I apologize if this is the second time this item gets posted, but it seems
like fanfic.com is allergic to anything coming from Netcom, and my normal mail
reader is connected via them... I'm sending this via an alternate mail router,
which seems to be accepted at the destination.
Anyhow, I've dusted off my copy of Episode #1, and here it is for you...
Comments are appreciated...
Please send them to: jrispoli@ix.netcom.com, that way I can sort the responses
and reply to them easier than thru my hotmail.com address.
Thanks,
Joe Rispoli
Final Urusei Yatsura Season
(Version 6.1 dated January 25, 1997)
Episode I: THE EMPIRE STRIKES OUT!!!
By Joe Rispoli and Mike Termena
Based on Characters Created by Rumiko Takahashi
in her Manga Series "URUSEI YATSURA", as well
as the Star Wars Saga created by George Lucas.
(No copyright infringment is intended by the publishing of this work of
fan-fiction. It is meant as an homage of respect and love for the characters and
their creators.}
[The scene opens with the camera zooming in on the Planet Uru,
subtitled with the note "Planet Urusei 1971 A.D."]
[The camera continues zooming in on the planet, thru the cloud cover,
and onto the home/spaceship belonging to Lum's parents...]
[The camera does a dissolve inside the ship, refocusing in the
3-year-old Lum-chan's bedroom, where she lies sleeping, cuddling her favorite
doll,whose tossled brown hair and blue-clad arms can be seen poking out from
under her blanket.]
[Lum-chan wakes up, blinking and rubbing her eyes, stretching a bit, and
then she hops out of bed, holding onto her doll.]
Lum-chan: (Bounding down the hallway, looking for-)"Momma?...
Momma?..." (Talking to her doll.) "Where's my Momma?"
[She finds her mother in a viewing room, sitting at a desk, operating a
panel which controls a time scanner, projecting scenes from Lum's future.]
[Some of the scenes being shown are Lum and Ataru's introduction, their
first game of tag, her acceptance of his accidental marriage proposal, his
subsequent rejections of her amorous advances, as well as various "Darling No
Baka!!" ('Darling you Idiot!!') scenes.]
Momma: (growling at the screen) "Baka, indeed!"
Lum-chan:(Repeating the phrase she's just heard, she mini-zaps the doll
she is holding, causing it's hair to stand on end.) "Darling... No... Baka!!!"
(Then she giggles...)
[Surprised, Momma's hand slips on the controls, causing scenes to flash
by too quickly to register as much more than a blur. Lum arm-in-arm with
Megane, her refusal to accept Ataru's pleas to return to him, and various other
quick shots from the Final Season Script, all centered on Lum. Then the scanner
stops at a scene of Lum and Ataru hovering together in a mid-air kiss. A date
is displayed on the bottom of the screen (April 13, 1987.)]
[Momma notices the colors in this last scene seem to be a bit off, but
the computer indicates that they are correct. She widens the area of the scan,
and then she gasps as she realizes what she's witnessing. The entire
night-time sky directly above the young couple is covered with a series of
softly glowing and pulsating multi-colored concentric circles of light, centered
directly above the re-united couple.]
Lum-chan: (Pointing excitedly at what she sees on the screen.)
"A rainbow! Momma, look at the rainbow!!!"
Momma: (Her face reflects the wonder she feels.) "No, Lum-chan, It's
something much rarer than that. It's... It's a Starbow... a Starbow!"
[Momma focuses the screen back onto Lum and Ataru, as Lum-chan
bounces onto her Mother's lap.]
Lum-chan: "Momma, who's the pretty lady?"
Momma: "It's you, ...Sweetheart. It's you as you will be someday... The
day a grand and glorious future begins for you and ...your Darling..."
Lum-chan: "...My...Darling?"
Momma: (Taking Lum-chan's hand, they walk over to a doorway which leads
to a veranda built into the side of the ship. Pointing up into the star-filled
sky, her voice filled with pride for the great destiny she has foreseen for her
daughter, a legend yet to be, prophesied long ago by the seers of her race.):
"Lum-chan, do you see that little yellow star up there? The one at the tip of
the tail of the Great Tiger Constellation?"
Lum-chan: (Looking upward.) "Yes, Momma."
