The Phantom Fumble: Scene 2 (script preview)

Scene 2

Pleada Outskirts, wooded area.

PARKER
So… where could it have gone off to?

NARRATOR
Parker turned over leaves and sniffed at the sandy ground of the sparse forest. They were in the outskirts of town, not many places for the suspect to have run off to.

LILY
I’m struggling to pick its energy trail back up… what's wrong with me?

CHANEL
(sniff sniff)... I’m struggling to pick up any trail at all. Aren’t ghosts supposed to smell weird?

DIPPER
If I were a ghost, where would I go? Hmmm…

LILY
It's not that easy to think like a ghost, Dipper.

CHANEL
(sniff sniff–) Erghh… Could've fooled me, he’s got the smell part down pat.

DIPPER
Why, thank you! I have been described as a method actor!

PARKER
Listen up, team. Here’s the plan: we need to find this outlaw and apprehend them. Keep in mind they did just commit or are complicit in a very recent killing, so they could be quite dangerous.

CHANEL
Got it, boss.

LILY
I’ll keep scanning.

PARKER
Good. I trust you all have your special moves ready?

DIPPER
Yes ma’am! I’ll prepare my secret weapon!

NARRATOR
Dipper clapped his hands together. Pulling them apart slowly, waves of dark energy began to form, rippling outward from between his little palms. The others turned to look at this, clearly a little surprised.

PARKER
Uuuhh… Dipper, what is that?

LILY
It's Dark Type energy--!

DIPPER
Of course! See, I’ve been learning this cool new spell called the Dark Pulse! All the best spellcasters know it, it’s very versatile too!

CHANEL
The only pulse I’m feeling is my instincts telling me to run.

PARKER
Y-yeah, Dipper… why don’t we stick to just channeling Dark Type energy into that cool Sucker Punch of yours–

DIPPER
Why limit myself to keeping this power within my limbs, dear Parker? Why not let it free, manipulate it in my very hands, let it grow in power and size and intensity–

[THE ENERGY GROWS LARGER, MAKING PULSATING SOUNDS]

[CHARACTERS RAISE THEIR VOICES OVER THE ENERGY SOUNDS FOR THE DURATION OF THE SPELL]

LILY
Uuuummmm! It’s getting a little too big…! Dipper, I don’t think you know what you’re doing!

DIPPER (Struggling to contain the energy)
Don’t worry, I’ve– nyergh! D-done this many times before!

CHANEL
Seriously, put that ball of evil away before you hurt someone!

PARKER
Dipper!

DIPPER (struggling more)
All you gotta do is– nyerghh! Keep it- together! And–

LILY
Everyone, duck!

DIPPER
Hyyeeeaaaaa—!!

NARRATOR
With a loud bang, Dipper finally let go of his Dark Pulse, waves of power blasting the vicinity and rippling across the trees, lifting up leaves, knocking down fruit and cracking away branches in its wake. Parker, Lily and Chanel emerged from behind the trees and bushes where they’d hidden themselves.

DIPPER (dazed)
Nyeerrrghh…

LILY/CHANEL
DIPPER!

PARKER
I thought you said you’d done this a bunch of times before!

DIPPER
I have!

PARKER
Then what was that? You nearly blasted all of us!

DIPPER
… well I also never said any of those times had been successful.

[A ROAR ECHOES FROM SOMEWHERE.]

LILY (Gasps as she senses Gengar’s presence)
Oh no… I have good news and bad news.

CHANEL
Good news?

LILY
I found the suspect…

PARKER
And bad…?

LILY
I think the suspect found us, too!

NARRATOR
Just then, a portal opened itself out of thin air just ahead of them. First, a short purple leg. Then, stubby purple arms… and not long after, two glowing red eyes and an unsettling smile plastered directly onto a round body.

LILY
A gengar!

PARKER
So you’re the outlaw responsible for the attack on the market…?

CHANEL
I hope you’re ready for trouble!

DIPPER
That’s right, surrender now or prepare to fight!

CHANEL (aside, to Dipper)
Oh come on, man, I had a whole monologue planned for this.

DIPPER (aside, to Chanel)
Well, how was I supposed to know?

GENGAR
Ha ha ha…! If it’s what you want, I’ll give you a fight… HAAA!

NARRATOR
Gengar quickly launched Shadow Ball. Chanel and Dipper dodged out of the way just in time.

CHANEL/DIPPER
Whoaaa!!

PARKER
Guys, watch out!

NARRATOR
Parker leaped in front of them and assumed a crouching position. Just as Gengar attacked with another Shadow Ball, she puffed out her chest and–

PARKER
(Loud, roaring bark)

NARRATOR
With a roar, the attack slowed and dissipated. Gengar took a step back, seeming a little surprised, but the look quickly vanished from its face–

[GENGAR OPENS ANOTHER PORTAL]

And soon, Gengar created another portal in the air, vanishing into it.

