Sounder Page #10

REBECCA:

It's clear, Miss Boatwright -- it's so clear,

you don't havta go any further -- thank you --

when the time comes for us to find that place,

we will -- won't we, children?

ALL THE CHILDREN

RIGHTTTTTT!

EXT. CROP FIELD - DAY

REBECCA and DAVID LEE are hoeing as JOSIE MAE and EARL run up and down the

grooves planting seeds -- REBECCA and DAVID complete their hoeing and plop

down on the ground out of exhaustion as JOSIE and EARL move toward them,

seeding the last grooves of earth.

INT. THE SITTING ROOM - NIGHT

REBECCA is sitting in her rocker, knitting, when DAVID LEE comes out of his

room -- she turns and looks to him --

REBECCA:

Can't sleep?

DAVID LEE:

No, ma'am...

(pause)

Mama, I wanted Mrs. Boatwright to find out

where Daddy is, so me and Sounder can go see

him.

REBECCA:

So did I. I figured when the time got right,

we could all take a day or two and walk up

there, but it's not the kind of long trip for a

child to take alone.

DAVID LEE:

I can do it, Mama -- you know that. In the

Bible stories you read to us, everybody's

always goin' on a long journey. Jacob goes

into a strange land where his uncle is and he

don't even know where he lives, but he finds

him. Everybody finds what they supposed to

find.

REBECCA:

But you'll be away from home for days -- what

will you do when the dark comes, where will

you sleep? I can't send you away from here

like that!

DAVID LEE:

Mama, don't I always do what you say -- every

time I go to the fields to plant the corn, to

Miss Boatwright's and the woods -- you tell me

what to do and I do it, and you don't worry.

REBECCA:

(pause)

No, I don't and I oughtn't not to after the way

you've taken over since they took him away --

and I would like for you to see 'im so you can

come back and tell me about 'im.

(pause)

The field's all planted, so I guess I can spare

you for a little while. When do you wanta

leave?

REBECCA gets up from the rocker and starts putting her knitting away in the

dresser --

DAVID LEE:

Can I go day after tomorrow?

REBECCA:

Yes, son. You better get back to bed.

DAVID LEE:

Good night, Mama...

REBECCA:

Good night...

He turns, moves out of sight into his room. REBECCA gets up from the rocker,

puts her knitting away, picks up the map MRS. BOATWRIGHT left, off the

dresser, and spreads it on the table to the light of the lantern. She can't

make sense of the map -- she folds it back up and shoves it to the side --

looks across the room in thought.

INT. KITCHEN-SITTING ROOM - EARLY MORNING

Two days later, a little after daybreak, DAVID is all set to make the journey

with SOUNDER -- DAVID is at the table -- IKE is standing over him as he

writes on a piece of paper -- REBECCA and the other children are looking on --

IKE:

Now afta you go by Nolan, the first road you

come to is Jordan road -- keep walkin' on that

road and you'll run right into it. It's a long

trip, David Lee, so good luck to you.

DAVID LEE:

Thank you, Mr. Ike...

They all turn around and move out the front door --

EXT. FRONT OF THE HOUSE - DAY

They move out the house and down into the yard and stop.

REBECCA:

I wish you wouldn't take the dog with you,

David -- he's likely to be a burden to you.

DAVID LEE:

I got to, Mama. I know Daddy wants to see him.

REBECCA passes on to him a big brown bag of food --

REBECCA:

Here's your food -- now you go straight to that

place -- if you need to rest, go into a church

or railroad station -- but don't go into

nobody's house, you hear me?

DAVID LEE:

Yes, mam...

REBECCA:

Ask your daddy to give you some word about when

he'll be comin' home -- and tell 'im we love

him.

IKE:

Tell 'im I said, "Hi", too, David.

REBECCA pulls him into her arms --

REBECCA:

Good luck to you, son...

(releases him)

All right now, get movin', you losin' daylight.

DAVID gives quick embraces to JOSIE MAE and EARL -- and then he and SOUNDER

hit the road -- JOSIE MAE and EARL, follow him part the way -- REBECCA moves

back up on the porch, stops and turns in time to see DAVID bidding JOSIE MAE

and EARL "goodbye" -- JOSIE MAE and EARL move back toward the house, and then

the boy and dog slowly fade from her view...

EXT. SHARECROPPERS' CABIN - DAY

DAVID LEE and SOUNDER walk the road. They pass a cabin, where another family

is working.

INT. RAILWAY STATION - NIGHT

DAVID and SOUNDER are in a small cubby hole of the station with a sign

overheard that reads: "Colored Waiting Room." He is looking over an old

newspaper as a man in a chair across from him is fast asleep and snoring --

finally he too falls asleep.

EXT. STREAM POND - DAY

DAVID goes in the water to cool off and refresh.

EXT. A MIGRATORY CAMP - DAY

DAVID and SOUNDER come upon a sign in front of a migratory farm with a sign

that advertises:
"Fruit pickers and sorters needed."

EXT. SORTING AREA - DAY

DAVID works sorting fruit for part of the day and after he is done they have

a bite to eat --

EXT. THE ROAD - DAY

Back on the road as DAVID LEE and SOUNDER continue their journey. They move

through an area with landscapes and mountains, the size and shape that DAVID

has never seen. At one point, he stops and looks on in wonder and admiration.

EXT. THE FRONT OF A HOUSE - DAY

DAVID LEE washes a car as SOUNDER looks on. A man pays him -- he goes over

the piece of paper with IKE's directions and then they move on --

EXT. THE ROAD - NIGHT

DAVID and SOUNDER approach the camp. He moves close to a sign that reads:

WISHBONE LABOR CAMP, NOLAN COUNTY.

They move on farther along the barbed wire barricade of the camp and then

they come to a halt when DAVID sees two lights and a wide barbed wire gate

entrance with two guards just inside the gate. They move off the road down a

sloped hill just beneath the entrance of the camp. They lie down on the grass

to sleep.

EXT. THE SLOPE OFF THE ROAD - DAY

It is early morning as DAVID is awakened by the voices of the guards and the

motor of a truck.

TRUCK DRIVER'S VOICE

Whatcha got for me today!?

GUARD'S VOICE

Same bunch you had yesterday!

TRUCK DRIVER'S VOICE.

Well, I'll take what I kin git!

DAVID hears the truck motor into the grounds of the compound. He and SOUNDER

crawl up to the edge of the slope so they can see. Finally he decides to walk

across the road to the gate where the guard is --

EXT. LABOR CAMP GATE - DAY

DAVID and SOUNDER approach the gate and stop -- one of the guards sees them

and walks over --

DAVID LEE:

Mister, can you visit anybody here?

GUARD:

Gotta wait 'til visitin' days.

DAVID LEE:

When's that?

GUARD:

Sunday...

DAVID LEE:

Do you know my daddy, Nathan Lee Morgan?

GUARD:

Never heard of 'im. We gotta lotta men here...

The sound of the truck, approaching --

GUARD:

All right, boy, outta the way, truck's

comin'...

He opens the gate as DAVID and SOUNDER scatter back across the road -- the

OTHER GUARD calls out --

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