Chapter #27The Puppet Master Strikes!-3 by: Seuzz   The script continues on the next page:
* * * * *
INT. MASTERS' 3-D PORTRAITS -- DAY
The shop is spacious. Life-size models of people and animals dot the show floor; the tables and shelves and display cases hold smaller models. The doorbell DINGS as Rick and Rita enter. They look around.
RITA
Oh, Rick, this really is amazing!
Does one man really do all this?
The Puppet Master enters from another room. His manner is oily.
PUPPET MASTER
Indeed I do! My name is Phillip
Masters, and I make three-dimensional
portraits of people and things.
RITA
You mean like sculptures?
PUPPET MASTER
Oh, they're more than sculptures, my
dear. With them I can capture your
very soul!
He indicates a glass-fronted display cabinet, which holds a row of clay puppets. Included are the woman and boy seen previously.
PUPPET MASTER
Would you allow me to make a
sculpture of you?
RITA
Oh, we're just looking.
PUPPET MASTER
There'd be no charge! I would put it
in my display window. A pretty face
such as yours would make superb
advertising!
RICK
Go for it, Rita. If it turns out as
good as he makes it sound, I'll buy
it for you!
PUPPET MASTER
Excellent! If you'll both just stand
over here.
He pushes them to a blank wall where four cameras are pointed. As soon as Rick and Rita are positioned, he produces a pair of scissors.
PUPPET MASTER
Excuse me, but my art requires just a
little bit of voodoo magic!
Rita cries a soft "Oh!" as Puppet Master SNIPS at her hair. Rick only grins as his hair is SNIPPED.
PUPPET MASTER
There! Now I'll go mix this with my
special clay while my cameras scan
you--
Rick's pager BEEPS and he checks it.
RICK
Uh oh. Looks like we'll have to do
this another time, Rita. Bruce wants
to see us.
PUPPET MASTER
Oh, but this will only take a few
minutes!
RICK
Not got time. We have to get back to
Gamma Base One, like, now.
Rick takes Rita's hand and leads her out of the shop. When he's alone, Puppet Master stamps with rage.
PUPPET MASTER
Oh, but now I must add those two to
my puppet collection! They would be
the perfect agents for getting onto
the base, so I can begin making
puppet soldiers!
He opens a secret panel and disappears into another room.
INT. PUPPET MASTER'S LAIR -- DAY
Banks of TV monitors hang on the walls. Some show exterior and interior scenes. Others show people, standing in stiff poses, and beneath these a computerized robot arm uses lasers to carve chunks of clay into the likeness of the displayed individual. In the center of the room is a large computer console covered in blinking buttons.
Puppet Master opens two trays in the console, drops snippets of hair into them, and closes them.
PUPPET MASTER
I have their hair, but I still need
to scan them.
He then turns and begins to working buttons.
PUPPET MASTER
Fortunately, I have special puppets
who can bring them back to me so I can
finish what I have started!
Angle on a display case with multiple clay models standing on a checkerboard. One of these models is a policeman. The square beneath it lights up, and a tone starts BEEPING.
EXT. GAMMA BASE ONE -- ESTABLISHING SHOT -- DAY
INT. GAMMA BASE ONE -- COMPUTER LAB -- DAY
A cavernous lab filled with computer banks, monitors, and work tables. Betty Ross and Bruce Banner are at work.
BETTY
Don't look so glum, Bruce. If
anything can tell us who or what the
Hulk is, the Garth-7 computer can.
BRUCE
I know, Betty.
(V.O.)
That's just what I'm afraid of!
Bruce crosses over to a keyboard and types at it.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Desperate to protect his incredible
secret, Bruce Banner changes the
computer's programming.
A display monitor lights up, reading "Data Contradiction: Reprocess."
BETTY
That's odd. I'm sure those figures
were right. I'll check them again.
BRUCE
While you're doing that, I'll take
these biological samples to the other
lab and start working on them.
He rolls a cart holding an open box of test tubes and Petri dishes out of the room.
INT. GAMMA BASE ONE -- HALLWAY -- DAY
Bruce rolls the cart down a corridor past armed guards.
BRUCE (V.O.)
The army has collected hair and other
samples that the Hulk left at the
scene of his rampages. If they
analyze these, they could link them
to me and learn that I'm really the
Hulk.
EXT. GAMMA BASE ONE -- DAY
Bruce emerges into the open and looks around.
BRUCE (V.O.)
I paged Rick to meet me here, so that
he can take this stuff back into town
and hide it for me. I hope he shows
up before --
Behind him, Major Talbot steps into the frame.
TALBOT
Hi! Banner! Where are you going with
that?
EXT. MESA CITY -- DOWNTOWN -- STREET AND SIDEWALK -- DAY
Rick and Rita approach Rick's truck, which is parked on the street.
RITA
Did Bruce say what he needed us for?
RICK
No, his message just said to hurry.
As he grasps the door handle, a POLICEMAN appears at his side. His eyes are hidden by blank sunglasses.
POLICEMAN
(puppet voice)
Sir, would you please come with me?
RICK
What's wrong, officer?
POLICEMAN
(puppet voice)
Just come with me.
The policeman puts his hand to his holster. Rick reacts with shock. Before anyone can move, the policeman is knocked to the ground with a baseball bat by a paunchy, balding, middle-aged man: RIO RIVERA.
RIO
Rita! Rick! Oh, thank heavens I got to
you in time!
RITA
Dad! What do you think you're doing?
RICK
Yeah, Rio! That was a cop!
RIO
There's no time to explain! If we
don't get out of here right now --!
The frame tilts up to take in a wall-mounted camera above. It BUZZES as it focuses on the scene below.
INT. PUPPET MASTER'S LAIR -- DAY
The Puppet Master watches the scene on a monitor. He pounds the computer console.
PUPPET MASTER
No! That meddling --!
He pushes buttons and speaks into a microphone.
PUPPET MASTER
All my puppets! Stop them and bring
them to my shop!
EXT. MESA CITY -- DOWNTOWN -- STREET AND SIDEWALK -- DAY
Every pedestrian stops and turns to look blankly at Rick, Rita, and Rio. The crowd includes the Woman and Son seen earlier. They all raise their hands and advance. Rick, Rita and Rio fearfully shrink up against each other.
RITA
Dad? Rick? What's going on?
RICK
I don't know, Rita, except that it
looks like really bad news!
You have the following choice: 1. Continue |
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
<<-- Previous · Outline  · Recent Additions © Copyright 2024 Seuzz (UN: seuzz at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Seuzz has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author