The Keeping Room Page #3

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(CONTINUED)

8.

The carpentry is crude, but it works. It gives them a

sense of peace. Of safety.

Mad puts the slat in place. And once she’s done it,

Louise checks to make sure the slat is secure.

Then Louise walks over to Augusta and turns her back to

her. Augusta begins to unbutton Louise’s dress.

Mad walks over to her bed and starts to unbutton her own

dress. Her buttons are in the FRONT.

Once Louise’s buttons are done, Augusta turns her back to

her sister, and Louise unbuttons her.

Mad looks on at the quiet ritual between the sisters.

Then she steps out of her own dress and gets into bed.

Once Louise has unbuttoned Augusta’s last button, Louise

gets into bed. Augusta places her RIFLE by the side of

the bed she shares with Louise. She puts out her lamp and

crawls in next to her sister.

LOUISE:

I’m cold.

Augusta wraps her arms around her, keeping her close.

Mad blows out her lamp and looks on in the moonlight from

her bed as the two sisters fall asleep.

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

An empty road.

The SOUND of a HORSE, moving fast.

Then, HORSE and RIDER are seen in the distance. They

approach at a steady pace.

Perhaps we get glimpses:

-- The rider’s BOOTS

-- Dark leather GLOVED HANDS holding REINS

-- The uniform of the UNION ARMY

He rides fast and true; he knows where he’s going.

RIDER and HORSE fill the frame as the pounding of HOOFS

becomes overwhelming...

9.

EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAWN

A fat, orange SUN creeps over the house and fields.

Insects BUZZ about in shafts of early morning light.

EXT. GOAT FIELD - SAME

HATTY, the lone GOAT, chews some grass.

EXT. WOODS - SAME

Augusta searches for prey as the sun finishes rising.

She hears a NOISE. Stops. Looks...

NOTHING.

She continues on.

INT. FARMHOUSE / BEDROOM - SAME

Louise lies asleep. The only one left in the room.

She stirs, WAKES. Looks over at the OPEN WINDOW as the

CURTAIN rolls over the breeze.

EXT. FIELD - SAME

Mad harvests some TURNIPS. The yield is unimpressive.

EXT. WOODS - LATER

Augusta stops by a CREEK.

She crouches down. Splashes some water on her face. Cups

some in her hand, drinks it.

Takes in the moment of rest. And then she’s off again.

EXT. ANOTHER FIELD - LATER

Louise has wandered out to the grass, still in her

nightgown, feet bare.

10.

EXT. LARGE TREE - LATER

A HEADSTONE juts out from a moss covered mound of dirt.

Louise kneels down and drops the wildflowers in front of

the cross. She sits, cross-legged, elbow on knee, face in

hand, just looking at the dirt.

EXT. WOODS - LATER

Augusta stands completely still, gun up. She closes her

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