RollBots: Refactored (Pilot)
**SCRIPT NOTE:** Flip City is a metropolis made of floating platforms connected by rollercoaster “trax” of varying sizes. It’s built in three dimensions, so “UpperTown” is literally UP, and DownTown is literally DOWN. Oh, and our characters are robots who transform into rolling spheres.
OVER BLACK
Sirens. Speed. Wind.
COPBOT (COMM)
Unit C7 in pursuit on Uppertown CMS and -- WHOA!
EXT. FLIP CITY - UPPERTOWN TRAX - DAY
CRASH! A piece of metal SHEARS past the camera as we race behind a COPBOT, rolling at top speed. He’s pushing his limits in the busy traffic.
COPBOT (COMM)
Someone’s gotta get ahead of ‘em. They’re too fast! Hurry!
SPIN (O.S.)
You got it!
WHOOSH into the frame comes SPIN, and now we’re moving twice as fast and barely keeping pace. Spin shifts left, right, then flips into the air -- straight over a traffic jam.
SPIN (CONT’D)
WooohoooHOOOOOOO!
<BOOM!> a PULSE FLARE explodes next to him, but he’s already out of the way. He extracts into robot form, riding the trax rims like a surfer.
He glides next to a rolling BADBOT, who is lighting up another flare, completely oblivious to Spin’s presence.
SPIN (CONT’D)
<whistles>
The badbot does a double take.
BADBOT A
Huh?
<BOOM!> the flare goes off, throwing the BadBot off the trax.
BADBOT (O.S.)
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
SPIN
<laughs>
Spin drops onto the trax, revs up the rate and then WHAM, extracts straight into BADBOT B, somersault-catapulting the bot into the air--
BADBOT B
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh... <OOF!>
--he collides with the distant BADBOT C, knocking both into the sky and away.
Spin narrows his eyes, picks up speed.
ANGLE ON: BOTCH, a rusted, demonic-looking bot. He knows he’s too slow. His boots throw sparks as he skids to a stop.
BOTCH
Alright, let’s see what you g--
<BAM!> Spin takes him clear out of the shot.
The two of them tumble into battle stances.
SPIN
Going somewhere?
Botch’s ENERGY GRAPPLER hand flickers on.
BOTCH
Not ‘til I’m done with YOU.
He tosses a hand-sized disc (ION DRILL) over his shoulder, into the waiting hands of BADBOT D.
BadBot D turns it over, grips it tight.
BOTCH (CONT’D)
(to Badbot)
5th Lat. Get it ready. I’ll be there--
(glares at Spin)
--SOON.
SPIN
I wouldn’t count on it.
BOTCH
Who’s gonna stop me? You? You ain’t no Keizatsu, kid.
SPIN
You know what they say about being overconfident, right? You--
<KA-CLICK!> a small hex-shaped brick -- a CUFF PUCK -- latches onto Spin’s back.
SPIN (CONT’D)
Huh?
<FWOMP!> a glowing blue bubble envelops him. He’s trapped!
Botch realizes his good luck, backs away with a salute.
BOTCH
Sorry I can’t stay an’ chat. Big job in the works. Big, big job, and no one left t’stop me! <snickers>
He rolls off just as LANCE -- a self-righteous bureaucrat WAY out of his depth -- arrives. And then trips on his own feet.
SPIN
Wait! Argh, let me out of here! He’s getting away! STOP HIM!
LANCE
(disbelief)
Oh my rolls... I... DID IT! I caught him! ME! I... I... this is INCREDIBLE!
He wanders off, talking to himself, as Spin POUNDS on the wall of the bubble, to no avail.
MATCH CUT TO:
INT. FCPD HQ - CONTROL ROOM - LATER
Spin pounds some more, slumps, exasperated.
REVEAL the control room for FCPD Headquarters: monitors on every wall, and a HOLOGRAPHIC MODEL of the whole city, right in the centre of the room. Also, CopBots EVERYWHERE.
SPIN
(under breath)
Aw nuts and bolts...
Lance <tap taps> on the bubble, leans in.
