Mr. Kaplan: Welcome to parents day!
(We begin today as usual at the Youth Center. It's unusually crowded today however. With several adults surrounding each teenager with what appears to be a school wide event. Mr. Kaplan stands guard at the entrance welcoming everybody that enters.)
Mr. Kaplan: Welcome to parents day!
Mr. Cranston: Thank you.
"Oww!"(Attracting a crowd by one of the center tables, Mr. Scott and Mr. Kwan engage in an arm wrestling contest that ends in a painful draw.)
Jason: Giving up, dad?
Trini: My dad always believes that physical and mental strength should go hand in hand.
Mr. Scott: Screw that. Mental strength is for wussies who can't get to the gym.
(Mr. Scott bullishly slams his elbow on the table for another round as his wife turns to Trini's mother.)
Mrs. Scott: I wonder where my son gets all his aggression from.
(The women share a chuckle at his expense, as do their kids. Jason's attention however shifts when Billy's father joins the crowd.)
Jason: Oh hey, Mr. Cranston! Where's Billy?
Mr. Cranston: Locked in his garage with some "new breakthrough" he refuses to tell me about. (Rolls eyes) You know how my son is when he's occupied with one of his projects.
(Both Jason and Trini nod in agreement. Since secretly helping the rangers escape the Island of Illusions and discovering his inner strength, Billy has shifted into overdrive, busting out new invention after new invention.)
"Ahaha. Say hello, dweebs."
Jason: …
Trini: …
(Skull passes by with his camcorder in hand filming anything and everything around him. He passes by Zack who is being tag teamed by his parents.)
Mrs. Taylor: Zackypoo, your underwear's showing…
Zack: (Sucks teeth) Mom… please don't call me-
Mr. Taylor: Pull up those pants, boy.
Zack: (Sighs) …
Mrs. Taylor: Are you buying the right sizes Zack?
Zack: Yes mom. This style is in.
Mr. Taylor: Are clowns "in," boy? Cause you look like a clown.
Mrs. Taylor: I bought you a few pairs the other day. Do I need to start laying out your clothes again?
Zack: Mom…!
Skull: …here we have the Zack man and his parents.
Mrs. Taylor: Oh, hello there…
Zack: (Steps in) Nope. Show's over.
(After Zack quickly nips that in the bud, Skull moves on. Back at the table, Trini turns to Jason with a wide, cheesy smile as they look over their parents having a good time.)
Jason: Yeah?
Trini: So…
Jason: So?
Trini: You're family seems to be doing okay?
(Finally understanding where she's getting at, Jason quietly nods.)
Jason: Yep. Tests came back negative.
Trini: (Gasps) Are you serious?!
Jason: We're not out of the woods yet. But my mom has responded to chemo. The cancer's in remission.
Trini: Jason, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you. That's one huge thing we don't have to worry about for now.
Jason: If only Rita could go into remission.
Trini: (Laughs) If only…
(Little do they know, Rita happens to be listening in from the moon…)
Rita: Ha. Me? Go into remission? I'm the wart that keeps reappearing. The gift that keeps on giving. They'll never get rid of me. Am I right?
(Rita turns to face her crew, yet none of them seem to be listening. They all seem to be crowding Goldar, entranced by a new baby Goldar is holding.)
Rita: Huh?
Squatt: Aww, look at him…
Scorpina: He's so cute, Goldar.
Goldar: Yes. We've gone to several doctors. There's nothing we can do to fix it.
Squatt: I had no idea your nephew was human.
Goldar: My sister married a human. It caused a huge rift in my family, but she's very open minded.
Squatt: She's into inter-species dating?
Goldar: No, her brain is exposed.
Squatt: Oh.
(Rita however, doesn't appear impressed as she eyes the child.)
Rita: Hmm. I don't see the appeal.
Squatt: You don't like babies, my queen?
Rita: Babie? I'm surrounded by babies every day of my life here.
Squatt: (Scratches head) …where?
Rita: All this love and compassion for another person. To drop everything to care for them. It's a liability if I've ever seen one. An emotional vulnerability that can be easily exploited by an enemy.
Baboo: What do you mean?
Rita: Take humans for example. They're willing to go through great lengths for their family. They're even willing to die for them. It's pathetic.
Scorpina: (Scratches chin) Hmm. Perhaps we could use that to our advantage with the power rangers.
Rita: Yes… I like it!
Scorpina: I say we kidnap their parents, then hold them ransom.
Goldar: Yes. And we can exchange their safety for their power coins.
Rita: I love it!
(Excited, Rita turns to Finster.)
Rita: Finster, make me a monster that can distract the rangers while we get to work.
Finster: (Nods) Yes my empress. I'm right on it.
