INT. AIDA'S HOUSE – DAY

The front door RINGS and Aida enters her home.

AIDA'S MOM (O.S.)
Where were you last night?!

AIDA
I was just staying at a friend's place!

The woman came from the kitchen.

AIDA'S MOM
Why didn't you tell me where you were? What are you trying to hide?

AIDA
What difference does it make? I'm not a child anymore.

AIDA'S MOM
Oh I see, you were with a guy last night. You're never gonna become an M.D. if you sleep around like a tramp.

AIDA
Shut up!

AIDA'S MOM
This is my money you're spending at that school. You will stop this nonsense and focus on your grades.

The rage building up inside Aida was at the breaking point. She didn't say another word and silently stormed off to her room. She passed by A PICTURE with a woman who looked like Mew, standing beside a younger version of her mother.

INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Elk returns home. He hears a JINGLING from somewhere in the back. Mew is nowhere to be seen. Following his ears, Elk finds Mew in

THE HALLWAY

She's wearing a bell tied around her neck by a red ribbon.

EXT. OUTSIDE APARTMENT – DAY (FLASHBACK)

Aida is walking away when she stops and turns back to Elk.

AIDA
Almost forgot, I gave a little present to Mew.

HALLWAY (END OF FLASHBACK)

ELK
How annoying.

Mew was reaching for something in the closet. It's a towel. If she were standing tall she could easily reach it, but she won't leave her crouched position. Elk looms over her and pulls it down, tossing it over her head.

MEW
(meow)!

Mew was wrestling to find her way out. Elk left for the

LIVING ROOM

MEW (O.S.)
(meow)!

Elk was laughing as he sat down in his chair. Mew marched into the living room with the towel still hanging from her shoulder. Anything that escape her mouth was in her own little cat language, but it appeared as though she was yelling at him.

ELK
(laughing)
All right, I'm sorry.

Elk pulls the towel off and throws it on the floor. Mew was pouting as she crawled away. There is a sudden BUZZING that catches the pair's attention.

INSERT - CELLPHONE DISPLAY

"Message Received" is displayed on the screen. After Elk pushes "Ok" a new screen appears. "From: Mom; Don't do anything funny to Mew during the nighttime."

BACK TO LIVING ROOM

ELK
Who the hell do you think I am?

Mew is starring at the man with a perplexed expression.

ELK
That was just a text from my mom. She doesn't call when my dad's around.

He places the phone down on the table and then leans against it.

ELK
Believe it or not, but he's the one that didn't want me to leave home for school. He would always try to do things for me, he would never let me try things on my own.

MEW
(meow)

ELK
I just can't talk to him, so I have to relay everything to my mom. He doesn't like that at all. So if he's around she'll just text me.

The Catgirl was in deep thought. She silently turned and began to walk away. The young man's expression became serious as he watched her crawl away.

ELK
Mew.

She stopped and turned towards him. Elk pushed himself off the table and walked up next to her. He grabbed Mew's hips and pulled her upright.

MEW
(panicking)
(meow) (meow) (meow)!!!

ELK
Calm down! Use your legs!

Mew's flailing about gradually resided. It took awhile, but she was standing, using the boy as support.

ELK
Good. Now try to take a step forward.

Mew's face was flushed with fear. Elk kept a hold of both her hands to act as a counter-balance. Her legs were wobbling, but she managed to take a single step.

ELK
There you go.

One, then another, and another. Her steps were gradually increasing. She was leaning too far forward, she was loosing her balance. Elk stepped on the towel from earlier.

ELK
Wait a sec. Let me...

Mew was in no condition to stop. She slammed into the boy and both were knocked off balance.

ELK/MEW
(simultaneous)
Aaaaaa!!!

They both fell to the ground. Elk was lying on his back, with Mew on top of him. It took both of them a second to recover and realize what happened. Mew looked down at the young man and her checks turned a light pink. Elk looked up at the young woman and...

ELK
Could you get off me?

Mew was slow to comply. When she finally rolled off, Elk rose to his feet holding his back.

ELK
That's enough for today.

Elk walked off into the

BATHROOM

He turned on the cold water and began washing his face. After he dried himself with a towel...

ELK
Did she...did she just scream like a girl?

INT. SCHOOL – DAY

Aida and TNT are eating lunch together. Aida keeps looking around while she eats.

AIDA
Did he skip today?

TNT
Who?

AIDA
You know who! Elk.

TNT
So what?

AIDA
He said that he had classes today.

TNT stopped eating.

TNT
Why are you worried about him so much?

AIDA
(apprehensive)
If something happened to him, Mew would be left alone.

TNT
(smirking)
If you say so.

He starts eating again.

TNT
We'll go check after school.

AIDA
Okay.

INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM – DAY

There is a knock at the door. Aida and TNT let themselves in.

AIDA
Hello?

RINGING is heard and Mew comes from the back room.

MEW
(meow)!

AIDA
Are you alone?

MEW
(meow).

TNT
That's right, Elk told me he had school and work today. He said he would skip school so he could do his research.

Aida was slowly getting angry.

AIDA
You knew? Why didn't you tell me?

TNT
Must have slipped my mind.

He knelt over and began patting Mew on the head.

MEW
(purr)...

Aida remained silent as she coldly watched over the large man.

TNT
Hmmmm?

AIDA
What?

TNT
Her skin is getting a little ashy.

AIDA
Now that you mention it, she does look a little pale. We should take her out in the sun.

TNT
You think that's a good idea?

AIDA
It'll be fine. Let's go Mew.

EXT. OUTSIDE ELKS APARTMENT – DAY

Elk is getting close to his apartment. He's talking to his mother, again.

MOM (V.O.)
Are you sure your grades gonna be okay?

ELK
It was just one day, so it should be fine.

MOM (V.O.)
You know you don't have to rush it.

ELK
I know. But my gut tells me I'm getting closer.

MOM (V.O.)
But you still don't have a single clue.

The young man is at his front door.

ELK
You don't need to remind me.

Elk enters

INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM

ELK
But still, I think that...

Elk notices the silence. He looks around then enters the

BEDROOM

The bedroom is empty.

MOM (V.O.)
What's wrong?

ELK
I'll call you back.