6. INT. PRINCETON MALL SECOND FLOOR MORNING
The hall had just opened, and SAM, with SARAH on his back, has snuck in from the ceiling window. They spy on the fruit stand on the first floor.
SAM
Alright, Sarah, while he’s looking. Go.
SARAH nods as she carefully sneaks down the decorations to the first floor.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. FIRST FLOOR
STAND MANAGER #1
Fruit cups for two ninety-nine! Three for six dollars!
SARAH head butts into a column, tipping over some apples onto the floor.
STAND MANAGER #1
Hey! What’s the big idea? Who’s dog is this?
SARAH takes two apples by the stems and runs away.
STAND MANAGER #1
Get back here, you stinking mutt! Those are my profits you’re stealing!
SAM drops down from the first floor, smirking. SARAH keeps running until she gets near the elevator. Drops them and jumps past the closing doors.
STAND MANAGER #1
Blast that mongrel. Got my old legs aching for two damn apples.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. SECOND FLOOR
Elevator stops at the second floor. The dog runs out past two waiting mallgoers and hops into SAM’s duffle bag. SAM sits it down on a sofa chair as she pops her head out with a banana in her mouth.
SAM
Nice goin’, girl.
Takes the banana and peels it for her.
SAM
Now, breakfast is served.
He takes an apple for himself, and the both of them start eating.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. FIRST FLOOR
CAITLIN enters the mall through the main entrance, and other sellers try to convince her to buy their products because of her looks.
SELLER #1
Summer clothes on clearance. Get your great deals now for the next year.
SELLER #2
Inside Out on DVD and BlueRay! Get your copy for your friends today!
SELLER #3
New Pandora charms just in. Why don’t you get started on your life collection today for your beautiful wrist?
SELLER #4
Waxing for seven fifty-nine! Back, chest, brows, and even…
CAITLIN
Oh, no thanks. Not today, miss…
Crashes into another stand manger and accidentally knocks over her makeup products.
CAITLIN
Oh, excuse me! I am so sorry. Let me help you with that.
Frustrated, she lets CAITLIN pick up all of the products on the floor. SAM looks over the railing, wondering what’s going on downstairs.
CAITLIN
I am so very sorry.
SAM
Wow…who is that?
CAITLIN readjusts her hood and continues walking. SARAH sees that SAM is completely hypnotized by her beauty and tries to break the spell by pulling on his clothes. At a different fruits stands, a small boy tries to reach for an orange until CAITLIN shows up.
CAITLIN
Aw, you must be hungry.
Takes one of the oranges and gives it to him.
CAITLIN
There you go.
STAND MANAGER #2
You better be able to pay for that, missy.
CAITLIN
Excuse me?
STAND MANAGER #2
No one takes my fruit without paying for it first!
CAITLIN
Oh, I’m sorry, sir. I don’t have money at this…
STAND MANAGER #2
Thief!
CAITLIN
No, no, please! If you just let me come back in an hour or so, I’ll have the mayor pay for your services.
He pulls her to the floor.
STAND MANAGER #2
Do you have any idea what the consequences are for stealing?
Clenches his fist.
CAITLIN
No! No, stop, please!
Before it goes down, SAM intervenes by grabbing the guy by the wrist.
SAM
Oh, thank you so much, kind sir. I thought I lost her.
(To CAITLIN, pretending to be stern)
Missy, you had me scared to death! I’ve been looking for you for ten minutes!
CAITLIN
Don’t touch me. What are you doing?
SAM
Saving your hide, so play along.
STAND MANAGER #2
Sir, you know this girl?
SAM
Sadly, yes! She is my stepsister. Sometimes, her head ain’t screwed on right.
CAITLIN is highly offended.
STAND MANAGER #2
She said she knew the mayor of Princeton?
SAM
Yeah, about that. She thinks our dog is the mayor of Princeton.
Taken aback, SARAH starts barking and growling. Out of desperation, CAITLIN gets down on her knees.
CAITLIN
Oh, Mrs. Mayor, I have disappointed you greatly. Please accept my humble apologies.
SARAH finally decides to play along by pretending to be kind to the girl.
SAM
Such a tragedy, right?
Takes an orange from the stand and pretends it’s his own to donate.
SAM
But no harm done, am I right?
Hands it to the manager and takes CAITLIN to leave.
SAM
Come on, sis, it’s time to see the doctor now.
CAITLIN holds out her hand to a service dog.
CAITLIN
Why, hello, doctor. How are you?
SAM
No, no, no, not that one. Come on, Mayor, let’s go.
SARAH bows down from leave and a couple of nuts, a few apples, and coins fall out of her fur coat. STAND MANAGER #2 notices this while SARAH runs with the collected things and the humans. A few of the shoppers start to laugh.
STAND MANAGER #2
Come back, you conniving, dirty thieves!
It’s too late, they’re gone.