FRANZ:

And this is the schoolroom.

ISABEL:

And this is where you sit?

FRANZ:

Yes.

ISABEL:

"Attention, class." I feel so important. Can I?

FRANZ:

Of course.

ISABEL:

[Sits in Franz's chair.] Isn't this lovely? All these books and papers. Is this a pointer?

FRANZ:

Yes. It's very good for pointing at things.

ISABEL:

[Swings the pointer and knocks the bell off the desk.] Sorry! I'd better be careful where I point this thing.

FRANZ:

It's quite a weapon.

ISABEL:

[Brandishes the pointer like a sword.] "You, there! Pay attention! And you! No more talking, or you'll feel this across your knuckles!" I like this. I've gotta get me one.

FRANZ:

I don't actually strike the children with it.

ISABEL:

No, I suppose you don't. I imagine you're very patient and kind, knowing all the answers.

FRANZ:

Well, not all the answers. I still have a lot of learning to do. I haven't even attended college yet.

ISABEL:

College?

FRANZ:

Yes, I've been accepted to Harvard, but I've delayed going in order to help out with the class. I'm thinking of attending in a year, though.

ISABEL:

And then what? I mean, after college.

FRANZ:

I like teaching. I'd love to teach at Harvard one day, or perhaps come back here and continue teaching at Plumfield.

ISABEL:

I bet the kids would like that the best. You know, they're really lucky to have you as a teacher. I would have loved to have gone to a school like this when I was growing up.

FRANZ:

Well, it's never too late to continue your education. Perhaps I could even tutor you privately.

ISABEL:

Oh, really?

FRANZ:

Would you like that?

ISABEL:

Are you kidding? I'd love it, although I don't know how be able to keep my mind on my schoolwork with such a handsome teacher. [Kisses Franz.]

FRANZ:

Well, you'd better, otherwise I'll be forced to keep you after class.

ISABEL:

Sounds good to me.

DAN:

Hey, Mrs. Jo!

JO:

Well, look at you. You're doing great.

DAN:

Nick says I'm getting better every day. Also, I'm gonna start gallopin' pretty soon.

JO:

Galloping? Well, galloping is the most fun. Speaking of Nick, have you seen him anywhere? He was supposed to take me into town.

DAN:

Ah, yeah. He's in the barn getting some tools. He and Nat are gonna go fix the railing up on the widow's walk.

JO:

Oh. [Looks up towards the house.]

NAT:

[From the roof.] Hello, Mrs. Jo!

JO:

All right. Well, I need to get going. Would you just him know that I went ahead and he can meet me in town.

DAN:

All right.

JO:

[To horse.] Whoa!

MAN 1:

Just do what I say and you won't get hurt. Out of the wagon. [Jo folds her hands in her lap.] Out!

MAN 1:

What do you got back here?

JO:

Nothing…

MAN 1:

[Aims gun at her.] Hand over your money.

JO:

[Fumbles in her purse.] I don't have much.

MAN 1:

Just hand it over! When I tell you to do something, you do it. Don't talk back.

JO:

[Hands over her purse.] Sorry.

MAN 1:

[Cocks his gun.] I oughta kill you right now.

MAN 2:

Take it easy. We've got the money. Let's go.

JO:

Please, don't shoot.

MAN 2:

Come on, let's go!

ASIA:

Did they hurt you?

JO:

No. No, they just took my money and ran off. I went into town to the sheriff. He and one his deputies went out to look for them.

NICK:

They'll find them. Don’t worry.

ASIA:

You did the right thing, handing over your money. It's not worth losing your life over.

JO:

[To Nick.] I should have waited for you. I shouldn't have been in such a hurry to get into town. I should have waited for you.

NICK:

Then we both would've been robbed.

JO:

I thought he was going to kill me.

GIRL:

Jo… Jo…

GIRL:

Jo… Come here, Jo…

JO:

Wait a minute, everyone. Before you go off to school, I have an announcement to make. After what happened to me yesterday, I've been thinking, and I'd like to change one of the rules around here. From now on, I think it would be best if no one goes into town alone. If you need to go, go with an adult, or just wait until one of us goes into town and you can go with us then. I just want to make sure that everyone is safe. All right?

CHILDREN:

All right. [Children leave for class.]

JO:

Nick? I, um… I have to go into Boston on Thursday. Do you remember that businessman I was telling you about who was thinking about donating some money to a few schools in the area?

NICK:

Right.

JO:

He wants to meet with me on Thursday, and, um… Will you come with me?

NICK:

Of course I will.

JO:

[Nervously.] Good. Great. [She turns and heads back to the house.]

FRANZ:

Dan, where is your essay?

DAN:

Oh, I didn't finish it.

FRANZ:

Why not?

DAN:

Well, I was ridin' the horse. I was exercisin' it for Nick, and then she started actin' up so I had to spend a lot of extra time settlin' her down, and I was kinda hopin' you'd let me hand it in tomorrow.

NAN:

Or you could just do what you normally do: make him stay after school and write it.

FRANZ:

No. Just make sure you finish it by tomorrow. All right, everyone. Open your history books to chapter four, please. [Turns towards the blackboard to write the day's lesson.]

BESS:

That is so unfair. He always makes us stay after class if we miss an assignment.

NAN:

Not anymore.

NAT:

Since when?

NAN:

Since Isabel.

ISABEL:

Franz.

FRANZ:

There you are. Finished work already? Good, because I have the best picnic planned. [Beat.] What is it?

ISABEL:

Well, I just got a letter from my brother. He left home about two years ago. Headed out West to Colorado territory, wanted to strike it rich in the silver mines. He just did!

FRANZ:

He just did? He struck it rich?

ISABEL:

I can hardly believe it myself. He was working a mine and struck a new vein. Made enough money for himself to buy a cattle ranch in Arizona.

FRANZ:

A ranch?

ISABEL:

He's always dreamed of owning one, and we always said that if he ever got his ranch, we'd come right out and help him run it.

FRANZ:

Good. Well, you should support him. [Realization strikes. Isabel will be leaving.] Help him run it?

ISABEL:

Franz, do you think we could do this picnic some other time? I really should run home and tell my mother the good news. I'll see you soon.

FRANZ:

All right. [Isabel leaves.]

JO:

Nat!

NAT:

Sorry, I accidentally knocked over the can.

JO:

Nat, what are you doing up there?

NAT:

I'm just painting the rail.

JO:

Well, come on down. Let Nick do that.

NAT:

It's all right, Mrs. Jo. I'm almost done.

JO:

Nat, please, let Nick do it.

NAT:

Sure.

ASIA:

How you holdin' up?

JO:

Oh, all right.

ASIA:

Well, you look tired.

JO:

I didn't get much sleep last night.

ASIA:

I can understand that.

JO:

I had the strangest dream.

DAN:

What was it about?

JO:

[Recalls the apparition.] I was lying in my bed, and I heard this voice from outside the window, so I got up and I looked outside. There was this girl. She was standing at the edge of the woods. It was very dark. It was frightening. She was calling my name, wanted me to go out to her.

DAN:

Did you go to her?

JO:

No. I was too afraid. I couldn't move.

DAN:

The Indians believe that dreams have meaning. That's when the spirits talk to us.

JO:

If that's the case, what are they saying.

DAN:

I don't know. Who's the girl?

JO:

I couldn't see her.

ASIA:

It's you. Maybe the dream isn't supposed to scare you. You never used to be afraid of anything.

DAN:

She's not afraid of anything now either.

ASIA:

'Til yesterday. Jo, the girl in the dream is trying to help you over your fear. She's tryin' to get you back to your old self.

NICK:

There you are. Listen, Jo, I've got great news.

JO:

Nick, why was Nat painting the railing on the widow's walk?

NICK:

'Cause I asked him to.

JO:

Well, he shouldn't be up there alone.

NICK:

Well, the kids always go up there alone. They know to be careful.

JO:

Still, Nat could have slipped and fallen very easily. The children shouldn't be up there.

NICK:

All right, fine. Listen, Jo, I just got back from town and saw the sheriff -

JO:

You went into town? After I just go through telling everyone not to go into town alone?

NICK:

That includes me?

JO:

Nick, those men are still out there. They had guns.

NICK:

Will you just listen to me? This is what I'm tryin' to tell ya. I just saw the sheriff. He and his deputy caught the two men who robbed ya. [Hands Jo her purse.] There you go. They had a sack full of money. They been robbin' people from here to Bedford, but they're in jail now. Most likely be there a long time. Now you can put this whole mess behind you.

JO:

Thank God.

GIRL:

Jo… Jo…

GIRL:

Come here, Jo…

FRANZ:

Not good enough.

DAN:

What do you mean?

FRANZ:

I mean you can do better. You will do better. You'll stay after class and rewrite it.

DAN:

Franz, I worked hard on this.

JO:

[Enters.] I'm sorry to interrupt class. I have another announcement to make.

FRANZ:

Go right ahead.

JO:

I'd like to make the widow's walk off limits from now on. It really is too dangerous to be up there. And, also, I'd like to make the woods off limits.

DAN:

The woods?

NAN:

What about goin' fishin'?

NAT:

Or gathering wood?

JO:

Well, I'm not saying that you can't go into the woods at all, just not alone. From now on I'd like you to go in groups of three or more. And always tell an adult before you go. Well, this isn't a punishment. I'm just concerned for your safety. Understood?

CHILDREN:

Yeah.

FRANZ:

A few days? How many is that? Two? Three?

ISABEL:

I don't know. A few.

FRANZ:

And your whole family is leaving.

ISABEL:

Yes. My little brother's ready to go right now. He's never been on a train before. Neither have I.

FRANZ:

Isabel, I…

ISABEL:

What?

FRANZ:

Well, I'm happy for you. Really, I am. And your family. It's just, it's all so sudden.

ISABEL:

Franz, my brother wrote that it's a very big ranch - lots of room - and that if we knew anyone that wanted to come along, they were more than welcome. [Beat.] Look, this isn't easy for me. I'm gonna miss you.

FRANZ:

I'm going to miss you too.

ISABEL:

If I didn't have to go, I wouldn't.

FRANZ:

Well, why do you have to go? Couldn't you write him back? Maybe he's forgotten about the promise, or maybe he doesn't even need your help.

ISABEL:

He wired the money for the train tickets this morning.

FRANZ:

So that's it. He just expects you to drop everything and get on the next train.

ISABEL:

No. He doesn't expect that.

FRANZ:

Maybe he hasn't given any consideration to the fact that you might like your life here in Concord.

ISABEL:

Of course, he has.

FRANZ:

Because, if you ask me, that's being just a little insensitive.

ISABEL:

No. You're being a little insensitive. He wrote the letter that we didn't have to come. It was only if we wanted to.

FRANZ:

But you just said that you had to go.

ISABEL:

Because we made a promise, Franz. Maybe a promise doesn't mean anything in your family, but in mine, it does. [She exits.]

FRANZ:

Isabel is leaving Concord. She and her family are moving to Arizona to help her brother with his cattle ranch.

JO:

Oh, Franz, I'm sorry.

FRANZ:

And I've been struggling with what to do about it because I'm really fond of her.

JO:

Does she have to go? Couldn't you talk her into staying?

FRANZ:

She made a promise to her brother. Besides, I think she wants to go. It would be a big adventure for her. So what do I do? Do I ask her to marry me, because she's know I'm only asking her to keep her here. And even if she does say yes, she might still want to go and expect me to go with her. I can't very well give up teaching and college in order to run off into the wilderness. Can I?

JO:

No. No, you can't. Franz, I know that you're hurting. You're probably going to be hurting for some time, but eventually you'll find someone else, probably at Harvard, maybe even right here in Concord. I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but you'll get through this. You'll find love again.

DAN:

Yeah! Come on!

NICK:

All right, Dan!

JO:

Dan! Dan! [To Nick as Dan rides off.] Where's he going?

NICK:

For a ride.

JO:

He's galloping, Nick. He shouldn't be galloping. He's just starting.

NICK:

He's ready for it.

JO:

And what if the horse spooks and throws him and he falls and hits his head? Then what?

NICK:

He ain't gonna fall.

JO:

No, he isn't because he's not going to be riding anymore. I want you to go after him and bring him back.

NICK:

Would you take it easy? I know you're worried after what happened. You want to try and protect everyone. I understand that, but you can't control everything around ya, Jo. Bad things are gonna happen no matter what you try to do to prevent them.

JO:

Well, that doesn’t mean you don’t try to prevent them.

NICK:

No, but it also don't mean you lock up these kids in their rooms 'cause your afraid they're gonna hurt themselves.

JO:

I know I'm being overly cautious, Nick. I'm trying not to be. I am. But I can't stop it. I just can't seem to put the robbery behind me. I mean, it's all I think about. It's all I dream about.

ASIA:

You had another dream? [Jo nods.]

NICK:

What dream?

JO:

It's the same one as before. There's a girl calling out to me from the woods. Only, the last time I tried to go out to her, but when I opened the door, the man who robbed me was standing there aiming his gun at me.

