Script for Season 1

© 2021 by Gen-Z Media

amosruffer@[Link]
 THE UNEXPLAINABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARS PATEL - SEASON I

EPISODE 1 - “CODE RED”

101-1 INTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE

Open with mysterious music as we’re introduced to our

narrator/sponsor/host, the billionaire inventor, OLIVER
PRUITT. Pruitt is cheeky and warm, but there’s an edge to
him. Like science and tech’s answer to Willy Wonka.

OLIVER PRUITT (V.O)

Hey kids. Yeah, you. Podcast
listeners. Oliver Pruitt here.
Maybe you’re listening in the
backseat of your parents car or on
your phone. Sorry to interrupt, but
I can do that since I’m the
sponsor. That means I pay the
bills. So if your mom or dad is
listening, tell them not to pay
attention. I created this podcast
for you: the kid who believes
anything is possible. Like eleven-
year-old Mars Patel. Take a listen
as I drop you into the hallway of
H.G. Wells Middle School, and into
the middle of a mystery.

Dozens of kids jostle around the school hallway. Laughter,

high-pitched squeals. We settle in with a group of three on
the outskirts of the chaos.

OLIVER PRUITT (V.O.)

Mars and his pals, Jonas and
Caddie, haven’t heard from their
friend Aurora in... how long has it
been, Mars?

101-2 INT. H.G. WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY

MARS PATEL
Five days.

Lockers open and close.

JONAS
Five days what?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 2.

CADDIE
You know what he's talking about,
Jonas.

JONAS
Oh great. He's on the Aurora thing
again?

MARS
It’s not the Aurora thing. She’s
gone.

The three begin the walk to class.

JONAS
A person is made of matter. A
person has mass. She’s not gone.

MARS
She's not not gone. Five days since
Aurora disappeared. She isn't
responding to texts or calls. She
hasn't posted anything on Instagram
all week. There’s no one at her
house.

JONAS
Just 'cause someone forgets to say
goodbye doesn't mean she's missing.
I mean, wouldn't her parents be
freaking out?

MARS
We don't even know where they are.
Caddie, you feel me on this, right?

CADDIE
I always feel you, Mars. Whether I
like it or not.

MARS
And you're sure you didn't get one
of your weird vibes from her in the
locker room?

CADDIE
No. Aurora was...like she always
is. In her own world. Drawing in
that sketchbook when we were
supposed to be getting changed. But
she said she'd be right out. And
then she wasn't.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 3.

MARS
It still doesn't make any sense.
Where did she go?

CADDIE
I'm probably going to regret saying
this....

Caddie's cut off as a loud electronic Alarm beep cuts through

the din of the hallway. A code red - the warning to lock down
the school!

MARS
Shhh!

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
(over the loudspeaker)
Attention, students and faculty.
This is a CODE RED. Please keep
calm and proceed with lockdown
protocols.

CADDIE
Is this a real one?

JONAS
Nah, its probably a drill.

Caddie and Jonas walk quickly after Mars, who opens a heavy
wooden door.

MARS
In here.

JONAS
You want to hide in the Janitor's
closet?

MARS
You'd rather pack into the science
lab with half the sixth grade?

CADDIE
No way. Last time someone knocked
off my glasses and I was blind for
a week.

The alarm continues to beep as the tenor of the hallway

changes. Locks clang. A hush falls as everyone hustles to get
out of the hallway. Doors open and shut. Footsteps
everywhere.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 4.

MRS. WELLINGTON
Out of the halls! Everyone into the
nearest room. Stay quiet. Keep away
from doors and windows.

The door closes shut and now the background noise goes almost
silent. We’re in the janitor’s closet with Mars, Caddie and
Jonas. The only sound is their breathing.

MARS
Wow. It's really dark in here, huh?

CADDIE
(holding her head in pain)
Ow! I think something's really
happening out there. The energy in
the school totally changed.

MARS
You're having one of your
headaches? Like when you can tell
something's going on.

CADDIE
I don't know. It's not that bad...
Yet.

JONAS
Sometimes a headache is just a
headache. Could it be because that
stupid alarm won't stop going off
in our ears. In a few minutes - uh-
oh!

CADDIE
Uh oh what, Jonas?

JONAS
I gotta go.

MARS
Now? You can't!

JONAS
You know my deal. The bowels are
irritable, man. And I forgot to
take my meds.

MARS
It's a Code Red.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 5.

JONAS
Yeah, well I'm about to have a Code
Brown in my pants. The bathroom is
like a ten second run.

Jonas jiggles the door handle to get out. Caddie puts out her
hand.

CADDIE
And what if someone's in the hall?

JONAS
Then I juke him out. Just like
clearing a level on Assassin’s
Quest.

MARS
Except this is not a game.

JONAS
Everything's a game, Mars.
Everything's a game.

Jonas creaks open the door. The code red beep is still
sounding, but otherwise the hallway is quiet.

CADDIE
Jonas, you need to listen to me. My
head is...Ugh!

Caddie stumbles from the pain.

JONAS
Believe me, you'll be glad I did.

MARS
Come on, man...

JONAS
See you guys on the other side.

Jonas opens the door and rushes off. We stay in the closet
with Mars and Caddie.

MARS
He'll be okay.

CADDIE
I mean we could still...

MARS
No, we hang here. We wait 'til it's
over.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 6.

CADDIE
It's okay to admit that you're
scared.

MARS
You know I hate it when you read my
thoughts.

CADDIE
I can't read your thoughts. I just
feel things.

MARS
Yeah, well it makes me feel weird.
Like you're all up inside my head.

CADDIE
Sorry. I just can't help it
sometimes. It's always been this
way. Since we were little kids. I
felt this connection to you.
(deep breath)
So I was thinking... the dance is
coming up and I know you were going
to ask Aurora. Not that you told me
that. And not that I felt it, I
just guessed. But what if...?

MARS
We should probably be quiet. You
know, in case someone's out there.

CADDIE
(stung)
Right. I'm sure Aurora's fine,
Mars. You'll hear from her soon.

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
(over the loudspeaker)
Attention, students and faculty.
The lockdown has ended. Please
return to your regularly scheduled
classes. Thank you for your
cooperation.

MARS
(over the announcement)
So that's it? We're safe.

CADDIE
Yeah. Another false alarm. Guess
Jonas was right. Sometimes a
headache is just a headache.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 7.

MARS
I'm gonna go find him.

CADDIE
OK. See you guys at detention?

Mars opens closed door. We hear background hallway noises of

the middle school as they leave.

MARS
I'll save you your usual seat.

CADDIE
Mars?... I'm glad we were together.

Caddie leaves Mars.

MARS
Yeah.

Mars walks down the hall and opens the door to the Boys’
Bathroom. His voice echoes.

MARS (CONT’D)
Jonas, Code Red's over
dude...Jonas, you in here?

Nothing but silence.

MARS (CONT’D)
(narrating)
Yeah. So that was the last time any
of us saw Jonas.

BRIDGE TO: TITLE

MUSIC

101-3 INT. MR. Q'S CLASSROOM - DAY

Mars records into his cell phone.

MARS
(narrating)
Hey, Aurora. It's me, Mars. Again.
I have no idea if you're getting
these recordings I'm putting up on
the cloud. My texts are bouncing
back. Emails, too. People keep
telling me I worry too much. I
don't know.
(beat)
If you are in some kinda trouble...
I just...
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 8.
MARS (CONT'D)
I want you know I'm looking, okay?
I'm going to find you. And Jonas,
too. So anyway, until I do... I'll
just keep recording.

We open with sounds from Mr. Q’s Classroom. Detention.

Students are talking to each other and giggling, as MR. Q
brings the crew to order.

MR. Q
Welcome, Detention Dwellers. For
those law-abiding citizens making
their first appearance here, I am
Mr. Q. And yes, I am at least as
cool as you've heard. However, I do
expect you to use this time
productively. I know you've got
standardized GiFT tests coming up.
I don't need to tell you how
important they are. If you have any
pertinent questions about how
things work in here, feel free to
ask the experts. Mars Patel,
insubordination?

MARS
Do you know how unfair it is that
we are expected to be in school by -

MR. Q
(roll call)
Caddie Patchett. Let me guess.
Defending Mars?

CADDIE
He actually had a point this time.

MR. Q
He usually has a point. Randall
"Toothpick" Reed. What'd you do
this time, ‘Pick’?

TOOTHPICK
(from across the room)
The security on the library
computers is so basic. How can you
call it “security” when all you
have to do is decode the password
and send it to
(pulls back)
I've said too much. Mr. Q, may I
begin taking attendance?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 9.

MR. Q
All you, Toothpick.

Toothpick begins taking attendance, in the background.

MR. Q (CONT’D)
Who are we missing? Let me guess.

The door flies open and JP enters.

JP
JP McGowan. Forty-third straight
day of detention. A new record,
thank you very much.

There is clapping and cheering from the students.

MR. Q
Unnecessary roughness, JP?

JP
No. It was totally necessary. Ask
Jaden Walsh if he'll ever throw
Jell-O at Toothpick again.

TOOTHPICK
(taking a break from his
counting)
He won't!

MR. Q
Grab a seat with your friends, JP.

Students settle down.

CADDIE
Hey, JP.

JP
Hi, Caddie. Hey, Mars.

MARS
You hear anything from Jonas, JP?

JP
He's probably in one of his gaming
comas. He goes MIA when he's locked
in.

MARS
He went into the bathroom during
the Code Red and never came out.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 10.

JP
It happens.

CADDIE
It's happened twice now. And like
Mars said nobody besides us seems
to be asking questions.

MR. Q
(approaches)
Are we talking about Jonas? I was
wondering why he wasn't with us
today.

MARS
We don't know where he is. He
wasn't excused from detention?

MR. Q
Nobody's said anything to me. Is
this another Aurora situation?

JP
Be careful, Mr. Q. He doesn't like
when you call it a "situation."

MARS
I think we should just call it what
it is. They’re missing.

MR. Q
And why do you think that is, Mars?

MARS
(a little lost)
I don’t know.

JP
Aliens. CIA assassinations... Ooh!
Maybe one of those time-space
wormholes.

CADDIE
JP, you don't think it's weird that
they've both disappeared?

JP
I think we've all got problems. And
I think Mars is trying to pull us
into another one of his conspiracy
theories.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 11.

MARS
It's not a theory. Two of our
friends dropped off the face of the
Earth.

Toothpick is now in front and center.

TOOTHPICK
Fourteen students on the list.
Twelve students present. Two
students absent. Jonas Hopkins and
Aurora Gershewitz.

MR. Q
Thank you, Mr. Reed.

JP
Look, maybe they'll both show up
tomorrow and explain that they got
some weird virus that paralyzes
your texting fingers.

TOOTHPICK
Or their parents moved them to a
country with no wifi.

MARS
Whatever it is, nobody seems to
care or even notice when it's kids
like us.

MR. Q
(from across)
What do you mean, "kids like you?"

TOOTHPICK
Outcasts. Misfits. Freaks....

JP
Ok, Toothpick. I think he gets it.

TOOTHPICK
Losers. Oddballs. Weirdos...

MARS
Mr. Q, you're looking at me like
I'm insane.

MR. Q
Actually, Mars, your teachers might
not appreciate the way your brain
fires, but I do.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 12.
MR. Q (CONT'D)
So if you're convinced something's
going on, and if Caddie feels it
too, then who am I to tell you
different?

JP
Ugh, Mr. Q, don’t tell me you’re on
his side.

MR. Q
I didn’t say that. But I already
know I can't stop Mars Patel once
he’s made up his mind..

CADDIE
You're learning. That's good.

JP
Good? I'm having a hard time seeing
how any of this is “good”.

MARS
Come on, JP, help us look.

JP
Not this time, Mars. Tell the alien
CIA assassins I say hi.

101-4 INT. PATEL KITCHEN - NIGHT

Cheery, cheesy music leads us into a commercial for Pruitt

Prep.

COMMERCIAL VOICE
At Pruitt Prep, we understand the
extraordinary kid. We’re looking
for students who think differently.
Who dream big. If you think you
have what it takes to join us,
visit our website at Pruitt Prep
dot com and take the test. To the
stars!

Mars opens a refrigerator, pours cereal and milk and closes

the door. On his phone Mars begins to record a message for
Aurora.

MARS
Hope you don't mind hearing me make
myself dinner, Aurora. Galaxy
Clusters. Again. I know, I know.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 13.
MARS (CONT'D)
But cereal is all we have in the
house and I've got a lot to figure
out.

The laptop in the background plays an interview.

REPORTER
(on laptop)
Thanks for joining us. From our
electric cars to our phones to the
way we power our homes, there's not
a family in America that doesn't
use something that came from the
mind of Oliver Pruitt. And now the
man who changed our world says he
knows how to save it.

MARS
(over the audio)
You always made fun of me for
having Oliver Pruitt's picture in
my locker, Aurora, but the guy is a
rock star.

OLIVER PRUITT
(on computer)
You know, I've invented hundreds of
things. I've designed vehicles for
private space flight and created
tech for self-sustaining plants
that can grow in any environment,
but really I believe my true
calling is education. To the stars,
I like to say. The school I
created, Pruitt Prep is unlike any
in the world.

The door opens, and Mars’ mom, MRS. PATEL enters. She’s
loving and warm, but she’s always in a rush to get somewhere.

MRS. PATEL
Mars?

Mars turns down the audio.

MARS
Mom? What're you doing home?

MRS. PATEL
(in a hurry)
I'm not really here. Just needed to
change my shoes. I'm due at the
restaurant in fifteen minutes.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 14.

She notices what Mars is eating.

MRS. PATEL (CONT’D)

Galaxy Clusters, again?
Really? Didn't I leave you some of
that--

MARS
No, you didn’t.

MRS. PATEL
Oh. Well, I will tomorrow. I'll get
up early and cook. I promise. Mars,
are you recording us?

MARS
No, I just... I was sending
something to Aurora.

MRS. PATEL
(into the phone)
Hello, Aurora. How are you,
sweetheart?

MARS
(very softly, almost to
himself)
Gone.

MRS. PATEL
What?

MARS
(gathering his courage)
Mom, can I talk to you about
something?

MRS. PATEL
Sure. Just let me find my....

Mrs. Patel is looking for something in the room.

MRS. PATEL (CONT’D)

Sorry. Keep going.

MARS
Okay, it's just... We were talking
to Mr. Q in detention today and...

MRS. PATEL
Detention? Again?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 15.

MARS
Yeah, but I didn't do anything this
time. Mrs. Wellington got all mad
because I told her the Earth is
dying and that it's all her
generation's fault...

MRS. PATEL
You need to listen to your
teachers, Manu.

MARS
You know I don't like when you call
me that.

MRS. PATEL
That Mr. Q makes it too fun for you
kids. Detention is supposed to be
horrible. You know who doesn't go
to detention? Kids who make it to
Pruitt Prep.

MARS
Mom, I'm trying to talk to you
about Jonas.

MRS. PATEL
(softening)
I love that you have friends. I
know that's been hard for you at
times. But if Jonas and Caddie and
the others keep landing you in
detention..

MARS
Mom, I'm trying to explain--

MRS. PATEL
You're special, Mars. You’re so
special. I've always known it. You
are the reason I work two jobs. So
you can go to a good school and
grow up to be important. Special.
Okay, baby. I love you.

She kisses his forehead.

MRS. PATEL (CONT’D)

Do your homework and go to bed at a
decent hour. We'll talk in the
morning?

MARS
Yeah. Sure.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 16.

MRS. PATEL opens the door and leaves the apartment.

MARS (CONT’D)
(into his phone)
Good night, Aurora. I'm gonna find
you. Mars, out.

Transition Music.

101-5 INT. H.G. WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY

In between the raucous cacophony of a middle school lunch

room, Mars and his friends settle down to eat.

MARS
(recording on his phone)
Bet you don't miss the cafeteria,
Aurora. At least when you and Jonas
were here we filled a whole table.
Now it just feels...empty.

CADDIE
Hey, Mars.
(into Mars’ phone)
Hey, Aurora. Miss you.

TOOTHPICK
The menu said tater tots was a
side. They have french fries. I
pointed it out to them. I didn't
get upset, though. Not too much.
Jonas liked fries.

MARS
Yeah. Yeah, he did.
(correcting himself)
Does. You guys hear anything?

JP
(arriving at the table)
Are you just going to keep
recording us for the rest of our
lives?

MARS
I'm trying to keep a record.

JP
Of what? The day we all finally
dropped dead from the "healthy
lunch"?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 17.

CADDIE
Hey, JP.

JP
You're cool with this Caddie?

CADDIE
It's a lot. But I think sending
recordings to Aurora helps him
process his feelings.

JP
Even though his girlfriend never
responds?
CADDIE MARS
She wasn't his girlfriend. She wasn't my girlfriend.
JP
Uh huh. I'm just wondering if you'd
be "keeping a record" if someone
other than Aurora disappeared.
Would you be this upset if it was,
I don't know... ?

CADDIE
Of course we would, JP. We'd miss
you just as much.

JP
(covering)
I didn't say me.

CADDIE
Sorry. Kinda obvious. But we're a
team, right?

TOOTHPICK
Mars, I've been thinking. About
Aurora and Jonas. And patterns.

MARS
You're good at solving mysteries,
Toothpick.

Epica walks up and starts banging the table.

EPICA
Excuse me? I said excuse me? Are
you guys the freak table or the
hearing impaired table?

Students in the cafeteria start whispering as the exchange

between Mars and his friends and Epica develops; some giggle.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 18.

CADDIE
Can we help you with something,
Epica?

EPICA
These two empty chairs? I’m taking
them.

MARS
Sorry. We need these chairs.

EPICA
Like, why?

TOOTHPICK
There are six people at this table.

EPICA
Are the other two people, like,
real people?

More giggling from Epica’s cohorts.

JP
Okay, time for you to go.

EPICA
Spoiler alert: Nobody’s coming to
sit with you losers!

JP pushes her chair back from the table.

JP
Leave now.

JP grabs Epica.

EPICA
Hey, don't touch me. Help! IT’S
attacking me!

CADDIE
Don't call her that!

Chaos in the lunchroom as Epica’s friends come to her

defense. There is a lot of yelling from both sides.

MARS
Get away from her! What are you
doing?

TOOTHPICK
Stop! Stop! Stop!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 19.

JP
Get off me!

A whistle blows as one of the lunch monitors breaks up the

fight.

101-6 INT. H.G. WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY

Mars is alone again, recording into his phone.

MARS
(into his phone)
Fighting in the cafeteria, Aurora.
Two more weeks of detention. But
hey, they didn't take away your
chair.
(stops mid-thought)
Jonas' mom! That's Jonas' mom going
into his locker!

Mars runs up to MRS. HOPKINS, who is at Jonas’ locker.

MARS (CONT’D)
Mrs. Hopkins!

MRS. HOPKINS
(startled and nervous)
Mars?

MARS
Yeah, hi. ..uh, where's Jonas?

MRS. HOPKINS
Uh... Jonas?

MARS
Yeah. Jonas, your son? Where is he?

MRS. HOPKINS
Jonas is...he's great. Wonderful.

MARS
Um, okay... but where?

MRS. HOPKINS
Mars, I...I just came here to pick
up his medication. You know, for
his stomach. We're about to go away
on a family trip. I wasn't planning
on seeing anyone.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 20.

MARS
I don't understand. During the Code
Red, Jonas just...disappeared.

MRS. HOPKINS
Oh, Mars. You look so worried. You
don't have to be worried. This is a
great thing. Like a dream come
true.

MARS
A dream? Whose dream?

MRS. HOPKINS
All of us. Let's be honest, Jonas'
record in school was less than
stellar. He spent all of his time
playing those silly games and--

MARS
He didn't think they were silly.

MRS. HOPKINS
Right. Well, I'd all but given up
on him and then...

MARS
And then what? Mrs. Hopkins, what
are you talking about? Are you
okay?

MRS. HOPKINS
I'm wonderful, Mars. It was lovely
to see you. I'll be sure and tell
Jonas you said hello.

MARS
(upset and frustrated)
I don't understand! Why aren't you
telling me where he is?!

MRS. HOPKINS
You'll understand eventually. Oh
and Mars, I know you've had your
own struggles. Maybe one day this
will happen for you, too!

MARS
What will happen? I don't - Mrs.
Hopkins?

Mrs. Hopkins' heels click as she walks off down the hall.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 21.

MARS (CONT’D)
(to Aurora on his phone)
Did you hear all that, Aurora? What
the heck just happened?

101-7 INTERLUDE. RADIO.

NPR ANNOUNCER
Today’s podcast is brought to you
by Pruitt Industries and Pruitt
Prep. Pruitt takes you to the
stars.

