It´s a wonderful Sunday afternoon and Francis, the cat, decides to wonder off into his backyard.

He has just finished his second nap this afternoon and decides he needs to stretch his legs.

As he reaches the tree in his backyard he feels a cold chill cover him from head to “paws” as if warning him of something.

Too late as the moment he turns around he only has time to see a bag being put over his head.

Thief #1: Come here!

Cat (screaming): MEOW…

Up in the tree, Rafael the bird, who was sound asleep, wakes up due to the noise.

Rafael (startled): I´m up!

Rafael looks to the sides confused and is about to lay back down when he overhears Francis yelling.

Cat (outside Rafael´s place/screaming): Let me go you ass…!

Rafael raises his head once more and as soon as he realizes the one screaming is Francis, he gets up in a hurry.  As he reaches the entrance to his house, Rafael only has time to see the two men shoving the bag with Francis inside in the back seat of their car.

Rafael: You two again?

Rafael watches on by as the two men drive off with his friend trapped in the back seat of their car.

Rafael (cont.): Oh no!

The bird flies off to find help.

On the other side of Jason´s yard, Raul´s place.

Rafael (screaming): Raul! Raul! Raul!

Raul, the rat, rushes outside. He has a mini towel around his waist and soap in his hair.

Raul (alarmed): what? What is it?
Rafael (baffled): what in the world…?
Raul (innocent): what?

Rafael (shakes it off): Nothing. It´s Francis.
Raul (sys): Raf, I´ve told you a hundred times, he´s not going to eat you.

Rafael: no, you idiot. He´s in trouble!
Raul (concerned): what?
Rafael: remember those two humans that took him last time?

Raul: yeah, what about them?
Rafael: They took him again.
Raul: what is it with those two and that cat?

Rafael: You´re asking me? Anyways, we need to go get… why are you grinning?
Raul: You´re worried about him. You´re always complaining about him, but you like him too.
Rafael (offended): I do not!

Raul: yeah, you do.
Rafael (looking to the side/deflecting): I just don´t want anything bad to happen to him, that´s all. Stop smiling you idiot!

Raul: where do you think they took him?
Rafael: same place they took him last time?
Raul: yeah but, won´t they be expecting us?

Rafael: maybe but… (notices Raul is thinking) what?
Raul: I have an idea but I don´t think you´re going to like it.
Rafael (fearful): why not?

Raul doesn´t answer.

Rafael (cont. /realizes): oh No! No! No! No! Are you insane?
Raul:  You have a better idea?
Rafael: ah balls!

Raul runs off.

Rafael takes flight after him.

Charlie´s backyard.

Rafael joins Raul on the floor.

Rafael: are you sure about this?
Raul: No, but I´m out of ideas.
Rafael: may God have mercy on our souls.

Raul: amen… Now wait here.
Rafael: what?
Raul: stay here.
Rafael: Okay…

Raul runs towards the back door of the house and enters it.

Rafael: Good luck brother…

To be continued…

2018_ Joana Teixeira