Podcast 39: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

The 3 Guys Podcast

Recorded on 11/25/2021

In this podcast episode we review the listener requested movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Released 1990) starring Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Jay Patterson, Michael Turney and James Saito. WARNING: There will be SPOILERS

Notes From The Show

  • Quick Synopsis

  • Released: March 30, 1990

    Directed By:   Steve Barron

    Screenplay By:  Todd W. Langen, Bobby Herbeck

    Story By: Bobby Herbeck

    Based On: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird

    Stars:   Judith Hoag (April O’Neil), Elias Koteas (Casey Jones), Jay Patterson (Charles Pennington), Michael Turney (Danny Pennington), Raymond Serra (Sterns), James Saito (Oroku Saki / The Shredder), Toshishiro Obata (Master Tatsu), Sam Rockwell (Head Thug)

    Voice Cast:

    • Brian Tochi as Leonardo, the leader of the Turtles and the closest to Splinter
    • Josh Pais as Raphael, the rebellious and angry Turtle
    • Corey Feldman as Donatello, the brains of the Turtles
    • Robbie Rist as Michelangelo, the youngest Turtle, a fun-loving partier
    • Kevin Clash as Splinter, the Turtles’ master
    • David McCharen as Oroku Saki / The Shredder
    • Michael McConnohie as Master Tatsu

    Plot:  Four teenage mutant ninja turtles emerge from the shadows to protect New York City from a gang of criminal ninjas.

    How did this movie do
    Budget: $13.5 Million
    Box office: $202 Million

  • Comic

    • Published by Mirage Studios between 1984 and 2014

    • Conceived by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird

    • Initially intended as a one-shot, but due to its popularity it became an ongoing series.

    • Created the Turtles franchise of five television series, six feature films, numerous video games, and a range of toys and merchandise

    • In October 2009, Peter Laird sold the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise to Viacom, the parent company of Nickelodeon

    • Mirage Studios was shut down on September 19, 2021

    • In 2011, IDW Publishing secured the rights to publish a new series and reprint the older comics

    • Using Laird’s copy of Janson’s History of Art for inspiration, the creators choose names for the Turtles from four of their favorite Renaissance artists: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael.
  • Daredevil Connection

    • Drew inspiration from favorite contemporary comics, including Frank Miller’s epic samurai adventure Ronin and his run on Marvel Comics’ Daredevil, along with a love of Jack Kirby

    • Origin story paid homage to the first issue of Daredevil from 1963

      • Matt Murdock was blinded by a canister of radioactive material while saving a blind man

      • The same radioactive material shattered a bowl holding 4 turtles, knocking them into a sewer and is what mutated them plus Splinter the rat

    • Stick – Splinter

    • Hand – Foot
  • Casting

    • Jennifer Beals, Marisa Tomei, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Melanie Griffith, Sean Young, Lorraine Bracco, Winona Ryder, & Brooke Shields were all considered for the role of April O’Neil.

    • Johnny Depp, Keanu Reeves, Christian Slater, Lou Diamond Phillips, Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Brian Austin Green, Alex Winter, Gary Daniels, & River Phoenix were considered for the role of Casey Jones.
  • Trivia

    • Shredder was inspired by a cheese grater

    • This was the highest-grossing independent film until “The Blair Witch Project” (1999), having made $135 million in domestic box office and $66 million in the foreign box office.

    • Robin Williams, who was a big fan of the franchise, provided Judith Hoag with information regarding her character through his comic book collection; the two were co-starring in Cadillac Man (1990) when the Turtles film went into production.

    • The actors who physically portrayed the Turtles also had cameo roles in the film: Josh Pais, who plays Raphael, plays a passenger in the back of a taxicab right after Raphael hops on the cab’s hood. Michelan Sisti, who plays Michaelangelo, plays the pizza delivery man who delivers the pizza to the Turtles’ sewer. Leif Tilden, who plays Donatello, plays the Foot messenger that meets April in the subway station. and David Forman, who plays Leonardo, plays a gang member in the warehouse during Casey’s fight with Tatsu.

    • Judith Hoag was not asked to reprise her role as April in the film’s sequels due to her own personal complaining – particularly about the six-day schedule and the amount of violence in the movie.

    • Shredder and the Foot Clan’s hideout were filmed in an abandoned cement factory called the Ideal Cement Factory outside of Wilmington, North Carolina in Castle Hayne. This location was also used as the set for Dinohatton in Super Mario Bros. (1993) and Top Dollar’s nightclub in The Crow (1994).

    • Brian Tochi (the voice of Leonardo) and Robbie Rist (the voice of Michelangelo) are the only actors who appeared in all three live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies.

    • When Raphael got knocked into the trashcan by Casey Jones, the face and the animatronics inside head caved in and broke the stunt guy’s nose. (As Raph gets up from the trashcan, he can be seen grabbing his nose area before the shot cuts). Raph’s original stunt guy is replaced by one of the Foot Soldier stuntman named Kenn Scott. Ken did a lot of the major scenes as a Foot Soldier, including the nunchuck face off against Michelangelo.

    • The last theatrical film that Jim Henson was associated with, he died about a month and a half after the film’s release.

    • Many major studios such as Walt Disney Pictures, Columbia Pictures, MGM/UA, Orion Pictures, Paramount (whose parent company Viacom would acquire the TMNT property in 2009) and Warner Bros. turned down the film for distribution.

