7. INT. CHRISTINE’S LAIR DUSK
A hamster wheel is the focus and it sits under the open slot of the ceiling. ARTHUR is running on the wheel to make it turn. He’s almost out of breath. Sparks of lightning flicker on the top of the wheel.
ARTHUR
With all due respect, your evilness, can’t we just wait ‘til a real storm comes along? The Cave of Wonders will still be there when we do.
CHRISTINE is setting up the ring on the podium staff.
CHRISTINE
Save your breath, Arthur. Faster!
ARTHUR
Yes, oh, mighty evil one!
With the faster speed on the way, lightning strikes the ring which powers up the mirror the podium is connected to. The first image is of the Cave of Wonders.
CHRISTINE
Now, tell us, Mirror of Fortunes, reveal who the diamond in the rough is to enter this Cave.
The second image is SAM and CAITLIN climbing up an apartment building with the fire escapes.
CHRISTINE
Yes! There he is, Arthur. My diamond in the rough.
ARTHUR
That’s him? That’s the bumbling idiot we have to…
He loses his balance and rolls along the wheel as he screams for CHRISTINE to stop the machine.
CHRISTINE
I think it’s time to invite our little, special someone to the mansion.
She stops the wheel by pulling a lever, and ARTHUR flies out onto the wall.
CHRISTINE
Shall we?
ARTHUR
Swell. I feel very sick.
FADE scene change happens as CHRISTINE evilly laughs.
SCENE CHANGE: EXT. PRINCETON ROOFTOPS
SAM hops onto the roof and pulls CAITLIN with him.
SAM
We’re almost there.
As she climbs over the edge and trips into his front side.
SAM
Whoa, take it easy, will ya?
As CAITLIN gets up, they stare into each other’s eyes. CAITLIN looks away to spare the awkwardness.
CAITLIN
I want to thank you for earlier when you stopped that man.
SAM
Uh, forget it. It’s no big deal.
SARAH climbs onto his shoulders. SAM takes an old pipe from the side of the rooftop and gets ready to pole vault.
SAM
So, this is your first time around Princeton, huh?
Pole vaults to the roof across from them.
CAITLIN
Was it that obvious?
SAM
Well, you do kinda stand out.
CAITLIN blushes and he distracts his embarrassment by setting a plank bridge that connects the two roofs.
SAM
Uh, no, I mean, I don’t think you seem to know how dangerous Princeton could be at times.
CAITLIN pole vaults with another old pipe instead of using the bridge much to SAM and SARAH’s surprise.
CAITLIN
If there’s one thing you should know about me, Sam, it’s that I’m a fast learner.
SARAH is watching CAITLIN drop her pole in disbelief. SAM leans over to his dog.
SAM
Hey, she ain’t that bad.
He steps up to walk to her and SARAH is growling, watching this.
SAM
Come on. It’s through here.
They enter through a broken door with a sheet hanging over it and start climbing up.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. SAM’S APARTMENT
SAM
Watch where you step. It’s an uneven walk. Careful.
He picks her up and climbs the rest of the way.
CAITLIN
So this is where you live?
SAM
Uh huh. Just Sarah and I. We stay and no one bothers us.
CAITLIN
Oh, that sound great.
SAM
Well, that’s because you haven’t seen the best part.
SAM pulls the curtains to the sides to show her the balcony. The mansion is in full view as the sun sets behind it.
SAM
You can’t get a view like this anywhere else, and I bet my life on that.
CAITLIN leans against the railing, sighing and looking away from the mansion.
CAITLIN
Oh, it’s wonderful, alright.
SAM
Just imagine what it would be like to live in there. Breakfast in bed, seamstresses making your clothes, men washing your own car.
CAITLIN
Oh sure. You need permission to go somewhere. You have an outfit schedule. Constant diets.
SAM
That’s better than livin’ out here. You have sticky fingers and the law constantly on your back.
Takes an apple from SARAH as she’s about to eat it. She growls shortly.
CAITLIN
You don’t have the right to make your own choices though.
SAM
Sometimes, you just feel…
CAITLIN
You’re just so…
BOTH
Trapped.
They stare at each other for a bit until CAITLIN turns away, blushing. SAM takes the last apple from SARAH and tosses it to CAITLIN.
SAM
So…you never said your name or where you’re from.
CAITLIN
Does it matter really? I ran away, and I ain’t goin’ home.
After taking a clean bite of his fruit, he puts it back near the dog.
SAM
Really? What happened?
He wraps his arm around her as she trembles.
CAITLIN
My mother is forcing me to marry someone who doesn’t even know me. And each one of them is the same. Selfish, rich, cocky, and lustful.
SAM
Jesus, that’s insane.
SARAH is about to take CAITLIN’s apple until…
SAM
Sarah!
The dog barks and growls at him as he pushes her off the railing.
CAITLIN
What? What did she say?
SAM
Uhm, Sarah said…That’s not fair.
SARAH barks a “What?”
CAITLIN
Oh, did she now?
SAM
Of course. Why wouldn’t she?
CAITLIN
Well, what else did Sarah say?
SAM
Well, it’s nothing…
CAITLIN
No, tell me.
SAM
She also said, “Sam, you gotta help this girl.”
SARAH walks back into the apartment, hissing and growling.
CAITLIN
Hmm, well, I want you to tell her that was very…sweet.
SAM
I will…after this.
The two leave a sliver of a kiss when they are interrupted by SARAH’s panicked barking.
POLICE OFFICER #1
There you are, peasant!
BOTH
They’re after me! They’re after you?
CAITLIN
My mother must’ve called them to…
SAM
Do you trust me?
CAITLIN
What?
SAM
Do you trust me?
Hesitantly takes his hand.
CAITLIN
Yes?
SAM
Then, jump!
They leap off the balcony into the darkness.
SCENE CHANGE: EXT. ALLEYWAY
They fall onto a large pile of bags of dirt and slide down safely.
SAM
Run! Run!
They cut a few corners until SAM bumps straight into the LIEUTENANT.
LIEUTENANT
We just keep bumping right into each other, do we, street rat?
SARAH attacks right at the arm as a distraction for SAM and CAITLIN to escape. But when they do, a few OFFICERS are waiting for them. They grab onto SAM and keep pushing CAITLIN away.
SAM
What are you doing? Get outta here!
CAITLIN
I’m not leaving you!
LIEUTENANT finally gets SARAH off and throws her into a stack of boxes. The one she falls in falls onto the ground. The human with a swollen arm comes out into the street and snickers.
LIEUTENANT
Predictable, street rat. I let myself get bit by your mutt for this.
CAITLIN starts punching the wound.
CAITLIN
Let him go!
LIEUTENANT
Oh, look here, boys. He got himself a Mrs. Street Rat.
Pushes her into a couple of garbage cans. She gets back up angrily as SAM tries to fight himself free.
CAITLIN
I said, “Let. Him. Go!”
Removes hood from her head.
CAITLIN
You don’t want to anger the mayor’s daughter, do you?
All of the police stop laughing and stand up straight and stiff with the salute to their heads.
LIEUTENANT
Miss Caitlin Robinson!
SAM
The princess?
SARAH barks as if to ask the same thing.
LIEUTENANT
What are you doing outside…and and with this street rat?
CAITLIN
That is none of your business! Now, you will release him this minute or my mother will have to deal with your police brutality when I get back!
LIEUTENANT
Miss Robinson, I would but I’m afraid this is a strict order from Miss Jenner. If you want him to go, you have to compromise with her.
CAITLIN
(Growling)
Believe me, I will.