This is the transcript for the 2023 film, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.
Official Trailer[]
Start of Trailer
Ruby's Grandmother: The ocean is a mysterious world.
Humans know more about the surface of Mars than the floor of the ocean.
And the sea creatures that live there?
Well, even the ones you have imagined, you've imagined them wrong.
Take the mighty giant kraken, bloodthirsty monster, sinker of ships.
Where are you even getting this?
Krakens are majestic creatures and noble protectors.
Ruby Gillman: I'm just Ruby Gillman. Normal teenager.
Ruby's Grandmother: For generations, krakens have protected the sea, keeping us safe from the most power-hungry and dangerous creature of all.
Ruby Gillman: The mermaid?
Ruby's Grandmother: Yes, the mermaid! Ugh.
Ruby Gillman: But people love mermaids.
Student: I love you so much!
Chelsea: Love you too, rando.
Ruby's Grandmother: Of course they do. People are stupid.
Chelsea: I'm Chelsea.
Ruby's Grandmother: Mermaids are selfish, vain narcissists.
Chelsea: I am gorgeous. Yes, Queen.
Ruby's Grandmother: The worst of them all.
Ruby Gillman: What's happening? *Bumps into Student* Ah, excuse me.
Student: (Simultaneous when Ruby bumps into her) Watch it!
Chelsea: Hey, are you okay? I know your secret.
You're a kraken hiding as a human.
Ruby Gillman: I've really gotta (voice deepens) go now.
Chelsea: And soon everyone will know the truth, kusjes. (presumably Chelsea laughing as Ruby starts to panic)
Ruby's Grandmother: Are you ready for your destiny?
Ruby: I just wanna live my life. (Screaming into a bean bag) Ahhhh!
Ruby's Grandmother: You have powers beyond your imagination.
This is your moment, Ruby.
Ruby Gillman: I'm not gonna hide anymore.
Grandmamah-
Ruby's Grandmother: -Yes?
Ruby Gillman: I want you to teach my how to use my powers.
Ruby's Grandmother: Camouflage, super speed. Body armor.
Let's see what you're capable of.
Ruby Gillman: I have laser eyes?
Ruby's Grandmother: Yes, they do pack a wallop.
Chelsea: You're just a dumb teenager.
(laughs menacingly) I'm a flipping mermaid.
Knock, knock!
Ruby's Grandmother: No matter what the challenge, a kraken will always answer the call.
Ruby Gillman: It's time.. to go big!
End of Trailer
Film[]
[Universal Pictures intro logo plays]
[DreamWorks Animation logo intro plays, which transitions into the film via crystal jellyfishes.]
SCENE: DAY - THE OCEAN
Grandmamah (V.O.): The Ocean is a mysterious world. One that land dwellers can only begin to imagine. Of course, you think you know what lies beneath the surface. Ah, but the sea creatures who live there, well, even the ones you have imagined, you've imagined them wrong. Take the mythical mighty giant kraken. Bloodthirsty monster, sinker of ships, drowner of sailors. That's what you people think. You see, in real life, krakens are noble protectors. The sea will always need a kraken, and a kraken will always answer the call.
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, RUBY’S BEDROOM
[We see the inside of a teenager's bedroom, filled with drawings, various ocean-themed knickknacks, and photos of her and her friend group. This is the room of the kraken teenager revealed to be Ruby Gillman. The song “Growing Up” by The Linda Lindas blares in the background. Ruby wakes up, answering her phone.]
Margot (over phone): Ruby-doo!
Ruby: Hey, Margot.
Margot: I am dying of suspense. What did your mom say?
[Ruby gets out of her bed.]
Ruby: Well, I chickened out last night, but I’m going to ask her now. Right now, this second.
[Ruby walks around her room, making the family sea-dog Nessie awaken from the pile of blankets on the floor, chirping.]
Margot: Did you do the confidence-building exercise I taught you?
Ruby: I did something even better.
♪ We'll never cave or we'll never waver ♪
♪ And we'll always become braver and braver ♪
♪ We'll dance like nobody's there ♪
♪ We'll dance without any cares ♪
♪ We'll talk 'bout problems we share ♪
♪ We'll talk 'bout things that ain't fair ♪
♪ We'll sing 'bout things we don't know ♪
♪ We'll sing to people and show ♪
♪ What it means to be young ♪
♪ And growing up. ♪
[Ruby shuts her door, revealing the film’s name drawn on a blackboard. The song ends.]
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, LIVING ROOM
[Ruby is doing a video presentation for her mother so she can convince her to let her go to prom.]
Ruby: Oh, hey! (clears throat)
Ruby (Cont’d.): Junior prom is the sacred rite of every human teenager. As a Kraken who is barely pulling off this whole human thing, I need to be there so that I can blend in. And as a proud mathlete, I know that to find a potential solution, I have to evaluate the problem. Now, I know the rules. Our family is not allowed in the ocean, EVER. For any reason. And I love rules. I do. I really, really do. But the prom boat is on the water, not in the water. "What if there's a storm?" you might ask. Well, I've analysed weather trend data and my trusty friend, the Internet, has assured me that it will be smooth sailing on prom night. And lastly, this is the captain of said prom boat. Look into those eyes. Tell me he hasn't seen it all. I trust him with my life, and so should you. And that is why I, Ruby Gillman, should go to prom. Thank you.
[The presentation ends with Ruby putting on sunglasses. The Ruby in real life takes the tablet away from the audience, begging to her mom.]
Ruby: Please, please, please, please, pleaaaaaase!
Agatha: Strong presentation. I like the energy, but it’s still a no, honey.
[Agatha and Ruby then walk into the…]
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, KITCHEN
[In the kitchen, Ruby’s father, Arthur, is cooking breakfast for the family behind the counter. It appears that the breakfast consists of various types of salted kelp and seaweed.]
Ruby: But, Mom! Evidence, science, Internet! [She walks up to the counter, each word being emphasized.]
Agatha: Trust me, Ruby. I know what’s best for you. And what’s best is to always stay on land. That’s why we moved here, it’s much safer for us.
Arthur: Sorry, Tadpole. Mom’s right.
Agatha: Sam, breakfast!
[Arthur throws a plate of food in front of him, with the youngest member of the family, Sam, catching it from the ceiling. He falls onto the stool, spinning his plate on his finger as he spins his stool to face the counter.]
Sam: Hey, didn’t you say that prom was a postbolognial…
[Ruby corrects him, interrupting him in the process.]
Ruby: —Postcolonial patriarchal construct. It is. But we will go as a group! As a form of protest.
Sam (sarcastically): Wow. So brave.
[Agatha picks up a sign she printed. It has her real estate company name on it, reading “GILLMAN REAL ESTATE”.]
Agatha: What do you think? I had these printed for my big launch party.
Arthur (flirtatiously): I think I’m in love.
[He leans in and kisses her, as to which Sam throws up his food in response, Nessie slyly taking it off of his plate.]
Sam: Blech.
Ruby: Do you still need me to be there?
Agatha: Yes, this is a make-or-break moment. I’m selling an entire development.
Ruby: But, Mom. You’re…
[Ruby holds up her phone, as to which the scene transitions into a promotional video for Agatha’s business.]
Agatha (on video): —Agatha Gillman, and I slay the competition.
Woman #1 (on video): She got us our dream home, and I’m not asking how.
[The final shot of the video is an image of Agatha aggressively holding a pair of house keys with the text “AGATHA GILLMAN: REAL ESTATE WARRIOR” to the right of her. The scene then cuts back to the kitchen.]
Agatha: Well, I just want to show potential buyers what a happy Oceanside family looks like.
Arthur: I’ll be closing my shop for the day so I can man the grill. From chill man to grill man.
[Sam groans, face-planting into his food.]
Agatha: Ooh, Arthur, you should think about hiring someone to help you. Business has been booming since you started “Bottled Up.”
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, SHOP
[Arthur is shown doing one of his “Bottled Up” live-streams, which are ASMR-type videos of him placing model ships into bottles.]
Arthur: Hey there. Welcome back to “Bottled Up.” Now, let’s hoist those sails.
[He hoists the sails of the model ship, tapping the glass bottle. The live chat in response says it’s ‘satisfying’.]