    • According to Josh Pais on the podcast ‘I Was There Too’, the director Steve Barron was fired near the end of production as the producers thought the film would become too dark. It is uncertain how different the film would have been if he had final cut.

    • Corey Feldman said he was offered only $1,500 US to do voice work for this film. Corey accepted, believing the producers who told him that this was only a small low-budget independent film, hoping that it would have moderate success on VHS, if they were lucky. The movie ended up making millions of dollars at the box office.

    • Pizza Hut engaged in a $20 million marketing campaign tied into the film (despite the fact that Domino’s Pizza was used as product placement in the film itself). Items included advertising in print, radio and television, and several rebate coupons.

    • The motors that were built into each Turtle head to create facial expressions were packed very tightly into it and very uncomfortable for the performers in the suit. Josh Pais has described the noise ‘like being in Grand Central Station at rush hour with a tin can over your head’.

    • Apparently, some of the animatronic heads were later recycled as heads for lead characters in the RTE (Ireland) children’s television series “The Morbegs”.

    • In the background of one of the shots of the city, there is a clear poster for Critters (1986) hanging on a wall outside a theatre.

Released: March 30, 1990

Directed By:   Steve Barron

Screenplay By:  Todd W. Langen, Bobby Herbeck

Story By: Bobby Herbeck

Based On: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird

Stars:   Judith Hoag (April O’Neil), Elias Koteas (Casey Jones), Jay Patterson (Charles Pennington), Michael Turney (Danny Pennington), Raymond Serra (Sterns), James Saito (Oroku Saki / The Shredder), Toshishiro Obata (Master Tatsu), Sam Rockwell (Head Thug)

Voice Cast:

  • Brian Tochi as Leonardo, the leader of the Turtles and the closest to Splinter
  • Josh Pais as Raphael, the rebellious and angry Turtle
  • Corey Feldman as Donatello, the brains of the Turtles
  • Robbie Rist as Michelangelo, the youngest Turtle, a fun-loving partier
  • Kevin Clash as Splinter, the Turtles’ master
  • David McCharen as Oroku Saki / The Shredder
  • Michael McConnohie as Master Tatsu

Plot:  Four teenage mutant ninja turtles emerge from the shadows to protect New York City from a gang of criminal ninjas.

How did this movie do
Budget: $13.5 Million
Box office: $202 Million

  • Published by Mirage Studios between 1984 and 2014

  • Conceived by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird

  • Initially intended as a one-shot, but due to its popularity it became an ongoing series.

  • Created the Turtles franchise of five television series, six feature films, numerous video games, and a range of toys and merchandise

  • In October 2009, Peter Laird sold the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise to Viacom, the parent company of Nickelodeon

  • Mirage Studios was shut down on September 19, 2021

  • In 2011, IDW Publishing secured the rights to publish a new series and reprint the older comics

  • Using Laird’s copy of Janson’s History of Art for inspiration, the creators choose names for the Turtles from four of their favorite Renaissance artists: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael.
  • Drew inspiration from favorite contemporary comics, including Frank Miller’s epic samurai adventure Ronin and his run on Marvel Comics’ Daredevil, along with a love of Jack Kirby

  • Origin story paid homage to the first issue of Daredevil from 1963

    • Matt Murdock was blinded by a canister of radioactive material while saving a blind man

    • The same radioactive material shattered a bowl holding 4 turtles, knocking them into a sewer and is what mutated them plus Splinter the rat

  • Stick – Splinter

  • Hand – Foot
  • Jennifer Beals, Marisa Tomei, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Melanie Griffith, Sean Young, Lorraine Bracco, Winona Ryder, & Brooke Shields were all considered for the role of April O’Neil.

  • Johnny Depp, Keanu Reeves, Christian Slater, Lou Diamond Phillips, Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Brian Austin Green, Alex Winter, Gary Daniels, & River Phoenix were considered for the role of Casey Jones.
  • Shredder was inspired by a cheese grater

  • This was the highest-grossing independent film until “The Blair Witch Project” (1999), having made $135 million in domestic box office and $66 million in the foreign box office.

  • Robin Williams, who was a big fan of the franchise, provided Judith Hoag with information regarding her character through his comic book collection; the two were co-starring in Cadillac Man (1990) when the Turtles film went into production.

  • The actors who physically portrayed the Turtles also had cameo roles in the film: Josh Pais, who plays Raphael, plays a passenger in the back of a taxicab right after Raphael hops on the cab’s hood. Michelan Sisti, who plays Michaelangelo, plays the pizza delivery man who delivers the pizza to the Turtles’ sewer. Leif Tilden, who plays Donatello, plays the Foot messenger that meets April in the subway station. and David Forman, who plays Leonardo, plays a gang member in the warehouse during Casey’s fight with Tatsu.

  • Judith Hoag was not asked to reprise her role as April in the film’s sequels due to her own personal complaining – particularly about the six-day schedule and the amount of violence in the movie.

  • Shredder and the Foot Clan’s hideout were filmed in an abandoned cement factory called the Ideal Cement Factory outside of Wilmington, North Carolina in Castle Hayne. This location was also used as the set for Dinohatton in Super Mario Bros. (1993) and Top Dollar’s nightclub in The Crow (1994).

  • Brian Tochi (the voice of Leonardo) and Robbie Rist (the voice of Michelangelo) are the only actors who appeared in all three live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies.

