[Opening sequence and theme song.]
[Episode begins with a street view from an alleyway. It is raining. A rat rummages in the garbage. Shift to bumper-to-bumper traffic on a highway in the city. Mr. Thompson is on his car phone.]
Burne Thompson "Well, Vernon, any ideas yet for tonight's editorial?"
Vernon "Not yet, sir, but I'm working on it."
Mr. Thompson "Well, come up with something, and I mean pronto!
Yeow! Scat! Come on, get out of here! Beat it, would you! Ohh."
[A rat attacks him in his car.]
Yeow! Scat! Come on, get out of here! Beat it, would you! Ohh."
[Mr. Thompson smashes into the car in front of him, which happens to be a police cruiser. The police write him a ticket. Cut to the Channel 6 news station.]
Vernon "We need an editorial, and I mean pronto. What will Burne say when he finds out we don't have an editorial?"
Thompson "Rats!"
Vernon "What a brilliant idea, sir! "Rats—a boon to mankind!" "Our friend, the rat." "Rats throughout history.""
Thompson "They're a menace to society!"
Vernon "Absolutely! Disgusting little vermin."
Thompson "April, you're going to dig up the facts about our city's rat problem. That's tonight's editorial."
April O'Neil "Rats?"
Thompson "You heard me. Rats!"
[Shift to the turtle lair.]
Leonardo "Don't do it, Michelangelo!"
Michelangelo "It's no use, Leonardo. Don't try talking me out of it."
Raphael "You don't know what you're letting yourself in for."
Michelangelo "A turtle's gotta do what a turtle's gotta do."
Raphael "And the dough gets real soggy."
Splinter "Besides, there is still one last box of pizza mix in the cupboard."
Michelangelo "There is? All right! Well, let's get cooking! Hey, you're right, Sensei. There's enough here for a major nosh."
Donatello "Yah, a rat!"
Michelangelo "Hey, fur-face! That was our din-din! Ahh-- ah-choo!"
Donatello "I'll get him!"
Leonardo "Don't let him escape. Ooh!"
Splinter "Your reflexes must be dull indeed if a mere rodent can outmaneuver you."
Michelangelo "That furry little dude was more than mere."
Leonardo "Shh! Someone's coming."
Donatello "Maybe it's the rat again."
Michelangelo "Tub-u-loso! This time we'll nail him."
Leonardo "Here he comes."
April "Hey! Watch it, guys!"
Leonardo "April!"
April "There's nothing like a warm greeting from old friends."
Donatello "Sorry, April. We mistook you for someone else-- we're talking about a lowdown pizza-stealing rat!"
April "What a coincidence. I'm researching a story on rats! I think every one of them should be chased out of town. Ah, ha ha ha! Present company excepted, of course."
Splinter "Of course."
April "I came down to investigate the situation in the sewers firsthand."
Leonardo "Master Splinter, are you all right?"
Splinter "Yes. Just an odd feeling. Do not worry. It will pass."
April "Uh-oh, I better hustle. I go on the air in twenty minutes."
Irma "I wonder what's taking April so long. This place gives me the willies."
April "Okay, Irma! Let's roll!"
Irma "So, what did you find out?"
April "I think Burne’s exaggerating. I didn't see a single rat.
I'm entitled to my opinion. You don't have to hiss at me."
[Rats chew holes in the tires on the Channel 6 news van.]
I'm entitled to my opinion. You don't have to hiss at me."
Irma "Who's hissing? I agree with you. Oh, no! Two flat tires."
April "Make that four flat tires. Oh, hurry, Irma. If I miss that broadcast, Burne will dock me a month's pay. Irma, did you ever have the feeling someone's following you?"
Irma "No. What's it like?"
April "Rats! Zillions and zillions of rats."
Irma "Let--let's find a taxi. Quick!"
Both "Taxi! Taxi! Yoo-hoo! Taxi!"
Taxi Driver "Where to, ladies?"
April "Channel 6 news."
Taxi Driver "S-sorry. I ain't allowed to carry more than f-f-five passengers."
April "Irma, don't look now, but I think we're in serious trouble. Thank heavens! A bus!"
Thompson "Where is April? She's on in two minutes!"
Vernon "You know how women are when it comes to time."
