RAT RACE: A TRILOGY OF TROUBLE

By Dawn G. Griffiths

While Jackson’s rescue efforts move into position, Justin is led onto the gallows scaffold — where he is further bound around the ankles in addition to his paws tied behind his back at the wrists.

It is at this time that Justin is permitted to have last words — and the exchanged conversation between him and Jenner leads to insight into both, with emphasis on the latter.

When Justin tells it as it is, however, the enraged Jenner nearly finishes him.

Then, it is Jackson and company to the rescue!

[The drummer breaks of, staring in dumb astonishment.]

[JENNER cries out in alarm; then his expression of viciousness returns.]

[BRUTUS ducks behind an outcropping of rock.]

Drop that cord, you back-stabbing, dirty double-dealer! Let it go now — before I break your neck — and I can do it, believe me!

<Gasp> Traitors! Your pack was suppose to leave this place! You were suppose to be gone by now! Why are you still here? Wilson and I had an agreement regarding the lot of you —

Shut up, you! I know all about your rotten, slimy agreement! Naw, it’s not even worth the parchment it’s written on. You meant to get us all right after you get rid of my son, right!? Track us all down — just like you did him! That’s what you really mean to do, don’t you. Right? Don’t you!?

I should have had all of you killed when I had the chance!

Yeah, yeah! I figured just as much!

[COLBERT appears behind them.]

Bella, what the hell are ya doin’ here!? We told you no!

[She just stares at him, sheepishly, smiling apologetically.]

Sorry, Father.

[Thru’ all of this, JUSTIN stares in astonishment, almost incredulous, as the tears continuing to fall. He seems simultaneously relieved — and horrified.]

D-Dad! Wha — What’re you doing here!?

[As if regardless of JACKSON, JENNER seems about to pull the rope.]

[Seeing this, JUSTIN squeals in terror]:

[Out of nowhere appears MRS. BRISBY, followed closely by AURORA who stops between the gallows scaffold — and JENNER’s private box.]

[Running, MRS. BRISBY leaps into the air up at the rope and bites it clean thru’, the rope falling limp in JENNER’s grasp, making him snarl with frustration.]

[Coming down from her leap, MRS. BRISBY lands on the gallows platform next to JUSTIN, landing so close to the edge that her feet almost slip ... and she grabs on to the surface of the platform to keep from falling off.]

[At the same time, MRS. BRISBY and AURORA appear, ARNOLD, ARTHUR, and WILLIS break cover, taking hostages amoung JENNER’s staff.]

[ARNOLD pins TEMPLETON. ARTHUR pins BENJAMIN. WILLIS and BRIAN knock down RATTEN and sit on him (since the two of them are smaller, being youths).]

[JUDITH and COLBERT also attack and pin down and manage to immobilize henchrats.]

[JUSTIN’s rescuers take the swords off of the henchrats to help hold them.]

[The rest of the guards and henchrats are start forward aggressively.]

Don’t anyone move ... or you’ll be sorry! He’ll be sorry!

[He tightens his grip on JENNER, making the tyrant grunt, hissing angrily.]

[The guards all cease their advance, but continue to glare at the intruders.]

[MRS. BRISBY turns to JUSTIN.]

[JUSTIN seems about to faint, breathing swallowly and rapidly, swaying, trembling with helpless exhaustion.]

Oh, my God! Mrs. Brisby! I’m so glad to see you, I ... I’m not even gonna bother askin’ what you’re all doin’ here when I — I s-said, said you were all going away a-and — I ... I ... I —... Oh-hhh-hhhh!

[He breaks off, swaying, about to collapse.]

Oh! Don’t faint, Justin! It’s going to be okay! We are here now! We’re here for you! We’ll get you out of here! Don’t faint! You’ll be choked ...

[Suddenly, BRUTUS reappears, once again at JENNER’s immediate left.]

[MRS. BRISBY does not notice BRUTUS, but JUSTIN does and cries out — ]

What? Ohh, ... here, ... I’ll bite that noose thru’ and —

[ — because BRUTUS has his electro-spear aimed in JUSTIN’s and MRS. BRISBY’s direction — and he fires a blast past them, making the two friends cry out.]

[ISABELLA also cries out, leaning forward]:

That ... was just a warning shot.

[He aims right at JUSTIN’s chest.]

Now then, ... none of you move —

[JUSTIN freezes in horror, his heart pounding.]

— or ... I ... shall kill him!

[Crying out in horror, JUSTIN trembles violently, teeth bared, his face ashen with horror. Looking almost sick, he fights to keep from crying, choking back a sob with a hard gulp.]

Oh, my God — no!

[BRUTUS looks toward JACKSON and JENNER.]

:{to Jackson}:

I recommend ... that you release my King ... at once!

[AURORA, listening to BRUTUS, turns from him to JENNER, angry and indignant]:

:{to Jenner}:

This has gone far enough! We demand that Justin be set free — at once!

:{with relief}:

Yes, yes! Oh, please — yes!

:{tremblingly, but bravely}:

Now! Or you and your friends ... will be quite sorry!

That, my dear, depends. Now then, since you have made your demands, it is only fair that we make our own: you and your companions are to desist ... at once — and then surrender to us immediately!

[As MRS. BRISBY and JUSTIN look back towards BRUTUS in alarm at his intial threat and demand, JACKSON amends his side’s demands]:

Mrs. Brisby is right! You’ll be sorry! If my son dies, … Brutus, ... then your so-called "King" is next!

:{straining in Jackson’s grasp}:

<Gasp> You dirty rebel! You ... You wouldn’t dare!

:{grimly}:

Do you wanna bet? You, Brutus! You’d better think twice, if you really care about your "King" here. This’ll get very ugly — if you don’t set Justin free this instant ... and it’ll be your fault!

[JACKSON growls in JENNER’s ear]:

Well, what’re ya waitin’ for? Order your boys to cut loose my son — now. Or your arm ... certainly won’t be the only thing busted around here! I’ll start off with your neck next — if you don’t give the proper orders! Do it now — you know thing’s’ll just get worse ... for you ... if you don’t!

[JENNER seems just about to relent, letting out a slow, growling sigh — seemingly of defeat.]

:{growl; to Jackson}:

You shall all pay for this! Mark my words! You —

Yeah, right! Just order your man to let Justin go! Shut your yap. None of us need to hear your arrogent, offensive bull ...

[JENNER looks at BRUTUS]:

Mr. Gideons — now ...

[JUSTIN looks extremely hopeful.]

[BRUTUS returns JENNER’s gaze with a look of profound puzzlement]:

... Sir?

Now, Mr. Gideons ...

[He subtlely nods at BRUTUS, suddenly smiling (very subtlely), eyes narrowing.]

[At first, BRUTUS does not respond, then he seems to recognized this as a signal and nods back slowly, brow furrowing slightly, frowning grimly.]

[JUSTIN, MRS. BRISBY, and AURORA see this and exchange looks.]

[JACKSON, ISABELLA, and COLBERT, however, cannot see it]:

Oh, well, now — that’s better, ... "Your Majesty".

[Suddenly, JENNER’s seemingly surrendering bearing becomes vicious as he shouts to BRUTUS, gesturing violently at JUSTIN with his good arm, while still holding onto what is left of the gallows rope, straining in JACKSON’s grasp and screaming with rage]:

Kill him, Gideons! Kill him — now!

[ISABELLA, JUSTIN and MRS. BRISBY all cry out in horror, pleadingly, together]:

God — ohhh, please! Don’t! Don’t!

No! Oh, no, don’t! Please! Don’t!

Oh, no! Please — oh, God, no! No!

[BRUTUS’s joyfully shouted response to JENNER’s command nearly drowns out the pleas of JUSTIN and MRS. BRISBY]:

[ISABELLA screams — as JUSTIN struggles desperately.]

