HE-MAN & THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

For fun I uploaded my script for the enormously successful animated TV series "He-Man & the Masters of the Universe". I created the TV show in 1982 and rebooted it and redeveloped it for the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the toy line in 2002.  As Creative Consultant on both series I did not want to write episodes but Mattel asked me to write at least one for the first season in the 21st century.  For those interested in animation, it will give you a good idea how animation screenplays are written.  Unfortunately ABC reformatted the spacing.  For your amusement I present:                       

                                                                                                                                                                                      "Of Machines and Men" (Exo Armor Episode)

Written by: Michael Halperin

Second Draft 1/15/03

 

ACT ONE

 

FADE IN:

 

EXT. KINGDOM OF MINTORA - DAY

 

PUSH IN on a CITY with LOW ROUND BUILDINGS constructed of HUGE, CHISELED BLOCKS.  They sit amidst LABYRINTHINE streets.  A TALL WATERFALL cascades behind the city.  ICE MOUNTAINS in BG.

 

 

EXT. COURTYARD, PALACE OF MINTORA - DAY

 

ROYAL WIND RAIDER (larger, enclosed version of the WIND RAIDER) rests on a COBBLE-STONED COURTYARD. MARLENA'S ROYAL GUARD stands by.

 

BG - PALACE OF MINTORA, also built of LARGE CHISELED BLOCKS, but rising 3 stories, soars up fronted by FOUR MASSIVE COLUMNS.  On top of the columns the HEAD OF A BULL. 

 

KESAR MINTOR (humanoid with features of a bull ala the Minotaur), King of Mintora, dressed in ROYAL TUNIC of WHITE and GOLD, waves his hand as:

 

WIND RAIDER takes off.

 

 

INT. VEHICLE - DAY

 

MARLENA in ROYAL ENVOY COSTUME - BLUE JACKET and SKIRT with GOLD DECORATIONS.  She wears LEATHER BOOTS.  At the moment she's on her COMMUNICATOR.

 

          MARLENA

     Randor, KESAR MINTOR, King of

     Mintora, signed the agreement. 

     We can build a new power generator

     under his waterfall.

 

CLOSE ON RANDOR on the unit.

          RANDOR

     If it hadn't been for my other

     diplomatic duties I would have

     gone to Mintora myself.   It

     didn't take as long as you thought.

     Hurry home.  I miss you.

 

MARLENA'S POV - THROUGH WINDSHIELD - CORRIDORS OF LITHOS -Below the ship vast CANYONS dotted with CAVES.  Fantastic rock formations (Devil's Post Pile; Balancing rocks; Cathedral-like spires)

 

          MARLENA

     (OS) Tell ADAM I'm flying over the

     Corridors of Lithos.  When he was

     a child we came here with CRINGER

     and explored the canyons.

 

 

EXT. VEHICLE - DAY

 

Skims over Lithos. 

 

In the distance the atmosphere becomes DISTORTED (similar to a heat wave)as a RED and YELLOW tinged RIPPLE rolls across the sky.

 

 

INT. VEHICLE - DAY

 

On COMM UNIT - RANDOR's picture FUZZES.

 

          RANDOR

     <indistinct>

 

          MARLENA

     Randor?  Randor?

 

MARLENA'S POV - Through WIND RAIDER windshield - RIPPLE.

 

 

EXT. VEHICLE - DAY

 

RIPPLE SMACKS into MARLENA's VEHICLE. WAVES OF CRACKLING LIGHT sucked out of the WIND RAIDER.  Vehicle SHUDDERS.

 

WIND RAIDER goes out of control, noses down, SPINS toward the Corridors of Lithos.

INT. VEHICLE - DAY

 

MARLENA holds on for dear life. 

 

CLOSE ON COMMUNICATOR.  Goes to STATIC.

 

 

EXT. VEHICLE - DAY

 

Spins toward the ground.

 

 

INT. PALACE THRONE ROOM - DAY

 

RANDOR on the dead Comm unit. 

 

          RANDOR

     Marlena!  Marlena, I'm losing

     you.  Some kind of interference.

 

EXT. PALACE - DAY

 

PRACTICE GROUNDS - TEELA battles with her STAFF against ORBS that ZIP and ZAP in front of her.  (SFX: SWOOSH!)

 

OVERHEAD SHOT - TEELA below as ADAM tools by on his SKY SLED.

 

TRAVELING WITH ADAM as the SKY SLED BUCKS.  ADAM grapples with the controls.