Arthur: Magic.
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, KITCHEN
Ruby: Wow, you two are quite the power couple.
Sam: You think that’s great? You’re looking at the undefeated dodgeball champ.
[The scene transitions to…]
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BLACKTOP
[A whistle blows, with Sam successfully dodging every dodgeball thrown at him through the use of his stretchy limbs. He grabs one and throws it, knocking all of his classmates to the ground.]
Coach: He’s a legend. Ooh!
[The coach gets hit with the dodgeball.]
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, KITCHEN
Ruby: Yeah, yeah. You guys are all crushing it.
Agatha: Oh, Ruby, don’t sell yourself short. You’re amazing at math.
Ruby: I am the reason Connor’s passing algebra.
[Sam hugs himself, moving his hands up and down to mimic kissing.]
Sam: Ooh, Connor. So dreamy~
Agatha: Sam.
[Ruby hits Sam in the back of the head.]
Sam: Ow! you’re the one in love with him.
[Ruby and Sam get into a fight, with each landing a hit! Siblings will be siblings. Agatha stopped the two from continuing a fight that might’ve went on forever.]
Agatha: Hey, hey. Stop. You each landed one.
[Agatha notices one of Ruby’s books, the “Marine Biologist Quarterly.”]
Agatha: “Marine Biologist Quarterly?” Oh, Ruby, you're still reading this trash? Humans don't know everything about the ocean!
[Sam shakes his head as Ruby takes the book from her mother.]
Ruby: Mom, there's a whole world down there that I have never seen. Jellyfish, plankton, coral reefs…
Agatha: But what else lives there?
Ruby (disappointedly): I know, monsters.
[Ruby puts a few books into her backpack.]
Agatha: And those monsters want to hurt krakens like us. This is where we belong. Oceanside is our home.
Ruby: Then help me fit in by letting me go to prom.
Agatha: Ruby, the answer is no.
[Just when she seemed like she could persuade her mom, she shut her down once again. Nessie (on a skateboard) squeaks at the family, letting them know it’s time to go.]
Agatha: Time to go! [Agatha grabs Ruby’s arm and leads her to the front door.]
Ruby: Ugh, Mom!
[Sam and Arthur are putting the dishes into the sink. But why would they do it the normal way when they can make it a game?]
Sam: Gillman dishes to Gillman!
Arthur: The fadeaway at the buzzer, and it’s good!
[Sam squeals mimicking a buzzer. Arthur hits him with his chest, letting Sam catapult into the air towards the door.]
Sam: Woohoo!
Agatha: Limb up, everyone.
[Nessie falls off of the skateboard with Sam catching it. The Gillmans all adjust their stances to act like they have spines. Sam shifts his body so he’s the same height as Ruby.]
Arthur: Let's all have a very human day.
[Ruby pushes Sam down to his actual height.]
Ruby: Does it bother you guys that we lie to everyone all the time?
Agatha: Oh, we're not lying. We're just omitting.
Ruby: Yeah, okay.
Arthur: And remember...
Sam, Ruby, Agatha, Arthur (at the same time): If anyone asks, we're from Canada.
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, EXTERIOR
[The front door opens, with Ruby, now wearing headphones, about to walk out. Just before she can, Sam rides out above her on his skateboard. Ruby fondly eyerolls before putting her headphones above her ear fins and walking out. The scene zooms out to reveal…]
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE
[Ruby is walking through an alleyway on her way to school, nearly becoming roadkill as a giant boat-shaped vehicle comes to a halt right in front of her. Ruby flinches, dropping her headphones as she comes face to face with a wood-carved mermaid statue embedded into the bus. The people aboard question what had just happened.]
Woman #2: Woah, what’s happening?
[The sailor known as Gordon Lighthouse looked down at Ruby, grabbing his speaker.]
Gordon Lighthouse (over speaker): Apologies for the unplanned interruption, folks.
[He blocks the speaker with his hand to whisper to his unnervingly sapient pet crab.]
Gordon: Well, look what the tide dragged in, Davey,
[Ruby immediately stiffens up.]
Ruby (nervously): Ahoy, Mr.—
[She clears her throat in an attempt to correct herself.]
Ruby (Cont’d): Captain Gordon Lighthouse, sir. [She salutes him, walking away from the vehicle.]
Gordon: Aren't you one of them Gillmans?
Ruby: Guilty!
[The bus starts to lean over Ruby, causing her to panic.]
Ruby: Just kidding! not guilty. Totally normal.
Man #1: Is she blue?
Ruby (nervously): I'm from Canada.
[She turns around to show them the Canadian flag pin on her backpack.]
Ruby: Ey?
[“O’Canada” plays.]
Man #1: Oh, that totally makes sense.
[The tour bus goes back to being upright.]
Gordon: I've got my eye on you, Gillman Girl. And my other eye too!
[He stares at her, pointing at his other eye. Davey mimics the gesture. He then starts to drive away, continuing his tour. Ruby just smiled and waved, smiled and waved…]
Gordon (over speaker): Our tour begins where 15 years ago, I swear I saw the monstrous giant Kraken. And to your right, Oceanside’s best saltwater taffy. Ask for the Gordon Lighthouse discount.
[A quacking ringtone could be heard coming from Ruby’s phone. She grabs it out of her backpack and answers it, doing a face-time call with her trio of friends on her way to school.]
Ruby: Hey guys.
Trevin (over call): Yo.
Bliss (over call): Greetings.
Margot (over call): So, how did it go?
Bliss (over call): Yes. I’m dying to find out.
Trevin (over call): Same. I’ve been stress-gaming.
Ruby: Well, it’s official. Mom won’t let me go to prom and I know it’s not what we wanted, but we still have plan B, our very cool anti-prom party. And, what is the most liberated food out there? Guys, I’m talking fondue.
Margot (over call): Ruby, um, I’m just gonna come right out and say it. Kayla asked me to the prom.
Ruby: Oh.
Margot (over call): And, uh, I said “carpe diem!” (giggles)
Margot (Cont’d.): Aka, I said yes.
Ruby: What?
Margot (over call): I said yes.
Ruby: No, I got that. Loud and clear.
[At the crosswalk, a few people looked at Ruby. She stood up straight as to not blow her cover. The people seemed unbothered afterward.]
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE HIGH - OUTSIDE CAMPUS
Ruby: Okay. Margot has torn our hearts into a million tiny pieces and that’s fine. More fondue for the rest of us, right, guys?
Bliss (over call): Yeah, uh, once Margot was going with Kayla, Trevin said, “Oh, well, should we just go together?” And I agreed. So… Trevin and I are going to the prom together. As friends.
[Trevin laughs nervously.]
Trevin (over call): Yeah, only as friends. (clears throat)
[Ruby, now in front of the trio, who were all in front of the railings that lined the outside of the school, drops her phone from the audiences’ view.]
Ruby: What?
[They all look up at her.]
Ruby: What?!
Margot: Sorry, Ruby.
Ruby: We promised to always stick together. Does squad solidarity mean nothing to you?!
[Margot hopped off of the railing.]
Margot: Well, of course it does. Which is why you should come with us. You’ll be on a boat. You’ll be completely safe.
Bliss: Unless there’s a tragic accident.
[A dramatic musical cue plays before abruptly stopping.]
Margot: Bliss, no catastrophizing.
Bliss: Sorry.
Ruby: You guys know my mom, and that is why we made plan B. Margot, just bring Kayla to our anti-prom party. We will watch bad movies. We’ll dip Swiss!
Margot: Enough with the fondue! We eat a lot of cheese.
Trevin: Wheels of it.
Margot: Think about how many events we’ve missed in squad solidarity because of your mom’s irrational anti-ocean rule.
Ruby: I guess… A few?
[Margot takes out her phone, showing Ruby a few of Oceanside High’s school events.]
Margot: What? There was the field trip to the submarine museum. The school beach day.
Bliss: All-county surf contest.
Trevin: The Grunion Fun Run.
Margot: The Oceanside Festival of the Bard.
[They start to list events outside of the school.]
Bliss: My grandmother’s beach birthday party.
Margot: Kayla’s beach birthday party!
Trevin: Any birthday party but Bliss’!
