"In Death" by Rygar and Kooshmeister Special thanks to DJ Clawson First draft - 9/9/10 Final draft - 9/12/10 Edited by WatsonSword SCENE 1 - INDUS An explosion ripples through the room of a large metallic structure. CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE leaps out of the way, keeping ahead of the flames. His maser blaster drawn, he shoots at toads in lab coats as he lands on a secure platform twenty feet above the ground. One level below, GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK is holding his own against a barrage of storm toads. Tucked securely behind a wall, he mows down toad after toad while keeping cover. In the distance, ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT and AFC BLINKY sit at a computer terminal, hacking it. Willy has a calm expression on his face as he types away, various windows popping up on the screen. Blinky is hooked into the computer, overriding the security measures. FIRST MATE JENNY uses her Aldebaran magic to keep nearby stormtoads at bay so Willy and Blinky can work. JENNY How's it coming, Willy? WILLY So far, so good. I should be able to shut off the machinery from here, but I'll need another minute. Blinky, how are you holding up? BLINKY Everything is optimal, friend Willy. Newly installed antivirus software should make it impossible for me to be infected by malicious toad programming. JENNY (swatting away toads) Good. Up on the platform, Bucky knocks out the final toad scientist with a blow to the head. The toad croaks and falls down. Bucky looks around, firing at a few stormtoads on the ground. BUCKY You need any help, Deadeye? DEADEYE (firing at toads) Ha hah! Don't mind me, Cap'n! You just finish takin' out their transportation! Bucky nods, then follows the platform back toward the site of the original explosion. The hole now in the wall reveals a room filled with twenty unmanned double bubbles and a large green ship resembling a transport vessel more than a mothership. This vessel is much taller than the double bubbles, and the platform Bucky stands on leads to its upper half, including its cockpit. Grabbing a few more explosives from his belt, Bucky makes his way toward the ship. BUCKY (to himself) I wish Bruiser were here to handle this. With all the toads preoccupied by the rest of his crew, Bucky approaches the transport vessel, intent on destroying it. SCENE 2 - OUTSIDE CHAIRMAN'S WARNER'S OFFICE RENFIELD BILLINGS walks into the anteroom leading to the Chairman's office, briefcase in hand. He looks a little anxious. As he approaches, he greets the two SECURITY GUARDS stationed outside the office door, and they exchange nods. RENFIELD I have some business with the Chairman. SECURITY GUARD #1 Go right in. He's expecting you. Renfield nods and heads down the portrait-lined corridor to the office door, which is shut. Opening it, he goes inside and is greeted warmly by CHAIRMAN FRITZ WARNER. FRITZ Mr. Billings, please come in. RENFIELD You wished to see me, Mr. Chairman? FRITZ I did. Have a seat. Renfield sits in one of the chairs set before the desk. FRITZ I'll get right to the point. I'm disbanding the liaison division. Although it might seem somewhat callous to do away with a program Dogstar pioneered, especially so soon after his death, the fact is that it's counterproductive. The frigate captains just don't like people constantly checking in on them, and I'm confident I can keep an eye on everybody. Renfield squirms in his seat some. RENFIELD Does ... does this mean I'm fired? FRITZ No. You're being reassigned. All of the liaison staff are. I'm transferring you to my personal office staff. RENFIELD (surprised) Really? Why? FRITZ Your extracurricular activities and various little errands for Dogstar clearly point towards a hare who prepares for the future and knows what his superiors expect of him. RENFIELD (relieved) Why, thank you, sir. I, uh, I do aim to please. FRITZ And I'm sure you will. You report to work first thing tomorrow. RENFIELD Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. I won't let you down! Rising with a grin, Renfield firmly shakes Fritz's paw before taking his leave. SCENE 3 - INDUS Bucky finally makes it to the transporter. He looks around the hull until he finds the fuel cap, which he removes. Biting his lip, he takes the explosives he's holding and rolls them down the chute, into the fuel tank. Hearing them plunk into the liquid, he closes the door shut, then quickly leaps to safety. He lands on the other side of the room. Taking a look back at the vessel, he pulls a detonator from his pocket and steps into the first room. BUCKY (calling out) Everything's set! Tell me when, Willy! WILLY (calling back) One minute, Captain! Before Bucky can call in response, and without him pressing the detonator, the vessel explodes in a violent fireball. Not expecting this, Bucky is unprepared for the shockwave that flings him away. JENNY (startled) Bucky! What happened? Bucky lands in a heap a few feet away, groaning. He manages to look back, seeing the entire hangar engulfed in flames. What worries him more than the detonator activating without him pressing it is the squeal of turbulent machinery he can hear behind the walls. BUCKY (coughing) Willy? WILLY I wasn't done yet! The machinery's still active! BUCKY Well, frell. The grinding noises get louder and louder, until huge gears and whirling machinery of various designs burst through the walls, ripping through metal and sending shards everywhere. BUCKY (struggling to get up) Take cover! WILLY OK, screw this. Come on, Blinky! Since shutting down the machinery is no longer an option, Willy looks for cover, Blinky following behind him. Jenny and Deadeye continue to hold off the stormtoads, though many toads run for safety when they see the machinery bursting through the walls and taking on a life of its own. BUCKY (finally on his feet) I just hope it doesn't pierce the main reservoir ... In response, a loud crack is heard, followed by the sounds of gurgling water. BUCKY Frell. Water suddenly surges through the cracks in the walls, stressing them and making them bigger. The streams are already threatening to turn into uncontrollable tides. BUCKY Run! Everybody out! Sensing the danger, Jenny, Deadeye, Willy, and Blinky begin to make their way hurriedly back to The Righteous Indignation. Bucky, still a little dazed, tries to follow them. He takes another leap, only to be greeted in midair by the sound of rushing water. Before Bucky can react, a jet of water comes out of nowhere, knocking him off-trajectory and into a wall. Stunned and barely conscious, he slides down the wall, landing in the ever-rising water that has already begun filling the room. The rest of the crew is almost to safety. Concerned, Jenny turns around