Mortal Kombat X

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Script 5: MORTAL KOMBAT: OUTWORLD

Based on "Mortal Kombat II" and "MK: Shaolin Monks" (which of course was a 3-D retelling).

My goal was to treat each MK game like King Kong 2005 treated its source material, but also integrate a co-existence with characters from comics, movies, cartoons, and essentially an MK1-2-3 proper chronological order, only when necessary. For instance, MK3 had Sub-Zero and Smoke running from the Lin Kuei before the events of MK3; therefore, MK2 is the story of how they ran away from the Lin Kuei, seeking refuge in Outworld for a while, where they won't be tracked.

From the MK2 comic which is canon because game maker John Tobias was involved: Agent Beran, who has metal arms. He was literally there before MK3 and the metal arms. Before, though.

From the MK2 comic books, by Malibu, which are less canon.

1 - Bo, Johnny Cage's bodyguard.

(Johnny Cage and Bo play PONG together. PONG was unlockable in Mortal Kombat II with 250 matches won, or something insane. Plus technically it's part of how we have our Mortal Kombat.)

2 - Sing and Sang are resurrected, now fighting for evil, for Shao Kahn. This was from the 90's comics.

3 - The Deathstone also came from there.

4 - So did the forced, brainwashed marriage between Sonya and Shao Kahn. Why also in a Mario comic Mario World-era? Because Flash Gordon, is why. Classic Flash Gordon Thing.

5 - The 90's MK comics describe Outworld as a realm with many provinces. Only in those comics is Outworld made of provinces. I liked the idea. It was not yet a place of many conquered realms, though. So I explained each Outworld province as being the remains of a realm long ago merged with Outworld through a six-day fusion process, from the second movie, MK: Annihilation.

Now I connect things together. The Deathstone will later resurrect Sindel in MK3, but on Earth grounds. The brainwashing spell that lured Sonya into marriage will be explained as the same spell placed upon Kitana.

Chan, Liu Kang's brother, came from the first movie. Now his nickname is Hornbuckle, one of 3 Shaolin monks.

From MK2 came the Green Guy in the background of the Pit II, fighting someone who is on fire. Who is he? Many speculated his name is Hornbuckle. I had figured that if it was all connected, Chan from the movies could be Liu Kang's brother who wears green yet the nickname is Hornbuckle. That was always how I wanted to see it done in 2002.

Those Pit II extras were nicknamed Hornbuckle and Torch. Why Hornbuckle? Because Jade pops up occasionally at the start of matches and leaves little clues, and one of them is "Hornbuckle Who?" People were led on a search for nothing. It was really just referring to the last name of Leane Hornbuckle, a sound designer on Mortal Kombat II - only on the Super Nintendo version. Basically, a hidden clue based on nothing, meant to get people shuffling their feathers. So came the rumor - a false rumor - that you can unlock that green guy in the background from the Pit II, because HE is Hornbuckle, whom Jade spoke of. No such thing yet in games, except of course Kreate-A-Fighter in 2006.

When Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks came out in 2005, it became clearly established that Liu Kang and Kung Lao are two monks who fight side-by-side, and that is what's canon. So now I show all 3 of them, often attempting a pairing of 2 at a time. The end result of pairing all 3 characters - Liu, Chan, Kung Lao - comes up with my favorite part of the script, the 3 celebrating Liu's victory. I tried to remember the stories, and illustrations, of ancient Chinese stories of heroic, noble men. Like that one "nicest man in China" character who used his two hats as a parachute when his house was set ablaze by his evil step-mother.

The Sega Genesis also has a unique twist on MKII - only there is the portal blue, with red lightning, instead of being an orange portal with blue lightning. I will find some way to work this in. Portals can come in many colors and kinds, you see, helping to make MK vs. DC Universe slightly less impossible. Ultimate MK3 had a blue portal stage in addition to an orange portal, therefore all MK-style portals could potentially co-exist.

Only on the Sega Game Gear is there a female Noob Saibot - a Kitana-like fighter wearing all black. Not until 10 years later, MK Deception, do we learn that Noob Saibot is a wraith, formerly Sub-Zero. So I say Sareena, from MK Mythologies: Sub-Zero, should be the female ninja wearing all black, interjected into MK2 as Noob Saibot's girlfriend, a wraith like him. So that's Kitana/Mileena/Jade/Sareena.

Some content comes from MK: Shaolin Monks. The Tarkatans' assault on the Shaolin temples will be exactly as it was in that game. The putrid corpses in the Living Forest are also worked in . . . but now the phrase "putrid corpses" was crafted by Bo, a character from the MK2 Malibu comics, as he fights alongside Hornbuckle. Also from Shaolin Monks comes Shang Tsung's posing as Raiden.

Overall, this story is the great Wizard of Oz adventure dark version happening in Outworld. This was how I saw it since 2002, when I was 14. Hence the quote "We're not in Earth anymore."

Think about it, MKII is kind of like a dark version of the classic adventure story.

1 - Good guys all travel to Outworld, a realm where who knows what will happen.

2 - They must travel through Outworld and reach Shao Kahn's Castle, and stop Shao Kahn.

3 - Though it all happens in Outworld, Earth's fate is what's at stake. Similarly, Flash Gordon must travel to planet Mongo to stop Emperor Ming from provoking Earth's natural disasters. If they stop Shao Kahn in Outworld, Earth will be safe.

4 - It's a travel through the many lands, or provinces, of Outworld. Edenia - wastelands (grasslands - starting point of an adventure), living forest. Zaterra - where the reptilians roam. Cryo - ice-land province, formerly the realm of Cryo. An underground cave, for at least a short time, as the Shokan have always been said to live in subterranean terrain. This replaces Goro's Lair in the story of MKII, because it's now in the "traveling through the caves" part of the adventure that they encounter Jade. Somehow, some way, there's also a boat ride across the oceans, well MK: Shaolin Monks did that anyhow. The clouds in the sky (floating Sky Palace). Mortal Kombat is now the classic adventure through the many lands of Outworld - including a new desert region (an Outworld desert is seen in MK9 anyhow so it would no longer seem like an intrusion). The end goal is to reach Shao Kahn's Castle (located in the Valley of Bowser, in Super Mario Bros. 3).

5 - Also to stop the forced marriage between Shao Kahn and Sonya (from the 90's comics).

What I took from the cartoon show, MK: Defenders of the Realm:

The portals are pink, flat, and round, any time someone opens one up. The larger orange or blue ones are longer-term portals.

The minotaurs surrounding Shang Tsung in the inferno came from the cartoon show, where Shang Tsung said the word "damned" in a cartoon show rated TV-Y7. (One time, Jax said, out loud, "What the ff . . .?")

The 3rd thing I take from the cartoon show is the Shang Tsung resurrection scene. Instead of happening in outer space, now it happens in Shao Kahn's Castle, in Outworld, with windows looking out into the night sky and therefore seeing space all around (so that the orb would end up in Wing Commander - see the Kombat Pavilion web-site). Like in the cartoon show, the Shadow Priests are here, and they deliver Shang Tsung's skeleton to the Emperor. But his resurrection process is now explained with the Deathstone - from the 90's Malibu MK2 comics - as well as the "new body made from blood" concept that has explained Skarlett from MK9. I show Shang Tsung as looking old, like MK1, when he's in Hell, but young again as soon as he is resurrected in Outworld, with no attempt made to make him young, just to give him a new body.

Shang Tsung, back from the dead, is now "one with Outworld". That was inspired by learning that Izanami-no-mikoto, in Japanese Shinto, eats food while in the world of the dead and has thus become one with it.

Also, the cartoon show had Xaa, a realm of rainforest. I show Xaa as one of the provinces of Outworld.

I think my version makes a lot more sense, where now Kintaro is the one who ripped off Jax's arms. I always blamed Kintaro in the 90's. Sorry, but as good as MK9 was, I was offended that Ermac was the one that ripped Jax's arms off.

Cool knowledge to learn - they named Kintaro after a Japanese fairy tale hero.

Meaning, my suspicions, in 1995, that Motaro was named after Momotaro the Peach Boy are likely correct after all.

From MK: Deadly Alliance comes a vampire species. Although they were only established since Deadly Alliance, it is clear that, working retroactively, MK2 must logically involve a vampire province remaining from Vaeternus, and MK3 must involve vampires in Kahn's Extermination Squads. Some species they can choose to avoid.

From MK: Deception comes the name of the Tarkatan species, as well as the Dragon King. On the GameCube version comes the story about Shao Kahn's battles with the Dragon King. Why not work that into MK2? Make it part of the legends of Outworld during MK2.

If you remember Super Mario RPG, he spins around and transforms into other characters to tell stories. I have an element of that with Shang Tsung imitating Raiden and Liu Kang. Originally from Chrono Trigger but, like. I mean, the ingredients are like RIGHT there.

The trailer for MK: Rebirth was what originally showed Johnny Cage fighting someone (Baraka) inside his own L.A. home at night.

Finally, I just go back to Mortal Kombat II and focus on words that were used back then. For instance, "Kombat Zone". Now there is an actual explanation for the word "kombat zone", kind of like the Mirror Match, the Warrior Shrine, and such in MK1. The phrase "Mortal Monday" was one of those things from outside the game itself, in my MK1 script.

