Do Me a Favor
[The scene opens with a shot of the harbor at dusk, a few people are walking about the street that follows the shops and restaurants. Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy are standing outside the ice cream shop, Ed, Edd, and Eddy are seen by the pier with the leader having cast a line into the water, Amethyst receives her order of something from a fast-food stand, Penelope Pussycat and Snow White are seen leaving one of the shops, and Honest John and Gideon are peering over one of the street corners in search of targets to con. It then cuts to a lone Schnauzer mix walking down the street with a strut in his step; Tramp, or "the Tramp" as he's otherwise known]
Tramp: [inhales and then exhales] The harbor at dusk, one of my special places to come by, if ya' know what I mean, tck-tck.
[Tramp walks to where Super Snooper and Blabber Mouse are inspecting a lamp post and underneath a table, looking rather bemused at the detectives]
Tramp: Well, well, well, if it ain't my favorite detectives, inspected every spot of dirt on the ground for clues yet?
Snooper: As a matter of fact, my associate and I are currently in the middle of an investigation.
Tramp: Oooooh, color me intrigued, what was it this time; stolen ice cream cone, missing box of fish, some jewel a rich guy let slip out from his pocket?
Blabber: Nope, we solved that case last week, we're onto something big here.
Snooper: We've been informed about possible suspicious activity goin' round these parts, some report about a cherry bomb goin' off in one of de' alleys.
Tramp: Wait, cherry bomb? So why are you looking at the ground of all things?
Snooper: A criminal always leaves evidence at the scene of the crime, aha, what do we have here?
Blabber: Whatcha' find, Snoop?
Snooper: [holds up a green strand] Dis here, Blab. Appears ta' be green hair of sorts, stiff feel to it, possible lack of management in terms of hygiene.
Blabber: Maybe there's a gangster in the area.
Snooper: More than one I reckon.
Tramp: Well then, you two carry on with your little…thing, I'm just gonna head off now. [begins to walk away]
Snooper: You keep safe, citizen.
Tramp: Ya' know my name, you can say it.
Snooper: Alright, keep safe, Tramp.
Blabber: You know, I thought "tramp" was an insult.
Snooper: Technically it is, but that guy makes it roll off the tongue not to question it.
[Tramp continues down the path while Daria and Jane walk in the background on the other side, turning the cover before one of the alleys]
?: I guess the apple don't stray too far from the tree.
Tramp: [halts] Excuse me?
[Tramp looks to see a silhouetted figure hidden in the depths of the alley, although the voice is familiar]
?: Ya' know, I'd expect some kinda greeting, a "hello", or somethin' along those lines…guess we're still not at "that stage"...
[the figure steps out from the shadows, revealing to be a Doberman and Rottweiler mix]
Tramp: We've not been at "that stage" for ages, and I don't see why I even need to be there for any reason.
Buster: Hey, now, no need to be snippy, I ain't doin' anything to you, now am I? Does the mere sight of me annoy you, send a twitch up your spine?
Tramp: Hmph, so you're a comedian now, isn't that fitting?
Buster: Ya' know, I seem to recall you laughin' at my sense of humor, back when you had one yourself.
Tramp: I can tell a wisecrack or two, just that you're not my target audience.
Buster: Sooooo, does that entail-
Tramp: EH! We are not discussing that, so keep it tucked in.
Buster: I gotta ask, when are you gonna stop runnin' away from the past, and why you gotta treat it like some stain on your name, it just don't make any sense to me.
Tramp: That's because you're not seeing it from my perspective, I have an image to keep up.
Buster: What image? Being a regular do-gooder to fade into the crowd, what's so special about that?
Tramp: You wouldn't know, you'd rather be stuck at rock bottom than see life beyond the "glory days".
Buster: I could tell you were actually enjoying yourself back then, not like now, just like all the rest.
Tramp: Could say the same for you…I'm off, do me a favor and don't follow up.
[With that, Tramp snorts off from Buster, leaving the latter to scowl at the departing grey canine]
Buster: "Could say the same for you"...baaaaaah, dumbass…
[Buster walks in the opposite direction, kicking a stone to the right side of the street]
[the scene cuts to Balto and Fox standing outside "Mary's Lighthouse" as the latter looks down at his watch]
Fox: Where is that Tramp, we'll miss our table if he doesn't hurry up.
Balto: [looks to his right to see Tramp walking towards them] Oh, there he is, over here!
Tramp: [looks up to see the wolfdog calling him] Ah, you two didn't wait around for me, did you?
Fox: Very funny, aren't you?
Tramp: Ah, what's got you so jaded?
Fox: We were just wondering what kept you.
Balto: You mean you were wondering what kept him.
Tramp: Well, I ran into two spots, the "Daring Detectives" uncovering some random mystery and then running into…him.
Balto: Oh…do you…?
Tramp: I don't really wanna talk about it, you know how I feel about that.
Balto: Okay, just wanted to make sure.
[at that moment, Jenny opens the door behind them]
Jenny: Heard something about a table for three?
Fox: Yeah, that's us.
Jenny: Ah, right this way, gentleman. [holds the door for the other three to enter]
[the scene cuts to a panning shot across the restaurant; Yogi, Mao Mao, and Rita at the bar, Robin Hood and Sly Cooper sitting at one table, Rei and Minako sitting at the table next to them, and finally Balto, Tramp, and Fox sitting at the table behind them]
Fox: So, Falco was telling me "I fly better than you." I said; if you're better, then how come I'm the one needing to save your tail all the time?
Balto: Hehe, reminds me of when Kaltag tried to assert being the new leader when I started up, I don't think he can track through the snow as I can.
Fox: Guess that makes two of us, What about you, Tramp…Tramp?
Tramp: [blinks] Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah, whatever you guys were saying?
Fox: Are you sure, you're alright, you seem a bit…put off?
Balto: Still thinking about earlier?
Tramp: What, no, of course not, I'm just…thinking about clouds.
Balto: Riiiiiight…you know, something just struck me, don't all of us have an adversary of sorts?
Fox: Yeah, you've got Steele, Tramp's got Buster, and I've got Wolf.
Balto: The strangest thing happened between me and Steele the other day…as soon as I tripped, he caught me and then went about his way as usual…in fact, he's been less on the "offensive", you could say.
Fox: I mean, I've not had to deal with Wolf like that for some time now. Either I've not seen him, or he hasn't engaged with me directly…I don't know if I want him to based on what could happen.
Tramp: Or you're just overthinking this, both of you. If they wanna keep dropping hints, that's fine, I'm just not going to take anything from Buster.
Fox: Um, dropping hints?
Tramp: You know what I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if they all met up together to discuss this plan, do it to each and every one of us.
Balto: Um, okay then, we're doing quite a bit of speculation here, we don't know for sure what's going on, so why don't we change the subject?
Tramp: [sighs] Fine, I don't feel much like talking more about this.
Fox: Fine by me.
[the scene cuts to the interior of a pub, the shot panning over some of the other patrons present; Pamela Bondani, Jasper, and Fat Cat sitting together at the bar, Scar and Shere Khan sitting together at the table while Sombra and Chrysalis are sat, and then several feet away is a booth sitting three people; Buster, Steele, Wolf]
Buster: Do me a favor, he says, don't follow up, he says. Why is that mutt so damn stubborn?
Steele: Ain't that the gist with drama queens, they never let you hear the end of it. Trust me, I can never forget. [takes a gulp of his drink]
Wolf: I know his sort, they keep hiding what they don't wanna hear until it finally comes to a head.
Buster: I just wish he'd stop playing so hard to get, it's been ages, you'd think someone would move on by now.
Steele: Well, one thing's for sure, the longer he goes at it, the more he's gonna be tempted, perhaps play into his little mind game and flip the tables on him.
Buster: Believe me, I've been tryna' to do that for a while now, but it's like he's got a layer of concrete around 'im, blocks out my smooth tongue if ya' know what I mean.
Wolf: I think the element of surprise is more what you wanna go for, do something he wouldn't expect, and then you have him in a spot where you can say what you want, have him right in your hands like puddy.
