PAGE ONE (five panels)
Panel 1.
Panoramic view of the small, snow covered woodland contained within the hedge, with snow covered suburbs as far as the eye can see outside of it.
Panel 2.
The porcupine mom Penny and porcupine dad Lou are sleeping in a huddle with their children Bucky, Spike and Quillo inside of a burrow.
Panel 3.
The squirrel Hammy is sleeping in the big log, surrounded by a pile of acorns, hugging them contently.
Panel 4.
The raccoon RJ is sleeping in the new home the animals built for him. His golf bag lays beside him.
*
PAGE TWO (four panels)
Panel 1.
Close up of RJ running, terrified. He?s wearing his golf bag as usual. He?s running on the top of a truck, and the sky is a scary mix of red, purple and black hues.
Panel 2.
RJ leaps from the back of one truck, towards the front of another. Some small items fall out of his golf bag as he jumps.
Panel 3.
Having landed safely, RJ breathes a sigh of relief.
Panel 4.
The paw of Vincent the bear reaches up from the window and grabs RJ by the golf bag, making him look back over his shoulder in alarm.
*
PAGE THREE (five panels)
Panel 1.
Inside the truck, Vincent is in the passenger seat, while a ghostly faceless human figure drives in the background. Vincent is holding RJ up by the throat, out the window. Vincent has a sadistic toothy smile.
VINCENT: Time to die.
Panel 2.
Back in RJ?s snow covered home, RJ squirms, tossing and turning in his sleep. Sweating visibly.
RJ: No!
Panel 3.
RJ: I really do have a family now!
Panel 4.
RJ: I don?t want to die!
Panel 5.
RJ wakes up and sits up straight on his bedding. He is visibly hyperventilating.
*
PAGE FOUR (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ?s ears perk up as he hears a faint sound in the distance.
SFX: Rumble... rumble...
Panel 2.
RJ quickly puts on his golf bag.
Panel 3.
Now wearing his golf bag, he sprints towards a big tree.
Panel 4.
RJ scampers up the trunk.
*
PAGE FIVE (three panels)
Panel 1.
RJ looks out over the suburbs to see bulldozers gathered on the other side of the hedge. One of them has knocked part of it down and is moving into the woodland.
Panel 2.
Close up of RJ?s shocked, worried expression.
Panel 3.
RJ races back down the trunk of the tree.
*
PAGE SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ is in Hammy?s den, shaking him awake. There is an opened can of Mach 6 energy drink beside him.
RJ: Hammy! Get up! Hammy!
Panel 2.
Hammy sits up, looking half asleep. RJ shoves the now-opened can into Hammy?s hand.
HAMMY: Five more minutes, mommy.
RJ: Hammy, listen to me. Drink this, and then wake up as many animals as you can.
Panel 3.
Close up of Hammy?s eyes reacting to the caffeine.
Panel 4.
Hammy bolts out the entranceway, leaving a squirrel-shaped puff of dust behind him.
*
PAGE SEVEN (five panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy wakes up the sleeping porcupines.
HAMMY: RJsaidIgottawakeyouupsothat?swhatI?mdoingrightnowbythewaycanyouhearthosebigrumblynoisessuperweirdright?Anywaygottagogoodmorning!
Panel 2.
The porcupines are stretching, sitting up and rubbing their eyes.
LOU: ...huh?
Panel 3.
RJ gently shakes Verne, the turtle, by the shoulder.
Panel 4.
Verne, now awake, looks up at RJ with a look of worry, but a little hint of trust.
Panel 5.
A second bulldozer begins moving into the forest, leaving a trail of splinters and shredded greenery behind it.
*
PAGE EIGHT (five panels)
Panel 1.
The bulldozer heads towards Ozzie and Heather.
Panel 2.
Ozzie stands up to the bulldozer, puffing up his chest.
OZZIE: I?m not scared of you! This is our forest, y?hear? Back off, buddy!
Panel 3.
The rumbling of the bulldozer causes a lump of snow to fall from a tree branch.
SFX: BRRRRRR
Panel 4.
The snow falls on Ozzie?s head, and he flinches, his fur standing on end.
Panel 5. Ozzie dramatically pretends to faint.
OZZIE: OHH-!
OZZIE: I feel... cold!
*
PAGE NINE (six panels)
Panel 1.
Heather rubs her temple with one hand.
HEATHER: Come on, not now dad. Any other time.
Panel 2.
Ozzie lays dramatically on his back in the snow, a hand over his forehead like an actor in a Shakespearian death scene.
OZZIE: I see... a tunnel.
OZZIE: And... a light. A beautiful light..
Panel 3.
The bulldozer's high beam lights shine directly on Ozzie and Heather as it approaches, casting sharp shadows.
Panel 4.
Ozzie lets his tongue hand out to one side and splays his limbs to try to look mangled.
OZZIE: Limbs growing... colder...
OZZIE: Tell my daughter... I love her.
Panel 5.
Heather takes hold of Ozzie by the tail and starts dragging him away to safety.
HEATHER: Okay, that was kinda sweet.
Panel 6.
Heather sits beside Ozzie as the bulldozer goes past behind them at a safe distance. Ozzie opens one eye and his tail stirs as he starts to wake and looks around for danger.
HEATHER: But still, so not the time.
*
PAGE TEN (five panels)
Panel 1.
Verne is guiding the cat Tiger and the skunk Stella to safety. Two animal control officers are in the background, one with a cat carrier, the other with a tranquiliser gun.
Panel 2.
The officer shoots a tranquiliser dart at Stella, who looks at the officer in alarm, her fur standing on end.
Panel 3.
Tiger stands in front of Stella on his hind legs, like a bodyguard, his arms and tail out wide to shield her.
TIGER: I will defend you, my love!
Panel 4.
Tiger is hit in the shoulder by the tranquiliser dart, and looks down at the spot he was hit.
Panel 5.
Tiger is becoming visibly sleepy. Stella holds his paw, looking tearfully into his eyes.
TIGER: Go on without me, Stella. Do not let my sacrifice be in vain.
STELLA: Tiger! Don't you go dyin' on me, kitty cat.
*
PAGE ELEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
As Tiger lays limp in the background, Verne throws his shell at the human wielding the tranquiliser gun.
VERNE: Oh no ya don?t!
Panel 2.
The shell hits the human?s face and bounces back. The human?s facial features get smushed in a comedic way.
Panel 3.
The human hits the ground unconscious as his colleague looks on in anger.
Panel 4.
The other human swings the cat carrier at Verne, sending him flying.
*
PAGE TWELVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
As the human approaches Tiger, Stella steps in front of him.
Panel 2.
Stella turns her butt towards the human.
STELLA: Say hello to my stinky friend!
Panel 3.
The human flinches, letting go of the cat carrier.
Panel 4.
A huge green mushroom cloud is shown rising from the planet Earth.
*
PAGE THIRTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1.
A wide empty street outside the hedge. The animals are all fleeing out of the hedge, through an archway that RJ and Verne are holding open. Verne is still missing his shell.
Panel 2.
All the animals are gathered in a semicircle around RJ and Verne. The animals include Ozzie, Heather, the porcupine family, Tiger and Stella. (Hammy is missing but no attention is drawn to this)
Panel 3.
The animals all turn to look as the bulldozers bring down a big tree, making a loud crack sound and stirring up a big pillar of dust.
SFX: CRAACK!
Panel 4.
VERNE: Our home...
Panel 5.
Verne looks down at the ground. RJ places a comforting hand on Verne?s shoulder.
*
PAGE FOURTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1:
Hammy suddenly comes zooming out of the forest, carrying Verne?s shell in his hands.
HAMMY: Verne! Verne! I found your nut - shell. Shell! I found your shell!
Panel 2.
Verne chuckles softly, covering his mouth with his hand.
Panel 3.
Verne puts his shell back on as Hammy watches on expectantly.
Panel 4.
Verne - now shelled one more - gently ruffles Hammy?s hair with his hand. He has a small smile.
VERNE: Thank you, Hammy. You did a great job.
*
PAGE FIFTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1.
VERNE: Then... RJ, where to next?
RJ (surprised): Me?
Panel 2.
Verne nods.
VERNE: You?re the one who knows the human world best, RJ. I wouldn?t know how to find my own tail out here.
Panel 3.
RJ smirks and fluffs up his cheeks with his hands, trying to look self obsessed.
RJ: Yeah, you're right, I am pretty great.
Panel 4.
Verne smirks too and gently punches RJ?s shoulder.
VERNE: Yeah yeah, alright, don?t push it.
Panel 5.
RJ turns to face the other animals, looking confident with his hands on his hips.
RJ: I know the safest route out of the city. Follow me closely. Stay silent, and low to the ground.
*
PAGE SIXTEEN (three panels)
Panel 1.
RJ leads the animals down a narrow alleyway
Panel 2.
He leads them from rooftop to rooftop using a makeshift tree-branch bridge
Panel 3.
He opens a hole in a wooden backyard fence, allowing them through.
*
PAGE SEVENTEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
Panoramic view. Led by RJ, the animals finally arrive at the edge of the city. Behind them, endless snowy suburbs. In front, endless snowy woodlands.
Panel 2.
RJ turns to face the animals, and does a head count.
RJ: ...ten, eleven, twelve.
Panel 3.
RJ: And that?s everyone. Nice escape, guys! Those dumb humans never noticed a thing.
Panel 4.
Two humans on either side of a fence look up at the branch bridge between their houses, confusion on their faces.
*
PAGE EIGHTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1.
A rustling can be heard from the woodlands. All the animals look in its direction.
SFX: rustle
SFX: rustle...
Panel 2.
The rustling grows louder. Ozzie plays dead, Heather catches him as he falls and rolls her eyes, but with a slight fond smirk.
SFX: RUSTLE...
Panel 3.
A rabbit steps out from the woodland, and offers a paw. The rabbit is white, with a brown spot around his eye and a brown tip on one of his ears. One of his ears is always flopped, but which ear is flopped can vary over time. He is wearing a blue makeshift military uniform, with medals made from pieces of plastic toys.
RABBIT: Hiya! I?m General Flopsy, of the Woodland Resistance.
Panel 4.
RJ cautiously accepts the rabbit?s paw, and they shake hands.
RJ: Uh... Hi Flopsy.
RJ: I?m RJ. Just RJ.
Panel 5.
RJ gestures to all the other animals. He has a fond smile.
RJ: And this is my family.
*
PAGE NINETEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ raises an eyebrow.
FLOPSY: Fleeing from the human machines, I take it?
RJ: How did you know?
FLOPSY: That?s how most animals find our base.
RJ: Your... base?
Panel 2.
Close up of Flopsy, a twinkle in his eye.
FLOPSY: Follow me.
Panel 3.
Flopsy leads the animals into a big clearing in the woods, which looks a lot like a military base, but all the weapons are makeshift weapons like acorn trebuchets or toys like water pistols, and all the buildings are small, for little woodland critters. Various small woodland animals can be seen going about their day. The animals look around in a mix of wonder and fear. Hammy looks the most excited while Ozzie and Verne look the most afraid. Flopsy skips as he walks, like a happy kid.
Panel 4.
Flopsy leads the animals into a doorway in the base of a giant tree trunk.
*
PAGE TWENTY (one panel)
Panel 1.
Flopsy leads the animals into a big, extravagant throne room. The walls are dirt, but the dirt has been painted over to look like stone walls with stained glass windows, despite a couple of roots still sticking out. It is fairly well lit by little medieval style torches, held up by pencil sharpeners. The walls are covered with those glow in the dark plastic stars that you find in babies? rooms, and they are arranged like constellations. The purple carpet comes from a toy doll house set, which is betrayed by the "Sally" logo - similar to the Barbie logo - stamped in a small font at regular intervals along the carpet. The throne itself is a child-safe car seat, but painted to look like an actual throne and fastened within a mound of hay.
On top of the throne sits Curio, a fox with an orange back and white belly. His tail has a black tip instead of white, and the black tip is covered in the white outlines of moons and stars. The moons and stars cross over slightly onto the orange part of his tail as well. Curio is wearing a stereotypical silly wizard hat. It is black, with the white outlines of moons and stars printed all over it. Curio is pondering an orb, hovering both his hands over its surface - the orb is actually a beach ball with swirly rainbow patterns. The ?orb? is situated atop a table that looks a bit like a lectern, which looks like it was once a small set of drawers which would sit atop a desk.
*
PAGE TWENTY ONE (three panels)
Panel 1.
RJ and Verne look over at each other, looking confused and a little weirded out.
Panel 2.
Flopsy salutes Curio, and Curio looks down at him, tilting his head with a curious, friendly expression.
FLOPSY: President. I found more wanderers outside our woods. They were driven out by the humans.
Panel 3.
Curio gets up from his throne and walks towards the newcomers, tail wagging calmly.
*
PAGE TWENTY TWO (five panels)
Panel 1.
Curio sits in front of them and tilts his head, examining them.
CURIO: I see... Tell me, what are your names, travelers?
Panel 2.
Curio points to himself with a paw. Most of RJ?s friends look confused but Tiger looks impressed and fascinated.
CURIO: I am Curiositas Flamboyitas the Seventh, Master of Illusions and President of the Resistance!
Panel 3.
Curio winks.
CURIO: But you can just call me Curio.
Panel 4.
RJ whispers to Flopsy.
RJ: (Is he always like this?)
Panel 5.
Flopsy whispers back, still looking cheerful as ever.
FLOPSY: (You get used to it.)
*
PAGE TWENTY THREE (five panels)
Panel 1.
RJ answers Curio, with an awkward but friendly smile. Curio looks completely at ease, and a little amused or cheeky.
RJ: I?m RJ, and these are my friends. I?d list all their names, but the reader would probably get bored.
CURIO: That?s fair.
Panel 2.
CURIO: So what brings you to our realm, RJ? What can the Resistance do for you?
RJ: Our... our home was destroyed today, by the humans. We?re looking for a safe place to stay.
Panel 3.
A firefly flies above Curio?s head and lights up.
Panel 4.
Curio paces gently as he talks, like a character in a fantasy movie.
CURIO: Then, you?ve come to the right place, adventurer.
RJ (confused): Adventurer?
Panel 5.
CURIO: We have more than enough space to house you in these woods. But, we do have one problem.
CURIO: We get our water from the big creek outside of town. Human beings have begun construction on a dam, which would cut off our water, and supply their new housing developments instead.
CURIO: If you can destroy the dam, adventurers, then the Woodland Resistance would be more than happy to provide you a home. What do you say?
*
PAGE TWENTY FOUR (five panels)
Panel 1.
RJ looks back over his shoulder at his friends.
Panel 2.
A few of the animals nod or give thumbs up.
Panel 3.
RJ turns back to face Curio, and offers a hand. He has a little smirk.
RJ: Alright, you have yourself a deal, mister President.
