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Cleopatra 2525
"Size Matters"
3.17

Written By: Cody Steinman & Davin Nation

CAST
Hel: Gina Torres
Sarge: Victoria Pratt
Cleopatra: Jennifer Sky
Mauser: Patrick Kake

GUEST CAST
Sire: Ian McKellen
Pearl: Heather Matazorro
Nicole: Leelee Sobieski
Lara: Stacey Edgar
Porter: Paulo Rotondo

TEASER

FADE IN:

1. INT. MAUSER'S LAB - NIGHT

We open with Mauser working very hard in some kind of blaster. He is concentrating very hard on his latest project. The darkness of the lab shows that he's up very late. Hel emerges from her bedroom and approaches him.

HEL
Mauser...

MAUSER
Yes, Hel?

HEL
What are you doing online this late?

MAUSER
The proper question is "What are you doing awake this late?"

HEL
Sorry, Mauser.

Mauser seems to shrug it off, but we can see that something is lurking beneath his calm exterior. Very frightening.

MAUSER
I'm devising a proto-type for a new blaster. One that will allow you to shrink your enemies into miniature size.

HEL
Great! I'd love to be able to use it on Creegan, then squash him like a bug.

Hel notices Mauser's expression.

HEL
(cont’d)
What's the matter, Mauser?

MAUSER
It's nothing, I just--

HEL
Miss Sarge?

MAUSER
Yeah.

HEL
Me too. This has definately been a trying year for all of us. Things have changed so much. It used to be so easy, so simple. Voice gave us a mission, and we handled it. Now she's dead, Sarge is gone, and the last time I saw the light in Cleo's eyes was...I can't remember when.

CLEOPATRA
(o.s.)
You guys couldn't sleep either?

They turn to see Cleopatra emerging from the back. We don't know if she heard what Hel was saying, but chances are she did. Cleo walks over to them and sits on the desk next to Hel.

HEL
I guess we're all awake, might as well turn on the lights.

Hel pushes a button on the console and the place fills with light. She gets up and walks over to check some equipment. The brand new lab is now completely clean from the past battles.

CLEOPATRA
(wquinting)
That wasn’t necessary. So, what are we doing today?

MAUSER
I know I'm finishing my prototype.

HEL
And I say we do some recon to Bailey Command, see what Creegan's up to.

CLEOPATRA
Hel, that could be deeply dangerous.

MAUSER
She's right, there's no way you can even get in undetected.

HEL
Yeah, I guess you're right. I just wish I knew what he was up to. He's always one step ahead of us.

CLEOPATRA
Evil guys usually are. So, since recon is out, what do you say we go down to Level 55 and get a manicure?

HEL
I don't think so, we're going to be busy.

CLEOPATRA
Doing what exactly? Come on, Hel. We need a day off.

HEL
A day off could cost us our lives. If Creegan launches another attack and we're not ready for him--

CLEOPATRA
We're not going to be ready, Hel.

Cleo hops down from sitting on the desk. She looks at Hel with sincerity in her eyes.

CLEOPATRA
Creegan has Jerbo's machine, Voice really is gone, and Sarge isn't part of the team anymore. Face it, things don't look to good for us right now.

HEL
That's right they don't. And going to get our nails done won't fix that.

CLEOPATRA
Fine, we won't get a manicure. We won't do anything, we'll just stay cooped up in this lab all day like we have for the past week! I asked you once if you were afraid of Creegan and you said "no." But now all you're proving is that you are scared.

HEL
(defensive)
Of course I'm scared, Cleo. For the first time in my life I have to be the leader. For as long as I can remember I've been working under Voice. Now the safety net is gone, and the entire fate of the resistance lies in my hands! I've never had to be the actual leader here, and now that I am things are going to hell!

Hel starts pacing.

HEL
(cont'd)
I mean, look at all that has happend since I took command of everything. You lost your innocence, Creegan has Jerbo's machine, Sarge is gone. I've failed both my mother and...my father.

Cleo walks up to Hel to comfort her.

CLEOPATRA
Hel, don't say that. You can't fail, you're Hel. We will fix everything, we always do.

Hel looks at Cleopatra, then smiles.

HEL
Thanks, Cleo.

MAUSER
My new blaster is ready for testing.

HEL
Great, try that old gauntlet over there.

Hel points to a burned up gauntlet on the console.

MAUSER
Negative, Hel. This blaster only works on DNA Molecules.

HEL
It only shrinks living things?

CLEOPATRA
I'm not testing it!

HEL
Me either!

MAUSER
Perhaps someone in detention could be a suitable candidate.

He puts the blaster down and it activates, firing at Cleopatra. She vanishes.

HEL
Cleo! Mauser, what did you--

MAUSER
I didn't!

The blaster turns and fires at Hel, she vanishes.

MAUSER
Hel?

The blaster turns towards Mauser and fires but nothing happends. Mauser grabs a hammer and starts bashing the blaster to bits. It ceases. Mauser breathes a sigh of relief. He looks down, but Hel and Cleo are no where to be found.

CUT TO: JUTTRA LAND

Hel and Cleo look up. They see Mauser, huge as ever. The lab looks like the whole galaxy to them.

CLEOPATRA
Hel?

HEL
We uh...shrunk.

