Chapter 2

(After the girl is dressed, two male mice and two male monsters come in, chattering about something)

Cinderericka: Wait a moment! Wait a moment! One at a time, please! Now, Jaq, what's all the fuss about?

Jaq: New mouse in the house. Some brand-new. Never saw before. Visitor, visitor!

Eunice : Oh, a visitor! Well, she'll need a dress-

Wanda : Oh yes

Mouse #2: No, no, no.

Jaq: Not a she, it's a he.

Mouse #2: She's a he.

Jaq: He, he!

Cinderericka: Oh, that does make a difference. He'll need a jacket, shoes...

Frank : Gotta get him out! Gotta get out!

Mouse #2: In a trap-trap!

Jaq: Trap-trap!

Cinderericka: Where? In a trap? Well, why didn't you say so? (Heads down the stairs)

(In a level of the stairs...)

(The girl and her friends goes down to a rat trap with an overweight mouse, with some other mice on the exterior of the cage)

Cinderericka: Now, now, now, calm down, everybody.

(the overweight mouse runs to the other side, afraid)

Cinderericka : Oh...the poor little fella's frightened to death. Jaq, perhaps you'd better explain facts to him. (puts the open cage down)

Jaq: Zuk-zuk, Cinderericka. Zuk-zuk.

(the overweight mouse steps in front of Jaq to protect him)

Jaq: Now, now, now. Look-a, little guy. (dodges the mouse's punch) Take it easy. Nothing to worry about. (chuckles) We like-a you. Cinderericka and her friends like you as well. They're nice. Very nice.

(the mouse lowers his guard)

Jaq: That's-a better. C'mon, now. Zuk-zuk-zuk!

(he follows Jaq out)

Cinderericka : Well, that's better. (looks at the mouse) Well, let's just slip it on for size. (puts a shirt on the mouse, but it rides up) It is a little snug, but it'll have to do. (pulls the shirt down, but puts a hat and shoes on him) Now, for a name. I have one...Octavius. But for short, we'll call you Gus.

Jaq: Like it, Gus-Gus? Like it? Like it?

Gus: Uh...Gus-Gus. Yes!

Frank: Welcome Gus

Cinderericka: Now we have to hurry. See that he keeps out of danger, Jaq. And don't forget to warn him about the cat! (leaves)

Jaq: Zuk-zuk. Look-a...ever see a cat-cat?

Gus: Duh...cat-cat?

Jaq: Hup! Cat-cat! Lucy, that's-a her. Meany...sneaky...jump at you! Bite at you! Ha! Big, big as a house! (mimics meowing) Zuk-zuk...Lucy?

Gus: Duh...Lucy. Zuk-zuk.

(In the hallway, Cinderericka opens the curtain and opens the door to her stepmother's door, letting the sunlight shine on a cat, awakening it)

Cinderericka : Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty. (the cat yawns) Come, kitty. C'mon. (the cat turns around, not paying Cinderericka any mind) Lucy! Come here! (Lucy begrudgingly walks out the door and yawns as Cinderericka closes the door on her ) I'm sorry if Your Highness objects to an early breakfast. (Jaq and Gus make it to the hallway) It's certainly not my idea to feed you first. It's orders. C'mon. (Lucy follows Cinderericka and her friends downstairs)

Gus: (mimics Lucy's walking) Duh... Lucy.

Jaq: Zuk. Lucy , that's-a her!

Gus: (chuckles, and gets into a fighting position) Gus-Gus take-a Lucy and... Look-it. (Jaq stops him by yanking his tail)

Jaq: Wait! No, Gus-Gus, no! Now, listen here. Lucy not-a funny. Lucy mean.

(In the kitchen...)

Cinderericka : (she enter and opens the door, leaving the sun shining on a dog, which whines and growls in his sleep, running in place) Beth ... Beth! (Beth gnaws on the rug, but completely wakes up) Dreaming again. Chasing Lucy? (Beth nods) Catch him this time? (Beth nods again) That's bad. (Lucy chuckles) Suppose they heard you upstairs? You know the orders. Then if you don't want to lose a nice warm bed, you'd better get rid of those dreams. Know how? (Beth shakes her head no) Just learn to like cats. (Lucy walks over to Beth ) No, I mean it. Lucy has her good points as well. For one fact, she... Well... sometimes she... Huh... There must be something good about her . (Lucy frowns at her and Beth laughs, where Lucy lies on her back and scratches Beth, but feigns distress as Beth growls) Beth! Oh, Beth. C'mon now, outside. (leads Beth outside) I know it isn't easy, but at least we should try to get along together. (puts Lucy's milk down) And that includes you, Your Majesty! (goes outside as Lucy twirls her finger in the milk; she calls out) Breakfast time! Everybody up! Hurry up, hurry up! C'mon, everybody. Breakfast, breakfast! (spreads out corn for the chickens as the mice look over)

Jaq: C'mon, everybody, breakfee! Breakfast!

Gus-Gus: Breakfast? Ooh, breakfast! (they all run down until the see Lucy)

Jaq: Uh-oh. Lucy ! How we gonna get out? (they retire back into the hole and pulls Gus in)

Jaq: Hup-hup... carefee! (gets an idea) Listen, ibby-dibby! Have an idea. Now somebody has to sneak out, get Lucy to chase him, run over to a corner and keep Lucy there. Then we all run out. Zuk?

Mice: Zuk-zuk, out!

Jaq: Now we choose the one that do it. Ibby-dibby, hup! (turns his back, and the mice follow suit)

Mice: Hup!

Gus: Uh, hup.

Jaq: R-ails up!

Mice: Hup! (the mice rally their tails together)

Jaq: (selects a tail) Now...

