Basket Cases short - Riding the Bus with My Sister

EXT. - Bus Stop - DAY

Racks and Pawchee climb onto a bus ahead of Maska. Through the windows we can see Racks tap a pass.

Pawchee doesn't need to, given her age. She just waits for Racks and their Mom.

INT. - Bus - SAME TIME

We see Maska poised to take a seat at the front of the bus while she watches the girls head to a pair of seats near the back doors.

RACKS Isn't this great, Pawch? Feels like we're just two Coons out on the town, riding the bus like big animals.

With a big smile, Pawchee nods.

She sits beside Racks who has just taken the window seat.

All is going agreeably for a while until. . .

Looking across to the windows on the other side, Pawchee appears to take note of something.

She looks forward, down the way, to where Maska is sitting; happily chatting with the animal riding beside her. Pawchee turns back to Racks, tugging at her sleeve.

PAWCHEE Mommy isn't paying attention.

Racks looks from Pawchee to where Maska is.

RACKS Oh yeah, she's having a chat. I wonder what it's about?

Pawchee seems to have other wonders. She points past Racks' towards the bell pull.

RACKS (distracted) Oh -yeah, you can pull it when it's time.

Realizing there's just no use trying to figure out what her Mom is chatting about, Racks goes back to looking out her window. While Pawchee goes back to looking out the others, appearing gradually more anxious.

Just when Pawchee looks back up at the bell pull, somebody from somewhere else on the bus pulls it.

Pawchee looks towards their Mom again, but can't see her amidst the hubbub of passengers getting off and new ones getting on. She looks to Racks, who isn't paying attention to any of this.

Pawchee sits in a tense state until-- with a quick tap on her sister, Pawchee dashes off the bus.

RACKS Wha--! Pawchee!

She races off after her sister just before the doors close.

EXT. - Neighborhood Street - SAME TIME

And the bus leaves.

RACKS Great! This isn't even our stop, Mom's still on the bus, and now we've been left!

Pawchee looks suddenly alarmed. She bounces from the end of someone's walkway to the edge of the sidewalk, confused; this isn't their stop? Their Mom's still on the bus?!

PAWCHEE Why- why did it leave, then?

Racks rounds on her sister with an accusing paw.

RACKS Because you got off!

PAWCHEE But we were supposed to get off at the purple house!

She points to a purple house behind them.

RACKS We were supposed to get off at the purple fence!

PAWCHEE (suddenly indignant) Well- how is that my fault?! I couldn't see Mommy and you didn't stop me!

RACKS Don't make it out to be mine-! You dashed off faster than you could hear me!

PAWCHEE Well it has to be your fault- you're bigger!

The indignity!

Folding her arms tightly, Racks fixes her sister with a narrowed gaze.

If Pawchee is going to be that way, Racks is going to be resolute.

RACKS (firmly "calm")

All I was supposed to do was watch you. And I watched you get straight off the bus. So I did my job.

Pawchee gazes back; indignation falling away.

Cut-To

INT. - Bus - SAME TIME

MASKA (unhurried) Excuse me now, my kits have taken off on a little side venture.

She calmly pulls the bell and gets up, adding to her former seat neighbor.

MASKA (CONT'D) Nice chatting.

She heads to go out the back doors.

MASKA (calling to bus driver) Thank you!

EXT. - Neighborhood Street - SAME TIME

Pawchee is now looking back down the street, looking like she's going to cry.

PAWCHEE Will it come back?

Racks lets go of some of her upset with a sigh.

She turns to look at the road before answering.

RACKS Well eventually, yeah. Only I don't know the eventually schedule. But the bus continued that way-

She both turns her body and points in the direction.

RACKS (CONT'D) -so if we just follow it down, and look for more stops, we should be able to get there on our own. It wasn't supposed to be a long ride so hopefully. . . . that means it won't be a much longer walk.

Some of her confidence dissipates at this uncertainty.

PAWCHEE But what about Mommy? If we get separated we're supposed to stay where we are.

RACKS Oh Mom's probably noticed by now and is backtracking it back here. We'll probably meet her coming up the street while we're going down.

Racks doesn't say "at least I hope so", but she seems to be feeling that.

RACKS (CONT'D) Anyway, It's fine under these specific circumstances.

Pawchee considers that and seems to be feeling better; at least it doesn't sound like they're lost. She puts her paw into her sister's.

Racks looks down at it, then holds it and starts leading the way.

RACKS Isn't this nice, Pawch? We're just two Coons strolling through town, walking the streets like big animals.

Despite her words, Racks looks around like she's keeping aware of every bit of their surroundings, and hoping to see a specific big animal sooner than later. . .

. . .relief settling in at once when she does!

RACKS There she is!

She hurries down the sidewalk with Pawchee to meet back up with-

MASKA (unconcerned) There you are. Right where I knew you'd be.

She gives them each a reassuring pat on the head.

RACKS Pawchee thought it was our stop- -and I guess I watched the world out the window more than I actually watched her.

Maska looks around.

MASKA Well you should've thanked the bus driver, but this is a lovely neighborhood. A perfect one to mistake for our stop.