This script isn't dated, but contains an absolute ton of differences. The script can be read at the Sunbow and Marvel Productions Script/Storyboard Archive.

ACT 1

The script doesn't state to open the episode with a recap of events from part two.

The script states that Ratchet should be moving around Prime and inspecting him, but the animation just has him standing still in front of Prime.

This line of Ratchet's was cut.

The script calls for Roller to be moving slower and be covered with dust, but the animation doesn't show this -Roller looks just as good as before.

Another cut line.

Most of this was cut -Jazz's "you just take it easy" was cut, as was Prime's repeat of the line. The bit mentioning Roller's light going out does happen in the episode, but it happens before Jazz's "tough little Autobot" line.

The script just lists these lines for "Autobots". In the episode, Gears says "Come on Prime, you can do it! Try harder!", Huffer says "You got it... you got it!" and Cliffjumper says "Come on!".

This dialogue was altered for the episode. Jazz chuckles before saying his line, and does not say "You had us worried", whilst Prime's line was cut entirely. Ratchet doesn't say "You're lucky."

The script states for Ironhide to produce two jackhammer drills from his arms, but the animation shows him produce one drill. Sideswipe would get the jackhammer arms later on in the series though... the writers were probably still figuring out who got what special powers.

Some things were added for the episode here. Sparkplug was given a line ("Jazz! I'd thought we'd had it!") and a shot of Spike running over to his father to hug him was added. The script also states to flip the frame, but in the episode it just cuts.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	WHEELJACK Fifty-nine point ninety-nine, to be exact.

Jazz's line here was cut. I think Ironhide might say "leapin'" rather than "leakin'" but I can't tell.

Megatron was supposed to be in gun mode here, he'd transform after saying the "it worked!" line. In the episode, he's in robot mode for all of this scene.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME The Decepticons! They're escaping!

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	IRONHIDE After them! They're... PRIME Save it, Ironhide. They're too fast for us in the air.

Ironhide was supposed to start firing here, but in the episode he fires after Blue Streak says his "our fight" line.

Ironhide and Blue Streak's battle was scripted to go on for a little longer than what ended up in the episode. The majority of the above was cut, including a potential nameless Decepticon death! In the finished episode, Ironhide fire a rocket that hits Skywarp, who then teleports behind the two Autobots.

This bit was changed, as the animation has Skywarp initially attack the Autobots with a few missiles, and then shows him using his lasers. The script never mentions him using missiles.

The script states for Ironhide to be smoking as he plummets, but the animation has no smoke.

This scripted sequence was cut from the episode.

This was also cut -the Autobots instead fly in in their robot modes, so it probably made it easier for the animators rather than animating everyone transform.

The script says Prime should be helping carry Jazz, but the animation has Blue Streak. The script also wants Prowl to open Ratchet's doors, but in the episode the doors open without him doing anything.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	IRONHIDE Hey, no way! Soon as Ratchet tightens a few bolts - I'll be right back in action!

The script also states for Prime to close Ratchet's doors, but the animation doesn't show him doing this.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	HOUND Haha, don't think he likes being a prisoner. MIRAGE Can't say I blame him. You know, I'm surprised the Decepticons haven't tried to rescue him. HOUND I'm not. They don't care about any one - not even their own.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	HOUND Haha, here's your friend Megatron to keep you company.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	HOUND A gigantic illusion that'll trick the Decepticons into coming to us - on our terms.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	JAZZ It might just work. PROWL What's the hologram of?

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	HOUND ...I just saw Prime -he told me Teletraan One located a secret supply of rocket fuel.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	HOUND Not too far from here - about 140 kilometers due west.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	HOUND Why there's enough rocket fuel at that base to make four trips to Cybertron.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MIRAGE But what about Ravage? HOUND Don't worry about him -he's not going anywhere.

The script states to have an alarm sound when Ravage opens the cage, but nothing is heard in the episode, making it look like the Autobots magically know he's escaped.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MIRAGE It's Ravage! HOUND He's getting away!

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MIRAGE Ravage... he escaped.

Due to an animation mistake, Hound mouths the above line in the episode, but Mirage's voice is heard.

The above rather infamous shot of the Autobots staring at Prime in horror in reaction to his "perfect" line... was not in the script. The script has things cut straight to the Decepticon base after Prime finishes speaking. So the animators added this shot in... perhaps they were just as confused to Prime's word as the Autobots were.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	RAVAGE'S VOICE ...the rocket base is 140 kilometers due west of the Autobot camp.

