Late at night, we see a houseboat on the water.

CUT TO: Pam at the Institute, typing on a computer. She looks exhausted. She finally leaves. As she walks down the path, we see a man watching her from behind a tree.

CUT TO: Pam's house. She is sleeping on the couch, the computer still running. The man walks into her house and turns on the lights, waking her.

SCOTT: Bad habit of sleeping on the couch, or are you waiting for me to take you to bed?

Pam's face hardens in fury. She throws a mug across the room at Scott - it shatters on the wall next to him.

PAM: Get out!! I don't want you in my home, and I don't want you in Florida.

She storms out of the room, pushing past him.

SCOTT: (sarcastically) Really? I was so sure you'd be happy to see me.

PAM: (still furious) In a photograph, gagged and bound to a chair.

SCOTT: (chuckling) God, I miss your sense of humor.

PAM: What a nightmare. Without a doubt, you have the worst possible timing in the world. When the sun comes up, don't be here.

She storms away, but runs into Mike, who came out to see what the commotion was.

SCOTT: (to Mike) Look at you.

Mike leans against the wall next to Pam, crossing his arms over his chest.

MIKE: Hey, Dad.

SCOTT: (grinning) I thought I told you not to grow anymore.

Mike grins and gives his father a big hug.

SCOTT: (hugging Mike back) You never listened to me anyway.

As father and son embrace, Pam still stands in the background, angry. Fade out.

OPENING CREDITS

ACT ONE

At the Institute, Keith and Mike are leading Scott along the water's edge. Scott isn't really paying attention, however - he's more interested in just chatting with Mike. Mike is carrying a bucket of fish.

KEITH: We've got dolphins, seals, and an aquarium with (cownose?) rays, sharks -

SCOTT: (talking to Mike over Keith) The boat is cool, it's got a barbeque, VCR...

KEITH: (to two students he passes) Hey, it's gonna be a good day for a pop quiz. Study all the chapters on nitrogen narcosis, all right?

STUDENTS: Okay!

SCOTT: I'll buy some burgers. We'll make relish. Remember that special mustard relish?

MIKE: I still don't eat sweet pickles.

SCOTT: You can take 'em out!

KEITH: I hate to rush you guys, but I got a class to prep for.

SCOTT: Yeah, I bet they keep you on your toes.

KEITH: Yeah.

MIKE: Uh, Dad was working in Hawaii. (to Scott) Tell Keith about the volcano.

SCOTT: Ah, Keith's not that interested.

MIKE: Kilauea is this volcano and it has like a molten lava in the center. Dad got so close they had to helicopter him out. Pretty cool, huh?

KEITH: (not convinced) Yeah, that's really cool.

Aphrodite slides up onto the beach in front of them.

MIKE: Aphrodite. Say hi to my dad.

Aphrodite makes a distinct farting noise.

SCOTT: That is great! What other tricks does she do?

Pam appears behind Scott.

PAM: Our dolphins don't do tricks. This is a research facility.

SCOTT: (turning to face her) I was wondering when you'd roll out of bed.

PAM: I've been up since six. (to Keith) Captain Dyer's here.

KEITH: I thought we agreed to do this without Dyer's help.

PAM: We agreed, Dyer didn't.

KEITH: No, no. This is your headache.

PAM: Oh, Keith, come on. Please -

KEITH: No, no. I've got phytoplankton experiments and I've got class. And plus the lobsters are ready to go.

SCOTT: (suddenly interested) Lobster? For breakfast?

KEITH: No, I'm studying the mating behaviors of lobsters.

MIKE: He's a licensed Peeping Tom.

PAM: Time to go to work. (she heads to the water's edge and gives Aphrodite a signal, pointing away) Go!

SCOTT: (leaning over to Mike) She used to give me that same signal, every morning.

PAM: Funny how dolphins are smarter than some men. (she stops, turns toward Scott) Why are you here?

SCOTT: Why don't we go find a restaurant that serves great pancakes. We can fight there.

PAM: I have work.

MIKE: And I'm grounded, I can't go anywhere.

Mike glares at Pam and storms off. Pam follows behind, and Scott follows her.

SCOTT: Go easy, Pam, I haven't seen my boy in nearly a year!

PAM: Over a year.

SCOTT: Well, between work and life's other duties, it's kinda hard to -

PAM: (not really believing the story) I saw the postcard. Luckily you got out of the volcano alive.

SCOTT: I'm not just passing through town.

