THE CAT LADY

by

Nick Tierce

nicktierce@gmail.com SECOND DRAFT951.816.1074 10-5-2011

EXT. HOUSE - THE FUTURE - SUNSET

A decrepit house. The lawn is overgrown with vines that crawl up the walls, consuming the building from below.

A young boy, MIKEY, walks down the adjacent sidewalk, which he trips up and down as his attention is focused on the virtual-reality headset he is wearing.

SUBTITLE OVER: “August, 2089”

Mikey stops just in front of a garbage bin. He gives the headset a few frustrated whacks -- while still wearing it -- then tears it off of his head. He tosses it in the trash, leaving it sparking in the bin as he walks away.

As he takes a few dawdling steps in front of the old house, a BLACK CAT with fiery eyes comes up to him from the bushes. He leans down to the animal, his hands hovering nervously.

MIKEYH-hello there, catty kit -- er, kitty cat, I mean. I think.

The cat stares back at him, unimpressed. Without warning, it then SPRINGS back toward the house.

MIKEY (CONT’D)Hey, what did I do? I’m sorry I got your name wrong. Well, nickname.

He follows the cat up to the front of the house, where it slides under the bottom crack of a boarded-up window.

Mikey peeks through the slats at the inside of the house. The last shimmers of sun cast thin beams in the dusty living room, faintly illuminating a floor covered in bowls, saucers and litter boxes.

CREAK. Mikey turns to see the front door open just a smidgen. He looks down to the floor, catching a glimpse of the tail end of another cat dashing inside.

Mikey gulps and walks up the shaky steps of the front porch. He puts his little hand up and pulls the door open slowly.

He takes one step inside the dark entry way, but immediately recoils at what he sees:

INT. HOUSE - SUNSET

At the far end of the entry way, positioned centrally in view of the front door, there is a couch on which is sat an elderly woman staring right at Mikey with her huge eyes.

Surrounded by cats of all shapes, sizes, and colors, she wears a faded red bandana tied around her head, stringy gray hairs escaping from beneath it. This is OLD KITT.

OLD KITTBoy, don’t be afraid.

For being such an old woman, she speaks unnervingly like a little girl. Mikey senses this, and steps inside.

MIKEYYou’re...you’re the cat lady.

OLD KITT(laughing)

NO! Goodness me, no.

Mikey looks at her. She’s old. She’s surround by cats.

MIKEYAre you sure?

OLD KITTQuite sure. But many have asked, of course. Young boys and girls, wanting to know if I am...

(beat)...her.

MIKEY“Her?” What? Who?

OLD KITTYou mean you haven’t heard the story?

Mikey shakes his head.

OLD KITT (CONT’D)Well, I must warn you, it’s a yarn several layers deep. Told to me as a little girl by my father when he was an older man, of the days when he was young. You sure you can follow, game-boy?

2.

MIKEYYou kidding? I’ve played ‘em all. I can take any story of yours. I saw “Inception” on TCM.

OLD KITTVery well. Get ready.

YOUNG KITT (V.O.)I’m ready!

INT. KITT’S ROOM - SLIGHTLY LESS FUTURE - NIGHT

A seven-year-old wiggles in bed wearing a bright red bandana. This is YOUNG KITT.

SUBTITLE OVER: “June, 2019”

YOUNG KITTI’m ready, daddy! Please, please tell me!

Kitt’s father stands in the doorway. He’s a tall man, middle-aged, dark hair with streaks of light gray at the sides. This is OLDER THOMAS.

OLDER THOMASTell you what, young miss Kitty?

YOUNG KITTIt’s KITT, daddy! I’m seven now, I’m not a little girl.

OLDER THOMAS(smiling)

Of course you’re not.

YOUNG KITTTell me about THE CAT!

Thomas’s smile fades away. He looks at her.

OLDER THOMASWho told you to ask me that? Uncle Roger?

YOUNG KITTNo. Mommy did.

OLDER THOMASIs that right? Well, I suppose it’s time. Who am I to argue with your mother?

