INT – DOG POUND – DAY
Eliza looks around the pound, dismayed.
ELIZA
Ugh. For months, I've avoided these guys. One week with you and I'm busted.
ACE
No dog has ever come out of here.
RANDY
Oh, come on, it can't be that bad.
Randy looks around and sees all the animal control equipment.
A growling sound comes from the vents.
RANDY
What was that?
ELIZA
What was that?
ACE
What was that?
Animal control officers open the doors. Randy jumps out of the truck.
RANDY
Run, guys, run!
Eliza and Ace run, but Randy bumps into Abby, knocking her down.
ABBY
Ah, get this mongrel off of me!
Abby's dog Duke approaches Randy.
DUKE
You've made my master very unhappy. And when she's not happy, I'm not happy.
HORACE
Hey, boss. You'll never believe who we caught—the Great Muttician.
Abby examines Eliza and Randy.
ABBY
A golden retriever? Barely worth the time. Her skills might make her a rare breed, but still.
Her friend, on the other hand.
Abby looks closely at Randy's fur and bandaged leg.
ABBY
I've never seen fur like this—such great color for an Alaskan Malamute.
Let me look at that leg, though.
Abby removes Randy's bandages and inspects his leg.
ABBY
Looks like this one's leg has recovered.
Abby considers what to do with them.
Abby snaps her fingers.
ABBY
Put them in the salon.
Bob grabs Randy, throws him into the salon, and slams the door.
Randy tries to get out, but can't.
A metal arm lifts Randy into the air, and scrub brushes cover him with soap.
Water sprays Randy from hoses.
Another metal arm brushes Randy's teeth.
Randy sits in a chair and has his picture taken.
Eliza and Ace undergo the same treatment.
Abby sends images of Randy, Eliza, and Ace to Uncle Max, the owner.
Animal control officers place Randy, Eliza, and Ace in a cage with other dogs.
The dogs in the cage recognize Eliza.
WINNIE
It can't be. Muttician?
RANDY
And Randy Wolf and Ace. We're a team.
WINNIE
I thought you worked alone.
ELIZA
It's complicated.
Ace knocks a pebble into a vent on the ground.
ACE
Where does this go?
WINNIE
Wait, no.
A giant roar and a blast of air come from the vent.
WINNIE
That's where the dog-eating dungeon monster lives. But as long as we stay up here, we're safe.
Anyway, that's Rose, the Collie. She had a family, but they moved away and never came back.
Jamie, the Great Dane, and Evan, the Bearded Collie, lived in the junkyard until animal control found them.
Joey, the Labrador puppy, escaped from a pet store but was caught by animal control after hiding from a werewolf.
Danny, the Dalmatian, was one of the famous 101. His siblings are still together, but he was caught and is waiting for his owner.
Judy and Baxter, the Sheepdogs, grew up in the wilderness until animal control found them.
JUDY
Make yourselves at home.
RANDY
What? No, I have to get out and get home. My family is worried sick about me.
If I make this my new home, they'll think I ran away.
ROSE
Sorry, no dog ever gets out of here. Believe us, we've tried.
The dogs tell Randy, Eliza, and Ace about their failed escape attempts.
They attempted to steal trucks but were caught.
They tried sneaking out at night, but they set off the alarms and were caught.
They tried hitching rides in trucks but were caught and sent back.
RANDY
Well, obviously, you've never worked with us.
ELIZA
Give me 24 hours, and I'll find a way.
INT – UNCLE MAX'S LOCATION – DAY
Uncle Max reviews photos of recently captured dogs on his tablet.
He sees pictures of Eliza, Ace, and Randy.
MAX
Randy?
Randy gets into Anna's limo and tells the driver to take him to the pound.
INT – DOG POUND – DAY
Max arrives at the pound and speaks to Abby, the manager.
Abby takes Max to see the latest arrivals.
Randy recognizes Max and approaches him with a smile.
RANDY
Uncle Max?
ELIZA
Uncle?
Rose sniffs Max and growls, calling him 'The black wolf.'
ROSE
The black wolf.
Randy jumps up excitedly, calling Max 'Uncle, uncle.'
MAX
Yes, that's the one.
Anna snaps her fingers and points at Randy.
Duke grabs Randy's ear and walks him into a kennel.
Max picks up Randy's carrier and carries him to the hall.
Abby walks into a metal door and closes it behind her.
MAX
Go on in. I need a minute.
Max lets Randy out of the kennel and speaks to him.
MAX
You have the moonstone ring. Right?
Randy smiles and nods.
Max takes the ring from Randy and puts it on his finger.
RANDY
You won't believe how we got it. And it wasn't just me, it was my friend, Eliza, too.
Wait, I can't leave my friends, Eliza and Ace.
MAX
Don't worry, you won't. You can stay here with them.
RANDY
What? But I have to come home. I bet Mom is worried about me.
MAX
She is, but I don't care. Now with the moonstone ring and you and your father out of the way, all I have to do is get rid of your mom somehow, and I'm the leader of the pack.
Max knocks on the metal door.
MAX
You're right. The purple Alaskan Malamute is too valuable to lose. Keep it.
Abby returns and puts Randy back in the carrier, then locks him in the cage.
RANDY
He left me. I can't believe he left me.
Randy turns around, looking sad. Other dogs notice.
Eliza approaches Randy, confused.
ELIZA
How is your uncle a werewolf?
Randy thinks about how to explain.
RANDY
Um.
JAMIE
This must be one of those awkward moments.
ELIZA
Who are you? Or instead, what are you?
RANDY
Eliza. I tried to tell you.
I was born a werewolf. And I've only been one for a few days.
That's why when we met, I told you not to call me a dog, because I told you I was a human, but you didn't believe me.
I even tried to tell you that you should trust me because of the werewolf oath: the strength of the wolf is the pack.
But I was afraid that if I did, you'd figure it out and judge me like you did my family.
ELIZA
Oh my gosh, it all makes sense.
That's why you acted so weird, defended the werewolves from my comments, and had no idea how to be a dog.
ACE
And why that ring glowed when he got near it, and why he has a werewolf hunter as an enemy.
RANDY
Guys, it's still me inside.
ELIZA
You lied to us. Maybe that's why your uncle left you here, because your family doesn't want you.
RANDY
No, Eliza. My mom is worried sick about it.
It's my uncle and cousins who don't like me.
My uncle wants to be the leader of the pack.
So he took the moonstone ring and left.
ACE
And I don't blame him.
RANDY
Ace.
ACE
Stay away from us.
Eliza and Ace run into a corner. Other dogs scowl at Randy.
DANNY
Tsk-tsk-tsk.