At the urging of their attorney, David Gibbs, they had taken a plane to Tallahassee to do some last-minute lobbying for the legislation that the Republican leadership was rushing to deliver that would extend the life of their daughter, Terri Schiavo.

``Heck, yeah!'' Bob Schindler shouted when he gathered word moments later that the House version of the legislation had passed resoundingly.

``I feel good,'' said the more reserved Mary Schindler on her way to the Senate gallery. ``I have faith in the Lord. He always comes through in the last minute for us. I don't know anything about these proceedings and stuff. I just feel good about it.''

As they reached the gallery and peered down to the Senate floor below, they saw senators kill an amendment that was judged essential to the legislation's passage.

``What happened?'' Bob Schindler asked, looking around. ``I don't mean to be so ignorant, but I just don't know what's going on.''

Mary Schindler collapsed onto her husband's shoulder, and they retreated with lawyers to a conference room to digest the development.

Gibbs emerged later, angrily telling reporters that lawmakers who ``voted to kill Terri Schiavo'' would hear about it ``for many campaigns to come.''

The Schindlers started knocking on doors of a half- dozen senators, pleading for support for the legislation. Some told the couple to come back today.

``I'd like to talk to them and find out why they voted against it,'' Bob Schindler said. ``They are murdering a girl, a human being.''

Sen. Daniel Webster, R- Winter Garden, who sponsored Senate Bill 804, prepared to meet with the couple. ``I don't know what I'll tell them,'' he said. ``I'll probably tell them I gave it everything I had. I don't think there's anything that they can do.''

Late in the day came word that Gov. Jeb Bush had time to meet.

The Schindlers emerged from his office unwilling to say whether he gave them any hope that the state might still find a way to intervene, but Bob Schindler said he liked Bush.

``He's a real regular guy. But right now, I'm starving. I'm [ready] for a cup of coffee or something to eat.''

Reporter Garrett Therolf can be reached at (850) 222-8382.