles. Optimus Prime leaps INTO SCENE, tackling him to the ground as Megatron's BLAST EXPLODES INTO SCENE over their heads!

CLOSER ON THE TWO AUTOBOTS

Ironhide looks back to give his leader a smile...

IRONHIDE
Thanks for the favor, Optimus!

OPTIMUS PRIME
Don't mention it...

ON MEGATRON

as he prepares to fire at the Autobots again...

43

MEGATRON
Now to finish you both!

... but his weapon is deflected by another BLAST from O.S.

ON PROWL

... who holds the offending weapon.

PROWL
Not so fast, Megatron!

But Skywarp jumps him from behind, causing the Autobot to drop his weapon, and the two of them struggle to the ground.

ON PRIME

His foot is wedged between some large rocks, and he cannot rise. He turns to pull on it...

OPTIMUS PRIME
My foot -- it's caught!

ON MEGATRON

Megatron's face breaks into a wide, evil smile. With deliberation, he brings his arm up and WHIRRING buzzsaw blades appear from another compartment, spinning.

MEGATRON
Then I will cut you down to size!

He ejects one of the blades, which fly towards Prime O.S..

ON OPTIMUS PRIME

who pulls his leg free to move out of the way--just as the cutting blade WHIRRS THROUGH SHOT...

ON CAVERN WALL

...and digs into the rock wall (SFX: BUZZSAW), causing clouds of stone dust to billow out, FILLING THE FRAME..

ON MEGATRON

as he moves forward, his other rotary blade at the ready as he steps into the cloud of rock dust.

MEGATRON
I have yet another sharp, cutting edge, Prime...

The CAMERA PANS with Megatron as his now indistinct form comes upon another tall, indistinct form standing in his way.

44

MEGATRON (CONT-VO)
And this time...

The billowing dust is dissipating as he takes a mighty swing at the form before him.

MEGATRON (CONT-VO)
...I won't miss!!

SFX: THUD!...and the dust clears enough to reveal that Megatron has hacked a stalagmite in half.

CLOSER ON MEGATRON

The evil Decepticon pans the area, looking for his target.

MEGATRON (CONT)
(incensed) Prime! Where are you?!

OPTIMUS PRIME (VO)
Right behind you, Megatron!

Megatron freezes.

WIDER ANGLE

to reveal Optimus Prime standing behind Megatron, his laser weapon pointed at him.

OPTIMUS PRIME (CONT)
Surrender --- you've lost this round!

CLOSE ON MEGATRON'S HAND

Megatron starts to move his hand to activate another weapon.

MEGATRON (VO)
Never!

ANGLE ON SPARKPLUG

He leans out from behind some rock formations, where he has been shielding himself, and yells to Optimus Prime O.S.

SPARKPLUG
Optimus! Look out! He's--

BACK TO WIDE ANGLE - MEGATRON AND PRIME

As Prime's attention is diverted, Megatron fires a weapon and misses, then ducks behind a natural wall. (SFX: LASER BLAST)

45

ANGLE BEHIND THE WALL

As Megatron moves along behind the wall in a crouch, he's stopped short by the sound of Shockwave's voice coming over his transmitter.

SHOCKWAVE (VO)
(filtered) Megatron! Response requested.

CLOSER ON MEGATRON

as if swatting a fly...

MEGATRON
(impatiently) Not now, Shockwave... this is not the time!

CUT TO:

SHOCKWAVE ON CYBERTRON

He speaks into his transmitter as the "doorway" to the space bridge starts activating--very slowly and faintly now.

SHOCKWAVE
Megatron--the space bridge is about to open at the previous coordinates!

CUT TO:

BACK TO MEGATRON

SHOCKWAVE (CONT-VO)
(over transmitter) Repeat..the space bridge is about to open!

MEGATRON
Excellent--We will be there!

REVERSE ANGLE ON "WALL"

Megatron vaults over the wall, landing on the run.

MEGATRON (CONT)
Starscream! Blast us a way out of here!!

ON STARSCREAM

He turns from the battle to frown at his leader.

46

STARSCREAM
Retreat?! Never!

MEGATRON (VO)
Do as I command!!

Starscream turns again, bringing his cluster bomb barrel up, and fires a series of cluster bombs O.S. (SFX: WHOOSH!)

ON BLOCKED CAVE ENTRANCE

The cluster bombs hit the boulders still blocking up the cave entrance, EXPLODING one after the other and sending the boulders flying out into the cave and re-opening the entranceway.

MEGATRON (CONT)
Decepticons! Follow me!

Megatron leads the other Decepticons out of the cave. As they exit, Autobot firepower ammo flies over their heads and between them. (SFX: LASER BLASTS)

CUT TO:

EXT. OF CAVE

MEGATRON (CONT)
Takeoff for the river bed!

All of the Decepticons except for Megatron and Starscream take off into the air.

CLOSER ON MEGATRON AND STARSCREAM

Starscream turns to Megatron, confronting him.

STARSCREAM
No! The Autobots will follow us! We can't let them know the location of the bridge!

MEGATRON
We will not let them know...

Starscream reacts, puzzled. Then Megatron TRANSFORMS into his super ray gun mode and Starscream grins maliciously as the gun flips into his hands.

MEGATRON (CONT-VO)
No Autobot will leave the cave alive!!

47

ANGLE SHOOTING PAST THEM

Starscream BLASTS away at the cave, causing HUGE EXPLOSIONS!

WIDE ON CAVERN

When the explosions stop, we see it is only a huge pile of rubble.

ON MEGATRON AND STARSCREAM

Megatron flips out of Starscream's hands and TRANSFORMS to his robotic mode.

MEGATRON
That's the end of Prime and the Autobots!

Then they lift off into the air to join the others O.S.

BACK TO WIDE SHOT OF CAVE

The CAMERA MOVES IN as the dust settles...

CUT TO:

INT. OF CAVE

The CAMERA PANS the area to reveal that the Autobot force has survived, although suffering damage. Some of the robots are badly dented, others are checking their mechanical parts. (SFX: INTERMITTENT GRINDING OF GEARS and ELECTRONIC PULSING)

ON IRONHIDE'S FOOT

A panel in Ironhide's left shin slides open and Sparkplug climbs out.

SPARKPLUG
Thanks for letting me take cover in there, Ironhide!

IRONHIDE
Forget it..!

BUMBLEBEE (VO)
(GROAN!)

Sparkplug and Ironhide look for Bumblebee, O.S.

ON BUMBLEBEE

Leaning back against the cave wall, with the compartment cover to his memory chips hanging half.open. Ratchet comes INTO SCENE and squats next to him.

48

RATCHET
(soothingly) Hey, Bumblebee--Looks like you could us a little repair..

CLOSER

Ratchet's arc-welder CLICKS out in place of his hand unit and the flame goes on (SFX: WELDING TORCH). He starts to cut the section hanging on its hinges free.

RATCHET (CONT-VO)
This might get a little hot...

FLIP TO:

SAME SCENE - WIDER ANGLE - LATER

Ratchet is holding his circuit sensor against Bumblebee's chest, running a circuit check. He watches and listens intently as the sensor BEEPS. Optimus Prime and the other Autobots are gathered around.

RATCHET
It looks like a bank of Bumblebee's memory chips has been altered.

CLOSER ON BUMBLEBEE

Ratchet-reaches for Bumblebee's chest with his laser scalpel and we hear SFX: INTERMITTENT HIGH-PITCHED BUZZING.

RATCHET (CONT-VO)
I'm switching his memory impulses into audio mode...

REVERSE ANGLE - WIDER

Optimus Prime moves forward to question the little Autobot.

OPTIMUS PRIME
Tell us, Bumblebee... The space bridge... Where did you see it?

BUMBLEBEE
(toneless) The cave... I mean--

CLOSER ON BUMBLEBEE

He pauses, and then smiles, his memory returning.

BUMBLEBEE (CONT)
I remember now! The dry river bed in the desert!

