Copyright 2000 --- Robert Baer Jr. Buford's Collie Squadron -- "Courting in the Courtroom" 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 Ben Maddog, Abby Maddog, Vicki Maddog, Linda Maddog, Molly Maddog, Amanda DeSalle, Miss Grimm, Judge Blanche Vito, Rupee and the Computer Dinosaur are all Robert Baer Jr's creations, copyright 1997-2000. Misty Maddog is a creation of Bart Walls. Buford's Collie Squadron -- "Courting in the Courtroom" The scene is Monday morning, inside the law offices of Maddog and Associates. Miss Grimm, the Maddog's human secretary, is training a new summer employee, Amanda DeSalle. MISS GRIMM (sternly): So Amanda, you are a family friend of Mr Maddog and his family? AMANDA (nods): Yes ma'am! They're letting me stay with them at the mansion so I can attend college this fall and work here also! MISS GRIMM (nods): I see! I have been with this firm for five years now, and I have learned the morning routine that Mr Maddog and his daughters like. Pay attention. First, each likes their Wall Street Journals placed on their desks for easy access. Secondly, the Maddogs, since they are canines, need assistance in packing their briefcases and toting them to court. There are several other para-legals who work for this firm and help in this task from time to time, so you will probably be called upon to help also! AMANDA (nods): Ok, I can handle that! MISS GRIMM (sternly): Lastly, THE most important task in the morning! AMANDA (smiles): And what is that? MISS GRIMM (points to coffee room): Bringing the Maddogs their morning coffee! Abby likes non-dairy creamer in hers, Ben takes his with two sugars, the rest like theirs black. Follow me. MIss Grimm and Amanda walk over to the coffee room and see the huge coffee urn perking away. MISS GRIMM (smiles): Almost finished! Bring me those five water bowls, please AMANDA (shocked): They drink coffee out of water bowls? MISS GRIMM (nods, pours coffee): Yes, they are canines, and don't forget to keep the pantry stocked with Milk Bone treats and dry kibble, sometimes they like to snack while they work! AMANDA (nods): I'll try to remember that! MISS GRIMM (sternly): Good! Now help me set these bowls out for them.... hurry, here they come! Miss Grimm and Amanda have set the bowls down on the floor when Ben, Vicki, Abby, Molly and Linda walk in, see the bowls, and begin to lap up the coffee with their tongues. BEN (looks up): Miss Grimm, are you showing Amanda around the office? MISS GRIMM (nods): Yes sir, Mr Maddog! AMANDA (confused): But Mr Maddog, why are you and your daughters in canine form when you're really.. Miss Grimm immediately places her hand over Amanda's mouth. MISS GRIMM (whispers): That's the number one rule in this office. No one is to know that Ben and his family are really Road Rovers. They have always been canines before they met the Master, so they have to remain canines to the general public. You and I are the only humans who know their secret, so it is forbidden to discuss this matter in this office except with me or them, understand? Amanda nods her head and Miss Grimm takes her hand away from her mouth. MOLLY (looks up): Forgive us, Amanda, but we have to keep our indentities secret. AMANDA (nods): I understand. BEN (looks up): Ok, so what's on the agenda today? The Maddogs continue to lap up their coffee as Miss Grimm checks the appointment book. MISS GRIMM (takes out her appointment book): Ok, Linda, you have to appear in court for the Holleran case at ten. LINDA (looks up): I'm ready! This is the preliminary hearing, I think I can get the case thrown out for lack of evidence! MISS GRIMM (looking): Abby! You're meeting a new client here in fifteen minutes. ABBY (looks up): That's right! The Grenson Corporation wants to sign us up on a retainer! BEN (looks up): Good work, Abby! I'll let you take care of the paperwork. MISS GRIMM (looking): Molly! You are handling Emily Dicker's divorce case. There's a meeting with her husband's attorney at eleven here. MOLLY (looks up): That no good husband of her's is trying to gain custody of the kids and get out of paying allimony! LINDA (looks up): Just don't get too worked up like Vicki did last year... VICKI (looks up): So, I bit that guy! I got carried away! BEN (looks up): That's not the way this firm does business, Vicki! We may be dogs. but biting humans is not the proper way to conduct ourselves, is it? VICKI (sadly): No sir... MISS GRIMM (looking): Ben, you have several appointments this afternoon