Thursday, March 26, 2009

#8- Neverland

#8
Neverland

Cube Count: Heroes, 6 Pool Boy: 0

[The camera fades in, which would suggest that this isn’t actually a Stage Play but more of a movie. Then again, how would one show a Swirly Vortex on stage? These questions, and many, many more, are what make this script so enjoyable. Anyways, we find our heroes waking up in a nice little glade, surrounded by woodland creatures and other crap like that. All very cheerful. As the heroes begin to stir we can hear the screaming of something from above. They glance up in time to see Johnny Depp, plummeting down from the sky.]

Johnny Depp:
–iiiiiiit! [He hits the ground in the middle of the glade between the heroes and glances painfully around.] I’m...not home yet, am I?

Kathleen:
Not unless home to you is a...wait, where are we?

Alex:
Judging by the – you know? I’m actually not sure.

Cam:
This is a pretty A-Typical looking glade. Maybe we’re in Battlestar Galactica Series Finale world.

Kathleen:
Hah! It was set in the past the whole time. Aaah...

Johnny Depp:
This is total bullshit! I want to go home!

Natalie:
What happened?

Johnny Depp:
The winged monkeys came along with a pair of scissors and cut the kite string.

[Everyone turns to stare at Kathleen who immediately gets defensive.]

Kathleen:
Don’t look at me! I wished for something that would actually come in handy...

Kelti:
Oh snap!

Spencer:
I want to go back to the Deserted Island.

Cam:
For the last time! You were there! Kathleen was there! Island natives were there! There was a complicated ecological system, totally self sustaining! Nothing about that world was Deserted in any way at all!

Spencer:
Yeah but... Well, I mean, come on. I can’t be the only person who called it the ‘Deserted Tropical Island’?

Kathleen:
Nope, definitely just you.

Alex:
I never said it.

Natalie:
Me neither.

Johnny Depp:
Definitely not deserted.

Cam:
Seems pretty obvious.

Spencer:
Well, fine. I’ll just go back there then, shall I?

Jessie:
[Scoffs] How’re you going to pull that one off, Einstein?

Spencer:
With a warp cube.

Natalie:
A what now?

Spencer:
I found these warp cubes in the Swirly Vortex. [He pulls out a gold cube with a question mark on it that looks suspiciously like one of those ‘?’ blocks found in Super Mario.] It lets you go back to worlds we’ve already been to. [They stare blankly at him for a moment.] Really? I was the only one who knew these existed? Pft, who’s the idiot now?

Kathleen:
All right, don’t get your knickers in a twist. Go back to the deserted island.

Spencer:
HA!

Kathleen:
Dammit! Just... just go, okay? And take someone with you. This team is getting ridiculously large.

Spencer:
I pick... [The rest of the heroes all jump up and down, trying to get his attention, much like every gym class I had in high school where I was picked last for dodgeball.]... Alex.

Alex:
Yess! Cable TV here I come!

[They touch the warp cube and disappear in a cloud of smoke.]

Kathleen:
Now... Let’s figure out where the hell we are...

[Scene changes to The Starship Enterprise where we see Cindal sneaking around, looking very... sneaky.]

Cindal:
Gotta find some food... So hungry... Let’s see... Ooh, Betty’s private quarters. Time to rudely root through her things. Let’s see here, knickers, bockers, knickerbockers, ooh, what do we have here? Her diary? Jackpot!

[She reads aloud]

Dear Log,
My efforts to take over John Doe Inc appear futile due to the persistence of The Man, who now requires several notarized documents stating my purpose. I have expanded my conquest to OZ and a certain special minions heart. I’ll keep you posted on how both of those are going. I saw a most unfortunate thing yesterday, a rather explicit tape of Spock and William. Honestly, who keeps those sort of things in a Little Mermaid case? But, why does William love Spock so much? Is it the pointy ears? The firm jaw line? The general height? I don’t think I shall ever know...

Cindal:
God, that was... Well that was just disturbing.

[Suddenly Betty and Steve-O enter the quarters.]

The Evil Betty:
What the hell are you doing here?

Cindal:
I was...um... Wait, why is your lipstick smudged? And why is he wearing your shirt? And why the hell do you both have that "I just got some look" on your faces?

The Evil Betty:
I have perfectly reasonable answers for all of those. My lipstick is smudged because it is the new in thing, he is wearing my shirt because his shrunk in the wash and we both have that look because we, uh, both did get some.

Cindal:
Oh, oh come on! Gross!

The Evil Betty:
Pft, I don’t have to explain myself to you! I am the Evil Betty! I do what I want!

Steve-O
[Examining the diary from over Cindal’s shoulder] Evidently so do Spock and Shatner.

The Evil Betty:
Oh that was totally uncalled for! I was going to make you executive assistant co-minion to Clive Cussler but you blew it! You are so gone but you’re never going to learn that because you are SO gone!

[Steve-O disappears in a puff of smoke]

Cindal:
You know, your teenage girl attitude makes it really difficult to take you seriously when you’re pissed off.

The Evil Betty:
You want to go where Steve-O, did? Keep talking, Babe.

Cindal:
[Clearing her throat nervously] So, is there a cafeteria around here?

[The scene changes back to the heroes, who are all sitting around the glade on rocks, clearly trying to figure out where they are.]

Jessie:
Tarzan Land?

Kathleen:
Too focussed, it’s got to be something broader... preferably not Disney so we don’t get sued.

Cam:
Somehow I think getting sued by Disney is the least of our problems by now.

Natalie:
What about Tonga? Think maybe we’re in Tonga?

Kelti:
That’s a real place, why would we be in a real place?

Natalie:
Hey, at least I’m suggesting something rational! What was it you came up with? Sweaty Man-Tart World? Please...

Kelti:
You seemed to like the idea at the time.

Natalie:
I still like the idea, but that doesn’t mean it’s plausible.

Johnny Depp:
[Snapping his fingers] Neverland.

Kathleen:
Oo! That’s my favourite negatively titled place, right after Hopelessly Cynical World and every family reunion I’ve ever been to.

Jessie:
What would make you say Neverland?

Johnny Depp:
Deus ex Machina?

Jessie:
Good enough for me! So what do we do? In OZ we followed the actual story line, think it’s the same here?

Kathleen:
I’m somehow doubting it. [She gestures off to the distance where there is, by all appearances, a young man watching them from the brush. He is dressed a bit like Peter Pan, although a little more raggedly, and has a wealth of beard upon his chin.]

Johnny Depp:
...Peter Pan?

Peter Pan:
Johnny Depp? [He jumps out of the bush.] You came back for me! Look, Johnny, look! I told you I wouldn’t grow up! [Getting angry] Look at how I didn’t grow up!

Kathleen:
[Snickering] Um, Johnny? What’s with... that?

Johnny Depp:
I swear to god I have no ide- wait... Did I go to school with you?

Peter Pan:
[Nodding his head earnestly] We said we’d never grow up! Just look at me! As young and spry as I was thirty years ago! [He turns his back and sneaks a smoke.]

Johnny Depp:
Peter... Panpanoni?

Peter Pan:
Nope, just Pan now. I did a couple films in the 80's and they told me ‘Panpanoni’ wasn’t very marketable.

Kathleen:
That must have been difficult.. What with you never ‘growing up’, huh?

Peter Pan:
That’s what natural enlargement with herbs is for.

Jessie:
So uh [clears her throat] Where are the lost boys?

Peter Pan:
Dunno.

Jessie:
You... don’t know?

Peter Pan:
Yeah [he takes a drag from the cigarette] I lost them.

Jessie:
Of course you did.

Cam:
Say Peter, you haven’t seen a cube piece around here anywhere, have you?

Peter Pan:
What sort of cube?

Cam:
What do you mean, what sort of cube? How many different types of cubes can you get?

Peter Pan:
Big cubes, little cubes, cubes inside of octagons, cubes inside of octamoms...

Kathleen:
[Narrowing eyes] There is something really, very wrong with you, isn’t there?

Peter Pan:
You probably just have a problem with my youthful enthusiasm, seeing as how you’re obviously a bitter old hag.

Kathleen:
Yeah, that’s it.

Peter Pan:
Listen, if you don’t mind it’s almost noon, so I’ve got to go rescue Princess Tigerlily from Captain Hook.

Kelti:
You go do that, we won’t be here when you get back.

Peter Pan:
S’cool. [He stubs out the cigarette.] So Johnny, how’s about we go get some drinks later.

Johnny Depp:
[Sarcasm alert] Ooh sorry, you’re under age and everything, I won’t be a party to your early onset alcoholism.

Peter Pan:
[Shrugging] Whatever, man. Catch you dudes later. [He flies off, sort of erratically as if maybe he’s on something. Or possibly that large ponch he’s got going on has something to do with it. It’s very hard to say at this point.]

Kathleen:
My one regret is that we didn’t get any fairy dust from him so we could fly.

Natalie:
Why don’t we just crush up some of your prescription dru-

Kathleen:
That is enough bashing my drugs! Find something else to make fun of!

Jessie:
Maybe we should go find some fairies? We can just get the dust for ourselves.

Kelti:
Good thinking, except... Where?

Cam:
Well, there is that sign over there. [Everyone turns in the direction he is pointing. A large neon sign reads "Fairies. This way." with an arrow.]

Jessie:
Now THAT is deus ex machina.

[The heroes tramp through the underbrush, following the signs until they get to a quaint little treed area with lots of flowers and miniature housing developments.]

Johnny Depp:
[Looking into the first mini house.] I hate to be the bearer of bad news but... this house is full of a bunch of mini corpses.

Natalie:
This one too. Hey, hey Kat. Maybe [snicker] Maybe they took all your medic- [A glare from Kathleen] I’ll shut up now.

Cam:
Well, how did they deal with this in the play, and numerous movies, and books, and made-for-tv movies, and spinoffs, and-

Jessie:
We get it, Cam. Peter Pan always encouraged the audience to clap and announce proudly that they believe in fairies.

[An awkward glance is exchanged between the heroes.]

Cam:
Well, I’m not going to say it.

Natalie:
Me neither.

Kelti:
Don’t look at me.

Jessie:
I don’t believe, and I’d hate to be a liar.

Kathleen:
Oh, for the love of Pete. Okay, I’ll say it. You lot can just chime in and say you were rolling with it, okay? [She takes a deep breath and announces loudly] I DO believe in fairies! [She begins to clap her hands] I do believe in fairies!

[Everyone nervously begins to join in]

Kelti:
It’s not good enough! We aren’t fairy enough!

Natalie:
[Breaking the fourth barrier] Hey you, yeah you! Person reading this! You’ve got to help us! No matter where you are or what you’re doing right now, stand up, start clapping really loudly and tell everyone around you that you believe in fairies! If they give you a what the fuck sort of look just tell them they wouldn’t understand really smugly! Hurry! We need fairy power!

[Assuming you have followed Natalie’s instructions, the fairies begin to rise up. However, if you haven’t, the Evil Betty wins, humanity is destroyed, and Edjuardo kicks a whole bunch of puppies off a cliff. I hope you’re proud of yourselves.]

[‘The Mission Remix’ by Ennio Morricone begins to play, just that first part, that sounds all triumphant. The fairies begin to rise up, and look around, fairly stunned by the whole process.]

Fairy #1:
What the hell are you guys doing?
[The applause and cries die down.]

Cam:
Erm... trying to bring you back to life?

Fairy #1:
...Uhm...

Natalie:
You looked really dead.

Fairy #2:
We were sleeping. Fairies are very deep sleepers.

Jessie:
Really?

Fairy #2:
Yes. Or, if I was honest, no. Okay, so we actually were dying, we’re just too proud to admit it.

Johnny Depp:
Okay, so... You’re welcome.

Fairy #1:
Yeah, yeah. So what do you want?

Kathleen:
We were sort of hoping we could get a blast of some fairy dust from you so we can fly.

Fairy #2:
Pfft, yeah, like that’s going to happen.

Natalie:
Hey Kelti, guess what?

Kelti:
What?

Natalie:
I don’t believe in fairies.
[All at once the fairies fall over.]

Kathleen:
That probably wasn’t the best way to get them to cooperate.

Natalie:
I know, but it was really, really funny.

Kathleen:
Meh. Okay, so I do believe in fairies, bla bla bla. [The fairies get back up] You going to cooperate now?

Fairy #1:
[Bristling] No! Sunnuvabitch! Piss off you grotty little wankers!

Natalie:
Hey, hey Kelti, guess what?

Kelti:
What?

Natalie:
I don’t believe in-

Fairy #1:
Okay, okay! Here, take this bag that looks suspiciously like a kilo of cocaine.

Jessie:
What do we do with it?

Fairy #2:
Well, we usually snort it out of the crests in the naked butt cheeks of 80's film stars, but you can just sprinkle the stuff on wherever. It’ll give you a high you won’t believe.

Johnny Depp:
[Whispering to Kathleen] I can’t tell if they’re talking about flying or not.

Kathleen:
Oh, they’re talking about flying all right. Just not the type we want. [She hesitantly reaches for the bag of cocaine and then nods to Cam, who quickly scoops up a handful of fairies. Slicing the bag open with a pocket knife, she tests the cocaine, or something, I don’t know.] Just as I thought. Uncut. This stuff can kill, you know? Cam, if you’d please do the honours?

[Cam is quick to throw fairies at everyone. They explode upon impact, showering the heroes in sparkles and dust.]

Kelti:
Look at how sparkly I am! I feel like Edward Cullen, except, you know, less creepy and stalkerish.

Kathleen:
...Really?

Kelti:
[Hangs head in shame] No.

Jessie:
Does this mean we can fly?

Johnny Depp:
Think of something really happy first... [He scrunches up his face and thinks.]... Winning a well-deserved Oscar, winning a well-deserved Oscar...

Natalie:
Elijah Wood, Elijah Wood...

Jessie:
Lord of the Rings, Lord of the Rings...

Kathleen:
Tramacet, tramacet...

Cam:
Anime World...

Kelti:
Sex! Sex! Sex! [Apparently it works, she lifts off of the ground and everyone follows.]

Fairy #2:
Yeah, you better fly away you bastards! If I ever see your face around here again I’ll–
[Far in the distance we can hear Natalie scream "I don’t believe in faaaaaaairiiiiiiiiieeeeeeees!" All the fairies fall down, dead.]

[As our heroes are drifting listlessly high above Nerverland we can hear ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked playing in the background. Of course this makes Kathleen laugh...]

Kathleen:
Ha! Bet Alex is wishing she wasn’t lounging around with her cable tv on the deserted island now!
[Scene changes briefly to Alex, sitting on a beach with Spencer, being fed grapes by a shirtless poolboy, drinking a mojito, and flipping through 300 channels of friends reruns.]

Alex:
Meh, it sort of balances out in the end.
[Scene changes back to the heroes.]

Kathleen:
Okay, here’s the plan- Cam! No loop-de-loops! It’s like trying to control a bunch of kindergarteners. Okay, we’re going to split up, all right? Kelti, with me. We’re going to check out the pirate ship. Cam and Johnny, go see what’s up with the Piccaninny tribe...

Johnny Depp:
But then I’ll have to see Panpanoni!

Kathleen:
No whining! You’re probably the only one who can control him. Jessie and Nat, I want you to search the island for Edjuardo and make sure he doesn’t get to that cube piece. Everyone good?

Natalie:
[Kicking invisible rock] I don’t want to go find Edjuardo.

Kathleen:
Natalie, beggers can’t be choosers.

Natalie:
But moooooom...

Kathleen:
No buts. We’ll meet back at the glade in an hour, okay? Break!

[The camera follows Kathleen and Kelti as they fly off towards the Bay where a very large pirate ship, aptly named The Slightly Morose Roger, is sitting. Aboard they can see several large overgrown men tied up by several other large overgrown men, arguing quite loudly.]

Kelti:
What’s with guys and yelling, seriously?

Kathleen:
Seriously, dude. Come on, let’s go see what’s up.

[They land on deck and find that the men who are tied up are dressed in alarmingly small, tight childrens clothes, while the others are clearly pirates. Yar. Captain Hook, as this wouldn’t be Neverland without him, is sitting off to the side, looking bored and totally unthreatening in almost every way.]

Kathleen:
Hey, hey Captain. What’s going on here?

Captain Hook:
[Looking up leisurely.] Hey, how’d you get on board? Never mind, I don’t want to know. What do you want?

Kelti:
We were just flying around and heard all the hub bub. Who’re the dudes in the skimpy clothes?

Captain Hook:
Lost boys.

Kelti:
Erm... But... they’re not boys.

Captain Hook:
I know, right?

Kathleen:
Okay, well... I don’t know about you, Kelti, but I don’t feel like getting caught up in inner-world politics right now? [Kelti shakes her head.] So, um, Captain Hook, what can you tell us about Peter Pan?

Captain Hook:
You mean Peter Panponini? Yeah, that’s right, I know his real name. The first movie he did was called "Never-Stop-Please Land." Big hit in the adult film industry.

Kelti:
[Awkward] Actually, we weren’t asking about his 80's porn career.

Captain Hook:
Oh, well.. Um, he suffers from a growth hormone impediment, which is why he looks like he’s about twelve. He’s really forty-three. I don’t know, he’s cracked like a nut or something because he thinks he’s still a preteen like he was thirty years ago. It used to be just a cute little imagination thing, but when all the Lost Boys grew up he just sort of snapped like a dry and brittle twig and refused to let them go home.

Kathleen:
So, the Lost Boys aren’t insane?

Captain Hook:
Not even close. Tootles managed to escape for a few years when he was nineteen and became a surgeon, but Peter found him and cut off his hands. Those marbles are pretty useless now.

Kelti:
If you know they aren’t insane, why do you have them tied up?

Captain Hook:
Very simple answer, that. We decided as a group that our best option was to continue playing Peter’s game while secretly trying to kill him. The Twins got pretty close a while back but Peter tossed them to those Stephenie Meyermaids in the harbour and... well, they ate the kids whole. So every few days the Lost Boys let themselves get kidnapped by my people, we take them here and think of new ways to knock off Peter, then he comes and ‘rescues’ them and the whole nasty process continues.

Kathleen:
That’s horrible!

Captain Hook:
I’ll say! Why couldn’t he just go buy himself like a convertible like every other middle aged guy?

Kelti:
So why are your people arguing with the Lost Boys if you’re all on the same side?

Captain Hook:
Well, the Lost Boys think we ought to resort to poisoning, but Smee’s arguing that those damn fairies keep drinking all his medicine. They’re as vindictive as a Paris runway model.

Kathleen:
Well, I’m sorry we can’t help you out with that.

Captain Hook:
No worries, we’ll figure it out eventually. I mean, this is just one really dumb game of pretend. He’s got to get bored of it eventually, right? [Captain Hook takes off the hook on his hand and proceeds to screw on a prosthetic limb that is clutching a cigarette, which he lights up.]

Kelti:
I don’t know, thirty-years and counting, that’s got to be a bad sign.

Captain Hook:
Oh, we’ll get him. Mark my words.

Kathleen:
So, have you by any chance seen a Rubix Cube around here?

Captain Hook:
[Replaces cigarette holding hand with a head scratching hand and...well, scratches his head.] ...No, can’t say that I have. Knowing that retard Pan though, he’s probably got it in his hide out and is calling it a condom or something idiotic like that.

Kelti:
If you see one can you let us know? It’s sort of important.

Captain Hook:
And what’s in it for me?

Kathleen:
Well, we could always help you out with your little over-grown child issue.

Captain Hook:
[Replaces head scratching hand with hand shaking hand.] You’ve got yourselves a deal. You lot better split though, he should be flying by pretty soon.

Kelti:
[To Kathleen] Let’s get back to the glade and wait for the others.
[The scene changes to Jessie and Natalie soaring over the island, trying to spy either Edjuardo or some kind of convenience store because Jessie is hungry and Natalie has to use the bathroom.]

Jessie:
Nat, just go in a bush!

Natalie:
No way, last time of that I mistook-

Jessie:
Let me guess, you used poison ivy to wipe?

Natalie:
What? No, I’m not an idiot... It was a venus flytrap.

Jessie:
[Wincing] Ooh. Hey! Look, someone’s written SOB on the ground!

Natalie:
SOB? What’s SOB?

Jessie:
Son of a bitch?

Natalie:
Yeah, but how does that apply to Neverland?

Jessie:
Maybe it’s supposed to be SOS? Let’s go find out.

[They land in a small glade-ish area and look around, hoping to find sign of human life.]

Natalie:
I swear to god, if this becomes some sort of retarded ‘Lost’ homage I’m going to kill something.
[There is a rustling in the nearby brush, again. Natalie and Jessie exchange worried looks and then carefully approach the bushes. Jessie picks up the nearest pointed stick and prods the bush carefully. Suddenly, and totally without warning, two bodies covered from head to toe in leaves tumble out.]

Wendy:
Oh, thank god! You’re not with him are you?

Natalie:
With who?

Wendy:
[Glances around and whispers] ... Peter Pan!

Jessie:
Nope, we’re strangers here. And you don’t have to whisper, he’s gone to save Princess Tigerlily.

Michael:
[Clutching the head of his teddy bear] He can’t! She’s dead! [Craaaazy eyes]

Natalie:
What do you mean she’s dead? What happened to her?

Michael:
Offed herself four years ago. Couldn’t take it anymore. Wanted to be physiotherapist. Pan’s taken the game of pretend too far!

Wendy:
I’m sorry about Michael. He hasn’t been the same since... Since John... [Sobs] I can’t, it’s too painful. [She pulls John’s top hat out of nowhere and clutches it to her breast] Oh John! If only you closed the door behind you, he never would have gotten back in!