  • When Raphael got knocked into the trashcan by Casey Jones, the face and the animatronics inside head caved in and broke the stunt guy’s nose. (As Raph gets up from the trashcan, he can be seen grabbing his nose area before the shot cuts). Raph’s original stunt guy is replaced by one of the Foot Soldier stuntman named Kenn Scott. Ken did a lot of the major scenes as a Foot Soldier, including the nunchuck face off against Michelangelo.

  • The last theatrical film that Jim Henson was associated with, he died about a month and a half after the film’s release.

  • Many major studios such as Walt Disney Pictures, Columbia Pictures, MGM/UA, Orion Pictures, Paramount (whose parent company Viacom would acquire the TMNT property in 2009) and Warner Bros. turned down the film for distribution.

  • According to Josh Pais on the podcast ‘I Was There Too’, the director Steve Barron was fired near the end of production as the producers thought the film would become too dark. It is uncertain how different the film would have been if he had final cut.

  • Corey Feldman said he was offered only $1,500 US to do voice work for this film. Corey accepted, believing the producers who told him that this was only a small low-budget independent film, hoping that it would have moderate success on VHS, if they were lucky. The movie ended up making millions of dollars at the box office.

  • Pizza Hut engaged in a $20 million marketing campaign tied into the film (despite the fact that Domino’s Pizza was used as product placement in the film itself). Items included advertising in print, radio and television, and several rebate coupons.

  • The motors that were built into each Turtle head to create facial expressions were packed very tightly into it and very uncomfortable for the performers in the suit. Josh Pais has described the noise ‘like being in Grand Central Station at rush hour with a tin can over your head’.

  • Apparently, some of the animatronic heads were later recycled as heads for lead characters in the RTE (Ireland) children’s television series “The Morbegs”.

  • In the background of one of the shots of the city, there is a clear poster for Critters (1986) hanging on a wall outside a theatre.

The 3 Guys Rating

2.5/5

About The Movie From IMDB

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi | March 30, 1990 (United States) 6.8
Director: Steve BarronWriter: Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Bobby HerbeckStars: Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Josh PaisSummary: Through contact with a mysterious ooze, four turtles in the sewers of New York mutate into intelligent pizza-loving humanoids, and are mentored in the art of ninja combat by the wise rat Splinter. When the evil Shredder attempts to take over the world, the turtles set out to stop him. —Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>

Photos


See all photos >>

Videos


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Cast

...
April O'Neil
...
Casey Jones
...
Raphael (voice)
...
Leonardo
...
Leonardo
...
Donatello
...
Donatello
...
Michaelangelo
...
Michaelangelo
...
Splinter
...
The Shredder
...
The Shredder
...
Tatsu
...
Tatsu
...
Danny Pennington
...
Charles Pennington
...
Chief Sterns
...
Head Thug

See full cast >>

Countries: United States, Hong KongLanguages: English, FrenchBudget: $13,500,000 (estimated)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi | March 30, 1990 (United States) Summary: Four teenage mutant ninja turtles emerge from the shadows to protect New York City from a gang of criminal ninjas.
Countries: United States, Hong KongLanguages: English, French

Quotes

Michaelangelo: [watching Aesop and Son - "Tortoise and the Hare" on TV] Go! Move it, will ya? Aw, you're letting him blow right by ya! Can you believe this guy? Come on! Don't just...! Ninja-kick the damn rabbit! Do something!


Donatello: You're a claustrophobic.

Casey Jones: You want a fist in the mouth? I've never even looked at another guy before.


[last lines]

Leonardo: We were awesome!

Michaelangelo: Bodacious!

Raphael: Bitchin'!

Donatello: Uh...

Michaelangelo: Gnarly!

Leonardo: Radical!

Raphael: Totally tubular, dude!

Michaelangelo: Wicked!

Leonardo: Hellacious!

Donatello: Uh, mega...

[Splinter clears his throat, the Turtles clam up]

Splinter: I have always liked... Cowabunga.

LeonardoMichaelangeloRaphaelDonatello: COWABUNGA!

Splinter: [laughs] I made a funny!


Splinter: I too once had a family, Danny. Many years ago I lived in Japan: a pet of my master Yoshi, mimicking his movements from my cage and learning the mysterious art of Ninjitsu, for Yoshi was one of Japan's finest shadow warriors. His only rival was a man named Oroko Saki, and they competed in all things, but in nothing more fiercely than for the love of a woman, Tang Shen. Shen's love was only for my master and rather than see him fight Saki for her hand, she persuaded Yoshi to flee with me to America. But Saki vowed vengeance. I remember it well, as my master returned home to find his beloved Shen lying on the floor, and then he saw her killer. Saki wasted no words, and during the struggle, my cage was broken. I leapt to Saki's face, biting and clawing, but he threw me to the floor and took one swipe with his Katana, slicing my ear. Then he was gone, and I was alone.

Danny: What became of this Oroku Saki?

Splinter: Nobody really knows... But you wear his symbol.


Delivery Man: [searching for Michaelangelo's address] OK, 122... 122 1/8? 122 1/8. Terrific. Where the heck is 122 1/8?

Michaelangelo: [through the sewer grate] You're standing on it, Dude! Just pass it down here!

[the Delivery Man passes pizza through the grate, and $10 is passed up]

Delivery Man: Gimme that!... Hey, this is a $10! The tab's $13!

Michaelangelo: You're two minutes late, dude!

Delivery Man: Oh, come on, I couldn't find the place!

Michaelangelo: Wise man say: "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."

Delivery Man: [walks away] I gotta get a new route. And I thought I delivered everywhere...


