“Chapter 12 Too close for comfort”

Scene 1

It's the morning of the 3rd day of Carter and Abby's Honeymoon

And they're lying in bed together in their little holiday lodge in Katoomba,

The Blue Mountains, a two-hour drive west from Sydney, Australia.

Carter: (Waking up and rolling over to look at Abby lying next to him)

Hey, beautiful you awake?

Abby: (Opening her eyes and rolling over to face Carter) I am now.

Carter: (Sitting up and taking hold of Abby's hand) Good, 'cause I've got

A few things planned for today.

Abby: (Smiling) Really, Carter like what? Like this (Sitting up and leaning over to kiss Carter on the lips)

Carter: (Kissing Abby back) That's not what I had planned, but the plans can wait I guess.

Abby: (Lying back down) Yeah I think a bush walk to see the Three Sisters can wait too.

Carter: (Lying back down too) How'd you know we were doing that?.

Abby: (Rolling on top of Carter and smiling) I saw the brochure on the table.

Carter: (Smiles and continues to kiss Abby passionately on the lips)

Scene 2

Carter and Abby are on the trail with a tour to Echo point to see the Three Sisters, when a little boy runs up the Carter and Abby and tries to get past them.

Carter: (Holding Abby's hand and pulling her aside to let the little boy pass) Go ahead.

Abby: (Smiling and looking down at her stomach) Yeah I'm a little slower at the moment.

Mrs. Green: (Racing towards her son with a baby in her arms, than turning around) Thanks, Zac I thought I told you to stay with Jess. (Looking back at her daughter, who’s walking past Carter and Abby with her headphones on, holding a Discman) Jess I told you to, hold his hand, you know it's not safe up here.

Jess: (Taking the headphones off her ears) What? I was, the little

Mrs. Green: (Interrupting her daughter) Jess! I'm warning you.

Abby: (Smiling at Carter) Nice!

Carter: (Smiling back at Abby) We're almost there.

Abby: Good, I think I can touch the clouds now.

Tour guide: (Turning around to face the group) We've come to the top of Echo point; I hope you all think the walk worth it.

Carter: (Looking around) It's beautiful up here, isn't it?

Abby: (Looking around then back at Carter) Yes it is.

Tour guide: (Continues talking and pointing across to the three mountains) Over there are the three sisters, There's an old Aboriginal legend from the dream time, that goes there were once three sisters Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo who lived in the Jimison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe, the three sisters fell in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, but tribal law forbade them to marry. The brothers weren’t happy about this and tried to force capture the sisters in a tribal battle. As the lives of the sisters were in danger. A witch doctor from the Katoomba tribe turned the sisters into stone to protect them. In the battle the witch doctor died and as she was the only one who could reverse the spell. The sisters remain as three mountains to this day as a reminder of the battle between the two tribes.

Mrs. Green: (Looking around and calling out) Zac! Zac! Jess where's your brother?

Jess: (Looking around too and pointing to the barrier near the edge of the Mountain) He was just there.

Mrs. Green: (Racing over to the barrier and looking down, trying to see if Zac is there and calling out) Zac!, Zac!

Scene 3

Everyone on the tour is standing around waiting for the Tour guide to return from inside the gift shop where he was calling the SES.

Tour guide: (Walking out of the gift shop towards Mrs. Green) I've called the SES and they're setting up a search and rescue plan now. If anyone wants to help we're meeting at the bottom of the mountain in fifteen minutes.

Carter: I'll go, I'm a Doc from County General in Chicago, and he might need medical attention.

Mrs. Green: (Looking scared) Oh God.

Jess: (Putting her arms around her Mother) He'll be ok Mum, He's a strong little boy.

Abby: (Looking at Carter) I'm going too.

Carter: (Smiling at Abby) I think you should stay here with Mrs. Green and Jess.

Abby: You might need me.

Tour Guide: He's right, the bush can be a dangerous place and in your condition I don't think it's a good idea.

Abby: (Nodding her head) Ok, I'll stay here. Just get back safely.

Carter: (Leans over and kisses Abby on the lips) I'll be right back.

(The Women watch as the Man head back down the Mountain in search of Zac)

Scene 4

Abby, Mrs. Green and Jess are in the gift shop waiting for the search party to return.

Abby: (Walking over to Mrs. Green, who's pacing back and forward) I'm sure they'll find him soon.

Mrs. Green: (Looking over at Abby) Yeah I'm just worried, he's always doing this.

Abby: (Leading Mrs. Green towards a table and chairs) Lets sit down here.