and Vicki, you have to prepare for the Gervin case, it starts tommorrow! VICKI (looks up): That's right! It's a murder case and my client is innocent! I know it! BEN (looks up): But can you prove it to the jury? VICKI (nods): I won't let you down, dad! BEN (looks up): Ok, now that we've finish our morning coffee, let's get to work! The five collies rush out of the coffee room and into their separate offices. MISS GRIMM (looks at Amanda): I will be going along with Linda to court, you can come along and watch. AMANDA (nods); Yes ma'am! MISS GRIMM (smiles): But first.. (points): Wash out the water bowls, the Maddogs may want more coffee later! AMANDA (nods): Yes ma'am! Ben climbs up to the top of his desk and uses his front paw to type on his computer keyboard. He is busy typing away when suddenly, a female mixed breed terrier with yellow fur highlights appears in the room. RUPEE (softly): Ben.... Ben Maddog? The sudden voice startles him for a moment, but then he sees the husky and smiles. BEN (happy): Repee? Is that you? RUPEE (nods): Yes, it is I Ben, I'm Shamansta's mother! You are a higly recommended law firm! I need your help! BEN (points): Have a seat and tell me all about it! RUPEE (walks over and jumps onto the couch): Alright. Ben, I own forty acres of land near Augusta. I have the title and deed recorded in the county office. But now, a corporation says they have the mineral rights to MY land and are moving heavy equipment out there to begin digging! BEN (growls): Well, I'll put a stop to that! (pushs intercom button): Miss Grimm, get me Judge Blanche Vito on the phone, tell her it's an emergency! RUPEE (smiles): Thank you, Benji! BEN (confused): Benji? RUPEE (smiles): I like calling you Benji, do you mind? BEN (smiles): I don't mind at all! MISS GRIMM (on intercom): I have Judge Vito on the line, Mr Maddog! BEN (pushes intercom button): Thank you, Miss Grimm! (pushes another button): I'm transferring her to speaker phone now! (shouts): Blanche! How have you been? BLANCHE (on speakers): I'm fine, Mr Maddog! This had better be important! I have several cases to try later on today! BEN (shouts): Your honor, my client needs an emergency injunction! A large corporation is about to begin digging on her land and there is a dispute over the mineral rights! BLANCHE (on speakers): I can only grant a temporary injunction, subject to a full hearing... BEN (shouts): That's all we need, your honor! BLANCHE (on speakers): Ok, I owe you a lot of favors, Ben, I'll give you your injunction! How soon can you and your client get here? Rupee waves her front paw in the air and instantly teleports herself and Ben to Judge Vito's chambers. RUPEE (smiles): Is this fast enough? BLANCHE (drops the phone receiver and shakes): BEN!!! How...how.... how did..... BEN (looks over at Rupee): Syah! You have magic just like your daughter, don't you? RUPEE (nods): Yep! (looks at the Judge): Sorry, your honor, I didn't mean to startle you! BLANCHE (looks up and smiles): That's alright, Rupee, is it? I'm used to strange things happening in my court room. I've seen Road Rovers on trial, even had a few pterodactyles and that huge dinosaur friend of yours, Ben, what was his name? BEN (smiles): You mean the Computer Dinosaur, your honor! BLANCHE (nods): That big lizard! Gotta admit, he was involved in a few interesting cases in my court! RUPEE (looks up at Blanche): Please, your honor, will you help me? BLANCHE (smiles): Of course I will! Show me your deed and all of your title papers and we'll begin! Within minutes, Judge Vito issue a temporary injunction and hands a copy of it to Rupee. RUPEE (nods): Thank you, Judge Vito! (turns to Ben): We have no time to lose! Rupee waves her paw in the air and instantly they are teleported to Rupee's land, where two huge bulldozers are about to begin digging it up. The drivers of the bulldozers stop when they see the two dogs, they rush over along with the foreman and Filo Grenson, CEO of the Grenson Corporation. FILO (angry): HEY! You mutts get out of here! SYAH (upset): I'm Rupee, the owner of this land! BEN (shouts): And we have a temporary injunction, stopping you until a formal hearing can take place! FILO (grabs the paper): Let me see that! (reads it): IMPOSSIBLE!!! This can't be right! BEN (shouts): It is right! Signed by Judge Vito herself! FILO (angry, tears it up): I don't take orders from DOGS!!!! (points): Kill them! The foreman lifts a crowbar, ready to strike Rupee, before she can respond, Ben