SALAMANDASTRON

SCENE ONE:

:Mara and Pikkle are hiding in the small cave. Suddenly, Mara hears a faint noise.:

MARA

Pikkle, we aren't alone.

:They feign sleep, listening to the muttered hissings of some creature sneaking down towards them.:

SWINKEE

They're thieves, they're thieves. They're filthy little thieves. Where is it? Where is it...? They stole our cave, my precious. They're thieves, nasty thieves.

:The lizard reaches the cave mouth and pokes his head in.:

SWINKEE (con't)

They stole it and we wants it!

:Pikkle and Mara spring forward, the hare grabbing Swinkee in a headlock. All three go tumbling down, Swinkee snarling and hissing, Pikkle trying to keep him off of Mara. Swinkee bites Pikkle on the shoulder, but Mara jumps forward, grabbing the lizard's tail and yanking. To her horror, it comes off. Swinkee doesn't let go, even though he yells and spits. Swinkee gets an arm around the young hare's neck and starts throttling him. Mara grabs the lizard by the back of the head, touching the knifepoint against his chin.:

MARA

Let go of Pikkle, lizard, or I'll cut your throat!

:Whimpering, Swinkee goes limp and releases Pikkle. The hare backs off, gasping. Mara lets Swinkee up.:

MARA (con't)

What were you doing, sneaking up on us in our cave?

SWINKEE

Not your cave, no precious. It's ours!

MARA

Well, I'm sorry, we didn't know it belonged to you.

:Swinkee ignores her, and begins whimpering and muttering under his breath.:

PIKKLE

Wot are you jolly well babblin' about?

:Swinkee cradles his severed tail mournfully.:

SWINKEE

Ksssss, look watcha done now, stupid stripedog! Nasty rabbit helped! My precious is ruined!

PIKKLE

Oh shut your mouth, stinker. I'm a hare, not a blinkin' rabbit.

SWINKEE

An' I Swinkee, my precious. Not stinker.

:Mara steps between Pikkle and Swinkee.:

MARA

You know the way to Salamandastron?

:Swinkee nods, his eyes wide.:

SWINKEE

Yes

MARA

You've been there before, haven't you?

SWINKEE

Yes...

MARA

Take us to Salamandastron's gate.

:Swinkee bounds off, scampering over the dunes, Mara and Pikkle following him.:

SCENE TWO:

:Log-a-log, Mara and Pikkle are in the shrew log boats, in the middle of the Great Lake. They see the huge wet form of the monster in the water, which quickly disappears.:

PIKKLE

What is this new devilry?

LOG-A-LOG

It is a Deepcoiler, a demon of the ancient deep...

:Looks of terror pass among the shrews.:

LOG-A-LOG (con't)

This foe is beyond any of you. Paddle!

SCENE THREE:

:After Mara and the shrews meet up with Samkin, and Mara has the sword. Mara is about to give the young squirrel the sword of Martin the Warrior.:

LOG-A-LOG

Give the sword to Samkin. That's not so hard is it?

MARA

Well, no... And yes. Now that it comes to it, I don't feel like parting with it. I found it, it's mine, it came to me! It's mine, my own... my precious...

LOG-A-LOG

Precious? It's been called that before, but not by you.

MARA

Ach, what business is it of yours what I do with my own things?

LOG-A-LOG:

I think you've had that sword quite long enough.

:Mara doubles her free paw into a fist.:

MARA

You... you want it for yourself, don't you?

LOG-A-LOG

Mara of Salamandastron!

:Log-a-log looks far bigger than he is, and all the light momentarily fades.:

LOG-A-LOG (con't)

Do not take me for some weak leader of Guosim shrews. I am not trying to rob you! I'm trying to help you.

MARA

You're right. The sword must go to Samkin.

:Mara turns away.:

LOG-A-LOG

Mara, you still have the sword.

MARA

Oh... yes.

:Mara reluctantly gives the sword to Samkin.: