The Horse Whisperer Page #7

A GOOD LUCK CHARM from India sits among her things. Annie

takes it to pack in the suitcase.

She notices a framed 8X10 of Grace sitting proudly atop

Pilgrim with Judith at her heel. She then notices the edge

of another picture behind this one, in the frame. She pulls

the Pilgrim photo out to reveal: An old 8X10 of Annie hugging

Grace as a toddler. With her back to Camera, Annie remembers:

MEMORY:

INT. GRACE'S ROOM - A DAY REMEMBERED

Annie is playing with toddler Grace. Chasing her around the

room. Picking her and tossing her onto a small, toddler bed.

Blowing into her stomach. Grace is laughing uncontrollably.

END OF MEMORY:

Annie slides the Pilgrim picture back into the frame, then

returns to her task of packing.

INT. GRACE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

Annie enters. No one else is there. She places the suitcase

on a chair and opens it. She takes out the INDIAN LUCKY CHARM

and some horse books, and places them on her bedside table.

She takes care to prop up the Lucky Charm.

She wets a cloth with some water from a pitcher and gently

wipes Grace's sweaty brow... INSERT VISUAL FLASHBACK HERE,

instead of in Country House.

Annie then continues unpacking the suitcase. She opens Grace's

closet and sees a hospital bag filled with Grace's clothes

at the time of the accident. Annie examines them and discovers

they are hers. Annie shoves the clothes into a bag and starts

unpacking.

INT. HOSPITAL CAFETERIA - PRE-DAWN

The clock is ticking on the wall. The cafeteria is empty

except for one tired Intern, drinking coffee on a break.

Robert and Annie are having a cup of coffee. In the silence,

they search for things to say. Until:

ROBERT:

I saw Judith's parents while you

were at the apartment...

(Annie listens)

I wanted to say something...

(beat)

But I... I was so relieved that Grace

was still... that it wasn't our

daughter.

ANNIE:

We're very lucky.

ROBERT:

(nods)

The funeral's on Friday.

He rises and crosses to the self-help coffee dispenser as he

continues...

ROBERT:

Oh, uh, I meant to tell you... Alex

brought that fabric over...

ANNIE:

Okay.

ROBERT:

It's on the table by the phone. I

didn't know what to tell him...

(returns to table,

sits)

...Whether or not we were...

(beat)

...if we still we're thinking of

redoing the couch.

Annie just nods. She senses Robert is looking for some kind

of reassurance, but she can't give it to him. He continues;

ROBERT:

...And uh... Mario called about moving

the wisteria?

ANNIE:

Oh. Right. I'll call him.

Pause. Annie looks at her husband as he stares off to the

side, deep in his thoughts. She can sense he's sinking as he

fidgets with the napkins. She remembers:

MEMORY:

INT. A SMALLER APARTMENT, KITCHEN - A NIGHT REMEMBERED

A younger Annie stands in a bathrobe, noticeably pregnant,

cooking at a stove -- reading instructions from a propped up

cookbook. FRANK SINATRA IS BLASTING as she sings along, in

full voice, without inhibitions;

ANNIE:

"SHE'S LOVES THE THEATRE BUT NEVER

COMES LATE... SHE NEVER BOTHERS WITH

PEOPLE SHE HATES... THAT'S WHY THE

LADY IS A TRAMP!..."

A younger Robert, wearing a suit, arrives home from work.

Seeing her, he smiles affectionately. He puts down his

briefcase and bursts into his own playful Sinatra

impersonation:

ROBERT:

"She loves the free..."

Startled, Annie turns around and smiles:

ROBERT:

(sexily undoing his

tie)

"...FRESH, WIND IN HER HAIR... LIFE

WITHOUT CARE... SHE'S BROKE... BUT

IT'S 'OK'...

ANNIE:

(a la fan)

Sing it to me, Frankie!

ROBERT:

(a la Sinatra cool)

How's my pregnant chick!

She moves to him and they embrace... He wraps his arms around

her. They kiss. Annie laughs.

ANNIE:

You can hardly get your arms around

me. How depressing. You're so early.

ROBERT:

I had to excuse myself from a meeting.

It's ridiculous. I kept thinking

about the baby... you... and, I swear,

I was going to start bawling right

into my briefs.

ANNIE:

(loving it)

Aw... that's so sweet.

ROBERT:

I love you.

ANNIE:

Do you? Do you really?

They turn to each other and kiss.

END OF MEMORY.

INT. HOSPITAL CAFETERIA - PRE-DAWN

Annie and Robert sit silently at the table in an empty

hospital cafeteria, a lifetime later.

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