The winged, scorpion-like species of demon that attacks Shang Tsung is a new one. Inspired by both Super Nintendo's "Act Raiser" and Sega Genesis' "Comix Zone".

As cool as MK: Shaolin Monks was, it would be mindless to just repeat that game's story and dialogue despite the obvious fact that it's, y'know, canon. However, the Shaolin temple assault, Shang Tsung posing as Raiden, and the putrid corpses were things I just could not help but to include from that game in my story while otherwise trying my own retelling of MK2.

However, it baffled me how Shang Tsung could use Raiden's powers while posing as him, and it also kind of confused me how a green soul seems to be able to strike the ground and form a body in Mortal Kombat. So I try to go for a more realistic set of laws of physics. Bodies and souls are two aspects of us, and Shang Tsung cannot blast lightning while looking like Raiden, so he claims it is because he, as Raiden, has lost power in Outworld.

Portals have gravity at close range now, something I think would make sense, after learning of the relationship between gravity and the Earth's rotation around the Sun. Remember Sliders? Hmm? Anyone seen it? No?

Shadow puppets come from an MK3 Friendship move. Technically an MK3 Friendship, but nonetheless.

Emperor Ming motions his own entertainers away with a gesture of one hand in 1940's Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe.

MORTAL KOMBAT: OUTWORLD.

FADE IN:

INT. NETHERREALM

The NetherRealm, unlike Earth, is a

realm with less protection from the magma

below. Lava erupts a short distance beneath

the hot surface.

Shang Tsung is in this place now -

old, weak, as he was when he died.

Gray winged demons circle around him.

They float around through the air,

three circling Shang Tsung at once,

and take turns nabbing at him.

SHANG TSUNG

Damn you, Liu Kang! I should

have been quicker to kill you!

He fights off two winged demons in a

row, striking them with his fists, before

running away, down into the hopeless

miles of the NetherRealm’s empty valleys.

The winged, scorpion-like demons

are hurt, at first, but within seconds

they resume their earlier position

floating in the air, and together, all

three begin to fly at Shang Tsung.

SHANG TSUNG

No! Noo! Ahhhh!

Four red minotaurs are now approaching Shang Tsung.

They are at least nine feet tall. Shang Tsung takes a

step back, but in seconds, he is surrounded by a

circle of them. Two more minotaurs run in, so

there are now six of them against Shang Tsung.

Shang waits. But he can do nothing else.

MINOTAUR 1

What’s the matter, sorcerer? Do your

tricks not work in this world?

MINOTAUR 2

Magic will not save you here.

The minotaurs push him. They shove him.

Shang Tsung is old. Weak. He

can’t fight back against them anymore.

They’re far bigger than him.

Minotaur 3 grabs Shang Tsung by

the sides with both claws.

MINOTAUR 3

You’ve been a bad man, Shang Tsung.

And here, you’re going to suffer for it.

SHANG TSUNG

No. Noooo!

Everything becomes engulfed in a red glow.

Shang Tsung’s body breaks apart into

red energy, which is sucked skyward,

into a red pentagram portal, leaving

his Hell avatar body with nothing.

The minotaurs are confused.

They have lost Shang Tsung.

INT. OUTWORLD - EXT. SHAO KAHN’S CASTLE - SUNRISE

Shao Kahn’s Castle - formerly King Jerrod’s

Keep - stands on the dark blue hills of Outworld.

INT. SHAO KAHN’S CASTLE - THRONE ROOM - SOON

A skeleton lays on the ground.

A pile of bones, and nothing more.

Emperor Shao Kahn sits on his

throne, with two purple robed

Shadow Priests behind him on

both sides. Their faces are

concealed completely in shadow.

EMPEROR SHAO KAHN

Excellent. You have delivered me

Shang Tsung’s skeleton. You have

done well.

He uses one hand to motion everyone away.

The rest of the 6 purple robed Shadow Priests

float away, gliding over the air, to exit the

Throne Room.

Shao Kahn holds a large red

jewel up in the air.

EMPEROR SHAO KAHN

Shang Tsung, you little failure.

You will not escape the chance

to talk to me! By the power of

the Deathstone . . . you shall again

walk the lands . . . of Outworld!

Shao Kahn aims the Deathstone at

Shang Tsung’s skeleton, infusing the

bones with red energy.

The red energy cackles and spreads across

the skeleton, and nothing happens, at first.

CLOSE ON Shao Kahn’s head, face,

and helmet. Anger and rage is growing

in him visibly.

Sitting in his throne, he finally stands

up, stepping closer to Shang Tsung.

A FLASH of an image: Shang Tsung’s

face, screaming in terror from the

surrounding circle of minotaurs.

BACK TO the present: an orange portal

opens up from Outworld to the NetherRealm,

and the Deathstone’s red energy connects

to this portal. After a few moments, Shang

Tsung’s green soul is brought out of the orange

portal, through the red energy cast off by

the Deathstone, and finally into Shang

Tsung’s skeleton body.

Shao Kahn says, out loud, the magical

incantational chants.

The two Shadow Priests that remain

by Shao Kahn’s side float on, and

each one carefully pours a glass beaker

of blood over the skeleton.

The blood pours out in all directions over

the bones, and the blood spreads all across

the body.

The ribcage FADES AWAY, so that we

can see an x-ray view inside that ribcage,

to examine the dead heart of Shang Tsung.

At an extremely close angle, the dead heart

begins to see the spark of life in one cell,

and the effect spreads to all the surrounding

cells, until the entire heart is starting to move

again, slowly.

The Deathstone, in Shao Kahn’s hand, is still

pouring out its red energy into Shang Tsung’s

skeleton, and his entire body is becoming

reanimated.

A FLASH of an image again -

Shang Tsung’s terrified soul.

SOON - his dead body, resurrected,

filled with flesh and blood and bone

and muscle and other kinds of tissue,

wakes up again, breathing a long,

deep breath of air.

Feeling his face, Shang Tsung starts

to discover two things: he is again

alive; and he is again young.

SOON - Shang Tsung is wearing a black robe.

Shao Kahn approaches Shang Tsung.

Right away, the sorcerer is terrified.

Shao Kahn, at a close distance, slaps

Shang Tsung, hard, causing him to

fall to the floor again.

SHAO KAHN

You have FAILED ME!!!

Shao Kahn angrily grabs his War

Hammer, growls a time or two, and

throws it at the wall.

SHANG TSUNG

Liu Kang . . . killed me.

He is the one that must pay!

SHAO KAHN

I have no need for excuses!

YOU were the tournament’s host.

And you let Earth’s people win!

SHANG TSUNG

But . . . but you brought me out

of the inferno! To serve -

SHAO KAHN

I brought you out - because I am worse!

Shang Tsung breathes heavily.

SHANG TSUNG

Let me try one more time.

I could win this time!

SHAO KAHN
No. THERE IS no one more time!

That was the final Mortal Kombat

tournament for Earth.

SHANG TSUNG

Then we must hold an 11th tournament.

One last tournament, to decide the fate

of Earth realm.

SHAO KAHN

Nonsense! The Elder Gods would never

allow an 11th tournament to be held on Earth!

SHANG TSUNG

What about Outworld? There’s never

been a tournament held on Outworld grounds.

SHAO KAHN

I already own Outworld! I have no

need for an Outworld tournament. It

would do nothing to help me take Earth!

Shao Kahn grabs his War Hammer again,

and approaches Shang Tsung.

SHAO KAHN

You seem to forget that I am a lot older than

you, Shang Tsung - and you answer to me.

Now that we have talked, I will let you

return to the NetherRealm.

SHANG TSUNG

Wait! Wait! I know how

you can take Earth!

Shao Kahn nearly strikes Shang Tsung,

but instead lets go, striking the

ground beside him softly instead.

SHANG TSUNG

Listen. I just thought of how you can take Earth!

SHAO KAHN

How? Tell me.

SHANG TSUNG

Just hold one more tournament - this time

in Outworld. That’s all you need to do!

SHAO KAHN

Fool. What need do I have for an

Outworld tournament?

SHANG TSUNG

Everyone who went to the last tournament,

will go to this new one . . . and they will all fight

each other to the death. Then, once they’re all

dead, nobody will be left to defend Earth.

Don’t you see? This would be a new way

to eliminate Earth’s guardians. The realm of

Earth will be left defenseless against your invasion.

SHAO KAHN

That is true. An Outworld tournament

might be able to cause the death of all

the mortals. But so what? You kill one,

and three more show up to take his place.

SHANG TSUNG

So . . . we will invite plenty of newcomers

to the Outworld tournament. We will see

to it that all the strongest, finest warriors

who would fight for Earth will be here,

fighting each other.

SHAO KAHN

Against each other?

SHANG TSUNG

Yes! And against Outworld’s finest as

well - maybe Kitana. Mileena. They

could fight for Outworld. Jade, maybe,

could fight. Or General Baraka.

SHAO KAHN

An 11th tournament, to be held on Outworld.

It sounds good, but there are problems. The

Elder Gods will never take part in this, the way

they took part in the earlier tournaments.

SHANG TSUNG

We don’t need them to! We can make this

tournament happen alone.

SHAO KAHN

Fine. But still, one last problem: none of those people

know how to travel here, to Outworld. None of them

know how to get here.

SHANG TSUNG

Well . . . we would . . . provide transportation!

All the Earth tournaments provided transportation

by water travel.

SHAO KAHN

What will you do? Take them

on a boat to Outworld?

SHANG TSUNG

A portal. I will transport everybody

here by portal. I promise you, that part of

the tournament will be worked out, by me.

SHAO KAHN

Hmm. Your plan . . . it sounds good.

Shang Tsung smiles. At last,

he has gained Shao Kahn’s favor.

SHAO KAHN

But it’s still not good enough. There is one

who will never be deceived by your words.

One who will never fall for your tricks.

Raiden, God of Thunder. He will tell the

truth to the Earth mortals, and then they

will not listen to you.

Shang Tsung begins to breathe heavily.

SHANG TSUNG

You’re . . . you’re right, Master.

SHAO KAHN

Nobody will listen to your words

about an 11th tournament.

SHANG TSUNG

But . . . they might listen, if Raiden

is the one who tells them!

Shang Tsung, still a shape-shifter,

transforms into Raiden, God of Thunder.

SHANG TSUNG as RAIDEN

Liu Kang! You must go immediately to

Outworld - to fight in the 11th tournament!

SHANG TSUNG as LIU KANG

But, Raiden! Why should I?

I see no need for this.

SHANG TSUNG as RAIDEN

DO NOT QUESTION ME, Liu Kang!

SHANG TSUNG as LIU KANG

Yes! Sorry, Master!

(Shang Tsung reverts back to

his true form between every

illusory form.)

SHANG TSUNG

You see, Master? I can always find

ways to bring them to Outworld.

Once “Raiden” tells them to go,

they will come here by portal.

SHAO KAHN

Some of them may be convinced.

But not all of them. What about

Sonya? She would never agree to

this tournament.

SHANG TSUNG

Well . . .

SHANG TSUNG as KANO

She might come, if she sees ME around, baby!

SHANG TSUNG

Then . . . I would run, and she would

chase me . . . into a portal . . . here.

If I know Sonya, she would throw

herself right into Outworld’s way.

SHAO KAHN

I suspect Liu Kang will be the last one to believe

there is an 11th tournament. Now . . . if you are

right, this 11th tournament . . . it would be held

WHERE, exactly, in Outworld?

SHANG TSUNG

It . . . would . . . be held everywhere! Uhh. Just,

everywhere! Across the Wastelands. The Tombs.

Maybe . . . the Living Forest. Any stretch of land

in Outworld can be designated a Kombat Zone.

SHAO KAHN

Hmmm . . . very well! Your plan is almost flawless.

However, you know that Raiden, God of Thunder,

will eventually come here, following the mortals.

He will clear up their beliefs about him.

SHANG TSUNG

Fine. Let him come here. Raiden is powerless in

Outworld. He will come here as a mortal. Then,

he can be beaten - and killed.

SHAO KAHN

Very well. You may be right about this new

tournament. Then, YOU must return, as this

tournament’s host!

SHANG TSUNG

Yes! Yes! I would do that!

SHAO KAHN

No . . . better yet . . . I will be the host of

this tournament. You may serve as my

general. Once we have seen that every

last one of these mortals is dead - then, we

go to Earth, and begin the process of fusion.

SHANG TSUNG

Yes! I will not fail you in

this task, Emperor Shao Kahn.

SHAO KAHN
You’d better not! If you do,

you will wish to go back to the

minotaurs of the NetherRealm.

SHANG TSUNG

No . . .! Please.

Shao Kahn shows him the Deathstone.

SHAO KAHN

This Deathstone is how I brought you back.

It has the power to reunite body with soul,

in a new body of flesh and blood.

Shang Tsung feels his face.

SHANG TSUNG

New body of flesh and blood . . .?

SHAO KAHN

You were brought back to life on Outworld

grounds. Now you are one with this world.

SHANG TSUNG

I am also a lot younger.

Shang Tsung looks out the windows of

Shao Kahn’s castle, and into the dark,

starry night time sky.

SHANG TSUNG

I am capable of anything again. Even

killing Raiden - after I lure him here.

SHAO KAHN

Yes - Raiden and all his mortals will face certain

death at this Outworld tournament.

SHANG TSUNG

Mortal Kombat . . . continues.

We LOOK UP, overhead, to the sights

of outer space that can be seen in the sky.

TITLE SHOT:

MORTAL KOMBAT: OUTWORLD.

INT. CHINA - HONAN PROVINCE - SHAOLIN TEMPLES - MORNING

Two cousins, Chan and Kung Lao,

travel together, leaving the temple

on a beautiful, peaceful morning.

(Film the actors talking in Chinese.

Also record the sentences in English,

so that Chan and Kung Lao’s mouth

movements are set to Chinese.)

CHAN

Liu Kang lives! He won the tournament.

KUNG LAO

I was so convinced he would be

marching off to his death. I’m

still surprised he survived.

Leaving the temple grounds, Chan

and Kung Lao travel together, in

search of their common relative.

CHAN

What do you want to do to celebrate,

once we meet up with Liu Kang?

KUNG LAO

I don’t know. Let’s ask him

what he wants to do.

INT. SHORES OF THE BEACH - SOON

Chan and Kung Lao stand together

at the sands of the beach.

CHAN

It’s a hot day out.

Chan takes off his black, sleeveless

shirt, keeping on his black and green pants,

and green headband tied around his head.

Kung Lao adjusts his hat, to

provide shade from the Sun.

CHAN

I don’t understand. He’ll be alone

when he comes back, by boat?

KUNG LAO

Of course he will. When coming back from the

tournament, the people are only escorted as far

back as Hong Kong. The people still have

to find their own ways home from there.

CHAN

Liu Kang has the shortest travel home.

KUNG LAO

Of course he does. He’s only traveling

from Hong Kong to Honan.

CHAN

Of course, Hong Kong was considered separate

from China, from Tournaments 1 through 9. Only

since 1997 has Kong Hong been legally considered

owned by China again. So, only during Tournament

10 were Hong Kong’s boats and piers considered

to be China’s boats and piers.

KUNG LAO

I know. I know that.

CHAN

The Chinese government made no attempts

to interfere with the tournament.

KUNG LAO

They probably know nothing about it. They

don’t believe any of the Gods exist, anyway.

CHAN

Do you think Liu Kang will have a difficult

time getting back home?

KUNG LAO

No, not Liu. He’ll be fine.

In the distance, a brown boat

can be seen, slowly proceeding

through the water, toward the shores.

CHAN

Is that him?

KUNG LAO

Doubtful. But still possible.

CHAN

Wow. He beat the tournament! He beat

Goro! And he beat Shang Tsung, too, in

unarmed combat! It’s just . . . too incredible

to believe!

KUNG LAO

That is! That is Liu Kang!

CLOSE ON the brown boat, being

driven by a small crew of men through

the water to reach the sands of the

beach, where Liu Kang’s younger

brother and cousin both greet him.

SOON - Liu Kang gets to shore,

seamlessly walking from boat to sand.

Chan and Kung Lao are happy to see him.

CHAN
You made it back in one piece, brother!

LIU KANG

(shoving Chan’s arm) So did you.

KUNG LAO

So now what shall we do? Return

home? Return to Bo Rai Cho?

LIU KANG

Not just yet. Let’s get something to eat!

EXT. SEA DRAGON RESTAURANT - AN HOUR LATER

Outside the Sea Dragon restaurant,

a waiter slides the front door open to

step inside.

EXT. RESTAURANT - THROUGH THE WALLS

Through the white walls, we can see the

shadows of Liu Kang, Chan, and Kung Lao,

eating food, drinking water, talking, laughing,

their shadows surrounded by the light of

candles.

INT. RESTAURANT - OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE THREE MONKS

Liu Kang, Chan, and Kung Lao look at

their own shadows on the wall.

White rice, brown rice, steamed dumplings,

kung pao chicken, small cups of egg drop

soup, long egg rolls, crispy noodles, and

water comprise the meal they eat with chopsticks.

Chan notices his shadows on the wall, and,

laughingly, he turns his two hands into a

rabbit: the left hand becomes a talking mouth,

opening and closing repeatedly, and the right

hand becomes two large rabbit ears (fingers).

CHAN

Heh heh heh! Ha ha ha! See that?

It’s a rabbit.

LIU KANG

We used to do that when we

were . . . how old were we?

10? 11?

CHAN

You were 12. I must have been 8.

LIU KANG

Yeah. Wow, that’s right.

CHAN

Forgot all about the rabbit, didn’t you?

Look. Look. Now I’m a bird.

Using both hands, he flaps both

wings of a shadow-puppet bird.

Flap, flap. Flap, flap. Flap, flap.

KUNG LAO

It’s good to see you’re enjoying yourself.

CHAN

What’s wrong? Somehow,

you seem . . . distressed.

KUNG LAO

I’m not sure. I just get some

feeling of . . . alarm. Uhhh . . .

never mind. I’m sorry. It was

probably nothing.

INT. MASSAGE PARLOR - SOON

Liu Kang, shirtless, is laying down on

a massage table.

A masseuse is using both hands, thumbs

dug in deeply to his muscles, to make

circular motions and work out the knots

in his shoulders.

LIU KANG

Ohhhh! Ohhhhh, ah! That’s the

area that’s aching the most.

MASSEUSE

Too strong?

