… ("Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer")
Rumpleteazer popped up from the hole in the pile of junk with her bag of loot. Suddenly, music started playing in the background for her and Mungojerrie.
Rumple climbed on top of the TS-E1 and looked back at Mungo. He was just coming out of the hole with his bag of loot. She whispered to him "Come on."
Mungojerrie also heard the music as he climbed onto the TS-E1. As he got up with Rumple, he thought I must say; the Mystical Divinity certainly makes good music.
Once both he and Rumple were on the trunk of the TS-E1, they stood up on their hind legs and started dancing. Mungo then whispered "Let's go in'to t'he clea'ring. Th'ere's not en'ough space up 'ere."
"Good id'ea," said Rumple.
As the two of them slid off the TS-E1, Rumpleteazer giggled again. Mungojerrie quickly shushed her once more. Then the two of them started repeating the same dance moves, but in the opposite direction. The two of them walked partially towards each end of the clearing, and then they started backing up. They accidentally ran into each other, causing them to react by throwing their bags up in the air.
They turned to each other, and just shrugged. Mungojerrie turned to the front of the clearing and sang: "Mun-gojeh'rie"
Rumpleteazer continued: "And Rum-pleteazeh"
As they danced, they sang "We're a noto'rious couple of cats."
They swung their legs as Rumple sang: "As kno'ckabout clowns, quick-ch'ange comed'ians, t'ightrope wa'lkers, and acrobats."
Rumple did a cartwheel and Mungo did a somersault. Then they made some motions with their legs as Mungo sang on: "We h'ave an extensive repu'tation. We m'ake our home in Victo'ria Grove."
Rumpleteazer did an impression of someone writing on a typewriter while Mungojerrie swung his arm in a certain manner, singing: "This is me'rely our cente' of operation…"
They sang together: "Fo'r we are incu'rably given to rove."
(Note: A lot of the following was taken out of the movie. I'm just making up some of the choreography as I go along. But the lyrics themselves are found both in T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and the musical on stage)
As the two of them waved their arms in sync, Mungo sang: "We a're ve'ry well-known in Co'rnwall Gardens…"
Rumple: "In Laun'ceston Pl'ace"
Mungo: "And in Ken'sington Squa're."
Rumple: "We h'ave really a li'ttle more repu'tation"
Both: "Than a cou'ple of cats can ve'ry well ba're!"
Mungojerrie then picked up Rumpleteazer and tossed her into the air. She did a somersault and landed on her hind feet. Then they continued to sing.
Mungo threw his paw up dramatically in the air and sang "If the ar'ea window is found aja'r,"
Rumple raised her arm and sang "Or the bas'ement looks like a field of wa'r,"
Mungo: "If a t'ile or two comes loose fr'om the roof"
Rumple: "Which pre'sently ceases ta be wate'proof,"
The two of them linked arms and ran in circles as Mungo sang: "If the draw'ers are pulled out from the bed'room chests…"
Rumple continued: "Or you c'an't find one of you'r winte' vests,"
The two of them broke the link with their arms and twirled around twice in the air, doing a high- kick along the way. As they did this, Mungojerrie sang: "If afte' suppe', one of the g'irls,"
"Suddenly mi'sses 'er Woolwo'rth pearls," Rumple finished.
The two of them paused for a moment, and then they looked at each other and sang "The fam'ily will s'ay "It's th'at 'orrible cat!'"
Mungojerrie spread his arms and sang "It was Mun-gojeh'rie,"
Rumpleteazer did the same thing and sang "Or Rummm-pleteazeh,"
The two of them did a cartwheel using just one arm in opposite directions, and then sang as they landed on all fours "An' most of the time, they le'ave it at th'at."
The two of them sang together a little faster than before "Mungojeh're and Rumpleteazeh 'ave a ve'ry unusual gi'ft of the gab."
"We a're h'ighly effic'ent cat burglars as well," Rumple sang as they did more high-kicks.
"And rema'kably smart at a sm'ash and grab!" sang Mungo.
Mungo then picked up Rumple by putting his right arm under her raised right leg and he put his other arm around her waist. Then he spun around a few times as they continued singing.
Rumple: "We m'ake ou'r home in Victo'ria Grove."
Mungo: "We 'ave no regula' occup'ation."
He then placed Rumple back down and sang "We a're plau'sible fellows"
"Who l'ike to enga'ge," sang Rumple.
Both: "A fri'endly policeman in conve'sation!"
Then Mungojerrie ran right up behind Rumpleteazer, pushed onto her back, and jumped completely over her.
The two of them went to the back of clearing on opposite sides, singing together "When the fam'ily assembles fo'r Sund'ay dinne'h,"
Rumple sang "The'ir mind's made up th'at they won't get thinne'h"
The two of them gradually dropped to the ground whilst they sang.
Mungo: "On Ar'gentine joint,"
Rumple: "Pot'atoes, and gr'eens. Then the cook would appea' fr'om behin' the scenes,"
As they spread their lower legs in the air and balanced themselves, Mungo sang on "An' say in a voice th'at is broken with sorr'ow 'I'm afr'aid you mus' wait and 'ave dinn'eh tomorr'ow.' The joint h'as gone from the oven l'ike th'at…"
The two of them paused for a moment, and then looked at each other to sing "Then the fam'ily will s'ay 'It's th'at 'orrible cat!"
Mungojerrie rose to his hind legs and sang "Was it Mun-gojeh'rie…"
Rumpleteazer rose next to him and sang "Or Rummm-pleteazeh?"
The two of them held onto each other's paw and danced over to the right side of the clearing, singing "An' most of t'he time, they le'ave it at th'at!"
Then they started doing more high-kicks as they sang "Mungojeh'rie and Rumpleteaz'eh 'ave a wonde'ful way… of workin' togethe'!"
They spun around once, punched the air thrice, and did another high-kick as they sang "An' some of the t'ime you cou'd say it was luck!
Mungo then linked Rumple's arm in his, and they spun around once, singing "An' some of t'he time you wou'd say it was weathe'!"
The two of them jumped toward the center of the clearing, waving their arms as they sang: "We go throu' the 'ouse like an 'urricane!"
Rumple stood in front of Mungo. He grabbed onto her waist and helped her do a cartwheel without touching the ground.
As Rumple rebounded, Mungo sang "An' no sobe' per'son…"
Both: "Could take 'is oath."
Mungo: "W'as it Mun-gojeh'rie?"
Rumple: "Or Rummm-pleteaz'eh?"
The two of them turned to each other and bowed as they sang: "Or cou'd you 'ave sworn th'at it m'ight 'ave been both?"
They jumped around the clearing as they sang:
"An' when you 'ear a dinin' room sm'ash,
Or up from the pan'try, th'ere comes a loud cr'ash,"
The two of them spread their arms out and sung a little more softly:
"Or down from the libr'ary, came a loud ping,
From a vase wh'ich was commonly said to be Miiiiiiiiiiiiing."
By then, Mungojerrie had been standing directly behind Rumpleteazer. The two of them bent over, and then looked at each other nervously. The way they had positioned themselves was sure to look awkward from a certain perspective.
They just got out of that compromising position and ran to the back of the clearing. They looked at each other with a grin on each of their faces, and held each other's paw.
They sang: "Then the fam'ily will say 'Now wh'ich was wh'ich cat?"
Rumpleteazer got behind Mungojerrie and bent down low. Mungo held his arms in the air and sang "It waasss… Mun-gojeh'rie."
Rumple stood and came to his front. She sang "Annnnnd… Rummm-pleateazeh!"
The two of them did a cartwheel to the right side of the clearing. Rumple was standing just a little to the left and in front of Mungo. She threw herself towards him and grabbed onto his waist with her back to him. He then grabbed onto her waist and leaned to the right. The two of them did a type of triple cartwheel together. When they came apart and landed on their hind feet, they walked back to the center, singing: "An' th'ere's nothin' at all to be done a'bout th'at!"
Rumple jumped into Mungo's arm at that last part, and they held that position for a few moments.
Immediately, all the other Jellicles stormed into the clearing, taking Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer by surprise.
"T'ime ta go!" Mungo said as he place Rumple back on her feet.
"I th'ink so," Rumple agreed.
They went to their left, but they were blocked by Jellylorum, Admetus, Bombalurina, Cassandra, Pouncival, Etcetera, Victoria, and Electra. They went to their right, but they were blocked by Skimbleshanks, Jennyanydots, Tumblebrutus, Jemima, Coricopat, Tantomile, and Plato. They were about to run to the front of the clearing, but then they remembered their loot. They turned around to get it, but Asparagus, Alonzo, and Munkustrap were in the way. Alonzo and Munkustrap also held their sacks of loot in the air.
"Othe' way," Rumple whispered.
She and Mungo turned around and ran in the opposite direction, but Demeter and Quaxo stood in the way.
Mungo and Rumple turned back around and ran to the TS-E1 as everyone sang "And there's nothing at all to be done about that!"
Just then, Alonzo and Munkustrap threw the sacks over Mungo and Rumple's heads. Rumple tried to grab them, but they were thrown too high.
Mungo and Rumple looked at each other in frustration at losing their prize.
… ("Old Deuteronomy")
"You know, that wasn't a bad song," said Tumblebrutus.
Several of the others agree with him.
Unnoticed by anyone, Quaxo turned around and crawled closer to the front of the junkyard. He sniffed the air and looked up, as if he was in a trance.
Mungo was the first to notice this. He pointed to Quaxo, telling the others "Look at Quaxo."
Everyone turned and saw the tuxedo tom behave a little strangely. Just then, Coricopat and Tantomile walked near Quaxo. The two of them seemed to be entranced as well.
Finally, Quaxo said excitedly "Old Deuteronomy?"
A few of the Jellicles gave a ligh gasp. Quaxo was sensing that Old Deuteronomy was close.
Everyone looked at Coricopat and Tantomile, who were connecting their minds to see if Quaxo was correct.
Slowly, they opened their eyes and sang together "I believe it is Old Deuteronomy."
Everyone but Munkustrap started to get comfortable on the ground. Quaxo disappeared to the front of the junkyard as everybody (save Munkustrap) sang:
"Well, of all things, can it be really? Yes, no, ho, hi, oh my eye! My mind may be wandering, but I confess, I believe it is Old Deuteronomy."
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer lay down together on the trunk of the TS-E1. Mungo pulled Rumple closer to him. He pecked her on the cheek, and then they watched Munkustrap stand in the center of the clearing.
When he had everybody's attention, Munkustrap started to sing in a deep voice:
"Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time.
He's a cat who has lived many lives in succession.
He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme
A long while before Queen Victoria's accession."
As Munkustrap sang, Mungo and Rumple shifted positions, and Mungo rested his head on Rumple's lap. She stroked his forehead delicately as they listened to the Jellicle Protector sing about his father.
"I kn'ow a lot of cats – an' people – th'ink th'at th'eir par'ents are old," Mungo whispered to Rumple, "But I th'ink Munk is exa'ggeratin' jus' a little bit a'bout h'is fath'er's age."
"Yeah, you an' meh b'oth," said Rumple, smiling down at her mate.
Rum Tum Tugger appeared at the makeshift door on the pipe next to the tire. He sang:
"Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives,"
Munkustrap went to stand next to his younger brother on the pile of crates. Tugger continued singing:
"And more; I am tempted to say ninety-nine.
And his numerous progeny prospers and thrives,
And the village is proud of him in his decline."
"Looks l'ike we kn'ow wh'o Tugg'er gets his repu'tation as a queens' tom f'rom now," Mungo whispered to Rumple.
She snickered and said "I gu'ess you're r'ight."
Everyone started vocalizing before Munkustrap began to sing the next verse. Mungojerrie sat up and turn to Rumpleteazer. She lifted her lower right leg into the air, and Mungo started rubbing the underside of it seductively. Rumple was REALLY enjoying herself then.
Munkustrap sang on:
"At the sight of that placid and bland physiognomy
When he sits in the sun on the vicarage wall,
The oldest inhabitant croaks,"
Munkustrap and Tugger sang together:
"'Well… of all…
Things… can it be really? No! Yes!
Ho! Hi!
Oh, my eye!
My mind may be wandering, but I confess
I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!"
When they sang that last verse, Tugger pointed to the opposite end of the clearing. Munkustrap turned around and pointed in the same direction.
Everyone looked, and sure enough, they saw Quaxo approaching with Old Deuteronomy.
Mungo and Rumple quickly got off the TS-E1 and went to join everybody else as they clustered together. As they all walked closer to the front of the clearing, everybody sang:
"Well of all things, can it be really? Yes! No! Ho! Hi! Oh, my eye! My mind may be wandering, but I confess, I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!"
Old Deuteronomy entered the clearing; Quaxo followed him close behind.
They repeated this chorus one time. As they did so, several of the kittens went to Old Deuteronomy and hugged him. The elder cats shook his paws. Even Tugger bowed to his father when he reached the end of the clearing.
Everyone turned to the front of the clearing and sang "Well of all things, can it be really? Yes! No! Ho! Hi! Oh, my eyyyyyye!"
Then they turned back to Old Deuteronomy, who was sitting down on top of his tire. He sang "My legs may be tottery; I must go slow, and be careful of Old Deuteronomy."
Everyone watched him in respect and awe. Munkustrap had been standing next to Old Deuteronomy at his time. He turned back to the others and sang:
"Jellicle cats meet once a year
On the night we made the Jellicle Choice.
And now that the Jellicle leader is here,
Jellicle cats can all rejoice!"
… ("The Awefull Battle of the Pekes And the Pollicles")
Everybody started to move off to the sides of the clearing. Victoria and Jemima sat with Old Deuteronomy. The rest of the queens went to the left side, and all the toms except Munkustrap went to the right side.
After giving his father a signal, Munkustrap turned to the front and sang in a deep voice:
"Of the Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles… together with some account of the participation of the Pugs and the Poms, and the Intervention of the Great Rumpus Caaaaaaaaat!"
In a slightly higher voice, Munkustrap sang rapidly:
"The Pekes and the Pollicles, everyone knows,
Are proud and implacable passionate foes.
It is always the same wherever one goes.
And the Pugs and the Poms, although most people say
That they do not like fighting, yet once in a way,
They now and again join into the fray.
And they…"
Queens: "Bark!"
Toms: "Bark!"
Queens: "Bark!"
Toms: "Bark!"
Queens: "Bark!"
Toms: "Bark!"
Queens: "Bark!"
Toms: "Bark!"
Munkustrap: "Until you could hear them all over the park!"
As Munkustrap went on, Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie went to get their costumes for the play on. Munkustrap had decided to make them Head Peke and Head Pollicle respectively. Rumpleteazer's costume consisted of a large piece of brown cloth with eyeholes cut in it and a large black object placed as a nose. She also wore a smaller piece of brown cloth around each of her paws. Mungojerrie's costume consisted of an inverted boot as a helmet, two shoeboxes on his front paws, and two small pillows on his lower paws.
When they finished getting dressed, they went back into the clearing. Munkustrap was just getting to their part. He sang:
"And no one at all was about on the street
"When a Peke-" Rumpleteazer entered next to Munkustrap from the left side of the clearing- "and a Pollicle-" Mungojerrie jumped out from the other side of the clearing- "happened to meet."
Mungo and Rumple faced each other off and spun around on one foot.
Munkustrap went on:
"They did not advance, or exactly retreat,
But they glared at each other, and scraped their hind feet."
Rumple and Mungo did just that.
Munkustrap sang: "And started to…"
"Ba'rk!" Rumpleteazer barked in her cockney accent.
"Ba'rk!" Mungojerrie barked in his accent the same way.
Rumple: "Ba'rk!"
Mungo: "Ba'rk! Ba'rk!"
CRAP! Mungo thought to himself, I told myself I wouldn't do that!
All week, everybody had been practicing this skit, but Mungo kept messing up the barking part between himself and Rumple. He told himself that he would not get it wrong this time, and yet he still had.
Rumple just went along nonchalantly: "Ba'rk!"
Mungo: "Ba'rk!"
Rumple: "Ba'rk!"
Munkustrap just gave Mungojerrie an annoyed glare. But he kept singing:
"Until you could hear them all over the park. And they…"
Rumpleteazer and the rest of the queens barked. Then Mungojerrie and the other toms barked. The queens barked; the toms barked, and barked again. Mungo just smirked when he realized that the toms did that to prevent him from looking dumb. The queens barked; the toms barked, and the queens barked once more.
Munkustrap sang "Until you could hear them all over the park" and rubbed Mungo on the side of the head.
Gesturing to Rumpleteazer, Munkustrap continued to sing: "Now the Peke, although people may say what they please…"
Right then and there, Rumpleteazer started rubbing her butt against Munkustrap's hip, much to everyone's surprise. Mungo just smirked.
Munkustrap kept singing "Is no British dog, but a Heathen Chinese" and hip-butted Rumple away.
Munk then sang on:
"And so all the Pekes, when they heard the uproar,
Some came to the window; some came to the door.
There were surely a dozen, more likely a score."
At that time, Rumpleteazer went over to Jennyanydots and asked her "H'ow am I doin', Mom?"
Jenny simply grinned and said "Just fine. But I'd suggest that you keep your distance from Munkustrap, or Demeter may get on your case."
"Oh don't wo'rry a'bout th'at," Rumple assured her, "Oh, w'atch this!"
Rumple then crawled up behind Munkustrap, who had his lower legs together. Rumple went up behind him and forced his legs apart and went underneath him, punching the air with her brown bags.
As she did this, Munkustrap sang: "And together, they started to grumble and wheeze
In their huffery-snuffery Heathen Chinese."
Then he tripped Rumpleteazer and pushed her to the right side of the clearing with his foot.
Moving off to the other side of the clearing, Munkustrap sang:
"But a terrible din is what Pollicles like;
For your Pollicle dog is a Dour Yorkshire tyke."
Off to the side, the other toms had been getting dressed in the same costumes as Mungojerrie. They all got in a line with Pouncival in front. When Munkustrap turned and saluted them to go, Pouncival saluted back.
"Ok'ay, 'ere we go," said Mungo.