Panel 4.
Curio eagerly shakes RJ?s hand, his tail wagging.
Panel 5.
After the handshake, Curio addresses RJ and all the other animals.
CURIO: Tremendous! RJ, meet me here tomorrow at noon to discuss the mission. But for now, Flopsy will show you all to your new homes.
*
PAGE TWENTY FIVE (five panels)
Panel 1.
RJ and his friends are looking around the interior of a big spacious underground burrow, well lit by sunlight coming through the entrance. Flopsy stands at the back of the room, arms crossed, little bunny tail wagging, and a proud smile on his face.
Panel 2.
BUCKY: Woah, this is so awesome!
SPIKE: We could set up a whole arm spade machine in here!
RJ: You mean arcade?
QUILLO: Yeah, that!
Panel 3.
VERNE: I?m quite happy with this place if you are, RJ.
RJ: We?ve been agreeing too often lately, it?s starting to scare me.
Panel 4.
RJ turns to face Flopsy, offering a hand.
RJ: We?ll take it.
Panel 5.
Instead of shaking RJ?s hand, Flopsy jumps for joy and hi-fives it, which surprises RJ. Confetti is drawn behind Flopsy to emphasize his enthusiasm.
FLOPSY: Welcome to the Resistance!
*
PAGE TWENTY SIX (five panels)
Panel 1.
RJ and friends are gathered in the sunny grass, along with Curio, Flopsy, a beaver in a yellow hard hat and hi vis vest, and various other woodland creatures. Sitting closest to Flopsy are 4 other rabbits, one wearing a Rambo style headband, one who looks unusually large and buff for a rabbit (but he's gently admiring a butterfly that landed on his paw), one who has some kind of hi tech looking earpiece and utility belt, and one wearing a tacky tropical hat and a toy ukulele on a strap. The animals are all sitting on ragged looking old picnic rugs, joyfully chatting and sharing food - some wild food like berries and acorns, but mostly food from the human world.
Panel 2.
Hammy has a pile of cookies in front of him. His pupils dilate, his eyes are very starry, and his hands are about to grab the one from the top.
HAMMY: Come to papa~
Panel 3.
Tiger and Stella can be seen sharing a roll-up sweet, just like the dogs sharing the strand of spaghetti in ?Lady and the Tramp?. In the background, Hammy can be seen devouring his cookies.
Panel 4.
The roll-up stretches but does not break. Tiger and Stella have to pull at it with all their might to try to get it to break.
Panel 5.
The roll-up finally breaks, causing Tiger and Stella to fall backwards onto the animals on either side of them.
*
PAGE TWENTY SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
The animals Stella and Tiger fell onto simply laugh it off and help them to sit back up. Stella and Tiger blush, looking apologetic.
Panel 2.
Stella and Tiger look at each other, trying not to laugh, but it's obvious they're about to break out giggling.
Panel 3.
Flopsy quietly taps RJ on the shoulder.
FLOPSY: You finished your lunch?
FLOPSY: No rush if you haven?t, the boss won?t mind.
Panel 4.
RJ: Nah, I?m finished, I?m finished. But...
RJ: Could Verne come too?
RJ: Whatever stunts we?re about to pull, we?re gonna want him on board.
*
PAGE TWENTY EIGHT (five panels)
Panel 1.
Flopsy, Curio, the beaver from earlier, RJ and Verne are gathered around a round wooden table in the center of the throne room. A map is unrolled on the table, the corners held down by stones. Curio?s orb is on the table in front of him.
Panel 2.
Flopsy gestures to the beaver with both hands, while looking over at RJ and Verne. Rufus politely tips his hard hat.
FLOPSY: So, I don?t think I?ve introduced you all yet. RJ, Verne, this is Rufus the beaver. He?s the chief architect of the Woodland Resistance.
RUFUS: Howdy!
Panel 3.
Flopsy leans over the table, stretching with all his might to reach the dam on the map, but he can?t because of his short stature.
FLOPSY: As you all know, our mission is to destroy this...
FLOPSY: ...this...
FLOPSY: ...just a little further...
Panel 4.
RJ hands his golf club to Flopsy, who gratefully accepts it, looking bashful.
RJ: Need a hand?
FLOPSY: Ah, thanks.
Panel 5.
Flopsy uses the golf club to point to the dam on the map.
FLOPSY: Our mission is to destroy this dam.
FLOPSY: All of our volunteer forces are already occupied stealing more food for us, or rescuing fellow volunteer forces from sticky situations. So the dam rests on our team alone.
*
PAGE TWENTY NINE (five panels)
Panel 1.
With both hands, Rufus places down a blueprint of the dam.
RUFUS: These here are the blueprints for the humans? dam.
RUFUS: Not that it?s deservin? to be called a dam.
Panel 2.
Rufus looks down at the blueprints and studies them intensely as he speaks.
RUFUS: The ?dam? is made of reinforced concrete, fastened sturdy-like to the banks of the creek.
RUFUS: Construction is about fifty percent complete, so water?s still flowin? through one half o? the dam, but it ain?t gonna stay that way.
Panel 3.
RUFUS: If we was to attempt to drill through the dam, I'd reckon there's a high risk of drowning, crushing, maiming...
Panel 4.
RUFUS: ...manglin', disfiguration, asphyxiatin'...
Panel 5.
Verne and RJ look at each other with concern and apprehension, as Rufus babbles on.
RUFUS: ...paralysis from the neck down, loss of one or more limbs...
*
PAGE THIRTY (five panels)
Panel 1.
RUFUS: ...or other unsightly sity?ations.
Panel 2.
Flopsy nervously adjusts the collar of his uniform.
Panel 3.
Rufus gestures with his arms in the air to illustrate the dam blowing up.
RUFUS: Forty'nately, there's a different approach we all could take.
RUFUS: Instead of drilling all up close, we get us some explosives an' blow that dam all sky-high-like.
Panel 4.
RJ rubs his hands together eagerly.
RJ: Oh, I?m definitely the right guy for this.
Panel 5.
VERNE: Doesn?t that sound a tad dangerous?
RUFUS: Well, it's better than the alternative, but...
RUFUS: I ain't gonna pull no wool over your eyes, it is risky.
RUFUS: If I had me a safer suggestion, I wouldn't hesitate to share it.
*
PAGE THIRTY ONE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Rufus rolls the blueprint back up again, revealing the map of the city once more.
RJ: So, what resources do we need to gather?
Panel 2.
Flopsy points out a location on the map using the golf club.
FLOPSY: This is the nearest commercial district. We?ll need to gather fireworks, matches, gasoline, and gasoline containers. Hopefully, they should be somewhere in that district.
Panel 3.
RJ bubbles with enthusiasm while Verne rubs his temples with both hands.
RJ: Ohoho, yes! I?m glad we agreed to this.
VERNE: Uh huh. Thrilled...
Panel 4.
Flopsy hands the golf club back to RJ. He looks eager and curious.
FLOPSY: So, RJ, Verne, how are you thinking we approach this?
*
PAGE THIRTY TWO (five panels)
Panel 1.
RJ: I?m thinking: We set out after dinner tonight.
RJ: Verne leads a team to gather the matches and fireworks. I lead a team to gather the containers and gasoline.
RJ: We all regroup outside the dam, where Rufus will be waiting for us. Once everyone?s accounted for, myself, Verne, and Rufus go in and lay the explosives, while the others retreat to a safe distance.
RJ: Then we get outta there and blow the thing.
Panel 2.
RJ looks over to Verne, who smiles nervously
RJ: You cool with all that?
VERNE: I can live with it. I just hope things calm down after this.
RJ: Tail not tingling?
VERNE: ...N-no, not this time.
Panel 3.
RJ gives Verne a reassuring pat on the shoulder, while looking at the others.
RJ: And you guys cool with that?
Panel 4.
Curio waves his paws above his orb.
CURIO: The orb says it?s a good plan, so, let it be done!
Panel 5.
RJ asks a question but Curio hushes him by gently placing a paw over his mouth.
RJ: Wait, how do you even tell what the orb sa-
CURIO: Shh.
*
PAGE THIRTY THREE (three panels)
Panel 1.
Establishing shot of a big mall at night, with a wide expanse of carparks around it. The mall has ``Camelot Plaza'' written on the front in giant light-up letters, with a logo that looks a bit like a castle.
Panel 2.
Inside the shopping mall, all the shops are closed and behind transparent shutters, but many of the lights are still on, and there are one or two cleaning staff and nighttime security personnel still wandering around.
The interior of the mall has a big open space in the middle, with huge tall palm trees growing in it, the height of multiple floors. There are a few more floors below the entrance, and a few up above too. Each of the floors feature posters advertising various things, big pots with fake tropical plants made of plastic, and wooden benches to sit down on. The benches are curved, and are divided into sections by arm rests.
Panel 3.
Verne is leading Hammy, Lou, Penny, Bucky, Spike and Quillo towards the shuttered entrance to a supermarket, just inside the main entrance of the mall. The supermarket is named ``TallMart''. Penny and Lou are pulling empty wagons, while Bucky, Spike and Quillo are each carrying pieces of lock picking equipment.
*
PAGE THIRTY FOUR (three panels)
Panel 1.
Bucky, Spike and Quillo each pull four spines out of their backs.
Panel 2.
Carrying the lock picking equipment in their mouths, they hold the spines in their hands and feet, using them to climb up the shutter door and reach the lock.
Panel 3.
Once they reach the lock, they each put one of the spines in their mouth and take out the lock picking tool with their free hand.
*
PAGE THIRTY FIVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Close up of Bucky's face as he concentrates, trying to get the lock open.
Panel 2.
Close up of the lock suddenly opening.
SFX: Click!
Panel 3.
Bucky, Spike and Quillo celebrate.
BUCKY: Yeah!
SPIKE: Way to go!
QUILLO: We're totally spies!
Panel 4.
Their expressions quickly turn to worry as the shutter door begins moving upwards on its own, causing Bucky and Quillo to drop their tools.
SFX (door): BRRRR
QUILLO: Uh oh.
*
PAGE THIRTY SIX (five panels)
Panel 1.
Penny and Lou stand on each side of Verne, shaking his shoulders, worried expressions on their faces. Verne looks dizzy from being shaken.
PENNY: What do we do?
LOU: Our babies!
Panel 2.
Verne looks stressed and deep in thought for a moment, his tail visibly tingling a lot, as Penny and Lou look at him worriedly and expectantly.
VERNE: We... we... oh geez... we...
Panel 3.
A firefly flies past Bucky, Spike and Quillo as Verne looks up at them.
Panel 4.
Verne excitedly perks up, his tail now still.
VERNE: Aha! We can catch them! Penny, Lou, stand on either side of me.
Panel 5.
Penny and Lou look suspicious but they stand on either side of Verne. The three of them outstretch their arms, looking up at Bucky, Spike and Quillo.
VERNE: Alright you three, jump!
*
PAGE THIRTY SEVEN (five panels)
Panel 1.
Bucky, Spike and Quillo fall through the air, the shutter door racing past behind them. Spike's lock picking tool flies upwards out of his hand. All three of them have their hands in the air and big smiles on their faces.
BUCKY, SPIKE & QUILLO: Weeeee!
Panel 2.
Penny catches Bucky, a look of relief on her face.
Panel 3.
Lou catches Quillo, the force of the impact making Lou fall over on his back, but he is unharmed and they both look like they're about to giggle.
Panel 4.
Verne catches Spike. Verne looks a bit proud of himself.
VERNE: Gotcha!
Panel 5.
Spike's lock picking tool hits the top of Verne's head, causing him to disappear into his shell. dropping Spike. Spike falls on his butt and giggles with amusement at Verne.
*
PAGE THIRTY EIGHT (five panels)
Panel 1.
With the doorway now open, Verne, Hammy and the porcupines move into the supermarket.
VERNE: Now remember, we're here to get matches, and get out.
Panel 2.
Hammy starts to wander off from the group, going down an aisle.
VERNE: There's still some humans in the building, so we don't want to spend longer than we -
VERNE: Hammy?
Panel 3.
Hammy looks back at Verne, with a curious and innocent expression. He holds up a pastel brightly coloured teddy bear with the logo ``Kind Bears'' written on its belly, with a price tag attached and a tag saying ``squeeze my tummy to make me talk!''
Panel 4.
Verne buries his face in his hand.
VERNE: I guess the path of least resistance is we follow Hammy.
LOU: Sounds good to me.
Panel 5.
Hammy hugs the teddy bear, causing it to activate.
TEDDY BEAR (jaggedy outlined speech bubble): Remember to eat your vegetables so you grow up big and strong.
*
PAGE THIRTY NINE (five panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy zips around a corner into another aisle, causing exclamation marks to appear above the other animals' heads as they notice he's run off.
Panel 2.
The animals run to keep up with Hammy as he zips around another corner, this time carrying a random rubber duck in one hand.
Panel 3.
Top down map-like view of Hammy zipping and zooming all over the store in a senseless chaotic pattern.
Panel 4.
Hammy screeches to a halt in front of a (from his perspective) tall wooden display crate.
Panel 5.
Hammy looks up to see that the crate's shelves are lined with all varieties of nuts, with a big sign above them saying ``NUTS''. Hammy's pupils dilate and his eyes go starry. His tail wags fast. There is a gentle, glowing golden light surrounding everything. He looks as if he has seen heaven itself.
*
PAGE FORTY (four panels)
Panel 1.
Verne tries to pull Hammy away from the nuts, by the arm, but it doesn't work.
Panel 2.
Verne tries harder, pulling with all his might, sweat droplets on him, but he still can't move Hammy.
Panel 3.
Verne has let go of Hammy's arm and turned to face the other animals. Verne makes a huff of defeat.
VERNE: I'll stay here and keep an eye on Hammy. You guys go on ahead and meet us back here when you find those matches.
Panel 4.
Lou chuckles a little. Bucky, Spike and Quillo look like they're overflowing with enthusiasm.
LOU: No worries, we'll handle things for ya.
BUCKY: Yeah! We're the best finderers, Uncle Verne!
*
PAGE FORTY ONE (four panels)
Panel 1.
The porcupines walk into an aisle labeled ``ELECTRONICS''. As they walk in, they look up in wonder at the tall shelves around them, stacked with strange items.
Panel 2.
Bucky points at a brightly coloured toy telescope.
BUCKY: Woah! Look at that!
Panel 3.
Spike and Quillo gather around Bucky, looking at the telescope too. They all have a look of wonder and enthusiasm.
SPIKE: What does that do?
QUILLO: Yeah Bucky, what's it do?
Panel 4.
Bucky looks proud of himself for knowing what it is.
BUCKY: RJ says that's a telly scope. It lets you watch TV from really far away.
SPIKE & QUILLO: Woah!
SPIKE & QUILLO: Cool!
*
PAGE FORTY TWO (five panel)
Panel 1.
Close up of Lou.
LOU: Alright kids, I'm glad you're having fun but we need to focus on -
Panel 2.
Lou looks down and realizes the kids are no longer listening to him. In the background you can see they've moved further up the aisle and are looking at something else. Penny, standing beside him, giggles a little.
LOU: Kids?
Panel 3.
This time, Quillo has found something, and Bucky and Spike are gathered around him as he points up at it. The telescope is still stuck on Bucky's back, in his quills.
QUILLO: Lookie! Lookie! An MP3 player!
Panel 4.
Spike looks confused and curious. Quillo looks thoughtful.
SPIKE: What's a MP3?
QUILLO: RJ says it's a tiny creature that plays music when you feed it electricity.
Panel 5.
Spike presses his face against the box the MP3 player is in.
BUCKY: That's so cool!
SPIKE: Hello, little MP3!
*
PAGE FORTY THREE (five panels)
Panel 1.
Lou and Penny have caught up to the children, who are now admiring the range of cameras for sale. Bucky is holding one, still in its packaging, and studying it. The telescope is still stuck to his back.
PENNY: Alright, I'm glad you're having fun, but we really do need to find those matches.
LOU: Uncle Verne is counting on us, remember?
Panel 2.
Bucky, Spike and Quillo look disappointed, but understanding. Bucky puts the camera back down.
SPIKE: Alright, alright.
QUILLO: We're coming.
Panel 3.
Another top down map-like view, this one of the porcupines searching aisle by aisle in an orderly fashion.
Panel 4.
Finally, they come across the ``PICNIC'' aisle, and Bucky pulls out his toy telescope.
Panel 5.
The view through the telescope is seen. Right at the far end of the aisle are matches!
BUCKY: Aha!
*
PAGE FORTY FOUR (five panels)
Panel 1.
The porcupines make their way back to the nut aisle, now with the telescope in Penny's wagon and a few boxes of matches in Lou's wagon.
Panel 2.
Penny and Lou recoil in alarm when they realize Verne and Hammy are nowhere to be seen (shown to the reader using white dotted outlines where Verne and Hammy are supposed to be). A few quills shoot from Penny and Lou's backs at the revelation.
Panel 3.
One of the quills hits a fluorescent tube light on the ceiling, shattering the glass.
Panel 4.
A mosquito flies out from the light, flying a loop in celebration.
MOSQUITO: I'm free! I'm free!
Panel 5.
The mosquito flies straight into a spiderweb.
*
PAGE FORTY FIVE (five panels)
Panel 1.
The porcupines wander the aisles of the shopping center, calling out for Hammy and Verne.
LOU: Verne! Where are ya, Verne?
PENNY: Hammy! Come here Hammy!
Panel 2.
They continue searching.
QUILLO: Uncle Verne, where are you?
PENNY: Hammy! We have a cookie!
Panel 3.
The porcupines reach the entrance of the store, but there's no sign of Hammy or Verne. They all look worried, especially the kids, who hound their parents for answers.
BUCKY: Where are they?
QUILLO: Are they dead?
SPIKE: Were they captured by humans?
BUCKY: Will the humans do experiments on them?
Panel 4.
LOU: Hold your horses now. Let's not rush to conclusions.
PENNY: Your father's right, I'm sure they're in this mall somewhere.
Panel 5.
Suddenly, rattling can be seen and heard in the ceiling above the porcupines, causing them to all look up at it with apprehension.
SFX: Rattle... rattle...
*
PAGE FORTY SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
Verne is inside of a big wide air conditioning duct. The duct is lit up by dim little yellow lights along its length, and by the light coming into it from metal grates that open into various rooms of the mall. Behind him is a grate which looks down over part of the supermarket. He is running as fast as he can and looks a little puffed. He reaches an arm out in front of him.
VERNE: Hammy! It?s just a walnut, it?s not worth it!
Panel 2.
Up ahead of Verne, Hammy is chasing after a rat. The rat is carrying a walnut in her mouth as she runs. The rat has a yin yang pattern of fur on her body, half caramel, half white. The white part of her fur is smooth and short, the caramel part is scruffy and fluffy.
HAMMY: But it was my favorite walnut!
Panel 3.
The rat reaches an opening where a wide air conditioning duct that goes straight upwards branches off from the main path.
Panel 4.
She jumps as high as she can, and just manages to grab onto the ledge. Her lower body swings up a bit from the inertia as she digs her claws into the wall of the duct.
*
PAGE FORTY SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy chases the rat up the duct, both of them climbing frantically with their claws. Verne stands at the bottom, looking up at them.
VERNE: Hammy! Snap out of it!
Panel 2.
Verne looks frustrated as he looks up at the two of them disappearing out of sight.
Panel 3.
Verne smirks to himself. He cups his hands to make his voice carry further.
VERNE: Oh look! A cookie!
VERNE: Fancy seeing that here!
Panel 4.
Hammy and the rat both freeze in surprise, halfway up the duct. The walnut drops out of the rat?s mouth. Both of them exclaim.
HAMMY & RAT: Cookie??
*
PAGE FORTY EIGHT (five panels)
Panel 1.
Verne silently talks to himself under his breath.
VERNE: That was dirty, Verne, but you had to do it.
Panel 2.
The falling walnut hits Verne on the head.
Panel 3.
Verne retreats into his shell.
Panel 4.
Verne cautiously peeks back out of his shell.
Panel 5.
Both the rat and Hammy land on top of Verne, both of their faces covered in eagerness for the cookie.
*
PAGE FORTY NINE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy and the rat get off of Verne, both looking around frantically in search of the cookie.
RAT: Here, cookie cookie!
HAMMY: Gimme! Gimme!
Panel 2.
Verne dusts himself off.
VERNE: I?ll tell you where the cookie is, but first you have to make amends and talk like reasonable animals.
VERNE: Let?s start by introducing ourselves. I?m Verne.
Panel 3.
Hammy looks straight over at the rat.
HAMMY: Hammy! Hammy! I?m Hammy! Quick, talk so he?ll give us the cookie!
Panel 4.
The rat looks over at Verne.
RAT: Biscuit, I?m Biscuit! Now give it!
*
PAGE FIFTY (four panels)
Panel 1.
Verne waggles his finger like a discerning parent.
VERNE: Whoa whoa whoa, hold your horses.
Panel 2.
Verne notices with confusion that Hammy and Biscuit have both disappeared. There is a squirrel-and-rat-shaped cloud of dust behind him, and a streak of dust going off into the distance down the length of the duct behind him.
VERNE: First you have to resolve your differences like -
VERNE: ...Hammy?
VERNE: Biscuit?
Panel 3.
Biscuit is now chasing Hammy down the air conditioning duct, both of them on their hind legs now. Hammy is now carrying the walnut.
HAMMY: I got the walnut! I got the walnut!
BISCUIT: Gimme! Gimme! I want the walnut!
Panel 4.
Suddenly they both look down, and realize they are running on thin air.
*
PAGE FIFTY ONE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy, Biscuit and the walnut each land face-down on an ice skating rink. Each of the critters makes a little crater in the ice and sends cracks sprawling out a few feet in a few directions. The walnut bounces across the ice like a pebble skipping on a pond. Glued to the wall behind where they landed are two teddy bears, each holding an ice hockey stick and wearing medieval knight armor, with the words "CAMELOT KNIGHTS" written on the wall between them in a tacky looking font typical of a little league team.
Panel 2.
Hammy and Biscuit, both somehow uninjured, get up and dust themselves off.
Panel 3.
Hammy looks down and looks suddenly terrified. He points a trembling finger down at the ice.
Panel 4.
Biscuit, now with the walnut safely secured in her tail, tilts her head at Hammy with a quizzical expression.
BISCUIT: You feeling okay?
*
PAGE FIFTY TWO (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy looks back up at Biscuit, but his trembling hand is still pointed down towards the ice. Biscuit giggles a little bit, her hand over her mouth.
HAMMY: The-the-the lake, it?s all icy! It?ll crack, crack, crack and we?ll fall in!
BISCUIT: No, that isn?t -
BISCUIT: I mean um, yes!
BISCUIT: No, you?re right, super scary lake! One wrong move and it breaks!
BISCUIT: So stay right there!
Panel 2.
Hammy watches calmly as Biscuit casually strolls away with the walnut in her tail.
Panel 3.
Hammy suddenly squints.
HAMMY: Hey! Wait a minute...
Panel 4.
Hammy resumes the chase. He chases after Biscuit at full speed as she flees across the ice.
*
PAGE FIFTY THREE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy and Biscuit start running too fast across the ice, and begin to lose their grip.
Panel 2.
Both of them end up falling onto their bellies, legs splayed out, but they still have so much momentum from the speed they built up that they just keep going.
Panel 3.
Top down view of Hammy and Biscuit sliding all over the ice skating rink, bouncing from wall to wall like balls bouncing around inside a pinball machine.
Panel 4.
Hammy and Biscuit finally slide to a stop near the back wall of the ice skating rink, just below the logo with the teddy bears on either side. Both of them have cartoony swirly "dizzy eyes".
*
PAGE FIFTY FOUR (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy, now recovered, notices that he is close enough to Biscuit?s tail to grab the walnut. His eyes lock onto it.
Panel 2.
Hammy grabs the walnut with both hands, but Biscuit pulls back with her tail, refusing to let him take it.
Panel 3.
The walnut flies out of both their grasp, and they both get sent sliding a little way across the ice, each moving towards one of the teddy bears.
Panel 4.
The walnut lands halfway between Hammy and Biscuit, and they both stare each other down, each of them holding a hockey stick from one of the teddy bears in their hands.
*
PAGE FIFTY FIVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy and Biscuit both zoom across the ice towards the walnut.
Panel 2.
Hammy manages to hit the walnut.
Panel 3.
The walnut bounces off of the wall behind them, and goes sliding far away towards the other side of the ice skating rink.
Panel 4.
Hammy and Biscuit both start charging full speed towards the walnut, jostling and jockeying against each other as they do.
*
PAGE FIFTY SIX (five panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy and Biscuit are both just about to reach the walnut.
Panel 2.
Suddenly an oval-shaped shadow appears above the both of them.
Panel 3.
Verne, hiding in his shell, lands in between Hammy and Biscuit, making the walnut bounce up into the air a little.
Panel 4.
Verne peeks his head and limbs out
Panel 5.
Verne sees the walnut just in front of him and grabs it, looking relieved.
GO
*
PAGE FIFTY SEVEN (five panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy raises his hockey stick, about to swing it.
Panel 2.
Verne protests as a hockey stick shaped shadow hovers over him.
VERNE: No no, Hammy!
VERNE: Wait!
VERNE: I?m not a walnut!
Panel 3.
Hammy and Biscuit start playing ice hockey with Verne as the puck. Hammy knocks Verne away to the side, sending him spinning across the ice, still gripping the walnut.
Panel 4.
Verne looks overwhelmed and disoriented as he spins around. The wind causes his face to ripple a little.
Panel 5.
Biscuit then whacks Verne with her own hockey puck, sending him 90 degrees in a different direction.
*
PAGE FIFTY EIGHT (five panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy slides across the ice with his hockey stick, a look of determination on his face.
Panel 2.
Biscuit does the same.
Panel 3.
Hammy and Biscuit both try to whack Verne at the same time, causing him to be stuck between their hockey sticks.
Panel 4.
Verne, scared and disoriented, takes the opportunity to throw the walnut as far as he can.
Panel 5.
The walnut lands outside of the ice skating rink.
*
PAGE FIFTY NINE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy and Biscuit drop their hockey sticks, staring in the direction the walnut went.
Panel 2.
Verne gets up, looking a little wobbly. He is unharmed, but he has cartoony swirly dizzy eyes.
Panel 3.
Verne looks down and immediately jumps with fear.
VERNE: AH!
VERNE: Frozen lake!
VERNE: Don?t move, Hammy, don?t move!
Panel 4.
Verne notices that Hammy and Biscuit have once again disappeared in a squirrel and rat shaped puff of dust, and they are both zipping away to catch the walnut.
*
PAGE SIXTY (four panels)
Panel 1.
It's night time. The Resistance base is lit up by moonlight, fireflies, and solar Christmas lights, which are all a whitish-yellow color. RJ, Ozzie, Heather, Stella and Tiger are gathered around two wagons. RJ is wearing his golf bag.
OZZIE: Who should pull the wagons, RJ?
RJ: Well, any of you have your heart set on it?
Panel 2.
The other animals shrug.
Panel 3.
RJ takes hold of the handle of the first wagon
RJ: In that case, we might as well have the biggest animals pull the wagons, so that'd be Tiger and yours truly.
Panel 4.
Tiger pulls his wagon so it's right in front of Stella. Stella looks a little confused.
*
PAGE SIXTY ONE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Tiger bows and offers a hand to help Stella up into the wagon.
TIGER: Such a distinguished lady as yourself should not have to walk such a long, long way.
Panel 2.
Stella blushes a little, in stunned silence.
STELLA: ...
Panel 3.
Stella regains her composure and accepts Tiger's paw as he helps her up into the wagon. She has a casual smirk.
STELLA: ...Well, if you're offerin', I sure ain't complaining.
Panel 4.
The group sets off, beginning their journey. Stella lays back, kicking up her feet as Tiger transports her.
*
PAGE SIXTY TWO (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ, Ozzie, Heather, Stella and Tiger arrive outside a hardware store, named ``Garage Repo''. The entrance is hidden behind a solid green shutter door.
Panel 2.
RJ digs through his golf bag, sending a bag of tennis balls, a small plastic globe and a ``Pocket Martians'' branded kite flying as he looks for what he wants.
Panel 3.
RJ finally finds what he was looking for: a pocket knife. He holds it up triumphantly when he finds it.
Panel 4.
RJ starts using the knife to carve a big arch shaped entrance into the shutter door.
*
PAGE SIXTY THREE (three panels)
Panel 1.
View from inside the store as RJ kicks down the part of the door that he cut, looking very cool and proud with his hands on his hips and the animals standing behind him. The lights inside the store are still on, which lights up the faces of RJ and friends. There is a spanner on the floor in front of him.
Panel 2.
RJ trips over the spanner, starting to fall backwards.
Panel 3.
RJ has fallen on his butt, stirring up a cloud of dust. He looks embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck.
*
PAGE SIXTY FOUR (six panels)
Panel 1.
RJ has gotten up and is dusting himself off while the others gather around checking on him. Heather is giggling a little, but trying not to. RJ still looks embarrassed.
OZZIE: You okay, RJ?
RJ: Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine.
Panel 2.
RJ gestures to the vast expanse of the hardware store. He has regained his sense of confidence and authority.
RJ: Anyhow, moving quickly along.
RJ: This, is the hardware store! Perhaps the greatest of all human inventions. Observe!
Panel 3.