LANCE
What’s that? Have something to say? Well SAVE IT for the Captain. He’ll be here... any... second now...
Lance checks his wrist, taps his foot, loses patience.
LANCE (CONT’D)
<clears throat> Captain! Captain Pounder, sir! Sir! You have to come see what _I_-- I mean WHO-- I mean WHERE--
CAPTAIN POUNDER (O.S.)
Get to the point, Lance.
SWISH to reveal CAPTAIN POUNDER, the massive, battle-worn, eye-patched leader of the FCPD. He is not jovial.
Lance “unveils” the bubble proudly.
LANCE
I apprehended him! ME! Myself!
CAPTAIN POUNDER
<sigh> WHO, Lance. Apprehended WHO?
Lance realizes Spin is facing backwards. He struggles to turn the bubble around, but as he does--
--Pounder’s good eye opens wide in recognition.
LANCE
The one and only--
CAPTAIN POUNDER
--RED BANDIT.
Lance has lost his thunder.
LANCE
The Red YES, yes the Red Bandit, sir. Captured, I might remind you, by ME, at great risk and--
Pounder pushes Lance aside, leans in to face Spin.
CAPTAIN POUNDER
Looks like your run is over.
SPIN
<growl>
CAPTAIN POUNDER
(to Lance)
Get him in a cell. I never want to see his face again, you hear me? Get him out of here.
(yelling to room)
And someone find Trajo! NOW!
INT. FCPD HQ - CELL BLOCK - LATER
ENERGY BARS flicker on, and we pan down to see Spin trapped in a cell. He touches the bars but <FZZZT!> -- bad idea.
Lance sneers at him.
LANCE
Well, I’ll see you later, RED BANDIT. (beat) Oh, that’s right, I WON’T! Ahahahahaha...
He walks into a wall on his way out the door.
LANCE (CONT’D)
(trailing off)
Who put that wall there? Someone should fix that before I-- I mean SOMEONE hurts themselves.
Spin slumps, defeated.
SPIN
(to self)
Great work, Spin. Just... great. Cuffed... by HIM? That’s just--
MANX (O.S.)
Embarrassing.
Spin looks up to see MANX (a blue-and-white CopBot) outside. She taps a button and THE BARS TURN OFF.
SPIN
Wh... what are you...
MANX
You’ve gotta move, kid. Won’t take long before they realize you’re not in your cell.
Spin steps outside, confused...
SPIN
But who are... why did you...?
MANX
No time for that. You’ve gotta go. Hide out at the schoolhouse, lay low for a while, OK?
SPIN
But--
Manx is heading for the door...
MANX
Schoolhouse, kid. Go!
She’s gone, and Spin is exposed. He runs down the hall--
--but ducks back: two COPBOTS are coming! He slips through a doorway, waiting, waiting... The CopBots pause nearby--
COPBOT A
You hear something?
COPBOT B
Hmm...
Spin winces.
COPBOT A
Hey, break time! Come on!
--and they leave. Phew!
EXT. FCPD HQ - LOWER DECK - LATER
Spin BURSTS outside -- and almost falls! He’s on the very edge of the FCPD platform! He steadies himself, then looks out in the distance...
SPIN
Schoolhouse. Hide out at the schoolhouse...
His gaze drifts towards DownTown instead.
SPIN (CONT’D)
Orrrrr see what’s happening at... what’d he say? 5th Lat?
(grins)
Yeah, that sounds more like something I’d do. <laughs>
He leaps off the building, catches some trax and tears off into the distance...
WIPE TO:
INT. FCPD HQ - CONTROL ROOM - LATER
Manx steps into the control room when--
CAPTAIN POUNDER
Manx! Get over here!
She hops down the ramp, stands next to TRAJO (a tough-as-nails female CopBot with missiles a-plenty). Lance, meanwhile, is preening next to Pounder.
CAPTAIN POUNDER (CONT’D)
Can someone explain to me how it is YOU TWO have been working for THREE CYCLES to catch the Red Bandit--
TRAJO
Captain, he’s a slippery little--
CAPTAIN POUNDER
--and yet LANCE could catch him in an AFTERNOON?
