RAT RACE: A TRILOGY OF TROUBLE

IN THIS ISSUE:

Jenner is back … again — this time with allies, a pack just as vicious and blood-thirsty as himself. With this new force at his back, Jenner has succeeded in over-throwing Chief Justin — and almost murders Justin in a one-on-one duel-to-the-death, which results in the loss of the Amulet.

He could have killed Justin then, so no one among his men can understand why Jenner has suddenly ordered that Justin be spared — and set free.

But Jenner has a strategy of his own — and when Justin attempts to gather allies of his own, he is playing right into Jenner’s hands!

---

ISSUE #6: THE FUGITIVES

 

[Meanwhile, a dark shadow prowls quickly thru’ the residential section of the camp, slipping thru’ the shadows, apparently looking around futively while on the move, as if afraid of being sighted.]

[Finding the BRISBYs’ tent, the shadowy figure ducks into it quickly.]

[It is JUSTIN. He comes thru’ the tent door into the light of the tent and quickly turns back to it, pulling the flaps shut abruptly, as if afraid of being sighted, turns to the family of mice behind him, his face contorted with exhausted fear.]

[TIMOTHY and CYNTHIA are sitting on their mother’s lap, with MARTIN at his mother’s feet, and TERESA near the door, preparing drinks from a tray of refreshments.]

[Staggering in exhaustion and panting, JUSTIN bumps into TERESA clumsily, and almost knocks her down, causing her to drop the tray and the drinks — which splash onto the tent floor. He reaches out to grab her, steadying her from falling.]

TERESA:

O-o-oh!

TIMOTHY:

Mama, look! It’s Chief Justin.

[CYNTHIA smiles at him; a silly smile]:

CYNTHIA:

Hi, Justin!

[Except for innocent CYNTHIA, everyone else is puzzled by JUSTIN’s appearance, for he is out of breath and filthy from his fight (his tunic ripped in places), and breathing very hard, so hard that at first he cannot speak, so the others talk to him. They can also see from his wide-eyed expression, he is utterly terrified, trembling from exhaustion and fright.]

MRS. BRISBY:

Oh, Chief! Hello!

[She stands, letting her little ones down.]

TERESA:

:{smiling}:

What’re you doing here?

MRS. BRISBY:

Yes, my friend, what can we do for you? What on earth happened to you? Are you hurt? Are you alright? What happened?

MARTIN:

:{smiling}:

Yeah, why’re ya such a mess?

[He gets up, approaching JUSTIN.]

MARTIN:

It looks like you’ve been gone over by a wildcat!

JUSTIN:

:{panting}:

In a ... a — matter — of speaking ...

[JUSTIN’s answer is almost drowned out as TERESA cuffs MARTIN on the arm as MARTIN up to him, MARTIN’s retort almost cutting across JUSTIN’s agreement.]

TERESA:

Martin —

MARTIN:

Ow — hey!

TERESA:

— be polite! He’s our host!

MRS. BRISBY:

Now, children! Please.

[She comes up behind MARTIN, placing a paw on her oldest son’s shoulder.]

MRS. BRISBY:

Justin? Justin, ... what is it? What’s wrong? Has — Has something —

[JUSTIN seems to be catching his breath. He pants as he answers]:

JUSTIN:{desperately}:

Yes! Look, I … I — I gotta — we gotta get out of here! Couldn’t reach anyone else! Tryin’ to save as many from him — as possible — b-but I ... I c-c-couldn’t reach a-anyone else and ... and —

MRS. BRISBY:

"Him"? Justin, what—

[JUSTIN trembles violently as he goes on — almost incoherently]:

JUSTIN:

We got to get the hell out of here! Now! I — I don’t know how, bu — but — b-but i-it ... it — it’s — h-h-he’s — h-he’s b-back — h-h-he — h — I — I — I d-d-don’t know how, … b-but I ... I — he tried t-to — to, w-we gotta ... gotta get out! W-We — We gotta get out, … before h-h —

MARTIN:

"He"? "He" — who?

