Lesson 18

[Laurie Reilly]

Laurie- Act 3. Middle Scenes. What I learned, is that I could catch up! And that I made myself cry. Love the process. Can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow!

INT. WOODVILLE- 1992- ANNIE AND JOE CABIN, LIVING ROOM- EVENING

Joe-35 and Annie-35, are comforting Erin-10 and Hunter-8, on the couch.

ERIN-10

I can’t believe this happened right down the road from our cabin.

HUNTER-8

The bus went right by it on the way home from school. The truck was smashed to smithereens.

ANNIE-35

(whispers half to herself)

It could have been so much worse.

JOE-35

Uh… yes of course, always could be worse, but the driver didn’t make it. That was bad enough.

ANNIE-35

That shouldn’t have happened.

Joe gives her a quizzical look.

HUNTER-8

Did you see him Dad?

Erin puts her hands over her ears, upset.

ERIN-10

I don’t want to hear, I don’t want to hear.I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

The phone rings and rings. Finally Joe-35 gets up to answer it. Annie-35 is reluctant to let go of his hand.

JOE-35

(quietly)

I should get it. The sheriff said he would be calling me later to ask some more questions.

He answers, but it’s not the sheriff.

JOE-35

Hi Mary-Lou. Yes-she’s right here.

Annie-35 shakes her head no, and tightens her arms around Erin-10. She mouths ‘later’ to him.

JOE-35

Um, she’s uh, with the kids….yah. You heard? …Such an awful accident… Me? I’m fine.

Joe walks a little farther away and drops his voice.

JOE-35

…We were standing in the driveway when it happened….If it had been just a few minutes later, well, who knows….Yeah she’s kind of shook up. I’m sure she will call you later, or tomorrow… Thanks for calling…(awkward pause). I, I love you too.

INT. WOODVILLE- 1992- ANNIE AND JOE BEDROOM- EVENING

Joe-35 is asleep. Annie-35 is facing away from him wide awake, cradling her lower belly. She whispers to herself.

ANNIE-35

I’m sorry, I’m so sorry Maggie.

Annie’s eyes suddenly come into focus and she sits up slowly. She gets up, not bothering with a robe and leaves the room.

INT. JOE AND ANNIE’S CABIN, ERIN’S ROOM, CONT.

Annie-35 is watching Erin-10 sleep. She pulls the covers up around her and kisses her gently on the cheek.

INT. JOE AND ANNIE’S CABIN, HUNTER’S ROOM, CONT.

Annie-35 is sitting on Hunter-8’s bed. His covers are a mess. She tries to cover him up, but he throws it back in his sleep. Afraid to wake him, she blows him a kiss with her fingertips.

INT. JOE AND ANNE’S CABIN, BEDROOM, CONT.

Annie-35 climbs back onto the bed with Joe-35. She cuddles against his back for a moment, She pulls back and traces ‘I LOVE YOU’ on his back with her finger tip. He stirs, then falls back asleep. She turns over onto her back and puts her hand on her lower belly. She closes her eyes for a moment, then takes a deep breath and turns out of camera range.

EXT. MARY-LOU’S HOME, 1992 3 AM

Mary-Lou-45 answers the door in her robe, takes one look at Annie-35, also in her robe, and throws her arms around her.

MARY-LOU-45

Oh honey. I don’t know what to say.

She pulls back and takes in Annie-35’s tragically stoic face and that she is wearing a bathrobe.

MARY-LOU-45

You drove here like that?

ANNIE-35

I was afraid if I stopped to get dressed I would change my mind.

MARY-LOU-45

Change your mind? Come in, come in. It’s been a traumatic day.

ANNIE-35

Please, can you hypnotize me? I can’t sleep, so I can’t dream…so you have to hypnotize me. Right now.

INT. MARY-LOU SUNROOM, 1992, CONT.

Annie-35 eyes flicker back and forth under her eyelids as Mary-Lou 45 tries to put her under. It’s not working too well. Mary-Lou 45 places a hand on her wrist and leans close to her.

MARY-LOU-45

Let’s try again. You have to give yourself permission to let go. I can feel your pulse literally thrumming through your body. Let’s try this. Open your eyes. Look at me. Now match my breath.

Mary-Lou-45 takes long slow deep breaths, and Annie-35 tries to match her. Eventually it starts to work. Mary Lou-45 takes Annie-35’s hands and places them over Annie-35’s heart.

MARY-LOU-45

You are safe. Let yourself sink a little deeper into your breath. I’m going to count down from 10 this time. Each count, each breath allow yourself to relax into serenity. 10, relax your brow. 9 relax your jaw, your mouth. 8 relax your shoulders, that’s it. 7 relax your arms..6…5…4…3..

