Cats gather at edge of forest. Moon above the trees. Spray of stars shining on one side of a purple sky, like someone spilled the milky way.
Steve: Nicely done. Beautiful.
Eugene: Don't be mean, Steve.
Joel Hedge: Why are we doing this again?
Ryu: Doing our good buddy Cid a favor.
Cid: Get this monkey off my back, Joel Hedge!
Joel Hedge: Are we... ah, never mind.
An owl flies down, landing on the branch of a nearby tree.
Amok Owl: I know what you just did up there.
Eugene: The reader has no idea what you're talking about, owl.
Steve: (apologetically) Sorry, reader.
Amok Owl: You're messing everything up! Some of us liked things just the way they were.
***
Celes draws her swords.
Link: Wait. Owl, it's too late. Look into the future.
Amok Owl: (not hiding his scorn) I
have.Link: So you...
Amok Owl: Not playing second fiddle for you in your new order. I'm a symbol of
wisdom. (puffs out his chest-feathers)
Ryu: Yeh. For the simple-minded.
Joel Hedge: Things got kind of heavy all of a sudden, didn't they.
Steve: This ain't no 'fan-service.'
Joel Hedge: Ha. No, indeed.
Link: You're a 'wise owl,' you had to know it couldn't last.
Amok Owl: You think you're so smart. We've been stopping your kind for centuries.
Link: (sing-songy) You think I'm part of the lin-e-age?
Owl looks frightened for a second.
Amok Owl: (regains his composure) That's what they all say.
Link: Nice try. You know, I don't even like owls.
Joel Hedge: Ah, so that's what this is all about.
Zap laughs.
Ann starts dancing.
Eugene: So glad she's with us.
Ryu: mm.
***
Amok Owl: So, what? I'm supposed to read the writing on the wall, and join you? Sit on Celes' shoulder or something, I suppose.
Celes: Not happening.
Link: No. What did I just say? I don't like owls, I don't want you hanging around. You can go live with the seven sages. Sit in the branches of the Mana Tree. They get it.
Ann: (eyes closed) Be a caricature of wisdom, same as always. (spins)
Amok Owl: But everyone will
know!Ryu: And?
Celes: He's just used to his position, the way people don't question it.
Amok Owl: (yells) Don't psychoanalyze me!
***
Celes: No, it's more. He wants to use us for an image-upgrade.
Ann: Owl thinks we'll make him appear better this way. Refreshed. Re-immortalized.
Owl bristles, so angry he's lost his voice.
Celes: Stupid owl. I see how it is, now. (sheaths her swords) You came here
looking to die.
***
Owl sits there, staring hard at them.
Steve: (thoughtfully) You know... we could get him a green costume. He could play the part of 'Haha Harry the Parakeet' in the surreal comic strip.
Joel Hedge: I don't know... he'll look like an owl in a parakeet suit.
Steve: Your point?
Joel Hedge: Why am I suddenly supposed to have a point.
Ryu: It's settled, then.
Link: (digs around in his bag, pulls out the Gust Jar, points it behind him and draws in some air) Go tell your 'friends,' owl.
Owl's curiosity gets the better of him. Snaps out of his bad attitude, speaking candidly.
Amok Owl: I have to know... how is it you avoided 'the latest and the greatest' of mind-snares?... (suddenly seeing. It looks like he just became free from the mind-snare, himself) oh, huh. Interesting. Well. This... changes things. For me.
Link: We'll talk. (gust of air blows out of the jar, knocking owl from his perch.)
Owl spreads his wings and flies away into the dark sky.
Zap: (clearly acting) What the hell just happened?
Ann: Cats bow.
Cats take bows.
------------
Dave: Alright?
Eugene: How's that, Cid.
Cid: No monkeys on mah back!
Eugene: You're sure, now.
Dave: Because we aren't doing this again.
Cid: No, I'm sure. You know, Eugene, that Amok is a good actor.
Eugene: I know, Cid. Hey, Amok.
Amok Owl flies over wearing a fishbowl-style space helmet, perches on Dave's shoulder.
Eugene: Space helmet, eh?
Amok: I'm getting with the changing times.
Dave: Can't wait to see you in your parakeet costume.
Eugene: I saw it. And yeah, it steals the show.
Dave: I bet.
Cid: Here, look:
hahaparakeeticonsize.jpg
Dave: heh. You're right, that's pretty good. We out of here?
Eugene: Up to Cid.
Cid: Yeah. What do you say, "Harry?"
Amok: Ha ha.
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Both his words and manner of speech seemed at first totally unfamiliar to me, and yet somehow they stirred memories - as an actor might be stirred by the forgotten lines of some role he had played far away and long ago.