RAT RACE: A TRILOGY OF TROUBLE

By Dawn G. Griffiths

For Justin Wilson, the Chief Administrator of the new Thorn Valley colony New Valley, the unthinkable has happened.

There seems to be either an alarm level of ineptitude among his workers — or some unknown party is intentional sabotaging their efforts!

Could this have anything to do with the mysterious strange who keeps hounding the Brisbys?

[Once outside, MRS. BRISBY looks around — and has come some distance away from JUSTIN’s office tent when she sees JEREMY, who, in turn, sees her, comes in for a landing — and crashes into the foliage of a tree, promptly falling to the ground … and landing in a thick thorn bush. He extricates himself, groaning and moaning from the pain of thorn pricks — as MRS. BRISBY dashes up to him.]

Oh, my goodness, Jeremy! Are you okay!?

As soon <ouch> as I get <yeoch> these <oof> thorns <ow> out of me!

Oh, … those look painful.

Not as much as your thorn-bundle, Mrs. B.

… Thorn-bundle … ?

:{pulling out Mrs. Brisby’s bundle}:

Yeah, … this thing! Got stuck on the back of of my tie during the chase with that vulture! Been sticking me all the way back!

[MRS. BRISBY stares in horror at it, then snatches it from JEREMY … and says]:

Uh, … I have to stay for a little while longer, Jeremy. Can you come back again later?

Why, sure, Mrs. Briz, … but what’s the —

[Before he can finish his sentence, MRS. BRISBY bolts back the way she came, back in the direction of JUSTIN’s office tent.]

[As she runs thru’ the area, concealed from her site amidst the shrouded bushes, a dark, shadowly, and sinister figure crouches, watching her go past with glowing yellow eyes that narrow into cruel slits as the stranger watches her. The shadow gets up — to slowly and secretly follows MRS. BRISBY at a discreet distance — and remains unnotice by MRS. BRISBY.]

[MRS. BRISBY reaches JUSTIN’s office — and ducks right in.]

:{surprised}:

Mrs. Brisby! Back so soon … ?

I never left. I didn’t get a chance — because … I just remembered. There was something else I have to tell you.

There was … ? What … ?

<Sigh> Justin, … I have something to show you. And I hope to God it doesn’t mean what I think it does.

[JUSTIN watches with an expression of partially concealed dread — as MRS. BRISBY comes to his desk, sets down her bundle … and slowly opens it — to reveal the shread of black cloth with its pinkish-red and purple lining and its gold button. And … the mysterious intruder’s knife.]

[At the sight of these objects, JUSTIN leaps to his feet, staring down at the things on his desk. He is suddenly trembling — violently. He has turned so pale he is as white as a sheet — and looks ill with sudden fright.]

Remember, … I told you I was being harrassed by the stranger I told you about?

He attacked me in my yard some weeks back. My neightbor drove him off. She made him drop the blade — and torn the cloth from his clothes. Justin, … I’ve only seen something like that cloth on only one person before. Oh, … please, Justin, … tell me I’m wrong!

:{sitting back down}:

I wish I could — I really do. But … you aren’t. We’ve been in denial about this whole thing, haven’t we? The both of us. But no, … I’m afraid it’s time … that we faced the truth — and stop kidding ourselves — isn’t it?

Sit down, my friend. I have something I have to tell you, too. No one believed me when I first told them this. They convinced me I was hallucinating — and by God,

… I wanted to believe that I had dreamed it all up. But in light of … the evidence

… how can we continue to deny … what happened to me that night — right after your house was moved.

… Wha — What happened … ?

<Sigh> It was right after your house was moved, Mrs. Brisby. I — I don’t know why I felt like I did at the time, … but I felt like … something was wrong. We’d just finished camoflaging your house while Mr. Ages was seeing you and the children to bed. We — We … couldn’t find a couple of … the, … uh, … the bodies …

We had Nicodemus, … but we couldn’t find Sullivan — or …

Everyone thought that the bodies must have sunk in the mud — just like your house almost did. We looked for them, … but all we could find was Sullivan’s knife. We never found any hint of him at all — no where. But … no one knows how Sullivan’s knife came out of … his back.

