SCENE K

INT. CLARKE LIVING ROOM – LATER

Ariella and Mae enter.

ARIELLA

Good. They're not back, yet. I just have to put away the laundry, finish the dishes and feed Lionel. Oh no!

She rushes over to Lionel's empty cage.

ARIELLA (CONT'D)

He escaped.

MAE

That's my cue to escape.

Ariella searches the room.

ARIELLA

You have to help me find him. Just follow the chocolate chips.

MAE

I don't think those are chocolate chips.

ARIELLA

For the sake of my sanity, they're chocolate chips.

Mae spots him.

MAE

There he is. There he is!

She hops on the couch while Ariella chases him around the room, turning it upside down. She takes a giant leap and catches him.

ARIELLA

Got ya.

She gets up and locks him in his cage.

ARIELLA

(to Lionel) This stays between the three of us.

She turns around and sees the house is now a mess. Dave, Karen, and Ren enter.

DAVE

(to Ren) I'm sorry for taking up all the time, but those singing jack-o-lanterns were fascinating.

All three of them stop in the doorway, stunned by the mess. Ren drops her lollipop. Mae holds up a Pumpkin Munchkin.

MAE

Trick-or-treat?

DAVE

What happened?

ARIELLA

It's my fault. I snuck out of the house so I could go to the Halloween ball. I'm sorry I disobeyed you. I promise to never do it again.

KAREN

I'm proud of you for telling the truth. But you're still grounded.

DAVE

And you are not going anywhere else until you clean up this house and finish your chores.

He and Karen head to their room.

DAVE

Can you help me get out of this thing? I can't stop seeing spots.

They exit.

Ren checks on Lionel.

REN

He got out, didn't he?

ARIELLA

(nervous) Why would you think that?

Ren pulls out a handful of cheese cubes.

MAE

No wonder he's behind bars.

REN

At least someone had a successful night.

She exits with Lionel.

Ariella turns to Mae.

ARIELLA

I take the kitchen, you take the living room?

Mae covers her mouth.

MAE

Have you cleaned the bathroom yet?

ARIELLA

No.

MAE

Good.

She races to the bathroom.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO