THE NEW JONNY QUEST WRITERS BIBLE Written by Peter Lawrence Revised by Glenn Leopold FIRST DRAFT:5/18/94 REVISED: 1/17/96 REVISED: 2/6/96 HANNA-BARBERA CARTOONS CONTENTS Foreword Overview A Classic Action Adventure Villians and Monsters Jonny Is Star Of Show Comedy The Characters Jonny Hadji Jessie Race Bannon Dr. Quest Bandit The Group -- Relationships The Quest Home Base, Props & Vehicles More On Story Some Story Ideas to Explore Mysteries, Legends, Locations Format FOREWORD The original JONNY QUEST is a classic of its kind. It pioneered both action adventure and what one might call "realism" in animation. It has a remarkable following; it's something of a cult. Analyzing that kind of success in order to repeat it is not an exact science but we believe that the original JONNY QUEST has a certain kind of heart and, in developing THE NEW JONNY QUEST, we're trusting in that heart. We have evolved the characters and the situations in which they find themselves; we have shifted the action's emphasis more to Jonny himself, to Hadji and, when she is featured, to the relatively new character of Jessie. We're telling the stories at a higher pace (thank you MTV!) and with somewhat greater sophistication - but THE NEW JONNY QUEST does not try to be fashionable or particularly Politically Correct. We're aiming for timelessness, an appeal which depends more on story, character, mood, enchantment, and rollicking high adventure than it does on changing fashion. You can see through the original show's necessarily dated style to that timeless quality. Fans love the original show, perhaps simply for their memories of it; but even when they look at it today, and comment on how dated it is in many ways, they still respond to its sense of adventure...and its heart. Our intention is that audiences will feel the same way about THE NEW JONNY QUEST in another 10 years' time. 2 A CLASSIC ACTION ADVENTURE THE NEW JONNY QUEST is classic action adventure. A young boy and his friends caught up in extraordinary circumstances. Why? Because Jonny's dad just happens to be Dr. Benton Quest, one of the world's great scientists and inventors. A man who likes nothing more than to investigate the unknown. And lucky Jonny (and the audience) gets to come along for the ride. There's an air of mystery to Jonny's adventures. They involve hitherto unexplained phenomena, the paranormal, legends and folklore of today's world - stories which spring from, for example, the enigmas of the Amazonian Rain Forest; the hidden possibilities of the least accessible depths of the oceans; the secrets of the most remote areas of the world - the Himalayas, the Kalahari, the Gobi, the Arctic and the Antarctic; and the riddles of equally fascinating areas nearer home: the Everglades; the ruined dwellings of the Anasazi; the metaphysical lives of the American Indians (and other non-First World cultures); and even the hidden worlds within and beneath our cities. These mysteries may drive the plots of THE NEW JONNY QUEST, or they may simply be a dramatic backdrop. They may be exploited by Jonny and Dr. Quest's antagonists or the mysteries themselves may become the antagonist. But Jonny doesn't get bogged down in mystery. That just provides the exotic flavoring for our adventures. Because JONNY QUEST is most of all about...adventure! Jonny was the original young Indiana Jones. The NEW JONNY QUEST stories are fast paced and action packed. But they also have heart and comedy. You know and love the Quest team, and really care what happens to them. 3 Episodes of THE NEW JONNY QUEST in which Jonny explores an existing, real phenomenon - such as the Airstrips of Nazca, the Ruins of Teotihuacan or the possible existence of Giant Squid - will not attempt to solve these mysteries. In half an hour, we don't set out to unravel archaeological or anthropological problems which have baffled scientists for years. Where real phenomena are featured in a NEW JONNY QUEST story, they will be played for their cryptic qualities and, by the end of the show, when Jonny's adventure has come to a satisfactory dramatic conclusion, we will still wonder exactly why the airstrips exist; who built teotihuacan; or whether there really are 500ft Giant Squid in the depths of the Indian Ocean. In taking this approach to THE NEW JONNY QUEST, we believe we are faithful to the spirit of mystery of the original. 