V.O.
(Bailey getting ready for school)


It's normal to have a bittersweet feeling during the last of high school. I mean, after all we have spent about one-twentieth of our lives here. We've made ourselves adapt to the culture of living in anticipation of getting out of here but when the time comes to finally leave, we aren't too sure how we feel about it. There's only two times every year that this town can't wait for, football season and graduation. The day where they send off their best regards to us, and pray that we make it out of here.

INT. ALTHA HIGH SCHOOL GYM - DAY

PRINCIPAL

As all of you know, the seniors' time here is coming to an end. The commencement will be held next Saturday.

CLASS EXITS GYM IN SILENCE

V.O.

(Bailey getting things out of locker, walking down the hall)
Everyone gets so emotional at these things, but not me. I know the reality of it. Truth is, we're all gonna end up back here. Some of us will go to college, some of us will start workin'. Some of us will get married and have babies the minute we finish. And ya know what'll happen to those babies? They'll spend their whole lives like us, here, in Altha. The way it's been for generations and generations. The faces may change, but the last names never do.


INT. SMITH'S GROCERY STORE - NIGHT

(Bailey sits on the counter while Landry watches shoppers.)

LANDRY
I been thinkin' about, ya know, how I want to make my exit. How I want my goin' away party before I leave for bootcamp. I want a big blowout in the fields.

BAILEY
You ship out the day after graduation huh?

LANDRY
Yes ma'm

BAILEY
I sure am gonna miss you

Landry begins checking out a shopper while Bailey waves and exits.

INT. BAILEY'S CAR- DAY

Bailey driving to school

V.O.
Ya know it's funny how you never have enough. You're always wanting something more, something better. Here, that's all we think about. We grow up saying we're not going to live like our parents. Some of us dream of becoming stars, others dream of becoming a wife. You can spend a whole eighteen years in a setting and still not get used to it.

(Bailey arrives at school and steps put of the car. She sees a heard of classmates getting into their cars)
(Bailey approaches Lyla)
BAILEY
Hey. What's going on?

LYLA

Go home and change we're going down to the river as a skip day.


EXT. RIVER LANDING- DAY

Bailey gets out of her car and sees her classmates socializing in the water. She observes the direction in which the river is flowing.

V.O.

I can remember coming here as a kid. When everything's so wonderful and pretty. But now look at it, it's got the same babies playing in it as it did years ago, except they aren't babies.

Landry approaches her and they both sit on the hood of her car.

BAILEY
You sure look like a catch in that inner tube.

LANDRY
I mean what can I say?

They walk down to the water where they meet their friends and mingle. Bailey and Landry part ways and Lyla approaches Bailey.

LYLA
Hey Bails. You don't look so good. You alright?

BAILEY
Yeah I'm fine why?

LYLA
Well you know, I figured you'd be in a lil' mood because of next week and all.

BAILEY
Lyla I don't wanna talk about that right now.

LYLA
Aw sweetheart he'll come back. Changing the subject, did I tell you what Brooks got me as an early grad present? Oh you can't tell anyone! You're gonna die!

Lyla discreetly flashes Bailey her new ring in anticipation of her reaction.

BAILEY
Oh, wow. Oh, wow. Oh wow. Congrats girl!

V.O.

It's times like these where I start to think. I think about everything. Who's wearin' what, what I'm gonna do without Landry. And now, I'm thinkin' about who's gonna tie The knot first. It's kinda silly how we all get so caught up in our own boring lives, that we don't even know our second best friend is engaged.

EXT. RIVER LANDING - NIGHT

Bailey joins her friends around the fire as they drink and reminisce.

LANDRY
Wait, Bails do you remember that one time when we went to the fair and I dared you to go up on stage and tell everyone you were from the future?

Bailey smiles.

BAILEY
That was our first date.

LANDRY
Sure was.

Bailey held back her tears as she gazed at the fire.

NATHAN
Here's to good friends and future plans. Man, Im'a miss y'all like hell next year. Cheers!


V.O.

I love for nights like these. They're what make a person want to be a person. They give me a beautiful memory I'll keep in the bottom of my heart forever. Sometimes I dream of telling my kids the stories that were told during these types of moments.

INT. BAILEYS BEDROOM - DAY

Bailey is awoken by her alarm clock, she then leaves her room and enters the kitchen.

