Swiss Family Robinson: A Place For All Of Us

Act 2 Scene 16: Choices

Fritz: (Up in the treehouse, still talking to Abigail) I need to go find her. It's dark, there are animals down there.

Abigail: Look!

Fritz: (Calling down) Who is it?

Laurence: Fritz! I found Emily.

Fritz: Are you alright?

Emily: Yes.

Laurence: Is Mother still up?

Abigail: No, she went up to bed.

Laurence: Alright. (Heads up to the bedroom)

Abigail: I think I'll go to bed too.

Emily: Goodnight, Abi!

Fritz and Abigail: Goodnight!

Fritz: So...what happened?

Emily: Your mother...sent Mr. Robinson to come and get me.

Fritz: What did he say?

Emily: That he thinks of me as his daughter. That...they want me to belong in your family.

Fritz: I always wanted you to belong.

Emily: Not at first. (Teasing a little) You thought I was a rude and evasive boy.

Fritz: (Laughs) You never made a very good boy.

Emily: Then - what changed when you found out?

Fritz: Once you weren't hiding anything, you just became...so much more genuine. You really listen when other people talk to you, and you understand when they're hurting. Not to mention you saved my life.

Emily: I didn't have much choice. What was I going to do, just leave?

Fritz: No. You wouldn't.

Emily: I didn't want to. I hadn't seen anyone in three weeks! I was glad not to be alone, even if you were a little...well, nasty at first.

Fritz: I'm sorry.

Emily: (With a laugh) It's alright.

Fritz: (After a pause) What should we do now? Should we still leave?

Emily: Do you still want to?

Fritz: Well, I do want to go back, at least for a while. I want to go to school, maybe even a university, and work, and see my old home again... What about you?

Emily: I'd like to go. But I don't want to leave until we work things out with your parents. I don't want to go with hard feelings.

Fritz: No, I don't either.

Emily: Then - we should talk to them tomorrow?

Fritz: Yeah. Tomorrow.

Emily: I am sorry if I hurt your mother's feelings. About the oranges.

Fritz: She knows you didn't mean any of it. And she didn't either.

Emily: No. (Pause) Goodnight, Fritz.

Fritz: Goodnight.

Emily exits, and Fritz remains contemplating.