Aurora 2021 Mag

Maverick Schmidt

DOG Oh my god! Oh my god, what have I done?

(THE BEAST turns its head and looks to DOG.) I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’ve got to do something… (THE BEAST looks at the garlic, then back to DOG.) That’s right! That’s it. Ok, do you trust me?

(THE BEAST weakly nods its head. DOG moves some garlic and “unlocks” the cage, reaches in and drags THE BEAST out. It is weak.)

Ok, come on. Come on, little guy. Let’s get you taken care of…

(DOG leads THE BEAST to the fridge offstage. The lights dim. DOG enters stealthily, peeking around the space. After making sure the coast is clear he turns and motions off-stage for THE BEAST, who enters cautiously. They move back to the cage, carefully dodging the garlic. DOG locks the cage after THE BEAST slinks inside.) DOG I hope you’re feeling better, buddy. I’m so, so sorry. Now get some sleep while I go clean up. (THE BEAST gets cozy under the blankets as DOG exits. Lights shift to indicate morning. CAT enters, carrying a raw steak.) CAT Wakey, wakey, little rat. I should have known I couldn’t trust the mutt. (He crosses to the cage and kicks it, THE BEAST shudders.) What’s the matter? Feeling like a bad little rat? I’ve got just the thing. (He slams the steak on the cage, it drips on THE BEAST, who hisses. He begins rearranging the garlic in a circle around the cage door.) You don’t like that? Tsk-tsk. Maybe you should have thought about that before you tried to murder my family. Now, get out. (He kicks the cage.) Get. Out. (THE BEAST tries to burrow beneath the blankets but is impeded by CAT shaking, lifting, and screaming at the cage. He then drops the cage and starts pelting it with the steak, smattering blood all over. THE BEAST hisses and scrambles out of the cage. He is trapped in

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