October Gale (2014)

[OPENING THEME MUSIC]
[LAPPING WAVES]
[KEYS JANGLING]
[SIGH]
[LAPPING WAVES]
HELEN: If I leave now,
I'll beat the traffic.
HENRY: There's nobody up there.
HELEN: I called yesterday and
told Ed to get the boat out.
Stop worrying.
HENRY: What about your patients?
HELEN: Robert is covering them.
HENRY: For how long?
HELEN: I don't know.
HENRY: You've never opened the
cottage before. Let me come.
Let me help you.
HELEN: I don't want your help.
I wouldn't mind the challenge.
HENRY: I'm worried about you.
You bulldozed Dad's garden.
I would've taken care of it.
HELEN: The garden was
young when I was young
and old when I was old
and will die when I die.
His words.
You know I hate long goodbyes.
I'll be fine.
I have to do this alone.
Oh, Henry.
Don't forget to feed his fish.
[EXHALE]
[LAPPING WAVES]
HELEN: Hey, Henry.
No, it's okay. I
told you I'd call.
Well, everything's fine.
Yeah.
Well, blown fuse.
No, flood lights.
Hey, didn't your father have
someone clean out the chimney
last year?
Yeah, that's what I thought. No, calm down.
I'm not on the roof.
No.
I've got to get
the fire started.
I'll call you later.
I'm alright.
[PHONE BEEP]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[EXHALE]
[BIRD CAWING]
JAMES: Want me to
read aloud to you?
HELEN: Okay.
JAMES: When he awoke
at daylight again,
there'd be no storm.
Morning was bright,
and clean-smelling...
and cool.
There was no sign
of Wirt Sewell.
JAMES: Sorry, I'm going to have to
put that gum in your belly-button
for a second, thank you.
JAMES: Nor could Gault discover
any evidence to suggest that the
lanky express agent
had been there at all.
JAMES: You're not
even into this.
HELEN: Yeah I am, I'm listening,
I'm listening, I love this.
JAMES: What's the
name of the book?
What's the name of the book?
HELEN: The Son of--
It's The Son of...
JAMES: [LAUGHING]
HELEN: It's Clifton Adams.
It's Clifton James...
JAMES: No. You got
one thing right.
HELEN: [HEAVY BREATHS]
JAMES: Do you want to be healed
or be a big sissy about it?
HELEN: Like I'm not the sissy.
JAMES: I'll still be gentle.
Look, that's good, right.
HELEN: That's nice.
Oh, that's- Ow, ow!
HELEN: [LAUGHING]
HELEN: Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!
JAMES: What do
you want to play?
HELEN: I've got-
Oh, I dislike you.
Give me that.
JAMES: You want to take a drag?
HELEN: [LAUGHING]
HELEN: [HEAVY BREATHS]
[PIANO MUSIC]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[FEMALE SINGER]: Never
win and never lose
There's nothing
much to choose
Between the right and wrong
Nothing lost and
nothing gained
Still things aren't
quite the same
Between you and me
[BOAT MOTOR STARTS]
I keep a close watch
on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch
on this heart of mine
[BOAT MOTOR THROTTLES UP]
I still hear your
voice at night
When I turn out the light
And try to settle down
But there is
nothing I can do
'Cause I can't
live without you
Any way at all
I keep a close watch
on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch
on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch
on this heart of mine
Hoo, hoo...
[BOAT MOTOR]
[BOAT MOTOR SPUTTERS OUT]
[LAPPING WAVES]
HELEN: Shit.
It's Helen. Helen Matthews.
Over.
ED: Hey, Helen, what are you
doing up so early? Over.
HELEN: Ed, I'm having
engine trouble.
I'm two clicks away
from the marina.
Just off Guthrie Point. Over.
ED: I'll be right out, Helen.
Over.
HELEN: Okay.
[BOAT MOTOR]
ED: Henry's not up yet?
HELEN: Uh, no. He's
back in Toronto.
He'll probably be
up in a month or so.
ED: How long are you
planning to stay?
HELEN: Not sure.
This was always James's
favorite time of the year.