Pam whirls around to face him, surprised.

SCOTT: I got a job, working in the emergency room at Key West Medical Center. Look, I don't want to get in the way of your parenting thing with Mike. I'm hungry. And he does love pancakes.

Pam looks at him skeptically.

CUT TO: Mike finds Keith upstairs at the Institute.

MIKE: Nothing changes. They cannot spend five seconds together without fighting.

KEITH: They're not fighting they're... contemplating their options.

MIKE: They're already divorced. They can't get more divorced. Do you think they ever loved each other?

KEITH: Oh, absolutely. (off Mike's skeptical look) Probably. See, couples get to a point where, you know, there's a fork in the road. And then they just take different directions.

MIKE: Is that why you won't ever get married?

KEITH: Who says I won't?

MIKE: Never.

KEITH: (defensively) I might!

They look down the stairs. Pam and Scott are still talking, but Pam won't look at him.

PAM: I'm busy, Scott. This isn't a good time.

SCOTT: Lighten up, okay?

CUT TO: The beach. Mike is introducing his dad to Flipper.

MIKE: Flipper, this is my dad.

Flipper chatters and splashes a bit.

SCOTT: Did you teach him that?

MIKE: Nah, dolphins do all kinds of cool stuff on their own.

They move back and sit along the seawall.

MIKE: Uh, the lady you were living with. The pilot.

SCOTT: Liz.

MIKE: Yeah.

SCOTT: Still flying - just without me.

MIKE: Got dumped, huh?

SCOTT: (laughing) Ah, well, I wouldn't say it was a total loss. I got my pilot's license out of it.

MIKE: No. No way. You fly? (off Scott's nod) By yourself?

SCOTT: It's not a big deal.

MIKE: (impressed) That is cool.

SCOTT: If I can ever drag you away from these dolphins...

MIKE: ...yeah?

SCOTT: I'll teach you.

MIKE: Awesome.

CUT TO: The Institute, where Pam is working on a computer. She punches a few keys, and it plays a set of descending notes. Aphrodite swims in and hits a ball on the right hand side, clicking as she does so. A buzzer sounds. After a pause, she turns and races away. Keith and Captain Dyer look on, faces drawn. Pam plays another set of notes, ascending this time. Aphrodite swims in, looks at the apparatus, and swims away. Dyer and Keith sigh, and Dyer makes notes on a clipboard.

KEITH: Descending notes, right paddle.

DYER: Typical. Why is it every time we take one step forward we end up three steps behind?

PAM: It's complex data. (she continues to play descending notes)

DYER: I can read a graph, Lieutenant. (he gets up and begins to walk away)

KEITH: Dyer, you're right. Aphrodite is completely un-cooperative. I say you take her out back and shoot her.

DYER: You know, one more hour with you, Ricks, and I won't be aiming at the dolphins.

Keith laughs.

PAM: Well, if you'd stop to realize that we're working with highly-intelligent animals, not machines.

DYER: Look, I can't take responsibility for why your sonar project is running behind schedule.

PAM: Captain, science and schedules don't live under the same roof. Nobody's giving out awards for being on time.

DYER: Good. Because I'm not in charge of time. All I do is pay for it. For now.

With an ominous look, Dyer leaves, and Aphrodite squeaks at Keith.

KEITH: (to Aphrodite) I was just kidding about the gun. I knew he wouldn't shoot ya.

Keith chuckles as Aphrodite swims away.

PAM: Keith, how could you be joking around? He's gonna bury us.

KEITH: No he's not.

PAM: "No he's not?" That's it? That's the extent of your panic?

KEITH: Who's panicking?

PAM: That's the point. Being zen in the face of disaster is an extremely annoying quality.

She sits next to Keith on the dock, and Keith chuckles.

KEITH: You're just out of sorts because your ex-Man-of-Steel is around.

PAM: (defensively) I don't care about Disneyland Dad!

KEITH: Oh, good, that's a healthy attitude.

PAM: I love Mike. I love my independence. I love my life.

Keith studies her, and she looks very troubled.

CUT TO: Flipper out in the ocean. He pops up along the shore, where we see Mike and Maya walking down the beach.

MAYA: You were always talking about how life's so great when your mom and dad were together.

MIKE: Yeah. And that's all it is - just talk.

MAYA: What if I told you there were things that could make your mom and dad fall in love again?

MIKE: Maya, please. No magic or witch doctor stuff.

