Return to Summary Page(Contributed by Salem)
Jack, Jennifer and Abby have just spent another day at the beach on Smith Island, but Jack knows this will be their last day together as a family.
Jack has Abby in his arms and carries her to a blanket that is laid out on the beach as Jennifer follows. They have just come from the water and are all wet. They are laughing and having a great time.
Jack -- You are becoming a very good swimmer Abby.
Jennifer -- Come here baby.
Jack -- When we go later, I am going to have to teach you how to do the backstroke, okay.
Jennifer -- Ohh, that sounds good but you know what sweetie? No more swimming today because the sun is coming down.
Jack -- (grabs a waterproof camera) Wait a minute. I want a picture of a mermaid. (looks around) Do you see any mermaids, Abby?
Jennifer -- (holds Abby close) Ohh, do you see any?
Abby -- Yah!
Jack -- (looks at Abby) Wait a minute. There's one right here. (points to Abby) Let me get some pictures.
Jennifer -- Are you a mermaid? Oh, smile like a mermaid. (she smiles as Jen laughs)
Jack -- Another mermaid pose. There we go . . . turn your . . . (she presses her hands together) Perfect! Perfect.
Jennifer -- Oh there we go. You know we have to start getting ready to go home soon, you know that.
Jack -- Don't worry. We've got plenty of time to do fun things. I hereby pronounce myself as officer in charge of fun. All in favour say aye.
Abby -- Aye.
Jack -- All not in favour, get lost. (Jen laughs) Are you going to make it unanimous, Jennifer?
Jennifer -- You know as I recall, the last fun thing you planned, we both got a case of poison ivy.
Jack -- Yeah, but you yourself said that wasn't my fault. We're not scratching anymore so all's well that ends well, right?
Jennifer -- I suppose.
Jack -- (right away) Okay, I take that as an aye. Now my first job as officer in charge of fun is to convene a game of tag. And I'm it. So you better start running.
Jennifer makes ohno sounds and Jack leans in to scare Abby and warns her that he is coming as Jen protects her and gets her to run in the opposite direction. Jack grabs Jen around the waist with on hand and pulls her in close. They are laughing the whole time. They are close enough to kiss. But they just stare into eachothers eyes for a brief moment unitl Jen backs off a bit.
Jack -- Jennifer, you okay?
Jennifer -- Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine. You know what sweetie, that's enough tag for today, okay.
Jack -- Hey, I've got an idea. (he picks Abby up) Let's build a camp fire, okay. (Abby likes that idea) Then we can dry off and go play some beachball and maybe go for a walk in the woods.
Jennifer -- Come here sweetie. (he puts Abby down and sits next to Jen) You know we really have to start getting ready to go home soon. We really have to leave tonight.
Jack -- Hey, why don't we stay another day. Do you want to stay another day, Abby?
Abby -- Yeah!
Jack -- Yeah!
Jennifer -- Jack, come on, don't do that. Don't encourage her or she's just going to be more upset when we have to leave.
Jack -- (like a kid in a candy store) Then just don't leave tonight.
Jennifer -- Jack, we have to leave tonight.
Jack -- I know that Jennifer, but that is tomorrow. Can't we just make the most of the time we have here? How can you say no to that little face, huh? (referring to Abby's)
Jennifer -- Alright, we won't talk about leaving just yet.
Jack -- Thank You. Okay Abby, let's go collect some wood and start on that camp fire. We'll go to the ocean and look for wood. (he picks he up and they set off) Okay, let's go.
Jennifer -- (to herself) Oh I really hope I did the right thing.
Some time has passed and there is now a fire going and darkness has set in.
Jack -- Look at that sunset up there. Isn't that beautiful? It's the end of another day.
Jennifer -- There's two more hot-dogs left. Who wants one? (to Abby) You want one? (she nods) Okay. Oh let's see, what should I put on it? Ketchup?
Abby -- Yeah.
Jennifer -- Jack?
Jack -- No, no thanks, I'm fine.
Jennifer -- You okay?
Jack -- Yeah, I'm fine. Uh, I'm gonna go collect some more firewood.
Jennifer -- That's okay. You don't have to. We are going to be leaving soon. We don't need it.
Jack gets up and walks down the beach anyways.
