"Razor's Edge"
LOGLINE: Razor loses his self-confidence when he accidentally gets two innocent bystanders injured during a pursuit of Dark Kat. Will he manage to get back into the saddle, or will he quit, abandoning Megakat City to the tender mercies of Dark Kat's latest evil creation, the Black Widow?
© 2021 Kooshmeister
Written by:
Bill Hiers
Revisions: 30/8/21
1/9/21
10/9/21
DISCLAIMER: SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron is a trademark of Hanna-Barbara. This author does not own the rights to the show, its episodes, or any of its characters, and this script is not meant for monetary use. I did it just for the heck of it.
Based on the original teleplay written by Mark Saraceni.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ACT I
FADE IN
EXT. MEGAKAT SUPERCONDUCTORS - NIGHT
A large highrise. A sign out front reads "Megakat Superconductors."
INT. MEGAKAT SUPERCONDUCTORS - STORAGE AREA
A back storage area for supplies used by the facility. A triple-locked red door marked "Top Secret" is big in frame. We hear footsteps and feet enter frame. We slowly pan up to reveal a serious-looking SECURITY GUARD. He looks around. Everything seems to be on the up and up. Suddenly...
Into frame leap six KOMMANDO-KATS! These are lithe, almost simian kats dressed entirely in black tactical compression garmets except for their tails, which have purple fur. Even their heads are covered, their identities concealed by red goggles with green lenses and grilled masks over their mouths and noses. All we can tell about them is that they're male.
Though momentarily startled, the guard recovers and reaches for his laser pistol. He's barely gotten it out of the holster when the intruders attack. One of the monkey-like kommando-kats kicks the gun away. Another delivers a vicious punch to the guard's midsection. He doubles over in agony. Another socks him across the jaw, knocking his hat off.
The first kommando-kat - the one who kicked the laser pistol away - then roundhouse kicks the guard. He goes flying offscreen. The guard sails into a stack of heavy-looking shipping crates which collapse on top of him, completely burying him. Only his limp right hand is left sticking free.
Ignoring him, the evildoers approach the big door with three locks. The lead kommando-kat takes out a trio of triangular bombs and attaches one to each of the locks, then runs offscreen as they begin beeping rapidly. Boom! The door is blown inwards and the villains rush into the Top Secret room beyond.
Meanwhile, the guard stirs. He's still alive. He can't manage to get the boxes off of himself, however. His hand raises and reaches desperately for a button on the wall marked "Alarm." It falls down limply before managing to do so, however.
EXT. MEGAKAT SUPERCONDUCTORS - ROOF
A strange-looking vehicle is parked on the roof. The Black Widow is a large transport vehicle with segmented, tentacular spider-like legs ending in funnel-shaped apertures. The rear boarding ramp is down. Standing alongside are a gaggle of chittering CREEPLINGS, immediately cluing us in to who is behind this break-in.
The kommando-kats emerge from the stairwell door. To a man, they're carrying medium-sized but very heavy wooden crates marked with a lightning bolt symbol. They scurry up the Black Widow's boarding ramp silently, like a line of black-uniformed ants. A shadowy figure emerges into view inside. It is of course DARK KAT. He watches his underlings filing in.
DARK KAT
(pleased)
With this superconductive wire, the first phase of my plan is in motion. Soon I'll have all the power I need to reduce Megakat City to rubble.
INT. MEGAKAT SUPERCONDUCTORS - STORAGE AREA
The guard stirs again. He makes another try for the alarm button, and this time he succeeds. It makes a satisfying "click" and then his hand falls limply out of frame. The button begins blinking red on and off.
INT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - CENTRAL OPERATIONS ROOM
An enormous backlit map of Megakat City bathes the darkened central control center of Enforcer Headquarters in a greenish glow. The overhead lights are out. Over by the bank of monitors serving as the dispatch center, a lone ENFORCER DISPATCHER wearing a headset mic sits working the graveyard shift. He glances up from his "I Hate Mondays" coffee mug to see a red dot blinking on and off on the huge map looming above him. He sets the mug aside and taps his mic on.
ENFORCER DISPATCHER
(all business)
Chopper 1! Chopper 1! Red alert!
EXT. SKIES OVER MEGAKAT CITY - NIGHT
An Enforcer chopper flies along on patrol.
ENFORCER DISPATCHER
(V.O.) (through the radio)
I repeat, red alert!
Inside the chopper are two serious-looking ENFORCER PILOTS. They're jerked into alertness by the voice coming through the radio.
ENFORCER DISPATCHER
(through the radio)
Silent alarm at Megakat Superconductors! Investigate!
ENFORCER PILOT
(with a slight British accent)
Roger that! Chopper 1 on its way!
The chopper zooms forward rapidly.
EXT. MEGAKAT SUPERCONDUCTORS - ROOF
The Enforcer vehicle approaches, flicking on its spotlight. It bathes the Black Widow in harsh brightness, although since the Enforcers are approaching from the vehicles front, they can't see Dark Kat and his Creeplings standing at the back, just inside the open rear entrance. Dark Kat is surprised but not alarmed. His Creeplings, however, go berserk, screeching in wild panic.
DARK KAT
Don't worry, my Creeplings! Nothing can stop us now!
As the last kommando-kat files in, Dark Kat presses a button. The boarding ramp swings up and closes with a metallic bang. A moment later, the vessel roars to thrumming life and begins lifting up off the rooftop. The approaching helicopter keeps a respectful distance.
ENFORCER PILOT
(over the P.A.)
Halt! You're under arrest!
Dark Kat of course ignores him. The Black Widow finishes lifting off and zooms away, the spider legs trailing limply behind it like jellyfish tentacles. Without missing a beat, the Enforcer craft pursues, firing with its side guns, but it quickly becomes apparent that the spider craft is going to escape. The British-accented Enforcer pilot scowls and pounds his fist on the control panel in frustration.
ENFORCER PILOT
NO way to catch him!
CUT TO:
EXT. SKIES OVER MEGAKAT CITY
The Turbokat zooms along. Aboard are your heroes and mine, the SWAT Kats. T-BONE frowns as he listens to the radio.
ENFORCER PILOT
(through the radio)
He's too fast!
Sitting in back, RAZOR grins, eager to kick some tail.
RAZOR
But not too fast for us, huh, T-Bone?
T-BONE
Only one way to find out! Hang on!
He pushes the throttle forward.
EXT. MEGAKAT SUPERCONDUCTORS - NIGHT
The Turbokat flies past the building.
T-BONE
And you thought tonight was gonna be a slow night!
EXT. SKIES ABOVE MEGAKAT CITY - NIGHT
The Turbokat overtakes and flies past the pursuing Enforcer chopper and quickly gains on the Black Widow. T-Bone makes a face at the thing's design.
T-BONE
Whoever this guy is, he's got a thing for spiders. Yuck!
Razor just chuckles and begins pushing buttons, trying to target the fleeing villain's craft.
In the Black Widow, Dark Kat is seated in the front control area/flight deck, which is dominated by an enormous seat that is one part plush office chair and several parts demonic crimson throne. This area is dimly lit by low purplish lighting, as is the entire interior of the vehicle. The villain frowns as an alarm goes off and the lighting turns from purple to red. The attendant Creeplings chitter nervously. On a small monitor placed ahead of and slightly below Dark Kat's seat, we see an image of the Turbokat (as seen from a rear camera on the spider craft).
DARK KAT
The SWAT Kats!
Although the Creeplings are once again extremely agitated, shrieking and scampering around, and even the kommando-kats, lingering behind Dark Kat's seat in the huge vessel's rear cargo area, look a little uneasy, Dark Kat himself is merely annoyed.
DARK KAT
How irritating. As usual, sticking their noses in where they don't belong.
(soothingly to the Creeplings)
A minor setback easily remedied.
Between his legs is a large thick metal steering stick with a huge handle that has two buttons on top of it, one off white, the other red. This Dark Kat has been holding and he now pushes it forwards gently. The Black Widow shoots forward with the Turbokat in hot pursuit. The Enforcer chopper continues following although it is lagging behind. In the jet, Razor tries to line up a shot on the spider craft as Dark Kat dives down towards the riverfront. T-Bone's right on his tail.
RAZOR
Stay on him, T-Bone!
T-BONE
He won't shake this tail!
EXT. MEGAKAT RIVER - NIGHT
The Black Widow zooms down low over the river. We can see the full moon brilliantly reflected in the water as the two aircraft fly along. Up ahead, a train trestle spans the river. The spider craft flies low between the water and the underside of the trestle with the Turbokat right behind as a high-tech Japanese-style bullet train shoots along the tracks up above them. Blinking, the ENGINEER glances out his window as the chase flies by beneath him.
INT. BULLET TRAIN - NIGHT
Various PASSENGERS on a late-night commute rush to the windows and look out.
PASSENGER #1
What was that?
PASSENGER #2
Look! The SWAT Kats!
PASSENGER #3
Hey, yeah, it is the SWAT Kats?
PASSENGER #4
I wonder who they're chasing?
As they watch, we see the Enforcer chopper come in from above the train car's window frame, having elected to go above the trestle rather than under it.
EXT. MEGAKAT RIVER - NIGHT
The train finishes whipping past as we see the Enforcer chopper reflected in the mirror-like shine of the windows. Up ahead, the Turbokat is closing the distance rapidly. Razor continues pressing buttons. In a bid to evade his pursuers, Dark Kat flies up and away from the river and over the tops of buildings towards a particularly tall skyscraper.
EXT. SKYSCRAPER - NIGHT
The Black Widow flies around the tall building in a corkscrew maneuver which finishes at the top. However, T-Bone matches Dark Kat perfectly, never once losing sight of him. The spider craft then continues on over the increasingly lower and lower rooftops.
EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - NIGHT
This area is on the outskirts of the city and is almost entirely industrial and has more than a few abandoned buildings. One in particular is important:
EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
An old wooden warehouse that looks like it saw better days a century or two ago. It sags and looks close to falling down under its own weight, abandoned so long ago there is no signage on it of note. As the Black Widow nears it, we see an ELDERLY COUPLE out walking, passing by the weed-filled old parking lot. They're both wearing jogging outfits consisting of hoodies and sweatpants. The pause in their walk and glance up as the huge shadow of the spider vehicle falls over them.
EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - NIGHT
Closeup on Razor's targeting scope. He's got Dark Kat in his sights now!
RAZOR
Just a little closer...
(his instruments beep)
I'm on him! Octopus Missiles... deployed!
Whoosh! Two Octopus Missiles launch forward and fly straight and true towards Dark Kat's vehicle. In the villain's cockpit, alarms are going off. The Creeplings are having a coniption. Dark Kat grips his steering stick tightly as he flies low over the old warehouse.
EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
Dark Kat waits until the last moment and then jerks the stick up. The descending Octopus Missiles just barely miss the Black Widow's engines and slam into the roof, punching two holes through the rotten wood. Blam! They hit the floor and the sides of the structure explode outward violently, and then the whole thing collapses in a big heap of rotten wood planking and rusted metal, sending up a huge cloud of dust which the Turbokat dramatically zooms through.
RAZOR
Crud! Missed 'im!
EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - NIGHT
The Black Widow zooms over the low roofs with our heroes in hot pursuit. Behind the Turbokat, though, we see the Enforcer chopper suddenly exit the chase, veering offscreen to the right (our left). The SWAT Kats don't notice, however.
RAZOR
Luckily I got more where those came from!
He once more targets the Black Widow.
RAZOR
Locked...
His thumb hovers over the firing button.
RAZOR
...loaded... depl--
He's cut off as a familiar British-accented voice comes through the radio.
ENFORCER PILOT
(through the radio)
This is Chopper 1! We need paramedics in Sector 12! We’ve got civilian casualties in a collapsed warehouse!
Razor looks startled. T-Bone frowns and turns to glance back at his partner.
RAZOR
Casualties?
T-BONE
(grim)
Doesn't sound good, buddy...
In the Black Widow, Dark Kat is confused.
DARK KAT
Something's wrong. Why aren't they firing?
Deciding not to look this gift horse in the mouth, he jerks the steering mechanism forward. The background outside the cockpit windows whooshes past, indicating that he's diving down. Back in the Turbokat, by the time T-Bone turns back around, their prey is already gone; from his P.O.V. we can see nothing but the nighttime Megakat City skyline as far as the eye can see.
T-BONE
Where'd that creepy spider thing go? Cripes, we lost 'im!
RAZOR
(a little distant)
Maybe we should double back to that abandoned warehouse. I guess it wasn't so abandoned...
The Turbokat whips around and heads back the way they came.
EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
Emergency services have arrived, along with the Enforcers. We see several ambulances and a fire truck as well as a veritable armada of Enforcer cruisers, their lights flashing. ENFORCER CRIME SCENE TECHS are combing through the gutted remains of the destroyed building, being overseen by FELINA FERAL. A YOUNG COUPLE (LEON CASTORP and ILSA SCHLOWSKI) lingers nearby, separated from the property by a string of Enforcer do-not-cross crime scene barriers. Castorp is compact-looking but athletic, with short black hair. Ilsa, who we take to be his girlfriend, has very angular features and long, straight reddish hair.
The Kat's Eye News van drives up and parks. ANN GORA gets out along with JONNY K., who aims his video camera at Ann.
JONNY
We're rollin', Ann.
ANN
This is Ann Gora of Kat’s Eye News, live from the site of a spectacular disaster.
She glances at something offscreen to her left. The elderly couple from earlier are being carried past on stretchers by PARAMEDICS. They appear to be in quite a lot of pain. Ann rushes over and gently speaks to the old woman (VALERIE CLAWVER).
ANN
We're with the victims of the accident. Can you tell us what happened?
Valerie can only groan in pain. Her husband (MAX CLAWVER) pipes up.
MAX
(pained)
We was just passin' by on our evening walk when the SWAT Kats flew by chasin' some kinda weird spider thing and then boom! The whole place dropped down on us!
He falls back onto the stretcher with a gasp, unable to continue. That took a lot out of him. The paramedics carry the couple past where COMMANDER FERAL stands with SERGEANT TALON. They watch them first responders go with their burden, scowling angrily. Ann rushes into shot and sticks her microphone in Feral's face. Feral eyes the thing like he wants to bite it and the hand holding it.
ANN
Commander Feral, have the Enforcers determined how this accident occurred?
FERAL
(boiling)
This was no accident! It was the work of those two irresponsible hotshots, the SWAT Kats!
Ann blinks at this accusation. Behind her, we can see that so does Felina, over supervising the crime scene techs.
As the Turbokat nears the scene, we can see that T-Bone and Razor are listening in to the news broadcast.
RAZOR
(horrified)
But... it was an accident!
Back down on the ground by the destroyed warehouse:
ANN
(carefully)
Surely you're not suggesting that the SWAT Kats intended to hurt innocent civilians?
FERAL
Accident or not, the SWAT Kats are responsible! They're dangerous vigilantes! A menace to society, accountable to no one!
Sergeant Talon nods along in agreement. We can see the young couple standing in the background behind him. Walking over, Felina rolls her eyes. Suddenly, Castorp and Ilsa hop the barrier and rush over.
CASTORP
(with a slight accent)
We witnessed the whole thing!
Talon moves to stop them but Feral waves him off.
FERAL
Let them speak!
Talon growls but relents. Castorp continues, talking fast, breathlessly. His accent is vaguely European and difficult to place, but negligible enough that it goes unremarked upon.
CASTORP
The SWAT Kats are the ones who blew up that building!
FELINA
What? Was it an accident?
ILSA
(she has the same accent as her boyfriend)
No! They did it on purpose! Long after that spider guy had passed by!
CASTORP
Yeah, I think they did it for fun!
In the Turbokat:
T-BONE
What's that guy talkin' about...?
RAZOR
(nearly speechless)
I dunno!
Down below, Felina looks astounded. Feral, however, is beyond enraged. He balls his huge hands up into fists.
FERAL
I always knew it! I knew it! Those reckless hotshots!
Feral's rant is interrupted as the Turbokat roars by overhead. He turns to shake a fist up at it.
FERAL
There they are now, returning to the scene of their crime!
RAZOR
Maybe we should g-go down and explain...
T-BONE
Why bother? Feral doesn't exactly look like he's in a listenin' mood. Besides, with those eyewitnesses, we're already guilty in his eyes.
The jet turns and flies off.
FERAL
You can run but you can't hide, SWAT Kats!
Castorp and Ilsa smirk, which goes unnoticed by everyone. Feral growls and turns to talk directly into Jonny's camera.
FERAL
If it's the last thing I do, I swear to bring the SWAT Kats to justice!
EXT. GARAGE - NIGHT
Establishing shot of the garage. We can hear a news report playing on the TV.
NEWSCASTER
(V.O.)
There you have it, viewers.
INT. GARAGE - LIVING ROOM
The lights are off. JAKE CLAWSON sits on the sofa watching TV, lit only by the glow coming from the set. Onscreen, we can see a handsome male NEWSCASTER sitting behind a desk. A still image of the destroyed warehouse occupies the upper righthand corner of the screen.
NEWSCASTER
(on TV)
Two innocent civilians, married couple of forty years, Max and Valerie Clawver, have been seriously injured, apparently as a result of deliberate actions taken by the SWAT Kats.
Already slumped down a little, Jake sinks a little lower.
NEWSCASTER
(on TV)
We go now to the footage taken at the scene where our own Ann Gora managed to interview two eyewitnesses to the incident.
The screen cuts to Ann interviewing the couple. "Recorded Earlier" flashes along the bottom. CALLIE BRIGGS lingers in the background, arms crossed. We can see her green car parked behind the Enforcer barricade behind her.
ANN
(on TV)
And you say the SWAT Kats did this deliberately...?
She seems a little doubtful. The couple, however, are adamant.
CASTORP
(on TV)
You bet!
Beside him, his girlfriend Ilsa is smirking visibly. Castorp continues, gesturing broadly as he talks.
CASTORP
(on TV)
Right as that old couple--
ANN
(on TV)
Mr. and Mrs. Clawver.
CASTORP
(on TV)
--right. Right as the Clawvers were passing by that old warehouse, the SWAT Kats launched two of their stupid missiles at it. Kaboom!
He spreads his arms wide, miming an explosion. Ilsa shakes her head. Behind them, Callie is aghast. She begins approaching.
ANN
(on TV)
And the SWAT Kats. What did they do next?
Ilsa shoulders past her boyfriend.
ILSA
(on TV)
They just kept right on flying as if it didn't even matter to them!
Callie interjects at this point.
CALLIE
(on TV)
But they flew back to the scene after they realized they must've hurt someone.
The young couple both scowl bitterly.
ILSA
(on TV)
Yes! To survey their handiwork! We've always agreed with Commander Feral that the SWAT Kats are nothing but criminals who enjoy causing destruction for its own sake!
Castorp nods. Callie blinks. Even Feral has never said that. She attempts to say so.
CALLIE
(on TV)
But even Commander Feral--
CASTORP
(on TV) (interrupts)
I'm tellin' ya, people of Megakat City...
He lifts a finger, pointing directly into the camera, seemingly at Jake, who is watching and couldn't looking even more unhappy.
YOUNG MAN
(on TV)
...the SWAT Kats are no good and never have been!
Jake sighs. The screen changes back to the newscaster.
NEWSCASTER
(on TV)
Mayor Manx had this to say.
Cut to a view of the front steps of City Hall. Kat's Eye News reporter TAB MOUSER is interviewing MAYOR MANX. Behind him stands DISTRICT ATTORNEY MILLS, a tall, polished-looking red-haired kat in an expensive suit. Manx looks positively alive and giddy to in front of the cameras. Mills, however, fidgets uncertainly. He doesn't like the spotlight.
TAB
(on TV)
Mr. Mayor, what does City Hall have to say about the SWAT Kats' actions?
At this, Manx's confidence vanishes. He doesn't like having to give concrete one-way-or-the-other answers for the record.
MANX
(on TV) (stammering)
Um, uh, well, y'see, there, Tab, City Hall is behind Commander Feral 100%!
TAB
(on TV) (pressing)
So if it is determined that the accusations against the SWAT Kats are true, a warrant will be issued for their arrest?
Manx stammers some more. Rolling his eyes, Mills steps forward.
MILLS
(on TV)
I'm sure that what Mayor Manx is trying to say, Tab, is that any action we take is dependent upon confirmation from the Enforcers' investigation that the SWAT Kats are indeed responsible for intentionally inflicting those grievous injuries upon Mr. and Mrs. Clawver.
Manx blinks, then grins and nods, jerking a thumb at the D.A.
MANX
(on TV)
Eh-eh, what he said.
At this point, CHANCE FURLONG enters. He looks at the slumped Jake, then at the TV.
CHANCE
What're you doin' sitting here in the dark like this...?
He flicks on the light. Jake flinches a little at the sudden brightness.
CHANCE
(jerking a thumb at the TV)
And why are you torturing yourself by listening to those jokers...?
Picking up the remote, he mutes, but doesn't turn off, the TV. He sets it aside and has a seat beside Jake on the couch, frowning.
JAKE
I still can't believe I hurt those people...
CHANCE
(sympathetic)
I feel bad, too. But it was an accident. We were in pursuit of a really dangerous criminal.
JAKE
(still moping)
But I'm the one who fired!
He sits up and points at himself, his face twisted into an expression of anger and sorrow. Chance's frown deepens.
CHANCE
It. As. An. Accident.
