Usual disclaimers. The short featured is 1955's "Rabbit Rampage," a 'sequel' of sorts to the earlier "Duck Amuck."
"Wow. Someone really doesn't like Bugs Bunny," Emily said. "I mean, all the way up there?!"
"Revenge," Kevin said.
"Revenge," Morgan queried, the word coming out more as a statement than a question.
"Look, some animator decided to get even with Bugs for always being the 'best' at everything he does without really trying. God, I wish I knew who he was…I'd like to kiss him…"
That remark earned him a dirty look from a certain computer tech and a slap in the arm.
"I mean, shake his hand and talk awhile, Penelope…"
"That's better. Kissing is for me, isn't it?"
The look in Kevin's eyes was unmistakable. "Oh, yeah."
"Before we get too off topic," Morgan said, "I've got to point out: Bugs makes a good straight man."
"I don't think that's what Kevin's getting at," Reid said. "Bugs is so used to being more clever and more adept than most of his adversaries that it's nice to see him on the short end every once in a while."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Kevin said. "Keeps him human."
A wave of laughter washed over the room as Bugs's 'wardrobe' was being discussed.
"A pumpkin head?" Emily squealed. "Ichabod Crane, eat your heart out!"
"And then he just adds ears to it!" JJ chortled. "Oh my god!"
"That bit about the 'strike' thing was great," Will added. "Considering the troubles that industry's had lately…"
"Well, this was made in 1955," Reid pointed out. "The studio system was on the decline."
"Studio system?" JJ asked.
Before Reid could answer, Rossi spoke up. "In the early part of the century, movie theaters were owned by the studios, not independent owners. This ensured a run of all films a movie studio made, whether good or bad. The studios also put actors under contract to a specific studio for a certain number of years, and it became hard to get a specific actor or actress for a particular role if their contract wasn't owned by the producing studio. It's because of this that we got Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz instead of Shirley Temple—the producers wanted Temple but she was under contract to a different studio and made unavailable."
"Wow," Will said. "That was my mama's favorite movie. I wonder what she'd have said to someone else being Dorothy…"
"Just be glad we don't have to find out," Rossi chuckled.
"Oh, god—he'd send a train after him?!" Morgan said, bringing everyone's attention back to the screen.
"Well, if you weren't going to work, wouldn't you need a little 'encouragement'?" Emily teased.
"Not no train hurtling at me, though," Morgan pointed out. "Hotch telling me I'm fired would work quicker."
"I'll have to remember that one," the unit chief said, a small twinkle in his eye.
"Hotch, I was kidding…"
"No, seriously, that might work," Hotch continued. "No more worrying about my agents flying off the handle or letting their emotions get the better of them…"
"Hotch, you're not serious?!" Morgan cried. "I mean, we're people, not robots!"
The burst of laughter that broke out of Hotch's lips relaxed some of the tension, and Morgan visibly relaxed as he too began to chuckle. "Who says I don't have a sense of humor?" the older man said simply.
"All right, I'm dying to know—who's making Bugs's life hell?" Kevin asked. "I've gone through the entire list, and no one's popping up on the radar…"
Suddenly the 'masked cartoonist' revealed himself, causing everyone to chuckle in surprise and amazement.
"Wow, I didn't see that coming," JJ said.
"Me neither," Kevin agreed.
"Who's up for another?" Morgan said. "I could do with a good villain or two…"
"Oh! Then we've got to play this one," Reid said, his fingers flying over the keyboard again.