4 VILLIANS AND MONSTERS THE NEW JONNY QUEST will create new villians for the Quest Team (and the world) to face. We will also 'revive' some of the more exciting villians from the old 'classic' series, like Dr. Zin. Not only will this give a continuity with the past for rabid Jonny Quest fans, but also give us the fun of 'upgrading' old enemies -- giving old dogs new tricks, so to speak. THE NEW JONNY QUEST is not a "monster of the week" show. Does that mean there's no room for a dinosaur chasing Jonny through a desert? Or werewolves and vampires and other supernatural creatures? Of course not. Monsters, both human and otherwise, were and are a staple of the Quest formula. But they should be used sparingly. The new show aims for a diversity of adventures, and giant (or even smaller) creatures every week just ain't gonna cut it. The new villians of THE NEW JONNY QUEST might more accurately be defined as antagonists. They have little in common with each other except that they are in conflict with Dr. Quest - and that conflict is never their prime motive. It is always the result of the antagonist's personal objective or ambition which, for whatever reason, is opposed by Dr. Quest. No one is simply "out to get" the Quest team. Unless it's someone with a long-held grudge, like Dr. Zin. These new antagonists are always 'bigger than life', in the classical sense that they are determined, courageous and determined. But misguided. Their mores might be different from Dr. Quest's - or ours - but they are not necessarily malevolent. We may even sympathize with their agenda and sympathize with their fate. Does that mean there are no mad scientists? No way. 5 Though mad, or at least angry, these new antagonists are characters in their own rights; have their own clear objectives. They are always convincing, determined, powerful and, however enigmatic, very dangerous to the Quest team. 6 JONNY QUEST IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW THE NEW JONNY QUEST features Jonny as the star, with Hadji and Jessie (when she appears) as his co-stars. The stories are told through Jonny's point of view and the drama is driven by his (and Hadji's and Jessie's) actions and reactions. Dr. Quest and Race Bannon are always present - but pushed more to the background. This is not the story of Dr. Quest's and Race's adventures as they affect Jonny; the kids don't simply tag along for the ride. They propel the action. That does not mean that we cannot have stories that feature the other characters. Yes, Race or Benton can have a problem, as can Hadji or Jessie. That doesn't mean Jonny isn't right in the thick of things trying to solve the problems, but the problems revolve around others besides himself. After all, rescuing friends and relations is what Jonny does best. We can, and should feature storied 'centered' around the various other Quest team members. It adds variety. And we care more when one of our characters is in grave danger. Not some stranger. THE NEW JONNY QUEST is the story of Jonny's (and Hadji's and Jessie's) adventures - triggered by Dr. Quest's work. Jonny, Hadji and Jessie are usually the prime movers, and not simply kids responding and reacting to the adults' world. But that is not a hard and fast rule. Let variety and good story-telling be your guide. 7 COMEDY THE NEW JONNY QUEST is an action adventure show. But it is not humorless. There is a sense of fun to these adventures, whether it comes from Race's quips-in-the-face-of-danger or Bandit's doggy shenanigans. The Quest Team is likeable. And light hearted moments make them more so. THE NEW JONNY QUEST aims to mix edge-of-the-seat adventure with some tongue-in-cheek humor, to keep our show from getting too dark or heavy. They say laughter relieves tension. With the kind of peril our kids get into, a good laugh now and is mandatory! 8 THE CHARACTERS JONNY The new Jonny may wear a black T-shirt instead of his roll-neck and his jeans may be differently cut but his character is much as you remember him. At age 13 he still has some growing and maturing to do. He's a little less strident. Somewhat cooler. He's a tough kid with a straight-ahead, right-on attitude. But he's not a punk. He's got guts...and heart. He may be headstrong, but he always cares about others. After all, this is a kid who's saved the world (not to mention friends and relatives) dozens of times. Jonny will do whatever has to be done. At least, he'll try. He does, of course, remain a young boy. He will not be able to out- think a brilliant physicist, or physically overpower an athletic adult opponent. But that doesn't mean he won't try. Failing the direct approach, Jonny resorts to wit and cunning; to go around the problem rather than confront it head on. Jonny has a strong connection with his father. They like each other and Jonny admires and respects his dad. It's true that he will never be as smart - highly educated - as Dr. Quest, who approaches genius where Jonny is a B student; nor is Jonny driven by his father's desire to know more about all and everything...though Jonny is curious. Jonny is much more a Man- Of-Action in training (hence his great respect for Race) than an intellectual. 9 Deep down, maybe Jonny envies Jessie's relationship with Dr. Quest. She's so darn smart. And sometimes Jonny gets jealous of Jessie's relationship with Bandit. He's his dog. These tensions add spice to our drama. Remember, these are kids. Wouldn't you be a little miffed if a genius girl hung out with your Dad all the time? Jonny does not dwell on the fact that he has no mother. That's the way it is and he gets on with his life. There's never any doubt of Dr. Quest's love for his son...though sometimes he might wish Jonny was a bit more like Jessie. To Jonny, his life is a dream come true. He is super-enthused to be able to travel the world with his father, Race Bannon, and his friends Hadji and Jessie. His life is cool and he embraces it wholeheartedly. 