FADE IN:

EXT. BACK YARD - DAY

A young female hand pats fresh earth on a small grave.

A teenage male hand sticks a homemade cross in the dirt.

On the cross is a color photo of a long-haired gray cat wearing a rhinestone necklace.

Childish, barely controlled sobs.

MOM (OS)

I’m sorry, Mindy. Dr. Cole did everything he could for Miss Kitty.

MOM (30s), JACK (15), and MINDY (10) stand looking down.

MINDY

Oh, Mommy, why do all my cats die?

Next to Miss Kitty’s grave is a grass-covered space outlined with decorative pebbles. Remnants of a photo cling to this cross. Mindy kneels and attaches a new one of a Maine Coon wearing a bow tie.

MOM

We’ll go over to the cattery in a few days and pick out a new kitty.

MINDY (tearful)

There’ll never be another Miss Kitty.

EXT. CATTERY - DAY

Wire fencing covers most of the lawn of a rambling old house. Some younger cats patrol but most sleep in the shade. Cages and carriers clutter the wide front porch.

Water and food bowls with half-eaten dry food scattered here and there.

Mom rings the doorbell. Cats peer out the windows. Footsteps hurry to the door.

CAT LADY (OS)

Get back, everybody! Valentino, Greta, move back.

The door opens. CAT LADY (40s) holds a kitten in one hand, scoops another up as Mom opens the screen.

Cat Lady adroitly backs out through the screen before Mom can enter, puts the kittens down inside.

CAT LADY

We’d best talk out here. The babies get too excited when anybody comes to the door. How can I help?

Her face is tired, yet her eyes dart about, checking for something.

CAT LADY

No drop-offs, I hope. We’re overflowing.

MINDY

We came to look at your cats.

MOM

I hope the adoption fee hasn’t gone up again.

Mindy notices two occupied cages and goes to look.

CAT LADY (wearily)

No. Even though everything else has.

MINDY

Why are these in cages?

CAT LADY

They’re waiting for a volunteer to take them to the vet.

MINDY

Oh! They’re sick?

Mindy turns away, sniffles and wipes her face.

Mom and Cat Lady glance at each other.

CAT LADY

Many are just old, but younger ones more and more often are coming down with diseases that can be prevented.

MOM

Isn’t that what vaccines are for?

CAT LADY

It’s not for lack of vaccines. It’s the food they’re eating.

MOM

Food?

CAT LADY

Oh, they do all right until they’re about five years old. Then the lack of nutrition causes all kinds of problems. Gum disease, tooth loss, obesity, even diabetes.

Cat Lady pins Mom with a sharp look.

CAT LADY

Have you noticed how many cats are diagnosed with diabetes these days? Never used to be that way. I’m convinced it’s the corn-based dry food. Cats are carnivores and need protein, but the pet food companies, veterinarians, and pet owners all love the convenience of dry food.

MOM

We gave her little treats and a vitamin supplement.

MINDY

Yeah, she loved those squishy ones.

CAT LADY

How old was she?

MINDY

Eight. The vet said that was “getting on up there,” for a cat.

CAT LADY

Healthy pets on good food can live to be over twenty.

MOM

Few cats live that long any more. And our friend Bill’s dog is only three years old and suffers from arthritis and a digestive complaint that Dr. Cole can’t cure.

The light bulb goes off over Mom’s head. She and Cat Lady speak at the same time, different tones.

MOM/CAT LADY

Because of the dry food!

EXT. SUPERMARKET - DAY

Mom, Jack, Cat Lady, and Mindy picket the sidewalk in

front.

Their posters say “Boycott Dry Pet Food - Don’t Kill

YOUR Pet” and “Dry Food Does NOT Prevent Tartar” and

“Cats and Dogs Need PROTEIN, Not Corn!”

People stare at them, glance at the signs, go inside.

A man exits with a HUGE sack of dog food.

MINDY

You’re killing your dog, mister!

MAN WITH SACK

Mind your own business, sister!

Mom heads him off. Puts on a sweet face and mild tone.

MOM

She’s right, dogs need meat.

MAN WITH SACK

I’m on a fixed income and can barely

afford meat myself. Not going to

give it to a dog.

CAT LADY

You’ll save on vet bills!

Man with Sack makes a getaway around Mom.

MAN WITH SACK

Don’t go to vets. Don’t go to

doctors.

4.

DAD (30s) comes up behind Mom and takes her arm, tries

to lead her away.

DAD

Margaret, what are you doing?

Do you know how you look? How it

makes ME look?

MOM

But people have to know.

DAD

Whatever it is, you don’t have to be

the one to tell them.

Mom sees a SECURITY GUARD coming across the parking lot.

MOM

Help me gather up the signs.

