ANP #008: Caught on Film
(Cue OP-On Our Way-as the song plays, we see various shots of the Pokemon cast in the backstage area, getting ready for a show: Misty walks past one member of the lighting crew, making her trip and drop her paints, which color some of the notes on Brock's sheet music. He tries to clean the music, only to get walloped by a basketball in the face (thrown by May) Pikachu runs past all of this, down a hallway, and through a door with a star on it marked "Ash". He cries "Pika!" and points at a clock, which is ticking dangerously close to "Show Time!" Ash notices the time on the clock and ducks behind a screen to get ready, when he finishes, he's now decked out in a red top hat (with the same design as his cap) and tails. Ash then runs head on at the camera and makes a flying entrance onto a stage as the song concludes)
Female announcer: And now, it's time for the Ash and Pikachu Show!
(Pikachu climbs onto Ash's shoulder and smiles as the title card flies in from the right, a short clip of "On Our Way" in the background)
(Applause as Ash runs onstage to greet the crowd)
Ash: Thank you! Tonight's special guest--
Todd(offstage): Smile!
(A flash comes from stage right, taking Ash by surprise. Todd comes onstage, laughing at the panicked Ash picture)
Ash: At least give me some fair warning before you take my picture, okay?
Todd: Okay, okay...although you do look cute when you're panicked.
Ash: ::sigh:: Anyway, this is Todd...Pokemon photographer extrordinaire! (applause)
(Pikachu peeks onstage, piqued by the applause)
Pikachu: Pika? (He notices Todd onstage) Pikachu!
Todd: Okay! Smile! (Pikachu makes a silly face as the flash goes off)
(Before long, a line of other Pokemon appears on the stage)
Todd: Good thing I packed lots of film...(snaps a Bulbasaur's picture as Ash starts the projector)
(CARTOON-Pokemon Papparazzi!)
(Later, Todd explores the backstage area)
Todd: Nice place Ash picked for the show.... (Suddenly, he sees Misty getting the drawing board ready) Smile! (Misty
smiles as the flash goes off)
Misty: While we're on the subject of pictures...you just gave me an idea...
Todd: I did? (pulls up a chair to watch as Misty goes to work)
(On Our Way interlude plays as title card appears-'Back to the Drawing Board' with Misty". Misty's face appears in the o in "Board")
(A white screen appears, simulating a blank piece of paper)
Misty(voiceover): Okay, draw Brock here... (a pencil appears and draws Brock on the screen)
Todd(voiceover): Won't he get lonesome without a companion?
Misty(voiceover): Okay, you talked me into it... (draws Ariel next to Brock, then draws safari attire on them)
Brock: How do you expect us to go on safari if we don't have anything to get around?
Todd(voiceover): I'll fix that! (The pencil draws a camera on Brock)
Ariel: Like a camera's going to help... (flicks her tail)
Misty(voiceover): Here... (The pencil draws a safari jeep against a background reminiscent of an African savannah)
Brock: Now THAT's more like it! (starts the jeep and invites Ariel aboard, they drive off onto the plains)
(an hour or so of driving later...)
Ariel: Some safari we're on...
Misty: This help? (The pencil draws various Pokemon romping about. Ariel snaps a picture of each one...until the ground
begins to rumble...)
Ariel: Uh oh...
Brock: I have a bad feeling about this... (No sooner does he say that, does a herd of Donphan trample them. The words "The End" appear over the flattened Ariel and Brock)
(Todd laughs as Misty finishes the comic)
Todd: That was hilarious...(giggles some more...until Brock passes him in the hallway) Huh?
Brock: The Poketones are on in a few minutes...you'll love their latest number...
Todd: Singing Pokemon? I've got to see this! (starts onstage until Ash stops him)
Ash: Not yet...you can watch this while you're waiting...(starts projector)
(CARTOON-The Breeding Center Secret)
(The lights come up on Ash seated at the grand piano, the Poketones are nearby in their semicircle. Todd takes a seat by stage left to watch)
Ash: Ready guys?
Peach: You got it!
(a piano intro begins, then Peach sings while the other Poketones back her up)
Peach: Come on in, open the door,
Don't leave so early this time!
Come stay here and relax with me!
Lift up your eyes to the sky,
Look straight ahead, down the way,
One little dream about the future, hey!
Let's take a walk, okay?
The wind blows, it guides us on our journey...
The dark shadows are being torn away...
Just look inside, and you'll see the truth
and with our faith, we walk, along the winding road
The stars will shine their light upon our path of destiny
There is no doubt, the route of white,
Leads us on to our goal!
Onward now, through the stormy waves!
Forward now, through the raging wind and rain!
Lead us now, through the heat and cold...
It's all right, you don't need to run away!
We are friends to the end!
And most of all, I love you!
Just remember that I'll always be there, through and through!
As we walk along from here...
The rising sun, it shines again!
Shedding the light in the dark,
It is your time now, to shine!
Come on, let's rise, defeat the shadow now!
Just close your eyes and reflect
On all the good times we've had
And when the hour comes that you're feeling down,
Remember me, okay?
Look in the sky and see just how the clouds roll on,
See the sun and how it drives the night away?
Now see my heart, how it wants to cry,
Come on now, dry your tears and cross the great divide
The time has come, the choice is yours, our fate is in your hands...
I see you've chose the path of blue,
That leads on to the sky!
Sun rise, a new morning comes...
It's all right, no need to run away!
Don't be scared, trust in your heart...
Come on now, fight on to victory!
We are friends to the end!
And most of all, I love you!
Just remember that I'll always be there, through and through!
As we walk along from here...
The rising sun, it shines again!
Onward now, through the stormy waves!
Foward now, through the raging wind and rain!
Lead us now, through the heat and cold...
It's all right, you don't need to run away!
We are friends to the end!
And most of all, I love you!
Just remember that I'll always be there, through and through!
As we walk along from here...
The rising sun, it shines again! (applause)
Todd: Bravo! Encore! (grabs his camera) Mind if I take your picture to remember you guys by?
Peach: Sure! (the Poketones smile as the flash goes off. The screen also goes black.)
(CARTOON-Freeze Frame)
(We join Ash, Todd, and Pikachu onstage)
Ash: I can't thank you enough for coming tonight, Todd...
Todd: My pleasure...I did get some nice pictures too...but may I take a picture of the audience?
Ash: Sure! (to the audience) Smile, you guys!
(The screen goes black on the flash; "On Our Way" reprise plays as the credits roll)
THE END