EXT. DRAGON SPIRAL TOWER - NIGHT
FADE IN on HILBERT as he stands in front of the DRAGON SPIRAL TOWER. IRIS and SHELDON the DEWOTT stand beside him. They stare into the sky. It's lit up with an ORANGE FLARE...

A BLOOD RED HORIZON.

HILBERT (V.O.)
So, I pretty much saw any hope of me defeating N fly away right in front of my face. Literally. Team Plasma's goal was coming to fruition faster than I expected... And that scared the hell outta' me.

IRIS
Hilbert? You okay?

Iris breaks him from his train of thought. Hilbert turns to face Iris. In honest candor.

HILBERT
No, this is the worst thing that could have happened. N won.

Hilbert takes Sheldon by the hand and the two take off, leaving Iris wistful. She feels his pain.

IRIS
N didn't win ANYTHING. This is just beginning, don't you see? There's still time for you to prove to Zekrom what you're made of! What happened to this "war", Hilbert, huh?!

HILBERT
It's not my fight anymore.

She watches as he goes. She thought that would stop him, we can tell by the unsure look on her face.

But it didn't.

INT. POKÉMON CENTER - NIGHT
HILBERT and IRIS put their Poké BALLS on the counter and the NURSE JOY of ICIRRUS CITY puts them on the rack and has them start healing.

HILBERT
...I still want to do it.

IRIS
Huh?

HILBERT
I still... want to fight Team Plasma. Especially just to beat up that pussy-ass N.

IRIS
Good. I was worried back there.

HILBERT
I'm just still in disbelief, I think... I went from some loser kid to the chosen one in less than a week. I'm just still trying to process it, that's all.

IRIS
'Chosen One'? No one chose you. You just-so-happened to win the magic lottery, and ended up unlucky enough to grab that stone. You're still that loser kid, you've just got a huge responsibility weighing down on your shoulders now.

HILBERT
(sarcastic)
Thanks for your vote of confidence.

IRIS
Despite knowing the truth, I still have faith in you. Who says some loser can't be the underdog in this, right? Sure you don't have a huge army like N, but you've had your moments of bad-assery. You can do this. You've proven yourself. Look, it's been six days and you've got seven badges. I didn't think you could do it, but you're actually almost to your goal. This isn't the time to give up, so... so straighten up, get your ass up, and let's get moving.

She winks at him.

EXT. ROUTE 8 - NIGHT
HILBERT, SHELDON, and IRIS move through ROUTE 8. MINCCINO pops out of his own Poké Ball and giddily grabs a SHINY, pearl-white stone. As he slowly starts to glow, Hilbert snatches the stone from him, having not noticed Minccino's glowing... once the stone is ripped from Minccino's paws, the little chinchilla stops glowing.

HILBERT
What are you doing, Minccino? Don't touch things if you don't know what they are...

He recalls a mopey-looking Minccino and puts the stone in his bag.

Through the canopy trees that overhang them, they can see smoke rising in the distance.

HILBERT (V.O.)
We knew whatever it was wasn't going to be pretty... But we just didn't think this night could get any worse.

EXT. TUBELINE BRIDGE - NIGHT
HILBERT, SHELDON, and IRIS walk over a hill that overlooks TUBELINE BRIDGE. It's destroyed, half of the bridge dangling into the water. Rescue helicopters swarm the scene, INTERNATIONAL POLICE members in cloaks and uniforms block the entrances on both sides of the bridge, calming down crowds of people who gather round to see what's going on.

HILBERT
What the...?

He looks up to the dark sky - crackles of lightning continue to spark down. A bellowing roar can be heard. Hilbert winces.

ZEKROM (V.O.)
The stone... The stone...

Hilbert holds his forehead, gives a cry.

ZEKROM (V.O.)
Take the stone to the Pokémon League. Reunite them. Please.

Hilbert nearly collapses, Iris helps him up.

IRIS
Hilbert?!

Hilbert winces, as the voice disappears. That deep, haunting voice. Pained.

Hilbert's eyes snap open and he looks at Iris...

IRIS (CONT'D)
What's going on?

HILBERT
I need to get to Opelucid and pulverize the gym leader there.

Iris frowns. Out of annoyance or offense, we don't know exactly. Hilbert sighs, taking her aside as she starts to rant. He doesn't want to attract attention from the others, but they all seem busy dealing with their own problems.

