If you’re not a fan of Thundercats, get out of my blog. Thundercats was a central part of my childhood! If you ARE a fan of Thundercats, you might know that “Exodus”, the first episode of the series, was originally made as a 25-minute pilot, and then trimmed down to a standard US-TV 20 minutes. The shorter version was shown on BBC1 on Friday 2nd January 1987, combined into a 40-minute special with the second episode “The Unholy Alliance”. The DVD release shows it as two separate episodes, as did all other British TV broadcasts, but is otherwise identical to the version first shown on the BBC (there are very slight differences here and there in the series; the DVD versions fade out and in where the American original had a commercial break whereas the BBC usually just cut directly from one scene to the other). The only difference is that the original BBC version had no title card, unlike every other episode; the DVD shows it – Exodus, written by Leonard Starr.
And so does the other, much more interesting, different version of “Exodus”. It was released on video as a ‘full length animated feature’ comprising a brief promotional introduction to the series, followed by the full original pilot version of “Exodus”, then “The Unholy Alliance”, a heavily edited version of “Berbils”, and “The Slaves of Castle Plun-Darr”, all run together under the title “Exodus”.
The video version isn’t entirely unedited, of course – in the 1980s, the censors were very strict about nunchuks. A brief shot in the opening titles where Panthro whirls his nunchuks had to be edited out of every commercial VHS release, replaced by a snippet of footage from the episodes, in order to qualify for a U certificate. Any other use of nunchuks in the episodes had to be cut out, too. But apart from that, this video release was the only way to see the full pilot version of the opening episode.
Here is the whole transcribed episode, with removed parts coloured in red. Commentary highlighted in yellow, like this. The edits are fascinating - it was easy to edit the episode smoothly, since the high-quality animation usually cuts to a different shot with every line of dialogue, but it wasn't just a case of trimming the cartoon down to the required length; there was clearly some serious thought went into which sections to remove. I assume Leonard Starr himself was involved in the process, as it's clearly done with hindsight, after the subsequent adventures of the Thundercats had been written and a few aspects of the pilot didn't look right any more.
From above, we look down on the molten, erupting
surface of ThunDERa – the Thundercat flagship flies up to and past the camera.
PANTHRO: It’s finished, Jaga.
Cut to the flight deck of the ship; we see the Thundercats
from behind. Panthro at the central pilot seat, Jaga standing behind to his
right, Wilycat, Wilykit, Tygra and Cheetara all standing and leaning against
seats and control panels.
JAGA:
Yes. Any moment now, Panthro.
TYGRA: Shall I awaken Lion-O?
Cut to a front view of Panthro, Jaga, Cheetara and
Tygra.
CHEETARA:
No! Why upset the child needlessly, Tygra?
JAGA: (turning to Cheetara)
Wake him! If he is to rule, he must learn to take the bad with the good!
TYGRA:
Jaga’s right.
Cut to Wilykat and Wilykit in
the foreground, Tygra and Cheetara behind them. Wilykat wipes his nose in a
petulant sort of gesture.
WILYKAT: Yeah,
Jaga’s always right.
Cut to Panthro in his seat,
with Jaga behind him. Panthro turns around to look at Wilykat and chuckles.
PANTHRO:
Ha ha ha, not always! If he was, he’d’ve left a smart-mouthing little squirt
like you behind, Wilykat!
Back to the shot of Kat and
Kit; Tygra and Cheetara have now turned to look in their general direction.
WILYKAT:
Oh yeah? Better brains than brawn!
WILYKIT:
Even better brains AND brawn!
Back to Jaga and Panthro in
the foreground, Kit and Kat behind them. Jaga waves his arm commandingly.
JAGA:
We’ll have no squabbling among us! Cheetara, fetch the boy!
This sequence really changes the tone of the whole scene. Watching the TV version for the first time, I was hugely impressed by how serious everything was – and then it turns out that the original version totally threw that all out the window! It’s also very unlike Panthro to talk to Wilykat like that.
Wilykit, strangely, has almost all her dialogue removed in the edited version. She was a late addition to the cast (early promotional pictures, like the video cover above, don’t show her at all) and seems out of character in the pilot; it was probably a deliberate decision to cut her out of it as much as possible. Her odd line here doesn’t seem to make any sense, anyway, so it’s a sensible cut! But since she's still visible throughout the edited version and couldn't possibly have been cut out altogether without redrawing the whole thing, her silence is just strange.
Cut to Lion-O’s bedroom; he’s in bed, with Snarf lying
on the floor at the foot of the bed, and a teddy bear on top of the covers. The
door opens, light and the shadow of Cheetara fall across the bed. Cut to a
close-up of Cheetara shaking Lion-O’s shoulder.
CHEETARA:
Lion-O.
LION-O:
Wha? Oh, Cheetara.
Lion-O sits up in bed. Cut to Cheetara leaning over
him.
CHEETARA:
I am sorry to wake you, but Jaga bids me bring you to him.
LION-O: (rubbing his eyes)
Oh, sure, okay.
Lion-O gets out of bed (dislodging the teddy onto the
floor) and follows Cheetara out of the room. Cut to Snarf down on the floor.
SNARF:
Hey! Where are you going? Lion-O needs his sleep!
Back up with Cheetara and Lion-O.
CHEETARA: He will have ample
opportunity for sleep on this voyage. But now it is important that he join Jaga
on the flight deck.
Wide shot, with some strange tubes and glass globes in
the foreground
SNARF: Nothing is more
important than a young boy’s rest!
Back to shot of Cheetara and Lion-O.
LION-O:
Aw, let up, Snarf, huh? I’m practically grown up!
CHEETARA:
You really are turning into an old nanny, Snarf!
With Snarf in foreground from behind, Cheetara puts an
arm around Lion-O’s shoulder and walks him out of the room.
SNARF:
Easy for you to say! You’re not responsible for Lion-O’s welfare! Snarf is!
He follows them to the doorway and continues
complaining in close-up
SNARF: Just let the boy come
down with a fever, or the pip, or something, and who gets the blame? Poor old
Snarf, that’s who! (snarf, snarf…)
Cut back to the flight deck; Jaga standing with arms
crossed, watching Panthro in his seat, Wilykat and Wilykit partly visible
behind him. Lion-O hurries up to join Jaga, with Cheetara following
LION-O:
What’s up, Jaga?
JAGA:
Come closer, Lion-O.
Cut to view from behind Jaga and Lion-O, with the
large viewscreen ahead of them
JAGA:
Watch the telescreen.
The planet ThunDERa appears on the screen
LION-O: Watch what, Jaga? That
planet? What’s happening to it?
Cut to the planet in wide view; it explodes
LION-O:
What was that?!
The explosion turns the screen completely white
JAGA:
That WAS ThunDERa, Lion-O. The planet we called home.
The screen fades back in to black space, with flying
rocks zooming towards and past the camera. Then cut to close-up of Lion-O’s
horrified face, with Jaga’s chest behind him
LION-O:
Th-ThunDERa? But…
Close-up on Jaga, as he puts a hand on Lion-O’s
shoulder
JAGA:
Yes, Lion-O. ThunDERa is gone. But the Code of ThunDERa will live as long as
you…
Close-up on Lion-O again, as Jaga keeps talking
JAGA: … as Lord of the
Thundercats, carry it in your heart.
