1

TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS

SHELL GAME #1
SCRIPT
Simon Furman

Page 1 (SPLASH):
1. Dramatic, up angle on MAGMATRON (BW robot mode). Hes stood on a
rocky cliff edge, on prehistoric BW Earth. He gestures wide, with an
its all mine! expression. Magmatron is a real warrior-leader, someone
who bellows his challenge at an enemy, inviting them to their death at
his hands. Go to town on the sheer barbarian delight he takes in
warfare. Its what he lives for! Behind him (distance, airborne) we can
see the Autobot shuttlecraft heading upwards, into the high
atmosphere, the Maximals on their way home (as per Nemesis pt2).
PNL:
PNL:
MAGMATRON:
2 (LINK):
MAGMATRON:

PLANET EARTH:
180,000 YEARS BC
MINE ALL MINE!
THE BEAST WARS ARE OVER
AND THE WAR FOR CYBERTRON BEGINS
HERE!

Pages 2-3 (DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD):

1. Main pic. Drop Magmatron (and behind him the other Predacons -- see
next pic) into the far background (small). Theyre stood at the edge
(and further back from) a sheer cliff, overlooking a deep (dry) river
gulley. There, crashed (but essentially intact) is the Nemesis (the vast
Decepticon spacecraft from the final two episodes of the BW TV
series). Try and emphasise the sheer scale of the Nemesis in relation
to the BW characters.

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MAGMATRON:

2 (LINK):

WHAT A PHYRRIC VICTORY IT WOULD HAVE

BEEN TO INHERIT A CYBERTRON CHANGED
IRREVOCABLY BY THE ERRANT TIDES OF TIME.
LET MEGATRONS INSANE DREAMS OF
TEMPORAL CONQUEST DIE HERE, ON THIS
BACKWATER PLANET. THE FUTURE

2. Go in on Magmatron again, but this time wide enough to include his

fellow Predacons: DRILL BIT, MANTERROR, SPITTOR,
RAZORBEAST (actually a Maximal deep cover agent with a Predacon
insignia), IGUANUS and TRANSQUITO (all robot mode). Theres an
encampment and some surrounding/background (Cybertronian)
hardware (see p5).
MAGMATRON:
2 (LINK):

BELONGS TO MAGMATRON!
MY ARMY WILL DOUBLE IN SIZE AT STROKE,
AND IGNOBLE SURRENDER AND
CAPITULATION WILL TURN TO GLORIOUS
INSURRECTION AND OVERTHROW!
PREDACONS

3. Small pic: in the high atmosphere the Autobot shuttle enters (and
disappears into) a Transwarp portal, reality rippling around it.
DIALOGUE PNL:

LET US BEGIN!

Page 4:
1. Angle on the various Preds, Drill Bit foremost (practically salivating
with glee at what hes done).
MAGMATRON:

DRILL BIT:

DRILL BIT, I TAKE IT YOU HAVE ENSURED

NEITHER THE MAXIMALS NOR THE CAPTIVE
MEGATRON WILL EVER MAKE IT BACK TO
CYBERTRON.
YESS! THE TRANSWARP AGITATOR WAS
DELIVERED, UNDETECTED, AS PER YOUR
INSTRUCTIONS.

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MAGMATRON:

GOOD. IT WOULDNT DO AT ALL TO HAVE THE

HIGH COUNCIL SANCTION ANY WELLINTENTIONED RESCUE/RETRIEVAL
MISSIONS

2. Angle on Manterror, Spittor and Iguanus, all ready, waiting for the
command to be given. Theres no dissent here. All Magmatrons
warriors are fiercely loyal.
MAGMATRON:

2 (LINK):

NOT WHEN I HAVE OTHER PLANS FOR THE

COMRADES OPTIMUS PRIMAL AND HIS HARDY
CREW FORSOOK IN THEIR UNDERSTANDABLY
INDECENT HASTE TO LEAVE THIS ROCK.
MANTERROR, SPITTOR, IGUANUS

3. The trio transform to beast modes, running/leaping off at speed.

MAGMATRON:

2 (LINK):
IGUANUS:
MANTERROR:
SPITTOR/FX:

AS SOON AS THE ACTIVATION SIGNAL IS

BROADCAST, I WANT IN-SITU, REALTIME
REPORTS. VECTOR COORDINATES HAVE BEEN
STREAMED TO YOUR NETWORK
PROTOSERVERS
NOW GO!
SIR! YOU HEARD LIEGE MAGMATRON, BEAST
MODES MOVE!
IN YOUR CASE, SPITTOR HOP TO IT!

