Chapter Text
EXT. NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
A beautiful city sits on the water. Its billions of lights are gathered together, shining like a beacon for anyone looking to discover it. A place often called ‘The City That Never Sleeps’.
A name that remains true, but not for the reason outsiders may think. This city doesn’t sleep. At least not in these parts.
They can’t afford to.
Despite its lively exterior, these streets are dead. Only the bravest walk these roads at night. They aren’t afraid of being abducted into its shadows.
In fact…some of them are counting on it.
EXT. EASTLAIRD HARBOR - NIGHT
A shipping port just outside the city. Dark and secluded. A mess of old peeling warehouses just ready to topple over.
A place of honest work during the day and hub for shady business at night.
Gathered in its yard, a group of men— a gang calling themselves THE PURPLE DRAGONS –eagerly gawk at their newest set of ‘toys’.
P.D. LEADER
Where’d you manage to score these?
In his hands sits a very large and unusual gun. Very sci-fi in nature. Like something you’d only expect to see in big Hollywood budget films. ‘Cept this time, it’s real…
The gang leader makes target practice out of a poor nearby rat.
P.D. LEADER
HO-LEE SHIT!!
very real.
DEALER
Does it really matter? I heard rumors you were looking for better fire power. It don’t get much better than this.
P.D. LEADER
Gatekeepin’ a little there ain’t ya? I respect it.
He snaps his fingers and a large case is handed over to the dealer. Expectedly, it's loaded with cash. Enough to make his eyes enlarge and his mouth water.
P.D. LEADER
You find a way to keep these in supply and I guarantee we’ll be the best of friends.
The pair shake hands.
DEALER
That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear.
He presents the rest of his sci-fi wares hidden in the back of his truck.
Happy and content, the men are unaware of a secret audience watching from above. Perched on top of the port’s main building, a group of four are blended perfectly into the night sky. Their glowing eyes pose as stars.
A voice emits from a radio on one of their belts.
HANDLER (RADIO V.O)
10-23 BLUE. Searching and confirming current target.
Target located.
You know what to do.
“BLUE”
Orders received. Advancing.
“BLUE” nods to the other three that surround him, and without another word, the collective splits and divides into groups of two. Disappearing into the shadows.
Unaware of the hunt, the P.D. LEADER and DEALER continue to celebrate their new partnership. The other dragons are instructed to unload and divvy up the goods into separate vehicles.
This is business as usual for them until a loud crash comes from a dark alley in between a pair of the smaller warehouses.
They gather to investigate. The men are confused, but not frightened, with their weapons gripped firmly in their hands.
From the darkness of the alley a set of glowing eyes comes into view. Unnerving, but captivating.
A few seconds later, a strange sphere suddenly is tossed from that same darkness and comes to a stop in front of one of them.
It too is a weird looking mess of tech. Similar to the gun their boss just held.
They stand and stare until one unlucky guy is selected and pushed from their clutch to investigate further. He kicks it lightly with his foot before taking it in his hand. It's size and appearance looks a bit like a baseball–
POOF!!!
Except baseballs don’t explode into huge clouds of smoke.
The LEADER and DEALER look up, attention drawn by the explosion. They're too distracted to notice another one of these devices roll to their feet. It explodes in the same fashion.
The area is completely enveloped into this suffocating fog.
Frightened, the men try to stick together as a flurry of shadows they know don’t belong to their own dart around them, appearing and disappearing within the white.
One by one, they’re separated and picked off. Dragged screaming into the unknown before being abruptly silenced.
The DEALER stumbles around in the fog panicked. His briefcase of money clutched tight against his chest.
He eventually backs up into another body.
DEALER
Oh thank go-
His relief vanishes as he turns to face them.
This person he’s bumped into doesn’t appear to be his savior. And as if that's not horrifying enough- whoever is standing in front of him doesn’t appear human either.
Before he can speak or scream, the creature throws a punch that sends him flying out of the fog. His briefcase sits broken on his chest. Bills scattered around him.
He sits up and holds his now bleeding nose.
The creature who assaulted him emerges from the smoke. And if that sight wasn’t enough to make him shit bricks, three more emerge with him.
