MOUSEOFTHESUN3
MOUSE HUNT OF THE SUN 3

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THE MOUSE HUNT OF THE SUNrw

EXT. MUSEUM OF ANCIENT TIMES -- DAY

               The sun skirts the horizon. At the entrance to the
               grounds is a sign that reads MUSEUM OF ANCIENT TIMES
               HOURS: 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM MON. - SAT CLOSING 5:00 PM
               SUNDAY 

               Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, Shirley and Harvey furtively
               enter the building nearest the stone ring. 

               Moments later a GROUND POLICE vehicle pulls up by the
               sign. 



               INT. MUSEUM OF ANCIENT TIMES - BUILDING NEAREST THE
               STONE RING -- DAY

               Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, Shirley and Harvey avoid doors
               and windows as the sun sets. 

                                   HARVEY
                         ....Rebel bases in the jungle.
                         The last resistance to Geode
                         rule. I wanted to join up, but
                         ran afoul of the Ground Police. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         Where I come from you're the
                         head gardener on Haven in the
                         Clouds. Mercy, my daughter,
                         likes to listen to your
                         stories. 

                                   Harvey
                         I'm from Haven in the Clouds
                         all right. But there never was
                         no Mercy in my life. 

                                   LISA (O.S.)
                         And that will continue if any
                         of you are still here in the
                         morning. 



               AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDING

               Lisa drags a duffel bag and herself out of the
               shadows. 

                                   SNEAK
                         Ripper, you been saving up your
                         strength. Now we may need it. 

               Ripper confronts Lisa. 

                                   RIPPER
                         Ready. 

                                   LISA
                         At ease. I've considered your
                         story and decided to give you
                         one chance to prove it. There's
                         a full moon tonight. If you can
                         walk through that ring outside,
                         you told the truth. Ground
                         police are stationed in a one
                         block radius. They'll close in
                         at sunup...

                                   SHIRLEY
                         Why are you doing this? 

                                   LISA
                         For love. 

               Lisa takes a photo out of her SWAT suit. 



               IN THE PHOTO

               In a room that resembles the Oval Office, Lisa works at a
               desk with a husky, male, anthro honey badger. Both are
               dressed in business suits. 



               INT. MUSEUM OF ANCIENT TIMES

               Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, Shirley and Harvey pass the
               photo around. 

                                   LISA
                         That's George Steenbok. He died
                         ten years ago. He made the
                         mistake of underestimating a
                         blind, unarmed, Black Dragon.
                         There aren't any dragons on
                         Geode...

                                   SNEAK
                         George became first citizen but
                         he's dead in our universe too.
                         Five years ago. 

                                   LISA
                         That's five more years than I
                         had him. -- I brought your
                         gear.

               Lisa kicks the bag over to them. Edsel unpacks and
               distributes the contents. 



               EXT. MUSEUM OF ANCIENT TIMES --NIGHT

               Under a full moon, Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, Shirley and
               Lisa wait on one side of the stone ring. 

                                   LISA
                         ...But aside from being in furn
                         training, Julie was okay?

                                   SNEAK
                         Not happy but in good health.
                         She was in the best physical
                         shape of her life. 

               The moon shines through the stone ring. 

               Ripper jumps into the ring, but gets stuck in the
               middle. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         You may need this.

               Shirley holds up the green gem.

               Lisa is pissed. 

                                   LISA
                         I'm glad you're leaving. That
                         was in a sealed case in the
                         pyramid...

                                   SNEAK
                         What did Celestine say? Mares
                         eat some grain? 

                                   RIPPER
                         Mareseat oads n dozey doats --
                         Chizchdaplatina

                                   EDSEL
                         Vayminos. On delay. 

               Edsel jumps through the ring and lands on the ground
               on the other side.

               Shirley runs towards the ring. Sneak and Edsel grab
               her tail, then run with her. 

                                   SNEAK
                         Bye Lisa. If this works you'll
                         never know...

               The moon moves off. Only Lisa is left staring through
               an empty stone ring.



               EXT. LOAM - BOGLIMA - CHIZCHDAPLATINA -- NIGHT

               A starry night with a full Moon is the only light on
               the stone ring. NATURAL JUNGLE SOUNDS except for many
               voices raised in song on the other side of the city. 

               Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, and Shirley pull themselves
               together. All four SNIFF the air. 

               Shirley slinks off. 

                                   SNEAK
                         We're somewhere else. No techy
                         stink. 

                                   EDSEL
                         This is Chizchdaplatina. But
                         when? All the buildings are
                         new.

               Shirley returns. Ripper tentatively grabs her arm. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         It's okay, Ripper I'm staying
                         with the group. I want to see
                         Mercy again. 

               Ripper let's go. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         There's an army getting
                         themselves worked up that way.
                         A thousand furrs armed with
                         flint spears, blowguns and
                         small bows. The only metal is
                         jewelry. 

                                   EDSEL
                         That means it's at least twelve
                         hundred years ago. Boglimians
                         have used metal edged weapons
                         for a thousand years. 

                                   SNEAK
                         Stay here. I'll see for myself. 



               EXT. CHIZCHDAPLATINA - ARMY CAMP -- NIGHT

               The bare chested males and the females wearing  
               bandeaux, wear skirts of rope and feathers. 

               From the pyramid steps the Tribal Leader, a river
               otter, JERDAN, addresses the massed locals

               Sneak listens from the shadows.

                                   JERDAN
                         The false goddess has cut off
                         our path over the mountains and
                         all trade with our brothers by
                         the Vast Sea. 

               The crowd ROARS in anger. 

                                   JERDAN
                         Our four sister cities of the
                         plains, river, desert and Half
                         Vast Sea have not sent the
                         promised armies. So the glory
                         of battle shall be all ours!

               The crowd ROARS in excitement.

                                   JERDAN
                         The omens say tomorrow will be
                         a good day to die!

               The crowd fades into the night.

                                   SNEAK
                         Hey skirt guy. You know, no
                         poor dumb bastard ever won a
                         war by dying for his country  --
                         or tribe. The idea is to kill
                         the other bastard...

               Sneak steps out of the shadows. 

                                   JERDAN
                         Whoooo -- are -- you? Who, Who?
                         Who, Who?



               EXT. CHIZCHDAPLATINA - STEPS OF THE PYRAMID -- NIGHT

               Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, and Shirley share a fruit
               basket with Jerdan. 

               Around them five wide trails lead off in all
               directions. 

               In the same direction as one trail, high in the Amos
               Mountains, a green glow competes with the star shine. 

                                   SNEAK
                         ...So when Celestine demanded
                         you warship her you told her to
                         go see the llamas up in the
                         mountains?

                                   JERDAN
                         She went up to Chizchdaouro and
                         now the priests worship her and
                         demand tribute. 



               EXT. CHIZCHDAOURO CENTRAL PLAZA -- DAY 

               Celestine faces the llama with a biggest headdress, the HIGH
               PRIEST. Llamas, alpacas, and vicunas in priestly feathered
               robes look on. 

               The High Priest looks skeptical. 

               Celestine gestures and a briar patch encircles the High
               Priest and closes into a cage. 

               The High Priest grovels and the other priests bow down. 



               EXT. TRAIL DOWN MOUNTAINS INTO NORALOCO JUNGLE -- DAY

               Celestine, the High Priest and some llamas, alpacas, and
               vicunas in priestly feathered robes, Look down from further
               up the trail. 

               A wall of thorn bushes blocks the trail below them and
               continues to swiftly grow up and own the trail. 

               Jerdan and the Chizchdaplatina Maykatecs gesture angrily from
               the base of the trail. 

                                   JERDAN (V.O.)
                         When we refused, a high wall of
                         thorny nettles blocked the road to
                         Chizchdaouro, our former religious
                         center in the mountains and past
                         that to Chizchdamithril our main
                         seaport. 



               EXT. CHIZCHDAPLATINA - STEPS OF THE PYRAMID -- NIGHT

               Sneak, Ripper, Edsel and Shirley continue to share
               fruit with Jerdan. 

                                   EDSEL
                         Chizchdamithril was the old name
                         for Boglima  City.
                         What you know as  the Maykatec
                         Ruins was Chizchdaouro. 

                                   JERDAN
                         At dawn we will once more storm the
                         mountains. Four thousand brave 
                         Maykatec been killed or wounded so
                         far. The other cities refuse to
                         send more troops. 

               Sneak, Ripper and Edsel have a whispered confab. Shirley
               appraises Jerdan's jewelry. 

               Sneak turns to Jerdan

                                   SNEAK
                         Could you put things off a day or
                         two? We got some ideas. -- First
                         off how hard would it be to
                         convince these other tribes...