to check for Bucky. She barely manages to spot his limp form sliding into the water. JENNY (alarmed) Bucky! Jenny turns to go back, only to be grabbed by Deadeye. DEADEYE We'll use the ship t' get 'im, lass! JENNY No, I'll get him! Breaking free of Deadeye's grip, Jenny is about to levitate herself out over the water when another gusher cuts her off, separating Bucky from the rest of the crew. The force takes her aback. JENNY No! (shouting) BUCKY! Barely afloat, Bucky coughs as he breathes in small bits of water. He struggles to swim but can't. As he feels himself sinking and the world getting dimmer, his mind jumps back to a few hours before. SCENE 4 - CHAIRMAN WARNER'S OFFICE Earlier that day, Fritz stands at his desk, going over notes as he gives Bucky an assignment. FRITZ We've finally hit pay dirt with the new SIA ... err, BIA base, I guess. If the toads want to be sneaky, then we can, too. BUCKY What's the story? FRITZ From the look of it, the toads did *too* good a job of industrializing their planet. They're running out of water. That's bad news for anyone, but even worse for toads. So, naturally, they're stealing it from other planets. Fritz places the notes flat on his desk. FRITZ This is some rudimentary data we have on a toad water-harvesting station on Indus. It looks like they're collecting the water, filtering it according to their standards, and just shipping it wherever it needs to go. BUCKY (studying the notes) And they're getting all of their water from this one planet? FRITZ Probably not. But they're definitely getting some of it from there. BUCKY Just a simple smash-and-dash, or do you need something more subtle or sophisticated? FRITZ (smiles) The former. Get in there, blow it up, and get out. Don't complicate this. BUCKY (shrugs) I've gotten good at complicating things lately. FRITZ That's a bad habit to pick up. Bucky just nods as he takes the notes from Fritz and exits the office. SCENE 5 - INDUS Bucky's mind stops flashing back. In one last violent spurt, he tries to surface against the force of the gushing water. Unable to struggle against it, he sputters and sinks, lost to the waves. Moments later, The Righteous Indignation bursts through the gusher separating the two rooms, shuddering under the force of the water. As soon as the frigate breaks clear, the main hatch opens, and Jenny steps out onto the ledge. JENNY (shouting, panicked) BUCKY! Jenny looks around and sees only turmoil. The scaffolding in the room has all crumbled. Stormtoads and a few toad scientists are strewn about, some fighting the water but most of them already dead and floating on the surface. A look of agony races across Jenny's face. DEADEYE (calling from within) We've got t' go, lass! JENNY (angrily) We're not leaving Bucky! DEADEYE Then we're dyin' with him! JENNY Shut up and let me concentrate! Jenny's spell gems burst to life, pulsating energy with a frenetic urgency. She waves her paws over the rising water, focusing intently on the image in her mind's eye. The water around where Bucky sank glows an eerie pink. Suddenly, Bucky's limp body forcefully splashes through the surface, held aloft by an iridescent glow. Jenny, her energy sapped, levitates Bucky aboard. Weary, she closes the hatch door. JENNY (calling) Blinky, let's go! Blinky steers the ship back through where it came and out of the structure. As the Righteous exits Indus's atmosphere, it becomes clear that the planet is mostly water, with only scattered islands dotting the surface. The large toad structure that once harvested water is rapidly sinking, done in by explosions and by the weight of the water. JENNY (wearily) Bucky ... Bucky lies still on the floor, Jenny right next to him. Deadeye and Willy have stepped close, though they maintain their distance. Both have a look of worry on their faces. Willy gulps. Adrenaline kicking back in, Jenny watches Bucky for breathing. She checks his pulse. JENNY No! Jenny begins pumping Bucky's chest, performing erratic compressions. When the hare does not respond, Jenny pulls his head back and administers mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The cycle repeats a few times. Tears stream down Jenny's face, slowly at first, but then quickly. As Jenny begins to administer a fourth round of chest compressions, her voice cracks. JENNY Don't you dare! Don't you dare leave me, Buckminster O'Hare! Jenny's tears fall on Bucky's chest, making tiny splashes. Distraught, her paws slip off his chest. She tries to right herself, but Deadeye comes in from behind and holds her back. DEADEYE (calmly) Calm down, lass. It's OK. Ye did yer best. (beat) But he's gone. Breathing in fits, Jenny shakes as she tries to resist accepting the reality. The light seems to fade from the room. Deadeye and Willy just look at the lifeless Bucky, their faces forlorn and downcast. SCENE 6 - RENFIELD'S OFFICE, UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS Renfield sulks, looking spectacularly nervous rather than cheerful. He talks quietly to himself. RENFIELD He has to be on to me. Why me? Why only me? (shudders) Why? Why did they kill him? Renfield twirls a pen in his nimble fingers. The comm on his desk beeps suddenly. His gray eyes look down at it after a moment. RENFIELD (fighting back tears) Will they kill me, too, when they find out? Will the others? Will I ... will I beg when it happens, I wonder? Or will I have enough self- respect to just ... just ... Renfield trails off into silence, quaking, unable to finish the sentence. After a moment, he flings his pen across the room. The comm continues to beep. Finally, Renfield just picks it up and sends it flying after the pen. He buries his face in his paws, sobbing hysterically. RENFIELD Why did I ever take this assignment? Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. Renfield sits up, his mood changing instantly. Robotically, the hare has transformed into the very picture of calm and collected. RENFIELD Yes? GILLY STEPHENSON opens the door and pokes his head in. STEPHENSON Hiya, Ren. Sorry if I'm disturbing you. Just was wondering if you weren't too busy to help me with some file transporting I gotta do before you head out for lunch. RENFIELD (smiling cheerfully) Sure. SCENE 7 With a start, Bucky's eyes open from the darkness. Disoriented, his eyes dart from side to side, seeing only hazy gray. Blinking, his vision adjusts to the strange white light coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. Regaining sensation in his limbs, he slowly sits up, getting off an odd, ill-defined ground. Bucky looks around, still spotting nothing. He notices that this place seems to have no temperature. He doesn't feel hot or cold or anything in between. Still unsure of what is happening, he perks up his ears, hoping to hear something. He picks up only soft whooshing sounds far in the distance. BUCKY Where? ... Bucky tries to think of the last thing he can remember. There is something about a rush of water, a brief panic, a haze of deep blue, and then darkness. No pain, no suffering, no discrete end. Just a transition. BUCKY (shaking his head) Where am I? Bucky begins taking a few tentative footsteps in one direction, hoping for at least a change of scenery. No luck. Everything remains murky, gray, and simultaneously comforting and unwelcoming. BUCKY (realizing) I've been here before. Or somewhere like it. (thinks) It was on Warren. When I went to visit Kwen. But that ... that was ... A thought strikes Bucky. His eyes widen slightly as he takes in the vast, barren, featureless landscape around him. BUCKY Am I dead? Suddenly, Bucky's ears pick up a rustling behind him. He turns around sharply, only to be greeted by KADAF WARNER, who is smoking a cigarette. The duck has a look of confusion on his face. KADAF You're not supposed to be here. Not for a good long while. A look of abject horror crosses Bucky's face, as if he were staring into an infinite abyss. KADAF (realizing) Bucky? You OK? Bucky's lip quivers, as if to speak. KADAF OK, guess I can't blame you for being confused. You're not supposed to be here, and now I've got to figure this out. But don't worry about it. I'm here to help. I know what I'm doing. BUCKY You ... you ... KADAF What, you forgot already? It's me. Kadaf. I think you still owe me five bucks. BUCKY You're Death. Kadaf takes a step back, surprised by Bucky's response. KADAF No, I'm Kadaf. BUCKY No, you're not. I've seen you before. I ... I know you. You're Death. KADAF (giving up) Well, I guess I can't deny that, if you want to be blunt. But it's still me. I'm here to help you. BUCKY You can't help me if I'm dead! KADAF Well, you are, but you're not. This isn't your time. You're way, way ahead of schedule. Today is not the day written in my book. (beat) You got here somehow, and now I have to figure out how to get you back. I have to fix this. BUCKY If I'm not dead, then why are you here? KADAF (cross) You're not even listening, are you? (sighs) Look, I can't blame you for being addled. Just don't give me any trouble. I coulda just not come talk to you, but I wanted to help, OK? BUCKY (some color returning to his face) What ... what should I do? KADAF I'm thinking. Give me a minute. Kadaf sits down in the ether. Bucky, slowly acclimating to the situation, keep his eyes on him. BUCKY (suddenly) What book? KADAF (looking up) Huh? BUCKY You mentioned a book that had a date written in it. Is that the day I'm supposed to die? KADAF You catch on quick. It's not perfect, but it's never this far off. BUCKY When am I supposed to die? KADAF I can't tell you. BUCKY Why not? KADAF (irritated) Look, that day's sure as hell gonna to be today if you don't shut up and let me think about how to fix this. Bucky yields. KADAF Thank you. Besides, you wouldn't be able to read the book anyway. Only I can. Kadaf turns away from Bucky, contemplating further. Bucky takes another look around, feeling very alone despite Kadaf being next to him. SCENE 8 - HOSPITAL ROOM, WATERSHIP HOSPITAL, GENUS In a special secluded room on the top floor of the hospital, Bucky's unmoving body lies still in a clean, white bed. Various tubes and wires are hooked up to his head, chest, and arms, though the machines by his bed show no readings of activity. Jenny stands next to Bucky's bed, a harried, frazzled look on her face. Standing behind her, keeping a safe distance, is DR. SANOFI, a male otter. DR. SANOFI It's the weirdest thing. Clinically, he's dead. No heartbeat, no respirations, no brainwave activity, no brainstem reflexes, no nothing. But nothing's changing. His temperature is fine. He's not getting rigid. None of the changes of death are taking place. It's like he's in some kind of stasis. JENNY What does it mean? DR. SANOFI (apologetic) I have no idea. A colleague of mine is going to come take a look tomorrow, but I doubt he'll be able to add much. There are no case reports of anything like this happening in the literature. It's almost like magic. I don't have a scientific explanation for it at all. Jenny just nods, resigned. DR. SANOFI Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're the crew that has the, uh, human on it? JENNY That's right. Willy. DR. SANOFI He was also an interesting case. I'm glad to hear he's doing well. (beat) You guys sure have the strangest things happen to you. Jenny just nods weakly, not averting her gaze from Bucky. Dr. Sanofi nods, then quietly takes his leave. Jenny stands over Bucky, unsure of what to say. She briefly considers trying to use magic to try contacting Bucky, but then she remembers that her powers don't work in the hospital. JENNY Well, if you're not actually dead, then I guess there's hope? (sniffles) My stars. These past few months have been crazy. We've barely even been speaking for most of them, but ... (beat) You know how much you mean to me, don't you? I ... need you, Bucky. Please. Please come back to me. SCENE 9 - RECORD DEPARTMENT, UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS Renfield and Stephenson walk down the hall toward the record department with their arms loaded. Renfield has a large stack of papers, while Stephenson carries a cardboard box. As they round a corner, they run right into DAWSON MACKENZIE, himself carrying an armload of papers, who bumps into them. Stephenson stumbles but retains his footing. Renfield and Dawson, however, both fall down, and Renfield spills his papers everywhere. RENFIELD Watch it! (realizing) Dawson! Dawson laughs and stands, helping Renfield to his feet as the two of them began picking up the papers and sorting them so that each has the correct documents. DAWSON Sorry about that, Renfield. RENFIELD It's quite all right. And what, may I ask, is the big rush? DAWSON I was taking these up to the top floor. Some transfer forms. They're actually supposed to go on your desk, as a matter of fact. (smiles) There are so many forms, and so many more coming. I can't *wait* for this day to end! I would do anything to get out of this for a little while, if you catch my meaning. RENFIELD Well, I think that can be arranged. Renfield takes the files from Dawson and adds them to his own stack, which he then turns and dumps on top of the box Stephenson is holding. RENFIELD It's almost lunchtime anyway. What say you and I go out for a drink? Stephenson can handle things, can't you, Stephenson? STEPHENSON (a little uncertain) Um, sure. Renfield has already begun escorting Dawson down the hall. Stephenson watches them go. RENFIELD Just put the files we were carrying down here in storage, then