They see in the distance small figures. These people look like raisens. Kinda. They’re skin is purple and wrinkled. But they have a distinct attraction about them. They have humanesque features, with strong upper arms. Some of them have mandibles, while others have spikes on their heads. A few are decorated in fine jewelry.

PEARL
Who goes there?

Cleo inches to the side to hide behind Hel. Hel turns on her gauntlet.

FADE TO BLACK

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

EXT. LAB FLOOR

Where we left off. The raisen people have surrounded our two hapless heroes.

HEL
(aiming gauntlet)
Stop right there! I don't know what you are, or where you came from..but this is our lab, clear out, now.

PEARL
I am Princess Pearl, and you are trespassing on our lands!

Five of the warriors raise lances, aim them at Hel and Cleo.

CLEO
Hah! Spears can’t hurt us.

One warrior fires, and a blast echoes forth, slamming into the ground at Cleo’s feet. She jumps back.

PEARL
Do not underestimate us, overlander.

HEL
Overlander?

PEARL
Do not play innocent with us. The Juttra are not fools. We know that you are the titans from the sky. The ones who wreack havoc on us whenever you please.

HEL
Listen, if we have “wreacked havoc” in any way, I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to. We hadno idea that anybody lived.... well...

CLEO
Beneath us.

PEARL
Do not speak lies, overlanders. You look down on us with arrogance, and laugh when you kill our people.

HEL
Please, we didn’t know that you even existed until just a few moments ago.

PEARL
I do not believe you, but it is for my father to decide what to do with you.

The Juttra people poke Cleo and Hel with their lances, and they begin to march.

INT. LAB

Masuer is at a console, typing.

COMPUTER VOICE(FEMALE)
Unable to comply.

MAUSER
(losing it)
How are you unable to comply? Cleo and Hel are down there somewhere. Simply find them!

He slams his fist into the console, then calms himself.

MAUSER
Okay. I just have to adjust the search parameters.

He goes to work typing, intent on saving Hel and Cleo.

INT. LIBRARY/SARGE’S ROOM

It’s a small room made of wood. Not something you see everyday in the shafts. Sarge sits on her bed, holding the gauntlet in her hand.

She stands up, throws the gauntlet onto the bed. She paces, angry. Finally, all the rage comes out and Sarge slasm her fist into the wall, breaking the wood.

Footsteps are heard outside, and the door opens. Nicole rushes in, fear in her eyes and worry on her face.

NICOLE
Sarge, are you okay?

Sarge growls in frustration, looks at her hand. It’s bleeding, the blood dripping on the floor.

SARGE
I’m okay. I-I just got mad.

Nicole sees Sarge’s hand, gasps.

NICOLE
Here. Let’s take care of that.

SARGE
No, it’s fine.

NICOLE
Sarge, please. Come on.

She grabs Sarge’s good hand and leads her out.

INT. LIBRARY/BACLONY

Sarge’s room is situated in a far corner of the library. Metal steps lead up to the balcony, where Sarge’s oak door resides.

Nicole and Sarge walk down the steps, then over to a table.

NICOLE
Sit here. I’ll be back with the med-kit.

Nicole leaves. Sarge sits there, staring at her bloody hand. Nicole returns seconds later. She sets the med-kit down.

As she rummages for the supplies, she begins to question Sarge.

NICOLE
Mind telling me why you decided the wall had to go?

SARGE
I just got angry.

Nicole grabs some gauze and starts wiping all the blood away.

NICOLE
Angry over what?

SARGE
Nicole, you’re the sweetest person I’ve ever met, but please back off.

Nicole places the bloody gauze on the table and pulls out a bottle of what appears to be hydrogen peroxide. She unscrews the cap and pours the liquid into it.

NICOLE
Ever since you got back from saving your friends, you’ve been quet and moody. I just want to know what’s going on in that head of yours.

She dumps the cap onto Sarge’s bloody knuckles. Sarge yelps in pain and pulls her hand back like a frightened animal.

SARGE
What the hell is that?

NICOLE
Hydrogen peroxide.

SARGE
Don’t you have a portable healing tube?

NICOLE
No. We can’t exactly afford that. Nor can we bargain for it. Now give me that hand.

Nicole takes Sarge’s hand and begins to wipe away the peroxide.

SARGE
If you want to know the truth, Nicole, I’ll tell you. I was in love with Mauser.

NICOLE
The robot?

SARGE
Ex-Betrayer, if you wanna get technical. It was first brought on by the love potion.

NICOLE
The one Creegan used to make you and your friends horny little rabbits while his Betrayers took over the underground?

SARGE
Yeah. I keep forgetting that I’ve told you most of my stories. After the potion was gone, I still had feelings for Mauser. He reciprocated. We were in love. But when I returned, something had happened. Mauser couldn’t remember that we had loved each other. It’s like it never happened.

Nicole sits quietly, her work on Sarge’s hand momentarily forgotten.

NICOLE
I’m sorry.

SARGE
Don’t be. I’m not.

The wall Nicole has been chipping away on for the last few episodes seems to have come back.

NICOLE
Sarge...

SARGE
Nicole, it’s okay. He was a robot. You can’t love a robot.

She stands up and heads back for her room.

