The Horse Whisperer Page #10

LIZ:

Well, Grace, you see... Pilgrim

just... isn't the same horse he used

to be.

(to the parents)

As a matter of fact, maybe now's not

the best time to --

GRACE:

I really want to see him.

Liz looks at Annie. Annie nods. Liz leads them on.

They reach a row of empty old stalls. They cross to one of

the stalls -- its doors are closed. Liz draws back the bolt

on top half of the door.

There is an immediate explosion of sound inside the stall,

the sound of fear, startling them. Then it's still. Liz slowly

opens the door. Grace, with the aide of her cane, walks to

the stall. She hesitates, then looks in. It takes a moment

for her eyes to grow accustomed to the dark. She sees Pilgrim

with his head down in the shadows...

GRACE:

Hello, beautiful boy...

He lifts his head at the sound of her voice. Grace, and the

audience, see him for the first time -- His mad eyes, his

terrible disfigurement...

Grace cries out, stepping backwards, nearly stumbling in the

mud... What is left of her horse are gone. Annie realizes

what's happened and, together with Robert, rush to her...

They too see the monster Pilgrim has become and are horrified.

Grace angrily pushes away from them and "runs" off. Robert

goes after her.

Annie is standing in the rain with Liz -- her eyes unable to

move away from the sight of Pilgrim.

LIZ (O.S.)

You should have told her, Annie. I

tried to explain to you how bad it

was... I guess you had to see it.

But, there's nothing to be done.

This animal's beyond help. Annie,

can I have your permission now to

put him down?

Annie stands in the rain, hands in pocket, fixed on Pilgrim

and more determined than ever;

ANNIE:

No.

EXT. CENTRAL PARK WEST APARTMENT - NIGHT

Alone in her study, Annie sits before her computer searching

the Internet for information on HORSES -- Veterinarian

Journals, Therapies, Accidents, Histories... We sense she's

been at it a while...

She locates an ITEM TITLE -- HORSE WHISPERERS. Interested,

she brings it up on the screen.

INT. NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - NIGHT

Annie sits in the huge reading room, books spread out before

her, under a green reading lamp. Her voice tells us what

she's reading:

ANNIE (V.O.)

"It was in America that horses first

roamed..."

In the books, we see pictures, lithographs, paintings and

drawings...

ANNIE (V.O.)

"A million years before the birth of

man, they grazed the vast empty plains

of grass and crossed to other

continents over bridges of rocks...

They first knew man as the hunted

knows the hunter, for long before

man saw horses as a means to killing

other beasts, man killed them for

meat..."

ANNIE'S V.O. CONTINUES OVER;

INT. PILGRIM'S STALL - NIGHT

ANNIE (V.O.)

"...The alliance with man would

forever be fragile -- for the fear

he'd struck into their hearts was

too deep to be dislodged... Since

that Neolithic moment when a horse

was first haltered, there were those

among men who understood this..."

INT. GRACE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Grace sits alone in her darkened room, staring out the window

but not looking at anything. There's a discomforting distance

in her expression.

ANNIE (V.O.)

"...They could see into the creature's

soul and soothe the wounds they found

there..."

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. A FAIRGROUNDS PARKING LOT, CALIFORNIA - DAY

A hot, dusty fairgrounds horse arena. The worn wooden

bleachers, crowded. Lines of cars and pick-up trucks.

ANNIE (V.O.)

"...For secrets uttered softly into

troubled ears, these men were known

as The Whisperers..."

One particular pick-up truck has its back door opened. A

MAN'S LEG is sticking out, putting on a pair of boots.

A moment later the Man gets out of the car. Holding a cowboy

hat, he has a certain quality, a self-respect, that men who

know themselves seem to have. TOM BOOKER.

A weathered redheaded woman named RONA -- late forties,

strong, wiry horsewoman's build -- is walking towards him.

RONA:

Hey, darlin'.

TOM:

Hey, Rona. Sorry I'm late.

RONA:

I wouldn't know what to do if you

were on time.

They walk together towards the fairgrounds.

TOM:

You're looking fit.

RONA:

Fit? You want to check my teeth.

(Tom laughs)

Good crowd today. I think you'll

have some fun. You going to stay for

dinner?

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote