Season 2/Episode 3: Hay Ride

by Jim McDoniel

A second date
A third meeting
Lily shares a secret

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This episode features: Isa Ramos as Spikes, Amelia Bethel as Marisol, Clarisa Cherie Rios as Lily, Michael Turrentine as Wes, Stephanie Murphy as Ginger, Krista D’Agostino as Hazel, Jeffrey Nils Gardner as Dylan, Mark Soloff as REDACTED, and Tom Dyke as Mort.

Written by Jim McDoniel, sound design by Ryan Schile and Jeffrey Nils Gardner, directed by Jeffrey Nils Gardner, music composed by Stephen Poon, recording engineer Mel Ruder, Theme performed by Stephen Poon, Lauren Kelly, Gunnar Jebsen, Travis Elfers, Mel Ruder, and Betsey Palmer, Unwell lead sound designer Ryan Schile, Executives Producers Eleanor Hyde and Jeffrey Gardner, by HartLife NFP.

This episode contains:

-Jump scares
-Aggressive Dogs

SCENE 1.
INT. MARISOL’S HOUSE. EVENING.
WE ARE IN THE LIVING ROOM AREA. WE HEAR
MARISOL THROUGH A DOOR.

STELLA: Are you almost ready?

MARISOL: (OFF) Almost.

STELLA: Make sure you wear your lucky earrings.

MARISOL: (OFF) I don’t have lucky earrings.

STELLA: The silver hoop one’s with the lapis lazuuuuuli. You only

wear them when you want things to go well.

MARISOL: (OFF) I don’t have lucky earrings.

DOOR OPENS AND MARISOL COMES OUT.

MARISOL: How do I look?

STELLA: Jeans?

MARISOL: It’s a hayride race.

STELLA: Jeans?

MARISOL: Little bits of straw sticking into our butts and legs for half an

hour.

STELLA: Hmmm...

MARISOL: Kid, come on. I’m starting to freak out over here.

STELLA: (LAUGHS) You look gorgeous dahling.

MARISOL: Really?

STELLA: Really, really. Lily’s gonna swoon.

MARISOL: Not with my jacket. Makes me look like the Michelin Man.

STELLA: Yet another reason to wear your lucky earrings. Make your

face POP.

MARISOL: I don’t have lucky earrings.

MARISOL WALKS BACK INTO HER ROOM.

MARISOL: (OFF) Is your recording equipment ready?

RATTLE OF A BAG.

STELLA: Ready to go. (PAUSE) Um...Aunt Marisol, Ms. Gibbons said

I should be there at six to start filming.

MARISOL: I know. That’s why we’re meeting Lily at five forty-five to...

STELLA: It’s five til.

MARISOL WALKS BACK INTO THE ROOM.

MARISOL: What? No. It’s... (PAUSE) ...SHIT! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!


MARISOL RUNS INTO HER BEDROOM AND
BEGINS THROWING THINGS TOGETHER.
END OF SCENE.

SCENE 2.
EXT. JUST INSIDE THE TOWN LINE. EVENING.
STELLA WALKING, CARRYING HER CAMERA AND
EQUIPMENT A LITTLE WAYS BEHIND MARISOL
WHO IS WALK/RUNNING AS THEY APPROACH A
CROWD HARVEST FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE
WITH PEOPLE MILLING AROUND IN THE COLD,
MAKING SMALL TALK, OFFERING CIDER AND
COCOA, ETC.

MARISOL: Come on!

STELLA: I’m coming. I’m coming.

MARISOL CONTINUES ON ALONE. SHE TAKES A
DEEP BREATH.

MARISOL: Everything is fine. Everything is fine. Everything...is going to

be fine.


LILY: Marisol.

MARISOL: (SURPRISED) Lily?!

LILY: Hey, I was looking for you.

MARISOL: Yeah. I was late. Sorry.

LILY: No problem. I only managed to get here like five minutes
ago. Just long enough to get us both De Souza’s De
Cocoas.

MARISOL: Thanks.

STELLA CATCHES UP.

STELLA: Hey Lily.

LILY: Spikes. Didn’t expect to see you here. Are you burying a

body or...?

MARISOL: She just had to come back to complete her magnum opus.

