Loving Page #3

Richard moves with the bricks. He barely pauses to run his

sleeve across his brow in the summer heat.

16 INT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE/BEDROOM - DAY 16

Mildred runs fabric through a foot pedal sewing machine.

She examines the stitch. Pleased, she carries the blanket

over to Garnet who is preparing a basket as a bassinet.

Mildred’s hand moves to her stomach, wincing at a kick.

Garnet reaches out to feel for herself.

17 INT. GENERAL STORE - AFTERNOON 17

Richard stands at the back of the store scanning a pegboard

of automotive belts. He already cradles an assortment of

other items.

AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE,

A few CUSTOMERS mingle around. Mildred stands near the door

flipping through a box of packets containing clothing

patterns. She is being watched by the CASHIER(52), an older

black woman smoking a long cigarette.

12.

The Cashier watches Mildred’s fingers flipping through the

packets. She sees the ring.

Richard approaches Mildred with his items. He stands close

behind her. Mildred removes a pattern to show him.

MILDRED:

I thought like this?

He nods in agreement and places his hand on the small of her

back. At this, the Cashier’s mouth furrows.

Richard breaks away and walks toward the Cashier. He sets

his items on the counter.

RICHARD:

Hey Clara. That frame come in for

me?

CASHIER:

It’s in the back.

The Cashier climbs off her stool and shuffles away.

18 INT. BARN GARAGE - NIGHT 18

Richard and Raymond work under the body of the race car

illuminated by a metal flood lamp.

Mildred, in silhouette, leans against a table watching them.

19 EXT. LOLA’S HOUSE - DAY 19

Lola dumps a tin of water off the front porch as Richard’s

car pulls up and parks. He climbs out.

RICHARD:

Hey Momma.

Richard walks toward the barn in back.

LOLA:

Sheriff’s Deputy came by lookin’

for you.

This stops him. He turns back to her.

RICHARD:

What’d he want?

LOLA:

Wanted to find you.

13.

RICHARD:

You tell him where I was?

LOLA:

I didn’t have nothin’ to tell him.

Lola begins scrubbing the tin down.

Richard processes this news, unsettled by it. He continues

on to the barn.

20 INT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE/BEDROOM - DAY 20

A blank plaster wall.

The back of Richard’s head raises up. He hammers at the wall

for a moment before bending back down leaving a nail in

place.

He stands back up now holding a large picture frame. He

places it on the wall, making sure it’s straight before

walking out of the bedroom.

Richard and Mildred’s marriage certificate is left hanging

there.

21 INT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE - NIGHT 21

Bowls of food are passed for supper at Mildred’s house. Her

parents, Garnet, Richard, and two cousins, GERALD(27) and

DAVIS(22), are all there around the table.

It’s a nice meal and everyone seems at ease.

DAVIS:

What you like Rich? Ford or Chevy?

RICHARD:

Not much difference.

DAVIS:

But which one faster?

RICHARD:

That just depend on who built it.

GERALD:

That’s what I said.

DAVIS:

How much money you win with that

car?

14.

GARNET:

Boy why you askin’ him ‘bout his

money?

DAVIS:

He don’t have to answer me.

(back to Richard)

How many races you won?

Richard looks up from his plate for the first time. He takes

time to calculate on his fingertips.

RICHARD:

A lot.

This makes Mildred laugh.

22

EXT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE - NIGHT 22

It’s late. The farmhouse is dark and the surrounding

countryside is even darker.

The night is hot and still.

23

INT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS 23

The front room is dark.

The icebox hums in the kitchen.

24

INT. MILDRED'S PARENT'S FARMOUSE - BEDROOM 24

In the bedroom, Richard and Mildred sleep soundly.

25

EXT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS 25

ON THE DIRT DRIVE LEADING UP TO THE HOUSE,

Two police cars are parked off to the side under the trees.

No headlights. No engines running.

After a moment, the doors open and THREE MEN quietly step

out. Two from the first car and one from the second.

They walk toward the house in the dark.

ON THE PORCH,

A hand reaches for the front door. It turns the knob. The

unlocked door falls open.

15.

The Men enter.

26 INT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE/BEDROOM - NIGHT 26

Richard and Mildred sleep undisturbed. Still no sounds in

the house. Until...

WHAM!

The bedroom door is kicked open as blinding flashlights pop

on.

SHERIFF BROOKS (O.S.)

In here!

The Three Men rush inside. Richard sits up, a hand out to

shield his squinting eyes.

SHERIFF BROOKS (CONT’D)

What you doin’ in that bed boy?

Richard is yanked out of the bed wearing only boxers and an

undershirt. Off balance, he’s slung to the floor.

MILDRED:

Richard?

SHERIFF BROOKS:

(to Mildred)

Get outta that bed.

Mildred, wearing a nightgown, slowly climbs out of the bed.

SHERIFF BROOKS (CONT’D)

(over Richard)

What’re you doin’ in bed with that

woman?

MILDRED:

I’m his wife.

Richard points to the wall leading SHERIFF BROOK’s flashlight

up to the framed marriage certificate.

SHERIFF BROOKS:

That’s no good here. Get your

pants on boy.

The other two men, a DEPUTY and the COUNTY JAILER, pick

Richard up by the arms as he scrambles to put on the work

pants he’d left over a chair.

16.

Mildred’s father appears in the doorway as Sheriff Brooks

leads her out of the bedroom in her nightgown.

Theoliver steps out of the way, saying nothing as Richard is

led out behind her.

27 EXT. CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE/JAIL - NIGHT 27

The two police cars are parked in a dirt lot behind the red

bricked county jail.

Richard and Mildred, both in handcuffs, have been carried in

separate vehicles. They are removed from their respective

backseats by the Deputy and Jailer.

Sheriff Brooks, with no comment, walks off toward an adjacent

parking lot as the prisoners are led around front.

A bare bulb mounted above the barred door is all that lights

the dark, two story structure. Bars cover the windows on the

second floor.

28 INT. CAROLINE COUNTY JAIL - NIGHT 28

The jail is dark and dank.

The large metal front door opens directly onto a flight of

concrete steps that lead up to the cells. The barred windows

offer no protection from the elements.

Metal creaks as Richard is the first to enter and be led

upstairs. Mildred is close behind.

A tiny, single cell waits at the top. The Jailer holding

Richard addresses the Deputy.

JAILER:

She goes in there.

Richard is turned and taken further inside toward a large

communal cell down the hall. Richard strains to turn back.

He’s able to catch Mildred’s eye.

RICHARD:

It’s all right.

Mildred, still in her slippers and nightgown, looks

terrified. The Deputy unlocks the door to her cell.

Richard tries to keep an eye on her as the Jailer removes his

handcuffs and unlocks the communal cell.

17.

Richard is pushed inside.

IN THE COMMUNAL CELL,

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