[BRUTUS is about to blast JUSTIN (who cowers and tries to turn away, eyes pressed closed, teeth bared), but AURORA lets loose a bolo (that had been currently hanging in a coil on her right hip of her belt, loosing it with her left paw) at BRUTUS’ elector-spear — ]

[ — and knocks BRUTUS’s weapon right out of his paws — just as it goes off.]

[The bolt goes wild, narrowly missing JUSTIN and MRS. BRISBY, who both squeal in fright and cower as the bolt singes the scaffold. The part of the beam where it has been it bears a small, delicate fire that dies out fairly quickly. A burned spot is left on the scaffold which smokes delicately.]

[Without missing a beat, BRUTUS lunges for what is left of the cord — and JUSTIN screams in desperate terror]:

N-No — please! Don’t! Help — someone, save me!

[Everyone is momentarily stunned into complete inactivity — even MRS. BRISBY.]

[Everyone; that is, except AURORA. Crying out in angry horror, AURORA lunges for BRUTUS’s legs and manages to thoroughly trip him up ... as she grabs one of his legs, her body under-foot of his other leg.]

[In the process, with an angry snarl, he kicks her, getting her in the head ... and stuns her from the blow; AURORA is trampled, severly stunned.]

[BRUTUS, even tripped up, keeps right on going. He does not even miss a beat because of her efforts. Landing on his stomach, he slides towards the gallows scaffold ... and seizes the rope! He looks up at JUSTIN, glaring at him — and their eyes lock; JUSTIN is frozen in horror at this.]

[MRS. BRISBY tries to climb up JUSTIN’s side, pulling herself up with pawful of JUSTIN’s tunic, intending to bite the cord (which he tries to make easier for her to get to by tipping his head back), but she is too late.]

[JUSTIN screams as BRUTUS pulls the cord — and the peg, that holds the trap door closed by two small metal loops screwed into the wood, slips out ... and the trap door drops out from under them!]

[And so suddenly, MRS. BRISBY is shaken loose before she reaches the rope leading up to the scaffold as the rope snaps tight from JUSTIN’s weight.]

[MRS. BRISBY hits the ground hard with a grunt and is stunned from the fall — ]

[ — but JUSTIN is hanged! The rope snaps taut from JUSTIN’s weight … and the noose pulls tight!]

[JACKSON is so horrified at first, he does not move, tho’ he still has JENNER, then snarls at JENNER in horrified, angry shocked]:

You bastard!

[In anger, JACKSON tries to carry out his earlier threat — and they struggle.]

[COLBERT tries to help JACKSON hold JENNER.]

[ISABELLA tries to help, but she is so restrained and hobbled, she can barely move — and in the effort, loses her balance and falls out of the seating box ... right into the grasps the the henchrats who brought her out.]

<Yee-eeek!> Help! Help!

[COLBERT tries to go to her rescue, but the henchrats rush him — and knock him unconscious.]

[The henchrats bind her more tightly, gagging her.]

[JUSTIN flails about helplessly — as the noose pulls tighter and tighter around his throat, agonizingly crushing and tearing his esophagus as he gags painfully, gutterally, eyes bulging, tougue pertruding, tears of agony on his face.]

[Blood starts to ooze from the corners his mouth as his windpipe tears and starts to bleed.]

[Because the platform and the trap door are both so wide, JUSTIN cannot reach to the platform with his feet; therefore, he is left hanging freely in midair with no way to get a solid surface under to feet to slacken the rope — and save himself from his sentenced fate.]

[MRS. BRISBY shakes her head to clear it. Looking up at JUSTIN above her, she screams in horror and leaps to her feet, making to climb the scaffold.]

Don’t worry — I’ll get you down!

[She scrambles back up to the platform — and starts for the rope’s anchor hook, intending to pull it loose, standing up on her toes — straining — to reach it, about to climb it.]

[BRUTUS laughs viciously ... and starts to close in on MRS. BRISBY.]

