Act II Scene 3

Emily breathes on her father’s nose.

“Nice.”

“Let me smell yours.”

“No way, you might pass out!”

Emily leans in and smells around her father’s mouth.

“Eeuw-w-w! Pretty Stinky!”

Emily steps back, giggling, then grabs her pajamas out of the drawer. She quickly undresses leaving her clothes on the floor and puts her pajamas on. She runs to the bed and climbs over her father with his assistance. She gets under the covers and rustles a bit, but finally settles in.

“You all set?”

“Yup.”

“Emmy, I need to talk to you about something. Something very serious.

“Did I do something bad?”

“No, no sweetheart! Not at all! You are my perfect and beautiful, and only princess! I love you more than anything in the whole world!”

Emily beams with pride.

“Emmy, I need to take a trip.”

“Can I come too? With Mommy? On a plane?”

“No honey, I’m sorry. It’s not that kind of trip. And you have to do me a favor and let me tell you about it. Okay?”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“Emmy, daddy’s a little sick. Actually, I’m a lot sick. And sometimes when people, especially grownups get sick, like a certain kind of sick, they need to take a long trip. The doctor said so.”

“But …”

“Sh-h-h-h. It’s gonna be okay. It’s like a big Daddy adventure. (tearing up) But, it’s a special journey, not a lot is known about it but I was chosen because I have some special stuff inside me. But right now, it’s a secret. It’s our secret, okay?”

Emily grips her father tight and cries softly.

“Does Mommy know too?”

“Yes.”

“Will you come back? Even for visits? Like Nana?”

“Probably not baby. This is a special mission. I really can’t say.”

As the message resonates, Emily’s cries become louder and more pronounced. She climbs a top her father and grips him tightly. Her cries suddenly stop and she whispers in his ear.

“Daddy, you need to cancel. Please don’t go. I don’t want you going on this adventure. You can stay here with me and it will be our secret. I won’t even tell Mommy.”

“Emmy, I know this is tough and I’m asking a lot of you. Because you’re my big little girl. I know it’s tough to understand but Daddy doesn’t really have a choice in this. I don’t want to go either. I would love to spend my whole life hiding inside your room with you. Stinky breath and all! But I have a secret for you.”

“What?” (excited)

“The Doctor told me that if Emily wants to talk to or see her dad, she can only do so in your dreams. Only when you’re sleeping. It’s like a special telephone or movie camera in your brain.”

He pokes her playfully on her head.

“I can talk to you and see you in my sleep?”

“Yes, but only when you dream. You just have to really think hard about me in your head and I’ll get the message and come visit. But I can only do it in your dreams.”

“So, if I want to tell you about school, or if I do something really good, I can go to sleep and tell you?”

“Pretty much, honey, yes. That’s how it will work.” (tears)

“But I still rather have you here.”

He embraces her tightly and deeply inhales her sweet, sweaty hair.

“You’re gonna be fine Emmy, mom too.”

“So when are you going, daddy?”

“Soon. Very soon.”