RJ is leading the animals through an aisle of the store. He picks up a long thin box from the shelf and shows them. They look wowed.
RJ: A mini tripod camera. With a wired remote! Don't see many of those.
Panel 4.
RJ continues to lead the animals around. He shows off another item - a box of solar powered Christmas lights with a big ``DISCOUNT'' sticker and the text ``Ultra bright! Outshine your neighbors!''. Once again the animals look impressed. The camera, still in its box, can be seen in RJ's wagon.
RJ: The humans display these lights once a year as an offering, to request more food from their gods.
OZZIE: Wow!
STELLA: Those gods must really love lights!
Panel 5.
RJ shows off another item to the animals: a fluro yellow can of expanding foam. He shakes the can. The other animals watch on eagerly. The box of lights is now in the wagon with the camera.
RJ: Now, this is the most magical item of all. This can... can create something from nothing!
Panel 6.
Close up of RJ spraying the can, with the lighting and framing making him look like a mad scientist.
*
PAGE SIXTY FIVE (five panels)
Panel 1.
RJ lays back on a fake recliner chair he's made from the foam. He has sunglasses over his face and his arm dangles over the side, holding the expander foam can, so it looks kind of like a can of drink. Overall, it looks like he's on the beach or something. The other animals are amazed and excited. Tiger claps his paws in a light, gentlemanly way.
HEATHER: What the-? How'd you do that?
TIGER: Bravo! Bravo!
Panel 2.
RJ, now standing up again, stuffs the sunglasses and can of expander foam into his golf bag. Heather begins to wander off, and her ears perk up as she spots something.
HEATHER: No way!
Panel 3.
Heather, now standing beneath a sign that says ``PARTY SUPPLIES'', waves the other animals over.
HEATHER: Hey guys, check this out!
Panel 4.
The animals gather around Heather, and she holds up a kids? handbag, which is silver in color, and completely covered in glitter. Mostly silver glitter, but little flecks of all colors of the rainbow as well, a little bit like shattered opal. Heather looks at it with starry puppy eyes.
HEATHER: I totally, like, want it.
*
PAGE SIXTY SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
Ozzie tries to say something to Heather, but RJ puts a paw over his mouth.
OZZIE: Are you sure you want something that stands out so much?
OZZIE: What if a carnivore-
Panel 2.
RJ casually rests an arm around Ozzie?s shoulder, pulling Ozzie slightly closer to him.
RJ: Relax, she?s just experimenting. Let the girl live a little!
Panel 3.
Heather, now wearing her handbag around her shoulder, holds up a build-it-yourself boombox, still in its packaging.
HEATHER: OOOH!
HEATHER: This says it can play CDs and cassettes and even radio!
Panel 4.
The DIY boombox is now in Heather?s bag, as Heather continues to dig through the items on the shelf, her tail wagging a little. As Heather digs, she sends black and lime green striped AUX cable flying one way and some rainbow tinsel flying another.
*
PAGE SIXTY SEVEN (six panels)
Panel 1.
Heather emerges from the shelf with two handfuls of glow sticks, of all different colors, and a big smile on her face.
Panel 2.
As the glow sticks now sit safely in Heather?s handbag, she again digs through the contents of the shelf, tossing aside a tacky looking party board game titled ``Yep, Another Party Game!'' with the subtitle ``Who cares if it's good? You're drunk anyway!'', and also tossing aside a flat bag of paper party hats.
Panel 3.
Heather excitedly shows off the last item she was after: A transparent box containing two walkie talkies! Both of them are branded with the ``Assignment: Improbable III'' logo.
HEATHER: RJ told me about these things! Tell them, RJ, tell them!
Panel 4.
RJ points to the box Heather is holding, and he faces the other animals. He looks quite proud of himself. The other animals look curious and eager to learn.
RJ: This, my comrades, is the walkie talkie: short range communication device.
RJ: It lets you communicate quietly with the owner of the other talkie, without having to shout out. But it only works if you say ``over'' at the end.
Panel 5.
Heather places the walkie talkie in her handbag, looking up at RJ with a wagging tail. In the background, Ozzie crosses his arms and pouts a little, the tip of his tail whipping against the floor.
Panel 6.
Heather looks over at Ozzie, her ears leaning slightly back and a look of concern in her eyes.
HEATHER: Dad? You okay?
*
PAGE SIXTY EIGHT (four panels)
Panel 1.
Ozzie puts a reassuring hand on Heather's shoulder.
OZZIE: Don't mind your old man. I...
OZZIE: I guess I get jealous sometimes.
Panel 2.
Heather rolls her eyes, but smiles a little. She nuzzles Ozzie?s hand as it rests on her shoulder.
HEATHER: RJ?s cool, but you?re always my dad, dad.
Panel 3.
Just slightly further up the aisle from the others Tiger picks up a pot with a fake plastic flower inside.
TIGER: A flower, the perfect gift for my love.
Panel 4.
Tiger tries to pick the flower with his paw, but he can't. He exclaims.
TIGER: An unpickable flower? How can such a thing be?
*
PAGE SIXTY NINE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Ozzie comes over to look at Tiger's flower while the other animals watch on in the background.
OZZIE: Let me try.
Panel 2.
Ozzie casually bites the stem of the flower.
Panel 3.
Ozzie recoils away, coughing. His eyes are filled with shock and disgust.
OZZIE: Poison! The flower is poisoned!
Panel 4.
Heather buries her face in one hand, watching with mild embarrassment as the scene unfolds in front of her. Ozzie begins pretending like he's about to collapse.
HEATHER: Oh brother.
OZZIE: I can see seven dimensions...
OZZIE: I can hear colors!
OZZIE: Oh, I can feel my spleen shutting down as the poison takes effect...
*
PAGE SEVENTY (three panels)
Panel 1.
Heather kneels beside Ozzie, who is playing dead on the floor. Stella and Tiger are looking down at him. Tiger now has his wagon again. Heather pokes Ozzie's side with a finger, a slight smirk on her face.
HEATHER: Poison's gone, dad.
Panel 2.
Ozzie looks up at Heather, cupping his mouth with his hand as he whispers.
OZZIE: You sure?
Panel 3.
RJ walks on ahead of the others, looking idly up at the shelves. Most of the items seem to be for outdoor parties, like camping chairs, paper beer cups, and mosquito repellent.
*
PAGE SEVENTY ONE (three panels)
Panel 1.
RJ sees a can of raccoon repellent and frowns.
RJ: Well, that's just disrespectful.
Panel 2.
RJ sees a can of bear spray, with a picture of a roaring bear on the front. He immediately flinches, all his fur standing on end.
Panel 3.
RJ suddenly backs away from the bear spray, crashing into the shelf behind him. Multiple items come crashing down around him, including an esky, a small outdoor heater and a smoke machine.
SFX: Crash!
SFX: Bang!
SFX: BONK!
*
PAGE SEVENTY TWO (four panels)
Panel 1.
Close up of an alarm light on the ceiling, with a cone of blue light coming out one end, and red light coming out the other.
Panel 2.
The whole aisle is lit up blue, with the alarm siren wailing. All the animals stare at each other, startled, their fur standing on end.
Panel 3.
The aisle is now red. RJ, holding the handle of his wagon with one hand, gestures for the others to follow him with his other arm.
RJ: We need to get out of here, now.
RJ: Follow me, let's get the containers and bail.
Panel 4.
Stella has now hopped out of Tiger's wagon and is now running along beside it as the animals run close behind RJ.
*
PAGE SEVENTY THREE (three panels)
Panel 1.
The animals have found a shelf full of empty gasoline containers. RJ and Tiger wait below, holding their wagons, while Ozzie, Heather and Stella climb the shelves and scramble to push as many containers off the shelves and onto the wagons below as possible.
Panel 2.
A security guard approaches with a blindingly bright torch, pointing it at the animals.
Panel 3.
RJ starts running immediately, and Ozzie, Heather and Stella immediately jump off of the shelf, away from the security guard. Tiger doesn't go yet, watching Stella as she jumps, worry in his eyes.
*
PAGE SEVENTY FOUR (three panels)
Panel 1.
The animals find their escape path cut off as another security guard closes in from the other side of the aisle.
Panel 2.
Ozzie has run out in front of the other animals, and he begins pretending to faint, placing the back of his hand upon his forehead.
OZZIE: I feel... poorly.
Panel 3.
Ozzie is falling over backwards, hand still on his face,
OZZIE: Light... fading.
OZZIE: Vision... growing dark.
*
PAGE SEVENTY FIVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Outside the ice skating rink, in the stands, Hammy and Biscuit find themselves both wrestling for control of the walnut. They are both grabbing it with both hands and struggling for control, growling.
Panel 2.
One of the night maintenance workers, wearing yellow hi vis and wheeling a cart with a bucket and mop in it, opens a door right near Hammy and Biscuit, who both freeze. The worker looks directly at them.
Panel 3.
Hammy and Biscuit, still frozen perfectly still, both watch with a mixture of relief and disbelief as the worker walks right past, as if he never saw anything. He whistles and music notes float upwards from him. He leaves the door ajar. On the other side of the door is a carpark.
Panel 4.
Verne reaches in about to steal the walnut out of Hammy and Biscuit?s hands.
VERNE: And, yoink!
*
PAGE SEVENTY SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy and Biscuit both take off through the door to the carpark. Verne looks down at his hands to see there is no walnut there.
Panel 2.
The carpark is much darker than the rest of the shopping mall, with only the light diffusing out from the door, the light diffusing in from the city outside, and the faint glow of the lights on security cameras and smoke detectors on the ceiling. The car park is mostly empty, but there are a couple of pickup trucks parked there, which look to belong to the maintenance and security workers. Hammy and Biscuit both look very scared as they venture further into the carpark, hugging each other and the walnut as they tremble, looking around at their environment.
Panel 3.
Hammy and Biscuit, one hand each on the walnut, hide under a car while another car goes past with its big scary lights.
CAR: VRRMM...
Panel 4.
While under the car, Hammy looks back over his shoulder and notices a big, slightly rusty pipe with a bit of algae on it.
*
PAGE SEVENTY SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy snatches the nut out of Biscuit?s hand, and Biscuit looks at him with a look of surprise and betrayal.
Panel 2.
Hammy races off into the pipe and Biscuit chases after him.
BISCUIT: I want the nut! My nut! I want it!
Panel 3.
Verne is walking out into the carpark, looking pretty scared himself.
Panel 4.
Verne hears Biscuit and goes to look under the car.
BISCUIT: (something something nut! something something want!)
*
PAGE SEVENTY EIGHT (five panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy, still holding the walnut, exits the pipe onto a small empty, muddy creek bed. Up ahead of him is a big towering building with an enclosed water slide on one side of it. There is a big logo on the building that says "El Rancho Camelot Aquatic Center". The creekbed is littered with empty plastic wrappers, cigarette butts and the occasional abandoned shopping trolley. There is a discarded can of Mach 6 soft drink, laying on its side, revealing the words "please recycle me" printed on it in big letters.
Panel 2.
At the top of the riverbank, Hammy finds a side door to the aquatic center. It is locked but has a decent amount of space under it.
Panel 3.
Hammy starts to crawl under the door just as Verne and Biscuit manage to scale the riverbank themselves.
Panel 4.
Hammy?s butt gets stuck under the door and he pulls with all his might to try to make it through.
Panel 5.
Finally Hammy makes it through, rolling head over tail into the aquatic center interior.
*
PAGE SEVENTY NINE (five panels)
Panel 1.
Biscuit effortlessly slinks under the door, using her rat flexibility.
Panel 2.
Verne follows close behind, but his shell gets stuck on the door.
Panel 3.
Verne pushes with all his might.
VERNE: Hrrrngh!
Panel 4.
Verne suddenly pops out of his shell and lands inside the aquatic center face down.
SFX: Pop!
Panel 5.
Verne?s shell is left sitting outside the door.
*
PAGE EIGHTY (three panels)
Panel 1.
Verne and Biscuit look up at their surroundings with awe. The interior of the aquatic center is mostly one big huge open room, with multiple different types of pools, as well as the reception area, the food stands, the bathrooms/changing rooms, and the stairs leading up to the waterslide. One of the pools seems to be for kids, it is wide and shallow with a swirly looping section, as well as fake mushrooms that rain water from them, and fake sea creatures and fake boats to ride. The floor is concrete. The walls are tiled and are covered with adverts for swimming classes and water-related products. The aquatic center is dimly lit overnight by small white lights along the ceiling.
Panel 2.
Verne and Biscuit look at each other. Verne looks horribly embarrassed. He tries to cover himself up with his arms.
Panel 3.
Biscuit laughs.
BISCUIT: Sorry, I can?t help-
BISCUIT: Ehehehe!
BISCUIT: S-haha-sorry!
*
PAGE EIGHTY ONE (three panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy is floating on his back in the kids? pool, wearing oversized sunglasses with the tag still on them from the gift shop. His walnut is floating beside him.
Panel 2.
Hammy and his walnut start to get sucked towards the swirly looping part of the pool, and he looks startled.
Panel 3.
Hammy and his walnut are tossed around by the water like clothes inside a washing machine.
*
PAGE EIGHTY TWO (five panels)
Panel 1.
Verne and Biscuit both look over in alarm as they hear Hammy?s voice coming from the kids? pool.
HAMMY: Ah! The water?s eating me! Verne!
Panel 2.
Verne and Biscuit are rushing over to help.
Panel 3.
Verne pulls Hammy out of the pool. Hammy?s fur is soaking wet, and his eyes look a little reddened.
Panel 4.
Biscuit scoops the walnut out of the pool with her hand.
Panel 5.
Hammy looks up at Verne, looking mildly traumatized.
HAMMY: Spicy water.
HAMMY: The water?s a trap.
HAMMY: Don?t trust the spicy water.
*
PAGE EIGHTY THREE (two panels + fourth wall break)
Panel 1.
Hammy suddenly perks up and hisses as he sees Biscuit gnawing at the edge of the comic panel, holding the walnut in her tail.
HAMMY: Hey, come back here!
Panel 2.
Biscuit has bitten all the way through the panel edge. The panel edge curls down like a piece of string when you cut it. Biscuit stands on the ledge and salutes, smirking.
Outside the panels (1).
Biscuit sits back and relaxes in a reclining chair, cucumber slices over her eyes, the walnut sitting on a little table next to her.
Outside the panels (2).
Hammy is walking away from Biscuit with the walnut in his hands.
*
PAGE EIGHTY FOUR (three panels + fourth wall break)
Outside the panels (1).
Biscuit sits straight up with alarm.
BISCUIT: You can do that too??
Some distance to the right, Hammy has opened up what looks like the lid of an air conditioning vent in the floor (even though he is in the middle of the empty space between panels). He is about to jump into the vent, the walnut in one hand, saluting with the other.
Panel 1.