MRS. BRISBY:

Please, settle down, Justin, try to catch your breath. You’re not making a whole lot of sense, what between your breathing and how fast you’re talking. Now, ... what’s wrong? Who ... is "he"?

[JUSTIN is still panting as he answers, shuddering violently, frightened]:

JUSTIN:

Jenner!

[Everyone gasps in horror.]

MRS. BRISBY:

Justin — no! How can that be!? He fell in the river ... and drowned! And ... we all saw it happen! Chief, … how in the the world can he be —

JUSTIN:

It’s true, it’s true, I tell ya! He’s back! Back — again!

MRS. BRISBY:

But — But how —?

JUSTIN:

I don’t know! All I know is it’s true! And — he’s after me — again! He — He turned the guards against me — my own guards! My — My own men! H-He ... almost k-killed me, … tr-tried to c-cut off my — my head … and — and —

[With a loud "Rip!", JENNER’s sword abruptly slashes the tent wall thru’, narrowly missing JUSTIN and terrorizing TERESA, stopping just short of her bare throat.]

JUSTIN:

<Ahhhhh!>

[The blade would have hit TERESA, but JUSTIN manages to push her aside ... and the sword misses her as she falls down.]

TERESA:

<Eeeeeek!>

[She collapses in MARTIN’s arms and he drags her away from the wall.]

[JUSTIN lunges against JENNER thru’ the tent wall, pulling the whole thing up from it pegs and the BRISBYs find themselves in the open as the tent collapses, pulling away from the mouse family suddenly.]

[Tangled together in the torn tent, JUSTIN and JENNER fall down into a writhing, struggling, grappling heap.]

[As JUSTIN struggles to subdue JENNER by sitting on him and trying to restrain JENNER’s arms, he shouts to MRS. BRISBY]:

JUSTIN:

Run! Get away, all of you! Run! Mrs. Brisby, get your children out of here!

[Thru’ tears forming in the tent cloth, JENNER gets his paws around JUSTIN’s throat, starting to strangle him.]

JUSTIN:

<Gag> G-Get your children o-out! <Aack>

[He raises one fisted forepaw and, with a grunt, cuffs JENNER thru’ the tent material, hard on JENNER’s head, with a downward blow from one fist, stunning him, then bolts after the five mice.]

[MARTIN runs, pulling TERESA along as their mother clutches TIMOTHY to her, running after them, pulling CYNTHIA.]

[CYNTHIA trips. Before her mother can go back for her — ]

[ — JUSTIN scoops her up just as MRS. BRISBY turns to get CYNTHIA, in which she collides with him, getting knocked down.]

[JUSTIN grabs MRS. BRISBY’s free paw and pulls her along as she falls down.]

[JENNER gets free of the tangled tent by slashing thru’ it.]

[TIMOTHY sees this and cries out]:

TIMOTHY:

Watch out —

[JENNER bolts after JUSTIN and the BRISBYs — and he leaps, landing on JUSTIN from behind and baring him to the ground.]

[CYNTHIA is thrown from JUSTIN’s grasp — ]

CYNTHIA:

Mom-mmyyy!

[ — and lands in a clump of heather.]

[More frightened than hurt, she wails loudly.]

[Her mother retrieves her (still crying loudly), still holding TIMOTHY, and flees after MARTIN and TERESA — ]

[ — as JUSTIN and JENNER go down.]

[MRS. BRISBY calls to JUSTIN over her shoulder]:

MRS. BRISBY:

<Gasp> Justin!

[For a moment, she looks like she might go back to help JUSTIN, putting the little ones down — but the older children discourage her from such foolishness as TERESA scoops up TIMOTHY — and MARTIN seizes CYNTHIA’s paw — and shoves his mother along]:

MARTIN:

Come on, Mom!

[Meanwhile, the two rivals grapple, struggling against each other.]

[JENNER has JUSTIN pinned on the ground on his back and is trying to get his paws around JUSTIN’s throat again.]

[His teeth bared in effort, JUSTIN holds JENNER’s wrists away, then shouts after the mouse family]:

JUSTIN:

Run! Run! Get away!