Bliss: You’re always welcome at the graveyard.
Margot: But this isn’t just any party. This is prom. And I really want to be a part of it. We… all do.
[Ruby lets out a sigh.]
Ruby: Yeah, no, I get it. You guys should go without me. It’s one thing for my mom to ruin my life. She doesn’t have to ruin yours.
Trevin: Uh, what if you don’t tell her?
Margot: Gasp of exclamation!
[Margot does a small gasp herself.]
Margot (Cont’d.): Trevin’s right. Your mom doesn’t have to know.
Bliss: Deception. I’m on board.
Trevin: Come on, Ruby. Do it.
Bliss: Do it.
Ruby: I want to. But, if my mom finds out, I…
[Margot interrupts Ruby, grabbing onto her.]
Margot: Oh, life is not a dress rehearsal! It’s time for you to go big and Go. To. Prom!
[Margot slides down to the ground. Ruby looks at her.]
Ruby: Okay. Okay, okay, okay.
[Ruby sighs, burying her face in her hands for a moment.]
Ruby: You’re right.
[She thinks before coming to a decision.]
Ruby: Okay, I’ll do it!
[Ruby has a look of surprise. She didn’t think things would turn out this way, but they are! She’s actually going to do this!]
Ruby: I’ll go to prom.
Margot: Yes!
Ruby: And, I’m gonna ask Connor.
[The trio all look at her in surprise.]
Margot: Connor? Okay, that’s a… That’s a big swing there. Whoo. But we are here for it.
[They all start walking towards the school.]
Margot (Cont’d.): Step one, you’re going to need a prom-posal. Blue-sky with me, people. Any ideas?
[Ruby goes in front of the trio, walking backwards.]
Ruby: Maybe I can ask him with something epic, like…
[She takes out her phone, which is open, showing the calculator application.]
Ruby (Cont’d.): An advanced quadratic equation. And when I solve it, the answer is… “Prom!”
[Ruby shows it off to her friends, really excited about her approach to asking Connor out. Margot dramatically falls onto Bliss, with the latter holding her.]
Margot: Ruby, my sweet, wide-eyed, dumbest smart person ever, you cannot ask Connor to prom with homework!
Ruby: But look how it graphs. It’s cool.
Margot: It is not cool. A good prom-posal is art.
[Margot helps visually transition to the next location.]
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE HIGH - INTERIOR
[We see multiple students preforming their prom-posals to students. From something as simple as a single rose, to a bouquet of roses, to signs that say “Arr you going to prom with me?”, “Whale you go to prom with me?” and “I’m a good catch! Prom with me?” to a full on marching band. All the while Margot is talking over the chaos.]
Margot: Showmanship is the name of the game in this hormone-fueled benchmark of adolescence. A ritual that embodies the ultimate in high risk, high reward. Now, you get one shot at prom and one shot at persuading your Romeo that you are his Juliet. With stakes this high, the only option is to go big!
Oceanside High Staff Member (over P.A.): Everyone, don’t forget to RSVP for prom, the most important day of your lives.
[Ruby looks at all of the prom-posals, then looks at her phone. We then see the group of four at their lockers, with Ruby opening hers and dejectedly looking at Margot.]
Ruby (defeatedly): I almost asked Connor to prom with homework.
Margot: We got you, Ruby. There are so many other options.
[Ruby closes her locker.]
Margot: Here. [she hands Ruby a clipboard] This is the first draft, but with this script and my favorite prop from clown school…
[She hops off of the unicycle she’s revealed to be riding on, holding it before tossing it to Ruby.]
Ruby: Mm, I don’t know. Do you have something a little smaller?
[Margot looks at her, dramatically posing while wearing a red clown nose.]
Margot: Tone down the drama, you say?
[She takes out a… gun? from her locker.]
Margot (Cont’d.): I know just the thing.
Ruby: What’s that?
Margot: A commercial-grade DJ confetti cannon. You just ask Connor to prom, push this button, and the confetti will rain down like closing night on broadway!
Ruby: Uh, maybe I abandon this whole “ask your dream guy to prom” thing.
[Ruby sets the unicycle and clipboard aside, and then Connor shows up, skateboarding through the halls as “Hello” by Calabasas plays. Ruby looks up at him dreamily, gasping.]
♪ I really really wanna get to know you ♪
[Ruby starts to daydream as she stares at Connor.]
Ruby (dreamily): Connor.
[Connor rides his skateboard towards her, people flying away from him after they form heart shapes with their bodies. The tiles start to fly out from under him as he jumps off his board, swimming towards Ruby mid-air. The two start to dance together in the colorful sparkling void created by Ruby’s mind.]
♪ Hello, hello… ♪
Ruby: Connor, would you do me the honor of going to human prom with me?
Connor: Oh, Ruby, yes. Oh, you’ve made me the happiest guy on dry land, Ruby.
Ruby: Connor.
[The two hug each other.]
Connor (in reality): Ruby. Ruby?
[The song slows, abruptly stopping as we are sent back to reality. Ruby is actually hugging someone’s backpack, still staring at Connor.]
Connor (whispering): Hi.
Ruby: Connor’s here.
Connor: Uh, yeah. Connor’s here.
[He points to himself, awkwardly chuckling. Ruby glances at the backpack she’s been hugging, realizing she’d been merely daydreaming about asking Connor out.]
Ruby: OH! Oh. Hi. Hi, hi, hi.
[Connor chuckles.]
Connor: Uh, we’re still on for our tutoring sesh later, right?
Ruby: Oh. (laughs) Oh, yeah, Connor. We are on like polygons.
[He laughs at the joke.]
Connor: All right, team math. I’ll see you later.
Ruby: You know it. Anything for my alge-bae.
Connor: Your what now?
Ruby: I mean bro! A-Alge-bro. Like you’re my brother. You’re my math brother. Heh.
[Ruby’s legs wrap around each other.]
Connor: You know, I think I liked the first one better.
[Connor skates away, Ruby staring at him before thinking that she could probably try the “ask your dream guy to prom” thing after all.]
Ruby: Give me that confetti cannon.
Margot: Yes!
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE HIGH - OUTSIDE CAMPUS
[Ruby is now standing a few feet away from Connor, holding the confetti cannon, hyperventilating. Meanwhile, Connor’s ending a conversation with one of his friends, unaware of her presence. He’s sitting on a bench just in front of the railings.]
Connor: You gotta practice. The trick is to reject the concept of gravity. It doesn’t exist. It’s not real.
Boy #1: All right. Peace out.
Connor: Yo, hit me up later.
[Ruby takes a deep breath, walking towards Connor.]
Ruby: Hey, Connor.
Connor: Hey, Ruby. What’s up?
[Ruby hides the cannon behind her back.]
Ruby: Um… Hey. So… I was wondering… Did you see, like, all those prom-posals around school this morning?
Connor: Yes.
Ruby: Hmm.
Connor: They kind of weird me out.
[Ruby deadpans, turning around and placing the cannon onto her backpack via the top flap, mostly sticking out due to its length.]
Connor (Cont’d.): Just ask someone. It doesn’t have to be this big proposal. It’s crazy, right?
[Ruby turns back around to face Connor.]
Ruby: Oh, yeah. I hear that.
[Connor gets up, skating to her.]
Connor: And besides, prom is a post-colonial-
[The two finish at the same time.]
Ruby and Connor: —patriarchal construct! Exactly!
[They both chuckle.]
Connor: It could be fun to go with the right person, though.
[Ruby stares at him for a second before speaking.]
Ruby: Oh. (nervously laughs) Yeah. Totally.
[Connor stares at her half-lidded while Ruby clears her throat.]
Connor (at the same time as Ruby): Ruby… Oh.
Ruby (at the same time as Connor): Connor… Oh, sorry.
[They try again.]
Connor (at the same time as Ruby): Ruby… Oh, hey.
Ruby (at the same time as Connor): Connor… Oh, you go.
[Connor laughs.]
Connor: No, you go.
Ruby: No, you go.
Connor: Yeah, no, you go. I go. Wait. Okay, no. But seriously, what- what did you want to say?
Ruby: Um, Connor, I…
[They stare at each other.]
Ruby: I… think I’m gonna be sick?
[She walks away towards the railing.]
Connor: Whoa. Hey. Are-are you okay?
Ruby: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I get seasick sometimes when I’m next to the ocean. It’s genetic.
Connor: You know, my sisters do this grounding technique thing-
[Ruby mouths a “what?!” to herself, eye-rolling. The cannon slips out of her backpack, Connor noticing.]
Connor: Ooh. Whoops. Wait, what’s this?
[Ruby frantically turns around, walking up to him.]
Ruby: Hah. Oh. That? Never seen that before.
Connor: Whoa. Is this a kaleidoscope?
Ruby: Maybe put it down.
[Ruby presses the button just as Connor looks into it.]
Confetti Cannon: It’s party time!
[The cannon blasts Connor with confetti right in his face. Ruby screams as Connor yells, tripping back and misplacing a foot on his skateboard, sending him backwards towards the railing, and below, the ocean. Connor screams as he falls, Ruby looking out at the ocean.]
Ruby: Connor! Connor, are you okay?
[She sees his skateboard sink below the water, looking around before spotting a buoy hooked onto the wall. She grabs it, preparing to throw it.]
Ruby: Connor, grab this!
[She throws it, and… The rope is too short. It falls against the ledge.]
Ruby (angrily): Son of an anglerfish!
[Ruby grasps the railing, looking below at the ocean, making her start to panic.]
Ruby: Connor!
[She starts to have a panic attack as she climbs up the railing, planning to jump in and save Connor. The ocean to her looks a lot farther than it actually is. Wait, what?]
Ruby (hyperventilating): Okay. Okay. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
[She slips on the railing, falling into the ocean below as she screams.]
SCENE: DAY - THE OCEAN
[Ruby falls in, holding her breath as she swims towards Connor. Currents start to force her away, and just as she’s about to grasp Connor’s hand, she’s blown away by another strong current. She gets trapped, being wrapped in pieces of kelp. She struggles to try and break free, losing her breath and… just as she goes limp, suckers start to appear on her hands, glowing a bright teal color. These suckers go up her arm and her neck, her gills glowing the same teal color. Her eyes fly open, a bright pink. A huge pink pulse emits from her, affecting the surrounding waters and even being seen from the surface, all throughout Oceanside. Connor is falling to the ocean floor, just as a creature catches him and brings him to land. A giant purple creature.]
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE
[This being brings him to the docks, taking a few seconds to breathe in air. He’s alive! Connor’s alive! Someone walks up to him, someone unknown to the audience. Ruby crawls up to a rock, coughing up water as she lays against it.]
Ruby: What just happened?
[She takes a moment to process everything, realizing Connor was saved. She saved him. Is he okay? Is he alive?]
Ruby: Connor!
[She shakily gets up from the ground, soaking wet as she runs towards where a crowd is clamoring.]
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE HIGH - OUTSIDE CAMPUS
[At the front of the school, a huge crowd has formed. Connor seemingly in the center of it all.]
Girl #1: The new girl saved Connor.
Ruby: Connor?
Girl #2: She’s a hero.
Ruby: Connor?
[Ruby tries to walk through the crowd, Margot stopping her.]
Margot: Ruby! There you are. You missed the story of the year, girl. Connor almost drowned.
Ruby: I didn’t mean to! I mean- I-I didn’t do it. Gosh, (laughs nervously)
Ruby (Cont’d.): That’s crazy. And surprising. Because it definitely didn’t have anything to do with me.
[Ruby ends her sentence with another nervous laugh.]
Margot: Are you feeling alright? Why are you wet?
[Margot moves her head out of Ruby’s view, letting her see Connor. She gasps, seeing him also soaking wet, wrapped in an orange towel. She silently walks past Margot in her shock, making her way toward the boy.]
Ruby: Connor! Are you okay?
[Connor coughs a few times, voice hoarse.]
Connor: Yeah. It was crazy. I just remember there was smoke and glitter and then the next thing I knew, I was saved by… The new girl.
Ruby: The new girl?
[The ‘new girl’ shows up. A crowd of people holding her up.]
"The New Girl": The new girl!
[Ruby looks at her, dumbfounded.]
"The New Girl": Thank you, thank you.
Boy #2: Woo! New girl!
Girl #3: She’s going to say something.
[The girl was holding a sign, and she flipped it from it saying “applause” to “silence.” The crowd in response, well… went silent.]
"The New Girl": Picture this; me, stunning but approachable on my first day of school.
[She walks down people who act as steps.]
"The New Girl": I’m lost and confused, struggling to find my first class.
[Ruby looks at her, confused. The new girl slides toward the fountain next to Connor.]
"The New Girl": When suddenly— (gasps)
"The New Girl" (Cont’d.): I spot little mister skater boy here barely above water.
Connor: I’m just lucky that…
[She places her finger on his mouth, forcing him to shush.]
"The New Girl": Oop. Shush, shush. Ooh. My story.
[She walks away, posing, starting to climb the golden statue.]
"The New Girl": Now, I’m not much of a swimmer, but in that moment, I remembered what my mother always told me: “You are gorgeous.” Also, “Big risk, big reward. Always go big.” And what is bigger than saving a life?
[She poses atop the statue, roses being thrown at her by the cheering crowd.]
Girl #4: Yes, queen. Get it.
Girl #5: I love you so much!
[The new girl catches a rose.]
"The New Girl": Love you, too, rando.
Boy #3: She pointed at me. I’m Rando.
[Ruby finally looks down at her hand, which is making a weird noise. She takes it off of her arm, noticing that her hand is glowing— Wait, what? What?!]
Ruby: Oh, no. What’s happening?
[She glances at both of her hands, although one is still normal. At the same time, she’s backing up, knocking into a girl.]
Girl #6: Watch it.
[Ruby turns around.]
Ruby: Ah. Excuse me.
[The new girl is caught by two students.]
"The New Girl": Wait.
[Ruby turns around nervously, holding her hands together in an attempt to hide the glowing one.]
Chelsea: We haven’t met. I’m Chelsea, Chelsea Van Der Zee. It’s Dutch, Kusjes!
Girl #7: No it’s not.
Girl #8: So exotic.
Girl #9: I love you.
[Ruby awkwardly looks at the crowd around her.]
Chelsea: And you are?
Ruby: I’m, um… I’m Ruby Gillman. It’s Canadian… eh?
[She hugs herself nervously.]
Chelsea: Okay, maybe it’s the whole “don’t look at me vibe”, but there’s something different about you.
Ruby: I… I’ve really gotta go now.
[Ruby puts her hands in front of her, with her right one, still glowing, is also now starting to increase in size. She looks at it, hiding it away as she glances at the crowd, hoping nobody saw the oddity. Ruby starts to have her second panic attack, the students looking at her strangely.]
Ruby: (hyperventilating)
[Her vision is blurry and distorted, with everyone’s voices also being the latter.]
Boy #4: Uh, are you good?
Girl #10: What’s wrong with her?
Boy #5: Yeah, you might need to lie down for a little bit.
Boy #6: Yeah, that’s awkward.
Girl #11: What’s her deal? Is she gonna barf?
Girl #12: She’s freaking out.
Ruby: (hyperventilating)
Chelsea: Are you okay? You really look like you’ve been through something.
[Ruby partially breaks out of her panic, stepping back.]
Ruby: Yeah. I really got to go. Now!
[Ruby steps into the crowd, running away. The crowd starts to disperse as Chelsea looks at Ruby with concern.]
Oceanside High Staff Member (over P.A.): All right, everyone. Show’s over. Let’s get back to class.
[Ruby continues to run away, not looking back.]
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN REAL ESTATE “OPEN HOUSE” EVENT - EXTERIOR
[We get an establishing shot of the home that Agatha’s trying to sell. She drives up and parks her car. She then opens the door, the couple walking up the steps.]
Agatha: Welcome to your new home! If I may be so bold.
Janice: Ooh.
Doug: This is incredible.
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN REAL ESTATE “OPEN HOUSE” EVENT - INTERIOR
[They all walk into the kitchen.]
Agatha: Oh, you’ve picked a great place to raise a kid. It’s so safe here in Oceanside. Moving my family here was the best decision I ever made.