stick the ones Mackenzie had on my desk for me. I owe you one, buddy. Renfield turns around, fishes his keys out of his pocket, and plinks them on top of the stack wobbling in Stephenson's arms. RENFIELD Just remember to lock up again after you're done, OK? STEPHENSON Uh, OK. Stephenson stands there helplessly, watching Renfield and Dawson walk off. With a great, heaving sigh, he turns and resumes his journey to record storage. Meanwhile, Renfield and Dawson take the stairs, Dawson in the lead and Renfield close behind, the pair making small talk. DAWSON So where would you like to eat? RENFIELD (chuckles) No, no food. This may sound a little weird, but I usually eat alone. I have a sensitive stomach, and eating by myself aids my digestion, you see. Dawson laughs. DAWSON Well, then, like you suggested, how about a drink? I know this great place. It's called the Briar Patch. Dawson grabs Renfield's arm and drags him along with him. SCENE 10 Kadaf still sits, a cross look on his face. Bucky is trying to explore his surroundings but is not encountering anything. BUCKY So where is this place, exactly? KADAF This is where people go when they die. BUCKY So this is the afterlife? This is all there is? KADAF (shaking his head) No, this is like processing. Not every case is straightforward. It has to be decided sometimes exactly what happens to someone when they die. BUCKY What are the options? KADAF You'll find out someday. Hopefully not today, if I can find a way to undo this. BUCKY Hmm. Kadaf returns to being lost in thought, weighing his options. Bucky watches him impatiently for a moment, then speaks. BUCKY You know ... KADAF I am trying to think here, kid. You want out of this or not? BUCKY Sorry. I just had a question. KADAF Fine. One question. BUCKY When I was here before ... KADAF (raises an eyebrow) What? When were you here before? BUCKY Not here, exactly. Something similar. I had to visit Kwen. KADAF Ah, that guy. BUCKY Yeah. He said I would owe Death a favor. That's you. So, what favor do I owe you? KADAF Hmm. (thinking) You're not the only one who owes me a favor. Maybe the two of you can figure something out together. BUCKY Who's that? KADAF Tae'Gwitz. BUCKY (gives Kadaf a look) Who? KADAF The elder dragon that sleeps above Aldebaran. BUCKY Oh. (beat) Wait, how am I supposed to work together with an elder dragon? KADAF You'll think of something. Just help him get Aldebaran under control to his liking. That way, I don't have to deal with that crap. BUCKY (smirks) You think you have it bad with Aldebaran? KADAF You think *you* have it bad? Every single one of them comes here before they die. One of my helpers has to direct them to Tae'Gwitz, who eats their soul. Even the devout ones get nervous about that. The less devout ones, they get hysterical. Especially now that a lot of them don't like Tae'Gwitz. And a whole bunch of Aldebarans are dying lately. It's not good for the nerves. (beat) Morale is low, and that's not a good thing when you're running the sort of operation we have here. So help him straighten things out. That's the favor you owe me. (beat) Only problem is, there's no way in hell he'll listen to you. Willy, maybe. But not you. (shakes his head) Whatever. Not my problem anymore. It's yours. You'll figure it out. BUCKY Why Willy? KADAF (irritated) Look, do you want me to get you out of here, or spend the next ten hours answering that question? Bucky remains silent. KADAF That's what I thought. So just get Willy to tell the dragon to lay off the Aldebarans. Does that sound good? BUCKY (blinks) OK. I'll ... try. KADAF Great, excellent. Can I think now? BUCKY Sure. KADAF Thank you. Look, I'm gonna go think about this somewhere else. Make yourself comfortable. Look, you've even got a visitor. BUCKY A visitor? Who? KADAF (to someone else) Perfect timing, just like always. Kadaf takes a drag of his cigarette and vanishes into the ether. Bucky looks around, confused. In the distance, he can barely make out a moving figure. As the figure comes closer and steps out of the mist, Bucky is taken aback. It's FRITZ WARNER. BUCKY Fritz? FRITZ Hey, Bucky. Fritz looks great. He appears younger and more stable than he ever has during his time in the UAC. It's like Bucky is looking at the Fritz Warner from his childhood. BUCKY How can you be visiting me? I mean, Kadaf came here, too, but ... something's not the same. FRITZ Well, where are you? You're in the house of the dead, right? Or, well, the foyer of the dead. BUCKY So ... you're saying you're dead? FRITZ Bingo. BUCKY But that doesn't make any sense! I saw you earlier today! There's no way you died between now and then. FRITZ (chuckles) You got that one right. I died years ago, Bucky. When the toads took Noctur II. I got taken along for that ride, so to speak. Bucky stares blankly for a moment. BUCKY What are you talking about? I've seen you since then. You're the UAC Chairman! You're not dead! FRITZ I am. And I'm not. How can I explain this to you? I was ... reincarnated. BUCKY (trying to understand) OK. But why? And if you were reincarnated, then you shouldn't still be dead. FRITZ Look, it's all part of the same reason that Kadaf is Death. Just go with it, OK? BUCKY How can I go with it? It doesn't make any sense to me. FRITZ (shrugs) I don't have any other answer for you. These things just ... are. Bucky shakes his head, finally giving in. BUCKY So ... why are you here? FRITZ I just wanted to see you, is all. In a manner of speaking, I haven't seen you in twelve years. BUCKY I ... forget it. I'm just going to let this go. FRITZ (smiles) You look good. BUCKY Uh, thanks. You do too. Actually, you look great. FRITZ Eh, I've had better days. BUCKY So what's going on? Am I alive? Am I dead? FRITZ I can't really say, to be honest. I'm not the one that deals with these decisions. BUCKY That's Kadaf, right? FRITZ More or less. And he's working on getting you out of here. (beat) Oh, before I forget. I wanted to tell you something. BUCKY What's that? FRITZ You know how badly you need to fix your relationship with Jenny, right? BUCKY (irritated) Really? You're here to lecture me? I already know how badly I messed things up. It's not that easy to just up and fix. I'm working on it. FRITZ Well, work harder. Trust me. I've had several women, and I've lost them all, but when the woman really is something special, then it's a wound that never heals. If you don't fix things with Jenny, that wound will never heal. I don't think I'm ever going to get over Mimi. BUCKY Wait, this is about Mimi? From what I've heard, you just let that relationship slip away. You could have kept her if you'd wanted. FRITZ No, I couldn't have. It was too complicated. We're at different places in our lives. I mean, look. I'm technically dead