Francine's Christmas Carol
By: Romero Anchovy, and Polly Girl
Chapter 1: Ebenezer Francine
Narrator: It's Christmas time in Little Tokyo. And all of the citizens are already in the spirit of giving.
Mama and junior where standing outside decoration a tree.
Junior: Merry Christmas Mama! Do you think Santa will come again?
Mama: Merry Christmas son. Hopefully so I sent him my wish list 3 months ago.
Narrator: Ah yes, Christmas a time to spend with the love ones. Let's see how it's going at the pizza cat. I'm sure they are all in the giving spirit.
Francine was standing behind the cash register.
Francine: Giving Spirit! Bah-Humbug!
Narrator: Looks like someone here hasn't gotten into the mood yet.
Francine: Yeah, All this non-sense just so that people can go out and spend there hard earned money on something that friends won't even appreciate! But I can't be all up set at least I'm able to raise the prices for the "holiday" season.
Narrator: Well I guess with every cloud there's a sliver lining.
Francine: I much rather stay here and count my hard earned money.
Speedy, Polly, and Guido where in the back of the kitchen.
Guido: So you what do you guys have planned for Christmas bonus?
Speedy: Nothing really, Polly and me are going up to Mount Kouge. (Is that how it's spelt?) Polly's family and mine are going to relax up there for a while. What about you Guido?
Guido: Not much, my little cousin is sick and he needs an operation, so I'm hoping that my check can help. That's the reason why I've been working over time so much.
Polly: Wow, Guido. How old is he?
Guido: About seven.
Francine walked into the kitchen with her nose buried deep into her golden calculator.
Guido walked up to her to see about getting his paycheck.
Guido: Hi…Francine…Merry Christmas!
Francine: Bah Humbug! I'm sure all you want is your paycheck and to have the day off, huh?
Guido nodded his head.
Francine: fine, here.
She handed them all an envelope with there names on it.
Guido was the first to open his and when he took a look at it he had a look of utter surprise.
Speedy: So is it enough?
Guido dropped the envelope as Francine started to walk towards her office.
Guido: There's not even enough to ride the bus.
Francine: And don't make any plans for tomorrow expect to come to work early, with smiles!
Polly: What? Work tomorrow? But we have plans! It's Christmas!
Francine: I know what day it will be tomorrow! It's going to be a busy day! And all three of you lackeys could use the work.
Speedy: Lackeys? We have to save Little Tokyo on what seems like a daily basis, and all we ask is for one day out of the year.
Francine: We'll excuse me, Speedy, but I'm the one that's in charge of the Pizza Parlor, and managing the money. How do you think I made it onto Little Tokyo's top 100 riches kittens before I was 18? I'll tell you…hard work. Your work reflects your pay. So that's how I decided to pay you.
Guido: But I've been working just about every day for the whole month!
Francine: Yeah, just about. Now get back to work!
Francine left the kitchen and headed into her office and closed the door with a loud thud.
Speedy and Polly looked at Guido as he just stood in the middle of the kitchen like a statue
Speedy: Guido? Are you okay?
Guido: I…I'm fine…I have deliveries to make.
Guido quickly left the kitchen and went outside.
Speedy: What's up with Francine lately?
Polly: I think that ever since Bucky dumped her, Francine has been burying herself in her work.
Francine was in her room behind a desk that seemed too big for the little kitten, counting money.
Francine: Christmas is nothing but a joke! I much rather count my money. Let's see 1…2…3…
Francine was cut off by some Christmas carolers that where outside her window.
Francine: What now?
Francine walked over to the window and opened to see that the Rescue team was the ones singing out side.
Rescue team in unison: Merry Christmas, Francine!
Francine: Bah-Humbug! I suppose you all want to something to drink?
General Catton: That would be awfully nice, Fran!
Francine disappeared behind the window for a quick second and then came back to the window with a bucket.
Francine: He you go!
Francine dumped the bucket, which had cold water on in it all over the Rescue team.
Rescue team: Hey! That's Cold!
Francine: Now keep it down! Some of us have work to do!
Francine closed the window on the soaking wet Rescue team.
Bat Cat: What's gotten into Fran?
Meowzma: I'm all cold and wet!
General Catton: Me too buddy! Let's go back to my place to dry off!
Spritz: I thought that was a little refreshing!
Bat Cat: You spend too much time with water, Spritz!
Guido came back soon after the wet rescue team left. In side the parlor Speedy, was filled with anger, and stormed into the backroom to calm down. Guido also feeling upset followed him.
Guido: Man, I can't believe this!
Speedy: YOU can't?! There go all my Christmas plans right out the window!
Guido: I know, you and Polly can't go into the mountains...
Speedy: More than that! (Sighs) Guido...I don't know if I told you what I planned to give Polly for Christmas…
Guido: What? I won't tell.
Speedy (takes out blue velvet box and opens it to reveal ring): Good thing I didn't wrap it yet.
Guido (looks at ring and whistles): Whoa! Speedo…isn't that...
Speedy: Yeah, it is. (Sighs again) I was gonna propose to her on Christmas Day, right on the top of the mountain in front of our families.
Guido: Wow, that's real romantic!
Speedy: Yeah...but it's all off now!
Guido: Ya know, my family is throwing a Christmas Party in the hospital lobby for my cousin.
Speedy: Oh yeah... how is your cousin?
Guido: They say he's doing better. He's able to wheel himself around the room...but if a new kidney isn't found soon...(Speedy takes his hand gently.) Anyway, the family is giving him Christmas in the lobby...why don't ya bring Polly? It's not much, but you can propose right in front of the tree?
Speedy: Can we really?
Guido: Sure. We'll probably go there very late, though, knowing Fran.
Speedy: Probably close to 9...or even 10! Pretty short Christmas! Is it me, or is she acting like her old business partner, Jessica Morley used to act before she died?
Guido: Glad I wasn't the only one who noticed that.
