AT NATHAN AND HALEY'S MOTEL ROOM
The Tree Hill gang are there.
Nathan sighing.
NATHAN: Hey, did all of you have to cram in here just to leave? You could have just stayed in your own rooms, I tell ya.
Tim grins.
TIM: We like yours bestest.
Nathan pops him in the back of the head.
Then goes to pick up his luggage.
Haley is looking out the window, worried.
HALEY: Something's wrong. Luke should have been here by now.
NATHAN: Maybe he's patching things up with Brooke, and that's our cue to leave.
HALEY: With Peyton still here? Not a chance.
Nathan puts his luggage down, goes to Haley, touching a hand to her back to soothe her.
NATHAN: Whatever you wanna do, it's your call.
Skills is now worried about something.
SKILLS: Hey, guys?
They all turn to him.
THE GROUP: Yeah?
SKILLS: Where's Mouth?
AT LUCAS' HOUSE
Mouth stands in front of the doorway, the door is already open.
Mouth walks on in and sees Brooke sitting on the livingroom sofa, her head in hands.
MOUTH: Brooke?
Brooke looks up, her expression is pained.
BROOKE: Mouth? What are you doing here?
MOUTH: I came for you.
He walks to Brooke.
MOUTH: Why's the door open? That's kinda dangerous.
BROOKE: I was waiting for Lucas. He's been promoted to lieutenant, you know.
MOUTH: Yeah, I heard.
BROOKE:(sarcastic) Great.
Mouth kneels down in front of Brooke.
BROOKE: I wasn't even the first to know.
MOUTH: Brooke --
BROOKE: We were suppose to celebrate.
MOUTH: Brooke, look at what he's doing to you.
BROOKE: Why does this always happen to us -- to me and Lucas.
MOUTH: Peyton... Lucas told me that Peyton once asked him that, about their relationship. He said he couldn't answer it. But I can answers yours.
Brooke waits for him to say it.
MOUTH: Because maybe it's suppose to happen.
Brooke trys to look away, Mouth touching her face so that she can't.
MOUTH: Let's get you outta here.
BROOKE: But, Lucas...
MOUTH: Is not here now. He's never here, Brooke. Not with you.
He helps Brooke to her feet.
BROOKE: But you should be headed back to Tree Hill by now.
MOUTH: I can't leave. I can't leave, Brooke...because I can't leave you. Not again. Not ever.
Brooke and Mouth walk toward her front door, exiting it.
AT THE CHICAGO CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
A CROWD of POLICE OFFICERS are standing before the captain, guns in their hands, some putting on bullet-poof vests.
Captain looks to Billy.
CAPTAIN: I want an APB put out on Ricky Langs -- Byron Tabs -- or watever he's calling himself these days.
BILLY: Yes, sir.
Billy immediately takes off into an office.
Captain looks at his men.
CAPTAIN: This man is extremely dangerous. Wanted for murder in nine states. Doesn't like to let his victims out easily. Likes to prolong their suffering. It's his specialty. Don't let me get into all the other things he's special at. A brave man and an innocent woman's life may be in danger as we speak.
The officers load their firearms.
CAPTAIN: I want take-em'-out blocks set up all over town. I don't care what it takes to find this Ricky Langs, just find him. Now go!
The men head out, marching quickly and determined, the Capatain instantly talking into his walkee talkee.
AS AT JAKE AND PEYTON'S MOTEL ROOM
Someone is banging at Peyton's door, Peyton, then, putting her clothes back on.
PEYTON: Oh, jeez. Who is it?
There's no answer.
Peyton starts walking toward the door, her blouse still open, revealing her read lace braw, the top flesh of her breasts perking.
PEYTON: Lucas, if this is you --
She opens the door.
SCREAM! The handgun freak is standing right there, Peyton seemingly looking flushed by the horrifying sight of him.
RICKY: You'll do what?
Peyton starts backing up, quickly grabbing a lamp, holding it in defensive form.
PEYTON: Don't you come any closer.
Ricky chuckles.
He looks at Peyton's chest, smiling wide.
RICKY: Ooh, Ms. Sawyer...looking delicious.
Peyton, by reflex, trys to button up her shirt.
RICKY: Oh, don't worry, I don't rape women. It's beneath me.
