The Help Page #7

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CHARLOTTE:

If only you'd show a little

gumption, Eugenia...

SKEETER:

Well, I did get a job today.

CHARLOTTE:

You did?

SKEETER:

Writing...for The Jackson Journal.

Charlotte plumps up the dress around Skeeter's behind.

CHARLOTTE:

Great. You can write my obituary.

"Charlotte Phelan dead. Her

daughter still single."

SKEETER:

Momma, would it really be so

terrible if I never met a husband?

With that, Charlotte grabs Skeeter's hand and takes her to a

love seat. They sit. This is serious.

CHARLOTTE:

I need to...ask you something,

Skeeter. I read the other day

about how some girls...get

unbalanced, start thinking

these...well, unnatural thoughts.

Charlotte begins to twist the handkerchief she holds.

CHARLOTTE (CONT'D)

Are you...do you...find men

attractive? Are you having

unnatural thoughts about...

Charlotte shuts her eyes tight.

CHARLOTTE (CONT'D)

Girls or...or women?

24.

SKEETER:

Oh my God!

CHARLOTTE:

Because, this article says there's

a cure, a special root tea.

Skeeter jumps up.

SKEETER:

Mother, I want to be with girls as

much as you wanna be with Jameso.

CHARLOTTE:

Eugenia!

Skeeter storms out of the room.

CHARLOTTE (CONT'D)

(SHOUTING)

Carlton's bringing Rebecca to

dinner. Try to look presentable!

INT. PHELAN PLANTATION - DINING ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT

The Phelan dining room is lit solely by candles.

The Phelan's new maid, PASCAGOLUA, 40, rolls a cart of

casseroles around the table.

Charlotte sits at the head of the table. She's having a bowl

of broth.

Skeeter sits next to her Father, ROBERT PHELAN, 60.

Skeeter's brother, CARLTON, 25, sits next to his fiancé,

REBECCA, 21. They're perfectly groomed with Hollywood good

looks.

CARLTON:

What the hell do you know about

cleaning a house, Skeeter?

SKEETER:

It's a start, Carlton.

CARLTON:

(MOCKINGLY)

I thought you wanted to write

books.

ROBERT:

Leave your sister alone, Son. I'm

proud of you, Sweetheart.

Charlotte scoops up some broth with a spoon.

25.

CHARLOTTE:

Oh, the irony of it all. Givin'

advice on how to keep up a home

when she...

Charlotte's spoon goes in her mouth.

Pascagolua tries to scoop some sort of casserole covered in

almonds onto Skeeter's plate. Skeeter stops her.

SKEETER:

Oh! No, Pascagolua! You couldn't

have known this...But, see, I'm

allergic to almonds.

PASCAGOLUA:

Sorry, Miss Eugenia.

SKEETER:

Last time I had an almond, I

stopped liking men.

Charlotte glares at Skeeter. Carlton lets out a chuckle.

Rebecca is mortified.

REBECCA:

Oh my Lord.

SKEETER:

It's okay, Rebecca. They have a

special root tea now.

CHARLOTTE:

You have pushed it, Young Lady!

Pascagolua scurries off. Skeeter turns to her father...

SKEETER:

Daddy, what happened to

Constantine?

The room grows silent. Carlton looks down to his plate.

ROBERT:

Ah...well, Constantine went to live

with her family. People move on,

Skeeter. But I do wish she'd

stayed down here with us.

SKEETER:

I don't believe you.

Skeeter looks to her mother who immediately busies herself

with scooping up more broth.

SKEETER (CONT'D)

Mother, did you...fire her?

CHARLOTTE:

You wouldn't understand. Not until

you've hired help of your own.

26.

SKEETER:

She raised me!

Charlotte slaps the table and stands.

CHARLOTTE:

SHE DID NOT!

Skeeter's eyes fill with tears...

SKEETER:

She worked here for twenty-nine

years.

Charlotte presses both hands to her stomach.

CHARLOTTE:

It was a colored thing, and I've

put it behind me.

Charlotte passes behind Rebecca and kisses her head.

CHARLOTTE (CONT'D)

Excuse me, Rebecca. My daughter

has upset my cancerous ulcers.

As Charlotte leaves the room, Rebecca looks at Skeeter like

she's the worst person on earth.

Skeeter gets up and storms off into the entry foyer.

INT. PHELAN PLANTATION (FLASHBACK) - ENTRY FOYER - NIGHT

Skeeter, 13 and lanky, wears a party dress. Despite a tight

bun, her strong-willed hair has started to frizz.

Skeeter's father and brother race down the stairs with

suitcases. Carlton wears a varsity sweater.

SKEETER:

Good luck down there, Carlton.

CARLTON:

Have fun at the dance, Skeeter

Legs.

Robert and Carlton race outside as Charlotte enters, healthy

and glowing.

CHARLOTTE:

Eugenia! You've grown another inch

since breakfast. Go put on a dress

that fits before that boy and his

daddy come pick you up.

A horn blows. Charlotte kisses Skeeter on the cheek and then

looks over to CONSTANTINE, 50.

27.

Constantine stands tall. Her skin is black as night. Her

eyes have a striking honey colored hue to them. She wears a

white sleeping gown.

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