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GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
Written by
James Gunn
BLACK:
O.S. "BRANDY" by LOOKING GLASS PLAYS.
EXT. FORD COBRA MUSTANG - DAY
SUPER: MISSOURI
EARTH
1980
OVERHEAD SHOT: A `79 Cobra winds alongside the Missouri
River, past swaying loosestrife, vibrant sugar maples, and
oily self-pump gas stations. A hazy sun glints off the hood
of the Cobra which, like its descendant the Milano, is orange
and teal.
We MOVE DOWN AND IN on a fresh-faced girl of 18 in the
passenger seat: MEREDITH QUILL. As "Brandy" blasts from the
car stereo, she pushes her fine, feathered hair from her
mouth, and sings along, out-of-tune -
MEREDITH
Do do do do do do do do do do do!
The driver, a MYSTERIOUS MAN in his 30's, dressed in sleek,
mod attire, LAUGHS.
Meredith LAUGHS too. She SINGS and dances with abandon in
her seat. She's a lively goofball, and it's apparent where
Peter Quill received much of his personality.
EXT. DAIRY QUEEN/WOODS - MOMENTS LATER
The Cobra pulls beside this Dairy Queen in a desolate area.
EXT. WOODS BEHIND DAIRY QUEEN - MOMENTS LATER
The Mysterious Man helps Meredith down the steep hillside
into the woods. "Brandy" continues to play on the car stereo
in the lot behind them. Meredith GIGGLES.
MYSTERIOUS MAN
This way, my river lily.
MEREDITH
Where are you taking me?
The Mysterious Man shows her a STRANGE SPROUT nestled amongst
the trees.
A few inches tall and decidedly alien in nature, its delicate
limbs twist and turn in a complex pattern.
2
MEREDITH (CONT'D)
Oh. It's beautiful.
The Mysterious Man looks proudly at Meredith. With a
perpetually excited glint in his eye, and the air of a self-
empowerment guru, he is an intoxicating presence.
MYSTERIOUS MAN
I was afraid it wouldn't take to
the soil, but it rooted quickly.
He nods toward the sky between the branches above.
MYSTERIOUS MAN (CONT'D)
Soon it will be everywhere - all
across the universe, fulfilling
life's one true purpose.
MEREDITH
Which is what?
MYSTERIOUS MAN
Expansion.
The Mysterious Man takes her in his arms. He gazes into her
eyes. She grows almost teary.
MEREDITH
I'm not sure what you're talking
about. But I like the way you say
it.
MYSTERIOUS MAN
My heart is yours, Meredith Quill.
MEREDITH
I can't believe I fell in love with
a spaceman.
And they KISS, with passion, and love. "DO DO DO DO DO DO DO
DO DO DO DO!" sings Looking Glass as SOURCE BECOMES SCORE and
we TILT DOWN to the plant. It TWITCHES AND GROWS AND TWISTS.
We PUSH IN ON IT, where we see the plant is made, not only of
cellulose and leaves, but of a BRIGHT COSMIC LIGHT. And we
KEEPING PUSHING IN, INTO THE PLANT ITSELF, more FLESH-LIKE
than you'd imagine, where COLORFUL BACTERIA OVERCOMES US as
"BRANDY" DISTORTS AND TRANSFORMS into something epic.
O.S. A CRACK OF INTERDIMENSIONAL THUNDER
SUPER: 34 Years Later
3
EXT. THE SOVEREIGN - OUTER SPACE
An artificial, golden planet, made of interlocking orbs,
revolves around a blue sun.
We PUSH IN on THUNDEROUS INTERDIMENSIONAL CRACKS on one small
patch of planet.
SUPER: THE SOVEREIGN
M49 5IOL339P21+H9LNI31
I/E. POWER STATION - DAY
A DIMENSIONAL CRACK SNAPS in the sky overhead. PETER QUILL
looks from it to an old MATTEL ELECTRONICS FOOTBALL GAME
converted into a tracker. A RED DOT APPROACHES.
QUILL
Showtime, a-holes! It'll be here
any minute!
GAMORA (O.S.)
Which will be its loss.
Quill turns toward GAMORA, loading a rifle. DRAX, ROCKET,
and BABY GROOT also ready themselves for battle in this
grand, open-air power station. Dozens of BATTERIES are
couched in conductor towers encircling them. Quill, Gamora,
and Rocket wear flying rigs.
QUILL
Is that a rifle?
GAMORA
You don't know what a rifle is?
QUILL
I thought your thing was a sword.
GAMORA
We've been hired to stop an
interdimensional beast from feeding
on those batteries' energy, and I'm
going to stop it with a sword?
QUILL
(mumbling to himself)
Don't look at me like I'm stupid.
You're the one being all
inconsistent.
A LOUDER, LARGER CRACK: something seems to be fighting its
way through the sky.
4
GAMORA
Drax, why aren't you wearing one of
Rocket's aero-rigs?
DRAX
It hurts.
GAMORA
Hurts?
DRAX
(MUTTERING)
I have sensitive nipples.
Rocket, who is working on a pair of speakers wired to Quill's
Walkman, LAUGHS HARD at this. Drax points at him.
DRAX (CONT'D)
What about him?! What's he doing?!
ROCKET
If I finish this, we can listen to
tunes while we work.
DRAX
How is that a priority?
ROCKET
Blame Quill! He's the one who loves
music so much!
QUILL
I agree with Drax. It's hardly
important right now.
ROCKET
Oh, sure, okayyyy, Quill.
Rocket WINKS at him.
QUILL
No, I really agree with him.
ROCKET
Sure, I know.
Rocket WINKS some more.
DRAX
I can clearly see you winking.
ROCKET
Damn. I'm using my left eye?
5
Rocket hears a small GROWL.
He looks down and sees Baby Groot - newly unpotted, only nine
inches tall or so - angrily THROWING ASIDE some foraging
Orloni. Then he looks up at Rocket, explaining:
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
They were not looking at you funny.
AN EVEN LARGER CRACK!
Rocket swirls as a GIGANTIC BEAST - a hundred-foot-long
Lovecraftian monstrosity - BREAKS THROUGH THE
INTERDIMENSIONAL RIFT. THE ABILISK is the color of a pinkie
mouse with kaleidoscopic and deadly SPLATTER MATTER pulsing
from its maw.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
Well. That's intense.
Rocket, Quill, and Gamora JET-PACK OUT OF THE WAY, while they
BLAST at the creature. Drax HOLLERS, CHARGING it with his
twin blades. Quill TURNS ON his mask.
But we FOCUS on baby Groot, who trots up to the stereo
speakers and Walkman.
He fiddles with two wires. They SPARK, the stereo POWERS UP,
and "MR. BLUE SKY" by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA PLAYS as -
THE CREDITS START
Baby Groot DANCES IN-FOCUS in the foreground as the Guardians
get PUMMELED by the beast OUT-OF-FOCUS in the background.
Baby Groot's dancing is arrhythmic and many of his "dance
moves" are nonsensical mixtures of trembling, swaying, and
making weird faces.
But it is joyous.
As Groot struts, Quill comes ROLLING behind him. As he
stands, he sees Groot dancing and looks at him, worried.
QUILL
Groot, look - !
A TENTACLE FLIES IN FROM OFF-SCREEN, KNOCKING Quill OUT-OF-
FRAME as Groot dances on, blissfully unaware.
6
Groot, smiling, dances onward, as DRAX, in the clutches of a
giant tentacle, is SLAMMED NUMEROUS TIMES BESIDE HIM.
Groot arrives at GAMORA, who is blasting at the OFF-SCREEN
BEAST.
GAMORA
Get out of the way, Groot! You're
going to get hurt!
Groot stops dancing. He WAVES at her.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
Hi.
She AERO-JETS back into the fray.
As Groot DANCES, Drax FALLS directly behind him.
Groot FREEZES.
Drax stares at him a moment, suspicious. Groot stays frozen.
Drax LEAVES, and Groot COMMENCES THE DANCE where he left off.
Groot sees an INSECT FLYING BY.
Suddenly dancing is forgotten and GETTING THIS BUG is all-
important. He CHASES it.
He HOPS up and grabs it from the air...
And starts EATING it.
Rocket spots this and FLIES DOWN beside him, worried. He
PRIES OPEN GROOT'S MOUTH with his fingers, frantically trying
to get it out.
ROCKET
Spit it out! Spit it out!
Groot COUGHS IT OUT. The bug FLIES crookedly away, one wing
mulched.
Rocket JETS OFF back toward the battle, muttering:
ROCKET (CONT'D)
Disgusting.
Groot sees something else and becomes furious. We follow his
line of sight to a GRAZING ORLONI.
7
Groot SCREAMS A WAR CRY and ATTACKS IT. He GROWS HIS
BRANCHES AROUND IT, and the terrified Orloni DARTS AWAY,
DRAGGING GROOT WITH IT.
Groot's anger becomes panic as he is DRAGGED AROUND BY THE
ORLONI and can't let go.
The Orloni DARTS around the power station and underneath the
RAGING BATTLE, a CRYING Groot bouncing along behind it.
Finally, he LETS GO and goes TUMBLING, ROLLING directly INTO
THE CAMERA.
And then stands up and, as if none of it happened at all,
starts DANCING AGAIN.
We PAN and see the speakers and Walkman beside him, and we
realize Baby Groot has traveled around the entire Power
Station and has arrived back where he started -
When Drax is FLUNG by the beast into the stereo system,
SMASHING it.
Groot stops dancing. Angry that Drax has ruined his fun, he
picks up a piece of the stereo and beats him with it.
CREDITS END.
Drax stands and glares at the ferocious beast as Rocket,
Quill, and Gamora BLAST at it without effect.
DRAX
The beast's hide is too thick to be
pierced from the outside. I must
cut through it from the inside.
GAMORA
Huh?
Drax HOLLERS, CHARGING the creature.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
Drax, no! That doesn't make -
The creature OPENS ITS ENORMOUS MOUTH, SCREECHING, and Drax
LEAPS INSIDE IT, instantly swallowed up.
QUILL
What is he doing?!
GAMORA
He said the skin is too thick to be
pierced from the outside, so he --
8
QUILL
That doesn't make sense!
GAMORA
I tried to tell -- !
QUILL
Its skin is the same thickness from
the inside as from the out!
GAMORA
I REALIZE THAT.
INT. BEAST'S STOMACH - DOESN'T MATTER
Drax HOLLERS as he SLASHES AWAY inside the goo of the beast's
stomach. To no avail.
I/E. POWER STATION - DAY
Quill reloads his pistol, thinking.
QUILL
Gamora, there's a cut on its neck -
Rocket, get it to look up.
Quill and Rocket JET UP HIGH up over the creature as they
BLAST REPEATEDLY at it.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Hey, you giant Sea Monkey, up here!
Gamora's rifle is jammed. She tosses it down. PULLS HER
SWORD. SNAPS IT OPEN.
The beast SCREECHES at Quill and Rocket FLYING overhead. The
colorful SPLATTER MATTER FLIES FROM ITS MOUTH, BATTERING
ROCKET, BURNING his clothes.
But its neck is exposed, where the skin is thinner, and there
is a small wound.
Gamora DASHES, LEAPING HIGH into the air, and she PLUNGES her
sword directly into the wound.
She holds tight to the hilt as she FALLS, SLICING AN INCISION
down the length of the creature's neck.
The beast WOBBLES, TOPPLES, and DIES. As it COLLAPSES, Drax
SPILLS OUT of the wound. He raises his arms in victory.
DRAX
Ha ha! I have single-handedly
vanquished the beast!
9
Quill SCOFFS. Rocket SNORTS. Gamora stares at him, dead-eyed.
Baby Groot throws a rock at him.
DRAX (CONT'D)
What?
I/E. POWER STATION - MOMENTS LATER
The Guardians de-rig by the Anulax batteries.
DRAX
What are they called again?
QUILL
Anulax batteries.
DRAX
Harbulary batteries.
QUILL
That's nothing like what I just
said. But they're worth thousands
of units a piece. Which is why the
Sovereign hired us to protect them.
Rocket pulls out one of the ANULAX BATTERIES, checking it
out.
Gamora, Drax, and Quill walk on. Rocket stays back a moment.
Quill nods down the walkway, where GOLDEN SOVEREIGN CITIZENS
stand at the edge of the station, gawking.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Just be careful what you say around
these folks. They're easily
offended and the cost of
transgression is death.
DRAX
Sounds judgmental for a bunch of
golden morons.
QUILL
That's the kind of thing you might
want to keep to yourself.
GAMORA
I'll hold my tongue, as long as
they deliver what was promised.
EXT. LAIR OF THE HIGH PRIESTESS - MORNING
An enormous golden palace in the shape of a globe, dappled by
morning sunlight.
10
AYESHA (O.S.)
We thank you, Guardians, for
putting your life on the line. We
could not risk the lives of our own
Sovereign citizens.
INT. LAIR OF THE HIGH PRIESTESS - DAY
HIGH PRIESTESS AYESHA is stunningly beautiful with golden
skin. Her CHAMBERMAIDS and other DENIZENS flutter throughout
her luxurious lair, all of whom are equally perfect.
AYESHA
Every citizen is born exactly as
designed by the community,
impeccable, both physically and
mentally. We control the DNA of our
progeny, germinating them in
birthing pods.
QUILL
I guess I prefer making people the
old-fashioned way.
AYESHA
Well... perhaps someday you could
give me a history lesson in the
archaic ways of our ancestors...
for academic purposes.
QUILL
Yeah, I mean, if it's for research
that could be pretty --
Quill sees Gamora staring at him.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Pretty repulsive. I'm not into that
kind of casual -
GAMORA
Oh, please.
(TO AYESHA)
Your people promised something in
trade for our services. Bring it
and we shall gladly be on our way.
Ayesha nods.
Two SOLDIERS emerge with A WOMAN in a hood and cloak, her
wrists bound by SHACKLES. They SHOVE HER TO HER KNEES and
yank back her hood, REVEALING --
11
NEBULA. Her clothes are tattered. Her hand is now just a low-
tech metal claw.
She glares at Gamora. Gamora glares at her. Quill looks from
one to the other, feeling the tension.
QUILL
(QUIETLY)
Family reunion. Yaaaay.
AYESHA
I understand she is your sister?
Gamora roughly picks Nebula up, starts to go.
GAMORA
She's worth no more to me than the
bounty due for her on Xandar.
AYESHA
Our soldiers apprehended her
attempting to steal the batteries.
Do with her as you please.
QUILL
Thank you, High Priestess Ayesha.
Quill starts to go.
AYESHA
What is your heritage, Mr. Quill?
Quill turns back towards her, uncomfortable with the
question.
QUILL
My mother is from earth.
AYESHA
And your father?
QUILL
He's... not from Missouri, that's
all I know.
Ayesha stares at him as if she's eaten something foul.
AYESHA
I see it within you, an unorthodox
genealogy. A hybrid that seems
particularly... reckless.
Quill tries not to let this affect him, but it does. Rocket
grins a huge, fake grin at Ayesha.
12
ROCKET
You know, they told me you people
were conceited douchebags. But that
isn't true at all.
Rocket turns to Quill and WINKS. The Guardians shift
uncomfortably.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
Oh, shit, I'm using my wrong eye
again, aren't I?
(TO AYESHA)
I'm sorry. That was meant to be
behind your back.
Drax YANKS Rocket away.
Gamora and Quill head out of the lair. Drax and Rocket are a
few paces behind.
DRAX
Count yourself blessed they didn't
kill you.
ROCKET
You're telling me. You wanna buy
some batteries?
Rocket grins and shows Drax something hidden in his bag - TWO
ANULAX BATTERIES.
"LAKE SHORE DRIVE" by ALIOTTA, HAYNES, AND JEREMIAH PLAYS.
Drax LAUGHS. Rocket SHUSHES him so Quill and Gamora don't
hear.
EXT. SOVEREIGN SPACE DOCK/THE MILANO - MOMENTS LATER
The Milano RISES into the blue sunset over the Sovereign
Space Dock filled with golden, capsule-shaped ships.
Rocket works the controls as they rise up. He speaks into the
COMM:
ROCKET
Let's get baldy back to Xandar and
retrieve that bounty!
INT. MILANO LOWER FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Groot lies on the rear window peering out the back as they
pass overhead.
13
On the CASSETTE PLAYER AWESOME MIX VOL. 2 is playing; we PAN
away from it, MOVING IN on Quill, looking perturbed as he
takes off his jacket.
Gamora is nearby, putting shackles on Nebula.
GAMORA
You all right?
QUILL
That stuff about my father. Who
does she think she is?
GAMORA
I know you're sensitive about that.
QUILL
I'm not sensitive about it. I just
don't know who he is.
Gamora nods.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Sorry if it looked like I was
flirting with her. I wasn't.
GAMORA
I don't care if you were.
Gamora pushes Nebula to the rear of the craft.
QUILL
I think you do care. That's why I'm
apologizing.
Quill watches her go, somewhat longingly.
DRAX
Gamora is not the one for you,
Quill.
Quill is startled to see Drax directly beside him.
DRAX (CONT'D)
There are two types of beings in
the universe. Those who dance, and
those who do not.
QUILL
Uh huh.
DRAX
I first met my beloved at a war
rally.
(MORE)
14
DRAX (CONT'D)
Everyone in the village flailed
about, dancing. Except one woman.
My Ovette. I knew immediately she
was the one.
Quill nods, trying to be polite.
DRAX (CONT'D)
The most melodic song in the world
could be playing, and she wouldn't
even tap her foot. She wouldn't
move a muscle. One might assume she
was dead.
QUILL
Well, that is pretty hot, but--
DRAX
It would make my nether regions
ENGORGE -
QUILL
All right, okay, fascinating, don't
need to hear it. I get your point,
I'm a dancer and Gamora is not.
Drax smiles kindly, clutches Quill's shoulder.
DRAX
You just need to find a woman who
is pathetic, like you.
At the rear of the ship, Gamora roughly restrains Nebula.
Nebula notices a bowl of fruit.
NEBULA
I am hungry. Hand me some of that
yaro root.
GAMORA
No. It's not ripe yet. And I hate
you.
NEBULA
You hate me?! You left me there
while you stole that stone for
yourself. Yet here you stand, a
hero, a Garden of the Galaxy!
GAMORA
A what?
Nebula stares at her, confused.
15
GAMORA (CONT'D)
`Guardians of the Galaxy.'
NEBULA
Oh.
GAMORA
Why would we be `the Gardens of the
Galaxy'?
NEBULA
I don't know. I thought it was
stupid.
GAMORA
Yeah, it would be.
NEBULA
It's still wordy.
GAMORA
I wasn't the one who thought of it.
NEBULA
Your name doesn't matter. I'll be
free of these shackles soon enough,
and I'll kill you, I swear.
GAMORA
No. You'll live out your days in a
prison on Xandar, wishing you
could.
WARNING LIGHTS FLASH.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - MOMENTS LATER
Gamora MOVES UP from the stairs. Rocket and Quill are in the
pilot seats. Drax is moving up from the back.
QUILL
We got an armed Sovereign fleet,
approaching from the rear.
Gamora takes the center seat, sees a REARVIEW SCAN:
Golden, capsule-shaped, Sovereign OMNICRAFT, with a video
screen on front and a blaster on each side - getting closer.
GAMORA
Why would they do that?!
16
DRAX
Probably because Rocket stole some
of their batteries.
Quill and Gamora look at Rocket, astounded. Rocket gawks at
Drax, betrayed.
ROCKET
Dude.
DRAX
Oh, right. He didn't steal one of
those. I don't know why they're
after us. What a mystery this is.
THE SOVEREIGN FIRE UPON THE MILANO.
Quill does his best to evade their blasts.
QUILL
What were you thinking?!
ROCKET
Dude, it was really easy to steal.
GAMORA
That's your defense?
ROCKET
Come on. You saw how that high-
priestess talked down to us! I'm
teaching her a lesson!
QUILL
Oh! I didn't realize your
motivation was altruism. A shame
the Sovereign have mistaken your
intentions and are trying to kill
us.
ROCKET
Exactly.
QUILL
I WAS BEING SARCASTIC!
ROCKET
Oh no! You tricked me! You're
supposed to use a sarcastic voice!
Now I look foolish!
Drax points at Rocket and LAUGHS at him.
17
QUILL
SHUT UP, DRAX! You knew! You should
have told us!
Drax is aghast. He looks at Rocket.
DRAX
Did you tell him it was easy to
steal?
ROCKET
Are you kidding me?
DRAX
What?
ROCKET
You never listen to anything!
GAMORA
None of you listens! Can we please
just put the bickering on hold
until after we survive the massive
space battle?!
Rocket glances at Quill, nodding back at Gamora.
ROCKET
Whoa. Somebody woke up on the wrong
side of the bed this morning.
QUILL
Do not try to bro down with me
right now, dude. I will fricking
punch you in your fricking face.
ROCKET
Real nice! Resorting to violence.
QUILL
More incoming!
MORE SHIP FLY AT THEM from the front.
ROCKET
GOOD! I WANT TO KILL SOME GUYS!
They twist and turn between the oncoming ships as ROCKET
FIRES AT THEM, SCREAMING. They EXPLODE.
On the front of the Sovereign ships is the VIDEO IMAGE OF A
PILOT.
18
SOVEREIGN PILOT (ON SHIP)
Bloody hell!
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
The same SOVEREIGN PILOT sits in a REMOTE POD. On a SCREEN in
front of her we see ROCKET FIRING.
The SHIP IS HIT and the SCREEN GOES STATIC.
The Pilot SHOUTS in anger, like a kid who lost at a video
game.
High Priestess Ayesha surveys from a walkway above; ROWS OF
PODS containing PILOTS, all flying their Omnicraft remotely.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK
GAMORA
You're not killing anyone. Those
ships are all remotely piloted.
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
A SOVEREIGN ADMIRAL is beside Ayesha.
AYESHA
What is the delay, Admiral?
ADMIRAL
High Priestess, if we destroy their
craft, we risk destroying the
batteries. They're extraordinarily
combustible and could, in turn,
destroy the entire fleet.
AYESHA
We have thousands of batteries and
thousands of ships. Our concern is
their slight against our people. We
hired them and they steal from us?
It is heresy of the highest order.
The Admiral speaks into his comm.
ADMIRAL
All command modules -
A FRIGHTENED SOVEREIGN PILOT, on the outskirts of the battle,
hears the Admiral in his headset.
ADMIRAL (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Fire with the intent to kill.
19
A MEAN SOVEREIGN PILOT, FIRING at the Milano, smirks.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
THE MILANO'S WING IS STRUCK. The EMERGENCY SYSTEMS FLASH ON.
QUILL
What's the closest habitable
planet?
Gamora dances her fingers over the UNIVERSAL NEURAL
TELEPORTATION NETWORK, clicking through "jump points" until
she finds one.
GAMORA
It's called Berhert.
QUILL
How many jumps?
GAMORA
Only one. But the access point is
47 clicks away. And it's through
that Quantum Asteroid Field over
there.
Quill spots, to his side, a HUGE FIELD OF SMALL, GLOWING
ASTEROIDS, SWIRLING IN RANDOM PATTERNS, DISAPPEARING OUT OF
SPACE and EMERGING AGAIN a few feet or a few yards away.
Quill ZOOMS SIDEWAYS toward the field.
DRAX
Quill, to make it through that,
you'd have to be the greatest pilot
in the universe.
Quill smirks.
QUILL
Lucky for us -
ROCKET
I am.
Rocket FLIPS the pilot controls between them so that he's the
one piloting the ship. Quill gapes at him.
The Milano DIVES into the QUANTUM ASTEROID FIELD, SWOOPING in
and around the SWIRLING ATOMIZED STONES, barely missing them.
The Sovereign ships FOLLOW. They are not pilots on par with
Rocket, so most of the ships are immediately PELTED WITH
STONES AND DESTROYED.
20
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
One after another the SOVEREIGN PILOTS screens go blank, and
they FALL BACK, angry and upset.
PUSH IN on Ayesha, barely containing her fury.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Quill FLIPS the controls back, so he's piloting again.
ROCKET
What are you doing?!
QUILL
I've been flying this rig since I
was ten years old.
ROCKET
I was cybernetically engineered to
pilot a spacecraft!
Rocket FLIPS the controls back to him.
QUILL
You were cybernetically engineered
to be a douchebag.
Quill FLIPS the controls back to him.
GAMORA
Stop it!
ROCKET
Quill, later on tonight you're
gonna lay down in your bed and
there's gonna be something squishy
in your pillowcase and you're gonna
be, like, `what's this?' and it's
gonna be because I put a turd in
there.
Rocket FLIPS the switch back.
QUILL
You put your turd in my bed, I
shave you.
ROCKET
Oh it won't be my turd, it will be
Drax's.
Drax LAUGHS cheerfully. Gamora glances at him. He explains:
21
DRAX
I have famously huge turds.
GAMORA
We're about to die, and this is
what we're discussing?
DRAX
They raise havoc with the pipes.
That's why I do all the plumbing. I
take responsibility for my actions.
Unlike some people...
Drax eyes baby Groot.
QUILL
Groot, he's right, you have to
start aiming inside the box.
Groot looks ashamed. Quill FLIPS the controls back.
GAMORA
Stop it.
Rocket SWITCHES it back. Quill SWITCHES it back.
They're nearing the end of the Asteroid Field when both go to
switch it at the same time and --
WHAM! A LARGE ASTEROID SMASHES THROUGH the stern of the
Milano.
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA - OUTER SPACE
A CHUNK OF THE REAR OF THE CRAFT DISAPPEARS.
Nebula IS SUCKED toward the hole - but, fortunately, her arms
are shackled to a post, so she doesn't fly out.
Her face and body cover with frost.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Everything FLIES AROUND THE SPACECRAFT, RUSHING THROUGH THE
HOLE.
Groot GOES FLYING, but Quill CATCHES HIM, and casually TOSSES
him back to Drax --
So that he can punch in a code, causing -
22
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA - OUTER SPACE
A PROTECTIVE ENERGY SHIELD SLIDES UP in front of the hole.
Nebula COLLAPSES to the floor. She yells upstairs --
NEBULA
Idiots!
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Everyone catches their breath, relieved.
ROCKET
Well, that's what you get when
Quill flies.
Gamora THROWS SOMETHING HARD at the back of Rocket's head.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
Ow!
GAMORA
There's still a Sovereign craft
behind us!
The electronics FLICKER.
QUILL
Our weapons are down!
GAMORA
Twenty clicks to the jump.
The Mean Pilot BLASTS at them from the sole Sovereign Craft,
TAKING OUT another part of a wing. The Milano is TREMBLING.
Drax starts climbing down into the living area.
QUILL
Where's he going?
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
A group of pilots have gathered around the Mean Pilot,
rooting him on, like kids at a video arcade.
FRIGHTENED PILOT
Come on, Zylak, you can do this.
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA - OUTER SPACE
Nebula sees the bowl of yaro root has spilled in front of
her.
23
She reaches for a piece, but it's KICKED OUT OF HER WAY.
She looks up to see Drax, grabbing a cable on a spool
attached to the wall.
DRAX
It's not ripe.
Drax HOOKS the cable to his belt. A folder on the wall reads
SPACESUITS FOR EMERGENCY and, below that, in Rocket's scrawl:
OR FOR FUN.
Drax pulls a small disk from the folder. He slaps it between
his shoulder blades and a SHIMMERY SHEATH COVERS HIS ENTIRE
BODY - a thin force-field spacesuit.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Gamora watches THE MAP leading to the jump point.
GAMORA
Fifteen clicks.
Another BLAST from the Sovereign craft HITS them.
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
The pilots rooting on the Mean Pilot erupt into CHEERS.
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA - OUTER SPACE
Drax grabs a huge rifle.
He punches buttons on the wall. A SECOND PROTECTIVE SHIELD
OPENS UP between him and Nebula, and THE FIRST PROTECTIVE
SHEATH OPENS, exposing him to space --
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
The Mean Pilot watches in awe as Drax JUMPS OUT the back of
the Milano.
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA - OUTER SPACE
Drax smiles. The cable UNSPOOLS and SNAPS TAUT when it
reaches its end.
Drax is DRAGGED HAPHAZARDLY by the Milano like a water sled
on a boat.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
ON THE MAP, the jump point gets closer.
24
GAMORA
Ten clicks.
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA - OUTER SPACE
The Mean Pilot BLASTS WILDLY at Drax, missing him by mere
inches.
Drax brings the sight to his eye. Aims at the ship.
DRAX
Die, spaceship.
And he SHOOTS, BLASTING the Sovereign ship.
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
The Mean Pilot SCREAMS as his lights go out. The Frightened
Pilot shakes his head in disgust.
FRIGHTENED PILOT
You suck, Zylak.
Zylak is really sad.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
As Quill and Rocket leave the asteroid field, it seems for a
moment they're scot-free...
GAMORA
Five clicks!
Then DOZENS OF OMNICRAFT pull around them on both sides.
QUILL
Son-of-a-! They went around the
field!
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
Ayesha smiles.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
It looks like the end of the road for the Guardians when -
THERE IS A BLINDING BURST OF LIGHT AND ALL OF THE OMNICRAFT
EXPLODE.
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
Ayesha watches in shock as the screens in the pods go dead.
25
ADMIRAL
Someone destroyed all the ships.
AYESHA
What?! WHO?!
But the Admiral doesn't know.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Rocket sees the BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT is emanating from an OVAL-
SHAPED SPACECRAFT.
ROCKET
What is that?!
Quill sees the FLICKERING framework of a JUMP POINT.
QUILL
Doesn't matter! That's the jump
point! GO! GO!
As they're about to reach the jump point, Rocket sees a MAN
standing casually atop the oval ship, LIGHT BURSTING THROUGH
HIS BODY and into the craft - the source of the explosion.
ROCKET
It's a guy.
Quill doesn't see as the Milano DISAPPEARS INTO THE JUMP
POINT.
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA/DIRECTLY ABOVE BERHERT - DAY
The ship POPS IN HERE, TELEPORTING directly above the earth-
like planet. Because the ship is in such bad shape, parts of
it TEAR OFF AND SPIRAL AWAY as it enters this new atmosphere.
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Gamora sees Drax being dragged in the REARVIEW MONITOR.
GAMORA
Oh my God.
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA/DIRECTLY ABOVE BERHERT - DAY
Drax WHIPS WILDLY OUT of the back of the ship. The CABLE
SPOOL on the wall is coming off -
I/E. MILANO FLIGHT DECK/BERHERT FOREST - DAY
Quill sees a green forest APPROACHING UNBELIEVABLY FAST.
26
He turns toward Gamora, but she's gone. Instead Baby Groot
is sitting alone, happily munching on candies as if he's
watching a movie.
QUILL
Groot, put on your seat belt!
I/E. MILANO LIVING AREA/DIRECTLY ABOVE BERHERT - DAY
The SPOOL DETACHES and FLIES toward the back, which would
leave Drax in the upper reaches of the planet's atmosphere -
But Gamora has made it downstairs - she GRABS ONTO THE SPOOL
with one hand while CLUTCHING onto a secure part of the ship
with her other. As it SNAPS TIGHT, it nearly wrenches her
apart. She GROANS.
QUILL
Prepare for a really bad -
The Milano HITS THE TREES, BARRELING OVER THEM. They PART
and FLATTEN and SWAT at the windshield.
Out back, Gamora HOLDS TIGHT despite searing pain, as Drax
BOUNCES VIOLENTLY off the trees.
DRAX
Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
And, eventually, the Milano comes to an ABRUPT STOP.
SUPER: BERHERT
M20 22A4834126+306CA12
Drax pushes himself up in the dirt. He CHUCKLES. He glances
back at Gamora like the madman he is.
DRAX (CONT'D)
That was awesome.
Gamora nods, sure, yeah, okay, whatever, dude.
I/E. CRASHED MILANO - CLEARING - MOMENTS LATER
CRANE DOWN OVER THE SMOKING, BATTERED MILANO TO our heroes,
and a still-shackled Nebula.
GAMORA
Either one of you could have gotten
us through that field, if you had
flown with what's between your ears
instead of what's between your
legs!
27
QUILL
If what's between my legs had a
hand on it, I guarantee I could
have landed this ship.
GAMORA
It's not funny, Peter. We almost
died. Because of your arrogance.
QUILL
(RE: ROCKET)
More like because he stoled Anulax
batteries!
DRAX
They're called Harbulary batteries.
QUILL
No, they're not!
ROCKET
You know why I did it, Star-Munch?
Quill fumes.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
Do you?
QUILL
I'm not going to answer to `Star-
Munch.'
ROCKET
I DID IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO.
QUILL
Dick.
ROCKET
What are we even talking about this
for? We just had a little man save
us by blowing up fifty ships!
DRAX
How little?
Rocket shows him with his finger and thumb.
ROCKET
Like this.
GAMORA
A little one-inch man saved us?
28
ROCKET
Well, if he got closer I'm sure
he'd be much larger.
QUILL
That's how eyes work, you stupid
raccoon.
ROCKET
Don't call me a raccoon!
QUILL
Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say
`trash panda.'
Rocket pauses, unsure, looks at Drax.
ROCKET
Is that better?
DRAX
I don't know.
QUILL
It's worse.
ROCKET
YOU SON-OF-A-!!
Rocket LEAPS, SNAPPING at Quill, when Nebula looks up into
the sky.
NEBULA
Someone followed you through the
jump point.
A HUGE SPACESHIP HOVERS overhead.
The Guardians COCK THEIR WEAPONS as they FALL BACK-TO-BACK in
tight formation.
NEBULA (CONT'D)
Set me free. You'll need my help.
GAMORA
I'm not a fool, Nebula.
NEBULA
You're a fool if you deprive
yourself a hand in combat.
GAMORA
You'll attack me the moment I let
you go.
29
NEBULA
(mumbly, unconvincing)
No, I won't.
QUILL
You'd think an evil supervillain
would learn how to properly lie.
DRAX
I bet it's the one-inch man!!
The SHIP LANDS, CRUSHING ALL OF THE TREES AROUND IT.
A HATCH OPENS, and an adventurous, outer space frontiersman
steps forward. He has grown hardened and haggard over the
years, but he is definitely the MYSTERIOUS MAN from the
beginning of the film. MANTIS, a creepy woman with antennae,
emerges behind him.
The Man smiles.
MYSTERIOUS MAN
After all these years, I've found
you.
QUILL
Who the hell are you?
MYSTERIOUS MAN
I figured my rugged good looks
would make that obvious. My name's
Ego. And I'm your Dad, Peter.
EXT. CONTRAXIA - OUTER SPACE
QUIET. A planet of mostly water and white icy patches of
land, revolving around two overlapping suns.
SUPER: CONTRAXIA
M15 5127512731+X1955KX
EXT. THE IRON LOTUS - DAY
SNOW FALLS GENTLY over this sleepy, pastel-colored town of
wood and stone buildings.
PUSH IN on the Iron Lotus, a robot brothel and saloon.
ASSORTED RAVAGERS, including KRAGLIN, as well as some ROBOTIC
COURTESANS, are drunk and GIGGLING, trying to catch
snowflakes on their tongues.
30
INT. IRON LOTUS SUITE - DAY
YONDU UDONTA is staring out the window as he puts on his
pants. He looks utterly disconnected and alone.
Behind him are three ROBOT COURTESANS. One pushes a button
on her neck and she POWERS DOWN.
TULLK (O.S.)
Yondu! Come on down!
Yondu looks down at the street where an older Ravager, TULLK,
drunkenly dances, waving for him to join.
INT. IRON LOTUS - MOMENTS LATER
Yondu exits his suite. Two bodyguards, BRAHL and HALF-NUT,
salute and follow him as he descends the stairwell.
At the bottom of the stairs a group of RAVAGERS in BLUE
UNIFORMS LAUGH. A gruff, older warrior, STAKAR, and a man
seemingly made of diamonds, MARTINEX are among them.
Yondu stops when he sees them. He's struck. Stakar LAUGHS as
he tells a story -
STAKAR
And I was like, Aleta, I love you,
but you're crazy now, you always
BEEN -
Yondu approaches Stakar with trepidation.
YONDU
Stakar.
Stakar is surprised to see him.
YONDU (CONT'D)
Been some time. I'd -
STAKAR
Seems like this establishment is
the wrong kind of disreputable.
The blue-coats turn and walk away.
YONDU
Stakar...
Stakar glances at the PROPRIETOR as he passes her.
31
STAKAR
There are a hundred Ravager
factions, Sneeper. You just lost
the business of ninety-nine by
serving one.
PROPRIETOR
Please, sir! Sir!
Yondu stands there for a moment, hurt, as they head out the
door.
But, little by little, his hurt turns to rage and he FOLLOWS.
EXT. IRON LOTUS - DAY
Yondu trots quickly toward Stakar and the others.
YONDU
You all can go to hell! I don't
care what you think of me!
Stakar swirls toward him, furious.
STAKAR
Then why you following us for?!
YONDU
`Cause you'll listen to what I got
to say!
STAKAR
I don't got to listen to nothing!
You betrayed the code! Ravagers
don't deal in kids!
YONDU
I didn't know what was going on -
STAKAR
You didn't know `cause you didn't
want to know, `cause it made you
rich!
YONDU
I demand a seat at the table! I
wear the flames same as you!
STAKAR
You may dress like a Ravager but
you won't hear no Horns of Freedom
when you die, boy, and the Colors
of Ogord will not flash over your
grave!
(MORE)
32
STAKAR (CONT'D)
You think I take some pleasure in
exiling you, you're wrong. You
broke all our hearts.
Stakar and the others storm away. Martinex stays a moment,
staring at Yondu, and then moves on too.
Yondu is left alone, shaken as the WHITE SNOW FALLS GENTLY on
his blue face.
NEARBY, a MONSTROUS RAVAGER leans in toward Kraglin, Tullk,
GEF THE RAVAGER, OBLO, and RETCH. As he eyes Yondu, he
WHISPERS:
MONSTROUS RAVAGER
First Quill betrays us and Yondu
just lets him go, scot-free. Now
he's getting all riled over
nothing. We followed him `cause he
was the one wasn't afraid to do
what needed to be done. Seems like
he's going soft.
KRAGLIN
If he's so soft why you whispering
for?
MONSTROUS RAVAGER
You know I'm right, Kraglin.
TULLK
You best watch what you say about
the Cap'n, Tay -
RETCH
Who the hell is that?!
Tullk stops when he sees High Priestess Ayesha approaching
beside them. The Chambermaids ROLL OUT a LONG BLUE CLOTH so
she doesn't touch unconsecrated ground.
She STOPS at the carpet's end. Does her best to force a
smile.
AYESHA
Yondu Udonta, I have a proposition
for you.
Yondu looks at her.
EGO (PRE-LAP)
When your mother passed away, I
hired Yondu to pick you up.
33
EXT. CAMPFIRE/CRASHED MILANO - NIGHT
Quill sits around a campfire with Ego, Mantis and the others,
eating. Ego indulges heartily.
EGO (CONT'D)
I would have done so myself, but I
was in the midst of an outlandish
adventure at the time, battling
demonic forces to save this
dimension or some such nonsense - I
can't quite recall, it all bleeds
together after awhile. But instead
of returning you, Yondu kept you. I
have no clue as to why.
QUILL
Because I was a skinny kid who
could squeeze into places adults
couldn't, making thieving easier.
EGO
I've been trying to track you down
ever since.
DRAX
I thought Yondu was your father.
QUILL
What?
Drax stares at him.
QUILL (CONT'D)
We've been together all this time
and you thought Yondu was my
actual, blood relative?
DRAX
You look exactly alike.
ROCKET
One's blue.
QUILL
He wasn't my father. Yondu was the
guy who abducted me. He'd beat the
crap out of me so I'd learn how to
fight and he kept me in terror
threatening to eat me.
EGO
Eat you?!
34
QUILL
Yes.
EGO
That son-of-a-bitch.
GAMORA
How'd you locate us now?
EGO
Even where I reside, out past the
edge of what's known, we've heard
tell of the man they call Star-
Lord.
He stands, handing his dish to Gamora.
EGO (CONT'D)
Say we head out that way now? Your
associates are welcome, even that
triangle-faced monkey there.
Rocket, self-conscious, feels his nose.
EGO (CONT'D)
I promise you, it's like no place
you've ever seen. And there I can
explain your very special heritage,
and finally be the father I've
always wanted to be.
(ALMOST TEARY)
`Scuse me. I gotta take a whizz.
Ego leaves. Quill looks at Gamora.
QUILL
Not buying it.
GAMORA
Peter, we need to take a walk.
EXT. CAMPFIRE/CRASHED MILANO - NIGHT
Ego is WHISTLING "BRANDY" and PEEING into the bushes.
Mantis looks at Drax. She GRINS, or at least her best attempt
at grinning. It's kind of creepy.
MANTIS
I am Mantis.
DRAX
What are you doing?
35
MANTIS
Smiling. I hear it is the thing to
do to make people like you.
DRAX
Not if you do it like that.
MANTIS
Oh. I was raised alone on Ego's
planet. I do not understand the
intricacies of social interaction.
She points at Rocket.
MANTIS (CONT'D)
Can I pet your puppy? It is
adorable.
DRAX
(MISCHIEVOUS)
Yes...
She goes to pet Rocket: startled, he SWIRLS and SNAPS at her.
MANTIS
AHH!
She pulls back her hand. Drax LAUGHS, heartily.
DRAX
That's called a practical joke!
She GIGGLES.
MANTIS
I liked it very much!
They both LAUGH together. Nebula shakes her head with
disbelief.
EXT. BESIDE CRASHED MILANO - MOMENTS LATER
Quill and Gamora enter this private spot; the campfire
flickers through the trees beyond them.