Oh, … dear God …

Well, … as you can imagine, none of that sat too well with me. When everyone else stopped looking, … I continued. I took my search further afield than everyone else did, … which I knew was stupid. He was dead, … right? It’s not like a dead body can just get up and walk away, right? The body must have sunk, just like everyone thought, right? That’s what my rational mind said — but not my instincts. I guess you could say my hackles were up. Which is why I took my sword. By all rights, I shouldn’t have needed it — but, dear God — I did!

… Go on …

[As JUSTIN describes what happened next, the scene fades into the following flashback]:

[JUSTIN, his sword in hand and apparently very tired from the night’s exertions, has taken his search some distance from the main ground at the worksite, on the cloudy, stormy night of the BRISBY house move. He is now in a grassy area — and close to the rock MRS. BRISBY uses to hide from the hawk. As JUSTIN walks along slowly from weariness, his head down, he hears the snap of a twig getting stepped on — and looks up]:

[A figure about his size moves along the path up ahead of him, moving away from him.]

[Because it is so dark, JUSTIN squints, trying to make out what appears to be another rat.]

[At that moment, with a deafening crack of thunder, a brilliant claw of lightning lights up the area — just as the other rat turns for a backwards glance.]

[The brief light makes identification now possible … and JUSTIN gasps in horror — as he recognizes the other rat.]

:{whispered hiss}:

[Glaring at JUSTIN, JENNER draws his recovered sword — and slowly advances — ]

[— as does JUSTIN.]

[They both end their advance on the slab of rock, slowly circling each other — and quite surprisingly, JENNER does not seem quite as injured as one might have thought — somehow.]

[At this, JUSTIN charges viciously — and for the second time that night, their duel is re-hashed.]

[As the duelists exchange bone-jarring, limb-numbing blows, the stone slab they fight no wobbles — and tilts beneath their weight.]

[JUSTIN nearly falls, but manages to stay on his feet — ]

[— but JENNER looses his balance and falls. Landing, he rolls out of the way of JUSTIN’s down-swinging blade — and rolls right onto his feet. As he does so, he snatches up a rock — and flings it at JUSTIN with all the force that his hate can give.]

[The blow catches JUSTIN right in the forehead, knocking him down. As he lands, the already stunned hero hits the back of his head on the ground, knocking him semi-unconscious.]

[This part of the flashback ends … and]:

… and even tho’ I was mostly knocked out, I could just barely make out him —

standing over me again, a moment later, getting ready to do what Sullivan stopped him from doing before. I don’t mind telling you, I was scared to death, … but I couldn’t move — I was too dazed even to sit up, let alone get up! I could only lay there, … begging him … not to do … it … (No! No! God, … please!) … and doing what I could to try to shield myself, even tho’ I knew it was futile. God, … I couldn’t even look then! … Even tho’ no one believed

what I had to say when they found me, it was a major miracle that I didn’t die right then! Because … I’m sure I would have!

:{shaking her head}:

Oh — Oh, … dear God! What happened next!? How did you escape!?

Well, … it seems that someone was coming, … looking for me, I suppose.

Jenner ran off — and the next thing I knew, Arnold and Willis ran up to me.

I could barely understand a word they said, either to me … or each other,

… because my head was pounding and my ears were ringing — y’know, when I hit my head during my fall. Well, Willis took off — and Arnold held me. Took care of me. He’s always been so timid, I was the one who took care of him, before NIMH, before we came to the rosebush, then here — where we hoped to have such a contained, isolated existance that he wouldn’t need my constant protection. He would’ve been eaten alive in the old days — if I hadn’t been there to take care of him. And now, here he was, taking care of me!

So, Arnold and Willis drove Jenner off — and saved your life,

… even tho’ they didn’t didn’t know it yet — and didn’t even believe it when you told them?

Yeah. God knows, … I — I tried to tell Arnold, while we were waiting for help. But I was delirious. I’m sure I didn’t even make any sense. I guess I was easy to see why they thought it wasn’t true. I was delirious from a bad head injury. I could’ve been imagining anything — and sworn to God it was real. They convinced me I was dreaming — and I accepted it, because it made more sense … and it was easier to accept that than to accept the fact that the guy who tried to kill me twice that night … is still alive!

Yeah. And they still wouldn’t believe me, even after I was healed and my head was clear enough to know real from fantasy — or so they made me doubt.

Healed … ? What do you mean? You can’t mean you recovered that quickly from a head injury. I thought it was a bad one.

:{visuals shown with this dialogue block}:

Oh, … you don’t know, do you? You remember, Aurora was Nicodemus’s apprentice, as well as his care-giver. He was her teacher. Said she had great gifts worthy of his training. Her first talent has made itself known. She’s a psychic healer! I came to fully — and found her kneeling over me, with her paws on my head — and they were glowing, glowing with a white-gold light! Took the pain and ringing away … and made the bleeding stop! Ages checked me right after … and said I was fine. His leg was also healed, by the way. Willis wanted him when he went for help, but Ages complained that he couldn’t walk fast enough. That’s when Aurora said she could help … and healed his leg — even his cast was desolved.

Willis brought her to me at once instead, but Ages and a lot of the other came, too — to see what was going on. And to think, of all of them, no one believe me. And, eventually, they had me so convinced that I was hallucinating that night, that I didn’t believe me anymore either! But — it’s true! Jenner … is still alive — and somewhere at large!

<Gasp> And he’s been harrassing me! What do you think he wants!?

Honestly? I’d say, … the Amulet! He couldn’t have see you give it to me. He must think that you still have it!

Why, that’s right! When he attacked me, he demanded the Stone — or else!

:{drained}:

It figures. I should’ve known he’d find a way to make it thru’. He seems to get the short end of things, then the next thing we know —… Well, … you know what I’m getting at. That bastard must have a goddamned charmed life — or something!

:{suddenly}:

<Gasp> My children! They’re home all alone! If he thinks I have the Stone —

and goes there to look for it — Oh, no! What if he finds them!?

This … is really getting serious. Our Plan has failed. NIMH is planning an attack.

Your children may be in danger. And it’s all that treacherous bastard’s fault! Him — and he shouldn’t even be alive! Look, Mrs. Brisby, if you think he’s gonna be a threat to your children, I advise you get home and collect your children. Come back here with themb your home isn’t safe — not with Jenner on the loose! You and your family can be better protected here, by all of us. So if —

Yes! Yes, I must —

[Suddenly, she sees a large shadow thru’ the tent wall — and whoever it is, it appears to be armed with a spear of some kind.]

<Gasp> Justin, look out — behind you!

[JUSTIN jumps clear as the figure lunges right thru’ the tent wall … and the crudely widdled wooden spear goes right thru’ the back of JUSTIN’s chair — where he had been just seconds before!]

[As MRS. BRISBY dives for cover, the tent wall tears free — and falls on JUSTIN, so neither see their attacker. By the time JUSTIN gets out, the intruder is gone.]

Mrs. Brisby, … are you alright?

Yes, … I think so. I’m fine. You?

[JUSTIN holds up the collapsed tent curtain — ]

Uh, … I — I’ll get back to you … on that.

[— and observes the damage done by the spear: a long, wicked gash — big enough to pass thru’. In fact, he is looking at MRS. BRISBY right thru’ that huge gash, looking ill-at-ease.]

Oh, … well. I think the children, at least, are safe. We know where he is now.

[JUSTIN, ARNOLD and MRS. BRISBY enter the office tent — and sit down, but before they can really get situated, the twins’ father JACKSON enters — and motions ARNOLD to come outside, where the two of them quietly talk. And back inside]:

It’s good to be back on track, isn’t it, Mrs. Brisby?

It certainly is. We really had a time, playing tag with the humans, didn’t we? But for all the running, it was worth it to see them get discouraged — and finally leave.

To be sure. NIMH is out of our hair — and the Plan is back on track. It’s been nice and quiet lately — enough to get all our tents back up … and my wall repaired.

