Scene One: A Missing Child?
LOC: Ranger Station, Finlayson Point Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Lights up. Fifteen-year-old Kylie Juniper and her parents, Penelope and Azul, enter the small ranger station. Kylie is not happy.
Azul: (Approaches a shelf and picks up a stuffed moose.) One of my main goals on this trip is to see a moose, Kylie.
Kylie: (Scoffs.) Yeah, Dad, good luck with that. (She takes the moose and puts it back on the shelf.)
Kylie and her parents approach a desk where a young female ranger is sitting. This is Ranger Kate. She is obviously depressed.
Kate: (Looks up to them. Her voice is filled with sadness.) Hello, and welcome to Finlayson Point Provincial Park, located here in Ontario, Canada. My name is Ranger Kate. (She stands up and holds out her hand.)
Azul: (Shakes her hand) Good afternoon, Ranger Kate. My name is Azul Juniper. (He lets go and gestures at Penelope and Kylie.) That’s Penelope, my wife, and my daughter, Kylie.
Penelope and Kylie wave. Ranger Kate’s eyes land on Kylie. She stares at her for a long time.
Kylie: (Shivers.) Why are you staring at me like that?
Ranger Kate snaps out of her doze and blinks.
Kate: (Slightly embarrassed.) Oh, I’m sorry. You just remind me of someone.
Kylie: Someone like who?
Kate doesn’t answer. She sits back down.
Kate: How may I help you?
Azul opens his mouth to speak, but Kylie beats him to it.
Kylie: Oh, your accent. Are you naturally from Ontario?
Kate: (Nods.) Oh yes. I grew up in the cottage country of Ontario with my two sisters. I moved here about ten years ago.
Kylie nods.
Kate (Cont.): Now, how may I help you?
Azul: (Chuckles.) Well, Ranger Kate, Camp Juniper, that’s us, is here for a weeklong canoe trip up at the Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park. We drove here today from North Tonawanda, New York. Yes, it was a long drive. About six hours. We’ve been planning this trip for an entire year. We’ve made reservations, and we’ve already paid. We just need a campsite for tonight, so that tomorrow morning, bright and early, we can drive to Lake Anima Nipissing and put our canoes in. Tomorrow night, we’re going to camp on Red Squirrel Lake.
Kylie rolls her eyes. She’s still not happy. Then suddenly, her eyes roll over to a picture frame sitting on the face of the desk. In the frame is a picture of a five-year-old boy. He looks exactly like Ranger Kate. Kylie approaches the picture.
Kylie: (To Ranger Kate.) Who’s that?
Kate: (Peers over to the picture.) That’s my son. (Sniffs.) My only son. (Presses the back of her hand to her eyes.)
Kylie: Your only son? Where is he? Is he at your house?
Kate drops her hand.
Kate: (Choked voice.) I don’t know where he is. He went missing years ago.
Kylie, Azul, and Penelope gasp.
Penelope: Missing? A missing child? You haven’t found him?
Kate: Unfortunately, no. (Checks wristwatch.) You know, I’d love to continue this conversation, but I’m wanted on the water. (Stands up.) Excuse me. Ranger Amelia will assist you. In the meantime, I’m going back to Lake Temagami. (Exits.)
Azul and Penelope exchange glances. Kylie examines the photo of Ranger Kate’s child.
Kylie: (Taps her chin.) That’s weird. Why would a child go missing? Hm, this is very mysterious.
Lights down.
End of Scene One