Splinter: I am proud of you, my sons. Tonight you have learned the final and greatest truth of the Ninja: that ultimate mastering comes not from the body, but from the mind. Together, there is nothing your four minds cannot accomplish. Help each other, draw upon one another, and always remember the power that binds you. The same is what brought me here tonight, that which I gladly return with my final words: I love you all, my sons.


Thug: [of Raph] What the hell was that?

Thug: I - I don't know.

Casey Jones: [jumps down next to them] Now *that*, was a crime, you purse-grabbing pukes. And *this* is the penalty.

[knocks them over with his hockey stick]

Casey Jones: Two minutes for slashing...

[does it again]

Casey Jones: Two minutes for hooking...

[again]

Casey Jones: And let's not forget my personal favorite: two minutes for high sticking.

Raphael: [jumps in and knocks him down] How about a five-minute game misconduct for roughing, pal?

Casey Jones: Hey, Bogey... who died and made you referee? You did your job, now get out of here and let me do mine, all right? These JV low lifes need to be taught a lesson.

Raphael: Not like that they don't. Not from you.

Casey Jones: [turns to see the thugs running away, turns back] Well, it looks like you're the one who needs to be taught a lesson, pal.

[pulls out two ball bats]

Casey Jones: The class is Pain 101. Your instructor is Casey Jones.

Raphael: Look, I don't wanna fight you.

Casey Jones: Yeah, well, tough rocks, pal.


Splinter: For 15 years now, we have lived here. Before that time, I was a pet of my master Yoshi. When we were forced to come to New York, I found myself for the first time without a home, wandering thew sewers, scavaging for whatever I could find. And then, one day, I came upon a shattered glass jar and four baby turtles.

Michaelangelo: [interrupts] That was us! Hee hee.

Donatello: Shut up! Oh, no...

Splinter: The little ones were crawling into a strange glowing ooze from a broken canister nearby. I gathered them up in an old coffee can and when I awoke the next morning, I received a shock. For they had doubled in size. I, too, was growing. Particularly in intellect. I was amazed by how intelligent they seemed, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened next: one of them spoke.

Young Michaelangelo: [in flashback] Pizza. Pizza.

Splinter: More words followed, and I began their training. Teaching them all that I had learned from my master. And soon, I gave them all names: Leonardo, Michaelangelo

Michaelangelo: That's me.

Splinter: Donatello.

[he makes a heroic-sounding hum]

Splinter: and Raphael.

April: I'm not dreaming, am I?

Splinter: No. I'm afraid not.


Passenger in Cab: [after Raph hops on the cab hood] What the heck was that?

Cab Driver: Looked like sort of a big turtle, in a trench coat.

[pause]

Cab Driver: You're going to La Guardia right?


Michaelangelo: God, I LOVE *BEING A TURTLE*!


Splinter: All fathers care for their sons.


Michaelangelo: Oh man, I could go for a little deep dish action right about now.

Danny: I had some pizza here the other day. There might be some left over.

[Donatello takes a look]

Michaelangelo: Well?

Donatello: Question!

Michaelangelo: Grrr, yeah?

Donatello: Do you like penicillin on your pizza?

Michaelangelo: Doh!

[Donatello and Michelangelo start humming "Taps" and set the pizza aside]


Splinter: Raphael, come sit by me.

Raphael: Couldn't this wait 'til morning?

Splinter: You will listen *now*. My Master Yoshi's first rule was "Possess the right thinking. Only then can one receive the gifts of strength, knowledge, and peace." I have tried to channel your anger, Raphael, but more remains. Anger clouds the mind. Turned inward, it is an unconquerable enemy. You are unique among your brothers, for you choose to face this enemy alone. But as you face it, do not forget them, and do not forget me. I am here, my son.


Michaelangelo: [Leonardo slices up pizza] Yes, friends, the new turbo ginsu. Wa-hoo! It dices, it slices, and it makes French fries and three different...

[a pizza slice lands on Splinter's head]

Michaelangelo: WHOOPS.

Splinter: Kids.


Splinter: Death comes for us all, Oroku Saki, but something much worse comes for you. For when you die, it will be...

[Shredder throws a hidden knife; Splinter catches it, releasing the spear and letting Shredder fall from the building and land in the back of a garbage truck]

Splinter: ...Without honor.

Casey Jones: Oops!

[Casey Jones pulls the lever of the garbage truck and activates its compactor]


Michaelangelo: [imitating Rocky Balboa] Uh, yo well, uh, maybe I'll fight Apollo, uh, maybe I won't, you know. What do you think? Adrian.

[everyone laughs]

Michaelangelo: Okay, I got another one. Oh, this is totally cool.

Raphael: Oh no, not Cagney.

Michaelangelo: [imitating James Cagney] You dirty rat. You killed my brudda. You dirty rat. Oooh. Woo-hoo.

[everyone laughs]

April O'Neil: That must be Splinter's favorite.

[the turtles glare at her]

April O'Neil: It was a joke.

[they pause, then burst out laughing]


Raphael: [chasing Casey Jones] Come back here! I'm not finished with you! DAMN!


April O'Neil: Oh, Casey, hi.

Casey Jones: Hi? I look like I just called Mike Tyson a sissy and all you can say is "Hi"?

April O'Neil: You don't need an ambulance, do you?

Casey Jones: No, but...

April O'Neil: Just shut up and kiss me, OK? I got a report to do.

Casey Jones: I love it when you're pushy.

April O'Neil: Yeah?

[they kiss]


Donatello: We were awesome.

