HE-MAN & THE MOTU: 12/6/2021 - CHAPTER #1

Nighttime, in dining room of the palace Eternia. ORKO, the Court Jester of the Royal Palace performs magic tricks for his audience. KING RANDOR, QUEEN MARLENA with their 6 year old son PRINCE ADAM, and 10 year-old TEELA, daughter of DUNCAN (MAN-AT-ARMS)- -Captain of the Royal Guard. Sit at the dinner table.

Orko continues his magic act, upon completion his audience applauds as Orko finishes a juggling act by catching his juggling balls in the top of his pointed hat which opens up. His audience applauds again as Orko takes a bow. "Thank you, thank you." Orko says to the audience, continuing to bow in appreciation and respect.

"Nicely done Orko!" says King Randor, applauding. "A splendid performance," says Queen Marlena who applauds. "And might I add flawless. Wouldn’t you agree Adam?" Queen Marlena says as she turns to her young son, who as usual seems disinterested. However, King Randor is quick to snap him out of his sleepy state. "Adam! Your mother is speaking to you!" Prince Adam quickly responds by clapping enthusiastically. "Oh, yeah, great performance Orko, I was watching the whole time." Prince Adam responds with quick and feign enthusiasm. "Why Adam, I’m shocked. I can’t believe you’ve finally decided to eat your peas." Marlena says to Adam looking at her son's plate. "Huh? Oh, yeah." Adam says in surprise "Well mother, I guess they weren’t as bad as I thought. Mmm-mm!" Adam says rubbing his stomach.

Queen Marlena turns her attention back to Orko’s magic act. Meanwhile, Adam takes his plate off the table and leans underneath it. He begins to call out quietly to his pet tiger CRINGER."Psst! Cringer. Psst! Psst! Psst! You still hungry?" Adam says, whispering to his green skinned, yellow striped pet tiger. We see Cringer, a baby tiger with green fur and yellow stripes. Cringer is finicky over his meal and turns his attention over to Adam. Cringer runs over to Adam’s plate. Adam holds the plate as Cringer begins licking it furiously. Cringer polishes off the plate. Adam returns to the table. There is applause from the spectators in the room as Orko bows in appreciation. "Thank you your majesties." Orko says. Adam joins in with the applauders.

"Now for my next trick, I shall require an assistant. Show of hands?" Orko says, and suddenly a bunch of blue arms and hands spring from the top of Orko's hat. "How about you? The lovely young lady sitting next to our own Man-At-Arms?" Orko turns to Teela. "Well Teela, what do you say?"

"I’ve got an idea Orko, why don’t you make Teela look more like a girl, and less like a cranky Shadowbeast?" Adam says to Orko and laughs. Teela looks at Adam with the same frustrated eyes. Queen Marlena disciplines Adam by grabbing his ear. "Ow! Mother, my ear." Adam calls out in pain. "That’s no way for a future King to behave towards his subjects Adam. Now apologize."

"Sorry Teela." Adam says as he tries to rub the pain away. "I have an idea Orko." Randor says picking up his plate. "Perhaps you could use your magic to clean off the serving ware?" , "A splendid idea dear!" says Queen Marlena with delight and agreement. "Oh, uh, well. I don’t know, I’ve never tried anything like that before." Orko says nervously. "Well, you won’t really know if you don’t try will you Orko? You have to start somewhere, now’s a good a time as any." says Marlena "Here, here." to Marlena and the rest of his dinner guests, raising a goblet. "Well, OK your majesties. I’ll try." Orko says to the King and Queen.

Orko flies over to Randor. "May I borrow your plate your majesty?" Orko asks Randor. "Well, certainly Orko." Randor says, picking up his plate and handing it to Orko. "Thank you, your majesty." Orko says taking the plate, then floats in the middle of the dining room table. Orko makes the plate fly in the air for the moment. "As you’ll notice ladies and gentleman I have nothing up my sleeve." Orko says rolling up his sleeve, revealing there is no arm. The sleeve falls back down and Orko grabs the plate. We see that Orko’s arm has reappeared as he waves his hand over the plate. "Now, I say the magic words “Masters of magic, hear my song. Dirt on plate, now be gone.” Orko closes then opens his hand over the plate. Magically, the dirty plate is now clean. Orko waves it around to show the audience. The people in the room applaud. "Wow, I did it. I did it. Hooray!" Orko says to himself as he fans the plate in his hand. "That’s great Orko!" Teela says in amazement. "But uh...where’d the food go?" Teela asks with revelation and curiosity.

Just then, a black hole opens over Man-At-Arms head. Out pours the food from Randor’s plate on to Man-At-Arms head. "Ugh! Eww! By the Elders, look at this mess!" Man-At-Arms says in disgust. King Randor, Queen Marlena and Adam begin to laugh. Even Teela manages a stifled laugh.

"Orko!" Man-At-Arms screams! "Uh-Oh! S-S-Sorry Man-At-Arms!" Orko says, embarrassed as he looks at Duncan. "M-Maybe I can help?" Orko reaches into his sleeve, he pulls out a handkerchief, and that handkerchief is tied to another handkerchief, and so on. Orko continues to pull handkerchiefs out of his sleeve until they accumulate onto to floor. Orko picks one of the handkerchiefs and hands it to Duncan. "You uh...want a handkerchief?" Orko asks nervously. Orko hands out the line of handkerchiefs and Duncan/Man-At-Arms grabs it furiously and wipes it over his face. Grumbling. "Very impressive Orko, do you think now you can make yourself disappear?", Man-At-Arms yells out, in an angry disposition "Um! Sure Man-At-Arms." Orko says as the handkerchiefs retreat into his sleeve. Then, Orko dashes out of the room, as he heads for the Palace Dining Room doors, the doors fly open towards him Orko slams into the wall on the other side of the door. As Orko is about to peel himself off the door is flattened against the wall again as RAM MAN, so named for the unique helmet designed by Man-At-Arms capable of leveling anyone or anything, one of the King's loyal guards, a heavy built man, clumsy, burly, buy loyal, true and strong member of the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE stands in the doorway holding the doors open, excitably calling out, as the doors fling closed again, we see Orko up against the wall, once again, flattened like a pancake and floats unconsciously like a feather down on to the floor "Your Majesties! Your Majesties come quick!" Slow witted, but suddenly remembering his manners, Ram-Man bows before the King and Queen. "Oh, sorry your majesties, I forgot."

"By The Sorceress of Grayskull! What is it Ram Man?" King Randor says, equally excited as he is taken by surprise.

"Forgive me your highnesses, but it's an emergency." Ram Man says. "Well then..." says Randor "...rise and report." "Thank you sire!" Ram Man says as he rises to his feet. "We'd just received a distress call, from Stratos! Keldor and his forces are heading heading towards the Hall of Wisdom."

"He is is he?" King Randor says in a questionably, curious voice. "Very well then, gather the rest of the Masters and meet me at the front of the castle!"

"Yes your majesty!" Ram Man says pledging to King Randor and Queen Marlena.

As Ram Man turns around to leave he hears a noise coming from the floor. "Ow Rammy! Watch where you're stepping will ya?" Orko calls out to Ram Man, who looks down and sees Orko, lying under his feet, stuck to Ram Man's boot like a wad of chewing gum.

"Orko? Is that you?" Ram Man says in confusion and surprise.

Orko floats off the floor and with his flat arm, puts his thumb in his mouth and blows. He begins to inflate like a balloon and floats in the air again, returning to his normal shape.

"I'd been stepped on before, but this is ridiculous." Orko says to Ram Man and the group, jutting his hands on his hips. "Gee, sorry little buddy!" Ram Man says to Orko. "Didn"t see ya there!" Ram Man says, shrugging his shoulders, "It's Ok Rammy! Not the big finish I had in mind but..."

"Later Orko!" King Randor says, interrupting, practically jumping out of his chair. "If Keldor is heading for The Hall Of Wisdom, we must make haste!" King Randor says sternly "Duncan?" Randor says turning to Man-At-Arms "Yes sire!" Man-At-Arms says obediently. "Prepare my mount!" Man-At-Arms says, with concern "But sire, are you sure...?" Man-At-Arms replies "I am The King...and as such it is my duty to defend my Kingdom!" King Randor says, with authority. Man-At-Arms and the others at the table look at Randor surprise and amazement. "At once, sire! Come Ram Man!" Duncan says to Ram Man with equal authority. The two leave The Palace Dining Room. Randor rushes to join them, when suddenly a pair of hands wrap around his left arm, Queen Marlena's arms. "Wait Randor!" Marlena says to her husband, "Don't try to stop me Marlena!" Randor says affectionately and reluctantly. "I won't..." Marlena says with concern, "I just want to wish you good luck....and good journey." Marlena says to Randor as she kisses him on the lips.