QUILL
Give me a break! After all this
time, and he just expects to be my
Dad all of the sudden!
GAMORA
I hear you.
36
QUILL
I mean, this could be a trap - the
Kree purists, the Ravagers, now the
Sovereign - they all want us dead.
GAMORA
I know, but -
QUILL
But what?
GAMORA
What was that story you told me
about Zardu Hasselfrau?
QUILL
Who?
GAMORA
The wonderful television-singer
man. He had a magic boat.
QUILL
David Hasselhoff?
GAMORA
Right.
QUILL
He had a talking car, not a magic -
GAMORA
Why did it talk again?
QUILL
Just to be a good friend, I guess.
GAMORA
And as a child you carried his
picture in your pocket, and you
told the other children he was your
father, but he was out of town --
QUILL
(EMBARRASSED)
Shooting Knight Rider or touring
with his band in Germany. Why are
you bringing this up now? I was
drunk when I told you that.
GAMORA
I love that story.
37
QUILL
I don't. It's just sad! I was so
sad because I'd see the other kids
off playing catch with their dads,
and I wanted that, more than
anything in the world.
Gamora takes Quill's hands in her own.
GAMORA
My point is, maybe this man is your
Hasselhoff. I know it's a long
shot. But I lost my father as a
child. I'd give anything...
Quill nods, grudgingly.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
If he ends up being evil, we'll
just kill him.
Quill CHUCKLES.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
What's funny?
I/E. CRASHED MILANO - SUNRISE
Inside the ship, "THE CHAIN" BY FLEETWOOD MAC PLAYS on the
cassette player. Nebula is angry.
NEBULA
You're leaving me with that fox?!
Rocket is SOLDERING the ship.
GAMORA
He's not a fox.
Gamora glances at Rocket as she grabs her outer-space-
adventurer version of luggage.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
Shoot her if she does anything
suspicious. Or if you feel like it.
Rocket GRUNTS. Gamora looks at a sad Baby Groot.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
It will just be a couple days.
We'll be back before Rocket's
finished fixing the ship.
38
Gamora steps out. Rocket sees Groot, who is ABOUT TO CRY as
he watches them go.
Drax and Quill come from the back of the ship.
DRAX
What about your spool of songs?
QUILL
I have clones.
DRAX
What if the Sovereign come?
QUILL
There's no way for them to know
they're here.
DRAX
I am uncertain about parting ways.
QUILL
You're like an old woman.
DRAX
Because I am wise?
Quill turns to Rocket as Drax and Gamora head toward the
ship. He starts to say something nice - perhaps something
conciliatory but --
ROCKET
Hope daddy isn't as big of a dick
as you, orphan boy.
Quill just shakes his head and SNICKERS.
QUILL
So what's your goal here? To get
everyone to hate you? `Cause it's
working.
Quill turns back around with Gamora and Drax and walks away.
Rocket looks at the others leaving as THE SONG BECOMES SCORE:
I can still hear you saying you will never break the chain.
Rocket watches them move away.
IN SLOW-MOTION, Quill, Drax, and Gamora approach the oval
ship. The slit opens. Ego, with Mantis, is waiting inside.
Ego smiles and CLASPS his hand on Quill as he enters.
39
INT. EGOS SHIP. SUNRISE
Quill sits back against the wall, alone, nervous. He looks
across the way at a SLEEP CHAMBER, where Mantis helps Ego lie
down on a slab.
She places her hand on his forehead with her hand: her
antennae ALIGHT. And he drifts off to sleep.
Quill takes a small, folded piece of paper out of his pocket.
It's the PHOTO OF DAVID HASSELHOFF.
He looks at it, then looks at Ego. Quill's eyes fill with
cautious hope. And the SONG ENDS.
EXT. BERHERT - MOMENTS LATER
Ego's ship rises, blocking out the sun.
EXT. EGO'S SHIP - OUTER SPACE
The Orb moves through a rainbowish funnel of space and time;
technology beyond what even the Guardians know.
INT. EGO'S SHIP - OUTER SPACE
Quill and Drax are drinking tea and LAUGHING with Mantis.
QUILL
Can I ask you a personal question?
MANTIS
Oh, no one has ever asked me a
personal question!
QUILL
The antennae, what are they for?
MANTIS
Their purpose?
Gamora ENTERS, pouring herself some tea.
DRAX
Yes, Quill and I have a bet.
QUILL
You're not supposed to say that.
40
DRAX
I say that if you are about to go
through a doorway that is too low,
your antennae will feel this, and
stop you from being decapitated.
QUILL
Just making clear - if it's
anything else - any other answer -
I win?
Gamora smiles, warmed by the good-natured, by-now-familiar
bickering between Quill and Drax.
MANTIS
They are not for feeling doorways.
DRAX
(BUMMED)
Damn. I just lost my entire life's
savings.
QUILL
Three pairs of pants.
MANTIS
I think they have something to do
with my empathic abilities.
GAMORA
What are - ?
MANTIS
If I touch someone I can feel their
FEELINGS -
QUILL
You read minds?
MANTIS
No. Telepaths know thoughts.
Empaths feel feelings. Emotions.
She looks at Quill.
MANTIS (CONT'D)
May I?
Quill doesn't stop her. Mantis, cautiously, touches him. Her
hand quivers as his emotions shoot through her and her
antennae ALIGHT. She is moved.
MANTIS (CONT'D)
You feel love.
41
QUILL
Yeah, I guess, yeah, I have sort of
a general, unselfish love for
everyone.
MANTIS
No, romantic, sexual love.
QUILL
No. No, I don't.
Mantis nods at Gamora.
MANTIS
For her.
QUILL
No.
Gamora is embarrassed. Drax starts LAUGHING UPROARIOUSLY.
DRAX
She just told everyone your
deepest, darkest secret, Quill!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
QUILL
What the hell, dude? That's a total
overreaction.
Drax SLAPS HIS CHEST.
DRAX
DO ME! DO ME!
Mantis touches Drax. She grins brightly.
MANTIS
I have never felt such humor!
She starts GIGGLING and before long both she and Drax are
LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY.
QUILL
You got to be kidding me.
Drax and Mantis both point at Quill, clutching onto each
other and FALLING OVER WITH LAUGHTER. Quill's humiliated.
QUILL (CONT'D)
That's so incredibly uncool.
Mantis wipes the tears from her eyes, composing herself. She
goes to touch Gamora, who grabs her wrist though her clothes.
42
GAMORA
Touch me. And the only thing you're
going to feel is a broken jaw.
Mantis smiles, nods, backs away.
MANTIS
I can also alter emotions, to some
extent.
QUILL
Like what?
MANTIS
If I touch someone who is sad I can
ease them into contentment, for a
short while. I can make a stubborn
person compliant. But I mostly use
it to help my Master sleep. He lies
awake at night, thinking about his
progeny.
Quill looks at her, struck by this.
DRAX
Do one of those on me!
Mantis touches him. He grins expectantly.
MANTIS
Sleep.
Drax COLLAPSES, INSTANTLY ASLEEP. Mantis smiles at the
others, hoping she has pleased. Quill and Gamora look at
Drax, SNORING. They're surprised.
GAMORA
Is that real?
QUILL
It's kind of like someone put a
baby's head on a big, muscular
body, isn't it?
FADE TO BLACK.
O.S. ALIEN INSECTS CHIRP
EXT. CRASHED MILANO - NIGHT
Four moons shine over the forest. The campfire CRACKLES
beside the Milano, and "SOUTHERN NIGHTS" BY GLENN CAMPBELL
emerges from the cassette player within.
43
The Monstrous Ravager and Kraglin lead a group of Ravagers up
over a ravine. Dozens of M-Ships quietly lower behind them.
Kraglin nods toward the sounds of Glenn Campbell in the
distance. They raise their weapons.
OVERHEAD SHOT: dozens and dozens of Ravagers come from
different directions, surrounding the Milano.
One Ravager cluster, lead by Half-Nut, CREEPS close enough to
the Milano that they see the lights within the vehicle and
can hear Rocket inside HUMMING along to the song.
Half-Nut licks his lips in anticipation, closing in for the
kill, when he steps on a small pedal. It CLICKS.
A HUNDRED DARTS FLY AT THE GROUP from traps set in trees.
They STICK INTO THE RAVAGERS' BODIES, knocking them instantly
unconscious. As one Ravager FALLS, a GUNSHOT is discharged.
INT. CRASHED MILANO - NIGHT
Nebula is awakened by the SHOT. She sees a frightened Groot,
peering through a hole at the bodies falling.
PULL BACK TO REVEAL, beside him, a futuristic walkie-talkie
with ROCKET'S HUMS emerging.
EXT. CRASHED MILANO - PERCUSSIVE BOMB TRAP - NIGHT
Rocket is crouched on a limb in shadows above the Milano,
smiling and HUMMING to "Southern Nights" into his comm.
He spots A LARGER GROUP OF RAVAGERS APPROACHING THE MILANO
from the other side, led by Retch.
Rocket LEAPS TOWARD THEM, from one tree limb to another like
a squirrel.
The GROUP enters a clearing close to the ship. A TALL RAVAGER
looks up and spots Rocket LEAPING OVER THEIR HEADS.
TALL RAVAGER
There!
The Ravagers BLAST at Rocket, following him. He HOPS from
tree to tree as BULLETS WHIZZ PAST HIM, leading them right
where he wants them.
He stops in a tree at the end of the run. He holds a device
with two buttons. He presses one of them.
A PERCUSSIVE BOMB at the feet of the Ravagers BURSTS, sending
half of them FLYING UP into the air.
44
As the confused group on the ground watches, Rocket presses
the second button and a second BOMB BURSTS. They FLY UP INTO
THE AIR as well.
Rocket SNICKERS, as he continues pushes the buttons and the
two groups of Ravagers FLY UP and DOWN until the bombs are
depleted of energy.
Retch looks up from the ground, to see the little animal
hopping away in the tree limbs overhead.
EXT. CRASHED MILANO - STICKY DISK TRAP - NIGHT
An EVEN LARGER GROUP OF RAVAGERS walk beneath the branches,
MOONLIGHT FLICKERING ON THEIR FACES.
TILT UP TO REVEAL ROCKET'S SILHOUETTE on a gnarled limb. He's
clutching an armful of small discs. He breathes shallowly,
waits. As soon as the last Ravager is passing beneath him,
he LEAPS onto his back.
Rocket JUMPS FORWARD FROM ONE MAN TO THE NEXT, SLAPPING A
STICKY-DISC to each of their heads - SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
And then he LEAPS from the Ravager at the front of the line
BACK UP INTO THE TREES.
The men are confused. They bring their fingers to the sticky
discs on their bodies.
Rocket smiles in the tree as he flicks a trigger. The STICKY-
DISCS SEND ELECTRICITY COURSING THROUGH ALL OF THE MEN'S
BODIES.
They CONVULSE for a moment, then COLLAPSE.
EXT. CRASHED MILANO - CLEARING - NIGHT
Rocket LEAPS to the ground in a crouch. He sees Brahl
approaching in front of him, and then another RAVAGER
approaching from behind. They train their weapons on him.
BRAHL
Ain't so tough now without all your
toys, are you?
Rocket LEAPS up onto Brahl's face.
He PUNCHES HIM IN THE THORAX so hard he can't breathe.
The other Ravager SHOOTS at him, but Rocket BACKFLIPS over
the SHOT so Brahl is STRUCK instead.
45
Rocket LANDS on the back of the shooter's neck and RAPID-FIRE
PUNCHES HIM in the head, until the man CRUMPLES to the
ground, unconscious.
As Rocket lands, he HEARS WHISTLING and he looks up to see --
YONDU'S ARROW FLYING THROUGH THE TREES, DIRECTLY TOWARD HIM.
ROCKET
Crap.
Another high-pitched WHISTLE and the arrow STOPS ABRUPTLY,
FLOATING with the tip almost grazing Rocket's forehead.
Yondu waltzes out of the trees with Tullk, Kraglin, the
Monstrous Ravager, and many more.
Rocket reluctantly raises his hands in surrender.
YONDU
Hey there, rat.
ROCKET
How's it going, you blue idiot?
YONDU
Eh, not so bad. We got a pretty
good gig. A golden gal with quite a
high opinion of herself offered us
a large sum to deliver you and your
pals to her, so she can kill y'all.
INT. CRASHED MILANO - NIGHT
Nebula looks out the window to see even more Ravagers
surrounding Rocket. She looks at baby Groot.
NEBULA
Your friend. There's too many of
them. They're going to kill him.
Groot looks as if he's about to cry.
NEBULA (CONT'D)
He needs my help. If you care about
him, you need to get me out of
these bonds.
Groot is unsure.
46
EXT. CRASHED MILANO - CLEARING - NIGHT
The Ravagers have entirely encircled Rocket. There's no
chance of escape. Though upset, he mostly holds it in.
YONDU
Pretty easy to find you, since we
put a tracer on your ship back
during the War over Xandar.
ROCKET
You give me your word you won't
hurt Groot, and I'll tell you where
the batteries are.
YONDU
Lucky for you my word don't mean
squat. Otherwise I'd actually hand
you over.
MONSTROUS RAVAGER
Otherwise you'd what?!
Yondu scowls at the Monstrous Ravager.
YONDU
We'll take the batteries. They're
worth a a quarter mil on the open
MARKET -
MONSTROUS RAVAGER
That priestess offered us a
million! A quarter is only one
third of that!
YONDU
A quarter ain't one-th -
OBLO
A quarter is four times a million!
We're in the money!
GEF THE RAVAGER
No, idiot. A quarter is twenty-
five.
YONDU
NO -
GEF THE RAVAGER
We can't even buy a pair of boots
with twenty-five units!
47
YONDU
The point is, we aren't stupid
enough to help kill the Guardians
of the Galaxy. We'd have the whole
Nova Corps on us.
KRAGLIN
(REALIZING)
That ain't right. I just gotta say
it this one time, Cap'n.
Everyone looks at Kraglin.
KRAGLIN (CONT'D)
No matter how many times Quill
betrays you, you protect him, like
none of the rest of us much matter.
I'm the one what sticks up for you,
me and Tullk.
MONSTROUS RAVAGER
Damn straight, lad. You're right:
he's going soft. S'pose it's time
for a change in leadership!
KRAGLIN
UH -
The Monstrous Ravager points his weapon at Yondu.
Others follow his lead.
A handful of others, including Tullk and the Innocent
Ravager, raise their weapons in their Captain's defense, so
that the whole circle are aiming at one another. Kraglin is
confused.
TULLK
Put you damn guns down!
Rocket is in the center of the potential crossfire.
ROCKET
Hold on! There's got to be some
sort of peaceful resolution here!
Or even a violent resolution, where
I'm standing over there.
Yondu glares at the Monstrous Ravager. His FIN LIGHTS UP and
he starts to WHISTLE when -
A GUNSHOT RINGS OUT; THE FIN IS BLOWN OFF THE TOP OF YONDU'S
HEAD. The arrow CLATTERS to the ground.
48
Rocket watches as Yondu, confused, TOTTERS there for a
moment, and then COLLAPSES --
REVEALING NEBULA behind him, clutching a smoking pistol.
Rocket looks at her, dead-eyed: really?
She SHOOTS HIM WITH A BLAST OF ELECTRICITY, knocking him
unconscious.
The Ravagers gape at Nebula.
NEBULA
Well, hello, boys.
She takes a bite from a piece of yaro root she stole from the
Milano. As she chews, she becomes disgusted.
She spits it out.
NEBULA (CONT'D)
It's not ripe.
EXT. RED PLANET - MOMENTS LATER
Ego's ship ARRIVES at a bold red planet, twisting in front of
an enormous yellow sun, so close it seems like the sun is
about to devour it. "MY SWEET LORD" BY GEORGE HARRISON PLAYS.
SUPER: EGO'S PLANET
G52 22C848T12F+E16UC22
INT. EGO'S SHIP - SLEEP CHAMBER - OUTER SPACE
Mantis sets her hand on Ego's forehead, waking him.
EXT. EGO'S PLANET/SPACEPORT - MOMENTS LATER
Ego's ship lands in a spaceport. It organically JOINS the
spot where it lands - strands of material actually linking up
with the landing pad itself.
From the front of the craft, a FLOATING TRAM emerges, with
Ego, Mantis, Quill, Gamora, and Drax.
As the TRAM GLIDES toward its destination, the Guardians are
overwhelmed by transcendentally splendid surroundings. The
plant life is colorful and alien. Tall, twisting obelisks
seem to have no function other than beauty itself.
EGO
Welcome, friends, to my world.
QUILL
Wow. You have your own planet?
49
EGO
But a trifle, no larger than your
earth's moon.
DRAX
Humility. I like it. I too, am
extraordinarily humble.
Even Gamora smiles at the wonder of it all.
Multicolored mercurial clumps FLOAT BY.
Drax pokes one, and it BURSTS INTO A DOZEN VIBRANT HUES.
EXT. TRAM/PALACE - MOMENTS LATER
Ahead of them looms an astounding palace atop a mountain.
QUILL
It's beautiful.
The tram STOPS.
They step off it and toward the palace, Ego stops beside a
large FOUNTAIN.
EGO
Peter, consider this a token of a
father's pride.
Ego motions; the WATERS OF THE FOUNTAIN FALL AWAY, REVEALING
a GIANT STATUE OF STAR-LORD: Quill stands heroically, with
foolish-looking Guardians kneeling around him worshipfully.
EGO (CONT'D)
A memorial to the War Over Xandar,
when you single-handedly saved the
galaxy.
GAMORA
Single-handedly?
QUILL
Whoa. It's perfect.
GAMORA
You've got to be kidding.
DRAX
Why am I dead? Why did you all kill
me?!
GAMORA
That's Ronan. That's you.
50
Drax is sitting on Quill's shoulder, with a raccoon tail.
DRAX
When was I that tiny?
Gamora shakes her head in disbelief. They step past the
statue and onto the steps approaching the palace.
GAMORA
You own a planet and can destroy
two dozen spaceships without a
suit. What are you, exactly?
EGO
I'm what they call a Celestial,
sweetheart.
The Guardians STOP behind him, astounded.
QUILL
A Celestial. Like a... god?
EGO
Small `g', son. At least on the
days I'm feeling humble as Drax.
He LAUGHS and walks up the stairs.
INT. PALACE - MOMENTS LATER
Ego SAUNTERS with Quill, Gamora, Drax, and Mantis, through
the enormous open doors, toward huge DIORAMAS lining either
side of the palace, like cosmic Stations of the Cross.
EGO
This form you see before you is
only an extension of who I truly
am. I don't know where I came from,
exactly.
The DIORAMAS around them begin to ANIMATE: In the first, a
FLICKERING BRAIN COMPOSED OF POLYCHROMATIC LIGHT FLOATS in
space.
EGO (CONT'D)
The first thing I remember is
flickering, adrift in the cosmos -
utterly and entirely alone.
The flickering brain pulls cosmic dust and rocks into itself,
ingesting them, GROWING.
51
EGO (CONT'D)
I fed on the matter around me like
plankton. I grew smarter and
stronger.
A hard metal shell forms around the brain, with channels
running through for his energy to flow like rivers.
EGO (CONT'D)
I formed a sheathe to protect
myself from the elements.
Ego continues developing outward from the shell, growing the
planet, then its beautiful landscapes and structures.
EGO (CONT'D)
And continued building from there,
layer by layer, the very planet you
walk on now. I built the spires
reaching up to the sky and the
tunnels burrowing into its depths.
QUILL
Wow.
EGO
But I was no ant to be fulfilled
solely by labor. I wanted more. I
desired... meaning.
In the core shell - the Self Chamber - the flickering brain
floats, alone, perhaps sad.
EGO (CONT'D)
There must be some life out there
in the universe besides just me, I
thought, and I set myself to task
with finding it.
The brain grows a SKELETAL FRAMEWORK OF LIGHT up from the
self chamber and to the surface of the planet. He pulls
molecules around this shape to create his "human" self.
EGO (CONT'D)
I created what I imagined
biological life might be like, down
to the most minute detail.
DRAX
Did you make a penis?
QUILL
Dude.
52
DRAX
If he's a planet, how did he make a
baby with your mother? He would
smush her.
QUILL
I don't need to hear about how my
parents, you know -
DRAX
Why? My father would tell me the
story of impregnating my mother
every winter solstice.
QUILL
That's disgusting.
DRAX
It was beautiful. You earthers have
hang-ups.
EGO
Yes, Drax, I've got a penis.
QUILL
Oh my God.
EGO
It's not half bad. I've also got
pain receptors, a digestive system,
and all the accompanying junk. I
wanted to experience what it truly
meant to be human as I set out
amongst the stars.
In another DIORAMA, Ego explores various uninhabited and
barren planets.
EGO (CONT'D)
I visited thousands of planets over
thousands of years, one barren husk
after the next until I found what I
sought...
Ego stares down at a CUTE ALIEN CHILD.
EGO (CONT'D)
Life. I was not alone in this
universe after all.
