Created December 31, 1999
FADE IN
Making their way through the heavy flora, Eden closely follows behind Cruz. Night is falling; they stop when they hear dogs howling in the distance.
Cruz turns to Eden; in a hushed voice: "That son-of-a-bitch," looking at his watch, "It hasn't been 2 hours and we can already hear his dogs."
Eden: "What are we going to do?"
"We have to throw them off our scents." He brushes back past Eden, grabbing her hand; "Come on baby, we have to back track to that stream we crossed."
Moments later they reach the stream. Cruz steps in and reaches back for Eden. "Ok Darlin', it's cold but we have to stay in the water."
They follow the stream for several hundred feet, losing their footing frequently due to the slippery bed. Cruz stops when he discovers a cave hidden behind bushes, as the sound of the dogs near. He climbs up into the opening, then helps Eden climb in behind him. Eden whispers, "Should we be stopping?"
Cruz tries to reposition some broken branches around the opening, "The dogs have lost the scent and they'll be looking up and down the banks for us. We aren't making any progress in the water and in the dark it's best for us lay low until daylight."
They move precariously, deeper into the cave where they find themselves engulfed in darkness. Cruz turns to Eden; "You're freezing. You're soaked." He rubs her arms briskly then encloses her in his arms.
"I'm ok, you're soaked too but we can't exactly start a fire." She snuggles in closer. "I don't really want to stop, I don't want to fall asleep."
He lays his finger across her lips as the sound of the dogs gets closer. Willoughby's voice is quite distinctive among the sound of muffled voices.
They speak for several minutes as Cruz and Eden listen silently in the darkness, unable to discern what's being said. Suddenly they hear Willoughby's voice clearly; "Take the dogs back, they're useless for anything except giving away our location." Then the sounds fade again.
Cruz: "Baby, we don't have our bearings, it's so cloudy that I can't even see the moon. We don't know where they are out there, I'm not taking the chance of anything happening to you."
Eden: "I'm ok"
Cruz: "Shhh, we're just gonna sit tight till daylight."
Eden looks up and strains to see Cruz's face in the pitch black of the cave; "Will you talk to me, can we just talk?"
He kisses her forehead, "Sure baby. Are you cold?"
"No, here in your arms, I'm not cold at all."
"Good." He holds her closer.
She sighs heavily. "I was thinking of how much we've had to go through."
Cruz laughs, "Today?"
Eden laughs too, "No, today's about par for the course, I'm talking about how much we went through before we even got married."
Cruz nods, "Yeah, there were times I wondered if we'd never get to Pebble Creek. It was a magical place."
"I wonder if it's still deserted?"
Cruz pauses for a moment, lost in thought. "When you came down those steps, you took my breath away. How many times have I told you that, that you take my breath away? You always amaze me."
"Everything that day was magical."
"We're gonna have to go back there, maybe we can remarry there, with the family there again."
Eden perks up, "Oh, that would be wonderful."
"Well, we definitely will then. I want to make up for all the years when you were out there alone, without your family."
"You don't have to make up anything to me, I.."
Cruz pulls back to look Eden in the eyes, "We're not going to get into that again. I want to do it, I want to do whatever I can to bring you happiness. Whether you remember it or not, you were out there, alone. I mean yeah, you had Christina, or you didn't even know cause Lisa had taken over, but the thought of you out there, alone. It hurts me so much Eden."
Able to see each other now, their eyes having adjusted to the darkness, Eden lays her hand on Cruz's face as tears well in her eyes. "You are the most wonderfully, sweet man." Her voice breaks, "Thank God I have you."
Cruz: "Thank God I have you baby."
She nestles back into the comfort of his arms, "OK, keep talking to me. Tell me everything about Chip and Adriana."
Cruz sits and thinks for a moment, "Oh, let me tell you about Chips first kiss.."
He recants the story of Chips first dance and how Adriana teased him over his new 'girlfriend'. Eden sits listening, smiling broadly, laughing occasionally with each new tale.
Hours pass, Cruz falls silent for a moment. Eden is examining Cruz's hands, intertwining their fingers together. "Remember when we used to argue about even having children, and the one time I told you how you'd be such a rotten dad?" Laughing, "I was so wrong, you are the most wonderful father. Our children are so lucky."
"Oh, we're gonna get off this damn island with our daughter. She's lucky to have had you sacrificing so much for her."
They sit in silence again, and Eden closes her eyes for a moment.