The DEALER is able to get a much better look at them now.
They look like...turtles?
The one who punched him throws a small bladed object towards him. He quickly blocks it by using the briefcase as a shield, letting out a yelp as he does.
The DEALER looks at the projectile lodged on the other side of the case.
...Did this thing just throw a fucking ninja star at him?
He’s even more confused and terrified than before.
He struggles to get onto his feet. The P.D. LEADER appears at his side, helping him onto wobbling knees.
DEALER (laughing awkwardly )
I’m totally getting PUNK’d right now right? Where are the cameras?
The P.D. LEADER looks a lot more annoyed and serious.
P.D. LEADER (growling)
These freaks in the costumes again…
DEALER
AGAIN?!
Let’s meet these so-called freaks!
MICHELANGO is the shortest in this bunch. He’s got big eyes and an even bigger mouth.
MIKEY
You guys hear that? I think we’re getting popular.
LEONARDO is quick to correct him. He’s just a tad bit bigger with a lean build and a face that’s hard to read.
LEO
Stay focused, Mikey.
MIKEY (mumbling)
I am focused!
DONNIE
Wow, protocol broken in record time. Great job.
DONATELLO has a snarky voice to his name. The tallest in this collective with a head that sits too big on his shoulders and a face that screams he’s never up to any good.
RAPH (to Donnie)
Shut up.
RAPHAEL is the one who broke the DEALER’s nose…and maybe some of his ribs. Unsurprising, since he’s built like an ox. Bulky with a shell much bigger than the other three.
DONNIE
Not callin’ you out. Just stating facts.
LEO
Enough.
The P.D. LEADER also seems to be at his limits. He’s waving a bat around, looking at his remaining men.
P.D. LEADER
What are you all waiting for?! Take them down!
RAPH (eager)
I was hoping we’d see some more action this time around.
The DEALER leaps for cover as the two groups collide.
LEONARDO takes out two with his twin katana while DONATELLO nails a third with his bo staff.
Another group opens fire on RAPH, emptying their clips with no remorse.
That’s until they realize the bullets have just bounced right off him. He jumps to the air and comes crashing down on them like a meteor.
The DEALER hides behind his car trying to keep calm, which is hard when teeth and blood rain as if it's normal.
DEALER
Screw this!
He reaches into his trunk, grabbing one of those crazy looking guns from before, this one much bigger. He aims it at DONATELLO who’s able to catch the hum of its charge and the glow of the barrel even as he’s fighting. He’s able to dodge just before it fires. It’s got a hell of a kick and knocks him back into the front of a dumpster.
The shot he fired ends up landing on a PURPLE DRAGON GOON attacking LEO.
The blast is gnarly and cuts through him like nothing. A closed casket funeral for sure.
LEO turns to DONNIE with a frown. The taller turtle shrugs before they’re both cornered together by another three that surround them.
DEALER holds his head. Dizzy, but in his blurred vision he’s able to spot one of those ninja turtle creatures gunning right towards him. He reaches for the gun but his hand is promptly smacked away by a set of nunchaku.
MIKEY
You really shouldn’t play with stuff that isn’t yours.
DEALER shields his face with his arms. He’s imagining this one to be a lot more terrifying than he actually is.
MIKEY (sinister whisper)
Look at me.
DEALER
Fuck off!
MIKEY (sounding scarier than before)
I said look at me.
The DEALER is shaking like a leaf, but he listens. The face that greets him isn’t scary or aggressive. In fact, it is oddly kind of cute. He’s not sure if he’s looking at a mask or not. If it is, it’s a pretty damn good one.
MIKEY
It’s not a costume.
DEALER
…What?
MIKEY makes an array of silly faces at him. Pulling on his own cheeks and showing off sharp teeth.
MIKEY
See? Not a costume!
DEALER
You–you’re! You can’t-
LEO and DONNIEwatch the exchange from afar, fending off goons as they do.
LEO AND DONNIE (together)
Mikey!!
MIKEY (giggling)
Don’t worry! I’m just messing with him a little-
The DEALER falls unconscious.
MIKEY
Oops.