Natalie:
Well don’t leave us hanging. What happened?

Wendy:
About eight years back John made an escape attempt. Got back to Kensington Gardens but forgot to close the door behind him. Peter got him that night. He...He [more hapless sobbing.]

Michael:
[Stoically] He sliced him from navel to neck.

Jessie:
I am never playing pretend again.

Wendy:
We’ve been running from Peter ever since... He won’t let anyone go home! The pirates and the Lost Boys have gotten together and are trying to kill him but... it’s useless! No one can stop Peter Pan! Not even syphilis... Which is what he has, incidently. Something about a couple films from the 80's. I’m not sure what’s going on there to be perfectly honest.

Natalie:
Don’t worry, we’ll deal with Pan. You guys should hide though, and uhm... maybe work on your spelling while you’re at it.

Wendy:
We’ve got a hideout, there’s this newcomer to Neverland. He’s looking for a... [takes on a Spanish accent] el cubeo mundo. Whatever the hell that is.

Jessie:
[Hissing] The Pool Boy! You haven’t seen a cube piece, have you?

Wendy:
No, just like we told him-

Michael:
Cubes breathe fire and lead us to the land of milk and coffee...

Wendy:
Again, I apologize. He’s not what he used to be.

Michael:
I smell sulphur happiness! Bath me in anti-pesto, god!

Natalie:
This is very important, think... did Edjuardo say where he was going?

Wendy:
No, but I’d bet he’s gone to recruit the New Lost Boys to his cause.

Jessie:
There are more Lost Boys?

Wendy:
Sure, Peter goes back to London every year and takes more. He’s determined to find some that won’t grow up. About twenty years ago he got his hands on Kiefer Sutherland...

Natalie:
There is something seriously screwed with this timeline, you know that?

Wendy:
You really think we’re worried about a timeline when we’re stuck in some insane persons childhood delusions?

Michael:
Lo, I am the wicked sea kitten of Abudabi! I have naught but my weasel lips to give me strength during the coming darkness! [He grabs Jessie] Beware, girl with bow and arrow, I have seen the apocalypse and it brings sand and water to a head in an epic battle.

Jessie:
Um... I’m sorry to hear that?

Michael:
As am I. [Calming down.] Also, there will be lots of cake.

Natalie:
Hurray!

Jessie:
I think we’d better get going, Nat. Those new Lost Boys might be as deluded as Panpanoni is. And you [she turns to Wendy] You can’t trust the pool boy. If you see him, tell him that you saw the cube up a tree or something. He can’t get it, understand? No matter what, he can’t get it!

Wendy:
Yeah, all right. Come on, Michael...

Michael:
Double, bubble, toil and trouble! I am Shakespeare’s left kidney and I drink malt liquor!
[Michael and Wendy disappear into the bushes again. The scene changes to Cam and Johnny Depp who are in the middle of a large, very stereotyped Native camp ground.]

Cam:
How?

Johnny Depp:
That is so inappropriate.

Cam:
No, no I mean how do they make teepee’s upside down like that?

Chief Pretty-Slow-Turtle:
It took some time. We’re calling it nouvelle chic.

Cam:
I call it pointless.

Johnny Depp:
Please excuse my young counter part. He’s very socially awkward. [Begins making outrageous hand gestures and speaking very slowly.] We’re from a distant land! We are looking for a *cube piece*! We need it to save *our* world and *yours*. Can. You. Help. Us?

Chief Pretty-Slow-Turtle:
No. Stupid. White. Man. You. Insult. Our. Culture. And. Our. Intelligence.

Cam:
Ignore him. Listen, we’re looking for a cube. It’s part of this giant Rubix Cube of Evil thing, and...

Squaking-Road-Kill
What, did you steal that from South Park?

Cam:
What?


Squaking-Road-Kill:
Yeah, the latest episode of South Park. Butters was showing Cartmen around his evil hideout and there was this Cube of Chaos...

Johnny Depp:
Sunnuvabitch! They stole our idea!

Cam:
Now, calm down, Johnny. Maybe there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for it...

Johnny Depp:
Yeah, that they stole it! This is total bullshit! We should sue!

Squaking-Road-Kill:
Yeah, sue the writers of South Park. Because that hasn’t happened before.

Johnny Depp:
Well, maybe I’ll just write a very strongly worded letter!

Running-Albatross:
That’ll strike fear into their hearts!

Chief Pretty-Slow-Turtle:
If you’re here to talk about the many ways your stupid little adventure coincides for five seconds with a single South Park episode, I’m going to go. I’ve got better things to do.

Johnny Depp:
No, no. I’ll let it go... for now. It doesn’t change the fact that we’re still looking for a piece of a Rubix Cube of Evil. Have you seen one around?

Slightly-Irate-Penguin:
I think maybe Rosey-Sea-Kitten saw one last week when Panpanoni took her to his hideout.

Cam:
Dammit! Where can we find this hideout?

Slighty-Irate-Penguin:
You’d have to ask Rosey-Sea-Kitten.

Cam:
Where can we find her?

Slighty-Irate-Penguin:
Let’s see... It’s Wednesday... So she’s probably getting interrupted from picking berries right about now. He has this thing about fresh fruit, everyone needs to be saved from it or some bullshit like that.

Running-Albatross:
Must be a white man thing.

Johnny Depp:
All right. We’ll go rescue her I guess then.

Running-Albatross:
No need, she’s part amazonian, she just humours Panpanoni so he doesn’t get more irate and difficult to deal with.

Squaking-Road-Kill:
It’s a sacrifice we greatly appreciate.

Cam:
You know, I think we should probably leave before these names become even more offensive.

Johnny Depp:
Oh lighten up Robust-Pumpkin-Head.

[They fly off and the scene changes to yet another glade, probably close to the other glade. Not the one with SOB written on the ground but where the heroes woke up originally. Anyways, Edjuardo is there with the new Lost Boys (Kiefer Sutherland amongst them).]

Edjuardo:
It’s very simple. You shoot down the Kathleen Bird, it will make Peter very happy.

Lost Boy #1:
We’re nine. We’re not going to shoot anyone.

Edjuardo:
Not even for Peter? [Raises eyebrow] You know what Peter does when he’s upset.

[The Lost Boys all exchange very nervous glances and sigh.]

Lost Boy #2:
Well, I have bad aim.

Lost Boy #3:
Yeah, and I have shaky hands. Make Kiefer Sutherland do it!

Kiefer Sutherland:
I’m not shooting anyone!

Edjuardo:
Remember Pan, Kiefer...

[After a moment of consideration and lots of crude encouragements by the rest of the Lost Boys, Kiefer Sutherland reluctantly takes the bow and arrow.]

Edjuardo:
Brilliant! She should be flying in any moment. Just make sure you aim to kill, okay?

Kiefer Sutherland:
Right, okay... [He looks totally unprepared and anti-Jack-Bauer, who probably would have used the gun on the nearest Lost Boy and then shattered Edjuardo’s vertebrae with a cold stare.]
[In the distance we can see the heroes returning to the glade with Kathleen at the helm. Kiefer aims looses the arrow! The heroes scream for Kathleen to look out but it’s too late, the arrow strikes, and she falls.]

Kiefer Sutherland:
Oh god, what have I done?!

Kelti:
Shit! Kathleen! [She dives towards the forest floor, the others follow.]

[‘Ritornare’ by Ludovico Einaudi begins to play as the scene changes to a lovely little forest space, the heroes all land and begin searching the brush anxiously trying to find Kathleen, who is not answering their cries.]

Cam:
I found her, over here!

Kelti:
Oh my god, she’s been shot in the heart!

Jessie:
That’s not funny at all!

[Suddenly, much to their amazement, Kathleen moves.]

Kathleen:
Gaaa... that really stings. [She sits up.] Falling from the sky, how embaressing...

Johnny Depp:
Kathleen, you’ve got an ARROW in your heart!

Kathleen:
What? [She glances down] Oh, wow, that sucks. Wait a minute... [She braces herself then pulls the arrow out and tosses it aside. Everyone gapes as she reaches into the vortex, pulls out a bottle of meds, and pops a handful of pills.] That’s better. So, what happened?

Natalie:
Wait, wait, wait! Kiefer Sutherland’s coming! Quick, lay down and look dead! Maybe we can guilt him into joining our side!

Kelti:
No good! The arrows out of her!

Natalie:
Well, put it back in! [She grabs the arrow and stabs Kathleen back in the chest.]

Kathleen:
OW!

Natalie:
Shut up and lay still, you’re supposed to be dead! Everyone look sad.
[Kiefer Sutherland approaches through the woods and finds everyone frozen in a very dramatic tableaux, posing around an apparently dead Kathleen.]

Kiefer Sutherland:
Oh god, no!

[There is a snicker from somewhere amongst the heroes, which sets of a chain reaction of giggles. The next thing we know, Kathleen is sitting up again, pulling out the arrow (again) and laughing her head off.]

Kathleen:
Should have seen your face, Sutherland! That was awesome! Did anyone else see it?

Johnny Depp:
[Laughing as well] He was all "Uhh, what have I done!? Sob sob sob!"

Kiefer Sutherland:
That’s not funny!

Kathleen:
You shot me, dickweed! It was the least we could do! Now Cam, if you would be so kind please open up my pills again, as I appear to have lost all feeling in my hands.

Jessie:
So why’d you shoot her, huh?

Kiefer Sutherland:
Some Mexican told me if I did it Peter Pan wouldn’t be such an asshole and then I could go home.

Kelti:
Oh, well, you can’t trust Mexicans. [Everyone stops to stare at her.] What?

Johnny Depp:
[Shaking his head] She means you can’t trust Poolboy’s named Edjuardo. If you want to go home, you can- [He stops midsentence as Kathleen begins laughing again] Are... you okay?

Kathleen:
No, no, please go on. It just hit me that... you’re Johnny Depp and we’re hunting for a Cube of Evil. [She continues to laugh.]

Kiefer Sutherland:
Yeah, holy crap you’re Johnny Depp! What are you doing here?

Johnny Depp:
[Shrugs] It’s something to do. Anyways, we’ll get you home, but you’ve got to help us.

Kiefer Sutherland:
...What do I have to do?

Cam:
You say that as if you’ve had to do lots of really nasty things in the not-so-distant past.

Kiefer Sutherland:
I don’t want to talk about Canada!

Kelti:
Listen, me and Druggie McGee here were talking to Captain Hook and I guess Pan has some growth hormone issue and now he’s convinced himself he’ll never grow up. If we kill him, the pirates will help us get the cube piece.

Johnny Depp:
Which is in Pan’s hideout, the Piccaninny tribe told us.

Natalie:
So great, we just have to get to the hideout and get the cube back and we can pretend this world never existed.

Jessie:
I wouldn’t be so sure about this. [She motions up to the sky where a large group of people carrying various complicated weapons are descending.]

Kiefer Sutherland:
Oh shit! It’s the Lost Boys! Run! [He escapes.]

