Chapter Seven

(They leave for Kevin’s. cut to arriving at Kevin’s. dog greets Kevin excitedly.)

Kevin: my house is the same as Ellie’s.

Ellie: So we’re going to Carrie’s next, right?

Lee: Yeah.

Robyn: Your brothers have bikes, right Kevin? We could use them to get there.

Phil: Good idea. Hey, do you know anyone who didn’t go to the fair? That could be a way to find out what’s going on.

Lee: well I don’t think my parents went.

Amy: We should get going.

Kevin: (gesturing toward dog) Can we take Flip?

(everyone is silent for a moment, realizing Flip could be dangerous to take. Then they decide to take her.)

Phil: We might have to make some ugly decisions, though.

(Kevin nods, knowing what might have to happen. They leave for Carrie’s. Cut to arriving. Carrie runs into house first, then stops short, seeing the shape it’s in. She walks slowly in the living room, shocked. She stands, crying and Kevin comes and puts his arm around her. Stays like this for a little while.

Robyn: We should try to eat before we do any more.

(they agree and get something to eat. Short conference while they eat.)

Amy: Robyn’s house is next.

Lee: we might have more problems there, since it’s in town. What’s a safe way to get there?

Robyn: We should be pretty safe if we go on Coachman’s Lane. There’s also a hill behind my house where we can maybe see a bit of the town.

Phil: Sounds good. Let’s go, then.

(everyone goes out the door except Ellie and Carrie – Ellie is throwing away the garbage, Carrie is waiting at the door. As Ellie leaves, she walks by the fax machine and notices a fax.)

Ellie: Hey Carrie, want to see this?

Carrie: What is it?

Ellie: It’s probably an old one but you never know.

(Carrie reads it. Everything from “go camping” onward is underlined.)

Carrie: Carrie, I’m at the office at the fair. Something’s going on. People say it’s just army maneuvers but I’m sending this anyway, then heading home to tear it up so no one’ll know what an idiot I’ve been. But Carrie, if you do get this, go camping. Take great care. Don’t come out till you know it’s safe. Much love darling. Dad.

(carrie and ellie look at each other, then hug and cry. They run outside to tell the others.)

Carrie: Look at this.

Phil: (taking and reading it) whoa.

(it gets passed around.)

Robyn: we have to be extra careful now.

Amy: yeah.

Carrie: I’ve always laughed at Dad for being so cautious, but now I see he’s right.

(they leave – they’re being very cautious now. Cut to them going to the hill behind Robyn’s house.)

Robyn: My house was in the same condition as yours – abandoned.

Amy: What’s our next move?

Ellie: Lee and Amy have to see their houses.

(everyone nods in agreement.)

Phil: I think we should split up.

(protest)

Phil: We need to be out of town before dawn. A long way out of town. And we’re running out of time. It’s not going to be quick and easy, traveling around these streets. We’re getting tired, and that alone will slow us down, not to mention the care that we’ll have to take. Also, two people can move more quietly tan seven. And finally, to tell you the truth, if there are soldiers here and anyone’s caught…well, again, two’s better than seven. I hate to mention the fact, but five people free and two people locked up is a better equation than no people free and seven locked up. You all know how good I am at math.

(everyone is silent – they know he’s right.)

Kevin: So what are you suggesting?

Phil: I’ll go with Amy. (teasing) I’ve always wanted to see inside one of those rich houses on the hill. This is my big chance.

(Amy kicks phil.)

Phil: Maybe if Robyn and Lee go to Lee’s, what do you think? And you other three take a closer look at >wherever prisoners are kept<. All those lights…maybe it’s their base. Or it could be where they’re keeping people even.

Robyn: Yes, it’s the best way. How about anyone not wearing dark clothes come back to the house and yelp yourselves to some? And we meet back here on the hill at, say, three o’clock?

Amy: (quietly) what if someone’s missing?

(silence, not liking the thought)

Amy: how about we wait till 3:30 if anyone’s not back. Then move out fast, but come back tomorrow night – I mean tonight. And if you’re the ones missing and you get back late, lie low for the day.

Phil: Yes, that’s what we can do.

(everyone starts getting ready to go. Kevin, Carrie, and Ellie already have dark clothes and hug people, wishing them luck. They leave. cut to them getting there.)

(they reach a place close to the place where the prisoners are being kept. They huddle.)

Kevin: We’ll have to be extra careful now that we’re so close. So what’s the plan?

Carrie: Just to get close enough to have a look. We don’t have all that much time. The main thing’s to be careful. I few can’t see anything then we just go back to Robyn’s. If there’s anyone there the dumbest thing we could do would be to have them see us and come after us.

