POWER RANGERS GOING DIGITAL
EPISODE 1
"A WHOLE NEW WORLD"
TEASER
EXT. – DIGITAL WORLD – FOREST. NIGHT.
We open up with two people – a man and a woman – running through the forest. The woman is carrying an infant, a baby girl.
Behind them are the foot soldiers of the show, called MALWARES. They resemble the Quantrons from POWER RANGERS IN SPACE, but are black in color with sickly green lines of digital circuitry running along their bodies.
The man is OVERTAKEN by the Malwares. The woman keeps running with the baby as more Malwares give chase.
THEME SONG
POWER RANGERS
HEROES RISE AGAIN
OBLITERATING EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT YOUR FRIEND
NOTHING CAN STOP YOU NOW
NO GHOST TO BRING YOU DOWN
WHEN THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, YOU WIN
GO GO POWER RANGERS
SUFFER LONG AND IT WILL SET YOU FREE
ONLY THROUGH TRIAL DO WE
FIND THE STRENGTH WE NEED
IT'S NEVER OVER, JUST ANOTHER DAY
ALL HOPE AND TRAGEDIES
AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUR WAY
DETERMINATION OF THE STRONG
FOUND THE MEANING THAT YOU SEARCHED FOR SO LONG
POWER RANGERS
HEROES RISE AGAIN
OBLITERATING EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT YOUR FRIEND
NOTHING CAN STOP YOU NOW
NO HOPE WILL BRING YOU DOWN
WHEN THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, YOU WIN
ACT ONE
INT. – GLENDALE HIGH – HALLWAY. DAY.
It's your typical high school hallway, in the town of Glendale, one hour outside of Dallas, Texas. Students are making their way to and from class. Some students are stopping at their lockers to exchange books or talk.
One of those students is 15 year old ROBIN RENNER – he'll go on to be our RED RANGER.
ROBIN
So long math, hello science.
He closes his locker and is instantly met by MITCHELL MILLS – he'll become our BLUE RANGER.
MITCHELL
Dude, if I have to cut open another frog –
ROBIN
I though that's what you wanted to do, Mitchell.
MITCHELL
It wouldn't have been so bad if mine wasn't pregnant.
Robin's having trouble stifling a laugh.
MITCHELL
It's not funny, Robin!
ROBIN
It's a little funny.
The bell rings, signaling the start of the next class.
INT. – NORFOLK SOFTWARE – AV LAB. DAY.
This lab is a department in Norfolk Software, a technology and software company. Here we see William Norfolk, the son of the company's owner, working on what looks like a man-sized pod with a Plexiglas lid. These are the company's new Virtual Reality devices.
WILLIAM
A little big, but it'll do for now. They're just prototypes, after all.
The phone rings. He presses a button on the phone console, putting it on speaker.
WILLIAM
VR. William Norfolk speaking.
DENNIS
(THROUGH THE PHONE)
Hello, William.
WILLIAM
Oh. Hey, Dad. Calling to check on the prototypes?
DENNIS
(THROUGH THE PHONE)
And how are they coming along?
WILLIAM
They're coming along well, but I still need to test them. Think anyone from the facility will be willing?
DENNIS
(THROUGH THE PHONE)
Doubt it. Let me put the word out. We'll have someone lined up by the afternoon.
INT. – GLENDALE HIGH – PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE. DAY.
Robin and Mitchell are here, along with two other students – Jodi Swanson (she'll become our YELLOW RANGER) and Curtis Caufman (he'll become our BLACK RANGER). The four of them are sitting across from Principal Chapman.
JODI
Okay, so since no one else is going to ask, I will – why are we here?
CURTIS
We're not in trouble, are we, Mr. Chapman?
CHAPMAN
No, Mr. Caufman. None of you are in trouble.
The four of them relax a bit.
ROBIN
So, what, EXACTLY, is this about?
