Act Two : Scene Five

(The backstage of the old Broadway theater is quiet—for the first time in what feels like forever. The Marquee B glows softly in the background, its golden hum still lingering. Baxter, exhausted but beaming, sits on a crate while his brothers hover around him, still buzzing from everything they’ve just heard.)

(Then—)

THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN.

(Fish steps inside, carrying a wheel of cheese. His cheese map is tucked safely under his arm, but for the first time, he’s not looking at it. He’s looking at them—his brothers. He pauses in the doorway, scanning the room, then lets out a deep sigh—)

Fish (grinning, exasperated):”Alright. I admit it. I missed you weirdos.”

(The brothers all look up. Silence. And then—)

Waffles (gasping dramatically, clutching his heart):”FISH! YOU’RE BACK!”

(He sprints toward Fish, knocking over a stack of papers in his excitement.)

Fish (holding out a paw):”No. No singing. No spontaneous dance numbers. I just got here.”

Barry (grinning, arms crossed):”Come on. You know we were this close to launching into a full-blown reunion number.”

Reuben:”Gib him two minutes, he’ll cave.”

(Fish rolls his eyes but smirks, setting the cheese wheel down. He crosses the room, plopping onto an overturned stage box near Baxter.)

Fish (casually):”Alright, someone tell me eberyfing.”

(The room erupts into overlapping voices—)

Waffles (talking way too fast):”BAXTER WAS ON BROADWAY. Like, literally in it. He was Simba. He rapped wiff the founding fathers. He flew on a broomstick. He tap-danced in The Producers! Oh! And I think a pigeon called him a ‘Broadway Menace.’”

Fish (blinking):”Wait. You actually time-trabeled fru Broadway?”

Baxter (grinning, exhausted):”Yep. And now we’re gonna put on a show of our own.”

(Fish raises an eyebrow. He glances at Waffles, who is frantically scribbling in his notebook, at Barry, who is clearly already working on an autograph signature, at Reuben, who pretends to be unimpressed but is definitely in. And finally, at Baxter, whose determination is stronger than ever.)

(Fish sighs—long, dramatic, and too loud.)

Fish (fake groaning):”Ugh. Fine. But I’m in charge ob snacks.”

(The room erupts into cheers. It’s official. They’re doing this.)