The Birth Of A Nation Page #4

(no response, then)

The young man he’s becoming-

SAMUEL TURNER:

He ain’t no young man, mama. He’s aa foal. And if we’re lucky, he’ll

grow to be a stud.

(beat)

We owe. We need more of that swampdrained so we can seed more crop.

Maybe have a season that’ll get us

outta’ this hole daddy left us

in... A reading slave doesn’t get

that done.

(CONTINUED)

26 CONTINUED:
(2)

5/8/15 - PINK 18

26

With that he strides out of the room. On Elizabeth, a

portrait of defeat.

27 EXT. COTTON FIELD - DAWN 27

Nancy and Nat stand in a row that seems to stretch toeternity. Nat dons a cotton henley and burlap pants. Sheregards him with sad eyes.

NANCY:

You gon’ start here and work your

way down yonder.

(motions to adjacent row)

I’ll be right over there, ya hear.

Nancy pulls him into a helpless hug before crossing into the

next row.

TIME PROGRESSION *

28 EXT. COTTON FIELD - DAY 28

--On Nat’s small hands as they feebly pick cotton, followingthem as they stuff blood speckled cotton into the long sack.

--STILL TIGHT on Nat’s hands, SLIGHTLY BIGGER, as they move

faster, separating the cotton from the bulb, following themdown to a half filled sack.

--AND STILL TIGHT on Nat’s hands, now FULL GROWN as they

breeze expertly from bulb to bulb, stuffing the snow whitetufts into a COMPLETELY FULL sack.

--We follow his hands up bulging forearms and a sweatymuscular torso to reveal-NAT IS NOW A TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD

MAN. Matured African features frame piercing eyes. Nat pullstwo full sacks over his shoulder. *

5/8/15 - PINK 19

29 OMITTED 29 *

30 OMITTED 30 *

31 OMITTED 31 *

32 OMITTED 32 *

33 OMITTED 33 *

34 OMITTED 34 *

35 INT. BARN/SLAVE CHURCH- DAY

Turner slaves populate the wooden benches. We spot Nancy,

Bridget and Hark. ANGLE ON Nat who somberly addresses thesmall congregation.

NAT:

Wait on the Lord: be of goodcourage, and he shall strengthenthine heart: wait, I say on theLord.”

(beat)

Let us bow our heads.

35

36 INT. TURNER FAMILY CHURCH - DAY 36

TIGHT on a flaring match as its pressed into a tobacco pipe.

Wider to reveal a fleshy preacher REVEREND WALTHALL (60)

inhaling smoke. He sits next to Samuel, their eyes fixedtoward something we don’t yet see. They speak in whispers.

REV. WALTHALL

She’ll make a fine wife, indeed.

It’s been a blessing seeing her

develop into the woman she has.

(CONTINUED)

5/8/15 - PINK 20

CONTINUED:
36 CONTINUED: 36

SAMUEL TURNER:

Will be an even better blessin’

seein’ her and mama puttin’ their

feet under his table ‘stead of

mine.

They share a stifled laugh.

REVERSE to reveal CATHERINE TURNER (20’s) in a white gown,

stands with her new husband GUILES REESE (30’s). They pose

next to a sunlit window. An ARTIST scribbles on a canvas,

capturing the moment.

Back to Samuel and Rev. Walthall.

REV. WALTHALL

She looks content enough.

SAMUEL TURNER:

(scoffs)

Content? If I had a nickel for

every time she asked me to buy hera handmaid for mama, I’d have

enough to have bought one by now.

Samuel rises, heads for the exit. Rev. Walthall follows

37 EXT. TURNER FAMILY CHURCH - CONTINUOUS 37

Samuel and Rev. Walthall exit to find Janice holding apitcher of water. She offers Walthall a glass.

*

*

REV. WALTHALL

Bless ya, honey.

(then)

How’s John Clarke?

*

*

*

SAMUEL TURNER:

Still in Richmond. Should graduatenext year. Volunteering in thelocal militia on his off days.

*

REV. WALTHALL

The Lord rejoices over that.

SAMUEL TURNER:

Yeah, so does my mama- Not so muchthe militia part.

(sotto)

“Those boys running around withguns’ll find themselves a war.” *

As Walthall downs his water, Janice appears, fills his glass.