CHAPMAN
I got a call a little bit ago from Dennis Norfolk over at Norfolk Software. He asked for four students to test out some new device he's making.
MITCHELL
And you chose us?
CHAPMAN
Well, considering that the four of you have near perfect attendance this year, I figured you could stand to miss half a day. I've already notified your parents, and they've given their consent. They're on their way now to pick you up and take you to the facility.
CURTIS
Will they be serving lunch? Because I'm starving.
INT. – AV LAB. DAY.
WILLIAM
You kids ready?
The four teenagers are just staring at the pods.
JODI
I've got to say, I'm not impressed.
William rolls his eyes and pushes a button, opening the pods.
ROBIN
Might as well.
CURTIS
Okay, but first, I've got a question.
MITCHELL
We already had lunch, Curtis.
CURTIS
I was gonna ask what these things do, exactly.
WILLIAM
You could say that they upload your consciousness to the Internet for a few moments. We haven't had a full consumer test yet.
The four teens climb into the pods. William closes the pods and activates them. A computer monitor has a readout of the teens' consciousness being uploaded. 70%. 80%. 90%.
100%.
END ACT ONE.
ACT TWO
EXT. – DIGITAL WORLD – FOREST. DAY.
The four teens are looking around, taking in the sights.
JODI
If this is the Internet, I don't see it.
CURTIS
I'm with Jodi on this one. It looks nothing like Facebook.
They all react to something moving in the brush.
MITCHELL
The heck was that? A squirrel?
JODI
In a computer? You can't be serious.
The thing reveals itself; it's a MALWARE.
MITCHELL
What the heck is that thing?
JODI
How should I know?
ROBIN
Maybe it's friendly.
He slowly moves towards the Malware, his hand outstretched.
CURTIS
That thing does not look friendly, dude.
The Malware proves Curtis right as it produces a sharp blade. It swipes at Robin, who falls back.
ROBIN
Whoa! Not friendly! Definitely not friendly!
More Malwares appear. They have the four teens surrounded. The teens huddle together.
MITCHELL
Wonderful. What are we going to do now?
ROBIN
Working on it!
The Malwares close in on them.
A SPEAR lands blade-first in the ground between the teens and the Malwares.
CURTIS
What?
A second later, a CLOAKED FIGURE lands next to the spear. We can't see the figure's face thanks to the hood.
The figure takes the spear out of the ground and immediately begins ATTACKING the Malwares. The nearest Malware gets STABBED IN THE GUT; another one gets DROP KICKED IN THE HEAD.
The Malwares ignore the four teens and go after the cloaked figure. The figure ATTACKS with the spear. Some Malwares are PUNCHED, some are KICKED, at least one GETS ITS ARM BROKEN.
The teens can only watch.
JODI
Look at him go.
CURTIS
Guy sure knows how to kick butt.
The figure THROWS the spear, IMPALING three Malwares. The figure retrieves the spear and runs, signaling the teens to follow.
INT. – SAFE HOUSE. DAY.
The four teens are sitting down, trying to catch their breath. Robin's eyes are focused on the cloaked figure, who's watching the door.
ROBIN
You really saved us. Thanks.
The figure turns to them and lowers the hood –
Revealing the face of a beautiful young girl. This is DIANA; she will be our PINK RANGER.
DIANA
If you are thanking me, then you are most welcome.
The four teens are all taken aback.
MITCHELL
You're a girl?
DIANA
Well, yes. Did you think otherwise?
CURTIS
I thought you were a guy, but wow, you're a cutie.
JODI
Ignore them. They're idiots.
MITCHELL/CURTIS
HEY!
ROBIN
Save it, you guys.
(TO DIANA)
But you're right. I am thanking you.
He holds out his hand. Diana just looks at it, not sure what to do.
ROBIN
You, uh, you shake it.
DIANA
Might I ask why?
ROBIN
(THINKING ABOUT IT)
That's a good question. I'm not really sure, but people do it when they meet each other.
