Antz Page #21

FORMICA:

Z. I should have known. All that

work, all that preparation, come to

nothing. All because of one stinking

ant.

He steps forward to address the surrounded, trapped workers.

FORMICA:

ALRIGHT. WHICH ONE OF YOU IS Z?

The workers, trembling but silent, cower inside the unbroken

circle of soldiers.

FORMICA:

WHAT ARE YOU, DEAF? I ASKED YOU,

WHERE'S Z?

Formica laughs, shaking his head.

FORMICA:

Folks, you may have survived that

flood, but there's no way you're

gonna escape from me. I'll make you

a deal. Hand over the rebel leader

Z, and you survive.

This sends a ripple of murmurs through the workers.

FORMICA:

But if you don't hand him over,

you're all going to die, each and

every single..."individual" one of

you.

The workers all look at each other.

FORMICA:

What shall it be, workers?

The workers remain frightened but silent. Z trembles,

terrified.

FORMICA:

Have it your way.

As Formica raises his swagger stick to order the attack, a

lone figure steps out from the crowd.

Z:

Wait...

Z stands there, shivering with fear.

Z:

...I'm Z.

For a moment, Z stands alone, under the glare of Formica's

gaze.

Then another figure steps out from the throng of workers.

WEAVER:

No, I'm Z.

Z turns, astonished, to see Weaver, still and unwavering,

bravely risking his life for his friend. Then, AZTECA also

steps forward.

AZTECA:

I'm Z!

Next, Bala comes forward.

BALA:

No, I'm Z.

More and more ants step forward.

WORKERS:

I'm Z! I'm Z! I'm Z and so is my

brother! I've been Z for weeks now!

QUEEN:

(regally)

We are Z.

Now, the workers are all shouting the same declaration.

ALL:

I am Z! I am Z! I am Z!

Z is plainly flabbergasted. Formica is outraged. He gives

the signal.

FORMICA:

ATTACK!

The army swells forward on all sides, pushing the workers

towards the swirling water. Some workers surround the Queen

to protect her. All seems lost, when THE FLY from Insectopia

alights on the rim of the horizon.

FLY:

Hey, guys!

THE WASP appears on the other side of the horizon.

WASP:

It's them!

Suddenly, on all sides, A MASSIVE INSECT ARMY appears on the

ridge, looking not unlike ambushing Indians in a John Ford

film. Formica's soldiers stop in their tracks, awed by the

unfolding spectacle. It looks like all of Insectopia has

turned out:
spiders, caterpillars, rhinoceros beetles, all

manner of creatures crawling and flying have shown up, and

now surround the army, dwarfing them.

WASP:

Are these hooligans giving you

trouble, Z?

FLY:

Say the word, Z, and we kick their

butts.

The ant army remains frozen, unsure of what to do next.

Formica is furious. If ants had veins, Formica's would be

bulging out of his face.

FORMICA:

What are you doing?! ATTACK!!

(berating his army)

Come on, you yellow-bellies!

(turning on Carpenter)

Don't just stand there, Carpenter!

Make an example of yourself!

CARPENTER:

Uh, actually, we are outnumbered

sir...

Formica turns towards the insects gathered against him. With

his chin raised pridefully, Formica steps forward, and

CHARGES Z!

FORMICA:

AHHHHHHH!!

Formica runs so quickly and with such force that his helmet

blows off his head. Z's eyes get big, he stumbles backwards,

slipping, and Formica goes flying over him, toward the

whirlpool behind. He scrabbles at the edge of the water, and

then tumbles over.

For a moment, it looks as if he's gone.

FORMICA (O.S.)

Help...help me...

Z goes to the edge of the precipice and looks over. Formica

is struggling in the waters of the very flood he created,

which are roiling not far below. He looks up into Z's eyes,

a new expression crossing his features: fear.

FORMICA:

Please...I...I can't swim...Help me...

Formica goes under for a bit, then his head comes up again --

but he's not going to be able to stay afloat for long...

Suddenly he sees a line dropped down. Above, Z looks down on

him.

Z:

I thought you said that the life of

one ant doesn't matter.

Formica looks at the line...and in that moment seems to

realize his error...

FORMICA:

I guess it does...to the ant.

Formica reaches up and takes the line, and is pulled up by Z

and a bunch of other ants (the line, we see, extends from a

nearby spider, one of the cavalry from Insectopia).

Formica is left, broken and alone, by the precipice, while

HORDES OF ANTS surround Z to congratulate him. Bala fights

her way to his side and the two of them embrace. Then the

ants pick up Z and Bala, and, CHEERING, bear them away.

Only Carpenter stays behind. He walks up to Formica,

carrying his dented and dusty helmet. He cleans it the best

he can with his jacket sleeve and hands it to his fallen

general.

CARPENTER:

Sir, if it's any consolation, I still

think you're completely worthless as

an individual.

FADE TO:

CLOSE UP OF Z:

As he addresses the audience, stand-up style.

Z:

So, uh, that's pretty much it. Just

your basic "simple worker overthrows

the government and winds up with the

princess" kind of a story.

You know:
there was the big parade

and everything...

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