Cats and the Other Lives
111-A / Dawn & Bernard
Aspen, the Cat enters the room. Bernard's ghost appears, walking back and forth. He has a recording device in his hand. He presses the play button. A lively Mexican song that Nunez loves begins to play.
BERNARD
Leapin' lizards! What is this?!!
Bernard presses the button and the song stops.
BERNARD
Nunez ... I got you this time ...
Bernard presses the rewind and record buttons and erases the tape. He clears his throat and presses the record button.
BERNARD
Ok, here we go. The grand list of the things that makes life unbearable. Entry one hundred twenty-nine.
(Clears his throat)
I can't prove it but I have a theory that Nunez makes my study slightly warmer than the rest of the house. Just to annoy you a little bit. I know. She is playing mind games with me. But I won't kneel before her.
(clears his throat again)
Ahem ... entry hundred and thirty. There are too many blankets here, in this room. She stacks them. Just to drive me crazy. But I am adamant. I won't break do-
At that moment, the ghost of young Dawn enters the room.
BERNARD
Huh?
DAWN
Oh ... I... I am sorry, I didn't want to bother you.
Dawn leaves and Bernard sighs.
BERNARD
Dawn ... Oh, Dawn. I shouldn't forget to hide this when I'm done.
Bernard's ghost evaporates. Aspen searches for the cassette and finds it.
111-C / Dawn's Resolution & Aspen brings the tape to her
Aspen approaches Dawn with the tape in his mouth and leaves it in front of her.
DAWN
Huh? Hey, you know that you are a weirdo, right? You're acting like a dog.
Aspen meows.
DAWN
Ok ok, I take it back. You are a cat, but still a weirdo.
Dawn reaches for the tape.
DAWN
Let's what we have here ...
Dawn takes the tape, looks around, finds the tape recorder, inserts the tape, presses the play button, and starts listening.
The ghost of Bernard appears and starts walking back and forth.
BERNARD (V. 0. )
I just ... don't know how to talk to people.
Especially whom I love. Especially you.
Dawn. But here I go and say it to the machine. Mark my words machine. I love my beautiful, precious daughter Dawn. Since the moment I saw her, she conquered my heart. But somehow, I just can't open myself.
I feel like I'll break her, break her heart whenever I talk. But I know, by all means, I know that she is very dear to me.
When her mom, the great hippie eerie invited me to the hospital I knew what was going to happen and I was scared to death.
(Bernard sighs)
But then, you looked at me with those big innocent eyes and that was it. It was all set.
You became my daughter.
Therefore, when I explained everything to Lorraine... I was calm as a toad in the sun. I stood up and said that I'd raise you. I may have failed over the years but one thing remained still.
I love you daughter, and I always will... If he was alive, I'm sure that would have done the same.
Bernard's ghost disappears. Dawn reaches out and stops the recording. After sitting silently for a while, she starts crying.
112 / Will discovers Aspen's true nature
Will confronts Aspen and starts staring at him. Shannon walks by in casual clothes and messy hair, catching Will's eye.
WILL
Bow to my indomitable will creature. I command you!
SHANNON
Will?
Will continues to stare at him. Aspen licks his paw.
SHANNON
Will?!
WILL
Shhh!
SHANNON
What?! What are you doing for fu
(stops herself at the very last second)
Pete's sake? Damn it ...
WILL
I'm trying to focus, use my powers to read Aspen's mind.
SHANNON
Oh God please help me ... Why Will? Why on earth would you do that?
WILL
Because mom! Because Aspen may look like a cat but haha! I don't think so. Busted.
SHANNON
Why did I ask ... why ...
WILL
Aspen is controlling us mom. There is an entity in Aspen, I can almost feel it. Looking at us, gathering information about us, maybe even controlling the weak ones among us. Not me obviously.
Shannon comes over to Aspen and Will. She picks up Aspen, puts him on the ground, and gives him a spank on his butt to make him leave.
WILL
What are you doing!?
SHANNON
Will, now listen to me. Aspen is not young anymore. So you are gonna cut this nonsense and leave the cat alone! Do you copy!?
WILL
Roger that!
SHANNON
You are dismissed!
Will walks away, and after Shannon lets out a sigh, she collapses into the chair.