Rita: This plan is foolproof. The rangers are too attached to their stupid families to wish them any harm. They're the perfect bait for a ransom. Ahahaha.
(Meanwhile back at the Youth Center. As Trini and Jason continue to discuss their families, Skull continues roaming about with his camera. He stops at the front near Mr. Kaplan, who's now surrounded by two punkish adults poking at him and messing with his toupee.)
Skull: …And here's my parents making nice with Kaplan.
Mr. Kaplan: Mr. Skullovitch, if I knew these are who all my letters were being sent to I wouldn't have wasted the precious ink and paper. (Checks watch) Now as I assume, Bulkmeier should be arriving here at any minute.
Skull: Sure Mr. Kaplan. When you feel the floor shaking, you'll know it's them.
Mr. Kaplan: …
(Just behind Kaplan, a middle aged couple dressed in upscale clothing couple walk in. They look around intrigued, as if amused by the simplicity of their surroundings. Trini recognized them and steps away from the crowd to greet them.)
"Hi Trini."
Trini: Hi Mrs. Hart!
Mrs. Hart: Please, call me Karen.
Trini: Okay… Karen!
Mrs. Hart: Is Kimberly here?
Trini: I haven't seen her. I thought she was with you.
(Behind Trini, a middle aged man, equally well dressed, but with a five o clock shadow wanders in behind her.)
Mrs. Hart: Oh. Her father must have just walked in.
Trini: Okay. (Turns around) He doesn't have a date?
Mrs. Hart: She's probably one of your classmates, dear.
Trini: O-oh…
(Just then, a student passes by, overhearing their conversation...)
"If you're looking for Kim, she's right outside making a call."
Mrs. Hart: Thank you, Lindsay.
Trini: (Uncomfortably) …I'll go get her.
(As Trini awkwardly walks off, Zack slinks away from his parents. He eyes Angela who's surrounded by her parents and cautiously approaches.)
Zack: Uh… hey Angela.
Angela: Zack?
Zack: Hey. How's it going?
(Angela uncomfortably darts her eyes between him and her mother, as she tries to shoo him away.)
Angela: Not now, Zack. I really don-
Angela's Mother: (Turns around) Angela, aren't you going to introduce us to your friend here?
Angela: Um. He's not really-
Zack: Uh… I'm Zack. (Extends hand) You must be Angela's sister.
(Angela rolls her eyes at the obvious suck up, but her mother eats it up.)
Angela's Mother: (Laughs) I like this young man, Angela.
Angela: You do?
Angela's Mother: Yes. So charming and well dressed.
Zack: Th-thank you!
"Boy! If I need to tell you to pull your pants up one more time, I'm gonna—"
(A sudden bellow from across the room forces Zack to sheepishly retreat.)
Zack: Uh… I gotta go. Nice meeting you.
(As Zack exits, Robbie enters behind them. He's alone, and not appearing register what's going on around him. He walks toward the counter...)
Robbie: Hey Ernie. Two shakes please.
Ernie: You got it.
(Meanwhile just outside, Trini exits the Youth Center and finds a distraught looking Kim leaning tragically against a phone booth.)
Trini: There you are, Kim. Is everything okay?
Kimberly: (Sighs) Yeah. I just needed someone to talk to, so I reached out to Tommy.
Trini: And?
Kimberly: He's really bummed about losing his powers. So we just talked about that.
Trini: I see. What about you?
Kimberly: Oh nothing… it's just… my parents haven't… I haven't really seen both of my parents together since the divorce you know?
Trini: Yeah…
Kimberly: I just feel like… I'm caught in the middle of this. You know? Like they hate each other and I'm just…
Trini: Collateral?
Kimberly: Huh?
Trini: Nothing. I get what you mean.
Kimberly: (Sighs) I don't know. Sometimes…. I feel like it's my fault things got so bad. Makes me feel like I won't ever get to enjoy normal moments like graduations or birthdays.
Trini: Kim that's not true. They tried to make things work for as long as they did for you. And as a matter of fact they're both upstairs right now waiting for you.
Kimberly: Really? They're both here?
Trini: They're both here. Wanna go say hi to them?
Kimberly: Yeah! Lead the way…
(Trini takes a now giddy Kim by the hand as they skip back inside. Meanwhile, back on the moon, an impatient Rita storms into Finster's workshop.)
Rita: Finster, where's my monster? I need it now.
Finster: I've just found the perfect mold, my empress. Meet the Dramole. He can burrow underground and blind his target with a thick smog before launching surprise attacks.
Rita: Yeah, yeah. I don't care what he does. He's merely a distraction. You could have made a fighting pile of excrement for all I care.
Finster: Ah, the Log Gnome. One of my earlier works. An interesting backstory if you've got a mome-
Rita: Nope.
