The Birth Of A Nation Page #3

Synopsis: Nat Turner is an enslaved Baptist preacher who lives on a Virginia plantation owned by Samuel Turner. With rumors of insurrection in the air, a cleric convinces Samuel that Nate should sermonize to other slaves, thereby quelling any notions of an uprising. As Nate witnesses the horrific treatment of his fellow man, he realizes that he can no longer just stand by and preach. On Aug. 21, 1831, Turner's quest for justice and freedom leads to a violent and historic rebellion in Southampton County.
Production: Fox Searchlight Pictures
  4 wins & 26 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.4
Metacritic:
69
Rotten Tomatoes:
72%
R
Year:
2016
120 min
$15,849,340
1,702 Views


EXT. WOODS -NIGHT 17

Young Nat runs for his life. As he crashes through the brusha HAND scoops him up from behind. WIDER TO REVEAL Isaacsprinting, Nat dangling in his grip.

5/8/15 - PINK

8

18 INT. SLAVE QUARTERS - NANA’S CABIN - NIGHT 18

BRIDGET “NANA” TURNER, sits in a rocking chair, in front of a

modest fire, asleep. Isaac and Nat burst in. Bridget andNancy jolt up to see Isaac, blood speckled clothes, Natterrified at his side.

*

*

BRIDGET:

Oh, Jesus!

NANCY:

What happened?!

Nat trembles as Isaac pulls rations from his pants. A fewSEALED TIN CANS tumble to the floor. *

Isaac!NANCY

(CONT’D)

Isaac grabs Nancy gently by the arms.

ISAAC:

I hurt some white men. Didn’t have

no choice... *

NANCY:

What you gon’ do?

ISAAC:

Only thing I can. I gotta go.

Nat breaks free, clings to his father’s leg. Isaac kneels toNat’s level.

ISAAC (CONT’D)

You take care of your mama andNana, hear?

NAT:

When you comin’ back, papa?

ISAAC:

I’ll be back, directly.

Isaac takes his son in.

ISAAC (CONT’D)

No matter what, you remember this:

You a child of God. You got

purpose.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

18

(touches his chest)

It’s in ya. The Lord put it there

and they ain’t nothing nobody can

do to take it away, ya hear?

5/8/15 - PINK

CONTINUED:

ISAAC (CONT’D)

9

18

Yessir...

NAT:

A dog is heard BARKING in the BG. Isaac hugs Bridget, moves

to Nancy who chokes back tears.

*

ISAAC:

I’ll get back soon as I can for

y’all.

(then)

I love you, woman.

And with that, Isaac slips from the cabin. A deafening beat,

until- The sound of GALLOPING HOOVES approach in the BG.

Bridget hurries Nat onto his cot, ushers Nancy, who standscatatonic, to hers. She quickly pulls back a corner mat,

pulls a board loose to reveal-

A SMALL COMPARTMENT

She hides the stolen food, replaces the board just as-

Benjamin Turner opens the cabin door. Cobb trails, holds ablood-soaked handkerchief tight to his face.

BENJAMIN TURNER:

Bridget, Nancy, get on up.

Isaac is in a lot of trouble. I

need y’all to tell me where he is.

BRIDGET:

He ain't here massa. We ain’t seen

him all night.

You sure-

BENJAMIN TURNER *

*

COBB:

Ben, I’m gonna ask you to step

outside.

*

*

Benjamin hesitates. *

COBB (CONT’D)

A white man lost his life tonight.

You know like I do what that means.

*

*

*

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

18

Now I can do my questioning now, orI can come back after I get myposse rounded up. Do a thorough

search of the property.

5/8/15 - PINK

CONTINUED:
(2)

COBB (CONT’D)

9A

18

*

*

*

*

A beat, until. *

BENJAMIN TURNER:

...any harm done’ll be taken up

with the sheriff.

As Ben exits. Cobb removes the cloth to reveal an ugly gash.

COBB:

None of y’all seen him, huh?

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote

Nate Parker & Jean Celestin

Nate Parker is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and musical performer who has appeared in Beyond the Lights, Red Tails, The Secret Life of Bees, The Great Debaters, Arbitrage, Non-Stop, Felon, and Pride. more…

All Nate Parker & Jean Celestin scripts | Nate Parker & Jean Celestin Scripts

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Submitted by marina26 on November 28, 2017

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