The Horse Whisperer Page #15

He stops. Annie knows where he headed and prays to God he

doesn't continue. He doesn't. A thick silence hangs between

them.

ROBERT:

I really wish I could understand why

you think this is so necessary.

ANNIE:

(frustrated)

Robert, we're losing her. We're losing

her.

(he listens)

I don't care what the doctors say.

The truth is, they don't know anymore

than we do -- less, when it comes to

Grace... This may not sound sensible

or... logical, but nobody's suggesting

anything better. I can't explain it,

Robert. I just have this feeling...

this annoying... bloody feeling that

if... if, somehow, Pilgrim can be

made all right... then so can Grace.

I just know it!

Robert can feel the strength of her will. He can find no way

around it.

ROBERT:

What if she doesn't want to go?

ANNIE:

She will if you think she should.

ROBERT:

And you think it's best if I don't

come.

ANNIE:

(hesitates)

No, that's not what I said. I'm not

a dictator. If you feel you should

come, then come. Just do whatever

you think is right.

At some moment, they realize Grace is standing at the entrance

to the kitchen. They are surprised.

GRACE:

I'm not going! I don't care what she

says!

Annie lowers her head. Robert stares at Grace as she walks

to him.

GRACE:

Daddy?... I don't want to go.

Grace stands next to Robert. He holds her hands. Annie looks

at him, without sympathy. Robert looks back. In his face is

the total acceptance of what must be. As well as the sadness

of it's inevitability. He looks back at his daughter, whose

eyes have never left him.

EXT. JOAN DYER STABLE - DAY

Pilgrim is being loaded into the trailer by four strong stable

men, violently kicking and pulling all the way.

Annie watches with anxiety -- an almost giddy Liz by her

side.

ANNIE:

Maybe we should give him another

sedative.

LIZ:

Problem is, there aren't many

volunteers. He's already had enough

to sink a battleship. You have a

pin, just in case?

ANNIE:

Of course not.

LIZ:

Probably best. You may want to shoot

yourself half way to Ohio.

In the back seat of ANNIE'S SUBURBAN sits Grace -- her back

to the action. Hearing Pilgrim's struggle. Putting her walkman

on her ears and raising the volume... We hear --

GRACE'S MUSIC, ON THE SOUNDTRACK, bringing us to:

EXT. A HIGHWAY, IN PENNSYLVANIA - DAY

Annie's Suburban drives along Route 80, pulling the horse

trailer behind.

INT. SUBURBAN - DAY

Grace, in the back seat, wearing her headphones, listening

to her music (maybe LIZ PHAIR OR HOLLY COLE). Detached. Non-

committal. As trucks pass by, their time slapping the

pavement, she reacts and turns to the other window.

Annie, in sunglasses, shifts her attention between the road

and her rear-view mirror -- checking on Grace.

EXT. HIGHWAY IN - EARLY MORNING

The Suburban drives as the sun begins to set.

EXT. MOTEL IN OHIO - NIGHT

The Suburban and Horse Trailer are parked in the lot.

INT. MOTEL ROOM, OHIO - NIGHT

A small furnished motel room with two twin beds.

Grace sits up in bed watching TV, with no expression. A sitcom

with canned laughter serves as a hypnotic drug.

Annie enters from the bathroom, after showering, drying her

hair. Grace doesn't bother to look up.

ANNIE:

You want to take your bath?

(Grace shakes her

head)

We have to get up early tomorrow.

You may not have enough time to --

GRACE:

Fine -- I'll take my bath.

She begins moving off the bed.

ANNIE:

No, I don't mean you have to. It's

just that we may not have enough --

GRACE:

-- enough time tomorrow. I know.

ANNIE:

Look, if you want to take it in the

morning, that's fine.

GRACE:

(interrupts on "fine")

I don't care.

Annie realizes she may have pushed too hard, but she also

realizes there's no talking to Grace now. So, she achieves

her goal --

ANNIE:

Take it now.

Grace hobbles off the bed, enters the bathroom and shuts the

door.

INT. MOTEL ROOM IN OHIO - NIGHT

The lights are off. Annie lays in bed, wide awake. It is the

middle of the night.

Grace, asleep in the other bed, begins whimpering. She's

having a bad dream. Annie rises -- considering whether or

not to intercede... Finally, Grace begins to cry out... softly

at first, but with increasing intensity until she awakens in

fear... Annie appears right by her side.

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