[For a brief moment, JENNER has JUSTIN by the throat again, choking him even harder this time, making him gag as he writhes.]

[JENNER has JUSTIN at his mercy in this way for at least 15 seconds.]

[Unexpectedly, JUSTIN succeeds in breaking JENNER’s grip and manages to throw him off.]

[JENNER screams in pain as he lands too hard and the wrong way on a sharp, jagged rock, jutting out of the ground — and there is the horrible sound of bone cracking as JENNER’s left forearm is broken.]

[Broken bone pertrudes from flesh, blood flowing.]

[JENNER is obviously in too much pain and shock to get up; he simply lies there ... and screams and screams and screams; a tortured, snarling shriek — as the blood gushes from his fractured arm which he tries to hold with his good arm.]

[JUSTIN scrambles to his feet, (a paw going to and instinctively rubbing) at his throat as he regains his feet.]

[For a brief moment, JUSTIN just stands there, staring in horror and taking in the extent of his enemy’s wounded armed, torn and broken and bloody; then he backs away, slowly.]

[Finally quieting down, JENNER lays there, eyes closed, grasping at his broken arm, gasping in agony]:

JENNER:

… D-Damn you, ... Wilson! <Gasp> I ... I will ... g-get you ... <Gasp> ... for — for ... for this. <Gasp> I ... I — I shall ... get you, ... <Gasp> ... c-curse you, ... you — you … little wretch. <Gasp> I — I ... shall have ... your head!

[JUSTIN cannot answer; he just crouches there in shocked horror, staring helplessly, at a complete loss at what to do next.]

[JENNER manages to struggle up into a partial sitting position, supported by his uninjured arm; he glares at JUSTIN, transfixing his rival with eyes that glow red with hateful rage]:

JENNER:

You are dead, ... Wilson! You are dead! I shall kill you for this! You … just see ... if I don’t, … you little wretch —

[Horrified and appalled , JUSTIN cowers away from him, crying out and backing away — ]

[ — as JENNER breaks off, in his pain, gasping hoarsely as he collapses.]

[Suddenly, there are sounds of other rats — Hench Rats — approaching.]

[JUSTIN looks towards the sounds in alarm; then turns away and bolts, disappearing into the undergrouth of the base of the nearest slope — ]

[ — just before JENNER’s raid squad, led by TEMPLETON, arrives.]

BENJAMIN:

Here is the squad, Yer Honor, and —

TEMPLETON:

Sire, you’re hurt! I’ll go call for the med-assist at once!

[JENNER winces and grimaces in pain, holding his left arm, of which looks twisted, as if the broken bone is at two different angle with itself.]

JENNER:

:{angry; in pain}:

Good! And ... make sure — that those fugitives — are found — or else!

 

? Ÿ œ

 

[As JUSTIN flees into the undergrowth, someone grabs him low on his body, seizing his belt and pulling back hard, making him stumble — and start to cry out —]

[ — as a different voice cuts his unmade cry off and a small forepaw starts to go over his mouth, even tho’ he tries to hold it back]:

MRS. BRISBY:

<Shhh>, Justin! Please, ... be quiet! It’s alright! Listen — it’s just me!

[For a long second, JUSTIN kneels before her in the bushes, staring at her and panting as the children slowly come forward out of the deeper shadows of the bushes to join their mother and friend.]

MRS. BRISBY:

Me and the children! We’re okay.

[For a long moment, JUSTIN can only stare at them, trembling. His trembling slowly ceases however, as he looks at them, listening to MRS. BRISBY’s soothing words. Then]:

JUSTIN:{panting}:

Oh, th-thank God — it’s you! C’mon! Let’s — Let’s go!

[Reunited, the "fugitives" make their way deeper and deeper into the woods. Presently, they stop their head-long flight out of the Rats’ camp and rest in a glen, up on one of the valley’s many slopes.]

 

[JUSTIN collapses on a rock, trembling in exhaustion, his face in his paws.]