Buster: I mean, I could always for the "behind the shoulders" approach, be funny to see him react, though unexpected…well, if I see an opportunity, I'll go for it.
Wolf: Consider you've got my support while I deal with matters of my own, I know this one's got something.
Steele: Hey, that's just my thing goin' on, it's nothing too outta the blue.
Wolf: Call it what you like, just to let you know I'm more perceptive than you think. [takes a gulp of his drink]
Steele: Yeah, well, you do that…
[the scene cuts to the outside of the pub as Buster and Steele are seen heading off in one direction while Wolf heads off in the other]
Steele: I tell you one thing, for all the stuff that goes on with me, it's nice to kick back, have a drink, and talk shit about people behind their backs.
Buster: Hehe, I hear that, brother, I give props to you bein' an asshole and copin' to it.
Steele: Hey, once you've got the label, ya' sorta just live with it, not like I care what people think, I do what I wanna do.
Buster: Plus, at least you're honest for one thing, weird how people like you accomplish that more than people who think they're all about that moral compass shit or whatever.
Steele: Aaaaah, pretentious bastards…still, hope you can get through with whatever that Tramp's throwin' at you.
Buster: Hmm, I can only hope so, too, but we'll see…I might even have alternative options if it goes south.
Steele: [taps Buster's shoulder] Aaaaaah, you cheeky scout.
[the camera pans up to the night sky before it cuts to atop one of the buildings looking over the city. The next morning is met with a shot of Henry passing by with the Flying Kipper on the elevated tracks that run by several buildings. Hiro passes by on the other line with a goods train as the shot pans up to an apartment window, showing the inside of Tramp's bedroom, the grey canine wrapped in a cluster of a blanket before waking up with a smack of his lips]
Tramp: [yawns and stretches] Ah, boy, what a night…
[Tramp gets up out of bed and proceeds to walk to the door before stopping before his mirror. He decides to pose in front of it]
Tramp: Hmmmm, aren't you a cute lil thang…? [stretches his leg out]
[the scene cuts to Tramp turning on the crank for the hot water in the shower]
Tramp: There's something you will just have to learn, if you play with fire, you're gonna get burned…
[the grey canine lathers his head and his body while giving a sigh at the feeling of warm water on his fur]
[the scene then cuts to an area filled with piles of junk and scrap, with a crane dumping out a recent heap of broken pipes. Diesel is seen shunting a set of trucks full of rusty metal next to the crane as a tire is thrown right onto a stack of other tires]
Buster: And he sticks the landing once more!
[at that moment, Buster hears two other men talking as they carry what appears to be a large cylinder on their shoulders; a large yellow striped cat and a smaller orange cat]
Jake: Ya' know, I could make something new out of this thing.
Chance: I think I've already found a use for it.
Jake: Pardon?
[Chance lowers the pipe for it to catch on Jake's shirt, pulling him up]
Jake: He-Hey!
Chance: Look, everyone, it's the circle of life, come one, come all.
Jake: Chance, put me down!
Chance: Hehehe, c'mon, I'm just joshing here.
[Chance sets Jake back down on the ground before feeling the pipe strike his chest]
Chance: Oh!
Jake: Now we're even.
Chance: Aaaah, you're a jerk sometimes.
[Buster watches the spectacle rather bemused, then shields his eyes from the sun up in the sky]
Buster: Man, this place don't let up in the summer, don't it? Ah, well, better get them barrels sorted.
[the scene transitions to Tramp walking through Bluth Avenue where he's minding his own business when a rustle sounds from an alleyway]
Tramp: Huh? [looks in the direction of the noise, but sees nothing in it] Buster, if that's you, I'm not falling for it…hello…okay, I think I'll just…be on my way…
[Tramp walks away, but does it quicker than before, as he only just misses something rising up from a trash bin. The scene cuts back to Buster in the junkyard, arranging a set of old wheels on top of one another, unaware of a large pile of scrap shifting behind him. The Rotterman quirks a brow at the sound of creaking metal behind him]
Buster: What in the…?
