EXT. MOONRISE FARM- MORNING

A lone man trudges down a dusty pathway. His dark brown eyes fixate on the road before him while his tan hands linger in his pockets. Around him, the world vibrates with morning energy. Farm hands bustle around the myriad of barns that dazzle the location. Volunteers carry water pails to sheds while trainers prepare in the paddocks for their first lessons of the day. A few of the people smile and wave at the man, yet, he continues his shuffle down the road.

A male farm hand, Harry, and a nonbinary farm hand, Makoto, pause by a barn's entrance to watch as the man lumbers by.

HARRY

Makoto, isn't that Michael Zong?

MAKOTO

Yeah. Wonder what's up with him.

Makoto begins to enter the building.

HARRY

He's the husband of the owner of this estate. Why does he look so glum?

MAKOTO
I don't know, Harry. People are strange... well, we better get on with our tasks.

The two farm hands head into the barn. Michael keeps to the path, his eyes directed on the earth and his brown trench coat blending in with the dust that spirals around him.

Footsteps clump behind Michael.

JAMIE (O.S.)

Hey, Dad.

A young adult girl stands behind her father. Her hands laze on her hips and her dark brown eyes glint in the morning light.

Michael twists to face his daughter.

JAMIE

Want to go jam on the guitars? I've been thinking up some good tunes.

MICHAEL

Jamie, honey, I...I...

Jamie steps closer to Michael. Her hands fall to her sides.

JAMIE

You used to play guitar with 爷爷, right?

Michael peers at his feet. Jamie places a hand on his shoulder.

Father and daughter stand there as the world picks up around him. The sun swells in the sky and the farm hands continue their daily tasks. Still, Michael and Jamie stand in the center with their feet rooted to the dusty path.

Finally, Michael stares up at his daughter's eyes, so similar to his own.

MICHAEL

Let's go.

Clutching each other's hands, the two turn back the way they came.

Thank you for reading! If you like my screenplay, please don't be afraid to give it a vote. Comments are always welcome and I love hearing your thoughts. Question: What does music mean to you?