The Birth Of A Nation Page #4

(CONTINUED)

5/8/15 - PINK 10

CONTINUED:
(3) 18 CONTINUED: (3) 18

OLD BRIDGET NANCY

No, suh. No, suh.

COBB (CONT’D)

(to Nat)

What about you, boy?

NANCY:

He ain’t seen nothin-

SMACK! Cobb backhands Nancy who lands across the room.

COBB:

You seen yo’ daddy?

No response. Cobb squats down nose to nose with Nat. Natholds his gaze, seemingly unafraid. Shakes his head ‘no’.

COBB (CONT’D)

You that n*gger’s boy, alright.

Cobb stands, still eyeing Nat. Bridget’s eyes flit just pastCobb’s boots. We follow her gaze to see a small WAX-SEALED *

GLASS JAR lies just several inches from his heel. Cobb *

uncurls a dirty index finger, points it to Nancy, then toNat. As he leans in, his weight shifts on the wooden plank,

the tin can slowly rolls towards his foot.

COBB (CONT’D)

If I find out y’alls is lying, I’m

gonna come back here...

Bridget watches as the can picks up speed, rolls closer.

COBB (CONT’D)

...and the things I’m gon’ do to *

y’all might not be so nice-*

Inches away until-

Bridget dives at Cob’s feet.

BRIDGET:

Oh’ massa please! Please! We don’t

know nothin’! Oh Lord!

COBB:

Get off me!

Cobb struggles from her grip. Benjamin pushes in-*

BENJAMIN TURNER:

That’s enough! *

(CONTINUED)

EXT. WOODS -DAY (VISION ONE)

18 CONTINUED:
(4)

5/8/15 - PINK 11

18

Cobb straightens before eyeing Nancy.

COBB:

(straightens to exit,

then)

Teach that boy some manners. Nexttime he looks me in the eyes, he’s

gon’ to get the same thing that’s

waitin’ for his pa.

With that, he turns and they’re out the door. Bridget’s

hysteria switches to a chilling calm in an instant. She sitsup on the floor, opens her palms to reveal the FOOD JAR.

ON NAT as his mind struggles to process the night’s events.

*

*

*

19 19

Young Nat, his skin royal blue, fills the frame. He seems to

look directly at us.

NAT’S POV

*

*

*

A shadow moves. Demonic voices permeate the forest aroundhim. A CLOAKED FIGURE hides in the distance. Nat senses

something behind him, turns. A MAN lies bowed in prayer, hisback to us. Nat turns back to see THE SHADOWED FIGURE IS ONLY

FEET AWAY. Off his demonic features*

*

*

*

20 INT. SLAVE QUARTERS - NANA’S CABIN - NIGHT 20

Nat jerks awake, to find himself in Nancy’s arms. Nat burstsinto tears as she holds him, rocking him in her grip.

NANCY:

Shh... you’re OK. It ain’t real.

It’s in your mind. It ain’t real.

I’m here, now.

NAT:

I want Papa...

NANCY:

I know, baby...

(low)

Me too.

21 EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - BIG HOUSE - BACKYARD - DAY 21

Nancy stretches wet cotton sheets across a long clothes line.

Nat can be seen in the BG tossing a ball mad of rags. *

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