Found and Lost
February 27th, 2021
Starring: Ellen (female, 30’s), Dane (male, 45-55), Harley (dog)
A Fall morning. A state forest, a few hours from the city. Ellen, in hiking gear and carrying a rugged daypack, walks through. She walks parallel to the poorly blazed trail, but not on it, taking her time, stopping to look at the foliage, the towering trees. Alone, and quiet.
From the trees, Ellen hears the quick feet of something from around the bend. A large animal? She freezes, trying to scope it out.
ELLEN
H—Hello?
Suddenly, a lanky labrador trots into sight. The dog looks at Ellen, then runs over and starts to jump up on her, lick, sniff, etc. Dane enters from the trail ahead. He waves:
ELLEN
Hi!
DANE
Hello!
Sorry about that, she’s very friendly.
ELLEN
It’s no problem, I’m a big dog lover!
What’s her name?
DANE
That’s Harley.
ELLEN (talking in some kind of cute doggy voice, to Harley)
Harley. How ya doing Harley? Hi sweetie! Ooh, you’re a feisty one aren’t you?
DANE
She sure is.
ELLEN
She probably smells my dog from home.
DANE
She definitely does.
ELLEN
She must love it out here.
DANE
Like you wouldn’t believe.
We’ve been out a bunch.
ELLEN
I love it too. It’s been such a lifeline this year. Get in touch with that non-city side.
DANE
Same here.
Though usually it’s work for us. Search and rescue.
ELLEN
Oh wow! You’re—
DANE
In-training. Still smoothing out the kinks with her.
ELLEN
A lot of smells out here.
DANE
Right. But we’re on our way, right Harley?
Harley’s peeing on a nearby tree. They both look and laugh.
DANE
That means yes.
ELLEN
So have you been out on anything yet? Real searches?
DANE
We’ve shadowed a few. We were here earlier this month with some other search pairs.
ELLEN
Oh yeah?
DANE
On the other side of the park. Young woman from the city, big advertising job, newly married. Supposedly went solo hiking around here, no sign since.
ELLEN
Did they find her?
DANE
No. The dogs didn’t find the scent beyond the trailhead.
They’re maybe thinking the husband did it. Killed her, then tried cover like she vanished on her own.
ELLEN
Jeez.
DANE
The whole thing’s disturbing. You don’t realize how many people who just...poof.
ELLEN
Gosh, I bet. And their families—
DANE
So tough. Selfishly, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with it. I’ll stick with the finding, not the fallout. God knows that’s hard enough.
ELLEN
Sure, sure.
…
…
Well it’s very admirable. Cool to know you and Harley are out here..
DANE
Yeah, it’s important. Gives me a little extra purpose.
...
Just be careful out here, will you? Stay on the trails?
ELLEN
Doing my best.
DANE
Good.
Well you have a good one.
ELLEN
Same to you.
Dane waves goodbye starts to walk past Ellen. Harley stays, sniffing Ellen, giving licks. Dane turns around:
DANE
Say bye, Harley.
ELLEN
Bye Harley!
Dane keeps walking, and still, Harley stays with Ellen. Dane turns around, calling out:
DANE
Harley. Harley come on.
Harley stays. Dane claps his hands and whistles, a little more forcefully:
DANE
Harley come!
Finally, Harley spins away from Ellen and sprints to catch up to Dane. Soon enough, they disappear around the bend.
Ellen waits a few moments, watching them go. When all is quiet again, she steps off-trail.
She starts to run.