HOW FAR SHE WENT
Written by
Chloe Lenihan
Based on, the short story "How Far She Went" by Mary Hood
CML2202@columbia.edu
310.428.2700
March 7, 2015
EXT. MARY’S HOUSE. FRONT YARD - MORNING
Low hanging clouds drift in an azure sky. Ripples dissipate
the peaceful image to reveal a distorted reflection in WATER.
ACE, a small Terrier drinks from a bowl. Fully satiated, the
dog dashes across the yard to join his master near a mailbox
at the property gate. He sits by her side like a shadow.
Callused HANDS withdraw a LETTER from an envelope. They
belong to MARY (49), a tired workhorse-type. For this onetime beauty, the years have been unkind.
As she reads, tension travels down her forehead and settles
between her pensive eyes.
A door SLAMS. Mary’s attention turns towards ESME (15).
Willful and spirited, she is stuck in physical limbo between
girl and woman.
Esme saunters from the porch to the lawn. Dressed in short
cut-off jeans and a mid-riff blouse, she sprawls out on a
towel.
Mary returns the letter to its envelope and shoves it inside
her pocket.
MARY
Thought I told you to change. If
you’re living under my roof, you’ll
dress with some decency.
Esme flips through a magazine, deliberately ignoring her.
CUT TO:
SWEAT glistens at a graying temple. Mary wrings excess water
from garments. Pins them to a clothesline. Contemplation
brews in her eyes.
VROOM! VROOM! DIRT BIKE MOTORCYCLES squeal past the house.
Esme’s gaze follows TWO BIKER BOYS until they disappear in
the distance. Mary notes the young girl’s interest with
disapproval.
Ace basks in the sunshine. Tongue hanging from his mouth.
ESME
Here boy, here. Tsst, tsst.
(He ignores her)
Stupid dog.
2.
Mary treads towards the house, empty laundry basket in hand.
She passes Esme, who yanks a handful of grass and scatters
the blades in no particular direction.
MARY
Plenty of weeds taking over my
garden that actually need some
picking.
Mary feels the girl’s glare on her back. Disappears inside.
INT. MARY’S HOUSE. KITCHEN - DAY
Mary peeks at Esme from behind a lace curtain. She watches
the girl roll up her shirt exposing her stomach to the sun.
Shakes her head and mumbles something incoherent.
A pitter-patter of footsteps is heard OFF SCREEN. Mary’s
attention is redirected to Ace WHIMPERING by her ankles. Dirt
and twigs are matted around his face.
MARY
What’d you get into this time, Ace?
She removes a BURR tangled in his floppy ear. The dog SQUEALS
and recoils in pain. Mary rubs his head and neck, wiping away
the evidence of his busy morning.
CUT TO:
LATER-The women eat lunch at a small table in silence. ACE waits
patiently under foot, hoping to catch scraps.
Mary observes Esme squash a PEA under her fork. Then another.
And another one.
MARY
Either eat it or don’t. But quit
playing with perfectly good food.
Esme begrudgingly lays her fork on the plate. She’s barely
touched her food.
I’m full.
ESME
Mary’s chewing slows into a hard swallow. Takes a long beat
of consideration before setting down her fork.
3.
Withdraws the letter from her pocket. Slides it across the
table. Esme stares at the envelope, curious but too obstinate
to read. In a standoff of stubbornness, neither wants to make
the first move.
MARY
This came today from your daddy. He
wants you to cash in your plane
ticket and buy some school clothes.
For here.
ESME
You’re lying.
Incredulous, Esme tears open the envelope. A change occurs in
her eyes as she digests the content.
MARY
We can go down to the school
tomorrow to register you-ESME
I’m not staying. You don’t even
know me. I hate it here and I hate
you!
In one swift move, Mary outstretches her arm and SLAPS the
girl. Hard.
Stunned, Esme fights hard to contain the rage, hurt, and
confusion. The emotions are clearly painted on her face. Mary
appears cool, unaffected.
Esme storms out, leaving Mary alone with the crumpled letter.
The house falls silent as she resumes eating.
Moments later, a door SLAMS. FOOTSTEPS are heard outside the
house. Mary diverts her attention to the window catching a
glimpse of Esme running off the property.
Alone and exasperated, Mary sighs heavily. Feeds Ace a
chicken chunk off her plate.
EXT. MARY’S HOUSE. FRONT YARD - LATER
Mary collects dry clothes from the line, pausing to wipe her
sweaty brow. Hoists the laundry basket up on her hip, and
advances towards the house.
Spots Esme’s abandoned TOWEL on the grass. Grabs it as she
heads inside.
4.
INT. MARY’S HOUSE. ESME’S BEDROOM - DAY
Mary enters holding a pile of folded laundry. The room is
unornamented apart from a CRUCIFIX hanging crookedly. Sets
the clean clothes on the bed.
Harsh sunlight beams through the window. She draws the shade.
GIRLS APPAREL spills out of a partially PACKED SUITCASE
littering the floor. Mary scrutinizes the mess. She gathers
the discarded garments, folds, and places them on the bed.
Takes a final look around the room. Straightens the crucifix.
EXT. MARY’S HOUSE - DAY
Deep creases surface across Mary’s forehead. She looks down
the road, shielding her eyes from the midday sun. It’s empty.
MARY
A waste of my time.
Mary retreats to an old PICKUP TRUCK parked in the driveway.
Ace trails behind. She tosses a HOE, RAKE, and WATERING CAN
into the rear.
MARY (CONT’D)
Stay, boy. Stay.
Ace cocks his head, obeys. She slides into the driver seat.
The engine roars to life. Ace jumps into the bed of the
truck, a trick he’s clearly mastered.
In the rearview mirror, Mary spies the stowaway dog. She
exits, walks back to confront him.
MARY (CONT’D)
OK. You win. Get up front.
Mary helps Ace jump up to the front seat.
EXT. CEMETERY. ROAD - DAY
The truck steers through the entrance kicking up loose
gravel. A few bends in the road later, it parks in a quiet
cemetery.
EXT. CEMETERY. GROUNDS - DAY
Gardening tools in hand, Mary kneels before a TOMBSTONE as if
it were an old acquaintance. Starts tending to the WEEDS.
5.
Headstone reads: Sylvie Steele. 1981-2013. Daughter. Mother.
Substantial perspiration indicates some time has passed.
A sound cries MOM! MOM! Mary jolts as a group of CROWS fly
overhead, tricking her ears with their song. Ace BARKS and
tries in vain to jump up at the birds.
Her weeding grows more aggressive. Sweat drips down her
chest. She’s overdoing it. Throws the hoe down by her side.
Damn her!
MARY
Wipes her face and neck with a kerchief. Motorcycles ZOOM in
the distance.
Ace follows Mary as she tosses the tools in the truck’s rear.
INT./EXT. MARY’S TRUCK/ ROAD - DAY
Wind whips hair across Mary’s face. She drives with purpose.
Determination. Ace sits loyally by her side.
The afternoon light subtly begins to change. The vast
landscape transitions into dense woods. Mary checks the
mirrors. Cranes her neck trying to see past the trees.
Passing a dead end road, she glimpses long enough to spot TWO
YOUNG GUYS perched on dirt bikes. They crowd a third figure,
obscured by the sun’s glare. One steps aside to reveal Esme!
Mary hears laughter through their muffled conversation. She
spins the wheel, drives down the road.
MARY
(To Ace)
Figures she’d be wild like Sylvie.
No use in trying to tame her.
Should just tie the girl to a fence
and feed her a bale of hay.
Mary observes the bigger of the two men, WES (mid-twenties)
pass a bottle of WHISKEY to his friend, RICKY (19). Wes,
shirtless and well-built, has a look designed to inspire
fear. Ricky overcompensates a baby face with a tough demeanor
and barely there facial hair.
Mary parks and climbs out of the truck.
6.
EXT. DEAD END ROAD - SAME
Wes offers Esme the bottle. He licks his lips as she wraps
her mouth around the rim. Enamored by her own power, she eats
up the attention.
Mary approaches. Her eyes widen from shock into silent fury.
MARY
What in God’s name! YOU get over
here.
WES
Hey, hold up. Who the hell are you?
MARY
Her grandmother. Now, step aside.
WES
Ain’t nothing wrong happening here.
MARY
No? She’s a child.
RICKY
Shit, I told you!
Ricky takes a final swig from his whiskey and chucks the
bottle among the trees. He looks at Wes for approval.
Wes smirks. Takes a swill from his bottle. Ace GROWLS as Wes
looks Esme up and down, undressing her with his eyes.
MARY
Get in the truck.
No.
ESME
MARY
I said, get in the truck.
RICKY
Ah c’mon grandma. You wanna a drink
with us? We just havin’ some fun.
WES
(to Esme)
Yeah. Fun. Ain’t that, right?
Now.
MARY
7.
Mary stands her ground. Ignores the boys as she glares at her
granddaughter.
Esme deliberates a moment before sliding off the motorcycle.
She takes the bottle from Wes and swigs in defiance while
Mary watches. Hands it back to Wes.
She saunters towards the truck. Wes grabs her wrist and yanks
her face close to his lips. He speaks to Esme but his eyes
never leave Mary.
