AT NIKI'S MOTEL ROOM
The Television is on, cartoons preferably.
Jenny on the floor, playing with water paints, a bowl of eaten icecream to her side.
Niki and Jake with their own seperate bowls of ice cream in between them as they sit on the bed, laughing.
NIKI: And like the time I streaked the football game.
Jake smirks.
JAKE: Had angry football players coming up to me, telling me that it was my fault a naked beautiful woman distracted them from winning.
Niki laughs.
NIKI: Yeah, they're right, not my fault. Yours. You should learn to keep a better hold on your girlfriend.
JAKE: You were my girlfriend.
Niki smiles seductively.
NIKI: Could be again.
Jake gets uncomfortable, and shows it by sitting up.
Just then, Jenny's television program is interrupted by a serious-looking female REPORTER appearing on the T.V. set, saying something that looks important.
JAKE: Hey, turn that up.
Niki grabs the romote, and ups the volume.
ON THE TELEVISION SCREEN
The Reporter is standing in front of the Chicago City Police Station, cops cars everywhere behind her, commotion in an uproar.
REPORTER: And so just how did it happen? How did a man wanted in so many states for so many murders stealthily slip pass our rador?
Jake sees that this is not something Jenny should here.
JAKE: Hey, Jen, could you go over there and put on your headphones, listen to a little music for daddy?
JENNY: Why?
JAKE: Just -- do you think you can do that for me?
Jenny nods. She goes over and grabs her headphones, putting them on as she listens to the radio.
JAKE: That's my girl.
He turns his attention back to the news, Niki as well.
REPORTER: (on the T.V.) This is what Captian Wiley of the Chicago City Police Department had to say...
CAPTAIN: (on the T.V.) There is understandably a need to panic, and rightfully so, but we're taking care of things. There's no way to explain this failure on our part except to say that this man has a great knowledge of technology, and proabably used a scrambler to temporarily tap into our computers, slow them down. I am sorry. We are all sorry for this crisis.
BACK AT NATHAN AND HALEY'S ROOM
They are watching the the news as well.
The gang, all eyes on the T.V.
REPORTER: It is said that he has a certain vendetta against someone?
CAPTAIN: (on the T.V.) Yes, an incident occurred a little while ago. We suspect the man may be after 23-year-old Peyton Sawyer and law-enforcement officer Lieutanant Lucas Scott.
Haley gasps.
HALEY: No! What are they talking about after Lucas and Peyton, what are they talking about, Nathan?
The gang can't believe it, Nathan going to hug Haley.
NATHAN: Shh. It's gonna be okay. Lucas can handle himself. And Peyton -- she's with Lucas.
HALEY: But what if he can't, Nathan. Hell, he isn't robocop. He's just Lucas. He's just our Lucas, okay.
NATHAN: I know. I know.
AT NIKI'S MOTEL ROOM
Jake grabs his jacket.
JAKE: I shouldn't have left her home by herself. Hell, Lucas should've waisted the bastard.
Niki feeling sorry for the situation.
NIKI: Jake, I don't know what to say.
ON THE TV
Reporter speaks one last thing.
REPORTER: Ricky Langs is reportedly the alleged's name. As officers are scouring the city, they say it's best to keep all doors locked, and only go out if you have to.
Jake answers Niki.
JAKE: Just don't say you're sorry. Peyton's okay. I know she is.
Jake, his face written with guilt, leaves.
NIKI: They said only if you have to. Jake!
Of course, he's already gone.
AS ON A LONG ROAD
TWO CARS are speeding, one after the other.
INSIDE OF THE FIRST CAR
Lucas drives, Peyton to his side, looking out back.
PEYTON: Lucas, they're catching up!
LUCAS: Take the wheel.
PEYTON: What?
LUCAS: I said take the wheel. Now!
Peyton unbuckles her seat belt, Lucas too, the both of them switching places as Lucas holds onto his gun.
Peyton steadies the car, though still speeding as she now drives.