[Before Buster can finish his sentence, the pile begins to tilt dangerously, right in his direction. It finally gives way just as the dark canine moves in time to see twisted metal fall onto the ground with a CRASH. The sound echoes throughout the yard…before Buster regains his composure]
Buster: Yo, what the hell happened there?! Furlong, Clawson! This your doing?
Chance: [to Buster's left] What's going on…jeez, what happened to that pile?
Buster: I dunno, nearly took me with it.
Jake: Strange…maybe someone or something pushed it over the edge.
Chance: Ya' know how people like to sneak in here.
Buster: Hmm, yeah…
[the scene transitions to later in the day, early evening at that as Buster exits the gates from the yard]
Buster: [wipes his forehead] Phew! What a day, but now, time for some chow.
[Buster is seen walking down the street, passing Tod and Flora going in the opposite direction. Just as he passes by the alley, shots ring out, causing the Rotterman to jolt back]
Buster: What the hell?!
[the scene cuts to the inside of the alley where several guns are going off from two angles, hiding behind a crate in the middle of the back and forth shooting is Tramp]
Tramp: Oh God, oh God, what is even happening?! [ducks as a shot goes over his head] YIP! Okay, okay, maybe if I just slowly move away-
[a shot strikes the fence just a few feet away from him]-or not…
[The Schnauzer covers his ears as he gets further to the ground, hoping that the shooting ceases before feeling something dragging him back]
Hey, what the?!
[As Tramp is pulled out from the alley, he covers his eyes in front of the brick wall at the front of a shop before putting his paws down and breathing a heavy sigh of relief]
Tramp: Thanks for pulling me out of therrrrrrrreeeeeee…Buster?
Buster: Well, someone had to come in and save your ass from getting shot?
Tramp: Wait, how did you know I was here?
Buster: I was comin' down the same way.
[several more shots ring out]
Buster: Speakin' of which, we should prolly get the hell out of here!
Tramp: That's a guarantee!
[the two canines make a dash from the alley as fast as they could, not stopping until they come right into the harbor, panting heavily]
Buster: I…I think we'll be safe here…
Tramp: Yeah…oh God, my stomach…
Buster: Think you'll live back here?
Tramp: I just had a nasty shock, but I'll pull through…so, you…rescued me?
Buster: Well, I wasn't about to just leave you there, I don't do that to a man.
Tramp: That's questionable at best…still, I didn't expect…well, I didn't think you'd…what I'm trying to say is-[feels Buster's fingers against his mouth]
Buster: You don't need to say it, the look in your eyes tells me everything.
Tramp: [blushes] D-Don't get any ideas.
Buster: Who said anything about ideas…besides the options for how you owe me for saving your hide?
Tramp: You're a jackass, ya' know that?
Buster: True, but at least I own it, you could take a thing or two from me.
Tramp: Hmm, sure…but, uh, thanks for what happened back there…
Buster: Anytime, just holler…[winks and walks off, leaving Tramp to watch with internal confusion]
Tramp: Things just keep getting stranger and stranger every day…
[the scene cuts back to the same alley, quiet at present with a silhouetted figure leaning against a brick wall]
?: The diversion worked as intended, resources attained while everyone scrambled.
?: Copy that, Miles. Oh, one more thing, no one saw you, did they, not even what's his name?
Miles: I can say with certainty that no one spotted me.
[the scene cuts to Scourge at the top of a building]
Scourge: Good, very good, maybe you're more worth than I thought.
Miles: Shut up, Scourge.
[Miles' voice clicks off the radio as Scourge pushes a button to register someone else]
Scourge: Targets acquired.
[the scene cuts back to the same cave from before]
?: Excellent. Remember, keeping to the shadows is your calling, so you'd best keep it that way.
Scourge: Don't worry yourself, doc, I ain't as dense as you'd think.
?: I'll believe that when I see it. [clicks the radio off] Gunfire is a powerful weapon, a single piece of iron can do so much damage…more than people realize…but why stop with a mere bullet…when there's more…explosive measures…
The End…
