NFTF: Max and the Rabbit, a short play -- Scene III

Max and the Rabbit

Scene III

Bucephalas, Ghost of Rabbits, dashes and darts through underbrush and dry brown California grass in a night choked with smoke and ash, chased by Max The Wonderdog. Max, protected by Malop, blessed of Fenrir, transformed by Kerberos, has only stumbled once on this run. In the midst of that stumble, he planted his face in a pile of cow manure; shaking it off, he retains no speck of the shit -- but he did ingest something small, something not tasty, something powerful. Another dog, not so protected, would be in grave danger. Max is the Wonderdog, and as he runs he begins to see things, he begins to see patterns he's never noticed before. He begins to understand and perceive things he has never even realized were there. But most of all, he sees that there are three rabbits, now. 

One of the rabbits runs straight and true. He follows it.

The second rabbit runs to the left, bounding off of logs and trees as it goes. Max follows this rabbit, as well.

The third rabbit veers to the right, curving in its path and always seeking higher ground. This rabbit, too, is followed by Max The Wonderdog.

He is aware of all three rabbits, all three Wonderdogs, simultaneously. He, all three of him, thinks aloud:

Max: I will tell Mommy about this when I see her.

He pushes himself, bounding ever faster after this triple-headed rabbit, aware that the second rabbit, running to the left, has shot up a curving, winding mountain road; Max The Wonderdog follows, even as the rabbit leaps into the back of a small blue car which is slowing to a stop just before a curve in the road. Max lands in the back of the car as the driver is setting the emergency brake. The car shakes physically with his landing, as the driver opens the door and stands, looking at the road ahead.

Veronica: Whoa, Max! Are you okay? What was that, were you dreaming?

Max gives Mommy a kiss.

Veronica (cont.): Oh, thank you for those kisses.

Max: I love you.

Veronica: I love -- wait, what?!

Edward: Honey, you're right -- they're children.

Veronica: Did you hear that?! Max just said he loves me!

Edward: What?

Edward looks into the car. Max smiles, panting. 

Veronica: He just spoke.

Edward looks at Max.

Edward: Max? What do you see up the road? Tell me and I will give you a biscuit.

Max licks his chops, looking from Edward to the road ahead and back. He smiles. 

Veronica: I swear, he spoke.

Edward straightens, looking ahead. Rocks can be heard falling behind them and to the right. The ground shakes, a tremor. Pebbles and dust run down the embankment on the left.

Edward: That doesn't change the fact that there are two children on the road ahead. 

Veronica gets out of the car, stands with the door open.

Veronica: What are they doing?

Edward: I hope they're sleeping.

Veronica: Are they wearing monster masks? They look weird.

Edward: I don't know. Grab Max, make sure his lead is on; we'll take him with us.

As Veronica does this and Max The Wonderdog goes with her, so Max The Wonderdog also chases the first rabbit North and North and ever North, smelling creatures he longs to kill, creatures intent on hurting his pack. He understands, now, that these creatures are part ancient wolf. He knows that their scent is that of a wolf corrupted. He senses Mommy -- Veronica ? -- in greater danger than when she howled -- how did she howl like that ? -- earlier. He sees the rabbit leap over a ravine and he leaps and they are both in the air for longer than he expected. He sees himself near the blue car on the left, approaching strange shapes on the side of a bend in the road ahead as the earth shakes again; he sees himself on the right, curving upward and he is aware that that place is another place and Max The Wonderdog

follows as the rabbit shoots up a hill to the right, curving onto a street and then down another street with Max on his heels. Bucephalas, Max realizes. Bucephalas, named for the horse of two famous men -- but then they are nearing the end of the street and the familiar smells tell him where they are even as the rabbit leaps into the back of a small blue car and Max follows in time to leap into the car as he is stepping out of it, lead by Mommy Veronica in his nice vest on the lead because Alpha is limping, broken in the leg and the door of the house opens and there is the silver-furred Grammie and the silver-furred Doc and their arms are open and the house is full of good smells and music and there, behind them, come the rest of the pack: the tall one with no fur on the top of his head but white fur on his jaw, and his bitch and their pack: the young humans and Mojo who watches him so closely. There, also, are Alpha's litter-mates: the sister with the light hair and the sister with the dark hair, as well as the sister's man in his boots with the markings on his arms. All of the pack are so happy, so worried about Alpha's leg, everyone is giving Max the Wonderdog so many good dog loves, and Mommy is telling about how brave he was, and Mojo is sniffing his ass and inside the house dinner is waiting before they all begin their journey. Max the Wonderdog understands that this is where they've been headed all along. He understands that this is the goal with which they left the den, and that something, somewhere, took them down the wrong path. Not all of the pack is here, Vermommyca is crying a little as she says, no, she hasn't heard from her Dad (I remember him, he was loud and angry, Max thinks), and