Cut to wide shot; Jaga and Lion-O central, Kit
(sitting down) and Kat (leaning against her seat) to the left, watching, and
Panthro to the right, looking at the controls
JAGA:
It will be your sacred duty to rule according to that code in our new home…
Quick cut to Tygra and Cheetara
JAGA:
… wherever that will be.
Back to close in on Lion-O and Jaga
JAGA:
Justice, truth, honour, loyalty.
Close on Lion-O, putting his fist to his chest nobly
LION-O:
I will, Jaga! I swear it! I mean… I’ll try.
Wide shot of everyone except Cheetara
JAGA: Yes, I know. It is an
enormous responsibility for one who is not yet a man. But you are not alone,
Lion-O.
Pan across the Thundercats as Jaga namechecks them
JAGA:
The nobles gathered here – Panthro, Cheetara, Tygra…
Cut to Kit and Kat, the latter looking hurt for a
moment, then satisfied when Jaga says their names
JAGA:
Even, er, Wilykat and Wilykit…
Wide shot showing everyone
JAGA:
… will be teaching you the skills you need to rule wisely and well.
The shot gradually zooms out, showing Snarf sitting on
top of the cluster of suspension capsules at the back of the flight deck. Cut
to a close-up of him, looking sulky
SNARF: No mention of old
Snarf, I notice. (snarf, snarf) Go ahead! Just take all the glory and leave it
to Snarf to clean up after you! I don’t mind! (snarf, snarf)
With Snarf in foreground, Jaga leads Lion-O to a door
at the side of the flight deck
JAGA:
There is something else you must see, Lion-O.
Close-up of the door, zooming in slowly
JAGA:
The most important part of your heritage.
The door opens, to reveal the Sword of Omens on a
ceremonial stand. Close up on it.
JAGA:
This is the mystic Sword of Omens, and the source of our powers…
Closer on the Eye of ThunDERa embedded in the sword
JAGA: … the Eye of ThunDERa.
Lion-O walks curiously over to the Sword. He picks it
up, and it grows in length; he drops the point of it to the floor
LION-O:
J-Jaga, the sword is alive!
Close-up on the Eye, as Lion-O continues to hold the
sword handle
JAGA:
Yes.
LION-O:
But there are holes in the hilt, Jaga! And I don’t see any eye!
Back on Jaga’s face, zooming out to gradually show
Lion-O
JAGA: The Eye sleeps until
needed, Lion-O. And these are not merely holes you see in the hilt.
Close-up on the sword, with glowing eyes behind the
not-really-holes-as-such in the hilt
JAGA:
Looking through those magic apertures will give you sight beyond sight!
Wide shot of a starfield with the sight-beyond-sight
framing effect, then cut back to close on Lion-O
LION-O:
But… if I do need the eye, how can I wake it up and let it know?
Wider shot of Jaga talking to Lion-O
JAGA:
There will be no need. The eye will know it is needed before you do.
Snarf walks in to join them, then cut to a closer shot
of Lion-O and Jaga as the former tries and fails to lift the sword
LION-O:
I.. I can’t lift it, Jaga!
Close on Jaga
JAGA:
No. You have not the strength yet. But… Snarf.
Back to the wider shot, showing Snarf
JAGA:
Would you ask the other Thundercats to join us?
Close on Snarf
SNARF:
But I want to hear what…
Close on Jaga
JAGA:
It’s IMPORTANT, Snarf.
Close on Snarf, who turns and leaves the room
SNARF:
Okay. (snarf snarf snarf)
Back to medium shot of Lion-O and Jaga, who places the
Sword back on its stand
JAGA:
But it will not be long before the sword feels natural in your hand.
TYGRA:
You wish to see us, Jaga?
Panthro joins Cheetara and Tygra standing side by side
inside the door. Wilykat and Wilykit hurry in and join them
JAGA:
Yes. You will all have to learn new ways as well.
The Thundercats react in surprise, then cut to Jaga
and Lion-O
JAGA: On our own planet, you
needed no protective clothing or special weaponry. And the Eye of ThunDERA
rested peacefully…
Pan across the row of Thundercats, looking at each
other, then back towards Jaga
JAGA:
… in the mystic Sword of Omens, guarded, and known only, to me.
Close on Tygra
TYGRA:
The Eye of ThunDERa? I thought it was… a legend, a myth!
JAGA:
It exists.
Medium shot of Jaga and
Lion-O, zooming in on the latter as Jaga continues talking
JAGA:
It will serve Lion-O, as hereditary Lord of the Thundercats, and through him,
it will serve you as well.
A wise removal – even in this same episode, the Eye of ThunDERa is
well-known to the Mutants, and in subsequent stories there’s no mention of it
ever being a secret. But if the idea of this edit was to remove that plot point
entirely, they should really have deleted Jaga’s previous ungrammatical line
too!
Close on Jaga
JAGA:
We don’t know what awaits the Thundercats in our new home…
Jaga picks up a sort of magic, semi-transparent cloth
JAGA:
… but these raiments and weapons will help protect you.
He throws the cloth. Cut to Cheetara, as the cloth
surrounds her and gives her clothes and a staff.
JAGA:
Cheetara…
Cut to Tygra, as he gets clothes and whip.
JAGA:
Tygra…
Cut to Panthro, already in clothes, whirling his
nunchuks. The ship suddenly shakes, and he reacts. Cut to the Sword of Omens on
its stand. The ship shakes again. Cut to Tygra.
Some but not all of the nunchuck-whirling is edited out in the UK video
version, replaced by more of the close-up of the Sword. We don’t see Kat, Kit
or Lion-O getting their clothes; I always assumed it had been edited out at
some point, but apparently not, since it also isn’t in the pilot version.
TYGRA:
Jaga! We’re being attacked!
He turns and runs out the door. Cut to Jaga and Lion-O
JAGA:
Lion-O! Remain in the sword chamber!
He runs after Tygra. Close on Lion-O
LION-O:
No! If there’s to be fighting, then I should…
Cut to Jaga; with Cheetara and Panthro running out of
the room in the background
JAGA:
Please do not argue! Snarf, look after him!
Jaga runs out of the room as well. Cut to Snarf,
standing in front of Lion-O and holding him back
SNARF:
You bet, Jaga! Snarf will keep Lion-O safe, don’t worry!
Close on Lion-O’s face
LION-O:
Aww, I don’t wanna be safe! Safe is boring!
Wide shot of the flight deck from above. All the
Thundercats except Jaga are sitting at seats, working on controls (Wilykit is
barely visible at the bottom left) as Jaga strides in and stands behind Tygra.
Cut to close on the two of them, as Jaga puts on his helmet.
JAGA:
Have you identified the enemy?
TYGRA:
Yes. They’re from the planet Plun-Darr.
Cut to wider shot, panning away from Panthro to
Cheetara in foreground, with Tygra and Jaga behind her
PANTHRO:
Mutants! Always those blasted Mutants!
The camera moving to Cheetara is a little strange in the edited
version, since she doesn’t say anything.