Ego reminisces: wistful? Sad? It's hard to tell.
QUILL
When did you meet my mother?
53
EGO
Not long after.
Ego turns toward the last set of DIORAMAS. They show Meredith
and Ego kissing and Ego with his hand on Meredith's pregnant
belly.
EGO (CONT'D)
It was with Meredith that I
experienced love for the first
time. I called her my river lily.
And from that love, Peter, you.
In the final DIORAMA we PUSH IN on the belly and see, inside
the womb, VERY young Peter Quill, a fetus, himself encased in
light.
Quill looks up in amazement - this story is the story of
himself. And Ego gazes at Quill with adoration.
EGO (CONT'D)
I searched for you for so long.
When I heard a man from earth held
an Infinity Stone in his hand
without dying, I knew you must be
the son of the woman I loved.
Ego puts his hand on Quill. Quill wants to believe, but he
can't quite let it go.
QUILL
If you loved her why did you leave
her?
EXT. THE ECLECTOR - OUTER SPACE
The Ravagers' massive ship FLOATS in space.
SUPER: RAVAGER TERRITORY
HE2 6SM6R16617+6241023
TULLK (O.S.)
You can't do this!
INT. ECLECTOR CENTRAL AREA - OUTER SPACE
Ravagers LAUGH as they DRAG Tullk across the floor while he
STRUGGLES to get free.
TULLK
This is mutiny! Mutiny!
They shove Tullk into a cylindrical room as a glass door
CLOSES on him.
54
He continues SCREAMING and SLAMMING ON THE GLASS, but we can
barely hear him.
Half-Nut smiles and presses a button. The outside of the
compartment OPENS so that Tullk is SUCKED INTO SPACE.
EXT. THE ECLECTOR - OUTER SPACE
Tullk FLOATS AWAY, opening his mouth to scream, but he can't.
His FACE AND BODY SWELL QUICKLY and he EXPIRES there.
As we CURL AROUND his lifeless body, we REVEAL the countless
other CORPSES of Ravagers loyal to Yondu, leading like bread
crumbs toward nothing at all.
INT. ECLECTOR CENTRAL AREA - OUTER SPACE
Yondu watches this, helplessly. He's in a chair, his hands
tied behind him. He's a wreck, his headpiece destroyed, wires
hanging from a gap in his head where the fin used to be. He
sees the mutineers grab the innocent Oblo, DRAGGING HIM to
the same fate as Tullk.
OBLO
Cap'n, help me! Cap'n?!
Yondu drops his head in shame.
MONSTROUS RAVAGER
You're the one what kilt those men
by leading `em down the wrong path.
He PUNCHES Yondu.
MONSTROUS RAVAGER (CONT'D)
Because you're weak.
He PUNCHES him again.
MONSTROUS RAVAGER (CONT'D)
And stupid.
The Monstrous Ravager turns towards the Ravagers, who listen,
rapt and vengeful. Nebula leans calmly against a wall,
watching. Kraglin watches too, seemingly concerned.
MONSTROUS RAVAGER (CONT'D)
It's time for the Ravagers to once
again rise to glory with a new
Cap'n... TASERFACE.
The Ravagers SHOUT IN APPROVAL. Taserface throws his arms up
in glory - when he hears SNICKERING. He stops.
55
He and the other Ravagers turn and see Rocket, also in a
chair with his arms secured behind him, GIGGLING.
ROCKET
I'm sorry. Your name is... it's
`Taserface'?
TASERFACE
That's right.
ROCKET
Do you... shoot tasers out of your
face?
TASERFACE
It's metaphorical!
ROCKET
For what?
Taserface thinks. Time for a new answer:
TASERFACE
It's a name what strikes fear in
anyone what hears it!
ROCKET
(DOUBTFUL)
Really?... Okay, sure.
Taserface screams at him, SPIT FLYING EVERYWHERE.
TASERFACE
You shut up! You're next!
Taserface goes back to Yondu, bringing out his blade.
TASERFACE (CONT'D)
Udonta, I been waiting to do this
for a long ti -
Again they hear SNICKERING. Rocket is burying his mouth in
his chest, TRYING TO STOP FROM CRACKING UP.
TASERFACE (CONT'D)
What?! What?!
ROCKET
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I just
keep imagining you waking up one
morning, looking in the mirror,
and, in all seriousness, saying
`You know what would be a really
kickass name? Taserface!'
56
Nebula smirks. The Ravagers are TRYING NOT TO LAUGH. Rocket
can't stop LAUGHING.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
What was your second choice?!
Scrotum Hat?!
The Ravagers all BUST OUT LAUGHING.
TASERFACE
New plan. We're killing you first.
Taserface SHOVES HIM BACK, ready to plunge the knife in him.
Rocket's smile disappears. He stares at Taserface with dead
eyes.
ROCKET
Well, dying is certainly better
than having to live an entire life
as a moronic shitbag who thinks
`Taserface' is a cool name.
Taserface goes to stab him, when -
NEBULA
That's enough killing for today.
Taserface turns toward her, irritated.
TASERFACE
Thought you were the biggest sadist
in the galaxy.
NEBULA
That was when Daddy was paying my
bills. The Priestess wants to kill
the fox herself. And he -
(RE: YONDU)
- has bounties on his head in at
least twelve Kree provinces.
Taserface glares at her. It's obvious he's considering
attacking her.
NEBULA (CONT'D)
I assure you, I am not as easy a
mark as an old man without his
magic stick or a talking woodland
beast.
Taserface decides not to risk it.
57
NEBULA (CONT'D)
I want ten percent of the take, and
a couple more things.
INT. ECLECTOR DOCKING BAY HALL - LATER
Nebula is TRYING OUT A BRAND NEW HAND as Kraglin leads her
through this hall.
KRAGLIN
We got a whole box of hands if that
one don't work out.
NEBULA
It's fine.
KRAGLIN
You think them Kree is gonna
execute the Cap'n?
NEBULA
The Kree consider themselves
merciful. It will be painless.
Kraglin comes to an open doorway beside a huge DOCKING BAY,
and an M-SHIP decked out with lots of weapons.
KRAGLIN
Well, there it is, best ship we
got. The location of Ego's planet's
in the nav. We'll wire you the ten
percent when we's paid. What you
gonna do with your share?
Nebula stops at the doorway.
NEBULA
As a child my father would have
Gamora and me battle one another in
`training.' Every time my sister
prevailed my father would replace a
piece of me with machinery,
claiming he wanted me to be her
equal. But she won, again and again
and again. Never once refraining.
Because of them, I am this. So
after I murder my sister, I will
buy a warship with every
conceivable instrument of death.
(MORE)
58
NEBULA (CONT'D)
I will hunt my father like a dog
and I will tear him apart slowly,
piece by piece, until he knows some
semblance of the profound and
unceasing pain I know every single
day.
Kraglin stares at her, weirded-out.
KRAGLIN
Yeah... I was talking about, like,
a pretty necklace. Or a nice hat.
Something that'll make the other
girls go `oooooo, that's nice.'
Nebula gives him a look of pure death.
KRAGLIN (CONT'D)
Anyway, uh, happy trails.
INT. PALACE COURTYARD - DAY
Quill looks up at a GIANT SCULPTURE of his mother. He is
upset. Ego is behind him, watching him, sadly.
QUILL
My mother told everyone my father
was from the stars.
Quill turns to look at his father, somewhat accusatory.
QUILL (CONT'D)
She had brain cancer - so everyone
thought she was delusional.
Ego looks sad, ashamed.
EGO
PETER -
QUILL
Listen. I'd love to believe all of
this, I really would - but you left
the most wonderful woman ever, to
die alone!
Ego has tears in his eyes.
EGO
I didn't want to leave your mother,
Peter. But if I don't return
regularly to this planet, and the
light within, this form will wither
and perish --
59
QUILL
So why didn't you come back?! Why'd
you send Yondu, a criminal, of all
people, to fetch me?!
EGO
I loved your mother, Peter! I
couldn't stand to set foot on an
earth where she wasn't living! You
can't imagine what that's like!
QUILL
I know exactly what that's like! I
had to watch her die!
Ego stops, seeming to hear his son. He touches him.
EGO
Over the millions and millions of
years of my existence I have made
many mistakes, Peter. But you're
not one of them. Please give me
the chance to be the father she
would want me to be.
Quill looks at him, vulnerable.
EGO (CONT'D)
There are so many things I need to
teach you. This planet, and the
light within... they are a part of
you.
QUILL
What do you mean?
Ego takes Quill's hands in his own, gently, putting them in
the correct position.
EGO
Give me your hands, son. Here.
Hold them like that.
Quill holds his hands apart. Ego steps back, holding his
hands in the same way.
EGO (CONT'D)
Now close your eyes and
concentrate. Take your brain to the
center of the planet.
Quill concentrates. He holds his hand out. A white light
emanates from it.
60
EGO (CONT'D)
Yes! Yes!
QUILL
Whoa.
The light disappears as quickly as it came.
EGO
Yes, yes - it's okay. Just relax.
Concentrate. You can do it. Bring
it back.
Quill concentrates and the LIGHT, once again, bursts up from
the palms of his hands.
EGO (CONT'D)
Yes, yes, now - shape it -
Ego shows him, pulling in the molecules around him, so that
the light itself forms into the shape of a ball.
EGO (CONT'D)
Feel the energy.
Quill tries to pull molecules into the ball. And, little by
little, they come, and the ball glows brighter.
EGO (CONT'D)
Yes.
Quill laughs. Ego is JOYOUS. He almost looks as if he's going
to break down in tears.
EGO (CONT'D)
You're home, Peter.
Ego cups his hands.
EGO (CONT'D)
Here.
Quill, smiling, THROWS him the ball. Ego LAUGHS. He inspects
the cosmic ball of light, and he throws it back to Quill.
Quill LAUGHS, catching it, and throws it back. Ego moves
back further.
And Ego and Quill continue tossing the ball back and forth
there, LAUGHING, a friendly father and son game of catch in
the middle of a palace courtyard.
61
EXT. PALACE - DAY
Drax and Mantis sit here, soaking in the sun and gazing at
the lush, flowing hills, like something an alien Maxfield
Parrish would paint.
DRAX
How did you get here?
MANTIS
Ego found me in my larva state,
orphaned on my homeworld. He raised
me by hand, and kept me as his own.
DRAX
So you're a pet?
MANTIS
I suppose.
DRAX
People usually want cute pets. Why
would Ego want a hideous one?
MANTIS
I am hideous?
DRAX
You're horrifying to look at, yes.
Mantis seems sad about this. Drax notice this, feels bad.
DRAX (CONT'D)
But it is a good thing.
MANTIS
Oh?
DRAX
When you are ugly and someone loves
you, you know they love you for who
you are. Beautiful people never
know who to trust.
MANTIS
Well, then I am certainly grateful
to be ugly!
(THINKING)
Poor Gamora. She can never trust
anyone.
Drax nods and stares out at spattered patches of water.
62
DRAX
Those pools remind me of a time I
took my daughter to visit the
Forgotten Lakes on my homeworld.
She was like you.
MANTIS
Disgusting?
DRAX
Innocent.
Drax stares out at them without expression.
Slowly, Mantis TOUCHES his shoulder.
And, as she does, TEARS INSTANTLY FLOW DOWN HER CHEEKS. She
stares with Drax at the hills. They feel the sadness
together: she cries while he's stoic.
MANTIS
I have never met anyone like you,
or your friends. You are filled
with such... love. It is a thing I
did not know existed, not like
this, and I think... I think it may
be the very finest of all things.
It both hurts and soothes the
heart.
She looks at Drax. There is something she wants to say, but
she is torn.
MANTIS (CONT'D)
Drax, there is something I must
TELL -
GAMORA (O.S.)
What's going on?
Drax and Mantis turn to see her behind them. She smiles.
MANTIS
I am learning many things. Like I
am a pet and ugly.
GAMORA
You're not ugly.
(ADMONISHING)
Drax.
Drax, confused, points at Mantis, as if her ugliness proves
itself.
63
GAMORA (CONT'D)
Mantis, can you show us where we'll
be staying? I'm getting eye-strain
in this place.
Mantis nods, yes.
EXT. PATH TO SLEEPING QUARTERS - MOMENTS LATER
Gamora, Drax, and Mantis walk across the sunset.
GAMORA
Why are there no other beings on
this planet?
MANTIS
The planet IS Ego. A dog would not
invite a flea to live on his back.
GAMORA
And you're not a flea?
MANTIS
I'm a flea with a purpose. I help
him sleep.
Gamora curls around Mantis, cutting her off.
GAMORA
What were you about to say to Drax
before I walked out?
Mantis looks around, worried.
MANTIS
Nothing.
Gamora and Drax share a look: why is she so scared? Mantis
moves on.
MANTIS (CONT'D)
Your quarters are this way.
INT. ECLECTOR CELL - OUTER SPACE
Rocket HITS THE GROUND, hard. Yondu LANDS equally hard on
the ground beside him.
They look up to see Taserface, Gef the Ravager and an OBTUSE
RAVAGER locking the cell door.
64
TASERFACE
We'll deliver you to the Kree in
the morning. Neither one of you
gonna last much longer after that.
Rocket crawls toward them as they walk away.
ROCKET
Okay, Taserface. See you later,
Taserface. Hey, Taserface, tell the
other guys we said hi, Taserface!
Taserface glances back, perturbed, as he disappears around
the corner.
INT. ECLECTOR HALLWAY - OUTER SPACE
Taserface, Gef, and Obtuse come around the hall.
GEF THE RAVAGER
What about the little plant? Can I
smash it with a rock?
TASERFACE
No, Gef! It's too adorable to kill.
Bring it to the tailor.
INT. ECLECTOR CELL - OUTER SPACE
Yondu and Rocket settle. Yondu looks like a beaten man.
ROCKET
No offense, but your employees are
a bunch of jerks.
YONDU
I was a Kree battle-slave for
twenty years when Stakar freed me.
He offered me a place in the
Ravagers. Said all I needed to do
was adhere to the code. But I was
young and greedy and stupid - like
you stealing those batteries.
ROCKET
That was mostly Drax.
YONDU
Me and Stakar, and the other
captains - we weren't so different
from you and your friends. The only
family I ever had. But I broke the
code. They exiled me.
65
YONDU (CONT'D)
These ones here are the ones who
followed - of course they're jerks.
Which is what I deserve.
ROCKET
Slow down, drama queen. You might
deserve this, but I don't. We gotta
get out of here.
YONDU
Where's Quill?
ROCKET
Went off with his old man.
YONDU
Ego?
Yondu looks concerned. Rocket stares at him, picking this up.
ROCKET
Yeah. It's a day for dumbass names.
Yondu SNICKERS.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
You smiled and for a second I got a
warm feeling, but then it was
ruined by those disgusting-ass
teeth. Ever heard of floss?
Yondu's smile disappears.
YONDU
You're like a professional asshole
or - ?
ROCKET
Pretty much a pro. Why didn't you
deliver Quill to Ego like you
promised?
YONDU
He was skinny, could fit into
places we couldn't. Good for
thieving.
Rocket nods, GRUMBLES.
YONDU (CONT'D)
I got an idea on how to get outta
here. But we're gonna need your
little friend.
66
INT. BAR/QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Baby Groot is wearing a tiny Ravager uniform. He reacts to
clothes like a cat, struggling to take them off but unable.
Ravagers are gathered around him, drunk and LAUGHING. They
are CHANTING "MASCOT."
RETCH
Lil' feller's all worked up! Needs
a drank!
Retch POURS ALCOHOL on him. The Ravagers LAUGH MORE as others
POUR DRINKS on him as well. Groot SCREAMS at them, furious
but helpless.
RETCH (CONT'D)
Lookit how cute it is when it's all
riled up!
HALF-NUT
It's Goddang precious!
INT. ECLECTOR CELL - LATER
Groot, in shadows, MOPES down the hallway, looking
traumatized. His clothes are torn and he's soaked in alcohol.
As he passes the cell, he hears -
YONDU (O.S.)
Hey, twig. C'mere.
Groot sees Yondu and Rocket looking at him in the cell. He
steps toward them.
ROCKET
Oh, man. What'd they do to you?
YONDU
Hey, you wanna help us get outta
here?
Groot NODS. Rocket looks unsure. Yondu speaks slowly.
YONDU (CONT'D)
There's something I need you to
get, and bring back to me.
Groot NODS.
YONDU (CONT'D)
In the Cap'n's quarters, there's a
prototype fin, like the thing I
wore on my head.
67
Groot NODS.
YONDU (CONT'D)
There's a drawer next to the bunk.
It's inside that. It's red. You
got it?
Groot NODS EMPHATICALLY and DARTS OFF to get it. Yondu looks
at Rocket, pleased.
Rocket looks more than a bit uncertain.
INT. CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - MOMENTS LATER
Baby Groot CREEPS into this dark room. DRUNKEN RAVAGERS are
sprawled everywhere.
He spots a bureau. A drawer is half open.
His face lights up.
MOMENTS LATER
Baby Groot stands outside of the cell, beaming, holding A
PAIR OF SHORTS.
YONDU
That's my underwears.
ROCKET
Yeah, I was pretty sure he didn't
know what you were talking about.
You have to explain it more
careful.
YONDU
All right. It's a prototype fin -
MOMENTS LATER
Groot is back in front of the cell, holding a wriggling
ORLONI in his hands.
ROCKET
That's an orloni. It's a fin,
Groot.
YONDU
You explain it this time.
Rocket starts to speak -
68
MOMENTS LATER
Groot looks hopeful, holding out a CYBERNETIC EYE.
YONDU
That's Vorker's eye. He takes it
out when he sleeps. Go look again.
Groot starts to SLINK OFF -
ROCKET
But leave the eye here.
YONDU
Why?
Rocket CAN HARDLY SPEAK he finds it so funny.
ROCKET
He's gonna wake up tomorrow and
he's not gonna know where his eye
is!
MOMENTS LATER
Groot is DRAGGING a LARGE PIECE OF FURNITURE to the cell.
ROCKET
That's a desk. We told you it was
this big.
Rocket shows him how small it is with his hands.
Groot makes a face like "Oh!" as if NOW he gets it. It's all
coming together.
MOMENTS LATER
Groot is holding a SEVERED TOE.
ROCKET
Tell me you guys have a
refrigerator somewhere with a bunch
of severed human toes.
Yondu SUBTLY SHAKES HIS HEAD.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
Okay, then let's just agree to
never discuss this.
Yondu RIPS the Ravager patch off his jacket.
69
YONDU
The drawer you want to open. Has
this symbol on it, okay?
Groot takes it. He looks at Yondu and NODS.
And then, slowly, HE PLACES IT ON TOP OF HIS HEAD.
YONDU (CONT'D)
What? No.
ROCKET
He thinks you want him to wear it
as a hat.
YONDU
That's not what I said.
Groot takes it off his head.
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
(TRANSLATING)
He's relieved that you don't want
him to.
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
He hates hats.
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
On anyone, not just himself.
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
One minute you think someone has a
weird-shaped head. The next minute,
it's just because you realize part
of that head is a hat.
(TO GROOT)
That's why you don't like hats?
Groot nods.
70
YONDU
This is an important conversation
right now?
ROCKET
No. Let's try again.
INT. CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - MOMENTS LATER
Taserface is SNORING and SLOBBERING in his bed. We see the
Ravager Patch tossed up onto the bed beside him. Then
Groot's vines GROW up the bed, and he pulls himself up beside
the sleeping giant.
Groot clasps the Ravager patch in his hand and looks
fearfully around.
He spots the Ravager symbol on a night stand drawer.
He stares at the symbol in his hand, then at the drawer, then
at the symbol, and then at the drawer again, and then one
more time for good measure -- he wants to be very, very sure
they're the same.
He creeps carefully towards the drawer, GROWING his vines out
to grab the handle and PULL IT slowly open...
He peers inside.
Beside some writing instruments and a tin of candies, there
lies a RED FIN, taller and more shark-like than Yondu's
current model. Groot smiles hugely, picking up -
THE TIN OF CANDIES! He's found it!
KRAGLIN (O.S.)
That ain't it.
Groot SWIRLS to see KRAGLIN, BACKLIT IN THE DOORWAY, LOOMING
OVER HIM, intimidating as hell. And CUT TO --
INT. ECLECTOR CELL - MOMENTS LATER
The RED FIN PLOPS DOWN at Yondu's feet.
Yondu and Rocket look up to see Kraglin, holding Groot. He
stares at the ground -
KRAGLIN
I didn't mean to do a mutiny.
(pause, then, sadly)
They killed all my friends.
71
YONDU
Go get the third quadrant ready for
release.
Kraglin SALUTES.
ROCKET
One more thing.
Kraglin stares at him.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
You got any clones of Quill's old
music on the ship?
INT. ECLECTOR BATHROOM - OUTER SPACE
Brahl is shaving, when, suddenly, JAY AND THE AMERICAN'S
"COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER" STARTS PLAYING over the intercom.
