"His Father's Son" by DJ Clawson First draft - 8/7/99 Final draft - 2/4/00 Edited by Rygar 11/14/08 SCENE 1 - THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION, DOCKING BAY ON GENUS The Righteous is relatively inactive and empty, save a harried AFC BLINKY dusting the panels, and ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT, who is sitting in the hatch between the main bay and engineering, reading a comic book. He looks up when CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE and FIRST MATE JENNY enter, both in full formal military dress, medals and all. Seeing them, Willy rises and salutes. BUCKY (jokingly, returning the salute) At ease. Willy slumps down into the hatchway again. BUCKY By the Great Mother, I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of that tonight. JENNY Will you ease up? BUCKY You know how I hate formal parties. (beat) And you also know how I hate saluting to civilian politicians, which is probably all I'll be doing. JENNY (grins) I'm sure Fritz'll be glad to here that. BUCKY Fritz has known it since the day he met me. (beat, to Willy) I trust the Righteous will be in good paws while we proceed to four hours of living hell with the slight hope of receiving more military funding by kissing political tail? WILLY Aye-aye, Captain. JENNY (tugs on Bucky's arm) Let's go before you work up even more snideness. BUCKY Right. (walking toward the main hatch, shaking his finger at Willy) And if there's *one* scratch on my ship, I'll -- WILLY I'll be careful with her, Captain. Before Willy can say anything else, Bucky is pulled out by Jenny, and the hatch shuts behind them. Willy smirks to himself, then turns back to his reading. SCENE 2 - CATERING HALL, GENUS The lavishly decorated ballroom is filled with hundreds of well- dressed and obviously wealthy mammals, along with scattered military figures. COMMANDER DOGSTAR, LIEUTENANT WOLF, CAPTAIN MIMI LAFLEUR, and FIRST MATE JONATHAN WEISSMAN are all present along with the Righteous pair in formal military dress. Dogstar and Mimi are at the bottom on the stairs as Bucky and Jenny enter, and they quickly dispose of the usual greetings. BUCKY (glancing around) Where's Wolf and Weissman? Mimi sips her champagne, noticing Bucky and Jenny's arms are latched together. MIMI We don't always keep our first mates on such a tight leash. (beat) In other words, hopefully drinking themselves under a table. DOGSTAR Wha- (stands straighter) I rather like these little affairs. Gives you a chance to show off your medals and whatnot. In my days at the Academy, to get invited to one of these was considered a great honor ... BUCKY (rolls his eyes) Save it for someone who needs to be regaled with stories from the old days, Dogstar. The rest of us are all too young and restless to withstand any more Academy talk. DOGSTAR (not offended) Oh, yes, the war generation. Fight fight fight, kill kil kill the toads and so forth. Driven people, I say, but no respect for the old world sense of rank and order ... VOICE Don't bore them yet, Commander. That's a politician's job. They all turn to see CHAIRMAN FRITZ WARNER, his usual upbeat self, approaching them from behind Dogstar. FRITZ (before they can respond) Don't salute. I've had enough of that from those new recruits the Academy sent up. But Dogstar is acting purely on instincts and does it anyway. FRITZ G-d, you really *are* old school, Commander. BUCKY You're no spring chicken yourself, Fritz. FRITZ Yeah, but I'm young at heart, and that's what counts, right? Besides, I don't consider anyone old before they've had their first heart attack ... (beat) Wait, correction. Let's go with second heart attack. And throw in one case of lung cancer for a dear friend of mine. MIMI Where is your bodyguard? (eyes him with a look that only he understands) I thought you two were never separated. FRITZ What do you want, for us to be conjoined at the hip? What do I need him for when I've got the best officers of the UAC fleet to protect me? Besides, this isn't his arena, this is mine. (beat, taking glass of champagne from server walking around) You guys may be fine out in space with those toads, but in here is where *my* fight happens -- and don't let it fool you. It's just as bloodthirsty and tiring as any physical battle. JENNY But with less innocent casualties. FRITZ (glances briefly over at Mimi, who misses it) You'd be surprised. Suddenly, VICE CHAIRMAN GRIFF waves to Fritz from the top of the stairs. FRITZ Speaking of battles -- I have an appointment with a few possible donors. BUCKY Anyone you need us to meet? FRITZ We'll see. Let's see if the negotiating general can win the war without having to call out the troops. Fritz leaves them and heads up the steps. They watch him go. BUCKY (to Mimi) What was that all about? MIMI (as if snapping out of a trance) What? BUCKY You were eyeing Fritz like he'd grown a third eye. MIMI (shrugs) Oh, I don't know. Just some unanswered questions about him. DOGSTAR (shocked) You're investigating the Chairman? MIMI No. At least, not officially. But I'm keeping my eyes open. BUCKY (seriously) I've known Fritz for ten years. He's one of the only people alive that I still keep in touch with that I knew before my Academy days. He's clean. MIMI Maybe so. But you still have to admit he leaves a lot out. JENNY Have Jonathan fill you in. He's a member of the Warner clan, isn't he? MIMI He's the black sheep of the Warner clan, and that's a self-imposed title. Whatever they're into, he wants out. (beat) That's what bothers me. His lips are sealed. He won't answer any of my questions. JENNY (uneasy) I don't know, Mimi. There's a human term for this -- Willy told me it once. I think it was ... "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." MIMI (sipping her drink) What the hell does that mean? JENNY It sounds ridiculous, but from the way Willy explained it, it means that the Warner administration is something we shouldn't take for granted or try to tarnish in any way. His pro-war policies have been terrific for the UAC and especially our fleet's funding. MIMI (rolls eyes) Don't all attack me at once. BUCKY Sorry. Fritz and I go back further than I do with ... probably anyone in this room. MIMI How'd you meet him? BUCKY He made some deal with my father back when he came to the aniverse about twelve years ago, looking for some land on Warren. At the time, only hares