The Horse Whisperer Page #14

ANNIE:

Why did you go?

ROBERT:

(surprised)

They're still our friends, Annie.

It's nothing serious. You kid about

them all the time... And I could

tell Paul really appreciated me being

there.

He drinks Annie's wine as she looks at him.

ROBERT:

Did you get a hold of that horse

guy?

ANNIE:

Yeah.

ROBERT:

What did he say?

ANNIE:

No.

Robert nods. Accepting. Silence. Annie sips her wine. Then:

ROBERT:

I was thinking... Maybe we should

think about the three of us going

someplace warm... Remember that house

we rented in Bermuda... The pink one

with the --

His arm accidentally spills the wine.

ROBERT:

Sh*t.

As he bends down to wipe it up with a napkin, Annie watches

Robert clean the spill. Something about his movements, his

posture -- a sense of weakness, of surrendering, of not having

the inclination to fight, of just accepting and smoothing

over the rough sports -- strikes her hard. Annie realizes

the love she feels for Robert isn't fading. It's gone.

He finishes cleaning and sits.

ROBERT:

What was I saying?

ANNIE:

About us going someplace warm...

Someplace Grace'll have to wear shorts

or bathing suits or summer dresses...

Robert looks at her and realizes it's a bad idea. He nods,

again, getting the message. Silence. In that silence, Annie

looks at him... and makes a decision:

ANNIE:

Robert, I want to take Pilgrim out

to Mr. Booker. Drive him out to

Montana... With Grace.

Robert is confused... and a little worried.

ROBERT:

I don't understand. You just said he

said no.

ANNIE:

He did, but... I think I can change

his mind.

ROBERT:

That's the craziest thing I ever

heard. Absolutely not.

ANNIE:

Robert, Grace isn't adjusting to

school. And she can't sit in this

apartment all day... I think it would

be good for her.

ROBERT:

(at a loss)

NO! What are you -- you're serious

about this?

ANNIE:

I've called Liz. They can set me up

with a trailer for Pilgrim. I thought

we'd stay at motels along the way...

ROBERT:

(overlapping)

You've already made arrangements!?

ANNIE:

No. I was just researching. Calm

down.

ROBERT:

I come home and you tell me we're

going to drive a psychotic horse to

Montana! I can't just pick up and

leave...

ANNIE:

I'm not asking you to. I'll do it.

ROBERT:

You want to do this by yourself?

How? You can't take care of Pilgrim

all the --

ANNIE:

He'll be sedated. I know horses,

Robert. I'm the one who taught Grace

how to ride.

ROBERT:

(overlapping)

What... No... What about the magazine?

ANNIE:

I'm in charge. I went back very soon

after the accident. They didn't expect

me for a couple of months. I'll just

take that time now... I can still

oversee things from Montana... Take

my fax... My computer...

Beat. Robert fears this is about the marriage. Yet --

ROBERT:

No. It's, uh... No, I really don't

think it's a good idea

ANNIE:

Why?!

ROBERT:

(searching)

Her psychiatrist... said... she needs

security now... stability...

ANNIE:

I can't say he's been all that

effective with her.

ROBERT:

Are you a psychiatrist? He said it

takes time.

ANNIE:

I don't care what he says! We have

to do something, Robert! I can't sit

here and trust everything's going to

work out just by pretending it will.

ROBERT:

I'm not pretending anything!

Beat. Robert just stares at her. He looks concerned... almost

worried. Annie gets uncomfortable.

ANNIE:

What?

It is very difficult for Robert to say;

ROBERT:

I thought... well, ever since the

accident, I just thought we...

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