ZOOTOPIA
(Parody of Chinatown)
TW: Talk of sexual themes and abusive themes.
Nick had waited until Judy had taken her Packard before taking Hollis's car to tail after her. He kept a good distance but followed the car nonetheless. The one white taillight guided him the whole way. Judy's Packard pulls up before a small little bungalow house. She gets out, looks up and down the street. There is nothing. She hurries on up the walkway to the front door. Nick idles the engine with the lights off. He brings the car a few yards further down the street, parking it near Judy's. The fox gets out of the car and goes up the walkway. The curtains are drawn except for one of the small windows on the side of the house. He goes to it and looks, balancing on the edge of the porch. Looking through the window, Nick sees Judy's male otter servant rush through the living room of the small house. In a moment he re-emerges back through the living room carrying a tray with a glass and pitcher on it. Nick moves around to the side of the house. He runs into shrubbery and a short picket fence. He climbs over it and follows along the stucco wall to a series of windows at the corner of the house. These all have shades on them. He can hear someone crying in the house. Someone else talking alternately firmly and plaintively. Here the windows have blinds. He moves to one where the blind is not completely drawn.
Nick can see the servant again. Judy is pacing back and forth in and out of his line of vision. After a moment someone rises, obviously from lying on a bed. The figure is just a few feet from Judy. Her tear-stained furry face comes into the fox's view. It is unmistakably the bunny Nick had last seen with Hollis Hopps. Hopps's girlfriend. She's looking up at Judy, speaking in a panicked and frantic tone. Her words are not discernible but the tone is bitter, anguished. A newspaper is strewn about the room. Judy kneels. She insists that the bunny swallow down some pills. The bunny reluctantly does. Nick only watched before quietly slipping away.
When Judy emerged from the house, she walked toward her car and opened the door. It was still night and the inside was very dark. It wasn't until she got in the driver seat and closed the door did she realize Nick was staring at her from the passenger seat.
"Give me the keys," the fox said, his paw outstretched.
The rabbit nearly jumped right out of the car. She was stunned, but Nick kept a cool gaze.
"You bastard," the rabbit replied.
"It's either that," the fox said, "Or you drive to the police yourself."
"The police?" Judy questioned.
"C'mon, Mrs. Hopps," Nick said, "You've got your husband's girlfriend tied up in there!"
"She's not tied up!" the rabbit defended.
"You know what I mean," the fox retorted, "You're keeping her there against her will."
"I am not!" Judy said.
"Then let's go talk to her," Nick insisted, opening the car door on his side.
Judy grabbed onto his shoulder and yelled at him.
"NO!"
Her intensity actually rips Nick's already partially torn jacket. He looks at it and her. It seems to have a momentary calming effect on both of them.
"She's too upset," the rabbit explained.
"What about?" the fox asked.
"Hollis's death," Judy said, "I tried to keep it from her, I didn't want her upset before I could make plans for her to leave."
"You mean she just found out?" Nick asked astonished.
"Yes," she said.
"That's not what it looks like, Mrs. Hopps," he replied.
"What does it look like?" the rabbit questioned.
"Like she knows about Hollis's death," the fox explained, "Like she knows more than you want her to tell."
"You're insane," Judy retorted.
"Just tell me the truth," Nick exploded, "I'm not the police. I don't care what you've done. I'm not going to hurt you, but one way or another I'm going to know."
"You won't go to the police if I tell you?" she questioned.
"I will if you don't," he replied.
There was a long pause. Judy's head sinks onto the steering wheel, her hair covering her face.
"She's my sister," the rabbit exclaimed.
Judy is breathing very deeply now. Not crying, but the kind of deep breathing that comes from real hysteria. Nick puts an arm on her shoulder.
"Take it easy," the fox comforted, "If it's your sister it's your sister... why all the secrecy?"
She lifted her head and looked at him. He is genuinely puzzled.
"I can't..." Judy stuttered.
"Because of Hollis?" Nick questioned, "Because she was seeing your husband? Damn it, say something, was that it?"
The rabbit nodded and the fox sighed.