49

WIDER ON SCENE

Prime waves for the others to follow him as he moves O.S.

OPTIMUS PRIME
There is no time to lose!

Ratchet tries to help Bumblebee to his feet, but Bumblebee gently refuses his help, patting him on the shoulder.

OPTIMUS PRIME (CONT-VO)
We must get to that river bed before Megatron can ship the energon cubes through the bridge to Cybertron!

Then they go O.S. after Prime and the others.

ANOTHER AREA - WIDE

Prime and the other Autobots are all lined up, facing the blocked-up entrance, each holding their weapons at the ready.

OPTIMUS PRIME (CONT)
Autobots! Concentrate firepower --

CUT TO:

EXT. OF CAVE

The huge rocks blocking the cave entrance are sent flying INTO CAMERA. (SFX: DEAFENING BLAST!!!)

ANOTHER ANGLE - CLOSER TO CAVE

As the Autobots start moving through the opening they created..

OPTIMUS PRIME (CONT)
Roll out!

...they start to TRANSFORM into their vehicular modes and...

ANOTHER ANGLE ON CONVOY

... roll out in a convoy line-up, Prime in the lead. SFX: MOTORS RUNNING.

OPTIMUS PRIME (CONT-VO)
The space bridge must be destroyed!!

WIPE TO:

50

THE RIVER BED

The reactivated parallel posts are glowing and undulating with their alternately spinning waves of charged energy, the camera-like iris opening and closing. The CAMERA PANS to the other end of the ramp leading down to the "doorway" and HOLDS on Megatron, who is holding his audio transmitter

SHOCKWAVE (VO)
Repeat ... the space bridge will be operable for only four minutes.

MEGATRON
Four minutes will be sufficient.

The CAMERA PANS over to Spike, surrounded by a force field cage of slowly oscillating energy waves. (SFX: LOW, OSCILLATING BUZZ) Ravage paces back and forth in front of the-waves.

RAVAGE
(LOW GROWLING)

Soundwave comes INTO SHOT. Ravage stops his pacing.

SOUNDWAVE
Ravage... stand aside!

Ravage glances at Spike, staring intensely, then steps aside as Soundwave moves into the oscillating waves, breaking the beams and starting a reaction which rapidly wipes out each wave, one after the other. (APP. SFX)

ON SPIKE

Who feels around to see if the force field is really gone.

SPIKE
(lightly, forced) Well, I guess I served my time and I'm free to go, huh?

CLOSE ON SOUNDWAVE

SOUNDWAVE
(flatly) You are free to go ... to Cybertron!

FLIP TO:

TRANSPORT VEHICLE

Spike is held down in the vehicle with new, mechanical arms. (There is still damage seen from the last test run.)

51

MEGATRON (VO)
You will be riding on what seems to be a beam of energy...

WIDER

to include Megatron, who stands alongside the ramp, his back TO CAMERA.

MEGATRON (CONT-VO)
Concentrate on the beam ... focus on it.. and you will arrive safely on Cybertron.

REVERSE ANGLE - DRAMATIC UPSHOT ON MEGATRON

MEGATRON (CONT)
If not, you could be de-molecularized and cease to exist!!

ANGLE ON SPIKE

Spike defiantly crosses his arms, looking away from Megatron.

SPIKE
Optimus Prime and the Autobots will rescue me!

MEGATRON (VO)
The Autobots? (EVIL CHUCKLE) We left them buried in a heap of rubble!

Spike lowers his head, silent in despair. (SFX: O.S. ENERGY)

ON THE PARALLEL POSTS

Glowing, the energy beams circle and the iris opens--as the space bridge is re-established!

MEGATRON (VO)
Energon cubes ready to transverse space bridge, Shockwave!

ON MEGATRON

Megatron is speaking into his audio transmitter.

SHOCKWAVE (VO)
(filtered) Ready to receive shipment, Megatron!

ANGLE ON RAMP

MEGATRON (VO)
Commence transport... !

