Antz Page #18

Ant Team Six burst in the doors of Formica's office, carrying

the struggling and kicking Bala. One of the commandoes sets

the tracker ant one the floor...then Formica gets up from his

desk as the commandoes bring the princess to him.

FORMICA:

Princess Bala. Good.

(with urgency)

Where's Z?

Bala replies warily.

BALA:

He's...he's dead.

(covering for Z)

You don't have to look for him

anymore. He was eaten by a praying

mantis.

FORMICA:

(regretfully)

It's a shame he died prematurely...I

was hoping to kill him myself.

BALA:

Well you'll never be able to hurt him

where he is now.

(sadly)

I miss him already.

FORMICA:

(surprised)

You miss him? Why?

BALA:

(angry)

Because...because he's twice the ant

that you are. I could never go

through with marrying you. I'm --

I'm an individual, and when I get

married, it'll be to someone I choose.

The soldiers look shocked. For a moment, Formica looks

furious. Then he just shrugs.

FORMICA:

(shaking his head)

Princess Bala, I'm just a simple old

soldier, and the ways of the feminine

mind are a little too complex for me.

But one thing I do know is, there are

more Princesses where you came from.

I just hope they're not all like you.

In the meantime, maybe we can arrange

for you to see Z again after all.

He gestures to the commandoes, who drag her out the door. We

notice that the tracker ant has been left behind.

EXT. ANT MOUND - DAY

Z hops down from the wasp, who has landed near the entrance

to the colony.

MALE WASP:

Good luck, Z. For a wingless insect,

you're alright by me.

Z:

Thanks, Chip.

They shake hands and the wasp flies off.

Z:

(to himself)

How am I going to get in? The place

is crawling with soldiers!

Z starts for the nearest entrance -- but he's spotted by a

couple of SOLDIER ANTS.

SOLDIER ANT:

You there! Worker!

Z's caught -- it's over. He turns around with his hands up.

Z:

Don't bite! I surrender!

SOLDIER ANT:

What are you doing out here! All

workers are to remain inside the

colony, by orders of General Formica!

Z can't believe his luck -- and his curiosity is piqued.

Z:

(heading inside)

Well...if you insist...

INT. MEGATUNNEL - DAY

The Queen, with Formica striding at her side, is carried by

a personal escort of fifty or so struggling workers to the

bottom end of the Mega Tunnel, where a red ribbon waits to be

cut.

QUEEN:

Very impressive, General.

Behind her, hundreds of thousands of workers are crowded,

looking confused and expectant. Some of them clutch little

flags and noisemakers...

MANDIBLE:

Wave that flag, you maggot!

...which we see are being handed out to them by Ant Team Six.

FORMICA:

Is there anything wrong, your majesty?

The Queen is looking around unhappily.

QUEEN:

It's just...How I miss Bala. I wish

she were here for this special moment.

Formica warmly places his hand on the Queen's shoulder.

FORMICA:

(falsely supportive)

She is, your majesty. She is.

The CAMERA heads up the long, long tunnel, where we see...

INT. MID SKYLIGHT TUNNEL

Bala, tied and gagged. She's at the point in the Megatunnel

where it begins to curve upwards towards the surface. She

struggles against her bonds, but can't get loose.

CUT TO:

INT. ANT MOUND - DAY

Elsewhere in the colony, a column of soldiers marches by, and

we hear the TROMP-TROMP-TROMP of their boots. When they've

gone, Z pokes his head out from behind a pile of dirt...he

heads in the opposite direction of the soldiers...

INT. OUTSIDE FORMICA'S CHAMBERS - DAY

Z creeps around the outside of Formica's chambers. This part

of the colony seems to be deserted.

Z:

Geez, this place really empties out

in August. Where is everybody?

Z walks up to the skull that houses Formica's chambers and

peeks in the eye socket.

INT. FORMICA'S CHAMBERS

Inside, the Tracker Ant, who's been left behind, switches

"on", eyes glowing. Z enters the chamber cautiously.

TRACKER ANT:

(sniffing)

Z! Z! I smell Z!

For a moment, Z's afraid. Then he sees the small Tracker Ant

doesn't seem hostile.

Z:

You "smell" me? Well look, I -- I've

been out in the wilderness for a

while, and --

The tracker ant keeps sniffing. Z waves his hand in front of

the blind ant's eyes.

Z:

(getting it)

Hey, wait, you're...you're one of

those pheremone sniffers, aren't you?

Maybe you can help me...I'm looking

for a friend of mine, Princess Bala.

TRACKER ANT:

(enthusiastic)

Bala! Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah! Find

Bala! Yeahyeahyeahyeah!

Z picks up the tracker ant.

Z:

Just remember, I met her first.

Z, carrying the little tracker ant, heads out, following its

lead...

Through this and that passage, as the Tracker Ant gets more

and more insistent...And finally straight to a blank wall.

TRACKER ANT:

Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeah...

Z:

Bala's through there?

TRACKER ANT:

Bala...Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeah...

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