Sailor Moon - Episode 17: "An Animated Mess"
(There's a TV ad for an upcoming movie featuring the fictictious heroine, Sailor V. An animated movie is coming soon.)
Voiceover "She's hot. She's poweful. She's Sailor V."
Crowd "Our hero!"
Voiceover "Sailor V: The Movie. Coming soon to theaters everywhere."
Serena "Oh, I'm gonna die waiting for Sailor V's movie. I can't think of anything else. I'm gonna have a panic attack. Thank goodness I've got my comics to read 'til then."
(That wakes up Luna.)
Luna "Tough life."
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(Downtown, two young animators working on the Sailor V movie walk to their school.)
Lori "I'm really not looking forward to meeting with Mr. Masterson."
Cassie "Why not? Didn't you finish your latest assignment?"
Lori "That's not it. I just don't feel like having my worked picked apart."
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(It dates back a few days ago. For some reason, Mr. Masterson had been picky about Lori's drawings.)
Mr. Masterson "Hmm . . . needs work."
Lori "But I really worked hard on it."
Mr. Masterson "Yes, I can see that too, Lori, but you're still making the same mistake here. Her hair should be more messy after a fight scene, and her leg is about a millimeter too wide."
(He had been VERY picky.)
Mr. Masterson "I want perfection."
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Lori "I know we're lucky. Just students, and working on the Sailor V movie, but it's so hard."
Cassie "Don't quit. Not now. At least, wait 'til the movie's finished, Lori."
Lori "I'm not gonna quit. I wanna see my name in the credits at the movie theater."
Cassie "Right, and we pass the class. Come on. Race you to the studio. Let's go!"
Lori "Hey! Wait up! I wasn't ready!"
(Amy steps out from a bookstore as the two run down the street. Just then, Lori drops her folder.)
Lori "Cassie, this isn't fair."
Amy "Hey, wait! You dropped something!"
(But they're already out of earshot.)
Amy "Maybe her name's on it."
(She picks it up.)
Amy "Oh, wow! She goes to the School of Animation. I'll have to wait and bring it back to her after school. That should be interesting."
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(In Nephlite's (a.k.a. Maxfield Stanton's) secluded mansion . . .)
Nephlite "The movement of the stars rules everything. Powers of the Negaverse, guide me to my next victim."
(With a bolt of insight from the stars . . .)
Nephlite "Find someone with untapped resources so I can harness a vast amount of energy and release the Gemini warriors!"
(. . . he sees an image of Lori in his head.)
Nephlite "This time, I'll beat the Sailor Scouts at their own game."
(What's he up to?)
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(The next evening, Amy walks home.)
Amy "I've got so much homework. I'll return this tomorrow."
(Just then, Maxfield Stanton's sports car tears down the street. As it passes, Amy notices the driver.)
Amy "That guy looks familiar."
(Then it clicks.)
Amy "That was Nephlite!"
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(At the School of Animation . . .)
Lori "Oh . . . what am I doing? I finally get the hair thing right, then I mess up on the stupid bow. I'm never gonna get it. Oh! I'm never gonna make the deadline."
(She decides to peek at Cassie's work.)
Lori "I wonder how far Cassie got on this today."
(Pretty far, and Cassie's done a good job, too.)
Lori "Oh, I don't believe it. How could she get so far? She's way ahead. Mr. Masterson's gonna get on my case big time. If I don't catch up tonight, he'll kick me outta class."
(Sitting down again . . .)
Lori "There's only one thing to do."
(She opens her drawer . . .)
Lori "I hate to do this, but desparate times call for desparate measures."
(. . . and pulls out her secret tools. She remembers Cassie and herself buying them a few years ago, back before they entered the School of Animation. They found them in a department store display.)
(She remembers herself and Cassie squatting to take a look.)
Lori "Wow. Those are the pencils professional animators use."
Cassie "Looks like they're almost out."
Lori "Cassie, if we had those pencils, I bet we'd draw better. Maybe we can get good enough to get into Animation School."
Cassie "Let's buy some, Lori."
Lori "What? We can't afford these. They're way too expensive."
Cassie "Oh, come on. It'll be worth it."
(Cassie stands up.)
Cassie "Excuse me."
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(They had bought a set of the pencils and split them equally between each other. They had also bought two cases, one for each, to store them.)
Cassie "This is perfect. These are gonna bring us good luck, Lori."
(She hands her a case with half the pencils.)
Cassie "Here you go."
Lori "Wow."