This line of Soundwave's was cut. Given how he was originally going to ask about a rescue plan in the previous part, and was going to say this here, it seems Soundwave really did care for his buddy. But in the end I guess someone didn't want to present Soundwave as a nice guy.

This line was altered so Megatron first says "Excellent, Ravage - EXCELLENT!" first, then he says the rest of the line.

Starscream's "it's empty!" line did make it into the episode, but scripted was a short sequence before it where he was supposed to try and shoot Megatron again, only for his weapon to be out of power. Without this animation present in the episode, his line here is just odd.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON You failed to dispose of me when you had the chance, Starscream... mistake number two. Now it's my turn. STARSCREAM Please... don't fire... I... I was wrong. I shouldn't have done it. Please... don't shoot... ARGH!

Whilst Megatron does shoot Starscream, he doesn't shatter his gun. It looks like Starscream was meant to be holding a separate gun here, rather than using one of his arm lasers like the animation shows. Starscream also says "Megatron... Megatron!" here, which isn't in the script.

The script calls for Megatron to turn and walk away, but this isn't shown in the episode.

The script doesn't mention showing Hound creating the holographic rocket site, but a shot of him doing just that is present in the episode.

ACT 2

Megatron was supposed to transform here, but in the episode he remains in his robot mode. I get the feeling someone wasn't too happy with Megatron transforming into a giant gun all the time, perhaps they thought it wasn't such a good idea to be showing this to kids? However Megatron is still seen transforming into a giant gun in the intro so who knows...

I guess what was scripted here was a bit too violent, so the animators toned it down.

Megatron's "Getting the rocket fuel" line here was cut, but the "You've lost" line was kept in. Megatron's eyes were meant to glow, but the animation shows his arms shaking really fast for some reason.

This scripted sequence was cut from the episode.

The script states to show some military guys working outside at the real rocket site, but none are seen in the establishing shot.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	RADAR MAN ...unidentified aircraft approaching sir! A lot of them!

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	OFFICER #1 ...this is Cape Carlson control tower -identify yourselves. Identify! Over.

This was cut from the episode -it appears that Starscream's null ray would work on humans as well as machines!

If you've ever wondered why officer #2's line cuts off so abruptly, it's because Starscream was supposed to blast the tower he's in and freeze everyone.

Soundwave's chest was supposed to display an image of the universe whilst he says the above lines, but the animation doesn't show this at all.

The script has an extension to this scene which was cut from the episode. In the episode, the scene cuts to the next one right after Megatron says his "blast off" line, but the script had Starscream sucking up to him, but both he and Soundwave know Starscream's full of it.

The script states to pull back as Prime speaks these lines, but the episode does the opposite -it zooms in on Prime's face.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME But this battle will be most dangerous - so I ask for volunteers.

When the Autobots start step forward to volunteer, you might notice Ironhide and Hound have some marks on them. These aren't animation errors -the script called to show some Autobots with "battle-scars", suggesting black tape. The animators seemed to try and do something with this, but it just looks like they have some dots on them.

I guess the animators did not know how to do anything with this suggestion, as in the episode nothing is shown for it.

None of the above made it into the episode. Given that the laser gun mentioned here was actually destroyed by Megatron in the previous part, it might explain why this was cut.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON So close, Soundwave. SOUNDWAVE Space cruiser ready for boarding. MEGATRON So very, very close to conquest.

The script states to pull the camera back as Megatron speaks this line, but this doesn't happen in the episode.

The script doesn't state that Megatron needs to be caught by Skywarp here, which is what the animation shows. This kind of thing has happened before, it seems that originally, Megatron would just be able to transform and fire himself, but it was later decided that he needed another Decepticon to fire him most of the time.

Some extra parts of the battle were scripted, but cut. Right after sending out his cassettes, Soundwave was meant to get into a fight with two Autobots -this isn't shown. Starscream and Jazz were also meant to shoot at each other and use shields to defend themselves, but again, this isn't shown.

What's scripted here was greatly simplified in the episode. Notice how Ravage was supposed to maul Sparkplug! This isn't shown in the episode, and neither is anything else that comes after it -instead, it's Cliffjumper who saves the day, by defeating Ravage with a drop kick.

The script states that Hound and Rumble were supposed to latch onto each other with steel claws, but the animation doesn't show anything special -they both have their regular hands.

Another scripted battle sequence that was greatly simplified. Wheeljack and Cliffjumper's lines here were cut, as was everything else that was scripted to happen after that -instead, the two Autobots remain on the ground and are briefly seen firing back at the Decepticons.