TRAJO
(stunned, stammering)
He... he WHAT? Wh-where is he now?
Lance steps forward, full of pompous energy.
LANCE
Innnnn a holding cell, where he belongs!
MANX
But, uh... I just came from there, and the holding cells are empty.
Lance’s face drops.
LANCE/POUNDER
They’re what? / They’re WHAT?!
Lance flails his way up the ramp.
LANCE
<SHRIEEEEEEEEK!>
Pounder runs his hand down his face.
CAPTAIN POUNDER
I can’t believe this.
LANCE
(shrieking O/S)
It’s true! He’s GONE!
CAPTAIN POUNDER
Actually, I can.
TRAJO
Don’t worry, Captain. He can’t have gone far. We’ll bring him in.
Pounder glowers at them both.
CAPTAIN POUNDER
You’d BETTER. Or you’re DONE.
WIPE TO:
EXT. FLIP CITY - DOWNTOWN TRAX - 5TH LAT - LATER
The sky in DownTown is grayer, murky. Spin weaves through traffic, down a long two-lane trax.
SPIN
(under breath)
Come on... come ON... whoa.
Smoke off to the left.
SPIN (CONT’D)
Well THAT'S not suspicious...
He extracts and LEAPS off the side of the trax...
EXT. FLIP CITY - 5TH LAT PLATFORM - CONTINUOUS
Spin retracts into a tumble, landing on his feet, ready to fight-- WHOA.
ANGLE ON: wreckage. A crashed TRANSPORT TRUCK, broken open and on fire. All around, downed COPBOTS.
Spin checks the horizon, frantic.
He flips over the closest CopBot, gives him a shake.
SPIN
Hey. Hey! Where’d they go?
PENNY (O.S.)
They drained him. He’s offline.
Spin backs up quickly, shocked to see PENNY, a red and white MediBot kneeling over another fallen CopBot.
SPIN
W-will be he OK?
PENNY
He just needs a little power boost. Lucky for him...
A HEALING DISC unfolds around her hand. She winks.
PENNY (CONT’D)
...I came prepared.
Spin peers inside the transport. Empty. But off to the side... he finds the ION DRILL from earlier.
He picks it up, turns it over, and <CLICK> it turns on. It shoots a bright blue flame in a perfect circle. <CLICK>
SPIN
An ion drill. But WHY?
Then he sees it: an ARMOURED METAL BOX a short distance away. It has a hole in it the same size as the drill.
His boot opens, and he drops the drill inside. It closes.
SPIN (CONT’D)
(to self)
Might come in handy...
He calls over to Penny, who is charging a CopBot.
SPIN (CONT’D)
How long ‘til he can talk?
PENNY
Charging is a gentle process. It could take while before he's able to... (beat) Why?
SPIN
Gotta figure out what they were transporting in this box. Must be something important or--
PENNY
It’s a maintenance switch.
SPIN
A which?
PENNY
Maintenance switch. They let you control the big platforms around the city. Move them around, turn them on or off. Even self-destruct, if you can believe it. City Hall, the Zurasho Factory, Pengi Park--
Spin tosses the box, closes the distance to Penny.
SPIN
How do you know all this? Who ARE you?
Penny smiles, puts out her hand to shake.
PENNY
Penny. Kuzuri. I... uh... I’m actually in charge of maintenance at the Hub. Usually. <nervous laugh> Desk job, to be honest. Haven’t used my healing glove in, wow, CYCLES, so it’s--
SPIN
Wait, are you saying they can use that maintenance switch at the HUB?
He looks up into the sky, where the very centre of the city is taken up by a MASSIVE sphere -- the HUB.
PENNY
Uh, well... sure, yeah.
SPIN
(recalling)
“... a big, BIG job...”
(to Penny)
Where’s the maintenance entrance at the Hub? How do you get in?
PENNY
Ooo, it’s... uh... hard to explain.
(hops to feet)
I’d better show you.
SPIN
OK, but how fast can you roll?
