Issue Four: A Close Encounter With...
PREVIOUSLY:
While attempting to decypher the clues relating to the past few weeks bizaare occurances, Chief Justin and Mrs. Brisby have come to a most alarming conclusion: the duel-to-the-death that occurred between him and the blood-thirsty traitor and assassin Jenner Genre is not finished! He lives — and he is Mrs. Brisby’s mysterious stranger — the one who tried to lead NIMH to the new colony, the saboteur — and the kidnapper of her children!
Meanwhile, Willis has taken his leave of Isabella during their picnic to go investigate his strange sighting — and now finds himself looking down the business end … of Jenner Genre’s sword!
ISSUE #4: A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH —
[JENNER advances menacingly on WILLIS.]
WILLIS:
:{retreating slowly}:
No! H-How can it be!? Y-You … Y-You’re dead —… I mean, … everyone thought that you were —… I — I mean, … h-how!? How can you still be alive after —… ? No! It — It can’t be —… It just can’t be you!
JENNER:
:{shouting in rage}:
Traitor! You all would have left me … to die in the mud!
[At the word "die", he smashes what is left of WILLIS’s spear with his sword.]
[WILLIS gasps in horror, continuing to back away. He has gone pale, his teeth bared in terror. He manages to stammer out fearfully]:
WILLIS:
Justin was r-right! He ... He wasn’t dreaming that — that night he — he fell! H-He warned us, tried t-to — to warn us ... a-about y-you! A-And we — w-we didn’t listen! W-We ... all thought that he was ... was d-dreaming, crazy, …
delirious from his fall — a-anything! W-We ... all s-shoulda known ... that ... y-you … would’ve —
[JENNER continues his advance with his sword held up in WILLIS’s direction, grimacing a grin of iron, an obscene expression of madness, rage, hate, and triumph as he finishes for WILLIS]:
JENNER:
That I would survive? Yes, … I was to be King. And the whole lot of you let that meddling upstart Wilson kill me — or try to, ... then, … you all left me for dead!
I cannot imagine how it was ... that I managed to survived, ... but I did. Much to the future misfortune of all of you, ... especially Wilson! When I get my hands on him,
... he will beg for me to kill him outright, for I will make him suffer in his death!
Then I will be King — and everyone will see what a folly the Plan was; nay — is!
[Slowly, WILLIS continues his retreat — with the tip of JENNER’s sword before his face … and he cannot take his eyes from it as he backs away, groping behind himself — possibly for a weapon.]
WILLIS:
I-It ... It’s ... you then, ... isn’t it? Just like — like with Nicodemus, ... like ... how ... y-you ... killed him, ... you — y-you’re th-the one, … th-the ... the o-one ... th- that’s ... that’s been —
JENNER:
— been sabotaging your foolish Plan — yes! Go on, say it ... for it is true. Yes, I have been vandalizing all of your efforts ... and when everyone sees what a farce
the whole stupid thing really is, they’ll all gladly accept ... my guidance, … to save them all — from their unfortunate folly!
WILLIS:
Then it’s true! The Plan, it would be working, if not for — for you! Y-You — You’re the reason why the Plan’s not been working! The sabotage, the vandalism, the crop burnings, the — ohh, my gosh, the humans! The map — the NIMH men had! A-And — the strange rat that left it for them — that was you! You didn’t just loose that map — you left it for them, ... didn’t you? You wanted them to find us, to come and ... and kill us all! It was you! It was you — all the time!
JENNER:
A perfect revenge it might have been, too, … since you all left me to die. But I am glad that you all managed to avoid them, since had you all died, ... I would have had nothing left to rule. However it may be, ... had that happened, … I would have just come out of hiding ... and borrowed the Stone —
WILLIS:
That Stone only works thru’ Mrs. Brisby! We know! Other’s have tried — and no one else can make it work!
JENNER:
<Chuckle>
Oh, … but I have my ways, my little friend! Yes. Oh, yes. That Stone shall do my bidding, … that is, … when it is … mine. If I had it back at the old colony — or if they were to come here to this place, … you see, … the NIMH men would not have a chance!
[WILLIS stares at him in horror, eyes widening with knowledge.]
WILLIS:
Oh, no! That’s why you wanted it! Not just for the power, ... but to ... to —
JENNER:
To save my dear folk from their folly, … my little friend. And you are wrong about the Stone working solely for the mouse woman. You see, … I have developed a spell to enable me to wield it — just as well.
WILLIS:
So ... that’s it! You ... You wanna play God, some kinda savior! Supposingly save everyone from folly ... even tho’ we were all doing fine! You’re the one making danger and trouble for us! What for? Just so you could ... "save" us, ... then tell us that the danger that you made was somehow our own fault ... even tho’ we all knew we hadn’t a choice, we had to get off the farm, especially with NIMH coming? And the Plan, ... it was working — not until you started to meddle with it — and — and then, you say that we’re engaged in some kinda folly, that you say you are gonna save us from? Who ... do you think you are, anyway, with this God syndrome behavior of yours? Who gave ... you the right, the right to judge and manipulate and deceive us — like that!?
JENNER:
:{mockingly}:
God, eh? If that is what you wish to call it, then the first one that I shall hurl down into damnation is your friend little Wilson! He will pay for his continual, insistent meddling — with his worthless life! Oh, … but yes — indeed, … my little friend!
I shall make him pay — and dearly! <Laugh>
WILLIS:
If — If you think you’re some kinda god, ... then — then ... you’re also a devil!
JENNER:
What is the difference, eh? Both are but variations of the same principle ...
of moral contortionism!
WILLIS:
... Huh?
JENNER:
Both types of entities are ultimately in the same business, you know; that of judgement, manipulation, and deceit — as you so put it, my young friend!
WILLIS:
But I — I thought … the one was supposed to protect you from the other!
JENNER:
Ha! Then why did the one make the other, assuming that you believe in such nonsense? It’s a symbiotic partnership, ... don’t you know? Both are after the same thing ... as partners. Control! Control and power — over another’s soul! Both simply execute their modus operandi ... from opposing ends.
WILLIS:
You mean, ... the humans’ God and their Devil … are in collaboration!?
JENNER:
Review to yourself the stories we all have heard, my friend, ... and you will see that nothing could be more likely! A fine lesson ... in the art of anipulation; but again, assuming such beings exist. Ha! Being well enough familiar with such tactics,
neither of them shall claim me as their "property"! Neither can touch you without your consent. And neither of them, if they exist, have my consent to my soul! Still, the stories that we read about it in that human’s mansion did prove, after all, to be ...
very enlightening on such wonderful tactics, ... did they not, eh?
[WILLIS does not answer, but stares at him in fearful defiance.]
JENNER:
I have learned quite a lot on the matter. It is what has made me such a success in politics now. How else do you think I was able to sway the council to agree to help the mouse woman ... and to set up my little trap for old Nicodemus? The art of deception and manipulation, my little friend! They are skills that serve me so very well!
WILLIS:
:{fearful, but defiant}:
Deceit and manipulation — ha! You would know a lot about all that kinda thing, ... wouldn’t you!?
JENNER:
You dare speak that way to me!? Hold your tongue, you insolent little brat!
[WILLIS is silent now, cowering; JENNER goes on]:
JENNER:
Now, … enough of this! I have better things to do than discussing the foolish religious philosophies of humans — and with an enemy! … So then, what to do with you, eh? You see, ... you have seen my little secret. You have seen ... far too much.
Like ... where I currently stay, ... not to mention my little guests — who by now have undoubtably told you … just why they are here.
[Gulping hard, WILLIS trembles, trying to back away.]
JENNER:{menacingly}:
Yes, … you have seen — and heard ... far too much.
WILLIS:{anxiously}:
<Gulp> Please, ... please — wait! L-Let’s —
JENNER:
So Wilson will just have to wait, ... along with the Amulet — that is, until after I take care of you, ... so my presence remains hidden, ... until I am ready to come out.
[He continues his advance, his sword now at WILLIS’s throat.]
[Horrified, WILLIS cowers back, gasping, continuing to retreat.]
WILLIS:
N-Now, ... wait a — a minute! L-Let’s talk — Let’s t-talk, uhh, th-this over.
P-Please, wait, … w-we can be c-civilized a-about this! I — I c-could go t-t-take a m-message to Mrs. Brisby … a-about th-the St-Stone — and — and —
JENNER:
No, … that will not do. I have my own way and time for her to find out ... about her dear children’s ... presence — in my ... "care". And — I do not need for that meddling little upstart Wilson to be warned about me in advance, you see. He does not need to learn that he is correct ... about my survival any sooner ... than is adsolutely necessary. So …
[He continues to advance.]
WILLIS:
:{still retreating}:
No. No. Wait a — a minute ... P-Please, I — I — I — …
[Suddenly, JENNER lunges at him, swinging.]
WILLIS:
Oh, no!
[WILLIS ducks with a squeal of terror, trying to fend off the blow with what is left of his spear ... and JENNER slashes that it half with such force, the spear is torn from WILLIS’s paws, making WILLIS squeal again and cower — as the next blow is aimed at his head, making him leap back, trying to protect his head and neck with his arms, scrambling. He retreats into the corner, where JENNER pursues him.]
[JENNER continues his advance ... and lunges for another blow as WILLIS scrambles up on the pit cage’s mesh — and springboards off of it — as JENNER lunges to run him thru’.]
[JENNER’s momentum is so great, he cannot stop, skidding right into the raised edge of the pit cage as WILLIS leaps over his head, bolting for the exit.]
[In the pit, the three mouse-children cry out in alarm, cowering, first from WILLIS’s manuever, then from their captor’s glaring sneer that they stare up to meet before he, too, disappears, leaving them alone in the chamber.]
[When he is sure the two rats are gone, MARTIN turns to TERESA and CYNTHIA]:
MARTIN:
Okay, c’mon — they’re gone!
TERESA:
… Martin?
MARTIN:
We gotta get outta here — before they come back!
[He starts to climb the rope, with TERESA following and CYNTHIA on her back.]
[Meanwhile, WILLIS bolts on all fours up the tunnel entrance, onto the surface so abruptly and so fast, he disturbs the nearby long grass, making it rustle at his passage — as he leaps clear from the tunnel, landing on his feet. He bolts down a steep slope, which is so steep that he starts to skid on loose soil, one foot suddenly hits a rock — and he goes into a rolling tumble to the bottem, grunting all the way down as he bounces along the uneven surface.]
[Sword returned to it sheath, JENNER follows, also stirring up the grass, but managing to keep on his feet — as he pursues the terrified youth.]
[WILLIS runs and runs thru’ the woods — every time he looks back, JENNER is right behind him.]
JENNER:
:{shouting}:
You’ll never escape me, you spying meddler! You must die!
[WILLIS, as he runs, whispers to himself]:
WILLIS:
Oh, no — no!
[The chase goes on — halting abruptly on a cliff.]
[WILLIS sees that he is trapped — right over the Trout River. He turns to go another way — ]
[ — and there is JENNER, blocking WILLIS’s way, drawing his sword.]
WILLIS:
:{a backward step puts his feet at the cliff-edge}:
O-o-oooh-h-h, ... n-n-no! N-N-Now, wait! W-Wait a minute! C-Can’t w-we ... talk th-this o-o-over? L-L-Let’s — Let’s be c-civilized! I ... I —uhh ... Pl-P-Please, l-let’s ... t-talk ... t-t-this over —
JENNER:
Silence! The time for talking, ... my little friend, ... is past!
[As he speaks, he slowly advances.]
[WILLIS cowers back, moaning in fear, looking pale and ill — as JENNER holds the tip of his sword at WILLIS’s chest.]