Kathleen:
[Still snickering] What a douchebag... Wait, I don’t want to be caught by Peter Pan!

Kelti:
Kat, you’re riding one hell of a dragon, huh?

Kathleen:
[Spreads her arms wide] Wooo!

Jessie:
Shit, what do we do?

Johnny Depp:
We’ve got to be caught, they’ll take us to Pan’s hideout!

Kelti:
Yeah, except then we’ll be caught. And you haven’t seen these old Lost Boys. They are hefty pieces of meat.

Natalie:
I think it might be a little too late to argue about it.

[The heroes look around to find themselves totally surrounded by Lost Boys, both new and old.]

Peter Pan:
Are you plotting against me?

Johnny Depp:
No... or if we’re honest, yes.

Peter Pan:
[Gasp] Johnny! I trusted you! Take them back to the super secret hideout!

Nibs:
But sir, you heard them. That plays right into their plan-

Peter Pan:
Just do it!

[The scene changes to the heroes all tied up and sitting on the floor of an underground dirt hut.]

Cam:
Brilliant plan, Johnny Depp. Got any other winners up there?

Johnny Depp:
At least I gave a suggestion.

Kathleen:
Now isn’t the time to fight, you guys.

Kelti:
Kathleen! You’re not drugged up anymore!

Kathleen:
Yeah! And you know what? Getting shot with an arrow fucking hurts, man! Especially when someone stabs you with it a second time!

Natalie:
I panicked!

Kathleen:
You always panic! That’s you’re excuse for everything!

Natalie:
Well, at least I-

[As Kathleen and Natalie argue, Kelti catches the eyes of Peter Pan who was staring at her for some very creepy reason I’m sure. ‘Obsessed With You’ by The Orion Experience begins to play in the background. There is that whole a-typical dreamy glaze going over both of their faces plus that whole close up thing. You know what I mean.]

Peter Pan:
Tinky Winky, bring me that one!

Kathleen:
[As they begin to untie Kelti.] Hey! Hey you can’t have her! She’s mine!

Peter Pan:
I find myself enchanted with you... Are you my mother?

Kelti:
No. Are you Oedipus?

Peter Pan:
Perhaps in a previous life I was, and perhaps you were the Queen...

Kelti:
You suck at flirting, you know that?

Peter Pan:
May I... give you a kiss?

Kelti:
You don’t have to ask! [She closes her eyes and puckers up. A moment later Peter Pan sticks a thimble between her lips. Kelti spits it out, knocking Jessie on the head.] What the hell was that?

Peter Pan:
It is a kiss!

Kelti:
That ain’t no kiss, buddy.

Peter Pan:
Is so! Wendy showed me!

Kelti:
That Wendy bitch knows nothing of kisses! Pucker up, baby. Momma’s coming home!

Peter Pan:
I need an adult! I NEED AN ADULT!

Kathleen:
You’re forty-three, grow up!

[Everyone in the room becomes very still.]

Peter Pan:
[Hissing] What... did you say to me?

Kathleen:
I told you to grow up you wimpy, growth-hormone deprived middle-aged freak! This isn’t a fucking game anymore! The world is going to be destroyed and you’re too busy playing with prepubescent boys to notice!

Johnny Depp:
I was wondering who would say that first. Cam, five bucks.

Cam:
You’ll get your money when my hands are untied, but I maintain you should be the last person making smarmy comments about playing an elaborate game of dress up with people twenty years younger than him.

Peter Pan:
[Looks positively livid.] Why you... you.... Wench!

Natalie:
Oh come on!

[In a moment of fury Peter grabs the nearest arrow and stabs it into Kathleen. She cries out, more out of annoyance than anything else.]

Kathleen:
Dude! That really fucking hurts!

Peter Pan:
Wha-? That should have killed you!

Jessie:
[Scoffing] Please, nothing can kill her.

Cam:
Yeah, she’s a bionic woman.

Johnny Depp:
She tried uncut cocaine and then took a handful of pills in the space of an hour. You really think getting stabbed with an arrow is going to slow her down?

Peter Pan:
This... this doesn’t make any sense! You’re an adult! You have a realistic concept of time and death! You should be dead!

Kathleen:
[Still only slightly annoyed] Maybe YOU should grow up. [Scoffing] Dickweed...

[Just as Peter is about to strike out again, the door to the hut bursts open. In comes not only the Piccaninny tribe but the pirates from the Slightly Morose Roger, being led not only by Captain Hook by Kiefer Sutherland!]

Everyone:
Hurray!

[‘Hametsu’ from the FFX-2 soundtrack begins to play and a slightly epic battle ensues. Somewhere in the fray Kiefer Sutherland tosses Kelti a sword and she frees her friends, all of whom take on weapons of their choices. Jessie will undoubtedly have her bow and arrow, Johnny Depp probably has a pirate sword, Cam I imagine having one badass sledgehammer, Natalie with a mace, and Kathleen with her own two fists and some knives. One by one the new Lost Boys are taken down (evidently no one cares they’re only nine and ten years old.) While the Old Lost Boys join the ranks of the pirates. At last, the heroes have Peter surrounded.]

Kathleen:
[Still with arrow in chest] Give it up Peter. We just want the cube piece. You give us that and we’ll let you go.

Peter Pan:
No way! You just want to turn me into a man!

Kelti:
Yes! I mean, no... not at all.

Peter Pan:
I shall never surrender!

Kathleen:
[Shrugging] Suit yourself. [She pulls the arrow out of her for a third time and hands it to Jessie.] Jess, if you’d do the honours.

Peter Pan:
[Being irritatingly triumphant] To die shall be an awfully big adventure!

Johnny Depp:
Actually, you know, you’re just going to become a rotting corpse somewhere...

[Just as a horrified look appears on Peter’s face, Jessie shoots him with the boy and arrow. He falls over dead. Yay! ‘Terra’s Theme’ The FFVI Concert version begins to play.]

Kathleen:
Thank god that’s over with. Hey, does anyone have a bandaid?

Cam:
[Reaching around in the Swirly Vortex.] Hey, Colbert. You see a box of Hello Kitty Bandaids down there?... Yeah, great, thanks. [He pulls out a Hello Kitty Bandaid and hands it to Kathleen who carefully applies it over the gaping hole in her chest.]

Kathleen:
Much better. Now let’s find that cube piece.

Kiefer Sutherland:
[Gasping from a spot on the floor] You’re, urgh... too late...

Kelti:
Aw man, who mortally wounded Kiefer Sutherland?

Kiefer Sutherland:
[Gasp] Hook... [Ache] betrayed you... He took the cube.... Made... [Agony] a deal with... [Gasp] Edjuardo...

Natalie:
Just hold on, Jack Bauer! We’ll get you help. [She turns away] Stick him in the Vortex.
[Cam heaves Kiefer into the Swirly Vortex with that a-typical falling sound that is easily replicated by whistling.]

Cam:
Look out below!

Kathleen:
[Scoffing] Pfft, he got shot once. What a wuss.

Johnny Depp:
Not all of us can be bionic, Kathleen. Now what are we going to do about Hook?

Kelti:
Well obviously we have to go after him. We need that cube piece!

[They race outside the hideout in time to see Hook and the rest of the pirates flying away (for some reason)]

Kathleen:
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!

[In the distance we can see Hook unscrew his sword-holding-hand and replace it with a flipping-the-bird hand.]

Natalie:
Just great, now what?

Jessie:
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m out of fairy juice, and I don’t think we’re going to be able to get anymore, ‘least not from the same place.

Kathleen:
Well, there’s one fairy we still haven’t tried...

Cam:
Oh no, she’s a total nutjob. Everyone knows that.

Johnny Depp:
Yeah, I’m sorry but Tinkerbell is a psycho bitch. She’s probably a hired assassin on the side.

Kathleen:
We’ve got to get to that pirate ship and they’re probably halfway out to sea by now. It’s our only way.

Kelti:
Okay, sure, but where the hell are we going to find her?

Kathleen:
I don’t know! I gave you an idea and a pretty damn good one at that! You come up with the rest! Someone hand me more drugs.

Princess Rosey-Sea-Kitten:
[Appearing out of nowhere.] I can take you to Tink.

Kathleen:
Ga! [She jumps and wrenches her injured side] Aah, ah ow...

Princess Rosey-Sea-Kitten:
Nice bandaid. Anyways, like I was saying, I can take you to Tink. She, uh, she makes her presence pretty known around here.

Johnny Depp:
What’s that supposed to mean? [Rosey-Sea-Kitten hands him a flyer] Tink’s Tune Up Shop for the Erectiley Deficient and... [He glances up] Pie shop?

Natalie:
Kinky.

Princess Rosey-Sea-Kitten:
Yeah, just because Peter Pan didn’t doesn’t grow up doesn’t mean the rest of us have to stay limp and hungry.

Johnny Depp:
But... how? I don’t understand how it would work.

Princess Rosey-Sea-Kitten:
Trust me, you really, really don’t want to know.

Cam:
Oh god, my imagination is starting to kick in! Someone do something!

Kelti:
PARIS HILTON NAKED.

Cam:
[Look of relief] Ah... Wait... AH!!

Kathleen:
You’re not allowed to use your imagination anymore, Kelti.

Princess Rosey-Sea-Kitten:
Hey, do you want to see Tinkerbell or not?

Jessie:
At this point I’m going to say not. Unfortunately we have to do it eventually so... [sighs] lead the way.

[Scene changes and we find our heroes inside a seedy, smokey, sex den. There are tables set up, covered in pies; banana cream, key lime, coconut, lemon meringue, you name it and there is a pie type there. Most of the older Lost Boys are sitting around in fairy dust hazes, slumped over chairs and drooling or eating pie, and sometimes both.]

Princess Rosey-Sea-Kitten:
Try not to bump any of them. Quick movements incite them to violence.
[The heroes manage to successfully follow the Princess to the back of the Pie Den (Ha ha ha! Graham cracker crust.) They enter a small room that has those atypical green room mirrors and lights.]

Princess Rosey-Sea-Kitten:
Hey Tinkerbell, I’ve brought some people to see you.

[The heroes look around the room but can’t see any sign of the fairy, which isn’t unusual because obviously a fairy is very tiny. Dur. Suddenly a golden light begins zipping around, possibly in a drug haze.]

Kathleen:
Woa, slow down there, Twinkie, I’m coming off of a serious trip.

Tinkerbell:
Sea-Kitten, who’re these bitches?

Johnny Depp:
See? See? What did I just tell you?

Tinkerbell:
Waddaya want? I ain’t got all day, y’know. There’re some pies in the oven-

Jessie:
Aalalala!

Kathleen:
We need some fairy dust and, um, your little fairy friends are sort of out of service at the moment.

Tinkerbell:
Yeah? What happened?

Kathleen:
I dunno.

Johnny Depp:
No clue.

Cam:
We certainly had nothing to do with it.

Kelti:
Totally innocent.

Natalie:
...’d never say I don’t believe.

