Jeffrey "OneShot" Wong Ranma 1/2: An unlikely hero (Opening scene: Tendo home. Friday morning. It is raining outside. Ranma is home alone.) Ranma: Home alone with nothing to do.(Sighs)Mr. Tendo and pop are away on one of those cheesy three day get rich seminars and they dragged Akane with 'em. Nabiki will be spending the weekend at her friend's house. And Kasumi is up in Hokkaido visiting an old friend. (Sighs again)Well, at least there's no school today. (Ranma grabs an umbrella and walks outside to pick up the mail. Outside, he sees a discarded box near the front door.) Ranma: What's that? Is that part of the mail? (He walks over to box. It is a small cardboard box that is soggy from the rain. He opens it up) Ranma: (Frightened)Eek!! Cat!! (Ranma, in a state of panic, drops the umbrella and runs into the wall. He falls to the ground, now in female form.) (A few minutes pass and Ranma-chan comes back to consciousness) Ranma-chan: (Rubs face)Ow, my head's ringing.(Notices box) (He cautiously gets up and walks up to the box and peers inside through the open top. Inside the box is a tiny black kitten. It is not moving) Ranma-chan: ................... (Scene change: We are in the house in the dining area. There is a soggy cardboard box on the table. Ranma enters the room.) Ranma: Oh man, what am I gonna do?(Looks in box again)It's just a kitten. (He cautiously reaches inside the box and touches the kitten and then immediately pulls his hand away. The kitten doesn't move) Ranma: (Thinking)Are you alive?(Nudges the kitten again)Hm, you're alive, but you're barely breathing. It's like you're gasping for air. (Ranma leaves the room and heads upstairs. Moments later, he comes back down carrying some incense and a lighter.) Ranma: (Gulps)I-I hafta take it outta the box..... (Ranma takes several deep breaths before he closes his eyes and reaches into the box and takes hold of the kitten) Ranma: (Eyes still closed)Oh god, it's squishy and wet...... (He places the kitten on the table and pushes the box away. He opens his eyes and looks at the still form in front of him) Ranma: (Thinking)It's so light.... (He places the incense next to the box and lights it.) Ranma: This should help. (A short time pass. He continues to monitor the kitten) Ranma: Hm, it still isn't breathing that well. (Realizes something)I should get a fan. (Ranma leaves the room and heads back upstairs. Moments later, he comes back down with a paper fan. He sits back down and fans the incense toward the kitten) Ranma: ....................Jeez, this is taking forever. (After a few minutes, Ranma's eyes light up) Ranma: Cool, it's breathing better. (The kitten is indeed breathing a little less laboriously. It's breathing slows down to a more steady rate.) Ranma: ..................(Thinking)Now what do I do? (Time passes) Ranma: (Thinking)It must be thirsty. (Ranma heads for the kitchen. He opens the fidge) Ranma: (Looking through fridge)Hm, what do cats like? Ah! Milk! That's it! (He takes out carton of milk.) Ranma: (Looks at carton)..................Hm, how am I gonna feed this to it? (He walks over to the cupboards and starts looking through it.) Ranma: Damn, no baby bottle.................(Realizes something)It's just a kitten. I can use a spoon. (While holding the milk carton, he grabs a spoon and head back out into dining area. There, he pours some milk on the spoon and brings it up to the kitten's mouth) Ranma: ....................(Thinking)It isn't drinking. (Realizes something)I know. (He heads back into the kitchen and looks around for an eye dropper. He finds one.) Ranma: (Smirks)Cool. (He sucks the milk from the spoon and into the eye dropper. He places it up against the kitten's mouth.) Ranma: C'mon, drink it up.(Thinking)Damn, why ain't it drinking? (After a few moments, the kitten instinctively starts sucking on the nozzle of the eye dropper) Ranma: (Happy)All right! (About a half and hour pass as Ranma feeds the kitten. After a while, he stops) Ranma: Hm, I guess that should be enough. (Thinking)Now what? (Time passes) Ranma: (Looks at clock)Jeez, it's already noon. (Ranma's stomach grumbles) Ranma: (Thinking)I should eat, but there's nothing at home to eat. I can't go out. I can't leave this kitten here. Maybe I should call Ukyo or Shampoo, they can help out. Yeah, I'll do that. (Ranma walks over to the phone. He calls Ukyo.) Ukyo: (Picks up phone)Ucchan's. Ukyo Kouji speaking. Ranma: It's me. Ukyo: (Warmly)Hello, Ranma. How're you doing? Ranma: I'm fine. (Awkward silence) Ranma: Um, I have a favor to ask. Ukyo: Really? What is it? I'd be glad to help. Ranma: Um, someone abandonned a kitten outside my house. I took it in. I don't know what to feed it. Ukyo: A kitten? As in a cat? Ranma: Uh huh. Ukyo: But you're scared of cats. Ranma: Well, I am, but this is different. This cat actually needs help. Ukyo: Um, sure, I'll be right over. Ranma: Thanks. I really appreciate it. Ukyo: A-anytime.