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Scene 7.

Evening. Cat burglar gang hide-out.

Yumi, Yin and Yang are caged.

Yumi. This is the end.

Yang. Be stronger. Be stronger. Be stronger!

Yumi. Stronger? It was me who got you into this trap. And let my mom down.

Yin. Success is a measure of decisions we make. I don’t regret going with you, Yumi. We have to believe.

Yang. Do not succumb to panic. Now lay to!

Yang tries to break the cage door, Yin and Yumi help him, but the door does not respond. Toy comes in.

Yin. Traitor.

Yang. Blatant liar!

Yumi. Toy, how could you?

Pause.

Toy. Have you finished?

Yin. We have nothing to say to you.

Toy forces the lock; the cage door opens.

Toy. I was wrong. Give me a chance to make it right.

Yumi and the mice don’t move.

Toy. Come along! Hurry up. I will take you out of here.

Pause.

Toy. What’s wrong? We need to make haste!

Yumi. We don’t believe you.

Toy. Time is lacking for thinking. Lord will soon notice that I left. This is our last chance.

Yang. Come along! We won’t be any worse off.

Yang leaves the cage first, he is followed by Yin, and the last one to go out is Yumi.

Toy. Follow me. I will get you out of here and help you save your mom.

They all head for the door, and suddenly Melisa comes out of the darkness, claws the mice and blocks the way.

Melisa. Is my dinner going for a walk? Don’t you move, or I will choke the life out of you. (She protracts her claws, the mice squeak with pain.)

Toy. Mom, let us through.

Melisa. Do you really think that I will let you sign your own death warrant?

Toy. Yes.

Melisa. Lord will kill you, Toy.

Toy. Lord lied to me and he broke his promise to spare Yumi’s life.

Melisa. Lord is your boss. His orders are beyond questions.

Toy. My father was a real boss! Whereas Lord is just a travesty of his elder brother.

Melisa. I have no choice, Toy. Lord is stronger than we are.

Toy. There is always a choice. Let us go.

Melisa. Toy, I forbid you to do it.

Toy. Yumi’s mother is in grave danger. I am the only one who can help them let her free.

Melisa. Dogs are our enemies.

Toy. Enemies? And who are we? After my father’s death we just turned into a gang of malevolent thieves, and everyone is for himself. We are our own enemies!

Melisa. I have always dreamt of you following a different route. That you would stop both being a thief and living on the street.

Toy. So give a chance to change our life, mom. Let me go.

Pause.

Melisa. You are just like your father now. Go and never come back.

Toy. Thank you, mom. Yumi, let’s go!

Toy and Yumi head for the door.

Yumi. What about our friends, Yin and Yang?

Melisa. Nobody has canceled my dinner yet. The mice will stay here.

Yin. Yumi, help us.

Yang. Please, Yumi, help us out!

Toy. Yumi, don’t argue. We have to go rescue your mom.

Yumi. That will never do.

Toy. What’s your point?

Yumi. Yin and Yang got into the trap because they wanted to help save my mom Greta.

Toy. It was their choice.

Yumi. Yes, you are right. The odds are against us.

Toy. Yin and Yang are our free pass to being set free.

Melisa. That’s a good point, son. (She plays with the mice.)

Yumi (to Toy). I thought you are a real boss.

Toy. What?

Yumi. Did your father always betray his friends and leave them to their fate too?

Toy. My father never was a traitor! He died saving the Lord’s skin!

Yumi. Die but save a friend. This is what a real leader would do.

Toy. I think I know what you mean. Melisa, I am sorry. You won’t get any dinner today.

Melisa. Are you insane?

Toy. Mom, listen to me.

Melisa. What?

Toy. You just said: I wish my son quitted stealing and get off the street.

Melisa. Yes, that’s right.

Toy. Tell me, what can I become working with the cat burglar band?

Melisa. The gang leader.

Toy. Is it what you want me to be?

Melisa. No, Toy, it isn’t. I don’t want you to be a thief.

Toy. I have never had any friends. Just my father.

Melisa. You can’t bring your father back.

Toy. On the other hand, I, your son, can change our life. First of all, I should stop keeping the company of thieves and try to make friends with good guys.