PTIU!

4. Angle on Transquito, transforming/taking to the air in beast mode.

MAGMATRON:

TRANSQUITO:

TRANSQUITO YOURE ON LOOSE END

DETAIL. WASPINATOR IS M.I.A. MAKE SURE
THATS A PERMANENT CONDITION.
VRZZ CONZZIDER IT DONE!

Page 5:

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1. Angle on Razorbeast. Hes working on a mobile console/control unit,
feeding in data, aligning a massive dish/antennae array (comprising
five or six individual dishes). Theres a stack of mainframe hardware
with display screens and a portable generator or three. Magmatron
moves over to join him.
MAGMATRON:
RAZORBEAST:
MAGMATRON:

RAZORBEAST HOW LONG UNTIL THE

TRANSMITTER DISH IS ALIGNED?
LOCAL TIME, ABOUT FORTY-ONE MINUTES.
WHY THE DELAY?

2. Tight on Razorbeast (matter-of-fact) as he pulls up a holosphere map

of prehistoric Earth (Ill see if I can find actual reference maps for
the continental landmasses of this time). Pinprick dots of lights
pepper the globe (not all on land).
RAZORBEAST:

MAGMATRON:

YOU WANT THEM ALL, RIGHT? THAT TAKES

TIME. THE STASIS PODS ARE SCATTERED
WORLDWIDE, SOME AT OCEAN DEPTH. I HAVE
TO COMPENSATE FOR AMBIENT PRESSURE,
ALTITUDE, VARIANT CLIMACTIC
YES, YES.

3. Magmatron stalks off (towards us), forcing himself to be patient (but

only more or less succeeding).
MAGMABEAST:
2 (LINK):

RAZORBEAST:

ALL VERY FASCINATING, IM SURE.

JUST LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS THE YOURE
READY TO SEND THE SHELL SIGNAL. I WANT
TO GREET MY NEW WARRIORS PERSONALLY.
RIGHT.

4. Angle past Razorbeast, foreground. He watches as Magmatron moves

off, towards a field-ops tent, a sort of foil-material structure that
serves as Magmatrons private space.

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5. New angle on Razorbeast, tense/urgent. Satisfied that Magmatron is
a safe distance away, he turns to another console, keying in
instructions.
RAZORBEAST:

CMON, CMON.

6. Inset: tight in on one of the dishes, as it rotates, pointing up at the

sky.
RAZORBEAST (OFF): ONE OF YOU

Page 6:
1. Cut to; RATTRAP (tight in), int. shuttle. Hes shaken awake by
OPTIMUS PRIMAL (as per the TF Summer Special story).
OPTIMUS PRIMAL:
2 (LINK):
RATTRAP:

WAKE UP!
RATTRAP!
WH-?

2. Widen to include Primal. He looks down at Rattrap, concerned/amused.

PNL:
RATTRAP:
OPTIMUS PRIMAL:

RATTRAP:

AUTOBOT SHUTTLECRAFT, IN THE

TRANSWARP FUNNEL:
OP-OPTIMUS? I
MUST HAVE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED SLEEP
MODE. I GUESS WERE ALL PRETTY BEAT NOT
SURPRISING AFTER WHAT WEVE BEEN
THROUGH.
RIIGHT. NOTHING LIKE A FEW REALITYWARPIN ROUNDS WITH MEGATRON AN HIS
BOOT-BOYS TO LULL YOU INTO A GENTLE
SLUMBER!

3. New angle/wide (past Rattrap, extreme foreground), taking in the

other Maximals (RHINOX, SILVERBOLT, BLACKARACHNIA &
CHEETOR). All characters robot mode. Try for a bit of subtle
hostility in their poses, though their expressions are benign.