"I would never ever have harmed Hollis," she explained, "I loved him more than my own family. He was the most gentle, decent rabbit imaginable... and he put up with more from me than you'll ever know... I just wanted him to be happy..."
Judy began to cry softly.
"I took your husband's Buick," Nick said as he opened the car door, "I'll return it tomorrow."
"Aren't you coming back with me?" the rabbit managed to say.
"Don't worry," the fox reassured, "I won't tell anybody about this."
"That's not what I meant," Judy said.
There is a long moment of silence. Nick looks over to the rabbit. Her hair covers most of her face from him.
"Yeah, well..." the fox finally said, "I'm very tired, Mrs. Hopps. Goodnight."
He got out and slammed the door. She drove off.
Nick was in elegant silk pajamas as he strolled around his personal bedroom. He walks over to the window where morning light is streaming in. He closes the curtains, and collapses on the bed, on top of the covers, inert. Almost immediately the phone rings. The fox let it go on for a moment, then picked it up without saying anything.
"Wilde," a voice, male and deep, said from the other end, "Wilde?"
"Yeah," Nick answered.
"Ida Sessions wants to see you," the voice spoke.
"Who?" the fox asked.
"Ida Sessions," the voice repeated, "You remember Ida?"
"Yeah..." Nick said as he slowly rose to one elbow, "I do?"
"Sure you do," the voice said.
"Well, tell you what, Pal," the fox spoke into the phone, "If Ida wants to see me she can call me at my office."
He hung up and fell back down. The phone rang again and he swore before answering it again.
"684 1/2 East Kensington. Echo Park," the very same voice said, "She begged me to call you. She's waiting for you."
Before Nick can say anything, the line went dead.
It was early in the morning. Nick, in the same clothes he had when his nose was slit along with his hat, drove down the street of many apartment housing. He stopped once he reached the same address he was told. As the fox approached the door, he noticed one of the glass panes was broken. He knocked and there was no reply. He began to rummage through his jacket for something to pick a lock with when the door opened a little on its own. It was unlocked already. Nick waited a moment before entering.
He was in the living room. Morning light filters through the half-open blinds. Dust particles in the shafts of light. It's still and empty. Nick sees something down the hall, under the legs of a telephone table. The fox moves toward it. It is grotesque. When he gets closer he can see it's a wilted head of lettuce. Just inside the kitchen some radishes and onions lie on the linoleum. Nick walks into the kitchen. Clearing the kitchen counter, Nick sees Ida Sessions lying on her back on the floor, surrounded by the groceries from a broken bag. Ice cream has melted around her. Her eyes are open, and a stream of ants is moving across the ice cream and into her mouth. She's recognizable as the rabbit who posed as Judy Hopps. Nick kneels over her. He gingerly opens her paw bag, fishes for its contents, takes them and looks at them on the kitchen counter. Wallet with a few bills in it, driver's license with her name. A Screen Actors Guild card. The fox nods, turns, and carefully replaces the items in the purse. He idly opens the broom closet, pantry, and even Frigidaire, which is all but empty. Then he steps over her body and moves across the hall to a door that is slightly ajar.
As Nick pushed the door open, a flashlight turned on from within and aimed into his eyes.
"Find anything interesting, Wilde?" a familiar voice asked.
Nick turned on the lights. Standing in the shower were Grim Rescupar and Puss. The duo step out of the shower and walk over to Nick, a police officer, a male tiger, turned on the lights in the kitchen from behind. Nick said nothing.
"What are you doing here?" the wolf asked.
"Didn't you call?" the fox retorted.
"How do you happen to know her?" Girm asked as he jerked his head and snout toward the corpse.
"I don't," Nick lied.
"Let me show you something," the wolf said and walked past the fox.
Grim points to the number "MU 7279" on the side of one of the kitchen cabinets.
"Isn't that your number?" the wolf questioned.
"Is it?" the fox asked, "I forget. I don't call myself that often."
"Just to be on the safe side," Grim explained, "We had Puss here give you a ring."
"What happened to your nose, Wilde?" the cat asked but his tone was jest-like, "Somebody slam a bedroom window on it?"
The police officer began to chuckle and Nick grinned despite the insult.