[He motions to the wall behind him — it has been pinned back into place … and the gash on it sewn up.]

[MRS. BRISBY does not look convinced at this, tho’.]

It has been quiet, … hasn’t it? There’s still the matter of … him. Justin, … I — I’m worried.

<Sigh> Yes. I know. So am I. No one has to tell me that my tail’s on the line, … so long as he’s out there. I can just imagine what he’d probably like to do to me. <Shudder> We’ve got to find out —

[Suddenly, ARNOLD bursts into the office]:

Justin, we gotta talk — now!

Can’t it wait? We’re kinda —

No, it can’t!

Dammit, Arnold! What’s so damned inportant this time that it can’t wait? Can’t you see we’re busy?

Well, if you’d give me a chance — it’s very important! I just received confirmation! It’s sabotage, all right! And the cave digging equipment was just destroyed, too —

so we can’t even mine our winter shelters! And it’s intensional — there can be do doubt! Someone wants us all to starve! And worse, come the winter weather! Why, ... we — we’ll freeze!

[JUSTIN and MRS. BRISBY look at each other.]

:{dryly}:

I can bet we both know what each other is thinking right now, Justin.

:{at first, low and distant; then loud and angry}:

Yes. Yes, … you can. Because you’re right. That son-of-a-bitch!

[ARNOLD and MRS. BRISBY jump in alarm at this sudden, uncharacteristic show of hostility.]

:{puzzled and alarmed}:

Huh? Who’re you talking about?

He’s really pushing me to the limit — not that he doesn’t already! Well, … he won’t get away with anything this time — I swear it!

But who!? Who are you —

I’m not crazy, Arn! I wasn’t dreaming that night! He —

[Suddenly, TIMOTHY dashes in — ]

Mama! Mama!

[— and before his mother knows it, he leaps into her arms.]

I’m so glad I found you! I’ve been looking for days!

:{flabbergasted}:

Timmy! How —… What —… Why —… I thought I told you — Timothy, … what are you doing here!?

Mama, please! Something awful’s happened! The others — they’re gone! Auntie Shrew and I couldn’t stop him —

It — it was … a rat! A big grey rat! Bigger than you, Chief Justin! I didn’t see who it was — but when I came out, he was leaving with a big sack on his back! And the sack was moving! Martin and the girls — they must’ve been in it! The big rat — he got away on the back of a big hawk! I tried to catch him, but I couldn’t. I lost him. So, I came here to find you, Mama — ‘cause I knew this is where you’d probably be!

:{weeping}:

Oh — Oh, God! My children! My children! He’ll —<Choke>

Oh, hey! Hey, Mrs. Brisby! Don’t cry! It’ll be alright! We’ll save them. Damn that bastard! I’m really gonna get ‘im this time!

Justin, wha —

C’mon, Arn! We gotta go get a search party together!

[With JUSTIN leading, they all rush out.]

[Meanwhile, unaware of the rising dilemma, WILLIS and ISABELLA sit together by a stream below an old oak.]

[They are stretched out on a thin blanket on the grass, besides a half-emptied picnic basket.]

[WILLIS, laying on his side with his head propped up on one paw, listens attentively as ISABELLA speaks, her mood and tone dismal]:

... and then, ... he just told me to go do something nice. Barely even looked at me.

<Sigh> Oh, Willis, ... when will he notice me?

Justin’s a leader now, Izzy.

[ISABELLA looks contemptuous at this, but WILLIS goes on, obliviously]:

Our leader. He’s got a lot of responsibilities now. He doesn’t have time for romance.

[He pauses, watching her, then goes on, sitting up]:

:{plaintively}:

I ... really do wish you’d reconsider. He hasn’t got time for you, ... but — but I do.

And … I’m much closer to your age than he is. Why, he was already a grown-up when we were both born, back when Rose Colony was started. He really is too old for you. There are, I know, a number of the other young females who are much closer to his age that he’d be more than likely to take up with. You aren’t the only available girl in the colony, y’know —

:{almost arrogantly; indignant}:

I am almost of age now ... and I’ll bet that I’m just as pretty as any of the other girls!