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RATTRAP:

CHEETOR:
BLACKARACHNIA:

SILVERBOLT:
2 (LINK):

RHINOX:

HAD THIS WEIRD, WEIRD DREAM! I WAS

WITH THESE MAXIMALS, GUYS ID NEVER
SEEN, AND THEY-WHAT? SUDDENLY WERE NOT ENOUGH
COMPANY FOR YOU?
THE RAT HAS IMAGINARY FRIENDS, CHEETOR.
NOT SURPRISING, REALLY WITH NO REAL
ONES TO CALL HIS OWN!
NOW, NOW, BLACKARACHNIA. BE
CHARITABLE
OPTIMUS PRIMAL IS CORRECT. WE HAVE BEEN
THROUGH A LOT. TOGETHER. LET US NOT
BICKER NOW.
FH! WHY CHANGE THE HABIT OF A LIFETIME?

Page 7:
1. Tight on Primal, bleeding into an image from the first season of Beast
Wars a generic (and of your choice) Maximals versus Preds (original
beast modes) fight scene, but maybe including characters (such as
DINOBOT, TERRORSAUR and TIGATRON).
PRIMAL:

2 (LINK):
DIALOGUE PNL:

SILVERBOLT IS RIGHT, RHINOX. WEVE COME

QUITE A WAY, WE SIX. WHAT STARTED OUT
AS A FAIRLY ROUTINE SCIENTIFIC SURVEY
MISSION
QUICKLY TURNED INTO A PITCHED BATTLE
FOR SURVIVAL.
IF WE WERENT TRYING TO STOP MEGATRON
KILLING US DIRECTLY

2. Flashback (from Season 2), as (within the Ark) BW Megatron prepares

to blast the deactivated/slumped figure of G1 OPTIMUS PRIME.
DIALOGUE PNL:

WE WERE FIGHTING A REARGUARD

ACTION, DESPERATELY TRYING TO PREVENT
HIM REWRITING HISTORY ITSELF!

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DIALOGUE PNL:

OUR PROXIMITY TO THE ARK AND OUR

SLUMBERING ANCESTORS INITIATED A
TERRIFYING SPIRAL OF EVENTS

3. Flashback (from Season 3), as the Nemesis (airborne) shatters the

volcanic peak (containing the Ark) with a powerful tractor beam.
DIALOGUE PNL:

WHICH CLUMINATED IN MEGATRON

COMMANDEERING THE NEMESIS, THE
DECEPTICONS DEADLY BATTLECRUISER, AND
SO NEARLY WIPING US ALL OUT.

4. Now. Angle past Primal to Rattrap, whos staring past (rather than at)
him.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL:

2 (LINK):

I THINK WEVE EARNED A REST, DONT YOU?

WERE SO NEARLY HOME NOW LETS TRY
NOT TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART BEFORE WE
GET THERE.
OK, RATTRAP?

5. Reverse angle, Rattraps pov (more or less). Behind/around Primal we

can see (in their beast modes) OPTIMUS MINOR, WOLFANG and
BONECRUSHER. Op Minor is actually hanging off Primal, extending a
beseeching hand towards us.
PRIMAL:
OPTIMUS MINOR:
2 (LINK):

RATTRAP?
WHY?
WHY?

Page 8:
1. Same, but now were suddenly on BW Earth (instead of the shuttle), a
dark/forested area. Optimus Minor is hanging off a tree, Wolfang and
Bonecrusher circling around it towards us, heads lowered, pawing the
ground, as if about to attack.

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OPTIMUS MINOR:
BONECRUSHER:
2 (LINK):
WOLFANG:

RATTRAP:

WERE MAXIMALS, LIKE YOU. AND YOU

ABANDONED US!
DONT WASTE YOUR VOCAL INITIATORS,
MINOR
HE DOESNT CARE!
OH, HELL CARE. HELL CARE WHEN WERE
GONE AND WHAT TAKES OVER COMES
AHUNTING!
BUT

2. Angle on Rattrap, moving forwards, confused. Scene is still forest/BW

Earth.
RATTRAP:
WOLFANG:

I DONT UNDERSTAND! YOU KNOW ME BUT

I I DONT KNOW YOU!
YOU WILL

3. Dramatic, as Wolfang (snarling, mouth open) suddenly leaps up

at/towards us, claws out, ready to rake. Rattrap (extreme foreground)
throws up his arms in a vain attempt to protect himself.
WOLFANG:
RATTRAP:

YOU WILL!
NO, WAIT

4. Angle on Rattrap (wide). Were back on the shuttle. His arms are up
(as per last pic), but of course theres no Wolfang. Its just the other
Maximals, staring at him (as if hes lost his mind). No ones very
sympathetic.
RATTRAP:
OPTIMUS PRIMAL:
CHEETOR:
RHINOX:

DONT!
RATTRAP? OH FOR PITYS SAKE WHATS
WRONG WITH YOU?
SON OF THE SEWERS LOST IT BIG TIME.
INDEED. BEAST WARS-SYNDROME, ANYONE?