[MRS. BRISBY and her children sit on a mouse-sized log, across from him.]

[Everyone pants in exhaustion.]

MRS. BRISBY:

:{panting}:

Oh ... Oh, Justin, ... all this ... must seem ... just ... just awful ... for you. And ... And ... after ... you thought ... he ... he was — was finally —

[Also panting, looking up abruptly, JUSTIN cuts her off, angrily]:

JUSTIN:

Yes, it is!

[Everyone stares at him in astonishment, shocked at his tone.]

JUSTIN:

What kind of a question —...

[Embarrassed, JUSTIN catches his tone; softer]:

JUSTIN:

I mean ... I ... I’m sorry, Mrs. Brisby. I ... I didn’t mean to yell. It — It’s just that ... I’m ... so tired ... And — And I ... I was ... a-almost — almost —... He almost ... k-killed — <Gulp>

[There is a pause]:

MRS. BRISBY:

:{sympathetic}:

It’s okay, Justin, … really. I understand. You’re under a lot of pressure after all. After you’ve fought him — what? — three times, has it been?

JUSTIN:{bitterly}:

Four — but who’s keepin’ track anyway?

MRS. BRISBY:

Four. And we thought that ... we were finally rid of him ... this last time?

JUSTIN:

... Yes.

MRS. BRISBY:

And now ... this. It is ... all so — so awful ...

JUSTIN:

Thank you for understanding, ... my friend ...

MRS. BRISBY:

But where are we now, Justin?

TERESA:

Yes. Where do we go?

TIMOTHY:

What do we do now?

MRS. BRISBY:

If only we could get back to the farm, we’d be fine. You could stay with us, Justin. Until you knew what you were going to do. Then, maybe, … we could take the Amulet and —

[She suddenly breaks off, her eyes growing round with alarm.]

MRS. BRISBY:

<Gasp> Justin! The Amulet! Did you get the Amulet?

[JUSTIN pauses before answering her, staring at her helplessly]:

JUSTIN:

... No.

MRS. BRISBY:

But — B-But ... what happens when he —

JUSTIN:

He won’t. He tried to get it, ... but I stopped him.

MRS. BRISBY:

Oh, good! Then we can just use the Stone and —

JUSTIN:

No.

[MRS. BRISBY stares at him, taken aback with confusion and bewilderment]:

MRS. BRISBY:

... Excuse me?

JUSTIN:

We can’t.

MRS. BRISBY:

... Can’t?

JUSTIN:

Yes.

MRS. BRISBY:

What do you mean, ... "We can’t"?

JUSTIN:

We just ... can’t.

MRS. BRISBY:

But why ever not!? We have the Stone and —

JUSTIN:

No, ... we don’t ...

MRS. BRISBY:

We — We don’t ... ?

JUSTIN:

... That’s right ...

MRS. BRISBY:

... Justin, where is the Stone? You say you stopped him from getting it, but now you say we don’t have it? If he doesn’t have it and we don’t, ... then who does?

JUSTIN:

No one ...

MRS. BRISBY:

No one? What do you mean? Someone must have it —

JUSTIN:

Nob On one does. I — I lost it.

MRS. BRISBY:

(!?) ... You — You lost it!?

JUSTIN:

Yes. I lost it.

MRS. BRISBY:

... I just can’t believe — You lost it!?

MARTIN:

He lost it, Mom.

MRS. BRISBY:

<Sigh> You lost it.

JUSTIN:

Yes. I had it. I was trying to keep it from Jenner. I was so tired, … I — I stumbled ... and lost my grip. It ... fell down a hole. It was a deep hole. And the mouth was narrow — too narrow for a mouse, even ... a thin one ... or a mouse child. Even one as small and thin as your younger son, Mrs. Brisby. And he looks just as small and thin as they come — without being just a little baby ... and unable to even do such a thing.