(squints at Hub)
Because I’ve got a feeling we don’t have a lot of time...
EXT. FLIP CITY - NEAR THE HUB - LATER
The Hub looms ahead of us, with hundreds of trax goes in and out of it at different angles. Pan down as Botch and MACRO (a massive yellow wrecker bot) roll towards the Hub.
BOTCH
Just stick to the plan and you’ll be fine, Macro. Got it?
Macro is looking around, absent-mindedly.
BOTCH (CONT’D)
Macro? Good? <sigh> MACRO!
MACRO
Huh? Oh, yeah! I’m good. I’m REAL good and I-- <SIGH> I’m not good.
BOTCH
(muttering to self)
Yeah, figures...
MACRO
The boss told me not to go outside today. He was REALLY mad when he said it, too, like:
(stately-ish voice)
“Macro, I FORBID you to go outside today. Do you understand me?” and I said "Yuh-huh" and he said: "MACRO! Do you understand what I have told you?" and I said: "Yes, boss!" and he kinda growled at me and slammed the door to his office and and and <whimper> And now I’m outside! He’s not gonna like that. Not one bit.
BOTCH
Yeah, well, this is a BIG job, and the only way to make it work is if WE go big. And you know who’s the biggest of the big?
MACRO
(almost giggling)
Me? It’s me, isn’t it.
BOTCH
You got it. So just be yourself, and we’ll be back home before the boss even knows you’re gone.
They roll into the distance...
EXT. FLIP CITY - HUB - APPROACHING SVG W ENTRANCE - DAY
Penny is struggling to keep up with Spin.
PENNY
Phew! You really DO move fast, don’t ya?
SPIN
<laughs> You think THIS is fast? I thought we were taking it slow.
PENNY
Yeah, well I usually take the-- <GASP> TRUCK!
SPIN
Huh? Trucks aren’t allowed on the SVG, it’s a--
Spin notices what Penny’s talking about: a TRANSPORT TRUCK, flying through the air, straight at them!
SPIN (CONT’D)
Yoah boy.
SMASH! it lands in front of him, tumbling clear over.
Penny skids to the side to avoid it, loses her traction and WHOA! slides off the edge of the trax! She extracts to catch a railing or a ledge of ANYTHING--
PENNY
Ahhh!
Spin grabs her hand -- boots sliding down the trax at full speed -- and YANKS her back up, just as--
CRASH! SMASH! BANG! a second truck hits the ground, rolls sideways -- filling the entire width of the road -- and cartwheels straight at them! There’s nowhere to go!
Spin looks to Penny.
SPIN
Be right back!
He throws her upwards and lets go--
PENNY
Wha? AHHHHHHHHH!
--and retracts just in time to SLIIIIIIIIDE underneath the tumbling truck!
He pops out the other side, extracts onto his feet, and catches Penny’s hand before she falls away.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Th-that w-was...
SPIN
Just the start. Get ready!
They retract, rolling faster and faster. Spin squints...
SPIN’S POV: something big’s causing a scene at the entrance to the Hub. ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM until we can see MACRO, tossing a Kuzuri clear out of sight!
SPIN (CONT’D)
Where’s the maintenance room?
PENNY
Just inside the door. Why?
SPIN
Weeeee’ve got a bit of an obstacle.
He doubles down, speeds up.
SPIN (CONT’D)
(calling)
I’ll distract him. You get inside and lock it down.
PENNY
Wait!
But Spin’s gone, picking up more and more speed. The distance markers beside go zip, zip, zip until they’re just a strobe--
SPIN
<primal roar>
He leaps into the air, feet first, flying towards--
--Macro’s face! <BONG!>
Macro doesn’t budge. Not an inch.
Spin falls onto his back.
SPIN (CONT’D)
Ouch.
MACRO
That tickles.
Macro rears back with his crushing ball hand, ready to flatten Spin!
SPIN
Yuh-oh.
Spin retracts, darts between Macro’s legs at the last second. The ball CRUNCHES the ground instead.
