"The Shredder Strikes" Part One
Written by Michael Ryan
Original Air Date: April 12, 2003
Supervising Producer: Lloyd Goldfine
Producers: Gary Richardson, Frederick U. Fierst, Al Kahn, Norman Grossfeld, Thomas Kenney
Supervising Director: Chuck Patton
Story Editor: Lloyd Goldfine
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
Donatello (Sam Regal)
Leonardo (Michael Sinterniklaas)
Michelangelo (Wayne Grayson)
Raphael (Frank Frankson)
Splinter (Darren Dunstan)
Saki/Shredder (Scottie Ray)
Hun (Greg Carey)
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
The Guardians
Utrom Council Members
MAIN LOCATIONS, VEHICLES AND ACCESSORIES:
New Lair
Sewer Tunnels
City streets and rooftops
Abandoned Warehouse
Synopsis:
Intro: Leo comments on the challenge he faces with his brothers as a wall of Foot ninjas approaches. (This basic scene repeats itself later in the main action).
The TMNT are practicing in their lair, attempting to convince one another what the best weapon is. Leonardo ends up winning the skirmish and remarks about the superiority of the katanas when Master Splinter shows up and teaches the teen a valuable lesson - it's not the weapon that holds value, it's the wielder.
Leonardo is confused and frustrated by his treatment by Master Splinter and goes to a rooftop to blow off some steam. A nearby Foot Soldier shoots an arrow at the mutant, but right before it is about to strike him, Leo turns and cuts the missile out of the air with his katana. Looking at the two pieces of the arrow lying on the rooftop, Leonardo notices there is a note attached to it. The message is from Saki, inviting Leo to meet him later that night at an abandoned warehouse. Intrigued by the note, Leonardo decides to go to the meeting on his own, without telling anyone. What the ninja doesn’t know is that his brothers have been watching him, because he’s been acting a bit strange lately.
As Leo leaves to meet Saki, the other three Turtles follow him, sticking to the shadows out of sight. Leonardo enters the warehouse while his brothers climb to the roof and peer in through a skylight. What they see when they spy in is Leo surrounded by 13 ninjas. Since there are only 13 ninjas Mike, Don and Raph figure the odds are pretty fair and they decide to let their brother handle things for at least a little while longer.
Leonardo makes pretty quick work of defeating the 13 ninjas. Once the Foot are all on the floor, Saki enters the picture and congratulates Leo on his ninja skills. Saki introduces himself and explains to Leonardo that he is the leader of a group of ninjas that is fighting a great evil that is trying to take over the world. He invites Leo and the other Turtles to join forces with he and his Foot ninja to battle against this evil force. Sensing Leo’s hesitation, Saki tells the Turtle to meditate on his offer over night and let him know tomorrow. Before parting, as a gesture of goodwill, Saki gives Leonardo a fine, centuries old, katana.
Unknown to all in and on the warehouse, these events have been observed by two mysterious ninjas, who we will come to know as the Guardians. The Guardians report what they have observed of the encounter between Leo and Saki to a group of three eerie individuals, who are some kind of governing council. Upon hearing the report, the council tells the Guardians to continue to watch the Turtles and to destroy them if they join forces with Saki.
As Leo makes his way back to the lair, his brothers surround and confront him. Leonardo tries to explain why he met secretly with Saki and what the Foot's leader had to say, but his brothers aren’t buying their enemy's story and a big argument ensues, followed by a short and potentially deadly battle between Raph and Leo. In the end, Leonardo decides to do what he should have done at the start: talk to Master Splinter.
After hearing Leo’s tale, Master Splinter sighs and tells the Turtles it is time that they heard the story of his early life. Splinter was once the pet rat of a great ninja master named Hamato Yoshi. The Sensei also tells his students about the evil Saki, also known as the Shredder, his right-hand man Hun, and their troops known as the Foot. Splinter explains how Saki killed Yoshi, and in the course of the battle between the two, how he escaped to the sewers, became exposed to the mutagenic ooze and found the Turtles.
The next day, Leo and his brothers travel to the warehouse rendezvous point and return the old sword to a large group of Foot ninjas and tell them to tell their boss “no thanks”. Not taking rejection very well, the Foot attack and a massive battle ensues. Just when the Turtles think they have defeated all of the Foot and can go home, Hun arrives. The brothers do not fare well against their giant foe, and Hun grabs the ancient katana and attacks Leonardo with it. Leo prevails by jump kicking Hun through the skylight, causing the villain to fall onto the warehouse floor far below. The battle seems won, but another group of Foot ninjas arrive, this time they're accompanied by the Shredder, dressed in his full and frightening suit of armor. The Shredder tells the Turtles that if they are not with him then they are against him and he will destroy them. We end with the Shredder and his Foot troops massed to attack the Turtles. Stay tuned!
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