Verne, still shell-less, is still in the aquatic center, looking around him in a state of total confusion.
Panel 2.
Hammy opens up the edge of the panel from the outside with one hand, holding Verne?s shell in the other.
Panel 3.
Hammy pulls Verne, who is now wearing the shell again, out of the panel with him.
*
PAGE EIGHTY FIVE (three panels)
Panel 1.
The ceiling tile continues to rattle as the porcupines look up at it. They call out to it.
SFX: Rattle... rattle...
QUILLO: Hammy?
SPIKE: Verne?
PENNY: Is that you?
Panel 2.
The source of the noise suddenly moves, making a trail of rattling noises in the ceiling that leads out into the rest of the mall.
SFX: Rattle
SFX: Rattle
SFX: Rattle
Panel 3.
Lou chases after the trail of rattling, and the other porcupines follow close behind him.
*
PAGE EIGHTY SIX (five panels)
Panel 1.
The porcupines are now following the rattling at a walking pace. Lou looks up at the rattling and Penny, sticking close by his side, looks ahead, while Bucky, Spike and Quillo look with awe at wonder at the shop fronts to their left, which are behind transparent shutters. The first shop front they walk past is an indoor play place titled ``Jungle Dojo''.
To the right of the porcupines is an information kiosk, playing a video advertisement. The advertisement has an opened can of Spuddies chips, with the chips falling out of it photogenically. The Spuddies container is red instead of blue, and instead of just ``Spuddies'', it is labeled ``Spuddies: Hotter than the Sun Flavor''. The text on the advert says ``ALL NEW!'' and ``Try it if you dare!''
Panel 2.
Bucky points out a toy rocket deep within the structure of the play place.
BUCKY: Woah, check it out guys, a rocket ship!
Panel 3.
A view from inside the shop, looking out at Bucky, Spike and Quillo. They have their faces pressed right up to the shutter. Behind them, the video advert is now showing a coyote in the desert, with the red Spuddies container in its mouth.
QUILLO: Do you think it's been to Mars?
BUCKY: It might have been.
SPIKE: I wonder if this is where they build these?
Panel 4.
Another view from outside now. Down on another floor of the shopping center, Flopsy and the four bunnies who accompanied him at the lunch can be seen. They all have black gloves on and Flopsy and the big one are both carrying big black sacks that look to be full of something. Meanwhile, Bucky, Spike and Quillo are admiring a shop titled ``Nerdopolis''. Towards the left are rows of arcade machines that go back as far as the eye can see. Towards the left side of the shop are rows of comic books and superhero merch. Behind the comic book section, there seems to be a section with lots of supplies for tabletop role playing games. Spike points excitedly at the nearest arcade machine and the other two seem just as excited.
SPIKE: DUDE! Auto Homicide 4!
BUCKY: No way! That's out now?
QUILLO: I need it!
Panel 5.
As they move further to the right of the store, Quillo points out a comic book near the front, titled ``Radar Raccoon''. Quillo and Bucky look confused. Spike shrugs.
QUILLO: Why would a human write a comic about a raccoon?
SPIKE: Beats me.
*
PAGE EIGHTY SEVEN (three panels)
Panel 1.
The rustling in the ceiling starts leading Lou, Penny and their kids past a cinema. Unlike the other shops, it is not fully shuttered, with only the counter and the corridor shuttered off, but the rest of the shopfront still exposed. The cinema is named ``Landscape''. There is a big sign hanging from the ceiling which reads:
``Ice cream ... $20
Popcorn ... $15
Water ... $10
Tickets ... $7''
There are three big freestanding posters for movies out the front of the cinema. They are ``Happy Penguin'' (which looks similar to ``Happy Feet''), ``Night With The Dinosaurs'' (``Night at the Museum'') and ``Gloves of Stone'' (``Rocky Balboa'').
SFX: ...rustle!
Panel 2.
The porcupines follow the rustling out into a big wide open area of floor space. There are five pathways branching off of it, one of which they have just come from. There are also many shopfronts opening out into this big open area.
At the front of the open area is an information kiosk playing a video advertisement. It is an ad for the upcoming Sky Phone. The text at the top left says ``the first ever smart phone'' and the bottom right says ``coming this year''. The central image in the middle of the ad is an image of the phone, which looks similar to the first iPhone. The company logo is in the background behind the image, and the logo is a bunch of bananas. At the far end is another kiosk with the same Sky Phone ad.
In the center of the open area is a circular pop-up information stand with a big fake pot plant beside it - bigger than the other fake plants, and a different type as well. The information stand is branded ``El Rancho Camelot'' with the same logo they had in the Over the Hedge film. The information stand proudly displays the front page of the ``El Rancho Camelot Observer'' newspaper, with the headline ``Fast Development Equals Fast Returns'' and a photo of a grinning corporate executive and an awkward uncomfortable construction worker standing side by side in front of a house under construction. Also displayed is an information pamphlet titled ``Stay the course: why falling prices are only temporary''. There is also an informational poster showing a circular diagram of the following cycle: ``take out a loan'' -> ``buy another house'' -> ``rent that house'' -> ``property value increases'' -> ``use that house as collateral''. It has the heading ``You can be rich!''
SFX: (Rustle.)
Panel 3.
Finally, a ceiling tile falls loose, and Verne falls out after it, hiding inside his shell, followed by Hammy, and by Biscuit the walnut in her mouth.
*
PAGE EIGHTY EIGHT (five panels)
Panel 1.
The ceiling tile shatters into pieces as Verne, still hiding in his shell, lands on top of it. Hammy and the rat have begun fighting over the walnut, both trying to pull it from each other's hands. Their fur stands on end and they snarl.
Panel 2.
Verne is now out of his shell. Lou is helping him up.
LOU: You alright there?
VERNE: By some miracle, yes.
Panel 3.
Verne storms over towards Hammy and the rat, who are both still snarling.
Panel 4.
Verne starts trying to pull Hammy off of the walnut. Verne is sweating from exertion as he tries.
VERNE: Hammy... it's... not worth it.
HAMMY: He stole my nut!
BISCUIT: It's my nut, I live here!
HAMMY: But I found it!
Panel 5.
VERNE: Hammy, focus on the mission!
LOU: I think you'd better listen to him, Hammy.
QUILLO: Kick his butt, Hammy! End him with your Acorn Piledriver!
LOU: Not helping.
*
PAGE EIGHTY NINE (five panels)
Panel 1.
Biscuit, starting to look a bit tired, lets go of the walnut, and Hammy falls backwards onto Verne, knocking both of them over. But Hammy looks delighted as he sees he?s still holding his walnut.
Panel 2.
Biscuit yawns and stretches as Hammy and Verne dust themselves off.
BISCUIT: I need a nap.
Panel 3.
Hammy and Verne look at each other in confusion.
Panel 4.
Everyone looks over at Biscuit, perplexed.
VERNE: After all that, you?re just giving it to us?
VERNE: But you tried so hard to stop us?
*
PAGE NINETY (four panels)
Panel 1.
Biscuit shrugs and smiles gently.
BISCUIT: I like walnuts, but I like naps more.
Panel 2.
Hammy jumps for joy with celebration, holding his walnut up in triumph.
Panel 3.
Hammy looks completely stunned.
BISCUIT: Besides, I have plenty of cookies to eat instead.
Panel 4.
Hammy?s eye twitches as the weight of the new information hits his soul.
SFX: twitch
SFW: twitch
*
PAGE NINETY ONE (three panels)
Panel 1.
Verne begins the porcupines back the way they came, carrying a squirming Hammy over his shoulders to prevent him from running off again. Biscuit, looking quite sleepy and calm, waves them goodbye. Lou and Penny are still pulling the wagons with the matches in them.
VERNE: Good job getting those matches, everybody. We're well on our way!
Panel 2.
Verne leads the animals out of the mall, and onto the footpath outside, lit up by the city lights. There's no sign of people around except for one single car driving past on the opposite side of the road.
VERNE: Next stop, fireworks.
BUCKY, SPIKE AND QUILLO: Sick!
Panel 3.
Verne leads them further along the road, into a less dense, more desolate part of town.
VERNE: RJ said it was this way...
VERNE: I don't want to spend too long in this place...
*
PAGE NINETY TWO (five panels)
Panel 1.
Verne and the animals arrive outside the fireworks shop. It's on a poorly maintained minor side road. They look up at the building. It has a generally tacky appearance. It's a mostly brick building. It has a big sign that says ``Pete's Pyrotechnics'', with a clipart-looking picture of a tradesman giving a thumbs up. The shop is not shuttered, there is just a regular locked metal door for entry. Inside the shop, some dim lights are on.
Panel 2.
Bucky, Spike and Quillo approach the door. Bucky tries to stab one of his quills into the door but it won't work.
BUCKY: It's too sturdy for my quill to grip. We can't climb it.
Panel 3.
Spike tries the brick beside the door, but his quill can't penetrate that either.
SPIKE: Drat!
QUILLO: They've foiled our plans!
Panel 4.
A firefly lands on Quillo's nose, and Spike and Bucky both look at it closely.
Panel 5.
Quillo, Spike and Bucky all turn to look directly at Verne. Verne looks worried.
VERNE: Whatever you're thinking, I don't like it.
*
PAGE NINETY THREE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Verne's shell flies in through the shop window, shattering it.
Panel 2.
Verne, now without his shell, cautiously climbs into the shop using a pile of rocks placed up against the window. Up high on the shop's back wall, a digital timer is counting down. It says ``deactivate alarm before _ seconds'', where _ is the number counting down. At the moment the number is 297.
VERNE: Now when you follow me, be careful of the glass, okay?
Panel 3.
Quillo, Spike and Bucky wait outside watching over the wagons, while Hammy, Penny and Lou climb into the window behind Verne. Quillo, Spike and Bucky stand up straight and hold a quill each like a soldier holding a rifle.
Panel 4.
Verne picks up his shell from the back corner of the shop and kisses it.
VERNE: I'll never leave you again!
*
PAGE NINETY FOUR (five panels)
Panel 1.
Lou waves Penny, Hammy and Verne over - they all come running to see what he has to show. Verne now has his shell again.
LOU: Check this out!
Panel 2.
Lou shows everyone a big black box with a picture of a skull on the front and red fireworks erupting from its eyes. Lou, Penny and Hammy look impressed, but Verne looks apprehensive.
LOU: This looks pretty good for blowing something up.
VERNE: Perhaps it's a little too good.
Panel 3.
Hammy calls out from the other side of the store.
HAMMY: Ooh! This one! This one!
LOU, PENNY & VERNE: How did he get there so fast?
Panel 4.
Lou, Penny and Verne gather around as Hammy eagerly shows them a box of Christmas themed fireworks, shaped like candy canes and snowflakes.
PENNY: They look fun, but I'm not sure if they'll be strong enough.
Panel 5.
The timer hits 000.
*
PAGE NINETY FIVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
A glaringly bright red alarm light turns on, on the ceiling, and begins sweeping cones of red light around the room. The speaker right beside it rings loudly.
SFX: BLEEP-BLEEP!
SFX: BLEEP-BLEEP!
Panel 2.
A zoomed out view of the city. Two police cars can be seen approaching the location, their lights much brighter than the street lights, lighting up the dark city. Their sirens wail.
SFX: Wee woo! Wee woo!
Panel 3.
All the animals in the building look panicked.
LOU: Fiddlesticks! What do we do now?
Panel 4.
A firefly hits the bug zapper in the corner of the room.
SFX: ZZZT!
*
PAGE NINETY SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
Verne gives Hammy instructions, and Hammy salutes.
VERNE: Hammy, grab as many fireworks as you can, as quickly as you can, and pass them to me, Lou, and Penny.
HAMMY: Sir, yes sir!
Panel 2.
Verne looks out the window, giving instructions to a startled Bucky, Quillo and Spike.
VERNE: Bucky, I'll pass you my fireworks. Put them straight into the nearest wagon. Quillo, you do the same for dad. Spike, you do the same for mom.
Panel 3.
Bucky, Quillo and Spike salute.
BUCKY, QUILLO & SPIKE: Sir, yes sir!
Panel 4.
Hammy darts around the shop so fast it's like a blur.
*
PAGE NINETY SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
A pile of fireworks begins to grow in both wagons.
Panel 2.
The pile continues to grow.
Panel 3.
The high beams of a police car shine on Bucky, Spike and Quillo.
BUCKY: Time's up!
QUILLO: Go, go, go!
Panel 4.
Bucky, Spike and Quillo race away into the nearby foliage, Bucky pulling one wagon and Quillo the other. Hammy, Lou, Penny and Verne follow close behind.
POLICE CAR (jagged edged speech bubble): Who's there? Come out with your hands up!
POLICE CAR (``): You can't get away, so don't try.
*
PAGE NINETY EIGHT (three panels)
Panel 1.
Four policemen get out of their cars and begin to search around with their flashlights.
Panel 2.
A rocket shaped firework with a lit fuse is thrown out from the bushes, and rolls along the ground.
Panel 3
Policeman A gets down on the ground, hands over his head
POLICEMAN A: Get down! Everyone get down!
*
PAGE NINETY NINE (one panel)
Panel 1.
The policemen lay down on the ground, taking cover, as the firework erupts above them. It looks like a white skull of fireworks, with red fireworks erupting out of its eyes. As the police lay there, Verne and his team escape out the other side of the bushes, and make their escape down the nearby road.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ and Heather snarl, trying to fend off Security Guard A. Their backs are to Ozzie, Stella and Tiger, who are facing off Security Guard B. Ozzie lays out in front of them, and Security Guard B lifts a boot ready to step on Ozzie.
Panel 2.
Stella steps out in front of Ozzie, glaring up at Security Guard B.
STELLA: Oh, you done messed up now.
Panel 3.
Stella turns her butt towards Security Guard B. The security guard turns and runs.
STELLA: Fire in the hole!
Panel 4.
Close up of the eyes of Security Guard A. In each of their eyes is the reflection of a green mushroom cloud, leveling cities.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND ONE (five panels)
Panel 1.
Stella, Tiger (carrying a limp Ozzie on his back and pulling a wagon full of gasoline containers), Heather (still wearing her handbag over her shoulder) and lastly RJ (pulling another wagon full of gasoline containers) flee over the unconscious body of Security Guard B.
Panel 2.
The animals flee down the road while Security Guard A chases after them.
Panel 3.
RJ starts throwing random objects from his golf bag behind him: a magnet, an inflatable hammer, a container full of marbles.
Panel 4.
Security Guard A starts to slip on the marbles.
Panel 5
RJ looks back over his shoulder with a cheeky smirk.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWO (one panel)
Panel 1.
Security Guard A sits on the footpath, having fallen on his butt, while the animals continue running, leaving him further and further behind.
SECURITY GUARD A: Nasty skunk!
