1. (N) It’s True you know.

2. (N) The Whole Thing about your life flashing before your eyes.

3. (N) I like to keep my life tucked neatly into boxes…

4. (N) But the boxes have been dropped in the ocean, and now everything is spilling out.

5. (N) One box Holds everything from when I was Little.

6. (N) Mom and Dad still together, Aiden still fun to be around.

7. (N) Everything made sense then.

8. (N) Another box is my life at school. My friends, and the person I am around them.

9. (N) She doesn’t say things unless she knows other people will agree.

10. (N) She’s good at blending in.

11. (N) And then there’s life at home. Dad moved to the city after months of arguments he and Mom thought we couldn’t hear.

12. (N) Aiden started getting mad about everything. I can’t even look at him anymore.

13. (N) Every moment I’m home I want to Escape.

14. (N) The cliffs are my quiet place, but tonight the rocks were slippery from the rain.

15. (N) So I hit my head and now I’m here and I can’t stop thinking of the last, secret box…

16. (N) My big plans.

17. (N) To get off this island and move to the city, ANY City.

18. (N) To go to college.

19. (N) And to be gay, far away from this tiny town and everyone who’s known me since forever.

20. (N) I thought if I planned carefully enough it would happen, but now —

21. (N) Now I’m in the water and I can see that future spinning away and I want to grab it,

22. (N) But I can’t tell which way is up.

23. *Gasp* *Koff, Koff, Koff* *Hack, Hack* *Huff*

24. Ah!

25. (N) Okay… Naked Girl.

26. (N) This is an entirely different kind of stressful situation.

27. I wasn’t swimming. On purpose.

28. Um…

29. (N) She is familiar, like a person in a dream… Ohhh.

30. Heh, This is a near-death-experience hallucination, isn’t it? Cute.

31. Never Better.

32. You know… since this is a dream, it might as well be a romantic one.

33. Just  A Thought.

34. Mm-hm. You’re way too cute to be real.

35. Yeah.

36. You always make excuses for him.

37. Good Night, Mom.

38. (N) It wasn’t real.

39. (N) I inhaled seawater and had a nice dream. Or something like that.

40. (N) But she reminded me of something.

41. (N) I was nine, so it must have been seven years ago…

42. (N) Mom’s gonna kill me if I have brain damage.

43. It’s not that late.

44. I’m meeting Serena and everyone in town today.

45. You know, the gulls wouldn’t scream all morning if we didn’t feed them.

46. (N) We moved to Wilneff Island from Toronto when I was little. 

47. (N) It always felt Special.

48. (N) But this is the first summer Dad ins’t here, and now everything is just weird.

49. (N) In a few weeks, my job with the Kayak rental is starting, so at least I’ll have a reason to be out of the house…

50. That’s it, That’s all I got.

51. Go on!

52. (N) Oh no.

53. (N) No no no no —

54. Oh my god! Are you Okay?

55. What do you — Um — Who are you?

56. …I’m Morgan.

57. Yeah, no, nope, we’re not doing that.

58. That was a near-death-experience hallucination!

59. Hi, Earl! Val!

60. Enough with the touching!

61. Mom!

62. What do you want?

63. None of those things are real!

64. What?

65. Okay. FINE.

66. But no talk about love or kissing at breakfast. NONE. You are my friend from school. Got it?

67. Keltie’s new! Just Moved here?

68. ENOUGH QUESTIONS. I think it’s time we go into town.

69. Gotta show her around!

70. So… What do you do for fun?

71. Okay, come on.

72. You’re not actually a seal.

73. Okay so —

74. Huh.

75. I’ve never seen fabric like this before.

76. Please can you try to be a little bit normal?

77. I don’t know, hand out?

78. Um. I like to make things. Clothes.

79. Well. I haven’t made any for a while.

80. They Always came out looking too weird to wear —

81. (N) Serena. Lizzie. Jules.

82. (N) My Best Friends, And the last people I want to see right now.

83. (N) Everyone thinks we’re this group like you’d see in a teen movie from the nineties.

84. (N) Serena’s the girly one. Her parents own half the town, but she’s not too stuck about it.

85. (N) Jules. Always a joke.

86. (N) Lizzie’s the sweetest person ever.

87. (N) I guess I’m the Artsy one, but not so artsy I’m weird.

88. (N) They don’t know how, for about a year…

89. (N) I’ve had a secret.

90. (N) And it makes me different from then.

