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EXT. DR. OGLESBY'S VAN
Oglesby stands with crossed arms. Ted opens the back doors
from the outside as Veck crashes out of the bushes, growling.
Oglesby does a double-take as Veck bounds back and forth
along the road and zips into the brush. Oglesby rushes after
him, cursing as weeds slap her legs and leave stickers.
DR. OGLESBY
Ted! Bring everything!
EXT. OUTSIDE SARAH'S WINDOW
James claws at the edge of the hole, stretches as far as he
can, and falls to earth in frustration. The others pull on
his arms, but he's stuck tight.
VECK (O.S.)
I know, let's chop him in half.
Sarah, Desmond, and the kids startle and look up. Veck is
coiled on top of the house, shifting his eyes warily from
James to the others. Sarah grabs the kids and thrusts them
behind her, bristling and snarling. Veck curls his lip.
SARAH
Desmond! Take the kids and hide!
DESMOND
But I--
She turns and snaps at him, fur on end. She means it.
SARAH
GO!
Desmond grins nervously.
DESMOND
Sure, no problem.
Desmond grabs an arm each and bounds off with Katie and
Brian, both protesting and squirming. Sarah rushes to James,
who writhes, growls, and twists onto his back to face Veck.
JAMES
My own brother! How could you do
this to us?
VECK
That's a long story. I'll break
your arm, or a few ribs, pay you
back for this leg--
Veck turns, lifts a large chimney stone above his head, and
hurls it. James' eyes widen and Sarah dives for him.
James wrenches his face up tight at the sound of rock
slamming against flesh. He blinks, perplexed but unhurt.
Veck springs to the edge, shocked. He bites at his paws.
VECK
No--not you! You were supposed to
stay out of the way!
Sarah is stretched out across James' chest, unmoving. James
pushes the stone away, then gasps and sobs as he runs a paw
over her bloodied head.
Above, Veck turns his head away, tearing at his fur.
JAMES
You've killed them both--monster!
Veck unkinks in shock.
VECK
W-what do you m-mean?
James rocks Sarah gently, crying. Veck looks around.
JAMES
They were so beautiful...
VECK
James, where's Christopher? Why
didn't he come out?
(a beat)
He wasn't--oh, no...
EXT. SARAH'S HOME
Veck heaves rocks away from the pile, uncovering
Christopher's arm and finally his face. Christopher shifts
and coughs wetly.
VECK
I only wanted them to catch you, I
didn't--
A scuffle sounds. Veck twists around and bristles. Ted
holds a net, as Oglesby levels a dart pistol at Veck.
DR. OGLESBY
There's our bad boy.
A dart streaks at Veck and buries itself in his haunch. He
scrabbles and pulls at the dart, but gives up and rests
against the pile of rubble, reaching for Christopher.
VECK
I never--do a job--halfway--
He flops over, unconscious. Ted bends and examines
Christopher, who makes a weak attempt to snap at Ted's
fingers, but fades out again.
TED
This one's useless. Near dead.
EXT. OUTSIDE WINDOW
James finally twists out of the hole and sets Sarah gently
aside, crouching to hold her good paw and stroke her fur.
JAMES
Can you hear me, Sarah? Oh, please
wake up--
A whistle of air sounds, followed by a 'smack.' James winces
and turns around--a dart protrudes from one of his legs.
Oglesby strides toward him. James stands for a second and
tries to drag Sarah away.
JAMES (CONT'D)
Gotta get away, get away, get--
He blinks, stumbles, and falls on his face. All is dark.
EXT./INT. DR. OGLESBY'S VAN
Ted wedges a cage, with James in it, through the van doors. A
tiny piece of metal breaks off as Ted jams the cage in.
INT. DR. OGLESBY'S VAN
James shifts and groans, opening his eyes to slits. Sarah's
in the next cage, still unconscious. James reaches for her.
JAMES
Oh, no. Why didn't you run?
Sarah, please...
Sarah stirs and stretches stiffly, holding her head. James
grabs the bars of the cage tight, rocking up on his knees.
JAMES (CONT'D)
Thank God, you're alive!