ASIA:

So push him aside The sooner you go out that door, the sooner you'll get over your fear.

JO:

I only wish it was that simple. [She exits.]

NICK:

It's only gonna get worse.

ASIA:

I know. And if she keeps on like this, she's never gonna follow that girl into the woods.

NAN:

[To Jo.] Well, why are you going to Boston?

ASIA:

Because there's a man who's thinking about giving some money to a few schools.

JO:

I really don't think that Plumfield has much of a chance.

ASIA:

Now, that's not what you said last week. Remember? You said you weren't coming back without a cheque in your hand.

JO:

Maybe I shouldn't do this right now.

ASIA:

Nonsense. Now, you know that if you don't show up for the meeting, he's not going to give us the money.

NICK:

Don't worry, Jo. I'll be with ya. We'll be all right.

ASIA:

Go.

JO:

[Gets into the carriage.] We'll be back by noon tomorrow.

ASIA:

Take your time.

DAN:

We'll be all right, Mrs. Jo. Don't worry about a thing. [Nick and Jo leave in the carriage.]

ASIA:

I sure hope this works.

NAN:

It'll work.

DAN:

If it doesn't, I don't know what will.

NICK:

So you didn't get the money. No big deal. It's still good you went.

JO:

It was a waste of time. I knew he wouldn't consider Plumfield. He made up his mind as soon as he saw that "Jo" was a woman.

NICK:

Then why didn't you change his mind?

JO:

He didn't want to hear form me, Nick.

NICK:

Yeah, well, you didn't do much to make him hear ya, did ya?

JO:

I don't want to talk about this. Let's go home.

NICK:

I'll get the wagon ready.

JO:

Thank you.

JO:

What happened?

NICK:

Snake spooked him. Stay clear.

JO:

[Horse runs off.] Marty! Marty! What happened? How did he break free?

NICK:

I don't know. Strap must've been loose. He probably won't stop runnin' for a while.

JO:

Well, now what are we going to do?

NICK:

Well, the way I see it, we've got three choices. We could sit here and wait for someone to come along, but that might take hours. Could even be a day or two. We could start walkin' down the road, but that's the long way. Or, we could take a shortcut through the woods. Probably the quickest.

JO:

I say we wait. Someone's bound to come along.

NICK:

Maybe. Maybe not.

JO:

What are you talking about, Nick? This is the road to Boston. There's bound to be another carriage.

NICK:

[Nick starts gathering his things from the back of the carriage.] Yeah, well, I don't feel like waitin'.

JO:

We can't walk back to Plumfield. It'll take us days.

NICK:

No, it won't. We'll be back by mornin'. That is, if we cut through the woods.

JO:

What's going on here?

NICK:

Nothin'. Just takin' a walk.

JO:

You planned this, didn't you?

NICK:

Whether I did or didn't, we're still stuck out here.

JO:

Well, Asia and the children are expecting us home today.

NICK:

They won't be worried about us.

JO:

They won't? They know about this, too. Nick Riley, how could you do such a thing?

NICK:

Jo! Let's go.

JO:

No. I'm staying here.

NICK:

Then you'll stay here alone.

JO:

Fine.

NICK:

Suit yourself. [He begins walking away.]

JO:

Nick? Nick! [She follows.]

JO:

I cannot believe that you would do something so irresponsible. If this is some kind of joke to you -

NICK:

You see me laughin'?

JO:

What do you expect to happen out here?

NICK:

I don't know, but stayin' cooped inside of Plumfield wasn't helpin' ya.

JO:

Oh, so you figured stranding us out here in the middle of nowhere would!

NICK:

It's a start. What happens next is up to you.

JO:

If it was up to me, we wouldn’t be out here.

NICK:

Yeah, you'd be back inside Plumfield, lockin' all the doors.

JO:

This isn't going to achieve anything, Nick.

NICK:

Maybe not, but I had to do somethin' 'cause you sure weren't.

NAN:

How much more do I have to read?

FRANZ:

What page are you on?

NAN:

Forty-three.

FRANZ:

Well, Nan, the assignment was to page fifty.

NAN:

Well, I've got things to do.

FRANZ:

Then you should have read the pages last night like everyone else.

NAN:

I heard Isabel's leavin'. Where's she goin'?

FRANZ:

The more you talk, the less you read, the longer you stay.

NAN:

So what are you gonna do about it?

FRANZ:

Do about what?

NAN:

Isabel leavin'?

