Episode 7 Man's Best Friend ACT II

[A little later. Robbie and Alexandra are in the Kitchen. They are feeding the dog. ]

Robbie: Don't worry, Alexandra. We'll find the owner.

Alexandra: How, Robbie?

Robbie: Let me think.

Alexandra: [ to the dog ] Gemma, sit. Good Gemma. Give me your paw. Good Gemma. This dog is well trained.

Robbie: She likes you, too. 

Alexandra: So how are we going to find the owners?

Robbie: With a little help from the ASPCA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They're the ones.

Robbie: We once found a cat. She was caught in the branches of our tree. And Dad called the ASPCA. They came and solved the problem.

Alexandra: Robbie, let's call them.

[ Robbie looks up the number in the telephone book. ]

Robbie: Let me see -- ASPCA... Here it is. ASPCA Animal Shelter. 555-7700. [ He calls. ]

Linda(Worker): Hello, ASPCA. 

Robbie (on phone): Hello, my name is Robbie Stewart. I have a lost dog. I'd like to bring her to you. How late are you open?

Linda(Worker): We're open till nine P.M.

Robbie: Thank you. I'll bring the dog over by nine. 

Linda(Worker): Thanks. Bye.

Robbie: Thanks. Good-bye. [ He hangs up the phone. ]

Alexandra: They're still open?

Robbie: They're open until nine o'clock. We have two and a half hours. Let's take Gemma by there now. They'll find the owner.

Alexandra: I hope so. I'm so sad to see this little dog without her family.

Robbie:  I'm sure they'll find the owner. But if they don't, I'll adopt her. She's so cute. Look at those eyes. She's hard to resist. Don't you just love her?

Alexandra: I'd like to keep her, too. But I'll be going home to Greece at the end of the semester. She just wants love and affection.

Alexandra: Come on, Robbie. Let's get her to the animal shelter, so they can find her owners quickly. [ to the dog ] Don't worry, Gemma. We'll get you home. It's not easy being away from home. 

Robbie: Come on, poochie. Atta girl! Let's go. We're off to the animal shelter.

[ At the ASPCA Animal Shelter. Robbie and Alexandra are in the office of the shelter's director, Linda Aborn. ]

Linda(Worker): [ She writes on a form. ] Your name?

Robbie: Robbie Stewart. And this is Alexandra Pappas.

Linda(Worker): Your name will do, Mr. Stewart. Your address?

Robbie: 46 Linden Street, Riverdale.

Linda(Worker): Where did you find the dog?

Robbie: She found us.

Linda(Worker): You tried calling the number on the collar? 

Robbie: Yes, but the number's no longer in service.

Linda(Worker): And there's no address on the dog tag?

Alexandra:  There's no other information. 

Linda(Worker): No ID number. Without that, it's hard.

Alexandra: You will try to find the dog's owner?

Linda(Worker): Oh, we'll try, believe me.

Robbie: And if you don't? 

Linda(Worker): Yes?

Robbie: If you don't? ... can I ... can I adopt the dog?

Linda(Worker): Why, yes. If the owners don't claim the dog in forty-eight hours, then you can apply for adoption.

Robbie: How do I do that?

Alexandra: You really want to?

Robbie: Yes, I'm serious. If no one comes to claim Gemma, I'd like to adopt her.

Linda(Worker): It's not difficult.