EXT. WAVERLY — DAY

The girls step off the bus at the first stop, an hour away from the city, both looking a little uncertain and frustrated by their misfortune.

UNA: So... where do we go from here?

Sam looks out at the town before them. It's quaint, picturesque almost, and if they weren't pressed for time, she might have liked to linger and take nice photos for Instagram. But as it is, she couldn't exactly stop to sniff the roses.

A mint green storefront catches Sam's eye. A sloppily painted sign on the window reads: SUNNY SIDE UP! DINER. Sam nods her head in its direction.

SAM: Maybe they'd have ideas for us.

Without waiting for her response, Sam crosses the street towards Sunny Side Up!

CUT TO:

INT. SUNNY SIDE UP! DINER — DAY

A bell rings overhead the instant they push the door open and step into the diner. A middle-aged woman with obviously fake red hair that matched her red polka-dot uniform and heart-shaped glasses looks up from the bar she leans on. She watches the girls curiously as they approach. Her name tag reads Sunny. Una allows herself to smile wryly.

SUNNY: What will it be for y'all young lovely ladies?

SAM: We've actually come to ask for, um... well, directions, I suppose.

UNA: (interjects) We're kind of lost. We meant to get on the V bus in Dreary to get to the city, but we got on the W bus by mistake.

Sunny chuckles.

SUNNY: Well, that's a new one.

UNA: Right, so, would you happen to know of any other buses that pass by this area that might be able to take us to the city?

Sunny shakes her head.

SUNNY: I don't know if you've noticed it on y'all's way here, but we're kind of in the middle of nowhere. Call it luck that y'all ended up on that W bus. It's the one and only we take to the city, but I reckon it won't be back for another couple hours.

Sunny rises to her full height. To keep herself from groaning in frustration, Una notes Sunny's gaudy pearl bracelet and matching earrings.

SAM: Is there really no other way to get to the city other than the bus?

SUNNY: Unless you've got a friend here willing to drive y'all all the way to the city, I'm afraid y'all's stuck here for the time being.

Defeated, Sam groans and turns to lean against the counter, throwing her head back. She scrubs her hands over her face.

UNA: Hey, now...

The truth is, Una is frustrated, too. She spent all her money on those tickets, first of all, and she was so excited to see them. If Sam hadn't been so careles... Well, no, now's not the time to play the blame game. If they put their heads together, surely they'd figure something out.

UNA: Maybe we can call a taxi.

Sunny laughs.

SUNNY: Unless you're willing to pay a premium, doll, no taxi driver's gonna be willing to come out here.

Una bites her lip. She looks over at Sam, who has slumped over and has seemingly given up. She has to keep fighting for the both of them. For Stillwater.

UNA: Are you sure there's no other way? Maybe someone from around here is going to head to the city today. Maybe we can hitch?

Sunny shrugs.

SUNNY: The family over there's not from here. Maybe you can ask if they're headed that way.

Sam looks up.

SAM: How would you even know where they're from?

SUNNY: Honey, I know everyone in this town. I don't know 'em. One plus one ain't equal three, right?

Una steels herself. She rolls back her shoulders and attempts to put on the most confident smile she could muster. Then, with her gaze focused on the family—they sit in a red leather booth, all four of them, mother, father, teenaged son, and little girl—she begins her approach. They look up when she arrives.

UNA: Hi! I'm so sorry to disturb you guys but my friend and I—

Una stops and glances over her shoulder. Sam is watching her nervously from the booth. When she glances back at the family, they're all looking at Sam.

UNA: Well, my friend and I got on the wrong bus from Dreary and ended up here. We were wondering if you were headed towards the city, or even just Dreary, and if maybe we could hitch a ride there?

The woman, the mother, whose thick curly hair she kept tied in a fluffy pony behind her head, breaks into a smile.

THE MOTHER: Well, of course! We're heading to the beach outside the city, so we can drop you off, no problem.

The father nods in agreement then stuffs a French fry into his mouth. Their son, on the other hand, is still staring at Sam.

UNA: Really?

THE MOTHER: Of course. If any of my children got lost, I'd hope for a good Samaritan to help them find their way. It's called paying it forward, am I right?

Una smiles, relieved.

UNA: Right.

THE MOTHER: Well, we're just wrapping up here, then we can head out. Have you girls had anything to eat?

Una nods.

UNA: My aunt packed us some snacks so we had some on the way over.

THE MOTHER: Good, good. Well, if you want to order anything, tell the waitress to put it on our tab, alright?

UNA: Thank you so much.

THE MOTHER: What did you say your name was again, darling?

UNA: Oh! I'm so sorry, I completely forgot to introduce myself. I'm Una. My friend over there is Sam.

The mother shakes hands with Una.

THE MOTHER: I'm Annie. This is my husband, Paul. That's our son, Mick, and his sister, Yvette.

UNA: So lovely to meet all of you. Thank you again.

ANNIE: Of course. We'll see you in a few?

UNA: Yes! We'll just be right there, so let us know when you're ready to go.

Annie nods. Una takes this as her cue to turn and leave, throwing two thumbs up at Sam and grinning widely.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR — DAY

Una and Sam are wedged in the backseat with Mick and Yvette. Annie and Paul sit in the front, humming along to the radio when the car starts to sputter and slow.

PAUL: Ah, shit...

ANNIE: Paul! Language!

PAUL: Sorry, sorry...

UNA: Is everything okay?

PAUL: Something's wrong with the car.

Paul pulls over on the side of the road and steps out of the car. Annie, on the other hand, doesn't look surprised and just leans her elbow on her window-side and holds her head in her hand.

MICK: I told you guys we need a new car.

He looks over at Sam, who is in the middle of the backseat between him and Una.

MICK: My dad's had this car since college.

ANNIE: We've never had a reason to replace it until recently. And mind you, it's helped pay for your education, Michael, so please don't be so snarky.

SAM: It's a nice car...

MICK: Sure, but not when it breaks down every hour on a five-hour drive.

UNA: You've been driving five hours?

MICK: Mhm. We stopped over at Waverly 'cause we were losing our minds in the car.

YVETTE: I wasn't.

MICK: That's cause you were driving all of us mad with your singing, Yvette.

Yvette sticks her tongue out at her brother, except because she's on his lap, she has to twist her torso to face him.

Paul re-enters the vehicle and sighs.

PAUL: We're gonna have to call the mechanic to tow us into the nearest town. Something's busted and I can't figure out what.

MICK: It's the whole car, dad. The whole car is busted.

Annie twists back to glare at her son. Mick shrugs helplessly. Sam and Una exchange glances; a part of them find it funny that everything that could go wrong seems to be going wrong for them, but at the same time, it's not funny. Not even in the slightest. So Una swallows her pride and speaks up.

UNA: W-Would you happen to know how long it'll take to get the car fixed?

Paul looks at her through the rearview mirror.

PAUL: I'm not sure. Might be something quick, might take hours.

Annie reaches behind her to place a motherly hand on Una's knee.

ANNIE: I'm sorry, darling. We'll still try our best to get you to the city. What time do you need to be there?

UNA: Before seven, hopefully... But if it isn't possible—

PAUL: I'm sure it shouldn't take that long to sort out. I'm gonna step out and get help, alright?

He does exactly as he's said, leaving the family and the girls to slump back in their seats, waiting for help to come.

CUT TO:

EXT. MANNY'S AUTO SHOP — DAY

Sam, Una, Mick, and Yvette sit on the curb outside Manny's Auto Shop in Montpelier. It's closer to Dreary this time, but still miles from where they want to be. Nevertheless, an improvement is an improvement and Una is working on not letting her hopes get squashed.

Just then, Annie steps out and sits next to Yvette.