MAYA: Make fun of my grandmother again, and I'll cast a spell on you.

MIKE: (sarcastically) Cool. Make me six-foot-five with a great outside jump shot.

Mike moves off, miming a jump shot as Maya pulls something from her pocket and looks at it. It is a locket. She then holds something out to Mike - it looks like an herb. Mike looks at it, then hands it back to her and turns to leave.

MIKE: No thanks, I'm not hungry.

MAYA: It's mandrake bark. It has powers! If your mother loves your father, even if it's just a little bit, she won't be able to hide it if she wears this.

Mike finally stops and turns back towards her. Maya puts the bark into the locket.

MAYA: 'Course, there are things you're going to have to do, you know, to make the magic work.

CUT TO: Mike is sitting on the dock at night. Flipper is with him. Taking a pocket knife, Mike holds it to his finger. Flipper squeaks at him.

MIKE: Okay, okay, yes, so it's stupid! But it beats eating frogs' eyes.

Flipper splashes and chatters at Mike some more, but Mike pricks open his finger and allows the blood to drip into the locket. Fade out.

ACT TWO

At Pam and Mike's house, we see Mike hurrying for the fridge. Pam is sitting at a computer in the kitchen, sipping coffee.

PAM: Don't eat. You're father called, he wants to take you out.

MIKE: Again?

PAM: He likes eating out.

MIKE: And... that's okay with you.

Mike grabs a carton of orange juice from the fridge and raises it to his lips.

PAM: Use a glass!

He sets the carton aside.

MIKE: Where's your locket?

PAM: Um, I put it in my jewelry box.

MIKE: What good is it in a box?

PAM: I don't want to lose it in the lagoon pool.

MIKE: Mom. Lighten up. Stop worrying about everything. It looks great on you and that's all that matters.

Mike goes back into the kitchen and grabs the orange juice carton again.

MIKE: You know what you need? A break. Why don't you cut out with me and Dad today?

PAM: I have too much work.

MIKE: That's original. Yeah, you always have too much work.

PAM: Part of having to work is being an adult. It's part of raising a family.

MIKE: Part of loving your work more than anything else!

PAM: Hey! That's not fair!

Mike leaves. Pam sighs and sits back.

CUT TO: An ultralight flying through the sky. Mike is in the front seat, piloting, while Scott sits in the back, coaching.

SCOTT: You're doing great! Just keep her straight and level! ... Stick left ... Stick to the left!

Mike complies.

SCOTT: Hard! ... Not too hard!

MIKE: No problem!

Scott chuckles as they continue to fly.

MIKE: This is so easy!

SCOTT: You're a natural! Just like me. Four hours of solo.

MIKE: Yeah, how long does it usually take?

SCOTT: Twelve. For some goofballs, twenty. (beat) I'm going to teach you everything you need to learn then we'll get an instructor to sign you off, okay?

MIKE: That'll be great!

SCOTT: Watch your speed, don't let it stall. We're coming up on your mom's institute.

We see below them a series of large pools.

CUT TO: The Institute, where they are again testing Aphrodite with the ascending notes. Again, Aphrodite leaves the test.

PAM: Ugh. I give up. Dyer's right. One step forward, three steps back.

Pam wanders out to the dock and looks up at the ultralight flying overhead. Alexis joins her.

PAM: (dejected) I wish I was up there. Actually, I wish I was anywhere else but here.

ALEXIS: Well, at least Captain Dyer isn't here torturing you.

PAM: Who cares about Dyer? It's not like we're finding a cure for cancer. (beat) I'm sorry. I'm sorry. (laughing) That sounds like my ex-husband. That was his favorite excuse for everything. She heads back inside, but Alexis hangs on the dock.

ALEXIS: You okay with him being here?

Pam comes back out.

PAM: What? I'm bubbly. I'm fun. I'm Teflon-coated, anxiety rolls right off my back.

ALEXIS: (laughing) He was a jerk?

PAM: (also laughing) He was a humongous jerk. Although... (she takes Alexis' arm) there was a time when he wasn't such a jerk.

ALEXIS: Oh?

The two of them start giggling as they have a girl!chat.

PAM: He had his good points.

ALEXIS: Is that right?

CUT TO: The ultralight again. Scott and Mike are still flying.

SCOTT: Stall, and you'll drop like a stone. See if you can get it back to the airport.

Scott holds his hands up - he's letting Mike do it on his own.

MIKE: (glancing back) No problem! (beat) Mom is going to freak!!