here. It wasn't going to work out. BUCKY But you were still able to ... wait a minute. You're talking to me about Mimi now, but you said you died on Noctur II, which was long before you even met her. If you died then, why would you have any memories of what happened afterwards? How do you have the memories of ... of whoever or whatever is walking around now? FRITZ (shrugs) It's complicated. You wouldn't understand it. (beat) I don't. BUCKY Is it going to be this confusing when I *actually* die? FRITZ Nah. Actual death is pretty straightforward. Things only get weird like this when the rules get bent for some reason. BUCKY Well, that's a relief. SCENE 11 - CHAIRMAN WARNER'S OFFICE Fritz sits at his desk, performing stretching exercises with his paws. Kadaf bursts in, a sense of urgency visible in his every movement. KADAF Fritz, we've got a problem. FRITZ What kind of problem? KADAF An "oh shit, what do we do now?" kind of problem. FRITZ (sighs) Those are my least favorite kind. KADAF Bucky's kind of dead. FRITZ (alarmed) What? Fritz almost falls backward in his chair. FRITZ He can't be dead. Can he? Is it his time? KADAF Nope. Not even close. That's the problem. Someone or something tried to get him killed at the wrong time. He's stuck in between right now. FRITZ (calming down) Who do you think is responsible? KADAF I've got a really short list. FRITZ Nuras? KADAF He's the first three on the list. FRITZ Who else? Cassandra? KADAF Maybe. That would be real ironic, huh? FRITZ Yeah, but the timing makes no sense. We already know Nuras is trying to get under our skin. He knows how important Bucky is to the UAC. Hell, he knows how important Bucky is to me. KADAF Well, what do we do about it? I'm trying to figure out a workaround, but nothing's sticking. FRITZ I'll just have to give Nuras a call. Treat it like a business concern, I guess. You keep trying to free Bucky. (beat) Dammit. SCENE 12 - THE BRIAR PATCH, GENUS Numerous male mammals from all walks of life, bathed in spinning colored strobe lights, are swaying trancelike to throbbing music on a multicolored dance floor. More stand around talking and sharing drinks, watching several male dancers onstage. Among them are Renfield and Dawson. After a bit, the pair take a break and walk off the dance floor toward a neon-ringed drink bar. They sit, and Dawson gets the attention of a muscular bovine bartender. DAWSON Two zombies. (looks at Renfield) You'll like this. The bartender returns with two glowing bright blue drinks in tall glasses. Dawson immediately and without thought begins guzzling his. Renfield frowns and inspects his own after a moment, then shrugs and takes a sip. He gags. RENFIELD (coughing) Strong stuff! But pretty good. Dawson pats Renfield on the back, and Renfield shrugs and swallows the rest in a few large, chugging gulps. As he sets the empty glass down, he notices the other hare gazing at him. DAWSON Y'know, we've been dating for a while now, and I still don't know that much about you. C'mon, tell me a little bit about yourself. Like what kind of family do you have? I'm just dying to know more. RENFIELD Very funny, Dawson. (he sighs) Well, if you really must know, I come from a fairly large family. DAWSON (chuckles) Big surprise there. RENFIELD (chuckles, then turns morose) I never really got to know my parents, and needless to say, they strongly disapproved of my ... chosen walk of life. It didn't help having so many brothers and sisters that I never really garnered my parents' attention a hundred percent. Renfield frowns and stares into his empty glass. Dawson reaches over and strokes Renfield's arm, displaying his sympathy. DAWSON Don't worry. My parents didn't really approve of where my lifestyle was headed, either, so I totally know where you're coming from. But hey, who cares? We're here, together, and that's all that matters right now. (beat) It's weird, though. Both our families? I mean, that attitude's just not very common on Warren. RENFIELD Well ... the problem wasn't really my lifestyle itself, really. My folks just hated the fact that I'd never have a whole batch of kids to add to the ... uh ... hare workforce. (irritated) That's why I was sent to Genus. I never wanted to come here in the fist place. DAWSON Well, I'm glad you're here. Because it means I got to meet you. Renfield turns toward Dawson with a small smile, and the pair draw nearer. Their private moment is interrupted when a male DANCER sashays across the bar top to the catcalls and hollers of the rest of the club-goers. One of his feet knocks over Dawson's half-finished drink, startling him and Renfield. DANCER (sheepishly) Whoops! Uh, sorry about that! DAWSON No worries, dude. We were just on our way out. Renfield does the courtesy of paying for their drinks before Dawson and he exit the noisy club arm in arm, Dawson's head on Renfield's shoulder. Outside, the pair embrace, Renfield clutching Dawson a little too tightly for Dawson's liking, but he endures the hug before the other hare pulls away. RENFIELD Sorry. It's just, uh, I had a really great time. I've been ... somewhat depressed lately, and this little outing ... *you*, really, more than anything ... really cheered me up. DAWSON I'm glad to be a positive influence on *someone's* life. Come on, let's go, before Morgenstern sends out a search party after me. SCENE 13 Bucky and Fritz are still talking against the murky backdrop of the in-between. Bucky has loosened up a bit and even has a hint of a smile on his face. FRITZ ... and that's why your dad would never let Justin go out by himself on weekends. BUCKY Ha. I figured something crazy like that happened. FRITZ You want crazy? Did I ever tell you the story about when ... (stops) Oh, shit. (looks at his gold watch) I gotta go. BUCKY What? Why? FRITZ Kadaf is coming back. BUCKY What, and you can't both be here at the same time? FRITZ The duck's gonna want his space. Trust me, he gets irritated when he has to deal with anomalies like whatever brought you here. (beat) It was good seeing you, Bucky. Safe travels. BUCKY (disheartened) Thanks, Fritz. Good to see you, too. Fritz softly fades into the ether. Bucky blinks, and the rabbit is gone. BUCKY Hmm. KADAF Hey. Startled, Bucky turns around. Kadaf is just behind him. BUCKY What was that for? KADAF (deadpan) I'm practicing being scary. Booga booga. BUCKY Keep trying. KADAF Thanks for the feedback. Anyway, I'm working on it. We've got some leads on what caused you to be here. If I can pin it on someone or something, I can figure out what method they used to circumvent the normal rules and shut down whatever scheme they're pulling. BUCKY How long do you think it'll be? KADAF Not very, I hope. You can't stay here too long. If I don't get you out of here, eventually, you