FAMILY IS EVERYTHING
By Sammy S.
Characters: ALFA M a.k.a. ALFY, male wolf, 17
ANGEL, ALFY’s best friend, male wolf, 17
Setting: Mendocino Forest, California, side of a mountain in an abandoned cabin. Tall trees around the house, wooden broken fence surrounding the cabin. Smell of flowers, sound of wind and birds and howls from wolves. Wolves are cleaning around the cabin and setting up for a party.
Time: 3:00 PM, mid-summer, sunny day
At Rise: ALFY is getting ready for his party. ANGEL is inside cleaning. ALFY notices that JUNIOR, his cub, is not in the front yard playing, then notices a poacher running with JUNIOR.
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ALFY
(screaming in anger) ANGEL! GET OUT HERE NOW!
ANGEL
(Comes out of the house)
(with no hesitation) What going on?
ALFY
Follow me! Someone took Junior!!
(They start running after Junior)
(Poacher takes off on a dirt bike)
ANGEL
(while running) We’re not going to catch him! Let’s go back and plan out how we’ll get him back. We’ll come back and follow the trail back to their camp.
ALFY
(running, breathing heavily) Okay. How am I going to explain this to my girl Sandra?
Scene 2: Back at the cabin in ANGEL’s room 6:30 PM
ANGEL
(concerned) We need to get Junior back by sunrise tomorrow because that’s when the poachers leave to sell what they catch. But we need a plan, we can’t do this on our own. We need to unite with the bears to have a better chance or surviving and getting Junior back.
ALFY
(confused) You and me have been through rough times together. Why is surviving your main concern right now? Is there something you want to tell me?
ANGEL
Now that you mention it, yes there is. You know Mia? Female that just joined the pack?
ALFY
Yeah, why?
ANGEL
Well, ever since I laid eyes on her, I’ve been crushing like crazy. But you know how shy I am with girls. And I’ve been thinking about it and I wanted to ask her out today at the party. I know this sounds crazy, but I want a family of my own. I want to feel the happiness my parents never got to feel before they were killed by the hunters.
ALFY
Yeah, I remember that day my mom found you. We were still cubs. My step-dad thought Mama had another cub from another wolf – ha-ha! (pause) But right now there’s no time for jokes. We need to leave soon to get my son back.
ANGEL
Hey, I’ve always meant to ask you, what happen to your real dad?
(long pause)
ALFY
A couple years after I was born, my parents and I lived in a cave. I couldn’t stop crying because I was hungry. My cries attracted two hunters into the cave and they tried to take me away. But my father fought them off, as me and my mother ran for our lives. A couple moments later, I heard a loud noise. After that, I never saw my father again. This is why I need to get my son back. Because I want to raise him and teach him everything my father taught me.
ANGEL
This is why we need to go to the other side of the mountain to unite with the bears, so they could help us out. With them, Junior will be back safe and sound. We can celebrate your birthday AND I can ask Mia out.
ALFY
I’m sorry, but it won’t work. Going to the bears is too far and a waste of time. Plus the bears won’t risk their lives for one of ours. Now can we leave now please? The sun went down. We can hit them in their sleep. I know for a fact that Junior is going to be too scared to be sleeping.
(ALFY and ANGEL walk out the house and are about to leave)
ANGEL
I don’t feel good about this. You know how those poachers are. They don’t play fair. They’re too dangerous for just the two of us. We NEED to unite with the bears.
ALFY
NO IT WON’T WORK! Angel, don’t you remember what Mama told us?
ANGEL
“Family is Everything!” Of course I remember. I’m trying to help both of us out here.
ALFY
I’m going to get my son, with or without you.
(long pause)
ALFY
Very well, then stay here. I don’t need you.
(ALFY runs away and ANGEL stays there, looking down and shaking his head)
Scene 3: Poachers camp. 3:00 AM Poachers are still up next to a campfire.
(ALFY gets to the camp, sees Junior in a cage next to a poacher’s tent)
ALFY
There he is. I got to find a way to get him without those poachers noticing.
(ALFY steps forward, steps on a twig)
ALFY
Oh Bark!
(A poacher sees him and reaches for a rock and right as he is about to throw it, ANGEL runs up and bites the poacher’s arm)
ANGEL
You’re my brother. I’ll always have your back.
ALFY
I’m sorry I doubted, brother. Now let’s get my son back.
ANGEL
You go get Junior. The bears and I will fight off the poachers. (ANGEL whistles) Bears Attack!!
ALFY
(runs to Junior’s cage)
Son! I’m here buddy. I’m a get you out of here.
(ALFY bites off cage door and hugs Junior)
ALFY
Junior, your grandfather once told me something I’ve always wanted to tell you. Before your grandfather died, he said, “Family is Everything”.
(The fight is over and ANGEL is limping from his front paw)
ANGEL
Hey bud, you okay?
ALFY
(concerned) He’s fine, are you okay? Your paw looks messed up, bro.
ANGEL
Yeah, I’m fine. A poacher stepped on it, but the bears took care of him. Now can we go back home and celebrate? I got a beautiful wolf waiting for me.
ALFY
Hey, thank you. You were right. I’m sorry I didn’t listen. Now let’s make our dreams come true.
THE END