"Nope," the fox retorted, "Your wife got excited, crossed her legs a little too quick. You understand, pal?"
Puss was infuriated and began to move toward Nick who stood prepared for the cat. Grim stood in between them.
"Puss," the wolf said to his assistant before speaking to Nick, "How about these? Look familiar?"
In the open drawer are the photos of Hollis and the bunny in the park, boat, and at the El Macando on the veranda.
"Yeah, I took 'em. So what?" the fox sneered.
"How did she," Grim asked, indicating the corpse, "Happen to have these?"
"Either you tell me," Nick said, "Or I guess 'cause I don't have an answer."
"You really think I'm stupid, don't ya, Wilde?" the wolf asked.
"I don't think about it one way or the other," the fox said, "But if you want, give me a day or two, and I'll get back to you. Now I'd like to go home."
"I want the rest of the pictures," Grim demanded.
"What pictures?" Nick asked.
"This broad hired you, Wilde," the wolf exclaimed, "Not Judy Hopps."
"Yeah?" the fox lied.
"Yeah," Grim insisted, "Somebody wanted to shake down Hopps, she hired you, and that's how you happen to know Hopps was murdered."
"I heard it was an accident," Nick retorted.
"C'mon," the wolf said, "You think you're dealing with a bunch of assholes? Hopps had salt water in his damn lungs! Now how did he get that... in a freshwater reservoir?"
Nick is surprised at this new piece of information but remains nonplussed.
"You were following him night and day," Grim speculated, "You saw who killed him. You even took pictures of it. It was Judy Hopps. She's been paying you off like a slot machine ever since her husband died."
"You're accusing me of extortion?" the fox asked.
"Absolutely," the wolf answered.
"I don't think I need a day or two," Nick retorted, "You're even dumber than you think I think you are. Not only that, I'd never extort a nickel out of my worst enemy, that's where I draw the line, Rescupar."
"I want those photographs, Wilde," Grim said, "We're talking about accessory after the fact, conspiracy, and extortion. Minimum."
"Why do you think Hopps's body was moved, you dimwit?" the fox continued, "Judy Hopps knocked off her husband in the ocean and thought it would look like more of an accident if she hauled him up to the Oak Pass Reservoir? Hopps was murdered and moved because someone didn't want his body found in the ocean."
"And why's that?" the wolf asked.
"He found out somebody was dumping water there," Nick explained, "That's what they were trying to cover up by moving him."
This stops Grim, he's dumbfounded by it.
"What are you talking about?"
"C'mon," the fox insisted, "I'll show you."
Grim hesitates.
"C'mon make a decision, Grim," Nick said, "You're in charge."
The anthro men around the wolf look at him. Grim grudgingly nodded.
Nick stood with Grim and Puss by the storm drain on the side of the cliff where he had been watching Hollis the other night. Only a trickle of water was there.
"It's too late," the fox exclaimed.
"Too late for what?" the wolf asked.
"They only dump the water at night," Nick explained.
The police officer was running down the side of the cliff to the men.
"Reach anybody?" Grim asked.
"Yelburton," the tiger answered, "He's the new chief."
"I know who he is," the wolf said, "Well?"
"He says-" The officer began.
"I know what he says," Nick interrupted.
"Shut up," Girm said to the fox, "Go on."
"Yelburton says they're irrigating in the valley," the tiger continued, "There's always a little runoff when they do that. And he says Wilde knows that and has been going around making irresponsible accusations for the last week."
Grim looks at Nick for a long moment.
"Let's swear out a warrant for her arrest," Puss insisted, "What are you waiting for?"
"Because he just made lieutenant," the fox said, "And he wants to hang onto his little gold bar."
The wolf looked hatefully at Nick.
"Have your client in my office in two hours," Grim said threateningly, "And remember. I don't have to let you go. I've got you for withholding evidence right now."
Nick stood outside of the entrance of the Hopps mansion. Nick hurries along the pathway and up to the house. He rings the doorbell. Scarcely waiting for an answer he tries it. It's locked. He reaches into his pocket pulls out his cigarette case, takes a pick out of the side, and starts to fool with the lock. The Maid opens the door abruptly and stares in some surprise at Nick.
