DAN:

[Seeing Rob in the loft.] Hey, Rob, what are you doing up there? Hey, breakfast should be ready soon. Shouldn’t you be in the house.

ROB:

I came to get a book.

DAN:

[Climbs up the ladder to the loft.] What are you reading there, buddy?

ROB:

I like this one. It has lots of pictures.

DAN:

"The Story of the Three Little Pigs."

ROB:

The wolf’s trying to get in.

DAN:

Yeah. Well, if he does, he’s going to eat like a king. [Climbs down the ladder.] Nick says your ma’s coming home today. You must be excited.

ROB:

Yeah.

DAN:

Yeah, me, too. She’s only been gone a day, but it just doesn’t seem the same without her. Coals are out. I’m going to have to restart the fire.

ROB:

[Looking at a picture of the wolf climbing down the chimney.] Make sure it’s a big fire.

DAN:

All right.

FRANZ:

Tommy. Tommy, slow down. Nat, what are you doing.

NAT:

Making breakfast.

NAN:

Oh, and I’m going to make dinner tonight, Franz. What would you rather have? Chicken or stew.

FRANZ:

Asia left specific instructions that, while she was away, cooking was to be done either by an adult or with an adult in attendance.

NAN:

Fine, then. You can help me. What do you want? Stew or chicken? Chicken.

DAN:

[To Rob.] Come on. Are you hungry?

FRANZ:

Dan, did you check the stove in the schoolroom?

DAN:

I just did it. [To Nat.] What is that?

NAT:

Eggs. Want some?

FRANZ:

Were the coals hot? You know how long it takes for the school room to heat up once it’s cold.

DAN:

Franz, the coals are hot. And why do I have to bank the fire always.

FRANZ:

‘Cause you’re the only one who didn’t follow my instructions on the state capital assignment. Maybe you should stop talking in class and start listening. Maybe then you wouldn’t be assigned so many chores.

NICK:

[Entering.] I’m headed into town. Jo asked me to pick up a few things while Asia’s away. Did you need anything?

FRANZ:

My sanity.

NAT:

Excuse me.

NICK:

Breakfast?

FRANZ:

Anarchy. I’m glad Asia’s gone to visit her friend this week, but I’m starting to wonder if the house will still be standing when she gets back. Aunt Jo’s not staying away the whole week, is she?

NICK:

Nah. Just overnight. She said she’s start back first thing this morning. Should be home around noon.

FRANZ:

That’s a relief.

NICK:

Whoa, hold it there, Nan. Where do you think you’re going with that?

NAN:

[Preparing to leave with an axe in her hand.] Oh, I’m gonna go kill a chicken for dinner.

NICK:

What do you say we let Mrs. Jo decide what’s for dinner? Okay?

FRANZ:

Let’s hope she gets home soon.

JO:

Whoa! Whoa, Marty! Whoa!

NICK:

I also need two sacks of flour. [Mr. Gerson is busy listening to the telegraph.] Hello? Sir?

MR. G.:

Over by the wall.

NICK:

Is everything all right?

MR. G.:

A telegraph just came from the sheriff up in Greenfield. Folks, can I have your attention, please. I just got word from Greenfield. They’ve been hit by a big storm and it’s heading east. Now, I’ll alert Sheriff Berkley. You best be spreading the word as well.

NICK:

How bad is it?

MR. G.:

Quite severe, I’m afraid. Four people been killed.

NICK:

I need a can of lantern oil. I also need a couple boxes of candles, and buckets. However many you got.

FRANZ:

When a story has a deeper meaning than what we see on the surface, we call it an allegory. For example, in The Pilgrim’s Progress which we read a month ago. When the lead character, Christian, is trying to escape the bog, the bog represents life’s hardships and distractions.

DAN:

[To Nat.] Like school.

FRANZ:

Can anyone give me an example of another allegory? Dan?

DAN:

What?

FRANZ:

An allegory.

DAN:

You got me, Franz.

FRANZ:

Come on, Dan, give it some thought. Think of a story you’ve read that represents a deeper meaning.

DAN:

The Three Little Pigs?

FRANZ:

Now, how is it an allegory.

DAN:

The pigs represent people.

FRANZ:

That’s right. What kind of people?

DAN:

I don’t know. Fat people?

FRANZ:

No, the first two pigs represent lazy people who would rather play than work.

NICK:

[Enters schoolroom.] Sorry for the interruption, Franz. Is Mrs. Jo back yet?

FRANZ:

No.

NICK:

She’s not?

FRANZ:

Is something wrong.

NICK:

There’s a storm coming in. I’m afraid we’re gonna have to cut school short today. [To the children.] Come on, you guys. We’ve got a lot of work to do before it hits. [Children exit.]

FRANZ:

Maybe she got held up, or maybe she decided to stay another day. How long before the storm hits.

NICK:

It’s hard to tell. Within a day or so.

FRANZ:

Well, I hope she gets home before then.

JO:

Hello? Hello!

NICK:

Emil, start filling these buckets with water. Dump ‘em in the bathtub, then refill ‘em.

EMIL:

Why?

NICK:

We need to get as much water as we can in case the well freezes.

EMIL:

Okay.

FRANZ:

The weather vane’s turning to the northwest.

NICK:

Nat? Nat.

NAT:

Yeah.

NICK:

As soon as you’re done here, I want you to help Dan pitch hay for the animals.

NAT:

Right.

NICK:

Tommy, start hauling all the firewood into the house.

TOMMY:

The whole pile?

NICK:

As much as you can carry. I’m gonna be choppin’ more, so get to it. Stuffy, Nat, I want you to make sure all the flews in the chimneys are clear and make sure the -

TOMMY:

That’s Marty.

NAT:

What happened?

NAN:

Where’s Mrs. Jo?

DAN:

I wanna go with you.

NICK:

You’re stayin’ here.

DAN:

What if something’s happened to Mrs. Jo?

NICK:

I’ll find her, Dan. Don’t worry, but I need you here at Plumfield to get things ready for the storm. The animals need feed and hay. More wood needs to be chopped. We’ll make it back before the storm hits.

DAN:

But what if you don’t?

NICK:

Just make sure the house is secure and it should be all right. Wood and water, get as much of it as you can. Go easy on the food. Try to make it last. Dan, some of the younger kids might get scared. It’s important you keep ‘em calm. Stay together, stay warm and you should be fine. All right?

DAN:

All right.

NICK:

See you soon. [Nick leaves on his white horse.]

DAN:

All right. Keep that pump going. Get some of those buckets filled. All right, that’s good.

JO:

Where am I?

LUCIUS:

My cabin.

JO:

Who are you?

LUCIUS:

[Tending to the fire and the pot which hangs over the flames.] Lucius Potter.

JO:

I’m Jo Bhaer. You must be the man I heard in the woods. The gunshots. Thank you for helping me. [Jo tries to get up, but she is unable to put any weight on her foot.] Oh! My ankle.

LUCIUS:

It was swelling so I wrapped it. I don’t think it’s broken.

JO:

I guess I was thrown from my carriage. My horse must have been spooked from the gunshots. My head hurts.

LUCIUS:

No doubt. The stew’s almost ready.

JO:

Will you be able to take me into Concord?

LUCIUS:

I don’t get into town much.

JO:

I could pay you. I’m sure my family is very worried.

LUCIUS:

Well, let’s eat first. Then I’ll take you.

DAN:

Emil, stack those snowshoes to get ‘em ready. And keep filling that tub, Nat.

NAT:

How long do you think this storm’s gonna last?

DAN:

I don’t know but we better prepare for the worst.

BESS:

What do you mean "the worst"?

EMIL:

Last year there was a storm that blew off half the barn roof. Two of the animals froze to death.

NAT:

Hey, Dan, do you think Mrs. Jo and Nick will be back before the storm?

DAN:

Yeah, I think so, but if they’re not, they know what to do. They can take care of themselves. So can we, but we’re gonna need some more firewood so I’m gonna go in the woods and haul us back another log.

FRANZ:

You’re not going in the woods, Dan.

DAN:

We need some more firewood, Franz. You heard what Nick said.

FRANZ:

I’m sure we have enough to weather the storm. Besides, it’s going to be dark soon.

DAN:

And I’ll be back before then.

FRANZ:

And I don’t want you getting lost.

DAN:

I know my way around these woods, Franz. I’ll be back before you know it.

FRANZ:

No. No one is to leave the Plumfield grounds until the storm is safely passed. Understood?

JO:

Beautiful carvings. Did you make them yourself.

LUCIUS:

I’ve never heard of a woman name Jo before.

JO:

Oh, it’s short for Josephine.

LUCIUS:

And the last name: Bhaer. Like the animal?

JO:

No. It’s spelled B-H-A-E-R. It’s German. It just sounds like "bear". Actually, I have quite an affection for bears as a result. I collect all sorts of trinkets. [Beat.] So, do you live here alone? [Beat. Jo looks around and sees a photo on the hearth.] Is that your family?

LUCIUS:

Wife and daughter. Wife died in ’49. Daughter got married in ’64 and moved to Boston. [Lucius hands the photo to Jo.]

JO:

Any grandchildren?

LUCIUS:

I don’t know.

JO:

Don’t you see her?

LUCIUS:

No need to.

JO:

But she’s your daughter.

LUCIUS:

That she is.

JO:

Did she make you the quilt.

LUCIUS:

Made it for my birthday.

JO:

It’s beautiful. It must have taken quite some time.

LUCIUS:

Two months. Made it without me ever knowing about it.

JO:

She must love you very much.

FRANZ:

Have either of you seen Dan?

NAT:

I haven’t.

FRANZ:

I’ve been looking everywhere for him.

NAN:

Oh, the last I heard he was heading over to the barn to pitch hay.

FRANZ:

No, I just checked the barn. He’s not in there. If you see him, tell him I want to speak with him.

NAT:

Sure. [Franz exits.]

NAN:

Where do you suppose he went?

NAT:

I don’t know, but now’s not the time to be breaking the rules.

LUCIUS:

I’m afraid I can’t take you into town. The storm’s kicking up. It’ll be all right. We’ve got enough food and wood.

JO:

I’m just concerned because my family, they were expecting me back by now.

LUCIUS:

And they’ll probably figure you just got caught in the storm and took shelter in someone’s home along the way. You’ve got to be careful along the road. Lots of prowlers steal innocent women blind, leave ‘em for dead.

JO:

Your wife?

LUCIUS:

My daughter and her went riding into town and two men robbed ‘em and shot ‘em. My daughter lived… I haven’t been into town since. Gotta keep watch out here. Protect what’s mine.

JO:

You haven’t been into town since then?

LUCIUS:

I don’t care much for people.

JO:

You cared enough to help me. For that, I’m very grateful.

NAT:

Dan!

FRANZ:

Where were you?

DAN:

I was gettin’ wood. What does it look like?

FRANZ:

You were supposed to stay at Plumfield.

DAN:

I said I’d be back before the storm hits and I am.

FRANZ:

That’s not the point, Dan. You deliberately disobeyed me.

DAN:

The wood we have ain’t gonna last us through the storm. We needed more.

FRANZ:

We have plenty of wood. Look, Dan, I’m supposed to take care of everyone. If something were to happen to you out there, I wouldn’t have been able to -

DAN:

But nothing did, Franz! Just admit it: you were wrong and I was right, which is why we’ve got enough firewood to last us for days. [To the horse.] Come on. [He exits.]

FRANZ:

All right, guys, back to work.

JO:

Oh, it needed some mending. I though I’d make myself useful. I hope you don’t mind.

LUCIUS:

That’s very kind of you.

JO:

I made some coffee, too.

LUCIUS:

Smells good. I don’t make coffee very often. I don’t cook much of anything except stew. I’ll have a cup as soon as I get some more wood.

JO:

What’s wrong?

LUCIUS:

There’s somebody out there. Stay here.

LUCIUS:

Stop right there!

NICK:

Don’t shoot! [Nick raises his arms.]

LUCIUS:

I’m warning you!

NICK:

I’m lookin’ for a woman!

JO:

What’s going on? What’s going on?

LUCIUS:

Stay back!

JO:

[Recognizing the man on the ground.] Nick!

JO:

[To Nick.] Move your hands away. Move your hands away. Come on, honey.

NICK:

Ah!

LUCIUS:

I thought he was a prowler. I told him to stop but he just kept coming.

NICK:

I couldn’t hear you. Didn’t you see me raise my hands.

JO:

It looks the bullet’s gone straight through. We’re going to need to stop the bleeding. I need some fresh water and clean cloths. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.

NICK:

Ah, I’ll be all right. Been through this before.

JO:

What do you mean? You’ve been shot before?

NICK:

A couple of times. Arm, shoulder.

JO:

I can’t believe you came all the way out here looking for me.

NICK:

Got worried when your horse came back alone. A big storm coming in. I thought something might have happened to you.