Spin’s back on his feet, ready to rumble. But then Macro turns, and -- well, he’s five times Spin’s size.
SPIN (CONT’D)
<gulp> Don’t make me... hurt you?
MACRO
<giggles> Funny little squish toy.
SMASH! he slams again, but Spin is gone. Macro lifts his crusher, confused.
MACRO (CONT’D)
Where’d he--
SPIN (O.S.)
Yoohoo...
PAN UP to reveal Spin standing on Macro’s head.
SPIN (CONT’D)
Missed a spot.
MACRO
RAWR!
Macro swings up, and successfully smashes his own face.
MACRO (CONT’D)
OWIE! OW OW OW!
Spin lands, motions for Penny. She ZIPS past, into the Hub.
SPIN
(calling)
I’ll be right there! Just gotta finish--
He turns to see Macro tearing off a big chunk of trax.
SPIN (CONT’D)
--yikes.
The chunk SMASHES into the camera and we--
CUT TO BLACK:
EXT. FLIP CITY - 5TH LAT PLATFORM - DAY
Manx cuts through the dark with her flashlight. She’s searching the wrecked transport.
MANX
Nothing. It’s empty.
Trajo surveys the damage. MEDICS tend to the fallen cops.
TRAJO
What was he AFTER?
MANX
“He”? I dunno, Trajo. This isn’t the Bandit’s style. He’s not usually this... explosive.
Trajo sees something, picks up: the metal box.
TRAJO
Maintenance switch.
MANX
Huh?
TRAJO
He stole a maintenance switch. It’ll let him hack into big platforms, hijack them. CRASH THEM.
MANX
Crash them? You really think--
TRAJO
We need everyone on this. Call it in. We’ve gotta tell the Captain.
MANX
Yeah, but Trajo...
TRAJO
Manx, this isn’t a game anymore. With that switch, he’s DANGEROUS. We need all the help we can get. Call it in.
Manx taps the side of her head, reluctant.
MANX
This is officer Manx, requesting a--
Her transmission cuts out with <STATIC>...
DISPATCH (COMM)
<static> All units, all units, please respond. Assault reported at the westside SVG Hub entrance. All units, all units--
Manx and Trajo exchange shocked looks.
TRAJO
Let’s move!
INT. HUB - SVG W ENTRANCE - DAY
Penny pounds at the maintenance room door. She smacks the control pad, but it’s charred; it flickers uselessly.
PENNY
What? NO!
(calling to Spin)
They locked themselves inside! I can’t get in!
She PRIES the control panel off the wall, exposing WIRES.
SPIN (O.S.)
We’ve gotta get in there before <OOF!> they self-destruct it or YIKES! Or something! <ARGH!> You’ve gotta hurry!
PENNY
(to self)
Yeah, tell me something I don’t know...
The wires <SPARK!> as she digs in.
EXT. FLIP CITY - HUB - SVG W ENTRANCE - DAY
Spin tumbles back, landing on his back. He’s taking a beating. He looks up just in time to see--
SPIN
Whoa!
He rolls away as a GIANT CHUNK OF METAL lands where he was.
SPIN (CONT’D)
This is getting old. Time to wrap things up.
He charges forward, leaping up onto Macro’s crusher, flipping onto his head, planting his feet on the big lug’s back.
He latches his hand into Macro’s UPSTREAM PORT (a hex vent in the upper back) until his fingers lock.
SPIN (CONT’D)
Nighty-night.
He turns, and <BZZZZT!> a flood of blue energy CRACKLES into the air from the port.
Macro’s eyes roll back, and he sways.
MACRO
Lullaby... pan... cake...
He faceplants. The power meter on his arm flashes EMPTY.
INT. HUB - SVG W ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS
Penny is working the wires in the door as Spin joins her.
PENNY
Almost got it... almost...
<ZAP!> Sparks fly, and SMOKE oozes out of the panel.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Or not.
SPIN
(looking around)
Quick, find me a metal bar or something, and maybe I can--
Penny plants her Healing Glove on the panel, winces:
PENNY
Boost!