Cassie "These pencils are gonna make us rich and famous. Now, we gotta start working on our applications for animation school. You wanna come over to my house this weekend?"
(Lori nods.)
Lori "So when are we gonna use our pencils? They're too special to use in school everyday."
Cassie "Right, and since they ARE so expensive, we'll use them only for special projects."
Lori "Okay."
Cassie "Promise?"
Lori "Promise."
(They lock pinky fingers to affirm their promise.)
Cassie "And neither one of us uses them without the other's permission."
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(Back in the present day . . .)
Lori "Well, I'm sure Cassie would understand. She wouldn't want me to get kicked out. Still, I've used up almost all of my pencils."
(A short piece of one pencil is all that's left.)
Lori "Oh, I feel so guilty. I hate breaking promises. She'll be so mad when she finds out. Anyway, can't worry about that now. We'll wait 'til this movie's finished, then . . ."
(She notices someone. Surprised, she turns to him. It's Nephlite (posing as Maxfield Stanton).)
Lori "Oh, you startled me."
Maxfield "I'm sorry. The door was open, so I let myself in. I heard you're one of the schools top animators, but don't tell me you've only got this stuff to work with."
(He picks up the pencil.)
Lori "Oh no. Dont. I-I need that pencil. I'm only . . ."
Maxfield/Nephlite "Well, all that's about to change. Hm hm hm ha ha ha!"
(With that, he plants a Negamarker on the pencil and drops it back on the desk.)
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(As Nephlite leaves . . .)
Nephlite "Queen Beryl should be quite satisfied with that girl's energy."
(. . . he finds that he has some company. Sailor Mercury is standing on his car.)
Sailor Mercury "Nephlite, explain yourself. Why you are here? Whatever is is, you're not getting away with it."
Nephlite "Really. We'll see about that."
(He jumps right in front of Sailor Mercury, knocking her off his car.)
Nephlite "I don't know which one of you Sailor Scouts is more pathetic: you or that wimpy little friend of yours, Sailor Moon."
Sailor Mercury "We're going to get you . . . "
(He drives away.)
Sailor Mercury ". . . next time."
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(Meanwhile, Cassie arrives from buying dinner.)
Cassie "Yoo hoo. Lori. Hey, brought you a special dinner. It's your favorite."
(There's a strange look in Lori's eyes.)
Lori "I'm not hungry."
Amy "Excuse me."
(Cassie turns around to find Amy in the doorway, carrying the folder of drawings.)
Cassie "May I help you?"
Amy "Yes, I found this folder on the street."
Cassie "Oh Lori, look. She found the folder you lost yesterday."
(Lori ignores her and enters a small office.)
Cassie "Hey . . . Lori, didn't you hear what I said?"
(Lori closes the door.)
Cassie
(Turning to Amy . . .)
Cassie "I'm sorry. She's usually not like this. I think she's scared about flunking out."
Amy "I understand."
Cassie "She's been under a lot of pressure with the new Sailor V movie coming out."
Amy "Oh, she's working on that?"
Cassie "We all are. She's working on the end. It's getting to her."
Amy "No, Nephlite is the one who got to her."
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(Next morning, at school . . .)
Luna "We'll check out the school, but Amy, you know you shouldn't have challenged Nephlite by yourself."
Amy "Yes, it was stupid."
Serena "Wimpy?! He called me wimpy?! How dare he call me that!"
Luna "Well, it does have a certain ring of truth to it."
Serena "Dweebster?! I dare him to show his simpy face around me! OOH! I'm gonna blast him! Straight into the chromosphere!"
(Right into the Sun? Really, Serena.)
Luna "This from a girl who cries during pillowfights."
Amy "Oh yes, I forgot to tell you. It's at the Animation School. That's where they're doing the work for the Sailor V movie."
(That perks Serena's ears.)
Serena "Oh! How cool! Maybe she'll be there! I'll get her autograph!"
Luna "Oh . . ."
(Puh-LEASE!)
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(At the Animation School, Lori seems to have changed. On one hand, she's turning out animation drawings faster and better than anyone else. On the other . . .)
Cassie "Lori? You've done all of those this morning ALREADY?"
Lori "No, that's only half. Mr. Masterson has the others . . ."
(As she goes back to the small office she's worked in since last night . . .)
Lori ". . . and Cassie . . ."
Cassie "Uh huh?"
Lori "I don't want anybody bothering me, including you. Okay?"
Cassie "Lori, wait a minute. Wait!"