Jake stands and walks over to the door but doesn't leave. He merely stands in the doorway.
CHANCE
(trying to help)
We've failed to save people before...
JAKE
That isn't the same thing and you know it. And it's happened before.
CHANCE
(disbelieving)
When...? We've never gotten anyone hurt or killed that we know of before...
JAKE
(insistent)
What about those two guys in Feral's tank?
Chance blinks. Jake walks back over.
JAKE
Remember? When Hard Drivr was joyriding around the Puma-Dyne parking lot in that weirdo experimental Enforcer tank? The Behemoth?
CHANCE
Oh yeah, that thing.
JAKE
When we made Hard Drive lose control of it, he drove over Feral's tank. Feral leaped free, but now the guys driving the thing.
There's a hitch in his throat.
JAKE
It was technically our fault they got killed.
Chance sighs and rolls his eyes.
CHANCE
Indirectly.
Chance scowls and rises from the sofa.
JAKE
Chance, come on...
CHANCE
Look, Jake, those guys were Enforcers. They--
JAKE
(interupting coldly)
Knew the risks? That is what you were gonna say, wasn't it?
Chance looks suddenly ashamed. Rubbing the back of his head.
JAKE
And anyway, "we" didn't get them get killed. I did. It was my Scrambler Missiles and I fired them. Just like I fired those two Octopus Missiles tonight. And missed.
Chance is fuming. He is angry because he hates seeing his friend getting like this and isn't sure what to say to make him feel better.
CHANCE
You've been listening to those two idiots too much.
He gestures at the TV, which is showing Ann's interview with the young couple again.
JAKE
Maybe they're right... at least about us being more of a menace than a help.
Chance's jaw drops. Before the argument can continue, something catches his attention. He turns to look at the TV. The screen is now glowing bright blue as a graphic reading "Kat's Eye News Flash" appears. Holding up a hand for silence, Chance grabs the remote and unmutes the TV. We hear the newscaster's voice.
NEWSCASTER
(V.O.) (on TV)
Attention, viewers! We've just received word about another armed robbery taking place at Katalytic Laboratories.
The screen changes to show a view of a high-tech research facility.
NEWSCASTER
(V.O.) (on TV)
This is apparently the work of the same intruders who earlier robbed Megakat Superconductors.
Chance is out of his seat in a flash, the remote clattering to the table. He rushes for the door.
CHANCE
Come on! We can argue about the ethics of being vigilantes later! Looks like we're gonna get another shot at this guy!
JAKE
(a little less enthusiastic)
I just hope I don't miss again...
CHANCE
(not really having heard)
Huh?
JAKE
Nothing, nothing...
He hurries after Chance.
EXT. KATALYTIC LABORATORIES - NIGHT
Enforcer cruisers and Peacekeeper tanks surround the building. We can see the Black Widow on the roof with its rear boarding ramp down.
INT. KATALYTIC LABORATORIES - HALLWAY
Push in on a blown-open reinforced metal door marked "Top Secret."
INT. KATALYTIC LABORATORIES - MAIN LAB
A high-tech facility, the center of which is a large device called the Mega-Katalytic Konverter. A group of kommando-kats, wielding tools, enters shot and begins advancing on the Konverter with the intent of dismantling it.
EXT. KATALYTIC LABORATORIES - NIGHT
As the Enforcer ground troops enter the building, a squadron of five choppers approaches. Feral and Felina are in the lead one.
FERAL
(grim)
Whoever you are, you're gonna pay for this.
(into his helmet mic)
All choppers, move in!
FELINA
(eager)
Roger! Let's nail 'im!
Feral manages a small grin with something akin to paternal pride.
As the Enforcers approach, the kommando-kats exit the stairwell door on the lab roof carrying several hastily thrown-together wooden crates containing the dismantled device. As laser fire peppers the roof, they scurry towards the waiting Black Widow.
Sitting up front in his fearsome command chair, surrounded by Creeplings, Dark Kat grins wickedly over his shoulder as his underlings get aboard with the stolen parts.
DARK KAT
With this Mega-Katalytic Konverter, I'll have all I need to destroy this putrid excuse for a city! From the ashes will rise Dark Kat City, my capitol of crime!
(to the lead kommando-kat)
You're sure you got every last component?
The lead kommando-kat nods.
DARK KAT
Excellent!
He turns around in the chair and begins flipping buttons. The boarding rises and slams shut after the last kommando-kat and the spider craft's VTOL engines power up. The vehicle begins to rise. He laughes evilly and the Creeplings chitter excitedly. The Enforcer choppers zoom after him. He flicks a switch. A big swivel gun emerges from the top of the Black Widow, pointing back at the pursuing helicopters. This weapon has two barrels, one over, one under. One of Dark Kat's clawed thumbs moves up to the top of the steering stick and presses the red button.
The gun fires twice. Pew! Pew! A red laser shoots out and hits two of the Enforcer choppers dead center. They explode, metal flying everywhere, and drop out of the sky to crash noisily offscreen far below.
Gritting his teeth, Feral signals with his hand and Felina pushes the control yoke forwards. Her and her uncle's chopper zoom off in pursuit of the Black Widow, followed by the remaining two. They fire, pelting the armored spider craft with the lasers. It doesn't seem to do anything except annoy Dark Kat, who selects and presses the off white button on the vehicle's control stick. The barrels on the gun rotate so that the bottom one is now on the top and it fires, not a laser, but a thick, sticky white gunk resembling a particularly runny spider web or perhaps an especially liquidy glue.
Blap, blap, blap! Three globs of this disgusting gunk fly at the approaching helicopters and ensnare their rotor blades. Try as they might, the blades can't turn, held fast. The copters drop. Fortunately, they're able to crashland on a rooftop with no damage beyond denting the underbelly and bending the rear wheel struts. We see the Enforcers - Feral and Felina in particular - emerge from their downed craft shaken but alive.
EXT. SKIES OVER MEGAKAT CITY - NIGHT
In the Black Widow, Dark Kat is especially pleased. His little viewscreen shows the crashed copters on the roof.
DARK KAT
So much for the Enforcers.
The Turbokat zooms into view on the screen.
DARK KAT
The SWAT Kats!
The Creeplings chitter anxiously.
DARK KAT
Don't worry, my Creeplings. If I'm right, then what I've put into motion since our last encounter with these pests will ensure that a certain Mr. Razor doesn't fire a single shot at us!
The Black Widow zooms along at top side with the Turbokat right behind it.
EXT. SKYSCRAPER - NIGHT
As before, the villain attempts to lose his pursuers by flying around a skyscraper, but T-Bone refuses to be shaken.
EXT. SKIES OVER MEGAKAT CITY - NIGHT
T-Bone closes the distance between them and the spider craft.
T-BONE
You won't get away from us this time, buddy!
(over his shoulder)
It's all yours, Razor! Take 'im down!
Razor frowns, still looking uncertain. He taps some buttons on his control panel and lines up a direct shot on the Black Widow through his target scope. His finger hovers over the firing button and... he hesitates! His frown deepens and he begins to sweat nervously a little bit. His hesitation doesn't go unnoticed.
T-BONE
What are you waiting for?!
RAZOR
(pained)
What if he dives out of the way again? What if I miss?
T-BONE
You've got to stop blaming yourself!
Ahead, Dark Kat loops up and around and comes down directly behind the Turbokat.
DARK KAT
He who hesitates is lost!
He presses a button and two front guns emerge from the Black Widow and fire twin torrents of the glop-like webbing directly into the Turbokat's engines, clogging them up completely. The jet makes a muffled whining noise and then the nose begins dipping down as it starts losing thrust. In the cockpit, T-Bone fights with the controls.
T-BONE
The thrusters are clogged! We're losing power!
He gasped as he sees they're in an uncontrolled dive towards a roof.
EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT
An office building of modest size with a rooftop helipad. The helipad may as well be a bullseye because the out of control Turbokat is diving right towards it!
T-BONE
We're going down!
FADE OUT
END OF ACT I
ACT II
EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT
We FADE IN on the Turbokat diving down towards the roof in a dramatic shot, trailing rivulets of the sticky webbing behind itself like disgusting tinsel or party streamers. In the cockpit, T-Bone is straining, pulling on the steering stick, gritting his teeth in desperation, eyes scrunched shut. Behind him, a wide-eyed Razor is bracing himself against the canopy frame for the impending impact.
RAZOR
Might I suggest--
T-BONE
(angry)
Not one word about ejecting!
(grimly resolved)
Either I pull us outta this dive or we're crashlanding on that roof!
Razor winces. T-Bone hasn't said it was his fault. Yet. But he doesn't need to.
T-BONE
(strained)
Come on, baby!
He presses some buttons and then pushes the throttle forwards as far as it'll go. The roof draws ever nearer.
T-BONE
Maximum thrusters!
That does the trick. The engines roar and manage to blow the webbing out. The sickly white goo sprays out every which way like boogers being sneezed from someone's nose. With that seen to, T-Bone jerks up harder on the stick and the Turbokat swoops up, narrowly avoiding colliding with the roof.
EXT. SKIES ABOVE MEGAKAT CITY - NIGHT
Both SWAT Kats breathe a huge sigh of relief.
T-BONE
(calmer but still angry)
All right, now where's--
The Black Widow is nowhere in sight.
T-BONE
Nuts! That flying spider pulled its disappearing act again!
Razor slumps his shoulders, looking down at his lap.
RAZOR
(softly, barely audible)
I'm sorry...
T-BONE
Huh?
RAZOR
(louder)
I said I'm sorry!
T-BONE
(really mad)
So am I!
Razor winces and sinks down in his seat a little more. T-Bone turns the jet around and begins flying them back home.
T-BONE
(more to himself than anything)
You were so worried about hurting someone else you almost got us killed!
Razor straightens a bit.
RAZOR
(defensive)
So...? What's wrong with being careful?
T-BONE
There's such a thing as being TOO careful! I...
(he trails off and scoffs)
We'll discuss it once we're back at the hangar. Where YOU'RE gonna help me clean that gunk outta the engines!
Razor sinks back down in his seat again, depressed.
INT. SWAT KATS' HIDEOUT - HANGAR
It's later. The jet sits in the hydraulic lift, which is currently lowered down into the launch area of the hideout. Standing on a stepladder, T-Bone is scrubbing vigorously at the engine intakes at the rear of the jet. A bucket of soapy water sits perched preaciously on the ladder's folding shelf. There's suds and bubbles everywhere. In addition, crumpled pages from the late edition of the Megakat Times lie scattered around on the floor amidst puddles of water. The big SWAT Kat is grunting and groaning as he really lays into the engines, trying to wash away the sticky spider web gunk. Although he's making progress, it's slow going. Razor is nowhere to be seen.
T-BONE
(grumbling)
Ech, and I thought the Ci-Kat-A puke was disgusting...
