The Story of Four Animals

Act II

Scene 3

(Same setting as Act II, scene I; Dodger and Crystal enter stage left; Meet Milo center stage)

Milo (Excited): Hi guys! (Looking worried) What brings you two here?

Crystal (Hesitates): Milo. Dodger and I have to tell you something that we think you should know.

Milo (Unsure): What is it?

(Dodger walks Milo downstage right; Crystal following)

Dodger: Well Milo, remember when I told you the story of how you came to me?

Milo: Yes, you found me in the woods as a lost kitten and raised me as your own.

(Dodger looks down)

Milo: Well isn't that right?

Dodger (Hesitating): No, not entirely.

(Milo looks confused)

Dodger: Please don't think badly of me when I say (Hesitating) I lied to you about that.

Milo (Backing away): What? (Shocked) What do you mean?

(Crystal steps in)

Crystal: Well, the truth is that (Choking on the words) Um. Dodger took you from me when you were a kitten.

Milo (Shocked): What? No, that can't be right. You're my... My mother?

Crystal (Sighs): Yes Milo. Dodger and I talked the other day about you, and what he told me cleared everything up. Please just let us explain.

Milo (Upset): I can't believe this. (Shaking his head) What did he tell you? What is the truth?

Crystal (Looking down): Well. You know how Dodger is a leader?

Milo: Yes.

Crystal (Unsure where to begin): Well, dog packs have this law that says a leader can't have pups of their own. So naturally, he got jealous of everyone else having pups. He was so longing for a son, that he had his scout look around for someone who had a litter of pups. No such luck he discovered, but he did find out that a cat had a litter of kittens in town. The scout reported it to him, and he wasn't to fawn of the idea let me tell you. Dodger just didn't like the idea of having a cat, but he was so desperate that he came and stole you from me. (Looks down) He took you away from me and raised you as his own. I was mad at him at first, but once he explained the situation, I could not help but feel sorry for him. What he did was wrong, and I will never forgive him for it, but he very much regrets it.

(Walks up to Dodger)

Milo (Upset): Is all this true Dodger?

(Dodger looks away and then looks back at him)

Dodger (Sighs; Looking down): It's true. (Looks up at Milo) I did not want to take you but I was just desperate at the time. 

Milo (Starting to cry; upset): You and Crystal knew all this time, and you never told me? Why wait till now? I...I can't breathe.

Dodger: Calm down milo.

Milo (Backing up; Angry): No I won't calm down! You two lied to me! And Crystal. You knew about this also? How could you do this to me?

Crystal: We meant to tell you. I tried to tell you a few days ago when I was here, that I was your mother, but Dodger did not want you knowing. But now the truth has finally come out. It had to.

Milo (Upset): Yes it has! This is unbelievable. You two are a fake and I wish we never met!!

(Milo runs off upstage left)

Crystal: Milo, wait!

(Starting to run but Dodger stops her)

Dodger: Crystal, maybe we should just let him be. You know, give him time to think things over.

Crystal (Looking at him): He's my son Dodger, and even though you're right; he shouldn't have to go through this alone.

(Dodger looks down; Then realizes that Milo was running towards the woods)

Dodger (Scared): Crystal.

Crystal (Looking at him): Yes?

Dodger: I know that path he took; he's going into the woods! It's to close to sun down. The others packs will be out an about.

Crystal (Surprised): We must stop him Dodger! I thought he would run to his house; Oh he must be so distraught, he doesn't know where he's going; he's running right into danger!

Dodger: All the more reason to catch up to him. Come on! I can follow his scent.

Crystal: You don't have to. I know where he's going. Follow me!

(Dodger and Crystal run off in the same direction Milo took)

(Lights fade out)