Setting
            A waiting room in an veterinarian's office.

            Characters
            Mitzy
            A woman in her 20's.

            Harris
            A black man in his 60's.

            Receptionist

            Props
            A tiny dog (stuffed soft toy)
            A cat carrier
            A paper bag
            apple
            little bag of tuna



            Mitzy sits, waiting to see the vet. She holds in her arms a
            small dog.  As she sits, she strokes the top of the dog's
            head, giving it an occasional scratch behind the ear.
            Enter HARRIS.  He has a brown bag and a cardboard cat
            carrier.
            He sits next to Mitzy and puts the cardboard box between
            them.  He puts the paper bag down on top of the box.
            Trying to be subtle, such that he doesn't notice, Mitzi
            scoots sideways a bit, away from him.  She pulls her dog
            closer and gives it a kiss on the top of its head.
            For a moment they sit, as people often do in waiting rooms,
            staring straight ahead, ignoring each other.  Mitzy begins to
            steal glances in Harris's direction, sizing him up, checking
            out the box and the hidden cat it contains.
            After a moment, without pretense or apology, he turns and
            stares at her dog.  He focuses entirely on the dog, not on
            her.  After a moment, she warms to this and relaxes a bit.

                                   HARRIS
                          (looking at his watch)
            Been waitin' long?

                                   MITZY
            Just a minute. I'm early.

                                   HARRIS
            I'm a little late.
                          (He leans in and makes an even
                           closer study of the puppy.)
            How old's that puppy?

                                   MITZY
            Eight months.

                                   HARRIS
            Bi...uh...girl dog?

                                   MITZY
            Uh huh.

                                   HARRIS
            Is that a pure bred dog?

                                   MITZY
            Oh no.  Not Peru.  She's a...

                                   HARRIS
            Mutt.  Best kind.

                                   MITZY
            She's not exactly a mutt. She's...

                                   HARRIS
            A mix.

                                   MITZY
            She's part...

                                   HARRIS
            Lemme guess.  I'd say it's a cross between a Jack Russel and
            Shitzu.

                                   MITZY
            No, the mother was a Shnoodle and the father -- they think --
            was maybe a Chihuahua?

                                   HARRIS
            Now that little dog's gonna stay small.

                                   MITZY
            I wouldn't want a big dog.

                                   HARRIS
            Don't blame you.  Take up too much room in the bed.

                                   MITZY
            Exactly!
                          (Ne nods.)
            She sleeps with me.

                                   HARRIS
            That's a cute dog. Real calm.

                                   MITZY
            Not always. 
                          (Mitzi gives her puppy a loving
                           squeeze.)
            But she's precious.

                                   HARRIS
            Small dog doesn't mean small trouble though.

                                   MITZY
            I know! I tried leaving her out of the crate -- one time! --
            and she pulled up about five feet of carpet.  It was
            everywhere!  I was furious!

                                   HARRIS
            I'll bet you were.

                                   MITZY
            I could've killed her!

                                   HARRIS
            Carpet ain't cheap.
                          (Harris takes the bag off the
                           cat box and sets it onto his
                           lap. He looks inside the bag
                           and reaches into it. He leaves
                           his hand there for a moment.
                           She watches. He pulls out a
                           pinch of tuna. He opens his
                           cat's box and gives the tuna
                           to his cat.)

                                   HARRIS
            There you go, baby.
                          (to Mitzy)
            Your dog's name is...you say...Peru?

                                   MITZY
            Yep. Peru.

                                   HARRIS
            Pay-Ru! Solid name.

                                   MITZY
            I've just always loved Peru.

                                   HARRIS
            The country?

                                   MITZY
            Something about it.

                                   HARRIS
            Have you been to Peru?

                                   MITZY
            No -- but I'm dying to go.  You know, one of these days.

                                   HARRIS
            I'd like to visit Mexico.

                                   MITZY
            I've been there.

                                   HARRIS
            Always meant to just plan a trip and go.  Hard to get away.

                                   MITZY
            I know.

                                   HARRIS
            Never had the urge to visit Peru.

                                   MITZY
            I don't know. It seems like such an interesting country!
            Something about the people and culture that I've just longed
            for -- since I was a little girl, ya know?

                                   HARRIS
            In this world, it's not far.

                                   MITZY
            Further than Mexico.
                          (He reaches into the bag again.
                           He pulls out two apples.  He
                           offers one to Mitzy.)

                                   MITZY
            No thanks.

                                   HARRIS
            Sure?

                                   MITZY
            Not hungry. Thanks.
                          (He puts one apple back and
                           takes a bite of the other.  He
                           chews.)

                                   HARRIS
            Is Peru getting her shots today?

                                   MITZY
            Rabies.

                                   HARRIS
            That dog's got a good soul. You can see it in the face.

                                   MITZY
            She's a sweetie! So what's your cat here for?

                                   HARRIS
            This ol' cat's not feeling so good.  Not her best day.

