VERONI: (has pulled herself out of the water and is drying off when the cast walks in) Okay, WHERE THE HECK IS SKIMBLE?

JEMI: He has gone to hunt the thimble?

VERONI: Jem? Cute, but I'm REALLY not in the mood.

(Big Band music strikes up, playing "In the Mood")

MUNKU: (struts out in a top hat and tails, dancing his heart out) It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!

VERONI: **rolls eyes** Why is everyone so in love with this making a joke out of everything I say?

POUNCE: (sings) So in love with you my love!

VERONI: "Kiss me, Kate".... just perfect.

GRIZ: "Kiss me, Cat" you mean.

LEC: "Cat and the Kings"?

VERONI: DOH!!!! Stop!!

BOMB: (sings) IN THE NAME OF LOVE!!!

VERONI: QUIT IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POUNCE: (sings) It was a one-eyed one horned flyin' purple people eater---

VERONI: Sing one thing more and I'll break your arm, Pounce!

POUNCE: Alright, alright!

(WHEN WE LAST LEFT OFF... Skimbly had opted to go criminal afterall in order to get the money he needs to help raise his child. The whole cast sails over to the island for the annual Clambake, contented to be with their lovers, except for Skimbly, whose mind it on the task at hand.)

JEMI: Or paw.

(After the supper, everyone kicks back to relax and-- what else? Sing!)

ALL: This was a real nice clam bake!

We're mighty glad we came

The nibbles we ate were good, you bet!

The company was the same!

Our hearts are warm, our bellies are full

And we are feelin' fine!

This was a real nice clambake and we all had a real good time!

POUNCE: (sings) This is a stu-pid song 'ere...

VERONI: I agree with you that it's a little bit.... odd, but we'll get through it.

POUNCE: What's with this WE stuff? You're just sitting in that chair of yours and calling the shots!

VERONI: And quite the best job it is too, NOW SING.

TUGGER: Enough! Reeee...member when we raped the red hot lobsters

Out of the dreadful fire

They sizzled and cracked and spurred out a song

Fit for and angel's choir!

CATS: (burst out laughing at Tugger)

TUGGER: And... I'm through with this song!!!

VERONI: Aww, c'mon Tugger! I haven't asked you to do too much this parody!

TUGGER: Aside from making me play a character named Tigger?

VERONI: (pause) Good point. (throws paws in the air) NE-EXT!

(Everyone prepares for the traditional "post-stuffing yourself silly" treasure hunt. Well, that is everyone who doesn't have armed robbery on their minds is. Tigger and Skimbilly spend their free time perfecting their holdup techniques.)

JELLY: Always said Tugger was a bad influence.

(And Demarrie returns, crushed that Mr. Misnow has suddenly decided to dump her. Apparently there was this small misunderstanding with Tigger showing her some new "self defense" methods and Misnow managing to show up right in the middle of a lesson---)

JEMI: Also known as walking in on his intended only to find another tom's arms wrapped around her waist.

ETCY: Ouch. Tough break, Misto.

VERONI: If you listen carefully, you can hear the storyline dying ever so slowly....

(Anyhow, scorned and pretty darn put out about it, Demarrie turns to her best bud Julie for---)

POUNCE: A good cry, a sappy romance movie and a night of queen-talk?

(Ahem.... a song.)

POUNCE: Oh. Well, I guess that could work too...

DEM: (tearing up) Oh, Julie! Kinda makes you wonder, don't it?

JELLY: Yes, yes it does Demarrie. And yet...

(sings) What's the use of wond'rin',

If he's good or if he's bad?

Or if you like the way he wears his hat?

And what's the use of wond'rin' if he's good or if he's ba-ad?

He's your feller and you love him.

That's all there is to that.

Common sense may tell you

That the endin' will be sad.

POUNCE: Or, if you like, the synopsis can tell ya the same thing.

JELLY: (hisses) And now's the time to break and run away.

But what's the use of wond'rin' if the endin' will be sad?

He's your feller and you love him.

There's nothin' more to say.

Somethin' made him the way that he is.

Weather he's false or true.

And somethin' gave him the things that are his.

One of those things is you.