April "Okay, Burne, I'm ready with my editorial."
Thompson "It had better be good."
Announcer "And here, straight from the field is April O'Neil with a Channel 6 editorial."
April "Good evening. I hope this doesn't upset our viewers, but I'd like to talk about rats. Our city is being overrun with hordes of these disgusting creatures."
Raphael "Upset us? Heck no! This is a terrific dinner topic."
April "Something must be done about these vicious rodents before it's too late. They carry disease, pestilence, and they aren't even cute! We urge the city to do something about them immediately."
[A hand reaches for the news station’s power control. The turtles’ TV screen suddenly goes fuzzy.]
Michelangelo "Hey! Like, who pulled the plug?"
Thompson "What happened to April?"
Vernon "She's--she's gone!"
Donatello "April? Gone?"
[Scene shifts to the sewer tunnels. The Rat King walks through the water carrying a gagged April over his shoulder. Behind him are hundreds of rats.]
April "Ohh."
[Topside, the turtles are driving towards the news station in their van.]
Donatello "Put the pedal to the metal, Leonardo. We've gotta find April."
Leonardo "This is the best place to start looking. Okay. All together now."
Raphael "Why can't April have a ground-floor office?"
Donatello "I wish we had those antigravity boots from episode six."
Michelangelo "Check it out. There's the studio she disappeared from."
Thompson "Whoever heard of losing a commentator in the middle of a broadcast?"
Vernon "I keep telling you she's not reliable."
Thompson "Vernon, find April O'Neil so I can fire her!"
Irma "Boy, he's really on the warpath."
Vernon "Irma, this is all your fault."
Irma "My fault! How come?"
Vernon "If you hadn't-- that is, if you had only-- I mean, if you and April-- trust me, it's all your fault."
Irma "It's guys like that who make me glad I'm a member of the opposite sex. Yeow! The turtles?"
Leonardo "Quick, Irma, what happened to April?"
Irma "You know as much as I do. One minute she's here, the next she's gone. If you ask me, it's those rats."
Michelangelo "Hey, lighten up, compadres. If April needed us, she'd scope us out on her turtlecom."
Raphael "You mean this turtlecom?"
All "Uh-oh! Uh-oh!"
Leonardo "Fellas, we've got to check every storm drain and sewer pipe in the city until we find April."
Donatello "What are we waiting for?"
Michelangelo "Cowabunga!"
All "Turtle power!"
Irma "Ahh, how romantic. They're just like four little green Errol Flynn’s."
Leonardo "It's good of you to help us search for April, Master Splinter."
Splinter "Perhaps my rodent instincts may be of some use."
Leonardo "Well, guys, any sign of her?"
Michelangelo "Nada. Zero. Zilch."
Donatello "We've checked everywhere, from the sludge pump to the garbage runoff to the raw sewage drain."
Raphael "Oh, the scenic route."
Leonardo "Master Splinter, are you all right?"
Splinter "Yes, I am fine. Please, let us continue the search."
Leonardo "I'm worried about Sensei. He's acting kind of strange."
Donatello "I've noticed that, too. Maybe we should keep an eye on him."
Raphael "Now there's a switch."
[Underground in the Rat King’s lair, April struggles against her bonds.]
April "Oooh. Mmm. Mmmm."
Rat King "Welcome to my humble abode, Miss O'Neil. Ha, ha. I trust you're comfortable."
April "Who are you?"
Rat King "I am his royal rodent majesty, the Rat King! And these are my loyal subjects. My simplest wish is their command."
April "But why did you bring me here?"
Rat King "To keep you from telling those vicious lies about my loyal rat subjects."
April "Ahh!"
Rat King "Ha ha ha ha! Forget dogs. The rat is truly man's best friend."
April "Rat king! Mister, you've got a serious identity problem."
Rat King "You wish a demonstration? Haven't you heard? Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast."
April "I think you're the only beast around here."
Rat King "Don't you understand? My devoted rodent followers and I are establishing a new form of government in these sewers. A ratocracy! And I am their leader!"
April "Brother, you're also nuttier than a truckload of fruit cakes."
Raphael "Yo, April! Where are you?"
Leonardo "It's no use. We've covered every tunnel and still no sign of her."