Pouncival marched forward; Mungojerrie, Tumblebrutus, Asparagus, Coricopat, and Alonzo followed him close behind. They all started singing:
"There were dogs out of every nation:
The Irish, the Welsh, and the Dane.
The Russian, the Dutch, the Dalmatian,
And even from China and Spain.
From the Poodle, the balmy Alsatian,
And the Basset who growls on the train."
So far, the skit was turning out to be a disaster! Pouncival almost knocked Munkustrap over when he first walked out, Tumblebrutus ended up marching the wrong way, and Pouncival almost ended up going too far. But Munkustrap held onto his head to make the line stop.
He sang:
"And to those that are frisky and frollicle,
That my meaning be perfectly plain,"
Mungojerrie just smirked when Pouncival tried to punch Munkustrap to get him to let go of his head. He and the other toms sang:
"That my name is Little Tom Pollicle,
And you'd better not do it again!"
Munkustrap let go of Pouncival, but he lost his balance and fell flat onto his stomach.
Mungojerrie and Alonzo helped Pouncival up. At the same time, Skimbleshanks and Quaxo – dressed in shoe-helmets and bags around their paws – walked over to Munkustrap as he continued to sing:
"And his braw Scottish cousins are snappers and biters
And every dog-jack of them notable fighters;
And so they stepped out, with their pipers in order,
Playing When the Blue Bonnets Came Over the Border."
Skimbleshanks and Quaxo had been pretending to punch Munkustrap behind his back. Quaxo had even lost one of his shoes in the process! When Munkustrap noticed what the two of them were doing, he gave them a very annoyed look. This skit was turning out to be a disaster, and Munk seemed to be the only one that cared!
As Munkustrap got Skimbleshanks and Quaxo back into their proper positions, Rum Tum Tugger started playing on some makeshift bagpipes. They had been created from a football and candy canes, and they seemed to work quite well for him.
Tugger walked through the clearing, knocking over anyone in his path and continuing to play while everyone got into position for the climax of the skit.
The queens, all wearing either a Peke mask or a large white dog helmet, came into the clearing.
Munkustrap sang: "Then the Pugs and the Poms are no longer aloof,
But some from the balcony, some from the roof,
Joined into the din with a…"
Another round of barking was exchanged between the two sides, followed by Munkustrap with "Until you could hear them all over the park."
The queens and the toms slowly approached each other, pretending to look hostile. They sang "Huffery-snuffery, huffery-snuffery, huffery-snuffery, huffery-snuff."
Munkustrap: "Until you could hear them all over the park!"
Everybody burst into a large (and loud) round of barking, as if they were actually engaged in combat. When the barking got out of control, Munkustrap ran to the back and shouted at the top of his voice "NOOOOOO!"
Everybody dropped to the ground, holding their ears.
"Wow, g'ive us an ea'rache, w'hy don't ya, Munk?" Mungo muttered under his breath.
"I h'ope I won't be deaf in one ea'r bec'ause of th'is," Rumple muttered, being equally agitated.
Munkustrap didn't hear either of them. He continued:
"When these bold heroes together assembled,
The traffic all stopped, and the underground trembled,
And some of the neighbors were so much afraid,
That they started to ring up the Fire Brigade!"
"Oh, th'is is goin' ta be good," Rumple whispered to Mungo.
A few weeks earlier, when the Jellicles first decided to make a play based off of the famous battle, Admetus suggested seeking out the real Rumpus Cat and inviting him to participate in the skit. A lot of the other Jellicles thought this to be an outrageously odd suggestion, but in the end, Munkustrap had agreed to it, and he agreed to Admetus' suggestion. However, the one condition was that Admetus was going to have to find the Rumpus Cat on his own if he wanted to invite him. Oddly enough, just four days later, he told the others that he had found the Rumpus Cat, invited him, and received an acceptance for the invitation from him all on the same encounter.
Everyone was impressed by how easily Admetus had accomplished this, but they decided not to ask questions.
Anyway, as everyone crawled toward the front of the left side of the clearing, Munkustrap sang:
"When suddenly up, from a small basement flat,
Why who should stalk out but…"
Everyone sang with him "The Great Rumpussss Caaaaaaat!"
However, the Rumpus Cat jumped in from the other side of the clearing. Munkustrap turned around, rolled his eyes, and ran over to him. He led the Rumpus Cat to the center of the clearing.
The other cats all pretended to cower in fear. In actuality, several of them were trying to hold back the urge to laugh; the Rumpus Cat's costume looked ridiculous!
"Good entr'ance," Mungo whispered to Alonzo, "But not so good appe'arance."
