Scene 18: [Cut to the next morning, in the throne room of the Palace. Zim,
Dib, Gaz, GIR & FIR are standing in front of the Tallest, who are seated on
their thrones.]
Red: We've prepared a transport for the Earthlings to return home. It should be leaving in about an hour-
Zim: [cuts him off] Ah, it will be good to resume my mission-
Purple: [cuts Zim off, pointing at him] Wait – you're not going back to Earth, Zim.
Zim: [stops smiling and cocks his head] How's that?
Red: Yeah…see, we've been thinking…maybe you're worthy of a mission…I dunno…a little closer to home?
Zim: You mean…a planet worthy of my genius? A planet that will actually be a challenge to my amazing brain??
Purple: Um…yeah…
Zim: YES!!!! [pumps both fists in the air, and commences to do a little victory dance]
[Off to the side, Dib is looking a little hurt.]
Red: You'll be assigned to a new planet as soon as you see the Earthlings safely off Irk.
Zim: [salutes] Of course, my Tallest! With pleasure!
[Cut to the Main Hanger. Zim, Dib, Gaz, GIR & FIR are standing outside the transport that will take Dib and Gaz home.]
Dib: Well…um…I guess this is it…
Gaz: Finally, we can go home.
GIR: [hugs Gaz] I'll miss you!
Gaz: [a bit of emotion flickers across her face, then she pushes him away] Yeah, sure.
Zim: [sticks a hand out towards Dib] I bid you farewell, Dib. I'll admit that while I find you a troublesome nusance, you proved to be an adequate ally during the past 24 hours.
Dib: [takes Zim's hand and they shake] Yeah…you two…well…see ya.
[He lets go and walks up the ramp into the ship, with Gaz close behind. They disappear inside the ship and the ramp closes behind them. The engines roar to life and smoke billows out at Zim and the two robots as the ship lifts off the ground and soars off into space. "Long Way Home" starts playing.]
Zim: [inhales deeply] Well, let's go, GIR. [he walks off and the robots follow]
[Cut to the transport, gliding through space. Inside, Dib and Gaz sit in the passenger bay. Gaz is playing her GS2. Dib is watching out the window, watching the stars go by sadly.]
[Cut to Zim back in the throne room. The Tallest are standing in front of the wall-sized star map, trying to pick out a planet for Zim to conquer. While they have their backs to him, Zim fingers the medal that's still hanging around his neck. As it glints in the light, he sighs. The flash back sequence begins.]
[We see Zim discovering Dib and Gaz in the Cruiser. Then we see Gaz piloting the Cruiser against the Zhengian fighters.]
[Fade to Dib, who's still watching out the window, having the same flashbacks.]
[We see Zim & Dib fighting off the guards. Then we see GIR fall on the guard who had Dib cornered. Then we see Zim save Gaz from the guards. Next we see Dib shoving Zim out of the way of Khain's blast. Finally, we see the four of them, standing at the entrance to the convention hall, ready to receive their medals.]
[Fade back to Zim, who is looking quite torn. He stares at the medal a few seconds longer, and then nods his head, having reached a decision. As the song ends, he clears his throat.]
Zim: Excuse me, my Tallest?
Red & Purple: [whipping around to look at him] Huh?
Zim: I have decided it is not proper for an Invader to abandon and incomplete mission, no matter how trivial it may seem. [stands as tall as he can] I request permission to return to Earth to finish what I started.
[Red and Purple look at each other, confused]
Red: You mean, you want to go back to Earth?
[Zim nods]
[The Tallest look at each other again and shrug]
Purple: Yeah, sure…I guess.
Zim: [salutes and marches off] Come, GIR!
GIR: [looks between Zim and FIR] Can FIR come too?
Zim: [stops in his tracks, turning back] Oh…I suppose I could always use more help. Come on.
[He starts walking off again. GIR hurries after him happily, pulling FIR along by the hand. The Tallest watch him go, then look at each other and shake their heads.]
Red: We've prepared a transport for the Earthlings to return home. It should be leaving in about an hour-
Zim: [cuts him off] Ah, it will be good to resume my mission-
Purple: [cuts Zim off, pointing at him] Wait – you're not going back to Earth, Zim.
Zim: [stops smiling and cocks his head] How's that?
Red: Yeah…see, we've been thinking…maybe you're worthy of a mission…I dunno…a little closer to home?
Zim: You mean…a planet worthy of my genius? A planet that will actually be a challenge to my amazing brain??
Purple: Um…yeah…
Zim: YES!!!! [pumps both fists in the air, and commences to do a little victory dance]
[Off to the side, Dib is looking a little hurt.]
Red: You'll be assigned to a new planet as soon as you see the Earthlings safely off Irk.
Zim: [salutes] Of course, my Tallest! With pleasure!
[Cut to the Main Hanger. Zim, Dib, Gaz, GIR & FIR are standing outside the transport that will take Dib and Gaz home.]
Dib: Well…um…I guess this is it…
Gaz: Finally, we can go home.
GIR: [hugs Gaz] I'll miss you!
Gaz: [a bit of emotion flickers across her face, then she pushes him away] Yeah, sure.
Zim: [sticks a hand out towards Dib] I bid you farewell, Dib. I'll admit that while I find you a troublesome nusance, you proved to be an adequate ally during the past 24 hours.
Dib: [takes Zim's hand and they shake] Yeah…you two…well…see ya.
[He lets go and walks up the ramp into the ship, with Gaz close behind. They disappear inside the ship and the ramp closes behind them. The engines roar to life and smoke billows out at Zim and the two robots as the ship lifts off the ground and soars off into space. "Long Way Home" starts playing.]
Zim: [inhales deeply] Well, let's go, GIR. [he walks off and the robots follow]
[Cut to the transport, gliding through space. Inside, Dib and Gaz sit in the passenger bay. Gaz is playing her GS2. Dib is watching out the window, watching the stars go by sadly.]
[Cut to Zim back in the throne room. The Tallest are standing in front of the wall-sized star map, trying to pick out a planet for Zim to conquer. While they have their backs to him, Zim fingers the medal that's still hanging around his neck. As it glints in the light, he sighs. The flash back sequence begins.]
[We see Zim discovering Dib and Gaz in the Cruiser. Then we see Gaz piloting the Cruiser against the Zhengian fighters.]
[Fade to Dib, who's still watching out the window, having the same flashbacks.]
[We see Zim & Dib fighting off the guards. Then we see GIR fall on the guard who had Dib cornered. Then we see Zim save Gaz from the guards. Next we see Dib shoving Zim out of the way of Khain's blast. Finally, we see the four of them, standing at the entrance to the convention hall, ready to receive their medals.]
[Fade back to Zim, who is looking quite torn. He stares at the medal a few seconds longer, and then nods his head, having reached a decision. As the song ends, he clears his throat.]
Zim: Excuse me, my Tallest?
Red & Purple: [whipping around to look at him] Huh?
Zim: I have decided it is not proper for an Invader to abandon and incomplete mission, no matter how trivial it may seem. [stands as tall as he can] I request permission to return to Earth to finish what I started.
[Red and Purple look at each other, confused]
Red: You mean, you want to go back to Earth?
[Zim nods]
[The Tallest look at each other again and shrug]
Purple: Yeah, sure…I guess.
Zim: [salutes and marches off] Come, GIR!
GIR: [looks between Zim and FIR] Can FIR come too?
Zim: [stops in his tracks, turning back] Oh…I suppose I could always use more help. Come on.
[He starts walking off again. GIR hurries after him happily, pulling FIR along by the hand. The Tallest watch him go, then look at each other and shake their heads.]