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.:
