The Tale Page #2

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this afternoon.

- I see.

- Which is lovely.

Good number, I think.

Not too many to keep

an eyeball on.

Aaron:

When Jenny first started

with this horse business

I didn't understand it.

- Really?

- Her mother still doesn't.

( laughs )

I see now how good

it is for her, though.

Do you know,

in Russia, Jews were

not allowed to ride horses?

- Dad!

- What?

Because no Jew could be higher

than a Russian.

But Jenny's great-great-uncle,

he was very tall.

- And he rode a horse.

- Dad, please.

- What?

- You ready to work hard

for the next

few weeks, missus?

Yes.

Right, off we go.

( music playing faintly

on radio )

( chuckles )

( humming music )

Take the salad, Franny.

You take the rest.

Thank you, Becky.

And you, Mrs. Cat.

It's hot. Use your gloves,

please.

Never, ever, ever put

a pie crust on the bottom.

It only gets soggy.

That and the raisins

are the secret to

the perfect apple pie.

But don't you

tell anyone.

Off you go.

Dr. G and I

are so pleased

to welcome you to our home

for what we're sure will be

a fine summer season.

Franny, would you lead us

in grace, please?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Mom, can I say it?

Raymond!

Of course you can.

Bless us...

- Lord.

- ...Lord,

and these gifts that

we're about to eat.

And thank you for

the friends and family

that are gathered here

with us,

and keep us safe...

Adult Jennifer:

How do people change?

When I was a child,

I was obsessed

with changing myself.

Now I don't even remember

how I got here.

Or who I used to be.

( liquid pouring )

Jennifer:

Wow, look at you.

Woman:

You know, it's funny.

I don't remember anything

of what I learned,

riding-wise, from Mrs. G.

But I remember

learning discipline.

Yeah, me too.

Her idea that

you enduring pain

makes you better.

You know I, um,

I kept my horse there

after that summer.

Oh, you were lucky.

You got more time with her.

Yeah.

My parents, they never

would have let me stay.

I was an only child,

so they watched me like a hawk.

Well, I was one of five,

so they barely noticed

- if I wasn't there.

- ( both laugh )

You know, I found some

photos from that summer.

- Oh, great.

- Thought you might

like to see them.

Do you ever see Mrs. G

at riding events or...?

Oh, I saw Franny

a few years back. I--

- You did?

- Yeah.

She said something

about Mrs. G.

Oh, look how beautiful.

There's some great ones

of Franny, too.

But I couldn't seem

to find any of you.

You were such a tiny

little thing,

so much smaller

than Franny and I.

- Was I?

- You almost looked

like a little boy.

- What?

- So afraid

that you barely said

two words.

( vehicle approaches,

engine turns off )

( brake ratchets,

car doors open and close )

Huh.

Mother:

I didn't know you were here.

"Hello, Mother."

"Hello, Jennifer."

Looking for pictures

from '73.

Not in that book. Here.

Oh. Yeah.

Look at me.

No, no, no, that's later.

That's '75.

You were already 15

here in this picture.

Let me show you 13.

There.

That's 13.

I was so little.

Yeah.

( both panting )

Adult Jennifer:

Why are you telling

this story, Jenny?

I always wanted

to have a story to tell,

but nothing ever happened

to me before.

Ah-- It's hot.

Be careful.

Don't tell anyone.

It's our secret.

- Mom, can I say it?

- Raymond!

Raymond:

Bless us, Lord,

and these gifts

that we're about to eat.

Thank you for friends...

Young Jennifer:

I'd like to begin this story

by telling you something

so beautiful.

( knock on door,

door opens )

Wakey-wakey!

Time to run.

Meet outside

in 10 minutes.

No stragglers.

( door closes )

Young Jennifer:

She was the most beautiful

woman I had ever met.

Every girl wanted

to be just like her.

Becky and Franny did.

I did.

Mrs. G.

Good morning.

We'll be running every morning

before our first ride,

with Bill.

You're very lucky.

Bill is an excellent coach.

He will teach you to go beyond

the complaints of your bodies.

Running gives us stamina.

Makes us into

excellent riders.

( horse whinnying )

Mrs. G:

Good morning.

Bill:

Good morning, girls.

- This is Franny...

- Hi. Bill.

- Becky...

- Hi.

and Jenny.

I'm so happy

to meet you.

Jane has already told me

a lot about you.

So, here we go.

Jane, why don't you run scout,

I'll run gunner.

We'll see how everyone does,

and then we'll switch it up

in the middle.

- Mrs. G:
Come along, girls!

- Bill:
All right.

Bill:

I am Nouga and you are Neets!

When I say Nouga,

you say Neets!

- Nouga!

- All:
Neets!

- Nouga!

- Neets!

- Nouga! Nouga!

- Neets! Neets!

- Nouga!

- Neets!

Okay, Franny,

you're doing great.

- Just walk for a few minutes.

- Okay.

Jane?

Mrs. G:

Good girl, Jenny.

I'll walk with them.

Meet you at the top.

- Nouga!

- Neets!

- Nouga! Nouga!

- Neets! Neets!

- Nouga!

- Neets!

- Nouga! Nouga!

- Neets! Neets!

Martin?

Franny?

( tapping keyboard )

Jennifer:

Funny how you live with people

in your mind.

Inside of you,

they're always the same.

And you live

with them happily.

Never wanting

anything to change.

Jennifer:

As documentarians,

you all have been developing

your own unique skills,

unconsciously,

since you were born.

I'll speak from my experience.

I was a super-shy kid.

I felt invisible.

At home, at school.

So I learned to adapt.

I taught myself the skill

of being a chameleon

so that I could fit

into people's worlds,

their environment...

and have some friends.

( laughter )

Let's try something.

Joe, how would you like

to be a guinea pig today?

Sure.

Everybody say hi to Joe.

All:

Hey, Joe.

( applause )

So, we learn about the truth

by reading people, right?

It's how we get

to know them.

So, what about Joe?

His body language--

it's defensive.

- Well, you're--

- ( students laugh )

Let's change it up, Joe.

All right, so there's a point.

We learn a lot

from people's bodies.

They tell us a lot.

So let's keep investigating.

What else?

Are you depressed, Joe?

No.

Do we believe Joe?

Do you believe yourself?

A little bit.

So, good point.

So that means he didn't

tell you the truth.

Right?

So how do we get to know?

How do we go beyond

what the person is telling us?

- Yeah?

- How do we know when

- we've crossed the boundary?

- ( cell phone vibrates )

Excuse me.

One second, guys. Sorry.

Keep talking to Joe.

( cell phone vibrating )

Hey, Franny?

Franny:

Jenny Fox, is that you?

Hi! How good

to hear from you.

So surprised

to get your message.

Yeah!

What happened to your

outside leg?

- Hello?

- Yeah.

You know, the other left one?

Are you talking to me?

Sorry, I'm in the middle

of work.

- Where are you?

- Oh, you don't know?

I manage Mrs. G's farm.

Have for years.

Oh, wow, I didn't--

No, I didn't know.

- Oh.

- It would just--

it would be so amazing

to come visit

and maybe see you

and Mrs. G.

Do you still ride?

Jenny?

Um, not as much

as I used to.

Jennifer:

They invited me to lunch.

Mother:

Are you wearing a wire?

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