SCOTT: (chuckling) Then we'd better not tell her! (Mike nods enthusiastically) She's got enough on her mind.

MIKE: This is great!

SCOTT: Wake me up when we get there.

MIKE: Okay.

The ultralight comes in for an easy landing.

CUT TO: the Institiute's conference room. Keith walks in with a waterski. He stops and stands by Pam, who is hard at work.

KEITH: Well, aren't you at least curious?

PAM: Not particularly.

KEITH: Ugh! You know, when you're stressed out and up to your eyeballs in work, do what - how did he put it? - do an Isaac.

PAM: Do an Isaac?

KEITH: Yes. Get off work early, and rest under an apple tree. Do you know, Pam, that if Isaac Newton hadn't taken a siesta, he wouldn't have seen the apple fall and no apple falling... no gravity theory.

PAM: That is the lamest excuse for goofing off I've ever heard.

KEITH: (laughing) I know. I almost (???) Scott when he called, but I was so fascinated by his Isaac Newton theory...

Pam sits at the computer, looking over audio data. Keith sighs.

KEITH: You really should come.

PAM: Do I look like I want to go waterskiing?

Keith waits a moment, then leaves without another word. When he's gone, we see Pam fiddle with the locket she's wearing.

CUT TO: Waterskiing montage. Scott is waterskiing, with Keith, Mike, and Maya in the boat.

SCOTT: (giving the thumbs-up "faster" signal) Go faster!

Keith obliges, speeding up.

KEITH: Hey, that's really good!

Scott nearly falls, but recovers. Keith cheers

MIKE: Could you do that?

KEITH: Easy!

MIKE: Yeah, right!

KEITH: All right!

Maya snaps a photo as Scott continues. It's now Mike's turn to waterski. He stays carefully inside of the wake. He also has Flipper following along.

MIKE: Yeah!! Woohoo!

Pam wanders out of the Institute, watching the fun. She looks like she wishes she were out there.

Scott gestures at Mike to get outside the wake.

SCOTT: Come on! Get out there!

MIKE: (shaking his head) Nuh-uh!

With a conspiratorial grin, Scott turns the boat, forcing Mike outside the wake.

SCOTT: Yeah!

Now it is Scott and Keith, skiing side-by-side while Mike drives. Scott and Keith are both keeping up, but Scott's obviously a lot more comfortable with it.

SCOTT: Crank it up!

As they speed up, Keith finally loses it and wipes out - and Maya's ready with the camera for the photo! They finally all head in. Pam is still watching from the sidelines, smiling wistfully.

KEITH: (guiding Mike in driving the boat) Now put it in reverse...

They pull up and everyone starts to pile out. Keith is icing his shoulder, but everyone is all smiles, including him.

SCOTT: (to Keith) If that doesn't feel better in a day or two, you come on in for an x-ray.

KEITH: Hey, I'm all right, I'm all right.

SCOTT: Good, 'cause we're going bungee jumping next week.

MIKE: Really? Are you serious?

SCOTT: Try anything once!

MIKE: Cool!

KEITH: (laughing) Are you sure you're a doctor?

SCOTT: I refuse to be a doctor the way my dad did - seven days a week, and most nights. More like a prison sentence than a profession. I can't do that! World's a big place - we don't wanna leave it to everybody else to explore, now, do we?

PAM: Hey!

MIKE: You missed out on a great time.

PAM: I'm sure I did... (to Keith) What happened to you?

KEITH: Nothing -

MAYA: Keith was showing off.

KEITH: Was not!

SCOTT: Anybody hungry?

MIKE: Can we get ribs?

PAM: Another time. The lab waits for me.

SCOTT: Keith, tell her to come with or that you'll protect her.

PAM: Who says I need protecting?

SCOTT: I'm just trying to make it easy for you to say yes!

CUT TO: a restaurant along the water's edge. Flipper drifts by. Mike, Maya, and Scott are talking on a patio. Pam and Keith are sitting at a table.

MIKE: Manatees are like giant sea cows. They're real gentle and they don't do much but eat and get run over by motor boats.

MAYA: My grandmother says there's a tribe in Venezuela that believes manatees are humans living under a magical spell.

MIKE: Maya's grandmother is a doctor, too, dad.

SCOTT: Is that right?

MIKE: Yeah, a witch doctor!

They move on, and Pam and Keith stand up from a nearby table, following at a distance.

PAM: I haven't seen Mike this happy in a long time.

