Woman in the Yard, The (2025)

[bunniefuu]

DAVID:

I had the most amazing dream.

-(birds chirping)

-(rumbling)

(clock ticking)

RAMONA:

What was it?

(wind whistling)

DAVID:

The house was finally finished.



The decorating was done.

The barn was full.

(ticking continues)

The yard was covered

in those flowers you love.

What are they called?

RAMONA:

Irises?

-DAVID (chuckles): Yeah.

-Hmm?

DAVID:

Irises.

They were everywhere.

And we were having so much fun.

You, me and the kids.

Life was good.

RAMONA:

That's a nice dream.

DAVID: The only thing left

was the name.

RAMONA: Every farm

doesn't need a name, you know?

Mm. Mm-mm.

DAVID:

With all the work we've done...

...we're naming

this damn place.

(crackling)

So...

What name would you pick?

(Ramona chuckling over video)

DAVID:

Hmm?

For the perfect home?

RAMONA:

Mm...

I don't know.

(David sighs)

That's no fun.

It's quite fun

because I don't know.

The kids are supposed to say,

"I don't know."

RAMONA:

I-I can... I-I don't know.

(David chuckling)

(Ramona sighs heavily)

Hmm...

I had the most amazing dream.

(muffled knocking)

RAMONA:

What was it?

DAVID:

The house was finally finished.

TAYLOR (muffled):

Hey, Mom?

DAVID: The, uh,

the decorating was done.

The barn was full.

TAYLOR (muffled):

Mom.

The yard was covered

in those flowers you love.

What are they called?

RAMONA:

Irises.

-(chuckles): Yeah.

-Hmm?

Iri--

Mom!

(groaning)

Power's out.

RAMONA:

(sighs) sh*t.

So, um, are you gonna, like,

call the electric company

or something?

(groans)

-Can you hurry?

-Just...

let me wake up, Tay.

(Taylor sighs)

-RAMONA: Okay?

-Okay.

Okay.

(groaning)

(pained grunting)



(grunting)

(grunts)

(sighs) Give me strength.

Give me strength.

ANNIE:

"'Let me in.'

"'Not by the hair

on my chinny chin chin,'

"replied the little pig.

"'Then I'll huff and I'll puff

and I'll blow your house in.'

"But before he could,

"the little pig just opened

the door and let him inside.

"Because all the big, bad wolf

wanted to do

"was to be friends, and the

little pig wanted that, too.

"So, they painted watercolors,

"and they read books,

and they ate snacks.

"Then the little pig took

the big, bad wolf

"into the little pig's closet.

"And then

the big, bad wolf found

"the most colorful dresses

they could find,

"because the big, bad wolf

wanted to play dress-up.

-So..."

-Big, bad wolf plays dress-up?

Penguin doesn't like

the scary parts.

Just wanted to say

good morning.

(whispers):

Good morning.

(crutches thumping)



TAYLOR: All right,

come on, buddy. Come on.

Go, go, go, go, go.

All right, ready, boy? Okay?

Go get it.

(dog panting)

(chickens clucking

and squawking)

All right, buddy.

Hey, guys.

(clucking and squawking

continue)

Ready?

(dog sniffing)

(bottles rattling)

(Taylor sighs)

All right.

(gas hissing)

(knob clicking)

(sighs)

(groans quietly)

(floorboards creaking)



(lighter clicks)

(pills rattling)

(sighs)

(sizzling)

Damn it.

(grunts)

(dishes clinking)

(crutches thumping)

(yelps)

(breathing heavily)

-(crutches thumping)

-(food sizzling)

Annie! Uh-- What are you doing?

-ANNIE: I wanted cheese.

-Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh.

I'll do it. I'll do it. Okay.

Tay, you got to watch her.

Here.

-(Ramona sighs)

-(quietly): All right.

So, you want extra eggs?

Here you go.

(Ramona groans)

Thank you.

TAYLOR:

Yeah, did they, um...

Did they say how long

till the power comes back on?

Um...

I can't call 'em, Tay.

Mom, are you serious?

Can we not, please?

So, you can't play

your video games for a day.

Oh, my God.

If you hadn't broken

your phone,

maybe you could have

called them yourself.

(Taylor sighs)

What about the food

in the fridge?

It'll be fine

if we keep the door closed.

So, let's try not

to open it much.