Tinkerbell:
Uh-huh [clearly unimpressed] Not going to happen. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got some pies-

Cam:
Stoppit! Just give us a hit of the sparkly stuff and we’ll be on our way.

Tinkerbell:
[Scoffing] If you’re jonesing for a hit so bad why don’t you go to Twilight World.

Kathleen:
Don’t be ridiculous. That would clearly be a lawsuit waiting to happen. We would never go to any world directly referred to as Twilight World. Now, Natalie, if you don’t mind...

Natalie:
[Clears her throat] I don’t believe in fairies.

[Nothing happens, the heroes glance nervously at each other.]

Natalie:
I... uh... don’t believe in fairies?

Tinkerbell:
What are you trying to do?

Natalie:
Um, t-torture you?

Tinkerbell:
What are you? A five year old boy? Jesus. I’m an uber fairy, your pitiful little- [she stops mid sentence and starts sniffing] Oh great, my pies are burning. Thanks a lot numbskulls.

Cam:
Wait, you mean you weren’t using ‘pie’ as a dirty allusion?

Tinkerbell:
What? No! How would... I... What? Oh my god! You’re disgusting! Get out of my sight!

Princess Rosey-Sea-Kitten:
Tink... They killed Pan.

Tinkerbell:
Well, that changes everything. You know before Pan came a long I ran this great little bistro... Tink’s Limbering Log Meat Pie Shop.

Cam:
....Seriously, real pies?

Tinkerbell:
Well, I guess because you killed Pan I could give you some fairy dust, but on one condition...

Johnny Depp:
No! No conditions! I am so sick of this place! [He grabs Tinkerbell out of midair and glares at her.] You and every other minuscule, creepy, suggestive creation in this fucked up place! I can’t take it anymore, you hear me? I will hunt for cubes, I will travels to distant planets, but I will not stay here for one more millisecond, do you understand me?! Give us the goddamned dust!

Kelti:
[Whispering to Kathleen] I’m sort of scared right now. [Kathleen just nods and gapes.]
[Tinkerbell sort of nods her head hastily and Johnny Depp proceeds to violently shake her over the heads of the rest of the heroes and then toss her aside.]

Johnny Depp:
[Grumpily] Let’s get the hell out of here.

[The scene changes to aboard The Slightly Morose Roger. We see Edjuardo meeting with Captain Hook, who is now wearing his hair flipping back hand.]

Captain Hook:
Let’s see the goods, Pool Boy.

Edjuardo:
Let’s see the cube piece.

Captain Hook:
I’m not showing you the cube piece until you show me the goods.

Edjuardo:
Well, I’m not showing you the goods until-

Mr. Smee:
Captain! The heroes are approaching! Sky bound!

[Thus begins the semi-epic battle of epicnesses. The heroes descend upon The Slightly Morose Roger and engage in a grand old battle. Swords clash! Guns fire! And the scent of blood is in the air! Edjuardo, being the sneaky bastard he is, jumps into the emergency get-away canoe and starts paddling for his life, without the cube. Meanwhile, the heroes had risen up against their pirate foes and now have Captain Hook surrounded. He casually unscrews his gun shooting hand and attaches his sword fighting hand.]

Captain Hook:
Now whom shall I call out? Which one of you is the least likely to win against me, a poorly executed antagonist with a prosthetic limb? Hm, I wonder. [He clearly is not wondering at all.] Kathleen!

Kathleen:
Fine, sure, I’m not the one with the bow and arrow, or the sword experience or... whatever Cam and Natalie do with their sledgehammer and mace respectively, but yeah, I think I can take you.
[She steps forward. Thus follows is a very familiar scene where Hook busts out some insanely fancy sword work, ala that Indiana Jones movie.]

Kathleen:
Does anyone have a gun I can borrow? [No response. She shrugs and steps forward.] Okay, just hold on a second. [She inches a bit closer] Almost there. [She is right in front of him.] Okay, now, where were we? [Hook raises his sword, Kathleen punches him in the face and he topples over the side of the ship right into the awaiting jaws of a crocodile, or possibly an alligator, no one is really willing to get a close enough look to be sure. Unfortunately, as he is falling over the edge of the boat, the cube piece in his jacket pocket has come lose, and it too plummets into the murky water below.]

Mr Smee:
They’ve killed the Captain! Get them!

[Without thinking our heroes barrel over the edge of the boat, closely followed by the pirates of The Slightly Morose Roger. Everything goes eerie and slow motion as they swim through the briny sea and reach out towards the cube piece... Reaching, reaching and.... everything goes black.]

Friday, March 20, 2009

#7- The Land of OZ

#7
The Land of OZ

Cube Count: Heroes, 5 Pool Boy: 0

[‘Porco e Bella ~ Ending’ from the Porco Rosso soundtrack begins playing. There is this sort of woozy glow around everything, like we’re watching the world through the eyes of someone who is very, very hung over.]

Johnny Depp:
Ow... Jesus christ, I feel like I’ve been run over by a house.

Kathleen:
[Crawling to her feet] That doesn’t make any sense!

Johnny Depp:
Shut up!

[They both glance around. The team, now consisting of Kathleen, Johnny, Cam, Natalie and Alex are laying on a very bright yellow cobblestone road. Natalie is hurling in a nearby bush while Alex and Cam are trying to struggle to their feet. Everything is still very blurry.]

Johnny Depp:
[Realizing he can’t get up] Shit! I’m being crushed by a crappy low-income trailer! Oh god what a miserable way to die!

Alex:
[As she stumbles to one side] Johnny, it’s just your pant leg, get up.

Kathleen:
[As her vision begins to clear] You guys, I don’t think we’re on a Deserted Tropical Island anymore.

Cam:
Well, to be fair, it wasn’t actually deserted-

Kathleen:
[Angry] I know that! The point is we’re not on a Tropical Island, or in Wonderland, or Ye Olde England or Anime World.

Natalie:
[Bleh] Then where?

Jessie:
Judging by the yellow technicolour road, the references to falling domiciles, and that bright neon sign that says "OZ" I’d say we’re in... OZ.

Cam:
Don’t you mean ‘Oz’? You know, with less emphasis on the ‘z’?

Jessie:
No, because Oz and Wicked fan girls are insane [Kathleen and Alex exchange looks] and they’d go crazy if we were in something even remotely close to either place.

Johnny Depp:
So, we’re basically non-canoning it?

Jessie:
I’d say so. Plus, and I don’t know why no one else has noticed this, we’re in costume.

Natalie:
[Looking down] Oh thank god, I can see my feet... Wait, I’m the friggen Scarecrow! What the hell? I have a... a... Shit, what is it called?

Cam:
Penis?

Natalie:
Yeah, that’s right! I have a penis! Wait-

Johnny Depp:
Well at least you’re not the Cowardly Lion- [Kathleen makes a move to pat his head] Ga! Don’t touch me!
Cam:
I’m the Tin Man. [He looks really, really depressed.] Aw man.

Kathleen:
I’m Dorathy! [She grins, as if this is sweet justice for all the insults she puts up with.]

Jessie:
I’m the Good Witch of the North... who according to Wikipedia is unnamed, which sort of blows.

Alex:
And I’m Glinda, Good Witch of the South.

Kathleen:
Yeah, but judging by that giant hat you’re wearing I’d say you’re MGM Glinda, not Kristin Chenoweth Glinda.

Alex:
Ah-awww...

Kathleen:
[Totally indifferent] Yeah, that really sucks. Hey everyone look at my shoes!

Natalie:
[Muttering] Jewel encrusted shoes don’t look good on me anyways.

Johnny Depp:
Say, where’s Kelti and Spencer?

Cam:
Oh, we left them on the beach. Spencer said something about building a shelter and Kelti was catching some rays. We figured we’d catch up with you when everything went black.

Natalie:
Did you guys get a cube piece?

Kathleen:
[Sudden realization] No... No we did not.

Cam:
Well great, what was the point of that world then?

Kathleen:
Um, to RESCUE me, so I didn’t get BURNED to a CRISP.

Johnny Depp:
Stop yelling!

Alex:
Oh come on, seriously? Are we going to be forced to adapt to the mentalities of the characters we’re impersonating?

Jessie:
Non-canon, so no.

Kathleen:
I really don’t think you’re using that term the right way.

Jessie:
I’m not the one writing it now am I? Now who here has read the freaking book?

Cam:
Wait, how do we know this isn’t based on the movie?

Alex:
Yeah, or maybe it’s some Wicked-

Kathleen:
[Angry] It is not based off of Wicked, now let it go! [Turning to Jessie] I’ve read it... but a long time ago.

Jessie:
Perfect, you’re leader anyways. Lead away.

Kathleen:
Okay, well... We should, um, follow... the road?

Johnny Depp:
Are you sure? Are you absolutely positive? Because if you’re not we could get into some bizarre situation involving evil Rubix Cubes...

Kathleen:
Yeah, I think so, maybe, well... No, I’m not sure, whatever.

Cam:
So... Follow the Yellow Brick Road then?

Alex:
If we’re trying to avoid a lawsuit shouldn’t we call it something else?
Natalie:

What, like the Mustard Linoleum Street?

Johnny Depp:
MLS? It sounds like some really bad street drug.

[Everyone turns to Kathleen and stares.]

Kathleen:
My shit is totally legal, thank you very much!.... And you make it with Draino a couple table spoons of mustard seed.

Jessie:
...Why?

Kathleen:
[Shrugs] Meh, gives it a kick.

Johnny Depp:
If snorting the Draino doesn’t do that enough.

Kathleen:
You’d be surprised.

Jessie:
[Clapping her hands] Okay everyone, so we’re off to see the Wizard, right? The Wonderful Wizard of OZ?

Cam:
Urgh, do we have to link arms?

Alex:
Yes, and dance.

Kathleen:
Wait just a minute, where the hell are the Munchkins?

Jessie:
Aw poop, I forgot about them.

Alex:
And Toto! We don’t have a Toto yet!

[There is this wet sort of purring sound coming from behind a bush. Kathleen steps over to examine. Note that all the movements are very exaggerated and flouncy, just like a good old-school MGM musical is supposed to be. Pulling back the bush, she finds a cat sitting there, purring.]

Kathleen:
Stewie!

Johnny Depp:
Dear sweet Christ, how many cats do you own?

Kathleen:
Just two, thank you very much. [She lugs her 20 pound cat up and cuddles him] Oh my gawd, you’re so cuuuute!

Natalie:
Super kawa- [Cam hits her up the side of the head.]

Cam:
No.

Jessie:
Um, guys? I hate to be a party pooper but I found the Munchkins and... They aren’t quite like the movie had them pegged...

Johnny Depp:
Non-canon?

Jessie:
Definitely.

[Scene changes to The Starship Enterprise where we find The Evil Betty lounging on a day bed in the way only an evil villainess can. ‘Green Tambourine’ plays in the background.]

William Shatner:
Betty, I’d like to speak with your about your newly acquired minions...

The Evil Betty:
Aren’t they fabulous?

William Shatner:
Well yes, Mickey Mouse is very... um, not nice, and that one Jonas Brother [nervous laugh] Who would have ever guessed he was a member of the Communist Party of China but I am having some difficulties with Steve-O.

The Evil Betty:
Oh? What exactly is wrong?

William Shatner:
To be perfectly frank-

The Evil Betty:
If you’re going to be Frank then I want to be Alan Alda.

William Shatner:
What?

The Evil Betty:
Sorry, I’ve been watching M*A*S*H reruns. You were saying?

William Shatner:
I think Steve-O is infatuated with you.

The Evil Betty:
[Sitting up, clearly thrilled] Really?

William Shatner:
Erm, well.. Yes.

The Evil Betty:
Oh my god, there is so much to do! I’ve got to wash my hair. No! Nails first, hair second, oh my god I only brought one change of clothes and we’re all out of whipped cream-

William Shatner:
My love! Don’t be such a space slut!

The Evil Betty:
Excuse me? Sounds like the pot is calling the kettle black! Or flat. I’ve heard both used. The point is you can’t get all judgey on me! I’ve seen the home video of you and Spock!

[Suddenly Steve-O enters.]

Steve-O:
Hey dude, dudette. Where can a guy get a drink around here?

William Shatner:
Excuse me? Do you mind? We were sort of having a conversation here.

Steve-O:
No, that’s cool. You keep on rapping, I’m just going to raid the mini bar.

The Evil Betty:
That’ll go straight on your bill, you know.

William Shatner:
Hello? Talking here!

[Spock walks in]

Spock:
Captain, you’re wanted on the Bridge! It’s an emergency!

William Shatner:
If it’s an emergency why didn’t you just page me? We installed that intercom system for a reason!

Spock:
Well, Scotty’s been pumping karioke through it all day. Something about randomly bursting into song, I don’t know. The point is now he’s got his controller stuck on beam and can’t get it unstuck.

William Shatner:
[Sigh] Betty, my love, I must go and get Scotty out of this unfortunate position. When I return we shall work this through, nice and slowly, and then when we’re both ready we’ll ask Steve-O and Spock to join us and the four of us can have a nice, long-

Narrator:
Aaaaand back to the heroes.

[Scene changes just in the nick of time. Our heroes are suddenly surrounded by a bunch of tiny savages, all with warpaint and spears. The Super Mario World Map Song plays over in the background... repeatedly...over and over and over.]

Johnny Depp:
[Whispering to Kathleen] I thought we left the savages at the Deserted Tropical Island.

Kathleen:
You are so judgmental, you know that?

Johnny Depp:
What? Why?

Kathleen:
Just because they have a slightly different culture than you, they look a little funny, you call them savages! You know what that makes you? A racist. [She leans down and looks at the nearest munchkin.] Aren’t you just the cutest thing ever? Goochy-goo [She ruffles his hair.]
[For a moment the munchkin just stares at her, all big eyes and adorable. Then, without warning, he reaches out and bites Kathleen’s arm.]

Kathleen:
Ga! Jesus christ! Mother Mary and Joseph! What the hell? Get him off me!

Munchkin #1:
Strangers taste like chicken.

[The commotion stops, Kathleen turns to stare at Johnny Depp who has a smug look on his face.]

Kathleen:
You shut up.

Jessie:
[Clearing her throat] Attention, citizens of Twinkie Country! We come in peace!

Munchkin #2:
Pieces... to eat?

Jessie:
No, no, peace. As in, lack of war, neutral ground, non-combat. Everyone is happy and everything is hunky-dory. That sort of peace.

Alex:
This is not what I expected from Munchkins.

Munchkin #1:
No. Maunchausen. Is pronounced Moon-chau-saun.

Alex:
Um, no. It’s not. Munchkin.

Munchkin #1:
Maunchausen.

Alex:
What are you, stupid? Read my lips. Munch-kin.

Munchkin #1:
Moon-chaaaau-saaaaun. Maunchausen! Maunchausen! Maunchausen!

Cam:
Alex, just... just let them have this one.

Alex:
No! This is ridiculous! Munchkins are classic! You can’t suddenly adapt a new pronunciation just because it’s all non-canon!

Kathleen:
No, seriously. That doesn’t mean what you think it means!

Alex:
Oh and I suppose using the term ‘tea-bagging’ is suddenly somehow inappropriate? I partake in a good old fashioned Boston Tea Party and call it ‘tea-bagging’ and suddenly I’m a pervert, is that it?

Kathleen:
...Yes! That’s exactly it! And stop stealing your jokes from The Daily Show!

Munchkin #2:
Not enough meat on left femur.

Kathleen:
Wait... what?

Johnny Depp:
Savages. I totally called it.

Munchkin #3:
[Narrowing eyes] Tonight we feast in OZ!

Kathleen:
[Finally shaking off the Munchkin] Tonight you feast in HELL! [She proceeds to kick the nearest Munchkin into a shallow pit that is clearly marked with construction signage. Of course, because he is tiny, even the shallowest of pits stops him.]

Kathleen:
[With dramatic flair] RUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNAH!

[Ignoring the rules about dancing as they move, the heroes race from Maunchausen Land in Twinkie Country and head down the Mustard Linoleum Street with a pack of Munchkins/Maunchausens chasing them down with spears and whatnot. Of course they have stubby legs so really, it’s no challenge escaping them at all.]

[Scene changes and we see our heroes stumbling their way down the MLS, or maybe they’re on MLS, at this point it’s hard to tell. ‘Gerudo Valley’ from the Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time soundtrack is playing. Why? I’m not sure.]

Natalie:
Left, right, back, side, back... Dammit Cam! Your stupid tin feet are getting in the way!

Cam:
Well excuse me! At least I’m not shedding straw on everything!

Kathleen:
Will you two cut it out?

Natalie:
Who died and made you Queen of OZ?

Kathleen:
Who has the freaking Jewel Encrusted Slippers, huh?

Jessie:
Wait, have you tried clicking your heels together yet?

Kathleen:
Of course I have! I’m not an idiot! [The others move ahead and Kathleen carefully taps her heels together three times. Johnny Depp notices this and opens his mouth like he’s about to give her up and then changes his mind.]

Natalie:
Hey, look! It’s Emerald City!

Alex:
Gross, what is that smell?

Cam:
It’s got to be coming from that field of rotten... something, surrounding the city.

Johnny Depp:
[Leans down to examine the ground.] Just as I suspected... Day-lilies.

Kathleen:
Well, that was one poorly thought out city beautification idea.

Alex:
In the movie don’t the poppies make the heroes fall asleep?

Kathleen:
Right, except these aren’t poppies and... they’re dead. So we should be home free!

Natalie:
All right! Let’s go then!

Kathleen:
Urgh wait, Stewie is drooling again. Does anyone have a Kleenex?

Johnny Depp:
Excuse me? Did you just say your cat is drooling?

Kathleen:
Um, yeah. Why, haven’t you ever seen a drooling cat before?

Johnny Depp:
No, but then again this is just one in very long line of firsts for me.

Kathleen:
He drinks from the shower too.

Cam:
Aw, shit! Look!

[Everyone turns in time to see the Day-lilies miraculously regrow.]

Johnny Depp:
Great, your cat’s drool revived the one freaking flower on earth that logically shouldn’t be revived.

Jessie:
Oh it’s not her fault, and don’t use the ‘L’ word. It has no place in our lives.

Natalie:
So what do we do now?

Cam:
If we try to cross something bad is bound to happen. I mean, if poppies can make them go to sleep, imagine what the day-lilies are capable of.

[There is a look of utter fear suddenly plastered on Natalie’s face. The camera begins to slowly zoom in on her and we can hear the echoing taunts of the flowers in Wonderland.]

Tigerlily:
Come over ‘ere love!

Pansies:
We’ll rip ye’ a new one!

Day-lilies:
Your mother wears combat boots-boots-oots-oots-ts...

Natalie:
[Snapping back to reality.] NOOOO!

[Everyone stares.]

Natalie:
[Nervous laugh] Erm, sorry... I was... um... back in ‘Nam there for a second.

Kathleen:
Rrrrright. Okay, moving on. Alex, can you maybe bust out some snow with your wand and kill these puppies?

Alex:
I’m sure I can.

Cam:
[Muttering] And pigs will fly.

Alex:
What?

Cam:
What?

Alex:
Nothing.

Cam:
Oh good, okay, let’s move on then.

Alex:
Right. Wait, what just happened?

Johnny Depp:
Just... [sighs] make it snow.

[Alex busts out her wand and rolls up non-existent sleeves.]

Natalie:
Hey, is that the wand Sailor Mercury gave you?

Alex:
It most certainly is. Multi-functional.

Kathleen:
Brilliant! She was all about snow, or water, or something! Things are finally starting to look up for us!

[Alex scrunches up her face with determination and flicks the wand. A moment later it begins raining.]

Kathleen:
Not... quite what we wanted.

Natalie:
How did ‘light snow fall’ get lost in translation to become ‘flash flood’?

Alex:
Look, I’m grasping at straws here, okay?

Johnny Depp:
Listen, it’s okay. The day-lilies are getting drowned. We can cross the field and just forget this ever happened, yeah?

Kathleen:
You can forget all you want but I guarantee we’ll all be harassing her for years to come about it.
[So the heroes troop across the very flooded field of flowers (nice alliteration, eh?) And approach the gates of the Emerald City which, on closer inspection is more of a pea green colour.]

Natalie:
That’s really unappetizing. I just watched The Exorcist too.

Kathleen:
When? When were you given a chance to watch it?

Natalie:
Deserted Tropical Island had cable.

Jessie:
I’m confused. The sign says "No knocking before entering."

Cam:
It’s not that confusing. It just means you don’t knock before you enter.

Jessie:
Yeah, but what if someone is right behind the door and you hit them in the face, or someone wants privacy so they close the door and you just barge in on them? I’m going to knock-

Kathleen:
Jessie, noo!

[Suddenly, Nathan, who appeared as the castle guard in Ye Olde England and then once more as that dude in Hair World that provide that measly trumpet to announce your presence. This time he appears at a small window cut in the door.]

Guard Nathan:
What? What? Who goes there? What the hell are you people doing? Standing there, looking innocent, knocking? Jesus Christ, does no one read the sign?

Jessie:
I was just trying to be poli-

Guard Nathan:
Well stop it. We don’t do politeness here in The Pea Green City.

Cam:
What do you do then?

Guard Nathan:
Well we... we...um... We ask intruders three questions, that’s what we do!

[Everyone groans in unison.]

Johnny Depp:
Can’t we skip the questions? We’ve done them before!

Guard Nathan:
Not wearing these fruity Elton John sun glasses, you haven’t!

[He hands over several pairs of sunglasses shaped like stars that you always see Elton John wearing at every concert he has ever put on. Ever.]

Guard Nathan:
Spiffy, now question one-

Alex:
Wait, the glasses are making me nauseous!

