TOM: What are we going to do? I can't get the car out of this ditch. I'm stuck!
SUE: I'm worried, Tom. I haven't seen any other cars for almost an hour.
TOM: I know. This is terrible. What can we do? This snow doesn't stop falling!
SUE: I told you we should have stayed in town today.
The weather report said 100 percent chance of snow.
Why did you want to come up here?
TOM: I wanted to show you the cabin. We only had another half-hour to go.
SUE: Well, now we're stuck. What can we do?
TOM: I don't know.
SUE: I've heard that when this happens, it's important to save energy.
TOM: What do you mean?
SUE: We're stranded here, Tom. We may be here a long time.
We need to conserve the gas in the car. The car's energy is what will keep us warm.
TOM: I have plenty of gas.
SUE: Yes, but the gas and the battery both have to stay working.
We can't just let the car run and run.
If we do, it will die soon. Then we'll freeze.
TOM: So what can we do?
SUE: Turn the lights off.
Then, run the car and the heater only about fifteen minutes every hour.
That will conserve the heat as long as possible.
TOM: Alright. That's a good idea.
SUE: I wish we hadn't come up here. Now we'll probably be here for days.
TOM: Days?
SUE: Yes, it happens.
That is what happens in big snowstorms. People get stranded for days.
TOM: Oh, my God! It's good we have food.
SUE: Probably we'll survive.
But turn the car off for about forty-five minutes. Then we'll turn it on again.
TOM: Okay, I'll follow your advice.