He looks up, confused.
INT. ECLECTOR HALLWAY/CELL - OUTER SPACE
TWO RAVAGERS outside the cell hear the MUSIC. They turn,
unlocking the cell door.
As they enter, THE CAMERA OVERTAKES them, arriving before
they do at --
Yondu, sitting calmly; Rocket is finishing ATTACHING THE BIG-
ASS FIN TO HIS HEAD. Its electrical systems POP on.
PUSH IN ON the two surprised Ravagers trying to UNHOLSTER
THEIR PISTOLS in time.
Too late.
Yondu WHISTLES.
INT. ECLECTOR CLOSET - OUTER SPACE
The ARROW FLIES OFF a shelf of supplies and SHOOTS TOWARD A
WALL.
INT. ECLECTOR CELL - OUTER SPACE
The ARROW PUNCHES THROUGH THE WALL behind the Ravagers. They
swirl to see it --
IT SHOOTS THROUGH ONE RAVAGER
And THEN THE OTHER --
72
And then to Yondu; he CATCHES it, and STANDS.
He SAUNTERS past the two Ravagers as they WOBBLE and FALL.
Rocket and Groot follow.
On the way out the door, Rocket looks down and sees TWO
PISTOLS beside the dead Ravagers.
He smiles.
INT. CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - OUTER SPACE
Taserface is awoken by JAY AND THE AMERICANS on the PA. He
glances over to see the open drawer beside him, sans
gargantuan fin.
He SCRAMBLES for the comm, yelling into it --
TASERFACE
He's got it!
INT. BAR/QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
The hoard of Ravagers hear Taserface's voice.
TASERFACE (O.S.)
HE'S GOT IT! YONDU'S GOT THE DAMN
FIN!
RETCH
GO!
SERIES OF SHOTS - INT. ALL OVER THE SHIP - OUTER SPACE
ALL OF THE RAVAGERS all over the ship, in a panic, LOAD THEIR
WEAPONS and HEAD TOWARD THE CELL.
INT. ECLECTOR HALLWAY - OUTER SPACE
Yondu and Rocket and Groot COME AROUND THIS CORNER IN SLOW-
MOTION, the three biggest badasses in the history of cinema.
A HOARD OF RAVAGERS, led by Brahl, FILE IN at the end of the
hallway.
But Yondu WHISTLES and the ARROW TWISTS QUICKLY BACK AND
FORTH, SLICING THROUGH EACH OF THEM.
Yondu SLAMS through a door into -
73
INT. ECLECTOR DOCKING BAY - OUTER SPACE
Our heroes step onto a catwalk in this, the biggest space in
the Eclector. There are catwalks throughout and dozens of
docked M-ships. The SCURRILOUS RAVAGER sees them from above --
SCURRILOUS RAVAGER
Down there!
IN AN EXTREME WIDE ANGLE, we see the ARROW FLYING UP AND
DOWN, BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, CUTTING THROUGH ALL SORTS OF
RAVAGERS, closer and further from CAMERA.
We TRAVEL BEHIND YONDU AND ROCKET as BODIES FALL AROUND THEM
IN SLOW-MOTION LIKE FIREWORKS.
Groot looks up and sees RETCH looking down at him.
RETCH FLEES in terror as Groot GROWS branches to pull himself
up behind him.
Groot HOWLS FURIOUSLY, TAKING CHASE.
Retch YOWLS like a child as he frantically runs.
But Groot GROWS HIS BRANCHES around RETCH's legs, TRIPPING
HIM.
BAM! He FALLS, face first to the floor.
And, with a WAR CRY, Baby Groot FLINGS the sadistic Ravager
off the edge towards the abyss below.
As RETCH FALLS past Yondu and Rocket, Baby Groot DROPS back
down onto Rocket's shoulder, and they push their way through
the doorway -
INT. ECLECTOR SECURITY DOCK - OUTER SPACE
Yondu, Rocket, and Groot move into this area, where they look
up at DOZENS OF SECURITY MONITORS encircling them showing
Ravagers filing toward them from every part of the ship.
Yondu WHISTLES as he watches the MONITORS -
ON A MONITOR, the arrow FLIES out the wall. He whistles so
that it strikes TWO RAVAGERS running towards them.
It ZIPS out of that room and
74
INT. DARK HALL - OUTER SPACE
A HOARD of Ravagers come running down a hall. The ARROW ZIPS
overhead, smashing out all the lights so that the hall is
completely dark, except for the DIM RED LIGHT OF THE ARROW.
And we can just make out the RED LIGHT smashing through the
body of every Ravager there and then on into --
INT. SPACEPORT - OUTER SPACE
A YELLING CROWD OF RAVAGERS come, hungry for war, when the
arrow SHOOTS THROUGH THE CHAINS holding a giant spaceship in
place over their heads.
It FALLS, instantly CRUSHING them all, and then zips on --
INT. BAR - OUTER SPACE
Gef the Ravager is drunkenly drinking a mug of beer, when the
arrow zips past him and through the mug, SHATTERING it.
As Gef looks at the shattered mug, confused, the arrow comes
flying back, ripping through Gef himself, FLINGING him off
the bar stool.
INT. ECLECTOR SECURITY DOCK - OUTER SPACE
Rocket also uses the MONITORS to pinpoint where their
attackers are. He methodically SHOOTS THROUGH the walls,
striking the Ravagers as they get closer.
WIDE OVERHEAD SHOT, the CAMERA REVOLVES as hoards of Ravagers
GET CLOSE to Yondu and Rocket but the arrow and gunshots ZIP
THROUGH THE WALLS taking them all down, one by one, like
Busby Berkely gone mad.
Then Yondu stops, seeing something on one of the MONITORS.
Taserface, clutching a big ass gun, is marching down the hall
towards them.
Yondu WHISTLES, loudly and angrily.
INTERCUT - INT. ENGINE ROOM/SECURITY DOCK - OUTER SPACE
Taserface sees THE ARROW COMING AROUND A CORNER TOWARDS HIM.
Yondu WHISTLES again.
The ARROW BURSTS INTO FLAMES.
Taserface DODGES it.
75
He turns to watch it go, CACKLING pridefully over his
agility.
But his smile quickly dissipates.
The arrow PLUNGES into a giant tank - which EXPLODES,
ENGULFING HIM.
EXT. ECLECTOR - OUTER SPACE
A huge portion of the giant spacecraft EXPLODES, leading to a
domino effect of one part of the ship BURSTING after another.
INT. ECLECTOR SECURITY DOCK - OUTER SPACE
ROCKET is dumbfounded as he sees on the MONITORS the numerous
EXPLOSIONS throughout the ship.
ROCKET
You maniac. The whole ship is gonna
blow.
INT. ECLECTOR SECURITY DOCK - OUTER SPACE
A DOOR SWINGS OPEN and TASERFACE FALLS ONTO THE FLOOR,
ENGULFED IN FLAMES, but furious.
He angrily SLAPS off the flames as he reaches for a
COMMUNICATIONS MODULE.
INT. ECLECTOR SECURITY DOCK - OUTER SPACE
YONDU
Not the whole ship.
Yondu catches the arrow and walks out.
INT. BAR/QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Kraglin ENTERS, pulling latches and flipping switches and
twisting dials on elementary flight controls.
INT. ECLECTOR SECURITY DOCK - OUTER SPACE
With pained effort, Taserface PULLS UP A VIDEO SCREEN with a
SOVEREIGN CHAMBERMAID.
CHAMBERMAID (ON SCREEN)
Who is this? You're not supposed to
be on this line.
TASERFACE
I'm sending you the coordinates for
Yondu's ship.
76
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Yondu enters with Rocket and Groot.
YONDU
Release the quadrant.
KRAGLIN
AYE CAPN'
INT. ECLECTOR SECURITY DOCK - OUTER SPACE
TASERFACE
I only ask one thing. That your
High Priestess tells him the name
of the man what sealed his fate:
Taserface.
The CHAMBERMAID laughs uncontrollably at his name.
Taserface looks really sad as he EXPLODES.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
As Rocket and Groot, frightened, feel the SHIP EXPLODING
around them, Kraglin pulls up one final latch -
EXT. ECLECTOR - OUTER SPACE
THE ENTIRE REAR UPPER QUADRANT OF THE ECLECTOR DETACHES FROM
THE REST OF THE SHIP, while the remains CONTINUE EXPLODING.
I/E. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Rocket and Groot are amazed as the SHIP thrusts forward, away
from the explosions.
Kraglin keys into a JUMP POINT ahead. Nearby, Rocket pulls up
the Navigation panel.
KRAGLIN
Where to, Cap'n?
Rocket SETS THE DESTINATION:
ROCKET
Ego.
YONDU
NO, BOY!
The Quadrant TREMBLES as they hit THE JUMP POINT. It BLOOPS
out of present space, making the JUMP to -
77
EXT. DESERT - DAY
The Quadrant POPS into a blue sky above a DESERT with two
fighting KRONANS.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - VARIOUS OUTER SPACE LOCATIONS
Inside the ship, Rocket, Yondu, Kraglin, and baby Groot hold
on for dear life as the ship VIOLENTLY SHAKES and THE
LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW RAPIDLY SHIFT.
Their bodies DISTEND SLIGHTLY. Yondu is furious.
YONDU
It ain't healthy for a mammalian
body to hop over fifty jumps at a
time.
ROCKET
I know that.
YONDU
We're about to do seven-hundred.
Rocket looks bummed.
EXT. PINK SKY - AMOEBA BLOBS - OUTER SPACE
The Quadrant pops out of a jump point into this Pepto Bismol
pink land, SMASHING THROUGH an AMOEBA-LIKE BLOB, and then
through the next jump point.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - VARIOUS OUTER SPACE LOCATIONS
Kraglin, Yondu, Rocket, and Baby Groot all SCREAM, their
entire faces and bodies distorting as if in some evil
funhouse mirror.
EXT. RED PLANET LANDSCAPE - VARIOUS
The yellow sun CURVES SLOWLY WEST TO EAST over this
magnificent landscape.
"BRING IT ON HOME TO ME" BY SAM COOKE PLAYS.
EXT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - VERANDA - DAY
TILT DOWN to Quill, on this veranda, gazing out at the
beauty. The Walkman is connected to small, jerry-rigged
speakers nearby, PLAYING SAM COOKE.
QUILL
So I guess this could all be mine
someday.
78
Gamora isn't paying attention. She's fooling with a
communications device, which has no reception.
GAMORA
Rocket? Rocket, you there? Dammit.
Quill comes up behind her, messing with her.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
What are you doing, Peter?
QUILL
Dance with me.
GAMORA
No. I'm not --
QUILL
Come on. This is Sam Cooke, one of
the greatest Earth singers of all
time.
Gamora lets out an exasperated SIGH, but, reluctantly, starts
DANCING with him. She is incredibly light on her feet.
Quill smiles and Gamora, despite herself, does as well. He
TWIRLS HER AND BRINGS HER BACK IN. This is definitely not the
first time they've done this.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Drax thinks you're not a dancer.
GAMORA
If you ever tell anyone about this,
I'll kill you.
They look at each other.
QUILL
When are we going to do something
about this... unspoken thing
between us?
GAMORA
What unspoken thing?
QUILL
THIS CHEERS-SAM-AND-DIANE-GUY-AND-
GIRL-ON-A-TV-SHOW-WHO-DIG-EACH-
OTHER-BUT-NEVER-SAY-IT-'CAUSE-WHEN-
THEY-DO-THE-RATINGS-WOULD-GO-DOWN
sort of thing?
79
GAMORA
There is no unspoken thing between
us.
QUILL
Well, that's a Catch-22. Because if
you said there was, it would be
spoken, and then you'd be a liar.
So by saying there isn't, you're
telling the truth, and admitting
there is.
GAMORA
That's not --
Gamora PULLS AWAY.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
What we should be discussing right
now is that something about this
place doesn't feel right.
QUILL
What are you talking about? You
were the one who wanted me to come
here!
Gamora moves into --
INT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - DAY
GAMORA
That girl, Mantis. She's afraid of
something.
Quill follows her. He stops, staring at her, hurt and
frustrated.
QUILL
Why are you trying to take this
from me?
GAMORA
I'm not --
QUILL
He's my father. He's blood -
GAMORA
You have blood on earth. You never
wanted to return there.
80
QUILL
Again - you made me come here!
And Earth?! Earth is the place my
mother died in front of me.
GAMORA
No, it's because that's real, and
this is a fantasy.
QUILL
This is real. I'm only half human,
remember?
GAMORA
That's the half I'm worried about.
QUILL
Oh, I get it. You're jealous
because I'm part god! You like me
being the weak one!
Gamora adds some pieces to her transmitter.
GAMORA
Uh. You were insufferable to begin
with. I haven't been able to reach
Rocket. I'm going to see if I can
get a signal outside.
QUILL
You know, this isn't Cheers after
all. It's whatever the show is
where one person is willing to, you
know, open themselves up to new
possibilities, and the other person
is just kind of a jerk who doesn't
trust anyone! It's a show that
doesn't exist - it would never be
made, it would be so horrible! It
would get zero ratings!
GAMORA
You're having a conversation with
yourself! I don't know what Cheers
is!
QUILL
I finally found my family, don't
you understand that!?
GAMORA
I thought you already had.
81
QUILL
So this is how it ends, then? Our
whole story. Like this? You and me?
GAMORA
Get it through your head, Peter.
There is no you and me. There never
was.
Quill watches her leave.
EXT. EGO'S FIELDS - SUNSET
Gamora sits, alone in the fields, pouting, fuming. She
stops, staring angrily inward.
Two plants, nearby, flitter against one another in the wind,
making a CLICKING sound. She side-eyes them. They don't stop.
She slices them off with her sword.
GAMORA
Dammit.
Gamora hears something. She turns to see, in the distance, an
M-ship flying toward the planet.
She watches as it gets closer and closer, and realizes it is
FLYING DIRECTLY AT HER.
Gamora RUNS.
INT. NEBULA'S SHIP - SUNSET
Nebula HOLLERS as she BLASTS HER GUNS, DIVING towards Gamora.
EXT. HILLSIDE - SUNSET
Gamora FLEES from Nebula's ship like Cary Grant from the crop
duster in North by Northwest as HUGE CHUNKS OF LAND EXPLODE
on either side of her.
Gamora leaps into a DITCH, LANDING HARD, as the M-Ship SWOOPS
just a couple feet above her.
GAMORA
You psychopath.
Gamora sees the M-Ship banking and FLYING BACK at her again.
She stands and runs along the hillside as GUN BLASTS burst
behind her. But Gamora sees a CAVERN, leading down into the
earth.
82
She DARTS into it.
INT. EGO'S CAVERN - FIRST/SECOND LEVELS - SUNSET
As Gamora RUNS down the cavern, she glances back over her
shoulder where Nebula, insane with rage, continues FLYING
towards her --
The M-SHIP ENTERS THE CAVERN, which is too small for it,
CLIPPING ITS WINGS - but it keeps flying. It again BLASTS at
Gamora as she FLEES -
The BLASTS cause the ground to COLLAPSE around Gamora, and
she FALLS, SMASHING DOWN THROUGH ONE LEVEL, to another level
below, SLAMMING HARD on the ground.
The underside of the M-ship gets SCRAPED APART as it flies
above her, and pieces of it come RAINING DOWN around her.
Nebula ZOOMS towards a huge cavern wall. She tries to turn
her ship in time, to no avail.
She SIDESWIPES it, falling down, CRASHING on the ground,
where she is now on the same level as Gamora.
Gamora sees something beside her: it's one of the ENORMOUS
BLASTERS from the M-ship, attached to an AMMO RIG.
INT. NEBULA'S M-SHIP - SUNSET
Nebula sees Gamora, through the canopy, picking up the
blaster, and clutching it. It is comically enormous.
Nebula struggles to get free and out of the way, but her legs
have been pinned in the crash -
INT. EGO'S CAVERN - SECOND/THIRD LEVELS - SUNSET
Gamora CLAMPS two metal switches together, MACHINE-FIRING THE
GUN, as she walks forward.
The front of the M-ship is peppered with blasts and then
EXPLODES.
The explosion causes the thin ground around it to COLLAPSE,
and the entire ship FALLS BACKWARDS to an even LOWER LEVEL -
BURSTING some more as it hits the ground.
Gamora gazes down at the ship.
I/E. NEBULA'S SQUASHED M-SHIP - SUNSET
Nebula is a mess. Her legs are broken, trapped in the ship.
There is a FIRE at her feet.
83
She struggles, trying to get out, but her machine parts are
SPARKING and she can hardly breathe. It seems as she's going
to die, when --
Part of the ship is TORN AWAY. She sees Gamora.
Gamora GRABS HER, unceremoniously PULLING HER FREE, just as
the M-ship EXPLODES, PITCHING THEM BOTH to the ground.
They lie next to each other. Nebula COUGHS as her legs are
healing, CRACKING back into place.
She looks over and eyes Gamora.
And then she HOLLERS and attacks her.
GAMORA
Are you kidding me?!
They FIGHT.
Nebula snatches Gamora's blade from her, and TUMBLES on top
of her as she gains the upper hand. She holds the blade
above Gamora, ready to plummet it into her.
She wants to - she really does - but now that the moment is
here...
She SCREAMS in frustration, and falls back.
NEBULA
I win.
Gamora eyes her, a little surprised.
NEBULA (CONT'D)
I win. I bested you in combat.
GAMORA
Uh, no, I just spared your life -
NEBULA
You were stupid enough to let me
live so -
GAMORA
You just let me live!
NEBULA
I WIN!
84
GAMORA NEBULA (CONT'D)
Nebula, I really don't need I don't need you always
this. My day has been bad trying to beat me!
ENOUGH -
GAMORA
I'm not the one who just flew
across the universe because I
wanted to win!
NEBULA
Don't tell me what I want!
GAMORA
I don't have to because you make it
OBVI -
NEBULA
YOU WERE THE ONE WHO WANTED TO WIN,
I JUST WANTED A SISTER!
Gamora stops suddenly, struck. Nebula is cracking.
NEBULA (CONT'D)
You were all I had, but you were
the one who needed to win! Thanos
pulled my eye from my head and my
brain from my skull and my arm from
my body because of you!
Gamora doesn't know what to say. Nebula is almost instantly
embarrassed.
They sit there for a moment, saying nothing.
EXT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT
The Quarters are entombed in stars. The dim sound of "BRANDY"
comes from within.
INT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT
Quill lies in bed, unable to sleep, listening to the song.
EGO (O.S.)
You all right, son?
Quill turns to see Ego in the doorway.
EGO (CONT'D)
I saw your girl stomp off earlier
in quite a huff.
Quill sits up, nods.
85
QUILL
Yeah.
Ego sits beside him.
EGO
It's fortuitous you're listening to
this song.
QUILL
You know - ?
EGO
`Brandy' by Looking Glass. A
favorite of your mom's.
QUILL
Yes.
EGO
One of earth's greatest musical
compositions. Perhaps its very
greatest.
QUILL
Yeah, it is.
EGO
You and I, Peter, we're the sailor
in the song.
Ego speaks along with the lyrics as they play.
EGO (CONT'D)
He came on a summer's day, bringing
gifts from far away - like the
child I put in your mother, or the
freedom you brought Gamora.
Quill listens.
EGO (CONT'D)
Brandy, you're a fine girl, what a
good wife you would be. But my
life, my love, my lady is the sea.
The sea calls the sailor back. He
loves the girl, but that's not his
place. The sea calls upon him as
history calls upon great men, and
sometimes we are deprived the
pleasures of mortals.
86
QUILL
Well, you might not be mortal, but
ME -
EGO
Death will remain a stranger to
both of us as long as the light
burns within the planet.
Ego smiles.
QUILL
I'm immortal? That's... really?
EGO
Yes, as long as the light exists.
QUILL
And I can use the light to make
cool things? Like how you made all
this?
EGO
It'll take thousands of years of
practice before you get really good
at it . But, yes.
QUILL
Well, get ready for an eight
hundred foot statue of Pac Man,
then. With Skeletor. And Heather
Locklear. I'm gonna make some weird
shit.
Ego puts his arm around him, smiles kindly.
EGO
I can't wait to see your weird
shit.
QUILL
Wow, that...
EGO
Came out a little disgusting.
They CHUCKLE.
EGO (CONT'D)
It is a tremendous responsibility,
Peter. Only we can remake the
universe. Only we can take the
bridle of the cosmos and lead it
where it needs to go.
87
QUILL
How?
Ego holds up his fingers, letting forth a flame of white
cosmic light. Quill holds up his fingers, letting forth a
smaller, less intense flame of white cosmic light.
REVEAL MANTIS, IN THE HALL, around the corner, looking at Ego
and Quill and the light emanating from their fingers.
EGO
Come with me.
Mantis looks like she's having a panic attack.
INT. DRAX'S SLEEPING QUARTERS - MOMENTS LATER
CLOSE-UP OF DRAX, sound asleep.
MANTIS (O.S.)