He pauses, lifting one hand. It drips in a mixture of soapy water and the runny white gunk. He shudders in disgust and resumes scrubbing.
T-BONE
(under his breath)
Why'd this guy have to pick a spider theme? Bugs, bugs, bugs! I hate bugs! Sticky, nasty...
(calls over his shoulder)
Razor! Get in here! I'm not scrubbing this sticky crud up all by myself!
(sighs)
Even though I think I got most of it out...
We hear an engine revving. Razor drives into view on the Cyclotron and stops. T-Bone stops working and turns to look at him, raising an eyebrow.
RAZOR
Then you won't be needing me for a while.
T-BONE
And where are you going?
RAZOR
I dunno. Out.
T-BONE
"Out?"
He tosses the sponge he's been using into the bucket with a plop and starts climbing down.
RAZOR
I need some fresh air. Time to think.
T-BONE
About what...?
RAZOR
What I'm gonna do with my life.
T-Bone, getting off the ladder, doesn't lik where this is going. Grabbing a rag, he begins wiping his hands.
T-BONE
(gently)
Look, Razor, I know I got angry before, but--
RAZOR
Maybe it's time this became a Radical Squadron of one.
T-Bone reels at this, standing there gawking while holding the rag.
RAZOR
First those two Enforcers... then that old couple... and now my gutless hesitation almost got both of us killed, too.
T-BONE
Razor, you can't quit! You--
(winces and sighs)
Look, we knew going into this it was always a risk that bystanders might get hurt. Or worse. And the same thing would've happened if we'd stayed in the Enforcers and by some miracle Feral had let us fly again. Accidents happen. I know they're awful but there's just sometimes nothing you can do about it.
RAZOR
It's one thing when it's a hypothetical. But when it actually happens...
T-Bone frowns, seeing his friend is really having an emotional crisis.
RAZOR
Those Enforcers were one thing. As bad at that was, this is worse. I didn't have to look at them on the news being carted out of a building I blew up. But with this poor old couple, the Clawvers... well, it's really bringing a lot of things home for me.
T-BONE
You think you're the only one who's ever screwed up? People miss.
RAZOR
Not me. Not "Sureshot" Clawson.
He drives the Cyclotron around, heading for the exit.
T-BONE
Hey, what happens if that spidery creep shows up again...?
RAZOR
You'll handle it better without me. I'm only putting you and innocent people in danger.
Revving the engine, he speeds off. T-Bone holds out one hand, still coated in the sticky webbing.
T-BONE
Razor, wait!
But Razor has already zoomed off.
T-BONE
Aw, crud. Man... this whole thing has really gotten him rattled.
He looks down at the newspaper and picks up the front page, showing an article about the building being destroyed, complete with a big black and white photo of the destroyed warehouse.
T-BONE
Hmm. Maybe if I can go down there and find something proving he isn't to blame, he'll come to his senses.
EXT. CITY HALL - NIGHT
Establishing shot of the clocktower against the night sky, the moon big in the background.
MANX
(V.O.)
This is a PR nightmare!
INT. CITY HALL - MANX'S OFFICE
Mayor Manx paces around restlessly. Observing him are Callie and D.A. Mills.
MANX
It's all over the news!
On his desk is the same copy of Megakat Times T-Bone had.
MANX
And that's just the late edition! Imagine what those muckracking journalists will do with this once they've had time to think up some REALLY good copy!
He gestures broadly with one hand, as though marking out an imaginary headline in the air.
MANX
"SWAT Kats Mangle Slaughter Senior Citizens!"
CALLIE
(dryly)
The Clawvers are still alive, Mr. Mayor.
Mills looks at her.
MILLS
I don't think it matters. The Mayor has tacitly endorsed the SWAT Kats on multiple occasions. They've caused massive property damage before... and then there was that incident involving the Behemoth and the two men in Commander Feral's tank--
CALLIE
(bristling)
I'm well aware of that, Mr. Mills. As tragic as that was, it was still mostly Hard Drive's faukt. The SWAT Kats had no way of determining which way the Behemoth would go once he lost control of it.
MILLS
(conceding)
A fair point.
(he lifts a finger)
But now we have an incident where by accident or design the incident is unquestionably the SWAT Kats' fault. And, worse, we have two very photogenic faces. The Clawvers are upstanding citizens. A kindly old grandma and grandpa. And we've got witnesses.
(he sighs)
Even if the SWAT Kats aren't to blame... the optics on this is awful.
CALLIE
I realize that, Mills, but--
MANX
(interrupting)
I've heard enough! Mr. Mills, swear out a warrant for the SWAT Kats' arrest! Tell Commander Feral I want them in cuffs before morning!
Callie and the D.A. wince and recoil.
MILLS
(aghast)
Right now...? But, sir, what about the robberies?
CALLIE
The District Attorney is right! Whoever is piloting that spider vehicle is a much bigger threat than the SWAT Kats. No matter what Feral and those so-called eyewitnesses claim, at worst, what the SWAT Kats did was an accident.
MILLS
Exactly, Mr. Mayor. THIS maniac is robbing research labs left and right deliberately and shooting down the Enforcers. Surely he is a bigger priority.
Manx flops into his chair and sighs, looking thoroughly emotionally worn out.
MANX
Fine. After this villain is taken care of then.
Nodding, Mills leaves the room and Callie follows him.
INT. CITY HALL - HALLWAY
Callie and the D.A. walk down the hall.
CALLIE
Thanks. I appreciate what you did back there.
MILLS
I didn't do it for you. Or for the SWAT Kats. I did it for Megakat City. Better that the Mayor focuses on an actual threat and not two reckless vigilantes clumsily trying to make the world a better place.
(sighs)
I don't want to have to do it, Callie, but I will see to it Feral arrests the SWAT Kats if Manx orders me to.
CALLIE
But in the meantime, they've been granted a stay of execution, so to speak. I've got time to prove they're innocent.
MILLS
If I were you, I'd start with that warehouse and see if it really blew up due to their missiles. And take a good, hard look at these so-called eyewitnesses. If you ask me, they seem to have some kinda grudge against your heroes.
EXT. LARGE WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
A big warehouse sitting on the outskirts of town. It isn't run down. A sign on the locked gate reads "Private Property."
INT. LARGE WAREHOUSE - HANGAR AREA
Dark Kat watches as the kommando-kats assemble the Mega-Katalytic Konverter and install it in the Black Widow. They're making various modifications to the vehicle, so that it is as least twice as large as it was before. In particular, they appear to be reinforcing the tentacular limbs so that they can be used as actual legs to allow the vehicle to stand up and walk rather than fly.
DARK KAT
I’m almost ready to strike.
Reaching inside his robes, he takes out a communicator.
DARK KAT
(into the comm)
This is Dark Kat. Report, Castorp.
The face of Castorp appears on a tiny screen.
CASTORP
Yes sir. Ilsa and I have been doing as you instructed. It wasn't easy on such short notice, but as soon as you called us we got down to the warehouse district and started selling the version of events you wanted.
DARK KAT
Indeed. I've seen the two of you on the news. Just be careful not to oversell it, lest someone get suspicious of you.
CASTORP
Yes sir. What are your further instructions for us?
Dark Kat ponders a moment, watching the assembly of the newer, bigger, badder Black Widow as his mental gears turn. Then he grins.
CASTORP
Go to the hospital. Kill the old couple. Blame it on the SWAT Kats.
CASTORP
As you command, Dark Kat.
He severs the communication and Dark Kat pockets it. Nearby, the kommando-kats have finished. With a clanking, whirring whine, the enormous spider vehicle rises up on its eight segmented mechanical legs.
DARK KAT
The time has come! Now, to find some power to complete the conversion of my Black Widow!
EXT. LARGE WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
A big corrugated metal door opens and the Black Widow emerges. Crossing the property, it nimbly steps over the fence and begins stomping towards Megakat City in the distance.
EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - NIGHT
The destroyed warehouse is as we last saw it. A single Enforcer cruiser sits parked by the curb, its roof and fender lights flashing slowly. T-Bone stealthily sneaks across the street. Pausing by the cruiser, he peers inside. It's empty. There's no sign of the driver.
EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
The battered chain link fence has been locked and Enforcer crime scene tape is everywhere. Giving the barbed wire along the top of the fence a wary look, T-Bone, whose hands are now finally cleaned of the spider gunk, brings up his Glovatrix. A miniature blowtorch is deployed and ignites, and he uses it to cut through the lock. It snaps apart and the chain rattles noisily to the ground. T-Bone flinches at the sound which is tremendous in the nighttime silence.
T-BONE
(under his breath)
The whole city probably heard that...
He crossed the parking lot, which is overgrown with weeds, and enters the ruined warehouse.
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE
Taking out a flashlight, T-Bone shines it around.
T-BONE
There must be some clues here someplace.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure creeps up behind him and swings a huge pair of bolt cutters! He yelps and leaps aside, and the figure swings the cutters at him again. The flashlight is knocked aside and sent spinning away. With a kick, T-Bone knocks his attacker's bolt cutters out of their hand and tackles them. The two opponents roll around on the floor until they end up in the beam of the dropped flashlight and the big SWAT Kat gasps as he sees his opponent is... Callie!
T-BONE
(surprised)
Ms. Briggs! What're you doin' here?
CALLIE
Same thing as you, I suspect. Looking for clues.
(grim)
Mayor Manx is really considering coming down hard on you guys over this. I'd hoped to find something that would exonerate you and Razor. No such luck so far.
T-BONE
Well, we did both just get here.
A second flashlight beam flicks on and plays over them. Felina emerges from the shadows, flashlight in one hand, laser pistol in the other.
FELINA
That makes three of us.
CALLIE
Lieutenant Feral!
FELINA
(smirks)
My uncle assigned me to guard the crime scene. I was considering poking around in here myself when I heard a ruckus. I guess it was you two.
She holsters her gun.
T-BONE
Well, what're we waitin' for? Let's get to searchin'. Let's hope we can find something your Enforcer crime scene boys missed.
He grabs his flashlight and the three search around the wreck, but don't manage to find anything. T-Bone looks angry and disappointed.
T-BONE
Nothin'.
FELINA
Then I guess it really was an accident...
CALLIE
But what about those two people on the news?
T-Bone eyes her.
T-BONE
Those two creeps sayin' we did it in purpose? I've been thinkin' a lot about them.
CALLIE
Me too.
FELINA
So have I. Even my uncle seems to find them a little sketchy, but he's none too reluctantly swallowing their story.
Switching off his flashlight, T-Bone pockets it.
T-BONE
I wonder what their angle is.
FELINA
Well, if this really was an accident, then they're either just causing controversy to get their five minutes of fame... or they're deliberately trying to make you SWAT Kats look bad.
T-BONE
You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?
CALLIE
If they're deliberately trying to ruin your reputation, then they're probably working for whoever is flying around in the creepy spider ship.