tackles the foreman and attacks him. The crowbar lands at Filo's feet. FILO (shouts): KILL THE DOGS!!! The mining workers walk towards Rupee, before she can wave her paw in the air, a loud BOOM!!!! shakes the ground, Otto and Samantha Maddog in their cano-sapien forms appear. OTTO (sternly): Back off! It's a good thing Judge Vito called us! She thought there might be trouble out here! Otto fires laser beams out of his eyes directly in front of the mob of mine workers, they throw down their weapons and run away screaming. The foreman manages to throw Ben off of him, the mighty collie hits the ground and doesn't move. RUPEE (screams): BENJI!!!! SAMANTHA (screams): DAD!!!!! Samantha growls fiercely as she looks at Filo Benson and his foreman. FOREMAN (scared): What do we do now, boss? FILO (screams): RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!! Filo and the foreman don't get very far when Samantha pounces on both of them and attacks them viciously. Otto runs over to Ben and Rupee as the air is filled with the sounds of barking, growling and human screaming. OTTO (sternly): Mr Maddog! Scanning...... Mr Maddog is suffering from various internal injuries and ... RUPEE (lays a paw on Ben): Not anymore, Otto! Rupee closes her eyes and causes Ben's canine body to glow briefly. Suddenly, he jumps up on all four feet. OTTO (shocked): This defies the laws of physical science! RUPEE (laughs): Good thing I never studied law! OTTO (looking over at Samantha): SAM! That's enough! Otto rushes over and grabs his wife by the arms. She is still barking and growling loudly. SAMANTHA (struggles): LET ME GO!!! That goon hurt dad! I want to bite him where it'll REALLY hurt! OTTO (sternly): That will not be neccessary, my love (points): Look! Samantha sees her dad is alright, she rushes over and hugs him tightly. OTTO (ears perk up): The police are coming, they can arrest these scum! I'll stay here to assist them. RUPEE (nods): I'll take Ben and Samantha back to the law office! Thank you for your help! OTTO (nods): You're quite welcome, Syah! Rupee waves her paw and teleports herself, Ben and Samantha back to his office. SAMANTHA (smiles): Thank you, Rupee, ma'am! RUPEE (smiles): Anytime! SAMANTHA (growls): I would've loved to bite Filo Benson! That crum ... BEN (surprised): Filo Benson? SAMANTHA (nods): That's right dad! It was his company that ... BEN (panics): Follow me! Ben, Rupee and Samantha burst into Abby's office as she is just about to sign the retainer papers with a representative of Grenson Corporation. BEN (shouts): NO ABBY! DON'T SIGN!!! ABBY (shocked): Dad? Sam? What's going on? SAMANTHA (points): That man's company tried to take minerals from Rupee's land illegally! What's more, their foreman almost killed DAD!!! MAN (straightens tie): I'm sure it was all a misunderstanding! We can work this out, I'll DOUBLE the retainer! ABBY (growls): I have a BETTER idea! Why don't you take that fat checkbook of yours and shove it up your ... BEN (growls): ABBY!!! (looks at the man): I don't think we're the right firm to represent your company. SAMANTHA (growls): I'd leave if I were you! MAN (picks up briefcase): You dogs all stick together! (angry) Good day! BEN (shouts): Miss Grimm, don't validate that goon's parking slip! As Abby and Samantha leave the room, Rupee walks up to Ben. RUPEE (smiles): Benji, you were very brave today! The way you fought for me out there.... BEN (smiles): Well, a good lawyer always fights for their clients! RUPEE (laughs): I guess they do! We never got around to discussing your fee BEN (smiles): Well.... RUPEE (happy): I have an idea! How about we talk about it over dinner? My treat! What do you say? BEN (nods): I'd like that very much, Rupee! RUPEE (smiles): I have one last bit of magic to perform! Rupee waves her paw in the air, and transforms both herself and Ben into cano-sapiens, She then gives Ben a long passionate kiss before she returns herself and Ben back into normal dogs. RUPEE (waves): See you tonight, Benji! Rupee disappears as Abby and Samantha walk back into the room. ABBY (confused): Dad, where is that lady terrier you were with earlier? SAMANTHA (looks around): Where'd she go? BEN (huge grin): She went back home.... till we meet tonight...... Ben is almost 'floating on cloud nine' as he walks out of the room ABBY (confused): What's the matter with dad? SAMANTHA (huge smile): Nothing at all, sis! Nothing at all! ----------------------------------------------------------------------