(Rita storms out on Finster midsentence. Outside, a domesticated Goldar is seated in front of a highchair with an apron on, struggling to feed his nephew a bowl of mashed pees.)
Goldar: C'mon… eat!
(But the baby is defiant.)
Goldar: You fool. Don't you know? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Baboo: Just ask Uncle Squatt. He has two of them.
Squatt: I'll have his if he won't finish it.
(Completely enraptured in her latest scheme, Rita enters the room, disregarding everything that's going on as she commands attention.)
Rita: …Capturing everyone's family will be my largest scale attack yet. So I need all hands on deck on this one. With a monster attacking Angel Grove and a ransom for their parents' lives, the rangers won't know what to do!
(Being the only one of Rita's crew actually working, Scorpina returns from a stakeout.)
Scorpina: I've found the blue ranger running on his own, my empress. Perhaps we could corner him and use him secure the dragon dagger.
Rita: Brilliant idea. Without their power coins or the Dragonzord they'll have nothing to stop us. It's perfect!
(Back at on earth, the festivities continue at the Youth Center. Bulk's parents have arrived and with Skull's, are chatting away with an already worn out and toupee-less Kaplan. Behind them, Kim and Trini re-enter.)
Kimberly: Mom, dad. You're here!
(She excitedly rushes over and throws herself onto them for a hug.)
Mrs. Hart: Hi sweetheart.
Mr. Hart: You look so pretty, darling.
Kimberly: I was so worried.
Mrs. Hart: Why?
Kimberly: I don't know. I guess I thought…
Mrs. Hart: Kim, you're still our daughter. And we both love you very much.
Kimberly: …
Mr. Hart: No matter what happens between us, you're still our top priority.
Kimberly: I love you guys.
(As they continue their loving embrace, remains be the entrance smiling to herself. She takes a minute to look around the Youth Center and take everything in, like a proud mother hen looking over her baby chicks. Lately, Trini has made a conscious effort to shift away from her goal driven ways in order to just be there for her friends. This of course comes after finding that her insatiable drive has negatively impacted some of her key relationships.)
Robbie: Thanks Ernie.
Ernie: No problem.
(Speaking of which, Trini spots Robbie by the juice bar. She slowly heads over.)
Trini: Hey there.
Robbie: Oh hey.
Trini: Where's your family?
Robbie: Good question.
Trini: Is your mom coming?
Robbie: Nah. My mom tends to go crazy and disappear during her "time of the month."
Trini: (Raises eyebrow) That's a bit insensitive.
Robbie: I mean when then rent is due.
Trini: Oh... And your dad?
Robbie: Who?
Trini: Right. I almost forgot.
Robbie: I'm just here to grab some shakes and go. I'm actually pretty busy today.
(She notes the two shakes in his hands. Also that he's fairly well-dressed for himself.)
Trini: Going to see Jennie?
Robbie: Huh?
Trini: Uh…
Robbie: Oh...
(Putting the pieces together, he suddenly appears visibly uncomfortable.)
Robbie: No. (Shrugs) We only hung out once. Didn't sit right so I didn't call her back. I don't need to mess things up with us.
Trini: …us?
Robbie: You know, Zack likes her. I don't need to go there and make things complicated.
Trini: Right…
Robbie: I just told her I was seeing someone. That was that.
(She grins, assuming he made something up.)
Trini: So… the shakes are for…
Robbie: My niece.
Trini: (Gasps) Your niece? But she's…
Robbie: On her way here any minute.
Trini: That's wonderful! What happened?!
Robbie: My sister won big at a scratch off that she can only redeem in Angel Grove.
Trini: Good for her. What did she win?
Robbie: Another scratch off.
Trini: Oh… Well I'm really happy for you.
Robbie: Thanks. I guess I'm trying to make a good impression to change her mind about me being a bad influence. It doesn't make up for breaking into her diary or farting into her snoring mouth, but it's a start.
Trini: I doubt she'll hold anything against you from when you were kids.
Robbie: The last one was just a few weeks ago.
Trini: Ah. Well good luck anyway.
Robbie: Thanks.
(Trini smiles back at him warmly, genuinely happy that things are looking up for a friend. As he turns to leave, she looks back and eyes her family briefly before stopping him.)
Trini: My uh… parents are here.
Robbie: Yeah?
Trini: Would you… like to meet them?
Robbie: Uh… I don't know. I'm not good with parents. I always say something stupid. (Looks over) Pretty sure I've also thrown stuff at your mother for taking cans out of my trash.
Trini: My mom's a doctor, Robbie.
Robbie: See, I always say something stupid.
Trini: Don't be silly.
(She walks over and grabs him by the arm.)