"You can say that again," Alonzo nodded.
Munkustrap sang:
"His eyes were like fireballs fearfully blazing,
He gave a great yawn, and his jaws were amazing,"
The Rumpus Cat shut his jaws right in front of Munkustrap's nose, cause Munk to tremble slightly. But then he continued as the Rumpus Cat gave a pantomime:
"And when he looked out through the bars of the area,
You never saw anything fiercer…"
At that point the Rumpus Cat started Munkustrap in the eye and the fur on his head stood on end.
Munkustrap finished with a note of sarcasm in his voice: "Or hairier."
Now just about everyone was trying to hold back laughter; even Old Deuteronomy himself!
Finally, Munkustrap sang as he danced alongside the Rumpus Cat:
"And what with the glare of his eyes and his yawning,
The Pekes and the Pollicles quickly took warning!
He looked to the sky and he gave a great leap –
And they every last one of them scattered like sheep."
At that, everybody quickly left the clearing to remove their costumes. As Mungojerrie undressed, he said to Alonzo "I must s'ay; I sorta su'prised th'at the Rumpus Cat would want to embar'ass 'imself in such a manne'."
"You should tell that to Admetus," suggested Rumpleteazer.
"Hey, where is Admetus?" asked Plato.
"Don't you remember, Plato?" asked Tumblebrutus, "He told us that the Rumpus Cat wanted him to wait up at the entrance of the junkyard for him until he left. That was one of his conditions for his appearance; he wanted someone there to let him out as soon as he was no longer needed."
"Oh, silly me, I forgot," said Plato.
After they got out of their costumes, they all ran back out into the clearing and stood a certain distance apart from each other behind Munkustrap and the Rumpus Cat. Tugger came back out onto the TS-E1 to play his bagpipes again. When he was finished, he just grinned and brought a look on his face that was like "Yeah?" He was expecting some acknowledgement, but none came.
Ha, no applause for you! Mungo thought.
Finally, everybody finished the song:
"All hail and all bow to the Great Rumpusssss Caaaaaaaaaaaaaat!"
Then they all turned and bowed to Old Deuteronomy. Even the Rumpus Cat himself bowed.
… ("The Song of the Jellicles")
Everyone moved closer to Old Deuteronomy. He announced:
"Jellicle cats and dogs all must,
Pollicle dogs and cats all must,
Like undertakers, come to dust!"
Immediately after that, another sound of thunder was heard like before, and the Rumpus Cat scurried out of the clearing as quickly as possible. Demeter looked up and shouted "Macavity!"
Everyone looked, and sure enough, the ginger tom himself was there at the top of a junk pile.
"Hide!" said Munkustrap
Mungojerrie helped Rumpleteazer to her feet, and the two of them quickly left the clearing and hid in one of the piles of junk with some of the other Jellicles.
While they were down there, Rumpleteazer took her necklace off and replaced it with her collar.
"Mungo?" her voice broke the unpleasant silence.
"Yes, Rumple?" Mungo turned his attention to his mate.
"Wh'at does it sig'nify when Mac'avity gener'ates some thunde' sounds AND shows 'imself?" she asked her mate, who knew very well how to predict Macavity's tactics.
"It usually means th'at 'e is plannin' somethin'," he told her, "Somethin' bad. An' I mean ve'ry, ve'ry bad. Howeveh, th'at was jus' a wa'rning."
"Well, that's reassuring," said Bombalurina sarcastically.
Just then, Victoria started heading back out to the clearing.
"Vickie, wh'ere are you goin'?" Rumpleteazer asked her younger sister.
"I think it's safe to go back out," she said, "At least, I think that's what Old Deuteronomy believes."
Victoria then went back out into the clearing. After a moment, Alonzo just shrugged and followed her. Soon enough, all the other Jellicles went back outside. But Mungo and Rumple were a little more cautious, as they knew that Macavity should not be overestimated. Finally, they decided to just go back outside with everybody else.
By then, Electra was doing cartwheels across the clearing as Jennyanydots sang "Jellicles wash behind their ears."
As Pouncival did a cartwheel and a backflip, Jellylorum sang "Jellicles dry between their toes."
"Oh, we're almos' on!" Rumple pulled Mungo closer to the front of the clearing.
They got behind Corciopat and Tantomile, who sang "Jellicle cats are white and black."
Rumple walked between the two psychic cats and Mungo went around them. The two of them sang together "Jeh'llicle cats a're of moder'ate size."
Then Skimbleshanks, Tumblebrutus, and Pouncival each did two splits in the air and sang "Jellicles jump like a jumping-jack!"
Once again, Cassandra struck a pose and sang "Jellicle cats have moonlit eyes."