IRIS
After everything that's happened you're still on about the gyms? I don't think your little friends will mind if you skip out on them. You've got priorities, kid. You've got the Dark Stone! You need to get Zekrom and you need to fight N-

Hilbert and Iris have made their way under a tree a few feet away from the crowd. Hilbert lowers his voice, into a harsh tone, whispering loudly -

HILBERT
(interjecting)
Don't you get it?! THIS - this was Zekrom. The stones are split, and Reshiram and Zekrom are separated. It's the prophecy coming to life, right here, right now. Zekrom's got nothing to control it, and he just told me to bring the stone to the Pokémon League okay? There's a- a castle there or somethin'. And the only way to get to the League is to beat the last gym and pass that entrance exam...

IRIS
How did Zekrom TALK to you?

HILBERT
It was - I can't explain it. I dunno, in my head? I heard its voice.

Iris looks very skeptical as Hilbert stares at her desperately -

IRIS
How can you be so sure? You're just gonna believe random voices in your head?!

HILBERT
(yelling)
How much other crazy crap has happened these past few days, Iris? Why is this so hard to believe?

Hilbert seems to be blowing up on her - FREEZE-FRAME.

HILBERT (V.O.)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I was being a jerk. But I was frustrated... We both were. There was just too much going for either of us to really comprehend it all.

Hilbert turns to the water... Sees trainers climbing onto the backs of their Pokémon and riding them across the waves. Iris speaks, but Hilbert's not listening.

IRIS
Look, I'm sorry, but it's not really the most believable situation...

HILBERT
You see that?!

Hilbert points to the other trainers. Iris shrugs.

IRIS
That'd be great if we had a Pokémon who knew Surf.

HILBERT
Huh?

IRIS
Surf. It's a Hidden Machine, you've gotta teach it to one of your Pokémon.

Hilbert looks down at Sheldon, who just stares at the two humans curiously.

HILBERT
Well, Sheldon's a Water-Type. He'd probably be able to learn it.

EXT. HILL - CONTINUOUS
Hilbert rushes down the hill, approaching the officer directing the trainers across the lake. Iris sighs, rushing after him.

IRIS
Wait up...! God, you're such a kid.

Hilbert nearly jumps the officer, who leaps back at his sudden appearance.

OFFICER
Whoa, kid, you startled me.

HILBERT
I need to get a way across.

OFFICER
You need a Pokémon with Surf.

HILBERT
I don't have the Hidden thingy.

OFFICER
I can teach it to a Pokémon if you have one that can learn the move.

Hilbert wraps his hands under Sheldon's armpits and lifts the Dewott toward the officer. Sheldon squirms in Hilbert's grasp and looks a bit pissed off. The officer takes Sheldon and examines the Pokémon. He pulls a disc out of his pocket and motions to Hilbert.

OFFICER (CONT'D)
I need your Pokédex. Don't you know how this thing works? I mean, gym leaders usually give you TM's as soon as you finish your battles.

HILBERT
What? TM?

The officer wants to facepalm, he really does.

IRIS
Technical Machine. Wait. You never picked any up?

HILBERT
I'm lost.

IRIS
Usually the gym leaders give you the badge and a TM. Why didn't you get a TM from any of the seven gyms you already beat?

Hilbert thinks back -

A THOUGHT BUBBLE appears on screen.

Shows Hilbert leaving the STRIATION GYM as the triplets watch, CILAN trying to take chase after him, a DISC in hand.

This morphs to LENORA doing the same.

Then BURGH.

Then ELESA.

And then Hilbert waves the thought bubble away, GETTING THE POINT. It POOFS into nothingness.

HILBERT
I guess I just got too excited to stick around.
(beat)
That does happen a lot, to be honest. Whenever I'm excited, I sort of block out whatever else is going on around me and just go with the flow...

The officer just shakes his head. Whatever. He takes Hilbert's Pokédex and plugs the HIDDEN MACHINE disc into a slot at the bottom. Hilbert gasps.

HILBERT (CONT'D)
Oooh. So THAT'S what that slot is for!

The officer holds the Pokédex out, an ultraviolet light seems to SCAN Dewott. And then it makes a BEEPING noise and the disc POPS out. The officer takes the disc, pockets it, and hands Hilbert his Pokédex.

