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 12/28/1984, whilst Ron Friedman's revised script is dated 01/04/1985.

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

ACT 1

This episode was meant to start off with some dialogue from the narrator, but it was all cut from the episode.

This was cut from the episode.

In the episode, Laserbeak is missing from this shot.

This was cut from the episode. It was scripted to happen after Shrapnel's "full of electrons" line.

In the episode, Shrapnel is present in this shot, but Bombshell isn't.

This line was cut.

In the episode, Bombshell says "Great shot, Shrapnel" and instead of slapping him on the back, he just gives a thumbs up.

The shot of the good guys mentioned here was cut. Instead, Bombshell goes after Bumblebee. The script also wanted the Autobots to be in robot mode here, but in the episode Bumblebee drives away from Bombshell for a few seconds, then transforms.

In the episode, Bumblebee charges into Shrapnel right before he says the above line. This isn't in the script.

All of the above was cut from the episode. It was meant to happen before the Insecticons roll a fallen tree at the Autobots.

This line was cut.

This line was cut, which was originally meant to end act 1. Instead, act 1's last line is Shrapnel's "we did it!".

ACT 2

In the episode, right before Megatron says this line, Bombshell says "I'm hungry". This line isn't in the script.

The script's original line here can't be read, but allegedly the original line was meant to be something like "thank heavens for that bogus plot device or we'd all be finished!". See this page of the TF wiki for more info.

This line was cut.

This line was cut.

In the episode, after Megatron says the above, this conversation happens:

SHRAPNEL: What task, task?
BOMBSHELL: Who cares, if there's energy in it!
MEGATRON: You will help me seize the defense computer at Iron Mountain!

None of the above is in the script.

I'll just mention here that any instance of "electro power" in the script was changed to "nova power" in the actual episode.

This dialogue was cut.

In the episode, Jazz laughs between saying "buzzard's" and "caboose", which wasn't in the script.

The above was all cut from the episode. It was scripted to happen after Jazz's "buzzard's caboose" line.

In the episode, Inferno's siren isn't used.

The script wanted the power source to be rainbow colored, but in the episode it's blue.

Shrapnel's line here was cut.

The script has a note about possibly having Soundwave in this shot, but in the episode he's not there.

In the episode, Shrapnel doesn't say "In that case".

This shot of a panel opening on one of Ironhide's arms isn't in the script.

In the episode, Inferno carries Ironhide with his arms, rather than over his shoulder.

In the episode, Shrapnel doesn't fire off any lightning here.

This was cut from the episode, it was scripted to happen after Spike's "find an antidote" line.

The script's description of Iron Mountain differs from what it looks like in the episode.

This line was cut.

In the episode, the image on Teletraan I's screen isn't shown exploding.

ACT 3

This was all cut from the episode.

This was cut from the episode.

In the episode, Wheeljack isn't seen speaking into a communicator when he says this.

In the episode, Shrapnel doesn't say this line when he transforms here.

All of the above was cut from the episode.

In the episode, Spike doesn't look at his watch, and his dialogue was cut down to just "I hope so!".

In the episode, Megatron also says "good!" before saying this line.

This was cut from the episode.

In the episode, Skywarp and Thundercracker turn around to stare at Megatron and Starscream, rather than the Insecticons.

In the episode, Starscream doesn't clutch at the shell, or yell when it hits him.

In the episode, this sequence was altered so the shell never hits Megatron -he instead catches it with his hand.

The above was all cut from the episode.

In the episode, when Optimus grabs Megatron, the latter isn't seen to be sparking.

There is a note in the script about the Insecticons rumbling "louder and louder" throughout this scene, but in the episode only a bit of rumbling is heard, which soon stops.

This line for Kickback was cut.

The script doesn't mention anything about Shrapnel taking down Wheeljack and Hound here, which is what he's shown to do in the episode. He doesn't say the above line quite yet either, instead he says it after the lightning bolt blasts through Iron Mountain.

In the episode, Shrapnel has a line for when he blasts Prime and Megatron, which isn't in the script: "You first, Prime!"

That really is what Optimus says in the episode. It seems an editing error led to this dialogue being cut out at the start.

The script notes Spike should pull out and use a screwdriver to open Shrapnel's chest compartment, but in the episode he doesn't use one. He just pull open the compartment with his hand.

In the episode, Soundwave hits a wall, rather than a power main.

In the episode, this line is not a voice over.

These lines were cut.