ED: When the tourists
aren't up yet.
HELEN: Hm!
Well, I'll give you a call
when your boat's ready.
Probably in a day or two.
HELEN: The little
one will have to do.
I got it.
[BOAT MOTOR THROTTLES UP]
[LAPPING WAVES]
[GENTLE PIANO]
[GENTLE WAVES]
[PHONE BEEP]
[PHONE BEEP]
[PHONE RINGING]
JAMES: Hi, you've reached James Matthews.
I can't take--
[BEEPS]
[THUNDER]
[BANGING IN DISTANCE]
[THUNDER]
HELEN: Hm.
[BANGING]
[THUNDER]
[HOWLING WIND]
[THUNDER]
[HEAVY RAPID BREATHS]
HELEN: Oh, my God.
WILL: Ah! Ah!
HELEN: Just calm down.
Calm down.
You found me.
I can help you.
HELEN: Okay.
WILL: No, please, please. Please
don't leave. Please don't leave.
HELEN: I'll be right back.
I'll be right back.
Okay.
Okay, alright.
Calm down.
Okay.
WILL: [GROANS AND BREATHS]
[DISTANT THUNDER]
WILL: Ah! Ah!
HELEN: Let go.
HELEN: Let go.
Let go. It's okay.
WILL: Ah! Fuck!
WILL: Ah! Ah!
HELEN: I need you to open your mouth.
Open your mouth.
Swallow. Swallow.
Drink.
[THUNDER]
[LIGHT HOWLING WIND]
[LOW RHYTHMIC MUSIC]
HELEN: Shit.
[DISTANT THUNDER]
[WIND AND CRASHING WAVES]
[BOAT MOTOR]
[BOAT MOTOR THROTTLES UP]
WILL: Hello?
WILL: Hello?
[VIOLIN AND PIANO SCORE]
[BOAT MOTOR]
[DISTANT THUNDER]
[CLOSE THUNDER]
[BOAT MOTOR LABORING]
WILL: I was looking
for Aspirin.
HELEN: Did I tell you
to take an Aspirin?
Take those.
WILL: Red sky in the morning,
sailor's warning, huh?
HELEN: What?
WILL: No, it's
just an old saying.
HELEN: No, I know the saying.
My husband says
it all the time.
WILL: Where's he at?
HELEN: In the city.
He's coming back later today.
WILL: I'm William.
Will.
HELEN: Helen. You're
bleeding again.
[HEAVY BREATHING]
HELEN: Put it back down.
WILL: Okay.
HELEN: Put it down. Just relax.
Relax, relax it.
Stay very still.
WILL: Okay.
HELEN: How'd you find me?
WILL: You were the only light.
You up for Easter then?
HELEN: No.
What happened?
WILL: Don't worry about it.
HELEN: What happened?!
WILL: Some men attacked me,
but don't worry about it.
HELEN: Why didn't you
go to the police?
Do you own that boat?
Do you own that boat?
WILL: I borrowed the
boat, I'll get it back.
HELEN: Do you live around here?
WILL: [SIGH]
Sort of, yeah.
HELEN: Stay very still.
WILL: Okay.
HELEN: Who shot you?
WILL: I told you who shot me.
Please...
Just leave it.
HELEN: Look...
I fixed you up, you're
not going to die.
You need to leave as soon as
the weather permits, okay?
Just--
WILL: It's fine.
I'll leave right now.
Can you just give me a
ride to the highway?
HELEN: No, I can't do that.
WILL: Alright, that's fine.
Just point me in the
direction of the road.
I'll get out of your hair.
HELEN: No, no-no-no.
You don't understand.
There's no road.
We're on an island.
The marina is far. I
was just out in this.
A storm's coming and
the water is dangerous.
You fall in that water,
you freeze to death.
WILL: Alright fuck it.
I'll take my boat.
HELEN: You'll die in five
minutes in that little boat.
WILL: I'll be fine.
Take it, it's worth something.
HELEN: I don't want your watch.
WILL: Take it. I
don't like favors.
HELEN: It wasn't a favor.
