Beloved Page #34

BABY SUGGS:

Is that why you can't walk down the steps

and out yonder by yourself?

Denver can't answer.

BABY SUGGS:

Why you never go back to Lady Jone's and

learn your letters? You liked going there

I remember. Seeing the other children.

Then all a sudden, you stop.

DENVER:

There was a boy there...said mama was a

jailbird...said he could prove it..

Baby Suggs face registers the pain of her granddaughter, hurt

by hurtful words.

BABY SUGGS:

My Jesus my...What people won't say. Why

didn't you come and ask me?

(Denver shrugs)

'Fraid I'll tell ya, huh?

(Denver looks at her)

Come here, child..

Denver crawls into her arms.

BABY SUGGS:

You got to go sometime. You got to go out

there by yourself sometime.

DENVER:

But you said...you said out there, there

ain't no...what was that word?..no..de-

fense. No de-fense.

BABY SUGGS:

There ain't.

DENVER:

Then what do I do?

BABY SUGGS:

Know it, and go on out the yard. Go on.

END OF MEMORY.

INT. BABY SUGGS' ROOM - DAY.

Denver has crawled up and snuggled against the pillow in the

same position as when she was nine in her grandma's arms.

INT. SECOND FLOOR LANDING - DAY.

Denver has changed into a clean, pretty dress and is

approaching the stairs when she passes Sethe's room. It's

door is open. She looks in..

Sethe stands with her back to the door, cleaned up, wearing

her best dress and the hat she last wore to the carnival.

Denver smiles, hopefully;

DENVER:

Mama?

Sethe turns, startled, to reveal - it is BELOVED in Sethe's

best clothes...When Beloved sees Denver, she smiles

tauntingly and strikes a pose...

BELOVED:

I look just like her.

Disgusted, Denver exits.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY.

Denver walks down the stairs, entering the kitchen;

Sethe is on her knees, picking up pieces of broken plate. As

she moves the skin on her knees bleeds as it scrapes against

pieces too small to clean.

DENVER:

Mama let me help you.

SETHE:

NO!...She wanted me to do it.

Sethe continues her work, without even looking at Denver.

Denver pauses a moment, realizing she is of no use here - but

knowing she needs to help her mother somehow.

She looks up to the kitchen, where every cupboard door is

open revealing empty shelves...SHE EXITS - HEADING FOR THE

FRONT DOOR.

INT. FRONT HALL - DAY.

C.U. - FRONT DOOR.

Denver's hands slowly reaches towards the door lock - and

OPENS IT.

EXT. 124 BLUESTONE RD. - DAY.

Denver opens the door, then pushes the broken screen door off

it's hinge. She closes the door behind her.

She begins her walk from the porch to the road. The first

time she's ever gone alone..not knowing what she will face

beyond the perimeters of her home.

She reaches Bluestone Road and stops. She looks in either

direction and sees not a soul. She takes a breath.

She begins to walk - to get help.

A block from the house, TWO BLACK MEN turn a corner and walk

towards her.

Denver stops, frightened, not knowing what to do.

The TWO BLACK MEN pass her, tipping their hats, saying;

TWO BLACK MAN:

Morning...Morning..

And they walk by. Denver's eyes speak the gratitude she never

got her mouth open in time to reply. Heartened by the

encounter, she picks up speed.

EXT. LADY JONES' HOUSE - DAY.

LADY JONES - a light-skinned black woman with gray eyes and

yellow woolly hair - opens the door to find Denver.

LADY JONES:

Why Denver..Look at you.

Denver manages to smile.

LADY JONES:

It's been so long. It's so nice of you to

come see me. What brings you?

Unfortunately, Denver can't manage anything beyond the smile.

LADY JONES:

Well, never mind - nobody needs a reason

to visit. Let me make us some tea. Come

on.

Lady Jones takes her by the hand and leads her inside.

INT. LADY JONES' HOUSE - DAY.

Tea things sit on a table between them. Denver eats whatever

she can. Lady Jones watches with care and concern.

LADY JONES:

How's your family, honey?

Denver swallows a bite of something with some tea, then;

DENVER:

I want to work, Miss Lady.

LADY JONES:

Work? Start learnin your letters again?

DENVER:

No. I mean work work.

LADY JONES:

Well, what can you do?

DENVER:

I can't do anything but I would learn it

for you if you have a little extra.

LADY JONES:

Extra?

DENVER:

Food. My mama, she doesn't feel well. I

couldn't stay away from her too long,

cause of her condition but I could do

chores in the mornings.

LADY JONES:

Oh baby...I don't know anyone could pay

anybody anything for work they did

themselves...But if you all need to eat

until your mother's well, all you have to

do is say so...We have a church committee

invented so nobody had to go hungry.

DENVER:

No..No that won't do...

Lady Jones can sense something far more serious is going on.

INT. 124 BLUESTONE RD./ KITCHEN - DAY.

Denver brings four eggs, some rice and some tea onto the

kitchen table.

Sethe's eyes well up. She looks at Denver as if for the first

time. Her face an expression of gratitude. Suddenly;

BELOVED (OS)

RAAAIN!!! RAAAAIN!

Sethe and Denver rush out of the kitchen to see;

beloved running through the rooms, clawing at her throat,

causing it to bleed...

SETHE:

BABY!

Sethe and Denver rush towards into the keeping room. Sethe

stumbles over a chair to get to Beloved, kneeling on the

floor, ripping at her own neck...

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