10 HADJI is a little older (15) than Jonny, taller and thinner than you remember him. He is now Dr. Quest's assistant in training. He does not have his mentor's formal education in the sciences but he shares his burning interest in archaeology, anthropology and, particularly, the paranormal. Hadji is a Sikh and a student Yogin. Spiritually and philosophically, he is a true product of his world. Compared to Jonny and Race, particularly, he has a more fatalistic and accepting attitude to whatever is happening to him at the time. He starts from the philosophical point of view that everything is as it's supposed to be. Most elements of the grander scheme are beyond control of the individual. Fate is the governing factor. But that doesn't mean Hadji isn't overly cautious. He is. And that sometimes annoys headstrong Jonny...and even Jessie. Hadji's actions and reactions will express this significant contrast between his character and Jonny's. In addition, Hadji may use aphorisms or some other figure of speech which expresses his different take on life. That figure of speech may be taken from any culture or any source, but it must reflect Hadji. Sometimes, it will baffle Jonny. Sometimes it may even irritate him. It will always have an intrinsic truth to it. 11 Hadji was raised in India by PASHA THE PEDDLER. He never knew his parents (though this year he may learn otherwise). He has developed latent psionic powers that appear 'magical'. He is eager to learn all aspects of the mystic arts. No, Hadji can't fly...but with enough concentration he can levitate small objects. He can do rope tricks. He should not sit around in a trance. Hadji is active and eager to try our his mystical knowledge. Sure, he may not be able to hypnotize a tiger...but he'll embrace his failure and try harder next time, if the tiger doesn't eat him first! Being a student Yogin allows him to master such proven techniques as controlling his heartrate (so he's able to feign his own death for a short while) and controlling his body temperature. These may get him out of tight spots, story-wise, but they are not that interesting to watch. With Hadji, the more visual his 'power', the better. 12 JESSIE is slightly older (14) than Jonny, and often seems much more mature. Like Jonny, she has had to take responsibility for herself and handles herself well in most situations. As Race's daughter, she is fit and athletic but she is not Superwoman in training. She cannot, even with all Race's tuition in the martial arts, overpower an adult. In fact she's a bit of a disappointment in that regard...though Race would never let on to her. Jonny is his prize pupil in the physical fitness department. Let's face it. Jessie is more of an egghead. And Race can be overprotective when it comes to his daughter. But though Jessie is not as strong, physically, as Jonny, she is just as tough. She's smarter, too, and more thoughtful; more academic and, to Jonny's chagrin, certainly more in tune with Hadji. Why does Hadji always seem to side with Jessie? Maybe because she's prettier than Jonny. Like Hadji, Jessie has a strong interest in Dr. Quest's work and she often has a better grasp of the academic and the theoretical than Jonny. So, just as Jonny likes to hang out with Race - the man of action - Jessie likes to spend time with Dr. Quest. She shares his consuming interest in archaeology, physics and the paranormal. Race may be a touch envious of Jessie's relationship with Benton. Call it fatherly jealousy. But Race is also extremely proud that his daughter can hold her own with a genius like Dr. Quest. 13 The very real differences between Jessie and Jonny should make for interesting crossplay and tensions. These two kids really like each other, but they fall out like friends often do. Maybe some day, the two will become more than friends. Maybe Jessie really prefers Hadji's company. Sometimes Jonny thinks so. Most of the time, Jessie lives [with] Race at the Quest Compound. She has a mother, Race's ex-wife, ESTELLA VELASQUEZ, an architect who lives in South America (Columbia to be exact). Estella is rarely featured in a NEW JONNY QUEST episode, but when she is, she must have a strong, relevent role. 14 RACE BANNON is almost exactly as you remember him: the ageless (okay, he's 38) man of action with an acute nose for any danger which threatens him or his friends. He is fearless and utterly dependable. Though Race is almost a part of the Quest family, he is an employee of the government, assigned to protect Dr. Benton Quest and family. And he would do anything to protect them. Respecting his employee arrangement, Race respectfully refers to Benton as "Dr. Quest". Race has a laconic sense of humor. He will often