THE POWERPUFF GIRLS MOVIE TRANSCRIPT

As transcribed by Compdude

Version 1.0

Legal whatnot: Ó Jack Burns, aka Compdude, 2002. You can post this script wherever you would like. In fact, I encourage it! All I ask is that you leave the script in its original form, with my name and e-mail at the beginning and end. I spent a lot of time typing this in, and my aching fingers would appreciate the recognition. Thank you, and enjoy reading this awesome movie! :-)

***

[Opening shot: A shot of the skyline of Townsville at night. Amidst the shadows and lighted windows of the skyscrapers, a light emanates from the center of the shot.]

Narrator: The city of Townsville!

[an explosion is heard, and a red hue emanates o.c. down on Townsville streets. An alarm is heard in the distance.]

Narrator: … is in some serious… serious… serious trouble!

[Zoom in on a burning building, followed by a donut shop, and several other buildings. The alarm continues in the background.]

Narrator: Day after day, crime, lawlessness and evil are running rampant. Its citizens have lost all hope! They are utterly helpless and in desperate need of a true hero! But who? Is there no one who can help this forsaken town and make it a better place?

[Transition to a long shot of a grocery store aisle, with light muzac background, as the Professor slowly walks into the scene, rising high above the camera.]

Narrator: Fear not, fair viewers. For there is a man, a man of science. A forward thinking man who looks back. Back to a sweeter time, when there was a spice to life and everything was… nice!

[Fuzzy Lumpkins, who goes unnamed in the movie, cocks a cartoon classic elephant gun at the distressed cashier woman, who nervously hands him the money as the Professor looks on in sadness and slumps his back as he exits.]

Narrator: I must profess, sir, this man, holds the ingredients to Townsville’s salvation!

[The professor looks back, confronted by the imposing, also-unnamed Gangrene Gang]

Narrator: This man known simply as…

[Ace lands an unseen punch to the Professor’s face.]

Narrator: … The Professor!

[cut to an extreme close-up of Jojo’s monkey face, screeching wildly, as heavy techno music plays in the b.g. He is in the laboratory in the basement of Professor Utonium’s suburban home. Jojo leaps from table to table to floor, destroying beakers and other fragile objects in his wake. Pan to Professor, grocery bag in one hand and head in the other, looking very tired and distressed as he watches Jojo’s destruction with a distant sadness. As the credits pause moments of action, Jojo destroys a tv, unreels an old-fashioned magnetic tape computer, removes papers from a file cabinet, destroys a glass tubing set by hanging on it, and punches a wall clock, while Professor adds in the infamous ingredients of Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice, and mixes it in angles similar to the cartoon opening. The music reaches a dramatic climax as Jojo pushes the Professor in the back, causing his stirring rod to smash into a beaker of thick black liquid suspended over the pot. The words Chemical X are seen in black lettering as the liquid drains from the beaker. Professor stands hunched over the concoction, a look of combined horror and fascination written on his face as it bubbles and churns in an eerily pink glow. Sensing the reaction becoming more agitated, he backs away from the pot, as Jojo looks on in curiosity. The professor runs for cover, as Jojo watches the now violently bubbling mixture, fixated. A loud explosion is heard, and the screen goes black. Familiar giggling of three little girls is heard, as the Powerpuff logo is slowly zoomed back and a few notes of the theme song come ringing through.]

[Panning from behind the pot, the Professor is in the distance, thrown up against a wall, the lab accoutrements destroyed from either Jojo’s mayhem, the explosion, or both. The professor wearily opens his eyes. In surprise, he whips backwards on his feet and leans towards the wall. He walks forwards from a backwards angle, then another shot shows him coming forward, jaw open, and head tilting as he cannot believe what he sees. Three little girls, with big heads and eyes, are looking up at him, all smiles. Standing in front of the now-empty pot, there is a blond-haired, blue-eyed one on the left, arms folded demurely in front, a red-headed, pink-eyed girl in the middle, with a festive red bow and ponytail with arms outstretched from their sides, and a brunette with green eyes and arms folded behind on the right. Their dress colors match their eyes.]

Middle Girl: Hi!

Professor: (jumping backwards) Aah!

Middle Girl: What’s your name?

Professor: Oh… um, my name? My name is… Professor! Professor Utonium! (he bows) Hello!

Girls (All): Hello, Professor Utonium! It’s very nice to meet you!

Professor: It’s very nice to meet you too! Umm.. what are your names?

Middle Girl: Well, you made us, so shouldn’t you also name us?

Professor: Umm… Okay! Ohh.. this is so cool! (kneeling down, hand on chin, gesturing to the middle girl). Well, now let’s see.. because of your directness and opening right up to me, I think I’ll call you… Blossom!

[Blossom seems pleased, smiling brightly and holding her arms out in front of her. The blonde girl erupts in peals of giggles as the other two look at her.]

Professor: Well, aren’t you all cute and bubbly! That’s it! You’ll be my little Bubbles! So, we have Blossom, Bubbles, and…

[Focus on the third girl, eager faced and blinking excitedly in anticipation of her christening.]

Professor: Mmm… Buttercup! Because… it also begins with a B!

[The eager smile evaporates into a dour frown, as Buttercup crosses her arms in front of her.]

Professor: And together you are three perfect little… gi… gi… gifts! Birthday! It’s your birthday! I should get gifts!

