"The Reaction"

CASSIE VO: Morphing has certain rules we have to follow. Like never stay in a morph for more than two hours. That's what happened to Tobias, he's trapped in the morph of a hawk. Another rule: You can't morph from one animal to another. So far the rules have helped us control our morphing powers, but sometimes a morph can have a mind of it's own.

RACHEL: ~CASSIE is watching crocodiles, RACHEL comes up to her.~ You know, I love field trips, but they really should the entire day.

ETHAN:Yeah, these half day field trips mess with our heads.  Just when you start to get a taste of freedom, you're back on the bus ~RACHEL and CASSIE nod in agreement~

RACHEL:~watching still crocs~These crocodiles might as well be fake.

ETHAN:Yeah, let's check out the tigers. They're real. ~he,RACHEL and CASSIE leave~

~a little boy climbs over the fence into the croc area~

RACHEL:~watching tigers~You know, I'm glad that they're in there and we're out here.

CASSIE:~hears people talking,looks over to where boy has climbed into croc pit~Hey,look ~all three run back over to croc area~Is that kid nuts?

RACHEL:Ethan, go get help ~ETHAN leaves~

CASSIE:~climbs into croc area~

RACHEL:What're you doing?

CASSIE:~taking kid by shoulder~ Hey, Kid, it's not safe in here. C'mon, let's get to the other side of the fence.

RACHEL:~in croc area~ Okay, let's quit messing around. Let's get out of here.

CASSIE:~backing up~Okay, real slow, okay? ~as they're backing up, a croc comes up behind them so they're surrounded~

 Theme Song interupts here

RACHEL:What do we do now?

CASSIE:Okay, okay, when I count to three, you guys make a break for that fence over there.

RACHEL:What are you gonna do?

CASSIE:Acquire it's DNA, the trance should buy us some time. When I count to three, okay? One...Two...Three! ~on three, RACHEL and the kid run for fence while CASSIE leaps forward and grabs the taiil of the croc that's chasing RACHEL and kid~

RACHEL:~just handed kid over fence~Cassie, get out of there, now! ~climbs over fence~

CASSIE:~holds onto the croc for a second more, lets go and climbs out~

RACHEL:Are you alright?

CASSIE:yeah. That was way to close.

RACHEL:Way

ETHAN:What's goin' on?

RACHEL: Oh, uh, nothing. Just the average field trip.

CASSIE:Yeah, average.

~cut to VISSER THREE (in human morph) flipping through TV channels. First an explosion, then a car/truck/tire comercial, TV show~

VISSER THREE:What to humans find so entertaining about this continuous barrage of pictures?

TOM:It's the primary source of information and entertainment.

VISSER THREE:Well they crave it as if their very lives depended on it. ~turns to TOM~ Why haven't we made use of this weapon?

TOM: Actually, that's why we're watching. We've succeded in getting Jason McCole on a popular talk show. ~points to TV, which is showing an interview of Jason McCole~ There he is there.

VISSER THREE:Why him?

TOM:Jason John McCole. He's extremely popular with human females. Everyone of them knows his face, and his name. He's what they call 'a star.'

VISSER THREE: Yes. Our solution to the declining membership in The Sharing.

TOM:He'll be on Larry and Linda Live talking about the benefits of The Sharing.

VISSER THREE:Excellent. ~TOM leaves~ Finally. Televsion worth watching.

~cut to CASSIE and RACHEL in the barn~

RACHEL:What's wrong with you?

CASSIE: I don't know. Maybe I'm alergic to something.

RACHEL: Do you feel okay? You look sick.

CASSIE: I know. My stomache's been hurting since the zoo. ~bends down to get feed or something, phone rings, goes over and answers it~ Hello? This is she... Uh-huh...

RACHEL:What?

CASSIE:~shakes head at RACHEL~ That's right...No, it was nothing...

RACHEL:Who is it?

CASSIE:Thank you...We'd love to! Yeah...four o'clock. We'll be there! ~hangs up~

RACHEL:What was that about?

CASSIE: That was Larry and Linda Live! They heard about us saving the boy at the zoo today and they want us on their show tomorrow!

RACHEL:Oh! ~saunters away like a movie star~ Our 15 minutes of fame!

CASSIE: Exactly. But there's two of us, that means we get a half an hour ~goes back to work~

RACHEL:Naturally.

CASSIE:~scooping what looks to be rabbit food out of a bag, her hands start getting scaly. Gasps~

RACHEL: What?
CASSIE:~concentrates. Hand turns back to normal~ Nothing. Just...excited.

~cut to RACHEL, CASSIE, JAKE and MARCO at Cyberia (internet cafe) RACHEL is at one comp, MARCO at another. JAKE's next to MARCO, CASSIE'S standing in front of JAKE~

JAKE: What were you two thinking? What if you'd had to morph?

CASSIE: We didn't have to,the acquiring trance was enough.

MARCO: Well, if you ask me, it was pretty stupid. All people saw was Cassie looking like she was mind melding with a reptile.

JAKE: How weird could that be?

CASSIE: Marco, stop trying to help in this.

JAKE: We have to consider the risks before jumping into a snake pit.

MARCO: ~looks up from typing~ Crocodile.

JAKE:~Exasperated~ Whatever. And now you're gonna be on TV.

CASSIE: We didn't ask for this. But I think if we have the chance to save one person or a million we should.

JAKE: It's not always gonna be that simple.

RACHEL:~looking up from computer screen~Cassie, come look at this! ~CASSIE sits next to her. ~

CASSIE:What'd you find?

RACHEL:The Official webpage of Larry and Linda Live. Look at this:~reads from screen~ A run down of upcoming shows and guests, including tomorrow's show and...

CASSIE:That's us! Look at this,~reads from screen~ Today at City Zoo, a young boy was saved from the jaws of a hungry crocodile. We'll speak with two teen girls who came to his rescue! We actually made the webpage!

JAKE:~looks disgusted~

MARCO:~offers JAKE a nacho~ Nacho? ~JAKE declines~

RACHEL:Oh, they also have Bart Jacobs, the animal guy.

CASSIE: We should feel right at home.

RACHEL: ~staring intently at comp screen~ Oh, wow!

CASSIE: What is it?

RACHEL: ~scrolls down screen~

CASSIE: That's Jason John McCole...

RACHEL:And he's going to be on the same show.

CASSIE/RACHEL:~in unison~ JASON JOHN MCCOLE!!!

RACHEL:~calms down~ Okay, let's act our age here. ~looks down~ Cassie? ~CASSIE looks at her~ Your arm.

CASSIE: ~looks down, her arm is goin' croc again, gasps~

RACHEL: What're you doing?

CASSIE: I'm not doing anything! ~concentrates, arm goes back to normal~

JAKE:~puts a hand on CASSIE'S shoulder, she jumps~ Guys, take it easy, it's just me. What's the big deal?

CASSIE: uh...

RACHEL~turns comp monitor so JAKE can see it~ Jason John McCole is going to be on the same show as us.

JAKE: So...?

RACHEL:So he's the cutest guy on TV!

JAKE:As cute as I am? ~CASSIE and RACHEL exchange a look~ I guess not. ~turns back to MARCO~ Hey, Marco. The girls are gonna be on that show with Jason McCole. ~turns monitor so he can see better~ Who is this clown, anyway?

RACHEL: Jake, Jake, Jake, just admit that you're jealous that Cassie and I are going to be on TV with a gorgeous movie star.

JAKE: Did anybody read the fine print?

CASSIE: What're you talking about?

JAKE: I'm talking about what Jason McCole's gonna be talking about on the show tomorow.

CASSIE: His new movie?

JAKE: ~shakes head~ Nope.

CASSIE: ~reading~ Jason McCole will be discussing the benefits of a new organization called...The Sharing.  ~she and RACHEL look disgusted~

MARCO: ~coming over from his comp~ Well. Do those benefits come before, or after they infest you with a slimy gross slug?

CASSIE: It's a good plan. Alot of people will be signing up to join The Sharing if Jason McCole is involved.

RACHEL: Do you think they got Jason?

JAKE: We need a plan. ~he and MARCO go back to their comp~

CASSIE: Jason McCole and Visser Three, I can't believe it.

RACHEL: At least we're on the same show. That way we can get to him before the yeerks do.

CASSIE: What if he's already a controller?

RACHEL:~shrugs~ Then we'll have to save him some other way.

CASSIE: Listen, that weird morphing thing. I don't want it to get in the way of saving Jason.

RACHEL: Maybe we could talk to Ax later? He'd know what to do.

