INT. LINK & JO’S APARTMENT – EVENING

The apartment is dim and cozy. Soft kids’ music plays in the background.

Luna lies curled up under a blanket on the couch, cheeks flushed, eyes tired.

Scout sits on the floor with Eric, building a precarious block tower.

The front door opens.

Jo steps inside — tired, stretched thin, held together because she has to be.

JO
Hey, everyone.

ERIC
Hey, Jo.

MAUREEN (O.S.)
Hi honey!

SCOUT
Hiiii!

Luna lifts her head.

LUNA
Mommy…

Jo’s whole face softens. She crosses to the couch and sits beside her.

JO
Hey, my love.
Granny told me you were not feeling well?

Luna shrugs, sniffling. Just seeing her mom seems to make her brighter.

Jo presses the back of her hand to Luna’s forehead.

Maureen appears from the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel.

MAUREEN
Low-grade fever.
Runny nose.
She’s been resting most of the afternoon.

Luna sniffles, but smiles weakly.

LUNA
We watched the dragon movie.
Twice.

JO
(smiling softly)
That sounds like a pretty good day to me.

Scout turns proudly.

SCOUT
Jo, look at our tower! 

The tower immediately collapses. 

ERIC
(over dramatic)
NO!! Not again!

JO
Oh no! Now you’ll have to build it up again!

Scout bursts into giggles as Eric tickles him. The mood is warm, chaotic, happy.

Jo tries to smile and sink into the coziness of an evening at home with the kids —
then just for a second, her smile falters.

She brushes Luna’s hair back.

LUNA
Can we call Daddy tonight?

Her eyes brighten with hope.

Jo softens — but something pinches inside her.

JO
Not tonight, sweetheart.
He’s resting.
But he told me to say goodnight…
and that he loves both of you very much. 

Scout frowns.

SCOUT
Why is he tired all the time?

Jo, caught off guard by his innocence and spontaneity, lets a small laugh slip. Then she exhales carefully — choosing the truth that comforts.

JO
He’s feeling better every day.
And he misses you so much.
He’ll be home as soon as he can.

She knows it’s the reassurance they need.

Scout perks up suddenly with a new burst of energy.

SCOUT
Can we go to the park with the BIG slides tomorrow?

MAUREEN
We’ll see how everyone’s doing in the morning.
But yes — we’ll figure something out.

Scout cheers.

Jo watches them, absorbing the moment — grateful the kids still have joy, even when she feels torn in two.

SCOUT
Can you come with us, Jo?

Jo freezes — only a breath — but it hits hard. It’s innocent, but it lands in the softest bruise.
Because in his world, she is a parent figure, and he needs her too.

JO
(small, apologetic smile)
I wish I could, buddy…
but I have to go see your Daddy at the hospital tomorrow morning.

Scout’s little shoulders fall.
Luna watches Jo too — quiet, sleepy, absorbing everything.

SCOUT
I wanna go see Daddy too…

Jo smooths his hair, gently.

JO
I know. 
And he can’t wait to see you too —
we just need him a little stronger first.

Scout nods, disappointed.

JO
(trying to lift the mood)
But you’re going to have so much fun tomorrow.
And I’ll be home as soon as I can, okay?
Then we’ll call Daddy together.

SCOUT
Can we call Mommy, too?
Granny tried but she didn’t answer.

Jo’s heart tightens.

JO
Yeah… we’ll try again tomorrow, okay? 
Mommy is sick and resting. She probably just didn’t hear the phone.

Scout nods again, accepting it in the simple way kids do.

Jo gathers herself and slightly overplays her enthusiasm.

JO
You guys are so lucky…
getting to spend your whole vacation with Grandpa and Granny.

Luna smiles sleepily. Scout beams.

Jo smiles too — but it wavers, just a little.

She loves that the kids are happy…
and hates that she can’t be fully present for them right now.

She kisses Luna’s warm forehead.