WILL: You saved my life, you didn't
have to do that. Please take it.
HELEN: Yes, I did. You wouldn't
have lasted the night. I--
[WHISTLING WIND]
WILL: Thank you.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
HELEN: Shit.
[WHISTLING WIND]
WILL: [COUGHING]
Aw, fuck.
WILL: I'm fine, go away.
[COUGHING]
[CLOSE THUNDER]
HELEN: You're not from
around here, I know that.
WILL: I'm from Calgary.
I really like your place.
It's nice.
HELEN: It's been in--
HELEN: It's been in my husband's
family for, I don't know...
A hundred years.
What did you do out west?
WILL: Nothing special.
I mean, it's Calgary.
HELEN: But--
WILL: No, I did a
bunch of things.
I did everything.
The last thing I did
I worked in the oil
sands for a while.
But I didn't like that too much.
Needed to get out.
HELEN: But how did
you end up here?
WILL: My mom, she grew up
outside of Collingwood, so...
She used to take me
here when I was a kid.
HELEN: William...
Who shot you?
WILL: As soon as it
calms down outside
I'll be on my way, I promise.
HELEN: Fine.
Good.
Good.
Oh, good.
Good, good, good.
HELEN: Do you want
me to cook, John?
We could make some
fried pickles.
JAMES: Yes.
HELEN: You're up
for fried pickles?
JAMES: I don't know.
HELEN: I'm delirious.
JAMES: A little bit.
HELEN: I worked this
16-hour day yesterday.
16 hours.
JAMES: You need a foot massage.
[APPROACHING MOTORBOAT]
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
AL: I say your boat. I
didn't know you were up!
HELEN: I had to open the
cottage sooner or later.
AL: I just wanted to make
sure you're alright, you know.
A big storm's coming in, there's
thousands already out of power.
HELEN: Oh!
AL: They're saying
she's a big one.
WILL: Fuck!
WILL: Hey, do you
know that guy?
HELEN: Yeah, sure. He
can give us a ride.
WILL: Listen to me,
you cannot let him in.
HELEN: What, why?
WILL: Helen, if you let
him in, we are both dead.
HELEN: What?
WILL: Shh. Get rid of him.
HELEN: Oh...
HELEN: Sorry it's not fresh.
AL: Oh, that's alright.
So, how have you been?
HELEN: Oh, fine.
Better.
AL: Hey, how's the
roof holding up?
HELEN: No leaks.
AL: Didn't take long, few days.
We got a big snowfall this
winter so I'm happy I insisted
otherwise the whole roof
could've caved right in, right?
HELEN: I appreciate it, Al.
Thank you.
Do you want sugar?
AL: Ah, no.
Thank you.
I didn't know you had, uh...
I didn't know you
had any visitors.
HELEN: Oh, uh, a man.
His boat washed up
on my shore so...
AL: Did you call the cops?
HELEN: Well, I can't get
a signal on my cell phone
and the Pro-Line's
in the shop, so...
But I do need to
get him into town.
AL: Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure, of course.
Of course, yeah.
HELEN: Great.
I'm going to grab a
few things and...
I'll get him and...
AL: Okay, but I mean, you know that
storm's coming fast, right, so...
I mean they're saying
it's going to be
bigger than last October's.
HELEN: Help.
[RUSH OF AIR]
[TENSE MUSIC]
HELEN: What the hell?
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
[HOWLING WIND]
HELEN: Oh. Ah!!
HELEN: Ah!!
[BUBBLES]
[COMPLETE SILENCE]
[EMOTIONAL SCORE]
HELEN: Ah! Okay. Ah!
WILL: [LAUGHING]
HELEN: [LAUGHING]
[RAIN]
[HOWLING WIND]
[FOOTSTEPS]
[THUNDER AND RAIN]
[FOOTSTEPS]
WILL: Oh, fuck.
HELEN: Did you hurt yourself?
WILL: No, its fine.
It's nothing.
HELEN: Let me see.
WILL: It's nothing.
It's okay, doc. I promise.
HELEN: What are you doing?
WILL: What do you mean?
What are you doing?
What's the matter?