JENNER:
Now, you have a choice ... of how you can die. Either you stand your ground — and I run you thru’. Or ... you dive over the cliff — and into the river. I would recommend ... the river. <Chuckle> You have a better chance — to live.
That is, ... perhaps! <Laugh>
[WILLIS looks over his shoulder, down at the raging river.]
WILLIS:
B-But, … I … I — I … c-can’t —... P-Please!
[Pale with terror, WILLIS turns back to JENNER]:
WILLIS:
I — I ... c-can’t —... I — I can’t ... s-swim!
JENNER:
I know, my little friend! That is what shall make your choice so interesting.
<Chuckle> Even if you could, ... what a challenge it would be — for anyone ... to survive — in that raging current! <Laugh>
WILLIS:
Y-Y-You — Y-You’re ... Y-You’re … m-mad — m-m-mad! Ab-A-Absolutely ... i-i-insane!
JENNER:
<Laugh> Perhaps.
[WILLIS gulps hard, trembling.]
JENNER:
Is it not great? But now, ...
[Becoming grim, JENNER resumes his advance.]
JENNER:
... this game must end!
[WILLIS falls to his knees, paw clasped beseechingly]:
WILLIS:
:{near tears}:
N-N-No! No, … please! Don’t — D-Don’t make me d-drown — pl-pl-please! Pl-P-Please! I ... I — I b-b-beg y-you, … pl-p-please,
… d-don’t drown me!
JENNER:
:{grimly}:
<Laugh> If you refuse to take that risk, youth, then I see I shall just have to slash off your head — and push what is left of you in, ... headless — and dead!
[JENNER closes the gap between them, lashes out and grabs WILLIS’s hair, forcing the boy to stretch his neck and hold up his head; JENNER raises his sword.]
[WILLIS squeals in terror, cowering, his paws at his throat, frozen in terror for a moment —]
[ — and abruptly leaps off the cliff, squealing in fright, pulling his hair free from JENNER’s grasp.]
[JENNER comes to the edge of the cliff to watch ... and sees that WILLIS has grabbed hold of a tree root extending out of the cliff, and is pulling himself up on it ... and he begins to climb along the cliff, up to a forest path, rapidly, and looking over his shoulder at JENNER, then scrambling madly.]
[JENNER snarls in rage — and begins to circle around to intercept WILLIS’s path.]
[Before WILLIS can escape, JENNER intercepts him — and charges.]
[Rapidly forced back, WILLIS backs away rapidly, leaping backwards — without looking —]
[ — right over another cliff — ]
[ — and this time, there is nothing for WILLIS to grab onto, even tho’ he tries to find purchase on the cliff face]:
[The cliff face bulges out as WILLIS plunges — and WILLIS makes to grab at it, just to discover that it is soft soil. His claws penetrate the surface as he falls, ripping the dirt, leaving deep grooves — and tearing out small chunks of the soil ... ]
[ ... as he plunges down into the Trout River, screaming, floudering in a sudden flurry of bubbles and foam.]
JENNER:
<Laugh> (Right into the Trout River. He shall be drowned now for sure ...
and I can keep my little secret safe — until — !?) What!?
[JENNER sees WILLIS suddenly break the surface ... and seize a nearby piece of driftwood — which he utilizes as a raft.]
JENNER:
(Impossible! He has survived!? And he is escaping!)
[Snarling in rage, JENNER quickly makes his way closer to the river until he is on a natural bridge made from a log where he pulls a long piece of vine loose — and coils it on his shoulder like a rope.]
[He spies another piece of driftwood coming — and leaps on it.]
JENNER:
:{grimly}:
(He shall not escape from me!)
[Terrified, WILLIS rides his make-shift raft down the violently turbulent river, looking over his shoulder ... to see JENNER riding his own raft like a surfboard — and preparing to lasso WILLIS with the vine rope.]
[JENNER attempts to lasso WILLIS, once, twice, three times, the choppy water making it impossible.]
[On the fourth try, JENNER snags WILLIS around the neck — and WILLIS simply bites the vine thru’; it falls limp in JENNER’s grasp.]
[Looking over his shoulder again, WILLIS sees JENNER look startled — and quickly jump off his raft onto land at the first opportunity.]
[Looking ahead, WILLIS squeals, seeing why JENNER broke off]:
[He is coming to a waterfall — a very steep waterfall!]
[Screaming, WILLIS plunges over, landing below in the deep, deep pool in more flurries of bubbles and foam.]
[The momentum of his plunge sends WILLIS deep into the pool ... and he holds his breath, eyes closed, rocketing down into the blubbly, foamy darkness, still clinging to his driftwood raft.]
[Then, the boyant driftwood floats quickly back up to the surface with WILLIS still holding on, going up with the force and speed of a projectile.]
[WILLIS on his raft breaks the surface and he gasps the air loudly, gratefully ... as his driftwood raft’s speed causes it to practically fly up out of the water — right up onto the the muddy shore, causing mud to splatter everywhere.]
[Exhausted, gasping, sputtering and couching, WILLIS climbs — dripping wet — up the muddy bank, getting all muddy himself — as he suddenly slips on the slick mud — and ends up sprawling on his stomach.]
[Gasping and coughing, he slowly turns to look where he came — ]
[ — and his breath catches as he sees JENNER, up on the rocks at the top of the waterfall, watching him hatefully, teeth bared and eyes narrowed at WILLIS ... and then, he vanishes.]
[With a cried gasp of fright, WILLIS bolts — into the nearby undergrowth.]
WILLIS:
(I — I gotta get outta here — he’s gonna come after me! O-o-ohh-h-h! God — help me! I — I don’t wanna die!)
? Ÿ œ
[Meanwhile, in another part of the valley, JUSTIN and ARNOLD, along with ISABELLA, MRS. BRISBY, TIMOTHY, the Healer AURORA and GREGORY rest in the shade of a tree.]
[They are all tired from their search.]