T-BONE
At any rate, we need to get this problem solved and fast. Razor's lost his edge.
The other two are in disbelief.
T-BONE
He ran off. He was talking about needing a big change in his life... I sure hope he doesn't mean he intends to quit.
The walkie-talkie on Felina's belt beeps. She answers it.
FELINA
(into the radio)
Lieutenant Feral.
FERAL
(through the radio)
Felina! Get your tail here immediately! That joker in the spider ship is back...
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Feral stands on a street corner beside his parked cruiser, watching as the giant Black Widow walks by. The entire ground shakes. CITIZENS flee screaming in all directions.
FERAL
(into the radio)
...and his vehicle has doubled in size! He's headed for the Megakat Power Substation!
FELINA
(through the radio)
Roger!
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE
Felina returns the walkie-talkie to her belt.
FELINA
Seems like our enemy is really doubling down on his destructive rampage!
CALLIE
He must've been using the items he stole from those labs to customize and improve his vehicle! Megakat City could be totally destroyed!
T-BONE
(jerks a thumb at himself)
Not if I've got anything to say about it!
He runs off.
EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
T-Bone runs out of the building. Felina and Callie linger in the doorway.
CALLIE
(calling after)
What about Razor?
T-BONE
I'll just have to go into battle without 'im!
(to himself)
Much as I hate to!
Callie turns to Felina.
CALLIE
You go help your uncle, Lieutenant. I'll go look for Razor. Knowing him, I have a hunch about where he might be...
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Razor zooms along on the Cyclotron, pulling up to:
EXT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT
A large, very modern-looking hospital. Rather than go in through the front entrance, Razor drives around the side to the rear. Observing him from across the street are Castorp and Ilsa, the young couple who are in league with Dark Kat. Castorp looks at Razor through a pair of high-tech binoculars. These he lowers with a smirk as the thin SWAT Kat vanishes around the corner on the Cyclotron. He turns to Ilsa.
CASTORP
It's him.
(mockingly)
Probably comin' by to say how sorry he is.
ILSA
What do we do now?
CASTORP
We have ourselves an unbeatable opportunity here, Ilsa. Forget the old farts. Razor's our new target.
He grins evilly.
CASTORP
Dark Kat will pay us extra to get rid of him. Permanently.
They both laugh cruelly and Ilsa reaches into her purse, taking out a laser pistol. She checks it, then returns it to her purse and then she and her boyfriend cross the street towards the front entrance.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - PATIENTS' ROOM
The elderly couple are lying in twin hospital beds facing a TV which is playing a game show. They're both in hospital gowns and snuggled under the blankets. We can see that Valerie Clawver's arm in is a cast.
HOST
(on T.V.)
And behind curtain number three is a year's supply of hairball eliminator!
A vapidly smiling VANNA WHITE-LIKE ASSISTANT gestures to the product onscreen. Max Clawver, who has the remote, grumbles in irritation and starts channel surfing. His wife snores placidly beside him. The door opens. Pausing in his clicking, Max turns as a NURSE enters. We can see an ENFORCER COMMANDO out in the hall on guard duty. The elderly couple are under police protection.
NURSE
Just checking in on you two. Is there anything you need?
MAX
Nah, thanks, honey. I'm fine. The wife's out like a light.
He gestures at the old lady. She snorts loudly in her sleep.
MAX
Unless the hospital's got a better cable package, there's nothin' else you can do for me.
He smiles good-naturedly, though his eyes are sad. The nurse nods.
NURSE
Well, I'll be right outside if you need me, and so will the guard.
She departs but leaves the door open a crack.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - LOBBY
Two more ENFORCER COMMANDOS are on guard duty down here. Another NURSE is sitting boredly behind the front desk. She's doing her nails and doing her best to ignore one of the more amorous of the commandos as he attempts unsuccessfully to flirt with her. This goes unnoticed by Sergeant Talon, who is standing at the other end of the lobby. The front door whooshes open and the young couple enter. They don't notice Talon but he notices them. He frowns, watching them head towards the elevators.
As they pass the front desk, Ilsa catches one of the commandos' attention. He grins and whistles at her. She smirks, although Castorp glares daggers at the Enforcer. Taking her arm, he ushers her forward a little more rapidly. They get aboard the elevator. Talon walks over suspiciously as the door closes, wondering if he recognizes them. Then he notices the way his men are behaving.
TALON
(curtly)
Cut that out.
The two commandos jerk to attention, looking sheepish.
TALON
Keep your mind on your business.
He walks off.
EXT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT
Parking and getting off the Cyclotron, Razor removes a package from inside one of the vehicle's side storage compartments.
RAZOR
(muttering to himself)
Aw, Razor, what are you doing...? This is a bad idea. This entire hospital is crawling with Enforcers.
Tucking the bundle under his arm, he aims up with his Glovatrix and fires a grappling line up. Ir grabs the sill of the window in the old couple's room. Razor then tracts the cable and shoots up.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY
The commando guarding the door fidgets impatiently. His walkie-talkie beeps and he answers it.
TALON
(through the radio)
Control to 4-9. Got a couple of suspicious characters who just got on the elevator down here. If they turn up on your floor, report to me immediately.
COMMANDO
(into the radio)
Yes sir.
He re-attaches the radio to his belt.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - PATIENTS' ROOM
Perching on the sill, Razor gingerly opens the window and climbs in behind the beds. Gently, he unwraps the package. A bouqet of flowers and a box of candy. Sensing him, Max Clawver turns and starts, but doesn't yell for the guard. He merely looks shocked and gives a gasp. At this, his wife starts awake.
VALERIE
(snorting)
Huh? Wha--? Max, what's going on?
MAX
(angry)
It's one of those SWAT Kats who bombed that building!
Razor moves around to the foot of the beds, flowers and candy in hand.
VALERIE
It's your fault we're in here!
Her husband holds up a hand for silence. She shuts up. Razor looks so heart-wrenchingly pitiful that the old folks refrain from summoning the Enforcer guard a little bit longer, willing to hear him out if nothing else. Or at least Max is.
RAZOR
(hesitant)
I... I came to apologize.
(getting more confident)
Despite what the news is saying, I swear we... I... didn't mean to hit that old warehouse on purpose. It was totally an accident.
Max narrows his eyes.
MAX
Hmm...
He points at Razor.
MAX
And now you want us to forgive ya...?
RAZOR
(not daring to hope)
Well...
VALERIE
Forget it!
MAX
(angrily)
Valerie!
His wife shoots him an angry glare. He glares back, then turns to Razor.
MAX
You shouldn't have come here. You should go. This whole thing... it's just too recent for us. Too raw.
He jerks a thumb back at the open window.
MAX
Just get out. Go. We won't call the guard... but go now. And please don't come back.
Razor moves away, setting the flowers and candy on a bedside table. The commando at the door notices movement out of the corner of his eye through the cracked open door. He turns and eases the door open a little more, hefting his laser rifle.
COMMANDO
Everything okay in here?
Valerie starts to say something, but her husband shakes his head. She frowns but doesn't say anything. Razor is safely out of the Enforcer's line of sight.
MAX
Nothin', officer.
COMMANDO
(a little unconvinced)
Sure. Goodnight.
He exits, but leaves the door open a little further than the nurse did.
MAX
(quietly)
Now get lost. We won't call 'im off again.
Razor nods sadly.
RAZOR
Thanks for hearing me out, at least.
The elderly couple say nothing. Razor is in the middle of climbing out the window when the screen on the TV changes to show an emergency Kat's Eye News bulletin.
NEWSCASTER
(on TV)
We interrupt this program with a special bulletin!
Hesitating, Razor watches along with the old couple as somewhat grainy images of the modified Black Widow attacking a building that looks like a power station play onscreen. Surrounding the building are a cordon of Enforcer Peacekeeper tanks and halftracks with mounted laser howitzers. They fire up at the huge spider vehicle.
NEWSCASTER
(on TV)
These pictures are being broadcast live from a Megakat City electric substation, where the Enforcers are engaged in an all out war against the mysterious spider craft!
Razor hesitates.
RAZOR
I've got to help!
Max Clawver frowns and rolls his eyes. His wife scoffs.
VALERIE
Go ahead, sonny. Hurt some more innocent bystanders.
RAZOR
(sadly)
You’re right, I still can’t risk it...
Max has had it.
MAX
Now, Val, there's no reason to provoke--
Suddenly the commando at the door comes back in, having heard the news bulletin. He wants to watch the TV. He notices Razor. Razor flinches and goes wide-eyed.
COMMANDO
Hey!
He points his gun at the SWAT Kat.
COMMANDO
Hold it!
Razor lifts his arms in surrender.
COMMANDO
Come on!
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY
The commando backs up into the hallway with his rifle up. Razor follows, hands still raised. Motioning with the barrel of his weapon, the Enforcer makes Razor turn and stand with his back facing the other end of the hallway with ends a "T" junction near the stairs and elevators. We see Castorp and Ilsa poke their heads around the corner. Razor doesn't. All his attention is focused on the Enforcer currently arresting him. The commando gets on his radio.
COMMANDO
(into the radio)
4-9 to Control! You'll never believe what I've caught!
He grins triumphantly. Razor narrows his eyes at him. Suddenly, the commando's expression changes. Lowering the gun slightly and dropping the radio, which clatters to the floor, he runs at Razor. Reflexively, the thin SWAT Kat backs up, but the Enforcer isn't attacking him.
COMMANDO
Look out!
Grabbing Razor's shoulder, he propels him roughly to one aside against the wall as a laser blast flies back. We then see that Ilsa has drawn her laser pistol and had fired at Razor. She and the Enforcer exchange laser fire as Razor crouches stunned against the far wall.
The commando gets hit in the shoulder. With a groan, he goes flying back to lie sprawled on the floor. He doesn't get up. However, he continues groaning aloud to let us know he's alive. Jerking up, Razor gasps as he recognizes the young couple. Ilsa fires at him with her gun. His Glovatrix extends its shield to deflect her blasts. Behind her, her boyfriend Castorp also draws a small laser pistol of his own.
At this point, a DOCTOR and the nurse from before walk around a corner. Seeing the Enforcer lying on the floor, they rush towards him, heedless of the laser fire. Razor yells over to them.
RAZOR
Get back!
Still keeping his shield up, he grabs them and bustles them into the old couple's room.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - PATIENTS' ROOM
The doctor and nurse are forced inside.
RAZOR
Keep the door shut and don't come out until it's safe!
The old couple exchange glances.
EXT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT
Callie Briggs' green sedan pulls up and stops. Callie gets out. She looks up at the building, then slams her car door and goes inside.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - LOBBY
The Enforcers are in alert mode. Talon is trying to raise the upstairs commando on the radio.
TALON
(into the radio)
Control to 4-9! Come on!
There's no answer. Callie heads for the elevator. Talon stops her.
