"WELL, I HOPE THAT FAN'S SATISFIED WITH HER SOUVENIER." A SHIRTLESS HOWIE EXASPERATES. "MAYBE SHE CAN GET THE ORANGE CRUSH STAIN OUT OF IT FOR ME."
"MY SHOE'S MISSING." KEVIN SAYS IN A LOW VOICE. HE WIGGLES HIS TOES INSIDE HIS SOCK AND SIGHS.
"WELL, MY CAP'S GONE," A.J. ADDS," ALONG WITH MY NEW SHADES."
"I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY BAG OF HAIR." A PAINED NICK WHIMPERS, HOLDINGHIS HEAD. "OH IT 'URTS."
"WEREN'T YOU WEARING A CAP EARLIER?" DIANA ASKS NICK, ONE HAND ON HIS SHOULDER.
"WHAT DIFFERENCE DID IT MAKE?" NICK WHINES.
"AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T HAVE SCISSORS LIKE THAT ONE TIME." BRIAN POINTS OUT WHILE TRYING TO RE-BUTTON HIS SHIRT.
"DON'T REMIND ME." NICK GROANS WITH A SHUDDER.
"ONE DOWNFALL OF FAME," BRIAN EXPLAINS TO THE GIRLS, "NEVER WEAR SOMETHING YOU LIKE IN PUBLIC 'CAUSE CHANCES ARE SOME FAN'S GONNA MAKE A REALLY NICE SOUVINEIR."
"HEY, WHERE'S LAURA?" KEVIN ASKS, GLANCING OVER THE ENTIRE AREA OF THE STUDIO ENTRANCE. EVERYBODY SCANS THE AREA WITH HIM, BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF LAURA. THEY WANDER DOWN THE ENTRANCE HALL INTO THE MAIN STUDIO BUILDING, ALL THE WHILE KEEPING THEIR EYES PEELED FOR LAURA.
ONCE INSIDE THE STUDIO, THEY CAN'T IGNORE THE INTERCOM ECHOING OFF THE WALLS OF THE HUGE AREA.
PEOPLE BUSTLE BY IN HASTE, SEEMINGLY OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT THEY JUST BRUSHED UP AGAINST A BACKSTREET BOY. MAKE-UP ARTISTS SCURRY ON, THEIR MAKE-UP BOXES CLANKING ALONGSIDE THEM. AGENTS STROLL PAST, YELLING INTO THEIR CELLULAR PHONES ABOUT HOW THEIR CLIENTS ARE THE ONE FOR THE JOB.
CREWMEN RUMBLE ALONG PUSHING HEAVY EQUIPMENT OR LUGGING BULKY BOXES. SUPERMODELS SAUNTER BY, CHATTERING AMONGST THEMSELVES, AND IT TAKES DIANA THREE HARD WHACKS ON THE BACK TO GET A.J. AND NICK TO QUIT STARING WITH THEIR MOUTHS OPEN.
CONTINUING THROUGH THE MAZE, THEY SLOWLY MAKE THIER WAY
THROUGH THE CROWD OF CREW, AND SUPERMODELS, AND AGENTS OVER TO WHERE J IS TO MEET THEM.
"THREE MORE DISORDERLY FANS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY." A SECURITY GUARDS WALKIE TALKIE BUZZES AS THE GROUP WALKS PAST. THE DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE FAN'S CAUSES BRIAN AND KEVIN TO STOP DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS...."BLONDE HAIR;
BLUE EYES; IN UPPER TEENS OR EARLY 20'S; ANSWERS TO NAME OF LAURA...." IT CONTINUES ON WITH THE DESCRIPTIONS.
"UH, EXCUSE ME." KEVIN BUTTS IN, STEPPING IN FRONT OF THE GUARD. "BUT WE'RE MISSING A MEMBER OF OUR PARTY AND THE DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE DISORDELY FANS JUST GIVEN MATCHES HER." HE STOPS AND WATCHES THE SECURITY GUARD PONDER THE INFORMATION.
