Cute Groots
Story by Paul Dini & Rick Merwin
Transcribed by MoKat

Opening scene: Camera zooms in on planet Earth, then pans toward the outside of Space Command.  
UNKNOWN COMPUTERIZED VOICE: Officers Ace and Kimberly, report to Space Marshall Vaughn.

[Camera cuts to an interior shot of Space Command.  The two officers in question are running through the halls]
UNKNOWN COMPUTERIZED VOICE:  Officers Ace and Kimberly...
ACE: Sounds like the old man's got his jets in an uproar again.
KIMBERLY: Get serious! He wouldn't call us if it weren't important, Dexter!
ACE: Hey, call me "Ace", huh?

[A door opens and they run through it.]

KIMBERLY: You sent for us, Sir?
VAUGHN: Affirmative, crew(?).  We received word that our old enemy, Borf, is up to another fiendish plot.  
[Vaugh brings a video up on a large screen.]
KIMBERLY: Borf Buzzers!
VAUGHN: Yes, and they're headed for Earth.  You've got to stop them.
ACE: Leave 'em to me, Sir.  They don't stand a chance against this space ace.
[Ace changes into his younger self while Vaugh's back is turned.]
DEXTER: Whoa!
VAUGHN: Hmm?  Uh, what did you say?
DEXTER: Uh, hello.
VAUGHN: Dexter!  Officer Kimberly, how many times must I tell you to keep your little brother out of Space Command headquarters?  And where is Space Ace?
KIMBERLY: Uh...he left to warm up the Star Pac.  Come on Dexy; I've got work to do.
DEXTER: Don't worry, Sir;  we'll take care of those rotten buzzers.  Oops!
[Dexter fumbles with his blaster and a shot goes off, hitting a potted plant which falls on Vaughn's head.]
VAUGHN: Out!  OUT!

[Dexter & Kimberly run out of the room]

KIMBERLY: You'd better watch those changes, Dexter. If -anyone- finds out Borf hit you with the Infanto Ray, they'll ground you until they find a cure.
DEXTER: Golly! That could take forever; and I can't control the changes they just...
[Dexter changes into Ace.]
ACE:...kind of happen. 
KIMBERLY: We'll worry about that later.  Right now we've got to save the Moon Colony.

[Camera shows the Moon Colony, then pans up to the fleet of Buzzers flying over it.  We see that Ace and Kim are pursuing the Buzzers in their ship.]
[Ace fires a few shots at the Buzzers.]
ACE: Yahoo!  See ya later, space invaders!

[Camera goes to the Buzzers]
BUZZER ONE: Buzzer One to Borf...
[Camera zooms in on a Buzzer, then switches to an inside shot of the Buzzer's dashboard.]
BUZZER ONE: ...come in.
[Borf's face appears on a round viewscreen.]
BORF: Well, have you carried out my orders?
BUZZER ONE: Affirmative.  The Space Command ship is now chasing us as you planned.
[Camera switches to a view of Borf inside his Command Center.]
BORF: Excellent!  Now to start phase two of my opperation.
BORF: La Grin, ready the Infanto Ray.
LA GRIN: But the Infanto Ray hasn't been perfected to use on humans yet.
BORF: I've constructed a special ray, fool; one that will only work on the Groots.  
LA GRIN: Ahhh.  Brilliant, Borf.  Brilliant.
BORF: I know.  Now fire!
[La Grin aims & fires at the Groots]
BORF: Perfect.  Now to call my spy, Trader Ed.
[A chair slides forward, then a hatch in the ceiling opens.  A black-haired human dressed in blue & yellow falls through the hatch and lands in the chair.]
TRADER ED: You sent for me, Borf?
BORF: I've got a job for you, Ed.  I want you to lure Space Ace to the Moon Colony, and here's how you'll do it.

[Camera goes to the Star Pac]
ACE: Those Buzzers are probably half way back to Borf's space station.
[Star Pac's comm system buzzes.]
KIMBERLY: Whoops!  We're picking up a distress call!
ACE: The is Space Ace.  We have you on our monitors.  Can you read us?
[Trader Ed's face appears on the comm screen.]
TRADER ED: Roger, Space Ace.  This is Trader Ed.  I was headed toward the Moon Colony when those Buzzers hit me.  We've lost all power, and are sinking fast. Ooooooooh...
[Star Pac's comm loses the visual on Trader Ed.]
ACE:  Hang on, Trader Ed.  We'll swing around and give you a tow to the Moon.
[Camera shifts to Trader Ed, who has a playful Grootling on his lap.]
TRADER ED: Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!
[Trader Ed flips a switch with his foot]
TRADER ED: Sucker.  *laughs*

[Scene shifts to the Moon Colony.  Camera pans inward.]
TRADER ED: If it wasn't for these two valiant officers, I wouldn't be here to offer you this fantastic bargain.  Cosmic Kitlings!
KIMBERLY: Awww!  Isn't it cute, Ace?
TRADER ED: Look!  He likes you, sir.
[The Grootling that Trader Ed is holding licks Ace on the face, then jumps onto Ace's head.]
ACE:  Hey!  Wha?
[Ace grabs the kitty, puts it on the ground, then grabs a stick.]
ACE:  Let's see if he's as smart as he is friendly.  *waves the stick*  Go get it, fella!  *tosses the stick*
[The Grootling runs off, toward the stick.]
KIMBERLY:  He's a clever little guy.
ACE: But there's something familiar about those critters.  I can't put my finger on it.