(Hangs up)I'm so happy. He called me. He almost never calls. (Ranma hangs up and heads back into the dinning area where the kitten still lay motionless) Ranma: (Thinking)Should I take you to the vet? Where is the vet? (He sits down and watches the kitten) Ranma: Man, my morning has already been wasted. Oh well, it's not like I wasted it doing aboslutely nothing. (The kitten stirs) Ranma: (Shocked)I-it moved. (Leans closer to the kitten)C'mon, wake up. (The kitten stirs again before it stops moving, as if too tired to move) Ranma: (Thinking)Hm, it must be too tired to move. It needs some nurishment. Well, don't worry, Ukyo and Shampoo are on their way. (Looks at clock)Only ten minutes have passed. (Thinkings)Hm, I wonder if I should give you a name. (Ranma thinks for a moment) Ranma: (Thinking)I'll just call you Neko. You could belong to someone. (The doorbell rings. Ranma doesn't hear it) Ranma: (Thinking)Hm, I wonder who would abandon an animal....especially one so defenceless as this cat here. (Ukyo's head pops in through the open back porch doorway) Ukyo: Ranma. Ranma: Eh? (Sees Ukyo)Oh, hey Ukyo. Ukyo: Ranma, why didn't you answer the doorbell? Ranma: You rung the doorbell? Ukyo: (Shrugs shoulders)Well, it doesn't matter. Anyway, I brought some food. Ranma: That's great. Ukyo: (Looks at motionless cat)This is that cat? Ranma: Uh huh. Ukyo: (Sympathetic)Poor thing.... Ranma: It was worse off before but I managed to get its breathing steady. It had been rapid before. Ukyo: (Places a dish out in front of Ranma. It's an okonomiyaki)Here's some food for you. Ranma: (Looks at dish and then at Ukyo)Um, did you bring anything for the cat? Ukyo: Yeah. (Pulls out a small container)I brought some fish over. Ranma: Cool. (Ranma takes container and opens it. He looks at it) Ranma: ................... Ukyo: What's wrong? Ranma: We should mash the fish up. It might have trouble swallowing. (Ranma uses the spoon on the table to mash the fish. After doing so, he scoops a small piece up and to the cat's mouth.) Ukyo: It isn't eating it. Ranma: Just give it some time. (After a moment, the cat, its eyes still closed, instinctively starts to eat) Ranma: (Smiles)Y'see. Ukyo: Wow. (Ranma continues to feed the cat.) Ukyo: Um, what's the cat's name? Ranma: I'm gonna call it Neko. It seems fitting. Ukyo: (Sitting next to Ranma)Um, aren't you going to eat your food? (Ranma continues to feed the cat. After a short while, he pulls away) Ranma: That should be enough.(Turns toward food and finishes his food in almost seconds) Ukyo: .......................(Thinking)He would usually eat first before doing anything else. Ranma: (Wipes mouth)Ah, that was delicious. Your okonomiyaki's the best around. Ukyo: (Blushing)T-thank you. (Looks around)Um, where is everyone? Ranma: They all went away. I'm alone for the weekend. Ukyo: Y-you are? Ranma: Yeah, everyone went away. Ukyo: That means you and I are alone. (Ranma has already turned his attention back toward the cat) Ukyo: ..................... Ranma: Do you think I'm doing okay? Is this what I'm supposed to be doing? Ukyo: It seems you're doing fine. The incense to help breathing. The milk for liquids. And now you're feeding it food. You seem to be doing just fine. Ranma: Thanks.(Smiles) Ukyo: (Blushing)A-anytime. (Ukyo didn't stayed much longer after she watched Ranma eat. Ranma spent the whole day feeding and watching over the cat.) (Scene changes. It is now the next day. It's a beautiful morning. Ranma, awake, gets dressed and goes downstairs. The cardboard box is on the table in the dinning area) Ranma: (Looking into box)Hm, it's still not moving. I wonder how long you're going to be like that. (He heads outside to pick up the mail. Coming back in, he puts mail in a box for the family and heads for the bathroom to take a shower. After a shower, he enters the dining area. He looks into the box and gets nearly has a heart attack from the shock. The cat is up and moving around. Ranma, upon seeing it, stumbles backwards and falls down on his backside.) Ranma: (Nervous)I-it's a-awake. It's moving. (He looks into box. The cat is looking right up at him) Ranma: Oh no. What am I going to do? (He runs around like chicken with head cut off, very nervous. After a few minutes, he looks back into the box. The cat meows at him while watching him intently) Ranma:(Trying to calm down)Calm down, Ranma. I-it's only a cat......a-a cat! (He takes several moments to calm down, taking deep breaths. After a long while, he looks back into the box.) Ranma: (Eyes widening)Oh no! (He watches helplessly as the cat squats low and urinates all over the paper towel Ranma had put in.) Ranma: (Sighs)Well, at least now I know you're a female.