Sounder Page #4

MRS. BOATWRIGHT

This is for your mama's work, and here's

something for the three of you.

DAVID LEE:

Thank you, Miss Boatwright.

JOSIE MAE & EARL

Thank you, Miss Boatwright.

MRS. BOATWRIGHT

Oh, by the way, David, I have the book I

promised you.

She moves for another room as the children all look to each other -- she

returns immediately with the book, and hands it to DAVID LEE --

MRS. BOATWRIGHT

It's about the Three Musketeers.

DAVID LEE:

Thank you, Miss Boatwright.

MRS. BOATWRIGHT

When you read it we'll talk about it...

DAVID LEE:

Yes mam... We gotta go, Miss Boatwright.. .

MRS. BOATWRIGHT

Tell Rebecca I said 'hi', now...

The children turn and walk out of the back door --

EXT. OUTSIDE MRS. BOATWRIGHT'S BACK DOOR - DAY

MRS. BOATWRIGHT is in the doorway as DAVID, EARL and SOUNDER move ahead of

JOSIE MAE, who stops and turns to MRS. BOATWRIGHT --

JOSIE MAE:

What's a Chinaman, Miss Boatwright?

Before MRS. BOATWRIGHT can struggle up a response --

DAVID LEE:

Come on, Josie Mae! We gotta hurry!

JOSIE MAE turns and catches up with them -- they all rush around and out of

MRS. BOATWRIGHT'S yard.

EXT. THE COUNTRY - DAY

They run up the road and into a field -- continue on across the field and

over a slope until they can see crowds of people at a make-shift baseball

diamond where two teams of black sharecroppers are engaged in a heated

baseball contest. They keep moving on into the crowd --

EXT. THE BASEBALL DIAMOND AREA - DAY

Men, women and children are standing around, loudly rooting for their team as

the three children make their way through the crowd to find their mother.

NATHAN LEE is pitching on the mound for his team. He throws a pitch -- the

Batter misses it --

DAVID LEE:

Look at Daddy throw that ball!

They keep moving until they spot their mother, who is seated on a bench with

another woman. They rush to her.

WOMAN:

Rebecca, your children git bigger by the hour!

REBECCA:

It's the good livin' that do it, Harriet!

She smiles as the children approach her. DAVID LEE hands her the money.

DAVID LEE:

Miss Boatwright gave me this book and all of us

a nickel apiece!

REBECCA holds her hand out with palm up as if to say "hand it over" -- the

three children pass the money on to her --

DAVID LEE:

Who's winning, Mama?

REBECCA:

Nobody yet -- it's all tied up.

The ballgame goes on as they shout and roar for NATHAN's team. NATHAN is

putting on quite a pitching performance in the close, exciting game.

NATHAN's team is at bat -- there are two out -- a man at second and a man at

bat. The man at bat hits a ground ball to the second baseman, the ball

trickles away from his glove into the outfield -- he quickly retrieves the

ball and tries to make a play at First Base, but the Batter is called safe --

meanwhile the runner on Second has moved past Third Base and is attempting to

score -- the first baseman throws the ball to the catcher at Home Plate as

the runner slides into Home. It is a close play and the umpire makes the

decision to call the runner safe. An uproar takes place as the other team

shows its displeasure over the umpire's call -- but the people who are

rooting for NATHAN's team shout and scream in ecstasy. After a short time,

order is restored.

EXT. ON THE ROAD AWAY FROM THE BASEBALL DIAMOND - DAY

NATHAN and his family are on their way home, accompanied by a guitar-playing

friend named IKE. As he plays, he sings one of those basic black back-country

blues. He finishes the song and gives out with a big laugh and boasts --

IKE:

If they heard me sing like this up North I'd be

richer than the man I sharecrop for.

NATHAN LEE:

And if they saw me pitch the way I did today --

they'd hire me just to strike out Babe Ruth!

NATHAN and IKE give out with a big laugh. REBECCA just smiles.

EXT. ROAD AND CHURCH - DAY

They pass a white church on the road. A number of people are standing in the

yard of the church and some are entering. DAVID watches with inquisitiveness.

DAVID LEE:

What do they do in the white churches, Mama?

REBECCA:

Same as we -- they pray.

IKE:

You know, one time by mistake I went into a

white church down in Row County and to this day

I don't know how'n the devil I got outta that

church alive.

NATHAN LEE:

They probly thought you was crazy.

IKE:

I guess so -- but I went home and did me some

praying to the Lord. I said, Lord, I went into

this white church down in Row and all I want

you to tell me is how I ever got outta there

in one piece.

NATHAN LEE:

What did the Lord tell you, Ike?

IKE:

He said, I don't know, Ike -- you doin'

better'n me, I been tryin' to git in there for

200 years and ain't make it yet!

Ike bursts out in loud laughter, joined by NATHAN, REBECCA and the children --

REBECCA:

If there ever was a devil in this county, Ike,

you is it!

NATHAN LEE:

Ike, you could make a song outta that!

IKE:

I believe I'll do just what you say, speed ball!

They keep moving and come to a stop at crossroad.

IKE:

Well, this is where I havta say good night to

y'all -- it's been fun, Miss Rebecca.

REBECCA:

Us too, Ike.

IKE:

It's a good, warm night comin' up, Nathan --

you goin' to the woods?

NATHAN LEE:

Oh, yeh -- possums and coons better hide deep

from us tonight!

IKE moves away from them -- As they continue on home they can hear him

singing to himself --

EXT. ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM THE MORGANS' CABIN - DAY

The dark has set well as the family approach the house. SOUNDER starts to

growl -- the children stop, and DAVID LEE turns his head to NATHAN and

REBECCA --

DAVID LEE:

There's two men in front of our house, Daddy.

They all stop -- and can see the shadowy figures of two men, standing in

their yard, and a Pick-Up Truck parked off the road toward the other side of

the cabin.

DAVID LEE:

Who is they?

REBECCA:

Children, come here...

The children move back -- NATHAN LEE looks behind himself and across the

fields as if he would like to make a dash for it -- but REBECCA's eyes follow

every physical and mental motion he makes.

NATHAN LEE:

We better see who they is...

They begin to move slowly toward the house with deliberate caution, with the

two men becoming more visible identifiable with their shotguns dropped to

their sides. They move into the yard and stop about twelve feet from the two

men.

EXT. THE FRONT YARD - DAY

SHERIFF YOUNG steps out of the front door of their house. The two groups do

not speak for a moment -- they merely stare at each other -- the MORGAN

family with inquiring and fretful eyes.

SHERIFF YOUNG:

We been in your house, Nathan--

NATHAN and REBECCA look to each other with knowing glances.

SHERIFF YOUNG:

We found what we was lookin' for.

He moves away from the door and stops at the edge of the porch --

SHERIFF YOUNG:

You took some food and stuff from the James'

Smoke House last night so me and my deputies

here gon' hafta take you to the County Court

House.

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