Drax! Drax!
He WAKES to see a panicked Mantis sitting on the bed beside
him.
MANTIS (CONT'D)
Drax, we need to talk -
DRAX
Ugh. I am sorry, but I like a woman
with some meat on her bones.
MANTIS
What?
DRAX
I tried to let you down easily by
telling you I found you disgusting.
MANTIS
No! That's not what I -
Drax starts to GAG.
MANTIS (CONT'D)
What are you doing?!
DRAX
I'm imagining being with you
physically!
88
MANTIS
Drax, that's not - I don't like you
like that. I don't even like the
type of thing you are.
DRAX
(OFFENDED)
Hey! There's no need to get
personal!
MANTIS
Listen! Ego's gotten exactly what
he wanted. I should have told you
earlier, I am stupid. You are in
danger.
EXT. NEBULA'S SQUASHED M-SHIP - NIGHT
Gamora and Nebula still sit here, quietly and awkwardly.
Gamora glances down a twisting tunnel, where phosphorescent
lights shine brightly.
GAMORA
What's that?
She moves towards it. Nebula, hesitantly, follows.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
Ego and Quill enter the palace.
EGO
You need to readjust the way you
process life. Everything around us -
including the girl - is temporary.
We are forever.
QUILL
Doesn't eternity get boring?
EGO
Not if you have a purpose, Peter.
Which is why you're here. I told
you how all those years ago I had
an unceasing impulse to find life.
Ego is standing underneath the diorama of him facing the
little alien girl.
EGO (CONT'D)
I didn't tell you how when I did
find it, it was all so...
disappointing.
89
INT. TWISTING CAVERNS - NIGHT
Gamora and Nebula move further down the cavern, stepping into
light, getting closer.
EGO
And that is when I came to a
profound realization.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
EGO
My innate desire to seek out other
life was not so that I could walk
among that life.
Ego looks at his son, moved by the memories.
EGO (CONT'D)
Peter, I had found meaning.
Quill is taken aback. But Ego sets his finger lightly on his
forehead, and the white light bursts through his son's body.
We see THE COSMOS IN QUILL'S EYES. He looks ecstatic, far
beyond where he stands, and seems to finally understand.
QUILL
I see it. Eternity.
INT. TWISTING CAVERNS - NIGHT
Gamora and Nebula stop, in horror.
GAMORA
Oh my God.
They are staring at piles and piles of skeletons of various
species, thousands of them, seeming to go on forever.
NEBULA
We need to get off this planet.
EXT. GALAXY/UNIVERSE - OUTER SPACE
We see traces of the UNIVERSAL NEURAL TELEPORTATION NETWORK,
the Quadrant a blinking light POPPING IN and OUT on a trail
across the cosmos -
And then ZOOM BACK FURTHER TO THE UNIVERSE, the same blinking
light making its way while ROCKET, YONDU, and KRAGLIN SCREAM.
90
EXT. ASTEROIDS - OUTER SPACE
WATCHERS swirl to the Quadrant SWISH past them and JUMPS OUT.
They turn back to STAN LEE, in a spacesuit with a fishbowl
helmet.
STAN LEE
Anyway, before I was so rudely
interrupted, that time I was a
World War II vet -
EXT. RED PLANET - OUTER SPACE
THE QUADRANT POPS INTO SPACE, EGO'S PLANET nearby.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Yondu, Kraglin, Rocket and Groot FALL OUT OF THEIR SEATS,
RETCHING, clutching their stomachs.
YONDU
What the hell you doing, boy?!
ROCKET
I could tell by how you talked
about him - this Ego is bad news.
We're here to save Quill.
YONDU
For what?
(DERISIVELY)
For `honor'? For `love'?
ROCKET
No! I don't care about those
things! I want to save Quill so I
can prove I'm better than him! I
can lord this over him forever!
Yondu LAUGHS bitterly as he pulls himself up to the controls.
Rocket yanks himself up beside him.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
What are you laughing at me for?!
YONDU
You can fool yourself and everyone
else but you can't fool me. I know
who you are.
ROCKET
You don't know anything about me,
loser.
91
YONDU
I know everything about you. I know
you play like the meanest and the
hardest `cause you actually the
most scared of all.
ROCKET
Shut up.
YONDU
I know you steal batteries you
don't need and you push away anyone
who's willing to put up with you,
`cause just a little bit of love
reminds you how big and empty that
hole inside you actually is!
ROCKET
I said, shut up.
YONDU
I know the scientists what made you
never gave a rat's ass about you -
ROCKET
I'm serious, dude - !
YONDU
Just like my own damn parents, who
sold me, their own little baby,
into slavery! I know who you are,
boy, because you're me.
They stare at each other there, a mirror.
ROCKET
What kind of pair are we?
YONDU
The kind that's about to go fight a
planet I reckon.
ROCKET
All right, okay, that's - Wait.
Fight a what?
INT. DRAX'S SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT
Gamora, furious, BURSTS into the room. She sees Mantis
standing with Drax.
She RUNS to her, GRABBING HER by the neck --
92
DRAX
Hey!
And she SLAMS her against the wall.
GAMORA
Who are you people?! What is this
place?!
DRAX
(RE: NEBULA)
What is she doing here?
NEBULA
Just watching the fireworks.
DRAX
Gamora, let her go!
GAMORA
The bodies in the caverns, who are
they?!
MANTIS
You are scared.
Gamora, whose skin is touching Mantis, lets go of her neck,
terrified.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
The DIORAMAS all around Quill and Ego TRANSFORM into a map of
the universe. Quill stares in his cosmic reverie at the
PLANETS around him - thousands of them with pieces of EGO'S
LIFEFORM - GLOWING COSMIC PLANTS - buried within them.
EGO
I call it the Expansion. It is my
purpose. And now it's yours as
well.
QUILL
It's beautiful.
Quill stares up at a DIORAMA: Ego grabs handfuls of his own
body, engulfed in light, and plants the wriggling pieces on
various planets.
EGO
Over thousands of years I implanted
thousands of extensions of myself
on thousands of worlds.
93
In the DIORAMAS, the COSMIC PLANTS OVERGROW and COVER each of
the planets, like chocolate on a malt ball.
EGO (CONT'D)
I needed to fulfill life's one true
purpose: to grow and to spread,
covering all that exists, until
everything... is me.
INT. DRAX'S SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT
Gamora backs away, recovering.
GAMORA
What did she do to me?!
DRAX
She already told me everything.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
EGO
I only had one problem. A single
Celestial doesn't have enough power
for such an enterprise. But two
Celestials - well now, that just
might do.
INT. DRAX'S SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT
MANTIS
The bodies are his children.
Gamora is horrified.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
On the DIORAMAS we see Ego with hundreds of species of female
aliens.
EGO
Out of all my labors the most
beguiling was attempting to graft
my DNA with that of another
species. I hoped the result of such
a coupling would be enough to power
the expansion.
INT. ECLECTOR HALLWAY - NIGHT
Yondu and Rocket walk here.
94
EGO (O.S.)
I had Yondu deliver some of them to
me. It broke the Ravager code - but
I compensated him generously. And,
to ease his conscience, I told him
I would never hurt them.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
EGO
That was true. They never felt a
thing. But, one after the other,
they failed me. None of them had
the Celestial genes. Until you,
Peter. Out of all my spawn, only
you have carried the connection to
the light.
Peter smiles, an enchanted idiot, the cosmos in his eyes.
INT. DRAX'S SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT
GAMORA
We need to find Peter now and get
off this damn planet.
MANTIS
Ego will have won him to his side
by now. He has a way of -
NEBULA
Then we just go.
GAMORA
No. He's our friend.
NEBULA
All any of you do is yell at each
other. You're not friends.
DRAX
You're right. We're family.
We leave no one behind.
(TO NEBULA)
Except maybe you.
NEBULA
Oh my god.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
EGO
For the first time in my life, I am
truly not alone.
95
Quill suddenly looks sad.
EGO (CONT'D)
What is it, son?
QUILL
My friends.
EGO
That's the mortal in you, Peter.
QUILL
Yes. I don't need that.
EGO
What are we?
QUILL
Forever.
EGO
What are they?
QUILL
Temporary.
EGO
You think you love them. But love
is merely an evolutionary trick in
the service of reproduction. We are
beyond such things.
QUILL
Yes.
EGO
NOW -
QUILL
But my mother.
Ego looks at him, questioningly.
QUILL (CONT'D)
You said you loved my mother.
EGO
That I did. My river lily, who knew
the words to every song that came
on the radio. I returned to earth
to see her three times. I knew if I
came back a fourth, I'd never
leave.
(MORE)
96
EGO (CONT'D)
The expansion, the reason for my
very existence would be over. So I
did what I had to do. But it broke
my heart to put that tumor in her
head.
QUILL
Wh- what?
ZOLLY IN ON QUILL as the cosmos disappear from his eyes.
Tears stream down his face.
EGO
I know that sounds bad -
QUILL PULLS OUT HIS PISTOLS AND FIRES; THE BLAST TEARS
THROUGH EGO, DISPERSING the MOLECULES forming his body.
Quill SHOOTS at him AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN. The flesh
disappears from Ego like bites from a cookie, exposing the
angry alien skeletal form beneath.
But, as the charge on Peter's blasters wears out, Ego just
looks at him, and, although he's filled with holes, he's
merely disappointed.
EGO (CONT'D)
Who in the hell do you think you
are?
QUILL
You killed my mother!
EGO TRANSFORMS into DAVID HASSELHOFF.
EGO
I tried so hard to find the form
that best suited you, and this is
the thanks I get?
And then, once again, BECOMES HIS USUAL FORM.
EGO (CONT'D)
You really need to grow up.
A SPIKY COSMIC LIGHT-PROPELLED TENDRIL SHOOTS UP from the
floor behind Quill, and JUTS into Quill's body.
Quill is THRUST INTO THE AIR. He opens his mouth to SCREAM
and WHITE LIGHT EMITS.
97
EGO (CONT'D)
I wanted to do this together! But I
suppose you'll have to learn by
spending the next thousand years as
a battery, `Star-Lord'.
INT. DRAX'S SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT
THROUGH THE WINDOW to the PALACE - PAN TO Gamora watching as
her TRANSMITTER - the one she was trying to contact Rocket on
- BEEPS. She answers.
GAMORA
Rocket?!
Gamora follows Drax, Nebula, and a confused Mantis as they
move out.
INT. LASER DRILL - OUTER SPACE
Rocket, Yondu, and Groot are CRAWLING into a huge LASER
DRILL.
ROCKET
Keep that transmitter nearby so I
can find you. We're in an old piece
of construction equipment Yondu
once used to slice open the Bank of
A'askavaria.
GAMORA (O.S.)
Ego's unhinged -
ROCKET
I know. Get ready.
YONDU
Drop it, Kraglin!
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Kraglin YANKS a lever.
I/E. LASER DRILL - OUTER SPACE
An ugly, bulbous and uneven craft PLOPS from the Quadrant,
and heads toward Ego's surface.
ROCKET
I got a plan.
YONDU
What is it?
98
ROCKET
It's pretty simple.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
Ego walks calmly up beside the trapped Quill. He snatches the
Walkman off of him. He stares at it. Quill can barely speak.
QUILL
NO.
EGO PRESSES PLAY. A distorted version of "Brandy" plays. He
stares at it - perhaps he's feeling wistful sadness, or
perhaps nothing at all.
`Brandy, you're a fine girl. What a good wife you would be.'
EGO
`My life, my love, my lady is the
sea'? Peter, THIS IS THE SEA.
EGO CRUSHES THE WALKMAN IN HIS GRIP as Quill watches
helplessly.
The POWER SURGES from Quill through the TENTACLE and
throughout the entire PALACE --
EXT. PALACE - NIGHT
As Gamora, Mantis, Drax, and Nebula run toward the Palace it
BURSTS WITH COSMIC LIGHT, so brightly they have to protect
their eyes.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
EGO basks in the power and we TRAVEL down his legs --
INT. RED PLANET/SELF CHAMBER - NIGHT
We FOLLOW THE ENERGY THROUGH THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET --
THROUGH THE TWISTING VEINS OF LIGHT BENEATH --
And INTO an ENORMOUS, METAL ORB, the SELF CHAMBER, which
EXPLODES WITH LIGHT.
Boom.
EARTH - EXT. WOODS BEHIND DAIRY QUEEN - MOMENTS LATER
We PUSH INTO the small plant - now a bit larger - that Ego
planted at the very beginning of the film.
It LIGHTS UP and GROWS, INSTANTLY BURSTING UPWARDS -
99
EARTH - EXT. DQ - MOMENTS LATER
The PLANT BURSTS UP BEHIND the Dairy Queen (now a modern DQ),
a huge ORGANIC, BLOB-LIKE MASS OF LIGHT that comes down
instantly on the building, CRUSHING it and everyone inside --
AND CONTINUING TO SPILL FORWARD, SPREADING.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
EGO SUMMONS all his energy, when, SUDDENLY, a DOOR beside him
SMASHES APART.
Drax has kicked through it and Gamora, Nebula and Mantis are
with him. Ego turns to see them, then hears a RUMBLING above
him.
He turns to look at a window on the palace wall behind him.
AND THE GIANT LASER DRILL COMES SMASHING THROUGH THE PALACE
WALL.
YONDU
Hey there, Jackass.
Ego looks surprised.
The LASER DRILL lands on Ego, SQUASHING HIM.
The tendril retracts from Quill as he falls and heaves for
breath.
EARTH - EXT. STREET - DAY
The cosmic plant, barreling down the street, suddenly STOPS.
INT. PALACE/LASER DRILL - SUNRISE
Drax, Gamora, Nebula, and Mantis rush into the crumbling
palace.
The door on the side of the Laser Drill SLIDES OPEN. Baby
Groot is standing there, smiling, and waving.
DRAX
Out of the way, dumber, smaller
Groot.
As Drax crawls in, Groot starts PUNCHING Drax as hard as he
can. Probably because he called him dumb, but who's to say.
Gamora helps up Quill.
100
GAMORA
I told you something didn't feel
right.
QUILL
`I told you so.' That's really what
I need right now.
GAMORA
I came back, didn't I?
QUILL
Because there's an unspoken thing.
GAMORA
There is no unspoken thing.
INT. LASER DRILL - NIGHT
Drax, Mantis, Gamora, and Quill step inside the door.
DRAX
What are you doing? You could have
killed us all crashing in here like
that!
ROCKET
Uh, `Thank you, Rocket'?
DRAX
We had it under control.
MANTIS
We did not. That is only an
extension of his true self. He will
be back soon.
QUILL
(RE: NEBULA)
What's Smurfette doing here!?
NEBULA
Back rubs, dishes, killing gods,
whatever I need to do to get a damn
ride home.
ROCKET
She tried to murder me!
NEBULA
I saved you, you stupid fox.
GAMORA
He's not a fox.
101
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
I'm not a raboon either!
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
`Raccoon,' whatever!
Drax looks out the window.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
TENTACLE-LIKE STRANDS BURST UP through the palace flooring
all around the drill.
INT. PALACE - NIGHT
Drax turns to the others.
DRAX
How do we kill a Celestial?
QUILL
There's the center to him - his
brain, his soul, whatever it is, in
some sort of shell --
MANTIS
It's in the caverns below the
surface.
Quill climbs up the ladder to see -
QUILL
YONDU?
Nebula looks at Gamora.
NEBULA
If he's got that fin back, I am so
screwed.
I/E. PALACE - SUNRISE
Yondu THRUSTS the ship upward for takeoff. But TENTACLES
wrap around the ship --
And YANK IT BACK DOWN into the floor, destroying the
foundation of the palce.
102
THE ENTIRE PALACE SLOPES.
INT. LASER DRILL - SUNRISE
Everyone FALLS forward.
YONDU
Thrusters are out!
Quill starts rewiring the mechanics.
QUILL
I guess I should be glad I was a
skinny kid. Otherwise you would
have delivered me to this maniac!
YONDU
You still reckon that's the reason
I kept you around, you idiot?!
QUILL
That's what you told me, you old
doofus!
YONDU
Once I figured out what happened to
them other kids, I wasn't gonna
just hand you over.
QUILL
You said you were gonna eat me!
YONDU
That was being funny!
QUILL
Not to me!!
ROCKET
You people have issues.
Quill sees THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD where EGO'S CREEPY SKELETAL
is GROWING IN FRONT OF THEM.
QUILL
Of course I have issues that's my
fricking father!!... Thrusters are
back up.
Quill thrusts the ship FORWARD instead of up.
It CRASHES through Ego and DOWN THE SLOPING FLOOR --
And OUT THROUGH the giant pane of glass at the end.
103
I/E. LASER DRILL/CRACK IN THE PLANET - SUNRISE
Everyone holds on in what's essentially the worst roller
coaster drop ever.
YONDU
We should be going up!
QUILL
We can't. Ego wants to eradicate
the universe as we know it. We have
to kill him.
They PLUMMET toward a fissure in the earth below. It's too
small for the ship.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Rocket!
ROCKET
Got it.
Rocket BLASTS the lasers perfectly, CHIPPING AWAY PIECES of
rock, forming an opening in the crack.
They SMASH into the opening, barely fitting, leading down
into the planet.
Quill flies perfectly, TWISTING through tunnels and around
corners.
Rocket mans the lasers, BLASTING PIECES OUT OF PLACE just in
time so they can SCRAPE through.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
So, we're saving the galaxy again?
QUILL
I guess.
ROCKET
Awesome. We'll really be able to
jack up our prices if we're two-
time-galaxy savers.
QUILL
I seriously can't believe that is
where your mind goes.
ROCKET
It was just a random thought, man!
I thought we were friends!
(MORE)
104
ROCKET (CONT'D)
Of course I care about the planets,
and the buildings, and all of the
animals on the planets.
QUILL
And the people.
ROCKET
Meh.
Mantis GIGGLES.
MANTIS
The crabby puppy is so cute he
makes me want to die!
DRAX
Your suicidal thoughts sadden me,
but your wish will likely come
true.
I/E. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
MEANWHILE, Kraglin is mellowly hanging out, eating some soup
and listening to "WHAM BAM" BY SILVER as he sees something
out in the distance of space. He looks a bit closer.
SOVEREIGN OMNICRAFT ARE POPPING THROUGH JUMP POINTS ABOVE
EGO'S PLANET.
EXT. AYESHA'S SPACECRAFT - OUTER SPACE
AYESHA is remotely piloting one of the ships. She looks
determined and angry on the vid-screen.
And, one by one, Sovereign OMNICRAFT POP IN all around her,
until there is a large fleet.
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
Ayesha, in full pilot gear, yells into her comm.
AYESHA
Pilots, release envoy units!
EXT. AYESHA'S SPACECRAFT - OUTER SPACE
Smaller, more nimble robotic ENVOYS, like big pods with
blasters for arms - detach from the front of every Omnicraft.
AYESHA
Our sensors detect the batteries
are below the surface of the
planet.
105
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
AYESHA
Dive!
OVERHEAD SHOT: On the screens in all the pods, the envoys
DIVE toward the planet from slightly different directions.
I/E. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Kraglin, in shock, watches the massive fleet of envoys diving
downward. He grabs the comm.
KRAGLIN
Uhh... Cap'n?
No answer.
KRAGLIN (CONT'D)
Cap'n?
INT. LASER DRILL/CRACK IN THE PLANET - SUNRISE
Yondu doesn't hear the CRACKLING SPEAKER beside him as they
maneuver down through the fissure. Quill eyes him.
YONDU
So why'd Ego want you here?
QUILL
He needs my genetic connection to
the light to help destroy the
universe. He tried to teach me how
to control the power.
YONDU
So could you?
QUILL
A little. I made a ball.
YONDU
A ball?
QUILL
I thought as hard as a could,
that's all I could come up with.
YONDU
You `thought'?
Quill nods.
106
YONDU (CONT'D)
You think when I make this arrow
fly I use my head?
QUILL
What do you use?
They look at each other instead of where they're going, and
the CRASH into an overhanging piece of rock.
The entire side door is RIPPED OFF.
As the SCREECH through a smaller space and into --
INT. PLANET'S HOLLOW/LASER DRILL - DAY
The Laser Drill DROPS into this enormous open space within
the planet.
The Guardians gather on the side of the ship open to the
hollow, gazing out at its stunning beauty, lit by Ego's white
glow running throughout it.
GAMORA
Whoa.
Mantis turns, looking through the portholes on the other
side.
MANTIS
There! Thats Ego's core.
Mantis points at the Self Chamber, down below them. They
twist down towards it.
GAMORA
That ore's thick. Rocket, we're
gonna need to use the big laser.
Rocket nods, FLICKS switches.
All the small lasers on the sides move through grooves to
combine into one huge laser in the center of the ship: the
MEGA-LASER.
MANTIS
We must hurry. It will not take Ego
long to find us.
ROCKET
Keep it still!
107
Quill steadies the craft as best he can beside the Self
Chamber. But it's an unwieldy beast, built for power, not
precision.
