Copyright 2000 --- Robert Baer Jr. Muzz --- "The Birthday Party That Almost Wasn't" DISCLAIMER Road Rovers characters, names, situations and the Road Rovers universe are the property of Warner Bros. I, nor this script/story are connected with Warner Bros. in any way, shape or form. This document may not be publicized or reproduced in any way, shape or form. It must remain fully intact and may not be altered in anyway. It is strictly used for not-for-profit entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. This story is written by Robert Baer Jr and the characters of Otto, Samantha Maddog, and Starlight are all Robert Baer Jr's creations, copyright pending, 1997 - 1998, Alethia is a creation of Kylen Miles, Cobber is a creation of Mike Browner. Dawn is a creation of Diane L, Huntress is a creation of Greywolf Lupous, Hope is a creation of Angel Munoz. Dervish is a creation of Casey Johnson, DJ is a creation of Jake Williams, Dylan is a creation of Dylan Rinald. Azelin is a creation of Luke Trickett. Callie is a creation of Bozena McCants, Star is a creation of Katherine Gore, Grey is a creation of Grey. Muzz --- "The Birthday Party That Almost Wasn't" The scene is Road Rover Mission Control where this day has been like an eternity for Muzz. Wide awake early in the morning, Muzz realized that today was his birthday. He anxiously got dressed and daydreamed of how his friends would 'surprise' him with a party this year. When he thought of last year, he remembered how DJ, Alethia, Callie, Azelin, Dawn, Grey, Star and his other close friends threw a surprise party for him in the briefing room. As he started his morning routine, he would cautiously peek into the briefing room every chance he had to see if his friends had 'snuck' in and set up the party yet. Minutes passed like hours. Muzz walked into the dining room for breakfast and sat nervously beside his friends. ALETHIA (smiles): Good morning, Muzz! DJ (smiles): How's it going, buddy? CALLIE (smiles): Glad you come make it! GREY (nods): You gotta try the eggs! Shag really has that special touch! DAWN (wide smile): Good morning, darling! MUZZ (wide grin): Good morning everyone! (butters a piece of toast): So, what's the schedule for today? ALETHIA (picks up clipboard): Well, according to what I have here, today we have to .... Before Alethia can say another word, into the room walks Starlight, who is now in her horse-sapien form. ALETHIA (waves to Starlight): Hey Starlight! Come and join us! Starlight gets her tray and sits next to Callie and Muzz. STARLIGHT (smiles): Good morning everyone! (looks at Callie): Callie, I am so glad that I finally have the chance to meet you! It's comforting to know that I'm not the only horse on the team! CALLIE (surprised): How did you know my name? You and I have never met before STARLIGHT (smiles): I have your image in my Road Rover personnel files in my databank and .. CALLIE (shocked): Databank? Did you say, databank? STARLIGHT (nods): Yes, I am bionic and computer enhanced, it happened after that stable fire as few years ago.... As Starlight continued to tell her story, how she had barely survived the stable fire and was then 'rebuilt' by a scientist, Muzz's mind began to wonder. He couldn't get his mind off of his birthday party, he sat and politely listened as Starlight continued to tell her story, but he was waiting for someone, anyone, to wish him a happy birthday. As Starlight told of her many super abilities and brilliant computer mind she had been given, Muzz quietly excused himself from the table to take yet another peek at the briefing room. When Muzz had left, everyone but Starlight began to snicker and laugh out loud. DAWN (laughs): We sure have him going, don't we? AZELIN (laughs): Yeah, he's really on edge, isn't he? STARLIGHT (confused): I don't understand, what's the joke? CALLIE (snickers): It's no joke, Starlight, you see, today is Muzz's birthday and ... STARLIGHT (nods): That is correct according to his personnel file, he was born ... DJ (interrupts): You