91. No touching, I said!

92. It’s different.

93. AAAAAH!

94. We have to get you some normal clothes. And SHOES.

95. I Mean, are you wearing anything under that? [Gets Embarrassed] Um. Please don’t answer.

96. Clothes will help you fit in, okay?

97. So people don’t notice you.

98. Exactly.

99. Tch

100. Do all your stores feature fish?

101. Sorry!

102. I’m telling you, it’s a kids’ shirt!

103. You’re so weird.

104. Are they “selkies,” too?

105. Wait, really? Your parents aren’t —

106. That sounds lonely.

107. So, let’s say I believe you. Hypothetically. How does it work?

108. (N) This would be a lot easier if she weren’t cute.

109. No, it’s —

110. (N) Oh no.

111. Hiii!

112. It’s cool! And so BIG, I didn’t realize!

113. She’s not — Um —

114. Keltie is new, Um, visiting… Her parents are friends with my mom. I’m just showing her around.

115. Oh yeah, of course!

116. It’s fine, Keltie.

117. Hey, why don’t you, uh, go back to the island? I’ll meet you there later.

118. She’s been following me around all day. Thanks for saving me.

119. (N) I feel bad.

120. (N) But it’s for the best.

121. Hey.

122. I’m, um. Sorry about before.

123. That's not it…

124. You don’t understand…

125. Maybe you could come visit later?

126. That’s… very arbitrary.

127. (N) Say goodbye. Let this all be a weird dream.

128. (N) Let her go.

129. (N) Say goodbye.

130. You, um. Can’t stay at my house tonight.

131. Well.

132. Okay good night!

133. (N) She’s loud.

134. (N) She says the wrong things.

135. (N) I should have let her leave.

136. (N) But the thing is…

137. (N) I’m glad I didn’t.

138. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

139. Not now!

140. Got plans!

141. I owe you a do-over of yesterday.

142. But let’s go somewhere to be alone. We could take some kayaks —

143. I’ve never seen seals so close!

144. BABY. SEALS.

145. This? This may be the best day of my life.

146. It’s nice to be away from people.

147. In town, if they ever saw us together… It would mean something you know?

148. Uh, YOU, specifically are not!

149. You’re the true shapeshifter.

150. I just… I’m trying to get through high school.

151. And that’s easier if I hide parts of myself, the parts that are confusing or complicated.

152. I’m not going to do it forever! I have a plan!

153. Last year sucked, and things continue to have a baseline level of suck.

154. It’s not the right time to make a - a big declaration, but in a few years…

155. I’m going to leave.

156. And when I’m far away from everyone I know, I’m going to be exactly myself.

157. Because that’s part of the plan. If I wait, it’ll be easier in the long run.

158. Wh… What’s not to understand? It’s airtight.

159. Well… I guess…

160. I’d have to figure it out.

161. (N) When we did this before…

162. (N) I thought it was a dream.

163. (N) This time, I know it’s real.

164. (N) And I don’t care.

165. Why do you like me?

166. Mm. Yes. Compliments please.

167. We’re not like that anymore.

168. You were watching me?

169. Were you watching when Tyler Tanner tried to kiss me and I pushed him off the bridge.

170. Crying, right?

171. Sheesh. You could have just said I’m cute or something.

172. I, um… I really do want to be with you. But it has to be a secret.

173. I want it to be private. Just us. Okay?

174. Race you back!

175. (N) I thought my plan meant no dating until college. I was okay with that.

176. (N) But then she appeared, all mysterious, from the sea.

177. (N) She’s a secret, and she’s mine.

178. Hi!

179. I forgot you worked today!

180. My mom has been trying to get us all to the beach for ages but like… Once we’re here, there’s not really anything to do.

181. Ohh, just ask him out already!

182. Heh, fair.

183. I know, it looked fun. I had a family thing.

184. What?

185. Of course not.

186. No, I’ve just been busy.

187. Dolphin Girl —

188. There’s too many people here!

189. No, I am —

190. *Laughing with joy*

191. I thought a selkie would be good at swimming!

192. Not here. Follow me.

193. I’m glad you came.

194. Brilliant line.

195. MOM…

196. Hi, val.

197. Oh! Um. She seems pretty excited. She’s having her birthday party on it this weekend.

198. Wait, you know —

199. What?

200. Shut up.

201. YOU — 

202. Why do you ruin everything?

203. *Crying as is Running away Crying*

204. Why does My Brother Have to ruin everything?

205. Keltie…

206. My Brother found out about us. And he told my mom and the neighbors… *Then She Cries*

207. What’s that smell?

208. *Snrk*

209. I don’t know! That’s not the —

210. I just wanted this to be a secret, you know?

211. That’s not it. All I want is, is to keep things separate. Family and friends and you, all in different boxes.

212. What are you talking about?

213. Wait. But I thought —

214. I thought you were here because of me.

215. You’re a liar. All that cheesy stuff about loving me from afar?

216. And I Fell for it, like a desperate idiot —

217. I can’t take you to a party. I can’t do any of this. It’s just too much, Keltie.

218. That’s right.

219. No.

220. I just should have followed mine better.

221. Goodbye, Keltie.

222. *Breathes Angrily*

223. AGH!

224. *Snrk* *Laughs but then Cries.*

225. I knowww. I… I wanted to. Realy. But then you and Dad… you know… and Aiden’s been so nasty, and it just seemed like it would be one more stressful thing.

226. MOM.

227. *Small crying*

228. She… she was going after me for the wrong reasons. I ended it.

229. Like you and Dad?

230. Oh.

231. That’s not fair. He’s been so mean.

232. Hi.

233. Being a Jerk?

234. Wanna make it up to me?

235. Mmm-hmmm.

236. They must be so raggedy. You wore them for years!

237. Heh

238. It’s coming together. You make a good mannequin.

239. Keltie.

240. No.

241. I want to be with you.

242. Then they were the wrong plans.

243. And I’m sorry I freaked out.

244. Oh! I have something for you.

245. No, Not fish.

246. It’s okay if you don’t like it, I’m a little rusty —

247. Well, you remember what Serena said… Her party has a dress code.

248. (N) This is it. No turning back now.

249. Hi, guys! Happy Birthday, Serena!

250. I, um, I figured it would be okay it I brought Keltie, because, well… She’s my girlfriend.

251. Haha

252. Serena?

253. I wanted to match you. So everyone knows we’re together.

254. Yeah, we should probably talk to her soon…

255. Hi, Serena!

256. Awesome Party!

257. Well, thanks for inviting us… Inviting me.

258. I know I’ve been kinda AWOL…

259. That’s right.

260. Actually! Keltie works for an, um, environmental organization.

261. And, I don’t know if you know this, but the course your parents plotted for the harbor tour is going righ past this rookery of seals —

262. Hey! She’s my girlfriend. If I’m invited, then —

263. I-I’ll try again. She’s not usually like this.

264. But maybe you should, um, stay behind?

265. I know. We’ll figure it out.

266. Okay. You’re pissed at me.

267. I don’t know what I did.

268. I didn’t tell anyone.

269. That’s not… It’s my chance when I tell people. I didn’t want to be different from you guys.

270. You don’t know what it’s like.

271. *Breathes* Fine. Can I tell you a Secret?

272. Hah, got me.

273. It is about Keltie, though.

274. She, um… She isn’t exactly a human.

275. …So the rookery is her home. The seals are her family. She just wants to protect them. Can’t you Understand that?

276. …What?

277. I’m not —

278. So, I talked to Serena —

279. Wait, Wait, Listen.

280. I talked to Serena. She’s going to change the route.

281. What were you saying?

282. KELTIE! WITH EVERYONE ON IT?!

283. Um… Hey Lizzie, let’s hold onto this. For no Reason.

284. You are Crazy!

285. *Laughing with Joy*

286. Now that you narrowly avoided shipwrecking us.

287. I’m going to keep you away from boats for the rest of the summer. You cannot be trusted.

288. Everyone knows about me and you. And… It’s fine. We can actually be girlfriends.

289. Wait…

290. Something’s wrong.

291. No. Oh no. She was sitting on the back rail —

292. How?! You said at the beach, you can’t swim like this —

293. Wait, but… if you put it on, you wont be able to —

294. But we just — it’s too soon. We have plans —

295. You’ll put it on and come right back, okay?

296. You’re here. Come back to shore with me.

297. Please!

298. Seven years, okay.

299. I can wait seven years. I’ll be right here —

300. You don’t think I would?

301. I won’t forget about you.

302. I… wasn’t sure if I believed it either. Until tonight.

303. She has a habit of doing that.

304. I’m sorry, too. For everything.

305. What?

306. That sounds perfect.

307. (N) The seals were safe, and the rest of us got used to the boat.

308. (N) It’s funny how quickly something new can become normal.

309. (N) Even when it’s messy. And confusing.

310. (N) Eventually it just feels like normal life.

311. Dad? I’m good. Hey, I… I wanted to tell you something.

312. Did you know about her?

313. It’s Hard to really talk about to anyone. What am I supposed to say “Oh, I had a girlfriend, but now she has to be a seal for seven years…”?

314. She made me want to be… More alive? To live all the parts of my life.

315. I know. I will.

316. How do you know? About Selkies?