Witness Page #17

---

ELI:

(briskly)

Veck oufl Time for milking.

Book comes groggily awake as Eli exits. He gropes for

his watch.

INSERT WATCHFACE

It reads 4:
30 a.m.

BACK TO BOOK:

as he stares at it in disbelief.

93K INT. BARN

93K

as the milk herd of half dozen or so cows ambles in

with Samuel prodding them along, headed for the milking

stalls. Book looks on in the lamplight, nonplused.

SAMUEL:

Where he's pitching hay into the

cow's feed-troughs.

BOOK, ELI

Where the old man is showing Book how to milk a cow by

hand. We see Rachel watching from the milkhouse door

(steam from scalding milk cans rising behind her).

ELI:

Good, firm twist and pull, eh?

(and)

Right. Now you try it.

Book gives him a look, takes over the milking stool.

The cow shoots him a rather skeptical look over her

shoulder. Book bends to his task.

ELI:

{continuing)

Didn't you hear me, Book? Pull!

You never had your hands on a teat

before?

BOOK:

(grimly)

Not one this big.

Eli unexpectedly finds this hilarious, cackles, gives

Book a comradely, man-of-the-world thump on the

shoulder that jars him. Then he moves off. Book bends

to his task, and...

ANGLE - RACHEL

Grinning,, giggling, covering her mouth with one hand.

as he pours a pail full of milk into a large, stainless

steel milk can.

EXT. BARN

as the milk herd is released back into the pasture.

Book crosses

into the f.g., stares O.S.

BOOK'S POV - HORIZON

And dawnfire etching the hilltops- The BELLHOUSE

behind the house, the sun reflecting from the heavy

bell beneath its small roof.

93K CONTINUED 93K

BACK TO BOOK:

Something in him can't help but respond to the beauty.

A beat, then he blows on his hands, rubs them briskly

together against the morning chill, and turns back to

the barn.

93L EXT. LAPP FARMHOUSE - DAY

93L

It is later in the morning. Rachel comes out onto the

porch, tosses a pan of dirty dishwater off onto the

grass, looks toward the barn.

ANGLE - THE BARN

Eli and Book standing in one of the open doorways, look-

ing in.

INT. THE BARN

ANGLE FAVORING Luke, one of Eli's team of fine mules

as Samuel opens the stall gate. The beast is skittish,

obviously afflicted with something of a behavioral

problem.

But he allows Samuel to lead him out.

BOOK, ELI

As Samuel brings Luke out. Eli is now harnessing the

other mule of the team to a large manure-spreader.

But as

Luke nears Book, his eyes widen and he shies, almost

hauling

Samuel off his feet.

BOOK:

(alarmed)

Careful, son -

Book moves to Samuel's aid; a gesture which proves

a serious mistake. Luke erupts into a SCREAMING,

bucking cyclone. Samuel - who no doubt has been

here before - dives nimbly for cover as a flying hoof

nearly takes Book's head off.

Then Eli hustles into the fray, pushing Book

aside as he BELLOWS belligerently in German at the

rearing animal. Finally he gives Luke a swat upside

the head that seems, somehow, to have the effect of

quieting the beast instantly.

ANGLE:

Samuel gives the shaken Book a look:

SAMUEL:

That's Luke. He doesn't like

strangers.

BOOK:

(still shaken)

You don't say.

Eli leads the pacified mule back to the traces,

grunting at Book.

ELI:

Have to teach you mules, too,

I guess.

CUT TO:

93L EXT. FIELD NEAR FARMHOUSE - DAY

93L

Book collects the pieces of the birdhouse which his car

knocked down the day of his attempted departure. He

pauses as a figure approaches. We recognize Daniel

Hochstetler, Rachel's would-be suitor. He heads for

Book with an outgoing smile and outstretched hand.

Here's a likable man who likes people.

HOCHSTETLER:

Good morning. Book, is it? You

are the Yankee they talk about?

BOOK:

I thought I was the English.

HOCHSTETLER:

English, Yankee. It's the same.

My name is Daniel. Daniel

Hochstetler.

(sizes up his clothes)

You look plain, Book.

(grinning)

Very plain.

Book is not particularly amused.

HOCHSTETLER:

(continuing)

I came to see Rachel Lapp.

BOOK:

Try the house.

Hochstetler gives Book a powerful clap on the shoulder.

HOCHSTETLER:

(genially)

You bet. you take care of

yourself.

Hochstetler heads for the house. Book stares after him

with some interest.

93L CONTINUED

93L

ANGLE:

As Rachel emerges from the house to greet him. she

also catches sight of Book and she pauses, a shadow

of confusion crossing her expression for an instant.

And Hochstetler doesn't miss it either.

Then she gives her suitor a genuine smile of welcome.

93M HOG PENS 93M

Book, having gathered up the pieces of the bird house,

is headed toward the outbuildings, passing by hogpens.

He glances toward the house:

93N HIS POV - THE BACK PORCH

93N

Where Rachel and Hochstetler are sitting in a porch

swing, sharing a pitcher of lemonade.

930 BACK TO BOOK

93O

Thoughtful . . . He glances at the hog pen as a huge

sow

SQUEALS and angrily noses her young ones away from the

trough so she can feed.

BOOK:

Pigs

94 OMITTED

94

thru thru

98 98

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote