Scene: the cellar of a ruined victorian mansion has been converted into a laboratory. Various electrical devices provide most of the light, with sparks and flashes, while overhead naked bulbs struggle to penetrate the cobwebbing. In a cages against one wall, ducks with feathers of various shades of green brood morosely. In a large retort a pale egg simmers quietly.
"Gentlemen!"
A silhouetted figure at the top of the stairs demands the attention of several figures moving about the laboratory in coats that might once have been white.
"Word has reached my ears that suggests the privacy of our vital mission here is no longer secure. We must prepare to leave by dawn."
"But! But, Professor! The experiments are at a crucial juncture! If we have to abandon the laboratory now, we will interrupt the incubation. It could take us months to regain the ground we will lose!"
"Gentlemen, there is no time to waste. I have every confidence in your abilities to complete our project on schedule. To fail would be to risk that for which you paid so dearly."
One of the scientists turned to another, murmuring "I think he means... our three-piece suites! I saw what happened when he loosed that hound of his on poor Throckmorton's sofa." he shuddered.
Somewhere in the distance a dog barked.
Meanwhile somewhere in Soho .....
Marlena the long legged barmaid stuck her chewing gum under the counter before turning to serve a customer.
`Whatchya wan, love?`. she droaned.
`Something green, my dear`, sneered the punter.
`Wotchu fink this is? Some veggie joint? Oi! Hercules`. She gestured to the bouncer. `This bloke`s asking for green stuff`.
Hercules narrowed his eyes in a menacing manner. `We don`t do green. Gottit?` he snarled.
`My fine fellow, I think you`ll find that you are mistaken. In fact,` and with that the customer sprang over the bar with the grace of a gazelle, crashing into a crate of Avocat and destroying several jars of Maraschino cherries. Nonchalantly removing stray cherries from his hair, he moved purposefully towards ...
`NO!` screamed Marlena, `Keep away from the kennel!`.
With a cavalier gesture he flung open the door of the bolted galvanised dog kennel. `Aha, as I thought. Mimi, The Great Green Mother Duck!`
Marlena and Hercules quailed.