Mice: (the mice separate) Hup, hup, hup!

Gus: Uh, duh... uh, hup! (Jaq realizes the tail he selected is is own)

(Jaq puts on a brave face and sneaks over to Lucy , and signals his plan and Gus chuckles, but the others keep him silent. Jaq stuffs himself and kick's Lucy's elbow, causing her to fall into her milk, but she chases Jaq until he is the corner and Jaq waves his hat. The other mice walk over to Cinderericka and her friends to get their attention)

Cinderericka : Oh, there you are. I was wondering. Alright, breakfast is served. (spreads the corn for the mice but the chickens get it until Gus takes a kernel for himself)

Gus-Gus: Uh... rack 'er easy, cluck-cluck. (a chicken grabs the kernel) Uh, duh... Let go! Let go now! (the chicken shakes him away)

Cinderericka : Stop that. Shoo, shoo, shoo. Go ahead! Shoo, shoo, shoo! (Cinderella shoos the chickens away from Gus) Poor little Gus. (lays out a bunch of kernels for him) Here. Help yourself.

(The mice peek to see Lucy lying in wait and Jaq distracts him, but then the smallest mouse drops his kernel and Gus goes to pick it up, but in doing so, drops them, getting Lucy's attention. Lucifer slowly approaches Gus who, with some fighting, gets the kernels together no use, and tries to run off, but is held back by Lucy's paw, where Jaq slashes the broom onto her chest, giving her some big scratches)

Jaq: Huh... No Gus-Gus. Well, guess he got away. (As Gus climbs the tablecloth, but Lucy traps them both under a teacup, then a bell rings)

Eunice: Darling, the foods almost ready for the ladies of the house.

Frank: That's good dear, Eric is outside, feeding the animals

Eunice: well, she better hurry because by my calculation tells me they should be calling in 3,2,1

Lesley #1: Cinderericka !

Cinderericka : Hang on, we're coming! Oh, my heavens. Morning, noon and night. (organizes the plates)

Ericka: Eunice, thanks for making the breakfast for me.

Eunice : No problem I made one for you too. I don't know why they don't let you eat.

Ericka : I know but

Mindy #2: Cinderericka !

Cinderericka : Alright, hold on. (Eunice gets the soup ready)

(Lucy tries to find Gus under the cups)

Lucy: hi, you must be the new little mouse I'm not going to eat you, but when my master's daughter hates mice, I think you should get out of there.

Lesley #1: Cinderericka !

Cinderericka : Hang...on.

Lucy: Hurry, gus you have to get out of there

Mindy #2: Cinderericka !

Cinderericka : In a moment.

Voices: Cinderericka ! (Cinderericka takes the breakfast to them) Cinderericka ! (Lucy watches her go up the stairs as Gus peeks out from under the teacup, but she enters a room)

Eunice: Lucy, is Gus still in the cup.

Lucy: yes

The gang: oh no

Cinderericka : Good morning, Mindy. Sleep well?

Mindy : As if you cared. Take that ironing and have it back in an hour. One hour! You hear?

Cinderericka : (comes out with a basket of clothes) Yes, Mindy. (enters another room) Good morning, Lesley.

Lesley : Well, it's about time! Don't forget the mending. And don't be all day getting it done, either!

Cinderericka : (comes out with a basket of clothes) Yes,Lesley . (approaches another room) A-a-ahem.

Voice: Well, come in, child. Come in.

Cinderericka : (enters the room) Good morning, Stepmother.

Stepmother: Pick up the laundry and get on with your duties.

Cinderericka : (comes out with a bag of laundry on her head) Yes, Stepmother. (Lucy grumbles in frustration until she hears a shriek)

(Gus comes out of Lesley 's room, and Lucy catches him)

Lesley : Mother! Oh, Mother, Mother! Mother! (Sees Cinderericka coming to see what's wrong) You did it! You did it on purpose! Mother! Oh, Mother, Mother, Mother! (enters the stepmother's room)

Mindy : Now what have you done? (Follows Lesley )

Lesley :[offscreen] Ohh! She put him there! A big ugly mouse, under my teacup!

Cinderericka : (to Lucifer) All right, Lucifer. What have you done with him? (Lucy shows her empty paws) Oh, you're not fooling anybody. (picks her up) We'll just see about this. C'mon! Let him go. (Lucy keeps one foot down) Now the other one. C'mon! (Lucy lifts up the other foot, exposing Gus) Oh... poor little Gus. (Gus runs off) Oh, Lucy, won't you ever learn?

Stepmother: Cinderericka !

Cinderericka : Yes, Stepmother. (Mindy and Lesley exit the stepmother's room as Lucy did not enters she was in Frank's arms)

Mindy : Huh!

Lesley : Are you gonna get it?

Stepmother: Close the door, Cinderericka . (Cinderericka enters the room as the stepsisters peek in) Come here. (she approaches her)

Cinderericka : Oh, please, you don't think that I would have anything to do with this..

Stepmother: Hold your tongue! Now... It seems that she has time on her hands.

Cinderericka : But I was only trying to do my chores -

Stepmother: Silence! (Pauses) Time for vicious practical jokes. Well... maybe we can put them to good use. Now, let me see... There's the large carpet in the main hall. Clean it! And the windows, upstairs and down. Wash them! Oh, yes... and the tapestries, and the draperies.

Cinderericka : But I just finished them -

Stepmother: Do them again! And don't forget the garden, then scrub the terrace, sweep the halls and the stairs, clean the chimneys. And of course, there's the mending, and the sewing, and the laundry. Oh, yes, and one more fact. See that cat of yours Lucy gets her bath. (Lucy grimaces at this from downstairs)