Guard Nathan:
That means they’re working! Don’t interrupt. Question one: the common ingredient in Aspirin is what?

[Everyone turns to stare at Kathleen]

Kathleen:
What? Why do you automatically assume that because it’s a drug question I’ll know the answer? I have chronic back pain!

Natalie:
Sure, you did two years ago. What about NOW?

Kathleen:
...Do you not understand the term ‘chronic’?! [She pauses and then sighs] Salicylic acid...

Cam:
[Laughing] You have debilitating condition, loser! Loooooser!

Guard Nathan:
Question number B... Strangers With Candy starred Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello and what African American actor?

Johnny Depp:
Well this is easy, let’s just ask Colbert.

Cam:
[After sticking his head into the Vortex.] He’s not there anymore!


Alex:
What? Where did he go?

Cam:
He didn’t exactly leave a forwarding address!

Natalie:
Actually, he did... Look at that note.

Cam:
[Taking the note from the Swirly Vortex and reading aloud.] Dear Heroes, I have run away from home. You will never see my face again. That brings us to tonight’s Word... Suck it. Sincerely Stephen T. Colbert. [Glancing around] ‘Suck it’ is two words.

Alex:
Why would he run away?!

Kathleen:
[To Johnny Depp] This is your fault!

Johnny Depp:
My fault? What did I do?

Kathleen:
You pushed him away! You drove him to his misery! You scowled and spat and were needlessly cruel in the face of the adversity that we all faced every day; all because you couldn’t handle one tiny little misstep in this whole damn adventure! You callow, horrible, little man!

Johnny Depp:
You don’t know what you’re talking about!

Kathleen:
[Getting excessively dramatic] I know he’s gone and he’s NEVER coming back!

Johnny Depp:
[Shaking her by the shoulders] Pull yourself together, Kathleen! Listen to what you’re saying! Stop pushing me away! Let me in, stop pushing me away!

[Kathleen proceeds to hit him repeatedly with closed fists like you see every time anything remotely dramatic happens in any movie... usually it’s raining during those scenes too, or am I the only one who noticed that?]

Kathleen:
I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!

Alex:
What the HELL are you two talking about?

Kathleen:
Sorry, got caught up in the moment.

Guard Nathan:
Right... I’m just going to let you have that one and... and actually you know, you can just go in... Just... don’t talk to me anymore.

[So the Heroes enter the Pea Green City and ‘Water Here’ by Bodies of Water begins to play. Everyone glances around rather nervously.]

Natalie:
I don’t like the sound of this music.

Alex:
It sounds like a bunch of corpses being hung out to dry.

Cam:
...Yes, yes that is exactly what it sounds like. [Shakes head in disbelief.] So how do we find this great Wizard of OZ?

Guard Nathan:
[Appearing out of no where]
Nobody gets to see the great Wizard! Not nobody not no nobody!

Kathleen:
That’s not how that line is supposed to go.

Guard Nathan:
Shut up! First you must answer my three questio- [Johnny Depp proceeds to punch him.]

Everyone:
Yay!

Johnny Depp:
Lets find the Wizard and get the fuck out of here.

[They enter the long, spooky hallway leading to the Wizards chambers. Everyone links arms and begins that excessive dramatic walk heading towards the big doors at the end of the hall.]

Jessie:
Naaa, I don’t want to do this!

Johnny Depp:
I’m supposed to be the cowardly lion!

Jessie:
And do you really think the Cowardly Lion would have slugged the gatekeeper?

Johnny Depp:
... Excellent point. So, can I be the Good Witch of the North then?

Jessie:
Whatever floats your boat, Johnny.

[They enter the giant pea-green chambers and are astounded to see lots of creepy special effects and wind machines, and some kind of spooky Halloween recording of thunder that appears to be stuck on repeat.]

Cam:
[Totally unimpressed.] Oh my god. I am so frightened. If I had a heart, it would be unable to handle the immense pressure being brought on right now.

Natalie:
I might not be the sharpest cookie in the pond that a horse can’t drink but I don’t think this is right.

Kathleen:
That... was the greatest idiom ever created.

Alex:
[Dramatic gasp] Look!

[A figure rises out from behind a podium, moves the wind machine so it faces him and then gives a little cough. Suddenly a spot light appears and he announces...]

Stephen Colbert:
I am the almighty and powerful Wizard of OZ!

Kathleen:
Stephen Colbert? What the hell man? What was with that note you left us in the Vortex?... Suck it? Seriously dude.

Stephen Colbert:
Oh right. Well, the Island Natives were being a pain and then Spencer was fishing around in the vortex for some twine or something, I don’t know, that kid needs a life, and he kept leaving the Vortex open so this draft got in and I thought ‘Well, screw this shit. I’m leaving.’ And when he and Kelti weren’t looking I snuck out.

Cam:
And that’s why you can’t leave the Swirly Vortex open.

Johnny Depp:
Yes, because god forbid the innocent people we have kidnapped and placed inside the air tight dimension be allowed to escape.

Cam:
That’s what I keep saying!

Stephen Colbert:
[Clears throat again] Anyways, as I was saying... I am the almighty and powerful Wizard of OZ!

Kathleen:
Right, well, um... Wizard... Can you tell us where to find the next cube piece?

Stephen Colbert:
Have you tried the Wicked Bitch of the West’s castle yet?

Jessie:
Uh, no?

Stephen Colbert:
Well, she might have one, hard to say.

Alex:
Couldn’t you give us a more definitive answer? I mean, we did come all the way from Twinkie Country to meet with you.

Stephen Colbert:
[Sighing] Want, want, want. All you do is take from me. You’re bleeding me dry, really you are.

Kathleen:
Listen, just... give us some direction, please.

Stephen Colbert:
Okay, I’ll tells you what. You go kill the Wicked Bitch of the West and bring me her Gucci bag as proof and I, in turn, will devise some sort of plot device to either give you the cube or give you a cube. Not sure which yet.

Natalie:
Man, [she kicks a non-existent stone] I’m sick of this plot-driven worlds. Why couldn’t this be like Anime Land where all we had to do was take on dumb stereotypes and make bad jokes?
[Glancing up she realizes the Heroes have all left and now she is alone with Stephen Colbert.]

Natalie:
So... how bout them Mets?

Stephen Colbert:
When you talk I am overwhelmed by a feeling of hunger.

[Scene changes to all the Heroes once again attempting to dance through a spookyish looking forest. Even though there are plenty of threats around, rabid wild animals, downed power lines, chemical spills, they seem more focussed on the fact that Cam still can’t get the foot work right.]

Alex:
Seriously, Cam! It’s not that hard!

Cam:
Not all of us are dancers, Alex!

Alex:
Yeah, but you’re the only one with two left feet screwed on BACKWARDS.

Natalie:
Hey yeah, you know if you turn them around this might be a lot easier for you.

Cam:
[Sighing] Okay, hold on. [He settles on the side of the road, the rest of the heroes stand around idly, looking slightly annoyed, as he tries to remove his two tin feet and turn them around so they are pointing in the right direction.]

Jessie:
[Glancing up at the sky] Hey, did it get really dark all of a sudden or is it just me?

Johnny Depp:
Aw shit, please don’t be another falling trailer, please oh please oh please...

Natalie:
No, no I think it’s something much worse...

[The shadows take shape and it’s very clear what they are.]

Kathleen:
Winged monkeys?! Oh Christ, it’s my very real worst fear come true!

Jessie:
Out of all the things that had to be the same as the book, why the winged monkeys?

Johnny Depp:
Their eyes have the red glow of ebola! Everyone, run!

[The heroes stumble rather aimlessly down the path, trying to out run the winged monkeys with ebola, but it is all for naught! They are scooped up and carried away towards a dark, menacing castle, that is shaped a bit like a lip gloss from the angle they are flying in at. Everything goes black...]

[‘Blue Alert’ by Anjani begins to play. The scene fades open to Kathleen sitting alone in a miserable cell, she is just waking up.]

Kathleen:
Nuuh? Ow, my head... I feel like I’ve been run over by a house... [pause] Wow, I totally get what he meant at the start of this World.

[Suddenly the door to the cell opens and in troops this bizarre partially robotic creation that appears to be a culmination of several popular culture icons.]

Kathleen:
Are you... the Wicked Bitch of the West?

Wicked Bitch of the West:
Am not, ho! My name is Milindris Cyloton and dontcha forget it!

Kathleen:
[Thinks for a moment then says hesitantly] ...Miley Cyrus, Lindsey Lohan and... Paris Hilton?

Wicked Bitch of the West:
Pshya. I’ve got all their best traits rolled into one. Miley’s Tween appeal, Lindsey’s alcoholism and Paris’s herpes.

Kathleen:
Those are the best traits?

Wicked Bitch of the West:
Pshya, you don’t want to know what the worst ones are, trust me. Anyways, I’ve got, like, tons of crap n’ stuff I have to do, so I’ll make this quicky- I mean, quick. I want your shoes.

Kathleen:
Um, no.

Wicked Bitch of the West:
Ya, unfortunately, like, that really isn’t...sort of, like, an... gawd, what do you call it?

Kathleen:
An option?

Wicked Bitch of the West:
Ya, it’s not an option. I need those shoes if I’m going to continue ruling over the Tweenkies.

Kathleen:
Um...

Wicked Bitch of the West:
[Prissy bitch sigh] Pshya, they’re, like, the people of Twinkie Country.

Kathleen:
Oh my god, Tweenkies, I totally get it. That’s... that’s actually sort of clever.

Wicked Bitch of the West:
I know, right? That’s so hot. Anyways, shoes, bitch, or else I’m gonna, like... do something.

Kathleen:
Yeah, can’t say you’re doing a very good job at striking fear into my heart, Wicked Bitch or not.

Wicked Bitch of the West:
Pshya, okay, let me put it this way... Give me the shoes or else all your friends, plus Disney Channel star Selena Gomez will all meet a fiery death at the hands of the Tweenkies.

Kathleen:
[Gasp] Bitch!

Wicked Bitch of the West:
I know, right?

Kathleen:
I think you’re bluffing. There’s no way you’d harm Johnny Depp. The others, meh, probably seeing as how you don’t know them and have no emotional connection to them. But I find it very hard to believe that you’d hurt Johnny.

Wicked Bitch of the West:
What about Selena Gomez?

Kathleen:
You touch a hair on her sarcastic little head and I’ll rip you to shreds!

Wicked Bitch of the West:
Ya, the Miley in me could eat you and spit you out.

Kathleen:
Really? Because the Kathleen in me is fully ready to take the Miley in you and shove it so far up your herpes ridden ass that you’ll be texting your girlfriends to G-N-O from inside your C-O-L-O-N.

[That threat has clearly struck a chord with the Wicked Bitch of the West. However the moment of fear passes. I mean, she is part robot after all.]

Wicked Bitch of the West:
So be it! [She speaks into her crystal ball] Zac Efron, please throw Mr. Cowardly-No-Please-I-Hate-Loud-Noises-Lion to the Tweenkies... They are hungry and must be fed.

