Antz Page #6

Weaver points to a bunch of soldiers hurrying by in formation.

Z:

(overjoyed)

Thanks! I owe you!

Z skips off and joins the column, marching in time with the

soldiers but too excited to keep from jazzing it up a little.

INT. TOWN CENTER - NIGHT

The ant army has gathered in a huge HALL in front of a

reviewing stand. We can hear the murmuring of thousands of

soldiers -- but all we can see is a HUGE POSTER of an ant

General pointing right at the camera. The poster reads,

"GENERAL FORMICA WANTS YOU -- to obey".

Z turns to some of the soldiers near him.

Z:

Any of you guys know when the

Princess will show up? She's kind of

a personal friend.

The soldiers look at Z like he's nuts.

LOUD VOICE:

ATTEN-SHUN!

MARTIAL MUSIC sounds, and we hear thousands of ant feet as

they snap to attention. Z imitates the soldiers awkwardly.

GENERAL FORMICA struts to the middle 6f the screen, slapping

his thigh with a swagger stick (the antenna of some

unfortunate insect)

FORMICA:

First of all, let me make one thing

clear. Nobody ever won a battle by

thinking for himself. All this

"thinking" stuff is a load of crap.

If the almighty had wanted you boys

to think, he wouldn't have given you

huge mandibles and a brain so small

you'd misplace it if it wasn't

trapped inside your head.

In the audience, Z starts laughing -- he thinks Formica's

just made a joke.

Z:

(slapping his thigh)

"Trapped inside your head" -- that's

a good one --

Z notices nobody else is laughing. He stops.

Z:

Geez -- tough room.

From the stage, Formica is squinting at the audience, trying

to make out who was laughing, but there are just too many

ants. He continues.

FORMICA:

(striding back and

forth)

We ants survive as a species because

we do what we're told. We survive

because we work together, as one, we

get the job done, we do whatever it

takes to persevere!

(dramatic pause)

Hell, we're not an army of

ants...we're one giant ant, with

giant fists, and giant jaws!

The soldiers CHEER! Z CHEERS along with the rest of them.

Z:

(to the soldier ant

next to him)

Lays it on a little thick, doesn't

he? If you ask me, he's one giant

bore.

FORMICA:

Now I've heard a lot of scuttlebutt

about a food shortage. Well you boys

are gonna be taken care of. But in

the meantime we're gonna eat the

enemy for breakfast, we are gonna

eat the enemy for lunch, and we are

gonna eat the enemy for dinner!

Z:

Geez, and I forgot my toothbrush.

FORMICA:

(reflective moment)

Dammit, I'm proud to be an ant.

(he looks out at his

army)

And I know each and every one of you

boys will do your duty. Dismissed.

Z applauds and whistles as the other ants look at him in

confusion.

Z:

(clapping)

Bravo! Bring on the Princess!

COLONEL:

Stow the gab there, soldier! Let's

move 'em out!

The soldiers turn to the right and start to march out past

the reviewing stand.

A COLONEL marches at the head of Z's column as Z looks around

for the Princess.

COLONEL:

Eyes...left!

Finally, as Z's part of the army marches past the end of the

reviewing stand, he sees her, looking bored, standing next

to the Queen, who is giving the royal wave.

Z:

(waving)

Princess! Princess Bala! Hey! It's

me! Z! I've got your scarf!

ON THE REVIEWING STAND, Bala sees Z -- that is to say, she

sees one of the thousands upon thousands of ants marching

by...

BALA:

(peering out)

Who is that idiot?

QUEEN:

Darling, you must encourage the

troops -- wave!

Bala waves unenthusiastically, little more than flopping her

hand back and forth on her wrist.

Down below, Z takes this as a sign that Bala has seen him.

Z:

(excited)

Excuse me, guys -- That's my date.

Well, it's been fun. Have a great

war!

Z tries to squeeze his way back towards the royals, but he's

surrounded by a solid wall of soldiers -- and they're

carrying him along with them.

Z:

Hey! Wait!

Z loses sight of the Princess as he's carried away.

BARBATUS, a hard-as-nails "grunt" soldier ant, taps Z on the

shoulder.

BARBATUS:

You new, kid?

Z:

I just joined up. But I'm quitting!

I got a trial membership!

BARBATUS:

Trial membership? Kid, when you join

this ant's army, you're in for the

full hitch.

At that moment, Z is swept out of the cramped corridor

they've been marching along, as the army emerges into the

OPEN AIR outside of the colony.

EXT. ANT MOUND - NIGHT

It's a starry, moonlit night. The shadows crowd around the

panicked Z, who looks up at the sky as we see the army on the

march...

Z:

Wait a minute, there's been a

mistake! I've got to get back to the

colony!

Z starts to fall out of line, but Barbatus, looking

concerned, stops him.

BARBATUS:

Are you crazy, kid? They shoot

deserters!

Z swallows hard.

BARBATUS:

You just stick by old Barbatus.

He'll watch out for you.

(off Z's look)

Whatsamatter, kid? Leave a girl

behind?

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