Original subtitles

F

[NARRATOR] The Second Robotech War rages on.

The armies of the United Earth Government

struggle to defend their planet

from the unrelenting onslaught of the Robotech Masters,

who have come to Earth to recover

their precious supply of Protoculture

before it is discovered by the Invids.

The defections of Zor, the renegade clone,

and Musica, mistress of the Cosmic Harp,

are seen by the Robotech Masters

as omens of doom and destruction

for their entire society.

Even more disturbing is the discovery

that their dwindling reserves of Protoculture

have begun a slow process of mutation.

Zor stuns his Earth comrades

by betraying Musica to the military police.

Now, she and Bowie must flee

to prevent Musica's internment as an enemy spy.

[MUSICA, BOWIE panting]

- -[MUSICA] Bowie, I-- - -[BOWIE] Hang on,

we gotta keep moving!

[BOWIE] Huh? Oh no!

Are you all right?

Yes.

[BOWIE] Come on. We can't stop now!

[DANA] Why did you do it? Why?

Answer me!

How could you betray Musica to the GMP?

You yourself said there can be no forgiveness

for somebody who betrays the people who trust him.

Well, what do you think you just did?

Are we supposed to forgive you?

Musica helped us escape.

She risked her life for us! Have you forgotten that?

[NOVA] Well, at least he remembered his duty, Lieutenant.

That's more than I can say for the rest of this squadron.

Hm! This outfit's proof

that you were harboring an enemy alien here.

Okay, we've admitted she's an alien!

But Nova, she's not an enemy.

That's for the proper authorities to decide.

[DANA] Come on, Nova, you and I both know that--

[NOVA, DANA] Huh?

Hey, wait a minute, Mister,

you think you can just walk away?

I don't know how you can live with yourself

after what you've done!

[ZOR] That's just it, Dana. I don't think I can.

Zor, what are you talking about?

- -[ANGELO] Let him go. - -Let him go?

[ANGELO] Yeah, that's right.

Let him go. We'll all be better off

without him anyway.

The guy's nothin' but trouble.

I can't even figure out whose side he's on.

[SEAN] Hmm!

[scoffs] Listen, if it wasn't for Zor,

you would've all been thrown in the brig.

Lieutenant, you are hereby ordered to form a search party.

First thing in the morning.

And when you've brought her back, I'll decide

whether or not to press charges against you.

[BOWIE, MUSICA panting]

[gasps]

Oh, Musica! Are you all right?

I'm sorry.

I just can't run anymore, Bowie.

I'm sorry.

[BOWIE] Hmm.

Hm?

Don't worry. Wait here, I'll be right back.

Huh?

There must be something around here we can use.

Whoa!

Hovercycle, perfect!

[SOLDIER 1] Wet enough for you, sir?

[SOLDIER 2] Let's get inside.

[BOWIE] It's now or never!

- -[SOLDIER] Halt! - -Hey, what are you doing?

Sorry, but it's an emergency!

- -[SOLDIER 1] Fire! - -[SOLDIER 2] Right!

- -Come on, let's get him! - -What is it?

We've got a joyrider on our hands!

- -[BOWIE] Musica! - -[gasps]

Hurry, Musica, climb on behind me!

We've got to get out of here!

[SOLDIER 2] There they are, step on it!

[MUSICA] Bowie, are you sure you know

how to operate this machine?

[BOWIE] Sure, I'm sure! Hang on!

[BOTH scream]

[groans]

Musica!

Why... Hey, are you okay?

[groans] I'm all right.

Down!

- -l can't go on. - -Huh?

Bowie, I'm so exhausted.

Lying here like this,

I can feel your heart beating against mine.

It's such beautiful music.

It almost makes me wish

we could stay like this... forever.

- -Do you feel it? - -Huh?

Musica.

[NARRATOR] Oblivious, for the moment at least,

to the downpour and their own desperate plight,

Bowie and Musica remain in hiding through the night.

By dawn, the storm has passed, and the landscape is bathed

in the warm glow of the morning sun.

Meanwhile, back in Monument City,

the search party ordered by Nova Satori

is about to get underway.