LIU KANG

No, no, not too strong. Stay strong.

MASSEUSE

You understand, you cannot have

a massage, two days in a row.

Then, your muscles are way too

stiff. Damaged. You understand?

LIU KANG

Yes, yes, I understand.

She continues to work out his muscles’ knots.

Leaning in close, she applies her right elbow

to the knot in his muscle, digging it in deep

and making circular motions to work out his knots.

INT. MASSAGE PARLOR - NEAR CHAN

CHAN

Ummm . . . could you massage . . .

behind my ears? Sometimes I get

headaches.

The masseuse massages Chan’s neck,

and gradually moves to behind his ears.

CHAN
Oh, oh, oh, ahhh. Wow. I can feel it

already. Less ache. Thank you!

EXT. MASSAGE PARLOR - SOON

Liu Kang, Chan, and Kung Lao

leave the massage parlor.

CHAN
Well, I think we’ve done enough.

What do you say? Ready to go

back home?

LIU KANG

Ready to go back home.

CHAN

The important thing is that you

survived the Mortal Kombat tournament.

INT. CHINA - HONAN PROVINCE - SHORES OF LAND

Another boat carries the three relatives

to the shores of land by the Shaolin temples.

Liu Kang, Chan, and Kung Lao are

quickly walking back toward their home.

Fire is already engulfing many of the temples.

LIU KANG

What?? What?? What’s going on?

Wasting no time at all, the three monks

run into action toward the temples.

EXT. JOHNNY CAGE’S HOME - INT. L.A., CALIFORNIA - EVENING

Johnny Cage’s expensive property

is in Malibu, California: a five-bedroom

house, with an expensive collection of

plant life surrounding the long cement

walk to the front door.

INT. JOHNNY CAGE’S HOME

Johnny Cage is interviewing his new

bodyguard applicant, Bo.

To start, Johnny Cage, let me just say that,

when I was in college, I was a BIG fan of

your movies.

JOHNNY CAGE

Hey, thank you! Now. Understand, you are the

third applicant this week, for this bodyguard

position. I’m looking for a good bodyguard, and,

essentially, I have turned down two thus far.

I’m probably way better than them.

JOHNNY CAGE

Alcohol. Do you drink alcohol?

BO
No. I’m a former drinker. I used to

drink, but have not had one in two years.

JOHNNY CAGE

How bad was it? Back then?

BO
Real bad.

JOHNNY CAGE

I see.

BO
Like I said, two years, and not one drink.

JOHNNY CAGE
Okay. That’s good! Any . . . prescription pills,

or anything?

No, no. I don’t mess with anything.

The only thing I did was drink. But I’m

never going to drink again.

JOHNNY CAGE

All right. Good, then. Bo, it looks

like the chances are pretty good

that you will be the new bodyguard

of Johnny Cage.

Bo smiles.

A dream come true.

INT. JOHNNY CAGE’S HOME - HALLWAYS - LATER

Johnny and Bo are walking through a long hallway

in Cage’s enormous house.

JOHNNY CAGE

Anyway. I just came back from a tournament called

Mortal Kombat. I . . . survived the tournament.

I won the matches that I was scheduled to fight in.

I beat this guy named Reptile. And now that I’m back . . .

What? Now what?

JOHNNY CAGE

All right, try to understand. The whole reason that

I went to this tournament, this Mortal Kombat, was

so that I would come back and tell everyone I won

the tournament, so I am the real deal. However,

although I did not win the entire tournament, I did win

my fight with Rain. Now it’s time to be back home

and apply my victory in that tournament to my career.

Shao Kahn likes the plan for the 11th tournament. Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade must all be told about the 11th tournament. Sing and Sang are dead. Sub-Zero is dead. Raiden is alive, but would never be deceived, so they will leave him out of their plans. The only three that must be lured to Outworld are Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya.

SHAO KAHN

How will they be lured to Outworld?

Liu Kang will never bring himself to Outworld.

SHANG TSUNG

Until he sees what Baraka did to his temples.

Then nothing will stop him from coming after

him - to end up here, in Outworld. It’s quite

simple, my master . . . they all must simply be

driven to want to come here.

INT. CHINA - HONAN - EXT. TEMPLES - MIDDAY

Baraka, hideous leader of the Tarkatans,

holds the long metal blades growing from

both arms far apart.

BARAKA

Hwaaaah!

Two other Tarkatans push a catapult along, on

wooden wheels that are more jagged than circular.

Finally, once it’s pushed far enough, they push

its ammunition, an enormous spiked ball, into

the device.

The two Tarkatans cover the spiked ball

in flammable liquids.

A third Tarkatan approaches the catapult with a burning

torch in one hand. Once he’s close enough, he holds the

torch to the spiked ball, and waits.

It takes a few moments, but he gets the

spiked ball on fire. The three Tarkatans laugh.

CUT TO a farther-away distance, to reveal

two dozen Tarkatans in the area, all watching

with eager anticipation.

BARAKA

Haaa weya ho!

The three Tarkatans activate the catapult.

A burning spiked ball is sent soaring through

the air, to land on the Chinese temples in Honan.

EXT. TEMPLES

Men wearing all orange are standing in rows and columns.

The spiked ball crashes into them, killing many.

One older monk has fallen to the ground.

He looks up, toward the sky.

Over the high walls of the temples, three more spiked

balls are being sent to rain down upon them.

There’s nowhere to run in time! The monk tries

to run anyway.

The spiked balls smash into the ground, immediately

killing everything near them.

Liu Kang, Chan, and Kung Lao approach the cement

tunnel, surrounded on both sides by tall statues of

honorable men in history, and run through it quickly

as the assault on the temple continues ahead of them.

One wounded monk approaches, holding his own

torso and hobbling along slowly.

Suddenly, he is sliced to death by the natural

blades of Baraka, who attacks him from behind.

SHAOLIN MONKS

Nooo!!

Kung Lao removes his hat.

Quickly, he throws his hat across, manipulating

kinetic energy with a white glow around the hat.

He sends the weaponized hat to slice off the

Tarkatan’s head, then return to place itself

back onto the head of Kung Lao. His hands are

dancing around throughout the entire process of

using kinetic energy.

LIU KANG

Was that their leader?

CHAN

I wish. But it’s doubtful.

All three run ahead. Beyond the cement tunnel,

there’s a brick walkway road, surrounded by

green grass. Red buildings on the left side.

Big orange fires blazing, straight ahead and to

the right.

CHAN

No. No, no, no! No! Please! No!

The fire has already spread to the point

where everything is finished.

Pieces of the cement tunnel begin to cave in

behind them, the result of the attacks with the

spiked balls. The area they had stood in not

long before collapses.

One monk, wearing all orange, runs ahead, screaming.

LIU KANG

Drop to the ground, and roll!

Liu Kang pushes the man to fall backwards,

landing on his back.

LIU KANG

Roll around! Roll around!

The monk begins to roll around on the ground,

in the grass.

LIU KANG

Oh, no. Oh, no, oh no oh no oh no . . .

Liu Kang approaches the red buildings, the only

part not on fire.

Liu Kang helps to boost Kung Lao up into the air,

so that he can reach the ledge of the rooftop, on the

lowest tier of the building.

Chan helps boost Liu Kang up into the air.

With Kung Lao and Liu Kang standing on the lowest

roof, both help Chan to reach the rooftop.

EXT. TEMPLE - THIRD, HIGHEST TIER

Water is unleashed. A flood of water pours down

the tunnels, treating them like rain gutters. We FLY

AROUND the area to follow the direction of the water,

to find it that it ends with a waterfall pouring down

onto the temple and monastery grounds.

The water lands right on the burning rooftop of

the red building.

Within seconds, the flood of water

meets, and overwhelms, the fires.

In time, the water is left pouring down all sides of

the first tier’s rooftop, which has now been saved.

But the second tier is still burning.

Climbing up the rooftop. Second floor.

One Tarkatan shows up. Throwing an object

at the Tarkatan.

Climbing up higher, to the top of the structure,

he punches the water wheel with all his might,

to activate the second wheel.

Another Tarkatan shows up to stop him.

He beats up the Tarkatan, and turns the wheel.

Finally, water pours down onto the bare ground.

Liu Kang climbs down from the third tier to the

second, to the first, and to the ground.

The temple is saved.

But many monks are still dead.

Essentially, Liu Kang, Chan, and Kung Lao fight Baraka, who runs away and escapes into a pink portal. Raiden, God of Thunder, arrives and tells Liu Kang that he must follow Baraka into that portal to Outworld. Chan and Kung Lao follow Baraka into the portal.

INT. PONG GAME - FULL-SCREEN VIEW

Beep! . . . Boop. Beep! . . . Boop.

A white ball bounces back and forth

between the left and right walls of the

screen, as two white paddles move up

and down to catch it.

PONG is being played by Johnny Cage, and his

bodyguard, Bo, who is dressed in a black and

white suit.

JOHNNY CAGE

3 straight victories. Oh yeah! Who da man!

Johnny Cage is back in his home, in L.A.,

wondering how to apply his victory in Mortal
Kombat to his comeback in Hollywood. He

has drawn out all kinds of ideas on paper for

what he will do for his comeback.

In his home, one night, the power goes out.

He walks up, and talks to Bo, his bodyguard.

Johnny Cage and Bo are inside the darkened

home when Reptile breaks in and fights

Johnny Cage. The two fight for a long time.

Reptile breaks out of the front door,

and runs away.

JOHNNY CAGE

Oh no you don’t! Get back here!

Johnny Cage runs out the door, chasing

after Reptile -

EXT. JOHNNY CAGE’S HOME - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NIGHT

- and right into the dark outside terrain

of Los Angeles, California at night.

He does not give up. Johnny Cage

continues to fight Reptile, at a street

corner in L.A. Reptile jumps and flips

into a pink portal.

Johnny Cage watches in awe.

Bo runs after the pink portal.

What is that pink thing?

JOHNNY CAGE

I don’t know. I’ve never seen one

before, in my life! And I’ve been

to Mortal Kombat!

What was that burglar? He

appeared . . . inhuman.

JOHNNY CAGE

His name is Reptile.

What?

JOHNNY CAGE

He comes from Outworld.

Are you serious, Johnny?

Johnny runs after the pink portal.

No!

Johnny disappears into it.

You are paying me time and a half for this!

Bo leaps into the pink portal,

after Johnny Cage.

Now, all three people are gone,

and the pink portal remains open.

Cars honk. L.A. traffic has become

disrupted by people staring at the

sight of the pink portal.

L.A. DRIVER

What the Hell IS that thing?

After another few moments, the

pink portal closes down to nothing.

Now we are back to Sonya, after she came back to base after the tournament. Kano is dead. The investigation is closed. The Black Dragon gang is assumed dismantled, but now is an important time for law officials to stay on top of that gang, so that they can challenge their new leader before he rises to power. Kano is dead.

But one day she sees a darker version of Kano in public. He runs away. She chases after him. She chases him right into a pink portal.

Jax chases after her, believing her to be delusional, seeing things. Kano is dead. But he, too, eyes the pink portal, and he wonders what it is. Jax, in his attempts to touch it with one hand, is sucked inside the portal due to gravity.

INT. OUTWORLD - THE LIVING FOREST - NIGHT

All 3 people have ended up in the Living Forest.

LIU KANG

First, I don’t know where we are.

I don’t know where this forest is,

or even how long it is, or where to

find an exit. But more importantly:

why are US three re-united, here?

JOHNNY CAGE

That is kind of weird.

SONYA

We all parted ways at the end of the

tournament. What are we doing,

bouncing back into each others’

path here?

JOHNNY CAGE

Hey - I just found this place

chasing after Reptile.

SONYA

Same here - I just found this place

chasing after Kano!

LIU KANG

And I . . .

A strange feeling overcomes Liu.

LIU KANG

I found this place chasing . . . Baraka.

All 3 of us ended up here. Not by chance.

Not by accident. Someone . . . someone

wanted us here.

HORNBUCKLE

Hold on, now. Raiden wanted us here.

Remember? He told us so himself.

LIU KANG

Yes, but . . .

HORNBUCKLE

But what?

LIU KANG

But why would Raiden tell us to go to Outworld?

I just don’t understand it.

HORNBUCKLE

He has his reasons.

LIU KANG

What if it wasn’t Raiden? Maybe it

was only . . . Shang Tsung.

HORNBUCKLE

Nonsense! Shang Tsung is dead. You told

me so yourself. You killed him at the

tournament - right?

LIU KANG

. . . Yes . . . I . . . did.

HORNBUCKLE

Then, it must be Raiden.

LIU KANG

You’re right. He said the only way to stop

Baraka was to come here. But why can’t I

find him now?

JOHNNY CAGE

Wait a minute. This was just supposed to be

a Mortal Kombat two-day reunion tour.

Now it looks like each one of us brought

along some . . . company.

SONYA

Company?

JOHNNY CAGE
Yes, I brought along my bodyguard, Bo.

Liu Kang, you seem to have your brothers

with you.

KUNG LAO

Cousin.

JOHNNY CAGE

Cousins, whatever. Sonya - you seem

to have brought your . . . boyfriend?

JAX

I’m her commanding officer.

JOHNNY CAGE

Whatever. All 3 of us . . . we brought along

our friends. Now there are 7 of us.

LIU KANG
Liu Kang . . . Chan, or, Hornbuckle . . . Kung Lao

. . . Johnny Cage . . . Sonya . . . and . . .?

Bo, the Bodyguard.

JAX

Jax. Major in the U.S. Special Forces.

LIU KANG

Us 7 have all ended up here, in exactly

the same place, exactly the same time.

I really don’t think this is a coincidence.

All I did was pick the wrong client! If I was

Mike Tyson’s bodyguard, I wouldn’t end up

stranded in the forest, that’s for damn sure . . .

JOHNNY CAGE

Oh, stop it. You know I’m fun.

Zombie bodies start to trudge along through the forest.

What are these things? What

are these . . . putrid . . . corpses?

HORNBUCKLE

I guess, for now, we’ll just

call them putrid corpses!

Hornbuckle and Bo fight together

through the crowd of corpses. At

first, only Hornbuckle is fighting.

After seeing three corpses taken

down, with only a few strong punches,

Bo gets in the action as well.

HORNBUCKLE

You’ve done this before?

I am a bodyguard. This is my job.

I’m supposed to be prepared for

every trick a punk will pull. I just

. . . never . . . thought this would happen.

HORNBUCKLE

These corpses go down after only

a few punches.

BO
I’ve noticed.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao fight corpses together.

Johnny Cage is solo.

Sonya and Jax fight together.

JAX

I swear to God, woman. You

make me come out here . . .!

SONYA

You did NOT have to come out here.

I’d have told you not to come - you know that.

JAX
I know. But no way could I watch you

run into that pink thing and not follow you.

No way would I let you die out there -

actually thinking you saw Kano. Hey -

what was that pink thing, anyway?

SONYA

It was a portal. You know.

A gateway between realms.

JAX

A gateway, between realms.

SONYA

Well. In more scientific terms, a

realm is a planet in outer space.

Planets. Realms.

JAX

I don't want to hear nonsense talk.

SONYA

But you asked a question.

JAX

Well . . . I want a right answer.

What was that pink thing?

SONYA

A portal - one of two necessary for

travel between realms.

JAX

Realms? Planets?

SONYA

Same thing.

JAX

So just say planets, then. Why don't

you just say planets? I don't get it.

LIU KANG

Here's the difference, Jax. Not all realms are

simply planets, like Mars, or Mercury. You see,

a few have life on them, designated by the

Elder Gods. Therefore, "realm".

SONYA

See? There's your rational explanation.

JAX

What? No it's not! Elder Gods?

Are you insane? What kind of science is that?

LIU KANG

The important thing is that this isn't Earth realm.

This is Outworld.

JAX

This isn't Earth, this is Outworld?

Oh, God. You're one of those flat-Earth people?

SONYA

No. Just the -

JAX

The Elvis-is-alive type people?

SONYA

Stop. Stop. Wrong profiles.

JAX

Look, obviously we're on planet Earth -

I can't believe that's even a question -

and so obviously we just have to find some

way for them to find our cell phone locations.

SONYA

Our location is Outworld.

We're not on Earth anymore.

JAX

Okay, look, the trees, the forest, the AIR we

breathe . . . seems a lot like Earth to me.

Plus, what about the moon? Explain to me how

you can look at the MOOOON?

A red moon orbits Outworld - enormous and red.

JAX

Harvest moon or something. Jeez. The timing.

LIU KANG

That's not your moon, from Earth.

JAX

Oh, what, it's a Red Moon from Outworld?

LIU KANG

Yes!

JAX

(sigh) Look - the gravity is the same here.

Same gravitational pull.

SONYA

Now, about that. Don't you feel . . . a little heavier since

being here? Like you've gained six or seven pounds

since entering this forest?

JAX

. . . Okay. KIND of. But, you know, I might have just

eaten too much Thai food.

SONYA

Jax, you weigh more now. I weigh more now.

We've gained weight because there's heavier

gravity here - and therefore a larger planet mass.

JAX

Enough to gain six or seven pounds?

. . . Does EVERYONE here feel heavier?

LIU KANG

Yes. I do feel heavier.

SONYA

Jax - it adds up, the science.

JAX

. . . Heavier gravity? I don't know . . .

SONYA

It would explain a feeling of extra weight.

JAX

Yeah, whatever. You just tell yourself that. "Other realms."

LIU KANG

There are many other realms out there,

beyond Earth, beyond Outworld.

Lots of other realms.

JAX

Bullshit. So they all have the same

oxygen? Nitrogen, too? Remember,

without nitrogen, we can't breathe. Okay?

Or - or what removes the carbon dioxide

from the atmosphere, so that it's not

some overload amount we can't take?

SONYA

This forest, first off.

JAX

True, but if this planet Outworld doesn't have

an ocean, then nothing to remove carbon,

and therefore, too much for us.

SONYA

I believe Outworld has oceans.

LIU KANG

It does. But they're not meant for humans to swim in.

JAX

Oh, pleaaaaase.

SIlence for a few seconds.

JAX

Okay, explain the distance from Outworld and the Sun -

it would have to be EXACTLY the same as Earth from its Sun.

Exactly the same!

SONYA

Or enough to make a slightly different length for days, nights. Years.

Months. Wonder how long that red moon takes to orbit Outworld.

