ANIMORPHS: The Invasion Begins

ANIMORPHS: THE INVASION BEGINS

by

Ian Davidson, Josh SJ, Heather Piper

BLACK

The words (both voiceover and titles), as they fade, are obfuscated by smoke and stars and the AMBIENT NOISE: the cool hum of machinery.

JAKE (V.O.)We can’t tell you who we are, or where we live.

TITLE: PROJECT AM PRESENTS

JAKE (V.O.) (CONT’D.)It’s . . .too risky.

TITLE: A JOSHSPAZJOSH PRODUCTION

FADE IN:

EXT. SUBURBIA – MORNING

The morning sky is dotted with clouds; it is a nice day. Slowly pan down to a grid of houses. Skyscrapers and commercial developments can be seen in the distance.

JAKE (V.O.) (CONT’D.)Some things in this film you’re about to see have been made up. Others, concealed. We’ve changed some names and places around. But the truth behind it all is what matters, and everything important is here.

FADE TO:

EXT. JAKE’S WINDOW - MORNING

Enter through the window glass to JAKE’S BEDROOM, where JAKE, stocky, somewhat built, brown hair, blue eyes, sturdy, is packing for school. He shoves some books into his backpack and grabs his house keys.

(CONTINUED)CONTINUED:

JAKE (V.O.) (CONT’D.)

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It seems like ten years ago that I was just a normal kid. But it was just last week. It took one week for my life to be thrown upside-down. That’s all it takes.

A beat.

JAKE (V.O.) (CONT’D.)My name is Jake.

MOM (O.S.)Jake!

INT. HALLWAY - JAKE’S HOUSE – MORNING

JAKE’s MOM is carrying a large pile of clothes in a laundry basket, walking down the hallway. She yells toward Jake’s room, away from the camera.

MOMJake!

TOM, Jake’s brother, similar build, significantly taller, in his late teens, steps into the hallway from his bedroom and almost collides with his mom while walking across the hallway.

MOMOh—Tom!

Tom passes his mom with his backpack.

TOMSorry.

MOM

Is your brother up yet?

TOM (O.S)I think he’s still in bed!

INT. JAKE’S ROOM - MORNING

Jake’s mom enters her son’s bedroom. It is a mess.

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MOMJake, you’re going to be late for school!

Jake’s mom approaches the bed and throws back the bed covers to reveal HOMER, Jake’s dog. She sighs.

MOMJa—

Jake walks into view of the doorframe behind her.

JAKEWhat?

MOM

You’re going to be—-

JAKE--late?

He holds up his backpack, grinning--

JAKEDon’t worry so much.

--takes off down the hall-- INT. KITCHEN – JAKE’S HOUSE - MORNING

--and leaps down the stairs. His DAD is sitting at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee.

JAKEBye, Dad!

Dad nods in acknowledgment, not looking up from the paper while Jake walks to the door where TOM is standing.


TOMCome on, Jake. Hurry up.

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Jake walks up to the door and Tom fakes hitting him. They both laugh a little and walk out the door.

EXT. JAKE’S HOUSE – MORNING

Jake, Tom and their mother get into a dark green minivan and drive away.

BLURRED PAN TO:

INT. KITCHEN - RACHEL’S HOUSE - MORNING

It’s hectic. NAOMI, a lawyer, is screaming into the phone at a colleague. It’s seven in the morning, and in addition to actually getting her stuff together for her case, she has to take her three kids to school.

V/NAOMIRACHEL! Are you ready for school?!

PAN TO:

INT. RACHEL’S BEDROOM – RACHEL’S HOUSE - MORNING

RACHEL is Naomi’s oldest daughter and Jake’s cousin, around the same age (early teens). Tall, long blonde hair; could be a model someday, maybe. She’s in her room, frantically shoving books into her backpack.

SARA (O.S.)I want to be the princess!

JORDAN laughs hysterically in response to SARA. Both are Rachel’s sisters, playing in another room.


RACHELAlmost!

JORDAN (O.S.)Come on, we’re going to be late.

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RACHELNo, we’re not. We have plenty of time.

She rolls her eyes, grabs her backpack, turns to the mirror, smears on some lip gloss and leaves her room.

INT. FOYER – RACHEL’S HOUSE - MORNING

The three sisters make their way to the door. Naomi’s still screaming.

RACHELBye, Mom!

She opens the door, hurrying her sisters out before her.

NAOMIRachel, could you—

The door slams.

NAOMIDammit! This case . . .

She groans and rummages through her papers on the counter.

CUT TO:

INT. CASSIE’S BARN - MORNING

CASSIE is black, shorter than Jake or Rachel, her hair cropped short, in a purple T-shirt and ratty blue jeans. She’s tending to an injured RED-TAILED HAWK. Her DAD walks into the barn.

CASSIE’S DADCassie, look. I know you like helping out, but . . .

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He checks his watch, then looks up.

CASSIE’S DADYou’re going to be late.

CASSIEDon’t worry, just a sec…

She puts the hawk back in its cage.

CASSIEThere.

She runs to the door of the barn, next to her father.

CASSIETell Mom I said bye.

She gives him a small kiss on the cheek, picks up her backpack next to the cage, and then starts to walk away. Her father’s shaking his head, smiling.

CUT TO:

INT. MARCO’S BEDROOM – MARCO’S APARTMENT - MORNING

MARCO is Hispanic, long black hair, orange T-shirt, simple black pants. He’s frustrated; he’s trying to neatly pack things into his backpack. It’s not working. We follow his eyes to a desk covered with books, papers, and pencils. He rolls his eyes and sweeps all of it into the backpack, satisfied.


He notices a framed picture that fell over when he put everything in his backpack, sets it upright—

CU OF PICTURE – INT. MARCO’S BEDROOM – MARCO’SAPARTMENT - MORNING

--and pauses. It’s his mother, EVA, on the beach.

INT. MARCO’S BEDROOM – MARCO’S APARTMENT - MORNING

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Marco exits with his backpack.

INT. LIVING ROOM – MARCO’S APARTMENT – MORNING

An unshaven man sits in an armchair, the light from the television flickering. It’s Marco’s DAD. Marco walks by in the background. He’s leaving for school.

MARCOBye . . .

Marco exits.

CUT TO:

INT. TOBIAS’ BEDROOM – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - MORNING

TOBIAS – dirty blonde hair, sharp blue eyes, pale complexion, vaguely tallish but slight- is sleeping in his bed. He slowly wakes up and looks at the clock--

CLOCK – INT. TOBIAS’ BEDROOM – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - MORNING

--which says 7:08.

INT. TOBIAS’ BEDROOM – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - MORNING

TOBIASCrap! Crap crap crap crap . . .

INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - MORNING

Tobias grabs his backpack, which was previously leaning on a cabinet near the floor. He leans toward the refrigerator.

INT. REFRIGERATOR - INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - MORNING

Blackness. Then Tobias opens up the fridge and we see his face peeking between some grated shelves. Nothing in the fridge except a half-eaten apple, some bread, a box of granola bars, and a pizza box with one forlorn, half-eaten slice. Tobias sighs, exasperated.

INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - MORNING

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Tobias closes the fridge and runs out the door.

EXT. TOBIAS’ HOUSE - MORNING

The school bus is right outside Tobias’ house. He runs up the bus steps and gets on just before the doors close.

INT. SCHOOL BUS - MORNING

We get a CU of Tobias’ face as he walks down the aisle – he’s relieved that he got on the bus, but his smile is eliminated by the arrival of ANDY and TAP-TAP, who come up from behind. Tap-Tap twists Tobias’ arm painfully; Andy grins.

ANDYWhat’s up, bendy-boy?

EXT. MATTINGLY AVENUE - MORNING

The back of the school bus drives away from us.

EXT. MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH - MORNING

Jake’s minivan stops in front. Jake gets out and waves good-bye to his mom, who drives away. We then see Rachel, who has reached the school by foot and is just entering through the doors. Pan to Cassie, who stops her bike in front of the rack next to the doors and begins to lock it up. She looks up, sees Rachel, and waves as the school bus arrives in the background. Pan back to Rachel, who waves back. Pan/zoom past Cassie to the school bus, where Tobias gets off, rubbing his arm and wincing. Pan to a smiling Andy and Tap-Tap, and then to Marco, who just got off the bus. He walks toward the school. The five reach the doors at the same time: Rachel talking to Cassie, Jake spotting Marco and talking to him, and Tobias squeezing in between people, trying to avoid Andy and Tap-Tap. They enter.

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FADE TO:

BLACK

TITLE: ANIMORPHS THE INVASION BEGINS

CUT TO:

INT. ROOM 158 – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH - DAY

Standard layout: desk-chairs in neat rows, a long wooden teacher’s desk in the front, a whiteboard, a couple of computers in the back. You can tell that the school isn’t in a financially disadvantaged community but at the same time is in need of some renovation. MR. TIDWELL is writing on the blackboard while the kids are in various states of attention. We can see Tobias, Marco and Rachel in the same class – Tobias and Rachel are in the same row, towards the back, with a couple of students in between them.


MR. TIDWELLSo the y-intercept is b and the slope is m . . .the y-intercept is b and the slope is m . . .so if you plug them into this equation . . .plug this in . . .

Tobias isn’t interested in what’s on the blackboard; he’s looking out the window to his right. We follow his gaze out the window to a HAWK, circling outside the school. Tobias smiles faintly.

MR. TIDWELLTobias?

Tobias, startled from his reverie, has a minor spasm as he rights himself.

TOBIASWhat?

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The class laughs at his reaction. Mr. Tidwell is not derisive but amused.

MR. TIDWELLAll right, let’s get back to work. And Tobias, get your head out of the clouds, all right?

Tobias gives a shy smile and then a quick glance to his left, where Rachel’s sitting and looking forward at the teacher; Tobias looks back to the front of the room as well. Rachel glances to her right at Tobias, sees Tobias looking forward, then looks down at her desk.

INT. JAKE’S LOCKER – SECOND FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – EARLY AFTERNOON

Jake gets his books, slams the door shut—

INT. HALLWAY – SECOND FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – EARLY AFTERNOON

--and starts putting his books in his backpack. CHAPMAN, balding, wearing an old suit that obviously used to look very nice, in his 50’s, walks by.

CHAPMANHello, Jake.

JAKEHey, Mr. Chapman!

Jake sees Marco walking to class.

JAKEHey, Marco.

Marco turns around.

JAKEClinks? Tonight?

11

MARCOYou’re on. I’m going to slaughter you this time.

JAKENo way, man. More like vice versa.

EXT. CLINKS ENTERTAINMENT – INT. EMPORIUM MALL – LATE AFTERNOON

The sign outside says “CLINKS ENTERTAINMENT” –frosted glass embossed on a transparent façade. It basically looks like a glorified arcade – along with the early-90’s game machines, there’s some comic book racks and a corner where you can buy used CDs. SOUND EFFECTS from tinny speakers abound. We enter and turn to the left to see Jake and Marco, playing an arcade game that says ‘ATTACK OF THE SLEAZETROLLS’. They’re pounding on the arcade buttons when suddenly they groan and throw their hands up.


MARCOI told you to watch my back when we came out of the fjord!

JAKEHey, I’m not the one who missed that archer five times in a row.

Jake reaches in his pocket for quarters, finds nothing and turns to Marco.

JAKEAnything?

Marco shakes his head and shrugs. He’s annoyed.

MARCOI gotta get home. Do some chores . . .the peace of old England should not have to depend on how much I wash the dishes.

Jake raises an eyebrow. We follow them as they walk out into the mall.

12

MARCOI mean, why should making the high score list be affected by my vacuuming?

JAKEOr lack thereof.

Marco laughs sarcastically as the two walk off camera.

BLURRED PAN TO:

INT. EMPORIUM MALL - LATE AFTERNOON

Cassie and Rachel are walking together. Rachel’s carrying some shopping bags and talking enthusiastically. Cassie’s more bored and annoyed.