could get property, not rabbits, especially not non- Aniversians. Dad had a lot of land that had been in the family for generations but not a lot of money, so he rented to Fritz, who in turn paid for my education. MIMI Interesting. BUCKY (jokingly) You need to write that down? Am I being interrogated? MIMI (rolls eyes) I'll come back when you're down to your regular levels of snideness. Mimi wanders off. DOGSTAR Interesting girl, I say. JENNY You always say that. (to Bucky) I'd better make sure she doesn't do anything that makes us all look bad. Jenny follows Mimi. DOGSTAR Quiet a pair, those two. You know, in my day ... BUCKY Yes, yes, I know. There were no females in the military. It must have been tough. DOGSTAR Yes, well, it would have been much more difficult to go out with your first mate. Dogstar walks away before Bucky understands. BUCKY Heeey! A FOX comes up behind him. FOX Oh my -- Donald? Bucky turns around a bit, eyeing the fox, whose mouth is agape. Recognition crosses both of their faces. BUCKY Orion? Ray Orion? ORION Bucky? (beat, stumbling over words) By Frith, I'd thought I'd seen a ghost. I mistook you for your father. BUCKY (grins) It really is you. (grabs his paw and shakes it) I haven't seen you for ten years -- since ... Noctur II -- I thought you'd died. ORION Same here! It's just ... (takes a deep breath, obviously a little shaken) It's just so odd to see you. You -- of all your brothers -- the spitting image of your father. Bucky isn't quite sure how he wants to take that, but since Orion means it as a compliment, he decides to let it slide that way. Orion takes his arm, leading him through the crowd of people. ORION Excuse me for being a little out of touch -- after the Noctur II invasion, I decided to put some distance between myself and this end of the aniverse and did some business on Corneria, so until a few months ago, I've been missing all of the action with you and the toads. (smiles) Since I got back to Genus, it's been nothing but Captain O'Hare this and Captain O'Hare that in the news, everywhere. You've really made a name for yourself since the last time I saw you. (beat, looking him in the eyes) Your father would be proud. Bucky nods and nearly blushes. BUCKY I'm very honored that you think ... Jenny returns to his other side. JENNY Did I miss something? BUCKY Oh, Jen ... (to Orion) You've probably heard of my First Mate Jenny. ORION Indeed I have. BUCKY (to Jenny) This is Ray Orion. He was a close friend and advisor of my father's. We haven't seen each other in years. JENNY Nice to meet you. ORION (bows deeply) My pleasure. (beat) As much as it really is great to see you again, Bucky, I really must be off. Previous arrangements, I'm afraid. (leaning into Bucky, whispering) But I really need to talk to you. How long will you be on Genus? BUCKY (curious) At least the rest of the week. ORION I'll send you a message then. Nothing official, just a little personal business I want to clear up. It really is good to see you again! Orion waves goodbye and is off before either of them can react. JENNY Nice guy. BUCKY He always was. Mimi approaches them. MIMI Did I just see you talking to Ray Orion? BUCKY Yes, why? Mimi suddenly pulls Bucky aside, out of earshot of the rest of the room. Jenny remains latched to his side. MIMI What did he say to you? BUCKY Nothing much. Just was impressed at my accomplishments and all that. He's an old friend of my father's ... (notes the look on Mimi's face) Why? MIMI Did he try to find out anything about the fleet or arrange any meetings? BUCKY The second one, but he said it was a personal thing. MIMI Don't you ever read memos? Orion is under suspicion of being a double agent. JENNY Orion? A spy? BUCKY (flabbergasted) *What*? (lowers his voice, but still angry) How many of my old friends are you going to spread rumors about tonight? What is he, in some kind of conspiracy with KOMPLEX and Fritz to take over the aniverse? MIMI This has nothing to do with my ... call what you will, maybe even *investigations* on Warner. This came from the S.C. itself. Orion's been convinced to do business on Genus from now on so that we can have him under better surveillance. BUCKY Whatever. (waves it off, still angry) I've known him since I was five. My father trusted him, and so do I. MIMI (gives him one of her patented mischievous looks) Suit yourself. But keep your big ears open, O'Hare. The dinner bell rings, and Mimi starts in that direction, leaving the couple to digest what she just said. JENNY I hate to say this, but she is a little nosy. Jenny looks over and notices Bucky is not paying attention at all. JENNY Buck? Snap out of it. BUCKY (lost in his thoughts) What? Oh, sorry. JENNY Still mad at Mimi? BUCKY A little. But ... you know, I was just thinking about old times, seeing Orion and all. JENNY You'll have to fill me in after dinner. SCENE 3 - BUCKY'S APARTMENT, GENUS Much later at night, Bucky enters, sauntering in from the long and obviously tedious and draining evening. He slumps down on the bed, unbuttoning his collar. Jenny follows, noticing his faraway gaze. JENNY Still thinking about Orion? BUCKY Yeah, sort of. I guess it was sort of overwhelming, seeing him after all these years. JENNY (sits down next to him and slides a paw up his shoulder) Do you want to talk about it? BUCKY (quickly) No. (beat, exhausted) Maybe in the morning. JENNY (playfully) You know, you never tell about me yourself from before we met at the Academy. BUCKY Neither do you. JENNY But *you're* not sworn to secrecy. BUCKY Maybe I am. Jenny just raises her eyebrows disbelievingly. BUCKY OK, you got me there. But we'll discuss it later, OK? (kisses her on the forehead) Go to bed, First Mate. JENNY Aye-aye, Captain. Jenny gets up and leaves, but reluctantly. She can still sense Bucky's tension and regret, along with many other feelings he won't let her understand. Sighing softly to herself, she closes the door behind her. Alone in the room, Bucky also breathes a deep sigh and leans straight back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. BUCKY (thinks) SCENE 4 - WARREN, TEN YEARS AGO The young Bucky O'Hare is perched on his bed, cross-legged and facing the sole window. The fifteen-year-old hare is in his room, otherwise known as the attic. Aside from the usual teenage mess and decorations of scantily-clad female hares, the room is filled with art supplies -- jars of paint, easels, brushes lying out on the dresser, even a drawing table. The floppy-eared, sloppily dressed teen has his paws full with the canvas lying on the bed in front of him as he attempts to put the finishing touches on a watercolor painting of a tree visible from his window. Smoke rises from a dish next to the canvas that serves as an ashtray. Hard at work, he only breaks from his latest attempt at a masterpiece to retrieve the tightly rolled white stick from the ashtray and take a deep whiff. Setting it down again, Bucky is about to return to his art when he hears a knocking in the ground beneath him. He quickly shoves the ashtray under his bed and calls out. YOUNG BUCKY (waving his paws around to help the smoke dissipate) Come up! BRIAN O'HARE, a white hare with many patches of green who appears to be the same age as Bucky, lifts the hatch and sticks his head up into the room. BRIAN Aunt Iris said to tell you dinner's in ten minutes. YOUNG BUCKY Thanks. Do you know what's for dinner? BRIAN Carrot stew. Maybe you can smell it from here ... (takes a deep whiff, and then wrinkles his nose) You been smoking that whacked-out stuff again? YOUNG BUCKY (defensively) No! BRIAN Ha! You're a bad liar, Buck. YOUNG BUCKY (pointing) Get out of my room! VOICE What's goin' on? Bucky groans as he recognizes the voice of his oldest brother, JUSTIN O'HARE, from down below. Brian looks down at him. BRIAN Bucky's tokin' up again, and he's not sharing! JUSTIN What? Brian steps up into the attic, making way for Justin to emerge from behind him. The entirely white hare stands, sniffing deeply. JUSTIN Yup. (grabs Bucky by the shirt collar, lifting him off the ground) Where's the stash, runt? YOUNG BUCKY Leave me alone! Please! Justin looks as if he's going to slap him, but after a moment's contemplation, his eyes lose their crazed glint. JUSTIN Ah ... it's not worth it. (tossing Bucky aside) That stuff's for sissy artists, anyway. (turning to Bucky) Are you a sissy? YOUNG BUCKY (trying to avoid getting a beating) I-I guess so. Justin laughs and kicks some of the art supplies Bucky has left on the carpet. JUSTIN That'll teach ya to grow a damn spine. Quivering with both fear and anger, Bucky stays motionless as Justin and Brian exit. He then collapses with a large sigh on his floor, glad for the privacy. But it is quickly interrupted with another knock beneath him. YOUNG BUCKY Go away! FRITZ Fine! But dinner's ready, if you wanted to know ... Bucky quickly sits up at the voice of Fritz and opens the hatch. YOUNG BUCKY No, wait! I thought you were one of my brothers. Sorry. Fritz Warner pops up through the hatch. The younger Fritz, in his mid-forties, is very far removed from his future polished self. His short beard is scruffy. The only sign of his prosperity is a gold watch. FRITZ (sniffs) You high again? Bucky, having no desire to lie to Fritz, shrugs and picks up his art supplies, carefully putting them away. Fritz climbs up fully into the room and reaches into his shirt pocket to retrieve a carton of cigarettes. FRITZ Well, if you're going to indulge yourself, I am, too. Fritz pulls out one and lights up with obvious grace and skill of an experienced smoker. BUCKY (wrinkles his nose) I hate the smell of those things. When are you going to quit? FRITZ And I hate the smell of that stash you have under your bed. And I told you to cut it out. That stuff's illegal, and it's bad for you. BUCKY Dad says cigarettes are bad for you. FRITZ Yeah, but I'm older and more experienced at making immature decisions than you are. And I'm trying to quit. Bucky rolls his eyes. FRITZ (takes a drag) I said *trying.* I didn't say actually doing it. Besides, this is my first one today. The young hare shoots him a look. FRITZ Second ... (under Bucky's gaze) Fourth. But that's it! Bucky grins and finishes shelving the supplies. He holds out an ashtray so Fritz can dispose of his cigarette. BUCKY We'd better get downstairs. Dad'll kill me if I'm late again, and Bruce'll do it twice if I miss that award ceremony because I'm grounded. FRITZ What's he getting this time? BUCKY Some certificate for adolescent achievements in engineering. I dunno. FRITZ Good for him. (straightens himself out) Let's go. They head downstairs, into the large dining room. Already seated at the head of the long table is GENERAL DONALD O'HARE. The white hare is a strong and commanding figure. He sits with an air of precision and grace. Slightly overweight and balding, he is not in a military uniform but still gives off the aura as if he would feel better if wearing one, with medals decorating his chest. First on his side is the younger RAY ORION, and on the other side, Bucky's brothers from youngest to oldest -- Justin, CONNOR, MICHAEL, and Brian -- are sitting down in their respective seats. They have varying degrees of mixed fur colors, going from pure white down to mainly green. Only Bucky is entirely green. He seats himself next to the empty seat next to Ray, at the other end of the table. Fritz seats himself at the opposite end of Donald. ORION (acknowledges) Fritz. FRITZ (tonelessly) Ray. With everyone seated except for one empty chair, AUNT IRIS enters, carrying a large pot of stew. She sets it down in the middle of the table. IRIS Donald, if you had told me earlier, I would have made something that doesn't contain carrots for your fox friend. ORION It's OK. I've been on Warren long enough to be used to hare tastes. DONALD Well, not for much longer. FRITZ (not looking up from his bowl, in which he is stirring his stew) Oh? You're moving away and never coming back again? DONALD Fritz, please. We have a guest. Fritz rolls his eyes. Ray, obviously used to it, is numb. DONALD What I meant was ... well, it's sort of an important announcement. (beat) Ray and I have been discussing the situation on Noctur II. The raccoons are just about ready to duke it out with those toads. JUSTIN Are we going to Noctur, Dad? I wanna see some action! DONALD Now, now -- I wouldn't bring my litter into a battle they had nothing to do with. ORION But there's no war -- yet. The situation isn't even critical. Probably just a false alarm. DONALD I don't know. Those toads -- troublemakers, since that supercomputer took over. Need some straightening out, and the raccoons are the only ones willing to do it. (beat, rubbing Justin on the head) It'd be a good experience, don't you think, for the kids? Just the summer before they go off to the Academy? IRIS Honey, are you sure it's safe? DONALD Of course! The toads are all talk! They've always been that way, and no supercomputer is going to change that. FRITZ I wouldn't underestimate the toads. All eyes turn to Warner. DONALD What do you know about war? You're nothing more than an actor! (beat) I tell you, the toads are harmless. Just give them a little ground and they'll be satisfied. They don't have the stomach for a war. FRITZ That's what they said about Hitler at Munich. DONALD Who? Fritz sighs and leans on his palm. There's no way he's going to win this one. DONALD Anyway, it'll work out for you! You'll get rid of me and Orion. And you can have all the land to yourself. Just you and Iris. I'll take the boys, and we'll be back in time for fall term at the Academy. Bucky looks down into his bowl. DONALD What? Don't want to go? CONNOR Bucky's just scared. MICHEAL Yeah, he just wants ta sit around and do art. Isn't that right? DONALD Now, now, that's enough. Leave your brother alone. (beat, to Bucky) What is it, son? YOUNG BUCKY I-I ... was supposed to go to the painting class this summer. I have to have a bigger portfolio if I'm going to get into WSOA ... DONALD Now, son, I thought we discussed this ... YOUNG BUCKY (sitting up) I don't want to go to the Military Academy! I want to go to art school! And I need that portfolio! Donald gives him a look that makes Bucky whimper in terror and slide back down into his seat. FRITZ Now, hold it ... DONALD Fritz, stay out of this for once! FRITZ *I'm* paying for his education. I think I should have some say ... DONALD You only have say when I tell you ... Their shouting match escalates. Donald rises from his seat, fuming. None of the other table occupants are surprised; this is a regular occurrence in the O'Hare household. IRIS Donald, please! You have a guest! Donald forces himself back down and mumbles an apology. Fritz says nothing but sits quietly. Bucky wishes the chair would swallow him up. YOUNG BUCKY Can I be excused? DONALD Now listen here ... But with a harsh glance from Iris, Donald softens. DONALD All right. Take your plate in. Bucky jumps up from the table and makes it into the kitchen in record time. SCENE 5 - GENUS, PRESENT It's morning. The Righteous is still docked for refueling, so it's basically empty aside from some technicians and a few loose crew members. While Blinky runs around instructing the beaver techs on the finer points of cleaning the Righteous, Willy and GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK are doing their best to avoid the chaos by playing cards. Jenny steps through the open hatch, and they rise to salute. JENNY Good morning. At ease. (beat) Have either of you seen Bucky? DEADEYE Nah. An' he's usually an early riser. JENNY I know. WILLY Is something wrong? JENNY Not really. I just wanted to talk to him about last night. WILLY (concerned and oblivious) Did something happen? Deadeye nudges him. JENNY No, it isn't like that. It's just -- he saw an old friend of his father's last night, and I think it sort of set him off. WILLY Why? Jenny and Deadeye grimace and hesitate to speak. WILLY What? What am I missing? JENNY You know how Bucky only seems to mention his Aunt Iris as his only family member? How he never mentions his parents or his brothers? WILLY The captain has *brothers*? JENNY Bucky *used* to have brothers. Willy has an "oh" look on his face as they dissolve into silence. WILLY ... the toads, right? JENNY (nods) The invasion of Noctur II. His father had brought them all to see how negotiations worked. He was a bit ... militaristic, from what I gather. Bucky never talks about it. BUCKY Talk about what? They all turn to see Bucky stepping through the hatch. WILLY We were, uh ... JENNY ... telling Willy about your ... family. BUCKY (neutrally) Oh. OK. (beat) How's the refueling coming? WILLY Ah, fine. Fine. BUCKY Good, good. Any messages for me? DEADEYE Aye -- some guy called. A fox ... ah... WILLY (hands him an electronic notepad) He left his number. BUCKY (takes it) Good. Well, carry on. I'll take care of this. Bucky turns and leaves. The crew glances at each other. WILLY He looks OK. SCENE 6 - ORION'S APARTMENT, GENUS Orion is pacing as he hears a beep. ORION Come. The door slides open automatically, and Bucky enters the reasonably nice apartment. BUCKY You wanted to talk. ORION Yes. Thank you for coming. It's so ... refreshing to see you again. BUCKY Yeah ... me too, I guess. ORION (smiles and looks over Bucky's uniform) You are truly a site to behold. BUCKY (blushing) Thank you. ORION I mean it. BUCKY So, what is it you wanted to show me? ORION Give you, more accurately. BUCKY (confused) What? Orion leans against the wall and gestures over toward a wooden box on his desk. Bucky approaches it cautiously. The box is smooth and perfectly carved from fine redwood. ORION Open it. Glancing suspiciously at the fox, Bucky slowly lifts the small latch and opens the box. Inside, resting comfortably on an interior padded with a deep red silk, is the hilt to a lightsaber, shined to perfection. Bucky gasps as he recognizes it instantly. BUCKY (gaping) My father's Nharnian lightsaber. ORION The same. (pulls himself off the wall and joins Bucky at his side) Your father ... entrusted it to me before leaving for Noctur that summer. After all, I hear these things are hard to come by for non- Nharnians. (thoughtfully, to himself) I never get to hear that tale about how Donald got it ... BUCKY (without thinking, never taking his eyes off the hilt) He saved a Nharnian life. A young knight named Thayli. In return, he became one of the only non-lions in the aniverse to possess a real lightsaber. (beat) I heard my father recite the tale a thousand times. The fox points to the inscription along the top rim, carved in an ancient language neither of them can understand. ORION Did Donald ever tell you what that says? BUCKY (nods) It's in Nharnian Lopine. He had to have that knight explain it to him. (beat) "Straight is the path of the warrior, for he knows the true blade is within." Bucky turns away for a second, the rush of memories overwhelming him. He still needs time to digest all of this. BUCKY Why ... are you showing this to me? ORION I told you. It's yours. (puts his paw on his shoulder) Your father had a bad feeling about Noctur II. When he gave