The Night of the Hunter Page #11

JOHN HARPER:

(across him)

When'll the skiff be ready?

BIRDIE STEPTOE:

(singing)

And the times that are gone by. I'll

have her ready inside of a week; and

then we'll go fishin'. How's your

Maw?

Through rest of scene, Birdie picks lazily at his guitar.

JOHN HARPER:

O, she's all right.

BIRDIE STEPTOE:

How's your sister Pearl?

JOHN HARPER:

Just fine.

He gets up.

BIRDIE STEPTOE:

Leavin', boy?

JOHN HARPER:

Yep; gotta watch out for Pearl, Uncle

Birdie.

BIRDIE STEPTOE:

Well goodnight, boy. Come again --

any time.

JOHN leaves the SHOT.

BIRDIE STEPTOE:

And mind now -- I'll have your Paw's

skiff in ship-shape, 'side of a week.

MOVING SHOT -- JOHN

As he runs past SPOON'S, looking in, he is curious.

MOVING SHOT -- SPOON'S, HIS VIEWPOINT

ICEY embraces WILLA or waltzes her around; WALT looks on,

pleased.

FULL SHOT -- JOHN

He hurries away from us towards home.

FRAMING SHOT -- THE HARPER HOUSE

In the otherwise dark house, one window is lighted. JOHN

enters the SHOT, his back to us. Seeing the lighted window,

he hesitates.

JOHN HARPER:

(softly)

Is somebody there?

Silent pause, listening; then he walks cautiously towards

us.

FULL SHOT -- JOHN

A tall, narrow shooting-frame; right and left thirds of screen

are black.

We SHOOT from inside the screen door. JOHN crosses the porch

and softly opens the door and enters on tiptoe and pauses,

close to us, in the dark hallway, listening sharp.

JOHN HARPER:

(softly)

Is anybody here?

Silence. Relieved, but puzzled, he tiptoes along towards the

rear of the hallway in CLOSE-UP as we PULL AWAY. We bring in

the bottom of the stairs.

PREACHER'S VOICE

(o.s.)

Good evening, John.

JOHN gasps, peering, and looks up.

TWO SHOT -- JOHN AND PREACHER -- NARROW SCREEN

PREACHER looks at JOHN; JOHN sinks onto the edge of a chair.

PREACHER sits opposite. A bar of light from door falls across

PREACHER'S face.

PREACHER:

I had a little talk with your mother

tonight, John; and your mother decided

it might be best for me to -- let

you know the news.

From JOHN, just a questioning helpless reaction.

PREACHER:

Your mother told me tonight she wanted

me to be a daddy to you and your

sister. We're going to get married,

son.

JOHN is still.

PREACHER:

Did you hear what I said, son?

JOHN HARPER:

Huh?

PREACHER:

Married! We have decided to go to

Sistersville tomorrow, and when we

come back --

JOHN HARPER:

(just breathing it)

You ain't my Dad! You won't never be

my Dad!

PREACHER:

(obsessed, disregarding

him)

-- and when we come back, we'll all

be friends -- and share our fortunes

together, John!

JOHN HARPER:

(screaming)

You think you can make me tell! But

I won't! I won't! I won't!

He gawks at his own folly, covers his mouth with his hand

and looks up at PREACHER.

PREACHER:

(softly)

Tell me what, boy?

JOHN HARPER:

Nothin'!

PREACHER:

Are we keeping secrets from each

other, little lad?

JOHN HARPER:

No. No.

PREACHER:

stiffens, relaxes, and chuckles softly.

PREACHER:

No matter, boy, we've got a long

time together.

CLOSE TWO-SHOT -- JOHN AND PREACHER

JOHN starts for the stairs.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. HARPER YARD -- MORNING -- CLOSE SHOT -- BEN'S FORD

It stands vibrating, then moves out of shot with receding

engine sound o.s., disclosing:

TWO-SHOT -- JOHN AND PEARL

ICEY'S skirts in BACKGROUND. They are awfully spic-and-span;

they even wear shoes.

ICEY SPOON:

(o.s.)

Wave yer hands! Great sakes!

They wave after the car, bewilderedly.

ICEY SPOON:

(o.s.)

You wait here while I get your night-

things.

She hustles out of shot.

PEARL HARPER:

Now can I tell?

JOHN HARPER:

Hm?

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