A Chase Story

Busted

[to a child photography studio in a discount store. Ryder is attempting to make a child smile by squeaking a rubber duck and making baby sounds.]

Ryder: Aw, come on, Kimmie! Gimme a big...

[With a strong squeeze, the squeaker on the rubber ducky pops out and Ryder swallows it. He squeaks when he tried to speak. The child likes it and breaks into a big smile. Ryder takes advantage of this to begin taking pictures and playing peekaboo with the child. Humdinger come up behind Ryder, slaps him on the back and knocks the squeaker out of Ryder's throat.]

Humdinger: Stop goofing around! We got work to do!

Ryder: Okay, Kimmie, back to mommy, now!

[The child is reluctant to leave Ryder but finally waves bye-bye.]

Mommy: Oh, you have such a way with children!

Humdinger: (mocking) You have such a way with children! Pleh!

[Ryder approaches a little girl and her mother waiting for a picture.]

Ryder: Okay, now! Who's next over he...

[Humdinger knocks Ryder out of the way.]

Humdinger: Step aside, Ryder. Let a pro show you how it's done. Okay! Who's next over here? Heh, heh! Oh, hello precious..

[The little girl kicks Humdinger.]

Humdinger: Doh!! Ow! You lucky woman! Come on here, honey! It's picture time!

[The little girls giggles and hides.]

Little Girl: Peekaboo!

Humdinger: She's so cute!

Little Girl: Peekaboo!

[Humdinger finally catches her.]

Ryder: Gosh, Humdinger. You sure are good with kids!

Humdinger: Oh, yeah. Well, they love me.

[Humdinger is holding the little girl by the collar. She attempts to hit Humdinger and fails.]

Humdinger: Why, Marshall, he's been begging me to take him on vacation this summer.

Ryder: Really? Where are you going?

[Humdinger velcros the little girl to the set floor.]

Humdinger: Camping! Nothing like the great outdoors to strengthen the bond between a father and his son. (A/N): Marshall was adopted by Humdinger. And Ryder is Chase's stepfather.)

Ryder: Oh, Chase would never go for anything like that!

[Ryder gives the little girl a stuffed Bambi.]

Humdinger: I don't know, Ryder. Something's wrong when a kid won't spend time with his parents. Why, for all you know he's running around with some gang and stealing stuff and causing riots...

[HUmdinger takes the stuffed Bambi from the little girl who cries.]

Ryder: No, Chase is a good kid. He'd never get mixed up in something like that!

[to the main office of the high school. Chase and Rocky and sitting, waiting their turn to speak with the Principal. Miss Katie, a secretary, is typing and humming the funeral march. Chase is totally depressed.]

Chase: I'm a failure--complete loser! My one chance to impress Skye and I blew it!

[Rocky reveals something he has been working on for a while.]

Rocky: Uh, huh! Chase! Look! It's the leaning tower of cheeza!

[Rocky stuffs the cheese in his mouth. Marshall comes out of the Principal's office with a vacant look on his face.]