EXT. S.S. ANNE - DECK - DAY
TIGHT on HILBERT - taking in a deep breath. This is a teenager who's 16 now, wearing his usual blue hoodie, black pants, with a red and black cap and matching shoes combo.
A quadrupedal Pokémon resembling a sea lion that is primarily dark blue in coloration with cream colored, sharpened shells acting as armor and swords decorating its body stands proudly beside his trainer, ready for more adventures. He's Hilbert's starter, SHELDON the SAMUROTT.
FREEZE-FRAME on HILBERT:
HILBERT (V.O.)
Um. Hey. I'm usually fantastic with introductions but- it's been a while. I'm Hilbert. I saved the Unova region two years ago. Yeah. It's sort of a big deal... Unova's inhabited by creatures known as Pokémon... Pokémon are very strange creatures. Some have fiery or icy breath, some drop bolts of lightning, some control plants, and a few even shit out rainbows. Interesting, right? Some people treat them like your average fire-breathing pets, some treat them like BFF's, but most just like to battle. Now, lots of kids risk their necks and go out to tame Pokémon, like me. Why? Because it's fun. Sure, you might get electrocuted, or set on fire, or frozen in a block of ice, or chased by insane villains - daily routines for me - but it's all worth it.
THE INSTRUMENTAL to the infamous "Pokémon THEME SONG" plays as an unfamiliar voice SINGS the lyrics:
HARETA (O.S.)
I wanna' be the very best.
(DRAMATIC PAUSE)
DOO DOO DOOOO. Like no one ever waaaasss-
Hilbert whips around annoyed, to see the singing kid is -
- HARETA, who's probably 13. This kid's eyes are alight with excitement. He wears a white t-shirt with a black vest over it. A red scarf is wrapped around his neck loosely, letting it blow in the wind behind him. Hareta wears baggy blue cargo jeans with red and black running shoes. A red beret sloppily clings on to his messy tangle of hair. A little blue and white flying squirrel, called PACHIRISU, bobs around dancing along in one of his blue cargo pockets on the side of his jeans, while a pink cat with squinty eyes and a slender tail with a bulky pink section, terminated by three pin-like shapes, dances and meow's along on his shoulder. This is a SKITTY.
Hareta continues his singing while Hilbert looks on annoyed.
HARETA (CONT'D)
-DO DO DO DOOO. To catch them is my real test. To train them is my caaaaause.
HILBERT
Hey, you're interrupting my inner monologue here!
HARETA
I will travel across the land. Searchiiing far and wiiide. Each Pokémon to understand the power that's insiiiide.
People pass by, glaring as Hareta breaks out into song.
HARETA (CONT'D)
Pokémon! Gotta' catch 'em all. It's youu and meeeee.
(does some air guitar)
I KNOW IT'S MY DESTINYYY!
(voice gets low)
Pokémon.
(back to loud)
Ohhhhhh you're my best friend in a WORLD WE MUST DEFEEEEEND.
(back to low)
Pokémon, gotta catch 'em aaall...
(back to loud)
A HEART SO TRUUUUE. OUR COURAGE WILL PULL US THROUGH.
YOU TEACH ME AND I'LL TEACH YOU. POOOOOOKEMOOON! GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL, GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALLLL.
Po-ke-mon!
Hilbert does a slow clap that turns sarcastically vigorous.
HARETA (CONT'D)
(giddy)
I'm flattered, I mean it's really awesome of you stranger, but dude, you should save the applause for when the song's actually over-!
Hareta takes in a breath to start singing again, but a dark blue frog with a very serious expression on his face pops out of the other side cargo pants pocket. He looks like he's just been woken. This frog's palm glows with a glowing purple secretion. With a powerful swing of its palm, the frog JABS Hareta in the hip. He collapses in a heap on the ground. This grouchy frog is a CROAGUNK. Satisfied, Croagunk leaps back inside Hareta's pocket and presumably goes back to sleep.
HILBERT
Ew. What the heck was that, kid? That smell is...
PAUSE on Hilbert's pause for breath -
HILBERT (V.O.)
I was trying to think of another word for bad, after all this time of traveling and training, I had to learn some new words right?!
UNPAUSE:
HILBERT
...bad.
PAUSE AGAIN.
HILBERT (V.O.)
(pathetic 'urban' accent)
NAHHHHH! Pokémon training ain't give me no time for gramma' school, sucka'!
(cue: KRICKETUNE CHRIPING)
...Alright, alright, I get it, that was weak. GO ON...
Hareta sits up, blushing as he sees what's being implicated.
HARETA
It wasn't me. Honest. It was my Croagunk's Poison Jab. Doesn't have the most pleasant smell. That's his way of saying hello!
HILBERT
Wash him down, Sheldon.
Sheldon sprays Hareta with a huge jet of water from its mouth. The sopping wet Hareta stands up, shakes his hair like a wet dog. The crowd laughs at him, but Hareta doesn't see the humor, he's actually appreciative. He beams at Hilbert with a thumbs' up. His jubilant reaction devastates the mean crowd, who were hoping to see the kid cry or something.
HARETA
Thanks strange boy-man!
HILBERT
The proper term is teenager...
(beat)
Anyway, the song's over kid, now can you just sit here and... and shuddup? Please? That song makes me sad. Builds up my dreams to only set me up for disappointment. I mean, there's almost 700 known Pokémon in the world for Arceus's sake! I'm gonna tell Roxie and her band that they pissed all over my dreams making that song. It's impossible to catch 'em all. Even for a Champion like myself...
HARETA
(shrugs)
But I love the song. It's so inspiring!
He hangs back his head and YAWNS obnoxiously. Puts his arms behind his head, doing a sort of walking lounge. Skitty snuggles up against one of his arms lovingly.
And then a THOUGHT BUBBLE appears over Hareta's head with an EXCLAMATION MARK inside the bubble, and the boy's eyes SNAP OPEN.
HARETA (CONT'D)
Hey, did you say you're the Champion!? Ooooh, we should battle! That would be so awesome!
HILBERT
Former champion. Gave up my title so I could keep traveling. Sitting in that chamber all day waiting for people to show up was boring as sin. Plus, there was no easy bathroom access so it started to stink in there...
FREEZE on Hareta's happy expression:
HILBERT (V.O.)
It was as if an exclamation point just poofed up over Hareta's head and he just screamed out that we gotta' battle. He has this endless enthusiasm about everything. Which annoys me to no end.
CUE - "BATTLE BINGO BATTLE" from Pokémon XD: GALE OF DARKNESS.
A BLAST of BLUE ELECTRICITY meets a blast of INTENSE WATER - The water of course, conducts the electricity and we follow the shocking currents through the water until the electricity reaches the mouth of - SHELDON THE SAMUROTT!
And behind SAMUROTT stands: His trainer, HILBERT.
Sheldon the SAMUROTT is zapped by the electricity, but shakes it off quickly. A crowd of people watch as a battle carries on between Hilbert and his opponent -
PACHIRISU in front of HARETA, looking worn out. Hareta looks down at his left leg -
HARETA
Cheer her on, Skitty!
From one of the side pockets on Hareta's jeans pops out SKITTY. Skitty does a little cheer, bobbing her head around giddily.
HARETA (CONT'D)
You too, Croagunk!
CROAGUNK pops out of the other pocket on Hareta's jeans, gives a yawn, and retreats back inside to sleep.
HARETA (CONT'D)
Oh come on, crabby pants...!
Croagunk's palm pops out of his pocket and glow purple - WAVING it about WARNINGLY (another POISON JAB attack) - and Hareta gives a nervous chuckle.
HARETA (CONT'D)
Great job, Croagunk!
The palm retreats back inside the pocket and a satisfied Croagunk presumably falls back to sleep.
CONTINUING:
HILBERT
Sheldon, show this punk your Ice Beam!
