Shadow Jumper

The man who enters is Richard Blackstone. He checks on Jack’s injuries. Jack is sure that he’s checking him out to see if he can be used for further experimentation. Blackstone tells him that he knows he is Tom’s son. Jack admits that he and Beth know about the experiments they’re sure the lab conducts on children and animals. He mentions the dog, Rex, who was killed by the bus. Blackstone says that the rumors in the newspapers about unethical behavior at the lab were circulated by a disgruntled cleaner. He assures Jack that Tom is a brilliant, respectable scientist who was unfortunately deeply impacted by the negative publicity. The paramedics arrive.

Jack is in the hospital. He has been there all day under observation. Blackstone fills in more details for Jack and Beth. He tells them that Ted Harris was fired for incompetence because he was improperly disposing of equipment and used supplies. Tom left his job because the allegations and criticism were difficult to deal with. Blackstone says that Tom is very sensitive and the furor over the allegations left him over-stressed. Beth asks Blackstone if stress can cause physical symptoms. He confirms that it is a possibility.

Jack wants to know why his skin symptoms are the same as those of the rats and Rex. Blackstone points out that Jack’s symptoms are not the same, that he does not have hair loss. He says that the rats that experienced the symptoms were deemed unhealthy and separated from the healthy rats. Beth asks about the dog they found, whose tag contained the number for the lab. Blackstone is surprised at the information about Rex, who turns out to be his dog. He says Rex had gone missing for a while and that his coat was likely in the state it was due to being lost in the woods.  

Jack asks him about the spies. Blackstone says it was another fantasy of Ted’s. Jack realizes that Mrs. Roberts was not actually spying on him and feels silly.

Jack investigates his wound. Pus is oozing out of it. He feels embarrassed for pursuing his theory about his dad. His mom arrives. Jack tells her he did not want to share his worries about his dad or his skin because she’s so worried about money. His mom tells him that his dad reached out. She says that she will give him a longer explanation about why they decided to separate. She gives him a magazine she picked up when she gathered things for him at Lil’s. He notices that it is Beth’s magazine, Junior Medical Monthly, and that it has an article entitled “Factors Effecting Photosensitivity.” He reads the article and falls asleep.

Jack contemplates the word “psychosomatic” and considers the possibility that his skin could just be made worse by stress and anxiety. He remembers that the first sore appeared after his dad left and sent an email that didn’t even include “happy birthday.” He remembers that other sores popped up after particularly stressful events. He wonders if his anxiety could have had such an impact on his skin. He doesn’t know what to think.

Beth appears. She looks exhausted. She’s in trouble with Cathy. Dr. Blackstone gave her the rucksack back. She notices the magazine that Jack just read. He realizes that Beth was reading this article when they first met on the rooftops. He wonders why Beth did not show him the article earlier. She points out that she did express concern that such an excursion would exacerbate his skin. He thinks that she should have been more assertive and prevented him from going to the lab. She maintains that she was not 100% sure about the connection between his dad, stress, and his skin. Jack tells her that she was trying to forget about her problems by focusing on his. He tells her that she needs to accept that her parents are dead. She leaves the room.

Two weeks later, Jack is standing next to the chimney. He keeps waiting for Beth to appear or call him. He realizes his words were insensitive and that he blamed her unfairly for what happened at the lab. He misses her.

At home, his parents have explained why they are separating. His dad experiences intense mood swings that make him difficult to live with, and these are exacerbated by stress. He’s moving to Aberdeen for his new job. It’s very gloomy and cloudy there so Jack should be able to come for extended summer holiday visits without a problem.

Jack’s skin is slowly improving after seeing his dad. He feels less stress and anxiety and thinks back on his adventure with Beth with some remorse. Jack has agreed to see a specialist about his skin.

Beth appears. They apologize to each other, each indicating that their friendship is important to them. Jack asks if Beth wants to do some jumping. She points to a distant chimney and tells him that the race finishes there. Lightning flashes across the sky, and rain begins to fall. The rain washes away Beth’s makeup. As they try to run to safety, Beth drops her bag and pauses to retrieve it.

Through the pouring rain, Jack continues trying to find a safe spot. He slams into chairs and realizes that he’s on the rooftop terrace belonging to Kai, the bully, who appears and starts to berate and threaten Jack. Beth appears behind Kai and hits him with her rucksack. Kai falls, but then he recovers and starts pursuing them again through the rain. Jack and Beth hold hands and jump.

Jack lands on the roof and feels momentary exhilaration. Beth isn’t next to him. She is clinging with one hand to the gutter. Jack realizes that she is holding onto her bag with her other hand. He tells her to let it go. He realizes she would rather fall than let the bag go. He grabs the bag from her and throws it onto the roof behind him, then tugs Beth up onto the roof. Once they catch their breath, they inspect her bag. The boxes smashed open, and the ashes fell out into the rain, which washes them away. Beth cries.

After her tears subside, Beth tells Jack they should finish the race. He loops an arm around her and helps her get to the chimney. Beth says that he did the right thing by rescuing her instead of saving the ashes. They hug.

At Witcombe Beach, Jack admires the sea. His skin has improved over the past few weeks. He has a large scar on his shin which he is confident will diminish in time. Beth is next to him, wearing less makeup. Jack thinks about how intense their friendship has become in just a few weeks. School is starting soon, and for the first time, Jack does not feel intense dread about it.

Beth opens the battered urns and turns them over, releasing a shower of petals. The petals come from pink roses, her mom’s favorite flower. It’s the same flower that her dad picked from the garden on the day that she and her parents had their lovely last picnic at that beach. Beth says she knows her parents would be glad that Jack chose to save her instead of saving the ashes. She finds the paperweight and says she can guess why it’s there.

As they watch the bus arrive, they start to race towards the bus stop.