An original script is available for this episode, which can be read in full at the Sunbow and Marvel Productions Script/Storyboard Archive. The script was written by David Wise on 02/15/1985.

ACT 1

ACT 2

ACT 3

There's a note on the cast list stating that Merrick is fifty, and Joan is his wife. Neither of these facts are mentioned in the episode.

ACT 1

 

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MERRICK Jose! El cepillo! Rapido --hurry!

Several changes here. In the episode, the only archaeologists around are Merrick and Joan, but the script wanted there to be a few others. Merrick was meant to have gray hair, but in the episode his hair is colored brown. The shot of a native passing him a brush was cut, he just suddenly has the brush between shots. Finally the script wanted him to find a bowl, but in the episode he finds a vase.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	JOAN Oh, probably a souvenir some tourist left behind!

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	MERRICK No way! It's at least thirteen-hundred years old!

Joan's "something!" was cut.

This was cut from the episode.

In the episode, Soundwave just stands still for this shot.

This line was cut.

The script mentions Ironhide having the top of his head off for this shot, but in the episode he looks like normal.

Brawn was given a line here, which isn't in the script: "Real work is crushing Decepticons, now fussing with chips!"

Perceptor's response to Brawn's line here was cut.

The shot of Starscream here was cut. And in the episode, Ravage leaps out of the tree by himself, rather than the leopard knocking him out of it.

In the episode, only Optimus and Ratchet are shown to transform here, everyone else transforms off-screen.

The script has this dialogue happen after the Decepticons arrive at the site of the Decepticon ship and chase the humans away, but in the episode these scenes were switched around.

In the episode, Scavenger can literally be heard making sniffing noises here, which I don't think is what the script really intended. Megatron's line was cut.

This sequence was changed around a bit for the finished episode. Merrick is seen walking towards the ship, but doesn't reach for the latch. Megatron's "leave at once" line was cut.

In the episode, this shot causes a large explosion, which the script didn't ask for.

In the episode, the device Hook passes to Megatron isn't a clamp. When Megatron uses it below and above the Heart of Cybertron, it creates some sparks, then he removes it with his hand.

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

In the episode, Megatron says this line and then lies down, whilst in the script it was the other way around. The line was also shortened to just "implant it inside me.".

This line was cut. In the script, the next scene has the Autobots heading through the jungle, but in the episode this happens earlier, as noted above.

This was cut from the episode. Hook just places the heart inside Megatron's chest, and that's all he needs to do to install it.

Megatron's line here was cut.

ACT 2

The shot of Hound getting blasted was cut. In the episode, a bunch of Autobots who weren't there in act 1 -like Cliffjumper, Smokescreen and more -suddenly turn up. This isn't an error by the animators, the script does start using these guys from act 2, despite them not being there in act 1.

This was cut from the episode.

It just wouldn't be a David Wise script without some over the top violence. Bluestreak is seen getting hit in the episode, but needless to say he doesn't lose any limbs.

This was changed in the episode so Ironhide warns Brawn, but doesn't get in front of him. Ironhide then gets blasted and just says "Ow", the rest of his line was cut. The next sequence, where he would take a hit for Ratchet, was cut. Instead, it was replaced with a shot of Ratchet getting blasted.

Huffer's line here was cut.

This was cut from the episode. It was scripted to happen after Smokescreen heads out towards Megatron.

This was also cut. It was meant to happen after Smokescreen circles Megatron.

This was cut from the episode, it was scripted to happen after Megatron's "suffer for this" line.

In the episode, Hoist is seen firing lasers rather than missiles.

This was cut, it was a response to Brawn's "functional" line above.

In the episode, Prime's line isn't a voice over, whilst Hoist's line was cut.

In the episode, whilst the Autobots are looking worse for wear for this shot, none of them are missing limbs. Ironhide is also absent from this shot.

There was some extra dialogue added between these two lines, which wasn't in the script:

OPTIMUS: What do you think of his intelligence now, Brawn?
BRAWN: I reserve judgment.

Prime's other line was changed to this: "You and Bumblebee go with him. Powerglide, can you fly?"

The script mentions something about a grappling hook/cannon which Sparkplug loads, but such a thing isn't seen in the episode.

This dialogue was cut, it was scripted to be said before Powerglide takes off.

In the episode, the ad libs have everyone chanting "energy!" instead of "more power!".

This was cut from the episode, it was scripted to happen before the below line from Thundercracker:

All of the above was cut.

In the episode, Brawn doesn't punch the lid, he just pushes it open.

In the episode, the rays are colored pink instead of yellow.

ACT 3

Perceptor's line here was cut, whilst part of Brawn's was changed to "a real Autobot" instead of "an Autobot".

Brawn was given a line here, which isn't in the script: "Follow me!"

This scene was cut.

Brawn was given a line between these two lines, which isn't in the script: "I'm glad you told us, I never could have figured that out myself."

In the episode, everything here after Bumblebee's "Jump, Perceptor!" line was cut.

Bumblebee's line here was cut, whilst Perceptor's was shortened to just "Megatron's brain!".

Bumblebee has a line here, which isn't in the script: "Listen to Perceptor! He's right!".

This line was cut.

In the episode, Brawn isn't seen hurling Perceptor and Bumblebee away, they're both already off him. Perceptor's line here was changed slightly so he says "destroy" instead of "disconnect".

The brain impulse snakes were meant to be orange, according to the script. In the episode, they are colored dark purple.

This line was cut.

This was mostly cut -in the episode, the forcefield is already activated without Prime having to say anything.

This line was cut.

As was this one.

In the episode, the antenna doesn't explode, it just dims out.

Megatron's "waited so long for" line was cut, and his "all over" line isn't a VO in the episode. Prime has a line in the episode after this, which isn't in the script: "Not until every Autobot program is erased, Megatron!"

The above was scripted to happen after Ratchet says "Perceptor did it!". However in the episode it was moved back, and happens after the below:

These lines were cut.

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	OPTIMUS PRIME Sharp shooting, Perceptor!

SCRIPT	EPISODE DIALOGUE
	RATCHET Do you realize that we just saved Megatron's life?!