EXT. CATTERY - DAY

Mom, Jack, Mindy, and Cat Lady sit on the front porch.

Each holds a kitten.

CAT LADY

It probably was a bad idea to

confront folks in person.

MOM

Sometimes, that’s what people

remember.

JACK

Yeah, that’s what Dad’s afraid of.

I’m sorry he burned your signs, Mom.

But we can make more.

MOM

I think small fliers would be

better.

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY

Mindy carries flyers. Mom and Jack staple them to

utility poles.

A POLICE CAR cruises up beside them.

5.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Mom sits dejected on the sofa. Jack’s on the sofa arm,

his hand on her shoulder. Beside her, Mindy holds the

fliers. Dad paces.

DAD

What on earth has gotten into you?

I’m a councilman now, and I can’t

have my family interfering with

shoppers and getting citations.

Promise me you’ll stay away from

that Cat Lady and forget about

changing people’s minds.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Dad’s asleep in his chair in front of the TV. Jack’s at

his laptop, typing away. Mom folds flyers and stuffs

envelopes. Mindy checks off names on a mailing list.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

The kids huddle in the doorway. Mom cowers under Dad’s

wrath.

DAD

How could you mail that propaganda

to my constituents? You have no

proof--

MOM

Pets are dying of diseases that were

unheard of only a few years ago.

Isn’t that proof enough?

DAD

No! You’re proving to me only one

thing.

INT. PSYCHIATRIST’S OFFICE - DAY

DOCTOR (30s) behind her desk. Mom and Dad in chairs.

DAD

I’m really glad you could talk to us

on such short notice.

6.

EXT. CATTERY - DAY

Mom, Jack, Mindy, and Cat Lady sit on the front porch.

Each holds a cat. Mom looks at a sheet of paper.

CAT LADY

Those web sites ought to give you a

lot of ammunition.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Jack is at the computer. Dad leans over his shoulder.

JACK

See, Dad? It’s all here, about the

connection between diet and disease.

Just like in people.

DAD

Half those sites are selling

“natural” pet food at three times

the cost, and the other half are run

by tree-huggers.

Mom appears in the doorway, blazing mad.

MOM

You humiliate me by making an

appointment I don’t need and now you

call me a tree-hugger! Well, I have

news for you: I’m PROUD to be a

“crazy cat lady” if that’s what it

takes to make everyone aware of the

dangers. And my ancestors were

Celts. Of COURSE I hug trees!

She storms all the way out of the house. Door SLAMS.

JACK

Doesn’t look like you’re going to

get any hugs any time soon.

Dad whirls on Mindy, who’s been left adrift.

DAD

You started this! You and your cat.

Mindy whirls out of the room, sobbing brokenheartedly.

JACK

Nice work, councilman.

7.

Dad goes out, calling Mindy’s name. Comes back in with

her (carrying, or hugged up).

DAD

Forgive me, baby. I didn’t mean it.

I’m just upset over Mommy.

MINDY

She’s right, you know. Miss Kitty

might be al--

DAD

(loses it)

No! I don’t know!

INT. VET’S OFFICE, LOBBY - DAY

Mom comes out from an inner sanctum with several bound

treatises, a smile on her face. VET (40s) follows her.

VET

I think you’ll find what you need in

those reports.

MOM

Thank you, Dr. Baird. When Miss

Kitty was dying, the other vet told

us, “You can’t make a twelve year

old cat into a three year old” but

I’m thinking you CAN, with proper

care.

EXT. CATTERY - DAY

Mom, Jack, Mindy, and Cat Lady sit on the front porch.

All hold different cats than before.

CAT LADY

Those reports are impressive,

Margaret. I’m glad Dr. Baird has

finally seen the light, though I

doubt it will be enough to help my

babies. The funds just aren’t

there. Donors and owners have to be

convinced that better food makes

better pets.

8.

MOM

Vets first. That’s why I’m

attending their Conference.

Cat Lady picks up a folder and photo album from beside

her chair. Gives them to Mom.

CAT LADY

Take these with you.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Dad stands in front of the closed door, arms out like a

basketball guard. Mom carries a canvas suitcase.

DAD

You can’t do this to me, Margaret.

MOM

I’m not doing it TO you, John. I’m

doing it FOR Mindy and all the cats

in the world. Dogs, too.

DAD

You make a fool of yourself in front

of that crowd, you’d better not come

home.

MOM

And you’ll do what? Lock me up in a

loony bin?

She draws back the suitcase as if to knock him out of

the way. He gives ground. She goes out.

Jack and Mindy stand in the doorway.

JACK

You shouldn’t’ve burned her signs,

Dad.

MINDY

What’s a loony bin, Daddy?

DAD

Where I’m going to end up, if this

doesn’t stop.