52

The transport vehicle with Spike rolls slowly INTO SCENE down the ramp. We hear SFX: MOTOR CONVOY, and the CAMERA TILTS UP to the edge of the dry river bed, where we see the Autobot vehicles arrive and stop at the edge.

OPTIMUS PRIME (VO)
Autobots ... transform!

ANOTHER ANGLE ON AUTOBOTS

The CAMERA PANS the line of Autobots as they TRANSFORM into their robotic modes.

DOWNSHOT

Megatron and the other Decepticons glare up INTO CAMERA.

MEGATRON
Autobots?! Take cover before they--

UPSHOT

OPTIMUS PRIME (VO)
(finishing Megatron's line) --Attack!!!

The Autobots fire a barrage of assorted laser BLASTS,. missiles, flame-throwers, and armor-piercing rocket darts INTO CAMERA. (SFX: BARRAGE OF FIREPOWER, EXPLOSIONS)

WIDE ANGLE ON DECEPTICONS

Most of the Decepticons scatter, some of them taking any cover available, others flying up into the air to meet the attack head-on, while others stand their ground ... all firing their weapons. (APP. SFX)

ABOVE

As the two Decepticons who took to the air (Starscream and Skywarp) fly up to the Autobot line, their missiles are each hit by an Autobot missile, EXPLODING harmlessly in the air.

ON RIVERBANK SLOPE

Meanwhile, the Autobots move down the slope into the river bed, overpowering the Decepticons with their firepower consisting of flame-throwers, laser blasts, and volt beams. (SFX: TO SUIT)

53

ON CLIFFJUMPER AND IRONHIDE

their backs TO CAMERA as they scan the area. Cliffjumper reacts, spotting the transport vehicle moving down the ramp. From this POV, only the energon cubes can be seen, blocking Spike. Cliffjumper points.

CLIFFJUMPER
Ironhide! The energon cubes!

Ironhide follows his glance...

IRONHIDE
Don't worry I'll blow 'em, up to Cybertron -- as dust!

He brings up a bazooka-like tube, the end studded with a circular series of smaller "rifle" bores.

SPARKPLUG (VO)
Stop! !

ANOTHER ANGLE

Sparkplug runs INTO SCENE from the side, anxiously waving his arms at Cliffjumper and Ironhide.

SPARKPLUG (CONT)
Hold your fire -- !

ANOTHER ANGLE ON TRANSPORT VEHICLE

Spike is in view as the vehicle picks up speed.

SPARKPLUG (CONT-VO)
Spike's riding on that thing!!

ON OPTIMUS PRIME

He stands over Megatron, who is lying on his back. Prime has his laser rifle trained on his enemy, and looks O.S., aghast.

OPTIMUS PRIME
Spike?! On the bridge??!

WIDE ON AUTOBOTS

Behind Cliffjumper, Ironhide and Sparkplug, a group of Autobots are on a slope, their weapons at the ready.

OPTIMUS PRIME (CONT-VO)
Autobots...hold your fire!!

54

The Autobots lower their weapons, puzzled.

OPTIMUS PRIME (CONT-VO)
Spike is on the transport vehicle!

ON BUMBLEBEE

as he quickly TRANSFORMS into his VW mode, his MOTOR REVVING...

BUMBLEBEE
Transforming to pursuit and rescue mode, Optimus Prime!

... and ROARS O.S.

BACK TO PRIME - MEDIUM CLOSE

With a quick spin, he adjusts the muzzle of his rifle bore to almost a pinpoint opening.

PRIME
Ready to assist!

ON TRANSPORT VEHICLE

as it whizzes down the ramp, WHINING at top speed...

WIDER ON PRIME AND MEGATRON

As Optimus brings his rifle up, intent on his goal, Megatron slowly and silently moves O.S. Prime fires his laser rifle as the CAMERA PUSHES IN on him. (SFX: LASER BLAST)

CLOSE ON MECHANICAL ARMS (PAN BG)

holding Spike to the vehicle. The laser ray from Prime's rifle O.S. comes INTO SHOT and shatters the arms, releasing Spike. (SFX: PING!!)