OLIVER PRUITT
Oliver Pruitt again. Look out your
window. See the blue sky? The
clouds? The moon. The planets. It’s
all going to be yours one day. I
built my school, Pruitt Prep, for
kids, just like you. We put it on
an island, so we could make it
special. Does that sound fun?
Or...maybe a little scary?
(laughs)
The students at Pruitt Prep are the
brightest, most original thinkers
in the world. Do you think maybe
that’s you? Here’s a question...I
am weightless but you can see
me...hmmm...put me in a bucket and
I’ll make it lighter. What am I?
Think you know the answer? At
Pruitt Prep, we like to say, “to
the stars” and I believe it. I live
it. Every day. And I know you do
too. So, plug back in, think of the
answer, and I’ll be back with you
again...sooner than you think.

101-8 INT. PAINTBALL PALACE - AFTERNOON

MARS
(recording on his phone)
Hey, Aurora. Seven days now since
you disappeared. Two since Jonas
went missing. Feels like a year.
How weird was his mom? She took
everything from his locker. It's
like he was never there at all.
'Course we know where Jonas really
lived.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 22.
MARS (CONT'D)
So that's where we're headed to get
answers. Hope it's not too loud for
you.

Mars enters a raucous video game arcade/kids zone. Kids

screaming over the sound of games and attractions.

MARS (CONT’D)
Sorry I'm late. Mr. Q stopped me
after school to ask about Jonas.

JP
Why does it always smell like
roasted armpit in here?

CADDIE
All arcades smell like stinky boys.

TOOTHPICK
Because they're filled with stinky
boys.

BODIE
(over speaker)
Attention paintball soldiers! Two
hot dogs for the price of one. Five
minutes only!

JP
Anyone else think it's twisted to
have paintball and video games
under one roof? It's basically
murderer training camp.

MARS
Jonas loved it here.

JP
He also loved gummy bears on his
pizza.

CADDIE
It's strange to see Jonas' picture
up there on the wall.

TOOTHPICK
Only five people in the country
have ever scored higher than ten-
thousand on Breaking and Entering.
He's in quite esteemed company.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 23.

BODIE
(in a thunderous voice)
Now entering the Paintball-a-torium
for the Duel of Doom... Garth
Richardson's fifth' birthday party!
Let those paintballs fly!

MARS
(over announcement)
Let's talk to that Bodie guy. He
does the paintball announcements.

Mars knocks on the Paintball office.

MARS (CONT’D)
Hey, Bodie.

BODIE
Mars Patel! So glad you're here,
man. You seen Jonas? Some dude is
closing in on his high score on
Breaking & Entering.

TOOTHPICK
I love that game! I like to be the
cops. Jonas was always the bad guy.

JP
Yeah, he was hard core. When he
wasn't having a tummy ache.

MARS
We need your help, Bodie. Jonas
disappeared from school two days
ago.

BODIE
Disappeared? Like...poof?

MARS
We were wondering if we can check
his locker.

BODIE
It's against Palace regs, but as
assistant manager, I do have a
master key! Come on, guys.
(to colleague)
Hey Chris, cover for me, will ya?

The friends and Bodie start walking towards Jonas’ locker.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 24.

CADDIE
Tell us again what Jonas’s mom
said?

MARS
It isn’t what she said as what she
didn’t say....Like pretty much
anything.

CADDIE
And she was acting weird?

MARS
For a human.

JP
Alright, can we just check out this
locker and get out of here?

Bodie unlocks Jonas’ locker.

BODIE
Whoops. Did that thing get
unlocked? Don't know how that
happened. Open at your own risk,
dudes.

Bodie takes the master key and walks away.

CADDIE
This could go very wrong. I once
saw Jonas stuff half a meatball
parm sub in there.

JP
Alright, will someone just open the
dang thing already!

MARS
On three. One...two...

Mars opens it slowly.

TOOTHPICK
(in shock)
Empty! Just like his school locker!

MARS
It's gone. All of it.

JP
What do we do now?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 25.

CADDIE
Mars has another plan... Right?

TOOTHPICK
Mars always has a plan.

JP
Do you, genius?

MARS
(beat)
We're breaking into Jonas' house.

TOOTHPICK
Breaking and entering? Are we the
cops or the criminals? Because you
know the criminals get shot most of
the time.

JP
You know, having a plan is not the
same as having a good plan.

CADDIE
He's not going to let us say no.

MARS
We're going to find Aurora and
Jonas.

TOOTHPICK
Even if we get shot in the process.

101-9 EXT. QUIET SUBURBAN STREET - NIGHT

It is early evening and there are sounds of crickets in an

otherwise quiet street. The friends are talking in hushed
voices- whispering to each other.

MARS
(into his phone)
Here's one to draw in your
sketchbook, Aurora: me and the rest
of your friends hiding in the
bushes outside Jonas' house. He
would've loved this mission.
Another game. Only we're breaking
into his place.
(beat)
I know it was my idea, but to be
honest I'm not even sure what we're
looking for.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 26.

JP
Shhh! Could you can the narration
for once so we can just do this?

MARS
Jonas's room was in the basement.
I've snuck him in and out a million
times. This way.

A dog begins to bark inside the house.

JP
Since when does Jonas have a dog?

CADDIE
He was allergic to every animal on
Earth. Dogs made his throat close
up.

MARS
Maybe his parents knew he wouldn't
be living here anymore.

JP
They didn't waste any time.

Dog continues to bark.

TOOTHPICK
Woof.

JP
Shhh! You said they were going
away. They left their new doggie
home alone?

CADDIE
I can handle Chompers.

TOOTHPICK
(loudly)
She's going to use her powers!

The whole group shushes Toothpick. Caddie walks up from the

bushes and opens the gate. The dog starts barking loudly.

JP
How long before we go in after her?

MARS
Give it a minute--

The barking suddenly stops and the street goes quiet again.
Caddie calls out to her friends.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 27.

CADDIE
Guys. Come on through. I've got the
puppy.

Mars, JP and Toothpick start in through the gate.

MARS
Man, she is good.

JP
You finally noticed. That's the
vicious animal? It looks like a
Beanie Boo.

MARS
Okay, like we planned. Toothpick,
you stand guard. The rest of us in
through the basement.

JP
And you're sure you remember the
alarm code?

MARS
Unless they've changed it--

The keypad beeps as Mars enters three digits. He pauses to

think before entering the last digit.

TOOTHPICK
The last number is a seven.

MARS
How do you know?

TOOTHPICK
I remember the code.

MARS
I thought it was an eight?

TOOTHPICK
It’s a seven.

MARS
I really think its an eight.

JP
(harsh whispering)
You guys going to stand here all
night and discuss this?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 28.

TOOTHPICK
(whispers)
Seven.

MARS
Okay. You're the numbers guy. We'll
go with seven.

Mars enters the last digit and the alarm beeps off.

CADDIE
Is it off?

MARS
I think so.

TOOTHPICK
(mimicking game)
One thousand points on
Breaking & Entering.

They open the basement door and walk down some steps.

JP
A light would be nice.

A light switch is turned on.

JP (CONT’D)
I thought you said he lived here.

MARS
He does.
(beat)
He did. It used to be tricked out.

CADDIE
It's totally empty. Just like the
lockers. Not even a bed or a lamp
or a poster on the wall.
Everything's gone.

MARS
Including Jonas.

JP
Can we go? I think I've had enough
creepy for one night.

CADDIE
That sounds like a pretty good
idea.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 29.

MARS
Not until we find something.

JP
Like what?

MARS
Anything. Jonas said it himself
before the Code Red. People don't
just disappear, right?

JP
Can we at least look upstairs?

The kids check out the basement - opening and closing closets
trying to find clues. There is a loud crash.

JP (CONT’D)
Oh man.

CADDIE
What was that?

JP
Expensive.

The sound of a siren in the distance.

CADDIE
No. What is that sound? Outside?

Caddie is overwhelmed by pain.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
Ow!

MARS
Is it your head? Is it hurting
again?

CADDIE
Maybe it's just...

Another wave of pain.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
Ugh, Owww!

MARS
It's that bad?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 30.

JP
Ok, I usually don't believe in the
whole “Caddie's magic head” thing,
but why take chances?

CADDIE
(head throbbing)
Ahh...You guys can't hear that?

The police sirens are closer now.

MARS
Sirens.

JP
Police sirens? I thought you guys
said the alarm was off?

MARS
It's probably not for us.

JP
Probably?!

They each get a text message alert on their phone, one after
the other. The police sirens are pretty close now.

MARS
Did you guys just get a text
message?

JP
Yeah, did you?

Toothpick runs into the room, out of breath.

TOOTHPICK
(loudly)
I just got a text!

CADDIE
It's -- from Jonas!

JP
Is it me or are those sirens
getting louder?

CADDIE
I don't understand the text. "AB
MASTERS?"

MARS
What does that mean?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 31.

JP
You're hearing how close that is,
right?

Sound of screeching tires as the police arrive in front of

the house.

CADDIE
Toothpick, was the alarm definitely
disabled?

TOOTHPICK
(matter of fact)
Maybe the last number on the alarm
code was an 8.

Police get out of their cars and the sirens are very loud
now.

POLICEMAN
(a bullhorn, outside)
We know you're in the house! Don't
make us come in after you!

CADDIE
What do we do?

MARS
Run!

END OF EPISODE.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 32.

EPISODE 2- CONSEQUENCES

10 102-1 INTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 10

OLIVER PRUITT
Hello kids. Welcome back. It’s
Oliver Pruitt. Remember me?

Today I’m going to drop you into a

place you’d never want to be: the
back of a police car where our
friend Mars Patel finds himself
right now. Oh dear...

11 102-2 INT. COP CAR - NIGHT 11

Chatter of a police radio can be heard from front seat as

Mars rides in the back of a cop car.

MARS
I've never been in the back of a
police car before. Have you?
Been in the back?
(beat)
Not that you would, I guess, since
you sit up there in the front...
Hello?

Mars knocks on the glass in the car.

MARS (CONT’D)
Can you hear me through the glass?
Am I under arrest?

There is more police chatter and the car goes by a bumpy

road.

COP
You ever been out this way,
Mercury?

MARS
Actually, it's Mars.

COP
(ignoring Mars)
It's nice. Quiet. Some people might
call it lonely. Especially in the
dark. But I like that. When you're
out here in the woods, nobody
bothers you.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 33.
COP (CONT'D)
Nobody playing Taylor Swiftey too
loud on their car stereo or letting
their yappy dog leave a pile on
your lawn. And you never have to
worry that when you go on vacation
some delinquents are gonna break
into your house and destroy their
family heirlooms.

MARS
JP had no idea that statue was -

COP
(cutting in on Mars)
You and your friends. You break
into a house, you might just find
yourself on the wrong end of a SWAT
team. Good news is I'm in charge
and I'm someone who shows
restraint.

MARS
Can I have my phone back?

COP
You know what restraint is,
Jupiter? I remember being eleven.
My friends and I used to goof
off.... The difference was, there
were consequences. You skip school?
Enter someone's house without
permission? Consequences! But your
generation? Consequences are a joke
to you guys. You should hear some
of the calls I answer. Kids go
missing all the time. Especially
kids like you and your friends.
Outsiders. Misfits. You're
practically invisible, Manu.

MARS
How did you know my real name is
Manu? No one calls me Manu. I told
the officer my name was Mars. Do
you know something? About Jonas and
Aurora? WHERE ARE MY FRIENDS?!

The cop car screeches to a halt and the cop gets out and
opens the passenger door.

COP
Get out.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 34.

MARS
What... here? It's like a mile from
my house.

COP
Like I said, kid. Consequences.

Seat creaks as Mars gets off. The cop bangs the door shut.
Tires screech as the car drives away.

12 102-3 INT. OFFICE OF PRINCIPAL FAGIN - MORNING 12

A school bell rings. Mars sits with his mother outside the
principals office. He can’t stop tapping his foot.

MRS. PATEL
(angry)
Mars, stop tapping your foot
please!

Mars stops tapping his foot.

MRS. PATEL (CONT’D)

(in a sweeter tone)
Principal Fagin, thank you for
seeing us this morning. I just want
to say how sorry Mars is for what
he did. It was all a
misunderstanding.

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
Misunderstanding? Hmm. Others might
call it a felony.

MRS. PATEL
Tell her, Mars. Tell her you're
sorry.

MARS
We were looking for Jonas. He
disappeared during the Code Red
like Aurora disappeared --

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
You know Mars, those sound like
excuses, not apologies.

MRS. PATEL
-- Mars, apologize --

MARS
-- apologize for trying to find my
friends?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 35.

MRS. PATEL
Manu!

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
Mrs. Patel, thanks to me, HG Wells
Middle School has the highest GIFT
scores of any school in the
Northwest, if not the country. We
make winners here, the kind of
students who might one day be
invited to Pruitt Prep itself. So
when I get a phone call from the
police about not one, but FOUR of
my students, I think to myself:
Self? I don't want those students
in my school.

MRS. PATEL
He'll learn from this bad decision.
Right, Mars? Right?

MARS
Right.

PrINCIPAL FAGIN
Well, I don’t know. It seems to me
it was more than a bad decision. It
was criminal. I honestly don't know
what to do. What do I, involve
social services? Expulsion? What?

MRS. PATEL
Give him extra school work. Let him
clean classrooms. Separate Mars
from those other five children.

MARS
(over his mother)
It's three!? It's only three! ?
That's what I'm trying to tell you.
Jonas and Aurora are missing!

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
That actually sounds like a very
reasonable arrangement.

MARS
That’s not fair, those are my
friends!

MRS. PATEL
Manu!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 36.

MARS
(miserable)
May I go back to class now?

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
I’m sorry Mars, you may not.

MARS
(hopeful)
Detention?

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
I'm sending you home today, Mr.
Patel.

MARS
So I'm suspended.

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
Well, I'd like to call it a day of
reflection.

MARS
So in other words, suspended.

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
Unless you'd like a whole week of
it?

MRS. PATEL
(quickly)
He'll see you tomorrow! Mars, let's
go to the car.

Mars and MRS. PATEL open the door and leave Principal Fagin’s
office. They continue talking as they walk down the hallway.

MARS
How could you do that? Caddie and
JP and Toothpick, those are my best
friends, the only ones I have left.

MRS. PATEL
Oh I don't know what it's like to
have friends?? You're right!
Because I don't have time for
friends, because I'm too busy
keeping two jobs providing a good
life for you.

MARS
(beat)
I'm sorry, Mama-ji.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 37.

MRS. PATEL
Maybe the west coast is too fast
for us. Maybe we should go live
with my cousin in Cleveland.

MARS
MOM, I said I'm sorry!

MRS. PATEL
Be more than sorry. You have to
stop this.

MARS
But..

MRS. PATEL
Don't interrupt!
(softening)
I understand it's hard for you to
have people leave. After what your
father did to us. But you can't do
this anymore, Manu. We can't do
this anymore...

She hands him back his phone.

MRS. PATEL (CONT’D)

Here is your phone back. I'm
trusting you to only use it to
reach me at work. NO texting your
friends. No more trying to reach
Aurora. Promise me.

MARS
I promise.

MRS. PATEL
OK. Grab you backpack and meet me
out front. I'm pulling the car
around.

MRS. PATEL walks towards the door.

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
(on the intercom)
Caddie Patchett.

Mars turns and sees Caddie waiting to enter Principal Fagin’s

office.

MARS
Hey...Caddie! Over here!

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 38.

CADDIE
(curt)
Uh, uh. I have to go, Mars. My mom
and I are meeting the Principal.

MARS
Are you ok?

CADDIE
(not ok)
Sure.

MARS
'Cause I was worried when I didn't
hear from you after the cops
separated us.

CADDIE
Um, I really have to go.

MARS
(taken aback)
Um, yeah sure. I have to go too.
See you... around?

CADDIE
I... I don't think so.

Caddie walks towards Principal Fagin’s office.

13 102-4 INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE GYM - LATE MORNING 13

Lockers are being opened and closed. Mars walks towards the
door to meet his mom, as Toothpick runs up to him.

TOOTHPICK
Mars! MARS!

MARS
Go back to P.E., Toothpick. My
mom's waiting for me.

Toothpick catches up to Mars and starts walking with him.

TOOTHPICK
I'll walk with you.

MARS
That's not what I --

TOOTHPICK
-- are we speed walking here? If
so, I should stretch my calves.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 39.

MARS
Really can't talk now, okay?

TOOTHPICK
Did you look over the list I sent
of possible anagrams for Jonas'
text message?

MARS
I said I can't talk about this.

TOOTHPICK
I searched all night for "Ab
Masters." But it was just a bunch
of workout videos.
(infomercial voice)
Do YOU want a flat stomach? Do you
long for those six-pack abs?
(back to normal)
I did four hundred and seventy-
three crunches. Then I realized I
was probably on the wrong track.
Now it hurts to laugh. And cough.
And breathe. But I've compiled a
list of eighty phrases. All of the
words are combinations of the
letters in Ab Masters. Get it? I
color coordinated it from most
likely to least likely based on
frequency of use, connection to
Jonas and-

MARS
(over)
My mom's waiting in the parking
lot, Toothpick.

TOOTHPICK
"Rama Brats." I like Rama brats as
a clue to finding them. Although
Jonas didn't take yoga. Unless you
count PE. Do you count PE?

MARS
I don't kn--.

TOOTHPICK
--You don't know? Mars Patel always
knows.

MARS
No, I don't. I don't... always
know.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 40.

Toothpick hands Mars a list.

TOOTHPICK
Look at the list. You knew Jonas
better than I did. He got mad at me
a lot, especially when I'd repeat
myself. He'd raise his voice.
(imitating Jonas)
Could you shut your hole, Pick?!
(back to normal)
My mom said that Jonas wasn't mad
at me. He was frustrated. But you
never get frustrated, Mars.

MARS
(exasperated)
I'm just trying to get to my
locker.

TOOTHPICK
I thought you were meeting your
mom.

MARS
I am but I forgot my... why does it
matter? We can't be seen talking.

TOOTHPICK
But I need your help to solve this.
One of these is going to lead us to
Jonas and Aurora. I tried to text
you, but you didn't respond. Why
didn't you write me back? You
always -

MARS
I said you've got to stop!

TOOTHPICK
Stop? Stop what? Trying to find
Aurora and Jonas? Why?

MARS
I got suspended today, and if I
keep it up, I'm going to be
expelled. We all will. Caddie isn't
talking to me. That cop made it
sound like we could disappear, too.
I can't lose anybody else! I don't
know what else to do except stop.
We have to stay away from each
other.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 41.

TOOTHPICK
That's what my parents said, too.
(in his dad’s voice)
Sometimes I don't
understand you, son.
(mom’s voice)
We understand him. We talked to the
counselor, remember?
(normal voice)
Mars, if you just look at the list-

Mars stops walking and turns to face Toothpick.

MARS
What's wrong with you? Can't you
understand what I'm saying?! Leave
me alone!

TOOTHPICK
(hurt)
Okay, Mars. I'll go now.

MARS
(feeling terrible)
Pick.. Aw.... I'm sorry, man. I
didn't mean to get mad.

TOOTHPICK
Frustrated. You're frustrated with
me.

MARS
No. No, I'm frustrated with myself.
And with Aurora and Jonas for being
gone.

TOOTHPICK
Then we have to find them, right?

MARS
But we could all get in a buttload
of trouble.

TOOTHPICK
Isn't that what friends are
supposed to do for each other?

MARS
I don't know anymore. I've gotta
go.

Mars walks out of the gym.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 42.

14 102-5 INT. MARS' APARTMENT- AFTERNOON 14

Mars is at home, serving out his suspension and leaving

another message for Aurora.

MARS
(recording on his phone)
Hey, Aurora. I'm not supposed to be
talking to you, so don't tell
anyone, okay. It's been a bad, bad
twenty-four hours. The whole
breaking into Jonas' house thing -
didn't go so well. We got caught,
and now I'm stuck in my apartment
feeling like a giant virus to
everyone I care about. When all I
really want, is to go out and find
you. It's just...

Mars takes a break to eat chips and drink soda.

MARS (CONT’D)
I don't know what else to do. If I
keep this up, I'm gonna get kicked
out of school. Maybe others will
too. I'm sorry. This is probably
going to be my last recording...

There is a knock on his window.

MARS (CONT’D)
JP?

JP
(muffled)
Open the window, Patel.

Mars opens his window.

MARS
What are you doing on the fire
escape?

JP
Are those chips? Bring 'em over
here.

Mars passes the chips over to JP and both of them snack on

it.

MARS
You’re supposed to be taking an
algebra test.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 43.

JP
Dude, if they can't find X by now,
they're never gonna find it.

MARS
JP, you gotta go back to school
before you're caught.

JP
Dude, it was hard enough sneaking
out. Now you want me to sneak back
in?
(mouth full of chips)
Is that your soda over there?

MARS
You wanna just come in?

JP
I thought you'd never ask.

JP walks into the room and Mars closes the window. JP plops
onto a beanbag.

JP (CONT’D)
Look at you. You're a mess. Did any
of the chips end up in your mouth?

MARS
I'm so sorry about last night. What
did your parents say when the cops
brought you back?