Page 9:

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1. Primal puts one massive hand in the small of Rattraps back, firmly
steering him towards a makeshift C.R/regeneration chamber (set up
inside the shuttle). As Primal does this, he signals to Rhinox.
OPTIMUS PRIMAL:

RATTRAP:
OPTIMUS PRIMAL:

RATTRAP, I BELIEVE A SPELL IN THE C.R.

CHAMBER IS CALLED FOR. PERHAPS THERES
SOME AH, INTERNAL DAMAGE.
WH-? NO WAIT. IM FINE. LISTEN, THERES
NOTHING WRONG WITH ME.
RIGHT, RIGHT.

2. Rattrap is more or less shoved towards the C.R chamber, its door
opening (Rhinox stood there, blocking the exit route to the rear/cargo
sections of the shuttle).
OPTIMUS PRIMAL:
RHINOX:
RATTRAP:

JUST A QUICK CYCLE, SORT OUT ANY LOOSE

CONNECTIONS. RHINOX
RIGHT THIS WAY WELL HAVE YOU TUNED UP
AND SPAT OUT IN NO TIME.
I SAID

3. Dramatic, as Rattrap ducks sideways, fast, rolling under Primals

(massive) gathering hands.
RATTRAP:
OPTIMUS PRIMAL:
SILVERBOLT (off):

IM FINE!
HH?
UNFORTUNATELY, MY LESS-THAN-FRAGRANT
FRIEND

4. Rattrap comes up, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia and Cheetor, closing in.

Their expressions are cold, hard, unfriendly (to say the least). Fists
are clenched, Blackarachnias venom stingers glowing hot.
SILVERBOLT:
CHEETOR:
BLACKARACHNIA:
RATTRAP:

WE INSIST!
YOURE GOIN DOWN I MEAN, IN
PIECE-BY-PIECE IF NECESSARY!
WH-WHAT

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5. Ext. view of the shuttle (in the Transwarp funnel). Around them, the
energy patterns swirl violently, black tongues of lightning crackling.
RATTRAP (within):

THE FRAGS GOIN ON?

Page 10:
1. Cut to: BW Earth. Angle on Magmatron, sat within his field-ops tent,
in deep contemplation.
PNL:
DIALOGUE PNL:

EARTH, PREDACON FIELD BIVOUAC:

MAGMATRON WE WANT YOU TO MAINTAIN
A CLOSE BUT DISCREET WATCH ON MAXIMAL
STAGING POSTS

2. Flashback. Cybertron, deep within a fortified (secret) Predacon

military installation. Magmatron (retro-fitted into a pre-BW robot
mode) is sat (in a pivoting tactical/command chair) facing a threescreen comm. station, on which we see (one per screen) the TRIPREDACUS COUNCIL.
TP COUNCIL 1/JAG: AND REPORT ANY UNSCHEDULED ACTIVITY.
OUR EFFORTS TO DIVERT THE TRANSWARP
WAVE APPEAR TO HAVE SUCCEEDED, BUT
SHOULD THAT CHANGE WE MUST ACT.
TP COUNCIL 2/JAG: ITS DOWN TO US TO PUT OUR OWN HOUSE
IN ORDER!
TP COUNCIL 3/JAG: OUR AGENT HAS BEEN DESPATCHED TO
NULLIFY THE THREAT POSED BY THE
RENEGADE WE EXPECT CLOSURE SHORTLY.
MAGMATRON:
I AM MONITORING ALL MAXIMAL CHANNELS,
EVEN THE ONES THEY THINK WE DONT KNOW
ABOUT. SO FAR NO ONES RAISED ANY RED
FLAGS.
3. Screen images: the Tri-Predacus Council.