Melisa. I think you should.

Toy. I want to find my peace of mind. Yumi, Yin and Yang can become my friends. I will help them get out and save Greta. We have no time left. It’s now or never!

Melisa (frees the mice). Go to the northern gates. I will tell Lord that I saw you going south, it will help you buy some time.

Yumi. Melisa, Toy is a born leader. And my real friend.

Toy. Thank you, mom.

Melisa. Take this lucky gold coin. (She gives it to Toy.) You will do great, son. I believe in you.

Yumi, Toy and the mice leave. Melisa is left alone.

Scene 8.

Late in the evening. Premises of the animal control center.

Yumi, Toy, Yin, Yang, Titmouse.

Titmouse. Where have you been?

Yumi. It’s a long story.

Toy. How is the situation?

Titmouse. After the round-up they brought a lot of stray animals here. Lord’s lawyer posted a bail for the cat burglars and they were set free.

Yin. Such a rascal!

Yang. They are the real Mafia.

Yumi. Where is my mom?

Titmouse. Greta is in the basement with others. Poor dogs are caged in the dog prison.

Toy. What do the tormentors plan to do?

Titmouse. I’ve heard a conversation: tonight they will put down all the caught animals with some lethal fluid.

Toy. We need to make haste!

Titmouse. Be careful. I’ve seen a grown dog on the center premises. He is clearly not a member of the animal tormentor gang and was snooping around.

Yin. He may be another poor fellow who is trying to find his family.

Toy. It doesn’t matter. Titmouse, you stay here, maintain outdoor surveillance. We are going inside.

The titmouse flies away, the rest of the group enter the animal control center. They walk along. At the end of a passageway they see a shadow of a big dog moving towards them.

Toy. Run! Yumi, hurry up!

They run along the center passages and find the entrance to the basement.

Toy. The entrance to the basement is here. Let’s split up. Mice, go through the ventilation system to scout out the situation. We are going down.

The mice go through the ventilation system. Yumi and Toy go down.

Toy. Why are you shaking? Are you cold?

Yumi. I am afraid of the dark.

Toy. Why haven’t you told me before?

Yumi. I’ll be fine.

Toy. If we go together, the tormentors will lamp us at once. See, that would be a strange scene: a cat burglar and a police dog’s son went for a walk together. (They laugh.)

Yumi. What are we supposed to do now?

Toy. You will cover the rear. This outer door is our only escape route. Watch over it. Warn me in the event of emergency.

Yumi. And you?

Toy. I will go further, to the dog prison. The entrance is right here.

Yumi. I get it. Watch over the escape route, warn in the event of emergency.

Toy. I nearly forgot. Give me your spongy bone.

Yumi. Here, take it. (He gives the spongy bone to the kitten.)

Toy. I will give it to the jail-keeper rat, otherwise he will raise alarm.

Yumi. Told you, this bone would bring us good luck.

Toy. Yumi, I meant to tell you…

Pause.

Yumi. What did you mean to tell me, Toy?

Toy. Thank you for saying a good word for me in front of Melisa and for calling me your friend.

Yumi. You are my friend. My best friend.

Toy. I’ve learnt a great deal from you today. It never occurred to me that dogs can be true friends.

Yumi. Seek and you will find. That is what my mom says.

Toy. And what did you say there when we met Pirate?

Yumi. Christmas Eve is the time when dreams come true.

Toy. You should wish for something with your whole heart, believe in your success and keep moving towards your desirable goal.

Yumi. That’s right, Toy. Come on! Everything is going to be alright.

Toy bust opens the lock and opens the inside door of the basement which opens into the dog prison. He leaves. Yumi is left alone.

Yumi. Alright. I have to look around. I am not afraid of the dark. I am brave. I am not afraid of the dark.

Yumi hears some noise in the dark corner, he jumps up to the side and hides himself in a heap of rubbish. Silence. Yumi leaves his hideout.

Yumi. Maybe, it’s just my ears playing tricks on me.

Again there was some noise there in the darkness. Yumi squats down.

Yumi. And what if it is a horrible beast? It is lying snug in the darkness and wants to devour me. I have to run.