this to me, he told me to give it to the next deserving O'Hare. Now, you're not only the one and only O'Hare, but I certainly think you're the most deserving. When I said Donald would be proud of you, I meant it. Overwhelmed by emotions, Bucky reaches into the box and pulls out the hilt, holding it in front of him and moving it around experimentally. BUCKY ... thank you. I don't know what to say ... Bucky suddenly activates the blade. A green burst of concentrated energy shoots up from the hilt in the form of rod. Bucky waves it around, but Orion puts a paw on his to stop him. ORION Just say you won't point that thing at me. These things are a lot more dangerous than the fencing swords you guys played with at the Academy. BUCKY (grins) That's a promise. SCENE 7 - CHAIRMAN WARNER'S OFFICE Fritz is doing paperwork at his desk when Bucky knocks and enters. FRITZ (glancing up briefly) Oh, hello, Bucky. (beat) I was thinking of getting a stamp with my signature on it. To save me time. What do you think? BUCKY Oh. That's nice. (swallows) You remember Ray Orion? FRITZ Of course. (takes a sip of his coffee) You read your memos? BUCKY He's under investigation for involvement with the toads. FRITZ I wouldn't put it beneath him. BUCKY (after a moment) Why did you always hate him? FRITZ (nonchalantly) He always encouraged your father to go through with his crazy, militaristic ideas that I always thought were either insane or just plain stupid. And he never did it for wholesome reasons. BUCKY What do you mean? FRITZ I mean your father was an old-world general and Ray was a minor diplomat. They were polar opposites. So why did Ray hang around him like he did, putting ideas in your dad's head? (beat) Sorry, just some personal suspicions. BUCKY Oh. Bucky falls silent, obviously thinking something heavy. FRITZ What is it? BUCKY Nothing. It's just ... (beat, not wanting to discuss it further) Did you know Mimi's investigating you? FRITZ (lets him change the subject) I wouldn't be much of a Chairman if I didn't keep tabs on who was investigating me. BUCKY But it doesn't bother you? Fritz shrugs. FRITZ What's she going to find? That I'm a regen? She and half the aniverse already knows it. BUCKY (tauntingly) So you're saying you have no secrets? FRITZ Everyone has their personal skeletons. Some of us just have them sealed away better than others. SCENE 8 - BUCKY'S APARTMENT That night, Bucky enters, tired from all of his paperwork, but restless. Stripping down to his undershirt and boxers, he settles down on the side of the bed, rubbing his forehead. He can't seem to get Orion out of his mind. BUCKY SCENE 9 - WARREN, TEN YEARS AGO Much later at night, after dinner, the O'Hare mansion is quiet, aside from a few lights on in the kitchen, and the mansion stands alone with scenic Warren's cornfields as a backdrop. A transport vehicle pulls up, with BRUCE the baboon driving and Bucky next to him. It stops, and they both get out. YOUNG BUCKY (glancing at his watch) My dad's gonna kill me! YOUNG BRUCE Ah, it'll be awright as long as 'e doesn' find out. (slaps him on the back) Thanks fer comin'. YOUNG BUCKY It was a pleasure. That and I wanted to see the new AFC prototype you've been talking about every second of every day for the last *year*. YOUNG BRUCE Yah, well, Doc Wallace is all like "top secret!" with Blinky, but ... YOUNG BUCKY (laughs) Blinky? You call him Blinky? Bruce looks horrified. YOUNG BRUCE Our secret project name! Ah, ya won't tell nobody, right? YOUNG BUCKY (winks) Our secret. Bucky starts up the front steps to the huge wooden porch. YOUNG BRUCE Good luck wit' yer dad. Ya really think 'e's gonna drag ya to Noctur? YOUNG BUCKY He's pretty set on it. Maybe Fritz'll make him change his mind. YOUNG BRUCE Yah. Good luck! YOUNG BUCKY Congratulations again! They wave, and Bruce climbs into the transport and leaves. Bucky sighs tiredly and opens the front door, careful only to let it squeak as little as possible. He is about to slip upstairs when he hears voices coming from the lit kitchen. His father, Ray Orion, and Fritz are having an argument. Curious, he ducks behind the doorway and listens in, raising his ears. DONALD When I want your opinion, Warner, I'll ask for it! FRITZ All you ask for is the checks. Like I don't care about this family! DONALD Why should you? You're just a rabbit, from another dimension no less. If I hadn't taken you in ... FRITZ You did not "take me in." You begged me to get you out of bankruptcy for a few acres of land! ORION Fritz, he does have a point. You are an immigrant ... FRITZ Oh, shut up! You and your lame-brained ideas! Sending Don and his litter to Noctur -- right! Real intelligent! You want a bunch of kids to be at ground zero when war breaks out? DONALD There'll be no war! The toads are harmless! Ray said it himself. FRITZ I don't trust him. ORION Hey, I *am* in the room, thank you very much! FRITZ (calming himself) I just mean that anyone advocating that you and your litter in unnecessary danger is either on toad payroll or just plain stupid! DONALD Honestly, Warner, what's gotten into you? Everyone can see that the toads are harmless but you! And what do you know about war, huh? There is a brief silence. FRITZ Let me put it this way. If someone had stopped this German guy a lot like KOMPLEX, I would have a lot more relatives than I do now! DONALD You can't honestly compare some guy from your dimension to the toads! Have you ever even met a toad? They're idiots! They're naïve and cowardly! ORION Donald has a ... FRITZ *You* shut up! DONALD That's enough of that, Warner! He's my friend, and I forbid you to insult him! If you're going to keep your place in this family, you had better show some respect! FRITZ If you want to be able to *afford* the trip to Noctur, *you'd* better show some respect! (beat) Now, Don, honestly. We may hate each other, but we both have the same interests in mind. DONALD Those being? ... FRITZ (coldly) Your litter, in case you've forgotten. You may have the common sense of a tin can, but I'll do whatever it takes to knock some sense into you, even if it means tying your paws financially! There is a tense silence. Bucky tries not to breathe. DONALD (grumbling) I'm taking them to Noctur. FRITZ Only with some concessions. DONALD Like? FRITZ What about Bucky's art classes? Why can't he stay here? DONALD Because I want him to maybe get a sense of what