Beloved Page #9

She catches the eyes of some of the women she knows...ELLA

and LADY JONES..good Christian women who nod in their

acknowledgement yet are holding back something. A judgement?

A repulsion?

Paul doesn't notice them and for this Sethe is glad.

MONTAGE of SCENES...the various carnival acts, all performed

by a WHITE TROUPE; magic, clowning, fire swallowing, spitting

ribbons, acrobats forming pyramids...

Our trio take it all in like water to the thirsty.

At one point, A WHITE CARNIVAL BARKER shouts to the children;

CARNIVAL BARKER:

All Pickaninnies free!!

The phrase stabs Sethe and Paul a bit. But Paul whispers;

PAUL:

Two pennies and an insult well spent in

my opinion to see the spectacle of

whitefolks making a spectacle of

themselves.

Sethe can't help but let out a small laugh - and with that

laugh, a sudden sensation of relief...

Paul buys Denver some licorice, peppermint and lemonade.

Holding the lemonade for her, Paul asks;

PAUL:

Mind if I take a sip?

Denver agrees. Paul takes some lemonade then wipes the rim

where he sipped with a small napkin and gently hands it back

to her. Denver, in spite of herself, is starting to like him.

END MONTAGE.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY.

Our trio are leaving the carnival, walking three astride with

distance in between each. The sunlight casts strong shadows.

Sethe's eyes glance towards the ground behind them and sees;

THEIR THREE SHADOWS ARE HOLDING HANDS.....as they walk home.

FADE OUT;

FADE- IN.

EXT. A STREAM AND THE BANK BESIDE IT - DAY.

WIDE ANGLE of a BEAUTIFUL, WIDE STREAM (more like a small

river) with a MULBERRY TREE standing tall on the bank before

it. There is not a soul in sight as the stream moves

gracefully beneath the sun.

SUDDENLY;

A FULLY DRESSED YOUNG BLACK WOMAN EMERGES FROM THE MIDDLE OF

THE STREAM LIKE A GODDESS ARISING OUT OF SPIRITUAL WATERS...

SHE WEARS A STRAW HATT A WHITE DRESS WITH BUTTONS, A LACE

COLLAR AND NEW SHOES. SHE WALKS OUT OF THE WATER TO THE BANK.

Exhausted, sopping wet and breathing heavily as if from

asthma, she sits, leaning against the mulberry tree. She

seems too tired to even hold her head upon her neck. Yet her

skin is like new lineless and smooth. Glowing.

Although racked with pain, SHE IS SMILING. Smiling the way

travellers smile when they have finally arrived after a long

and arduous journey.

EXT. WOODS - DAY.

The Young Black Woman makes her way through the woods. She

passes by Denver's BOXWOOD BUSH secret place. Then continues

forward, as if with a specific direction in mind.

EXT. 124 BLUESTONE ROAD - LATE AFTERNOON.

Sethe, Paul and Denver approach 124. Denver is the first to

see.

DENVER:

Look. What is that?

All three look to see;

THE YOUNG BLACK WOMAN sitting on a stump not far from the

steps of 124.

As the three approach, the Young Woman lifts her head and

stares directly at Sethe.

The two women exchange a moment in their eyes - Sethe,

curious yet warm...The Young Woman, happy yet there is a

hunger in her stare.

INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER.

The Young Woman seated on a chair as Denver refills a tin cup

of water. The Young Woman drinks greedily, cup after cup.

SETHE:

You from around here?

The Young Woman shakes her head NO. She reaches down and

takes off her shoes, which Sethe notices as new. Sethe bends

down to pick them up. The Young Woman never lets her eyes

leave Sethe.

PAUL:

Those shoes look brand new.

SETHE:

What might your name be?

The Young Woman speaks in a low, rough voice;

BELOVED:

Beloved.

Sethe drops the shoes. Denver sits down. Paul smiles;

PAUL:

Beloved. You use a last name, Beloved?

BELOVED:

Last. No..just Beloved..

(she spells it)

B..E..L..O..V..E..D...

As she spells it we see sethe's reaction; she is deeply

touched. Then Denver's - who looks both amazed and curiously

excited.

Sethe hangs her own hat on a peg then approaches Beloved.

SETHE:

That's a pretty name Beloved. Take off

your hat and I'll make us something. We

just got back from the carnival over near

Cincinnati-

But Beloved has fallen asleep upright in the chair.

PAUL:

Miss...Miss, you want to lay down?

Her eyes open to slits. Paul is about to help her when Denver

rises;

DENVER:

I'll take her up. She can sleep in baby

Suggs room - that all right Mama?

SETHE:

Course.

Denver eases Beloved onto her feet, which Sethe and Paul

notice do not have a line or sore on them.

PAUL:

(whispers to Sethe)

Look at her feet? They're not walking

feet. More like she rode from somewhere

all the way here.

Yet, Beloved can barely stand upon them as Denver escorts her

to the white staircase. Beloved starts coughing.

PAUL:

Sounds like the croup.

SETHE:

Is she feverish, Denver?

DENVER:

No. She's cold.

SETHE:

Then she is. Fever goes from hot to cold.

PAUL:

Could have the cholera.

DENVER:

(adamant)

She's not sick!

Denver helps her up the stairs. Sethe and Paul register

Denver's defensive reaction.

INT. BABY SUGG'S ROOM - SAME TIME.

Denver eases Beloved into the bed. Beloved falls asleep the

second she hits the pillow. Denver gently - cautiously -

strokes Beloved's forehead and cheek.

INT. BABY SUGG'S ROOM - NIGHT.

Denver stands vigil beside Beloved, wrapped beneath a quilt.

INT. BABY SUGG'S ROOM - THE FOLLOWING DAY.

Denver watches her sleep, wiping her hot forehead with cold

cloths...

INT. BABY'S SUGG'S ROOM - NIGHT.

Denver washes out Beloved's underwear and stockings...She

hears Beloved murmuring. She moves quickly to her side.

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