CHEETARA: The ships bear the insignia of Reptilians…
Cut to a computer screen,
showing these insignia (which are never actually seen on the ships)
CHEETARA:
… Jackalmen, Monkians…
Cut to side view of the main
Mutant ship in space
TYGRA:
They’re fighting together? As allies?!
Another edit clearly made with the later episodes in mind. There is no
subsequent mention of it being unusual for different Mutant races to work
together. S-S-Slithe is presented as the leader, with Monkian and Jackalman his
subordinates.
Cut to shot of the main Mutant ship in space, facing
the camera, with two smaller ships zooming forward, one each side, followed by
two more. Cut to shot of a ThunDERian ship, as the small Mutant ships swoop
towards it. Then to a view of many small mutant ships, flying through space
like a swarm of bees. One comes very close to the camera, and we see a
Reptilian in the pilot’s seat. In a series of quick shots, they shoot at the
ThunDERian ship, and it explodes. Cut to the bridge of the main Mutant ship.
Seen from behind, S-S-Slithe is at the back of the bridge on a podium,
Jackalman and Monkian at the front looking at the viewscreen, other Mutants at
the sides, working controls.
There has been no appearance or mention of other ThunDERian spaceships up to this point; to all appearances, the ship just destroyed was the one we’ve been following for the episode so far! This is the case in the edited and unedited versions.
The other Mutants are another plot point that was dropped after the
pilot episode. In the pilot, there is a huge army of Mutants of all three races
– S-S-Slithe looks distinctly different from other Reptilians, but the bosses
of the Jackalmen and Monkians have no individual names or distinguishing features;
from the next episode, the underlings are gone, and it’s just the three
leaders. It wouldn’t have been possible to edit the other Mutants entirely from
the pilot, since they’re always present.
Cut to close of Monkian and Jackalman, with the edge
of the viewscreen in front of them, showing starfield.
JACKALMAN:
Nyeh-heh-heh! A direct hit, S-S-Slithe!
Close on S-S-Slithe
S-S-SLITHE:
Ssssuperb.
Cut to Panthro, seen from behind at the controls, with
the large viewscreen displaying complicated patterns as he presses buttons
PANTHRO:
We just lost one, Jaga!
Medium shot of Tygra at his seat, with Jaga standing
behind him. Jaga talks into his wrist-bracelet.
JAGA:
Flagship to convoy! Assume defensive formation!
Monkian, on the ship, seen
from the side view as he looks at the viewscreen.
MONKIAN:
Ooh-ooh-ooh, they’re, they’re forming a circle!
Medium shot of S-S-Slithe at
his console.
S-S-SLITHE:
A slim hope. We watched those ships loading via sky-spy transmission…
Wide shot of the viewscreen in
the background, S-S-Slithe, Jackalman and Monkian all watching it as six
smaller ships move into a circle around the flagship
S-S-SLITHE:
… They’re so packed with ThunDERian pilgrims and their possessions, they could
carry little by way of armament.
Close-up of S-S-Slithe in
profile
S-S-SLITHE:
Attack!
The most direct acknowledgement that the Mutants are slaughtering a
huge number of innocent refugees is edited out, but the outright genocide
remains in the Thundercats back story. It’s far and away the most evil thing
the Mutants ever do; they’re never more than a nuisance in future episodes.
In space, we now see from above the flagship with six
smaller ships in a circle around it. The small Mutant ships fly towards them.
Close on the top of the flagship, as a gun emerges, then close-up of the gun as
it shoots a laser. The lasers hit one of two small Mutant ships, causing
explosions. Another Mutant ship flies between lasers, then we see it shooting
the wing of a ThunDERian ship, causing a very big explosion. Another Mutant
ship shoots another bigger ship’s wing from beneath. Another one fires a
missile straight at the camera. The missile and another hit a
differently-designed ThunDERian ship with a cat-head on the front. It explodes.
We see the flagship surrounded by sparks and debris in space.
PANTHRO:
We’re losing them, Jaga! We’re losing all our ships!
CHEETARA:
Except for ours! We haven’t taken a single hit!
Back on the flight deck, Jaga still standing behind
Tygra’s chair, with Wilykat visible in the background at his console.
JAGA: No. They know that the
flagship would be carrying the Eye of ThunDERa. They won’t risk losing it!
Close on Wilykat’s face
WILYKAT:
Then…
Close on Tygra, clenching his fists in his seat.
TYGRA:
Yes. We can expect visitors any moment!
The ship shakes, and Tygra reacts with alarm. Cut to
Panthro in foreground, and Cheetara visible in the background.
CHEETARA:
What’s that?
PANTHRO:
Grappling rays!
Cut to the outside of the flagship, and a large
Thundercat symbol is the focus of electrical rays, pulling it. Cut to the large
Mutant ship, emitting three such rays from its underside. Then cut to Lion-O
sitting on the floor of the sword chamber, with Snarf trying to calm him.
SNARF:
Easy, Lion-O, easy! Old Snarf won’t let anyone harm you, you just bet I won’t!
LION-O:
I’m not (gulp) afraid!
The large Mutant ship is now right alongside the
Thundercat flagship, pulling it in even closer with the grappling rays. Closer
in on the two ships side by side; an airlock opens on the side of the Mutant
ship, and a transparent tube extends out, fitting neatly onto the Thundercat
symbol on the side of the other ship. A Reptilian walks out into the tube,
carrying a laser gun. Close-up on the Reptilian as he fires the gun into the
camera. The laser strikes the Thundercat symbol and melts it.
Medium shot in the doorway of
the Mutant ship, as the three leaders look out on the Reptilian in the
background. S-S-Slithe turns to look at Jackalman.
S-S-SLITHE: We
won’t need you for this. My Reptilians and I can handle it.
Close on Jackalman, holding a
gun.
JACKALMAN:
Nyeh-heh-heh-heh, so that you can possess the Eye of ThunDERa for yourself,
S-S-Slithe? No way!
Close-up of S-S-Slithe’s face
S-S-SLITHE:
Why don’t we decide which of us will possess the Eye after we possess it?
Profile of S-S-Slithe in
foreground, looking at Monkian behind him
S-S-SLITHE:
But have it your way.
MONKIAN:
Ooh-ooh-ooh, we will, S-S-Slithe! And we don’t need your permission!
Close up again on the laser,
making a very bright light and cutting its way in, revealing the inside of the
flagship.
Again removing the notion that the Mutants are normally hostile towards
each other.
Back on the flight deck, medium shot at Jaga looking
up at a flashing red panel above his head, saying “EMERGENCY” and buzzing.
Tygra’s head comes into shot and looks at him. Cut to Panthro, from behind,
looking at a schematic of the flagship exterior on a small viewscreen. He thumps
the control panel in anger.
PANTHRO:
We’ve been breached!
Tygra runs down a corridor, seen from behind, and
through a door which opens automatically for him.
TYGRA:
Stand by to repel boarders!
Cheetara follows him; cut to a side view as she overtakes
him
CHEETARA:
Right in front of you, Tygra!
Cheetara runs at top speed away from the camera, down
a corridor and around a corner.