SECURITY GUARD A: This uniform wasn't cheap, you know!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THREE (five panels)
Panel 1.
RJ, Ozzie, Heather, Stella and Tiger regroup in a small park in a low density commercial district. They sit around in a circle, catching their breath.
Panel 2.
STELLA: What happened back there, RJ?
STELLA: Something had you seriously spooked.
Panel 3.
RJ looks away to the side.
RJ: It was nothing, I -
RJ: You know, it was just...
RJ: Just nothing.
Panel 4.
Ozzie gives RJ a kind and sympathetic look.
OZZIE: You know, if you ever need to talk about something, your family is always here. Including me.
Panel 5.
RJ: It's alright Ozzie.
RJ: I'm fine. I just had a moment.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ stands up.
RJ: Anyway, enough about that.
Panel 2.
Ozzie looks concerned for RJ, but doesn't say anything.
RJ: Let's talk about the mission.
Panel 2.
The other animals stand up as well. RJ points to a gas station down the road and the others look in the direction he's pointing.
RJ: That there is the nearest gas station.
RJ: That's our next target.
Panel 3.
STELLA: You don't gotta go all that way to find a gas station.
STELLA: I got a gas station right here.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Establishing shot of the gas station. The gas station is mostly empty. There are two cars parked there, both pretty cheap looking. Indoors, an employee is sitting at the register, looking bored. Inside one of the cars, a person is sitting, eating fast food and playing on a console similar to a GameBoy. Inside, in the corner of the store, is a giant teddy bear, with the entrance to a bathroom nearby on the back wall.
On the gas station window is a poster advertising a concert titled ``Indiana Rock Festival''. It features a photo of an emo band performing on stage for a cheering crowd at night time, with red smoke being shot into the air by smoke machines. At the bottom of the advertisement are the names of the three headliner acts: ``Downfall Boy'', ``My Chemical Reaction'' and ``Distress! At the Disco''. Besides that poster is another poster for all new Spuddies: Hotter than the Sun Flavor, which says ``SOLD HERE'' in the corner in big black text on a yellow background.
Panel 2.
RJ (wearing his golf bag and holding the handle of his wagon), Ozzie, Heather (wearing her handbag), Stella and Tiger (holding the handle of his wagon) hide in the bushes by the gas station, waiting to make their move. Next to them is a rusty abandoned bicycle.
Panel 3.
Heather nudges RJ's shoulder with one hand and points to the bicycle with the other.
HEATHER: Hey RJ? What is that?
Panel 4.
RJ answers, full of confidence.
RJ: Oh! That, my friend, is a bicycle. It's a human transportation device.
RJ: They use them in a foreign land called the Nether Regions.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ, pulling his wagon behind him, scampers across the ground in front of the car with the person in it. He is close enough to the bumper that the driver can't see him.
Panel 2.
RJ makes it across to a fuel pump. He hides behind the fuel pump for cover.
Panel 3.
RJ leans out from behind the fuel pump and waves the other animals over.
Panel 4.
The other animals pass in front of the car using the same route RJ did. Tiger taking his own wagon with him.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ climbs up the pump while the others look up and watch him.
Panel 2.
RJ unhooks the hose from the pump,
Panel 3.
RJ gently lowers the nozzle down towards Heather and Ozzie, who are waiting to catch it.
Panel 4.
Heather and Ozzie take hold of the nozzle. RJ smiles down at them and gives them a thumbs up.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT (four panels)
Panel 1.
Tiger picks up a gasoline container with both his front paws, and Stella starts unscrewing it.
Panel 2.
Tiger holds the now unscrewed container out towards Heather and Ozzie. Ozzie holds and aims the nozzle while Heather pushes the handle.
Panel 3.
The gasoline splurts out of the nozzle and into the container, beginning to fill it up.
Panel 4.
Once the container is full, Tiger holds it out to Stella again who screws the lid back on.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND NINE (five panels)
Panel 1.
The two wagons are shown, full of empty gasoline containers, with the one full container standing beside them.
Panel 2.
The same image, but now a few more containers are filled and the wagons have fewer empty ones in them.
Panel 3.
The same image, but now most of the containers are filled and only a few are left in the wagons.
Panel 4.
All the containers are full, and the wagons are empty except the stuff RJ and Heather added at the hardware store.
Panel 5.
Everyone begins loading the filled gasoline cans into the wagons.
RJ: Great job everyone, let's get these wagons loaded up and get outta here.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
As RJ is loading the last gasoline container into the wagons, a bright light shines on him and all the animals. They look back at the light in panic.
Panel 2.
It turns out that Gladys (villainous human from the original Over the Hedge), has just pulled up in the space behind them. She's pulled up in an SUV identical to the last, except that it's blue. It still has her signature number plate - ``GLADY$''
Panel 3.
RJ grabs the handle of one of the wagons and begins fleeing back the way the animals came. He shouts back at the others.
RJ: Go!
RJ: Now!
RJ: Run!
Panel 4.
The animals follow RJ. But another car stops in front of RJ, blocking them all in.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ starts running towards the gas station building, pulling his wagon behind him. He looks over his shoulder at the others.
RJ: Change of plan!
RJ: This way!
Panel 2.
The other animals follow close behind RJ, Tiger pulling his wagon as well.
Panel 3.
The employee at the counter is looking down at a Lemonwire download on his computer (which is running the Doors XP operating system). Because of this, he doesn't notice the animals with wagons filing into the store right beneath his counter. Under the counter is a toys and trinkets section with various odds and ends for sale, including a pink toy electric guitar about the size of an opossum.
Panel 4.
The animals quietly flee along the back aisle of the gas station, past the refrigerator, the bathroom door and the giant teddy bear.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
The animals hide behind a shelf stacked with VHS tapes. Some of the tapes include "Detective Dog on Mummy Island", "Detective Dog in Hawaii!", "The Land Before Man IX", "The Land Before Man XI" and "The Land Before Man XII"
Panel 2.
Gladys enters the store.
Panel 3.
Gladys begins walking towards the shelf where the animals are hiding.
Panel 4.
Noticing this, the animals start to quietly shuffle around the corner, back towards the back aisle, to stay out of her line of sight.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ's wagon catches on the giant teddy bear's foot.
Panel 2.
The teddy bear begins falling down towards RJ.
Panel 3.
RJ hallucinates that Vincent is lunging down towards him, and screams.
RJ: NO!
RJ: NO!
RJ: GET AWAY!
Panel 4.
As RJ lashes out, he knocks items off the shelf behind him, and sends stuffing flying everywhere as he kicks the teddy furiously with his hind paws. He drops the handle of his wagon.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
The employee looks up in surprise and confusion at the scene suddenly unfolding before him.
Panel 2.
Gladys glares down at Heather, Ozzie and Stella as they stand below her. So furious that she doesn't even notice her cat Tiger is there too.
GLADYS (in italics): YOU.
Panel 3.
RJ, still believing he's being chased by a bear, runs for his life towards the counter.
Panel 4.
RJ jumps up towards the counter.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ has landed on the counter and is looking directly at the horrified employee.
EMPLOYEE: EEK!
EMPLOYEE: Raccoon! Raccoon! Oh my god!
Panel 2.
Gladys winds up a kick towards Heather, who looks terrified.
Panel 3.
Stella steps in front of Heather and glares up at Gladys.
STELLA: Don't you dare!
Panel 4.
Stella turns her butt towards Gladys.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
Gladys runs squealing towards the door.
GLADYS: EUUGH!
GLADYS: Get AWAY from me! Get AWAY!
Panel 2.
RJ is starting to calm down. He's panting, and he puts a hand on his waist as he doubles over to catch his breath.
Panel 3.
Now fully recovered, RJ looks down at the petrified employee, who is leaning as far away as possible in his chair.
Panel 4.
RJ leans forwards and peeks at the employee's screen.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ stands back up and makes the devil horns gesture with both his paws, smirking approvingly at the employee.
RJ: Oh. Teal Day, huh?
RJ: My man!
Panel 2.
RJ hops down from the counter.
Panel 3.
RJ rejoins his friends, as they all check on each other.
RJ: You alright guys?
Stella: You good, RJ?
Panel 4.
They hear a sudden revving up engine outside the store, and see a set of very bright headlights glare in through the window.
SFX: vrOOM!
SFX: VROOOM!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ's face is filled with panic. He shouts to the other animals.
RJ: Get the gasoline close to the counter, now!
RJ: If that stuff blows were all dead!
Panel 2.
Gladys' SUV accelerates towards the gas station, moving so fast it's blurry.
Panel 3.
Tiger pulls one cart of gasoline to safety while Heather pulls the other. Stella, Ozzie and RJ all run for the counter as fast as they can.
Panel 4.
The animals all get out of the way just in time as the SUV barrels through the window and the VHS tapes, throwing shattered glass and tangled messes of tape everywhere. The SUV is still going too, it hasn't slowed down.
SFX: CRAAASH!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
The SUV careens through the bathroom doors, sending shards of wood flying everywhere.
SFX: CRUUNCH!
Panel 2.
The SUV finally comes to a stop, and tongues of fire and thick black smoke shoot out from the background.
SFX: KABOOM!
Panel 3.
A thick black cloud of smoke covers the entrance to the bathroom. The animals and the employee watch nervously to see what will happen.
Panel 4.
Gladys emerges from the smoke, a look of hatred and unhinged aggression in her eyes. She is charred, and she is soaking wet. But she's unharmed. She wields a long, thin length of pipe from her wrecked car.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY (four panels)
Panel 1.
Gladys uses all her weight to shove the shelf to her right.
Panel 2.
All the store's shelves topple like dominoes. This cuts off the animals' path towards the exit.
Panel 3.
As they back away from Gladys, the animals look behind them. They realize their predicament, trapped between a wall of fallen shelves and items behind them, and a completely deranged Gladys in front. All they have access to is the toys and trinkets beneath the counter. They all look afraid.
Panel 4.
Heather looks up at the toys and trinkets section, and her attention is immediately drawn to a small pink toy electric guitar. It is about the same size as her.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Leaving her handbag behind, Heather hops up onto the counter, just managing to hold onto the ledge. The other animals watch on with worry.
Panel 2.
Now standing stable on the counter, Heather uses her tail to grab hold of the pink guitar.
Panel 3.
Heather holds the neck of the guitar in her hands and bends her knees, readying herself for a tremendous jump. She has a determined look in her eyes.
Panel 4.
Gladys swings the long metal pipe towards Heather. Gladys has raw fury on her face.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO (four panels)
Panel 1.
Heather jumps through the air, swinging the guitar above her head. She dodges Gladys' pipe.
HEATHER: You are so LAST WINTER!
Panel 2.
Heather slams the guitar down on Glady's head, smashing the guitar from the force of the blow. Heather finally lets herself show a confident smirk as she does so.
Panel 3.
Gladys falls forward to the ground, unconscious.
Panel 4.
Heather lands elegantly on top of Gladys' back. The neck of the guitar is still in Heather's hand, and the rest of the guitar is still attached but only by the strings. The wood is completely broken.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Ozzie runs to Heather.
Panel 2.
Ozzie studies Heather's face with concern, his hands on Heather's shoulders. Heather rolls her eyes a little and smiles.
OZZIE: Are you okay, Heather? Are you hurt?
HEATHER: I'm fine, dad.
Panel 3.
Ozzie's face beams with pride. Heather shyly twirls the end of her tail with her finger.
OZZIE: That was really brave, Heather. I'm so proud of you!
HEATHER: Thanks, that means a lot.
Panel 4.
Tiger hugs Stella, his paws wrapped around her protectively.
TIGER: PRRR!
TIGER: PRRR!
TIGER: I'm so glad you are unharmed.
STELLA: You too, tough stuff. You too.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ looks around, a little stunned by the sheer scale of the destruction. Water and smoke continue to flow from the bathroom, two walls are destroyed, and there is glass and debris everywhere.
Panel 2.
RJ takes a deep breath.
Panel 3.
RJ: Well, we better get out of here before more humans arrive.
Panel 4.
Stella points over her shoulder at Gladys, who is still unconscious.
STELLA: Yeah, and before the Wicked Witch of the West wakes up.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE (three panels)
Panel 1.
RJ (wearing his golf bag), Stella, Tiger, Ozzie and Heather (now wearing her handbag on her shoulder again), and the wagons of gasoline, make it to the safety of a dark woody hill, only dimly lit by distant streetlights. Far off in the background is the smoking ruins of the gas station, with police, fire and ambulance vehicles gathered outside, their lights flashing.
Panel 2.
The animals sit down in a circle, the wagons beside them.
RJ: Let's rest here and catch our breath while we can.
Panel 3.
STELLA: RJ, what the heck was that?
RJ: What the heck was what?
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
STELLA: That big old freakout y'all had. Where you went all ham on that stuffed animal.
STELLA: I only got so much spray to go around, so you can't keep makin' a ruckus like that.
Panel 2.
Ozzie puts a comforting but firm hand on RJ's shoulder.
OZZIE: RJ, you have to tell us what's going on.
OZZIE: You're putting us in danger. And I know you don't mean to.
OZZIE: But you need to tell us what's wrong.
OZZIE: That's the only way we can help.
Panel 3.
RJ looks down at the floor and sighs.
RJ: Alright...
Panel 4.
RJ: The truth is, I'm still afraid of Vincent.
RJ: I know he's too far away to ever come back.
RJ: But it still feels like he could be just around any corner, at any time.
RJ: I can't get him out of my head.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
All the animals look at RJ with sympathy and care in their eyes. Ozzie gives RJ's arm a gentle squeeze.
OZZIE: I know it's not nearly the same thing, but I get immobilized by fear sometimes.
Panel 2.
RJ looks at Ozzie with curiosity.
OZZIE: The way I try to get through it is...
OZZIE: I remind myself where I am right now. That my family's here with me. And that I'm safe right now.
Panel 3.
Ozzie chuckles a little.
OZZIE: Of course, as you've witnessed, that doesn't always work.
Panel 4.
OZZIE: The best thing I can do is communication. I just tell everyone about the playing-dead thing when I meet `em, so they won't be caught off guard when it happens.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ stands up, a guilty look on his face.
RJ: I'm sorry guys.
RJ: I should have told you sooner.
RJ: I put my own embarrassment before my family's safety.
Panel 2.
Heather, Ozzie, Stella and Tiger all immediately pile onto RJ in a group hug.
Panel 3.
STELLA: Oh, hush. We forgive your sorry butt.
HEATHER: Yeah, you're cool.
Panel 4.
RJ chuckles, hugging them back as best he can.
RJ: Thanks guys.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Rufus is waiting under a tree overlooking the dam for the animals to arrive. The tree is on a hill. It is a far distance from the dam, close enough to see the dam, but not close enough to be threatened if the dam blew up. He's wearing a hard hat with a built-in flashlight, which is lit up, dimly lighting his surroundings. He's leaning back against the tree, with a piece of straw in his mouth.