 

ADAM'S SKY SLED - FLIPS UPSIDE DOWN and plows into the branches of a TREE. 

 

LOW ANGLE - ADAM - plummets to the ground with a THUD!

 

OTS TEELA down at ADAM.

 

          ADAM

     Ouch!  Who put that in my way?

 

CLOSE on ORBS as they bounce to the ground.  TEELA, concentrating on ADAM, doesn't notice.

 

TEELA looks at him with wry amusement.

 

          TEELA

     Nice one, Adam.

ADAM stands and rubs his backside.

 

          ADAM

     I had it under control until it

     died on me.

 

(SFX: BUBBLING ROAR) ADAM and TEELA look up.

 

ADAM and TEELA'S POV - RIPPLE soars across the sky. Lightning BOLTS moves from the GROUND to the RIPPLE.

 

ON TEELA

 

          TEELA

     What in Eternia is that?

 

She looks around and ADAM's gone.

 

          TEELA

     Adam?

 

She looks down to:

 

OTS TEELA to THE GROUNDED ORBS.

 

 

EXT. BEHIND PALACE WALL - DAY

 

ADAM peers up at the RIPPLE.  CRINGER with him

 

          ADAM

     I don't like the look of this.

 

CRINGER - lowers his head.  He knows what's coming

 

ADAM raises his sword and TRANSFORMS TO HE-MAN.

 

          ADAM/HE-MAN

     By the Power of Grayskull/I have

     the Power!

 

CRINGER TRANSFORMS to BATTLE CAT

 

 

EXT. SNAKE MOUNTAIN

 

The CRACKLING RIPPLE passes overhead.  SIZZLING BOLTS rise from SNAKE MOUNTAIN into the RIPPLE.

INT. SNAKE MOUNTAIN

 

SKELETOR with his fists clenched sits on his throne.

 

          SKELETOR

     Where is TRAP JAW?  I sent him on a

     simple mission to find out about

     the Queen's mission to Mintora.

 

ON THE CEILING.  TRAP JAW, riding a VEHICLE, CRASHES through and lands in the Throne Room.

 

ROCKS and DEBRIS rain down.

 

SKELETOR raises his RAM STAFF and ZAPS the debris.  It falls around SKELETOR without touching him. 

 

PANTHOR scurries under the throne to escape. 

 

SKELETOR storms down the steps to TRAP JAW.

 

          SKELETOR

     Nice landing, TRAP JAW.  What do

     you have to say for yourself?

 

ON TRAP JAW.  Fear in his eyes.  He points to his jaw.  It can't move (like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz).

 

          TRAP JAW

     <indistinct mumbling>

 

ON EVIL-LYN smirking.

 

          EVIL-LYN

     Apparently he can't say anything.

 

ON SKELETOR'S GLOWING EYES.

 

 

EXT. MAN-AT-ARMS WORKSHOP

 

MAN-AT-ARMS races out.

 

          MAN-AT-ARMS

     All the power in my lab shut down!

 

MEKANEK, his NECK at HALF-MAST and MAN-E-FACES, his face caught between HUMAN and BEAST run in.

          MEKANEK

     So did we!

 

          MAN-E-FACES

     (human/beast voice) My faces!

 

RAM MAN enters and sees MAN-E-FACES.

 

          RAM MAN

     Talk about speaking outta both

     sides of your mouth!

 

TEELA charges in.

 

          TEELA

     It must be the power generators

     beneath the city.

 

HE-MAN and BATTLE CAT vault in.

 

          HE-MAN

     That would explain the lab.  But it

     wouldn't affect MEKANEK and

     MAN-E-FACE'S power.

 

MEKANEK tries to pull his neck down manually.

 

          MAN-AT-ARMS

     Thank goodness the Queen's safe

     in Mintora.  She's not due back

     until tomorrow

 

RANDOR ENTERS - a stricken look on his face.

 

          RANDOR

     She headed back early.  The Queen

     was en route when I lost all contact.

 

ON HE-MAN. He steps back, shaken by the news, but he controls himself.

 

          HE-MAN

     (to self) Mother...? (to RANDOR)

     Don't worry Your Majesty, I'll

     find the Queen.

 

(SFX: VROOM!)  EXO ARMOR SPEEDS into the Courtyard followed by a contingent of ROYAL GUARDS.  It stops and HOVERS a few inches off the ground.

 

ANGLE ON EXO - It turns RIGHT then LEFT and then moves toward HE-MAN.