(Thinking)I-I hafta change it..... (Ranma takes several deep breaths before reaches into the box and picks the cat up. He puts it on the table.) Ranma: S-stay there. D-don't move. (The cat immediately runs away, running into the kitchen.) Ranma: Damnit! (He looks at the box, then at the kitchen, and then back at the box.) Ranma: Damn. (Heads for the kitchen) (Inside the kitchen, Ranma looks around for the cat.) Ranma: N-Neko-chan. Where are you? I-I ain't g-gonna hurt you.(Thinking)God, why am I doing this? I hate cats! (He hears a meow. Ranma faces toward where the noise come from. After several meows, he manages to zero in on the cat's location) Ranma: (Muttering)Great, of all the places for you to hide, it hasta be under the fridge. (He walks over to the fridge. He kneels down and lifts the fridge up and looks underneath. He spots the cat int he back corner, out of reach.) Ranma: Damn. (Gets and idea)I know how to get ya out. (He places the friedge backd own and walks over to the closed container on the table and takes it. He opens it and scoops some of its contents up with a spoon he grabbed from a draw. He lifts the fridge back up and wiggles the spooful of fish toward the cat) Ranma: (Softly)Here kitty. It's fish. I know you like it because you were muching it down like no tomorrow when you were almost unconsious. (The cat smells the fish and slowly moves forward. It's very cautious.) Ranma: (Smiling)I'm gonna stay here. It's not like I have anything better to do.... (After about a half hour, the cat ventures forward and starts nibbling on the food on the spoon. Ranma proceed to feed the cat for a short while. After a while, he places the fridge back down and heads toward the dining room) Ranma: (Rubs shoulder)Damn, I can't believe I held that fridge up for that long. (Looks at box)Hm, I better throw that box away. It's gonna reek in a short while if I don't do something. (He takes the box and heads outside where he places it on the curb for trash pickup. Coming back in, he heads for the kitchen.) Ranma: Neko-chan, ya still under the fridge?(Lifts fridge up)Hm, I guess not. Hm, where did it go? (Ranma turns around and sees the cat sitting in the middle of the kitchen) Ranma: I ain't feeding ya anymore. I'm outta fish. You ate all of 'em. (The cat meows) Ranma: ......................... (The cat meows again) Ranma: (Thinking)I-I'm not freaking out......why is that? (Ranma kneels. He hold a hand forward.) Ranma: C'mere kitty. (The cat stays there) Ranma: (Shruggs his shoulders)Ah forget it. (Heads for livingroom)I'm gonna go watch some TV. It ain't worth it.(Scowls at cat)Dontcha dare goto the bathroom again on the floor or wherever. They back door is open. You can get out through there. (He goes to the livingroom where he proceeds to watch some television. His minds remains on the cat wandering around somewhere in the house. After a while, in comes into the livingroom and hops up onto the coffee table in front of Ranma) Ranma: Go away. Shoo. You're back to health. Now get going.(Thinking)When it gets bored, it'll leave. (The cat leaps off the table and into Ranma's lap. Ranma twitches several times. After a moment, he is able to actually discern what's going on.He sees the cat now sleeping on his lap) Ranma: ........................... (The cat lies down on his lap for several hours while Ranma watches television. After a while, he wakes the cat up.) Ranma: Hey, get off my lap. I'm gonna go eat. (The cat wakes up and gets off his lap. Ranma heads into the kitchen. He takes out some leftover okonomiyaki Ukyo had left behind after she had visted a second time later in the day. The cat watches him eat) Ranma: (Throws small portion of okonomiyaki to cat)Here, ya want some? There. That's all you're gonna get. I hafta eat more than you do. (The cat meows) Ranma: (Annoyed)Fine, here's some more, but that's it.