ALICE

I’m sorry. I know you hate it when I talk like that…

He chokes up the instant she puts her hand on his shoulder and bites his lips together.

HARRY

It’s… it’s okay.

They go through a long, dark tunnel. Alice faces forward and reclines slightly. With the window down, the tires echo loudly off the walls.

After a moment, the tire sound is mixed with a slight, soft, barely audible cry. Alice’s eyes narrow as she turns towards Harry, but he continues staring at the road.

ALICE

Did you hear something?

Harry’s soft eyes don’t offer any acknowledgement. As the light widens at the end of the tunnel, the cry is heard again, slightly louder. Harry locks eyes with Alice as his foot eases off the gas pedal.

The sun glints off the hood of the jeep as it crawls out of the tunnel and pulls off onto the shoulder.

Harry looks behind him, finding that the road is empty. Alice rolls her window down and they look at each other as the cry is heard more clearly; it’s a baby. Harry accelerates and pulls over into a parking spot on the left side of the road.

EXT. REST STOP - AFTERNOON

Harry exits the car quickly as Alice eases herself out; they have stopped at a tiny gravel lot at the edge of a stone balustrade that overlooks a rich coniferous forest and the crystal blue Toluca Lake. The view is breathtaking.

Harry looks across the hood as Alice braces her hand on it.

HARRY

Alice, are you sure you don’t want to stay in the car?

ALICE

I’ll be fine.

Harry sighs as she walks past him. They walk toward a set of steps that lead down into the forest.

EXT. Forest - Afternoon

Water droplets hang from tree branches, reflecting a thin golden haze in the sky. The humid air illuminates the beams of light poking through the trees. Alice stays close to Harry as they resume walking.

ALICE

(loudly)

Hello?

The cry is heard down the path, louder than before. They both gaze into the forest; it’s beautiful, but silent.

HARRY

Is there anybody out there?

As Harry’s voice fades, the forest settles into silence once more, save for the sound of water dripping through the trees and distant birds singing.

Further down the path is an old stone well. Harry cautiously steps over to it and peeks down just as the cry is heard clearly down the path. Just ahead is a set of iron gates that are open towards them.

HARRY

Hello?!

They walk through the gates, continuing down a path enclosed on either side by a three foot stone wall.

EXT. CEMETARY - Afternoon

As the path widens, Harry eyes a small, thin, two-level stone building on the left next to rows of headstones.

The cemetery is fairly small; there are only thirty headstones, each is littered with moss around the base and bears faded lettering. Behind the last row is a small, rippling pond with the sinewy branches of a fallen tree poking through the surface.

Directly in front of them, the crying BABY is wrapped in a white blanket with stenciled writing:

ALCHEMILLA HOSPITAL

Harry steps forward first, kneeling down to pick her up. She immediately stops crying. Alice, smiling brightly, touches the baby’s face as Harry lifts her; Harry smiles as well as she looks into his eyes.

ALICE

Oh, she’s beautiful! What a pretty girl!

The baby smiles. She has tousled black hair and eyes nearly identical to Alice. Harry is beaming.

HARRY

Looks like she’s got your eyes… how old do you think?

ALICE

Couldn’t be more than a few days. Oh, she’s so pretty… Hello!