[Professor Utonium rushes upstairs and into his car as he quickly talks to himself]

Professor: Wow! I can’t believe it! I wanted to create some kids I could teach good and bad, right and wrong, and in turn maybe they’d do some good for this terrible town, and now I can! All I got to do is be a good parent!

[Cut to the outside of the Utonium house, a three-blocked house with a tall middle piece with no windows. Professor Utonium quickly backs out of the garage, and o.c., and quickly returns.]

Professor: Note to self - good parents don’t leave their kids home alone.

[The Professor quickly returns downstairs, burdened several feet above his head with presents.]

Professor: Sugar, Spice and Everything nice, who would have guessed that’s what little girls were actually made of? I still can’t believe it worked, that I actually made three perfect little girls! Three perfect, normal little gi… ahh!

[He slips on his way down the lab stairs, flailing wildly as the presents go askew. As he falls, Blossom catches him and sets him safely down. The Professor looks on astonished as Blossom floats casually in front of him]

Blossom: Professor, you should be more careful when coming down the steps. You could get hurt.

[Buttercup and Bubbles float into the scene, each brandishing a large pile of presents.]

Buttercup: Hey, are these for us?

[The professor, slack-jawed, simply nods robotically. The girls zoom off.]

Buttercup: Yeah!

Bubbles: Yippee!

Blossom: Thanks, Professor!

[The Professor raises a hand as if to say something, but fails, slumping to the floor on his knees. From his view, we see the three girls flying around the presents at great speeds, tearing them open at super-speed. Professor glances over at the mixing pot, over which hangs the smashed bottle of Chemical X. As he mulls this over in his mind, he looks back over at the girls, and his expression of astonishment melts into a joyful smile of acceptance. Buttercup zooms in, brandishing a large pile of various toys, obviously the lion’s share.]

Buttercup: Hey, thanks! (zooms off)

[Blossom has chosen more frugally, carrying a stack of thick books and a globe.]

Blossom: Yes Professor, thank you! (zooms off)

[Bubbles has chosen a single toy, a plush purple octopus with a festive top hat.]

Bubbles: This is the best gift ever… Dad.

[She kisses him softly on the cheek, and floats upstairs. The Professor’s face melts into an expression of pure joy, tears welling up in his eyes.]

Professor: (softly) Yes… it is.

[The camera slowly pulls back, with the girls flying happily above the Professor. As the music changes, we see a profile of Jojo, his silhouetted brain obviously sticking far out of his skull. He does not know what to make of this, and slowly skulks away into the darkness.]

[Scene: Daytime, Utonium house. An outside shot, followed by the Professor, indoors, in a large, unadorned room. He holds a pink, paint roller in his left hand, instructing the girls behind him.]

Professor: Okay girls, now watch me!

[He starts to paint the wall, but the girls quickly outdo him, covering the walls in mere seconds. The Professor steps out from where he was standing, covered in pink, his figure outlined in white where he was standing.]

Professor: I think you missed a spot!

Professor: Now we just have to put in the furnitu…

[Out on the hall, the Professor turns around surprised, as the girls throw furniture into the room at super speed. As he enters, it is already laid out perfectly.]

Professor: Whoa ho ho! This looks pretty good! What do you think?

Bubbles: Mmm… I think it’s a little dark!

Buttercup: Well, I like it dark!

Blossom: Some windows might be nice!

Professor: Yeah! I could see some windows… right about.. here! I’ll call a contractor tomor…

[The girls pay no heed to the Professor, as their eyes turn a red hue. Outside the Utonium home, three sets of beams cut perfect circles in the previously windowless middle section, the wall pieces falling out on the front lawn. Back in the room, the Professor is hunched over, his hair scorched from the blast.]

Professor: Or… that works too! Who’s hungry?

[In the kitchen, Blossom is seen holding something.]

Blossom: Ready?

[The other two girls are also holding items.]

Bubbles, Buttercup: Ready!

Blossom: Go!

[As Blossom flings slices of bread outward, the other two girls sling slabs of peanut butter and jelly at the flying bakery. The Professor turns around from the refrigerator, and ducks from the barrage. Each element meets perfectly together, as a heaping stack of PBJ’s land neatly onto a plate on the kitchen table. The girls use their heat vision again, set wide beam, neatly flaking off the crusts from top to bottom. The Professor moves into scene with a tray of milk, covered head to toe in the sandwiches’ contents. The girls give a silent gasp and cover their mouths, but the Professor simply puts the milk on the table and they share a laugh.]

[Nighttime, Utonium home. The Professor comes downstairs to the main level, drying his hands.]

Professor: Okay girls, time for…

[The living room is a complete mess. Amidst the disorder the three girls have fallen asleep. Blossom lies sleeping over a pile of books, Buttercup is zonked out on a pillow on the sofa with remote in hand, and Bubbles lies nestled up near her octopus and several sheets of paper and crayons. The Professor tilts his head and smiles.]

Professor: … bed.

[Several scenes show the Professor getting the girls ready for bed. He washes Blossom’s face with a rag, puts Buttercup in her nightie, and tucks Bubbles’ octopus under her arm. She grins appreciately in her sleep and nestles the toy closer. Professor tucks the girls in, and turns off the lights, closing the door behind him. He returns downstairs to attend to the mess. (animation goof: Octi is now amongst the pile.) Picking up books, he focuses on a piece of paper left on the floor, then smiles broadly. It is a drawing done by Bubbles, of the three girls and Professor, drawn crudely but adorably.]

