EXT. Amos Mountains - trail to Maykatec Ruins atop
the sacred mountain -- night
It's a starry night with a three quarter moon. Ripper
and Sneak toil up a steep, narrow path.
SNEAK
Clestine's bivouac'll give us a
hint where she went.
Ripper scans about. Alert.
RIPPER
Do those flying snakes come out
at night?
SNEAK
Dunno. I spent half a day here,
seven years ago. You'll see em
tomorrow anyway. Wait, there's
a big one.
Sneak points out away from the mountain.
RIPPER
Where? Oh WOW!
EXT. THE NASSCAR PLAINS -- NIGHT
A vast flat area crisscrossed by lines that form
pictures when viewed from the Mountains.
The moonlight makes them look neon.
The central image is an immense stylized winged
serpent.
INT. CELESTINE'S TENT -- NIGHT
Sneak and Ripper rest on a camp bed next to a
collapsible table. They glance, by lamplight, through
the newest looking of a pile of journals.
CELESTINE (V.O.)
...Also in the city was hidden
the "Agratala" green gem of
growth from the "Crown of
Glory". It gives the holder
power over all flora and
mycelium...
Ripper points at page.
Ripper
Her what?
Sneak
mycelia. Mushrooms. The rest of
her notes have been torn out.
Sneak puts the open book down on a folding table.
Some pages are gone.
RIPPER
Sniff. There's a strange mousy
scent on this blanket. Very
strong. Must be Celestine and
another more familiar smell...
Sneak opens her mouth a little and sniffs.
RIPPER and Sneak
Shirley!
EXT. Amos MOUNTAINS - eastern edge of Maykatec Ruins
-- night.
Tumbled blocks of stone, covered with glyphs, that
was a city at one time. The sky has become heavily
overcast. To the north the mountains have snow caps.
Sneak
If we were at sea I'd say a
squall was coming. But this is
land. It'll blow over. Let's
move.
Ripper has picked up a smooth tree limb to use as a
staff. A few snow flakes drift down.
RIPPER
Briskly too.
INT. Cave -- night
Sneak and Ripper huddle in a cave while a blizzard
rages outside.
SNEAK
Did you know it snows in the
tropics?
RIPPER
It snows where you see snow,
senior apprentice.
Ripper breaks her staff in pieces. Sneak looks
scared.
SNEAK
I'm sorry Ripper! Calm down.
Ripper smiles and breaks the wood into smaller pieces.
Ripper
Firewood.
Sneak feels around on the cave floor and finds some
paper.
SNEAK
We can use this to get it
started.
Ripper rubs sticks together in tinder and a small
spark begins to glow.
When she dumps it on the paper it illuminates
writing. Sneak snatches the paper up, dumping the
ember.
SNEAK
This is in the mouse's
handwriting.
EXT. Amos MOUNTAINS - eastern edge - wide trail --
day
The upper slopes are buried in drifts. Ripper plows
through snow up to her waist. Sneak follows in her
wake.
SNEAK
(loudly)
...missing pages. Last one had
said she knew some river otters
who would take her down river.
Ripper you listening?
Ripper
(sotto voce)
Avalanches.
SNEAK
WHAT?
A mass of snow and ice detaches itself from above
them and sweeps down.
EXT. BASE OF MOUNTAINS -- DAY
Large pieces of snow and ice dot a jungle clearing.
A wagon trail leads east.
To the north a wide waterfall cascades from the
mountains.
Sneak and Ripper soaked and bruised check their
weapons.
A map and the found pages dry in the sun.
SNEAK
Packs and money are lost. But
there's Angelus Falls the
source of the Noraloco.
RIPPER
The money was going to pay our
guide?
SNEAK
I'll think of something.
EXT. NORALOCO RIVER - ANGELUS TOWN - BIG JUAN'S
TAVERNA -- DAY
EDSEL, a buff black panther dude, surveys the damage
to the front wall of the taverna along with JUAN, a
short fat river otter guy.
EDSEL
...he was cheating, jefe. Then
the Bembo pulled a knife. I'll
pay you after this job I have.
JUAN
You can start tonight by
tending bar.
EXT. BIG JUAN'S TAVERNA -- NIGHT
Ripper and Sneak stand outside the bar looking in
through the loosely boarded up hole in the wall.
SNEAK
See the Panther yet?
RIPPER
Only black cat is tending bar.
He looks very manly. Bet he's
strong...
SNEAK
A lot of male patrons? I could
pick a pocket or two. Nay to
risky. Rent our favors out?
RIPPER
NO! -- Maybe the bartender...
SNEAK
They never pay for it. Come on.
INT. BIG JUAN'S TAVERNA -- NIGHT
Sneak counts coins as Ripper helps a capybara man
back to his feet near their table. The rodent is
holding one arm limply.