Sheldon's breath goes cold and a large beam of ice shoots from his large mouth. The SAMUROTT freezes the ground in front of Pachirisu, who avoids the attack with a lightning-quick hop into the air. The showy Pachirisu gives a wink and pose as she slaps her tail against a light pole, bouncing forward, right for Sheldon...
HARETA
Pachirisu, use Super Fang!
Pachirisu spins around, swooping through the air elegantly, ready to dive in for an attack with its glowing pair of teeth that seem to grow sharper and sharper-
Sheldon the Samurott instantly whips his attention to the tiny squirrel and his Ice Beam FREEZES Pachirisu in a block of ice. Hareta gives an exaggerated sigh and rushes over to Pachirisu, giving heavy breaths to try and thaw it out -
Hilbert sighs.
HILBERT
You give in yet? This battle is really starting to bore me.
Hareta leaps up, annoyed.
HARETA
Hey! That's not nice. I've got more Pokémon-
HILBERT
(shrugs)
It's true, you're such a noob.
Hareta's eyes widen - nothing's gonna break this kid's spirit. And that annoys the hell out of Hilbert.
HARETA
You know that was my first battle, right?
HILBERT
Well, I got my ass kicked on my first battle too, so - just keep it up kid.
Hareta shrugs. Grinning.
HARETA
Thanks, mister!
A JANITOR approaches, frowning. Two buckets and two mops. He tosses them near the kids.
JANITOR
Y'all made this mess, y'all cleanin' it up. Get to work.
Hilbert frowns frumpily while Hareta puts his arms in the air excitedly.
HARETA
Yay! Sounds fun!
LATER:
The "BATTLE BINGO BATTLE" song is over and the deck is empty except for Hilbert and Hareta, who are mopping up the mess left by their battle.
HARETA (CONT'D)
I think I've done more cleaning than you!
HILBERT
No way.
HARETA
Yes way.
HILBERT
Nope.
HARETA
Yes.
HILBERT
Okay, you wanna be that way, kid-?
Hilbert starts furiously moving the mop along the floor. Hareta joins him, laughing. Hilbert, growing more irate, starts to scrub more.
Then he tosses the mop aside.
HILBERT (CONT'D)
You're starting to piss me off. I need to get a bite to eat.
HARETA
I'm hungry too. Wanna race?!
HILBERT
No.
HARETA
You scared?
HILBERT
No.
HARETA
Then race. Don't be such a Torchic!
HILBERT (V.O.)
This kid really knew how to push my buttons -
CUE: "WALUIGI PINBALL" from MARIO KART DS, SUPER SMASH BROS. BRAWL REMIX as Hilbert TAKES off along the side of the deck, tossing his mop aside limply.
But he doesn't listen. Hareta follows. And this kid's FAST. FOLLOW Hareta as he races behind Hilbert.
The duo push through crowds and reach the SWIMMING POOL area. A woman is bent over in front of a lawn chair looking through the stuff in her bag. Hilbert leaps over the woman. She stands up, surprised -
And Hareta, who was in the middle of a jump, lands his foot right into the woman's face. She falls into the pool and Hareta lands on his feet. As he keeps running, he shouts back:
HARETA
SORRY, LADY!
CUT between them racing, and STOP the music as:
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
A GUARD enters the room, THE MASK OF ICE following stoically, adjusting his mask. He must have just put it on. A man sits in the shadows. Not even visible in the light at all - just his lap and the massive cat that lies in it. This is a creature known as PERSIAN.
GIOVANNI
I assume you've left the folks at the Indigo Plateau frozen in fear?
A deep scoff comes from the Mask's distorted voice.
MASK OF ICE
I find your word choice... amusing.
CLOSE SHOT - GIOVANNI'S LAP
He pets the Persian. It gives a soft purr.
GIOVANNI
Remember that my generosity was not extended on you...
ANGLE ON THE MASK OVER GIOVANNI
GIOVANNI (CONT'D)
...Just purely for amusement.
The distorted voice is emotionless, but we can sense some form of SARCASM, or BITTERNESS, in the way it's said:
MASK OF ICE
How could I forget?
GIOVANNI
Sit down.
The Mask obeys, joining Giovanni at the table. The door opens and three more faces slip in: KOGA (dressed in traditional Japanese garb with an aged face), SABRINA (long dark hair, a sexy figure, dreamy, beautiful eyes) and LIEUTENANT SURGE (dressed like a military man, tough face and gravely voice).
They all take seats at the table. They're very specific, as if knowing their place.
GIOVANNI (CONT'D)
Welcome. Everyone listen while we hear what Lieutenant Surge has devised for us.
CLOSE UP - SABRINA
SABRINA
I hope the good Lieutenant's effort as Director of Planning will continue to be as successful as his chess.
CLOSE UP - LT. SURGE
LT. SURGE
They will be.
(to Giovanni)
According to your instructions, I have taken over the Power Plant. We will continue our search for the legendary bird, Zapdos.
GIOVANNI
Sabrina?
CLOSE UP - SABRINA
SABRINA
Moltres is already in my possession, sir.
KOGA
(before he's even called on - knowingly)
And Articuno in mine.
GIOVANNI
Lieutenant, you are behind. I promote you, and you are behind...
CLOSE UP - LT. SURGE
His face reads calmness, but there's a subtle shakiness in his voice-
LT. SURGE
I assure you, sir. Zapdos will be captured by the end of the week.
GIOVANNI
For your sake, I hope so.
(beat)
In your attempt to take over the Power Plant, there were casualties. Was the mayor of Cerulean City one of those?
LT. SURGE
Yes.
GIOVANNI
The gym leader, Misty?
LT. SURGE
No. The people of Cerulean are unaware of what went down, as you know the Power Plant is very isolated from the rest of the town. So the mayor made his visit and we quickly dispatched him -
CLOSE SHOT - GIOVANNI'S PERSIAN
Giovanni handles the cat... It rubs its face against his hand lovingly.
INT. S.S. ANNE - HALLWAYS - SAME TIME
"WALUIGI PINBALL" continues as HILBERT and HARETA race through the interior of the ship. It's a constantly-changing lead.
They make a quick turn- Hilbert sticks his foot out. Hareta trips over it. Hareta suddenly TUMBLES right down a FLIGHT of STAIRS. Hilbert watches, taken by surprise, as Hareta rolls and rolls until finally stopping at a pair of large conference room doors with a sickening THUD.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - SAME TIME
BAM! "WALUIGI PINBALL" ends ABRUPTLY.
The guards and every member at the table - except GIOVANNI - stand erect. Everyone grips a Poké Ball, ready to attack whoever interrupted their meeting with that obnoxious banging against the door.
GIOVANNI
...Open the door.
The guards don't hesitate. They rip the door open and -
HARETA rolls in. He has cheery smile as he straightens his beret. KOGA steps forward and Hareta takes note of his traditional Japanese gowns. Not even meaning offense, thinking he's delivering a compliment:
HARETA
Nice dress, mister!
Offended, Koga prepares to throw a Poké Ball -
KOGA
(gasps)
How dare you! The fiend! He must be a spy...!
GIOVANNI
Koga, sit. He's just a child who happened to stumble in on us.
(to Lt. Surge)
Tie him up, we'll deal with him later...
Before Hareta can say another word, Lt. Surge stands and suddenly BACKHANDS the boy across the face-
INT. S.S. ANNE - OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
HILBERT stands outside the conference room doors, listening to all of this- he fidgets awkwardly, wondering what to do about this...
Long chapter I know, but it's a lot of introductions and set-up! Things are just getting started guys. Hopefully it's easy to catch the references to other Pokemon media, I'm combining a lot of different characters and storylines from different depictions of the Pokemon universe into one story, putting my own spin on things. I'm excited to see what people think of how it turns out!
And yes, Roxie and her band made the Pokemon theme song XD