don't understand. We are going to throw him a surprize party and ... STARLIGHT (smiles): Surprize party! Wow! May I attend? DAWN (nods): Sure, but don't tell Muzz yet. We want this to be a total surprize to him! GREY (looks at Starlight): Get it now, Starlight? STAR (smiles): Last year, we had his party in the briefing room, but this year we rented the ballroom of the Blue Domino hotel in town! ALETHIA (nods): He'd NEVER expect us to hold it there! DAWN (smiles): Dervish, Cobber and Hope are already there setting up the decorations. The rest of the Rovers will meet us there later on! AZELIN (smiles): Muzz will spend all day looking through every room of Mission Control! STARLIGHT (puzzled): Forgive me, I am rather new to human style customs, but if there is going to be a party for Muzz, why not tell him up front abou it? STAR (laughs): Because it's a SURPRIZE party! Don't tell him about it, OK? STARLIGHT (confused): But won't that cause him to suffer from nervous anxiety and ponder on the matter all day? DAWN (nods); That's the idea! That's what makes it fun! All of us are going to pretend that we forget his birthday, so it will be that much more exciting when we actually DO take him to the Blue Domino! GREY (nods): Ok, Starlight, are you with us? STARLIGHT (nods): Of course, I believe I understand the concept now! DJ (looks down the hallway): OK, he's coming back! Shhhhhhhhhhhhh! Muzz returns to the table and takes a bit of his eggs. MUZZ (sips coffee): Well guys, c'mon, you can tell me now! ALETHIA (takes a bite of toast): Tell you what, Muzz? MUZZ (smiles): About TODAY, what DAY this is? DJ (sips coffee, read paper): Today the President is giving a speech in Boston and ... MUZZ (shakes head): No no, DJ, I mean, this is a very SPECIAL day, y'know! STAR (nods): You're right, Muzz! It is a special day! MUZZ (big grin): I knew it! STAR (nods): Sure! Today's the day the Master's going to give us all new flea collars! MUZZ (crestfallen): Oh.... (looks at Dawn): Dawny, my love, YOU know what day this is, don't ya? DAWN (smiles): I sure do! It's Thursday! MUZZ (confused): No no, that's not what I meant. DAWN (nods); OH YEAH!! I get it now! MUZZ (brightens): Really? DAWN (happy): I sure do! Today's a national holiday in Zimbabwe! STARLIGHT (confused) It is? CALLIE (elbows Starlight): Yeah, it is! We should call the Prime Minister and congradulate him MUZZ (in shock, to himself): Maybe it's true! Could they have all forgotten my birthday? Muzz excuses himself again and leaves the room. DAWN (laughing): Now we REALLY have him going! AZELIN (nods): We sure do! STARLIGHT (sadly): But Muzz seems so distraught, are you sure this is the desired result? CALLIE (smiles): You have a lot to learn about life, my friend! GREY (nods): Yeah, everything's going according to our plan! We'll wait an hour, then take Muzz to the Blue Domino! DAWN (smiles): Sure, nothing can go wrong now! Exile and Colleen walk into the dining room, they take their trays and sit with the rest of the group. DJ (smiles): Hey guys, are you ready for Muzz's birthday party? Exile and Colleen look at each other and then turns towards DJ. COLLEEN (sadly): DJ, he just hopped into a Street Rover and left! DAWN (shocked): What? ALETHIA (shocked): Really? GREY (shocked): He's gone? EXILE (nods): That's rightski! Comrade Muzzle seemed very upset! DJ (shocked): Oh no! CALLIE (sadly): We really went too far, didn't we? STARLIGHT (sternly): Scanning..... a Street Rover is now proceeding on Interstate 34 at a rate of eighty miles per hour and ... STAR (surprized): How do you know that? STARLIGHT (smiles): My internal computer system has linked to the Road Rover satelite, enabling me to track the Street Rover.... DAWN (frantic): We have to get him back here! STARLIGHT (nods): Understood! With lightning speed, Starlight runs out of the dining room, leaving a trail of fire behind her. CALLIE (in shock): How did she do that? DJ (smiles): Remember, she's bionic! I met her and Otto a long time ago, both of them are super fast! Starlight