LIU KANG

Mr. Jax . . . at first, Earth was not suitable for life.

No planet was suitable for life at first. One by one,

the Elder Gods made planets suitable for life,

turning it into a realm - so all realms are Earth-like.

There's not Earth-iron here. Earth-oxygen here.

Just . . . the element iron. The element oxygen.

The element nitrogen. The same heavy elements

and light elements that you knew in Earth.

JAX

So, this isn't Earth, it's just . . .

LIU KANG

It's just a place with oxygen, iron, nitrogen.

JAX

So, we're here in Outworld, Earth's evil twin.

SONYA

Planet Venus is Earth's identical twin.

It's too close to the sun so it's too warm for us.

Bring it farther away from the sun, and Venus becomes

just the same as Earth. Not a copy of Earth . . .

just ANY old place with a heavy core and

an atmosphere of air is Earth-ly, Earth-ish . . .

JAX

Jeez. You're really convinced.

You really are convinced of this.

That we're in some alien planet.

LIU KANG

Alien planet? . . . Hmm, I'd never

thought of it as an alien planet before . . .

SONYA

We just have to locate another portal

to return to Earth realm. I'm thinking we

have a new agency opened up. The

Outerworld Investigation Agency.

JAX

Okay, okay, you two are so good at this.

You be my tour guide. Please. Tell me.

Where are we going next?

LIU KANG

We’re following Reptile.

JOHNNY CAGE

Yeah! . . . Wait. I’m following Reptile.

That’s my line!

LIU KANG

Reptile has more information about

this tournament.

JOHNNY CAGE
Yeah, doesn’t he serve Shang Tsung, or something?

LIU KANG

I am starting to think there are more people

involved in this than Shang Tsung.

JOHNNY CAGE

Who? Who could be worse? Someone

even older than him?

LIU KANG

Actually, yes. The legends of the Emperor

of Outworld . . . might be true after all.

JOHNNY CAGE

What? What legends? I’m sorry, Liu,

but you will have to fill me in on this.

LIU KANG

Very well. Johnny . . . story time.

FADE TO: BLACK.

FADE TO:

INT. HAND-DRAWN CHINESE ARTWORK ANIMATION SEQUENCE

Ancient Chinese artwork depicts the

dark and gloomy black skies of Outworld.

LIU KANG’S VOICE

Outworld was a natural realm, existing

by creation of the Elder Gods. It was a

dark and desolate realm, a place of exile,

a place to throw away things with no use.

An enormous green Dragon King

walks slowly through Outworld.

LIU KANG’S VOICE

Outworld was not a place where humans

could live. Its air could not be breathed

by humans. But the Dragon King could

not die. So he did not die in the poisonous

Outworld. He lived in it easily, and he

used his power to transform the very core

of the world to become more breatheable.

Then, people would know fear of Outworld.

The Outworld sky is shown, in another

ancient drawing, as dark purple, instead

of black.

LIU KANG’S VOICE

The Dragon King ruled over Outworld

for 10,000 years without challenge. People

were terrified to step into Outworld - the

few people in China who even knew how to

travel there and back.

JOHNNY CAGE’S VOICE

How did people travel there and back,

in the old days?

LIU KANG’S VOICE

By accident. A gateway in an ocean,

or - a gateway near a cave . . . an accident,

found by people through luck.

JOHNNY CAGE’S VOICE

Wow.

LIU KANG’S VOICE

They say that after 10,000 years,

someone beat the Dragon King.

JOHNNY CAGE’S VOICE

Who?

LIU KANG’S VOICE

Shao Kahn . . . the man who crowned

himself the new Emperor of Outworld.

FADE TO: BLACK.

FADE TO:

INT. LIVING FOREST - JUST THEN

LIU KANG

Shao Kahn, the Emperor, has remained

in power since, for 2,000 years.

JOHNNY CAGE

And that’s who we’re facing now?

LIU KANG

Correct.

JOHNNY CAGE

Holy Hell!

INT. OUTWORLD - EXT. SHAO KAHN’S CASTLE - NIGHT

Blue mist surrounds the outside of Shao Kahn’s Castle.

INT. SHAO KAHN'S CASTLE - RIGHT THEN

SHANG TSUNG

Liu, Johnny, and Sonya are here in Outworld.

Raiden can’t help them now. Even if he does

come here, he will be mortal.

SHAO KAHN

Excellent. Prepare Sonya Blade for the marriage.

SHANG TSUNG

Yes.

SHAO KAHN

Bring Sonya to the Sky Palace, where

the others won’t interfere. Bring Kitana

and Mileena to the same palace first.

SHANG TSUNG

Where are Kitana and Mileena?

Shao Kahn focuses, for a moment.

SHAO KAHN

The Edenia wastelands.

SHANG TSUNG

What are they doing?

Shao Kahn grins.

INT. OUTWORLD - EDENIA WASTELANDS (FORMER BLUE FIELDS)

Kitana and Mileena, twin assassins,

are walking together. Kitana is

holding her weaponized fans, and

Mileena is using twin three-pronged sais.

KITANA

I sense danger, sister.

MILEENA

So do I. We are not alone!

A fire is burning on the ground.

It begins to sparkle and cackle with

green fire. Soon enough, the green

color has overtaken the entire fire.

Out of nowhere, 7 witches fly out

of that fire, flying through the air

on broomsticks, laughing. They

surround Kitana and Mileena in a

ring formation, continuing to fly around.

The witches are all laughing as they

continue to move at fast speeds

around the two assassins.

Kitana and Mileena get ready for combat.

MILEENA

How did they do that?

KITANA

Easy. They turned off their invisibility.

YOU THERE! Witches! Who is the leader

of your pack?

Shadia begins to fly around, more leisurely,

near Kitana as she talks.

SHADIA

Oh, a fellow Outworlder, I assure you.

I fought for Outworld at the 10th

Mortal Kombat tournament!

KITANA

Who are you?

SHADIA

My name is Shadia. I am the owner of

the genie Belokk. And because of that,

now I am a powerful witch. More

powerful than both of you!

Shadia fires two balls of fires from

her fingertips toward the two women.

Kitana and Mileena both swiftly

sidestep away from danger.

The balls of fire continue to travel

until they touch the ground and end.

After killing the two witches, Shang Tsung

meets the two assassins.

KITANA

Shang Tsung! What are you doing here?

SHANG TSUNG

The Emperor wants both of you to report

to the Sky Palace immediately.

MILEENA

Then we will go. What for?

SHANG TSUNG

Sonya will be married to the Emperor.

She will become the new Empress of

Outworld. Dress her appropriately, and

then escort her safely to Kahn’s Arena

for the marriage ceremony.

KITANA
Yes, Shang Tsung. Can you bring us

both to the Sky Palace?

SHANG TSUNG

Of course.

Shang Tsung walks between the two

princesses, and he begins to tear open

a pink portal.

MILEENA

But I’m the Princess of Outworld.

Shang Tsung finishes forming the portal.

SHANG TSUNG

Very well. You two go. I will go find Sonya.

KITANA & MILEENA
Yes, Shang Tsung.

Mileena leaps into the pink portal.

KITANA
I’ll see you soon enough, in the Sky Palace.

Kitana leaps into the portal as well.

The pink portal closes. The Edenia wastelands

goes back to its dark purple color.

From a farther-away angle, Shang Tsung

is alone out here. So he walks away, and

opens up a second portal, to step into.

INT. LIVING FOREST - SOON

Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya,

Hornbuckle, Kung Lao, Bo, and Jax

are still walking together.

Why did I have to get involved in all this?

I’m just a bodyguard. I’m supposed to

protect one millionaire. One! That’s it!

Johnny Cage, I hope you know you’re

writing me a serious check, when all this is over.

JOHNNY CAGE

I don’t think they have banks here in OUTWORLD.

Outworld? What are you talking

about? We’re in a forest.

JOHNNY CAGE

We’re in a LIVING forest - in Outworld.

. . . Really?

RAIDEN

Yes . . .

We PULL BACK a little further to reveal

the backside of Raiden, who talks to

the group of 7 mortals.

RAIDEN

Bo, you have now found yourself in Outworld,

for a very important reason.

BO
How did you know my name . . .?

Did one of you say my name out loud?

RAIDEN

I know who you are, Bo: you are a

bodyguard in California. You are

a recovered alcoholic. You haven’t

had a drink in 2 years.

How . . . how could you know that . . .??

RAIDEN

I know this, because I am the Thunder God,

and I can look into your souls. Liu Kang!

Johnny Cage! Sonya! You are all here now.

LIU KANG

Raiden! Please explain to me what the Hell

is happening! I can’t find Baraka or his mutants.

RAIDEN

You will find them, in time.

You’re on the right track.

LIU KANG

No! Why would this happen? You said

Baraka and his mutants came from Outworld.

Right? They came from this realm.

RAIDEN

Baraka is the leader of the Tarkatan horde.

They live here in Outworld, yes.

LIU KANG

But Earth won against Outworld at the tournament.

Earth won! So, these Outworld Tarkatans should

never have come to Earth, to destroy the Shaolin temples!

RAIDEN

Liu Kang, I can explain.

LIU KANG

Yes! I would like an explanation!

RAIDEN
You won the 10th tournament. But you

did not yet participate in the 11th tournament.