Kathleen:
No! Not the Tweenkies! Urgh [moment of consideration]... FINE. You can have the damn shoes.
[The little images in the crystal ball are screaming at Kathleen, telling her not to do it at this point.]

Wicked Bitch of the West:
[Takes the first shoe] I only need one. Dolce, of Dolce and Gabanna, wants me to be a neck model, and I really think the jewels in the shoe will extenuate the length of my neck.

Kathleen:
Whatever, whore.

[Scene changes to the prison where the other heroes and Selena Gomez are being kept.]

Johnny Depp:
No! Those shoes have got to be important or something!

Cam:
Oh my god, oh my god what are we going to do?

Selena Gomez:
Can someone tell me what’s going on?

Alex:
Shut up, Selena Gomez, we don’t have time for your crazy theories!

Selena Gomez:
But-

Alex:
I said shut up!

Natalie:
If the Wicked Bitch of the West has one of the jewel encrusted slippers, we’re all done for!

Selena Gomez:
[Sarcastic disbelief] Really now?

Natalie:
Yes! No! Maybe, I don’t know. I’m just assuming!

Jessie:
There’s got to be some way we can defeat Milindris Cyloton!


Selena Gomez:
Wait.. Milindris Cyloton? As in a weird culmination of Miley Cyrus, Lindsey Lohan, and Paris Hilton?

Jessie:
I... would assume so.

Selena Gomez:
I have an idea! But we need a speaker system!

Cam:
Easy enough! [He pulls a lovely speaker system from the Swirly Vortex]

Selena Gomez:
Quick, hook up this Ipod!

[The scene changes back to Kathleen and the Wicked Bitch, who is now gloating quite proudly over a pissed off looking Kathleen.]

Wicked Bitch of the West:
[On her cellphone] I know, it was like, my finest hour. I totally wanted to laugh evilly but I haven’t brushed my teeth yet this evening and I thought, no, the two remaining Jonas Brothers totally wouldn’t be cool with that.

Kathleen:
Christ...

Wicked Bitch of the West:
Oh. My. Gawd! SHUT UP! [Squeals then turns to Kathleen and says snottily] The Miley in me wants you to shut up for realz.

Kathleen:
The every part of me, wants to throw up. [She makes her catch phrasey throwing up sound at the mention of Miley Cyrus.]

[Suddenly out of no where ‘Down is the New Up’ by Radiohead begins to play. The Wicked Bitch looks around frantically.]

Wicked Bitch of the West:
No! No it can’t be! Radiohead... The arch nemesis of 1/4th of me! [Hands clasp around her ears] No! [We can now see the other heroes in the crystal ball, blaring the Radiohead song through the crystal from Selena Gomez’s Ipod.]

[Using the moment of distraction to her advantage, Kathleen takes off her other jewel encrusted shoe and throws it, ninja star style, into the neck of the Wicked Bitch of the West.]

Wicked Bitch of the West:
No! My neck modelling career – Ruined! I’ll get you for this you ho! I’ll kill you! Vengeance will be mine! Ooh what a world, what a world [she melts away into a puddle that has a bizarre radioactive green hue to it. Kathleen carefully pulls both her shoes from the puddle, buffs them, and slips them back on. As she is about to walk from the cell she notices the golden cellphone of the Bitch laying in the puddle. She picks that up too.]

[Scene changes to Kathleen approaching the door of the cell to release her fellow heroes when she is stopped by a group of angry looking Tweenkies.]

Tweenkie #1:
Halt! Who, like, goes there?

Kathleen:
Um, me?

Tweenkie #2:
I know you! You’re that bitch our boss locked up!

Kathleen:
She let me go! Yay me, okay, bye.

Tweenkie #1:
Not so fast, you’ve still got the shoes. The boss wouldn’t give those us!

Kathleen:
[Sighing] Okay, I’ll be honest. I killed your boss with a heel to the neck, retrieved my shoes, and this golden cellphone.

[The Tweenkies suddenly gasp and fall back, bowing as they go.]

Kathleen:
[Looking at phone] This must have one hell of a plan...

Tweenkie #2:
You have the golden cellphone! You now hold in your hands all the power of Twinkie Country and likewise, our, like, fates!

Kathleen:
Is that so? Does that mean I can let my friends go?

Tweenkie #2:
If you wish.

Kathleen:
I do, open the door and release them!

[The Tweenkies do so, releasing all the heroes, plus Selena Gomez, from the cell.]

Cam:
Kathleen! You’re still alive!

Kathleen:
Alive and not yet corrupted by whores in pop culture, thank you very much. That was pretty smart, playing Radiohead like that. Who came up with that one?

Selena Gomez:
That was me. Miley was such a bitch about that "Uhh Radiohead doesn’t want to meet me. They’re my idol... I’m going to take them down!" Someone call the waaaaambulance if you know what I mean?

Kathleen:
Ha, yeah. Awesome. Okay, well, we just need to find the Wicked Bitch’s Gucci purse and we can go back to Pea-Green City.

Tweenkie:
Oh, you mean this one? [She produces a very tiny clutch purse out of no where.] It cost three grand.

Alex:
Seriously? Isn’t that little extravagant?

Tweenkie #3:
Not for the Wicked Bitch of the West. I mean, she ate gold shavings for breakfast for goodness sake.

Tweenkie #1:
[Clears throat] Kathleen, as the possessor of the golden cellphone, you can control us as you, like... want to.

Kathleen:
Okay, well, um... How about this, you guys help us get back to Pea-Green City and then Selena can take over from there. Sound good?

[The Tweenkies turn to stare at Selena Gomez, obviously very hesitant about having her as their new leader.]

Selena Gomez:
Come with me, I will show you the world of salicylic acid facials and eating whatever you want and not giving a damn.

[The Tweenkies look astounded and very, very pleased.]

Tweenkie #1:
Does this mean I can finally read a...a.. A book?

Selena Gomez:
Read as many books as you want!

Tweenkie #2:
And I don’t have to wear lip gloss anymore?

Selena Gomez:
Not if you don’t want to!

Tweenkie #3:
[Excessive over the top happiness] I’m going to be a brain surgeon!!

[The scene changes to the Pea-Green City, the heroes have returned with the Gucci purse and are now standing in the giant, messy throne room of The Wizard of OZ. ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’ by Elton John plays in the background, which is suiting considering the giant glasses they are sporting once again. Stephen Colbert is checking out the purse while the others lip sync to the music like some really cheesy boy band.]

Johnny Depp:
Fly away!

Everyone else:
OooOoO!

Stephen Colbert:
[Snaps fingers and music stops.] That’s enough of that. Okay, so I guess this purse will do. I really wanted the leopard print one but I suppose I can’t be picky.

Kathleen:
Damn right you can’t!

Stephen Colbert:
Don’t raise your voice at me, young lady! Or else I won’t let you ride my magical kite home.

Cam:
Wasn’t it supposed to be a hot air balloon?

Stephen Colbert:
Yeah but... it isn’t. L. Frank. Baum was such a coke head, he wasn’t thinking straight by the time it came to actually end the story. I mean [scoffs] Hammerheads? Really? Puh-leeze.

Kathleen:
Oh god, please stop talking like a Tweenkie.

Stephen Colbert:
Anyways, because you got me this Gucci purse, I’ll let one of you use my magical kite to take you home. I’ve gotten sort of sick of this Pea-Green City; it’s surprisingly hard to feng-shui with colours. Not a lot matches save for Exorcist posters.

Alex:
What about our Rubix Cube? [Everyone turns to look at her.] I’m trying to prioritize here!

Stephen Colbert:
Oh, right. It’s here in the Gucci purse. Take it. [He tosses Kathleen the cube piece] Now which of you lucky bastards is going home?

Jessie:
Should we draw straws for it?

Kathleen:
[Dejectedly] No... Johnny, you should take the magic kite ride home. You want it more than any of us...

Cam:
Not true! I was in the middle of a LAN tournament when we were swept up!

Jessie:
Yeah! And I was busy writing a report on... [Everyone looks expectantly at her, waiting for the answer to the burning question of "Just what the hell do we do for a living?"] Why are you guys staring at me like that?

Kathleen:
Think very carefully, Jess. What was the report on?

Jessie:
I don’t know, the molecular base of fake flowers I think.

Cam:
Okay, I know we don’t make fake flowers for a living.

Jessie:
No one said we did it for a living. This was something just for me.

Natalie:
And on that note, moving on.

Johnny Depp:
[To Kathleen] A-are you sure?

Kathleen:
[Deep sigh] Yes, you deserve it. You’ve put up with a lot of crap, and all without suing us. Go home to your family, Mr. Depp.

Stephen Colbert:
Okay, awesome. Just tie this rope around your waist like so, and hold on here, and say the magic words.

Johnny Depp:
Which are?

Stephen Colbert:
Uh, the magic...words?

Johnny Depp:
Oh, right. Okay. Um, see ya later, kids. [With booming confidence] The magic words!
[And just like... magic... he lifts up into the air and slowly ascends towards the sky. The heroes wave goodbye, all looking might forlorn (who wouldn’t?) When at last he appears to be nearly out of sight Kathleen turns back to Stephen.]

Kathleen:
All right. Can we get a new world?

Stephen Colbert:
Silly girl, you’ve always had the power to go to a new world!

Kathleen:
....What?

Stephen Colbert:
Oh? Oh, Alex didn’t tell you? God, that’s... that’s awkward. I’m just going to uh... um, I’m going back into the Vortex now. See you later. [He climbs back into the Swirly Vortex and disappears. All eyes slowly turn onto Alex who is now blushing an impressive shade of red.]

Alex:
Well, there’s this certain point in the plot after the team comes to a universally acknowledged understanding, when they learn something pivotal. Before that, you could click your heels all the way to Santa Fe and not get anywhere. You had to learn something first.

Natalie:
So, there was a moral to this world?

Alex:
Yes! And that was... [Everyone mumbles] I can’t hear you...

Everyone:
That without cooperation we get no where...

Alex:
Aaand?

Everyone:
And Tweenkies are influenced by some of the worst pip culture icons in the world and must be saved...

Alex:
Aaaaaand?

Everyone:
And we shouldn’t get involved in any evil plots created by our fellow students...

Alex:
AND?

Everyone:
[Sigh] And munchkins should not be used as footballs.

Alex:
All right, good. Now we’ve got that straightened out... Kathleen, click your heels together three times, make a wish, and then ask for a new world.

Kathleen:
I get a wish out of the deal too? Sweet! [She closes her eyes, clicks her heels three times and makes a wish that none of the other heroes can hear.]

[The scene suddenly shifts to Johnny Depp floating high above in the sky. Suddenly a pack of winged monkeys descend upon him with a pair of scissors and cut the kite string. He plummets back towards Pea-Green City.]

Johnny Depp:
Shiiiiiiiiiiit!
[Fade to black]