(crunching)

Tay, what's...

What's in these?

What am I tasting?

Doritos?

What?

-I like it.

-I like it, too.

(laughing quietly)

(Ramona laughing)

(Annie and Taylor join in)

(laughing)

(Ramona clears her throat)

(dog gagging)

Oh, Charlie.

-What... Oh. -Gross.

-ANNIE: Charlie.

G-- Ugh.

-(Charlie groans) -TAYLOR: Ew.

-RAMONA: Charlie.

What is that?

(whining)

What'd you all feed him?

Food, Mom.

Why wasn't it dog food?

'Cause we don't have any.

All right.

I'll add it to the list.

Put him out on his chain.

I'm still eating.

Tay.

Now.

(sighs) Come, boy.

-Come on. -I'll help you, Mommy.

-Thank you.

-(door closes)

-(insects chirring)

Come here.

Hey, bud.

Charlie, Charlie. Come here.

Put it in the garbage.

(sniffles)

And wash your hands really well.

(cabinet door closes)

(grunts)

(sniffles)

(paper rustling)

(water rushing loudly)

(muffled rumbling)

-(rain falling)

-(windshield wipers pulsing)



(horn blaring continuously

in distance)

(blaring horn grows louder)

-(horn honking)

-DAVID (muffled): Watch out!

(metallic crashing)

(glass tinkling)

TAYLOR (muffled):

Mom.

-Mom.

-Yeah.

(water continues running)

There's a woman in the yard.



(grunts)

(Charlie barking outside)

-Mommy?

-Uh-huh?

Who is that?

I don't know.

(Charlie continues barking)

ANNIE:

Where'd she come from?

I don't know that, either.

(barking continues)

TAYLOR:

What a creepy lady.

ANNIE:

Yeah.

Why is her face covered?

Uh, maybe to protect her

from the sun?

Mom, come on now.

I don't know.

She's probably d*sfigured

or something, or...

Maybe she's, uh, dead.

(gasps) Mama.

-RAMONA: Taylor, stop.

-What?

You're scaring your sister.

The lady ain't dead.

If she was,

she'd, you know, tip over.

No, she could be.

See, dead bodies get

all stiff and stuff.

We learned about it

in school, see.

One time, this guy died

and nobody knew about it.

And when they found his body

a few days later,

his arm was stuck out like this.

-Mama!

-RAMONA: Tay, stop.

TAYLOR (imitates ghost):

Ooh...

Tay, knock it off! Please?

-She is not dead.

-(barking continues)

She's probably just...

...lost.

ANNIE:

Probably she just needs help.

Maybe we should call

the ambulance.

Well, that's a good idea,

Annie baby.

Yeah, that is

a really good idea, Annie.

Except we can't.

Remember?

(grunting)

(barking continues)

-TAYLOR: Why is she dressed

like that? -Yeah.

TAYLOR: It looks like

she's going to a funeral.

ANNIE:

Yeah.

(barking)

RAMONA:

Charlie!

-Stop!

-(barking continues)

ANNIE:

Mommy?

-I'm getting scared.

-Okay, come here.

There's nothing

to be scared of, okay?

Daddy would know what to do.

Uh...

All right. All right.

I'm gonna go out

and talk to her.

-You are?

-Yep.

-ANNIE: Really?

-Wh-Why you? You're injured.

-Tay?

-What?

Just stay inside

with your sister.

(grunts)

Everything will be fine.

-Okay?

-(barking continues)

Charlie!

Enough!

Stop.

Nonstop barking.

(barking)

(chickens clucking)

(sighs) Hey. Oh, no.

Annie. Annie, it's okay.

It's okay.

I know Mom hasn't really

been Mom lately, okay?

But I'm here.

All right?

(barking continues)

RAMONA (shouting):

Can I help you?

Hello?!

How about I look after you,

and you look after Penguin here?

Okay?

(Taylor laughs quietly)

Ma'am?

Charlie! Stop!



Can you even hear me?

I just want to help you.

Where'd she get that chair?

I don't know.

(woman muttering quietly)

Sorry?

WOMAN:

How did I...

...get here?

I don't know.

Was gonna ask you

the same thing.

Are you hurt?

WOMAN (distorted):

What's your name?

Uh, Ramona.

What about you?

WOMAN (normal voice):

Ramona what?

Mm...

Just Ramona's fine.