[Camera switches to Borf, who is watching the scene unfold on his monitor.]
BORF:  *laughs*  There's that fool, Space Ace.  Right where I want him.  *presses a button*
[The special Infanto Ray platform rises.  After it clears the hatch, it fires.]
[END OF ACT 1]

[BEGIN ACT 2]
[The beam from the ray reaches the Moon Colony.  All of the "Cosmic Kitlings" transform back into Groots.]
RANDOM COLONIST:  Whoa!  What's ahppening?
ANOTHER RANDOM COLONIST: What's going on?
TRADER ED: *runs away, holding money* No refunds!  No refunds!  *laughs wickedly*
KIMBERLY: Aaaa!  Ace!
ACE: Hey! *is mobbed by Groots*
[Ace shakes off the Groots.]
ACE: They're Borf's Groots!
[Another set of Groots are chasing colonists with a net.]
RANDOM COLONIST:  Run.  Run!
ANOTHER RANDOM COLONIST: Look out!
RANDOM COLONIST: (off-screen) Whoa!
ANOTHER RANDOM COLONIST: (off-screen) Let us out!
[Groots come back on screen with the colonists in the net.]
KIMBERLY: There's too many of them!  Borf must have changed them with the Infanto Ray.
ACE: Hurry!  Let's get to the Star Pac!
[They reach the hangar.]
ACE: We can't let the Groots take over.  *helps Kim into the Star Pac*  The only way is to reverse the Infanto Ray at Borf's Space Station.  Watch out Borf old buddy, cuz here we come.
[The Star Pac launches.]
[A Groot pops up and yowls; it is holding the stick that Ace had tossed in its mouth.]
KIMBERLY: Oh, no!  Our little kitten friend.
ACE: I don't think he wants to play fetch any more. 
[The Groot grabs Ace & pulls him out of his seat.]
ACE: Hey, take it easy!  Yow!
[The Star Pac flies erratically through space until Kimberly grabs the control yoke.]
KIMBERLY: Yikes!  Asteroid, dead ahead!
[The Star Pac does a 90 degree turn & avoids the asteroid.  Ace and the Groot are tossed into the back of the Pac.  Ace grabs the Groot, stuffs it under a seat, and sits on it.]
ACE: That should hold you.
[Ace changes into his younger self.]
DEXTER: Whoa!
[The Groot escapes, then shoves Dexter under the seat.]
DEXTER: Kimmieeeeeeeee!  Heeeeelp!
[Kimberly grabs a blaster & fires it.]
KIMBERLY: Take -that-, furface!
[The blast stuns the Groot; it slumps on top of Dexter.]
DEXTER: Whew.  Thanks, Kim.
KIMBERLY: That will keep him quiet for a while.
[The Star Pac's comm screen lights up.]
DEXTER: We're getting a message.
[Borf's face appears on the comm screen.]
DEXTER: Aha!  I knew you were behind this, Barf!
BORF: Your Moon is now under -my- control.  I'll have the Groots fire its lasers at Earth unless your world surrenders to me.
DEXTER: No way, Barf-o.
BORF: *laughs evily*
[Borf's face disappears from the comm screen.]
DEXTER: Why you big bully!  We'll show you!
KIMBERLY: I'm in charge now, Dexter, and I say 'settle down'!