OFFICER
You're all set. Now your Dewott can ride the waves and carry you where you need to be.

Hilbert grins.

HILBERT
Epic. Sheldon, use Surf!

Sheldon concentrates - and then a BIG WAVE suddenly SHOOTS from the water and SMACKS INTO HILBERT.

When the wave disappears, Hilbert's gone.

IRIS
Hilbert...?

HILBERT (O.S.)
Over here.

Iris looks up. And there's Hilbert, his hood hanging by a tree branch above them. He's dripping wet, but he gives a thumbs up.

HILBERT (CONT'D)
(sarcastic, annoyed)
I guess Surf works then, huh.

OFFICER
Lose the attitude. It's not my fault you didn't have enough common sense to figure out your Dewott needs to be IN the water for it to work.

HILBERT
Oh, right. Can someone get me d-

The branch SNAPS, unable to support his weight any longer. Hilbert plummets to the ground. BAM!

Iris smirks, crossing her arms.

IRIS
Nah. You seem to be handling yourself just fine.

Hilbert hops on his feet giddily, brushing himself off.

Sheldon climbs into the water and Hilbert stands behind him, on land.

OFFICER
Hold onto Dewott's back. The girl's riding with you?

Hilbert nods-

OFFICER (CONT'D)
She holds onto you.

Hilbert rolls up his pant legs before stepping into the shallow water. He wraps his arms around Sheldon's waist. He nods for Iris to come.

She does, and puts her arms around his shoulder. He smirks, peeking back at her.

HILBERT
You know, you could wrap your arms around my waist and wrap your legs around my hips. I can hoist you up like I'm giving you a piggy back ride. It might be...
(pause)
...Safer.

His cocky smirk gets to Iris. She rolls her eyes.

IRIS
Cute. But no thanks. I think I can handle myself.

Hilbert goes to say something when Iris interrupts-

IRIS (CONT'D)
C'mon, Sheldon, Surf!

EXT. LAKE - CONTINUOUS
Hilbert's eyes WIDEN as the water seems to CHURN around them, propelling them forward at tremendous speeds. He's yelling, holding on tight to Sheldon as the Dewott seems to take off through the water at a high speed... He slows down a bit and they're just gliding, but Hilbert's definitely taken aback. His hat lies sideways on his head. He shakes his head a bit to straighten it out.

HILBERT
Hooooly CRAP.

His eyes glower at Sheldon.

HILBERT (CONT'D)
(re: Iris telling Sheldon to use "Surf")
Ya know, you should only be listening to me, right?

Sheldon gives an apologetic whimper.

IRIS
Sheldon trusts me, though. Isn't that right, buddy?

Sheldon gives a happy cry.

HILBERT
Yeah, well, from now on you only take orders from me. Don't matter who it is. Got it?

Sheldon gives a sharp nod as he continues churning through the waves...

HILBERT (CONT'D)
Good. We almost there?

Iris peers through the water, seeing land a few feet away.

IRIS
Yeah, not much longer.

EXT. ROUTE 9 - NIGHT
As Sheldon anchors onto the sand on the other side, Hilbert and Iris slowly step off of his back.

HILBERT
Sheldon's pretty damn strong, aren't-cha? Carrying both of us like that, I mean - Iris's hair is probably about fifty pounds itself.

Iris slaps him lightly on the arm.

IRIS
Shut up!

Sheldon snickers and joins them as they continue up the hill, where officers guide their path. Hilbert peers back at the destroyed bridge when he's half-way up the hill. It's a haunting image. He then turns back to Iris. There's still doubt in his eyes, but before he can say anything else, Iris nudges him.

IRIS (CONT'D)
So let's get to Opelucid and get this over with, yeah?

Hilbert smiles.

HILBERT
Sounds like a plan.

Thanks for the feedback! I love being able to expose the screenwriting format to people. I know the pacing is REALLY fast in comparison to prose fiction, but I'm hoping the character development is enough to keep people interested! I love this chapter just for that. Hilbert & Iris have definitely grown as characters throughout the film, and I feel like this is really the climax of that relationship. Iris supporting Hilbert and sort of putting him in his place after pretty much moping out in the beginning. Now Hilbert's going to continue through the film more confident than ever. I had fun writing these two, I feel like their personalities play off of each other well and I hope you guys agree.

Thanks so much for the continued support. :)