                                   JERDAN
                         Same tribe, Do one impossible thing
                         in our "Trial of Worth" and they
                         will follow you over Angelus Falls
                         in a reed boat.



               EXT. CHIZCHDAPLATINA -- DAY

               The mountains loom in the distance. 

               Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, Jerdan and Shirley muster at the start
               of the trail to Chizchdaouro. 

                                   SNEAK
                         Ripper you head for the river
                         people's town and Shirley you head
                         for the ones who live in the
                         desert. Them's the longest treks.
                         I'll go to the Half Vast Seaport
                         and Edsel will head for the plains
                         after we check some thing out.

                                   RIPPER
                         Be safe. And Edsel this is for
                         luck.

               Ripper rubs noses with Edsel and gives him a big, wet, sloppy
               lick, then sprints off before he can react. 

               Shirley sidles up to Edsel, but Sneak steps between.

                                   SHIRLEY
                         I'm off. 

               Shirley departs. Sneak addresses her retreating back.

                                   SNEAK
                         In more ways than I can count. 



               EXT. BASE OF MOUNTAINS -- DAY

               A wall of thorns twenty feet high blocks the road and extends
               for miles on either side. 

               Sneak and Edsel survey the route. 

                                   SNEAK
                         How would you get from here to
                         Cheese-chat-doro?

                                   EDSEL
                         Chizchdaouro? 

               Edsel closes his eyes, wrinkles his nose, then points his
               ears north south east and west. 

                                   EDSEL
                         In this time there's' a series of
                         caves under Angelus falls that
                         leads...

               Edsel points up.



               EXT. NORALOCO RIVER  VILLAGE -- DAY 

               A huge tree acts as a dam, to hold back the river. 

               Ripper, along with the city leaders assays the Noraloco
               River which has overflowed its banks and flooded part
               of the town. 

               An OLD JAGUAR seems to be the spokesfurr. 

                                   OLD JAGUAR
                         This was our punishment for
                         opposing the new Goddess. Our crops
                         are ruined and half the town is
                         unlivable.

                                   RIPPER
                         So you must fight her. True? 

                                   OLD JAGUAR
                         Maybe but I can not lead in war. If
                         you could move the tree...



               EXT. SUN CITY  -- DAY 

               On one side of an adobe village withered trees circle a
               dwindling oasis.

               Shirley and a KIT FOX converse. 

                                   KIT FOX
                         ...with no shade our water supply
                         dries up. If we send troops what
                         will the goddess do next? 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         If you don't, she won't help you.

                                   KIT FOX
                         If you can steal the sun from the
                         sky, we will join Jerdan.

               Shirley sees that the moon is in the daytime sky. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         What day and year is this? 

                                   KIT FOX
                         The fiftieth Year of the Panther
                         and today is the first day of
                         Hunter's Moon. 

               Shirley thinks a bit and gets a sly look. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         At noon tomorrow I will do as you
                         ask.



               EXT. NASSCAR PLAINS -- NIGHT

               In the center of an immense plain, strewn with rocks and
               boulders, Edsel walks in the moonlight. 

               A CHIPMUNK sits cross-legged atop a mound. Edsel doesn't see
               him at first. 

                                   EDSEL
                         How hard could it be to find a city
                         on flat land? 

                                   CHIPMUNK
                         Impossible.

               Edsel notices the chipmunk for the first time. 

                                   EDSEL
                         Care to wager on that? 

                                   CHIPMUNK
                         You have come to find troops to
                         fight in the mountains. Find them
                         and they are yours. 



               EXT. SHARK COVE - DAY 

               Sneak is almost to the Maykatec fishing village on the Half
               Vast Sea. The seaweed thatched roofs are visible. 

               She is so intent on looking for fish along the shore, she
               fails to notice the gang of FISHERS {weasels} drying nets. 

               Sneak grabs a fish that washes up. 

                                   SNEAK
                         Lunch. 

                                   FISHER
                         Ola. You from Chizchdaplatina or
                         Chizchdaouro? 

                                   SNEAK
                         Chizchdaplatina. Wanna fight an
                         evil mouse? 

                                   FISHER
                         No. Want to help us catch sharks? 

                                   SNEAK
                         Nay. I'm kinda in the middle of
                         something. 

               The other fishers throw nets over her and tie them shut. 

                                   FISHER
                         Chizchdaplatina or Chizchdaouro? It
                         does not matter, now you are shark
                         bait. 



