Antz Page #13

Z and Bala walk over a rocky "dune" (the soft shoulder of the

path). Beyond, the grass starts up again. They have come to

the end of the "desert" (i.e. the other side of the path)

Through the blades of grass, we can see...

Z:

It's...it's...

BALA:

WATER!!!

EXT. LAKE - DAY

A LAKE (a puddle) stretches before them. It is, in fact, the

overflow of a drinking-fountain whose drain is jammed...as Z

and Bala run to the lake, water dribbles from the fountain

and into one edge of the pool (to the ants, it's a waterfall).

Bala and Z run to the edge of the water and start slurping.

They smile at each other, until they remember that they don't

like each other.

Z:

This lake is huge! And so close to

the colony! Think of the vacation

potential!

BALA:

Cut me down a soft leaf so I can take

a nap.

Z:

Listen, "Princess", you can't order

me around. Out here, you're not the

boss anymore -- out here, you're

just --

-- But before he can finish, a water droplet from the

fountain falls on him. It may not sound like much, but to Z

it's as though a ten-foot diameter sphere of jello had

engulfed him.

Z's stuck inside because of the surface tension of the

droplet, which doesn't burst, just quivers up and down.

Inside, Z is slowly, frantically drowning and screaming for

help. But his screams are muffled in the water.

BALA:

(annoyed)

Out here I'm just what?

Z:

(through the water)

Hlllllllp!

BALA:

(hands on hips)

Stop fooling around in there.

By now the droplet has started rolling, and Z is being turned

upside-down. He manages to get one foreleg out of the

droplet, and, in a frantic attempt to pull himself out, pulls

Bala in by the leg.

BALA:

Let me go!!!

But it's too late -- they're now both stuck in the droplet,

and, as Z continues to drown, he also has to deal with Bala

yelling at him -- though we can't hear exactly what it. is

she's yelling through the water.

Then, having run out of air, she too starts thrashing,

alternately trying to swim and trying to slap him as Z tries

to defend himself. Finally all this commotion is enough to

make the droplet burst, spilling the two coughing,

sputtering, drenched ants onto the ground.

They both lie there, miserable, wet, and cold.

BALA:

(chants to herself)

I'm going to be rescued soon. I'm

going to be rescued soon. I'm going

to be rescued soon.

Z watches her incredulously.

Z:

Princess, has it ever occurred to you

that they're not going to rescue you?

BALA:

General Formica won't let me die out

here. I'm his fiancee.

Z:

Look. How many other Princesses are

there?

BALA:

Five thousand three hundred and

ninety -- no. About five thousand

four hundred by now.

Z:

And only you can become a Queen?

BALA:

Well...no, but --

Z:

So what makes you so special?

BALA:

(hesitates)

Well...I am the oldest.

Bala turns from Z. She's thinking things over, realization

dawning on her.

BALA:

By three seconds...

She looks out into the grass forest.

BALA:

(to herself)

You're right. There are as many

Princesses...as there are blades of

grass.

Z, overhearing her, slowly puts his hand on her shoulder.

INT. MEGA-TUNNEL - DAY

Formica and Carpenter are walking into the entrance of the

tunnel with a squad of soldiers.

FORMICA:

Dammit, this tunnel is priority A-1!

We can't afford any delays on this

project!

CARPENTER:

I've never seen anything like it,

General, they're they're...well, look!

Ahead of them, a group of a few hundred workers have stopped

work and are sitting down, chanting...

WORKER ANTS:

Z! Z! Z! Z!

A worker moves forward to join the strikers, tossing down his

tool.

FOREMAN:

(yelling at him)

Where do ya think you're going? Get

back to work!

WORKER #1

Buzz off, I'm important!

(joining the others)

Z! Z! Z! Z!

At the center of the group, Weaver and Azteca are holding

hands, leading the chant.

FORMICA:

Notice the big one, holding hands

with the female?

CARPENTER:

Well, uh, who notices workers, sir?

FORMICA:

(calculating)

No one should have to. Have him

brought to me.

INT. FORMICA'S CHAMBERS - NIGHT

A nervous Weaver is sitting across from Formica, flanked by

a couple of stoic guards. Carpenter stands smiling by the

side door. There is no obvious threat to Weaver, but the

atmosphere is truly intimidating.

FORMICA:

So this Z...he fancies himself an

individual?

WEAVER:

Yeah...I mean...well...I don't know,

really, sir.

FORMICA:

(patronizing)

Well now you haven't fallen for this

silly idea of individuality, have

you?

WEAVER:

Oh, no, sir!

FORMICA:

Good. You're a good soldier.

WEAVER:

Thank you, sir.

Weaver begins to relax a bit.

FORMICA:

So tell me. Where's Z?

WEAVER:

I...I have no idea, sir.

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