Highway of Tears

Morning Light

EXT. HILLSIDE - MORNING - CONTINUOUS

Paige, Hannah, and Nizhoni stand back as Dale, Miles, and Ieva move the rock back over the hole and seal shut the cave.

Ieva perches on the rock, holding her rifle between her legs. Everyone else stands facing each other as Nizhoni drifts around them.

MILES

What the fuck happened in there?

Miles points at Nizhoni.

MILES (CONT'D)

Who is she?

PAIGE

We found her in a tomb, okay. She doesn't speak English. We don't know who she is..

MILES

That doesn't make any sense.

HANNAH

(To Miles)

Do you know what happened to Chloe?.. Shauna? Nathan?

IEVA

They were killed, Miles did everything he could to save them.

DALE

(To Ieva)

Who are you?

MILES

She's Ieva, she was the daughter of those snipers who were on our trail. But she couldn't go through with it. She helped me kill her own father after he killed Chloe.

(Beat)

I'm sorry.

There's a silence.

HANNAH

(To Ieva)

I'm sorry for your loss.

IEVA

I assume because you're alive that my brother is dead.

PAIGE

Yes, he is.

There's another silence.

Nizhoni approaches Ieva and kneels down in front of her. Nizhoni picks up Ieva hand from her rifle and holds it gently.

MILES

She doesn't seem like one of the people who wear the masks.

Nizhoni puts down Paige's hand and starts to drifts around again.

IEVA

I know who she is.

(Beat)

What I know about this place is passed down from my family, generation after generations.

(Beat)

She's the reason why all this is all over.

PAIGE

What do you mean?

IEVA

Don't you feel it?

(Beat)

The air used to hang heavy.. The pit of your stomach used to feel like it was rotting. And now it's gone.

HANNAH

I don't think I'll ever understand what happened last night.

DALE

We should try and find Liam's van. I can see the road in the horizon..

EXT. ABANDONED BARN - SIDE OF THE ROAD - LATER

The barn is full of bullet holes and the door is open revealing the bodies inside.

Liam's van, the modified truck, and Paige's motorcycle are parked by the road in front of the abandoned barn.

Miles, Ieva, Paige, Nizhoni, Dale, and Hannah are arriving in from the forest. Miles and Ieva carrying their rifles. Paige is holding Nizhoni's hand as Dale is helping Hannah walk.

Dale and Hannah look into Liam's Van.

DALE

Nathan left the keys here.

HANNAH

You can drive.

Miles looks at the Barn.

MILES

I'll check that barn for that guy's body, see if I can find the keys to those hillbilly's truck.

Mile exits.

Paige checks her bike as Nizhoni follows her. Dale looks at Nizhoni.

DALE

Where do you think she'll end up?

PAIGE

She can come with me.

DALE

You think she's ever been on a bike before?

(Beat)

How about she comes in the van and we can ride out the rest of this road with you behind us.

PAIGE

Sure. We hang out a little longer if you want?

DALE

I have a feeling the drive back is gonna be lonely.

Ieva stands there awkwardly as she looks at the road.

PAIGE

Where do you think you'll go?

IEVA

I don't really have a place in this world.

PAIGE

Join the club.

Miles enters, he's got some keys in his hand.

MILES

I got the keys to the truck.

(Beat)

Do you want a lift somewhere?

Ieva smiles.

IEVA

Sure.

INT. LIAM'S VAN - MOMENTS LATER

Dale and Hannah get into Liam's van. Nizhoni is on the seat behind.

DALE

Where do we go from here?

HANNAH

Let's just see where this road takes us..

Dale starts the truck and drives.

INT. MODIFIED TRUCK - CONTINUOUS

Miles is in the driver's seat and Ieva's in the passenger's. They see Dale drive away with Paige following on her motorcycle.

MILES

You know, I don't have any place in this world either.

IEVA

Maybe, we don't have to part ways too soon.