Chapter 11

(Clark groggily raises his head from the floor, looking about the room.  Pete's arm dangles off the corner of his bed.  He makes a quiet 'uhhh...' as he exhales.  Amandil's bed seems to be empty, though the sheets are haphazardly pulled to one side, leaving only the linen lining on the other.  Standing, Clark sees Amandil had fallen off of the bed in his sleep.  His body is unusually toned, at least from what Clark can see.  Shrugging, Clark walks over to and enters the bathroom.  He closes the door behind him, and ten seconds later after the brief sound of running water he opens the door and walks out.  His hair is wet and combed and a towel is wrapped around his waist.  In his hands are his dirty clothes.  Approaching his bag, Clark kneels down.  Before proceeding, he glances over at Amandil to make sure he is asleep.  Smiling, Clark momentarily disappears in a fast moving blur.  When he stands, he is wearing a red tight fitting t-shirt, a baseball cap, and worn blue jeans.  Glancing down at his watch, Clark's eyes widen slightly.)

Clark: "Time to wake up."

(Neither Pete nor Amandil moves.  Groaning, Clark walks over to Amandil and gently prods him.  Several prods later, and the young man sits upright.  His eyes are cloudy with tiredness.)

Amandil: "Oh, God-"

(He yawns.)

Amandil: "What time is it?"

Clark: "Almost 9:30.  We have to be down there by 10:00."

Amandil: "Is Pete-?"

(He yawns again.  Clark offers him his hand, pulling him to his feet.)

Clark: "I'll wake him up.  Go get ready."

(Nodding in agreement, his eyes only half open, Amandil enters the bathroom and closes the door behind him.  Clark moves over to Pete and shakes him awake.  Grudgingly, Pete sits upright.)

Clark: "Aman just got in the shower, he should be out soon.  I'm gonna go ahead and get something to eat."

(Standing from the bed, Clark makes his way to the door.  He stops as he reaches for the handle and turns back to Pete.)

Clark: "Make sure you're down by 10:00."

Pete (Grumbling as he stands from the bed and makes his way to his bag): "Damn super speed...  Wish I could take a shower in five seconds..."

(Chuckling, Clark walks out the door and down the hall.  As he nears the elevator, the camera descends through the floor, past several walking people, until it reaches the ground floor.  There is a small 'bing!' as the elevator doors part and Clark steps out.  Walking straight out, avoiding a black suited, briefcase toting business woman Clark passes by a hallway and turns into a brightly light linoleum floored room.  Tables are systematically placed throughout the room.  Seeing Chloe sipping a steaming cup of coffee in the corner, a newspaper spread in front of her, Clark approaches.  She looks up at him and smiles.)

Chloe: "Morning, 'Clarkie'."

Clark (Raising an eyebrow as he pulls out a chair and sits down): "'Clarkie'?"

Chloe (Giggling): "Sorry, I just can't get over it!"

Clark: "What?"

Chloe: "Well, let's say Lana's rather... vocal... when she's sleeping."

(Chloe takes a sip of her coffee to suppress the giggles.  Clark smiles and shakes his head at her.)

Clark: "So where's everyone else?"

(Clark looks around the room at these words.  He spots ten classmates, leaving ten still unaccounted for.  Three young women Clark recognizes as Amy, Linda and Rika walk into the room and make their way for the fruit.  Following them are the inseparable pair of Robin and Garret.  A man enters - another of the hotel's patrons – and seats himself in front of a newspaper.)

Clark: "Sure hope they show up soon."

(Clark spots Mr. Audley in a corner.  His short hair is carefully combed to one side.  He glances up from his book at Clark and smiles.)

Chloe: "Anyways...  Clark?  Claaark?"

(Turning back to face her, Clark smiles innocently.)

Clark: "Sorry, just kind of zoned out there."

Chloe: "I noticed...  Do you know what we're going to be up to today?"

Clark: "No idea.  I think they want it to be a surprise."

Chloe: "Just as long as Mr. Audley doesn't take us to some museum..."

Clark: "Wouldn't put it past him."

(Lana sits down at an empty chair at their table.)

Lana: "Past who?"

Chloe: "Oh, nothing.  Just trying to figure out what we're going to be doing."

Lana: "I hope we do some hiking."

Clark: "I'm sure we will.  Just look out the window!"

(All three of them do.  The sky is like a marvelous painting, yet infinitely better than any human could ever hope to put on canvas.  Forming a snow-caped line across the sky stands mountain after mountain.  The sun barely peeks around from behind one of the taller ones, casting a halo of light upon the crowns of the peaks surrounding it.  The three sit mesmerized for several minutes.  They are brought out of their daze by Amandil and Pete entering the room, grabbing some food, seeing them, and sitting down.)

Clark (Eyeing their food): "I'm kind of hungry.  You guys want anything?"

(Clark looks up at Lana and Chloe.)

Chloe: "No thanks - already ate."

(She holds up her cup of coffee.  Clark looks expectantly at Lana, who returns his gaze.)

