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Chapter 7 - Chapter 7

EXT – STREET NEAR DOG PARK – DAY 

 

Eliza and Randy start walking back to the dog park and Randy's house, miles away. 

 

They run into a little puppy and trip over him. 

 

PUPPY 

Hey, what's the big idea? 

 

RANDY 

We're sorry. We didn't see you. 

 

PUPPY 

Lots of people don't. 

 

ELIZA 

Who are you? 

 

PUPPY 

Ace. 

 

RANDY 

Ace, the puppy? 

 

ACE 

Yes. I roam alone these days. 

 

ELIZA 

Well, you're welcome to come with us. 

 

Randy grabs Eliza and slams her against a lamppost. 

 

RANDY 

The number of wild dogs on this trip is limited. And my limit is one. 

 

ELIZA 

He's coming with us. 

 

Eliza double-checks with Ace. 

 

ELIZA 

Yes, you're welcome to come with us. But there's no turning back. You'll have to be hungry for adventure.

 

ACE 

And I'm hungry. 

 

ELIZA 

Ok, to the dog park. 

 

Eliza and Ace walk off, while Randy looks incredulous about bringing a little puppy. 

 

EXT – STREET – DAY 

 

ACE 

Recently, I've been working alone. But it wasn't always that way. 

 

RANDY 

Oh, this sounds good; maybe you should save it. 

 

ACE 

Really? 

 

RANDY 

Yes. For your friends. 

 

ACE 

Oh. Well, I have another story. 

 

Randy and Eliza show disinterest, so Eliza stops Ace from talking. 

 

ELIZA 

Tell you what. We'll let you tag along. But for now, how about we don't talk until we get there? 

 

ACE 

Ok. Then I'll sing. 

 

RANDY 

No, no, no. 

 

Ace starts singing despite Randy's protests. 

 

RANDY 

Stop it. 

 

ELIZA 

Will you stop it? 

 

RANDY 

Quit it. 

 

ELIZA 

Sssh. Ace, stop singing. 

 

Randy tries to stop Ace by covering his mouth, but Ace keeps singing. 

 

Eliza kicks Ace into a dumpster, but he continues singing. 

 

Annoyed, Eliza and Randy leave Ace in the dumpster singing and continue walking. 

 

EXT – STREET – DAY 

 

Randy scowls, stuck keeping a promise to one dog and letting a puppy tag along. 

 

Ace walks by Randy while Eliza walks behind them. 

 

Ace's singing surrounds them as they walk. 

 

Ace scowls like Randy, who tries to stay away from him. 

 

All three take a lunch break; Randy is confused why Ace and Eliza eat garbage from a trash can. 

 

Randy walks away paranoid; Ace and Eliza follow. 

 

Eliza gets mad at Ace and Randy when they stop to talk to some animals. 

 

Eliza grabs Ace by the mouth and drags him away while Randy follows. 

 

Eliza spots a flower bed and runs around in it, knocking petals off that land on Randy and Ace. 

 

Randy and Ace sneeze the petals off. 

 

EXT – CAMPING SPOT – NIGHT 

 

They work together to create a space to sleep. 

 

Ace tries snuggling with Randy, but Randy moves away. 

 

Randy draws a line in the dirt with his claw to tell Ace to leave him alone. 

 

Ace draws a big circle around them and snuggles up with Randy again. 

 

Randy can't believe he's putting up with this. 

 

EXT – STREET – DAY 

 

The next day, Randy walks through the rain with a scowl. 

 

Eliza steps through puddles happily; Ace plays excitedly. 

 

At a windy spot, all three stand on two legs and feel the breeze on their fur. 

 

When the wind stops, they fall to the ground in mud and laugh at how silly they look. 

 

Dog catchers pick up their trail and hide. 

 

RANDY 

I wonder how they picked up our trail. I thought we lost them back in the alley. 

 

Eliza turns around and asks Randy if that answers his question. 

 

Randy and Ace look behind and see their footprints following them. 

 

RANDY 

I think I've got an idea. 

 

All three hitch a ride in the back of a pickup truck to avoid leaving tracks. 

 

ACE 

Ok, now this is fun. 

 

EXT – STREET – DAY 

 

Other stray dogs see what Ace, Eliza, and Randy are doing and decide to hitch rides on trucks too. 

 

All the dogs jump into the backs of trucks and enjoy the rides unnoticed by humans. 

 

Eliza looks ahead and sees they are headed for a tunnel. 

 

As they enter the tunnel, all the dogs stick their heads out of the trucks, holding their tongues out to feel the wind. 

 

Ace and Eliza join in; Randy stretches his head and tongue out, joining the others. 

 

Humans see the dogs but don't care, thinking they are pets. 

 

Ace laughs and sings the last verse of his song. 

 

EXT – STREET – DAY 

 

Animal control officers follow the footprints to the street, but find the dogs have disappeared. 

 

MATT 

Where'd the dogs go? 

 

Animal control officers search but find no stray dogs or footprints. 

 

Meanwhile, Randy, Eliza, and Ace continue riding in a truck, with other dogs in different trucks. 

 

After exiting the tunnel, Eliza sees Randy lying in the truck, no longer having fun. 

 

ELIZA 

Is something wrong, Randy? 

 

RANDY 

Oh, I miss my family. I'm sure they're worried sick about me. 

 

ELIZA 

Yeah, well, they'll be relieved when they see you again. And I bet they'll be even more surprised to see me. 

 

RANDY 

You don't know the half of it. 

 

ELIZA 

What was that? 

 

RANDY 

Nothing. 

 

Eliza chooses to ignore Randy's mood and lets him miss his family. 

 

Eliza walks by Ace and tells him to give Randy a minute. 

 

Ace walks away with Eliza, and they sit on the other side of the truck, continuing their journey. 

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