He stands.
MIKEY
Still, mission accomplished ri-
A bullet soars through the air striking MIKEY. The others freeze.
RAPH is the one who locates the guy who fired the shot. The dragon quickly realizes he’s made a HUGE fucking mistake. RAPH is already on him before he can attempt to fire another. Poor bastard is too stupid and desperate to realize the same shit’s not gonna work on him.
RAPH tackles him to the ground and starts beating him senseless. Four punches in and he already looks like he’s gonna end up with a face so swollen he can’t breathe.
LEO looks on in concern. There’s already been one casualty tonight. He sharply elbows one of the men in his way to make a mad dash towards RAPH and his victim, leaving DONNIE to fend off the last two men on his own.
DONNIE (sarcastically)
Wow. Thanks, Team Leader.
Now that he’s alone, the two rush him. A pipe, a bat, and a single dream to their names.
DONNIE fiddles with a button on his staff. It extends and he uses it to lift himself out of harm's way. The two goons hit each other with their melee at full force and fall to the ground.
He sees the whole thing while perched on a light post. A big Cheshire grin plastered across his face.
Meanwhile, LEO’s pulling RAPH off the goon.
RAPH
What are you doing?
LEO
The Master’s orders were to disarm and subdue.
The purple dragon miraculously gets up and stumbles towards an alley.
RAPH shoves Leo away so he can give chase.
RAPH
You’re letting him get away!
LEO
He isn’t the target.
RAPH charges after the guy but abruptly stops, almost like he’s hit some kind of invisible barrier. He watches with a scowl as the man flings himself over the fence and runs off.
Though he doesn’t scream or shout, RAPH is FURIOUS. His tense body language as he walks back makes no secret of his anger.
LEO
You need to follow orders.
RAPH purposefully bumps shoulders with him. A warning.
LEO doesn’t have any strong visible reaction to this.
RAPH (grumbling)
Tsk…whatever, man.
He reunites with MIKEY who is holding his bleeding arm. He treats it like he’s just gotten a papercut.
MIKEY
I’m all good. It’s just a scratch.
RAPH
I didn’t ask if you were ok.
MIKEY
You were thinkin’ it.
RAPH
I was thinkin’ that one of these days you're gonna learn to keep your mouth shut the hard way.
MIKEY
(blows raspberry)
LEO watches them from afar. Quiet.
Now that the fight’s over, DONNIE is up to his own antics. Searching the bodies of each dragon. He finally finds something in the pocket of one, a lighter. He flicks it on.
DONNIE
Sick.
Multiple black SUVs swerve into the location. All bearing the same symbol on the turtles’ gear. These are their people.
Faceless soldiers emerge from the trucks. Two gather at the unconscious body of the DEALER.
FC SOLDIER
He wants this one.
The DEALER carted away and loaded onto a van along with the money and weapons he sold to the PURPLE DRAGONS.
MIKEY views this exchange from afar before he directs his attention to the city of lights just across the water.
It’s beautiful.
Suddenly he’s ripped away from his view and corralled towards the back of a van with the rest of the turtles by another soldier. They fall in line. LEO and DONNIE hop onto the back with no issue.
MIKEY stops and tries to offer the soldier a high-five.
MIKEY
Another successful mission right?
He’s left hanging.
RAPH pushes him inside.
MIKEY takes in one last look of the city before the doors are slammed.
INT. BACK OF THE TURTLE VAN
All the turtles are strapped in tight like kids in car seats. The back of the truck feels empty. Kinda sterile. There’s an unsettling lack of windows.
DONNIE’s got a huge frown aimed right at MIKEY.
MIKEY
I got something on my face?
He’s still bleeding and it's edging towards DONNIE’s seat.
DONNIE
Put some pressure on your arm. You’re making a mess.
MIKEY
Oh, right!
DONATELLO’s attention shifts to his new toy. He flicks it on and off. MIKEY leans into his space.
MIKEY
Whatcha get this time?
DONNIE leans away but doesn’t deny MIKEY a view of his find.
DONNIE
Think it's some kind of lighter.
RAPH
Why bother with that stuff if they’re just gonna take it from you?
DONNIE
And how would they know I’ve got it?
(he looks to LEO)
Nobody’s gonna snitch, right?
LEO doesn’t really seem like he’s paying attention to this conversation. He’s too busy being a space cadet.
RAPH gives him a shove.
He doesn’t react.
RAPH
Don’t think you gotta worry ‘bout that. Looks like the robot’s already powered down.
After a long quiet ride, the truck finally comes to a stop. The boys unbuckle themselves.
INT. STOCKGEN GARAGE
The truck’s back doors pop open, revealing a hustle and bustle of other masked people in black and white moving together with purpose, like cogs in a machine.
The boys hop out and are funneled towards their next caretaker. A woman with a cart standing at the top of a short flight of steps.
This is IRMA. Scientist. Early 30s. Beautiful. Unlike the other scientists we can see moving about, her face is visible. However it is slightly obstructed by a pair of large goggles sitting on her nose. Long brown hair is gathered into a huge messy bun sitting VERY LOOSELY on top of her head. Feels inappropriate for someone who’s supposed to hang around beakers and Bunsen burners.
IRMA
Hey, boys! How’d it go?
The turtles join her at the top of the steps.
MIKEY
I think it mighta been our best run yet!
DONNIE
Mikey, the floor.
He’s left a trail of blood.
IRMA is unphased and hands him a rag to press against his wound. Clearly this happens often.
The group begins to walk to a set of big double doors that Irma opens with the swipe of a keycard.
INT. STOCKGEN HALLS
They enter a long corridor filled with doors. Some are open, revealing a myriad of different labs, all testing various weapons and strange substances.
RAPH and LEO have walked further ahead while MIKEY and DONNIE stick to IRMA’s side.
MIKEY
Since I got hurt, do I get extra lettuce?
DONNIE
If Mikey gets extra, I want extra too!
IRMA
You’re both getting the usual amount.
They’re both disappointed.
IRMA (tapping the top of the cart)
I did sneak you guys one surprise, but you’re gonna have to wait and see what it is.
They’re elated!
They pass another open door, this one to an office with a very busy looking man inside. MIKEY doubles back and runs inside.
DONATELLO follows.
MIKEY (sing-songy)
Mr. Stockman!
Meet BAXTER STOCKMAN , the brains of this place. A middle aged man with a set of bags under his eyes too large to qualify as carry-on’s. Flecks of silver decorate shoulder length curls and unkempt facial hair.
He looks to be in the process of carefully disassembling a piece of machinery when Mikey interrupts his peace.
MIKEY (presenting his arm)
I got shot.
STOCKMAN (sighs)
I can see that, #5441.
He drops his tools to observe the wound. The bleeding has stopped and the wound itself appears to be slowly closing.
Seemingly distracted with MIKEY, DONATELLO uses this opportunity to try and pocket things from around his office.
STOCKMAN
As expected, you’re already healing. Albeit it a little slower this time it seems.
He returns to his original work.
STOCKMAN
See a technician after eval. I need some more samples from you.
MIKEY (salutes)
Yessir!
He turns to leave. DONATELLO is right at his heels.
STOCKMAN
#8650!
Stockman snaps his fingers before they can exit the room.
A large man seemingly appears out of nowhere and shakes DONATELLO of all the items he tried to smuggle.
DONNIE
Aw, c’mon…
The two are kicked back into the hallway and the door is closed behind them.
IRMA, LEO, and RAPH are waiting for them in front of an elevator.
RAPH (shouting)
Could you two quit dragging your feet!
He shouts a wide array of threats and insults. All of them are parroted by MIKEY in a mocking tone to a laughing DONATELLO as they walk back together.
DONNIE (as they get closer)
Shutupshutup.
IRMA swipes her card again and they all cram into the shaft. It's a long ride down.
A REALLY long ride down.
LEO straightens his posture just before we reach the final level.
When the doors open, our gang is greeted by a very large and powerful figure. Its shape is almost human at a glance but a long sweeping tail and a pair of glowing red eyes give away its true nature. A husky voice empties from a thick neck.
SPLINTER
Welcome home.
(END.)