SARAH
What--what happened, the light
went, and I... oh, James--
She stumbles to him. He holds her through the bars.
JAMES
--shh, shh. You saved my life--
SARAH
I had to... but the children, I
can't leave--and Christopher's p
probably d--
JAMES
--don't say it. We don't know.
Veck groans and mutters in his cage nearby. He sees Sarah
and looks relieved--but only for a second.
VECK
I guess I didn't use a big enough
rock.
JAMES
Shut up, you back-stabbing--
James growls, lets Sarah go, scampers back, and rushes at his
cage door, shoulder lowered. He slams into the door and
folds up, clutching his shoulder. Veck laughs heartily.
SARAH
James, don't, you'll break
something!
VECK
Good. A taste of what you gave me
at the waterfall. You and
Christopher just didn't have it.
SARAH
They both have more courage in one
whisker than you've got in your
whole fleabitten body.
James collides with the door and rolls in pain as Veck
laughs. Oglesby hears, and stands, turning toward them.
SARAH (CONT'D)
Please, don't hurt yourself again!
James throws his weight into the cage door. It pops open.
Veck stops laughing. Sarah smashes against her cage.
SARAH (CONT'D)
RUN!!
JAMES
I love you.
He leaps out and Oglesby grabs him. James bites her thumb,
hard. She yells and drops James--he vaults out and away from
the van. Oglesby kicks the empty cage as Ted runs up.
DR. OGLESBY
Let's get out of here. He'll run
forever.
EXT. FIELD
James rushes through the weeds, stumbling. Desmond reaches
him and both pause. James pants.
DESMOND
James, I'm so glad you m--
JAMES
--how's Chris? Is he--
Desmond starts to speak, but winces and shakes his head,
spreading his paws. They're bloody.
EXT. SARAH'S HOME
James approaches Christopher, stopping and starting, unable
to look. Christopher squints and coughs as blood trickles
into one eye. He reaches out and manages a wistful grin.
CHRISTOPHER
(thickly)
Weasel Boy.
James sobs and breaks into a sprint, rushing to Christopher's
side and taking his paw. Christopher looks down.
CHRISTOPHER (CONT'D)
I'm--like--stoned, dude.
James grimaces and nearly laughs, but can't quite.
JAMES
That's an awful joke, ferret-face.
Christopher writhes, shifting rocks but getting nowhere.
James tries to hold him still. Desmond catches up.
CHRISTOPHER
Tell Sarah--
JAMES
You can tell her! C'mon, buddy,
stay with me.
CHRISTOPHER
(drifting)
Can't. Make sure she's safe. Tell
her--I love her. Promise.
James puts a trembling paw on Christopher's forehead, and
another on his own heart.
JAMES
I promise.
CHRISTOPHER
(pleading)
Don't try to weasel out of it...
He goes slack and his eyes close. James shakes him, but
there's no response. Desmond puts a paw on James' shoulder.
DESMOND
(voice breaks)
He's gone.
James holds Christopher tight, fighting back tears and
losing.
INT. DESMOND'S TREE
Off-screen, a door slams open. Katie and Brian huddle and
shriek under a workbench. Trembling with fear, they inch out
from under the bench, then they see James and run to him.
James bends and sits on the floor as the little ferrets ask
quick, frightened, overlapping questions.
JAMES
No, Katie, I can't--Bri--just a--
James grabs the kids suddenly and they shut up.
JAMES (CONT'D)
Stop! Okay? Now listen to me.
The kids start to sniffle and cry.
JAMES (CONT'D)
Jeez, don't do that.
He pulls them close and hugs them tight.
KATIE
W-Where's Daddy?
JAMES
I'm so, so sorry--
Katie wails. She and Brian clutch James tighter, sobbing.
Desmond edges through the door.
DESMOND
James--you... told them?
JAMES
They know.
BRIAN
W-what about Mom--is she--
James stands up, clenching his fists. The kids let him go.
JAMES
Humans have her.
James growls his words through his teeth, muscles rippling.
The kids back away--they sense something's going on.
JAMES (CONT'D)
(disgusted)
In a cage.
