Kensuke's Kingdom

As the lights of the Peggy Sue vanish into the night, Michael feels certain that he will either be devoured by sharks or drown. The boy finds his soccer ball and uses the buoyant object to keep himself afloat. Although he calls out to Stella, there’s no sign of her, and he focuses on keeping himself alive in the hope that his parents will soon discover his absence and rescue him. He sings to try to keep his spirits up. As the night drags on, Michael’s strength fades, and he drifts into sleep even though he’s certain that he will drown. Michael dreams that the Peggy Sue returns for him, that someone shakes him, and that Stella licks his face.

Michael is startled awake by a fearful howling. He’s lying on a beach, and Stella rushes to him. After his joyful reunion with his dog, Michael becomes aware of his exhaustion and his isolation. He calls for his parents until he realizes that they can’t possibly hear him and bursts into tears. When more howling issues from the forest, Stella barks, and the boy reassures her that the noise is caused by gibbons. Michael scales a hill. Although he cannot see any sign of a ship, the beautiful view of the wooded island and the surrounding sea fills him with elation.