Cruz sighs, "I never knew a more loving, generous mother than you were. You've proven it again with Christina, I can't wait to see our baby. I know she's just like her mommy."
Eden's eyes flutter open. Momentarily lost she looks up as Cruz speaks again, she raises her head to look at him.
Cruz: "Our wedding day was the happiest day of my life, but couldn't compare with how happy I was when I found you again."
Eden nestles her head next to Cruz's neck. "The happiest day of my life too."
Cruz: "We have everything now, I'm not going to give this psycho the chance to take it away. He is so much nothing, we've gone too far to let him take it from us."
Eden: "We're gonna get Hope back."
Cruz: "Yeah, we're gonna get her back, and you and I and Chip and Adriana and Christina… we're gonna have it all baby."
Eden caresses Cruz's chest underneath his shirt and kisses his neck. He kisses her forehead, then lifts her face and they kiss tenderly.
Cruz: "We're gonna get out of here Eden. I swear it." They embrace ever tighter, "I love you so much."
Eden: "Oh, I love you too."
Cruz: "Are you sleepy?"
Eden: "No, not anymore, just keep talking to me, I could listen to you talk forever." She lays her head back on his chest as a faint smile appears on her lips.
FADE OUT
Dawn is breaking and patches of light are breaking through the cave entrance. Eden and Cruz have been talking all night. Mostly Cruz talking at the urging of Eden.
Cruz glances over to the light. "Sun's coming up."
Eden repositions herself, groans at her stiffness; "Are we going now?"
Cruz: "No, shhh, listen.." Pausing to phrase his request. "It's better, I think if I don't have to worry about you--I want you to stay here. I will have a better chance against him."
Eden: "But--"
He cuts her off suddenly, "Eden! Don’t argue with me. Stay here." He kisses her briefly, "Stay safe, please."
"OK" she replies meekly.
Cruz is taken by surprise, "Eden?"
"Yeah?"
"You gave in too fast."
She kisses him again, "Just promise me you'll be careful."
He studies her for a few seconds before responding; "You must be exhausted."
She pauses before replying; "No, I guess I just got a second wind. How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine baby." Reluctantly, Cruz starts to exit the cave, sticking his head out he looks around then turns back. "Ok, I'm going, promise me you'll stay put Eden." He leaves the cave, turning back once more to look at Eden.
Eden: "I love you, be careful." Several minutes after Cruz disappears into the brush, she moves toward the entrance, but freezes at the sound of voices.
Willoughby: "OK, I want you men to go back to the house, it's daylight now, and I will finish the hunt alone."
Back in the cave, Eden cowers and listens carefully. Speaking in a whisper to herself; "The Inspector can handle you Dr. Will, I'm going to find my daughter."
Willoughby raises his binoculars to scan the forest. Spotting a glimpse of Cruz, he motions for the men to go back and takes off in pursuit of his prey. Eden watches him disappear into the woods then cautiously leaves the cave to follow the men back to the house.
FADE OUT
Cruz stops to gain his bearings and catch his breath, "Following the sunrise, this should be the opposite side of the island… Man, what am I saying? Why am I talking to myself? He's lied about leaving a bow and arrow." Hearing leaves rustling behind him, he begins to run again.
Running parallel to the ocean along a cliff, Cruz enters a clearing where he discovers a bow and single arrow laying on a blanket. "Well, I'll be damned." He bends down to retrieve the weapon; stands but freezes as Willoughby speaks behind him.
"So, I was fair. You must admit. You have the bow, you have an arrow. But I have to tell you," chuckling, "That's about as far as you're going to get."
Cruz starts to turn around.
Willoughby: "Very slowly Cruz, I don't want to shoot you in the back, but I will. Drop the bow."
Cruz suddenly drops to the ground as Willoughby releases his arrow. He rolls into the bushes, stands and runs. Willoughby is in close pursuit.
FADE OUT
Eden enters Willoughby's house, she cautiously steps out of the foyer and looks around the living room. Spotting the gun cabinet, she tries to open it only to discover it's locked. She frantically begins searching for an object to break the lock, discovers a large paperweight and runs back to the cabinet, when she is suddenly grabbed from behind.
FADE OUT
Cruz stops to find himself at the edge of a cliff with waves pounding against jagged rocks hundreds of feet below, he backs up only to discover Willoughby behind him, standing with his bow drawn, and the aim of his arrow dead centered on Cruz.
Willoughby: "The hunt is over my friend."