Diana slowly reaches out and shakes his hand.
ROBIN
I'm Robin.
DIANA
Robin.
ROBIN
Yeah. And you are?
DIANA
Diana. I think it is safe to assume the rest of you have names as well?
JODI
Jodi.
MITCHELL
Mitchell. You can call me "Mitch" for short, if you want.
CURTIS
I'm Curtis. Thanks for saving our bacon back there. You've got moves, Di. And good looks, too.
DIANA
I learned my techniques from my father. He will be surprised to meet you. You are the first humans we have seen in this world.
JODI
Wait, "this world"?
ROBIN
What do you mean?
DIANA
I will let my father explain. I will take you to him, but you must be wary of the Malwares.
CURTIS
The what?
DIANA
Those creatures. They were programmed to kill humans. My father can explain better. Come.
EXT. – LAKE. DAY.
Diana has led them to a large lake. And from the sound of things, Curtis is complaining.
CURTIS
"Try these new VR devices", he said. "It'll only last a few moments", he said.
JODI
Keep whining, Curtis, and I'll be forced to drop you. Now shut UP!
DIANA
(TO ROBIN)
Is this common?
ROBIN
To be honest, I'm not sure. I don't really know Jodi and Curtis that well.
DIANA
I see.
She opens a panel on a nearby tree and flips a switch.
MITCHELL
So, what? Gonna part the waters?
DIANA
Not exactly.
A large glass cylinder emerges from the water. A walkway extends from the shore to the cylinder as a door opens in the glass.
MITCHELL
Elevator. Go figure.
The five of them cross the walkway into the elevator and begin their descent. The water is crystal clear and full of beautiful fish.
The elevator drops them off in a dome. There is green grass here and one dwelling, like a small house.
INT. – HOUSE. DAY.
Diana holds up a hand as they pass through the door, telling the others to stop. She alone goes up to the elderly man sitting on the floor, facing away from them. This is JUNAI, the team's mentor.
DIANA
Father, we have guests. Humans from the outside.
Junai slowly stands and turns to face the other four.
JUNAI
From the outside, you say?
CURTIS
What does he mean by that?
JODI
Be quiet and he might tell us. Geez.
JUNAI
Long have I awaited the day we would meet those of the outer world. I am Junai. I have been expecting you.
ROBIN
You have?
JUNAI
Of course. When Curtis Caufman made that post on Facebook, I began to anticipate your arrival.
CURTIS
Hey! Don't go hacking my account, Gramps!
JUNAI
(IGNORING HIM)
The four of you did not come here by pure happenstance. This is your destiny.
JODI
What are you going on about?
Junai walks over to a wall and places a hand on it. The wall ripples like a pond as an image of the Digital World appears.
JUNAI
You are in a world separate from what you know. This digital world has existed since before Bill Gates brought all computer networks together to form what you call the Internet. Diana and I are the only humans in this world.
ROBIN
And everything else is those creatures Diana rescued us from? What did you call them again, Diana?
DIANA
The Malwares.
ROBIN
Yeah, those things.
JUNAI
The Malwares are indeed dangerous, yes. But they are paltry compared to their master.
MITCHELL
Their…master?
The image on the wall changes to that of a very menacing looking being. He's massive, bald, with sickly green eyes, and the red markings under his eyes make him look like he's crying bloody tears.
The four teens can't help but back away from the image.
JUNAI
This is Sigma, a powerful and dangerous virus. He has not been seen for some time, leaving his second in command, Rootkit, to command the Malwares and other viruses. I believe he may have gone into suspended animation to become more powerful. But when he is awake, he is a force to be reckoned with. He has caused much damage to the Digital World. Imagine how your world would fare should he find a way to escape.
He steps away from the wall. The image fades away.
JODI
Okay, so what does that have to do with us? And what's all this talk about our destiny?