EXT. JUTTRA KINGDOM

The place is enmormous(in small size, of course). It’s made out of everyday items the “overlanders” use, plus Juttra inventions.

Most of the buildings are very tall, and seem to be apartment buildings. Also, most of them have a dome located on itself somewhere.

Tall skycrapers rise in the distance, dominating the skyline. They’re made from some type of black material, with orange lights within. It gives the buildings a hellish look.

In fact, most ofthe city is dark. Meager light emanates from somewhere unseen, and street lamps provide most of the light. The Juttra kingdom looks very spooky, indeed.

Juttras ride by the group on little scooters. Some are outside, watching their kids play with insects that are even smaller than the Juttra.

Hel and Cleo are impressed with the city.

CLEO
This is amazing. It’s just like the Borrowers.

HEL
The what?

CLEO
The Borrowers. It was a movie about little people like the Juttra who borrow big people’s stuff to live their lives.

HEL
Oh. You’ve got to admit, this is a nice setup.

PEARL
(sarcastic)
I’m so glad you approve of our kingdom, overlander.

HEL
Listen, we’re not the evil giants you make us out to be.

PEARL
You’ve killed millions of us, destroyed our cities.

CLEO
But we had no knowledge of your existence! How can you punish us for something we didn’t know we were doing?

PEARL
In Juttra society, ignorance is no excuse. If it was, everyone would claim to be ignorant of the laws.

The group has come up to a large building. Very large. At least 20 stories high. It’s made from many different materials. Bricks, metal sheets, clay. But it has a very officious look to it. A spire sticks out from the roof, with a flag hanging from it. It has two stripes: a blue and a black one, with a symbol of a curved sword in the middle. Cleo notices it.

CLEO
(to Hel)
I’m getting the impression that these people are very unfriendly.

The Juttra warriors push Hel and Cleo up the steps to the door of the building.

CLEO
Where are we?

PEARL
The Building of Justice. My father, the King, is waiting to pass sentence.

HEL
What? You can’t do that.

PEARL
We can. And we are.

Our two hapless heroes are shoves into the building.

INT. COURTROOM

A grand courtroom with a domed ceiling and the Juttra flags hanging from the walls.

Cleo and Hel are marched in, and forced to their knees by the Juttra warriors.

A door opens from at the back, and SIRE enters. He is the King Juttra. No one knows his real name, not even his wife or daughter. He is a tall, slender man with blue skin instead of purple. He wears robes of aqua blue, with a crown lined in rubies.

He sits down on the throne, mere feet away from Hel and Cleo.

SIRE
So, daughter, these are the Overlanders?

PEARL
Yes, Father.

SIRE
Not much to look at, are they?

The Juttra warriors nod in agreement.

SIRE
So, do you have anything to say for yourselves before I pass judgement?

HEL
Your Majesty, I am very sorry for the pain we have caused you and your kingdom, but my friends and I had no idea that there was a civilization underneath our feet.

SIRE
As I’m sure my daughter has already explained to you, ignorance is no excuse.

CLEO
Sir, if you could just hear us out--

SIRE
No! I am done. I’m a very tired, very old Juttra, and I need not listen anymore. The two Overlanders are sentenced to glag’an punishment.

The Juttra warriors cheer! Hel and Cleo exhange worried glances.

PEARL
A wise decision, Father.

SIRE
Thank you, daughter.

HEL
Uh, what’s glag’an?

PEARL
It is where you’re put in a stockade, have rocks thrown at you, then tortured until you die.

HEL
Oh. Nice to know.

BLACKOUT
END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

INT. COURTROOM

Where we left off. Pearl is grinning like a tomcat.

PEARL
Take them to the death palace!

SIRE
First, I wish to speak to the Overlanders in my chambers before their sentence is carried out.

PEARL
Why, father?

SIRE
Because I am king, and what I say goes.

He stands, a bit shakily, and heads for his chambers. Pearl exchanges a glance with one of the warriors, then looks at Hel and Cleo.

PEARL
Take them to my father. Be quick about it.

The warriors haul Hel and Cleo to their feet, and push them into the chambers.

INT. SIRE’S CHAMBERS

Sire sits behind his desk, a wet towel on his forehead. Hel and Cleo are shoved inside, then the door is shut.

Sire puts the towel down, looks at our heroes.

SIRE
Tell me, how did you manage to shrink yourselves down to our size? What purpose does it serve?

CLEO
Oh, well--

Hel clamps her hand over Cleo’s mouth. She gives Sire a stern, “go to hell” look.

SIRE
I understand. You view me as the enemy. Well, don’t. I may be king, but I’m more of a figurehead. I simply dispense verdicts on lawbreakers. The Council makes all the real decisions. They are the ones who want you punished.

HEL
Why? Because we accidentally killed your citizens? I’m deeply sorry, but we had no knowledg.e

SIRE
I know. The Council knows. But do they care?

CLEO
I’m guessing no?

SIRE
You’d be correct. They don’t. You killed peasants who the Council views as a waste in resources. They were actually quite happy. But, as you can tell, our kingdom is wallowing in despair. Poverty and disease run rampant. Rebels threaten to collpase the government. One Juttra kills another Juttra, and no one cares.

HEL
That’s sad, but it’s not our problem. How do we fit into this equation?