Mojo: You. You.

Max: Hello, Mojo. Your ass smells nice today.

Mojo: You. Take my mommy? Take my mommy?! NO. YOU CANNOT HAVE MY MOMMY!

Max: Calm down, I have my own.

Mojo: You will never have my mommy. 

Max: I can't believe I used to hump you.

Mojo: You! You!

Max: Is that a kitty over there?

Mojo: Where?!

Mojo's mommy has to grab his collar to hold him back from chasing the kitty, and everyone heads inside to eat and then load the cars,

Grammie: And then let's get the hell out of Dodge, okay?!

The Pack cheers.

Max: Yay! What's Dodge?

The Pack stops cheering.

Veronica: Oh. My. God. I think Max just spoke.

Edward: Honey, I'm the one on morphine ...

Bald Littermate: I think I heard something, too. Tad? Is this one of your clever plans?

Edward: I don't work at Pixar. I don't have the technology to make dogs talk.

Boots and Tattoos: What do you people think we do in there other than draw pictures all day?

The Pack laughs.

Veronica: Maxwell. Did you talk? Can you talk?

Max the Wonderdog is smiling. He licks his chops.

Grammie: He's hungry. We're hungry. If he can talk, maybe he'll read some Walt Whitman to us while we eat. Inside, everyone!

Max the Wonderdog sees them all head into the house and he goes with them as he lands behind Bucephalas, still bounding after the rabbit as they crest a ridge and leap down toward the floor of another valley, closer and closer with every step to Vermommyca. Bucephalas calls to him as they run, and Max the Wonderdog, never tiring, answers.

Bucephalas: You will have to choose, soon, Maxwell. 

Max: What must I choose?

Bucehpalas: Which path to take. Which rabbit to follow.

Max: Those other two rabbits follow paths unreachable. They connect to our path, but too far back to find now. I can only go forward. I chase you, Bucephalas.

Bucephalas: But where do you chase me? Should we attack the creatures and the evil tree lady?

Max sees them clear in his mind: surrounded by hungry little corrupted wolf-like creatures, the tree lady has giant splintery teeth in her evil puppymaker, and the oak in her cries out in anguish as she leaps after a fleeing soldier who does not smell of this time, pinning him to the ground and ripping into his belly and his testicles and tearing off his male parts to eat and eat and eat as she laughs and bites his tongue from his mouth and the little creatures pull down a fleeing nurse to bite her parts and she is screaming help me please help me someone oh god oh god no

Bucephalas: Or shall we help the travelers on the ridge?

Max sees an old man who smells of horses on the ground, reaching for a branch as three of the same wolflike creatures tear into his flesh and a woman and a man -- very familiar -- stand back to back, slaying creatures by the dozen but never slowing the onslaught

Bucephalas: Or shall we go right to Mommy?

Max sees a barn full of blood and wire and torn flesh, not the kind for eating, as Mommy is surrounded by mirrors and there is that bad man Max knocked down, but behind Mommy is a darker man, obscured in shadow behind a post, whispering, whispering, and the human bitches and bitch pups -- girls? girls -- still living watch as another is sliced thin to add to a growing pile of wet, stinking flesh that radiates hot as the sun like a ball of pain and fear, focused on by those watching their friend / sister / aunt / daughter get sliced, screaming and alive, even as the obscured whisperer makes Mommy think she is in a different place but the pain and fear are growing stronger, stronger, burning white-hot

Bucephalas: Choose, Maxwell. Your road forks here.