Seen from above, an intersection of corridors. Two
Reptilians run offscreen; three more enter and are joined by super-fast
Cheetara, who runs around them with a rope. Closer on two of the Reptilians,
reacting with surprise as the rope surrounds them. In a wider shot, it tightens
around all three Reptilians, making them all fall down.
Cut to Tygra, with his back to a wall. He jumps up and
disappears, as two Monkians run at him with spiked club and spear.
MONKIAN:
Where’d he go?
Cut to a higher angle, looking down on them.
TYGRA:
Now you don’t see me…
Back to the lower angle, Tygra reappears and (very
gently) pushes them down by the shoulders, falling on them from above. He lands
neatly, and the Monkians run away.
Cut to Panthro, somersaulting through the air towards
the camera. He lands in between four Jackalmen in a circle. They turn to look
at him. Closer on Panthro, as a Jackalman swings a spiked club at him from
offscreen behind him. Panthro catches it in his fist and laughs.
PANTHRO:
Ha ha ha haa, if you guys were as mean as you are ugly…
Close-up on the Jackalman’s face, reacting to that,
then back to the previous shot as Panthro squeezes and shatters the club.
PANTHRO:
… then maybe you’d be trouble!
Cut to two Reptilians running towards the camera
(making Monkian noises). Cut to Wilykat and Wilykit, backing up against a wall.
Close-up of Wilykat’s hand, taking a capsule from his pocket. He clenches it in
his fist. Wide shot, and Wilykat throws the capsule down on the floor in front
of the advancing Reptilians. Cut to front view of the Reptilians, as a bright
light blinds them. Cut to the wall where Kat and Kit were previously; the light
fades to show they’re gone. Close-up of a Reptilian’s
face, turning around in surprise. Cut to Wilykit behind them, pouring powder
into her hand. She blows it in a puff of smoke. Cut to medium shot of the two
Reptilians, coughing as the powder flies into their faces. Wide shot as Kit and
Kat stand by the cloud of smoke surrounding the Reptilians and look at each
other happily. Wilykat points to the right, and the two run away as a Monkian
runs in waving a club and chases after them.
Medium shot of two Reptilians
coming to a sudden stop in a corridor as they see Jaga in front of them. He
holds out his arms, and they back away fearfully. Close in on Jaga, talking to
a Reptilian whose shoulder is visible in the foreground.
JAGA:
Where is your leader, that wretch S-S-Slithe?
Even Wilykit’s solo action moment is cut. So is Jaga’s moment, but
that’s no great loss – I suppose he’s meant to come across as a commanding
figure, but it’s hard to see why the Mutants would be afraid of him.
Cut to wide shot of a bedroom, from above. One
Jackalman is rummaging through a wardrobe that has been smashed open, another
is breaking a large wooden cube box, which reveals toys including a football.
In a corridor intersection, S-S-Slithe stands by a
door, and Jackalman comes walking to him from the background.
JACKALMAN:
Nothing back there. Any luck at your end, S-S-Slithe?
Close-up of S-S-Slithe, shaking his head.
S-S-SLITHE:
No. (points to camera) What’s in there?
From behind, we see the two of them looking at a
doorway.
JACKALMAN: It would help if I
knew what the Eye of ThunDERa looks like! Have you ever seen it?
S-S-Slithe takes a pace forwards.
S-S-SLITHE:
Yes. Yes.
They both walk through the door. Cut to front view of
them entering the sword chamber, then close-up of S-S-Slithe’s face
S-S-SLITHE:
And there it is!
Cut to Lion-O holding the sword, with point on the
floor, looking fierce, and Snarf snarling.
S-S-SLITHE:
Embedded in the hilt of the Sword of Omens!
Close-up of Snarf, preparing to pounce
SNARF: You’d better get right
out of here or you’ll have Snarf the Fierce to deal with! (snarf, snarf)
Close on S-S-Slithe, laughing merrily.
S-S-SLITHE:
Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh. And what manner of laughable creature is this?
Close-up of Snarf, crouching to pounce
SNARF:
Think I’m funny, do you?
Cut to Lion-O, still holding the heavy sword
LION-O:
Snarf! No!
Cut to Snarf, who hisses and pounces. Back to
Jackalman and S-S-Slithe; Jackalman fires his gun, which shoots a net, which
somehow seals itself around the leaping Snarf, who falls to the floor. Cut to
Snarf, rolling on the floor and struggling with the net.
SNARF:
Where are they? Let me at them! (snarf, snarf)
Cut back to Jackalman and S-S-Slithe. Jackalman looks
up, towards Lion-O. S-S-Slithe then does the same.
S-S-SLITHE:
Now, boy, give me the sword.
Close-up of Lion-O’s face
LION-O:
You shall not have it while I live!
Close-up on the sword blade, with S-S-Slithe reflected
in it. He laughs.
S-S-SLITHE:
That would suit me just fine.
Then to a wide overhead shot of the Mutants advancing
on Lion-O.
JACKALMAN:
Nyeh-heh-heh-heh-heh! The cub threatens us?
Cut to rear shot of Lion-O, with the Mutants still
advancing
JACKALMAN:
He can hardly hold on to that sword, much less lift it!
One cut line from S-S-Slithe (the jump is quite obvious once you know
the cut is there) is presumably just because it makes him too scary? I mean,
he’s already killed the entire population of ThunDERa bar eight, but we didn’t
actually see them, so it’s okay…
Close on Lion-O, struggling to lift up the sword,
grunting with effort. Close on the Eye, which starts to glow. Back to Lion-O,
who struggles some more. His eyes light up. Cut back to the Eye, glowing
fiercely. It turns into the Thundercat symbol. Cut to overhead shot of Lion-O
facing the Mutants, Jackalman pointing his gun. The Sword glows. Cut to
S-S-Slithe, backing away in fear. Back to the Sword, as the Thundercat symbol
beams out from the Eye. Wide shot, showing the symbol shining above the three.
Close up in profile of Jackalman, with S-S-Slithe stepping backwards into frame
beside him.
JACKALMAN:
Wh-what’s happening?
S-S-SLITHE:
Back! Get back!
While S-S-Slithe is still speaking, cut to a wide
frontal shot of Lion-O, as he lifts the glowing sword above his head. Energy
sparkles out of it. Cut to the Mutants, as the sword blade swings into the
foreground and points at them. S-S-Slithe turns to run, and Jackalman follows.
Out in the corridor, they bump into walls and whimper with panic as they run
away. Cut to side view of S-S-Slithe, racing along. Jackaman comes up alongside
him in the foreground.
S-S-SLITHE:
Back! To the ship!
JACKALMAN:
And move it!
Overhead shot of the hallway with the big hole in the
hull. Monkian is jumping up and down with excitement. S-S-Slithe, Jackalman and
many other Mutants run into the scene, and through the hole. Cut to the
transparent tube outside, as the panicking mutants run along it back to their
own ship. Close-up on the side of the Thundercat flagship – the tube vanishes,
and the ship falls downward to the left. Cut to a wider shot of the Mutant ship
moving away from the flagship. Shot from the rear of the two ships. The Mutant
ship’s engines light up, and it flies away into the distance.
The doorway to the flight
deck; Jaga steps in.
JAGA:
Anyone hurt?