<CRACKLE CRACKLE> and then <KA-CLICK!> the panel comes to life, and the doors slide open!
SPIN
Stand back!
Spin pushes Penny to safety, but--
KUZURI
Penny! Thank goodness!
A pair of trembling KUZURI fall out! The room is... EMPTY?
KUZURI (CONT’D)
We thought we’d NEVER get out of there!
SPIN
Wait, you’re... alone?
PENNY
Where are the bad guys? What happened?
KUZURI
They fried the door, locked us in! It was so scary! SO SCARY!
Spin looks outside, at Macro, lying flat on the ground. In the distance, the <SIRENS> are getting louder and louder...
SPIN
Yikes... that’s my cue to leave.
PENNY
What? But what about the maintenance switch and the--
SPIN
Sorry, Penny. An attack on the Hub will bring out EVERY Keizatsu in the city. This place’ll be SWARMING with cops before you... can... say...
(realizes:)
The switch! Does it work on ALL platforms?
PENNY
S-sure?
SPIN
Like the FCPD? It works on FCPD Headquarters?
PENNY
I... I guess?
Spin starts running.
SPIN
It’s a distraction! Aw BOLTS! I’ve REALLY gotta go!
WHIP TO:
INT. FCPD HQ - MAINTENANCE ROOM - DAY
A COPBOT is looking right at us, until <BZZZZT!> his eyes roll back, and he faceplants, revealing a grinning BADBOT.
BADBOT D
That’s all of ‘em, boss.
ANGLE ON Botch, pulling a CHUNK OF METAL off the wall.
BOTCH
Good. Let’s get outta here.
The BadBot hits a BLACK BUTTON next to the door, and it ROLLS open for him, then closes.
Botch turns the chunk of metal over in his hand, shrugs. His boot opens, and he drops it inside. He turns to go, but then--
BOTCH (CONT’D)
<laughs> Almost forgot.
He pops open a panel revealing RED and GREEN buttons. He SMACKS the red one. <ALARMS> go off, and lights flash.
BOTCH (CONT’D)
Bon voyage, suckers!
He pulls the maintenance switch from the panel and flips it into his hand. He smacks the black button, the door opens.
BOTCH (CONT’D)
(to BadBot)
Run interference for me, will ya? Don’t want to run into any--
BadBot D’s eyes have rolled back. He tumbles off the side of the platform, revealing Spin, looking cocky.
SPIN
Oh, I’m sorry, were you talking to him?
Botch swings back, grappler ready.
BOTCH
You just don’t know when to quit, do ya?
SPIN
I’m working on it, honest.
Suddenly, the platform RUMBLES and JERKS! Spin and Botch scramble to catch their footing!
AUTOMATED VOICE
Warning. Warning. Anti-grav jet shutdown in 60 seconds.
Botch holds the maintenance switch out, over the ledge.
BOTCH
Looks like you’ve got a choice. Bust me, or save the day.
(pure evil)
But ya can’t do both.
He tosses the switch into the air!
Spin reaches, desperate, but just misses it. He grabs hold of the edge of the platform, planting his boots on the side--
SPIN
Come on, Spin. Come ON...
He LEAPS into the air, hand outstretched--
--and catches the switch!
He somersaults, kicks off a vertical trax, and swings around an ANTENNA coming off the bottom of the FCPD. Around, around, around and WHOOSH! he flings himself at the platform!
He catches hold, but just barely.
SPIN (CONT’D)
<efforts>
He pulls himself up just as the maintenance door ROLLS shut.
SPIN (CONT’D)
Aw, SERIOUSLY?
AUTOMATED VOICE
Warning. Anti-grav jet shutdown in 45 seconds.
SPIN
Yeah yeah, I know.
Spin POUNDS at the door, but no go.
The control panel is burnt and broken.
SPIN (CONT’D)
Come on, Spin, THINK. OK... There are two ways to open the door. The panel and the-- <idea!> YES!
His boot pops open and the Ion Drill ejects into his hand. He places it on the door, near the left side, then <FZZZZZZZT!> sparks fly everywhere!
