ZOO DIARY
–THANKSGIVING – TURKEY’S DILEMMA
Thanksgiving eve. The zoo
denizens are upset with the zoo directorate having not been included in the
Thanksgiving celebrations
RAT
Once again, we’re not included in Thanksgiving festivities
ZEBRA
Did you really expect to? I mean, why should they? Who are we? Merely the tools in which they make money. That’s all - and how do they thank us? Closing the zoo for the day so we can’t even expect extra treats from visitors. This is so typically…human
SOUND: GOBBLE-GOBBLE… GOBBLE-GOBBLE….
RAT
What’s that noise?
ZEBRA
Noise? What noise? Are my
stripes straight?
RAT
You don’t hear that?
ZEBRA
‘You are magnificent…
Those teeth…those sparkling eyes…’
RAT
Maybe if you’d get your
face away from that mirror and stop admiring yourself…
ZEBRA
A person has to make sure
that he looks good from every angle. Being the sole representative of the zebra
specie in this zoo comes with a responsibility. A daily body examination is
necessary to ensure that all my black stripes are evenly spaced on my perfectly
white skin. ‘Yesssss! Perfection personified!’
RAT
Far be it to burst your
bubble, Zeeb…
ZEBRA
…I am not zeeb - or zebby
- or zeeby-baby. I’m a zebra. Z-E-B-R-A!
RAT
Gotcha Zebby-boy – like I
was sayin’ – the way that I see it, the stripe on your upper right leg doesn’t
well…match the left
What?! You must be
mistaken. It’s not possible… How could this be? I just checked it not two
minutes ago and it was perfectly aligned
Hey – how ‘ya doin’?
RAT
Manny – you’re out. Free.
Did you eat lunch, yet?
ZEBRA
Yes Manny – I do hope they’ve
fed you some nourishment. I mean, it’s important to keep up your strength. We
don’t want you slithering around hungry looking for anybody, heh-heh…
RAT
That’s the last thing we
want - being that we’re your friends and all…that is to say, we don’t want you to
experience hunger pangs…
MANNY
As I remember, I had a
nibble a month ago. Sure is quiet around here. No humans to knock on the glass
of my enclosure. One day...one sweet day...someone is gonna hit hard enough to break the glass and they'll find out why my knick-name is Mr. Squeeze
NOISE: GOBBLE-GOBBLE GOBBLE-GOBBLE…
RAT
There it is again. Sounds
familiar-like
(a turkey suddenly drops
down from a tree)
TURKEY
Save me!
ZEBRA
A tree chicken. How unique.
TURKEY
I am a turkey who requires
sanctuary
RAT
Listen chicken sweetheart…
TURKEY
…turkey…I am – um – an
endangered specie. Yes – that’s it - and am declaring myself on the extinct list
thus requiring sanctuary
ZEBRA
You must be someone
important judging by your extensive vocabulary. All cultured and important
species have an extensive vocabulary – and a beautiful body, of course (zebra looks at himself in the mirror) You handsome fool!
I am very important. In fact, I can state
with absolute knowledge that I am number one on everyone’s hit list, today
MANNY
(slithering closer)
Well I for one, believe
you. You do look very appealing – in an endangered species way of course
RAT
Wish we could help, turkey,
but we live out in the open with nowhere to hide
ZEBRA
I could send a protest
letter to the Zoos of America if that could assist you in any way
TURKEY
I am doomed!
MANNY
(slithering almost
directly in front of TURKEY)Well turkey – really feel for you, in the true sense of the word. I just happen to live inside in a huge glass enclosure that has lots of hiding places. Why don’t you come back to my pit and check things out? I live alone and there’s nobody to bother or see us
TURKEY
That’s a very generous
offer on your part –
MANNY
- Manny –
TURKEY
Manny
MANNY
Anything for a friend in need.
(the two start to make
their way to MANNY’s place)
TURKEY
The farmer takes good care of me. You can see for yourself when we get back to your pit.
Oh I intend to
TURKEY
Can I give you a hug?
MANNY
Later…when we’re alone…they’ll
be plenty of hugging to go around…
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