I Walked with a Zombie Page #7

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Betsy is a little taken aback by this, but she recovers

herself.

BETSY:

I suppose so. Yes.

HOLLAND:

And charming?

BETSY:

I've never given it much thought.

HOLLAND:

Don't. It will save you a great

deal of trouble and other people a

great unhappiness.

Betsy is puzzled and interested. She stands a moment and

then starts off.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. THE VILLAGE OF ST. SEBASTIAN -- DAY

Betsy, out of her customary uniform and dressed in a light

colored print dress and a straw picture hat, is walking

slowly and a little aimlessly down one of the village

streets.

RAND'S VOICE

Betsy!

Betsy turns, as she hears her name, and sees Rand, mounted on

a white saddle mule. (The mule is one of those delicate,

single footed saddle animals which they breed in Central

America and the West Indies, very smart-looking and with good

furniture. The saddle should be particularly well-chosen.

Most West Indian planters use an English saddle with long

stirrups. Sometimes a machete in a leather scabbard hangs

from the near side of the saddle.) He maneuvers the mule

between a cart and a vendor balancing two baskets on a pole

over his shoulders, then brings the animal to a halt beside

her.

RAND:

Where do you think you're going?

BETSY:

It's my day off.

RAND:

But what in the world can you do

with a day off in St. Sebastian?

BETSY:

(a little ruefully)

I was just beginning to wonder.

Aren't there shops, restaurants and

things?

RAND:

Well -- and things -- might be a

better description of what you'll

find. I'd better come along and

show you the town.

Rand swings down off the mule and takes the reins to lead the

animal.

BETSY:

(very pleased)

But don't you have to work?

RAND:

(grinning)

By a curious coincidence, it's my

day off, too.

DISSOLVE OUT:

DISSOLVE IN:

EXT. STREET CORNER - ST. SEBASTIAN -- DAY

A Calypso singer with a guitar slung around his shoulder,

lounges against the corner of a building, singing to a small

audience of loiterers. He has a derby hat in front of him

with one or two coins in it.

EXT. CAFE -- ST. SEBASTIAN -- DAY

Around the corner from the Calypso singer is a cafe. On the

roadway in front of it, under a tattered awning, two or three

tables have been set out. At one of these sit Betsy and

Rand. At another, two white planters in work clothing are

having a drink of beer.

Behind them, leaning against the wall, stands the proprietor,

a Negro in duck trousers and duck coat, with an apron tied

around his middle. Betsy has tea in front of her and Rand, a

Planter's Punch. As we see them, she is just laughing at

something he has said. He is finishing his drink. Rand sets

down his glass and gestures to the proprietor.

RAND:

(very jovially to the

proprietor)

Bring me another, Ti-Joseph. I

have to keep the lady entertained.

BETSY:

It must be hard work entertaining

me if it requires six ounces of

rum.

RAND:

What in the world are you talking

about? Six ounces -- ?

BETSY:

Higher mathematics. Two ounces to

a drink -- three drinks, six

ounces.

RAND:

How do you know there's two ounces

in a drink?

BETSY:

I'm a nurse. I always watch people

when they pour something. I

watched Ti-Joseph and it was

exactly two ounces.

At this moment a new Calypso song starts.

SINGER:

(sings)

There was a family that lived on the isle

Of Saint Sebastian a long, long while

The head of the family was a Holland man

And the younger brother, his name was Rand

Betsy's attention is caught by the song. Rand evidently

knows the song, because he begins talking at random, trying

to distract her.

RAND:

Listen, did I tell you that story

about the little mule at the

plantation -- the little mule and

Clement? Let me tell you. It's

one of the funniest stories --

BETSY:

(putting a restraining

hand on his arm)

Wait. I want to listen.

We hear the guitar music without singing, as the Calypso

singer plays a few measures to bridge the first and second

verses. Ti-Joseph comes up to the table with Rand's drink.

Rand makes a motion to him indicating the corner around which

the Calypso singer is standing. Ti-Joseph gets the idea and

goes off instantly.

MED. CLOSE SHOT -- Calypso singer.

CALYPSO SINGER:

The Holland man, he kept in a tower

A wife as pretty as a big white flower

She saw the brother and she stole his heart...

Ti-Joseph comes in and, while the singer goes on with his

song, whispers in his ear. The Calypso singer stops

immediately. He looks frightened and guilty. Ti-Joseph

turns and goes around the corner to his cafe. The Calypso

singer addresses one of the people in the little group before

him.

CALYPSO SINGER (cont'd)

Ti-Malice trip up my tongue -- What

do you wish trouble on me for --

You saw Mister Rand go in there.

Why don't you tell me?

The colored man he is addressing just dumbly shakes his head.

CALYPSO SINGER (cont'd)

Apologize -- that's what I'll do.

Creep in just like a little fox and

warm myself in his heart.

(placatingly but to

himself)

Good Mister Rand!

The other negro just dumbly shakes his head again. The

Calypso singer puts his idea instantly into action, starting

off around the corner.

EXT. CAFE -- DAY

Rand has finished the drink which Ti-Joseph had just brought

him and is motioning to Ti-Joseph to bring him another,

making a gesture with the glass in his hand.

BETSY:

(evidently continuing what

she has been saying)

That's carrying free speech a

little too far! I wouldn't have

listened, Wes, if I had realized --

The Calypso singer comes in and stands humbly beside the

table.

CALYPSO SINGER:

(with a little bow in the

Haitian manner; one hand

in front of the stomach

and the other hand at the

small of his back)

Mr. Rand?

Rand looks up at him.

CALYPSO SINGER (cont'd)

I've come to apologize.

RAND:

(curtly)

All right.

CALYPSO SINGER:

(with another quaint bow)

Just an old song I picked up

somewhere. Don't know who did make

it up.

RAND:

(growing exasperated)

All right. All right.

CALYPSO SINGER:

Some of these singers on this

island, they'd tattle-tale on

anybody. Believe me, Mister Rand,

I never would sing that song if I'd

known you were with a lady.

RAND:

(jumping up, furious)

Get out of here!

He starts to rise. Betsy restrains him. The Calypso singer

runs off a few feet, makes his little polite bow again, and

the vanishes. Rand stands practically shaking with rage.

Betsy forces him into a chair.

BETSY:

Don't let it bother you so, Wes.

RAND:

Did you hear what he sang?

Betsy is spared the embarrassment of replying when Ti-Joseph

brings the drink that Rand ordered. Rand gulps thirstily at

it, then looks at Betsy, half-defiantly, half-mockingly.

RAND (cont'd)

Shocked?

BETSY:

(sincerely)

I wish I hadn't heard --

RAND:

Why? Everybody else knows it.

Paul saw to that. Sometimes I

think he planned the whole thing

from the beginning -- just to watch

me squirm.

BETSY:

(quietly)

That doesn't sound like him.

RAND:

That's right -- he's playing the

noble husband for you, isn't he?

That won't last long.

BETSY:

I'd like to go now, Rand. Would

you mind taking me home?

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