Part 17

Oh! Oh! (Hops aside and covers her eyes with her forepaws. Her ears tremble.)

MONKEY

(Retreats in the opposite direction and cowers in fear.)

Oh! Oh!

DOG

Come on, Kitten!

CAT

Swat him! Swat him!

HORSE

Swat him! (Rears excitedly.)

FLY

Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z! Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z! Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z!

(There is a struggle. The Dog growls; the Cat spits. Suddenly the Dog and the Cat separate. The Fly is lying on his back, dead. The Cat and the Dog come down to the kennel. The Rabbit uncovers her eyes. The Monkey regains his brave air.)

HORSE

Well, good-bye to one little germ carrier!

DOG

And a thousand little flies are fatherless.

CAT

(Smoothes her fur.)

Why, that Doctor brought me home when I was starving in the street! Purr-r-r! Purr-r-r!

RABBIT

And he took ME away from a bad little boy! (Hops to the hutch.)

MONKEY

And after all, he’s a relative of mine. And--blood is thicker than water! (He strolls toward the laboratory door.)

DOG

My friend, suppose, after this, that instead of fighting the Doctor, we fight the flies!

ALL

Good! Yes! Hoorah! We’ll swat the flies!