INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
HILBERT stands with his MOM in the LIVING ROOM as she knits his black pants back together. She finishes the last knit and hands his pants over to him. He puts them back on. The room is all cleaned up and nicely put together. He's obviously talking to her, but we don't hear his words to her, just the narration.

HILBERT (V.O.)
I went home and Mom, who's a fantastic tailor, fixed up my clothes while I cleaned up the place. I made it look all tidy and she really appreciated it. That was when I decided to break it to her that I felt like I proved to her that I was ready to take off.

Hilbert sees it in his mom's face - she's devastated. But she's coming to terms with it. Accepting. Slowly but surely in every inch of her body... Even if she doesn't exactly like it.

MOM
...I just don't want to be alone.

Hilbert blinks...

HILBERT (V.O.)
Ahh, now that made me feel like a total asshat.

MOM
But I don't... I'm so sorry, Hilbert... I don't want you to waste your life trapped here. I've been so selfish.

She hugs him - she starts crying. Hilbert pats her on the back... He tries not to, but he does it. He hugs her. He grows more comfortable in the embrace, letting it all settle in...

HILBERT
It's OK, Mom... I haven't been any better. All I've thought about is how awesome leaving the house would be. I never really thought how awesome it was being here with you.

His mom smiles - giving a scoff - as she pulls out of the hug.

MOM
Please. Don't. I want you to go. You really proved to me today that you've grown up. A lot.
(beat, smiles)
I want a progress report every night, OK? Use this thingamabob to call me.

She lifts up the Cross-Transceiver.

HILBERT
Of course.

On his smile-

EXT. NUVEMA TOWN - DAY

CUE - "EMOTION" FROM BLACK & WHITE OST.

ESTABLISHING SHOT of the small town. Filled with tiny houses, each with a garden in front that's well taken care of. Not many Pokémon - or people for that matter - mingle around. It's so quiet. No wonder Hilbert was always so bored.

CUT to HILBERT AND HIS MOM'S HOME - The door opens and HILBERT exits. He has a a black and blue bag slung over his shoulders - he stares back at the house.

HILBERT (V.O.)
Five months. It took me five months to come to this point. And... I actually almost didn't go. I almost turned back around and gave my Mom a big ol' hug and told her I wasn't ready to grow up, that I wasn't ready to leave her behind...

Hilbert's MOM slips out from the door - stands on the porch. She smiles as she sees her son stood there. He gives a sigh. A wave to his mom... She flashes her arm - showing off the X-TRANSCEIVER as a reminder for him to call her. He smiles, rolling his eyes at her.

HILBERT (V.O.)
But I didn't.

Hilbert TURNS around - TIGHT on him as he moves along the dirt path, on his way onto ROUTE 1...

HILBERT (V.O.)
I decided to follow my dreams. A future of uncertainty, but one of hope...

FADE TO BLACK...

EXT. ACCUMULA TOWN - DAY
"EMOTION" FADES as we get an ESTABLISHING SHOT of ACCUMULA TOWN. It's rather tiny, so all the buildings are scrunched together in a half-square. A park lies in the center of town, where most of the activity is at.

HILBERT tries squeezing through a crowd of people.

HILBERT (V.O.)
This was my first time leaving Nuvema Town... It was strange because Accumula actually had people walking around. I knew it was coming, I just wasn't ready to process it all. But I knew I'd get used to it. I wanted to explore... Where I decided to go next really changed my life...

HILBERT sees a gathering of folk at the park in the center. Curious, he walks over, peeking over the heads of numerous people in his way.

On a mini stage that the people surround stands the man from the opening sequence/prologue - GHETSIS. He's very intimidating and bulky, but his aura is surprisingly warm and gentle. On either sides, baby blue-hooded guards push the crowd back.

GHETSIS
Good morning, to the people of Accumula Town. I have come here today to make a very... interesting proposition. I'm here to say... Let's free our Pokémon.

There's a lot of murmuring amongst the crowd. Ghetsis raises a hand, offering the crowd a smile.

GHETSIS (CONT'D)
Please, please, just listen. We have co-existed with Pokémon for centuries, but I think maybe the time has come for that to end. Trainers command their Pokémon to do what they want. They force them to do hard work like employees, not friends. What kind of expression does your Pokémon show when they accept your commands? Have you ever given thought to what your Pokémon want? Do they want to be with you, or do they want to be in their natural habitats? Poké Balls and training are merely human inventions, not the natural way of the world, so perhaps they were never meant to be!

Everyone takes a glance at their Pokémon. The crowd's murmurs grow quiet. SHOTS of different people, looking at their Pokémon in pure sorrow... Contemplating Ghetsis's words.

TIGHT on Hilbert. He's not falling for it. He looks down at SHELDON's Poké Ball as he unclips it from his belt...

