THE MAN CONTINUES TO SCOWL AT THEM AS KEVIN GIVES A SHEEPISH SMILE AND SQUEAKS, "UH, HELLO." THE PUDGY GUY DOESN'T LET HIS GUN FALTER, YET KEEPS IT STEADY ON THE TWO OF THEM.

"YA THUNK YOU WAS SMART WHEN YA WENT OFF AND TOOK MA' RECEIPT BOOK, HUH BOY?" THE MAN BELLOWS, COCKING HIS GUN AND POINTING IT TOWARDS KEVIN. "YA SHOULDA KNOWN NOTTA PICK A FIGHT WITH 'OL BESSY AND ME." HE TAKES A STEP CLOSER TO THE TWO OF THEM AND SNARLS, "I DON'T LIKE NO DISHONEST PEOPLE!"

"NOW, NOW, WAIT A SECOND!" KEVIN PLEADS, PRESSING HIMSELF UP AGAINST THE WALL. "ISN'T THERE SOME WAY WE COULD SETTLE THIS PEACEFULLY?"

"BOY," THE BALDING FELLOW GROWLS, "YA SHOULDA THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE YA TOOK MA' RECEIPT BOOK LIKE YA DID!" HE COMES CLOSER WITH THE GUN AND NUDGES IT INTO KEVIN'S SIDE.

"WAIT! WAIT! PLEASE DON'T SHOOT US! WE'LL GIVE THE RECEIPT BOOK BACK!" LAURA SURRENDERS, THROWING HER HANDS UP IN THE AIR IN DEFEAT. "JUST PROMISE NOT TO KILL US!"

"YEAH, UH, WE'LL GIVE YOUR BOOK BACK." KEVIN REASSURES, STEPPING CLOSER TO THE MAN. THE MAN KEEPS HIS GUN STEADY AND DOESN'T FLINCH. "WE ARE TERRIBLY SORRY.......IF WE GIVE BACK YOUR RECEIPT BOOK, WILL YOU LET US GO THEN?"

THE MAN STANDS LIKE STONE, DEEP IN THOUGHT, BEFORE LETTING HIS GUN DOWN AND GLARING AT THEM ICILY.

"UM, OKAY. UH....... LAURA?" KEVIN MUMBLES, LEANING BACK TOWARDS HER. "CAN YOU, UH, GO GET THE RECEIPT BOOK, PLEASE?" SHE LOOKS AT HIM, EYES WIDE WITH FEAR, AND HE AVERTS HIS EYES OVER TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE BUILDING. SHE RELUCTANTLY NODS AND BRISKLY WALKS PAST THEM BOTH. KEVIN WATCHES UNTIL SHE DISAPPEARS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING BEFORE TURNING BACK TO THE GUNMAN. "UH," HE STUTTERS, CONTEMPLATING WHAT TO SAY NEXT. "NICE DAY, HUH?"

"LET ME GO!" HOWIE CRIES FROM THE BACKSEAT, TRYING TO LOOSEN THE ROPES WHICH REMAIN COILED AROUND HIS HANDS. STRUGGLE AS HE DOES, THE ROPES STAY PULLED TIGHT. "KEV?! LAURA?! LET ME GO!"

"WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?!" THE THUG WITH THE SHAGGY HAIR SHOUTS FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT. "YOU'RE GIVING ME A HEADACHE."

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" HOWIE CONTINUES, STICKING HIS HEAD OVER THE FRONT SEAT. "I'M HOWIE D OF THE BACKSTREET BOYS, AND I HAVE A CONCERT IN CHICAGO IN 2 HOURS THAT I REALLY NEED TO BE AT, SO IF YOU COULD JUST LET ME GO, I'LL......" THE DRIVER WHIPS OFF HIS MOTH-EATEN SKI CAP AND SMACKS HOWIE'S HEAD, WHICH STILL REMAINS PROTRUDING OVER THE SEAT.

"PLEASE, JUST SHUT UP!" HE BEGS, PULLING THE CAP BACK OVER HIS HEAD. "MAN, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE THE MOST ANNOYING PERSON WE'VE PICKED UP YET!"

"I'M ANNOYING?"

"SHUT UP!"

"ARE YOU GONNA EAT ALL THAT PIZZA?" BRENDA LAUGHS AT NICK AS HE SHOVES A SLICE OF CHEESE PIZZA INTO HIS MOUTH. THEY NOW SAT AT A SMALL BOOTH INSIDE THE GAS STATION, A NEAR-EMPTY PIZZA BOX IN FRONT OF THEM. "WHAT IS THAT NOW? YOUR FIFTH PIECE?"

"MMMM," NICK MUMBLES, HIS MOUTH FULL. "UTH MUH SUXTH."

BRENDA JUSTS SHAKES HER HEAD AND TAKES A DRINK OF HER SPRITE. "AND TO THINK YOU WERE TOSSING YOUR COOKIES ONLY A FEW HOURS AGO."

"WULL," NICK DEFENDS, SWALLOWING THE LAST OF HIS PIZZA. "I'M A GROWING MAN. AND A GROWING MAN NEEDS HIS PIZZA!" HE SMILES TRIUMPHANTLY AND GRABS ANOTHER SLICE. "HEY, SHUT UP!" HE BARKS WHEN BRENDA BEGINS TO SNICKER. "I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY REFER TO YOU AS "A WOMAN" EITHER." NICK LAUGHS ALOUD AT HIS INSULT, SHOWERING LITTLE BLOBS OF PIZZA ALL OVER BRENDA AND THE BOOTH. BRENDA SCOWLS AS SHE WIPES A BLOB OF THE CHEESY GOOP FROM HER CHEEK IN DISGUST.

"SUCH A GENTLEMAN." SHE SIGHS UNDER HER BREATH. "AT LEAST I CAN BACK MY ACCUSATIONS UP." SHE QUIPS, GRABBING THE EMPTY BOX AND WALKING IT OVER TO THE TRASH CAN. SHE SMIRKS AT HIM AND TRIES TO STIFLE A LAUGH. "OH, AND YOU'VE GOT SOME CHEESE HANGING OFF YOUR CHIN."

NICK WIPES HIS SHIRT SLEEVE OVER HIS MOUTH, BEFORE SPITTING, "YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT FUNNY." BRENDA SHRUGS HER SHOULDERS AND FLOPS BACK DOWN IN THE BOOTH. A STRETCH OF SILENCE FOLLOWS AS THE TWO STARE BLANKLY OUT THE WINDOW.

"DO YOU THINK WE'LL FIND BRIAN AND ESTHER IN TIME?" BRENDA SIGHS, LOOKING UP AT NICK EXPECTANTLY.

HE CONTINUES TO GAZE OUT THE WINDOW WHILE CHEWING ON HIS LOWER LIP. "I DUNNO." LOOKING BACK AT BRENDA, HE SIGHS AND ADDS, "I SURE HOPE WE DO."

BRENDA NODS AS THEY CONTINUE TO PASS THE TIME IN SUPPRESSED ANTICIPATION.