Fritz: (Standing on a platform in the tree and hauling up another board.) Jacqui! Get the end of the rope!
Jacqueline: (On the ground) I've got it!
Laurence: Fritz! I need your help with this roof piece!
Fritz: Coming, Father! I've almost got this board up!
There are general signs of busyness. Fritz, Laurence, and Jacqueline build while Abigail and Elisabeth are weaving branches together tightly.
Laurence: Hold it steady... (He pulls some rope from a nearby branch.) Have you got it?
Fritz: Yes, I have. It just gets heavy after a while.
Abigail: (Climbing a rope ladder with a bucket of water.) Whew, it's hot today! Mama sent some water.
Laurence: (Drinking gratefully) I'm so glad we found that stream. And right by the house, too.
Elisabeth: Laurence!
Laurence: Yes, dear?
Elisabeth: Is Franz up there?
Laurence: I thought he was down there working on that glue for the roof.
Elisabeth: Abi and I haven't seen him in over an hour.
Fritz: He's probably off with Turk and Dune again. They'll keep him safe.
Turk: Arf! Arf!
Abigail: He's not with them!
Fritz: (Calling down to the ground) Franz! Franz?
Elisabeth: (Worried, not commanding.) Go look for him, please.
Fritz descends the ladder and exits calling Franz' name.
Franz: (Entering from the opposite direction) Mama! Look what I found!
Elisabeth: Franz, your brother just went to look for you.
Franz: I was over in the forest playing with Nip.
Jacqueline: Who's Nip?
Nip: Aaa! Aaa!
Franz: This is Nip! My new monkey!
Laurence: We couldn't possibly keep...
Elisabeth: Nonsense, Laurence, of course we can. (Teasingly) We live on an island in a treehouse now, haven't you noticed?
Laurence: The treehouse isn't finished.
Elisabeth: That's no reason not to have a little monkey to keep us company while we finish.
Laurence: I suppose...
Elisabeth: Franz, why don't you find Nip something to eat? And something to sleep on when the house is finished?
Franz: Okay! (Runs off with Nip.)
Abigail: A monkey? In our house, Mama?
Elisabeth: We live on an island. As long as Franz keeps the monkey clean and out of the kitchen and the bedrooms, he can stay with us.
Abigail: Well, he is kind of a cute little fellow.
Fritz: (Reentering) I don't know where he could be, Mother. He's never wandered this far before, and -
Laurence: We found him. And his monkey.
Fritz: Monkey?
Elisabeth: Nip is a very respectable monkey. And probably one that needs our help. He looks like he could use a father like Franz.
Fritz: Monkeys, treehouses, what next?
Laurence: The treehouse was your idea.
Fritz: Well... I suppose I'd better go meet this Nip. Where's Franz now?
Jacqueline: He went back that way to go find some monkey food.
Fritz: (Frustrated) I'll catch up to him.
Fritz exits after Franz. Abigail and Jacqueline go back to the roof to finish weaving.
Laurence: Last night Fritz asked me if he and Abigail could go exploring.
Elisabeth: (Looking slightly anxious) Exploring? Where?
Laurence: He said that perhaps, if he explored the island, he could see if it is really an island at all.
Elisabeth: We've been here for almost two weeks and no one has even come near us. We've been pretty far to the east of here, looking for a place to build.
Laurence: I can't believe how quickly the house has gone up. I suppose it's because we've spent all our time on it and nothing else.
Elisabeth: Then perhaps it is time to figure out where we are, and if there's anyone that can bring a ship to help us.
Laurence: You're saying I should let Fritz and Abigail go explore?
Elisabeth: Why can't you go with them?
Laurence: I can't leave the rest of you alone for a long time. I know you are capable, but I'd worry if I left.
Elisabeth: And I'd worry if Fritz and Abi left. What if they got attacked by animals?
Laurence: Now, Lissie, they'd be fine. Fritz knows how to use a gun, and we have several from the ship.
Elisabeth: I would still worry.
Laurence: I think he needs an adventure. This is just the right one for him. And Abigail will watch out for him. They'll keep each other safe.
Elisabeth: (Recovering her usual on-top-of-things mood) They'll have to take a lot of food. What if they were delayed somewhere?
Laurence: Yes, we must prepare them well - and finish the treehouse.
Elisabeth: Of course.