The Trading Cages Transcript

Lincoln, Julie's House

Part 1:

Paige:  I'm Paige Davis, and this is "Trading Cages", the show where two pairs of rats take over each
    others' cages for two hours and completely redesign them.  Today we're in Lincoln, Nebraska, home
    of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  Let's just hope our cageowners don't find each other's work to be too
    "corny".  Hahaha!

(Camera cut to Frank, Doug, and Amy Wynn, walking along a row of corn.
Doug screams and runs away when a grasshopper lands near his feet.  Frank
and Amy Wynn laugh.)

Paige:  (V.O.) Our cageowners will have the able assistance of  "Trading Cages" designers Frank Bielec
    and Doug Wilson, along with carpenter Amy Wynn Pastor.

(Camera cut to Bugle and Button, lounging in their blue hammock.  Button
grooms behind Bugle's ear as they talk to the camera)

Bugle:  We really like our cage.  It's big, it's roomy, it smells just the way we like it...
Button:  But we really think it needs a little more pizzazz.  The wire has been black since the day we moved
    in, the stick-on tiles on the center level are in serious need of repair...
Bugle:  Yeah, that's really falling apart.
Button:  If there's one thing we really don't want messed with, it's our fine collection of imported Australian
    fleece pocket hammocks.  They were made by a very dear friend of ours, and we've chewed them
    perfectly to our taste...
Bugle:  Yeah, if those got painted or torn up, we'd be really upset.  There may even be biting involved.

Paige:  Bugle and Button are all set to give their friends' cage a makeover.  Dewey and CC are young and
    active, and they're hoping for something that's fresh and exciting.

(Camera cut to Dewey and CC.  Dewey is running in the Wodent Wheel
while CC balances on the roof of his igloo.)

Dewey:  We're really pretty open to anything.
CC:  Yeah, as long as it's not a cat theme. (chuckles)
Dewey:  (giggles)  That would be a little TOO exciting, I think.  I'd like to see some new colors, maybe a few
    new toys.
CC:  And a bigger food dish.
Dewey:  Much, MUCH bigger.
CC:  What I'd like to do to our friends' cage is to completely scent mark everything.  Maybe throw out some
    of those ratty old hammocks.
Dewey:  Those have seen better days.

(Camera Cut to Paige in the living room, sitting on the couch with Bugle
and Button on her right and CC and Dewey on her left.)

Paige:  Okay now, remember the rules.  Each team has just two hours and a budget of $100.  You won't know
    what's going on in your own cage until it's all over, so no peeking and no cheating.  Are you ready to Trade
    Cages?
Button, Bugle, Dewey, and CC:  Yep!
Paige:  All right!  Let's do it!

(CC and Dewey head off toward Bugle and Button's cage, while Bugle and
Button head toward CC and Dewey's.  Paige giggles.)

Paige:  Hmm...I think one of those rats left a gift in my lap!

(end part 1)

Button, Bugle, and Minstrel
Bugle (middle), Button, (right) and their cagemate Minstrel (left)
pose on top of CC and Dewey's cage