 

MASTERS back off in surprise except for:

 

RAM MAN who lowers his head.

 

          RAM MAN

     Outta my way!

 

He charges the EXO ARMOR.  BLAST from EXO's HEADPIECE hits RAM MAN (SFX: SMASH!) 

 

RAM MAN goes head-over-heels across the courtyard.

 

ON EXO - Facing HE-MAN.  Weird HOLO-IMAGE appears in its center. 

 

CLOSE ON a fierce looking FACE that continually changes color - GREEN to BLUE to RED. The image has wild hair and deep-set eyes.

 

          SORTARUS

     (booming; hollow) I am SORTARUS!  I have

     sent this for you, HE-MAN.  Enter the EXO

     ARMOR suit.

 

TWO SHOT - HE-MAN and EXO

 

          HE-MAN

     And if I refuse your invitation?

 

          SORTARUS

     You have seen my power -- Imagine

     Eternia with no weapons, no vehicles. 

     I will hurl Eternia back into the dark

     ages.

 

          HE-MAN

     Once I rescue the Queen, I'll

     consider your offer.

 

OTS RANDOR to HE-MAN.

 

          RANDOR

     Eternia is in peril, HE-MAN.  You

     must see what this SORTARUS wants. 

 

ON HE-MAN.  He hesitates.  HE-MAN turns to the EXO ARMOR.  (SFX: MAGICAL EFFECTS)  The ARMOR encases HE-MAN'S arms and legs.

 

ON RANDOR - to a ROYAL GUARD.

 

          RANDOR

     (calls out)  Get my swiftest steed

     from the Royal Stable.

 

          HE-MAN

     Your Majesty, take BATTLE CAT.  He's

     faster than any steed.

 

BATTLE CAT looks at HE-MAN then at RANDOR.  He ROARS and crouches down for RANDOR who mounts BATTLE CAT'S saddle.

 

ON MAN-AT-ARMS

 

          MAN-AT-ARMS

     Good luck to the both of you.

 

ON HE-MAN - EXO ARMOR takes off with HE-MAN leaving the MASTERS in its dust. 

 

BATTLE CAT with RANDOR aboard leaps a wall and is gone.

 

 

INT. SNAKE MOUNTAIN

 

WIDE - SKELETOR paces back and forth while EVIL-LYN consults the CRYSTAL ORB on her STAFF.

 

TRAP JAW stands to one side.  He uses his hands to try and unlock his jaw.

 

          TRAP JAW

     <indistinct complaining>

 

TRI-KLOPS bumps into walls and reels back.

 

 

 

 

          TRI-KLOPS

     Stop complaining, TRAP JAW.  My

     sensors are out and I can't see a

     thing.

 

He steps on PANTHOR'S tail. 

 

PANTHOR HOWLS and extends his CLAWS (SFX: CLICK! CLICK!)

 

          PANTHOR

     <growls>

 

ON EVIL-LYN - peering into the CRYSTAL ORB

 

          EVIL-LYN

     It's not only Snake Mountain.  Every

     power-using device on Eternia is

     shutting down.

 

ON SKELETOR - his eyes GLOW

 

          SKELETOR

     Whoever is behind this has

     incredible power.  (snaps his

     bony fingers) That's someone

     I should get to know.

 

EXO ARMOR swooshes in. 

 

SORTARUS' HOLO-IMAGE glows in its midst.

 

          SORTARUS

     So you shall.  I am SORTARUS!

 

EVIL WARRIORS stare dumfounded at the image.

 

SKELETOR's evil grin gleams from beneath his hood.

 

 

EXT.  CORRIDORS OF LITHOS - DAY

 

WIDE SHOT - BATTLE CAT with RANDOR aboard bounds to the top of a MESA overlooking the Corridors. 

 

WIND whips sand around them. 

 

CLOSER ON RANDOR - wears a FILTER MASK (see "Dune") and searches the landscape with his SCOPE.

 

THROUGH THE SCOPE - a strange desolate land of canyons, caves, sand and rock.

 

BATTLE CAT raises his nose in the air and takes a deep SNIFF.  He ROARS and his EYES SQUINT.

 

BATTLE CAT'S POV - MARLENA'S WIND RAIDER crumpled on the floor of the Canyon. 

 

ON BATTLE CAT - ROARS again.

 

ON RANDOR - looks at what BATTLE CAT sees:

 

RANDO'S POV (THROUGH SCOPE) - WIND RAIDER - on the