Three months later Melanie found herself waiting on the dock with her luggage, and her Aunt and Uncle Driscoll on hand to say good-bye and see her off. With her aunt's hand in hers and her uncle's arm around her shoulders, Melanie felt guilt well up in the pit of her stomach. Jack and Ann believed Melanie to be going to the Caribbean islands to shoot a movie, and they were positively thrilled for her. They were continually telling Melanie how proud they were of her, and it hurt Melanie's heart to know that she was misleading them. They knew nothing of Denham's part in the production, nor the true locale for the film. Melanie knew that they would never agree to her traveling to a place like Skull Island, and they would certainly never allow her to work with Carl. She had heard nothing but unfavorable opinions about him. She had even had doubts as to the wisdom of trusting him, but the prospects of such an adventure as Skull Island completely blinded her, and for this opportunity she would do almost anything, even lie.
The horn blew, and the Driscolls knew it was time to say farewell. Melanie looked to Ann and Jack and hugged them fiercely.
"Be good darling," said Ann tearfully. "And do your best."
"Here," Jack slipped a typed sheet of paper into Melanie's hand. "I wrote this monologue especially for you the day you told me you wanted to act. You tell the director you want it in the film."
Tears spilled from Melanie's eyes. Her heart soared and sank at the same time as she embraced her uncle.
"Thank you for everything," was all she could utter. She climbed aboard the ship and waved good-bye.
Carl was waiting for her at the entrance.
"It's so nice to have you on the project, dear," he said quickly. "I want to you to meet the rest of the cast and the crew members."
He then jerked her closer to him and murmured harshly in her ear.
"There is to be absolutely no mention of Skull Island, do you hear me?" Melanie tried to escape from his grasp, but he gripped her arm tighter and twisted it so that she couldn't move.
"No one else on this boat knows about this except me and you," he breathed. "And if they were to find out before the…appropriate moment, the result could be disastrous. Is that understood?"
Melanie nodded, but could not say a word. All the previous doubt engulfed her mind and washed through her body. Every logical thought that had never occurred to her earlier flashed before her: I am about to embark on a journey to the middle of nowhere with people I have never met before in my life. The only person on this boat I know is Carl Denham, who I have barely even been acquainted with. I have never heard any good about him. And then there's Skull Island. So many people died…
Died. People lost their lives. This realization struck Melanie with such an impact that she found herself nauseous and dizzy, and had to lean against the wall for support. There was every likelihood that she could die during this project. And for what? A cheap thrill? Was it worth losing her life over, and hurting those that she loved? Melanie thought of Jack and Ann, and the absolute torment that her death would cause them. That is if they ever found out what happened to her. If nobody lived to come back…
Tears stung Melanie's eyes, and she felt that she could not breathe. If no one lived to return, her family would live through the even greater torment of never knowing what had happened. She realized what a fool she had been. She had to get out.
A new strength revitalized her, and with the dizziness gone, Melanie rushed to the exit, desperate to escape. Carl reached out to grab her, sensing what she was about to do, but Melanie was too quick. Carl darted after her, afraid that after all the difficulty he had undergone to put this expedition together, it was going to end just like that. He burned with bitterness at the thought of all his fame and fortune sinking into oblivion just because some capricious female's emotions got the best of her. But to Carl's relief, and Melanie's chagrin, when they reached the back of the ship, they saw the ladder being pulled up into the boat, and the dock fading away.
Melanie was crushed. Never before had she felt so utterly alone. She couldn't help but wonder if this was the last time she would ever see her family again. Tears and grief welled up inside, and she collapsed.
Carl, only a few steps behind Melanie, laughed inside. Women!, he thought. He looked around, and saw his assistant Dusty Jones leaning over the railing, staring off into the distance.
"Dusty! Take Miss Driscoll to her room." Dusty looked at Melanie questioningly.
"Don't worry," said Carl heartily. "She should feel better by morning."