Huh, what?
HELEN: What's going on?
I mean who's after you?
I've known Al for years,
I've treated his family.
Why would he strand me here?
What have you done to
make people come after you
to the middle of nowhere?
What happened?
WILL: [SIGH]
It was an accident.
HELEN: What?
WILL: An accident.
A bar fight
got out of hand and um
It was my fault.
[THUNDER]
And I did all of the time.
All of the fucking time.
But the guy's father
he's not going to stop
until he's killed me.
HELEN: I mean, you... He's dead.
Right?
You killed him.
WILL: I'm sorry I put you in danger.
I'm sorry.
HELEN: This-this-this-this...
This isn't my problem.
It's not my business.
I...
Get out of my house.
WILL: Helen, I'm
not leaving you.
HELEN: I've had
enough of this shit!
Get out of my house.
WILL: I'm not leaving you by
yourself knowing what's coming.
HELEN: I'm not by myself.
WILL: You're not?
Where's your husband.
HELEN: He's gone.
WILL: Gone? You mean dead?
HELEN: Get out of my house.
WILL: I'm not leaving.
HELEN: Get out of my--
Get out of my house.
God damn you!
WILL: Ow, fuck me!
Ah, fuck. Ah!
HELEN: Oh, God.
[PIANO SCORE]
[LIGHT RAIN]
[HOWLING WIND]
[THUNDER]
HELEN: You regret that one?
WILL: I regret most
of them, not that one.
Emily's my mum's name.
HELEN: That tattoo is
not for your mother.
WILL: I'm sorry
about your husband.
It's okay.
HELEN: He got
caught in a storm last October
on the lake.
Went out first thing
in the morning
to buy groceries.
Never came back.
He asked me to go with him
but I was talking to
a friend on the phone.
Barely looked up.
I just said...
'Don't forget your list'.
Phone rang.
'Your husband was
in an accident.
Sorry, Mrs. Matthews.'
I stood there holding the phone
Gone.
He left me a message
asking me to call him.
I keep wondering
What-
What did he want?
I mean it's no one's
fault but his.
He shouldn't have tried
to go through the storm.
He should have waited it out.
He never would have tried
if I'd been there with him.
I could have saved him.
He would've turned back.
[SIGH]
[SNIFFLE]
WILL: Hey.
Give me your hand.
HELEN: We spent our
entire lives together.
And he died alone.
I'm really- I'm really sorry
I hurt you like that.
WILL: It's fine.
HELEN: Ohh.
[LAUGHS]
[HEAVIER RAIN]
[RUNNING WATER]
WILL: How far is the marina?
HELEN: 45 minutes.
WILL: Well, how far
is it in a storm?
HELEN: Well, it's open water so
Storms out here are like
storms on the ocean.
WILL: Alright.
So about an hour,
hour and a half then.
HELEN: Yeah.
About that.
Or never.
WILL: Alright.
HELEN: Alright what?
WILL: That guy that was here
is going to take about an hour
back to the marina, some
more time to find his boss,
then another hour
back here so we got...
Three hours, maybe less,
before they're back for me.
[TENSE SCORE]
How many bullets you got?
[DISTANT THUNDER]
WILL: What are the
woods like back there?
Can they attack us from behind?
HELEN: Impossible.
Sheer rock, 30 feet.
It's not going to happen
from the back.
We need to make it
difficult from the front
because once they come ashore
we're in trouble.
WILL: Yeah, I've
seen that guy before.
HELEN: Well, he's a local.
He's done odd jobs for
us over the years.
Always in and out of jail.
WILL: For what?
HELEN: Just gambling debts.
WILL: So he knows the area.
HELEN: He knows it well. We
come up just for the weekends
he's spent his whole life here.
[LIGHT RAIN]
WILL: How good are
you with that thing?
HELEN: Very good.
WILL: Good.
HELEN: Do you want to
make us some coffee?
WILL: Sure.
HELEN: Black.
One sugar.
[PIANO SCORE]
[HEAVY RAIN AND WIND]
WILL: Hey, hey, hey!
What are you doing?
We could use those!
