“Plan 8 From Outer Space”

By Andrew Norris


SCENE ONE - An Operating Room, Watership Hospital

A PATIENT is lying upright on a bed with their head in a bandage. A 
BEAVER DOCTOR enters along with a SQUIRREL NURSE and moves over to the 
PATIENT.


DOCTOR: Are you ready, Lt. X?


PATIENT: (Middle-pitched, masculine voice) I'm ready, Dr. Crofter.


CROFTER: Mirror please, Nurse.


As he begins to unwrap the bandages, the NURSE brings over a mirror and 
hands it to LT. X, who takes it and waits for the bandages to be 
completely removed before examining his new face. Underneath the 
bandages is a Southern Rooster, who appears satisfied with the result.


LT. X: (Smiling) Oh, thank you, Doctor! It's better than I thought it 
would be!


CROFTER: I'm glad you think so, Lieutenant, but there is a matter I 
must discuss with you.


LT. X: Oh?


CROFTER: Because everybody believes you to be dead, there may be 
questions asked about your return, as well as your new body...


LT. X: And don't tell me, you think it best if I change my name, right?


CROFTER: (Nods) If that doesn't bother you.


LT. X: (Sitting up) No, it doesn't bother me. What does bother me is 
trying to think of a new name for myself. I've always been used to 
Andrew Norris or Chuck Bodgers, but with a clean slate, this might be 
difficult.


CROFTER: Well, take a good look in the mirror and say who you see 
looking back at you. What does your new face remind you of?


LT. X: (Looking in the mirror) Foghorn Leghorn.


CROFTER: (Frowns) It's your choice, not mine. (Writes on some 
paperwork) Lt. F. Leghorn, S.P.A.C.E. Right, if you'll wait here, 
Lieutenant, I'll inform Admiral Blade about your recovery.


LEGHORN: (Lies back and think) < Norris is dead, long live Leghorn. >


SCENE TWO - Rigel V

The KOALAS are going about business as usual. Children are playing in 
the parks, with their parents watching over them. In space, the 
satellite defence system is still in place, blocking off any kind of 
Toad attack. Even so, a Toad Cruiser lumbers up, with TOADBORG on the 
bridge.


TOADBORG: All rise for the presence of mighty KOMPLEX!


The STORMTOADS on the bridge all stand up and salute, as KOMPLEX (in 
his KOMPLEX-2-GO unit) stomps onto the Bridge. Immediately, all 
STORMTOADS give him a Nazi salute.


STORMTOADS: (In unison) All hail mighty KOMPLEX!


KOMPLEX: Today marks the beginning of the Toad conquest of the 
Aniverse! Commence Plan 8!


One of the STORMTOADS salutes, and presses a sequence of buttons. 
Outside, several of the muscular Toad-Clones wander out in spacesuits, 
and begin to tear apart the satellites in the defence system with their 
bare hands, as though they were made of cardboard.


KOMPLEX: (Grins) Soon, they will create a gap large enough for us to 
sneak in unnoticed! Today, Rigel V, tomorrow the Aniverse!


The STORMTOADS on the bridge watch in amazement at the spectacle before 
them, all impressed at such strength.


ON THE SURFACE OF RIGEL V...

On the surface, a Koala officer named CALLAGHAN picks up a warning from 
his console, and types in a few keys. Within moments, images from the 
other satellites show the TOAD-CLONES ripping apart the defence system 
on a monitor.


CALLAGHAN:, Ah, damn! (Flicks a few switches) This is Rigel V sending a 
distress call to the planet Genus! Come in Genus!


SCENE THREE - Genus Control Centre, Genus

CORPORAL RICHARD NASS, who has recovered from his previous attack, is 
now back to operating the radio at Genus Control. Instantly, he 
recieves the transmission.


NASS: This is Genus recieving you loud and clear, Rigel V. What's the 
trouble?


CALLAGHAN: (Over radio) You're not gonna believe this, Genus, but we've 
got some kind of Super-Toads or something ripping apart our defence 
system!


NASS: (Confused) Say again, Rigel V?


CALLAGHAN: I repeat, our monitors are showing some muscle-bound Toads 
literally tearing up the satellites! We need help!


NASS: Standby, Rigel!


He moves over to the central console in the middle of the Control Room 
and presses a large red button. All across the Control Centre, a siren 
wails, followed by an announcement by NASS over the Tannoy.


NASS: Red Alert! Red Alert! All S.P.A.C.E. ships to be launched 
immediately! Repeat: All UAC personnel to launch for Rigel V! Condition 
Red!


