LITTLE ALICE AGAIN
(Alice is sitting on the couch, staring at the television. Melissa comes to sit next
to her)
MELISSA
Alice, honey...
ALICE
(Not taking her eyes from the television)
Yes, mommy?
MELISSA
I'm going to need to talk to you, so can you turn that off?
ALICE
But...
(Melissa gives her "the look." Alice picks up the remote and turns it off, then turns
to look at her mother)
MELISSA
We're going through a really tough time right now, and I'm
afraid we don't have a lot of money left.
ALICE
But, isn't there Daddy's life insurance?
MELISSA
Honey, Daddy didn't have life insurance. He didn't think
he needed it.
ALICE
But what are we gonna do!?
MELISSA
That's what I wanted to talk to you about.
(Takes deep breath)
We're going to have to sell the house and move somewhere
less expensive.
ALICE
What!? Mommy, no! This is our home! Where are we gonna keep
Pluto?
MELISSA
See, that's the thing.
(Reaches out to Alice and puts her hand on her
shoulder)
We're going to have to sell him.
ALICE
No! Mommy, you can't! You can't! We have to keep him, we
have to! Mommy, I can't let Pluto go!
MELISSA
Alice, you know that if I didn't have to, I wouldn't do
this. I know how much you love him. But right now, we
need the money, and we just can't afford to keep him. And I already found a really nice family to keep him. They have a thirty acre yard and a big barn and other horses and the
whole bit! He's going to be so happy!
ALICE
No he's not, not without me!
(Alice leaps up and runs out the door and into the barn. She rushes into Pluto's
stall and throws her arms around him)
ALICE
Pluto, you can't go. I'll miss you so much! Pluto!
Scene goes to truck pulling up outside the house. A father and a boy jump out. Melissa has her arm around a grumpy looking Alice)
FATHER
Hi, I'm Patrick Arthur, and this is my son, Jake. We're
here to see that horse of yours that ya got for sale.
MELISSA
Yeah, he's over here. Just follow me.
BOY
(To Alice)
I can't wait to see him. I hope he'll get along just fine
with my other horses.
ALICE
If you already have other horses, why do you need another
one? Pluto is mine.
BOY
Not as soon as my dad gives your ma the money. Then your
horse is all mine. And don't you think I'll be callin' him
Pluto.
ALICE
THAT'S HIS NAME! HIS NAME IS PLUTO!
MELISSA
(Looks over)
(Warning)
Alice...
(Pluto is hooked to the cross ties. He snorts in a greeting to them. The father bends
down and inspects his legs, then the rest of him)
ALICE
(Whispering)
Please find something wrong, please find something wrong.
FATHER
(Rising to look at Melissa)
He's perfect. Here's the check
(Hooks a lead onto the horses halter and starts
to lead him away)
ALICE
So, that's it!? You're just going to take him, just like
that!?
FATHER
It's called a sale, little girl.
(Continues to lead the horse away)
ALICE
(Chasing after him)
No, you can't! You can't take him!
BOY
We sure can. We're the ones who paid for him.
ALICE
(Runs to the trailer)
Pluto!
MELISSA
Alice...
(Attempts to grab her, but she slips from her
hands
As the father tries to lead Pluto into the trailer, the horse rears and dashes back to Alice. She hugs him)
FATHER
Oh, come on! I don't got time for this!
(Takes the lead rope and rips Pluto away from
Alice, this time successfully loading him into
the trailer before Alice could stop him)
(The truck turns on and starts to drive away)
ALICE
No! Pluto!
(Starts chasing after the truck, but her mother
grabs her)
Pluto!
(Struggles)
MELISSA
Alice, Alice...