And she’s under.

INT. ALTERED STATE -CONT.

Again the tree is younger and Sarita is not the there. Annie-35 is stoic, serene, determined. The swarm of memories that swirl around her has two layers now, one colorful, the one below it, shades of grey. She slows the stream down carefully, looking.

INSERT MEMORY SCENE 14

(In Color)- Erin-18 graduation- she looks out and waves, there is Joe-43 and Hunter-16 in the audience. Annie is a few rows behind them.

INSERT MEMORY SCENE 15

(In Color)- Annie-45 is looking at color pictures of Hunter-16 playing soccer, Hunter-16 at prom with a girl, and Hunter-16 skiing with Joe-45)

Annie-35, in the Altered State, takes a breath and keeps looking in the color stream of memories.

INSERT MEMORY SCENE 16

(In Color) Mary-Lou-50 hands newborn baby Maggie to Annie-40 in a hospital bed. Sean suddenly rushes into the room, happy and out of breath.

Annie-35, in the Altered State, almost collapses in relief, then checks one more memory in the colored stream.

INSERT MEMORY SCENE 17

(In Color) Annie-40 is cradling baby Maggie in her bed, she is singing a song to her. It is almost like her dream, except Sean is also cuddling Annie and baby Maggie.

Annie-35, in the altered state, as a soft smile on her face. Then she grows somber and reaches to slow the memory stream that is black and white.

INSERT MEMORY SCENE 18

(In B & W) Annie-60 is slow dancing, and as she turns, we see that her partner is Joe-60. They are sharing a private joke and are joyful to be together.

Annie-35 tries to insert her hand in the scene to visit it, as she did before, but it doesn’t work. A tear flows down her face.

ANNIE-35

Looks like we made it Joe, looks like we would have made it together.

Annie-35 takes a big breath and calls out.

ANNIE-35

Mary-Lou, bring me back, please, I’ve seen enough.

INT. MARY-LOU SUNROOM- 1992- CONT.

Annie-35 opens her eyes and refocuses on her surrounding.

MARY-LOU-45

Annie? You ok? What, what did you see?

ANNIE-35

I saw Joe, in the future. With the kids. And I saw Maggie. She was back and she was alive. Do you believe me?

Mary-Lou 45 hesitates and gives a small nod.

MARY-LOU-45

I believe that you absolutely saw this little girl. And your belief is so strong that I …almost…

ANNIE-35

And you were there. For her birth.

MARY-LOU-45

But … how…

ANNIE-35

I…I have to leave Joe. I have to. I must. So I can go find Sean. So there will be a Maggie.

[Jeanne Sanner]

Jeanne Sanner See lesson 20. The scenes for this assignment are posted in lesson 20. Long story.🤗

[Margaret]

Margaret’S ACT 3 middle scenes

What I learned: I wasn’t ready to write these scenes this morning. I froze, thinking I should wait until I had some concrete lines to write. I decided to go ahead, write anyway. Forced creativity. It worked! Thoughts started flowing…

EXT. DONEK SECTOR – DAY

Alo announces the decision to move to Ebba

Beginning: Alo has the men gathered, they confront Alo with his inability to come up with a plan.

Middle: Alo shares the plan which is rejected.

End: Jabe steps up, tells them to get ready to go.

EXT. DONEK PLAZA – DAY

DONEK CROWD, including women and children, stand before Alo in the small plaza. Alo silences their murmurs with his hand.

ALO

We have been oppressed by the Donek, many of you have lost loved ones in these last days.

An ANGRY DONEK WOMAN calls out from the crowd.

ANGRY DONEK WOMAN

And where is the care of Taaba? Why does he allow this?

ALO

It is true that Taaba tests us, but our faith in Taaba must prevail.

ANGRY DONEK WOMAN

Faith is one thing. Watching our loved ones die one by one is another!

The crowd’s murmurs increase in volume, clearly upset.

ALO

I have sought the will of Taaba. Now please, listen to what I have to tell you.

A PATIENT DONEK man calls out to the crowd.

PATIENT DONEK

Listen to him, then! Let’s hear what he has to say.

The crowd quiets, listens.

ALO

Thank you, my friends. It is time that we leave the Donek sector, move to a place of safety.

The crowd gasps with this unexpected pronouncement. Alo waits for them to quiet before continuing.

ALO

Many of you have heard of Ebba. Both the Hedeon and the Donek keep stores of food, water, trade goods there. There is sufficient housing and land for crops. It is easily guarded and will give us the protection we need.

The Angry Donek Woman replies.

ANGRY DONEK WOMAN

You would have us leave our homes of generations past? And take over Hedeon property? Why not poke the bee’s nest? And who will fight the guards at the entrance?