Cut to wide shot of the
Thundercats, standing or sitting with their backs to the viewscreen. Cheetara
stands, Panthro is in the main seat, Tygra next to him leaning on the wall,
Wilykit leaning on a console, Wilykat sitting cross-legged in another chair.
Tygra flexes his arm as if he’s hurt it.
TYGRA: Just a few
scratches, Jaga.
PANTHRO:
No real damage.
Close on Cheetara. She suddenly
looks from side to side.
CHEETARA:
Lion-O! Where’s Lion-O?
It works better without this brief scene. The Thundercats look like
they’re lounging around, and have entirely forgotten Lion-O…
Wide overhead shot of Lion-O kneeling down beside
Snarf, who’s free of the net but lying sprawled on his back. The Sword lies
next to them on the floor. Lion-O lifts Snarf up and rocks him gently.
LION-O:
Snarf? Are you all right? Aw, come on, Snarf, say something!
Close on Snarf’s face as he gradually regains
consciousness
SNARF:
S.. Snarf…
Wider shot of Lion-O, who hugs Snarf with a smile.
LION-O:
Good old Snarf! Why’d you wanna scare me like that?
Close on Snarf’s face again
SNARF: How many of them did I get?
Cut to the doorway, as Jaga runs in, followed by Tygra
and Cheetara, then Wilykat and Wilykit.
JAGA:
Lion-O! You’re not hurt!
Cut to wide shot of Lion-O still cradling Snarf. He
stands up and looks at Jaga. The camera pans up so we don’t see Snarf any more,
and Jaga walks into frame.
LION-O:
Nah. Snarf took a few lumps, but I managed to hold them off!
Snarf leaps into Lion-O’s arms. Cut to close on Jaga.
JAGA:
You… did it… with the Sword?
Cut to the Sword, still lying on the floor. It glints.
Back to Lion-O with Snarf hugging him in his arms.
LION-O:
Well, the Sword kind of did it for me…
Wide shot of everybody. They laugh, Tygra looking at
Cheetara, while Wilykat and Wilykit look at each other. Jaga turns his head to
look at them, and waves his arm.
JAGA:
Uh! I see.
Cut to close-up of viewscreen, with rotating patterns
on it.
JAGA:
How bad is it, Panthro?
The display is replaced by a side view of the ship,
with arrows pointing to parts of it.
PANTHRO: Well, I patched up
the hole, and I guess it’s okay. The navigational system is pretty well shot.
Cut to a wide overhead shot of everyone gathered
around Panthro. Snarf is sitting sprawled in a chair, the others all standing.
PANTHRO: We can manoeuvre
some, but not enough to get to the galaxy we were headed for.
Closer on Panthro, with the display behind him.
PANTHRO:
The best we can do is this.
Panthro presses a button. The viewscreen now displays
the Milky Way galaxy.
PANTHRO:
Not much as galaxies go.
Cut to Wilykit and Wilykat, standing side by side and
looking unimpressed.
WILYKAT:
It’s dinky, is what it is!
WILYKIT: You can’t find anything better? In the whole
universe?
Cut to Panthro in foreground,
Lion-O and Snarf behind him. Panthro snarls with annoyance.
PANTHRO: Be glad I
found this one. Wait a minute! Let me bring the picture up closer…
He turns back to the console. Cut
back to the shot of Panthro and the viewscreen, which is now showing a very
distant shot of the sun.
PANTHRO:
See this puny little sun?
Panthro presses another button, and we see a graphic
of the solar system. An arrow points to the third planet as it rotates. The
camera gradually zooms in on the display as Panthro talks.
PANTHRO: I’ve run a galactc
scan for atmospheric compatibility, and this blue planet, the third one out,
gives me a readout of 96%.
The number “96%” appears on the display next to the
planet.
Wilykit is repeatedly excised from this whole scene. This first edit
also stops it seeming that Panthro has only noticed Third Earth while he was
talking to the others.
Cut to wide shot of Lion-O looking puzzled, with Snarf
looking up at him from his chair.
LION-O:
Atmospheric com… com…
Close on Tygra
TYGRA:
That means we could breathe the air, Lion-O.
Cut to Cheetara standing beside Lion-O
CHEETARA:
Even so, it’s light-years away!
Cut to Wilykit and Wilykat, who recoils in disgust
WILYKAT:
Oh, yeuch! That means we’d have to make the trip in the… suspension capsules!
Cut to Lion-O looking down at
Snarf in his chair.
SNARF:
Suspension capsules? Ohhh! You’ll never convince me those things work! (snarf,
snarf)
Cut back to Wilykit and
Wilykat
WILYKIT: Me
neither! When in doubt, chicken out! I’m not going!
Wilykat walks up to her and
grabs her by the shoulders.
WILYKAT:
Oh yes you are! Yes you are!
Cut to the suspension
capsules. Wilykat manhandles Wilykit over to one, opens it, and pushes her in.
Wilykat seals the capsule closed.
WILYKIT: Let me go!
Do you hear me, let me out, Wilykat! Ooh, I’ll get you for this!
Wider overhead shot of
Willykat pointing and laughing at Wilykit.
WILYKAT: Gosh,
you’re beautiful when you snarl! You know that, Wilykit?
Pan out to see Tygra,
Cheetara, Panthro, Lion-O, Snarf and Jaga, not looking at Wilykat and Wilykit.
JAGA:
Is there another choice, Panthro?
Cut to closer shot of Tygra,
Cheetara and Panthro
PANTHRO: Sure. We
last remaining Thundercats perish in space.
Close on Jaga’s face
JAGA: It
is settled, then. You will all get in the suspension capsules now. I
will pilot the ship to the blue planets.
And this part, if anything, is surely the reason for cutting Kit. The
interplay between the Thunderkittens is wildly wrong in many ways, and entirely
unlike the way the characters are portrayed in later episodes. This cut also
removes the only objection Snarf raises to the suspension capsules, making
Panthro’s comment later on seem a little weird. Jaga definitely seems to say
‘planets’, plural, by the way.
Cut to Panthro, standing in front of the suspension
capsules
PANTHRO:
No, Jaga. Without suspension, you’ll die. We can set the course on robot pilot.
Cut back to Jaga in wider shot
JAGA: In its damaged
condition, the ship must be piloted manually as long as possible, or we can’t
be sure of reaching our destination.
Cut to wide shot of Tygra, Cheetara and Lion-O
TYGRA: We can’t be sure
anyway. We’ll take our chances together. You must join us in the capsules,
Jaga.
LION-O: Yes, Jaga! Please!
Close on Jaga’s face
JAGA:
Enough!
Quick cut to Lion-O recoiling in shock, then back to a
wider shot of Jaga
JAGA: I am by far the oldest
of you. Even though the suspension capsules slow down the aging process
tremendously, some aging does take place.
Pan right to left across the line of Lion-O, Panthro,
Cheetara and Tygra
JAGA:
Even in suspension, I could not live long enough to complete the journey.
Cut to close on Wilykat
leaning on the capsule, looking worriedly back, and Wilykit pressing her hands
against the glass from inside.
JAGA: So let’s not
have any more talk!
Wilykit excision. The cuts completely remove her from the rest of the
scene, until everyone else has got into the capsules, disguising the fact she’s
already been forced into one.
Close on Jaga’s head and shoulders as he points his
hand commandingly.
JAGA:
Enter the capsules!
Cut to Tygra and Cheetara, who closes her eyes sadly.
Tygra puts his hands on her shoulders to talk to her.
CHEETARA:
J… Jaga!
TYGRA:
Come, Cheetara. What Jaga says is true. Don’t make it tougher for him.
They turn away. Cut to Wilykat, pressing a button to
open a capsule.
WILYKAT:
Yeah. He’s just being… practical.
Wilykat gets in, and closes the capsule. Cut to Wilykit, looking tearful in her capsule.
WILYKIT:
Wh-whatever you say, Jaga. You ARE always… right!
Wilykit excision.
Cut to Panthro and Snarf, standing in front of three
other capsules.
PANTHRO:
All right! If we’re gonna do it, let’s do it!
He picks up Snarf by the scruff of the neck.
PANTHRO:
In you go, Snarf. No stalling.
SNARF:
I’m going, I’m going! Snarf, snarf! See you all later, I hope!
Wide shot of Jaga and Lion-O, who hugs him
LION-O:
G-goodbye, Jaga!
Cut to a different angle
JAGA:
You must be brave, Lion-O. It is your duty.
Close on Lion-O’s face as he hugs Jaga
LION-O:
Y… yes, Jaga.
Close on the sword being driven into the floor. Then a
wider shot of Jaga, seen from below, holding it.
JAGA:
The Eye of ThunDERa will be waiting for you when you reach your new home.
Brief cut to a shot from
behind of Jaga looking at the capsules containing Cheetara, Lion-O and Panthro.
Cut back to the previous shot of Jaga, who puts his hand across his chest in
salute. Cut to pan across the suspension capsules containing Wilykit,
Tygra, Cheetara and stopping on Lion-O. He turns blue as the suspension takes
effect.
A slight but noticeable jump in the background music because of this
seemingly pointless edit. The salute recurs in later episodes, so there doesn’t
seem any reason to cut it here.
Cut to wide overhead shot, looking down at the large
Thundercat symbol in the middle of the floor of the flight deck, with Jaga
sitting at the front console, pressing buttons.
JAGA:
I wish I were as sure of their chances…
Cut to profile of Jaga, looking out at the stars
JAGA: … as I pretended to be.
Still, there IS a chance…
Cut to wide side view of the
flagship in space, as it tilts and flies downward to the left. Cut to rear view
of Jaga’s seat, helmet visible poking over the top and his arm pressing a
button on the console, with the viewscreen showing empty space in front of him.
Cut to the flagship, viewed from underneath, flying over the camera and
away into space. Then side view of it flying steadily from right to left. Cut
back to profile of Jaga in his seat, now more frail and with a longer beard.
JAGA:
I… can’t go on. I pray…
Cut to front view of Jaga from above as he feebly reaches
for a button
JAGA: … the robot pilot can
take it from here…
Close up of the button, next to a sign saying “PILOT”.
When Jaga’s finger touches the button, a panel etched with “ROBOT” lights up in
blue. Cut to a three-quarter view of Jaga, who looks down at his left wrist.
Cut to close-up of the wrist. A large red oval on his bracelet lights up. Cut
to a view of the floor – the bracelet falls down with white light splashing
down and disappearing. Back to the chair – Jaga has disappeared, and his clothes
fall down into the seat. Cut to the flagship from outside, flying gently
through space still. In a wider side view, it passes a very large planet and a
couple of moons. The rockets in the rear fire. Cut to rear shot as it flies
onwards. Cut back to the viewscreen, with Jaga’s seat, still draped in his
clothes, in front. Third Earth is on the viewscreen and approaching fast. The
flagship zooms into the atmosphere. Viewed from the side, it starts to glow red
hot as it plunges downward. Cut to wide shot from above of the suspension
capsules, with the Sword stuck in the floor in front of them.
Presumably the brief edit is just for timing. The background music doesn’t jump at all, it’s nicely edited.
Then cut to a view of a river, rocky ground and clumps
of trees. Something black lifts up out of the way to give a full view, then the
control panel lifts in from below and we see we’re looking at the viewscreen.
From above, the flagship descends, four white landing rays emerging from the
bottom as it settles down on the rocky surface next to a river. One of the
landing rays flickers and disappears. Cut to close-up of a display with the
numbers 1 to 4, each with two blue bars next to it. The bars next to 4 shrink
and turn red, with beeping alarms sounding. From above, the Flagship lands
heavily. Cut to side view, then a wider overhead view as it slams into the
ground and slides forwards. Seen from behind, it runs into a natural stone ramp
formation, and is launched into the air. From below, we see the flagship
starting to fall apart, bits of metal falling down past the camera.
Close-up from above, among the debris is a suspension
capsule and the Sword. The ship itself comes into shot and we see another
capsule still lying within, ready to fall out the big hole. From the side, the
main body of the flagship crashes heavily.
Cut to a shot from behind of the ship, motionless and
smoking in ruins. Pan across to a rock, with trees in the background and rays
of sunlight coming through a black cloud in the sky. Close in on the rock, then
fade to shot of a suspension capsule lying on the ground. It opens to reveal
Snarf. He sits up, looks around, then in a close-up starts talking.
SNARF:
I just knew I wasn’t going to like this! (snarf, snarf) Lion-O! Lion-O!
He scampers out of the capsule and off-screen. Cut to
another capsule lying on the rocky plain. Snarf runs in, jumps up to try to
look in the window, succeeds in climbing up on his second attempt.
SNARF:
Lion-O? It’s him! (snarf, snarf)
Snarf hops back down to the ground, presses controls,
and the capsule opens to reveal Lion-O lying inside it. Close-up of Lion-O
lying unconscious, as Snarf leans over him and shakes his shoulder. Lion-O
wakes up groggily. He’s now an adult, wearing the rags of his child-size
costume.
SNARF:
Wake up, Lion-O! It’s me! It’s old Snarf!
LION-O:
What are you doing, Snarf? Get away!
Lion-O sits up and bumps his head on the lid of the
capsule.
LION-O:
Ow! What in the…?
Cut to side view, as Lion-O looks up and sees he’s in
the capsule.
LION-O:
Oh, the suspension capsule. But how did it get to be so small?
Cut to Snarf, looking with concern up at Lion-O.
SNARF:
I was really worried, Lion-O! I was sure it was all going to turn out…
Cut back to the side view of the capsule. Lion-O looks
down at Snarf.
LION-O:
You look a lot smaller too, Snarf! What’s going on?
Lion-O stands up, and bumps his head again.
LION-O:
Oh!
Cut to a closer shot of Lion-O, who looks with wonder
at his hands.
LION-O:
And my hands! Look at the size of them!
Close-up of the hands, then fade to Lion-O kneeling by
a puddle of water, with scattered fragments of the ship lying around it. He
sees his reflection. Jaga’s voice echoes over the scene.
JAGA: Even though the
suspension capsules slow down the aging process, some aging does take place.
Cut to closer shot of the reflection, which turns into
child Lion-O and then back to the adult form while Jaga speaks.
LION-O:
Why, I’m… grown!
Cut to wide shot of Lion-O as he stands up again.
Snarf runs into shot, carrying Lion-O’s teddy bear in his mouth. Cut to close
up of Snarf, dropping the teddy proudly.
SNARF:
Look what I have for you! (snarf, snarf)
Close on Lion-O, turning to look at Snarf
incredulously.
LION-O:
Oh, what’s this, Snarf? A toy? Good grief, I’m too big for toys! Can’t you see
that?
Cut back to Snarf, who looks dejected.
SNARF:
Snarf… I guess you’ll just always look little to faithful old Snarf.
The sound of engines is heard. Snarf looks up in
alarm, and the camera follows him as he moves away from the teddy bear.
SNARF:
Lion-O! Look out! The Mutants are back! (snarf, snarf)
Cut to wide shot of Snarf and Lion-O, seen from
behind, watching as the Mutant ship flies over them. Cut to close-up of Lion-O
as he turns to follow it.
The ship hovers over a flat area and emits a beam of
light. Cut to overhead view of the plain, littered with wreckage, and 18
Mutants materialise – S-S-Slithe, Jackalman and Monkian in the centre of the
group. Close on S-S-Slithe, who looks around him, with one of each type
of Mutant in the background. They walk away from the rocks behind them, and we
see Lion-O peek over, watching them. Cut to wide shot of Lion-O, seen from
above and behind, watching the Mutants split up and go into the wreckage of the
flagship. Cut to close on Lion-O, head and shoulders peeking out from behind
the rock.
LION-O:
Mutants? They look like… I don’t know… like I should remember them!
Snarf emerges from behind a rock above and behind
Lion-O. As he speaks he slides bumpily down the rocks between them.
SNARF:
Real bad, Lion-O! (ooh!) I just knew we hadn’t seen the last of that bunch!
Close on Snarf, from behind, as he makes the final
jump down to Lion-O’s level. The Sword of Omens goes flying up into the air
when Snarf lands heavily.
SNARF:
Ow! What the goldarned?
He turns his head and notices the Sword, then turns
back to Lion-O excitedly.
SNARF:
Lion-O! Look!
Pan across to Lion-O, seen from behind, still kneeling
behind the rock. He waves his hand impatiently.
LION-O:
Shhh! You want the Mutants to hear?
Cut back to Snarf
SNARF:
But…
Snarf goes over to the Sword and picks it up in his
mouth. Cut back to Lion-O, and Snarf walks into frame, mumbling with his mouth
full. Lion-O turns his head to look at him, then turns back to look at the
Mutants, uninterested. Cut to a front view of the two of them.
LION-O: Good grief, Snarf!
What’s the matter with you? We’re in big trouble here, and you bring me another
stupid toy? Get away!
Snarf’s ears droop in disappointment. Cut to an
overhead view of S-S-Slithe watching over four Reptilians scouring the parts of
the wrecked flagship.
S-S-SLITHE:
Search carefully! The Eye of ThunDERa must be in the wreckage somewhere!
Cut to Monkian, leaning over a suspension capsule and
looking in.
MONKIAN: Over here! One of the
Thundercats is still in his capsule! (looking to the left) And, and…
here’s another!
Cut to wide shot of Jackalman, carrying a long-handled
axe, walking over to another capsule.
JACKALMAN:
Nyeh-heh-heh! We’ll never have a better chance to be rid of them forever!
He lifts the axe over his head and swings it down onto
the capsule window with a crash (but no damage). Cut to
side view of a Reptilian sitting astride another capsule and hitting it with a spiked
club, while in the background two Monkians hit another capsule with small axes.
Cut to Lion-O, seen from beind, still watching from behind the rock, while a Reptilian
watches a Jackalman attack yet another capsule. Cut to slow zoom in on Lion-O
as he remains behind the rock and shakes his head in confusion.
LION-O:
Those capsules, I… there’s something… important about them somehow, something…
inside them that…
Cut to wide overhead shot of
three Monkians attacking a capsule.
LION-O: Let’s see,
something that…
Cut to wide shot of Lion-O, climbing up onto the rock
he was hiding behind, and waving his arm commandingly.
LION-O:
No! Stop!
Cut to Jackalman and two Reptilians in amongst the
wreckage. The Jackalman flings away a piece of metal and laughs.
JACKALMAN:
Nyeh-heh-heh! And who is that?
This edit, presumably for timing again since these extra moments just
repeat what we’ve already seen, makes Jackalman jump instantly from one place
to another during a very brief cutaway to Lion-O in the edited version.
Cut to profile view of S-S-Slithe, standing near a
large piece of mangled spaceship which forms a curved bridge up to the rocks.
Two Reptilians in the middle distance, and in the background, Lion-O leaps over
the rock towards the bridge and onto it at a run.
S-S-SLITHE:
What does it matter? …
Cut to side view of the metal bridge as Lion-O runs
along it, the camera tracking him as he jumps over a Reptilian swinging a mace,
ducks a Jackalman’s swung club and leaps off, all while S-S-Slithe keeps
talking.
S-S-SLITHE: … The question
will soon be ‘who WAS that’!
Cut to wide overhead shot of a large Thundercat symbol
on the hull of the crashed spaceship, with multiple Mutants standing around it
carrying weapons. Lion-O descends from the top of the screen and lands in the
middle of the symbol. Cut to closer overhead shot, as a Jackalman and a Monkian
run at Lion-O, he grabs them by the arms and spins them around. Cut to closer
shot again as he throws the Mutants away, then repels a Reptilian who lunges at
him. Cut to Lion-O from behind, as six more Mutants (two of each type, advance
on him. Lion-O turns around to face the camera. Cut to reverse angle, as two
Jackalmen, one Monkian and one Reptilian are approaching from behind. Close on
a Monkian who steps forward, wielding a trident, as a Reptilian and a Jackalman
lurk behind him. Snarf suddenly drops down on the Monkian’s head, holding the Sword
in his tail! Close-up of Lion-O, reacting in surprise. Cut back to the previous
shot, the Monkian staggers around in confusion as Snarf wobbles on his
shoulders, and flings the Sword towards Lion-O. Cut to shot of the Sword whirling
through the air, then to medium shot of Lion-O catching it. It immediately causes
a blast of blue electricity to surround Lion-O, who gasps in shock with his
hair standing on end.
Cut to close-up of the Sword, with Lion-O’s head out
of focus in the background, looking at it. His head comes into focus and the
Sword blurs.
LION-O:
This sword, I… I know this sword! It’s.. oh it’s… can’t remember… it’s…
Cut to view from behind of Lion-O, holding the Sword
and looking at a large wall of rock. Jaga’s ghost materialises in front of him.
JAGA:
Lion-O.
Cut to close-up of Lion-O’s face.
LION-O:
J-Jaga? Is it really you? You’re still with me?
Cut to profile view of Jaga’s face.
JAGA: I will always be with
you, Lion-O. Pay heed, for it is your destiny that you hold in your hand! …
Cut to close-up of the Sword in Lion-O’s hand
JAGA:
… The Eye of ThunDERa! …
Cut back to the shot of Lion-O from behind, watching
Jaga, who swirls his cloak around himself and vanishes.