JO:

[To Lucius.] We need to get the doctor out here. Will you go into town?

LUCIUS:

It’s gonna be tough going. The storm’s still picking up.

JO:

The wound won’t stop bleeding. If it doesn’t stop -

LUCIUS:

Just keep the pressure on.

JO:

I am! But he still needs a doctor. Lucius, if you won’t go, I will.

LUCIUS:

No. I’ll go. You stay with him.

JO:

It’s Dr. Pierce. His office is just to the left as you ride into town. You’ll see the sign. [Beat.] Lucius, go! [Lucius exits.] You’re going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.

NAT:

Dan!

DAN:

Hey, Nat. Help me gather up some more wood.

NAT:

Franz wants us to shut the shutters.

DAN:

We will. Later. We still got a lot of work to do, now grab an armload.

NAT:

Franz says we have enough wood. He wants us to close the house.

DAN:

Where’s Franz?

NAT:

Inside.

DAN:

Yeah, figures. You tell Franz I’ll be in when I’m done.

NAT:

Dan, why are you doing this?

DAN:

Doing what?

NAT:

Are you trying to prove something to Franz?

DAN:

I’m trying to protect us against the storm here, Nat. It’s got nothing to do with me and Franz. Now, grab an armload. I’ll be in when I’m done.

JO:

Don’t worry. Lucius will be back with Dr. Pierce very soon. [Nick loses consciousness.] Nick? Nick? Stay awake. Come on. Don’t fall asleep. Come on. Keep talking to me. Keep talking to me.

NICK:

[Looking up at Jo.] That’s a nasty bump you’ve got there.

JO:

I guess we’ve both seen better days.

NICK:

Yeah.

JO:

Nick, the children?

NICK:

Franz is with them. I knew the storm was comin’ and had them start securin’ the house. They’ll be fine.

JO:

Thank you for coming for me. [Nick loses consciousness again.] Nick? Come on. Hey! Stay awake. Don’t fall asleep. Come on. Come on.

FRANZ:

[To Dan.] Do you think you’re still chopping wood?

DAN:

I’m almost done.

FRANZ:

No. You’re done now. I want all the kids inside the house.

DAN:

What?

FRANZ:

It’s too cold and dangerous to be outside now and we’ve got plenty of work to do to secure the house.

BESS:

[From the parlour.] Franz, look. [A horse is seen wandering outside in the snow.]

NAN:

Somebody left the door open.

NAT:

Emil, that was your job.

EMIL:

I did it. The wind must have blown it open.

NAN:

The horse is gonna freeze out there.

DAN:

Nat, Emil, help me get him back in the barn.

FRANZ:

Dan -

DAN:

I’m getting’ him back in the barn.

FRANZ:

There’s too much debris blowing around out there: tree branches, shingles flying off the roof. If one of those things were to hit you -

DAN:

I’m not gonna let that horse die out there!

FRANZ:

Dan. Dan, wait!

DAN:

If you wanna hide here, that’s fine. But I’m gonna protect all of Plumfield, not just myself. [To Nat and Emil.] Come on.

FRANZ:

Boys? Boys, wait.

NAT:

We’ll be right back, Franz.

FRANZ:

Stay here! [Emil, Nat and Dan exit.]

NAN:

The wind’s really pickin’ up.

ROB:

It’s gonna blow the barn down.

BESS:

No, it won’t, Rob. Don’t worry.

JO:

Where’s the doctor?

LUCIUS:

Not there.

JO:

What?

LUCIUS:

I banged at his door. No answer. I asked around. Someone said that he left town for a few days.

JO:

I just saw him yesterday. He didn’t say anything about leaving town.

LUCIUS:

Must have been an emergency.

JO:

Lucius, Nick needs a doctor. I cannot stop the bleeding.

NICK:

[Weakly.] You could try cauterizing it.

JO:

Cauterizing?

NICK:

Stop the bleeding. Keep from getting infected.

JO:

But isn’t that dangerous? I’ve never done anything like that before. What if we don’t do it right?

NICK:

Not much choice.

DAN:

All right. The next thing we need to do is spread it around the house. Check all the fireplaces and make sure we have enough wood.

FRANZ:

No. We’re staying together in one room. Keep that one fireplace going to conserve wood.

DAN:

We don’t need to conserve wood.

FRANZ:

Dan, I have had just about enough of you contradicting me.

DAN:

And I’ve had enough of you tellin’ me what to do!

