Sounder Page #5

SHERIFF YOUNG nor the DEPUTIES make a physical move toward NATHAN. There is a

long moment of tense silence. For a second, NATHAN seems to want to make a

desperate break and run, but REBECCA holds him by the arm with all the

strength her hand can afford.

SHERIFF YOUNG:

Okay, boys...

The DEPUTIES move in and take NATHAN by the arms from both sides and put

handcuffs on him.

EARL:

What they doin', Mama?

REBECCA:

Be quiet, son...

EARL falls into his mother's embrace - suddenly, SOUNDER's voice rips into

the atmosphere, and for the first time the DEPUTIES draw their shotguns to

waist level --

SHERIFF YOUNG:

Shut that mongrel up!

DAVID runs to SOUNDER and tempers him as the sound fades to a growl -- the

dog frantically scratches the earth as DAVID holds on to him --

SHERIFF YOUNG:

Git that truck up close here, and quick!

One of the DEPUTIES moves out in a hurry to fetch the vehicle as SHERIFF

YOUNG moves down the steps into the yard and looks to DAVID, holding SOUNDER.

SHERIFF YOUNG:

Now boy, if you love that dog, you better keep

a good, strong hold on him.

The sound of the truck is heard moving up close to the house, and stopping.

REBECCA moves away from JOSIE MAE and EARL, and stops directly in the face of

SHERIFF YOUNG.

REBECCA:

You been knowin' Nathan for a long time,

Sheriff Young, and you know what kind of man he

is, and you know the trouble we face in these

off-seasons.

The SHERIFF cannot look her in the face -- he walks away from her and

everyone, and just looks out over the fields -- then finally he motions with

his hand to the two DEPUTIES, standing at NATHAN'S side to put him into the

truck. They lift him up into the truck as JOSIE MAE, standing up on the porch

with EARL, starts to cry softly as REBECCA moves to the edge of the vehicle,

real close to NATHAN'S face. She kisses him lightly on the mouth, and then

they just look on each other for awhile, in a way they knew and loved each

other so well. Then in a physical, tough manner, REBECCA turns away and walks

up on the porch with JOSIE MAE and EARL.

One DEPUTY gets in the back of the truck with NATHAN, and the other sits at

the wheel -- as SHERIFF YOUNG climbs up and sits next to him.

SHERIFF YOUNG:

Alright, let's go!

The truck starts to pull away -- DAVID lets go of his grip on SOUNDER, and

makes a dash out into the road.

DAVID LEE:

Don't take my Daddy! Please don't take my Daddy!

REBECCA:

David, come back here!

SOUNDER lets out with his voice, and charges past DAVID for the truck on the

road.

EXT. THE ROAD - DAY

The DEPUTY in the back of the truck aims his shotgun as SOUNDER leaps for the

truck -- the thunder from the DEPUTY's shotgun is the only sound that can be

heard in the entire valley -- SOUNDER falls to the road.

EXT. THE PORCH - DAY

REBECCA rushes down from the porch to the edge of the yard.

REBECCA:

David!

EXT. THE ROAD - DAY

DAVID keeps running in the direction of the truck and SOUNDER.

He sees SOUNDER rise and fall, give out with a faint yelp, and circle into

the field. He moves in the direction of the house, falling and floundering,

with the hind part of his body staying up -- moving from side to side.

DAVID arrives at the spot where the animal was cut down, stops with his eyes

deadpan on the truck as it fades from his view. He looks down on a huge blot

of blood in the sand -- reaches down and digs his fingers into it -- lifts

his hand up and frowns -- looks out into the field to track the dog's

movements -- then makes his way back to the cabin.

EXT. THE FRONT YARD - DAY

DAVID trots back to the front yard -- REBECCA is at the edge of the yard --

JOSIE MAE and EARL are still on the porch -- DAVID keeps moving on around the

house -- REBECCA stares down the road -- in her background, the figure of

DAVID and the lighted lantern can be seen faintly, crawling under the house.

JOSIE MAE and EARL come down from the porch, and stop just behind their

mother.

JOSIE MAE:

Mama, why did they take Daddy away?

REBECCA:

(pause)

Because he cared so damn much about you and me,

child.

JOSIE MAE:

Is he gon' be gone long?

REBECCA:

(pause)

Might be...

EXT. UNDER THE HOUSE - DAY

DAVID LEE, with the lantern, crawls about under the house looking for SOUNDER.

DAVID LEE:

Sounder... Sounder...

He stops and looks all around him with a pained expression on his face --

SOUNDER is not under the house...

INT. THE KITCHEN - DAY

The following morning REBECCA pours the walnuts from the bowl into a paper

bag and proceeds to tie the bag up as DAVID LEE looks on. JOSIE MAE and EARL

enter.

REBECCA:

Josie Mae, I'm goin' into town for awhile to

see about your Daddy -- David Lee is gon' be in

charge here, so you and Earl do just like he

tells you.

She steps out of the front door with DAVID -- JOSIE MAE and EARL watch them

move through the yard, and on to the road leading away from the house.

EXT. THE ROAD NEAR HOUSE - DAY

REBECCA and DAVID LEE slowly move along up the road.

REBECCA:

Watch the fire -- don't go too far lookin' for

Sounder, and warm up some of that corn mush for

y'all to eat. If anybody comes to the house

that's a stranger to you, don't say nothin'.

They come to a halt at a short distance from the house -- and then she looks

softly down on the boy for a moment.

DAVID LEE:

'Bye, Mama...

REBECCA:

'Bye, son -- I won't be gone long.

The mother and son move away on the road with their backs to each other.

DAVID LEE picks up speed and runs.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

As JOSIE MAE and EARL look on, DAVID LEE completes building a fire in the

wood stove. He warms up and serves corn mush to his sister and brother.

EXTs. BACKYARD, UNDER CABIN, ROAD, FIELDS, WOODLANDS - DAY

DAVID LEE chops wood at the woodpile -- rakes up a few chunks into his arms

and heads back into the house.

He crawls under the cabin, searching about carefully, looking for the dog.

The boy charges up the road away from the house and then cuts off into the

field.

He spirals the brown stalk land in ever-widening circles, searching the

fence-rows -- and then he comes to the edge of the woodlands.

DAVID LEE searches under the jack oaks and cottonwoods, but SOUNDER is not

there. He stands in one spot, looking about the woods in painful confusion.

EXT. LANDSDOWN MAIN STREET - DAY

REBECCA moves into town, picking up the main street, crosses the town square,

moving in the direction of SHERIFF YOUNG's office which is adjacent to the

County Court House.

INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY

SHERIFF YOUNG is seated behind his desk -- a DEPUTY is sitting at a table

across the room. REBECCA enters and stands before the SHERIFF's desk.

SHERIFF YOUNG:

Howya do, Rebecca. I sorta been expectin' you

this mornin'.

REBECCA:

I wanta see Nathan.

SHERIFF YOUNG:

I wish I could, Rebecca, but I can't let you.

REBECCA:

I don't understand that, Sheriff Young.

SHERIFF YOUNG:

It's the rules and I gotta follow 'em. No

visitin' 'cept holidays and Sunday -- and no

womenfolk anytime.

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