(Throws some more food, a bigger chunk)No more. That's it. (Ranma finished his meal. He heads for the kitchen and fills a bowl up with milk) Ranma: (Placing bowl on ground)Here's some milk. I shoulda given this to ya first because we have more milk than okonomiyaki. (Ranma heads for front door.) Ranma: I'm going to go buy some food.(Thinking)Jeez, why the hell am I telling this to a damn cat? (On his way out, the cat follows) Ranma: ..................Okay, fine, if ya wanna follow me. Go right ahead. But you can't come into the supermarket with me so ha. Take that. (Ranma goes the the supermarket. The cat stops before entering the automatic front doors) Ranma: Hm, the cat's smart. (He goes about with his shopping, buying just enough food for the today and tomorrow. He is finished with his shopping in about ten minutes. He comes out and immediately looks around) Ranma: (Almost sad)The cat's gone. (He looks in the grocery bag) Ranma: (Thinking)I guess it was useless having bought that cat food.... (He goes home. Upon arriving home, he sees the cat standing in front.) Ranma: .................... (He smirks) Ranma: All right, c'mon in. One more day, and then you're outta here. (The cat follows Ranma into the house) (Scene change. It it the next day. Morning. Ranma goes about with his morning routine except he doesn't need to get the mail today. He eats breakfast and watches the cat eat its own food. After eating, he actually plays with the cat. He simply sits in a chair and dangles a thread of yarn while the cat claws at the string. The rest of the day goes by in a flash. It becomes nighttime quickly. He gazes out the back door at koi pond) Ranma: (Brushing teeth)Hm, I wonder when Mr. Tendo and Akane and Pop'll be home tonight. Nabiki should be back too. (Ranma spots a cat on the outter wall. It is a pure white cat.) Ranma: ....................(Smirks)I'm not longer freaking out..... (He looks behind him and for Neko-chan) Ranma: I wonder where Neko-chan is... (He turns forward and watches the cat.) Ranma: (Smiles)Can it be? Can my phobia be cured? (Neko-chan rubs against Ranma's leg) Ranma: (Looks down and smiles)There ya are. (He was about to reach down and pick him up but the cat heads off intot he backyard. He watches as the cat hops onto the outter wall and simply look at the white cat, as if communicating with each other telpathically.) (Neko-chan looks back at Ranma) Ranma: (Thinking)She's leaving....... (The two cats turn around and disappear into the night.) Ranma: (A bit sad)Well, it was nice knowing ya. Thanks for curing me. (A short moment later, the front door opens and in enters Soun, Genma, and Akane. Ranma walks up to them) Ranma: Welcome back. Soun: It's good to be back. Gemna: What have you been up to boy? It looks like something's bothering you. Ranma: Me? Nah. It's nothing. (Time pass. Several months have passed. It is a beautiful morning. Ranma and Akane are on their way to school) Ranma: Hey, we're actually going to be early for a change. Akane: Doubtful. You know Kuno. Ranma: Yeah, unfortunately. I wish he'd just give up. (A cat meows) Ranma: Did I just hear a cat? Akane: I think I heard one. So? (Ranma stops his walk and starts looking around) Akane: What are you doing? Ranma: I'm looking for the cat. (Thinking)I recognize that meow. Akane: Looking for a cat? But you're scared of cats. Ranma: Have you ever seen me freak out when around a cat before? Akane: Um, well, not really. (Ranma searches a bush. He finds what he was looking. He spots a tiny black and white kitten. Akane also sees the kitten. Ranma smiles. Akane is confused) Akane: (Thinking)Isn't he supposed to be freaking out or something? Ranma: (To kitten)Hello(Smiles) (From out of nowhere, a black cat appears. Ranma and the cat look into each other's eyes. After a moment, he holds out a hand and pets the kitten. He then holds the hand out toward the black cat.) Akane: What are you doing? Ranma: Just hold up. (The cat walk forward and starts rubbing its head against Ranma's hand as he smiles warmly. It lickes Ranma's hand several times before turning toward its young, picking it up in its mouth, and leaving. The licks represented the cat's way of saying thank you for what Ranma had done a while back. The cat remembered the man that saved it.) Ranma: (To retreating cat)No, I should be the one saying thank you. Akane: (Confused)I-I thought you were scared of cats.... Ranma: No. I used to be.