"ARE YOU SURE?" HE MAKES CERTAIN, AND KEVIN NODS. THE GUARD CLICKS ON HIS WALKIE TALKIE AND SAYS A CODE NAME BEFORE RELAYING KEVIN'S INFO TO THE CHIEF. THE CHIEF REPLIES SOMETHING IN RETURN AND THE GUARD LATCHES THE
WALKIE TALKIE BACK ON HIS POCKET.
"YOU'RE FRIEND IS DOWN AT THE POLICE STATION." THE GUARD STATES, WHILE THE GROUP LOOKS ON IN ASTONISHMENT. "WE'LL ARRANGE FOR SOMEONE TO PICK HER UP AND DROP HER OFF HERE, SO THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY. THEY SHOULD BE
ARRIVING IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES." KEVIN AND THE REST THANK THE GUARS AS THE HE CONTINUES HIS ROUNDS.
THE INTERCOM BOOMS AGAIN AND STARTLES THE LOT OF THEM. "BSB AND PARTY, IF YOU ARE IN THE BUILDING, MR. WRIGHT IS WAITING FOR YOU IN HALLWAY B."
"WE BETTER GET OVER THERE." BRIAN TELLS THE GROUP, LEADING THE WAY. GETTING CLOSER TO THE AREA THEY SPOT J WAITING IMPATIENTLY IN THE HALL, PACING AND LOOKING AT HIS WATCH. WHEN HE SEES THEM MAKING THEIR WAY
TOWARDS HALLWAY B, STORMS UP TO THEM.
"WHAT'S THE DEAL, FELLAS? YOU'RE ALL 20 MINUTES LATE." HE SNARLS.
"WE'RE AWARE OF THAT, SIR." BRIAN DEFENDS. "WITH ALL THE FANS AND SOMEONE HIT THE LIMO ON THE WAY OVER, AND LAURA GOT SEPERATED FROM US AND IS DOWN AT THE POLICE STATION..."
"OK, ENOUGH EXPLANATIONS." J CUTS OFF. "THERE ISN'T A LOT OF TIME. SORRY TO BE SO ABRUPT, BUT I DO RECALL YOU BOYS HAD AN APPOINTMENT HERE, AT THE STUDIO, AT 10:45." HE GLARES UP AT ALL OF THEM COLDLY. "AND..... YOU ARE LATE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT." HE LOOKS AT EACH ONE OF THEM ANGERILY. "BOYS, WE ARE ON AN EXTREMELY TIGHT SCHEDULE TODAY AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO STICK TO IT." HE MASSAGES THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE WITH FRUSTRATION.
"MAKE-UP'S IN STUDIO D; YOUR INTERVIEW HAS BEEN MOVED UP AND WILL BE IN AN HOUR AND 36 MINUTES." HE CONTINUES, "BRIAN, YOU NEED TO MEET UP WITH ME AND SIGN THOSE FORMS LATER AFTER THE INTERVIEW AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30. KEVIN, YOU HAVE A MEETING WITH ME AT 2:45. A.J., YOU'RE FREE UNTIL 4:4O THIS AFTERNOON, THEN YOU NEED TO COME IN FOR A QUICK INTERVIEW AND PHOTO-CALL. NICK, HOWIE, YOUR INTERVIEWS WERE LAST WEEK SO YOU JUST HAVE PHOTO-CALLS AT 3:30. OH, UM, NICK, YOU HAVE A QUICK INTERVIEW WITH A REPORTER FROM ONE OF THOSE TEEN MAGAZINES AT 4:30. AND YOU ALL HAVE ANOTHER INTERVIEW THIS AFTERNOON AT 5:30. TONIGHT, YOU HAVE A PRESS
CONFERENCE AT 6:45 AND AT 8:30, A DINNER DATE WITH MR. PEARLMAN IS ALSO PLANNED. HE WANTS TO CHECK UP AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING. AND IT WILL BE A FORMAL AFFAIR. DO WE HAVE THIS ALL DOWN?" HE LOOKS THEM EACH IN THE
EYE AND THEY ALL NOD. "THEN YOU'RE DISMISSED!" HE TURNS TO WALK OFF AND GLANCES BACK. "OH, AND HOWIE? GET SOME CLOTHES ON!"
"PHEW!" NICK SIGHS, LETTING HIS SHOULDERS SLUMP AS J WALKS PAST. "HE DIDN'T REMEMBER THE COOLER."
