Lost and found
Ext: City street - Day
Dog’s head pokes out of moving car window. Bright lights, large buildings, children playing, people walking pass by. Car pulls into a driveway and a Jess gets out with the dog on a leash. He tries to run off but gets caught by leash cord. Jess picks him up and walks with him, in her arms, to the front door.
Ext. Residence
Jess knocks on the front door. The door opens.
Jess
Here you go.
Jess hands over dog
Jess
All of his stuff is in here. (handing over bag). I’m running late already so I have to get going. I’ll pay you when I get back. Thanks!
Jess hurries to her car
Jess
I’ll be back tomorrow evening!
Cara stands there holding the dog, and looks down at him.
INT - Bedroom
Gabby sits on her bed listening to music and texting. The door opens and Cara lets in the dog.
Gabby
He’s here! Hey Max!
Max jumps on the bed
Cara
You wanna watch him?
Gabby
Really? Yeah!
Cara
Good
Cara shuts the door. Gabby proceeds to play with Max.
Int: Living Room – Later that night
Gabby is on the couch watching television. Cara is on her phone. Meanwhile, Max walks up to a low-sitting window and glares outside. Cara and Gabby start to argue in the background.
Cara
Turn it back!
Gabby
You’re not even paying attention!
Cara throws a pillow at Gabby
Cara
Leave it.
Gabby stares at Cara, slowly raises her arm, and changes the channel. Meanwhile, Max sits alone at the window and looks outside.
Int. Bedroom – Early Morning
Gabby is sleeping in bed while Max lies at her feet. Cara comes into the room and nudges Gabby to wake her up.
Cara
Gabby… Gabby… I’m going out.
Gabby slowly turns her head
Gabby
You’re not supposed to go anywhere.
Cara
I’m just going out for a little while. Mom and dad won’t be back until tonight, and they wont know if you keep your mouth shut. Watch the dog for me, and walk him.
Gabby
But you’re…
Cara leaves the room and shuts Gabby’s door.
Gabby
…grounded.
Gabby drops her head back into her pillow and falls asleep. Max jumps down to follow Cara.
Int. Hallway
Cara walks out the front door, closing it in Max’s face.
Int. Gabby’s Room
Max enters the room and jumps back onto the bed. He starts tugging and clawing at Gabby’s arm. Gabby turns over and looks at him. He stares at her with eagerly.
Gabby
What?
He tuggs again
Gabby
You gotta go outside or somethin?
Max starts jumping in excitement. Gabby rolls out of bed.
Int. Hallway
Gabby grabs the dog leash and opens the front door. Max quickly bolts out the door and then across the yard. She runs after him, but quickly loses sight. She stops at the end of the street, out of breath and worried.
Gabby
No, no, no!
Int: Hallway - Later
Cara walks through the door. Gabby runs up to her quickly.
Gabby
What took you so long?
Cara
I wasn’t even that long.
Putting her bags down, Cara starts walking toward the kitchen and Gabby follows.
Int: Kitchen
Gabby
Listen um…
Cara
Is there food or did you eat everything as usual. (opening the fridge)
Gabby
Max is gone.
Cara slowly shuts the refrigerator door without turning to look at Gabby.
Cara
(breathes deeply in) What did you do?
Gabby
Nothing!
Cara
Gabby, I wasn’t supposed to have that dog here in the first place! What did you do?
Gabby
He took off! It wasn’t my fault…
Cara
Yeah… it is. How did that happen?
Ext: Street - Meanwhile
Montage of Max:
Walking through the neighborhood
Sniffing another dog
Resting on a park bench
Eating thrown-away food
Ext: Home – Day
The two girls exit their house through the front door and proceed to walk.
Cara
I can’t believe you did this.
Gabby
I was helping you out, like you said to.
Cara
Well you didn’t! And now I’m probably not even getting paid.
Gabby
Wait… you were getting paid? And you weren’t gonna tell me, huh?
Cara
That doesn’t matter now. We’ll both be in trouble if that dog doesn’t show up soon.
Gabby follows Cara as they walk down the street calling the dog’s name. They look underneath and around object after object.
Ext. Street - Meanwhile
Max approaches the home of his friend, and scratches on the door. A small black dog comes out very excited. They proceed to walk around outside together. Next, come to a more dangerous looking area and pass by a man walking a Pit Bull. The Dog snaps and barks at them. Max and his friend take off running, but his friend is much faster and runs home leaving Max behind.
Ext. Street – Later
The girls walk and continue to look around. Cara’s cell phone rings. Cara pulls her phone from her pocket. Jess is calling.
Cara
Crap…
She allows the phone to ring and doesn’t answer.
Gabby
Who was that?
Cara
Jess
Gabby
Aren’t you gonna tell her?
Cara
No, he’ll show up and she never has to know…
Gabby
He hasn’t yet…
Cara
Shut up and keep looking.
Cara’s phone rings again, and Cara stops walking.
Cara
Gabby, I need you to do something… Make a bunch of noise like you’re playing with the dog.
Gabby
(sarcastically) You want my help again? I think I might mess this one up too, so umm… no.
Cara
Fine, what do you want?
Gabby
If he shows up, I want everything Jess was going to pay you. I mean, I did do all of the dog-watching.
Cara
No way! You lost him!
Gabby
Well have fun explaining this to mom, dad, and Jess. Just remember you were the one in charge, and you left your little sister at home alone with someone else’s dog, while you were grounded.
Gabby smiles and starts to walk off
Cara
Fine! You can have it… Can you just help me? Please?
With a pleased smile, Gabby nods her head and Cara answers the phone.
Cara
Jess! What’s up?
Jess
Hey, how’s my baby?
Cara
He’s great! Gabby and I are playing with him now.
Cara holds the phone out toward Gabby while she makes dog sounds.
Jess
Great! Sounds like he’s having a blast. Buy hey, just a heads up, I’ll be back a little sooner than I planned…
Cara
How soon?
Jess
Umm… I should be back in about two hours.
Cara slowly drops the phone from her ear.
Cara
We gorta find him… Now!
They both take off running yelling Max’s name in all directions.
Ext: City Street
Max walks alone through neighborhood streets. A car rounds a corner honks its horn, and the headlights glare into his face. He gets frightened and runs away. Everything outside is then calm and quiets. He continues to walk and looks around until he finally approaches the girls’ home.
Ext: Neighborhood Street
Cara
Meet me back at the house. I’ll go this way, and you take the other way around. Check everything!
Gabby nods her head in agreement and they split up. Gabby arrives home first and spots Max sitting in front of the front door. He is filthy and smiling. She breathes a sigh of relief and hurries to grab him.
Int. Home Hallway
Cara walks through the front door with her hands on her head in frustration and slides to the floor with her back against the wall.
Suddenly, there is a splash and a laugh coming from the upstairs bathroom and Cara quickly looks up.
Int: Bathroom
Gabby is giving Max a bath in the tub. Cara’s eyes fill with life.
Cara
Where was he?
Gabby
At the front door.
Cara
Thank God!
Cara drops to her knees and begins helping Gabby with bathing Max.
Cara
So… um… This whole dog thing is our little secret right?
Gabby
(Smiling) What dog thing?
Int: Living Room
Gabby and Cara play with the dog on the floor. The doorbell rings. Cara gets up to open it and Jess is there.
Jess
Hey I hope he wasn’t too much trouble.
Cara:
Here you go.
Cara hands over the dog’s bag while Gabby puts on his harness. She walks the dog over to the door and gives Jess the leash.
Gabby
No problem at all!
Jess:
I owe you. Thanks
Jess hands Cara money and leaves with Max. Gabby quickly snatches the money from Cara’s hand. From her car, she yells out
Jess
Hey do you want to watch him next week?
Cara and Gabby look at each other, turn around and walk back inside.
End