[Daytime, Utonium house. The Professor enters the girls’ room, carrying three color-coordinated dresses with black belts.]

Professor: Wake up girls, time for school!

Girls (in unison): What’s school?

[Cut to an outside view of an elementary school building. A large sign outside reads Pokey Oaks kindergarten. Inside, a young, brunette lady with big blue eyes and modest brown dress hunches next to the three girls, with the Professor standing behind. She is obviously the teacher.]

Teacher: This is school! I’m your teacher, Ms. Keane, and this is where kids come to learn! See?

[The girls look anxiously. Seventeen kids are seen, chatting happily, doing various things from reading books to playing with trucks. One non-descript little boy walks up.]

Boy #1: Hey, you wanna play?

[The girls look uncertain for a moment at the boy, look to Ms. Keane for approval, who nods, then their faces light up in joy. They run off happily with him. The Professor doesn’t seem to share their enthusiasm, and expresses his concerns to Ms. Keane.]

Professor: Umm… do you think they’ll be okay? ‘Cause I’m new at this parenting thing, and I wanted to come and meet you, and see them off on their first day, ‘cause they’re really special. I mean… really special, and I just want to make sure they’ll be okay so… so what do you think? Do you think they’ll be… okay?

[The girls have easily acclimated to the group; one would not notice them standing out at all. Ms. Keane shrugs him off.]

Ms. Keane: They’ll be just fine, Professor. We’ll see you at noon!

[Ms. Keane pushes the professor out the door as he looks back nervously at his girls.]

Professor: Okay… bye girls, bye! Bye! Buh-bye! Bye! Uh… bye!

[Ms. Keane shuts the door behind him. She then addresses the class. The Professor can be seen waving in the window nearest the door.]

Ms. Keane: Okay class, take your seats.

[A girl and a boy at one table gesture to Ms. Keane.]

Girl #1: Ms. Keane, can Blossom sit with us?

Girl #2: Can we sit with Bubbles?

[A brown-haired boy, with a gruff Popeye-like voice, gestures at Buttercup. His shirt says Mitch Rocks, implying but not stating his name.]

Mitch: Can Buttercup sit over here?

[Ms. Keane walks over and places the girls at an empty table in the center.]

Ms. Keane: The girls can sit right here in the middle, so they’ll be next to everyone! (the class erupts in cheers) Now, let’s begin!

[focus on the clock, which fades from 9 am to noon. A knock on the door – it’s Professor Utonium, waving sheepishly with a silly grin.]

Ms. Keane: Hello Professor, right on time! Your girls are right outside with the other children.

[The Professor spies the messy classroom, and becomes distraught.]

Professor: Oh no! Look at this mess! Ohh, I knew the girls would be a handful, but… I’m so sorry.

Ms. Keane: What, this? (scoffs) This is what happens when you put twenty little kids in one room. Your girls were perfect. Perfect, normal, well-behaved little girls.

Professor: Nothing out of the ordinary?

Keane: No, like what?

[Cut to the girls, with another child, unnamed but similar to Kim (from Mojo Jonesin’). Buttercup and Blossom watch on as Bubbles plays hopscotch, throwing a stone to the second square and hopping there. Blossom approves while Buttercup frowns.]

Blossom: That was sweet!

Buttercup: What’s the point of this game anyway?

[Mitch runs up, and bumps the other girl.]

Mitch: Tag! You’re it! (she giggles, runs after him)

[The kids all run away from the girl in a circular pattern, while the Utonium kids stand still, confused.]

Blossom: Whoa! Everyone’s running from that girl! It’s like she’s been infected!

Buttercup: Maybe she’s a freak.

Bubbles: Yeah, and they hate her!

[Another nondescript girl appears, and touches Bubbles on the arm Bubbles looks very distressed.]

Girl #3: Tag, you’re it!

Bubbles: Oh no! I’ve been infected!

[Mitch walks in.]

Mitch: All right, what’s going on here?

Bubbles: I’ve been infected.

Mitch: (smacks head) You’re not in-fec-ted, it’s just a game!

Bubbles: It is?

Mitch: Yeah!

Blossom: A game; neat!

Buttercup: Yeah, how do we play?

Mitch: (groans) Okay, look: it’s very simple. Bubbles, tag me.

[He outstretches his arm to Bubbles. She looks hesitantly at it.]

Mitch: Come on, it’s okay.

[Very slowly she reaches forward and pokes him quickly before quickly withdrawing]

Mitch: All right, now I’m it. And all you gots to do to play is tag someone else. (Tags Buttercup) And they’re it! (walks out, and walks back) By the way, you’re it! (runs away)

Buttercup: Awesome, I’m it! (shaking her arms) What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?!

Mitch: (running away) Just tag someone else! And they’re it!

[Buttercup looks at him a bit uncertainly. Then her eyes shift over to her sisters, as her brows furrow in a mischievously wicked smile. Blossom and Bubbles look at each other uneasily, then back at Buttercup, nervous smiles planted on their faces. Then run off slowly, as Buttercup breaks into a big smile and pursues them. The other two girls giggle as they run. Looking back, Blossom sees her green-eyed sister catching up to them.]

Blossom: Time to put it into overdrive, Bubbles!