GHETSIS (CONT'D)
To us humans, Pokémon are merely tools, powerful creatures with potential to be stronger. Pokémon do not exist to serve our selfish purposes! There's only one thing we can do, and that's... to release our Pokémon. Free your Pokémon. If you truly love them, you could see it. For the first time, we humans and Pokémon can truly be equal. Me and my friends are Team Plasma, a group making a difference. We will separate Pokémon from humans, giving them special sanctuaries where they can live in peace.

HILBERT
How do we know you're telling the truth? That you're not just stealing our Pokémon for YOUR own good?

Ghetsis turns a head toward Hilbert, he smiles kindly at him.

GHETSIS
We've already set up plenty of sanctuaries and as soon as we take your Pokémon, you can know where they're going. We'll allow visitations...

The crowd begins to disperse. Hilbert can hear some of their words -

Hilbert smiles to himself. N steps on stage, looking just as vacant as before.

CUE - "N'S BATTLE THEME" FROM BLACK & WHITE OST.

N
Who's the one who challenges our beliefs?

Ghetsis goes to speak, but Hilbert climbs onto the stage.

HILBERT
Me.

One of the Plasma grunts goes to grab for Hilbert, N raises a hand, signaling for him to step back.

N
It's OK. We just need a little chat...

N steps toward Hilbert.

HILBERT
The name's Hilbert.

N
Well, Hilbert... Let me hear your Pokémon's voice! We'll see if the harrowing acts and troubles you make your domesticated Pokémon go through even match up to the fiery spirit of a wild, natural creature.

HILBERT
Fine. You ready, Sheldon?

Hilbert tosses out SHELDON's Poké Ball and the little Oshawott pops out, instantly putting his game face on, still in its 'Samurott armor'. He leaps off Hilbert's shoulder and onto the stage. N steps back. He whistles. Nothing happens for a moment...

Seconds later, a black cat Pokémon creeps onto the stage. Stands in front of N. It purrs, rubbing on his leg. He smiles down at the PURRLOIN.

N
Fury Swipes.

HILBERT
Sheldon, Tackle!

Sheldon charges at Purrloin, who simply smacks him back with its tail. Purrloin then POUNCES on the Oshawott, CLAWING repeatedly and SLASHING at the tiny otter.

Hilbert looks HORRIFIED. CLOSE-UP of Ghetsis' face, he smiles as he watches the two battle.

HILBERT (CONT'D)
Water Gun!

Sheldon the Oshawott opens his mouth as Purrloin continues to slash at him, sending a bursting fountain of water out, hitting Purrloin in the chest. The cat FLIES through the air, SMACKING into the wall behind the stage and SLIDING DOWN.

It doesn't get up - it just stays there. No one can see it. The crowd erupts in conversation...

Hilbert looks concerned -

HILBERT (CONT'D)
Sheldon, go check on Purrloin!

Sheldon trots to the edge of the stage, peeking over -

- ONLY FOR PURRLOIN TO LEAP BACK INTO ACTION, KNOCKING THE TINY OSHAWOTT ONTO HIS BACK.

N
Crunch.

Purrloin BITES down on Sheldon's chest, picking up the otter and shaking him around, then throwing him limply to the ground. Hilbert's Oshawott doesn't get up. He's KO'D.

Hilbert LOST - He looks on, DUMBFOUNDED as "N'S BATTLE THEME" fades here.

HILBERT
I - That Purrloin is insanely strong. There's no way anything can win against that thing.

N looks up from Purrloin, at Hilbert.

N
You're right. You can't win. And the reason you can't win, is because you always shut your Pokémon in those Poké Balls. No fresh air, no love, no strength.

Hilbert pulls the Pokédex out from his back pocket, as it scans and collects Purrloin's data. N's face falls.

N (CONT'D)
Is that... a Pokédex?

N suddenly charges at Hilbert, GRABBING him by the arm, bringing him close to his face. For the FIRST TIME, there's some EMOTION in his voice, and it is ANGER...

N (CONT'D)
(filled with venom)
Because of this thing... Many, many of my friends were shut up in Poké Balls and taken away from me!

HILBERT
GERROFF ME-!

Hilbert SHOVES N off of him, falling backwards on his bum. He looks up at N.

N
Pokémon get captured just for the desire to fill up this monstrous tool. It's like a damn competition, and then the poor Pokémon just get locked up in the PC storage if they're not deemed "useful" or "cool" enough by the trainer. Isn't that what happens?

Hilbert doesn't know what to say. He looks over at the crowd. People are already handing over their Poké Balls to Plasma grunts, looks of sadness, but acceptance, on their faces. He mutters to himself...

HILBERT
...No...

He picks up Sheldon, cradling his unconscious Pokémon in his arms.

HILBERT (CONT'D)
(shouting to the crowd)
What are you doing?!

N
The right thing. Thank you, Hilbert... For helping me prove my point.

Ghetsis claps N on the shoulder proudly - walks him backstage. Hilbert remains on the stage, in a state of confusion.