Save the Bees

Chapter 8

Maddie: Bears kill bees! How would you like his big hairy head crashing through your living room? Biting into your couch, spitting out your throw-pillows...rowr, rowr!

Bear: Rowr!!

Barry: Okay, that's enough. Take him away. (Vincent stops roaring. He and the man depart without incident, leaving Vanderhayden trembling with the Judge glaring at him and Layton angrily growling himself.)

(Later, Barry, Y/N, Loki, and Maddie question another witness.)

Y/N: So, Mr. Sting. Thank you for being here. Your name intrigues me, I have to say. Where have I heard it before?

Sting: I was with a band called "The Police".

Loki: But you've never been a police officer of any kind, have you?

Sting: Uh, no, I haven't.

Maddie: No, you haven't. And so, here we have yet another example of bee culture being casually stolen by a human for nothing more than a prance-about stage name.

Sting: Oh, please.

Barry: Have you ever been stung, Mr. Sting? Because I'm feeling a little stung, Sting. Or should I say, Mr. Gordon M. Sumner?

The jury gasps.

Layton: (to his assistants:) That's not his real name? You idiots! (later on, Barry, Y/N, Loki, and Maddie's questioning another witness)

Y/N: (reading from the base of the statue the witness is holding) Mr. Liotta, first may I offer my belated congratulations on your Emmy win for a guest spot on E.R. in 2005.

Ray Liotta: Thank you. Thank you. (he laughs maniacally)

Loki: I also see from your resume that you're devilishly handsome, but with a churning inner turmoil that's always ready to blow.

Ray: I enjoy what I do. Is that a crime?

Maddie: Not yet it isn't. But is this what it's come to for you, Mr. Liotta? Exploiting tiny helpless bees so you don't have to rehearse your part, and learn your lines, sir?

Ray: Watch it, Benson, L/N, Laufeyson, and McWilliams, I could blow right now!

Barry: This isn't a goodfella. This is a badfella!

Ray: (suddenly upset, he tries to smash Barry, Y/N, Loki, and Maddie with his Emmy statue) Why doesn't someone just step on these little creeps and we can all go home? You're all thinking it. Say it!

Judge: Order! Order in this courtroom! Order, I say! Mr. Liotta, please sit down! (The reaction from the press is harsh. The headline of the New York Telegram has "Sue Bee", the New York Post reads "Bees to Humans: Buzz Off", and the Daily Variety reports "Studio Dumps Liotta Project. Slams Door on Unlawful Entry 2.")

(That evening, in Diana and Rae's apartment.)

Y/N: Well, I just think that was awfully nice of that bear to pitch in like that.

Diana: I'm telling you, I think the jury's on our side.

Loki: Are we doing everything right, you know, legally?

Rae: We're florists.

Maddie: Right, right. (they raise their glasses) Well, here's to a great team.

Diana: To a great team. (all toast and Lee enters the apartment)

Lee: Well, hello.

Rae: Oh... Lee.

Barry: Hello.

Diana: Ah, I didn't think you were coming.

Lee: No, I was just late. I tried to call. But, the battery...