[They speed up in tempo with the music, quickly passing by Ms. Keane, the Professor, and the other schoolchildren. Buttercup senses this, and likewise increases her speed. The other two girls see where this is going, and again increase their speed, their eyes clenched shut in concentration. As the girls continue to increase their speed, the music reaches a frantic pace, and the scenery becomes a speedy blur. As Buttercup races forward, a green trail begins to emanate behind her, and a streak of fire issues from her feet. Bubbles, blissfully unaware of her sister’s proximity, is caught unawares as Buttercup gives her a full-force shove, sending her careening out of control.]

Buttercup: Tag! You’re…… IT!

[Accentuating her last word, Bubbles is sent grinding into the pavement and blasting a huge wall into the side of the school. The schoolyard audience leaps back in shock and fear. Bubbles comes bursting out of the roof in a blue parabolic arc, feet jackknifing downwards as she falls.]

Bubbles: I’m gonna tag you guys now!

[The other girls quickly break through the schoolyard fence, narrowly avoiding capture as Bubbles slams into the pavement, creating a dust cloud and a large crater. As she slowly pops her head out of the hole, Buttercup and Blossom are a good ten yards away, standing straight and looking at their deposed sister.]

Buttercup: Ha ha! You missed us!

[Bubbles stands there pensively for a moment, then quickly smashes them into a house across the street.]

Bubbles: Ha ha! Tag! You’re it!

[The scene zooms back to show the desiccated house, and the skyline of Townsville. As the girls’ voices fade out, the results of their mayhem become apparent, as explosions, crashes, flying trees, cars, and cows evidence their destruction.]

Blossom: No! No, I’m not! Tag, you’re it!

Buttercup: Tag!

Blossom: Missed me! No, you’re it!

Buttercup: Missed me!

Blossom: Tag!

Bubbles: Tag!

Buttercup: Gotcha!

Blossom: Missed me!

[Their voices trail off into the distance, as a slow pan shows the schoolchildren looking onward in gaping astonishment. The scene zooms in on the Professor and Ms. Keane. As the teacher stares blankly at what has just transpired, the Professor grins sheepishly again, and takes this convenient opportunity to leave unnoticed through the quite-ample new doorway.]

[Cut to the Professor rushing off from home in his car. His license plate reads “PRFDADY” (a reference to either the words “Professor Daddy,” or a sly reference to Craig McCracken’s handle “PuffDaddy” on PPG forums.) Bubbles and Buttercup, flying at super speed, rush through the city and over a sign that reads, “You are now leaving the City of Townsville”]

Bubbles: Whee!

[Blossom busts right through the sign, clearly the one who is it. The Professor, moments too late, speeds down the nearby street.]

Professor: Girls, wait!

[Bubbles and Buttercup zip around buildings to avoid their tagged sister. The view focuses in on Blossom, hairbow swept back by the wind as she makes several hairpin turns. In a rear view, as she starts to catch up to her other sisters, they speed up, setting all three off in a dazzling whirl of 90 degree turns through the city streets. As they fly, they drag items from papers to cars in the vacuum of their wake. A red ball is also seen bouncing merrily along. At one point, Blossom gasps, and grinds her feet to a halt in front of two very surprised people. Using her super hearing, accentuated by animated sonar waves, Blossom cups her arm to her ear, hearing Buttercup’s joyful laughter, and a taunting “can’t catch me” from Bubbles. (The building reads 801 a reference to ppg801, the codename and web address for the ppg movie before the official website.) Pausing momentarily to decide where to go, Blossom zips off to the right, leaving the two onlookers to stare at her trail, before narrowly avoiding the flying debris that strikes the building’s front, notably a car, whose collision is accentuated from several angles. The Professor, still in control of his vehicle, is not far behind, hanging a hard right to follow Blossom. His face is marked with worry.]

Professor: Oh no!

[The same red ball bumps into the Professor’s car and continues down Blossom’s path. The scene changes to Blossom, keeping her in a fixed distance and focus as she nimbly zooms down city streets. As the camera stops, the roadway behind her glows red and cracks, erupting into flaming debris. Becoming more careless now, Blossom zigzags down a street, leaving a canyon-sized streak behind her. The scene briefly shifts to Buttercup, who has chosen to flee by flying. At a three-way intersection, Buttercup turns left, and the rampaging Blossom just passes her on the straightaway. Turning back o.c., she pummels her way back down Buttercup’s path. Following Blossom fixedly behind again, she pursues her flying sister down several twisting streets. Inside a car, a tall thin long-haired young male driver and his shorter, fatter black-haired male friend cry out as the two girls zoom out right in front of them and into busy traffic. (Their appearance could be a reference to Jay and Silent Bob, makers of and actors in such fine titles as Clerks and Mallrats) The driver brakes hard and jerks left, ramming into a large store windowpane. Destroying several more cars, Blossom admires her handiwork, then gasps as she looks forward and notices the traffic jam in front of her. She narrowly zigs between the car lanes, and up onto the side of the adjacent buildings, leaving a similar gouging pattern behind her. The view adjusts sideways, as Blossom runs parallel to the ground across the buildings. Bubbles, for her part, seems to be enjoying this immensely, eyes closed and arms outstretched as she lets out a girlish “whee!” Blossom sees her fly by in the opposite direction, and returning to ground again, she briefly stops at a street corner before returning alternately to the buildings and ground. Now on her blonde sister’s tracks, she pursues the unseen Bubbles down several more streets. Something catches her attention, and she stops, looking upwards with a gasp. The camera focuses in on her head. Her pupils contract rapidly, with a sound similar to a lens instrument focusing in on a distant object. It’s a large glass dome ball atop a building, similar in form to a disco all. Seeing Bubbles’ trail in its reflective surface, Blossom zooms in closer and closer to calculate her sister’s location.]

Blossom: Subway, huh?

[She eyes re-dilate, and she scopes the nearest subway entrance, and she darts down the tunnel in spiral fashion, leaving her customary trail. Bubbles is still blissfully unaware of her would-be captor, continuing to fly without heed to direction. Blossom exits the subway, and stands confidently at its exit. Bubbles gasps, suddenly aware of her sister’s plot, and hitting the pavement, grinds to a halt mere inches from her sister.]

Blossom: Tag! You’re it!

[She flies off slowly, an air of smugness written all over her as she blows a raspberry at Bubbles, who for her part takes this in for a moment, then looks quite cross, bursting upwards at high velocity and leaving a massive crater behind her. The debris hits several buildings, and narrowly misses the Professor’s car. He gasps as he spots the girls.]

Professor: There they go…

[before he can finish, he hits the crater left by Bubbles, and his car does a complete back flip with a perfect landing. The red ball hits his car again.]

Blossom: Watch out, here she comes!

[Bubbles is now the pursuer. Narrowly missing her two flying sisters, she backpedals by pushing off of the glass globe, which we can now clearly see is the logo of Olive Corp. The impact shatters the narrow base, and the sphere rolls off the building top. As pedestrians scream in horror, the globe smashes into a street way and starts rolling downwards, the surroundings mirrored in its surface. It hits a building at a street corner, and turns onto another road, smashing stores left and right as it bumps back-and-forth down the street. A distant shot shows the girls continuing to flee from Bubbles, smashing into various buildings along the way. As they head towards ground, the force of one impact actually causes the road to curl upwards, sending cars hurling upwards as the wave of asphalt hits them. Buttercup, stationary, pops her head out from behind a corner building, laughing to herself for giving her sisters the slip.]

Buttercup: Hah, suckers!

[The road wave reaches Buttercup, and she is sent spinning vertically into the air, with a blank expression on her face. Bubbles zooms up to her and tags her just at the height of her climb.]

Bubbles: Tag, you’re it!

[The scene cuts to inside a rather swank looking home high above the city, where a smooth-talking gentleman is wooing a young lady. A car is seeing hurtling towards the room’s full-wall windows.]

Smooth Man: You know, I’ve got a nice car.

[The scene cuts away right before the car hits, and from down below, the Professor looks upwards at the high-story impact, as glass rains down on his car. He spies the girls, finally stopped, high in the air in a circle.]

Professor: Huh?

Bubbles, Blossom: Tag, you’re it! (tagging Buttercup)

Buttercup: Hey!

[The two girls disappear behind a post-modern style building, and Buttercup, looking left and right, gives a banshee scream as she angrily realizes she’s lost them. Tired of playing around, she smashes a beeline right through several buildings. Blossom and Bubbles are standing calmly above a building similar to the Seattle Space Needle.]

Blossom: She’ll never find us up here!

[Buttercup smashes through several more buildings in a fury of anger.]

Blossom: Do you hear something?

[The pursuer smashes through a sign labeled gas, which for some reason, is actually filled with a flammable substance. She zooms forward, trailing the edge of the giant fireball billowing out behind her.]

Blossom, Bubbles: Whoa! Run!

[As the two anxiously flee, Buttercup zooms behind them and taps them both. Their forms are silhouetted behind the massive fireball emanating in the background.]

Buttercup: Tag, you’re both it!

[The thee stop, and argue as a fire rages on behind them.]

Blossom: Hey! We can’t both be it!

Buttercup: Why not?

Bubbles: (touching Blossom) Tag!

Blossom: What? I can’t be it twice!

Bubbles: Why not?

Blossom: Okay then… Tag! Now you guys are it!

Buttercup: (to Bubbles) Tag!

Bubbles: (to the other two) Tag!

Buttercup: Hey, no tagbacks! (to Blossom) Tag!

Blossom: (To Bubbles) Tag!

Girls (All): Tag tag tag tag tag tag tag!

[The Professor turns a corner and screeches to a halt. He has a good view of the girls – from a giant hole through several buildings.]

Girls (All): Tag tag tag! you’re it! No, you’re it!

[They take off again, in an elaborate design of flying patterns, as the scene slowly pulls back and the music changes, moving inside a stately room, where a diminutive man looks at the raging destruction.

Man: Oh boy…

[The man throws open a set of large double doors, his now-visible face revealing a bald head, top hat, white moustache and single monocle with one eye clenched shut. A sash across his chest says “Mayor” As he scuttles his small legs across the red-carpeted floor, he continues to chant to himself.]

Mayor: Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy…

[The scene cuts quickly back to the girls, then to the Professor driving, and then back to the Mayor as he walks down a long room with tall windows, then the order repeats itself.]

Mayor: Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy…

[at this point, a shapely buxom babe in alluring red outfit walks into the scene, executing a perfect quick pace in killer high heels. Her face is conveniently off camera. Her name is never expressly mentioned, but she is known as Ms. Sara Bellum in the cartoon show. She matches the mayor’s quick little trot as they head down a large flight of stairs.]