Junai reaches into a compartment and pulls out a small box. He turns to the four teens and opens the box, revealing five devices that look like ordinary wrist watches.
JUNAI
For simplicity's sake, we shall refer to these as "Digivices". I have spent a number of years creating them for five warriors to use in battle against Sigma and his viruses. If I am to be honest, I got inspiration from a group who had not been seen for two decades. I believe they were referred to as the Power Rangers.
Everyone's silent for a moment –
Until Curtis breaks the silence by LAUGHING.
CURTIS
(LAUGHING)
Power Rangers? Oh man! You've got to be kidding me! That's – that's a bedtime story! The Power Rangers don't exist!
JUNAI
They did at one point in time, Curtis. And they can again, if the five of you take these devices.
DIANA
Five? Father, there are only four of them. Who is the fifth?
JUNAI
You did not think you would be battling the viruses with a simple spear, did you?
Diana says nothing; instead, she takes one of the Digivices and puts it on her wrist.
Everone else follows suit, even Curtis.
MITCHELL
They're just watches.
JUNAI
That is to help them blend in. The Power Rangers were known for hiding in plain sight, their true identities unknown to their peers.
CURTIS
Yeah? Well, the only thing unknown to me is the way out of this simulation. Later.
He turns and leaves.
JUNAI
He does not know the way back to the outside world, does he?
JODI
Nope.
DIANA
And with the Malwares out there –
ROBIN
Curtis is going to get himself killed!
END ACT TWO
ACT THREE
EXT. – GRASSLAND. DAY.
Curtis is all alone, walking through the open field.
CURTIS
Power Rangers.
(SCOFFS)
Just how stupid does that old koot think I am? Okay, Mr. Norfolk, I'm ready to end this now.
Nothing happens. Curtis starts getting annoyed.
CURTIS
Pull the plug, darn it! Wake me up!
He's JUMPED by a Malware. They roll on the ground, struggling against each other. Curtis gets in ONE good hit and manages to KICK the Malware off of him.
He scrambled to his feet and starts running. The Malware is RIGHT BEHIND HIM.
More Malwares appear.
CURTIS
Come on, give me a –
He falls into a trench before he can finish his sentence. He looks up to the top of the trench; the Malwares are just looking down at him.
ROBIN
Curtis!
Junai, Diana, and the other three teens are standing on the other side of the trench. Diana's once again armed with her spear.
ROBIN
Get out of that trench. And then we're out of here.
ROOTKIT
I would not count on that, little boy.
Rootkit, Sigma's Number Two, has joined the Malwares. She's beautiful, but we can tell that she's also deadly, if the multitude of blades, both long and short, strapped to her belt are any indication.
ROOTKIT
Because you yourself are about to have difficulties of your own.
Junai steps forward.
JUNAI
There is no need for this, Rootkit. They are children from the outside. I implore you – allow them to leave in peace.
ROOTKIT
You know I can't do that, Junai. The Digital World is a no-human land. Even you and your brat aren't welcome here.
As she talks, Cutis climbs out of the trench and sneaks around to get behind Rootkit; no one notices.
JUNAI
I had hoped that, without Sigma, we could find a path to peace.
ROOTKIT
Peace is but a pipedream, Junai. It's simply a time to recuperate, prepare for the next battle. A time to wait for the next, opportune moment…TO STRIKE!
CURTIS
You mean LIKE THIS?
He attacks her, leaping onto her from behind. Rootkit struggles for a few seconds to throw him off.
She succeeds, HURLING him to the other side of the trench.
ROBIN
Curtis!
MITCHELL
You okay, pal?
CURTIS
Yeah, I'm fine. She's got a good arm.
ROOTKIT
I might have anticipated such a feeble attempt at a sneak attack, boy. Malwares, destroy them!
The Malwares CHARGE.
JODI
Way to go, idiot. What do we do now?
Diana steps forward, dropping her spear.
DIANA
Do as I do.
