An original script for this episode can be read at the Sunbow and Marvel Productions Script/Storyboard Archive. The script was written by Paul Davids on 9/10/85.

ACT 1

ACT 2

ACT 3

ACT 1

The above line was cut.

The script wanted the city to have "alien weeds and vines" growing over it, but these things aren't seen in the episode.

Astrotrain's transformation isn't shown on-screen in the episode.

Starscream and Rumble's lines here was cut.

Almost all of the above dialogue was cut, other than "Starscream!". These lines were scripted to be said after Starscream's "too bad none of us reads ancient Autobot" line.

In the episode, Starscream and Rumble don't look at each other during this shot.

In the script, the tower was meant to be covered with alien vegetation, but none can be seen in the episode.

This sequence was cut.

Rumble was supposed to pull at the bug's wings, but in the episode, thanks to a cell layering error, he appears to be pulling Starscream's leg. He also has a line here that isn't in the script: "I'll help ya!".

This sequence was cut.

These lines were cut, and replaced with Rumble saying "Eh, sure glad we're outta there! That place was giving me the surges!".

This was cut from the episode.

In the episode, Megatron doesn't fall over when he gets hit. His dialogue here was changed slightly as well -he doesn't say "full power back" or "quickly!".

This scene was cut.

In the episode, Megatron is already on a table when it cuts to this shot, he's not seen walking over to it.

In the episode, Starscream ejects a claw from his wrist and just uses it to rip the chunk out. The script called for him to use various tools to widen the hole, then he was meant to just pull it out with his hands.

There's some dialogue in the episode which isn't in the script:

MEGATRON: That is ridiculous. We are rust proof!
STARSCREAM: Perhaps you were made of shoddy materials, Megatron.
MEGATRON: That's absurd, you fool!

In the script, Perceptor's invention is consistently called "ultra compound" but in the episode, it's always called "corrostop" so I'm only going to mention this difference here.

Almost all of the above was cut. Megatron's line is heard in the episode, but it's said during an exterior shot of the Decepticon HQ.

Fireflight's second line above was cut.

This was cut.

In the episode, the Stunticons aren't seen piling up boxes next to the door.

In the episode, this sequence was changed. After Perceptor says the above line, Drag Strip transforms and points his gun at Perceptor, then says the following line, which isn't in the script: "You got it! And here's greetings from Megatron!". He then starts firing, which causes Perceptor to run off.

In the episode, Prime has a line here, which isn't in the script: "Well Ironhide, our job's almost finished."

In the episode, you don't see Motormaster here.

ACT 2

These lines were all cut. Act one was scripted to end here, but in the episode, it ends before the sky chase even starts, after Dead End says "You've got an appointment with Megatron!".

The above line was cut.

This sequence was cut.

Silverbolt's dialogue here was cut.

The above was mostly cut -Fireflight does get hit by the lightning bug, but nothing else made it into the episode.

Air Raid's line here was cut.

In the episode, we see Dirge and Ramjet's reaction here, instead of Perceptor's.

The above was cut from the episode. It would have shown that other Decepticons were infected with the rust, and not just Megatron.

In the episode, this line isn't a voice over.

In the episode, Perceptor continues to examine Megatron's hand here.

In the episode, Megatron doesn't hit his hand on the table, but it still falls off.

In the episode, Perceptor doesn't sprinkle the corrostop on Megatron's wrist. He's seen putting Megatron's hand back on instead, something the script says he should do after the below two lines:

The above was all cut, replaced with a line for Prime in response to the Aerialbot's dialogue: "This is grim news indeed."

ACT 3

This shot was cut from the episode.

In the episode, the first shot we see of Antilla's civilization shows a healthy looking robot who walks without falling.

This line was given to Prime in the episode, but he says it later on.

All of the above was cut. This explains why the Aerialbots are never shown to be infected by the rust -they were meant to stay away from the Autobot HQ.

In the episode, Soundwave takes Laserbeak out (in his cassette mode) and pushes him into a computer.

These lines were cut.

This line was cut.

In the episode, these lines are voice overs -they're heard as we see the Decepticon tower rise out of the sea, and then the Decepticons fly out of it. The script doesn't say to show the Decepticons leave their HQ.

In the episode, the Stunticons are present, but the only other bad guys featured in this scene are Megatron, Soundwave and Rumble. The script wanted Starscream to appear.

The above was all cut.

In the episode, the fight between Superion and Menasor was expanded upon a little bit. Superion shoots Menasor first, but Menasor then tackles him. Menasor attacks Superion from behind, but Superion throws him, causing him to break apart. Superion then destroys the lightning bug.

However, in the script, the fight between Superion and Menasor was meant to continue after the lightning bug was destroyed. Menasor was also scripted to use his sword, something he's not seen with in the episode.