Copyright 2000 --- Robert Baer Jr & Jerimy Bass Buford's Collie Squadron -- "Terms of Engagement" Road Rover characters, names, situations and the Road Rover universe are the property of Warner Bros. We, 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 be be altered in any way. It is strictly used for not-for-profit entertainment purposes only, and is not intended infringe on any Copyrights. This story is written by Jerimy Bass and Robert Baer Jr and the character of Marauder is a creation of Jerimy Bass. The characters of Otto, Samantha Maddog, Linda Maddog, Abby Maddog, Ben Maddog, Vicki Maddog, Molly Maddog, Roger Maddog, Kyra, Princess, Starlight and the Gila Monster are creations of Robert Baer Jr. Dylan and Jazz are creations of Dylan Rinald. Dervish is a creation of Casey Johnson. DJ is a creation of Jake Williams. Misty Maddog is a creation of Bart Walls. Huntress is a creation of Greywolf Lupous. Buford's Collie Squadron -- "Terms of Engagement" Scene: Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It is late in the afternoon as Marauder rides up the seashore on horseback. He is wearing a black jacket over his usual orange T-shirt, brown pants and black boots, and is also wearing a black riding helmet. He stops and stares out at the ocean. The waves are crashing at the rocks below on the shore, and seagulls can be heard in the distance. Then, he turns and rides toward the lighthouse area. When he arrives, a groundskeeper greets him. GROUNDSKEEPER: Hello, there! MARAUDER: (dismounts his horse and takes off his helmet) Is it all right if I look around? GROUNDSKEEPER: Of course, you may. MARAUDER: I was born here about eight years ago. GROUNDSKEEPER: I know. MARAUDER: You know me? GROUNDSKEEPER: Sure. I was there that evening when your mother gave birth to her litter. I also remember that day when that Boston family came and adopted you. It's good to see you again. MARAUDER: Thanks. The groundskeeper takes Marauder's horse and helmet, and Marauder goes into the stable and looks around. Then, he comes to the very stall where he was born, and looks down in it. All that remains now is a pile of hay and a blanket, but for Marauder, it is still a place of heritage for him. Marauder is suddenly shaken by the sound of a soft female voice. FEMALE VOICE (softly): Marauder, your birthplace is quite lovely indeed. Marauder suddenly turns around to see his horse standing in front of him, but no one else around. MARAUDER (looking around): Who said that? I know someone else is here! When Marauder glances back at the horse, it suddenly 'changes.' It slowly becomes a pure white Arabian horse who now the nodding Marauder recognizes. MARAUDER (smiles): Starlight! What are you doing here? STARLIGHT (smiles): Been here the entire time, you just finished riding me. Thanks to my holographic projector, you didn't even notice! MARAUDER (sternly): I see... STARLIGHT (warmly): Forgive me, sir, but I had to come here, to see you... MARAUDER (sternly): Really, why? STARLIGHT (softly): It's about Thanksgiving, will you be coming to the Maddog's Thanksgiving dinner? MARAUDER (nods): Of course! Lassie.. er... Linda invited me.. STARLIGHT (interrupts): She loves you! She wants to be your wife! MARAUDER (turns to her): How do you know this? STARLIGHT (smiles); Super enhanced hearing... When she stays at Collie Squadron Headquarters, she often bunks with me. Marauder, she DREAMS of being your wife, I can hear her talk in her sleep! MARAUDER (shocked): Indeed.. STARLIGHT (nods); Yes, usually I don't interfere in the lives of others, but this time, I felt compelled to... MARAUDER (smiles): I'm glad you did. Thank you for this information. STARLIGHT (concerned); Will you be asking Linda to marry you? MARAUDER (smiles): Let's just say, I have a plan, my dear stallion! Marauder smiles as he pats his coat pocket. STARLIGHT (sternly): Scanning.... (excited): OH!! I KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE! MARAUDER (quietly): Shhhhhhhhhh. All in good time, my friend! STARLIGHT (smiles); I understand. Starlight disappears with a loud BOOM!!!! By now, an hour passes. Marauder is now sitting on the narrow cliff above the shore when Linda appears. He is looking out at the ocean when he hears her footsteps. MARAUDER: (surprised) Lassie! What are you doing here? LINDA: I thought you needed some company. Mind if I join you? MARAUDER: Go right ahead. Linda sits down next to him. LINDA: Now I know why you always feel so close to this region. MARAUDER: Why? LINDA: Because it's so peaceful up here. MARAUDER: That's right. It's one of the few places I can go to get away from this hectic world. I was born over there in that stable. LINDA: Really? So what made you come back? MARAUDER: Well, it has to do with you and me. You've been my girlfriend for some time now, and I didn't know if I was ready to settle down or not. LINDA: Why is that? MARAUDER: Well, it's just that I don't know what we'd be doing. Where will we live? What expenses will be involved? LINDA: Marauder, don't worry. We can work this out. Hunter and Colleen did. Otto and Sam did. And we can, too. MARAUDER: What about your family? Will they go for this? LINDA: Of course, they will. MARAUDER: Are you sure about this? LINDA: Yes. Short pause. MARAUDER: Well, I've always believed in marrying only for love. And I've always believed in doing my best to help other people. (stops for a moment) Okay, I might as well get it out. Lassie, I don't usually buy expensive stuff. But this time, I decided to make an exception. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring box. LINDA: (starts crying as Marauder opens the box) Oh, Marauder! It's beautiful! MARAUDER: Lassie, I've always been fortunate, but I cannot promise you that I always will be. I cannot promise you things like a magnificent home, all the money you'll ever need, or puppies either. But I can promise you these things: I'm honest. I'm generous. I'll do my best to make you happy. And most of all, I'll always love you. Will you marry me, Lassie? LINDA: (smiles, wiping away her tears) Yes, Marauder. I'll marry you. Marauder takes the ring out of the box, takes Linda's hand and places the ring on her finger. They hug each other, then share a compassionate kiss, and then, still hugging each other, Linda rests her head on Marauder's chest. LINDA: Let's get married on the most romantic day of the year. MARAUDER: July 4th! LINDA: (giggles) No! Valentine's Day! Scene: Road Rover Farm, Thanksgiving morning. In the living room, Hunter, Marauder, Dylan, Derv, DJ, and Jazz are setting the room up for the feast later that day. They move furniture out and bring in tables and chairs to be set up. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is being shown on the big screen TV in the corner of the room. HUNTER: Man, I never thought I'd see the day when we would be having to set up for a Thanksgiving feast for 24 people! As the furniture is moved out, Marauder and Dylan begin setting up the tables. MARAUDER: Say Hunter, do you know when the Collie Squadron is supposed to be here? HUNTER: I think they said around noon. They've got the rest of the feast, including the other two turkeys! MARAUDER: Can you imagine? Four turkeys! That's about one for six people. HUNTER: No kidding. I had to get up this morning just to help put them on. Later, when the tables are set up, they bring out tablecloths and place them on the tables. Then, dishes, glasses, and silverware are brought out and placed on exact spots on each of the tables. Blitz and Convoy have now joined them to help set up. Then, when that is done, the chairs are put in place. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Huntress and Colleen are busy preparing the feast. Colleen is taking one of the turkeys out of the oven while Huntress is preparing candied yams. Hunter walks in. HUNTER: How's everything coming? COLLEEN: Just fine, Huntie Wuntie. I hope the Collie Squadron brings enough food, too. HUNTER: They should be here at any time now, I hope, because they've got the pumpkin pies! Colleen and Huntress laugh. A moment later, a loud BOOM is heard, and the Collie Squadron appears with the rest of the food. Later, the food is placed on the table, and they all sit down. Hunter stands up and speaks. HUNTER: Rovers, this is a really special Thanksgiving for all of us here today. Soon, we will be adding not one, but two new couples to the list of married couples within the Road Rovers. Of course, Roger and Kyra have announced their engagement, and now, another couple is about to join them. Marauder, will you tell us about it? Marauder stands up. MARAUDER: Well, I guess if you asked me if this would happen when I first met the Collie Squadron long ago, I probably would have said "Not a chance." But lately, Lassie and I have become very close to each other's hearts, and now, I decided it was time to tie the knot. A few days ago, I asked her to marry me, and she accepted. Everyone else cheers. Ben gets up and hugs both of them. BEN: Congratulations. You two are going to make a great couple. ABBY: Have you set a wedding date yet? LINDA: Well, we were thinking about getting married on Valentine's Day. KYRA: Valentine's Day? That's when Roger and I are getting married! MARAUDER: Now there's an idea. Since we're all getting married on the same day, why don't we have a double wedding? VICKI: A double wedding? I like it! LINDA: I guess we need to make plans between now and then. MARAUDER: I'd like to make one right now. (turns to Dylan) Dylan, you and I have been close friends for a long time now. Will you be best man at our wedding? DYLAN: (smiling) Sure, Marauder! MARAUDER: Okay, it's set! Double wedding on Valentine's Day! Everyone agrees. They sit down. HUNTER: Who would like to say grace? MARAUDER: I'll do it. He stands up and everyone joins hands and bows heads. MARAUDER: Heavenly father, we are gathered here to say thank you for allowing all of us to be here today, for our successes as Road Rovers, and most of all, for the opportunity to serve for the good of mankind. And I would like to say thanks for giving me two great friends, Dylan and Linda Maddog, who have meant so much to me during my tenure. On Valentine's Day, Linda and I, as well as Roger and Kyra, will be married. I just want to ask you to give our marriages eternal life, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us apart. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. EVERYONE ELSE: Amen. MARAUDER: (sitting down) Let's eat! They all start to serve themselves. On their table, Hunter grabs the carving knife and fork in front of the turkey. HUNTER: Who wants to carve? MARAUDER: I'll do it! Marauder starts carving the turkey. He places the first piece of white meat on Linda's plate, and kisses her on the cheek. As soon as everyone is served, they all settle down and eat. MARAUDER: Hey Derv, turn up the game! DERV: Sure thing, Marauder! Derv grabs the remote and turns up the volume on the big screen TV, now showing the Detroit Lions game. GILA MONSTER (happy): I loves football! Everyone gits to clobber everyone else! DJ: Er.. Gila, would you put your 2 x 4 down? DERV (nods): Don't wanna get accidently hit by it! MISTY (claps): Hooray! Football! JAZZ (surprised); You like football, Misty? MISTY (nods); Sure! It's action, it's drama. it's... GILA MONSTER (shouting): HEY YOU CRAZY STRIPED GOOBEROO!!! YOU MISSED THE CALL!!! I CAN SEES BETTER THAN YOU CAN, YOU DINGLEDORK!!! JAZZ (rolls eyes): Love your vocabulary there, Gila! GILA MONSTER (smiles): Thanks, Jazz, and I think what your a wearn looks good too! DYLAN (points): Touchdown, Lions!! As the ladies are in the kitchen cleaning up, Ben walks in. BEN (smiles): Linda, may I see you for a moment? LINDA (nods): Sure! (turns to the others); Is that alright? COLLEEN (nods): Sure! We can handle things, right? HUNTRESS (nods): That's right! PRINCESS (happy): Yeah, go ahead! Linda walks over to her father, who now had Roger with him. BEN (points); Let's take a walk to the submarine port, we have much to talk about. As the three are walking, they have a discussion. BEN (smiles); Roger, Linda, you will be the next two of my child to be married, I want you both to know you have my blessing and my support! LINDA (happy): Thanks dad! ROGER (happy): Yeah! BEN (nods); Now, I'll tell you what I told Samantha when she was about to be married. I've spent my life teaching you my values, I wish your mother would've been here to help me, but I did the best I could without her. I have watched both of you with your prospective mates, and I believe you could've have chosen better! (turns to Linda): Linda, I wish I could have the famous mother-daughter talk with you about the duties of a wife, but I cannot. I've asked Rupee to speak with you about... LINDA (giggles); About the birds and the bees? BEN (shakes head): No, about being a good wife. It's more that just .. er.. that. It means sharing yourselves, your goals, your dreams, your interests and most importantly of all, your time. (turns to Roger): Being a good husband takes much the same. You have to remember your wife is your mate, not your property. Kyra is an individual, marriage takes much sharing but also remember, marriage also takes two individuals to succeed. LINDA (nods); We'll remember, dad! ROGER (nods): Of course we will! The three hug, Linda and Roger return to the dining room, minutes later, Marauder and Kyra approach Ben. MARAUDER (concerned); You wanted to see us? KYRA (concerned): Is anything the matter, sir? BEN (smiles); No, nothing is wrong. I just wanted to welcome you two into my family! MARAUDER (nods): Thank you, sir! KYRA (smiles); Thank you. Mr Maddog! BEN (turns to Marauder): Marauder, I know you're an excellent doctor. I respect the fact that you're marrying my daughter, but I'd really like for her to continue working for my law firm in Atlanta. She's a fine lawyer, is that a problem? MARAUDER (smiles); No sir! With her teleporting collar, she can keep working for you no matter where we decide to settle down! BEN (nods): Good! (turns to Kyra): Kyra, Roger is my only son. I love him very much. I know you will make him an excellent wife! KYRA (smiles); Thank you, Mr Maddog BEN (sternly): I also realize that Vicki and Abby may still be a bit resentful of you. I don't care what your breed happans to be, when you marry my son, as far as I'm concerned, you're a Maddog, PERIOD! Don't let any of Roger's sisters rattle you. KYRA (nods): I'll do my best to please your son, and you Mr Maddog BEN (softly): Call me Ben, ok? As the three shared a hug, Molly rushes into the submarine port MOLLY (panicked): Marauder! Kyra! You have to hurry! Dervish put the TV remote too close to the potato chip bowl and the Gila Monster swallowed it whole! MARAUDER (laughs); That guy would eat anything! KYRA (giggles): I'll prepare the stomach pump, Doctor! MARAUDER (nods): Meet you in OR! Molly, Marauder and Kyra walk away. BEN (smiles, looks up): Emily, I think if you were here with me, you'd be proud of Roger and Linda! ------------------------------------------------------------------