AUTOMATED VOICE
Warning. Anti-grav jet shutdown in 30 seconds.
SPIN
Thanks. ‘Cause that helps.
<POP!> the drill is done. Spin pulls it back and sees a red-hot hole in the door. He winces, shoves his hand in--
ANGLE ON his hand, from the inside of the room. He’s cut the hole a little bit too low! His fingers search for the button.
BACK ON Spin, trying... to... find... the...
His hand catches the edge of the button!
SPIN (CONT’D)
Aha! Come ON...
His finger almost, ALMOST...
AUTOMATED VOICE
Warning. Anti-grav jet shutdown in 15 seconds.
SPIN
ARGGGGGGHHHH!
His finger pushes the button! <CLICK!>
ANGLE ON Spin, outside, ecstatic. Until the door starts to roll open with his arm still in it!
SPIN (CONT’D)
Whoa!
He pulls and pulls and POP! comes loose just in time!
He lands on the platform, and the maintenance switch flies out of his grip!
SPIN (CONT’D)
AH!
He just BARELY catches it, winded.
AUTOMATED VOICE
Warning. Anti-grav jet shutdown in 10... 9... 8...
Spin leaps inside, looking for the place to put the switch.
SPIN
Where’s it GO?
AUTOMATED VOICE
6... 5... 4...
He sees it! He SLAMS the switch into place, turns it, and--
A cover slides open revealing the red and green buttons. Spin POUNDS the green one down!
AUTOMATED VOICE (CONT’D)
2... 1-- (beat) Shutdown cancelled.
Spin sinks to his knees.
SPIN
<PHEW!> Let’s NEVER do that again.
EXT. OUTSIDE FCPD HQ MAINTENANCE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Spin steps outside the room, feeling pretty good.
<BOOM!> a flare explodes next to him!
TRAJO (O.S.)
DON’T. MOVE.
Spin looks across the way: Trajo and Manx have him cornered, blocking his only two escape routes. Trajo’s missiles are trained on him, and Manx has a pulse flare in each hand.
TRAJO (CONT’D)
You’re under arrest for the attempted destruction of the FCPD.
Spin is pleading, hands out.
SPIN
That’s not what happened! I--
TRAJO
Save it! No more running. You’re finished, Red Bandit.
Spin makes eye contact with Manx. She flicks her eyes to the right, around the far side of the FPCD building.
Spin’s eyes dart that way too, but--
TRAJO (CONT’D)
Don’t even think it. You may be fast, but even YOU can’t outrun a missile.
Spin sets the maintenance switch on the ground, resigned.
SPIN
OK, OK. Just let me--
He makes a run for it! But <BOOM!> an explosion hits him in the side! He BOUNCES off the wall, tumbles off the platform!
Trajo jerks forward, terrified of losing him again!
TRAJO
No! NO! MANX!
Manx is already climbing over the edge of her trax.
MANX
ON IT!
She leaps off, hand outstretched, reaching for Spin...
SLO-MO: ... fingers almost... almost...
She pulls her hand away at the last second, intentionally missing him. His face is pure confusion.
TRAJO
NO!
Manx SMACKS into the side of the FCPD, sliding down, frantically trying to hold onto something.
MANX
<OOF!> Argh!
TRAJO
Manx! Hold on! HOLD ON!
She retracts and rolls for help.
ANGLE ON Manx, holding on for dear life, looking down at Spin as he disappears into a cloud.
MANX
(to self)
You’re welcome, kid.
FADE TO:
INT. ZETAG ESTATE - MAIN HALL - EVENING
Zetag is a dark, sharp and ruined place. Botch kicks a SCRAP OF METAL across the massive main hall on his way in.
BOTCH
(calling)
Macro! Macro, you here?
There’s a deep <GROWL>. It echoes.
VERTEX (O.S.)
Macro was captured.
BOTCH
<sigh> Figures. Can’t do NOTHIN’ right, can he?
RED EYES peer at Botch from the shadows.
VERTEX (O.S.)
Neither, it seems, can YOU.