Michaelangelo: Yes, Dudes and Dudettes, major-league butt-kicking is back in town.


[hurling insults in alphabetical order]

Casey Jones: Not even close, Zip Neck. Professor and Mary Anne. Happily ever after.

Donatello: No way, Atomic Mouth, Gilligan was her main man. They'd be married and have six kids by now.

Casey Jones: Gilligan was a geek, Barfaroni!

Donatello: You're the geek, Camel Breath!

Casey Jones: Dome head.

Donatello: Elf lips!

[Casey finishes fixing the engine]

Casey Jones: Okay, let's see if this transplant worked, fungoid!

Donatello: Here it goes... What are we on?

Casey Jones: Uh, G.

Donatello: Here it goes, gack face!

Casey Jones: I'm ready, hose brain!


Leonardo: Awesome!

Michaelangelo: Righteous!

Donatello: Bossa Nova!

[Leonardo and Michaelangelo look at Donatello]

Michaelangelo: Dude, "Bossa Nova"?

Donatello: Chevy Nova?

[Leonardo and Michaelangelo groan]

Donatello: Excellent!

[Leonardo and Michaelangelo cheer in approval; Raphael walks sullenly behind them]


[the Turtles' weapons are aimed at Danny as he exits the closet]

Danny: Don't shoot!

Raphael: [his weapon is a Sai] I don't think it's loaded, kid.


Leonardo: [sees that Raphael is awake and rushes to him] Raph! You're awake! How do you feel?

Raphael: What's a guy gotta do... to get some food around here?

Leonardo: [stands up, ecstatic, and runs to bathroom door] Hey! Hey, he's awake! He wants some food! Bring some food!

[runs back to Raphael]

Leonardo: You're gonna be ok Raph... you're gonna be ok!

Raphael: Yeah, yeah, alright Leo! Get a grip, will ya?

Leonardo: Listen, Raph...

[helps Raphael to his feet]

Leonardo: -about what I said before... y'know... about not needing you and all?

Raphael: Leo... don't.

[they hug]

Leonardo: Boy, we missed you.

Donatello: [he and April watch from the doorway] It's a Kodak moment.


April O'Neil: Hasn't Raph been gone a long time?

Donatello: Nah, he does it all the time. He likes it!

April O'Neil: Are you sure?

Donatello: Don't worry. He'll probably be back any minute now...

[an unconscious Raphael is thrown through the skylight, landing at Donatello's feet]


Leonardo: We have had our first battle, Master Splinter! They were many, but we kicked... but we fought well.

Splinter: Were you seen?

Leonardo: Uh-uh.

Splinter: In this, you must never lapse. Even those who would be our allies, would not understand. Our domain is the shadow; stray from it reluctantly, for when you do, you must strike hard and fade away, without a trace.

Raphael: I lost a sai!

Splinter: Then, it is gone.

Raphael: But I can get it back! I can get it back...

Splinter: Raphael!... Let it go.


Splinter: Yes, Oroku Saki, I know who you are. We met many years ago in the home of my master, Hamato Yoshi!

[Shredder removes his mask to reveal his bite wounds]

Raphael: It's him...

The Shredder: You... Now I will finish what I started with your EAR!

[charges at Splinter]


Casey Jones: Lead the way, Toots.

April O'Neil: "Toots"?

Casey Jones: Babe? Sweetcakes? Ah - Princess! You wanna throw me a clue here? I'm drowning.

April O'Neil: Hey, you know what, that's okay. I'll do it myself.

Casey Jones: Fine, it's up to you. Just don't come around here asking for my help anymore.

April O'Neil: Casey, I wouldn't ask for your help if you were the last THING on the face of this planet.

Casey Jones: At least I know she thinks of me...

[Casey sprawls out on the porch swing; it breaks and he falls on it to the ground]


Splinter: [Leonardo meditates heavily] ... Leonardo.

Leonardo: Huh? Splinter!

Raphael: [inside playing a board game] "What Russian novel, embraces more than 500 characters, is set in the Napoleotic wars?"

Donatello: 'War and Peace'.

Leonardo: [bursting in] He's alive.

Raphael: [Leo walks right on the board game] Hey!

Donatello: Game smash.

Leonardo: Splinter's alive.

Donatello: We know, Leo, of course he is. We all think he's alive.

Leonardo: I don't *think*. I *know*.

Donatello: Huh?


April O'Neil: Okay, those guys in the black pajamas, they jumped me, and, and that rat... I saw *you* in the parking lot. That explains you. And you guys...

[the turtles]

April O'Neil: Um... I have no idea where you came from.

Splinter: If you will please just sit down and calm yourself, I will tell you where we came from.

April O'Neil: It talks!

Splinter: It is really quite simple, Miss O'Neil.

April O'Neil: And he knows my name... perfect.

Splinter: Fifteen years ago...

April O'Neil: Why don't I ever dream of Harrison Ford?


Leonardo: [Raphael has brought an unconscious April O'Neil into the sewer] Are you crazy?

Raphael: Yeah, Leo, I'm crazy, OK? A loony, OK?

Donatello: But why?

Raphael: Why? Why, oh I don't know, 'cause I wanted to redecorate. You know, a couple of throw pillows, a TV news reporter, what do ya think?


Raphael: A Jose Canseco bat? Tell me... you didn't pay money for this.


Casey Jones: [Raph's hat has come off, revealing his face] Hey, what are you, some sort of punker?

Raphael: Huh?