Panel 2.
Verne and his team (Hammy, Lou, Penny, Bucky, Spike, Quillo) are the first to arrive, with their wagons full of fireworks and matches.
VERNE: Pleased to report, our mission was successful.
VERNE: (Somehow.)
Panel 3.
Rufus enthusiastically shakes Verne's hand.
RUFUS: Nicely done, partner!
RUFUS: I knew you'd all pull through!
Panel 4.
Verne smiles a relieved smile.
VERNE: Well, that makes one of us.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY (five panels)
Panel 1.
Rufus, Verne, Hammy and the porcupines are sitting around under the tree, waiting for RJ's team to arrive. Rufus plays the harmonica, making music notes float from it. Hammy, Bucky, Spike and Quillo playfully chase each other around in circles. Verne sits beside Lou and Penny, watching over the wagons.
Panel 2.
VERNE: You think RJ and the others are okay?
LOU: Why wouldn't they be?
Panel 3.
VERNE: My head might be playing tricks.
VERNE: But it just feels like they're taking a bit long to come back.
Panel 4.
PENNY: Is your tail tingling, Verne?
VERNE: Well, no...
Panel 5.
Penny puts a reassuring hand on Verne's shoulder.
PENNY: Then they're gonna be fine.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE (five panels)
Panel 1.
RJ and his team (Ozzie, Heather, Stella and Tiger) arrive, with the two wagons of full gasoline containers.
RJ: We made it!
OZZIE: Admittedly, a little collateral damage along the way.
RJ: But, we made it.
Panel 2.
Verne looks overjoyed. He runs up to RJ.
VERNE: RJ! Hi five!
Panel 3.
Verne and RJ hi-five each other.
Panel 4.
VERNE: I always knew you'd pull through!
Panel 5.
Penny and Lou quietly giggle to themselves, watching the interaction.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO (three panels)
Panel 1.
All of the animals except Rufus, RJ and Verne stay seated atop the hill, while Rufus, RJ and Verne stand up. The animals wave to them and they wave back. Rufus has a determined steely look, RJ has a confident smirk, and Verne has a cautious smile. RJ holds one of the wagons of gasoline, Rufus holds the other. Verne holds the two wagons of matches and fireworks. All the extra goodies from RJ's wagons have been left behind up on the hill with the other animals. But he's still wearing his golf bag.
LOU: Best of luck!
HEATHER: You got this!
QUILLO: Kick that dam's butt!
RJ: You know we will!
Panel 2.
Rufus leads the way down a dirt path towards the dam. The dam is pretty small, only about as tall as a person, about as wide as a bed, and about as long as a minibus, though it's only half completed, so it would be as long as a full bus once it's fully built. It looks like a pretty standard dam, made out of concrete, and the same general shape, just smaller.
Panel 3.
For the first step of the process, Rufus uses a can of spray paint to mark vulnerable spots of the dam. The panel takes place halfway through this step to make it easy to see what is happening.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE (three panels)
Panel 1.
For the next step of the process, Verne pulls a wagon of fireworks and hands them one at a time to Rufus.
Panel 2.
Rufus plants the fireworks on the spray painted locations.
Panel 3.
And then RJ secures the fireworks in place with expanding foam.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOUR (three panels)
Panel 1.
For the final step, Verne pulls a wagon of gasoline and hands full containers one at a time to RJ.
Panel 2.
RJ pours the gasoline all over the dam (but not in the water).
Panel 3.
RJ places empty containers into a wagon pulled by Rufus.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE (three panels)
Panel 1.
All the other animals watch nervously from atop the hill, hoping that everything is going to be okay.
Panel 2.
At this point, there is one wagon with nothing but matches, two wagons with nothing but empty gasoline containers, and one empty wagon. There's also one more full container of gasoline left. The dam is completely covered with gasoline and fireworks. Rufus and RJ admire their handiwork, hands on their hips, while Verne nervously fidgets with his hands.
Panel 3.
Verne begins pulling the wagon with the matches back up the hill. Rufus and RJ follow Verne. Rufus is holding a match in one hand and a matchbox in the other. RJ is pouring a trickle of gasoline behind him from that last container.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
Close up of Rufus striking the match, lighting up his face in an epic (but kind of funny cause he's a beaver) way.
Panel 2.
Close up of the match falling, its reflection shimmering in the stream of gasoline below.
Panel 3.
Abandoning the wagon, Verne, Rufus and RJ just run away as fast as they can up the hill.
Panel 4.
The long trail of gasoline, and the dam itself, go up in huge, tall, wide flames.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN (one panel)
Panel 1.
Now reunited with all the other animals atop the hill, RJ, Verne and Rufus watch on as hundreds of fireworks erupt on, and above, and around the dam. The other animals stand behind them, watching too. The biggest firework is one that looks like a cute cat face, and there are a couple big love heart shaped ones and crayon shaped ones as well.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT (three panels)
Panel 1.
The fireworks have mostly died down, just a couple stragglers going off. The dam is now mostly covered in thick black smoke, which is illuminated a bit spectacularly by the blue and orange glows of the last few fireworks. Rufus points to a Texas flag firework, smirking proudly.
RUFUS: That one was one o' mine.
Panel 2.
As the smoke clears, it becomes visible that the dam was only partially destroyed. Some fires still continue burning in the surrounding woods. Rufus looks defeated as he looks down over it.
Panel 3.
RUFUS: I done messed it up. The dam was stronger than it shoulda been.
RUFUS: At this rate, they'll still be able ta rebuild it.
RUFUS: The core structure ain't destroyed.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Sirens can be heard. The animals turn and look in the direction of the city in the distance, where several fire trucks and police vehicles are heading towards the dam, their glaring bright blue and red lights piercing through the suburban cityscape around them.
Panel 2.
RJ speaks to the other animals. He's lit in a combination of white from Rufus' headlamp, but also a little red and blue from the emergency vehicles off in the distance.
RJ: Those sirens mean humans are coming. Police and fire trucks.
Rufus: If we want to try an' salvage this, we best do it fast.
RJ: Any ideas?
Panel 3.
BUCKY: We should totally hijack a fire truck! We accelerate it as fast as we can towards the dam, nyooooom!
SPIKE: Then jump out at the last second!
QUILLO: And KABLAM! It smashes right through the dam wall!
Panel 4.
Verne smiles patiently but worriedly and RJ smiles shyly while rubbing the back of his head.
VERNE: I appreciate the enthusiasm, but that's way too dangerous.
RJ: Yeah, sorry fellas, I'm afraid even I have limits.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY (six panels)
Panel 1.
The animals stand in worried silence for a few moments.
Panel 2.
Rufus looks like he's just had an idea.
RUFUS: Perhaps...
RUFUS: We could try tunneling under that there creek bed?
Panel 3.
Rufus grows more excited.
RUFUS: We could plant explosives in the tunnel and...
Panel 4.
Rufus looks like the wind has been taken out of his sails.
RUFUS: ...No, wait up.
RUFUS: All that mud would dirty the water.
RUFUS: That'd defeat the point of this here operation.
Panel 5.
A firefly slams into Rufus' head lamp.
SFX: Clink!
Panel 6.
RJ looks full of excitement, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
RJ: I've got it!
RJ: We don't have to destroy the dam.
RJ: We'll make the humans do it for us.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE (three panels)
Panel 1.
Night time just outside the edge of a city. There is a small side road that goes out to the dam. To one side of the road is woodland, and in the distance some way is the dam, with fire blazing in the woods around it. To the other side of the road are the lights of the city?s sprawling suburbs, intermingled with blazing bright red and blue emergency lights from police and fire vehicles that are rushing to the scene. A few trees have fallen across the road. They appear to have been felled by a beaver?s teeth.
In the background, in the direction of the dam, but closer than the dam, is Heather. She is wearing her bag. She is holding up a red glow stick. In the foreground, one the side of the road nearest Heather, is Hammy. He is holding up a red glow stick towards Heather, while watching Rufus. Rufus is on the opposite side of the road, cutting one more tree down with his teeth.
Panel 2.
As the tree falls, Rufus cups his mouth and calls out to Hammy.
RUFUS: Timber!
Panel 3.
The tree crashes down on top of the others, sending leaves flying everywhere.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy discards the red glow stick and holds up a green glow stick towards Heather. Heather looks excited to see that. She keeps her red glow stick held up.
Panel 2.
The first emergency vehicle arrives, a police car. It is hurtling down the road towards the fallen trees. Its emergency lights now become the dominant source of lighting for the scene.
Panel 3.
The police car suddenly decelerates, stirring up a lot of smoke.
Panel 4.
The policewoman talks into her communicator.
POLICEWOMAN: Attention all first responders.
POLICEWOMAN: There are fallen trees on Dam Road.
POLICEWOMAN: Road is completely obstructed.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE (three panels)
Panel 1.
More emergency vehicles begin to pull up. A mixture of police cars and fire trucks.
Panel 2.
Some of the police officers and firefighters work together to start lifting the first tree on the pile.
Panel 3.
Hammy suddenly runs out of the tree, moving so fast he looks like a blurry streak. He runs up the arm of one of the police officers carrying it, causing the officer to shriek with surprise and disgust.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR (three panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy jumps from person to person really fast, looking kind of similar to Yondu?s arrow in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
Panel 2.
Everybody jumps backwards and lets go of the tree at once.
Panel 3.
The tree hits the ground with a big thump and stirs up a bunch of dust.
SFX: THOOMP!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Everybody looks around confused, wondering what happened.
Panel 2.
While they?re doing that, Hammy climbs into the open door of one of the police cars.
Panel 3.
Hammy spots an open box of donuts in the passenger seat. One of the donuts has been eaten but three are still left.
Panel 4.
Hammy takes a bite of one of the donuts and he is so overcome with joy that he?s surrounded by a glowing golden light and his eyes go all starry.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy briefly looks out of the window to check on Heather. Heather is still holding a red glow stick.
Panel 2.
The police officer is about to get back into the car when he sees Hammy and the now empty box of donuts.
POLICEMAN: Hey!
Panel 3.
Hammy leaps towards the policeman. The policeman reaches for his pocket.
Panel 4.
Hammy jumps down inside the policeman?s shirt, causing the policeman to flinch.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN (three panels)
Panel 1.
The policeman runs around in between all the emergency vehicles - in front of everyone - crying for help. The other police officers and firefighters are laughing hysterically as they watch.
POLICEMAN: Get it off! Get it off!
Panel 2.
Hammy then jumps out from the officer?s sleeve, and into another open police car door.
Panel 3.
Hammy returns from the police car with another box of donuts in his arms.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy dances on top of the pile of trees, waving the box of donuts in front of everyone.
Panel 2.
While the firefighters are unbothered, all of the police officers suddenly start running around in a panic.
Panel 3.
One policeman is frantically rushing to lock his door.
Panel 4.
Hammy suddenly appears from under his hat, making him freak out and throw his keys.
HAMMY: Peekaboo!
POLICEMAN: WAAGH!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY NINE (four panels)
Panel 1.
The police are still running around in disarray, but the firefighters are making a second attempt at lifting the tree.
Panel 2.
They turn around, though, to see a fire truck seemingly moving on its own. They all look alarmed.
FIREFIGHTER 1: Isn?t that our truck?
FIREFIGHTER 2: Uh oh.
Panel 3.
Inside the truck, Hammy is at the wheel. He has a manic grin.
Panel 4.
Meanwhile Rufus is operating the pedals.
RUFUS: Yee haw!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY (four panels)
Panel 1.
A police car quickly reverses, stirring up exhaust.
Panel 2.
The police car starts chasing Hammy?s rogue fire truck up the road.
Panel 3.
Hammy looks at the car?s reflection in his mirror and gets a determined smirk.
HAMMY: More speed~
Panel 4.
Hammy?s fire truck accelerates up the road, and the police car is forced to accelerate along with it.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY ONE (four panels)
Panel 1.
On Hammy?s instruction, Rufus switches to the brake pedal.
HAMMY: Now slow down!
RUFUS: You got it, boss!
Panel 2.
The driver of the police car looks very stressed as she slams on his own break.
Panel 3.
A huge cloud of smoke is stirred up from the burning rubber as she tries to break.
Panel 4.
The police car crashes into the back of the fire truck. It has managed to slow down enough that no heavy damage was done, but the front of the police car is still quite crumpled and the driver leans forward a little from the impact.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO (three panels)
Panel 1.
Some firefighters now come rushing to help the police officer. Hammy and Rufus, standing on the dashboard of the fire truck, smirk at the sight.
Panel 2.
Hammy and Rufus hop out of the fire truck and make a beeline for the dam side of the road.
Panel 3.
They look over at Heather, who is now holding up the green glow stick, with a smirk.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE (three panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy zips up and down the length of all the fallen trees in a zig-zag pattern.
Panel 2.
Hammy stops and stands beside the trees. Nothing happens at first.
Panel 3.
Then all the fallen trees suddenly crumble to little pieces, making the road navigable again.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR (one panel)
Panel 1.
The first few emergency vehicles start making their way past the blockage now as all the personnel shake off their confusion and return to their vehicles. Hammy, Rufus and Heather stand on a hill overlooking the scene and smirk, admiring their handiwork. Hammy and Rufus casually hi-five as they watch.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE (four panels)
Panel 1.
A number of fire trucks and police cars are parked in the grass beside the dam, their red and blue lights, along with the orange flames burning the surrounding forest, combine to light up the whole area. Some firefighters have started spraying the tree line with their hoses, the mix of the Fire and water creating clouds of steam, which add to the surreal, cinematic lighting. Some police have started searching the area with powerful flashlights. Others are still only just stepping out of their vehicles, The fire trucks are drawing water from the creek via tubes.
Panel 2.
A police officer begins walking cautiously out onto the surviving portion of the dam, his flashlight pointed down at the ground in front of him.
Panel 3.
The flashlight shines on a weak, crumbling portion of the dam, partly submerged in water. Ozzie and Heather (without her bag) are laying there curled up, playing dead, their heads just above the water. Ozzie has Heather cradled in his arms like a father trying to protect his daughter. They are stuck down to the floor using expanding foam. They are covered in little bits of rubble, and there is rubble all around them, too.
Panel 4.
Ozzie makes a visible twitch with one of his hind legs.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX (five panels)
Panel 1.
The police officer looks back over his shoulder and waves over the nearest firefighter.
Panel 2.
The firefighter comes running, a big metal mallet in her hand, with one end having a spiked tip.
Panel 3.
The policeman and firefighter stand on the downstream side of the dam, the firefighter hitting the dam wall with the mallet to break it, causing cracks to spread, and the policeman waiting a little further downstream to catch the slab that breaks off.
SFX: BONK!
SFX: CLANK!
SFX: BONK!!
Panel 4.
