BRIAN, DIANA, AND LAURA QUICKLY DUCK BEHIND A NEARBY COKE MACHINE, AS . NICK TRIPS OVER HIS OWN TWO FEET AND FALLS UNDERFOOT A KNEELING A.J., WHO SEEKS REFUGE BEHIND A NEWSPAPER RACK NEAR THE ENTRANCE. BRENDA POKES HER HEAD OVER KEVIN'S SHOULDER AND WATCHES THE RED-FACED, PUDGY MAN AS HE GRABS HIS RIFLE FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT AND KICKS THE DOOR TO HIS TRUCK OPEN. "I ASSUME THIS IS A FRIEND OF YOURS?"
A.J. PEEKS OUT FROM BEHIND HIS HIDING SPOT AND CATCHES A GLIMPSE OF MERLE STORMING TOWARDS THE ENTRANCE OF THE SERVICE AREA, GUN IN HAND. "OH SHHH......!" HE STUMBLES OVER NICK AND RUNS OUT THE OPPOSITE EXIT DOOR.
"MMMPH!" NICK GRUNTS AS A.J. PLANTS HIS FOOT IN THE CENTER OF HIS GUT. "SHEEZ, WHAT THE HECK IS HIS PROBL......" HE TAKES ONE LOOK OUT THE WINDOW, AND IS QUICK TO FOLLOW A.J OUT THE OTHER DOOR. DIANA AND LAURA FOLLOW THEIR LEAD, AS DOES BRENDA AND BRIAN.
"WHAT'S GOING ON? WHY ARE WE RUNNING?" ESTHER COMES OUT FROM BEHIND A CANDY DISPLAY, HANDS ON HIPS, AND STANDS IN PLAIN VIEW IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW. "I MEAN, WHAT'S THE BIG....." BEFORE SHE CAN FINISH HER SENTENCE, KEVIN GRABS HER ARM AND RUSHES HER OUT THE EXIT IN FRONT OF HIM, JUST AS MERLE ENTERS FROM THE ENTRANCE ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SERVICE AREA.
THE SOUND OF THE GROUP'S SHOES POUNDING ON THE PAVEMENT ECHOES THROUGH OUT THE STATION AS THEY SCURRY THROUGH THE PUMP CENTER AND TOWARDS THE STREET, A.J. LEADING AND KEVIN BRINGING UP THE REAR.
"A.J.?! WHERE ARE WE GOING?!"
"JUST KEEP RUNNING GUYS!"
"WHO'S THAT GUY?!"
"RUN!"
"IS HE COMING?!"
"HURRY!" KEVIN COMMANDS, PUSHING DIANA AND BRIAN ALONG. HE TAKES A QUICK LOOK OVER HIS SHOULDER AT MERLE, WHO CLAMBORS OUT THE EXIT IN PURSUIT OF THEM.
"BRI! KEV! WATCH OUT!"
KEVIN TURNS JUST IN TIME TO SLAM INTO THE SIDE OF A CAR AS IT SKIDS TO A STOP IN FRONT OF HIM AND BRIAN. THE COLLISION THROWS KEVIN BACKWARD ON TO THE PAVEMENT AND HE LANDS IN PAIN WITH A DULL THUD. IN A DAZE, HE LIFTS HIS EYES AND PEERS UP AT THE CAR. "WHAT THE......HOWIE?!" HE CRINGES AS BRIAN AND A.J. LIFT HIM UP FROM THE GROUND AND TOSS HIM INTO THE BACKSEAT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE OTHERS QUICKLY PILE IN ON TOP OF HIM.
"HEY GUYS!" HOWIE GREETS CHEERFULLY AS ESTHER AND BRIAN PILE IN BESIDE HIM.
A.J. JUMPS IN BESIDE BRIAN. "HOWIE, GO!"
"WHY?" HE GAZES PAST A.J. AND LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW. "WHY....YIE-YIE!" HE SLAMS HIS FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND SPEEDS OUT OF THE STATION ONLY A FEW YARDS IN FRONT OF MERLE, WHO LUNGES AT THE VEHICLE AS IT DRIVES PAST. "WHAT THE..... I THOUGHT HE WAS......WHERE DID HE COME FROM?!"
LAURA PEERS OUT THE REAR WINDOW AT MERLE AND TURNS BACK TOWARDS HOWIE. "I WAS WONDERING THE SAME THING ABOUT YOU!"
KEVIN WINCES. "HOWIE?! HOW DID YOU KNOW TO FIND US AT THE GAS STATION?"
HOWIE PEERS BACK AT HIM AND SMILES SHEEPISHLY. "WELL, ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T. I HAD JUST NEEDED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM."
NICK SQUIRMS FROM UNDER LAURA AS HE TRIES NOT TO STEP ON BRENDA, WHO LIES IN A FETAL POSITION IN THE FLOORBOARD. "WHO WAS THAT GUY?!"