Casey Jones: [baiting] God, I hate punkers... Especially bald ones with green make-up who wear... masks over ugly faces.

Raphael: That's it.

Casey Jones: [as Raph lunges] Ooh.

Raphael: New batter!

[Raph swings at Casey with the bat & missed]

Casey Jones: Strike one!

[Raph swings again and misses]

Casey Jones: What a wiffer!

[Raph jumps over Casey & hits him with the bat]

Raphael: Home run! Raphael wins 1-nothing!

Casey Jones: New game, round head.

[reaches behind and grabs a Cricket bat]

Casey Jones: Cricket!

Raphael: Cricket? Nobody understands cricket! You gotta know what a crumpet is to understand cricket!

Casey Jones: I'll show ya!

[hits Raphael with the bat]


[Tatsu does his grunt as Casey immediately notices Tatsu, he tries to mimic his grunt in a playful way]

Casey Jones: Uh, you know... A little um...

[acting like he is spraying something in his mouth]

Casey Jones: Primatene might just help to clear that up there.

[Tatsu gave Casey a striaght punch towards his face, knocking him to the floor. As Casey gets up]

Casey Jones: That's going to cost you, Tinkerbell.

[Tatsu gave Casey a left hook to Casey's face, knocking to the floor again. As Casey gets up]

Casey Jones: You know, I don't think that you're listening.

[Tatsu kicks Casey, launching him to the air and crashing into the crates. Casey tries to get up after the injuries he sustained from Tatsu]

Casey Jones: You know, I'm starting to pick up... on a little language barrier thing going here.

[Tatsu kicks Casey in the crotch, then a left roundhouse kick to his face, and then a left hook to his face, knocking him to floor with the injuries he sustained from Tatsu's attack. Casey, who is injured manages to reach for a golf club and as Tatsu approaches him, Casy struck Tatsu in the stomach with his golf club. As Tatsu aches in extreme pain]

Casey Jones: Fore!

[Casey strikes Tatsu like a golf ball, sending him flying towards the wall with crates, knocking him out]

Casey Jones: [kisses the golf club] I'll never call golf a dull game again.


Donatello: Nice night.

Michaelangelo: Mm-hm. Pizza dude's got thirty seconds.

Donatello: Mm-hm. Hey Mikey, did you ever think about what Splinter said tonight? I mean about what it would be like... You know, not having him?

Michaelangelo: Hmm... Time's up, three bucks off!


The Shredder: [confronting the turtles] You fight well... in the old style. But you've caused me enough trouble. Now you face: the Shredder.

Donatello: The Shredder?

Michaelangelo: Uuh... maybe all that hardware's for making coleslaw.


Michaelangelo: [sees that Raph has brought home an unconscious April] Can we keep her?


[first lines]

April O'Neil: Much more than just a series of small, isolated incidents, it's now apparent that an organized criminal element is at work and at the moment, business is good. So good in fact that there appear to be no eyewitnesses to any of these crimes. With complaints ranging from purse snatching to breaking and entering, police switchboards have been swamped with the angry voices of more and more citizens who have fallen prey to the recent surge of crime that continues to plague the city. Instead of getting better, things are actually getting worse. Even more alarming is the baffling and often bizarre nature of these crimes. Merchandise of every size and description from skateboards to stereo systems has been disappearing from store shelves and storage areas at an alarming rate. Even the victims themselves rarely catch a glimpse of the thieves. Many don't even know they've been victimized until it's too late. In fact, police have yet to come up a single eyewitness. Only a few vague reports of young boys or teenagers at the scenes have been filed. But whoever is behind these crimes, one thing is certain, these are much than just a series of random isolated incidents. Crimes without criminals? An invisible gang at work? Who are we gonna call? Unfortunately the police are the only ones to combat what some are already dubbing the silent crime wave. But perhaps the most disturbing silence is that coming from city hall. April O'Neill, Channel 3 Eyewitness News.


Casey Jones: [about April's farmhouse] Hey, didn't they use this place in The Grapes of Wrath?

April O'Neil: Very funny. I told you, I haven't been up here in years.


Leonardo: [of Shredder, who just showed up] Can anyone tell me who or what this is?

Michaelangelo: Don't know, but I bet it never has to look for a can-opener.


[repeated line]

Raphael: Damn.


[fighting Foot Soldiers]

Michaelangelo: Hey Donny, looks like this one is suffering from SHELL shock!

Donatello: Too derivative.

Michaelangelo: Well, I guess we can really SHELL it out!

Donatello: Too cliché.

Michaelangelo: Well, it was a SHELL of a good hit!

Donatello: I like it!


[after Raphael gets a mention from April on the news]

Donatello: I think he's blushing.

Raphael: I am NOT.

Donatello: I think he's actually turning red.

[Raphael chucks a Sai into the floor between Donatello's legs]

Donatello: Hmm, maybe not.


April O'Neil: My nearest neighbors are about four miles away. I need to get to a phone and call my boss.

Casey Jones: You mean Charles?

April O'Neil: Yes; how did you know that?

Casey Jones: He left a message on your machine, uh, just before we got out...

April O'Neil: And?

Casey Jones: Well, hey, you just saved yourself an eight-mile round-tripper. Um... You were fired.

April O'Neil: I just saved myself?

Casey Jones: [oblivious to the dark tone] Mm-hm.

DonatelloMichaelangelo: Uh-oh.

April O'Neil: What did you do? Did you take classes in insensitivity?

Casey Jones: I was just trying to break it to you easy.