[LOUIE] I think we're ready, Lieutenant.

[yawns]

[SEAN] I like a ride in the country

as much as the next guy, but if we had

any decency, we'd all go back to bed

and leave those two lovebirds alone.

[ANGELO] Yeah, well...

that's not our decision to make.

By the way, you wouldn't happen to have

any bright ideas where the two of them are,

would you, ma'am?

Well, I think so.

But if you really want to know the truth, Angelo,

I'm certainly in no big hurry to find them,

wherever they might be hiding.

[LOUIE] But ma'am...

Uh, I mean, we do have our orders,

you know, Lieutenant.

Yes, we have our orders...

and we have to play it by the book,

just like Zor was playing it by the book

when he went and betrayed Musica. Mm-hmm!

[LOUIE] Are you suggesting we should do

something different, ma'am?

[DANA] Come on, let's move!

[NOVA] A-ha!

There's no telling what they might do.

I'd better keep an eye on them.

[ROBOTECH MASTER 1] Nearly 70 percent

of our remaining culture pods have been invaded

by the Invid Flower of Life,

and the infected Protoculture

has already degenerated to the point

where it is no longer of any use to us.

[ROBOTECH MASTER 2] That infernal flower is sucking

the very lifeblood from our veins.

As our Protoculture diminishes,

our people grow increasingly debilitated,

our younger generations more rebellious,

and our biogenetic clones have become

completely undependable.

We face the possibility

that the fallen Protoculture factory on Earth

has been similarly infected.

Our laxity may have already condemned us to oblivion.

Be that as it may, I say the time has come

for a decisive, full-scale assault on the planet.

If there is still any undegenerated Protoculture

to be found, we must retrieve it before the Invid arrive.

[ROBOTECH MASTER 1] The race of earthlings may have

to be destroyed.

But after all, what does the obliteration

of such a pathetic little species matter

when the survival of our own society is at stake?

[ROBOTECH MASTER 3] Hmm.

[ROBOTECH MASTER 1] Agreed?

[ROBOTECH MASTER 3] Agreed. The earthlings have

very little choice in the matter.

If we do not destroy them, the Invid surely will.

Close the door.

Our decision has been made. So be it.

Prepare the entire fleet for an immediate

full-scale assault against the planet below.

[LEONARD] So we launch the final offensive

against the alien fleet at 1300 hours.

We will knock them out of our skies

or die in the attempt.

I assume we are in agreement.

[MAN 1] Yes, Supreme Commander!

- -[MAN 2] Yes, sir! - -[MAN 3] Of course, sir!

[NARRATOR] Even as the Robotech Masters' fleet

and the Tactical Space Corps of the United Earth Forces

stand poised to attack each other,

Musica sleeps peacefully in a secluded meadow.

Warmed by the clear morning sunlight,

safe and secure in the tranquil wilderness,

she is unaware of the nightmare ahead.

[moans] Bowie, where are you?

- -[BOWIE] I'm over here, Musica! - -Huh?

[BOWIE] I'm trying to get this stupid hovercycle repaired.

I think the problem is in the carburetor module,

so I tried to realign it, but I don't know.

Hmm.

You're even prettier in the morning than you are at night.

[giggles] Thank you.

- -[BOWIE] Here we go! - -[MUSICA laughing]

It seems to be working perfectly!

You must be a good mechanic, Bowie!

[BOWIE] Just lucky, I guess!

Let's see what this thing can do flat out!

Hang on real tight! The tighter the better!

[MUSICA] All right! [laughing]

Sure beats walking in the rain, doesn't it?

[CONTROLLER on PA] Attention, all missile silos!

Prepare hypercobalt rockets for launch.

Repeat, prepare all rockets for launch.

We are at T-minus seven minutes and counting.

[BOWIE] Everything all right, Musica?

[MUSICA] Oh, yes, Bowie!

How could anything possibly be wrong

when I feel like this?

[CONTROLLER] Veritech Squadron Two,

you are cleared for launch.

Launch and scramble, we are in full attack alert.

Armored ground units three and five,

proceed to primary battle stations.

[BOWIE] I can't believe this is happening to me!

[MUSICA] Oh! This is such a beautiful planet!

Emotions are such wonderful things!

[NARRATOR] Meanwhile, far above,

as the Robotech Masters' fleet approaches

Earth's outer defense perimeter,

their movements are being carefully monitored

by the Moon base ALuCE-1.

[GREEN] General Emerson, all our scanners

are lighting up like a Christmas tree!

It looks like the entire enemy fleet is attacking!

[ROLF] What? The entire fleet?

It's true, sir. They're holding back nothing.

It looks like they've launched every ship they have.

- -Battle stations, sir? - -Good Lord.

Hmm.

[GREEN] Wait, I'm receiving some sort of message

on the emergency frequency.

Hmm? Look, General Emerson, it's Commander Leonard himself.

[ROLF] Oh! Yes, Commander.

General Emerson, you are aware of the fact

that the enemy has launched his entire fleet against us?

- -Yes, sir. - -In our meeting

just this morning, the Joint Chiefs agreed

to a preemptive strike,

but the aliens have beaten us to the punch.

Now, we mustn't let them get the first blow in!

[ROLF] No, sir.

[LEONARD] I want you to punish them for this!

I'm depending on your units

to neutralize their primary assault wing.

- -Yes, sir. - -Good!

And this time, Emerson, once you have engaged the enemy,

there will be no withdrawing.

- -No matter what. - -[ROLF] But, sir--

That will be all!

Hmm.

It seems the high command has decided

that this one is all or nothing.

Well, you heard him, gentlemen.

Have Lieutenants Crystal and Brown

come to my office immediately.

[ROCHELLE] Sir.

[ROLF] I think I should be the one to tell them they've been

ordered to fulfill an impossible mission.

[NARRATOR] As his defense forces and the alien invaders

prepare for their final confrontation,

General Rolf Emerson sits brooding in his darkened office,

troubled by the thoughts of the many lives

that may be lost in battle

and by the even more terrible prospect

awaiting them all if the alien challenge

is not met.

[MARIE] Huh? What's happened to the lights?

[ROLF] No, don't turn them on.

[MARIE] Sir, is that you?

- -General? - -[ROLF] I've asked you

and Lieutenant Brown here because I've just received

an order from the Supreme Commander.

My command has been committed to battle.

This may be the last time we're able to see each other.

[BROWN] What?

What do you mean, sir?

We've come back from all our other missions.

- -l don't think one more is-- - -Lieutenant, this mission

is different from the others.

If we are not victorious against the enemy,

none of us is expected to come back at all!

Hmm?

Sir, this mission will be no different.

[ROLF] I hope not, Lieutenant.

Because I want you both to come back alive.

Say, ma'am, are you ever planning

on telling us where we're going?

Eh, sorry I asked.

[LOUIE] Pardon me, ma'am, but aren't you worried

about what you'll have to do when you find them?

Well, you can stop worryin'. That problem's been taken

out of your hands.

Oh? And how would you know?

Huh! Well, ma'am, I heard it from a little birdy

about 50 yards behind us.

The birdy with the GMP license plates.

Huh?

Nova!

Ugh! I might have known it!

When were you planning on telling me

our little friend was back there?

- -[SEAN] Let's lose her! - -[IDANA] Can we?

- -Sure! - -Well, do it.

We can't let her find Bowie and Musica.

Fasten your seatbelt, ma'am.

Louie! Think you'll be able to keep up with me?

Try me!

[SEAN] Yeah!

Huh?

Well, two can play at that!

[ZOR] Hmm.

So, that's where they're headed!

[MUSICA] This is the place, then?

[BOWIE] Yeah.

[MUSICA] This is where you think you saw the Flowers of Life?

[BOWIE] This is the place, all right.

- -Bowie, I-- - -Huh?

- -This place frightens me. - -Aw, come on,

there's nothing to be frightened of.

Trust me.

[chuckles] Let's go.

Don't worry, I'll take care of you.

[MUSICA] I feel something strange in this place.