Besides, he almost took up with a girl his own age once — my own sister Beatrice. And that didn’t work out. Maybe older girls aren’t for him! Ye’re just jealous ‘cause he’s so handsome ‘n’ sexy ‘n’ attractive ‘n’ nice — even if he doesn’t realize that he’s all that ... and ‘cause I’m interested in him — instead of ye! He —... Oh, but why am I tellin’ ye this?

Bella, … I —

Ye don’t understand, do ye?

Well, ... I — I just hate to see you ... tormenting yourself like this ... over someone you’ll never get to have. Why, everyone knows you don’t stand a chance on getting him to —

[ISABELLA turns on him at this — ]

[ — making WILLIS jump in alarm and break off, taken aback by ISABELLA’s seeming hostility.]

Ooooo, how could ye!? Here ye know how I feel about him ... and how hard it is for me t’get him ... and now ye go ‘n’ say — And ... And how d’ye know I cin never have ‘im? Has ‘e told ye he won’t have me? How do ye know!? How cin ye say I — I don’t stand ah chance!?

[Angry and resentful, she turns from him; after a long, awkward pause]:

Please reconsider, Izzy. Justin has no time for you. But ... I ... I do. I ... I like you, Izzy. I — I always have. If ... If you ... you’d ... only give me a chance, ... even half of one. Izzy, ... please. If ... you’d only ... just have me, ... at least ... for a day, ... just a single day, ... I — I promise that I —

Willis, ... I ... I don’t love ye. Ye’re ah good friend. I do like ye alright, ... but as a friend. I don’t love ye. I ... I want Justin. I want him to love me — especially after what happened.

You mean, ... with what Jenner did — ?

Yes! Please — don’t! Just don’t say any more! I don’t know why I confided in yah, ... why I even bothered! I shoulda jus’ kept it ... between me ‘n’ Aurora!

Willis, please! I just want Justin. I want him to love me. Ye’re just not the same. It isn’t ... right ... for me. Please. Not ye, ... not now ...

[For a long moment, there is silence as ISABELLA becomes oblivious to WILLIS’s presence, her head pouted, eyes closed; she seems to be struggling with emotions.]

[He pauses, touching her shoulder.]

Look at me. Please?

[ISABELLA pulls away, shaking her head, her voice tearful]:

No, Will. No. That’s ... my final word, I —

[WILLIS pulls away, taken aback, looking crossed]:

Bella, ... for goodness sake, … what do you want me to do!?

[ISABELLA turns to stare at him with angry, glistening eyes]:

Seriously?

[He looks at her questioningly as she goes on, crossed and cold]:

I want ye ... to go away. Go away — ‘n’ just leave me alone!

[He catches her angry glance]:

I mean, Bella! No!

[ISABELLA stares, seemingly at nothing at all. When she speaks, it is as if in a trance]:

I’m not mad at ye, Will. I know what ye’re thinking right now, ... that that’s what ye’re worry about. I do like ye — as a friend. I ... I just don’t love ye. <Sigh> I just wanna be alone, just for a little while. Please, Will.

... <Sigh> Alright, alright. I — I’ll go away for a while — and explore or something. I’ll come back inna little while. Uhm, ... I ... know it’s probably a total loss, … but, uhh, ... I, uhh, ... I hope — I hope you liked the picnic.

Uhm, thank ye. Yes, it was ... lovely. Ah, look, Will, I — I think ... I’m gonna start back now. Okay? So ... if I’m gone when ye get back, don’t worry — I’ll clean up.

Uh, ... uh, sure ...

[Looking uncertain, he turns away, starting off, glancing back to see ISABELLA stand up and start, rather slowly, to fold up the blanket.]

[ISABELLA, for her part, looks forlorn, a longing expression on her tear-moist face.]

[Sighing, WILLIS starts off — as ISABELLA pauses to watch him, then starts back, picnic basket on one arm, blanket on the other, going slowly, oblivious to the beautiful scenery around her.]

[Meanwhile, WILLIS walks slowly along the wooded path with his paws behind him, clasped. His head is down and his expression is that of semi-thought, a mixed mood.]