STELLA: What better way to end the film than with the small town that

could triumphing with heart and determination?

MARISOL: And if we lose again.

STELLA: It’s the bittersweet tale of the town that never gives up.

LILY: I’d watch that movie.

STELLA: Really? I mean, once I’ve edited it I’d love to do a test
screening... Oh. Sorry, I see my friend. Can I...?

MARISOL: Go. We’ll meet you at the wagon.

STELLA RUNS OFF WITH THE RATTLING BAG OF
EQUIPMENT.

STELLA: (OFF) Hey Joey!

LILY: So, I didn’t want to bring this up in front of Stella but I
brought a little something to add to the De Cocoas, if we
want...


TINKLE OF A FLASK.

Just the thing for a cold wagon ride.

MARISOL: (LAUGHS.)

LILY: What?

RUSTLE OF CLOTH AND A ZIPPER. ANOTHER
TINKLE OF A FLASK.

(LAUGHS) Great minds.

MARISOL: You do mine; I’ll do yours?

LILY: Deal.

CLINK OF FLASKS AND POURING OF ALCOHOL
INTO THEIR COCOA CUPS.

Oh I love your earrings.

MARISOL: These old things.

LILY: They look...really good on you.

MARISOL: Thank you.

LILY: So how does this work, exactly?

MARISOL: Well the first step usually involves everyone over 21

sneaking alcohol.

LILY: Check.

THEY TAKE A DRINK.

Next?

MARISOL: Next...I would like to kiss you.

LILY: You would?

MARISOL: Mmmmhmmm.

LILY: Well, I suppose. I’d hate to miss out on the authentic hayride

experience.

KISS.

LILY: Now I see why the race is so popular.

MARISOL: That’s pretty much it. Oh and there’s a thing where we get
on a wagon with hay and try to get to the middle of nowhere
before a wagon from Julian.

LILY; Doesn’t sound important. Can we go over the details of step

two again?

MARISOL: They are pretty tricky.

WES: You left out the Le Corte Pig.

LILY: (STARTLED) AAAAH! Wes...uh...what are you doing here?

MARISOL: I see Spikes roped you into helping her.


WES: I’m shooting “B-roll.” You forgot to tell her about the Le Corte Pig.

LILY: The...?

MARISOL: Le Corte Pig. It’s like the Stanley Cup but for hayride races.

WES: Nicolas Le Corte had a pig, Edith, which won the blue ribbon
at the 1872 Lodge County Fair. But the thing was, his farm
was halfway between Mount Absalom and Julian so both
towns claimed credit for the win. Le Corte didn’t want to
choose because whichever town he chose, the other would
just hate him, so we started racing for it. Every fall. Winner
gets the pig that year.

LILY: (UNCOMFORTABLE) That’s...a fun story, Wes. Hehe.

WES: Yeah. Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Go back to your date.

Pretend I’m not even here.

MARISOL: Wes...what kind of b-roll did Spikes tell you to shoot?

WES: She said her film needed a human interest angle and that I

should follow you around for a bit.

MARISOL: Did she? Well...you know what would be a great human
interest angle: Edith and Gary Edgerton are celebrating their
fifty-first hayride race. Why don’t you go get some shots of
them with their grandchildren?

WES: Are you sure that’s okay?

MARISOL: Positive.

WES: All right. See you.

WES WALKS AWAY.

MARISOL: I swear to God, Spikes. Sorry about that.

LILY: Hmm...about what?

MARISOL: My niece checking up on us.

LILY: Uh-huh.

MARISOL: Are you all right?

LILY: Yes. I’m...absolutely. Everything is...hunky dory.

MARISOL: Okay?

HAZEL: (MEGAPHONE OFF) Marisol Cabrera! Please report to the
hay wagon. Marisol Cabrera. Please report to the hay
wagon.

MARISOL: That’s our cue.

LILY: Lead the way.

THEY WALK OFF TOWARD THE CART.
TRANSITION TO THE WAGON WITH THE
GENERAL SOUNDS OF PEOPLE.

HAZEL: Up you go Stacy. Move all the way to the back of the wagon.
Dillon you next. Stella. How are you doing with the camera?

