GATED COMMUNITY - OUTSIDE

Azrael presses the BUZZER, steps back and looks up into a security camera over the gate. Zero and Hazel both look up as well. Nick and Judy exchange glances, then follow their lead.

INTERCOM
(crackle) Who is it?

HAZEL
Do you have a moment to talk about the lord?

Pause

INTERCOM
(crackle) Is that you Zero?

ZERO
How many blue tigers do you know?

Pause

INTERCOM
(crackle) After he made that warpaint remark, I've seen quite a few.

AZRAEL
Oh come on Axel, I'm going to be late for my post as it is. We'll prove it -- ask us something only we would know.

Pause.

INTERCOM / AXEL
(crackle) (singing)
You didn't have to look my way.
Your eyes still haunt me to this day.
But you did. Yes, you did.

Zero hangs his head. Azrael sighs. Hazel rolls her eyes.

AXEL
(singing)
You didn't have to say my name.
Ignite my circuits and-

ZERO, AZRAEL AND HAZEL
(together) (singing)
-start a flame
but you did.

The intercom clicks off while they keep singing. Hazel makes exaggerated conductor hand motions.

HAZEL: Oh, Turpentine
ALL: Erase me whole
AZRAEL: Cause
ZERO: I
HAZEL: I don't
ALL: Want to live my life alone
AZRAEL: Well
ZERO: I
HAZEL: I was
ALL: Waiting for you all my-

The gates open and Axel, a meerkat wearing a bowler hat, steps out and glares at them.

AXEL
You're as tone-deaf as ever Zero. (waves) Get in here before somebody sees you! (to Judy and Nick) Who are you?

AZRAEL
Axel? Officer Judy Hopps, and Officer Nick Wilde. And, uh, officers, this is our friend Axel Suricatti. A-K-A, T-S fifteen.

Axel stares blankly at them with wide eyes. He tips his hat to them; the fur underneath the hat is blue.

AXEL
P-Please, come in.

INSIDE GATE

The group is watched from a security camera. It zeroes in on Nick and Judy as they follow the group to the main building.

NICK
Suricatti?

AXEL
He was my grandfather. (opens the door) I'll explain later.

ELEVATOR

Axel presses a button and the elevator creeks upwards. Axel takes out a pack of cigarettes and offers one to Azrael.

AXEL
Smoke?

AZRAEL
(shakes his head) Not anymore.

AXEL
Yeah, me neither. (pause) Hell of a way to quit, huh?

AZRAEL
(smiles and nods) I wouldn't recommend it, but I can't deny the results.

AXEL
(nods) So. . . (to Judy) I assume this is about Mr. Big?

JUDY
Indirectly. We know how things work in the underground, and we were hoping-

AXEL
That I might be able to schmooze the Suricattis into watching all the Sahara gangs for you?

NICK
Just the ones who might be dealing in Howlers.

While they are talking, Axel glances up at Zero, who sighs and extends an open palm to receive the cigarettes behind his back.

JUDY
I know it's a lot to ask, but, well, given your history with the Howlers-

AXEL
No, I get it. (the elevator stops) And I might know someone else who can help.

ROOFTOP ARBOREAL GARDEN

The door swings open and Axel steps out onto the grass.

AXEL
There was originally going to be a penthouse in the middle. But they lost faith that I would honor the business arrangement after I died, so they stopped here.

JUDY
Well, it. . . Still looks lovely.

A green figure rises up from the grass right behind her. Judy's ears perk at a rustling of grass, one of them brushing against Nick's face. They turn around -- a Tasmanian devil is standing at ease behind them, eyes forward and unblinking. Nick and Judy freeze with wide eyes and clenched teeth.

AXEL (off screen)
Woah, woah, woah!

Axel scurries up beside the Tasmanian devil and puts his arm around her.

AXEL
Ari, these are our guests, Officer Hopps, and Officer Wilde. And, um, this is my friend and neighbor of five years (winks), Ariel Deville. A, uh. . . You know, Orphan.

Ariel glances to the side at Axel, then turns her eyes back to Judy and Nick. She nods, then puts her arm around Axel's shoulders -- a tri-blade boomerang is clutched in her hand. Axel glances wide-eyed down at the weapon, then back up at Judy and Nick with a nervous grin.

---

Axel Suricatti & Ariel Deville are ©  Terastas.

Zootopia is © Disney.

Original artwork by  BluHellWulf. Link to the original is still pending.