Strange and powerful.

[BOWIE] Just hold on tight, Musica.

That's it.

Careful, now, the floor's real slick here!

[MUSICA] If you're right about what you saw,

we may be too late.

- -Huh. - -[MUSICA gasps]

- -You okay? - -Uh-huh.

All right, let's go.

I remember this doorway from the last time I was here.

Ugh! What is that stuff?

- -Oh! - -Bowie, what's the matter?

- -[groans] - -Bowie, what's wrong?

Get up, we've got to get out of here!

It's all right, I just got so dizzy all of a sudden!

It must have something to do with that powdery stuff.

It's some kind of pollen or spores, I guess.

[gasps] The spores!

Of course, it must be the spores!

[gasps]

Bowie, we've come too late!

Huh? Wait a minute, Musica!

Wait for me!

[grunts] Oh, my head's spinning.

Wait for me!

Musica, wait up, will ya?

- -[gasps] - -What the...

[MUSICA] It's just as I feared.

We're too late, Bowie. It's already started.

You were right. These are the Flowers of Life.

And those spores they're sending out?

That means the mutation is complete.

The Invid will be drawn here from across the cosmos.

They're probably on their way even as we're standing here.

The Invid? Who are they?

The enemies of both our people.

[BOWIE] Wait! Musica!

[MUSICA panting]

[BOWIE] Be careful, will you?

I mean, what do we know about these plants?

They might even be carnivorous!

No, Bowie, the Flower of Life survives

by feeding off the Protoculture matrix.

[BOWIE] Huh?

[MUSICA gasps] It moved!

[BOWIE] Musica.

Oh, no, Bowie!

Something terrible is about to happen!

[BOWIE] Don't worry. I'm right here with you.

[NARRATOR] Even as Bowie tries to comfort Musica,

the spores continue to rise through an opening

at the top of the ruins.

As Bowie watches the eerie process,

a startling realization dawns on him.

Hey!

If they feed on Protoculture,

then this is the Protoculture factory.

Musica, we've found what everyone's been looking for!

The Protoculture factory?

Yes, we found it, but it's too late.

No, it's not too late, Musica.

I don't care what the Invid are, it's not too late!

But how?

[BOWIE] I don't know how,

but we'll think of something, we've got to!

[MUSICA] Oh, Bowie, if you had any idea

what the Invid were like.

[LOUIE] Did I ever tell you I get claustrophobic in caves?

[DANA] Watch out!

[ALL coughing]

[LOUIE] And I'm also very allergic

to pollen, unfortunately.

[ANGELO] Allergic! You better worry about

whether this stuff is poisonous, ya bonehead!

Huh? Poisonous? You may be right!

Honestly, you guys are like a bunch of kids.

Here goes!

[inhales]

Good news, everyone!

Once you've had a breath or two, you get used to it.

- -[ANGELO] Hm? - -[LOUIE sniffs]

- -You're right! - -Hmm.

[SEAN groaning]

[ANGELO] Sean, you're turning blue.

[laughs] Hey, it's okay!

Let's go! They've got to be in here somewhere!

[gasps] What on Earth...

[LOUIE] I suspect that Earth has very little

to do with it, ma'am.

Ah!

[DANA gasps]

It wasn't like this the last time we came here.

[SEAN] Be careful!

- -[BOWIE] Watch out! - -[MUSICA] Bowie!

[BOWIE] Oh, no!

- -[DANA] Huh? - -[SEAN, LOUIE] Huh?

Bowie! Musica!

We're not coming back, Lieutenant.

Hey, I'm not gonna bring you back,

I've already decided that.

I'll just tell Nova we couldn't find you.

[NOVA] There they are.

But what in the world could they all be doing

inside the ruins of the SDF-1?

Well, there's only one way to find out!

What? It can't be!

Believe it, Lieutenant.

These things subsist on Protoculture.

- -They thrive on it! - -It's true.

So these spores must be some kind of signal

to the Invid, whatever they are.

[BOWIE] That's right.

And the Protoculture was right here all the time.