RACHELTwenty-five percent off at Express, that’s fine. But the same basic sweater, better fabric mix, forty percent off at Banana Republic? Plus, this one goes with the jeans on sale at The Gap and the ones at the department store, and The Express one can only go with The Gap jeans.

CASSIEOK, how can one sweater that is almost identical to another sweater not go with a pair of basically identical jeans?

Rachel stops, incredulous.

RACHELCassie. You know I love you, just...

She sighs dramatically.

RACHELShape. Color. Cut. Waistline. How do you expect to get through life without an appreciation for what goes with what?

13

CASSIEI expect life will just be one long struggle.

Rachel laughs.

CASSIEHow did you convince me to come to the mall with you, anyway?


Cassie stops suddenly in front of the food court, where Jake and Marco are buying fast food.

CASSIEDon’t look—it’s Jake.

Rachel follows the direction of Cassie’s stare and grins widely.

RACHELSo you’re saying that I can’t look at my own cousin?

CASSIEOkay, you can look, just don’t look like you’re looking.

RACHELYou mean don’t look in a way that may convey your utter infatuation with him? That you want his big, manly arms all around you, in a tender embrace that will last for ever?

She rolls her eyes, grabs Cassie by the arm--

RACHELCome on.

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--and drags her towards Jake and Marco.

INT. FOOD COURT – EXT. EMPORIUM MALL - LATE AFTERNOON

Tobias sits at a table, listening to wrap-around headphones with a black cord that snakes into his backpack, on the table next to him. He watches Rachel and Cassie walk by, closes his book (The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran), gets up, leaves the table and joins the other four kids who have met up near an exit to the right. Jake spots Tobias, who has his hands in his pockets, over everyone’s heads.


JAKEOh, hey, Tobias.

TOBIASHey. You leaving?

JAKEYeah, we were all just about to walk home . . .

TOBIASSo you don’t mind if I join up with you guys?

Stay on Marco’s face as he glances at Jake, who looks backs at Marco defiantly.

JAKESure.

They open the doors--

EXT. ROOF - EMPORIUM MALL - DUSK

--and exit the mall. CU OF JAKE – EXT. EMPORIUM MALL - DUSK

JAKE (V.O.)

15

We could go home two different ways. We could either go home the safe way, down the highway . . .

EXT. EMPORIUM MALL - DUSK

Pan to a two-lane highway fringed with some stale, washed-out grass, then to a construction site. It looks abandoned – a rusty crane, rubble, debris and broken glass covering the ground, half-constructed buildings with the girders still visible. The remnants of a campfire – some smoke and glowing embers - drift out of one of the buildings.


JAKE (V.O.). . .or we could go down through our construction site and hope our parents don’t find out and ground us till we’re twenty.

The kids start walking in the direction of the site until Cassie stops suddenly.

CASSIEI’m not sure about this.

MARCO

Why, you scared? Don’t worry, there’s plenty of big, strong men here to protect you.

Rachel looks around, confused.

RACHELWhere?

They all laugh, keep walking –

INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - DUSK

--and climb through a hole in the fence to enter to the site. Marco hurries to catch up with Rachel, who’s walking fast. Cassie and Jake are walking slowly together and Tobias, who stumbles on a cinder block, trails behind alone.

16

CASSIEWhat’s up?

Jake’s apathetic. He gestures at the debris around him.

JAKEIt was going to be a strip mall or something, right?

Cassie shrugs.


CASSIEI forget. It’s been a while.

JAKEIt would be cool if they had built a Sharper Image or something.

Cassie waits until Jake sighs, defeated.

JAKETom, right? You know how he's the big star on the high school team? Well, all of a sudden I hear from Mr. Jonas today that I didn't make the cut. And so it's like . . . you know. People will be disappointed.

CASSIEYeah.

JAKEBut what’s really bugging me is that I don’t think he’s going to care all that much.

CASSIEWho? Tom?

JAKEYeah. He’s been acting, just, kind of weird lately. He comes home at, like, 1AM, back from parties or meetings of The Sharing. He

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goes to The Sharing a lot. I'm kind of worried about him.

CASSIEWhat . . .so you think he’s in some bizarre cult?


JAKEI don’t know. We just used to be pretty close, you know? I’m just wondering. . .maybe. . .some-thing's happening.

Pull back to reveal Rachel and Marco. Marco’s talking avidly, while Rachel just looks annoyed.

MARCOSo, uhh . . .hey.

Rachel responds with a glare.

MARCOYou, uh . . .you know that movie that came out like two weeks ago? The one with . . .with the aliens? Oh! You know, Bodysnatchers?

RACHELNo . . .

MARCOWell, then, want to go with me?

RACHELJust because you’re friends with Jake does not mean you get to hit on his cousin. You’re really pushing it, Marco.

MARCO

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Come on, it'll be fun! We'll go to dinner at . . .uh oh.

Rachel has grabbed Marco by the collar of his T-shirt and lifted him a couple of inches off the ground.

RACHELMarco. I've had enough.


Rachel lets go, and Marco hits the ground. He gets up and brushes himself off.

MARCOHoly . . .holy crap! . . .Hey, wait up!

Marco runs offscreen as Tobias comes into view, kicking a rock and looking down at the ground. Stay on Tobias and the rock until the rock moves irregularly. Tobias stops and stares at the rock, then feels the back of his neck: the hairs are standing up. He looks up at the sky and stops moving.

TOBIASLook.

The others are casually unresponsive.

JAKEWhat is it?

Tobias slowly raises his arm to point.

TOBIASJust look.

The other kids (except Marco) follow Tobias’ line of sight to a bright blue light in the sky, getting larger and moving very fast. Everything is very still for a couple of moments.

CASSIEIt’s a flying saucer!

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Marco stares at Cassie for a moment and then starts laughing. Rachel glares at Marco, who looks up at the sky, and whose smile begins to fade. The blue dot is getting larger – it’s an electric blue, unnatural.


RACHEL (O.S.)It’s coming this way.

JAKEIt’s—it’s hard to be sure . . .

RACHELNo, it’s definitely coming this way.

Marco looks at Rachel and laughs nervously.

MARCORachel . . .your hair . . .

RACHEL – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

Rachel’s hair is standing on end, as if by static electricity. She touches a strand.

RACHELOh, man.

SKY – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

Even though the spaceship’s still a blur of electric blue, we can tell it’s burning up. Electricity strikes the exposed steel beams as we stay on the ship, which CRASHES, about thirty feet in front of the kids--

INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

--who duck to avoid some flying rubble. The spaceship is silent and enveloped in dust. Tobias is the only one who has a small smile on his face – the rest are feeling some combination of awe and astonishment. There’s a short silence before Marco taps Jake’s arm, still looking at the ship.

20

MARCOJake.


JAKEWhat?

MARCOJake.

JAKEI said what?

MARCOGet your video camera.

JAKEWhat?! What are you talking about?

MARCOWe could get on Letterman, man! Come on. I don’t have a camcorder.

JAKENo!

MARCOJake, we could be famous. Your house is only, like, 10 minutes away.

JAKENo! Stop it.

It’s completely dark now, but the dust has cleared and we can get a good view of the spaceship. It’s covered in debris, but we can still see that it’s a cool shade of blue, similar to the color of the glow it emitted when it was falling. It’s shaped almost like a pod, with a translucent oval window spanning the top half the front of the ship. It has little stubby wings on the sides. It would be almost kind of cute if not for the large, almost Byzantine tail, which curves back and ends in a sharp point above the ship.

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JAKEThat tail in the back looks sharp.

MARCOIt’s got to be a weapon or something.

A beat. RACHEL

Maybe . . . maybe we should try and talk to it. If that’s even possible.

Tobias begins to slowly move towards the ship, speaking loudly and clearly.

TOBIASIt’s safe to come out. We won’t hurt you.

ELFANGOR (O.S.)

The voice is universal and strangely calming. The kids look at each other.

JAKEDid you guys . . .?

The others nod.

MARCOI didn’t hear that. I mean, I heard it, I . . .understood it . . .

CASSIEAre those . . .his thoughts? Are we hearing his thoughts?

Tobias continues, paying little attention to the others.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED:

TOBIASCan you come out?

ELFANGOR<Yes. Do not be frightened.>

TOBIASWe won’t be.

MARCOSpeak for yourself.

The others go closer to the ship, laughing nervously. However, they’re silent when a slit of light begins to emanate from the side of the ship. The slit opens slowly into a bright circle, and the form of ELFANGOR steps into view in near silhouette. We can see something that looks almost human, except for what looks like horns sprouting from his head. Cassie looks like she’s about to faint and grabs Jake’s arm, who doesn’t take his eyes off Elfangor.

Elfangor steps out of the ship, and his full form can be seen – he actually looks much less human than one might think from the initial silhouette. His skin is a dark shade of blue, and his hands have too many fingers. The skin on his torso eventually changes into fur on the lower half of his body, which looks like a horse’s: four legs which end in hooves. His eyes are where a human’s would be (although they are a startlingly bright shade of green); however, three vertical slits take the place of his nose and mouth. What looked like horns at first are actually two ‘stalks’ with eyes on the ends. These stalks are constantly moving so that Elfangor can look in any direction at all times. Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of Elfangor, like the ship’s, is his tail – one that curves almost in a circle to end with a sharp blade attached on the end. Elfangor steps closer to the kids. Tobias is barely audible.


TOBIASHi.

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ELFANGOR<Hello.>

CASSIE, MARCO, JAKE, RACHELHi.

Elfangor stumbles. Tobias rushes to try and break his fall, but Elfangor slips from his hands. The others move a little closer.

CASSIEOh, no…he’s hurt…

ELFANGOR<Yes. I am dying.>

JAKEWhat?! No! You can’t die! You’re the first alien ever to come to Earth. You can’t die.

ELFANGOR

TOBIASOthers . . .like you?

Elfangor shakes his head.

ELFANGOR<Not like me. Ah!>

He cries out in pain and hangs his head. The kids recoil at the sound.

ELFANGOR<No . . .not like me. They are different.>


JAKEDifferent? How?

Elfangor lifts his head.

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ELFANGOR<They have come to destroy you.>

EXT. EARTH

The Blade ship looks like a double-sided battle-axe with the blades at the back. It is a sleek black, obscured by space, visible only from an outline of faint reflections and the red light it emits from its front. It had been hiding behind the moon; now it’s going towards the dark side of Earth. The ship is escorted by eight Bug fighters: insect-like forms, with four insect-like landing legs and serrated pieces of metal on either side. The Blade ship is silent and deadly.

SKY - INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

Tiny red dots of light can be seen, high up in the sky. They are from the Blade ship. Pan down to Elfangor and the kids, far below us. Zoom down to their level.

ELFANGOR<They are called Yeerks.>

RACHELAre you telling us they’re already here on Earth?!

ELFANGOR<Many. Hundreds. Maybe more.>

MARCOWhy hasn’t anyone noticed them? I think someone would’ve mentioned it at school.


ELFANGOR<You do not understand. Yeerks are different from you and I; they do not have bodies like ours. They live in the bodies of other species. They are… >

He closes his eyes and concentrates.

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Suddenly—

INT. ELFANGOR – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

It looks like a slug but it is not. Strangely alien and slimelike in form, it leaves no trail. It has two palps sticking out of its front, which it waves around. It is a YEERK, an afterimage of Elfangor’s thought superimposed on the construction site.

FADE TO:


The kids are somewhat stunned.

ELFANGOR<They are parasites. They are almost powerless without hosts. They—>

He cries out in pain again.

ELFANGOR<They enter the brain of a creature and use them as a host, which we call a Controller. They try to get the host to accept them voluntarily. It is easier that way. Otherwise, the host may be able to resist.>


RACHELAre you saying they take over human beings? People? They take over their bodies?