DOGSTAR is the first to launch, with MIMI following a close second. 
BUCKY quickly takes the lead, with COLONEL RAUL MEW following sans 
NASS, while COLONEL DASH DARING is the very last to leave. Immediately, 
the four frigates and the Saucer are spaceborne, heading for Rigel V.


SCENE FOUR - Over Rigel V

The TOAD-CLONES have created a small hole large enough for the Double 
Bubbles, but not large enough for the Cruiser. They strain at their 
task as the Double Bubbles guard them. KOMPLEX watches eagerly from the 
Bridge.


KOMPLEX: (Monologuing) See how the heroes of the Empire do not deviate 
from their task! See how the Mammal defence system is puny compared to 
them! See how Rigel falls to the might that is KOMPLEX!


One of the Double-Bubbles suddenly blows up, as the four frigates 
emerge from Hyperspace and begin to open fire on the waves of Double 
Bubbles streaming towards them.


BUCKY: (Barking) Break off and assume attack formation!


The four frigates split and form a line, blasting at any Double Bubbles 
that are too close for comfort. Some break through and inflict minor 
damage on the shields, while others completely miss and spin around for 
another run. Meanwhile, the TOAD-CLONES have successfully broken 
through and the Cruiser begins to move forward slowly.


KOMPLEX: (Into radio) Deal with those pesky tin-cans at once! Take no 
prisoners!


The TOAD-CLONES give a slight grunt and fly off towards the frigates, 
while the Cruiser begins to enter the atmosphere, only to suddenly come 
under fire from hidden masers. The heavy clouds prevent any visual 
contact.


TOADBORG: Activate heat-sensors! Find out where those shots are coming 
from!


It doesn't take long to find out. Several KOALA starfighters swoop out 
of the skies and begin to attack the Cruiser. The ship rumbles 
violently as it is hit repeatedly. TOADBORG staggers to his feet and 
quickly grabs a STORMTOAD with Sergeant insignia.


TOADBORG: Sergeant, why haven't our Double Bubbles been launched?


SERGEANT: (Quivering) Th...they have sir, but they're all dealing with 
the frigates, sir.


TOADBORG: (Bellows) WHAT?!


KOMPLEX: Toadborg, I specifically placed you in charge of this 
expedition! Why were reinforcements not prepared?


TOADBORG: We were informed that Rigel V had no starfighters, mighty 
KOMPLEX, I assumed...


KOMPLEX knocks TOADBORG to one side with a flick of his arm, sending 
TOADBORG hurling towards a wall.


KOMPLEX: Never assume, Toadborg! I should have commanded this trip 
myself! No matter, it can easily be rectified. (To Stormtoads) Open all 
weapons and recall the Clones. By hook or by crook, Rigel shall be 
ours!


STORMTOAD #1: Maser cannons on Levels 1 to 3 have been activated.


STORMTOAD #2: Main power to Communications is failing. Switiching to 
auxiliary.


Outside, the damage to the Cruiser is more apparent. Small fires have 
broken out towards the rear, and the maser-cannons are having trouble 
trying to keep up with the pace of the Starfighters, who continue to 
pummel the Cruiser as it descends. One of them even blows up a maser 
turret and renders it useless.


IN ORBIT...

The number of Double Bubbles is thankfully dwindling, and the Toad 
Croakers are now in flight dealing with the TOAD-CLONES. Just as the 
last Double-Bubble is destroyed, LT. WOLF is attacked from behind by a 
TOAD-CLONE, who attempts to choke LT. WOLF and appears to be 
succeeding.


BRUISER: Hold on, fella! I'm comin'!


BRUISER flies his Croaker alongside WOLF's. The TOAD-CLONE takes one 
look at BRUISER and instantly lets go, his face filled with fear.


BRUISER: (Smirks) Boo!


The TOAD-CLONE takes off, fleeing for his life. The other TOAD-CLONES 
do the same when they see a Berserker Baboon in a Toad Croaker 
screaming towards them.7


TOAD-CLONES: Berserker! Retreat! Let's get outta here!


WOLF: (Smiles) The toughest monsters to come out of a laboratory and 
yet some things never change!


BRUISER: Yeah, just swell!


They suddenly notice the Toad Cruiser leaving orbit, now almost 
entirely on fire, and being pursued by the Starfighters.


BUCKY: (Into intercom) Alright, team! We've got them where we want 
them! Open fire on the Cruiser before it tries to limp into Hyperspace!