And it looks like we're the only ones in the universe

who didn't know it.

[BOWIE, MUSICA] Mm-hmm.

[ROLF] Oh, come on, Lieutenant.

Give me a break.

All this stuff is just a bunch of legends and fairy tales.

You don't really believe all this bunk

about the Invid Flower of Life, do ya, ma'am?

Mm-hmm.

[NOVA] Dana, where are you?

[coughing]

You might as well come out! I know you're there!

Well, then, if you won't come out,

I'm coming in.

- -[ZOR] Lieutenant. - -[NOVA gasps]

[NOVA] What are you doing here?

You're supposed to be in the barracks.

[sighs] Huh?

You won't be needing that.

Just a minute!

- -Did you follow me! - -Yes.

Huh? Hmm.

- -Huh? - -Huh?

What is it?

- -What? What's happening? - -[whimpers]

- -[groans] - -Oh!

Ha! I'm not surprised!

[ALL] Huh?

[gasps] My gosh, that's Nova.

That's right, and I'm taking the prisoner

back to headquarters with me!

I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that!

I'll take full responsibility!

Oh! We'll see about that!

[ZOR groaning] Stop! Stop!

Can't you see?

This plant is responsible for making me

the monster I've become!

- -What? - -[ANGELO] What?

- -[SEAN, LOUIE] Huh? - -[BOWIE, MUSICA gasp]

[DANA] But Zor, what do you mean?

[ZOR] At last, it has all come back to me!

I was a scientist seeding a planet

with Protoculture spores

when a terrible explosion threw me

to the bottom of a deep crevasse.

I felt as if I were outside my body,

that I was no longer a part of the cosmos.

When I opened my eyes, I saw above me a strange green light.

As the light entered my body, I felt as though I had died

and been reborn as a new being without any memory.

[groans]

I can only assume my contemporaries

have resurrected me in the hope of learning

the secrets of robotechnology and Protoculture.

So, these plants are creating a new form of life

and at the same time are breaking down the Protoculture.

And whatever form of life this is,

it must be something the Invid want

because they're on their way!

[ALL gasp]

[NOVA] That doesn't change a thing.

[BOWIE, MUSICA] Huh?

Musica is still my prisoner, and I'm taking her back with me.

- -[BOWIE] No, wait! - -No!

[DANA] Nova, I'm warning you.

Stay back. I mean it!

I'm not about to let you have them!

- - [NOVA] Hmph! - -[DANA] I'm sorry, Nova,

but that's the way it is.

[NOVA] Dana, are you sure you know what you're doing?

[NARRATOR] Meanwhile, the Robotech Masters' warships

move silently toward the Earth.

Their plan is a simple one:

To attack without any thought of retreat or surrender,

then proceed to the site of the SDF-1

and reclaim the fallen Protoculture factory.

All units advance and prepare to engage!

[ROCHELLE] Go ahead, sir.

All pilots report to battle stations immediately!

The enemy attack is underway!

[ROCHELLE] All units are away, sir.

Will you be watching the battle from here on the bridge?

- -[ROLF] No. - -[ROCHELLE] Sir?

I want this ship prepared for battle at once!

- -Wha--? - -But General, why?

As the commander of this fleet,

I plan to lead the attack, not be a spectator!

[ROCHELLE, GREEN] Sir!

Uh, Supreme Commander, I've just been informed

that General Emerson's ships are engaging the enemy!

Then order the immediate launch of the fleet.

We must give him all the support that is possible.

[SEWARD] Sir!

[NARRATOR] And so, the final offensive is underway,

an heroic undertaking that will either deliver Earth

from its invaders or condemn it

to total annihilation.

[NARRATOR] Next on Robotech,

a desperate situation calls for extraordinary measures

by the 15th Tactical Squadron and the mysterious Zor,

if the Earth is to survive the final offensive

mounted by the Robotech Masters, as they try one last time

to recover their rapidly mutating supply

of Protoculture before the arrival of the Invid.

Be sure to be watching next time for "The Invid Connection,"

the next thrilling chapter in the amazing odyssey

of Robotech.

F