3.

Young Kitt claps her hands excitedly and curls further into her blanket with anticipation as her father sits down at the end of the bed.

OLDER THOMAS (CONT’D)Now, you must imagine, I looked much different back then.

YOUNG KITT(giggling)

Really? Did you have a beard?

OLDER THOMAS(laughs)

Ha! No, I wish.

Young Kitt sits up and slaps her hands affectionately against the sides of her father’s face.

The clap echoes as we FADE TO:

INT. HOUSE - THE PRESENT - DAY

Framed identically is the face of young THOMAS. He looks almost exactly the same, but with less wrinkles and almost no gray in his hair. Almost.

PULL BACK to reveal that Thomas is wearing coveralls and a tool belt and carries a big red toolbox.

SUBTITLE OVER: “May, 2012”

Thomas clambers down the stairs, and it becomes clear that this is the same house from the first scene, just younger, though not entirely new. Lived in, but clean. Cat-less.

Getting to the bottom of the stairs, he pauses to unfold a crumpled piece of yellow stationary. Already crossed off of the list are: “upstairs toilet, bedroom wall sockets, guest room loose floorboard, hall ceiling leak.”

His face displaying a look of accomplishment over his already completed repairs, he looks to the last remaining item on the list: “Kitchen. (See notes.)”

Confused, he turns the paper over. No notes.

He scratches his head as he moves into the kitchen. Upon entering, he looks up from the paper and sees the “notes.”

Covering most of the appliances and cupboards are dozens of yellow post-it notes with instructions for repair.

4.

MONTAGE as Thomas completes the repairs:

- The oven door (which falls on his head.)- The microwave’s plate rotator (clips his finger on it.)- The stove top vent (black dust issues out after removal.)- The cupboard door (falls off as he opens it.)- The sink pipes (rusted with age. Not fun to touch.)- The trash can (foot pedal switch up: closes when pressed.)

PULL BACK as Thomas pulls off his gloves and satisfyingly slaps his hands together, revealing the repaired kitchen.

As Thomas bends over to pick up his toolbox, he spots something out the Kitchen window. He pulls back the curtain to get a better look.

In the backyard is a modest garden. There’s a woman sitting on a bench with a parasol obscuring most of her face. Thomas pulls the yellow stationary out of his pocket, confused.

He looks to the top of the stationary, where a name is printed: MOLLY KATHERINE “CAT” BASET.

EXT. HOUSE - BACK GARDEN - CONTINUOUS

Thomas opens the back sliding glass door. Leaving his toolbox inside, he enters the garden. As he approaches the woman, he brushes himself off. (Vainly, as he is covered in dirt.)

THOMASMolly Katherine?

No response from her. Getting closer, he can see that she is knitting. Her hands are young.

THOMAS (CONT’D)Molly Katherine Baset?

No response. He looks at the lower part of her face visible from beneath the parasol. She has full, red lips. Frustrated by her lack of response, he looks down to the stationary again.

THOMAS (CONT’D)Cat?

She jumps.

CATOh, right, that’s me.

She sets down her knitting things and moves the parasol back, fully revealing herself for the first time.

5.

Cat is beautiful, wearing large cat-eye glasses (of course). She has black hair with two pointed stripes of white at the top of her head. (Vaguely ear-like.)

THOMASIs it not your name, then?

He holds up the paper.

CATOh, no, they are. Both, and many others, at one point or another. They call me “The Cat” and you can, too, if you like.

He sits down on the bench, timidly as far from her on the other side as he can. He looks at her.

THOMASI guess it’s no wonder why you’re called that, then.

CATIs it that obvious?

THOMASUm, no...I just, uh, have a keen eye for that sort of thing.

CATI’m sure. So you’re the repairman?

THOMASSorry, yes. Thomas. All done. I was surprised to see you back here. I guess I thought, with all the notes, you’d be out.

CATSorry to disappoint you. Had you hoped the house would be yours for a few hours? Bit of a paid nap or something? Have a shower?