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TP COUNCIL 3/JAG: GOOD, GOOD. YOUR LOYAL SERVICE TO
PREDCACON CAUSE IS, AS ALWAYS, GREATLY
APPRECIATED.
2 (LINK):
YOU UNDERSTAND, WHERE THE RENEGADE
CLEARLY DOES NOT, THAT WE MUST BIDE
OUR TIME, GROW STRONG
TP COUNCIL 1/JAG: BEFORE RAISING OUR BATTLE STANDARD
ONCE MORE. TRI-PREDACUS COUNCIL
4. On Magmatron, severe, expression dark, hooded.
TP COUNCIL 1/JAG: SIGNING OFF.
MAGMATRON:
OVER-CAUTIOUS, PREVARICATING FOOLS BY
THE TIME THEY FINALLY DECIDE TO ACT, ANY
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WILL BE LONG
GONE.
2 (LINK):
TRI-PREDACUS AGENT
5. Screen image of BW RAVAGE (robot mode), in the cockpit of his
Transwarp cruiser (as per The Agenda), smiling in good double-dealing
style.
MAGMATRON:

PREPARE TO TRANSMIT TACTICAL

PLANETARY SCANS!

Page 11:
1. Cut to: Razorbeast (now), within the Predacon encampment. He stares
up at us, tense, lost in thought
PNL:
DIALOGUE PNL:

OUTSIDE:
YOU REALISE, RAZORBEAST, ONCE YOURE
IN YOURE ON YOUR OWN!

2. Flashback: Cybertron, a former Maximal frontier fort. Razorbeast

(retro-design, Cybertronian robot mode with clear Maximal insignia)
walks the battlement-style walls with LIO CONVOY (also robot mode).
The fort is disused or so it seems from above ground.

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LIO CONVOY:

2 (LINK):
RAZORBEAST:

OFFICIALLY, THIS UNIT DOESNT EXIST,

THIS DISCUSSION NEVER TOOK PLACE, YOUR
MISSION IS IN NO WAY OFFICIALLY
SANCTIONED BY THE MAXIMAL IMPERIUM. IF
YOURE DISCOVERED, YOULL BE CUT LOOSE,
DISAVOWED.
UNDERSTOOD?
UNDERSTOOD. I THINK ITS SAFE TO SAY, LIO
CONVOY

3. On Lio Convoy. He stops, deadly serious.

RAZORBEAST:
LIO CONVOY:

YOULL MAKE A GREAT POLITICIAN!

THIS ISNT A LAUGHING MATTER.
OFFICIALLY, HOSTILITIES ARE OVER,
FINISHED. MAXIMAL-PREDACON, WERE ONE
BIG HAPPY FAMILY. BUT WE KNOW
DIFFERENT. FORGET MEGATRON, HES A
LOOSE CANNON, THE REAL ENEMY

4. Down angle on the eerily deserted open courtyard of the fort. Most
stuffs been stripped and shipped out. Lio and Razorbeast descend a
metal framework staircase to ground level, a concealed hatch opening
just beyond the bottom step (light spilling out).
LIO CONVOY:
RAZORBEAST:
LIO CONVOY:

2 (LINK):

RAZORBEAST:

IS SAT ON THE BI-PARTATE COMMITTEE

FOR STATE AFFAIRS.
MAGMATRON.
RIGHT. BOTS LIKE HIM DONT JUST HANG UP
THEIR STRATO-LAUNCHERS AND SIT ON A
JUDICIAL BODY.
HES RECRUITING WE KNOW THAT. HES
PLANNING BUT WE DONT KNOW WHAT.
SOMETHING BIG, SOMETHING BAD.
AND IF ITS SOMETHING IMMINENT? IF I
CANT REPORT BACK IN TIME?

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5. Razorbeast watches as Lio Convoy descends into the underground
section of the fort, disappearing from view. Razorbeast doesnt follow.
LIO CONVOY:
2 (LINK):

THEN DO WHAT YOU CAN.

AND START RUNNING!

Page 12:
1. Int. Maximal shuttle. As Rattrap dives clear, a ripped out and thrown
bit of systems hardware impacting against a bulkhead (explosively),
just missing him.
PNL:
RHINOX (OFF):
FX:
RATTRAP:
2 (LINK):

THE TRANSWARP FUNNEL:

HOLD STILL!