WOMAN:

I only ask 'cause I noticed

that ring on your finger.

(distorted):

This your home?

Uh-huh.

Mm...

My husband... bought it

as a fixer-upper.

WOMAN: Looks like

he's still got a lot to fix.

Look, I'm just trying

to help you.

You seem confused, and...

...lost.

What you need?

Just tell me.

WOMAN (normal voice):

Nothing.

I'm fine.

Well, um, if you're fine...

...can you get off

my property, please?

WOMAN: Ever wish someone else

would be strong for once?

And instead, you could just...

(echoing):

disappear.

Ma'am...

my husband should be back

very soon.

You should probably go now.

Please.

WOMAN (echoing):

Your husband's not coming home.

Excuse me?

WOMAN:

Your injured leg,

that busted-up truck over there.

Guess you were lucky.

(echoing):

And he was not.

And who are you?

ANNIE:

Mommy!

Go back inside!

Go!

WOMAN:

Your children are such darlings.

(distorted):

Ripe enough to eat.

Get off my property,

or I'm calling the police.

WOMAN (normal voice):

Today is the day, Ramona.

(distorted):

You called, and I came.

(singsongy):

Today is the day.

(muffled rumbling)



Where is she going?

-(barking)

-Charlie, hush!

-(barking continues)

-(grunting)

(grunting)

(keys jingling)

(ignition sputtering)

Come on.

-(ignition sputtering)

-(barking continues)

What is she doing?

I'm scared.

It's okay.

(barking)

(Charlie whining)

(panting)

RAMONA (whispering):

Come on. Come on.

(ignition sputtering)

Come on.

Come on. Come on.

(sighs)

I'm going out there,

and I'm not going unarmed.

Wait till Mommy comes back.

-(crutches thump) -Jesus, Mom!

-What are you doing?

Nothing.

TAYLOR:

So?

Who is she? What does she want?

Nothing. She's just some woman.

Why'd you go to the Jeep?

Uh, I thought

we might need this,

just in case the power doesn't

come back on by tonight.

Mom.

Mom, come on. What did she say?

RAMONA: Oh, she didn't really

say anything.

Just thought I was

her nurse or something.

Her nurse?

Yeah, she said something

about being on medication.

Maybe even be off

her medication.

Either way...

she's very confused.

Okay, yeah,

but how did she get here?

Probably wandered off

from that nursing home

by the high school?

That's my guess.

But why is she dressed

like that?

Babe, I don't know.

But we should just

not mess with people

in that kind of a state, so...

best we don't go outside.

Ooh.

-Who wants ice cream?

-(Annie gasps)

-Me.

-Come on. Come help me.

-RAMONA: Vanilla?

-Yes.

-Yes what?

-Yes, please.

Okay. One for Annie,

two for Mommy,

and... Tay?

Tay, ice cream?

Okay.

Once the freezer door's open,

we got to eat all

the ice cream before it melts.

She tell you her name?

Mom?

-No.

-No?

Then how are we supposed

to ask the nursing home

if she's missing

if we don't know her name?

Tay, she was confused.

Maybe hurt. I don't know.

It wasn't easy getting answers

out of her, okay?

(sighs)

I think you should

get Dad's g*n.

And if you don't, I will.

Go to your room.

No.

-Tay, go to your room.

-No!

Go!

(Ramona grunting)

Annie, baby.

If you don't eat up

the ice cream,

Mommy's gonna have

to eat it instead.



(Ramona sighs)

As soon as the power

comes back on,

I'll call

and get her out of here.

In the meantime,

doors are all locked,

and we'll just keep

an eye out on her.

Okay?

-ANNIE: Mama?

-Hmm?

I think she's closer.

Annie, take it to your brother.

(Annie sighs)



(wind whistling softly)



-(insects chirring)

-(wind whooshing softly)

(metallic creaking and groaning)

(Ramona sighs)

(Ramona groans quietly)

"Blue."

Mommy?

Uh-huh.

That's-that's good, baby.

(inhales sharply, groans)

That lady hasn't

gotten up once today, Mommy.

Not even to go to the bathroom.

RAMONA:

(chuckles) Nope.



Mm.

Mm.

"Purple."

Mommy, that correct?

Does that look correct to you?

The hump goes the other way

on the "R."

It goes to the right.

(groans) Wait. Ah, ah, ah.