April O'Neil: Oh, well you FAILED miserably...

Casey Jones: Hey, broadzilla, you wouldn't even be standin' here if it weren't for me, okay?

April O'Neil: Oh, well what do you want? You want a thank you?

Casey Jones: ...No. It's me who should thank you for that privilege, right?

April O'Neil: Fine!

Casey Jones: Yeah.

April O'Neil: Thank you.

Casey Jones: No, thank YOU!

April O'Neil: You're welcome!

Casey Jones: YOU'RE welcome!

[they go into two separate rooms and slam the doors]

Donatello: Gosh, it's kinda like Moonlighting, isn't it?

[Michaelangelo nods]


Chief Sterns: All right, I want some answers. Now what in God's name happened out here tonight? Somebody better talk to me.

Gang Leader: Check out the East warehouse over on Lairdman Island. You'll get your answers there.


Raphael: You guys must be studying the uh, abridged book of Ninja fighting.

[fights off the Foot Soldiers with ease]

Raphael: I mean, come on, how do you guys expect to beat me?

[more and more Foot Soldiers arrive]

Raphael: Good answer. Good answer!


Tatsu: Ninja... vanish!


[more Foot enter April's home]

Donatello: Hey, guys, I'm not so sure this is, uh, structurally speaking, such a good time for your, uh, buddies to drop in...

[the floor gives away]


[April discovers a sai]

Raphael: [watching] Aw, man... damn!

[sneaks away]


[a member of the Foot pulls out a nunchuk]

Michaelangelo: Oh, a fellow chucker, eh?

[engages in a contest with the Foot Ninja, and wins]

Michaelangelo: Keep practicing!


Casey Jones: [to the Foot soldiers of Raph] You guys mind telling me what you're doing to my little green pal over there, hm?

[sees April]

Casey Jones: Oh, who is the babe?

Leonardo: Who the heck is that?

Michaelangelo: Wayne Gretzky on steroids?


Raphael: Where's Splinter?

The Shredder: Ah, the rat. So it has a name...

[remembering his order to kill Splinter]

The Shredder: It HAD a name.

Leonardo: [furiously pushes past the other turtles] You LIE!

The Shredder: Do I?

The Shredder: [Leo lunges at Shredder, who trips him up with his spear and pins him to the ground] He dies! Weapons!

[the turtles grasp their weapons]

The Shredder: NOW!

[Mike, Don and Raph chuck their weapons over the side of the building]

The Shredder: Fools. Ha, ha. The three of you may have overpowered me with the loss of but one! Now your fate... will be HIS!

MichaelangeloDonatelloRaphael: NOOOO!


The Shredder: You are here because the outside world rejects you. THIS is your family. I am your father. I want you all to become full members of the Foot. There is a new enemy: freaks of nature who interfere with our business. You are my eyes and ears. Find them! Together we will punish these creatures, these... turtles.


Donatello: Good thing these guys aren't lumberjacks.

Michaelangelo: No joke. The only thing safe in the woods... would be the trees!


Casey Jones: This is great. First it was The Farm That Time Forgot and now this. Why don't I ever fall in with people who own condos? Probably hard to get good maid service in a sewer. Maybe you guys should try Roto Rooter, huh?


April O'Neil: I'd like to invite you all in but I really don't have anything to offer you guys except for some... frozen pizza.

Michaelangelo: [springs up from the manhole like a jack-in-the-box] Let's go for it!

Donatello: You said the magic word.

April O'Neil: You guys eat pizza?

MichaelangeloDonatello: Doesn't everybody?

April O'Neil: Um, yeah... alright.

Leonardo: [from below] Hey, did she say pizza?


Tatsu: Never lower your eyes to an enemy.


[fighting Foot Soldiers]

Leonardo: One of these guys must know where they're holding Splinter, so don't knock them all out.

Michaelangelo: [getting beat] I don't think that will be a problem, Leo.


Raphael: So what do we do now?

Leonardo: What do you mean, what do we do now?

Raphael: Splinter's out there somewhere.

Leonardo: I know Splinter's out there.

Michaelangelo: [guessing what's about to happen] Fight?

Donatello: Fight.

Michaelangelo: Kitchen?

Donatello: Kitchen.

Michaelangelo: Yeah.

[both Michaelangelo and Donatello leave]

Raphael: So what are we gonna do about it?

Leonardo: What CAN we do about it? April's our only link to these guys. We have to wait until she comes up with something.

Raphael: Oh, so that's the plan from the "great leader", huh? Just sit here on our butts!

Leonardo: I never said I was a great leader.

Raphael: Well you sure act like it sometimes.

Leonardo: Yeah? Well, you act like a JERK sometimes, you know that? And this attitude of yours isn't helping anything.

Raphael: Yeah? Well, maybe I'll just take my attitude and LEAVE!

Leonardo: Why don't you?

Raphael: I will.

Leonardo: Good!

Raphael: Great!

Leonardo: Go ahead! We don't need ya!

Michaelangelo: [listening from the kitchen] Pork rind?

Donatello: Pork rind.


Michaelangelo: Hey Donny, Wheel of Fortune, Dude.

[spins around on his shell, knocking down several Foot Soldiers]

Donatello: Hmm, I guess they're not game show fans.

Michaelangelo: And I thought everybody loved Vanna.


[Raphael has just seen the movie Critters]

Raphael: Ugh. Where do they come up with this stuff?