Ms. Bellum: Oh boy is right, Mayor. The town is being destroyed by three girls with freakish powers. This is a very serious situation. What action do you propose we take?

[The action continues to switch between the girls, Professor, and Mayor once more. Several concerned businessmen are shoving papers in Ms. Bellum’s face.]

Ms. Bellum: Don’t worry gentlemen, the Mayor and I have the situation under control!

Mayor: Oh boy!

Ms. Bellum: I know sir!

[the scenes rotate again, now a large crowd of people are surrounding the two politicians.]

Mayor: Oh boy!

Ms. Bellum: You tell ‘em, mayor! Townville will not stand for this kind of behavior!

[The scenes rotate again. Now the mayoral group is outside, led by the diminutive public official.]

Ms. Bellum: Uh, Mayor, hello? City being destroyed? Where are you going?

Mayor: Oh boy! (scenes rotate)

Ms. Bellum: Mayor, what are you doing? We’re in a serious pickle!

Mayor: Exactly!

[The group stops mid-stride. The mayor is in front of a food cart. The Professor rushes behind the girls.]

Professor: Girls, no!

[The vendor is seen busying himself inside the food cart.]

Mayor: Ahem, Helloooooooooo.

[The vendor pops his head out. He looks like the mayor’s twin brother, but with a black moustache, an bad Italian hat, and an even worse Italian accent.]

Vendor: Helloo!

Mayor: The usual, Cucor!

[At this point, we can see that Cucor’s nose looks like a giant bumpy pickle.]

Cucor: (approving smack) Ahh, yes, I have a fine vintage for you here. Picked fresh today!

[Heavenly music plays as a detailed view of a moist green pickle is lofted high with a pair of tongs, brine dripping off its bumpy surface.]

Mayor: Oh boy!

[At this point, the camera switches back and forth between the continually-tagging girls and the Mayor, slowly bringing the pickle towards his mustachioed lips. As the girls barrel forward, they strike the pickle cart outside Town Hall, the resultant explosion blasting everyone backwards. As the smoke clears, it reveals a giant impact crater left by the girls impact, and the vendor cart demolished. The girls are lying down in the center, laughing giddily and rapidly talking about the game. The Professor runs into the scene and over the pile of dazed bodies.]

Professor: Girls, girls, are you okay?

[All three get up and nab the Professor]

Girls (All): Tag! You’re it, Professor! (laughing)

[Somber music plays as the mayor is shown lying prostate on the ground, his beloved pickle tumbled out of his grasp. In a long zoom out from Town Hall, the true extent of destruction is shown, as the glass ball smashes into another building and comes to a halt. The camera does an extreme zoom out, showing the entire city of Townsville, and revealing the true extent of damage. Buildings are pockmarked with house-sized holes, and the Space Needle building’s top takes this opportunity to fall over and jabs into the ground like an oversized dart.]

[The scene returns to the Utonium household, where the girls, still full of energy, zip up and down the levels. The Professor addresses them in a grave and tired, but not unloving voice.]

Professor: Okay girls. Girls…It’s almost bedtime, okay? Girls?

Blossom: C’mon Professor, you’re it! Gotta catch us!

Professor: (smiles, then deflates) Yes, I suppose I do, don’t I?

[He walks slowly up the stairs, and chooses the opportune time to catch the wayward Bubbles.]

Bubbles: Eep!

Professor: Gotcha, you little bunny!

[Peeking out from behind the fireplace, Professor then snatches a Buttercup.]

Buttercup: Help, I got gotted! Blossom, watch out!

Bubbles: (mock-waveringly) You’re the sole survivor!

[Blossom speeds off, bouncing several times off the sofa.]

Blossom: No way Professor, you can’t catch me!

Professor: (sternly) Oh yes I can, because the game’s over, and it’s your bedtime. Now come up here so we can catch you.

[Blossom looks up dejectedly from the end of the couch. She slowly floats up, where the other two girls grab on to her and pull them all giggling into the Professor’s arms. He carries them over to their room.]

Professor: Well now, three little girls had a very busy day today, didn’t they?

Bubbles: Yeah, it was fun! We met lots of kids!

Blossom: And we learned things!

Buttercup: And we played tag!

Professor: Mm-hmm. Well, I’m glad you had so much fun because tomorrow will be a busy day too. So let’s get your nighties on and into bed. There’s something we should talk about.

[He closes the door behind him. The next scene shows the girls firmly tucked into bed. ]

Professor: Okay, everybody in?

Buttercup: Yup! What’s up, Daddy-o?

Professor: Well, it’s your super powers. (Sighs) I’m not sure how to say this, but... I don’t think you should use them in public anymore.

Girls (All): Why?

Professor: Well, your powers are very special and unique. And although we have a lot of fun doing unique things around the house, out in Townville, people just don’t understand how special you girls are yet. And unfortunately, people often get scared or angry when they don’t understand something special or unique.

Blossom: That’s silly.

Professor: Well, I think so too. But nonetheless, uhh… take it easy with the powers tomorrow. Just give Townsville a little time to understand your specialness, okay?

Bubbles: Okay!

Blossom: Okay!

Buttercup: Yeah, yeah.

Blossom: But people here are nice. Things will be fine.

