Brightly colored, slightly chaotic hotel room in Mexico City. Luggage is strewn about, colorful souvenirs are scattered on the beds, and the three stuffed kittens, Mew (light violet), Peko (light yellow), and Suu (light blue), are propped against pillows. Yume, Maira, and Kotoko are getting ready for the evening.
Yume:Okay, chicas! Tonight, we dance! I heard there's this incredible club downtown, the one with the live salsa band!
Maira:(Looking up from her phone with a sigh) Yume, are you sure about that? It's our first night in Mexico City, maybe we should take it easy? We're still a little jet-lagged.
Kotoko:(Grinning) Oh, come on, Maira! Let Yume have her dance! It'll be fun to experience the nightlife here. Besides, I want to try some authentic street tacos before we call it a night!
Yume:See? Kotoko gets it! Plus, it's a chance to practice my Spanish with some locals! (She pets Mew, who is sitting quietly on the bed beside her) Don't worry, Mew, I'll be back before you know it. You'll be safe and sound right here, with Peko and Suu.
Mew:(In a silent, imagining it in a tiny, sweet voice) Mmm...back soon?~mya
Peko:(In a high-pitched, soft voice) Don't worry Mew, we will keep you company!
Suu:(In a slightly deeper voice) Yeah! We can tell stories... or nap!
Maira:(Skeptical) Okay, okay, but be careful, Yume. Stick to the main streets. And don't get lost. What time do you think you'll be back?
Yume:(Waving her hand dismissively) Whenever the music stops! Seriously though, probably before midnight. I promise. Now, who's with me for some tacos first?
Kotoko:Tacos! Yes!
Maira:(Sighing) Fine, but we're sticking together at the restaurant. And Yume, be sure to keep an eye on your belongings.
(They all move towards the door. As Yume is about to leave, she turns back to the kittens.)
Yume:Okay little ones, be good. We won't be long. And don't go anywhere. (She closes the door, leaving the kittens alone in the room.)
(Cut to a little later. The hotel room is dimly lit by the city lights filtering through the window. Mew fidgets beside Peko and Suu, who are dozing.)
Mew:(In a small, slightly anxious voice) Yume… not here…~mya
Peko:(Sleepily) Hmm? Yume's dancing… she'll be back soon…
Suu:(Eyes half-closed) Maybe… singing too…
(Mew looks at the closed hotel room door, her button eyes filled with worry. She stands up on shaky legs and totters to the edge of the bed.)
Mew:(Voice a little more determined) Must find Yume… Dancing… sounds scary…~mya
(Mew hops down from the bed with a soft thud. She wobbles over to the door, looks up at the doorknob, then, with surprising courage, pushes the door open just enough to slip through and out into the unknown world of the hotel hallway.)
(Cut to a later scene in a seedy, dimly lit alleyway near a busy street. Sounds of barking dogs and harsh shouting can be heard in the distance. Mew, now a little dusty, is wandering aimlessly, looking confused and scared. A gruff voice startles her.)
Man in Shadow:(In a harsh, accented Spanish, though translated for the scene) Hey, little kitty! What are you doing out here all alone? You're a pretty one…
(A large, shifty looking man with a scarred face emerges from the shadows. He scoops up Mew, who lets out a silent, horrified squeak.)
Man in Shadow:Don't you worry, little kitty… you're gonna be famous…
(The man disappears down the alleyway, the sounds of barking dogs get louder, and Mew, now being carried away, is never seen by Yume again that night.)
Rei: (A soft, almost formal voice) Greetings. You appear… different.
Mew: (Tilting his head) Different? Like, good different? I'm Mew. Are you… a king? You look like a king.~mya
Rei: (With a slight puff of his chest) Rei de Richard, at your service. Though, you may call me Rei. And while I do possess a certain… bearing, I am not a king. Merely… well-loved.
Mew: Wow! Like… super loved?~mya
Rei: One might say. I reside upon the most luxurious of surfaces, after all. And I am quite meticulously cared for. Tell me, what is your story, Mew? You seem… traveled.
Mew: (Sighs, looking down) They... they said I'm going to fight. In… in the pit.~mya
Rei: (His wide embroidered eyes grow even wider) Fight? You? A beautiful thing like you? I don't understand.
Mew: A... a dog. They call him El Diablo.~mya
Mew: (Looking down at his own slightly worn fur) I… I go everywhere with Yume. And Maira. And Kotoko! They're my best friends. We went to the beach today! I almost got sand in my fluff!
Rei: (Eyes widening slightly) Sand? That sounds… chaotic.
Mew: (Nodding excitedly) It was! But fun! Except... wait a minute… where are they? They usually… they're usually right here!~mya
(Meantime, the door bursts open. Yume rushes in, followed closely by Maira and Kotoko. They are pale and frantic, looking around wildly.)
Yume: (Voice trembling) Mew! Mew! Where are you?!
Maira: (Almost in tears) He's gone! I looked everywhere! Under the beds! Behind the curtains!
Kotoko: (Hugging her own stuffed panda tightly) He wouldn't just… disappear!
(Cut to the room expands into a makeshift arena. A dirt pit is in the center, surrounded by cheering spectators. Vasquez stands on a raised platform, microphone in hand. Mew is led roughly out of her cage.)
Vasquez: (His voice booming through the microphone) Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Prepare yourselves for the main event! Tonight, we have a newcomer in the pit… the fluffy but probably not so tough, Mew!
(The crowd jeers and cheers.)
Vasquez: And her opponent... the undefeated champion, the fiercest creature this side of the border…. EL DIABLO!
(A massive, drooling Doberman Pinscher is led into the pit, growling and snapping. Mew shrinks back in terror.)
Vasquez: For one fall, MEW… vs…. EL DIABLO!
(Vasquez slams his fist on a table, the crowd roars with excitement. Mew feels her stuffing tighten with fear. She closes her eyes to try and hold in the building tears.)
(Scene: Rei watches from his cage, his expression determined. He sees the fear on Mew's face and knows he has to act.)
(While the crowd is focused on El Diablo, Rei begins to frantically try and move the lock.)
Rei: (Muttering to himself) Come on, come on…
(With a series of twists and turns, the lock clicks open. Rei leaps out of his cage and begins quickly opening other cages, with the other cats scattering from their enclosures, confused but ready to leave.)
Rei: (Calling out to Mew) Mew! It's time to go!
(He races toward the ring, a small but determined figure.)
Mew: (Seeing Rei, her eyes widen in surprise) Rei? But…
Rei: We don't have time! Follow me!
(He uses his paw to scrape at the latch on the gate surrounding the pit. He can see that it's a simple mechanism. It's stiff so he has to really pull at it, but with one solid tug, the gate swings open.)
Rei: Now!
(Mew, hesitantly steps away from the growling Doberman, and lunges at the opening. Rei follows close behind her.)
(The crowd, initially confused, begins to yell angrily. El Diablo begins barking and writhing, trying to escape his leashed handler.)
Vasquez: (Screaming into the microphone) Stop them! Get those cats!
Rei: (Grabbing her paw) Come on, Mew! Run!
(The stuffed cats race out of the arena together, escaping into the night. The other cats quickly follow.)
(Scene ends with the sound of barking, shouting, and the soft patter of many stuffed paws running into the darkness.)