STELLA: All set, Ms. Gibbons. Ready to record the moment of glory.

NEIGHING OF HORSES.

HAZEL: (INTO A MEGAPHONE) Beth and Nessa Thomlin. You get

away from the horses this instant.

GIGGLING AS TWO GIRLS RUN OFF.

They didn’t hurt the horses? Mort, did they hurt the horses?

MORT: Nah. Just fed em a couple of strawberries. No harm done.

HAZEL: I don’t want anyone feeding the horses anything. We need

them lean and hungry...for victory.
(MEGAPHONE) Marisol Cabrera, please report...

MARISOL: Hey Hazel.

HAZEL: Marisol. You’re late. And...Lily Harper.


LILY: Hi Hazel.

MARISOL: You said it was okay if I brought someone this year.

HAZEL: I did. I did say that.

LILY: Is there a problem?

HAZEL: No. No. Of course not. No. You’re more than welcome.

How much do you weigh?

LILY: Excuse me?

HAZEL: Sorry. I don’t mean to get so personal but there are
guidelines for the race. Six children under the age of
thirteen, six adults. Twelve fifty-pound hay bales for
everyone to sit on. It’s all...carefully laid out. And an extra
load... extra weight I mean...could be taxing on the horses.
We have to think about their health. You understand.

LILY: Uh-huh. I’m getting on the wagon now.

THE WAGON ROCKS AS LILY GETS ON.

HAZEL: Mort...check the horses. Make sure they can handle the

load.

CELL PHONE RINGS.

MORT: (OFF) They’re fine.

HAZEL: (ANSWERING VIA FACETIME) What do you want Ginger?

GINGER: (D) Hello Hazel.

LILY: Has anyone every just kicked Hazel before? Right in the

shins?

MARISOL: Yeah, I forgot to warn you. Hazel is kind of EXTRA Hazel-y
on account of her sister is in charge of the race on the Julian
side.

LILY: Her sister...? Oh. OH! That’s right. I forgot there are two of

them. Jolly Ginger and Happy Hazel.

HAZEL: (INTO THE PHONE) Here. Look for yourself. See. See. Still

at the starting line.

GINGER: (D) I’m glad to see that. I’d hate to have to disqualify you like

in 2010.

HAZEL: An honest miscommunication of where to place the starting

line. Unlike 2002, when your wagon was empty.

GINGER: Well it’s all water under Tinley’s Bridge now. So...usual

stakes then.

HAZEL: Loser doesn’t host Thanksgiving.

GINGER: For the third year in a row. Ta.

GINGER HANGS UP.

HAZEL: (INTO THE MEGAPHONE) Everyone on board now!

A COMMOTION AS THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET
ON THE WAGON RUSH TO HOP ABOARD.

LILY: (LOW) This almost makes up for her comments about my

weight.

MARISOL: (LOW) I know, right?

HAZEL: Mort are the horses ready.

MORT: Ready.

HAZEL: Good. Here we go. Five, four, three, two, one.

PHONE ALARM. THE REINS FLICK. THE HORSES
NEIGH. THE WAGON ROLLS FORWARD. CHEERS
AND APPLAUSE FROM ONLOOKERS.

MARISOL: And we’re off.

PAUSE FOR THE RICKETY SOUNDS OF THE
WAGON GOING VERY SLOWLY. UNDER THE
DIALOGUE WE HEAR THE CHATTER OF OTHER
PEOPLE HAVING THEIR OWN INDISTINCT
CONVERSATIONS.

LILY: So. This is a race?

MARISOL: A half hour of blistering speed. See why I wanted some

company?

LILY: I think I’m going to need a bit more cocoa.

MARISOL: Here lean over me a little. (LOUD) Look, I think you can

see the observatory from here.

LILY: (LOUD) Wow, I think you’re right.

POURING SOUND. FOOTSTEPS PADDING OVER.

DILLON: I want to see.

POURING STOPS.

MARISOL: Oh my mistake...it was just...a tree.

DILLON: Awwww.

POUTS BACK. LILY AND MARISOL LAUGH.

MARISOL: That was close.

LILY: Hey...where’s everybody going?

MARISOL: Once the race is underway, the festivities move to the finish

line to await the winner.