NAN:

The tree just crashed through a window.

NAT:

Bess, are you all right?

BESS:

My arm, it’s cut.

FRANZ:

Get some water and bandages. Hurry! [To Dan.] You were supposed to close the shutters.

DAN:

I was gonna!

FRANZ:

When?

DAN:

Why didn’t you shut ‘em? You were too busy ordering the kids around to do it yourself.

FRANZ:

I am trying to protect us from exactly this type of accident.

NAT:

Listen, you guys, are we gonna stay here and argue over this or fix the window?

DAN:

Fine. I’m goin’ out there and pull the branch out and shut the shutters.

FRANZ:

I’ll do it.

DAN:

No. This is my job.

FRANZ:

Not anymore. I want you inside with the rest of the kids.

DAN:

Try and stop me.

FRANZ:

Dan… [Dan punches Franz.]

NAT:

Franz!

FRANZ:

[Grabs Dan by the shirt and pushes him against the wall.] You wanna fight me? Show me how much of a man you are? Come on! [A fight ensues.]

NAT:

Dan, what are you doing?

NAN:

Franz! Has anyone seen Rob? [The fight breaks up.] I can’t find him anywhere.

EMIL:

He was here a couple of minutes ago.

NAT:

Okay, I say we split up and search the house.

LUCIUS:

Just about ready here.

JO:

I’m not so sure this is a good idea. [Helps Nick sit up.] Come on. Ah, you’re freezing. Let’s warm you up. [She grabs Nick’s coat from the chair.] Here, put this on. [Something falls to the floor. Jo picks it up.] A bear. [To Lucius.] Did you make this for me?

LUCIUS:

It’s not finished yet. It was supposed to be a surprise.

JO:

[Realization hits.] When did you have time to carve this? You didn’t go into town.

LUCIUS:

The storm. The wind. It was blowing so hard.

JO:

Do you mean to tell me you have been out there carving this whole time?

LUCIUS:

Well, the doctor wouldn’t have come anyway.

JO:

How do you know that?

LUCIUS:

Don’t talk to me in that tone.

JO:

Nick, can you walk? Huh, can you walk? Put your arm around me.

LUCIUS:

Where are you going?

JO:

To the doctor in town.

LUCIUS:

You aren’t goin’ in that storm.

JO:

Oh, yes, I am!

LUCIUS:

It’s too dangerous. [Jo leaves with Nick.]

LUCIUS:

Stop right there! I told you, you’re not going anywhere!

JO:

Please, don’t do this.

LUCIUS:

I’m sorry about what happened here, but he’s gunshot. The doctor’s not going to make any difference.

JO:

You don’t know that. Look, the storm is letting up. We can make it into town safely now.

LUCIUS:

No. No one’s going into town.

JO:

We can’t just leave him here, Lucius.

LUCIUS:

I said no.

JO:

She really hurt you, didn’t she? Your daughter… she left you all alone here when all you wanted to do was protect her and keep her safe.

LUCIUS:

Always wantin’ to go into town, looking for reasons to leave. I kept telling her it’s too dangerous.

JO:

But she wouldn’t listen.

LUCIUS:

She got up and left in the middle of the night. Not so much as a goodbye. A year later, I get a letter from her telling me she got married and moved to Boston.

JO:

You didn’t write her back?

LUCIUS:

No point.

FRANZ:

Anything?

EMIL:

There’s no sign of Rob anywhere.

FRANZ:

What about the garret?

EMIL:

I’ve checked there, too.

NAT:

He’s not in the cellar. I’ve even checked the crawl space.

EMIL:

You don’t think he went outside, do you?

NAT:

Well, the storm’s easing up. We can go and check.

FRANZ:

All right, we’ll search the grounds, but don’t wander off too far. Stay within voice range.

NAT:

Right.

JO:

Time is running out. Lucius, listen to me. You’ve had a lot of pain in your life. What happened to your wife… I can understand you wanting to protect your daughter from harm, but you can’t keep blaming her for leaving. You should go to Boston and see her.

LUCIUS:

I ain’t goin’ anywhere.

JO:

She’s your daughter. You can’t turn your back on her. She sent you a letter. She’s reaching out to you.

LUCIUS:

She’s the one who walked out that door. She left me.