TIMOTHY:
<Sigh> It’s no use, Mama. I didn’t see where the hawk landed. My bird friend just tracked him here for me, … but that’s it. We were so far away when the hawk landed.
ARNOLD:
Maybe they aren’t here anymore.
[MRS. BRISBY covers her eyes with one paw, her head down. She speaks very softly]:
MRS. BRISBY:
Oh, God, ... oh, no ...
[JUSTIN reprimands ARNOLD for this blunder]:
JUSTIN:
Arnold, quiet!
[He adds significantly]:
JUSTIN:
The mother is upset enough. Remember?
MRS. BRISBY:
They just can’t be gone — they can’t! Oh, we — we must find them! B-Before ... h-he ... does ... s-something t-to — to —...
TIMOTHY:
Mama ...
ARNOLD:{embarrassed}:
Gosh, Mrs. Brisby, … I — I’m sorry, I - I, uh —...
MRS. BRISBY:
... It’s okay, Arnold — really. You didn’t mean it.
GREGORY:
Don’t fret, Mrs. Brisby. We’ll find them.
MRS. BRISBY:
I do hope so.
AURORA:
Gregory’s right, Mrs. Brisby. We will. And they’ll be okay, too.
MRS. BRISBY:
Oh, Healer, I —...
TIMOTHY:
She’s right, Mama. It’ll be okay.
[The all pause as MRS. BRISBY stares at TIMOTHY.]
[She is about to remark when ISABELLA speaks]:
ISABELLA:
I wish I hadn’t sent Willis off. Maybe he pesters me a lot, but he could’ve helped us find your children, Mrs. Brisby.
JUSTIN:
And I wish I’d formed a larger search party. I guess if he was with ‘em when we found ‘em, I wanted to take care of him ... myself. But now —
[Before he can finish, WILLIS comes darting out of the undergrowth, bursting in amoung them so suddenly, everyone jumps, alarmed and startled, and the mice (except for AURORA) bolt into the bushes.]
WILLIS:
Help! Oh, … Justin! Thank God I found you guys —
[He trips and falls, face first, into the shallow, muddy stream amoung them.]
WILLIS:
<Oof>
[GREGORY, MRS. BRISBY and TIMOTHY look out of the bushes.]
JUSTIN:
Willis, what in the world — ?
AURORA:
Will, what happened to you?
[MRS. BRISBY and TIMOTHY come out of the bushes, rejoining the group.]
WILLIS:
Never mind me! Oh — Oh, God! Isabella, am I glad to see you! I was looking everywhere for you! Thank goodness, … you’re okay! I’m so glad!
ISABELLA:
Of course, I’m alright! I told ye I was startin’ back and —
WILLIS:
At least, you made it back without him getting you!
ISABELLA:
Huh? Who?
WILLIS:{to Justin}:
Justin, ... you — you were right!
JUSTIN:
What?
WILLIS:
You were right all along —
JUSTIN:
:{with a remnant of denial}:
<Gulp> … A-About … what?
WILLIS:
— about Jenner!
[Everyone reacts to this news, startled, the women crying out.]
JUSTIN:
Jenner! Are you sure?
WILLIS:
I oughta know! Why, I — I just barely got away in one piece from that — that homicidal lunatic — just now! That guy is out for blood — big time! He tried to kill me! And — And … h-he’s right behind me —
[He points back frantically the way he came, looking in that direction]:
WILLIS:
[As WILLIS talks, JUSTIN opens a satchel beside him — and extracts a map which he unrolls and lays out on the ground.]
[As WILLIS finishes talking, JUSTIN motions for him to come forward.]
[JUSTIN and WILLIS kneel on the ground over the map, with it between them, studying it intently.]
[Everyone else gathers around.]
JUSTIN:
It’s time we got to the bottem of this. Okay, Willis. Point. Where. Where did you see him? Where did this happen?
[WILLIS studies the map for a second, one paw poised with a finger up.]
WILLIS:
Right ...
[He points out a spot to JUSTIN]:
WILLIS:
... here!
[JUSTIN scowls grimly, brow furrowing. They can all see that he looks angry — but also terribly frightened, his face showing his worry and fear as well as his anger; he swallows hard — even as he scowls angrily.]
JUSTIN:
You’re sure?
WILLIS:
I saw his hideout.
JUSTIN:
You’re sure it was his?
WILLIS:
Yeah.
JUSTIN:
And you saw him?
WILLIS:
Yes.
JUSTIN:
Positive?
WILLIS:
:{almost angry}:
Of course, I am! What kinda question’s that!? I just said — that guy ... almost killed me — and … you wanna know if I’m positive? Hoo-ooo!
JUSTIN:
:{curtly}:
Okay, Willis. Cut the amateur dramatics. I just want to know, ... are you really positive?
WILLIS:
Chief, I already said —
JUSTIN:
:{angry}:
Yes or no, Willis?
WILLIS:
Well, I would definately say —
JUSTIN:
Just say it then — give me a yes or no.
WILLIS:
Okay! Yes, I am! I was really in his hideout; I really saw him.
[He shudders at the memory.]
WILLIS:
He really found me in there — and — and ... he nearly took my head off!
JUSTIN:
Good.
WILLIS:
:{puzzled}:
That he nearly took my head off ... ?
JUSTIN:
No, not that, you dingaling! What’s good is ... we have finally got a lead
on that dirty, treacherous bastard! I’m glad we’ve finally got a lead on him.
[He turns to ARNOLD]:
JUSTIN:
:{darkly}:
Go tell Brutus to get the guards together — now! We’re gonna go get that traitor!
Have Brutus raid that place at once! I want him taken! I don’t care what it takes to do it.
ARNOLD:
Yes, sir!
[ARNOLD starts off, but]:
JUSTIN:
Save some of him for me! That damned killer’s gonna pay!
[AURORA stares at him, shocked, but sympathetic.]
JUSTIN:
And in spades! I’ll see to that! I’ve an old score to settle!