Momma: "That's your wishing star, sweetheart. The star that will make
all your wishes and dreams come true."
Lum-chan: "My wishing star, Momma?"
Momma: "Oh, yes Lum-chan. There's a little boy who lives there, and he
doesn't know it yet, but together with you, he has the power... and the love...
to make all of your dreams come true. All of them... for both of you..." (A
tear escapes from her eye.)
Lum-chan: "Momma, don't cry! Why are you crying?"
Momma: "Oh, Lum-chan!" (Hugging her daughter close to her.) "It's all
right, I'm crying because I'm happy for you and your Darling."
Lum-chan: (Looking up at her wishing star, the star Sol, which the
planet Earth orbits): "My... Darling..."
* * *
(The scene shifts to the year 1986...)
Lum: (Floating in the sky, looking for...) "Darling? Where are you, my
Darling? (Spotting him below her...) Ahh, there you are!!!!"
[Lightning Strikes] (Lou Christie) {Ataru's Theme - Opening Song}
[The opening titles start, with Lum chasing her Darling around
Tomobiki. Ataru is hiding in various ridiculous places (Trash bins, behind
trees, bushes, park benches, etc.) while pursuing other girls.... But the
sequence ends with him in his room, secretly smiling to himself as Lum flies in
thru the balcony doorway... Knowing all too well how it will end... someday...]
Listen to me baby, you gotta understand...
You're old enough to know the makings of a man...
Listen to me baby, it's hard to settle down...
Am I asking too much for you to stick around?
Every boy wants a girl he can trust to the very end...
Baby, that's you... Won't you wait? But till then...
When I see lips begging to be kissed (Stop!)
I can't stop... (Stop!)
I can't stop myself... (Stop!)
Lightning's striking again... Lightning's striking again...
Nature's taken over my one track mind...
Believe or not, you're in my heart all the time...
All the girls are saying that you'll end up a fool...
For the time being, baby, let my mind rule...
When I settle down, I want one baby on my mind...
Forgive and forget, and I'll make up for all lost time...
If she's put together fine, then she's in my mind...(Stop!)
I can't stop... (Stop!)
I can't stop myself... (Stop!)
Lightning's striking again... Lightning's striking again...
And again and again and again...
Lightning's striking again... Lightning's striking again...
There's a chapel in the pines waiting for us, around the bend...
Picture in your mind... Love forever, but till then...
If she gives me a sign that she wants to make time... (Stop!)
I can't stop... (Stop!)
I can't stop myself (Stop!)
Lightning's striking again... Lightning's is striking me again...
And again and again and again and...
Lightning's striking me again...
* * *
[August 1986]:
[The camera zooms thru space, panning down onto Oyuki's World, with a
Star Destroyer-type ship approaching it.]
[The scene changes to Princess Oyuki's private quarters within the
palace complex. Oyuki herself is absent, but the rest of the Urusei Yatsura
regulars are present, dressed in their "Rock the Planet" outfits and discussing
their return to Earth.]
Chibi: "Geez, vacation's just about up. Who wants to go back to school
anyway?"
Ataru: "Speak for yourself. I just wonder why Oyuki insisted we all
should be here. Personally, I can't wait to get back. This place could bore a
corpse." [to himself] "Besides, I can't wait to get back and chase babes. The
women here are foxy enough, but no way you can get a rise out of them." (He
shivers.) "Talk about the proverbial cold shoulder.."
Mendo: "Selfish as usual, Moroboshi. You could at least be grateful
that it's cool here, or have you forgotten what Tomobiki is like in August?"
[Meanwhile, Ran is in another part of the room, admiring one of Oyuki's
pet Sherbertos and scheming (as always) at the same time.]
Ran: (To herself) "If I could just find a way to get it back to
Tomobiki, I wouldn't make the same mistake I made the last time. I won't let Lum
get near it..."
(Ran's thoughts are interrupted by a loud *AHEM* from nearby.
Turning, she sees Lum and Benten regarding her with a distinctly cool look).
Ran: (guiltily): "I was just..."
Lum: "Ran, whatever you're thinking about, you better just forget it."