[Scene shift: outside of Borf's Space Station.  The Star Pac approaches.]
[Camera switches to Star Pac's interior.]
KIMBERLY: Looks pretty quiet, though.
DEXTER: Maybe he doesn't know we're here.
[Camera switches to Borf's Space Station, which opens a door and releases a bunch of spherical space mines.]
KIMBERLY: He knows, alright. 
[Mines start exploding.]
KIMBERLY: We're goners if we touch those mines.  Blast them, Dexter!
DEXTER: But which one?  Eenie, meanie, miney, mo...
[The Star Pac's laser fires. A mine explodes.]
KIMBERLY: Nice shot, little partner.
[The Star Pac enters Borf's Space Station.]
[Scene shift to Space Station interior.  Dexter places the unconscious Groot on the floor]
DEXTER: By the time he wakes up, we'll be long gone.
KIMBERLY: Come on!  Let's find Borf's control room!
[Dexter and Kimberly leave the room; the door closes behind them]
[Camera zooms in on the Groot, which opens its eyes]
[Camera switches to Kimberly & Dexter, who run down a hallway, then suddenly stop.  Camera reveals the reason why they had stopped...namely La Grin with a pair of Patrol Pups.]
LA GRIN: Halt, intruders!  You are my prisoners!
DEXTER (while drawing his blaster): Eat laser dust, tin-head!
LA GRIN: Let's see how tough you are -without- that blaster.
[La Grin fires a blast, which knocks the blaster out of Dexter's hand.]
DEXTER: Whoops.
LA GRIN: Get them!
[Patrol Pups charge at the officers.]
KIMBERLY: Look out!
[Dexter transfroms.]
ACE (while pushing Kimberly out of the way): Allow me.
[Ace picks up his blaster and dodges the attack of the Patrol Pups, which hit a wall.]
ACE (to Kimberly): Come on.
[Ace & Kimberly run away from La Grin.]
LA GRIN: Halt!  Halt!
[The groot that had wrestled with Dexter in the Star Pac drops out of a hole in the ceiling and lands in their path]
KIMBERLY: Oh, no!  Your little playmate again.
ACE: Playmate.  That's it.
[Ace prys a metallic bar off of the ceiling.]
LA GRIN: Aha,ha!  I've got you now!
[The orange robot shoots at them, but misses.]
ACE: Here, boy. *whistles* Get the stick.  Remember?
[La Grin approaches.]
ACE: Here, think fast.
[Ace passes the "stick" to the orange robot.]
LA GRIN: Uh...aaaa!
[The Groot knocks the orange robot to the ground & stands on top of it while wagging its tail.]
LA GRIN: Get off of me you flakey(?) furball!
ACE: Come on.  Now let's pay ol' bubby Borf a visit.
BORF (via monitor): Seal off all exits!
ACE: Run!
[Ace & Kim run down the hall, just ahead of the cyclinders that are dropping down from above.]
KIMBERLY: There's the control room.
[The door opens and a purple robot flies out, firing at Ace.  Ace blasts it.]
[Camera cuts to control room interior.  Ace and Kimberly enter.]
ACE: We've come to shut you down, Borf!
BORF: Space Ace and Kimberly! 
[Borf presses a button.  A trapdoor opens and a robot rises up from it.]
BORF: Clean up the trash, Auto-Broom!
KIMBERLY: No creep like you is gonna sweep me off -my- feet, Borf!
[Auto-Broom tries to trap them in a bubble.  Ace grabs Kim and places her out of harm's way.  The bubble drifts toward Borf, then traps him.]
Borf: Noooooooooooo!
[Ace & Kim approach the control panel.]
ACE: Here's the reverse ray.  Bye, bye Groots!
[Ace presses a button.  A viewscreen shows the Moon and a beam shooting toward it.]
[Camera cuts to a pair of Groots on the Moon Colony.  The Groots turn back into Grootlings, thus freeing 3 colonists]
[Camera cuts back to Ace & Kim.]
KIMBERLY: Maybe this ray could turn you back to normal too.
ACE: Let's try it.
[Kimberly is on the special platform; Ace is below.  Kim fires the ray, which transforms him into a Grootling]
GROOTLING ACE: Meow!
BORF: Fools! *laughs* That ray only works on Groots.
[Ace is transformed back after another shot from the ray.]
KIMBERLY (approaching Ace): Sorry, Ace; your cure will have to wait.
[Borf drifts to a wall.]
BORF: Guards!
[Borf manages to push a button and a door opens.  Green aliens armed with staves rush out.]  
BORF: Sieze them!
ACE: Can't stop to grab Borf.  Just enough time to rig this to self-destruct...
[Ace finishes messing with wires and runs away with Kimberly.]
ACE:...and run!
[Special Infanto Ray goes "Boom!".  Green Aliens stop and stare.]
[Camera cuts to Ace & Kim running down the hall.]
ACE: Now to pick up the Grootlings and head for home.
[Star Pac flies out of the Space Station]

[Sometime later, the Star Pac flies away from the Moon.]
ACE: The Moon Colony is safe.
KIMBERLY: And the Grootlings will have a nice home in Space Command's interplanetary zoo.
[Camera pans back to show a box of Grootlings on Ace's lap.]
ACE: Well, I may not have gotten my cure, but at least we've got the Moon Colony and the Groots all under control.
[Ace transforms.]
DEXTER: Whoa-o-o-oa!  Wha? *falls backward & laughs as the Grootlings play around him* 
DEXTER: Cut it out, you guys.  *laughs*
KIMBERLY: *giggles* Looks like the Groots have got -you- under control too, Dexter.
[Camera switches to outside shot of the Star Pac flying.]
DEXTER: *laughs* That tickles!   Ha, ha!
[Dexter laughs some more as the Star Pac turns away from the camera.]
DEXTER: Kimmie!
[Fade to black]

***End of Transcript***