JP
That I'm grounded for a month. Blah
blah blah. You know. Honestly, they
really just seemed more annoyed
that I'd be hanging around at home
more.

MARS
You shouldn't be here. My Mom made
all these promises to Fagin about
keeping me away from you guys.

JP
Wait a minute. She thinks we're the
bad influences? She's met you,
right?

MARS
I just don't want to get you into
any more trouble.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 44.
MARS (CONT'D)
Breaking into Jonas' house was
probably the dumbest idea I’ve ever
had.

JP
I don't know. How about that time
we chained ourselves to Ms.
Wellington's desk to protest pop
quizzes, and she had us loaded onto
a cart and wheeled out by the
dumpsters? Or when you decided that
the Fifth grade play was offensive
and convinced us all of us to stand
up there and recite the words from
"Everybody Poops?" Or when we hid
in Principal Fagin's car with
marshmallow’s and-

MARS
Ok, ok. I've had a lot of dumb
ideas.

JP
'Course we're probably the real
dumb ones for always following you.

MARS
(hurt)
You really believe that?

JP
Nah. If I did, why would I keep
going all in on your crazy plans?

MARS
I don't know. What are you even
doing here?

JP
I told you. I’m blowing off
algebra.

MARS
No. I mean for real?

JP
Alright. You really want to know?
Why not.
(beat)
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 45.
JP (CONT'D)
First day of third grade that
buttcrack Joey Lupo sees me walking
in with my Seahawks hoodie and my
baggy shorts and he starts calling
me “boygirl.” Hey, boygirl, which
bathroom you gonna use?
(beat)
I try to walk by, but he grabs me
by the hood and it snaps my neck
back. I get furious. Like I do. I
ball up my fists like I'm going to
knock his braces out... only I know
if I crack him in the face it's
only going to make people more
freaked out. Cause what "normal"
girl throws down like that? Still,
he needs to get jacked, so I'm
ready to go. But just before I hit
the loser-

MARS
I stick my finger down my throat
and barf all over you.

JP
Mac n' cheese and fruit punch.
Nasty.

MARS
Now that was the dumbest thing that
I ever did.

JP
Lupo ran like I was covered in
acid. I had to throw out the
hoodie. But Lupo, he never messed
with me again. So yeah, your plans
are usually a mac-n-cheese-fruit-
punch-barf disaster.
(beat)
But if I went missing, there's
nobody else in the world I'd want
looking for me.

Mars’ phone beeps indicating a new text message.

JP (CONT’D)
You got a message.

MARS
Probably my mom warning me not to
use my ph-(stops Short)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 46.

JP
What? What's it say? What's the
matter?!

MARS
It's from Aurora.

END OF EPISODE

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 47.

EPISODE 3 - GALE ISLAND

16 103-1 INTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 16

OLIVER PRUITT (V.O.)

Oliver Pruitt here, again.
Inventor, educator, dreamer...
podcast sponsor. You know what I
find remarkable? It wasn’t so long
ago that if I wanted to talk to you
like this, I would have to hop a
horse, cross mountains and deserts.
But today, I can talk to you during
a podcast. Who knows what the
future will bring? I built my
school, Pruitt Prep, differently
than any other school that ever
came before it. The grounds on Gale
Island were constructed to study
climate extremes during global
warming. The best trained staff in
the world, together with the most
exceptional students, have made the
most incredible advances in botany,
engineering, and earth sciences.
The technology we’ve created--

He stops himself.

OLIVER PRUITT (V.O.)

Well, I can’t talk about that.
You’ll just have to attend and see
for yourself! Because the future is
not something that just happens --
it’s something we make together .
We’re Pruitt. Together we can do
anything. To. The. Stars!

17 103-2 INT. H.G. WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL -DAY 17

Mars walks down the hall, leaving another message for Aurora.

MARS
(into phone)
You never make things easy, do you,
Aurora? What's wrong with texting,
"Hey Mars. Thanks for the messages.
I'm doing great. See you soon."
Instead you write, "Ad astra."
That's it.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 48.
MARS (CONT'D)
"Ad astra." Well, I'm gonna need a
little help with that one. Yes,
that means going back to school.
(beat)
JP's getting Toothpick. I'm going
for Caddie...What period is it?
(not happy)
Oh great. She's in choir.

17A 103-3 INT. CHOIR ROOM 17A

A middle school chorus sings a jovial arrangement of "House

of the Rising Sun.”

Mars approaches Caddie on the choir risers. The choir

continues to sing as Mars and Caddie have a conversation.

MARS
(whispering)
Pssst. Psst, Caddie!

CADDIE
(in a whisper)
Mars?!

MARS
At your feet! Under the bleachers!

CADDIE
You're supposed to be suspended.
You can't be in the school.

MARS
But I have something unbelievable --

CADDIE
-- You're unbelievable! We're
already in deep --

MARS
-- if you just let me explain --

CADDIE
-- Ssh, ssh! This is my part...
(singing to the tune of
her part in the song)
And Mars, you need to go!
(hissing)
Mars, GO HOME.

EPICA
Mars Patel?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 49.

CADDIE
Ah geez. Now Epica’s spotted you.

EPICA
Is that perv trying to look up my
skirt?

CADDIE
You're wearing jeans, Epica.

MARS
Caddie, just listen. Aurora texted
me! She wrote "ad astra". Any idea
what that means?

CADDIE
No, I have no idea. Sounds like
Greek to me.

EPICA
Actually it's Latin?

CADDIE
You know Latin?

EPICA
I know LOTS of things.

MARS
So what does that mean?

EPICA
It means I'm smarter than you? Buh-
bye!

CADDIE
Should've seen that one coming.

MARS
We're supposed to meet JP and Pick
in the janitor's closet. We can
figure this out. We always do.

CADDIE
I'm sorry. My parents. Since the
arrest, it's total lockdown. They
were just looking for a reason to
send me to boarding school. They
think I need...correction.

MARS
What does that mean?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 50.

CADDIE
(beat)
They hate my friends. They hate my
hair and the way I dress. They hate
you, Mars. They said I can't be
around you anymore. They think you
get me in trouble all the time.

MARS
I do get you in trouble all the
time. That's kinda our thing. I'm
all over the place and you balance
me out.

CADDIE
Maybe I can't do that anymore. It's
too hard. Maybe I just want to be
normal.

MARS
You'll never be normal. That's what
I love about you.
(catching himself)
I just mean...You know when trouble
is coming.

CADDIE
Like now.

MARS
Like any time really.

There is a sudden rapping of a baton on the bleachers.

CADDIE
No. Mars, you're in trouble right
now!

CHOIR TEACHER
Who is that under there?!

Rapping continues. Students start shushing and giggling.

MARS
Uh-oh.

CHOIR TEACHER
What on earth are you... OH NO NO
NO! YOU STAY RIGHT THERE!

Sneakers scrambling, rapid footsteps as Mars rushes out of

the choir room.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 51.

18 103-4 INT. HALLWAY OF H.G. WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL 18

Sneakers scrambling, rapid footsteps. Mars runs out of the

choir room and straight into MR. Q in the hallway.

MARS
(out of breath)
Oh, sorry.

MR. Q
(surprised)
Mars?

MARS
Mr. Q! I didn’t see you.

MR. Q
Mars, it’s my understanding that
you’ve been suspended.

MARS
I know. I’m not supposed to be
here. I got a message from Aurora.

MR. Q
Is she okay?

MARS
I don’t know. I have to go. They’re
waiting for me. Please don’t tell
Principal Fagin you saw me?

MR. Q
Mars, you know I always want what’s
best for you.

MARS
Please, Mr. Q. I’m counting on you.
Aurora and Jonas are depending on
us.

MR. Q
Go.

Mars continues to run towards to the janitor’s closet.

19 103-5 INT. JANITOR'S CLOSET - DAY 19

Mars runs in the hallway and opens the creaky door to the
closet.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 52.

MARS
(out of breath)
Sorry I'm late. I almost got busted
by Mr. Q in the hallway. Anybody
see you guys come in here?

JP
What're we, amateurs? You know, we
really need to find a better office
than the janitor's closet, though.

TOOTHPICK
I like the smell of bleach. It
makes my head fuzzy.

MARS
Listen, Pick, about what I said
before --

TOOTHPICK
(rolling past it)
Give me your phone, Mars. I want to
read the text.

JP
Where's Caddie?

MARS
She...couldn't make it.

JP
(realizing)
She said no, didn't she?

MARS
Her parents dropped the hammer on
her. I tried, but she just couldn't
do it.

JP
Then forgot it. I'm not doing this
without her. It's going to be a
disaster. When you're a mess,
Caddie balances you out.

MARS
Yeah and I said that to her. But I
don't know this time. She seemed -

TOOTHPICK
(dancing)
Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 53.

MARS
What are you doing, Pick?

TOOTHPICK
It's called dabbing. See you take
your arm and you put it over your
face. It's a celebration dance.
'Cause I figured it out and nobody
else did! Type "ad astra" on your
phone. Look at the autocorrect.

Mars types on his phone.

JP
Ab masters?

MARS
Ab masters! Jonas' text from the
other night!

TOOTHPICK
I didn't have to do those crunches!
Jonas and Aurora were BOTH trying
to text us “ad astra” --

JP
Okay, but we still don't know what
“ad astra” means--

The door to the closet swings open and Caddie arrives.

CADDIE
(triumphantly)
To the stars!

MARS
Caddie!

CADDIE
Ad astra is Latin for "to the
stars"

TOOTHPICK
That was a very dramatic entrance.

CADDIE
I thought so.

JP
Wait, you know Latin?

CADDIE
Nope, but I know that Epica would
do anything to have my choir solo.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 54.

MARS
(amazed)
Wow. "To the Stars".

TOOTHPICK
That's the slogan for --

MARS
Pruitt Prep.

JP
Oliver Pruitt's school?

MARS
Could that be where Aurora and
Jonas are? Inside Pruitt Prep?

TOOTHPICK
(reciting)
Oliver Pruitt takes only the best
and the brightest for his technical
wonder on Gale Island.

JP
Exactly. None of us would ever get
in there. What's the opposite of
the best and the brightest?

MARS
Wouldn't you have to pack up? Say
goodbye? See ya' around, Mars.
Going to hang with the "special
people."

CADDIE
Mars, you said Jonas's mom seemed
weirdly happy, right? She kept
saying everything was wonderful.

MARS
We have to get in there.

TOOTHPICK
(reciting)
To apply to Pruitt prep, you must
first submit an application and
your GIFT test scores --

MARS
I mean now. We need to get into
that school now.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 55.

JP
You do realize it's on an island,
right? And the thing about
islands...they're surrounded by
water. Lots of water.

TOOTHPICK
There's a ferry. I watched a video
online of some guy giving a tour.

JP
How do we get there?

MARS
We ride our bikes.

JP
That far?

MARS
It's mostly downhill.

JP
Ah. Jeez.

MARS
Can you guys make it out past your
parents at like 9:45?

TOOTHPICK
My bed time's nine-thirty. I'll be
in my pajamas.

MARS
Can you pull up a map of the
island?

TOOTHPICK
Not on my phone. My parents
installed a tracking app.

MARS
Then you're gonna have to go analog
on this, Toothpick. A real paper
map.

JP
Caddie, you're being real quiet
over there. Are you coming with?
'Cause without you, this bad plan?
It just becomes even worse.

Caddie hesitates.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 56.

MARS
It's okay, we understand if you
can't --

CADDIE
Of course I'm coming, dummy.

MARS
What about your-- ?

CADDIE
My parents? They always wanted me
to go to Pruitt Prep.

MUSIC: PRUITT PREP TRANSITION

20 103-6 INTERSTITIAL. 20

Pruitt theme music.

RADIOLAB-STYLE NARRATOR
Hi, kids. Do you get bored at
school? Do feel like you're not
being challenged? Like you don't
fit in or your teachers don't
understand you? At Pruitt Prep, we
understand the extraordinary kid.
We're looking for students who
think differently, who dream big.
If you think you have what it takes
to join us, visit our website at
[Link] and take the test.
(hint of menace)
But be warned, not everyone will
make it.
(cheery again)
To the stars!

21 103-7 EXT. ROAD - NIGHT 21

Mars and his friends pants, as they race their bikes towards
the docks.

MARS
(recording on his phone)
Aurora--AGH! Almost dropped my
phone. Hard to do this and bike at
the same time. Have they ever heard
of street lights out here?
(breathing hard)
I think they call this going rogue.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 57.
MARS (CONT'D)
We're not even supposed to be
talking to each other, and here we
are. Riding like crazy in the
middle of the night, miles from
home, and with Toothpick in his
Star Wars pajamas.

CADDIE
-- Everyone STOP! Water!

MARS
We're here?

Everyone brakes and the bikes skid to a halt.

TOOTHPICK
There it is. Gale Island. Straight
ahead. See the lights out there?

CADDIE
(straining)
Mmm....no.

TOOTHPICK
Me neither. But Pruitt Prep is
right there. That's what the map
says.

JP
(sarcastic)
That's not weird.
(beat)
Is that the ferry we're supposed to
take? Is it even running? Looks
pretty, you know, tied up to the
dock.

MARS
(realizing)
The website made it sound like it
sails all night.

JP
So what do we do, swim? Hmm. Yeah,
seems like a good night to drown.

TOOTHPICK
It's a new moon tonight. Conditions
are ideal for drowning.

Mars gets onto a row boat.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 58.

CADDIE
(calling out)
Mars, whose boat is that?

MARS
Come on! We're just borrowing it!

JP
(under his breath)
Said every thief ever.

MARS
COME ON!

Caddie and Toothpick run towards the boat and board it.

MARS (CONT’D)
(calling out)
JP, you joining us?!

JP
That's not a boat! That's a rotting
pile of driftwood!

MARS
It's floating!

JP
For how long?! Let me make this
clear. I don't like cold, dark
water. I don't like waves. I don't
like what swims underneath. I've
gone along with a lot, but I am not
getting in that boat. I don't care
what you say: I. Stay. Dry.

22 103-8 EXT. ON A BOAT - NIGHT 22

JP is exhausted as she rows the boat. It is quiet except for

the splashing of the oars against the water.

JP
I’m. Not. Dry.
(beat)
Why do I feel like I'm the only one
rowing for the past hour?

TOOTHPICK
I can't see the shore yet.

JP
Are we even close?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 59.

Toothpick stands up on the boat to check the surroundings.

JP (CONT’D)
Sit down, Pick. You're gonna fliip
the boat!

TOOTHPICK
I'm trying to get a look at -

JP
Omigod! Get off me.

CADDIE
Just sit, Toothpick. I'll keep
watch.

Water splashes as JP continues to row.

MARS
(recording a message)
Know what I was thinking about,
Aurora? Your favorite movie. Your
real favorite movie.

JP
(out of breath)
Less recording. More rowing.

MARS
I'm just trying to make the time go
faster.

JP
I'm trying to make the boat go
faster.

TOOTHPICK
Well, technically we're going
slower.

JP
How about you take a break from
talking for awhile.

TOOTHPICK
What, the current’s getting
stronger? JP, your hands are
bleeding!

JP
Thanks! Helpful as always,
Toothpick.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 60.

TOOTHPICK
I can help row more.

Toothpick stands up again and the boat tilts.

TOOTHPICK (CONT’D)
Whoa...Whoa...

ALL
Sit down!

Toothpick sits down. They continue to row in silence.

CADDIE
So... What is Aurora's favorite
movie?

MARS
I don't think I wanna say.

CADDIE
Why not? Too personal?

MARS
No, I just don’t think....

CADDIE
Mars, you know you can tell me
anything.

JP
(frustrated)
Omigod, just say it already.

MARS
Her favorite movie is The Titanic.

CADDIE
Oh.

JP
You should've kept that to
yourself.

MARS
I tried. You think I want to talk
about sinking boats while we're in
the pitch black in the middle of
the ocean?

TOOTHPICK
The sound.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 61.

JP
Whatever. It's a lot of water and
it's cold. Keep rowing!

MARS
Relax, JP.

JP
Then we wouldn't be going anywhere.

MARS
I rowed for twenty minutes
straight!

JP
(out of breath)
No, you rowed for five, talked to
Aurora for fifteen.

MARS
I'm just trying to keep a record -

JP
--I'm trying not to capsize and
drown. Between my blisters and
Toothpick's toothpick arms, we
can't afford to be a man down.

TOOTHPICK
You really shouldn’t talk to me
like that when I’m the only one who
knows where we’re going.

MARS
(to his phone)
Gotta run, Aurora. I have so many
questions. How did you get into
Pruitt Prep? Have you met Oliver
Pruitt?

CADDIE
--Mars, you're gonna have a mutiny
on your hands--

JP
I'm going to throw the phone in the
ocean.

TOOTHPICK
Sound.

JP
Correct me one more time and see
what happens.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 62.

MARS
So next time don’t volunteer.

JP
Yeah and next time maybe YOU’LL go
missing!

CADDIE
Stop it. All of you. Stop it!

JP stops rowing.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
I know you're cold and wet and
scared. And that's not because I'm
in your heads. It's because I am
scared too. You think it's fun
being on this boat, JP, listening
to you complain? Or Mars, you going
on and on about Aurora? Or
Toothpick, you almost flipping us
over every five minutes? That's no
reason for us to attack each other.
It makes me sick. We're all we've
got. How do you not realize that
after Aurora and Jonas disappeared?
It can happen so fast. Maybe
whoever is taking our friends is
going to come for us next. So we
need to stay together. We need each
other - even more than usual. If
everyone is not on board with that,
we should just turn around now and
go home.

MARS
(beat)
Caddie, I’m sorry.

The boat SMACKS against solid ground.

CADDIE
(still frustrated)
Save it. We're here.

TRANSITION MUSIC.

23 103-9 EXT. GALE ISLAND - NIGHT 23

Mars, Caddie, JP and Toothpick climb off the boat and onto
the beach.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 63.

CADDIE
(shivering)
Is it ten degrees colder on the
island?

TOOTHPICK
My pocket thermometer says 22.5
degrees colder.

MARS
(shivering)
H-How is that possible?

JP
The sand on this beach is weird.
It's like, stepping on a bunch of
chalk.

MARS
(shivering)
So how do we get to the school from
here?

TOOTHPICK
Map says you go right into these
trees and keep going straight. The
scale isn't right so it's hard to
tell how long it'll take. But we
can't miss it. It's in a clearing
in the middle of the island. It's
all right there. The science
towers, and the botany lab, and the
cafeteria with the living roof, and
the virtual reality auditorium....

JP
(shivering)
Stay close. You've got the map and
the flashlight.

They follow Toothpick into the woods.

MARS
Watch where you're going. There's a
lot of branches on the--
(falling)
Whoa, whoa...

CADDIE
Relax. I've got you.

MARS
Thanks.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 64.

CADDIE
Always.

MARS
Thanks for the speech back there.
And for coming in the first place.

CADDIE
Yeah well I had to make that
speech. Everything is -

Caddie gets a massive headache.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
Oww!

MARS
Are you okay? Is it your head?

JP
Hey, guys. Hate to buzzkill, but
where's Pick?

MARS
He was right in front of us.

JP
Yeah, well I looked up and he was
just gone.

MARS
Caddie?

CADDIE
(struggling through her
headache)
The woods. Ow. Some..Something's
not right.

The pick up the pace, desperately searching for Toothpick.

MARS
(calling out)
Pick!

JP
(calling out)
Toothpick, where are you?!

There is no response. They pick up the pace even more.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 65.

CADDIE
What kind of trees are these?
They're huge. You can't even see
the moon through them.

MARS
They don't look like anything I've
ever seen before.

JP
Toothpick!

CADDIE
(another headache)
Ow...

MARS
We can stop if your head hurts too
much.

JP
We ain't stopping. Not in here.

CADDIE
No. We, we keep going. We have to.

MARS
What if Toothpick...?
(beat)
What if he's gone, too?

JP
Don't do that. You're better than
that, Mars.

MARS
You're right. We're going to find
them.

CADDIE
(beat)
Right.

JP
Shouldn't we be able to see this
place by now?

MARS
The trees are blocking everything.
I can barely see my feet. I hope
Pick isn't lost.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 66.

JP
I hope we're not lost.
(calling)
Toothpick?!

The friends are walking through the woods. There is a low

growl in the distance.

MARS
Did you hear that?

JP
It's my stomach.

MARS
It sounded like a coyote.

CADDIE
Coyotes don't want to attack
humans.

JP
They don't want to attack humans or
they don't attack humans?

The growling again.

JP (CONT’D)
Can we pick up the pace. Like...
run?

They run. In the process, they get scraped up by branches and

whatnot.

MARS, CADDIE AND JP

(Shouting, screaming, Ad
libbed)
GO! RUN! Ow, ow!

MARS
Keep Running! Don’t stop until you
hit the clearing!

CADDIE
I see something! I think we're
almost out!

JP
GO, GO, GO!!

MARS
(panting)
We're out. We're out.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 67.

Standing there is Toothpick.

MARS (CONT’D)
Toothpick!

TOOTHPICK
Mars.

MARS
TOOTHPICK!! You’re here.

TOOTHPICK
Mars, where were you?

MARS
Where were we? Where were you?! We
thought you disappeared.

TOOTHPICK
I don't understand. It's on the
map. It's in the picture online. I
watched a video. This is supposed
to be it.

JP
(out of breath)
Supposed to be what, Pick?

TOOTHPICK
The school! Pruitt Prep. The
towers, the laboratory, the farm,
the auditorium...

CADDIE
But it's..it’s just an empty field.
There's nothing here.

A very long pause.

MARS
Um...Guys, where did it go?

END OF EPISODE.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 68.

EPISODE 4 - EXTRAORDINARY

25 104-1 INTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 25

Pruitt’s intro music is dark and ominous.

OLIVER PRUITT
What scares you, podcast listeners?
Maybe you’re afraid of heights? Or
clowns? Or, maybe you’re afraid of
the dark? After all, you never know
what might be lurking in the
dark...

There is a echoing low growl.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

Quiet! I’m recording the opening!

There is silence.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

That’s better. Mars Patel and his
friends have again found themselves
in the pitch-black forest of my
island. But what they didn’t find
is my school, Pruitt Prep. Where is
it, you might ask? It must exist.
It has a website.... Enough said
about that.

Footsteps running through the woods.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

Time to drop you back on Gale
Island as Mars, Caddie, JP and
Toothpick make their way back to
the beach, back through the dark
woods....

26 104-1 EXT. GALE ISLAND - NIGHT 26

The gang pushes through heavy brush, walking briskly. Surf

sounds grow slowly louder.

JP
(Pushing through thick
foliage)
Schools don’t just disappear!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 69.

MARS
I used to think people didn’t just
disappear either, JP.

CADDIE
Maybe we were on the wrong part of
the island.

TOOTHPICK
I followed the school maps.
(reading)
Pruitt Prep is just through the
Meridani Forest in the middle of
the Amazonis Planitia field. Or
it’s supposed to be.

JP
Except all that’s in the middle of
the Amazoney Plantoney-whatever is
a big empty nothing.

CADDIE
There’s got to be an explanation.

JP
Yeah, like what if the school was
never there in the first place?

MARS
You mean it’s a fake location?

JP
Or a fake school?

CADDIE
I agree with you, Mars.

MARS
I didn’t say anything.

CADDIE
You didn’t? Oh, sorry.

MARS
Of course there’s a school. We’ve
seen all the YouTube videos.

JP
Videos can be faked. Just look at
the moon landing.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 70.

MARS
What about the picture of the
President coming out of the
helicopter to greet Oliver Pruitt?

JP
Yeah, politicians never lie.

MARS
Pruitt Prep exists.

JP
Okay, so maybe the school just flew
away.

CADDIE
No one is saying that, JP. But
Oliver Pruitt is one of the richest
people on Earth. Why would he
invent a fake school?

JP
Why would he take our friends?

MARS
We don’t know that he took Aurora
and Jonas.

TOOTHPICK
The more we know the less we know.
Come on, the beach is through this
clearing.

They exit the jungle onto the beach where the surf laps up
against the sand.

JP
Um, Mars, where did you park the
boat?

MARS
On the beach. Right over -

JP
Am I missing it somehow?

CADDIE
The boat is gone.

TOOTHPICK
I can confirm that.

JP
Helpful as always, Toothpick.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 71.

CADDIE
We’re not, Mars.

MARS
We’re not what?

CADDIE
You were wondering how we’re
getting off the island without a
boat? We’re not.

BRIDGE TO THEME
MUSIC

27 104-2 EXT. GALE ISLAND BEACH - NIGHT 27

Waves lap up against the sand as Mars records a message.

MARS
(into his phone)
Hey Aurora. I don’t know what to
say. We’re here and you’re not.
Nothing is here. And now we’re
stuck.
(beat)
Mars, out.

CADDIE
Are we sure this is the spot?

TOOTHPICK
I constructed a marker where we
entered the jungle. First rule of
orienteering. Whenever navigating
unfamiliar territory --

MARS
Maybe the tide came up and washed
the boat away.

JP
Uh, Toothpick! What size boots do
you wear?

TOOTHPICK
I wear crocs so my feet can
breathe. You know that.

JP
Yeah, well, someone left a big,
scary bootprint next to your fancy
stone marker. Right before he stole
our boat!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 72.

MARS
But there’s no one else on the
island.

TOOTHPICK
As far as we know.

Distant HOWL sound.

JP
We all heard that right? What was
that thing?

JP tries to get reception on her phone.

JP (CONT’D)
Come on. Come on.

MARS
JP, don’t bother with the phone.
There’s no signal here.

JP
Ugh! I’d give anything for one
little bar.

CADDIE
The ferry comes in the morning,
right?

JP
How do we know that’s not a fake,
too?

MARS
We saw it on the docks.

CADDIE
So let’s get through the night and
we’ll figure it out in the morning.
I can go with you, Mars.

MARS
What?

CADDIE
You said you wanted to get wood to
build a fire.

MARS
I didn’t say that. But it’s a solid
idea. Pick, can you work on a
shelter?

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 73.

TOOTHPICK
I can construct a Native American
Gowa if someone helps me lift the
big branches.

JP
How do you know how to do that?

TOOTHPICK
I just do. It popped into my brain.

JP
I’ll help you with...whatever you
just said.

MARS
Ok. We’ll meet back here by the
marker.

28 104-3 EXT. GALE ISLAND JUNGLE - NIGHT 28

NIGHT SOUNDS. Mars and Caddie are collecting wood just inside
the jungle.

CADDIE
I think over there will be better.

MARS
Better than what?

CADDIE
Than on the beach where you were
going to look for firewood.

MARS
How did you know I was going to
look over there?

CADDIE
Is it me or is it getting colder?

MARS
Like you said, we just have to make
it through the night. We’ll find
the ferry, take our GFT tests,
serve our detentions, and
everything will be back to normal.

MARS AND CADDIE

Except Aurora and Jonas--

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 74.

CADDIE
(finishing Mars’ sentence)
-will still be missing

MARS
(off Caddie)
What’s going on, Caddie?

CADDIE
I don’t know. Since we’ve been on
the island, I’ve started to...hear
things.

MARS
What kind of things?

CADDIE
Like from inside your head. JP and
Toothpick’s, too.

MARS
You always know what I’m feeling.

CADDIE
Not like this. It’s so clear. Like
your thoughts are in my head.

MARS
If you can read my mind, what am I
thinking right now?

CADDIE
You’re thinking this is all your
fault. But it’s not. We all agreed
to come here together.

MARS
How did you do that?! Do it again!
Or wait. Don’t. It’s too freaky.

CADDIE
Believe me, it’s freakier for me.
I’m hearing everything and I can’t
shut it off.

MARS
Everything?

CADDIE
(touched)
Mars...

MARS
What?

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 75.

CADDIE
If you wanted to ask me to the
dance you should’ve just done it.

MARS
I don’t know why that crossed my
mind just now.

CADDIE
(suddenly awkward)
Sorry. Forget it. What you think is
your business. I’ll try not to
listen.

MARS
(beat)
Would you want to go to the dance
with me? I mean if we ever get off
the island.

CADDIE
Are you only asking me because I
read your thoughts?

MARS
I’m not really sure how to answer
that.

CADDIE
Yes. Okay. Yes, I would love to go
to the dance with you.
(beat)
And yes, of course I’m thinking it,
too.

MARS
Thinking what?

CADDIE
That we could be the next ones to
disappear.

29 104-4 EXT. GALE ISLAND BEACH - NIGHT 29

WAVES from the surf. JP is helping Toothpick erect a shelter.

She holds a huge tree trunk in the air while Toothpick ties
it off the ground.

TOOTHPICK
One more loop, and then I can tie
it off.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 76.

JP
(breathing hard)
You’ve been working on that knot
for ten minutes, Toothpick. Hurry
up or I’m going to drop this tree
trunk on your head!

TOOTHPICK
My fingers are freezing.
(Tying off)
Okay. Let it go.

JP
(still breathing hard)
That’s actually pretty good.

TOOTHPICK
This structure is sufficient to
insulate us against the cold for at
least one night. If I could just
stop shivering.

JP
Here, take my sweatshirt. I run hot
anyway.

She gives it to him.

TOOTHPICK
Okay, take my scarf.

JP
That’s alright, I’m good.

TOOTHPICK
I insist.

She takes it.

JP
Since when do you know so much
about camping?

TOOTHPICK
It’s hard to explain, but being
here on the island makes my head
clearer.

JP
The island is making you smarter?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 77.

TOOTHPICK
I’d have to take an IQ test to
confirm it. Maybe I should walk
into the woods and see if -

JP
No! You’re not walking away again.
You don’t know how much you scared
us when you went missing in the
woods before.

TOOTHPICK
You were worried you’d get lost
without my map.

JP
No, Pick. We were worried about
you.

TOOTHPICK
Oh.
(beat)
You worry about me a lot. That’s
why you start fights whenever
anyone says something mean to me.

JP
I just don’t like it.

TOOTHPICK
I can handle myself, you know.

JP
I know you can. Especially now that
you’re a super genius.

TOOTHPICK
Thank you. For worrying.

JP
Any time.

Caddie and Mars return carrying wood.

CADDIE
Hey guys, we found some wood.

MARS
I hope someone knows how to make a
fire before we turn into Slurpees.

JP
Braniac created that fire-starter
kit over there.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 78.

TOOTHPICK
It's just a tinder nest and a
simple hand bow. We can use the
wood Caddie is carrying as kindling
once someone burns a hole in the
fire board. JP?

JP
Easy peasy.

JP starts to drill.

TOOTHPICK
I stuffed a piece of my pajama
sleeve into the bore hole as an
accelerator. Be careful. It’s
highly flammable.

MARS
It’s smoking.

CADDIE
Keep going.

MARS
Is there supposed to be that much
smoke?

JP
It smells like gas.

A burst of flame catches JP’s scarf.

MARS
Fire! JP! Your scarf is on fire!

CADDIE
Take it off!

TOOTHPICK
Drop and roll! Drop and roll!

She hits the ground and rolls. Shocked silence.

CADDIE
JP, are you okay? Hold still.

JP
It's okay, Caddie.

MARS
Your neck!

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 79.

JP
Relax guys, fire’s out.

CADDIE
(inspecting)
That's impossible. There’s no mark
on your neck. Not even a scratch.
The fire didn’t burn you at all.

BRIDGE TO:
MIDBREAK

30 104-5 INTERLUDE. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 30

OLIVER PRUITT
You know, some of us go through
life without ever discovering what
makes ourselves special. But in
fact, all of us are special
somehow. Maybe you’re an excellent
chess player. Or maybe you know how
to extract water from ancient
underground icebergs. The point is,
its up to you to discover exactly
what your talent is. Because who
knows? I might very well put it to
use at Pruitt Prep one day! That
doesn’t mean you can simply show up
in the middle of the night and
expect to be admitted as Mars and
his friends did. After all, Pruitt
Prep itself is a very special place
and teachers and students don’t
find me...
(Ominous)
I find them.

31 104-6 EXT. GALE ISLAND BEACH - NIGHT 31

Mars examines JP’s neck.

JP
You can let go, Mars. I’m fine.
Stop looking at my neck.

MARS
You were on fire. We all saw it.

JP
Told you. I run hot.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 80.

TOOTHPICK
That flame was over eleven hundred
degrees Fahrenheit. That’s five
hundred eighty-five degrees
Celsius. You can’t be fine.

CADDIE
But she is. Right? Did you feel it
burn?

JP
For a second. But then it stopped
and kind of tickled.

MARS
You got set on fire and it tickled?

TOOTHPICK
I’m going to hit you with a stick,
JP.

JP
Sure.

Toothpick hits JP with a branch. It breaks over her shoulder.

MARS
Toothpick!

TOOTHPICK
I’m testing her, Mars. Did that
hurt?

JP
Nah. I could feel it fine. But like
a tap.

TOOTHPICK
You’re immune to moderate force.

JP
Maybe it’s the island, like how it
grew Toothpick’s brain.

CADDIE
Toothpick?

TOOTHPICK
I’m super smart now.

MARS
Something’s going on with Caddie,
too. She can read our thoughts.
Like, for real.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 81.

CADDIE
It’s changing all of us.

TOOTHPICK
It’s taking the things we’re good
at and supersizing them.

JP
What about you, Mars? Can you fly
or shoot lasers from your eyeballs
or something?

MARS
No. I’m just me. Except colder.

Mars gets a text.

JP
I thought you didn't have any bars.

MARS
I do now.

JP
What's the text say?

MARS
(reading)
"You're not alone". From somebody
named... L.I.L.

A MOTOR APPROACHES.

CADDIE
What’s that sound?

TOOTHPICK
It’s a boat!

MARS
It’s coming towards us!

JP
Hand me a stick!

JP readies for a fight.

JP (CONT’D)
Stay inside the shelter, guys!

They exit the shelter.

CADDIE
There’s one person.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 82.

MARS
Can you hear what he’s thinking?

CADDIE
No. It’s too...cluttered.

Boat engine dies on the beach.

MR. Q
(Calling out from surf)
Mars? Caddie? Toothpick? JP?

He approaches, continuing to shout their names.

TOOTHPICK
It’s... Mr. Q?

JP
Mr. Q!

MR. Q
I’m glad I found you! Hop in. Let’s
get you out of here before you
freeze.

They start to climb in.

TOOTHPICK
Excellent timing.

JP
You are a lifesaver.

MR. Q
Just doing my thing. Caddie, give
me your hand.

CADDIE
Thank you.

MR. Q
Okay, are we ready?

Mars hesitates.

MR. Q (CONT’D)
Something wrong, Mars?

MARS
How’d you know where to find us?

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 83.

MR. Q
After I ran into you in the hall, I
had a feeling you were up to
something.
(off Mars)
You trust me, don’t you? Don’t you?

As the question hangs in the air, the MOTOR re-starts, and

off they go into the night.

MUSIC.

32 104-7 OUTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 32

OLIVER PRUITT (V.O.)

Thank goodness Mr. Q showed up when
he did. Now Mars and his friends
will be back at school to take
their GFT tests. Do you like tests?
If you’d like to take mine, visit
Pruitt Prep dot com. I guarantee it
won't be like any test you've taken
before. Signing off: this is Oliver
Pruitt. Oh! And don’t forget to
review me on iTunes. To. The.
Stars!

END OF EPISODE.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 84.

EPISODE 5 -“WINGS OF SCIENCE”

33 105-1 EXT. BOAT - NIGHT 33

Open on a speedboat racing across Puget Sound. Mr. Q is at

the controls. He’s YELLING to the kids over the sound of the
engine.

MR. Q
You guys are lucky I found you when
I did. The weather is about to turn
nasty and the last place you want
to be is on an island in the middle
of the ocean.

TOOTHPICK
The sound.

MR. Q
Right you are, Pick.

JP
Especially that island.

MR. Q
Something different about Gale
island, JP?

JP
Oh, I dunno. Toothpick’s brain
expanding, Caddie reading minds, me
becoming fire proof. Oh and by the
way Pruitt Prep not even -

Mars cuts her off with a shove.

MARS
JP!

JP
What?

MARS
We should let Mr. Q concentrate on
driving the boat.

MR. Q
Not a bad idea, Mars. You guys
buckle up in the stern.

Mr. Q revs the boat engine. The kids move back out of his
earshot.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 85.

JP
Why’d you hit me, Mars?

CADDIE
He didn’t want you to tell Mr. Q
about Pruitt Prep not being there.

TOOTHPICK
Why not? He rescued us.

MARS
You don’t think that’s weird? He
shows up at the island in the
middle of the night? Right after
our boat disappears?

JP
All you do in detention is blab
about Aurora and Jonas and Pruitt
Prep. It wouldn’t take a brain like
Pick’s to figure out where we went.

MARS
Caddie?

CADDIE
I didn’t get a bad vibe from him.
It’s Mr. Q. You know how he looks
out for you, Mars.

MARS
We just got to be careful. That’s
all I’m saying.

TOOTHPICK
He’s coming back.

Boat noise dies down and Mr. Q comes to the back.

MR. Q
Hey Mars-O, want to take a crack at
driving a boat?

MARS
Um...sure.

MR. Q
You seem nervous. Don’t worry. I’ll
be keeping a close eye on you.

Mars gulps as the boat revs off into the night.

FADE OUT.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 86.

34 105-2 INTERLUDE. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 34

Olivier Pruitt speaks to the audience.

OLIVER PRUITT
Hi, guys. Oliver Pruitt here again.
How exciting was that? Mr. Q saves
the collective be-hinds of our
intrepid gang once again.
(laughs)
Do you know people who own boats? I
own one-hundred and thirty five
boats all around the world. One-
hundred and thirty six if you count
the ferry to Gale Island. Such a
shame that wasn’t running. It would
have made things much easier for
Mars and his friends, don’t you
think?
(beat)
Oh look at me, distracted again.
Where were we? Ah yes. The gang
have the all-important GFT test
this week! But first, it looks like
they have an important guest
visiting HG Wells Middle School to
wish them a bit of luck, oh my. Who
could it be?

CROSS FADE INTO:

35 105-3 INT. H.G. WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL GYMNASIUM 35

Kids are milling about trying to find a spot to sit in the

gym.

MARS
(recording on his phone)
Hey, Aurora. It’s weird to be back
at school after everything that
happened on the island. Mr. Q is
right over there, looking at me. I
know he’s the coolest teacher
ever...He’s the only adult who
believed me when I said you were
missing, but -

An announcement from the principal comes over the PA.

PRINCIPAL FAGIN
(over PA)
Attention students and faculty!
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 87.
PRINCIPAL FAGIN (CONT'D)
Assembly will begin in five
minutes. Please take your seats and
put your devices away.

Mars joins his friends on the gym bleachers. In progress...

JP
Go ahead, Pick. Hit me as hard as
you can. Right in the face.

TOOTHPICK
I don’t want to do that.

JP
If fire didn’t burn me, your fist
won’t even bend an eyelash.

MARS
Are you sure about this?

JP
Think of it as an experiment.

TOOTHPICK
I do like experiments. Ok. Here
goes...1...2...

CADDIE
Wait! I can’t hear thoughts. Since
we got off the island it went away.

TOOTHPICK
I’m much less smart, too. Maybe the
abilities went away. Ready, JP?
1...2...

JP
On second thought, let’s hold off
on hitting me in the face.

A message arrives on Mars’ phone.

MARS
(whispering)
Pick, I just got a text.

TOOTHPICK
Fagin said phones off.

JP
Who’s it from this time, LOL? OMG?

MARS
Lost in London.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 88.

TOOTHPICK
LIL? The same as on the island!

CADDIE
Well, what’s the message?

MARS
It says, “Be careful. Friends are
not always friends. Lost in
London.”

Mr. Q gets on the mic at the front of the gymnasium.

MR. Q
Hello, H.G Wells Middle School. How
is everybody today?

Cheering from the students.

MR. Q (CONT’D)
You’re gonna want to put those
phones away, my friends. We’ve got
a good one for you.

Students laugh.

MR. Q (CONT’D)
I know you have your GFT tests this
week, so we have a very important
guest who would like to wish you
the best of luck.

A couple of oooooh’s from the audience.

JP
What’s Mr. Q plugging in?

An audible hum fills the gym.

CADDIE
And what’s that sound?

TOOTHPICK
That’s a sixty cycle hum. Whatever
he just plugged in, it’s drawing a
lot of power.

JP
Did the lights just flicker?

Mr. Q steps back up to the microphone.

MR. Q
All I need now is a basketball.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 89.

AIDEN SUMMERS
(off mic)
Here Mr. Q. Catch!

Sound of basketball as it bounces its way toward Mr. Q.

MR. Q
Thank you, Aiden Summers.

AIDEN SUMMERS
Hey, Caddie.

MR. Q
Okay, I think we’re all set. Let’s
give a warm HG welcome to the king
of tech, the master of the future
himself...

Music suddenly fills the gym, something like Good Vibrations

by Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch. Strobes and lights flash.

JP
If this is a Kardashian -

MR. Q
(excitedly)
The one, the only. Oliver Pruitt!

A collective gasp goes out across the audience. Everyone

starts to clap as the music continues to play. Oliver Pruitt
seems to appear on stage out of nowhere.

OLIVER PRUITT
Hello. Hola. Ciao. Salut. Ni Hao.
Greetings and salutations.

MARS
He’s at our school? Oliver Pruitt?

TOOTHPICK
Why is your mouth open like that?

CADDIE
Where did he come from? Did you see
him walk in?

The music fades, everyone is waiting for Pruitt to speak.

OLIVER PRUITT
When I was very young, an astronaut
came to talk to my class just like
I’m here to talk to you today.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 90.
OLIVER PRUITT (CONT'D)
He told us about gravity, and
rocket fuel, and how nothing
travels faster than light through
the vacuum of space. I was *very*
intrigued to say the least. So I
asked him, “Can you send a message
on a beam of light though space?”
Of course, all the other children
laughed at me. But you see, even
back then, I knew it was possible.
That a message sent on a beam of
light is nothing more than an image
carried on the wings of science.

Some of Pruitt’s words are “zapped” by electricity. Beat, as

Pruitt looks around the gym.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

What I require is a volunteer.
Would anyone like to come up here
and help me?

A bunch of hands go up, a lot of “ooh, ooh, pick me’s”.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

Such wonderful enthusiasm. Let me
see. Hmmmm. How about in the back.
Who do we have-- Ah, yes, Mars
Patel, is that you? Please stand
up.

JP
What?! How does he..

TOOTHPICK
Whoa! He knows your name!

CADDIE
Don’t stand Mars.

TOOTHPICK
Mars has been dreaming of meeting
him since he was five!

CADDIE
I have a bad feeling about this.

MARS
I have to.

CADDIE
Mars.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 91.

JP
Ask him about the school. Ask him
about Jonas and Aurora. Do it!

Mars stands and takes a mic from a volunteer.

AIDEN SUMMERS
Don’t mess it up, space cadet.

MARS
(nervously)
Hello, Mr. Pruitt -

OLIVER PRUITT
Speak into the mic please.

MARS
Hello, Mr. Pruitt. It’s an honor to
meet you.

OLIVER PRUITT
Well, well, well. Mars Patel. I’ve
heard a lot about you. And Caddie,
and JP. Oh, and is that Randall
Reid with you as well?

MARS
Yes, we’re all here.
(under his breath)
Minus Jonas and Aurora.

OLIVER PRUITT
What was that, I can barely hear
you. Don’t be shy, Mars. Come up to
the front.

CADDIE
Mars, my head is...

MARS
Don’t worry, I got this.

Footsteps as Mars walks toward the front of the gym.

OLIVER PRUITT
Right up here young man. Do you see
the basketball Mr. Q is holding? Be
a good boy and grab it, won’t you?

Oliver Pruitt turns to address the audience.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 92.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

Kids. When I tell you that if you
study hard and you can do anything,
I mean it. You can change the
world. I’m living proof.
(to Mars)
Ready with the basketball, Mars?

MARS
Ready for what, Mr. Pruitt?

OLIVER PRUITT
To throw me the ball, of course.

Kids whispering in the background as Mars dribbles the ball a

few times, gets ready to throw Pruitt the basketball.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

Whenever you’re ready! And don’t be
shy. Throw it very hard. Right here
at my chest.

A loud humph as Mars throws PRUITT the ball, and then a

collective oooooooh as we hear the ball HIT THE FLOOR and
bounce into the distance.

TOOTHPICK
The ball went right through him!

The gym is stunned. The electric hum is still ever present as

Pruitt takes a beat.

OLIVER PRUITT
You’re figuring it out, aren’t you,
Mars? That I’m here, but not really
here. My GFT test is taking place
all over the world this week. What
better way to be in a thousand
schools at once than as a hologram!
I’m a message sent through space on
a beam of light. I could be
anywhere right now, Mars.

MARS
(really hoping Pruitt has
a good explanation)
We were on your island, Mr. Pruitt.
And there was nothing there. No
school. Nothing. Was it a hologram
too?

OLIVER PRUITT
I don’t remember saying this was a
question and answer period.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 93.

MARS
My friends are missing. Do you know
where they are?

MR. Q
Careful Mars.

MARS
Can you help us find Aurora and
Jonas? Are they at Pruitt Prep?

OLIVER PRUITT
Mr. Q, is this what you encourage
in this school? Crazy conspiracy
theories?

MARS
Answer my questions, Mr. Pruitt.
Please. I don’t care if you’re a
hologram.

OLIVER PRUITT
Mars Patel. Through the years you
wrote me letters saying I’m your
idol, that you want to be like me.

MARS
I did. I do.

OLIVER PRUITT
Do you know, that by the time I was
your age, I’d invented a hand-held
battery that could power an entire
home for months? What have you done
with your life, Mars?

MARS
I don’t...

OLIVER PRUITT
What are you doing besides angering
your teachers, disappointing your
poor mother, and following these
conspiracy theories down a never
ending rabbit hole?

MARS
I don’t know!

OLIVER PRUITT
Instead of accusing me, you should
ask yourself why your friends left.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 94.
OLIVER PRUITT (CONT'D)
Maybe it was because you were
leading them to nowhere, to
nothing.

Pruitt takes in the audience.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

This broadcast is live in one-
thousand schools around the world.
And now they all know how much of a
failure you really are.

MARS
Why are you saying this?

Laughs from the kids. A few shouts of “loser!” Mars starts to

cry.

OLIVER PRUITT
Are those tears I see? You can sit
down now, Mars.

The entire gymnasium starts to chant, SIT DOWN MARS! SIT DOWN
MARS!

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

Listen to that. A chorus of non-
support! Even other schools are
starting to join in!

The chant of SIT DOWN MARS gets even louder, the voices of
kids from other schools reverberating through Pruitt’s
holographic image.

MARS
(over the chanting)
I’m going to find them!

OLIVER PRUITT
You’re a failure, Mars.

Sound of fast footsteps as Mars bolts from the gym.

CADDIE
Mars! Mars!

OLIVER PRUITT
That’s it, Mars. Run away. Like you
always do.

The doors to the gym slam shut behind Mars. The chant is
still going. SIT DOWN MARS!

JP heads for Pruitt.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 95.

CADDIE
JP, what are you doing?

TOOTHPICK
She’s heading for the stage!

The chanting continues. SIT DOWN MARS! SIT DOWN MARS! Pruitt
spots JP approaching. She heads right for the apparatus MR. Q
plugged in.

OLIVER PRUITT
Well if it isn’t the invincible JP
McGowan.

JP yanks the plug on the machine generating Pruitt’s image.

JP
Best thing about a hologram?

The humming sound suddenly cuts out as JP unplugs the

machine. Pruitt disappears.

JP (CONT’D)
It can be unplugged.

36 105-4 INT. HALLWAY H.G WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL. 36

JP, Caddie, and Toothpick walk through the hall toward their
lockers.

CADDIE
I can’t believe you unplugged
Oliver Pruitt, JP.

JP
That guy had to get jacked.

CADDIE
Detention?

JP
A week. Even Mr. Q said I need to
find better ways of expressing my
anger.

TOOTHPICK
You can do a week in your sleep,
JP.

JP
That’s what I told him.

The gang arrives at Mars’ locker.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 96.

CADDIE
Mars? Are you ok? Why are you
sitting on the floor in front of
your locker?

JP
What are these pieces of paper all
over the floor?

TOOTHPICK
It’s his Oliver Pruitt poster.

MARS
(devastated)
He was my hero.
(to Caddie)
Caddie, take my phone. Record me.
Now!

Mars hands Caddie his phone.

CADDIE
What are we recording?

MARS
(angry now)
A message. Hit record, Caddie.

CADDIE
Okay. Recording.

Caddie presses the record button on Mars’ phone.

MARS
(into his phone)
Oliver Pruitt, this is Mars Patel.
You have our friends Jonas and
Aurora. And the thing about messing
with the friends of Mars Patel, is
that you don’t just get me. You get
all of us. You’re right, you can
send a message though space on a
beam of light. And I’m beaming this
message straight at you, Mr.
Pruitt. You have the whole world
fooled, but you don’t fool me
anymore. You’re a liar and a bully
and I know you’re hiding something.
We will find out what it is. We
will expose you and we will ruin
you. I don’t care how rich and how
smart you are. You are going down.
Mars, out!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 97.

Caddie stops recording.

JP
That was awesome!

MARS
Okay, now hand me the phone.

TOOTHPICK
What are you doing?

MARS
Posting it.

JP
Where?

MARS
Everywhere. Starting with Pruitt
Prep dot com!

JP
Man, you are mad!

CADDIE
You realize what you just did? You
declared war on Oliver Pruitt, who
might be the most powerful man in
the world!

JP
No, we just declared war on Oliver
Pruitt.

TRANSITION:
THEME MUSIC.

105-5 OUTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE

OLIVER PRUITT (V.O.)

War? On me? That could be a
terrible mistake. Til next time
kids...

FADE OUT TO END

OF EPISODE.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 98.

EPISODE 106 “THE GIFT”

36A 106-1 INTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 36A

Pruitt’s less jovial than usual. He seems frustrated,

impatient. Maybe even a little dangerous.

OLIVER PRUITT
Hello, friends. Oliver Pruitt here.
Have you ever heard the expression
“poking the tiger?” No? It’s one
I’m rather fond of. Tigers are
majestic creatures. Powerful,
instinctive. But what do you think
happens when you provoke such a
creature? What happens when you
reach your little arm into the cage
and give him a nice, swift poke?
The tiger thinks you’re trying to
hurt him. And when something so
powerful feels threatened,
why...there’s no telling what he
might do.

37 106-2 EXT. SCHOOL - DAY 37

We hear students milling around the outside of the school.

The bell rings for the start of day.

CADDIE
We should head inside. We’re going
to be late for the test.

MARS
I’m not even sure why we’re taking
the test.

CADDIE
People say your scores on the GFT
test can decide your whole future.
Well, my Mom says that.

MARS
Maybe that’s just what Oliver
Pruitt wants people to believe.
(yawns)

CADDIE
You look tired, Mars. You okay?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 99.

MARS
I barely slept at all last night.
The power kept going on and off and
then all these car alarms were
blaring.

JP
What do you mean the power kept
going on and off?

MARS
You guys didn’t lose power
overnight?

TOOTHPICK
Why would we? There wasn’t a storm
or even strong wind gusts.

MARS
You don’t think...?

JP
That you publicly calling out
Oliver Pruitt might be related to
your power going out? Nah.

MARS
He probably didn’t even see the
message.

TOOTHPICK
As of this morning, your video has
been viewed over one million two
hundred thirty-three thousand
times.

MARS
I always wanted to go viral.

The air is punctuated by a low BUZZING.

JP
Does anyone else hear that buzzing?

MARS
What is that? Up there.

TOOTHPICK
I believe that’s a drone.

MARS
A drone? Like a flying robot?

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 100.

TOOTHPICK
Exactly. It can be controlled
remotely from miles away. The
military has bigger drones that
attack their enemies from the sky.

JP
It’s coming right at us.

CADDIE
It’s not slowing down.

Students yelling “Look out” as many of them start to run.

TOOTHPICK
Mars, duck!

Mars JUMPS out of the way. The drone CRASHES to the ground in
spectacular fashion, it’s circuits shorting out.

JP
What the heck was that?

TOOTHPICK
A broken drone.

MARS
Is that a Pruitt logo on the side?

BRIDGE
TO OPENING MUSIC

39 106-3 INT. HALLWAY - MORNING 39

Mars, JP, Toothpick and Caddie are still recovering from the
drone attack as they walk into school.

JP
(walking down hall)
I’ve never been so happy to be
inside this school. At least in
here we’re safe from flying killer
robots.

TOOTHPICK
The drone wasn’t weaponized. If it
hit Mars it probably would’ve just
caused a concussion. Or a broken
face.

CADDIE
I guess we don’t have to wonder if
Pruitt saw the video anymore.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 101.

MARS
He’s worried. He knows we’re onto
something.

JP
Darn right he does.
(beat)
What are we onto?

Mr. Q calls out from down the hall.

MR. Q
Into the classroom, folks. It’s
test day! Your future awaits.

MARS
He keeps looking at us funny.

JP
You still think we can’t trust Mr.
Q?

MARS
I don’t know.

Mars’ phone beeps with a voicemail.

MARS (CONT’D)
That’s weird. There’s a voicemail
but my phone didn’t ring.

TOOTHPICK
Someone must’ve hacked into your
phone to put it there.

CADDIE
Play it on speaker.

Mars hits play on the voicemail. We hear a young British

girl’s voice on filter.

LOST IN LONDON
Mars, this is Lost in London. Don’t
take the GFT test. I saw your
video. It’s going to make a
difference to a lot of people.
You’re needed elsewhere, mate. Go
to the Luck Stone Warehouse as soon
as you can. You’ll find what you’ve
been looking for.

CADDIE
Luck Stone. That place has been
abandoned for years.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 102.

MARS
She said I’ll find what I’m looking
for...Do you think she’s talking
about Jonas and Aurora?

CADDIE
(skeptical)
How do you know you can trust this
kid?

TOOTHPICK
Skipping school after three
offenses is an automatic
suspension.

MARS
I’ve had two.

TOOTHPICK
You’ve had three. And bailing on
the GFT test could ruin your life.

MARS
That’s why you’re all staying here.

JP
You were almost flattened by one of
Pruitt’s flying monkeys. You can’t
go alone.

TOOTHPICK
How are you gonna slip out? Mr. Q
is standing right there in the
hall.

MARS
Caddie, where are you going?

CADDIE
Be right back.

JP
I’m going to pull the fire alarm.

MARS
They’ll catch you.

JP
How about I set my arm on fire and
trigger the sprinklers.

TOOTHPICK
We’re off the island. Your arm will
burn.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 103.

JP
I can take it.

The PA system crackles to life.

CADDIE
(Mimicking Principal Fagin
over PA)
Attention students and faculty.

MARS
Caddie?

CADDIE
(on PA)
There is a pack of wolves loose in
the building. I repeat, a pack of
hungry wolves are roaming the
school. Feel free to panic.

JP
Mars! That’s it! That’s your cue!

MARS
Right, um, I’m going! I’m going!
Wish me luck?

JP
Don’t die!

TOOTHPICK
GO!

Frantic music. Mars runs out of the classroom.

As chaos ensues in the school, Mars hustles outside, hops on

his BIKE and takes off PEDDLING.

40 106-4 EXT. STREETS - DAY 40

Some time has passed. It’s raining now. Raining hard. Mars is
riding his bike, peddling hard.

MARS
(breathless)
Is this you, Oliver Pruitt? Do you
control the weather now too?

Mars calls his home on his phone. He hears the outgoing

message.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 104.

[Link]
You’ve reached Mars and his mom.
Leave a message.

Mars leaves a voicemail.

MARS
Mom, it’s me. Pretty soon you’re
going to get a phone call from the
school and it’s not going to make
you happy.
(panting)
I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I’m
sorry for disappointing you. But I
have to do it. For my friends.

Mars hangs up the phone and that’s when he hears a buzz,

another drone in the distance.

MARS (CONT’D)
Are you serious? Another drone? Go
away! Leave me alone! Fine, let’s
see if I can lose you.

41 106-5 EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS 41

Drone is moving closer.

Wet sneakers SQUISH, SQUISH, SQUISH as Mars gets back on his

bike. ... INTO THE PATH OF A TRUCK. A truck horn BELLOWS.

MARS
DAAH!

He LEAPS out of the way as the truck WHOOSHES by.

MARS (CONT’D)
He’s trying to kill me. Oliver
Pruitt is trying to kill me....

42 106-6 INT. LUCK STONE WAREHOUSE - DAY 42

Mars rides through the door and SLAMS it behind him.

No more drone. He looks around the creepy warehouse as he

tries to catch his breath. The only sound is the drip, drip
of leaky pipes.

MARS
(announcing)
I’m here!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 105.

No answer. His voice echoes.

MARS (CONT’D)
Hello? Aaaand it’s pitch black.
Well, there must be a light switch
somewhere on this wall.

His hand feels for a light switch. He finds one. JIGGLES THE
SWITCH.

MARS (CONT’D)
Guess no one’s paid the electric
bill.

Drip, drip...

MARS (CONT’D)
Or the water bill.
(calling out)
HELLO?!

A PIGEON RAPIDLY FLIES UP.

MARS (CONT’D)
Aaah!
(beat)
Okay. Just a pigeon. No need to
have a heart attack before I turn
twelve.

Walk, walk, walk....

MARS (CONT’D)
(calling out, hopeful)
Is anyone out there?! Jonas?!

Walk, walk...

MARS (CONT’D)
(even more hopeful)
Aurora?!

A FAMILY OF RATS SQUEAK/FIGHT.

MARS (CONT’D)
(gasps)
Definitely gonna be some therapy in
my future.
(into phone)
Hey, Aurora...this might really be
my last message... I think Oliver
Pruitt sent a drone to try and
destroy me... so that’s
happening...
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 106.
MARS (CONT’D)
I’m on a mission from this girl,
Lost in London, who I think is on
our side... to tell you the truth,
it’s hard to think of anything
right now. Mars, out.

The door creaks open as someone enters and Mars hears

footsteps.

MARS (CONT’D)
(carefully)
Is somebody here?

The footsteps stop. No one answers. Mars gulps, reaches down

for something metal.

MARS (CONT’D)
(steeling himself)
I’m holding a crowbar. IF YOU’RE
HERE TO GET ME, OLIVER PRUITT...

CADDIE
Mars...It’s me.

MARS
CADDIE?! You’re supposed to be
taking the GFT test.

CADDIE
I know. Where are you?

MARS
Over here. I don’t have a light.

CADDIE
I’m right here -

They bump into each other in the dark.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
Ooh, sorry.

MARS
Ow. My fault.

CADDIE
I’m glad I found you.

MARS
What you did back at school, that
was epic.

CADDIE
We’ll see if my mom agrees. Ouch.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 107.

MARS
Sorry. I stepped on your foot,
didn’t I?

CADDIE
It’s okay.

MARS
You should get used it. It’s going
to happen a lot at the dance. We’re
still going, right?

CADDIE
If we don’t get suspended.

A door slams.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
Who is that?

MARS
Stand behind me. I’ve got the
crowbar. Hello?

JP
Please don’t hit us with a crowbar.

MARS
JP?

JP
Say hello, Toothpick.

TOOTHPICK
Hello, Toothpick.

MARS
You’re all here.

JP
Of course we’re here. We’re always
here.

Rats squeak.

JP (CONT’D)
What was that?!

TOOTHPICK
JP, it’s just a baby... rat.

JP
Let’s prop open that door -

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 108.

MARS
No, don’t!

It’s too late as JP opens the door and suddenly the drone
comes buzzing into the warehouse.

JP
Another drone?

MARS
CADDIE, HEADS UP!

Drone flies by his head.

MARS (CONT’D)
(shouting)
Look out!!!

The drone drops something heavy before zooming off.

CADDIE
The drone was delivering a package?

TOOTHPICK
Stand back. I’m opening the box.

Footsteps. Toothpick RIPS OPEN THE CARDBOARD.

MARS
What is it, Pick?

TOOTHPICK
Fliers. Hundreds of them. With
pictures of missing kids around our
age.

MARS
(riveted)
Let’s see.

He rustles through the box and selects a few.

MARS (CONT’D)
(reading)
Have you seen Herman? Twelve years
old, 4’10”. Small build. Last seen
at Perth Academy on April 15 in
Perth, Australia.

JP
Look at this one! This one’s in
Chinese!

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 109.

TOOTHPICK
Mandarin or Cantonese?

Beat.

JP
This one’s in Chinese!

CADDIE
Here’s a 13-year old missing in
Versailles. Avez-vous vu Monique?

MARS
And here’s two from London posted
by Julia. Maybe she’s Lost in
London. Do you know what this
means??

CADDIE
(realizing)
Kids are going missing around the
world.

MARS
And Oliver Pruitt’s behind it.

43 106-7 INT. MARS PATEL’S APARTMENT - LATER 43

Mars parks his bike. He walks up to his apartment, enters and

closes the door behind him. He’s surprised to see Mrs. Patel,
packing up boxes.

MARS
Mom? What are you doing home so
early?
(looking around, panicked)
What are all these boxes for?

MRS. PATEL
(boiling)
How was the GFT test?

MARS
(realizing she knows)
I can explain.

MRS. PATEL
You lied to me. Again.

MARS
Principal Fagin called you.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 110.

MRS. PATEL
She called to tell me you’d be
expelled.

MARS
I’ve been kicked out of school?

MRS. PATEL
You and I are moving to Cleveland.
Tomorrow.

MARS
(head spinning)
What?!

MRS. PATEL
You need a fresh start. We both do.

MARS
But-but...

MRS. PATEL
I’m sorry, Manu. You’ve left me no
choice. You’re throwing your life
away here.

MARS
Please, mama-ji. I can’t go now.

MRS. PATEL
I know it will be hard to say
goodbye to your friends. But
they’re not good for you. One day
you will thank me. You can call
them to say goodbye after we finish
packing.

MARS
Say Mom, all the pots and pans are
boxed up, right? Let me pick up
dinner.

MRS. PATEL
I’m really not hungry.

MARS
C’mon. You’ve packing for hours.
One last pizza from Vinny’s before
we move?

MRS. PATEL
(sighs)
I suppose...Mars, if you’re not
home in half an hour...

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 111.

MARS
I always come home. Mom? I’ll see
you in the stars.

MRS. PATEL
Main tumhen sitaaron mein
dekhoonga. I’ll see you in the
stars.

Mars grabs his keys, walks to the front door, and closes the
door behind him.

MARS
(to himself)
I’ll see you in the stars.

Mars takes off.

CUT TO:

44 106-8 EXT. IN FRONT OF MARS PATEL’S APARTMENT BUILDING 44

Mars picks up his bike.

MARS
(pedaling and talking into
phone)
I never thought I’d have to run
away from home, Aurora. But I have
no choice. I can’t go back.
(beat)
Mars, out.

Mars begins to pedal away. There is a drone that follows him.

MUSIC OUT TO
O.P’S OUTRO

106-8 OUTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE

OLIVER PRUITT
You recognize that sound, don’t you
podcast listeners? That’s another
one of my drones. Following Mars on
his bike as he runs away from home.
(laughs)
You didn’t think I’d just let him
go, did you? Well, we’ve come too
far for that. Until next time, keep
listening. Get all your friends to
subscribe. So they can listen too.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 112.
OLIVER PRUITT (CONT'D)
Leave me reviews and most of all-
tell your parents you love them.
Oliver Pruitt, out.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 113.

EPISODE 7 - “DANCE BREAK”

45 107-1 EXT. CADDIE’S HOUSE - NIGHT 45

We’re outside at night in a quiet neighborhood. We hear the

sound of rocks pelting a window.

MARS
(loud whispering)
Caddie! Hey! Caddie.

A window opens.

CADDIE
Mars? Where are you?

MARS
Over here. In our old treehouse.

CADDIE
Are you crazy. No one’s been up
there in years. The wood is rotting
away.

MARS
I haven’t fallen yet.

He jumps up and down.

MARS (CONT’D)
See? Totally sturdy.

A piece crashes to the ground loudly.

MARS (CONT’D)
Oops.

CADDIE
Stop jumping! Oliver Pruitt is
already out to get you. Don’t make
it easier for him.

MARS
Why weren’t you answering my texts?

CADDIE
My parents took away my phone after
I got suspended for the whole “pack
of hungry wolves” incident. What’s
wrong?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 114.

MARS
Can you come over here?

CADDIE
On the zip line? That thing is
ancient.

MARS
It’ll hold you. Trust me. And bring
your laptop.

CADDIE
If I fall you’re going to have to
scrape me up off the driveway.

MARS
Deal. Come on!

Caddie takes a deep breath, grabs the handle and zips across
to the treehouse.

CADDIE
This is craaaaaaazy!

Mars catches her at the other end.

MARS
Got you.

Mars helps Caddie into the treehouse.

CADDIE
Phew.

MARS
See? Not so bad.

CADDIE
Why are we up here?

MARS
I came home from the warehouse
today and the whole apartment was
packed up. We’re moving to
Cleveland.

CADDIE
Moving?

MARS
Tomorrow.

CADDIE
You can’t.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 115.

MARS
Tell that to my mom. She said I
need to get away from here, make a
new start.

CADDIE
I can’t believe this.

MARS
I know. It’s so wrong. We were
supposed to be going to the
Midsummer Dance tonight. And now
I’m moving and you’re locked in
your bedroom.

CADDIE
Actually, I’m still going to the
dance.

MARS
But you were suspended.

CADDIE
My mom talked Principal Fagin into
letting me go. She’s so desperate
for me to be normal.

MARS
You’re going by yourself?

CADDIE
Not exactly. I’m...I’m going with
Aiden Summers. My Mom is in a book
club with his mom. She wants me to
go with someone who’s -

MARS
Not me.

CADDIE
Yeah. Pretty much anyone but you.
I’m sorry, Mars. You know you’re
the only person I want to go to the
dance with.

MARS
Good. Because I’m going to be
there.

CADDIE
You’re not allowed. You’ve been
expelled.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 116.

MARS
I’ll find a way. I’ll find you.

CADDIE
I have to get back to my room.
Mom’s going to expect me to start
getting ready for the dance.

MARS
Leave your laptop. Mine’s packed up
and I need to get in touch with
Lost in London to follow up on all
these missing kids. I’ll see you at
the dance. I promise.

Caddie zips back and Mars starts to click away on the laptop.

MARS (CONT’D)
(talking to himself)
Aiden Summers. Really?

We hear the computer boot up.

MARS (CONT’D)
Ok, what’s the time difference in
England? Six hours? Hopefully
she’ll still be awake.

Mars sets up a video chat.

BRITISH WOMAN
Hello.

MARS
(confused)
Hello...? Sorry, I think I dialed
up the wrong address.

BRITISH WOMAN
Who is it you’re looking for?

MARS
I’m trying to talk to uh, Lost in
London - She’s about my age. Eleven
or so.

BRITISH WOMAN
Julia! No, she’s not here. I’m her
mum. I wasn’t aware had a friend in
the States.
(laughs)
How exciting!

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 117.

MARS
Lost - er, Julia and I - we were
working on something together. She
didn’t tell me she was going
anywhere.

BRITISH WOMAN
Apologies. It was all very sudden.
She doesn’t live here anymore.

MARS
Where did she go? What happened to
her?

BRITISH WOMAN
You appear concerned, young man.
Don’t be. It’s a good thing. Julia
went someplace...wonderful.

BRIDGE TO:
OPENING MUSIC

46 107-2 INT. CADDIE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 46

Caddie’s rummaging through her closet.

CADDIE
Do you like this dress, JP?

JP
You’re asking me for fashion
advice? The closest I get to formal
wear is wearing matching socks.

CADDIE
I don’t want to look too nice for
Aiden. But Mars promised he’d show
up.

JP
Is he insane? Fagin’s going to have
the national guard there keeping
him away.

CADDIE
He’ll find a way.

JP
I guess he always does.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 118.

CADDIE
Not always.
(beat)
He’s moving, JP.

JP
What do you mean he’s moving?

CADDIE
To Cleveland. Mars’ mom decided he
needs to start over somewhere else.
They’re leaving tomorrow morning.

JP
What? She can’t just take him away.
This is his home. How’s he gonna
make it without us?

CADDIE
It’s gonna be hard. For everybody.
Come to the dance. This might be
the last night we’ll all see each
other.

JP
That’s an awful thing to say. How
are you feeling?

CADDIE
I’m upset, just like you.

JP
No, I mean feeling. Are you having
any bad mojo headaches? Kids all
over the world are disappearing.
And we’re talking about going to a
dance. Are you sure it’s safe?

Some silence as Caddie rifles through her closet.

JP (CONT’D)
Caddie?

CADDIE
I didn’t want to say anything. But
my head really hurts.

CUT TO:

47 107-3 INT. TOOTHPICK’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 47

We hear some low classical music as Mars shuffles through

papers.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 119.

TOOTHPICK
I don’t want you to go to
Cleveland, Mars.

MARS
I don’t want to go either,
Toothpick. That’s why I am hiding
in your bedroom. But let’s just
deal with tonight. Show me the map
again.

Toothpick spreads out a map.

TOOTHPICK
These are all the countries where
we have confirmation that kids have
gone missing.

Knock at the door.

TOOTHPICK (CONT’D)
Hide! It’s my parents!

Mars hides just as Toothpick’s Mom and Dad poke their heads
into the room.

TP’S DAD
What’s up, playa?!

TP’S MOM
Hey Sweetie!

TP’S DAD
Almost dance time! Ah...Beethoven
On the stereo. Dope.

TOOTHPICK
Seven more minutes, Dad.

TP’S DAD
Seven minutes. Word.

TP’S MOM
You look so cute, Randall. But I
don’t understand why you didn’t ask
a nice girl to be your date.

TOOTHPICK
I prefer to go solo mom. Keeps my
options open.

TP’S DAD
That’s my Dog!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 120.

TP’S MOM
Don’t encourage that. We’ll be back
in five minutes.

TOOTHPICK
Six and a half.
(to Mars)
Okay. It’s safe Mars.

They exit and Mars steps out.

MARS
What’s up with your Dad?

TOOTHPICK
He’s trying to be cool. He’s cool.

Mars looks at the map again.

MARS
Do you see any pattern with the
disappearances once we add Lost in
London?

TOOTHPICK
Shouldn’t you be thinking about how
you’re going to get into the dance?
You made Caddie a promise.

MARS
I’ll figure it out once I get
there.

TOOTHPICK
You like Caddie, right?

MARS
She’s the best.

TOOTHPICK
No, I mean you like like her.
‘Cause I read this book about women
-

MARS
You read a book about women?

TOOTHPICK
Yes. Whenever I don’t know
something about a subject I’m
interested in I read a book about
it. Then I’m well informed.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 121.

MARS
Ok. What did the book say?

TOOTHPICK
Women are complicated creatures,
Mars. They don’t always say what
they mean.

MARS
Is that supposed to be helpful?

TOOTHPICK
I’m just saying. You liked Aurora.
Now you’re going to sneak into the
dance to be with Caddie. But what
happens if we find Aurora?

MARS
When we find Aurora.

TOOTHPICK
When we find Aurora. No offense,
Mars, but you are not a playa.

Loud bang from outside.

MARS
What was that?! I should go.
Pruitt’s still looking for me, I
need to keep moving.

Mars climbs out the window of Toothpick’s room.

MARS (CONT’D)
I’ll meet you at the dance.

Door opens again and Pick’s dad comes back in.

TP’S DAD
Time to represent.

TOOTHPICK
Okay Dad. I’m ready to go to the
dance.

TP’S DAD
Make the most of this dance, kiddo.
I have a feeling you’re going to
remember this night for the rest of
your life.

BRIDGE TO:
MIDBREAK

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 122.

48 107-4 INTERLUDE. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 48

OLIVER PRUITT
Ah, the school dance. A time to
have fun with your classmates, to
move to the music and celebrate
life. But for Mars Patel and his
friends, the Mid Summer Dance is a
mixed bag to say the least. Aurora
and Jonas are still missing, Mars
is about to move halfway across the
country and the gang is still on
the bad side of billionaire genius,
Oliver Pruitt. Hold on, you say?
You’re Oliver Pruitt. And you seem
like a wonderful, caring, generous
man. You don’t think I’m dangerous,
do you kids?...Do you?

MUSIC TRANSITION

CUT TO:

49 107-5 INT. HG WELLS CAFETERIA - NIGHT 49

We hear the electronic music from a DJ as Mars is about to

enter the cafeteria where the dance is taking place.

MARS
(recording on his phone)
Hey, Aurora. Sorry I haven’t been
checking in as much. I’m here,
trying to figure out a way into the
dance. It’s weird, I always thought
it would be you and me, but now -

Toothpick approaches.

TOOTHPICK
What do you think, Mars? Crawl
through the air vents? Up the
sewage lines?

MR. Q
(suddenly walking up
behind them)
Sewage? Is the dance that important
to you?

MARS
Mr. Q!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 123.

MR. Q
You know you’re not supposed to be
here, Mars.

MARS
I made Caddie a promise and I have
to keep it. I don’t care what you
do to me.

MR. Q
Tell you what? Make me a promise.
Lay low, stay away from the other
chaperones, and I’ll pretend I
never saw you.

MARS
You’d do that for me?

MR. Q
You’d be surprised what I’d do.

Mr. Q walks away.

TOOTHPICK
He’s the best.

MARS
Yeah. Maybe I was wrong to doubt
him.

TOOTHPICK
Do you want in or not.

MARS
Let’s go. Oh, I’m still recording.
Aurora, I’ll talk to you later.
Mars, out.

The door opens. Music gets louder as Mars and TP enter the
gym.

TOOTHPICK
(amazed)
The gym is like a dance club. I
learned about dance clubs in the
book I read about women.

MARS
Whoa...

TOOTHPICK
Caddie’s right over there.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 124.

MARS
That’s why I said, “Whoa.”

TOOTHPICK
She looks really -

MARS
I know. Amazing. Can’t believe
she’s here with that guy.

TOOTHPICK
Right. Because he’s handsome, buff,
popular, has super white teeth. Who
would want to go to a dance with
someone like that?

Suddenly Epica saunters over.

EPICA
What’s up, Toothpick?

TOOTHPICK
Hello, Epica.

EPICA
I really liked that note you wrote
me.

TOOTHPICK
There’s more where that came from.

EPICA
You want to dance?

TOOTHPICK
I’d love to. See ya’, Mars.

MARS
What just happened?

TOOTHPICK
Chapter nine. Works every time.

Toothpick and Epica move off to dance.

MARS
Wow.

JP approaches.

JP
You made it in.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 125.

MARS
JP, I didn’t think you were coming.

JP
I couldn’t miss the show. Is that
Epica dancing with Toothpick?

MARS
It is indeed.

JP
And I thought a disappearing school
was weird. So...just wondering, did
you get bit by a snake that causes
paralysis or something.

MARS
No. Why?

JP
Because it’s the only possible
reason you’re still standing here
when Caddie is across the room with
some other guy.

MARS
Alright. Okay. Let me go ask her to
dance. Okay. I’m going. I’m
walking. I’m going.

Mars’ phone bloops.

MARS (CONT’D)
OMG!

JP
What’s that?

MARS
My phone.

JP
I know it’s your phone. Why is it
an OMG?

MARS
It’s from Lost in London. Julia.
She’s not missing. She’s got them.

JP
Got what?

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 126.

MARS
Her friends. Her missing friends.
She’s tracked them down. She wants
to video link with me to show me
where they are.

JP
Really? This might lead us to Jonas
and Aurora. Link it.

MARS
I don’t have enough bars in here. I
have to go outside the school to
get a stronger signal. But I
promised Caddie.

JP
Go. I’ll explain it to her. We’ll
meet you out in the parking lot.
Go, Mars!

Mars rushes out.

CUT TO:

50 107-6 EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT 50

We can still hear the music out here, but it’s much fainter.
Mars is out of breath by the time he gets outside.

MARS
(recording on his phone.)
Aurora, I’m back. But I think this
is it. Lost in London found her
friends and I’m about to find you.
(beat)
Listen, about the dance. I know I
always said I wanted to go with
you. But since you’ve been gone,
Caddie and I -

Mars stops as someone walks up behind him. His tone is

friendly at first. He knows this person.

MARS (CONT’D)
(genuinely shocked)
Hey. What are YOU doing out here?

Some noise of scuffling.

MARS (CONT’D)
What are you doing? Stop!

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 127.

Loud noises as the phone falls with a loud crash and then
goes silent.

MARS (CONT’D)
Hey, my phone! Stop!

Time passage. The music is lower as Then we hear the sound of

the phone being picked up off the ground.

CADDIE
Aurora, it’s me. Caddie. Umm... we
just found Mars’ phone in the
parking lot. But he’s... he’s not
here. He’s gone!

MUSIC SWELLS.

END OF EPISODE.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 128.

EPISODE 8 - “LOST AND FOUND”

51 108-1 INT. INSIDE CADDIE’S MIND - DREAM SEQUENCE 51

We open on a stylized dream sequence inside Caddie’s

subconscious. Caddie is searching for Mars. All voices have
heavy reverb.

MARS
Caddie...Help! Caddie!

CADDIE
Mars? Mars, where are you?

MARS
Here.

CADDIE
I can’t find you!

MARS
Caddie...help...Caddie...

An alarm sounds.

52 108-2 INT. CADDIE’S BEDROOM - MORNING 52

Mars’ voice blends into that of Caddie’s mother. The alarm is

real.

CADDIE’S MOM
Caddie. Caddie! You have to get up.
You can’t be late for school again.

CADDIE
Okay Mom. I’m up.

Caddie SLAMS off the alarm, YAWNS. She fumbles for her
glasses and her phone.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
(recording a voice memo)
Hey, Mars. I just had the scariest
dream. You were -- never mind. It’s
been...
(checking a calendar)
...five days since you disappeared
outside the dance. I miss you -
(catching herself)
we miss you.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 129.
CADDIE (CONT’D)
JP and Toothpick, they look at me
for answers and I don’t have any.
Not yet. You made me a promise in
the treehouse - before the dance.
You said you’d find me. But, now
you’re gone. So I have to find you.
Caddie, out.

BRIDGE TO:
OPENING MUSIC

52A 108-3 INTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 52A

Pruitt sounds conflicted, maybe even a little sad about the

latest turn of events.

OLIVER PRUITT
Well listeners, now you know how
this podcast got its name. The
unexplainable disappearance of Mars
Patel. This can’t be easy for
Caddie, JP and Toothpick. After
all, Mars was not only their friend-
he was their leader. Take a listen,
as they climb the fire escape to
his apartment. I wonder what
they’ll find when they get to the
top.

53 108-4 EXT. MARS APARTMENT - FIRE ESCAPE - DAY 53

Urban street sounds. SFX: Metal ladder being wrenched down.

SFX: Feet (2 sets) steadily climbing the metal ladder.

CADDIE
Toothpick’s waiting for us on the
landing, JP.

JP
I’m getting really tired of this
climb, Caddie. We trudge up this
fire escape every day just to sit
outside Mars’s empty apartment.

CADDIE
(panting)
It’s not empty. They left all their
boxes. Someone has to be coming for
them. Mrs. Patel or movers or...

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 130.

JP
(quietly)
Mars.
(beat)
First time I climbed up here was
when I first came to see him after
he got suspended. He was so down
about not being able to find Aurora
and Jonas. Now he’s gone, too.

TOOTHPICK
(calling down)
Hey, guys. You’re late!

JP
(snapping back into cynic
mode)
Like it makes a difference,
Toothpick.

TOOTHPICK
We’re waiting up here. Hurry up.
It’s only two stories.

They get to the top, a little out of breath.

EPICA
You two need to work out more? Ever
heard of like, cardio?

CADDIE
EPICA??

JP
What is she doing here?

EPICA
Randall invited me?

JP
Randall?

TOOTHPICK
She says Toothpick is a mean name.

CADDIE
She’d know.

JP
I can’t believe you brought her.

TOOTHPICK
Why? She’s my girlfriend.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 131.

EPICA
I prefer bae?

CADDIE
No offense, Epica, but we’re on an
important mission here. We’re
waiting for someone.

EPICA
Who? Those two scary dudes in the
white suits?

Caddie and JP move to have a look.

TOOTHPICK
They’re inside Mars apartment!

CADDIE
Are they movers?

JP
Those don’t look like movers.

TOOTHPICK
The logo. On their sleeves. Pruitt
Prep!

PRUITT PREP REP

Hey you, kids!

JP
Aaaand...now they’ve seen us.

CADDIE
BACK DOWN THE FIRE ESCAPE!

Caddie, JP, Toothpick and Epica races down the fire escape...

EPICA
I’m wearing wedges! Do we have to
run?!

CADDIE
YES!

The White suits are coming after them!

CADDIE (CONT’D)
The ladder, JP! The ladder!

SFX: Tugging of ladder.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 132.

JP
It’s stuck! We’re gonna have to
jump.

CADDIE
Can we make it?

TOOTHPICK
Not without risking bodily harm.

Suddenly we hear the HONK HONK of a bus as it zooms under the

fire escape.

TOOTHPICK (CONT’D)
Where did that school bus come
from?

The doors to the bus SLAM open.

MR. Q
Guys, hop down on the roof and
slide off the front.

CADDIE
Mr. Q? Again?

JP
Let’s go. Jump down!

The kids take a leap of faith and JUMP down onto the roof of
the bus.

TOOTHPICK
Mr. Q, why are you driving a school
bus?

MR. Q
They’re watching my car, Pick.

TOOTHPICK
Who is?

MR. Q
Same people coming after you. Get
in.

JP
They’re still coming.

CADDIE
Everyone on the bus! You, too,
Epica.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 133.

EPICA
(sighing)
I’m sitting in the back.

PRUITT PREP REP

Hey you! Stop!

Caddie leads the gang onto the bus. The bus door closes. The
bus peels off.

MUSIC ENDS.

54 108-5 INT. BUS - CONTINUOUS 54

SFX: Hum of the bus as everyone crowds around the driver, Mr.
Q.

JP
That was a close one, Mr. Q. Can’t
believe you were here. Again.

TOOTHPICK
It’s just like when you found us on
the island in your boat. How did
you know?

JP
Don’t tell us this was just a
hunch.

Beat.

CADDIE
Tell us the truth or we jump out
the emergency exit.

MR. Q
No! Don’t.
(sighs)
There’s more to this than I can get
into right now. But yes, I’ve been
tracking you.

CADDIE
(stung)
So Mars was right.

MR. Q
No. I’m on your side. Mars didn’t
understand, Caddie. Something’s
been off about Pruitt Prep for a
long time...

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 134.

JP
Yeah, it doesn’t exist.

MR. Q
(gravely)
Oh, it does. But it’s not what you
think. Your friends aren’t the
first students of mine to go
missing. I’ve been looking for a
way to bust it wide open for years.

JP
What does that mean?

MR. Q
I know how badly you want to find
your friends... I encouraged Mars
at first... but now you’ve stepped
into territory more dangerous than
you can realize. This is too big
for you now. Do you understand?
You’re taking on the most powerful
man in the world. How are you gonna
do that? You’re just kids.

CADDIE
Mars thought we could do it.

MR. Q
And look at what happened to him.

This stirs something inside of Caddie.

CADDIE
Hey, Pick? Don’t we need a
permission slip or something to
travel with a teacher?

TOOTHPICK
Yes. And a form indicating our
allergies.

MR. Q
I know where you’re going, Caddie.
Threats don’t suit you...

CADDIE
Then help us. We have to go back to
the island, back to Pruitt Prep.
You said it yourself. Mars could be
there. They could ALL be there.

MR. Q
You said you saw nothing.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 135.

CADDIE
Well, we didn’t try during the day.

TOOTHPICK
(offering a suggestion)
Mr. Q could give us a ride to the
ferry.

CADDIE
Good idea, Toothpick. You could,
Mr. Q!

MR. Q
No. No, I could not.

CADDIE
Kids are disappearing all over the
world. You said you want to do
something about it. On that island,
all three of us have special...
nevermind.

EPICA
Special what?!

JP
(covering)
Determination. Epica, Special
determination.

EPICA
(disgusted)
Oh. Lame.

CADDIE
Mr. Q, we can do something about
it. But we need your help.

MR. Q
(resigned)
Buckle up. Next ferry leaves at the
top of the hour.

TOOTHPICK
Yes!

JP
You’re a good man, Mr. Q.

MR. Q
We’ll see.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 136.

He revs the engine.

CUT TO:

55 108-6 EXT. FERRY - DAY 55

SFX: Ferry horn.

Caddie presses the record button on her phone.

CADDIE
Hey Mars. So we’re on the ferry.
We’re the only ones on the ferry.

JP
Not even a crew. It’s just us.

EPICA
Isn’t that, like, your life?

CADDIE
Why do you have to be so mean,
Epica?

TOOTHPICK
Epica is scared inside and she uses
insults to push people away.

EPICA
Whatever.

The begins to leave the dock. Peppy music in the background

as Oliver Pruitt’s hologram appears.

CADDIE
How is the ferry leaving without a
captain?

JP
Another hologram?

PRUITT’S HOLOGRAM
Welcome aboard the U.S.S. Pruitt.

CADDIE
Oh great. Him again.

PRUITT’S HOLOGRAM
I am your holographic captain,
Oliver Pruitt...

JP
Hey Pruitt, can you hear me?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 137.

TOOTHPICK
It’s a recording.

PRUITT’S HOLOGRAM
I’m sure you’ve noticed that my
ferry is automated.

EPICA
A robot boat? Ew.

PRUITT’S HOLOGRAM
It has a course plotted directly to
Gale Island from Pruitt Prep’s
mission control. We take security
very seriously at Pruitt. Wave to
the camera, folks.

JP
So much for the element of
surprise.

PRUITT’S HOLOGRAM
Only invited students can penetrate
those titanium walls...

Pruitt’s message starts to play again, from the beginning.

Or maybe not... SMASH! JP kicks the projector.

CADDIE
JP!

JP
Easy enough to penetrate the
projector.

EPICA
Guys, is anyone noticing the scary
cop over there?

CADDIE
Where did he come from?

COP
Next time you want to destroy
private property, you might want to
check below deck. That wasn’t a
very smart move, Juniper... Paul...
McGowan.

JP
(furious)
Nobody calls me Juniper.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 138.

COP
Sit down, JJ.

JP
It’s JP!

TOOTHPICK
You’re the officer who took Mars.
After we broke into Jonas’ house.

COP
Am I? I wanna have a little chat
with you and your friends here-

EPICA
-excuse me? Those girls are not my
friends?-

COP
-but first, we’re gonna turn this
ferry around. My colleagues are
waiting at the dock. I’m going to
let them know we’re coming back.
Don’t move.

The Cop walks away. The gang huddles together and whispers.

JP
He’s working for Pruitt.

TOOTHPICK
And he’s bad with names.

CADDIE
He’s going to take us back to shore
where the White Suits will be
waiting.

TOOTHPICK
So what do we do, Caddie?

CADDIE
Um Right. We make a plan.
(hopeful)
Any ideas?

JP
Create a distraction?

CADDIE
Great idea!
(beat)
Okay, then what?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 139.

TOOTHPICK
I don’t know. Don’t you know?

CADDIE
No. I’m not Mars.

JP
I got tapped out with create a
distraction.

CADDIE
Well, keep thinking everybody! And
quick. The cop’s making that u-turn
motion with his finger.

TOOTHPICK
Maybe I could override the
automated system?

CADDIE
How long would that take?

TOOTHPICK
Hard to say. My head’s getting
clearer, but it’s not like before
on the island. Not yet.

Beat.

EPICA
Um guys couldn’t you just, like,
swim?

They look over to the shore.

TOOTHPICK
(getting excited)
Epica’s right. We’re not that far
from the shore, and the water’s at
low tide.

JP
I... don’t... get... wet...

The cop heads back towards the kids.

TOOTHPICK
He’s coming back...

CADDIE
You have to, JP. We need a
distraction RIGHT NOW, or the cop’s
gonna stop us from...

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 140.

EPICA
(to cop)
Here goes, cop. Catch these.

She throws her shoes at the cop who ducks.

COP
Hey, ah, No.

TOOTHPICK
No, bae! Not your favorite shoes?!

COP
Hey, come back here!

EPICA
I got this, guys. Go! Go! Into the
water. Now. Jump.

Big SPLASH. The kids swim hard for shore.

CADDIE
Kick hard! Don’t stop till you hit
the shore!

EPICA
(fading in the distance)
I love you, Randall!

56 108-7 EXT. SHORES OF PRUITT PREP - CONTINUOUS 56

Water laps up against the shore. The kids gasp/cough as they

reach the beach.

CADDIE
(out of breath)
You did it, JP. We all did.

JP
I have seaweed in places... you
wouldn’t want seaweed.

CADDIE
Mars would be-

A familiar buzzing in the distance cuts her off.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
You hear that?

JP
The water sloshing inside my ears?

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 141.

CADDIE
Sssh.

The BUZZING gets louder.

TOOTHPICK
One of Pruitt’s drones.

CADDIE
Let’s move off the beach.

Pick motions with his hands.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
Pick, what are you doing?

TOOTHPICK
I’m giving you hand signals. We
shouldn’t speak anymore.

JP
But we’re speaking now.

CADDIE
Guys, we gotta move. Into the
trees.

TOOTHPICK
That’s what I just said.

57 108-8 EXT. GALE ISLAND WOODS - DAY 57

We hear soggy footsteps through the woods. Branches snapping.

In the distance...the faint howl of that creature again. They

all hear it.

JP
Uh-oh.

CADDIE
(heart quickening)
Um, how far is the clearing, Pick?
You sure we’re going the right way?

TOOTHPICK
Same coordinates we took last time.
Keep going until we hit the
clearing.

JP
And if we just end up in the same
empty field?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 142.

TOOTHPICK
Mr. Q said that Pruitt Prep exists.
He’s been working on this case for
years.

Another howl.

JP
Yeah? Does he know what that thing
is? Because it sounds hungry.

TOOTHPICK
How could you possibly know that
it’s - ?

CADDIE
Um, guys. Look up.

They arrive in the clearing.

JP
Holy...

TOOTHPICK
PRUITT PREP!

The stare at the enormous complex...in awe.

CADDIE
It’s so...

JP
Humongous!

CADDIE
And...

TOOTHPICK
Here! It’s here. The towers and the
lab and the titanium walls and-

JP
How does that happen? How was it
not here and now it is?

CADDIE
We’ll find out how once we get
inside. Toothpick?

TOOTHPICK
There’s a way in, but it’s not
exactly, um... well, Caddie, we
talked about this possibility.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 143.

JP
What possibility?

CADDIE
I know you hate swimming, JP. How
do you feel about flying?

108-9 OUTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE

OLIVER PRUITT
I don’t like the sound of that. Do
you, podcast listeners? If you like
the sound of this show, don’t
forget to subscribe on iTunes or
wherever you get your podcasts.
Pruitt Prep awaits! To. The. Stars.

END OF EPISODE.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 144.

EPISODE 9 - “FLIGHT”

58 109-1 INTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE 58

OLIVER PRUITT
Aloha. Oliver Pruitt here. Ever
wonder what makes you who you are?
Is it the way you wear your hair,
the color of your socks, your
favorite band or sports team?

I’ve always believed that what

truly makes you you is the way you
react when you’re tested. When the
odds are stacked against you, Are
you brave? Generous? Are you a good
friend?

Caddie Patchett has always been a

great friend. But she’s never had
to be a leader before. But with
Mars gone missing, JP and Toothpick
are looking to Caddie for guidance.
Do you think she’s up for the
challenge?

In a few moments, I’ll be dropping

you back onto my island as Caddie
JP and Toothpick search for their
lost friends. Pruitt Prep has
miraculously reappeared. But to get
inside - how far are they willing
to go? Or should I say
(laughs)
...how high?

59 109-2 EXT. GALE ISLAND FORREST - NIGHT 59

We hear the familiar howl of the “island animal.”

CADDIE
(recording into her phone)
Hey Mars. It’s me, Caddie. And
whatever that animal is in the
forest. Why do I keep recording
these messages to you? Maybe
talking to you makes it feel like
you’re here with us. Even if you
can’t answer back.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 145.
CADDIE (CONT'D)
Of course, if you were here we
wouldn’t be trying to rescue you.
And I wouldn’t be the one coming up
with a plan.

JP
(calling out to “Mars”)
For the record, her plan is even
worse than one of yours, Patel.

CADDIE
Yeah, so...about that. This is
either the best or the worst idea
we’ve ever had.

JP
You want my vote?

CADDIE
I can already hear it in your head,
JP. Speak into the phone,
Toothpick.

TOOTHPICK
On the roof of Pruitt Prep’s south
wing is a door that leads to a
staircase from a loading dock. We
can get in there.

CADDIE
But since we don’t have a jet pack
to reach the roof we’ve had to
be...creative.

JP
A human sling shot. That’s what
Toothpick’s super smart brain came
up with, Mars.

TOOTHPICK
It’s a simple concept, Mars. I
snuck back to the ferry and
salvaged elastic tubing and a
bracing mast. We’ve pulled the
tubing between two trees -

JP
It’s a giant slingshot. And I’m an
Angry Bird.

CADDIE
A very angry bird.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 146.

TOOTHPICK
If it works -

JP
Did he just say, “if” it works?

Caddie stops recording.

CADDIE
Be right back. If I get close
enough to the school, maybe I
can...hear where guards might be
stationed so we can aim JP away
from them.

Caddie moves off and we stay with JP and Toothpick.

TOOTHPICK
You have nothing to be afraid of,
JP. On this island, you’re
impervious. You can’t be hurt - at
least not easily.

JP
You’re not the one crash landing
from fifty feet without a
parachute.

TOOTHPICK
Actually it’s -

JP
Randall, if you’re about to say
it’s more than fifty feet, I’m
going to slingshot my hand into
your mouth.

TOOTHPICK
Never mind.

Suddenly the BUZZING is back.

JP
Toothpick! The drone is right
behind you.

The buzzing gets louder throughout.

TOOTHPICK
Hand me that netting, JP.

JP
We’ve got to get Caddie and go back
under the trees.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 147.

TOOTHPICK
Stand still. I need to climb on
your shoulders.

JP
What are you doing?

TOOTHPICK
I’m going drone hunting.

JP
What?!

The drone gets louder and louder. Toothpick prepares to snag

the drone.

TOOTHPICK
A little closer...A little
closer...
(grabbing it)
Gotcha!

We hear the drone sputtering and muted, trapped in the net.

JP
Now what?

TOOTHPICK
I’m going to reprogram him and make
him my friend. He’s kind of cute,
don’t you think?

Electronic beeping noises as Toothpick begins to reprograms

the drone.

JP
He’s a flying killer robot.

TOOTHPICK
Yeah, but a cute one.

Caddie returns.

CADDIE
What’s in that net?

TOOTHPICK
My pet drone.

JP
Just another day on Weirdness
Island. What did you hear over
there?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 148.

CADDIE
The guard on the right side of the
roof is hungry. He’s about to take
a lunch break.

TOOTHPICK
Perfect. That’s where we’ll aim.

CADDIE
And Mars is in there. I can feel
it.

TOOTHPICK
Then lets go get him. JP, as soon
as you hit the roof - sorry, land
on the roof, go through the steel
door and down the stairs.

CADDIE
We’ll be waiting by the loading
dock.

TOOTHPICK
Ready the launch!

JP
Stop that. Don’t call it a launch.

TOOTHPICK
What do you want me to say?

JP
How about “see you on the other
side?”

CADDIE
That’s what Jonas said before he
disappeared.

JP
Let’s go with “ready the launch.”

TOOTHPICK
Ready the launch.

JP sitting down in the launch seat as the others pull back on

the cords.

TOOTHPICK (CONT’D)
Increasing tension of the tubing.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 149.

CADDIE
What you’re doing is very brave,
JP. I know the scary thoughts
swirling in your brain.

JP
Mars would do it for us.

CADDIE
Yes he would.

JP
Cads?

CADDIE
Yeah?

JP
It’s gonna be okay.

CADDIE
What are you talking about?

JP
You don’t have to be able to read
minds to know you’re worried. It’s
a good plan. I’m proud of you.

TOOTHPICK
Ready to go!

CADDIE
See you soon, JP.

JP
Count on it. Ready the launch.

TOOTHPICK
3...2...

JP/CADDIE
Wait!

TOOTHPICK
Tuck and roll!

The slingshot releases and we hear JP yell “to the stars” as

she flies through the air.

BRIDGE TO
OPENING THEME

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 150.

60 109-3 INT. PRUITT PREP - NIGHT 60

JP opens the loading dock for the others.

CADDIE
JP, you’re okay!

JP
I don’t recommend the landing. But
all my body parts seem to be
intact. Come on in.

TOOTHPICK
JP!

He hugs her.

JP
You’re hugging me, Toothpick.

TOOTHPICK
Yes I am.

JP
You’re still hugging me.

TOOTHPICK
I was afraid you weren’t going to
make it.

JP
Okay, okay.

A drone BUZZES.

JP (CONT’D)
The drone is back!

TOOTHPICK
I know. I’ve reprogrammed him. He’s
on our side. Come on, Droney.

Droney makes beeping sounds. Loud rumble as the building

shakes.

TOOTHPICK (CONT’D)
The building is shaking.

JP
Is it an earthquake?

TOOTHPICK
Shifting plates underneath the
school maybe. I can’t tell.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 151.

CADDIE
We need to find Mars and the
others. If he’s close, I think I’ll
know it.

They start to quietly walk down a hallway.

TOOTHPICK
This place doesn’t look like I
expected it to.

JP
What did you expect?

TOOTHPICK
I don’t know. Experiments, people
in lab coats. Stolen kids
everywhere.

CADDIE
Someone’s coming.

JP
Is it the guys in the white suits?

TOOTHPICK
Come this way. Through this door.

61 109-4 INT. CRATER ROOM - DAY 61

They open the door and suddenly the sound of their footsteps
changes. They’re no longer walking on a hard floor. Their
feet crunch as if walking on loose dirt. We hear wind. It
echoes like a mountain.

JP
Did we go back outside?

TOOTHPICK
No. Look up. We’re still in the
school.

JP
The school has its own desert?

TOOTHPICK
From the terrain I’d say it’s more
of a volcanic crater.

JP
I repeat: inside a school.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 152.

CADDIE
How is it so windy in here?

TOOTHPICK
There must be a wind machine.

CADDIE
Mars...

JP
What about him?

CADDIE
He’s that way. Over these rocks.

As they hike over the rocks, the wind sounds intensify. Once
again the whole building seems to rumble and shake.

We hear the unidentifiable animal’s howl.

JP
That thing is in here with us.

TOOTHPICK
Droney, can you show us how to get
out of here?

Droney makes some beeps.

They hear the animal’s footsteps.

CADDIE
It’s following us.

Animal breathing sound.

JP
It’s getting closer. I’ll stand my
ground. You go for the door.

CADDIE
No, JP. We’re all getting out.

JP
Toothpick!!

TOOTHPICK
Exit’s through here. Go! Go!

62 109-5 INT. PRUITT PREP HALLWAY - DAY 62

They open the door and step out of the crater room and back
into a hallway.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 153.

JP
What was that thing?

We can hear a chant in the distance.

CADDIE
Look down there. Through that
window.

TOOTHPICK
The kids. Hundreds of them. They
must be all the ones who
disappeared.

JP
Why are they lined up like that?
Like they’re in an army?
(to Caddie)
Caddie can you hear down there?

CADDIE
It’s too many people at once. I
can’t sort it out.

TOOTHPICK
Why are they turning?

CADDIE
They’re looking at us.

An emergency alarm blares.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
Go. Back that way!

They run down the hallway as we hear many voices, footsteps

coming their way.

TOOTHPICK
Here. It’s a power closet. I
remember it from the blueprints. We
can hide.

Toothpick punches some keys and the door opens.

63 109-6 INT. POWER CLOSET - DAY 63

They get in the closet and wait. Silence. Breathing. The

emergency alarm continues.

TOOTHPICK
It’s dark in here.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 154.

CADDIE
This is just like where Mars and I
were during the Code Red. The last
time we saw Jonas.

A group of kids marches past the closet in formation. A few

beats later, the door knob turns.

TOOTHPICK
(whispering)
Someone’s unlocking the door.

JP
Stand back. I can take whatever
they’ve got.

Big tension as the door slowly, very slowly opens. There is a

sound of slow footsteps.

JONAS
What’s up, peeps. Long time no see.

TOOTHPICK
Jonas?! We found you! You’re here!

BRIDGE TO
MIDBREAK

64 109-7 INTERLUDE. 64

Saccharine Pruitt Prep music a la episode 1.

MALE ANNOUNCER
At Pruitt Prep we believe every kid
has something special inside him or
her. But only a few are special
enough to join us. If you think
you’re... ready for a change, visit
our website at [Link]. To
the stars!

65 109-8 INT. PRUITT PREP HALLWAY - NIGHT 65

Jonas leads Caddie, JP and Toothpick down a hallway. He seems

very chill and cheery.

JONAS
Come on, guys. This way. Are you
holding a drone, Toothpick?

TOOTHPICK
Yes. Yes, I am.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 155.

CADDIE
Jonas, I can’t believe we found
you.

JONAS
Technically, I found you.

CADDIE
We’ve been looking all over for
you. Since the day you disappeared
from school.

JONAS
I didn’t disappear, Cads. I’m right
here.

CADDIE
We had no idea where you went.

JP
Your locker was cleaned out. Your
house, too.

TOOTHPICK
Have you been in Pruitt Prep this
whole time? Why would they take
you? Are Aurora and Mars here?

JONAS
You guys sure have a lot of
questions.

JP
(whispered)
Is he acting weird?

TOOTHPICK
Yes!

JONAS
This place is everything. Tell you
what. How about I show you? Follow
me!

Toothpick whispers to Caddie.

TOOTHPICK
Caddie, can you hear what’s going
on in his mind?

CADDIE
(whispering back)
All I get is a bunch of computer
codes and gaming formulas.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 156.

JONAS
Sorry that you guys were freaked.
But it’s all good.

JP
How can it be all good? They
kidnapped you and locked you in a
school that sometimes goes bye-bye.

JONAS
Come with me, this way!

Jonas opens the panel and they walk back into the hallway.

JP
What about those creepers in the
white suits?

JONAS
Don’t worry about them. It’s so
good to see you guys. New glasses,
Caddie. I like. You been working
out, Toothpick?

CADDIE
Where are we going again?

JONAS
Right here. Come in this room.

A wall panel slides opens.

66 109-9 INT. PRUITT LOCKED ROOM - DAY 66

They walk into a empty room.

CADDIE
There’s nothing in here. Is this
like a classroom or - ?

Suddenly we hear the panel swinging closed.

CADDIE (CONT’D)
Jonas? Where are you going? Jonas?!

Jonas closes the panel and it slams and locks.

JP
What just happened?

CADDIE
I can’t get the wall back open.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 157.

Caddie and Toothpick try to open the door/wall.

TOOTHPICK
It’s locked.

CADDIE
Jonas?! Jonas are you out there?

TOOTHPICK
Why would he do that?

CADDIE
Something was different about him.

JP
He was brainwashed by Pruitt’s
minions. That’s why all you saw in
his head was code. Caddie, is
anyone out there?

CADDIE
I’m not hearing anything but you
two. The walls must be really thick
in here.

JP
Let’s see how thick. Stand back.

TOOTHPICK
What are you going to do?

JP
I’m going to smash my way out.
1...2... AAAAAHH.

She runs full steam into the wall. CRASH!

TOOTHPICK
It didn’t budge.

JP
Let me try again.

CADDIE
It’s not going to work. Someone
doesn’t want us to get out of this
room.

JP
So what do we do? Sit here and wait
for Pruitt to come get us? To turn
us into... whatever Jonas is?

