Well, I don't usually write two OC stories for the same category, but when I was watching this movie for the thousandth time, all of these ideas came to me, and I couldn't just NOT write it!


"Mom!" Sadie called as she came through the door of her home. "There wasn't much I could buy for two dollars, but I did my best."

"It's okay, hon," her mother said tenderly. "I…um, I need to talk to you."

"Is something wrong?"

"Uh…your father is back for a little while."

Sadie froze and looked at her mother. "I haven't seen him in five years."

"I know. Well, he's back, and um…he wants to see you."

"Why should I? He left us, Mom."

"I know, but he's still your father. He loves you."

"But he loves his ship more."

Her mother sighed and folded her hands together nervously. "Look…he asked me if you would come on his next voyage with him. He said he's going to Singapore. That's a nice place to visit."

"Mom, he captures animals and sells them to zoos and circuses. Most of the time illegally."

"Well…this isn't going to be one of those trips. There's going to be a film crew on board. You may know the director. Carl Denham?"

"Carl Denham?" Sadie said in disbelief. "His movies are terrible. All he ever does is put his actors in the jungle and make the women get naked."

"Okay, bad example. But I think that this trip could be good for both of you. I know that he hasn't been there for you these past few years, but I truly think he wants to try and change that." Seeing that her daughter wasn't responding, she added, "His ship sets sail in three days. Honey, you're an adult and I won't force you to do anything, but at least promise me you'll think about it."

Sadie sighed and started putting the few groceries away.

Later, she went to meet her friend, Amanda, to talk about what she should do.

"I mean, Mom really wants me to go, but I don't know if I can stomach being on a ship with my father for that long," Sadie lamented. "He left when I was fourteen. He just couldn't stand to be away from the sea for longer than a day. Even before he left, I never really saw him very much."

"Maybe so, but if he really does want to fix his relationship with you, there's no better way to do it than this."

"It would be kind of nice to see everyone again. Daddy used to take me on his ship with him sometimes. Back when he still cared. His crew was always so nice to me, and you could see that they were all so close with one another. I think they liked to see a female on board for once. It broke up their monotonous routine."

"That's kind of cool that he did that for you."

"It's not that Daddy didn't love us. It's just that he put the ship over us. His priorities were messed up."

"Well, then it sounds like he's realized that and wants to change it. I think you should take your mom's advice and go with him. Besides, who knows? If Carl Denham is on the ship, maybe you might get to be in a scene and become famous."

Sadie laughed lightly. "I'll pass on being in one of Carl Denham's films. But I did hear that Jack Driscoll is writing the script."

"Seriously? Then how bad can the movie be? He's a great script writer!"

"I suppose. And maybe being in the midst of all that can help distract me from what's going on between me and Daddy."

"It sounds like you've made up your mind."

Sadie sighed again. "I think I have."

"You'll have to tell me all about it when you get back."

"I will. Thanks, Amanda."

The two girls hugged before Sadie left to go start packing for the long voyage ahead of her.


Sadie's heart was pounding as she walked to the docks with her bags in tow. She hadn't seen her dad in so very long. And they hadn't really parted on the best of terms.

Her father was speaking with one of the crew members. When the crew member saw who was approaching, he quickly pointed her out to Englehorn.

Englehorn turned and froze at the sight of his daughter. "Sadie," he said quietly.

"Hi, Daddy."

"You…you've gotten so big."

"Yeah, a lot happens in five years."

"Well, you look marvelous."

Sadie bit her lip. She had almost forgotten about her father's German accent. Luckily for her, she had gotten her mother's American accent.

"Uh…I'm glad you decided to come," he continued awkwardly.

"I'll decide if this was the right decision when the trip is over."

"Englehorn!" someone called. Sadie turned to find none other than Carl Denham. He quickly began to walk up the gangplank. "Cast off! Hoist up the mainsail, raise the anchor, whatever it is you do. We gotta leave!"

"I cannot do that," Englehorn said dryly. "We are waiting on the manifest."

"What? Who? English, please," Carl said as he came over to where he and Sadie were standing.

"Paperwork, Mr. Denham."

Carl leaned in close to him. "I'll give you another $1,000 if you leave right now."

"You haven't given me the first $1,000 yet."

"Can we talk about this later? Can't you see we're in the company of a VIP guest?"

Sadie looked to where he was motioning and saw an absolutely gorgeous woman standing near the gangplank. She had bright blonde hair and amazing crystal eyes that reminded her of the ocean. She held her back erect, but she looked intimidated by what was around her. She looked tough though, like she had been through some very rough times but didn't let it stop her.

Englehorn went over to her and shook her hand. "Ma'am."

"Ann Darrow," the woman introduced.

"Sadie Englehorn," Sadie said, shaking her hand as well.

"So are you ready for this voyage, Miss Darrow?" Englehorn asked Ann.

"Sure."

"Nervous?"

"Nervous? No. Why? Should I be?"

"It isn't every woman who would take such a risk."

Sadie rolled her eyes. Her father was always far too overdramatic. Nevertheless, Sadie was thankful that she wouldn't be the only woman onboard. The men may all be nice to her, but she would still go a little crazy without any contact with another female.

