INTERIOR FRONT LOBBY — DUSK
ESTRELLA PUTS THE COVER OVER CAPTAIN AHAB’S CAGE
ESTRELLA
Buenos noches, Capitan. Que le duerme bien.
ESTRELLA LOCKS THE FRONT DOOR.
SHE RETURNS TO THE RECEPTION AREA AND TAKES HER PURSE OUT OF THE CABINET. THEN SHE WALKS TO THE BACK HALLWAY DOOR AND TURNS OFF THE LIGHTS.
CUT TO:
CYNTHIA’S HAND IN SEMI-DARKNESS, REACHES UP AND TURNS ON A LIGHT SWITCH.
LIGHTS COME UP AS CYNTHIA ENTERS THE BUGALOW SHE SHARES WITH ARMANDO, HER STANDARD POODLE GIDEON, AND HIS MINIATURE POODLE POODOO.
CYNTHIA
Hi, guys! Mom’s home!
(BEAT)
Gideon? PooDoo?
(BEAT)
(WHISTLES) Boys! Hey, guys! Where are you? (TO HERSELF) Surely they aren’t still outside.
CYNTHIA WALKS THROUGH THE HALL INTO THE LIVING ROOM.
ARMANDO’S VOICE
Say hi to mom, boys.
ARMANDO IS SITTING ON THE COUCH WITH AN ARM AROUND EACH DOG. THE DOGS ARE WIGGLING LIKE MAD TO GET FREE AND GO GREET CYNTHIA.
CYNTHIA
Armando? Armando!
ARMANDO
I just couldn’t go another day without seeing you.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR ROBBIE’S APARTMENT — DUSK
ROBBIE’S APARTMENT IS DIMLY LIT BY A RED-AND-WHITE TABLE LAMP MADE OF A CLEAR CYLINDER THAT IS FILLED WITH BASEBALLS.
ROBBIE ENTERS WITH PAYHECK’S LEASH IN ONE HAND AND A VERY LARGE SHOPPING BAG FROM PET CRAFT IN THE OTHER HAND.
ROBBIE
Home sweet home, Paycheck.
ROBBIE UNHOOKS THE LEASH FROM PAYCHECK’S COLLAR.
ROBBIE
Check it out, big fella. It’s all yours.
PAYCHECK STANDS BESIDE ROBBIE.
ROBBIE DROPS THE LARGE SHOPPING BAG ON THE FLOOR.
HE STARTS TO WALK AROUND, TAKING PAYCHECK ON A TOUR OF THE APARTMENT.
ROBBIE
This is the couch we’ll sit on to watch baseball on TV…..(IN THE KITCHEN) And here is where we’ll have breakfast. … (WALKS DOWN THE HALL TO THE BEDROOM) This is our bed. Come on. Try it out. (HE SITS ON THE BED AND PATS IT.) You can do it. Come on up!
PAYCHECK JUMPS UP ON THE BED AND PUTS HIS HEAD ON ROBBIE’S SHOULDER.
ROBBIE
Yeah. You’re going to be just fine.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR ESTRELLA’S HOUSE — DUSK
ESTRELLA UNLOCKS THE DOOR TO HER HOUSE. SHE OPENS THE DOOR, STANDS SIDEWAYS IN THE MERE CRACK OF AN OPENING AND PUTS HER FOOT IN THE DOOR TO KEEP ANY CATS FROM ESCAPING.
ONCE INSIDE SHE WALKS TO HER BEDROOM AND HANGS HER PURSE ON THE DOORKNOB. SHE GOES TO THE BED AND SITS DOWN ON IT. FIRST SHE TAKES OFF HER SHOES. THEN SHE BENDS OVER TO PET PAULIE.
ESTRELLA
It was such a good day, Paulie. Cynthia is going to see her Armando, Moxie is going to get a girlfriend, and Robbie has a dog. So, what does my Paulie have?
ESTRELLA HOLDS THE CAT’S FRONT PAWS IN HER HANDS AND MASSAGES THEM.
ESTRELLA
Well, you have claws that could use a trim.
(BEAT)
Tonight when you’re sleepy, eh? Right now, let’s see what your brothers and sister have.
ESTRELLA PICKS UP THE CAT AND WALKS TO THE LIVING ROOM. SHE SITS ON THE COUCH, STILL HOLDING PAULIE. TWO MORE CATS JUMP UP ON THE COUCH. ONE RUBS AGAINST THE LEGS OF THE COUCH. ONE CAT, SNOOZING IN AN ARMCHAIR, RAISES ITS HEAD AND BLINKS.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR A. MICHAEL’S APARTMENT — DUSK
A. MICHAEL OPENS THE DOOR TO SARA BERNHART’S HABITAT. HE TAKES HER OUT AND CUDDLES HER UNDER HIS CHIN.
A. MICHAEL
Hello, Beautiful Sarah Bernhart. May I amuse you with a tale of adventure and feats of valor? Ah, the princess looks adoringly at her knight. Strange beasts today. A dragon. One just large enough to be your pet, my pet. He had eyes that swiveled in his head. And a tongue most frightening. But your hero took him on. Peace in the kingdom tonight. The dragon lives—but far, far away from you, my lovely.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR EMILY’S HOUSE — DUSK
EMILY IS IN THE KITCHEN, WITH O’HOWLORAN THE IRISH WOLFHOUND. SHE TAKES A BLOCK OF CHEESE OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR; SHE TAKES A KNIFE OUT OF A DRAWER. SHE CUTS A LARGE SLICE OF CHEESE, THEN CUTS IT IN HALF. ONE-HALF SHE GIVES TO O’HOWLORAN, AND ONE-HALF SHE EATS WHILE SHE TALKS TO THE DOG.
EMILY
Pretty good day, old boy. How about yours?
(BEAT)
There is something I have to tell you, though. Do you remember that little brother I talked about? Well, he got another home today.
(CUTS ANOTHER PIECE OF CHEESE, HALFS IT, SHARES IT WITH THE DOG.)
The thing is, O’Howloran, he’s going to live with Robbie. I know you’re disappointed, but really, big boy, it’s a good thing. Robbie needs a dog. He doesn’t have anyone, and you and I have each other. It works out.
(BEAT)
We’ll keep his place warm. Just between us, right?
END EPISODE THREE: Welcome Home
GOING TO THE DOGS TAKES A BREAK FOR SUMMER HIATUS.