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Copied from my pho= ne:

Trailer script for Finding Out by Paula Wilson:

A true story like no other. 

Through the eyes of a child, witness the incredible journey = of Grace.

Her deepest desire was simple- to be a mother.

(pause) But life can throw a curve ball

(pause) An unfortunate fall from a horse leaves her paralyze= d and blind.

For many, this would be where the story ends.

(pause) But not for Grace.

Despite dismal circumstances that get worse, Grace never loo= ses sight of her dream and deepest desire to be a mother.

(In the Philippines-images... with her Air Force husband... = training at Tuskegee and other military images) 

After an encounter with a small, abandoned child left on the= steps of a Manila orphanage, Grace knows she was meant to be this child=E2= =80=99s mother. 

Grace loves her at first sight and throughout unexpected inc= idents to follow.

This isn't just a story of the human spirit

(pause) It's a story of love, resilience, and the unyielding= power of a mother's heart

--discover her heart of gold.

Finding Out...A woman's deepest desire to be a mother...
=

---------------

Feature film script for Finding Out

ACT 1 scene 1

1924 - Turkey Creek, OK

Early morning

Scene: attic girl's bedroom

Grace is sitting on Oleta's  bed. Looking curiously at = a doll Oleta keeps on her bed. Oleta is sitting at her small desk next to h= er bed. 

Grace is 5 years old.

GRACE to Oleta: This is an ugly doll. Why is it always on yo= ur bed?

OLETA: it's not ugly. it's handmade by old folks. It's from = our ancestors. One of the few things from Florida [may not add-"during the = Trail of Tears".]

What's Florida?

Oleta pulls out a geography book with the US map. She points= to Florida and shows how the Indians left Florida went to New Orleans then= up the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers then over to Oklahoma. ...and this = is good ole Oklahoma where we live in Turkey Creek.]

Oleta reaches for the doll.

OLETA: Mama gave it to me. It used to be mama Rachael's.

GRACE: Who's mama Rachael??

OLETA: Mama Rachel was Mama Nancy's mother. Mama Nancy and P= apa Caesar are Mama's grand parents. 

GRACE: Papa Caesar was old. I don't remember him.

Grace has not taken her eyes off the doll.

GRACE: Oleta, can I have the doll? You are too old to play w= ith dolls. I like dolls. It's ok that it's ugly. I like it. I want it. = ;

Oleta hesitates.

OLETA: Well, only if you promise to take care of it. It's ve= ry old and special.

Oleta hands the doll gently to Grace.

GRACE: Oh, I will!. I can keep it? 

OLETA: I will give it to you to keep for me. I will be going= to college soon. Promise you will take care of Mama Rachel Warren Lincoln'= s doll. Her husband was famous among us Seminoles [Freedmen]. He was Abraha= m Lincoln, the famous Seminole interpreter during the Trail of Tears.

GRACE looking confused: What???

OLETA: I'll explain later when u are older. 

GRACE: Ok. Thank you

Grace gets off Oleta's bed with the Seminole doll and goes t= o her side of the room to grab her butterfly net. 

GRACE: Me and Mama Rachael are going to catch some butterfly= s.

Grace leaves the house with Mama Rachel under her arm. = In the front of the house,

Grace is excited to see butterflys near the front fence and = starts chasing after them dropping Mama Rachael on the ground. 

DIMPLES (another older sister) is walking outside and sees M= ama Rachael's doll on the ground. And picks it up. 

Grace sees Dimples picking up the doll and runs toward her.<= /p>

GRACE: Give me my doll, Dimples.

Dimples holds the doll high above Grace's head out of her re= ach.

DIMPLES: This is not your doll

GRACE: Yes it is! Give it back. It's my doll. 

DIMPLES: Stop fibbing, Grace! This is Oleta's. 

GRACE: Its mine, mine.

Grace and Dimples continue to argue loudly.

Dimples points towards the house. 

DIMPLES: There's Oleta

Oleta walks towards Dimples and Grace to find out what the c= ommotion is. 

We see Dimples giving the doll to Grace. 

DIMPLES: Stop crying like a cry baby. You're a mamma's baby!=

GRACE: "I'm not a baby!" Grace heads to the house.

Dimples starts singing:..."Mama's little baby loves shorten = bread... mama's little baby loves shorten bread."

GRACE: Don't sing. I don't like that song

Oleta laughing softly at Dimples

OLETA: Dimples leave Grace alone. She just wants to play wit= h her dolls and catch butterflys. 