Here, let me show you. Look.

Little "R."

Big "R."

RAMONA:

Mm.

(continues writing)

How come

you don't paint anymore?

Maybe I will,

when a beautiful picture

comes into Mommy's... head.

Erase it and try again.



There. Is that correct?

Uh-huh. That looks good.

Uh, stay here with your brother.

Uh, I'll be right back.

(Ramona grunts)

(chimes tinkling softly)

(tinkling grows louder)

(insects chirring)

(lock clicking)

(grunts)

(whispering):

Charlie.

Charlie, inside now.





(grunting)

(chain rattling)

(strained grunting)

sh*t.

(grunting)



(gasps)

What happened?

Hmm?

Nothing.

ANNIE:

"Red."

Is that correct?

TAYLOR:

No.

No, no. It's-it's wrong, Annie.

Did the "R" backwards again.

He's right, honey. Try again.

(ball continues bouncing)

Taylor, can you not

do that, please?

Taylor!

Hey, Mom.

Why don't we just drive

to a neighbor's house?

So, that way,

we can use their phone

and we can call

the old folks' home,

and we can get

Missus Weirdo Funeral Lady

out of our yard even faster.

See? I'm a genius.

I can't drive like this,

and you know that.

Yeah, but I can.

-Mm-mm.

-Mom, come on.

Dad used to let me drive

the Jeep

up and down the driveway

all the time.

RAMONA:

Twice. He let you do it twice.

Okay, but it'll be like

ten minutes of driving, tops.

-No.

-Why?

Because one, I said so,

and two, you're not old enough.

Can you at least

just let me try?

I said no.

(inhales)

Fine.

(sighs) F-Fine.

I'll-I'll just walk.

Th-There's that one farm,

uh-- What's it called?

Um, The A-Aurora? Aurora Acres?

You know, I'll-- It's-it's

only a couple of miles away.

I'll-I'll walk there,

and then I'll ask them

if we can use their phone

-and-and get this lady...

-Taylor.

(slowly):

You're not going anywhere.

(Taylor scoffs)

(quietly):

b*tch.

Excuse me.

-What did you just say?

-Nothing.

RAMONA:

No, I heard it. You said...

TAYLOR: I said you were acting

like one of those.

Not that you were one.

(breathes deeply)

(ball continues bouncing)



(ball bouncing louder)

(ball thuds)

(window slams shut)

Annie, the hump goes

to the right!

To the right!

Which way does it go?

-(softly): Right.

-To the right.

How many times

does it take you to get it?

God. How many times

do I have to tell you?

Same thing with your brother:

"Stop throwing the ball."

Same thing with you:

The hump, it goes to the right.

What are you looking at?

(crayon drops)

Which way does the "R" go?

Which way does the hump go?

Then don't do it

the other way again.

Do you understand?

(sighs)

I'm sorry.

Mommy just got

a little upset, okay?

I'm sorry. Come here.

Come on.

I'm sorry.



I'm sorry. It's okay.

It's okay.

Mm-hmm.

Everything's gonna be okay, hmm?

(Annie screams)

Annie.

RAMONA:

(grunting) sh*t.

-Annie.

-Ah.

Oh, my God. Here.

-What happened?

-Ow.

I was getting water,

-and I stepped on something.

-(Ramona grunts)

Oh, baby.

I got tweezers upstairs.

Let's go clean it out

and put a Band-Aid on it, okay?

-(Annie gasps softly)

-Get her down.

-Don't make me step in the

blood. -Okay. Don't-- Got you.

Stay on the ball

of your foot, okay?

ANNIE:

Okay. Ow.

Can you keep an eye

on her? Okay?

ANNIE:

Got a little blood on Penguin.

RAMONA:

Aw, it's okay.

It's just a little blood.

Just get upstairs, okay?

ANNIE:

Ow.

(insects chirring)

(crutches thumping)

ANNIE:

Ow, ow.

(Ramona grunting)

(whispering):

Charlie.

Charlie.

Okay.

-(inhales sharply)

-Does that feel better?

Yeah, it feels better.

Annie, baby, um...

...I didn't mean

for this to happen.

It's okay. It was an accident.

Yeah.

It was an accident.

Accidents happen.

Like when Daddy crashed

and died.

(insects chirring)

(gasps softly)



Mommy?

-Mm?

-Are we gonna stay here?