Charles: [on the answering machine dangling from its wire] April, it's Charles... I'm sorry. I don't know how else to say this: You're fired, April. I'm sorry... I know this comes as a blow.

[the wire burns off and the machine falls, hitting a Foot Soldier over the head]

Casey Jones: You can say that again, Chuck.


Gang Leader: We have a loyalty to the Shredder.

Splinter: The Shredder uses you. He poisons your minds to obtains for that which he desires. He cares nothing for you or the people you hurt.

Gang Leader: We're family.

Casey Jones: Family? Did you say family? You call this here and that...

[points to Tatsu, who he just knocked out]

Casey Jones: ...down there, family?


Tatsu: Go... play.


Chief Sterns: O'Neil... get in here!

April O'Neil: [to the technician on her way in] Time me.

Chief Sterns: Just what is it you hope to accomplish out there, besides BUSTING MY CHOPS?

April O'Neil: I think you know just as much as I do about this Foot Clan and I don't think you're doing anything about it.

Chief Sterns: You expect me to waste precious manpower because some immigrants are reminded of something that supposedly happened, years ago in Japan!

April O'Neil: Have you got anything else?

Chief Sterns: Are you tryin' to tell me HOW TO DO MY JOB?

Technician: [cut to April running out of the office, he checks his watch] 1:07. A new record.


Splinter: Who are you?

Casey Jones: Casey Jones, a friend.


April O'Neil: Will I ever see you guys again?

Michaelangelo: Indubitably!

Leonardo: Well, that depends on how fast you restock your pizza.


April O'Neil: And then there's Casey Jones, a nine-year-old trapped in a man's body. He might be cute except for that pigheadedness...


Leonardo: It's time for us to go back!


Tatsu: Your empire flourishes, Master Shredder.

The Shredder: What more from the rat?

Tatsu: Nothing. He will not speak.

The Shredder: And the boy who led us to the turtles?

Tatsu: He is still missing. I do not understand. Why do the turtles trouble you, Master? They have not been seen for many days.

The Shredder: Something about the way you describe their fighting. Something familiar. Something... from the past.


[Foot Soldiers broke in through windows]

Michaelangelo: Boy, and I thought insurance salesmen were pushy!


Gang Leader: What are we just standing here for? Let's get him!

Casey Jones: [brandishing golf club] Do you wanna be first, Junior?


The Shredder: There will be no mistakes this time... I go myself. And the rat - kill it.

Tatsu: Yes, Master.


Charles: [Danny puts on his stolen headphones] See? That's what he does when he wants to ignore me; he sticks his head in those things. I wonder where the hell he GOT those things, anyway.


[Michaelangelo jumps out of nowhere, startling April]

Michaelangelo: That was close. Whoa, time to switch to decaf, April.


Foot Messenger: We have been waiting for you, Miss O'Neil.

April O'Neil: Am I behind on my Sony payments again? Ha ha ha.

Foot Messenger: Your mouth may yet bring you much trouble, Miss O'Neil. I deliver a message.

[Slaps her hard on the cheek]

Foot Messenger: Shut it!


April O'Neil: [trying to change the subject from Charles giving her security] Hey, Danny, how's school going?

Danny: Fine.

Charles: Oh, wonderful. So wonderful, in fact, that I have to drive him there every morning now just to make sure he goes.


April O'Neil: So, what do you guys like on your pizza?

Michaelangelo: Oh, just the regular stuff: flies, stink bugs... It was a joke.


April O'Neil: [of Raphael] Well... I *was* going to give you guys a tour of the store. Shall we go get him?

LeonardoMichaelangeloDonatello: No.

Donatello: Uh... he just needs to blow off some steam.

Michaelangelo: Yeah.


Chief Sterns: We are presently executing a plan of redeployment that will minimize response time while maximizing coordination between patrol units and a decentralized networking scheme.

April O'Neil: I'm not sure I understood all of that, Chief Sterns. Would you mind repeating it, in English, perhaps?


Teenager: Got any cigarettes?

Head Thug: [pulls out two cartons] Regular or menthol?


Casey Jones: [sighs after knocking out two Foot Soldiers in rapid succession] It's a talent.


Raphael: I do hope there's more o' them.


[after easilly defeating dozens of foot soldiers, the turtles are suddenly getting decimated by their leader, Shredder]

Michaelangelo: [Out of breath] Okay... At what point... did we lose... control, here?


April O'Neil: Are you guys sure you know where you're going?

Michaelangelo: 11th and Bleeker?

[Sniffs the air]

Michaelangelo: Nope, this is only 9th St. Ha ha! Get it?

April O'Neil: Yeah.

Michaelangelo: Okay!


Michaelangelo: [on the phone ordering a pizza] Oh, and I want no anchovies. And I mean, NO anchovies. You put anchovies on this thing and you're in big trouble, okay?


The Shredder: [punches a chained Splinter] What are these... freaks? How do they know how to fight like this?

[holds a knife to Splinter]

The Shredder: You will answer.

[Splinter says nothing]

The Shredder: Then hang there until you die.


Head Thug: Check this out man, anything you want, we got it. Anything you wanna do, do it. You know what I'm saying? Anything.

New Recruit: You got any cigarettes?

Head Thug: [holds up two boxes] Regular, or menthol?


April O'Neil: [narrating] The Turtles are four once again. And yet, still not whole. A lingering doubt remains. An unknown which they can't face: Their greatest fear.

Raphael: SPLINTER!


The Shredder: [throwing a knife at a TV of April] Find her. *Silence* her.

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