[He pauses; then adds sadly, in a soft voice]:
JUSTIN:
Poor Nicodemus ...
[Everyone mutters sadly in agreement.]
JUSTIN:
Well, Arnold? Get going!
ARNOLD:
Yes, sir.
[Again, ARNOLD starts off; MRS. BRISBY turns to WILLIS]:
MRS. BRISBY:
Willis, … my children are missing.
[WILLIS perks up at her words, looking like he is about to speak.]
MRS. BRISBY:
We — We think Jenner might have them … somewhere. By any chance, … did you happen to see them in his lair?
WILLIS:
Well, ya know, as a matter a fact, I did and —… Hey!
[Unexpectantly, MRS. BRISBY starts to bolt in the direction WILLIS came from.]
TIMOTHY:
Mama — !?
WILLIS:
Where are you going!?
MRS. BRISBY:
I have to save my children —
[JUSTIN grabs her by the paw, stopping her so fast, she spins to him, writhing in his grasp.]
MRS. BRISBY:
Wha — ! Justin, … let me go!
JUSTIN:
:{as he grasps her upper arms}:
Whoa — hold on there! Just what do you think you’re doing? You can’t rescue your children all by yourself!
MRS. BRISBY:
But my children —
JUSTIN:
What if you ran into him? What do you think would happen? You’d be dead before you knew what hit you!
MRS. BRISBY:
But —
JUSTIN:
No "buts" about it, Mrs. Brisby. I don’t want to see you get hurt.
[As she struggles to break from from his grasp (but half-heartedly; it is only a token effort), JUSTIN walks MRS. BRISBY over to WILLIS — and gently urges her into his arms]:
JUSTIN:
Here, Willis. Take care of her — and don’t let her run off, … while I figure out what we should do.
[WILLIS takes MRS. BRISBY and holds her, trying to comfort her — but while she accepts WILLIS’s comfort, she looks anything but, … as her pleading gaze seems to pierce her friend’s heart, as JUSTIN’s returned gaze seems to indicate, as he looks apon her with sympathy, feeling sorry for her — and her children’s plight.]
[Suddenly, JUSTIN takes up his quarter-staff — and bolts.]
AURORA:
Justin!
[At her cry, ARNOLD stops short and turns back]:
ARNOLD:{alarmed}:
Justin? Hey! Where’re you goin’!?
[JUSTIN pauses at the edge of the clear to call back]:
JUSTIN:
:{angrily}:
I’m gonna go get that scoundrel right now! The hell with a formal raid! I’m off! You guys can do what you want, get the guards — anything! I don’t care! I’m going!
[With that, he whirls away and bolts.]
ARNOLD:
Justin! Justin, ... come back!
[He turns to the others]:
ARNOLD:
Oh, … I can’t believe what a stubborn idiot he can be sometimes! If only he’d follow his own advice —
WILLIS:
Arnold, he can’t go alone! That death-dealer — he’s sworn to —… I mean, h-he’ll —
AURORA:
I know! If Jenner catches him —
ARNOLD:
Right — he’ll have hell to pay!
ISABELLA:
<Gasp> Oh, no! No!
[WILLIS runs after him.]
WILLIS:
No, Justin! No! Not alone!
[ARNOLD, ISABELLA, AURORA, MRS. BRISBY, and TIMOTHY run after him, too.]
[They are all crying out to him at once]:
ISABELLA:
Justin!
GREGORY:
Hey — come back here!
TIMOTHY:
Come back!
MRS. BRISBY:
Please, come back!
AURORA:
Chief, come back — please!
ARNOLD:
Justin, no — he’ll kill you!
"But the angry, young Chief barely heard his concerned friends anxious warnings and pleas as he bolts off in a blind rage — to meet whatever fate awaited him in the woods ... "
[Everyone pauses as JUSTIN disappears thru’ the undergrowth.]
ARNOLD:
C’mon! We gotta stop ‘em both — before they kill each other!
[He bolts.]
WILLIS:
Wait for us!
[He, too, bolts — and ISABELLA follows, calling back to the mice]:
ISABELLA:
C’mon!
[GREGORY and AURORA bolt after them with MRS. BRISBY following, holding TIMOTHY to her.]
? Ÿ œ
[At that moment, JUSTIN is making his way down a slope when another quarter-staff shoots out of the path’s undergrowth, locking one of its two spear-pointed ends on a root, tripping him.]
[With a cry of alarm, he falls down in the path and is sent sliding on his stomach across a patch of grass-barren ground on a cliff, right over the valley’s Trout River.]
[His eyes instinctively closed, dirt gets into his mouth and nose, his nose getting skinned raw and bloody.]
[He rolls onto his feet just as one of the spear-like tips of the other quarter-staff thrusts down in a vicious lunge where he had landed.]
[He leaps back and raises his quarter-staff — to confront JENNER.]
JENNER:{growling}:
So, … Wilson! We meet again!
JUSTIN:{bared teeth}:
And for the last time, too, Genre!
JENNER:
I think we can both count on that!
JUSTIN:
I know I’m gonna see to that!
JENNER:
As shall I!
JUSTIN:
You bet you will! But not the way you think!
[For nearly a minute, the two fight, trying to club each other, blocking each other’s blows.]
[A lull developes in the battle and they face off again, both panting heavily, circling each other.]
JENNER:
:{hissing growl; panting}:
When I proclaimed my return, ... I was not jesting! You once said ... that I ... was finished. But ... it is you ... who is ... finished ...
[They resume fighting, then pause to continue conversation, circling each other]:
JENNER:
You ... needed help ... that ... first time ... we fought. You ... cannot ... even fight ... your own battles.
[They resume fighting, then pause to continue conversation, circling each other]:
JENNER:
Yes, ... you needed help. You needed ... that slob McPherson ... to save ... your worthless hide when I would have finished you then — when I would have smashed open your miserable head — from behind, up there, on that rock!