[Alarmed, she begins to dart about, around the gallows, trying to elude him and get to JUSTIN, but she cannot as BRUTUS tries to grab her each time.]

[AURORA recovers; leaping to her feet, draws her dagger (with her right paw; it is on her left hip) and flings it at the rope, up near the scaffold, her aim is perfect — and her dagger flies at the rope, spinning about like a circle-saw blade.]

[As the blade is air-borne, AURORA bolts forward to help her friends.]

[The knife hits the rope, cutting it, then the knife hits the scaffort hilt first, falling to the ground, nearly hitting MRS. BRISBY. To avoid it, she darts to one side and runs into one of the scaffold’s supports; mildly dazed, she bolts around it to avoid BRUTUS.]

[Cut loose, JUSTIN falls hard to the ground with a thud, grunting.]

[MRS. BRISBY is at his side in an instant.]

[JUSTIN’s chest heaving, eyes closed and his tongue hanging out, there is blood at the corners of his mouth. He tries to cough, but the noose is so terribly tight that he is not even breathing — as he lays there, weakly writhing in agony with his tongue still hanging out.]

[MRS. BRISBY tries to pull the noose loose, but fails because of the slipknot and, pushing his chin back, to find that his throat is badly lacerated from the noose and bloody, making her cry out in horrified pity.]

[JACKSON and JENNER continue to struggle, even tho’ JENNER is fighting with only a single arm.]

[ISABELLA watches them, totally bounded now and gagged as well.]

[As he fights to subdue JENNER, JACKSON shouts out]:

[This is like a single for "all Hell to break loose", as — beginning with the guards still loyal to JUSTIN, but forced into this … and the guards on JENNER’s side — a free-for-all breaks out.]

[As all-out fighting breaks out everywhere, AURORA runs towards MRS. BRISBY and JUSTIN.]

[MRS. BRISBY is about to bite off the noose under JUSTIN’s chin, when suddenly BRUTUS looms over them, laughing evilly.]

[Looking up, MRS. BRISBY cries out in horror, cowering over JUSTIN, as if to protect him.]

[BRUTUS swats her away, sending her tumbling over and over across the ground, and sits on JUSTIN, grabs the rope, and pulls hard on it, drawing it tight, brutally, looping the rope around one wrist while simutaneously pushing down on the slip-knot on the noose itself, pushing it tighter with his free paw. He proceeds to loop what is left of the rope around JUSTIN’s throat; once, twice, three times — each time pulling the rope tighter ... and tighter ... and still tighter, ... agonizingly strangling his victem.]

:{raspingly}:

No! ... N-No, ... no! <Ack>

[JUSTIN tries to speak further, but cannot form words; he can only gag, in agony, choking, tongue still hanging out, writhing feebly. His struggles slowly grow weaker and lesser with every second — as BRUTUS tries to choke him to death.]

[Meanwhile, the fight goes on; on other levels]:

[ARNOLD fights TEMPLETON, ARTHUR fights BENJAMIN, and WILLIS fights RATTEN.]

[JUDITH, COLBERT (now conscious), and BRIAN have their battles, too.]

[BRIAN manages to knock his opponent unconscious … and ARNOLD grabs the unconscious henchrat’s sword — and throws it to JACKSON.]

[Others who are not in the guard but who are on JUSTIN’s side help, too, males — while the females and children all bolt for cover with a few of the less strong males directing them, like an evacution crew.]

[Many of JUSTIN’s friends try to reach him, but there are too many of JENNER’s guards rallied around him — so many that those who try to get to JUSTIN cannot reach him, nor can JACKSON’s rescue party.]

[JUDITH breaks off from her fight ... and she rushes to help JUSTIN — ]

[ — loosing her short-sword in the process ... as she trips and stumbles on a loose rock. Snarling, she throws herself at BRUTUS.]

[BRUTUS sees her coming and cuffs her as she gets to him, stunning her.]

[Fighting JENNER, JACKSON sees this]:

[JACKSON, seeing what is happening, forces JENNER back so that JENNER stumbles and trips ... and JACKSON breaks off to dash after BRUTUS.]

You bastard!

[Behind him, MRS. BRISBY, joined by AURORA, tries to drive BRUTUS off JUSTIN]:

[MRS. BRISBY pushes at him from behind, but she is violently thrown.]

[AURORA rushes in, shouting savagely]:

:{leaping on BRUTUS}:

Mrs. Brisby, stand clear — the backlash!

[As MRS. BRISBY does so, AURORA tries to stun him with her healing magic, turned inside-out and into a terrible, living weapon, makes her cry out in pain — her target’s pain, as her spoken-of backlash strikes her — and JUSTIN.]

[The two female mice are screaming at BRUTUS, probably begging him to stop, but their words get mixed together and are unintelligable.]

[While MRS. BRISBY stands back, AURORA continues to viciously blast BRUTUS.]

[BRUTUS lets out a snarling cry at AURORA’s assault, but fights it, continuing to strangle JUSTIN with the noose.]

[JUSTIN, too, cries out from AURORA’s assault — with a strangled gurgle.]

[Hearing his cry, AURORA is horrified, breaking off her attack. Subsequently, she looses her grip on BRUTUS, slipping off of his back.]

[JACKSON looms behind BRUTUS, snarling]:

Traitor — damn you, you’re bad as him!

[BRUTUS hears JACKSON and, looking over his shoulder towards him, BRUTUS dodges JACKSON’s sword blow that would have been fatal and, continuing to dodge JACKSON, dashes to grab up his electro-spear.]

[The two female mice are at JUSTIN’s side at once, going to work on the terrible tangle of rope on JUSTIN’s throat.]

[JUDITH regains consciousness at this point, helping them, biting the ropes loose from her son’s ankles.]

[MRS. BRISBY succeeds in biting loose JUSTIN’s wrists, biting thru’ several loops now.]

[AURORA snatches up her dagger — ]

Oh, Justin! I’m so sorry! I should have realized that you would get caught in the backlash, too — but what else could I do?

[ — and cuts the noose off of JUSTIN’s neck.]

Oh, my! Your poor throat!

[JUSTIN’s throat is terribly raw, badly lacerated with the fur literally worn thin if not completely off — and bleeding.]

[JUSTIN gags as his mother and the two female mice try to help him to his feet.]

[He staggers and falls down on one knee, head forward, panting and gagging so hard that he is nearly retching, his paws at his throat, kneeling between JUDITH and MRS. BRISBY, with AURORA before him.]

:{chokingly}:

<Gasp> <Gasp> C-Ca ... Can’t — <gasp> I c-can’t b-breathe! <Gasp> C-Can’t b-br-breathe!

[On his paws and knees now, he suddenly starts to cough up bright red clots of blood.]

Aurora, what —

[AURORA feels his throat gently with both paws; she answers at once]:

Dear God! His throat’s been torn open inside!

:{gagging}:

H-Help — H-Hel — H — H-H-Hel-elp ... muh-m-me! <H-H-huk-ack-uck >

Justin, don’t try to talk — you’re making yourself worse!

[Still retching, JUSTIN suddenly collapses, rolling onto his back — and blood is freely flowing from his mouth now, spreading over the ground, his breath gurgles in the sea of blood coming from the inside of his torn throat.]

[His eyes rolling up so that the whites show, JUSTIN faints — but the blood flows forth just the same; in fact, it’s worse! And now, they all hear the terrible sound of his drowning in his own blood, as it invades his lunges as well — as he lies there, unconscious and motionless!]

The blood — it’s going into his lunges! Oh, no — he’s drowning in his own blood! Dear God, he’s dying! Justin is dying!

Oh! Oh, help him, Healer, help him! Oh, please — help my son!

[But AURORA is already doing so even as JUDITH speaks, as she touches his throat with a paw glowing with healing energy, giving him strength.]

Oh, you poor thing! He’s been beaten so badly, he’s bleeding inside as well! They tortured him, too — and, oh my God, … I — I think, … in a way that nothing male should do to another! But — It’s a miracle that he didn’t die during the night! In fact, if he isn’t healed soon, … he will die.

[As she speaks, she sends more healing energy into him, her power flowing thru’ him in a bright, warm, golden glow, reviving him — and JUSTIN awakens from his fainting spell.]

[Grateful and relieved, JUSTIN holds AURORA’s glowing paw to his wounded throat as he props himself up with his other paw: the pain subsides, his breathing becomes easier, and his strength returns. He struggles to sit up, rolling onto his knees.]

[His numerous wounds seem vanish completely (he is completely healed, save for his filthy, raggedy condition) — as AURORA sends him such power that she staggers against him, nearly wearing herself out.]

[For a moment, both weakly support each other.]

<Gasp> Th-Thank — <Cough> <Gasp> <Cough> Thank —... <Cough> <Cough> <Cough> <Gasp> T-Th-Thank y-you, ... H-H — H-H-Healer ...

[AURORA speaks exhaustedly, but with growing strength]:

:{exhausted urgency}:

But ... it is not done yet! I’ve given you strength! But now we must fight, if we are going to survive this! Get up ... now, Justin! You — You must get up! You do not want to die — remember!?

[JUSTIN is still weak. He speaks now as if in a daze]:

No — no, … I ... I don’t want to die ...

:{almost fiercely}:

Well, you will — if you don’t get up and help us fight! Now then, get up! Get up, Justin — now!

[JUSTIN staggers to his feet at AURORA’s urgings, but falls back down to one knee in exhaustion, panting.]

He’s okay now?

He’s fine, Judi.

:{grimly}:

Good. If you’ll excuse me ...

[She takes AURORA’s dagger and stands up to rejoin the fight.]

[Suddenly, GREGORY and MR. AGES appear.]

[MRS. BRISBY turns to them in astonishment.]

Mr. Ages, Gregory — where were you two?

I couldn’t get the blasted dart guns to work! I — I threw ‘em together too fast — on such short notice. What else could we expect? I told you this morning at breakfast they mightn’t work. The best we could do was ... look for a way to get to you.

[He gestures to JUSTIN.]

How is he?

Fine, now — completely; just exhausted.

Well, ... I’ll look him over anyway. He looks pretty bad. Do you want to assist me, Gregory?

[MRS. BRISBY suddenly gasps in horror — as she hears JENNER shouting]:

There, by the scaffold! Kill them — kill them all!

[She points — and AURORA, JUSTIN, MR. AGES and GREGORY look up in alarm.]

[The five friends see that their forces are very hard pressed now.]

[JACKSON, ARNOLD, ARTHUR, WILLIS, JUDITH, COLBERT, and BRIAN have all formed a circle of protection around JUSTIN and the four mice.]

[JENNER’s forces, led by BRUTUS, TEMPLETON, BENJAMIN, and RATTEN, are closing in on them.]

We’re trapped!

[JUSTIN is partly supported by the two lady-mice, still on one knee.]

I ... I — I really appreciate the help, ... but ... you all shouldn’t’ve risked yourselves for just one person — you should have just let me die! You all should’ve left the valley, should’ve saved yourselves — when I ... I told you to! Now — we — we’re all gonna die — and ... all for nothing —

No, Justin, you —

[JACKSON scoops up the sword of an injured henchrat — and throws it to JUSTIN.]

Here, son! We need all the help we can get now!

[JUSTIN grabs the sword and, staggering to his feet, joins the fight.]

Then the signal, Jack, now! Call Jeremy!

[AURORA, and GREGORY cry out in overlapping agreement]:

Oh, yes, Jack — the signal! The signal!

Yes! Yes! Please! We’ll all be killed!

[MR. AGES also calls out, but his voice carries above the others, better heard]:

Call those crows, Jack — get us out of here!

[Even as they speak, JACKSON draws out the flare gun ... and fires upwards and the charge explodes high over everyone’s heads, still fighting, while he manages his sword with one paw.]

[AURORA, armed with her dagger, hands thick branches to MRS. BRISBY, GREGORY, and MR. AGES.]

What — ?

Here — clubs, just in case! We might have to defend ourselves!

But — But if our rat-friends can’t defend us from other rats, then what chance do we mice have, Healer!?

[The fight goes on.]

[Guards with spears join the fight, jabbing at them between the ranks of their own.]

[Archers with longbows and crossbows start to fire at them, so that they have to dodge and duck arrows and spears as well, slashing the spears apart where the opportunity allows.]

[AURORA mentally erects a force feild around them.]

Sheild?

I’ve been experimenting with a psychic force field — but I don’t know if it’s perfected enough for this, but I must try! I must keep out the bolts!

[The bolts pierce AURORA’s sheild.]

I — I’ll have to sheild selectively — just concentrate the sheild ... where the bolts come thru’ — to keeps them out!

[She concentrates on the arrows and spears, visually sighting each bolt — and this time, it works.]

[While AURORA selectively blocks bolts, JEREMY and TIFFINY appear, diving down towards the heart of the fight — their embattled rat friends.]

[JENNER, his sword still drawn, appears at the flinge of the battle, his teeth bared in rage, eyes narrowed.]

:{shouting angrily}:

The crows! Get them, get them!

[Arrows and spears fly at the two crows, who must dodge the bolts in mid-air.]

[JENNER screams an enraged order with the force of thunder]:

Shadow-wing — attack! Kill them!

[JEREMY and TIFFINY cry out in alarm as SHADOW-WING appears.]

This ... is not such a good idea anymore!

Not too hot! But Briz’s friends need us!

[On the ground, JENNER shakes his fist at the crows; screaming in rage]:

Those crows! Kill them, kill them now, Shadow-Wing! Guards! Guards, keep them away from here! They’re trying to help Wilson’s mob!

[JUSTIN and his friends are hard pressed (in fact, from an overhead prospective, it appears that it is going extremely badly all over the battle area for the young Chief’s people).]

[JUSTIN and his friends give their comments on the situation while they continue to fight, growing steadily exhausted and receiving minor blade cuts and club blows, panting.]

Blasted hawk!

I forgot all about him!

We all did, son!

Oh! That’s it, Mrs. Brisby — that’s the important thing — that I was trying to remember last night!

<Gasp> Oh, no!

This is crazy! How long can we hold out?

Yeah, those crows can’t get us outta here now — we’re on our own!

[He takes a spear in the stomach as the bolts increase.]

[AURORA dashes to him (and luckily he has fallen over backwards into the circle, near the four mice.]

They’re shooting too fast! I cannot sheild from them all!

[WILLIS holds on to his bloody wound, moaning in pain as AURORA and MR. AGES set to work on him.]

:{moaning in terror}:

I knew it, I knew it! We’re all gotta die! They ... They’re gonna kill us all!

[ARTHUR is suddenly knocked unconscious, also falling over backwards into the circle.]

Arthur! I was right — you guys should not’ve come after me!

It was my idea, son.

Not that I don’t appreciate it, … but it was a bad idea.

Yeah, I know; but what else could we do? We couldn’t just leave you to die — in the clutches of that murderer and his friends! Damn it, it almost worked! I’m sorry it failed ...

Know what ya mean, Dad; so am I! Thanks for trying, tho’; but you should’ve just let me be killed! You should’ve just let me die —

Justin, Dad — there’s too many of them, too many —

[He takes an arrow in the shoulder and goes down.]

:{exhausted, almost haggardly}:

Oh, God! I ... I can’t work that fast — I — I’m still working on Willis! Arthur needs help, too! And ... I cannot shield while I am healing — not at all! It’s — It’s too much! It —

[Swaying, she seems to be on the verge of fainting.]

