The Horse Whisperer Page #8

INT. GRACE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAYBREAK

The room's lights are dimmed. Dawn is being to break through.

Grace, slowly, opens her eyes coming out of sedation. She

takes a moment to figure out where she is... to remember.

She uses her hands to hoist herself up, but she's unsteady

and knocks into her bedside table -- knocking the Good Luck

Charm from India off the table. It rolls under the bed, with

a water tumbler. Grace never sees the Charm.

Grace looks where her leg once was. She feels the blanket,

the empty space where her leg once was... just like her mother

did (did her father couldn't). Instead of self-pity, she's

oddly fascinated.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. GRACE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - LATER THAT DAY

Daylight pours in. Robert and Annie enter. Robert, loaded

with gifts, immediately crosses to Grace, on the side of her

good leg. Annie takes her position beside the lost leg.

Robert kisses his daughter;

ROBERT:

Hi, sweetheart...

Annie's hand finds Grace's hand, and holds one of her fingers

tightly. Grace responds by wrapping her hand around her

mother's. They exchange a look of respect and gratitude.

GRACE:

Have you heard from Judith's parents?

ROBERT:

No, not yet.

GRACE:

How's Pilgrim doing?

ANNIE:

Liz is taking care of him.

(to change the subject)

The doctor said the sooner you start

therapy the better the chances are

you can --

GRACE:

I can't even get out of bed yet!

You're already putting me in therapy!!

Annie, slightly hurt, drops it as Robert takes over:

ROBERT:

The doctor said whenever you're ready.

Take your time. You tell us... But

he thinks it'll only be a few months,

then --

As Robert continues talking, Annie drifts to the Nurse.

Needing to manage something, she asks:

ANNIE:

Did you get her fresh towels?

SOME TIME LATER:

EXT. CENTRAL PARK WEST APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

A limousine drives up as the Doorman gets the car door. The

weather is slightly warmer. People's clothing looks as if

spring is coming nearer.

Annie exits first, carrying a jacket for Grace. She is

followed by Robert, who immediately turns to help Grace. We

hear her O.S.

GRACE (O.S.)

Dad! I can do it, OK?!

ROBERT:

OK, OK.

Annie shoots him a disapproving look.

We see Grace's good leg exit first... then two crutches,

followed by... a PROSTHETIC LEG. Grace scoots into view, and

takes a breath.

GRACE:

You all go ahead. I'll be up by

Christmas.

INT. CENTRAL PARK WEST APARTMENT - NIGHT

The three sit at a dinner table, eating dinner. Grace picks

at her food. Robert can't help staring at her. Annie eats,

watching them both.

ROBERT:

Do you want something else, honey?

We order something else?

GRACE:

No, I'm just not that hungry.

ANNIE:

Why don't you go lie down?

GRACE:

I don't want to lie down. I've been

lying down enough.

ROBERT:

You want to watch some television?

GRACE:

(edgy)

Maybe... look -- just...

Robert and Annie wait. She doesn't continue. She rises,

reaching for her crutches. Robert moves to help.

GRACE:

I got it! I got it!

She exits into her room. Annie looks at him disapprovingly.

INT. ANNIE AND ROBERT'S BATHROOM/BEDROOM - NIGHT

Annie and Robert stand before their separate sinks, talking

to each other through their separate mirrors, as they wash

up for bed.

ANNIE:

You've got to stop doing that?

ROBERT:

Doing what?

ANNIE:

Helping all the time! Running to her

every time she trips or falls...

Anticipating her all the time.

Robert shuts off his sink and dries his face, without a word.

He exits into the bedroom, and gets into bed. For a beat, he

stares up at the ceiling -- then says quite plainly.

ROBERT:

You know, Annie, this didn't just

happen to you.

Annie is applying moisturizer when she hears this. As it

sinks in, she doesn't like it.

INT. GRACE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Grace stands by her door and can hear her parents muffled,

tense voices. Annie is angry at his complacency. Robert just

wants what's best for Grace. She closes the door. Silence.

She puts her crutches against the wall and tries to walk

towards her bureau without them. It is a struggle, but she

does... almost falling, but grabbing the bureau just in time.

The 8X10 of her and Pilgrim, falls face down. She props it

up and looks at it -- focusing on her horse, then on Judith.

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