The Cat
by Nathaniel Jones
EXT. EVIL DEAN'S HOUSE - DAY
It is a bright and sunny summer day in Southern California.
The air is warm, the sky is blue, and a HOBO on the sidewalk
is staring intently at the cheerful two story house that
stands before him. The only thing that separates this hobo
from the home is a white picket fence.
The hobo sets his pack on the ground and looks at the gate in
front of him.
He leans over and looks at the other side, where a latch
holds the gate shut. The hobo reaches over and lifts the
latch, allowing the gate to swing open.
The hobo walks up to the door, and presses his grubby finger
against the doorbell. A chime can be heard from inside the
house.
After a moment, the curtain covering the window on the door
parts slightly, and then the door swings open, revealing DEAN
KANE, a short weasly man in his early forties, wearing a
sweater vest.
DEAN KANE
I'm sorry, I don't give my money to
vagrants. Get a job.
HOBO
I'm not surprised, Dean.
DEAN KANE
Do I know you?
HOBO
Maybe this will jog your memory.
The hobo takes off his jacket, and stretches his arms out at
his side like a hawk. He begins to hop around in a circle and
chant:
HOBO
Flying high above the crowd! We
shout our name really loud! When
you're done playing with your Sega,
come on down to Theta K Omega!
DEAN KANE
(shocked)
YOU! Charles Durning, the founder
of Theta Kappa Omega.
HOBO
Yes. You tried to shut us down.
DEAN KANE
No, I didn't try to shut you down -
I DID shut you down! Your
fraternity was a disgrace to the
university - the drinking, the
carousing - and that damned CAT!
HOBO
Yes - "that damned cat." She had a
name, Dean. Fluffy. She's why I'm
here today.
DEAN KANE
Look - you don't know what that cat
did to me.
HOBO
I don't know what she ever could
have done to hurt you, but I know
who you did to her.
DEAN KANE
It was a long time ago.
HOBO
You came to the house for a
"surprise inspection." Said you
were looking for illegal substances
- but that wasn't true. You were
looking for fluffy.
DEAN KANE
I am a busy man.
The dean tries to shut the door, but the hobo sticks his arm
in to keep it open. They struggle as they continue dialogue:
HOBO
That's why you had the dingily
bell. You shook it, and Fluffy came
running.
DEAN KANE
You knew the rules! No cats on
campus!
HOBO
Fluffy raced toward the bell, and
at the last second, you jerked it
away. Fluffy couldn't stop - she
ran into the wall. Got a
concussion.
DEAN KANE
(tearing up)
No cats on campus!
HOBO
You gave fluffy a concussion, and
she never did anything to you!
The dean lets go of the door, making the hobo stumble back.
DEAN KANE
NOTHING? I could have been
president of the university if it
hadn't been for her.
HOBO
What?
DEAN KANE
The first time I came to the TKO
house, I didn't come as foe - I
came as friend. Remember? I even
rubbed your cat's tummy. She liked
it. But then, later, I went to the
presidential gala dinner - I hadn't
washed my hands before. Barbra
Steinberg, the head of the
presidential selection committee
was there with her seeing-eye dog.
The dog smelled the cat on my
hands... and went crazy!
HOBO
What happened?
DEAN KANE
The dog pulled Barb all around the
room at break neck speed, knocking
over tables, chairs, and sending
the entire banquet flying. It was a
disaster; the whole group blamed
me, and I was tossed out on my ear -
all because of that cat!
HOBO
I never knew...
DEAN KANE
I was angry. I wanted revenge. So I
tricked your cat and shut down your
fraternity.
The dean begins to shut door again, and once again the hobo
stops him.
HOBO
Wait - there's another side to
Fluffy's story that you don't know.
DEAN KANE
What is it?
HOBO
Once Fluffy was out of the
hospital, we were walking through
the campus, so she could regain her
strength, and we saw you. But
Fluffy saw more. You see, perched
in the tree over your head was a
murderous kung-fu space pirate,
with a sward pointed right at your
head. I didn't notice it, but
Fluffy did - and tho I didn't
understand it at the time, she
turned to me and said "the dean
isn't all bad. He had a reason for
his cruelty, and I understand it.
Now, I must go make amends.
Farewell, Charles." And then she
ran up the tree and engaged the
space pirate in battle. In the
struggle, she got horribly wounded,
but was still able to defeat the
enemy and send his kung-fu space
pirate ship back where it came
from. She did that for you, Dean.
DEAN KANE
What a brave cat! I never imagined!
HOBO
Yes - she was remarkable. I just
had to drop by to let you know it.
DEAN KANE
Thank you... but tell me, where is
Fluffy now?
HOBO
The cat is dead, Dean.
FADE TO BLACK.