WIDER (PAN BG)

to include Bumblebee (it his VW trans-form) racing down the ramp and catching up to Spike in the vehicle. (SFX: VW HORN)

BUMBLEBEE
Hurry, Spike -- jump!!

ANOTHER ANGLE - HEAD ON

Spike takes a deep breath, then springs off the transport vehicle into the air towards Bumblebee. The little Autobot wheels over to catch him on the hood of his trans-form.

55

BUMBLEBEE (VO-CONT)
Gotcha!

CLOSER

Spike, on his hood, clutches on, still spread-eagled, his head next to the windshield.

BUMBLEBEE (CONT-VO)
Now, hold on!

WIDER

SFX: BRAKES SCREECHING as he makes a wild U-turn, going back in the direction he just came from and O.S.

ON PRIME AND AUTOBOTS

Prime readies his hand to give his robots the signal to destroy the cubes..

OPTIMUS PRIME
Prepare to fire!

ON MEGATRON

He moves quickly to the ramp near the space bridge opening.

MEGATRON
I must get those cubes into the bridge before it closes!

ON TRANSPORT VEHICLE

OPTIMUS PRIME (VO)
Fire!!

Suddenly the vehicle is hit by a barrage of laser BLASTS from O.S. The energon cubes EXPLODE!!!! with a blast that SHAKES THE SCREEN ... and the screen is filled with the resultant debris of the transport vehicle flying O.S. in all directions.

ON MEGATRON

He is knocked off his feet by the explosion and blown back between the posts of the space bridge.

MEGATRON
Shockwave ... deactivate the --!

Like the first test cube, Megatron vanishes in the opening in a brilliant, pulsating FLASH of light! Then the iris closes, the space bridge fading...

56

ON DECEPTICONS

They gather together, having witnessed the "end" of Megatron. Starscream takes the lead...

STARSCREAM
Return to the base! SKYWARP
But Megatron...

CLOSER ON STARSCREAM AND SKYWARP

Starscream moves in on Skywarp, intimidating him..

STARSCREAM
Megatron is gone! I'm the leader now!

WIDER

As Starscream lifts off into the air...

STARSCREAM (CONT)
Follow me!!

...the others join him, flying O.S. in defeat.

ON AUTOBOTS

They cheer their victory...

AUTOBOTS
(AD LIB CHEERS)

FAVOR SPIKE AND SPARKPLUG

Sparkplug is smiling, his arm protectively around Spike's shoulder. Spike turns to Bumblebee nearby...

SPIKE
Thanks, Bumblebee!

Bumblebee HONKS his horn, then TRANSFORMS into his robot mode.

BUMBLEBEE
Forget it! I'm just happy that Megatron fell into his own space bridge! Now he's lost forever!

ON OPTIMUS PRIME

His head is lowered as he thinks.

OPTIMUS PRIME
I wish I could believe that...

57

He lifts his head, looking up into the heavens.

OPTIMUS PRIME (CONT)
Someday--sooner than we expect-- (resigned) --we'll see Megatron again.

The CAMERA MOVES UP to the sky...

DISSOLVE TO:

THE PLANET CYBERTRON

The CAMERA PUSHES IN on the mechanical planet, and we...

CUT TO:

INT. OF DECEPTICON HEADQUARTERS - ON OTHER END OF BRIDGE

As Shockwave watches from a control panel, Megatron steps out of the iris-like opening into the room. The iris closes and the space bridge fades at this end as well. Shockwave reacts, moving forward...

SHOCKWAVE
Megatron! At last you have returned!

MEGATRON
Not for long, Shockwave. We must begin preparations for my return trip to Earth.

UPSHOT ON MEGATRON

as he peers through the transparent dome overhead, shaking his fist at the stars...

MEGATRON (CONT-VO)
Optimus Prime and the Autobots have not heard the last of Megatron...

The CAMERA PUSHES IN past Megatron to the starry night sky as we...

MEGATRON (CONT-VO)
I will be avenged!!!

* (OMIT-LAST PAGE)

FADE OUT

ACT ONE

ACT TWO

ACT THREE