(Several months have passed since the last scene, the calendar on the kitchen table should be switched to June. The stack of unopened letters should remain on the table.)

(The scene begins with Nick Talbert sitting at the kitchen table, he is once again in a dreary mood.)

(Enter Mrs. Talbert, who is also in a shocked, dreary mood.)

NICK TALBERT
Mom, I’m so worried right now. Ever since school let out I haven’t seen Kate once, I’m really starting to think we might break up. What should I do? I feel so lost and down right now!
(Notices his mother’s abnormal state.)
Mom, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?

MRS. TALBERT
No, Nick, everything is not okay! It’s… your uncle.

NICK TALBERT
Jeff? Mom, I don’t understand, what happened?

MRS. TALBERT
Nick, your uncle… he… (Begins a light sob.) Uncle Jeff died last night of an unexpected heart attack, they tried to save him, but there was nothing they could do. He’s gone Nick.

(At this news Nick Talbert enters a state of shock, all previous worry of his girlfriend disappears.)

NICK TALBERT
Uncle Jeff is… He’s gone?

MRS. TALBERT
He’s gone Nick! Your loving uncle, who you never gave a second thought about!

NICK TALBERT
Mom, I never meant to, I…

MRS. TALBERT
You what Nick?! Do you wish you could go back now? Actually give him the love he deserved? He cared about you! And you never gave him a second thought, you just forgot about him! All of his phone calls you never returned, all of his letters you never bothered to open! His last months were spent trying to feel the love from you he wanted so much, but now he’ll never get!

(At this Nick Talbert is on the break of tears as well.)

NICK TALBERT
I never thought it would be this way. I always thought of this wrong, I never once imagined it would be too late! What do I do mom?

MRS. TALBERT
I don’t know Nick! I don’t know… I miss Jeff so much already. I know you never meant for this to happen dear, I wish that things weren’t this way… I need to be alone for awhile.(Hugs her son.) I love you son.

(Mrs. Talbert exits Stage Left, leaving Nick in the kitchen all alone. Nick sits at the kitchen table where he comes to picking up an unopened letter from his uncle off the top of the stack, he opens it up and reads it aloud.)

NICK TALBERT
“Dear Nick, How have you been buddy? It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. I really miss living so close to you and your parents. I’ve heard so many great things about you from your mother; I’m proud as I could possibly be. I beam with pride every time I think of the man you’re becoming. You’re going to do amazing things for this world and I can’t wait to see what they are. I love you to death Nick. Your Loving Uncle, Jeff.”

(Upon reading this letter Nick breaks down into weeping. He slams both hands on the and buries his head in them afterwards.)

NICK TALBERT
Why can’t I go back? All those chances wasted, I was so dumb! I never once thought that Uncle Jeff would be gone one day! I only cared about myself and how happy I was! I never meant to treat you this way Uncle Jeff!

(Nick sits in the same state for several more seconds before the phone on the counter rings. Nick picks it up reluctantly.)

NICK TALBERT
Hello? Oh, Kate (Pauses to listen to the phone.) You want to tonight? Kate, about this… Some things have happened, and I just… I just need some time off, I need to take a break and be alone for a while. Your busy life hasn’t been good for me and I need to make some changes. (Pauses once again.) It’s nothing that you’ve said or done, it’s my own fault. I’ve been putting my priorities in the wrong places, and I need to get them back to where they should be. I’ve been trying to hard to put myself in your life where I don’t always belong, and I’ve been hurting my family as a result. (Pauses.) I know you don’t understand this right now, but it’s what needs to be done. Goodbye Kate.

(After hanging up on the phone Nick sits back down at the kitchen table, he stares back to the stack of unopened letters. He stands up, picks up the letters along with a pencil and several pieces of paper and exits Stage Right. He leaves the letter he opened on the kitchen table.)

(Shortly after Nick exits Mrs. Talbert enters again from Stage Left.)

MRS. TALBERT
Nick? Nick? Are you still here? I overheard your phone call…

(Mrs. Talbert notices the opened letter on the kitchen table, she sits and begins to read, as she does, she notices the stack of letters has been taken away.)

MRS. TALBERT
Your uncle loved you Nick, and that will never change. Even though you made some mistakes, I know you loved him so much. You learned a lot from this, whether you know it or not. I’m proud of the man you’re becoming. You made the right choice, I love you son.

END