Benten: "And that goes for me, too. I remember turning into a
popsicle the last time you got your hands on one of those things. If you forgot
about it already, I haven't! So don't even think about it!"
(See AnimEigo's URUSEI YATSURA OAV #2A: RAGING SHERBERT for further
background info on the gang's past experience with an upset Sherberto.)
[Ran works up a scathing reply which will remain undelivered as an alarm
siren begins to wail. The group mills around in panic.]
Various voices: "Hey, what the???" "What's going on???"
"What is it???"
[Princess Oyuki enters the room, and moving with all deliberate speed,
activates a switch on the wall . A previously hidden communications console is
revealed. The face of a senior military officer appears, one of her Commanders,
who bears a striking resemblance to the Princess, a cousin, perhaps?]
Commander Nordstrom: "Princess Oyuki!"
Oyuki: "What is it, Commander?"
Commander Nordstrom: "An unidentified ship approachs, Princess. It
appeared from Hyperspace only a few minutes ago and has entered low orbit about
the planet. Sensors indicate that it is a warship, similar to our GLACIER-class
in capabilities."
Oyuki: "GLACIER-class? A most powerful vessel."
Commander Nordstrom: "Yes, Princess. We have been unable to
establish contact with it, and therefore classified the unknown as hostile. What
are---" (there is a burst of static in the transmission). "Princess, the
intruder has just opened fire on us."
Oyuki: "Raise defensive shields. Have the surface emplacements hold
fire until they attempt to land."
Commander Nordstrom: "They appear to be launching transports and fighter
escorts now. Princess, the shield generators are vulnerable to ground assault,
as is the palace. I urgently suggest that you allow us to transport you to a
safer location."
Oyuki (responding in the closest thing to panic anyone has ever seen the
normally reserved Ice Princess in.): "NO!!!"
[The others in the room react in surprise at her response--the
intensity with which it is delivered is not in keeping with Oyuki's normal
behavior--she repeats herself, more calmly this time.]
Oyuki: "No. This is my home, and I will not abandon it."
(to herself) "Nor will I abandon you, Kaji. If the palace is lost, so is any
chance of bringing you home, my love."
Commander Nordstrom: "Very well, Princess."
(Oyuki now switches to another comm channel. A younger officer appears
on the screen).
Oyuki: "Captain, are the palace guards deployed?"
Captain: "All personnel are at their posts, Princess. However, I must
advise you that the enemy forces have made additional landings in this area, and
also near the vicinity of the power generators. It might be wise to evacuate
while there is still time."
Oyuki: "We fight HERE, Captain!!!"
Captain: "As you wish, my Princess."
[The lighting suddenly flickers and goes out entirely. The picture on
the comm unit goes out as well, but both the lighting and picture return after a
moment's delay.]
Oyuki: "What happened, Captain?"
Captain: "We've lost contact with the main power station, Princess. We
must assume the generators have been destroyed. The palace back-ups will serve
routine requirements, but they don't have the capacity to generate a
sufficiently powerful defensive shield. The enemy is deploying heavy armor. We
must assume that an attack here is imminent."
Oyuki: "Once the enemy breaches the palace defenses, the assault will
attempt to reach us here. Your troops are to fight a holding action. Continue
resistance, but withdraw if you are overmatched. Is that clear?"
Captain: "Yes, Princess, but--"
Oyuki: "Your lives are too valuable to be thrown away in last
stands." (Softening the tone of her voice.) "I rely on you to carry out your
orders."
Captain (bowing to her): "It shall be as you command, my Princess."
[Oyuki breaks the communication and turns to the rest of the group, who
have regarded this entire sequence of events with utter amazement.]
Ataru: "I didn't even think they had a military here."
Oyuki: "We are a peaceful race, but we have always known that it is
necessary to have the means to resist those who believe in aggression. But now,
there is much to be done. This is not your world and not your fight. If we
hurry, it should still be possible to send you all home to safety. Then--"
Benten: "Bullshit! Look, Oyuki, I think your officers were right and
that you should leave. But if you're not leaving, then the hell if I am!
Besides," (grinning while she cracks her knuckles) "I haven't been in a good
knock-down drag-out fight in ages. Bring 'em on, I say."