[A stack of newspapers hits the street. It’s the “Townsville Tribune”. On the top half of the cover is a cut-off picture of Buttercup, with the words “Freaky Bug-Eyed Wierdo Girls Broke Everything” in large bold print, ala New York Times. In the shadows of an alley, the slanty eyes of Jojo are seen reading the paper. (The paper is a wealth of inside jokes. The face of Craig McCracken, the series creator, is seen in a watermark in the upper left corner. The paper also reads July 3^rd – the opening date of the powerpuff movie. And the back has a picture of a Gorillaz poster.) Jojo’s voice has obviously lowered.]

Jojo: Hmm… (laughs evilly)

[The scene zooms away from him and is replaced with the three girls outside the school building, and the Professor in the car.]

Professor: So, I’ll be waiting here to pick you up when school gets out, okay?

Blossom: Okay. But don’t worry, Professor, things are going to be fine!

[They walk in the door. The scene is a wreck. There is a giant hole in the wall and a trail where Bubbles impacted, a smaller hole in the ceiling, a and a river of water flowing through the middle of the room from Bubbles’ trail. There is the loud sound of construction work, and all eyes are fixed on the girls’ entrance. Ms. Keane looks surprised, but the rest of the kids have murder in their eyes.]

Ms. Keane: (loudly) OH, GIRLS! WE DIDN’T KNOW IF YOU’D BE JOINING US TODAY! TAKE YOUR SEATS!

[The girls take their seats in the middle. The other kids glare at them and push their desks away.]

Ms. Keane: I’M SORRY TO SAY THERE WON’T BE ANY RECESS FOR A WHILE DUE TO ALL THE RECONSTRUCTION! SECONDLY, I’M AFRAID WE WON’T HAVE ANY LIGHTS OR WATER FOR A WHILE! AND A BROKEN REFRIGERATOR MEANS SNACK TIME IS OUT! SO LET’S TRY TO IGNORE ALL THE WORKMEN AND NOISE AND SUCH AND GET RIGHT TO WORK, SHALL WE? GIRLS, CAN YOU RECITE THE ALPHABET FOR US?

[The scene reveals the three girls, sitting quite dejectedly in the midst of all this. Bubbles’ pigtails have drooped, and she is looking down quite depressed at the table. Blossom is trying to look somewhere away from the chaos, but isn’t too happy. Buttercup has a weak smile on her face to hide her sadness and culpability. Several shots show the other kids looking daggers at the girls.]

Ms. Keane: GIRLS? ABC’S?

[the noise thankfully abates for a few moments, as the girls, with closed eyes and sad expressions, softly and sadly recite the alphabet. Each letter is an effort to get out.]

Girls (all): a… b… c… d… EEEE!

[A plank hits the girls in the heads as they accentuate the vowel. The scene pans up to where several construction workers are fixing the hole in the roof.]

Construction worker: Hey! Gol-dang it! You done darn broke my board! Flang dangling consarnder!

[looking even more dejected, and with a ruined hairbow, the girls continue even more miserably.]

Girls (all): f….

[The scene cuts to the Professor at home, with the aforementioned paper obscuring his face. He seems unaffected by the subject material. (On the back page is an advice columnist. The first question reads something like, “I have to compete an animated feature in six months…”) His watch beeps.]

Professor: Ooh! Almost time to pick up the girls! Better motor!

[As he locks the door behind him, he is confronted by a large mob of people, led by The Mayor and the local authorities.

Mayor: That’s him, boys! He’s in cahoots with the evil pickle cob killers! Cucumber crushers! Vinegar violators, dill-stroyers! Why, it’s just not kosher!

[Ms. Bellum’s feet walk into the scene. The mayor barely reaches her mid-calves.]

Ms. Bellum: Let it go Mayor, let it go…

[She holds up a wanted poster, below her face, of the Professor with the three girls. The poster also reads “Mass Destruction”]

Ms. Bellum: Are these your babies?

Professor: Why yes, but they were just playing! They’re really very good little girls! And I need to pick them up from school!

Ms. Bellum: I understand sir. But we really would like for you to come downtown with us so we can ask you a few questions.

[Two large burly cops manhandle the Professor, and throw him into the back of a squad car.]

Professor: You guys… my kids! I really ought to pick them up! (gets thrown in) I can’t just leave them there… alone!

[The scene cuts to the girls, at a distance, standing outside the school near the flagpole. It’s obvious that the school has been deserted for some time, and it’s nearing sunset. The shadows lengthen, and it’s soon nighttime, with the girls still standing in their same pose. The camera zooms in, and Buttercup breaks the long silence.]

Buttercup: He’s not coming. He hates us, he totally hates us!

[Bubbles starts crying. Blossom tries to console her while reasoning with Buttercup.]

Blossom: No! He probably just got held up, or, maybe the car broke or, maybe he just forgot, or… (deflating) maybe he hates us. (long pause) C’mon, let’s try to find our way home.

[The other two start to fly off. Blossom hangs her head.]

Blossom: We’re not supposed to use our powers.

[The other two fly back down, heads held low and all three looking very sad.]

Blossom: Come on, girls.

[The three lock hands, and begin to walk slowly down the dark and foreboding path to Townsville.]