[They resume fighting, then pause to continue conversation, circling each other]:
JENNER:
So now, ... you shall die, ... you little coward! And ... you’ll die … all alone —
like the minor little chicken-hearted yellow-belly that you are!
[JUSTIN takes these insults with a scowling sneer, still panting himself.]
JUSTIN:
:{with bared teeth; panting}:
Enough! Enough with your sharp-tongued insults, you dirty double-crosser! I — I’m ... fightin’ you ... now, ... aren’t I — and again, too!
[They resume fighting, then pause to continue conversation]:
JUSTIN:
That counts ... for ... something, ... I think. One man — or rat — with courage ...
makes ... a majority ... in himself, Genre ...
[They resume fighting, then pause to continue conversation]:
JUSTIN:
Don’t think ... I’ve got none. That’s ... the worst mistake ... that you could make, ... but … I think ... you already have!
[They resume fighting, then pause to continue conversation]:
JUSTIN:
You’re gonna pay — pay for Nicodemus, for what ... you did to him, you — you filthy son-of-a-bitch!
[Snarling at this, JENNER lunges at him.]
[Gasping in alarm, JUSTIN side-steps the lunge — and brings his quarter-staff smashing down on JENNER’s — both breaking it in two and ripping it from JENNER’s grasp.]
[JUSTIN gets in several swings.]
[JENNER ducks every time, making JUSTIN miss.]
[JENNER retreats to the edge of the grassless area opposite the cliff edge.]
[JUSTIN, his back to the cliff, gives a powerful lunge forward, brandishing his quarter-staff like a club.]
[However, before JUSTIN can reach him, JENNER gets to a clump of heather that is concealing a crack between two Stones — and extracts his sword!]
[Thus armed, he lunges to meet JUSTIN’s charge, swinging — ]
[ — and slashes JUSTIN’s quarter-staff in half, tearing it from his grip as well … and shattering it.]
[Crying out in alarm, JUSTIN leaps back, panicked, and backs away, frightened.]
[JENNER advances on him, slowly, menacingly, swinging his sword as he closes in on JUSTIN, one, twice, three times: slowly forcing JUSTIN back — towards the cliff edge.]
[JUSTIN nervously trips over a tree root that is protruding from the ground, he rolls, and lands on his back on the very edge of the cliff, his head over the edge of the cliff, his shoulders on the very edge.]
[Before he can get up again, JENNER leaps — and pins him down, sandwiching JUSTIN between himself and the cliff-edge.]
[Squealing in fright, JUSTIN struggles about helplessly, trying desperately to break free, but JENNER is much too large and heavy — and has too good a grip on him]:
[Grasping the front of JUSTIN’s tunic in one fist, JENNER holds the blade of his sword across JUSTIN’s bare, undefended throat — as JUSTIN tries to push the sword away, only succeeding in getting the palms of his paws cut on the blade, making him cry out in pain.]
[Then, some soil from the very edge of the ledge JUSTIN lays on comes loose, sifting down to the river far below — and JUSTIN feels the crumbling.]
[JUSTIN freezes, crying out hoarsely, in terror, trembling in fear, clutching desperately at the crumbling soil and loose grass in his bleeding paws, close to his body.]
JENNER:
:{low, breathy hiss}:
Little fool! You could have stopped me then. I could see it. Even armed with my sword, I knew I was at a disadvantage. But no. You went and panicked. You gave me the advantage. The way I have always wanted it —
JUSTIN:
:{blurting out angrily}:
You! Always you! You back-stabbing, greedy, son-of-a —
JENNER:
:{snarling}:
Silence, you meddling wretch! I did not say you could speak — yet.
[JUSTIN is silent now, glaring up at him, eyes full of angry defiance — and terror.]
JENNER:
Yes, ... Wilson. "Chief" Wilson. I will rule here. As King. What a shame that you will not live to see all that I shall accomplish — upon your death,
... but as you have insisted on your continually defying me, you have left me no choice — but ... to destroy you.
[He strokes the blade of his sword over JUSTIN’s throat, slowly.]
JENNER:
It is a pity that you shall not live to see my glory.
[Teeth bared, JUSTIN winces and trembles, even as he struggles to remain stoic and defiant.]
JENNER:
The glory ... of my Empire. <Chuckle>
[He moves his sword’s blade back and fourth, slowly, across JUSTIN’s throat, as if slashing JUSTIN’s throat open.]
[JUSTIN gasps, trembling in terror, persperation on his brow.]
JENNER:
The Empire. Ahh, ... yes. The Empire. My rule!
JUSTIN:
:{blurting again}:
Your "rule" — !? You’re not metally fit enough ... to even rule yourself, ... let alone a whole colony, you — you —
JENNER:
Silence! Dare to speak again, without my permission, … and I shall rip your tongue out — right thru’ your throat!
[JUSTIN cries out, gasping, and freezes.]
JENNER:
... Of course, ... you are about to die — in any case. So, it scarcely matters if you babble like an idiot now — or not.
[JUSTIN continues to lay there, paralyzed with terror, panting.]
JENNER:
In fact, ... have you any last request ... before I kill you?
[As he speaks, his eyes narrow dangerously, glowing triumphantly.]
[Terrified, his heart pounding in his ears, JUSTIN glances over his shoulder, down at the roaring river far below. Shuddering, he trembles, breathing hard in horror, painfully aware of the blade at his throat.]
JUSTIN:
:{silently weeping as he whispers}:
Y-Yes! P-Please! Please, ... sp-s-spare — spare m-me, … p-please! I … I — I … d-don’t … want to — to d-die!
JENNER:
Enough of this! If that is your idea of last words, then it is time, now, to put an end to this ... and … to you, … you meddling, little wretch!
JUSTIN:
:{almost whining; terrified}:
N-No! P-Please! Have mercy! Don’t! Don’t! Don’t do this — to me! Please — don’t! Don’t kill me, ... please —
JENNER:
:{angry growl; grimly}:
I grow tired of this rediculous, little game, you little wretch! I have far better things to do, now, ... than to be bothered with the likes of you! For now, it is time, Wilson, time for you ... to finally perish! This must ... and will ... come to its appointed end!