SIRE
Because the Council has been working on an enlarger ray for quite some time. They are hoping to make examples out of you two and unite the Juttra people. Then, they will use the ray to grow to your size and conquer your land.

CLEO
Why don’t you stop them?

SIRE
I would have, if I had been younger. But I am an old man. I will probably die before any of this happens. I guess--

He trails off, staring into space. Finally, he snaps out of it.

SIRE
I guess I thought you should know why you were dying. I am sorry.
(calling out)
Pearl!

The door opens and Pearl enters, looking not very happy. Three warriors stand behind her.

SIRE
Take them away.

PEARL
Yes, father.

The warriors grab Hel and Cleo, and take them away.

EXT. DEATH PALACE

It is a fitting name. The death palace is not a palace, but a very large expanse of land, with little ilumination.

We see Juttra corpses hanging from trees, locked in stockades. Bloody heads rest on pikes. It looks like a graveyard from a horror movie.

Hel and Cleo are locked in stockades, bloody and beaten. A few rocks still whoosh by them.

CLEO
Well, it could be worse.

HEL
How?

CLEO
(gets hits in the head with a rock)
Never mind.

INT. LAB

Mauser is no where in sight. The wall door ripples, and Lara and Porter enter.

LARA
Mauser? Where are you?

She begins to step into the lab when Mauser appears at the mechanic bay’s door, and yells.

MAUSER
No!

Lara stops, her foot inches from touching the floor.

LARA
What?

MAUSER
Use the hover boards.

Lara and Porter glance down, and see two hover boards waiting for them. They gingerly step on.

PORTER
Uh, Mauser, why are we using hover boards?

MAUSER
I accidentally shrunk Hel and Cleopatra to a very small size. I do not want to take the risk of stepping on them.

LARA
(sarcastic)
Oh. I understand.

They guide the hover boards over to the mechanic bay.

INT. MECHANIC BAY

Lara and Porter enter. Mauser is hard at work on building a new ray gun.

PORTER
So, Mauser, you care to elaborate on how you shrunk Hel and Cleo?

MAUSER
I was working on a prototpe for a shrinking ray. I was hoping it would be useful in the war against the Bailies. But something went wrong and it shrunk Hel and Cleo. Then it wouldn’t shut off. So I was forced to destroy it. So now I am working on a way to locate Hel and Sarge, plus a way to bring them back to their normal sizes.

LARA
What do you want us to do?

MAUSER
Your a computer wiz, Lara. I want you to try and change the parameters to locate Hel and Cleo. I was unable to.

LARA
Gotcha.

MAUSER
Porter, I require your help on completing the machine.

PORTER
You got it.

The trio sets to work, hoping to rescue their friends.

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBERS

A circular room with a long desk in the middle. The five Council members sit here. They are NOTGA, BELLUM, LUX, MORG, and CINDA.

Besides those five, the room is empty. They sit quietly, waiting.

The doors to the chamber opens, and Pearl strides in.

NOTGA
It’s about time, Pearl. We’ve been waiting long enough.

PEARL
Shut up, Notga.

CINDA
Do not speak to us in that tone, Pearl. We can have--

PEARL
You can’t do a thing, Cinda. If you so much as lift a finger to me, all those embarrasing facts and photgraphs I have will be mailed to every newsroom in the kingdom. All five of you would experience glag’an.

BELLUM
Were the Overlanders punished in the way we agrred upon?

PEARL
Of course. But I have bad news.

MORG
What is that, Princess?

PEARL
My father told them of our plans. He said he wanted them to know why they were dying.

LUX
He told you this?

PEARL
No, you nitwit. I listened in.

CINDA
You know what this means.

PEARL
Yes. My father must be killed.

MORG
I don’t like it. It pushes our plans too far up.

NOTGA
We have no other choice. The rebels are ganinh popularity. It won’t be long before they are able to overthrow us.

CINDA
The very idea of commoners touching me makes me want to run and hide.

PEARL
It’s what you do best, Cinda.

Cinda gives Pearl a nasty look, but says nothing.

PEARL
I will slip my father the drug tonight. We will execute the overlanders tomorrow morning, then have the scientists test the growth machine at eight tomorrow.

BELLUM
That’s going way too fast. The original test was for next week.

PEARL
There may not be a next week. I have just learned that the rebels are prepared to attack the city in the next two weeks. They are strong in numbers. Plus, they have earned they sympathy of many of the citizens. If they launched an attack, then the citizens might join them.

CINDA
If that is the case, I guess we have no choice but to use your plans, Pearl. I just hope that it does not bring death down upon us all.

PEARL
There are many things that bring death, Cinda. We just have to be one step ahead of them.

INT. SIRE’S BEDROOM

Sire, dressed in a nightgown, is preparing for bed. He dowsn a glass of grayish water. Pearl enters his room.

SIRE
Hello, Pearl.

PEARL
Hello, Father. How are you feeling?

SIRE
Better, thank you.

PEARL
I’ve decided that the Overlanders should be executed tomorrow.

SIRE
Oh, you did? Since when do you make the decisions?

PEARL
It’s not that, father. I knew how tired you were, and took it upon myself.

She glances at his glass of water. It’s almost empty.

PEARL
You sure were thirsty, Father.

SIRE
It’s my old age.

