Sounder Page #3

EXT. THE BACKYARD - NIGHT

The backyard spreads out in the form of a jagged horseshoe, surrounded by low

levels of grass -- at the far end is a pathway, running about three hundred

feet away to where the tall grass grows. The shed sits to the far left edge

and more to the right edge is a water well. To the right of the water well is

a woodpile. Up against the house, to the right of the steps to the back door

are two wash tubs with homemade scrubbing boards. NATHAN keeps walking

directly to the water well, reaches it and lowers the bucket down into the

well, brings the bucket of water up, scoops up with a dipper, drinks, and

tries to look out over the plains and hills from the back of his house.

NATHAN LEE:

When the fall comes in these parts, the Night

moon runs away like a rabbit -- you could stay

out here lookin' all night, and not see a thing

out yonder.

DAVID LEE:

We goin' huntin' again tomorrow ?

NATHAN LEE:

Yep. I guess you must wonder why though, what

with the luck we havin', but like I always

say--

DAVID LEE:

"You lose some of the time, what you always go

afta, but you lose all the time what you don't

go afta!"

NATHAN LEE:

Now who says I didn't lay my mark on you, boy!

They both laugh as REBECCA steps out into the backyard from the house, and

moves swiftly towards them.

REBECCA:

David Lee, it's time for you to get to bed!

DAVID LEE:

Goodnight.

He starts moving away towards the house.

NATHAN LEE:

Night, son!

REBECCA:

And don't wake up Josie Mae and Earl!

They watch DAVID LEE enter the house -- then NATHAN LEE looks to SOUNDER as

they begin to move for the house.

NATHAN LEE:

Your bedtime too, hound dog.

SOUNDER hops up on him -- he strokes the dog's back and then pushes him away.

NATHAN LEE:

Off you go, boy!

SOUNDER scampers away around the side of the house.

REBECCA:

I bet you could use a hot cup of coffee, Nathan

Lee.

NATHAN LEE:

I shore could, Miss Rebecca.

They start back into the house.

EXT. FRONT OF THE HOUSE - NIGHT

SOUNDER crawls just under the front porch and lies down on a burlap sack for

his night's sleep.

INT. THE CHILDREN's ROOM - NIGHT

DAVID LEE has taken some of the walnuts and is sitting up in the bed. EARL

and JOSIE MAE, their sister, are fast asleep across from them. EARL is a

sprightly little boy about eight years of age who has the kind of round face

that gives one the impression that he is forever smiling. DAVID LEE grabs his

book and starts to read.

INT. KITCHEN-SITTING ROOM - NIGHT

NATHAN and REBECCA enter the house through the back door -- NATHAN stops at

the table in the kitchen area as REBECCA moves directly to the door of the

children's room -- just before she gets to the door, she notices that the

bowl of walnuts on the floor by the rocker has been disturbed -- she snatches

the bowl up from the floor and looks to NATHAN --

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