"Where's Mrs. Hopps?" the fox asked the otter.
The otter replied in a foreign tongue. Nick looks past the Maid to the center of the living room where luggage is packed and neatly piled. The Maid is actually in the process of throwing covers over the furniture.
"Is Mrs. Hopps going someplace?" the fox asked, a bit surprised.
Again the otter replied in an unfamiliar language but her tone was enough for Nick to know it was denying him an answer. He continues through the house and onto the veranda. It is unsettled. The Gardner is working with the pond. Nick moves a few feet in that direction. The Gardener sees the fox and nods.
"Bad for glass," Nick mutters.
The Gardener soon wears a grin and speaks.
"Oh yes," the otter spoke, "Bad for glass."
He then indicated to the newly mowed lawn.
"Saltwater very bad for glass."
Nick's fur, ears, and tail perk up.
"Saltwater?" he questioned.
The Gardener nodded.
Nick has moved to the pond. He kneels. Clinging to the edge of it he can now see as he could have before if he'd looked closely, a starfish. He touches the water and tastes it. He licks his lips, then spots something glinting in the bottom of the pond.
"What's that down there?" the fox asked, pointing.
The Gardener peers into the pond and spots it. He rolls up his trousers, gets in the pond, and reaches into the bottom, his snout actually touching the water. He misses the object, which seems to scoot away like an animal. Then he grasps it. He lifts it out of the water and holds something. The Gardener seems surprised. Nick looks at the object and starts to think.
Nick parked the Buick beside the curb and rushed to the front door of the house he was at last night. He pounded on the front door until the otter butler answered.
"You wait," the butler said.
"You wait, the fox retorted.
Nick pushes past him. Judy, looking a little worn but glad to see him hurries to the door. She takes Nick's arm.
"How are you?" the rabbit asked, "I was calling you."
"Yeah?" Nick questioned.
They move into the living room and the fox looks around.
"Did you get enough sleep?" Judy asked.
"Sure," the fox answered.
"Are you hungry?" the rabbit asked.
"Where's the bunny?" Nick asked abruptly.
"Upstairs," Judy answered, her ears flopping to her sides, "Why?"
"I want to see her," the fox said firmly.
"She's busy right now," the rabbit replied frantically, "Why do you want to see her?"
Nick continues to look around. He sees clothes laid out for packing in a bedroom off the living room.
"Going somewhere?" he questioned.
"Yes," she explained, "we've got a 4:30 train to catch. Why?"
Nick doesn't answer. Instead, he heads to the phone and dials.
"F.N. Wilde to Lieutenant Rescupar," the fox spoke into the phone.
"What're you doing?" Judy asked worried, "What's wrong? I've told you we got a 4: 30..."
"You're gonna miss your train!" Nick cut her off before turning back to the phone. "Grim, meet me at 1412 Adelaide. It's above Santa Monica Canyon... yeah, soon as you can."
He hung up.
"What did you do that for?!" the rabbit asked frantically.
"You know any good criminal lawyers?" the fox said.
"No..." she answered puzzled.
"Don't worry," Nick said, "I can recommend a couple. They're expensive but you can afford it."
"What the hell is going on?" Judy asked.
Nick looks at her, then takes the handkerchief out of his breast pocket. Unfolds it on a coffee table, revealing a pair of glasses, one lens still intact. Judy stares dumbly at them.
"I found these in your backyard," the fox explained, "In your fish pond. They belonged to your husband, didn't they?... didn't they?"
"I don't know," the rabbit answered, "I mean yes, probably."
"Yes positively," Nick insisted, "That's where he was drowned..."
"What are you saying?"
"There's no time for you to be shocked by the truth, Mrs. Hopps," the fox continued, "The coroner's report proves he was killed in salt water. Just take my word for it. Now I want to know how it happened and why. I want to know before Rescupar gets here because I want to hang onto my license."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Judy defended, "This is the most insane... the craziest thing I ever..."
Nick has been in a state of near frenzy himself. He gets up and shakes her.