Two rabbits split off again from Bucephalas, one bounding up toward a ridge, high on the left, toward the three warriors surrounded by creatures; the second rabbit bounds down to the right toward a trail leading into an open, firebound field (trees growing rapidly turn this to forest if they can survive the fire, he senses) toward the oaken monstrosity and her trail of wounded, dying, unmanned men, and toward the lone soldier fighting toward her, the flames at his back; the third rabbit is Bucephalas himself, springing up the slope of the hill ahead of them toward the dairy barn on the other side where Mommy (stronger than she knows) is trapped and crying, unable to break free of the web in which she is caught, a warm bite of brains halfway to her mouth.

Max: I choose the best choice. The only choice. And the wisest choice. I choose --

NFTF: Max and the Rabbit, a short play -- Scene II

Scene II

We are on a high, rounded hilltop ringed with trees. From the now destroyed freeway and all surrounding areas, this hilltop is as bare as its neighbors. From the Compound, however, this hilltop is clearly ringed with trees. Large, old and powerful trees. Each tree has specific plants growing at its base, and each plant is as aware of its purpose in this place as it is aware of the trees and as the trees are aware of their purpose in this place on the hill, and the hill because of the trees is aware of its purpose in this place and how it is different from the other hills around it.

Across the valley from this hill a mountain spews and rages, lava pouring forth to destroy everything in its path. The air is full of smoke and ash: smoke from fires, from the mountain; ash from fires, not so much from the mountain -- but within the circle of trees all smoke and ash are lessened. Filtered. 

Down the way from this hillside entire communities burn unchecked, without intervention or assistance. A solar powered radio left on in a house as yet untouched by fire but abandoned for weeks plays the last repeated pre-recorded emergency broadcast for the night before it fades to silence. If the house has not burned by sunrise, it will resume playing this message within moments of first light. The likelihood of this radio's survival beyond the next twenty-four hours is, as of this writing, slim.

RADIO: ... state of emergency has been declared for the state of California. Citizens are asked to avoid the Sacramento area and surrounding delta. Travel to the San Francisco Bay Area is inadvisable at this time. If you are trapped and need assistance, the number to call is on the FEMA website at www.fema.gov/ca. Call this number if you are experiencing the following conditions: lack of phone service; aftershocks; power outages; home invasion; fire; lava flow; bird flu; West Nile virus; gas main explosion; hallucinations; or if your house has burned down and you are trapped inside.
     Oh ... God. This is pointless. Who the fuck wrote this copy?
     I don't care! We should tell the the truth, Phil.
     Oh, really?! You think we still have jobs?! Sacramento is UNDER WATER, asshole! The levees broke, haven't you heard anything ...?
     Oh, what, NPR is conspiring to flood Sacramento, now?! Jesus, just because this is an AM broadcast doesn't mean we have to pretend the Central Valley is still dry.
     Directive? What directive? We're supposed to help people!
     Well that's just ridiculous, Phil. I am not a part of your Prophet's Circle.
     What the fuck -- ? Is that a gun? Jesus, Phil!
     No, I'm not letting you in here.
     [muffled gunshot]
     Californians, please, we hope and pray you're still alive, just get the hell out of there and stay safe.
     [glass breaking]
     God be with you.
     [gunshot. static. beep.]
     ... Message repeating. A state of emergency has been declared for the state of California ...

This message has been playing since before the house was abandoned. Nobody is there to hear it. Even now, the one individual who can hear it lies asleep here in the Tor, snuggled into a cozy ball; the emergency broadcast from a house far down below the Compound has become part of the background noise he hears, just part of the fabric of sound to which he has grown accustomed in the night and the day and the twilight at either end. He waits. As he was told. His feet twitch. He dreams of chasing kitties. Muffled barking in his sleep as he corners the largest kitty in the world and tells it to play with him. If he wakes in the night, he will mark the trees. He senses the sigils, he does not see them. He keeps his vigil at the Northernmost edge of the circle of trees, with a clear view North and East. And though now he sleeps, still his mind is alert for the least variation in the soundscape of the night.

Presently, a thump-thumpthump is heard. His left ear raises, though he remains asleep. 

Rustling in the brush outside the Tor.

Sleeping dog eyes crack open slightly. 

Skip-rustle, skip-rustle, skip-rustle from the underbrush.

His eyes are open. He lays still, listening.

Skip-rustle, skip rustle.

He raises his head. 

Skip rustle.

Max: You?

Silence.

Then with a final skip-rustle, a small figure emerges from the tall dry summer grass at the Western edge of the Tor.

Max: Mmm, smells tasty.

He stands, stretching and yawning, nostrils working as he zeroes in on the source of the tasty smell.

Max: Tasty?

Skip-hop.

Bucephalas: Would you again seek to eat your fate? Do you remember nothing?

Max: You smell so tasty.

Bucephalas: Even if you could catch me, do you think you could eat me? Did you give Chauncey my message?

Max: Chauncey? Chauncey?! So lonely! Do you know. Do you know.

Bucephalas: Do. Not. Lick. Me.

Max: I sit. I stay.

Bucephalas: Thank you. Did you give him my message?

Max: Yes I am Maxwell. I good boy yes. I good boy say.

Bucephalas: Did he say anything in return?

Max: ...

Bucephalas: Did he give you a message for me?

Max: Chauncey good boy also say.

Bucephalas: And?

Max: He good boy yes. He good bunny. He good boy go, good boy stay, good boy all the time.

Bucephalas relaxes, tucking his feet under him and breathing a little sigh.

Bucephalas: Finally. All we have worked for may come to pass. Are you ready, Maxwell?

Max: I am good! I sit stay!

Bucephalas: Yes. Good.

The ground shakes and fire rips into the night, an explosion so loud that both animals freeze for a moment, internally registering and evaluating fight-or-flight. 

When it is clear that the explosion is some miles to the North and that they are in no direct danger, Bucephalas skip-hop, skip-hops to the Northern edge of the Tor. Max follows.

Bucephalas: Do you remember what I told you?

Max: Yes. I am Max. I good boy go.

Bucephalas: Not just yet. Be ready. The signal comes soon.

Max: Max good boy ready, Busfloss.

Bucephalas: Ah, you remembered. How nice.

Max and Bucephalas sit in companionable silence for a time, both animals' ears twitching at the sounds of fire and gunshots and screaming that come from closer to that giant of fire raging East of that hill far to the North. There are roaring sounds, keening screech sounds. Sounds that say, 'We will eat the people you love if you do not stop us! Only a Good Boy can save the people you love!' Max shifts, licks his chops. His legs twitch. He is itching to run. 

Bucephalas tucks his feet under him and begins to speak:

Bucephalas: Do you remember Raider, Maxwell?

Max sighs.

Max: Raider good boy Gone. Sleep now forever.

Max lies down, crossing his paws, and rests his head on them. Bucephalas skip-hop, skip-hops closer, right next to him.

Bucephalas: Raider is always with you. Whenever you are a Good Boy, Raider is there. Did you know that?

Max sighs.

Max: I am Max. I love Raider. I love Alpha. I love Pack.

Max turns and touches his nose to that of Bucephalas.

Max: Where is Raider? Where is Pack?

Bucephalas: Your pack is scattered to the winds of time, Maxwell. You are possibly their only hope. But we must wait. For the moment, I suppose we can just wait together. Is that alright with you?

Max: I do my best. I good boy sit stay. I wait. I wait. I wait with Busfloss.

Bucephalas: Well, that's something, then.

Max: Busfloss good boy stay. I love Busfloss. Busfloss good boy. Busfloss Pack.

Bucephalas cocks his ears slightly.

Bucephalas: Yes, I -- ... Thank you.

Bucephalas stands on his hind legs, listening to the North. Max shifts, moving his left front leg.

Bucephalas: Don't put your paw on me. I want to live.

Max smiles, panting.

Max: Busfloss Pack.

Max knocks Bucephalas over.

Bucephalas: Damn you, Maxwell.

Max smiles, panting.

A howl sounds, now, far to the North, close to the fire giant.

Max sits up.

Max: I know that voice.

Bucephalas: That is the signal. It is time. Do you remember, when you were a puppy, how I promised to let you chase me?

Bucephalas stands to his full height, ears erect.

