Lou Page #16

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LOU (CONT’D)

I wanted to protect you from him.

It’s why I moved to the island.

It’s why you’re in my trailer.

Cheap rent. A yard for Vee. I made

it so you couldn’t say no. And when

I heard he was dead, I thought you

were safe. I thought my mission was

over. I was the one who let my

guard down. Not you.

Hannah stands up, unsure of where to go or what to say.

90.

HANNAH:

Why didn’t you tell me?

LOU:

The less you know the better.

HANNAH:

This is me not knowing anything.

LOU:

Just open the egg.

Hannah thinks this over. She shakes her head.

HANNAH:

No. The weather’s cleared. Help’s

going to come and we’re going to

wait.

LOU:

We can’t wait.

Lou reaches for the egg. Hannah hides it in her jacket

pocket.

HANNAH:

No way. You’ll have to kill me

first.

LOU:

I won’t have to. If help comes,

they’ll kill you. They’ll kill

Philip and me and they won’t really

care whether Vee gets hurt in the

process.

HANNAH:

(faltering)

I don’t understand when you talk

like this.

Lou thinks, trying to find a way to make Hannah get it.

LOU:

When you read Vee a book, its

usually got a happy ending?

HANNAH:

She likes the happy ones, yeah.

LOU:

Of course. We all do. But there are

many ways for the same book, the

same story to end well.

(MORE)

91.

LOU (CONT'D)

It just depends on which character

you are. A happy ending for the

Princess, isn’t a good ending for

the witch. Us dying, for some

people, isn’t a bad ending. It’s

the best, cleanest one with no

loose ends. But if we get there

first, we can write the ending. Do

you understand?

HANNAH:

Vee and I -- we haven’t done

anything. How can you be so sure

someone’s going to hurt us?

LOU:

I used to be the witch.

Hannah steps backward.

HANNAH:

Then this is your fault. All of

this. You led Philip to us. And now

whoever’s after you guys is after

us.

Lou gets to her feet, going after her.

LOU:

You’re right. It’s my fault but I

can still help you. I’m not the

person I use to be. I’m better.

HANNAH:

If I don’t give you this egg...

you’ll take it from me anyway?

LOU:

Yes. I would.

HANNAH:

Then you haven’t changed enough.

Hannah opens the egg and EATS THE COORDINATES.

LOU:

Why’d you do that?

HANNAH:

You’re on a need to know basis. And

right now all you have to know is

that we need to climb this cliff.

Hannah grabs the harness and swings her leg through it.

92.

EXT./INT. CAVE (WOODS) - MORNING

Vee brushes her teeth by the cave’s entrance. Philip steps

into his boots, buttoning his shirt. He looks nicer today,

like he’s going to a party.

PHILIP:

Last night was fun, right?

Vee spits out her toothpaste and nods.

VEE:

Are we going to see Mom today?

PHILIP:

We are. We’re going to have a

picnic with her.

VEE:

Good.

Vee wipes her mouth. Knowing the drill, she crawls into her

playhouse. Philip begins to close the door --

VEE (CONT’D)

Can we leave it open?

PHILIP:

Promise me you’ll stay inside?

Vee pokes her head out. Looking Philip in the eye, she holds

out her pinkie to him.

VEE:

Pinky promise.

EXT. CLIFF FACE (WOODS) - MORNING

Hannah clings to the rock face, strapped into the climbing

gear. She’s scared out of her mind but she’s not going to let

that stop her. Thankfully, she’s nearly at the top.

ANGLE ON GROUND-Lou

keeps tension on the lines.

LOU:

Use your legs.

Hannah does what’s easiest, reaching up with her arms. The

rock crumbles, leaving her nothing to grip. She slips off the

cliff, FALLING.

THLUMP.

93.

The line tightens and catches. Hannah floats from the

harness.

ANGLE ON GROUND-

Lou steadies herself. Jax watches

LOU (CONT’D)

(to Jax)

She never listens.

HANNAH:

What?

LOU:

Grab the wall, hurry up!

Hannah swings back onto the cliff. Then, using her legs, she

pushes herself over the top, disappearing from view.

MOMENTS LATER:
JAX DANGLES MID-AIR as he’s hoisted up to the

top of the cliff.

Hannah reaches over, grabbing him, pulling him to safety. She

releases him from the harness.

Then Hannah steps to the edge and looks down at Lou.

ANGLE ON LOU-

LOU (CONT’D)

Throw it down!

Lou sees Hannah hesitate.

LOU (CONT’D)

Whatever you’re thinking, it’s a

bad idea. Throw the harness down

and we’ll reverse the lines like I

showed you.

HANNAH:

I’m thinking, I’m not sure I want

to live in a world where I need

someone like you to get my daughter

back. Thank you for trying but I’m

going to get her back myself.

Hannah disappears. Lou’s bruised face hardens knowing she’s

not coming back.

LOU:

Hm.

94.

Beat. Then JAX’s FURRY FACE appears, peeking down at Lou from

the cliff’s edge.

LOU (CONT’D)

Someone’s gotta keep an eye on her.

Lou motions a command. And he disappears.

Then she places a hand on the rock and using her legs, she

pushes herself up, beginning a free climb.

It won’t be pretty but it’ll work.

EXT./INT. VEE’S PLAYHOUSE/FIR GLEN - MORNING

The playhouse comes to a halt in a glen of tall firs. It’s

looks like a Christmas tree farm. Curious, Vee peers out the

door at Philip.

PHILIP:

Gotta see a man about a horse.

Vee watches Philip walk a polite distance away before he

starts to take a piss.

She looks into the trees, sensing an opportunity. Does she

dare?

She does.

Grabbing Mr. Hippo, Vee sneaks through the door, QUIETLY

RUNNING away from the playhouse.

INT. LIVING ROOM (LOU’S HOUSE) - MORNING

Inatomi sits in an easy chair. The cord of the house phone

stretches across the floor to his ear. Lou’s cat PURRS on his

lap. The KITTENS play at his feet.

INATOMI:

Thank you for the update, ma'am.

(repeating her)

You want to know where Rankin is?

Inatomi looks down at the cat, distraught, considering his

response. Finally-

INATOMI (CONT’D)

Rankin’s around ma’am. He’s a bit

p.o.’ed, you know local cops. Would

you like to speak with him?

(beat)

Alright, I’ll keep an eye on him.

But if I may, I’d like to ask

(MORE)

95.

INATOMI (CONT’D)

(he looks around, making

sure he’s alone)

What is the actual plan?

EXPLETIVES pour from the phone. Inatomi holds the receiver

from his ear. Then the line goes dead.

EXT./INT. PLAYHOUSE/FIR GLEN - DAY

Philip’s smiling face peers through the door into Vee’s

house. It’s empty. His smile disappears.

PHILIP:

Vee!

(yells into wood)

Vee! You pinky promised!

ANGLE ON VEE-

She’s running as fast as her little legs will go.

INT. CAVE (HANNAH) - MORNING

Hannah and Jax stand inside the cave. The remains of last

night’s fire still smoke. She stares at the HAND PRINT

OUTLINES on the cave wall.

She reaches her hand out, placing it between Vee’s small

outline and Philip’s larger one.

HANNAH:

(to Jax)

What a creep.

EXT. FIR GLEN (PHILIP AND VEE) - MORNING

Philip looks for Vee, checking his watch. He’s not happy

about the time this unplanned distraction is taking.

PHILIP:

I’m not mad, honey. I just want you

to come back. I miss you.

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