JAKEYou shouldn’t be telling us this now! We have to save you!

ELFANGOR<There is no time. No time. I have sent a message to my home world. We Andalites

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fight the Yeerks wherever they go. My people will send help, but it may take a year, even more . . . you must warn your people!>

MARCONo one is ever going to believe us.

JAKEHow can we do anything to stop them? We’re just kids. You shouldn’t be telling us, you should be telling the government.

ELFANGOR

TOBIASWhat?


ELFANGOR<One of you, go into my ship. You will find a small blue box, very plain. Bring it to me, quickly! I have very little time, and the Yeerks will find me soon.>

The kids look at each other. Eventually, all of the eyes fall upon Jake.

JAKEWhat?! Why-

TOBIASGo ahead. I want to stay with him.

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He kneels beside Elfangor and places a hand on his shoulder. Cassie smiles at Jake.

CASSIECome on. You’re not scared.

Jake looks at her, sighs, and then walks toward the opening in the ship.

INT. SPACESHIP - NIGHT

The ship seemed enveloped with light from the outside, but the inside is not too bright. The walls and ceiling are pastel pinks and blues and are in an oval shape. Jake spots a dark blue cube towards the back of the ship, and goes to get it. He picks it up and is about to leave when he sees a picture of sorts near the doorway. It is a 3-D portrait of Elfangor, his little brother and his parents.


Jake walks over to Elfangor and hands him the box.


ELFANGOR<There is something I may be able to do to help you fight the Yeerks.>

RACHELWhat?

ELFANGOR

JAKEWhat? What “powers”? You mean like magic?

ELFANGOR

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<No. Technology. The Yeerks do not have it. It is a technology that enables us to pass unnoticed in many parts of the universe—the power to morph. We have never shared this power. But your need is great.>

Rachel’s skeptical.

RACHELMorph? Morph how?

ELFANGOR<To change your bodies. To become any other species. Any animal.>

MARCOBecome animals?

He laughs, a bit derisively.


ELFANGOR<You will only need to touch a creature, to acquire its DNA pattern, and you will be able to become that creature. It requires concentration and determination, but, if you are strong, you can do it. There are limitations. Problems. Dangers, even. But there is no time to explain it all. You will have to learn for yourself. But first, do you wish to receive this power?>

Marco looks at Jake.

MARCOHe’s kidding, right?

TOBIASNo. He’s not.

Marco sighs.

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MARCOThis is insane…

RACHELWe’re off the map of insanity by this point. But unless we’re all just dreaming, I think we’d better deal with this.

Tobias gestures towards Elfangor.

TOBIASHe’s dying.

Silence.

CASSIEI’ll do it.


Jake’s surprised, but regains composure.

JAKEI think we should all decide together. One way or the other.

Rachel looks upwards.

RACHELWhat’s that?

The others look up in the sky. The Blade ship’s lights have become much larger, and they’re growing fast. We can begin to see the outline of the ship. Elfangor speaks with utter hatred.

ELFANGOR<Yeerks.>

The kids stare up at the sky, dumbfounded.

ELFANGOR<Yeerks!>

30

They snap out of their daze.

ELFANGOR<There is no more time. You must decide!>

TOBIASWe have to do this! How else can we fight these . . .these Controllers?

MARCOThis is just . . . insane. Insane!

RACHELI’m for it. Right now, we don’t have a choice.


CASSIEWhat do you think, Jake?

Everyone looks at Jake, who’s momentarily bewildered. He looks around at them, finally stopping at Tobias.

JAKELet’s do it.

Marco gives Jake a look of incredulity, and then acceptance.

ELFANGOR<Then, each of you, put your hand on a side of the box.>

Each of them puts their hand on a side. Elfangor puts his hand on the remaining side. The box glows faintly. Each of them jumps as if they’ve been shocked, and step back.

ELFANGOR<Just remember this: you can only stay in morph for two hours. After that, you will be trapped in the morph, unable to return to human form.>

31

JAKETwo hours. Got it.

ELFANGOR<Now you must go. Visser Three is coming.>

MARCOWhat? Who’s a Visser? What’s a-


ELFANGOR<Visser Three is the head of the Yeerk invasion of Earth. He is your enemy. Of all Yeerks, he alone has the power to morph!>

He smiles with his eyes.

ELFANGOR<You must go! Go and save your people! Run!>

They run, except for Tobias, who stays behind. The others are hiding behind a pile of rubble behind a fence.

JAKECome on Tobias, let’s go!

TOBIASOne minute.

Tobias and Elfangor appear to be talking. Elfangor reaches a hand to Tobias’ head, which rocks back. Tobias runs over to the others. They watch as the Blade ship and two Bug fighters land. A door in the Blade ship begins to open. Cassie starts to scream, but Jake clamps a hand over her mouth. Two HORK-BAJIR walk out of the ship, on guard. They are seven feet tall, T-rex feet, beak like a hawk’s, long thick tail that stays above the ground, leathery skin, green blades covering their body.

32

ELFANGOR<Hork-Bajir Controllers.>

Jake looks around at the others and whispers.

JAKEYou guys heard that?

They nod.


ELFANGOR<They are a normally peaceful race, but they have been conquered by the Yeerks. They should be pitied.>

MARCOYeah, pitied. They’re walking cutlery shops!

JAKEShhhhh!

CU OF HORK-BAJIR – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE

The Hork-Bajir wear dark blue wristbands, clean and somewhat new yet ragged due to tears caused by their blades.

ELFANGOR<These wear blue on their wrists. They are Visser Three’s personal guards.>

EXT. BLADE SHIP – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE

A few TAXXONS slither out of the ship. They look almost like giant centipedes – hundreds of thin legs supporting the lower two-thirds of their brown cylindrical bodies, lobster-pincer arms, four Jello-red eyes and a large mouth at the top ringed with white teeth and a long, chameleon-like tongue that waves about frantically.

ELFANGOR

33

<Those are Taxxons. They willingly give their allegiance to the Yeerks. They are evil.>

RACHELNo need to tell us twice.


A HORK-BAJIR SOLDIER turns toward the kids’ hiding place upon hearing the sound, and slowly approaches the area.

ELFANGOR<Silence! Hork-Bajir cannot see very well in the dark, but their hearing is very acute.>

The soldier turns its head both ways, sees no one, and returns to its position as another form begins to walk out of the Blade ship. It is an ANDALITE.

CASSIEBut that’s . . .

ELFANGOR<That is Visser Three. He is the leader of the invasion of Earth, and the only Yeerk to inhabit an Andalite body. He is the Abomination, the greatest Yeerk intelligence victory and your greatest adversary.>

Visser Three approaches Elfangor and circles him while speaking.

VISSER THREE<Well, well. If it isn’t Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul. You’ve made yourself into quite the legend, haven’t you? How many Bug fighters did you take down in orbit? Seven? Eight?>

34

Elfangor is silent.

RACHELAre we hearing his thoughts too?


MARCOIf he can hear our thoughts we’re so dead I don’t want to even think about it.

ELFANGOR<He cannot hear your thoughts. He could be speaking privately only to me, but he is broadcasting his thoughts for all to hear. This is a great victory for him.>

VISSER THREE 

Slowly but steadily, Elfangor gets up on all four legs and stands.

ELFANGOR<Those were not all. There will be others.>

VISSER THREE<Yes, and when they come, I’ll have already conquered this entire planet, and I’ll be Visser One. Everyone in the Yeerk Empire will be awaiting my orders, and we’ll destroy this planet . . .and take the human race with us.>

The kids are scared – obviously, but not terrified – they’ve gotten a grasp of the situation and can now form coherent sentences.

35

MARCOThis guy’s a nut. Way too melodramatic.


JAKEHe’s . . .he’s crazy.

MARCONo. Not crazy. More like mad with power.

ELFANGOR<Why do you want these humans? You already have the Hork-Bajir, and the Taxxons . . .why these innocent people?>

VISSER THREE<Because there are so many, and they are so weak. They have no idea what is happening to them. And if they ever did, they would have no chance against us. They are foolish. Dependent. They do not stand a chance.>

ELFANGOR<Humans are more than you give them credit. They will find out. And they will fight back.>

VISSER THREE<By that time, we’ll have conquered nearly all of them. We’ll need a thousand Yeerk pools to accommodate them all, and believe me, dear Elfangor, we will infest them all. And then we’ll advance on your homeworld.>

The visser leans in close to Elfangor’s ear.

VISSER THREE<And I will personally hunt down the rest of your family and place my most trusted lieutenants in each of their—>


36

Suddenly –-

CU OF ELFANGOR – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

Elfangor’s tail swings into the visser’s face. The blade slices through it; it will leave a scar.


The visser cries out in pain and backs away, enraged. Elfangor stumbles from his own fatigue.

VISSER THREE<FIRE!>

The serrated edges of the Bug fighters in the front of the formation shoot red beams of light, Dracon beams, at Elfangor’s ship. TSEWWW! The beams shriek as they pierce both the silence and the night. The ship sizzles, as if aflame, and then disintegrates.

VISSER THREE<HOLD HIM DOWN FOR ME!>

Three HORK-BAJIR SOLDIERS approach Elfangor, who is too weak to fight back, and pin him to the ground.

VISSER THREE

And then we see why Visser Three is an enemy to be feared – he begins to morph. His four legs merge into two and grow bigger and bigger, seven-fingered arms sprout into tentacles, his head becomes bloated with a mouth containing teeth the size of one’s forearm. Black sticky skin, two slits for eyes, three-pronged feet –- the visser has become an ANTAREAN BOGG. The visser gives a deep, guttural laugh from deep within the Bogg’s throat and reaches his arm for Elfangor.


JAKE

37

No. Not like this. Not like this.

He grabs a section of grimy PVC pipe and is about to make his way for the visser when Marco pulls him back by his shirt collar. Marco whispers furiously.

MARCOWhat the hell are you doing?

CASSIEDon’t you see, Jake? He’s dying for us.

The visser is drawing out Elfangor’s death, and by now he has picked Elfangor up with a tentacle and is slowly lifting him toward the Bogg’s mouth. The visser opens his mouth wide –

CU OF KIDS – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

The kids close their eyes painfully as Elfangor’s dying shout echoes – we can see Elfangor being consumed in shadows cast on the wall above the kids.


VISSER THREE<Ahhh . . . nothing like an Antarean Bogg morph for . . .taking a bite out of your enemies.>

Laughter can be heard from the far side of the construction site -- not just the GUTTURAL SOUNDS of the Hork-Bajir and the SCREECHES of the Taxxons but human laughter. One of the voices sounds familiar.

TOBIASThose sound like . . .humans . . .


JAKEThere are people watching this? And they enjoy it?

RACHEL

38

They’re not just people. Not anymore.

The visser finishes demorphing. Marco begins to make RETCHING NOISES involuntarily. Visser Three suddenly turns a stalk eye and sees them.

VISSER THREE<Get them!>

Six Hork-Bajir soldiers begin to run after the kids.

JAKESplit up!

Marco, Cassie and Tobias all run away in different directions, while Rachel follows behind Jake. Rachel turns and starts running backwards, taunting the Hork-Bajir running after her.

RACHELThis way! Come on, you filthy motherfuckers, come on, I am right here!

Jake turns to Rachel, momentarily astonished as she continues goading the Hork-Bajir.

RACHELRun!

They both turn and run. Jake and Rachel are fast. The others join up: Jake’s in the lead and Tobias is in the back, with the others in the middle.

CU OF JAKE – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

Jake pauses and looks behind him. He sees approaching Hork-Bajir and ducks behind a wall, panting, scared.

HOMELESS MAN (O.S.)Hey, man, get off my shit.

39

Jake looks down where a HOMELESS MAN is sitting, looking up at him disapprovingly.