FRANZ:

I don't want to talk about it, Nan.

NAN:

Well, if you like her, you should do somethin'.

FRANZ:

There's nothing I can do.

NAN:

There's always somethin' you can do.

FRANZ:

Look, you've got reading to do, and I suggest you do it before I add another ten pages to the assignment.

NAN:

I really liked her. She was fun, especially when she dumped all that flour and water all over you.

FRANZ:

All right! You don't have to read to page fifty. You're done now. You can go.

NAN:

[Stands to leave.] You know, I liked you better before she was leavin'. [Nan exits.]

FRANZ:

So did I.

JO:

Well, now what?

NICK:

Well, only one way to get across. [Checks the water temperature with his hand.] Water's a little on the cold side, but not too bad.

JO:

[Puts her hand into the stream, and quickly pulls it out.] It's freezing!

NICK:

[Sits on a rock to remove his boots. Jo joins him.] You think this is cold? I was on a ship one time off the coast of Newfoundland. Captain misjudged the tide, ran aground on the shoals and the ship sank within the hour. Coldest water I ever felt. Couldn't breathe, couldn't move. After that, I was scared to death of the ocean. I was just a kid. There was no way I was getting back on a ship. A friend changed my mind.

JO:

How?

NICK:

Well, he pointed a gun at my head and said, "Either you get on board that ship right now and take your chances, or I'll shoot you where you stand."

JO:

Charming.

NICK:

Saved my life. So, let's go! [Starts across the stream.]

JO:

[Follows Nick.] Well, wait for me!

FRANZ:

Isabel.

ISABEL:

[Turns and spills vinegar on Franz.] Oh, sorry.

FRANZ:

Vinegar. Nice. [To Isabel's father.] Mr. McGregor.

ISABEL:

I'm always doing these things to you.

FRANZ:

So, you're all packed up.

ISABEL:

Yes, we're catching the train in Bedford. I wondered if you'd come here today.

FRANZ:

I just came to say goodbye, and to tell you I hope you have a safe trip.

ISABEL:

Thanks. Well, better get going. [Franz helps Isabel into the wagon.] Goodbye, Franz.

FRANZ:

Goodbye, Isabel.

NICK:

It's just a coyote. A long way's away.

JO:

When I was young, my sisters and I, we used to be so afraid to go out into the forest at night, so we'd wait until it got really dark and then we'd dare each other to go out and fight off the monsters.

NICK:

Let me guess, you were the first one to go.

JO:

Well, Meg and Amy wouldn't even do it. Beth, she wouldn't even leave the house at night.

NICK:

So, what happened? Did the monsters get ya?

JO:

Nick, this was a bad idea. I'm tired. I'm sore. It's only going to get colder tonight.

NICK:

We'll keep the fire goin', and we can huddle together for warmth. [Jo looks at him, horrified at the impropriety of the suggestion.] All right, look, maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe I shouldn't've brought you out here, but somethin' had to be done.

JO:

I'm fine, Nick.

NICK:

Not the way you're goin'. You can't sleep, you're scared all the time. Pretty soon you'll be just like your sister Beth, afraid to leave the house.

JO:

Don't talk about my sister. You didn’t know her.

NICK:

All right, look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't -

JO:

Look, I'm afraid. I admit it. A man threatened to kill me. He put a gun to my head, Nick!

NICK:

And that's a horrible thing, and you have every right to be afraid. But what's happenin' to you now is worse. Look, if you wanna go through your life bein' afraid, go ahead, but know this: when you're scared, those kids are scared. When you're hurtin', they hurt. The Jo I know wouldn't want 'em to live like that.

JO:

I was cold.

NICK:

Yeah, I know.

JO:

Are you sure that we're still heading west?

NICK:

Yup. Maybe another three or four hours and we should come out of the woods just outside of Plumfield.

JO:

Oh, no! [Coming up to a cliff.] Oh, wonderful! Well, which way should we - [Sees Nick pulling a rope out of his bag.] What are you doing?

NICK:

It'd take too much time looking for a way around. Quicker just to go down it.

JO:

Are you crazy, Nick? I can't climb down this.

NICK:

[Nick ties a rope around a sturdy tree trunk.] Rope's strong. It's hold us. All we gotta do is ease ourselves down.

JO:

I can't do this.

NICK:

Sure you can. Here. [Tosses Jo a pair of leather gloves.] Put these on.

JO:

You knew we were going to come to this cliff.

NICK:

Yeah, and you and I both know that a week ago, you'd've been the first one to climb down it. [Finishes tying the rope.] There. All set? Just slide on down, like swingin' from the mizen mast.

JO:

I wouldn't know anything about that.

NICK:

You're missin' out on a lot of fun. Back on the ships, we had a name for it. We'd be riggin', and sometimes new crew members would be afraid to slide down the ropes. We'd tell 'em that that first jump is a "leap of faith". After that, you got no more fear. [He makes his way down the cliff.] Woohoo! See? It's easy. Now, just grab a hold of the rope, and step over the edge.

JO:

Step over the edge?

NICK:

Come on, Jo. Take that leap! [Jo hesitates and then puts on the gloves.] All right, here we go. Just ease yourself down, slow and steady. But if you want, if you feel confident, let yourself slide a little bit. It's more fun when you go fast.

JO:

I think I'll stick to slow and steady. [She begins her descent.]

NICK:

All right. All right, good. You're doin' good. Okay. All right. Easy now. Not so fast! That's it. See? There you go. Almost here. [He catches her at the bottom.] See? Fun, isn’t it? Wanna do it again?

JO:

No! [Gives Nick a playful push.]

NAT:

Hey, Mrs. Jo and Nick, they're back.

ASIA:

Jo, what happened? We were so worried -

JO:

Asia, relax. I know that you were all in on it, too.

ASIA:

I'm sorry. Jo, we just didn't know what else to do.

JO:

Asia, it's all right. I'm not angry.

NICK:

Well, not anymore anyway.

DAN:

So, how was it out there?

JO:

Oh, it was fun!

FRANZ:

I thought no one was allowed up here anymore.

JO:

Well, if no was allowed up here anymore, we wouldn't be able to enjoy this incredible view, now, would we? It would be a shame.

FRANZ:

I just wanted to say I'm glad you're back. [Turns to leave.]

JO:

Franz, Nan told me that Isabel left yesterday. I'm sorry.

FRANZ:

Yeah, I know you're right. I'm sure there'll be a time when I meet someone new. I just wish that time would hurry up because I can't stop thinking about her day and night.

JO:

You love her, don't you?

FRANZ:

Yes.

JO:

Well, I think you should go after her.

FRANZ:

What? I thought you said -

JO:

Forget what I said.

FRANZ:

Well, what about Plumfield? Who's going to teach the children?

JO:

I will.

FRANZ:

What college and my teaching?

JO:

What about Isabel? If you love her, don't let her go.

FRANZ:

Arizona's so far away.

JO:

I don't know, I think it sounds like fun. You know, back on the ships when a man swung from the mast for the first time, they called it a leap of faith. After that, he had no fear.

FRANZ:

And when were you on a ship?

JO:

Franz, take the leap. Go after her.

FRANZ:

Can you honestly see me on a cattle ranch?

JO:

I can now.

FRANZ:

Goodbye, Emil.

EMIL:

Goodbye, Franz.

FRANZ:

Bye, Stuffy. Nat, keep playing that violin and writing those wonderful stories.

NAT:

I'll send you some.

FRANZ:

Bye, Nat. So long, Myer.

BESS:

[Bess and Franz hug.] Bye, Franz.

DAN:

Don't let the cows trample ya.

FRANZ:

I'll keep them in line. Don't worry. [To Nan.] You told me to do something about it. Here goes.

NAN:

Bye, Franz.

FRANZ:

Bye, Nan.

NICK:

We all pitched in and got you a goin' away present. [Removes Franz's hat and replaces it with a cowboy hat.] Now you're ready for Arizona.

ASIA:

You take care of yourself, you hear? [Asia and Franz hug.]

JO:

I'll miss you so much. [Jo and Franz hug.] All right. Go on.

GIRL:

Jo…

GIRL:

Jo… Jo…

GIRL:

Jo… Come here, Jo…

JO:

Beth. I can't believe it's you. [Jo and Beth hug.]

BETH:

I told you I'd always be with you, to help you more than ever.

JO:

My beloved household spirit, waiting for me on the shore. I'm so sorry that I didn't come to you sooner. I was so afraid.

BETH:

There's nothing to fear out here. I learned that from you, remember? You're here now, and that's what's important. And you'll be here for many more years. Embrace those years, Jo.

JO:

I will.

BETH:

If you're ever afraid, just look for me. I'm always here.

JO:

My sweet Beth.