The Horse Whisperer Page #9

Suddenly, she lashes out, knocking the photograph onto the

floor...

ROBERT (O.S.)

Honey, you all right? Did something

fall?

GRACE:

(angrily shouts)

NO!

EXT. GRACE'S PRIVATE SCHOOL - MORNING

Annie pulls up in a Range Rover and stops. Grace moves for

the door. Annie asks respectfully;

ANNIE:

Do you want any help?

Grace doesn't even bother to answer. She manages to get onto

the pavements, then turns for her bag...

Annie notices other kids looking at Grace from behind, as

they enter the school.

ANNIE:

Dad'll pick you up today, all right?

GRACE:

Okay.

Grace looks up to her mother. What is unspoken between them

is the understanding that today will be difficult and there's

nothing either one can do about it.

ANNIE:

You'll be fine.

Grace nods and turns to the school. Annie watches her go.

INT. GRACE'S SCHOOL - MORNING

Grace makes her way through the hall. It is the first time

she has had to maneuver through a crowd. Some of the younger

children are especially unconscious. Grace sweats her way

through, trying to maintain her balance and her sanity.

As Grace slowly moves along, whatever small faith she had

that she could get through this day, begins to diminish.

INT. ANNIE'S OFFICE - DAY

Annie moves about the office, hands in pocket, in front of

her wall of windows. LUCY and her staff sitting around the

office. Annie is speaking to a YOUNG WOMAN staff member;

ANNIE:

I don't care what he told you! The

man's a liar! The man's an actor,

for Christ's sake. They're all liars!

They'll say anything to get a cover...

The Young Woman looks insulted. AN ASSISTANT comes in to

give Annie a note;

EXT. GRACE'S SCHOOL - DAY

Annie is crossing an empty school yard. Grace is sitting on

the ground, her back against a wall, her "legs" in front of

her. She has been crying. She looks up to her mother.

GRACE:

It's too hard.

Annie kneels before her sympathetically brushing her hair

away:

ANNIE:

Oh, honey... What happened?

GRACE:

Doesn't matter. I... I don't want to

come back, that's all.

ANNIE:

(softly)

Oh. Well, what are you going to do?

You have to go to school, honey. I

mean, what --

GRACE:

(snaps)

I'm not coming back! That's it! I

want to go home!

ANNIE:

Grace, listen to me. Your body is

just healing. You have to give the

rest of you time as well...

GRACE:

Is that your version of a pep talk?

ANNIE:

You are not staying home all day

feeling sorry for yourself. You're

going to get up and you're going to

figure this out.

GRACE:

(snotty)

Fine!

ANNIE:

It's still early. What's your next

class?

With secret delight, Grace viciously utters the word:

GRACE:

Gym!

INT. ANNIE AND ROBERT'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Annie is at her desk studying Grace's book on Horse

Whisperers.

Robert is on his bed with briefs laid out before him.

INT. GRACE'S BEDROOM - SAME NIGHT

The door is closed. A SONG blares on her stereo. Grace is in

her bed watching a video of her and Pilgrim... riding at a

horse show. There's a shot of Annie standing proudly, watching

her ride. Another shot of her and Judith, both of them on

their horses, waving to camera.

INT. BEDROOM - SAME NIGHT

Grace enters.

GRACE:

Dad?

Both Robert and Annie look up.

ROBERT:

What, sweetheart?

GRACE:

(beat)

I want to see Pilgrim.

Robert and Annie exchange an anxious look.

EXT. DYER HORSE FARM, CONNECTICUT - DAY

It's raining. The MacLean car is parked by the barn. They

are walking towards the stables under their umbrellas as Liz

runs to greet them.

LIZ:

Hello...

(to Grace)

It's so good to see you. How ya doing?

ROBERT:

She's doing just great. Aren't you

kiddo?

GRACE:

I'm fine.

LIZ:

Well, come on. He's out back now...

(leads them)

Mind how you go. It's pretty muddy

back there.

GRACE:

Why is he in the back? Why isn't he

in the barn with the other horses?

Liz stops, causing everyone to stop. She turns to face Grace,

realizing she doesn't know. She looks at Robert and Annie,

accusingly. She tries to explain:

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