HELEN: I don't want a goddamn
crowbar used against me.
WILL: They've got guns, what are
they going to want with an axe?
HELEN: I don't want to find out.
WILL: Okay, but I'm
keeping the crowbar.
We've got to do something
about the dock.
HELEN: Come on.
WILL: Nope. Lights are out.
HELEN: It's a blown fuse.
[TESTS DRILL]
WILL: Got it.
HELEN: That's good.
HELEN: Ah!
HELEN: Maybe they
won't make it.
WILL: Yeah, the
weather's pretty bad.
HELEN: They might not make it.
[HOWLING WIND, RAIN AND THUNDER]
WILL: You alright?
You want to play some cribbage?
WILL: Good.
Not great.
Fifteen two, fifteen
four, fifteen six,
fifteen eight.
And a pair for the win.
[DISTANT THUNDER]
HELEN: Who taught
you to play anyway?
Hm?
WILL: Um, my brother.
Yeah, we used to play a lot.
HELEN: Are you close?
WILL: Yeah, we were.
You know, it's funny.
You think you can always
just turn it around.
Like no matter what, you
can just walk it back.
But you can't.
I know you know that.
But there's this
other part of you
that knows you've got
to get on with it.
Like you never forget about
it, you never forget.
But you've got to
get on with it.
You just decide that
this awful thing
you make it count.
From here on out,
you make it count.
HELEN: Another round?
[OMINOUS SCORE]
[CLOSE THUNDER]
WAITRESS: Can I get you a beer?
TOM: No thanks, love.
WILL: Hey, Will.
WILL: Hey.
[BAR MUSIC]
TOM: Any good?
WILL: Yeah, it's good.
TOM: 622 affairs?
WILL: Yeah, I'm not there yet.
The girl I was
seeing gave it to me.
TOM: Did it work out?
WILL: Oh no.
TOM: Was it worth it?
WILL: Yeah.
TOM: I bought a Thunderbird.
WILL: [LAUGHS]
WILL: She need a lot of work?
TOM: Nothing that
can't be fixed.
WILL: How'd you find me, Tom?
You always think
there's going to be a little
bit more time, you know.
And it just runs out.
Sorry about this, Will.
[OMINOUS SCORE]
[HEAVY WIND AND RAIN]
[THUNDER]
[ALL SOUNDS SEGUE
TO A BOAT MOTOR]
AL: There. That
one, right there.
HELEN: I'm scared.
WILL: I'm scared too.
Shit, but they found us.
HELEN: Okay.
AL: There we are.
TOM: Where's the dock?
AL: Oh. Looks like
she let her go.
TOM: Well, do you think
someone could have found him?
AL: Nah, no.
No, the power's out
in the whole region.
I mean they're there, right.
TOM: We going to
have to wade in?
AL: No way, the water's freezing.
We could uhh...
Well, right there.
How about that.
[DRAMATIC TENSION SCORE]
[APPROACHING BOAT MOTOR]
HELEN: Oh God.
[BOAT MOTOR THROTTLES
UP THEN CUTS OUT]
[TENSE SCORE]
WILL: Fuck.
HELEN: Oh!
Oh, shit!
WILL: Come on, come on.
HELEN: Okay! I'm sorry.
WILL: We need to separate. Use
the rifle, don't hesitate.
HELEN: No, no, no. If we
separate, I can't protect you.
WILL: He's not after you.
Get the fuck out of here.
Go! Go!
HELEN: Will!
Shit!
AL: No one there.
Must have gone
in the woods, eh?
So, if you want
I'll go around the outside
and you can shoot
right in there.
TOM: Okay.
AL: Yeah? Alright.
[TWIG SNAPS]
HELEN: Shit.
[FOOTSTEPS]
HELEN: Oh God.
HELEN: Ah!!
Ah!!
Oh, God.
TOM: Really?
TOM: This is nice.
I like this.
I could get used to this.
I'm Tom.
HELEN: Helen.
TOM: Sorry you got
caught up in all this.
Well, this one's fun.
Is that your husband?
HELEN: Yeah.
TOM: He a good guy?