Yumi runs towards the exit and then stops short.

Yumi. And what about Toy? I promised him to cover the rear. I have to warn him and my mom if there’s an emergency.

Yumi goes back.

Yumi. A friend in need is a friend indeed. I will not betray Toy and will save my mom. Hey, who’s hiding there in the darkness? Come on out! I am not afraid of you. Grrr…

There was someone’s distinct growl in reply, then Yumi heard some movement, as if a real monster was breaking free from a cage.

Yumi. Is it all you got, you scary monster? Grrr…

Yumi jumps off and falls upon the monster. The attack is successful. Yumi bumps up against a big cage. There is a girl sitting in the cage. Yumi spotted this girl as his new acquaintance, who treated him to biscuits, by her smell.

Yumi. It’s a small world. What are you doing here?

Nyuta looks at Yumi in silence.

Scene 9.

The same decoration.

Yumi stands in front of the cage where Nyuta is locked.

Yumi. Is this you?

Nyuta. Yes, it’s me.

Yumi. Why did you growl?

Nyuta. Best defence is offence. I wanted to scare you.

Yumi. Then you succeeded. How did you get here?

Nyuta. I must be hallucinating. Dogs can’t speak.

Yumi. What do you mean they can’t speak?

Nyuta. Right. I’m going mad.

Yumi. It’s me, Yumi. We played together in our yard this morning. You treated me to some goodie.

Nyuta. Those were crunchy biscuits. Go away, ghost. I have no intention to lose my mind. Dogs can only bark.

Yumi. Woof! Woof!

The outer door opens slightly, a big dog pokes his head through the door opening, and his breath meets the ears. Yumi hides himself. The door closes again.

Nyuta. Hush! You will wake the guards up this way.

Yumi. I’m sorry.

Nyuta. There is also some huge dog wandering about here. He is looking for somebody.

Yumi leaves his hideout.

Yumi. My name is Yumi.

Nyuta. I am Nyuta. Granting for a moment that dogs can really speak and I am not getting mad.

Yumi. All the animals can speak, it’s just that not all the people can understand our language. What are you doing here?

Nyuta. Some masked thugs kidnapped me, brought me here and caged me up.

Yumi. But why?

Nyuta. One of them is called Corkscrew. I heard this name when they were taking me here.

Yumi. Corkscrew? He is my bitter enemy!

Nyuta. Oh really?

Yumi. Corkscrew and Khorkov caught my mom today.

Nyuta. But why would they do this?

Yumi. This is an animal tormentor gang. They rounded up stray animals in order to put them down with some deadly liquid.

Nyuta. It’s terrible.

Yumi. It was the mayor’s order, to rid the streets of stray animals.

Nyuta. The mayor’s order? No, it can’t be true.

Yumi. Then tell me, why is my mom in the dog prison now?

Nyuta. My father could not do that. There must be some mistake.

Yumi. I came here with my friends to save my mom. But first I need to let you out.

Nyuta. The latch is closed outside the cage’s door, I can not reach it from here. Try to open the latch.

Yumi tries to open it but fails.

Nyuta. No, I can’t.

Yumi. Pull the door. Alright. Harder.

Nyuta pulls the cage door, Yumi pushes the latch, and finally the door opens.

Yumi. Yes!

Nyuta. Good job. Thank you.

Yumi. Now go. Hereto, upstairs. Go through the building and find the door with a «fire exit» sign. It opens to the outside. There is a hole in the fence to the left from the security booth. Get out and run to the police station, they will help you.

Nyuta. Yumi, and you? What about your friends? And your mom?

Yumi. Your life is much more important than the lives of a bunch of stray animals.

Nyuta. You are mistaken, Yumi.

Yumi. Oh, really?

Nyuta. Everyone has the right to live, even if they were born on the street or dwell in the gateway. My mom taught me this. She died but I remember her words very well.

Yumi. What are we supposed to do now?

Nyuta. I will go with you and help you all.

Yumi. We could use a friend’s help.

The inner basement door opens, the mice come in. Toy and Greta follow them.

Yumi. Mom! Mommy.

Greta. Hello, my little boy.

Toy. Be quiet, Yumi. The rescue operation is going on. Who is this?

Yumi. This is Nyuta. She was kidnapped. Now she is with us.

Toy. Let’s go away.

The team heads for the door. They hear a voice from the other corner of the room.

Crow. Stop! Help me! I am here, in a cage.

They all step up to the cage where the crow is locked.

Yang. Aha! That’s done you.

Yin. It serves you right.

Crow. Let me out, please.

Yang. Yumi! It was she who showed Khorkov and Corkscrew where your home was.

Yin. Yes, Greta was caught because of her.

Yumi. I know what she has done.

Toy. Mice, go outside and test the waters. We will join you soon.

The mice leave.

Toy. Crow is a Lord’s spy, she has to be punished.

Crow. I couldn’t follow everything. Lord gave me up to the tormentors when he found out that you all had escaped.

Toy. You shall remember us all your life, you loud-mouth.

Crow. I don’t want to die. Please help me.

Toy. Yumi, let’s go.

Greta. If we leave her caged, she will die.

Toy. Lord does not spare anyone.

Greta. We need to be able to forgive and show mercy.

Yumi. We are no tormentors. Let the crow out, Toy.

Toy. Are you sure you don’t want to have revenge on her?

Yumi. Open the cage, Toy.

Toy. It’s up to you.

Toy opens the cage, the crow gets out.

Crow. Thank you, Yumi. Nobody loves me. I was betrayed by everyone.

Yumi. Be kind to others and they will be kind to you in return.

Toy. Let’s leave!

They all head for the door. At this moment the inner basement door opens. The jail-keeper rat comes in.

Rat. Stop, stop, stop. This wasn’t the agreement, Toy.

Toy. What are you talking about, jail-keeper?

Rat. You said that you were going to open only one cage and only one prisoner would leave. The crow and the girl will stay here!

Toy. I gave you the spongy bone.

Rat. One prisoner, one spongy bone. That was the agreement.

Nyuta. Let us go.

Rat. I am bound to raise alarm.

Yumi. Show some conscience!

Rat. I’m calling security.

Toy. Stop. Wait.

Rat. Are you willing to pay?

Toy. Here. This is all I have. (He gives his gold coin to the jail-keeper.)

Rat. What is it? (He bites the coin.)

Toy. It is my lucky gold coin.

Rat. It’s a pleasure to deal with you, ladies and gentlemen. You can go. (He leaves.)

Toy. The way is free, my friends. Follow me.

Right at the moment when they all are going outside, the outer door opens and major Suvorov enters the basement holding a gun.

Suvorov. Police! Stop right there.

Scene 10.

Late in the evening. Animal control center.

Karabasov, Khorkov, Malyshev.

Karabasov. I suppose, mister Mayor, you have received my message.

Malyshev. I’ve signed all the papers. The building site is yours.

Karabasov. I don’t want you to peg me as an enemy. I offer you cooperation.

Malyshev. Bring my daughter back to me.

Karabasov. I hope you learnt your lesson.

Malyshev. Why have you rounded up stray animals?

Karabasov. It was Khorkov’s call. He suggested to kill them humanely.

Khorkov. Tonight we are going to clean our district of these rogues!

Malyshev. Karabasov. If you want to keep running your business in this city, I insist that you don’t put these animals down. We will the means to deal with them without having to kill.

Karabasov. If you really agree to cooperate, I’ll meet you halfway and keep these stray beasts alive.

Malyshev. It is as good as a deal. Where is my daughter?

The door opens, the major and Greta rush in. Th major takes aim at Karabasov. Greta cuts off Khorkov’s escape.

Suvorov. Police! Put your hands behind your head, you are under arrest.

Karabasov. What a stunt.

Suvorov. Hold it right there, Karabasov.

Khorkov. Easy, doggy, easy. Avoid abrupt movements.

Greta. Grrr…

Nyuta, Yumi and Toy come in.

Nyuta. Dad!

Malyshev. Nyuta, sweetheart.

Suvorov. I will call for backup.

Corkscrew springs up behind Suvorov’s back and strikes him over the head with a bludgeon. The policeman falls unconscious. Corkscrew takes his gun. Khorkov quickly brings out his pistol and aims at Yumi.