rushes out of Mission Control and across the desert to find Muzz, who has his music up loud, still on the road. MUZZ (talking to himself): I just can't believe this! Alethia, Callie, DJ, Grey, and even my Dawny forgot my birthday! This really bites! All of a sudden, the music he is listening stops and instead over his speakers he hears a familiar voice. STARLIGHT (over speakers): Muzzle, please don't leave! MUZZ (confused): Staright? Is that you? STARLIGHT (over speakers) I have tapped into your Street Rover's internal systems, please take the next interstate exit and meet me at the truck stop there and I'll explain everything. Muzz takes the next exit and pulls into the parking lot of the truck stop. Starlight rushes up to him as he steps out of the Street Rover. STARLIGHT (smiles): I'm glad you stopped here, Muzz. Please return to Mission Control with me and .. MUZZ (sadly): They all forgot my birthday....DJ......Grey.......Callie.. ......even my Dawny did! STARLIGHT (interrupts): No they didn't! Starlight covers her mouth with her hands, Muzz gets a huge grin on his face. MUZZ (nods): Oh man! (laughs): SO! They DID remember my birthday! STARLIGHT (sadly): It was supposed to be a secret.... MUZZ (nods): Hey, it's alright, Starlight. Let's return to Mission Control Soon, Muzz and Starlight are back at Mission Control. Muzz has a beaming smile on his face. AZELIN (upset): Starlight! You told him, didn't you? STARLIGHT (sadly): I'm sorry, it slipped out... MUZZ (smiles); C'mon guys, don't blame Starlight. It was all my fault for ever thinking that you'd forget my birthday! ALETHIA (sighs): Well, since it's not a secret anymore, Muzz, let's go to the Blue Domino, the rest of the gang's waiting there for us. Alethia, DJ, Muzz, Callie, Star, Grey, Dawn, Exile, Colleen and Starlight board a Road Rover bus and quickly arrive at the Blue Domino hotel. They all walk inside and are ready to enter the ballroom, but when they open the doors, they find... the ballroom looks completely empty. DJ (surprized): What? COLLEEN (shocked): Blimey! CALLIE (angry): HEY!! GREY (looks around): Are you sure this is the right room, Dawn? DAWN (nods): Yeah....this is the only ballroom this hotel has! STAR (shocked); Where is everyone? Where's the party stuff? MUZZ (smiles); Guys, this is very amusing, but seriously, where's my party at? DAWN (concerned): But this is where it was supposed to be! I sent Cobber, Derv, Hope and the others here an hour ago! AZELIN (shakes head): Something sure is wrong! EXILE (shocked): Bolshoi! It is at this time everyone turns and looks at Starlight, who is laughing her head off. STARLIGHT (laughing): NOW I understand! The looks of surprize on all of your faces is priceless! So this is what a surprize party is all about! DAWN (upset): Why are you laughing? Can't you see that our party isn't here? STARLIGHT (shakes head): But the party IS here! You'll see it when I deactivate my image projector! As the others watch in amazement, the 'empty' room now appears to have party decorations, a huge birthday cake, a table loaded with gifts and all of the Road Rovers are shouting out "SURPRIZE!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUZZ!!!" DJ (laughs, looks at Starlight): So, you used your image projector to make this room look empty just so you could surprize all of us, didn't you? STARLIGHT (smiles): Got ya good, didn't I? DAWN (smiles); I'll say you did! AZELIN (nods): Like a pro, Starlight! GREY (laughs): Nice work, horse lady! ALETHIA (smiles): We really had a surprize party after all! CALLIE (nods): Now THIS is more like it! MUZZ (puts hand on her shoulder): Thank you, Starlight (turns to the others): Thank you, every one of you, for this great party! As Grey cranks up the music, everyone begins to celebrate, even the Master walks over and shakes Muzz's hand. MASTER (smiles): Happy Birthday Muzzle, you're a good, good dog! MUZZ (smiles): Thank you, Master! All of the Rovers howl in unison -------------------------------------------------------------