PROJECT SUBMISSION PACK
FILM: Dogman and Catboy
DATE: July 2016
1. Submission Form p2
2. Information Pack p3
3. Budget p19
4. Finance p20
5. Sales Estimates p21
6. Letter of Intent p22
7. Script Report p23
8. Script p25
FF II LL MM SS UU BB MM II SS SS II OO NN FF OO RR MM
PROJECT TITLE: DATE: 7 July 2016 DOGMAN AND CATBOY
APPLICANT DETAILS APPLICANT CONTACT DETAILS NAME: Ben Smith ADDRESS: Electric Works, Sheffield, S1 2BJ POSITION: Producer/Director COMPANY Red Star 3D TEL: 0114 2866232 EMAIL: [email protected]
PROJECT DETAILS PRODUCER/S BUDGET: £ 1,768,708 Ben Smith, Jan Rogowski and CREDITS PRODUCTION
WRITER: Ben Smith COMPANIES & Red Star 3D, UK GENRE: Animation NATIONALITY:
NAME: CREDITS (1 or 2) Proposed Approached Confirmed LOI THE LOST WORLD, SHERLOCK X DIRECTOR: Ben Smith HOLMES CAST 1: Mark Chavez The Pajama Men X CAST 2: Shenoah Allen The Pajama Men X CAST 3: Gemma Whelan Game of Thrones X CAST 4:
SHOOTING SCHEDULE – Prep, Principal, Post, delivery SHORT SYNOPSIS / LOGLINE Animation production 1st October 2016 An animated superhero pets movie for the whole Delivery 1st April 2018 family about the greatest heroes ever unleashed.
FINANCE DETAILS FINANCIER NATURE OF INVESTMENT AMOUNT £ BUDGET % Proposed Approached Confirmed LOI Red Star 3D Equity £715,000 40% X
UK Film Tax Credits Tax credits £303,708 17% X
% Premiere Stakeholder: Proposed Corridor 1st All equity pari-passu TBC recoupment BOND: schedule 2nd for all 3rd AUDITOR: financiers: 4th 5th
SALES INFORMATION SALES AGENT: SC Films (subject to contract) SALES ESTIMATES: CONTACT: Simon Crowe LOW: $ 3,546,000 TEL: 020 7287 1900 MEDIUM: $ 6,039,000 EMAIL: [email protected] HIGH: $ 10,692,000
TERRITORY: DISTRIBUTOR: MG: RIGHTS:
FINANCE DETAILS EXCLUDED / WITHHELD TERRITORIES: DETAILS:
PRODUCTION INFORMATION COUNTRY: % SPEND: DETAILS: UK 100%
Please find attached supporting documents for DOGMAN AND CATBOY:
Script Budget Finance plan Brochure
We have also provided sales estimates supplied to us by SC Films International. Please note that the film is not signed to SC Films yet, but we have their proposed agreement ready for our signature and I include here their signed Letter of Interest.
Furthermore Red Star have produced a demo clip showing the quality of animation intended for DOGMAN AND CATBOY which you can view at the link below:
https://vimeo.com/157443358/
We’ve also produced a “storyreel” video for the entire film. Produced with storyboard drawings and temp music, SFX and voices; this 82 minute video shows how the film will actually play. Note that this has some minor differences with the latest script draft, as we’re still finalising the storyreel; as well as some minor continuity errors.
http://tinyurl.com/dmacbreel1 best
Ben Smith
1 The Proposal This is my daughter Chloe. She loves playing at superheroes; despite the fact she’s NEVER SEEN a superhero movie – they’re far too grown up for kids. So we’ve developed this idea for an 80 minute animated family feature film about a pair of superhero pets DOGMAN AND CATBOY, which will combine the enormous appeal of superhero movies with the universally relatable characters of a dog and a cat in a format kids can enjoy. The film is being developed by our award winning UK animation studio Red Star 3D with a script by writer/ director Ben Smith, and it will be produced entirely in Red Star’s Sheffield UK animation studio with CGI computer animation in stereoscopic 3D on a budget of £1.8m. summary We’re currently seeking equity investors to fund a proportion of the film’s budget and share in proceeds from Genre: CGI animation adventure comedy its worldwide release in theatres, on home entertainment, Format: stereoscopic 3D TV broadcast and online. Length: 80 minutes Language: English Target Audience: Family and kids +5 Writer, Director: Ben Smith Line Producer: Jan Rogowski Music: Heather Fenoughty Animation Studio: Red Star 3D Budget: £ 1,800,000
2 The Collared
Crusader
Man’s Best Friend
is loyal companion to scientist has made millions through his David, who launched him BUDDY FELIX online cat videos business, and into space in 1965. Lost in 2015 he’s courageously used his genius intellect to become IRON CLAW – vigilante determined to find his master – and a hapless idiot cat kicking the butts of Glenview’s dogs. Lazing in his top with a habit of chasing squirrels, balls and passing cars. secret Cat Cave he likes nothing more than a glass of milk But Buddy has a heart of gold and a fundamental belief and a long nap in a sunbeam; whilst he hides from the mean in the human capacity for good, and when he starts to humans in town. But when he’s united with optimistic manifest strange new powers of speed and strength Buddy, Felix begins to believe in the value of human he’s challenged by his new friend Felix to become the friendship and to defend hero David always it as a new breed of hero : CATBOY knew he could be: DOGMAN 3 Story Synopsis 1966. Loyal dog BUDDY is launched into space in a NASA rocket by his owner, scientist DAVID. When he crash lands in 2016 he finds himself in GLENVIEW, a small town where pets are banned and ruthlessly rounded up by animal-hating cop PECK. Desperate to be reunited with David, Buddy runs into IRON CLAW a vigilante superhero cat kicking the butts of Glenview’s dogs! Whisked back to his CATCAVE, Buddy realises he needs to recruit genius millionaire Iron Claw a.k.a. FELIX to help him find the capsule so David can locate him. Buddy and Felix embark on a madcap adventure across town, with Buddy’s canine loyalty and habit of chasing squirrels rubbing up spectacularly against Felix’ feline selfishness and frequent nap times. When they encounter rabbit CELINE and her misfit organisation of animal rights activists G.U.A.R.D., Peck closes in and Buddy and Felix are forced to become the heroes we all need them to be. It’s a hilarious animated superhero adventure that tells a story of friendship, heroism and belief in the human capacity for good; that introduces the whole family to the greatest heroes ever unleashed: DOGMAN AND CATBOY.
The complete screenplay is available on request
4 SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
PECK Town Cop PECK hates animals; especially dangerous, unhygienic stray animals whom he rounds up and locks in the pound. But Peck really believes he’s struggling CELINE to make Glenview a better Animal rights activist and Felix’ place for his family. long-time sparring partner, CELINE has created secret organisation G.U.A.R.D. to fight against cop Peck. She’s prickly and defiant, especially with lazy, self-centred Felix; but determined to make Glenview a better place.
PIG Streetwise squirrel PIG is only too happy hiding from Peck in a box of donuts and playing video games. Can optimistic, determined Buddy inspire him to get back in shape?
5 SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
BULLION Tactical combat specialist for G.U.A.R.D., Bullion is an expert in offensive tactics and special weapons. He’s angry and enthusiastic, and the fact he’s a goldfish in a bowl doesn’t bother him a bit.
RUSTBOY Sidekick to Iron Claw, Rustboy is a 1980’s robot with a flair for serving drinks and snacks. But he’s a loyal companion who will follow his master Felix to the end of the line.
TINKER Shy mouse Tinker is head of P.R. for G.U.A.R.D., although if anyone actually listened they’d realise she’s a mechanical genius...
6 Look and Feel DOGMAN AND CATBOY will be produced entirely in 3D CGI animation. However, the film will employ a stylised look for its characters, props and locations that is both quirky and visually appealing and yet straightforward and cost effective to produce. The style will emulate many of the charming properties of stop-motion animation and deliberately imply the scenes have a slightly miniature, tactile quality. Meanwhile emphasis will be on delivering outstanding performances in character animation, to truly bring the characters to life and make the film by turns thrilling, funny and touching. We’ll also ensure the film’s cinematography is first-rate, extensively storyboarding to make the action flow and communicate the story clearly; whilst the lighting will work to emphasise the emotion on screen and ensure the visuals are always appealing and arresting.
stills from Red Star’s KNIGHTS’ QUEST illustrate the quality of visuals anticipated
DOGMAN AND CATBOY’s modest production budget is comparable to these other European feature films, animated with a high quality of visuals in 3D CGI: MARCO MACACO (2012) = £1.6m
BEYOND BEYOND (2014) = £1.9m The artwork in this brochure illustrates the look and quality of the film’s characters
7 Writer / Director/Producer Ben Smith Ben is an animator and filmmaker with over 15 years experience. With a background as an animator at Image Animation and FrameStore, at Red Star he has developed, written and directed ten short animated films including ROBIN HOOD, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and THE LOST WORLD, Ben’s films have been shown at hundreds of attraction venues and won dozens of awards at film festivals around the world.
As a writer Ben has developed a strong sense of story and character, working to develop animation properties that are funny, exciting and full of heart. As a director Ben has developed a strong visual style, telling his stories with confidence and energy on the big canvas of the cinema screen. His knowledge of the animation process allows him to navigate the technical aspects with ease and he has excellent skills as a communicator and manager, working closely and supportively with artists to realise his vision.
about Red Star 3D Red Star is an animation studio producing 3D and “4D” films for visitor attractions (theme parks, museums, etc). Employing afull- time team of artists and animators from our Sheffield studio we spe- cialise in telling exciting and engaging stories for family audiences worldwide. Founded in 2004 by Creative Director Ben Smith and Technical Direc- tor Jan Rogowski, Red Star has self-financed and owns 14 attraction films with a combined production budget of over £2.5m. becoming one of the largest content owners in the attractions film market.
8 Line Producer Jan Rogowski Jan Rogowski is a founding director, technical supervisor and operations manager of Red Star. He has line produced all of Red Star’s productions and championed studio growth from fledgling animation shop to thriving 3D production house. Jan possesses an intricate knowledge of all aspects of animation production. He combines technical innovation with ruthless efficiency and constantly strives for quality and production value. As operations manager Jan supervises the day to day business of animation production, scheduling and human resources, as well as the financial and business administration of the group.
Lead Animator Jerome Boutroux Jerome Boutroux is Red Star 3D’s lead animation artist. A graduate of the Animation Mentor school, Jerome has worked on commercials and feature projects at studios such as FrameStore and Vanguard An- imation on projects including EDGE OF TOMORROW, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and PADDINGTON.
9 Director’s Vision DOGMAN AND CATBOY began when I realised my 2 year old daughter could recognise “Batman” and “Spiderman” and that all her friends were dressing up and playing at superheroes, despite having NEVER SEEN a superhero movie as they’re far too mature for small children. I began to realise how iconic and appealing superheroes are to kids, and how disappointing it is parents can’t State of Progress share them with the whole family.
DOGMANo AND CATBOY has So I’m really excited to be bringing the world this wonderful film with such • A finished screenplay recognisable and instantly relatable characters in a story so smart and funny kids and adults will both love it. It’s part parody of the archetypal characters we • A full budget and Finance Plan all know, and yet still a thrilling adventure that puts a wacky original spin on the • 57% funding in place via UK genre. Although it’s aimed at family audiences and kids 5+, there’s no violence Film Tax Credits and Red Star’s or fighting whatsoever and it’s entirely safe for pre-schoolers to enjoy as well. investment At its heart is the friendship between polar opposites Felix and Buddy, united as • Sales estimates from several film they both struggle to find out whether the humans around them can be good. sales agents It’s a journey that’s funny, exciting and heart-warming as they come together • Development budget in place to become heroes and make everyone’s lives better as DOGMAN and CATBOY. funded by Red Star And it’s a real superhero origins story, which introduces us to an incredible new world of awesome characters and crazy adventures that you just know can be We are currently: extended into other films, TV, games and merchandising. I can’t wait to share • Seeking equity and pre-sales my passion for it with my children and I’m sure they’re going to love it too! • Designing the film’s art Ben Smith, Writer/Director direction, sets and props • Storyboarding the whole film • Producing an animation teaser
10 The Production
Pre-Production
In pre-production the film is roughed Production out in hand drawn storyboard images The production phase involves the largest number which are edited into a watchable of staff and is where the actual animation is created. “storyreel” with temporary sounds Broadly it can be broken down as: and voices, whilst the visual look of Modelling - the 3D models of the characters, props, the film is designed in concept art sets and environments are created, textured for and sketches. Once cast, the actors’ their realistic appearance and rigged to facilitate voices are recorded and edited. animation. Animation - the shots of the movie are animated by skilled animators, placing the camera to film the scene, imbuing characters with life and scenes with action and energy. Rendering - artists light the animated shots with virtual lights and use a time-consuming computer Post-Production process to “render” them to create the final shots in the film. In Post production the completed animation is given its full musical score and sound effects are added and mixed together, before the film is packaged into deliverables for distribution.
11 Project Timescale Red Star are aiming to bring an investor on board in mid 2016, expanding the studio facilities to complete the film for April 2018. The completed film can then be taken to the Cannes Film Market in May 2018 to maximise sale value and return investments as swiftly as possible. Superhero movies are expected to be highly popular for the foreseeable future, with a slate of films lined up from the big US film studios.
2016 • BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE • CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR • X-MEN APOCALYPSE 2017 • SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING • WONDER WOMAN • JUSTICE LEAGUE, PART 1 2018 • THE FLASH • AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, PART 1 • AQUAMAN 2019 • THE INCREDIBLES 2 • AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, PART 2 • JUSTICE LEAGUE, PART 2
12 About the Property “This is genius - I think it has a huge DOGMAN AND CATBOY is an 80 minute feature film aimed at family audiences. potential to become a Produced independently, it will aim to be released in all territories around the franchise.” world theatrically, on home entertainment (DVD and Blu-ray), broadcast on TV and Daniel Bort, distributed online. Expression Entertainment We believe that DOGMAN AND CATBOY will be a film of exceptional appeal in the marketplace, with immense potential to find and connect with audiences.
• Kids love superheroes, and DOGMAN AND CATBOY plugs a gap in the market for a superhero movie aimed squarely at younger kids (5+). Superhero movies are immensely popular with audiences, breaking box office records worldwide. • Kids love animated talking-animal movies and our research indicates sales agents consider “talking animal movies” to be the most easily marketable subject for animation. • The film is suitable for the whole family, with wit and humour that will appeal to adults and a neat parody of superhero stereotypes that will appeal to superhero fans • The animation quality will be excellent, as evidenced by Red Star’s proven track Animated superhero movies have record delivering high quality animation on modest budgets scored big at the global box office including a TV series telling the further adventures • Huge potential for spin-offs BIG HERO 6 (2014) of Dogman and Catboy, and for sequel films introducing new heroes and villains worldwide gross $652,127,828 and extending the universe into new locations as well as merchandising and licensed products. THE INCREDIBLES (2004) worldwide gross $631,442,092
13 “How Can You Produce The Movie So Cheaply?” Red Star are experts in producing high quality 3D animation on modest budgets and DOGMAN AND CATBOY will leverage our combined 25 years’ experience to maximise its production value. • The film will use a simplistic but highly appealing style of animation that’s cost effective to produce but visually appealing to audiences. • The production will use a small, specialised team working in a highly efficient pipeline, production-proven on short attraction films. • The story has a small cast of characters and a minimal number of sets of locations; and avoids complex CGI FX such as hair, oceans, destruction and crowds • The required infrastructure is already in place at Red Star’s Sheffield studio. • Our costs are reduced by a lower cost of living reflected in salaries for 3D artists in Sheffield vs. London.
Our production budget is comparable on a per-minute basis to those for our 4D attraction films, completed on time and on At Red Star 3D Ben and Jan have budget: produced, directed and self-financed THE LOST WORLD 14 attraction films with a combined Duration: 12 mins running time of over 2 hours and Budget: £260,000 budget of over £2.5m Cost per minute : ~£21,600 DOGMAN AND CATBOY Duration: 80 mins Budget: £1,800,000 Cost per minute: ~£22,500
14 thanks!
Thanks for reading this proposal. You can contact us at: Ben Smith tel: 07976 531384 email: [email protected]
v 3.1 28 JUNE 2016. COPYRIGHT © 2016 RED STAR 3D ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
15 DOGMAN AND CATBOY continued Production Budget 15/06/2016 Equitment Red Star 3D Hardware£ 34,840 Software£ 71,701 Heading Item Cost Totals Office equiptment£ 2,000 SUB TOTAL £ 108,541 Development Acquisition of rights£ 1 Payroll SUB TOTAL £ 1 Director£ 101,000 Line Producer£ 101,000 Pre‐Production Assets staff£ 240,000 Storyreel£ 50,000 Animation staff £ 362,500 Character design£ 15,000 Rendering staff £ 230,500 Production design£ 25,000 SUB TOTAL £ 1,035,000 SUB TOTAL £ 90,000 Legal and Misc Above the Line Legal Fees£ 15,000 Voice Talent£ 60,000 Legal Fees (ineligible)£ 15,000 SUB TOTAL £ 60,000 Accountancy£ 32,000 Deliverables£ 10,000 Sound Production Insurance£ 8,000 Music Design£ 40,000 E+O Insurance£ 4,000 Sound Design£ 40,000 £ 84,000 Sound Mix£ 20,000 Travel Expenses£ 5,000 TOTAL COST OF PRODUCTION£ 1,577,542 Recording Fees£ 20,000 SUB TOTAL £ 125,000 Contingency 10%£ 157,754
Studio Costs Completion Bond 0.0% £ ‐ Rent£ 64,000 Business Rates£ 11,000 SUB TOTAL £ 75,000 TOTAL PRODUCTION BUDGET £ 1,735,296 continued DOGMAN AND CATBOY Finance Plan 15/06/2016 Red Star 3D
BUDGET Project costs Amount Total cost of production£ 1,577,542 Finance and legal costs (of financing)£ 24,222 Completion bond £ ‐ Contingency£ 157,754 Total production and financing £ 1,759,519
PROPOSED FINANCING Recoupment waterfall Financier Amount Non recoupable Presales / Secured Recoup 1st Recoup 2nd Red Star cash (equity)£ 335,000 £ 335,000 Red Star costs already incurred (equity)£ 80,000 £ 80,000 Red Star Royalties (equity)£ 300,000 £ 300,000 Equity Investor£ 750,000 £ 750,000
UK film tax credits£ 303,708 £ 303,708 Total financing£ 1,768,708 Totals £ 303,708 £ ‐ £ 1,465,000 £ ‐ Cumulative totals £ 303,708 £ 303,708 £ 1,768,708 £ 1,768,708
ILLUSTRATION OF RETURNS TO EQUITY PARTNERS equity % Low Medium High Net sales£ 1,784,895 £ 3,673,589 £ 5,562,283 Red Star (inc 15% producers share) 56.48%£ 1,008,192 £ 2,075,014 £ 3,141,836 Equity Investor 43.52%£ 776,704 £ 1,598,575 £ 2,420,447 Sales Estimates - Oct 2015- 3D family animation
These sales estimates are based on current market evaluation and are not guarantees. The numbers are for film values only and exclude soft monies, merchandising, video games and other rights.
Theatrical Release Ask price Theatrical Take NORTH AMERICA Pre-sale USA $ 2,000 850 $ 700 CANADA $ 250 100 $ 50 Territory Ask price Theatrical Take EUROPE BENELUX $ 200 150 $ 50 FRANCE $ 750 450 $ 150 GERMANY $ 750 450 $ 200 GREECE $ 50 35 $ 25 ICELAND $ 12 8 $ 5 ITALY $ 650 350 $ 175 PORTUGAL $ 50 35 $ 25 SCANDINAVIA $ 200 125 $ 65 SPAIN $ 200 100 $ 75 SWITZERLAND $ 50 35 $ 35 UK $ 1,000 500 $ 200 Territory Ask price Theatrical Take EASTERN EUROPE BULGARIA $ 15 6 $ 6 CZECH. REP/SLOV $ 85 50 $ 40 FORMER YUGOS. $ 25 15 $ 10 HUNGARY $ 85 50 $ 40 POLAND $ 250 200 $ 185 ROMANIA $ 40 20 $ 15 RUSSIA $ 500 350 $ 200 Pay TV - E.Europe 25 0 0 Territory Ask price Theatrical Take MIDDLE EASTERN ISRAEL $ 75 45 $ 40 MIDDLE EAST $ 150 110 $ 85 TURKEY $ 150 75 $ 50 Territory Ask price Theatrical Take ASIA CHINA $ 500 300 $ 225 HONG KONG $ 85 50 $ 50 INDIA & PAKISTAN $ 65 45 $ 35 INDONESIA $ 50 35 $ 30 JAPAN $ 200 50 $ 30 S.KOREA $ 400 250 $ 175 MALAYSIA $ 40 25 $ 25 PHILIPPINES $ 40 20 $ 20 THAILAND + VIETNAM $ 80 50 $ 35 SINGAPORE $ 65 35 $ 35 TAIWAN $ 85 75 $ 50 SOUTH EAST ASIA PAY TV $ 50 35 $ 35 Territory Ask price Theatrical Take LATIN AMERICA ARGENTINA/PAR/URU/CHI $ 35 25 $ 20 BRAZIL $ 250 150 $ 100 CENTRAL AMERICA $ 15 10 $ 10 COLOMBIA $ 30 15 $ 15 MEXICO $ 250 150 $ 100 PERU/BOLIVIA/ECUADOR $ 45 30 $ 25 VENEZUELA $ 20 10 $ 10 PAY TV - L.AMERICA $ 75 55 $ 45 Territory Ask price Theatrical Take
AUSTRALIA & N. ZEALAND $ 350 250 $ 70 SOUTH AFRICA $ 100 65 $ 30 AIRLINES (Worldwide sales) $ 300 200 $ 175 Total Total Total USD in 1,000's $ 10,692 6,039 $ 3,771
PROJECT COVERAGE FORM
TITLE: Dogman and Catboy AUTHOR: Ben Smith SUB TO: Alena Trower SUB BY: Ben Smith FORM: Screenplay LENGTH: 80mins approx BASED ON: N/A LANGUAGE/S: English BUDGET: £1,768,708 GENRE: Family Superhero Animation LOCATION: USA PERIOD: Modern READER: Katerina Watson DATE: 09/07/16
ELEMENTS: PRODUCERS: Ben Smith, Jan Ragowski DIRECTOR: Ben Smith CAST: Mark Chavez, Shenoah Allen, Gemma Whelan (approached).
LOGLINE: Fifty years after being jettisoned into space Buddy the dog crash lands into 2016 - dismayed that animals are now treated as outcasts, he teams up with a vigilante cat and an animal resistance to try and find his beloved owner David and fight a megalomaniac foe.
COMMENT SUMMARY: An engaging, fast paced and witty family animation that taps into the current children’s zeitgeist for hi-tech heroes. It comes from a production company specializing in the genre although it should be noted this is their first feature and first production aiming for general release. The storyline follows through on an excellent premise with well rounded, lovable characters and suitably high stakes for a children's adventure. High octane pace keeps the audience engaged but at times renders the storyline a little muddled and the geography imprecise. Modern references will keep adults entertained although may need some tempering to firmly appeal to a 5+ demographic.
Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1) PREMISE X STORYLINE X CHARACTERISATION X DIALOGUE X STRUCTURE X PACE X ORIGINALITY X AUDIENCE APPEAL X TOTAL 16 12
OVERALL SCORE: [28 ]/32 = [87 ]%
CHARACTERS:
BUDDY, an affable dog with an innate love of humans.
DAVID, Buddy’s scientist owner who sent him into space in 1966.
FELIX, a human-hating and sardonic vigilante cat who funds his attempts at being a superhero with the millions made from his “cute kitty” YouTube videos.
PECK, the town cop who hates animals and has had them outlawed.
ALEX, Peck’s young daughter – inquisitive and kind.
CELINE, a rabbit and Felix’s love interest who heads up the animal resistance G.U.A.R.D.
TODD, an aged, gnarly cat who is chief scientist at G.U.A.R.D.
PREMISE: A dog’s love for his owner overcomes the fear and prejudice between animals and people in the new world he’s thrust into.
SYNOPSIS: In 1966 BUDDY the dog is jettisoned into outer space by his beloved owner DAVID, a scientist. A malfunction causes the spaceship to lose contact with Earth - freezing over with Buddy inside.
Buddy wakes up having crash landed in 2016. Confused and separated from his spaceship he decides to search for David, only to find that the townspeople are petrified by his presence - even the police are after him. He escapes the police but is instead captured by FELIX, a dog hating cat, dressed as a superhero. Felix explains that animals are outcasts in this town, rounded up by the police – headed up by cop PECK. Felix can’t understand why Buddy wants to find David when all humans are bad but agrees to help search for the spaceship when he realises his love interest, Celine, is also looking for it. When the police spot both animals together Buddy finds he has supersonic running abilities and manages to flee with Felix.
Their search takes them through a toy store where they avoid an angry police dog and encounter ALEX, a young girl on her way to see her Grandfather. She is clearly terrified of the animals. Buddy shows Felix how to give her puppy dog eyes and Alex and Felix share a moment. The animals are shocked to discover Alex is Police Chief Peck’s daughter!
Buddy and Felix stumble into the animal resistance – G.U.A.R.D. – headed up by Celine, who is less than pleased to see Felix. G.U.A.R.D.'s aged Chief scientist, TODD the cat, explains that Buddy’s spaceship must be found immediately and kept away from Peck as it contains hexolithium, which can be used to control animals. Buddy also learns that a team of animals were specially trained for the mission but he was chosen instead. The meeting's brought to halt when the animals discover Peck has found the spaceship. In trying to recover it Buddy and Felix are captured. As they sit, caged behind Alex and her father in the police car, Alex secretly strokes both animals and feeds Felix. G.U.A.R.D sets explosives to free Buddy and Felix but as the car crashes Alex is trapped. Buddy and Felix save Alex and Buddy discovers he also has super strength– if only he could control it. The animals reclaim the spaceship while Peck comes round and warns Alex against animals– his fears stemming from Alex being bitten as a baby.
Whilst on guard, Buddy and Felix are tricked into a high speed chase designed to lure them away from the spaceship by…Todd the cat! He reveals he was part of the original animal team who were to go into space but was passed over for Buddy. The hexolithium he stole has kept him alive and now he wants to use it to enslave humans – starting with Peck who he makes act like a dog. Seeing Alex devastated, Felix vows to set things right. He asks Buddy for help – presenting him with a superhero outfit. Together they battle Todd who has now climbed into a giant exo-suit with a hexolitium bomb attached. Working side by side, they neutralise Todd but the bomb is still ticking. Felix, desperate to save Alex, blasts off in the spaceship with the bomb attached and says goodbye. Buddy realises he can fly and propels upwards, saving Felix just before the bomb detonates. The town is saved, Peck comes to his senses and promises Alex they can keep the pets. In the celebrations, Alex's grandfather appears – it's David! Finally, Felix explains he and Buddy now live with Alex, Peck and David, the town is happier place and G.U.A.R.D has been reformed so that anyone whose mean to animals had better watch out for Dogman and Catboy!
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS: This a high octane, well developed family animation with an excellent premise at heart. It fits comfortably into the current children’s canon although admittedly is not ground breaking. Teaming thoroughly developed characters, dialogue on point and swift pace, the piece is slick and engaging.
The premise taps into the enduring success of talking animal animation as well as the current zeitgeist for a technologically astute young audience that demands everything at high speed. Appropriately, the pace is confident and thoroughly engaging, however at times it feels that this may come at the expense of clarity. A suggestion would be to firm up and maximize on the geography of certain scenes – the toyshop location could be maximized on as it’s currently diluted by action in the carpark. Similarly, Buddy and Felix’s pursuit of the dupe spaceship ending up back where they started feels muddled and a wasted opportunity when it has been earlier established that Felix has gadgets linking up to CCTV.
The script caters carefully for adults as well as for younger children, crucial in creating successful family animation. However, as the production is expressly being marketed for the 5+ demographic to truly target this age range certain elements may need to be tempered. Suggestions would be to make it more explicit that Buddy is alive in space, pulling back slightly on some of the internet references and to cut Felix’s addiction to cat nip entirely as it's hard to read it without drug connotations.
POTENTIAL:
The care and skill of the character development vitally delivers on a story with heart and a strong but subtle message about fear and prejudice that would be at home in the current market for children’s animation. The execution is slick but could feel tighter by discarding superfluous locations, pulling back slightly on the humour for the adults and exploring the reasoning behind Peck’s outlawing of animals. The current reasoning – the bite mark on Sophie’s arm seems thin and disconnected from the current story. Overall however, the script is mostly on point, benefitting from highly developed characters and great pace. The director and his animation team have an excellent track record in children’s animation although this is their first feature and production aimed at general release. Whilst there is potential for a spin off TV show, it’s not made explicit where this might go.
DOGMAN AND CATBOY by Ben Smith
Sixth Draft 16 May 2016
Copyright (C) 2016 Red Star 3D Electric Works Sheffield S1 2BJ Email: [email protected] EXT. LAUNCH-PAD - DAY A piercing blue sky. Tilt down to find a gleaming white ROCKET on the launch pad, steam billowing around it. CAPTION: 1966 On the gantry LIFT DOORS open revealing an enthusiastic young dog BUDDY, wearing a space-suit. He wags his tail in excitement and BOUNDS down the gantry to leap into the arms of a tall man in glasses and white coat: DAVID. DAVID Whoa! Someone is excited to be the first dog in outer space! I got the space capsule all ready for you! Buddy dashes over to the conical SPACE CAPSULE behind David to peer excitedly through the window. DAVID Buddy this mission is REALLY important; but if you’re not ready yet... BUDDY You’re my BEST FRIEND, David; if you say it’s important I say: which way is space?! We see this from David’s POV, Buddy BARKS like a real dog. David laughs and takes the TAG off Buddy’s collar. DAVID I don’t need to speak dog to know that’s a “yes”. You’re a SUPER DOG Buddy, and just as soon as you land I’m going to come find the capsule and give you THIS back I PROMISE! Now come here... He smothers Buddy in a huge emotional hug. Buddy squeezes his eyes shut in happiness. CUT TO:
INT. SPACE CAPSULE - CONTINUOUS Inside the capsule, Buddy is strapped into his seat in his space suit, shaking and rattling violently. BUDDY It’s - a - little - bumpy! David’s voice emerges from a radio built into Buddy’s WRIST. 2.
DAVID All systems are go. You’re doing fine, hang in there Buddy. Alongside the radio it reads : MISSION TIME ELAPSED - 2 MINUTES. Buddy lowers it - he see STARS appear at the window. His jaw drops. BUDDY David! I’m in SPACE! I can see- BEEP BEEP BEEP - Suddenly lights are flashing and klaxons blaring. Buddy looks at the controls, panicked. BUDDY David! What’s happening?!? The capsule spins. Buddy somersaults. David’s voice blares: DAVID Buddy? Buddy? Come in! Come i-BZT The wrist-radio SHORTS OUT - just STATIC. The controls flash red and orange! Buddy is frantic! BUDDY David! David! BZZZT - RED ELECTRICITY crawls over a panel in front of Buddy. He sees it speechlessly. Suddenly - Red electricity arcs through the whole capsule. Buddy’s eyes WIDEN and - BANG! Black. Just the sound of STATIC from the radio.
