For this one, you must convince your child to be okay about you giving him over to a kidnapper.
RANSOM (any gender, early late twenties through late forties)
Jacob, it's going to be okay, buddy. Okay? You're my son and there's nothing I won't do to make sure you're back home with me. We're going to be together again. That man who took us to this place, this cabin... that man doesn't want to hurt us, okay? He just wants money. He thinks that if he lets me go, I'll go get the money for him. It's called Ransom.
But this man... he's trying to make it rough on us. He's angry at people like us who have money. He thinks we're greedy people. That why he said I have to choose. Either I go free or you go free.
And buddy, I... I need to be the one to go free-- and it's NOT because I want you to stay here. Well, I DO but not because... look, Jacob.
This cabin... it's in the middle of the woods in the middle of winter. I'm so scared you're going to freeze to death trying to find your way out of these woods. Does that make sense? I can find my way out, I'm pretty sure. And I'll know enough to help the police find you, even if the man takes you away. I will find you.
Just don't listen to that man, okay? You can pretend to listen to him but don't LISTEN to him. He's going to try and tell you that I love myself more than I love you. Because I'm greedy. But if you believe him, that's not going to help you when it's time for you to get away.
[pause]
Okay, he's coming back inside. I'm going to tell him my choice. Shhh... Jacob. It's MY choice, not yours, okay? I know what I'm doing. I know. I really do. I know... I know.
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes. If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"