KRSHK!
LET ME GET BACK TYA ON THAT
NAH!

2. Wide, as Rattrap transforms to TM vehicle mode. Powering between

Rhinoxs legs, his hands sweeping empty air, trying to catch him.
RATTRAP:

2 (LINK):

I DONT KNOW WHATS GOT INTO ALLA YOU,

BUT I AINT STICKIN AROUND TO ANALYSE
YOUR DEEP-ROOTED PSYCHOSES.
ITS PROBABLY TDO WITH YOUR PROTOHATCHER. USUALLY IS.

3. As Rattrap speeds out (through a hatchway) of the main forward

cockpit/compartment, Blacharachnia opens up firing her leg/venom
blasters. Multiple (explosive) impacts pepper the surrounding bulkhead
and a couple clip Cheetor (beast mode, pursuing).
BLACKARACHNIA:
CHEETOR:
2 (LINK):
SFX:

VERMIN! MY VEMON BOLTS WILL

HEY! WATCH-FHN! GHT!

VRAP! VRAP! VRAP!

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4. Rather than continue the pursuit (of Rattrap), Cheetor (hurt) turns,
ready to fight
CHEETOR:
2 (LINK):

CHEETOR:

THAT HURT!
I SHOULDVE KNOWN. WE HAUL YOUR TOXIC
TUSH OUTTA THE FIRE AND SOON AS YOURE
SAFE YOU TURN ON US!
WELL

Page 13:
1. Cheetor springs/pounces, slamming into Blackarachnia, Silverbolt
immediately moving to intercept.
CHEETOR:
SILVERBOLT:

NOW ITS MY TURN!

NO! HARM ONE SCABROUS HAIR ON HER
CEPHALOTHORAX AND ILL KNOCK THE
SPOTS OFF YOU!

2. On Rattrap, as he emerges into the rear cargo hold (moving towards

us). Theres no one behind him. We can see the main Transwarp
initiators, added in by Rhinox pre-launch.
RATTRAP:

MAN, THIS IS SO FREAKED-UP, BUT AT LEAST

THEY SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME
FOR THE MO--

3. Reverse angle/dramatic: ahead of Rattrap (blocking, it seems, his way

forward) are Optimus Minor, Bonecrusher and Wolfang (all now robot
mode). Minor holds up a hand, stop.
RATTRAP:
OPTIMUS MINOR:
2 (LINK):
WOLFANG:
RATTRAP:

WHU-?
STOP!
GO BACK!
NOW!
CANT

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4. Rattrap (unable to stop in time) rolls right through them, but of
course the figures are intangible, phantoms. Rattrap screeches to a
halt beyond them.
RATTRAP:
OPTIMUS MINOR:
2 (LINK):

OH.
ITS STARTED AGAIN. HERE.
GO BACK!

Page 14:
1. Angle on Rattrap (alone), as the whole shuttle bucks violently,
bulkheads stretching/warping. The ship lists, Rattrap skidding
sideways.
DIALOGUE PNL:
FX:
RATTRAP:

BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!

EEURRNK!

HH! WHAT NOW?

2. Ext. view of the shuttle, an angle that favors the captive TM2
MEGATRON. The Transwarp funnel is destabilising rapidly, conditions
worsening. The shuttle itself seems slightly out of synch, warped.
3. Tighter in on Megatron (in pain, but his rage the more dominant
feature of his expression). We can clearly see the magno-clamp
devices holding him pinned. He strains against them.
4. Tight in on Megatrons (non-Dragon head) hand/arm. One of magnoclamp nodes flies off into space
5. and (same angle) the hand/arm comes free!

Page 15:
1. BW Earth, Predacon encampment. Tight on Magmatron (outside again),
commanding.
PNL:
MAGMATRON:

PREDACON FIELD BIVOUAC:

TIMES UP.

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2. Widen: Razorbeast ready at the control podium, the dishes pointing in

various directions.
MAGMATRON:
RAZORBEAST:
2 (LINK):
MAGMATRON:

I WANT THE SHELL SIGNAL SENT NOW.