Trini: You're my friend. They'll love you. Thanks for the shake by the way…
(Trini leans in and playfully takes a sip from his drink as she yanks him Robbie away. Meanwhile, just outside, a winded Billy makes his way toward the Youth Center.)
Billy: I can't wait to show the guys what I've done. This new discovery could change everything.
(He runs across the street from the end of the park and makes it to the Youth Center parking lot. Before he could go much further though, enemies appear from the skies.)
Billy: Putties!
(Immediately surrounded, Billy panics. After a brief hesitation he reacts and tries to kick at an enemy to the right to break free but he gets caught. He's shoved backwards into a flying forearm that he barely ducks. He catches another's flying chop and tries to respond with a punch to the gut. He lands it and gets his open lane to bolt right through. Winded and afraid that he's all alone Billy mad dashes to the finish line inside the Youth Center. Unfortunately…)
Scorpina: Blue ranger!
Billy: (Gasps) …!(Scorpina shows up right before him to block his path.)Billy: Scorpina!
(He gets pinned down immediately by putties his arms locked behind his back.)
Billy: (Struggling) …!
Scorpina: Relax, blue ranger. I don't want you to fight me. I want you to join me. Ahahahahahahaha.
Billy: Wha-?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
(Back inside the Youth Center as the mingling continues, Jason's communicator rings. It snaps him straight out of his blissful stupor, and back into work mode.)
Jason: …excuse me a sec, dad.
(He instinctively covers his hand over his watch, then motions to Zack, Trini and Kim to meet him in the hallway. Once the coast is clear he answers the call…)
Jason: We read you Zordon.
Zordon: Rangers, Billy is being attacked by putties outside the Youth Center. He is need of assistance.
Kimberly: (Sucks teeth) …of all days.
Jason: (Nods) We're on it.
(The teens rush down the hallway and within seconds they're outside in the parking lot. Billy is on the ground clutching his head, but fortunately the team spreads out to cover him and get to work.)
Kimberly: Hy-yaa!
(Kim catches two flying fists from each side and rolls them back, sending two enemies flying behind her into a stack of empty boxes. She front flips forward and graceful jab to knock another away. Jason catches a fist, throws one of his own then kicks his enemy away. He ducks a back kick, then leaps for a split that takes out that putty and one behind him.)
Jason: Let's can these party crashers.
(Trini catches a flying chop then in one swift motion ducks down to drive her forearm into its ribcage. She discards of her enemy and tosses him against some garbage bins.)
Trini: We need to teach them some manners!
(As she and the others continue, on the moon, Rita sees her chance to commence the next phase in her plan…)
Rita: Ahaha. Time for us to pay their parents a little visit!
(Straightaway in the Youth Center, the walls start shaking, violently tossing everyone and everything inside.)
Ms. Appleby: Oh my…
Mrs. Hart: What's going on?! Kimberly…?!
Ernie: Hang tight everyone. We've got an earthquake!
Mr. Scott: This ain't no earthquake…
(A deafening clap of thunder strikes from out of nowhere just outside. The lights briefly cut out. When they cut back in, horror strikes.)
"Parents of Angel Grove. It's time to conquer earth."
(Rita Repulsa appears, standing ominously at the center of the Youth Center. Panic ensues as everyone rushes for the sole exit. That is when Squatt and Baboo appear and block it off.)
Baboo: Uh-uh!
Squatt: You're not going anywhere!
(Parents stumble before the two in front, creating a domino effect of people falling behind them. Rita's wicked laughter is heard grows louder as she approaches slowly.)
Rita: Ahahahaha.
Bulk: I want my mommy…
Mr. Hart: What do you want from us?!
Rita: You? Ha. I want nothing from you, pathetic trope of a midlife crisis. I want what you could bring me. I want what's most important to you.
Mr. Hart: …Hannah? Can you come here a second…?
(Elsewhere, at a nearby bus station…)
"Your sole value to me is to serve as bait. But to those I truly want, you mean everything."
Laura: Uncle Robbie!
(Jumping off a stationed bus, Robbie's niece runs ahead of her mother to greet him with a big hug.)
Robbie: Laura! Come here!
(He awaits with arms wide open. Too excited to notice the sounds of her little legs pattering on the sidewalk growing fainter and fainter. She becomes transparent, then before long becomes just a soft wind brushing Robbie in the chest, alarming him instantly.)
Robbie: …wha!?
"You're loss will devastate them. Anger them. Tempt them into making the gravest mistake of their lives…"(Just outside, the rangers finish up with the putties. Zack landing the final blow as an exclamation point. As the putties vanish a split second later, the teens refocus and shift their attention to Billy, who is still on the ground holding his head.)
Trini: Billy, Billy are you alright?
(Still shaken from the spell he's been put under, Billy doesn't have to act much to seem disoriented.)