come up with a dry quip at the moment of maximum danger. Race has been involved with a variety of women, including such femme fatales as the American spy "JEZEBEL" JADE KENYON and the Russian operative, NATASHA ROSTOVA. He's been married (and divorced) by a Columbian architect named ESTELLA VELASQUEZ, with whom he had a daughter...Jessie. Jessie is the most constant woman in Race's life right now, though sometimes it seems the brainy teenager should be Dr. Quest's daughter. Race loves Jessie, but can't help being the overprotective Dad. As for Jonny, he's the boy Race never had. He's taught Jonny everything he knows about self-defense and courage. It's enough to make a daughter jealous. And sometimes does. 15 DR. QUEST is much as you remember him, though he is a little older (55) and certainly more relaxed. He is a famous scientist and inventor, consulted by individuals, governments and corporations to investigate any mysterious chain of events which might affect their lives or operations. Dr. Quest has an overwhelming interest in strange phenomena, and is always eager to study the unexplained mysteries of our world. While Dr. Quest no longer works specifically for the U.S. Government, he is, from time to time, called in to help resolve a particular problem. And the government does provide him with a bodyguard in the person of Race Bannon. As Race puts it, "You're too valuable a resource to be left unprotected, Dr. Quest." Dr. Quest is somewhat cerebral - driven by his desire to know more about everything and, particularly, more about the inexplicable worldwide phenomena which he investigates. Gripped by that desire, he will ignore all distractions and dangers - not because he is especially brave but because his drive to learn blanks out more basic instincts like self-preservation. His sense of humor tends to be a touch ponderous. Jessie laughs at his jokes, though. Jessie is the daugher Dr. Quest never had. And what of Benton Quest the man? He still misses his dead wife. He hasn't remarried. Will there be a romance for the world's most famous scientist this season? Which kid would resent this instrusion on Dr. Quest's attention the most? Jonny or Jessie? Seeing another side of Dr. Benton Quest is something we may explore in our show. 16 BANDIT is as you remember him. A loveable bulldog with strange mask- like eye markings. The comic relief for the Quest Team...and our show. Bandit is a cartoon dog, but not a Tex Avery cartoon dog. His eyes don't bug out three feet...but he is funny. He gets into trouble, chasing birds and cats. He falls into rivers. He saves the day. He can understand Jonny, basically. He can dig. Fetch keys. Sometimes fetch the wrong things. He can bark warnings. Jump on villains. Bandit doesn't talk or laugh. He doesn't flatten against walls. But he can roll down a snowy hill and become a rolling Bandit snowball. If we wanted a real dog, we'd rotoscope Rin-Tin-Tin. Bandit is Bandit. The Quest Team (and the world) loves him. Bandit is loyal, capable of bravery, enthusiastic and, all in all, the best dog buddy an adventuresome kid could have. Yes, he sometimes ducks for cover and covers his head with his paws, but when the chips are down...Bandit is there. Bandit lives at the Quest's home and accompanies Jonny when it is practical. Or when our story needs him. He should not appear slung over Jonny's back while Jonny is scaling an impossible Alpine ridge. On the other hand, he might be waiting for him in a warm hut to lick the icicle off his pal's nose. Bandit provides heart. And warmth. And laughs. 17 When Bandit features in a story, he should be carefully integrated into the action. If he is in any way central to the action (rather than a background presence), he must be presented so that we care about him, what he's doing and what might happen to him. 18 THE GROUP - RELATIONSHIPS Clearly, our main characters has different and defined personalities and their reactions to the various predicaments in which they find themselves will differ. Jonny's response to danger will be close to Race's. Jessie's intrigue with mysterious, unexplained phenomena will be close to Dr. Quest's. And Hadji, with his roots in a different culture and a more spiritual approach to life, is different again. Given a set of strong personalities like this, conflicts are bound to result. And even in the most loving of families, there are disagreements. Minor, sometimes. But there are different ways to reach the same goals. Jonny can be headstrong. Hadji perhaps too cautious. Jessie too cerebral. Hadji seems to side with Jessie against Jonny. Or vice versa. Jonny shows off for Jessie's benefit, trying to outdo Hadji. Petty jealousies. Nothing is more boring for drama than total harmony. So yes, the Quest team must have their moments of annoyance with each other. Nobody's perfect and the Quest Team shouldn't be either. That doesn't have to make them bad guys...just human. And it doesn't mean they don't stick together to defeat the bad guys. They do. 19 THE QUEST HOME BASE, PROPS AND VEHICLES THE NEW JONNY QUEST does not rely on a range of props, vehicles and gimmicks for its drama - but it does have some cool stuff! What follows describes some of it, but we should not be limited in what we can dream up for this show. HOME is on the Maine coast, a sprawling compound of houses, barns and workshops. Please refer to the Design Sheets. Areas of note include the Conservatory, a half-oval building attached to the main house and perched on its own rocky outcrop. The rocks "grow" up through its floor and it features a central fireplace. The room, whose windows flare red and gold with the setting sun, is often the place where an adventure starts - where a stranger wlll inveigle the Quests into an investigation. There is a huge, old fashioned library complete with rolling ladder. This room reflects Dr. Quest's hunger for knowledge, his eclectic tastes and the groups respect for the written word. In addition to his bedroom, Jonny has a workshop/den which is his own private place. There's always a half-dismantled motorcycle, an antique shotgun in restoration or some similar project on a bench. Hadji uses the smaller house's lookout as his retreat. This is where he meditates and studies to be a yogin. It has a spectacular 360 degree view. 20 Jessie has her own den which reflects a modern approach to the acquisition of knowledge: she surrounds herself with the latest in personal computer systems. There is a dojo/gym, which is where you'll usually find Race and, often, Jonny. Jessie works out here too but she's not obsessive about it. There is a huge barn, in which an up-to-the-minute lab and has been installed, along with a well equipped workshop. The workshop is open to a row of horse stalls, so that curious horses' heads are often visible in background while any of the group uses the workshop. The PBY Catalina The Quest's plane is a World War II vintage PBY Catalina amphibious flying boat. Race's pride and joy, he is always tinkering with the PBY - but it is more than a hobby. Even though its cruising speed is well below 200 mph, it has a 3000 mile range and its amphibious abilities mean that the Quests can take it to any part of the world. The Quester Catamaran A state-of-art cat some 120 ft in length, The Quester is a go- anywhere vessel with enormous accomodation in its two hulls - including a marine lab and a saloon, both of which are enclosed in huge reinforced plexy canopies. The Quester's bridge deck is equipped with every navigation and communications system a world-girdling sailor could desire. 21 The Quester has two helms. One is open (like a flying bridge) equipped with a large steel "Destroyer Wheel" (helm), engine control units, compasses and "repeaters" - instruments which repeat the displays generated by the navigation systems in the Control Center beneath the Flying Bridge. The Control Center/Bridge is as comprehensively equipped as any combination yacht, survey-, dive vessel. In addition to s second Destroyer Wheel and engine controls, it has complete navigation systems and instruments, state-of-the-art world-ranging communications systems, ocean floor mapping facilities, and so on. Instruments and displays include: Radar, SatNav, Loran, Wind Direction, Wind Speed, Ship's Heading, Course, Course Made Good, Speed Over Ground, Etc. The Quester's two hulls extend perhaps four feet beneath the surface, the bottom of the huge expanse of her bridge deck some eight feet above the surface. Two submersibles Looked at from a fish's eye view, one would see two SUBMERSIBLES docked beneath the bridge deck, in snug niches. When the subs are docked beneath the bridge deck, their entry hatches are accessible through The Quester's bridge deck, so that operators may enter the sub directly through The Quester's deck, then close the hatch after them, pull a quick-release lever and drop the sub directly into the sea beneath The Quester. The port mini-sub - THE SEA SLUG - is really a diving bell with limited maneuverability. It permits two of its three operators access to the sea via a bottom hatch, and is attached to the Quester at all times by an umbilical. It is similar in function to a conventional diving bell but can be maneuvered, in a limited fashion, by using small, rotating compressed air nozzles. (In the same way, space capsules are maneuvered by small thruster rockets.) 