A young man meets an enslaved girl who slowly takes a liking to him... |
List of Characters: Gideon- protagonist, son of Mr. Halder. Mr.Halder- Father of Gideon, slave owner. Bethany- enslaved African girl. Mary- house maid. FADE IN EXT. OPEN SEA- DAY A large ship is sailing amidst calm waters. A crew member approaches the Captain. CREW Sir, weâre nearing. Should we begin? The Captain gives a curt nod as the crew member scurries away. EXT. SHIP DECK- DAY The crew are busily bathing and cleaning the Africans who are still in chains while some are being fed. EXT. DOCKS- DAY The Africans are lined up before a group of white men who are eying them. The Captain stands to the side. CAPTAIN Commence! The group rush forward in a frenzy and start to grab onto the Africans they want. Screams of terror ring out as the white men fight for them. A girl of about 18 is taken into a group and bustled onto a truck by some men. EXT. HOUSE- DAY The Africans are standing in the sun, still in chains, the white men waiting beside them. A middle-aged man, MR. HALDER, walks out and stands on the porch. He scans them while fiddling with his newspaper. MR. HALDER (to the overseer) Very good. You know what to do. INT. ROOM- DAY A YOUNG MAN, 23, with short dark hair, sits at his desk writing. He hears the commotion outside and gets up, going towards the window. He pulls back the curtain and sees the men splitting the Africans into groups and leading them away. 2. INT. KITCHEN- DAY Mr. Halder sits at the table sipping from a cup and reading the newspaper when the young man walks in and sits opposite him. MR. HALDER Fine day today, isnât it, Gideon? GIDEON Father, what are you doing? MR. HALDER Hmm? GIDEON I saw them. The people outside... MR. HALDER People? Youâre mistaken, my boy. Theyâre just simply Negros and nothing more than that. GIDEON Didnât you read those pamphlets I gave you? MR. HALDER I donât have the time to read that nonsense. GIDEON Theyâre not. My friend in London said there is a campaign to end this once and for all! MR. HALDER End slavery? How absurd! GIDEON You said that you would leave it. Why do you continue? MR. HALDER This trade is very profitable and I see no other venture that would result otherwise. GIDEON Father, they are people, men, just as we are! They are not born to be under subjection but to be free! (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 3. MR. HALDER Enough with all this silliness, Gideon. Stop filling your head with all these ideas. One day youâll take my place. GIDEON No, Father. I wonât. MR. HALDER (drinking) Then what will you do? GIDEON I wish to become a clergyman. Mr. Halder chokes on his drink then regains composure. GIDEON(CONTâD) Are you alright? MR. HALDER A clergyman? Son of a slave owner? That would make the joke of the century! GIDEON It is what I want. MR. HALDER Excuse me, I have things to tend to. He gets up and leaves with Gideon staring after him. EXT. GARDEN- DAY Gideon strolls along the footpath, reading from his Bible. GIDEON "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ." He looks up toward the sky and sighs. As he approaches the shed he hears a voice. MAN (O.S) Youâre very pretty. Come here, I have something for you if you do... 4. INT/EXT. GARDEN SHED- DAY Gideon looks in and sees the overseer cornering the young African girl, his arm trapping her in place. He strokes her face as she flinches from his contact. GIDEON What do you think youâre doing?! The overseer jumps and turns around. Gideon enters. OVERSEER Young Master! I--uh--... GIDEON (gritting) You disgust me! If you ever try something like this again, I swear, youâll regret very greatly. OVERSEER Yes--yes... GIDEON Leave. The overseer hurries out. The African girl cowers in the corner as Gideon approaches her. He walks carefully with one arm stretched out while the other still holding his Bible. He squats down in front of her. GIDEON(CONTâD) There, there...do not be afraid. Iâm here now, youâre safe. The girl looks at him, eyes full of fear. She glances at his Bible. GIDEON Do you have a name? Iâm Gideon. He pats his chest as he says this. The girl shifts her arm and he notices a marking. GIDEON(CONTâD) (whispers) S.H. Sam Halder. (beat) Iâll call you...Bethany, for you have unfortunately come to the house of affliction. 5. He smiles tenderly at her. INT. DINING ROOM- NIGHT Gideon and his father sit at the table as the maid, MARY, 60s, serves their dinner. He thanks her as she places his plate in front of him. GIDEON Father, I stumbled upon something rather distressing. Mr. Halder looks at him as he eats a forkful of food. GIDEON(CONTâD) The overseer was trying to violate the African girl in the shed. MR. HALDER Thatâs nothing new. GIDEON (shocked) Nothing new?! MR. HALDER Its normal. You canât expect men to be completely virtuous under these circumstances. GIDEON So youâre saying its acceptable for women to be treated as such?! (beat) Did you do it too?! MR. HALDER Eat up, your dinnerâs getting cold. Gideon stares at his plate, his face burning. GIDEON My appetiteâs left me. May I be excused? MR. HALDER Son, donât be like that... He sighs. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 6. MR. HALDER(CONTâD) Yes. Gideon gets up and leaves. INT. ROOM- NIGHT Gideon sits on his bed holding a picture frame, gazing at it. He touches the face of a smiling woman. GIDEON Mother, how I miss you so! Tears start to flow from his eyes. He hastily wipes it away. GIDEON(CONTâD) Did you know about all this? What Father has been doing? How did you cope? Was that the reason you fell so ill? He hugs the picture and breaks down in sobs. INT. KITCHEN- DAYBREAK Gideon stands in front of the stove flipping something over. Mary shuffles in and is surprised to see him. She rushes forward. MARY Young Master! What you do? GIDEON Oh, morning, Mary. Just making some breakfast, pancakes. I made extras if you want some. MARY You no spose do this, I do. GIDEON Its alright, I can also do things for myself too. MARY I remember you no eat dinner, thatâs why? GIDEON Right. Gideon places the pancakes onto a plate and pours syrup over it. Taking a fork, he goes and sits at the counter. He takes a sip from his cup and starts eating. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 7. GIDEON(CONTâD) My Mother made this for me all the time and she taught me how to make it. He smiles at the memory. Mary joins him. MARY I know your Father..he no bad man...he good now. GIDEON May God forgive him of his sins. MARY Yes..God always good. Gideon continues to eat as Mary goes back to her chores. EXT. PLANTATION- DAY Gideon walks through the plantation, watching the slaves work. A male slave collapses in the field and the overseer without a word, whips him. The slave cries out. Gideon rushes to his aid. GIDEON Stop! Stop it! Must you do that? OVERSEER How else will they work then? The overseer immediately withdraws his whip as Gideon kneels down beside the agonized slave as the others watch. GIDEON(CONTâD) Are you alright? The slave speaks in a foreign language and points at the scorching sun then to his head. GIDEON(CONTâD) This man is suffering from heat stroke, he must take rest. OVERSEER Man? He most certainly is not! Gideon gets up and comes face to face with him. GIDEON What makes you so sure he is not? (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 8. OVERSEER Look at the creature, black as the devil and an uncivilized savage! GIDEON But he can also talk, work and is physically like us...does that still make him anymore different? MR. HALDER(O.S) Gideon! Enough, come along now. Gideon leaves and joins his father. EXT. GARDEN- DAY Both men walk alongside each other. MR. HALDER Youâre beginning to learn of things you never knew before. He glances at Gideon. MR. HALDER(CONTâD) City life covers up things that happen out here. GIDEON I canât make up my mind if I like being here ever since...Mother... MR. HALDER You would have bound to know about this side of life sooner or later. They approach Mary who is teaching Bethany to do gardening. Mary acknowledges them. Bethany looks up at Gideon. GIDEON Hello, Bethany. MR. HALDER Who? GIDEON I gave her a name. They go pass them. MR. HALDER Gideon, giving it a name too soon will complicate things. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 9. GIDEON It?! You canât be serious... MR. HALDER These Negros are nothing more than mere objects, property of their owners. GIDEON Why then does Mary have a name? MR. HALDER Sheâs been with us for some time and she deserves that privilege. The others will have to earn their right to be given an identity. GIDEON This just gets more and more unbearable. INT. KITCHEN- DAY Bethany is cutting some carrots and potatoes. Gideon enters and goes to the fridge, taking out a bottle of water. Simultaneously, she goes toward the fridge as he turns around. He moves to one side and so does she. Then he moves to the other side, getting the same result. He laughs and gestures while he talks. GIDEON How about this. I stand here and you go, ok? She does this and smiles at him. GIDEON Great. He laughs to himself as he leaves. She looks at him. BETHANY (whispers) Gi--de--on...Gideon. EXT. PORCH- NIGHT Gideon sits on a chair, looking up at the star-filled sky. Bethany comes out carrying a heavy looking sack on her head. He sees her with it and jumps up, hurrying to her. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 10. GIDEON Here, let me. He takes it off of her and puts it on his shoulder. GIDEON(CONTâD) Where to? Bethany points to the garden. GIDEON(CONTâD) Lead the way. EXT. GARDEN- NIGHT Gideon locks the shed and they walk back. The moonlight illuminates their path. GIDEON I love everything about night; the stars, the moon and how its quiet as everyone sleeps. He glances at her. GIDEON You donât understand what Iâm saying, right? Thatâs OK. They continue walking to the sound of chirping. EXT. HOUSE- DAY The overseer is waving a cup at Bethany. OVERSEER You call this tea?! It tastes like crap! You need to be taught a lesson! Just then, Gideon comes out and sees the overseer pick up a pot, aiming it at her. He runs out and takes her place, pushing her to the ground behind him. The hot water burns him and he yells out in pain, dropping to his knees. OVERSEER Young Master! Where--what... Bethany gets up and comes to his aid. She uses her apron to dry him. Mr. Halder arrives from the garden. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 11. MR. HALDER What on earth is happening here?! OVERSEER Master,-- it was-- an- accident. The Young Master intervened-- and received the Negroâs punishment. GIDEON Iâll be alright... MR. HALDER Take him inside. INT. ROOM- DAY Gideon lies on his bed on his side, staring out the window. He touches his mildly burnt arm and grimaces. INT. KITCHEN- DAY Bethany washes the dishes absentmindedly. She seems to be in deep thought. We are then shown the flashback of how Gideon saved her from the overseer and being burnt. Her face softens at this memory. EXT. GARDEN- NIGHT Gideon sits on the bench, humming. He hears approaching footsteps. He turns and sees Bethany. She is surprised then goes to sit with him. GIDEON What are you doing here, Bethany? She points at his arm. GIDEON(CONTâD) Itâll be fine...nothing to worry about. He taps it with a smile. Bethany holds his hand and looks at him, saying something foreign. Then she bows her head. GIDEON(CONTâD) You donât have to thank me. He shouldnât do that anyway. Suddenly water droplets start to fall. GIDEON We better get back. 12. Rain pours down heavily as Gideon takes off his outer shirt and holds it above their heads as they run back. EXT. PORCH- NIGHT They come running onto the porch, slightly wet. Bethany watches Gideon as he wrings his outer shirt. She takes out her handkerchief and goes to him. Reaching up, she dries his face. He freezes, watching her. Then she steps back, smiling. GIDEON Thank you...I--uh--...better go in. Donât want to catch a cold now, do we? He chuckles nervously. GIDEON(CONTâD) Well...good night. He goes in. Bethany stands there with a hand over her chest. INT. ROOM- NIGHT Gideon lies asleep with gentle snores. Suddenly, someone bangs at the door. He stirs and looks at his clock- 3am. He gets up and shuffles to the door, opening it. GIDEON Bethany?! She begins to speak in her foreign language while taking his arm and pulling him away. GIDEON Where are you taking me? Whatâs going on?! INT. KITCHEN- NIGHT They enter where Mary and his father are seated at the table. GIDEON Father, what is the meaning of this?! MR. HALDER Gideon, donât be alarmed when I say this... (beat) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 13. A slave revolt is headed this way. Gideon gasps and stumbles slightly. MR. HALDER(CONTâD) The overseer and the others were killed while defending us...weâre trapped here. Mary who is peering out between the curtains makes a gasp and backs away. MARY They come! GIDEON We can talk to them...make peace. MR. HALDER No, it wonât work. Theyâre too angry...vengeful. GIDEON There must be a way, Father! Suddenly loud raps on the door are heard amidst shouting. Gideon then begins to say the Lordâs Prayer as the two women weep silently. MR. HALDER They say regret is something that hits you when youâre faced with a situation you canât escape from. He laughs sadly as the door bursts open and the slave men advance toward them. Bethany grabs hold of Gideonâs hand and looks at him. He then smiles and gazes upwards. THE END FADE OUT |