Cat and Mouse

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EXT. HOUSE FRONT STEPS. MORNING. OSCAR hears the sound of a nut hitting the ground. He looks around to find that JOSHUA is the source. JOSHUA freezes and tries to run away OSCAR: Where do you think you’re goin’? OSCAR presses firmly down over JOSHUA's tail. JOSHUA: Let me go! OSCAR: State your name and business. I know you’re up to no good! JOSHUA: My name is Joshua! I’ve just been foraging for food like the rest of the mice! It’s the only way that we can survive!” OSCAR: (leaning in) So you choose to make your living by taking MY nuts? JOSHUA: No! I found this here outside. Please, I’m not lying! OSCAR: Fine. I’ll give you five seconds to run. And just a heads up, a few little bushes aren’t going to stop me. JOSHUA bolted as quick as he could, stripping past the bushes and heading out to the forest where he could hide in the numerous tunnels and ditches [[Chase the mouse!]]

EXT. HOUSE FRONT YARD. MORNING. OSCAR: Fivefourthreetwoone! OSCAR starts to chase Joshua into the nearby forest. He runs out of energy and slowed to a stop. OSCAR: (cont'd) I guess I’m not as in shape as I used to be… Must be all that Fancy Feast. OSCAR realizes that he has no idea where he is now. He smells JOSHUA and searches for him. JOSHUA sees OSCAR looking at him from above the hole he found. OSCAR: (cont'd) Ha! I found you, you little rat! OSCAR swipes his paw, trying to hit JOSHUA. OSCAR: (cont'd) I am lost now thanks to you! I demand that you show me the way home. JOSHUA: Well… I - I don’t know. The house is downhill at least, but I don’t know which direction. If I come out and help you, will you promise not to eat me? OSCAR: Eat you? Haha! Very funny. You’re much too dirty for my tastes. I would hardly eat something that spends all day outside in the dirt and filth. JOSHUA: Right, haha... [[ Work together ]]

EXT. FOREST. AFTERNOON. JOSHUA and OSCAR walk down a forest path together. REDD the fox comes into view. REDD: What an unexpected pair to be all alone around these parts. You’re not in any danger, are you? OSCAR: (Stuttering) W-we were just on our way home. REDD: (Eyeing OSCAR's shiny COLLAR) If you need help, I’ve got it… but it’ll come at a price. OSCAR: (Thinking to himself) If I give him my collar, I wouldn't have my address if someone found me. But I could really use the help to get home right now... It's not likely that someone's gonna find me in a forest right? [[Find the way back independently]] [[Trade the collar for directions]]

EXT. FOREST. AFTERNOON. OSCAR: No way! This is mine! REDD: C’mon, I got what you need buddy... We can help each other out. JOSHUA: Sorry mister, but we need this in case we’re found. REDD: Your loss, losers. Good luck getting home. REDD DISAPPEARS into the trees. OSCAR: Well wasn’t he full of himself. I can just keep asking for directions! I bet I’ll get us home before you know it. After a new more minutes of walking, OSCAR notices a group of BIRDS in the trees. OSCAR: (cont'd) Oh, oh! Let’s ask them! They fly so high, they might be able to see home from here! They both approach the BIRDS. OSCAR: (cont'd) Hey BIRDS! Do us a favour and tell us where home is! BIRDS: Why would we ever help a cat! Cats are always so mean to us. We’re free here, stop making demands! OSCAR is offended and starts to make a come back. JOSHUA: (To OSCAR) Wait! Give me a chance to try talking to them first! OSCAR: Okay, but you only get one. If they won’t help, they’ll get what they deserve. JOSHUA: Hi birds! Excuse my friend, he’s not used to being in the real outdoors. Would you please help us out? We’re very lost. BIRDS: Well since you asked so kindly, we can tell you which direction to go. But since your “friend” was so rude, you’ll have to figure our answer out yourselves. The BIRDS fly up to scan for their house and came back down. BIRDS: (cont'd) Ok, here it goes. Go not the way the bluebird flies, When winter strikes, across the skies, Nor to where the sun will rise, Don't head to where St. Nick resides, Solve the riddle, claim your prize: The heading in which your house lies. (Flying away) Good luck! And cat! Try being nice sometime, you could make a friend! OSCAR: (Rolling his eyes) Hmmm, so which direction is it? [[North->Lost]] [[West]] [[East->Lost]] [[South->Lost]]