LIU KANG

WHAT??

JOHNNY CAGE

Yeah. I’m with him. WHAT??

SONYA

That wasn’t the agreement, Raiden.

The agreement was that we win the

tournament, we win the entire battle.

The war, the invasion, whatever you

want to call it, it all ended, when Liu

Kang beat Shang Tsung.

RAIDEN

Yes. Indeed, Liu Kang did kill that

genius sorcerer, Shang Tsung . . .

however, let me explain. Earth won

the 10th tournament. That was all.

Outworld won 5 tournaments out of 10.

Earth won 5 tournaments out of 10.

So, no, Earth did not win by majority.

Earth only reached a stalemate.

LIU KANG

In case of a stalemate, the Elder Gods

look to the winner of the 10th and

final tournament, to make their decision.

RAIDEN

Is that really what you believe, Liu Kang?

Liu Kang falls silent.

RAIDEN

Outworld won 5 tournaments - as much as

it pains me to say it. Earth won 5 tournaments,

and reached a stalemate. So, when both sides

reach a tie, the 11th tournament decides for all

time. The 11th tournament is held here, on

Outworld grounds . . . where I have no power.

LIU KANG

Now we have to fight in another tournament?

RAIDEN

I see you have brought newcomers. This is good.

KUNG LAO

I’m just here to find Baraka.

RAIDEN

Then you will fight him at the tournament.

LIU KANG

Where? Where is this tournament?

RAIDEN

It is everywhere, here in Outworld!

At the end of the tournament, if Earth

wins, then Shao Kahn’s invasion will

be called off.

SONYA

That wasn’t the agreement!

RAIDEN

Yes, it was! It was the agreement.

I can see you are all confused.

You’re not remembering everything

right. But given the circumstances,

as of late, I can understand why.

LIU KANG

How do I know you’re even really Raiden?

RAIDEN

What else would I be? The Tooth Fairy?

LIU KANG

Blast some lightning at that tree.

RAIDEN

I would if I could, Liu Kang -

but here in Outworld, I have lost

all my power.

LIU KANG

That’s true. But how do I know

you’re not merely Shang Tsung

in disguise?

RAIDEN

You watched Shang Tsung die.

You were a witness.

LIU KANG

Hmm. Yes.

RAIDEN

You need to stop being so paranoid,

Liu Kang - because these false accusations

aren’t getting you anywhere.

LIU KANG

Right. Sorry, Raiden.

RAIDEN

Go! Go seek out Baraka. You will fight

him at the tournament.

The group of 7 begins to walk on.

RAIDEN

Wait! Sonya. Come here.

SONYA

Yes, Raiden?

RAIDEN

Recently, you thought you saw Kano,

the criminal, alive and well. I can take

you right to him.

SONYA

Really?

RAIDEN

Yes. Follow me!

Raiden opens up a pink portal,

and, once it’s fully opened,

he motions for Sonya to step

inside, and she does so, before

Raiden himself enters.

The other 6 now move on without her.

INT. EARTH’S SKY - SOON

Thousands of feet up in the air, where

clouds roll by, the Sky Palace floats in the air.

INT. SKY PALACE - JUST THEN

Rain, wearing a purple Shadow Priest robe,

stands floating above the floor, both hands

together.

Behind him is a hole in the wall, through which

the sky and clouds can be seen beyond.

SONYA

Where am I?? What is

going on here, Raiden?

RAIDEN
I’m not Raiden.

He transforms himself back into Shang Tsung.

SONYA

What??

SHANG TSUNG

Yes - I’m really Shang Tsung. And

soon, you will be taken to meet the

Emperor of Outworld - Shao Kahn.

Kitana! Mileena!

Both twins assassins approach

Shang Tsung and Sonya.

SHANG TSUNG

Take her to be married.

KITANA & MILEENA

Yes, Shang Tsung.

SONYA

Married? Get off of me!

I’m not getting married!

Sonya is escorted away.

INT. LIVING FOREST

BACK TO Jax, and the other 6 mortals.

JAX

Why did that guy with the hat ask

for Sonya to go somewhere alone?

LIU KANG

Sonya will be all right. She beat Kano

at the tournament. She can handle herself

against him here.

JAX

So where are we now, Liu Kang?

LIU KANG

Earlier, we were in the Edenia province.

Now we are passing through the Zaterra

province.

JAX

Is there any difference between the two?

LIU KANG

Yes. This province used to be the

realm of Zaterra.

JAX

Meaning what, exactly?

LIU KANG

It is populated only by reptilians.

They all find a whole swarm of Velociraptors,

living quite happily, in Outworld.

JAX

There’s . . . dinosaurs in Outworld?

LIU KANG

Yes. There’s dinosaurs in Outworld.

These are the Velociraptors.

Next, they go up against some apes

that look like they are between

Man and Monkey.

JAX

And what the Hell is THAT?

LIU KANG

The human race’s evolutionary ancestor.

LIU KANG

What are you doing, Jax?

JAX

I can't figure this shit out!!

LIU KANG

Figure what shit out?

JAX

I took some iron, and some iron.

Electrified them both. And NOTHING!

No magnetism!

LIU KANG

No magnetic properties for iron?

JAX

Correct! Isn't iron the same here?

LIU KANG

Oh, iron is the same element here.

However, all you are missing . . .

is the iron core.

JAX

. . . What?

LIU KANG

Iron core.

JAX

The planet HAS to have a core.

LIU KANG

But if it isn't iron-based, your magnets

become worthless.

JAX

Then, which element is it?

LIU KANG

Whichever one responds to electric shock.

JAX
Jeeeeez, I don't have time for this!

LIU KANG

Well, you weren't a scientist anyway.

JAX

So?? It's called survival. It's called being sharp.

It's called . . . knowing, learning. Reading.

It helps me in my field either way. Jeez.

I don't have time to gather a . . . hundred

different metals and test them with electric

current. And no books available about if it's

AC current or DC current . . . ugh . . . guess

I'll just have to give up on magnetism for now.

LIU KANG

Some metal is magnetic. You just don't know

which one.

JAX

So I'm guessing it's not too far from atomic number 26.

(sigh) A lot of time is needed. No magnetism. No compass.

Guess we'll just have to be happy being lost.

LIU KANG

A map and no compass can still work.

JAX

Not that great!

LIU KANG

It will have to!

JAX

It will have to.

SONYA

Maybe it's aluminum.

JAX

An aluminum core? No. We would develop dementia

if there was an aluminum core.

LIU KANG

Maybe that explains Chaos Realm.

JAX

Okay. So whatever new science that pink thing was.

Where did it bring us to?

SONYA

We agree it was pure energy, right?

JAX

Right. But not made of photons - we would get fried.

SONYA

It's some form of energy. Something

beyond everything we know.

JAX

Just . . . something from the missing pieces of the

incomplete Periodic Table, that's all. That's all it is.

SONYA

But what a find, huh?

JAX

So where are we? . . . When are we? . . . WHAT

are we? . . . WHO are we? . . . WHERE are we?

Outworld?

SONYA

And stuck here, for now, until another portal

takes us back to Earth.

JAX

Earth realm.

SONYA

Earth realm.

Finally, Reptile. Johnny Cage fights him.

LIU KANG

Okay. So Reptile is down. But that’s

not enough. We need to find Baraka

and the Tarkatans next.

JAX

No, what we NEED to do is find

where Sonya and Kano ended up.

Where’s that guy with the hat?

LIU KANG

We should still stick together, as a group.

Whatever we find first, we encounter first.

Reptile is down. Now let’s look for the rest!

They travel on.

JAX

What’s this next land, up ahead?

LIU KANG

Cryo . . . the ice-cold frozen province of Outworld.

JAX

No way.

They pass through the ice-cold lands.

LIU KANG

This is what remains from the lost

realm of Cryo. Wow. I never thought

I would see this for myself!

JAX

BRR-RRR! We’re not built for this!

We can’t be going through this

kind of environment that long, you know!

LIU KANG

Jax . . . my shirt is off, and I don't feel cold.

JAX

Right, explain that . . .?

LIU KANG

It's . . . energy.

JAX

What energy?

LIU KANG

It . . . you can call it kombat energy . . .

you can call it a few different things . . .

but if you trap and maintain it, you won't

feel so cold, even in this snowy environment.

JAX

. . . So, what are the magic words? What do I say?

LIU KANG

It's not about magic words, necessarily.

It's about willpower. Your own willpower.

JAX

. . . And then I don't catch hypothermia?

LIU KANG

Correct. You can train your body to slowly

withstand lower and lower temperatures.

All you have to do is, every single day,

immerse yourself into water. Slowly, one

degree colder every day -

JAX

OKAY. Don't talk about this. My body . . .

body is freezing . . . I don't . . . have special

training on just "staying warm".

LIU KANG

I'm telling you . . . kombat energy!

Fight me. Punch me! See!

JAX

What?

LIU KANG

Punch me! Throw me! It'll help!

JAX

Come on. Don't gotta do that.

LIU KANG

Fight me! Show me your training!

JAX

. . . A-all right.

Jax begins sparring with Liu Kang.

Liu blocks his attacks with his palms.

LIU KANG

Throw me.

Jax approaches Liu Kang, and quickly

throws him away.