So when he wants your kisses,

You will give them to the lad---

JEMI: Lad? This isn't "Brigamewin'"!

JENNY: Hey... don't we have that one to finish up too?

VERONI: (looking at her long PARODY TO-DO list) Don't remind me...

JELLY: And anywhere he leads you, you will walk.

And anytime he needs you, you'll go runnin' there like mad.

You're his girl, and he's your feller.

And all the rest is taaaaaaaaalk......

(No sooner is this sentimental song completed than the action switches over to the botched robbery. We see Tigger fleeing the scene as the cops show up. Though Skimbilly attempts to do likewise, he soon finds himself caught between a tall haystack and the long arm of the law.)

RUMPUS: That better not have been a crack aimed at ME! Mocking an officer of the law is a serious offense you know...

VERONI: (rolls her eyes) It's a saying.

RUMPUS: Yeah? Well, I know another saying.... You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against---

TUGGER: Don't bother.

RUMPUS: But if I arrest her all these parodies can END!

TUGGER: And you think a mere set of iron bars will contain her? You really are a rookie at this, aren't you?

MISTO: Nothing can stop the authors.

JEMI: They're like the Black Death... if it could write and loved musicals.

(In a last ditch effort to escape, Skimbilly starts to climb the haystack.... but is stopped short when he slips and falls. He lands on the knife he was going to use for the robbery---)

CATS: OUCH!

(Needless to say, we now know why we see him in heaven at the beginning of this show.....)

SKIMBLE: (dribbling fake blood on his shirt) And they wonder why some of us call her the master of the understatement.

(When everyone hears what has happened, Julie comes running to the scene.)

JELLY: Where is he?

RUMPUS: Please stay back.

JELLY: He's my husband! (pushes past Rumpus and sits by Skimble's side) Skimbilly.... Skimbilly.

SKIMBLE: (in a fog) Julie... little Julie?

POUNCE: No. It's Mr. Rodgers.

TUMBLE: Won't you be my neighbor?

VERONI: Funny you two. Now move it. You're interrupting a sentimental moment!

SKIMBLE: (hanging onto life by a thread) Something I want to tell you. I couldn't see anything ahead. And Tigger... Tigger told me how we'd get ahold of a lot of money, see? And maybe... maybe go to San Francisco.

JELLY: (crying) Yes.

SKIMBLE: Tell our little kitten, if you want, that I had this idea about San Francisco.

JELLY: Of course.

SKIMBLE: Hold my paw.... tight.

JELLY: I am holding it. All the time!

SKIMBLE: (weakly) Tighter. Still tighter. (slumps against her, dead)

CATS: (sniffle)

GRIZ: (bursts through the crowd and comes to hold Jelly in her arms)

JELLY: (weakly) Sleep, Skimbilly.... sleep like a good tom. (stands up slowly) There's something I never told you. Figured you'd laugh at me. I'll tell you now. I love you.

QUEENS: (sob hysterically)

JELLY: I love you.

QUEENS: (sob some more)

JELLY: I love you!

QUEENS: (sob again)

POUNCE: Alright. Now she's milking it.

GRIZ: (gently) Shhhh.... You've gotta stay with me so that I can be with you when you have your kitten. The main thing is to keep on livin'. To keep on carin' what's gonna happen. Do you remember that sampler you gave me? Do you remember what it says?

(sings, voice shaking with genuine emotion) When you walk through a storm,

Hold your head up high.

And don't be afraid of the dark.

At the end of the storm is a golden sky,

And the sweet, silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind... walk on through the rain....

Though your dreams be tossed and blown....

Walk on! Walk on! With hope in your heart!

And you'll never walk alone!

You'll NEEEEEEVER WAAAAAAALK....

AAAAAAALLLLOOOOOOOONNNNNNEEEEEE!!!!!

CATS: (cringe and hold their ears in pain)

GRIZ: (puffs up proudly and walks off to her dressing room)

TUGGER: Great. Just what she needed... ANOTHER diva moment.

VERONI: Good time for a break then, I guess.

(Griz parades out of her dressing room)

GRIZ: I'll have my dinner brought up to me thank you! (tosses a feather boa over her shoulder and struts off)

MUNKU: You had to give her the big song... you just HAD to...