[The scene cuts to a television newscast, joining an anchorman’s speech mid-sentence. The bottom left tab says the time is 8:01 (a nod to ppg801 again), and the right tab says CTNnews (CTN being a nod to Cartoon Network, the producing studio of the movie)]

Anchorman: Yes, three super powered little girls…

[The broadcast abruptly changes over to a talk show called “Incorrect Politics,” where five people of various walks of life are talking. The center man, a well-dressed Caucasian businessman, speaks.]

Business man: Should the manufacturing of super powered children be illegal?

[Cut to the Mayor behind his desk.]

Mayor: A great travesty has befallen our beloved city…

[Cut to a live report in Townsville streets where the same tall, thin and short fat male duo are being interviewed by a reporter.]

Tall driver: I was reaching down between my legs to ease the seat back when this atomic bug buzzed in, with no fair warning!

[Cut back to the news program]

Anchorman: The devastation… devastating!

[Back to the talk show. An old lady with gray beeshive hairdo is talking this time.]

Old woman: Cooking should be illegal!

[Back to the mayor, with arm and finger outstretched.]

Mayor: Used to be a time when you could buy an honest pickle!

[Back to the two guys]

Tall driver: And then they were causing an eruption, and lighting up the sky…

[Back to the news program]

Anchorman: The estimated dollars in damages, a whopping 25 million. (interestingly enough, the production cost of the Powerpuff Movie.)

[Back to the talk show, a punk rocker torn right out of the 80’s gets to speak, complete with green spiked mohawk.]

Rocker: I’m offended just looking at em!

[Back to the mayor]

Mayor: The kind… that you can only find, at a pickle cart!

[He hold up two pictures of the pickle cart, in chalk outline as if it were a murder victim]

Tall driver: Now… Jamie’s crying. (a reference to Van Halen lyrics.)

Reporter: Well, it seems that…

[news program]

Anchorman: … the hatred is running rampant for…

[back to the talk show, a festively-dressed Jamaican woman (similar to psychic Ms. Cleo) gets a few words in]

Jamaican woman: Those mutant, bug-eyed..

Mayor: Pickle cob killing!

Reporter: … freaks. Back to you, Linda.

[A shot of two new reporters: a square-jawed, white haired anchorman and his vapid blonde female co-anchor.]

Co-anchor: They are little freaks, aren’t they? With more on this subject is…

[The shot cuts back, revealing that the different programs are showing on a bank of TV’s outside an electronics store. The girls are silhouetted in their glow. (The Aqua Hunger Task force, another show on Cartoon Network, can be seen briefly in a screen on the left of the newsanchor.) As the sounds of the different shows argue with each other, the camera reveals the girls’ faces, full of remorse and sadness, discovering what the town truly thinks of them. They walk off slowly, just missing an emergency broadcast as it goes off on all channels.]

Anchor lady: We interrupt this program for an important news flash. Arrested today in connection with the ‘tag’ incident was the mad scientist responsible for creating the destructive girls – Professor Utonium. Upon incarceration, the “Professor” had this statement to make:

[A shot of the Professor, still in lab outfit, from behind bars. His eyes are baggy and his voice is weak.]

Professor: Please! Just let me go! My girls, they need me! (scene fades out) They don’t know I’m in jail!

[The Professor is voiced over as the girls walk past a basketball court, even more dejectedly now.]

Professor: What if they try to go home themselves?

[Still refusing to use their powers, the girls walk up and down the twisted road left by their game.]

Professor: They can’t find their way if they don’t fly!

[Another scene reveals a large pothole and a zigging streak in a long dark road – more signs of the destruction.]

Professor: Please, they’re only little girls, who are probably cold, scared, and maybe even… lost!

[The girls’ reflections are mirrored in the large glass dome as they walk by it. The camera zooms in on Buttercup.]

Buttercup: Well, it’s official – I have no idea where we are.

Blossom: Well, I can’t say it’s been the best day.

Bubbles: But… it probably couldn’t get much worse.

[On cue, it starts to rain. Hard. Buttercup starts to yell and Bubbles begins to cry.]

Blossom: Hey, it’s okay! Uhh.. maybe there’s a box we can get in around back! Come on!

[The girls walk behind what looks like a convenience store – perhaps the J mart.]

Blossom: See? There’s a whole bunch of boxes!

[As the camera heads towards the boxes from Blossom’s POV, Arturo from the Gangrene Gang (unnamed) suddenly springs up and scares her back. Snake, and Big Billy soon follow. As a semi’s door opens slowly, it reveals Ace, who springs forward, looking much more imposing than he ever did in the series.]

Ace: (mockingly) Aww, what’sa matter? Did somebody get washed? (cackling maliciously)

[The other members join in, and the girls look pretty concerned. At that point, Grubber pops in and amidst their screams, he advances on them (in very cheesy style). Then a clang is heard, and Grubber falls down, prostate. A garbage can ricochets off the other gang members, and almost hits the girls before nimbly rebounding and returning to its thrower’s hand. Atop the truck, cloaked in shadow and revealed by lighting, is Jojo, with a billowing scarf and trench coat, with a trash bag covering his brains.]

Girls (all): Wow, Thanks!

[Jojo promptly jumps down from the truck and begins to run away.]

Blossom: Hey, wait! Come back!

[The girls pursue him down the rainy alley. Jojo seeks refuge in a box. As the girls run up searching in his direction, Blossom is the first to spot him.]

Blossom: Hey guys, over here! Hi! What’s your name? I’m Blossom!

Buttercup: Buttercup.