JAGA:
… The source of the Thundercats’ power!
Cut to medium shot of Lion-O, looking and sounding a
lot more focused, as he lifts the Sword up to his eyes.
LION-O:
Yes. I remember. Sight beyond sight.
Extreme close-up of Lion-O’s eyes and the Sword in
front of them. The eyes and the Eye glow. Cut to views of the capsules,
surrounded by the sight-beyond-sight effect of faint blue borders, showing
first Tygra, then Wilykit, Panthro, Wilykat and Cheetara, all unconscious. Cut back
to the close-up.
LION-O:
In those capsules! They’re… they’re… Thundercats!
Cut back one at a time to the shots of the Thundercats
in their capsules, without the blue border this time. Cut to Lion-O performing
the summoning sequence, waving the Sword as it grows in stages.
LION-O:
Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! Thundercats HO!
Close-up of the Sword as the Thundercat symbol flies
from the Eye in a beam of red light. Cut to wide shot of Lion-O seen from
behind, with the hugs Thundercat symbol in the air above a group of shocked
Mutants in the background.
Cut to close-up of Panthro, opening his glowing eyes.
Then Cheetara, then Tygra in profile. Then Wilykit,
whose capsule door opens, then Wilykat, whose door does the same. Cut to
wide shot of two Reptilians and a Jackalman, seen from waist up, as the doors
of three capsules fly into the air in the background. Another flies up in the
foreground.
Overhead shot of Panthro, who
rolls back and jumps out of his capsule to confront two Monkians standing by
it. Cut to Tygra, leaping out of his capsule to face two Reptilians. Cheetara
jumps out of hers in a wider shot; her capsule is surrounded by two Jackalmen
and two Reptilians. Wilykit and Wilykat climb out of their capsules, left and
right of the screen, and face two more Monkians.
After several previous one-at-a-time shots of the Thundercats, it does
feel a bit jarring not to show Wilykit and Wilykat in this final one.
Cut to close-up of Monkian.
MONKIAN:
The, the Thundercats! They’re, they’re loose!
Cut to overhead shots of four Reptilians; Cheetara
runs around them at top speed, knocking their weapons away. Cut to Tygra,
landing on all fours on a piece of the hull in front of a Reptilian. Tygra
jumps up, turning invisible, as another Reptilian runs into shot. Cut to
close-up of Tygra’s whip curling around a Reptilian’s feet. Cut to shot of Tygra,
pulling on the whip to tighten it. Cut to close-up side view of the Reptilian
falling on his back. Cut to Panthro, landing on the curved metal bridge. He hangs
his nunchuks around his neck and kneels down.
PANTHRO:
I’m gonna loosen your bones for you too!
The UK video release removes the shot of Panthro and his unacceptable nunchuks. His dialogue is
moved to play over the following shot.
Cut to side view of Panthro, lifting up the bridge in
front of him as three Mutants (one of each) run up it towards him. They all
fall back and off the bridge. Cut to Wilykat and Wilykit, running around three Reptilians
and throwing colourful smoke surround them. They laugh at the Reptilians’
confusion. Cut to wide shot of Lion-O, running towards the camera and avoiding
the swipes of two Reptilians and a Jackalman. Cut to Cheetara and Tygra, moving
together to face two Jackalmen back-to-back.
Cut to close-up of the two of them.
CHEETARA:
Tygra! Look who’s joined us!
Cut to reverse angle; Tygra turns his head to see
Lion-O running towards them from the background and then off-screen to the left
TYGRA:
Well well. Grown some, hasn’t he?
Cut to Wilykat, standing in front of the wreckage.
WILYKAT:
Hmm. So what’s the big deal about height?
He blows a capsule in his hand, sending red smoke into
the face of a Monkian who runs at him.
MONKIAN:
My eyes!
Cut to Wilykit, running through
a group of Reptilians, Monkians and Jackalmen.
WILYKIT:
Yeah! Heh-heh! And if you’re wily enough, being big just gets in the way!
She ducks as the Mutants swing
weapons at her, and leapfrogs over a Jackalman. Cut to close-up of red marbles
scattered on the ground, causing electric sparks to crackle around two
Jackalmen’s feet. Cut to wide shot of Wilykit, seen from behind and watching three
Jackalmen hopping around in shock.
Cut to wide shot of S-S-Slithe, with Jackalman and
Monkian behind him.
S-S-SLITHE:
Back! Teleport yourselves back to the ships!
They all press the bracelets on their wrists and
dematerialise. Cut to shot of the Mutant ship, from beneath; streaks of light
shoot into the underside. The engines light up and it rockets away.
It’s very strange to remove Wilykit from this sequence; hard to see
what the point of excising her is.
Fade in to wide overhead shot of the Thundercats
standing around on the rocky plain. Panthro walks in as he delivers his line,
and Lion-O and Snarf walk into shot to complete the assembly.
PANTHRO:
The Mutants will never rest until the Eye of ThunDERa is in their clutches.
Cut to close-up of Lion-O, still walking forwards, and
clenching his fist dramatically.
LION-O:
That will never happen. I’ll see to it!
Cut to Wilykat and Wilykit, looking unimpressed.
WILYKAT:
Huh! Get him!
WILYKIT:
Haha! One tiny skirmish and suddenly he’s a superhero!
She can talk! This is the only line of Wilykit’s dialogue that remains
in the edited version!
Wide shot of all the Thundercats except Snarf,
standing in a circle, Wilykit and Wilykat with their backs to the camera as
Panthro gestures diplomatically for them to calm down.
PANTHRO:
Now, now. He did pretty good for his first time out!
Cut to shot of Lion-O in profile, with Cheetara and
Tygra in the background.
TYGRA:
He did indeed! And a fine figure of a Thundercat you’ve grown up to be, Lion-O!
Cut to close-up of Lion-O, looking flattered. Then
close-up of Cheetara.
CHEETARA:
And so handsome, too!
Cut to Snarf, skulking around the rocks.
SNARF:
Snarf didn’t do anything, of course! Just found the Sword, that’s all! (snarf,
snarf)
Cut to medium shot of Panthro and Lion-O.
PANTHRO:
Now we’ll have to go about seeing if we can survive in this place!
Close on Lion-O, brandishing the Sword.
LION-O:
We will survive, and create a mighty new empire! …
Close-up of Panthro, looking surprised. Then back to
Lion-O, holding the Sword across his chest.
LION-O:
… I, Lion-O, Lord of the Thundercats, proclaim it!
He lifts the Sword over his head and the Thundercat symbol
beam projects out. Cut to wide shot of the Thundercats from behind, looking up
at the symbol. Then back to the shot of Lion-O, looking a little less confident
as he lowers the Sword again. Close on Panthro, scratching his head, then a
wide shot of Cheetara, Tygra, Wilykat and Wilykit, all not looking too
impressed. Cut back to Lion-O, looking a little sheepish.
LION-O:
Uh… with your help, of course.
Close on Panthro, smiling, then back to the other four,
who all laugh. Then cut back to Snarf, still sitting among the rocks.
SNARF:
Maybe it’ll turn out all right, and maybe it won’t.
