Beloved Page #11

The Engraver rises, takes a step toward Sethe and touches her

hip, curling his hand around to her back.

ENGRAVER:

What you want it to say?

SETHE:

I was thinking what the preacher say at

the funeral. Dearly Beloved.

ENGRAVER:

(touching her)

For ten minutes I give you one word for

free.

His hand glides down to her buttocks. Sethe can't help but

see the Young Boy watching the scene.

END of MEMORY.

INT. SETHE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT.

As the memory starts to fade form her mind, Sethe suddenly

feels someone else's presence. She looks up to find:

Beloved standing by the door - watching her.

SETHE:

Oh!...I didn't know you were there.

BELOVED:

Can I help?

SETHE:

Help what, honey?

Beloved kneels before her on the floor and finishes buttoning

up Sethe's night dress.

BELOVED:

Where you go in the morning?

SETHE:

Work. I work in a restaurant.

BELOVED:

What time you go?

SETHE:

Little after the sun come up. I like to

make a loaf of bread before I go. How you

feelin'?

Beloved nods, absorbing the information.

SETHE:

You remember your mother at all?

BELOVED:

(scratching back of her head)

I remember a woman who was mine and I

remember bein snatched away from her.

Sethe, nods, understanding such things. She cautiously

reaches out to stroke Beloved's face. Beloved responds like a

puppy, pressing her cheek against Sethe's hand. Sethe is

moved.

INT. KITCHEN - PRE DAWN.

Sethe enters the kitchen to make bread before she leaves for

work. She finds Beloved waiting for her, placing out her

cooking things on the table. Beloved looks up and smiles.

BELOVED:

I'm helpin make your bread.

EXT. 124 BLUESTONE - EARLY EVENING.

Beloved waits anxiously at the window for the sight of Sethe

coming home from work....

When she sees her, she runs through the house, out the door

to meet her.

Denver appears at the door, upset by Beloved's loss of

attention in her.

EXT. PORCH - EVENING.

C.U. - SETHE, as she leans her tired head against the porch,

sitting on the step. She closes her eyes and is about to

drift off, when;

BELOVED'S HAND gently touches her shoulder, settling there.

Sethe looks up and smiles, patting her hand. Beloved stands

above her as Denver takes a seat on the step.

Beloved searches Sethe's eyes and asks;

BELOVED:

Where your diamonds?

The question surprises Sethe...and startles Denver.

SETHE:

Diamonds? What would I be doing with diamonds?

BELOVED:

On your ears.

SETHE:

Wish I did.

(beat)

Hmm..come to think of it, I had some

crystal once. A present from Mrs. Garner -

woman I worked for at Sweet Home.

DENVER:

I never saw you with no earrings.

SETHE:

Gone. Long gone.

BELOVED:

Tell me...Tell me about your diamonds...

Sethe hesitates. Beloved kneels at her feet.

DENVER:

(to Beloved)

Ma'am don't talk about Sweet Home.

BELOVED:

(ignoring her)

Tell me...Tell me about your diamonds.

Denver awaits her mother's reaction with great interest.

Sethe looks at Beloved sweet, innocent expression and

something in her resistance, eases:

SETHE:

Well..this lady I worked for in Kentucky

gave them to me when I got married..

Denver is both interested and slightly hurt at her mother's

willingness to tell Beloved what she'd never tell her:

SETHE:

..What they called married back then. I

remember going up to her in the kitchen

to tell her. I'd help her make ink for

Mr. Garner in the kitchen. I was fool

enough to think I was going have some

kind of ceremony...maybe even a new

dress..

(CONTINUES AS WE CUT TO;)

Sethe's continues telling Beloved, an attentive audience...

Denver, more attuned to Beloved's interest than the story, is

disturbed at her mother's telling of it.

INT. KITCHEN - ANOTHER EVENING.

Camera moves up from the mended legs of the table Paul broke

to;

A suspicious Paul glares at Beloved as they eat dinner.

Beloved is ever ready to pass Sethe a bowl or napkin or

whatever she needs. She is "shining" - for Sethe, and for

Sethe alone.

Denver notices it as well.

It is raining outside. Both Denver and Beloved are wet from

the rain. Denver's hair is all tangled.

SETHE:

Best unbraid that hair.

DENVER:

Tomorrow.

SETHE:

Today's always here. Tomorrow never.

DENVER:

It hurts.

SETHE:

Comb it everyday, it won't..

BELOVED:

Your woman never fixed up your hair?

All three look to Beloved, puzzled by her question, which is

clearly intended for Sethe. Paul's getting more annoyed.

PAUL:

What?

SETHE:

My woman?..You mean my mother?

Beloved nods. Paul and Denver exchange a curious look.

SETHE:

If she did I don't remember. I don't

think I saw her but a few times.

BELOVED:

Tell me 'bout her.

Paul and Denver look to Sethe, waiting to see if she'll answer.

SETHE:

..I remember once, she picked me up and

carried me behind the smokehouse... The

only thing I do remember in fact...

Paul is disturbed by Sethe's carefree storytelling - how it

contradicts her words to him that first day and worried it

will lead to no good...

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