"WRONG." J WHISPERS OVER NICK'S SHOULDER. "COME WITH ME, MR. CARTER." NICK MOANS AS MR. WRIGHT AND HIM HEAD TOWARDS THE LIMO. THE GUYS TURN AND TRUDGE OFF JUST AS DONNA, THEIR OTHER MANAGER, AND THE GIRL'S SUPERVISOR,
WALKS UP TO THEM.
"HELLO GIRLS." SHE GREETS CHEERFULLY. "HERE'S YOUR SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY. BRENDA, YOU AND LAURA...." SHE PAUSES AND LOOKS AROUND. "WHERE'S LAURA?"
"SHE'S ON HER WAY." ESTHER ASSURES, AND DONNA CONTINUES.
"YOU AND LAURA ARE IN CHARGE OF MEETING WITH THE COSTUME DESIGNER AND ASSISTING WITH PICKING COSTUMES FOR BACK-UP DANCERS, BAND, AND THE BOYS FOR THE NEXT SHOW IN SEATTLE. IF YOU FOLLOW THROUGH DOWN THIS HALLWAY HERE, YOU'LL FIND ROOM 26B, WHERE THERE'S SURE TO BE SOME DESIGNS FOR YOU TO LOOK THROUGH. OK, DIANA, WE NEED YOUR HELP DOWN IN..."
SHE PAUSES FOR A MOMENT TO THINK. "ACTUALLY, IT WOULDN'T HURT TO HAVE ALL OF YOU DOWN IN MAKE-UP. ANGIE IS OUT TODAY, SO IT'S BEEN REAL INTERESTING. WE'LL WORRY ABOUT THE COSTUMES LATER. OH, WHEN FATIMA ARRIVES, YOU ALL NEED TO BE IN STUDIO 2B, TO HELP FINISH THE CHOREOGRAPHING FOR THE BOYS T.V PERFORMANCE ON THURSDAY. THAT'S THE CONCERT IN SEATTLE, REMEMBER? FATIMA SHOULD BE THERE TO WALK YOU ALL THROUGH THE FINAL STEPS. BUT FOR NOW, RUN ON DOWN TO MAKE-UP.
IT'S IN STUDIO D!" SHE YELLS AFTER THEM AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN THE HALL.
"WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DEADLINES TO MEET THIS WEEK." BRENDA GROANS, FOLLOWING ESTHER.
"I CAN HARDLY WAIT." ESTHER SARCASTICALLY ADDS.
"STUDIO D." DIANA SAYS, TURNING INTO THE DOOR. THEY HOP ACROSS THE INTERVIEW SET INTO THE SIDE ROOM LABELED "MAKE-UP AND DRESSING #2."
"HEY!" HOWIE GREETS WHEN HE SEES THE GIRLS DUCK INTO THE ROOM. THE GUYS LOOK UP THROUGH THE MAKE-UP CREW AND SMILE FOR GREETING.
"MAY I HELP YOU GIRLS?" A WOMAN WITH A LARGE COMPACT ASKS.
"YES, DONNA SENT US DOWN TO SEE IF WE COULD BE OF ANY HELP." ESTHER RECITES, BRENDA AND DIANA BEHIND HER.
THE WOMAN SMILES AND REPLIES, "OF COURSE. HALF OF OUR STAFF IS OFF TODAY, AND ANGIE IS OUT, SO WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET. MY NAME IS STELLA AND I'M HEAD OF MAKE-UP TODAY." SHE LEADS THEM OVER TO A HUGE MAKE-UP CASE AND ASKS, "DO ANY OF YOU KNOW HOW TO APPLY GREASE PAINT?" DIANA RAISES HER HAND, SO STELLA GIVES HER A LARGE CASE AND DIRECTS HER TOWARD HOWIE. "JUST MAKE WIDE SWOOPS." SHE DIRECTS, SUPERVISING DIANA WORK HER MAKE-UP MAGIC.
HOWIE SUDDENLY SNEEZES AND DIANA SWOOPS RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE OF HIS FOREHEAD INTO HIS HAIR.
"OH NO." SHE CRIES, LOOKING BACK AT STELLA, WHO CAN'T SEEM TO STOP LAUGHING.
