Snow Kats
[The scene opens with a POV shot of an engine coming down the line. As it passes by a level crossing with Bertie waiting at the gate, the engine is revealed to be James, giving a toot of his whistle as he puffs over the crossing, a rake of red coaches behind him while Diesel goes by in the opposite direction with a train of fuel tankers]
[Transition to a scene on a snowy hill where several people are going down on their sleds; the Woodland Children are split on two sleds; Fox and Rabbit on one, while Bear and Beaver are on the other. To the right, Max and Ruby are going down on their own sled while they're passed by Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup]
[When it comes to winter, snow is a topic that's rather divisive among the people of Anima. Some like the snow as it leads to activities such as skiing, sledding, and ice skating]
[As soon before with the children, Pink Panther is shown coming down a mountain in style, his arm seeming to have completely healed by this point]
[We cut to another scene of Anastasia, Odette, and Dorothy skating on a frozen pond, past Lady, Krystal, and Jenna in the opposite direction]
[Others, however, dislike the snow for being cold, troublesome to manage, or downright annoying]
[Prince John is shown coming out of a shop while Don Karnage is about to go in, but as the lion closes the door, a bit of snow from the canopy falls onto their heads]
Prince John: BOH!
Don Karnage: YECK!
Prince John: Ooooooooh, how undignified.
Don Karnage: [spits] Give me the tropics any day, yes no?
[Another issue with snow is that it can lead to accidents, more so than usual. An example of this is shown as Tom and Jerry are shown being stuck in a ditch as they try to pull and push their vehicle out from the mess]
[Additionally, due to black ice, cars and trains will have to travel at reduced speeds, even if it means inconvenience, such as the case with Bulgy traveling slowly down the road over patches of ice. The double decker bus snorts at this]
[The scene transitions to the salvage yard, the piles of metal now covered with snow as we pan towards the garage. Inside, the radio is playing a rendition of Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra]
"I love those J-I-N-G-L-E bells
Oh, those holiday J-I-N-G-L-E bells"
[As the music continues in the background, Jake comes into the living room with a mug of hot chocolate, taking a seat on the couch. As he takes a sip of the drink, we cut to a pair of boots walking into the room]
Chance: [off-screen] Ho, ho, ho!
[Jake looks over to his left and raises a brow as the camera cuts to Chance donning a Santa outfit]
Chance: Well, whadda ya' think? Do I make a good Santa or what?
Jake: …Why are you wearing that?
Chance: Can't a guy get into the season? Besides, I think red looks good on me.
Jake: Well, that outfit clearly fits that figure of yours.
Chance: Why, thank you, I…hold on, what's that supposed to mean?
Jake: I'm just saying, you and the jolly green giant have more in common than ya' think.
Chance: …Okay, that's it, mister, you're gettin' a load of coal this Christmas, right down your chimney!
[Chance reaches down to pick up Jake, much to his shock]
Jake: Wha-UH! Chance! My cocoa!
Chance: Take it baaaaaack.
Jake: Okay, okay, I do, I do! Geez, you're gonna make me spill…
[Chance sets Jake back down on the couch]
Chance: All I need is to get you in one of those elf costumes.
Jake: Not on your life.
Chance: Either way, I'm sure people will be eager to sit on this lap.
Jake: You're a showboater, ya' know that?
Chance: Pass me some of that cocoa, will ya'?
Jake: There's more on the stove over there.
[Chance goes over to pour himself a mug of hot chocolate]
[Transition to the next day; the snow has come down hard. Duck and Rosie are shown trying to plough through the covered railway lines. Balto is trying not to slip on the patches of ice covering the sidewalk, contrast to Pinkie Pie who seems to be skidding across the street with glee. She passes by Shining Armor who just looks ahead like "...what?"]
[The scene transitions to the salvage yard as Chance and Jake are moving a large rusty pipe to the furnace. Jake looks up at the sky and frowns]
Jake: Forecast says there's supposed to be another blizzard today.
Chance: Huh, I said I wanted a white Christmas, but all this snow and ice makes it hard to-WHOOPS!
[Chance almost slips on a patch of ice]
Chance: -work…Exile would get a kick out of this.