:{horrified}:

Your sheild is down!?

Keep going, Healer — I’ll get working on Arnold. Go on! Arthur is only unconscious! He’ll keep!

We’re not gonna make it!

[AURORA finishes WILLIS and is about to go to ARNOLD, but suddenly — ]

Justin, look out!

[ — but the warning comes too late; JENNER suddenly appears, making JUSTIN freeze in terror for a fraction of a second — ]

Oh, … no!

[ — before raising his defenses — and leaving him wide open to JENNER’s vicious attack ... as JENNER manages to slash open JUSTIN’s leg with his sword, a very deep, extremely brutal cut, appearing to go half-way deep to the bone.]

[JUSTIN collapses, falling to his knees, screaming in pain — ]

<A-ah-ahhrrrgggghhhhh!>

[ — with a huge, brutal gash in his left thigh, the blood suddenly pouring out of his leg.]

:{weakly}:

Oh, no! Justin!

My son! Move!

[JUSTIN tries to stand up, but his leg is too badly wounded — and he falls down again, screaming in pain from his failed effort]:

<Agghhh-aggghhhhh!> I — I can’t! I can’t stand up!

[Struggling, JUSTIN tries to crawl away from JENNER with his good leg, but — ]

[ — JENNER leaps at his his tail, immobilizing him.]

[JUSTIN is stopped so fast, he rolls onto his rear. Cowering in terror and holding his wounded leg, JUSTIN screams, frozen in terror, trying to sheild himself with one arm, his paws covered with his own blood from his brutal leg wound.]

:{deep hiss}:

I have you now, … you wretch!

N-No, ... p-please! Let me go!

:{snarling}:

[Looming over JUSTIN, JENNER raises his sword — for the killing blow.]

[JUSTIN tries to shield himself with both arms]:

[JACKSON pulls JUSTIN back by the collar with one paw, practically dragging him out out of JENNER’s range — ]

Justin — get back!

[ — and gets right between JUSTIN and JENNER, blocking JENNER’s lunge for JUSTIN and managing to force JENNER back, partly because having JUSTIN’s tail pulled out from under his foot disrupts his balance.]

[JUSTIN lands besides AURORA and ARNOLD, holding his wound, the blood flowing down his leg and coating his paws as he wails in pain, writhing.]

[Just before JUSTIN can hit his head on the ground in his fall, MRS. BRISBY catches his head and holds his head in her arms — as AURORA gets to work on him.]

[JUSTIN lays there, eyes pressed shut, teeth bared, gasping in pain, his chest heaving.]

[Others fall, wounded: JUDITH, clutching at her slashed opened arm; COLBERT, a leg broken from a club blow; BRIAN, knocked unconscious.]

[ISABELLA, still restrained on the sidelines, sees this, straining forward, but fails to break free.]

[Those who are left fighting have wounds, too; minor, but bloody and painful.]

[MRS. BRISBY has tears in her eyes.]

:{sorrowful whisper}:

O-Ooh, Justin. We ... We’re not going to make it.

[The end of her statement dissolves in a soft sob, holding him close.]

:{panting in agony he manages to whisper}:

It ... It’s ... o-okay. You ... tried. I ... thank you. Y-You ... You did ... all ... that ... you ... could. I — I can only thank you.

[AURORA is still at work on JUSTIN.]

[She turns to MRS. BRISBY, GREGORY, and MR. AGES while she works. When she speaks, it is while entranced, so her voice has a monotone to it]:

:{sorrowfully}:

I am afraid ... that this is it.

Oh, … no — no, Aurora!

We are outnumbered. We ... will make our stand, ... but ... I am afraid that it is futile now. It’s just a matter of time until ... we all fall.

Oh — Oh, no — dear God, no!

No! I — I don’t wanna die!

None of us do. But our resistance ... is futile. What ... can save us all — now?