Act 1 scene 2

One year later. (Farmhouse burns down)

Around 1839 during the Indian Removal Period, leaving Florid= a with, a dog, cow, 3 chickens, 2 dolls, blankets, clothing, cooking items = in the wagon pulled by 2 horses and driven by Mama Rachael. Leaving behind = their beautiful peach orchard, chicken coop,  and home set a blaze by = Union soldiers. 

The straw rag doll is handed down to Grace became one of her= favorite dolls. 

At Turkey Creek around 1925. Miss Polly, the matriarch stays= in Wewoka during the week. Pearl and Gladys are grown and on their own. Gl= adys lives on a small nearby farm with her husband, Carl and baby son, Carl= , Jr.. Pearl the prettiest of Miss Polly's children is entertaining with a = vaudeville troup. 

Oleta the most studious of the siblings always reads late at= night by the low light from an oil lamp on her desk or on a table in the c= orner of the large room shared by the girls, Dimples, Oleta, and Grace. Ole= ta is up reading late into the evening, as usual, and takes a trip to the o= uthouse. With boots on, her book under her arm and wrapped in a shawl, she = quietly goes down the stairs, careful not to disturb the dog who always sle= eps by the door. Oleta lights the lamp by the entrance and proceeds to the = outhouse. Gusts of wind accompanied her. 

Oleta likes to sleep with the window by her bed cracked for = fresh air. Grace always sleeps with covers pulled over her head to block ou= t Oleta's light and the occasional flying night bugs that are attracted to = the Oleta's light.

The March winds are blustery. Inside the outhouse, Oleta is = engulfed in her book. She hears the wind whipping around the outhouse. Unbe= knownst to her, the wind knocks over an object on her desk that's at the he= ad of her bed. It tips the oil lamp. A quick chain reaction: the lamp tilts= over, falls on the side, rolls off the desk, hits the metal headboard befo= re falling on the floor. The lamp glass breaks. In an instant, the flame sp= reads where the oil spills on the rug under the bed. The mattress is fully = engulfed with flames that travel up the window curtain up to the ceiling. T= he dog is frantic and barking. Dimples wakes up coughing. She immediately g= rabs Grace and runs down the stairs screaming FIRE! FIRE! Repeatedly. Smoke= is all around. 

Neff Crain (the father) and the boys rush out the house.

Everyone is out of the house and watches from the barn as th= eir house goes up in a roaring blaze FUELED by the whipping winds. Oleta em= erges from the outhouse in total shock as she stares at her farmhouse glowi= ng in the dark, illuminating her shocked face. Oleta sees her family standi= ng in front of the barn. 6 yr old Grace is hysterical. She has to be restra= ined by her sister and brothers. 

Grace is crying for her favorite doll and butterfly collecti= on. She wants them more than anything. She breaks away and runs towards the= blazing home but the heat from the 2 story blaze is too much. In her siste= r's arms she cries out with the crackling sound of the fire in the backgrou= nd. GRACE: My dolls, oh not my dolls. My doll from Mama Rachael...my beauti= ful dolls papa gave me...All my dolls I was saving for my own little girl I= 'm going to have when I grow up. Oooohhh. My dolls!

Dimples tries to calm Grace. DIMPLES: Now Grace, don't cry. = Be glad I saved you.

Dimples whispers something to Grace. It did not soothe Grace= 's pain. 

DIMPLES: You can get more dolls for your little girl when th= e time comes...Come, let's go in the barn. Nothing we can do now.

By the first break of dawn the house is completely burned to= the ground in an eerie pile of charred remains and smoldering ashes. =

ACT 1 scene 3

12 years later.

Model T 1930 pulls up to the entrance gate at Clark College = in Atlanta. 

Miss Polly gets 1 suit case out of the trunk places it on th= e sidewalk. 

MISS POLLY: Well here you are Grace. Study hard. 

Grace gets out of the car. Looks around.

MISS POLLY: Hurry Grace, get the rest of your things.

Miss Polly starts the car. 

Mama where do I go?

You're in college now. You'll figure it out. Grace! no cryin= g...

Grace sits on her suitcase as she watches her mother pull of= f and out of view. 

Grace's shoulders shrink as she holds her head in her hands.= All of a sudden she feels the weight of being all alone. 

MALE PASSER BY: You gonna sit there all day?

On your suitcase?

GRACE: I don't know what I'm supposed to do. 

PASSER BY: I'm Moody. 

GRACE: You're Moody? 

PASSER BY: Yeah, that's my name. What's yours? 

Grace wipes tears from her face. 