[Transition to the two back inside the garage, but this time, they go underground to their secret room. Once there, we see that there's an array of radios and monitors]
Chance: Right, let's see which poor soul needs saving this time…
[We cut to the monitors surveying different areas of the island, one is the main street of Toon City, another shows the mainline from the perspective of a signal box, one shows Elm Station, and another shows the town of Maple. In spite of the weather, everything seems to be in order]
Jake: Hmmmm…looks like things haven't gotten too out of wack.
[At that moment, a static on one of the radios comes on, with a voice barely being made out]
Chance: Huh, what?
?: …He…stuck in…ba…any…help…
Chance: Aaaaaaah, sounds like a call in distress. You know what that means.
Jake: An excuse for you to show off?
Chance: You know you do the same.
Jake: Nah…okay, maybe a little bit. Can you blame me? I am the genius of the two.
[Chance playfully noogies the top of Jake's head fur]
Chance: C'mon, knucklehead, let's not waste any time!
[A guitar plays to the tune of a rock song as we see the pair putting their workers' uniforms on a set of hooks, cutting to another set of hooks that are holding their alternate outfits; a pair of dark blue and red flight suits]
[Cut to a shot of Chance putting on his gloves, followed by one of Jake putting on his helmet. Pan-out to reveal Chance and Jake in their alter egos; T-Bone and Razor. A bonus feature of their outfits is their names written in cursive on their helmets]
[The two race down the hallway to where a large black and red aircraft is waiting for them. A customized military plane christened the Turbokat, the duo hop inside the vehicle; T-Bone in the lead pilot's seat while Razor is behind him]
[The plane's jets kick up a light of blue flames as the engine roars into life. Cut to the exterior of the garage as a door opens in the ground. The plane bursts out of the hole and zooms into the snowy sky]
[Meanwhile, up in the mountains on the narrow gauge railway, Skarloey sits stranded in a bank of snow. His fire has gone out and the old engine is feeling very cold]
Skarloey: Brrrrrrr…I just don't have the best luck with snow, do I?
[His passengers are feeling equally as uncomfortable in their current situation. Inside one of the coaches; Kipper, Barbie, Tramp, Cinderella, Mulan, Priscilla, Penelope, Shaggy, Roxy, Diaspro, Robin, and Prince Blueblood are all trying to keep warm amongst these conditions. Barbie in particular has taken to knitting herself a scarf with a ball of magenta yarn]
Robin: [sighs] What I wouldn't give to be next to a fireplace right about now…
Mulan: Honestly, I imagine even Mushu would be enough to give some warmth…
[Cut to up in the sky as the Turbokat is making its way through the biting snow. For as much of an advanced aircraft it may be, even T-Bone is struggling to keep the vessel on-course as the wind is blowing against it]
T-Bone: Damn…this weather's givin' the craft a beatdown, I can hardly see through all this snow…
Razor: We're not far now, I can just make out the target on the monitor, just keep it steady.
[T-Bone complies as he keeps a firm grip on the steering wheel. At last, the plane makes its landing by the stranded narrow gauge engine]
Skarloey: Oh, thank goodness, help's arrived.
T-Bone: Heh, looks like we need to do a bit of shoveling, eh, Razor?
Razor: No need for that when you got this; activating Snowblower!
[From the bottom of the aircraft, a large red fan is deployed and begins to whirl the snow off the tracks. Skarloey's eyes roll around as the snow swirls all around him]
Skarloey: OH! Oh, I say!
[As the temporary blizzard disappears, the tracks are now clear and Skarloey's train has been freed from the drift. The passengers cheer for the pilots and Skarloey, with what little steam he has left, blows his whistle in applause]
T-Bone: Hehe, you're too kind, just another day for us.
Skarloey: [looks up] I'm sure Rusty will have another story to share about this…
[At that moment, Rheneas arrives to bring Skarloey and the passengers home, coupling up to his old friend]
Rheneas: Thanks, you two, jolly good work there!
Razor: No problem, you all keep safe now!
[The Swat Kats begin to set off back to base as Rheneas pulls Skarloey and the coaches back down the mountain]
T-Bone: Nothin' like a good rescue mission to give me the adrenaline!
Razor: No time to celebrate, we gotta get this thing back to the yard before the storm gets…
[Razor doesn't finish his sentence as the wind howls outside of the cockpit. T-Bone grunts as he tries to shake the snow off the window]
T-Bone: Grr…this snow just doesn't let up…we need to go higher!
