Woman's Best Friend
Season 6 Episode 607 | 26m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
Two women must choose between their beloved dogs and their futures.
Dogs are woman's best friend in two short films. In 'Owen', a homeless woman faces a painful choice between love and safety. In the Southern Gothic tale 'How Far She Went,' a woman proves how far she will go to protect her family.
Film School Shorts is made possible in part by Maurice Kanbar, celebrating the power and vitality of the moving image.
Woman's Best Friend
Season 6 Episode 607 | 26m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
Dogs are woman's best friend in two short films. In 'Owen', a homeless woman faces a painful choice between love and safety. In the Southern Gothic tale 'How Far She Went,' a woman proves how far she will go to protect her family.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipAnnouncer: 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... ♪♪
Film School Shorts is made possible in part by Maurice Kanbar, celebrating the power and vitality of the moving image.