Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Robbie Chronicles: Origins

Episode 16: Switching Places

Squatt: Now let's see. That power source for Billy's new invention has got to be around here somewhere.

(We begin in the middle of the night just outside Billy's garage. Squatt is seen lurking around like a thief in the night, with the likely to intent cause trouble.)

Squatt: Hmm. Aha! Just what I was looking for.

(Squatt comes across a giant machine in the center of the room. He looks to the side of it where several exposed wires are seen and starts switching them around indiscriminately.)

Squatt: I'll just attach this to that and that to this, and bingo! Hehehe. When Billy tests his new gizmo, their heads will be scrambled like an omelet. Those Power Brats will be so confused they won't pay attention to what Rita's doing!

(Looking on from the moon, Rita and her crew waste no time looking to capitalize.)

Goldar: Now you can send down a monster.

Rita: Yeah, you're right. And that monster will be the Genie.

Goldar: An excellent choice your majesty, as usual.

Baboo: Give it a rest Goldar, geez.

(Fading into the next morning, an unsuspecting Billy walks into his garage with Kimberly, who's carrying a bright pink purse, twirling her hair and munching loudly on chewing gum.)

Kimberly: Like, what is this new project you wanted to show me?

Billy: I've been working on this new system to facilitate direct thought transfer.

Kimberly: You have a way for me to read your mind?

Billy: Affirmative. I'm still experimenting but I'm sure it will work.

Kimberly: I hope there's nothing sick or pervy in that head of yours

Billy: I... offer no guarantees. However...

"Yo."

(Before Billy can finish, Robbie enters. As usual with earphones blasting on his head.)

Billy: You'll be a subject in this experiment with Robbie, not me.

Kimberly: What?

Billy: Robbie is my lab partner in this project. And well, since I essentially built everything, Robbie agreed to participate as a subject.

Kimberly: So he graduated from rat to guinea pig I see.

(Robbie doesn't appear to be listening, which only annoys her further.)

Kimberly: Um. Can you tell Mr. Moody to take his earphones off?

Robbie: (Removing earphones) Only if you tell your mom to stop calling me.

Kimberly: I'll tell my mom she's barking up the wrong tree.

Billy: Guys, focus please. Can we work together for the sake of scientific achievement?

Robbie: ...

Billy: So how this works is, you two will lean into position here. (Pointing) And this machine will scan your brain activity and send the information to the person on the receiving end.

Kimberly: That might be hard with someone who lacks any brain activity.

Robbie: I agree. So why bring Kim here?

Billy: You guys, the sooner we can conduct this experiment the sooner we can all go home and be away from one another.

(Through gritted teeth, Robbie and Kim agree to get it over with. They then lean into position on the machine as Billy hooks them up. Meanwhile, peeking from the bushes, two voices can be heard.)

Bulk: ...did you hear that?

Skull: Yeah. Sounded like a dog.

Bulk: No, numbskull. That geek Billy invented a machine that can read people's minds. Imagine the possibilities.

Skull: (Worried) Hey... Bulky.

Bulk: Shh!

Billy: Are you ready?

Robbie: Let's just get this over with so I can pass this class.

Billy: Let me make one more adjustment.

Skull: (Scared) Bulk!

Bulk: What do you wan- Oh...

(Right next to the boys is an angry looking German Shepard, bearing its teeth.)

"Grrrrrrrr..."

Skull: He-he looks like one of them police dogs. Bulky, what do you have on you?

Bulk: Some coke.

Skull: What?!

Bulk: And a half eaten bagel.

Skull: Oh... well um... I think he's hungry!!

"Bark! Bark!"

(Skull barely gets his sentence out before he and Bulk are sent running for their lives as the dog give chase. Meanwhile, Billy flips the switch to his mind reading device. Though it becomes instantly apparent that something is off. The machine rocks violently and both Robbie and Kimberly begin to convulse.)

Billy: Oh no...

Robbie: (Gurgling) Uggggggh.

Kimberly: AHHHHH!!!

Billy: Oh my. This isn't what I anticipated.

(Appearing as if they're being electrocuted, Billy flies into an absolute panic as he tries to save his friends. Smoke starts to pour out of the back as Billy finally runs over and flips the switch off. He quickly unties his teammates who both nearly collapse to the floor.)

Billy: You guys... I'm terribly sorry. I don't know what went wrong. Are you guys okay?