Sneak
The offer still stands, fellas.
Anyone who can beat this frail
girl at arm wrestling gets both
of us for the whole night.
Place your bets.
A large BOAR sits opposite Ripper. They clasp hands,
elbows on the table.
Boar
Ready for a night of fun?
RIPPER
Ready!
SNEAK
Go.
Ripper slams the boars arm down hard. He throws Sneak
some coins and waddles off. The other bar patrons
disperse.
Edsel comes over with two mugs of a cold milky
looking drink.
EDSEL
These are on the house. You the
nenas, ladies from El Norde.
I'm to be your guido. This,
drink serving, is just a tempo
gig. I can not bet money but
I'll offer the same deal. If
los tigress guapa, the pretty
tiger, wins you may do with me
as you will all night.
Sneak and Ripper have a whispered tete-a-tete. Sneak
shakes her head. Ripper begs. Sneak looks Edsel up
and down, nods.
Sneak
Deal.
INT. BIG JUAN'S TAVERNA - upstairs bedroom -- NIGHT
In a room out of a Van Gogh painting, Sneak and
Ripper lie on either side of Edsel in a wide bed. All
three fast asleep and have big canary-eating smiles.
Their clothes are piled on the floor.
The clothing pile moves. A non-anthro sable crawls
out with a rolled up paper tube in her mouth and
scampers off.
INT. BIG JUAN'S TAVERNA - FRONT DESK -- DAY
Juan counts out coins while Sneak and Ripper search
through their belongings. Edsel stands off to one
side looking a little tired.
SNEAK
...Can't find the map. You?
Ripper
Nope.
JUAN
You Machuas from up north? That
makes three last night.
SNEAK
Three?
Juan
A sable lady with red hair
checked out an hour ago. Wanted
to catch the first packet down
river.
Sneak and Ripper run out the door.
SNEAK (O.S.)
Which way to the boats?
EDSEL
Wait for me.
EXT. Noraloco river - packet boat dock -- day
An aged wooden pier juts out into a wide river.
Edsel, Sneak and Ripper are on the dock as the boat
moves out of reach down the river.
Shirley is in the rear of the boat waving the map.
SHIRLEY
Have a nice trip home, girls.
SNEAK
Not likely, first I gotta ring
your scrawny neck.
EXT. Jungle trail by NORALOCO RIVER -- day
Sneak, Ripper and Edsel follow the trail along the
rivers edge.
EDSEL
The map said Caballoloco
Landing?
RIPPER
Celestine wrote it in. South
side of river, fifty klicks?
Sneak is panting from the heat.
SNEAK
How long is that for little
feet?
Edsel
Three days, But the Packet
takes Five. More stops. Re
purr, you and I could do better
time if we four-foot it and
carry Sneak.
They all go non-anthro and Sneak jumps on Ripper's
back.
Ripper
Grrr owwl.
(subtitle)
Pull in your claws.
EXT. Caballoloco Landing - jungle trail -- day
At the closer end of a sleepy tropical village a
narrow trail winds into dense foliage. Large bugs and
small lizards dart around. Shirley starts off into
the jungle. A striped paw reaches out and drags her
into the bush.
EXT. OUTSIDE CABALLOLOCO LANDING - FURTHER DOWN THE
TRAIL -- DAY
Ripper holds Shirley while Edsel frisks her. Sneak
looks through Shirley's pack.
SNEAK
Where's the map?
SHIRLEY
Sir, you are taking liberties
with my person I don't usually
allow.
SNEAK
Edsel would you like to do a
full cavity search?
Edsel smiles and starts to unbutton Shirley's shorts.
SHIRLEY
You wouldn't...
SNEAK
No need. Ripper tie her hands
and put her on a short leash.
Sneak holds up the map.
Ripper whispers in Shirley's ear as she ties her.
RIPPER
I wouldn't have let them.
EXT. JUNGLE TRAIL - clearing -- night
Shirley, Edsel, Sneak and Ripper eat by a camp fire.
Shirley has her hands free and her feet tied. Edsel
holds one end of a rope leash around the sable's
neck.
SNEAK
Ferret-face, Keep both hands
where we can see 'em. "Keep ya
friends close, and your enemas
closer"
SHIRLEY
What if I gave my word?
SNEAK
I stepped in something worth
more than your word.
SHIRLEY
okay, tall, dark and handsome,
I'm done. Want to do me?
Shirley puts down her plate and holds out her wrists
to Edsel.
SHIRLEY
You better sleep real close so
I don't escape.
Ripper looks at Shirley and then at Edsel. Edsel is
tying Shirley's wrists behind her back and she's got
her hands resting on the front of his shorts.
