Chapter #25The Puppet Master Strikes!-1 by: Seuzz   You flip back a few pages, and find yourself in the middle of something that looks like a television script. Backwards you scoop through the pages until you find what looks like the start, and then on the page before that you find what looks like a cover letter. Your interest perks up when you see the letterhead: MARVEL PRODUCTIONS LTD. The date is smudged, and only the month and year—December, 1981—is legible
Dear Dennis, [you read]
Enclosed please find a revised script for "The Incredible Hulk," episode 6, lately titled "Bruce Banner Unmasked." I know you asked me only for an outline of my ideas for revision, but I find I write better by tackling a script directly. I emphasize, THIS IS NOT A SCRIPT SUBMISSION. It is only a highly detailed outline in an unorthodox format.
I found a lot to admire in Michael's original, and I suggest keeping much of it -- there's no point throwing out what works. I won't belabor via typewriter my reasons for throwing out one of its two plots -- which will necessitate a new title; I'm suggesting "The Puppet Master Strikes!" -- and you can telephone me if you want to discuss things.
One warning: I'm changing how the Puppet Master's power works. Hey, I figure if the cartoon can turn Rick Jones into a homosexual cowboy with a pretend girlfriend, it can fiddle with the Puppet Master's powers.
Best, and looking forward to talking to you.
--JSE
PS added just before putting this in the mailer:
Margaret called to say that a burger company is sniffing around about doing a tie-in with the show, and wants to know if this episode could be adapted into a pamphlet-sized floppy for inclusion in a kids' burger meal. I say, "Why the hell not; it can't be any more unappetizing than the cardboard burgers." So I've stuffed a couple of pages of an idea between the leaves of the script. I figure the kids might be intrigued by the Puppet Master's particular threat, so I thought we could give them some character sketches and a description of how the Puppet Master GETS YA! -- make 'em hungry for the actual story, whatever shape it ends up in. I worked up some cheap illustrations, some almost traced directly from the story bible, to give an idea of what it might look like. Cheers, JSE.
You turn the page and find a yellowed script. You start to read ...
* * * * *
"The Puppet Master Strikes!"
FADE IN:
EXT. DESERT -- ARMY BASE -- DAY
The frame PANS across a desert. Plants, wildlife and sand.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Hey, this is Stan Lee! Wouldn't it be
horrible if a super-villain could
control The Hulk? Well, you're about
to see the evil Puppet Master try to
do just that! Will he succeed? Hang
tight, heroes, 'cos here we go!
The frame stops on a pair of soldiers squatting around a grenade launcher as MAJOR NED TALBOT looks on.
TALBOT
Alright men, look lively! Remember
the element of surprise!
THE HULK lands next to Talbot with a HEAVY THUD. Talbot SHRIEKS and dives behind some sand bags.
TALBOT
Battle positions! Man all weapons!
It's the Hulk!
Talbot gapes as SOLDIER #1 calmly walks up to pat the glowering Hulk on the shoulder.
SOLDIER #1
Surprise, Major. It's just one of the
models we're using in the weapons
tests. Remember?
The frame PANS to take in a motorized catapult, already loaded with another grimacing Hulk model. Talbot stands up.
TALBOT
Of course. I knew that. I was just
practicing my reflexes!
The frame PANS, TILTS and DOLLIES IN on the nearby hills, then DISSOLVES TO:
EXT. DESERT HILLS -- MINING CAMP -- DAY
On a hilltop, binoculars to his eyes, a short, bald figure grins as he watches the army maneuvers. Behind him stands a Quonset hut. He is the PUPPET MASTER.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Meanwhile, not far away, we find the
villain we warned you about. The
uncanny Puppet Master!
Insert POV of the soldiers, seen thru the binoculars, shooting at Hulk models.
PUPPET MASTER (O.S.)
(giggling)
Boys playing with dolls. But soon
they shall be my playthings!
He turns to look down into a valley on the other side of the ridge. Below, WORKMEN in vests and hard hats move earth with steam shovels, bulldozers, and dump trucks.
PUPPET MASTER (O.S.)
Until now, I didn't have nearly
enough of the atomic clay I use to
control people. But thanks to the
atomic testing, there is heaps of
it here outside Mesa City. With
it, soon there will be nothing I
cannot accomplish!
He moves over to a work table, on which stands a row of clay models (each about a foot tall) that are duplicates of some of the workmen just glimpsed. Beside the models is a pile of glowing clay, and the Puppet Master scoops some up.
PUPPET MASTER
Already the men working the clay
mines are my puppets, and with the
clay they are digging up for me, my
computerized factory is working round
the clock making even more puppets!
He gloats with outstretched arms.
PUPPET MASTER
Soon I will have control of Mesa City.
Then I will take over the army base,
the state --
(giggling)
And end with an empire of puppets
to command!
EXT. DESERT-- DAY
The army fires weapons of various kinds at Hulks that fly through the air. One of these plunges from the sky straight into the frame. The screen goes BLACK.
The frame pulls back to reveal a giant wall monitor being watched by GENERAL ROSS, BETTY ROSS, and BRUCE BANNER. The screen turns into a shot of broken film stock.
BRUCE BANNER
I hope the cameraman wasn't hurt.
GENERAL ROSS
He wasn't, but that's only because it
wasn't the real Hulk, only a full-scale
model. But from this moment on, our
primary mission is to capture that
menace!
He points at Bruce and Betty.
GENERAL ROSS
Ned Talbot is handling the fighting
end. You two use every computer and
test tube on this base to solve the
mystery of who and what he is!
Angle on Bruce Banner as he reacts to the General's order.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Imagine Bruce Banner's shock! He has
just been ordered to reveal his own
terrible secret, for he is the Hulk!
EXT. MESA CITY -- DOWNTOWN -- STREET AND SIDEWALK -- DAY
A modest downtown of store fronts and light foot traffic. RICK JONES and RITA RIVERA stroll with their arms around each other.
RITA
That was a great vacation, Rick, but
I'm glad to be back in Mesa City. We
haven't lived here long, but already
it feels like home.
RICK
Well, it should, considering your dad
lives here too!
As they pass a storefront that reads MASTERS' 3-D PORTRAITS on its window, a WOMAN and her 8-year-old SON bustle out. They brush rudely past Rick and Rita without speaking. The son drops something.
RITA
People should watch where they're
going.
The woman and son stop and turn. Their eyes are blank and colorless, their faces like masks. When she speaks it is with the echoing semi-monotone of the Puppet Master's puppets.
WOMAN
(puppet voice)
I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Please
accept my apology.
Rick kneels and picks up the dropped item. It's a foot-tall Tyrannosaurus Rex, and he's very cheerful as he hands it back to the blank-eyed boy.
RICK
That's alright. Say, that's quite a
toy you got there, pardner!
WOMAN
(puppet voice)
We bought it in this shop. The owner
does amazing work with clay. You
should go in and look around.
RICK
Well, if that dinosaur's anything to
judge by, I think we will!
He and Rita turn. The woman watches them go with dead, blank eyes.  You have the following choice: 1. Continue |
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