Scene 3.
Maddie, Matt, Nick, Regina, Tori and Jessa are outside the station, waiting for Earl, Sammie, Jon and Chuck as other kids pile out of the two buses. Eventually, as everyone else is going into the subway, the 4 of them walk up to their friends. The buses pull away.
MATT
(Putting his arm around Sammie.) How is he?
SAMMIE
Not good. It's tonsilitus, I knew he had a temperature this morning...
MATT
(Kisses the top of her head.) You're doing it again.
SAMMIE
(Confused.) Doing what?
MATT
Blaming yourself.
SAMMIE
(Shakes her head.) Am not. Look, Matt, I can't go when I know he's ill. Can you?
MATT
(Slowly.) Well... Sammie, if we were going on a field trip for a day, you know I'd do the same.
SAMMIE
(Stunned.) So... you're just going to ignore this?
MATT
(Quickly.) No!
Beat.
(Resignedly.) Sam, when we signed up for this thing, we agreed we'd be normal teeagers.
Beat.
As in, not worrying about Bryan all the time?
SAMMIE
I know, but -
JESSA
Sammie, come on. Two weeks ago, you said you needed a break from Bryan, and now you're thinking about going back and giving this up for him, what?
SAMMIE
(Slowly, staring at Matt.) I know, but... Matt, this is our son. You must be worried about him!
MATT
(Taking hold of her hands.) Yeah, baby, I am, but this cost over a thousand bucks, we can't just chuck it away!
CHUCK
(Looking round at Matt.) Yeah?
MATT
(Stares at him.) What?
CHUCK
I heard my name.
MATT
Oh. No, I just aid chuck it. As in throw it away.
Beat.
CHUCK
I knew that.
Chuck starts talking to Jessa again as Matt turns back to Sammie.
SAMMIE
(Close to tears.) So... you're going?
MATT
Oh, come on, Sam! Mom can take care of him!
SAMMIE
But it's not fair on her!
Beat.
(Letting go of Matt's hands.) You know what, Matt? You go. Go and have fun with some canadian broad for all I care, but I'm staying.
Sammie pulls out her cell phone and starts to dial the number of a cab firm. Matt grabs the phone off her, hangs up and pockets it.
MATT
(Turns to Maddie.) Maddie, will you please talk some sense into your cousin?
MADDIE
(Quietly.) Sammie, your Mom wanted you to come on this trip, remember?
SAMMIE
(Wildly.) I know, but -
Mr Gomez, their history teacher, comes out of the subay. All of the friends, who had been facing Matt and Sammie, spin around as he begins to talk.
MR GOMEZ
(Angrily.) Were you lot planning on coming on this trip or did you just want to stop other people coming?
TORI
(Hurriedly.) Sorry, sir, we'll be down in a sec. Sammie just feels a bit sick.
MR GOMEZ
(Sighs, shakes his head.) Well, don't be long. Sammie, if you need one, I've got some sick-bags.
SAMMIE
(Weakly.) Um... thanks, sir.
As Mr Gomez disappears back into the subway, everyone turns back to Sammie and Matt.
MATT
(Urgently.) Sammie, come on. Please.
SAMMIE
(Uncertainly, looking at Maddie.) I don't know...
MADDIE
Sammie, Bryan will be fine. Me and Jsasmine had tonsilitus loads when we were younger, and Matt's Mom took care of us fine.
JON
(To Jessa, aside.) Oh, my Mom and Maddie's Mom are best friends. Maddie's Mom still looks after our little brother sometimes.
MATT
(To Sammie.) See? C'mon, babe, you have nothing to worry about.
NICK
(Looking at watch.) Guys, what time does our train leave?
REGINA
Ten past one.
NICK
(Alarmed.) What?
TORI
Nick, chill out. We have loads of time.
NICK
Uh, no we don't! It's ten past now!
They all stare at him, then grab their luggageand sprint down into the subway.
EARL
(Shouting.) What platform is it?
NICK
(Shouting.) Twelve.
Maddie looks up at the directory.
MADDIE
That's miles away! We'll never make it!
JON
(Rolls eyes.) Ugh. You're such a drama queen.
TANNOY
Train 6715 is now leaving. Train 6715 is now leaving the station.
Everyone freezes.
CHUCK
(Faintly.) That's our train...
They all sprint to platform twelve, hoping to catch the train. As soon as they reach it, Matt (who's in the lead) skids to a stop in time to see the train pull away.
MATT
(To passing guard.) Wait! Please, you need to stop that train!
GUARD
Why should we do that for you?
EARL
(Breathlessly.) Because we're with that school trip!
GUARD
Then you should've been on time, shouldn't you?
The Guard walks off. Matt makes to go after and punch him, but Earl "catches" him and holds him back.
EARL
Easy, buddy.
MATT
(Throws bag to floor and kicks it.) I can't believe this! They actually left without us!
Beat.
(Glares at Sammie.) Happy now? None of us are freakin' going!
SAMMIE
(Angrily.) Hey, I -
A huge explosion from the way 6715 has just left sends them all flying off their feet. They land (painfully) a couple of metres away. As Guards start running towards the platform, they all slowly sit up and stare, stunned, at the flaming track.
End Scene.