Max: I am Max. I remember. I love to chase.

Bucephalas: Tonight is the night, Maxwell. I shall lead you on the merriest of chases. I dare you to catch me, snap my legs; I dare you to kill me, snap my neck; I dare you to eat me: rend my flesh!

Max howls. Both animals feel that howl fly North. They feel it affect other small animals in the brush. They sense its movement over hills and dales and trees, toward the fire. They feel it land among creatures to whom it gives pause. They sense friends to the West of the fire. Friends in danger. Max senses other friends who cannot find the people they seek. 'I will help them,' he thinks.

The howl from the North is repeated. 

Max: Mommy.

Bucephalas: Fly, Maxwell! Now is the hour! Fly in the shadow and form of Malop-Fenrir-Kerberos! Catch me if you can!

Bucephalas shoots off down the hillside as only a ghost rabbit can, and Max leaps from within the circle of trees, bounding after Bucephalas and howling a second and greater howl -- a howl that stills the heart of flame for a moment, calling it to crackle, tame, in the hearth; a howl that draws the attention of three travelers above an abandoned dairy farm as they are surrounded by creatures intent on devouring them; a howl that causes those same creatures to wonder, however briefly, if they will not get their dinner after all.

And even as those are some of the effects of the howl on most who hear it, the words of his howl are so simple, so clear, that they pierce right to the heart of the one for whom it is intended:

Max: I hear You! I'm coming! You good stay! You good stay! I am Max! I come when you call!

So it is that the hill itself sees, as Bucephalas launches from the Northern edge of the hidden Tor, that Maximilian Schnell bounds through the night, swift as a shadow, Malop imbuing every paw with certainty and grace. 

To chase the ghost rabbit.

So it is that the hill senses, as Talmadge and his two citified companions are surrounded by beastling creatures, that Max VonSitDown, blessed of Fenrir, has the scent of certainty and follows it as sure as night follows day. 

To catch the ghost rabbit.

So it is that the hill hears, as another -- and yet another -- gas main unleash giant fireballs into the night on the hills just East of the northern field in which an oaken madwoman devours every living thing with her second and splintery mouth, Kerberos unleashes his own triple-headed canine harmony, straight up through the earth and into this bounding, blessed dog. Every strength, every power, every heroic quality of every hero ever devoured by Kerberos as he guards the gates to Hades is woven into that harmony, filling, igniting and transforming this humble Labrador / Boxer mix. 

To eat the ghost rabbit.

So it is that Max The Wonderdog is born.

And Bucephalas, dashing ahead of Max in a chase he has waited lifetimes to lead, utters the words which seal, set and bind them to their task:

Bucephalas: So Mote It Be.

NFTF: Max III

>>POP<<

"Maxwell."

YOU! YOU! YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU!
You smell strong! I LOVE YOU!
Leap in air. Turn in air.
You smell old! I LOVE YOU!
Land, leap again. Turn again.
Stop. Look. 
Your fur: white.
Old like Raider.
I LOVE YOU!
Give kisses! Give kisses to YOU!

"Who is a good boy? Yes. Yes. You are such a good boy. Oh, kisses. Yes. Drool in my beard. Thanks so much. Some scratches? Yes? You love having Dog Loves? Yes. I love you so, Maxwell. I have been gone so long. Lifetimes within lifetimes. And my time is short. Now settle. Good, settle stay. Good."

Treat? Treat? 
Lick dog chops.
Treat?
Hands mean treat.
I love you. 
Eyes mean treat.
I love you.
So hungry. 
I am Max.
I wait.
I am good.
I wait.
I love you.
So hungry.

"I see you licking your chops. I think I have something for you. Ah-ah-ah, stay. Good boy."

More than treat! I LOVE YOU!

"I said stay!"

I stay. Yes. I love you stay.
I good boy stay. Lick dog chops stay.
Drool. Can't help it. Drool. 
Love. 
Drool.

"I'm sorry this has taken so long, Mister Jizzjowls. I -- aaaugh, wow, I'm -- much older than the last time you saw me. Right? Hold on there, Mister, I need to unfold this bowl and pour the food. Have you ... where the hell did I put the food ... ah. Here. Okay. Now. Have you been a good boy? Listening for Mommy?"