"Stop it!" Nick exclaimed, "I'll make it easy. You were jealous, you fought, he fell, hit his head. It was an accident, but his bunny is a witness. You've had to pay her off. You don't have the stomach to harm her, but you've got the money to shut her up. Yes or no?"
"NO!" the rabbit retorted.
"Who is she?" the fox questioned, "And don't give me that crap about it being your sister. You don't have a sister."
Judy has been trembling.
"I'll tell you the truth..." she said.
Nick relaxed.
"That's good," he said, "Now what's her name?"
"Kathrine," the rabbit answered.
"Kathrine," the fox repeated, "Kathrine Who?"
"She's my daughter," Judy stated.
Nick stares at her. He's been charged with anger and when Judy says this it explodes. He hits her full in the face. Judy stares back at him. The blow has forced tears from her eyes, but she makes no move, not even to defend herself.
"I said the truth!" Nick shouted.
"My sister," she answered.
Nick motioned that he'd slap her again.
"My daughter."
He grabs her now.
"My sister, my daughter," the rabbit exclaims frantically as tears begin to pour down her face.
He throws her down on the sofa.
"I said I want the truth!" the fox said.
"She's my sister and my daughter!" Judy exclaimed, almost shouting it.
The otter butler comes running down the steps.
"No no!" the rabbit protested, "Kyo, stay with Kathrine, please!"
The otter lingers for a moment before slowly walking back upstairs. Nick was staring at Judy and feeling regretful of his actions as he saw how defenseless she was. He didn't approach her and just let her cry for a moment. Soon the rabbit explained her statement.
"My father and I...," Judy said.
Suddenly, it became so clear to the fox. His jaw gapped and his eyes turned sympathetic.
"Understand?" the rabbit mumbled, "Or is it too tough for you?"
Nick doesn't answer.
"After he... I ran away... to Mexico," Judy explained.
Nick only listened.
"Hollis came and took care of me...," she continued, "After she was born... he said... he took care of her... I couldn't see her... I wanted to but I couldn't... I just want to see her once in a while... take care of her... that's all... but I don't want her to know... I don't want her to know..."
"So that's why you hate him?" the fox finally spoke.
Judy only wiped her tears away. Nick finally comes closer.
"Where are you taking her now?" he asked.
"Back to Mexico," the rabbit said.
"You can't go by train," the fox explained, "Rescupar'll be looking for you everywhere."
"How 'bout a plane?" Judy asked.
"That's worse," Nick said, "Just get out of here. Walk out. Leave everything."
"I have to go home and get my things," she exclaimed.
"I'll take care of it," he replied.
"Where can we go?" the rabbit questioned.
Nick pondered. Then a thought dawned on him. Kyo had a familiar scent. A chill went down the fox's spine as the word came to his mind.
"Where does Kyo live?" Nick asked.
"With us," Judy said.
"I mean when he's off the job," the fox said, "Get the exact address and wait for me there."
"Okay..." the rabbit said.
She got up and began for the stairs. She stopped and turned back.
"Those didn't belong to Hollis," she said.
For a moment Nick doesn't know what she's talking about. Then he follows her gaze to the glasses lying on his handkerchief.
"How do you know?" the fox asked.
"He didn't wear bifocals," Judy explained and walked upstairs.
Nick picked up the glasses and stared at them. Soon, Judy returns to the steps with Kathrine beside her. The bunny looks strikingly similar to her mother except that she's a tad smaller and has green eyes.
"Say hello to Mr. Wilde, sweetheart," Judy said.
"Hello," the bunny said, her voice innocent-sounding.
Nick nodded.
"Hello," he replied.
Judy quickly guides Kathrine back upstairs before re-emerging.
"He lives at 1712 Alameda," she said, "Do you know where that is?"
Nick grinned and nodded.
"Yeah," the fox said, "It's in Zootopia."
Nick stood in the living room alone. The fox gazed through the window and watched as Kyo drove the Packard off with Judy and Kathrine in the back. He then looked for the phone and quickly dialed a number.
"Cheera," the fox said, "Is Walsh there?... yeah, listen, pal, Rescupar's going to try and book me in about five minutes... relax, I'll tell you. Wait in the office for two hours. If you don't hear from me, you and Duffy meet me at 1712 Alameda."