(Lori just closes the door.)
Cassie "Something's wrong."
(In the room, Lori keeps working.)
Lori "Ha ha ha ha. I'm the best student in this whole sorry school, and with this pencil, I'll blow Cassie right outta the competition."
(What's this? The pencil just grew longer. What's the Negaverse up to?)
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(At the roof of her school, Raye talks to Serena on her communicator.)
Raye "Okay, I'll meet you after school. This isn't some bogus scheme so you can see the studio, and then meet Sailor V?"
Serena "No, and is Obnoxious your middle name?"
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(After school . . . WAY after school . . .)
Amy "So, you bombed on your spelling test?"
(Again.)
Serena "Mm hmm. It was hard."
Amy "Well, I'll help you study for the next one."
(Raye is waiting outside.)
Raye "Hey guys . . ."
Serena & Amy "Hmm?"
Raye "Where have you been?"
(Instead of her school uniform, she's in street clothes.)
Serena "I-it was Melvin's fault. He wouldn't stop yakking."
Raye "So why didn't you call me on the communicator?"
Luna "Miss Haruna was yelling too loudly. You wouldn't have heard us."
(Amy chuckles, and Serena whispers back to Luna . . .)
Serena
Amy "Raye, did you cut class to go home to change?"
(Raye gives a defiant raspberry.)
Raye "No, it just so happens I took a change of clothes this morning. My uniform's in the bag."
(Honestly . . .)
Luna "Yes, and I'm a purple cockatoo."
Raye "What are we waiting for? Let's jet . . ."
(Her bag has just ripped open . . .)
Serena & Amy "Hmm?"
(. . . and there wasn't a uniform inside.)
Serena & Amy "Huh?"
Raye "Oh no. My autograph cards . . ."
(I don't know who's worse: Raye or Serena. Do you?)
Raye ". . . I-I mean, the kids from school's autograph cards."
(When it comes to this kind of competition, no one can fool Serena.)
Serena "Oh, nice try. You're dying for Sailor V's autograph, just like me."
Amy "Don't start. Hurry, Raye. This is Sailor business, remember?"
Raye "You're on her side?"
(Amy shakes her head.)
Amy "Let's just go."
Raye "Yeah, and get all those autographs and sell 'em for big bucks."
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(Nephlite's mansion. He's sitting at a table, drinking lemonade, and admiring his plan . . . when he receives a visitor.)
Zoisite "Hello, Nephlite."
Nephlite "Hmm?"
Zoisite "Hard at work as usual, I see."
Nephlite "Yes, actually."
Zoisite "Your plan is to poison Sailor Moon with lemonade?"
(His greatest rival, Zoisite always denounces his efforts.)
Nephlite "Hmph. You've been studying human sarcasm, I see."
Zoisite "It's required. Anyway, Queen Beryl noticed heavy activity in the Gemini Sector, and she wants to make sure that you know what you're doing."
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(At the Animation School, Serena and Raye make ooh's and aah's watching the animators at work.)
Serena & Raye "Sailor V! Totally cool!"
Serena "Okay. Now, can you draw her eating . . . ?"
(Meanwhile, Amy is sitting on a chair with Luna on her lap. She's talking with Cassie, whom she met last night.)
Amy "Cassie, where's your friend, Lori?"
Cassie "She's still locked up in that office."
Amy "Really? Has anything strange happened around here lately?"
Cassie "Nothing more than usual, except Lori."
Amy "And has anybody strange been hanging around? Notice any weird facts?"
(Meanwhile, Lori steps out of the office.)
Cassie "Just Lori. She's changed."
(As Serena and Raye continue the jibberjabber . . .)
Serena & Raye "She's doing her bow."
Lori "QUIET!"
Cassie "She's gotten mean and real competitive."
Lori "You two keep your mouths shut, you hear me? This isn't a playground. It's a workplace, and we don't need dingbats like you disturbing us."
Cassie "Hmph. That's enough, Lori. You're being rude. We invited them to look around and see how we do things."
Lori "Do they have to squeal like two stock pigs? I can't concentrate with all that noise."
Cassie "Well, aren't WE the prima donna all of a sudden. What's gotten into you?"
(A telephone rings.)
Lori "Whaddya mean?"
Cassie "Lori, you're not yourself lately."
(One of the students answers while Cassie continues.)
Student "Hello? School of Animation . . ."
Cassie "What's happened to you?"
Lori "Maybe you're jealous, Cassie. Ever think of that?"