He crawsl into bed.

PEARL
Is there anything I can get for you?

SIRE
No, thank you. You’ve done enough.

He closes his eyes with a smile on his face. After a minute, Pearl touches his forehead. She smiles.

PEARL
He’s dead. Good. I must thank Lux for the poison. It worked quite well.

She turns and leaves the room.

EXT. DEATH PALACE - NIGHT?

Four Juttra warriors stand watch over the palace. Their power lances are held tightly in their grips. No snoozing for these guys.

Hel and Cleo, bloody, bruised, and battered, remain the the stockades.

HEL
Cleo, you still with me?

CLEO
Yeah.

HEL
Okay.

CLEO
When we get out of this, I’m gonna take a nice, long bath.

HEL
Same here.

CLEO
You do think we’ll get out of this, right?

HEL
Of course. Mauser is probably working on a way to free us right now.

Thoom! A blast of blue energy shoots past right in front of our heroes. It slams into the nearest Juttra guard.

The other three start firing into the woods in a careless pattern. Fire is returned, but it’s more precise. One warrior goes down.

A Juttra warrior runs over to a small shack, and heads inside. A moment later, the alarm is sounded.

That’s when the attackers appear. They are Juttra, but they are dressed in rags. They were bands around their arms. The bands are white and silver, with a clover on it.

The clover Juttra clash with the warrior Juttra. More warriors begin to pour into the death palace. Well aimed shots from the woods manage to cut down most of them.

Even though the clover Juttra are well organized, they are outnumbered. The warrior Juttra begin to overtake them.

A clover Juttra, named BENIK, rushes over to Hel and Cleo. He opens the stockades.

BENIK
Quick! Come with me!

He takes off into the woods. Hel and Cleo look at each other.

HEL
I say we follow him. They are risking their lives to save ours.

The two take off after Benik. Slowly, the other clover Juttras follow, until all is quiet.

EXT. WOODS

The clover Juttra scatter, heading in all different directions. Hel and Cleo try to stay up with Benik, but lose him several times.

Behind them, they hear warrior Juttra combing in the woods.

Suddenly, Benik jumps out in front of them and pulls them deeper into the woods.

HEL
Where are we going?

BENIK
You’ll see!

He leads them to a clearing. Benik leans down and pulls open a hatch in the wood floor. He motions for Hel and Cleo to jump in.

BENIK
Hurry!

Hel jumps inside, followed by Cleo.

INT. HOLE IN THE GROUND

Hel and Cleo land with a loud thump. The place is pitch black.

CLEO
Ow!

HEL
Are you okay?

CLEO
No.

Click!

HEL
What was that?

CLEO
I’m not sure.

Suddenly, a light comes on. Hel and Cleo look up to see themselves surrounded by Juttra, all of whom have weapons aimed at their heads.

HEL
Okay. I’m beginning to think this was a bad idea.

BLACKOUT
END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

INT. HOLE IN THE GROUND

Hel and Cleo stand, raise their arms.

CLEO
We come in peace.

Suddenly, Benik lands behind them. He stares at the armed Juttra.

BENIK
Put your weapons down. These are the Overlanders.

The Juttra lower their weapons. Hel looks at Benik.

HEL
You mind telling me what’s going on here?

BENIK
These people before you are part of the JLA.

CLEO
What’s that?

BENIK
The Juttra Liberation Army. We’re Juttras who have broken free from the evil reign of the monarchy, and have dedicated our lives to freeing all the Juttra.

HEL
So why did you help us?

BENIK
Because we need your help.

HEL
How can we help you?

BENIK
I’ll explain later. After we get to the camp.

With that, Benik disappears into the crowd of the JLA members. The group begins to move.

CLEO
I can’t help but wonder if we’ve jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

Hel just shrugs and moves along with the other Juttra.

INT. REBEL CAMP

A large camp situated somewhere in the woods. Flags with the silver and white stripes with the clover in the center can be seen nearly everywhere.

The Juttra live in small tents, fires built in front of them. But technology abounds. Radios, weapons, cooking instruments. They may be rebels, but they have lots of creature comforts.

Kids play with other kids. Parents talk with other parents. Others practice fighting techniques. Some work on weapons, while others patch clothes.

Benik leads Hel and Cleo to his tent.

INT. TENT

Benik enters and sits down behind hid desk. Hel and Cleo sit opposite him.

BENIK
Welcome to the heart of the JLA.

HEL
You’re the leader?

BENIK
To an extent. We have cell leaders. That way, in case one dies, we still have others to give orders.

HEL
I have some questions.

BENIK
Ask away.

HEL
First of all, how are we in the middle of a forest? For that matter, why do you have rocks and rivers and any type of floor besides metal?

BENIK
Long ago, the ruling tribe decide to emulate your society. So they constructed a forest, made artifical rivers, and created dirt and started to build a city. We are located not in your lab, but in its wall, and the adjacent room, which is vacant at the moment.

HEL
How do you know so much about us?

BENIK
We may be microscopic, but that doesn’t make us idiots. We have very advanced technology. Technology that has allowed us to spy on you and others over time.

He pauses for a moment.

BENIK
Have I explained everything?

CLEO
Pretty much.

HEL
Except why you freed us and what you want of us.

