The Help Page #3

---

8.

ELIZABETH:

Aibileen, the girls are pulling up,

and the table isn't set!

MAE MOBLEY:

Mae Mobley go, Momma!

ELIZABETH:

Get in your room! Right now!

Mae Mobley rises behind Aibileen's leg.

MAE MOBLEY:

I sorry.

Elizabeth reaches down and scoops up Mae Mobley like a sack

of potatoes.

Mae Mobley looks to Aibileen over her mother's shoulder, her

eyes have welled up.

Aibileen mouths "I love you" and blows her a kiss.

INT. LEEFOLT HOME - DINING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

The Leefolt's small, wood paneled, two bedroom "ranch" is

destined to become income property one day.

FIVE YOUNG WOMEN, early 20s, and Elizabeth hover around two

collapsible card tables arranged in the living room.

Aibileen methodically arranges grapes on a platter of chicken

salad resting on Elizabeth's dining table. The table has a

small L-SHAPED CRACK in the middle.

AIBILEEN (V.O.)

I lost my own boy, Treelore, right

before I started waitin' on the

Leefolts...

Elizabeth glances anxiously to the dining table then catches

eyes with Aibileen, nodding ever so slightly.

CLOSE ON:

Aibileen carefully slides the platter over the L-SHAPED CRACK

making sure it's hidden.

AIBILEEN (V.O.) (CONT'D)

After Treelore died, a bitter seed

was planted inside a me. And I

just didn't feel so accepting

anymore.

Hilly enters the front door holding Missus Walters coat.

HILLY:

Hey, girls!

9.

YOUNG WOMEN:

(IN UNISON)

Hey, Hilly!

Minny follows behind holding the pie and Missus Walters' arm.

HILLY:

(over her shoulder)

Put Momma in a chair before she

breaks a hip.

MISSUS WALTERS:

I'm not deaf yet, Hilly.

Minny spies Aibileen in the corner and gives her a "here we

go" look as she lowers Missus Walters into a chair.

Hilly approaches Aibileen with the coat.

HILLY:

Aibileen, I want you to have this

coat. It's too big for Momma now

and it's way too expensive to put

in the coat drive.

Hilly extends the coat with a smile.

HILLY (CONT'D)

All yours.

Aibileen takes the coat.

AIBILEEN:

Thank you, Miss Hilly.

HILLY:

Go on. Try it on.

INT. LEEFOLT HOME - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Minny plows through the swing door and reaches for Hilly's

deviled eggs.

Aibileen rushes in behind her wearing the cheetah collared

coat. The sleeves are about a foot too short.

AIBILEEN:

Hold on! Those are Miss Hilly's.

Aibileen pulls another plate of eggs out of the fridge.

AIBILEEN (CONT'D)

Gots to have paprika on `em.

Minny takes an egg. It disappears in a single bite.

MINNY:

Forgive me, Lord, but I'm gonna

have to kill that woman.

10.

Aibileen removes the coat and lays it over a chair.

AIBILEEN:

Watch yo mouth, Minny.

MINNY:

Looks like a walking Christmas

present with all them bows.

Aibileen shakes with silent laughter.

MINNY (CONT'D)

And, now she gone to puttin' pencil

marks on the toilet paper.

AIBILEEN:

Oh, law! Did she?

MINNY:

Uh-hum. But, I carry paper in from

my own damn house. That fool don't

know.

INT. LEEFOLT HOME - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME

Elizabeth and Hilly cackle with a group of girls as Missus

Walters sits on the couch watching "Guiding Light."

Skeeter suddenly rushes through the front door.

SKEETER:

Hey, girls.

GIRLS:

(IN UNISON)

Hey, Skeeter.

JOLENE FRENCH, 24, approaches and hugs Skeeter.

JOLENE:

Well, if it isn't Long-Haul-

Skeeter. We didn't think you'd

ever leave Ole Miss.

SKEETER:

Well, it's supposed to take four

years, Jolene.

Skeeter spins around to Hilly and Elizabeth with a sigh.

SKEETER (CONT'D)

Sorry I'm late. I had to stop by

the cleaners and pick up my black

dress.

Hilly and Elizabeth look at Skeeter with concern.

SKEETER (CONT'D)

What?

11.

HILLY:

About supper club tonight...Honey,

Stuart had to cancel.

SKEETER:

Again?

Hilly places her hand on Skeeter's shoulder.

HILLY:

He can't get off the rig, Skeeter.

It's offshore! Stuart is a very

successful oil man.

SKEETER:

I'm starting to think this Stuart

is a figment of your imagination.

ELIZABETH:

Raleigh called his cousin down in

Hattiesburg. He'll drive up.

SKEETER:

The cousin with one eye?!

Elizabeth nods.

SKEETER (CONT'D)

I guess his black patch will match

my dress. Just forget it.

Skeeter storms off. Hilly glares at Elizabeth.

HILLY:

One eye?!

INT. LEEFOLT HOME - LIVING ROOM - LATER THE SAME DAY

Aibileen clears the dining table as bridge begins.

Hilly, Elizabeth and Skeeter sit with Jolene. Skeeter takes a

deep breath and belts out her news.

SKEETER:

I got a job today... at The Jackson

Journal!

Everyone looks at Skeeter as if she just threw up on herself.

Finally, Hilly pats Skeeter on the leg.

Rate this script:3.5 / 4 votes