Before getting to the story, I need to pause for a moment for an apology. In this story Dandelion and Blitz find love. Love of that of a mother to a son. This has offend Greywolf Lupous, creator of Huntress. She has found offense of talk of Dandelion adopting Blitz since Huntress is related to Dandelion (she is Hunter’s sister) so it would be kind of be weird that since she would then also be Blitz’s sister if the adoption went through (though, this was never planed. It was a plot device to trick the readers to think that they were in love. That’s it.) Regardless, I humbly and deeply apologize to Greywolf Lupous. And I’d like to add though I use characters other people have created, my stories unfold in a universe all their own. It was never my intend that what happens in my stories reflect what happens in stories by other fanfic writers. Again, I apologize… Now, onto the story. STRAYERS "Wedding Bell Blues" Story by Steven Today 1ST ROUGH DRAFT JUNE 6, 1997 2ND ROUGH DRAFT January 4, 1998 Road Rovers characters, names, situations and the Road Rovers universe are the property of Warner Bros. I nor this script are connected with Warner Bros. in any way, shape or form. Story contents, characters, names, situations and anything else associated with Strayers are Copyright 1996-1998 by Steven Today (bearstrayer@yahoo.com) All rights reserved. This document may not be publicized or reproduced in any way, shape or form. It must remain fully intact and may not be altered in anyway. It is strictly used for not-for- profit entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. “WEDDING BELL BLUES” ANNOUNCER (VOICE OVER, DRAMATIC) When we last left the Rovers and Strayers… FADE IN EXTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - SURFACE This is the surface of the earth above Road Rover Mission Control. It is a desert like area of the southwest, there is sand and cactuses all around and a large crater. The Pack Rover swoops down towards it. A large secret door on the side of the crater opens up, the plane heads for it. EXTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - GROUNDS Deep in a large cavern in the earth is a lighted complex of buildings (shaped like fire hydrants) and clear tubing (that connect the buildings together). This is where the Road Rover’s base all their operations. Blaring alarms can be heard everywhere. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - BURIAL VAULT This is a huge room. Against the back wall are many open burial chambers (like a mausoleum) and some that are closed and just have names on them. One of them is Bear’s, but its casings are melting away. Exile is here using his cold vision to try and interact with the melting, but as quickly as he freezes it it melts his ice. Colleen and Nitro look on. Other Rovers and Strayers rush in all armed. CLEO (EXCITED) What’s going on? Why the alarm? Colleen points at the light, everyone shields their eyes and looks at it. STAR (CONFUSED) What the… COLLEEN (BLUNT) We got intruders about. We think they have planted this device. Probably some kind of nuke core. When it completely melts down we will all die of radiation. SILVER (SARCASTIC) Terrific. RAMSES (EXCITED) Can you contain it Exile? Exile’s cold vision gives out, he rubs his blood shot eyes. EXILE (FRUSTRATED) Nyet! Nyet! We are kupts! Everyone looks at the burial chamber, the wall completely melts away. Everyone covers their face with their arms and screams. Nothing happens. After a few seconds, everyone looks up to see that all that is in the burial vault is Bear’s coffin. HUNTER (CONFUSED) Now I’m confused. Suddenly, the coffin raises up on it’s own power and floats out of the chamber. Everyone gasps. It floats towards them. DIXIE (UNEASY) I don’t like this. SILVER (BLUNT) Me either. Silver starts firing at the casket, but the laser bolts just ricochet off it. She stops. CLEO (CONFUSED) I know they are making coffins out of tougher materials now a days… COLLEEN (EXCITED) No way! They can’t deflect laser fire! HUNTER (ANNOYED) This smells like Parvo all over it. The Coffin floats and comes to a rest before them. The lid pops open. DIXIE (ANNOYED) This is plain ridiculous! That coffin was sealed! Something stirs inside. They all scream and hug one another in fear. Suddenly, a black furry paw reaches up and grabs out the lid. The figure inside sits up and smiles. It is Bear (in Malamute form) He looks at everyone. BEAR(SMUG) I’m back! Everyone points their weapons at Bear. SILVER (SMUG) Yeah. Sure. I believe that. RAMSES (BLUNT) I think we have found our intruder. BEAR (DEFENSIVE) No… It’s me… Bear… COLLEEN (BLUNT) We’ll see about that. Everyone moves in towards Bear, weapons at the ready. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - INFIRMARY Bear is seated on a table, Colleen is confirming with Hubert while everyone else has their weapons trained on Bear. Nitro just stares at him, not knowing what to make out of it. She is back in her standard clothes. Finally, Colleen and Hubert go back to the other. COLLEEN (FRUSTRATED) You can put your weapons away. It’s Bear all right. NITRO (CONFUSED) What? All his test results match exactly to how we have on records when he was Bear. There is no doubt. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) Then he’s a clone. HUBERT (BLUNT) Can’t be. His brain pattern is the same as the records. Even a clone can’t duplicate those. They are unique. COLLEEN (BLUNT) Plus when we had everyone but Nitro move to the other side of the room she battered him with questions only he knew the answers. He got them all right. No mistake. It is him. NITRO (BLUNT) There is one test you didn’t try. Everyone looks at Nitro, confused. She walks up to Bear and gives him a long and powerful kiss, it leaves him breathless. BEAR (SARCASTIC) Whoa. I should die more often. Nitro hugs Bear. NITRO (EXCITED) It’s him all right! Nitro hug on Bear some more, then lets go. She grabs his hand. HUNTER (CONFUSED) But how can it be? We ALL saw him die? COLLEEN (CONFUSED) I honestly can’t tell you why. OUTLAW (BLUNT) I think I can answer that. Everyone turns to Outlaw. OUTLAW (BLUNT) When Nitro injected some of my blood into his body it must have had a delay reaction. HUBERT (BLUNT) That can’t be my boy. When we embalmed him we remove all his vital organs and liquids. There wasn’t even a trace left. COLLEEN (HONEST) And that wouldn’t explain the melting of the wall and the hovering of the casket. Outlaw shrugs. DIXIE (CONFUSED) Then how? BEAR (BLUNT) All I remember is dying. Everything went black. As my conscious faded I heard this soft and soothing voice. All it said was “Rest my son.” Next moment I wake up and everyone is pointing weapons at me. Everyone is thoroughly confused. Nitro looks around to everyone. NITRO (BLUNT) Don’t you get it? This is a full-fledged miracle. Amanda was not an intruder. She was an angel. Sent to prepare me for this. That is why she has completely disappeared from the base. She led me to the Burial Chamber. Bear was dead for three days. Just like Christ was. HUNTER (CONFUSED) Bear is Christ? NITRO (DEFENSIVE) No. Just a representation. A reminder. EXILE (CONFUSED) Is this possible? BEAR (BLUNT) It all makes sense. Recently there has been a decline in faith here. Even I myself was starting to doubt God’s power. SILVER (BLUNT) So that is why you haven’t been blithering about Christ and all lately. BEAR (BLUNT) Yes. But now I see the purpose. What better way than to get people to believe again then an old fashion miracle. OUTLAW (CONFUSED) But they only happen in the Bible. Not here. BEAR (BLUNT) Then explain me. Everyone tries but can’t. COLLEEN (BLUNT) Hey. Miracle is what I’m going to put in my journal. BEAR (BLUNT) I believe. NITRO (BLUNT) I believe. DIXIE (BLUNT) I believe. BEAR (BLUNT) Enough said. HUNTER (THINKING) Now where is my Bible? I think I need some brushing up. Bear looks at Colleen. BEAR (BLUNT) Am I freed to go? COLLEEN (BLUNT) Yeah. You are released. Bear looks around to everyone. BEAR (BLUNT) Any other questions? They all shake their heads. Bear jumps to his feet, still holding onto Nitro’s hand. BEAR (SMUG) Well. If you will excuse me, I’m going to take my fiancee for a walk around the grounds. Nitro giggles. Both her and Bear walk out of the room. EXTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - GROUNDS Nitro and Bear are walking around the base hand in hand. They talk as they go. BEAR (SHOCKED) Amanda was an angel? NITRO (HONEST) Well, when she was here. Yes. But while they were testing you I called her at home. Same old Amanda. Bear sighs with relief. BEAR (RELIEVED) What a relief. Nitro stops, so does Bear. He looks at her. NITRO (BLUNT) Now you know how I felt. Bear looks at Nitro, confused. NITRO (UPSET) When you died my world came apart! Nothing mattered anymore I did things I thought I never would and never want to do again! BEAR (HONEST) I hear you. NITRO (ANNOYED) Do you really? BEAR (DEFENSIVE) Hey. I’m the one who died. Remember? NITRO (ANNOYED) So. You were dead. BEAR (BLUNT) Yeah. But the last thing to go through my head was you. The pain that my body was feeling was nothing to what my mind was feeling. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see you again. It tore me apart. Nitro smiles. NITRO (PLEASED) Then this makes it some much the easier. Bear looks at Nitro, confused. She punches him in the nose as hard as she can. He stumbles back and trips over a stick and lands on his butt. He rubs his nose and looks up to her. BEAR (CONFUSED) What was that for? Nitro answers by leaping onto Bear and knocking him on his back. She is on top of him looking into his eyes. He is totally confused, she is angry. NITRO (ANGRY) I swear! If you ever get yourself killed over something as stupid and selfish as you did I’ll kill you if you come back to life! You put me through hell! Bear frowns. BEAR (BLUNT) You’re absolutely right, Nitro. It was perhaps the most stupid thing I’ve ever done. Can you forgive me? Nitro smiles. NITRO (ANNOYED) I already have, darling. I just didn’t want you to forget so easily. BEAR (PLEASED) I haven’t… Nor will I forever forget. Nitro kiss Bear and he yelps. NITRO (CONFUSED) What is it? BEAR (BLUNT) Nose is kind of sore. Nitro giggles. NITRO (EMBARRASSED) Sorry, I guess I kind of over did it. Bear shakes his head. BEAR (BLUNT) Nah… I deserved it. They stare lovingly into each other’s eyes. BEAR (HONEST) Nitro. I love you, more than anything on this earth. I know I’ve said this many of times but I mean it. I swear to you, with all my heart. I’ll never put you through that ever again… And with your help, we can make sure of it. Nitro looks at Bear, confused. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - GENETICS LAB Hubert is fiddling around with some experiments. Suddenly, Bear and Nitro rush in. He rushes up to Hubert as Nitro rushes up to Bear’s Transdogmafier. He notices this. HUBERT (CONFUSED) What’s going on? BEAR (BLUNT) Just making sure something awful never happens again. Hubert is confused. Nitro takes a deep breath and screams in the direction of the Transdogmafier, it is a piercing cry. Bear and Hubert cover their ears. The howl lasts about a second, it drains her but not as much as usual (she held back some). They remove their hands from their ears. Suddenly, the Transdogmafier vibrates madly. It begins to fall apart. In a matter of seconds it is turned into a unless pile of rubble. Hubert screams and runs over to it, Bear follows him. They all three look down at it. HUBERT (SHOCKED) Are you two crazy? Do you realize what you have done? BEAR (PLEASED) Yeah. Destroyed a greater evil. Hubert turns and looks at Bear and Nitro. HUBERT (SHOCKED) Without that Transdogmafier Bear can never hope to return to Steve, his original self. NITRO (SMUG) That is the whole point. Hubert just looks at them, confused. BEAR (BLUNT) Look. I now realized that it was no mistake I became Bear. When God resurrected me it could have been Steve or Rabid or anything else, but he choose Bear. I don’t know exactly why but I’m not going to question him judgment. Bear is me. And I’m going to stay as him. There will be no further experimentation. Okay? Hubert is taken aback. HUBERT (HURT) Well… If that is the way you feel my boy. BEAR (UPBEAT) Look… It’s not that I don’t or didn’t appreciate that you tried. I just feel it is best this way. Hubert smiles. HUBERT (PLEASED) As long as you’re happy. Bear places his arm around Nitro, they look at each other. BEAR (PLEASED) I’m happy. Very happy. The happiest I have ever been in my life. Nitro smiles. NITRO (PLEASED) Me too. Bear smiles and looks at Hubert. BEAR (PLEASED) I don’t want to ruin that. So do me a favor. Destroy all the prototypes, plans and reports. Everything that still exists dealing with me trying to get back to Steve. HUBERT (PLEASED) Consider it done. BEAR (PLEASED) Thanks. Nitro and Bear turn towards the exit and walk towards it. When they reach it… HUBERT (BLUNT) And Bear… Bear and Nitro stop, they turn towards Hubert. BEAR (CONFUSED) Yes? HUBERT (PLEASED) Welcome home my boy. Nitro and Bear’s smiles broaden. BEAR (PLEASED) Thanks. It feels good to be home. Nitro and Bear turn towards the exit and walk out. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - RABID’S QUARTERS Bear, Nitro, Amani and Puffball (in Felo-Mutant form) are all sitting around. Bear looks around to all of them. BEAR (PLEASED) Grizzlies. I’m glad you all decided to come. AMANI (BLUNT) Like we had a choice. You called a unit meeting. PUFFBALL (CONFUSED) What up? BEAR (BLUNT) Something big. Something that is going to change this unit forever. Amani and Puffball look at Bear, shocked. AMANI (ANNOYED) Don’t tell me they are breaking us up. BEAR (REASSURING) No. We’re not being broken up. In fact, we’re being expanded. PUFFBALL (CONFUSED) How that? BEAR (PLEASED) We’re getting a new member. AMANI (SURPRISED) We are? Cool. Someone who could help me with the equipment. PUFFBALL (PLEASED) Someone help pack. BEAR (UP BEAT) Yes. A team player. Someone to make this unit even better. AMANI (CONFUSED) Who is this new member? PUFFBALL (BLUNT) Bet it recruit. BEAR (PLEASED) No. This is a seasoned Strayer. AMANI (BLUNT) Who is it? BEAR (PLEASED) Someone who can pass their experience and skill onto us. AMANI (ANNOYED) Who are you talking about? BEAR (PLEASED) Someone who can inspire us. AMANI (ANGRY) Tell us who it is already! BEAR (PLEASED) See for yourself. Bear turns towards the bathroom. BEAR (PROUD) You can come out now newest member of the Grizzlies. Everyone looks towards the bathroom and Prowler walks out and up to the others. Amani and Puffball gasp. PUFFBALL (SHOCKED) Not him! Anyone but him! MANI (SHOCKED) Say it isn’t so! NITRO (FRUSTRATED) I’m afraid it is. Amani and Puffball scream. PROWLER (CONFUSED) What’s the problem? AMANI (ANNOYED) The problem is you’re a sexiest, selfish, non-team player, jerk! PROWLER (DEFENSIVE) I think you got me confused with another Prowler. AMANI (ANGRY) On really? I bet you got kicked out of your unit because of the things I just mentioned! Right? PROWLER (DEFENSIVE) I would rather not say. AMANI (SMUG) Ha! I knew it! BEAR (BLUNT) Look. It doesn’t matter how Prowler came to being here. The important factor is that he is part of our team now. AMANI (ANGRY) Are you crazy? He’s going to destroy this team! PROWLER (DEFENSIVE) Now you have gone and hurt my feelings. AMANI (ANGRY) Good! BEAR (BLUNT) Look. No matter what Prowler’s past my be he has promised me that he is going to be a model Strayer. Being a total team player. Taking others feelings into consideration. Being someone to be proud of. AMANI (SARCASTIC) Bear. Have you been sniffing Cyclborg fumes again? Bear growls at Amani. NITRO (DEFENSIVE) Look. I’m not too happy about all this. But the orders come from the Master. So moaning and complaining isn’t going to change anything. We either can try to deal with this as a team or rip us apart. Let’s just try to make the best of it. AMANI (ANNOYED) But why our team? There are other Strayer units out there. Why can’t he join one of them? PROWLER (SARCASTIC) You make it sound like you don’t want me here. AMANI (ANGRY) I don’t! NITRO (BLUNT) To answer your question. The wheels for all of this were in motion while Bear was dead. The Grizzlies were short a member and Prowler needed a home. It was only logical that he be placed here. PUFFBALL (BLUNT) Then logic sucks. AMANI (ANNOYED) Well Bear is alive so we don’t need him. NITRO (BLUNT) The orders still stand. Prowler is a Grizzly now. BEAR (STERN) Look. Prowler is going to try to do his best to be a great Grizzly. In turn I expect we should all give Prowler a fair shake. AMANI (ANNOYED) And if I don’t want to give him this fair shake he doesn’t deserve? BEAR (BLUNT) I’ll kick your butt off this team. Amani gasps. BEAR (DEFENSIVE) Look. I don’t want to play the bad dog here. But I have my orders. Besides, this is a unique opportunity to show the others that the Grizzlies can get by anything. We give everyone a fair shake. We don’t live in the past. NITRO (BLUNT) What do you say Amani? Amani thinks, then looks at Prowler. AMANI (ANNOYED) It all depends on him. Prowler looks at Amani. PROWLER (HONEST) I swear to you and everyone here. I’m a changed dog. I’m going to do my darnest to be the best Strayer ever. All I ask is that you give me a chance. Amani sighs. AMANI (DEFEATED) Okay. I’ll stay… And give Prowler a chance. Bear smiles. BEAR (PLEASED) Thank you. Amani looks at Bear. AMANI (STERN) But if he screws up. If he goes back to his old ways. I expect him to be given the boot. BEAR (HONEST) Absolutely. Same as if any of you acted that way. AMANI (STERN) Okay then. Bear holds his hand in front on him. BEAR (LOUD) Leadership. Nitro jumps to her feet and places it on Bear’s. NITRO (LOUD) Endurance. Amani jumps to her feet and places her hand on Nitro’s. AMANI (LOUD) Intellect. Puffball gets up and then places her paw on Amani’s. PUFFBALL (LOUD) Courage. Prowler places his hand on Puffball’s . PROWLER (LOUD) Babes in bikinis! Everyone looks at Prowler annoyed, he just smiles back. Reluctantly, the group continues to hold their hands on top of each other, but raises them over their heads. They look towards the ceiling. BEAR, AMANI, NITRO AND PUFFBALL (SCREAMS) Strength through diversity! Strayers!!! The group lets go of each other and looks at Prowler. Amani pushes him. AMANI (ANNOYED) Babes in bikinis? Nitro gives Prowler a shove. NITRO (ANNOYED) You’re still a sexist pig. PROWLER (DEFENSIVE) Hey! It was a joke. Lighten up. Amani points her finger at Prowler. AMANI (ANNOYED) Well, here is a joke for you. When were in the heat of battle a stray shot may just hit you in the back. Amani turns and storms out of the room. NITRO (ANNOYED) Personally mine will be aiming for your groin. Nitro storms out. PROWLER (BLUNT) Chicks. Girls. Babes. I was just kidding. Really. Prowler goes after them. Bear sighs and then notices Puffball looking at him. BEAR (CONFUSED) Aren’t you going to go after them? Puffball smiles. PUFFBALL (BLUNT) Must do thing first. Puffball grabs Bear, hugs him tight and lifts him off the ground. He screams in pain. PUFFBALL (PLEASED) Me happy you back from dead. Me miss you. BEAR (IN PAIN) Well I’m going to be dead again if you don’t let go of me. You’re crushing me! Puffball stops and lets go of Bear, he falls to the ground on his butt. He looks up to Puffball rubbing his sides, she looks down to him. PUFFBALL (EMBARRASSED) Puffball sorry. Me never do anything to hurt Bear. Bear forces a smile. BEAR (REASSURING) Nah. It’s okay. It is always good to be liked. Bear struggles to his feet and looks at Puffball. BEAR (CONFUSED) Speaking of which. I thought you hated canines? PUFFBALL (BLUNT) Me did. But me was wrong. Some doggies good, some bad. Just like some kitties good and bad. You good doggie. Puffball pats Bear on his head, he isn’t sure how to take it. BEAR (UNEASY) Well, thanks. You good kitty. Puffball smiles. PUFFBALL (SHOCKED) I am? BEAR (REASSURING) Of course. You think I would let you on my team if you weren’t? Puffball jumps up and down for joy. PUFFBALL (EXCITED) Bear like me! Bear like me! Bear rolls his eyes. BEAR (BLUNT) Why don’t you tell that to the others. Puffball stops jumping. PUFFBALL (PLEASED) Good idea. Puffball turns and races out the door. Bear goes over to the door and closest it, he locks it. He looks towards the air vent. BEAR (SLY) Now for some unfinished business. Bear walks over to the vent. BEAR (STERN) Okay Shadow. It is time to settle this once and for all. SHADOW (BLUNT) Go away little ant. Bear growls, grabs the vent and rips it off the wall. He tosses it to the floor, backs away and takes a defensive stance. BEAR (STERN) Okay. You and me. Right here, right now. Just the two of us. SHADOW (SMUG) You just came back from the grave. Are you in such a rush to return? BEAR (STERN) Quit blowing hot air and let’s just do it. SHADOW (BLUNT) No. I will not fight you. BEAR (SMUG) What’s wrong? Baby Shadow scare? SHADOW (BLUNT) Certainly not. You’re no match for me. It would not be fair. BEAR (CONFUSED) Since when do you care about fairness? SHADOW (BLUNT) Look. I beat you once in the forest when we first met. I can do it again. Why bother? BEAR (STERN) Then you had surprise on your side, here you do not. SHADOW (BLUNT) You know that had nothing to do with it. BEAR (ANNOYED) Come on down here you coward! SHADOW (CONFUSED) Why are you so insistence in fighting me. BEAR (ANNOYED) Because I must. SHADOW (CONFUSED) Why? BEAR (ANNOYED) I just must. There is a long pause. SHADOW (SMUG) I see what burns in your heart… It all has to do with your paws. BEAR (CONFUSED) What? SHADOW (SMUG) That human I killed above. You feel that his blood is on your paws. You are the reason he died. BEAR (ANGRY) That’s right! I pushed you! I kept you existence a secret! That person is dead today because of me! Because I was too weak! SHADOW (SMUG) Poor little ant. So lost. So confused. And so dead wrong. You think you have responsibility in this world? Well, you don’t. It takes a higher being to grasp responsibility. Something an ant could never have. All the responsibility and blood lies with me. BEAR (ANGRY) No! Because so long ago I made a deal that person died! Well, when you killed the deal was broken! It is time I corrected the situation! SHADOW (SMUG) Why must you persist on making Nitro a widow before she can be a bride? BEAR (ANGRY) Stop talking and start fighting! SHADOW (SMUG) I hear by renew our deal. The killing will stop here. BEAR (ANGRY) No! I reject your deal! Utterly and completely! SHADOW (SMUG) You have no choice. You don’t have to power to alter it. BEAR (ANGRY) Then I’ll get the power! I’ll expose you to the others! We’ll hunt you down and destroy you no matter how long it takes! SHADOW (SMUG) And no matter how many lives are lost in the process? BEAR (ANGRY) If that is what it takes! Yes! SHADOW (SMUG) Poor ant. Doesn’t know how to enjoy life. He is about to be married yet he would rather bury his friends. It is so sad. BEAR (ANGRY) I just can’t live like this anymore! SHADOW (SMUG) Well you better learn how to. Otherwise the first ones I will drop will be those closest too you. BEAR (ANGRY) Why must you do this? Why must you torment me? SHADOW (SMUG) Because I can. I am the reason you are here. You entertain me. As long as that happens you and your friends stay alive. BEAR (ANNOYED) Look. I’ll go back to our original deal if you do me one small favor. There is no response. BEAR (ANNOYED) Tell me the honest reason why you wish to renew or bargain. There is a long pause. SHADOW (BLUNT) Because I like you little ant. BEAR (CONFUSED) You like me? SHADOW (BLUNT) Well, rather, I like to watch you and your friends battle evil. Trying to use your feeble skills and power. Yet no matter how great the odds are against you you somehow always come up on top… That intrigues me. BEAR (ANNOYED) So it is all a game to you? SHADOW (BLUNT) Of course. It always has. It always will. Your only hope is to keep the game interesting. BEAR (ANNOYED) You’re a sick and twisted kitty. SHADOW (SMUG) Ooo. Forgive me if I don’t take the judgment of a little ant to heart. BEAR (ANNOYED) Whatever. SHADOW (SMUG) Okay. I kept my part of the deal… Bear thinks for a moment. BEAR (FRUSTRATED) And I will with mine. SHADOW (SMUG) Good. Now I suggest you replace the vent before someone gets the wiser. BEAR (ANNOYED) Oh. You got any more advice to bestow me… Shadow? Uh, Shadow? Dang. He’s gone again. Bear sighs, bends down and picks up the vent, he walks towards the exposed air duct. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - LYDIA’S QUARTERS This is very similar to Bear’s quarters accept it isn’t decorated. Lydia is here unpacking her suitcases. She is a Cano-Sapien of a French Poodle, she has black-gray fur. She wears a short black silk dress and matching high heels. Around her neck is a gold chain with a diamond ring thread through it. There is a knock at the door, she doesn’t even stop or look up. LYDIA (FRENCH ACCENT, BLUNT) The door. She is open. The door opens and the Master walks in, he closes the door. He walks up to Lydia. MASTER (CONFUSED) You wanted to see me Lydia? Lydia continues to unpack, she doesn’t look at the Master. LYDIA (BLUNT) Weee. I wanted to give you my report. MASTER (SURPRISED) You just got back. It could have waited. LYDIA (BLUNT) You gave me a task to do. No? MASTER (ANNOYED) Yes. But you could have- LYDIA (INTERRUPTING, BLUNT) Then she is not finished until I give you the report. MASTER (ANNOYED) You really need to learn to relax Lydia. Lydia stops what she is doing, turns and stares at the Master. LYDIA (STERN) Internal affairs. She is my life. I live and breathe it. I am the best that there is. No? MASTER (BLUNT) Yes. You are the best. There is no one better than you. It is just sometimes you are just TOO good? Lydia cocks her head and looks at the Master, confused. LYDIA (CONFUSED) How can anyone be too good at their job? The Master sighs. MASTER (ANNOYED) Never mind. Lydia shakes her head. LYDIA (FRUSTRATED) You Americans… One moment you say one thing and the next you say the other… No wonder no one takes you seriously… Though, you have a point. I should relax. Lydia slips her high heels off, closes her eyes and sighs with relief. LYDIA (RELIEVED) Ooo lala… That is much better. MASTER (CONFUSED) If they are such a pain why do you wear them? Lydia opens her eyes again. LYDIA (BLUNT) It my business you use everything as an edge. Even your looks. MASTER (ANNOYED) Did you find anything in Omaha? LYDIA (SMUG) Weee. Exactly what I went there for. Lydia indicates to the bed. LYDIA (POLITE) Please. Have a seat. The Master nods and sits on the edge of the bed, he looks up to Lydia. She takes a brief case and opens it, inside she pulls out a folder of papers. She turns back to the Master, she hands the folder to him. He takes it, she opens her mouth to speak. Just then a large scorpion races from under the bed and past the Master’s feet, he notices this and “yikes” The scorpion heads right to Lydia. She reaches down and picks up the scorpion and pets it. LYDIA (SARCASTIC) Really Shepherd, you are claiming that I need to relax. It is just Bob. Lydia looks at Bob as she pets him. LYDIA (BABY TALK) Wow ws wy wittle waby? Lydia kisses Bob, places him on her shoulder and turns back towards the Master. LYDIA (PLEASED) Everything is there. Lydia points at the folder of papers, the Master flips through it. LYDIA (BLUNT) Embezzlement… Fraud… Everything you need for a conviction. The Master sighs. MASTER (DEPRESSED) It is sad when a Cano-Sapien goes bad. LYDIA (BLUNT) In the end, we’re just like you humans. No? Reminds me a lot of Samson. Lydia plays with the ring around her neck, the Master looks up. MASTER (CONCERNED) You won’t let it go. Will you? Lydia stops playing and glares at the Master. LYDIA (STERN) I will never forget Samson. He loved me. He helped me to get in touch with my feminine side. He showed me what real love was. That is why I accept his proposal of marriage. MASTER (CONFUSED) He used you. LYDIA (ANGRY) I know that! He left me at the altar! He used my apprenticeship to get classified information! He knew just how to push the right buttons! When he had what he came from he took off! MASTER (CONFUSED) It still hurts? LYDIA (ANGRY) It will always hurt! Even when I finally track him down and nail his butt! He took away innocents I had and left only a hard cold shell! He will pay for that! MASTER (BLUNT) You shouldn’t be vindictive. LYDIA (ANGRY) I can be vindictive! I only look for him on my own time! MASTER (CONCERNED) You should instead spend time with us. Get to know those who call this place home. LYDIA (ANNOYED) It is like I stated before. I’ll use anything as an edge. I can’t be on edge if I make friends here. My job is being judgmental to all the allies of the Rovers and even to the Rovers themselves. The Master shrugs his shoulders. MASTER (FRUSTRATED) Whatever. The Master stands up. MASTER (BLUNT) I’ll look over this and let you know if there is enough for an indictment. LYDIA (SMUG) Trust me. There is. The Master heads for the door. LYDIA (EXCITED) Wait! I almost forgot! The Master stops and turns towards Lydia, but she is already running for a computer on her desk. She rushes up to it and pops out a CD ROM. She rushes back over to him and hands the CD to him. MASTER (CONFUSED) What is this? The Master takes it. LYDIA (SMUG) A hunch that paid off. The Master looks the CD over. LYDIA (BLUNT) A few weeks ago I noticed a high, regular use of bandwidth very late at night. The Master looks at Lydia, confused. LYDIA (BLUNT) As you know. Everyone here has access to our informational systems. Of course, different people have different access levels. Well, I ran a little program to sort out this high traffic. To see what they were so interested in. It turns out to be linked to wolves. MASTER (CONFUSED) Wolves? LYDIA (BLUNT) Particularly the Migatuas Wolf Pack. MASTER (SURPRISED) Nitro? LYDIA (BLUNT) That is what I thought at first. But when I backtracked the access codes it traced back to Silver. MASTER (SHOCKED) Silver! Why would she be interested in Nitro? LYDIA (BLUNT) It is obvious. No? Silver despises Nitro so much she’ll do anything to get at her. When I dug deeper I found a program set into each band that sole purpose was to look for anything correlating with Nitro, and not just her pack. It would make a copy of the info and drop it into Silver’s database. Silver is out to get Nitro. MASTER (DEFENSIVE) Oh come on. That proves nothing. LYDIA (BLUNT) Alone, no. But add in the misconduct. The fights. And discipline set against Silver with dealing with Nitro it all makes sense. MASTER (CONFUSED) What could she hope to gain with this information? LYDIA (BLUNT) Simple. Sell it to Nitro’s enemies. They could hurt Nitro through her pack. MASTER (ANNOYED) Now you are just plain talking nonsense. LYDIA (BLUNT) Am I? I understand that while I was gone that the Admiral captured Nitro’s pack. To top it all off she was led right into his hands and captured herself. I tell you. Silver is on the take. MASTER (ANNOYED) You can’t prove beyond a shadow of a doubt. LYDIA (BLUNT) No. But give me permission to open her files. Let me check his bandwidth. And I can. MASTER (ANNOYED) No way. Absolutely not. I’m not going to let you dig up dirt on her. Let you open up all her closets. You’ll take everything whether it is related to the case or not. LYDIA (BLUNT) Of course I will. That is my job. That is what makes me so good. MASTER (ANNOYED) It’s wrong. Your methods are wrong. You are wrong. LYDIA (SMUG) Okay. If it is so wrong then why do you keep me in this position. Why don’t you just get rid of me? There is a long pause. MASTER (ANNOYED) You play a great devil’s advocate. You keep the balance. In the right situation you are exactly what we need… But this one isn’t the right one. LYDIA (BLUNT) Why are you protecting Silver? MASTER (ANNOYED) There is not enough evidence to destroy her life. I have to be sure first. LYDIA (SHOCKED) Sure? She broke the rules by placing a program across bands. MASTER (DEFENSIVE) Maybe she didn’t realize what she was doing. LYDIA (CONFUSED) Since when is it okay to break the rules by going ooops. MASTER (ANNOYED) Back off Lydia. LYDIA (BLUNT) So you are just going to ignore all I have told you. You have to admit. SOMETHING is going on there. MASTER (ANNOYED) Yes. I agree with you… That is why I’m going to have someone else look into it. Someone who won’t dig for a rainy day. LYDIA (BLUNT) And tip Silver off. Real good. MASTER (ANNOYED) Drop it Lydia. You are out of the picture for now on this one. That is an order. LYDIA (BLUNT) Fine! The Master turns, walks up to the door and opens it. He walks out and closes the door. Lydia takes Bob off her shoulder and begins to pet him, she stares at the door. LYDIA (SLY) Don’t worry Bob. He’ll be back. Crawling, begging for me to take the case. Then the fun will begin. BOB (HIGH SQUEAKY VOICE) I know Lydia. Lydia kisses Bob and then continues to stare and pet. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - CORRIDOR There are a large group of Rovers/Strayers here including Puffball (in Felo-Mutant form), Amani and Prowler. They are all watching Nitro and Silver wrestling on the floor, most of them are cheering Nitro on. VOICE (OFF SCREEN, EXCITED) What is the meaning of this? Everyone but Silver and Nitro (who continue to fight on the floor) turn and look down the hall, Bear is storming up it. Everyone but Nitro, Silver, Amani, Puffball and Prowler run away. Bear rushes up the group, he looks down at Silver and Nitro. BEAR (STERN) Silver! Nitro! Stop this this instant! Silver and Nitro continue to fight. Bear looks up to the others. BEAR (ANNOYED) How could you just stand there and watch them fight? PROWLER (SLY) If you think I’m going to break up a great cat fight you’re nuts. I have dreams exactly like this. Amani slaps Prowler on the back of the head, he moans with pain. She looks at Bear. AMANI (DEFENSIVE) I wasn’t going to deprive Nitro of teaching Silver a lesson. PUFFBALL (BLUNT) I want to stop them but Mistress said not. Amani rolls her eyes. BEAR (ANNOYED) I’m trying to make the Grizzlies an honorable name and you just keep tearing it down. PROWLER (SARCASTIC) So? Amani smacks Prowler on the back of the head again, he moans again. He looks at Amani, annoyed. PROWLER (ANNOYED) Would you STOP doing that? AMANI (BLUNT) No. BEAR (ANGRY) I swear! I’m running a nursery school here… Puffball, you grab Silver! Amani and Prowler, take Nitro! Separate them! Amani, Puffball and Prowler sigh. Puffball grabs Silver by the collar while Amani and Prowler grab Nitro’s arms. The three of them separate Silver and Nitro. Puffball holds Silver off the ground as she squirms while Amani and Prowler hold Nitro back as she twists and turns, both fighters what desperately to get at one another. SILVER (ANGRY) Let me at her! I’m not finished with her! NITRO (ANGRY) You deserve all that you got and more! SILVER (ANGRY) You started this! You ran into me! NITRO (ANGRY) It was an accident! You just over reacted! SILVER (ANGRY) Let’s see how much I over react with my fist down your throat! NITRO (ANGRY) Oh yeah! I’d like to see you try! SILVER (ANGRY) That does it! BEAR (SCREAMING ON THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS) ENOUGH!!! Everyone stops and turns towards Bear, he steps between Silver and Nitro and looks between them. BEAR (ANGRY) Does the term “Get a new bit” mean anything here? NITRO AND SILVER (CONFUSED) No. BEAR (ANGRY) It is the same thing with you two! Day in and day out! SILVER (SARCASTIC) Didn’t we already have this speech? NITRO (SARCASTIC) I think so. BEAR (ANGRY) Well! I assure you it will be the last! This will be the last fight you two will ever have! SILVER (SARCASTIC) You’re dumping Nitro off the Grizzlies? Good thinking. NITRO (ANNOYED) He is not! Bear sighs and stakes his head, he looks towards Nitro. BEAR (ANGRY) Nitro! Report to the pool! You’re doing 50 laps! NITRO (DEFENSIVE) What! Why me? I didn’t do anything wrong! BEAR (ANGRY) Just do it! And Amani and Puffball will make sure you do it! Silver laughs. SILVER (LAUGHING) Nitro’s going for a dip. Don’t you just love the smell of a wet wolf? NITRO (CONFUSED) What abut Silver? What is her punishment? BEAR (ANGRY) She gets none. We’re going to have a little talk though. NITRO (EXCITED) What! That’s not fair! SILVER (FRUSTRATED) You’re telling me. I’d rather take a dip in the pool over another one of Bear’s “Why fighting is wrong” speeches. BEAR (ANGRY) Amani! Prowler! Move out! Prowler and Amani grab Nitro away, kicking and screaming. Silver laughs. Bear looks at Puffball. BEAR (ANNOYED) Puffball. Follow me. Bear turns and starts down the hall. Puffball follows still holding Silver off the ground. SILVER (FRUSTRATED) Hey! Put me down! I can walk you know! Bear ignores Silver and continues down the hall, her and Puffball are right behind him. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - BEAR’S QUARTERS Marches in, stops and points at the bed. BEAR (STERN) There Puffball. Puffball marches in, walks up to the bed and drops Silver on it. She instantly sits up. SILVER (ANNOYED) Hey! What’s the big idea? BEAR (STERN) That will be all Puffball. Puffball nods and heads for the exit. But when he passes Bear she stops, turns at looks at him sadly. PUFFBALL (APOLOGETIC) Sorry I was not good Grizzly. Bear forces a smile. BEAR (REASSURING) Aaah. That is okay. We’ll talk about it later. Puffball nods, turns and exits the room. Bear goes over to the door and closes it. He turns and faces Silver, she sees he is not a happy camper. She gets up. SILVER (SLY) I see you have a lot of things in mind so I’ll go. BEAR (STERN) Sit down Silver. SILVER (ANNOYED) Hey! I’m not on your team. You can’t boss me around. BEAR (BLUNT) No, but I’m a unit leader. I out rank you. SILVER (ANNOYED) Look Bear. Let’s not waste either of our time. Another little one of your talks isn’t going to change me or Nitro. BEAR (BLUNT) I agree… Bear reaches into his vets and pulls out a computer chip in a plastic bag. BEAR (BLUNT) But maybe this will. Bear tosses the bag to Silver, she catches it. She looks it over and gasps, she looks up to Bear. SILVER (SHOCKED) How did you find this? Bear smiles. BEAR (SMUG) You can thank Hubert. So. You know what it is. SILVER (BALKING) Well… Er, um, no… It just looks, ah, impressive… BEAR (SMUG) Let me refresh your memory then… It’s a Burrower. It is specifically designed to break into other people’s personal locations, including e-mail, on the computer system here. It sends copies of all it finds to a specific address in the system. SILVER (UNEASY) Gad… Who would ever, um, want to do such a thing? BEAR (ANNOYED) Oh come off it Silver. Your paw prints were all over the chip! We even found your hair on it! And the specified address built into the chip was yours! Thanks to that chip we’ve got you nailed! Silver smiles. SILVER (SLY) So. Then without it you have nothing. Silver drops the chip to the floor and steps on it, digging her heel into it. The chip is completely destroyed. SILVER (SMUG) Ooops. Guess you have no case now. Bear smiles. BEAR (SMUG) Not really. That was a fake. The real one is locked away safe. I wanted to see how you reacted. And your reaction proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that you planted it. Silver looses her smile. She rushes up to Bear. SILVER (EXCITED) I tell you! I have been framed! Nitro did it! BEAR (BLUNT) Oh come off it! Nitro would never do anything like that! SILVER (DEFENSIVE) Sure! You love her! You’d say that! Bear pauses. BEAR (BLUNT) Look. You’ve have been a great asset to both the Rovers and Strayers. You have helped us out of a lot of jams. You have proven yourself to be honorable. Look me straight in the eye and tell me you have been framed and swear on your honor then I will believe you. Silver looks Bear coldly in the eye. SILVER (STERN) I didn’t do it. I was framed. I swear. Bear sighs. BEAR (BLUNT) Okay… Bear steps to one side and indicates to the door. BEAR (BLUNT) Consider the matter closed. You may go. SILVER (SHOCKED) That’s it? BEAR (BLUNT) That is it. Silver smiles. SILVER (PLEASED) Thanks. Silver heads for the door, stops and grabs the handle. But she can’t bring herself to open it. She closes her eyes and hangs her head. SILVER (FRUSTRATED) No, no, no… Bear looks at her and she turns towards him. SILVER (BLUNT) The Rovers and Strayers have been too good to me. They have saved my life, given me a home and tried to befriend me. I will NOT lie to them. Bear smiles. BEAR (SMUG) Then what is the truth? Silver struggles with herself. SILVER (BLUNT) No. I can’t say. I’m sorry. BEAR (ANNOYED) You think I am here on my own? I am not. The Master sent me to find out the truth. Some say you are a spy working for the enemy. I personally think you just have a deep vendetta with Nitro. Either way I have to know the truth. SILVER (FRUSTRATED) I’m sorry Bear. I would love to tell you but I can’t. It would rip this place apart and hurt a lot of people. Bear sighs. BEAR (DEFEATED) Then you leave me with no choice. All evidence will be handed over to Lydia. She will take over the investigation. Silver rushes up to Bear. SILVER (EXCITED) What! Are you crazy? She’ll discover it! BEAR (BLUNT) Plus every other secret in your past. She’ll rake you over the coal publicly whether it has anything to do with the investigation or not. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) Do you hate me that much Bear? BEAR (BLUNT) I don’t hate you at all, even if you are a spy. But if you are not willing to cooperate you leave me little choice. The expert will have to step in. SILVER (ANNOYED) You mean the butcher. BEAR (HONEST) Exactly. Bear heads for the door. Silver grabs his arm and spins him towards her. SILVER (DESPERATE) Look. If you promise to keep this to yourself I’ll tell you the truth. BEAR (BLUNT) No… I can’t do that. SILVER (DESPERATE) Bear. You are one of the most honest and honorable persons here. The Master knows it. If you tell him to back off and everything is cool he’ll take your word for it. BEAR (BLUNT) Possibly. But what if what you tell me is bad. That you are a spy or worse. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) I am NOT a spy! BEAR (BLUNT) Well, I can’t make a promise on your word. Not like this. Silver pauses. SILVER (DESPERATE) Okay. How about if what I tell you is not part of security. Then will you keep it to yourself and go to the Master? BEAR (BLUNT) If I feel it is better to keep my muzzle shut then yes, we have a deal. Silver sighs. SILVER (DEFEATED) Well… I guess this is the best I can do. Silver takes Bear’s hand and leads him over to the bed. She sits down and so does he, they face one another. SILVER (BLUNT) What I am about to tell you is the most horrifying and devastating secret you shall EVER hear. Bear listens intently. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE BEAR’S QUARTERS They only person here is Nitro, she sits on the floor across from the door to the quarters. Her fur is wet (from swimming) and she has a towel around her neck. She looks bored. The door opens, she smiles. But Silver steps out, Nitro frowns. Bear steps out to see her off, they both notice Nitro who gets to her feet. Silver turns and rushes away. Bear looks at Nitro, unsure. She walks up to Bear and smiles. NITRO (SARCASTIC): Hello stranger. BEAR (UNEASY) You don’t sound mad. Nitro is confused. NITRO (CONFUSED) Mad? How can I be mad at you? BEAR (UNEASY) Well, I thought after… Nitro grabs onto he towel at the ends, flips it over her head and around his neck. She pulls his face up to hers. NITRO (PLEASED) You’re my boss, my friend and my fiancee’. What kind of person would I be if I was mad at you? BEAR (SHOCKED) So you’re really not mad? NITRO (PLEASED) Maybe this will convince you. Nitro pull Bear’s lips to hers and she give him a passionate kiss that knocks his sox off. When they separate, Bear is breathless. NITRO (SLY) Convinced? BEAR (OVERWHELMED) Most definitely. NITRO (SARCASTIC) Aaaw. I was hopping you’d say no and I would have to try and convince you some more. BEAR (RELIEVED) Thanks for being so understanding. It makes my job a lot easier. NITRO (PLEASED) No problem. And next time you need to confer with Silver, just say so. I have no beefs with that. BEAR (SURPRISED) Really? NITRO (PLEASED) Of course. I don’t need to be there. You can just fill in the blanks for me later. BEAR (CONFUSED) Huh? NITRO (PLEASED) You know. Tell me what she said. BEAR (DEFENSIVE) I can’t do that. NITRO (CONFUSED) Why not? BEAR (DEFENSIVE) This is business. If I wanted other people to know I wouldn’t talk to her behind closed doors. NITRO (CONFUSED) But I’m your best friend and fiancee’. BEAR (DEFENSIVE) It doesn’t matter. Nitro tightens on the towel causing Bear pain. NITRO (ANNOYED) And the only one who can kick the crap out of you. Bear pries one of Nitro’s hands free from the towel, slips it away from his next and steps back. BEAR (BLUNT) Nitro. We’re going to have to learn to separate our home life from our business life. NITRO (ANNOYED) I know that. And for anyone else, I wouldn’t mind. But this is Silver. I have GOT to know. BEAR (STERN) No way. It is private. NITRO (ANGRY) Oh sure! First it is business! Now it is personal! What! You in love with her too? BEAR (DEFENSIVE) No! NITRO (ANGRY) She your mistress or something? BEAR (DEFENSIVE) Before you can have a mistress you have to be married. NITRO (ANGRY) Don’t tempt me! Now tell me! BEAR (STERN) No. NITRO (ANGRY) Fine! Be that way! But at least I thought if you were going to have a mistress it would be someone good looking! Puffball is better than Silver! BEAR (ANNOYED) Nitro. You are getting worked up over nothing. NITRO (ANGRY) Worked up? I’ll show you worked up! If you love Silver so much then you can just go and marry her! Nitro turns and begins to storm away. BEAR (FRUSTRATED) Nitro! Come on! Let’s talk! NITRO (ANGRY) You want to talk? Talk to Silver! BEAR (FRUSTRATED) I don’t love Silver! I love you! Nitro marches away. Bear sighs. BEAR (FRUSTRATED) I swear… This marriage is going to be the death of me… Bear sighs again. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - CORRIDOR Nitro rounds a corner right into Star. STAR (ANNOYED) Hey! NITRO (ANGRY) Out of my way! STAR (ANNOYED) You ran into me! NITRO (ANGRY) I’m in no mood! Star sighs. STAR (BLUNT) Let me guess. Silver? NITRO (ANNOYED) Yeah. Nitro sighs. NITRO (APOLOGETIC) Look… Sorry about running into you and biting off your head. Star smiles. STAR (UNDERSTANDING) Nah… Forget it. NITRO (FRUSTRATED) It is just that she’s keeping something from me that involves Bear. Star shrugs her shoulders. STAR (HONEST) Wish I could help. Nitro smiles. NITRO (SLY) Thanks for volunteering. Star looks at Nitro, confused. She just smiles back, slyly. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - KITCHEN The kitchen is empty except for Silver. She sits at the table and finishes her drink. She gets up and puts the glass in the sink, she heads for the exit. Just then Star appears at the doorway and blocks her way. STAR (SHOCKED) And where do you think you are going? SILVER (BLUNT) To my room. STAR (QUICKLY) Oh. No, no, no. That will just not do. SILVER (CONFUSED) Huh? STAR (SLY) I figured it was about time we got to know each other better. SILVER (CONFUSED) Why? STAR (SLY) Why not? SILVER (CONFUSED) Well, most people don’t care to talk to me. They are friends of Nitro and you know how well we get along. STAR (SLY) Well that is about to change. Star grabs Silver’s arm and drags her back to the table. STAR (BLUNT) Sit. SILVER (ANNOYED) Look, I got a lot of research to catch up on. Star looks at Silver with pleading eyes. STAR (DESPERATE) Pleeease. It won’t take long. I promise. Silver thinks. SILVER (THINKING) Hmmm… It HAS been a while since I sat down with someone and just talked. Who knows, it might be fun. STAR (STERN) Then it is settled. Sit. Silver sits down at the table and so does Star, they look at one another. SILVER (PLEASED) So what should we talk about? STAR (BLUNT) Something near and dear to my heart… Me. Silver raises an eyebrow. STAR (BLUNT) I started life when I was born… Silver rolls her eyes, Star does not notice and continues. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - SILVER’S QUARTERS This is very similar to Bear’s, no one is here. There is soft metal clicking. The door to the hall swings opens and Nitro is at it in a crouching position with a lock pick in her hand, she peeks inside. NITRO (SARCASTIC) Hello, room service. Nitro rushes in, closes the door and looks around. Seeing that the coast is clear, she slips the lock pick back into its hiding spot in her belt behind her. Next, she scans around the room. NITRO (THINKING) Now if I was Silver where would I hide my most prized secrets? Nitro’s eyes lock onto a picture on the wall, it is of a mountain lion. Nitro chuckles. NITRO (SARCASTIC) Silver, Silver, Silver. Did your parents teach you that cat are our enemies? Nitro continues to look around the room, her eyes stop on a dresser. NITRO (BLUNT) Well, it is as good as any place to start. Nitro walks over to the dresser and opens the top drawer. She carefully takes this out, searches them and puts them back exactly how they were. She continues to search the drawer. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - KITCHEN Silver and Star are still talking. Silver is bored out of her skull, Star is all excited. STAR (SARCASTIC) So he says. Screw ratings. Put the pale faced one on. Star bursts out laughing, Silver is only able to force out a single chuckle. Star settles down. STAR (PLEASED) Anyway. That takes me to puppyhood where I- SILVER (INTERRUPTING, ANNOYED) Look, I’d love to hear the rest of your life story. But I REALLY have to hit that research. Silver gets to her feet, Star jumps to her’s. STAR (FRANTIC) But you can’t go! SILVER (STERN) I can and will. Silver turns for the door. STAR (FRANTIC) But you don’t understand… It’s… It’s… It’s… My mother. Silver stops and turns back towards Star. SILVER (CONFUSED) Your mother? STAR (THINKING) Yeah… She, um, died. SILVER (CONCERNED) I’m sorry to hear that. How did it happen? STAR (THINKING) Er, it was, um, a pack of wild… Lemmings. They attacked her. SILVER (CONFUSED) Lemmings? Star places her hands over her face and pretends to cry, Silver doesn’t catch onto this. STAR (CRYING) She’s dead and I’m all alone! Silver comes around the table to Star, places her arm around her and comforts her. SILVER (COMFORTING) There, there Star. I’m here. You’re not alone. STAR (CRYING) That’s the real reason I came to you. I needed to talk to someone. SILVER (COMFORTING) Go ahead. I’m all ears. You talk away. STAR (CRYING) You’re a good friend Silver. Silver smiles. STAR (PLEASED) So anyway, like I was saying about puppyhood… Silver rolls her eyes and sighs. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - SILVER’S QUARTERS Back in the room, Nitro is nowhere to be seen but she can be heard coughing. Nitro crawls out from underneath the bed all dusty, her coughing subsides. She dusts herself off. NITRO (SARCASTIC) Silver. Haven’t you ever heard of a vacuum? Nitro looks around the room in disgust. NITRO (FRUSTRATED) I give up. I’ve looks at every possible hiding place in this room and have come up only with dust bunnies. There is no logical place left to look. Nitro pauses. NITRO (SLY) Then perhaps we should look at the illogical. Nitro quickly turns and looks at the picture of the mountain lion. NITRO (SLY) Or the clichéd. Nitro rushes up to the picture and looks it over. NITRO (SLY) In movies, they always hide the safe behind a picture. Nitro grabs the picture and quickly pulls it off the wall, she looks behind it. There is just a wall. She hangs her shoulders and sighs. NITRO (FRUSTRATED) Drats. Nothing… Looks like I’m beat. Nitro goes to put the picture back on the wall but stops, she weights the picture. NITRO (CONFUSED) Hey, this picture weights more than it looks… A LOT more. Nitro looks the picture over carefully. She pulls and pushes on it, the bottom snaps open to reveal a hidden compartment. NITRO (SMUG) And bingo was her name oh. Nitro rushes over to the bed and dumps the contends out. It consists of maps, charts, pictures and a CD ROM. Nitro looks the stuff over. NITRO (SURPRISED) This stuff all has to do with wolves… Especially my wolf pack… What is she up to? Nitro picks up the CD ROM and looks at it. NITRO (SLY) And I bet the answer is on here. VOICE (BLUNT, OFF SCREEN) An answer that does not belong to you. Nitro turns towards the door, it is open. Standing in it is Silver who is holding Star. She has one arm twisted behind her back while her muzzle is clamped shut. Silver shoves Star into the room, she stumbles over to Nitro. SILVER (SMUG) Nice plan Nitro. Have Star keep me busy while you break in and search my room. But it had one flaw, I noticed no tears when Star was crying. Nitro looks at Star. NITRO (CONFUSED) Crying? You were just suppose to talk to her. Keep her busy. STAR (DEFENSIVE) Hey. I got desperate. Nitro sighs and looks back at Silver. NITRO (STERN) Mind telling me what all this stuff is I found? SILVER (SMUG) Certainly… It’s none of your business. NITRO (ANNOYED) None of my business? It’s pictures of my parents, a map of every spotting of my pack. Even a chart of estimated spots where they might show up in the future. SILVER (SARCASTIC) Let’s just say I’m a fan of your pack. NITRO (ANNOYED) You’re up to something Silver. You are not who you appear to be. I don’t think you ever were. But I bet you helped The Admiral capture my pack. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) You have no proof of that. NITRO (SMUG) I think I do… With this! Nitro holds up the CD ROM SILVER (DEMANDING) Give that to me. That is mine. NITRO (DEFIANT) Not a chance. Nitro glances over to Star. NITRO (STERN) Gather up everything on the bed. We’re taking this to the Master. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) You aren’t going ANYWHERE with my stuff! Star becomes uneasy. Nitro hands the CD to Star. NITRO (REASSURING) Don’t worry, leave her to me. You just gather up all that stuff and make a break for the Master first chance you get. Understood? Star nods, turns and goes to the bed. She collects all the items. Nitro and Silver prepare to face off. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) No one is leaving this room with my stuff. NITRO (DEFIANT) Just watch us. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) I’ll kill you both if I have to. VOICE (STERN, OFF SCREEN) No one is going to kill anyone. Everyone stops and turns towards the doorway, Bear is standing there. NITRO (SHOCKED) Bear? What are you doing here? BEAR (HONEST) Looking for you. I wanted to patch things up. I over heard you two. SILVER (SURPRISED) You must have good ears if you over heard us. BEAR (SMUG) I do. Bear wiggles his ears. NITRO (RELIEVED) Bear. Silver is dirty. And now I got the evidence to prove it. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) Evidence she has obtained illegally. Nitro looks at Silver. NITRO (SMUG) Fine. We leave everything here, drag your butt to jail and keep you locked up until the Master gives us a search warrant. SILVER (ANNOYED) You can’t do that! NITRO (SMUG) Watch us. BEAR (STERN) No one is going to lock up anyone. Nitro looks at Bear again. NITRO (CONFUSED) But we have to. You should see what I have found. BEAR (BLUNT) I already have. Silver showed it to me. Told me all about it. NITRO (CONFUSED) Then tell me. What is going on? BEAR (RELUCTANT) I can’t do that… But Silver will. SILVER (CONFUSED) What? BEAR (BLUNT) Silver, this has gone on long enough. It is time to tell Nitro the truth. SILVER (ANNOYED) No way. BEAR (BLUNT) Then I will. SILVER (UPSET) But you gave me your word! BEAR (BLUNT) I said as long as it was in everybody’s best interest I would. But the jig is up. Too much is known. It is better we all level the field. SILVER (PLEADING) But Bear… BEAR (BLUNT) I’m serious. I’ll tell her. But I would rather it come from you. Silver sighs. SILVER (ANNOYED) Okay, but it is under protest. Bear nods. NITRO (FRUSTRATED) Would someone PLEASE tell me what is going on? Silver looks at Nitro. SILVER (UNEASY) Nitro… Honey… The truth is that I’m… your mother. Nitro busts out laughing. NITRO (LAUGHING) Yeah, right. BEAR (DEFENSIVE) It’s true. NITRO (LAUGHING) And how do you know? BEAR (DEFENSIVE) She told me. Nitro laughs harder. NITRO (LAUGHING) Bear. You lovable fool. She’s played you for a sucker. My mother was Saringeti, but she is long dead. BEAR (DEFENSIVE) But what she has shown me. What she has told me makes sense. It is the only answer. NITRO (LAUGHING) You’re nuts… Both of you. BEAR (DEFENSIVE) Look. We can go back and forth all day. But there is only one sure way to know the truth. NITRO (LAUGHING) What? Call the Psychic Help Line? You seem to believe anything people tell you. BEAR (PLEADING) Come on. Humor me. Please. Nitro settles down and looks at Bear, he looks at her with pleading eyes. She sighs. NITRO (FRUSTRATED) Okay… But it is not because I believe any of this. I don’t. It is just to put and end to this vicious rumor. Bear smiles. BEAR (PLEASED) Nitro. Silver. If you would please follow me. Bear turns and leaves the room. Nitro and Silver pause, they follow. Star is felt behind still hold the items from the picture. She quickly races after them. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - INFIRMARY Nitro and Silver sit on two separate examine tables. Bear, Hunter and Star are here as well. Colleen and Hubert are conferring with one another in the corner. Everyone but Silver seems anxious. Finally, they come over and join the others. They all look to them. NITRO (ANXIOUS) Well? HUBERT (BLUNT) After checking the results to ALL the tests we ran including DNA and blood analysis we have come to a conclusion… We are 97.4 percent sure that Silver IS Nitro’s Mother. Nitro jumps to her feet. NITRO (EXCITED) What? Check it again! COLLEEN (BLUNT) We did, three times. The results came back the same each time. NITRO (ANNOYED) Then I fall into the 2.6 percent. BEAR (STERN) Nitro. Give it up. It’s true. Silver is your ma. Nitro turns to Bear. NITRO (ANGRY) No! Never! Saratengi was my mother and that’s that! Bear looks at Silver. BEAR (STERN) Maybe if you tell her the complete story she will believe you. SILVER (DOWN BEAT) I’m willing to retell it… But only if she is willing to listen. NITRO (ANNOYED) I am NOT! I will listen to no more lies. HUNTER (BLUNT) Nitro. Denying it will not change the truth. Would you rather live a lie? NITRO (ANNOYED) Yes! Better to live a lie than to think the alternative. Saratengi brought me into this world. She nursed me, raised me and cared for me. But most of all, she died for me. I will NOT take that from her memory! SILVER (FRUSTRATED) This is the precise reason why I pretended to hate Nitro. I would rather be hated than to cast doubt on those who raised my daughter. I owe a great debt to Duke and Saratengi because of what they did for her. NITRO (ANGRY) I am NOT your daughter! BEAR (ANNOYED) Dang it Nitro. You listen to Silver or I swear, I’ll strap you to the table and muzzle you! NITRO (DEFIANT) I’d like to see you try. HUNTER (STERN) He’ll have help. COLLEEN (STERN) That is for sure. Nitro looks around the room, all but Silver stare back at her sternly. Nitro stops on Amani, she nods slightly. Nitro sighs and sits back down on the table, she folds her arms in defiance. NITRO (FRUSTRATED) Okay… I’ll listen, but I won’t believe. Everyone turns to Silver, she takes a deep breath. SILVER (BLUNT) I was Duke’s original mate, Alpha female and leader of the pack. I bore Nitro, Chins and all her siblings. INTERIOR: WOLF DEN This is a small cave, outside snow can be seen. Silver in her natural wolf form is laying on the ground. Several new born pups, two are Nitro and Kisna, are breast feeding from Silver. She looks worn out but happy. Duke, an all black Timber Wolf, sits next to Silver and looks down at the pups like a proud father. SILVER (VOICE OVER, PLEASED) That day was the happiest day of my life. I had a strong healthy family, a great mate and a wonderful life ahead of me. But that would change abruptly. EXTERIOR: IDAHO - WILDERNESS Deep in the forest, Silver (still in wolf form) is wondering alone. SILVER (VOICE OVER, BLUNT) A few days later. It was my turn to gather food for the pups. I scoured the forest for a mouse, rabbit or other small animal. Duke had wanted to come with me but I told him no. I needed a breather from everyone. Since the pups were born the entire pack had been itching to help out with the pups. I knew it was their instincts but I was feeling claustrophobic. This decision has always haunted me. There is a loud shot from a rifle and a dart hits Silver. She yipes, staggers and falls over. Hunters rush up to her. SILVER (VOICE OVER, BLUNT) I had always beat myself up on whether it was a wise decision to venture off alone. On one paw had Duke been there he could have been captured too, or worse. But on the other, not being there guaranteed that he would not share my fate. At any rate, my fate had been sealed. The hunters grab Silver, pick her up and carries her away. INTERIOR: WOLF DEN The scene is exactly like it was before except in place of Silver is Saratengi, a female who is all white in color, and the pups are a few days older. SILVER (VOICE OVER, DEPRESSED) Later, I would learn that soon after my disappearance Saratengi stepped in to become Duke’s mate and Nitro’s mother. I had no problem with this. I knew her and she was a good friend. It is just a shame that soon she, Duke and all but Kisna and Nitro would be dead… I miss them all dearly. INTERIOR: BASEMENT This is a small, dank and dark basement cluttered with the usual junk. In the corner is a small cage no bigger than Silver, she is locked inside of it. Several humans are gathered around, the most notable one is a man with a patch over one eye. The others are poking Silver with sticks. SILVER (VOICE OVER, BLUNT) When I woke up it was in the hands of a man I named one-eye. But before I left his care he would have a new name. I was placed in a tiny cage barely big enough to hold me. I would not leave that cage for several years. I was fed human food, not very agreeable for wolves. It was apparent he knew nothing about my species. I was not kept as a pet or given any love. I was just there for one reason, to make my master money. He would charge people to come and see the wolf. The females would just sit there and laugh at me while the males would poke me and try to show them how brave they were. What I would not have given to be allowed out of that cage for just a second. TORMENTOR (SMUG) Ha! I thought wolves were suppose to be tough. At first, I would growl and snap at them. But I soon learned this was pointless so I tried to ignore them the best I could. When I was left alone, I would stretch and jump making sure I stayed it the best condition possible. I knew one day I would get a break. One-eye would let his guard down. I had to be ready. That day DID come. I didn’t manage to escape, but I did manage to alter one-eye’s nickname to one-hand. INTERIOR: RESEARCH LAB This is a large room with row upon row of cages with animals in them, mostly Canine. Silver is in a cramped cage. SILVER (VOICE OVER, BLUNT) My next HOME was some sort of research lab. I wasn’t there long so I don’t know what they were testing. We were feed well, exercised regularly and treated fair. But what I saw in the little time there was that the only way out was in a doggie bag: Dead. Once they started testing on you you didn’t last much linger. But apparently, my luck had changed. The night after they started testing on me we had some uninvited guests. A group of masked men dressed only in black busts in. They start opening cages and using electronic stunning devices to place the animals into unconsciousness. SILVER (VOICE OVER) A radical animal rights group broken in and whisked all the animals to safety. The lab was closed shortly after that. Thank goodness for radical. Silver is stunned and carried away. EXTERIOR: FENCED IN AREA - DAY This is a large open area with a tall fence around it. There are several breeds of wolves here, one being Silver. A woman is walking with them. They are jumping and barking trying to get her attention. They act more like dogs then wolves. SILVER (VOICE OVER, PLEASED) My next stop was with Angel… I don’t know if that was her real name but I called her that because she acted like one. She was some kind of researcher. But unlike my previous experience, she believed in observing rather than poking and prodding. She was doing some kind of study with wolves, captive wolves from all over were gathered. She used those who could never be returned to the wild because with human contact they would loose the fear of people. Without a home, I was given to her. She really did love us. She feed us recently killed wild game, which I think were road kill. She didn’t have the killer instinct. She tried to make us feel as much in the wild as possible. She did a good job. More than once, maybe only for a brief second, I felt as if I was home again. Running with my pack. It was great! She would watch us run, play and fight for hours. Al ways taking notes. I don’t know how long I was there, I think it was for a bit of a time, but it was heaven. EXTERIOR: FENCED IN AREA - NIGHT Silver is alone in the area late at night. SILVER (VOICE OVER, BLUNT) One of the experiments she would perform would take one of us, separate them from the pack and leave them alone for one night. I guess to see how we would adapted. I hated this experiment. Alone, I was forced to think. Of Duke, of Nitro, of Kisna, of the pack. Little did I know by then most of them were dead. But while I was deep in thought I did not hear it, I did not feel it: Humans. I did not hear the shot, it must have been muffled. But I did feel the familiar sting of the dart. A dart hits Silver, she stagger and falls to the ground. SILVER (VOICE OVER, BLUNT) My luck had drastically changed. Just like the evil nightmare had started, I was taken away against my will. Away from my new pack. Away from Angel. Out of all the humans I’ve come across she was my favorite. Two men in camouflage appear and approach Silver who slips into unconsciousness. INTERIOR: THE ZOO This is a large area with several cages, each with a large wild and exotic animals. Some of them look weak and tired. Silver is here looking near death. SILVER (VOICE OVER, BLUNT) My last stop was The Zoo. This wasn’t a famous zoo, but a run down whole in the wall. Half the time we didn’t get feed or water. Animals turn on each other. In one fight I was seriously hurt but none of our keeps cared. I was weak and on death’s door. I was sure I was about to die… But then a miracle happened. One of the handler comes flying into the room and falls to the ground, unconscious. The Road Rovers rush into the room and start tending to the animals, Colleen helps Silver. SILVER (VOICE OVER, PLEASED) The Road Rovers, after learning about this hell hold from a conscious worker, came and shut down the zoo. They tried their best to help the animals. But a lot of them died or were in such bad shape that the only humane thing to do was to put them to sleep. I was such a case. But for some reason they let me live. Maybe it was just luck. Compassion. Or an act of God. But they saved me and I pulled through. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - INFIRMARY It was as it was before. SILVER (PLEASED The rest I think you all know. With nowhere to go, I was kept here. In hopes to keep Nitro company. But when we first met I knew she was my daughter. My instincts told me so. NITRO (BLUNT) And why didn’t mine? SILVER (PLEASED) It is a mother thing. NITRO (SARCASTIC) Well, that was a nice fairy story. BEAR (BLUNT) Let me guess. You didn’t believe her. NITRO (SMUG) Not a word. SILVER (DEFENSIVE) I swear. It’s all true. Just ask the members of the pack. NITRO (CONFUSED) How do you know if they even remember? SILVER (DEFENSIVE) That was what all those charts and maps were in the quarters. I used those to locate the pack a few years back. I’ve visited them regularly. NITRO (UPSET) You knew where they were yet never told me? SILVER (DEFENSIVE) I couldn’t. They might have revealed my secret. NITRO (UPSET) Why you selfish bit- BEAR (SMUG, INTERRUPTING) Why Nitro. It sounds like you actually believe Silver now. Nitro pauses and sighs. NITRO (FRUSTRATED) When you were dead and I mingled with the pack I heard of such rumors. They didn’t say who the off spring was but of a real mother and a step mother. It all fits now. Unfortunately, I believe Silver. Silver jumps to her feet, rushes over to Nitro and hugs her. Everyone is pleased. SILVER (EXCITED) Thank! Thank Nitro! I may not have been there in the past! But I will be in the future! Nitro pries Silver off of her and pushes her away, Silver is confused. NITRO (BLUNT) You may have bore me. But you’re not my real mother. I knew you only days where Saratengi I knew for longer. She taught me basic skills. Gave me confidence. Made me who I am today. You did not. SILVER (PLEADING) If I could have I would have been there! NITRO (BLUNT) I know. But that doesn’t change how I feel. SILVER (DESPERATE) But I love you Nitro! You are my daughter! NITRO (BLUNT) That is not good enough for me. I don’t love you. Nor have any intention of trying to. I’m sorry. Silver is devastated, almost brought to tears. Everyone is shocked. Silver hardens and recovers. SILVER (STRUGGLING) I understand. I had hoped we could be at least friends, but I see that is not possible. I will trouble you no more. Silver sadly turns away and heads for the door. Nitro smiles and looks around, everyone is giving her cold looks and she looses her smile. Silver reaches the door. NITRO (QUICKLY) Hold on there Silver. Silver stops and turns towards Nitro. NITRO (BLUNT) You were there in the beginning of my life. You knew a lot of the wolves that died in the massacre. I have a lot of questions, especially about my father. Perhaps you could help me fill in the gaps. Silver smiles. SILVER (HOPEFUL) You mean it? Nitro smiles. NITRO (PLEASED) Sure. SILVER (EXCITED) Then let’s get cracking! Nitro gets up and walks towards Silver. SILVER (PLEASED) Well, at least we don’t have to worry about that Mark Johnson and Bob Paterson jerks. The ones who killed my husband and children. NITRO (BLUNT) Didn’t you hear? They got paroled again recently. SILVER (SHOCKED) Already? NITRO (BLUNT) Yeah. Unfortunately, killing animals in cold blood isn’t felt as high of a crime as killing people. Silver shrugs her shoulders. Nitro joins her and together, they walk out of the room. INTERIOR: JAIL - CELLS This is a small run down jail, only a few of the cells have prisoners. Two Canadian Mounted Police Officers escort Mark Johnson and Bob Paterson to an open cell. Mark is an older human, Bob is a bit younger. Each man is wearing white snow camouflage. The Officers put them inside the cell, close the door and lock it. CANADIAN OFFICER (SMUG) Mark Johnson, Bob Paterson. I hope you enjoy your new accommodations. Mark and Bob just sit on the bed and sulk, the Officers walk away. The two men look at each other. MARK (CANADIAN ACCENT, UPSET) Nice going Bob! You said you had an easy score! I said we just got out and we should cool it! You said but this is a synch! I said nothing comes easy! You said I’m going to do this with or without my help! So I give in and now look where we are! BOB (CANADIAN ACCENT, DEFENSIVE) How was I suppose to know he was an undercover Canadian Wildlife Official? MARK (SARCASTIC) It is a unique thing called checking their background! BOB (DEFENSIVE) Hey! This is not all my fault! You’re the one who bit him! MARK (UPSET) Well! One thing is for sure! We’re on our way up the river again! BOB (DEFENSIVE) I know! MARK (FRUSTRATED) One other thing is for sure… We’re through me and you. BOB (CONFUSED) Huh? MARK (FRUSTRATED) You screwed up big this time. I’m through working with you! I’m through poaching! I’m going legit! Bob turns away and folds his arms. BOB (DEFIANT) Fine! Me too! Mark turns away and folds his arms. MARK (DEFIANT) Fine! Mark and Bob sulk there for a few seconds. BOB (UNSURE) Um, Mark. What are you going to do when you get out? MARK (UNSURE) Er, not sure… All I know how to do is poach. BOB (UNSURE) Me too. Bob and Mark sulks some more. Then, they turn one another. They laugh at each other. MARK (LAUGHING) Us quit? BOB (LAUGHING) Yeah. Right. Bob and Mark continue to laugh. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - SILVER’S QUARTERS Only Nitro and Silver are here. They are sitting on the bed, cross-legged, looking at one another. All the items that Nitro found are spread all over the bed. Silver is holding up a picture of the pack from a nature magazine, she is pointing out a particular wolf. SILVER (PLEASED) And that is my mother there, your grand mother. NITRO (BLUNT) A hunter killed her. Right? SILVER (DISAPPOINTED) Yeah… Bear trap… NITRO (STERN) I hate hunters. SILVER (BLUNT) Me too. Nitro studies Silver’s face. NITRO (HONEST) You miss her, don’t you. Silver looks at the picture. SILVER (DISTANT) Yeah. She was a great wolf. NITRO (HONEST) That is how I felt all those years, alone. SILVER (BLUNT) And for some of those I could have made you happy, but I choose to hide. Nitro places her hand on Silver’s leg, she looks up to Nitro. NITRO (REASSURING) I understand your reasoning. I may not agree with it, though. But we shouldn’t live in the past. SILVER (CONFUSED) What are you saying? Nitro’s eyes glaze. She reaches forward, grabs Silver and she hugs her tight. NITRO (EMOTIONAL) I love you ma. Silver hugs Nitro back, her eyes become watery. SILVER (EMOTIONAL) I love you daughter. NITRO (EMOTIONAL) I want to be your daughter. Your real daughter. The one I never had the chance to be. I never want to leave you. SILVER (SHOCKED) Really? Are you sure? NITRO (EMOTIONAL) Yes. I’m so sure I want you to give me away at my wedding. The two break apart and look at each other, teary eyed. Nitro grabs Silver’s hands and squeezes them. NITRO (EMOTIONAL) I was going to have Kisna do it, but now that you are here it seems the right thing to do. SILVER (EMOTIONAL) Thank you. I’d be honored. A tear runs down Nitro’s face, they let go of each other. Silver wipes the tear away. SILVER (SARCASTIC) Look at us… Two mature adults acting like pups. NITRO (HONEST) I haven’t felt this emotional in years… It feels great. Silver smiles. SILVER (PLEASED) I know. NITRO (HONEST) I never want it to end. SILVER (PLEASED) Me either… But it is late. We had better get to bed. Nitro smiles and nods, they get to their feet. Before Silver can do anything, Nitro hugs her. NITRO (EMOTIONAL) Thanks for coming home, ma. Thanks for sharing. We’ve only scratched the surface to my past. I can’t wait to hear the rest. Silver pats Nitro on the back. SILVER (EMOTIONAL) Thanks for letting me come home and being a family once again. They break apart. SILVER (SARCASTIC) Now get. Before we start crying again. Nitro giggles. NITRO (PLEASED) Good night mother. SILVER (EMOTIONAL) Good night daughter. Nitro turns and heads for the door. Silver watches her go and smiles. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - CORRIDOR This is the corridor outside Silver’s Quarters. Nitro slips out the door and quietly closes it. As she turns to go she notices Bear sitting across from the door up against the wall. He is hunched over, eyes closed and snoring. Nitro walks up to him, looks down and smiles. She reaches down and gently shakes him. NITRO (QUIETLY) Honey, time to get up. Bear snaps back awake and frantically looks around. BEAR (FRANTIC) Who? What? Where? NITRO (REASSURING) Easy there big guy. It’s just me. Bear looks up and sees Nitro. BEAR (UNEASY) Er, oh, hi. NITRO (SLY) What are you doing here? BEAR (UNEASY) Um, must be, ah, sleep walking again. Nitro rolls her eyes. NITRO (BLUNT) Don’t give me that. You don’t sleep walk. I know exactly why you are here. BEAR (VERY UNEASY) You do? NITRO (BLUNT) Yeah. You came spying. Making sure Silver and me patched things up. Treating me as if I can’t run my own life. Bear looks up as if he expects to get hit. Nitro bends down and kisses Bear on the forehead. She stands back up and smiles. NITRO (PLEASED) And I love you for it. BEAR (CONFUSED) You’re not mad? NITRO (PLEASED) Of course not. You care. BEAR (UNEASY) Well, after you were screaming at me before on how I should marry Silver… NITRO (BLUNT) Hey. I was upset. I didn’t know what was going on. You know how I can get sometimes. BEAR (SARCASTIC) Boy. Do I. NITRO (ANNOYED) Hey! Bear smiles. BEAR (SMUG) Got you. Nitro smiles. NITRO (PLEASED) You’re sly as a wolf. BEAR (SMUG) Have to be to match wits with you. Nitro offers a hand, Bear grabs it. She hauls him to his feet, they look lovingly into each other’s eyes. BEAR (BLUNT) You still love me? NITRO (LOVINGLY) Yes. I want to be your wife. BEAR (SLY) That’s all I needed to know. Bear sweeps Nitro off her feet and cradles her in his arms, she is shocked. NITRO (SHOCKED) What are you doing? BEAR (PROUD) Treating you like a bride. Nitro sighs and lays her head on Bear’s shoulder. NITRO (DREAMY) Every time I think I have you figured out you surprise me. BEAR (SMUG) That is the whole point my dear. Nitro closes her eyes. BEAR (PLEASED) I’ll drop you off at your quarters. NITRO (SLEEPY) I can’t wait till they are both of ours. BEAR (PLEASED) Me too. Bear carries Nitro down the hall. Before he is halfway down it she is snoring away. He smiles. EXTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - SURFACE The sun has set and day is quickly fading. A lone figure on a Cyclborg pulls up to the crater and enters through a hidden door. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - CORRIDOR Amani is walking down the corridor with Stef. She is a Cano-Sapien who is a pure breed Smooth Collie. She is a mixture of light tan (a majority of her body), white (her face and paws) and black (ears and the tip of her tail). She is dress in a very short skirt, a bikini top, knee-high boots, a headband, wristbands and a collar. All are skin tight, made of leather and studded. They continue to walk. STEF (SLIGHT CHINESE ACCENT, CONFUSED) Where’s Colleen? I was suppose to meet her. She’s the one who contacted me. AMANI (BLUNT) Sorry Stef, she got caught up in something in the last minute. But I’ll take you to her now. Stef stops. Amani notices this and stops as well, she turns and looks at Stef. STEF (STERN) Only my friends call me Stef… Everyone else, including people I just met, call me Stephanie. AMANI (UNEASY) Er, sorry. Stephanie. Stef continues down the hall, Amani walks with her again. STEF (BLUNT) So why the late meeting? She specifically told me to meet after sunset. Amani shrugs her shoulders. AMANI (UNEASY) Sorry. No idea. STEF (ANNOYED) You’re a big help. AMANI (BLUNT) Well, you can ask her yourself. Because here we are. Amani indicates to an open door. STEF (ANNOYED) About time. Stef walks through the open door, Amani slams the door closed and locks it. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - EMPTY QUARTERS This is like the other quarters except it is not decorated. Stef pounds on the door, there is no handle and it is made out of metal. STEF (ANGRY) Let me out you little creep! There is no reply, Stef keeps hitting the door. STEF (ANGRY) I swear! I’ll kill you! Stef stops pounding. She reaches into one of her boots and pulls out a small laser weapons, she smiles. STEF (SLY) There are more ways than one to open a door. Stef points the weapon at the door and pulls the trigger, nothing happens. She pulls it again and again, nothing. STEF (CONFUSED) What the? VOICE (BLUNT) They probably have a weapon deactivator somewhere around here. Stef twirls around towards the bed, there Hubert is laying on it and looking at her. STEF (ANGRY) Hubert! Stef tosses the weapon at Hubert, but it misses him and hits the wall. He chuckles. HUBERT (SMUG) I see your aim hasn’t changed. STEF (ANGRY) What are you doing here? They lock you out of your lab? HUBERT (BLUNT) Same thing you are. I was tricked. STEF (CONFUSED) Why? We’re all on their side. HUBERT (SLY) Well, they are fighting a different war. STEF (ANNOYED) Same old Hubert, never making any sense. Hubert gets up. HUBERT (BLUNT) Look. Stef looks to where Hubert is pointing, it is to table in the corner. It is packed with food and two candles burning on it. STEF (CONFUSED) This is war over food? HUBERT (ANNOYED) No. Look what is burning on the table. Stef notices the candles, she gasps. STEF (SHOCKED) A candle light dinner! They want us to get back together! HUBERT (BLUNT) Yes, the oldest war in the world. The battle of the sexes. Stef looks at Hubert. STEF (ANGRY) Never! I’d rather die than get back together with you! HUBERT (ANNOYED) I feel the same way. I suggest we try and find a way out of here. Hubert and Stef frantically look around the room, they both spot an air vent. They both quickly rush to it. Stef reaches up, grabs it and rips it off the wall. Behind it are bars blocking any exit. STEF (ANNOYED) Drats. HUBERT (FRUSTRATED) Looks like they thought of everything. Stef looks at Hubert. STEF (ANNOYED) Oh no. That is what you hope I’ll think. But I am NOT spending the night with you! HUBERT (BLUNT) I have no intent or desire to do as such. But for now, we are out of options. Stef throws the grate to the floor. STEF (ANNOYED) Perfect. Hubert thinks for a moment. HUBERT (BLUNT) You hungry? STEF (ANNOYED) No! And there is no way you are going to get me near that table with you. HUBERT (BLUNT) Well, suit yourself. But I haven’t had dinner. Hubert walks over to the table, sits down and digs in. Stef watches him for a bit. Then she storm over and sits on the other side of the table, she begins to eat. Hubert looks at her and smiles, she notices this. STEF (ANNOYED) Don’t get any bright ideas. I have been on the road all day. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. Stef and Hubert eat in silence for a bit. She looks at him. STEF (PLEASED) Well, since this won’t be a TOTAL lost. Stef pulls out some papers and a pen, she hands them to Hubert. He takes them and looks them over. HUBERT (CONFUSED) What’s this? STEF (BLUNT) Our final divorce papers. Sign them and we are no longer husband and wife. This was the MAIN reason I came. I got sick and tired your excuses. I lost them Stef, the ink is too blurred Stef. Now you don’t have any excuse. Hubert looks up. HUBERT (DEFENSIVE) They were NOT excuses! STEF (ANNOYED) Whatever. Just sign them and prove me wrong. HUBERT (CONFUSED) Why are you in such a hurry? STEF (ANGRY) Because I don’t like you! HUBERT (CONFUSED) You got someone on the side? Stef sighs. STEF (ANNOYED) Well, I could lie but you’re not worth it… No, I have no one. I did for a while. His name was Eldon. I thought he loved me… Then again, I thought you did… Anyway, he broke if off for some tramp! HUBERT (BLUNT) I’m sorry, Stef. STEF (ANNOYED) No you aren’t… Besides, he got his. When we were working together busting a illegal lobster-netting ring he was accidentally pushed into a vat of live lobsters. HUBERT (BLUNT) Let me guess. You Stef? STEF (DEFENSIVE) You’re darn right! I wanted to make him hurt as much as my heart did. 327 lobster pinches, most on critical areas of his body. Unfortunately, members from both our teams showed up and so I had to pull him out. Shame, I was enjoying it. HUBERT (BLUNT) Same old Stef. Always have to get even. STEF (ANNOYED) Just sign the papers and save the lecture for someone who cares! Hubert sighs and looking the papers over. Once satisfied, he opens the pen and prepares to sign them. But he can’t bring himself around to it. He recaps the pen and puts both the papers and pen down on the table. HUBERT (HONEST) I can’t. STEF (CONFUSED) Why not? HUBERT (BLUNT) My mind says sign, but my heart says don’t. It would be admitting defeat. Saying we did a mistake. STEF (ANNOYED) But we did. We said I DO. HUBERT (BLUNT) I’m sorry, but I can’t. STEF (ANGRY) Same old Hubert! Only thinking about yourself! HUBERT (DEFIANT) Same old Stef! Stubborn and strong headed! Trying to push people into doing things they don’t want to! STEF (ANGRY) At least I admitted it was over! I didn’t hide in my lab and work all hours! HUBERT (DEFIANT) At least I didn’t accept defeat three months after our honeymoon! Hubert and Stef growl at each other. Then they sigh. STEF (FRUSTRATED) Can’t you see Hubert? Nothing is changed. We still can’t get along. We can’t compromise at anything. End the suffering and sign the papers. Hubert pauses. HUBERT (HONEST) Was all the time we were together that bad? STEF (BLUNT) Actually, yes. We nearly killed each other and everyone around us. HUBERT (CONFUSED) But when we were dating, when we were fiancees we couldn’t be apart for more than 30 seconds. STEF (HONEST) That was the problem. The thrill was the chase, once we caught each other there was nothing left. That is what keeps you from signing. Once you do I’m not yours anymore. Hubert stares into Stef’s eyes. HUBERT (HONEST) Tell me the truth. Is there a part of your heart that still loves me? STEF (UNEASY) Please Hubert, don’t do this. HUBERT (HONEST) I’m about to change my life prematurely. I NEED to know. Stef sighs. STEF (FRUSTRATED) Okay. Yes, part of me doesn’t want you to sign those papers. But most of me does. Including logic. Hubert stands up. HUBERT (HONEST) Well, I think I still love you. Hubert walks over to Stef, she is confused. He holds his hand out to her. STEF (CONFUSED) What? HUBERT (HONEST) Humor me. STEF (ANNOYED) Why should I? HUBERT (HONEST) Because it could result it me signing the papers. Stef hesitates, and then takes Hubert’s hand. She stands up, he pulls her towards her and wraps an arm around her. She looks confused into his eyes. STEF (SHOCKED) What are you doing? HUBERT (BLUNT) Something I should have done long ago. Hubert kisses Stef hard and passionately on the lips. Her eyes bug out of her head, they part. Hubert smiles at her. She shoves him into the wall. HUBERT (SHOCKED) Hey! STEF (ANGRY) You jerk! What do you think this is? Puppy train class! HUBERT (DEFENSIVE) Well, um, all I wanted to do was… STEF (ANGRY) You call that a kiss? I’ll show you a kiss! Stef grabs Hubert, wraps her arm around him and gives him a long and passionate kiss. He melts in her arms. When they part Hubert pants heavily, Stef even feels a bit faint. HUBERT (SHOCKED) That was incredible! STEF (AMAZED) Yeah… I know… Hubert and Stef look lovingly at each other. HUBERT (REALIZING) Stef? STEF (REALIZING) Hubbie. They grab one another and begin to smother each other in passionate kisses, the slink down to the floor in a love frenzy. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - WAR ROOM Colleen and Amani are at one of the consoles listening in on Stef and Hubert. COLLEEN (SHOCKED) I can’t believe it. It actually worked. HUBERT (OVER SPEAKERS, PASSONATELY) YES! YES! YES! STEF (OVER SPEAKERS, PASSONATELY) DON’T STOP HUBBIE!!! Colleen flips a switch and the speakers go dead. COLLEEN (SLY) That’s enough, they deserve their privacy. Colleen smiles and looks at Amani, she doesn’t look too good. COLLEEN (CONCERNED) What’s wrong Guv? Amani stares off into space. AMANI (DISTANT) Nothing. Colleen nods. COLLEEN (CONCERNED) I know what is wrong. Deep down you were hoping that it wouldn’t work out. That Hubert would finally let go of Stef. Amani looks at Colleen AMANI (DISTANT) Yeah, I did. It hurts more now that they have found each other. COLLEEN (UNDERSTANDING) I know, Guv. I know how exactly how you feel. AMANI (CONFUSED) How could you? COLLEEN (BLUNT) Just because I’m a dog doesn’t mean I have not been dumped. Blimey, the stories I could tell you. AMANI (HONEST) Honestly, I could use one of those stories just about now. Colleen nods. COLLEEN (PLEASED) You got it Guv. Colleen proceeds to telling Amani a story. EXTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - SURFACE The sun is just coming up, it is going to be a beautiful day. INTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - CORRIDOR Colleen and Amani are outside the door to the Empty Quarters. Amani unlocks it, Hubert and Stef step out. Her eyes lock onto Amani. STEF (BLUNT) You! Stef moves towards Amani but Colleen blocks her way, she holds Stef at arms length. COLLEEN (STERN) I don’t want any trouble. Stef looks at Colleen, confused. STEF (CONFUSED) Trouble? I just want to thank her. AMANI (BLUNT) It’s okay, Colleen. I have to get what is coming to me either way. Colleen hesitates, then steps aside. Stef rushes up to Amani, wraps her arms around her and picks her up. She twirls her around as she hugs her. Amani screams. Stef stops and puts her down. STEF (PLEASED) I want to thank you. You helped show us the light. Showed us the truth even though we were both stubborn. Thank you. AMANI (UNEASY) Sure, no problem Stephanie. STEF (PLEASED) No, please. Call me Stef. Amani smiles. AMANI (RELIEVED) Thanks. COLLEEN (SURPRISED) So things are like they should be? Stef turns to Colleen. STEF (PLEASED) Most definitely. Stef turns to Hubert. STEF (PLEASED) Because we learned a lot about each other last night. Stef walks back up to Hubert. STEF (PLEASED) Well. I’d better get going. Stef holds her hand out to Hubert, he takes it. They shake hands. STEF (PLEASED) Thanks for everything, Hubert. Thank for being mature about all of this. HUBERT (PLEASED) You too. STEF (PLEASED) I’ll see you at the wedding. HUBERT (PLEASED) Of course. They stop shacking and let go, Stef turns to Amani and Colleen and waves. STEF (PLEASED) Good-bye. Thanks for everything. Colleen and Amani wave back, a bit confused. Stef turns and rushes away. Colleen and Amani look at each other. AMANI (CONFUSED) What is her rush? COLLEEN (CONFUSED) And a handshake. That is a bit peculiar way of saying good-bye to a husband and wife. HUBERT (BLUNT) That is because we are no longer husband and wife. Colleen and Amani turn to Hubert, shocked. COLLEEN AND AMANI (SHOCKED) WHAT!!! Hubert pulls out the divorce papers from his pocket and holds them up to Colleen and Amani, they are signed. HUBERT (BLUNT) I signed the divorce papers. COLLEEN (SHOCKED) But why? AMANI (SHOCKED) Last we heard you two were going at it like newlyweds. Hubert lowers the papers, his eyes narrow. HUBERT (CONFUSED) How did you know what was going on in there? COLLEEN (EMBARRASSED) We kind of bugged the room. AMANI (EMBARRASSED) Sorry. Hubert stares at Colleen and Amani for a few seconds, then his eyes return to normal. He puts the papers back in his pocket. HUBERT (BLUNT) Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. COLLEEN (CONFUSED) What went wrong? AMANI (ADDING) That is, if we can ask. Hubert pauses. HUBERT (HONEST) Everything was going great. Then we couldn’t decide what position. I told her she was being too rough. And the middle of it she cries out Eldon. It just went down hill from there. In the end we realized it was pointless. We were two completely different people with two completely different lives with two completely set of interests. We called it a night. She took the bed, I took the sofa. When we woke up we talked, came to a decision and signed the papers. End of story. AMANI (SHOCKED) I’m sorry, Hubert. I wish it would have worked out. HUBERT (HONEST) Me too. Hubert, Amani and Colleen look at one another. COLLEEN (SLY) Well, the good news is that you can start dating again Hubert. Colleen shoves Amani over by Hubert. Amani turns around but Colleen is halfway down the hall, giggling. She turns back to Hubert. AMANI (NERVOUS) Yeah, that is right. Um, that is, if you… HUBERT (BLUNT) Look. I haven’t been divorced an hour. I don’t want to jump into anything right now. Amani sighs. AMANI (DISAPPOINTED) I understand. Amani turns and sadly walks away. HUBERT (SLY) But I’m sure by this evening I’ll be ready. Amani stops, turns and looks at Hubert. AMANI (EXCITED) Really! Do you mean it? HUBERT (PLEASED) Absolutely. Busy tonight? Amani rushes up to Hubert and hugs him, he hugs her back. They hug for the longest time. EXTERIOR: ROAD ROVER MISSION CONTROL - GROUNDS It is night, the stars and moon can be seen through the opening above. Bear and Nitro walk hand and hand. NITRO (PLEASED) I can’t believe it. In less than a week we’ll be husband and wife. The time has really flew by. BEAR (CONFUSED) What I can’t believe is that we actually have time to spare. We’re ready for this wedding. NITRO (PLEASED) We have our friends to thank. They have been the best. BEAR (HONEST) Especially your ma. Nitro stops and so does Bear. She turns to him and he turns to her. NITRO (BLUNT) Do you still love me? BEAR (PLEASED) More than that first day we met. Nitro takes Bear into her arms and vice versa, they stare lovingly into them. NITRO (BLUNT) I mean it. We’re about to pass the point of no return. Do you REALLY love me? BEAR (STERN) Honey. I’m the one that purposed. Remember? Bear kisses Nitro firmly and passionately. Then they lay their heads on each other shoulders. NITRO (PLEASED) Just checking, dear. BEAR (HONEST) You need to trust me. Have some faith. After all, we’re are going to be with each other the rest of our lives. NITRO (EMBARRASSED) You’re right. Sorry. Bear starts humming a hymn. They close their eyes and just stand they’re holding one another. INTERIOR: BIG SKY RANCH - BARN It is as it was before, Blitz and Hunter’s mother walk in. He plops down into a hay pile, she lays next to him. He pets her. BLITZ (PLEASED) Yah. This is the life. Fresh air, great company and just time on your paws. Only thing that would make this perfect would be tooshies to bite. Hunter’s mom barks something. Blitz chuckles. BLITZ (LAUGHING) You are a devilish one. Hunter’s mom barks once and wags her tail. Blitz sits up and looks at her. BLITZ (SERIOUS) I want to secure this happiness, forever. Blitz places his hand on her paw, she looks up to him. BLITZ (SERIOUS) You are the light of my life and the center of my world. Because of this I must ask you this quest