INSIDE OF THE SECOND CAR
Sneaks is driving.
SNEAKS: Yo! Pop those fools, man.
Sneaks pulls up even closer to Lucas and Peyton's car.
Ricky grabbing some special type of gun.
HIS GANG MEMBERS all poke out the window, blasting Lucas and Peyon's car full on.
PELLETS OF BULETS HITTING LUCAS' CAR
INSIDE
Lucas and Peyton duck, Peyton swaying the car from side to side, before getting it steady again.
PEYTON: Lucas!
SUDDENLY A SHATTER!
Their back windshield breaking all over the place against bullets that hit it, Lucas getting worried.
LUCAS: You're not hurt, are you? No glass hit you?
PEYTON: No!
LUCAS: Good.
The bullets stop spraying their car.
BUT INSIDE OF RICKY'S CAR
His gang members are reloading their guns, Ricky peeping out the window, and shooting the back of Lucas' car with something. He grins as he reenters his own automobile.
AS THEIR CAR pull up even closer to Lucas' ride, only an inch apart.
INSIDE OF LUCAS' CAR
LUCAS, then pokes his head out his window, points his gun, shoots, and BINGO!
He hits the tire of Ricky's car, it quickly deflating as it spins out of control sideways, and comes to a stop CAUSED by Sneaks.
INSIDE OF RICKY'S CAR
SNEAKS: Damn!
As the gang were just about to shoot again, now stopping, cursing, banging their fists on the car-roof in anger.
Ricky laughs.
RICKY: Don't worry. I tagged them with a tracer.
The gang looks to him.
RICKY: They can run.
The gang laughs, then answering.
THE GANG: But they can't hide.
INSIDE OF LUCAS' CAR
Peyton let's out a sigh of relief.
PEYTON: This can't be happening.
Lucas relaxes in his seat as well.
LUCAS: You mean this Die-Hard type style of day we're having? Yeah, I agree with you.
PEYTON: I...
LUCAS: We can't go anywhere that will lead them to our friends, or innocent people, for that matter. Oh -- friends --
Lucas hits his head with his hand.
PEYTON: What's wrong?
LUCAS: I forgot to say goodbye to Nathan and Haley.
Peyton can't believe he's even thinking of that at a moment like this.
PEYTON: Oh, Lucas... I think they'll forgive you for this one.
Lucas stares out the windw, his car phone RINGING!
LUCAS: Don't answer it.
PEYTON: Lucas it could be...
LUCAS: Don't!
Peyton picks it up anyway.
PEYTON: Hello.
CAPTAIN: (on the phone) Where's Scott?
She hands the phone to Lucas, Lucas rolling his eyes as he picks it up.
LUCAS: What?
CAPTAIN: Come to the station where you'll be safe.
LUCAS: And where others won't be safe, if we do come? No way, sir.
CAPTAIN: That's a direct order. It's not the lieutenant's job to handle matters such as these.
LUCAS: A little too late for that, sir.
CAPTAIN: What did you do?
LUCAS: What I had to do.
AT THE POLICE STATION
Billy comes up to the Captain as he's on the phone with Lucas.
BILLY: They located Peyton Sawyer's room.
CAPTAIN: And?
BACK AT JAKE AND PEYTON'S PLACE
The cops are looking around, the place is trashed, Jake runs, coming in.
JAKE: Peyton!
He stops and sees the cops there.
The cops look to him somberly.
THIRD COP: I'm sorry... she's not here.
Jake looks down, then bangs his fist against the wall.
BACK AT THE POLICE STATION
Billy has told the captain.
CAPTAIN: Well, I kinda figured she wasn't there, or the gang, for that matter. I'm on the phone with Scott now.
AS INSIDE LUCAS' CAR
Lucas listens to the captain as Peyton drives.
CAPTAIN: (on the phone) I mean it, Scott. Get back here with that girl or --
LUCAS: Or what -- you'll fire me?
CAPTAIN: You said it.
LUCAS: That's right, I did.
Lucas hangs up.