A.J. LIFTS HIS LEG UP OVER BRIAN AND PRESSES HIMSELF AS CLOSE AS HE CAN TO THE PASSENGER DOOR TO MAKE MORE ROOM FOR THE FOUR OF THEM THAT SIT IN FRONT. "KEVIN? CARE TO DO THE HONORS?!"
KEVIN BITES HIS LOWER LIP AS HE SITS UPRIGHT IN THE SEAT. "HIS NAME IS MERLE, AND HE'S JUST A LITTLE UPSET WITH ME, HOWIE, AND LAURA RIGHT NOW."
"I THOUGHT WE HAD LOST HIM BACK AT THE HOTEL!"
LAURA SHAKES HER HEAD. "HE RE-APPEARED RIGHT AFTER YOU DISAPPEARED, HOWIE. OUCH!" SHE GLARES AT NICK, WHO MUTTERS AN APOLOGY AND REMOVES HIS HAND FROM HER HAIR. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!"
A GROAN FROM UNDER A.J.'S SEAT CAUSES HIM TO JUMP, AND HIS EYES GROW WIDE WHEN A GIRL WITH MOUSEY-BROWN HAIR RISES FROM UNDER HIS FOOT. "HE WAS WUTH ME."
BRIAN LOOKS AT THE GIRL QUIZZICALLY. "WHO ARE YOU?"
KEVIN PULLS HIS HEAD UP ABOVE THE BACKSEAT AND EYES THE GIRL AS WELL. "WHO IS SHE?"
"MUH NAME'S LIZZE. I'M WITH 'EM." SHE ANSWERS, POINTING HER THUMB IN HOWIE'S GENERAL DIRECTION. "ME AND 'OL HOWIE D HERE WAS A-KIDNAPPED!"
ESTHER GAPES. "KIDNAPPED?!"
"YA-HUH." LIZZIE NODS.
BRENDA PULLS HERSELF INTO A SITTING POSITION AND GLARES RUEFULLY OVER AT HOWIE. "LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT: KEVIN? YOU GUYS HAVE SOME GUY WITH A RIFLE...."
"HIS NAME IS MERLE." KEVIN CORRECTS, RUBBING HIS HEAD.
"WHATEVER. YOU HAVE SOME GUY TRYING TO SHOOT YOU THREE DOWN FOR GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT HIS MOTIVE WAS, AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, SOMEONE WITH AN OBVIOUS LACK OF COMMON SENSE DECIDES TO KIDNAP HOWIE...."
"MARTY AND JOE. AND, ACTUALLY, THEY STOLE THE CAR AND FOUND ME STILL INSIDE LATER. THE THINGS THEY DID TO ME, YOU GUYS! THEY TIED ME UP AND PUT THIS SOCK IN MY MOUTH AND...."
"THANK YOU, HOWIE. ANY WAY, SOMEHOW, LAURA AND KEVIN HAVE THIS GUY......"
"MERLE."
"OKAY, KEVIN. MERLE, AFTER THEM, AND THEY FIND A.J. AND DIANA....."
"WELL ACTUALLY, ME AND DIANA FOUND LAURA, THEN WE WENT BACK TO GET KEV 'CAUSE THAT GUY, I MEAN MERLE, WAS HOLDING HIM HOSTAGE AT SOME GAS STATION. I SPED IN THERE WITH THE CONVERTI....."
"WILL YOU GUYS JUST PLEASE LET ME FINISH?!" BRENDA SPITS. THE GROUP GROWS SILENT AS SHE CONTINUES TO PIECE EVERYTHING TOGETHER OUT LOUD. "YOU GUYS MEET UP WITH KEVIN AND LAURA, AND ARE BEING CHASED BY THIS GUY....MERLE....." SHE ADDS QUICKLY, CUTTING OFF KEVIN BEFORE HE CAN CORRECT HER. "....WHEN WE ALL MEET UP HERE AT THE STATION. THAT'S WHEN WE ALL FIND BRIAN AND ESTHER AND THEN....."
"OH MAN, LOOK OUT!" NICK CRIES, PUSHING LAURA DOWN. THE GROUP DUCKS AS A BULLET WHIZZES PAST THE CAR AND DISAPPEARS SOMEWHERE IN FRONT OF THEM.
".....MR. SUNSHINE BACK THERE STARTS SPREADING HIS JOY WITH US!" BRENDA FINISHES, DIVING BACK INTO THE FLOORBOARD. NICK AND LAURA POUNCE ON TOP OF HER AS DIANA AND KEVIN CROUTCH DOWN BESIDE THEM.
"HE'S BACK TO HIS OLD TRICKS AGAIN!" A.J. YELLS, JOINING LIZZIE IN THE FLOORBOARD.
"KEV?! WHAT DO I DO?!" HOWIE SQUEAKS FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, SWERVING AROUND CARS THAT LIE IN THEIR PATH. ESTHER SCREAMS AS ANOTHER BULLET LODGES ITSELF IN THE SIDE MIRROR ON THE PASSENGER DOOR. BRIAN IS QUICK TO COVER HER WITH HIS BODY AND PRESSES HER DOWN LOWER IN THE SEAT BY LIZZIE.
"GOOD GAWD, WHAT HAVE YA DONE TO MAKE THAT MAN BACK THERE SO A-MAD?!" LIZZIE YELLS FROM UNDER A.J. HOWIE SWERVES AGAIN JUST AS ANOTHER GUNSHOT ECHOES BEHIND THEM.
"KEV?! WHERE DO I GO?!" HOWIE GRITS HIS TEETH. MAN, I WISH I HAD GONE TO THE BATHROOM BACK THERE WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE.......
"HOWIE, GET US TO THE VENUE! IT'S DOWN THAT MAIN STREET WHERE....."
"I KNOW WHERE IT IS! HOLD ON EVERYBODY!" HOWIE SWALLOWS AND FLOORS THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE VEERING INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE, DODGING CARS THAT COME HURTLING TOWARDS HIM. KEVIN REACHES OVER AND GRABS A FRIGHTENED LAURA'S HAND, GIVING IT A COMFORTING SQUEEZE. "HOWIE! ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S AT?! REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST....."
"I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING KEV!" HOWIE SHOUTS BACK, SAGGING DOWN LOWER INTO THE SEAT. "I KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING!"
ANOTHER GUNSHOT FIRES FROM BEHIND THEM AND BRENDA WRAPS HER ARMS TIGHTLY AROUND HER MIDDLE. "WE'RE GONNA DIE!"
"NO WE WON'T! I'LL GET US OUT OF HERE!" HOWIE CALLS BACK WITH CONFIDENCE.
BRENDA PAUSES. "WE'RE GONNA DIE!!!"
HOWIE SWERVES OUT FROM IN FRONT OF A U-HAUL TRUCK AND SKIDS THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION ON TO THE NEXT STREET. THE SOUND OF SKIDDING TIRES AND HONKING HORNS MIXED WITH THE SCREAMS OF ANGRY MOTORISTS AND THE ROARING OF ENGINES SURROUND THE CAR AS IT WHIRLS AROUND STREET SIGNS AND PEDESTRIANS, WITH MERLE GAINING ON THEIR BUMPER. THE ENGINE GROANS IN PROTEST AS HOWIE GUNS IT ONCE MORE. HE GLANCES DOWN AT THE SPEEDOMETER. "UH GUYS? WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF GAS!"
BRIAN COMFORTS ESTHER AS TEARS STREAM DOWN HER FACE. "WE'RE NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT!" SHE GULPS BREATHS OF AIR BETWEEN HER SOBS.
A WAIL ESCAPES DIANA'S THROAT AND SHE BURIES HER HEAD IN LAURA'S SHOULDER. BRENDA FIGHTS BACK TEARS AS SHE REACHES FOR NICK'S ARM AND CLINGS ON TO IT LIKE A FRIGHTENED CHILD. KEVIN SIGHS AND CLOSES HIS EYES. A.J. CASTS A SOMBER LOOK AT LIZZIE AND BRIAN BITES HIS LOWER LIP AS HE SAYS A SILENT PRAYER FOR ALL OF THEM.
THE SOUND OF SIRENS BLARE FROM ALL AROUND THEM AS THE POLICE SUDDENLY APPEAR ON THE SCENE AND RUSH AT THE TWO CARS. KEVIN'S EYES FLY OPEN AND HE SITS UP AND WATCHES A DOZEN OR MORE COP CARS PULL IN ALL AROUND THEM JUST AS HOWIE VEERS THE CAR OVER THE CURB AND HIGH-CENTERS IT RIGHT OUTSIDE THE VENUE'S MAIN ENTRANCE. KEVIN GAPES IN ASTONISHMENT AS THE OFFICERS SWAMP THE AREA, AND PULL MERLE FROM HIS TRUCK AND ON TO THE PAVEMENT A FEW YARDS AWAY FROM THEM. TURNING AT AN ABOUT-FACE, HE SHAKES HIS HEAD AT A SMILING HOWIE.
HOWIE SMILES IN RETURN. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW, KEV? I GOT US HERE AFTER ALL." THE OTHERS SHAKILY RISE AND HUG EACHOTHER IN RELIEF AND AS THE POLICE BEGIN TO ASSIST THEM ALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. HOWIE NODS AND GLANCES DOWN AT HIS WATCH. "HEY, KEV? AND 30 MINUTES EARLY, NO LESS!"
