The Birth Of A Nation Page #3

NANCY:

He doin’ fine I reckon... Somethin’

wrong, Missus?

ELIZABETH TURNER

No. Nothin’ wrong.

(then)

John Clarke told me something thismorning I thought I’d ask youabout.

(beat)

He said Nat knows how to read.

NANCY:

Read? Oh no. He don’t know how to

read. He don’t know nothin’. He

just pulling John Clarke’s leg.

ELIZABETH TURNER

John Clarke said he found him with

a book. Said he knew letters.

NANCY:

Nat don’t know nothing ‘bout no

books. He just shiftless. Act likehe ain’t got no sense half the

time.

ELIZABETH TURNER

A part of me couldn't believe iteither... So, I tested him.

A sheet slips from Nancy’s grasp. She catches it before it

hits the grass.

NANCY:

Ma’am?

ELIZABETH TURNER

Sure enough, there he was soundingout letters.

An excruciating beat. The two continue hanging sheets intandem. Nancy’s hands tremble.

(CONTINUED)

21 CONTINUED:
(3)

5/8/15 - PINK 13

21

ELIZABETH TURNER (CONT’D)

Have him come by the house tomorrowafter lunch*

NANCY:

Please, Missus. He didn’t mean no

harm. I’ll whip him good when I seehim-

ELIZABETH TURNER

Whip him? Nonsense. I’m going to

teach him. If the good Lord gavethat boy a gift to read, we’d be

remiss to let it go to waste. Nowhave him at the house tomorrow

after lunch, hear?

(then)

And don’t expect him back for a fewdays. Reading can be tricky.

Lessons best not be disturbed in

the beginning.

*

Nancy forces a smile.

Yes’m.

NANCY:

And Elizabeth saunters away as cheery as when she came. OnNancy, her face falling.

22 EXT. SLAVE QUARTERS - NANA’S CABIN - DAY 22 *

Nancy pulls a burlap shirt over Nat’s head. WIDER to see Nat

wears a pair of sack cloth pants; the first time we’ve seen

him without his tow shirt.

*

*

Nancy and Bridget regard Nat as he studies his new outfitwith pride.

*

*

Hold on.

NANCY *

*

Nancy disappears into the Cabin. *

BRIDGET:

Now you listen to everything MissElizabeth say. Keep ya head downand stay out the way, hear?

*

*

*

*

Yes’m.

YOUNG NAT *

*

(CONTINUED)

5/8/15 - PINK 13A

CONTINUED:
22 CONTINUED: 22

Nancy emerges from inside, produces a folded piece of cloth. *

She and Bridget share a look before she kneels, hands it to

Nat.

NANCY:

Yo’ daddy gave me this... And yo’Nana gave it to him.

Nat unfolds the cloth to reveal

(CONTINUED)

5/8/15 - PINK 14

CONTINUED:
(2) 22 CONTINUED: (2) 22

A SMALL WOODEN RELIC. Tribal signs carved on its face.

NANCY (CONT’D)

Don’t you go losin’ it, ya’ hear?

YOUNG NAT:

Yes’m.

She gently takes his face in her hands, kisses his cheekbefore pulling him into a long hug. Bridget takes Nat’s hand,

leading him out of the quarters as we hold on Nancy’s look of

despair.

*

*

*

*

23 EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - BIG HOUSE - DAY 23

Bridget and Nat stand on the Big House porch. She knocks anda house servant JANICE (20’s) pulls open the door.

JANICE:

(over her shoulder)

Miss Elizabeth-

Elizabeth arrives, regards Nat with a smile.

ELIZABETH TURNER

There you are.

(to Bridget)

You tell Nancy not to worry, he’ll

be fine.

Yes’m.

BRIDGET:

Bridget watches as Elizabeth guides Nat inside.

ELIZABETH TURNER

First, we gotta get you outta those

rags...

Bridget and Nat share a fleeting look before he disappearsinside, Janice pushing the door shut. And we HOLD on Bridget.

24 INT. TURNER PLANTATION - BIG HOUSE - STUDY - DAY 24

Hundreds of books line the walls. Nat wanders, mouth agape.