Khorkov (to Greta). Don’t you move, you dirty dog, or I will blow your son’s head off.

Greta steps back, trying to shield Yumi with her body.

Karabasov. Are there any other policemen?

Corkscrew. He came here alone.

Karabasov. Well, well. Who do we have here? An unwanted witness. Mister Mayor, have I told you yet, what would happen if you go to the police?

Suvorov regains consciousness, keeps lying and moans with pain.

Malyshev. He is my cousin. He is local police officer in a village. Let us go, Karabasov.

Karabasov. Bad luck, Mayor. We don’t need witnesses.

Malyshev. You’ve got everything you want.

Khorkov. We have to change our plan, boss.

Karabasov. We have crossed the Rubicon, Khorkov. This city needs a new mayor.

Khorkov. Corkscrew!

Corkscrew cocks the gun and aims at Malyshev. At this very moment the crow flies into the open door, pecks Corkscrew at his head. Pirate runs into the room right after her, sinks his teeth into Corkscrew’s arm and knocks him on the floor. Khorkov manages to shoot Pirate. Greta falls upon Khorkov and neutralize him. Yumi and Toy come down upon Karabasov, Malyshev strikes him down to the floor with a punch.

Malyshev. It’s a judgement on you for my daughter, you villain.

Suvorov stands up, ties Corkscrew up, then puts the handcuffs on Khorkov and Karabasov. Pirate lies on the floor, he is wounded. The mice run in, the titmouse comes flying.

Yin. We activated the security alarm, the police will be here soon.

Yang. It was my idea!

Titmouse. You both did a great job. Greta, I am so glad to see you and Yumi.

Greta. Thank you for your help, neighbor.

Malyshev. Nyuta, are you all right?

Nyuta. I’m fine. Whose dog is this?

Yumi. This is Pirate. How did he get here?

Malyshev. Pirate saved our lives.

Major walks up to Pirate and examines him.

Suvorov. How can it be Pirate? It is Thunder, a police dog. Here is the name on his collar.

Corkscrew. Thunder again? I shot him with my gun.

Khorkov. I hope he will finally kick the bucket.

Yumi. Mom! Is Pirate really the police dog called Thunder?

Greta. Yes, Yumi. Pirate is Thunder. He is your father.

Titmouse. Finally she told her son the truth.

Yumi runs up to his father.

Yumi. Pirate! Why haven’t you told me that you are my father? Thank you for helping us.

Thunder. My son. I would never leave you and Greta out in the cold.

Thunder tries to get on his feet, but tumbles down lopsidedly. Nyuta and Yumi help him get comfortable.

Nyuta. Call the ambulance. Thunder is wounded.

Yumi. Dad. You are my hero.

Suvorov. Don’t die on us, Thunder! Do you want me to adopt you and take to the village with me?

Thunder. It’s a deal, major. I have always dreamed of retirement in the open air.

Suvorov. Hello, veterinary ambulance service? Major Suvorov. It’s urgent! A gun shot wound. A police dog is wounded. Write down the address…

Nyuta. Dad! It’s Yumi. And these are his mother Greta and kitten Toy. They rescued me.

Malyshev. I think I’m making sense of your mother’s words: dogs are the only angels left Earthside with humans.

Yumi. Woof!

Malyshev. I see you’ve already made friends!

Nyuta. My new friends don’t have a home. May they live with us?

Malyshev. What counts most is that you are happy. They can live in our house, there’s room for everyone.

Nyuta. Yippee!

Malyshev. I hope I will never be allergic to animals.

Nyuta. What will happen to the cats and dogs who are locked in the basement?

Malyshev. We will set them free. I will sign the order on allocating funds on conversion of this building into the Animal Protection Center. You have my word.

Nyuta. You are the greatest dad in the world. (She hugs him.)

The wall clock strikes midnight.

Suvorov. Christmas is here.

Malyshev. Happy Holiday everyone!

Nyuta embraces Yumi, goes round and round with him in her hands and laughs.

Nyuta. I am so happy.

Yumi. Dreams come true. You should wish for something with your whole heart, believe in your success and keep moving towards your desirable goal. Merry Christmas!

Curtain.