Nothing But a Man Page #6

POP:

See ya.

DUFF:

Take it easy, Pop.

(shaking Riddick's hand)

'See you before you take off.

JOCKO:

'See ya.

DUFF:

'Bye, Jocko.

BATHROOM (Night)

Duff is washing his face at the sink. Josie comes up behind him. She is in

her nightgown.

JOSIE:

Duff.

He turns to her. Instead of speaking, she turns her back to him.

JOSIE:

My back itches.

He scratches her back.

JOSIE:

How would you like to have a baby, Duff?

DUFF:

Huh?

JOSIE:

Don't look so scared.

DUFF:

You jivin' me?

JOSIE:

Well, I haven't come around.

Duff is taken aback.

DUFF:

Ain't that something?!

(recovering)

That's just fine, baby.

JOSIE:

We'll be all right.

He kisses her and sits down on the rim of the bathtub.

DUFF:

Man, we sure hit the jackpot fast around here.

JOSIE:

What about your boy?

DUFF:

How come you keep askin'?

JOSIE:

I keep thinking about him.

DUFF:

Well, he ain't mine, so skip it.

She gargles. Duff moves over to her with a grin and puts his arms around her--

DUFF:

Baby, we're goin' to put a whole lot of little

kids into this world. Hell, we'll swamp 'em.

LOCKER ROOM, MILL

The men are done for the day. Duff is putting on his shirt. Willie is under

the shower.

DUFF:

Hell, if they can do it in Birmingham - and

that's a mean town, we oughta do something here.

Willie says nothing. His eyes are on a white supervisor, who has stopped in

the doorway.

SUPERVISOR:

'You Duff Anderson?

DUFF:

That's right.

SUPERVISOR:

Want to talk to you.

DUFF:

Okay.

SUPERVISOR:

I hear you're tryin' to organize this place!

DUFF:

I don't know what you're talkin' about.

SUPERVISOR:

That's no way to talk, boy. Now we had one of

them union men 'round here coupla years ago.

Stirred up a lot of trouble. They're always

after you colored boys.

DUFF:

I still don't know what you're talkin' about.

SUPERVISOR:

You a union man?

DUFF:

Used to be. On the railroad.

SUPERVISOR:

Uh-huh. Well, this ain't the railroad. Now

what's all this talk about stickin' together?

DUFF:

Well, what d'you know?!

He looks over at the other men. They avoid his eyes.

SUPERVISOR:

Look, boy, we got a smooth operation here, and

I aim to keep it that way. Now I got an idea

you're plannin' trouble.

DUFF:

No. You got the wrong idea.

SUPERVISOR:

All right, then. All I want you to do is tell

these boys here you didn't mean what you said

about stickin' together an' all.

Duff says nothing. The mill hands watch him silently.

SUPERVISOR:

Want to keep your job, boy?

DUFF:

What d'you think?

SUPERVISOR:

Then do like I said.

(to the men)

Men - this boy here's got something to tell

you-all.

(to Duff)

Well, how about it?

Duff looks at the supervisor in silence, fully aware that he is about to be

fired. He turns and opens his locker.

SUPERVISOR:

Boy, you're actin' like a n*gger with no sense.

All right, go down' the office and get your pay.

Tell them you're through.

DUFF'S CAR

He is driving past Josie's school and slows down. The kids are out in the

yard but Josie is not in sight. He accelerates, his face set.

DUFF AND JOSIE'S BEDROOM (Night)

Josie is correcting papers on the bed. Duff is at the mantel, playing with a

cat. He puts a small box over its head. The cat cries out and backs up

clumsily, trying to free itself.

JOSIE:

Don't, Duff.

DUFF:

Yeah.

He sits down. Josie comes over and sits on the arm of the chair.

DUFF:

I'm jumpy, that's all.

She runs her hand through his hair.

JOSIE:

Well, you've had quite a day.

He brushes her off:

DUFF:

I don't like bein' mothered.

When she touches him again, he jumps up.

