sits bolt upright. Marie looks on as Samantha now storms down to the water's edge.
Bryce struggles out of the water gasping for air, laughing.
Dwarfed by the tuna, Bryce struggles to hold it, as Samantha storms into the water, verbally ripping into him.
SAMANTHA
You’re an idiot! An absolute, childish idiot. You’ve probably scared that little boy half to death!
Bryce looks to his Uncle and father, drops the fish and heads for the safety of deeper water.
BRYCE
(smiling)
It’s not Jaws, leave it out.
Samantha turns her back on her brother, marching back to her towel, where her fingers fly sending out texts, about her childish brother.
EXT. MATAI BAY CAMPFIRE - NIGHT
The Gunmetal Blue night sky enhances the glittering diamonds that litter it, the Dennison’s are sitting around a large beach fire, with blankets loosely wrapped around them. Richard sits fidgeting, his knee bouncing rapidly.
RICHARD
Come on! Let's go floundering.
Bursting out of his blanket.
BRYCE
Yeah! Can we Dad?
Jack looks to Marie, who just shrugs her shoulders. Jack takes the hesitation as disapproval, tries to stall.
JACK
We don't have any lanterns.
RICHARD
Don't worry I have my dive torch.
Richard retrieves a small compact torch from his pocket.
Jack shakes his head and concedes defeat.
JACK
OK. The spears are in the back of the boat.
Bryce rockets into the darkness to retrieve the spears, while Richard tries to coerce Samantha in to joining them.
RICHARD
Come on. Don't be a girl. Oh, you are one.
SAMANTHA
Very funny! Act your age, not your...
Marie cuts her off.
MARIE
Sam! Don't.
SAMANTHA
Oh, Mum! He..
MARIE
I know. Ignore him, maybe he'll go away.
Richard cocks his head to the side and just smiles at Marie and continues, annoying his Niece
RICHARD
Are you gunna. Ha ha ha?
Giving in Samantha stands with attitude and follows Richard and Jack down to the waters edge.
EXT. MATAI BAY WATERSEDGE - MOMENTS LATER
Bryce out of breath joins them at the shore line and they all enter the calm, foreboding, dark water together.
EXT. MATAI BAY FLOUNDERING - LATER
Richard is out the furthest, then Bryce, Jack and Samantha, timidly in the shallows.
JACK
Aren't we a bit deep for flounders?
RICHARD
Nah.. What makes you think that?
JACK
I know I haven't done it for years, but I'm sure dad said. "It's a waste of time going any deeper than your calves."
It is a tranquil evening, no wind and the small waves plop as they break on the shore line.
Bryce suddenly races past his sister.
BRYCE
Stingray! There's a stingray behind us!
Without checking Samantha chases him out.
EXT. MATAI BAY WATERSEDGE - MOMENTS LATER
Safe on dry land, she punches her brothers arm.
SAMANTHA
You better not be lying or I'm going to tell Mum!
Bryce indicates to his face.
BRYCE
Does it look like I'm lying.
Samantha calms down.
SAMANTHA
No.
Richard follows Jack out of the water laughing at the expense of his Niece and Nephew
RICHARD
It's only......a ray. There's nothing....to worry... about.
Trying to calm his kids down.
JACK
He's right kids, it's just a Ray. Because we were disturbing the sand, he just came in for a free meal.
SAMANTHA
That's what I'm worried about!
Richard laughing again, Jack stares him down.
RICHARD
I’m sorry. They’re filter feeders, he was just siphoning the sand we disturbed.
Samantha and Bryce look to their Father, Jack nods.
RICHARD (CONT’D)
They won’t harm you, they’ll take off if you disturb them.
BRYCE
What about the tail? They’re not called Stingrays for nothing.
Samantha gestures, WELL?
JACK
True, true, they’ll lash out in self defence.
Richard interrupts
RICHARD
But we’ll see them first.
SAMANTHA
Not if they’re behind us!
RICHARD
The tail’s on the back! And you don’t hear of Aeroplanes backing into mountains do ya?
That’s it Samantha’s out!
EXT. MATAI BAY CAMPFIRE - CONTINUOUS
Marie enjoying the solitude and the warmth of the fire, takes note of the families antics further down the beach. She stands, pulling the blanket tightly around her, reluctantly strolls off to join them.
Bryce follows his uncle and father back in.
EXT. MATAI BAY FLOUNDERING - MOMENTS LATER
Bryce frequently glancing over his shoulder.
Richard, holding both the sack and torch, secretively catches Bryce's eye, touches a finger to his lips.
Gesturing to use the sack to scare Jack. Bryce smiles, then changes his mind and shakes his head.
Undeterred by Bryce’s refusal to play, Richard changes plans, catching a small piper, dazed by the torch light.
He quickly hands Jack the torch and hastily leaves the water, calling to Sam.
RICHARD
Sam, hey Sam! Could you give my watch to Mum, Please.
EXT. MATAI BAY BEACH - CONTINUOUS
Marie is heading along the beach before she can call out a warning Richard places the shiny silver fish in Samantha's out stretched hand.