LIU KANG

Ohhhh . . . now . . . you might feel the kombat energy.

JAX

I do.

LIU KANG

It'll keep you warm. Try to keep that energy in you.

JAX

. . . I do feel less cold now.

LIU KANG

It's called kombat energy . . . just trap it,

maintain it. Harness it. You won't freeze to death.

JAX

I feel SLIGHTLY less cold. But it's not enough.

LIU KANG

Then we keep sparring.

So they find a cave. It leads to total darkness.

It also leads to Kuatan, the subterranean

province of Outworld.

Here, the Shokan live.

Eventually, they fight Jade here.

Jade has the power to touch things and

turn them into solid jade.

Hornbuckle fights Jade. The two fight it out,

and Jade wins. Hornbuckle is beaten, but not dead.

But she grants him mercy. She removes her veil,

and tells Hornbuckle that she will only kill him if

her Emperor orders her to do so.

Kung Lao shows up.

KUNG LAO

I’ll make you pay for hurting Hornbuckle.

JADE
Hornbuckle who?

KUNG LAO

Hornbuckle, my cousin!

JAX

My God. We’ve just seen it all,

here in Outworld, haven’t we?

What - what were the names, again,

of all those places?

LIU KANG

Edenia - the capitol.

Zaterra - with Reptile.

Cryo - the ice-cold province.

Kuatan - subterranean, underground province.

That’s four provinces so far that

we’ve visited. Ready for more?

JAX

Pff. Yeah, sure.

LIU KANG

To the north-west is Kantarian,

the Centaur province. I don’t think

we should go there.

Or, to the east, is Ochanep.

For a moment, we see the province of Ochanep,

with one gigantic skyscraper building standing

out in the center, with a large sphere at the top,

and many buildings with roofs positioned like

half-triangles all around. Half a dozen metal

starships fly through the air, firing bullets of

green laser light.

But that is a far distance away.

Now Raiden takes them into a portal to

Vaeternus, vampire province of Outworld.

They are surrounded by vampires here,

for now is night time, when they are awake.

The travelers take another portal, this time to

Xaa, the Rainforest Province.

The desert province of Ar’qun.

Sub-Zero (the younger brother) and Smoke

have been with them since Cryo.

Having traveled so far, now the real Raiden

helps them reach Shao Kahn's Castle.

Kano and Sonya are tied up, after Kano’s failure, and after the brainwashed marriage falls through. Both are in chains to soon be fed to Kintaro.

Chan fights Shang Tsung. Jax fights Kintaro, and ends up having his arms ripped off. Kitana fights Kintaro, now pledging herself to Earth instead of Outworld, but also loses. Sub-Zero (the second) and Scorpion work together to stop Kintaro.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao, Shaolin monks, fight Shao Kahn.

The good guys win. The bad guys all lose.

LIU KANG

I thought the Shokan were only

half-human, half-dragon.

RAIDEN

They are. But the Tigrar sect of the

Shokan are a newer hybrid species that

Shao Kahn has engineered more

recently, in search of a superior warrior.

Jax vs. Kintaro.

Kintaro rips Jax’s arms off.

Kitana saves Jax.

JAX

You . . . you saved . . . me?

KITANA

Yes. Come quickly.

Waving one fan around in one hand,

she projects visible, tangible waves of

kinetic energy to Jax, and, waving it

around quickly some more, she uses

this grip to move Jax, with both arms

missing, away.

JAX

I thought you work for the bad guy.

KITANA

I used to. But I was merely under Shao Kahn’s

brainwashing spell. The same spell that you

witnessed placed upon Sonya. It’s . . . broken now.

JAX
Really? You’re being genuine?

KITANA
Raiden! Locate a hospital in Earth realm,

and send him there, please.

RAIDEN

I will do it, this time.

Raiden tears open a pink portal,

near Jax, so that he can return home.

JAX

Funny . . . same . . . thing I used

to get here . . . in the first place.

KITANA

Go! Get help!

She escorts Jax all the way into the

pink portal, and, when he’s close

enough, he gets sucked into it.

Kitana stays behind.

SHAO KAHN

YOU TRAITOR!

KITANA

I am not a traitor. I am Princess Kitana -

Princess of Edenia. This is what I was long

before you placed your brainwashing spells

on me. I will never again be like you. Ever.

SHAO KAHN

At least I still have Mileena. At

least I have ONE decent daughter.

Kintaro! Kitana here has, at last,

lost her loyalty to me. Fight her.

KINTARO

Kitana? . . . If you say so, Kahn.

LIU KANG

Nooo! Don’t! You coward! Don’t send

a woman to fight Kintaro. Send me!

KITANA

I can hold my own, Liu Kang.

Kitana gets herself ready to fight,

assuming her fighting pose.

Kintaro steps forth. Taller than Goro,

he is part-human, part-dragon, and

even part-tiger, being a Tigrar, or

Tiger-Shokan.

Kitana holds two razor-sharp fans

as weapons.

Kintaro crouches low to the ground.

He moves very slowly, a natural result

of his enormous size and weight, but

he is planning something major.

Using kinetic energy, he repels himself

away from the ground, like two positive

ends of two magnets being held to each other.

Kintaro flies up into the air, to land on Kitana.

She extends her blue-gloved right hand

to cast out more kinetic energy, moving

outward. Kintaro continues to bear down

upon her, but his fall is slowed down by

her kinetic pushes.

Kitana struggles, so she uses her left hand

as well, being ambidextrous with her hands

due to thousands of years of age and wisdom

alone. It takes both hands, pushing out kinetic

energy through the fans, to slow down Kintaro’s

movement to a crawl.

She swipes both fans away, one to the left

and the other to the right, so that Kintaro

simply falls, and lands on the ground.

KITANA

Cats always do land on their feet.

Kintaro growls. At first, with him

having fallen, it’s difficult for him

to get back up. Kitana has a short

window of time - key-word: short -

in which to attack him while he’s down.

She gets close, and gets ready to

slice him with a fan, but by then he

has used all four hands to push himself

away from the ground, causing him to

fly up into the air a very short distance

so that he can land on his two feet again.

KITANA

We both master kinetic energy.

I guess two magicians . . .

really can’t entertain each other.

KINTARO

I might not have done this if I had

not heard my Emperor’s orders.

But an order is an order. Good-bye,

Princess Kitana.

He grabs her sides with two of his hands,

holding her stuck in place.

KITANA

No . . . no!

With his other two hands, he grabs

her by the wrists, squeezing them

tightly, causing her hands to feel

jolted from pain, causing Kitana

to drop both weaponized fans

to the ground.

Plok, plok. Both of her fans

fall to the floor.

Kintaro raises one hand up

into the air.

MILEENA’S VOICE
STOP RIGHT THERE!!

From 15 feet up in the air,

Mileena appears in a blue

glow of light and energy,

falling to the ground with both

feet positioned to kick.

She lands on the ground, and rises to her feet.

MILEENA

As much as I’ve disagreed with my

sister at times . . . nobody tries to

kill her like this and lives! I’ve got

your back, Kitana.

KINTARO

Foolish girl. Now you both die.

MILEENA
Watch me.

She runs forth, and quickly runs at

such insane speeds that she can quickly

curl up into a ball and continue to roll

ahead, knocking into Kintaro’s mighty

legs, forcing him to lose his balance.

Kintaro and Kitana both fall to the ground.

Mileena quickly rises to her feet,

faster than Kintaro can. She grips

her two twin sais, with three sharp

metal prongs per sai. She grips them

both tightly, and a blue glow begins to

build up across them.

Her hands begin to shake. It takes

several seconds to get the glow working.

Kintaro rises to his feet, and starts

to walk in Mileena’s direction, so

she releases all the blue energy she

was building up, unleashing a blast

of blue energy upon Kintaro’s body.

He is knocked backward again.

MILEENA

See what happens when you mess with us!

KITANA

Stop. He was just following -

MILEENA

I'm not stopping!!

Her speed doesn't stop. She runs quickly at him,

both hands to her sides, then at close range

circles them back around and slashes at Kintaro

once, twice, three times, four, with her sais.

MILEENA

Yaaaaaah!! Yaaaaaah!!

Blood flows out of Kintaro.

He growls, and spits out a fireball at her,

knocking her back.

Shao Kahn rises from his throne.

SHAO KAHN

Mileena, this is outside the rules!

MILEENA

It is not - because I challenged him

to Mortal Kombat!

She slices! Slices! Slices!

MILEENA

I'll chew your face up when I'm done!

Stab!

SHAO KAHN

Calm down, Mileena!

MILEENA

I am done.

She pulls out her sais, now all red.

Walking away, she slings the sais around

and catches them.

KITANA

It doesn't look like you won.

MILEENA

It doesn't have to.

Kintaro grabs his abdomen.

SHAO KAHN

Weapons are against the rules.

MILEENA

This tournament doesn't even exist.

Therefore, there are no rules.

SHAO KAHN

. . . You still impress me with your skill.

But at moments I question where your

loyalty lies.

Kintaro, with some struggle, returns and

nearly destroys Mileena.

Sub-Zero vs. Kintaro.

Just when Kintaro seems to win against the second Sub-Zero, Scorpion saves him, and the two fight side-by-side against Kintaro.

Together, they take him down.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao fight Shao Kahn together.

At last, the good guys win.