The frigates break formation and join up with the Starfighters, with 
the Toad Croakers following suit. They all open fire in an effort to 
cripple the Cruiser further. Aboard the ship, the STORMTOADS are 
joining with the TOAD-CLONES to try and combat the fires, while the 
more cowardly are fleeing in Escape Pods. TOADBORG and KOMPLEX stand 
firmly on the bridge with the SERGEANT and a handful of faithful 
STORMTOADS.


KOMPLEX: (Shouts over noise) Sergeant, have we reached Hyperdrive 
capability yet?


SERGEANT: Yes sir, but...


KOMPLEX: No, buts! Activate Hyperdrive!


SERGEANT: We might not be able to de-activate it, sir!


KOMPLEX: I don't care! Activate it now!


THE SERGEANT reluctantly complies, and the burning Cruiser slips away 
into Hyperspace. Despite failing to defeat the invaders, the KOALAS in 
the Starfighters still cheer for successfully fending them off.


SCENE FIVE - Rigel V, sometime later

Several KOALA scientists are at work on building new satellites for the 
Defence system, as QUINTON shows BUCKY, JENNY and DOGSTAR how advanced 
Koala technology has progressed since their last visit.


QUINTON: Ever since the last Toad invasion, we've learnt their 
technology by examining it and then using it against them. (Points to 
the Starfighters) Those Starfighters are actually modelled on Double 
Bubble technology!


JENNY: (Impressed) I just can't believe that a few years would cause so 
much change!


BUCKY: Yeah, but sometimes the old can be better than the new. (To 
Quinton) Are you sure that this technology is being kept here 
exclusively?


QUINTON: Very sure, captain. We only ever use the Starfighters in self-
defence, as you saw, and we want to avoid sharing the same fate as the 
Toads.


DOGSTAR: I'll bet the Admiralty'll have their heads spinning if they 
saw what had happened here!


BUCKY: Speaking of, I need to speak to somebody there when we get back.


DOGSTAR: Oh, who's that?


BUCKY: (Quickly thinks of a lie) Oh, it's a new recruit from the 
Academy. I don't know his name, but he's holding the rank of Lieutenant 
at the moment.


SCENE SIX - Fleet-Admiral Blade's Office, UAC Admiralty, Genus

FLEET-ADMIRAL RYGAR BLADE finishes writing his signature on an ID card, 
which he hands to LT. LEGHORN on the other side of the desk.


RYGAR: Hand that to the Personnel Department down the Hall and they'll 
fix you up.


LEGHORN: It says here that my name is "Lieutenant Frank N. Leghorn".


RYGAR: You're not offended by that, are you?


LEGHORN: (Shakes his head) No, sir. (stands up) If that's all, sir, 
then...


RYGAR: Oh, just a moment! I forgot to mention a couple of things. 
Firstly, you'll be first officer aboard the "Fearless" from now on. 
When the war came to an end, there were no Earthpeople willing to take 
on Fireball XL6, and nobody here in the Aniverse who knew how, so the 
Admiralty scrapped it to try and combat our budget problem.


LEGHORN: I understand, sir. I'm sort of glad you did, personally. And 
the second thing, sir?


RYGAR: (Leans closer) I've said this to Bucky and I'll say it to you. 
If you start preaching about your resurrection to anybody else besides 
this small circle, then it wouldn't be long until people realized that 
you're a product of KOMPLEX, and they wouldn't hesitate in driving all 
of us out. Understand?


LEGHORN: (Uneasily) Y...es sir. Will that be all?


RYGAR: Yes, that's all, Lieutenant.


LEGHORN steps out of the office and shuts the door, before making his 
way to the Personnel department.


LEGHORN: (Muttering) He makes it sound like Frankenstein.


SCENE SEVEN - The Toad Cruiser, Hyperspace

TOADBORG and KOMPLEX are on the bridge as TOAD TECHNICIANS on board do 
all they can to repair the damage. Most of the fires are now under 
control, and the STORMTOADS, including the SERGEANT, are busy 
attempting to exit Hyperspace.


TOADBORG: We were unsuccessful, mighty KOMPLEX. Forgive me for my error 
of judgement.


KOMPLEX: All is not lost, Toadborg. The Clones were all recovered, and 
at least we inflicted some damage on their defence system. However, I 
shall personally see that the Clones are conditioned against the age-
old phobia of Berserker Baboons.


SERGEANT: Sir, we're clear to exit Hyperspace, but we cannot pinpoint 
our co-ordinates.


KOMPLEX: (Scowls) Just get us out of Hyperspace, you snivelling fool!


THE SERGEANT reluctantly complies, and the Cruiser exists Hyperspace 
into a section of the Aniverse they've never seen before.


TO BE CONTINUED...