Jennifer -- Your daddy got very quiet all of a sudden. I guess he's sleepy. It's been quite a long day. You know baby you keep eating and I'm just going to clean up around here a little bit. (she grabs a paper and notices something) Oh look at this. Horoscope. Let me see what your horoscope says. Your birthday today. Oh my gosh. Oh Abby, today is your daddy's birthday. I completely forgot. I didn't even get a present for you to give him. Well I know what he wants. He wants us to be a family. He would love to have that for his birthday, but that can't happen right now. But we have to do something for him, don't you think? . . . what
Some more time passes and Jack is back at the cabin chopping wood. He has put on a shirt and shorts. Jen comes out dressed in similar apparel.
Jennifer -- When are you going to come inside, Jack?
Jack -- Soon.
Jennifer -- You are awfully quiet.
Jack -- Yeah, well it's been a long day and I'm just tired.
Jennifer -- Uh, I already explained to you why Abby and I have to go back.
Jack -- I know, I know. All good things must come to an end. I've learned that the hard way.
Jennifer -- Ahh, come on Jack, don't do this.
Jack -- Jennifer, I promised myself that I wouldn't go into this, okay, but avoiding the truth is no way to change it. I've learned that the hard way too. Look, I appreciate you letting me stay here. I know you didn't want me to.
Jennifer -- It worked out alright. Abby had a good time.
Jack -- And so did I, you know. But I know it didn't mean the same to you as it did to me. For reasons that I just don't want to go into. But this was very special for me. It was a gift. So yeah, I'm just a little sad to see it end. But I'll get over it.
Jennifer -- Why don't you come inside for a minute, Jack.
Jack -- In a while. (he drops the ax)
Jennifer -- Can you come in now? Abby would really like you to.
Jack -- Why?
Jennifer -- Because your little girl wants you inside. Please. Come on.
Jack -- Okay, okay.
They walk into the cabin, which is decorated with little paper snowflakes and rings. There is a sponge cake on the table.
Jennifer -- (proud of herself) Here he is.
Jack -- (showing his surprise with a huge grin) What is all this?
Jennifer and Abby immediately break into a verse of Happy Birthday.
Jack -- Thank you very much.
Jack blows out five candles on the cake. Abby and Jennifer clap.
Jack -- How was that?
Jennifer -- That was great. You know I just remembered it was your birthday. I would have done something more elaborate for you.
Jack -- No this is great. I love it. (Abby hands him a drawing) Now what is this? Did you draw this picture for me on my birthday?
Abby -- Yeah.
Jack -- Well thank you. This is wonderful sweetheart. (he kisses her) Jen, I don't believe it. A minute ago, I was so down about this day ending. I mean if I would have known this was coming . . . you've just made this day perfect. Thank you.
Abby -- Mommy, kiss daddy.
Jack -- (he smiles) Jen you don't have to.
Jennifer -- Happy Birthday, Jack.
She leans in and kisses him on the cheek just as Peter enters.
Peter -- Well, well, well. This looks like a party. Guess my invitation got lost in the mail.
Abby -- It's daddy's birthday.
Peter -- Yes I can see that sweetheart. Happy Birthday, Jack. I'd have brought you a gift but no one told me.
Jennifer -- (to Jack) Could you take Abby outside for a few minutes, please.
Jack -- Sure. Come on Abby, let's go look at those fireflies out there. (they leave)
Peter wants to know what is going on. Jennifer tries to explain that it was a coincidence that Jack was there, but Peter is hurt that Jennifer didn't tell him about Jack when he called. And he is even more upset that Jennifer let him stay.
Jack, in the meantime is talking with Abby outside.
Jack -- (they are playing with the puzzle box) Well we are having a little trouble trying to open this box aren't we sweetheart. Well, we will figure it out. But remember it's a magic box, right. We don't have to open it to put wishes in it. We can just uh wish them into it. Just like this. Ready. Here we go. Help me hold the box here. I wish that you and mommy and me will always remember what a magical time we all had on the island here together.
Abby -- Me too.
Jack -- Okay. (he smiles) Now our wish it's inside the box so we will never forget how happy we were. No matter what happens. How do you like that? (she nods) Okay. All our good memories are inside this box. Just don't let go of it okay.
Peter and Jennifer come outside.
Peter -- My boat it's at the dock if you and Abby are packed, we can go right now.
Jennifer -- You know, I think that we will just wait and take the next ferry.
Peter -- Alright, whatever you want. (he leaves)
Jack -- Problems?
Jennifer -- I don't want to talk about it Jack. Come on Abby, we have a lot of packing to do. (they go inside)
Jack -- (to himself as he picks up the box) Maybe memories aren't all that I have left. Maybe I have a chance with Jennifer after all.
END