The murmurs restart as the crowd discusses the pros and cons of this plan. Alo tries unsuccessful to quiet them.

ALO

Please, please listen. This is the will of Taaba.

No one pays attention.

A loud voice calls out, shocking the crowd into silence.

JABE

Heh! Heh!

Jabe moves up to Alo. His size commands attention.

JABE

I will take you. I will fight for you. As Alo said, this is the will of Taaba.

The crowd looks at one another, intimidated into acquiesence.

JABE

Pack what you can carry up the mountain. We leave as soon as it turns dark. Now, I need volunteers. Strong, brave men, who will follow me up the Snake Path first. We will take out the guards first and the rest of you will settle in before the Hedeon know what happened. Who is with me.

The men in the crowd look at one another, slowly, one by one, ten men step forward.

EXT. FOOTHILLS – EBBA – NIGHT

A few Hedeon guard Ebba. The Donek wait until dark and a few brave men sneak up the snake path to overcome the Hedeon. Jabe is unable to kill, leaves the killing to the brave ten.

Beginning: Jabe and the Brave Ten go up the snake path to Ebba

Middle: Jabe confronts the guards

End: The brave kill the guards while Jabe watches.

EXT. EBBA – SNAKE PATH – NIGHT

Ebba resembles the Jewish Masada: a mountain with a flat top, with a small winding path leading to the top, the Snake Path.

EBBA GUARDS stand at watch at the top of the Snake Path.

Jabe leads the TEN BRAVE DONEK up the path, each carrying guns.

At the top of the path, Jabe steps up to the Hedeon Ebba Guards, startling them with his size.

JABE

Heh there.

The Ebba guards don’t reply, just stare at the Donek giant.

JABE

We can do this peacefully. Or not.

The CHARGE EBBA GUARD notes Jabe’s gun.

CHARGE EBBA GUARD

What do you want?

JABE

We are taking over Ebba. So you can take the path down the mountain or die here.

The Ebba Guards start to lift their weapons, but the TEN BRAVE DONEK step up behind Jabe, weapons already drawn.

CHARGE EBBA GUARD

You’ll have to kill us, then, for if we leave this post, Armann will.

Jabe puts his hand on top of his gun, but can’t bring himself to press down. He takes a step back.

The Charge Ebba Guard catches on to Jabe’s unwillingness to kill. He catches the eyes of the rest of his Ebba Guards, nods.

The Ebba Guards slowly lift their guns.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Spray from the guns of the Brave Men with Jabe cover the aura of the Ebba Guards. They fall to the ground, dead.

Jabe watches, his hand still hovering above his unfired gun.

EXT. FOOTHILLS – EBBA – NIGHT – SAME

The Donek men are successful and give the signal for the rest to come up the mountain.

Beginning: The Brave Men glow with their victory

Middle: The Donek give a victory cry

End: The Donek Crowd moves up the Snake Path

EXT. EBBA – DAWN

The Donek settle into Ebba, celebrate their escape. A few purple among them accept the Orb in the excitement of the moment.

Beginning: The Donek celebrate

Middle: The Orb appears, the purple accept it

End: All on Ebba are now Donek

EXT. EBBA – DAWN

The morning light reflect off the glowing Donek Crowd, as the last of them reach the top of Ebba.

Musicians, with guitars and flutes, play a lively tune as the Donek crowd dances.

The Donek’s purple children and a few adult purple celebrate with them.

Suddenly, the Orb appears, floats near a purple man. In the joy of the moment, he grabs the Orb, moves it to his chest, his aura changes to match that of the Donek.

The Orb reappears to each purple in turn, and all accept it, shouting with joy.

The Orb appears to children as well, and they follow the example of their elders.

The celebration grows in intensity and the mountain top glows with the pearly iridescence of the Donek. No purple among them.

EXT. HEDEON SECTOR – PLAZ – DAY

Armann stirs up his tribe, they plan the attack on Ebba.

Beginning: Armann addresses the Hedeon in the plaza, tells them of the Donek’s move to Ebba

Middle: Armann proposes they kill them all

End: The Hedeon celebrate the plan

EXT. HEDEON SECTOR – PLAZA – DAY

The Hedeon stand before Armann in the plaza. A sea of red.

ARMANN

They have gone to far! Killed our guards, taken over our property, the supplies we need to live. They must be killed! Killed!

The Hedeon chant back to Armann.

HEDEON CROWD

Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Armann lets them rant for a long beat then silences them.

ARMANN

Every Hedeon will join me. We WILL take back Ebba! We WILL fight! We WILL win and not rest until EVERY Donek is dead!

The crowd cheers.