TALON
Sorry, Deputy Mayor, but we have an emergency situation! I can't allow you to go upstairs!
As soon as he turns his attention back to trying to raise his man on the radio, though, Callie sneaks into the stairwall.
EXT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY
Retracting his shield, Razor takes aim at the two villains.
RAZOR
Mini Turboblades!
The projectiles shoot forth and knock the guns from both hoods' hands. They gasp, then growl, and charge headlong at him. They begin using a variety of martial arts moves against him, all of which he either ducks, dodges of deflects. Ilsa throws a punch. Razor ducks and swings his own fist, which connects with her jaw. She goes flying back and smacks against the wall. Castorp swings his leg. Razor catches his foot and twists it, flipping the guy. He thuds to the floor and lies there stunned.
Panting, Razor goes to the Enforcer commando on the floor and gets the handcuffs from his utility belt, using these to cuff Ilsa. Suddenly he's jumped from behind by Castorp, who recovered quicker than he anticipated. He gets Razor in a headlock.
CASTORP
Die!
RAZOR
(choked)
Why are you... ackkk... doing this?!
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - PATIENTS' ROOM
Those inside the room are watching the fight through the window in the door.
CASTORP
(straining)
This was all a setup! We wanted to rattle your nerves! To destroy your self-confidence! And now I'm gonna destroy YOU!
The old couple look shocked. Valerie covers her mouth.
EXT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY
The struggle continues.
RAZOR
(choked)
But why...?!
CASTORP
Our boss said to!
Razor manages to wrestle free and he delivers another punch to the hood's jaw. He goes reeling, but recovers, managing to remain standing. At this point, a bored-looking ORDERLY comes 'round the corner pushing an empty gurney. With a snarl, Castorp rushes at Razor and tackles him. They go flying and land on the gurney. With a yelp, the orderly leaps away and the wheeled platform goes shooting off down the hall uncontrollably with the two kats atop it punching, kicking and smacking one another. Castorp is on top, keeping Razor's Glovatrix arm pinned as he punches the sweating SWAT Kat repeatedly in the face.
As they progress down the hallway, various PATIENTS emerge from their rooms to see what all the noise is, then leap back inside as the gurney shoots past. A JANITOR mopping the floor dodges aside as the gurney hits and overturns his bucket of dirty mop water. Still another NURSE, emerging from a room with a tray of little plastic cups filled with medication, jerks back with a shriek as Razor and his opponent go shooting past, the tray flipping up, sending pills flying every which way.
At the opposite end of the hall from the "T" junction is a room marked "Surgery." The gurnery smashes through the big swinging double doors.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - SURGERY DEPARTMENT
The startled TECHNICIAN and ORDERLY on duty jerk up from their seats as the gurnery flies past, passing behind a large "Kat-scan" X-ray screen. The technician grabs a telephone and presses a red button as the orderly watches the gurney passing behind the screen in front of them, awestruck at the sight of two skeletons punching one another.
TECHNICIAN
(into the phone)
Get me security!
The gurney continues on and barrels through another set of double doors marked "Operating Room - No Admittance."
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - OPERATING ROOM
The gurnery crashes into the operating table and overturns, dumping both opponents to the floor. They yell.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY
Callie emerges from the stairwell and gasps as she sees the commando lying on the floor. Only one of the dropped laser pistols is in sight, though, because the recovered Ilsa, her wrists still cuffed, has grabbed the other one and is racing off down the hallway towards the surgery department. Grabbing both Castorp's weapon and the unconscious commando's laser rifle, Callie hurries off in pursuit. The door to the old couple's room opens and the doctor and nurse peek out fearfully.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL - OPERATING ROOM
Razor lies groggily on the floor alongside the overturned turned. Hearing a whirring noise, he turns. Castorp stands over over him wielding a huge bone saw. He rolls out of the way as it comes down in an arc, striking the floor where he had been lying mere seconds before, leaving a huge gash with sparks.
Razor scrambles to his feet. As Castorp to swing again, Razor deftly leaps back. He kicks the bone saw out of the guy's hand and it goes flying away to land with a clank on the floor where it lies sputtering, the rotating blade eating a groove in the tile floor. Razor tries to raise his Glovatrix to fire, but Castorp knocks his arm down and shoves him backwards. Staggering, Razor slams against the operating table, gasping as his attacker grabs a scalpel.
Castorp leaps onto Razor, pinning his Glovatrix arm against the edge of the table. He jabs down with the scalpel but the thin SWAT Kat catches his wrist with his other hand, stopping the gleaming blade inches from his eyes. They struggle like this for several moments, Razor keeping the surgical instrument from plunging into his eye and his opponent keeping his Glovatrix pinned. Being on top and pushing down rather than on the bottom pushing up, Castorp, grinning wildly, is slowly winning. The scalpel blade inches closer and closer to Razor's eye.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT II
ACT III
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - OPERATING ROOM
Castorp, grinning maniacally, still has Razor pinned against the edge of the operating table and is inching the deadly surgical blade closer and closer to the SWAT Kat's eye. Suddenly, Razor makes a calculated last second move, releasing his enemy's wrist. As the startled Castorp slices down with the blade, Razor jerks his head to the side and the scalpel stabs not into his face but into the cushioned surface of the operating table. Then Razor re-grabs the startled villain's wrist.
In his surprise, Castorp loosens his grip on Razor's other arm, allowing him to wrench it free. His now freed Glovatrix arm flies up, fingers wrapping around his opponent's throat. Castorp gags and Razor is able to flip him around so he is now the one pinned against the table.
Even as Castorp tries to fumble for the scalpel and yank it free, Razor spots a tank of ether used to put patients under before an operation. Grabbing the clear plastic mask with a hose attached, he clamps it over the other kat's mouth and cranks the valve handle on the tank. There's a hiss. Reflexively, Castorp inhales, and Razor leaps back, panting. With a gasp, the young man rips the mask off, pulls the scalpel free, and pushes himself off of the table to resume the fight... but his movements are sluggish. He squints, trying to focus. From his P.O.V., Razor looks blurry.
After a moment or two, he staggers forwards, then drops the scalpel and collapses to the floor face down. Razor nudges him over onto his back, aiming his Glovatrix down at him. He doesn't get up. His chest gently rises and falls. He's completely unconscious. Razor sighs in relief.
RAZOR
Nighty-nighty, pal.
ILSA
(O.S.)
Nighty-night, yourself!
Razor turns and glances back. His opponent's accomplice, Ilsa, stands in the doorway. Despite the fact her wrists are handcuffed, she's holding her laser pistol, pointing it directly at Razor. She's got him dead to rights.
RAZOR
(sardonically)
I should've cuffed your hands behind your back...
ILSA
(smug)
The last mistake you'll ever make, SWAT Kat.
Suddenly, the double doors fly open. Callie leaps in, holding the Enforcer commando's laser rifle, Castorp's laser pistol jammed into her suit pocket. Startled, Ilsa turns... and takes the butt of the commando's rifle to the jaw. She staggers back wildly towards Razor, managing to keep ahold of her gun. Managing to conceal his surprise at Callie's sudden appearance for the moment, Razor knocks the gun from Ilsa's hand with a downwards karate chop, then punches her in the face. She staggers back over to Callie, who reels back her fist. Pow! The dazed female villain flies back to land sprawled alongside her boyfriend. She groans and lies still. Callie covers both of them with the Enforcer rifle.
RAZOR
(still managing to hide his surprise)
Thanks, Ms. Briggs. That was one in a million. If you hadn't shown up when you did, I would've been a goner.
CALLIE
Glad I got here in time.
She smiles.
CALLIE
I figured you'd come here. To talk to the old couple.
Razor nods and rubs the back of his head a little sheepishly. Irritated by the still whirring bone saw, he goes and unplugs it. The blade winds down. For a moment, the room is totally silent.
CALLIE
Listen, you need to get out of here. The downstairs lobby is crawling with Enforcers. Including that Sergeant who's always with Feral. He and his men will be up here any minute, and probably in a mood to cuff you first and ask questions later. And right now Megakat City really needs you up there in the Turbokat with T-Bone.
RAZOR
What about them?
He indicates the unconscious young couple.
CALLIE
(smirks)
I'll handle things and smooth things over with the Sergeant downstairs while you slip out.
RAZOR
(managing a grin)
Thanks again, Ms. Briggs!
He rushes out.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY
As Razor rushes down the hall, the door to the elderly couple's room opens and Max Clawver, walking with the aid of a crutch because his leg is in a cast, and supported by the doctor and the nurse, emerges. The injured Enforcer commando from before is now seen sitting up, dazed but okay and clutching his shot arm.
MAX
Hold up, SWAT Kat!
Razor pauses.
RAZOR
Make it quick, old timer. I gotta split.
Leaving Max with the nurse, the doctor goes and begins tending to the hurt Enforcer.
MAX
(angry but emotional)
I still can't say I entirely support what it is you and your friend do. I think that you really ought to leave defending the city to the Enforcers. Most of the time, anyway. But this is one of those times when I think they can really use some help.
(calming down a bit)
And I suppose I forgive you for accidentally blowing up that building. I guess not everyone's perfect. Everyone makes mistakes and accidents are unavoidable.
(manages a smile)
You SWAT Kats are the only ones who can defeat that spider thing. So hop to it. Get back out there and help your friend.
(pleading)
Save Megakat City.
Razor nods, gives him a thumbs-up, and hurries off.
EXT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT
An Enforcer commando walking around the rear of the building finds the Cyclotron and gets on his radio.
COMMANDO #2
(into the radio)
3-7 to Control! I found the SWAT Kats' motorcycle parked behind the--
TALON
(through the radio)
Nevermind that, get inside right now!
COMMANDO #2
(into the radio)
Yes sir!
He rushes off. A moment later, Razor climbs down from above and gets on the bike. Firing it up, he speeds off into the night. Around front, Enforcer cruisers, sirens wailing, screech up to the front of the hospital.
INT. MEGAKAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY
Sergeant Talon, holding a laser rifle, leads several commandos down the hall towards the surgery area, when suddenly the doors open and Callie wheels the two unconscious hoodlums bound in surgical tape, strapped securely to the gurney. The Enforcers skid to a halt, blinking in surprise.
TALON
Ms. Briggs...!
CALLIE
Book these two!
Talon frowns.
TALON
On what charges?
CALLIE
For attempted murder.
The Sergeant turns and glances at the wounded commando being tended to by the doctor. Max, the nurse stil helping him stand upright, staggers forwards, gesturing wildly with his crutch.
MAX
She's right! And that's not all! Everything these two have been sayin' on the news is a filthy lie! My wife and I heard everything!
The doctor and nurse chime in as well. Glowering, Talon turns, then nods to his men.
TALON
Take 'em.
(to Callie)
I'll take that.
He holds out his hand for the rifle, which Callie hands over, along with the laser pistol. She smiles and crosses her arms as the commandos come forward to get the gurney.
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER SUBSTATION - NIGHT
The newscaster's description of "all-out war" was quite apt. A defending cordon of Enforcer Peacekeeper tanks and halftracks with accompanying Enforcer commando support troops surrounds the substation, firing at the relentlessly approaching Black Widow. The blasts from the tanks' double-barrelled laser cannons and the huge laser-howitzers mounted on the halftracks either sail harmlessly past it or, when they do connect, seem to do nothing against the enormous vehicle's heavily armored hull. The fire from the commandos' rifles and shoulder-mounted rocket launchers do even less.
Inside the Black Widow, Dark Kat is seated in the now much larger forward control area. The chair is the same but the controls are different. He now drives the enormous vehicle with two levers on either side of the throne-like chair which he moves back and forth. An array of glowing computer monitors and control stations manned by the Creeplings is set a few feet ahead of and slightly below where he's sitting. The low, narrow viewport provides an unobstructed view of the substation ahead, getting ever nearer as the spider ship stomps closer and closer. The defending Enforcers are also visible, but Dark Kat is paying them no mind.
That job is reserved for the kommando-kats. In the enlarged rear area of the Black Widow (in the huge spiked metal "abdomen") is a narrow walkway lit from below. To either side are banks of control stations with swivel chairs bolted to the floor. In each chair sits a kommanto-kat. The silent, monkey-like underlings press various buttons and pulls various switches which control the huge vehicle's weapons. This include a top-mounted cannon that raises and lowers, similar in function to the original version of the vehicle's primary weapon which fires both lasers and artificial spider webbing, as well as various guns along the enormous metal spider's flanks. These pour laser fire down on the Enforcers, blasting tanks and halftracks to bits. Other vehicles are ground underfoot by the enormous metal feet.
A few choppers fly past, blasting away. No dice. They nimbly move to avoid the return fire. A supersonic roar fills the air. Enforcer jets swoop down and pummel the Black Widow with laser fire, bombs and missiles. Still nothing.
It soon becomes obvious that the fight to keep Dark Kat from reaching his goal is lost. Nevertheless, as the Black Widow moves past them, the Enforcer commandos pick themselves up and fire defiantly after it. The remaining tanks and halftracks likewise turn around to fire in that direction as well. It does nothing. The villains aren't even returning fire in defense anymore.
Dark Kat has reached his goal.
Grinning wickedly, he brings the vehicle to a halt and presses a button on the armrest of his chair. In addition to the eight segmented metal legs, jointed robotic pedipalps sit beside the decorative mandibles of the spider just below the cockpit viewport. These terminate in three-clawed "hands." When Dark Kat presses the button, the pedipalps jerk forward and grab the roof of the substation and jerk it upwards, ripping it free, lifting it cleanly away in one piece as one would take the lid off of a shoebox. The Enforcers gawk in astonishment.
The interior of the building is now exposed. Dark Kat signals to his Creeplings. Giggling, one of them pulls a switch. Two thin cables, similar to the manipulating pedipalps, ending in clawed grabbers, shoot forth and down into the power substation interior.
INT. MEGAKAT POWER SUBSTATION - MAIN POWER PLANT AREA
There's nobody here. Everyone has been evacuated. The clawed cables snake down towards their target: the two electrodes of the big Kenneth Strickfadden-esque generator. They grab ahold of them.
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER SUBSTATION - NIGHT
The Creeplings continue giggling and flick more switches.
INT. MEGAKAT POWER SUBSTATION - MAIN POWER PLANT AREA
The generator lights up. Electricity begins travelling from it up the cables towards the Black Widow towering outside, sending the substation's power into the spider craft like jumper cables. The entire Black Widow begins glowing with a red aura and shuddering.
DARK KAT
(V.O.)
Feed, my little Black Widow, feed! Just a sip for now. Whet your appetite!
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER SUBSTATION - NIGHT
To the astonishment of the watching Enforcers, the brightly glowing Black Widow begins to visibly increase in size. Before, it was only slightly taller than the building it just tore the roof off of. Now, it is double, then tripling in size, so that it is bigger than all the surrounding buildings. As this happens, the lights in the surrounding are begin to dim and go out. Equally astonished, but excited, is Dark Kat. He throws his arms up in gleeful triumph as the red glow from outside bathes the vehicle interior in a throbbing crimson.
DARK KAT
Energy into mass! It's working! I was right! Thank you, Katalytic Laboratories!
He laughs wickedly. Even the control room around him is getting larger. The Creeplings chitter excitedly.
EXT. SKIES OVER MEGAKAT CITY - NIGHT
The Turbokat is racing towards the scene. T-Bone is anxiously sitting in the cockpit. He's trying without success to raise Razor on the radio.
T-BONE
(into the radio)
Razor, come in!
No response. T-Bone growls.
T-BONE
(into the radio)
This is your partner calling!
Still nothing yet.
T-BONE
Ugh, what a time to go solo!
Ahead, he sees the huge spider craft surrounded by its crimson aura.
T-BONE
What in the--?
His eyes widen.
T-BONE
Aw, no! That ugly spider thing is even bigger now!
He shivers and begins pressing buttons on the auxilliary weapons panel before him.
T-BONE
Well, solo or not, it's up to me to squash this big metal bug before it causes any more problems!
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER SUBSTATION - NIGHT
He fires a few missiles at the Black Widow. These have about as much luch as everything the Enforcers just got done throwing at it, which is zilch. Refusing to give up, T-Bone continues unloading everything he can think of into the mechanical beast. Said beast turns from the gutted building, the clawed jumper cables detaching from the generator but not retracting just yet. Their tips still crackle with electricity. The pedipalps are still holding the torn off roof, snd the Black Widow flings it at the approaching Turbokat.
T-BONE
(yelps)
Whoa!
He deftly dodges. The torn off substation roof sails past the jet and crashes to the street before, sending panicked CITIZENS fleeing in all directions. Glancing back to make sure no one was hurt or killed that he can see, a glowering T-Bone returns his attention to his enemy.
T-BONE
That the best you got, bug boy?!
This is heard by Dark Kat over his radio.
DARK KAT
(to himself)
No... this is!
He points to one of the Creeplings. It shrieks excitedly and pulls a switch. The jumper cables rise up like tentacles and from their tips fire bolts of electricity which strike the underside of the Turbokat, shorting out its electrical systems, sending T-Bone in a wild spin. Crackling with energy, he goes sailing past the Black Widow. Dark Kat laughs as he watches the jet go past.
T-BONE
Aghhh! What the? Power's out! Controls won’t respond!
He futzes with some switches.
T-BONE
Gotta switch to auxilliary power!
Back in the Black Widow, Dark Kat is extremely pleased with himself.
DARK KAT
The SWAT Kats are finished. Or soon will be. All that's left is to plug into the main electrical grid. Then the power to destroy Megakat City will be mine!
T-Bone manages to restore power to the jet and right himself before crashing. The crackling electrical aura around the Turbokat vanishes as it swoops around the gutted substation and flies back towards the Black Widow.
T-BONE
All right! I'm back in business!
Suddenly a voice comes over his radio.
DARK KAT
(through the radio)
Not for long, SWAT Kat!
T-Bone gasps.
T-BONE
Dark Kat! So... you're behind all this! I thought I recognized your ugly taste in that stupid bug thing's design!
DARK KAT
Insult me all you like! There's nothing you can do to stop me! Especially not without your partner!
T-BONE
(muttering under his breath)
He's right... this Radical Squadron of one is no match for this thing!
(aloud)
We'll see about that, Dark Crud!
DARK KAT
(laughing)
When will you SWAT Kats find something new to call me?
As the Turbokat swoops past the Black Widow, the clawed cables shoot forth and grab the jet by the rear portion of its wings, clamping tight, puncturing the metal. In the cockpit, T-Bone is jerked forward.
T-BONE
Aghh...! What the--?
He struggles to break free.
T-BONE
Gotta... break... free!!!
Try as he might, though, no matter how much the jet's engines strain, they can't break free from the claws' grasp. The cables' tensile strength is far too strong! The Black Widow begins reeling the Turbokat in slowly.
DARK KAT
(smug)
Seems the spider has caught the fly!
T-BONE
(a little scared)
Razor, where are you when I--
He doesn't even complete the sentence. His radio crackles.
RAZOR
(through the radio)
Hey, Big Purple!
T-Bone's eyes go wide. In the Black Widow, Dark Kat is equally astonished.
DARK KAT
It can't be!
Buzz-Saw Missiles fly in from offscreen and hit the cables. They snap with a "twang!" The Turbokat, free, roars forward. Gasping, T-Bone turns and glances over his shoulder. Sure enough, in a street near the substation, Razor sits heroically aside the Cyclotron. The motorcycle's side and top missile pods are raised. The top one(s) are smoking.
RAZOR
Why don'tcha scuttle off and frighten Little Miss Muffett?
Dark Kat growls.
DARK KAT
Foolish, ignorant SWAT Kat! By all the powers of darkness, I swear you'll pay for this with your miserable life! But not yet...
Turning, the Black Widow ambles off, away from the power station.
EXT. STREET "A" - NIGHT
Citizens flee before the approach of the titanic spider craft as it heads down the street.
DARK KAT
...first, my sweet Black Widow will drink its fill at the main power grid!
He laughs evilly. The main Megakat Power Station can be seen in the distance.
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER SUBSTATION - NIGHT
T-Bone swoops around and puts the jet in VTOL mode. Retracting the missile pods into the Cyclotron, Razor vrooms over.
RAZOR
Miss me, buddy?
T-BONE
More than you'll ever know, Sureshot! Now get your tail up here! We've got a spider to squash!
The Turbokat turns and the bomb bay opens. Razor presses a button on the Cyclotron's handlebar and a jointed ski-like protrusion shoots out from underneath the cycle, allowing it to "sproing" up into the air and through the open bay doors, which slam shut after it. They've barely closed before the jet zooms off.
EXT. SKIES OVER MEGAKAT CITY - NIGHT
The Turbokat flies through the night sky, the buildings whizzing past below. In the cockpit, Razor pops up behind T-Bone. The big SWAT Kat is grinning from ear to ear, excited.
T-BONE
Glad to have you got your edge back!
RAZOR
Yeah, well, it occurred to me that a squadron consisting of only one guy was kinda dumb. If you're wondering what made me change my mind, y'see--
T-BONE
(cutting him off)
Save it, buddy! There'll be time for stories AFTER we've taken Dark Kat down! ... IF we take him down.
He points ahead.
T-BONE
He's headin' for the main power plant!