THOMASNo, it’s not that. I guess I’m just surprised you’re so young. Based on the house, I mean.

CATI’ll thank you for the compliment as that’s the only way I’d like to take that remark, Thomas.

6.

THOMASGood! I shouldn’t assume, but I get used to fixing old lady’s fridges. Always thought the young ones fancied a fix themselves.

Thomas is visibly struck by the stupidity of his sentence.

CATNever assume, Thomas.

She looks at him, lowering her sunglasses. Her eyes are beautiful, but they are surrounded by deeply wrinkled skin. Only affecting the area around her eyes, it’s as if she’s wearing a mask of wrinkles. She raises the sunglasses back.

Thomas is taken aback, stammering as he tries to think of something to say other than “What are you?”

THOMASWha -- ?

CATWhat am I?

THOMASNo. No, I’d never ask that. Just wondering what...what was with all the notes?

CATIt’s how I do things, now.

THOMASHow’s that?

CATI don’t...I don’t talk to people.

THOMASOh. OH. Well, I’m sorry to have bothered you.

CATDon’t be. It’s a rule I cling to begrudgingly. And recently.

THOMASHow recently?

CATRelatively.

7.

THOMASThen, you won’t mind breaking it Sunday night? There’s a party in the park downtown. Cooler than it sounds, I’m told. Never been.

CATThere’s was a time I’d have loved that, Thomas. But I don’t leave the house.

THOMASYou don’t talk to people either.

She smiles. Thinks for a moment.

CATIf I were to leave this house, the person I was leaving with would have to understand why I can’t.

THOMASJust tell me, I’ll understand! You’ll be amazed how much I understand. I didn’t understand when you said “begrudgingly” but I faked it pretty well, right?

She laughs.

CATIt’s not something I’d tell my repairman.

Thomas lowers his head. He catches a glimpse of a tatoo on her wrist, but he can’t quite make it out under her gloves.

CAT (CONT’D)But why don’t you come back tomorrow? Meet me by the lemon tree on the side of the house.

THOMASI can leave the coveralls and toolbox at home, but I’ll still be your repairman. Just naked-er.

CATThe job makes you the repairman. Without the job: the clothes, the box, it just makes you my --

8.

THOMASNaked man. Your naked man. You’re coming on a little strong, Cat, I think we should slow this down.

CATSlow what down?

THOMASThis thing. In the air. Between us.

CATI’ll see you tomorrow, then?

He gets up.

THOMASYes, and Sunday, right? If all goes well...understanding wise.

CATI have a feeling it will.

THOMASGreat, I love feelings! Think I might have a few right now.

CATWho’s forward now?

THOMASJust me. Your not-yet-naked repairman. Who should be taking his not-yet-nakedness to help Mrs. Rosebee get the hair smell out of her toaster oven right about now.

EXT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Thomas is even dirtier than before. He looks incredibly tired, carrying his toolbox a little lower than before.

Walking from the parking lot to his apartment, a group of three LOWLIFES circle around him like jackals.

LOWLIFE #1Fogies good to you, Tommy?

LOWLIFE #2What you got for us, today?

Thomas smiles.

9.

LOWLIFE #3Hey, why you smiling?

THOMASI’m dead tired, but not even you idiots can mess with me today.

Thomas SWINGS his toolbox at them, knocking two of the lowlifes out cold. He grabs a hammer off his belt, CLOCKING the third guy right in the forehead.

He twirls the hammer back into its holder.

YOUNG KITT (V.O.)WOAH! Did that really happen, Daddy?!

OLDER THOMAS (V.O.)No. You looked like you were loosing interest, so I added that.

YOUNG KITT (V.O.)So you made those guys up?

OLDER THOMAS (V.O.)Not exactly.

FLASH. Thomas is surrounded by the three lowlifes, smiling.

THOMASI’m dead tired, but not even you idiots can mess with me today.

LOWLIFE #1Think again, friend.

The lowlife PUNCHES Thomas in the stomach. As he reels over in pain, the other two search his pockets, coming up empty handed, save for the yellow piece of stationary.

LOWLIFE #2They ain’t tippin’ no more, eh?

THOMAS(wheezing)

Nope. Shockingly enough, you lot aren’t the only thing wrong with the world these days.

One of them spits on Thomas as they all walk off.

10.

INT. APARTMENT - LATER

Thomas sits on a couch with his head back as his roommate, ROGER, makes himself cereal in their small kitchen. Roger has longish hair and always seems to be wearing a robe.

ROGERSo, she never leaves the house? Brilliant. No wonder you call her “Cat.” I wouldn’t mind sitting around all day ... licking myself.

He takes a big, crunchy bite of his cereal.

THOMASOf course you’d love it. It’s not like that, though. Not for her. She seems sad. No ... caged.

ROGERRepressed? Sure you’re not projecting, lonely boy?

THOMASHave YOU got a date for Sunday?

ROGERYou’re taking her to the dance?

THOMASWhat’s wrong with that?

ROGERYou’re taking an ill woman dancing?

THOMASIll?

ROGERWhy else would she stay in?

THOMASThere’s a lot of reasons, these days. I hadn’t thought about it.

ROGERJust be careful. You don’t want to be grindin’ with someone’s got a terminal bone density condition.

Thomas gets up and leaves the main room.

ROGER (CONT’D)What?!

11.

EXT. APARTMENT - ROOF - NIGHT

Thomas sits on the roof of his apartment, looking up at the starry sky. He has a small collection of art supplies strewn around him; half-finished feline sketches littered about.

He sits up. He has been leaning against his rolled up coveralls. He takes them in his hands, and after a moment’s consideration THROWS them into the darkness of the night.

He gets back to his sketches.

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

Thomas walks down the side of the house. He is dressed the least like a repairman that he can. (Slacks, t-shirt, jacket. Close enough.)

He walks toward the lemon tree, which is flanked by two iron chairs. Cat is sitting in one of them. She is dressed in a low-cut flared jumper on top of a high-buttoning shirt with a small bow at the collar. Elegantly eccentric.

She has her parasol collapsed at her side next to a satchel. Her sunglasses are slightly smaller this time, allowing a slight hint of wrinkles to creep out from under them.

He sits down in the other chair.

CATHello Thomas. I’m glad you came.

THOMASHow could I not? Who doesn’t love a good mystery.

CATMy thoughts exactly, but not everyone thinks like us.

She looks down.

THOMASAre you sick? Is that what this is about, Cat? Because that’s not --

Cat starts laughing.

12.

CATSick? Heavens, no. I’m sorry if I worried you. Vagueness can get the better of me when I don’t know how much someone can accept.

THOMASNow that you know, or at least have some idea ... what is it? Kids? You’ve got a kid? I love ‘em. My friend Roger can watch them while --

CATI wish it were so ordinary.

(beat)I’m not from here, Thomas.

THOMASImmigrant? No problem, Roger knows a guy --

CATThomas, listen. Where I’m from, my people were observers. Seers. I chose to do more than watch. I left, bound for ... everywhere.

(beat)In doing so, I saw more than any of them ever sought to.

THOMASLet me guess.

Thomas leans forward, and removes her glasses.

THOMAS (CONT’D)You saw more than the eyes of a seer could handle.

CATThey were strained under the weight of many lives’ escapades. I abused them before with my ambition, taking in more than they were evolved to accept. Now I must rest. Hide. In my final life.

THOMASFinal life? Evolve? Are you talking in metaphor?

CATOnly to brace you from the literal. It’s to do with my name.

13.

THOMASYour name?

She takes a breath before proceeding.

CAT“Cat” was the closest word your language had for me, sharing a common ancestry with your felines ... who were named after me.

THOMASWait, named AFTER you? How long -- Are you telling me --

CATYes.

(beat)Cats don’t have nine lives. I do.And I’m on my last one.

