ACT 1

In the opening scene, the script called for several buildings to be destroyed, but the episode's animation doesn't show this happening.

The script states that Wheeljack and Bumblebee should have 5 or 6 energy conductors, but the actual animation only has them bring out 4.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	BUMBLEBEE Well at least we found these, Wheeljack.
	BUMBLEBEE Can't worry about that now. Hey, let's get back to Iacon.
	BUMBLEBEE I bet Optimus Prime will be glad to see us.
	BUMBLEBEE Ah, home sweet home.

Some cut dialogue between Bumblebee and Wheeljack. Wheeljack's welcoming committee line is present in the episode, but the script originally then had Bumblebee appear behind Wheeljack's front seat, and he had a line that Wheeljack would respond to. In the episode, Wheeljack simply raises his shields without saying anything about them.

The first battle plays out a bit differently in the script. First of all, the script doesn't refer to any of the bad guys by their names, simply calling them "the Decepticons". It also called them to fire rockets at Wheeljack, but in the episode, they only use lasers.

This battle was simplified for the finished episode. The script called for Wheeljack to crash through some Decepticons immediately, only for them to give chase. Bumblebee was to pop out and fire at them from weapons in his hands. The Autobots would then come across more Decepticons in front of them, meaning they had Decepticons attacking them from behind and in front. The episode itself only has the Autobots encounter one group of Decepticons.

This explains why in the episode, Bumblebee is briefly shown firing at something behind him when he gets out of Wheeljack, even though no Decepticons were following them.

The script called for Bumblebee to be using shoulder cannons during this battle, but in the episode he only gets to use his wimpy little pistol.

Many have found it strange as to why, when Bumblebee gets hit, a tire is seeing flying off of him, even though it doesn't look like his vehicle mode requires wheels. Well the script specifically calls for a tire to be blown off, so there you go. It appears that the writer wanted Bumblebee to be an Earth-style car here, as the script states for Bumblebee to skid -not something that's very easy to do if you don't have any wheels.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	WHEELJACK'S VOICE ...Bumblebee! Get in, quick!

The script wanted Wheeljack's escape to be a little more exciting, suggesting he might fling himself from one ramp to another, but the animation kept things a lot simpler. The script only has Decepticon #1 and #2 listed as voices, but the actual episode has the correct voices for the two Decepticons used here: Thundercracker and Skywarp.

The script says to show Wheeljack exiting a tunnel, but this isn't shown in the episode itself.

The script states to have Iacon protected by "infa-red beam waves" that scan the place. These weren't present in the episode. The other major difference here is that Soundwave was meant to be sneaking around according to the script, whilst in the episode, he's in plain view, disguised as a lamp post.

The above scripted scene never made it into the finished episode.

As Jazz approaches Soundwave, the script stated that Soundwave's chest was to start flashing red, but this doesn't happen in the episode. The script also calls the thing Soundwave transform into as a "light standard". So I guess he really did transform into a Cybertronium light post after all. Soundwave's "Transformation required" line didn't make it into the episode.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	JAZZ Negative. North side of Cybertron's blacker that the inside of a drive shaft. OPTIMUS PRIME Unless a new supply of energy is found, nobody is going to win this war. PROWL When do we start the search mission?

The above scene was scripted to go on for a little longer, and would have had Gears speak a line -as his line here was cut, he wouldn't get the chance to actually speak until the next episode.

The script wanted Soundwave to fly off into the darkness and disappearing, but in the episode, he simply flies out of shot.

The script wanted viewers to get a good look at the Decepticon HQ, but sadly none of this made it into the episode. Interestingly, a crossed-out line states the Soundwave was meant to be able to transform into a plane! Someone changed it so Soundwave was to simply land in robot mode, but as the entire thing got cut from the episode it didn't matter in the end.

The script states to have other Decepticons in the background of the control tower scene, but in the episode, none are present, and the computers don't display any images of Cybertron either. The script also states to show a laser gun, but more on that below.

The script states to have Soundwave's chest light up before he spoke his next line. Guess what didn't happen in the episode. But much more interesting is the fact that Shockwave's early name was "Flash Beam". I'm glad that got changed -to me Shockwave sounds more menacing.

Some dialogue here was already altered. Megatron was originally meant to say he would "entrust the order of Cybertron", whilst Shockwave was to respond with "Cybertron shall be as you leave it". The edits to the script here match with what's spoken in the episode.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON Excellent. Now it's merely a matter of time until Optimus Prime admits defeat.

The script then has what appears to be a page from an earlier draft here, which has Shockwave/Flash Beam's appearance and dialogue omitted.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON Never... Never! Prepare to blast off.

The script makes a special note of Trailbreaker being seated at Teletraan I as the Autobots are about to blast off, whilst Prowl is at the scanner monitor. But in the finished episode, Trailbreaker is sat at some random computer, whilst Prowl appears to be the one at Teletraan I (he's at the top left corner of the above right image).

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	JAZZ ...all systems go!

Whilst the script calls for Jazz to press a button to make the ship take off, the episode has Optimus do it instead.

The launch of the Decepticon's ship was scripted to go on for a little longer, as Soundwave was meant to pull a switch and the ship would be seen taking off from its launch pad. None of these things made it into the finished episode.

There was then a quite lengthy scene scripted here, but it was cut almost entirely from the episode.

More of the cut scripted scene.

The script plays out the asteroid smash scene slightly differently. Prowl's line and Prime's "smack in the middle!" lines were removed from the episode, and the script states to have Jazz use the ship's controls to move the ship out of the way of the collision.

As the cover phase for the Decepticon's ship was dropped from the finished episode, almost none of the above happens other than Megatron's line, which was changed to him saying "We're losing our power!"

Whilst the scene where the Autobots launch the "viewtrex" was cut from the episode, a reference is still made to it, as Prowl's "viewtrex report" line was kept. Prime's response was shortened to just "Decepticons", though.

The script states for the magnetic beams to be blue, but in the episode, they're pink -perhaps the animators got them confused with the colors of the Decepticon's laser blasts?

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	JAZZ They've made a magnetic junction! I can't shake them! PRIME Fire the laser!

The script calls to show Starscream moving a lever before the boarding chute is activated, but this didn't make it into the episode.

The script calls to show Megatron lead the Decepticons through the boarding chute as they all charge. Unfortunately, in one of the episode's most famous mistakes, the animation here accidentally shows the Autobots preparing for battle, reusing the same animation from a few seconds before it.

The fight sequence was scripted to have lots more stuff happen in it than what the finished episode wounded up with. To summarize:
-"Blades come out of arms and hands" -this doesn't happen, perhaps the idea of the Transformers stabbing each other was a bit too violent?
-The script really wanted some "karate kicks" to happen, but nobody ended up using them.
-Optimus and Megatron were meant to fight each other, but practically their entire battle isn't shown in the episode -they are briefly shown grappling each other, that's it.
-Starscream was meant to easily beat two or three Autobots -due to a possible mistake, Soundwave is shown doing this in the episode instead.
-Ironhide was meant to twist a Decepticon's head! This isn't present in the episode.

Optimus was scripted to pull himself out of a pile of robots after the fight, but he isn't seen doing this in the episode.

Prowl's line of "g-forces... they're dragging us down!" is not in the script.

The script also has the Decepticon ship move away from the Autobot ship earlier, in the episode it happens after Prime says "we're out of control!", but in the script it happens before it.

Whilst the script states to have "EARTH" mentioned here, the episode doesn't have it... I guess someone thought kids were smart enough to figure out what planet the Transformers had landed on without having to be told.

ACT 2

Act 2 was supposed to kick off with a series if overlapping dissolves, taking viewers deeper into the volcano, but sadly it's not present in the episode.

The script asks for Optimus Prime to be seen on the panning shot of the deactivated Transformers, but in the episode, he's not there.

The scene where Teletraan I repairs the Transformers is completely different in the script:

- First of all, the Autobot ship was to shoot a beam out and blow part of the volcano away, and this beam would bounce off into more beams, that shot across the Earth. Teletraan I was to use this to get information about the Earth and the things on it. This was scrapped for the episode, in favor of Teletraan I simply sending a Sky Spy satellite out.
-The script states the beam's color should be green, but in the episode, it's orange.
-The script has Soundwave be the first Transformer to be repaired. In the episode, it's Skywarp. His line is slightly different too: "Megatron, my leader... we are alive again!".

The script is missing a bit of dialogue and shots here. In the finished episode, Megatron responds to Skywarp with "Quickly, we must revive the other Decepticons!", and the two of them are shown placing the Decepticons into the repair beam.

The script calls for "other Decepticons" to appear as the main Decepticons stand on the top of the volcano, but in the finished episode none are seen. Generic Decepticons do feature in later parts, though.

The script states to have Megatron's eyes glow red here, but in the episode, they don't.

As with the reactivated Decepticons, the script is different for Prime's repairs. But more scary is the suggestion that Optimus Prime was to try and smile! Perhaps the writer simply didn't know what Prime was going to look like yet. Prime's line of "thanks!" which he says in the episode to Teletraan I isn't present in the script.

The script requests power lines and stations in the distance for the above shot, but none are present.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON We'll set up here. Those rocks will serve as our base of operations. Soundwave: prepare plans for a new space cruiser. Starscream: Cover the area for construction. STARSCREAM: What about materials? MEGATRON: Use your imagination!

For some reason, Soundwave was noted to be quite big in this script, for example here, Starscream was to look up to him. For his appearances in the series, Soundwave isn't any bigger than your average Decepticon. Another little detail here that got cut from the episode was the when Soundwave looked for some raw materials, he was supposed to scan the area by turning his head 360 degrees!

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	STARSCREAM: Great -but I'll need some help.

The script states to have two of three other Decepticons head off with Starscream and Rumble, but in the episode, only one goes with them: Soundwave.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	CLIFFJUMPER ...I'm going too. I wanna boot some Decepticon right in his turbocharger.

The script states that Hound transforms into a dune buggy, rather than the Jeep he ending up being able to transform into.

A note in the script about Rumble's voice, which wasn't carried out for the character.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	RUMBLE Look Starscream. Megatron is strong, he's merciless. He can't be beaten! And you'll never be our leader. STARSCREAM I will find a way. Everyone has a weakness. RUMBLE Yeah? Well not Megatron.

Rumble's power plant destruction was scripted to go on for longer, which involved the Decepticons wrecking a train's freight cars. In the finished episode, the scene ends after Starscream says "I'm impressed."

The script states to have Hound's radar rise a few feet into the air, but the animation doesn't have it raise at all, the rod remains in his wrist.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	SOUNDWAVE We can concentrate the energy into energon cubes and store them in the new space cruiser.

The script calls for Megatron to laugh at the end of this line, but in the episode, he doesn't. This laugh was actually recorded, but not used.

The script has a little extension to this scene which was cut from the episode. Megatron was to overhear Skywarp and Thundercracker complaining, and smack Thundercracker around a little. The dialogue for the above was recorded, but not used.

Some extra dialogue in the script that wasn't featured in the episode, but was recorded. The script also states to have Cliffjumper fire a rocket at the Decepticons, but in the episode the animation shows him fire a laser.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	SKYWARP Who could be firing on us?

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	SOUNDWAVE ...Laserbeak. Prepare for flight. Course heading: Northeast.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	HOUND Right. At least one of us will get back to Prime. Accelerator down!

The script states that Laserbeak was to release his laser cannon after Hound and Cliffjumper finish talking, in the episode, he does it whilst Hound is still speaking. The script also mentions that Laserbeak was to kind of talk to the cannon, which he doesn't do in the episode.

ACT 3

Just wanted to mention that yes, Hauler is mentioned in this script. But Cliffjumper's "hang tough" line wasn't present in the episode.

The script doesn't mention to have Hound laugh before saying this line, which he does in the episode.

The script states that Thundercracker was to take several photos whilst using Reflector, but in the episode, he only takes one.

Here's a fun little scene that sadly got cut. Before Soundwave answer Thundercracker's call, Skywarp was to find a frisbee and toss it to Starscream, who tossed it back to him, only for it to get blasted by Megatron.

The script states for Soundwave's head to flash with a yellow light, but in the episode it's blue. The script also states for Soundwave to turn a knob on his head, but the animation has him press a button.

The script states the above shot was meant to pull back and show Reflector transforming, but he's not present in the finished animation.

The scene were the power station guys get attacked by Ravage is scripted a little differently. The script states one of the workmen tries to help the other, which isn't seen in the episode. It was meant to be more violent too, as Ravage was scripted to batter them around and rip parts of their clothes up. Another difference is that in the finished animation, both guys jump into the truck one after the other, but the script stated to have one drive towards the other. The line of "step on it!" was removed from the episode.

A note in the script states the Autobot base was too look quite different. In the episode, the above shot of the ship is all we get to see. The Autobot ship is much higher up in the volcano than usual, for this shot only. It seems the idea that the Autobot ship would become the Autobot's base itself hadn't been considered yet.

The script states that Hound was to be half-transformed here, but in the episode he's fully in his robot mode. The strange laser device Ratchet is seen using isn't in the script.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	HOUND ...and that's all we heard, Prime. They're gonna put the energy in some kind of cube -then haul it back to Cybertron.

The above dialogue was scripted to be spoken after Hound's "energy in some kind of cube" line, but was all cut from the episode.

Whilst Laserbeak does fly past the camera in the episode, he never squawks.

The script states for Megatron to be sat in a rock throne here, but in the episode he's just standing.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON Excellent... excellent!

The above scripted scene isn't present in the finished episode. It would have explained how the Autobots were able to find the Decepticons at the oil rig -they followed them to it from their own base. Also of note is that the script states for there to be two Decepticon "Mini Planes" and "as many other Decepticon planes as desired".

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	SPARKPLUG Look! Up there! What is it? SPIKE? What are they?

The script called for the Decepticon's attack on the workers to be a lot more violent. Megatron was to swing the pipe he picks up at the workers, the finished animation toned it down by having him roll it across the ground to knock a few off. Starscream was scripted to knock workers off with his fists -presumably just by pushing them rather than punching them, I hope -but this didn't make it into the episode, nor did Soundwave's derrick ripping action.

The script states to have Spike try to pull Rumble away. The finished animation rather infamously has him punch Rumble instead.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	SPIKE ...stop! Let go of my Dad!

This above scripted moment never occurs.

Megatron's dialogue here is in the episode, however Starscream's actions aren't. So it makes Megatron sound really mad with Starscream for no reason.

This line was cut from the episode.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	STARSCREAM We did it, we did it Megatron! The energy is ours, we can go back to Cybertron! MEGATRON You fool, Starscream! This is but a small fraction of the energy we need. We must suck this planet Earth dry!

The line Skywarp has here in the script would be given to Starscream in the finished episode. Also of note is that Megatron was to fire himself here -in the episode, Starscream catches and fires him.

The battle was scripted to have more action in it. The mysterious Decepticon "Spitfires" are mentioned again here, but are nowhere to be found in the finished episode. Also of note is that Prime was supposed to produce a shield to block a shot from Megatron, but this isn't shown in the episode.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME Give it up, Megatron. MEGATRON The universe is mine!

The script states to show Wheeljack chasing Rumble up some girders before they start battling each other, but in the episode, the chase part was cut.

The above fight doesn't happen in the episode. Prowl can briefly be seen grappling with Reflector, but there's no water pump breaking.

Some scripted fighting between Prime and Megatron that didn't make it into the episode.

Also scripted was a fight where Soundwave would take on Cliffjumper and Trailbreaker. Whilst the actual fight isn't present in the episode, there is the above shot where you can just about see Trailbreaker and Soundwave in the top left corner, along with the spurting oil.

More scripted fighting which was all later cut. Megatron's line here was also cut. The episode has Laserbeak distract Prime to let Megatron get away, but the script here stated for Soundwave to knock him away.

Whilst the script calls for Prime and Prowl to shoot at the energon cubes, the animation shows Prowl and Jazz doing it.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	SPARKPLUG The fire! It's coming closer! PRIME I can't lift it! Too heavy! Grab onto me... keep your heads above water.

Whilst the episode ends with Prime's "keep your heads above water" line, the script goes on for a bit longer. Brawn and Huffer were meant to use a hose that Windcharger would turn on the water for, but due to the derrick giving way they'd fall. Brawn would make it, but Huffer wouldn't -whilst this wasn't shown in the episode, it does explain why Huffer is suddenly trapped in part 2.