EXT. STREET "B" - NIGHT
The Black Window's enormous metal feet crush cars and trucks underfoot. The clawed pedipalps spitefully smash in the sides of buildings. The Enforcers continue harassing the vehicle as it ambles along. Commandos lean out the rolled down passenger side windows of their cruisers, firing away with their laser rifles. Choppers making strafing and bombing runs, pounding the spider craft with everything they've got. Jets occasionally swoop down and pelt the surface of the vehicle with laser fire and missiles. In the lead jet, we see Felina and her uncle. Commander Feral is sitting in back, while his niece is flying.
FERAL
Get me in close, Lieutenant!
FELINA
Roger!
The Ferals' jet zooms past the Black Widow and hits it with everything its got. None of it seems to be doing anything except make the vehicle rock harmlessly from the impacts. The SWAT Kats observe all of this from the approaching Turbokat as the wake of destruction left by the spider vehicle passes beneath them.
RAZOR
The Enforcers can't stop 'im!
The cruisers the Black Widow ignores for the most part. Dark Kat is content to just grind them underfoot. Their occupants barely leap free in time, scrambling aside to the sidewalks. As for the aerial threats, the kommando-kat crew fire back. More than a few choppers are blasted out of the sky or have their rotor blades gummed up with goopy webbing and drop to the streets or land on rooftops. The nimble jets are luckier; most of them avoid the spider mech's fire but at least two get hit. One spirals and crashes headlong into the side of a building, where it promptly explodes. The other, the Ferals', makes a crashlanding in the street.
EXT. STREET "C" - NIGHT
Feral and Felina's jet skids along the pavement, leaving a trail of sparks. The wings take the sideview mirrors of several parked cars off. After a moment, the aircraft comes to a halt. The canopy slides open. Commander Feral, wearing his helmet, hops out, drawing his laser pistol in a useless but defiant gesture. He walks around to the back of the jet, watching the Black Widow stomping towards them. He raies his gun as though to fire, then hears the sound of his niece grunting and groaning.
FELINA
(strained)
Uncle, help...!
Feral whirls, eyes wide. Felina can't seem to unbuckle her seatbelt.
FELINA
I'm stuck!
FERAL
(worried)
Felina!
Holstering his gun, he runs over. He struggles with the harness keeping her in the seat, but it won't budge.
FERAL
Curse this stupid thing!
In the approaching Black Widow, Dark Kat is positively gleeful.
DARK KAT
Farewell, Commander Feral!
The vehicle's weapons train down on the Ferals, who look up, shocked. The Turbokat swoops in to the rescue.
T-BONE
Gotta save Felina!
RAZOR
(reminding)
And her uncle!
T-BONE
(pretending not to care)
Yeah, yeah, him too!
Razor smirks and peppers the spider craft with missiles. Blam! The Black Widow is rocked. Dark Kat is almost thrown forward out of his seat, grabbing the armrests. The vehicle continues walking forward, one huge foot raising to crush the downed Enforcer jet. In a split second, both Ferals get the exact same idea, and their hands go for the lever which activates the ejector seat. Commander Feral staggers back as Felina shoots up in her seat to safety, right before the huge metal foot comes down and grinds the jet to pieces.
Lying on his back, Feral rolls over and watches the Black Widow continue on down the street, then gets up and scans the skies for his niece. He sighs with relief when he sees her coming down with her ejector seat's parachute deployed. She lands right next to him.
The Turbokat flies past overhead.
T-BONE
Well, they're okay. But we gotta stop that spider thing before it gobbles up all a' Megakat City's curds and whey.
RAZOR
(chuckles)
T-Bone, you're a poet and didn't know it.
T-BONE
Huh?
RAZOR
Nevermind.
Whoosh! The Turbokat continues on after Dark Kat.
Meanwhile, Felina cuts herself free of her harness using a combat knife.
FELINA
Uncle, did you see that? The SWAT Kats tried to help us!
FERAL
(stubborn)
Yes, but they failed! And we saved ourselves!
Felina is exasperated. Some cruisers come speeding up and Commander Feral flags them down.
FERAL
Besides, you don't need to convince me that those two numbskulls are innocent...
Deferring to their Commander, the two commandos in one of the cruisers he flagged down get out, allowing him and Felina to get it. They shut the doors and Feral, driving, speeds off, the other cruisers following, sirens wailing.
FERAL
...I've just received word from the hospital. It turns out those two supposed "eyewitnesses" were fakes!
(scoffs)
Briggs is crowing about it!
FELINA
I knew it!
Feral eyes her.
FELINA
I mean, we suspected as much.
FERAL
"We?"
FELINA
T-Bone and I. And the Deputy Mayor.
FERAL
Ordinarily I like forethought and initiative in my officers, Felina, but in the future please refrain from conducting investigations behind my back. Especially with people I don't like.
Felina just smiles. Her uncle smiles back.
EXT. STREET "C" - NIGHT
The Black Widow stomps along. More senseless destruction as screaming citizens run all directions. Directly ahead lies the main power station.
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER - NIGHT
The main Megakat Power building is a huge building with a big neon sign that reads "Megakat Power" perched on the roof. It sits by itself in the middle of a huge fenced-in lot. As before, the parking lot is visibly empty save for Enforcer vehicles (more Peacekeepers, cruisers and halftracks), the employees having been evacuated. Surrounding the building are huge metal "mega-transformer" towers. Powerlines snake out from these to the surrounding areas of the city.
As the Black Widow approaches, Enforcer commandos perched on the roof fire with their lasers. A well-placed shot from a red laser beam blows them backwards. They fly offscreen, screaming. The vehicle's enormous metal spider legs dwarf the defending Enforcer vehicles on the ground. Apart from two tanks and a halftrack that get ground underfoot, Dark Kat is completely ignoring them at this point. They stop firing and watch in awe as the seemingly unstoppable Black Widow approaches the building.
Even at this huge size, the spider craft is still dwarfed by the power plant. A combination of punches from the pedipals, kicks from the foremost legs and a few blasts from lasers makes a hole in the front of the structure large enough for Dark Kat to just walk right on through, which we does.
The Turbokat swiftly approaches the scene.
T-BONE
Good thing you severed his cables so he can't--
INT. MEGAKAT POWER - MAIN POWER PLANT AREA
The interior of this building is much the same as the substation from before, only way bigger. The Black Widow ambles up to the Strickfadden-esque generator. Grinning, Dark Kat flips a switch. The severed cables detach and new ones with fresh clawed "hands" shoot forth and grab the electrodes. This is witnessed from outside by the approaching SWAT Kats.
RAZOR
You had to jinx it, didn't ya, buddy...?
DARK KAT
A tue mastermind always things ahead!
As before, the power being generated is converted into reddish evil energy that flows up the cables and envelopes the Black Widow. It begins to swell in size, growing larger and larger.
DARK KAT
Nothing can stop me now! The true night of the Dark Kat has begun!
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER - NIGHT
The lights in the surrounding buildings and beyond begin going out. The glowing "Megakat Power" sign dims and then goes dark.
EXT. MEGAKAT CITY - NIGHT
An overhead shot of the city reveals that lights are dimming for miles around, with Megakat Power as its epicenter!
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER - NIGHT
The gradual darkening of the city does not go unnoticed by the SWAT Kats.
RAZOR
Looks like Dark Kat's absorbing all the power from Megakat City! If he keeps this up, that spider thing of his will end being way too big even for us to deal with!
T-BONE
Then maybe we oughta cut 'im off!
RAZOR
Good idea!
INT. MEGAKAT POWER - MAIN POWER PLANT AREA
Still growing, the Black Widow's spiked back hits the ceiling...
EXT. MEGAKAT POWER - NIGHT
...and erupts through it! The "Megakat Power" sign falls and smashes to the ground and the entire building explodes in all directions in a cloud of dust and debris, revealing the now over one-hundred foot tall Black Widow! And it isn't showing any signs of stopping, still hooked up as it is to the electrodes.
The Turbokat swoops around. T-Bone points to one of the transformer towers.
T-BONE
We’ve got to cut his power source! Take out that mega-transformer tower!
RAZOR
Affirmative!
He flicks his target visor down.
T-BONE
(urgently)
You're only gonna get one shot, buddy...
RAZOR
(oozing confidence)
That's all I'm gonna need!
From his targeting visor's P.O.V., we see him line up a perfect shot with the transformer tower. Whoosh! Turboblades fly forwards and cut the tower's support struts. Sizzling and crackling, the tower teeters over, slowly at first, then gaining momentum, like a huge metal tree felled by a lumberjack. It smashes into the ground in a shower of sparks, the lines going from it to the other mega-transformer towers growing taut and, with a jerk, they too are pulled down. Soon most if not all of the towers surrounding the destroyed Megakat Power building have been taken out.
T-BONE
Now that's what I call cuttin' the power!
If Dark Kat is concerned about being prevented from draining ALL the power in the city, he isn't showing it. In fact, in his now even larger control room aboard his spider craft, he is positively ecstatic.
DARK KAT
You foolish SWAT Kats think you've stopped me? I already have all the energy I need to destroy Megakat City! Now watch as I pound this city into dust! I'll head for the nearest populated area with the highest visibility!
Turning, the spider craft walks away from the smoking ruins of Megakat Power. The Turbokat follows.
T-BONE
Razor, we've got to do something!
EXT. STEET "D" - NIGHT
The Black Widow makes the surrounding buildings shake as it passes. More shots of citizens running screaming in terror. This is seen in a shot over the shoulders of the Creeplings sitting at the front consoles of the cockpit/bridge area, rather like the OTS shot of General Veers and his pilots inside the Imperial walker in "The Empire Strikes Back" when they're routing the Rebels. Dark Kat spies something ahead that arrests his attention.
DARK KAT
Yes! Dead ahead!
He points.
DARK KAT
I'll cow the cringing citizens of this town into becoming my obedient subjects by destroying Megakat Park!
EXT. MEGAKAT PARK - NIGHT
The Black Widow enters the park, a vast expanse of gently rolling hills, stone pathways laid down with a lot of respect to the contours of the land, and tall oak trees. There's a huge lake in the middle, complete with a marina and several docks with moored speedboats and yachts. Megakat Park looks like the perfect place to bring the family for a picnic. Not tonight, though.
RAZOR
(O.S.)
He’s heading through Megakat Park!
He and T-Bone watch from their cockpit as the monstrous Black Widow leaves huge footprints at least six feet deep, and grinds trees and childrens' rides underfoot. In particular, we focus on its huge metal foot coming down on and crushing a merry-go-round. Fortunately, there's no kids on it. Or anyone anywhere else in the park at this time of night. Razor nevertheless winces and growls at the merry-go-round's obliteration, then glances around in desperation, spying the lake in the middle of the park. He looks back and forth between it and the Black Widow, realizing that the spider ship's path is going to take it past the lake. Grinning, he flips his target visor up.
RAZOR
I've got an idea!
EXT. LAKE - NIGHT
EXT. MEGAKAT PARK - NIGHT
END ACT III
THE END