Student "Yes, sir. Yes, she is. Hold on, sir."
(The student turns to Lori.)
Student "Hey Lori, Mr. Masterson for you."
(Lori takes it.)
Lori "Yes, Mr. Masterson? Is there anything wrong?"
Mr. Masterson "Are you kidding? I just saw your new stuff, and let me tell ya. It's great! It's exactly what I was looking for. When we do the sequel, you're my lead artist."
Lori "There won't be a sequel."
Mr. Masterson "Of course there will be."
Lori "Not anymore. Sailor V's finished. She'll be destroyed. Evil will prevail!"
(This has the Negaverse written all over it. Everyone gasps.)
Mr. Masterson "You're wacko! Put Cassie on the line right now!"
Lori "Then we'll create a whole new series about the glory of the dark forces."
Mr. Masterson "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! THIS IS MY MOVIE, REMEMBER?! LORI! ARE YOU THERE?! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!"
(She hangs up.)
Cassie "Lori, you've gotta get some rest. You're not making sense!"
Lori "You're wrong, Cassie. So wrong. Evil is bound to triumph. I'm just choosing the winning side."
Cassie "Lori . . . we've worked so hard on this movie. Don't you remember our dreams? You're throwing it all away! You'll get kicked out! Is that what you want?! 'Cause that's what'll happen if you don't stop this right now!"
Lori "You're absolutely right, Cassie . . . so I quit!"
(Another gasp!)
Lori "I don't need this place. I'll start my own studio and work in peace, alone."
Cassie "Lori . . ."
(Raye quietly relays to Serena . . .)
Raye "Getting Negaverse vibes."
(Serena agrees.)
Serena "Yes."
Lori "So long, losers."
Cassie "Lori, wait! Lori!"
(The others try to go after Lori, but Cassie stops her.)
Cassie "No, you guys. Let me go after her."
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(Out in the street, Cassie runs after Lori.)
Cassie "Lori! Lori, wait! You . . . we gotta talk."
(Serena, Raye, and Amy are right behind, but Lori has disappeared.)
Serena "Hey, where'd she go? Huh?"
(Then Serena looks up. She's on the roof!)
Serena "She's up there!"
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(On the roof . . .)
Cassie "Lori, wait!"
(Something strange is happening. Lori is glowing, especially in her eyes.)
Cassie "What's happening to her? What's wrong?"
(The glow fades.)
Lori "Nothing's wrong. I just can't stand to be around you anymore."
Cassie "Why? What did I do?"
Lori "You didn't do anything. That's the problem. Weak, lazy humans just don't interest me anymore! My energy belongs TO THE NEGAFORCE!"
(The cursed pencil radiates a dark light.)
Cassie "That's our special pencil!"
(Nephlite gets the message.)
Nephlite "Energy level at maximum! UNLEASH THE GEMINI WARRIORS!"
(The colors of the pencil swirl around Lori.)
Cassie "Lori!"
(And she faints. Meanwhile, as the pencil, removed of the curse, drops to the ground, the swirls still surround Lori. Soon they take to the sky and form the twin star pattern of . . . the Gemini constellation! As Lori drops drained to the ground, the Gemini warriors appear.)
Luna "Sailors, are you ready?"
Serena, Raye, & Amy "Yes!"
Serena "MOON PRISM POWER!"
Amy "MERCURY POWER!"
Raye "MARS POWER!"
Serena, Raye, & Amy "TRANSFORM!"
(Serena, Amy, and Raye call on their special powers and transform into Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Mars. They are the Sailor Scouts, the Champions of Justice.)
Sailor Moon "I am Sailor Moon!"
Sailor Mercury "I am Sailor Merucry!"
Sailor Mars "I am Sailor Mars!"
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(Meanwhile, in Nephlite's mansion . . .)
Zoisite "They've fallen for your trap."
Nephlite "Yes, their meddling is going to be the end of them. Now watch. They're about to get a taste of their own medicine."
Zoisite "Sounds fun."
Nephlite "I trained the Gemini myself."
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(Back to the battle.)
Sailor Mars "We're the Sailor Scouts, Champions of Justice!"
Sailor Mercury "We will right wrongs and triumph over evil!"
Sailor Moon "In the name of the Moon, you two witches are moon dust! I am Sailor Moon!"
Sailor Mercury "Mercury!"
Sailor Mars "Mars!"
Sailor Scouts "Sailor Scouts!"
Red Gemini "Your routine's getting old, ladies."