WES
Any time you want to go for a ride,
sweetheart, you come find me.
Ace GROWLS more viciously. Mary seizes Esme’s arm and leads
her to the truck.
MARY
She’s fifteen. You can go to jail.
WES
And you can go to hell.
MARY
Probably will. I’ll save you a seat
by the fire.
Wes and Ricky cackle and mimic Mary as she drags Esme to the
truck. Their crude mockery turns into sparring together.
INT./EXT. MARY’S TRUCK/ ROAD - SAME
Esme skulks into the passenger seat. Mary gives them a
serious look before driving back to the main course.
The truck drives down the bumpy country road. Mary firmly
grips the ten and two o’clock position on the wheel. Ace lies
between the two women.
The cemetery can be seen approaching in the distance.
Esme leans out the passenger window, finger tweezing her
eyebrows in the side view mirror. Mary notes her indifference
with disdain.
MARY
It’s your own blood that’s buried
there. You might have the decency
to glance out one time.
Esme slumps into the seat. She stares out the window at the
faraway headstones. Her eyes flicker with emotion.
8.
VROOM! VROOM! Mary spies Wes and Ricky out the rearview
mirror. They gain distance. Mary shifts uncomfortably and
readjusts her grip.
The boys speed ahead, leaving the truck in their dusty wake.
MARY (CONT’D)
Did they mess with you? Under your
clothes?
Esme shakes her head no.
Did they?!
No!
MARY (CONT’D)
ESME
The truck passes the cemetery. Nothing but trees and dirt
extend to the horizon.
A FEW MINUTES LATER -The truck pauses at a STOP sign. Turns a corner to discover-Wes and Ricky. The parked motorcycles form a road block.
Concerned, Mary scans the area. Checks left. Clear. Right.
Clear. They are alone.
Wes and Ricky strut to the driver and passenger windows,
respectively. Ricky nurses a fresh bottle of hooch.
They lean against the vehicle. Ace bolts upright, paws on the
dashboard. His bark vicious for a dog his size.
WES
Where’d ya think yer goin’?
(to Esme)
Hi again.
MARY
Get off my truck.
WES
We was doin’ some thinking and...
we don’t think you were very nice
back there.
MARY
Go take your entertainment
someplace else. We haven’t the
time.
RICKY
9.
Wes produces a PISTOL. He strokes the shaft in a grotesque
seduction. Mary retains her steely composure as he COCKS and
taps the muzzle against the window. She squeeze the wheel.
WES
You see that? Like that?
MARY
You think that makes you tough?
Like a real man?
WES
Feisty old woman! I like you.
Grandma?
ESME
Mary turns to see Ricky make a lewd gesture with his tongue
at Esme. Ace BARKS protectively.
Grandma!
ESME (CONT’D)
All the coolness Esme possessed earlier is replaced by fear.
She hugs Ace trying to settle his belligerence.
MARY
Hey! Get away from there!
She taps the passenger window, warding him off. He SPITS at
the glass in retaliation.
Mary presses hard on the accelerator sending Wes teetering
backwards. Wes and Ricky stagger.
Mary floors it! Maneuvers the truck onto the shoulder of the
road sidestepping the bikes.
The truck careens down the road. From the corner of her eye,
Mary observes Esme embracing Ace. Her focus returns to the
road.
In the rearview mirror, Mary catches sight of the bikers.
They are getting closer.
Mary brakes hard, swerving into the wooded roadside area.
EXT. THE WOODS - CONTINUOUS
She drives into the woods, weaving to avoid trees. White
knuckles clutch the wheel.
ROARING ENGINES assure Mary that the bikers trail closely.
10.
The truck veers into a puddle of mud. Stalls. Mary cranks the
key in the ignition. The wheels sputters. It’s stuck.
MARY
Come on. Damnit.
The sound of engines is layered with SNAPPING branches and
CRACKLING leaves.
ESME
You shouldn’t have pissed them off.
MARY
Get out and run. Go.
Esme pushes her door. It’s stuck. She kicks it to no avail.
ESME
I can’t get out!
This way!
MARY
Mary offers her hand. Guides Esme out the driver’s side
dodging the mud puddle. Ace leaps out and races ahead.
At the mouth of the woods, Wes and Ricky dismount from their
bikes. Ricky glimpses the truck and leads the charge onward.
RICKY
We got em now, Wes!
WES
Fuckin’ bitch! Wanna try and run me
over, huh?
The women run through an overgrown trail. Mary pauses to
catch her breath and orient herself.
Heavy FOOTSTEPS rapidly approach. CRASH! The sound of a glass
bottle SHATTERS. The BARKING dog goes berserk.
