Woman's Best Friend

Announcer: Coming up... Star: A room just opened up at Franklin House.

Announcer: ...two women must choose between their beloved dogs... Wes: Breathe.

Announcer: ...and their futures.

Wes: You can go to hell.

Mary: I'll save you a seat by the fire.

Announcer: Woman's best friend, next on "Film School Shorts."

Film School Shorts is made possible by a grant from Maurice Kanbar.

Celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image.

Additional funding for "How Far She Went" was provided by... [ Vehicles passing ] [ Glass shatters ] [ Dog barking ] [ Dog growls ] [ Dog barks ] [ Vehicles passing ] [ Indistinct conversations ] Star: Number 83?

[ Telephone rings ] Hellen: Oh, Star.

Star: Hellen.

How are you?

Hellen: Good.

Thanks.

Star: Good.

Let's look up some housing for you.

Looks like we're in luck.

A room just opened up at Franklin House this morning, and your name is next on the list.

Hellen: [ Laughs ] Oh!

God!

Star: Would you like it?

[ Chuckles ] Okay.

You have to put $50 down today, then it'll be a sliding scale after the first of the month.

Hellen: Okay.

Star: Okay?

Hellen: Okay.

Here's, um, 5... Star: Oh.

No.

Hellen: No, I have more.

Here's 40... Star: You're going to need to get a cashier's check for it.

Hellen: Oh.

Star: And get the check over to Franklin House by 6:00 today, the room is yours.

Hellen: Oh, okay.

Yeah.

Star: Going to need you to sign some paperwork.

Franklin House is an all-women's facility.

No visitors past 9:00 P.M.

Curfew is midnight.

No weapons, no illegal drugs, and no animals.

You can sign right at that X for me.

Franklin House needs that check by 6:00 today or we offer the room to the next name on the list.

Hellen: I'm tired, are you?

Well...

I'll find a place to sit down.

[ Dog panting ] [ Birds chirping ] [ Dog whimpers ] [ Dogs barking ] Man: You here to surrender an animal?

Animal's name?

Hellen: Owen.

Man: Reason for surrender?

Hellen: "W." Man: Oh.

Reason for surrender?

Hellen: Yeah.

Um, moving.

Man: Animal's age?

Hellen: Owen.

His name's Owen.

And these are for him.

Man: His age?

Hellen: Nine years.

Man: Current on shots?

Hellen: No.

Man: All right.

Sign here.

It'll be $45.

Hellen: For what?

Man: Intake.

Every animal surrendered, $45.

Hellen: I don't have that, okay?

So, is there, like, a donation program?

Can't you do something?

Man: Look, it's probably for the best.

We're overbooked.

A 9-year-old dog's not going to last a day around here.

Sorry.

Hellen: Maybe, there...

I mean, that's... Man: Ma'am, I'm really sorry.

Next.

Hellen: Wait.

Wait.

No.

No.

Don't -- Don't ignore me.

Man: I'm not trying to ignore you, ma'am.

Next.

Hellen: But you just can't let animals starve on the street like that!

Not -- It's not -- Guard: Man, step aside.

There are people waiting.

Hellen: Sorry.

[ Dogs barking ] Woman: Great.

How are you?

Hellen: [ Shouts indistinctly ] [ Birds chirping ] [ Chuckles ] [ Laughs ] [ Sighs ] [ Children shouting in distance ] Woman: Yay!

[ Pencil scratching ] Boy: Hey, yo?

Come over here.

Boy #2: What's up?

Boy #1: It's a dog.

"Owen, good dog.

Please take me."

Boy #2: Hey, old dog, you want to play ball?

[ Ball bounces ] [ Both laugh ] Boy #1: Punch him in the face.

Hellen: No!

You!

[ Dog barking ] Boy #1: Get off me!

Bitch.

[ Laughs ] [ Barking continues ] [ Siren wails in distance ] [ Children shouting in distance ] Man: Hey, you okay?