[He pauses, menacingly, chuckling.]
JUSTIN:
:{whispering}:
O-O-Oh-h-h, p-p-please! Please! N-No!
[He shudders helplessly, trembling, tears forming in his eyes and rolling down his pale cheeks.]
JENNER:
And now, ... you die!
[JUSTIN struggles desperately at this, screaming in protest]:
JUSTIN:
No! No! Oh, God — please! Please, no!
[JENNER begins to draw the blade across JUSTIN’s throat.]
JUSTIN:
No! No — please! <Owwwwww-wwwwwwwwww!>
[The blade produces a fine, thin cut, which bleeds — as JUSTIN manages to push the blade away — just as]:
[ARNOLD arrives, followed closely by WILLIS and ARTHUR, then ISABELLA and MRS. BRISBY, tightly holding TIMOTHY, followed lastly by GREGORY and AURORA.]
[They are all stopped short, staring in horror.]
[ISABELLA is about to scream, but ARTHUR grabs her and WILLIS puts a paw over her mouth, both hushing her — ]
[ — as ARNOLD, however, silently bolts forward, sneering, teeth bared.]
[Screaming helplessly, JUSTIN struggles, holding JENNER back (or trying to) with all of his strength — as JENNER’s sword just barely starts to penetrate his throat]:
JUSTIN:
No! Oh, God — No! Please! No! No!
[The blade penetrates into JUSTIN’s throat in urnest now; fighting with all his strength to hold the blade away from his wounded throat, JUSTIN screams out in hopeless, helpless terror — and agony at his wound, ... this time real — and starting to really bleed]:
JUSTIN:
<Aierrrgggghhhhhggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!>
[ARNOLD (right behind JENNER) suddenly shouts out]:
ARNOLD:
Justin!
[With a flying leap, ARNOLD lands on JENNER’s back — ]
ARNOLD:
No, ... you don’t!
[ — braces his feet against the villain’s hips … and seizes his shoulders.]
ARNOLD:
You let him go!
[As he speaks, ARNOLD thrusts his feet against JENNER’s hips and gripping JENNER’s shoulders, jerks backwards suddenly, using all his weight to cause JENNER to loose his balance.]
[JENNER drops his sword and falls over backwards with a snarl, landing on ARNOLD. He flips over quickly and bites ARNOLD’s neck, right where the shoulder starts ... and holds on fiercely, trying to maul ARNOLD, tearing his neck and turning it raw and bloody.]
[ARNOLD cries out in pain and kicks JENNER off, squirming, and manages to roll away. His neck and shoulder are bleeding and his tunic is ripped at the neckline.]
[JENNER leaps to his feet and lunges at JUSTIN as he (JUSTIN) stands up, seizing him; he tries to shove JUSTIN towards the cliff, his paws around JUSTIN’s neck and throttling him as he pushes JUSTIN towards the cliff, choking him.]
[JUSTIN struggles desperately, his feet right on the cliff’s edge ... and starting to slip as he strains forward against JENNER’s efforts.]
[The two struggle, grappling violently.]
[ARNOLD, looking both angry and frightened, wide-eyed, brow furrowed, and teeth barred, charges JENNER, lunging at him suddenly, running him right over the edge of the cliff. The nature of the move causes ARNOLD to bounce off of JENNER — literally — as he suddenly looses his balance and plops backward, flipping on to his belly —]
[ — just as JENNER is catapulted backward.]
[JENNER looses his balance again and, shrieking in alarm, goes over the cliff ... and takes JUSTIN along — as everyone stares in astonishment. In fact, both are literally flipped over the edge — and JUSTIN just manages to get hold of the cliff’s edge, … which threatens to crumble further.]
[JUSTIN squeals in terror, clinging desperately to the edge of the cliff. His feet scramble madly at the cliff itself (causing it to crumble even more) as he peers over his shoulder — down at the raging river; his ears flatten, teeth bared ... as his efforts inadvertantly dislodge bits of the cliff-face, which fall into the river below. He is holding onto the very edge of the cliff ledge — and that is getting pretty crumbly, too — threatening to break apart totally at any second!]
JUSTIN:{screaming}:
Oh, no! Help! Help!
[ARNOLD, just as shocked as everyone else, looks severely chagrined at his brother’s predicament.]
ARNOLD:
(!) Uh, ... oops!
[There is a loud, but distant "Splash!" from far below (JENNER hitting the river) as ARNOLD rushes to help JUSTIN up from his desperate perch.]
ARNOLD:
:{helping Justin up}:
Uh, … I — I guess I goofed, ... huh?
JUSTIN:
:{panting}:
Y-You — You d-don’t get ... a-any complaints from me. You saved — Y-You ... saved my —... <Uh-hhh-hhhh!>
[Moaning and shuddering uncontrollably, he suddenly collapses in ARNOLD’s arms, falling to his knees and shuddering violently.]
[ARNOLD holds his brother for a brief moment.]
[JUSTIN trembles with delayed shock and horror of his near-death, clinging desperately to ARNOLD, eyes pressed shut.]
ARNOLD:
Uh, ... Healer ... ?
[AURORA comes forward — and lays a paw on JUSTIN’s brow for a moment]:
AURORA:
He is fine ... or he will be. Hold him, Arnold. It is ... only delayed shock.
Delayed, for before he had not the time to feel it, but now, he does. Hold him.
[After a few moments, JUSTIN’s trembling stops and he opens his eyes. He slowly rises, still unsettled, but recovering.]
[The twins go to the edge and look down — and see JENNER’s body, a large, dark mass, excreting blood from landing on a cluster of sharp rocks far below, floating a short ways downstream, only to wash up onto the bank.]
[The twins look at each other as the others gather around them — and they see that everyone else is just as shaken as they are.]