What do you mean?

In this house.

Now that Daddy's dead.

We still gonna live here?

I don't know, babe.

Do you want to live here?

Do you?



I don't know.

If you don't want to, it's okay.

(sighs)

(exhales sharply)

(clattering)

(breathing heavily)



(ignition sputtering)

(sputtering stops)

-(creaking and clattering)

-(gasps)

(soft rustling)

-(wind blowing)

-(cover rustling)

(wind gusting)

(breath trembling)

(clattering)

-(grunting)

-(distorted shriek)

(gasps)

(Taylor grunts)

Damn it, Tay!

Get the f-- Get in the house!

Now!



-(door opens)

-RAMONA: What the hell

-is the matter with you?

-(door slams shut)

I told you to stay

inside this house!

You know what else you told me?

That everything

was gonna be fine.

Oh, oh, "Everything's fine.

Everything's fine."

Well, guess what, Mom.

It isn't!

Tay.

But you already knew that,

didn't you?

-You knew the car didn't work.

-(sighs)

Who is this woman?!

Huh?!

What are you not telling us?!

And-and where's Charlie, huh?

He's dead, isn't he?

RAMONA:

Taylor, please.

TAYLOR:

See? No, she's been lying to us

all day about that woman

out there.

Right?

Admit it.

You know who this woman is.

Right?

I am just trying to protect you.

Oh, well, you're doing

a really good job at it.

See, I don't know why we should

listen to you, anyways.

I mean...

She's on crazy person pills,

you know.

Tay, I'm sorry. I'm...

No. No. I should have

done this hours ago.

RAMONA:

Tay. (grunts) Taylor.

Tay!

Tay, stop!

(lock clicks)

Taylor, I'm sorry.



(doorknob rattles)

(pounding on door)

Taylor!

-(pounding on door)

-Taylor, open the door.

Taylor, don't you dare.

Taylor!

(Ramona cries out)

(whimpering)

(airy howling)

(panting, grunting)

(Ramona grunting)

(whimpering)

RAMONA:

Put it back!

Taylor! Taylor, come here.

-Taylor! Don't! Taylor!

-(door slams shut)

Taylor. sh*t.

(cries out)

Taylor. Taylor!

-(lock clicks)

-(pounding on door)

Taylor!

-Tay, don't you go outside.

-Hey.

Hey, don't worry. Dad taught me

how to use this thing.

Just, um,

don't go outside, all right?

And-and don't let her out.

-(pounding on door)

-RAMONA: Taylor, stay inside!

Don't you go out there!

All right, listen up, lady.

You're trespassing, all right?

You got ten seconds

to get off my property

before I start sh**ting.

All right, legally,

I can do that, I think.

Ten!

Nine!

Eight!

Seven!

Six!

Lady, I am not playing with you.

Five!



Four!

Three!

Two!



Annie, baby,

can you come help me?

Annie?

Annie, baby?

Your daddy never

take you hunting?

Shut up about my dad.

It wasn't him.

(insects chirring)

RAMONA:

Annie?

Mommy?

Annie, can you, can you get

that knob on the floor?

(wind whistling)

(chimes jingling)

(Taylor gasps)

(breath trembling)

Annie, I'm sorry.

I'm trying to do what's best

for you and your brother,

so I changed

the scary parts, honey.

You k*lled my dog, right?

You b*tch.

You're confused.

Your mother's been lying to you.

About everything.

What do you mean?

That night,

when you lost your daddy,

your mama told it all...

(whispers):

backwards.

(soft clattering)

Oh, God.

Oh, Annie. Thank you, honey.

Thank you. Thank you.

(sniffles) Okay.

Wh... What are you doing?

Annie, come here.

-Annie. (stammers)

-Annie.

Annie, come here, now.

Go to the living room.

Tay... give me that g*n.

You lied to me.

You said that the roads

were wet,

that Dad just lost control

of the wheel.

But that was just another lie,

wasn't it?

Tay...

What really happened

that night, Mom?

-Please...

-Mom, I need to know.

Okay.

Okay.

(sighs)

The night was going well,

at first.

We had a beautiful dinner.

And your dad, he...

...he knew something was wrong.

That... something was

on my mind.

So I told him the truth.

-(low crowd chatter)

-(piano playing gentle melody)

(David clears his throat)

All I'm saying is,

the kids are happy.