Lana: "Some cereal would be nice, Clark."

(Chloe begins uncontrollably giggling as Clark stands and leaves the table.  Pete eyes her.)

Pete: "What's so funny, Chlo?"

Chloe (Speaking through the giggles): "Sorry – just – Clarkie!"

(Carefully controlling herself under her friends' collectively confused gazes, Chloe straightens up and suppresses the giggles to a makeshift smile.  She looks over Pete's shoulder and sees Lois enter.  Chloe waves to her, who spots them and walks over.)

Lois (Plopping down next to Chloe): "So tired..."

(Clark returns to the table with four plastic containers of golden grams.  He sets two down in front of Lana and hand her a small carton of milk and a spoon.)

Clark (As he reseats himself): "Sorry, that's all they had left."

(Clark notices Lois, and then glances down at his food.)

Chloe: "Oh, Clark!  I never got to introduce you to Lois."

Lois: "We met."

Clark: "Last night, on the bus."

Chloe: "Oh, well okay then."

Clark: "Here, Lois.  Why don't you have these?"

(Clark slides his cereal milk and spoon to her.  She looks down at them, then up at him.)

Lois: "Didn't you have any?"

Clark: "Oh, yeah.  I ate earlier."

(Chloe raises an eyebrow at him, but doesn't have a chance to respond as they all look up to see another person enter – someone not quite like the rest of the people.  A tall, red haired, heavily freckled man wearing a red windbreaker and sweatpants walks across the room towards their teacher.  Mr. Audley notices and stands to greet him.)

Mr. Audley: "Mr. Chavez!  Good to finally meet you.  How are you doing?"

Mr. Chavez (Speaking with a slight southern accent): "Great, thanks.  Please, just call me 'Dan'."

Mr. Audley: "Of course."

(Mr. Audley gestures to the nineteen students sitting around him.)

Mr. Audley: "This is them."

Dan Chavez (Surveying them with a twinkle in his eye): "They look like they haven't slept a wink!"

Mr. Audley: "Well, most of them just woke up…"

Dan: "Long bus ride?"

Mr. Audley: "Yes."

Male (His voice squawking from a walkie-talkie on Dan's belt): "Uncle Dan?"

Dan: "Excuse me."

(He unclips the walkie-talkie and presses the transmit button on the side.)

Dan: "Yup?"

Male: "We almost good to go?"

Dan: "Almost.  I'll divvy them up into groups of six or so and send 'em out.  You're in the suburban, right?"

Male: "Yeah."

Dan: "I'll make sure you get the group with the cutest girls."

Male: "Uncle Dan!"

Dan (Chuckling): "Lighten up, buddy."

Male (Laughing): "Alright… just make sure they're cute."

(An indiscernible female voice is heard in the background from the male's end.)

Male: "Sorry, I'll let you get back to work.  Keep me updated."

Dan: "Will do."

(Dan clips the walkie-talkie back on his belt and turns back to Mr. Audley.)

Dan: "Well, let's get this show on the road."

Mr. Audley: "Please.  They're all yours."

Dan: "Oh, I don't know about that!  Never know, I can be kind of kooky at times."

(Mr. Audley doesn't get his humor; his mouth becoming a straight line.)

Dan: "Right.  So, you have twenty people, not including yourself, right?"

Mr. Audley: "Correct."

(Glancing around the room, Dan counts the people.)

Dan: "I only see nineteen."

(Mr. Audley counts to confirm the number.)

Mr. Audley: "I believe…  Has anyone seen Mr. Sanchez?"

Amy (Speaking from behind a muffin): "He was in the pool a little while ago!"

Mr. Audley: "Garret, you were his roommate, correct?  Do you know if he's out yet?"

Garret: "Should be…"

Mr. Audley: "You don't know?"

Garret: "Well, uh… I kind of… didn't…"

(Beside him, Robin blushes.  Mr. Audley gazes at them dangerously before turning towards the entrance as Raul enters.)

Raul Sanchez: "Sorry."

Dan: "Alright, it looks like we have everyone now.  Mr. Sanchez, grab a muffin.  We've got a bit of a ride.  Does everyone have warm clothing?  Coats, gloves, hats, etcetera?"

(He sees everyone glance around at each other.)

Dan: "Didn't think so.  If you could get your stuff and then meet me out in the parking lot in twenty minutes, that'd be great."

(Nodding to Mr. Audley, he leaves the room and turns to the left, exiting the hotel.  Clark stands.)

Clark: "Meet you in the parking lot in a bit."

Lana and Chloe: "Okay."

(Pete and Amandil stand and follow him to the elevator.  They enter and turn around as Pete presses the button for the fourth floor, and the doors begin to close.  Past several hallways, past the entrance to the room they just entered, and past the lobby, Clark can see out into the parking lot.  Three large vans are parked there, each bearing the words "Breckenridge Search and Rescue".  The heavy metal doors close, cutting off Clark's view...)