                                   MITZY
            What's the matter?

                                   HARRIS
            Sick.  Sick and old. This is the day we gotta put her down.

                                   MITZY
            Oh my God! What's wrong with her?

                                   HARRIS
            Very sick.  Mostly old.

                                   MITZY
            That's no reason to...

                                   HARRIS
            She's tired of suffering.

                                   MITZY
            How do you know?

                                   HARRIS
            I know.  My cat's got cancer.

                                   MITZY
            Can't they treat it!

                                   HARRIS
            We're tired of suffering.
                          (He opens the box and speaks to
                           his cat.)
            Real tired. Ain't we, baby?
                          (He looks at his cat.)
            Seventeen years old.
                          (He reaches into the bag and
                           pulls out a bit of tuna.)
            She's good as blind. Not much appetite.  Don't know if she
            can even smell anything.  
                          (He gives the tuna to his cat.)
            But she still takes her bite of tuna. Hard to imagine
            tomorrow, without this old cat.
            It's gonna be a little different around the house -- making
            meals for one instead of two.
                          (long pause)

                                   MITZY
            What's her name?

                                   HARRIS
            Never had a name.  I was sittin' at home, in my chair, and
            heard this crying -- just a little tiny far off little tiny
            cry.  It was June, 1991 -- the year the Bulls won their
            first.  At first, I thought it was coming from the TV.  Then
            I thought it was in my own head.  But it kept on for a few
            minutes and I knew some little baby was crying for real --
            either in my basement or somewhere outside.  So here it was
            right there in overtime -- game three -- and I went to the
            front door and opened it and there's this little fuzzy gray
            kitten.  No bigger than my fist.  Looking straight up at me --
            trying to get up on her hind legs and wave -- mouth wide open
            -- and giving out this little meow. I brought it inside and
            fixed that sweet kitty a bowl of milk.  Missed the end of the
            game! Forgot it was on!  But no -- every so often I thought,
            "Maybe this ol' cat should have a name." Never given me any
            trouble. Maybe she deserves a name.  But no -- never came up
            with one.  Guess it don't matter now.
                          (long pause)

                                   MITZY
            Maybe a name...if you gave her a name now...it would make it
            easier to remember.

                                   HARRIS
            Remember what?

                                   MITZY
            Your cat.

                                   HARRIS
            I'll never forget my cat. She's in me the same as everything
            else that don't have a name. You see, a cat won't come to you
            and do tricks like a dog.  Don't need a name.  The name is
            for you, not the cat.

                                   MITZY
            That's what I mean -- you could name her for you.

                                   HARRIS
            I'm fine. It's time, that's all.

                                   MITZY
            You gonna get a new kitty?

                                   HARRIS
            I didn't get this kitty. She got me.

                                   MITZY
            It might help if you get a new kitten. Right away!

                                   HARRIS
            If I feel like it.

                                   MITZY
            It would be so cute.

                                   HARRIS
            I don't think so.
                          (Mitzy starts to cry. He scolds
                           her gently.)
            Darlin, it's my cat, not yours.

                                   MITZY
            Don't tell me how to feel.

                                   HARRIS
            Gotta show proper respect. This cat had a good life.

                                   MITZY
            Maybe there's something they can do.

                                   HARRIS
            He shakes his head.
                          (Enter RECEPTIONIST)

                                   RECEPTIONIST
            Harris, would you like me to take her, or did you want to be
            present?
                          (He stands, picks up the box.)

                                   HARRIS
            I'm comin'.
                          (He begins to follow her.)

                                   MITZY
                          (scolding the Receptionist)
            I was here before him!

                                   RECEPTIONIST
            Excuse me?

                                   MITZY
            I got here first!

                                   RECEPTIONIST
            His appointment is before yours.

                                   MITZY
            I was here!

                                   RECEPTIONIST
            We'll come get Peru in just a minute.

                                   MITZY
            Me first!

                                   RECEPTIONIST
            Excuse me?

                                   MITZY
            Please!

                                   RECEPTIONIST
            It'll be just a minute.

                                   MITZY
            I was here before him!

                                   HARRIS
            It was right about the same time.

                                   MITZY
                          (sharp, accusing)
            Why are you in such a hurry!

                                   HARRIS
            Darlin', I'm just trying my best to handle what's in front of
            me.

                                   MITZY
            How can you do this!
                           (He approaches her and gives
                           Peru and gentle pat on the
                           head and a scratch behind the
                           ear.)

                                   HARRIS
            Everything's gonna be okay.

                                   MITZY
            Why don't you want a kitten?

                                   RECEPTIONIST
                          (turning to exit)
            Now that's an idea.

                                   HARRIS
                          (following her off)
            One thing at a time.
                          (Exit Receptionist and Harris.)
                          (Mitzy clutches the dog and
                           kisses its head.)
                                     End of play

[
top
]

 

 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.