MAMA
Today's the big day! My lil' girl is growin' up! It seems like just yesterday you and me were pickin' those sunflower seeds and puttin' 'em in your hair for church. Now look at ya!

Bailey's mom gives her a hug. Bailey's dad enters the kitchen.

DADDY
Oh, there she is! You're just now wakin' up sweet pea? Look, I just got off the phone with Pastor Steve in regards to your commencement partying the church. He said that everything should be set up and ready to go!

BAILEY
Great! Can't wait!

Bailey heads back up to her room to get ready. She sits at her vanity and begins to write a letter.

V.O.

Dear Bailey, I'm writing this letter because I want to know I won't lose touch with who i really am in the future. I'm prayin' that I'm a life-loving person with no regrets. I write to you on my graduation day. Emotions are high and I'm not sure what to do. As you know, Landry is shipping out to bootcamp first thing in the morning. I'm prayin' God lets me see him one more time before he's actually sent over seas. I'm gonna miss him like crazy. He's the only one who gets me here. Hell, that's why he's going away. Anyway... when you're readin' this in five years I hope you can say you had fun. I hope you'd been to Paris, and see the northern lights, skydove, and lived! But let's face it, you'll be living in Altha, countin' pennies for fun while your three kids are nappin'. Lord, I pray that's not me.

Bailey signs the letter, places it in an envelope, and carries on with getting ready.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYM - DAY

PRINCIPAL
I am proud to announce the new graduating class of Altha High School.

Class stands up and throws their caps into the air.

LYLA
Can you believe it Bails? We're finished! I can't wait live life as an adult.

BAILEY
Lyla when are you going to realize everything we've grown up with is pathetic? The whole town depending on the high school to lift spirits. The same old people sit in the same old spot in church every Sunday. You don't have any desire to go outside of the boundaries? To just see what life's like outside of Altha?

LYLA
I mean I guess I've never thought if it that way.

BAILEY
Well you should.

EXT. ALTHA CHURCH - DAY

Pastor Steve is talking to Bailey and Landry at the graduation party.

PASTOR STEVE
Why Miss Bailey, you sure did look lovely grabbing that diploma. So what's the plan next?

BAILEY
Well, sir, I'm gonna go where the wind takes me.


PASTOR STEVE
And where might that be? Down the isle perhaps? You know have you two talked about your future together? I'm not trying to rush, but we do have an opening at the church right around the time Landry gets back from camp....

BAILEY
No disrespect Pastor Steve, but I've seen it. I've had it with everyone tryin' to make this culture mold me. I'm young, I wanna do what young people do! I don't wanna get married right now, I don't wanna work a part time job at the Dollar Tree. And pretend like I'm not strugglin'. It's depressing.

Landry cuts in.

LANDRY
What she's tryin' to say, sir, is we haven't quite talked about it. But thank you for lettin' us know.

PASTOR STEVE
My pleasure you two, and good luck with ya Landry. I know you're leavin' in the mornin'.

LANDRY
Thank you sir. I appreciate it.


Landry grabs Bailey by the shoulders and starts shaking her.

LANDRY
Are you crazy. You shouldn't be talkin' to him like that. He's a respectable man.

BAILEY
Oh, come on Landry he's oblivious.

LANDRY
Ya know, I don't know what's gotten into you lately and I'm not a fan.


BAILEY
What's gotten into me?? LANDRY get it through your head! We are robots! Why did you enlist? Huh? I'll tell you why because there's a pattern. You had to fulfill the stereotype. Every year, a young man, one that's well-liked, great-looking, responsible, and is known as the "prince" of the town's prince and princess, you know what he does! He enlists in the military! But since no one wanted to even think about doing that this year, you stepped up! You stepped up and fulfilled the expectation. Congrats Landry, congrats.

Landry embraces Bailey in a hug as she sobs into his dress shirt.

INT. BAILEYS KITCHEN - DAY

Bailey enters the kitchen the next morning after telling Landry goodbye.

BAILEY
Well, he's gone.

MAMA
What time're you leavin'?

BAILEY
Later this afternoon. I don't want to make a big deal of it.

Bailey finishes packing her bags into her car. She hugs both of her parents, settles in the front seat and drives off.

V.O.
For some of us, the wind blows in one direction. That direction may lead to comfort, but it can also lead to heartache. That direction is just settling. The wind can blow in other directions, where all the gusts meet at a certain point to create something beautiful. I'm going where the wind takes me.