She raises her left arm, and with the index and middle fingers of her right hand, presses the "watch face" of her Digivice. It begins to glow with a pink light.
DIANA
DIGITIZE!
She THRUSTS her left arm into the air. The light SPREADS from her wrist to the rest of her body, replacing her regular outfit with a pink jumpsuit decorated with digital lines, and her head is covered with a pink helmet, complete with a black visor and silver mouth piece.
She STRIKES A BATTLE POSE.
DIANA
DIGI RANGER PINK!
The four teens are taken aback by the transformation.
ROBIN
Whoa!
JODI
Holy –
MITCHELL
That's cool!
CURTIS
Okay, let's say I believe you now.
DIANA
What are you all waiting for? MORPH!
ROBIN
Oh, uh, right.
ROBIN/JODI/MITCHELL/CURTIS
DIGITIZE!
MORPHING SEQUENCE.
ROBIN
DIGI RANGER RED!
JODI
DIGI RANGER YELLOW!
MITCHELL
DIGI RANGER BLUE!
CURTIS
DIGI RANGER BLACK!
And the fight begins.
The five Power Rangers are dealing with several Malwares at a time each. Rather than deal with one Malware at a time, they use various tactics for dealing with these groups.
Robin grabs one Malware and uses it to take a punch from another Malware, using it as a meat shield, before throwing that one against three more. He moves out of the way as more Malwares charge, making them hit some comrades. This gives him a chance to deal with one lone Malware, punching it until it falls.
Jodi grabs one Malware's weapon and uses it to stab its former owner. She ducks down and swings the weapon, mowing down a few more, before throwing the weapon, which hits another Malware in the head.
Mitchell is dodging the attacks of some Malwares, making them hit their comrades.
Curtis grabs two Malwares and smacks their heads together. He then uses them as shields, before pushing them away and delivering a hard kick to another Malware.
Diana has recovered her spear and is putting it to good use. She's impaled two and uses the blunt end to bludgeon some more Malwares.
Junai is facing off against Rootkit. He can't get a hit on her, though; she's much too fast for him.
ROOTKIT
Give it up, old fool! You can't beat me! I'm younger than you, faster than you, stronger than you!
Here comes Robin, delivering a hard FLYING KICK to her head. He takes a battle pose as Rootkit climbs to her feet.
The other Power Rangers all join Robin, ready to fight.
JUNAI
What you said may indeed be true, Rootkit. But I wonder – how will you fare against the Power Rangers all by yourself?
Rootkit glares at him.
ROOTKIT
You get to keep your pathetic lives. For now.
She converts to a mass fo binary code and disappears.
INT. – JUNAI'S HOUSE. LATER.
No one is saying anything; they're just trying to calm down from the fight.
Jodi breaks the silence.
JODI
That was so cool!
ROBIN
Seriously?
CURTIS
No, Jodi. Not, it was not "so cool".
JODI
But you guys, we kicked butt! We became the Power Rangers!
CURTIS
Are you living in your own little world, Jodi? I put you all in danger. I could have gotten us all killed! This isn't some dumb video game!
JODI
Curtis, are you alive right now?
MITCHELL
Okay, look! Curtis is alive, we have these admittedly cool new powers. But, what are we supposed to do with them?
JUNAI
The answer to that question is simple, Mitchell. You use your powers to protect those who are important to you.
ROBIN
You mean….
He looks at his Digivice.
ROBIN
If I use these powers, I can keep Amanda safe?
JUNAI
If she is the most important person in your life, then use your powers to protect her.
MITCHELL
Well, I guess I can fight for Mom and Dad.
CURTIS
My dad would be devastated if something bad happened to me, but after Mom died….
(SIGH)
Okay, fine.
JODI
Hey, as long as I can keep kicking keister, I'm game.
DIANA
I, too, shall fight alongside you. It is what I am meant to do, after all.
JUNAI
It is settled, then. Go forth, and save the world, Power Rangers!
END.