"IT'S OKAY, HON. JUST COMB IT IN. IT WON'T DO ANYTHING." SHE LAUGHS. SHE TURNS AROUND TO THE OTHER GIRLS JUST AS NICK WALKS IN. HE BUMPS INTO HER AND WOULD HAVE KNOCKED HER DOWN, HAD BRENDA NOT BEEN THERE TO BREAK HER FALL.
"SORRY." HE APOLOGIZES, HELPING STELLA BACK UP AND MAKING SURE SHE'S OKAY BEFORE FLOPPING INTO A CHAIR. MAKE-UP CREW CROWD AROUND HIM AND GET TO WORK. BRENDA ROLLS HER EYES AS SHE REGAINS HER COMPOSURE AND TURNS BACK AROUND.
"YOU TWO GIRLS CAN HELP IN COSTUME." STELLA EXPLAINS, POINTING DOWN THE HALL. "THE STORAGE WHERE THE COSTUMES ARE KEPT IS IN THAT AREA DOWN THERE, JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF THE MINI STAGE." SHE LEADS THEM DOWN THE HALL TOWARDS THE COSTUME CLOSET. WITH A KEY, SHE OPENS THE DOOR AND SHOWS THEM WHICH OUTFITS ARE SET OFF FOR THE BOYS. "THE THING ABOUT THE DOOR THOUGH,
I HAVE TO WARN YOU. IT LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IT SHUTS. IT'S JUST A SAFETY PRECAUTION WE HAVE ON SOME DOORS HERE, BUT A TIME OR TWO, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE LOCKED IN." SHE TAKES A FEW OUTFITS, AND THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE STUDIO WHEN THEY SEE LAURA HEADING DOWN THE HALL, APPARENTLY LOST.
"LAURA, DOWN HERE!" BRENDA CALLS. LAURA LOOKS UP AND HEADS THEIR WAY.
WHEN SHE'S CLOSE ENOUGH FOR HER TO HEAR THEM, BRENDA ASKS, "WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?" AS THEY ALL WALK IN THE DOOR, THE GUYS AND DIANA LOOK UP IN SURPRISE AS BRENDA ANNOUNCES, "LOOK WHO DECIDED TO COME BACK."
"THEY THOUGHT I WAS A FAN!" LAURA HUFFS, PUTTING HER HANDS ON HER HIPS, "I WAS REACHING FOR ESTHER'S HAND WHEN THIS COP PULLED ME BACK AND SAID, "SORRY MISS, THIS IS AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO." AND I TOLD HIM I WAS WITH YA'LL AND HE SAID TO PLEASE MOVE BACK. I TOLD HIM AGAIN AND PUSHED THROUGH AND HE GRABBED MY ARM AND SAID I HAD TO LEAVE THE PREMISES."
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" DIANA ASKS, THE SUSPENSE GROWING ON HER AND THE REST OF THE GROUP.
"WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO? I THREW HIS HAND OFF ME AND HIGH-TAILED IT AFTER YOU ALL! WHEN THE GUARDS GRABBED ME, I SHOVED THEM DOWN AND KEPT RIGHT ON TRUCKING IT. THAT IS, UNTIL THE COP PUT HANDCUFFS ON ME AND TOOK ME TO THE PATROL CAR." LAURA RECALLS.
"YOU WERE PUT IN HANDCUFFS?" ESTHER AND BRENDA INQUIRE IN UNISON.
"YES!" LAURA CONTINUES. "I WAS STUCK IN THE CAR WITH THESE TWO OTHER PSCOPATHS WHO WERE COMPLETELY OBSESSED. ONE OF THE GIRLS HAD YOUR SHIRT, HOWIE..."
"WELL THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW....." HE LAUGHS, WHILE DIANA APPLIES MORE GREASE PAINT.
"AND I WAS DOWN AT THE STATION EXPLAINING MY IDENTITY WITH NO SUCCESS TO THE HEAD CHIEF AT THE STATION WHEN SOME DUDE RADIOED IN AND SAID YOU GUYS WERE LOOKING FOR ME."
"AND THEY LET YOU OUT AND DROPPED YOU BACK OFF." A.J. FINISHES.
"IT MAKES ME MAD." LAURA FUMES. "THEY DIDN'T EVEN APOLOGIZE."
"SORRY TO INTURRUPT," A WOMEN CARRYING A MAKE-UP CASE BUTTS IN, "BUT COULD YOU POSSIBLY HELP ME WITH MR. RICHARDSON'S MAKE-UP." SHE LOOKS AT LAURA HOPEFULLY. "I WAS TOLD BY STELLA YOU ARE HELPING OUT." LAURA LOOKS UP AT KEVIN, WHOSE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND POKING AT THE SEMI-RETRO FRO SOMEONE HAD BLOWN HIS HAIR INTO.
"SURE." SHE LAUGHS, AND FOLLOWS THE WOMAN OVER TO KEVIN'S CHAIR.
"MR. CARTER, I BELIEVE YOUR MAKE-UP IS DONE NOW." STELLA AFFIRMS, APPLYING SOME POWDER ON TO NICK'S NOSE AND STEPPING BACK. "YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CHANGE INTO YOUR INTERVIEW ATTIRE." NICK GETS UP AND HEADS FOR THE COSTUME RACK . HE CHECKS THE TAGS ON THE OUTFITS, CRATCHES HIS HEAD, AND CHECKS THEM AGAIN.
FINALLY, HE LOOKS UP AT STELLA AND SAYS, "EXCUSE ME, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE MY OUTFIT IS HERE." STELLA WALKS OVER AND INVESTIGATES THE MATTER HERSELF.
"YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT, MR. CARTER," SHE AGREES, FLIPPING THROUGH THE CLOTHES ONE MORE TIME. "I MUST HAVE GRABBED TWO OF MR. RICHARDSON'S BY MISTAKE." SHE LOOKS BACK OVER AT NICK WITH A SMILE. "COME WITH ME AND WE'LL GO GET YOURS." THEY'RE WALKING OUT THE DOOR WHEN SOMEONE BECKONS STELLA FROM IN THE ROOM.
"YOU HAVE A PHONE CALL ON LINE 3." THE MESSENGER DELIVERS. "THEY SAID IT WAS URGENT."
"OK, I'LL TAKE IT." STELLA SIGHS, NICK FOLLOWING HER BACK INTO THE MAKE-UP ROOM. "UM, BRENDA HON, COULD YOU TAKE MR. CARTER TO GET HIS COSTUME, PLEASE?" STELLA BEGS, AS SHE WALKS TOWARDS THE PHONE. "IT SHOULD BE RIGHT THERE ON THE RACK." SHE INFORMS, HANDING THE KEY OVER TO BRENDA. LEFT WITH NO CHOICE, SHE TRUDGES OUT OF THE ROOM; NICK AT HER HEELS.
"YOU'RE STILL NOT TALKING TO ME?" HE ASKS, AS THE TWO MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN THE HALL. BRENDA SILENTLY UNLOCKS THE DOOR AND DOESN'T REPLY. "WHY NO..."
BRENDA'S BEEPER GOES OFF AS THEY STEP INSIDE THE COSTUME AREA AND SHE LOOKS DOWN TO SEE WHAT FOR. ONCE SHE READS THE MESSAGE SHE DELETES IT AND BEGINS TO SORT THROUGH THE COSTUMES. CURIOUSITY GETTING THE BEST OF HIM, NICK QUESTIONS, "WHO WAS THAT?"
"IT WAS DONNA." SHE REPLIES FLATLY.
"OH."NICK SAYS QUICKLY. "WHAT DID SHE HAVE TO SAY?"
BEING EXTREMELY SNIDE, BRENDA GROWLS, "YOUR PROCTOLOGIST CALLED. THEY FOUND YOUR HEAD."
"BRENDA?!" NICK EXASPERATES, TURNING HER AROUND. "SERIOUSLY."
"SHE WANTED ME TO KNOW FATIMA CAN'T MAKE IT UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON, OKAY?" SHE TURNS BACK AROUND AND CONTINUES TO CHECK THROUGH THE COSTUMES.
"BRENDA?" NICK STARTS TO BEG.
