Swiss Family Robinson: A Place For All Of Us

Act 2 Scene 2: Drama

Emily: Oh. I'll hang these up.

Abigail: Fritz has been acting rather strangely lately.

Emily: What do you mean?

Abigail: Oh, I don't know. Before, well, before you got here really, he was - different.

Emily: Different? Franz said something like that as well...

Abigail: Now that you're here, he's just...brighter is the only way I can describe it.

Emily: That's a good thing, right?

Abigail: Well, he doesn't even tease me and Jacqui anymore.

Emily: Oh...

Abigail: It's like he's finally growing up somehow. And not in a bad way, either.

Emily: I wonder, what does he think of me?

Turk: Help! Help!

Dune: Franz fell off the hill in the fog! Come on!

Emily: What is it, Dune?

Abigail: It sounds like something's wrong.

Emily: Where's Franz?

Dune: We tried to tell you - he fell!

Abigail: Probably they've just found another friend!

Emily: But I don't think they would leave Franz...

Abigail: You're right!

Emily: Maybe something's wrong.

Abigail: He could just be picking berries.

Emily: Or the dogs just got here first.

Abigail: I suppose we should check on him.

Emily: Should we finish the laundry first?

Abigail: Yes, we're almost finished anyway..

Emily: I think we just have the socks.

Dune: Are you crazy? Come on!

Turk: Franz might be dead!

Dune: (Tugs at the sock)

Emily: What is it?

Dune: (With the sock in her teeth) Come on!

Abigail: Don't do that, we just washed the socks!

Turk: Why are you thinking about socks at a time like this? (Turk starts barking at Abigail)

Emily: Here- (tugging the sock back) - let go! This is the last one!

Dune: Fine! You don't want to save him, you don't care, you don't...

Abigail: Alright, let's go find Franz.

Turk: Finally!

(The dogs practically drag the girls to the hill. Fog machine, music)

Emily: It's foggy up here.

Abigail: Is he up here, Turk?

Emily: Maybe he's lost in the fog.

Abigail: (Looking down) What...is...that?

Emily: (Peering down too) No!! It's...it's Franz!

(They run down the hill as fast as they can. Franz is lying unmoving at the foot of the hill. Dune goes to alert the family.)

Abigail: Is... he...

Emily: (Kneeling) I think he's breathing.

Abigail: Franz?

Emily: Franz, can you hear me?

Abigail: Why doesn't he wake up?

Emily: I don't know!

Abigail: What do we do?

Emily: Let's get him home.(They pick him up and start walking)

Abigail: What are we going to do?

Emily: Oh, Franz!

Fritz: (Comes running in with Dune) What is it? (Gets closer and sees Franz) What happened?

Emily: He...fell...

Abigail: From... the top of the hill....

Fritz: (Takes Franz and drops to his knees.) Franz? (Tries to wake him.) Come on. No. No, little brother!

Emily: (Putting her hand on Fritz's shoulder) We need to get him home.

Fritz: He isn't going to...

Emily: No! I don't know. I just don't know.

Jacqui: (In front with Fangs.) Father!

Laurence: (Sees Franz in their arms.) Elisabeth!

Elisabeth: What... Franz!

(Fritz puts Franz down and Abigail goes to get blankets.)

Emily: Hhhe... fell off the hill...That's what the dogs were barking about.

Laurence: (Bends over Franz.) Franz? Franz?

Elisabeth: Oh, Laurence! My baby!

Abigail comes back with a blanket and everyone gathers around Franz, all crying.