MOMMY?!
Lick chops. Wag wag wag.
I LOVE MOMMY!
Drool. Wag wag.
IS MOMMY HERE?!
Shift feet. Wag.
MOMMY?!?!
Drool. Wag-wag-wag-wag-wag!
Lick chops.

"Sorry. No, she's not here. Not close by. But soon, Max. Soon. Keep listening. When she calls, you will know. And you must go to her, no matter what she says. Okay. I'm setting your food here, you stay. Aaaugh, my knees ... okay ..."

Eyes wide. Ears up. I watch you.
Now is proof: I good boy stay.
I love you.
I earn my food.
I stay. Yes.
Now is proof.
Yes. 
Drool.
I good boy stay.
Yes. Love.
Drool.
Lick dog chops.
Drool.
Shift legs. Yes.
Drool.
I wait. I wait.
Long time.
Drool.
I wait.
Loooong tiiiiime.
Drool.

Wait.

Yes.

I am Max.

I love You.

Drool.

"Good boy, Max, get your dinner!"

Leap! To food!
Yum-so-crunchy!
Gomf gomf gomf crunchy!
Crunch crunch crunch yum yum.
Oh so tasty.
I love You.
I love food.
You bring food.
I LOOOOVE YOU!
Eat yum crunch gomf yum eating good yum ...

"Soon the fire will crest the hills to the East. Eruptions of gas mains in the last houses still standing in the hills of Danville and San Ramon. When the fireball lights the eastern sky, Max, that is when you must be ready. That is when Mommy will call."

Gomf gomf I love Mommy.
Gomf Gomf I good boy wait.
Food good. Almost gone.
Lick dog chops. 
More food?

"That's all there is. You'd better eat it up, Mister Stinks-a-lot."

Gomf gomf gomf yum.
Lick bowl for morsels: one morsel. Good.
Two morsels! Yum! 
Gomf. Gomf.
Lick bowl.
Crumbs.
Lick bowl. Yum. 
Lick chops.

Thirsty.

"Here's water. Wait -- ah-ah -- let me ... there. Drink up. Good boy."

Water.
Oh.
Yes.
So delicious.

"Take your time. I have more water. Special things in water for Mister Maxwell. I just need to mark these trees. Clockwise."

Look at water. 
Smell water.
Good smell. Plant smell.
You drink?

"Keep drinking, Mister. No, no need to follow me: you stay and drink. It's all for you. Something special, something from long ago and far away. See? I'm just circling the trees. Drink up. Good boy."

Water is good!
Lick dog chops.
Drool.
Sated.

"You sure you're done?"

I love You.

"Oh, kisses. Yes. Pffaw, wow, thanks for that -- Jesus --"

Fart.

"Okay. Go potty."

You go potty?

"Go ahead. I trust you. I'm just going to sit here. It's nice to just sit, these days."

Peeing. Trees. Peeing here. Long pee. Nice.

"Yes, feed the trees. They need it. They've been here a long time. Not visible from the freeway, Max. Not that that means much to you. But this Tor, these trees. Sigils. Blocking. This Redwood, that Ash: an entire Druidic alphabet, an unintentional Entmoot, and nobody knows."

Potty now.
Was peeing there.
Now squatting here.
Glance at you.
Ahhh ...
Good.
Ahhh ...
I good boy go potty.
Bury. Bury. Potty bury.
YAY! Time to run.

"What I wouldn't give for half your energy, Mister Stinks."

I run this way!
Play?
I run that way?
PLAY?!
I give you kisses.

"Okay. Yes."

I LOVE YOU.

"What a good smoochface."

I run this way.
PLAY?!

"Shhh, Max, no no, settle. Settle. Sit. Lie down. Settle. Good. Stay."

I run that way. 
You play now.
I need play.

"I'm sorry I was gone so long, I didn't mean to just pop out like that, Max, STAY."

Yes. I stay.
I good boy stay.

"Listen to me."

Kisses.

"Listen to me: you must stay here. I have marked the trees. Do not pass that boundary. Trees are marked. Do not pass. Do not pass marked trees until I come for you, or until you hear Mommy call for you."

