**Wade (mustache, calm but commanding):**
"First rule of the wild: Mother Nature don’t care about your dreams. She tests ‘em. Let’s see how bad it is."
**Riley (blonde, sharp-eyed, no-nonsense):**
"These folks are in deep. But I see fight in ‘em. Let’s get to work."
---
**Act 1: The Assessment**
The team walks the property. Hank’s long beard is already collecting snowflakes.
**Hank:**
"Lord have mercy. Look at this garden. It’s flatter than a pancake on a griddle. Elk stomped it flat. And that fence? Darlin’, that ain’t keepin’ nothin’ out but maybe your feelings."
**Riley kneels by the soil, digging with her hands.**
**Riley:**
"Soil’s dead. No nutrients, compacted as hell. We’re gonna have to rebuild this from scratch. And the water situation? Wade, check that well."
**Wade lifts the well cap, shines a light down.**
**Wade:**
"Pump’s shot. Lines are half-frozen. They’re haulin’ water by hand from a creek that’s probably contaminated. This is rookie mistake number one."
**Jake (embarrassed):**
"We ran out of money for proper piping…"
**Hank slaps him on the back (friendly but firm):**
"Money ain’t the problem now, son. Sweat is. You ready to work till your hands bleed?"