HELEN: I think so.
TOM: Got any coffee?
So what are you doing out
here all alone, then?
HELEN: Peace and quiet.
TOM: I can understand that.
I'm a city boy myself.
30 fucking years, it wears
you down, I'm telling you.
It's become so uncivilized.
Do you know what I mean?
Thank you.
Did you love him?
How long were you together for?
HELEN: 32 years.
TOM: A lifetime.
HELEN: Not quite.
TOM: Hm.
HELEN: Huh.
TOM: He's going to die tonight.
Will, he's going
to die tonight.
I mean we're all going to die.
But he's going to die tonight.
Which is funny.
Don't you think?
I mean to know
and then you get
up in the morning
you go about your day and then
it's all over.
You die.
He's nothing like
me, you know that.
I was proud of that.
And he was always a
little bit timid.
You know? [LAUGHS]
A little bit fearful.
He was sweet, really.
He always took people
at their word, you know.
He was a He was a literal boy.
He was a simple boy.
Done work all over Calgary.
A bit of roofing.
A bit of brick-laying.
[DOOR OPENS]
AL: Hey, miss.
Hey, I'm not going to
find him by myself, right?
I need help out there, right?
I mean, it's pretty--
HELEN: Ah!
TOM: Yeah, he's probably
on his way to me anyway.
People go through their lives
they take them for
granted, don't you think?
I mean that
everything's going
to be fine and
you can only fall so far
and someone will be
there to catch you.
I never had that luxury.
I always knew it was
possible to fall
and to keep falling.
People like you and me, we can't
afford to make a single mistake.
HELEN: No.
TOM: It's true, that.
HELEN: Yeah.
TOM: Right?
HELEN: Oh, my God.
[GASPING]
TOM: You know, I always
wanted to be a dad
which is fucking
ridiculous
when I think about it.
Now, I looked forward to it.
And I fucking loved Will.
I fucking loved him
like he was one of
my own, you know?
I took him in when he was what?
10 years old? 10 years old.
And I raised him up.
I thought it'd be good
for Chris, you know
to have an older brother.
Like, uh, someone
to look up to.
A good influence.
You know, I mean, he was
an angry little fucker
you know.
But I loved him.
And
I loved his mom.
And then when she died
he didn't have anyone else
so I just took him in
and I raised him up.
He's a lot like me, really.
Hard as fucking nails.
But
he was supposed to
look after my Chris.
And do you know what he done?
Do you know what he
fucking done instead?
He fucking killed him.
And I don't care what
story Will told you
it's all a load of
fucking bullshit
because my Chris
would never, ever
put his hands on
a fucking woman.
I've had enough of this.
HELEN: Oh, my-
Oh, my God.
WILL: [HEAVY BREATHING]
TOM: How are you doing, Will?
WILL: I've been better.
[SOMETHING ROLLS
ACROSS THE FLOOR]
[RAIN FALLING]
TOM: Come here.
Give me a hug.
WILL: [GASPS]
WILL: I'm sorry, Dad.
I'm sorry.
TOM: Sorry about this.
[RIFLE BLAST]
WILL: [GASP AND BREATHS]
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
[PIANO SCORE]
JAMES: Hey, my love.
You're not going to believe
what just happened.
Anyway I love you.
Call me back.
The sky is beautiful.
It looks like it's
going to rain.
You should have come with me.
WAITRESS: Hi, Helen.
Table for two?
HELEN: No. It's just me.
Coffee to go please.
WAITRESS: Great.
HELEN: Thank you.
WILL: Hey.
It's nice out, huh?
HELEN: Yes.
Beautiful.
WILL: Yeah, it's
sunny so it's nice.
HELEN: Just perfect.
I'll miss you.
Where will you go?
WILL: I don't know.
Away I guess.
HELEN: Hm. Away sounds good.
WILL: And you?
HELEN: Back to Toronto.
Back to work.
[SIGH]
Back to life, I guess.
WILL: You know, if you're
not doing anything...
[SCORE BUILDS]
[ALL AUDIO CUTS OUT]
[FINAL CREDITS SCORE]