KEITH: Yeah, he is. What about you?

PAM: Ah, we had a few good times.

KEITH: Yeah, this guy seems like a fun guy.

Scott, Mike, and Maya return to the foreground.

SCOTT: Enough about fish, talk to me about football. You a big Florida boy now? You pulling for the Dolphins? Dan Marino?

MIKE: Ah, no. The only dolphins I follow are the ones that hold their breath and swim real fast.

SCOTT: Now I'm in town, I'm buying tickets, we're going to the game. I'm gonna get some drinks.

MIKE: Okay.

Scott splits off, while the others continue on. He walks up to a bar, where a woman is waiting, sipping a drink.

BARTENDER: What can I get you?

SCOTT: Uh, pitcher of margaritas and two Cokes.

BARTENDER: Okay.

WOMAN: What is it with doctors, they never return phone calls?

SCOTT: Are you spying on me?

WOMAN: This is one of my favorite dining establishments.

SCOTT: There are no veggies here, I thought you didn't eat meat.

WOMAN: (flirty) Only when I want to.

CUT TO: Keith and Pam talking outside.

KEITH: So are you mad that I went with him?

PAM: Why, should I be?

KEITH: No, I just thought out of loyalty that you might want me to hate Scott as much as you do.

PAM: I don't hate Scott.

KEITH: Well, good, I was just feeling a little pressure.

PAM: No, what you were wondering is if he's such a great guy, what's wrong with me?

KEITH: No, I wasn't wondering that at all. (Pam doesn't believe him) Not even close. I was wondering - just give me your car keys. If you don't hate him that much then you won't mind driving home with him. Come on.

PAM: What, are you trying to get the two of us together?

KEITH: No, I just want to go home.

PAM: (sarcastic) Sure. You look exhausted. (she hands him her keys, and watches as he walks away)

CUT TO: Night, Pam and Scott are walking along the dock towards Scott's boat. Flipper is hanging around, chattering.

PAM: Hey, Flipper.

SCOTT: Is he hungry?

PAM: No, he's here for the entertainment. I think he studies us more than we study him.

They walk silently for a few moments, glancing at each other.

SCOTT: Thanks for walking me home. (beat) You wanna come in? Check out my cramped quarters?

PAM: No, I have to go to the lab. Work.

SCOTT: Ah, yes, work. I remember all those mornings, waking up and you were gone.

PAM: (laughing) Selective memory. I remember a lot of mornings when I was right there.

SCOTT: You know, for some funny reason I have this incredible urge to kiss you.

PAM: What's so funny about that?

They share a tender kiss, and a second. The camera pans up, and we see Mike sitting up in a tree, watching with a grin on his face. Fade out.

ACT THREE

Pam is sitting on a lagoon-side dock at the Institute, deep in thought. She looks troubled. She gets up and heads back inside. We see her sitting at the computer again, analyzing more audio data. Alexis appears beside her.

ALEXIS: Any anomalies?

PAM: No, the tests are clean.

ALEXIS: Why don't we lower the frequency 50 megahertz?

Keith comes up behind them.

KEITH: Won't help. We were there six months ago.

PAM: Okay, you know what? Enough's enough. Let's call it a day, and we'll get a fresh start in the morning.

ALEXIS: Okay!

KEITH: (confused by her sudden change) Morning? What's the rush, it's only 5:30.

PAM: I have plans.

ALEXIS: Have a great time!

KEITH: Doing something special with Mike?

PAM: No.

KEITH: Going jogging.

PAM: No.

KEITH: Bingo parlor, gotta get there on time.

PAM: Ugh!

KEITH: No, no, no! I know what it is. You're gonna watch the rerun of the Mike Tyson fight on MTV.

PAM: (knowing he knows the truth) Why are you fishing? Why can't you just say what you mean?

KEITH: (grinning) You've been distracted all day long.

PAM: Not true.

KEITH: And we know what happens when those juices get flowing.

PAM: If you're talking about Scott, the man is my ex, and I don't look at him that way anymore.

KEITH: (not believing her) You don't.

PAM: No.

KEITH: Not even... (he holds up his thumb and index finger, very close together)

PAM: Never. (she holds a good poker face)

Keith turns and leaves with a disbelieving snort. Pam smiles smugly after him.

CUT TO: the beach, where Mike and Maya are hurrying along.

MAYA: Would you wait up?

MIKE: I'll tell you.

MAYA: Okay, okay, I promise.

Flipper appears at the water's edge, screaming at them.

MIKE: Flipper, get lost!

Flipper continues to squeak at them, splashing his flukes.

MIKE: You're terrible with secrets!

Mike and Maya hurry along, away from Flipper.

MIKE: Okay. My dad let me fly a plane. Dad didn't do anything, I was flying it all by myself.

MAYA: (unimpressed) Wow. Cool.

MIKE: Yeah. It was cool. (they stop, and he perches in a tree) My dad said I was a natural.

MAYA: Sorry, I thought your news was going to be about the locket.

MIKE: The locket?

MAYA: Don't play dumb! Is it working? Are they getting along better?

MIKE: (playing it cool) Does kissing mean anything?

MAYA: Oh, yes! Yes! Yes! (she runs down the beach, cheering)

CUT TO: Pam working at the Institute. She stops and starts to put on some makeup, but stops when she hears a voice.

SCOTT: Pam?

PAM: (to herself as she puts the makeup away) This is ridiculous...

Scott appears, dressed up nicely and carrying flowers.

PAM: Over here!

Scott crosses the room to face her, holding the flowers behind his back.

SCOTT: Hey.

PAM: Hi.

SCOTT: Why the big change in plans? I have a car, I could have picked you up.

PAM: (nervously) Oh, well, I had some thoughts about why my acoustic experiment is failing.

SCOTT: You could never turn it off, could you?

Pam smiles and shakes her head. Scott holds the flowers out to her.

PAM: (taking the flowers) Thank you. The trick is now to find a vase.

Pam goes and looks in the kitchen while Scott opens a bottle of wine. She grabs a mug and sets the flowers in it.

SCOTT: Have a taste for anything special?

PAM: Chinese?

SCOTT: Mandarin Gardens?

PAM: Not without a reservation!

SCOTT: We have one.

PAM: (smiling up at him) Think you know me, huh?

There is a somewhat awkward silence between them for a moment.

SCOTT: Glasses.

PAM: Oh, uh, sorry.

Pam grabs a couple of cups from the water dispenser.

SCOTT: Course, we could get Chinese to go and take it to the house boat.

PAM: (pauses uncomfortably) Not a good idea.

SCOTT: Why? Scared of me? (beat) Or yourself?

After a pause, they kiss a bit awkwardly.

PAM: I haven't been around this sort of thing for a long time.

She moves away, and Scott follows.

SCOTT: And if I said your condition was because of me, I'd be egotistical. (Pam shuts off the lights in her office)And if I said it was because there's nothing but a bunch of losers down here, I'd be egotistical. So which is it - me, or too many losers?

PAM: (laughing) Who but you could sum up my sex life so eloquently? My son, and my work, those are my priorities.

Scott wraps his arms around her and they kiss again.

SCOTT: So maybe it's good I'm here. I can take some of the pressure off.

PAM: (backs away, laughing a bit nervously) I could use your help, but I think you need a license to moonlight as a marine vet. Or you coul be offering to do any type of stress-relieving job.

She grabs his shirt and kisses him soundly.

SCOTT: I could start with Mike. We've been getting along great together.

PAM: How?

SCOTT: There's no reason he can't stay with me half the time.

Pam's face falls as she realizes what he really wants.

PAM: (hesitantly) We'll see how it goes.

Pam backs off quickly.

SCOTT: What's to see?

PAM: Look, Mike is a handful and you've only been her a few days, so don't get crazy with parental inspiration.

SCOTT: Pam, I'm his father.

PAM: Scott, come on, please, we both know your track record, and you enjoy keeping on the go.

SCOTT: That is over with. My priority is Mike. He's the key to getting my life back on track.

PAM: I think we should go get something to eat. (she turns away)

SCOTT: Pam. (she turns to face him) This is not a joke to me. I do have rights.

PAM: (angrily) Had. I have custody. You have every other weekend. This weekend being the first in over a year. Those are your rights.

SCOTT: Maybe in California. The courts see things differently here.

PAM: Courts? Wait a minute. What are you saying, you have a lawyer?

SCOTT: Yes. She's also a very good friend.

PAM: Didn't we hurt each other in court enough? You want to go through this again?

SCOTT: The court is the last place I want to be, believe me!

PAM: What? Flowers, wine, the house boat?

We see Mike appear on the scene, but neither Pam or Scott notices him. He listens in.

SCOTT: We can work in an amicable way, can't we?

