"WHERE WILL BE THE SUN?"
LITTLE ALICE
FADE IN:
(The camera swings around to look at trees, the sky, then finally settles down on a
barn. The camera creeps into the barn, and as it looks around, all that we hear is a
little girl's voice. This girl's name is Alice)
ALICE
Come on, now, don't bloat out at me like that! I gotta put
this dang thing on or I'm not gonna ride ya!
(Now we see the girl, blond and about ten, in a stall, struggling to tie a girth on a
horse much larger than her. He nudges her)
ALICE
Pluto! You are five years old! Learn some manners!
(Waves her finger at him, then opens the stall door and grabs his reins. We know see
her leading him out of the barn. She's about to put her foot in the stirrup and lift
herself up on him when Pluto, the horse, lifts his head and let's out a deafening neigh. He rears up, knocking Alice to the ground. Alice scurries to the corner,
frightened. The horse rears up again, but this time takes off as he lands)
ALICE
Pluto! Come back!
(Alice runs after him as he darts through the field. This is when we start hearing
shouts and shots. They become louder as Pluto runs towards the woods. Then we see
Alice run up beside him)
ALICE
Pl-
(Suddenly, we hear this):
ANGRY MALE VOICE
Empty your pockets!
ALICE'S FATHER
I don't have any money!
ANGRY MALE VOICE
Empty your fuckin' pockets!
(Now we see Alice peering through the bushes at what's going on. Her horse sighs
next to her. We see a man holding a gun to another man's head, Alice's father. There are two other men going through his jacket pockets. Alice's eyes widen as she
realizes who the victim is)
ALICE
Daddy!
(All the men turn towards the sound. Alice screams)
ALICE'S FATHER
Alice, run!
(Alice grabs hold of Pluto mane and lifts herself up onto him, giving him a huge
kick)
ALICE
Pluto, go!
(The horse takes off across the field as Alice clings onto his neck. She keeps
riding until she gets to her house. Without the horse fully stopping, Alice leaps
off his back and dashes into the house)
ALICE
Mama! Mama!
(Alice runs into the living room, where her mother is sitting on the sofa, watching
T.V. She leaps up at her daughter's voice)
MELISSA
What? What is it?
ALICE
It's Daddy! People are hurting him!
(Alice's mother starts running to the door)
ALICE
They're in the woods!
MELISSA
Derek! Derek,answer me!
(Turns to Alice)
Honey, go inside right now and call the police. Tell them
what you saw. Derek!
ALICE'S FATHER
(Faintly)
Melissa!
(We hear three shots sound. Alice, stopping at the sound of the shots, opens her eyes
wide)
ALICE
DADDY!
(Scene opens on an ambulance. A cart with a body bag is being lifted into it. The
camera goes to a police officer walking to Melissa, Alice's mother)
POLICE OFFICER
Ms. Mackenzie, can I have a word with you?
MELISSA
(Shakily)
Um, yes, just a minute.
(Leans down to Alice)
Alice, honey, why don't you go put Pluto away and make sure
he's all brushed.
(Hugs Alice)
Go on.
ALICE
(Looks at her mom doubtfully)
(Whispering)
Okay, mama.
(She walks off)
MELISSA
What happened out there?
POLICE OFFICER
Ms. Mackenzie, why was your husband in the woods?
MELISSA
Are you saying this is his fault?
POLICE OFFICER
Just answer the question.
MELISSA
He was building a tree house for my daughter. He wanted to
surprise her. But... why would anyone want to hurt him?
POLICE OFFICER
Are you aware that there is the state prison a quarter of a
mile from here?
MELISSA
Yes, I know that!
POLICE OFFICER
Three convicts escaped last month. They were on trial for
murder. We think it must have been them. Your husband just
was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
MELISSA
Di- did you catch them?
POLICE OFFICER
They ran away before we could.
MELISSA
Did you even try!?
POLICE OFFICER
We have other issues, ma'am.
MELISSA
Other issues!? How am I supposed to explain to my ten-year-
old that the people who murdered her daddy are on the
loose? How am I supposed to feel safe?
POLICE OFFICER
I assure you ma'am, they're not of any harm...
MELISSA
They just killed my husband!
POLICE OFFICER
(Aggravated)
They're not of any harm to you or your daughter, as long as
you stay away from the woods! Their sole purpose was not to
kill Derek! He was unlucky and stupid to be alone in the
woods with a prison so close by!
MELISSA
Get out! Walk away and don't even think of looking back.
You're lucky it's against the law to assault a police
officer, because you would be pretty fucked up if you
weren't!
(Police officer takes a step forward, and opens his mouth to say something)
MELISSA
GET OUT!
(Police officer gives her an angry look then finally turns and signals everyone to
get out. Melissa puts her face in her hands)
(Alice is running towards the barn, where Pluto is galloping circles)
ALICE
Whoa, whoa, boy.
(Pluto slows down a little, then comes to a halt in front of Alice. He nudges her)
ALICE
(Throwing her arms around his neck and crying
into him)
Pluto, never leave me!
(The horse shakes his head up and down)