Chapter 14: Silence is Golden

Now that I've got my new laptop, and despite the fact that it has Windows 11, I can finally complete another chapter. Don't worry about the old laptop because after I found out that you can't use real bleach to clean the hard drive, I did what any good old-fashioned farmer would do. I shot it apart with my shotgun, ground everything up in an old meat grinder, and buried the remains in the concrete slab that my buddy Bubba was pouring for his new shed.

Judy discusses with Nick why some Disney stars are not allowed to speak to their fans (all this time you thought it was because of the costumes!) and why the rabbit and fox are not on strike.

"Writing fanfic was my first experience with having people outside my schoolteachers reading my work. Even a simple comment like 'can't wait to read more' was massively encouraging to me." - Bonnie Wynne

Nick and Judy's Apartment

Near Walt Disney World, Florida

Judy huffed as she stared at their joint bank account on her tablet. "Nick, you did it again! You know that you aren't allowed to speak during a meet-and-greet with the fans unless it is approved by Mickey. Disney has docked your paycheck!" She absentmindedly reached up and pulled the neckline of her oversized black sleeping shirt back over her shoulder; it was a gift from Nick and had a white police car printed on it, along with the words 'The police never think it's as funny as you do!'

"I'm a fox, and we are renowned for our legendary silver tongues, our witty retorts, and our outstanding eloquence." Nick said as he stood there wearing only a pair of white pajama shorts with orange and green carrot prints, a gift from Judy. He gave a toothy yawn before he sipped from his coffee mug. "Carrots, do you have to pay the bills so early in the morning? The sun isn't even up yet!" he complained.

"It's almost noon."

"Whatever!"

"Nick, I know that you love to be chatty, but you do know why that rule is in place. Every time that you speak in front of a guest, while officially on the clock, Disney has to pay that character's voice actor a royalty fee."

"That isn't fair."

"Fair or not, that's just the way things are. When Timon started, he ran his mouth so much that Disney had to make The Lion King 1 1/2 just so they could pay the royalties. When you spouted off, they had to cut a check to Jason Bateman for the use of his voice."

"His voice? It's my voice too! Jason should be paying me for the honor of using OUR voice."

"Nick, that isn't the way this works."

"What has Jason done lately, that big-shot Hollywood wannabe."

"Just the award-winning series Ozark and then there was Arrested Development. He is also in the movie Air and…"

"Fine, he isn't a total hack. But still, why do I have to suffer?"

"We've been through this before, you are using his voice."

"It still sucks!"

"Not as much as being poor and living under a bridge, like you were doing back in 2016."

"Hey, I made two hundred bucks a day, Fluff. 365 days a year since I was twelve."

"Yet you were still almost flat broke," Judy scoffed.

"Okay, maybe I exaggerated my financial success a tiny bit when we first met," Nick said with a shrug.

"You flat-out lied."

"It was just a little white lie."

"Well, if you keep running that mouth in public, you might be living under that bridge again, instead of in a nice cozy bed with your favorite co-star."

The fox didn't argue, but deftly plucked the tablet from her paws and began to type something.

"Hey, give me that back!" Judy protested.

Nick gave her a smile when he finally passed it back to her.

"You're learning sign language? Oh, you foxes are devious!" she laughed after she read what was on the screen.

The fox grinned as he signed the words thank you.

Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World, Florida

"Are we supposed to be on strike too?" Nick asked Judy as they walked toward one of the bridges over Discovery River. It was still early in the morning, and the guests had not yet been allowed into the park. Both of them were dressed in their usual "costumes", Judy in her blue ZPD tactical uniform and Nick in his tacky green tropical shirt and mismatched tie. "Now that the actors are also on strike, would working here at Disney be somehow crossing the picket line?"

"Nick, we don't belong to that union, and there isn't one for toons."

"We do belong to the Police Union."

"Only in Zootopia, not here."

"So if the writers won't write and the actors won't act, where does that leave us?"

"Keeping our fans happy while they wait for the sequel," the rabbit answered. The fox hesitated and Judy didn't like the mischievous appearing grin he gave her. "Slick, what is going on in that devious fox mind of yours."

"Isn't Jason one of those actors on strike?" Nick asked.

"I suppose he is."

"So if I talk with the fans today and he is on strike, we won't have to pay him."

"I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way."

"Too bad."

About halfway across the bridge, the fox skidded to a halt. "Disney is a huge international company," he suddenly said.

"So what?"

"It's just that the actor's union on strike is an American union."

"Again, so what?"

"Maybe Disney should think more internationally."

"Nick, what are you getting at?"

"We are from Zootopia and therefore not American citizens."

"Sure, but..." Judy began to ask.

The fox dramatically threw his arms wide open and with a grin, he proclaimed, "Don't think Hollywood! THINK BOLLYWOOD!"

"Nick!"

"India has a great film industry." Nick continued and then he stroked his furry chin while he seemingly contemplated, "I wonder who I can get to be my new voice?"

"That isn't going to happen, Slick."

"Too bad," he sighed as he followed her across the bridge and then once again he stopped.

"Now what?" the rabbit sounded a bit exasperated.

"It's just that Disney has two parks in China."

"Sure Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, so what?"

"Finn's girlfriend, Darma, is from China and she says that China also has a great film industry too."

"Nick, stop this!"

The fox sighed again and began following her for a few moments before he once again stopped. When Judy spun around, Nick gave her a smirk before he teased, "We can always go back to Zootopia and film it in Howlywood."

"Nicholas Piberious Wilde, you know that there is no such place!"

"Aw come on, Carrots, you know how the song goes! Hooray for Howlywood!" Nick began to sing as he gave a little dance.

"It does not, that song goes, it goes Hooray for Hollywood!"

"That screwy, barkhooey Howlywood..." he continued.

"Stop it, fox, you know that the worlds are "that screwy ballyhooey Hollywood!"

"Where any fox named Yannic can be a panic, with just a good-looking pan..."

"Those are not the words!"

"And any bunny can be so funny if she dances with or without a fan..."

"Why would a bunny need a fan?"

"Hooray for Howlywood!" Nick continued to sing as he twirled and danced down the street.

"Get back here, fox!" Judy called out as she ran after him.

From a distance, Mickey Mouse shook his head in bemusement while he watched the rabbit chasing the singing and dancing fox. "Sweetie," he called out to Minnie. "I thought those two were on vacation in Zootopia?"

"No, dear," Minnie replied as she reached over and adjusted the other mouse's khaki safari shirt collar. "Judy told me that they had to come back."

"Why?"

"It's complicated, but I'm pretty sure it was the fault of a raccoon and an old goat."

"Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden" , is an ancient proverbial saying believed to be of Arabic origin .

You can read about Finn and Darma's relationship in the story, Finnick in a Sweet Hustle Gone Wrong.

The song Hooray for Hollywood is a classic composed by Richard A Whiting, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the 1937 musical Hollywood Hotel and it has a Disney connection. One of the verses includes: "Go out and try your luck, you might be Donald Duck..." Nick has changed the words to tease Judy.