               EXT.  HALF VAST SEA -- DAY

               The fishers tack their catamaran into the wind picking up
               speed.

               Sneak, wrapped in netting, dangles just above the water. 

               Dorsal fins of several great white sharks cut the waves. 

                                   SNEAK
                         What if I can escape from this? 

                                   FISHER
                         We are here to catch a shark. So we
                         just try again. 

                                   SNEAK
                         What if I get you a shark and
                         escape from here? 

               The Fisher's laugh. 

                                   FISHER
                         You will then be our capitano. No
                         you will be our Queen. Queen of the
                         Sea Fishers!

               A fifteen foot shark jumps out of the water and swallows the
               net Sneak was wrapped in. Its teeth catch in the ropes. For a
               split second Sneak is both still in the net and standing with
               the fishers, helping to pull the net on board. 

                                   SNEAK
                         Reel it in, boys. Then find me a
                         crown. 



               EXT. NORALOCO RIVER  VILLAGE -- DAY 

               In the dry riverbed Ripper closely examines the dam tree. 

               The Old Jaguar and several villagers, on one bank,  hold one
               end of a rope. 

               The other end  is tied around Ripper's waist. 

                                   RIPPER
                         When I say pull, pull. 

               Ripper scratches an X into the tree bark, closes her eyes,
               takes a deep breath and punches the tree on the X.

               Nothing happens. 

               She repeats the process. 

               A small crack appears in the bark. 

               A third time she hits the spot. Now with claws and finger
               tips. 

               The crack widens.

                                   RIPPER
                         PULL!

               The villagers pull her up the bank as the tree splits in half
               and the river goes back to bed. 



               EXT. NASSCAR PLAINS -- DAY

               Edsel heads toward a shimmering heat haze. 

               The chipmunk follows. 

                                   EDSEL
                         You spoke true. At night it is
                         impossible. The shadow of the
                         mountains hides it well. By day...

               Edsel enters the heat haze which mirrors the land in front of
               it rather than blurring the land behind it. 

               Edsel crosses a short bridge over a canal, into a village of
               low one story dwellings made of clay and rocks that match the
               natural land colors and contours. 

                                   CHIPMUNK
                         Welcome to Nasscar.



               EXT. NASSCAR - CHIPMUNK'S HOUSE - DAY 

               Edsel is enjoying a feast as the sun reaches its high point
               of the day. 

               The locals also feast and clean their weapons. 

               Slowly, the cloudless sky darkens. 

               The locals run indoors or underground (in non-anthro form). 

               Edsel looks up in the sky as a black disc slowly covers the
               sun. 



               EXT. TRAIL FROM SHARKS COVE TO CHIZCHDAPLATINA -- DAY

               Fishers and other furrs from the village follow Sneak. The
               villagers carry small nets, clubs encrusted with sharpened
               shells and all wood tridents. 

               The cloudless sky darkens. 

               The villagers run into the jungle or underground (in non
               anthro form). 

               Sneak gazes at the sky as a black disc slowly covers the sun. 

               EXT. CHIZCHDAOURO CENTRAL PLAZA 

               Celestine watches  the llamas, alpacas, and vicunas in
               priestly feathered robes build a step pyramid of concentric
               layers. 

               As a black disc slowly covers the sun, she makes a small tree
               grow tall and has one branch grab the High Priest and bring
               him to her. 

               She points to the sky. 

                                   CELESTINE
                         Do you know what that is? 

                                   HIGH PRIEST
                         It is written in the hall of
                         records that on this day a Black
                         Dragon will consume the sun to warm
                         his belly. When he is done he MAY
                         release it.

               Celestine sees that the other priests are nervous, so she
               causes all the nearby trees to grow to redwood size and block
               out the sky. 

                                   CELESTINE
                         Unseen is unknown. Show me this
                         HALL OF RECORDS



               EXT. SUN CITY  -- DAY 

               As the land cools off, under the eclipse the oasis expands a
               little. The Kit fox and the towns people fill ceramic jugs
               with water. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         As promised. But I can't keep it
                         for long. Other furrs need the
                         light. 

                                   KIT FOX
                         You kept your word so we will too.

               The solar eclipse passes and the sun once more blazes down on
               the desert. 



               EXT. BASE OF MOUNTAINS - ANGELUS FALLS -- NIGHT

               A huge army rests, on either side of the river, near where
               the falls creates a small lake. Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, Jerdan
               and Shirley search by torchlight for a way under the falls.

                                   SNEAK
                         I can see a trail through the mist
                         higher up but not where it starts. 

               A  Maykatec white rabbit climbs a cliff on the opposite side
               of the falls from Sneak and company. He misses a hand hold
               and falls back into the lake. 

                                   EDSEL
                             (pointing)
                         There. Where the hare fell out. 

                                   SNEAK
                         I know a great baldness cure...



               EXT. ANGELUS FALLS -- NIGHT

               Under where the rabbit was climbing, a cave entrance is
               blocked with debris. Sneak, Ripper, Edsel, Shirley and the 
               Maykatecs stand single file passing stones away from the
               cliff face. 



               EXT. ANGELUS FALLS -- NIGHT

               As dawn arrives, the small rocks are gone. All that remains
               is a huge engraved disc. In the center a stylized jaguar head
               sticks its tongue out at the world. 

                                   SNEAK
                         Roll away the stone.

               Ripper, Sneak, Edsel and Jerdan push and slowly the disc
               tumbles sideways into a groove. 

               Sneak leads, Ripper, Edsel and Jerdan who follow upward into
               the dark. Shirley catches up.

                                   SHIRLEY
                         Don't leave me here alone. 



               EXT. CHIZCHDAOURO -- DAY

               On the side of town overlooking the Noraloco jungle, Sneak,
               Ripper, Edsel, and Shirley plan.

                                   SNEAK
                         I'll take a look see. -- Shirley,
                         dear, try and follow quietly in
                         about five minutes.

               Shirley gives a mock salute. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         As you command. -- Darlink. 

               Sneak turns cat (non-anthro) and slinks off. 

               EXT. CHIZCHDAOURO -- DAY

               In the center of town is a step pyramid of concentric
               circles. On the top most tier is an ornate throne. On each
               successive level llamas, alpacas, and vicunas in priestly
               feathered robes face outward. On the throne is Celestine in
               robes embroidered with gold thread. On her head is a
               headdress of entwined metals with a glowing green gem
               centered above her eyes.

               The whole scene looks like a Busby Berkeley nightmare.



               EXT. CHIZCHDAOURO

               On the edge of town overlooking the Noraloco jungle, Sneak
               watches from between stone blocks, as the priests dance and
               sing the praises of 'goddess' Celestine. 

               Celestine raises her hand and the music ceases. 

               The High Priest, bows low and grovels towards Celestine.

                                   HIGH PRIEST
                         Oh 'Sun and Moon and all the
                         Stars', what is your wish. 

                                   CELESTINE
                         Bring the foreign devil before me.
                         I'm bored. 

               The high priest motions and armed priests bring Harvey, a
               white rabbit that looks exactly like the one Sneak met in
               Platinum City, up to the tier below the throne. 

                                   SNEAK
                         How did he get here? 

               A vicuna near the wall speaks without turning to look for who
               spoke. 

                                   VICUNA
                         Missionary from Haven. Priest of
                         the Onests. Came to set us heathens
                         on the right path...

               Celestine gestures and green vines grow out of the ground to
               bind Harvey in place. They slither around him like snakes
               until only his face a ears are uncovered. 

                                   CELESTINE
                         Can your god do this?

                                   HARVEY
                         Monkeying with the natural order of
                         things'll turn on you in the end.
                         Know the law of threes? 

                                   CELESTINE
                         Nothing can harm The Goddess!

               A quizzical look passes over Sneak's face. 

                                   SHIRLEY (O.S.)
                         Whatever you do comes back
                         threefold. Good brings thrice good.
                         Evil brings evil three times. 

               Shirley joins Sneak in her niche. They both retreat into the
               dark. 

                                   SNEAK
                         That's not the same bunny from the
                         techy future but somehow it is. 

                                   SHIRLEY 
                         That my dear, is one of the long
                         line of Pope Bunnifaces that ruled
                         Haven until our time. 

                                   SNEAK
                         Haven's gonna need a new rabbit
                         soon. --- Listen. Circle round to
                         the other side. Look for any way we
                         can get the mad mousy alone. 

                                   SHIRLEY
                         And you? 

                                   SNEAK
                         I'm gonna see where 'our army' is,
                         then look on this side. Sunset,
                         I'll meet you on the trail to
                         Boglima City

                                   SHIRLEY
                         Chizchdamithril

                                   SNEAK
                         Gesundheit. 
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MOUSE HUNT OF THE SUN 3