Scene 4

EXT. MUDDY PARK. NIGHT

Torrential rain spatters down like carpet bombs making small, wet explosions in the mud. Frequent blasts of thunder and lightening crash through the pattering cacophony of the storm. KID MOODY huddles under a park bench. It provides poor cover from the violent deluge. Water pours down through the slats on the bench onto his head. He is shaking and soaked. His fur clings to his shivering body pathetically, making him appear skinny and ever so vulnerable. He whimpers. His ears are flat. His tail is between his legs.

Over the sound of the storm, bursts a prolonged animal scream, which sputters to a choked and violent end. MOODY looks apprehensively in the direction of the horrible yowl. A tear streaks down his muzzle.

KID MOODY

I could have been show dog. Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid!

A bony, tough-looking alley cat, Jezzy, races through the rain and takes cover under the bench. Her sultry, feline beauty has been tempered by the ravages of eight out of nine lives spent on the street.

JEZZY

Whew. Hey Sailor, looking for a good time while we wait out the storm?

KID MOODY

I beg your pardon?

JEZZY

Oh crike! You a dog! Crike!

Suddenly she turns and races back into the downpour.

KID MOODY

Wait! Miss! Come back!

JEZZY

Look, Pal. I’s sorry. I didn’t see yo a dog in this rain. I didn’t mean no disrespect.

KID MOODY

I want to talk to you.

JEZZY

I ain’t out fo trouble. Don’t bite me.

KID MOODY

I’m not going to bite you.

JEZZY

Cuz I got sharp claws! You see? Razors here! An’ if you so much as curl yo lip at me, these claws’ll cut ribbons cross yo ugly canine eyes! You git me?

KID MOODY sniffles and then begins to sob, inconsolably.

JEZZY

Hey! Whoa, kid, whoa! What yo going all sobby fo? I can’t see no rain fo yo tears.

KID MOODY

I’m not crying.

JEZZY

An I ain’t no cat.

KID MOODY

I’m just wet from the storm.

JEZZY

Ever you say, kid. It ain’t my affair... What a puppy like you doin out in this storm, anyhow?

KID MOODY

They wanted me to go into Show Business but I ran away.

JEZZY

Skat! You had a home an’ you all ran away. That’s wack. Why you give that up? You could be squattin on a feather down pillow, chewin on a pig ear right now, steada shivering out in the street muck with me.

KID MOODY

I want to be a rat catcher.

JEZZY

What’s that?

KID MOODY

I said, I want to catch rats.

JEZZY

I heard you. I jist never thought I’d have sumpthin in common with no dog before. My name’s Jezzy.

KID MOODY

Kid Moody.

JEZZY

Good t’meet you, Kid. You wanna learn howda catch you some rats? Ol Jezzy’s an expert.

KID MOODY

You’ll teach me?

JEZZY

I sho will. I always wanted to have me a prentice. Course I didn’t think it’d be no dog. But times is a little strange these days. Nice to have some muscle to back me up. You hear wha’m sayin?

KID MOODY

No. I’m sorry, Ma’am. I don’t.

JEZZY

I’m sayin, I teach you the Rules of the Hunt. You keep me from harms way with those strong doggy fang o yo’s.

KID MOODY

Like a body guard?

JEZZY

You ain’t so dumb fo a canine.

KID MOODY

Is someone after you?

JEZZY

Somethins after everybody, Kid. It’s jist smart to work the buddy system. Hear?

KID MOODY

Yes, Ma’am.

A strange, threatening squeak is heard in the distance. Jezzy starts. The hair on her back prickles.

JEZZY

Let’s atskay, Kid. I don’t feel so safe round here no mo.

KID MOODY

I’m right behind you.

JEZZY tears off into the rain, with KID MOODY close behind her.

Scene 5

EXT. VACANT LOT. NIGHT.

CLOSE ON: A bloody, mutilated feline corpse. Huge, gory chunks have been torn from it, by some brutal, savage creature. The fresh steaming blood flows into the mud and rain.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL: KID MOODY stares at the corpse. JEZZY is beside him. She looks around her, nervously.

JEZZY

Keep up, Kid. You don’t want no part of that.

KID MOODY

What did that?

JEZZY

Don’t they teach you nothin but the real world in Show Business?

KID MOODY

No.

JEZZY

What did in po kitty? The Dread Were-Rat of Solomon Road did that sorry thang.

KID MOODY

What’s the Were-Rat of Solomon Road?

A threatening scratching sound is heard in the shadows.

JEZZY

You don’t come with me now, you’s likely to find out.

JEZZY and KID MOODY race on.

FADE OUT.