The Night of the Hunter Page #8

CLOSE SHOT -- WALT

WALT:

So you ain't with the State no more?

GROUP SHOT -- FAVORING PREACHER AND JOHN

PREACHER:

No, Brother; I resigned only

yesterday. The heart-renderin'

spectacle of them poor men was too

much for me.

He becomes aware of JOHN'S staring.

PREACHER:

Ah, little lad, you're staring at my

fingers.

He hands the doll to PEARL. JOHN'S eyes follow the doll.

PREACHER holds up both hands to JOHN. JOHN looks back at his

hands.

PREACHER:

Shall I tell you the little story of

Right-Hand-Left-Hand -- the tale of

Good and Evil?

JOHN stands still. PEARL, with her doll, crosses to PREACHER

and twines about his knee.

CLOSE SHOT -- JOHN

He looks on, in dumb alarm.

CLOSE SHOT -- PREACHER

PREACHER:

H-A-T-E!

(he thrusts up his

left hand)

It was with this left hand that old

brother Cain struck the blow that

laid his brother low! L-O-V-E!

(he thrusts up his

right hand)

See these here fingers, dear friends!

These fingers has veins that lead

straight to the soul of man! The

right hand, friends! The hand of

Love!

GROUP SHOT -- ICEY, WALT, WILLA -- OVER PREACHER'S HANDS

They are impressed in their different ways.

PREACHER:

(o.s.)

Now watch and I'll show you the Story

of Life. The fingers of these hands,

dear hearts! -- They're always a-

tuggin' and a-warrin' one hand agin'

t'other.

(he locks his fingers

and writhes them,

crackling the joints)

Look at 'em, dear hearts!

MEDIUM SHOT -- JOHN -- OVER PREACHER'S HANDS

He looks on with unseeing eyes.

PREACHER:

(o.s.)

Old Left Hand Hate's a-fightin' and

it looks like Old Right Hand Love's

a goner!

GROUP SHOT -- WALT, ICEY, WILLA, OVER HANDS

PREACHER:

(o.s.)

But wait now! Hot dog! Love's a-

winnin! Yessirree!

CLOSE SHOT -- PREACHER

PREACHER:

It's Love that won! Old Left Hand

Hate's gone down for the count!

(he crashes both hands

onto the table)

FULL SHOT -- THE WHOLE GROUP

Slight applause from the ADULTS. PREACHER takes PEARL, with

her doll, onto his lap.

ICEY SPOON:

I never heard it better told. I wish

every soul in this community could

git the benefit. You jest got to

stay for our church pick-nick Sunday!

PEARL offers PREACHER the DOLL to kiss. PREACHER complies.

CLOSE SHOT -- JOHN'S REACTION

RESUME GROUP SHOT

PREACHER:

(finessing it)

I must wend my way down River on the

Lord's work.

ICEY SPOON:

You ain't leavin' in no hurry if we

can help it!

WILLA HARPER:

John:
take that look offen your face

and act nice.

PREACHER:

He don't mean no impudence; do you,

boy?

(no answer)

Do you, boy? Ah, many's the time

poor Brother Ben told me about these

youngins.

JOHN HARPER:

What did he tell you?

CLOSE SHOT -- PREACHER

He does a little take. His eyes twinkle palely.

PREACHER:

Why, he told me what fine little

lambs you and your sister both was.

GROUP SHOT:

JOHN HARPER:

Is that all?

CLOSE SHOT -- PREACHER

Something new enters his eyes; a game has begun between them.

PREACHER:

Why, no, boy; he told me lots and

lots of things. Nice things, boy.

A tight silence. ICEY pours fudge into a buttered pan.

PREACHER:

My, that fudge smells yummy!

CLOSE SHOT -- ICEY

ICEY SPOON:

(with horrid archness)

It's for the pick-nick. And you won't

get a smidgen of my fudge unless you

stay for the pick-nick!

Over her line, o.s., hymn-singing begins and now, OVER her

"the case rests" smile we bring up the singing and

LAP DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. THE RIVER BANK -- CHURCH IN BACKGROUND -- FULL SHOT --

THE SINGING PICKNICKERS

A pleasant, grassy river-bank. Few men in proportion to women

and children. We CENTER PREACHER. They are singing "Brighten

the Corner;" PREACHER sings conspicuously well. The women

watch him and admire him. He gives WILLA the eye as we PAN

to CENTER WILLA, who looks wooed and self-conscious. ICEY

enters the SHOT and whispers and beckons WILLA and, as the

singing continues, they leave the group and start towards a

shade tree in MEDIUM GROUND, which we PAN TO CENTER.

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