PAM: I'm surprised you said anything to me at all before we went -

SCOTT: (sarcastically) My mistake! I didn't know I had to fill out a questionnaire before -

PAM: I can't believe I left myself open for this.

SCOTT: Maybe if you'd stop pretending like your life is so perfect -

PAM: My life is less than perfect on the best of days! You know, Scott, go have Chinese with your lawyer.

Pam turns and stalks away. Mike finally jumps out from where he was hiding, and faces them down angrily.

MIKE: What's wrong with the two of you? Why do you always have to fight?

PAM: Mike, this is between your father and me.

SCOTT: Buddy, we were discussing the future. Things are going to be different.

PAM: Scott, now is not the time.

SCOTT: You're going to be living with me, too, half the time.

PAM: (to Scott) Get out! Get out!

Mike reaches over and grabs the locket from her neck. He pulls it away and storms off.

PAM: Mike!

Pam turns to face Scott.

PAM: What did your lawyer say about money, Scott? Oh, let me guess. 50/50 custody means you get to split your child support payments in half, is that it? Is that why you have a change of heart all of a sudden?

SCOTT: As hard as it may be for you to understand, I don't care about the money. I care about Mike.

Scott walks away, leaving a dejected Pam alone in the room. Fade out.

ACT FOUR

We open at the Institute. Pam is working at a computer in her office, but looks upset. Keith notices her.

KEITH: Rough night?

Pam glances up at him, but says nothing.

KEITH: You and Mike talking?

PAM: He slept on Scott's houseboat.

KEITH: So? He'll cool down.

PAM: I opened the door. I'm the one that let him fantasize about living happily ever after. And let's face it, I did too.

KEITH: Give yourself credit for being human.

Pam doesn't look convinced. An ear-splitting beep rings out.

KEITH: (out into the other room, where Alexis is working) Ah, would you turn that down?!

ALEXIS: Sorry. Would you guys come and listen to this?

Pam gets up from her desk, and they head over to check it out.

ALEXIS: Data from the tape got magnetized somehow. There seems to be some squelch in the background?

PAM: Okay, well, play the tape again.

Alexis plays the tape, and we hear the ascending notes and Aphrodite's chirping.

KEITH: Wait, crank that up! Listen to the pattern. (the ascending notes play) Okay, rewind down to the descending notes. See if it's there.

The descending notes play again, accompanied by Aphrodite's clicks.

KEITH: There's some missing notes.

They grin and run off.

CUT TO: Aphrodite in the lagoon pool. They are again set up for the tests. Alexis plays the descending notes, and Pam gives Aphrodite a signal. Aphrodite swims in and hits the red ball, clicking at it.

ALEXIS: She clicked!

Grinning, Keith sends Aphrodite back out to the pool to try again. They try the ascending notes this time. Pam gives the signal, but Aphrodite hesitates. Finally, she comes in and hits the yellow ball, whistling.

ALEXIS: She whistled!

PAM: Haha! Yes!

KEITH: Yes! Descending notes she clicked, ascending notes she whistled! All right!

They congratulate each other excitedly.

PAM: Okay, let's do it again.

CUT TO: The airfield, where Mike and Scott are getting ready to go up again.

MIKE: Let's go someplace far away. Like maybe Key West or the Bahamas.

SCOTT: We've only got the plane for an hour, Mike. This is strictly touch-and-go practice.

In the background, a black sports car with a woman inside pulls up. Mike notices.

MIKE: Who's she?

SCOTT: My lawyer.

MIKE: Not bad for a lawyer. The two of you close?

SCOTT: Hey, you're too young to be talking about stuff like that. But I'm working on the girlfriend part. (he walks over to talk to the woman)

MIKE: This lawyer thing... (Scott stops and turns around) I don't want you and Mom going at it again.

SCOTT: It's not that simple, pal, this 'lawyer thing' is about the three of us. Our future. Your mom's had it her way too long.

MIKE: (bitterly) Her way? Mom works hard. It isn't easy for her, you know.

SCOTT: Mike... the middle's a bad place to be. So don't go there, okay?

Scott turns and walks over to the lawyer. Mike climbs into the ultralight.

SCOTT: Hey, babe! (he hugs the woman happily... they kiss, even)

Mike huffs angrily and pulls on his helmet.

LAWYER: (muffled)

SCOTT: (muffled) - and then take you up for a ride.

LAWYER: No, thanks, I hate flying. (muffled) don't have the right stuff.