James raises his arms above his head, gnashing his teeth.
The kids retreat beneath the stairs, cowering.
JAMES (CONT'D)
A CAGE!
Desmond's whiskers droop and he steps back, waving his paws
in a calming gesture. James snaps at him, eyes wild.
DESMOND
Calm down, James, you know what
happens--
James sweeps an arm at a shelf, crashing jars and sending
boxes of gears and wire flying.
JAMES
--WHEN I GET ANGRY!
Desmond grabs a jar as it hurtles toward the floor. Another
jar crashes, sloshing liquid as the kids wince and clutch at
each other. Desmond replaces the first jar but it wobbles.
DESMOND
James, I'm so sorry. Would you--be
careful! There's chemicals in here
that should never--
Desmond turns around and whacks the badly shelved jar to the
ground with his fluffy tail.
DESMOND (CONT'D)
--mix--
The kids pull him away from a sudden blaze. It blocks the
door and spreads. Everyone gapes.
DESMOND (CONT'D)
Hothead! No respect for science!
The flames leap as Desmond snags Katie and heads for the
stairs. James scoops up Brian, but something on the
workbench sparks in the firelight--it's the ring. James
quickly sweeps it up and drops it in a pocket as Brian
screams and tries to climb him.
BRIAN
Both arms, both arms!
Desmond bounds up the stairs and James follows, with Brian
slung over one shoulder. Beneath the stairs, a tongue of fire
snakes out, climbing after its stumbling prey.
EXT. DECK
Smoke pours from the exit at the top of the stairs, rising
through the planks of the deck as the climbers step out,
coughing and rubbing their eyes.
KATIE
We gotta get down!
The edges of the deck blacken and crackle, fire licking
closer and closer, holes opening in the deck.
KATIE (CONT'D)
Of course, I'm in no hurry--
The deck crumbles toward the group. Desmond and James grab
Brian and Katie, wrapping them up and covering them.
BRIAN
Isn't there another way--
His voice becomes a shriek as the last of the deck goes and
they crash through. Wind whistling through their fur, they
plummet into the dark cloud of smoke around the tree.
EXT. DESMOND'S TREE
The view tilts up, following the gnarled trunk of the tree,
as flames shoot out the sides. James and the others should
have hit by now. Suddenly a huge flapping blue-gray thing
streaks free, trailing smoke. James, Desmond, and Katie
clutch tight to feathers between the wings of SAM, a Great
Blue Heron. He's got Brian clutched in one foot. Brian
squirms and bristles.
KATIE
(relieved)
It's okay, it's okay, it's just
Sam!
JAMES
Who the--where did you come from?
SAM
An egg, originally, I think.
Speaking of, you guys almost got
scrambled back there.
Sam stumbles to earth, and his passengers disembark. Katie
rushes to Brian and he hugs her tight, patting her fur
comfortingly, glaring as she sobs against his shoulder.
BRIAN
M-mom and Dad both--I hate Veck!
KATIE
What did they ever do? They l
loved us--
BRIAN
(shocked, low whisper)
What now? I'm so scared, Katie.
Desmond reels, disoriented and airsick. James dusts his
clothes. Sam preens, a feather dangling from his mouth.
SAM
Howzit goin', Dez? And you're
James, right?
Ferret Lady always talked about
you.
(surveys the damage)
Wow. When I get tired of a tree, I
just move. I don't burn it down.
Desmond shakes a menacing paw. Sam backs away in mock fear.
JAMES
Ferret Lady? You mean Sarah?
Sam removes the feather and taps it like a cigar--ashes
really do fall from it.
SAM
What? Oh, yeah, Sarah. She fixed
my wing a while back. Smart chick.
Pardon the pun.
DESMOND
Sarah--humans took her away.
James winces. Sam shudders.
SAM
Humans--why'd it have to be humans?
JAMES
(groans)
And my brother killed my best
friend.
He collapses, head in paws. Desmond pats his back. The kids
huddle together, shivering. Sam clicks his tongue in
sympathy.
JAMES (CONT'D)
The scientists--they'll hurt her.
I have to do something.