HOMELESS MANC’mon, man, my stuff is here. Get off my stuff, man-

Jake looks behind him, sees a Hork-Bajir up close and bolts, looking behind him as the soldier approaches the homeless man.

HOMELESS MAN (O.S.)Aaahh!

FENCE - EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

Jake runs towards the chain-link fence. There’s a small opening in the bottom of the fence, and he dives for it, pushing his way through. There are scrapes on his arms, rust on his shirt and cuts on his face but he doesn’t care. His shirt snags on a loose fence-wire, he yanks the shirt, it tears; he pushes himself the rest of the way through and gets up.

EXT. RAGTON STREET - NIGHT

Jake runs through the streets, suburban-model houses flitting by, PLAT PLAT PLAT goes his worn-out sneakers.

PILE OF RUBBLE – INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT

Marco’s hiding behind a pile of rubble when he hears voices.


CHAPMAN (O.S.)No, don’t mangle them.

Follow the voice to reveal Chapman. He’s talking to yet another Hork-Bajir soldier.

CHAPMANCut off the heads and show them to me. Then we can identify them.

40

Marco panics and runs. Chapman spots the outline of Marco and yells after him.

CHAPMANHey! Hey, we just want to talk!

Stay with Marco as he runs, but then leave Marco behind as we pan to the left and see the others running. Leave the construction site to see Jake, in the street, running, exhausted.

CUT TO:

BLACK

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - DAWN

Tobias is on the couch, asleep. His shirt’s stained and torn, matching the threadbare crimson sofa. Yellowing paint is peeling off the walls; the house is a mess.

CLOCK – INT. LIVING ROOM – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

The clock blinks 6:46AM in green digital letters.

CU OF TOBIAS’ FACE – INT. LIVING ROOM – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

Tobias’ eyes flutter open. He turns his head, looks at the clock radio and gets up.

EXT. TOBIAS’ ROOM – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - DAWN

The door’s slightly ajar. Tobias moves to open it.

TOBIAS’ UNCLE lies on the bed – he’s overweight, can’t hold a job, thin brown goatee on a double chin, shirts too small for him and pants too big, asleep with his mouth open. There’s some weird pinkish-brown substance all over his faded blue T-shirt and a bunch of glass bottles (some are broken) lying all over the carpeted floor.

Tobias groans and walks to the kitchen.

41

INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE - DAWN

He opens a cabinet, gets out some corn flakes, pours some into the bowl, puts the cereal box on the counter and then opens the fridge.

EXT. FRIDGE – INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

Tobias’ uncle didn’t go shopping: the same things we saw in the fridge before are still there. Still no milk. Tobias closes the refrigerator door –

INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

--picks up the bowl of corn flakes, walks to the counter--

SIDE OF CEREAL BOX – INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

--and tries to pour the corn flakes back into the box from the bowl. He spills some on the counter.

TOBIASCrap.

He gathers the flakes into his hand –

TRASH CAN - INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

--throws them into the trash--


--goes to the fridge, takes a granola bar, sits at the table, unwraps it and puts the wrapper on the table, still groggy.

TOBIAS’ MOUTH - INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

Tobias moves the bar to his open mouth –-

INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE – NIGHT

A Hork-Bajir runs toward the camera.

42

MARCO (O.S.)Run!

TOBIAS’ LEFT EYE - INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

The pupil contracts.

TABLE - INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

The bar falls, hitting the table.


Tobias pushes himself (with his chair) away from the table, sits for a moment, then puts his head in his hands.

Voices, snatches of conversation, begin to grow louder and louder –-


--the Antarean Bogg lifts Elfangor up, its mouth curved in a monstrous grin –


Tobias no longer has his head in his hands. He’s upright, confused --


Elfangor lies on the ground, wounded.

ELFANGORThey have come to destroy you.


Tobias’ eyes are now wide open. It is silent.

The voices begin to come back, but Tobias closes his eyes and instead of rising to a climax they become more clear and focused.

ELFANGOR (V.O.)

43

Hork-Bajir . . .Taxxon . . . Kandrinnn . . .

INT. YEERK POOL

It is a circular pool of dark greenish-brown sludge, miles wide and framed by metal in a cavern carved out of rock. It is underground, lit by lamps, the size of a city. Cages ring the pool, along with construction equipment, trailers and doorways on the edges of the cavern.

Zoom in on a HORK-BAJIR: this one doesn’t have a blue band. He’s lowering a calm WOMAN towards the sludge. After a moment, there’s a ripple in the sludge below her ear, and suddenly the woman begins screaming and struggling.

ELFANGOR (V.O.)…Yeerks need to return to the Yeerk pool every three days to receive Kandrona rays.

On the other side of the pool, there’s a struggling BOY in his late teens who’s being forced to the edge of the pool. After a few moments, the boy stops struggling and stands back up calmly.


ELFANGOR (V.O.)Kandrona rays are an artificial version of the Yeerks’ home sun; without it, they will die.


Tobias is still sitting, dumbfounded.

For an instant--


--Elfangor’s dying face . . .


Tobias sits, silently. Some more.

44

ELFANGOR (V.O.)…You will only need to touch a creature…and you will be able to become that creature. It requires concentration and determination, but, if you are strong, you can do it.

Tobias’ cat, DUDE, leaps on the table. Tobias, trembling, lift his hand and begins to pet Dude, who slinks down onto the table sleepily --

TOBIAS’ EYES - INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

--Tobias’ eyes flutter --

TABLE - INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

--Tobias’ hand jerks up—


Dude gets back up with no apparent drowsiness and jumps off the table. Tobias gets up and stands in the center of the kitchen, toes open, hands at his side, eyes closed. Dude turns around and looks at Tobias.

TOBIAS’ EYES - INT. KITCHEN – TOBIAS’ HOUSE – DAWN

Tobias’ eyes open and finish transforming into that of a cat’s. Zoom into the pupil until black envelops the screen.

CUT TO:

INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – LATE MORNING

A still tableau of Jake’s bedroom from above: Jake’s asleep on his bed, wearing the same clothes from the previous night. His shirt’s still stained, his pants are torn, the cuts on his face have coagulated but the blood’s smeared all

45

over his face. He’s lying on his back with the covers rumpled under him.

Rotate around Jake and zoom in slowly towards his eyes. DRACON BEAMS and SCREAMING and a MONSTROUS ROAR build up to a crescendo and stop upon a knock at the door. Jake’s eyes snap open.

It’s Jake’s mom. Her voice is muffled through the door.

JAKE’S MOMJake, Tobias is here!

Jake sits up. He’s groggy, slightly confused.

JAKEOkay, send him up.


Jake stands up, looks down at his shirt and the dirt streaks across the front. We can hear Tobias’ FOOTSTEPS on the stairs as Jake begins to realize. He’s angry by the time Tobias actually opens the door, grinning.

TOBIASHey.

Jake sighs.

JAKETobias, why are you here?

TOBIASJake . . .I did it.

Tobias is pacing around the room, very excited. Jake is standing very still.

JAKEDid what?

46

TOBIASI did it—I morphed Dude!

JAKEWait . . .Dude? Your cat? You did what? . . .

TOBIASI was just sitting there, thinking about everything from last night, and I thought, you know, why not try it? Why—why shouldn’t we do it?

Jake starts shaking his head, angrily, almost in disbelief.


TOBIASSo I just, I just touched Dude and he went all still and when I started thinking about becoming him, you know, I thought about what it would be like to be a cat and I just started changing. I became—

JAKEJust stop . . .just stop it.

Tobias looks affronted – his grin fades. Jake runs his left hand through his hair.

TOBIASJake . . . what happened last night—

JAKETobias—

TOBIASIt was real, Jake. All of it.

47

Jake’s getting louder and louder. He’s close to yelling now.

JAKEI don’t want to hear it-

TOBIASYou can’t just go on pretending it wasn’t. What—do you want to just forget it ever happened?

JAKEOf course I want to forget about it. Of course I want to forget about aliens and Visser Three and Taxxons and things that . . .that go into our heads? That take over our minds?


He shakes his head.

JAKEYes, Tobias. I want to forget.

TOBIASEven about the Andalite?

A beat.

JAKELook-

TOBIASWe know something now that we can’t ignore. People are in danger, Jake, and if we can do something to stop people from getting hurt, we have to. We have to fight.

Tobias steps closer.

TOBIASIt’s our duty, Jake. We’re the only ones who can.

48

Jake stares hard at Tobias, then throws up his hands, exasperated.

JAKEYou want to fight? You go ahead. Why do you need me?

Tobias speaks plainly.

TOBIASYou — you’re a leader. You’re the one that can do it, that can tell us what to do, until the Andalites come.


JAKEI’m not telling anyone what to do.

TOBIASI can’t do it, Jake. Everyone trusts you. Not me.

Jake sighs.

JAKEWho said I was a leader? Tobias, I think we should really just forget what happened last night.

Tobias is still determined.

TOBIASYou want to forget? OK, I’ll let you forget.

Jake knows where Tobias is going with this.

JAKETobias . . .

TOBIASBut not before I show you this.

49

Tobias begins to shrink and sprout hair all over his body, in irregular patches and eventually of uniform length. Before long, Tobias has morphed into Dude. He claws his way out from his clothes, which had covered him during the last stages of the morph. Jake puts an arm on the wall behind him for balance.

JAKEOh my god.

TOBIAS<Pretty cool, huh?>


He jumps on Jake’s dresser so that he’s eye level with Jake, who stumbles back.

JAKEOh my god. Holy . . .holy crap.

TOBIAS<You can hear me?>

JAKEEither that or I’m hallucinating.

TOBIAS<It’s like . . .>

JAKEThe Andalite.

Jake slides down along the wall until he’s sitting down.

TOBIAS<Does it work both ways?>

Jake looks up at Tobias, who’s perched on the dresser.

TOBIAS <Just think about something to say.>

50

Jake nods and his eyebrows furrow. He looks at Tobias expectantly.

TOBIAS

<Nothing. What’d you say?>

Jake stands up.

JAKE ‘This is insane.’


Jake brings his foot back, bringing a piece of string on the floor along with it. Tobias’ eyes narrow. He pounces on the string and bats at it.

JAKEUh, Tobias? What are you doing?

Tobias continues playing with the string. Jake snatches it from him and Tobias meows, looking up at him.

JAKETobias.

Tobias looks around and realizes what has happened.

TOBIAS<Sorry. I kind of got carried away. It’s like Dude is still in here with me.>

JAKEYou mean . . .you can hear your cat’s thoughts?

TOBIAS<No, not really. It’s more like . . . instincts. Like I could judge the distance to the dresser without thinking about it. If I saw a mouse I’d probably want to eat it.>

51

Jake smiles.

JAKEThat’s . . .disgusting.


TOBIAS<Don’t worry. You can fight it. It’s easier than when I did it earlier. I was chasing a dust ball for fifteen minutes before I got control.>

JAKEWell, change back before someone comes in.

Tobias begins to demorph. He’s slowly growing when the door swings open. Jake’s about to jump to block Tobias from view when he sees Marco enter. Jake’s relieved, but Marco’s looking around, confused: he wants to see what Jake was blocking. He sees Tobias in mid-morph, gasps, and falls against the wall while Tobias finishes the morph, crouching behind Jake’s bed, shirtless. Marco whispers furiously, almost violently.

MARCOAre you insane?

JAKEMarco-

MARCOHave you lost your minds? What if I had been someone else? What if I had been . . .you know.

TOBIASUm, can you guys not look this way?

52

The two turn around to look at Tobias, who’s still crouching.

TOBIASI haven’t exactly figured out how to morph clothing yet.


JAKEUm, all right.

Jake turns back to Marco.

JAKECalm down, man.

MARCOHow can you even consider—?

TOBIAS (O.S.)Aren’t you the least bit curious?

Marco’s incredulous, almost hysterical. He slowly gets louder as he talks.