EXT. SPACE - CONTINUOUS The Capsule drifts listlessly through space. Ice has formed on the window. Inside, Buddy is FROZEN SOLID. And the camera ZOOMS in to Buddy’s body as a fast-paced title sequence begins and we see his doggy DNA like rows of bones. Red lightning ZAPS the DNA, changing it into new and exciting forms, building to a caption: DOGMAN AND CATBOY CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - DUSK Buddy’s eyes blink back to life. The sun bleaches through his eyelids. Blurriness. He sits up and looks about. 3.
He’s in a dumpster full of rubbish. He looks confused - - and realizes he’s got a bunch of ROTTEN VEGETABLES on his head. He freaks and LEAPS out into a dirty, grimy alleyway. BUDDY D... David? He staggers off uncertainly.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - CONTINUOUS - to find the TOWN SQUARE of a small midwestern town opposite the facade of an old boarded up MUSEUM. BUDDY What... happened? A PUNK DUDE strolls past, absorbed in his headphones. BUDDY Oh look, a human! They’ll help - Buddy darts over and we see from the Dude’s POV as he BARKS at him comprehensively. He just stands there staring at him - PUNK KID Arrgghh! HEEEELP! - SCREAMS and runs away wildly. Buddy watches him go perplexed. Behind him a BUSY LADY also screams and DIALS her cellphone hurriedly. BUSY LADY Oh my god, a dog! I’m dialing 911! Panicked, Buddy retreats from the lady. But an OVERWEIGHT MOM hurls her HANDBAG at him and it SMACKS him on the head, sending him reeling - OVERWEIGHT MOM Stay away from my baby! - and an ELDERLY MAN races past on a MOBILITY SCOOTER, nearly running him over. ELDERLY MAN Darned kids! Buddy picks himself up from the floor, backs away. BUDDY Oh jeepers! Where am I?! Where’s the space capsule! Why is everyone so MEAN! 4.
He reaches for his wrist-communicator. BUDDY David? David! Please come in Davi- He stops - alongside the radio it reads: MISSION TIME ELAPSED: 50 YEARS Buddy REELS. BUDDY Uuugh I don’t know what that is in dog years but it’s a lot! Oh boy where is David?! A car starts and he looks up. Over the square a POLICE PICK- UP TRUCK glides past. BUDDY Of course! A friendly neighbourhood police officer will help me. But the Pick-up turns round a corner and is gone. BUDDY But he's going to get away unless I chase the car... (beat) CHASE THE CAR! Buddy BOUNDS off in pursuit, BARKING and lurching along behind the pick-up, his paws skittering on the ground. Tongue lolling he grits his teeth and runs as fast as he can. The pick-up turns off and Buddy SKIDS to a halt behind, panting to catch his breath. BUDDY Officer -PANT- officer -PANT- I... But while Buddy’s panting the pick-up door has opened and out stepped a smartly uniformed boot. It strides with the back of the truck and - - there’s the sound of a DOG WHINING. Buddy looks up sharply - - an immaculately uniformed COP is hauling a CAGE from the pick-up, from within which emanates the awful whining. Buddy fearful takes a step backward. The cop marches the cage toward the nearby POLICE STATION, which Buddy suddenly looks up to see towering over him. A sign reads “REPORT STRAY ANIMALS” and leads his eye to the second, larger wing of the building from which comes even more canine WHINING and bears the sign “CITY POUND”. 5.
Buddy PANICS and goes skittering backward into an alleyway. CLANG! He trips over something - - The cop suddenly STOPS. Looks back. - Nothing. Just some trash. His eyes narrow and he marches on into the pound, the doors snapping shut behind him. Buddy emerges behind some trash in the alleyway. BUDDY Oh jeepers, what kind of horrible place is thi- hold on... Buddy steps back. The “trash” is the HATCH of the space capsule. BUDDY The hatch! My space capsule’s hatch! What happened to the rest of it... He sniffs around under it, and finds - - a bitten-off chuck of CARROT. He picks it up quizzically. BUDDY Funny, smells like... BOOM! ROCK MUSIC blares out and Buddy is suddenly framed in a SPOTLIGHT! He freezes and squints into the blinding light- - to see a silhouetted CAT with yellow slit eyes and cat ears wearing high-tech black BODY ARMOUR. He whips out a GUN - - and fires a spinning BOLA which entangles Buddy in cable from which ELECTRICITY arcs and crackles. Buddy collapses to the floor to writhe and twitch in cartoon agony. MYSTERY CAT Heh. I like it when they gurgle. Ensnared with cable Buddy glances up at his attacker. BUDDY What did you just... Who ARE you?! MYSTERY CAT Some call me “Feline Justice”; others know me as “The Canine Destroyer”; but all tremble before the name IRON CLAW! IRON CLAW flashes his claws in a “heroic” pose as thunder rolls and lightning flashes on cue. 6.
IRON CLAW Defending Glenview’s cats with his faithful sidekick - RUSTBOY! The lightning effects are coming from a dustbin-sized 1980’s plastic ROBOT on caterpillar tracks with a British accent. RUSTBOY You’re welcome Iron Claw, and might I say how heroic you’re looking today. BUDDY Now just a moment, I’m trying to-ARRGH! More electricity ZAPS into Buddy from the wires. IRON CLAW Bark bark blah blah blah. It’s my nap time, let’s get out of here, Rustboy. Iron Claw leaps into a black, low-slung, angular, cat-sized CATMOBILE. Rustboy SLAPS an “I Had My Hind Whipped by IRON CLAW” sticker on Buddy’s ass, scoops his unconscious body up in his mechanical arms and scoots off into the Catmobile. The door slams and it rockets away down the alley. CUT TO:
INT. CATMOBILE - MOMENTS LATER Inside the Catmobile’s plush cockpit Iron Claw steers with a cocky smirk. Suddenly ahead the ELDERLY MAN is crossing the road on his mobility scooter - Iron Claw SWERVES, riding up on two wheels to hurtle round him. He yawns. IRON CLAW Too easy! Activate autopilot. “AUTOPILOT” flashes, the steering wheel retracts and he leans back into the seat. A computer screen pops out with Iron Claw’s FACEBOOK page and speech-to-texts his words. IRON CLAW Update status: Iron Claw slam dunks it again! Hashtag stupid mutts. Hashtag awesome! He grins and lounges with his arms behind his head. Ahead, the Catmobile is barreling into the town square. 7.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - CONTINUOUS At the head of the town square park stands the big dilapidated MUSEUM with stone columns and boarded up windows. The Catmobile rockets toward it and scoots up a ramp over the steps. On the wooden doors a “MUSEUM CLOSED” sign pops open mechanically and the Catmobile slots inside -
INT. DISUSED MUSEUM - CONTINUOUS - to drive across the dusty stone floor, past a cobwebby Sabre-Toothed Tiger mock-up and musty Egyptian mummies. It JERKS to a halt at the former security guard’s station with its half dozen CCTV screens. A door pops open letting Iron Claw stride out - - to step through a mechanical ARCHWAY. He emerges without his mask and cape, whilst the arch retracts to display them proudly under a spotlight. Rustboy drops the prone Buddy into a holding cell and trundles back toward Iron Claw, who leaps up to a big padded leather seat at the CCTV console. RUSTBOY I’ve incarcerated the prisoner sir, but I’m terribly sorry we’re fresh out of milk. IRON CLAW Later, Rustboy. I’m too worn out being awesome to drink now anyway. IRON CLAW Ahhhhh - nap time... And as his eyelids droop closed he hears - - HOWLING coming from Buddy’s cell. He tries to sleep. More howling. He quits and yells over to the cells. IRON CLAW Hey will you can it! If my nap time gets ruined by a POLICE DOG... BUDDY I’m not a police dog! Let me out! IRON CLAW Yeah, you just wear that crazy suit for kicks. You’re- He stops. He’s noticed something. 8.
IRON CLAW Hmmm. How come a police dog doesn’t have a tag. His eyes narrow. He spins round back to the CCTV console. IRON CLAW Connect to the CCTV network. Isolate the dog’s barking and cross reference. The CCTV console lights up and screens show Buddy running back and forth. The pictures rewind - IRON CLAW Rewind. Further. Stop. Zoom in. - and show Buddy emerging from the dumpster. Iron Claw frowns at the frozen image - and reluctantly flicks a button: the cell door pops open and Buddy flops out onto the floor. Iron Claw spins to address him: IRON CLAW OK you’re obviously from out of town so let me give you the 101. You’re in GLENVIEW, where animals are ILLEGAL by order of town cop officer PECK. Felix’ computer screen blips up a picture of the immaculately uniformed cop: PECK. Buddy gulps. On cue the screen cuts to show the city pound. IRON CLAW Only his loyally tagged POLICE DOGS are permitted, otherwise, they’re strays. And when Peck finds a dangerous unhygienic stray animal he locks them up in the pound and they’re NEVER seen again. Close the door on your way out. Buddy leaps to his feet furious. BUDDY Well I’m going to find this officer Peck and get YOU sent to the pound! IRON CLAW No you’re not. Know why? Buddy doesn’t. IRON CLAW Because you don’t have one of THESE. He casually flips out the bola gun he got Buddy with before. Buddy freezes. 9.
IRON CLAW Or these... On cue another LIGHT shines on the CATMOBILE, gleaming and bristling with metallic claws. IRON CLAW And these; and these; and these... More LIGHTS reveal Cat-Jets, Cat-Tanks and a formidable Cat Robot EXO-SUIT. Gadgets and gizmos extend back into the murky recess of the museum amid the dusty old exhibits. IRON CLAW And... THIS. A final shaft of light picks out a glass case containing the Iron Claw mask and cape. Felix eyes it lovingly. IRON CLAW Triple ply carbon fibre. Hand stitched. As worn by Glenview’s recklessly heroic and incredibly handsome super cat who kicks Police dogs’ butts right back to the pound. Buddy reaches out with a paw. Felix snaps: IRON CLAW AH AH! Don’t. Touch. The cape. BUDDY Er, where did you get all this stuff? Iron Claw smirks and spins on his chair to work a keyboard. A screen flickers up with a YOUTUBE PAGE. He CLICKS and - - a CAT VIDEO pops up. It’s Iron Claw, but acting like a cute kitty. A ball of wool rolls into him and he inanely tumbles over it, “fighting” it adorably. CLICK - Cute kitty plays the piano. Falls of the stool. CLICK - Kitty is wedged in a fishbowl, face poking out. CLICK - A cardboard box scampers about. Meows. Buddy gawps. Iron Claw sits back in the chair smugly. IRON CLAW One hundred and sixteen MILLION views. The advertising alone averages two million U.S. - PER QUARTER. CLICK - Kitty anxiously watches the spot of light from a LASER POINTER flicker across a wall. Leaps for it pathetically. Watches it crawl over his body. Jumps like a lunatic and then flies off scrambling after it again. 10.
Iron Claw clicks it off angrily. IRON CLAW That one’s not funny. I’m going to GET that spot of light one day. BUDDY So... you’re rich? IRON CLAW And it is AMAZING what you can buy on the internet... CLICK - YouTube is replaced by EBAY PAGES - for Ex-Russian tanks, second hand missiles, part exchange space shuttles. Buddy gazes from the screen to all the gadgets in awe. RUSTBOY There does appear to be a little UHT remaining, Master Felix Sir. Iron Claw turns to Rustboy in exasperation. FELIX How many times... it’s a SECRET IDENTITY. (sigh) You met Rustboy already. 80’s technology but I fixed him up to be my loyal companion and whip cream. The 1980’s robot bows and shows off his whisk. Buddy glances into the depths of the museum fearfully. BUDDY Oh Geez, I’m lost fifty years in the future in a town where everyone hates animals, and the only other pet is some kind of crazy-super-cat-thingy. I hope David comes to find me real quick! FELIX Don’t tell me you’re drooling over a HUMAN?! BUDDY David is my owner. He launched me into space in 1965! FELIX That figures. Only a DOG would be STUPID enough to take a one-way trip in an overgrown firework for some mean, nasty human. BUDDY No! David loves me SO MUCH he fired me off in an experimental space capsule! 11.
Felix collapses in giggles. FELIX He sounds GREAT! Maybe if you can find this so-called “space capsule” this so- called “animal lover” will come and find his so-called “moron dog”! Clockwork ticks in Buddy’s brain. A lightbulb - EUREKA! BUDDY That’s it! David said he’d find the capsule and come get me. He can’t find me if I’m not with it! I just have to get the capsule back and David will come straight to me! But where am I going to get the high-technology needed to locate a space capsule... His gaze settles on Felix nestled amid his gadgets. FELIX OK, maybe you’re not a Police Dog, but you’re still a butt sniffing, drool dispensing doofus and I’m not going to help you find a space whatnot OR a nasty human. Buddy listens to Felix rebuttal, thinks, steps forward and: BUDDY David might be a human, but I believe deep in my heart that humans can be good and David is looking for me right now. Please will you use your powers to help me so I can be reunited with my owner as their loyal, loving pet. His eyes IMPLORE Felix - who looks up from Facebook - FELIX Huh? Sorry, I was just updating my status. Could you summarize that? Buddy thinks about this for a moment. BUDDY Er... WOOF! FELIX Blah blah hashtag YAWN. Rustboy - Rustboy trundles over, scoops Buddy up in his mechanical arms and zips him over to the doors - 12.
EXT. MUSEUM STEPS - CONTINUOUS - to DUMP Buddy out the hatch sending him bouncing down the museum steps in a heap. Felix peeps out the hatch. FELIX Maybe if you had some MILK I’d have listened to you. Laters. The hatch SLAMS shut. CUT TO:
INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAWN Buddy looks up, past rows of MILK CARTONS, to the owner of the convenience store frowning down at him. BUDDY ...give me some milk so I can be reunited with my owner as their loyal, loving pet. A metal shutter SLAMS down revealing a sign “NO PETS”. CUT TO:
INT. TRUCK CAB - DAY Buddy sits on the passenger seat lecturing the driver. BUDDY ...be reunited with my owner as their loyal, loving pet. The door opens and Buddy is thrown out to bounce across the road as the Milk truck roars away. CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DAY Buddy looks up at a baby sucking a bottle in a stroller. BUDDY ...my owner as their loyal, loving pet. The baby SCREAMS and throws its dummy at him. CUT TO: 13.
EXT. FIELD - DUSK BUDDY ...as their loyal, loving pet. A COW MOOOS sending him tumbling over, sprawling in a cowpat. CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - DUSK Covered in poo, Buddy traipses down the alleyway. BUDDY Jeepers. When did humans get so MEAN to animals? He struggles out of the straps of his big space BACKPACK. BUDDY David was a good person - I miss him SO MUCH... He opens the backpack, removes a box and opens the lid. BUDDY ...The only thing I’ve got to remember him is the packed lunch he left me... The camera pans over the lunch: dog biscuits, an apple, a carton of MILK. Buddy just sits staring at them...... For slightly longer than you’d think necessary - - Before he REALIZES! CUT TO:
EXT. DISUSED MUSEUM STEPS - NIGHT Buddy bangs on the museum door wielding the milk carton. FELIX Yeah, thing is... He jumps - Felix is behind him, backed up by Rustboy. FELIX ...I only drink full fat. He tosses the carton away. Buddy implores him: 14.
BUDDY Oh gee whiz mister Felix Iron Claw sir, you got to help me find the capsule, PLEASE. I found the hatch already, THIS was there, I think- HEY Buddy holds up the bit of broken CARROT. Rustboy snatches it. FELIX Rustboy, fetch a camera so I can FILM me kicking his butt this time. Rustboy scoots off. BUDDY ...it’s my only hope to find David - PLEASE. FELIX You’re still chasing after that dumb human, huh? BUDDY David might be a human, but I believe deep in my heart that... FELIX Oh please not again! Buddy STOPS - and collapses in dejection. BUDDY I’m... I’m sorry I wasted your time. He turns and traipses off down the museum steps. Dead leaves blow around his ankles as he shuffles off through the park. - Past a sign “KEEP PETS OFF THE GRASS” - onto the street past “REPORT STRAY ANIMALS” - past a store fronted with “NO PETS” - and he traipses forlornly down the street past a sign with a dog, crossed out. On the museum steps RUSTBOY follows Buddy with his robotic eyes. Compassion flickers across them, he glances at the CARROT still in his claw, and - RUSTBOY Sir, the bite marks on this carrot are highly familiar... From his chair, Felix glances at it. He raises an eyebrow. FELIX Mmm. Hit up the CCTV again. 15.
The screens flicker to life again, displaying multiple CCTV videos of Buddy running back and forth barking. Over the way Buddy hears the barking, looks back and curiously begins trotting back to the museum. FELIX FREEZE! That one. Full screen. A video shows Buddy sniffing round the HATCH on the street. FELIX Rewind. Zoom in. Closer. STOP!! Buddy moseys back through the open door. FELIX Closer. Pan left. Enhance... The picture zooms in and focuses - to reveal a figure lurking in the shadows behind the scene - - a beautiful lady WHITE RABBIT with languid lashes and long sensual ears. Felix’ eyes widen in recognition. FELIX Celine... RUSTBOY You’re right sir! Perhaps Ms. Celine is also searching for this alleged “SPACE CAPSULE”... BUDDY A RABBIT has my space capsule?!? I LOVE chasing rabbits! FELIX So do I... So do I... RUSTBOY I’m sure she’ll be VERY impressed if you locate it first, sir... Felix drools over the picture on the screen. He realizes Buddy is watching him. Embarrassed, he bluffs: FELIX Yeah, well, since I’ve got nothing planned I reckon I’ll have a look around, see if I can work out where she’s hiding. Rustboy - let’s get there in STYLE. He points up at the hulking EXO-SUIT towering over them: a twenty foot high cat-shaped ROBOT with a pilot’s seat on top. 16.
RUSTBOY I’m terribly sorry sir, I just can’t locate an energy source powerful enough. FELIX What? I paid good money for that. The CIA better refund my shipping fees! Better get the car ready then. RUSTBOY Shall I pack some lettuce for Ms. Celine, sir? FELIX Yeah! And make it COSY in there. Rustboy trundles off immediately. Felix marches through his ARCHWAY, emerges wearing his MASK AND CAPE and slips out the door, down the steps. Buddy bounds after him. BUDDY Does this mean I can come with you?! FELIX I already HAVE a sidekick, dog breath. Buddy collapses in dejection. But at that moment there’s a FLASH and the two of the them are fixed in a SPOTLIGHT - - town cop PECK is shining his torch at them. PECK (INTO A RADIO) Confirm stray animals in the park. FELIX (INTO A RADIO) Err... Rustboy, the car? RUSTBOY (OVER RADIO) I’m just putting the straw in now, sir. There’s fear in Felix’ eyes as Peck pulls big mechanical TONGS from his big POLICE PICK-UP TRUCK. Buddy is transfixed. BUDDY What do we do now, Felix? (beat) Felix? Felix is RUNNING off down the street! Felix glances over his shoulder and chuckles. But suddenly Buddy comes galloping up alongside him. - Behind them Peck’s Police Pick-Up Truck is closing in. FELIX Hey! Don’t run WITH me you idiot! Run another way! 17.
BUDDY But if I run another way he won’t be able to chase both of us! Felix rolls his eyes in exasperation. FELIX Stupid DOG! Here - FETCH! From his utility belt he pulls a BALL and tosses it away. Buddy bounds off after it barking, tail wagging. - and reappears with it a moment later. BUDDY You dropped this! It’s really fun to catch it though. Do you want to drop it again? FELIX UN-believable. The Police Pick-Up is right behind them. Peck reaches for the tongs. Felix and Buddy panic and pick up the pace. The tongs reach out - and seize Felix’ flapping CAPE! The hood is pulled up crazily over his face and -POP- it flies off. Felix reels and tumbles wildly into Buddy. Buddy grits his teeth with exertion. He glances back - - he’s gained a hundred yards the Pick-Up. Felix, now clinging to his back, looks back in puzzlement. FELIX What the...?!? Keep running! Buddy dashes off again. He looks back - - Felix is clinging to his fur and the Police Pick-Up is disappearing rapidly behind him. Confused, he looks down - - his legs are running at SUPER SPEED! He’s racing down the road faster than a speeding bullet or something! FELIX HOW are you doing that?!? BUDDY I don’t know! I don’t know! FELIX Well keep doing it! Don’t stop! Felix clings on as Buddy ROCKETS ahead. The Pick-Up disappears behind them. 18.
Buddy WHOOPS and gallops onward ecstatically, as the wind streams his ears back and his tongue lolls out wildly. BUDDY I’m coming David! I’m COMING! Buddy dashes away down the street. The Pick-up STOPS. Peck steps out the door and stares down the road after Buddy and Felix. He stoops and picks up Felix’ MASK. He turns to the rear door, opens it and - down steps a hulking DOBERMAN, panting greedily. PECK Heel, Victor. (beat) HEEL! On the second command VICTOR leaps to attention fearfully. Peck proffers the MASK and Victor SNIFFS it. PECK Find them. Victor SNARLS - and springs off down the road.
EXT. CAR PARK - LATER Felix is catapulted past the camera to land in an undignified heap against a shopping trolley. He stands. FELIX You need to work on stopping. BUDDY Sorry Felix, I’m just excited I’m on the trail of David. FELIX I told you it’s IRON CLA- oh forget it. Look, I don’t know how you did that running thing, like you’ve had too much marrowbone jelly or something; but I guess it could come in useful... If you want to stand nearby while I track down Celine then fine. Buddy narrow his eyes. BUDDY How do I know I can trust you? Cats are selfish and spiteful and they do that licking thing. Yuck. FELIX One word: hy-giene. 19.
BUDDY My name’s Buddy, not Gene! And I still don’t know if I can trust you! Who is this Celine? Where are we anyway?! He looks about. They’re in the car park of an enormous out-of- town MEGA STORE. Felix sizes it up through binoculars. FELIX I don’t know why Celine’s interested in your stupid capsule, but she hates Peck even more than I do. And that carrot you found came from this store, so it’s odds-on THIS is where she’s hiding from him. They don’t open for an hour, but we need to be careful. Come on. CUT TO:
INT. MEGA STORE - NIGHT Felix drops slickly and stealthily from an overhead vent onto the vinyl flooring. Smugly, he whispers: FELIX EVERY TIME! Coast is clea- SPLAT! Buddy lands right on top of him. Felix SCOWLS and HISSES as Buddy tumbles off, wiping his fur furiously. FELIX I think you got some drool on me. BUDDY Eugh the SMELL! It’ll never come off. Buddy looks up to see they’re stood amid the endless aisles of the Mega Store with TOYS in piles all around. They creep off down an aisle. Buddy glances at the shelves. BUDDY Jeepers I’ve never seen a store this big befo- ooh look a BALL! And he BOUNDS off tail wagging to CRASH into a display of BALLS sending them careening around the store. Balls roll past Felix making him hop over them manically. He looks on deadpan as Buddy darts back up to him. BUDDY I don’t think it was the same ball after all; but I nearly got it and there some others too that I saw but didn’t chase. What? Felix is giving him a filthy look. 20.
FELIX Nothing. There is absolutely nothing idiotic about this behavior. BUDDY OK good, because for a moment there I... oooh BUBBLES! Buddy DARTS off toward a machine pumping out BUBBLES. He prances about trying to “catch” them in his mouth. Felix grimly makes his way through the chaos as Buddy springs back alongside him. BUDDY I think I got all of them but if you see any more let me know, OK. FELIX It is top of my “to do” list. BUDDY Great, I’ll look out for... SQUIRREL! He flies off and returns with a SQUEAKY TOY in his jaws. BUDDY Oooh tastes funny! Buddy SPITS the Toy out, causing it to fly across the store into a display of SUPER-SOAKERS, which topples over; one tumbling down and SQUIRTING a jet of water - - into Felix’ face. He GAGS and spits, wiping himself. FELIX OK that is IT. I can deal with the drooling and I’m prepared to look away if you want to smell some other dog’s butt, but I won’t sit here- GROWL! Felix looks - VICTOR is marching down the aisle behind them. He pads along, stops and narrows his eyes, sniffing the air suspiciously. VICTOR Funny. I could have swore. - and walks on past the shelves - - from which melts FELIX. He hops down to watch Victor pass. FELIX Police Dog. Fortunately he’s almost as dumb as you... 21.
Buddy is upside-down like an idiot with a sign pointed at him “GET YOUR CUTE DOG HERE”. Felix stalks off as Buddy gets up. BUDDY That was scary. What happens if the Police Dog catches us Felix?... Felix? He looks up. A shaft of SUNLIGHT from a skylight slants across a shelf onto Felix who is curled up in the SUNBEAM on a cushion, SNORING. He doesn’t budge. BUDDY Felix? Buddy reaches out to poke him with a paw. Felix opens an eye. FELIX I’m napping. BUDDY But... we’re in a hurry. FELIX Sorry. Sunbeam. Napping. Buddy glances up at the sun overhead. Felix shuts his eye. BUDDY Hey, CAT. I need you to help me find my capsule and David. Remember? FELIX And I’m NAPPING, whilst you’re a stupid DOG - REMEMBER?! BUDDY You can nap AFTER we’ve got the capsule, you LAZY, SELFISH... GGGGGROWL. They both look - - VICTOR is advancing down the aisle, staring at them. VICTOR I knew I could smell something! BUDDY Don’t worry! I’ll just explain I’m a fellow dog on an important mission and he doesn’t need to... But while he’s deliberating Catboy creeps up and shoves a pair of fancy-dress CAT EARS on his head - FELIX Blah blah hashtag yawn. 22.
- and SHOVES Buddy forward down the aisle, sending him reeling into Victor’s eyeline - DOBERMAN I KNEW it - stop right there CAT! Buddy glances up at the cat ears on his head. GULPS - - and RUNS screaming down the aisle with Victor behind. From a shelf Felix watches all this with wry amusement. FELIX Hey, can’t you run faster than that? Buddy runs pell mell - but not exactly super. BUDDY It doesn’t seem to be working! On his shelf Felix sniggers. FELIX Can’t run fast. FAIL. (shouts) Well, use your masterful powers of concealment again! CUT TO: Buddy huddles in trembling fear. PULL OUT to reveal he’s amid a pile of CAT-TOYS. Victor LEAPS up in his face, shocking Buddy who darts away, sending the cat toys tumbling. A Cat Toy lands in Victor’s mouth and he SNARLS, RIPS it to shreds and hurtles off after Buddy. Buddy CRASHES through a FIRE EXIT into the car park. FELIX Can’t hid for nuts. FAIL. CUT TO: Buddy huddles fearfully in the branches of a TREE in the car park. PULL OUT to reveal Victor GLARING up at the tree. He HEAD-BUTTS the trunk sending Buddy tumbling out. From the fire exit Felix shakes his head. FELIX Climbs up a tree. CLASSIC FAIL! CUT TO: Buddy huddled in desperate panic. Suddenly SPLOOSH! a garbage bin of water is hurled over him and, soaking, he flees his hiding place to be pursed by Victor. From a car rooftop Felix finds all this hysterical. FELIX Gets water thrown on him. EPIC FAIL! 23.
Buddy dashes off the through the parked cars with Victor hot on his heels. Buddy looks up - he’s barreling toward a children’s PLAY AREA. Buddy DIVES into the tiny window of a PLAYHOUSE. Victor plunges in after him. We follow from the outside as Buddy wriggles through slides and along pipes around the inside of the climbing frame, all the while with Victor growling and snarling right after him. WHIZZ! Buddy slides down a slide to PLOP! - Appear in a heap inside another part of the playhouse. Where Felix is idly waiting for him to appear. FELIX So “win” technically. But I’d have done the playhouse move sooner. Behind you. BOOF! On cue Victor’s massive head appears WEDGED in the slide exit behind Buddy. He wriggles and writhes furious. VICTOR Arrgh! I CAN’T BREATHE! Get me OUT of here you.. FELIX Now hold on there - (reads his dogtag) - “VICTOR”. You’ve heard of Iron Claw, right? The awesome super-cat who kicks Police Dogs’ butts? VICTOR You think I LIKE being a Police Dog? I don’t OBEY and find you two I don’t get DINNER tonight! FELIX Oh gosh, you’re right; we should let you out right away so you can do your duty and get back to your master. VICTOR Er... really? FELIX No. I’m just messing with you. You’re stuck here forever. Laters. He marches off down a plastic tunnel with Buddy close behind. BUDDY Wow. It is SCARY being chased by a dog. Felix makes to open the playhouse door - 24.
FELIX Yeah, well that’s what it’s like being a - - CHING! it’s stuck. They peer through the bars. There’s a BIKE on the ground outside, stopping it opening. Behind the bike, standing fearfully a few feet back is the SCHOOLGIRL from before. FELIX Dang it a human! Buddy rattles the metal door forcefully. but it just jiggles the bike. FELIX That’s her bike. She just needs to get on it and ride off for crying out loud. (to the kid) Hey! Kid! Go home! Scram! The schoolkid backs off, even more fearfully. Felix looks in angry from the girl and - - HISSES like a mad cat, arching his back, spitting in fury. FELIX YEAH! I’m WAY bigger than I look! My hissing signals immanent violence! Buddy looks - the kid is even more frantic than before. FELIX Dang it this normally works! How ELSE do you get what you want from a human?! BUDDY Felix! She’s AFRAID of us. We just have to show her she we’re nice. Like THIS! And he sits down, focuses for a moment, and then looks up with huge, sad puppy dog eyes. Butter wouldn’t melt. FELIX WHAT are you doing?! BUDDY This’ll work, just do what I’m doing! TRUST ME! Felix looks from the bike, to the kid, to Buddy. He sighs, sits down, composes himself and - - HUGE sad kitten eyes plead upward. He MEWLS slightly. 25.
The kid flinches. Buddy and Felix turn the charm up to ELEVEN, they nearly EXPLODE with cuteness... - and the kid dashes forward, grabs the handlebar of her bike, leaps on and cycles away. Felix and Buddy surge through the door and dash away across the car park. Felix stops and looks back, perplexed. Alex is stopped on her bike, watching them. Their eyes meet. And Felix turns to slink off after Buddy. CUT TO:
INT. MEGA STORE - MOMENTS LATER Felix makes his way down an aisle and turns a corner - - he’s in the GROCERIES DEPARTMENT. The dawn sun slants through skylights bathing golden light over the food products lining the shelves. There’s a sound like a pig feeding - - Buddy has got his head in a BIN and is snuffling through the contents. He emerges covered in garbage and meets Felix’ deadpan expression. BUDDY I just realized I haven’t eaten since 1966! FELIX Now I understand why they tie dogs up outside. You could be more discerning. Felix leaps up onto a shelf, rifles the contents and sends a couple of TIN CANS rolling down onto the floor. He hops down. FELIX Ahhh the good stuff. He pops the lid off a can of PET FOOD. Buddy leaps up drooling wildly, tongue lolling. BUDDY What is that incredible SMELL?!?! FELIX Agh! Don’t get DROOL on it! Felix contemplates Buddy’s drooling disdainingly - - but slides the can over with the flicker of a smile. 26.