DUFF:

Jesus, baby -- leave me alone, will ya?

He flings himself down on the bed.

JOSIE:

(sitting down beside him)

Don't deny me, Duff.

DUFF:

Hell, baby - I met this beautiful chick and

she's just dyin' for me, okay?

She takes him by the shoulders and shakes him.

JOSIE:

Don't be so silly.

Duff laughs.

DUFF:

Yeah. But just how're we goin' to make out? I

got to get me a job.

JOSIE:

You will.

DUFF:

Pay is so damn low. I don't want my kids to

grow up like Barney's.

JOSIE:

They won't.

DUFF:

I'm telling you, baby, maybe we better get out

of here.

JOSIE:

(gravely)

We can always do that, Duff.

DUFF:

Yeah. Yeah, I know. I'm not really thinkin'

about it. Anyway, don't want those white guys

laughin' up their sleeve at me when they see

me pull out.

EXT. HIRING SHED, MILL YARD

Duff waits outside the open window, while the white man in the shed checks

his job application.

WHITE:

Yeah, we can use you. Ever work a saw mill?

DUFF:

Yeah.

WHITE:

Where was that?

DUFF:

(after a moment's hesitation)

Walker and Williams.

WHITE:

What did you say your name is?

DUFF:

Anderson.

The man checks for Duff's name on a list.

WHITE:

(turning to Duff)

Sorry, boy, there ain't nothin' here.

INT. RESTAURANT

Duff is sitting at the lunch counter. Joe, the mill hand, comes in.

JOE:

(to the waitress)

Hello, Frances.

He sits down next to Duff.

JOE:

How 'you doin' man?

DUFF:

(non-committal)

Okay.

JOE:

(to Frances)

Cup of coffee.

(to Duff)

I 'been meanin' to talk to you.

DUFF:

Oh yeah?

JOE:

You know, over at the mill, there's just one guy

that talked. It's kinda late to say it, but we

shoulda acted different.

The waitress brings his coffee.

JOE:

Been over to the other mill?

DUFF:

Yeah, I been there.

JOE:

It's just that we're not used to seein' anyone

stand up 'round here. Kinda took us by surprise.

DUFF:

Oh yeah? That's good.

INT. POOL HALL

Duff is at the bar.

BARTENDER:

Well, if you tried the mills, there ain't no

other industry 'round here.

DUFF:

How 'bout that furniture plant?

BARTENDER:

(with a laugh)

Man, the darkest thing they got in there is

Coca-Cola.

DUFF:

Yeah.

BARTENDER:

Now, if you want to work like a real n*gger,

you can always go out and chop cotton.

DUFF:

(grimly)

They done that too long in my family.

BARTENDER:

They pay you three bucks a day an' all the

cotton you can eat.

Duff laughs.

HOTEL LOBBY:

Duff faces the white manager, who is behind the registration desk.

MANAGER:

Yeah, I might have something for you, if you

want to put on a uniform.

Duff looks over at the one black man in the lobby - a uniformed bellhop

emptying ashtrays.

DUFF:

What's the pay?

MANAGER:

Pay's ten dollars a week, plus tips and lunch.

DUFF:

I see. Ain't for me, thanks.

INT. GENERAL STORE

The white proprietor has rung up the order for an elderly black woman.

PROPRIETOR:

Now what about soap?

WOMAN:

I got enough.

PROPRIETOR:

(insisting)

I got a good buy on soap. You go on over there

an' take a look!

(urging her on)

Right over there.

The woman goes over to look at the soap. The proprietor turns to Duff.

PROPRIETOR:

Yes?

DUFF:

I'm lookin' for work.

PROPRIETOR:

I got a boy. Thanks.

INT. DUFF'S CAR

He is driving through town at a fast clip. The car rattles.

INT. BEAUTY PARLOR

The staff and clientele are black.

Duff enters and sits down close to Josie, who is having her hair done.

JOSIE:

Hi.

DUFF:

Don't ask, baby - huh!

(lowering his voice)

How much money you got with you?

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