This is a five-minute play I wrote for my high school's drama class.  I did most of the work, since my partner was suspended from school shortly after this project was assigned.  Hope you enjoy it.

The dogs in this story are fictional.  Any resemblance to actual canines, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

"The Alley"

(Curtain opens.  Stage reveals a city alley at night.  Several trashcans and a door are visible.  City sounds are heard.)

(A young dog, RUNT, enters stage right.  The abused canine is limping and breathing heavily.  RUNT sits down hard on the ground and lies back against the alley wall, whining.  He starts licking his paw.  Suddenly, a commotion is heard offstage.  RUNT cowers in the shadows as someone approaches.)

(Enter BOOMER, stage left.  He is wearing a wheelchair device.  He looks back offstage as he walks.)

BOOMER: …And make sure she gets it good, awright?  Doggy-style or otherwise! 

(BOOMER laughs to himself and then turns back around.  He continues walking, but stops when he catches sight of RUNT, who flinches upon being seen.)

BOOMER: (taking a step towards Runt.)  Hey, pup, you okay?  (When RUNT doesn't respond, he steps back and shouts to someone offstage.)  Hey, Butch!  Take a look at this!

(Enter BUTCH, stage left.  He and BOOMER position themselves on either side of RUNT so he can't escape.)

BUTCH: Hey, pup, where y'from?  You shouldn't be alone in dis part 'o da city.  You know da streets?

(RUNT gives no answer.)

BOOMER: (impatiently) Hey, Butch asked you a question.

RUNT: Leave me 'lone.  I'm fine.

BUTCH: You don't look fine.  C'mon, where y'from?

RUNT: (painfully) Far away.

BUTCH: You a pet?  You gotta owner?

(RUNT whines and tries to look away.)

BOOMER: Hey, we ain't gonna hurt you.  We jus' wanna know what's the matter wit you.  (Pause)  Is something wrong wit your legs too?

(RUNT sighs sadly)

BUTCH: (very impatiently) Look, pup, I'm tired of all these questions.  Now where are you from?!  Huh?!  What's wrong wit you?!

RUNT: (breaking down) Look, I'm from out of town, okay??!!  (The other dogs jump back from the initial outburst.)  I'm so afraid.  My owner just…just kept beating me so I ran.  I just ran and ran and…now I have nowhere to go.  (Starts sobbing)  I need help…I'm so scared…(collapses on the ground and continues sobbing as his listeners look on unemotionally.  BOOMER and BUTCH look at each other when RUNT pulls himself together.)

BUTCH:  Ya finished?

RUNT: (sniffs) Sorry, I just…(recovers)

BOOMER: Well, what happened?

RUNT: (sighing) I used to belong to a really nice old man.  When he died, I was given to the man's son 'bout six months ago.  He hated animals, and I guess that's why he decided to make my life miserable.  Every time I was in his way, he'd kick me around and hit me with anything he could find…his fists even!  Two days ago, he threatened me with his gun, and I knew I couldn't stay there much longer.  So, when he was asleep, I took his gun and…an…

BOOMER: (shocked) You shot him?

RUNT: Point blank in the head.  (Pause)  I had to!  He would've killed me first!  Then I ran for two days and…here I am.  The cops'll probably think it was a suicide.  They wouldn't think a dog killed him anyway.

BUTCH: Damn, you must've been hungry or thirsty from walkin' nonstop for two days.

RUNT: Nah, I got water from drains and ditches and food from trashcans.  Not very pleasant, but at least I'm still alive.

BOOMER: Well, I think your master got what he deserved.  That must've made you feel real good, huh?

RUNT: (defensively) I sure don't feel so good…I have nothing now!  You don't know what it's like to lose everything!

BOOMER: (angrily) Hey, don't talk to me about losing everything!  You know how I lost the use of my legs?  I used to live with a family of four, and one day we were all traveling in the same car.  We never saw the semi that hit us…my whole family was killed and I ended up wearing this!  (Points to his wheelchair)  Ever since then, I have been laughed at, ridiculed, and beaten up by other dogs.  You have no idea how lucky I am to have found friends in this part of the city!

RUNT: Well, at least you were given a second chance!

(Pause)

BOOMER: (to BUTCH) Maybe he could stay with us.

BUTCH: (glares at BOOMER, then turns to RUNT.) Pup, I've lived in dis city my whole life.  There's a whole new set o' rules out here.  "Survival of da fittest."  You wouldn't last one day.

RUNT: So what am I supposed to do? (Starts crying again.)

BOOMER: (aside, to BUTCH.)  What are we gonna do?

BUTCH: I dunno, but one thing I know for sure is dat he can't stay here!

(BOOMER and BUTCH approach RUNT again.  Enter LISA and MINDY, stage right.  LISA grabs MINDY'S shoulder and points at BOOMER.  None of the male dogs see the female dogs.)