MARCOCurious? No, I wanted to wake up this morning and convince myself that last night was a figment of my imagination, and blissfully ignore the fact that I was still covered in mud when I got up. But no, when I come here for a little assurance of my madness, the whole thing is undeniably shoved in my face. The fact that you would do this—this morphing thing—

TOBIASIt’s not as horrible a thing as you’re making it. Just try it for yourself.

MARCOTry it? Try it!

53

He throws his hands up in frustration.

MARCOOh no, if you think—


JAKEMarco—

MARCOAnd you. You’re doing this too? Does no one else see the huge neon sign flashing ‘DANGER’? Are you serious?

JAKEI don’t know what I’m doing yet. I mean, Tobias is right; we can’t just go on pretending we don’t know what we know.

TOM (O.S.)Jake?

Tom opens the door and enters as the other kids look up.

TOMMom says take out the trash now.

He surveys the situation and laughs.

TOMYou guys having a party up here or something?

JAKENot exactly.

TOMHey, I wanted to ask you: Are you still planning on going to the meeting tonight?

TOBIASWhat meeting?

54


TOMThe Sharing’s having this big beach party tonight. You guys can come, too. We could use some new blood.

JAKEYou’re gonna be there, right?

TOMI don’t know how much I’ll be able to hang with you, midget, the full members are having an important meeting.

MARCO‘Full members’?

TOMYeah, once you’ve been around for a while, you know, shown you’re committed to what we’re trying to accomplish, you can become a full member.

He laughs.

TOMBest way to make a difference, really. So can we count on you three to be there? There’ll be free food.

JAKEYeah, we’ll be-

MARCOActually, we were going to Clinks tonight, right, Jake?

Jake turns to Marco, startled, then back to Tom.

55


JAKEUh . . .yeah . . .right. Sorry, Tom.

Tom looks at them oddly.

TOMWhatever. If you guys change your mind it’s at that beach on Fairemont.

JAKEAll right.

Tom moves to leave.

JAKEHey, Tom . . .

TOMYeah?

JAKEUhh. . .

Tom looks at Jake expectantly.

JAKEI didn’t make the basketball team.

TOMOh.

JAKEThat’s it? Just “oh”?

TOMYeah. Just ‘oh’. There a problem with that, midget?

JAKEI thought basketball was like your whole life.

(CONTINUED)

56

CONTINUED:

TOMThat was before. I quit the team a couple months ago.

JAKEWhat?!

Marco and Tobias exchange glances.

TOMI didn’t tell you or Dad about it. Thought you’d make a big ‘thing’ out of it.

He rolls his eyes.

TOM There are more important things than throwing around a stupid ball.

JAKELike what?

Tom laughs.

TOMSee you later, midget. And let me know if you want to go with me to the meeting, all right?

Marco holds open the door for Tom, who walks out. Marco closes the door and turns to Jake without letting go of the handle. He’s whispering violently. Again.

MARCO‘Full members’?

JAKEWhat?


57

MARCODoes that not sound just a little bit suspicious to either of you?

JAKEIt’s just how they run the organization. It’s like an advisory board type thing.

MARCOI’m saying that maybe The Sharing isn’t what it seems to be.

Tobias nods, beginning to realize.

TOBIASMaybe it’s a front for Controllers.

Jake’s surprisingly calm.

JAKEWhat are you talking about? How did you come to this conclusion? Where is the evidence?

MARCOJake. The pieces add up. I’m saying that your brother might be one of them.

Jake is furious but won’t do anything with Tobias there, who’s standing there looking thoughtful.

JAKETake that back.

MARCODidn’t you tell me recently that he was acting a little . . .weird lately? And with the way he was acting just now? He quit the team?


JAKEHe is not one of them.

58

MARCOHow would you know, Jake? How would you know? If they’ve been able to enslave thousands of people and we didn’t even notice, maybe you wouldn’t be able to notice that it was your own brother all this time.

A beat.

MARCOSo if you’re thinking about fighting, getting into this little war, remember: it’s not some arcade game. People die. And will you be so enthusiastic one day, when it might be your brother that you’ll have to destroy?

A tense beat. Marco as well as Jake is getting pretty emotional.

MARCOThis is real life, Jake. Can you handle it?

JAKEThat . . .may be the case.

MARCOYes, OK, so-

JAKEBut that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be doing anything.

Tobias shoots Jake a grateful look.


TOBIASThe Andalite, Marco. Don’t you see? He died for us. He hoped we would fight. Are we just going to let him die in vain?

59

Jake’s phone RINGS. They are silent until Jake is about to picks it up on the second ring.

JAKEHello?

CASSIEHi, Jake?

Jake looks at the others and speaks to them.

JAKECassie.

Marco and Tobias step closer. CASSIE

I have something I think you should see. Have you talked to Marco today?

JAKEYeah, he’s here now. So is Tobias.

CASSIEGreat. Could you guys come over here? Meet me in the barn.

JAKEYeah, no problem. Bye.

Jake hangs up and looks up at Marco and Tobias.

JAKEShe wants us to meet her at her barn.


Marco’s not hysterical and paranoid enough to stop making sarcastic remarks.

MARCOGreat.

TOBIAS

60

Let’s go.

JAKEI’ll meet you guys downstairs.

Marco and Tobias exit. We can hear them going down the stairs as Jake closes the door behind them. He stands still, closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, looks at his shirt, moves to the dresser and starts to change his clothes.

CUT TO:

EXT. BARN – WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER- EARLY AFTERNOON

The barn has peeling red paint. There’s a sign above the door: WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER. Jake, Tobias, and Marco walk to the barn, open the door --

INT. BARN – WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER- EARLY AFTERNOON

--and walk in to find Cassie and a very annoyed Rachel.

RACHELTook you guys long enough.

Jake ignores her.

JAKEWhat’s up, Cassie?


CASSIEWell, I thought we should all get together - after last night - to decide what we’re going to do.

MARCOThat’s an easy one. We don’t do anything.

Tobias sighs, almost exasperated.

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TOBIASThe Andalite gave us a gift. We can’t just not use it. That’s not an option.

MARCOOf course it’s an option. Okay, look. How is changing into animals supposed to help us? I mean, look at you — you turned into your cat. That’s going to do a lot of good against Visser Three and whatever the hell that thing was.

Rachel turns to Tobias.

RACHELWait—you turned into your cat?

Tobias nods, a bit shyly.

CASSIECats aren’t the only animals, Marco—we could get some morphs from the Gardens; they’ve got gorillas, and wolves, and—

MARCOAnd lions and tigers and bears?


RACHELWhat Cassie’s trying to say is that Earth has some creatures that can kick butt.

TOBIASBesides, what are we supposed to do—just sit around and watch as the Yeerks take over?

MARCOThat’s exactly what we’re supposed to do.

TOBIAS

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How can you say that?

RACHELI’m with Tobias. We have to do something.

MARCOYeah, but how much of a difference are going to make? Okay, let’s say we DO go ahead and do something—say, destroy one of their . . .their outposts.

TOBIASYeerk pools.

JAKEWhat?


TOBIASYeerk pools. The Yeerks go to the Yeerk pools when they’re not in the Controllers’ bodies. They have to go there every three days, because they need nutrients from their home sun…I think. They get them from these things called . . .Kan . . .Kandorna . . .Kandrona rays.

JAKEHow do you know that?

TOBIAS

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The Andalite . . .well, I think he gave me images or something. They started going through my head this morning.

CASSIEYou mean he might still be alive?

TOBIASNo, I think he gave them to me back at the construction site… They’re like thoughts in my own head.

MARCODoes anyone else feel like he’s not making any sense?

Rachel glares at Marco.

TOBIASI’m not sure it makes sense to me. But then again, I met an alien last night that gave me the power to turn into animals. If someone told me last afternoon that that was going to happen, I would have thought they weren’t making sense.


Jake grins. Marco lightens up a little but he’s still somewhat annoyed.

MARCOOK, so say we destroy one of these Yeerk pools or whatever. Do you really think they won’t have some backup or something?

RACHELNot if they aren’t expecting an attack. They think that there’s no one on Earth that knows about them.

MARCOBut that’s STILL if we can even do any damage. None of us are trained soldiers.

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None of us are warriors. I say we’re in way, way over our heads.

TOBIASWell, I say we fight.

MARCOYou can’t even handle the punks at school. Now you’re going to beat up Visser Three and his boys?

TOBIASThat was before this. Now I have a reason to fight. We all do. This isn’t just about us. This is about everyone.

RACHELHe won’t be alone. Like I said, I’m with him. Let’s do it.

The door of the barn opens. Cassie’s dad walks in, holding a newspaper.


CASSIE’S DADHey, guys.

KIDSHey.

Cassie’s dad opens the paper and folds it to a page.

CASSIE’S DADCassie, I was reading this article in the paper . . .do you know these kids?

Cassie’s dad points to the article and hands it to his daughter, who reads it.0

CASSIENo . . .no, I don’t think so. But, um, I think I might have seen some people around

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there when I was walking home. Can I, uh, keep this?

CASSIE’S DADSure. It would just be good if we could get that reward money . . .this is a low point for funding for the clinic right now.

CASSIEI know.

Cassie’s dad shakes his head.

CASSIE’S DADWell, see you kids later.

Cassie’s dad walks out.

JAKEWhat does it say?


Cassie hands him the article, and Jake reads it aloud. JAKE

“Police Report - A disturbance was reported last night in the abandoned lot across from the Emporium Mall. Many visitors to the mall reported seeing bright lights in the sky – some even thought that extraterrestrials had landed. ‘It was just a couple of kids setting off fireworks,’ Police Chief Rigotta said this morning after conducting a thorough investigation of the incident. ‘Not a problem. But what these kids did wasn’t good. We need to find those kids.’ Police are offering a substantial reward for any crucial information on the identities of the youths involved. If you have any information, please call…”

66

Jake looks up from the article at the others. Tobias is determined, Cassie’s nervous, and both Rachel and Marco are torn between anger and disgust.

JAKEHow could they cover up something that big?

MARCOHmm, maybe if there’re Controllers writing the newspaper?

Jake and Rachel are both annoyed by his sarcasm.

MARCOSee? THIS is why we can’t win—they’re everywhere! The media, school, Jake’s br—


He stops when he sees Jake glaring at him.

MARCOThe point is, there’s just too many of them! There’s no way we can beat them.

TOBIASThat’s exactly why we should fight—to keep them from spreading any further!

MARCOTobias . . .

Marco hangs his head.

MARCOI don’t have the energy to argue anymore.

He throws up his hands.

MARCOAll of you people! Insane!

JAKEWe need to think this over anyway. We can’t figure it out just yet—let’s sleep on it.

67

RACHELAll right.

Marco sighs.

MARCOSounds okay.

Jake, Rachel and Marco walk away while Cassie moves to tend to a sick animal in a cage on the far side of the barn. Tobias follows her.


TOBIASHey . . .Cassie?

Cassie looks up.

TOBIASWhat kinds of animals do you take care of in the clinic?

CASSIEWell, we have otters, a lizard, coyotes, wolves, cats-

TOBIAS-do you have any birds?

Cassie looks at Tobias for a second, not comprehending, then bites her lower lip.

EXT. BARN – WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER -AFTERNOON

Stay on Marco as he picks up his bike and takes off. He bikes through the woods, first weaving through trees, then on a bike path. Eventually he reaches the highway and has to carry his bike across.

Once on the other side of the highway, he carries his bike down a small hill to a nice suburban street. He starts pedaling, fast. Follow him through the suburbs to a more

68

urban area – commercial stores, some graffiti on the walls. He’s not crying, not even close – but his face has a hard, cold expression.