I'm happy.

So, I don't get to be happy?

You weren't happy in the city.

Always coming home,

crying, upset.

And all you'd ever tell me is,

"I'm suffocating."

At least I could work there.

Right?

You're fulfilled in the ways

that you want to be fulfilled.

I am not.

Everything about me is

giving over to everybody else.

I'm doing stuff for you.

I'm doing stuff for the kids.

I'm doing stuff for the farm.

I'm doing stuff

for the f*cking chickens.

We can't make another shift.

We just did that.

Which you said

you were okay with.

Which you said

you were happy with.

Which you said you were

looking forward to doing all...

(sighs)

We can't just keep moving

all the time.

Okay. So, how about I go?

(laughs softly)

Ramona.

This was a "we" decision.

Which is now a "we" issue

that we have to fix.

And we can't fix it

by you going away.

Well, maybe it's not fixable.

Check, please.

(David exhales)

We had a... this vision of a,

of a perfect life.

And I just...

I just couldn't live it.

-(insects chirring)

-(steady pulsing)

(soft whooshing)

(ball bouncing)



(steady pulsing grows louder)

Charlie?

You're not happy.

Okay.

But if you want things

to get better,

you're gonna have to dig deeper.

(engine starts)

(rain falling)

(distant thunder rumbling)



-(low whooshing)

-(glass snapping)

-(low whooshing)

-(scraping)

(low whooshing)

-(rain falling)

-(windshield wipers thumping)



(thunder rumbling)

-(horn blaring)

-Watch out!

-(tires screeching)

-(crashing)

(glass tinkling)

So, yes, I was driving

the car that night.

So I lied.

I lied to you.

(steady pulsing)

(low whooshing)

-(door creaking)

-(low clattering)

(gasps)

(low whooshing)

(screaming)

Annie, what happened?

Are you okay?

-(loud clattering)

-What's going on?

It's her.

Come on, baby! Come here!

(glass shattering)

Tay, come on.

Annie!

Go.

(clattering continues)

Go.

(whimpering)

We got to get somewhere dark.

Completely dark.

-TAYLOR: The attic!

-Go, Annie.

(clattering continues)

Go, Annie, go.

(train whistle howls)

RAMONA:

Go. Go!

(panicked chatter)

-(train chugging)

-(airy howling)

-(train whistle howls)

-Go.

Hurry, hurry, hurry. Come on.

-(airy howling)

-(chugging continues faster)

(rattling)

(grunting)

-RAMONA: Go, Annie.

-(grunts)

Go, honey! Go!

-Go! Go!

-(Annie grunting)

(low whooshing)

RAMONA:

(grunts) Tay!

(grunting)

TAYLOR:

Got you.

(both grunting)

(Ramona grunting)

(low whooshing)

(Ramona grunting)

-(Annie whimpering)

-Annie!

-(screaming)

-RAMONA: Hang on to her!

Go! Tay, get her!

-(screaming)

-Tay!

ANNIE:

Mommy!

(Ramona grunting)

TAYLOR (whispering):

Come on. Come on, come on.

That's okay. That's okay.

Hey.

-Come here. Come here, honey.

-Got to get up now.

RAMONA:

She can't get in.

She can't get in now, okay?

We're safe.



(rhythmic panting)

-(breathing shakily)

-(creaking)

(breathing rapidly)

RAMONA:

It's okay, honey.

She can't get in here.

It's okay.

-(clattering)

-(gasping)

(thumping)

(Ramona gasping)

(clattering)

-(thumping)

-(chandelier rattling)

-(debris falling)

-Move, Tay. Move.

(creaking)

(rattling)

(breathing heavily)

(thumping, debris falling)

(creaking)

(Ramona breathing heavily)

(low creaking)

(eerie roar)

RAMONA:

Taylor, move!

TAYLOR:

Oh, my God. Quickly.

(flashlight clicking)

(Ramona grunting)

TAYLOR:

Go. Quickly.

-(Ramona grunting)

-(clattering)

Stay here, Annie.

-(Ramona yells)

-(glass breaking)

(Ramona screams)

(airy shrieking)

Mom!

(Taylor grunts)

(rapid clicking)

(clicking stops)

(singsongy):

Annie.

(breathing shakily)

(singsongy):

Annie.

(breathing rapidly)

(steady pulsing)

(distorted):

It's me, baby.