CASSIE: I've gotta go so...meet you at the barn later?

RACHEL: ~nods~

~cut to CASSIE at a bookstore or library. She finds a book on Reptiles and opens to the info on Crocodiles~

TOM: Cassie? ~CASSIE turns around quick~ I thought that was you.

CASSIE: Tom! What's up?

TOM: Not Much. How're you?

CASSIE: Fine. Good. ~crock spikes start popping up under her shirt, she backs up agains a shelf of books~

TOM:Something wrong, Cassie?

CASSIE:No, nothing.

TOM: ~starts looking at books~ You and my brother been hanging out alot lately, huh?

CASSIE: We have?

TOM: Yeah.

CASSIE: ~hands start turnin' croc~

TOM: You like him?
CASSIE: Yeah!  ~TOM smiles~ I mean, uh, no. He's cool.

TOM: Heard about what you guys did today.

CASSIE: What do you mean?
TOM: Jumping into that cage, saving that kid today. You and Rachel are quite the local heroes.

CASSIE: Rachel's the real hero. I just did what anyone else would have done.

TOM: You, maybe. But Rachel? I was a bit surprised...

CASSIE: ~leans back and knocks a bunch of books to the floor, looks back behind her~ Hey! ~turns back to TOM~ Kids.

TOM: You sure you're okay?

CASSIE: Fine.

TOM: I'll catch ya' later, huh?

CASSIE: Yeah, later. ~hear the croc spikes going away~

~RACHEL, JAKE, MARCO and AX in the barn~

RACHEL: Cassie and I will check in as scheduled at Six P.M.

JAKE: ~holding a whiteboard with what looks like a map on it~ Cool. Marco, Ax and I will meet you two at the studio. That's where we'll throw the switch.

AX: Switch...switch...

MARCO: ~holding imaginary microphone~ We're sorry, Larry and Linda Live will not be seen today so we can bring you the following special program.

TOBIAS: < The Yeerk Files. >

MARCO: And the bird-boy grabs a sense of humor.

CASSIE: ~walks in and to AX, whispers~ Ax, I need to talk to you for a sec.

JAKE: Everything okay?

CASSIE: No! I mean, yes. It's nothing, Jake. I just need to speak to Ax for a second, Okay?  ~she suddenly gasps in pain and grabs a wall to keep standing~

JAKE: Cassie?

CASSIE: ~doubles over in pain and stumbles into empty stall, others run over to see what's wrong while CASSIE starts goin' totally croc, then back to human again. She stands up, then quickly goes back to croc, then back to human~

AX: ~goes over to CASSIE~

MARCO: Houston? We have a problem.

AX: ~helps CASSIE up~ Relax, Cassie. Try to remain calm. You must sit down.~walks her over to a stool and sits her down~

MARCO: What, was that?

AX:Allergy. I have seen this before.

JAKE:~walks over to AX and CASSIE~  Like to pollen or dust?

AX: Yes, except this is an allergy to a morph. It happens from time to time. In this case, she's allergic to the morph of the creature we just saw.

RACHEL:That makes sense, it was the last morph she acquired.

TOBIAS: < is there some kind of medicine for it? >

AX: No medicine. But, there is a process that occurs naturally with these cases. Hereth Illint

JAKE: And in English that means...?

AX: Burping DNA.

RACHEL: I like the Andalite word better.

AX: It means that eventually Cassie's body will release the rejected DNA in the form of the animal acquired. Unfortunatly, this can not be controlled. Or predicted.

MARCO: So, anytime now, Cassie's going to 'burp up' a crocodile?!

AX: Yes.

MARCO: Great. Save me a front rowseat.

CASSIE: ~getting up~ Ax, can you give me a ballpark figure? ~AX looks confused~ How long is this gonna last?

AX:Ah. Sometimes, only a few hours. However, it's more common for it to take two Earth weeks...

EVERYBODY: TWO WEEKS?!

AX: ...For the DNA to be rejected.

CASSIE: What am I supposed to do till then?

AX: ~sitting CASSIE back down~ Stay as calm as possible.  The uncontrollable morphing is linked to your emotions, which is why it just happened. ~looks up from CASSIE~  She became upset, and that upset the allergy.