Thomas grips the arms of his chair. He takes a moment, looks at her, and lets out a breath.

THOMASI should be thinking you’re crazy right now. There’s a part of me in the back of my head screaming to get out of here, and not come back.

(beat)But it’s the same part of me that was your repairman. The part I tucked away when I tossed my coveralls off my roof last night.

(beat)I believe you. If that makes me crazy, too, well ... bring it on.

She smiles appreciatively. She extends her gloved hand and grabs his. Becoming aware of the glove, she takes her hand back, pulls off the glove, and returns it to his.

Thomas gets a full view of her wrist tatoo: the stylized image of a large eye, being consumed by sharp teeth.

Seeing this, Thomas sits up in his chair and he pulls her wrist in for a closer look.

CATWe’re each marked at birth. This one is mine. Always took it as a bad omen.

14.

THOMASNo. I don’t think so.

He turns her hand back over and clasps his on top. He stares deeply into her eyes. She becomes self-conscious as his gaze wavers to her wrinkles. He gives her sunglasses back.

CATYou believe me, when so many would run. Why?

THOMASMaybe it’s faith ...

(beat)Or, maybe I’m just so hard up for a date, I’d raid a mental ward.

She laughs.

CATEither way, I’m glad.

Thomas leans forward in his chair, rubbing his forehead.

THOMASThe woman with nine lives. I’d hate for you to spend your last hidden away. Come out with me?

CATIt’s a risk. My existence here is delicate. Before, if I went too far, another life began. This time...

THOMASCuriosity kills the cat.

FADE TO BLACK.

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Roger and Thomas sit on their couch.

ROGERSo, what was it? Cancer?

THOMASNo! Mind your own business.

ROGERIt’s okay if your girlfriend has Leukemia, Thomas, you can tell me.

15.

THOMASShe does not have any sort of terminal disease, Roger. Drop it.

ROGERThen what is it, if she’s not sick? Oh, it must be so much cooler! Like she’s under house arrest, or -- OH! ARE YOU DATING A SPY?!

THOMASRoger...even if I was allowed to tell you, I wouldn’t.

ROGERI understand. Top secret. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.

THOMASYou find a date yet?

ROGERThe search is...ongoing.

THOMASI’m sure. You’re wearing the same clothes as the last time I saw you.

ROGERHow do you know? This could be an identical shirt, pants, and robe.

THOMASAnd milk stain. Roger, the dance is tomorrow. Hurry it up. You will NOT be my third wheel. Not this time.

ROGERBeing your third wheel requires you having a second, which doesn’t happen often. Don’t let this mad cat get to your head.

A pause.

THOMASShe has.

ROGERI know.

16.

EXT. HOUSE - EARLY EVENING

Thomas knocks on the front door and walks down the steps of the front porch. He stops and turns around to see Cat standing in the doorway, looking out.

He extends his hand.

THOMASJust to get this out of the way: after eight lives, there’s no way I can live up to expectations.

CATYou forget...

She takes her first step past the threshold, pauses a moment, and gently steps down the front porch. She takes his hand.

CAT (CONT’D)...it’s my first with you.

Thomas walks her to his car.

THOMASI’m just saying. I’d wait TEN lives for you, but nobody would say the same for me.

CATNot yet.

He opens the passenger door and she gets in.

INT. THOMAS’S CAR - NIGHT

Cat has her faced pressed up against the passenger side window as Thomas drives.

CATI won’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve been on a drive.

THOMASAs a general rule, avoiding numbers much larger than my age would make things less complicated.

She smiles, her eyes illuminated by the passing lights.

17.

EXT. PARK - NIGHT

The park is old, with adorning stone fixtures at its front, a large wooded area lying behind. Beating music can be heard coming from the trees, with colored lights shinning deep within the trees.

Cat and Thomas get out of the car and head up to the trees, hand in hand.

CATShall we dance?

THOMASIt’s been a while, I won’t lie.

CATReturn to your youth, when dancing went unjudged. There is joy.

