the schoolyard - it looms in the background, as a reference to where we are. aaron occupies this alley and we see what he sees - trash and fire-escapes and ominous gray skies. dark figures move into this sight - they eclipse the heavens. and there aaron is, twisted in a contorted heap of arms and legs - his body eternally locked within the stranglehold of spengler and erlick aaron's face, another black eye makes it a set. rage distorts his mouth out of symmetry. he stares at perceval, before him - the blonde kid from class. we hear water, a stream of liquid-something splashing about, spraying. perceval - he's taking a leak on aaron's exposed leg.
 but a brick wall stares him down, providing no exit. he swallows hard. footsteps approach, just seconds away. close on aaron, as blood drains from his face. his eyes dash for a garbage can - but is there time? spengler. erlick. perceval. they can smell their prey.
trash cans fly. paper, swept up and sent aflutter. we've seen this before - aaron, running for his life and the bullies in pell-mell pursuit. he cuts into an alley. looses them momentarily. finds a dumpster to his liking.
erlick and spengler - at a dead end. their trail leads them to a metal fence, the alley continuing beyond it. no time wasted they scale it. perceval arrives - in time to see erlick, landing on the other side. spengler pulls himself over. joins erlick on the ground.
hancock - on his back and amidst the rubble. he braces the building to get up. drops. gets to his feet, only to be confronted by the police officer from the boardwalk. we'll call this one officer reed - a beat cop with something stiff up his ass.