BENIK
As I said, we need your help. The JLA is large, but we lack the organization to wage a full scale assault on the kingdom. We would be crushed. Over the years, we’ve learned that you have waged many battles and won. We need your expertise.

CLEO
What’s in it for us?

BENIK
We’ll return you to your normal size again.

HEL
You can do that?

BENIK
Not us. But the Council can.

HEL
Of course. The king told us that they were planning on using the machine to grow to our size.

BENIK
Then you see why we must make our move soon.

He looks at Hel, pleading with his eyes.

HEL
Okay. We’ll help.

BENIK
Thank you!

HEL
So, what do you want us to do first?

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBERS

The Council sit in their chairs, while Pearl stands before them.

PEARL
The Overlanders were supposed to be guarded!

NOTGA
They were! The rebels took them by surprise.

PEARL
I hardly call four warriors a good guard.

BELLUM
That’s not our only problem. We lost many good warriors in the fight. Experienced warriors.

LUX
We have already begun rounding up people to become warriors, but they will be poorly trained. We will not be ready if the rebels decide to attack.

CINDA
Which they will. The whole purpose of freeing the Overlanders was so the rebels could use the Overlanders experience.

PEARL
You think I don’t know this!

She throws her hands up, sighs.

PEARL
The scientists said they should be ready by tonight to test the device.

MORG
Test? We will have to use it immediately. The rebels could attack this very night.

NOTGA
I doubt they will attack tonight. Even with the Overlanders, they still lack the experience and weaponry to launch an attack on the city.

PEARL
That does not matter to them! They will attack if they think they should attack.

LUX
We will secure the city. Have warriors posted all along the outer wall. The rebels will not be able to launch a direct assault.

PEARL
You had better hope not.

EXT. WOODS

Hel, Cleo, and Benik make their way through the woods.

BENIK
Are you sure we should attack tonight?

HEL
Yes. They might be expecting it, but the raid weakened their defenses. Besides, you said the Juttra in the city would rise up with you.

BENIK
I said might. They might rise up with us.

HEL
It’s a risk you have to take.

BENIK
I’m still worried. Committing all of our forces to one attack. If we lose, no more JLA.

HEL
I realize that, but we don’t know when the Council is going to use the ray to turn themselves into Overlanders.

BENIK
Shh. We’re close to the city wall.

They all get down, not making a noise. Cleo looks through her binoculars.

CLEO
Uh, guys?

HEL
What Cleo?

CLEO
You might want to see this.

Hel takes the binoculars and looks.

HEL’S POV

All along the city wall are Juttra warriors, power lances armed and ready.

HEL
This could be a problem.

INT. DEVICE ROOM

Again, a circular room. In the center is a large space with an orb located in the center of the ceiling. This space is enclosed, with a viewing area circuling it. It is here that the Council, Pearl, and the scientist NOR are located.

NOTGA
(unimpressed)
This is the device that will bring about our greatness?

NOR
It may not look fancy, but it gets the job done.

Cinda raises her eyebrow. She turns to Nor.

CINDA
Tell me. This machine will enlarge us, correct?

NOR
Correct?

CINDA
We will be bigger than this room, bigger than this kindgom, bigger than anything we have been able to construct. Correct?

NOR
Correct.

CINDA
Then I see a flaw.

NOR
What?

CINDA
The machine is located in the heart of the palace!

Nor shrinks back from Cinda’s yell. But he shakes his head.

NOR
The machine has been programmed not only to make us grow, but to transport us to the exact location the Overlanders shrunk at.

PEARL
Genius, Nor. Pure genius. When will it be ready?

NOR
In thirty minutes. I just have to re-align a few key systems, then activate it.

LUX
Then what are you doing standing there talking? Get busy!

He slaps Nor upside the head.

EXT. CITY WALLS

The Juttra warriors are tense, battle ready. But all is quiet. Nothing moves. Then, suddenly--

Three warriors are hit by blasts and fall off the wall. Two more blasts streak out from the woods and find their targets.

The Juttra warriors begin firing into the woods, while more blasts come from the woods. Then, a round object is thrown at the wall.

BOOM!

It explodes. Part of the wall crumbles and Juttra warriors fall along with it. The firing from the woods intensify as more and more Juttra warriors scramble to replace the dead ones.

Then, the JLA breaks from the woods, charging the hole in the wall. Hel, Benik, and Cleo are at the lead. Fire from the warriors take down the first rebels, but blasts from the woods takes down just as many warriors.

INT. CITY STREET

The rebels burst into the kingdom. Juttra warriors are pouring into the streets, ready for battle. Hel gets on one knee, raises the lance, and fires.

A Juttra warrior goes down. Hel fires three more shots before the warriors are in the thick of it. Hel gets up, slams the lance into a warrior, then spins, slamming it into a Juttra’s head.

Some of the rebels have managed to climb up onto the wall, and use their position to rain fiery death upon the ranks of Juttra warriors.

Cleo delivers a right hook to a Juttra, then turns and kicks one in the shin. She follows with a headbutt, then fires her lance.

Benik carves a path of blood and fear. He swings the lance in all directions, knocking Juttra warriors down while blocking the blows from others.

But the initiasl success of the rebels is wearing off. The Juttra warriors are too many and too strong for the rebels. They are slowly being beaten back.