flat-out *will* die. And that'll cause a huge mess. BUCKY (concerned) Then why are you wasting time here? Get going! KADAF (irritated) I thought you might want an update. You're welcome. (under his breath) Ass. Kadaf turns around and walks into the ether, disappearing again. For a moment, Bucky is alone. BUCKY (searching his pockets) Huh. I wish I'd at least had a pack of cards on me. DOGSTAR Bucky, old chap! Startled, Bucky looks around. After a moment, he spots COMMANDER SIRIUS DOGSTAR approaching him. The bulldog is dressed in his military uniform, pressed and polished to the height of military perfection. DOGSTAR Ah, good. I'd heard a rumor you were around. BUCKY By the Great Mother, Dogstar, you're ... (catches himself) Oh. Oh, right. Sorry, DOGSTAR (smiling) Not a problem, Bucky, my boy. We've all got to go sometime. And I hear it's not your time yet. I don't think tourists show up too often, but I suppose it makes for interesting conversation. BUCKY Dogstar, you know it wasn't me, right? DOGSTAR Of course, Bucky. If I thought you were the one who'd killed me, would I be here talking to you right now? (beat) I knew it was an imposter the moment he drew his weapon. The Bucky O'Hare I know would never have drawn a weapon on a comrade. Bucky bites his lip, not sure how to respond to this. BUCKY Well, that's a relief. You sure look good. DOGSTAR You get to choose how you're seen in this place. It's quite a nice perk. I could never get a uniform that fit quite this snugly when I was alive. Something about my shoulders always threw the tailors off, even when I was Chairman. BUCKY No wonder you're in such good spirits. DOGSTAR Bucky, my boy, you don't know the half of it. As much as I would have loved to see the infernal Toad Wars through to their completion, an afterlife like this is more than any one dog could hope for. All of my old war buddies are here. I was the one who made it the longest, but now we're all here together. (beat) Plus, it gives me time to relive old battles in my head. Remember that time we stormed the toad fortress on Klixon III with half the men we wanted? BUCKY (grinning) Oh, man, that was a crazy afternoon. DOGSTAR What do you think would have happened if we'd waited until night and attacked then? BUCKY Well, Digger still had some of his eyesight then, didn't he? He wasn't used to shooting, well, blind. DOGSTAR Absolutely correct. But we had so much trouble anyway aiming from behind those barricades we set up to block the toad fire. Do you think going in at night would have gained us a net advantage? BUCKY You know, maybe. This was before the toads had their night vision goggles, wasn't it? Even spotlights can't be anywhere. DOGSTAR I think it would have helped, definitely. Though, of course, that was a relatively minor battle. Now, if you remember the time we took Warren back from the toads ... Bucky smiles, content to let Dogstar ramble about the good old days. SCENE 14 - BAR, ORWELL STATION It's mid-afternoon, and Deadeye and Willy sit in a secluded corner of this mostly empty bar. Deadeye has the usual mug of swamp grass sitting in front of him, while Willy keeps taking sips of water and munching on some chips. Suddenly, Willy closes his eyes as he hears Jenny's voice in his head. The message dissipates a few seconds later. WILLY Still no change. DEADEYE (taking a sip) Ach. WILLY So what do we do now? DEADEYE (shrugs) We wait, matey. WILLY Wait for what? I mean, if Bucky's really dead, then that's pretty much the end of the Righteous, isn't it? DEADEYE (amused) What, ye really think he's dead? WILLY I mean, I know they think something weird is going on, but drowning isn't an easy one to come back from. Even if he's alive, there'd be brain damage ... DEADEYE (taking a swig) I was worried too, when it first happened, but then I got t' thinkin'. Let me go over this for ye, Willy. An' I say this as a Canard who's lost many a fine feathered friend to th' glory of battle. (beat) You were in some weird kind o' trance or somethin' fer months. Jenny looked like she got killed while we were invadin' Genus, and she turned out fine. Everyone even thought I was dead when that bear tried t' poison me when I was in the hospital. And Bruiser really did get poisoned. (beat) Ye weren't here fer all'a those, so I can't blame ye fer not piecin' it all t'gether. But think about it, matey. Nothin's ever truly stopped or slowed down anyone on our ship. Even ol' Bruce finally made his way back. Bucky'll be fine, jus' like all the rest of us're fine. WILLY (eating a chip) So you think we're invincible or something? DEADEYE Or somethin'. Maybe it sounds kinda funny, but it bears out, don't it? WILLY (wary) That's a dangerous attitude to have. DEADEYE Bein' a pirate's a dangerous attitude t' have. Don't mean it's wrong. Willy sits and thinks for a moment. WILLY No. No, that doesn't make sense. DEADEYE Time fer me t' import s'more Canard wisdom on ye, Willy boy. (raises his glass) Things don't make sense? Have a pint! Got nothin' t' do but wait? Have a pint! WILLY So you're really just going to sit around and drink? DEADEYE If somethin' better presents itself, lad, I'm open t' the possibilities. But until then ... Willy just sits for a moment, not being able to generate better options. He leans over Deadeye's mug and takes a whiff of swamp grass. The smell is bad enough when it's just in the air. When Willy's hovering over it, it's overpowering -- in a bad way. WILLY Nope. Still never going to try that. SCENE 15 - CHAIRMAN WARNER'S OFFICE A hesitant look on his face, Fritz activates the comm in his desk. A moment later, the other side picks up. The smug look of SENATOR NURAS appears on the video screen. NURAS Chairman Warner. A pleasure, as always. What may Terra or I do for the UAC today? FRITZ You're behind this, aren't you? NURAS I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific, sir. FRITZ Bucky. You're behind what's happened to Bucky. NURAS (leaning back) Well, I haven't seen anything in the news reports yet, but I must assume you're referring to his unfortunate drowning death earlier today. FRITZ Almost. I'm referring to his near-death. NURAS (blinks) ... near-death? FRITZ He's trapped in between. Kadaf is getting him out as we speak. NURAS (wary) Is this a feeble attempt to trick me, Warner? O'Hare is dead. I saw to that myself. FRITZ I wouldn't joke about this. He's not quite dead. Maybe you're not exactly as powerful as you thought? Nuras pauses and closes his eyes, as if reaching out to the beyond for a moment. His eyes then re-open. NURAS (shouting) Dammit! The comm connection dies. A satisfied look on his face, Fritz stands up. FRITZ Well, that answers our question. And it gives us a nice little foothold, to boot. Kadaf, who was standing