FELIX Here. That was a neat trick you pulled on the human. Buddy tucks in, talking with his mouth full, food flying. BUDDY Wow this is GREAT! Felix taps his own can wisely. FELIX Purple packaging. Anything in purple is high class. BUDDY Wowzers! It never seems to matter what flavour the can says though, it always tastes the same. FELIX Heh, ain’t that the truth. Felix opens his own can and politely dines. FELIX Sooooo... why’d you go into space? BUDDY It was a REALLY IMPORTANT mission. I, er, can’t quite remember what it was, but David said so, and David is my best friend! FELIX What and you just trusted him? BUDDY Of course! I told you - David might be a human, but I believe deep in my heart that humans can be good. FELIX Huh. Felix lets this sink in. But suddenly there’s a NOISE - - and a CARROT comes flying across the room to STAB into the floor at Felix’ feet! Felix leaps backward in panic - FELIX CELINE! BAM! A LETTUCE lands in his face, exploding in a shower of lettuce leaves. FELIX I don’t think she wanted visitors. 27.
They scurry away into the shelter of the opposite shelves. BUDDY Maybe she doesn’t realize it’s you!? Felix looks up - and a cascade of FRUIT AND VEGETABLES rains down, sending them scurrying away. FELIX Yeah, she knows it’s me. Come on. Felix leads Buddy as they make a break across the aisle. PING! PING! LEMONS bounce off the floor around them. FELIX And boy, is she BITTER! POTATO! HOOSH - Felix ducks as a flying POTATO whizzes over his head - SMASH! to shatter a panel in the glass door. FELIX Let’s get out of here before she finds the watermelons! They dive for the door, leap through the broken window and go scurrying across the car park again. But Felix steps on a banana skin and goes flying into the air. He CRASHES down, looks up and realizes he’s face to face with the white tip of a MAGIC WAND. He follows it up to find - - a WHITE RABBIT with long sensuous ears and slender face, stood with arms crossed angrily in front of them, wearing a utilitarian jacket and SCOWLING at Felix intently. CELINE Well look what the cat dragged in. FELIX Celine! I was, er, just trying to get my five a day... He’s cut off as a GOLDFISH BOWL scoots out between them and Celine, the water within settling to reveal a GOLDFISH which swims confrontationally up to the glass. GOLDFISH FREEZE! Lower your paws and step away from the glass or you will be NEUTRALIZED! CELINE At ease, Bullion. I’ll tell you if I need anyone neutralizing. BULLION looks at Felix and Buddy suspiciously and backs down, standing to “attention” inside his Goldfish Bowl. 28.
BULLION Ma’am yes ma’am. Commencing perimeter patrol. He swims round and round in his tank “patrolling”. CELINE What are you doing here Felix? You’re not prowling round looking for CATNIP again are you? At “catnip” Felix’ face FREEZES and suddenly he’s far, far away in a very special place all by himself. FELIX Cat... nip... Celine SIGHS and nods to Bullion, who SPLASHES water from his fishbowl into Felix’ face - he SNAPS back to reality. CELINE Cut it out. What have you done with that Police Dog? From behind the tank a little WHITE MOUSE shyly appears and tries to direct Celine’s attention to an iPad she’s holding - the screen iPad shows Victor struggling inside the playhouse. MOUSE Errr it looks like he’s... Felix cuts her off. FELIX You’re looking after DOGS now? CELINE Felix, I respect the rights of ALL animals. EXCEPT YOU. Bullion, get ready to neutrali- VOICE Celine - WAIT! From behind Celine emerges a scruffy old alleycat weilding a large bazooka-like affair. He approaches Buddy, spellbound. ALLEYCAT It’s him! Oh my gosh - it’s HIM! Buddy smiles weakly. Celine is baffled. But suddenly there’s a squeal of brakes and the pets all DIVE behind a bush. - PECK’S PICK-UP TRUCK has parked up. Peck leaps out and - 29.
PECK THERE you are! - stopped ALEX the schoolkid on her bike. PECK Is your homework done? ALEX I’m going to help grandpa mend his radio, Daaad. Felix narrows his eyes. FELIX She’s Peck’s DAUGHTER? PECK I have enough work keeping this town clean without- is that CAT HAIR? He leaps over and tries to brush her arm with gloved hands. PECK Alex, you could CATCH something: animals are DANGEROUS and DIRTY and- please tell me it wasn’t a stray. Alex? ALEX? ALEX Daaaad... PECK Home - NOW! I need to find my dog and round up those strays. Back behind the bush, Celine glares at Felix. CELINE Brilliant, Felix. You leave a trail of devastation all the way to my secret hideout, you get some innocent dog locked up AND you lead Peck here. Now we need a new place to hide. Felix smirks. FELIX I thought you’d never ask. CUT TO:
INT. DISUSED MUSEUM - DAY RUSTBOY Lovely to see you again Ms. Celine. Can I offer you some spring water? 30.
Celine strides up to Rustboy with his tray, totally disregarding the assembled technology in the Catcave. CELINE You always did serve the best, Rusty. FELIX Yeah, I upgraded him since last time. Two terabites storage and he does sparkling and still. Celine ignores Felix’s smugness as Buddy approaches. BUDDY Please Ms. Celine, Felix told me you could help me find my space capsule. CELINE Actually, we hoped YOU could help US find it. Rusty if you would... Rustboy dims the lights while Celine puts a USB key into the CCTV console. A big overhead projection screen lights up. FELIX 4K high definition video streaming in realtime. Pretty awesome, huh? On the screen a 1965 photo shows a ROCKET. In the foreground a half dozen dogs, cats and rabbits are wearing spacesuits. CELINE Thank you Felix. In 1966 a group of animals were trained to fly an experimental rocket. But at the last moment the mission director’s pet dog BUDDY was chosen instead. When the capsule malfunctioned and was lost in space he was presumed dead and posthumously promoted to Major. BUDDY I’m a MAJOR? FELIX He’s a major drool machine! Any spaceship he was in would SINK. CELINE Quiet Felix! The rocket was powered by a substance called Hexalithium. It’s extremely powerful but we now know it has dangerous side-effects on animal DNA. The screen flashes up a 1960’s photo of the space capsule. From an open panel an eerie blue light glows - inside, a strange CRYSTAL is nestling within. 31.
BUDDY The capsule was DANGEROUS? Jeepers, I just thought it was a rocket! Felix is showing off the Catmobile. FELIX TRIPLE rocket powered, and with titanium chassis, ejection seats and - check THIS out. Celine rolls her eyes at the interruption; carries on. CELINE Major, I believe in protecting animal rights. That’s why I’ve formed G.U.A.R.D.: Glenview Underground Animal Rights Division. Felix leaps forward. FELIX And you decided you need a real hero on the team. I ac- But Goldfish Bullion’s fish tank slides up. BULLION Hey! Quit Interrupting! Or I am authorized to neutralise you with EXTREME PREJUDICE. Felix is cut off rather abruptly. CELINE Major, this is BULLION. Flushed down a toilet by humans. Now our head of Tactical Operations. BULLION MA’AM! Dedicated to conferring equal rights for all animals MA’AM! CELINE Tinker escaped from a researcher's maze. Now she’s our head of Public Relations. TINKER the white mouse peeps out and waves shyly. TINKER Errrrrr... hello... CELINE And this is our Chief Scientist, a survivor of human scientific experiments: Todd. 32.
A cat with wild Einstein hair and a scarf tangled round his neck springs over and shakes Buddy’s hand enthusiastically. TODD Major! I hope my little toy here didn’t cause you any inconvenience. He’s holding a big bazooka affair loaded with fruit. TODD I have to ask: how did you survive for fifty years?! Buddy shrugs. In the background Tinker offers: TINKER He was probably frozen by the extreme cold in space... No one pays any attention. Todd barges past - TODD Anyway, since Celine located the space capsule’s hatch, it’s clear it detached during re-entry throwing the Major clear to land here in Glenview. The screen switches to show a diagram of Buddy tumbling free of the capsule into a dumpster. TODD But the Space Capsule must ALSO have landed here somewhere. If the humans locate it, and recover the Hexalithium, they could use it to modify our DNA. The screen shows complex maths and equations. Todd’s voice becomes sinister and ominous. TODD My research proves they’ll be able to use its power to ENSLAVE stray animals, finally ELIMINATING us FOR GOOD. Tinker looks down in muted horror. Bullion rages in his tank. TODD That’s why we’ve formed G.U.A.R.D. - so we can FIGHT BACK! He PUNCHES his fruit-bazooka for emphasis - inadvertently sending a lemon rocketing across the room, smashing a window. Celine FACE PALMS quietly to herself and steps over to Buddy. 33.
CELINE As you can see Major we have a few... teething troubles. Would you honour us by joining G.U.A.R.D.? Felix collapses in laughter. FELIX Ha! Maybe if you need a car chasing he’s your dog, but... Celine rounds on Felix angrily. CELINE Buddy is an animal HERO, Felix! Maybe if you spent as much time helping other animals as you spend playing with your cape you’d see that! Felix opens his mouth to say something - STOPS, and SULKS. Celine turns back to Buddy who is still reeling. BUDDY Jeepers. Can humans today REALLY be so MEAN? Celine looks down at the MAGIC WAND she’s been holding the whole time. CELINE Major, I used to have an owner too. But I spent too long hiding in a HAT to ever want them to catch me again. Or to believe that a human was ever going to turn up and save us. Like “magic”. A BEEPING cuts the silence. They turn to look at Felix’ computer console behind them. TODD I’ve computed the Hexalithium vectors, now accessing CCTV... The computer beeps and a picture appears - THE CAPSULE - on the back of PECK’S PICK-UP TRUCK. CELINE We’re too late. PECK has found it and taken it back to the Pound already. There’s no way for a pet to get in and out again unless you were, I don’t know, a superhero! Buddy’s face drops. Felix strides up arrogantly. 34.
FELIX Naaah, it’ll be a cinch. CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY A sterile RECEPTION ROOM at the entrance of the police station. The door opens and in strides - - a MAN; tall, muscular and heavily built in sunglasses. He marches stiffly up to an INTERCOM and presses the button. PECK (OVER INTERCOM) Glenview police can I can help you? The Man points at a poster “REPORT STRAY ANIMALS”. BUZZ - the inner door opens. PECK (OVER INTERCOM) Down the hall, room A seventeen. The MAN nods awkwardly and strides off into the building. The camera ZOOMS into his chest and we see INSIDE it - - FELIX is sat in a cramped, high-tech CONTROL ROOM, walls lined with computer screens. He’s wearing a helmet wired into the walls with fibre optics and sniggering with glee. FELIX And they said a thought-controlled cybernetic android was a waste of three million dollars. You know what I think of that? Felix shuts his eyes and concentrates. The ROBOT MAN blows a big raspberry. Back INSIDE its chest Felix giggles. FELIX It is AMAZING what you can get on the internet. The Robot Man lurches down the corridor. Passes room A17 - - from which PECK appears in a flurry. The Robot stops. PECK Ah, FINALLY. I’ve been waiting hours. This way. Without waiting for an answer Peck ushers the man away. INSIDE the robot Felix is rocked unsteadily and his thought- control helmet almost topples off. FELIX Er, hold on a minute. 35.
The robot is SHOVED through a door to be confronted by - VICTOR the Police Dog, locked inside a police cell, barking and snapping, eyes crossed and mouth foaming! PECK Some nightshift clown locked it in a kids’ play house. Drove it nuts. I always said they were too dangerous, I’m DONE with it. VICTOR Arrgghh! I can’t BREATHE in here! I’m going to GET that stinkin’ CAT! INSIDE, Felix reels back, struggles to control the robot. Peck’s CELLPHONE rings and he answers it snappily. PECK Dad, I’m at work. (sigh) Well where did you have it last? He slaps the Robot Man on the back, gives him a nod. PECK Good luck. (to phone) No, not you Dad, I was talking to the dog handler. I tell you that darn radio is like fifty years old... He disappears out the door. There’s another BUZZ - - and the metal CELL DOOR slides open leaving Felix’ robot alone with Victor. Who suddenly stops barking and looks up - - SNIFFS the air and narrows his eyes suspiciously. VICTOR Smells familiar... - INSIDE Felix quivers - And suddenly the Robot Man leaps onto all fours and ARCHES his back, spitting and hissing like a mad cat. Victor starts barking and snapping like mad again. VICTOR And that LOOKS familiar too! Peck glances in through a window. Looks puzzled. PECK What? No, sorry Dad, he’s just got a really weird technique. Did you try... 36.
INSIDE Felix is going mental, struggling to get the helmet off. The Robot Man is struggling to remove an invisible helmet. Victor is readying to pounce on the Robot Man when - BUZZ! The cell door suddenly SLAMS shut and Victor piles into it. INSIDE Felix looks up confused to see - - PECK breeze back into the room. PECK I am SO sorry Sir, that’s really an unforgiveable mix up. Followed by BUDDY, trotting on all fours and clutching a WHITE STICK in his mouth. He presses it into the Robot Man’s hand and puts the end of his leash in the other. PECK Please don’t sue us. But Buddy briskly leads the Robot Man from the room before he can do anything else. Peck SIGHS in relief. BUDDY Good plan Felix! How are you doing? INSIDE Felix looks about the control room. The helmet’s on but the screens are on the fritz, nothing but static. FELIX Er, OK. Ironic, but I’m actually blind in here. BUDDY Not a problem, just follow me. Buddy trots on with the Robot Man lurching in tow on the leash. He unsteadily rounds a corner - - to see the SPACE CAPSULE at the end of a long corridor, through an open door. Buddy’s mouth DROPS OPEN! BUDDY There it is! FELIX What?! Buddy BOUNDS forward - dragging Robot Man along with him as he hurtles down the corridor toward the capsule. FELIX What is it a squirrel?! Or a ball?! It’s not bubbles again is it? Slow down! But Buddy just keeps bounding along, tongue lolling manically, nothing but the capsule framed in his vision. 37.
- and Robot Man’s foot connects with a MOP BUCKET - he SLIPS - - and Felix’ head SLAMS into the controls. BEEP BEEP BEEP. - The Robot stops and CLANG! Its arm drops off. CLANG! The other arm. CLANG CLANG! The head and chest splits open revealing the beleagured Felix. FELIX Oh boy. WHOOSH! Felix is EJECTED from his robot. He CRASHES down on the still-running Buddy, sending him tumbling and sliding across the floor. The pair come to rest in a crazy heap. PECK What the what? Felix and Buddy look up. PECK is glaring down at the two stray animals sprawled on the floor. They gulp. CUT TO:
INT. POLICE PICK-UP TRUCK - LATER Peck’s POLICE PICK-UP TRUCK drives down a freeway, the SPACE CAPSULE lashed down with ropes on the back. Inside, we can see the back of PECK’S head as he drives, and behind two adjacent cages with Buddy and Felix locked inside. A third cage alongside holds VICTOR - scowling at Felix. VICTOR Do you have ANY idea what they’re going to do to us? FELIX Er... take us someplace nice where there’s plenty of food and sunbeams? VICTOR No. Someplace where I won’t be able to breathe AT ALL! Victor turns away in disgust. Buddy pipes up. BUDDY I’m... I’m sorry Felix. I just got so EXCITED I was going to see David again. How was I to know that your blind, thought-controlled cybernetic android couldn’t run fast. 38.