Janice: Doug actually grew up here. We’re moving back so that we can be closer to his folks when the little one comes.
[Doug goes next to Janice.]
Doug: Hello free babysitter!
Agatha: (laughs nervously) Nice. Just be careful they don’t tell you how you should live your life and raise your children.
[Agatha takes a breath.]
Agatha (Cont’d.): I mean, it’ll be so nice to have family nearby. You’re very lucky.
SCENE: DAY - LIBRARY - EXTERIOR
[We cut to a shot of the library door. There’s a teal sign that says “Library is closed.” We hear Ruby’s wet shoes squeak on the ground as she runs up to the door, grabbing onto it. She tries to force it open, eventually doing so but falling over in the process. She runs in.]
SCENE: DAY - LIBRARY - INTERIOR
[Ruby runs through the darkened library, tripping over a ton of the prom decorations such as balloons and boxes. She gets through, looking around and glancing at her still glowing hand, spotting an enclosed part of the library via bookshelves. Ruby runs over, diving behind the book cart and placing books atop her glowing hand.]
Ruby: Ooh. Why am I glowing? Glowing is not good. I will never go into the ocean again. Lesson learned!
[She takes out her phone.]
Ruby: Call Mom.
Automated Voice (on phone): Video call Connor.
Ruby: What? I didn’t say that. Call Mom.
[Connor answers the call via FaceTime.]
Connor: Ruby, where’d you go?
Ruby: Whoa.
Ruby (smugly): Hey.
[Connor coughs as Ruby panics.]
Ruby (whispering): End call, end call, end call.
Connor: Wait! I wanted to ask you some…
Ruby: I’m going through a tunnel!
[Ruby hangs up.]
Ruby: Call Mom. No, I can’t call Mom. She’s gonna kill me.
[All of a sudden, her legs start to extend in length and size, going down the bookshelves! somehow gaining a third one?]
Ruby: There’s three of them?
[Ruby starts to turn into… something. Something big.]
Ruby: Ooh, this is a nightmare.
[She buries herself in her hands as she endures the transformation, bookshelves clattering.]
Ruby: Nooooo! Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
[The ceiling lights start to interfere with her newfound abilities, flickering. A single book falling off of the shelf. This alerts the librarian.]
Librarian: Hello?
[She walks through the library as all is silent, seeing the book that had fallen.]
Librarian: “Pride and Prejudice.” Oh. (laughs) You’re a long way from home. What are you doing in True Crime?
[The librarian places the book back, and just as she turns it promptly falls out of place alongside a few other books. The blue glow from Ruby can be seen through the hole the books created. She picks up the book again, looking through the hole to see a… giant purple tentacle? The librarian looks up, putting on her glasses and seeing Ruby.]
Ruby: Shh.
[She tries to shush her, but…]
Librarian: (screaming)
Ruby: (screaming)
[Whilst Ruby does the same, it sounds more monstrous.]
Ruby and Librarian: (both screaming)
[Ruby wrecks the shelves as the librarian runs out of the building, covering her mouth as the library becomes too small for her new form.]
Ruby: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
SCENE: DAY - LIBRARY (DESTROYED)
[Ruby breaks out of the building as debris starts flying.]
Ruby: (yelling)
SCENE: DAY - BOAT
[A woman is recording Gordon with their phone as he answers questions they ask. In the background, Ruby can be seen.]
Gordon: A lot of you have been asking about my beard regimen.
Woman #2: Do you see that?
[The woman on the phone zooms in on Ruby. Gordon turns around.]
Gordon: (gasps) Kraken! Kraken ahoy! She’s back! Oh, she’s coming for me!
SCENE: DAY - LIBRARY (DESTROYED)
Ruby: (yelling)
[Ruby gasps, looking down and stepping out of the broken remains of the library, tipping over the shipment containers that lay on top of the building, causing water to burst out of one of them. Ruby keeps walking away. The librarian screams as she runs off with a cart in hand, going up the steps as the books all fall out. Chelsea looks at her, turning around, seemingly looking for Ruby. She then looks up, spotting her. Ruby is hiding behind a set of trees, looking up at the prom balloons flying into the sky. She then glances down and spots Chelsea, immediately trying to hide. She whimpers as she looks around, looking for a place to hide before seeing the lighthouse. Yeah, that could work.]
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN REAL ESTATE “OPEN HOUSE” EVENT - BALCONY
[Agatha opens the sliding glass door, walking out with the couple.]
Janice: Oh.
Doug: Wow.
Janice: Look at this view!
Doug: Holy migoli, this is amazing. What do you think, boo?
Janice: I think… we’re sold!
Agatha: Oh. Fantastic! Well, I’ll get the paperwork started, and we’ll make this quick and easy so you can focus on your little one.
Janice: I can’t believe this is ours!
Doug: Look at this house.
[Agatha looks towards the horizon, spotting Ruby. Internally panicking. In the background, Doug and Janice are rambling about their new home.]
Doug: This is beautiful.
Janice: Honey, you were saying you wanted a built-in grill, and that is built in.
Doug: Oh, this is great. Oh, man, I get to be grillmaster again.
Agatha: (laughs nervously) You make sure you enjoy every minute of quiet time you have left because once the baby comes, it is going to blow up your whole life.
[She pushes Doug and Janice back into the house.]
Doug: Okay. Okay.
SCENE: DAY - GILLMAN REAL ESTATE “OPEN HOUSE” EVENT - EXTERIOR
[Agatha starts up her car, backing out.]
Agatha: Look around. Get a feel for the place. Just leave the key in the lockbox when you’re done. Or-or keep it. (laughs)
[She tosses the couple the house keys.]
Agatha: Whatever. Talk soon.
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE - ROADS
[Agatha drives through the empty streets, trying to call her daughter.]
Agatha: (sighs) Pick up, Ruby. Pick up. Oh, pick up, Ruby. Pick up!
[She sighs, sinking into her seat.]
Agatha: Okay. Agatha, you can figure this out. Everything is gonna be fine.
[Except it’s not fine. She runs over something with her car, an audible thud being heard.]
Agatha: Son of an anglerfish!
[She stops her car, gasping. Agatha looks at the side mirror, seeing a pile of leaves on the road behind her. She gets out.]
Agatha: It’s probably just a traffic cone. Oh, no.
[Agatha walks towards the pile.]
Agatha: Hello?
[She reaches out to touch it, only for the pile to start rustling, a form awakening from the leaves. It’s… another kraken? His face is off, so he fixes it.]
Brill: Heya, sis. Good old Uncle Brill’s here to see his favorite niece Ruby.
[He hugs Agatha, with the latter shaking her head in disbelief.]
Agatha: What? Brill?
[She picks him up.]
Brill: Heya.
Agatha: Are you okay?
Brill: Yeah.
[Gravity affects him as his upper body slumps over.]
Brill (Cont’d.): Why wouldn’t I be?
Agatha (panicked): I just hit you with a car.
Brill: How do you guys deal with the gravity here on land? It’s crazy, right?
[He lets out a laugh.]
Brill (Cont’d.): Anyway, I came to say congratulations. Ruby’s all grown-up and turned into a giant…
[Agatha covers his mouth with both of her hands.]
Agatha: Shh, shh, shh. Not so loud. Come on.
Brill: Whoa.
[She drags him along the ground to the car.]
Brill: I see you still got that upper body strength, huh?
[She throws Brill into the car, the song “Oh!” By The Linda Lindas starting.]
Brill: Ow.
[She comedically kicks him into the passengers seat.]
Brill: Oof.
[She gets in, driving off.]
♪ Oh, when I say something ♪
[Ruby emerges from a cluster of trees, looking around before attempting to continue her journey, stepping on a sign.]
♪ I wish I had shut up ♪
♪ Oh! ♪
Ruby: Are you kidding me?
[She picks it up.]
♪ I always screw things up ♪
♪ Oh! ♪
[She notices a car coming, hiding behind the trees.]
♪ The places that feel right ♪
♪ They never last too long ♪
♪ Oh! ♪
♪ And when I think of things ♪
♪ They always turn out wrong ♪
[She keeps going towards the lighthouse.]