against the far wall, walks up to the desk. KADAF Maybe. I've still got to try to resurrect Bucky. Do you think it's safe? I mean, you know what happened to Cassandra. FRITZ Cassandra was actually dead. Bucky is ... something else. But he's not dead. As long as his physical body is OK, there should be no problem. There's nothing that would cause deterioration. KADAF I guess. Right. (beat) Well, now that I know Nuras did it, I can probably figure out what he pulled and fix it. Gimme another half hour. FRITZ Thanks, Kadaf. I ... (looks down) I know this is hard, Daffy. Especially with what happened to Sheila. KADAF (shakes his head) Don't bring her up. Please. It's not your fault she died, and you're not the prick that put me in this situation by trying to kill Bucky. (beat) Just let me go deal with this. But promise me one thing? FRITZ Of course. KADAF Promise me we'll get our revenge someday. FRITZ I prefer to think of it as retribution, not revenge. KADAF (smiles weakly) That works. SCENE 16 - DISUSED SUBWAY STATION, GENUS Renfield waits in an old subway station, damaged during the toad occupation. Although there are signs of construction work -- partial repairs, tools, and other such things -- there are no work crews here now. After a moment, a young derelict HARE emerges from the shadows and approaches Renfield nervously, paws stuffed into the pockets of his tattered jacket. HARE Dunno why you wanted to do it here ... RENFIELD My office isn't safe anymore. Now then, do you have what I asked you for? HARE Yeah, no problem, dude, it's just a weird thing to be askin' for, y'know? I mean, it ain't the weirdest thing you've paid me for, but still ... RENFIELD (sighs) Save it, Jimmy. Now, do you have it? Jimmy frowns and fishes a small vial of red blood out of his jacket pocket. JIMMY Have you got my simoleans? RENFIELD Right here. Renfield offers a pawful. Jimmy reaches for them, but Renfield pulls them back and smirks. RENFIELD (chiding) Ah-ah-ah! First, the vial. Reluctantly, Jimmy forks the vial over. Renfield snatches it and then hands the hare the simoleans. He strokes Jimmy's cheek. RENFIELD Thanks, Jimmy. I owe you big time. But later. Right now, I've got to get back before I'm missed. Renfield pats Jimmy's shoulder firmly, then turns and scurries off, leaving Jimmy looking somewhat dumbfounded. SCENE 17 Dogstar is just finishing up one of his long-winded stories. Bucky, for once, is able to contribute by getting comments in here and there. DOGSTAR And then you fried him by pulling his own wires out! BUCKY (chuckling) There was so much static, I could barely see the look on his face. But it was great! DOGSTAR You know what was great? The look on all those other toads' faces when Bruiser scared them off the planet! BUCKY Man, I miss that look. Fighting the toads just isn't the same without it. (beat) But freeing Warren from the toads was just ... just wonderful. (curious) You know, I never got the full story of how you guys freed Genus from the toads. I'm sure it wasn't a particularly easy thing to do. DOGSTAR (smiles) Oh, indeed it wasn't, Bucky. And I have to admit, while having something like that as a last hurrah was rather splendid, I did make a few, well, tactical errors I can't say I'm proud of. BUCKY Like what? DOGSTAR (shakes his head) They're unimportant, really. The main thing is that everything worked out in the end. And I must say, a great deal of credit goes to your first mate for that. BUCKY (perking up) Jenny? Really? DOGSTAR (nods) We thought she was dead, you know. Some peculiar toad warrior knocked her out. I can't say that we wouldn't have won without her, but she was definitely a powerhouse once she woke back up angry. She took care of Captain Smata and everything. (remembering) It was a sight to behold, and it was truly an honor to see such focused, raw power used so effectively. BUCKY I ... never knew she had contributed so much. DOGSTAR (smiles warmly) Well, now you do. A startled look briefly crosses Dogstar's face. It quickly fades as his smile returns. DOGSTAR Seems like it's time for me to go, Bucky. Some other folks would like to see you while you're here. BUCKY Wait. Why can't you stay, too? DOGSTAR (shrugs) Same reason the buffet closes early, I suppose. Limited resources. With a knowing wink, Dogstar fades away. Once again, Bucky is briefly alone. Just then, a strange feeling comes over him. For the first time since he arrived here, he feels a slight warmness in the air. A faint familiar smell wafts in, filling his nostrils. His eyes and ears perk up. BUCKY No ... In the distance, hazily moving toward Bucky, are his parents, GENERAL DONALD O'HARE and MARY O'HARE. BUCKY (in disbelief) Mom? Dad? Donald and Mary come nearer, almost close enough to touch. Their faces are warm and seemingly filled with pride. DONALD Bucky ... BUCKY (tearing up) Dad? Is that really you? Before Donald can respond, his face becomes murky, as does Mary's. Their images begin receding back into the mist. BUCKY (alarmed) Wait! No! Out of nowhere, Kadaf appears in front of Bucky. His face is filled with urgency. KADAF I figured it out. Come with me! BUCKY No! Bring them back! KADAF Sorry, kid, we've got to hurry. BUCKY No, dammit! Bring them back! Bring them *back*! Overwhelmed by emotion, Bucky lunges at Kadaf. The slightly disabled duck reacts just quickly enough to sidestep Bucky, then grab and restrain the flailing hare. KADAF A "thank you" would have been more appropriate, you know. BUCKY (tears streaming down his face) Let me talk to my parents! KADAF The fact you even got to see your dead parents puts you in rare company. Now shut up and be grateful. Still struggling against Kadaf's oddly powerful grip, Bucky resists as Kadaf and he slowly fade into the background. After a moment, the landscape once again consists entirely of nothingness. SCENE 18 - BUCKY'S HOSPITAL ROOM, WATERSHIP HOSPITAL, GENUS Jenny continues her quiet vigil by Bucky's side, reading a book and trying to keep herself upbeat. Her attention is distracted when some of the monitors by the bedside begin beeping. Wide-eyed, Jenny looks at the monitor attached to Bucky's heart. At first, very subtle readings appear. Within seconds, the heartbeats become prouder and more distinct, until Bucky's heart is clearly beating properly. A cough draws Jenny's attention to Bucky himself. The hare's nose twitches under his face mask. With soft, subtle movements, Bucky begins to stir. His eyes creak open, and his fingers slowly regain movement. BUCKY (softly) Ugh ... Jenny's heart leaps in her chest as she sees Bucky awaken from his bizarre slumber. Her paw instinctively reaches out and grabs his. BUCKY (woozy) Jen? ... JENNY (misty-eyed) I'm here, Bucky. Bucky lies still, either too exhausted or too