LISA: (to MINDY) Hey, look who it is!  (Calls out)  Yoo-hoo!  Boomer! (The females approach the males, who look in their direction.)

BOOMER: (surprised) Lisa?  Mindy?

BUTCH: (to BOOMER) You know these bitches?

LISA and MINDY: (alarmed) HEY!

BOOMER:  He's just callin' you 'female dogs', dat's all.  (Hits BUTCH softly in the arm.)

BUTCH: (annoyed, to BOOMER) Where've you met 'em?

BOOMER: I knew these girls at the obedience school I attended before the accident.  (To LISA and MINDY) What brings y'all here?  I haven't heard from you two in months!

LISA: Just walking around.  Seeing the sights.

MINDY: Yeah, we'd be happy to stick around if Bonehead here would stop insulting us.

BUTCH:  It's Butch.  And I ain't gonna be talkin' to no collared dogs 'round here.

(MINDY starts to argue, but LISA grabs MINDY'S shoulder to get her attention.)

LISA: (pointing at RUNT) What's wrong with him?

(BOOMER is about to answer, but MINDY blurts out to RUNT.)

MINDY: Hey, pup, you alright?

RUNT: (loudly) Will everyone please stop calling me 'pup'?  My name is Runt!

BOOMER: (to girls) He's in bad shape.  He needs someplace to live.

(LISA and MINDY whisper to each other.  Then they turn to the male dogs.)

MINDY: Tell you what…Why don't the three of you come live with us?

BUTCH: (shocked) What??!!

BOOMER: Where?

LISA: At this big Victorian house not far from here.

MINDY: Yeah, after we heard Boomer disappeared, our master went bankrupt and had to sell us.  An old woman who keeps lots of dogs at her house adopted us.  She always tries her hardest to find new homes for us.

BUTCH: (unimpressed) Sounds like a run-down, one-man animal shelter to me.

LISA: (insulted) Hey, we're better taken care of there than we are in any other shelter in the whole city!

BUTCH: Well, I ain't going.  I was born in the city, and that's where I'll stay.  But I'm sure these two will be glad to go wit you.  (Motions to RUNT and BOOMER.)

RUNT: (excitedly) Really?

BOOMER: But, Butch, I… (BOOMER looks back at LISA and MINDY, who have sat down next to RUNT and begun comforting him.  BOOMER rolls off to the side as BUTCH follows him.)  I don't see why I got to go!

BUTCH: Ain't it obvious?

BOOMER: Look, if it's about the wheels, you said it yourself: 'the other dogs respect that.'

BUTCH: But that doesn't mean they like you.  I'm sorry, but it's more than just the wheels.  You have too nice a face.  You're not aggressive enough to claim your territory or attack anyone or nothin'!  You just don't fit in here!  You never have!

BOOMER: (astonished) W-well what the hell am I supposed to do now?

BUTCH: As a friend, I am telling you that the best thing for you to do is to go with Runt and the girls to wherever they're going.  They-

BOOMER: (trying to control himself) But I've grown too attached to this place!

BUTCH:  (puts paw on BOOMER'S shoulder.) Hey, you've gotta stop kidding yourself, Boomer.  You don't fit in, every other city dog hates you, and most importantly, you're miserable.  It's time for you to go…to be happy again…like before the accident.

(BOOMER lets out a sob, but sniffs and quickly recovers.  He and BUTCH walk back over to RUNT, who is being helped to his feet by LISA and MINDY.  RUNT still limps, so he has an arm around each girl's shoulder for support.)

RUNT: (to the girls) How far away is your home?

MINDY: A few blocks down that way.  (Points offstage.)

BUTCH:  (to RUNT) Okay, here's the deal.  Boomer is gonna be goin' to the shelter with Runt and the bi-…'female dogs.'  (looks over his shoulder.)  You guys had better get goin' before the other city dogs get here.

MINDY: Thanks, Butch.

LISA: Yeah, you're okay.

(BUTCH smiles briefly, but quickly clears his throat.)

BUTCH: Now g'wan.  Get outta here.

(LISA and MINDY exit stage right with RUNT.  BOOMER stays behind.)

BOOMER: I'll miss ya, dawg.  (Gives BUTCH a "thug hug".)

BUTCH: Yeah, I'll miss ya too.

BOOMER: Don't stop hittin' on da ladies, okay?

BUTCH: Oh you don't need to worry 'bout dat, Boomer.  Now, get outta here.

BOOMER: (smiles at BUTCH and then exits stage right.)  Hey, guys!  Wait up!

BUTCH: (sighing to himself alone in the alley.)  Damn.

(BUTCH exits stage left.)

(Curtain closes.)