22 The Sea Slug is constructed of carbon fiber and uses a water ballast system. The pilot/operator lies prone, while the two divers accomodate themselves in reclining seats. The starboard mini-sub - THE PORPOISE - is a self propelled exploration vessel which allows its operators no access to the sea but is equipped with remarkably maneuverable prehensile arms. It carries two people. Access is via hatches in The Quester's bridge deck (like The Sea Slug). A quick release lever drops The Porpoise into the sea. This sub is piloted much like a helicopter. The "pilot" sits behind a plexi shield, in a reclining seat, with a cyclical control stick for movement in all planes. There are foot and hand throttles. The "passenger" (who works all ancillary equipment) sits beside and slightly behind the pilot. The Porpoise is equipped with mechanical arms and hands (the "passenger's" responsibility to operate). The Quester is extensively equipped with free-diving systems. For further details, see Design Sheets and "THE DARKEST FATHOMS". Tenders - A Boston Whaler & A Sailing Cat The stern of each hull features a Whaler-Mothership-style ramp. A 20 ft Boston Whaler is berthed in one hull and can be launched from the ramp. The other may be used to carry whatever is needed for an expedition, or anything that is found along the way. The Whaler has a powerful outboard and can make 30 knots. A 16 ft Catamaran is stowed, hulls folded together, on the bridge deck, for use as a sailing tender when in port or inshore. Jonny, Hadji and Jessie are experts at sailing this cat and delight in flying it, one hull high, strung out on trapezes. 23 These are some of the featured props and vehicles - but we're not limited just to them. Dr. Quest is contracted by individuals, organizations, corporations and governments who have access to just about any kind of vehicle or piece of equipment which can be imagined: from Lear Jets to diving ships with moon pools; from supersophisticated satellite imaging equipment to gas chromatographies. The sky's the limit. 24 MORE ON STORY Dr. Quest is perhaps the world's best-known scientist, inventor, and investigator of unexplained phenomena, which is why individuals, organizations, corporations and governments call on hi mto investigate apparently inexplicable mysteries which affect them. He also initiates his own inquiries into mysterious phenomena, for he can be single-minded - almost to the point of obsession - in his pursuit of knowledge. The phenomenon may be central to the story or it may be the background. It may itself be the antagonist or it may be exploited by someone who becomes the antagonist/villain. THE NEW JONNY QUEST does not feature a regular cast of villains, although the more interesting antagonists and guest characters can be brought back for multiple appearances. To allow the flexibility and time to develop and exploit each episode's characters, regular and guest, heroic and villainous, it is not necessary to use all the characters in every show. Jonny himself is the only character who must appear in every story. Most of THE NEW JONNY QUEST's villains are enigmatic three dimensional characters. They may be warped, greedy, antisocial, psychotic or downright bad - but they are more than simple punch- bag villains. They are personalities in their own rights. 25 SOME STORY AREAS TO EXPLORE 1. The real mysteries of our world. The Sphinx (which some people now think may be as much as 8000 years old); The Bimini stones (which were once thoughr to be hard evidence of the existence of Atlantis); stories of South West African beaches where huge diamonds may simply be picked out of the sand; UFO sightings; the West African Dogon tribe, whose centuries-old ceremonies incorporate knowledge of planets and moons invisible to the naked eye; the Nazca Strips of Peru; submarine Sulphur Funnels where life exists without oxygen; the legend of Prester John; the Zimbabwe Ruins; the statues of Easter Island; the various monolithic stones and stone structures which are found throughout the world; corn circles; fossil footprints which indicate that humans and dinosaurs co-existed eons before our known ancestors; Shamans, Witch Doctors and Medicine Men with cures for diseases unaffected by Western drugs; ghostly visitations leaving hard evidence which even the most cynical investigators find hard to dismiss ... 2. Legends involving as-yet unproven creatures The many versions of Sasquatch - Amok, El Mano Grande, the Yeti, etc.; the well-supported theory that Giant Squid exist - creatures so large that they could drag a small ship beneath the surface. 3. Exotic locations may themselves be a springboard. The Everglades; the Rockies; Arizona's Anasazi settlements; Amazon Jungles; Kalahari Sands; the Himalayas; the Rockies; the Arctic and the Antarctic; the Congo; Papua New Guinea; the Australian outback; tropical paradises like the Amirantes, the Tubua and the Line Islands ... 26 4. Fictional mysteries and locations The existing, known phenomena and locations on which we may base THE NEW JONNY QUEST stories aew endless, but we can also invent our own equivalents of the Sphinx and Nazca, Atlantis and Amok. The only rules are that the phenomenon must be believable; its effect on our protagonists dramatic; and the denouement vaguely plausible. Plausibility is a keynote of THE NEW JONNY QUEST. We will take our adventures to the limits but they should remain somewhat real and grounded. That means no space ship trips to Venus. At least not this deason. 27 FORMAT Each NEW JONNY QUEST story is told in three parets: a short PREVIEW (up to 3 minutes), followed by THE MAIN TITLES and TWO ACTS.