The Tale Page #3

---

- What? No.

- Oh, you should have a wire.

I thought Martin was gonna

to help you, no?

You have to record

everything.

Mom, no.

Martin's not gonna

help me,

and I'd be way too nervous

to wear a wire.

Just tell me you're gonna

ask about Bill.

I don't know.

I'm gonna play it by ear.

Okay, but don't forget--

tempus fugit.

Jennifer:

What does that even mean?

Mother:

You took Latin, look it up.

No, Ma, that was one

of your other kids.

Oh, who could keep track?

Okay, bye.

Mrs. G:

Right, girls. Here we go now.

- Now you missed a spot.

- Becky:
Sorry, Mrs. G.

Mrs. G:

You can do better than that.

See here.

- Finish.

- Mm-hm.

Good girl.

What's going on here?

Sorry, Mrs. G.

No excuses.

Come on.

( horse hooves clopping )

Jennifer:

Mrs. G, Franny.

So good to see you.

That coat.

I feel like I remember

from years past.

It's ancient.

Fran:

Ah, here are our drinks.

What are we having, Fran?

Uh, yeah.

Okay, Mary, Mother will

have the onion soup...

You know, I have

a lot of regrets.

You do?

I would change so many things

if I could go back in time.

What would you change?

Jenny, you gonna eat?

Uh...

sorry, yeah, I'll just have

a mixed green salad.

Thanks.

Let's slow down, eh?

I don't think I know

where you're from,

or maybe I never knew.

- But you're from London?

- No, West Country.

I grew up on a farm.

But my mum preferred

the dogs over me.

I was taken away and put in

a children's home quite young.

Right out of Dickens.

I've been wanting

to ask you...

Better just

get it over with.

No need to wallow.

Ray passed away

two years ago.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Dr. G has cancer. He's lived

with it for a long time.

No one thought he would

live this long.

So there.

You know everything.

Now we can change

the subject.

It's funny, I didn't even think

about asking about Dr. G.

I feel bad. I just--

I assumed

they were divorced.

Why would you say that?

She and Dr. G are absolutely

devoted to one another.

Right.

But what about Bill?

What happened to him?

I don't know what

happened to him.

I don't have any idea.

Jennifer:

Why am I doing this?

Mother:

Don't question yourself now.

You're doing everything right.

I said I wanted

a riding lesson.

Oh, that's smart.

Build a rapport.

Connect at her level.

I don't know, what if she

finds out I'm lying?

I mean, I haven't ridden

since I was a kid.

It's just like riding a bike,

honey.

You'll be fine.

Don't worry about it.

She's an old woman.

She's broken, you know?

She's different

than you,

and she's had a hard life.

We've all had a hard life.

She looks nothing

like I remember, you know?

Like, she looked like

such a giant to me then.

You must push yourselves

beyond all boundaries.

No limits!

My mom said Ray isn't even

Dr. G's kid. She's divorced.

You don't know what

you're talking about.

Her first husband

killed himself.

( sighs )

Young Jennifer:

The day before the final

competition,

Mrs. G gave us a break

from training.

Five...

- ( giggles )

- Mrs. G:
Jenny, come join us.

Becky:

Yeah, come on in, Jenny.

( laughing )

Becky:

Nouga, over here!

( playful shouting )

Young Jennifer:

Nouga promised to come

watch me ride.

Jennifer:

Why did we call him Nouga?

What does that mean?

Nothing. I don't know.

I never asked him.

Don't you think

it's a little cult-like?

No?

What?

I mean, I didn't think it

at the time.

But now, in retrospect...

you know, the whole

group thing.

Worshipping pain.

Endurance.

It's a bit religious,

don't you think?

Really?

Really, Jenny?

I expected

so much more of you.

- Hey, Jenny.

- Oh!

- Hey.

- Find it okay?

Franny, whoa.

She's out back.

Okay.

( horse nickers )

Mrs. G:

Yes, you're a beauty.

( continues nickering )

Come on.

Hello, Mrs. G.

Let's get you up in the saddle

and see what you can do.

Hope you don't

end up in the dirt

like last time we saw you.

Whoa, hold up.

Hold up there.

I don't know. He is huge.

Mrs. G:

This one's a shark.

Oh, what a shark.

But how the shark can move.

It's been a while.

Mrs. G:

Oh, nonsense.

You ready?

Okay.

There we go.

Mr. Shark's got

perfect conformation,

but he was too small

for breeding,

so they cut him

and put him up for sale.

He's a giant.

Let's see if I can do this.

( clicks tongue )

Okay...

He needs contact

with your hands to feel you.

I haven't ridden in a while,

so maybe a calmer horse?

Nonsense.

Now, remember the position.

Heels down,

head up like a queen.

Arms down, Jenny.

You know, quiet hands,

quiet horse.

Hands down, Jenny.

Quiet hands, quiet horse.

You know this.

Yes, Mrs. G.

I'd love to be in that daydream.

It looks lovely in there.

- Is it nice?

- Yes!

Mrs. G:

Yes. Okay, well that horse

needs you to be present.

- Let's go.

- Okay, Mrs. G.

Mrs. G:

Okay, Mrs. G.

He can't feel you, Jenny,

he can't know what

you're asking for.

You are a beauty.

You look beautiful.

You are a beauty.

Good girl. Better.

Canter now.

No excuses.

Canter now.

Canter now.

The body remembers everything.

It really does.

Good girl, Jenny!

Let's go!

Take that jump again.

Come on.

( whinnies )

( grunts )

I-- I'm sorry, I don't know

what happened.

Mrs. G:

No fretting. No, it's fine.

Get right back on that horse.

Here we go.

Good girl.

Up.

There we go.

Take a breath.

Okay.

Want you to use this.

We don't want that horse getting

any bad habits, do we?

Remember:
no bad horses,

only bad riders.

There are no bad horses,

only bad riders. Right?

- Yes, Mrs. G.

- Okay, let's take it again.

Back on the rein-in, girls.

Let's canter, please.

Want you to take

that jump again.

Thank you so much

for joining us today

for our final demonstration of

the girls' summer intensive.

Today, they will be

mock competing

in three very

demanding events.

So let's wish them all

good luck.

( applause )

( whispers )

Jenny. Jenny, your mother

just called me.

Your sister's

broken her arm.

Okay. I'm fine.

Mrs. G:

They won't be able to pick you

up till tomorrow.

( horse whinnies )

( applause )

( ringing bell )

( applause )

Go, Jenny!

( cheers and applause )

Bill and I want

to take you out for dinner.

Now?

Yeah.

- Are you serious?

- Yeah, you hungry?

- Yeah!

- Come on. I'm starving.

The guy from Geralyn Hall

left a message

saying they're booked

all of July.

But I think you

should call him.

You know, you talk people

into anything.

Oh, yeah?

Do I talk you into everything?

Look at what I'm doing.

Cooking.

Chili powder, maybe?

- For a little...

- Yes.

Yes, that would be great.

- ...pinch.

- I'll work the chili powder.

So how was--

how was the hall you

went to see this weekend?

It's supposed

to be a good one.

I'm excited about it.

If I could read

your mind, love

( singing along )

What a tale

your thoughts could tell

Just like a paperback novel

The kind that

drugstores sell

When you reach the part

Where the heartaches come

The hero would be me

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes