The Birth Of A Nation Page #12

(CONTINUED)

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86

HARK:

I can’t do it Nat. I won’t.

(to Isaiah)

Who the hell you think you are?!

ISAIAH:

You think I wanted to come out here

for this?!

HARK:

You here ain’t ya?! You’d sell your

soul if a white man told you!

Nat abruptly beelines for the Big House.

Nat!

ISAIAH:

87 EXT. BIG HOUSE - BACK PORCH - MOMENTS LATER 87

Isaiah catches up to Nat, who strides toward the back door.

As they reach the back steps, the door swings open to reveal

Samuel. He stumbles toward them.

*

SAMUEL TURNER:

Where is she?

ISAIAH:

Oh, I’m fetchin’ her directly, suh-

NAT:

Samuel, please. You can’t do this.

SAMUEL TURNER:

The hell I can’t!

Joseph Randall appears at the door, grips a glass of wine.

JOSEPH RANDALL:

Everything alright?

(CONTINUED)

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SAMUEL TURNER:

Everything’s just fine. I’ll be

inside directly.

JOSEPH RANDALL:

Hope you won’t be alone.

SAMUEL TURNER:

I certainly won’t be.

Joseph Randall disappears inside. On Samuel, full of rage.

SAMUEL TURNER (CONT’D)

Boy, you mess this up for me, myhand to God, I’ll have every

goddamn one of ya’ lynched come

mornin’!

(then to Isaiah)

Fetch her. Now!

*

*

88 EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - NIGHT 88

Nat, Nelson and Hark watch Isaiah walk Ester to the BigHouse. She glances back, eyes filled with sorrow, Hark’s withshame. *

89 EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - NIGHT 89

Nat sits leaned against a tree. Looking out at-

Hark, who stands in the exact spot we last saw him, his eyesfixed on the Big House. A few long moments pass, before-

The back door of the Big House opens. Ester slowly emerges.

She notices Hark and slows to a stop, hanging her head. Harkcloses the gap, takes her into his arms.

As Hark walks her towards the slave quarters.

HARK:

Where is He, Nat? Where God now?

*

*

*

ANGLE ON NAT *

Something changing behind his eyes. *

4/9/15 -WHITE

90 EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - DAY 90

We open on a thick log, propped up on a tree stump.

THWACK!

An Axe splits the log in two, it tumbles off the stump.

WIDEN to find Nat, as he places another log on the stump.

THWACK! He glances up to find a WHITE DOVE perched on thenearby fence-post. Nat squints at the bird which seems tolook directly at him. Further away, Hark crosses, pushing awheelbarrow.

NAT:

Hark.

No response, as Hark continues on, his eyes fixed forward. AsNat watches Hark trudge away-

VOICE (O.S.)

Excuse me.

Nat turns to find a white man ETHELDRED “E.T.” BRANTLEY

(50’S), hat in hand.

E.T. BRANTLEY

I’m looking for a preacher called

Nat.

91 INT. TURNER PLANTATION - BIG HOUSE - FOYER - LATER 91

Nat stands before Elizabeth and Jethro. Just past Nat,

Brantley mulls on the other side of the screen door.

NAT:

He’s been banned from every church

in the county for his sins-

JETHRO:

He’s lucky it’s all he got for what

he done.

NAT:

The world has its way with dealing

with the immoral. Above all, those

who cast that immorality onto

children as he has. But, no one is

without sin, Miss Elizabeth.

(lets that settle)

This man wants to repent and be

delivered. As a shepherd of the

Lord, it’s my duty to serve... So,

I’d like to baptise him.

(CONTINUED)

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91 CONTINUED:
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JETHRO:

The hell you will!

ELIZABETH TURNER

Jethro, you will mind your mouth.

JETHRO:

With respect, Ms. Elizabeth, anigger can’t baptise no white man.

(re:
her no response)

I just think you should wait forMr. Samuel to get back.

Elizabeth studies Nat.

JETHRO (CONT’D)

Ms. Elizabeth, you can’t let this

go on-

ELIZABETH TURNER

Jethro, go wait in the front yard.

JETHRO:

But ma’am-

ELIZABETH TURNER

I won’t ask you again.

Jethro seethes. A murderous glare as he passes Nat-

JETHRO:

Boy, you gon’ get it.

And he’s out the door, leaving Nat and Elizabeth alone.

ELIZABETH TURNER

You sure you want to do this, Nat?

Samuel may not like it, nor will alot of other folks around here.

NAT:

Don’t think I have a choice,

Missus. This man still belongs toGod. And to stand between God and

his people is a dangerous place tobe.

A long beat, until-

ELIZABETH TURNER

You have my blessing.

NAT:

Thank you, Missus.

(CONTINUED)

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91

She watches him go, her eyes betraying a hint of melancholy.

92 EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - RIVER - DAY 92

Nat stands in waist deep water, Brantley before him. Nancy,

Bridget, Hark and others watch from the river bank. Jethro

stands further back. If looks could kill.

*

*

*

NAT:

Do you confess your sins beforeGod?

E.T. BRANTLEY

Yes, I do.

NAT:

Cross your arms.

Brantley complies. Nat bends Brantley backwards into thewater, covering his face before propping him back upright. Afew slaves clap as Brantley wipes his face, offering Nat amisty-eyed smile.

E.T. BRANTLEY

Thank you, Sir.

NAT:

Go and sin no more.

Brantley nods as he trudges back toward the riverbank. ON Natas he stands alone in the water, staring toward the bank.

PRELAP:

SAMUEL TURNER (O.S.)

I been good to you ain’t I?

93 EXT. SLAVE QUARTERS - NAT’S CABIN - DAY 93

Nat is sat on a narrow chopping block, stares forward.

Samuel, Jethro and Reverend Walthall stand before him. A

SHOTGUN rests in the crux of Jethro’s arm. Angle on Hark

unnoticed in the BG feigning work.

SAMUEL TURNER:

My whole family has. And you go anddo this to me?! A n*gger, baptizing

a white man on my property. Youknow how this makes me look?!

Nat only stares forward.

(CONTINUED)

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93 CONTINUED:
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SAMUEL TURNER (CONT’D)

Boy, you had better say somethingand quick.

NAT:

“Take heed therefore unto

yourselves, and to all the flock,

over the which the Holy Ghost hathmade you overseers, to feed thechurch of God, which he hath

purchased with his own blood.”

Silence. Samuel and Rev. Walthall share an incredulous look.

REV. WALTHALL

“Exhort servants to be obedient

unto their own masters, and to

please them well in all things; notanswering again-”

NAT:

“You were bought with a price; donot become slaves of men-”

REV. WALTHALL

“But he that shall blasphemeagainst the Holy Ghost hath neverforgiveness, but is in danger-”

NAT:

“Beware of false prophets who comein sheep’s clothing but inwardly

are ravening wolves!”

REV. WALTHALL

YOU BLACK BASTARD!

SAMUEL TURNER:

Nat!-

Nat looks Samuel straight in the eye.

NAT:

“He that stealeth a man, and

selleth him-

SAMUEL TURNER:

Don’t you eyeball me!

NAT:

(standing)

-or if he be found in his hand, he

shall surely be put to death.”

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