(The two manage to shake it off after a brief stagger. Surprisingly, they appear to be unharmed.)

Robbie: Like, I think so.

Kimberly: Man. My head feels cloudy. And not in the good way.

Robbie: Where is that annoying barking coming from? It's giving me a headache.

Kimberly: Sounds like your mom is calling you.

Robbie: Very funny.

(Robbie eyes Kim strangely.)

Kimberly: What are you doing with that?

(She aggressively yanks the earphones away from Robbie's head. Likewise, Robbie snatches the purse from Kim's shoulder and puts it around his own.)

Billy: Kimberly? Robbie?

Robbie: Like, what happened? Why do I feel so sweaty and sticky all of a sudden?

Kimberly: And why do I feel so cheap and used?

(A worried Billy throws his hands over his head as he thinks he knows what is going on.)

Billy: The, uh, generator appears to have experienced diathermic overload.

Kimberly: What?

Billy: You may have undergone spatial personality displacement.

Robbie: Will you please speak English?

Billy: Your brain's in her body and hers is in yours.

(That's when it hits the two that they're staring at themselves, from the other person's point of view...)

Robbie: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Kimberly: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

(Meanwhile, on the moon...)

Goldar: Now that we have the magic lamp from Canine Four of the Wolf Head's galaxy, those Power Rangers will be taken care of finally.

Rita: Have you got it?

(Baboo and Squatt turn the corner, holding a genie's lamp.)

Baboo: Yep! We just came back.

Squatt: Lovely place by the way. Highly recommended for a staff trip.

Baboo: Pack your own lunch though. Food is awful.

Squatt: It's like dog food.

Baboo: I dunno wh--

Rita: (Abruptly) Quit wasting time and Rub the lamp.

Baboo: (Startled) Yaa... Rub it? Of course!

(Baboo starts rubbing it from the side until a puff of smoke discharges from the lamps. It fills the entire room within seconds.)

Baboo: Whoa!

Squatt: (Coughs) Watch it!

(As the fog begins to settle, a giant, blue dog-like humanoid in a yellow vest and baggy pants appears that wasn't there before. He crosses his arms and puts on a stoic expression as Rita approaches him.)

Rita: You. Are you a Genie?

Genie: (Nods) At your service.

Baboo: Well, what do you know? It worked!

Squatt: Quick, wish for a thousand wishes!

Rita: Genie, you are going to be sent down to earth and there you will attack the Power Rangers and destroy them. Is that understood?

Genie: Your wish is my command.

(Moments later back in Billy's garage, after the teens have cleared the area. Bulk and Skull have returned after shaking off the dog and are snooping around.)

Bulk: I saw how he did it. It's a piece of cake. Come on. Get in there.

Skull: Well, what do you want me to do?

Bulk: When I flip the switch, think of something and I'm going to try and read your mind.

Skull: Hey, Bulk-- can I think of Kimberly?

Bulk: Don't tell me, you dimwit. I'll try and read your mind.

Skull: Okay. Think. Think.

Bulk: (Sighs) If you have a mind to read. Oh well.

(Bulk gets into position once Skull is. He then reaches out with his left and flips the switch. Immediately, the duo convulse violently as Kim and Robbie did earlier. Bulk immediately rues his decision as he feels he is about to burst. Skull suddenly reaches for the lever on his left but can't seem to reach it. He smacks Bulk's arm for him to finally shut it off.)

Bulk: Ugh.

Skull: Uhhhh...

(The two break free and stumble forward. Looking at one another briefly, Skull's first reaction is to rip Bulks hat off his head and puts it on his own. Once they get their bearings, he then takes a closer look and finds something a little off...)

Bulk: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

(We fade to the next day at Angel Grove High. It appears to be an uneventful morning for the most part as the students prepare for their first classes. That is, until Robbie makes "his" entrance.)

Robbie: Hey girls.

"..."

Robbie: Hey. How's it going?

"Hi...?"

Robbie: I love that dress.

(As he passes by baffled classmates, the uncharacteristically early, and uncharacteristically friendly brown ranger draws some snickers and murmurs. Most puzzling is his attire: a pair of black dress pants that appears to be two sizes too small and an equally tight brown button down shirt with. His hair is moussed up and surprisingly well groomed. He passes by a trio of popular girls whose attention he catches.)

"Oh my gosh."