LILY
That was Phantom force–! It’s moving around us in the ethereal plane, it could return and attack from anywhere!

CHANEL
Now would be a great time for that Foresight of yours!

LILY
Right! Hmm!

NARRATOR
Lily shut her eyes, letting her awareness dip into the ethereal plane Gengar had hid itself in: a faded parallel world typically inhabited by spirits capable of traveling into the perceivable plane. She could see Gengar clearly now, stepping around Dipper and heading behind Parker.

LILY
There–! Parker, behind you!

NARRATOR
Gengar had already opened a portal back up, ready to reappear and strike Parker. Thanks to Lily’s warning, however, she was ready! With a roar, Gengar was sent back into the ethereal plane before it had the chance to do anything.

DIPPER (to self)
This is my chance! Time to blast this vile villain away!

NARRATOR
Once more, Dipper began forming Dark Pulse between his hands. Noticing this, Lily’s focus broke for a moment.

LILY
Oh no! Dipper, be careful with that, this isn’t the time!

DIPPER
I know what I’m–

CHANEL
HOLY CRAP!

NARRATOR
In her moment of distraction, Lily hadn't noticed Gengar sneaking up on Dipper, Shadow Ball at the ready.

LILY
O-oh no!!

DIPPER
Wah!!

NARRATOR
Dipper instinctively let go of his Dark Pulse, blasting the ball out of Gengar's hands– as it retreated back into a portal, the attack instead flew directly at Lily.

PARKER
NO–!

LILY
Kyaaah!

NARRATOR
Parker leaped into the air, tackling Lily just in time to avoid the attack hitting her right in her face. They fell to the ground together, and the others ran to their side.

DIPPER
Oh my goodness! Are you alright?

CHANEL
Guys, get up! Is anyone hurt?!

LILY
I’m– I’m okay! I’m fine, but… Gengar’s escaping again!

CHANEL
Great job, Dipper! You lost us the opportunity to catch it!

DIPPER
Oh, I lost you the opportunity? You were the one who interrupted my concentration when I was preparing my special attack!

CHANEL
I did no such thing!

LILY
Guys–?

DIPPER
You yelled out right into my ear, you did! I lost focus!

CHANEL
Oh please, I saved your damn life!

LILY
Come on, let’s not–

DIPPER
I’m doing just fine here! I don’t need you looking out for me, because I can handle myself!

CHANEL
Oh my freaking god! Why are you being literally so insufferable right now–?!

DIPPER/CHANEL/LILY
(General argument sounds)

PARKER
That’s enough!

[THE OTHERS FALL SILENT]

… you two, I can’t believe what I’m hearing! Arguing like this, in the middle of a mission? I thought you knew better! Dipper, really? We just went over why using that attack like this is a bad idea, and still you go around acting like you can just manage any situation without fear of consequence! Look what happened to Lily, she almost got hit!

LILY
I-I… Parker, it’s fine really, just–

PARKER
No! It is most certainly not fine! Did you see how strong-looking that Shadow Ball was? Who knows what it could’ve done to her! You two need to get your acts together and learn how to be in a team, I can’t believe this! I can’t– rrghhhh! We have never blundered a battle so much in all the time we’ve been in this division, and you choose to make the first time out of our first ever murder suspect?! Who knows what else it’s capable of, it must be striking to kill here!

LILY (teary)
Please, you’re being–

PARKER
Be quiet when I’m talking! Seriously, this is just unacceptable! I want to be seeing improvement from all of you in future!

LILY (whimpers, taken aback by the reprimand, tearing up)
I’m… I’m sorry… I’m sorry! It’s my fault!

CHANEL
Wh… Lily, she didn’t mean–

LILY
I messed up the whole mission!

NARRATOR
She covered her face with her paws and dashed off into the bushes, disappearing from view immediately. All they could hear was rustling and sobbing as Lily ran off into the forest, back toward the town.

CHANEL
Lily–!

PARKER
Lily, come back! I’m… urgh… damn it…

DIPPER
… H-hey, we’ll find her, it’s alright! I uh… I…

CHANEL
I’m going after her.

(Calling out) Lilyyyy!

[CHANEL RUNS AFTER LILY]

PARKER
… oh no… I scared her, didn’t I? I was being too loud… I got too angry again…

DIPPER
Hey, I mean… It was understandable! You just want to keep us safe!

PARKER
But I scared Lily away…! I didn’t listen, I…
Rggghhh… whatever. Let’s just keep looking.

DIPPER
O– I– oh? Oh, okay… that’s… yeah, let’s.

NARRATOR
Dipper and Parker walked off in the opposite direction together.
From within the ethereal plane, Gengar watched them split up, its grin stretching even farther past its horrible red eyes.