Billy: I-I think so…
Zack: You heard that thunder guys. That's usually not good.
Jason: C'mon, let's head inside and make sure our parents are alright.
(Trini helps Billy get back to his feet as the others rush inside the Youth Center. When inside, their hearts sink. A room previously filled with their closest friends and family members, now completely empty.)
Kimberly: Oh god no… Oh god no…
Jason: What's going on?
Trini: Huh? How could they just have disappeared?
(Dismayed as they look around, Zack surveys the discarded, half-eaten plates on ground.)
Zack: I can only think of a few opportunities and I don't like any of them.
Kimberly: Oh no. Skull's camera…
(Kim rushes over to the camcorder left on the floor. its lens is cracked, but still appears to be running.)
Kimberly: Whatever made them leave, it wasn't willingly.
Trini: I bet we'll know for sure by checking that what's in it.
(Struggling to maintain composure, Jason stays within himself trying not to totally lose it in front of his team. Thoughts of his family, who has already gone through so much recently flood his mind. The faintest possibility that something can happen to them after they've survived the worst life has to offer troubles him deeply. He takes deep breaths however and tries to remain positive.)
Jason: Okay… It's okay. We need to stay calm.
(Just then however, a hysterical Robbie rushes in.)
Robbie: My niece! My niece is gone!
Trini: Robbie!
(His neat clothes, now completely undone, he rushes toward the others. Only stopping hard as Trini holds her hands out in front to catch him.)
Robbie: She's just vanished. (Breathing hard) My sister too… What's happening?!
Trini: Robbie… our parents are all gone.
(He turns and looks around the Youth Center, having just realized that it's totally empty. He sighs, realizing what's going on.)
Robbie: I can't believe this.
Jason: (Reaches for communicator) Zordon, come in. We have a situation. I think we have a tape too.
(Moments later, the teens meet in the command center, their eyes glued to the viewing globe as they watch the film from Skull's camera documenting their families final moments. The expressions remain grim, as sounds of sudden crashing are followed by panicked screams.)
Trini: Rita…
Zack: Who else could it be?
Kimberly: (Sniffs) My god… my mom looked so scared.
(She turns away, sickened.)
Kimberly: I can't watch anymore.
Jason: This isn't good you guys. Rita doesn't get directly involved. She always sends her minions down to do the work for her.
Trini: Whatever she's planning, it's big.
Zordon: You are correct to assume that, Trini.
Jason: Zordon, do you know what's going on? Where are our parents?
Zordon: I do not know. But your family and friends are safe for now.
Robbie: How do you know that? How does that even make sense?
Kimberly: And what do you mean "for now?"
Zack: What is Rita gonna do to them?
Robbie: I swear if they lay one finger on Laura, I'll…
Zordon: You must stay composed, rangers. This is what Rita wants.
(A sudden silence befalls the command center, though the advice was hardly comforting.)
Zordon: I cannot locate their exact coordinates at this time, but they are unharmed based on interdimensional energy readings. There is no telling what state they can be in however. But they are in fact, alive.
Zack: That's reassuring.
Alpha: It is imperative that we find them and bring them back safely.
Jason: You got that right.
(Just then however, the alarms blare.)
Jason: (Sighs) …
Kimberly: What now?
Zordon: I'm afraid Rita has sent down the Dramole monster to serve as a distraction.
(The teens turn back to the viewing globe to find Rita's latest monster already giant sized, wandering around downtown Angel Grove menacingly.)
Zack: We don't have time for this. We need to focus on getting our parents back before Rita pulls anything.
(Billy steps forward, after having been silent the whole time.)
Billy: (Shrugs) I'm afraid we have no choice, fellas. The Dramole monster could cause significant harm to the rest of the Angel Grove population. This must take priority.
Zack: …
Zordon: Billy is right. I will alert you if there are any changes regarding your family.
(Reluctantly, the teens get into position.)
Jason: Alright… It's morphin time.
"Mastodon!" "Pterodactyl!" "Triceratops!" "Stegosaurus!" "Saber Toothed Tiger!" "Tyrannosaurs!"
(Now morphed, the rangers head to town and immediacy call upon their Zords. The mighty Tyrannosaurus rex appears through a crater opening, roaring fearlessly as it rises from the earth. From an icy tundra, the Mastodon rises with a loud blowing of its trunk. From the desert during a wild sandstorm, the Triceratops races right through it. From the top of a hill the ferocious Saber-toothed Tiger jumps down to a rainforest and rips through anything in sight. And erupting through a volcano, pterodactyl rips through the sky, flying right through a tree branch on its way to Angel Grove. Jason sees his Dinozord within sight and flies through the air to get in the cockpit. He is followed by his team…)
Jason: Log on.