MARCO: Just think Spock, Cassie. ~holds up left hand in Vulcan Hand Salute (watch a few episodes of Star Trek:Original Series if ya' don't know what that is, or, if you're lucky, an episode of ST:Voyager)~ Burp long, and prosper.

JAKE: I think you're gonna have to tell the show you're not gonna be able to make it, Cass.

RACHEL: Jake, they'll bump both of us if Cassie can't make it. And if that happens, it'll just give Jason more time to talk about The Sharing.

CASSIE: I promise I'll stay calm. We can still do the show, we can still save Jason and beat the yeerks.

AX: I would advise against it. Yes, the chances of hereth illint  occuring tomorrow are slim...

JAKE: But. It could still happen.

MARCO: ~walks over to JAKE while pointing alternatly at CASSIE and RACHEL~ and we saw how goo goo ga ga these two were over that McCole guy.

RACHEL:This wouldn't have anything to do with you guys still being jealous that we are going to be with the cutest movie star on Earth?

JAKE: ~walking over to RACHEL~ Look, the yeerks are gonna be there. We have to be careful.

RACHEL: ~walks over to CASSIE~ Right! That's why me and Cassie have to meet Jason to...find out whether or not he's a controller.

JAKE: I know. If Cassie weren't suffering from this allergy, we'd do it. But we dont' know when this burp's gonna happen. It's too risky.

TOBIAS: < Jake's right, you guys. >

JAKE: Let's call it a night.

~cut to CASSIE'S room at night. She's thrashing in her bed, trying to get to sleep. She turns on a light, sits up, gets out of bed, and picks up the phone~

RACHEL:Hello?

CASSIE:Hey, Rachel. It's me. I'm sorry to call you so late but I wanted to tell you...

RACHEL: You did it? You went through the burping thing?

CASSIE: Well, not right now but...

RACHEL: That's great! So we can still stop Jason from talking about The Sharing. I'll tell everyone else.

CASSIE: Great. Cool. I--I'll see ya' tomorrow.

RACHEL:'Kay, bye.

CASSIE: Bye. ~hangs up phone~

~cut to outside building where L&LL is being taped~

MARCO: This is like the Rebels going into blow up the Death Star's generator. ~JAKE laughs~ It only takes one to sound the alarm.

JAKE: Then we'll do it real quiet-like.

RACHEL: Hey! You guys Ready?

JAKE: You okay?How ya' feeling?

MARCO: Man, I'm bummed! I missed the big burping, I wish I could've seen it.

CASSIE: Well, it was weird, but the...uh...important thing is I'm normal again.

RACHEL:Well, let's check in with the show! ~walking away~We're gonna meet Jason John McCole! ~she and CASSIE giggle~

JAKE: Alright. Let's move.

~in makeup room~

MAKEUP WOMAN: ~rubbing a brush in base~ I hope you don't have any allergies.

CASSIE: No. I am not allergic.

MAKEUP WOMAN: Good ~starts putting base on CASSIE~

JJM(Jason John McCole):Excuse me?

CASSIE:~gasps, she, RACHEL and MAKEUP turn around~

JJM:Is this makeup?

MAKEUP WOMAN: Have a seat, I'm almost done.

RACHEL: H--Hi. I'm--I'm Rachel. And..umm...that's...ummm...

CASSIE: Cassie. I. Am. Cassie.

JJM: Wow. That's. Really. Nice. ~laughs~

CASSIE:~hand starts to go croc...again~

RACHEL~notices CASSIE'S hand~ I thought you said you were okay!

JJM:Well. You're the Crocodile Dundees, 'eh?
 

RACHEL:Yeah, I guess you could say that. Well, I think that's enough make up. C'mon, Cass, let's get to the studio.

JJM:Yeah, good idea. ~sits in makeup chair~ 'Cause I don't want the Gator Girls watching me get made up.

RACHEL:~she and CASSIE stop in doorway, looking mad. RACHEL looks like she's considering morphing lion and ripping him to shreds...oh, wait, this RACHEL'S a wimp.~

~out in the studio~

RACHEL: I thought you said you were cured!

CASSIE: I never said I was. Anyway, I didn't want to let you guys down. And I wanted to makesure Jason wasn't a controller.

RACHEL: Well, I think he just gave us his answer. That had to be the yeerk talking. I refuse to believe the real Jason would be such a snob.

