ARIANNA: An Original Screenplay (5 page)

Alana raises her hands.

ALANA: It's all right, we won't hurt you.

ELLIOTT: I thought she can't hear us.

ALANA: Maybe she can read lips.

Naiyoo slides across the wall, backing into the next corner.

Kylan sees a urine spread around her feet.

KYLAN: I don't believe this!

ALANA: Kylan get some towels.

KYLAN: She just pissed on my floor!

ELLIOTT: Kylan, move.

Kylan leaves. Alana smiles, assuring.

ALANA: I promise we won't hurt you. We'll

get you back to your family, OK.

ELLIOTT: (low) You know any Nomad

phrases?

Alana tries to think.

ALANA: There's an old greeting I remember.

She slowly touches the sides of her forehead and places her hands on her heart.

Naiyoo stops and looks at her.

ALANA (CONT'D): I think she understands.

Naiyoo slowly copies the gesture but raises her hands to the air.

Alana smiles.

CUT TO.

INT. WASH ROOM - FARM HOUSE - DAY

Dirt and grime is cleaned off Naiyoo's face.

Alana working gently with the sponge.

ALANA (O.S): (beat) Don't think you've had

a good wash in a long time.

Naiyoo sits in a bath tub, pale and thin.

Alana picks up a comb and brushes down her wet hair, more grime coming loose.

ALANA (CONT'D): I've never seen hair this

fair before. It's really pretty on you.

Naiyoo doesn't respond.

Alana looks at her.

ALANA (CONT'D): Can you read my lips?

Do you understand what I say?

Naiyoo looks back at her but doesn't respond.

Alana shakes her head and smiles to herself.

ALANA (CONT'D): I guess this is going to

be a little difficult for both of us.

She continues combing her hair.

CUT TO.

INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE - EVENING

Table, Kylan looks across at his parents.

ALANA (O.S): You checked, didn't you?

Elliott nods, reluctant.

ELLIOTT: I did.

ALANA: No Nomad tribe has come through

Ellora in years, which means there's no telling

where her people are.

KYLAN: Just set her loose, she'll find her

way back to them.

ELLIOTT: He has a point. She appears to

have survived long enough on her own.

ALANA: She's just a child, we can't throw her

out like some animal.

KYLAN: She IS an animal. Did you see what

she did in my room?

Elliott raises his hand, silencing him.

He looks back to Alana and pauses.

ELLIOTT: You're not suggesting we try and

track down this family of hers?

ALANA: No. I'm not suggesting that.

Elliott sits back, sensing where this is going.

ELLIOTT: So what are you suggesting?

ALANA: (beat) I'm suggesting she stays.

KYLAN: What??

Elliott raises his hand again.

KYLAN (CONT'D): You can't be serious,

we'll be a laughing stock of town!

ELLIOTT: Kylan.

ALANA: They can laugh all they want.

Elliott, we have to do the right thing, it's our

duty.

ELLIOTT: Alana just consider how

ridiculous this is. Even if she could hear us

she wouldn't understand a word we say.

ALANA: Then I'll teach her.

ELLIOTT: You'll "teach her"?

ALANA: Yes, was I not a teacher?

Elliott looks away and sighs.

Kylan looks between them in disbelief.

KYLAN: I don't believe this is happening.

He gets up and leaves.

Alana reaches out to him.

ALANA: Sweetheart.

Elliott turns to her.

ELLIOTT: (beat) I know what this about.

ALANA: Elliott please, that is NOT what this

is about.

She touches his hand.

ALANA (CONT'D): This is about one thing

and one thing only. Being a true to the Great

Spirit.

Elliott looks away and shakes his head.

ELLIOTT: If they return...

Alana smiles and nods.

ELLIOTT (CONT'D): I mean it, if anyone

remotely similar to her pass through.

Alana kisses his hand.

ALANA: I promise.

Elliott shakes his head again.

ELLIOTT: I'm going to regret this.

CUT TO.

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - ELLORAN TOWN CENTRE - NIGHT

A band plays, men and women dance and clap, children playing.

Kylan walks with Rence, both smartly dressed for the festival.

RENCE: If it wasn't a dog what was it?

KYLAN: It doesn't matter, just forget about it.

He looks aside and sees Sophie dancing with her friends.

RENCE (O.S): Wow. I have to say she does

look good. When you gonna make your

move?

Kylan watches Sophie twirl and laugh, her smile radiant.

KYLAN: (beat) I'm going to wait.

RENCE: What? Why?

Sophie sees them and breaks away from her friends.

SOPHIE: Kai!

RENCE: Here's your chance.

SOPHIE: I was wondering when you'd get

here.

Kylan smiles, more awkward than usual.

SOPHIE (CONT'D): Where's your mother?

KYLAN: It's just me and pa tonight. Ma's...

not feeling well.

SOPHIE: That's a shame, mother was looking

for her.

She touches his arm and smiles.

SOPHIE (CONT'D): I believe you have

something for me?

KYLAN: I'm sorry, I didn't get to finish it.

SOPHIE: You didn't?

SOPHIE'S FRIEND (O.S): Sophie!

Sophie backs away, disappointed.

SOPHIE: I gotta go, maybe I'll see you later.

KYLAN: Yeah, maybe we can...

She's already gone.

RENCE: You didn't catch the dog or finish the

Ariadne poem?

KYLAN: It's not Ariadne.

CUT TO.

INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE - NIGHT

Naiyoo lifts her bowl of soup and sips, wearing Kylan's clothes.

ALANA: Try this.

Alana places a spoon in her hand.

ALANA (CONT'D): Eat like this.

She shows her what to do.

Naiyoo looks down at her bowl then slowly copies her.

Alana smiles, encouraging.

ALANA (CONT'D): That's it.

Naiyoo glances at her and pauses.

She slowly raises her hand and points to her.

ALANA (CONT'D): (beat) "Me"? Do you

want to know my name?

Naiyoo doesn't respond, unsure what she said.

ALANA (CONT'D): My name is Alana.

(mouthing slowly) A-La-Na.

Naiyoo half nods, following.

Alana points to her.

ALANA (CONT'D): Your name. Arianna.

Naiyoo watches her lips move.

ALANA (CONT'D): A-Ree-Anna

Naiyoo slowly nods, catching on.

ALANA (CONT'D): (smiles) It's the name I

always wanted to give my, well, it's a name

I've always liked.

She returns to her soup.

Naiyoo touches her hand and smiles.

Alana smiles back.

ALANA (CONT'D): Glad you like it.

CUT TO.

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - ELLORAN TOWN CENTRE - LATE NIGHT

Tuck races through the crowds.

TUCK: Kai! Kai is it true??

Kylan turns.

RENCE: Is what true?

Tuck laughs, out of breath.

TUCK: One of the hands says they have a

deaf mute Nomad living with them!

RENCE: What??

TUCK: Half her face is melted off or

something.

Kylan sees several of the local kids glancing at him, all laughing.

LOCAL KID (O.S): Hey Kai where's the

wedding? Up in the hills?

Tuck and Rence also laugh.

KYLAN: She's not "living" with us all right,

she's just staying until her family come back.

TUCK: I'm sorry Kai, it's just pretty funny. I

mean what are you guys thinking?

ELLIOTT (O.S): Something amusing you

boys?

Tuck and Rence see Elliott looking over them and instantly stop.