Rocket powers up the mega-laser and holds tight to the
SHUDDERING CONTROLS as it DRILLS, BURNING a HOLE into the
protective sheathe. It melts and drips down.
QUILL
We drill into the center, we kill
him.
Quill holds tight to the steering wheel. Yondu notices the
BLINKING LIGHT on the comm. He taps it.
YONDU
What is it, Kraglin?
KRAGLIN (O.S.)
Um, remember that Ayesha chick?
YONDU
Yeah, why?
Yondu looks out the window where AYESHA'S SQUADRON is
SWOOPING OUT OF the cracks in the ceiling all around them.
YONDU (CONT'D)
Aw, hell.
Quill PULLS AWAY from the envoys.
But the Sovereign envoys start BLASTING AT THE CRAFT all at
once; the LASER LOSES POWER and the VEHICLE TURNS SIDEWAYS -
Drax, Mantis, and Gamora GO TUMBLING from the hole in the
side. Nebula and Groot grab onto the floor.
INT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Gamora, Drax, and Mantis FALL from an incredible height. They
LAND - ONE, TWO, THREE - WITH APLOMB.
Gamora looks up and sees the Laser Drill CURL behind the Self
Chamber as it tries to avoid the envoys' BLASTERS.
INT. SELF CHAMBER/LASER DRILL - DAY
Nebula and Groot settle as the ship rights itself and BLASTS
PIERCE the ship around them.
Quill peers down at Rocket, who has jumped out of his seat
and is pouring out the contents of his satchel.
108
QUILL
Why aren't you firing the laser?!
ROCKET
They blew out the generator!
I think I packed a small detonator.
NEBULA
A detonator is worthless without
explosives!
ROCKET
We got these!
Rocket shows Nebula the Anulax batteries.
Quill leaves the controls to Yondu as he CLIMBS down beside
Rocket, now messing with wiring on his BOMB.
QUILL
Is it strong enough to kill Ego?
ROCKET
If it is, it will cause a chain
reaction throughout his entire
nervous system.
QUILL
Meaning what?
ROCKET
The entire planet will explode.
We'll have to get out of here fast.
I rigged a timer.
Rocket stuffs the bomb back in his satchel. Groot climbs on
his back.
Rocket and Quill slap on their AERO RIGS.
QUILL
Go!
The run and jump out of the laser drill, FLYING ON THEIR AERO
RIGS, avoiding the GUNFIRE.
The ZOOM towards the blast hole on the side of the self
chamber.
INT. OPENING OF BLAST HOLE - DAY
Rocket and Quill land here, messily, TUMBLING.
109
INT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Mantis is worried about something else entirely; the entire
chasm begins TREMBLING and the walls start to MUTATE.
MANTIS
He's coming.
DRAX
Didn't you say you could make him
sleep?
MANTIS
When he wants! He's too powerful! I
can't!
DRAX
You don't have to believe in
yourself because I believe in you.
They look ahead. They see, on the enormous wall in front of
them, the LIGHT-FORM of a giant EGO SCREAMING ANGRILY.
His SCREAM becomes a TUNNEL OF ROCKS RUSHING TOWARDS THEM
like a train.
Mantis sees a nerve bundle on the ground coming from Ego's
Core. Although afraid, she grabs it.
MANTIS
SLEEP!
She SCREAMS with effort and some pain as energy travels
through the bundle and into the core, where it darkens.
The LIGHT LEAVES THE ROCK FORMATION and it SLAMS into the
ground in front of them, SPLASHING DIRT OVER THEM.
But they are safe, shivering. Drax and Gamora look at each
other.
DRAX
I never thought she'd be able to do
it. With as skinny and weak as she
appears to be.
Mantis's arm is TREMBLING.
MANTIS
I don't know how long I can hold
him!
110
GAMORA
You need to, girl. If you don't
keep Ego at bay, we all die.
INT. OPENING OF BLAST HOLE - DAY
Rocket shines a powerful PEN-LIGHT inside the cavity,
exposing the interior, spattered with Swiss-cheese-like holes
glowing with light.
ROCKET
The metal is too thick! For the
bomb to work we'd actually need to
place it on Ego's core. And our
fat butts ain't gonna fit through
those tiny holes.
QUILL
Well...
Quill slowly eyes Groot, who is playing with a leaf on his
arm and thinking about something else entirely.
ROCKET
That's a terrible idea.
QUILL
Which is the only kind of idea we
got left.
Rocket SIGHS. He puts Groot on his back and MOVES with Groot
deeper into the blast hole, mumbling to himself:
ROCKET
Unbelievable. `Rocket, do this.
Rocket, do that.'
Quill turns toward the opening. PUSH UP AND IN ON QUILL.
QUILL
Uh, what a day.
He jumps out into the fray.
INT. PLANET'S HOLLOW - DAY
Quill FLIES UP as a ship FLIES in toward him BLASTING, and
he's about to fire back. MAN VS. SPACESHIP. This is most
likely the beginning of the biggest, baddest fight scene
ever, but instead we CUT TO -
111
INT. INSIDE BLAST HOLE - DAY
Quiet. Blasts in the deep background. Rocket places a tiny
bomb in front of Groot. It is a small, simple device with
two switches and two buttons. He explains, very carefully:
ROCKET
All right. First you flick this
switch, then this switch. That
activates it. And then you push
this button, which will give you
five minutes to get out of there.
Whatever you do don't push this
button, because that will set off
the bomb immediately, and we'll all
be dead. Now repeat back what I
just said.
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
Uh huh.
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
That's right.
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
No! That's the button that will
kill everyone! Try again.
Groot thinks.
GROOT
I am Groot.
Rocket nods.
GROOT (CONT'D)
I am Groot.
Rocket nods.
GROOT (CONT'D)
I am Groot.
112
ROCKET
No! That's exactly what you just
said! How is that even possible?!
Which button is the button you're
supposed to push?! Point to it.
Groot thinks. And he points to the one that will kill
everyone.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
NO!!!
QUILL (O.S.)
Hey, you're making him nervous!
Rocket runs to see, at the end of the hole, a sliver of the
outside as Quill peeks in while SHOOTING at envoys.
ROCKET
Shut up! And give me some tape!
Does anyone have any tape out
there!? I want to put some tape
over the death button!
QUILL
I don't have any tape. Let me
check.
Quill disappears from the hole. As Rocket waits, he hears,
amongst the chaos, faintly -
QUILL (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Yo, Yondu, do you have any - ow! -
do you have any tape?!
O.S. GUN BLASTS.
We hear VOICES GRUMBLING.
Rocket and Groot look around, waiting. Rocket is impatient.
He coughs. Groot is like a bored kid in a waiting room. He
shifts around and plays with the wires on the bomb.
Quill reappears outside the hole, SHOOTING an envoy.
QUILL (CONT'D)
No one has any tape.
ROCKET
Not a single person has tape?
113
QUILL
You have priceless batteries and an
atomic bomb in your bag! If anyone
had tape it would be you!
ROCKET
That's exactly my point! I have to
do everything!
QUILL
Dude, you're wasting time!
Rocket turns back to Groot, who has already taken the bomb
and is heading towards the hole.
He makes a "WHEEEEEE" sound and smiles brightly as he HOPS
into the hole and SLIDES down as if on a water slide.
Rocket, heavy-lidded, watches him go.
ROCKET
We're all gonna die.
INT. PLANET'S HOLLOW/LASER DRILL - DAY
Yondu and Nebula, in the cockpit, are being overcome as
blasts come through the walls.
YONDU
We're done for without the
generator.
Nebula MOANS, frustrated. She flips open a section of the
dashboard, then a part of her arm.
INT. PLANET'S HOLLOW/LASER DRILL - DAY
The remaining Sovereign envoys have ENCIRCLED the battered
Laser Drill, BLASTING IT TO BITS.
Quill FLIES into the Laser Drill, SLAMMING into the wall.
AYESHA (ON SHIP)
Guardians! Perhaps it will provide
you solace that your deaths are not
without purpose.
Nebula is feeding the wires from the craft into her
mechanical arm.
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
The actual Ayesha, fitted with the pilot gear, looks at the
Laser Drill on the screen.
114
AYESHA
They will serve as a warning to all
of those tempted with betraying us;
don't screw with the Sovereign.
INT. PLANET'S HOLLOW/LASER DRILL - DAY
Yondu works some switches: The LASERS slide back into the
slots all over the ship.
YONDU
This is gonna hurt.
NEBULA
Promises, promises.
Yondu flips ALL the switches; ALL THE POWER RUNS PAINFULLY
OUT OF NEBULA'S BODY INTO THE VEHICLE --
AND THE LASERS BEAM OUT OF THE SHIP IN ALL DIRECTIONS AT
ONCE, like a dangerous disco ball, slicing through almost
nearly every single ENVOY.
INT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
A BEAM ALMOST HITS Drax, but he LEAPS out of the way. Smoke
rises from a hole in the ground between him and Mantis.
DRAX
Hey!
INT. PLANET'S HOLLOW/LASER DRILL - DAY
With flair, Yondu spins the pilot's wheel, so that the whole
rig REVOLVES.
Ayesha looks on, in horror as the BEAMS SLICE THROUGH the
remaining CRAFT - and one is COMING HER WAY.
AYESHA (ON SHIP)
NO!!
AYESHA'S ENVOY IS RIPPED APART.
INT. SOVEREIGN PILOT BAY - DAY
Ayesha SITS BACK. She looks around her at the other pods: all
of them are down.
AYESHA
NO! NOOOOO!!
115
INT. PLANET'S HOLLOW/LASER DRILL - DAY
Quill sees FLAMING CHUNKS FLY into the rig...
And FIRE SPILLING toward the ship's engine, dripping fuel.
QUILL
We're gonna blow!
Yondu WHISTLES as the FLAMES HIT THE FUEL -
INT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Gamora watches as the ENTIRE LASER DRILL EXPLODES. She is
stricken.
GAMORA
Peter?
She sees a tiny body flying from the ship - it's Nebula, who
LANDS across from her on her feet.
Gamora looks at her, worried. Nebula gives her what might be
a little smile, and looks upward. Gamora follows her line of
sight.
Quill is FLYING FROM THE EXPLOSION on his aero-rig. Yondu is
holding onto a flying arrow: his one arm up straight, his
heels touching. Quill looks at him and SNICKERS.
YONDU
What?
QUILL
You look like Mary Poppins.
YONDU
Is he cool?
Quill looks at the man who raised him. He smiles.
QUILL
Yeah. He's cool.
Yondu looks out at the Guardians as he comes in for a
landing.
YONDU
I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!
Quill and Yondu LAND beside Nebula. Gamora sees Quill and
MARCHES TOWARD HIM.
116
The CAMERA CIRCLES GAMORA AND QUILL, FIERY SHIP FRAGMENTS
RAINING DOWN AROUND THEM IN SLOW-MOTION, as if this is the
greatest heavy metal video of all time.
The other Guardians enter, one by one - Nebula, Drax, Yondu,
Rocket FLYING DOWN on his aero-rig, and finally, Mantis,
staring forward with concentration until --
A HUGE CHUNK OF SPACESHIP FLIES IN FROM THE SIDE, FLATTENING
MANTIS. The others all look down at her in shock.
QUILL
Oh. Wow.
Mantis, UNCONSCIOUS BENEATH a ship fragment, has lost hold of
Ego.
THE ENTIRE HOLLOW AROUND THEM BEGINS TO RUMBLE. THE GROUND
AND WALLS THEMSELVES SHIFT and WAVER.
The whole cavity is alive. Drax checks on Mantis.
DRAX
She's just unconscious.
INT. SELF CHAMBER TUNNELS - DAY
Groot RUNS and HOPS through the tunnels. He comes to a
crossroads.
He sees a COSMIC LIGHT emanating from one tunnel. He dashes
off toward it.
INT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
QUILL
How long before the bomb goes off?
ROCKET
In the unlikely event Groot doesn't
kill us all, about six minutes.
Yondu speaks into the comm on his lapel.
YONDU
Kraglin.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - DAY
Kraglin, NODDING OUT, abruptly wakes.
YONDU (O.S.)
We need the Quadrant for extraction
in T-minus five minutes.
117
KRAGLIN
Aye, Cap'n!
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Our heroes peer up to see the SURFACE OF THE PLANET UNFOLDING
ABOVE THEM, so that THE BRIGHT SKY SHINES THROUGH.
QUILL
Someone needs to be up top when
Kraglin arrives. Drax, take Mantis.
Drax nods. He picks up Mantis. Quill grabs the aero-rig off
himself and SLAPS it on Drax's back, which AUTOMATICALLY
WRAPS around his upper body.
DRAX
Ahhh! My nipples!
He FLIES UPWARD.
The ground around them SPLITS INTO ENORMOUS CRACKS. Gamora
sees a CRACK IN THE EARTH RUSHING TOWARD her and Quill, and
she turns toward him.
And Gamora's side CRUMBLES AWAY, GAMORA FALLING DOWN with it.
QUILL
Gamora!!
HUGE BURSTS OF EARTH SHOOT UP all around Drax, Yondu, Rocket,
and Quill.
The planet has formed GIANT TENTACLES THAT HURTLE towards our
heroes.
EXT. LOWER RIFT - DAY
Gamora is PLUMMETING, seemingly to her death, when she looks
over and sees Nebula FALLING just behind her.
Nebula grabs Gamora's arm and then grabs onto a passing
cliff.
They SNAP TO A STOP- OW! - hanging down off the side.
Nebula tosses Gamora up onto a flat surface.
As Nebula climbs up after her, Gamora looks at her, wary but
surprised by this beneficence.
NEBULA
Oh, get over it.
118
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Quill BLASTS a tentacle.
Yondu WHISTLES, the ARROW WEAVING THROUGH TENTACLES around
them.
Rocket TOSSES a bunch of tiny bombs at some, which they stick
to and EXPLODE.
But they are by no means winning this fight.
EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY
The giant Quadrant LOWERS toward the surface.
EXT. LOWER RIFT - DAY
Gamora looks at Nebula.
GAMORA
We have to get up to the extraction
point!
They look over the edge and see a huge RIFT OF LAND RISING
QUICKLY. They look at each other and JUMP -
They GRAB ONTO THE EDGE of the rising rift, CLUTCHING TO IT
as it FLIES upward toward the open space above them.
EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY
Drax FLIES UP onto the surface; he sees the Quadrant waiting
for him there. He DARTS for the ship.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - DAY
Kraglin opens the LOADING DOOR
EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY
But huge swatches of the planet reach up and GRAB onto the
Quadrant, YANKING IT DOWN.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - DAY
Kraglin, freaking out, throws the thrusters into high gear.
I/E. PLANET SURFACE/QUADRANT LOADING BAY - DAY
The thrusters FLARE as the massive ship STRUGGLES to free
itself from Ego's tendrils.
119
And it does PULL ITSELF UP for a moment, but the tendrils
tighten, SLAMMING it back down.
The whole Quadrant starts to TIP OVER. Kraglin falls down
against the side of the ship.
Drax sees the ship FALLING TOWARDS HIM and he RUNS away from
it in fear.
But he arrives a the edge of a cliff. He crouches as the
ship CONTINUES DOWN toward him, about to SQUASH both he and
MANTIS --
But Kraglin heroically CRAWLS his way back up to the controls
as he dangles from them. He pushes on the thrusters, so that
the ship goes back upright.
Drax turns and again RUNS toward the Quadrant.
EXT. PLANET'S HOLLOW - DAY
Gamora and Nebula are still rising on the rift when they SLAM
into a wall near the opening in the surface of the planet.
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Quill turns and sees Ego, in his terrifying SKELETAL LIGHT
FORM, STROLLING DOWN TOWARDS HIM as the land around him PARTS
LIKE THE RED SEA.
As Ego walks, THE DIRT AND MOLECULES AROUND EGO FORM ORGANS
IN HIS BODY, piecing himself back together.
Quill sees a tentacle SLAM Yondu to the ground and COVER HIS
ENTIRE BODY.
He turns to see Rocket HOLLERING as he FIRES at tentacles,
but they OVERWHELM him.
EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY
The earth WRAPS AROUND Drax's legs like quicksand, pulling
him and Mantis down into it.
EXT. PLANET'S HOLLOW - DAY
Gamora and Nebula scramble, trying to CLIMB BACK UP, when
TENDRILS WRAP AROUND THEM, stopping them from going further.
INT. SELF CHAMBER TUNNELS - DAY
The walls are tightening around Groot. He grows his branches
to try to stop them, but they aren't working.
120
He begins to CRY, like an actual baby, terrified, on the
brink of suffocating.
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Ego approaches his son. He is fully formed, and he is more
truly "himself." Alien. Dark eyes and pale skin.
EGO
I told you I don't want to do this
alone.
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
EGO
You cannot deny the purpose the
universe has bestowed upon you!
And once again, the LIGHT TENDRILS STAB THROUGH QUILL'S BACK,
thrusting him to his knees.
Smaller light tendrils stab into his face and body.
And we see the LIGHT being sucked out of Quill and up into
the Self Chamber once more as it BURSTS WITH LIGHT.
EARTH - EXT. STREET - DAY
POLICE OFFICERS and bystanders are in the streets, snapping
phone photos, etc, beside the HUGE, STILL SWATCH OF EGO'S
LIFEFORM.
OFFICER FITZGIBBON
Please, everyone. Step back. I need
you all to clear the -
WEIRD OLD MAN
What is that?
The LIFEFORM ALIGHTS WITH ENERGY and MOVES again, SPILLING
INCREDIBLY QUICKLY towards them.
People abandon their cars in traffic as it RUNS OVER THEM.
A WOMAN FALLS. People TRAMPLE around her.
But an old man's hands reach in, helping her up.
REVEAL GRANDPA QUILL, in his 70's or 80's now.
GRANDPA QUILL
Come on, ma'am.
He HELPS the woman into an SUV.
121
He SLAMS on the gas, SCREECHING AWAY from the enormous tidal
wave of organic light.
XANDAR - I/E. STARBLASTER/CITY - DAY
EGO'S LIFEFORM smashes down the PARK WALLS and into the
street.
EGO
(O.S)
It doesn't need to be like this
PETER
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Ego approaches his son.
EGO
Why are you destroying our chance?!
AAKON - EXT. AAKON CITY - NIGHT
AAKONS run from a giant wave behind them.
EGO
(O.S)
Stop pretending you aren't, what
you are!
KREE HOMEWORLD - EXT. STEEP HILLSIDE - DAY
KREE MONKS run from the cosmic flesh as it pours down the
hillside behind them.
But it's too fast, RUSHING OVER THEM.
PRIMITIVE PLANET - EXT. WETLANDS - DAY
THOUSANDS OF ORLONI are darting in fear across this dusty
desert, as it WASHES OVER them.
EGO
(O.S)
One in billions..
ARAGO-7 - EXT. STONY LANDSCAPE - DAY
THREE HURCTARIANS run, SCREAMING.
EGO
(O.S)
Trillions, even more!
122
EASIK - EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
AN EASIK MOTHER clutches her BABY, covering it with her own
body, as the spreading lifeform LOOMS UP behind her.
She closes her eyes and waits for the worst.
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Quill looks up at Ego, barely able to focus, as the molecules
form skin over the muscle and skeleton and innards beneath.
EGO
What greater meaning could life
possibly have to offer?!
Yondu struggles beneath the tentacle beside Quill.
YONDU
I don't use my head to fly the
arrow, boy! I use my h -
Quill hears this as the earth COVERS Yondu's face.
Quill LOOKS INWARD. And suddenly, everything becomes...
QUIET.
Tears come to Peter Quill's eyes as he remember those around
him and what they mean to him. And we see his MEMORIES.
- YOUNG PETER QUILL AND HIS MOTHER CUDDLED AND LISTENING TO
MUSIC ON THE WALKMAN TOGETHER, EACH WITH ONE EAR PIECE.
- QUILL AND DRAX LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY ON THE MILANO.
- GAMORA AND PETER LOOKING INTO EACH OTHER'S EYES AND DANCING
ON KNOWHERE.
- QUILL AND ROCKET FLYING THROUGH THE SKY ON AERO-RIGS FOR
THE FIRST TIME, SMILING AS THE AIR RUSHES THROUGH THEIR HAIR.
BABY GROOT CLUTCHES HAPPILY ONTO QUILL'S BACK.
- YONDU AND YOUNG QUILL IN THE FOREST. YONDU'S ARM IS ON
PETER'S ARM AS HE TEACHES HIM HOW TO SHOOT.
Quill looks back up at Ego as we HEAR the gentle chords of
FLEETWOOD MAC'S "THE CHAIN" starts echoing throughout the
hollow.
He clutches his fist and we see the light growing within it.
123
Bits of earth begin to ROLL UP AND SCRAMBLE AND SWIRL around
Quill's body, his arms, his legs, as if he's pulling them
towards himself with magnets.
And Ego looks confused, as the GROUND QUAKES AROUND HIM.