[T-Bone pulls up the wheel for the plane to start rising up. As the plane tries to keep above the blizzard, the air becomes much colder]
Razor: [shivers] T-Bone…I don't think this is a good idea…
T-Bone: We can't get caught in the storm, the snow's gonna drag us down!
Razor: But this altitude! The Turbokat's engine'll freeze if we keep pushing her!
[Razor couldn't have been more right, as the Turbokat struggles to crest the clouds, the engine goes into overdrive, and then an awful rattling can be heard. A sudden spark from the jets, followed by a plume of smoke, and then the engine cutting out entirely makes the Swat Kats freeze]
T-Bone: Uh-oh…that's not good…
[With no engine, the Turbokat begins to descend, the blizzard clouding the windows with thick snow and ice]
T-Bone: AGH! Help! I can't see! Hold on, Razor!
[T-Bone strains the steering wheel as he tries to keep the plane from falling too fast. Razor tries everything he can to find a safe place to land on the monitor]
Razor: T-Bone! I'm coming up negative!
T-Bone: Well, ya' gotta think a' something! Otherwise, we're gonna crash into God knows what!
Razor: I'm trying!
[The TurboKat comes closer and closer to the ground as T-Bone does everything in his power to stabilize the aircraft]
Razor: I got it!
T-Bone: What?!
Razor: The field, you need to head right!
T-Bone: You sure?!
Razor: It's our only chance!
T-Bone: OKAY!
[With an almighty HEAVE, T-Bone veers the jet to the right as it comes closer and closer to the ground. The plane finally touches the surface and skids along the snow before it collides into a bank and gets covered]
T-Bone: [groans] Are we still alive…? Razor…Razor?!
Razor: I-I'm alright, just…feel like I got the wind knocked outta me…
[T-Bone opens the cockpit and struggles to pull himself up. He stares out at the open field…there's not a soul in sight, nothing but the hills in the background and the snow still falling]
T-Bone: Where…where are we?
[Razor taps on the monitor to get a read]
Razor: Currently…as far away from civilization as we can be…
T-Bone: Damn…
[T-Bone goes back to his seat and picks up the radio]
T-Bone: Control, come in, come in, Control! S.O.S., I repeat, S.O.S.!
[The only response the feline receives is a static. He sighs as he puts the com back in place]
T-Bone: Great, the jet's busted, we're stranded in the middle of nowhere, and the nearest town is probably miles away.
Razor: Guess we'll have to stick tight until then…
T-Bone: That's what I was afraid of…
[Pan out to a shot of the plane stranded in the field. As time slowly ticks on, the pilots try to keep warm in the cockpit. However, with the reduced amount of power in the craft, not even the AC can provide decent warmth]
Razor: Vrrrrrrrrrr…maybe we shoulda' just gone on foot…
T-Bone: I shoulda known…never fly a plane in a snowstorm…[smacks the top of his head]...idiot! You alright back there?
Razor: Surviving at least, though just barely…hooooo, what I wouldn't give for a bowl of warm soup…
T-Bone: Yeah…and we can't leave the plane stranded, it's already gonna be a pain loadin' it onto some flatbed or whatever…
[Silence falls on the duo as the wind continues to whistle and howl from outside. T-Bone decides to once more attempt contact with the radio]
T-Bone: Come in, Flight Command! Do you read me, over?
[Once again, the only thing that can be made out is a muffled static on the other end…the Swat Kats look deflated…suddenly, a voice can be heard getting somewhat clearer]
?: …This is…Whirlybird to…TurboKat, do you read me, over?
[The duo immediately perk up at this]
T-Bone: Uh, yes! Yes, TurboKat here, can you see us, over?!
?: We're…approaching…aircraft stranded in…desolate field…over!
Razor: That's us! We're down here!
[Cut to outside of the plane as flying high above it is a search light, peering through the blizzard. It reveals itself more clearly to be a helicopter, Harold to be exact]
Harold: Tally-ho, chaps! We've found them, down there!
[The Swat Kats' spirits lift up as Harold gently touches down on the snow several yards away from them. The hatch is pulled up and the two felines wave]
T-Bone: Ho, thank god, I thought we were gonna be stuck out here aaaaalllllll…
[T-Bone trails off as a pair of boots is shown stepping out from the helicopter, as the camera pans up to reveal a familiar broad chinned commander]
Feral: I had a feeling you two would end up in a mess like this.
