Beloved Page #21

SETHE:

Well say it, Paul D...whether I like it

or not.

Paul knows what she's expecting. And when he sees her

diminished expectation, the melancholy without blame in her

eyes....he can't tell her about Beloved. He is filled with

respect and admiration for her in that moment. Something pops

into his head and out of his mouth that wasn't planned;

PAUL:

I want you pregnant, Sethe. Would you do

that for me?

Sethe breaks up with laughter. Paul joins in.

SETHE:

You came by here to ask me that!? You are

one crazy-headed man. You right; I don't

like it!...Don't you think I'm a little

too old to start that all over again?

She slips her fingers into his.

PAUL:

Think about it.

Paul lifts them, putting the tips of her fingers on his

cheek. He smiles broadly;

She laughs, shaking her head. A burden transformed into a

gift, so suddenly. They begin walking.

Sethe and Paul catch and snatch each other's fingers,

stealing quick pats on the behind, joyfully. Paul throws his

arm around Sethe and squeezes. She lets her head touch his

chest. They stop and stay that way for a moment - not

breathing. Sethe closes her eyes. Paul looks up to the trees

lining the roadside like defending arms against attack.

Softly, suddenly, it begins to snow. Sethe opens her eyes:

SETHE:

Mercy.

EXT. BLUESTONE ROAD - EARLY EVENING.

On the road towards 124, Paul and Sethe run hand in hand.

Snow falling all around them.

SETHE:

I been on my feet all day, Paul D.

PAUL:

Where I been? Sitting down!?

SETHE:

Stop! I don't have the legs for this!

They slow to a walk.

PAUL:

Then give'em to me.

Before she can stop him, Paul hoists Sethe up over his

shoulders.

SETHE:

You need some babies..somebody to play

with in the snow.

PAUL:

I sure would like to give it a try. Need

a willing partner though.

SETHE:

I'll say..Very, very willing.

They continue laughing and moving down Bluestone Road when

they are jolted by the appearance of;

Beloved. Waiting in her usual place for Sethe. Her hands

wrapped in a long shawl, waiting to be given to Sethe. Her

eyes only on Sethe, not even acknowledging Paul's presence.

Sethe gets herself down from Paul.

SETHE:

Crazy girl. You out here with nothing on.

She takes the shawl from Beloved's hands and wraps it around

her shoulders.

SETHE:

You got to learn more sense than that.

She walks on ahead with Beloved. Paul, suddenly icy cold and

filled with anger, walks behind.

EXT. 124 BLUESTONE ROAD - NIGHT.

Denver waits on the porch. Sethe and Beloved walk by her.

SETHE:

Evening, girl.

Sethe and Beloved enter the house. As Paul approaches, he

stops before Denver. Their eyes meet. Paul stares at her, as

if to ask - "Who's ally are you?"...Denver, unnerved by his

look, runs into the house. Paul waits on the porch until, a

moment later, Sethe re-appears.

SETHE:

Now I know you not sleeping out there

tonight, are you Paul D.?

(Paul doesn't reply)

You come upstairs tonight. Where you

belong...and stay there.

As if healed by her strength, Paul's face melts into relief.

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT.

Denver is cleaning the dishes. Beloved sits like an angry,

upset five year old with her fingers in her mouth.

BELOVED:

She likes him here...

(to Denver)

Make him go away.

DENVER:

She'd be mad if he leaves.

Beloved didn't consider that. Her fingers move violently in

her mouth as if something were bothering her...until,

finally, she pulls out a back tooth...her lips slightly

bloody.

DENVER:

OOoo..didn't that hurt you?

BELOVED:

It's like my dreams...I get two dreams,

see..One, I exploding...BUUOOGGG...The

other I being swallowed. Sometimes it's

hard to keep my head on my neck, or these

legs connected to my hips...One day I

think I might wake up and I'll be in

pieces..

(Looks at tooth)

Maybe it's starting.

DENVER:

(cleans Beloved's mouth)

Oh stop. It's just a tooth. Probably

wisdom. Does it hurt?

BELOVED:

Yes.

DENVER:

Then why don't you cry?

BELOVED:

What?

DENVER:

If it hurts, why don't you cry?

Beloved, eases herself into Denver's arms, and cries...

EXT. WINDOW OF 124 - NIGHT.

We see Sethe and Paul united as the snow begins to pile up.

INT. SETHE'S BEDROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT.

Sethe lies with Paul, in the dark, her face looking up to the

ceiling. Paul is asleep.

On her face are reservations. She rises, crossing to the

window to look out.

At the same time, Beloved appears silently at the doorway of

the room, looking at Sethe - hurt and sad. She walks by

without Sethe noticing her.

Sethe takes a breath at the window, watching the snow fall.

Then, as she moves back to the bed,...

Camera moves ahead of her to:

A DIFFERENT BED IN WHICH HALLE IS TRYING TO FALL ASLEEP. A

YOUNGER SETHE CRAWLS IN BESIDE HIM.

WE ARE IN MEMORY;

INT. HALLE & SETHE'S SWEET HOME LIVING QUARTERS - NIGHT.

Sethe, Halle and the baby girl (Beloved) sleep together by

the wall. The boys sleep together under a window. Halle is

trying to sleep but Sethe is awake...

SETHE:

What you think about Schoolteacher?

HALLE:

He white, ain't he?

SETHE:

I mean, is he different like Mr. Garner

was?

HALLE:

How was he different?

SETHE:

Well, he and Mrs. Garner - they ain't

like other whites I seen before.

Mr. Garner always spoke soft, for one.

Mrs. Garner too.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes