A revised scripted is available for this episode, which can be read in full at the Sunbow and Marvel Productions Script/Storyboard Archive. The original script was written by Douglas Booth on 07/27/1984, whilst Ron Friedman's revised script is dated 08/06/1984. This script is then dated as "FINAL" with a date of 08/13/84.

Unfortunately Ron used a pretty thick marker pen to cross out bits he changed, so it's often hard to tell what was there originally.

ACT 1

ACT 2

ACT 3

The script refers to Skyfire as Jetfire. Unlike previous scripts, the name Jetfire is constantly used without any corrections, but in the episode itself, Skyfire is used.

Also of note in the cast list is "farmer's wife". More on her below.

ACT 1

In the episode, one bird makes an appearance, but no flowers or insects do. Instead, we briefly see some lizards, along with lots of trees.

In the episode, the boats don't have motors, instead the boatmen use oars.

The idea of Shrapnel echoing the last word of his lines wasn't in the original script, and was something Ron came up with.

The script wanted to have Kickback land on a rock and kick the third boat, but in the episode the animators simplified things greatly by having him fly right into the boat instead.

Bombshell was meant to throw out a fireball from his mouth, according to the script. The animators drew him firing it from the antennae on the top of his head.

In the episode, Spike says "Dad" before saying this line, and you can't hear Skyfire's engines here.

Laserbeak originally had a line, which Ron crossed out. The line was:

Megatron! I've just intercepted a radio transmission I think you'll find interesting!

It seems Douglas Booth was unaware Laserbeak couldn't talk, as he also gave him a line in the original script for Roll for It, which Ron again crossed out.

This was cut from the episode, in the episode it cuts to a shot of the jungle, then the Decepticons are seen landing. The script also wanted Laserbeak to be present here, but whilst he's seen leaving Decepticon HQ with the others, he's not present when they land in the jungle.

Laserbeak originally had another line here, which was crossed out: "These are the coordinates of the original sighting." In the episode, he's not present in this scene.

Ravage originally had a line here "Deserted, but recently used!", but this was crossed out. Thundercracker's line was originally meant for Soundwave.

The script called for Megatron to lift the entire escape module out of the swamp, but in the episode he doesn't do this. He is seen grabbing it, but before he's shown lifting it, it cuts to a shot of Thundercracker and Soundwave.

In the episode, the farmer screams before saying his line, whilst his wife's line was cut.

In the episode, Kickback laughs before saying the "How was" line, something which wasn't in the script.

The shot of the farm workers mentioned here was cut from the episode, as was farm worker #1's line.

The script states Bombshell's insecta-shells were to send out lots of wires and micro-circuits, but in the episode they don't do this at all. A bunch of lightning bolts appear instead.

The script stated for Bombshell and Shrapnel to be in this shot, but the animators used Shrapnel and Kickback. Kickback also emits rays here, whilst in the script only Shrapnel was meant to do it.

The script wanted to show pieces of scrap fusing together, but in the episode the Insecticon clones simply glow their way into existence. The script also only wanted one clone of each Insecticon, but the animators used lots of clones here, and throughout the rest of the episode.

ACT 2

In the episode, Brawn appears to be mouthing this line, using Bumblebee's voice.

In the episode, Laserbeak is missing here.

Ever find it odd how in the episode, Brawn randomly mentions how he's glad Rumble isn't here? In the script, Soundwave was to immediately send Rumble out after Brawn said this, and he'd make an earthquake (stomping his foot rather than using his arms -something else that was in earlier scripts) but this sequence was cut from the episode.

In the episode, this sequence was edited slightly differently. We see Megatron knock back Sunstreaker and then lift up Sideswipe (Megatron uses both arms rather than one), then it cuts to the Autobots transforming and Spike saying his line. It then cuts back to Megatron, who throws Sideswipe.

This sequence was cut from the episode. It was meant to happen after Soundwave's "we are no longer alone" line.

The script has a note here about there always being a buzzing sound effect played whenever the Insecticons are flying around in their insect modes, but such buzzing isn't heard in the episode.

The script states Wheeljack should use the "jet packs in his arms", but in the episode he just takes off like it was nothing special. The script's note seems to be a reference to his toy's bio, which states he can fly using "solid-fuel rockets in arms".

Sideswipe's line here was cut.

In the episode, Brawn's grunt comes after Kickback's line.

ACT 3

 

In the episode, it's Kickback and Shrapnel who scramble up, and Bombshell isn't seen. Shrapnel kind of looks like he's trying to raise one of his legs in the episode, but he's not seen placing it on Kickback's arm like the script wants. The script says Shrapnel has six legs in his insect mode, but his character model only has two.

Wheeljack's line here was cut.

The script suggests some Insecticons are also sent flying here along with Thundercracker, but in the episode none are seen.

In the episode, no laser blasts are seen during this shot.

These short battle scenes were cut from the episode, replaced with this stationary shot of Kickback firing at some Autobots.

In the episode, Bombshell is already in his robot mode when he says this line.

This was mostly cut from the episode. It was scripted to happen after Shrapnel says this line:

However, in the episode, after Shrapnel says this line, he says "now!", which is seemingly taken from his cut "You will -now! now!" line above. This may have been an editing error.

This was cut from the episode, it was scripted to happen after Optimus Prime gets blasted by Shrapnel.

The script wanted the Insecticons to eat all of the energon cubes, but in the episode a few cubes are still there. Shrapnel isn't seen pointing with one of his legs in the episode either.

In the script, this line was meant to be a follow up to Megatron's earlier "Forget the Autobots" line, but in the episode he loses the "and", so it doesn't work like that.

Wheeljack laughs after saying this line, which wasn't in the script.

He also laughs before saying this line, which again, wasn't scripted.