Logan and The Secret of NIMH Chapter 3

Chapter 3

*It is late at night over by the Brisby Home, as her children await her return. The youngest mouse, small and yellow, had brown eyes and wore a green bow around her waist. The eldest son, young and gray, wore nothing but a blue shirt. But the eldest of all the children, a young brown female mouse, wore a pink bow on her head, a purple dress with a lilac top and a patch on the skirt. All of them barefoot. These were Brisby's children: Cynthia, Martin, and Teresa*

Martin: Maybe I should go look for Mom.

Teresa: I don't think so, Martin.

*All of a sudden, a shrilling elderly voice calls out toward the house. Clearly, a female*

???: Brisby! Briiiiiisby!

Teresa: Oh! Auntie Shrew!

Cynthia: Oh Auntie!

Martin: Oh no…

Auntie Shrew's Voice: Brisby!

Teresa: She'll wake up Timothy!

Auntie Shrew's Voice: Brisby!

Teresa: *calling up the stairway to the entrance* She's not here!

Auntie Shrew's Voice: Brisby!

Martin: Why is she always coming around here, poking her nose in where she's not wanted?

Teresa: Martin!

*Martin storms out of the main room into the bedroom, and swipes the cloth partition aside angrily. If there had been a door, he would have slammed it. Auntie Shrew enters at the top of the stairs. Teresa meets her and helps her with her shawl*

Auntie Shrew: Thank you, child. I must speak with your mother.

*The Shrew dumps her large shawl on Teresa, almost burying her, and starts down the stairs. Teresa shrugs, bundles up the shawl as best she can, and follows down the stairs after her*

Auntie Shrew: Your Auntie is exhausted! Why me? That I alone should be responsible for the welfare of the entire field is monstrous! Brisby!

Teresa: Mother isn't here.

Cynthia: Auntie Shrew, Timmy's sick!

Auntie Shrew: Cynthia dearest, don't pull me. She's not here? She left you children alone then?

Martin: *from the bedroom* I'm old enough.

Auntie Shrew: *pause* Rats in the field up to heaven knows what sort of mischief… Cynthia dear, don't fidget! You're so like your mother!

Martin: I ain't scared of nuthin!

Teresa: She went to see Mr. Ages.

Auntie Shrew: To Ages? That old flim-flam! Whatever for?

Cynthia: Auntie Shrew, Timmy's sick!

Auntie Shrew: Patience, my pet. *to Teresa* Why to Ages?

Cynthia: Timmy's sick!

Teresa: Timothy is very ill.

Auntie Shrew: Timmy ill? How dreadful!

Martin: *emerges from the bedroom, swinging a stick* I'm not afraid of the dark! I'm not afraid of the farmer!

Auntie Shrew: I can't hear!

Martin: I'm not even scared of Dragon. I'm not even afraid of…of…of the Great Owl!

Auntie Shrew: Will you hush up?

Martin: Aw, you hush up!

Teresa: Martin! *shakes her head fearfully*

Auntie Shrew: Precocious monster!

Martin: Bossing bullfrog!

Auntie Shrew: Spoiled brat!

Martin: Loudmouth!

Auntie Shrew: Oh! Well! That will be quite enough, thank you!

*Auntie Shrew holds out her arms, and Teresa scurries to drape the shawl around them. The Shrew heads for the exit, pausing halfway up the stairs. She doesn't notice that her shawl has caught on a projection*

Auntie Shrew: Cast not pearls before swine, I always say… And that includes impudent piglets! Good day!

*She starts up the stairs again, but is pulled up short and then falls, or rather rolls back down the stairs. Teresa and Cynthia can't help laughing. Martin doesn't even try*

Auntie Shrew: Oh! You impertinent little…

*Just then, Mrs. Brisby, Logan, and Popeye appear at the top of the stairs*

Mrs. Brisby: Martin! Auntie Shrew, what's going on!?

Auntie Shrew: Indeed!

*Auntie Shrew pushes past Mrs. Brisby and the boys*

Logan: Oof! Hey! Watch it, will ya?

Popeye: What's got her knotsk in a twisk?

Mrs. Brisby: Please… Come back inside…

Auntie Shrew: Not for a king's ransom! I have just one thing to say: That child is a brat! *sees Logan and Popeye and screams in terror* Gah!! You're… You're…

Logan: *monotone voice* We're a pair of pint-sized humans talking to animals… We know.