MARY
Hush, boy! Shhh!
Ace tears off running, HOWLING all the way. Mary and Esme
follow him into a clearing. DRUNKEN LAUGHTER and CAT CALLS
continue to gain in proximity.
EXT. POND - CONTINUOUS
Mary stumbles from behind the brush upon a small, mossy pond.
It looks neglected. Rocks and trees line the perimeter.
11.
Esme points to a small dock connecting the land to the water.
Mary stifles a cough. She is exhausted and unsure. Esme wades
out into the water.
A GUNSHOT reverberates in the atmosphere.
Mary follows Esme into the pond with Ace paddling out behind
her. Mary and Ace submerge below the water.
EXT. POND/ BELOW THE DOCK - CONTINUOUS
Mary and Esme emerge under the dock, gasping for breath. Mary
clutches Ace whose bark is persistent and fierce.
RICKY
I seen ‘em go this way.
WES
They’re here all right.
Mary struggles to hold the whimpering dog’s mouth shut. His
tattletale cries daring to betray their hideout. He squirms
and claws at her face.
MARY
Shh shh shh shh shh!
ESME
(whispering)
Quiet boy.
A second SHOT rings out in the sky.
The dog’s wails grows more panic-stricken. Mary looks at
Esme. She trembles, exposing all repressed vulnerability.
The crease between Mary’s brow deepens. Her eyes fall shut.
In one swift motion, Mary plunges Ace under the water. He
flounders and fights against her force. Detaining him is like
trying to hold a fish.
Eyes closed. Jaw clenched. She struggles to keep him down.
Bubbles slowly rise to the surface.
Three.... Two... One.. Silence, at last. The battle has
ceased.
Esme gapes at Mary. Dumfounded. How did it get to this?
The little dog’s body lies limp in Mary’s arms. There is no
more sound. No more movement. They listen. And wait.
12.
The STRIKE OF A MATCH and deep INHALE breaks the stillness.
Mary and Esme hold their breath.
THE FOLLOWING SCENE CUTS BETWEEN BELOW THE DOCK WITH THE
WOMEN AND ABOVE WITH THE BIKERS AT THE DIRECTOR’S DISCRETION.
Wes lights a cigarette then flicks the match. Ricky walks to
the end of the dock handing a FLASK to his partner.
Mary and Esme listen to the footsteps directly over head.
RICKY
If they’re in these woods, we could
burn ‘em out.
WES
Smartass withered cunt could do a
little work on her knees besides
praying.
Mary peers through the wooden planks. Fragments of his boot
soles block the late afternoon light. Something shiny
flickers in his hand. The gun.
Wes sweeps the area with his eyes. Sniffs hard and sucks air
into his teeth. Cocks the pistol back.
WES (CONT’D)
Hey boy, if you had to choose sweet
cherry pie or aged roast beef,
who’d you rather?
Ricky laughs too forcibly. His anxiety is competing with his
need to impress Wes.
The women hear FOOTSTEPS followed by a ZIPPER. Wes relieves
himself into the water.
Clutching the dead dog, Mary regards Esme’s quivering body.
They remain motionless, enduring the situation.
RICKY
I think they got away, man.
Wes ZIPS up his pants. Slaps a mosquito against his neck.
WES
Shit. Damn bugs.
RICKY
Come on, I’m hungry and they’re
long gone.
13.
Wes takes a final dour look around. Still water. Empty
forest. He spits into the pond.
UNDER THE DOCK-Mary and Esme wait in silence until the sounds of the men
subside. The light dims while they continue to wait.
EXT. POND - SUNSET
Mary grabs the side of the dock. She guides herself to shore,
gripping Ace to her chest. Esme trails behind. Their bodies
shiver. Esme’s teeth chatter.
Mary tries to stand but stumbles. She reclines on the ground
holding Ace tightly.
MARY
(whispering to Ace)
Oh, honey. Oh, honey.
She rocks the dead dog in her arms slowly like a baby. Esme
hugs her knees into her chest, making her body a small ball.
The silence persists as shock settles into reality.
Mary, winded and fatigued, tries to stand again but staggers
once more. This time, Esme gestures to help. Mary shrugs her
off. She notices the girl stifle tears.
The two women lock eyes. For the first time, they actually
see each other. They feel everything in this moment. All the
pain, history, love, sadness, guilt.
There is nothing left to say. Nothing more to do.
Cradling Ace, Mary turns her back to Esme and staggers
towards the road.
Esme inhales deeply, lowers head, and stands.
MARY (CONT’D)
We’ll see about the truck in the
morning.
Esme follows Mary, matching her footsteps, matching her
stride.
FADE OUT.