Fox
What'd the doctor say?
Mrs. Fox
Nothing. Supposedly, it's just a twenty-four hour bug. He gave me some pills.
Fox
reassuringly
I told you. You probably just ate some bad gristle.
Fox
Should we take the short cut or the scenic route?
Mrs. Fox
Let's take the short cut.
Fox
But the scenic route is so much prettier.
Mrs. Fox
shrugs
OK, let's take the scenic route.
Fox
Great. It's actually slightly quicker, anyway.
Mrs. Fox
What is a squab?
Fox
You know what a squab is. It's like a pigeon, I suppose. Anyway, it's a type of bird we can eat.
Fox motions toward the edge of the property.
Fox
Should we go through the hole under the horse fence or climb the rail over the bridle path?
Mrs. Fox
Well, I guess the horse fence would be a little safer.
Fox
But the bridle path puts us out right next to the squab shack.
Fox
What's wrong? I've never seen you like this. You're acting all skittish. Don't worry. I've been stealing birds for a living since before I could trot.
Mrs. Fox
shrugs
OK, let's take the —
Fox
No, we'll do the horse fence. You gave me the scenic route already.
Fox
By the way, you look unbelievably beautiful tonight. You're practically glowing. Maybe it's the lighting.
Fox
What's that? I think that's a fox-trap! Look at this.
Mrs. Fox
Get away from there.
Fox
Is it spring-loaded? Yeah...
pointing to different spots
I guess if you come from over there, and you're standing at the door to the squab shack, this little gadget probably triggers the —
gesturing to Mrs. Fox
Move out of the way, darling. That's right where it's going to land.
Mrs. Fox
Come on! Stop it! Let's go!
Fox
No, it just falls straight down right here, doesn't it? I guess it's not spring-loaded.
quietly:
Mrs. Fox
I'm pregnant.
Fox
Wow. We're going to have a cub. Honey, that's great news!
Mrs. Fox
If we're still alive tomorrow morning, I want you to find another line of work.
Pause. Fox nods.
Fox
Does anybody actually read my column? Do your friends ever talk about it?
Mrs. Fox
still stirring
Of course. In fact, Rabbit's ex-girlfriend just said to me last week, "I should read Foxy's column," but they don't get the Gazette.
yelling into the next room
Ash! Let's get cracking!
Fox
Why would they? It's a rag-sheet.
sighs
I want to say I hate my job, but that would make it seem more important to me than I want people to think it is.
Ash
I'm sick.
Mrs. Fox
You're not sick.
Ash
I have a temperature. Mrs. Fox goes quickly over to Ash and puts her paw to his forehead.
Mrs. Fox
You don't have a temperature.
Ash
I don't want to go.