Lum: "Benten's right. What kind of friends would we be if we left you
now?"
Shinobu (giving Oyuki a look of cool determination): "We're all in this
together."
(The others have pretty much said it all, so Ran just nods in
agreement.)
[Oyuki turns to the guys.]
Mendo: "To leave now would be cowardly and dishonorable. This will be
our fight, as well."
Ataru: (Sotto voce) "Dishonor and cowardice just might be smarter,
but..."
[Fortunately nobody hears and Ataru goes along with the general
agreement of Megane and Lum's Guards.]
Oyuki: "You'll need weapons. I'll have you escorted to the armory."
Benten: (Brandishing her favorite auto-energy weapon, the bazooka-sized
model that she's just pulled from who knows where.) "You needn't bother for me!"
Lum: "We have our weapons." [Electricity crackles about her form.
Shinobu and Ran are cracking their knuckles in anticipation.] "But Darling and
the boys will need something to fight with."
Oyuki: (Calling out for an assistant.) "Lieutenant!" [A door opens and a
young and attractive female officer enters the room.] "Lieutenant Frost, please
escort our guests to the armory."
Ataru: (deciding that perhaps war isn't hell after all, he bounds over
to her.] "How do you do, miss. Permit me to introduce... YOW!"
[The lieutenant, it seems has a small measure of the same power over
cold which Princess Oyuki has, and also a correspondingly smaller amount of
control in restraining it.
Oyuki says nothing, but notes approvingly that the warning, and the
frostbite, are quite mild.]
Lieutenant Frost: "Gentlemen, if you'll follow me..."
Ataru: (Drooling as he grabs at the delectable-looking young woman.)
"I'll follow you anywhere!"
(Swearing as he restores circulation to a few frostbitten fingers.) "War
IS hell!"
[The guys and their escort leave the room, and Oyuki turns to the
girls.]
Oyuki: "It is now time for me to take a more active part in this
battle."
Ran: (Obviously frightened at the thought of the impending battle.)
"Oyuki, you don't mean you're going out there?!"
Oyuki: "No. Physically, I shall remain in this room. However, my power
will be felt on the battlefield. I must focus myself completely on this task,
however, so I will seem to be in a trance. I will be unable to talk with you or
divide my concentration except for an emergency. Lum..."
Lum: "Yes, Oyuki?"
Oyuki: "While I am occupied, I need someone to act in my place with my
people. Would you handle communications for me?"
Lum: "But, Oyuki, how will I know what to say?"
Oyuki: "Though unable to communicate directly, I shall be able to
observe what is happening. When an answer is required, I shall give you a
telepathic prompt. You'll know exactly what to say. Will you do it?"
Lum: "Yes, of course."
Oyuki: "Thank you, Lum. And now, I must carry out my duties."
[Oyuki stands very still and closes her eyes. After several moments,
she opens them but they appear to be unfocused, or more accurately, focused far
beyond the walls of the room. Various transmissions are coming in through the
comm unit. The overall situation appears to be a stalemate, but the enemy force
assaulting the palace is steadily gaining ground.]
Lum: "Continue resistance, but don't let them overrun you."
Communicator: "We've pulled off into side corridors. They aren't
pursuing, they seem content to restrain us. They're continuing to advance on
your position."
Lum: "Acknowledged."
[Lieutenant Frost and the guys race through a side door and into the
room. The Lieutenant studies a monitor and throws a switch mounted next to the
comm unit.]
Megane: "What's that?"
Lt. Frost: "It's a last-ditch barrier for this chamber. You can think
of it as a polar shield."
Lum: "Polar shield?"
Lt. Frost: "Yes. In order to breach the door of this room, they'll have
to eliminate the shield first. It's a form of super-cold, capable of absorbing
tremendous amounts of heat or energy."
Mendo: "Will it stop them?"
Lt. Frost: "Probably not, with the firepower they're deploying. It's
merely a delaying tactic. Our only real hope now is the Princess."
[The others give the Lieutenant a baffled look. The scene now
switches to the corridor outside Oyuki's chambers, where armored figures have
clustered. Firing can be heard in the distance, but here things are quiet. An
officer rushes over to a hulking figure clad in black armor and delivers his
report).