MRS. BRISBY:

Oh. Well, ... if only we could get to the farm, like I said, … you —

JUSTIN:

But ... it’s so far! I could, I suppose — after all, I have journeyed that path before, with the rest of my folk. I know I could do it — maybe you, too, but — but ... what about your children? It’s so far away. Maybe it wouldn’t be all that hard — for you and me, ... but ... I wouldn’t expect your children to walk so far, especially the little ones!

TERESA:

Won’t Jeremy be back tomorrow, Mother?

JUSTIN:

Jeremy? Who — Who’s Jeremy?

MRS. BRISBY:

A friend of mine. He’s a crow.

JUSTIN:

A Bird? You mean, ... he could ...

MRS. BRISBY:

Yes. Jeremy could fly us — at least, the children. I could stay with you for safe company. I wouldn’t leave you alone — out here in the woods, because of preditors, of course — tho’ if something happened, I don’t think I’d be much use ... and my neighbor could watch the children — until we get there ... And perhaps, Jeremy could even come back for us — once the children are safe at home. Then, we’ll be safe from Jenner, too.

[JUSTIN stares at her in dismay for a moment; then]:

JUSTIN:

You — You ... make it sound ... like ... I ... I intend ... to abandon everybody, ... everything, ... because of — of him, Mrs. Brisby! You sound ... like you think ... that I — I just gave up!

MRS. BRISBY:

(!) Oh — Oh, no, Justin! Of course not! I ... I’m so sorry! I ... I didn’t mean to sound ... like that! It — It’s just that — that —...

[She trails off, staring at the ground in thought.]

[JUSTIN mutters in a very low voice; under his breath]:

JUSTIN:

Maybe I ought to. I don’t stand a chance. He’d kill me now, for sure — if I tried to go back, … especially now. I — I wouldn’t last a minute ... and I — I know it ...

[MRS. BRISBY looks up at him, startled out of her trance.]

MRS. BRISBY:

Pardon me? I wasn’t paying attention. Did you say something? I didn’t hear —

[JUSTIN sighs, shaking his head.]

JUSTIN:

Nothing.

MRS. BRISBY:

Oh. Oh, well, if only Jeremy was here, he could take us to the farm. Then we all could rest ... and figure out what to do tomorrow morning, Justin, ... about Jenner, I mean.

TERESA:

But, Mother, ... Jeremy won’t be back until tomorrow morning.

MARTIN:

Does ... that mean ... we’re stranded out here, Mom? Do we got to sit here ... in the cold ‘n’ dark — all night?

TERESA:

:{teasingly}:

Gee, Martin, ... I thought you weren’t afraid of the dark.

MARTIN:

I’m not.

TERESA:

:{mockingly}:

Then why the concern?

MRS. BRISBY:

Teresa ...

MARTIN:

It ... It’s not for me! I ... I’m, uh, just worried about you guys!

TERESA:

Um-hmm.

MARTIN:

Besides, … sitting around in the dark is boring!

TIMOTHY:

Well, Martin, at least it’d only be for the night.

[He looks up at MRS. BRISBY.]

TIMOTHY:

Right, Mama?

[MRS. BRISBY looks at him, but does not answer.]

TIMOTHY:

... Mama?

[She glances at each of the children in turn, then finally looks up at JUSTIN, questioningly.]

[JUSTIN looks back, speechlessly.]

[For a few minutes, they sit there, staring at each other in dismay in the dark, CYNTHIA (sitting between her mother and sister) starts to whimper and TIMOTHY shudders with cold.]

CYNTHIA:{softly}:

I — I’ scared, M-Mommy!

[TERESA puts an arm around her and holds her close.]

[CYNTHIA cowers against TERESA, whimpering.]

[MRS. BRISBY tries to comfort them both]:

MRS. BRISBY:

Oh, there there, my little ones. We’ll be okay.

[For a moment, no one moves; then]:

MARTIN:

Mom, we didn’t get to have any dinner. I’m hungry.

TERESA:

You’re always hungry.

[MARTIN retorts sullenly and softly]:

MARTIN:

I am not.

TERESA:

You are to.