Don't be scared.

(faint, distorted screaming)

WOMAN:

I've come to bring you home.

(faint, distorted screaming

continues)



No.

I won't hurt you.

-I would never...

-(whimpers)

ever hurt you.

Shh, shh.

Shh...

(pulsing stops)

(breathing shakily)

(Ramona whimpering)

(Taylor crying quietly)

ANNIE (muffled):

Mommy?

-(Ramona gasps)

-(flashlight clicking)

RAMONA:

Annie?

(clicking continues)

Annie?

Annie! Come on.

We need to find her.

(Ramona grunting)

(clicking continues)

Annie?

(heartbeat pulsing)

ANNIE (muffled):

Mommy?

Annie?

(clicking continues)

(clicking stops)

RAMONA:

Stay here.

I'm gonna go by myself.

TAYLOR (echoing):

Wait. (stammers)

Here, take this.



ANNIE (muffled):

Mommy?

(lighter clicking)

Annie?

ANNIE (muffled):

Mommy?

RAMONA:

Annie?

I'm coming.

Annie?

(whispering):

Annie?

Annie?



(lighter click echoes)



I had the most amazing dream.

(birds chirping)

The house was finally finished.

The decorating was done.

The barn was full.

The yard was covered

with those flowers you love.

What are they called?

Irises.

Yeah. Irises.

They were everywhere.

We were having so much fun.

You, me, the kids.

Life was good.

That's a nice dream.

The only thing left

was the name. (chuckles)

RAMONA (voice breaking):

Every farm doesn't need

to have a name, you know.

With all the work we've done,

I'm naming this damn place.

(Ramona chuckles)

What name would you pick, huh?

For the perfect home?

(crying):

I don't know.

Baby, I really don't know.

-Aw.

-(sniffles)

Come on, it's okay.

(Ramona crying)

It's okay.

Oh, I've missed you.

It's okay.

(Ramona sighs)





DAVID:

What's wrong?

Where are you going?

-(Ramona grunts)

-Where are you going?

(mutters quietly)

(Ramona grunting)

(grunting stops)

(gasps)



(Charlie barking in distance)

(insects chirring)

RAMONA (in distance):

Hello?

(Charlie continues barking)

Ma'am?

Can you hear me?

Just want to help you.

You lost?

(Charlie continues barking)

Are you in danger?

Ma'am!

RAMONA (as Woman):

How did I get here?

(Charlie continues barking)

RAMONA:

Sorry?

RAMONA (as Woman):

How did I...

get here?

RAMONA:

Um...

I-I don't know.

Was gonna ask you

the same thing.

I just want to help you

'cause you seem

confused and lost.

What do you need?

Just tell me.

(Ramona as Woman

breathing rapidly)

(whimpers)

(low whooshing)

(whimpering)

(low rumbling)

I'm drowning.

Today is the day.

Today is the day.

Today is the day, Ramona!



(Taylor breathes softly)

(steady pulsing)

(clattering)

-(Ramona grunting)

-(horn honking)

DAVID:

Watch out!

(horn blares)

Annie?

Annie?

(breathing shakily)



Don't be scared, baby.

It's me.

(breathing shakily)

I come to take you home.

No. No, no, no, no.

-I wouldn't hurt you.

-(low whooshing)

I would never...

-ever...

-(whimpers)

ever...

(steady pulsing)

...hurt you.

Annie. Annie.

Annie, Annie. Annie.

Annie, wake... Annie.

Annie, Annie.



Annie?

Annie. Annie.

-Annie.

-(Annie gasps)

Hey. Hey. Hey, it's me.

-You okay?

-Yeah.

-Mom.

-We're okay.



Take your sister

downstairs, Tay.

-But-but, Mom, we need to go.

No... -Hey.

Give me the g*n.

Go, now.

-Go. -Come on, come on.

Annie, quickly.

Let's go.

(door closes)

This ends here.

This ends right now.

You leave and never come back.

Leave!

Leave us alone!

WOMAN: I can't tell you

how long I've waited

to see that g*n in your hands.

RAMONA:

I will blow your head off.

WOMAN:

I believe you'll sh**t.

Trust me, I do.

After all...

that's why I'm here.

To help you,

like you asked me to.

(quietly):

Give me strength.



Give me strength.

WOMAN:

Every morning,

you pray for the strength...

to do what?