FELIX It’s the kind of mistake that happens ALL the time. It’s... not your fault. They sit in silence together. Then: ALEX So is this a normal day at work? Felix looks - ALEX is sat on a backseat behind her father. PECK No. I only go to headquarters once a month. And on a NORMAL day childcare doesn’t cancel at the last minute... Alex looks out the window bored, then spins round on her seat to look at the animals in cages behind her. ALEX Are... are the animals really that dangerous, Dad? PECK The strays? They’re filthy, they could have diseases; and YOU know you can’t ever TRUST an animal. I just think they’re no good for our town. Alex considers this silently. But she’s looking down at Felix. Felix eyes her suspiciously, and - - their eyes meet. Alex checks her Dad isn’t watching and - - pulls open the RINGPULL lid of a TIN of PURPLE PACKAGED petfood and very, very cautiously slides it into Felix’ cage. Felix looks down at the food and back to Alex. Alex checks again her Dad is focused on the road, and slips her hand through the bars to STROKE Felix’ head. Their eyes meet. She puts her finger to her lips - SHHH. Peck coughs. Alex snatches the key back and turns round to face her father again. Felix looks up in amazement. TODD Don’t eat it! It’ might be poisoned! Felix, Buddy and Victor all look in amazement - TODD and CELINE are leaping down through the sun-roof. 39.
BUDDY Huh?! FELIX Rescue mission!?! CELINE Don’t worry, we’ll have you three out of here in a minute. FELIX Whoa?! THREE?! He’s a POLICE D- Celine BANGS her magic wand on the bars, cutting him off. CELINE How many times, Felix?! The only way we’re going to get out of this is if animals work together! INCLUDING the police dogs! Ready Todd? Felix is admonished. TODD If I’ve aligned the explosives correctly we should be out of here in three... two... one... He presses a button. BANG! There’s an EXPLOSION somewhere. The truck veers wildly. Peck’s hands slip on the steering wheel. Tires squeal. The truck leans and - - TOPPLES over! Felix is thrown around wildly - CRASH! -
EXT. FREEWAY - CONTINUOUS - and sent sliding across the tarmac. He looks up groggily. Buddy is alongside him coming to his senses. Celine, Todd and Victor are nearby, out for the count. Peck is also lying on the tarmac, unconscious. The Pick-Up Truck is up against the edge of the elevated freeway lying on its side, the rear window smashed. The Space Capsule is resting on the tarmac nearby. But the front has punched through the barrier and it’s all teetering over the freeway edge, a forty foot drop beneath. BUDDY The kid! She must still be inside! Without a second’s hesitation Buddy bounds into the truck. 40.
FELIX Buddy! Buddy come back! Felix dashes off after Buddy. He’s stood at the smashed rear windscreen, peering inside. BUDDY It could go any second. Buddy steps into the truck. FELIX Whoa, Buddy - we have to get out here. BUDDY But the kid’s still in there. Felix doesn’t really have an answer. He looks down, thinks - the can of PURPLE CAT FOOD is on the floor. FELIX OK. OK. You’re heaviest. BUDDY Hey, I hadn’t eaten since 1966! FELIX So stay here while I go up front. Felix creeps though the smoke. Buddy anxiously waits. Felix can see an air freshener. A paper cup. A FOOT! He grabs it and starts to heave. BUDDY It’s moving... Felix pushes and Alex tumbles out, taking Felix with her. She looks up groggily - SEES Felix - and collapses. FELIX Jump you fool - But the back of the Pick-Up starts to pitch upward - - and as it topples inexorably over the edge Buddy fumbles - - and FALLS with it - - and a CABLE tightens - dragging the Space Capsule, still tethered by a rope to the truck, sliding to disappear over the edge also. Silence, then - - CRASH! BANG! SMASH! Felix dashes down a flight of concrete steps, frantic. 41.
FELIX BUDDY! He swerves to a stop at the bottom. The capsule rests on top of the smashed chassis of the upside down Pick-Up. FELIX ...Buddy... Felix stares at the wreck in total shock. Smoke slowly rises. A single wheel spins to a stand-still. - and the wreck begins to MOVE a tiny little bit. Felix watches incredulous as it CREAKS and JOLTS and slowly, very slowly, lifts itself rattling into the air - - to reveal BUDDY holding the whole thing aloft! Felix’ jaw DROPS. Buddy looks at him quizzically. BUDDY What?!? He looks up, realizes he’s holding a truck over his head, fumbles and DROPS the whole thing on top of himself CRASH! It’s swiftly lifted up again like it weighed nothing. Buddy grins sheepishly. And behind the astonished Felix a CCTV camera mutely reflects the scene in its lens... CUT TO:
INT. DISUSED MUSEUM - DAY The video of Buddy lifting the truck plays on a TV news channel. CLICK - the channel changes to the same scene CLICK! - and the same scene. CLICK! - and again CLICK! Felix looks - - as Buddy neatly places the space capsule down. BUDDY Now the whole world has seen the capsule David will come find me any time now! The TV now shows Felix pushing Alex out of the truck. RUSTBOY Congratulations sir, there’s one human child who might not follow her father’s profession. Shall we celebrate with single cream or double? Celine tends a bandage on Victor’s head. 42.
VICTOR That’s much better. CELINE Always happy to help a fellow animal. Welcome to G.U.A.R.D. TODD Err... everyone? Felix follows Todd’s gaze - on a CCTV screen ALEX comes to her senses on a park bench and spots her unconscious father SNORING next to her. Confused she stands and looks about. She notices the MUSEUM facing the park - and shambles toward it. CELINE No no no not THIS way! Why didn’t you leave them on the road? BULLION Ma’am, if the humans enter the perimeter I request permission to use LASERS set to DISINTEGRATE! Felix looks - but Buddy has GONE! He sees him reappear on the screen in the park.
EXT. PARK - CONTINUOUS Golden evening sunlight bathes the park. Buddy is stood twelve feet away from Alex, wagging his tail furiously. Alex watches him, nervous but curious. ALEX Er, hey there; er, doggy. Behind Buddy a grid levers open and Felix’ face emerges - right into Buddy’s wagging tail. FELIX Hey cut it out with the wagging! BUDDY I’m sorry I can’t HELP it! It just has a mind of its own! Felix levers himself out the manhole and stalks round Buddy. FELIX Well you nearly had my eye out! I- But Felix is suddenly cut off - Alex has crept up and placed her hand on his head and STROKED him. He looks at her suspiciously - 43.
- but from inside him comes deep, resonant PURRING! FELIX ...could have been- PURRRRRRR Felix is caught short - he can’t control the crazy purring! FELIX What... PURRRR is... PURRRR happening... PURRRRR.... BUDDY Oh I’ve heard of this! Cats do it before they cough up a hairball! FELIX PURRRR that’s... PURRRR... coughing... PURRRR you idiot! But Felix gives up trying to resist and goes with the flow, letting Alex’ strokes glide languidly down his back. PURRING uncontrollably he nuzzles his nose into her hand. ALEX Good kitty. Buddy sniggers a bit. Felix snaps: FELIX DON’T! And Alex cellphone rings: ALEX Hello? GRANDPA! On the radio? No, I... we’re fine. He’s right here. She looks - on-cue Peck SNAPS awake on the bench and glances around frantically. Felix and Buddy immediately dash away. PECK Alex! (sees her) Oh my gosh are you OK? ALEX I’m fine, Dad. And so are the animals. Peck dashes over to her. PECK ANIMALS?! Did they get loose? Did they hurt you? Where are they?!? Alex glances back. Felix and Buddy are hidden behind a bush. 44.
ALEX They... they escaped. Must have run off. I’m fine though, they didn’t hurt me or anything. PECK Oh thank heavens. After what happened when you were little I’m just... He looks down at her arm - an old crescent-shaped SCAR, like a dog bite. Peck suddenly lurches upright, eyes bulging. PECK Eugh! Maybe I should get checked out in hospital. CUT TO:
INT. MUSEUM - DAY Inside the museum, Buddy sits smartly next to the space capsule, tail wagging. The shadows crawl across the floor as the day drags on, day turning to dusk, dusk into evening and evening to night. Still Buddy stands there next to the capsule. His tail wags only a tiny bit slower. The moon revolves past the windows. Dawn breaks. Buddy’s still on guard. His eyes start to droop. Felix is watching him, ANNOYED. FELIX I can’t nap watching you do that. BUDDY Sorry Felix, I’m waiting for David. FELIX Well, you’re freaking me out. Are you SURE he’s coming? He fired you into space for crying out loud. BUDDY What do you mean? FELIX Oh COME ON, hasn’t it occurred to you David might have, you know... BUDDY No. What? TELL ME?! BULLION yells into the middle of this. 45.
BULLION Silence on deck! We are working with HAZARDOUS MATERIALS here! Round the back of the capsule, Todd, Celine and Tinker have got a panel removed and are peering in. Amid screens and cables, a sinister blue light GLOWS on them. TODD The Hexalithium! It seems to be intact. The effect it’s had on Buddy is... incredible. TINKER Probably phase-aligned neutrinos interacting with his DNA struc... CELINE We can’t afford to be complacent. Peck’s off the radar in hospital, but he’ll be BACK and he’ll want to find it and use its power AGAINST us. Buddy speaks up. BUDDY But... Peck’s just worried about his family. I don’t think he wants to... VICTOR Hey! I spent my whole life OBEYING that guy and he tried to lock me in the POUND! TODD Victor’s right. They’re HUMAN: they use want to USE us like David used you. BUDDY HEY! David is my FRIEND! He’s GOOD... CELINE OK OK, now CALM DOWN everyone- BULLION Ma’am permission to use NUCLEAR FORCE! Felix SHOUTS across the whole heated argument: FELIX CAN YOU PLEASE ALL BE QUIET?!? (beat) I am trying to NAP! Provoking looks of astonishment, shock and disgust from Buddy, Todd and Celine respectively. RUSTBOY dashes up. 46.
RUSTBOY Master Buddy sir, perhaps you need to take a short stroll? Mr. David might already be in the neighbourhood. BUDDY Of course! David might be out there looking for me! Buddy scampers out the door. Rustboy turns to Felix. RUSTBOY Master Felix, perhaps some warm milk will help you nap. He scoots off, past CELINE who shakes her head. CELINE Why are you always running around after that jerk, Rusty? RUSTBOY Why Ms. Celine, since Master Felix rescued me from the garbage tip it’s been my privilege to be his companion and help him be a bit LESS of a “jerk”. He WINKS - and scoots off. Felix steps up to Celine and Todd. FELIX Do you really think this David...? TODD After Buddy’s accident David vanished, there’s no trace of him in the records. CELINE We have to learn more about the Hexalithium. If we can PROVE what Peck’s planning we can show the whole world! Victor, help Todd. I’m going to get more equipment, I’ll be back in time for lights-out. Celine steps through the secret door, Felix dashes after her.
EXT. MUSEUM STEPS - CONTINUOUS FELIX Er, excuse me? Celine stops on the museum steps. CELINE I’m sorry, I thought Rusty told you. To study the Hexalithium we thought it was best if I moved in. That’s OK isn’t it? 47.
Felix is floored - he can barely repress exploding with glee. He tries to play it cool - and fails. FELIX Er... no, that’s FINE. I mean - that’s fine. Yes, I think that’s... fine. She smiles and looks off into the setting sun wistfully. CELINE OK thanks. You know since I escaped the magic show it’s been tough, hiding, always on the run. Now it feels like we’re winning, like maybe he won’t catch us after all. It almost feels... magical. (beat) I’ll get the gear. You guard the capsule, OK. She hops off down the steps. Felix sits down - FELIX Guard the capsule. - and a SUNBEAM breaks through the clouds and shines down on him. He YAWNS. FELIX ...Guard the caaa-YAWN-aaapsule. CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - LATER Buddy springs down the street, but is pensive. BUDDY Jeepers I thought David would be here by now. He was supposed to be looking for the... He rounds a corner back to the town square and the museum - - to see PECK’S POLICE PICK-UP TRUCK parked in front of the museum. On the back is a CONICAL SHAPE under a tarpaulin. BUDDY ...space capsule. The truck pulls away sharply leaving Buddy puzzling. BUDDY SPACE CAPSULE! Buddy SPRINGS through the park after it, SUPER-RUNNING, leaping round trees and bushes to dash up the steps - 48.
- and STEP on Felix who leaps up in pain. Buddy points after the TRUCK disappearing round the corner of the museum. BUDDY The capsule! The truck! It’s getting away! FELIX What?! How did he know where...? Felix realizes the worst has happened. FELIX CELINE! Peck must have caught her and... Which way did he take her? From the floor Buddy SNIFFS - and finds a scent. BUDDY This way! He leaps up and dashes off, SUPER-RUNNING down the street - - but he veers wildly, unable to control his speed, and CRASHES into a post box. The CATMOBILE swerves up and the door opens revealing Felix. FELIX Get in! CUT TO:
INT. CATMOBILE - MOMENTS LATER The Catmobile ROCKETS down the street. Inside Buddy is sniffing the air. BUDDY What were you DOING anyway? Felix looks up from his intense driving. FELIX Hey! No drooling! I just had this cleaned. Where did the truck go? BUDDY Can I open the window? FELIX This is a precision streamlined supercar, you don’t stick your head out the window! Useless... Felix presses a button and a RADAR screen lights up. 49.
FELIX Autopilot: locate the truck. CCTV images shuffle past. A BLIP appears on the screen. BUDDY What’s that flashing?! He points - and accidentally hits a button. COMPUTER Activating smoke screen. POOOF! Smoke billows out canisters outside the Catmobile. They’re driving through FOG and Felix can’t see! FELIX You idiot! Engage autopilot! The steering wheel folds away. The Catmobile veers back into a straight line. Felix studies the blip. FELIX It’s headed for the interstate. Autopilot: turn onto route seven. COMPUTER Searching for a restaurant with that name locally... FELIX What? NO! Route seven! COMPUTER Searching for a carwash with that name... BUDDY Can I PLEASE open the window?! He stabs at a button BEEP! A carton of MILK pops out the dashboard with a STRAW - and SQUIRTS them in the face. FELIX Stop doing that! Buddy presses another button BEEP! Felix’ seat folds flat ready for nap time. FELIX Put it back! The other one! BEEP! A HAIRDRYER shoots out and BLOWS hot air at Felix - - turning his fur into a FLUFFBALL! FELIX The OTHER other one! 50.
BEEP! The seat flips back and the smoke clears - - revealing the POLICE PICK-UP right ahead! Felix grips the steering wheel and they rocket off after it. Buddy holds on. BUDDY OK, you get close and I’ll jump onto the truck and stop it! FELIX Through the open window? I said NO. We can stop them with this - aim for the fender. BEEP! A big GRAPPLING-HOOK GUN pops out the bonnet. A JOYSTICK pops out and Buddy seizes it and takes aim. BOOM! WHOOSH! CHINK! The grappling hook catches a corner of the tarpaulin-shrouded space capsule. FELIX Not the capsule, get the truck! Here let me do that! BEEP! Felix makes the cable reel back in again. He takes aim and BOOM! WHOOSH! CHINK! - - the hook is caught on a passing tree. FELIX Oh oh. The Catmobile VEERS off at an angle, spinning round in ever decreasing circles as the cable wraps round the tree. Inside Buddy and Felix are cramped up against the wall together. Felix’ paw reaches for a button - BEEP! The cable cuts and the Catmobile SHOOTS off again. BUDDY PLEASE can we open a window! FELIX Will you back off with the WINDOW already! I told you... BUDDY But there’s something in here means I can’t SMELL the truck! SKREEEEE - The Catmobile screeches to a halt in a cloud of dust. Felix GLARES at Buddy - BZZZZZTTTTT - he winds the window down. 51.
