Dexter's Laboratory fanmade episode: Mandark Ran Away from Home!
Screenplay: DEXTER'S LABORATORY
Fanmade Episode: "Mandark Ran Away from Home!"
Written by: [Your Concept] – Reimagined Expansion
INT. MANDARK'S LABORATORY – DAY
The lab is dimly lit with evil red lighting. Mandark (SUSAN ASTRONOMONOV) storms in, still wearing his signature black outfit but with a few forced "hippie" accessories: a daisy chain necklace and a tie-dye bandana half-tied around his head like he tried to rip it off.
Mandark slams a suitcase onto his workbench. Tools clatter.
MANDARK
(through gritted teeth)
Enough! No more "inner peace" chants! No more hugging trees! No more "Susan, embrace the flow of the universe"! I am Mandark! Future ruler of the world! Not… some flower child!
He yanks off the bandana and flings it into a trash compactor that immediately incinerates it.
Two of his robotic servants and lab assistants roll up.
MANDARK
Robots! Prepare my escape vehicle! Fetch the most regal, most IMPOSING transport in the database… the ancient Japanese imperial gissha! Yes—the goshoguruma! Ox-drawn, stately, utterly superior!
ROBOT #1
(beeping)
Affirmative, master. Retrieving schematic: Covered cabin, bamboo sudare blinds, kichō state curtains, ornate black-and-gold lacquer, no driver's seat—handler walks beside ox. Requires small rear ladder for entry.
MANDARK
Perfect. And bring a velvet cushion. I refuse to ride like a peasant.
The robots scurry off-screen. Moments later, a massive, elaborate gissha rolls into the lab from a hidden garage door—polished black wood with gold accents, intricate lattice panels, colorful painted motifs (greens, blues, reds), large spoked wheels, and a team of robotic handlers leading a very confused but real ox (pulled from who-knows-where).
Mandark tosses his suitcases inside the cabin, climbs the tiny rear ladder with dramatic flair, and settles on the plush cushion. He crosses his legs like a villainous emperor.
MANDARK
Close the kichō curtains! Lower the sudare blinds! Privacy is power!
The robots obey: Billowing red-and-white kichō curtains are positioned around the interior partitions and doors. The bamboo sudare blinds roll down over the windows, leaving thin slits for peeking.
The ox is led forward. The gissha begins its slow, stately roll out of the garage and onto the suburban street.
INT. GISSHA CABIN – MOVING
Mandark smirks, parting a front sudare blind slightly with one finger. He peers out at passing houses, then ducks back inside.
MANDARK
(quiet, sinister)
They think they can tame me with peace and love? Ha! Once I reach Dexter's… I'll regroup, rebuild, and conquer! Mwahahaha—!
He throws his head back for a full evil laugh that echoes inside the tiny, rocking cabin.
INT. DEXTER'S HOUSE – KITCHEN – DAY
Dexter's Mom hums cheerfully while washing dishes. Dexter's Dad sits at the table, reading the newspaper (headline: "Local Boy Invents New Kind of Toast").
Dexter (in his lab coat) and Dee Dee (twirling) enter, hungry.
DEXTER'S MOM
Lunch is ready, kids! Grilled cheese and tomato soup!
She sets plates down. Suddenly—CLOP CLOP CLOP. An ox snorts loudly right outside the window.
DEXTER'S DAD
(lowering paper)
Dexter, son? I think there's… an ox at the door.
DEXTER
(confused)
An ox? In our neighborhood? This defies all logic!
DEE DEE
Yay! An ox! Can I pet it?!
Dexter sighs, gets up. Dee Dee follows. They open the front door.
EXT. DEXTER'S FRONT PORCH – CONTINUOUS
A massive, ornate gissha blocks the driveway. The ox snorts steam. Robotic handlers stand silently beside it.
Dexter stares, slack-jawed. Dee Dee's eyes sparkle.
DEXTER
What in the name of science is THAT?!
DEE DEE
It's like a fairy-tale carriage! So pretty!
Dexter approaches cautiously.
DEXTER
(to robots)
You! Robot minions! Where is your master?!
One robot reaches up and—slowly, ceremoniously—raises the front sudare blinds. Another parts the billowing kichō curtains.
Inside, Mandark sits cross-legged on his cushion, suitcases stacked neatly, smirking like royalty.
MANDARK
Greetings, Dexter. Greetings… Dee Dee.
His eyes lock on Dee Dee. Hearts practically pop in his pupils. He blushes furiously.
MANDARK
(soft, dreamy)
Dee Dee…
DEXTER
(outraged)
Mandark?! What are you doing here—in a… a Heian-era noble carriage?!
DEE DEE
(clapping)
Yay! Mandark ran away from home?!
MANDARK
(nodding solemnly)
Indeed. I have fled the tyranny of peace, love, and environmental harmony. My parents—Oceanbird and Windbear—insisted I meditate, recycle, and chant mantras instead of plotting world domination! It goes against my very nature!
DEXTER
(eyes widening)
So you… ran away? To MY house?!
MANDARK
Temporarily! Until I can regroup and—
He glances at Dee Dee again, melting.
Dexter notices. He grabs Dee Dee by the shoulders and shoves her gently but firmly back toward the kitchen chair.
DEXTER
Dee Dee, go eat your soup. Now.
Dexter turns back to Mandark.
DEXTER
You must apologize to your parents, Mandark. Running away solves nothing. Even evil geniuses need… family therapy?
MANDARK
(considering, then brightening)
Apologize? Yes… perhaps a strategic retreat is in order. I shall return and DEMAND they cease this hippie nonsense!
MANDARK
(to robots)
About face! To the Astronomonov residence!
The robots nod. Sudare blinds lower again. Kichō curtains billow back into place. The ox plods forward. The gissha rolls away at its glacial, stately pace.
DEXTER
(watching it go)
Only Mandark would run away from home… in an imperial ox carriage.
DEE DEE
(from inside)
It was so romantic!
EXT. MANDARK'S HOUSE – LATER
The gissha arrives. Oceanbird and Windbear pace the porch, worried.
OCEANBIRD
Oh, Windbear, our little Susan has been gone for hours! The universe's flow is disrupted!
WINDBEAR
We must send positive vibes…
The doorbell rings (or rather, a robotic knock).
Oceanbird opens the door.
The gissha is parked. Blinds rise, curtains part.
Mandark steps out (via ladder), trying to look dignified.
OCEANBIRD & WINDBEAR
(together, relieved)
Susan!
OCEANBIRD
Oh, baby, we're so sorry you ran away!
WINDBEAR
We were wrong to force all that peace and love on you. From now on, we'll support whatever makes your soul sing—even if it's… evil schemes and world domination!
MANDARK
(stunned)
You… you will?
OCEANBIRD
Yes! We'll even help you build bigger lasers!
MANDARK
(eyes wide)
Bigger… lasers?
His brain short-circuits from the shock of parental approval. He sways.
MANDARK
(weakly)
This… this is too much harmony…
He faints dramatically, collapsing backward into the waiting arms of his robots.
OCEANBIRD
(softly)
Poor Susan. Let's get him inside for some herbal tea.
WINDBEAR
And maybe a little light chanting…