Everyone grouped together and sang "We're quiet enough in the morning hours;
We're quiet enough in the afternoon."
Munkustrap and Quaxo rushed to the front of the group and sang "Reserving our terpsichorean powers,"
All: "It comes by the light of the Jellicle moon!"
Alonzo ran forward and sang as he did a split: "Jellicle cats are black…"
Victoria, Etcetera, and Rumpleteazer: "And white!"
Quaxo, Skimbleshanks, and Tumblebrutus: "Jellicle cats, as we said, are small."
In that case, I wonder if Bustopher Jones can still qualify as a Jellicle, thought Mungojerrie.
Munkustrap, Plato, and Admetus: "If it happens to be a stormy night…"
Quaxo, Skimble, and Tumble: "We will practice a caper or two in the hall."
All: "If it happens the sun is shining bright…"
Rum Tum Tugger: "You would say we had nothing to do at all."
As Etcetera, Victoria, and Rumpleteazer gathered around Tugger's hind legs, everyone else sang:
"We are resting and saving ourselves to be right
For the Jellicle Moon and the Jellicle Ball!"
Victoria and Etcetera nuzzled Tugger's legs, but Rumpleteazer kept her distance because Mungojerrie was watching her.
Finally, everyone repeated the chorus:
"Jellicle cats, come out tonight!
Jellicle cats, come one, come all!
The Jellicle moon is shining bright.
Jellicles, come to the Jellicle Ball."
By then, everybody had gotten into their positions in the clearing. They all danced in a synchronized manner as they quietly repeated the chorus:
"Jellicle cats, come out tonight.
Jellicle cats, come one, come all.
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright.
Jellicles come to the Jellicle ball."
… ("The Jellicle Ball")
Now it was time for the all-dancing session of the Jellicle Ball. Everyone moved in perfect sync with each other, and they were careful to pay close attention to every last movement they made.
After about five minutes of both planned and freestyle dancing, Old Deuteronomy signaled everyone to stop the dancing. It was time for the Mating Dance!
Victoria moved to the center of the clearing while everyone else slowly dropped to the ground. Finally, there was only one tom standing up.
To Mungojerrie's great surprise, it was Plato. Plato was the one that would be performing the full mating dance with Victoria.
"Wh'at the 'ell is goin' on?" Mungo whispered to Rumple, "I th'ought Vickie was inter'ested in Quaxo?"
"She is," Rumpleteazer assured to him, "I'll ex'plain th'at late'. R'ight now, it's t'ime fo'r the real act'ion!"
Mungo scoffed at Rumple's abrupt statement. Everyone watched as Victoria tentatively approached Plato. She turned her back to him. He ran his hands along her back, held onto her by the sides, and then lifted her into the air. He held onto her tight and gently stroked her legs.
"Let's go," Rumple whispered to Mungo. She took him by the paw and the two of them got closer to the center of the clearing.
Rumpleteazer noticed that Mungojerrie was sweating nervously. "Eve'rythin' alr'ight?" she asked.
"Yeah," he answered, "I'm jus' a little hesi'tant a'bout th'is whole 'mating in fr'ont of eve'ryone else' thing."
"Don't wo'rry," she assured him, "Jus' foll'ow my lead."
All the Jellicles paired up with each other for the Mating Dance. Rumpleteazer started nuzzling against Mungojerrie's neck. He purred affectionately and caressed her cheek in his paw. Slowly, they embraced each other. All around them, everybody else was also getting intimate with his or her partner.
Mungojerrie gently lowered Rumpleteazer to the ground. The two of them held onto each other tightly, and then they began the mating process.
They breathed deeply as the adrenaline went pumping through their systems. They were carefully not to make too much noise, but their primary focus was still on each other.
Finally, the mating process was over, and Mungo and Rumple lay in each other's arms, sweating and on the verge of total relaxation.
"Amazin'" said Mungo in astonishment. He looked at Rumple and asked her "Wh'at now?"
"Now we t'ake a li'ttle nap," she said, "Mating in th'is manne' can rea'lly tire us out, so we sleep a wh'ile befo'e we continue dan'cing."
"Ok'ay," Mungo nodded. "But fi'rst, let's see w'ho else is pa'ired with who."
Rumple agreed to this. They looked around the other parts of the clearing. They saw Admetus with Etcetera and Tumblebrutus with Jemima. They also saw Alonzo with Cassandra and Asparagus with Jellylorum. Next, to their surprise, they saw Pouncival with Bombalurina.
"I'm gue'ssin' th'at th'ing Pouncival did durin' Tugg'er's song rea'lly paid off," Mungo commented.