And tosses a MAGIC TREE out. CUT TO: The Catmobile ROARS down the road again - with Buddy’s head out the window, tongue lolling, sniffing the road ahead. BUDDY That way! Inside, Felix is grumpily driving with Buddy’s tail wagging in his face. The Catmobile races back toward town. CUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - LATER The Catmobile swerves to a standstill outside the park. FELIX Are you SURE?!? Why would he bring her back here?! BUDDY It doesn’t matter, let’s go. Buddy bounds out the car and Felix follows. They creep into the park and peep round a bench - - the SPACE CAPSULE is sitting on the grass under its tarpaulin. Felix is baffled. FELIX What the what?!? He brought it BACK? But Buddy has bounded off. He leaps toward the capsule and yanks the tarpaulin, which slides away to reveal - - A big PARASOL which BOOF! on cue expands to full size. Buddy and Felix are speechless. BULLION Major! Conceal your position! Buddy and Felix look - BULLION’S goldfish bowl is hidden behind a rubbish bin; TINKER peeping out behind it. FELIX Why aren’t you in the- He looks to see - FELIX ...museum. 52.
- Peck’s POLICE PICK-UP TRUCK is parked right outside the museum, its BLUE FLASHING LIGHTS reflect dazzlingly off the “POLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS” tape stretched like confetti across every part of the railings and door. Felix’ jaw drops. As if in a trance, Felix shuffles toward the steps where a pile of old museum exhibits and discarded machine parts lying cordoned off outside. He picks up a GADGET and toys with it. CELINE What were you two DOING?!? Felix spins about to see CELINE glaring at them. FELIX Celine! I thought they’d caught you. But Celine is mad as hell. FELIX What?! I can look after MYSELF, Felix. Where’s Todd? TINKER He didn’t get out in time. Victor too. CELINE Why the heck weren’t you... was there a SUNBEAM Felix? Felix looks abashed. Buddy is shocked. BUDDY You were NAPPING?!? FELIX You kept me awake with all that guarding. Next thing I know you’re chasing the stupid capsule and... CELINE And NEITHER of you clowns thought to check whether the real one was still here? While you’re off chasing cars and napping Peck has- She cuts off, her fury exhausted. She sighs. CELINE He’s won. He’s got Todd - and the Hexalithium. It’s the end of the road for G.U.A.R.D. Bullion sprigs into action. 53.
BULLION NEGATIVE ma’am we move in a pincer formation, surround the building and neutralise the humans with minimal collateral damage to G.U.A.R.D. CELINE Bullion - G.U.A.R.D. is a JOKE! You’re about as much use in tactical operations as a... FISH! Our P.R. mouse never SAYS anything and our scientist is headed to the pound thanks to two so- called “heroes” who can’t stop squabbling! Everyone looks down at their feet shamefaced. Celine squeezes her eyes shut. CELINE They’re going to catch us, and we can’t just wave a magic wand and stop them. She hops slowly back down the steps - behind a column - and doesn’t reappear. Felix watches her go, turns back to Buddy. FELIX We’ve got to get that capsule back! CUT TO:
INT. DISUSED MUSEUM - LATER Felix DROPS down onto the floor of the museum and checks the coast is clear. Buddy FALLS right on top of him. They struggle free of each other and angrily creep off between the dusty exhibits. FELIX Keep quiet. And try not to chase anything... BUDDY Oh I won’t. Can you try not to NAP! FELIX Oh so it’s MY fault! None of this would have happened if you hadn’t gone chasing after the first thing you see! BUDDY Jumping jeepers - you were NAPPING when you should have been guarding the capsule! FELIX There. Was. A. SUNBEAM! 54.
They peep round a musty old display case. In the distance the CCTV station is lit up, someone is working the computers. FELIX Dang it. They better not be playing with my stuff. BUDDY You’re still worried about all your gadgets? I’m never going to find David without the capsule. You’re so SELFISH. FELIX Well at least I’m not still running round after an owner who DESERTED me fifty years ago! BUDDY David didn’t DESERT me, he said he’d... A voice rings out, cutting Felix off. They FREEZE. VOICE Typical. A dog and a cat FIGHTING each other. They look - out strolls VICTOR. FELIX I KNEW it - he’s been working for Peck the whole time! VICTOR Oh I don’t obey the humans any more. He pulls out Felix’ BOLA GUN and BANG! sends the spinning cable shooting out, entangling Felix and Buddy and zapping them with electricity. Tangled and incapacitated Felix glares up at him. FELIX Hey that’s mine! VICTOR Neat toy. Almost as handy as this... He gestures to the capsule, still resting on the museum floor. Buddy wriggles, tangled in the cables. BUDDY Hey leave that alone, that’s MINE! VOICE NO! IT’S MINE! They look to see Felix’ armchair slowly revolve to reveal: 55.
- TODD THE CAT. Todd slips down from the chair and stalks over to Buddy. TODD You really don’t remember, do you? Don’t remember how in 1966 a group of animals were trained to fly an experimental rocket and how the greatest animal scientist of his time was REJECTED - so YOU could go! On a screen we see the 1965 photo - a CAT among the spacesuited animals posing before the rocket. CLICK! The picture zooms in - green eyes glare smugly out - TODD! Todd struts over to the space capsule and his eyes sparkle as he pulls the gleaming red Hexalithium CRYSTAL from within. TODD I stole only a tiny piece of Hexalithium when I escaped, and yet I was able to prolong my life while I waited - waited FIFTY YEARS for the rest to fall to earth so I could complete my plan... Victor throws down a PET CAGE from which tumbles out PECK. He’s dazed and tries to struggle upright, but collapses. TODD With a little help from Victor and his useful knowledge of the police station. FELIX Victor drove Peck’s truck? BUDDY But - you said Peck was going to use the Hexalithium to do bad stuff to us?! TODD Oh I’m sure he would if I don’t stop him. Todd slots the Hexalithium crystal into a MACHINE. An arc of Hexalithium ENERGY zaps out and strikes Peck. He convulses and flops down on the floor again. Victor chuckles. VICTOR I been obeying humans my whole life. They just want to keep us as slaves. TODD Well, now it’s OUR turn. PECK! 56.
On the command Peck looks up from the floor, and sits up on ALL FOURS, like a DOG! He scratches his ear with his foot and pants, slathering and drooling. Buddy and Felix are astonished and appalled. Todd strides arrogantly over to him. TODD Heel boy... (wait for it) ...HEEL BEFORE TODD! Whimpering fearfully, Peck supplicates himself before Todd. He cackles with maniacal bad-guy glee as Peck rolls over onto his back showing his belly. Felix and Buddy are appalled. Todd turns back to the MACHINE with the crystal inside. TODD A successful test. Now, once this HEXALITHIUM BOMB is fully charged it’ll DETONATE and all the humans in town will become servants to their rightful masters. A slider on the “bomb” begins powering up. BUDDY Todd, you won’t get away with this. TODD Oh do I have to spell out the irony? You’ve been beaten by a dog and a cat who can actually work together... VICTOR Sure beats working for the humans. We- Victor is cut off by a NOISE. He glances up - - above them a Wright Brother’s era canvas aircraft wobbles and PLUNGES DOWN on top of them. Buddy and Felix are amazed - As RUSTBOY scoots out from behind it. FELIX Rustboy?! Victor and Todd are left struggling and incapable underneath the flapping canvas. Rustboy cuts Felix and Buddy’s ropes and they struggle and lurch to their feet and toward the door. RUSTBOY This way Master Felix, Master Buddy. We don’t have much time. From under the canvas Todd’s furious face emerges. 57.
TODD Get them! GET THEM! Rustboy hustles Felix and Buddy to the door. Victor’s Bola- gun wielding arm flaps free of the canvas. Felix dives out the door. Glances back at Rustboy behind. BANG! Victor fires the bola-gun randomly. ZZZZAP! Rustboy is wreathed in electricity. He rockets forward, out the door and clatters down the steps. FELIX Rustboy! Felix and Buddy rush to his side. His plastic body is lifeless. Sparks crackle and smoke oozes from his broken joints. Only his eyes weakly flicker with light. FELIX Rustboy? RUSTBOY I’m terribly sorry sir, it seems I won’t be able to serve any congratulatory drinks... this... time. Felix is lost for words. The light begins to fade in Rustboy’s eyes. RUSTBOY It’s been... a pleasure being your... companion, sir. And the light goes out in his eyes. Felix bows his head. TODD No 80’s tinpot sidekick is going to stand in our way. Todd is stood looming above them in the doorway. BUDDY David will stop you! TODD Oh really?! DAVID?! Well let me tell you - Todd steps forward spit the words in Buddy’s face: TODD David INVENTED the Hexalithium! He was a SCIENTIST! (MORE) 58. TODD (CONT'D) He KNEW it was dangerous, that’s why he sent a dumb ANIMAL to fly it instead of a human. The words sink into Buddy - and his world begins to collapse. BUDDY No... TODD David was like the rest of them, Buddy. He USED YOU! He DIDN’T LOVE YOU and he’s NEVER COMING BACK! BUDDY No! David was my frie- Whimpering with sadness Buddy back away from the steps. FELIX Buddy! But Buddy just runs whimpering from the museum, SUPER-RUNNING off into the distance as Felix staggers to a standstill, panting wildly. FELIX ...Buddy FADE TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - THE NEXT DAY The sun shines down on the museum. Suddenly, Felix’ superbright projector starts beaming a PICTURE onto the museum frontage. Beneath it PECK scratches behind his ear and sits up to BEG, tongue lolling. He catches a DOG BISCUIT in his mouth and rolls onto his back. BUSY LADY looks up from her cellphone to see this. She wanders over curiously along with a couple other townsfolk. TODD presides over Peck, tosses him another dog biscuit. TODD Gather round people. Gather round... Behind him, inside the museum, guarded by Victor the Hexalithium BOMB continues charging. In the park, PUNK DUDE pops his headphones off to listen and ELDERLY MAN scoots a bit closer on his mobility scooter. 59.
ABOVE THEM, perched uncomfortably on a branch of a tree, TINKER and BULLION watch them gather round while Felix stares mutely into space. BULLION OK, so we attack... with LASERS. And fire PIRANHAS into their eyeballs. Codename: operation HOPELESS CAUSE. Felix ignores them. Fiddles with something in his paw. ALEX Daddy? Felix sits up. Looks below the branch to see ALEX staring at the freak-show in horror. ALEX Daddy? Daddy what have the animals done to you...? Felix looks at Alex imploring face. ALEX Oh Daddy you were right... Felix jaw sets with determination. He leaps down from the branch. CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - LATER Buddy lies sprawled in a dumpster in a stinky alleyway. A shadow falls across him and he struggles upright to look - - there’s a figure framed in the light. Buddy collapses. BUDDY I already have a sticker. His ass stills reads “I Had My Hind Whipped...” FELIX Heh, yeah, I got you pretty good. (swallows) I need your help. There’s a kid out there who thinks animals are mean and nasty. I need to show her we can be more than that. BUDDY Humans are the mean ones. That’s what you said. 60.
FELIX Maybe. You used to believe people were good. And I... I believe in you. BUDDY I’m just a dog. FELIX And I’m just a cat with a silly mask who wanted a rabbit to think he’s cool. You’ve been into SPACE. You can run faster than, well, you know. And you’re STRONG. You’re the strongest person I know. (beat) That’s why I got you this. Buddy looks up - over his head, like a flag of truth, Felix is holding up A FLOWING RED CAPE. FELIX Triple ply carbon fibre. Buddy rises from the dumpster amazed. FELIX You’re not just a dog, Buddy - you’re a SUPER DOG.
EXT. MUSEUM STEPS - LATER Dozens of townsfolk are gathered around the museum steps as PECK leaps through a hoop and rolls over. A ripple of applause. The image is repeated on the big screen overhead. - but suddenly FLICKERS and changes - - to Felix’ CAT VIDEOS! Cute Kitty plays the piano and falls off his stool. The crowd ROAR with laughter. TODD What the...? How’s that happened? Todd looks up and along with the townsfolk GASPS - - as there’s a blur of super-running and a roar as the Catmobile swerves into the squares announcing the arrival of: DOGMAN and CATBOY Buddy in his blue and red spacesuit, Felix in his black body armour - their CAPES billowing in the breeze. The townsfolk gasp in awe and part to let Dogman and Catboy stride up to the steps where Todd eyes them maliciously. 61.
FELIX Thank you. Thank you. Stand back. Superhero pets coming though. BUDDY Give it up Todd. Leave the humans ALONE. FELIX Yeah, let’s show them how GREAT pets can be, how they can trust us and we can show them how to be better people. That’s long-winded, Buddy can you summarize? BUDDY WOOF! FELIX Couldn’t have said it better. TODD Did you two really think I was so STUPID I would work on this for FIFTY years and not have some backup plan in case a couple of “superpets” turned up to rain on my parade? Buddy and Felix swap anxious glances. BUDDY (TO FELIX) It does sound kind of sensible. TODD You stole my thunder once before Buddy, you won’t stop me this time. And you, Felix - everyone thinks you’re a bit of JERK, you know that? FELIX (TO BUDDY) Did YOU know about this? TODD My control of Hexalithium’s power is far greater than yours. As you shall now observe... He presses a remote control. Hexalithium energy ARCS from the Hexalithium Bomb into VICTOR’S body. Buddy and Felix take cautious steps backward as Victor convulses and - - his eyes light up with Hexalithium ENERGY. He smirks and - SUPER-BARKS! Sending a shockwave of energy to radiate out, blowing Buddy and Felix back with its colossal force. BUSY LADY drops her cellphone, SCREAMS and leaps manically into a rubbish bin. 62.
PUNK KID’S headphones flop over his eyes and he FAINTS. ELDERLY MAN reverses his scooter. All the remaining townsfolk SCREAM and run away. FELIX OK, back in the car. Sorry everybody, show’s over. The Catmobile doors SLAM and it REVERSES sharply away, spins round and hurtles off.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - MOMENTS LATER Buddy, Tinker and Bullion peep round the corner at Super Victor standing guard over the museum. But Felix is staking back and forth, shaking his head. FELIX OK Super-Victor’s a problem, sure; but even if we beat him the real problem is Todd and the Hexalithium Bomb. We need a way to neutralise him... BULLION AFFIRMATIVE. He’s a CAT - what’s his weakness? But Felix already has the answer - and becomes TRAPPED in his special, special place; eyes glassy and mesmerized. FELIX Cat... nip... BUDDY OF COURSE! We can get some in the Mega Store. Come on Felix... But Felix is still trapped in his catnip moment. FELIX Caaaat... niiiip... BUDDY Er, I think it might be best if I go alone. I’ll be back soon as I can. And Buddy ROCKETS off, SUPER-RUNNING down the steps and away. Bullion SPLASHES water in Felix’ face SNAPPING him out of his catnip moment to stalk back and forth in concentration again. FELIX OK, now all we need to do is get the dog under control. But HOW? TINKER Well we’ve got all these... 63.
FELIX There must be a way to get him rounded up. Think! BULLION Suggest we use MAXIMUM PREJUDICE. TINKER I said, we’ve got all the... FELIX Quiet, I’m trying to think! TINKER (very, very loud) WILL YOU ALL SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME! Felix and Bullion stop and stare at Tinker. TINKER I SAID... we’ve still got all those left over robot parts and museum exhibits. Plus, we’ve got access to a tactical operations goldfish... In his tank, Bullion smirks. BULLION Oh YEAAAH... CUT TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - LATER Victor paces back and forth, guarding. He looks - - Felix is sprawled languidly in the park, eating some food from a purple tin. Victor narrows his eyes. VICTOR Park’s closed, Cat. Felix SIGHS and looks up innocently. FELIX I’m sorry, were you talking to me? (beat) Or to my fellow feline? Victor follows Felix look - - to see the tatty old museum SABRE-TOOTHED TIGER, mechanical robot parts fixed all over its joints. The camera ZOOMS inside where BULLION is floating in his goldfish bowl, the THOUGH-CONTROL HELMET strapped over it - ANGRY AS HELL! 64.