As he watches her go(

CONTINUED)

*

*

4/9/15 -WHITE 21

37 CONTINUED:
37 37 CONTINUED: 37

REV. WALTHALL (CONT’D)

I gotta say, Sam, your slaves suredo know how to behave. More

impressed by ‘em ever’ time I make

it ‘round.

(beat)

Old Ben would be proud.

SAMUEL TURNER:

They God fearing. Simple as that.

Gotta colored preacher that keeps‘em reminded.

REV. WALTHALL

A colored preacher? That theremedy?

SAMUEL TURNER:

That’s it.

REV. WALTHALL

Well, I don’t gotta tell ya’ times

are tough. With the drought, it’s

getting harder for whites all overthe county to feed and clothe theyniggers good. Talks ofinsurrection’s got folks scared.

I’d think people’d pay good money

to have ‘em calmed down a bit.

Especially by one of they own.

SAMUEL TURNER:

Calmed down?

REV. WALTHALL

No different from what you got himdoin’ here.

(beat as Sam considers)

Just sayin’ you might have anopportunity on your hands.

SAMUEL TURNER:

Start askin’ around about that.

REV. WALTHALL

Will do.

(then)

Guess I should git. Got a few otherservices in county.

SAMUEL TURNER:

Busy man, Reverend.

REV. WALTHALL

Never too busy for the Lord’s work.

(CONTINUED)

4/9/15 -WHITE 22

37 CONTINUED:
(2) 37 37 CONTINUED: (2) 37

On Samuel as he watches the Reverend off.

38 EXT. TURNER MAIN ROAD - DAY 38

Nat steers a colt, as he and Samuel ride in the front of a

covered wagon. Samuel leans back, asleep.

In the distance- SEVERAL GUN SHOTS. The horses fidget.

NAT:

(to horses)

Whoa. Whoa, now...

Samuel stirs awake, and we-

ANGLE ON:

The far end of the road where three men approach on horses.

PATTY-ROLLERS. Nat slows the wagon.

As the men arrive, we recognize the leader as Ray Cobb. Ascar stretches from his right eye to his chin, his sun-agedskin looks more like tanned leather. Jesse and the other stopat his flank, bloodthirsty.

COBB:

You seen a n*gger run by here?

SAMUEL TURNER:

Naw. Then again I dozed off afew...

COBB:

(to Nat)

What about you, boy? You best notlie. I know when ya’ll is lying.

NAT:

No, Suh.

Cobb studies Nat through a familiar squint.

COBB:

Couple n*ggers went missing offBill Johnson’s place this mornin’.

Say they raised up on a overseer‘for they took off.

Cobb eyes the surrounding woods.

JESSE:

Got one just back yonder. Swear Iput one in the ‘nother.

(CONTINUED)

5/8/15 - PINK 23

CONTINUED:
38 CONTINUED: 38

COBB:

He’s close... I can smell him.

(then)

If y’all see somethin’, let usknow.

Will do.

SAMUEL TURNER:

Cobb whistles, his horse snaps to. A moment before Sam liesback, covers his face. Nat loosens the reins. Cobb eyes himhard as they cross.

AS THE WAGON pushes forward Nat slows at something just offthe road. We RACK FOCUS to reveal the body of a dead slave,

his brains exposed from a head-shot. On Nat, eyes still fixedforward as he snaps the reigns.

39 EXT. FARMER’S MARKET - WOOD AND SEED STORE - DAY 39

Nat and Samuel load the last wooden slats onto the wagon. Natrests on the back as Samuel exits frame.

WIDER to reveal a well-dressed family of three crossing inthe foreground. The MAN (30’s), holds a lacquered cane, walksa pace ahead of the WOMAN (20’s) who ushers their SON (5)

along by the hand. CLOSER on the Son who carries a WOODENHAND PUPPET. As the Mother hurries him along, it drops,

unnoticed, in the dirt. A moment later-

Ma’am...

VOICE (O.S.)

The woman turns to find Nat, holding the doll.

NAT:

The younglin’ dropped it a step

back.

The woman offers a warm smile.

WOMAN:

Thank you.

Nat maneuvers the puppets arms, pulling a smile from the boy.

Just as he reaches it back to him- WHAP! The husband’s CANE

comes down hard on Nat’s wrist. The doll hits the dirt as he

steps between Nat and his wife and child.

*

*

*

MAN:

What you think you’re doing?!

WOMAN:

He was just-

(CONTINUED)

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