I love you.
Kisses.

"Now ... hold still ... [click, jingle] ... there. This will keep me tuned to you, like an anchor."

Jingle jingle I have new jingle!

"I will always, always, always come back for you, my boy."

You.
New jingle. Good.
I love You.
Good new jingle help good boy Maxwell.
I sit stay.

"I love you so. I do."

I good boy lie down stay.
You? You stay.
Head on lap.
SIGH.
You.
I love You.

"I'm sorry I have to go now, I'm so sorry I have to leave you and Mommy like this."

Eyes only: look right, look left.
SIGH.
Roll onto back.
Tummy, please. For scratching?
Ooohhh yes good I love You.

"But I promise, I will come back. I promise."

Good. 
Scratching Loves. 
You.

"Mommy has an anchor, you have an anchor, and I must set sail beyond the sunset and the baths of all the Western stars, until I ... until I can ... oh shit, here it goes -- so dizzy -- be good, Max."

SIGH.
Sleepy times.

"Be good for Mommy. Listen for her call and go to her if you hear her voice."

Mommy?
I love Mommy.
... I love You ...
Snore.

"Listen for Mommy and ask her to sing for you, she sings like an angel --"

>>POP<<

Notes from the Future: Max II

I am here. I am here.

Stretch.

Sigh.

Snore.

 -- chasing kitties, chasing kitties, chasing kitties, they are everywhere how will I get them all? How to get them all?! Must chase, must chase those kitties, must chase them and play with them kitties are for chasing and playing --

Who.

Who? You?

YOU! YOU!YOU!YOU!YOU!YOU!

"Shhh, Max! Hold still."

YOU!YOU!YOU!YOU!YOU!

"Shhh, we have to be quiet now. Sit. Sit, Max."

Sit, yes. I do my job.

"Good. Now lie down."

Lie down, yes. I do my job. I listen. Yes.

"Good boy."

Treat? I lick my dogchops. Treat? Lick. Chops. 

"Yummy treat, yes, good; no, only one for now."

You have more treat. I sit. 
I listen. You have more treat. 
I watch your hands. Always more treat. 
I watch your eyes. 
Eyes means more treat.

"Shhh. I'm going to sit down here with you ... ouch, oh ... wow, that is still ... fucking painful ... holy crap, okay."

Ooohhh, you are next to me. Ooohh, you are near me. 
Good, yes. Yes, yes. Good. 
Sigh. Now rub ears. Yes? 
Yes, good. Mmm. 
Good rub ears time. 
Good be near now.

"Okay. Let's see if we can get cozy, here, Max."

I love rub ears. I see You. 
You.
I love You.

"Haven't found any effective painkillers, so, oh, a kiss, thank you, that's -- pfahw -- why do you always lick my tongue? Jesus."

Yes. Yes. Yes. You like kisses.

"Wait, shhh: there may be someone out there. Shhh, shhh, please God just sit still and listen --"

I sit.
I do my job.
Eyes only: look right, look left.
No smells. Yes smell: You.
You smell.
You smell strong. 
No other smells.
Treat now?

"Whoo, it's cold, Max. How did you even get here? What are you living on? Do you have shelter here? Man. I hope you're warm at night, because in this gown I am fruh-huh-heeezing. Snuggle up to me. Cozy. Wow, you are warm. I might even be able to snooze a little."

Sigh.
Rest on you.
Paw. Leg.
You stay here.
Paw means here. Stay.
Sigh.
I sit stay. I do my job.
You sit stay now.
Sigh.
You sit stay here.
You.
I love you.
Do your job.
Stay.

>>POP<<

You?
YOU?
Where? You? Where? You? Where? YOU?! YOU?! YOU?!
Must run this way, smelling: YOU?! YOU?! YOU?!
Must run that way, smelling: YOU?! YOU?! YOU?!
Must check where you were: YOU?!
Must check perimeter: You?
... no You ...
Sigh.
Return to where you were.
Turn three times.
Sit.
Cross paws, lay head on paws.
Paw means here. Stay.
I do my job.
I sit stay.
You? Stay?
I am Max.
I love you.
Sigh.
Stay.
I am good boy.
I am Max.
I wait.