JO:

And do you think that if you held her at gunpoint, she wouldn’t have left? [Placing her hands carefully on the rifle.] You drove her away, Lucius. If you want to isolate yourself from the rest of the world, fine. But you shouldn’t have forced it upon your daughter, and you shouldn’t force it upon me. [Lucius pulls the rifle away from Jo and she gasps.] You love your daughter very much. I know that very much, Lucius, because I have a son and I can see it in your eyes. And I love him more than anything in this world. By keeping us here, you are sentencing a good man to death and you are preventing me from ever seeing my son again, and I will not allow you to do that. Now, I am going to help to your wagon, and I am going to take him into town. [Jo tries to help Nick to his feet, but he is too weak to stand and her twisted ankle prevents her from supporting all his weight.] Come on, Nick. [To Lucius.] If you want to shoot then shoot.

LUCIUS:

[Seeing that Jo means to leave to save Nick’s life.] You can’t carry his weight on that ankle. The wagon's out back. Let’s get moving.

DAN:

No luck? Well, maybe I’ll go check in the storage barn. He likes to play in there sometimes. We’re gonna find him, Franz. [Beat.] Franz, I didn’t want Rob to go outside.

FRANZ:

He looks up to you, Dan. They all do.

DAN:

Yeah, well, you don’t worry. I’ll tell Mrs. Jo I’m the one to blame for this.

FRANZ:

It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. I just want to find Rob, make sure he’s safe. Make sure you’re all safe. That’s all I care about.

DAN:

Did you check in the loft?

FRANZ:

No, why would he be in there?

DAN:

[Dan climbs up to the loft, followed by Franz.] Rob! Rob, what are you doing up here?

ROB:

I came to get my book.

FRANZ:

"The Three Little Pigs."

ROB:

I thought the barn was going to blow down.

DAN:

Nah, not a chance. That wolf ain’t getting’ in here.

DR. P.:

You can wait outside if you like.

JO:

I’d like to stay.

DR. P.:

Mrs. Bhaer -

JO:

Please, doctor, I’d like to help.

DR. P.:

[Handing Jo a bottle and cloth.] Here, this is chloroform. If he stirs, pour a few drops on the cloth and press it to his nose. The bullet wound is small. I’ll make an incision to better discover the source of the bleeding. Ah, there. One of the branches of his splenic artery is grazed. He’s lucky the bullet didn’t completely sever it. We’ll need to apply a ligature, tie the artery off. That should stop the hemorrhaging.

JO:

Will he live?

DR. P.:

He’s lost a lot of blood, but he’s strong. In time, he should recover.

LUCIUS:

How is he?

JO:

He’s resting now. The doctor needed to operate to stop the bleeding, but he thinks that, provided no infection sets in, he should be all right. He did say that it was a good thing we got him here when we did. Another hour and it would have been too late.

LUCIUS:

I can’t believe I did what I did, not thinkin’ straight. [Sheriff enter.]

SHERIFF:

Evenin’, Mrs. Bhaer.

JO:

Sheriff Berkley.

SHERIFF:

I heard someone was brought here with a gunshot wound.

JO:

Yes, Nick Riley, my caretaker.

SHERIFF:

What happened? Who shot him?

LUCIUS:

I did.

JO:

It was an accident. He thought Nick was a prowler. He was just protecting his home.

SHERIFF:

Is Mr. Riley all right?

JO:

He should be fine.

SHERIFF:

[Scutinizing Lucius, but then accepting Jo’s word.] Good night.

JO:

Good night. [Sheriff exits.] I guess you’ll be wanting to get home, now.

LUCIUS:

Not just yet. I’ve got a telegram to send first.

JO:

Your daughter.

NAN:

It’s Mrs. Jo!

NAT:

Mrs. Jo! Nick!

JO:

[Bringing the carriage to a stop.] Whoa!

NAT:

Mrs. Jo, what happened?

JO:

I had a little accident on the road.

NAN:

Are you all right?

JO:

Boys, help Nick. [Some of the boys help Nick from the carriage.]

DAN:

Nick, what happened?

NICK:

It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.

JO:

[Jo gets out of the carriage. She wraps Rob in a big hug.] Hi! Did you miss me?

ROB:

Yup!

JO:

Yup? I missed you. [To Franz.] What happened to you?

FRANZ:

Oh, I walked into a door. It was stupid.

NICK:

How did the house hold up?

DAN:

Pretty good. There’s not much damage thanks to Franz. He took good care of us.

JO:

Well, I sure am glad to be home. Let’s go in.