He runs toward the door.

9.

DAD

Pack some clothes. We’d better go

with her.

INT. CONFERENCE HALL - DAY

Veterinarians and friends noisily fill the auditorium.

Dad holds Mom’s arm and they stall in the doorway.

DAD

Please, Margaret, don’t do this.

I’ll never be elected to dog catcher

if folks at home find out.

MOM

I don’t want to be married to a dog

catcher. Let go. I’m due on the

stage.

She wrenches free and he presses his empty hands to his

throbbing temples.

She marches up to the stage. He finds a seat in the

back row, nearest the door.

INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

Jack and Mindy watch the Conference on television.

MINDY

Wow, Mom’s got the audience she

wanted. Good thing she didn’t know

she’d be on TV, though. She gets

stage fright in her writers’ group.

JACK

Dad’s going to be surprised. In more

ways than one.

INT. CONFERENCE HALL - DAY

Speakers come and go. Dad fidgets. Mom gets her turn.

AT THE PODIUM

Mom gives a nervous little smile, shuffles her notes.

Her folders show in an open bag beside her feet. She

clutches the mic.

10.

MOM

I won’t waste your time with a long

speech full of opinion, but I’m

grateful to be here today with an

important message.

Many of you are familiar with the

research regarding pet food. For

professional and monetary reasons,

many of you are opposed to the

public finding out.

I’m here to ask you to reconsider

your position. And here’s why.

Mom starts a slide show. First are photos of Mindy’s

two cats. Then unknown cats and dogs. At first they

all look healthy.

Then a few photos show the same cats gaunt, disheveled,

moving as if they hurt all over.

Close ups of the unknown cats show red gums and bad

teeth (Nan’s hands hold up the lips).

Then slides of Mindy’s cats’ graves. A sneaky shot of

Mindy crying when she’s unaware anyone’s around.

More shots of apparently healthy cats. Then dead cats.

The projection screen goes blank. Silence.

MOM

Keep in mind what you’ve just seen,

while you look at the data sheets

that were given to you at the door.

Massive rustling of papers as everyone finds the sheets.

Silence while they scan the figures. A few

nose-blowings.

Mom plays a TAPE RECORDING into the mic.

CAT LADY

It was the hardest thing I’ve ever

had to do, choosing who would live.

I could afford to properly feed only

the ones needed to validate my

experiment. But the results are

there, fully documented. And all of

those cats are still healthy.

11.

MOM

Your dedication is apparent, Nan.

This data goes back over ten years.

Sure you won’t come to the

Veterinarians’ Conference with me

and present it yourself?

CAT LADY

You’ll have enough opposition

without my mug beside you. I’m

notorious in professional circles.

Mom clicks OFF the tape recorder.

MOM

As grant writing is an art, and

grants are hard to come by, animal

rescue agencies rely mainly on

donations and adoption fees, which

means they never receive enough

funding. And because the animals

have to eat, corn-based dry food is

the norm all over the country.

Most cats that come to rescue

agencies already have health

problems that require professional

care. Your fees take money that

should be used to buy proper food.

I’m not asking you to work for free.

There’s a better solution.

As you can see from the data in your

hands, unless companies provide

quality pet food in economical and

convenient forms, more pets will die

of diseases that could have been

prevented.

I trust that those of you who are

skeptical will take the time to

research this growing problem, even

though it’s in your best interest

financially to treat the symptoms

rather than promote a cure.

Dad grabs his head in his hands again.

INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

Jack and Mindy lean raptly toward the TV.

12.

Jack jumps back in surprised admiration.

JACK

Whoa! Sock it to ‘em, Mom.

INT. CONFERENCE HALL - DAY

Considerable babble and paper rattling throughout the

audience.

MOM

Thank you for listening. For the

sake of your children and mine,

please take a stand.

Either they think she’s asked them to stand, or they

agree. Everyone stands.

Dad chews his nails, wide eyed.

Then EVERYONE cheers. Long and sincerely.

Mom hesitates, grips podium, drops her notes, smiles.

She scoops up the notes, shoves them in her bag, and

hurries backstage.

INT. BACKSTAGE - DAY

Dad finds Mom slumped against a wall, her bag at her

feet. He hugs her.

DAD

I thought for a minute they were

going to lynch you.

MOM

And you’re not? I don’t see any

rope.

DAD

I’m proud, Margaret. The kids will

be too.

MOM

I wish Nan could have been here.

Dad leads her toward a door. It opens and Nan comes in,

hugs Mom long and hard.

13.

NAN

I couldn’t stay away. Thank you for

carrying the message.

DAD

You both know it’s only the first

shot in a long battle.

MOM

But we’ve started building our army.

And that’s what counts.

FADE OUT

14.