FADE IN
EXT. THE BACK DECK, SF? -- MORNING
A cat, ALGEBRA, sleeps nestled onto a strange furry object. As the camera pulls away, we realize the cat is sleeping on top of a MOOSE, who is dressed as one of Santa's reindeers. The animals are on an urban ramshackle deck strewn with the wreckage of a booze and costumed Christmas party. Cigarette butts, liquor bottles.
MOOSE
Hot, hot, hot!
The moose shakes violently, tossing the cat into the air.
The cat is flung to the ground, and characteristically lands on her feet. She scuttles under a bench and looks out at the moose with big staring eyes. Her head is low to the ground
Off in the distance, what appears to be a disheveled Santa is flying off with a rag tag group of animals (all in the deer family) flying drunkenly away
MOOSE
O, Bummer my Ride! Well screw that old lech anyway, he's beyond Daddy and well into Grandpa. Sort of a Jelly belly too. I am not ready for boring old Canada.
Moose addresses the cat
MOOSE
Hey you,What do I have to do to get water around here.
ALGEBRA
The lady comes
The Moose stretches and shakes its head, causing the jingle bells on its harness to RING.
MOOSE
Chard for days last night. So hungles
SOUND OF CAT FOOD IN METAL BOWL
Just then, the cat's ears perk up.
ALGEBRA
Shh! Hide over there! You'll ruin it
Moose tosses his head and shuffles over to the other side of the L shaped deck behind the blind, JINGLING as he walks
The cat runs low to the ground and props herself up on the window of the door leading out to the deck.
A pair of legs appear from the door in sweat pants and slippers. One hand pours food from a bag and grabs an empty bowl.
Algebra rolls over on her back flirtatiously, but runs when the legs get too close. The legs puts down new water.
The legs exit, holding an ice pack to its head with the other hand. As the legs does this, another cat gets tangled in her legs and enters the deck.
Algebra concedes the food to this other cat.
This new cat, Manchego, eats a few bites and saunters over to the moose. She jumps up to a roof to be above its eye level.
MANCHEGO
Who are you? You're on my deck. Are you from my party?
MOOSE
I was a reindeer.
MANCHEGO
What are you anyway, you don't smell like a dog and you're too big to be a raccoon.
MOOSE
I'm a moose, dressed as a reindeer.
MANCHEGO
Which what?
MOOSE
I'm a moose, dressed as a reindeer
Manchego seems to consider this, and then jumps into the bowl of the Moose's antlers, throwing the Moose off balance, and causing it to JINGLE again.
Manchego peers down into the Moose's face.
MANCHEGO
Well you seem good for climbing. You can hang out on my deck, but remember you're only an outside animal.
Manchego climbs back on the roof and disappears.
Moose walks around the deck to find Algebra.
Algebra has pushed the door open and is eating a bowl of food inside, although the one outside is still full.
Moose drinks all the water in the water bowl in one slurp, and then starts nibbling on the nearly dead potted plants on the deck.
MOOSE
(while munching on plants)
Who's that bitch? She was buggy
ALGEBRA
Meal ticket
MOOSE
That stuff looks like what comes out not what goes in
ALGEBRA
Better than grass
Moose tries some from the outside bowl. Moose chomps on it, considers, and makes a face of appreciation.
ALGEBRA
Legs feed us. Feeds inside cat. Sees us, hears us, feeds us
MOOSE
I like this place. I think I will crash for a while.
ALGEBRA
Yes, you're warm. Stay
E
EXT. THE BACK DECK, SF? -- MORNING
Moose is drinking water on the back deck out of a bowl. He keeps interuptting his drinking to try to scratch his junk with his hoof.
Note:
The Moose realizes that his junk is itching. Moose crabs? Algebra and Manchego tell Moose about the SPCA, where they have had to go when they were "in trouble" Moose convinces the indoor cat, Manchego, to go with him, as he is scared. Moose uses the last of the magic juice of the reindeer harness to get them to the SPCA and back.
INT. WAITING ROOM, SPCA, SF? -- DAY
The SPCA is modeled after the 7th street clinic. There is a terrible rainbow themed mural of animals in the jungle. The muzak is on the smooth R'N'B station. The seats are arranged in rows with an occasional table.
Manchego and Moose wait in the clinic. Manchego sits on the table next to Moose's chair. Moose is trying to read Ranger Rick.
A sign up front reads, "The SPCA is only treating patients with active symptoms today." The sign is reposted around the lobby.
A mule arrives and moves into the row of seats behind the Manchego and the Moose.
The Mule begins to stare hard at Moose. The mule leans its head into the row ahead of him. "
MULE
Hey
Moose sits uncomfortably. His back legs are crossed. He picks up his front hoof on the Mule side and puts it to his temple, and looks more fixedly at Ranger Rick.
MOOSE
(whispering)
Can you at least pretend to read so he doesn't try to talk to us
Manchego opens a Cat Fancy.
MANCHEGO
Yeah, he's kind of an ass
Manchego looks up from her magazine.
MANCHEGO
You know this new Tokinese model totally does coke to stay that thin. She looks like she has worms
Moose glares at Manchego and moves a seat away from the Mule. Manchego gets nervous and moves over to Moose. She climbs up and perches on his shoulder and shows Moose another page.
MANCHEGO
I was really pissed at Brad for a while, but he's really great with her litter
As she talk, she shreds the corner of the magazine with her teeth.
The Mule moves down and sticks his face into their row.
MULE
What are a couple of hotties like you doin in here? I just here getting drug tested for my new job. Yeah, I'll be making like 20 dollars an hour, the drug test is only a formality
MOOSE
Well all they're treating today is people with VD symptoms. It's posted, like, everywhere
MANCHEGO
And we don't want whatever you've got, although we're amazed you got any from anyone, so big ups on that
A Human NURSE stands at the front
NURSE
Letter E? Letter E?
MOOSE
(whispering)
You have to come with me.
MANCHEGO
(in a low voice)
No way, bad memories
MOOSE
You want to stay out here with the ass
The Mule winks at Manchego and licks his lips.
Moose stands up.
MOOSE
Well?
Manchego hops on Moose's back and follows the nurse into the back.
INT. DOCTOR'S EXAM ROOM, SPCA, SF? -- MOMENTS LATER
Manchego is hiding unconvincingly behind a plant, staring at the Moose
The Moose is wearing a paper hospital gown.
The DOCTOR comes in and puts on a pair of surgical gloves. She grabs a thermometer with a little thermometer condom on it.
Manchego's eyes are open wide. Her tail sticks sticks up.
DOCTOR
So what's going on back there, you're hopping with crabs.
Manchego's POV looking head on to Moose. The doctor leans behind the moose.
DOCTOR
Have you been having dry sex? You need to be using lube.
The doctor stands back up and appears to move her arm.
DOCTOR
How have you been in the city? You look like you're a long way from home. This should take care of it but you need to be practicing safer behaviors.
The doctor gives the Moose a shot.
MOOSE
Well, I..
DOCTOR
You've been really irresponsible. The city is no place for a Moose. We will make arrangements for you to stay at the zoo until we can find you a bus ticket back to Canada
MOOSE
But, I...
DOCTOR
I see you too, cat, I bet you've been encouraging him. A moose has no business outside of the wild! Stay away from cats--they're a bad influence.
The doctor taps her clipboard.
DOCTOR
Well, I'm going to call around and see which zoo or shelter can put you up tonight, don't go anywhere.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE ROOM, SPCA, SF? -- MOMENTS LATER
The door opens and the moose tries to peer out the door with one side of his face, which is difficult, with his antlers. Manchego sits on top of his head and looks out.
They creep down the hall, although they are very loud. The moose hooves and bells make a lot of noise.
They walk out into the lobby. Moose almost runs smack into someone in his haste. When he recovers he looks up to see Santa, sitting in the lobby staring at him. They avoid eye contact. Moose and Manchego make a hasty exit.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Pieces of the story in screenplay format, that for some reason I can't get to stay formatted on blog
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