DESMOND
(sighs)
Another damn-fool crusade. Count
me in.
Katie and Brian hold onto James.
KATIE
Please, please let me help!
BRIAN
(growls)
I wanna see you stomp Veck into the
ground!
Desmond shakes his head sadly.
DESMOND
This is a trip for big animals.
(to James)
We should head downriver...
The kids slump as Sam 'hmm's to himself. He brushes them to
one side with a wing and bends to whisper to them.
SAM
Maybe we can work something out...
(normal voice, to James
and Desmond)
Me and Cindy can keep an eye on
these two.
INT. HERONS' NEST - SUNSET
A beak readjusts a reed in a sprawling, rough nest, high in a
tree along the river. The beak belongs to CINDY, who is very
pretty for a great blue heron, but always a little worried
and suspicious, with good reason.
CINDY
There. Perfect.
Big gray feet crash-land in the nest. The reed 'twangs' and
pops back up out of place. Cindy grits her bill and looks up
as Sam shrugs sheepishly.
CINDY (CONT'D)
Nest-wrecker!
Sam puts a wing on her shoulder.
SAM
Something awful's happened. Chris
is dead.
Cindy gasps and puts her wings over her face.
CINDY (CONT'D)
Oh, poor Chris--poor Sarah, I can't
imagine--
SAM
She's in big trouble. Behind bars.
I gotta go help. Shouldn't take
long, though...
Cindy narrows her eyes at him.
CINDY
Don't go flying off in the rain
again, you'll catch a cold.
A single drop splatters on Sam's beak, making him sneeze.
EXT. HOLLOW LOG - NIGHT
Wind whips around the log, rain battering it. A frog
thrashes through the muck, wickedly eyeing the log and
digging his feet into the mud. He kicks mud into the hole.
Someone groans in disgust and frustration inside the log.
The frog hops away, chuckling in a croaky way.
INT. HOLLOW LOG - NIGHT
Katie leans out of the log, muddy and angry, shaking a fist.
KATIE
Cut it out, you warty little jerk!
Water drips from the 'ceiling' and hits Brian squarely on the
nose as he wipes mud out of his fur. He shifts
uncomfortably, his head resting against a small backpack.
BRIAN
"Don't worry," he says. "I'll be
back in a second," he says.
Birdbrain.
EXT. HERON'S NEST - DAWN
Cindy's sound asleep, Sam tucked under one wing. Sam wakes,
and very cautiously lifts the wing, but as he gently lets it
fall back, she flops over. Sam holds his breath. Cindy
opens one eye, with difficulty.
CINDY
Wha--it's really, really early.
Sam looks away and trembles.
SAM
No time! Gotta go, love ya--
CINDY
Love you too--
He cuts her off with a little peck on the bill and flashes
into the air. Cindy frowns suspiciously.
CINDY (CONT'D)
What's got his feathers in a knot?
He's up to something...
INT. HOLLOW LOG - EARLY MORNING
Brian and Katie are uncomfortably draped across lumpy, rough
wood, fur soaked and necks at unlikely angles.
SAM (O.S.)
Hey! Little guys!
Brian wakes up, grabs his head, and straightens out his neck
with a loud series of pops. Katie rakes her paws through her
headfur, disgusted. Brian stands stiffly, clenches his
fists, snarls, and stalks toward the exit with his backpack.
Katie throws hers on.
EXT. HOLLOW LOG
Sam hops back as Brian grumps out with a growl.
SAM
I know how angry you must be.
Katie pops out behind him and clacks her little jaws.
KATIE
Hello, breakfast.
SAM
Angrier than I thought.
Brian bounds over and sinks his paws into feathers on Sam's
side. He rips two pawfuls away as Sam backs up and shrieks.
SAM (CONT'D)
Hey, watch it, I need those!
Katie hmphs as she and Brian rub the feathers all over.
KATIE
Let's leave you out in a storm--
BRIAN
--and see if you get wet.
They drop the wet feathers and vault onto Sam, gripping his
back. Sam grumbles and flaps his wings, building up speed.
He lifts his legs, airborne, and twists to look at the little
bare spot.