He finally stops in front of a tall street sign: PARKING 9AM-4PM WEEKDAYS. He has a cable lock tied around the bike frame – he takes out his keys, unlocks it and locks his bike to the signpost. He walks towards the camera--

EXT. 36A PROLLDEN STREET – AFTERNOON

--and approaches the front door of his apartment complex – a wood door with a grimy glass window. “36A” is printed on the window in faded yellow lettering. He can’t help but look nervously over his shoulder as he opens the door, but he’s looking forward by the time he slams it shut --

FOYER – INT. 36A PROLLDEN STREET - AFTERNOON

--and moves to check the mail in the mailbox. He gets his keys, opens the mailbox, gets the mail. There’s a bunch of bills, many of them marked “PAST DUE”. Marco unlocks the door in front of him and climbs up the stairs to his apartment.

LIVING ROOM - INT. MARCO’S APARTMENT – AFTERNOON

Marco’s dad is sitting in the same armchair as before. His shirt is stained and wrinkled; he hasn’t shaved in a week. CLICK CLACK go the two locks on the living room door as Marco turns his keys from the outside. Marco enters and stops when he sees his dad.

MARCOHey dad, I’m home.

There’s a table behind Marco’s dad’s armchair with a janitor’s jacket draped over one of the drab wooden chairs surrounding it. Marco drops his bags on the floor and waves the unopened bills in the air at his dad, who’s still watching TV.

MARCO

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These are for you.

Marco’s dad grunts and keeps channel-surfing: Home Shopping--

WILLIAM LORD TENNANT (ON TV)--and all this could be yours for just $29.95--


--commercials--

ANNOUNCER (V.O.) (ON TV)--The Sharing. Alone, you can change your life. Together, we can change the world--

--and finally, a sneak peek at the hot new summer blockbuster, Bodysnatchers.

MATTHEW FOX (ON TV)Bodysnatchers is a, it’s . . .intense, it has gravity to it. Science fiction, comedy – romance - all rolled up into one. I mean, what else do you want?

The view of the television is blocked when Marco stands in front of it and clears plates, glasses, and papers off of the top of the television. He walks off-screen to put the papers on the table and the glasses and plates in the sink. Marco’s dad doesn’t seem to notice or care.

When Marco’s done cleaning up, he sits in an armchair next to his dad and looks at him for a while, perhaps to see whether his dad will respond to his presence.

MARCOI was thinking we could check out that new restaurant a couple streets over tonight, maybe hit the mall on the way home.

MARCO’S DAD

Not tonight, Marco. I’m too tired.

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Marco’s dad rubs his face; it looks kind of gross. Marco is just annoyed. He gets up from the chair and picks up some dishes lying on the floor, muttering.


MARCOYou’re always too tired.

Marco is about to bring the dishes to the sink when he sees the label of the VHS tape sticking out of the VCR. He sets down the dishes and rubs his thumb over the label: 1st DAY KINDERGARTEN, CAMPING, MOM’S NEW BOAT. The label’s made of masking tape that has since yellowed.

Marco’s expression is numb as he reinserts the tape and sits down next to his father.

MARCO’S DADIt’s coming up on two years, you know.

Marco watches his father closely.

MARCOI know.

MARCO’S DAD

Do you still think about her, Marco?

MARCOOf course—

MARCO’S DAD

What would she say about us if she could see us? Now, here, in this place? Sometimes I’m afraid one day I’ll answer the door and she’ll be there, upset at how I am, at how we’re living our lives. But she’s not coming back . . .

He sighs and rises.

MARCO’S DADI never should have bought her that boat.

71


Marco’s dad goes off-screen, to his room. Marco keeps watching.

Marco’s mother, Eva, is sitting on a sailboat. It’s windy, she’s smiling at the camera. She blows a kiss to the camera and begins to turn her head to the side--

Snow on the television and the CRACKLE of static. The tape’s run out. Marco gets up, sighs, ejects the tape, goes to the table, picks up his backpack and walks off-screen, towards his room.

CUT TO:

INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON

The doorknob turns and Jake enters. He sits on his bed and puts his head in his hands. He stays there until Homer walks in. Jake starts petting Homer and then begins to get an idea.

JAKEOkay, so . . .

Jake starts petting Homer more slowly and deliberately.

JAKE’S HAND - INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

--his left hand pulls down Homer’s fur, which snaps back when released --

JAKE - INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

--Jake’s eyes flutter--

JAKE’S HAND - INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

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Extreme zoom, closer and closer, to the point where we can see Homer’s individual hairs. Jake’s hand is absorbing Homer: almost like a suction effect.

Suddenly –-

JAKE - INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Jake’s eyes snap open.

INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Jake stares at his hand, which blurs before coming into focus. He laughs nervously.

JAKEWell, it couldn't hurt, could it?

He begins to gently push Homer out the door.

JAKEIf Tobias can do it, why can’t I?

He closes the door and, leaning against the door—

JAKE’S EYES - INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

--closes his eyes in deep concentration . . .

. . .and then opens them. Nothing. He walks over to the mirror, where he sees that his normal ears have assumed the shape and position of a dog’s. He’s silent for a moment, but then --

JAKEAaaahhhhhh!

Jake touches his ears and recoils. He is terrified by now but takes some deep breaths.


JAKEConcentrate . . .

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He closes his eyes and keeps going. Watch him shrink until he’s out of view of the mirror.

EXT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

A dog comes out of Jake’s room. He runs down the stairs and into the kitchen, where he encounters the real Homer. Homer runs out the screen door in the kitchen into the yard, terrified. Jake runs back into his room and begins to demorph. He is almost done when Tom walks in, carrying a worn class binder and a pencil. Jake is naked; we see him from the waist up.

TOMHey, I was just . . .oh! Jesus!

Tom closes the door. Fast.

JAKESorry!

TOM (O.S.)Are you done yet?!

JAKESorry!!

TOM (O.S.)Yeah, whatever. Jeez.

Jake shakes his head, gets dressed, and then pokes his head out of the door.

HALLWAY – INT. JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Jake’s head can be seen from the front on the far side of the hallway.


JAKETom?

74

The back of Tom’s head comes into view, very close to us.

TOMYeah?

JAKEYou wanted something?

TOMYeah. You sure you don’t want to go to the Sharing meeting tonight?

JAKEUh, I told my friends I’d go to Clinks with them.

TOMThis will be better than Clinks. Trust me.

Jake thinks for a moment.

JAKEOkay. Maybe they’ll want to come too.

TOMGreat! Meet me at seven o’clock on Fairemont.

JAKEAll right.

INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Jake closes his door, sits on the edge of his bed and puts his head in his hands as he did before. He looks to the side, at the window. The sun is shining through the slits of the blinds.

75

CUT TO:

EXT. FAIREMONT BEACH – FAIREMONT AVENUE – LATE AFTERNOON

There’s a big banner with The Sharing’s logo plastered over it, above the words “BEACH BARBEQUE”. There are gigantic coolers that look like oil drums filled with ice and soda cans, a volleyball game between people in their swimsuits towards the left side of the beach, and there’s a set of huge grills where The Sharing volunteers are flipping burgers and hot dogs. There are maybe eighty, a hundred people there; a little more than half are wearing “The Sharing” T-shirts, indicating their status as associate or full members.

Tom and Jake walk down the beach, away from the grills. Jake throws his paper plate in an empty cooler fitted with a trash bag. He looks happy.

TOMSee? I told you it was going to be fun.

JAKEYeah.

TOMBetter than Clinks, right?

JAKEYeah. This was fun. I might want to do it again sometime.


TOMThat’d be cool. We’re having a meeting at the community center next week.

JAKEYeah.

76

TOMThis is only the beginning, though.

JAKEHmm?

TOMWell, if you go every week for a month, you’re automatically an associate member. Then, if you’ve been here a while, we see whether you’ve got what it takes to become a full member. By then, it’s a whole different experience.

JAKESo this is what I don’t get. What exactly do you do when you’re a full member?

TOMOh, lots of things. You basically help run The Sharing. The local chapter here, anyway. There are special meetings and events. But it’s more than that.

JAKEOh?


TOMYou get to become a part of something. Something bigger. All by yourself, you can’t do much about anything. Together, we can accomplish a lot. Together, we can change the world. That’s what becoming a full member is all about.

JAKEHuh. Maybe I’ll start coming more often.

77

TOMYeah, but not before I beat you ten times more in volleyball, midget.

JAKESo, where do we go--

Jake’s voice trails as he watches Tom’s face. It twitches, very subtly.

JAKE--next? You OK?

Tom twitches, less subtly now, only in the face. Suddenly his expression changes to one of pure fear. In an instant, Tom’s smile is restored. He acts as if nothing happened – and, really, almost nothing did. His change of expression lasted for an instant, but it was still enough to change Jake’s perception of the situation. He’s suddenly uncomfortable.

TOMYeah, midget? Want to get some more hot dogs?

JAKENo thanks. Kinda full.


TOMSuit yourself.

JAKEI think I’m going to see how Marco’s doing.

Tom shrugs.

TOMYou want a ride home?

JAKE

78

No thanks. I think I have to stop over at Rachel’s house. I left some stuff there before.

Jake jogs away from Tom and looks around. He sees a picnic table where Rachel, Cassie and Marco are sitting and eating hot dogs. Marco’s in a genial mood, but speaks quietly.

MARCOOK, I was wrong. The Sharing is perfectly normal, and Tom is not a Controller.

Jake’s obviously not happy.

MARCOWhat?

RACHELDon’t you feel it? Something’s not right.

A cheerful VOLUNTEER in her mid-thirties, wearing a “The Sharing” T-shirt, walks up to the kids and gives them a hungry smile.

VOLUNTEERHey, guys! You doing all right?


Jake forces a smile.

JAKEYeah. Everything’s cool.

The volunteer smiles as if she’s looking at a very nice steak.

VOLUNTEERTom’s brother, right?

JAKEYeah.

VOLUNTEER

79

You sure you don’t want anything? Brochures? Drinks?

JAKENo. We’re fine.

VOLUNTEERYou sure?

RACHELWe’re good.

The volunteer walks away, giving them an eager glance before leaving. Rachel turns back to the others.

RACHELYou see? It’s like . . .like they’re watching you. It’s like we’re prey.


MARCOAll right, maybe something is a little weird here. But there are plenty of cults out there. Come on. It’s not like any Taxxons are playing volleyball over there. And no Visser Three in sight. Does everyone have to assume that anything creepy or malignant has to be alien?

RACHELOooh, malignant. Pretty big word for you, Marco.

She bats her eyes at him.

JAKE

80

Where’s Tobias?

Marco points up to Tobias: a hawk, flying in circles around them.

JAKEWhy is he in morph? There’s a two-hour limit!

MARCOHe says he’s keeping track. What I want to know is why – or how – he got the morph.

Cassie looks guilty.

CASSIEWe have a red-tailed hawk at the clinic.

MARCOWhat, so, we decide as a group not to do any more of this “morphing” thing and you just point him to the nearest live animal?


JAKEWe didn’t decide on anything yet, remember?

CASSIEHe asked me if he could see it. Not the other way around.

JAKEThe full members are having a meeting over there.

He points to an area on the far side of the beach, surrounded by hired policemen and “The Sharing” security. Jake has trouble keeping his voice level.

JAKEI’d sure like to know what goes on in that meeting.

CASSIE

81

Well, you can . . .

JAKEWhat?

CASSIEDidn’t you tell me on the way home that you morphed Homer?

Marco’s pretty angry by now.

MARCOI thought that we weren’t going to do any more morphing...

JAKEI said that we were going to let it ride. I didn’t make any decision. And I wanted to try it out.


CASSIEWhat I was going to say is that no one will notice a stray dog on the beach.

JAKEA stray dog on the . . .oh.

MARCOI don’t like this.

JAKEI know you don’t like this, but-

MARCONo, I mean I don’t like this plan. How are you going to go by without being noticed?

JAKEI guess I’ll just act like a dog.

MARCO

82

You better.

CASSIELet the instincts take over. The dog will know what to do. Relax your mind.

MARCOAll right, just get it over and morph with it before Cassie goes all New Age on us.

EXT. LIFEGUARD’S SHED - EXT. FAIREMONT BEACH - FAIREMONT AVENUE – LATE AFTERNOON

Jake walks behind the shed nervously. He looks to his left and right and walks out of view. After a minute, he comes out as a dog.

EXT. FAIREMONT BEACH – FAIREMONT AVENUE – LATE AFTERNOON

Jake walks across the beach and goes past the guards, who give him a dismissive wave. Jake trots towards the meeting, tongue lolled out, looking ridiculously happy.

The full members of The Sharing are sitting in a circle on logs that have been fashioned into benches. We hear murmurs at first, then clearer voices, as Jake gets closer.

CHAPMANNext item. Visser Three is trying to find the children from the construction site last Thursday. Has anyone found any leads?

TOMMy host’s brother, Jake. He was at the mall across the road. I suspect he might know something about this, or even might be one of the children himself. So I brought him here, to make him ours . . .or kill him.

Jake is still trying to look ridiculously happy. It is not working very well.

CHAPMAN

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No, there won’t be any casualties at this meeting. It’s bad for our cover: we can’t go off killing people left and right.

TOMSo we infest?

CHAPMANNot now. Later. When we hold the next gathering.


TOMAll right.

Jake trots away and the voices fade again back to murmurs. He demorphs behind the shed and walks towards the other kids, including Tobias, who has apparently demorphed.

JAKEMarco, you were right. Tom’s a Controller.

Marco is not happy that he was right.

CASSIEAnyone else there who we know?

JAKEMr. Chapman. He seemed to be the leader.

MARCOWait, wait . . .you mean Chapman? Like Chapman, our vice principal?

JAKEYeah.

MARCOSo that was the man!

JAKEWhat?

84

MARCOHe was at the construction site, too. He told one of the Hork-Bajir to just retrieve our heads, so that we could be identified.

RACHELThat is so Chapman.


MARCOSo what do we do now?

RACHELOh, so now you’re suddenly the first to want to get your hands dirty?

MARCOWell, I just figured . . .it’s not like I can persuade any of you guys otherwise.

JAKEWe need to take action. Someone needs to spy on Chapman. He’s the only lead we have.

RACHELI’ll do it tomorrow. Skipping school won’t be a problem.

MARCONothing’s a problem for the Animorphs!

TOBIASWhat?

MARCOOh, nothing. Just five idiot teenagers with a death wish.

JAKEAnimorphs . . .sounds okay.

INT. KITCHEN – RACHEL’S HOUSE – NIGHT

85

Naomi is talking into the cordless phone and pacing around the kitchen, very agitated.


NAOMIShe . . .she what? She’s getting . . .what? This is ridiculous. I just cannot believe it. What? I’ll talk to her. Right now.

Naomi hangs up the phone and screams up the stairs.

NAOMIRACHEL!!!

Rachel walks down the stairs casually.

RACHELWhat’s up?

Naomi throws her hands up in the air.

NAOMIWhat’s up? What’s up?! Do you want to know what’s up? I just got a call from Miss Prosdale. Do you know who she is?!

RACHELShe’s . . .the secretary at the dean’s office?

NAOMIAnd why do you think she called?!

RACHELI don’t know.

NAOMIShe called because, apparently, your recent grades in Biology I have not been so outstanding.

86

RACHELOh.


NAOMIA “D” on yesterday’s test, Rachel? You told me you studied on Friday. For a couple of hours, even.

RACHELI meant to. I was at the mall with Cassie. I was going to be home early.

NAOMIAnd why weren’t you?

A beat.

RACHELStuff happened.

Naomi’s outraged.

NAOMIStuff? Stuff?! Like what, drugs?

RACHELNot like that-

NAOMIIf you think that “stuff” is a good excuse for getting a “D” on a test, Rachel, I don’t know how I raised you.

RACHELMom, you don’t under-

NAOMITHAT’S IT! I’m going to clear my appointments for tomorrow morning right now and drive you to school so that you make it.

87

RACHELBut I’ve never been late before-


NAOMIOh, but next you’re going to tell me that “stuff” made you late for school. And I’m not buying it.

Rachel suddenly realizes – she told the others that she could skip school.

RACHELBut Mom, I feel kind of . . .sick-

NAOMINO EXCUSES!!!

INT. ROOM 158 – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH - DAY

Rachel sits in her desk, dejected. She mutters to herself.

RACHELSo much for skipping school.

Mr. Tidwell turns around from the blackboard and gives Rachel’s general area a stern look.

MR. TIDWELLQuiet back there.

Rachel turns to the window, where the construction site can be faintly seen in the distance. The bell RINGS. She grabs her things and leaves.

INT. HALLWAY – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH - DAY

Rachel steps out of the classroom door and looks in both directions to see if she spots anyone she knows. When she looks to her right, she sees Chapman, walking down the hall and then disappearing into a mass of students.

88


She walks briskly after Chapman until she stops, turns to her locker and starts turning the combination, still looking at Chapman as he walks down the hall. Soon, everyone has entered their classes, except for Rachel and Chapman, whose FOOTSTEPS we hear as his shoes hit the linoleum floor. Rachel looks in both directions cautiously, and then climbs into her locker, as casually as she can.

INT. RACHEL’S LOCKER – HALLWAY – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – DAY

Light streams through four horizontal locker vents as Rachel peeks through them. She then begins to shrink as she starts her morph.

RACHEL (V.O.)You see, the ironic thing is, I’m skipping class right now.

Her skin begins to turn green and her clothing folds around her as she develops bumps on her skin. Her eyes turn small, with green irises.

RACHEL (V.O.)And when you skip class, you have to report to Mr. Chapman. What am I supposed to say? “Oh, I’m sorry, Chapman, but I had to spy on you because you’re helping to lead a secret alien invasion”?

Rachel completes the morph. She is now a green anole lizard.

Slow zoom to the lizard’s eye, looking around lazily.


89

RACHEL (V.O.)I went to Cassie’s the morning after the construction site. This was the first thing I acquired. But I’ve never morphed it before. So Cassie said that the lizard’s instincts might be strong. But right now, I’m feeling pretty calm.

The lizard’s eye, which now completely dominates the screen, snaps wide open.

RACHEL (V.O.)LIIIIIIIIGHT!

The lizard bounces off the walls of the locker, terrified.

RACHEL (V.O.)LIGHTLIGHTLIGHTLIGHTLIGHT!

The lizard scrambles through the ventilation slits--

INT. HALLWAY – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – DAY

--and bounces to the floor. It’s considerably less terrified now.

INT. LIZARD - HALLWAY – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – DAY

From the lizard’s vision, some colors are switched around (beige objects look blue and vice versa) and it’s somewhat blurry.

Zoom in on a pair of green loafers – Chapman’s.

HALLWAY – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – DAY

We watch Rachel in silhouette (black against red) as she follows Chapman. She pauses for a moment and looks up at a door, towering up from Rachel’s lizard height.

90

RACHEL (V.O.)Why is he going past his office?

Chapman enters a door marked “MAINTENANCE”. Rachel looks up, and then follows him, crawling through the slit at the bottom of the door.

INT. MAINTENANCE CLOSET – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES HIGH SCHOOL – DAY

It is dimly lit – a lone, fading bulb and the light from the hallway streaming from the closet door’s window provide the sole illumination. As Rachel secretly watches, Chapman turns the sink’s faucet to the left, and twists the second hook on the wall to the right.

The wall moves back three feet and slides to the right, revealing a staircase with a faint green glow coming from far away. Chapman enters. From the staircase, far, far down below, we can hear screams, sobbing and maniacal laughter.

Rachel is frightened, but almost in awe.

RACHEL (V.O.)It’s the Yeerk pool.

We look down the staircase, which leads into darkness, save the green glow.

RACHEL (V.O.)It’s right under my school.

INT. BARN – WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER- LATE AFTERNOON

Jake, Rachel and Cassie are standing. Tobias is crouching. Marco is lounging around on a bale of hay.

MARCOSo let me get this straight. The entrance to the Yeerk pool is under the janitor’s closet?

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RACHELYeah.

MARCOThis is completely insane.

JAKESo what do we do now?

RACHELI say: let’s do it. Get in there, do what damage we can.

TOBIASThis is the only lead we have. We have to do whatever we can.

MARCOYou all know my opinions on this. I’m gonna say no. But I’ll go with the majority vote.

CASSIEI’m with Marco.

TOBIASIt’s all up to you, Jake.

JAKE - INT. BARN – WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER- LATE AFTERNOON

Jake thinks for a moment, then speaks angrily, with clenched teeth.


JAKELet’s do it. Let’s do it for Tom.

EXT. THE GARDENS – LATE AFTERNOON

The Gardens is a hybrid of an amusement park and a zoo. A roller coaster can be seen in the distance. It is closed.

EXT. ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING – THE GARDENS - LATE AFTERNOON

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Cassie leads the others through a door marked “Personnel Only”.

INT. ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING – THE GARDENS - LATE AFTERNOON

Cassie turns to the others while walking backwards.

CASSIEIf anyone asks, we’re here to see my mom. She works as a vet here.

INT. GORILLA HABITAT – THE GARDENS – LATE AFTERNOON

The gorilla is visible at the bottom of the frame as Marco enters through the door. He’s in front of the gorilla, and we can see Cassie behind him, through the doorway. Marco cautiously approaches the gorilla with an outstretched hand.

INT. ELEPHANT ENCLOSURE – THE GARDENS – LATE AFTERNOON

Cassie and Rachel enter, smiling slightly.

CASSIE (V.O.)We’re going to need firepower. Let’s just do this quick, split up and get what we need.

INT. TIGER HABITAT – THE GARDENS – LATE AFTERNOON

Jake and Marco are backed against a wall, facing a growling tiger.

Jake swallows hard and places a hand on the tiger’s head. The tiger relaxes and his eyes close.

INT. WOLF HABITAT – THE GARDENS – LATE AFTERNOON

Rachel and Tobias watch Cassie as she acquires the wolf.

EXT. THE GARDENS – SUNSET

Jake and Cassie meet the other Animorphs, who are assembled in a group outside the entrance.

MARCO

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So where to next?

JAKETom was talking on the phone last night to another volunteer at The Sharing – he’s going in to feed at 6:00.

He pauses, takes a breath.

JAKELet’s go.

CUT TO:

EXT. MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH - DUSK

Tom enters through the front door. The heads of the Animorphs appear from behind the wall where they have been hiding.

Jake makes sure no one’s watching and beckons towards the others, who follow and enter. Tobias also follows, in hawk morph.

INT. HALLWAY – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – NIGHT

The outlines of the Animorphs are visible entering through the door at the end of the hall. They tiptoe, trying not to make any noise.

Tom crosses the frame, very close to the camera. He does not notice the kids.

Jake peers around a corner as Tom enters the maintenance closet.

EXT. MAINTENANCE CLOSET - HALLWAY – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – NIGHT

Tom closes the door behind him. The Animorphs cross the hall and stand outside the door. Marco presses an ear against the door, waits until he hears Tom climbing down the stairs,

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then gives the “all clear” signal to the others. Marco opens the door and the others follow.

INT. MAINTENANCE CLOSET - HALLWAY – FIRST FLOOR – MICHAEL MATES JUNIOR HIGH – NIGHT

The closet is a tight fit for five kids. Jake turns to Rachel.

JAKEHow did he do it?

RACHELSink faucet to the left, second hook to the right.

Jake follows her instructions. The wall slides back.

RACHELLet’s do this.

INT. STAIRCASE 451A – NISS PLIAR YEERK POOL

They descend the stairs, hearing the sounds of the Yeerk pool: the rippling of sludge and the human (and alien) cries of horror, all echoed and distant.