MARTIN:

Teresa! Mom —

MRS. BRISBY:

Both of you, ... please. I know this whole situation has you both — all of you — agitated, … but bickering, even if it’s only teasing, isn’t helping us.

TERESA:

I’m sorry, Mother.

MARTIN:

Sorry, Mom.

MRS. BRISBY:

That’s okay. Let’s just all try to keep our spirits up.

TIMOTHY:

Mama? ... I ... I’m ... c-cold ...

MRS. BRISBY:

:{alarmed}:

Oh, dear! Oh, no! You can’t get a chill — why, you just got over your pneumonia! I just can’t let you get sick — please, not again!

[As she speaks, she takes off her cape and she bundles TIMOTHY in it, holding him on her lap.]

MRS. BRISBY:

You poor dear! And after all the trouble we all went thru’ — and we just got you better! I just can’t have you get sick again! Oh, we can’t — we just can’t lose you — not now!

[They all start to shiver with fear and cold.]

JUSTIN:

I’ll make a fire. We can figure out what to do in the morning. Right now, let’s just get warm. And we can keep resting. That will do us some good anyway. Then I’ll browse for some food. Maybe some nuts and berries. Maybe I can find us a stream ... and we can have water to drink with whatever I find.

MARTIN:

I can help.

JUSTIN:

Thanks, but I want you to stay with your mother.

MARTIN:

But —

JUSTIN:

Look, kiddo. There’s enough to worry about without us getting seperated. I won’t go far, but I can’t be responsible for you, sonny. Okay? I mean, there’s just too much happening now without one of you kids getting lost or hurt — out there in the woods! Okay, kid?

MARTIN:

Aw, nuts!

MRS. BRISBY:

Thank you, Justin ...

[JUSTIN starts a fire, but it is a small one which gutters and threatens to die when a breeze comes by. Eventually it does, in spite of JUSTIN’s efforts.]

JUSTIN:

We’ll never have a fire like this. Well, maybe it’s just as well. Someone ... might see it ...

[TIMOTHY shivers at the next breeze.]

MRS. BRISBY:

:{worriedly}:

Justin, ... this chill. Timothy will be ill again. He — He’ll catch a cold ... and — and —...

TIMOTHY:{shivering with cold}:

I — I’m ... f-fine, ... Mama. R-Really.

[MRS. BRISBY lowers her head in despair.]

[MARTIN smoothers a feeble, little cough.]

[TERESA sighs dismally.]

[TIMOTHY’s shivers worsen.]

MRS. BRISBY:

Oh, ... we must get you warm somehow!

TIMOTHY:

M-M-Mama, ... r-r-really, ... I-I’m ... I — I-I’m — <Ah-Ah-Achoo>

[MRS. BRISBY looks alarmed.]

TIMOTHY:

<Achoo-oo>

[MRS. BRISBY’s eyes fill with tears.]

TIMOTHY:

<Ah — Ah — Achoo>

MRS. BRISBY:

Timothy ...

[She stares at JUSTIN — and he can see that she is on the verge of weeping.]

MRS. BRISBY:

<Choke> Oh — Oh, Justin ...

[JUSTIN dismayingly watches the BRISBYs, watches the cold and frightened children hundle together, scooting closer and closer to their mother, who embraces them all for warmth — and they return the hug. The group embrace is for comfort as well.]

[JUSTIN looks extrememly ill-at-ease and uncomfortable.]

JUSTIN:

I guess ... I’ll go browse for food now.

[Sighing grimly, JUSTIN stands up]:

JUSTIN:

:{guiltily}:

(What do I do? That poor little thing is so sensitive to cold — and just got over being very sick. If I don’t find these guys shelter soon, … he could get sick again — and die. But we’re fugitives — with nowhere to go, … because Jenner is after me. I had to lead him to this poor family — and now, we all have to hide. If — If it wasn’t for me, ... everything would be fine. It’s all my fault.)

MARTIN:

:{suddenly}:

Hey, wait! I got an idea! We’re bein’ dumb! We don’t have to be sitting out here in the cold all night! I ... I know just where we could spend the night and be warm. Not far from here, either.

