Francis, the cat, is in his living room.

He´s about to fall asleep when Luna, Rafael´s mate, comes rushing inside his house.

Luna (screaming): Francis help!
Cat (opens eyes wide in shock): Luna?
Luna: Francis please help!

Cat: what´s wrong?
Luna: I was with Rafael, we were on the floor catching seeds when these two cats came along and caught us off guard.

Cat (concerned): Are you okay?
Luna: I was able to get away because Rafael distracted them.
Cat: where?
Luna: I´ll show you.

Luna flies out from the window and Francis runs after her.

Street behind Jason´s house:

Rafael is shoved into a corner unable to fly and run away, incredibly afraid.

Harold: I´m going to enjoy eating you.
Beavis: excuse me?
Harold: what?
Beavis: we´re going to enjoy eating him.

Harold: That´s what I said.
Beavis: No, you said and I quote: “I´m going to enjoy eating you.”

Harold: semantics!
Beavis: se what?

Harold sys in disbelief.

Suddenly the two cats overhear hissing behind them.

As they turn to see what the fuss is about, Francis jumps over them and gets in front of Rafael, protecting him.

Cat: Leave the bird alone, you idiots!
Beavis: what the hell?
Harold: Francis?

Cat (realizes he knows the cat in front of him): Harold?
Rafael (mocking/in disbelief): Harold?
Cat (to Rafael): shut it!

Rafael complies and shuts up.

Harold: Oh my God! It´s has been a while. How´ve you been Francis?
Cat: I´m good. How´re you?
Harold: I´m good. Just came back.

Beavis (annoyed): um? Hello? Who´s this weird fluffy cat?
Harold: Beavis, this is Francis. He´s an old friend.
Beavis: define friend?

Harold: friend.
Beavis: Okay…
Harold: so Francis…

Cat: what?
Harold: the bird.
Cat: what about him?
Harold: we can share. I mean, he´s incredibly small, but for old times’ sake, we can share.

Cat: No.
Harold: come on bro.
Cat: I´m not your bro. And you´re not eating Rafael!
Harold: who?

Cat: the bird.
Harold: You named him?
Cat: what? No! Of course not.

Harold: then how do you know his name?
Cat: he told me!
Beavis: when?
Cat: I don´t know, when we met.

Harold: and when was that?
Cat: how the heck should I know? I don´t remember and it doesn´t matter.
Beavis: and what makes you think we´re not going to eat him? Just because you said we can´t?
Cat (walks towards him menacingly): Excuse me?

Beavis (threatening Francis): Listen up fur ball! I don´t know who you are or what it is you want, but you do not, I repeat, do not, get between me and my food!

Cat (dead serious): try and eat my friend and I will kill you!
Harold (gets between the two cats): Wow! Fellas! Come on! Beavis step back!
Beavis (angry): what?

Harold: Francis, come on. He´s a bird. We´re cats!
Cat: He´s my friend. Not only that, he saved my life, not once but twice.
Harold (surprised): Are you serious?

Cat: very.
Harold: I didn´t know that. Come on Beavis, we´re leaving. Sorry birdie, we´re good.

Beavis (angry): what? Are you insane? I´m not leaving.
Harold: Beavis, Francis is my friend. And if that bird over there is his friend and like he just said, saved his life, then yeah, were leaving.

Beavis: why?
Harold: because I said so.
Beavis: but Harold…

Harold: B., Francis helped me out more than once. He shared his food with me countless times. He let me sleep in his house during storms on multiple occasions and if that bird is his friend, then yeah, he´s off limits.

Beavis (almost crying): But I´m hungry…

Francis sys in annoyance and turns to Rafael.

Cat: you okay Raf.?
Rafael: Yeah, thanks pussycat.
Cat: Get to my house. Luna´s there waiting for you.

Rafael flies off.

Francis turns back to face Harold and Beavis.

Cat (cont.): come on. I´ll give you guys some food.
Beavis: Really?
Harold: thanks Francis.

Francis starts walking towards his house.

Harold and Beavis follow him.

Cat: next time you guys even think about eating an animal in this neighborhood, don´t. Just come and find me. I´ll gladly share with you guys.

Harold: Thank you Francis.
Cat: You´re welcome.

From a distance, Luna watches by as Rafael lands on the tree next to her.

She rushes to hug him.

Rafael: Thank you.
Luna: Rafael I was so afraid. I didn´t know what to do.
Rafael: As much as I love messing with Francis, he´s really cool. But honey…

Luna: What?
Rafael: never, ever, tell him I said that.

Luna rolls her eyes and flies off.

Rafael: what?

He flies off after her.

The end!

2018_ Joana Teixeira