"HERE'S YOUR COSTUME." BRENDA CUTS OFF, HANDING AN OUTFIT OVER TO NICK WITHOUT LOOKING UP. SHE BEGINS TO MAKE HER WAY OUT THE DOOR, BUT NICK DARTS IN FRONT OF HER AND SHUTS IT.
"NICK!" SHE EXCLAIMS, PARANOIA OVERCOMING HER. "THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS!"
"WE'RE ON THE INSIDE." HE REPLIES SIMPLY, "YOU HAVE A KEY."
"BUT NO KEYHOLE, YOU DIPSTICK." BRENDA SPITS, POINTING AT THE DOORKNOB.
"OH..." NICK SAYS, NOT LOOKING BRENDA IN THE EYE. "WELL, IT'LL GIVE ME TIME TO SORT THINGS OUT WITH YOU."
"WHAT'S THERE TO SORT?" AN ENRAGED BRENDA ASKS. "THIS MAKES IT TWICE THAT YOU'VE HUMILIATED ME IN FRONT OF EVERYONE THIS WEEK! AND NOW YOU COME CRAWLING BACK, BEGGING FOR FORGIVENESS. ME, BEING THE SUCKER I AM, ALWAYS HAVE, THEN YOU WALK AROUND LIKE NOTHING'S HAPPENED AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN." SHE PUSHES THE COSTUMES OUT OF HER WAY AND SITS DOWN. "WHY BOTHER?"
"I'M SORRY..." NICK LET'S HIS VOICE TRAIL OFF AS HE SITS DOWN BESIDE BRENDA.
"THAT ISN'T GOING TO CUT IT THIS TIME." BRENDA SIGHS, LOOKING NICK IN THE EYE. "I CAN'T BE SURE THAT YOU WON'T GO OFF AGAIN MAKING PUBLIC ANY "INTIMATE" MOMENTS WE MAY HAVE HAD."
"BRENDA, LISTEN, I DIDN'T MEAN WHAT I SAID BACK IN THE LIMO. I WAS JUST PLAYING AROUND, THAT'S ALL." NICK INSISTS, LOOKING DOWN AT HIS HANDS.
"WELL, I JUST DON'T LIKE TO TAKE THAT SORT OF THING AS A JOKE." SHE ADMITS. "IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INSECURE ABOUT, AND.... I JUST DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT."
"I UNDERSTAND." NICK AGREES, STANDING UP. HE GRABS BRENDA'S HAND AND HELPS HER BACK ON TO HER FEET. "I WON'T BRING IT UP ANYMORE, OK?"
BRENDA LOOKS NICK STRAIGHT IN THE EYES AND ASKS, "IS THAT A PROMISE?"
" IT'S A PROMISE." HE RETURNS.
JUST THEN, THERE'S A KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND HOWIE'S VOICE CALLS, "NICK?! BRENDA?! YOU GUYS IN THERE?!"
"YEAH, WE'RE LOCKED IN! LET US OUT!" BRENDA YELLS BACK. "HERE'S THE KEYS." SHE CALLS, PASSING THE KEYS UNDER THE DOOR. HOWIE OPENS THE DOOR AND FREES THE TWO FROM THE COSTUME CLOSET. "I EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO YOU
FOR COMING WHEN YOU DID." BRENDA THANKS, GIVING HOWIE A PAT ON THE BACK WHILE TAKING THE KEYS FROM HIS HAND. "I'M CLAUSTROPHOBIC." HER AND NICK HEAD BACK TO THE MAKE-UP STUDIO WHILE HOWIE LOOKS ON.
"WHAT A BUNCH OF DIMWATS. LOCKING THEMSELVES IN A COSTUME CLOSET? PATHETIC." HE LAUGHS. HE LOOKS DOWN AND SEES NICK'S COSTUME ON THE FLOOR INSIDE THE ROOM. "THEY EVEN FORGOT NICKY'S COSTUME." HE SIGHS, STEPPING
INTO THE ROOM TO PICK IT UP. "I SWEAR, ONLY AN IDIOT COULD LOCK THEMSELVES IN HERE." HE CHUCKLES AND TURNS AROUND JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE DOOR CLICK SHUT.
"THEN AGAIN, MAYBE NOT." HE SAYS WARILY.