SAM
Great, I'm a towel.
(sighs)
You know, we might never come back.
KATIE
I just want Mom.
SAM
Well, James and Dez headed down
river--where are they going?
BRIAN
Someplace--human.
They all shudder.
BRIAN (CONT'D)
Guess we'll just have to wing it.
They glide and soar. In trees nearby, a figure perches on a
branch, hidden by thick foliage. Its eyes are all we can see
clearly, and they flash angrily, narrowing. Cindy erupts
from the branches with a flapping of wings, and follows. Sam
and the kids soar straight toward the sun.
INT. ANIMAL RESEARCH CENTER, LAB
A dead-white fluorescent light hums. Cabinets hold equipment
and stacks of cages--in one, Sarah stirs.
Sarah's POV. Diffused light. Confused objects. A
disembodied, calm voice speaks--brash and New Yorkish.
SYLVIE (O.S.)
Just stay still, take it easy.
SARAH
Who's there? Everything's
swimming.
Sarah rubs her eyes. She rests against one cage wall.
SYLVIE (O.S.)
Poor kid. What you need right now
comes out of the little tube in
front of you, on the cage door.
Sarah finds the water bottle, and drinks inexpertly.
SARAH
Oh, thank goodness. But it tastes
strange...
SYLVIE
I said you need it, I didn't say
you'd like it.
Sarah approaches the side of the cage nearest SYLVIE--
another black-footed ferret! She looks older than Sarah, and
one of her arms is withered.
SARAH
This feels silly. Have we met?
SYLVIE
My name's Sylvie. That's okay, it
happens sometimes when they put in
the wires.
A patch of fur is gone from Sarah's head. A bundle of short
wires protrudes from it. Sarah brushes them.
SYLVIE (CONT'D)
Hey! Trust me, Sarah, don't mess
with those.
SARAH
My name's Sarah?
SYLVIE
(Great, talk about a fresh start.)
Those wires--leave 'em alone.
Doctor Oglesby nearly killed you.
Sarah is terrified.
SYLVIE (CONT'D)
No, it's okay, you made it this
far. Look--
She turns her head. Fur has grown back up around her wires.
SYLVIE (CONT'D)
--three years they been in. I'm
almost ten.
SARAH
Ten! But no ferret lives that
long--
SYLVIE
--no normal ferret. We're freaks
of nature, according to Oglesby and
her pet, Ted. A few years, and
you'll think they're the freaks.
SARAH
I don't plan on staying that long.
She sticks her paw through the door, feeling around it.
Sylvie grimaces and looks behind Sarah.
SYLVIE
Boy, does that sound familiar.
VECK (O.S.)
Be quiet, my head's coming apart!
Sarah whirls around. Veck, in his cage beside Sarah's, moans
and holds his head--it's wired. He pushes himself up.
SARAH
I'm sorry, we'll keep it down, um,
Mister...
VECK
Veck. Forgotten me, after all our
fun? I'm hurt.
Sylvie points to her head.
SYLVIE
The wires. Made a clean sweep. I
see they finally put yours in, now
that you're back.
Veck curls a lip and reaches up toward his wires. He
shuffles over and drinks from his water bottle.
SARAH
Back? How did you get out?
VECK
Time off for good behavior.
Veck and Sylvie stare at each other, disgusted.
SYLVIE
More lies. Dr. Oglesby used him as
bait. To catch you. Now you get
to run.
She points her withered arm across the lab. In one cage is a
scruffy but well-muscled bobcat named #12, green eyes
flashing, constant low growl and twitching tail. His eyes
lock in on Sarah and narrow to slits.
#12
Hmm... fresh meat.
Sarah shrinks back from the edge of her cage, terrified.
SYLVIE
Kid? Hey, Sarah. Come here.
Sarah advances, watching #12. Sylvie pulls her close, quick,
with the withered arm.
SARAH
--but your arm--
SYLVIE
I beat that a long time ago. And
we'll beat this together, okay?
For as long as we can?
Sarah nods, still glancing nervously at #12.
SYLVIE (CONT'D)
Partners?
SARAH
Partners.
They shake on it.
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