WERE SET.
THE PAN-GLOBAL ACTIVATION PULSE HAS
BEEN CODED. IM READY TO TRANSMIT.
THEN DO IT. IF ITS ALL THE SAME TO YOU,
RAZORBEAST, ID RATHER NOT SPEND ANY
MORE TIME ON THIS MISBEGOTTEN WORLD
THAN IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

3. Tight on Razorbeast, as he pushes up a main level/handle, energy

readings spiking on an attached display.
RAZORBEAST:
FX:

RIGHT, YEAH. HERE WE GO

SHRMMMMM!

4. Widen again. Magmatron looks towards a distant horizon (though

theres nothing of note to be seen).
MAGMATRON:
2 (LINK):

REPORT!
IGUANUS

Page 16:
1. Cut to: Iguanus (still beast mode), clinging (head downwards) to a
sheer rock face, above a (crash-)landed Stasis Pod, observing. The Pod
has been activated, its dish/scanning array extended.
IGUANUS:

ITS STARTED. THE STASIS POD IS GO-ONE,

SCANNING FOR A COMPATIBLE LIFEFORM
TEMPLATE

2. Cut to: Manterror (beast mode), on a wind-lashed beach, watching

from within a cave mouth. Another Pod rests in the shallows, battered

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17
by the waves. Its opaque surface has gone semi-transparent, a shape
(vague, part-formed) visible within.
JAG (no tail):
MANTERROR:

MANTERROR?
GOT ME A LIVE ONE HERE. THE PROTOMATTER
IS COALESCING.

3. Cut to: Spittor. Were high on an icy glacier. The Pod there begins to
open, energy and steam released in a cloud.
JAG (no tail):
SPITTOR:

SPITTOR?
YEAH, UH-HUH. HEH-HEH. HERE IT COMES

4. Back to Iguanus: from within his now open Pod RETRAX (robot mode)
unfurls/stands (confused/disorientated). He bears a clear Predacon
insignia.
IGUANUS:

NANO-REGENERATION COMPLETE. ITS A

PREDACON!

5. Back to Manterror: out of the Pod steps (unsteady) SNAPPER, also

clearly a Predacon.
MANTERROR:

PREDACON

Page 17:
1. Cut to: Magmatron, pleased. Background, Razorbeast can be seen
moving slowly back, away from the control podium. Drill Bit sees this.
MAGMATRON:

2 (LINK):
JAG (no tail):

ITS WORKING! THE SHELL CODE IN THE

ACTIVATION SIGNAL IS MASS-CONVERTING
THE MAXIMAL PROTOFORMS
MY ARMY AWAKENS!
WHAT? NO! ITS

2. Magmatron reacts.

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MAGMATRON:
JAG:
JAG:
MAGMATRON:

SPITTOR?
RROWRGH!
FNNH-SPITTOR! REPORT

3. Cut to: Spittor, prone/dazed (on his back in the snow). Over him,
raging, is POLAR CLAW (robot mode). His Maximal symbol is evident.
MAGMATRON/JAG: WHATS HAPPENING?
SPITTOR:
Muh-MAXIMAL
2 (LINK):
ITS A MAXIMAL!
MAGMATRON/JAG: WHAT?
4. Back to the encampment. As (background) Magmatron rages, Drill Bit
steps up, blocking Razorbeasts gradual retreat.
MAGMATRON:
2 (LINK):
DRILL BIT:

THATS IMPOSSIBLE!
UNLESS
HEY! WHERED YOU THINK YOURE

Page 18:
1. Dramatic, as (with no hesitation) Razorbeast transforms to beast/wild
boar mode, driving forward at the startled Drill Bit, goring him with
his tusks.
DRILL BIT:
RAZORBEAST:

GNNUFF!
COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY

2. As Drill Bit staggers/drops, Razorbeast leaps over him, hitting the

ground running. Background, Magmatron turns, alerted.
RAZORBEAST:
2 (LINK):
MAGMATRON:

I DONT HAVE TIME TO HANG AROUND AND

FINISH THE JOB!
BUT ILL BE BACK!
RAZORBEAST?

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19
3. Magmatron (making no attempt to pursue), expression smoldering,
watches as Razorbeast charges off, in no time at all opening up a great
distance.
MAGMATRON:
DIALOGUE PNL:
DIALOGUE PNL:

RAZORBEAST
AND IF ITS SOMETHING IMMINENT? IF I
CANT REPORT BACK IN TIME?
THEN DO WHAT YOU CAN.