LILY: They walk there?

PAUSE TO TAKE IN THE SLOW MOVING WAGON
NOISE.

MARISOL: I mean I know it’s hard to believe with the scenery just flying
by but we are being outpaced by the second unit shooting B-
roll. (CALLING OUT) Hey Wes! Hey Joey!

WES: (FAR OFF) Hey!

SPIKES: Aunt Marisol! Don’t! You’ll ruin the footage.

LILY: Joey?


MARISOL: I thought I was adding human interest.

LILY: Oh God. OH. GOD.

MARISOL: Are you okay?

LILY: That? That’s Joey? Stella’s Joey?

MARISOL: Yeah. Looks like she’s running the sound...

SOUND OF LILY JUMPING OUT OF THE WAGON.

MARISOL: Lily...?

LILY: (A LITTLE WAYS OFF) I’m sorry. I’ll...I’ll explain later.

SHE STARTS RUNNING. WE FOLLOW HER AND
HERE THE VOICES IN THE BACKGROUND.

HAZEL: (OFF) Lilian Harper? Where are you going?

(To Marisol) Where is she going?


MARISOL: I....don’t know.

WE LEAVE THE WAGON BEHIND. HE ONLY HERE
LILY’S HUFFING AS SHE RUNS THROUGH HE
COLD AIR.

LILY: Where...? Where...?

LILY STOPS.

LILY: Excuse me. The two kids who were here? With a camera.
They were just here.

BYSTANDER: The ones filming the hayride?

LILY: Yes. Them. Did you see where they went?

BYSTANDER: Probably cut through the forest to get ahead of the wagons.

LILY: Thanks.

LILY RUNS OFF. AGAIN WE FOLLOW LEAVING
THE BYSTANDER BEHIND. WITH THE CRUNCH
OF LEAVES AND FLICK OF BRANCHES WE
ENTER THE FOREST. THERE ARE ALSO
DISTINCTIVE BIRD CALLS IN THE DISTANCE,

LILY: (CALLING OUT) WES!

LILY RUNS ON.

WES!

NO ANSWER. SHE RUNS FARTHER.

LILY: JOEY!

MOVEMENT FROM NEARBY. LILY STOPS. ALL
BIRD AND NATURE SOUNDS STOP AS WELL.

LILY: Joey?

THE PANTING AND FOOTSTEPS OF A LARGE
DOG. DON HAS ARRIVED. IT LETS OUT A CHUFF.

Easy there. Easy...

DON SITS. THERE IS A QUESTIONING TONE TO
HIS WHINE. PAUSE.

LILY: Seriously?

THE DOG JUST STARTS PANTING.

So that’s it. You get in trouble once and now we’re best
friends?

DON LET’S OUT A PLEASANT SINGLE BARK AND
CONTINUES PANTING.

LILY: (LOW) Don’t suppose you know where Joey and Wes went.

MORE MOVEMENT IN THE FOREST.


OLD MAN: (OFF) Don? Don? Where did you wander off to this time?

DON LET’S OUT A MIXTURE OF A BARK, HOWL,
AND WHINE. FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING. THE OLD MAN
AND MOLLY APPEAR.

OLD MAN: Oh. Hello again.

LILY: Hi.

OLD MAN: Hope he didn’t give you trouble like last time.

SAD WHINE FROM DON.

LILY: No, he was fine.

OLD MAN: That’s my boy. Behaving like a proper gentleman.

HE PETS DON WHO PANTS APPRECIATIVELY.
MOLLY APPROACHES SNIFFING.

LILY: Hey...uh...girl. You must be Molly then.

MOLLY SNORT/SNEEZES AND PADS OFF INTO
THE WOODS.

OLD MAN: Molly is a bit particular. She may need some more time.
So...what brings you into the woods this night? No forest
fires, I hope.

LILY: No. No. I was just...I was at the hayride...

OLD MAN: Ah...we were headed that way ourselves.

LILY: And I thought I saw...I thought I saw someone I knew. And
they came into the woods. And...I don’t suppose you saw
two kids, teenagers, with a bunch of film equipment?

OLD MAN: Can’t speak for what these two might have gotten up to.

WHINE FROM DON.

But I haven’t seen anyone except for yourself.

LILY: Shit.

DON BARKS.

OLD MAN: Sorry. Don’s not a fan of foul language. Something of a living swear jar.

LILY: Sorry... (To DON) Sorry Don. It’s just...I was sort of on a
date and I ran off and now I don’t know what she’s going
to think. Actually I do. She’s going to think I’m crazy person
who just runs into the woods for no reason.

OLD MAN: Huh. Well...we should probably get you back to your date

then.

LILY: Yeah it’s just...we were ON the hayride. So...

OLD MAN: The wagon skirts round the wood and crosses Tinley’s
Creek at the bridge. If we head...that way, we might just
catch them.

LILY: Really?

OLD MAN: I mean, we’ll have to put some pep in our step but I’m pretty confident we can make it.

LILY: Sure. Let’s go.

DON BARKS AND RUNS OFF AHEAD OF THEM. IN
THE DISTANCE MOLLY HOWLS. WE HEAR BIRDS
LIFT OFF AND FLUTTER AWAY. LILY AND THE OLD MAN
BEGIN WALKING ALONG QUITE QUICKLY.

LILY: Hey, did you ever find those campers?

OLD MAN: ‘Fraid there was nothing left to find.

LILY: That’s horrible.

OLD MAN: The Woods just aren’t safe anymore. Fortunately we’ve got
Don and Molly to look after us. Nothing’ll bother us as long
as they’re around.

THEY WALK ON.

OLD MAN: So...must have been pretty important.

LILY: Sorry?

OLD MAN: What you saw. It must have been pretty important to jump off
the hayride and run into the woods in the middle of a date.
Unless the date wasn’t going too well in which case I
completely understand.

LILY: No it was...it was a very good date. Until... It was...looked

like someone I knew. A long time ago.

OLD MAN: Ah. Say no more.

LILY: What’s that supposed to mean?

OLD MAN: Hmmm...?

LILY: Say no more and tapping your nose like that.

OLD MAN: Oh. I thought you were politely saying the person was dead.

LILY: No!

OLD MAN: My mistake.

A BIRD CALL IN THE DISTANCE. EXCITED
BARKING FROM THE DOGS DROWNS IT OUT.

LILY: No. No. No. (PAUSE) But...it wasn’t exactly normal. That’s
not what I mean. I don’t know what I mean. Maybe I’m losing
it like Mom.

OLD MAN: Mom?

LILY: Nothing. Never mind. She was far away and it’s dark and it
was probably just some girl who looked the same and had
the same name and was hanging out with another kid with
the name of dead person who makes the house shake and
appears out of nowhere and why did you assume I was
talking about a dead person?

OLD MAN: Well, I think I told you before this place has a long memory.

LILY: A polite way of saying haunted. I remember.

OLD MAN: Because people round here like to be polite about things.
Especially those things that are...how did you put it:
“not exactly normal?” I’d wager you’re not the first person to
run off into the woods. I doubt you’ll even be the last.

LILY: Alternatively, I could just be having a nervous breakdown.

OLD MAN: Or maybe you’re on the drugs. Are you on the drugs?

LILY: That depends...are you a cop?

LILY AND THE OLD MAN LAUGH. ANOTHER SET OF THE
FAR OFF BIRD CALLS. LOUDER THIS TIME. MORE
BARKING FROM THE DOGS THAT EVENTUALLY
DROWN THEM OUT.

OLD MAN: Can I make a suggestion?

LILY: I mean, you’ve listened to me have a ramble like an idiot in

the middle of the woods. Shoot.

OLD MAN: Tell someone what you saw.

LILY: Like you?

OLD MAN: Oh heavens no. I’m an old coot who walks through the
woods with his two monster dogs and likes to spin yarns.
Tell someone you know. Someone you trust. Your mother,
perhaps.

WE START TO APPROACH A CLEARING. WE
HEAR THE DOGS PANTING NEARBY. ALSO WE
MAY HEAR THE SOUND OF A WAGON A LITTLE
WAY OFF.

LILY: Ha! Sorry. Um...my mother and I...we aren’t...

OLD MAN: Well how about this date of yours? You trust her?

LILY: I mean...this is only our second date.

OLD MAN: You’re going to have to tell her something. Why not try the

truth?


WE ARE NOW RIGHT NEXT TO THE WAITING
DOGS AS WE STEP OUT OF THE WOODS ONTO
THE PATH.

Need to make up your mind quick though.

LILY: I can’t believe...we made it. Thank you.

OLD MAN: Not a problem. You have a good evening.

LILY: You too.

LILY RUNS FOR THE WAGON. AS SHE GETS
CLOSER WE HEAR MARISOL’S VOICE.

MARISOL: (OFF) Lily?

LILY HALF JUMPS/HALF PULLS HERSELF ONTO
THE WAGON. THE WAGON ROCKS. THERE ARE
MUTTERINGS FROM THE OTHER RIDERS.

LILY: What did I miss?

HAZEL: (UNDER) How are the horses? Mort, did she hurt the

horses?

MORT: (UNDER) They’re fine.

MARISOL: How did you find us?

LILY: (Catching her breath) Short cut. Through the woods. This
guy I met...uh...I forgot to ask his name AGAIN.

HAZEL: Welcome back Ms. Harper. Will you be joining us for the rest

of the race?

LILY: Yes, I think I will.

HAZEL: Because you’re more than welcome to jump off again if
you find our TRADITIONS aren’t worth your time.

LILY: I’m here for the long haul.

HAZEL: We’ll see.

HAZEL GOES BACK TO HER POSITION. STELLA
APPROACHES.

STELLA: (LOW) Don’t worry. I got the whole thing on film and with the
right filter and some music behind it, it’s going to be epic.

BARKING DOGS NEARBY. THE HORSES NEIGH.

STELLA: What’s that?

HAZEL: (OFF) Get those dogs away. Shoo. Shoo.

MORE BARKING. THE HORSES NEIGH AGAIN.
THE WAGON PICKS UP SPEED.

LILY: That...I think is a helping hand to victory.

STELLA: Really?

SHE EAGERLY RETURNS TO HER PERCH.

LILY: So...


MARISOL: So...

LILY: Sorry I ran off.

MARISOL: Thought maybe I’d said something...

LILY: But I came back.

MARISOL: I saw.

LILY: Things have been...weird lately.

MARISOL: I get it.

LILY: No. No. I’m not trying to give you “The Talk.” I’m...I want...I

want to open up to you.

MARISOL: Oh. Sure. What is it?

LILY: I...Have you ever noticed...anything...weird about this place.

Mount Absalom I mean.

MARISOL: (STARTS LAUGHING)

LILY: Marisol?

MARISOL: I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It’s just...is this...? (LOWERS HER

VOICE) is this about the ghost thing?

LILY: Um...yeah. It is.

MARISOL: (STILL LAUGHING) You really had me scared there for a

minute. I thought it was something serious.

LILY: I am serious.

MARISOL: No. I know. I believe you. I do.

LILY: You do? Does that mean....you’ve...

MARISOL: Kind of. For me it’s been more like...little things. Weird
coincidences. Strange sounds at night. Faces in the crowd.
And then living here for a while, you hear things. There’s the
ghost stories sure but also just gossip. Bits of conversation.
People using the wrong tense when referring to grandma,
things like that. No one talks about it because...they don’t
want people to think they’re crazy. Or liars. (PAUSE) Also no
one wants the town to become the Midwest Salem: selling
Halloween decorations year round and giving tours to the
youths with their rock ‘n’ roll. Though the record shop could
definitely use a few more youths with their rock ‘n’ roll.

THEY SHARE A LAUGH.

LILY: Thank you.

MARISOL: For what?

LILY: Believing me. Trusting me.

MARISOL: You’re welcome. If...if you’re up for it, I would like to know
what you saw. (PAUSE) You...you were asking about Joey
before you...was it...is it Joey?

LILY: Yes.

MARISOL: (LONG EXHALE) Okay.

LILY: And also...I think...Wes?

MARISOL: Oh. OH!

LILY: Yeah.

MARISOL: More cocoa.

SOUND OF THE FLASK LID BEING UNDONE AS
THE CART ROLLS ON. MUSIC. END OF EPISODE.