[Suddenly, he hears the snap of a branch being stepped on, accompanied by the rustling of undergrowth.]

[Abruptly, he stops, staring ahead. Ears pricked, he sniffs the air in deep uncertainty. He proceeds slowly, thinking]:

(It’s ... another rat. A male, by the smell. One of ours, ... I believe. How strange, I almost recognize that scent, but — I don’t remember who. I wonder that he’s doing way up here — and so far from the camp? Another picnicker maybe? Others smells, too. Mice, it smells like ... more than one. And young ones, too a little male ... and a couple of little mouse-maids, I think. I — I wonder why the scents are all mixed up together, tho’? Our kind rarely have truck with mice, ... let alone children — and NIMH-altered rats like us don’t have any inter-action with mice ... or any other kinda beast, … for that matter — not at all. That is, however, with the exception of the Brisby family, Miss Aurora, Gregory, and Mr. Ages. But the Brisbys didn’t come with us — and the others are down in camp. So what —... ?)

[Creeping ahead quickly, but silently, he comes thru’ the thick undergrowth to the neighboring path, looking around.]

[Not far up this path, the undergrowth is still moving, but becoming still again, becoming motionless.]

[Nervously, WILLIS creeps forward silently in this direction, cautiously sniffing and listening. He notes that there are foot tracks on the ground.]

[Curious, but cautious, WILLIS follows the rat tracks and the scents, thinking]:

[He comes to a rotten log, half-buried in the dirt, with much undergrowth all around it and growing out of it, some of it trailers of moss.]

[He proceeds, pausing in the entrance while his nose wrinkles.]

[He sees, a slight ways into the dark, the pathetic remains of some poor creature, all festooned with webs ... and there are also bones scattered everywhere as well as webs.]

[WILLIS tries to calm down his jangling nerves]:

(Uhm, ... not to good a house keeper. <Humph!> I’ll bet that the owl takes better care of his tree house — than whoever it is living in this dump.)

[He proceeds cautiously into the log, still sniffing ... and comes across an opening in the right side of the rotting passage — and sees the red-gold flicker ... of firelight coming from inside.]

:{wryly}:

[On guard and ready to run at the first sign of trouble, WILLIS proceeds to the door ... and sees the following: a small, crudely widdled wooden bed in one small corner; a table and chair of the same type; a woodbox of also the same type; an almost all-stone fireplace; and a water bottle — that is, a large clay jug of water. And hanging from a hook on the wall is a dead bird — with a crude, widdled spear thrusted thru’ its heart, its throat savagely ripped open.]

[WILLIS gasps in horror, paling, a paw at his own throat.]

[At that moment, he notices a pit in another corner with a raised edge — and also a crude wire grid over it. It is nailed down and has a crude door, wired closed, as well.]

[Frightened tho’ he is, WILLIS moves towards it.]

[Slowly, as if fearing what he might find, WILLIS looks into the pit ... and sees three mice. Children. It is MARTIN, TERESA, and CYNTHIA. MARTIN is pacing around while his sisters sit in a corner, huddled together in fear. CYNTHIA is crying soundlessly, her little face burried in her sister’s lap, clasping onto the skirt with little fists, and TERESA is trying to comfort her, an arm around the younger girl.]

Don’t worry, girls. I’ll thinka sumthin’ before he gets back. I — I’ll get us outta here. I won’t let ‘im hurt either of y —

But Martin, ... h-he —

Hello down there, children! Hey! Little ones, … why are you like this, in this cage? Who did this to you?

[CYNTHIA screams and cries loudly now, cowering — and WILLIS is taken aback, startled by her outburst.]

Mommy! Mommy — help us! Help us, Mommy! <Sob>

There, there, Cynnie, don’t —

[MARTIN picks up a stick and starts swinging it in WILLIS’ direction]:

Go on, just try sumthin’! I ain’t scared o’ ya! You touch us — any o’ us — you gonna be big sorry! Now you get outta here!

[WILLIS smiles in amusement at MARTIN’s bravado.]