Mike guns the engine and starts to taxi. The lawyer looks over and sees him, but Scott is preoccupied with her.

LAWYER: Your son's a pilot?

SCOTT: Yeah, I'm teaching him... (he looks over and sees Mike pulling away)

Scott takes off after the ultralight.

SCOTT: Mike! Mike! Mike, stop! Don't do it!

Scott is running after Mike, but it's too late - Mike takes off.

SCOTT: Mike! You're not ready!

Mike is struggling with the controls - the ultralight wobbles side to side, but he continues on.

CUT TO: the Institute, where Aphrodite continues with the tests.

ALEXIS: Aphrodite clicked again.

PAM: She's working at 78% accuracy.

KEITH: You think that's enough for Dyer?

PAM: Who cares about Dyer? The important thing is that Aphrodite's been talking to us the whole time.

The phone rings, and Alexis gets up to get it.

ALEXIS: Hello? (beat, she holds her hand over the receiver) Pam, it's Scott!

PAM: I don't want to talk to him.

ALEXIS: You do.

Pam looks up in alarm.

PAM: Alexis, what is it?

ALEXIS: It's Mike.

Pam grabs the phone from her.

PAM: Hello? ... He did what?! ... Wh-wh-where is he?

We see the ultralight up in the sky. Pam runs out to the edge of the lagoon and looks up.

In the ultralight, Mike is struggling to maintain altitude.

MIKE: Come on... come on, come on, come on... (the plane continues to descend) Pull up, come on!

It's all for naught - the plane hits the water and begins to sink. Pam and Keith race out of the Institute and jump into a small inflatable.

KEITH: You drive!

Pam takes control and steers them towards the downed plane.

MIKE: (struggling to get out of the harness) Come on, come on, come on...

Mike is finally dragged underwater. Pam and Keith arrive in the boat, and Keith dives in after Mike. Keith tries to undo the harness, but has no luck and has to resurface.

KEITH: (to Pam) Get a screwdriver!

Pam scrambles into action, grabbing one from an onboard tool kit and handing it to Keith. Keith dives back down after Mike. Unfortunately, he drops the screwdriver, and it falls into the depths. As Keith pulls at the harness, Flipper arrives and picks up the screwdriver. He brings it back to Keith, who pries open the harness and pulls Mike to the surface.

PAM: Oh, Keith, bring him here! Mike! Are you okay?

She grabs Mike and hauls him into the boat.

PAM: (to Keith) Oh, thank you...

KEITH: Kid, you got nine lives.

Flipper chatters and waves his flippers excitedly.

CUT TO: Pam's office. Mike is sitting in her chair, alone, back to the door. Keith walks in.

KEITH: Hey. Did you hear? We finally got the accoustic experiment working.

MIKE: (not really interested) Mom must be jazzed.

KEITH: Yeah. Seems like Aphrodite was talking to us all along. We just weren't listening right. (pointedly) That's the funny thing about dolphins. When they have something to say, it's clear, it's economical, you know, they say what they mean. (Mike turns around to face him) Well, at least to other dolphins, that is.

MIKE: I wish I could talk to him. For real, I mean.

KEITH: We do. Probably better to them than to each other.

MIKE: (sighing) If you're looking for a reason, I don't have one. It just happened.

KEITH: I'm not the one who's looking, Mike. They're at the dock.

Keith leaves, and Mike looks down at the locket in his hands.

CUT TO: the dock outsite. Flipper looks on, while Pam and Scott sit, side by side. Mike approaches, and Scott moves over so Mike can sit between them.

MIKE: So, what did you guys come up with?

PAM: Well, grounding certainly hasn't been an effective tool.

SCOTT: You're too big for a spanking.

PAM: The foreign legion is still a distinct possibility.

MIKE: (holding up the locket) This belonged to Maya's grandma. It's supposed to have magical powers.

PAM: What kind of magic?

MIKE: The kind that would make the two of you get back together again.

PAM: Oh... (she puts her arm around Mike)

MIKE: Yeah, pretty stupid, huh? I'm sorry I did it. I know it was wrong. But the middle's a bad place to be... isn't it, Dad?

Scott nods silently.

PAM: Sweetheart, the two of us fell into an old routine. Old habits are hard to break, but your dad and I are going to try because you deserve that much, and more.

MIKE: (cheering up a bit) Maybe the locket did have some magic in it.

They share a smile, and Mike tosses the locket out to sea.

END CREDITS