[He gets up as does everyone else.]

MARTIN:

C’mon, everyone!

[Silent and puzzled, they follow and he leads them along; JUSTIN next, then MRS. BRISBY, holding TIMOTHY, then TERESA and CYNTHIA.]

[MARTIN leads them to JENNER’s hideout.]

[TERESA and CYNTHIA stop short, horrified.]

[CYNTHIA lets out a frightened squeal.]

MARTIN:

:{to Cynthia}:

Hey, be quite! What’s with you?

TERESA:

You know well enough!

MARTIN:

Teresa, what’s —

TERESA:

Martin, no! Seriously not!

[The girls cling to each other, wide-eyed in fear.]

[JUSTIN, MRS. BRISBY, and TIMOTHY exchange puzzled, wary looks.]

TIMOTHY:

<Sniff> Wha — What ... is it, ... girls?

MRS. BRISBY:

What’s wrong?

JUSTIN:

What now?

[Whimpering, CYNTHIA cringes behind TERESA.]

[TERESA holds CYNTHIA to her back with both paws in return.]

TERESA:

That’s — That’s where ... w-we were — were held by — by the bad rat, ... Chief Wilson!

[Again, JUSTIN, MRS. BRISBY, and TIMOTHY all exchange glances.]

TERESA:

Mother, ... I — I am not going in there!

CYNTHIA:

‘N’ me, neither!

[Still holding TIMOTHY, MRS. BRISBY goes to her daughters. She starts to speak, but MARTIN cuts her off]:

MARTIN:

:{angry}:

Well, y’guys wanna spend all night in the open woods, in the cold — ‘n’ whatever might be out here!? He obviously s’not in there if that’s what you’re afraid of! It’s not like it’s haunted — or something. We’d really do better to just go on in — and check it out, at least. Isn’t that ... right? Chief? Mom? What about Timmy, Mom? What about you, Tim?

[TIMOTHY sneezes again, continuing to shiver miserably in his mother’s arms.]

[JUSTIN pauses, looking at MRS. BRISBY.]

JUSTIN:

Ma’am?

MRS. BRISBY:

The girls are frightened. But I think Martin may have a point. I don’t like the idea myself, but given the choice between that and being outside at night, ... what with the exposure to this terrible cold — and Timothy getting a chill.

JUSTIN:

I think I agree. It’s not just the cold. As you’ve pointed out, we’ll be less vulnerable to preditors in there.

MRS. BRISBY:

Yes, I agree. there’s that, too, isn’t there? Well? Teresa? Cynthia?

TERESA:

I — I don’t want to go.

CYNTHIA:

I — I’m scared. Mommy, no —

MARTIN:

Well, what does Tim —

MRS. BRISBY:

Martin, please ...

MARTIN:

But —

MRS. BRISBY:

... <Sigh> Timothy, ... what do you think?

TIMOTHY:

I ... I ... th-th-think ... <achoo> ... I ... f-feel ... <a-ac-achoo> ... it’ll ... b-b-be o-okay, ... Mama ...

[MRS. BRISBY stares at him with concerned, then looks to her daughters — pleadingly.]

MRS. BRISBY:

Girls?

[TERESA and CYNTHIA look at each other, back towards their mother and younger brother.]

TERESA:

<Sigh> Alright. I’ll do it — for Timothy. But I’m still not very sure of this. Maybe if Cynthia —... Cynny? Do you —...

CYNTHIA:

... I’m still scared, ... but ... okay.

[Both girls give MARTIN a dirty look, but he just looks back at them with calm defiance.]

MRS. BRISBY:

Timothy says it’s fine. And if he says so ...

[She turns to JUSTIN]:

MRS. BRISBY:

Well, ... I can trust him, his feelings.

[Still adressing JUSTIN, she looks towards the other children.]

MRS. BRISBY:

I —... We believe ... no, we know we all can. I think we can do it.

[She stoops and picks up CYNTHIA.]

JUSTIN:

C’mon, then ...

 

[TO BE CONTINUED]