4. On Razorbeast, thundering across the dry, dusty landscape towards

us, alone.
DIALOGUE PNL:

AND START RUNNING!

Page 19:
1. Ext. view of the shuttle. Bits of plating and external hardware are
flying off it. The distortion in the Transwarp funnel is intense.
PNL:
BLN (from within):

TRANSWARP FUNNEL:
GREAT, JUST GREAT

2. Int. shuttle/cargo area. Rattrap (robot mode) kneels in front of an

exposed section of the Transwarp drive (clearly not part of the
original shuttle technology), steadying himself against the
shuddering/bucking ride.
RATTRAP:

2 (LINK):

ALL THEM HOURS I SPENT FETCHIN AND

CARRYIN FOR RHINOX WHILE HE FITTED THE
TRANSWARP DRIVE
AND I NEVER ONCE THOUGHT TO ASK HOW
IT WORKS!

3. Rattrap glances towards the hatchway (closed, bolted) to the forward

section of the craft. Stood in front of it, now semi-transparent, are
Optimus Minor, Wolfang and Boncrusher (robot mode).

Transformers:BeastWars#11stDraftScriptSimonFurman

20
RATTRAP:

2 (LINK):

AN YOU GUYS JUST WHEN I NEED SOME

CONSTRUCTIVE CHATTER, YOU GO ALL
STRONG AND SILENT ON ME.
GO BACK, HUH? EASY FER YOU TO SAY. IM
NOT EVEN SURE THIS THING HAS A REVERSE
GEA--

4. Same: as the solid metal door/hatch is torn loose from its framework,
ripped out. Metal moorings shear off, buckle. The ghostly Maximals
are gone.
RATTRAP:
SFX:

--AARH!

SKAARCH!

5. Stood in the hatchway is Optimus Primal (robot mode). He looks

crazed, maddened, ready to tear something/anything apart with his
bare hands.

Page 20:
1. On Rattrap, galvanised into action. With a kind of weary
acknowledgement that he really doesnt have time to get technical, he
grabs ahold of an important-looking cable within the main Transwarp
mechanism
RATTRAP:

AHH WELL, IF IN DOUBT

2. and (tight in) pulls it loose. Energy flares slightly

SFX:

SHA-!

3. and (wide) hes hurled backwards violently across the cargo hold.
SFX:

VAMMM!

4. Ext. shuttle, as the stars (of normal space) return to sharp focus
5. and then the shuttle is snapped backwards, a blur of hyper-motion.

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21

Page 21:
1. Int. shuttle: on Rattrap. Hes dazed, scrunched up against a bulkhead,
sprawled. The vibration and turbulence have stopped.
PRIMAL (off):

RATTRAP?

2. Up angle (Rattraps slightly blurred pov) on Optimuus Primal. He leans

in, concerned, the madness abated.
PRIMAL:
2 (LINK):
RATTRAP:

RATTRAP?
WHAT DID YOU DO? WHERE ARE WE?
OHH I DON REALLY KNOW

3. On Primal (sharp focus). He reacts.

RATTRAP (off):
2 (LINK):
PRIMAL:

MAYBE BACK WHERE WE STARTED.

ON EARTH.
WELL

4. Wide angle, as Primal helps Rattrap to his feet. Behind them, the
bulkhead glows hot
PRIMAL:
2 (LINK):

THATS JUST PRIME!

WE SPEND NEARLY THREE CYCLES TRYING TO
GET OFF THIS PLANET AND WITHIN A FEW
CHRONOKLIKS OF CYBERTRON YOU DECIDE TO
PULL THE PLUG. I ASK YOU CAN THIS
SITUATION GET ANY WORSE?

5. and then melts, revealing daylight beyond. Both Primal and Rattrap
react.
RATTRAP:

UH. THE SHORT, ALMOST INEVITABLE

ANSWER

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22

Page 22 (SPLASH):
1. Dramatic angle (past Primal and Rattrap and through the slagged, now
open, bulkhead) on Dragon-mode Megatron, airborne, wings spread
(outside the shuttle). Steam and flame dance around his gaping,
fanged maw.
RATTRAP:
PRIMAL:
OUTRO PNL:

IS YE-ESS!
MEGATRON!
TO BE CONTINUED

Transformers:BeastWars#11stDraftScriptSimonFurman