ANNIE: So... The mechanic says the car won't be ready for another hour. (to Sam and Una) We'll still be able to get you to the city before seven, but they also said that a bus might arrive a bit before that if you want to take your chances.

Sam and Una exchange glances.

SAM: I think we've pushed our luck today.

UNA: We don't mind waiting.

Annie smiles.

ANNIE: Alright. Well, the city center is just a block from here and the mechanic suggested we go look at some shops while waiting. You guys up for it?

Una is the first to nod. She notices Mick looking at Sam's reaction before deciding himself.

SAM: I'm game.

UNA: I should probably call my aunts first. Let them know what's up.

ANNIE: Of course.

SAM: I'll stay with you, Una.

MICK: Oh, me too. I'll catch up with you later, Mom, yeah?

Annie squints suspiciously at Mick but nods her head.

ANNIE: Alright. Call me when you finish up here.

When Annie takes Yvette's hand and starts walking away, Mick lets out a breath.

MICK: This is the first time today that I haven't been around them. I feel like I can breathe again.

Sam chuckles. As they break off into a conversation about families and frustrations, Una pulls away, smiling, her phone pressed to her ear.

When Aunt Hilda picks up the phone, Una feels her own frustrations melting away. There's something about Aunt Hilda's voice that was just so relaxing, comforting.

HILDA (O.S.): Una! We've been waiting for your call! Where have you been?

UNA: Sorry, Aunt Hilds. We got on the wrong bus and ended up in Waverly but—

HILDA (O.S.): WHAT?

UNA: It's fine now, Aunt Hilda, we hitched a ride with a nice family and—

HILDA (O.S.): You WHAT?

UNA: Aunt Hilda, really—

HILDA (O.S.): What if they turned out to be serial killers? Are you out of your mind? I knew we shouldn't have let you go!

UNA: Aunt Hilda! We're fine! I promise! We're just in Montpelier getting their car fixed but we'll be in the city soon.

Aunt Hilda sounds as if she's hyperventilating on the other end of the line. Una lets out a breath.

UNA: I'm sorry to worry you, Aunt Hilda.

On the other end, Aunt Hilda sniffles.

UNA: Please don't cry!

HILDA (O.S.): Something could have happened to you... You—They—

UNA: I'm fine, Aunt Hilda.

Una knew her aunts were a tad too overprotective at times, but she couldn't blame them; she was—is—the only thing left of her parents, and she understood that they naturally felt a sense of responsibility for her. It was suffocating at times, but she also knew it was because they loved her.

HILDA (O.S.): Well, call us when you get there immediately. I—I will talk to your Aunt Frida about a punishment for your carelessness and I—I—

Una sighs.

UNA: I guess that's fair.

Aunt Hilda is silent on the other line for a few moments.

HILDA (O.S.): I'm just glad you're okay.

UNA: I'm perfectly safe, Aunt Hilds. You have nothing to worry about.

She can't see her, but Una pictures her aunt nodding.

HILDA (O.S.): Well, alright then.

UNA: I'll call you again later.

They say their goodbyes and Una hangs up. She turns to rejoin Sam and Mick's conversation, which is now on sports.

SAM: Oh, no way, you play soccer, too?

MICK: Yeah! I'm more lacrosse these days, though. I wasn't good enough at soccer.

Sam laughs.

UNA: Hey, are you guys ready?

The two look at her, seemingly reminded that they weren't the only two people around.

SAM: Right. Let's go!

Una gives Sam a knowing look when Mick turns to start walking to the city center. Sam mouths 'shut up' and nudges her on the side.

* * *

That took me longer than usual, but here's another episode of ONO. I kind of picture Caleb McLaughlin as Mick, but who did you picture? And what do you think of Sam and Una's journey so far?

As always, please don't forget to vote and/or comment if you enjoyed this episode. I look forward to reading all your comments and thoughts on the story so far!