Sounder Page #15

NATHAN LEE:

Well, let's get to it, Miss Rebecca,'cause I

been waitin' too long a time for your good

cookin'!

They move out of the field and across the road for their home.

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

NATHAN and the children are at the table just after eating as REBECCA is

busying herself in the area, cleaning up.

NATHAN LEE:

All I can say, Rebecca, is that was some meal!

Thank you!

She stops her work, turns to him and smiles.

REBECCA:

I'm glad you liked it, Nathan.

She returns to her work.

REBECCA:

Alright, children, it was your bedtime two

hours ago -- let's get a move on you...

JOSIE MAE and EARL rise and move around the table to their father.

JOSIE MAE:

Goodnight, Daddy...

NATHAN LEE:

Goodnight to you, little girl.

He kisses her on the face and then EARL moves to him.

EARL:

Night, Daddy...

NATHAN LEE:

Goodnight, son...

He embraces EARL -- and then the two children move for their room, with

REBECCA accompanying them.

NATHAN LEE:

Son, that was some trip you went on...

DAVID LEE:

Where was you, Daddy?

NATHAN LEE:

That musta been afta they sent me to this place

call Clayburn. That was the hardest workin'

camp they sent me to. The work was so hard,

you had to look for somethin' to laugh about to

keep from feelin' the whole pain in your body.

Like one time, it was in the middle of the day,

and there weren't no sun -- you hear that?

DAVID LEE:

Where did the sun go to, Daddy?

NATHAN LEE:

Into the clouds and behind the mountains.

DAVID LEE:

What happened afta that?

NATHAN LEE:

The rains started to come, and the prisoners

were scared to run 'cause they had to wait for

guards to round us up, and tell us when to move

-- but we didn't mind the rain comin' 'cause it

meant we would git a little rest -- we just

stood there, watchin' the guards and they

weapons get wet, and that made us all feel

kinda good for a minute. I was laughin' all

over inside -- a minute, that's all, but what

a minute it was!

He laughs -- DAVID LEE laughs along with him -- the laughter trails off.

DAVID LEE:

Daddy, I'm so glad you home!

NATHAN reaches across the table and shakes the boy's head with his hand.

NATHAN LEE:

And me too, son! You shore done got to be such

a big little man!

DAVID LEE:

We goin' huntin' again, Daddy !?

NATHAN LEE:

You bet we is!

DAVID LEE:

I cleaned and oiled all your stuff while you

was gone...

REBECCA re-enters from the children's room, crosses for her room, stops at

the door, and turns to them.

REBECCA:

Your time now, David Lee...

She enters the room -- DAVID LEE rises from the table, moves to his father,

and extends his hand out to him for a shake -- they shake hands.

DAVID LEE:

Goodnight, Daddy...

NATHAN LEE:

Goodnight to you, son...

DAVID LEE moves for his room, stops and turns back to his father.

DAVID LEE:

Daddy, you home now... that's all I want -- I

don't want nothin' else...

NATHAN LEE:

Come here, son...

DAVID LEE moves closer to him -- NATHAN takes the boy into his arms, and

holds him close. He releases him -- the boy smiles, turns and moves into his

room. NATHAN looks on the door for awhile where the boy has entered, rises

from the table and moves into his room.

INT. NATHAN AND REBECCA'S ROOM -- CLOSE FACE ANGLE - DAVID LEE - DAY

An expression of soft thoughts and affection.

PULLS TO:

ANGLE - NATHAN LEE - DAVID LEE POV

NATHAN is in bed, asleep. He turns over and as he does, his eyes catch sight

of DAVID LEE -- He props himself on his elbow to come out of the sleep as he

looks to the boy.

NATHAN LEE:

Mornin', son...

DAVID LEE:

Mornin', Daddy...

MOVES TO:

FULL ANGLE - NATHAN and DAVID LEE

NATHAN LEE:

Where's everybody?

DAVID LEE:

They gone to the field...

NATHAN LEE:

Guess I can't just lay here, then.

He lifts himself up and sits on the edge of the bed, rubs his hand through

his hair -- reacts, looking down on the floor.

CLOSE FACE ANGLE - DAVID LEE

As he looks to his father with affection --

PULLS QUICK TO:

FULL ANGLE - ROOM

DAVID LEE crosses to a chair, takes up his father's trousers and shirt off a

chair and his shoes from the floor and passes them on to him at the bed.

NATHAN LEE:

Thank you, son...

He begins to slowly put on his clothes --

DAVID LEE:

You feel alright today, Daddy?

NATHAN LEE:

Great, son -- not like wakin' up in jail. For a

minute or two, didn't quite know where I was,

but when I saw your face lookin down on me,

made me know right away the day was gonna be a

good one, and it all belonged to me!

CLOSE HALF ANGLE - NATHAN LEE

As he smiles down to the boy-

CUT TO:

CLOSE ANGLE - DAVID LEE

As he returns his father's smile -

PULLS TO:

FULL ANGLE - ROOM

As they both exit from the room -- NATHAN LEE leading the way --

INT. SITTING ROOM-KITCHEN - FULL ANGLE - DAY

They keep moving to the kitchen area.

DAVID LEE:

Mama left somethin' for you to eat on the

stove--

They arrive at the stove -- NATHAN takes the cover off a pan to take a look.

NATHAN LEE:

Smells good, too!

He turns away from the stove, and they move out the backdoor for the backyard.

EXT. THE BACKYARD - FULL ANGLE - DAY

Just as they step out into the yard, they are immediately greeted by SOUNDER.

NATHAN LEE:

Hi there, big boy!

SOUNDER leaps all over him -- he wrestles playfully with the dog.

NATHAN LEE:

They thought one little ol' shotgun was gonna

stop you -- you showed huh, boy!

SOUNDER continues to paw all over him.

NATHAN LEE:

Down boy! That's enough!

SOUNDER turns to DAVID who kneels to stroke and caress him as NATHAN moves to

the water well, and begins to wash up.

DAVID LEE:

Daddy, when is we goin' huntin'?

NATHAN LEE:

Soon -- but it won't be too much huntin' you'll

be doin','cordin' to a good little story your

mama told me last night -- you'll be goin' away

from here, won't you?

QUICK MOVE TO:

CLOSE FACE ANGLE - DAVID LEE

NATHAN'S question seems to stab the boy, and he sinks into a troublesome

silence.

PULLS BACK TO:

FULL ANGLE - NATHAN - DAVID POV

He waits a moment for the boy to reply, then moves for the shed and enters --

DAVID LEE looks on the blank door of the shed where NATHAN has entered -- He

rises from the ground and he and SOUNDER move into the shed.

INT. SHED - ANGLE - NATHAN - THEIR POV - DAY

DAVID LEE and SOUNDER enter and stop just inside the door. NATHAN is going

over his equipment.

NATHAN LEE:

You kept my stuff in real good shape, son.

He takes up his baseball glove and a ball -- tries the glove out in his hand

-- then tosses the ball to DAVID. DAVID catches it -- NATHAN picks up his bat

--

NATHAN LEE:

Come on, son, throw a couple to me!

He moves briskly out of the shed back into the yard -- DAVID and SOUNDER run

out behind him --

EXT. BACKYARD - FULL ANGLE - DAY

NATHAN moves to the house end of the yard -- DAVID takes a position at the

field end.

NATHAN LEE:

Alright, chunk it to me!

DAVID throws the ball softly and it lands in NATHAN's glove. He throws the

ball back to DAVID -- DAVID catches it in his bare hand.

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