GRACE: I'm Grace. Grace Crain.

PASSER BY: Let's walk over to the Hall and get you started.<= /p>

Hahaha. What are those on your feet? 

GRACE: What do you mean? What's wrong with them?

Never seen real cowboy boots on a girl? 

Well I'm from Oklahoma and boots are OK with me.

PASSER BY: Ok. You're ok with me.

GRACE: ok

PASSER BY: You can call me Moody and I'm calling you Cowboy.= I'll carry this big suitcase. You grab the rest. Follow me. 

Camera points down on ground following the cowboy boots maki= ng steps on the campus grounds then fades.

ACT 1 scene 4

3 years later....

Scene: bus terminal in Atlanta

Day

Outside

BUS DRIVER: All aboard for...... Memphis

Watch your step. 

Miss, you might want to sit up front with me. It can get row= dy toward the back unless you're a gambling woman and loud talking is what = you like. 

GRACE: Thank you. I'll sit here. 

Grace takes the closest seat to the driver. Takes off her ha= t and jacket. 

Grace's heart sinks a little as the bus pulls out the termin= al. Grace watches the edge of the greater Atlanta city limits disappear in = the horizon.

BUS DRIVER: Memphis your home? 

GRACE: No sir. I'm from Oklahoma. I'm going home. 
<= /p>

DRIVER: What brought you so far from home? 

GRACE: Clark College, I'm a junior. I have a family matter b= ack home... 

BUS DRIVER: Well, sit back and enjoy the ride, pretty lady.&= nbsp;

Grace's reflection in the window as she looks out the window= . Scenery changes from town to town at the different stops. Flashbacks of h= er 2 fast paced college years. 

1 day later, arriving in Oklahoma City...

Gladys and Carl are waving.

GLADYS: Grace over here! Grace! GRACE!

Grace emerges from the crowd, a transformed sophisticated wo= man compared to the young carefree farm girl Gladys remembers. 

Gladys signals to Carl, 

GLADYS: Carl will help get your luggage. You look so grown u= p, Grace. Mama said the school was very concerned about you. How are you fe= eling after that long bus ride? Are you still feeling very sick? 
<= /p>

GRACE: I'm better now that I'm back home. 

It's so good to see you, Carl and Sonnyboy. Sonnyboy, you're= as tall as your father. 

CARL JR: Aunt Grace, what happened? Why'd you get kicked out= of college?

GLADYS: Now Sonny! That's no way to talk to your aunt Grace!= Apologize! Now! 

SONNY: Sorry...it's just that everybody's talking about your= mysterious illness...

GLADYS: Sonny Boy!

GRACE: It's ok, Gladys.

Grace faces Sonnyboy. 

GRACE: Sonny Boy, I was studying too hard and burning both e= nds of the candle...maybe didn't take care of myself like I should. It all = just caught up with me. You look big and strong.

Grace looks at Gladys.

GRACE: I sure am hungry!

GLADYS: I knew you would be. I made your favorite. Chicken a= nd dumplings, fresh okra and tomatoes from the garden and a blackberry cobb= ler with some good ole churned (ice) cream. 

GRACE: Ohh that sounds devine. I love your chicken and dumpl= ings.

GRACE: How's Papa? 

GLADYS: He's fine. We'll take you to the old farmhouse first= thing in the morning. Today you'll rest.

ACT 1 scene 5

Next morning...Grace, Carl and Gladys ride to Turkey Creek..= .

We see Grace running out the car to hug her father waiting o= n the porch. 

ACT 1 scene 6

Several weeks later: 

Grace goes riding on Big Brown.

Scene: The farmhouse at Turkey Creek, Oklahoma

Shortly after Sunrise. Clear day

Int.

GRACE: Good morning Papa!

Neff Crain is sitting at the kitchen table with his pipe
=

Grace walks over to him and leans in to give him a brief kis= s on the forehead. 

GRACE:

I'm going to saddle up Big Brown and head to the bridge. Hav= n't ridden along the creek in a while.  

NEFF CRAIN: Feeling up to it, Grace? Doc said you need to ta= ke it easy for a while. 

You know...

Old Brown been skiddish lately...I'd take Misty.

While putting on her boots near the front door

GRACE: I'll be fine. 

NEFF CRAIN: I'm leaving in a bit to pick up some feed and to= bacco. Need anything?

GRACE: Can't think of a thing.

Grace closes the screen door behind her and heads towards th= e barn.

GRACE: humming. 

Walking from the house  

WE follow Grace's steps on the ground.

View sky and trees.

