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The little mice, Titmouse and Yumi bring all their weight to bear on the stone, try to budge it and clear the entrance to Yumi’s home.
Yin. Oh.
Yang. It’s heavy.
Titmouse. We will never be able to budge it.
Yumi. I have no home any longer. And I have no mother.
Titmouse. Stop crying.
Yang. We can’t give up for nothing!
Yin. We will work it out somehow, Yumi.
Yang. I have an idea!
Titmouse. Go ahead, little mouse.
Yang. We should tunnel our way.
Yin. Tunnel our way! That is a great idea.
Yumi. What is a tunnel?
Yang. Let me show you.
Yang digs up the ground under the stone, Yin helps him, and then Yumi joins them too.
Yumi. It’s no go.
Yin. Yes, what an upset.
Titmouse. The reason is that the ground is all frozen and hard in winter.
Yumi. What are we supposed to do now?
Toy comes in, the little mice run a safe distance off, the titmouse flies to the thickets of bushes. Toy steps up to Yumi.
Yumi. So… They took my mom. I was left alone on the street.
Toy. You are not alone, Yumi. You have friends.
Yumi. Friends?
Toy (to the little mice). Hey, tadpoles! Come here.
The little mice come a little bit closer.
Yumi. Yin, Yang, don’t be afraid. It’s Toy. He knows where meat nuts grow.
The mice come even closer. The titmouse flies up to them.
Toy. Don’t be afraid. A soldier will never hurt a child.
Yang. What kind of soldier are you? You are a cat burglar.
Yin. You steal food from supermarkets for Lord.
Yumi. Ah, now I see! So you wanted to teach me how to steal too?
Toy. Cards on the table. Yes, been there, done that. Guilty.
Pause.
Toy. I planned to rob the supermarket and then shift all the blame on you, Yumi.
Yin. I called it. Such a rascal.
Toy. Though I mend my ways.
Titmouse. A leopard cannot change its spots. Don’t you get mixed up with him, Yumi! He has some bad genetics.
Yang. Now get out of here! We are not afraid of you.
Yin. Yes, Yumi! Kick him away. You are stronger.
Yumi. I thought you were my friend, but you… Grrr!!!
Yumi and the little mice move up to the kitten.
Toy. Take it easy, dear members of the jury. Play it cool. I know how to let your mother free!
Pause.
Yumi. What have you just said?
Toy. I know how to let your mother free.
Yumi. Go ahead.
Toy. You mom was taken by the animal tormentors from Khorkov’s band, wasn’t she?
Yumi. She was.
Toy. She is in the animal control center now, right?
Yumi. Yes. Aunt Titmouse saw them taking her there.
Titmouse. Yes! I saw it with my own eyes! A dreadful place. No one has ever gone there and came back alive.
Toy. Stop cawing, crow.
Titmouse. I am a titmouse, not a crow.
Toy. I’ve noticed that. Crows are much smarter.
Titmouse. What a bounder! What do you think you are?!
Toy. A slingshot groans for you, scandalmonger.
Yumi. Stop fighting!
Yin. Toy, go on with your story.
Yang. Yes, Toy, go on. How can we save Greta?
Toy. I worked in with the cat burglar gang. What else was I supposed to do? I am an orphan. I had to survive on the street.
Yang. We know it already, what’s next?
Yin. Let him finish, don’t interrupt.
Toy. I can break into the cage where they put your mom.
Yumi. Will you really manage to do it?
Toy. You bet!
Titmouse. Look at him throwing dust in our eyes, whiskered rascal. It’s easy to tell stories.
Toy. My father was the best safebreaker in this city. He taught me everything. But then my father died…
Yumi. It means you are really an orphan?
Toy. Yes. But one day I will take vengeance for him.
Yin. How can we find this animal control center?
Yang. It is probably far from here.
Toy. I know the way there and I will help Yumi get into the building.
Yumi. And what’s next?
Toy. The rest is paperwork. We will find your mom. I will open the lock and we will escape from here together.
Yumi. I am scared.
Yang. That sounds great!
Yin. Well done, Toy. That’s some good thinking.
Titmouse. Ah, I don’t believe his cock-and-bull stories. I don’t believe them!
Toy. Instead of picking at me, Titmouse, help us! Does the puppy trust you?
Titmouse. He does.
Toy. Let Yumi believe me. Do a good deed. Please.
Titmouse. Well, I don’t know…
Toy. Titmouse, your neighbors ran into trouble!
Titmouse. I get it.
Toy. It’s a life-or-death issue.
Titmouse. But can we really trust you, Toy?
Toy. I can save them. Which part of it don’t you understand?
Pause.
Titmouse. He may be right, guys.
Yumi. You think so?
Titmouse. It’s clear that this kitten is a sharp lad.
Toy. Here you go. That’s what I’m talking about!
Yang. What do we need to do, Toy? Tell us. We want Greta to come back home too.
Yin. Yes, Toy, teach us what to do.
Toy. Take it easy, my friends. We are on track. Trust me.
Yumi. I am still scared. But now I’ve embraced hope to see my mom again and to save her.
Toy. Let’s get to it then. Titmouse! Can I commit a highly sensitive task to you?
Titmouse. I am ready.
Toy. Fly to the animal control center and test the waters. Wait for us there till evening. As soon as it gets dark, we will enter from the back door. Everything’s clear?
Titmouse. Yes, I’ll be waiting for you there.