BOTCH
Hey now, I did MY job just fine.
VERTEX (O.S.)
No, you did TODAY’S job. But TOMORROW’S required Macro’s strength, which we now LACK.
BOTCH
So come up with a new plan why doncha. You got enough time for it, sittin’ in the dark all day.
<KER-CHUNK> <KER-CHUNK> <KER-CHUNK> Massive, sharp pincers step towards Botch. He loses most of his bravado.
VERTEX (O.S.)
I grow tired of compensating for YOUR MISTAKES.
BOTCH
Y-yeah, w-well no mistakes today, OK? I did what you wanted. S-see?
His boot pops open and he takes out the chunk of metal, tosses it across the room, towards the pincers.
One of them SLAMS down on the edge of the metal, and it cracks open, revealing--
ANGLE ON a gold, hex-shaped shard of metal. A DYMEX FRAGMENT.
Out of the shadows come the red eyes, part of a MASSIVE, JET BLACK SPIDERBOT with jagged fangs and scales. This is VERTEX.
VERTEX
Finally. The game is nearly done. <EVIL LAUGHTER>
He laughs, and the sound echoes in the darkness and out through the broken windows, into the night...
FADE TO:
EXT. FLIP CITY - DOWNTOWN PLATFORM - EVENING
Spin is on his back. He blinks, wakes up.
His feet drag as he inches towards the edge of the platform.
SPIN
(to self)
That was... not fun.
Just then: <SIRENS> in the distance. He looks out, sees FLASHING RED LIGHTS on distant trax.
He turns, moves faster.
EXT. FLIP CITY - DOWNTOWN TRAX - 21ST LAT - LATER
Spin is rolling slow, anxious. The streets are deserted. He takes an off-ramp going left, into a 301 REDIRECT (spherical join of multiple trax) and <SHOOMP!> shoots straight up.
EXT. FLIP CITY - UPPERTOWN TRAX - 2ND PHP - LATER
Spin is looking at something in the distance when <SIRENS> catch his ear. His attention’s drawn briefly, but then he speeds up towards... THE SCHOOL HOUSE.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL HOUSE - LATER
Spin’s boot hits the turf, and he stumbles. He walks past us, to the front door, but can’t make it. He lands on his side.
APPY (O.S.)
Spin?
Into the shot comes MS APPY, the schoolteacher -- bright and perky and full of positivity. She kneels next to him.
APPY (CONT’D)
Spin, what happened to you?
SPIN
(weak)
Ms Appy? It’s... a long story...
She lifts him to his feet, helps him in.
APPY
Here, let’s get you inside.
INT. SCHOOL HOUSE - CLASSROOM - MOMENTS LATER
In the corner of the room is a massive robot hellhound-looking beast named PIKEA. She lifts her head as Spin is led in, and <GROWLS>.
APPY
Shh, Pikea. Not now.
Appy settles Spin in a kids’ seat (like an egg cup, and too small for him) and heads off to her desk.
APPY (CONT’D)
Let’s see about powering you up.
SPIN
Ms Appy, I’m sorry for showing up like this. I’ve had the WORST day today...
Appy turns, and her face goes from friendly... to cold.
APPY
Oh, I know. But Spin, next time someone tells you to go to the schoolhouse...
Suddenly, Appy’s docile exterior TRANSFORMS into a heavily-armoured, battle-ready solider. Call her COMMANDER APPY.
MS APPY
...go to the stupid schoolhouse.
Spin is up off his chair, shocked. Pikea <GROWLS>.
SPIN
Ms... Appy...?
APPY
Stay calm, Spin. DON’T. RUN.
SPIN
B-but you... you’re not...
He turns to run, but only makes it a few steps before a LASER CHAIN entangles his legs, and he lands on his face.
Appy stands over him, menacing.
APPY
I’m sorry about this, Spin, but we we’re on a very tight schedule here. And since I can’t reset the timeline anymore, I need you to pay close attention. We can’t lose the war this time. Not again.
OFF Spin’s utter confusion and we--
CUT TO BLACK
*FIN*