She RUNS into the woods, PULLING him behind!

MUSIC takes over as TIME IS SPLIT:

INT. THOMAS’S BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

Cat sits on Thomas’s bed. Thomas enters the room. He has a BRUISE on his cheek. He smiles.

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

Cat and Thomas finally reach the party in the woods. A huge group of people dance in time to the booming music. The colored lights roam across the crowd and trees.

INT. THOMAS’S BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

Cat stands and puts her hand gently on Thomas’s face, examining his bruise, she gives him a sympathetic look.

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

Cat throws herself into the crowd, moving with the beat. Thomas lingers behind, watching her blend into the moving group. Her smile is bigger than ever.

INT. THOMAS’S BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

Cat and Thomas both sit down on the edge of his bed.

18.

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

Cat opens her eyes as she dances, noticing that Thomas is not beside her. She makes her way over to him, reaches out and PULLS him into the moving crowd.

INT. THOMAS’S BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

Cat and Thomas look at each other, and begin to lean in toward one another.

EXT. WOODS - SUNRISE

Thomas and Cat dance. They world is lost to them. They move as two possessed by pure joy, surrounded by a mass of others likewise impassioned.

The rising sun slowly inches through the trees, casting a glow through the glistening sweat of the crowd.

EXT. APARTMENT - EARLIER MORNING

Thomas and Cat walk toward his apartment. They look pleasantly exhausted.

Thomas sees the group of lowlifes ahead of them.

THOMASYou go on ahead. I’ll be up.

Cat hesitantly lets go of his hand and leaves.

The lowlifes surround him, alone.

LOWLIFE #1Morning, lover boy.

The lowlife makes a fist and PUNCHES Thomas on the cheek.

THOMAS (V.O.)I have a question.

INT. THOMAS’S BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

Cat and Thomas’s faces are mere inches apart.

CATWhat is it?

19.

THOMASYour people...

He indicates her wrist tattoo.

THOMAS (CONT’D)They can travel, obviously. But, through what? Time?

CATNo. Only by old age. But they can see through time. Yes.

Thomas nods, as if he expected it. He smiles.

CAT (CONT’D)Why do you ask?

THOMASSometimes fate gives you a sign that you’re right where you’re supposed to be.

Thomas rolls up his shirt sleeve, exposing his upper arm.

THOMAS (CONT’D)And sometimes it’s not fate. It’s a race of interstellar felines peeking through a time-scope.

Cat looks at Thomas’s upper arm, on which there is tattooed a large eye being consumed by sharp teeth.

THOMAS (CONT’D)I designed this.

(beat)I was the man that was supposed to bring you out. To use your eyes. Don’t fear.

He leans in and they kiss.

YOUNG KITT (V.O.)You KISSED her, Daddy? Did Mom know about this? EW!

OLDER THOMAS (V.O.)Sorry. I see that I am going to have to censor this from now on. I’ll just skip ahead now.

FADE TO BLACK.

20.

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT

Cat sits on the couch in her living room. Thomas comes down the stairs and joins her.

THOMASCat, let’s go out. It’s been far, far too long if you ask me.

CATYou want to go out, now?

THOMASDon’t you?

CATThomas, of course I do. But...it’sgoing to happen eventually.

THOMASWhat? What is going to happen? You’ve been fine! What’s the risk?

CATSomething’s going to push me back. Unlock what I was. My heritage. I’ll have gone too far, and that will be it. That will be the end.

THOMASIt was worth the risk before.

CATBut is it now?

Thomas grabs her hand and leans in.

THOMASYes.

She smiles.

CATAlright.

They both get up off the couch.

THOMASGreat, I’ll call Roger.

Cat looks to the top of the stairs.

21.

INT. DANCE HALL - NIGHT

The dance hall is small, and the night is winding down. Other patrons are few, and most are passed out, not dancing.

Cat and Thomas embrace in a slow dance, her head resting on his shoulder. She holds him tight.