The "main fight" was also cut down. The main difference is that Prime was supposed to ram into Megatron here, but this isn't shown in the episode. Also note that Megatron "disables" Prime's trailer cannon, but the animation has it get blown to pieces. Meanwhile the script also states that Prime's blast would knock the "large gun" from Megatron's hand. This has been mentioned before, but I'll say it again -it appears that in robot mode, Megatron originally wouldn't have had a cannon on his arm, he'd use a separate gun instead (his toy did actually come with a gun accessory), but then this got changed so the gun was removed and he usually uses his cannon when in robot mode.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON Then you better get some help, Prime.

Megatron's line here was cut. The script suggests that Prime and Megatron were to use various weapons, but the animation doesn't have them do this.

This was not present in the episode.

Most of this was cut, including Megatron's line here. The only bit that does happen is Spike knocking Starscream's weapon off, but he doesn't use a laser gun -he throws a rock instead.

This bit also proves that Starscream's null ray was supposed to be a separate gun he'd use, rather than his arm laser.

Right after Prowl runs over Starscream's weapon, this was scripted to happen, but it ended up being cut from the episode.

The shoulder throw Prime does to Megatron isn't mentioned in the script. The script also calls for Prime to be gripping onto Megatron's head here, but the animation shows him gripping onto his shoulders.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME ...you're finished Megatron! Call it off... CALL IT OFF! MEGATRON! Never, Prime! You and every last Autobot will be destroyed!

Megatron was scripted to transform and fire a super shot, giving the Decepticons time to run off to the space cruiser. This was cut from the episode, instead, it was replaced with a couple of shots of Decepticons running away from some defeated Autobots. The script's note about some of the nameless Decepticons staying behind to continue fighting was ignored by the animators.

ACT 3

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	JAZZ ...it's over Prime - we've lost.

This exchange was shortened. Prime does not say "Where's Sideswipe", he just says "Sideswipe". Jazz and Sideswipe's lines here were cut.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME Give me your rocket pack.

This sequence was cut down for the episode. Prime "cinch up" line was cut, and Spike's line here was cut too. Prime's last line here was altered so he says "I'll be back, Jazz".

Prime activates the rocket pack immediately in the episode. Sideswipe and Jazz's lines here were cut.

You know how the first three episodes had all these weird extra Decepticons who were mainly re-colors of Starscream? The script totally threw these guys all under a bus here. They almost all disappear forever from this point, apart from one guy who is seen in one shot later on.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON It's impossible!

This sequence was cut from the episode. Instead it just goes straight from Megatron's "open the artillery hatch!" line.

The script called for Prime to fire again once the Decepticon ship's gun is revealed, but this isn't shown. In fact he's never shown firing a single shot.

The script also wanted a bit more violence here, stating that a chunk of metal was supposed to fly off Prime's body when he gets hit. The animation doesn't show this.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	STARSCREAM You got him... you got him! MEGATRON Soundwave - full throttle! We're going home -our home!

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME ...I don't know... maybe.

This line of Jazz's was cut.

And this line of Prime's was cut too.

Starscream was supposed to hold a laser gun here, but the animation shows him pointing one of his arm lasers at Megatron.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MEGATRON Beware, Starscream - if you dispose of me, there will always be someone waiting to dispose of you!

This line of Mirage's was cut.

The script also includes this alternate version of the sequence where Mirage appears. Again, his line here was cut.

This was cut from the episode.

In the episode, Soundwave's line here comes first, and the other line (which was given to Rumble) comes afterwards.

All of the above lines were cut.

Spike's line here was cut.

Whilst the script calls for the other Autobots to land next to Mirage, he instead if shown landing next to them. The "you all right" part of the line was cut, as was Mirage's response.

The script does not call for the Autobots to start laughing after this line, but that's what they all do in the episode.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	JAZZ Well, let's get back to the base - we have a ship of our own to repair.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME Maybe you'd better ask your father.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME Alright, let's go home. Autobots: transform!

The Autobots were supposed to fly off back to base, with Spike on Hound and Sparkplug on Prowl. The episode changed this to have the Autobots transforming and driving off, with Spike and Sparkplug both riding on Hound.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	PRIME Ready Spike? It's almost time to blast off!

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	SPIKE'S VOICE "One more thing - I'm glad we don't have to worry about Megatron and all those Decepticons any more."

The script states to show the cliffs, but they don't appear here in the episode. It also states to show that the Decepticon's cruiser is in a partially filled cave, but in the episode it appears to just be say on a ledge.