ISABELLA:{softly}:
I-Is it — Is it ... over?
JUSTIN:{panting exhaustedly}:
It — It must be. He ... really is done for this time. Finished.
ARNOLD:
Sorry we weren’t here sooner, brother.
JUSTIN:
... Hm?
ARNOLD:
We got lost, trying to follow you.
JUSTIN:
That’s okay.
ARNOLD:
Funny thing is, it’s ... a good thing you guys were fighting. All that noise led us right here — altho’ the lull nearly made us miss you — when we didn’t hear anything.
Good thing we got here when we did, tho’. Why, … he nearly finished you.
[JUSTIN listens to him for a moment, then pauses before he answers]:
JUSTIN:
:{harshly}:
He — He nearly did. I ... I guess ... I shouldn’t’ve gone and run off like that, but I ... I was just so damned mad, I — I wanted to take care of the problem — myself. I — I just wanted to kill him!
[He pauses, shuddering]:
JUSTIN:
A-And that — that bastard ... a-almost killed me ... this time.
[He glances down at JENNER’s body, far below, down stream.]
JUSTIN:
But ... not now. Not again. Ever.
ARNOLD:
You okay?
JUSTIN:
Yeah. Yeah, ... I — I’m fine. Now.
ARNOLD:
You’re hurt; you’re paws’re all bloody.
JUSTIN:
It’s not that bad, ... not really. But what about you? He bit you pretty bad, didn’t he?
[ARNOLD touches the bleeding wound on the side of his neck.]
JUSTIN:
Maybe you should let Aurora look at that. That’s really a bad bite.
ARNOLD:
Naw, ... I’m okay. It’s not that bad, really not that bad. Is it?
JUSTIN:
I should say so. It certainly is. You really should let Aurora tend it. Healer?
[AURORA comes forward.]
AURORA:
Here, Arnold, let me see.
Best for me to check it; it might get infected otherwise —
out here in the forest, without proper attention.
ARNOLD:
Thanks, Healer.
JUSTIN:
Yeah. Well, anyway, thanks for the help, Arn. That ... was close.
[He rubs at his neck, which bares a very small cut.]
JUSTIN:
Too close. I — I ... really owe you one. You saved my life. Thanks.
[He winces, looking at ARNOLD, who is being healed by AURORA.]
AURORA:
I’ll take care of you in a moment, Chief.
JUSTIN:
Mine isn’t too bad, ... not as bad as Arnold’s is, ... but thanks. <Sigh> C’mon, everyone. Let’s get outta here.
AURORA:
I’m almost done.
ARTHUR:
What about him down there?
JUSTIN:
:{coldly}:
Leave ‘im. Just leave ‘im there. He’ll rot in good time if left there, huh? Do the local Plants a good turn anyway — if his rot doesn’t poison them instead!
[AURORA winces as his cold tone, then glances at him sympathetically. Finishing with ARNOLD, she goes to JUSTIN and starts to heal his cut paws; he holds his cut palms up to her and she holds her paws over them; healing them.]
JUSTIN:
Let ‘im rot ... and get full of maggots! Good enough for him!
WILLIS:
Want his sword? It’s really a beauty. It’d be a real shame to waste it, … just leave it lying here ... rusting.
JUSTIN:
Leave it. Let the goddamned thing rust. That’s the sword that cut those ropes ... and Nicodemus died because of it — and him. He might just as well have just struck Nicodemus down with it — outright. And he ... almost killed me with it — in outright battle — any number of times. No. Leave it here. I don’t want to ever see it again ... or look at it — now. <Sigh> Well then, ... c’mon now, everybody.
We’ve got a lot of work to do — restoring the Plan! If we work real hard now, ... we can still make it work and —
MRS. BRISBY:
:{suddenly}:
<Gasp> Wait! Justin, ... my children! What about my children? They’re —
[At the mention of the children, WILLIS brightens.]
JUSTIN:
Hey — you’re right! They’re still missing! We gotta find those kids.
Willis, ... you were at his hideout. Did you happen to see any —
[Suddenly, there is a chorus of voices in the distance.]
[MRS. BRISBY and TIMOTHY gasp.]
WILLIS:
Oh, yeah! That’s right! Ma’am, I found your kids! You were right! Jenner had them trapped there ... as his prisoners. I — I think he meant to hold them hostage —
as ransom for the Amulet. Anyway, ... I turned them loose. They must have just followed their ears here. Who couldn’t?
[But MRS. BRISBY is not listening to him, for While WILLIS talks, she darts to the edge of the clearing with TIMOTHY behind her.]
[MRS. BRISBY is near tears of relief.]
[She and TIMOTHY call out to them, their calls overlapping]:
MRS. BRISBY:
Oh, my dears! My dear ones, over here!
TIMOTHY:
Hey! Hey, you guys, here — here we are!
[Even as they call, MARTIN, TERESA, and CYNTHIA leap out of the bushes and into MRS. BRISBY’s waiting arms. She and TIMOTHY embrace them and they return the hug. They are all stuck together in one big group embrace.]
JUSTIN:
Willis, ... you found the children! Why didn’t you say so?
WILLIS:
Well, ... it wasn’t exactly like I got the chance before, huh?
[The clearing is filled with tears and laughter of joy and relief and excited talk from the mother and from her children in a happy gibberish as they embrace, wiggling and giggling while the others watch, pleased, amused, astonished, and smiling.]
? Ÿ œ
[As everyone leaves the area, moods jovial and flying high, ... far below, JENNER begins to crawl away, soaking wet, slowly (as if in pain) dragging himself away from the river, panting almost wretchedly.]
[He pauses, wincingly, to look back up at the ledge where his enemies are, with an angry, pained growl, eyes glowing crimson with rage]:
JENNER:{pained whisper}:
This … is not over yet, ... Wilson! … Not ... by … far!
[He resumes crawling away.]
[TO BE CONTINUED]