(The five mighty Zords run together, preparing to become one. The Saber-toothed tiger's legs fold up to create a leg, the Triceratops tail tucks in to for the other. They combine with the Tyrannosaurus's legs, forming the first half of the Megazord. The Mastodon's back splits in two down the middle and its head separates. The former spreads out and attaches to the back of the Tyrannosaurus, making the arms and the head attaches to the torso. The rangers now all appear in a larger cockpit, ready to complete transformation.)
Jason: Activating Megazord Battle Mode.
"Right."
"Megazord sequence has been initiated."
(The two legs remain planted as the rest of the body lifts upward to a standing position. The final piece, the Pterodactyl, circles the Megazord and flies toward it, tucking in its wings and head. The Tyrannosaurus head folds into its chest, revealing the Megazord's head before the Pterodactyl combines with the mighty Zord, creating the chest piece. And with one final fighting stance, the Zord speaks…)
"Megazord activated."
(From the top of a building, Robbie follows suit…)
Robbie: I call upon the power of the Stegosaurus!
(In a faraway tropical forest, there is a sudden violent tremble. Suddenly and with a deafening roar the prehistoric beast bursts through and starts climbing out to march into battle. Robbie spots it from a distance as it roars into Angel Grove and flies into the Zord's cockpit.)
Robbie: StegaZord, combat mode. Now!
(The Zord stops dead in its tracks, leaving a trail of dust behind it as a crank like sound can be heard from within. The Zord begins to rise all the way to its hind legs. Its front paws sticks out before flip inside of itself, revealing clenched fists from the other side. Finally its long, plated tail stiffens and starts to rise up connecting plate side out against its back with the tip resting on top of its head.)
Robbie: StegaZord, combat ready!
Jason: Alright, attack!
(The Megazord wastes no time charging into action. They lock horns briefly with Dramole before throwing a quick right hand. He quickly recovers though and rams himself against the rangers, knocking some of them out of their seats.)
Kimberly: AHHH!
Zack: We're no match for that hard shell!
Jason: We gotta hang in there. We need to make quick work of him.
(Finding what works, Dramole throws himself repeatedly at the Megazord, with the rangers barely diving out of the way each time. On The last attempt, Dramole opens himself up in front of Robbie, whose Zord drills him with a right hand. He staggers back and shakes the cobwebs, then curls up into a ball with a strained expression.)
Robbie: What's he doing?
(Smoke pours out of the Dramole's side, filling up the streets below. It rises quickly and completely obstructs the rangers' vision.)
Kimberly: What's going on?!
Jason: We can't see!
Trini: What's he doing?!
(The Megazord stumbles aimlessly trying not to be a lame duck, but they struck, hard.)
Jason: AHHHHHHHH!
(Dramole appears through the fog with an earth shattering tackle. It send the rangers through the air, crashing over a nearby skyscraper that crumbles instantly beneath them.)
Robbie: You guys alright?! I still can't see you!
(But they aren't, alarms are blaring within the cockpit as shields have failed.
Rita: Ha, we're winning. Quick Goldar, you and Scorpina go down there now and force them to call on Dragonzord.
Scorpina: Right.
Goldar: One second my queen. (Sniffs) The baby soiled himself.
Squatt: Um… no he didn't…
(Within seconds, the rangers' situation goes from bad to worse as a fully grown Goldar and Scorpina enter the battle.)
Goldar: Not doing so well rangers?
Scorpina: Well don't worry. This won't last much longer.
Kimberly: Oh no!
Robbie: Man, talk about kicking someone when they're down.
Zack: Rita's really outdoing herself this time…
Jason: We gotta stick this out. At least long enough for Alpha and Zordon to locate our parents.
"Right."
Scorpina: Stick this.
(Scorpina dives right in and lands a hard slash to the Megazord with her Boomerang Blade. They stagger back and get a hard slash from Goldar's blade.)
Zack: We're outnumbered!
Kimberly: Little help, Robbie!
(The StegaZord charges in and tries to land a right to Scorpina, but gets caught. Instead she pushes him back with a kick to the chest and opens him up to another gore from Dramole.)
Robbie: AHHHHHH!
(The StegaZord is overwhelmed and falls into a smoking heap on the ground.)
Robbie: Little help, Kim!
(The three monsters look back to the Megazord and menacingly make their way toward the others.)
Trini: It's too much.
Zack: We need help.
Jason: We need Dragonzord power.
(Jason pulls out the Dragon flute and places it to his lips. A voice immediately cuts into Billy's head.)
"NOW!"
Billy: Oh no you don't.
(Mid-tune, Bully lunges toward Jason and yanks it away.)
Jason: Huh?
Trini: Billy?!
Kimberly: What are you doing?!
Billy: Returning what doesn't belong to you.
Jason: Wha-
(Billy turns to exit the Megazord, leaving the others completely befuddled. They quickly follow him and find him at the bottom standing straight across Rita Repulsa.)
Jason: Billy, no! Don't do it!
Rita: That's it, blue ranger. Hand it over.
(Walking zombified toward Rita, his arms extend outward with the dagger in hand while the others cry in vain.)
Trini: NOOOOOO!
Jason: Billy!
Robbie: What are you doing?!
Zack: Come back here!
(Unfortunately, Billy places it in Rita's bony outstretched hand. She quickly discards of him after getting what she wanted.)
Rita: And now away with you, weakling.
(She sends a violent shock through his body that sends him flying backwards towards the team. He hits the ground hard, and appears to break free from Rita's spell as they rush to his aide.)
Kimberly: Billy?!
Trini: Are you alright?
Billy: Wh-what happened?! What… what did I do?!
Rita: You've handed me victory, blue ranger. With the only loose string back in my hands, there is but one thing remaining between me and complete global domination!
Jason: You'll never get away with this!
Rita: But I have, as long I have your families' captive.
(A brief, yet defeated silence follows.)
Jason: …
Kimberly: What are you gonna do with them?
Robbie: Release them. That's all you better do.
Rita: Losers do not make demands, brown ranger. Another empty threat out of you and your precious niece doesn't see her first day of Kindergarten. Am I clear?!
Robbie: …
Rita: However I am a merciful ruler. And I have decided to broker a deal with you rangers to assure they return safely.
Zack: I don't like the sound of this.
Jason: Forget it, we don't make deals with the devil.
Rita: The devil has nothing on me.
Jason: …
Rita: Hand over your power coins, and you will see them again. You have one hour.
Trini: What?
(She vanishes. Leaving the teens exasperated and confused. They quickly return to the command center to ponder their options. In hopes that Zordon might find some secret third option they could take that could enable them to save the world, and their parents. However…)
Zordon: I am afraid there is no true good solution, rangers.
(A deflated team sits in silence. Each of them playing mental gymnastics and trying to figure a way out of this.)
Trini: Do you… think she was serious?
Zack: Why would she joke about this? She has us by the short hairs. We've got nothing on her right now. Especially since we don't even know where our parents are.
Kimberly: What do you think she'd do if we refused?
Jason: Are you willing to find out?
Kimberly: …no.
(Sitting alone against the control panel, Billy proceeds to beat himself up over his part in Rita's plan.)
Billy: I-I'm really sorry you guys. I feel like I completely let you all down. Again.
Jason: Don't. It's okay.
Billy: It's not. Our position of leverage would be much more favorable if we had the Dragonzord to fall back on. We could have given her the coins and used the Dragonzord to get them back. We could have mounted a resistance with all three of our Zords. We could have done… something. Anything. If only I'd…
Jason: Enough, Billy.
Billy: …
Kimberly: You were under a spell. It could have happened to anyone of us.
Billy: (Sighs) But it didn't…
(Hardly reassured, Billy bows his head in shame and continues to suffer in silence. Jason turns back to Zordon.)
Jason: What do we do from here?
Zordon: I cannot tell you what to do rangers. This decision affects your parents. You alone can make this choice.
(With the burden now on their shoulders, this somehow makes them feel even worse. After a brief, but deafening silence, Robbie eventually speaks up.)
Robbie: I'm doing it. I'm giving up my coin.
Jason: What?
Robbie: My niece means everything to me. She's all I had for a long time. Before any of this. If it weren't for her, I may not even be around to be a ranger.
Trini: …
Robbie: There's no choice for me to make.
Kimberly: He's right.
(Kim steps forward.)
Kimberly: My parents mean so much to me. They've gone through so much just to make sure I life as normal a life as possible.
Trini: My parents have gone through so much just to bring me to this country.
Zack: Yeah. As much as they drive me nuts sometimes, I can't turn my back on them.
Jason: …Not after everything we've survived together.
Billy: It appears that we're all on the same page then.
Zordon: I respect your decision, rangers.
"Rangers."
(A voice abruptly calls to them from the viewing globe, stealing their attention.)
Trini: It's Goldar.
Goldar: Your time is up. Turn over your power coins, or lose your loved ones forever.
Robbie: …
Jason: Let's go guys. I just want to say, whatever happens, thank you all. For everything. We're in this together. No matter what.
(After sharing silent nods, the rangers head to Goldar's whereabouts in the middle of a deserted field. Behind him are a swarm of putty patrollers to act as insurance. Goldar is otherwise alone, holding an open green and gold case in his hands.)
Goldar: So you've arrived. I respect your dedication to your family.