afraid to get tangled in the wires attached to him. BUCKY I'm back. (closes his eyes) That was a crazy dream. JENNY Tell me about it. BUCKY I dreamed I was dead. JENNY (nervous) Actually, you ... kind of were. BUCKY Huh? Bucky now struggles to sit up. JENNY The doctors said you were close to dead. They weren't sure exactly what was happening. Like Willy in that coma, except you weren't showing any vital signs at all. BUCKY But ... but I'm here now, right? JENNY (smiling) It looks that way to me. BUCKY Then maybe it wasn't a dream ... JENNY What happened there? BUCKY There was this ... place. There wasn't much there. But Dogstar was there. And Fri- ... (catches himself) My folks. My mom and dad were there. I didn't get to say anything to them. But they looked happy. (beat) I need ... to rest my head. To think for a bit. JENNY Of course. Take all the time you need. BUCKY You stayed here this whole time? JENNY It wasn't that long. Maybe sixteen hours. Bucky smiles as he slides back down into his bed. BUCKY (trailing off) You are really good to me ... Exhausted in an indescribable way, Bucky slips off into sleep. Jenny squeezes his paw gently, then lets go. She watches Bucky's chest rise and fall and his eyelids twitch. Just to reassure herself, she observes the monitor clearly displaying Bucky's regular heartbeat. Jenny picks up her magazine and quietly exits the room to go talk to Dr. Sanofi. SCENE 19 - SENATOR NURAS'S OFFICE, TERRA EMBASSY, GENUS Senator Nuras, in his pressed suit, sits at his desk, a thoughtful look on his face. He turns to the window and sees the sun shining through the blinds. A few birds fly past. He turns and scoots his chair into his desk. Grabbing a pen in his right paw, Nuras grabs the top sheet from a stack of paper and tries to get some work done. However, he simply can't concentrate. With a polite huff, he places the sheet of paper back, then clasps his paws together and closes his eyes. NURAS This is unwelcome. (beat) It appears I may need to reconsider some things. SCENE 20 - UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS Later that evening, Renfield enters the employee clinic and watches as a deer NURSE draws some blood from a FEMALE COWORKER into a small vial using a butterfly needle. FEMALE COWORKER Is this really necessary? NURSE Chairman's orders. Mandatory blood tests for all UAC employees. No ifs, ands, or buts. Just got to make sure you aren't a toad in disguise. FEMALE COWORKER But I've been with the UAC for ten years! The nurse just shrugs. Renfield sneaks into the adjacent room where all of the blood vials are stored. He removes the little vial from his pocket, then grabs a label sheet from a nearby table. He takes a pen and scribbles "Billings, Renfield" on the label, then sticks it onto the vial, sliding it into a rack with the other, identical vials of blood samples. SCENE 21 - RENFIELD'S OFFICE, UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS Renfield returns to his office, shutting his door behind him. His discarded comm continues beeping insistently at him, but he kicks it away, and it disappears under a cabinet. Sitting back in his chair, he uses a key to unlock the large bottom drawer of his desk, which he opens. From this, he removes a large glass jar filled with buzzing flies. A look of almost primal hunger comes over Renfield. The green hare then opens the jar and grabs a handful of de-winged flies. Renfield proceeds to stuff the insects into his mouth and devour them. Screwing the lid back on so none of the flies will crawl out, he removes a second jar from the drawer. This one contains several large green slugs. Renfield swallows the mouthful of chewed flies and drools as he struggles with the lid, unscrewing it and letting it fall onto the desktop. One by one, he plucks out fat, slimy slugs and pops them into his maw. He chews noisily, heedless of the slug slime dribbling from his lips. More of the viscous slime coats his fingers, and he greedily sucks them clean before swallowing with a loud, liquid gulp. Licking his lips, Renfield leans back in his chair and sighs happily, then looses a loud belch. SCENE 22 - BAR, ORWELL STATION Willy and Deadeye are leaving the bar, the latter quite tipsy. Just as they get outside, Willy receives another telepathic communication from Jenny. WILLY (blinks) Well, what do you know. Bucky's just fine. DEADEYE Ha hah! What did I tell ya? WILLY I guess I can't argue with you. (beat) I'm glad he's OK, I guess. DEADEYE Ye guess? WILLY It's nothing. We're working on it. DEADEYE Ach, matey, ye still haven't worked out whatever yer li'l' tiff is? WILLY I'm trying. It's not that simple. DEADEYE Life's too short, matey. One of these days, Bucky is gonna die fer good -- or *you* are -- an' it's best not t' carry grudges t' the grave. Ain't no resolving that! WILLY Wait, but you just had this whole argument about how we're not going to die. Deadeye just shrugs. DEADEYE (slurred) Philosophies change dependin' on how drunk ye are, I guess. SCENE 23 - BUCKY'S APARTMENT, GENUS Bucky and Jenny finish up a quiet dinner together in Bucky's kitchen. BUCKY Thanks again for coming over. You didn't have to. JENNY I wanted to. I just want to make sure you're OK. BUCKY I am, I think. I feel fine. (beat) You know, while I was ... wherever I was, I had time to think about things. About what's important to me. And about what an idiot I've been. Jenny pauses, waiting for Bucky to continue. BUCKY I almost died today. And if I had died, my biggest regret would have been not making amends with you. (beat) Jenny, you're the best friend a person could ever have. You're the best first mate a captain could ever have. And you're the best girl a guy could ever have. (beat) I know we've had our differences of opinion, and we've both gotten mad at each other for completely valid reasons. But through it all, through everything that's happened, I've never stopped loving you. And I've never stopped needing you. A little hesitant, Bucky stands up and walks over to Jenny's chair, where she remains sitting. She looks up at Bucky, her eyes growing wide. BUCKY I know we said we'd take it slow, but I can't do that. You're too important to me to wait. I will never be happy another day in my life unless I know that I can call myself yours. Bucky bends down on one knee and takes Jenny's paws in his. Jenny blinks. BUCKY Jenny, will you marry me? Jenny's heart skips a beat. She pauses momentarily, letting all the happy memories she and Bucky have made together wash over her. She stands, still holding Bucky's paws. JENNY Bucky ... Jenny pulls Bucky up until they are standing next to each other. She takes him in a warm, loving embrace. The happiest smile she's ever had spreads across her lips. JENNY Yes. THE END