MARCO:~as a llama~ < Jake, Ax, I found the studio. It's just off the main hallway. >

JAKE: ~as a cockroach~ < Good work, Marco. >

AX: ~also as a cockroach~ < We're on our way. >

STAGE MANAGER: ~leading CASSIE and RACHEL~ Okay, wait here for Larry and Linda to introduce you just, uh....act natural, and be yourselves. Okay? ~she moves on as RACHEL and CASSIE seat themselves where the audience will be~

RACHEL: I can't believe we're actually here!

CASSIE: She wants us to wait here now?

JJM:Uh, they told me the green room's closed,And, I'm sure not gonna stay out here. I shouldn't even be here. I don't do rehersals.

STAGE MANAGER: I'll see what I can do. ~walks away~

JJM:Oh, and something to eat would be nice.

CASSIE: I don't feel right.

RACHEL: ~glaring at JJM~ I know what you mean. That better be the yeerk talking, or Jason is just your average, snobby, self centered, movie star.

CASSIE: No, I really don't feel right.

RACHEL: Oh, oh no. Right here? Right now?

CASSIE: What else could it be? ~climbs out of chair onto floor~  The instincts, I don't think I'll be able to control them!

RACHEL: Okay. ~helps CASSIE up and walks her across stage to restroom~

CASSIE: Oh! Oh! Hurry! ~runs in and makes sure it's empty~

RACHEL: Cassie, stay calm! You have to stay calm!

CASSIE: Rachel, this isn't me! Don't you understand? It's real! ~goes into a stall~

RACHEL:~looks concerned. Sees the stall walls shaking~ Cassie? Cassie? ~sees a croc tail under stall door.~

CASSIE: ~crawling out of stall under wall~  Okay, it's out!C'mon, let's go! ~both race out of restroom, leaving the croc~

~back on stage, JJM is talking with the stage manager~

STAGE MANAGER: Is there something else I can get you?

JJM:Nope.

STAGE MANAGER: ~walks away from JJM. CASSIE and RACHEL run up to her~

CASSIE: Excuse me! Excuse me! ~out of breath~ I hate to cause a panic, but there's a...a...

STAGE MANAGER: ~croc comes out on stage, she sees it~ AHHHHHHHHH!!!

~everyone runs around in panic. JJM faints, a "yeerk" is crawling over his shoe~

MARCO: ~still a llama~ < Jason was a controller, that slimy yeerk slug is trying to get away before the croc gets Jason. That's why he's bailing. >

JAKE: ~he and AX are still cockroaches~ < That means he's not a controller. >

CASSIE: He's making a break for Jason. We've gotta save him! ~she and RACHEL run over and start slapping his face to wake him up. They get him concious and out of harms way.~

JAKE: < Check it out, the croc's goin' after the run away slug. >

MARCO:< And we've got front row seats. > ~croc head directly for yeerk~ < Look at 'im go. The yeerk doesn't stand a chance. >

~JAKE, RACHEL, CASSIE and MARCO back at Cyberia~

JAKE: I don't think Jason McCole's gonna be doing anymore talk shows.

RACHEL:He said he was quiting show business, and moving to Tibet to follow the Dalai Lama.

CASSIE: Guys, listen. I'm really sorry I lied, I just didn't want my allergy to stop us from getting the yeerks. Well, that and the fact that I really wanted to meet Jason.

MARCO: You were in looooooove.

CASSIE: No I wasn't! I was just selfish. It could have easily gone the other way. We were lucky.

MARCO: To quote the great Obi Wan Kanobi,"In my expirience, there's no such thing as luck."

JAKE: Hey, you did what you had to do. We all make mistakes.

MARCO: Well, except for me. Of course.

JAKE: Right. Right, except for Marco.

CASSIE:That's it... ~everyone starts throwing nachos at MARCO, then just CASSIE and RACHEL are throwing them at MARCO and JAKE, causing them to leave~

CASSIE VO: Morphing does have alot of rules, but more important are human rules. Like being truthful. When I lied to my friends about my allergy, I not only let them down, I let myself down. As long as we can learn from our mistakes, things have a funny way of working out in the end.
 



Pretty good episode, not my fav. It would have been better if they'd stuck to the book and had it be Rachel with the allergy. Seriously, this Rachel is such a wimp. She's still my fav character on the show since she's one of two who can act (Marco is the other) but they really need to do some character development.
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