Hey, calmly there, little fella. I ain’t — uh, ... I mean, ... I’m not gonna do anything to you.

[MARTIN stares at WILLIS, blinking in bewilderment, then he turns to his sisters.]

Look, girls, ... it’s not the same one.

Yes, that’s right. I not ... the same one, whoever did this to you. Who are you little guys and — and what are you doing in ... this awful place?

[He looks around in disgust and fear.]

[MARTIN drops his stick.]

I’m Martin. And them two’re my sisters — Teresa and Cynthia. Are you ... one of the rats, sir — one of the good ones?

"Good ones"? Yes. Yes, ... I am.

From that NIMH place, ... right?

Uh, yeah. Yeah, that’s right; we’re from NIMH.

Then you’re one of the ones that helped our mom move our house.

Moving your house? Your mother, ... you say? Then you guys must be Mrs. Brisby’s kids. I thought there was suppose to be four of you. Two girls, I know — and two boys, I believe. That right?

Yes, sir.

Then where’s the other little boy? I hope whoever put you here didn’t — uh, do anything ... to — to him ...

Oh, no, sir! Timothy —

— Timmy got ‘way.

Yeah. Our little brother was in our house when we were took.

The big rat couldn’t get at him, because Timothy was inside at the time.

The big — ? Who — ?

Are you one of Captain Justin’s guards?

Chief, he’s called Chief now. Chief Administrator, but we all just call him Chief — for short. No, I’m just an assistant engineer. Apprentice-In-Training to Arthur.

You can call me Willis. Now then, … why’re you here in this — this stink-hole?

Who did this to you? Who’s ... the big rat?

We don’t know who he is. We —

All we know is, a big rat took us from the garden ... and brought us here ... on some kinda bird, I think. We were flyin’ — weren’t we?

[He turns to his sisters.]

Didn’t it feel like we were flyin’ — right?

Yes.

He brought us here — all lumped together in a sack. Boy, if you wanna talk about uncomfortable, try getting around crowded together like that! Then he just dumped us into this pit cage and wired the door shut. He’s so big and ... and mean — but ... I wasn’t scared!

[He glances at her, but does not reply.]

Were, too! Were, too — jus’ like us!

Well, I —... uh ...

[TERESA turns to WILLIS]:

We tried to get up to open the door, … but the sides are way too steep and smooth that we couldn’t get a grip.

Hm, no traction, huh?

Yeah. Will you open up the door — and gets us a rope, ... please?

[WILLIS locates a rope on the floor, tying one end to the wire bars and throwing the other end to the BRISBY children. Then he goes to work on the wire on the door.]

Thanks. Thanks a lot! I told ya we’d get outta here, girls.

I suppose you can take us to your colony? Mother might be there —

since she’s been coming here a lot lately. She was on her way here when we were taken. She might be here now!

Mommy! Mommy! I want my mommy!

[WILLIS is still at work on the wire.]

Why, sure. Don’t you worry your little blond head there, little missy. I’ll see to it that you all get to your "mommy". But now then, … why were you taken by this rat anyway?

‘Cause o’ the Stone — the Stone!

[WILLIS pauses, startled, staring down at Cynthia — with foreboding alarm.]

Stone, ... you say?

He kept talking about a Stone. He said that he would keep us here — until he had it. He told us that Mother had it — and once she gives it to him, he’d let us out. He left just a while ago, to go and find Mother ... and make her give it to him. He said we were his ... his hostages — and that the Stone, whatever it is, was the ransom ...

[At this, WILLIS is working frantically on the wire, terrified. Half to himself]:

Oh, my God! Oh, my God! I — I didn’t know who it was before, but now — now, I do! I ... I gotta get you kids outta here! The Stone. It’s the Amulet, it — it’s gotta be the Amulet! And the big rat is ... ! It must be! Who else would want it enough to — ? He must’ve somehow survived — just as Justin said! Oh! Oh, God! Why!? Why didn’t we listen to Justin? He was right — right all along! If only we’d listened! But no — and now we’re not prepared! Oh, God! How can we deal with this!? I — I gotta get you outta here!

[The three children glance at each other in confusion.]

