One week later. Franz still in a coma, with Abigail taking care of him in the treehouse. Fritz and Emily talking.
Emily: Do you think...he will wake up?
Fritz: I hope so. It's been a whole week. (Pause) I never appreciated him enough. I was such a terrible brother. He always wanted me to play with him, and I was always too busy to come.
Flashback: Little Fritz and Franz
Little Franz: Fritz, I have a new ball!
L Fritz: (Reading a book) Mmhmm.
L Franz: Come play with me!
L Fritz: I'm busy!
L Franz: But Fritz...please?
L Fritz: No. Go away.
L Franz: Abi, come play with me!
L Abigail: Let's go! (They take hands and run off)
Emily: (Unconsciously) That's so sad.
Fritz: But I won't do it ever a...I guess... I might not have another chance.
Emily: Franz told me you're getting more fun. He loved it when you took him swimming.
Fritz: I could have done so much more...
Emily: Maybe you will have another chance.
Fritz: (Sighing) We can only hope.
Emily: Should we go and check on him?
Fritz: All right.
Emily: (Stands and offers him her hand.) Come on.
Abigail: (Up in the treehouse, to Emily and Fritz) He's still asleep.
Emily: He hasn't moved at all?
Abigail: No.
Fritz: Wait - look!
(Franz takes a visible breath)
Emily: Franz?
(The three of them sit by Franz in suspense.)
Franz: (Mumbling) Turk? Dune?
Fritz: Franz, we're here.
Franz: (opens his eyes) Fritz? Emily? Abi?
Abigail: Franz!
Fritz: Mother! Mother!
Emily: Come quickly!
Elisabeth: What? Is it...
Franz: Mother!
Elisabeth: Oh, Franz, darling! (Wraps him in her arms.)
Laurence, Jacqui, and the dogs join them. Happiness!
Fritz: Franz, we're so glad you came back to us!
Franz: Came back?
Emily: You've been asleep.
Jacqui: For a week!
Franz: A week!
Elisabeth: We were so worried, dear!
Franz: Don't worry, Mother, I'm fine! (Tries to get up, but holds his head as it starts to throb)
Emily: Wait, wait. You're not fine yet.
Franz: (Surprised) My head...my head hurts.
Elisabeth: Just rest now. I'll get you something to eat. (All exit but Fritz, Emily, and Franz.)
Franz: (Sighs and lies back down.) Fritz?
Fritz: What is it?
Franz: Can you- tell me a story?
Emily: (to Fritz) Your second chance.
Fritz: (Eyes filling with tears.) Of course, little brother.
(Both smile. All exit.)
YOU ARE READING
Swiss Family Robinson: A Place For All Of Us
FanfictionWhen the Robinson family is shipwrecked on a seemingly deserted island, it seems there is no way for them to escape this jail in the jungle. Fritz and Abigail, the oldest two children, miss their home back in Switzerland, and Fritz especially is an...