EXT. FOREST. AFTERNOON. OSCAR hands over his collar to REDD reluctantly. REDD: (Wink) Thanks bud. REDD leaves a crudely drawn map behind and jumps into the trees. OSCAR and JOSHUA look at the map and realize they've been fooled. OSCAR: Well this sucks. I guess lets just keep going that way. [[Lost]]

EXT. FOREST. EVENING. JOSHUA and OSCAR start their march again, this time with new guidance. JOSHUA Okay. Hopefully this time it's the right direction. Hopefully I'll be back in time for my cousin's birthday dinner, although, I don't have a present for her anymore." OSCAR Anymore? What happened to it? JOSHUA Well, that's why I was in your yard earlier today. I had just found some nuts in a nearby tree and I was making my way back home. OSCAR hangs his head a little. OSCAR (remorsefully) I'm sorry I got us into this mess. If it wasn't for me we wouldn't be lost out here in the forest. JOSHUA Hold that though! I think I recognize this area. My best friend's grandmba used to live around here. We aren't too far from home. Maybe if we hurry I won't even be too late to the party. OSCAR (relieved) That's good, but you don't have your gift anymore, huh? You know Joshua, I realize I haven't been very nice to you. I want to make it up to you. JOSHUA That's an understatement, but I'm glad that you know now. OSCAR Ok, I was really mean to you and I shouldn't have been. I hope you can forgive me. Let's find another nut for your cousin quickly, and you can ride on my back for the rest of the way home! JOSHUA and OSCAR work together to find a big oak tree, and JOSHUA climbs it to find a suitable nut for the party. JOSHUA Alright, I've got it. Let's go! OSCAR Hop on and hang on tight! Soon enough, JOSHUA and OSCAR break into the clearing where their home was located. JOSHUA, OSCAR (in unison) We made it! JOSHUA and OSCAR celebrate their triumph together, as friends. JOSHUA Alright, I have to get going to the party now. OSCAR Have a good time Joshua! And by the way, you can gather whatever you want from my garden, any time you need. JOSHUA Thank you Oscar, you're very kind! THE END.

EXT. FOREST. LATE-AFTERNOON. OSCAR and JOSHUA continue walking, with no signs of progress. They see the sun lowering past its peak. They have worried faces and continue to walk in silence. JOSHUA: (Suddenly) Ah! I recognize this type of mushroom! It only grows near water! JOSHUA points excitedly to a growth of brown fungi sprouting nearby. [[Ignore Joshua's intuition]] [[Listen to Joshua]]

EXT. FOREST. LATE-AFTERNOON. OSCAR And how do you suggest mushrooms are gonna help guide us to safety, Mr.Forager? JOSHUA Excuse me! You should have a little more faith in me. This fact can't be mistaken! If we follow these mushrooms, we have a better chance to come across the stream, which could lead us home! OSCAR Forget it. There's no way I'm trusting a bunch of fungus to lead me home! OSCAR turns and begins to give the mouse the cold shoulder. JOSHUA (Incredulously) Hey! Where are you going? Come back! We're supposed to be in this together. OSCAR scurries off and eventually JOSHUA is unable to catch up. Not much later, OSCAR finds himself completely lost, exhausted, hungry, and alone. A storm brews overhead and the rain begins to pick up. OSCAR (scarcastically) Well this is just great. Just when I thought things couldn't get any better. Maybe things would have been better if I had just listened to that mouse. Now I can't even find a place to hide from all the rain. Oscar feels regret and despair. Then, a light appears through the trees. OSCAR (cont'd) What is that! Oscar runs to the light, and emerges on a paved road. A car is coming directly towards him. The driver slams on the breaks, and exits the car. [[Run away]] [[Ask the driver for help]]

EXT. FOREST. LATE-AFTERNOON. OSCAR Hmmm? What does that mean? JOSHUA There is a river that runs past our home! We mice often foragee for these mushrooms around there. If they are growing here, the river must be nearby. If we follow the river downstream, we will surely get back! OSCAR's and JOSHUA find the river, and follow along its bank. After a long period of silence, OSCAR speaks up. OSCAR Huh. I didn't know that mice had to go so far just to get food. Behing a mouse must be tough. JOSHUA It sure is! We are constantly needing to hide from big, scary predators but we also have to venture far out to scrounge up food to eat. OSCAR quietly contemplates the differences in their lifestyles. OSCAR I'm sorry about this morning. I didn't mean to scare you. Well ok, I did, but maybe I shouldn't have. You must be tired. You can ride on my back if you want. JOSHUA Are you sure? What about your fur? Won't it get dirty? OSCAR It's alright we're friends now, right? All aboard! JOSHUA (smiling) Yeah, friends! JOSHUA climbs on OSCAR's back as OSCAR picks up the pace towards home. [[Listened To Joshua]]