RIPPER
I vote we tie her to a tree.
Less chance of escape.
Julie (V.O.)
Why couldn't the weasel just
turn were or whatever and slip
away.
SNEAK (V.O.)
If you change with your arms
behind your back it dislocates
your shoulders. Very painful.
Back to present -
INT. CATPAW LOUNGE -- NIGHT
Julie and Sneak sit in lotus posture on the deck
looking out the viewport.
JULIE
We're coming up on the jump. Go
get some coffee and a snack.
Ripper, you'll want to see
this.
SNEAK
...Tell you the rest after the
jump.
INT. CATPAW LOUNGE -- NIGHT
Moldred and Charlie eat. Ripper, Sneak and Julie
stare out the viewport.
Charlie Twoclouds
I still do not comprehend where
your belongings go when you
change.
MOLDRED
They always come back when we
return to this form. There's a
bunch of theories...
SNEAK
Need anything Bofs.
MOLDRED
No. Sit down and eat. Then see
if you can pry Ripper away from
the window. She ought to eat
too.
The stars outside the porthole turn to streaks, then
swirls, then wink out.
Moments later a new set of stars appear.
JULIE
Where were we?
SNEAK
Shirley was on her best
behavior as we left the
trail...
- Sneak's Tale -
EXT. NORALOCO jungle -- day
Edsel leads the way with confidence, wielding his
machete like a pro. Shirley follows and then Sneak
and Ripper. Shirley's wrists are tied behind her and
Sneak holds her leash. Ripper brings up the rear.
SNEAK
Hey, Edsel, know where you're
going?
Edsel
That is my thing. If I know
where someplace is supposed to
be, I can go there by the
shortest route.
SHIRLEY
Are we close?
Edsel chops a wall of vines and pushes them aside,
disappears as he falls forward from a low hillock.
Shirley looks through the vines and sees Edsel getting back
to his feet on an overgrown stone paved road.
SHIRLEY
We're close.
EXT. CHIZCHDAPLATINA (THE CITY OF PLATINUM) -- DAY
Ruins of a large city like both Angkor Watt and
Chichen Itza.
In the center of the main plaza is a stone ring that
resembles the Mayan Calendar and the stargate of
"Stargate SG1".
Edsel kneels on a road paved with large blocks of
stone as the girls climb down from a low cliff.
Ripper
Are you okay, Mr. Edsel?
Edsel
Si. Just broke my wind. I
founded the lost city.
SNEAK
We helped. One task done. Now
we find the rat girl.
INT. CHIZCHDAPLATINA CENTRAL PYRAMID -- DAY
Near sunset, in a stone chamber with glyphs on the
walls, Ripper cleans her sword and watches Shirley.
Shirley is hanging by her forearms from a beam.
There's a pile of rocks helping to support her
weight.
SHIRLEY
Thanks for the rock pile. My
poor arms were getting numb.
You've grown a lot since we
trained at your father's army
base.
Remember when we used run into
the Mess tent yelling "Morry,
Kalam The General's coming
better get decent."
Ripper chortles.
RIPPER
My brother would run out the
back pulling his kilt up. Kalam
would be so pissed. We'd only
eat off other peoples plates
for days in case she put a
philter in ours.
Ripper looks off nostalgically. Shirley subtly tries
to untie her knots.
Sneak enters.
SNEAK
Shirley, I see those busy
fingers. Stop it. We've
searched half the city. No
Celestine and 'fore you ask
weasel teats, no green gems.
RIPPER
Is dinner cooking?
SHIRLEY
Do I get to eat?
Ripper pulls a ninja star from her bandolier and
smoothly tosses it at Shirley's bound arms.
THWACK and the ropes part. No longer supported,
Shirley falls on her butt.
SHIRLEY
OW. Come on Ripper, still pals?
RIPPER
Ask again, when we get home
safe.
EXT. Chizchdaplatina central plaza - Stone ring --
night
A starry night with a full moon rising. Sneak,
Ripper, Edsel and Shirley eat from bowls on one side
of the upright ring.
They sing along as Edsel plucks a three string
guitar.
Sneak
"You gotta rea lies..."
RIPPER
"...Dat we are one peep
hole..."
SHIRLEY
"... or dare will neva, never
be..."
Edsel
"...No love atoll."
The moon shines through the stone ring and a moment
later the view changes.
Through the center of the stone ring, what was the
overgrown ruins of Chizchdaplatina, now looks newly
built. Furrs in feathered kilts and dresses walk in
the midday sun.
SNEAK
You see that?
Someone jumps over them and sprints towards the ring.
It's Celestine. She's holding something that glows
green.
She mumbles an incantation in some obscure ancient
tongue.
