Nathaniel's Monologue
I may have had a rough life, but the recent change of events (smiles gently) has really turned my life around. I finally met again with my only son. (Pause) I've been lost in this massive place for many years, searching for a small area to live in for a while, but I never really found one. I wandered for so long, building snow houses from place to place. Then one day, I stumbled across the perfect place. Just beyond some... (Pauses to think) red cliffs, I think. It was a small igloo holding three people: (counts them off on his fingers) a young woman named Sathre, a small boy called Mscart and a cute baby girl, Kisna. Mscart reminded me a lot of Adam (Looks into distance smiling); running around and enjoying his childhood. That was the deciding factor for me. I would become part of this family of Inuits. (Pause) Sathre was very willing (raises eyebrows in surprise) and welcomed me into the home, Mscart agreeing that he wanted someone like me to be in this family too. Apparently, Sathre's husband died in a kayak incident. I lived there for at least a year. But one day (frowns slightly) something grave happened. Sathre went out with Mscart and Kisna, hunting for something to eat that night. I happily sat and hummed some songs of the sea that (suddenly slightly shy) Sathre had taught me, as there were only two kayaks and (chuckles) they couldn't fit me in anywhere! I didn't mind. However, I started to worry after no one came back after a day and a half. Needless to say, when I went out hunting for them, they were strewn across the bloody red snow. (Wipes eyes) I was very upset, but I continued to try and accomplish what I came on the expedition for. When I was working on the Prince Consort, I had a personal demon that I knew I needed to overcome: drinking. (sighs) That's why I went on the expedition. I left my dearest Adam with Emily while I left on the ship to overcome my drinking problem. But what happened? (Looks questioningly) Why did I end up in an igloo after years of the Arctic? Well, I'll tell you why. (Looks down) I got lost on an ice floe. (Pause, looks back up at audience) I once went whaling with two colleagues, but there was a price. The ice cracked. I heard screaming; calling my name, then the men disappeared from sight. I survived solely on that ice floe by harpooning my food and melting tiny bits of ice into water to drink. And as I got back onto land, we go back to the start. (Perks up slightly) But only a week ago, my life became complete. I was sitting silently, after getting back from hunting, in the igloo, smiling and humming again, when I heard a shout from outside the igloo, far away. I commented on the weather as was custom. At first I (moves hand as if shrugging it off) ignored the shouts, but then I realised I was the only person here. I turned my head and as I did, I saw him. (Ecstatic) Adam! After a week with living with Adam and Pipaluk again, I can honestly say: I'm proud to be who I am, to have experienced what I have and to be a father again.