"Wh'at I'd like to kn'ow is w'hy Coricopat and Tantomile are togethe'," said Rumple, pointing out the two psychic twins, who were wrapped in each other's arms.
"I th'ink Exotica is with 'em," said Mungo, "But I've concluded th'at it's best not to ask th'ose types of ques'tions a'bout Cori and Tanto."
"R'ight," said Rumple. Just then, she spotted the pair right next to Coricopat and Tantomile. She told her mate "Th'is is inter'esting. Quaxo is matin' with Elect'ra."
"Is 'e rea'lly?" asked Mungo, "But w'ait a minute; I thought Victo'ria and Quaxo w'ere togethe', and Elect'ra an' Plato w'ere togethe'. Did th'ey just 'switch' for t'he n'ight?"
"I'll exp'lain th'at later," said Rumple, "But I myself do f'ind it odd as to w'hy Quaxo wou'd ma'te with h'is cousin."
(Remember? Munkustrap and Macavity are brothers; Quaxo is Macavity's son and Electra is Munkustrap's daughter. That would make Quaxo and Electra cousins.)
Mungo looked directly to his left, and then asked his mate "Rumple, w'hy in the n'ame of King George's BUTTHOLE is you'r mom matin with Tugg'er?"
"Is she rea'lly?" asked Rumple, looking over at Jennyanydots. Sure enough, the Gumbie cat was right there with the Curious Cat. "Th'at's odd; I wonde' wh'ere my Dad is."
Mungojerrie looked around, and then he spotted Skimbleshanks. He told his mate "He's ove' th'ere. Based on wh'at I can see, 'e is eithe' with Demete', or he's with…"
"With w'ho?" asked Rumpleteazer.
Mungo answered in disgust "Victo'ria an' Plato."
Rumple looked over her shoulder, and from what she could see, Skimble was in fact with Victoria and Plato. Demeter was on her own, as Munkustrap was standing next to Old Deuteronomy, keeping watch over everybody else.
"W'hy wou'd you'r fathe' mate with you'r sisteh… AND 'er partne'?" asked Mungo.
"I 'ave no idea," Rumple answered, "May'be some people 'ere h'ad some catnip befo'ehand."
"Whateveh the rea'sons, we can investi'gate late'r," Mungojerrie decided. "Fo'r now, let's t'ake a nap."
"Ya don't 'ave to tell meh twice," Rumpleteazer smiled. She and Mungojerrie held each other closely, each raised one of their front legs in the air, and then they, like everyone else around them, drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
…
A few hours later, everyone woke up. Coricopat and Tantomile jerked up, as if something had caught their attention. Shortly after, Quaxo got up as well. Skimbleshanks soon got up and sniffed the air. Then, everyone else sat up and looked around. Finally, Quaxo pointed to the top of the platform next the TS-E1. Everyone turned and looked in the direction.
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer looked surprised at what they saw. There was an elderly queen at the top of the platform, standing next to the pexiglass window.
"W'ho is th'at?" Mungo whispered to Rumple.
"I don't kn'ow," she told him, "But s'he looks somewh'at famil'iar."
"W'ell, whoeve'h she is, she looks l'ike she's in pain," said Mungo, "May'be we shou'd go h'elp 'er."
Rumple said "Yeah, I th'ink we shou'd."
Mungo and Rumple were about to go up to the platform, but before they could get very far, Alonzo ran up the TS-E1 and made a threatening gesture to the elderly queen, which scared her away.
"Wh'at the 'ell, Alonzo!" Rumple shouted angrily at the white and black patched tom.
Alonzo just ignored her as everybody broke into dance once again.
"I gu'ess it's dance now, ques'tions late'r," said Mungo.
For another five minutes, everyone did a combination of freestyle and choreographed dancing. They all danced like professionals. It was enough to leave any human staring in awe.
Once the dancing was finished, the elderly queen entered from the other end of the junkyard. Everyone turned to Old Deuteronomy and crawled closer to him.
Mungo went over to Rumple and told her "Now's ou'r chance. Let's go h'elp h'er."
The two of them started to make their way over to the queen, but they were stopped by Munkustrap.
"Wh'at's you'r prob'lem?" said Mungo angrily.
"Stay away from her," Munk held them back.
When the queen got a little closer, Rumpleteazer saw her face.
"W'ait, I recogn'ize 'er now," she whispered to Mungojerrie.
"W'ho is s'he?" he asked.
"I'll t'ell you in the b'ack," she said.
"Alr'ight," he agreed.
The two of them left clearing together, as did everyone else. Soon, the only ones left in the clearing with Old Deuteronomy and the elderly queen.