CELESTINE
Mareseat oads n dozey doats --
Chizchdaplatina
RIPPER
The rat girl.
SHIRLEY
The gem.
Before anyone can react the moon moves off and the
view returns to normal.
SNEAK
What just happened?
INT. Chizchdaplatina central PYRAMID -- night
Sneak, Ripper, Edsel and Shirley bed down for the
night.
Shirley has Edsel's oversized work gloves over her
tied hands and Ripper's much larger boots tied over
her feet.
SNEAK
Peasant dreams. We'll sort this
out in the morning.
Edsel
There's a legend about a ring
that leads to...
Sneak blows out the one candle lighting the room.
SNEAK
Say good night, Ripper.
RIPPER
Good night Ripper.
EXT. BOGLIMA PREFECTURE - PLATINUM CITY - MUSEUM OF
ANCIENT TIMES -- DAY
Some of old Chizchdaplatina remains in the museum
grounds but the rest of the city has modern
skyscrapers, sleek gasoline engine cars on paved
street, telephone and power lines on metal poles hum
overhead.
Where a sign reads MUSEUM OF ANCIENT TIMES a s.w.a.t.
Team arrives in a van, check their weapons and enter
the museum.
INT. MUSEUM OF ANCIENT TIMES -- DAY
A rifle barrel prods Sneak awake.
On the other end is a female in heavy riot gear.
Ripper, Edsel and Shirley are handcuffed and lined up
against a wall.
The female swat leader LISA removes her helmet to
reveal a face similar to Julie's. A patch on her
uniform says LT. RAYNE .
Lisa
What were you four, armed
civilians, doing sleeping in a
public building.
Sneak looks outside in disbelief.
SNEAK
It didn't look like this last
night.
Lisa
Put a lid on it, as my
sister...
SNEAK
Julie?
Lisa's jaw drops.
LISA
Something funny's going on.
Take these perps downtown and
collect all their gear.
EXT. PLATINUM CITY (CHIZCHDAPLATINA) - GEODE
SPACEFLEET GROUND POLICE HEADQUARTERS -- DAY
A squat modern building made from local stone and
mirrored glass. The upper floors have much smaller
windows. A plaque reads SPACEFLEET GROUND POLICE
HEADQUARTERS
LISA (V.O.)
...Sneak, an appropriate name,
you met my sister Julie in furn
training? Only two problems
with that...
INT. GROUND POLICE HEADQUARTERS - INTERROGATION ROOM
- DAY
Gray drab windowless room. Lisa on one side of a gray
table.
Sneak and Ripper sit between Edsel and Shirley on the
other side. The four prisoners rest their cuffed
hands on the table.
On the table is a pitcher of water, five glasses and
a microphone.
Along one wall is a two-way mirror.
LISA
Field Utilized Recreational
Nexi were phased out of the
military ten years ago. My
sister is a college student in
a small suburb on another
planet.
SNEAK
Bellwood, North Parklands,
Planet Geode. She has two pals
named Azreal and Bilail...
Lisa leans forward triumphantly.
LisA
Got you. You got the location.
I don't know how. But there's
no such furrs as...
SNEAK
Are they a fossa and a fennec?
Is the fennec named Franny?
Lisa shuts off the mike and douses the lights.
With the lights out they see there's no one behind
the two way mirror.
LISA
Tell me quick, how do you know
all this?
INT. GROUND POLICE HEADQUARTERS - LOCK-UP -- DAY
A narrow corridor runs between two rows of cells.
Sneak, Ripper and Shirley are in one cell opposite
the one Edsel's in.
Shirley reads a book titled WHY WE'RE HERE: Guide to
the occupation. Sneak works on Rippers cuffs.
Shirley and Sneak are already un-cuffed.
SHIRLEY
Geode invaded Loam to stop the
self styled "Goddess Celestine"
from dominating this sector.
RIPPER
Loam invaded Geode? Why?
Shirley flips ahead.
SHIRLEY
After bringing all of Loam
under her rule, "Goddess
Celestine" decided to expand
into the nearest systems.
Ripper's cuffs spring open.
SNEAK
Ripper, Edsel, Shirley? Listen.
Our Magick is very weak in this
kind of techy place. So save it
for when you need it.
Shirley finishes picking the lock on Edsel's cell.
As they head down the row of cells, a white furred
hand sticks out from one cell.
It's HARVEY, a white rabbit in a white suit.
HARVEY
Greeting and Salutations my
fellow Loamans. If you would be
so kind as to aid in my egress,
I would be most grateful and
informative.
Shirley makes short work of the lock.
SNEAK
Know the shortest way to the
stone circle in the old city?
HARVEY
Right this way. Follow me to
your destiny.
MOUSE HUNT OF THE SUN 2