Michelangelo "Man, this place is emptier than a pizza pan after an attack of the midnight munchies."
[Leonardo’s turtlecom begins to beep.]
Leonardo "Leonardo, here."
Irma "It's Irma. Hi. Listen, I think I know where April is and who's got her. Some nut called the rat king."
Leonardo "How do you know that?"
Irma "Ahh, just call it woman's intuition."
Rat King "Uh, Miss O'Neil."
April "What is it now, your highness?"
Rat King "It's lunchtime. Can I interest you in some ratatouille?"
April "Here's what I think of your offer."
Rat King "You're quite attractive when you're angry. Especially for someone without whiskers."
April "Just wait ‘til my friends the turtles get here!"
Rat King "Ha, ha! Turtles? They're no match for my army of rats."
April "It just so happens they're trained by Splinter, a true ninja master."
Rat King "I see. And what is he, a salamander?"
April "If you must know, he's a rat. Oops."
Rat King "A rat, you say? Ah, perfect. With a ninja master in my power, I can rule every rodent in the city. Yes, my faithful followers. We'll stop these turtles before they invade our rodent realm. And we'll do this by turning their master against them."
Leonardo "It seems hopeless, Master."
Splinter "Nevertheless, we must keep searching."
Donatello "Sensei, what's wrong?"
Splinter "Uh, I-- I feel strange, as if some force is compelling me to do things beyond my control."
Rat King "Hold it. You're trespassing on royal grounds."
Michelangelo "Who are you, dude?"
Rat King "You will address me with respect. I am the Rat King."
Donatello "The Rat King. He's the one who grabbed April!"
Leonardo "Listen, mister, just hand over Miss O'Neil, and no one will get hurt."
Splinter "That music. I-- I cannot resist."
Michelangelo "Actually, it is kind of a catchy tune."
Rat King "Splinter, from now on, you will obey only me."
Splinter "Yes, your highness."
Donatello "Your highness?"
Rat King "And my royal decree is destroy those turtles!"
Splinter "Your command I obey, Master. Hyah!"
[He proceeds to beat up the turtles.]
Turtles "Whoa! Unh! Whoa! Whoa! Oh."
Leonardo "Oh, no. Master Splinter may be too much even for all four of us."
Raphael "Oh, in that case, we're turtle soup."
Splinter "Turtles, prepare to say sayonara. Grrr!"
Rat King "Now, my willing subject, finish them off."
Splinter "Yes, your majesty. Hyah!"
Donatello "Aah! Ooh!"
Michelangelo "Whoa!"
Leonardo "No, Master! Stop!"
Splinter "Hyah! Hyah!"
Donatello "Something's come over Splinter."
Michelangelo "He's like totally flipped out!"
Raphael "What are we gonna do? I don't want to fight him."
Donatello "We can't just leave him here."
Rat King "Ha ha ha! It's no use, turtles. If it has four legs and squeaks, it obeys only me."
Leonardo "Master Splinter, listen to me! Ignore the Rat King's commands!"
Rat King "No, Splinter. I am your ruler. Obey me."
Leonardo "Your will is stronger than his. You must turn against the Rat King!"
Michelangelo "I don't think he's buying it, dude."
Leonardo "There's only one thing left to do. I won't try to defend myself."
Rat King "Now, my loyal subject, finish him!"
Splinter "Hyah!"
[Splinter leaps towards the turtles, but rather than hitting them, he breaks open a water pipe. The water slams into the Rat King.]
Rat King "Whoa! Wh--wh—"
Leonardo "It worked, Master. You're yourself again."
Splinter "Yes, barely."
Raphael "Come on. Let's blow this joint."
Michelangelo "Mondo notion, bud."
Rat King "Unh! They've escaped with their ninja master! Or should I say, my ninja master. This contest of wills is not over yet."
Splinter "Never before have I turned on my pupils. I am ashamed."
Leonardo "But, Sensei, your will power did triumph over his."
Splinter "Thank you, Leonardo, but I don't wish to run that risk again. That is why you turtles must continue your search for April without me. I dare not face the Rat King until my strength returns."
Leonardo "Don't worry, Master. You trained us well. We'll get April back."
Raphael "You're darned right!"
Michelangelo "Yeah, for sure!"
[At Channel 6, Irma searches old news feeds.]
Vernon "Irma, why aren't you looking for April?"
Irma "I am."
Vernon "How, by watching TV?"
Irma "It so happens, Vernon, I'm looking for a certain news story, and I just hit pay dirt."
Vernon "That's the expose we did on abandoned subway stations."
Irma "Right. And I've got a feeling that's where the Rat King's keeping April."
Vernon "Rat king? What rat king?"
Irma "Come on. I'll explain on the way."
Vernon "But I'm not dressed to meet royalty."
[Irma slides open a manhole cover and steps down onto a ladder, followed by Vernon.]
Vernon "Sh-shouldn't we get some professional help?"
Irma "Relax, Vernon. We got the four best bodyguards in the business. Irma to turtles. Irma to turtles. Come in, turtles. Oh, all this dampness is shorting out the signal."
Vernon "If I see one rat down here, just one rat, I'll-- ohh! Mama!"
[Vernon flees back up to the city street, leaving Irma alone.]
Irma "The mighty hunter."
[Cut to April, still trapped in the cage where the Rat King left her.]
April "Let's hope this nail file does the trick. It did it! Ah, freedom! Rats. He would have to leave sentries. This looks like the only unguarded exit. Not the most inviting place in the world, but here goes nothing."
Rat King "That blasted Splinter. No rat has ever overcome my control before. What's this? She's escaped! A fine pair of sentries you are! No more Swiss cheese for you two for an entire month! What's this? Ah, so this is her escape route. After her! We must catch her before she locates the turtles."
Leonardo "The subway terminal the Rat King is using is located that way. So we'll go this way."
Michelangelo "You want to, like, zoom that by us again?"
Leonardo "That way he'll have sentries waiting for us. This way, we can blind-side him. Someone's coming! Get ready."
All "Hyah! Hyah!"
April "Aah!"
Leonardo "April!"
April "That's the second time today you guys have done that!"
Raphael "And we'll keep on doing it ‘til we get it right."
Rat King "She couldn't have gotten far. Wait. I smell something. It's a woman's perfume. Heh heh. And the fragrance is getting closer. Got ya!"
Irma "Aah!"
Rat King "Who are you?"
Irma "Hey, hold on. You're that Rat King maniac."
Rat King "Maniac majesty, to you."
Irma "Okay, buster. Where's my pal April?"
Rat King "That's what I'd like to know."
Irma "Well, there's one way to find out. Yoo-hoo! April! Yoo-hoo! April!"
April "It's Irma!"
Rat King "Where are you?"
Leonardo "And the Rat King! April, you stay here."
April "And miss out on a story? No way."
Rat King "Heh heh! Now, turtles, the final showdown."
Leonardo "A bomb! Jump!"
April "Oh, yuck! Oh!"
Rat King "Bring her back to the palace."
Irma "Wait. I'll be your hostage. Take me instead."
Rat King "Call me when you're a TV reporter."
Irma "Ohh! Men! You always go for the redheads."
[Irma stomps on his foot. As he jumps around, a bomb falls from his belt.]
Rat King "Ouch! Ooh! Ow! Ooh, that hurt! Ooh. Ow. Gee. Look out! It's going to blow! Let's get out of here! Come on!"
Irma "Where's everybody going?"
Donatello "Irma! Run!"
Michelangelo "That means you, dudette."
Leonardo "Watch out!"
Donatello "Well, so much for the Rat King."
Michelangelo "For sure, I seriously doubt if we'll see that creepazoid again."
Leonardo "I hope you're right. It's a small world down here in the sewers."
April "Well, gang, it's been fun, but I gotta get back to the old rat race. Oops."
[Back in the lair, the turtles relax with pizza.]
Leonardo "I wonder if we'll ever run across the Rat King again."
Splinter "Your battle with him was a stalemate. I fear that he might seek a future confrontation."
Donatello "I've already anticipated that possibility. Ta-da!"
Michelangelo "Holy guacamole!"
Donatello "It's a super rodent trap, especially designed to capture the Rat King. We just have to plant this near his lair, and-- hey! Hey!"
[Donatello’s trap backfires and traps him, tying him up with a red bow.]
Splinter "Somehow, Donatello, I doubt that the world will beat a path to your door over this one."
[End Credits]