The rebels on the wall may be able to shoot the Juttra warriors on the ground, but the Juttra warriors on the ground are able to shoot back. More and more rebels fall from the wall.

A small group of rebesl have worked their way deep into the city, keeping up a constant barrage of fire. But seven Juttra warriors on scooters drive by, quickly putting an end to the rebels.

Back near the wall, Benik rushes over to Hel and blocks a devastating blow. He then clubs the Juttra warrior in the head.

BENIK
Hel, we’re being pushed back! We have to call a retreat!

HEL
We can’t!

She continues firing while she speaks. Benik sowly gets into her rythm.

BENIK
We must! This was a bad idea! The people are not rising with us! They are hiding in their homes!

INT. DEVICE ROOM

A Juttra warrior runs inside.

WARRIOR
Sirs, the rebels have attacked!

Alarmed looks spring up on all of the faces in the room.

PEARL
How bad is it?

WARRIOR
They managed to penetrate the wall, but we have them secured in that area.

NOTGA
I want all of them dead, soldier. Do you understand?

WARRIOR
Yes, sir!

NOTGA
Good. Go.

The warrior takes off.

LUX
Nor, you better hurry.

EXT. CITY STRET

The rebels have hunkered down in the vicinity of the wall. Some hide behind rubble, overturned carts, buildings.

Hel and Benik are behind a cart, returning fire when they can.

BENIK
Well, at least it is not a total defeat. We have managed to kill quite a few of them.

HEL
It’s not over with yet, Benik.

Suddenly, a large black orb slams into the rebels next to them, and they go up in a big ball of flame.

Hel and Beik peak over the cart.

What they see terrifies them. Nine advanced cannons have been brought in, and are firing at the rebels position.

One by one, the cannonballs are obliterating the rebels. Explosions and screams rent the air.

BLACKOUT
END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

EXT. CITY STREET

The cannons are destroying the rebsl forces. Some rebels try to flee, only to be cut down by the Juttra warriors.

HEL
(to Benik)
We have to get rid of those cannons!

BENIK
How! Their armor is impenetrable by our lances!

HEL
Dammit!

A cannonball whizes by, slamming into a trio of rebels crouched behind a shed. The rebels let out pitiful screams before sucumbing to death.

HEL
We have to try at least!

She aims her lance and fires. The blast hits the cannon, but has no effect.

BENIK
What did I tell you!

HEL
We may not be able to destroy the cannons, but we can at least kill the operators!

She fires at the closet cannon, and takes down the warrior operating it. Another one comes to take his place, but Hel shoots that one too.

Benik focuses on another cannon, and shoots its operator. When another warrior rushes to replace him, Benik fires at him.

More of the rebels are catching on to this plan, and also targeting the cannon operators. But the warriors are also returning fire, killing many of the rebels.

BENIK
We might have stopped the cannons, but they’re still massacring us!

Hel is about to respond when a giant explosion rocks the Juttra warrior ranks. Hel and Benik look over the cart, and see two flaming bottles headed for the Juttra wariors. They bottles hit and explode. Juttra warriors go flying.

Behind the large Juttra army is a lot of Juttra peasants. And all of them are armed in some fashion. With lances, small handguns, bottles, pitchforks, kitchen utensils.

Then, as one, they surge forward against the Juttra army, and all hell breaks loose.

The rebels, energized by this display and hope, also rush forward, cutting the Juttra army off from all sides.

INT. DEVICE ROOM

Nor pushes a button on his keyboard, then glances at Notga.

NOR
It’s ready, sir.

NOTGA
It’s about time. I will go through first.

He grabs a lance, walks over to the door, and enters into the small chamber. He stands under the orb.

NOR
Okay. You’ll be transported in 5...4...3...2...1.

There’s a bright flash of light, and Notga disappears.

INT. LAB

The bright flash of light also happens in the lab, and Notga apears, standing in all his glory. Mauser, Porter, and Lara rush out of the mechanic bay.

NOTGA
Bown down before me!

He aims the lance, but a blast from Porter’s gauntlet knocks it from his hand.

NOTGA
Impudent wretch!

Masuer rushes Notga, who swings his arm out, connecting with Mauser’s face. Mauser goes flying off to the side, slamming into the wall.

Porter aims and fires. Notga jumps out of the way, grabs a chair, and hurls it at Porter. The chair slams into him, knocking him down.

Lara somersaults over to Notga. She high kicks, catching Notga on the chin. He stumbles back, then lands a devastating blow with a right left hook combination. Lara falls to her knees. Notga slams his foot into her stomach, sending her into thr air.

NOTGA
I love this!

EXT. CITY STREETS

There’s not a street in the kingdom that hasn’t seen blood spill. All the citizens in the citizen have risen up against the Juttra warriors, who now find themselves outnumbered and on the run.

Two women on the third story of an apartment complex dump scalding hot water onto two Juttra warriors beating up an old man.

A Juttra farmer armed with a pitchfork attacks a Juttra warrior, stabbing him and grabbing his lance.

Cleo makes her way through the crowd, beating up on any warrior that comes in her way. She does a roundhouse kick to one warrior, slams her lance into an oncoming warrior’s crotch, backhands another warrior.

HEL
Cleo!