T-Bone: [under his breath] You have gotta be kidding me…
Razor: Feral? How did-
Feral: Instinct, only a certain duo would be foolish enough to fly in weather like this…seems your craft isn't going anywhere.
T-Bone: No surprise there…[clears throat]...anyway, I take it you've come to pick us up?
Feral: Of course I didn't, why would I help you?
T-Bone and Razor: Wait, what?!
[Then, Feral gives an uncharacteristic smirk that reads "gotcha"]
Feral: Do you really think I would come all this way for nothing?
[The Swat Kats blink…and then grin]
T-Bone: Ah, so you do have a sense of humor.
Feral: Oh, get in.
[As the Swat Kats head towards the helicopter, they suddenly notice a pair of headlamps piercing through the snow. It turns out they landed not too far from the railway as Henry is shown pulling up with Rocky the crane behind him. Hiro is also present as he has a set of flatbeds to carry the TurboKat on]
Razor: Well, woulda ya' look at that?
[The duo steps inside Harold and take their seats at the back]
Feral: So it appears I'm the one assisting you two for a change…hmm, as expected.
T-Bone: [to Razor] Watch it go to his head.
Razor: As if you don't.
T-Bone: What the…shush.
Harold: Right! Homeward bound we go!
[Harold lifts up into the air and we transition to the Turbokat being examined in an air hanger. This is located near the airport on the north side of the city, thus keeping the true home of the aircraft a secret]
T-Bone: Yeah…it'll take a while before this thing gets back in the air.
Razor: At least this'll give us time to work out a few kinks…
[Feral clears his throat from behind them]
T-Bone: Huh? Oh yeah, uh…thanks for…rescuing us…
Feral: Not used to receiving assistance, I take it?
T-Bone: Well, I didn't think you would care if it involved us.
Feral: I'm a man of the military, my duty is to serve and protect, regardless of personal opinions.
Razor: Huh…words we can relate to.
T-Bone: So…does this mean you care about us?
Feral: I care as much as I need to, I'm not ready to kiss the earth you stand on.
T-Bone: Hehe, wouldn't expect ya' to.
Feral: Anyway, I'll leave you two to get on with your work, I have business to attend.
[As Feral makes his way out of the hanger, T-Bone calls out to him]
T-Bone: Yo, Feral!
[Feral looks back]
T-Bone: Merry Christmas.
Feral: …Hmm.
[Feral continues on his way, but as soon as he's far enough away, a small smile appears on his face]
[Cut back to inside of the hanger]
Razor: Do my eyes deceive me, or did you just act nice with Feral?
T-Bone: Well, it is Christmas, I can throw the old man a bone on occasion.
Razor: Hmm, anyone would think you were going soft.
T-Bone: Nah, I think we agreed that you were the soft one of the duo.
[Razor nudges T-Bone on his side]
Razor: Heeeeeey…
[The final shot lingers on the hanger before it pans up to the sky, still snowing]
[Cut to black]
Character Guide:
Chance Furlong/T-Bone, Jake Clawson/Razor, Commander Ulysses Feral - SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron
Don Karnage - Talespin
Mulan, Mushu - Mulan (1998)
Robin Hood, Prince John - Robin Hood (1973)
Skarloey, Rheneas, Harold, James, Henry, Duck, Diesel, Rosie, Hiro, Bertie, Bulgy, Rusty - Thomas and Friends
Anastasia - Anastasia (1997)
Balto, Jenna - Balto (1995)
Barbie - Barbie
Bear, Beaver, Fox, Rabbit - Franklin
Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup - The Powerpuff Girls
Cinderella - Cinderella (1950)
Dorothy Gale - The Wizard of Oz
Kipper - Kipper the Dog
Krystal - Star Fox
Max, Ruby - Max and Ruby
Odette - The Swan Princess (1994)
Pink Panther - Pink Panther
Pinkie Pie, Shining Armor, Prince Blueblood - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Priscilla Pinkpaws, Penelope Pinkpaws - Angelina Ballerina (2002)
Roxy, Diaspro - Winx Club
Shaggy Rogers - Scooby-Doo
Tramp, Lady - Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Exile - Road Rovers