MARCOYou sure this is the Yeerk pool? Because if I see a guy with horns and a pitchfork I’m outta here.

They keep walking. It is a very long staircase; they are going 300 feet below the ground. It is strictly utilitarian yet comfortable: neat and shallow steps, adequately lit, a large enough tunnel to stand up in.

JAKERemember what I said: they probably don’t know every other Controller. If we just

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blend in, we’ll be able to do this without getting hurt.

MARCOWe’re risking our lives on a “probably”?

JAKEIf something goes wrong and they figure out we don’t belong, morph and get out of there.

They approach the bottom of the staircase and slow down. They try to remain casual as they step into the Yeerk pool and survey their surroundings.

INT. NISS PLIAR YEERK POOL

They have entered an enormous cavern, the same as Tobias saw the morning after the construction site. The pool is enormous; there are many piers at regular intervals. There are two types of piers: infestation and feeding piers. There are about 100 staircases distributed evenly throughout the cavern.

A WOMAN is screaming at an infestation pier as a HORK-BAJIR SOLDIER forces her head down onto the metal grating. Cages full of screaming humans and Hork-Bajir line the walls. Hork-Bajir and Taxxons are patrolling the area. The Hork-Bajir are armed with Dracon beams: they can be immediately identified as typical ray guns, as you’d see in a B-movie science-fiction film.

The Animorphs speak under their breath.

CASSIEOh my god.

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RACHELLook at the size of this place. It’s not just under the school; it’s under half the town!

Jake spots Tom at a feeding pier. He’s being pulled up by two HORK-BAJIR GUARDS and kicking against them.

TOMYou can’t do this to us! We’ll get you! When people find out what you’re doing, you’ll all be dead!

The Hork-Bajir throw him in a cage with around five other freed Controllers.

Jake smiles faintly.

JAKETom.


RACHELWho are those guys?

Rachel nods her head towards a group of humans, watching TV. They’re laughing at a joke someone made.

TOBIASVoluntary Controllers.

MARCOSay what?

TOBIASThose are the voluntaries. They don’t complain when they get infested, and in return they’re treated nicely. Their Yeerks are feeding right now.

Rachel is angry.

RACHEL

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You mean . . .those people choose to have slugs in their heads?

TOBIASYes.

Rachel is silent while Jake pulls everyone behind a shed, glancing around him.

JAKEWe’ve got to get everyone out of here.

CASSIEBut there’s so many! Look how many controllers there are! And Taxxons, and Hork-Bajir.


MARCOHow can we do it without getting hurt?

JAKEWe can’t.

Marco is disbelieving, Cassie is frightened, and Rachel, of all people, looks earnest.

JAKEIf we take out some of those guards, we might be able to get near some of the cages before they notice. Tobias, I want you to fly cover. Let us know what you see from up there. Keep us updated. Stay unseen for as long as you can. Marco, you go first. You can use your gorilla morph to open the cages. Everyone ready?

RACHELAs ready as we’ll ever be.

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Marco tentatively begins to morph gorilla, and the rest follow. Cassie finishes her wolf morph first. Tobias, a red-tailed hawk, flutters up to the ceiling. Jake morphs the tiger he acquired; Rachel morphs elephant.

A Hork-Bajir guard rounds the corner and sees them. They are all done or almost done with their morphs. His eyes widen, but Marco punches him and he goes down before he can cry out.

The Animorphs creep around sheds and various squat buildings, silently incapacitating guards they come across.

Marco finds an ID tag on a guard, takes it, and creeps to a cage of humans, who are frightened and confused upon seeing him.


JAKE<Hey, everyone! We’re here to help.>

Marco holds up the ID card so that they can see. Now they’re even more confused as Marco starts using the card to unlock the cages.

TOBIAS<Guys, there’s a Controller coming your way!>

DR. BERMAN, in his thirties, approaches the kids in morph.

DR. BERMANHey! HEY!

He pulls out a Dracon beam and starts firing at them. After a couple of misses, he hits Cassie, who falls against the wall.

JAKE<Cassie!>

CASSIE<I’m alright, keep going!>

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Tom cranes his neck inside his cage, trying to see what’s happening as more CONTROLLERS begin to run over to Dr. Berman and fire Dracon guns at the Animorphs.

CONTROLLERAndalites!

Rachel charges at the group of Controllers, her trunk in the air.

RACHEL<You want a piece of me?!>


Marco finally opens the first cage. Humans begin swarming out. People in neighboring cages start clamoring, yelling to be freed also.

He grabs a Dracon gun off a guard knocked out at his feet, looks at it unsurely and then levels it at the lock on a cage.

MARCO<Stand back!>

The humans stand back, Marco fires at the lock and they push the door of the cage open.

Jake slices open a Taxxon. It pops, like a soggy balloon. Yellow mush douses him. He shakes it off in disgust.

The group of Controllers, frantic to catch the Animorphs, begins to fire wildly. The Dracon beams are absorbed by the force fields that hold up the cavern, which SIZZLE and become visible as they are hit.

Marco finally frees Tom, who runs with the other freed humans towards the exit staircases.

JAKE<We’re almost out!>

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Marco stares up and freezes in fear.

MARCO<No. We’re not even close.>

Follow Marco’s gaze to a balcony where Visser Three is standing, affronted.

VISSER THREE<Well, well, well. So I guess I was wrong. Perhaps some Andalites did survive the attack.>


RACHEL<What? He thinks we’re Andalites?>

JAKE<Of course! He doesn’t know who we are! He thinks that only Andalites can morph!>

VISSER THREE<It was fun while it lasted, Andalite bandits. But now it is time to finish what I had started.>

He begins morphing a monstrous creature with eight legs, heads and arms, along with tendrils sprouting from its body. The Animorphs begin to run before we can start thinking about what the creature is called.

A TAXXON GUARD, a member of the group firing at the crowd exiting up the staircase, hits the FORCE FIELD GENERATOR for the staircase. The force field deactivates with a CLICK, and the Dracon beams begin to loose rocks from the ceiling, which shower the newly freed Controllers. Cassie is running up a staircase with a woman and young girl on her back.

MARCO<Jake, come on, this place could collapse!>

JAKE<Is everyone out?>

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CASSIE

JAKE<He can fly his way out. He’s probably up there already. Let’s go!>


Visser Three is now fully morphed. Using his tendrils, he slides from the balcony and starts shooting fireballs at Jake and the other Animorphs with his mouth. Guards are attempting to recapture the escaped hosts.

MARCO<Come on!>

Jake looks back while following Marco and sees Tom at the bottom of the stairs. A guard grabs Tom, who kicks him and starts running. Another guard levels his gun at Tom.

JAKE<Tom!>

Tom ducks as a Dracon beam blasts the rock above his head. From the ground he looks around, confused. Guards jump on him and drag him away.

JAKE<No!>

Marco urges him forward as the rock around the staircase collapses. Jake runs slower and slower until he collapses, along with the other Animorphs.

JAKE<Morph out! MORPH OUT!>

FADE TO:

BLACK

FADE TO:

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INT. JUNGLE - DAY

The colors are slightly off; everything is very saturated, borderline surreal.


Jake is in his tiger morph. He is stalking Tom, who is walking through the wilderness. Tom is his prey.

Soon, he gets close, and strikes. Suddenly--

Jake is the human. Tom is the tiger. Tom leaps and raises his paws--

INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE - MORNING

Jake wakes up with a start, sweating.

JAKEAhhhhhh!

Still trembling, Jake gets up, gets dressed, goes into the bathroom and brushes his teeth, and starts packing for school. Jake leaves his room and goes downstairs for breakfast.

INT. KITCHEN – JAKE’S HOUSE – MORNING

Tom is eating cereal at the kitchen table.

TOMHey, midget. What’s up?

JAKENot much . . .you know . . .school. You?

TOMI missed you at the meeting of The Sharing yesterday.

A beat.

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JAKEI decided that it wasn’t the best place for me. I hung out with Marco instead.


TOMYour loss, man. There are things that are so much cooler than hanging out with Marco. Cooler than being on some . . .some bogus basketball team. You know . . .important things. Things where you can make a difference. You could be part of something great. Not just some little nothing kid.

Tom gives Jake a knowing look.

JAKEYeah, well, thanks. But I don’t really want to be a part. I want to be one person. One little nothing kid.

For an instant, Tom shows his contempt. Then he shrugs and resumes eating breakfast.

TOMWhatever. Let me know when you change your mind.

Jake’s parents walk in.

JAKE’S DADHello, boys.

TOMHey, dad.

Jake’s dad tells some joke and Tom laughs while Jake stares, both thoughtful and sad.

JAKE (V.O.)There is no way to tell, on the surface, who is a Controller or who isn’t. It could be

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someone you know, someone you see every day . . .it could be someone you love.


JAKEI have to pack for school.

TOMDon’t be late again, midget.

Tom laughs while Jake goes up the stairs.

INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – MORNING

Jake enters his room, sits on his bed, and puts his head in his hands, much like the morning after the construction site. He looks up at the ceiling.

JAKEWhy?

A tapping on hs windowsill interrupts his thoughts. It is Tobias in hawk morph. Jake’s expression is a combination of relief and desperation. He moves to let Tobias in.

JAKEHey.

TOBIAS<Hey.>

JAKESo you made it. You had us scared back there for a bit. We thought you had been trapped back in the rocks.

TOBIAS<Yeah. How are the others?>

JAKEAlive. . .alive. I guess that’s all that matters.

TOBIAS

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<Yes. That is all that matters.>


A beat.

TOBIAS<Jake->

JAKENo. You don't have to say it-

TOBIAS<But I want to. Jake, I'm sorry about T->

JAKEWe did what we could, OK? We did what we could and it didn't work. And now I have a brother who's controlled by a . . .by a slug. For god knows how long.

TOBIAS<You did what you could, Jake.>

JAKEI know.

Tobias can tell that he doesn’t believe it.

JAKEMorph back, Tobias.

Tobias is silent.

JAKECome on, game over, man. Morph out. Let’s talk. No more flying. You can stay here if you want, for the day.

TOBIAS

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Jake is crying, silently.

TOBIAS

Stay on Tobias’ hawk face; his piercing hawk’s stare.

FADE TO:


Tobias is leaning towards Elfangor as the others run away.

JAKECome on, Tobias, let’s go!

TOBIASOne minute.

Tobias looks toward Elfangor.

ELFANGOR<Tell me . . .tell me about your family, Tobias.>

TOBIASMy family?

Elfangor waits.

TOBIASMy mother gave me up to my aunt and uncle when I was little. And I never really knew my father. My aunt and uncle . . .they don’t really care that much. I guess you could say I never really had a family.


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Elfangor gives Tobias a look of sadness, resignation, and then acceptance.

ELFANGOR<Go to your friends, Tobias. They are your family now.>

He touches Tobias’ head, which rocks back. He then runs towards the others.

FADE TO:

INT. JAKE’S BEDROOM – JAKE’S HOUSE – MORNING

Jake’s tears have dried.

TOBIAS<Jake, someday the Andalites will come. Like they said they would. And until then . . .>

JAKEYeah. Until then . . .we fight.

Jake looks at his backpack solemnly, picks it up and leaves his room.

INT. FOYER – JAKE’S HOUSE – MORNING

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Jake goes down the stairs and makes a cheerful face as he meets Tom to get a ride for school from his mom.

JAKE (V.O.)I used to wonder what'd it be like to be a superhero. Now, my life is as crazy as those comic books I used to read-only I don't always know if the good guys will win. But this isn't just our fight, not just the five of us. It's the world's. So now you know why we can't tell you who we are or where we live. But know that we're out here. And we're fighting.

Jake and Tom head out the door to the van.

JAKE (V.O.)And one day . . .

FADE TO:

BLACK

JAKE (V.O.). . . we'll be free.

End credits.

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Documents

ANIMORPHS: The Invasion Begins