To go on.

No.

You threw away

all those b*ll*ts...

...except for one.

No.

I have children.

They need their mother.

They've needed their mother

for weeks.

But you've been

locked away in here.

Praying... for me.

I'm the corners of your mind.

RAMONA (quietly):

I don't want this.

WOMAN:

The scary parts.

Today is the day.



My kids...

Will they be okay?

(low whooshing)

(lighter clicking)

WOMAN:

Only if you set them free.



(lighter clicks shut)



(weakly):

I want to say goodbye first.

Of course.

RAMONA:

Annie? Taylor?

(breathlessly):

Hey. I want you two to go.

Taylor, take your sister

and leave, huh?

You know how to get

to the neighbor's farm, right?

(grunting)

Aurora Acres, right?

-TAYLOR: Y-Yes, yes.

-Okay. Okay?

I want you to go straight there.

-Here, take this.

-But-but, Ma, what are you...

-Mom, what are you saying?

-Okay?

And you, take this.

Put this on.

Everything's gonna be all right.

You'll be...

you'll be better off.

ANNIE:

But I don't want to.

RAMONA:

Well, you have to, honey.

TAYLOR:

Mama. Mama, I don't understand.

We can all just leave together.

-We... All of us.

-Tay, no.

It'll be a lot better, okay?

Trust me.

So, go. Go on.

Go.

ANNIE:

Mommy, wait.

Annie. (sighs)

I don't want you to be alone.

Okay. Go. Go, go, go.

(sniffles)

Go, Tay.

Stop looking and go!





(sniffling)

(grunts softly)

(crying quietly)

(low whooshing)

(Ramona grunts)

(whispers):

Now.

(Ramona grunting softly)

(low whooshing)

(Ramona breathing shakily)

(Ramona grunting)

(crying)

(Woman shushing)

(Ramona whimpering)

WOMAN (whispering):

Come on, Ramona.

Okay? It's okay.

(Woman shushing)

We don't have all day.

(Ramona grunts)



(low whooshing)



(owl calling)

-(wind whistling softly)

-(insects chirping)

(owl calling)

(footsteps)

(door creaking)

TAYLOR:

Mom?

RAMONA:

Taylor? Annie?

-TAYLOR: Mom.

-ANNIE: Mama.

-Mama. -Mama.

-(Ramona grunts)

-ANNIE: Mama.

-RAMONA: Annie.

Guess what.

I changed the...

the scary parts.

You coming?

-TAYLOR: Hey, Mom?

-Yeah.

Is she gonna come back?

Well, not today.

But if she does, we'll be ready.

I'll be ready. (sniffles)

(Annie and Taylor chuckling)



-(Taylor exclaims)

-ANNIE: Yes.

TAYLOR (chuckling):

Oh, my God.

RAMONA: All right,

video games for everybody.

-ANNIE: Let's go.

-Come on.

-(Charlie barking)

-ANNIE: Hey, Charlie.

-Charlie is back home.

-Charlie. There you are.

-Charlie.

-I thought I lost you, buddy.

-ANNIE: Charlie.

-TAYLOR (laughs): Oh, Charlie.

ANNIE:

Charlie, I love you so much.

(Taylor laughing)

RAMONA:

Come on, kids.







DAVID:

I had the most amazing dream.

-(birds chirping)

-(rumbling)

RAMONA:

What was it?













("Middle of This Storm" by

Ayanna Witter-Johnson playing)

Each day

Before the sun will rise

I count my fears

Guilt now clings to me

so tight

Night after night

Shadows dance round my mind

Doubts grow strong

When I am all alone

Mm

And when all my thoughts

are racing

And when all I have

is falling down

Who will hold my hand?

Who will keep me standing

In the middle of this storm?

And when all I know

is changing

And when all I see

is burning down

Who will hold my hand?

Who will keep me standing

In the middle of this storm?

And when the sun begins

to set

I pray the wind

will take my tears

And let me rest

But every night

Shadows dance round my mind

Doubts grow strong

When I am all alone

Mm

And when all my thoughts

are racing

And when all I have

is falling down

Who will hold my hand?

Who will keep me standing

In the middle of this storm?

And when all I know

is changing

And when all I see

is burning down

Who will hold my hand?

Who will keep me standing

In the middle of this storm?

(vocalizing)

(song ends)