The Horse Whisperer Page #6

That was too much information for Annie;

ANNIE:

Wait, uh, I, I don't understand.

Start again -- He's alive...

LIZ:

Yes, but he's in a tremendous pain...

ANNIE:

Well, of course, right...

ROBERT:

What is it?

LIZ:

(overlapping)

We really shouldn't wait...

ANNIE:

(overlapping)

Hold on, Liz...

(to Robert)

Something about Pilgrim...

The Doctor pokes his head in.

DOCTOR:

(overlapping)

Mr. and Mrs. MacLean...

ANNIE:

(overlapping)

-- put him down. She says...

ROBERT:

(overlapping, to Doctor)

Yes. Hi.

(to Annie)

Tell her you'll call her back.

He exits with the Doctor.

ANNIE:

Liz, listen, the Doctor's here and I

just can't, uh... talk now... so --

LIZ:

(interrupting)

I understand, but Annie, please...

ANNIE:

(overlapping)

See, what you can do for him...

LIZ:

(overlapping)

Annie, no matter what I do, this

horse will never be the same.

ANNIE:

...I just don't know right now! Do

whatever you can and when Grace is --

LIZ:

It isn't right to make him suffer...

ANNIE:

And I can say the same thing about

my daughter! But she is suffering!

Can you solve that problem!

(Liz is quiet)

I can't deal with this now, Liz! If

you need a yes or no right now, then

no -- don't do it! Not until I know

Grace is all right. Now, please!

Just do what you can. Okay?

(softer)

Please.

Liz is stopped by Annie's almost pleading tone.

LIZ:

All right...

They hang up. Annie takes a breath. Robert re-enters.

ANNIE:

What did he say?

ROBERT:

Nothing new. He's just going off

duty.

Beat. Silence.

ANNIE:

I'm going to get all the nurses'

names... It's good to know all their

names.

Robert nods. But neither of them moves. They stand motionless

for a beat, then Annie begins to break down and eases herself

into Robert's arms.

Robert embraces her, kissing her head, with an almost fatherly

comfort. His expression tells us it's the moment he's been

expecting... and wanting. Now she'll be all right, in his

arms.

Whatever distance between them, whatever problems felt

insurmountable last night on the phone, are now, for the

moment -- for Robert -- gone.

But Annie's expression tells us something different. Her

instinct to hold him was honest... but the effect isn't the

same anymore. Something doesn't feel right. Something isn't

working anymore about his comforting embrace.

ANNIE:

I should go get some of her things.

ROBERT:

No, let me go.

ANNIE:

(gently pushing away)

No, I'll go. You stay... In case she

wakes up.

INT. THE UNIVERSITY ANIMAL HOSPITAL, RECOVERY STALLS - NIGHT

A line of recovery stalls with various sick and hurt animals.

Liz, exhausted asleep, on a chair outside a stall. There's a

slight scratching sound. A hoof against the stall. It gets

louder, awakening Liz. She gets up and looks inside the

paddled stall:

Pilgrim is lying in the stall, heavily bandaged. He is waking

up. His first instinct is to kick at the paddled stall walls.

He looks at Liz, his eyes filled with madness -- enraged to

still be alive.

INT. GRACE'S BEDROOM IN FARMHOUSE - NIGHT

Annie opens the door and enters, flicking on the light.

Camera is on her back, as she places a small suitcase on the

bed and opens it. She begins her task with cool efficiency.

Opening drawers and closets, assessing what should be taken,

what isn't necessary.

Suddenly, she stops. She feels disoriented for a moment. She

can't remember the last time she was inside this room. She

takes a moment to pause and actually look around.

In the light, we now see more of Grace's inner sanctum. Horse

riding prize ribbons in various colors adorn the walls.

Books. A girl's bureau cluttered with teenage possession

ranging from childhood toys to items that suggest a reaching

towards adulthood. Annie examines some items, affectionately.

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