4 INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER THAT DAY

COURAGE is standing near the top of the staircase, practicing his yo-yo skills when he hears a peculiar and familiar sound from below.

COURAGE
Huh?
(Looks down.)
It can't be...
(Surveys the area below.)

EUSTACE is fast asleep in his chair, and MURIEL is busy in the kitchen, cooking soup for EUSTACE.

COURAGE (CONT'D)
Now, where's that darn cat?

The CAT can be seen slowly sneaking up on EUSTACE, preparing to pounce, its tail puffed and that strange sound emitting from its throat.

COURAGE (CONT'D)
It couldn't be...
(Looks at the audience.)
Could it?

COURAGE turns back to the CAT and leans over more to get a better look, but loses his grip on the railing and crashes to the floor.

CAT
Huh?
(Turns to see COURAGE lying on the floor, grinning.)

COURAGE
Hee.
(Gets a better look at the CAT and gasps in horror.)
Huh?

The CAT's eyes are an evil shade of red.

COURAGE (CONT'D)
AAHHH!

COURAGE runs to the kitchen, hopping back and forth as he shows MURIEL the face the CAT had and makes the sound he heard the CAT make, all in pantomime.

MURIEL
(Realizing.)
Oh, dear! You saw the monster? And it's after Eustace?

COURAGE
(Nodding.)
Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Hurry!
(Heads for the living room, MURIEL on his heels.)

MURIEL
Courage, is this your idea of a joke?

The CAT is lying on its back, playing with EUSTACE's shoelaces, its tail back to normal.

MURIEL (CONT'D)
(Glares at COURAGE, arms crossed.)
Because if it is, I'm afraid it's one of your worst.

COURAGE
(Shocked.)
But... but... I know what I saw!

COURAGE begins to act out the CAT's evil transformation again, but MURIEL won't listen.

MURIEL
Courage, it was probably just a trick of the light.
(Heads for the window.)
You saw the shadows from the storm and thought you saw something that wasn't there. Just your
imagination... Heaven knows it's been working overtime lately.

COURAGE
(Watching the CAT.)
No. If that cat's innocent, then my name is Shirley.
(Heads off-screen after MURIEL, then peeks back to look at the audience.)
And it's not.
(Before he can reach MURIEL, the CAT catches his attention.)

MURIEL
I'll just shut these curtains now...

As MURIEL approaches the window, lightning flashes and deep thunder rumbles, scaring the CAT. COURAGE watches in horror as its tail puffs once again and its eyes revert to the same
evil red shade as before. Before he can react, the CAT hungrily bites into EUSTACE's foot.

EUSTACE
(Waking up.)
AAHHH!

EUSTACE looks down at COURAGE, who realizes that the CAT has swiftly jumped back into its cat bed, attempting to and succeeding in looking perfectly innocent and angelic.

COURAGE
You think that I...?
(Makes a face.)
No, thank you! I've had enough of tasting your feet! Remember the foot fungus incident?
(Backs away slightly.)

EUSTACE
(Glaring.)
Stupid dog!
(Kicks COURAGE away, who rolls over to MURIEL and stops at her feet.)

COURAGE
This is _so_ not my day.
(Looks up at MURIEL, who's holding the CAT in her arms.)
This is all _your_ fault, Cat.

MURIEL
Now, Eustace, the cat was just playing with you. I sure it didn't _mean_ to hurt you.

EUSTACE
(Looking at the CAT, then at COURAGE, and frowns.)
Stupid dog, you made the cat go bad.

COURAGE
(Sighs.)
Oh, boy.
(Looks up at MURIEL.)
Is it too late to put him out to pasture?