Officer: "We've driven off all resistance from the palace troops, my
Lord, but the entrance way is blocked by a most unusual shield."
Lord Syth: "What is the nature of this shield?"
Officer: "A form of super cold energy, my Lord. Sensors indicated at
least two Mega-laser Cannons will be required to override and penetrate it."
Lord Syth: "Get them down here at once!"
Officer: "Yes, my Lord!"
[The required weapons are quickly transported in on anti-grav sleds and
brought into position. They are huge in the confines of the corridor and have
an air of menace about them even before they are activated.]
Gun Commander: "The power leads are connected, my Lord. We're ready to
fire."
Lord Syth: "Then do so."
Gun Commander: "Yes, my Lord." (to the gun crews) "Fire!"
[The weapons fire at full intensity into the barrier. For long moments,
nothing happens--then a digital readout held by one of the troops shows a slow
increase in the barrier's temperature. Meanwhile, the weapons are nearing
critical limits. It is questionable which will fail first, the lasers or the
shield. At the same time, the black-clad figure is receiving most unwelcome
news from the surface.]
Officer: "My Lord, surface conditions are deteriorating rapidly. The
temperature has dropped 30 degrees in the past 15 minutes, and surface winds are
now a steady 60 kilometers per hour and increasing. The weather is already
affecting our armored scout units. If it gets much worse, even the Quadruped
Transports will be unable to function."
Lord Syth: "How can this be?! Our instruments and weather probes have
given no indication of severe weather anywhere on the planet's surface!"
Officer: "Yes, that's true, my Lord. Nonetheless, conditions are getting
worse by the minute."
Lord Syth: (to himself) "The cause is inside that room, I can feel it."
(To Officer): "Commander, pull your troops into a defensive perimeter
and get them under cover. Once we are successful here, I feel that the weather
will cease to be a problem."
Officer: "Yes, my Lord!"
[The lasers have been firing steadily through all of this, and have gone
beyond their critical limits. One of the lasers and the shield fail almost
simultaneously.]
Anonymous Trooper: "We did it, the shield's down!"
[Moments later] "Look out!"
[The right side laser erupts in a series of sparks as combat
engineers hastily put out the fire. The Gun Commander examines it and
reports to the dark figure.]
Gun Commander: "It's completely burned out, my Lord."
Lord Syth: "Will one laser be sufficient to breach the door?"
Gun Commander: "It should be, my Lord. The shield was the primary
barrier. However, we should operate the laser on low power for safety's sake. It
will take more time..."
Lord Syth: "Time, lieutenant, is a luxury we do not have. Put the laser
on overload if necessary, but I want that door down as soon as possible!"
Gun Commander: (Swallows nervously as he replies) "Y-Yes, my Lord! At
once!"
[Inside Oyuki's chambers, Lt. Frost notes the occurrences just
outside the room on a monitor, and turns to the assembled group.]
Lt. Frost: "Well, that's that. They just overrode the shield."
Mendo: "Now what?"
Lt. Frost: "The door will be next. You'd better find firing posi--"
[The lieutenant whirls. A low hum can now be heard and the door is starting to
glow a dull red.] "They'll be thru any minute now! Get ready!"
[The guys, along with Shinobu and Ran, vary in expression from
determined to nervous. Lum looks grim, Benten positively thrilled with the idea
of mortal combat.]
[The scene switches to the corridor outside as the door rapidly
overheats and starts to glow from dull red, a cherry red, then yellow, and
finally, white. There is an explosion as the overstressed metal gives way and
slags down to flow over the corridor floor. Combat engineers quickly spray the
molten metal with a formula that cools it down to where the armored troopers can
safely cross it. Vapor from the mix of super hot and super cold wreaths the now
open doorway in mist as the first armored figures advance toward it.]
Lord Syth: (murmuring to himself) "Soon, now, very soon."
Officer (on comm unit): "My Lord, surface conditions are now nearly off
the scale. All surface transports have been immobilized, and personnel survival
limits are nearly reached!"
Lord Syth: "Hold your position, Commander. We should soon see an end to
the weather problems any moment now. Eh?"
[The last remark is in response to a growing commotion coming from the
other side of the door way. It is growing in volume and sounds remarkably
undisciplined and unmilitary.]