♪ Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong… ♪
♪ Oh! ♪
Agatha: What are you doing here, Brill?
Brill: We felt the pulse.
Agatha: So Mom knows?
Brill: Uh, yeah. She sent me to get Ruby.
Agatha: This is exactly why she wasn’t supposed to go into the ocean.
Brill: Uh, then why would you live next to it?
Agatha: We need it to stay moist.
Brill: Ew. Moist.
Agatha: Where is she? Where is she? I need to hide her.
Brill: Whoa.
[Brill looks out the window, excited.]
Brill: (laughs) Good luck hiding that.
♪ What can I say? What can I say? ♪
[Ruby makes her way to lighthouse, the two staring at her.]
♪ What can I do? What can I do? ♪
[Agatha stares, making a sudden turn, causing Brill to fly into the back of the car and ping pong around.]
Brill: Ow!
♪ Oh! Oh! ♪
SCENE: DAY (FOGGY) - OCEANSIDE - LIGHTHOUSE
[They make it to the lighthouse.]
♪ Oh! Oh! ♪
[The song ends. Ruby glances at the car before looking away.]
Ruby: Oh, no.
[Brill tries to get out.]
Brill (amazed): Wow.
[Agatha slams the car door into his face.]
Agatha: Brill, stay.
[She locks the car and walks up towards her daughter.]
Agatha: Ruby Gillman, come out here. We need to get you home right now.
Ruby: (whimpers) But…
[She hides behind the lighthouse.]
Ruby (Cont’d.): I’m a… a monster.
Agatha: (sighs) Oh, Ruby. You’re not a monster. Not even close.
[Ruby looks at her.]
Agatha: I don’t want to yell. Can we just talk? Please, just… just talk to me.
[Ruby lets her hand down, allowing Agatha to climb up onto it.]
Ruby: (sighs heavily)
[Her eyes look back and forth as her mother looks at her.]
Agatha: Hey, there’s my girl.
Ruby: Please don’t be mad. I should have listened to you. But I kind of-
Ruby (at the same time as Agatha): -went into the ocean.
Agatha (at the same time as Ruby): Went into the ocean?
Agatha: I know. But right now I just want to keep you safe, honey, and that means getting you home.
Ruby: Mom, look at me. (crying) I won’t even fit inside our house anymore. Mom.
Agatha: Hey.
[She walks up to her daughter’s face.]
Agatha: You’ll get small again, it just takes a little time. I’m here. I’ll wait with you. I’m not going anywhere.
[Ruby calms down a bit.]
Ruby: I’m really glad you’re here, Mom.
[Agatha looks into the distance for a moment.]
Agatha: Do you remember when you found that whale on the beach?
Ruby: You mean Clarence J. Whifferton?
Agatha: How could I forget? Clarence J. Whifferton. You stood next to him with a hose for seven hours until the tide back came in.
[Ruby starts to shrink back down as they talk.]
Ruby: Oh, yeah. I asked you if I could keep him.
Agatha: Where would we even have put him?
Ruby: We had a hose. A garage. Come on, I would have taken care of him.
Agatha: I know you would have.
[Agatha hops off of her hand, the shrinking Ruby becoming hidden in the midst of the fog. Agatha smiles as she looks at her. Ruby looks at herself, realizing that she’s back to normal!]
Ruby: Yes! I’m normal. Well, almost normal. Thank you.
[Ruby hugs her mom.]
Agatha: Trust me, it’s gonna be okay.
[Brill embraces the two.]
Brill: Aw…
[Ruby screams, punching him in the face.]
Brill: Ooh, I see you got your mom’s arm strength.
Ruby: Mom, what is happening?!
[The car engine starts and they drive back home as fast as possible.]
SCENE: NOON (FOGGY) - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, SHOP - INTERIOR
[Arthur is seen leaning on the desk, sipping coffee from a “GILLMAN REAL ESTATE” branded mug. Sam is sitting atop the desk a foot away from him, playing a video game. Ruby opens the door, causing Arthur to look at her.]
Arthur: Hey, Tadpole. What’s up?
[Agatha comes through the door as Ruby walks past Arthur.]
Ruby: How would I know? No one tells me anything.
[Sam glances at his sister curiously as Agatha keeps walking.]
Agatha: Ruby went into the ocean, Arthur.
[Arthur immediately freaks out, Sam dropping his game system.]
Arthur: Oh, no!
Sam: And you didn’t die?
[Brill walks into the shop.]
Brill: Die? Why would she die?
Arthur (annoyed): Oh, no.
[Brill and Sam point at each other.]
Sam (at the same time as Brill): Who’s this guy?
Brill (at the same time as Sam): Who’s this kid?
[Arthur looks back at Brill, Ruby walking to the other end of the frame.]
Arthur: Uh, that’s our son, Sam.
[Brill picks Sam up.]
Brill: Son? As in, I’m an uncle? Again?
[He holds Sam up high in the air by his leg, causing Arthur and Ruby to glance up at the kid. Ruby then stares at her hand as Agatha walks towards the door.]
Sam: I’ve never had an uncle before.
[Brill lowers Sam to his level.]
Brill: And I’ve never had a nephew before.
[Agatha lowers all the blinds in the shop, allowing no one to see inside. She switches the sign to “closed”, turning around and walking towards Ruby.]
Agatha: Ruby, take a deep breath.
[She sets her daughter down on a stool, herself doing the same across from her.]
Agatha: Let me explain. You see, when you went into the ocean, it triggered… Uh, it released…
Brill: The kraken!
[Brill finishes for her, blowing a party horn whilst throwing sea-themed confetti. Ruby glances at him, shifting her gaze back to her mother. Agatha moves Brill out of the way, Arthur aiding in the action.]
Agatha: (sighs) What Brill means is you turn into a giant kraken.
[Ruby stares at both of her hands in thought.]
Agatha (Cont’d.): I know this is a lot to process, Ruby, but you’re not alone.
[She holds her hands in her daughters, the familiar bright blue glow emitting from both of their now sucker-lined fingers.]
Agatha: I turn into a giant kraken, too.
Ruby: What? What?!
[Ruby falls off the stool, scrambling backwards to the wall.]
Ruby: You knew?
[Agatha looks at her sadly. Ruby glances at her hand, picking up one of the bottles Arthur had made. It has a model of a kraken, its appearance based on human myths, destroying a ship.]
Ruby: So I’m this? The horrible stereotype of krakens that you said humans made up.
Brill: I’m offended.
Arthur: It sells.
[Brill comedically toots the horn in Arthur’s face.]
Ruby: So what else is true about me, Mom? Do I sink ships now? Do I terrorize sailors?
[Agatha takes the bottle away from her.]
Agatha: No. No, honey. Not at all.
Ruby: All this time, you told me we were hiding from monsters and it turns out I’m the monster. You lied to me!
Agatha: Think of it more as a tiny omission.
[Sam jumps down onto the desk Ruby is standing next to, holding his phone.]
Sam: Come on! Turn giant! I’m recording.
Agatha: Sam, put it away.
[Ruby buries her face in her hands, sitting down with her back to the desk. Sam somersaults over to the other end of the desk next to her sister.]
Sam: But this is the coolest thing ever!
Ruby: It is not cool.
[Ruby looks at him, startling Sam slightly.]
Ruby: I was already a little weird. But this?
[She holds her glowing hand up so he can see it.]
Ruby (Cont’d.): I can’t hide this!
Agatha: Yes you can.
Ruby: You don’t get it, Mom.
[Sam eye-rolls in response to the sentence, Ruby getting up to look at her mother.]
Ruby: Every single day, I make sure no one notices all the ways that I am different. I push my hair in front of my gills, and I stand like I have a spine. It’s hard, but this is impossible!
[Ruby walks over to another corner of the shop, gripping her head.]
Agatha: No, because you can control it, Ruby. Just like I have for all these years.
[Ruby lets go of her head, turning to her mom.]
Ruby: Yeah, but you didn’t have to go to high school with tentacles!
[She brings out both of her hands in an animated manner for emphasis on the “tentacle” statement. Sam rotates his body around.]
Sam: Do I get tentacles, too?
Arthur: Sorry, son. Only the women in our family turn giant.