BULLION Commence operation FELINE JUSTICE! The Sabre-Toothed Tiger ROARS defiantly and LEAPS forward after Victor - - who stands frozen to the spot in astonishment. And then - - turns and RUNS AWAY WHIMPERING! INSIDE the Tiger, Bullion is LOVING IT. BULLION I’M A TACTICAL OPERATIONS GOLDFISH - HEAR ME ROAR! RAAAAAARR! Victor lurches off. BULLION Proceeding to phase two - OPERATION ROUND-UP! The Tiger CROUCHES and LEAPS across the square, landing ahead of the terrified Victor, who reels away and retreats toward - - the MUSEUM. He lurches up the steps and PLUNGES inside. FELIX pushes the huge wooden museum doors shut - - but they’re STUCK - the second door won’t budge. FELIX Oh oh. Victor BOUNDS back out the doors, throwing them open, sending Felix flying backward into the town square. He groggily picks himself up as Victor closes in, growling. VICTOR I’m not going back inside there. It’s time for humans to get locked up. Felix GULPS and goes for honesty. FELIX They might be human, but I believe deep in my heart that humans can be good we should be looking out for them right now! Please will you use your powers to help me so I can be united with an owner as their loyal, loving pet. Victor advances menacingly toward Felix - VICTOR That is the lamest thing I have EVER heard. 65.
FELIX Really? Should I summarize? Victor glances around and smirks. VICTOR Let’s play CATCH... Victor RIPS the park’s massive GLOBE STATUE from its pedestal and HURLS the huge stone sphere toward Felix - - Felix’ eyes widen in terror, but - - BUDDY appears, leaps up and CATCHES it! Felix scampers away from underneath as Buddy holds it over his head. - But the stone ball is too heavy. Buddy is sweating and straining to hold it up. He sinks to one knee. Victor advances slowly, savouring the moment as he pads closer and closer to the helpless Buddy. VICTOR Not STRONG enough, little doggy? Buddy strains under the weight of the huge stone ball - - But grits his teeth and with renewed SUPER-STRENGTH raises the massive stone ball aloft - Victor’s eyes BOGGLE and he turns and RUNS back toward the museum. Buddy finds his last ounce of strengh and HEAVES the ball over his head. Victor scurries back into the museum. BOOM! The giant stone globe rolls into the doors, sealing them shut. Inside Victor wails: VICTOR Ahh NOT AGAIN! I CAN’T BREATHE IN HERE! Buddy and Felix dust their hands down. BUDDY Wow! I don’t believe that WORKED! TODD It only works on some STUPID dog, is what it does. TODD is glaring down at them from the roof of the museum. FELIX Yeah, well that’s what happens when animals work TOGETHER! 66.
TODD Well I won’t make the same mistake twice. Todd presses a button and suddenly a GLASS DOME snaps shut around him and he lurches upwards - as Felix’ robotic EXO- SUIT rises up from the museum beneath him. It’s got the Hexalithium BOMB fixed in its chest. Buddy and Felix watch in horror as the huge robot clambers to its feet and TOWERS over them. FELIX Oh - THAT’S how you power that thing. Buddy and Felix are rooted to the spot. Todd gloats at them. TODD You know it’s HARD being a stray cat for fifty years. People are mean and nasty, it makes you feel so... tiny. BUDDY Er, Felix, what do we do now. Felix? Tinker has wheeled up a Hannibal-Lecter-style GURNEY and Felix is busy strapping his arms and legs into it. FELIX Now would be a good time to show Todd your shopping. Buddy pulls out a small plastic packet marked “CATNIP”, makes to open the lid. FELIX Whoa whoa slow down. When you get that out, I... I can’t be held accountable for my actions. TODD What are you two doing down there? BUDDY OK. Ready? Felix’ forehead is strapped back. He nods with his eyes. Buddy holds the catnip packet over his head and - - POPS the lid off. Felix goes BANANAS - his eyes bulge and his face contorts in manic craving. He claws and strains at the restraints. FELIX Caaaaat... niiiiip!!! 67.
Buddy’s a bit freaked out by Felix’ reaction, but he wafts the catnip up toward the Exo-Suit. BUDDY Er; come and ge-et it... Felix claws and retches, squirming in the gurney in a desperate attempt to get to the catnip. FELIX Give it to me! Give it to me NOW! Up in the Exo-Suit cockpit Todd glares down at them drolly. TODD Sorry, what was that? I can’t hear you over the faint hum of my micro filtered air conditioning. The Exo-Suit reaches down, plucks the Catnip from Buddy’s hand and TOSSES it away over the rooftops. Felix suddenly collapses and returns to his senses. FELIX What happened? Did we win already? Is it nap time? BUDDY Er... not exactly. Something about air conditioning? FELIX Oh. That. TODD Now where was I? Oh yes, how HARD it is being a stray cat for fifty years. Well how about I SHOW you what that was like, huh? The Exo-Suit POINTS at them. TODD Oh look! STRAY ANIMALS! Buddy and Felix turn and FLEE as the Exo-Suit comes RUNNING after them. They hurtle toward a TREE TRUNK. TODD No no no not into the tree! Rookie mistake! But they scamper into the branches to cling on desperately. The Exo-Suit grabs the tree trunk, RIPS it out of the ground and starts SHAKING the tree. 68.
TODD Come out and PLAAAAAAY! Felix and Buddy are shaken like crazy. They slip and FALL, landing in a heap at the Exo-Suit’s huge robot feet. Todd lurches and dances around them. TODD Oooh where are they? I sure hope I don’t STEP on them by accident. A massive metal foot SLAMS down on the end of their tails and they SCREAM in pain. Buddy hauls Felix up and away and they go scampering off. The Exo-Suit lurches after them. TODD Come back little fellas. Playtime isn’t over yet! CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - CONTINUOUS Buddy and Felix dash down an alleyway and stop, panting. BUDDY I think we got away. BOOM! The Exo-Suit LEAPS up onto a neighboring rooftop and looms over them. TODD Ugh! They’re horrible stinky STRAYS! Clean them up! Todd RIPS a WATER-TOWER off a rooftop and HURLS it down at them. SPLASH they’re drenched in a tidal wave of water. Felix grabs Buddy’s hand and hauls him toward a VENT in a wall. They wriggle through as the Exo-Suit leaps down.
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - CONTINUOUS Felix and Buddy emerge into the shadowy abandoned warehouse. SMASH! the Exo-Suit CRASHES through a wall, sending bricks scattering. It stalks toward them. Buddy and Felix back up - into a CORNER. There’s nowhere left to run. The Exo-Suit scoops up a DUMPSTER and holds it over its head. Todd GLOATS inside. TODD Let’s put these dirty STRAYS with the rest of the trash! 69.
Buddy and Felix cower in terror as the Exo-Suit closes in - CELINE Hey, Todd... - and look up to see CELINE - holding a MAGIC WAND. CELINE Abracadabra. She HURLS the wand across the warehouse - to catch the lock opening a SKYLIGHT - A SUNBEAM blazes out piercing the shadowy warehouse and striking with burning intensity on the Exo-Suit COCKPIT! TODD Noooo... SUNBEAM! - Inside Todd is suddenly struck with SLEEPINESS. He reels as his eyelids droop and sleep sloshes over him. TODD So... so... sleepy. BUDDY Way to go Celine! Felix she made a... Alongside Buddy, Felix’ eyes are also drooping. CELINE He always was a sucker for that. FELIX ...so sleepy... CELINE I was headed out of town when I saw you on TV. All the theatrics with the crowd and the capes, it was almost... FELIX Magical? CELINE No it was the stupidest things I’ve ever seen in my life. But you’re right Felix, we need to work WITH the humans; not ag- TODD Oh will you SHUT UP! - the Exo-Suit is stepping out the sunbeam, the cockpit glass TINTED BLACK. The tinting melts away revealing Todd inside. TODD Tinted glass. Pretty neat. 70.
FELIX Oh, yeah. That. TODD Celine. I could go into a whole speech now about how pointless and nauseating G.U.A.R.D. was and how I’m glad you’re here so I can defeat you and these two idiots... but I’m really angry now so I’ll just KILL you instead. This thing does have MISSILES, right? On cue a MISSILE LAUNCHER snaps up on the Exo-suit’s shoulder. A huge pointy rocket powers up and targets them. They back up into the corner. CELINE Todd, you don’t have to do this. TODD Yes I do, I want you dead. How do you even AIM this thing? FELIX Er... press the red button. BEEP! A targeting sight flips out in front of Todd. TODD There we go! So what I just line up the target with the little... A RED LASER has shone out of the missile launcher and a tiny RED DOT OF LIGHT is flickering across Buddy and Felix. TODD ..dot... of... light... CU TODD: something clicks inside his crazy catty brain, and - - the Exo-Suit LEAPS across the warehouse, POUNCING onto the spot of light. Which of course moves because it’s still shining out the laser mounted on the missile launcher. TODD GOT IT! Oh no wait... The Exo-Suit LEAPS again, scampers round the room after the spot of light and chases it manically up the wall. TODD Come here! I’ll deal with you three in a minute. Just as soon as I’ve got this. COME BACK! Buddy and Celine watch incredulously as he prances off again, out of the warehouse door chasing the spot of light round and round the PARK until with a HISS of steam - 71.
- the Exo-Suit COLLAPSES in a big undignified tangle. The cockpit glass POPS open and Todd topples out to land SPLASH! In the fountain. His head emerges bedraggled and soaking wet, like a very, very GRUMPY CAT. TODD Oh dear. Buddy is towering over him, cape billowing, arms folded. CELINE It’s alright, it’s gone now. Behind them, Felix opens his eyes. FELIX I’m going to GET that spot of light one day. Hey is that... They look - across the square ALEX is getting out of a car. CELINE I thought Victor scared all the humans off. Why’d she come back?! ALEX (INTO A CELLPHONE) Grandpa! Grandpa! Where are you?! I’m coming. From the fountain Todd looks up in contempt and chuckles. TODD And my Hexalithium Bomb is still ticking down to detonation. When it goes off her and her stupid grandpa will become my slaves. BUDDY Felix! We’ve got to do somethi- WHOOSH! Buddy and Celine are blown backward by a blast of air. They look to see - - Felix is shutting the cockpit of the EXO-SUIT. He presses a button and it BLASTS OFF like a rocket, soaring straight up into the piercing blue sky. CELINE FELIX! - In the cockpit. Felix adjusts the controls. FELIX Sorry kids. It’s the only way to stop the bomb enslaving Alex. On the ground, Felix’ words come out Celine’s radio. 72.
CELINE But when the bomb goes off it’ll destroy the robot and... FELIX Yeah. Looks like it’s my turn to take a one way trip to space now, huh? But it’s the only way I can PROVE to Alex that pets are good. CELINE Felix! You don’t have to do this to impress me! Argh! Buddy takes the radio as Celine wipes away tears. BUDDY Felix? FELIX Hey Buddy. We made a pretty good team, huh? Shame I never got to meet David. BUDDY Felix... FELIX No, listen Buddy. David sent you into space because he knew the Hexalithium was dangerous and he trusted you more than anyone else to PROTECT THEM. BUDDY David... trusted me. FELIX David was a good person, and you’ve GOT to believe he’s still out there, looking for you. Do you hear me Buddy? You’ve GOT to believe David LOVES you. BUDDY He’s a good person and he LOVES me! CELINE Er... Buddy. Buddy stops and looks. In his excitement he’s not noticed he’s FLOATING THREE FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. BUDDY Oh wow I can fly. (thinks) OH WOW I CAN FLY! CELINE Buddy - FETCH! 73.
Buddy BLASTS OFF and STREAKS up into the sky like a rocket. He punches through clouds and past astonished birds as he zooms after the rapidly disappearing Exo-Suit. FELIX What the what?! Buddy catches up with it, lands on the head, hauls the glass open, pulls Felix from the cockpit and streaks away - - as the Hexalithium bomb EXPLODES behind him. BOOM!
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - MOMENTS LATER Buddy drops the astonished Felix back into the town square. FELIX Err. Don’t suppose we’ve got any more of that catnip? CELINE Don’t you EVER do that again. Celine rushes up and gives him a great big hug. PECK What’s happening?!? Peck is picking himself up from the ground, wondering why he’s wearing a DOG COLLAR. Alex helps him stand. ALEX Daddy! Did you see that?! The cat blasted into the sky in a rocket and then the dog here FLEW up and he SAVED him! It was AMAZING! Peck looks at the pets with astonished eyes. PECK You’re right, oh my gosh YOU’RE RIGHT! They’re not mean, or nasty or dangerous - they SAVED ALL OF US! Buddy, Felix and Celine find themselves standing on the Globe Statue’s plinth in the middle of the square as the townsfolk emerge blinking from their hiding places. Tinker rolls up Bullion’s bowl as muted CLAPPING begins - building to a tidal wave of APPLAUSE. Our heroes stand on the plinth basking in the adulation of the whole town. ALEX Daddy can we KEEP them? PECK Sure, honey. Where’s grandpa? Grandpa? 74.
Across the square the ELDERLY MAN is driving his mobility scooter slowly toward Buddy. GRANDPA I can’t see so good, but I still listen to my radio. Every day for fifty years. Waiting. Waiting for the day I hear a dog can fly and I know... that my Buddy has come back to me... Buddy? Buddy is that you? And in his hand he holds a very old and tarnished DOG TAG. Buddy’s jaw drops - Grandpa is... BUDDY ...DAVID! He bounds over to him and is smothered in an enormous hug. FADE TO:
EXT. MUSEUM - DAY FELIX (SMUG V.O.) Yeah, told you he had to believe, didn’t I? Another AWESOME prediction from... er, anyway, a month later and things have settled down a bit. We see the museum doors wide open and townsfolk filing up the steps in the sunshine. FELIX After he found Todd and Victor suitable new homes, Peck quit the force to spend more time with Alex and they decided to re-open the old museum, with a new star exhibit. Peck happily presides over the SPACE CAPSULE, which takes centre stage inside as BUSY LADY snaps a photo. FELIX Alex helps her Dad out in the cafe, with a little help... Alex takes PUNK KID’S order and passes it to over to RUSTBOY who nods and starts to froth milk. FELIX Yeah, Tinker fixed Rustboy up and programmed him to make lattes. Buddy works here too as guard dog, when he’s not out for a walk with David. 75.
We see BUDDY bounding proudly through the museum, dragging David’s scooter manically down the steps. Back inside, Felix sits in his big chair at the CCTV station. FELIX And me, well I spend most my time napping on the end of Alex’ bed. And when I’m not doing that I’m watching the screens, always watching... We see Felix’ screen - CAT VIDEOS! FELIX No, not that. THAT. The screen switches - the word “ALERT” flashes up. Felix raises an eyebrow. Slips out his chair and into a vent in the wall. Peck turns to find him gone, is baffled. Felix emerges in a new high-tech PET-CAVE under the museum. He strides across the gadget-strewn floor. Bullion salutes him, Tinker waves a spanner at him. FELIX Celine magically reformed G.U.A.R.D. with Tinker as Chief Scientist and Bullion as tactical operations goldfish; but with a new mission: From behind him CELINE appears and points with her magic wand to a giant screen on which a blizzard of information includes a mugshot of a crook with a mean-looking dog accomplice. The screen SPLITS OPEN revealing the gleaming metallic CATMOBILE. FELIX Anyone who’s mean to animals, or picks on someone smaller than them, or has crazy plans to make a robot hamster into president and take over the wo... (beat) Sorry this is really long-winded, I’ll summarize: Bad people better watch out: The Catmobile ROARS down the road. Inside Felix steers. He glances out the sunroof - - as BUDDY flies overhead, his blue and red super-suit gleaming in the evening sun. He streaks past the Catmobile which barrels after him down the road into the sunset. FELIX ...for DOGMAN and CATBOY. CUT TO BLACK. 76.