The Help Page #9

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MISS STEIN:

I'm saying I'll let you know if

it's even worth pursuing.

SKEETER:

Oh, thank you, Miss Stein!

MISS STEIN:

And for God's sake, you're a twenty-

four-year-old educated woman. Go

get an apartment.

She hangs up.

INT. LEEFOLT HOME - KITCHEN - LATER THAT DAY

Skeeter sits across the table from Aibileen, reading the

`Miss Myrna' letters.

31.

Outside, winds howl, and the sky grows dark. Jolene's

forecast appears to be a bit off.

SKEETER:

"Dear Miss Myrna, How do I remove

the rings from my fat, slovenly

husband's shirt collar when he is

such a pig and sweats like one

too..."

AIBILEEN:

Which one she want a get rid of?

Them rings or the husband?

Skeeter chuckles and shrugs her shoulders.

AIBILEEN (CONT'D)

Tell her a vinegar and Pine-Sol

soak. Then let it set in the sun a

bit.

Skeeter writes this down.

AIBILEEN (CONT'D)

Bout an hour. Let it dry.

Skeeter keeps writing. Aibileen notices something outside.

Hilly walks into the Leefolt backyard with her son, BILLY, 3,

perched on her hip.

A CONTRACTOR, 30s, follows holding a set of plans.

Skeeter turns to the open window. It's already started to

sprinkle outside.

HILLY:

Build it just like the one at my

house, right against the garage.

The contractor nods. Lightning strikes, thunder cracks.

HILLY (CONT'D)

Oh, mercy!

Hilly is off and running with Billy. Skeeter seizes the

moment.

SKEETER:

Aibileen, do you ever wish you

could...change things?

Aibileen turns slowly from the window.

SKEETER (CONT'D)

I mean, all that talk yesterday and

now with what Hilly's up to.

Aibileen's eyes fall to the floor.

32.

AIBILEEN:

Everthing's fine.

SKEETER:

My momma fired Constantine. Thank

you for telling me that.

AIBILEEN:

I never tolt you that!

Aibileen jumps up as another crack of thunder sounds out.

SKEETER:

Aibileen, I have an

idea...Something I want to write

about...But I need your help.

Skeeter rises.

SKEETER (CONT'D)

I want to interview you...about

what it is like to work as a maid.

Aibileen stops at the refrigerator, gripping the life out of

its handle.

SKEETER (CONT'D)

I'd like to do a book of interviews

about working for white families.

Show what it's like to work for,

say...Elizabeth.

Aibileen begins to perspire. She grabs the counter to steady

herself, then moves toward her chair.

AIBILEEN:

You know what'd happen to me if

Miss Leefolt knew I was tellin'

stories on her?

SKEETER:

I was thinking we wouldn't tell

her. The other maids will have to

keep it secret, too.

AIBILEEN:

Other maids?

SKEETER:

I was hoping to get four or five.

To really show what it's like in

Jackson. To see what y'all get

paid, the babies, the bathrooms,

the good and the bad.

Aibileen shakes her head.

AIBILEEN:

They set my cousin Shinelle's car

on fire just cause she went down to

the voting station.

33.

SKEETER:

A book has never been written like

this, Aibileen.

AIBILEEN:

`Cause they's a reason. I do this

with you, I might as well burn my

own house down.

Bam! The front door slams shut.

INT. LEEFOLT HOME (INTERCUT) - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME

Soaking wet, Elizabeth and her husband, RALEIGH, 25, stand

toe to toe.

RALEIGH:

I put up with the new clothes and

all the damn trips to New Orleans,

but this takes the goddamn cake!

ELIZABETH:

It'll confuse Mae Mobley if she

sees Aibileen going inside. And we

can't risk her health.

KITCHEN:

Aibileen hears Mae Mobley crying, but she is frozen.

LIVING ROOM:

ELIZABETH (CONT'D)

Hilly spoke to the Surgeon General!

She also said it'll add value to

our home!

RALEIGH:

Great! Mae Mobley can just go to

college in that bathroom, too.

ELIZABETH:

Honey, Hilly's covering the

cost...and said you can just do

William's taxes to pay her back.

RALEIGH:

We don't take orders from the

Holbrooks!

INT. LEEFOLT HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Raleigh storms in and is surprised to see Skeeter.

RALEIGH:

Skeeter? How you doing?

SKEETER:

Fine.

34.

RALEIGH:

Fix me a sandwich, Aibileen.

Raleigh storms out as Elizabeth charges into the kitchen.

ELIZABETH:

Aibileen, Mae Mobley's crying her

eyes out!

Aibileen runs off. Elizabeth sees Skeeter and tries to

compose herself.

ELIZABETH (CONT'D)

Skeeter...Hello. I'm sorry but I

think it's best if you leave now.

Skeeter gathers her things.

ELIZABETH (CONT'D)

And...I don't think this Miss Myrna

thing is gonna work out with

Aibileen.

INT. HOLBROOK HOUSE - DEN - LATER THAT DAY

The storm has escalated. The Holbrook house is without

power. Hilly runs around lighting candles.

Missus Walters lies on the couch while Minny fans her with a

newspaper.

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