Kevin: Ok.

(Kevin starts standing, Ellie pulls him back down)

Kevin: “What? We’ve got to get moving, El.”

Ellie: That doesn’t mean rushing in like idiots. For example, what if we do get seen? Or if we get chased? We can’t just run back to Robyn’s place. That’d lead them there.

Kevin: Well I guess, separate. It’d be harder for them to chase three different people than one group. Then, if we’re sure we’re not being followed, make our own way back to Robyn’s.”

Carrie: Ok.

Kevin: Is that all?

Ellie: No! If we’re being strictly logical, like Phil was before, we shouldn’t all sneak in close to the Showground. One of us should go and the other two stay here. Less chance of being seen, and less loss if one gets caught.

Carrie: no! That’s being too logical! You’re my best friends! I don’t want to be that logical!

Ellie: OK then, all for one and one for all. Let’s go. The three musketeers.

(they cross the road and get close to the light from the building. They stop at the edge, feeling nervous.)

(suddenly, Ellie goes to a tree just a few steps away. Carrie and Kevin follow. They get there, nervously and relieved. They smile proudly)

Kevin: What’s next?

Ellie: Keep heading from tree to tree. We can get a good view from that big tree over there.

(Ellie goes to next tree. She sees soldiers. When they’re gone, Carrie and Kevin follow.)

Ellie: Did you see the men?

Carrie: Well, yes and no. At least one was a woman.

(they go to the next tree. They see some sort of action – someone they know. Maybe have someone say “that’s mr. ___”. They go to the next tree – the last one.)

Ellie: Nearly home free.

(Ellie sets off again. Gunfire starts behind her. Gasp from corrie, cry from Kein. Ellie dives for cover. Kevin pulls her up.)

Kevin: Run! They’re coming.

(They run. After a little while, they run into someone’s driveway.)

Ellie: I know this place, follow me.

(They stop, realizing they’re in a trap – there is no way to get out.)

Ellie: oh god, oh god, I led us into a trap. There’s no other way out. (pulling herself together) Ok, we have a couple of minutes. This is a big place. They won’t go rushing around in it, in the darkness. They’ll be a bit unsure of us.

Carrie: I hurt my leg.

Ellie: What, did you get shot?

Carrie: No, I ran into something, just back there.

Kevin: It’s a ride-on mower. I almost hit it too.

(gunfire.)

Ellie: (mumbling to herself) yes, petrol…we ould roll it…no, that’d give them time…but if it sat there…matches…and a chisel or something…

Kevin: Ellie, what the hell are you talking about?

Ellie: Find some matches, or a cigarette lighter. And a chisel. And a hammer. Quick, very quick. Try the sheds.

(they spread out, looking for stuff. Later, ellie talks to Kevin)

Ellie: I have matches. Did you get anything?

Kevin: I go the hammer and chisel.

Ellie: Oh Kevin, I love you.

Carrie: (coming from darkness) I heard that

Ellie: Take me to the ride-on.

(they go find it.)

ellie: They’re coming. Quick, Help me push it. But quietly.

(they move it)

Kevin: What are the hammer and chisel for?

Ellie: To make a hole in the petrol tank. But now I’ think it’ll make too much noise, doing it.

Kevin: Why do you need a hole? Why not just unscrew the lid?

Ellie: Wow, I’m stupid.

(Kevin unscrews the lid)

Ellie: We’ll need to be behind the wall and we need a trail of petrol to it.

(Kevin takes off his shirt (that’s what the book said. Not my choice. ;).) and puts it in the tank to soak it – uses it to make a trail.)

Kevin: We need to make sure they’re all together. I saw three of them on the road.

(Ellie takes a deep breath, lets out a short weak moan of pain. The soldiers turn toward them. One calls out urgently in a different language. The soldiers gesture at them, and spread out, walking slowly toward them. When they are close to the mower, Ellie strikes a match. It doesn’t light. She tries again, it doesn’t light. Kevin grabs her wrist and whispers “Do it!” The match lights and the petroleum catches. You hear an explosion. Kevin pulls Ellie away.)

Kevin: run, run!

(we see a fire and maybe some soldiers. We hear soldiers screaming. Ellie, Kevin, and Carrie keep running. They get to a safe spot.)

Carrie: There’s just enough time to get back.

Ellie: how’s your leg?

Carrie: Ok.

(They run some more. Then they stop and walk. Cut to back at the hill. Phil and Amy are there. There are now seven bikes.)

Phil: Thank God you’re here.

Ellie: Where’s Lee and Robyn?

Amy: I don’t know.

Phil: I don’t think we can wait any longer.

(they reluctantly get on the bikes and leave.)