I Walked with a Zombie Page #13

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INT. LIVING ROOM -- FORT HOLLAND -- DAY

Mrs. Rand, in a simple afternoon dress, is seated on the

sofa. Before her is a coffee table with a silver tea

service. She is engaged in pouring tea. Betsy is beside her

helping her. Rand, in working clothes, is in an armchair

near the sofa with a highball in his hand. Also seated, and

facing Mrs. Rand and Betsy, is Dr. Maxwell and Commissioner

Jeffries. The latter is a dignified man of early middle-age.

He is dressed in a light business suit. At the window, at

the rear of the room, stands Holland, talking with a Priest.

As the scene opens, Mrs. Rand fills a teacup and holds it up

toward Holland. He comes toward her to pick up the cup, the

Priest walking with him. As they walk, Holland speaks:

HOLLAND:

But I assure you, Father Walters,

Miss Connell had no idea of the

consequences when she went there.

DR. MAXWELL

Paul, we're not trying to blame

Miss Connell. It isn't a question

of blame. It's a question of what

we are to do with Jessica. The

commissioner is very concerned.

JEFFRIES:

It has become a serious problem.

There's so much gossip, rumor and

agitation about the whole thing.

HOLLAND:

I know. We've felt it at the mill.

The men could hardly keep their

minds on their work.

RAND:

Well, Jeffries, why come to us

about it? Why don't you go up to

the Houmfort and put a stop to the

drumming and dancing -- that's what

causes all the trouble.

JEFFRIES:

(shaking his head)

No. You're quite wrong. Right

here's the seat of the trouble.

Mrs. Holland has become an object

of speculation and religious

interest to these people. It's

revived all their old superstitions

-- Zombies -- and that sort of

nonsense.

MRS. RAND

I wouldn't worry too much,

Commissioner. It'll pass. We've

had this sort of thing before.

DR. MAXWELL

This is something else. They're

curious. Curiosity and religious

fervor make a strange and explosive

mixture.

MRS. RAND

I'm quite sure nothing will happen,

Doctor.

JEFFRIES:

If I were as sure as you, Mrs.

Rand, we wouldn't be here. I'll

tell you quite bluntly: for the

peace of the island and possibly

for her own safety, we've come to

ask you to send Mrs. Holland away

to St. Thomas.

RAND:

To the asylum?

JEFFRIES:

I believe there's a kinder name for

it, Wesley. At St. Thomas, it's called the

Institute for Mental Therapy.

RAND:

(getting up)

It doesn't matter what you call it.

I can tell you right now Jessica

isn't going!

Dr. Maxwell looks first at him, then at Holland, then back to

Rand.

DR. MAXWELL

Fortunately, Wesley, this isn't a

matter for your decision.

RAND:

You mean to say Paul can send her

away -- that he can hand her over

to strangers -- who'll shut her up

- maybe mistreat her? He hasn't

that right!

MRS. RAND

(trying to calm him)

Wesley!

DR. MAXWELL

I am afraid, Wesley, he has that

right. And I will have to urge him

to use it.

RAND:

I tell you he hasn't and he

wouldn't dare use it if he had.

JEFFRIES:

Why?

RAND:

Because he drove Jessica insane --

deliberately -- coldly!

They all look at Holland. There is a long and awkward pause.

Holland makes no move to deny by word or gesture his

brother's accusation. Finally, however, he breaks the pause

by bringing the teacup to his lips.

JEFFRIES:

That could be a serious accusation,

Rand, if it weren't a foolish one.

RAND:

Foolish? Tell them how foolish it

is, Paul -- tell them!

HOLLAND:

(very calmly but with a

little uncertainty)

My guilt in this matter, if any,

Wesley, is not the subject of this

discussion.

RAND:

But it is, Paul! Because that's

why you won't dare send Jessica

away!

Holland empties his teacup. Carrying the teacup and saucer

very carefully, he walks across to the table in front of

Betsy, and sets it down. Betsy looks at him. It is on her

look, questioning and puzzled, that we

DISSOLVE:

INT. INNER HOUMFORT -- DAY

Although it is broad daylight, the Inner Houmfort is lit with

a rush light which burns weakly. The ceremonial pot of

boiling water has been removed from the table and, in its

place, squatting cross-legged like a tailor, sits the

Sabreur. With one hand he holds upright a small, cheaply-made

bisque doll, with flaxen hair. It is dressed in a little

white slip. From under the table rim, two dark feminine

hands come up to put a white robe on the doll. The moment

this garment has been draped on the little doll, a rada drum

begins to beat softly in a corner of the room.

THE CAMERA DRAWS BACK to reveal that one of the girls who

danced in the voodoo ceremony is kneeling before the table.

It is her hands which have dressed the doll. There are about

five people in the room, including the three drummers. The

Sabreur makes magical passes over the doll.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. GATES OF FORT HOLLAND -- DAY

Betsy and Holland are standing in the gateway. The CAMERA is

POINTED TOWARD the garden. On the porch in the b.g. we can

see Mrs. Rand.

BETSY:

I still can't believe it Paul --

that you wouldn't say a word in

your own defense.

HOLLAND:

I have no defense. So far as I

know -- it is true.

BETSY:

You can't believe that. You don't

know what viciousness it would take

to drive a person mad. You're not

vicious or cruel, Paul.

HOLLAND:

How do you know I'm not? I was

cruel to Jessica. When I got to

know her -- when I found out how

empty and ungenerous she was, there

was something about her --

something smooth and false -- that

made we want to hurt her.

BETSY:

I can understand that. Everyone

feels that way about someone.

HOLLAND:

No. It's not just how I felt

toward Jessica. I've been cruel to

even you.

Besty, smiling, shakes her head.

HOLLAND (cont'd)

The first night I saw you -- you

were looking at the sea. You were

enchanted -- and I had to break

that enchantment. Do you

understand, Betsy -- I had to break

it!

Betsy is shaken by this, but she tries to put it aside.

BETSY:

You wanted to warn me...

HOLLAND:

(disregarding her words)

The night you came to me in this

room -- to comfort me, to help me --

I turned you away.

BETSY:

Don't, Paul -- don't doubt yourself

-- don't make me doubt you.

HOLLAND:

I remember words I said to Jessica

- words mixed like to poison -- to

hurt her, to madden her.

BETSY:

(desperately)

That's past -- that's over and done

with...

HOLLAND:

I want you to be safe, Betsy. I

want to know you're away from this

place -- home again, where nothing

can harm you -- nothing and no one.

BETSY:

You want that?

HOLLAND:

Yes.

They stand looking at each other in silence.

DISSOLVE:

EXT. THE PORCH -- DAY

Mrs. Rand is seated in an easy chair, obviously enjoying an

interlude of leisure. Clement comes from the house, bringing

her a bulky newspaper, still in its mail wrapper.

CLEMENT:

Would you like to see the paper,

Mrs. Rand?

(proudly)

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