The Help Page #11

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EXT. BUS STOP - LATER THAT NIGHT

Dark outside, Aibileen approaches another, more integrated

bus stop.

AIBILEEN (V.O.)

I know pretty well what happens if

the white ladies found out we was

writing about them. Womens, they

ain't like men. Women don`t beat

you with a stick. Naw, they like

to keep they hands clean. Got a

shiny set a tools they use, sharp

as witches' fingernails.

As Aibileen ambles toward a bench, TWO WHITE WOMEN in nurse

uniforms push in front of her and sit.

INT. MISSISSIPPI LAW LIBRARY - NEXT MORNING

Skeeter sits at a long table surrounded by books piled high

as if to provide a shield of sorts.

Lying before her, is an old, thin, onionskin booklet curling

at the edges. It's titled:

"Compilation of Jim Crow Laws of the South"

Skeeter opens the booklet and begins reading.

AIBILEEN (V.O.)

Any person printing, publishing or

circulating written matter urging

for public acceptance of social

equality between whites and negroes

is subject to imprisonment.

INT. AIBILEEN'S HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT

Aibileen sits at a table wearing a nightgown. She carefully

combs and styles her wig for work in the morning.

Her real hair is bound tightly in dozens of tightly bound

nubs.

39.

The rotary wall phone rings. Aibileen hangs the wig on her

chair and answers.

INT. MINNY'S HOUSE (INTERCUT) - HALLWAY - SAME TIME

Minny is hysterical.

MINNY:

Oh, Aibileen! I went and did it

now!

Minny wraps a hand up in the phone cord.

MINNY (CONT'D)

Miss Hilly been tellin' everbody in

town I stole a candelabra! That's

why I can't get no job.

AIBILEEN:

Everbody know you honest, Minny.

MINNY:

Oh, but I got her back...I did

something awful, Aibileen.

AIBILEEN:

What you did?!

EXT. HOLBROOK HOUSE (FLASHBACK) - DAY

Minny stands on Hilly's porch holding a chocolate pie.

MINNY (O.S.)

I cain't tell! I ain't tellin'

nobody! I done a terrible awful

thing to that woman. And now she

knows what I did!

Hilly answers the door and snarls at Minny. Minny presents

the pie and says "I am sorry."

Hilly waves Minny inside.

INT. MINNY'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

MINNY:

She got what she deserve, Aibileen.

But, now I ain't gone never get no

work again...Leroy gone kill me.

Minny's husband, LEROY, 40, approaches behind Minny. Minny

slowly turns...

INT. AIBILEEN'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Aibileen hears a loud slap and Minny's phone dropping to the

floor. Yelling and screaming follows.

40.

AIBILEEN:

Minny!

She can't bear to listen and hangs up the phone. She sees

Skeeter's phone number taped to the wall.

Aibileen's breath becomes heavy. Anger wells inside her.

She picks up the phone again and begins to dial.

EXT. AIBILEEN'S HOUSE - NEXT NIGHT - DUSK

Wearing a black scarf over her hair and clutching her red

satchel, Skeeter approaches a small, one-story wood

structure. White paint peels, hydrangeas fill the yard.

Skeeter spies an old pickup truck parked on the side of

Aibileen's house, completely covered in years of dust.

Skeeter checks over her shoulder several times. The porch

steps creak under her big feet.

Aibileen quickly opens the door and waves her inside.

INT. AIBILEEN'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Aibileen wears the same yellow dress she wore in the first

scene.

SKEETER:

I parked way up on State Street and

caught a cab here like you asked.

AIBILEEN:

Got dropped two streets over?

Skeeter nods.

SKEETER:

Aibileen, I now know it's against

the law for us to meet like this.

Skeeter stares Aibileen up and down. Aibileen self-

consciously flattens our her dress.

SKEETER (CONT'D)

I've never seen you out of uniform

before. You look nice, Aibileen.

AIBILEEN:

Thank you.

Aibileen motions for Skeeter to sit on a narrow sofa behind a

coffee table covered in hand-tatted lace.

A tray holds a teapot, two cups that don't match and cookies

resting on folded napkins.

As Aibileen pours the tea, her hand shakes.

41.

AIBILEEN (CONT'D)

I'm sorry. I've never had a white

person in my house before.

Skeeter sips her tea.

SKEETER:

I've never been in a colored

person's home before. I think

we're both doing great. This tea

is really nice.

Aibileen watches as Skeeter takes a bite of the cookie.

AIBILEEN:

Miss Skeeter, What if...What if you

don't like what I got to say?

About white peoples?

SKEETER:

I...this isn't about my opinion.

It doesn't matter how I feel.

AIBILEEN:

You gone have to change my name.

Mine, Miss Leefolt's, everbody's.

SKEETER:

Everybody? So, you know other

maids who might be interested?

Aibileen is quiet for a moment. She shakes her head.

AIBILEEN:

It gone be hard.

SKEETER:

What about Minny?

AIBILEEN:

Minny got her some stories, sho

nuff. But, she ain't real keen on

talking to white peoples right now.

INT. AIBILEEN'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

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