Quill glares at his father, his voice distorting with
Celestial thunder.
QUILL
You shouldn't have killed my mom
and squished my walkman.
Ahd a SOLID TORNADO OF EARTH PROPELS QUILL FORWARD. Ego
tries to protect himself as Quill SLAMS into him, FLYING
UPWARDS WITH HIM --
Quill raises his fist, NOW A GIANT CLUB. And he SMASHES Ego.
As Ego loses his concentration --
EXT. PLANET'S SURFACE - DAY
A pair of arms are protruding from the surface of the planet,
still holding Mantis aloft.
The earth falls away, and Drax, who was entirely covered,
heaves for breath.
EXT. CRACK IN PLANET - DAY
The TENDRILS FALL, freeing Gamora and Nebula as they GASP.
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Yondu BREAKS THROUGH THE ROCKS around him, drawing in breath.
The TENTACLES HOLDING ROCKET ALOFT CRUMBLE, and he looks
around, confused.
EARTH - EXT. ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI - DAY
The WAVE PUSHES UP against the back of Grandpa Quill's CAMARO
and suddenly STOPS:
the mountainous plant, a hundred stories high, is up against
the back of the car.
EASIK - EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
The Easik Mother clutching her baby looks behind her; the
wave has stopped.
She clutches her baby to her chest, relieved.
124
INT. SELF CHAMBER TUNNELS - DAY
The tunnel around Groot SNAPS BACK to what it was. Once more
he can see the light at the tunnel's end, and one looks like
a GIANT BRAIN composed of prismatic light.
He RUNS forward.
INT. INSIDE BLAST HOLE - DAY
Rocket flies up and yells at Groot.
ROCKET
Groot! Groot, if you can can hear
me, hurry up - I'm not sure how
long Quill can keep him distracted!
INT. SELF CHAMBER CORE - DAY
Groot ARRIVES at the end of the tunnel, and stops there.
The center of the core holds a huge cosmic placenta, and,
within that, EGO'S TRUE SELF, the COSMIC BRAIN. It ROILS
FURIOUSLY, the reflection of its fight with Quill, thrashing
around within this womb.
Although afraid, Groot places the bomb on the placenta.
Groot stares at both buttons, scared - he doesn't know which
one to pick.
Groot makes a decision on which button to press. He goes to
push the death button.
Then his finger STOPS just millimeters from the button,
TREMBLING. He thinks...
And then changes the course of his finger, PUSHING THE
CORRECT BUTTON.
THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK COMMENCES.
Baby Groot turns, terrified, and RUNS.
I/E. PLANET SURFACE/QUADRANT LOADING BAY - DAY
Drax moves with Mantis into the loading bay. He throws her
down and climbs up a ladder.
THE CAMERA SWINGS TO GAMORA AND NEBULA, climbing up to the
surface in the dirt storm.
125
INT. PLANETS HOLLOW - DAY
Ego RISES on his own MOLECULAR TORNADO and STRIKES BACK at
Quill. He YELLS as he SLAMS Quill against the wall, DRAGGING
his face along the wall.
He TOSSES Quill into a another wall.
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER/PLANET'S HOLLOW - DAY
QUILL brings his ARM FILLED WITH LIGHT away from the wall, so
that he causes a WAVE OF LIGHT AND ROCK around the interior
of the hollow, FLYING TO EGO and knocking him aside.
Yondu protects his face as DIRT SWIRLS in the wake of the
Quill/Ego battle.
Rocket, carrying Groot, FLIES BACK DOWN beside him.
ROCKET
Yondu! We're about to blow!
YONDU
Get to the ship.
ROCKET
Not without Quill.
YONDU
You gotta take care of the twig.
ROCKET
Not without you.
YONDU
I ain't done nothing right my whole
damn life, rat. You need to give me
this.
Rocket, hesitantly, nods. He grabs some things from his bag.
He hands them to Yondu.
ROCKET
A space suit and an aero rig. I
only have one of each.
Yondu nods. Rocket nods too.
Rocket starts to go, but STOPS and looks at Yondu.
He wants to say something, but he doesn't know what. Baby
Groot does.
126
GROOT
I am Groot.
YONDU
What's that?
ROCKET
He says welcome to the frickin'
Guardians of the Galaxy... only he
didn't use `frickin'.
YONDU
Bye, twig.
Groot waves.
And Rocket FLIES UP toward the surface. Rocket mutters to
Groot.
ROCKET
We're gonna need to have a
discussion about your language.
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER/PLANET'S HOLLOW - DAY
Ego SLAMS Quill back against a wall. Ego pulls the huge rocks
away from the wall, FLYING THEM TOWARDS HIM and BATTERING HIM
THERE.
Ego and Quill FLY TOWARDS each other.
Ego uses the LIGHT TO BRING ROCKS TO HIS BODY, forming a
giant AVATAR OF HIMSELF.
Quill brings YELLOW ROCKS to his body, forming a GIANT PAC-
MAN.
Ego's form flies into Pac-Man's mouth, so hard there's a
SONIC BOOM.
They fall, TUMBLING, still striking one another on the way
down.
They LAND HARD.
INT. SELF CHAMBER CORE - DAY
The timer counts down. A minute left.
I/E. PLANET SURFACE/QUADRANT LOADING BAY - DAY
Gamora and Nebula are caring for Mantis as Rocket and Groot
ARRIVE.
127
GAMORA
Where's Peter?
Rocket doesn't answer. Or he can't answer.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
Rocket, where is he?!
Rocket looks down at a timer in his hand. The time is almost
there.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
Rocket?! Rocket, look at me! Where
is he?!
Rocket just shakes his head a little.
But Groot points sadly outside.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
I'm not leaving without him.
Gamora hardens. She stands and SNATCHES A RIFLE off the wall.
She COCKS IT.
She STARTS OUT the bay door --
When AN ELECTRICAL BLAST HITS HER from behind.
She FALLS OVER, unconscious, REVEALING Rocket with his gun.
ROCKET
I'm sorry. I can only afford to
lose one friend today.
(INTO COMM)
Kraglin, GO!
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - DAY
Drax looks uncertain as Kraglin presses thrust.
DRAX
Wait. Is Quill back?
(INTO COMM)
Rocket, where's Quill?!
I/E. PLANET SURFACE/QUADRANT LOADING BAY - DAY
Rocket looks sadly out the bay door as it CLOSES; Drax's
voice echoes on his comm.
DRAX (O.S.)
251 Where's Quill?! WHERE'S QUILL?! 251
128
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Quill and Ego are exhausted, on their knees and leaning
against one another like boxers after too many rounds.
INT. SELF CHAMBER CORE - DAY
The timer reads 00:26 seconds
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Ego reaches for the core..
EGO
No, we need to stop it!
Quill throws him to the ground. But Ego comes back up,
grasping his son's jacket, pleading with him now.
EGO (CONT'D)
Listen to me! You are a god! If you
kill me, you'll just be like
everyone else!
QUILL
What's so wrong with that?
Ego looks at his son, scared.
EGO
NO -
INT. SELF CHAMBER CORE - DAY
The countdown reaches zero. The brain EXPLODES.
I/E. EGO'S NERVOUS SYSTEM - DAY
The explosion causes the life forces to BURST THROUGH THE
ENTIRE PLANET.
EXT. BELOW SELF CHAMBER - DAY
Everything around Quill is EXPLODING.
He looks down at his hands, where the glow FADES and
DISAPPEARS.
He gazes up at the mammoth walls around him as they BLOW UP
and COLLAPSE.
He lowers at head, at peace with the death that's coming,
when, from the side, through the debris --
129
YONDU IS FLYING TOWARDS HIM ON AN AERO-RIG.
Yondu GRABS him, almost a tackle, really, LIFTING HIM up and
FLYING AWAY.
EXT. PLANET'S HOLLOW - DAY
As Yondu and Quill FLY UPWARD, the planet EXPLODES behind
them, flames licking their heels, huge stretches of the
planet caving in.
EXT. SKY - DAY
Yondu holds a surprised Quill as they SOAR up into the sky,
YONDU
He may have been your father, boy.
But he wasn't your daddy.
QUILL
What?
YONDU
I'm sorry I didn't do it right. I'm
damn lucky you're my boy.
Quill is touched.
Yondu SLAPS the SPACESUIT disk onto Quill; THE SHIMMERY
SHEATHE COVERS HIM.
QUILL
What?
Yondu breathes out as completely as he can, emptying his
lungs. And they EXIT THE PLANET'S ATMOSPHERE, bursting into -
EXT. SPACE - OUTER SPACE
Quill struggles to get free, but Yondu holds him there,
trapping him, but it is also an embrace. The ENTIRE PLANET is
COLLAPSING BEHIND THEM.
QUILL
Yondu, you can't! What are you
doing? What are you doing?!
Yondu's jet pack expires its supply of fuel, and they STOP
THERE, in space, FLOATING.
Yondu's grip weakens. Quill turns to face him.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Yondu. Yondu, no!
130
Yondu grabs his son's face with both hands, looking and
touching him with love.
QUILL (CONT'D)
No.
And Yondu's FACE EXPANDS and his BODY GOES LIMP as he DIES
there. And he starts to DRIFT AWAY. Quill grabs onto his
shirt. He is CRYING.
QUILL (CONT'D)
No!
And, suddenly, behind Quill, Rocket and Drax PROPEL
themselves toward him in aero-rigs, GRABBING him.
FADE TO BLACK
INT. ECLECTOR CREMATORY - LATER
Yondu's body lies on a plank here: Various colored cloths are
laid in strips over his body and face, yaro lilies beneath
him, red-fired pyres and Yondu's toys all around.
Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, Mantis, and Kraglin surround the
table. Quill is at the head. He has to say a few words. But
it is not easy.
QUILL
The other day I told Gamora how I
used to pretend my dad was David
Hasselhoff.
Rocket and Drax exchange a look.
QUILL (CONT'D)
He's a singer and actor from
earth... a really famous guy.
Drax nods.
QUILL (CONT'D)
And, you know, today it struck me.
Yondu didn't have a talking car,
but he did have a flying arrow.
And he didn't have the voice of an
angel, but he did have the whistle
of one. And both David Hasselhoff
and Yondu went on kickass
adventures, and hooked up with hot
women, and fought robots.
(MORE)
131
QUILL (CONT'D)
So, the thing is, David Hasselhoff
kinda did end up being my Dad after
all, only he was Yondu. I had a
pretty cool Dad.
Quill starts to break down.
QUILL (CONT'D)
And what I'm trying to say here is,
that thing you're searching for
your whole life, sometimes it's
right there by your side all along
and you don't even know it.
Gamora sees Nebula, watching from a darkened doorway, before
she turns and walks away. She moves after her.
Groot looks up at an upset Rocket.
GROOT
I am Groot?
ROCKET
Yeah. That's the friend I was
talking about.
GROOT
I am Groot.
ROCKET
He did call you `twig.'
INT. QUADRANT SMALL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Gamora catches up to Nebula in the hall.
GAMORA
Nebula.
Nebula turns toward her, but she doesn't look her in the eye.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
I was just a child. Like you. I was
concerned with staying alive until
the next day - every day. And I
never considered what Thanos was
doing to you. I am sorry.
Nebula nods.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
I'm trying to make it right,
everything I did.
(MORE)
132
GAMORA (CONT'D)
There are little girls like you
were - little boys - all over the
universe - who are in danger. You
can stay with us, and help them.
NEBULA
I'll help them by killing Thanos.
GAMORA
I don't know if that's possible.
Nebula shrugs: maybe. She turns to leave. But Gamora grabs
her, perhaps too roughly. Nebula turns, ready to snap.
And Gamora EMBRACES her. Nebula does not know how to react.
GAMORA (CONT'D)
You'll always be my sister.
Tears well in Nebula's eyes and, for just a moment, she
embraces her sister back with one hand...
Before pushing her away and leaving.
INT. ECLECTOR CREMATORY - MOMENTS LATER
The Guardians lift Yondu on the plank. A bulbous and rusty
crematory is at the center of the room. It doesn't burn with
fire, but a SWIRLING, VIBRANT COSMIC ENERGY.
They SLIDE YONDU IN as they watch with sadness and respect as
his body is enveloped by the sparkling colors. Quill closes
the door on the crematory.
As Quill moves away, Kraglin approaches.
KRAGLIN
Pete.
Quill turns toward him. He's holding something.
KRAGLIN (CONT'D)
Cap'n found this for you in a
junker shop. Said someday you'd
come back to the fold.
Kraglin puts an MP3 player in his hand.
KRAGLIN (CONT'D)
It's called a Zune - what everyone
listens to on earth nowadays. It's
got three hundred songs.
Quill nods, touched.
133
QUILL
Wait.
Quill holds out Yondu's arrow. Kraglin's lip trembles.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Rocket grabbed the pieces and
reassembled them. I think Yondu
would want you to have it.
KRAGLIN
Thank you... Cap'n.
EXT. QUADRANT - OUTER SPACE
Yondu's SPARKLING ASHES ARE BLOWN OUT IN SPURTS FROM THE
CREMATORY INTO SPACE.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Rocket, Drax, and Mantis are here, watching Yondu's ashes in
the vacuum of space, SWIRLING almost magically.
INT. CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - OUTER SPACE
Quill sits down on the bed in Yondu's quarters. He scrolls
through selections on the Zune.
He comes to "FATHER AND SON" by CAT STEVENS.
He PRESSES PLAY.
He listens. As he does, Groot crawls up onto the bed, and
then onto his lap.
Quill offers him one of the ear buds.
Groot holds it against his ear, amazed by the clarity of
sound. Quill watches him, hearing the beauty of the song more
through Groot's face than the music itself.
And they sit there together, listening to the music, a new
father and son.
INT. M-SHIP - OUTER SPACE
Nebula FLIES AWAY, sad, perhaps regretful, but forcing her
chin up to brace against what's to come.
INT. QUADRANT SMALL HALLWAY - OUTER SPACE
Gamora watches, THROUGH A WINDOW, as Nebula leaves.
134
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Rocket sees something by the ashes. His eyes alight.
ROCKET
They came.
INT. CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - OUTER SPACE
Groot sees COLORFUL FLASHING LIGHTS out of the window. He
pulls on Quill's shirt to show him.
They go to get a better view.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
Drax and Rocket see Yondu's COSMIC ASHES PULSING AND SWIRLING
out in space as, one by one, enormous RAVAGER SHIPS arrive
around them.
They each FLASH SPECIFIC LIGHT SEQUENCES - and, with all the
ships together - it looks like fireworks.
DRAX
What is it?
ROCKET
I sent word to Yondu's old Ravager
buddies and told them what he did.
Quill comes up behind them with Groot, just as Gamora enters.
Quill smiles.
QUILL
It's a Ravager funeral.
INT. HALLWAY - OUTER SPACE
Kraglin sees it from here. He SCREAMS with joy, and he slams
his fist twice against his chest, a Ravager salute.
I/E. RAVAGER FLIGHT DECK 1 - OUTER SPACE
STAKAR and Martinex watch him there, moved.
MARTINEX
He didn't let us down after all,
Cap'n.
STAKAR
No, he did not, son. He did not.
135
I/E. RAVAGER FLIGHT DECK 2 - OUTER SPACE
CHARLIE-27, an enormous man, is wistful as he salutes.
CHARLIE-27
Fare thee well, old friend.
I/E. RAVAGER FLIGHT DECK 3 - OUTER SPACE
ALETA is here, tears in her eyes, alcohol in her hand, an ALL-
FEMALE RAVAGER CREW around her.
ALETA
See you in the stars, Yondu Udonta.
INT. QUADRANT FLIGHT DECK - OUTER SPACE
And the Guardians all watch, enchanted by the majesty.
ROCKET
He didn't chase `em away.
QUILL
No.
ROCKET
Even though he yelled at `em.
Quill shakes his head.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
And was always mean.
Quill shakes his head.
ROCKET (CONT'D)
And he stole batteries he didn't
need.
Quill is surprised - what? And then he looks at Rocket, a
little animal who doesn't know the rules of how to be any
more than a young boy whose tribe sold him into slavery.
QUILL
Of course not.
Baby Groot is on Gamora's shoulder. He reaches for Drax, who
takes him. Baby Groot YAWNS and nuzzles into Drax's
shoulder, falling asleep. Drax lovingly pats his back.
Gamora looks at Drax and Groot, and Rocket, and Mantis,
taking it all in, this strange family of hers. She turns to
Quill, staring at him with love.
136
QUILL (CONT'D)
What?
GAMORA
It's just some unspoken thing.
Quill wraps his arm around her and she sinks into him.
Mantis smiles and becomes teary and GASPS, overwhelmed, as
she looks out the window.
MANTIS
It's beautiful.
DRAX
It is. And so are you.
(BEAT)
On the inside.
They turn back to the window and they stand there together,
our Guardians of the Galaxy, watching the Ravager funeral and
the colorful dust of an old friend dance.
And the shape of the dust seems to form something very close
to an ARROW.
Rocket sees this and he cries.
THE END (NOT REALLY)
RUN CREDITS.
"SURRENDER" BY CHEAP TRICK PLAYS.
CREDIT BREAK 1 - INT. ECLECTOR HALLWAY - OUTER SPACE
SURRENDER is PLAYING HERE. Kraglin has had a version of
Yondu's fin implanted in his head. He looks nervously down
at the arrow on the floor.
He tries to WHISTLE. It just flips around like a dead fish.
He WHISTLES again, and it FLIES UP, hitting a wall, and falls
back down again.
He WHISTLES again, and it ZIPS AWAY. We HEAR A SCREAM.
Kraglin looks around the corner where Drax is sitting, the
ARROW IMPALED in his chest, yelling in agony.
Kraglin looks around, hoping no one saw him there, and he
tries to slink away.
137
MORE CREDITS as SURRENDER CHORUS KICKS IN: Mommy's all right,
Daddy's all right, they just seem a little weird.
END CREDITS - INT. STAKAR'S SHIP - OUTER SPACE
Stakar looks sad, serious.
STAKAR
It's a shame it takes a tragedy
like losing Yondu to bring us all
back together. But I think he'd be
proud if he knew we were working as
a team again.
Over Stakar we see this incredibly motley crew - MARTINEX,
CHARLIE-27, ALETA, who is holding MAINFRAME (a robotic head
in a cage), and the mouthless, wormlike KRUGARR,
STAKAR (CONT'D)
What say we steal some shit?
CHARLIE-27
In.
MARTINEX
Dope.
MAINFRAME
I MISSED you guys!
Krugarr makes a hex symbol and TWO COLORFUL THUMBS-UP BURST
in front of him.
ALETA
Hell. Yes.
END CREDITS - INT. BIRTHING PODS CHAMBER - DAY
Ayesha sits on a bench, brooding, disheveled and still
furious. The Chambermaid cautiously approaches.
CHAMBERMAID
High Priestess, the Council is
waiting.
AYESHA
They are perturbed I have wasted
our resources.
The Chambermaid smiles politely, nods slightly, agreeing in a
circumspect manner. Ayesha stares across the way.
138
AYESHA (CONT'D)
When they see what I have created
here, their wrath will dissipate,
though it will be some time.
The Chambermaid looks where Ayesha is looking.
CHAMBERMAID
That is not just another birthing
pod, ma'am?
AYESHA
That, my child, is the next step in
our evolution: more powerful, more
beautiful, and more capable of
destroying the Guardians of the
Galaxy.
A large, human-sized cocoon stands where Ayesha stares.
AYESHA (CONT'D)
I think I shall call him... `Adam'.
BOX OVER CREDITS - INT. GROOT'S BEDROOM - OUTER SPACE
Quill is standing in the bedroom doorway, looking down.
QUILL
Dude, seriously, you got to clean
up your room. It's a complete mess.
We REVEAL a gawky ADOLESCENT GROOT, hunched over, playing a
video game, in this very messy room.
ADOLESCENT GROOT
I am Groot.
QUILL
I'm not boring, man. You're boring.
Once I got stuck on a planet where
everyone was just lines and dots. I
had to use geometry to get out of
prison. Is that boring?
Adolescent Groot shakes his head in disdain.
QUILL (CONT'D)
You know what's boring? Not doing
the dishes. What's boring is me
tripping over your vines
everywhere.
Adolescent Groot SIGHS.
139
QUILL (CONT'D)
Drax and I switched pants in the
middle of that party last weekend.
For no reason other than we're
awesome and very much not boring.
Quill starts to walk away then comes back.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Once I got a venereal disease that
made me float for three days...
Don't tell Gamora... it's dormant,
but... If that's boring then, I
guess I'm boring.
He looks at him.
QUILL (CONT'D)
I'm not boring.
Groot ROLLS HIS EYES and makes an exasperated sound.
QUILL (CONT'D)
What's boring is when you roll your
eyes like that at me and make an
exasperated sound like I'm an old,
boring, stupid idiot.
Quill thinks.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Now I know how Yondu felt.
Quill begins to CRY.
QUILL (CONT'D)
Yondu.
CUT TO BLACK.
THE END
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