EXT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Cat and Thomas walk toward his apartment. They are almost immediately surrounded by the three lowlifes.

THOMASCat, go!

CATNot this time.

Cat moves past Thomas to face the lowlifes.

LOWLIFE #1Boys, it looks like the cat lady wants a piece.

LOWLIFE #2Your girl fightin’ for you now, Tommy?

CATThat’s right.

Cat JUMPS, kicking two of the lowlifes in the face. Falling back to the ground, she WHIPS her parasol out of her bag, SMACKING the third one as she lands perfectly.

The three stand up, and she is waiting for them, unleashing a TORRENT of fierce blows from her parasol. She’s almost balletic in her ruthless attack.

As she twists and leaps, RAIN BEGINS TO FALL.

The rain drops cleanse the bloody heap of lowlifes.

Now soaked, Cat puts away her parasol and turns back to the shocked Thomas. She approaches him, a look of solemnity on her face.

THOMASYou’re wet.

She nods.

22.

Without warning, Cat begins to TWITCH violently. She stops for a moment.

CATThis is it.

The twitches begin again, more violently, like a cat dunked in a pool of water. An electric shock courses over her body. She begins to glow.

Thomas cries.

THOMASNo. Not today.

He rips off his coat, covering her. She collapses into his arms, the glow subsiding. Her quakes reduce to a sustained tremble as he carries her inside.

INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Thomas places Cat down on the couch. She looks dead tired, the wrinkles around her eyes deeper now.

CATI’ll be fine. This time. It was just a very close call. Too close.

THOMASI’m sorry.

CATDon’t be.

(beat)After all that time...you gave me something worth staying inside for.

Thomas smiles, fighting off another round of tears as he wipes the rain from her brow. She smiles lovingly at him.

YOUNG KITT (V.O.)What was it?

INT. KITT’S ROOM - NIGHT

Young Kitt sits at attention in her bed.

OLDER THOMASWhat was what?

YOUNG KITTThe thing worth staying in for?

23.

OLDER THOMAS I left out a few bits, for when you get older. But I think you’ll figure it out.

Older Thomas get up and walks to the door.

YOUNG KITTWhen?!

He stops and turns to her.

OLDER THOMAS When you find out what she looked like.

YOUNG KITTOh, yes! The Cat Lady, what did she look like, Daddy?!

He walks over to her bedside table and turns a picture frame toward her, revealing a picture of Thomas and Cat, holding a baby.

Young Kitt’s eyes widen in amazement.

OLDER THOMASAnd you never know where she’s watching.

EXT. HOUSE - BACK GARDEN - NIGHT

Thomas walks out toward the bench in the garden, closing the back door behind him.

THOMASNow, why did you have to go and make her ask me about that?

Thomas looks down past the empty bench, revealing a MEMORIAL STONE set in the ground just below it which reads:

In loving memory ofMolly Katherine “Cat” BasetBorn: Died: December 9th, 2018

He sits down on the bench, looking up at the stars.

THOMAS (CONT’D)Eventually I’m going to have to tell her how it happened.

24.

Up in the second-story window overlooking the back garden, Young Kitt looks down at her father.

THOMAS (CONT’D)She will have questions, and we certainly have enough to tell her in the meantime, until she’s ready. So many stories, my love...

Young Kitt rests her chin on the windowsill.

YOUNG KITT(whispering to herself)

“You never know where she’s watching...”

FADE TO:

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT

A few cats meander around, glancing back and forth.

An old hand reaches down and grabs one, which is followed to reveal Old Kitt talking to Mikey, who is awestruck.

OLD KITTSo you see, I’m not The Cat Lady.

(beat)I’m her daughter.

Mikey’s mouth opens even wider.

EXT. VARIOUS

Groups of cats walk slowly about. In streets, alleyways, homes, parks. Looking here and their, the deepness of each of their eyes felt for a moment as they weave in and out of each other’s paths.

OLD KITT (V.O.)And you never know where she’s watching.

CUT TO BLACK.

THE END.

25.