Lord Syth: "Scout team, deploy a scout-bot thru the doorway, let's see
what is on the other side."
Scout leader: "Yes, my Lord!"
[He sets down one of the "mouse-bots" a small rectangular wheeled bot
with heavy duty sensors. It scurries thru the doorway, and disappears from
view. Sensors on the leaders monitor show the locations of the Urusei members.]
Ataru (The scout bot is picked up by Ataru, who scuttles to the front of
the group and is amazed by the gadget.]: "Hey, guys, look! A toy robot! I
thought those things were only on TV or in the movies! Gee, I wonder what this
button does?"
Megane: "Ataru, DON'T PUSH...."
[A soft click is heard as Ataru presses the button, then shortly
thereafter, an explosion occurs and a large cloud of smoke occupies the space
where Ataru had been standing previously. When the smoke clears, only a
medium-sized crater is visible.]
Lum (startled): "Darling??? Oh, NO!!! They've killed Darling!!!" (An
electrical aura starts building up around a very agitated Lum, not a pretty
sight at all.)
Lord Syth: "So, they found our scout-bot. They must be very near.
Advance!!! We must find the secret of their weather control device!"
[The troops advance thru the doorway in pairs to be met by...]
Mendo (Brandishing his family sword in a menacing manner.): "Excuse me,
gentlemen, but would you mind stopping right there?"
Armored trooper (Laughing): "Come on, kid. Get out of the way before
you get hurt."
[Mendo get agitated at this, imagining Ataru in front of him, he does a
slice and dice shredder routine on the armor the trooper was wearing.]
[Megane holds a blaster, tapping it against the helmet of the other
trooper, who drops his rifle as he gets the message.]
[The two captive troopers are unceremoniously pushed into Mendo and
Megane by their backups, who are accompanied by the Dark Lord and more troopers.
Mendo and Megane wisely surrender to the superior force surrounding them.]
Lord Syth: (To himself): "If this is the best they have to defend the
area, I'll have the palace under our complete control in no time!"
[As he rounds the corridor, he comes face to face with:]
Lum: (Crackling and seething with megawatts of energy): "You...You...
DARLING KILLER!!!"
Ran: (As a horde of her dolls race up to the right side of the wall,
shattering it as they explode while she yells out.) "For Lum's Darling!"
Shinobu: (As she barehandly rips up the left side of the wall.) "Poor
Ataru, we'll all miss you so."
Benten: (Aiming her auto-fire energy bazooka at the largest
concentration of troops.) "I hope your insurance is paid up, boys!"
Oyuki: (Having awoken from her trance after accomplishing the
immobilization of the enemy forces planet-wide.) "FREEZE!!!!"
[The scene is utter pandemonium as]:
[Lum's mega-zap hits Lord Syth and his eyes (as well as the rest of his
suit) light up. He is hit by Benten's Macro-Bazooka blast, and falls into the
crater created by it. He is partially covered by the pile of rubble Ran created
lands on him, and completely engulfed when the other half of the hallway, tossed
by Shinobu, hits its target. Then Oyuki's Freeze-blast coats the entire area
with 2 feet of ice, entrapping the Armored Troopers as well as the entombed Dark
Lord.]
Benten: (Reaching under the pile, pulling out a severely dented helmet,
and turning it upside down, she spins it nonchalantly on one finger.) "Well,
that takes care of him...."
Lord Syth: (From under the pile of rubble and ice, as a hand weakly
protrudes): "Impressive. Most impressive."
[Crawling out of the rubble-filled created by the scout-bot's
destruction, we see Ataru, somewhat the worse for wear, but still alive. He
quickly scuttles over to the stunned girls, getting all the free grabs in that
he can.]
Ataru: "Hi, girls! Did I miss anything?"
[From the upset looks on the various girls' faces, and the slaps,
poundings and hammer-slams which quickly follow, it can be inferred that he
didn't miss a thing...]
Lum (shrieking in happy astonishment): "Darling! You're ALIVE!!!"
[Ataru grimaces, as the girls clear the area and he receives a 50,000 volt hug
from the overjoyed Lum.]
(Concluded in Part Two...)
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