ERIC
Big slides tomorrow. 
But you have to go to bed without fuss, ok?

SCOUT & LUNA
Yes!

JO
I’m going to help Granny in the kitchen.
Then it’s bedtime.

Luna nods, snuggling deeper into the blanket.

Jo rises and follows Maureen into the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS

The sink is full of dishes. A pot simmers on the stove.

Jo leans against the counter for a second, letting her shoulders drop.

JO
We’ll see how Luna’s doing in the morning.
I’ll go get medicine before heading to the hospital.

MAUREEN
Okay.

A beat. 

MAUREEN
Have you heard from Amelia?

Jo sighs — tired, aching.

JO
She texted me earlier.
She’s… not doing well.
And she feels guilty for not taking care of Scout.

Maureen’s face softens.

MAUREEN 
She shouldn’t.
I’d rather have Luna and Scout together —
especially now.

Jo exhales.

JO
Yeah… That’s what I told her.
But I couldn’t do any of this without you and Eric.

MAUREEN
That’s what grandparents are here for, honey.

Jo lets out a tiny breath — half laugh, half exhaustion.

Maureen looks at her gently.

MAUREEN
You look exhausted.

JO
I’m fine. Just…
It’s been a long day.

Maureen doesn’t push. She keeps her voice soft, grounded.

MAUREEN
How was he? Really?

Jo hesitates — then the truth cracks through.

JO
Physically… better.
He walked more with PT.
He’s making progress.

She swallows.

JO
But emotionally…
He’s frustrated.
Hates being seen like this.

Maureen nods knowingly.

MAUREEN
He’s always been that way.
Always had to be the strong one.

Jo’s gaze drops to her hands.

JO
I want to be there for him. 
But the more I try to help,
the more he pushes me away.

Maureen steps closer, placing a warm hand on Jo’s arm.

MAUREEN
He’s angry at the situation, Jo.
Not at you.

Jo’s eyes glisten, but she blinks it back.

JO
I know.
It’s just—
He’s there. The kids are here.
And no matter where I am, I feel like I’m failing someone.

Maureen’s face softens into something fiercely kind.

MAUREEN
You’re not failing anyone.
You’ve held all of this together since the explosion.
Link knows that.
Even if he doesn’t say it right now.

Jo exhales, slow and shaky.

JO
I don’t feel like I’m holding anything together. 
I just…
I want him back.
I want our lives back. 

Maureen nods, squeezing her arm.

MAUREEN
He wants that too.
More than anything.
(beat)
He’s just… hurting, honey.
And when he hurts, it comes out sideways.

Jo gives a small, tired smile.

Jo stares at the counter for a beat — and in that silence, she feels the distance stretching in every direction. She wants to be with him right now. And the guilt of wanting that — while the kids need her too — tightens something behind her ribs. She presses a palm to her belly, grounding herself. For a heartbeat, she zones out — guilt, longing, exhaustion all blurring together. One second. Just one. And then she pulls herself back because she has to.

JO
I should go start bedtime.

MAUREEN
I’ll handle it tonight.
You eat something first.
Those babies need their mama to take care of herself too.

JO
No… I want to do bedtime.
I’m barely here during the day…

Maureen’s voice softens, but stays firm.

MAUREEN
Okay. 
But honey… you’re carrying babies and the world on your shoulders.
Let us carry some of it too.

JO
You’re doing plenty already. 

She glances back toward the living room, where Scout laughs and Luna sniffles into her blanket.

She wishes she could be in two places at once —
but tonight, painfully, she’s only one person. And her body reminds her she’s already carrying more than she can hold.

And beneath everything she’s juggling, there’s an ache she won’t say aloud: 
Link feels far from her, retreating inward, and every inch of that distance hurts.

Some quiet, frightened part of her wants to run back to the hospital just to close that gap… And wanting that only makes her feel more absent here than she already does.

FADE OUT.