The Pretender
Island of the Haunted

I've avoided including interpretations and stage business; this is (mostly) just the words for reference purposes.

The limousine scene:

Jarod
I can't help but to imagine our mothers holding that box, instead of them. And I can't help but to imagine a different ending to all of this

Miss Parker
What am I supposed to do, Jarod?

Jarod
Only you can answer that. I just hate to see anyone miss a turning point when one is staring them right in the face.

Miss Parker
And I suppose you're going to open my eyes?

Jarod
No, you don't need me to do that. Only you can decide for yourself whether or not to take a hard look at your life. The way your mother once did.

Miss Parker
Leave my mother out of this, OK? I am not her.

Jarod
Then who are you? Your father? Is the Parker legacy what you want to pass on to your children? Look, we've been through a lot together, you and me. From when we were kids at the Centre, to the last couple of days... I know that rarely our allegiances are the same, but I've always... felt... I've always known that there was something more to our lives than I run, you chase.

Miss Parker
Maybe we do what we have to just to get by in this life, Jarod.

Jarod
Maybe we both deserve something more.

Miss Parker
Just... Just forget what happened on that island. Forget that moment of weakness. Turning points only come when you've got something to turn to.

Jarod reaches over, handcuffed, and takes her hands in his, squeezing. She pulls away.

Miss Parker
Sorry. This isn't the different ending you were looking for. It's just the way the damn story goes, Jarod.

Sweeper opens limo doors, Miss Parker gets out and goes and stands in front of her father. Jarod is hauled out of the limo and pauses by her and Mr. Parker.

Jarod
Wonderful thing about life, Miss Parker. If you change the story, the ending is up to you.

The last two scenes:

Sydney
This must have been an emotionally trying time for you

Broots
Are you all right, Miss Parker?

Miss Parker
I don't know, Broots. But thanks. I just want everything to get...
You know, I almost said I want everything to get back to normal.

Broots laughs

Miss Parker
No such thing around here.

Broots
Particularly now that Raines is in charge.

Miss Parker
Raines?

Broots
What, hadn't you heard?

Raines and Lyle enter

Raines
You look surprised to see me.

Miss Parker
(laughs) Well, after the way the Africans were behaving on the tarmac in Morocco,
I figured a beheading was in order.

Raines
After they understood that Jarod broke free on the jet and sadly killed the Dominant's guards, then parachuted away with the scrolls... They were forgiving, and especially proud of the way Mr. Parker gave his life trying to save what was theirs.

Miss Parker
Quite a bedtime story.

Lyle
It kept us alive. All of us.

Raines
They need me. Now more than ever. As well as my children. Jarod has to be returned.

Miss Parker
So. It is back to normal.

Raines
With a twist. Whichever of you two brings Jarod back will also have a
long-term future here, and a future in the Parker legacy.

Miss Parker
And whoever fails?

Raines
Be careful when you joke about beheadings. Your brother has shown me a sign of loyalty.

(Lyle has given his thumb to Raines.)

Raines
I'll be awaiting a sign from you.

Parker
I'll have to get back to you on that.

Raines and Lyle leave.
Later, phone rings

Miss Parker
What?

Jarod
So what do you think they said?

Parker
The scrolls?

Jarod
I was hoping you had some answers. Insights into the so-called prophecies.

Miss Parker
Those answers are somewhere in the ocean along with my f...
Do you think that... There's any chance that he bailed for the right reasons, Jarod?
Or... Or was his Geronimo just another one of his lies?

Jarod
I don't know. Maybe it's time you gave yourself that gift he never gave you. The truth.

Miss Parker
I hope you find your mother.

Jarod
And what about... us?

Miss Parker
You run, I chase. That choice was made for us a long time ago.

Jarod
Maybe that is the Parker curse.

Miss Parker
Yeah. (crying) Hell of a life we have here, Jarod.

Jarod
Only this time, the first one to find the answers... lives.

Miss Parker
Jarod... the prophecies... If they were real, maybe...
We could have
found out what our future would hold.

Jarod
If they're real.

(he ends phone call)

back to the main Pretender page