Huh? You know who the big rat is, don’t you? Well then, who is that guy, anyway?

Never mind! No time to explain now, just start climbin’! Quickly! We’re in danger!

[The children move towards the rope.]

[WILLIS goes on, looking around in fear]:

We’re all in terrible danger, kids! Big trouble if he gets back, terrible trouble and — and —

We tried to pretend we didn’t understand, but then he got so mad and yelled at us for a long time, raving like some kinda loony ...

Yeah, ... like ... he was blamin’ us for somethin’ or other, like it was somehow our fault. It’s just like Teresa said — the guy, he was actin’ real crazy, like a loony ... or sumthin’.

That, he is, … if it’s who I think!

And then, he just went away.

[MARTIN adds, fearfully now]:

That’s not all — either. If Mom doesn’t give him that Stone, ... h-he said ... he — he was gonna ... t-take us — a-and — and he was g-gonna — w-was g-gonna —…

W-Well, ... h-he made it ... pretty clear, ... h-he’s not gonna ... l-let us outta here — a-alive ... if ... if —

[CYNTHIA squeals, bursting into renewed tears.]

<Gulp> Oh, God! Oh, my God!

[TERESA looks horrified.]

Martin! Don’t say things like that!

Sorry. But I didn’t actually say he was gonna — gonna — I mean, ... our friend gets the idea. Right?

I can imagine!

Besides, … I’m not saying anything either of us don’t already know. We all heard ‘im say what he’d like to do with us if he doesn’t get this Stone and —

[Again, CYNTHIA squeals in horror, crying even harder — and TERESA seems to do what little she can for her — as they climb.]

:{angry}:

Oh, I’m gonna hit you, Martin! Stop it already!

Okay, okay! I’m sorry!

It’s okay, Cynthia! Everything’s gonna be okay!

[CYNTHIA continues to whimper, but her crying ceases.]

:{to Willis}:

Sir, what is it with that Stone? Is it the one that Mother said she got us out of the mud with? She never told us — exactly — how she did it, ... but, well, how? How could a little Stone — ?

There! The wire’s off. Now let’s —

[There is a noise in the tunnel — the web festooned skeleton falls clattering to the ground, the joints breaking apart, the bones skittering everywhere.]

[WILLIS freezes, going on softly]:

Oh ... Oh, no! Look, kids — hide in the shadows. He’s comin’ back!

[In the pit cage, the children all huddle together in a shadowed corner in a little group, trembling in fear, crying out in alarm.]

<Shh> Be quiet — and stay put. I’ll see what I can do to get you out!

[Abruptly, WILLIS turns from the cage pit with its three cowering prisoners.]

[WILLIS looks around frantically.]

[Spotting the dead bird, he rushes up to it — and fighting back nausea and disgust, he wrenches the spear free from it — in a sudden mess of blood and feathers ... all over the place — and on him, making him yip]:

<Aie!> Oh, ... yuck!

[And in the cage-pit]:

Martin, wha —

[He drops his tone to a whisper]:

We’ll wait until both go — if they do. Then —

[CYNTHIA suddenly squeals shrilly]:

Quiet!

[Alarmed, the others respond at once (TERESA with a gasp of alarm) as they both grab her and put a paw each over her mouth, their paws overlapping in the process. They look up in fear, trembling, tho’ CYNTHIA looks indignant at the restraint.]

[Clutching the spear nervously, WILLIS looks over his shoulder, whispering]:

<Shhhh>, you kids! Please, be —

[His head turned, he does not see the other rat enter (and all we see of him is a forepaw, heavily cloaked in shadow) — not until the other rat seizes WILLIS’s spear — and in trying to rip it free of WILLIS’s grip, violently breaks the barb right off.]

Huh — !?

[The pressure on the spear and the sudden movement related to its breaking gets WILLIS’s attention and he turns to face the other rat, stumbling back in shocked fright, terrified. He backs away fearfully — ]

[ — as JENNER emerges from the shadows, glaring hatefully at WILLIS, his eyes narrowed and teeth bared — as he vehemently whips out his sword.]