(CONTINUED)

4/9/15 -WHITE 15

24 CONTINUED:
24 24 CONTINUED: 24

YOUNG NAT:

This shol’ is a lot of books.

ELIZABETH TURNER

They come from all over.

Nat reaches out to touch one when ELIZABETH CATCHES HIS HAND.

ELIZABETH TURNER (CONT’D)

These books in here are for white

folks. They’re full of things your

kind wouldn’t understand.

But, I do have a special one, justfor you.

She produces a worn HOLY BIBLE, hands it to Nat.

ELIZABETH TURNER (CONT’D)

And guess what? It’s the best book

ever written.

YOUNG NAT:

Can I look?

ELIZABETH TURNER

Of course. It’s yours.

YOUNG NAT:

Thank you, Missus.

He flips delicately through the thin pages, his eyes scanningthe foreign words.

ELIZABETH TURNER

You’re a special boy, Nathaniel.

(beat)

Study hard and heed my instruction,

hear? Your life, it’ll never be the

same. I’ll see to that.

YOUNG NAT:

Yes, Missus.

ELIZABETH TURNER

Well come on. The good book won’t

read itself. Let’s start with the

beginning.

Nat, all smiles, as he joins Elizabeth on a nearby couch.

4/9/15 -WHITE

25 INT. TURNER FAMILY CHURCH - DAY 25

Nat stands stark still in his black servants suit, chin high.

His Bible rests in his White-gloved hands. Ben Turner stands

just at his flank.

NAT:

(reads)

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw

nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye

sinners; and purify your hearts, ye

double minded. Be afflicted, and

mourn, and weep:
let your laughter

be turned to mourning, and your joy

to heaviness. James four, chapter

eight and nine.

A thin white congregation offers polite applause. Elizabeth,

beams. She gestures to Nat to take a bow. He obliges beforejoining her, John Clark and her daughter CATHERINE (4), inthe FRONT PEW. Lead house servant, ISAIAH (40’s) and Janice

sit on a single BACK pew.

ON BENJAMIN who pours with sweat, wipes his neck, as heregains the pulpit. He coughs into a handkerchief, it spotswith BLOOD. He quickly pockets it.

BENJAMIN TURNER:

Bless His name. Might as well carry

on in James. Turn with me to James

one. ‘Holding on to the goodness of

the Lord.’

26 INT. BIG HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - DAY 26

TIGHT on Nat. Wider to find Nancy and Bridget standing infront of Benjamin who lies pale and dead in the bed.

Elizabeth weeps quietly by his side. An UNKNOWN MAN, SAMUELTURNER (17) is the only other person in the room. He leansagainst the wall in a far corner. Elizabeth smiles at Nat.

ELIZABETH TURNER

He was most proud of the young man

you’re becoming, Nat.

Nat glances toward Samuel. Elizabeth catches it.

ELIZABETH TURNER (CONT’D)

That’s Samuel. You were a little

young when he left.

(beat)

He won’t be returning to school...

but will be taking Ben’s place as

your earthly master.

(CONTINUED)

5/8/15 - PINK 17

CONTINUED:
26 CONTINUED: 26

Bridget and Nancy offer Samuel smiles of acceptance. Natlooks to Samuel again, who stares back. Then-

SAMUEL TURNER:

How old are you, boy?

YOUNG NAT:

Ten, suh.

SAMUEL TURNER:

(to Nancy)

Ima’ want him in the field come

mornin’, ya hear?

NANCY:

Yes’suh.

Nat’s face falls. He looks to Elizabeth gut-punched. *

SAMUEL TURNER:

(to Bridget and Nancy)

That’s it, yall. Go on.

Bridget and Nancy start off, Nat lingers, bewildered. A finalglance to Elizabeth before Nancy ushers him out. *

ELIZABETH TURNER

That boy, Nat. I’ve spent quite a

bit of time with him. He reads,

quotes scripture.

(beat)

John Clark’s taken a liking to him.

And so have I...

Samuel only looks forward. *

ELIZABETH TURNER (CONT’D)

Maybe the field isn’t a place for achild of his ability.

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