Carl discreetly motioned to someone, and a man quickly came up behind Ann. "Uh, why don't I show Miss Darrow to her cabin?"

"Wonderful idea," Carl smiled. "Thank you, Preston."

"Miss Darrow, if you would just…Hi. My name is Preston. Carl's assistant."

Carl turned to Englehorn. "$2,000. It's a deal. Will you take a check?"

"Do I have a choice?" Englehorn said.

Carl quickly wrote out a check for Englehorn while Sadie watched. She had a bad feeling that she had made the wrong decision.

"Mr. Hayes!" her father called. An African-American man came over to them and Sadie smiled broadly.

"Hello, Mr. Hayes!"

"Sadie!" the man said as he lightly hugged the girl. "It's been far too long!"

"It's wonderful to see you again."

"Mr. Hayes, show Sadie to her cabin please," Englehorn ordered.

"It would be my pleasure, ma'am," Mr. Hayes smiled. Sadie smiled back as she took one of her bags in her hand. "Oh, no, we'll take care of your bags for you."

"We?"

"Jimmy!"

A young boy around Sadie's age quickly came over to where Hayes was. "Yeah, Mr. Hayes?"

"Help take Miss Sadie's bags to her cabin."

Sadie looked at the boy. She had never seen him before, so he must've joined the crew after her father left. She would be lying if she didn't admit that the first thing that popped into her mind was how attractive he was. "Hello," she greeted politely. "You must be newer than the others. I'm Sadie."

"Jimmy."

"Nice to meet you."

Mr. Hayes and Jimmy took Sadie's bags for her and led her to her cabin. The hallways were a bit more cramped than she remembered, but that didn't surprise her. She had gotten bigger since the last time she had walked through the halls. Mr. Hayes opened the door for her, and she was greeted with a very, very tiny cabin.

"Thank you, Mr. Hayes."

"It's no trouble. We'll leave you to get settled in."

Jimmy and Mr. Hayes set down her bags and left the room, with Jimmy lingering just a tad longer than to be expected.

Sadie looked around her and blew a puff of air out through her cheeks.

This was going to be a long voyage.

She was putting away her clothing and belongings when the sound of someone yelling out curses caused her to turn around. She exited her cabin and walked to the railing.

"I keep telling you, Jack, there's no money in theater," Carl said as he came up next to the man. "You're much better off sticking with film."

"I don't do it for the money, Carl," Jack replied angrily. "I happen to love the theater."

"No, you don't. If you really loved it…you would have jumped."

Carl left as Sadie came up to Jack. "You're Jack Driscoll, I presume?"

Jack nodded at her, his mouth in a thin line. "That's me."

"Sadie Englehorn. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Jack shook her hand, and she felt him squeezing it a bit tighter than necessary. "Likewise."

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't want to be here either."

"Then why are you here? Part of Carl's film?"

"Oh, heavens no. Not in this lifetime. No, I'm the captain's daughter. He invited me along."

"I see."

"Mr. Driscoll," Englehorn called. "I see you've met my daughter. It appears you are on this trip to stay. Choy will show you where to go."

A small Asian man quickly ran up to them.

"Hi, Choy!" Sadie smiled.

"Hi, Miss Sadie! It pleasure to see you again."

Choy began to guide Jack below the ship where the cages were.

"How do you like your cabin?" Englehorn asked Sadie.

"It's lovely. Small, but it'll do."

"You probably won't spend much time in your cabin anyway."

"You're right. I'm going to finish unpacking."

"Come to the steering room before you retire."

Sadie nodded and returned to her cabin. She finished unpacking everything, but she noticed something was missing. She had brought several books with her to keep her occupied, yet she was sure she had brought at least one more with her. Perhaps it had fallen out of her suitcase in all the rush.

With any luck, she would find it on the ship somewhere.

Sadie then headed to the steering room per her father's request. But when she passed by the kitchen, she couldn't help but peek her head in.

"Lumpy?" she called.

"Sadie?" the cook said as he looked up from the dish he was making. "You are a sight for sore eyes!"

Sadie smiled broadly as she went up to him and hugged him. "It's good to see you again."

"What brings you back here?"

"From what I've heard, my father wants to make up for the time he's lost. We'll see what happens."

"It's great to have you back on the ship!"

"Thanks. I'm heading to the steering room. I just wanted to see if my favorite cook was still here."

"Not leaving for a long time, darling."

She left the kitchen and resumed her trek to the steering room. Once there, she knocked on the doorframe.

Her father turned to look at her. "Sadie."

"Yes, it's me."

"How old are you now?"

"Nineteen."

"Wow. So you're an adult now."

"Yes, I am."

"You've grown so much."

"That's generally how it works."

"I didn't expect such a beautiful young woman to greet me at the harbor."

"Daddy, please don't try so hard. I think we both know how I really feel about coming on this trip. For both our sakes, let's take it slow."

Englehorn nodded slowly, and Sadie left the steering room to return to her cabin.

Collapsing onto her bed, she sighed heavily as she stared at the ceiling. She was beginning to regret her decision to come onto the ship.