EXT. FOREST. EVENING. With the sun low in the sky, OSCAR and JOSHUA break into the clearing. OSCAR, JOSHUA (in unison) We made it! JOSHUA Ah! After all of that running around, I lost my nut in the forest. What a let down. OSCAR Don't worry, I won't let you mice go hungry anymore! OSCAR dashes inside the house, and returns carrying a bag full of seeds. OSCAR (sheepishly) These are the nuts that I thought you were stealing... But now I am giving them to you. I couldn't have gotten home without your help. You deserve them. JOSHUA Thank you, thank you so much! I will surely share these will all of my family and friends! This gift won't be forgotten. OSCAR You know, we may be different, but I can see now that mice are good creatures too. Come back any time!

EXT. FOREST. EVENING. DRIVER honks the horn loudly as Oscar runs away. OSCAR (frightened) Oh my! I better get off the road. There must be some shelter somewhere in the forest. OSCAR scampers back into the forest, and soon finds a burrow beloning to another animal. He enters the burrow cautiously. OSCAR Hello! Is anyone home? Anybody? REDD (slyly) Why hello there kitty cat. Fancy a stay? I don't blame ya. Whoever looks after this den must have a keen sense of interior design, wouldn't ya say? Of course, I'm so lucky to have friends that help maintain my lavish lifestyle. OSCAR (to himself) Oh no... OSCAR (Stammering) W-whatver do you mean, fox? REDD Where's your mouse friend, pal? I coulda sworn the two of you would band together to get out of this place. I guess you were dead weight to him, huh? OSCAR (ashamedly) Parting ways with him was my decision. REDD Don't feel so ashamed Oscar. We can't all submit to the guidance of others. Pride is a flaw that so many of us have. OSCAR (Stammering) Well, I'm sorry for intruding Mr.Redd. I'll just get out of your hair now. REDD (menacingly) Not so fast, cat. The truth is, that mouse was your last hope of escaping from these woods. But you're in luck; I can help you reinvent yourself for the better here. Your whole life, you've taken advantage of your cushy position and lived carefree. Now you're going to see what it's like to work hard. You'll work for me. OSCAR No! I don't want to. I want to go home! REDD Go ahead kid, run away. But you won't survive out there. If you wanna live, I'm all you've got. You can start by cleaning this room. OSCAR realized that REDD was right. He resignedly picked up a broom and began to sweep. He felt much remorse for the way that he had treated JOSHUA, and quite humbled at the mouse's generosity despite his behaviour. He was finally able to see past differences that he and JOSHUA had, but it was too late. This was the start of his new life as REDD's personal butler.

EXT. FOREST. EVENING. The DRIVER opens his umbrella and looks at OSCAR. OSCAR approaches him and meows. DRIVER What in the world are you doing out here, silly cat? You must be very far from home! OSCAR Yes, I'm cold and wet and lost and I need to go home right away! DRIVER Oh, you poor cat, meowing so loudly. You must hate the rain! Hey! You look like that lost cat from my neighbourhood! I thnk I know who your owners are... Let me take you home. The DRIVER picks him up and puts him in the back of the vehicle. Then he drives OSCAR all the way back home. EXT. OUTSIDE OSCAR'S HOUSE. EVENING. JOSHUA (seeing OSCAR) HUH? You made it back? You just ran off and left me behind! OSCAR (ashamed) I'm so sorry Joshua. I shouldn't have done that to you. And I should have listened when you were trying to help us get back home. I was really wrong. I hope you can forgive me! JOSHUA I'm not sure OSCAR, you can't just go around being mean and leaving me to die! I'm not sure we can ever be friends. OSCAR (solemnly) I'm so sorry. I have learned my lesson, Joshua. I'll keep trying to become a better cat. Maybe one day you'll see the change in me. JOSHUA Okay OSCAR, I hope you become better too. Not for my sake, but for yours. Have a good night. OSCAR You're right... well, good night Joshua. JOSHUA scampers away and doesn't look back. OSCAR sulks and heads inside.