Jason: Save it Goldar.
Goldar: Eheheh.
Trini: Come on. Let's get this over with.
(With heavy hearts, the rangers prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice. Jason is the first to step forward, reaching for his morpher.)
Jason: Alright. Our power coins for our parents.
(He removes the coin from his belt and places it in Goldar's box. He immediately de-morphs.)
Goldar: Goodbye red ranger.
(Kim follows behind and removes her coin as well.)
Kimberly: If you hurt my parents in anyway…
Goldar: Silence. No more pretty pink ranger to get in my way.
Kimberly: …
(Zack follows, then Trini.)
Zack: Goldar, you're gonna pay for this.
Goldar: Ehehehehe.
(He hands over his coin, and de-morphs, joining the others.)
Trini: (Sighs) We're doing the right thing. …right?
(Upon de-morphing, Trini is revealed to be on the verge of breaking down. She gets pulled back and consoled by Jason, leaving Billy and Robbie. The latter approaches stoically, not saying a single word and never breaking eye contact with Goldar. Even as he de-morphs. Finally, Billy approaches…)
Billy: I-I'm sorry guys…
(He reaches for his coin and drops it next to the other six.)
Billy: (De-morphs) I-I've let you all down…
Jason: Now that you have what you want Goldar… give us back our parents.
(Goldar however, laughs cold-bloodedly. Then slams the case shut.)
Goldar: Fools! Did you think I would actually give it back to you?! Now, nothing will stop me!
Trini: NOOOO!
Robbie: You son of a…
Zack: you tricked us!
(Goldar turns his back to the rangers before disappearing. Back on the moon…)
Rita: We won! We actually won!Scorpina: What a moment!
Baboo: Wowie, Goldar!
Finster: (Bows) I must say, I am most impressed.
Goldar: That was much easier than I thought. Seeing them grovel was almost embarrassing. Proud warriors, reduced to cowering out of fear for their families'. Pitiful.
(Squatt walks in holding Goldar's nephew.)
Squatt: Your nephew… always had a scratch on his chin, right?
Goldar: What?!
Rita: Not only do we have all their powers now, but we're now free to use their powers against them.
(With a sadistic smile coming across her face, Rita turns toward the back, revealing a prison-like force field surrounding family members of the power rangers.)
Rita: And I know just the candidates…
Goldar: My sister will kill me, do you understand?! I'm dead!
(Meanwhile back at the command center, the tone is totally different. For once, it is the rangers tasting utter defeat as Rita celebrates)
Zack: So stupid… We were so stupid.
Jason: I can't believe… we trusted Goldar.
Kimberly: What else could we have done?
Zack: Not trusted Goldar?
Zordon: Do not doubt yourselves. You made the right choice.
Alpha: Aye, ya, yai. That was not an easy decision, rangers.
Zack: (Sighs) We're not rangers anymore.
Jason: We're still rangers, no matter what. We don't need a costume to save the world.
Billy: We just… can't replace our parents. That's what it came down to.
Jason: Yeah… I wouldn't have forgiven myself if we'd taken that risk and…
(Jason can't bear to complete the thought and just weakly trails off. Meanwhile, alone and distraught, Robbie leans against the control panel lost in deep thought. Trini notices and walks over to sit next to him.)
Trini: I'm sorry about your niece, Robbie.
(He looks up and half-grins at her before replying.)
Robbie: I'm sorry about your parents.
Trini: Me too. But she's four. My parents… all our parents have at least lived our lives.
Robbie: That doesn't make it better.
(He bows his head back down, but continues talking.)
Robbie: Your parents seem like very nice people. Even if they hated me.
Trini: That they did.
Robbie: I told you I'm bad with parents.
Trini: I never heard anyone say so many stupid, offensive things at once. That was really bad, Robbie.
Robbie: Yeah. And that was just your mom.
Trini: Yeah. I'm really sorry.
Robbie: It's okay. …I'm sure she's great. She raised you, after all.
Trini: …
(She smiles at him appreciatively. With nothing else to going for them, Robbie holds onto a sliver of hope...)
Robbie: We'll get them back. I promise.
Trini: (Nods) I know.
Kimberly: What do we do, Zordon?
Zack: Yeah. Rita has all the power coins.
"Not… all of them…"
(Out of his own depression, Billy wakes up. He suddenly remembers something in his back pocket, then steps forward.)
Billy: We still have one.
(The rangers crowd around him with what might be their only hope. We fade away once more to the Youth Center, which remains empty. That is, until somebody walks in. Holding a pink bouquet, he slowly make his way to the center of the room...)
Tommy: Kim? (Looks around) …where is everyone?
"Go green ranger, go, go!"
Robbie: Oh god, no!
To be Continued.