Mrs. Brisby: It's all right, Auntie Shrew. *motions to Logan and Popeye* These are Logan and Popeye. They're strangers in these parts. They saved my life earlier, they're harmless.

Auntie Shrew: *straightens herself out* Indeed… Well, as I said, I cannot stay in this place what with that monster of a son of yours.

Popeye: Timothy?

Auntie Shrew: No! Martin!

Mrs. Brisby: Yes, I will speak to him.

Auntie Shrew: I came here to inform you that the frost is off the ground and Moving Day is at hand. Prepare to move your very, very odd family. *to Logan and Popeye* And as for you two, I don't know what game you are playing coming here or how you got small. But I'll be keeping a "very" close eye out if you two even think of causing mischief. And mischief is the last thing we want on my land. Good day.

*The Shrew exits as they look on*

Logan: *to Popeye* Did we miss something?

Popeye: *shrugs*

Auntie Shrew: *muttering to herself* You never know what might be lurking about out here, what with rats and…

Logan: *sarcastically* It was nice to meet you, too.

Popeye: Ol' sour puss ought to get what's coming to her! *chuckles*

Mrs. Brisby: Well, children. Now you've done it.

Teresa: It was Martin.

Logan: If you ask me, Mrs. Brisby, she makes us feel like we're not welcome here.

Mrs. Brisby: The Shrew means well. She only wants to help.

*Mrs. Brisby takes a kettle from over the fireplace, and fills a bowl with soup. She then pours the contents of the envelope into the bowl and moves into the bedroom. Martin squirms guiltily*

Martin: Gosh, I'm sorry, Mom.

*Logan and Popeye just shake their heads and pull back the curtain to see where Mrs. Brisby went. Inside is apparently a bedroom, Mrs. Brisby begins to spoon-feed the soup to Timothy. The song "Flying Dreams" plays over the scene, as Logan and Popeye feel sad for the family as they watch her feed her youngest son*

Singer: *singer* Dream by night
Wish by day
Love begins this way
Night's a friend
With love to send
Each new day

Bless your heart
Bless your soul
Let your dreams come true
Future songs and flying dreams
Wait for you

Love it seems
Made flying dreams
So hearts could soar
Heaven sent, these wings were meant
To prove once more
That love is the key

*One by one, the other children gather around the bed with Logan and Popeye not far behind. When the soup is gone, Timothy yawns, and falls asleep. Judging from Timothy's appearance, the pneumonia makes him look very thin*

Cynthia: Is Timmy gonna die?

Mrs. Brisby: No, sweetheart. He's just very sick.

Logan: What's wrong with him?

Mrs. Brisby: Mr. Ages called it…Pneumonia.

Teresa: Pneumonia…

Popeye: Pneumonia?

Logan: *pause* If he has Pneumonia…then his chances of survival are…slim.

Popeye: *eyes widen* Oh my garshk.

Cynthia: When will he get better?

Mrs. Brisby: Soon… I hope.

Logan: I'll pray for him, Mrs. Brisby… *looks to Popeye* We both will.

Mrs. Brisby: *nods* Thank you.

Singer: *singing* As you wish
As you will
Dream of flying starts
Love and care
The power's there
Trust your heart
Trust your heart

Mrs. Brisby: Off to bed with you now.

*Far from the Brisby home, an attic window on the Fitzgibbons farmhouse swings open. An extension cord snakes out, finally falling to the roof below with a clatter. As this is going on, the Fitzgibbons family are in the midst of a chat*

Mrs. Fitzgibbons: Dear, a man came by today, from NIMH.

Mr. Fitzgibbons: *sleepily* NIMH?

Mrs. Fitzgibbons: Yes, you know! The National Institute of Mental Health. He was asking if we had noticed… Anything strange… About the rats on the farm.

*Mrs. Fitzgibbons pulls down the bedroom shade, and outside, a group of rats carries the cord past her window*

Mrs. Fitzgibbons' Voice: Well, I said 'No, nothing unusual.'

Mr. Fitzgibbons' Voice: Beth, I have to get up early.

Mrs. Fitzgibbons' Voice: Oh, it gave me goosebumps to hear him carry on that way! Like the rats might have some horrible disease!

Mr. Fitzgibbons' Voice: Night, Beth…

Mrs. Fitzgibbons' Voice: I told him you'd call him back.

Mr. Fitzgibbons' Voice: *yawning* Uh-huh.

*Outside, the rats disappear with the cord inside a large thorny rosebush in the Fitzgibbons yard. Weird lights flicker from inside the bush, going on and off all through the night*