The Butler Page #5

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LOUD PATRON (CONT’D)

Cecil, what do you think about

n*ggers going to school with white

children?

All eyes on the table turn to Cecil, the Crew Cut Man paying

particular attention as he searches for matches.

CECIL:

To be honest with you, Mr. Jenkins,

I tend to not to be too concerned

with American or European politics.

The Crew Cut Man smiles, likes the answer.

LOUD PATRON:

Nor should you, Cecil, they’re all

criminals. Earl Warren should be

shot and hanged. That dumb son-ofbitch

is trying to integrate our

schools.

Cecil smiles with kindness and grace, his signature.

CECIL:

I think Judge Warren is going to

find that quite a challenge.

The Loud Patron busts out laughing.

LOUD PATRON:

Damn right, Cecil! Damn right.

Puffing out smoke, the Crew Cut Man grins at Cecil, taking

note of him, as Cecil walks out of the room with grace.

CECIL V.O.

Never in my life did I dream that I

would work in a place as fancy as

this.

EXT. OTIS PLACE - WASHINGTON, D.C. - MORNING - 1957

Driving in his 1951 Ford, Cecil heads down a quaint street in

a lower-middle class black neighborhood passing two story row

homes that share a common wall. Porches have swings, fences

are painted white. It’s not a wealthy neighborhood, but there

is a collective pride.

CECIL V.O.

I never dreamed my life could be so

good.

12.

INT. GAINES HOUSE - MORNING - 1957

Cecil walks into his modest three bedroom home. A small

living room connects to the kitchen. China in glass cases,

immaculate carpets, a portrait of Jesus stares at us.

Smoking her Pall Mall, big curlers in her hair, is GLORIA,

38, tough, brash but full of love. She sits at the kitchen

table peeling potatoes, tapping her feet to “Teardrops From

My Eyes.” Warm biscuits, fat back and eggs on the stove.

CECIL V.O.

Gloria and I met working at the

Excelsior. She was a maid at the

hotel. But now her only job was

raising our two boys. I made sure

that they never laid eyes on a

cotton field.

Their youngest son, CHARLIE, 9, fidgets next to her doing his

homework. He wants out.

CHARLIE:

I gotta pee.

Gloria gives him a blank look. She’s so on to him.

GLORIA:

Not today. Don’t try that. Finish

that homework.

Cecil stands in the doorway, smiling at his family.

CECIL:

Where’s Louis at?

GLORIA:

He’s taking the trash out.

Charlie looks at his father, smiles. He’s happy to see him.

CHARLIE:

Working late again, huh?

CECIL:

Yup.

CHARLIE:

How was your shift?

Cecil drops his refined dialect at home.

CECIL:

Beats working for a livin’.

13.

He reaches for the plate of fat back. Gloria pouts sweetly.

GLORIA:

I miss you at night, honey.

CECIL:

(To Charlie)

Didn’t you say you gotta pee? Go

ahead then. And wash your hands

when you come out of that bathroom

boy.

Coffee in hand, Cecil kisses her passionately.

CECIL (CONT’D)

Good morning!

GLORIA:

Good morning sir.

Charlie runs to the bathroom. Happy to be rid of his parents.

LOUIS, 15, smart and very perceptive, enters the room.

LOUIS:

Hey dad.

He heads for the kitchen table.

CECIL:

Hey Louis. You alright?

LOUIS:

Yeah I’m fine.

Gloria goes to get Louis food. She starts pontificating.

GLORIA:

That woman whose son got killed,

she’s around doing speeches now.

(to Cecil)

What’s her name, honey?

Cecil starts to answer, Louis chimes in. He knows very well.

LOUIS:

Mamie Till.

GLORIA:

Mamie Till... I remember that story

just like it was yesterday even

though it was two years ago. It was

dis-damn-graceful what they did to

that boy just for looking at a

white woman...

14.

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