Blue Gemini "Yeah, and it's so predictable."
Sailor Moon "So, what have you got?"
(They link tails . . . and powers!)
Gemini Warriors "TWIN POWER!"
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Red Gemini "Ready to put these Sailor brats in their place?"
Blue Gemini "Oh yeah! I can hardly wait."
Gemini Warriors "GEMINI POWER!"
(Here comes the big surprise!)
Red Gemini "MARS FIRE IGNITE!"
Blue Gemini "Ha ha ha ha ha! MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!"
(The Sailor Scouts' own powers turned against them?! Crazy!)
Gemini Warriors "Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Red Gemini "Excellent!"
Blue Gemini "Much easier than I thought!"
Sailor Mercury "My bubbles!"
Sailor Mars "I don't get it! Mars Power is mine!"
(It looks like big trouble, until . . .)
Red Gemini "I'll finish them off."
Blue Gemini "Oh no. You don't get all the glory."
(. . . they start arguing!)
Red Gemini "But my fireball defeated them."
Blue Gemini "Wrong! It was my bubbles!"
(Hmm. Looks like Nephlite didn't give them enough teamwork training.)
Red Gemini "Puh-lease. My fireballs against your bubbles any day."
Blue Gemini "Oh, I don't believe this. Give me a break! Can it!"
Red Gemini "Why do you always have to be so stubborn?"
Blue Gemini "Stubborn?! You're not only stubborn, you're STUPID!"
(Their tails separate! This is the Sailor Scouts' big chance!)
Luna "Come on. Here's your chance. Quick, while they're fighting."
Sailor Moon "All right. We fight these twins together. Got it?"
Mercury & Mars "Right."
(As Sailor Mars kindles the Mars Fire . . .)
Sailor Mars "MARS FIRE . . ."
(. . . Sailor Mercury prepares a blast of Mercury Bubbles . . .)
Sailor Mercury "MERCURY BUBBLES . . ."
(. . . and Sailor Moon readies her Moon Tiara.)
Sailor Moon "MOON TIARA . . ."
(The three then release all their powers at once!)
Sailor Mars ". . . IGNITE!"
Sailor Mercury ". . . BLAST!"
Sailor Moon ". . . MAGIC!"
(The Mercury Bubbles and Mars Fire converge on the Moon Tiara. The combined weapon heads straight for the Gemini warriors.)
Gemini Warriors "WE'RE DUST! AAAH!"
(Indeed they were. As the supercharged Moon Tiara draws closer . . .)
Red Gemini "It's all your fault!"
Blue Gemini "You should've let me finish 'em off!"
(The arguing finally stops as it finally connects. The Gemini Warriors disintegrate.)
Sailor Moon "Moon dust!"
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(In Nephlite's mansion, Gemini's image scatters. They've been defeated!)
Nephlite "Wh-what? That's . . . just not possible."
(Zoisite is amused. This can be just the reason for Queen Beryl to get rid of Nephlite and make her commander.)
Zoisite "Well, it was nice knowing ya, Nephlite. Ha ha ha ha."
(She leaves.)
Nephlite "I can't believe this! The twins were invincible!"
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(Back at the Animation School . . .)
Cassie "Lori, are you sure you're okay?"
Lori "I guess. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. Forgive me?"
Cassie "Of course, but there's something I wanna ask you about the special pencils. Show me your case, okay?"
Lori "I-I can't. It's empty."
Cassie "Yeah, mine's almost, too."
(Cassie opens her case. Lori gasps. Only three short pieces of pencil are left. Cassie had broken the promise, too!)
Cassie "I was just too embarassed to tell you, and I felt really guilty for breaking our promise. I thought you'd stop wanting to be my friend."
Lori "Why'd you use them?"
Cassie "'Cause your drawing were always so much better, and then I'd get jealous, you know? I panicked."
Lori "Oh Cass, I know the feeling."
Cassie "Yeah? I get so wrapped up trying to be better than you. I hated being like that, but I couldn't help myself, you know?"
Lori "Do I ever?"
Cassie "Oh Lori, this'll teach us. It's not worth losing our friendship, is it?"
Lori "Oh Cassie . . . . friends?"
(Cassie nods.)
Cassie "But promise me: from now on, we talk when we have a problem."
Lori "I promise, and this is a promise I'll keep."
(As Serena, Amy, Raye, and Luna look through a window . . .)
Luna "I think Sailor V's movie just got its happy ending back."
(They all nod in agreement.)
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