Jess: (Going over to the table and chairs and sitting down) I'm really sorry, one minute I was watching him and the next he was gone.

Mrs. Green: (Looking out the window) It's getting dark out side. I hope they find him soon.

Abby: (Sighing) Carter won't give up until he does.

Scene 5

Carter and the searchers are looking for Zac.

Carter: (Calling out) Zac! Zac!

Tour Guide: Lets go this way; I don't think he'd get too far not out here.

Carter: (Looking around) didn't we just come from there?

Tour Guide: (Smiling) All looks the same huh?

Carter: Yeah

Searcher: (Running up to Carter and the Tour guide) We found this (holds up a jumper) about 5 meters away near that cliff.

Carter: Can you show me where?

Searcher: (beginning to walk off) follow me..

Tour Guide (Taking the walkie talky out of his back pocket) I'll call in SES.

Carter: (follows the Searcher to where he found the jacket) Is it very far?

Searcher: (Looking around) We're here.

Carter: (Looks over the cliff, sees Zac sitting there and yells out) He's down there.

SES guy: (Walking over to Carter and looking over the cliff) Hey, Mate, we'll get you up here soon.

(Looks over at another SES guy) Bob can you hold the rope for me while I climb down the mountain?

Bob: (Holding the rope tightly) Ok I've got you.

SES guy: (Climbing down the Mountain and picking up Zac) I've got you hold on tight now.

Zac: (shaking and crying) I'm cold, where's my Mummy? I want my Mummy.

Carter: (Putting his arms out to take Zac) I'll take him.

Scene 6

It's dark outside. Abby and Mrs. Green are getting really worried now.

Mrs. Green: (Looking towards the door) They should have been back by now. Something’s happened I just know it.

Abby: (Trying to stay calm) They’ll be back soon.

Mrs. Green: (Getting frustrated) How would you know, your baby's not out there somewhere alone.

Abby: (Looking sad) No but my Husband is.

Shop assistant: (Walks over to Abby and Mrs. Green carrying a tray with two cups of coffee) You look like you need this.

Mrs. Green: (Taking a cup off the tray) Thanks. (Looks over at Abby) I'm sorry, I'm just worried.

Abby: (Sighing) me too.

Shop assistant: (Looking out the window) They're coming up the path right now.

Mrs. Green: (Running out the door of the gift shop towards Carter who's carrying Sac) is he ok. Please tell me his ok.

Abby: (Follows Mrs. Green out of the gift shop) Carter?

Carter: (Passes Zac over to Mrs Green) He’s fine, just a little cold and hungry, nothing a big meal and a good night sleep wouldn't fix.

Mrs. Green: (Hugging Zac tightly) you really scared me this time little man.

Zac: (Looking sad) I am sorry Mummy.

Mrs. Green: (Looking over at the searchers) Thank-you so much for finding him I don't know what I'd done if it wasn't for your help. (Beginning to walk off) Come on let’s get you back home, Jess is looking after Benny and I think you need a good bath. (Continues to walk off carrying Zac)

Abby: (Throws her arms around Carters waist and hugs him tightly) I'm so glad you're back, I was starting to get really worried. It was getting too close for comfort.

Carter: (Hugs Abby back) Lets get out of here.

(Carter and Abby walk off)

Scene 7

It's the morning of their flight back to Chicago and Abby and Carter are lying in bed in their holiday lodge talking.

Carter: (Rolling over in bed to face Abby) You awake?

Abby: (Turning her head to face Carter) Yeah, I was just thinking.

Carter: (Smiling) Thinking about what?

Abby: (Smiling back at Carter) No not that, about our baby.

Carter: (Sitting up and looking at Abby) What about the baby?

Abby: (Sitting up and taking Carter hands in hers and smiling at Carter) Boys can be a lot of trouble, I think if we have a boy I'm going to make sure both of you are never out of my sight.

Carter: (Bends over and kisses Abby's stomach) And what if it's a girl? Huh? Huh? (Carter starts tickling Abby)

Abby: (Laughing) Girls are never as much trouble as boys are.

Carter: (Pushes Abby back down on the bed and begins kissing her passionately) We'll just see about that.

 

Me: Please note the places in this Chapter mentioned are real places and I didn't make up the story the tour guide tells in scene 2. It is an Aboriginal dreamtime legend that's been passed from Generation to Generation and is told when you go to see the three sisters. I learned it when I went to primary school when we went to the Blue Mountains. Also, a “jumper” is, what I think people in the US call a sweater and SES stands for State Emergency Services they are a volunteer organization used in an Emergency such as a bush fire or search and rescue etc. all across Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

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