Cleo turns to see Hel and Benik working their way towards her.

HEL
Are you okay?

CLEO
Yeah. A little beat up, but still okay. You?

HEL
Just peachy.

BENIK
We’ve got to make our way to the palace. That’s where the device must be.

HEL
You’re positive?

BENIK
Only about 70 percent.

HEL
Good enough for me. Let’s go.

INT. DEVICE ROOM

Pearl makes her way towards the device door, but Cinda grabs her and pulls her back.

CINDA
Listen, Princess, I’m going next. I am a Council member, which means I am more important than you.

PEARL
Do you forget the power I hold over you?

CINDA
You mean the stupid papers that have me in bad light? They don’t matter anymore. We’re going to a new world. Which means your power is gone.

BELLUM
That’s right. You don’t have power over us anymore.

LUX
Which means that we have no need of you anymore.

Morg grabs a lance, aims it at Pearl.

MORG
I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.

PEARL
You can’t do this! I’m the princess! This is my kingdom!

CINDA
From the sounds of it, there’s not much of a kingdom left.

Indeed, the sounds of war have floated up into the room. Pearl, frightened, backs up, and hits the wall. Morg gets ready to fire when the door bursts open.

CINDA
What the hell?

Hel, Benik, and Cleo stand in the doorway. Ready to fight.

Pearl takes the momentary distraction to grab the lance away from Morg. He looks at her in awe. She shoots him. Cinda hears his dying gasp, turns in time to see Pearl press the trigger.

Lux turns, tries to run. But is blocked by Benik. The blast rips into Lux, and he falls to the ground. Pearl turns to Bellum, who begins to shake.

BELLUM
Please, Pearl, don’t. I’m your friend.

PEARL
Hah.

And she fires.

HEL
Okay. Can someone please tell me what’s going on.

PEARL
They betrayed me. Nobody betrays me.

CLEO
You were the one so instrumental in our capture and almost-deaths. Now you’re helping us?

PEARL
I believe it was you humans who coined the term, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

BENIK
Don’t trust her.

PEARL
I’m the only one you can trust. I’m a woman on the rampage.

She runs over to Nor, points the lance at him.

PEARL
Can you get Notga back here?

NOR
There’s a recall button.

PEARL
Then I suggest you use it.

BENIK
(to Hel)
I still don’t trust her.

INT. LAB

Notga has Porter by his jacket lapel. He pulls his fist back and slams it into Porter’s face. Porter stumbles back, blood gushing from his nose.

Lara runs over to him. She has a cut along her cheek.

LARA
Porter!

Notga laughs.

NOTGA
Next!

Mauser stands up, part of his circuitry exposed.

MAUSER
You won’t get away with this.

NOTGA
I believe I have.

He flips over to Mauser, kicks him in the chets, the grabs him and shoves him into one of the consoles.

Lara rushes him from behind. Notga, without turning around, slams his fist backwards. Lara collapses to the ground.

He walks over to Porter and picks him up.

NOTGA
I’m really gonna enjoy killing you. Hell, I’m gonna enjoy killing all of you.

He puts his hands around Porter’s throat and begins to choke him.

LARA
Porter!

She gets up, starts to head for them. When she’s close enough, Notga kicks out with his foot, catching Lara in her abdomen. We hear several ribs crack.

Lara collapses to the floor, gasping.

NOTGA
This world shall be mine!

Then he’s gone. Porter falls to the floor, gasping for air.

INT. DEVICE ROOM

Pearl stands at the door, waiting for Notga.

CLEO
Hel, this isn’t right. We don’t even know if this guy is evil.

BENIK
Oh, he’s evil, all right.

Notga appears in the room, furious.

NOTGA
Why have you brought me back!? I was close to killing the Overlanders!

WHAM! Pearl shoots him. Notga collapses to the floor. WHAM! Benik fires his own lance, and Pearl collapses, dead.

CLEO
It’s a massacre. I think we need to get out of here.

HEL
(to Benik)
Can you handle it from here?

BENIK
Yeah. The Council is dead. The princess is dead. Most of the Juttra warriors are dead. I think we can handle it.

CLEO
Great way to start a new government. Kill all the old ones.

BENIK
Hey! We’re fighting for our lives here. It’s kill or be killed.

HEL
Come on, Cleo. We need to go.

BENIK
Thank you.

HEL
Anytime.

Hel steps in the device, and Nor activates it. She disappears. Cleo goes in next.

CLEO
Start the killing, Benik.

BENIK
I will, Cleopatra. I will.

And then she’s gone. And the holo-image pauses.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

INT. CLASSROOM

We pull back until we see that we’re in a Juttra classroom. The kids have been watching a holo-movie of the events that day. The teacher flips the lights.

TEACHER
That’s how the Overlanders helped overthrow the evil government, and how Chancellor Benik rose to beocme the Juttra’s greatest leader and usher in an era of peace and prosperity that we’re still in 300 years later.

One student raises his hand.

TEACHER
Yes?

STUDENT
Did the Overlanders ever return to our kingdom?

TEACHER
Yes. They returned one more time. But we’ll learn about that later on.

The teacher smiles.

FADE OUT
END OF ACT FOUR

Executive Producers
Davin Nation
&
Cody Steinman