V. and Jax are marooned on the atoll. Jax is lying down, and V. is sitting drawing in the sand. Jax gets up and walks over and looks over her shoulder at what V. is doing.

V. Mr. Jacks, I thought you were sleeping.

J. No, I was just resting my eyes.

V. Well, I'm sorta tired too, so if you don't mind.

J. Whoa Whoa wait wait, what is that?

V. Nothing, and I don't appreciate you sneaking up on me. Just because we're marooned in the middle of an ocean doesn't mean that we're going to forget our manners.

J. Wait, this is the second time I've seen you drawing today. Would you at least show me what you've done?

V shows him the picture

J: Oh, it's us, on this beach.

V: Well, you know I was just trying to put down what I saw.

J: Well, you've done more than that, this is really good.

V: Right, ok, Mr. Jacks you've had your fun, now, uh, step aside so I can get rid of the thing.

J: No, I mean it. I mean it, this is uh, the way you've laid it out, the composition. Did you study?

V: Art, no no I never had time for that.

J: Well, you should have made time, because from what I can see, you're a natural.

V: It's just a drawing in the sand. You go to the beach, you'll see a hundred of them.

J: Well, you know, I can't draw a straight line myself, which is probably why I appreciate talent when I see it in others. Did you always draw? Even as a kid?

V: Yeah, pretty much. I used to drive my Parents nuts drawing a different mural in my room every year. Let's see, one year I drew a map of the world, another year it was a horse galloping across the field, and one year it was a wedding with flowers everywhere, and people smiling, and the bride and groom in one of those kisses that just goes on for days. V is a little embarrassed. Any way, since I went back into law enforcement

J. No time? V. Yeah. J: That's a shame. I mean with a little training and the right equipment, I think you could do something with this.

V: Well, I think anyone could draw what's out here tonight. I don't know when I've seen so many stars.

J: Yeah, yeah, nothing beats an empty ocean for watching stars.
V steals a glance at Jax, then quickly looks away before he notices

Next scene

V. and Jax are lying next to each other on the beach with the lifejackets propped under their heads.

J: When I was a kid, my brother and I used to leave the house at night and drag our sleeping bags down to this small canyon near the house, and just lay back and watch the stars for hours.

V: Oh, yeah, I used to do the same thing, well not with your brother of course.

J: Oh, of course.

V, laughs, V: Let's see, the same basic idea.

J: So how are you at constellations?

V: Well, I used to be pretty good. Um, I don't know about now, I'm kind of out of practice.

J: Well, you're not too busy now, right?

V: Looks at Jax. Well, I think I have a few minutes. Ok, oh, you see that bright star right there?

Jax: No

V: Follow my finger. V. points at the sky. It's right there. It's a really bright star, and then right above it there are five in a row. You got it? You got it?

J: Ok Ok I see it yeah.

V: That's Scorpius, the scorpion. See how his tail curves around like that?

J: Uh huh. V: Well as the story goes, He uh bit Orion the hunter in the foot, so he wouldn't kill any more animals, and ever since then, they've never been seen in the same sky.

J: Well, you really know your stars officer.

V: And you Mr. Jacks?

J: Oh, I'm an expert.

V: OK, lets see what you've got.

J: See those four squares up, one two three four, make a square.

V: Yeah, I got it.

J: I call that the laptop computer. V. laughs

V: Very good. I'll have to remember that every time I look in the sky.

J: Well, I'm not finished, there's more.

V: Ok.

J: See the row of stars that fade off to the right?

V: Oh yeah.

J: Well, that's the ac power cord. But when the computer's running on batteries you can't actually see those stars.

V: Oh right, excellent

J: It's pretty good, huh?

V: Oh yeah yeah great

V: Remember the night that we first met?

J: (kind of teasing V.) What the night that you slapped handcuffs on me and dragged me off to jail? Yeah.

V. Sits up.

V: I remember it as the night I was doing my duty as an officer of the law.

Jax sits up

V: Oh excuse me

J: What it's your duty to harass innocent citizens?

V: Innocent citizens don't get arrested for drug trafficking.

J: Well, this time one did.

V: And then tried to jump bail I mean the law's the law Mr. Jacks, and even someone like yourself isn't above it. Jax laughs Jax lies down again

J: Anyway you were saying something about the first time we met.

V. lies back down

V: Well, I was taking you back to the squad car and you said you saw a shooting star. And then you said in your country when two people see a shooter they remain friends for life.

J: I remember.

V: Was it true?

J: Well, it's one of our many local superstitions.

V: Did you really see one, or were you just trying to distract me?
 

J: Well, if there wasn't one,   there should have been.	V: If there was one I didn't see it.   V. Looks away

J: Maybe it's not too late As long as we stay awake.

V: Yeah, we might as well make use of our time, right? wow, what a night

Next scene

J: Did you see it officer? I think that was our shooter. Jax looks over at v, who has fallen asleep. Jax gets the blanket and puts it over her.

End of scene. 

Scene the Next Day

Back to More Scenes

Back to Jax and Venus Homepage