"What?!" the beaver's voice said, "That's in Zootopia, ain't it?"
The front doorbell rang.
"I know where it is!" Nick exclaimed, "Just do it!"
He quickly hung up and headed to the door. Nick opened it and Grim along with Puss entered.
"Come on in, Grim," the fox said, "We're both too late. Looks like she flew the coop."
Grim nodded.
"I don't suppose you got any idea where she went?" the wolf asked.
"Matter of fact," Nick said, "I do."
"Where?" Grim asked.
"Her maid's house," the fox lied, "I think she knows something's up."
"What's the maid's address?" the wolf asked.
"She lives in Pedro," Nick lied further, "I'll write it down for you."
"No, Wilde," Grim said, "You'll show us."
"What for?"
"If she's not there, you're going downtown, and you're staying there til she shows up."
"Gee, Lou, I'm doing the best I can."
Both the wolf and the cat took the fox by the shoulder and shoved him toward the door.
"Tell us about it on the way to Pedro," Grim said.
A steep hill overlooks part of the harbor. Grim's unmarked car pulls up to a stop in front of a duplex perched on the steep hillside.
"That's it?" the wolf asked.
"Yeah," the fox answered.
"Well, let's go," Grim said.
Nick stopped the wolf from leaving the car before speaking.
"Do me a favor, will you, Grim?" he asked.
Grim waited.
"Let me bring her down myself," the fox insisted, "She's not armed or nothing... she won't be any problem... I'd just like a minute alone with her... It would mean something... to... her... and to me."
The wolf shook his head and waited.
"You never learn," Grim said, "Do you, Wilde?"
"I guess not," the fox said.
"I'll give ya three minutes," the wolf exclaimed.
"Gee, thanks, Grim," Nick said.
Nick gets out of the car, glances around, and goes up the stairs. He looks back down at Grim. The fox rings the bell. He waits. It opens. A young capybara which was as tall as Nick's knee answered. The fox looked down at the young thing.
"Hey buddy," Nick said cheerfully, "Yer pa home?"
The toddler only nodded and let the fox in. Sitting at the table with his family is Curly. The capybara is shocked to see Nick and he stands up to approach the fox.
"Mr. Wilde!" Curly said, "Come in, Come in!"
Nick smiles nervously and waves to the capybara's family before turning back to him.
"Tanks just the same, Curly," the fox exclaimed, "I could use a glass of water, though. Come out with me to the kitchen for a second."
The capybara follows the fox into the kitchen puzzled. Nick puts his fedora on Curly and gets the capybara's coat off the hook to put on the confused animal.
"Curly, where's your car?" Nick asked.
"In the garage," the capybara said.
"Where's that?"
"Off the alley."
"Could you drive me somewhere?"
"Sure as soon as we eat."
"Right now Curly, it can't wait."
Nick pushed the capybara out the back door. and down the steps toward the garage.
Curly pulls open the garage door. Gets in, starts the car, and backs it out. It's an old, late-twenties Plymouth Sedan. Nick hops in. They take off. At the edge of the alley, the fox looked back. From his view, he saw Grim and Puss just getting out of the car and moving toward the duplex.
"Just drive slow for a block or two, will ya, Curly?" the fox said.
"What's this all about?"
"I'll tell you in a block or two."
Time passed.
"How much do you owe me, Curly?" Nick asked.
"Oh, gee, Mr. Gittes we're going out tomorrow," the capybara said, "I know you been real good about it but my cousin Auggie's sick."
"Forget it," the fox said, "How would you like to pay me off by taking a couple of passengers to Ensenada... you'd have to leave tonight."
"I don't know..."
"I might be able to squeeze an extra seventy-five bucks out of it for you. Maybe an even hundred."
"Even the extra I owe you?"
"I'll throw that in too."
"Okay, you got yourself a boat."
The maid finished putting Judy's luggage into the back of the truck and hopped in the passenger side of the truck. Curly and Nick were conversating.
"Tell Mrs. Hopps to wait for half an hour after you get there," the fox explained, "Then if I don't show, take her down to the boat."
"You sure this is okay?" Curly asked nervously.