authority is and grow a damn spine! And I have a feeling he's not going to grow one at WNYA or whatever ... Bucky winces shamefully. FRITZ WSOA. Warren School of Art. Get it right. Your son is going there. DONALD Whatever. (beat) So. Art classes. FRITZ Yes. He needs a painting class. DONALD Well ... what if I find an art class on Noctur? It's a fully functioning planet. FRITZ (after some time to consider) OK. And one more thing? DONALD (tiredly) *What*? FRITZ One shot is fired and you get *off* that planet. DONALD You think I would get my own sons killed? FRITZ I don't think I have to dignify that with an answer. Bucky sighs quietly. He's a little relieved he'll be getting his art classes, but the whole fight leaves him unsettled. SCENE 10 - BUCKY'S APARTMENT, PRESENT Some time later, Bucky is soaking in the bathtub, deep in thought. The conversation is still playing again and again in his head. BUCKY (thinking) Realization hits Bucky. BUCKY (beat, with resolve) SCENE 11 - THE RIGHTOUES INDIGNATION The next morning, Bucky is pacing alone in engineering when Willy's door appears with a bright flash of light and he steps through. WILLY (salutes) Oh, hi, Captain. (glancing around) Where is everyone? BUCKY Meetings. Officer reviews are coming up. WILLY Ah. (raises eyebrow) Am I an officer? BUCKY Yes. (beat) I need you to do something for me. You have level five security clearance, right? WILLY Yeah. Why? BUCKY I need you to do some digging in the Security Council's files. WILLY (sits down on his chair, activating the computer panel) On what? BUCKY On who. Ray Orion. Find me everything they've got. (beat, winks) And I don't care *how* you get it. Understood? WILLY Yeah, Captain. But can I ask why ... BUCKY No. Just do it. And don't tell anyone about it. Bucky turns on his heels and leaves abruptly, shutting the hatch behind him. WILLY Weird. Willy turns to his work. SCENE 12 - THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Later, Willy is still hard at work at the computer, with the blue screen reflecting off of his glasses. Printouts of his results are spewing out of the panel as Bucky enters. BUCKY OK, Willy, what have you got? WILLY Well, I managed to get into the UAC mainframe ... (beat) You probably *don't* want to ask how. BUCKY (picking up some printouts) It's OK. What did you get? WILLY Everything I could find. All of the investigation files, personal files, some psychiatric profile from when he was running for office on his home planet, credit history, mortgage papers for his house on Corneria ... BUCKY (absently skimming the pages) Where's the credit history? Willy wades through the papers and retrieves a stack of sheets. BUCKY Perfect. (skims it, to himself) "On toad payroll ..." WILLY What? BUCKY (defensively) Nothing. Bucky is silent as he tosses sheets aside, running his paw down the lists. His eyes widen as his paw hits something. BUCKY (holds up paper and points) Can you bring up information on this company? WILLY (pushes his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and reads) Green Industries? Yeah, OK. Willy works for a few minutes before a few papers come out, which Bucky nabs wildly. Willy watches as horror drips across his captain's face and he collapses on the bench, clearly hanging on every word he reads. WILLY Uh, Captain? Are you OK? BUCKY (finished reading; looks up) Clean this mess up. And don't tell anyone what you've done for me. I have to take care of this on my own. With that, Bucky stands abruptly and storms out of the Righteous, slamming the hatch angrily behind him. WILLY What a weird day. Willy starts to collect the papers strewn across the Righteous's deck. SCENE 13 - BUCKY'S APARMENT Bucky storms in, nearly taking the door of the hinges. He's disoriented and hysterical. BUCKY Dammit! All this time ... (dissolves into tears) Why didn't someone do something ... SCENE 14 - NOCTUR II, TEN YEARS AGO Several months have passed since the argument Bucky overheard. Bucky is lying on the ground in a cold, metal cell. Groaning as he regains consciousness, the young hare reaches up to massage his aching head, only to be greeted by a sticky goo. He brings his paw back down in front of his eyes, and in the dim light he recognizes half-dried blood on his fingers. YOUNG BUCKY Eeeewwww ... Bucky thinks. The last thing he remembers is some kind of toad commando whacking him in the temple with the butt of his blaster. Slowly collecting himself, he forces himself upright, albeit painfully. The room is spinning and remains that way no matter how much he tries to focus. Giving up, Bucky rolls on his side to find another furred body beside him, the face turned in the opposite direction. He recognizes his youngest brother, Brian. YOUNG BUCKY Brian? You awake? There is no response. After a few impatient moments, he reaches over to turn Brian to face him, and his brother's body slumps limply over so the face is facing Bucky. Brian's eyes are wide open, but there is a large and very bloody hole in the center of his forehead. YOUNG BUCKY AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! Screaming like a maniac, Bucky gets up to run away, only to trip over another body, this one of his brother Connor, who has a large knife sticking out of his back. Bucky screams again. Standing is painful and hard to do, but the last thing he wants to do is be any closer to the dead bodies of his brothers. He crawls to his feet, using the wall. The wall is matted with blood from someone being hurled against it, and it leads down to Justin slumped against the wall. YOUNG BUCKY J-Justin? (kneels beside him) C'mon, wake up! I need you! Justin groans and opens one eye. Bucky gives a relieved sigh. JUSTIN The hell? ... Justin grabs out wildly, latching onto Bucky's throat, and begins to strangle him. YOUNG BUCKY No-no ... agh, Justin ... it's me! ... JUSTIN (squints with one good eye) Bucky? (releases him) Hey, runt. I'm actually glad to see you. YOUNG BUCKY M-me too. Are you OK? JUSTIN (squirms) I can't feel my legs. Be a good brother and check to make sure they're still there, OK? Bucky picks up the cloth that has fallen over him. One leg is only bruised, but the other is torn almost entirely apart. Bucky gasps. JUSTIN What is it? Damn toads ... (blinks) Great Mother, I'm tired. YOUNG BUCKY No! Stay awake! I need you! JUSTIN For what? Oh, right. You're a coward. (closes eye) Dad'll come. Kick