Do you need some help?

Well, suit yourself.

Hellen: Will you take him?

Please, will you take care of him?

I can't.

Man: Me?

Hellen: Please.

Man: Hey, I don't -- I don't need that.

Hellen: No, no.

This is for food.

Man: All right.

[ Dog whimpers, barks ] Hellen: [ Crying ] [ Indistinct conversations ] Woman: Oh, hey.

Hellen: Hi.

Woman: You settling in okay?

[ Items clattering ] [ Brakes squeal ] [ Bell dings ] ♪♪ [ Bird squawking ] [ Door creaks ] [ Birds chirping ] [ Dog panting ] [ Vehicle approaching ] [ Wind chimes ringing ] [ Fork scrapes ] Mary: Either eat it or don't, but stop playing with perfectly good food.

[ Fork clatters ] You can unpack your bag after lunch, then you can help me in the garden.

Jamie: I'm not staying.

[ Clock ticking ] Mary: Your mom's not coming.

Are you listening to me?

Jamie: Stupid dog.

Mary: Do you hear what I'm saying?

She's not coming.

Jamie: You don't know that.

Mary: I know she's irresponsible and selfish.

Jamie: I wonder who she gets it from.

[ Door slams ] [ Wind chimes ringing ] [ Rocking chair creaking ] Mary: Don't give me that look.

[ Birds chirping ] [ Insect buzzing ] ♪♪ Stay, boy.

[ Thud ] [ Chuckles ] Wes: Breathe.

Now relax.

That's good.

Want you to breathe right when you pull the trigger.

[ Gunshot ] [ Gunshot ] [ Gunshot ] It's all right, darling.

Hold on, let me show you again.

There you go.

[ Vehicle approaching ] Wes: [ Laughs ] Oh, look out.

[ Engine shuts off ] [ Whistles ] Mary: Get in.

Jamie: We're just hanging out.

Mary: Get in the truck!

Wes: Hey!

Yeah, we're just having a little fun, that's all.

Mary: Now.

Jamie: No.

Wes: Ooh.

Whoa, Ricky?

Who does this old bitch think she is?

Mary: Her grandmother.

Wes: [ Laughs ] Mary: Get out of the way!

Jamie: What's your problem?

We're not doing nothing.

Mary: She's 15.

You can go to jail.

Wes: Yeah?

You can go to hell.

Mary: I'll save you a seat by the fire.

Now step aside.

[ Bottle thuds ] Wes: Fine.

Hey, Grandma?!

Pow.

Mary: I'm calling the sheriff.

[ Door opens, closes ] Did they mess with you?

Did they?

[ Engines revving ] Wes: Where you going?!

Where you going?

[ Speaking indistinctly ] Jamie: Grandma?

[ Dog barks ] Mary: Hold on.

[ Engine revs ] Wes: Bitch!

Hey, come on, Ricky!

Let's go, let's go!

[ Dog barks ] [ Engine revving in distance ] [ Dog barks ] Mary: Go.

[ Revving stops ] Wes: Look at what we got here.

Why don't we give 'em some free bodywork?

[ Banging ] [ Indistinct conversation ] [ Banging continues, dog barks ] [ Clattering ] [ Dog barks ] You hear that?

Come on!

Come on!

Let's go hunting!

Let's gut this bitch!

[ Dog barks ] Come on, come on!

[ Dog barks ] [ Water splashes ] [ Dog barking ] Mary: Shh!

Shh!

Shh!

[ Indistinct shouting ] [ Barking continues ] Wes: Here, little doggy!

[ Gunshots ] See anything?

You hear that?

[ Footsteps depart ] ♪♪ Announcer: You can watch more films by subscribing to our YouTube and Vimeo channels or visiting pbs.org/filmschoolshorts.

Film School Shorts is made possible by a grant from Maurice Kanbar.

Celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image.

Additional funding for "How Far She Went" was provided by... ♪♪