"Curly," Nick sighed, "You know how long I've been in this business?"
The capybara nodded reassured. He gets in and takes off. Nick walked into the house and picked up the phone and dialed Cross's number.
"Hello?" the elder rabbit's voice answered.
"Have you got your checkbook handy (Pawdy?), Mr. Cross?" the fox said, "I've got the bunny."
"You've got her?" Julian's voice asked eagerly, "Where?"
"At your daughter's house," Nick lied, "How soon can you get here?"
"Two hours," the voice answered.
It was dusk. Nick stood on the veranda smoking as the sound of a car pulling in could be heard. The elder rabbit soon entered the area.
"There you are," Julian says and walked toward the fox, "Well, you don't look any the worse for wear, Mr. Wilde, I must say... where's the bunny?"
"I've got her," the fox reassured.
"Is she alright?" the elder rabbit asked.
"She's fine," Nick replied.
"Where is she?" Julian asked.
"With her mother," the fox retorted.
Cross's tone alters.
"...With her mother?" the elder rabbit questioned.
Nick pulls something out of his jacket and hands (paws?) it to Julian, unfolding it.
"I'd like you to look at something, Mr. Cross," Nick insisted.
"What is it?" Julian asked.
"The obituary column," the fox answered, "Can you read in this light?"
"Yes," the elder rabbit answered, "I think I can manage."
Julian reached into his jacket and produced a pair of bifocal glasses. He puts them on and reads.
"What does this mean?" the elder rabbit asked.
"That you killed Hollis Hopps," Nick answered.
Nick holds out the pair of bifocals that were in the pond.
"Right here," the fox exclaimed, "In this pond. You drowned him... and you left these."
Julian looks at the glasses.
"The coroner's report showed Hopps had salt water in his lungs," Nick continued.
"Hollis was always fond of tide pools," Julian said with no denial, "You know what he used to say about them?"
"Haven't the faintest idea," the fox said.
"That's where life begins," the elder rabbit said, "Marshes, sloughs, tide-pools... he was fascinated by them... you know when we first came out here he figured that if you dumped water onto desert sand it would percolate down into the bedrock and stay there, instead of evaporating the way it does in most reservoirs. You'd lose only twenty percent instead of seventy or eighty. He made this city."
"That's what you were gonna do in the Valley?" Nick questioned.
"No, Mr. Wilde," Julian said firmly, "That's what I am doing with the Valley. The bond issue passes Tuesday. There'll be ten million to build an aqueduct and reservoir. I'm doing it."
"There's going to be some irate citizens when they find out they're paying for water they're not getting," the fox exclaimed.
"That's all taken care of," the elder rabbit explained, "You see, Mr. Wilde. Either you bring the water to L.A. or you bring L.A. to the water."
"How do you do that?"
"Just incorporate the Valley into the city so the water goes to L.A. after all. It's very simple."
Nick nodded.
"How much are you worth?" the fox asked.
"I don't know," the elder rabbit said, "How much do you want?"
"I just wanna know how much you're worth, over ten million?" Nick asked.
"Oh, why yes," Julian exclaimed.
"Then why are you doing it?" the fox asked, "How much better can you eat? What can you buy that you can't already afford?"
"The future, Mr. Wilde. The future!" the elder rabbit said as if it was obvious, "Now where's the bunny?... I want the only daughter I have left... as you found out, Judy was lost to me a long time ago."
"Who do you blame for that? Her?" Nick asked sarcastically.
"I don't blame myself," Julian said with a grin, "You see, Mr. Wilde, most people never have to face the fact that at the right time and right place, they're capable of anything." He turned to look toward the entrance. "Take those glasses from him, will you, Claude?"
Mulvihill walked over and extended his paw out toward Nick. Nick was now frowning as he looked at the bear. Mulvihill retracted his paw and reached around inside his jacket. The fox turned to Julian who only smiled devilishly. Soon, Nick felt something cold and hard brush against the back of his ear. He only looked to Mulvihill with his eyes. The bear held a snubnosed revolver to the fox's ear.
"It's not worth it, Mr. Wilde," the elder rabbit exclaimed, "It's really not worth it."