some toad tail and then get over here. Wake me when he comes, OK? YOUNG BUCKY Justin! Don't ... But Justin is already unconscious. Shivering, Bucky stands and looks around the room as his eyes adjust to the light. The room is empty, aside from him and his four brother's bodies, and a mattress- less cot. His last brother, Michael, is decked out on the cot. Bucky nudges him, but he also doesn't respond. Sobbing in terror, Bucky ducks under the cot and remains there for what seems like an eternity, until he hears voices and the door creak open. Several TOADS enter, with the head trooper, CYRUS THE WART, in command. His voice is recognizable as a less mechanized version of Toadborg's voice, but with the same arrogant sneer. CYRUS (looking around) Where's the live one? One of the toads kneels besides Justin, who is still breathing lightly. TOAD #1 This one's still alive, but I don't think he'll make it. He isn't the one, anyway. CYRUS Good. Cyrus aims his blaster and fires at Justin, hitting him in the chest. Justin breathes his last gasp and collapses on his side, silent. Bucky squeaks in terror and tries to position himself even further under the cot. CYRUS KOMPLEX said we needed raccoon slaves, but he didn't say anything about hares. And my trigger finger's been itching all morning. TOAD #1 I was sure there were five of 'em ... The toad glances under the cot, into Bucky's bright white eyes. Bucky shrieks, then tries to muffle it. TOAD #1 Found 'im! Two toads kneel next to the cot and drag Bucky out, who is paralyzed by his fear and curled into a little ball. He is carried out of the room, into the bright hallway and down a corridor. He has his eyes shut so tightly that he begins to tear. After a while, he is dropped onto a cold metal floor and finally opens his eyes. He is surrounded by technicians and stormtoads. Cyrus is next to him, facing a computer screen with a blue-green face Bucky will come to remember well, but is now seeing for the first time -- KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX Report! CYRUS (bows) Mission complete, Oh Might KOMPLEX. The population has been subdued. KOMPLEX And that miserable hare? CYRUS Taken care of. Personally. We also have brought his youngest child. Bucky cowers. KOMPLEX Good. (to Bucky) What is your name, mammal? YOUNG BUCKY B-B-B-B-Buck-k-k-- KOMPLEX (bellowing) WHAT IS YOUR NAME? YOUNG BUCKY B-Bucky O-O'Hare, s-sir. KOMPLEX (smiles, to Cyrus) He is sufficient. (back to Bucky) You are going to go back to your mammalian allies on Genus and give them a message. Do you think you can do that, filthy mammal? Bucky swallows and nods nervously. KOMPLEX Good. You will tell your mammal elders what happened here, in the greatest possible detail. You will warn them all to tremble and bow before the glory of the Toad Empire! Horrified, Bucky muffles his sobs and nods obediently. KOMPLEX (to Cyrus) Make sure he reaches Genus -- alive. CYRUS As you wish, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX! Bucky is dragged off. The last thing he remembers as he is drugged is KOMPLEX's laughing face. SCENE 15 - BUCKY'S APARTMENT, PRESENT Bucky snaps out of his trance with a start. It takes him a minute to realize that it wasn't all a dream, and that ten years have passed. BUCKY Feels like yesterday ... Gathering himself, Bucky sighs and looks around. The wooden box that contains his father's lightsaber is on the dresser. He picks it up, opening it and staring at the contents for a long while. SCENE 16 - THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Willy is idly working at the computer when Jenny, Deadeye, and Bruiser enter. JENNY I don't understand this. He wouldn't just run off like this. Deadeye and Bruiser just stare at Jenny. JENNY All right -- he would! But not without telling one of us. They stare harder. JENNY OK, OK. But I'm still worried. WILLY What's going on? JENNY Bucky's missing. We can't reach him by comm, and he's not in his apartment. He was supposed to be at a meeting. WILLY Well ... JENNY Well, what? All eyes now turn to Willy. WILLY (slinking back in shame) He told me not to tell anyone. DEADEYE Tell anyone what? WILLY Like I just said ... JENNY Willy ... (takes his hand) Bucky could be in danger! Did you sense any strange feelings coming from him before he left? WILLY Yeah -- it was like rage. JENNY And how often do you know Bucky to go off and do something crazy and dangerous? DEADEYE The lass's got a point. WILLY (sighs) When you guys were at that meeting, he had me dig up all of these files on Ray Orion, but he wouldn't explain why. He just had me print them out and ran off with the files. JENNY What kind of files? WILLY Everything. Old tax files, communication bills. I even pulled up his whole credit history before the captain was satisfied. (beat) I don't understand what was up. I mean, don't he and that Orion guy go back? JENNY I was also under that impression. DEADEYE Aye, the Cap'n's gotta lotta stuff in 'is past he doen' like ta talk about. BRUISER I think dat goes fer all of us. JENNY (rubbing her chin) Not too many people who knew Bucky before he entered the Academy are still around. Bruce, most of his family ... WILLY That Mentor guy? JENNY But we don't know who he is and how to find him. (beat) The Chairman knew him. We have to find him. WILLY You think he's gonna want the files that made Bucky so upset? Jenny glances at the papers Willy is holding up. JENNY Bring them. SCENE 16 - CONFERENCE ROOM, UACSC HEADQUARTERS Fritz and Griff are at one end of a long conference table, discussing something when the Righteous crew storms in, minus Bucky. FRITZ Did you find Bucky? JENNY No. He ran off. Willy? Willy drops the papers in front of the Chairman. WILLY He wanted me to ... uh, get into your files on Ray Orion. Then he saw something ... (points on one of the crumbled papers) ... here and he got upset and ran out. FRITZ Orion's credit history? Let's check this out. (skims the sheet) A bunch of illegal slush funds, but nothing to convict. JENNY Convict? FRITZ We're pretty sure he's a toad spy, but we're still trying to pin him down with some hard evidence. WILLY He made me look something up. Uh ... Green Industries? FRITZ (looking through the papers) Green Industries? Oh, here it is. (beat, thinks) This is it! This is the proof we need! DEADEYE Whaddaya mean, sir? FRITZ Green Industries was a cover the toads used