In the barn:

Walks past Misty and over to Big Brown.

GRACE: Good morning. Ready for a nice ride?

Grace starts to saddle Big Brown.

GRACE: We'll go to the creek. OVER the bridge at Turkey Cree= k where Pearl hung the snakes she killed. That was her way of showing off a= ll the snakes she killed with her bare hands.

Guides Big Brown out of the barn and mounts the horse. =

Follows the road to the front fence entrance and onto the di= rt road. 

GRACE:

Maybe we'll see some swallowtails or monarchs...they're my f= avorites.

Grace and Big Brown are on the road leading to the bridge.

Grace is speaking out loud to the horse.

GRACE: Life in Turkey Creek is slow... It is a beautiful pla= ce when you're seeing the right parts. I love it here. One day I'd want rai= se my children here like Mama and Papa and like Grand Papa Caesar and Mama = Nancy. I liked Atlanta and Clark College. Must say I had a good time. I was= very popular. Everyone called me Cowboy because I wore these boots. I neve= r want folks to forget where I came from. I would say, "Oklahoma is OK with= me".

I'll return to Clark and finish when I'm well again. My beau= has been accepted at Meharry Medical School in Tennessee. We're gonna get = married after he graduates. We want to have lots of children. I'm going to = teach them at home. I havn't told Mama or Papa, so don't you spill the bean= s. I hope he's thinking of me. I'll write him when I get back.

Riding Big Brown.  

Follows the road to the front fence entrance and onto the di= rt road. 

More sky and and views. Credits rolling.

The bridge is in view. 

 ((Adrian says leave this out))

[Narrator: The Turkey Creek farmhouse is on Indian Territory= negotiated with the Government in (1800?)....by Caesar Bruner, Grace's gra= ndfather as replacement and resettlement for land taken in Florida during t= he Seminole Indian Wars of... during the Indian Removal Act of ...which rem= oved Chocktaws, Cherokee,  Creek, Chickasaw, Muskogee, and Seminole Na= tions from their original land ordered by President Andrew Jackson. This in= cluded land in Florida (images of homes burning and and cattle taken over b= y soldiers). The Bruner property in Florida was taken by soldiers, peach or= chard burned...home and other farm structures completely burned down. Escor= ted by soldiers, Bruner Family and others head to Tampa, Florida. 

(Images of Indians with few processions a few covered wagons= , others on foot, a or 2 cow tied to the wagon and pet dogs).

A map of 40% resolution in 3/4 of UPPER RIGHT layered on scr= een: Outlines as Narrator continues.

NARRATOR: From Tampa the  Bruners are joined by more Se= minole Indians and ferry to New Orleans. From New Orleans all the Seminoles= board (names of 14 ferries)...and ride on the Mississippi or Arkansas Rive= rs to Ft Gibson, Arkansas (1842-1865).

Image of a steamboat on the Mississippi. 

On land, they continue to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. = ;

Forced to live in close proximity with other removed indian = tribes, cause internal disruptions. In (1800?)...Caesar Bruner, establishes= 144 acres for his group of Freedman Seminoles. 

Map zooms in on Oklahoma Indian Territory map then zooms in = on Turkey Creek. 

NARRATOR: This is Turkey Creek, established for Caesar Brune= r's family, his people and their generations to come.]))

((CREDITS  roll across the screen))

Grace is riding Old Brown and enjoying the peaceful natural = scenery.

CREDITS ROLL continue

After Old Brown and Grace cross the bridge over Turkey Creek= , a sudden loud commotion like gun shots or a car backfiring breaks the cal= m silence and rings in the air...

Old Brown is spoofed and bucks wildly.

Grace holds on but frantically looses the reins. In an insta= nt, Grace is thrown out of the saddle. She is tossed about like a ragdoll w= ith one boot still in the stirrup... With a powerful buck, Grace is tossed = into the air and lands hard on the ground. Old Brown runs like a race horse= back towards the barn with GRACE'S boot is still in the stirrup. 

Grace's twisted body lies motionless on the ground near the = embankment of Turkey Creek.

TITLE ACROSS THE SCREEN

Finding Out

End of opening

To be included:

Grace is paralyzed and blind.

Neff Crain stumbles into the house and falls on the floor. G= race is unable to assist her father because of her condition. She crawls ov= er to where she heard her father stumbling. Her father dies in her arms.&nb= sp;

Scene fades.

What will happen to Grace?

There is the remainder of ACT 1, 2 more ACTS and at least 13= more scenes.

Let me know if you think this is a project you can do.