The Horse Whisperer Page #5

When she appears, Robert and the Doctor stop their

conversation. Robert looks to Annie, who is waiting for news.

ANNIE:

WHAT!?

Robert is teary eyed, beaten down.

ROBERT:

Judith's dead.

Annie's horrified, waiting for news of Grace.

ANNIE:

What about Grace?

ROBERT:

She was in pretty bad shape. They've

done a C.A.T. Scan -- she has some

hemorrhaging...

DOCTOR:

But nothing we can't handle...

ANNIE:

(impatient)

Where is she now?

DOCTOR:

Surgery.

ANNIE:

Surgery! For what?

ROBERT:

(interrupting)

Annie, her leg was shattered -- what

they call the distal epi.. epi..

DOCTOR:

Distal epicondyle of the femur...

ROBERT:

(quietly, crying)

They have to take the leg off.

Annie responds without tears and cries but with a quiet shock.

We can tell her mind is racing, trying to process the

information, until finally she asks:

ANNIE:

Which leg?

The Doctor and Robert are surprised by the question.

ROBERT:

What difference does it make?

Annie stares for a beat, then nods apologetically.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

Pilgrim is sedated, lying in his own blood in the snow,

surrounded by Police and trackers. He is being attended to

by LIZ HAMMOND, who is dictating to her assistant:

LIZ:

...His skull, cheek, and nose are

severely fractured. He has a deep

chest wound. I'm not even sure it

can be closed.

LOCAL TRACKER:

(deadpan, local accent)

Animal should be put down -- anybody

can see that.

Liz looks up to him, resentfully, but knows he's right.

INT. GRACE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

Camera moves from Grace's face down her body to Robert's

hand, which rubs her good leg. He looks at her lovingly,

pushing the hair from her forehead.

Annie, needing to do something, tenderly straightens Grace's

blankets. It is plain to see where her leg had once been.

Robert can't look. Annie, one to face her fears, bravely

looks at it head on. She notices the I.V. Bag and rises on:

ANNIE:

That bag's almost empty.

ROBERT:

(looking)

No, it's got a little left. They'll

be in to change it.

ANNIE:

(as she exits)

Robert, you leave it up these

people...!

Robert is about to respond but Annie is already out the door.

We hear the O.S. DIALOGUE as Robert listens.

ANNIE (O.S.)

Excuse me, my daughter needs a new

I.V.

NURSE (O.S.)

We have her down, we'll be right in.

ANNIE (O.S.)

I'd like it taken care of now please.

Annie enters first.

ANNIE:

You have to keep on top of these

people or else they just sit on their --

But Robert is ignoring her. Facing Grace, smoothing away her

hair. He's giving her the silent treatment. Annie knows this

means Robert doesn't approve of her dictatorial behavior.

Annoyed, she turns away as well.

The Nurse enters with a new bag and begins to replace the

old one as Robert backs away.

ROBERT:

I'm sorry.

ANNIE:

Tch. What are you --

Annie, about to respond to his inappropriate politeness, is

stopped by Robert, who finally looks at her. It's a powerful

look that tells her to calm down and shut up. It's a look

that, for all of Robert's sensitivity, affects Annie. She

gets the message and stays calm.

As the nurse leaves, Annie is about to say thank you, but

Robert beats her to it.

ROBERT:

Thank you.

Annie and Robert stand facing each other, when the PHONE

RINGS.

Annie picks up.

INTERCUT:

EXT. WOODS - DAY

LIZ HAMMOND on a cellular, walking away from the crowd.

LIZ:

Annie, it's Liz. How's Grace?

ANNIE:

(journalistic)

Her leg was shattered so they had

to, uh... remove it. She had some

bleeding but it's under control.

LIZ:

Oh God, Annie, I'm so sorry. I... I

know you're being hit with a low

now, I don't want to take too much

of your time but I have to talk to

you about Pilgrim.

Annie hears the name as if it's some distant echo she can't

quite identify; Liz speaks quickly as Annie watches Grace

breathing in her sleep --

LIZ:

It's not good. I've never seen an

animal with these injuries still

breathing. I know this is difficult

to hear right now I'd like your

permission to put him down. It's the

really best thing we can do for --

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