Ricky pulls out his gun, patting it in his hand.
RICKY: Now beating them or killing them -- that's a different story, isn't it, Peyton?
Peyton looks shocked.
RICKY: Are we just realizing that I know your name? Yeah, wasn't that hard to find out, especially when you have idiot cops giving them away at the station.
Ricky holds out his hand in Peyton's direction, smiling evily.
RICKY: Hello, Peyton Sawyer. My name's Langs. Ricky Langs.
He laughs.
RICKY: You like that James-Bond touch there?
Ricky takes another step closer, Peyton backing up even more.
PEYTON: People know where I am.
RICKY: Oh, you mean the rookie cop who was out of his mind enough to point a gun at me?
PEYTON: Yeah, him too. I told him where I was staying. Which motel room I was staying in, and everything. We're that close.
Ricky frowns.
RICKY: I don't believe you.
He moves toward Peyton.
OUTSIDE OF JAKE AND PEYTON'S MOTEL ROOM
Ricky's gang members are leaning against the car, smoking, talking about what they think is going on inside?
SNEAKS: Yeah, I bet he's beating the crap out of the wench now, holmes.
They laugh.
SECOND GANG MEMBER: Or no matter what he says, raping her.
The gang laughs again.
BUT TWENTY FEET AWAY
Lucas pulls up, the headlights to his car wisely turned off.
INSIDE OF HIS CAR
Lucas spots the gang members outside of Peyton's motel room.
He grabs his 57 magnum from under his seat, loads it up, and everything Lucas has trained for is on.
BACK AT THE GANG MEMBERS CAR
They are still talking and laughing.
PSST!
Sneaks and the gang members all stop their laughter.
SNEAKS: Eh, you heard that, man?
SECOND GANG MEMBER: What'd it sound like?
PSST!
Sneaks gets angry.
SNEAKS: There it goes again.
The gang members grab their weapons and shot guns from the backseat.
Sneaks looking off into the shadows, points his pistol.
SNEAKS: Who's ever out there, man, you better answer now, lest you want a bellie full of bullets.
A METAL LID to a garbage can rolls down the street, seemingly having came out of nowhere.
Sneaks signals for his men to move out. And they do, all splitting up to run down the street and find what is causing this sudden noise.
Sneaks is last to go search.
BEHIND A TREE NEXT TO PEYTON AND JAKE'S HOTEL ROOM
Lucas stands, the coast is clear, him moving toward to the motel room.
INSIDE OF THE MOTEL ROOM
Peyton is on the floor, wimpers of pain, as her face is bruised a little on the side, and Ricky is standing above her, standing on her hair as his gun aims at her face.
RICKY: You should have just butted out of my and Valentine's business, understand? You see... I don't take kindly to people butting into my affairs.
LUCAS: (off screen) No, you don't.
Ricky grins, Peyton seeing Lucas standing behind Ricky with his weapon pointed the man's way.
RICKY: Well, if it isn't the sneak-attack man. Really you should think about switching names with a partner of mine. It fits you so much better.
LUCAS: Step away from the girl, Ricky.
Ricky just stands there, Lucas running over to him and slugging him with the gun.
LUCAS: I said step away!
Ricky now on the floor, wiping the blood from his mouth, Lucas pulling Peyton up.
LUCAS: Come on! We gotta hurry.
He grabs Ricky's gun.
Both Lucas and Peyton running out the door as Lucas pulls her.
OUTSIDE OF JAKE AND PEYTON'S HOTEL ROOM
Lucas and Peyton run as fast as they can, Ricky's gang members seeing them just as they are coming from their search.
SNEAKS: Hey!
THE GANG MEMBERS FIRE! Gunshots going off everywhere.
LUCAS: Down!
He bends down with Peyton as they make their way to his car.
Lucas and Peyton get in. Lucas immediately turning on the ignition and backing up.
Ricky comes out of the motel room, running to his car, his gang members jumping in with him.
RICKY: After them! After them!
LUCAS SPINS his car around, and speeds ahead --
RICKY'S CAR racing behind them.
INSIDE OF LUCAS' CAR
Peyton is looking out the back window.
PEYTON: Lucas, I'm so scared.
LUCAS: Hold on! And buckle up.
Peyton does so, Lucas too.
As they both are in the race for their lives.