Suddenly there’s some noise outside the room.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 158.

CADDIE
I hear something.

JP
What if it’s that animal thing?

TOOTHPICK
We have to be ready.

JP
Whatever you are, you’re not going
to mess with our minds, you hear
me!

A panel slides open. Footsteps.

MARS
Hey guys.

CADDIE
Mars?! Is that really you?

TOOTHPICK
You’re here!

MARS
(deadpan)
You’ve made a big mistake. You
shouldn’t have come here.

109-10 OUTRO. OLIVER PRUITT MONOLOGUE

OLIVER PRUITT
Well, Mars certainly didn’t sound
like himself, did he? Has something
happened to him and Jonas podcast
listeners? And where is Aurora?
Join me in two weeks on the season
finale of “The Unexplainable
Disappearance of Mars Patel.” When
all your questions will be
answered. Be sure and tell your
friends to subscribe and catch up.
No one will want to miss it. To.
The. Stars.

MUSIC OUT

END OF EPISODE.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 159.

EPISODE 10- TO THE STARS

67 110-1 INT. ROCKET TESTING SITE 67

We hear HEAVY DUTY CONSTRUCTIONS SOUNDS - TEST FIRING of

rocket engines - what you might hear in preparation for a
liftoff of a rocket.

OLIVER PRUITT
(Over sounds)
Hello Podcast listeners. Welcome to
the Season 1 finale of The
Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars
Patel.
(to workers)
Quiet, please.

WORKER
Quiet.

FOREMAN
(over speaker)
All stop, be quiet.

Noise stops. We hear SOOTHING MUSIC now instead.

OLIVER PRUITT
Hold on, you say? Mars disappeared
but now he’s back? That’s false
advertising! Well, I suppose
technically speaking...

The sounds start again.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

Hold on a sec-
(to the workers)
Quiet, please!

The noises stop.

OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)

That’s better. No point in spoiling
the big finish. We’ve come a long
way, haven’t we? You’ve joined me
on a journey full of mystery and
adventure. A story about finding
out what makes you special and
about the power of friendship.
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 160.
OLIVER PRUITT (CONT’D)
And now, here we are- Toothpick, JP
and Caddie have broken into my
school, Pruitt Prep to find their
friend, Mars. But unfortunately,
what they found may not be the Mars
they were expecting.

SOUND RETURNS, fades into..

68 110-2 INT. PRUITT PREP HALLWAY - DAY 68

Caddie, JP and Toothpick find themselves face to face with

Mars. But is it the Mars they remember...?

MARS
You made a big mistake. You
shouldn’t have come here.

JP
Well, it’s nice to see you, too,
Mars.

TOOTHPICK
We thought we’d never see you
again!

CADDIE
Mars, are you okay?

MARS
(dreamy tone)
I’m great, Caddie. Never been
better.

JP
Never been better? How did you get
here? Did they kidnap you?

Mars opens a panel.

MARS
(cheery)
Don’t you love how the walls open?

Footsteps as Mars walks out of the room.

MARS (CONT’D)
Come on, guys. I need you to follow
me.

TOOTHPICK
He’s acting like Jonas did before
he locked us in the room.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 161.

JP
(low)
I’m not sure we should follow him.
What if they’ve done something to
his brain?

TOOTHPICK
They could have turned him into a
zombie. Or a robot?

MARS
In here. Into this elevator.

CADDIE
What other choice do we have?

Droney makes some noises.

TOOTHPICK
I know Droney. But it’s Mars. I
think we should just get in the
elevator.

JP
Fine. But I don’t like this.

TOOTHPICK
Everybody in!

Mars steps inside. They follow.

ELEVATOR VOICE
Stand clear!

ELEVATOR SOUNDS as doors close, and elevator starts to ascend

quickly. Very quickly!

CADDIE
Wow. Where is this going?

JP
And how fast?

MARS
Everything is fine, guys. It’s
great. It’ll all become clear soon
enough.

They EXIT onto the Roof. It is raining lightly and WINDY.

MARS (CONT’D)
Last stop. Everybody out.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 162.

TOOTHPICK
The roof of the lab! We sure are
high up! What are all these ceramic
tiles for?

The building RUMBLES.

JP
There goes that shaking again.

TOOTHPICK
That felt like two point two on the
Richter scale.

CADDIE
Does that happen all the time here,
Mars?

MARS
You get used to it. This way,
friends.

JP
Friends?

MARS
Don’t be shy.

JP
Mars, you’re freakin’ me out!

MARS
Come here. Stand together. Look out
over the edge. See the beach?

TOOTHPICK
Yes. What about it?

JP
Why are we looking at the -

MARS
Sorry, guys! I have to do it.

Mars CHARGES at his friends.

CADDIE
Mars?! Noooo...

They scream as Mars SHOVES them off the side of the building.

BRIDGE
TO OPENING MUSIC

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 163.

69 110-3 EXT. LEDGE 69

Caddie, JP and Toothpick have fallen off the roof...and

landed on a ledge 2 feet down. Mars jumps down with them.

MARS
(now talking normally)
It’s okay. You’re safe here.

JP
You pushed us off the roof.

TOOTHPICK
Good thing there was a ledge two
feet down.

CADDIE
You knew there was a ledge.

MARS
Yep. It’s the only place I’ve found
in the school without a camera.

CADDIE
Mars, is that you? The real you?

MARS
In the flesh.

TOOTHPICK
And you’re not a brainwashed zombie
robot?

MARS
No, but that sounds pretty cool,
Pick.

JP
Mars, you’re crazy! But I’m so glad
to see you! Let’s hug it out.

JP hugs him.

MARS
Not too tight, JP.
(being squeezed)
You’re going to break a rib!

TOOTHPICK
Now who’s the hugger, JP?

JP
Whatever, Toothpick.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 164.

She lets him go.

CADDIE
You don’t know how happy I am to
see you.

MARS
I missed you too, Caddie. And I’m
sorry I broke my promise.

CADDIE
Promise?

MARS
We never got that dance, remember?

CADDIE
(covering, being casual)
Oh that? I forgot all about it.

Hold on the awkward moment.

MARS
Uh, I missed all of you!

JP
The dance! What happened to you,
Mars?

Jonas jumps down onto the ledge.

JONAS
I happened, that’s what.

JP
Jonas! You’re normal, too! It’s
good to see you, man!

JONAS
Shoulda seen your faces when I
locked you in that room.

MARS
Jonas showed up in the parking lot.
He said if I wanted to find Aurora
I’d have to leave my phone and come
with him.

CADDIE
So... is Aurora here too?

MARS
I haven’t seen her.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 165.

CADDIE
Oh.

MARS
But there are a ton of kids here
from all over the world. She must
be one of them. They’ve kept me by
myself most of the time. Jonas has
been training.

TOOTHPICK
For what?

JONAS
I don’t know. It’s just a bunch of
games and simulations.

MARS
Something big is going on here.
Whatever it is, Oliver Pruitt needs
kids.

JP
So, we sneak out, tell the cops,
and they come back with a SWAT team
to find Aurora and rescue the kids.
We’re heroes. Done.

MARS
I can’t go. Not now. It’s personal
for me.

CADDIE
It’s personal for all of us. We’re
not leaving until we find Aurora.

MARS
And take down Pruitt Prep.

CUT TO:

110-4 INTERLUDE.

PRUITT PREP AD MUSIC

FEMALE ANNOUNCER
Are you someone who craves
adventure? Do you sit in class and
dream of a day when YOU can help
change the world? Then maybe Pruitt
Prep is the place for you!
(MORE)

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 166.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER (CONT'D)
With state-of-the-art training,
research and acclimatization to a
scientifically modeled environment,
you’ll be well on your way to an
exciting new future. One beyond
your wildest dreams!

We’re recruiting our next class of

extraordinary kids right now! If
you think you’d like to join us,
visit Pruitt Prep dot com. Our
founder, Oliver Pruitt, is waiting.

70 110-5 INT. PRUITT PREP 70

The gang slinks through the bowels of Pruitt Prep.

Toothpick’s drone is buzzing quietly behind them.

TOOTHPICK
(whispering)
Shh. Droney. You have to be quiet.

JP
(whispering)
It feels good to be going along
with another one of your stupid
plans, Mars.

MARS
(whispering)
At least I never slingshotted you
onto a roof.

CADDIE
It worked, didn’t it?

JP
So if you need me to... you know,
not get hurt by something else...
let me know.

MARS
Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.
Pick, did you really reprogram this
drone to follow you around like a
dog?

JONAS
Guys! Hold back! White suits!

They fade into the shadows as guards in white pass.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 167.

JP
Which way now?

MARS
This way. Right, Jonas?

JONAS
Actually... I’ve only been as far
as the gaming complex on level 2.

JP
So we’re officially lost.

DISTANT HOWL

JP (CONT’D)
We all heard that, right?

CADDIE
Ugh. My head.

TOOTHPICK
We need to keep moving.

HOWL-2, closer this time.

CADDIE
Keep going. I..I’ll catch up.

JP
I got you, Caddie. Lean on me.

HOWL-3, almost on top of them.

MARS
We have to move. It’s getting
close.

LOW GROWL. PANTING

JP
Uh, guys. You might want to turn
around. Or not.

CADDIE
What is that thing? It has so many
legs.

JP
And teeth.

MARS
Toothpick?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 168.

TOOTHPICK
It appears to be a hybrid of an
arctic wolf...and some kind of
spider-like creature?

BIG GROWL.

MARS
Run!

They run. It chases after them, PANTING, claws SCRATCHING the

hard stone floor.

JONAS
This way!

They hit a corner. It take the corner at high speed - and

wipes out, letting their lead open up... But on every
straightaway it closes.

JP
I don’t think we can outrun it!

JONAS
Then we’re not going to!

Jonas stops and turns.

CADDIE
Jonas! What are you doing?

JONAS
I’ve been training in full-contact
virtual since I got here. It’s time
I take off the training wheels.
(to animal)
Come and get me, whatever you are!

The animal swats him into the wall like a plaything.

JONAS (CONT’D)
Ooomph!

CADDIE
Jonas?

MARS
Jonas! Are you hurt?

JP
Stand back, guys. It can’t hurt me -

It swipes JP aside easily.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 169.

JP (CONT’D)
Ow! It scratched my arm.

CADDIE
You’re bleeding, JP. It can hurt
you.

JP
What?

The animal is about to pounce on JP.

WHISTLE. The animal suddenly stops, retreats.

Mr. Q enters the scene.

MR. Q
Sorry about that. Someone let
Muffin out of her room.

MARS
Mr. Q!

JP
SpiderWolf is called Muffin?!

MR. Q
She’s kind of a mascot around here.
Don’t call her a spider too loudly.
She’s actually genetically related
to a microscopic tardigrade. Also
called a water bear. Amazing
survival skills. Even better than
yours, JP.

MARS
What are you doing here, Mr. Q?

CADDIE
(figuring it out)
He works here. Don’t you? That’s
why you were watching us. You’re
not on our side. You work for
Pruitt.

MR. Q
Mars, I thought you had it figured
out that night on the boat. We
weren’t ready for you yet.

MARS
I knew something was up with you.
What do you want from us?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 170.

Jonas moans in the background.

JP
Guys, I think Jonas is really hurt.

MR. Q
He’ll be okay.

We hear footsteps as MR. Q walks up to some men in white

suits.

MR. Q (CONT’D)
(to the white suits)
Hey, fellas. Get our pal Jonas
fixed up, will you.

WHITE SUIT MAN

You got it, Sir.

CADDIE
You’re working with the white
suits?

MR. Q
They work for me. And Oliver, of
course.
(to the white suits)
Take him away, Fellas.

JP
Don’t touch him!

MR. Q
Easy, JP. We’re not going to hurt
him. We’re going to heal him. He’s
too valuable to lose. You all are.

MARS
But, why are we so valuable?

TOOTHPICK
And why did we get these abilities
on the island? Why did I get
smarter?

MR. Q
Mr. Pruitt built this island and
its environment as a testing ground
for what’s to come. He found a way
to use science to bring out what
was already special in each of you.

Mr. Q presses some buttons. A hidden door behind them SLIDES

OPEN.

amosruffer@[Link]
 Mars Patel, Season 1 171.

MR Q
We’ll take Jonas to the infirmary.
Muffin would like the rest of you
to wait in this room.

CADDIE
Wait? For what?

Muffin begins to growl.

MR. Q
Someone will be by to answer every
single one of your questions.

Door CLOSES as MR. Q leaves with Jonas and the men in white
suits.

71 110-6 INT. LEARNING CENTER. 71

Mars looks around at the room.

MARS
What is this room? I’ve never been
in here before.

TOOTHPICK
It looks like some kind of control
center.

CADDIE
Is everyone okay?

MARS
Yeah. Everyone except Jonas.

CADDIE
He’ll be alright, Mars.
(lying)
I can feel it.

MARS
I am sorry guys. I don’t know what
to do. I think they’ve got us.

TOOTHPICK
We can still win.

JP
What are you talking about, Pick?
This is what losing looks like.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 172.

TOOTHPICK
You don’t understand. When I
reprogrammed Droney --

Droney makes a sound.

TOOTHPICK (CONT’D)
--I set him to record everything in
Pruitt Prep. The missing kids, the
creature. Everything Mr. Q said
about the island. We’ve got them on
all of it. I can use his satellite
link to send the whole video
global.

The sounds of the familiar POWER SURGE from the auditorium

and a computer voice says “Hologram Voice activated”, and
Oliver Pruitt’s hologram appears.

OLIVER PRUITT
You can do that, Mr. Reed, but then
you'll never see your friends
again.

JP
Pruitt!

MARS
His hologram.

OLIVER PRUITT
Don’t you want to know why I
brought all of you extraordinary
young people to this place? Yes,
that’s right, JP. I brought you
here, too. Even if it wasn’t in the
conventional way.

JP
Want to get yourself unplugged
again, Pruitt?

MARS
Where is Aurora? What do you want
from us?

OLIVER PRUITT
I can give you answers, Mars. But
first I need you to make a choice.
Of your own free will.

More RUMBLING.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 173.

CADDIE
Woah. There it goes again.

MARS
Why does the building keep shaking
so much?

OLIVER PRUITT
You can leave Pruitt Prep right
now. The doors will open, the ferry
will be waiting. You can walk out,
go back to your parents, and back
to dear old HG Wells Middle School.

MARS
What’s the catch?

OLIVER PRUITT
The catch is you have to leave
without answers. And without Jonas
and Aurora.

Beat.

MARS
And if we stay?

OLIVER PRUITT
If you stay...You’ll know
everything, but you may never go
home again.

MARS
Never?

TOOTHPICK
What about our parents?

OLIVER PRUITT
They’ll be well taken care of,
Toothpick. But you won’t be with
them.

TOOTHPICK
I...I can’t fall asleep if my Mom
and Dad don’t tuck me in.

OLIVER PRUITT
JP?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 174.

JP
My dad’s birthday is next month. He
saved up for tickets to see the
Seahawks play. Can we put it off a
few weeks?

OLIVER PRUITT
I’m afraid not, JP. Caddie? I can’t
read your mind.

CADDIE
Do we at least get to say goodbye?
I mean my parents aren’t always
easy to get along with, but...
they’re my parents, you know.

MARS
Mr. Pruitt, why can’t our parents
come to visit us here? Why are you
doing all of this?

OLIVER PRUITT
I can’t tell you that. Not until
you’ve made the choice.

MARS
Leave without Aurora and Jonas...
or leave home forever...

MORE RUMBLING

OLIVER PRUITT
Choose quickly please. We haven’t
got much time.

Beat.

MARS
(determined)
I said I’d find Aurora. Whereever
she is. A promise is a promise.

OLIVER PRUITT
It is indeed.

MR. Q returns, hands Mars a device.

MR. Q
Everything’s ready, Oliver.

OLIVER PRUITT
Take the screen from my old friend,
Mr. Q. Your mother is waiting for
your call, Mars.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 175.

MR. Q
Here you go, Mars.

Mars presses some buttons on the screen and is connected to

MRS. PATEL.

MRS. PATEL
Mars?

MARS
Hello? Mom?

MRS. PATEL
Are you all right?

MARS
I’m fine Mama-ji. I’m sorry I ran
away.

MRS. PATEL
I know. I know you are. They tell
me you’re special. That’s why
Oliver chose you.

MARS
I guess so.

MRS. PATEL
I always knew it. I always knew you
were destined to be special. I’m
proud of you Mars.

MARS
I love you, Mom.

MRS. PATEL
I love you, too. Remember what we
used to say when you were little.
(in Hindi)
I’ll see you in the stars.

MARS
I’ll see you in the stars

MRS. PATEL
I want-

There is an electronic buzz as the connection is lost.

MARS
Mom? Mom?

She’s gone.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 176.

OLIVER PRUITT
I am so sorry Mars. We must’ve lost
the connection. I know that was
difficult. Who’s next?

MARS
Mr. Q? I need to talk to you.

MR. Q and Mars walk to the side.

We hear soft talk in the bg.

MARS (CONT’D)
(in a whisper)
Take me. Not them.

MR. Q
Are you sure?

MARS
(louder)
Yeah. I’m sure.

MR. Q
Oliver?

CADDIE
Mars, what are you doing?

OLIVER PRUITT
Okay, it’s a deal.

JP
Mars, you made a deal with these
two liars?

Suddenly the door opens and white shirts hustle in.

JP (CONT’D)
What’s going on?

TOOTHPICK
It’s the white suits!

JP
Hey, get your hands off me!

MARS
I’m sorry, guys.

CADDIE
Mars, you’re sending us away?

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 177.

MARS
I’ve ruined your lives. Got you
suspended. Almost thrown out of
school for good. I can’t ask you to
stay away from your families
forever.

TOOTHPICK
But Mars, we’re a team.

MARS
We’ll always be a team, Pick.
Whether we’re together or not.
Goodbye, buddy. You’re the smartest
guy I’ve ever met. And I’ve met
Oliver Pruitt.

JP
My parents will get over it, Mars.
Let me stay. I can protect you.

MARS
See ya later, JP. Take care of
these guys, okay?

CADDIE
Mars, please. Don’t do this.

MARS
We never had good timing, did we,
Caddie? I’m gonna miss you. You’re
the best person I know. I hope you
can hear what I’m thinking right
now.

CADDIE
(through tears)
Yes. Yes, I hear it. Me, too, Mars.
Me, too.

MR. Q
Come on guys, time to go.

JP
Get your hands off me!

CADDIE
You can’t just take us like that.

Mr. Q and the Whitesuits escort a protesting Caddie,

Toothpick and JP from the room.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 178.

MARS
Okay, Mr. Pruitt. It’s just me and
you now.

OLIVER PRUITT
You’re everything I hoped you’d be.
That was a brave choice you made,
Mars. But life is filled with
difficult choices, and where you
are going, you will be making many,
many more. Please, take a seat.

The RUMBLINGS slowly crescendoes.

MARS
Did you just say going? I thought I
couldn’t leave here. Where are you?
Where’s Aurora?

OLIVER PRUITT
Look, we’ve all seen the movies
where the bad guy ties up the hero
and tells him his whole plan. You
may be a hero, Mars, but I’m not a
bad guy. I just see what’s
happening to our world and I know
we need another option. But to
build that Plan B, I needed kids
with imagination and bravery and
talent. Kids who could start
something new and different. Kids
like Aurora. And like you, Mars.

Loud Click as Mars is suddenly strapped into his seat.

MARS
Hey. Get this thing off me. Why am
I strapped in?

There is a countdown counting down ten...nine... “sequence

activated”

OLIVER PRUITT
For your own safety, of course. All
right, hold on. Take a deep breath.

MARS
What’s happening?

OLIVER PRUITT
Breathe.. three...two...one

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 179.

COMPUTER VOICE
(simultaneously)
Three, two, one... Lift off. Launch
pad three.

HUGE SOUND OF A ROCKET BLASTING OFF.

MARS
(shaking)
Ohhhh...

OLIVER PRUITT
Press the button on your right.
You’ll be able to see out the
window.

MARS
The school is flying? We’re in the
air!

OLIVER PRUITT
Not for long. You’re about to break
through Earth’s atmosphere.

MARS
The Earth! Pruitt Prep is a
...Pruitt Prep is a spaceship?

OLIVER PRUITT
We call it a spacecraft. That’s why
it wasn’t there when you visited
the island.

MARS
Where’s Aurora!

OLIVER PRUITT
She’s right here with me. Say
hello, Aurora.

AURORA
Mars, is that you?

MARS
Aurora!

AURORA
Mars! Help me! Mars.

OLIVER PRUITT
She’s always so dramatic. Say
goodbye to Earth, my friend. I’ll
see you soon. Here...on Mars.

amosruffer@[Link]
Mars Patel, Season 1 180.

The rocket trails off as Mars blasts off into the unknown. To
the stars....

END OF SEASON
ONE.

amosruffer@[Link]