The Butler Page #6

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Beat him up, threw his body in the

river... killed him. He was just 14

at the time.

CECIL:

Crazy white folks down south.

She starts serving breakfast to her men. Louis takes all of

this in. He is clearly disturbed.

GLORIA:

At least we have it a little better

here in DC, huh?

CECIL:

Still treating us bad too.

GLORIA:

(Yelling to Charlie)

Get on down here Charlie!

Charlie enters from the bathroom.

CHARLIE:

Louis said we should stop taking

the white man’s sh*t.

CECIL Watch your mouth. GLORIA Watch your mouth. The telephone RINGS. Charlie charges towards the telephone.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

(picking up the phone)

Hello, Gaines’ residence.

Charlie listens attentively.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

Uh, yeah... Hold on Mr. Kidgan.

(To Cecil)

It’s the boss man dad.

GLORIA:

What’s he calling for?

Cecil snatches the phone.

CECIL V.O.

When the white man called, I always

assumed the worst.

15.

GLORIA (CONT'D)

CECIL:

Yes sir?

CECIL V.O.

I would have put money on it that I

was getting laid off or something

that day.

Cecil looks over at Gloria, confused by what he’s hearing.

EXT. WASHINGTON DC - MORNING - 1957

Cecil drives through his black neighborhood of storefront

businesses - grocers, hardware stores, newsstands. He makes a

right hand turn and sees off in the distance -

The White House. Cecil looks a touch nervous. He’s seen it

thousands of times, but he’s never driven to it.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST WING - DAY - 1957

Cecil sits in a chair for what seems like an eternity. A

WHITE USHER comes up.

WHITE USHER:

Would you follow me, please?

CECIL:

Yes sir.

INT. FREDDIE FALLOW’S OFFICE - BLAIR HOUSE - DAY - 1957

Cecil sits in a small finely furnished office across from

FREDDIE FALLOWS, black, mid-50’s, speaks with and has the

formality of English royalty.

CECIL:

I’m Cecil Gaines. It’s a pleasure

to meet you.

FREDDIE:

You as well. Have a seat.

Long beat as Freddie eyes him over. Then -

FREDDIE (CONT’D)

Are you political, Mr. Gaines?

CECIL:

No, sir.

16.

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