A Step Too Far

Terence tiptoes up to the car park.

He looks back.

No one has woken.

He approaches the police car to check on the prisoner.

The police car is silent. Or is it?

Creak...creak.

Everything all right in there? asks Terence, in what he hopes is the right sort of voice.

A face appears at the window of the police car.

Need a wee? asks Terence.

He holds up Victor's keys.

Camus nods. Yes, he does need a wee, please. 

Okay, says Terence. I'll open up, but you can't run away.

Camus nods again. As if he would do that!

Terence inserts Victor's car key.

Click. Camus bursts out into the night.

And disappears into the bushes.

Psssssssssssssssssssss. 

Camus re-emerges.

Too much Passiona, says Camus.

Now get back in, says Terence.

Where's Victor? asks Camus.

See this hat? says Terence. He said I could wear it.

And gave you his car keys, says Camus. Did he not think I might drive away in his police car.

Yippee! says Terence. Why don't you? 

It's a serious crime, says Camus.

Not if I come with you, says Terence.

It would serve Victor right, says Camus.

You could wear Victor's hat while you're driving, says Terence.

I could, says Camus. 

You could turn on the siren, says Terence.

A step too far, says Victor. But get in, let's do it.

Terence gets into the police car and hands Victor's hat and car keys to Camus.

Yay! This will be awesome!

Brmmm! They drive away into the night.

On the beach, Victor's head feels cold.

Uh-uh-ach-ooh! He wakes up.

Where's his police hat? Where is Terence?

Shit-a-brick! Where are his car keys!

He stands, brushes the sand from his trousers and runs to the carpark.

His worst fears are confirmed.

The police car is missing, and so is his prisoner! 

Camus's electric vehicle is nearby.

He tries the door handles. Locked.

Why didn't he confiscate Camus's keys?

He plods back to the beach where Gaius is sleeping.

Wake up, Gaius!

What is it? mutters Gaius. 

Victor tells Gaius the story.

That is unfortunate, says Gaius. But it seems there's not much you can do.

Thanks, says Victor. I know that.

Let us assume they'll come back soon, says Gaius.  After all Camus is no fool. He hired that electric vehicle and will need to return it at some point. And he will soon tire of Terence.

That's a comfort, says Victor. 

Indeed, says Gaius. Look at the sky. Pink streaks. Dawn is approaching. Let us keep a vigil.

Victor like this idea. He wonders if Gaius has anything they might eat, on this vigil.

Gaius is scrabbling about in his back pack.

He brings out two limp carrots, and a block of hard cheese, with visible teeth marks.

Try the other end, says Gaius.