234. Beached - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. BEACH - DAY


• JIM and EMILY stroll down the beach, holding hands.


• They come around a curve in the cliffs and find themselves walking towards a beached baby humpback whale.


• A small group RESCUE WORKERS and BYSTANDERS sit on the beach, watching.


• ANDY, a rescue worker in an orange vest is filling a bucket with sea water.


• He takes the bucket and pours it over the whale, gently caressing the whale's tough, gray skin with his hands.


• Jim and Emily walk past the people sitting in front of the whale and approach Andy.


• JIM
• Hey, what's going on?


• ANDY
• We couldn't save her; we tried everything, and the tractor is going to be too late...she'll already be dead, so we decided to sit shiva for her. Join us?


• Jim and Emily nod and join the others, sitting.


• They are talking, sharing.


• ANNA
• She really loved the kelp you could find here in the bay; the others laughed at her, but she knew it was better. Her mother loved her deeply and will miss her deeply. No parent should have to bury their daughter.


• She stops, waits, then turns to Jim and Emily.


• ANNA
• It's your turn.


• EMILY
• Our turn?


• ANNA
• We've all been telling stories about her, who she was, the people...whales that loved her. We're preserving her memories.


• Jim looks at the whale for a long moment, then clears his throat.


• JIM
• I remember how she used to swim, all that childish joy exploding over the surface of the water. Her gray intertwined with the blue glass of the sea. And her mother would laugh to see it.


• He stops, surprised that his eyes are watery.


• He nods to Emily.


• She stands...walks to the whale and puts her hand on it's cool skin.


• She begins to sing, almost inaudibly, then louder and louder the Ave Maria.


• When she finishes, the group sits in silence.


• She turns back and sits down next to Jim.


• They wait.


• Finally, the whale gives a ragged breath and doesn't move again.


• AMY stands and opens her backpack, pulling out a wine bottle and plastic cups.


• AMY
• I brought it for a picnic.


• She fills the cups and those sitting with the whale stand, receiving it.


• AMY races a her cup to the whale and they responded, silently saluting.


• The group dissolves, leaving the rescue workers waiting for the tractor.


• Emily grabs Jim's hand and they stay seated in the and, watching the waves lap at the humpback's fin.


• FADE TO BLACK.