Randor responds by clutches his hands with Marlena, which he kisses. "Thank you my dear. I promise...I shall return." Randor says to his concerned Queen.

Randor then heads out of the dining room to join his troops. Suddenly, Teela springs out of her chair. "Wait your majesty, let me come with you." Teela yells out to King Randor, chasing after him.

Teela finally catches up to Randor, and clings to his leg. "I'm sorry Teela, you’re still too young. Besides, I doubt your father would approve." As Randor says this, Teela lets go of Randor's leg. "But, you might need my help. Especially if you’re going to Snake Mountain." Teela says to Randor, desperately giving her a sulken look lowering her head. Queen Marlena decides to intervene. "Go Randor, I'll talk to her." Marlena says to her husband, reassuringly.

Marlena kneels down to Teela so she is face to face with her.

"Perk up your chin young lady." Marlena says nudging Teela's face to look at her. "As we ladies say, you're too young to have two."

"But, I don't want to be a young lady! I want to be a great warrior... like my father." Teela shouts.

"I admire your enthusiasm dear, but someday, when you're older." Queen Marlena tells her.

"That's what my Father always says." Teela tells Marlena

"Well then, if you really want to help. You will stay here and watch over me and Prince Adam and Cringer." Queen Marlena tells her.

Teela looks at Marlena and smiles but when she turns and looks at Adam and Cringer she is less than enthusiastic, she squints her eyes in anger as usual disappointed that Adam doesn't share her enthusiasm for being a great warrior or King.

"Thanks, your majesty. I appreciate you saying that. You and King Randor, have been like a second family to me...No offense but, I only wish, I knew who my real mother was...and what happened to her." Teela tells her, choking back.

"I'm sure wherever she is dear child, she is proud of you...as King Randor and I are." Marlena tells her.

"Thank you again, Queen Marlena." Teela says, reassured.

"My pleasure dear!" says Marlena hugging her.

As Marlena and Teela share a tender moment, we see a falcon perched on a nearby window. A rather majestic one, that has orange white and blue feathers. There is a close up on the falcon and we see a tear start to roll down her left eye.

"What’s going on?" Adam asks Queen Marlena "Where are Man-At-Arms and father going mother?"

Marlena turns to Adam, and in a motherly voice says to him. "To attend to certain royal duties." Marlena says in answer to her son's question. "Then, how come he didn’t ask us to go with him?" Adam asks, inquisitively.

"Because now is the time for all good young Princes to be in bed." Marlena says to Adam as she picks up her son. "Oh Mother, but I’m not tired." Adam says in protest. Secretly, Marlena pulls out a handheld device from a pocket in her gown. "Oh, I think you are." Marlena holds the device in front of Adam’s eyes. Adam falls asleep. "Remind me to thank your father for inventing this sleep inducer Teela. He is indeed an extraordinary and courageous man."

"Yes your majesty, he is." Teela says in agreement

Adam begins to slip out of Marlena’s arms. Marlena lifts him back up.

"If you’ll excuse me dear, I must be putting Adam down, before he falls asleep on the floor."

"Good night your majesty." remarks Teela

Marlena then turns to Orko. "Good night Orko."

"Oh, uh. Good night your majesty." says Orko, bowing in the air.

Marlena turns to face the door, before she exits she calls out.

"Come along Cringer..., Marlena calls out to Prince Adam's pet tiger cub. "...bed time for you too."

Cringer runs out from under the table and follows Marlena and Adam as they leave the Dining Room."

As Marlena leaves the room with Adam and Cringer, Teela and Orko stay behind to converse.

"Must be nice being a Prince, huh Teela?" Orko says to Teela, "That's the life for me." Orko says, as he continues floating in the air, acting like he's lying on a hammock.

""Not me Orko!" Teela says, "I'd rather be out there, where all the excitement is." Teela gestures in the air with a steak knife as if she is wielding a sword.

Then, Teela notices the majestic falcon perched on the nearby window.

"Hey Orko, looking at that falcon, gives me an idea." Teela says to the diminutive magician.

"What is it?" Orko asks inquisitively.

"I think maybe you're right about getting to be like Adam." Teela says as she quietly approaches the falcon on the window. The falcon however does not move, but Teela continues to creep up on it.

"I mean, if Adam can have a pet..." Teela says with a hungry look in her eyes.

"....then why can't I?" Teela says as she lunges to the falcon. At which point the falcon flies off the ledge, leaving Teela partially hanging out the window. Rather than flying away, the Falcon grabs the back of Teela's shirt and tries to pull her in.

Thinking the falcon is attacking her, Orko rushes to Teela's aid. "Hang on Teela..." Orko says as he floats to Teela. "...help is on the way!" At which point Orko grabs Teela's right arm and begins to pull her back inside. The falcon releases its grip and Orko and Teela fall back into the dining room. The two lay on the trying to shake off the disorientation. Orko is first to stir.

"Are you all right Teela?" Orko asks with concern. "I think so Orko, Thanks!" Teela says to Orko with gratitude, then Teela turns and sees the falcon again only this time it is in the dining room flying above Teela and Orko's head.

"Wow, that's one strong falcon! Bit bigger than most I've seen too." Teela says with curiousity. "I thought it was attacking you." Orko says to Teela. "Actually, I think it was trying to save me." Teela tells him. "Well, I think it's caused enough trouble for one night." Orko says.

Orko flys over to the falcon and begins to try coaxing it away. "Shoo, scat! Go away!" The falcon responds, but strangely enough it begins to talk, telepathically, "Very well Orko...besides, I'm needed elsewhere." The falcon flies off screeching. Leaving Orko bewildered.

"Hey Teela, did you hear - -?" Orko says, scratching his head. "Hear what?" Teela asks Orko, "I think that falcon, just talked to me!" Orko says in amazement. "Wow, you really are a funny one aren't you Orko...falcon's can't talk." Teela says in disbelief.

"Cringer can talk." Orko retorts. "Besides, I meant telepathically, like it read my mind."

"That's nice Orko." Teela says sarcastically, "Now read my lips....I'm going to bed." Teela says yawning and stretching, making sleepy gestures. "Good night Orko..." Teela says as she leaves the room. "...and be sure and tell your friend the falcon I said good night as well. If it comes back." Teela leaves the dining room and Orko in a state of confusion as he scratches his head.

Meanwhile, in Prince Adam's bedroom Marlena tucks in Adam. Cringer jumps on the bed and tries to crawl underneath Adam’s arm. Marlena giggles, then she lifts up Adam’s arm and Cringer crawls underneath it. Cringer makes himself comfortable then falls asleep. Marlena reaches in and kisses her son on the cheek.

"Good night my sweet little prince." Marlena says affectionately to her sleeping son. "Someday I hope you will do extraordinary and courageous things, just like your father." Marlena says as she gets up from the bed and looks over her son one more time. "In fact, I know. When you grow up, you will be as strong and courageous as your father." Marlena stands at the doors of her sons room and just as she is about to leave she says, "....when you are king." Marlean says leaving the room closing the doors behind her.

Close up on the windowsill, where the same orange, white and blue feathered falcon Teela and Orko saw earlier is perched. It is the Sorceress, in her falcon form.

"I assure you Queen Marlena, your son will be all that, and more." The falcon says in a telepathic voice. "Huh who said that?" Adam says, startled by the strange voice. Adam looks over at the window, cuddling, in fact clutching Cringer. "Did you hear that Cringer?" The falcon acts nonchalant for a moment, then flies off the ledge, screeching and heading away from the palace.

The falcon continues to fly across the night sky of Eternia, it heads into the direction of castle Grayskull. The falcon flies in through a window towards a throne and transforms into a woman- -The Sorceress of Grayskull. "Fear not young Prince Adam," The Sorceress says to herself. "...your destiny as King, is merely a small part of what is to come."