Brill: The men just become older, rounder versions of ourselves. It’s not great.
[Ruby notices her phone blowing up with notifications, looking at the messages.]
PHONE MESSAGES:
T (Trevin): F
T: F
M (Margot): did u c the library?
B (Bliss): the great reckoning
T: MONSTER!
M: Monster you say? SCARY
Agatha: Ruby, the ocean triggers the transformation. But if you stay on dry land, you’ll stay small and on two legs.
Ruby: Cool. Everyone at school is talking about the monster that destroyed the library.
PHONE MESSAGES:
B: the time is near
T: boss level MONSTER
[The lights start to flicker.]
Agatha: As long as no one figures out it was you, we’re safe.
Arthur: Your body is going through changes. Think of it as blossoming.
Ruby: Ugh, Dad.
[She shrinks in on herself, crouching down and wrapping herself with her arms.]
Sam: Do your tentacles ooze poison?
[Ruby starts to get overwhelmed as the voices of her family echo through her ears, the lights continuing to buzz and flicker in the time of chaos, reacting to the girl’s emotions.]
Agatha (echoing): Sam!
PHONE MESSAGES:
M: creepy DRAMA
[Ruby gets up, still staring at her phone.]
Ruby: How is this even happening right now?
Agatha (echoing): As long as you stay out of the ocean…
PHONE MESSAGES:
B: in roaring they shall rise
Arthur (echoing): Your body is a flower…
Ruby: (groaning)
[The lights continue to flicker.]
Sam (echoing): Do you grow any extra arms?
Ruby: (groaning)
Arthur (echoing): Blossoming!
PHONE MESSAGES:
T: monster just showed its COMBO MOVES
T: !!!
B: fire will heat the deep
T: MONSTROUS
M: strange things afoot
Brill (echoing): Women are so lucky.
Agatha (echoing): Things will go back to normal.
[Brill toots the party horn.]
Ruby: CAN EVERYONE JUST STOP?!
[The lights nearly overheat from the high voltage before flickering off, causing the shop to be engulfed in near-darkness once again. The family goes silent.]
Ruby : Dad, this isn’t a good thing. Sam, I’m going to strangle you with my tentacles. And, Mom, I can’t. I just can’t right now.
[She runs up the stairs towards her room.]
Brill: Ah, she forgot to do me.
[Ruby quickly runs back down partially.]
Ruby: I don’t even know you!
[She runs back towards her room.]
SCENE: NOON (FOGGY) - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, RUBY’S BEDROOM
[Ruby walks into her room, slamming the door shut behind her. Nessie awakes from Ruby’s bed, happily chittering at her. Ruby face-plants into her beanbag chair, screaming into it. She lays down atop it, Nessie jumping off the bed to comfort her. Downstairs, Agatha and Brill are talking.]
Brill: Well, why can’t we just talk about it?
Agatha: Because it doesn’t matter. Keep it down, Brill.
Brill: Sis, if I could find you-
[Ruby curiously moves her head up, listening in on the conversation.]
SCENE: NOON (FOGGY) - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, SHOP - INTERIOR
[Ruby opens her door and slinks down the steps to eavesdrop, Nessie following her.]
Brill (Cont’d.): -then it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the ocean can, too.
Agatha: I can handle this on my own.
Brill: Just come home and talk to her. She wants to help Ruby.
Agatha: (scoffs) She never just helps, though, does she?
Brill: (sighs) At least tell Ruby the whole truth.
Agatha: Ruby’s life is on land now, Brill. I know you mean well, but you need to stop. Go home and let me take care of my daughter.
Brill: Aggie…
[Agatha closes the shop door on him. He hesitates for a moment before giving up and walking away sadly. Ruby and Nessie heard the entire thing, moving over to talk.]
Ruby: I can’t believe Mom is still hiding things from me.
[Nessie spits out the blow horn Brill had had earlier, squeaking. Ruby stares at it before realizing something.]
Ruby: (gasps) Nessie, you tiny genius! That guy can’t hide anything.
[She gets up, Nessie happily chirping before eating the blow horn once again.]
SCENE: EVENING (FOGGY) - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, SHOP - EXTERIOR
[Ruby escapes through the backdoor, nervously looking around to make sure the coast is clear. She shuts the door, glancing around. She needs to find Brill.]
Man #2: Good idea.
Woman #3: I can do both for you.
SCENE: DAY - OCEANSIDE
[Ruby runs down the street, only for a second though as she immediately stops in her tracks, Gordon’s ship-turned-tourbus passing by. She hugs herself awkwardly, hiding her larger hand from view.]
Ruby: Wha…
Gordon (over speaker): Lock your doors! The kraken has returned!
[She runs off, slowing down as she walks up to some railing, looking around.]
Ruby: Brill? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?
[She runs down another street, pausing at another piece of railing.]
Ruby: (sighs)
[…Then Brill screams.]
Ruby: Brill?
Brill: Get off me, you feathery demons!
[She runs towards the commotion at the…]
SCENE: EVENING (FOGGY) - OCEANSIDE - DOCKS
[At the docks, Brill was being attacked by seagulls.]
Brill: Ow! You winged dopes.
[Ruby reaches him, staring in shock.]
Brill: Ow! Hey, hey!
[It’s revealed to the audience that they’re swarming him for… a corn dog.]
Brill: Save yourself. It’s too late for me.
[Ruby picks up the corn dog, throwing it into the ocean. The pack of seagulls follow the treat.]
Ruby: Forget the corn dog!
Brill: (gasps) Did you see that? They took my stick snack.
[Brill tries to get up and go after the seagulls, but Ruby holds his head in her hands and forces him to look at her, letting go shortly after.]
Ruby: Uncle Brill, focus. I need to know.
Brill: Mm-hmm?
Ruby: Who sent you here?
[His face immediately contorts, backing away.]
Brill: Mmm. No. No, no, no. No. Please don’t ask me things. I’m so bad at keeping secrets. Just talk to your mom.
Ruby (desperately): Mom won’t tell me anything.
Brill: Well, neither will I. She should be the one to tell you about your grandmother.
[He grunts, biting the ends of his fingers as he realizes the revelation he just told his niece.]
Ruby: My what?
Brill: Nothing. I didn’t say grandmother. What? I said landlubber. Ahoy?
Ruby: I have a grandmother?
Brill: No, no, no. Please, uh, don’t listen to me. I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m hungry, and I’m traumatized from before.
[Ruby leans against the railing.]
Ruby: Wait.
Brill: It’s the birds…
Ruby: If only the women in our family turn into giant krakens, then she’s a giant kraken, too.
Brill: Uh, let the record show I kept that part a secret.
Ruby: Is she here?
Brill: What? No. Your grandmother would never leave the ocean. Honestly, I don’t know how your mom did it all these years. Land is not built for a giant kraken.
[Ruby looks back to her home, which is partially covered in mist. She leans off of railing, walking in the direction of the house.]
Ruby: You’re right. It’s not.
[Brill silently nods as she looks at her hand.]
Ruby: I don’t know the first thing about being a giant kraken. But it’s not fair to keep me in the dark.
[She turns to Brill.]
Brill: Nope. Not at all.
Ruby: I can’t keep waiting for answers.
[The lights that line the dock start to interfere with her powers, flickering on. Her fin ears slightly raise at the buzzing, looking to the end of the docks. Where the ocean is. She starts to walk towards it.]
Ruby: I need to take control of my own life.
Brill: You go, girl.
Ruby: I’m a kraken.
Brill: Preach!
Ruby: And if I want answers, then there’s only one person who can help me.
Brill: Your mom!
Ruby: My grandmother.
Brill: Yeah! No. What? I can’t let you do that.
[He runs up behind Ruby and picks her up, turning her around.]
Brill: Your mom will kill me.
[Ruby sighs as she’s put back on the ground, tired of being dismissed by her family.]
Ruby: Uncle Brill… (sighs) …you have been more helpful than you can imagine.
[She initiates a hug, Brill quickly returning it.]
Brill: You know, this is the first hug we’ve had in 15 years.
Ruby: Then I’m really sorry.
Brill: For what?
Ruby: This.
[She extends her arm and grabs a corn dog from the trash can, handing it to him.]
Brill: Oh! A stick snack.
[A seagull lands on his head. Brill screams as Ruby runs towards the end of the dock.]
Brill: Help!
[She climbs up onto the railing, balancing on her feet and staring at the waters below. This was it, this was her moment. The moment that everything changes. She takes a deep breath, jumping into the unknown land that was the ocean.]
SCENE: NIGHT - THE OCEAN
[Ruby sinks to the bottom of a kelp forest, music picking up as her bioluminescence shines through. She emerges from the kelp, staring at herself. Brill swims down next to her, brushing off a seagull feather.]
Brill: Real clever with the stick trick, I admit that, but… Whoa.
Ruby: Yeah. It’s kind of amazing.
Brill: So, there’s no way I’m getting you out of the water now, is there?
[Ruby shakes her head smugly. The song “This Moment” by Mimi Webb starts.]
Brill: (sighs) Well, follow me.
[Brill swims away.]
Ruby: Wait! Uncle Brill! Whoa, oh.
[Ruby gets caught in the kelp forest, quickly getting out of it. She quickly learns how to maneuver the waters with her three legs, enjoying the newfound skill.]
♪ Look in the mirror ♪
♪ And I start to tear up ♪
♪ Don’t even know who’s that I see ♪
♪ I’m missing the way things used to be ♪
SCENE: NIGHT - THE OCEAN - SURFACE
[On the surface, Gordon is on his ship, growling as he spots Ruby’s bioluminescence trail quickly fading away from view.]
♪ But I wipe ‘em away now ♪
♪ ‘Cause I’m not afraid now ♪
[Gordon laughs villainously.]
SCENE: NIGHT - THE OCEAN
[Back in the ocean, Ruby is swimming around, admiring the water around her.]
♪ I’m ready to find out who I am ♪
♪ Even if the world don’t understand ♪
♪ ‘Cause after all this time finally… ♪
[Ruby spots a pod of whales, one of them being familiar to her.]
Ruby: Clarence? Clarence J. Whifferton!
[She scratches him under the chin affectionately.]
Ruby: I’m so glad you made it!
Clarence (in whale vocalizations): Thank yooooou!
Ruby: You look great!
♪ The stars might be aligning for me ♪
[Ruby swims around crystal jellyfish, being visibly excited about seeing them in-person.]
♪ Something ‘bout tonight got me feeling different ♪
♪ I can see the bright lights in the distance… ♪
Ruby: Uncle Brill, being in the ocean is more wonderful than anything I could imagine.
Brill: (laughs) It only gets better from here.
[Brill swims away, Ruby following. They go into a trench.]
♪ Something in my mind says to keep on going ♪
♪ The fire inside just keeps on glowin’ ♪
♪ Tell my old self, “Hey, you’ll be missed” ♪
♪ But I’ve been waiting my whole life for this ♪
[Ruby spots an ocean current, running her hand through it, causing her bioluminescence inside it to glow brighter.]
Ruby: (laughing)
♪ Oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Oh, this moment ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh ♪
[Ruby goes inside of the ocean current.]
♪ Oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
[The current’s flow makes her lose control.]
♪ Oh, this moment ♪
Ruby: Whoa, oh!
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh ♪
[The flow sends her flying outside of the current. The song ends.]
Ruby: (laughing) Wow! That was wild.
Brill: Welcome to the Kingdom of the Krakens.
[They swim over to the giant building, the entrance opening as they swim through.]
SCENE: NIGHT - THE OCEAN - KINGDOM OF THE KRAKENS
[The interior is just as magnificent as the exterior.]
Ruby (echoing): Whoa.
Brill (echoing): Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. It’s a little over the top. But, you know royals.
Ruby: Royals? You mean my grandmother’s a…
Grandmamah (echoing): A queen!
[She swims down towards the two.]
Grandmamah (Cont’d.): A warrior queen. Ultimate Lordess, Ruler of the Seven Seas, et cetera, et cetera. Give me a hug.
[Ruby and Grandmamah hug.]
Ruby: So tight.
[Brill tries to join in.]
Brill: Oh!
Grandmamah: Not now, Brill. It’s Ruby’s time now. You said you’d be okay with it, huh?
Brill: Of course, Mamah. I’m not that needy, so…
[Brill crosses his arms, sinking out of the frame.]
Ruby: I can’t believe you’re my grandmother.
Grandmamah: Please, call me Grandmamah! You seem surprised by the level of general majesty and royal splendor.
Ruby: I definitely wasn’t expecting the whole queen thing.
Grandmamah: Your mother never told you you were royalty?
Ruby: I guess it was another tiny omission.
Grandmamah (angrily): Tiny omission?!
[Grandmamah’s bioluminescence activates out of raw emotion as she bellows:]
Grandmamah (angrily): Agatha!
[Ruby gasps as the charge interferes with all the lights.]
Grandmamah: Don’t worry, I go to therapy now. I see a wise hammerhead shark on Wednesdays and Fridays and I’ve let my rage go. Away rage.
[A pink crystal jellyfish brings up a plate of cookies.]
Grandmamah: Ah. Cookies!
[She spins the plate over to Ruby.]
Grandmamah: Help yourself, Ruby.
[She eats one.]
Ruby: Mm. They’re really- They’re really good. A little mushy.
Grandmamah: I made someone make them myself. Now, talk to your grandmamah. Tell me everything. Was it horrible living among the hairy crust dwellers?
[The two swim through a tunnel as they talk.]
Ruby: You mean people?
Grandmamah: Oh. Even the word makes my tentacles squirm.
Ruby: People are kinda nice, actually. I have a couple of friends, I asked a boy to prom, but, you know, it… it did not go great.
Grandmamah: Well, deary, you can put all that behind you. You’re made for bigger things. Come with me.
[They make it to the end of the tunnel, revealing a ton of Krakens chattering excitedly.]
Male Kraken #1: I see her. It’s Ruby.
Kid Kraken #1: Woah, it’s Ruby.
Female Kraken #1: It’s her.
Kid Kraken #2: Look, it’s the princess.
Female Kraken #2: Is this actually her?
[A kraken gives her a gift.]
Ruby: Aw, thank you.
Male Kraken #2: Is that Ruby?
Female Kraken #3: Look, look. It’s her.
Kid Kraken #3: She’s so pretty.
[A female kraken waves to her.]
Female Kraken #4: Hi, Ruby.
[The excited chattering continues.]
Grandmamah: Fellow krakens. Here, at last is my granddaughter. After 15 years, Princess Ruby has finally returned home.
[Ruby sits on a throne, confusedly throwing a glance at her grandmamah. Princess?]
Grandmamah (Cont’d.): To be my successor.
[The crowd of krakens cheer. Ruby starts to stumble over her words as she jolts back in her seat.]
Ruby: Wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. (laughs nervously) I’m gonna be a, a what now?
Grandmamah: Ruby, you’re a princess.
[Ruby whimpers in response.]
Grandmamah: Address the crowd.
Ruby: (hyperventilating)
[The crowd looks on in promise, Brill nodding to her.]
Ruby: I think… I am having a panic attack!
[The crowd cheers, Grandmamah giving an annoyed look.]
Male Kraken #3: Panic attack!
[The cheering fades as it switches to the next scene.]
SCENE: NIGTH - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, KITCHEN
[Agatha sits alone on the kitchen table watching sadly at her laptop before taking a look upstairs.]
SCENE: NIGHT - GILLMAN RESIDENCE, RUBY'S BEDROOM
[Ruby's bedroom is empty, until Agatha opens the door slightly and takes a look inside the bedroom. She sees something resting on Ruby's bed, but covered by the blanket. Agatha, believing it's Ruby sleeping under the blanket, she sighs in relief, and leaves as she closes the door. After she leaves it's shown that it was actually Nessie under the blanket, and he smiles proudly at his trick. The scene switches to the next one.]
SCENE: NIGHT - THE OCEAN - KINGDOM OF THE KRAKENS
- Gordon Lighthouse: Now that's a successful monster hunt! We got us a little mermaid, Davey!
- Nerissa: Please, please, please, please! I'm not evil, I'm just pretty and misunderstood! (Davey pinches her nose) Ow!