The policeman and firefighter (mallet now in her backpack) together help carry a slab of concrete out of the creek and onto dry land. Ozzie and Heather are attached to the top of it.
Panel 5.
The police officer and firefighter sit on opposite sides of the slab, using metal filers to try to free Ozzie and Heather. Ozzie and Heather are now smirking to themselves
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
Ozzie and Heather, now freed, run away into the bushes together. The firefighter and policeman stand and watch them with a proud but relieved smile.
Panel 2.
The firefighter and policeman turn to look at something making a sound under the water behind them. They see a circle of bubbles appearing on the surface.
SFX: Blub blub blub...
Panel 3.
The firefighter and policeman kneel down beside the water edge and lean forward to look down at the underwater portion of the dam. They shine their powerful flashlights at a spot on the dam wall, and they see Verne under the water. One of his legs is stuck fast inside a hole in the dam.
Panel 4.
The firefighter wades into the water, and pulls out her mallet again.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT (four panels)
Panel 1.
A big chunk of the dam falls away into the water after a solid mallet swing from the firefighter.
SFX: CRAAAASH!
SFX: SPLOOSH!!
Panel 2.
Verne gets free, and swims up towards the surface.
Panel 3.
Verne breaches the surface, surrounded by pieces of concrete and steel pipe. The current is flowing visibly faster than before. The police officer standing on shore, and the firefighter in the water, both watch Verne with delight and wonder, shining their flashlights on him.
POLICEMAN: Isn't nature beautiful?
Panel 4.
Verne's shell is suddenly sucked forward off his body by the fast current, making an audible sound. Verne swims frantically downstream chasing after his shell, giving the humans a view of his unshelled butt. The policeman looks away in disgust, while the firefighter laughs out loud.
SFX: Shoomp!
POLICEMAN: Awgh! Gross!
FIREFIGHTER: Ha ha ha!
FIREFIGHTER: That's beautiful alright!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE (four panels)
Panel 1.
The firefighter and policeman both look up as they hear a sound start coming from the top of the dam.
SFX: (chirp!)
SFX: (chitter...)
Panel 2.
They walk along the top of the dam, searching the concrete ground beneath them with their flashlights to see where the sound came from.
Panel 3.
With their torches, they manage to spot a faint little hole in the walkway on top of the dam, which looks like it has a larger cavity underneath. The sound is coming from inside.
SFX: Chirp!
Panel 4.
The firefighter begins chipping away at the ground with her mallet, trying to swing a bit
SFX: Tink!
SFX: Tang!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY (four panels)
Panel 1.
All at once, the entire remaining concrete body of the dam falls away in crumbly pieces, leaving the firefighter and policeman standing on rackety steel scaffolding, looking stunned and alarmed. Their torches are still pointed down where the hole was: but now it's just RJ, holding onto the scaffolding as the water rushes past inches below him. He smirks with satisfaction.
SFX: CRRRUMBLE!!
SFX: SPLAASH!!
Panel 2.
The entire body of scaffolding, RJ and the humans still on it, tilts over in the direction the current is flowing. Now RJ looks just as scared as the humans do.
SFX: CREEEAK.
Panel 3.
The policeman runs back onto dry ground, talking frantically into his walkie talkie as he races up the hill, stirring up dust.
POLICEMAN: We need more firefighters at the dam structure!
POLICEMAN: Personnel still on the structure! Structure beginning to fail! High potential for injury!
Panel 4.
The firefighter kneels on the scaffolding and begins lifting RJ by the shoulders with her thick-black-gloved hands. RJ looks up at her, terrified.
FIREFIGHTER: Good raccoon. Don't bite me now. I'm gonna get you to safety.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE (four panels)
Panel 1.
As he's being lifted up, RJ looks over at his shoulder with the big black glove on it, his eyes filled with terror. In his eyes is the reflection of a bear paw gripping his shoulder.
Panel 2.
RJ looks up in panic to see Vincent the bear lifting him towards those huge bear teeth. RJ starts visibly sweating.
Panel 3.
RJ closes his eyes. He is now hyperventilating.
RJ: I'm home.
RJ: I'm with my family.
RJ: I'm safe.
Panel 4.
The firefighter makes it off of the dam just in time, carrying a trembling RJ in her arms, as the scaffolding collapses into the water behind her.
SFX: SPLOOOOSH!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO (four panels)
Panel 1.
Now recovered, RJ hugs the firefighter's leg, as the firefighter and police officer smile down at him. Two more firefighters are also gazing down at him as well. RJ has a mischievous, smug smirk.
RJ: Couldn't have done it without ya, sucker~
POLICEMAN: Aww, he's thanking you!
Panel 2.
RJ runs off into the foliage, where Heather, Ozzie and Verne (now with his shell again) are waiting.
Panel 3.
The four of them flee up the hill again.
Panel 4.
The other animals, waiting atop the hill, open their arms wide as RJ, Heather, Ozzie and Verne run in for a group hug.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE (one panel)
Panel 1.
The silhouettes of the animals can be seen jumping for joy and celebrating atop the hill, as they look out over where the dam used to be: now it's just a bunch of chunks of broken concrete and piping scattered randomly down the course of the creek. The area is lit up by the red and blue lights of the emergency vehicles. The fires in the surrounding trees have been almost completely put out, with only faint dim orange embers, and thick black smoke remaining.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR (four panels)
Panel 1.
The interior of RJ and friends' new home. It is bright and sunny, and the sunlight easily fills the whole burrow through its wide entranceway. Right up the back of the burrow, Verne, Penny and Lou are constructing a big circular bed, big enough for all the animals.
Penny is making a big circle outline with expanding foam, while Verne breaks up bunches of straw over a colorful plastic toy wheelbarrow, and Lou makes the finishing touches on a big woolen blanket, which he is knitting using his quills.
Panel 2.
The expanding foam is now done. Penny dusts off her hands. Lou throws the big blanket over the circle, while Verne waits patiently with the wheelbarrow.
Panel 3.
Blanket now in place, Penny and Lou watch as Verne pours the straw into the central circle of the bed using his wheelbarrow.
Panel 4.
Penny, Verne and Lou lay back in the newly finished bed with their hands behind their heads, looking satisfied with a job well done.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE (one panel)
Panel 1.
Closer towards the exit of the burrow, RJ (wearing his golf bag), Quillo, Bucky and Spike are working on a kind of `living room'.
A semicircle has been made from child-proof car seats with the arms cut off so they can function as a giant couch.
In front of the couch is a log that has been cut into two halves, which each have a flat face and a curved face. The two halves are placed next to each other, curved sides down and embedded into the dirt, flat sides up, so they can act like a big table. The table has three paper party bowls on it to act as snack bowls. The party bowls are branded ``Craig the Contractor'' and have pictures of hard hats and cute anthropomorphised construction vehicles on them. Two of the bowls are already filled, the first with acorns, the second with blueberries and raspberries. RJ is pouring a can of Spuddies potato chips into the third.
On the other side of the table opposite the couch is a wide screen TV. Part of the outer casing of the TV has been removed, showing a bunch of colorful wires. Quillo and Spike are carefully connecting the TV's wires up to a bundle of wires that were already installed, coming down through the back wall. Beside them, Bucky is unboxing a Yay Station 3, while studying its instruction manual.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX (three panels)
Panel 1.
Stella and Tiger stand just inside the burrow's entrance, beginning to paint the burrow's interior. Stella is painting the left side of the interior entrance black, using a plastic kids' paintbrush and a colorful plastic bucket full of black paint. The right side has already been painted black, and Tiger is now painting over it, using his claw, which he has dipped in a transparent plastic bucket full of white paint. He paints delicate white floral patterns on the black backdrop.
Panel 2.
To the side of the burrow are solar panels shaped like reindeer, snowflakes, and holly. Also beside the burrow is a decently sized portable satellite dish. All of these are connected into two bundles of wires, which go down into the sidewall of the burrow.
Panel 3.
On the other side of the burrow are Ozzie, Heather (wearing her hand bag over her shoulder) and Hammy. They have transparent plastic buckets of white, pastel pink, pastel lime green and dark gray paint, each of which has two plastic childrens' paint brushes in it. They are painting the den exterior in a kind of `pop punk' aesthetic, with a background of alternating big gray and pink splotches, and a foreground of cartoony white symbols like skulls and crossbones, headphones, electric guitars, and skateboards.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy is painting a lime green acorn on the wall, when he gets distracted by the butterfly.
Panel 2.
Hammy starts following the butterfly, and doesn't notice that he's painting a wobbly lime green line along the wall as he walks.
Panel 3.
The butterfly changes direction, so Hammy starts walking back the way he came, creating a loop in the line.
Panel 4.
As he's following the butterfly, Hammy bumps into Ozzie and Heather.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy looks back at what he's done and recoils with alarm and guilt.
Panel 2.
He looks to Heather and Ozzie again, bowing his head.
HAMMY: I'm sorry.
Panel 3.
Ozzie puts his hand on Heather's shoulder.
OZZIE: I'm sorry Heather.
OZZIE: We can fix it.
Panel 4.
Heather pets Hammy's head while smiling up at Ozzie. Hammy and Ozzie both look relieved and grateful.
HEATHER: Nah, it's okay.
HEATHER: I kinda like it.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE (four panels)
Panel 1.
A newsagency in the middle of the day in the shopping mall. A human walks into a newsagency, with a bag full of cookies. Biscuit the rat is sitting on the newsagency sign up above and watching the human from above.
Panel 2.
The human kneels down to look at the newspapers available, while Biscuit sneaks up behind them.
Panel 3.
Biscuit starts quietly pulling the packet of cookies away.
Panel 4.
One of the newspapers catches Biscuit?s eye. It is titled ``The El Rancho Camelot Observer''. The image on the front is police body cam footage of Verne's foot stuck in the dam. The headline reads ``Miniature Dam Postponed Indefinitely''. The sub headline reads ``Regardless of cause for recent explosion, investigators saw evidence for ``rushed construction, animal cruelty''. Incident casts doubt on rapid city expansion.''
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY (four panels)
Panel 1.
Curio, Rufus and Flopsy arrive outside RJ and his friends' burrow. They all look in good spirits. Flopsy is holding a newspaper but only the back of it is visible from this angle.
FLOPSY: Hiya everyone!
FLOPSY: Is this a good time?
Panel 2.
Everyone quickly gathers around Flopsy, Curio and Rufus, waiting eagerly. Bucky, Spike and Quillo are up the front of the pack.
BUCKY, SPIKE & QUILLO: Hiya Uncle Flopsy!
Panel 3.
Flopsy looks stunned and honored, trying not to cry happy tears, holding his hand over his heart.
FLOPSY: Uncle Flopsy?
Panel 4.
Verne playfully punches RJ's shoulder. Both of them smiling fondly at each other.
VERNE: It still hits the same no matter how many times they say it.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ and friends look at Flopsy, eager and curious.
FLOPSY: The reason we're here is to share some news about your recent exploits, adventurers!
Panel 2.
Flopsy shows them all the front page of "The El Rancho Camelot Observer''.
FLOPSY: We really set the humans back!
FLOPSY: It?s looking like that dam should be gone for a good long while!
Panel 3.
RJ starts running off towards the burrow entrance.
RJ: Hold that thought, I gotta get something.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY TWO (four panels)
Panel 1.
Biscuit touches Hammy on the shoulder. She offers Hammy the packet of cookies she stole earlier.
Panel 2.
Hammy looks completely overjoyed, he gets starry eyes and his tail wags.
HAMMY: I-
HAMMY: The-
HAMMY: COOKIES!
Panel 3.
At this point everyone is looking over at Biscuit. Verne steps forward to greet her.
VERNE: Biscuit?
VERNE: How?d you find us?
Panel 4.
Biscuit shrugs with a friendly smile.
BISCUIT: Word gets around with us rats.
BISCUIT: I just asked where to find the dam-blowy-uppy guys.
*
Note: Have Hammy give a half eaten donut with a hair in return and Biscuit awkwardly thank him
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THREE (four panels)
Panel 1.
Hammy suddenly jumps and hugs Biscuit, and Biscuit giggles quietly.
HAMMY: You gave me the cookies!
Panel 2.
Hammy offers Biscuit a half eaten donut with a strand of his hair on it. You can see from Hammy?s face that it is a genuine kind gesture.
HAMMY: Donut. You can have the donut!
Panel 3.
Biscuit looks a little grossed out and awkward, but also genuinely grateful at the same time. She tries her best to give a friendly smile. She cautiously accepts the donut with one hand, rubbing the back of her head with the other.
BISCUIT: Uuuhh... thanks.
Panel 4.
RJ comes running back from the burrow, carrying the new tripod camera he stole in one hand, and its wired controller in the other. He has a big grin on his face.
RJ: Group photo!
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR (four panels)
Panel 1.
RJ looks perplexed at Biscuit, who is standing beside Hammy, awkwardly holding the donut. Biscuit looks nervous.
RJ: Who?s that?
Panel 2.
Hammy jumps up and down with joy, speaking to RJ.
HAMMY: She gave me cookies!
HAMMY: Biscuit gave me cookies!
Panel 3.
Biscuit tries to pretend to be suspicious, squinting at Biscuit.
RJ: Biscuit, huh?
Panel 4.
RJ shrugs and smiles a friendly smile. Biscuit looks relieved.
RJ: Well, whatever.
RJ: A friend of Hammy?s is a friend of RJ?s.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE (three panels)
Panel 1.
Everybody gathers in a big semicircle in front of the camera. Verne and RJ are at the front in the middle of the frame, holding the newspaper in front of them. Behind them and around them are all of their friends, also including Curio, Flopsy, Rufus and Biscuit. The green crosshairs of the camera can be seen over them all.
Panel 2.
A big green number ``3'' appears over the image
Panel 3.
The number changes to ``2'', and the butterfly from earlier starts to fly into frame, close to the camera.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX (three panels)
Panel 1.
The number changes to ``1''. Hammy begins sprinting towards the camera, eyes locked on the butterfly.
Panel 2.
All the animals gather around as RJ shows them the photo on the camera's back screen. They all look amused and a couple are giggling, covering their mouths with their hands.
Panel 3.
The photo on the screen is the group photo of all the animals that they were expecting, except Hammy is not sitting where he was supposed to be, and there is a mostly-transparent orange blur smeared across most of the image.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1.
It is night time. RJ is in the new bed with all his friends. He wakes up from a nightmare, breathing heavily and sweating.
Panel 2.
RJ looks up at the wall beside him, and sees the now-printed photo of his friends, with Hammy's orange blur.
Panel 3.
RJ giggles silently to himself.
Panel 4.
RJ looks around him at his friends, looking comforted and soothed by the sight.
*
PAGE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT (one panel)
Panel 1.
RJ has gone back to sleep, his friends all around him. He has a smile on his face.