about ten, maybe fifteen years ago to launder money to their spies. It was shut down a few months after the invasion of Noctur II. (beat, points) See, here's a listing of payments, at six-month intervals. And one of them is ... There is a long silence. JENNY What? FRITZ Right after the invasion. About five days, actually. The day Bucky was delivered back to Genus. (beat, angrily) Christ! I knew I shouldn't have let Donald go! WILLY You think Bucky's gone after Orion? FRITZ I'm sure of it. SCENE 17 - ORION'S APARTMENT Orion is sorting through the papers on his desk when he hears a knock on the door. ORION Come. Bucky enters. ORION (looks up) Bucky. Good to see you. What can I ... Orion stops in his sentence as Bucky advances slowly on him, drawing and powering up his lightsaber. ORION Great Frith, I told you to be careful with that thing! BUCKY (advancing menacingly) I am. I know exactly what I'm doing. Orion gets out of his chair and steps back, up against the bookcase. ORION Wha ... what are you doing? Bucky? Kiddo? BUCKY (irritated) Don't call me that! Bucky shoves Orion up against the wall, holding the energy blade up to his neck. BUCKY Why was I spared? Why me? ORION I don't know what you mean, Bucky ... BUCKY Don't lie to me! (with a mix of anger and sadness in his voice) Why *me*? Of all of my brothers? ORION Buck ... BUCKY SHUT UP AND TELL ME! Bucky holds the blade dangerously close to Orion's neck, burning some of his neck fur. Ray begins to sweat under the heat of the blade, and he can see water streaks on Bucky's face, but whether they're from sweat or tears is unclear. With his bloodshot eyes, Bucky clearly has been doing a lot of crying. BUCKY I know all about Noctur II! (beat) You betrayed my whole family! My father trusted no one but you! (nearly in tears) Why was I spared? WHY ME? ORION (gurgling, trying to avoid the blade) I ... told them you were ... harmless. Someone had to be left alive ... to deliver a message to the Security Council. I figured you would be least likely to try to avenge ... BUCKY You were *wrong*! ORION I realized. The toads ... realized. They threatened to ... kill me for my mistake. (beat) Why did you have to change? Why couldn't you just stay the way you were? You've become so much like Donald, it's frightening ... Bucky steps back, removing the blade but not powering it down as he is overwhelmed by emotion. BUCKY You ... made me who I am. (in tears, dropping to his knees) This isn't what I wanted ... As Bucky becomes increasingly incapacitated by his emotions, Orion begins to inch sideways, toward the door. Suddenly, he is tapped on the shoulder. Turning, he is confronted with the Righteous crew and Fritz. FRITZ Ray ... you G-ddamn son of a bitch ... (sees Bucky) If you screwed him up yet again ... Bruiser lunges for Orion. Bucky comes to, rushing in between the two of them and holding up his lightsaber. BUCKY No! He's *mine*! JENNY Bucky, you don't want to do this! (to Fritz) He's hysterical. FRITZ What was your first clue? BUCKY (waving his lightsaber around as they try to approach) Stay back! DEADEYE Somethin's not right wi' th' Cap'n! FRITZ You confront the guy who was responsible for the death of your entire family and see how well *you* deal. (to Bucky) Buck, that is not a toy! Put that down before you hurt someone! I know you're very upset, but killing Ray will not make things right. BUCKY Dad would do it. FRITZ Well, no offense, Bucky, but your dad was a jerk. He was Admiral Hudson times ten, and I hated him for it. And as much as you strive to immortalize him in death, you seem to forget you resented him in life. He never respected either of us, and I hated him for it. I even hate him in death for having died the way he did to turn you into a gung-ho military maniac. (beat) Most of all, I hated him for being a lousy father to you. BUCKY Don't say that! Bucky draws his saber and launches himself at the Chairman with the speed of a hare that no member of the Righteous crew can match. He is barely inches away when he runs into KADAF WARNER, who was been shadowing Fritz the entire time. Kadaf grabs Bucky from behind and holds him by the shoulders, lifting him off the ground. Ray sees his chance and decides to take it, darting for the door. FRITZ Bruiser! Bruiser nods and slams into Orion, giving him a blow he'll remember for a long time. Meanwhile, Bucky is off balance from Kadaf's attack and collapses. Jenny rushes to his side. The rest of the crew just stands there, shocked. KADAF (whispers to Fritz) Fritz, we should ... FRITZ I know. It's OK. (beat, kneels beside Bucky) It's my fault. I suspected Orion years ago but didn't do anything about it. I was just a naïve actor. BUCKY (hysterical) Orion -- he ... JENNY We know. It's OK. (holds Bucky close, letting him cry on her shoulder) Shhhh ... The crew turns away, letting their captain have his cry. It is, after all, a little unsettling. Fritz sighs and turns to Ray, who is disoriented and unable to run away by Bruiser hovering over him. FRITZ You gave him a *lightsaber*? Do you have *any* idea how dangerous those things are? ORION I thought ... I owed Donald that much. FRITZ You owe Donald a hell of a lot more than that. (to Bruiser) Take him away before I do something I'll regret. KADAF You won't regret it. FRITZ Yeah, but I won't enjoy the paperwork afterwards. Bruiser? BRUISER Wit' pleasure, sir! Bruiser carts Orion off. Meanwhile, Jenny has managed to subdue Bucky, who appears to be regaining his senses. BUCKY Orion -- he's ... FRITZ ... going to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Not the most satisfying way to take care of him, but we have to do what's right. We *are* supposed to be the good guys. Bucky sighs and leans against the wall. BUCKY I'm sorry for ... almost cutting you in half. Fritz shrugs. He doesn't seem all that concerned. JENNY (helping Bucky up) C'mon, Buck. We'll get you cleaned up ... Jenny escorts Bucky out. Willy, Deadeye, and Blinky look at the Warners hesitantly. FRITZ Call a clean-up crew to give this place a good search, and you're all dismissed. They nod and leave. Fritz sighs tiredly and leans against the desk. Kadaf takes out a cigarette and lights up. KADAF You know, that's the first time we've had to restrain him. FRITZ It won't be the last. (beat) I've always said Bucky was a driven hare. One of these days, he's going to drive right off a cliff. THE END