An exploration into drama and darker, more mature subject matter. A pregnant woman in an abusive and manipulative relationship decides to take control of her life after heartbreak.

1. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
MOVING FORWARD
Draft One
Written by
James Ehle

2. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
FADE IN:
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - MORNING
MINDY GARRISON (26), sits off the to the side of the road, as
her hair blows in the wind. Sunglasses cover her eyes, but
her beauty shows through. She admires her surroundings.
MINDY (V.O.)
I want to take a trip.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - AFTERNOON
A lone car drives down a country road surrounded by nothing
but fields and trees. The car slows down at a stop sign,
where we see Mindy in the passenger window.
Mindy, a beautiful young woman, is admiring the countryside
around her with a hopeful expression on her face, longing for
the outdoors.
Her husband, RICK GARRISON (28), is a handsome man, they make
an attractive pair. Rick looks over at Mindy, somewhat
impatient.
RICK
Roll that up, we have the air on.
Mindy begrudgingly complies. She thinks a beat.
MINDY
We should take a trip.
Rick shakes his head, he doesn’t care. Mindy pleads
hopefully.
MINDY (CONT’D)
Somewhere. We never go anywhere.
RICK
I don’t have time to take a trip.
MINDY
When will you?
RICK
I don’t know.
Mindy frowns. The car continues driving.

3. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
INT. GARRISON HOUSE - EVENING
Mindy is glowing, working to contain her excitement. Rick
sits across the dinner table from her, unobservant.
Mindy stands up from the table and walks off screen,
returning with a small white box. She hands it to Rick,
knowingly.
RICK
What’s this?
She smiles softly.
MINDY
Open it.
Rick looks at the box curiously, lifting the top off. Inside
is a card that reads YOU + ME = 3. He looks at her, still
unsure. Underneath the card is a pregnancy test.
His reaction is confused. He scans her face, she must be
joking. She giggles softly and reassuringly. Rick’s eyes
widen, he grins.
RICK
Are you serious?
She nods. He stands up and embraces her, both smiling.
Although blissful, Mindy seems surprised herself. This isn’t
typical of her husband.
EXT. COLLEGE APARTMENT - NIGHT - FLASHBACK 6 YEARS EARLIER
Mindy helps Rick up the stairs to his college apartment, he’s
stumbling and reeks of alcohol. Mindy is patiently joking
with him.
MINDY
Beer isn’t the only thing that
comes in bottles. You need to drink
some water.
RICK
No I don’t. I’m- I feel great.
They reach the top of the stairs. Rick pulls her in to kiss
her, she squirms away from him.
MINDY
Lay off, Rick. You stink.
Rick pouts.
2.

4. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
RICK
Aw, c’mon Minny.
She pulls the key from under his rug. He tries to grab her
again. Mindy shoves him back.
MINDY
I said lay off!
This angers Rick. His anger builds for a moment and he whacks
her with the back of his hand. She grabs her face, surprised,
looking pitifully at him.
Rick shoves past her into his apartment, closing the door on
her. She stands in the empty hallway, confused, rubbing her
face.
INT. GARRISON HOUSE - PRESENT DAY
They separate from their embrace, and he kisses Mindy on the
forehead, then walks away. She stands, thoughtful.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Mindy sits in a booth across from her older and wiser sister,
ERIN (32) who sips a mug of coffee. Mindy is acting
suspicious.
ERIN
You’re just gonna watch me drink my
coffee? Why don’t you get
something?
MINDY
I already had a cup this morning.
Erin disregards the statement, and shakes her head as she
pours a creamer in her coffee.
ERIN
And? You drink more coffee than
anyone I know.
Mindy shrugs. Erin stirs the coffee.
MINDY
Not today. I’m making some changes.
ERIN
Dude, you’re perfectly healthy.
Mindy smirks.
3.

5. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
MINDY
(knowingly)
Not for me.
Mindy gives a quizzing look at her sister, then raises her
eyebrows and looks down at her stomach. A moment. Erin’s eyes
bug out in a reserved excitement.
ERIN
Wait, are you...?
Mindy nods.
ERIN (CONT’D)
Oh my gosh! Mindy!
Erin jumps up from the booth, Mindy scoots out and they hug.
ERIN (CONT’D)
Congratulations!
MINDY
Thanks.
They sit back down, Erin’s thoughts racing.
ERIN
When did you find out?
MINDY
A few days ago.
Erin shakes her head in a daze of joy.
ERIN
Mindy... I’m so happy for you...
MINDY
How do you like the sound of a Aunt
Erin?
Erin thinks a second, under-whelmed.
ERIN
We’ll work on it.
They both laugh. Erin seems cautious.
ERIN (CONT’D)
So, what’s Rick got to say about
it?
4.

6. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
MINDY
You know, he was actually really
happy about it.
Erin is skeptical.
MINDY (CONT’D)
I’m just nervous.
ERIN
About what?
MINDY
All of it.
Mindy giggles nervously. Erin smiles softly.
ERIN
Welcome to motherhood, everyone
feels that way. You’ll be great.
Mindy shrugs. Erin reassures her, having experience.
ERIN (CONT’D)
Besides, I have tons of books and
junk on pregnancy I’ll let you
borrow.
INT. GARRISON HOUSE - DAY - SIX WEEKS LATER
Sitting in the kitchen, Mindy reads one of the many pregnancy
books her sister gave her. Prenatal vitamins are on the table
in front of her too. A stack of more books on the table.
Rick walks into the kitchen and acknowledges the cluttered
table.
RICK
God, you’re obsessed.
Mindy shrugs it off.
MINDY
I just want to be prepared.
RICK
It’s a baby, not a bomb.
He pulls a beer out of the fridge.
MINDY
There’s a lot more to it than you
think.
5.

7. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
Rick doesn’t care.
RICK
Oh yeah?
Mindy becomes irritated.
MINDY
(under breath)
Yeah. Maybe if you came to the
appointments with me you’d know.
RICK
What?
MINDY
Nothing.
RICK
Oh, don’t act like that. It’ll be
fine whether I’m there or not.
Mindy closes her book and slams it onto the table.
MINDY
You get to say that.
RICK
Mindy, what are you talking about?
MINDY
I have to go to the appointments.
I’m the pregnant one. I don’t have
the luxury of choosing when I do or
don’t want to give a damn about our
baby.
Mindy gets up out of the chair and walks into the kitchen,
crossing her arms.
RICK
Is that what you think?
Mindy’s expression doesn’t change.
RICK (CONT’D)
All you care about- all we ever
talk about is the baby.
Mindy shakes her head and grins.
MINDY
There you go. It’s all about you
and what you want.
6.

8. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
Rick turns away from her.
MINDY (CONT’D)
You’re right. I care about our
baby. More than a lot of things.
But the thing is that I have to. I
know you’re not going to.
Rick turns redder and redder with anger.
RICK
(quietly)
Shut up.
MINDY
You’ve always cared about yourself,
more than anything else. It’d be
great if you grew up, Rick.
He spins back around to face her.
RICK
Shut up!
Mindy stands, glaring at him. His fists are clenched, he’s
fuming mad. Fear and anger play on Mindy’s face. Rick storms
out of the kitchen, leaving her by herself.
INT. ERIN’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON
Erin picks up stray children’s toys lying around the living
room and tosses them into a box in the corner of the room.
Mindy is on the couch with a wine glass of grape juice.
ERIN
I don’t know what to tell you,
Mindy. Like I said, you can’t bring
milk back once it’s spoiled...
Mindy shrugs and looks almost hopeful.
MINDY
He didn’t touch me.
Mindy sips her juice. Erin gives Mindy a look and sits down.
ERIN
It doesn’t matter. He’s still an
ass.
MINDY
I just couldn’t keep everything
stuffed inside, I had to tell him.
7.

9. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
ERIN
And he needed to hear it.
Erin shakes her head.
ERIN (CONT’D)
You’re raising two babies.
Mindy smirks, still bothered. Erin acknowledges the glass in
Mindy’s hand.
ERIN (CONT’D)
More grape juice?
Mindy smiles and hands it to Erin who gets up.
INT. ERIN’S HOUSE - LATER
Erin dumps the glasses of grape juice into the sink and puts
the juice back in the refrigerator. As she walks past the
bathroom she stops, concerned, hearing labored breathing.
ERIN
Mindy, you okay in there?
Mindy is sitting on the bathroom floor silently crying and
afraid. She looks around, unsure what to do. Erin becomes
more alarmed outside of the bathroom. She knocks hard.
ERIN (CONT’D)
Mindy?
A moment of suspense. Erin grabs the knob and quickly opens
the door to a horrific sight.
Blood is smeared along the floor in front of Mindy, as she
sits crumpled on the floor. Blood spots her clothing. Erin
tries to maintain composure, she’s scared and cautious.
MINDY
What- what’s happening?.....
Mindy is lost and unreachable. Erin slowly bends down next to
her, reaching an arm out to comfort her. Mindy continues to
cry uncontrollably.
EXT. GARRISON HOUSE - EVENING
Erin guides Mindy up to the front door, an arm around her.
Mindy’s eyes and nose are red from crying. Mindy turns to
Erin.
8.

10. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
MINDY
Thank you.
Erin offers a faint smile.
ERIN
Will you be all right?
Mindy looks at the door knob, then back to Erin. Mindy tries
to suppress her nerves.
MINDY
Yeah... Yeah, I’ll be fine.
Mindy opens the door and closes it quietly behind her. Erin
walks away.
INT. GARRISON HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Mindy leans with her back against the front door. Rick comes
around the corner. He sees her and looks annoyed already.
RICK
What now?
Mindy looks at him coldly, crossing her arms sheepishly. He
shakes his head and walks back into the kitchen. He grabs
another beer. Mindy follows him, almost unwillingly.
MINDY
Rick...
Rick closes the fridge. She stops just at the edge of the
kitchen.
MINDY (CONT’D)
Sit down, Rick.
He scans her up and down, realizing something’s off. He
notices spots of blood on her clothes.
RICK
Is that blood?
Mindy looks nauseous.
MINDY
Yes.
Rick sets the unopened beer on the counter.
RICK
Why are you covered in blood?
9.

11. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
Mindy’s face turns sour as she holds back tears.
MINDY
It’s the baby.
Rick stares at her.
MINDY (CONT’D)
We lost the baby.
She starts to cry. Rick feels the impact but doesn’t show it.
He stands unsure for a moment as Mindy cries. He shakes his
head.
RICK
How.
Mindy continues to cry. He walks up to her slowly, anger
creeps within him.
RICK (CONT’D)
Mindy, I swear to God-
Mindy shoots him a look through tears.
MINDY
What? You think I did this on
purpose?
The emotions hit Rick, he starts to tear up too. But he tries
to stuff the sadness inside. Soon an uncontrollable rage
builds. He grabs her shoulders.
MINDY (CONT’D)
Stop crying.
He looks at her pitifully. He’s scared too.
MINDY (CONT’D)
Cut it out!
She sobs harder, everything has fallen apart. He starts to
shake her, making things worse. He pushes her out of anger
and she falls, hitting her head on the table.
Mindy’s sobs quiet as she begins to breath in a
hyperventilated state, trying to calm her self. She holds her
hand on her eye in pain.
RICK
Mindy.
He’s lost. He realizes what he’s become. Rick backs up and
stands on the other side of the kitchen, turning from her.
10.

12. Property
ofJam
es
Ehle
EXT. GARRISON HOUSE - MORNING
Mindy lugs the last of her belongings to her car in a
cardboard box. She wears sunglasses to cover her bruised
face. She gets in the car and drives off.
Rick stands in the front door, emotionless.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - LATER
Mindy drives down the wide open country roads, as far away as
she can get from Rick. She pulls off to the side of the road.
The white box she gave to her husband in the passenger seat.
Mindy looks down at the box. As she drives it keeps grabbing
her attention. She gets out of the car and digs a small hole.
She lays the box down in the hole and covers it. She smiles
down at it a moment, then looks around at the beautiful
surroundings.
She walks off to her car. The dirt where she’s buried her
miscarried child is surrounded by flowers from the field.
Amidst the beauty, the car starts and pulls back onto the
road, she drives off into the distance, a free woman.
FADE TO BLACK.
11.