EXT. HAYNIE PLANTATION - DAY
JESSIE HAYNIE, 45, lights a cigar as he stands in front of
the big house and waits as his white overseer GRADY, 40, and
Simon ride up on HORSES.
Simon and Grady dismount. Simon presents himself before
Haynie.
GRADY
(to Simon)
This is Captain Jessie Haynie of
the West Tennessee militia. He's
your new owner.
HAYNIE
You come highly recommended, Simon.
Now I hope you don't disappoint me.
SIMON
I try to do good, sir. But Cap'n
Haynie . . . I hope you ain't
planning on making me no house
servant.
HAYNIE
Why, you'd probably make a good
house servant, Simon.
SIMON
I told folks I was a good 'un, sir -
and I wasn't lying 'bout it neether.
It's just that I wasn't really as
good a house servant as I thought I
was.
HAYNIE
What would you like to do, Simon?
SIMON
Why, I'd like to be a jockey, sir.
That's what I was doing at the
colonel's.
HAYNIE
That's why I bought you from him,
boy. To ride horses. The colonel
said that you were making good
progress.
SIMON
He did? If I was making good
progress, then how come he sold me?
HAYNIE
He said he had another black boy
that could be even better than you.
SIMON
Then how come I never seen him?
HAYNIE
The colonel wasn't telling the
truth?
SIMON
Why that - I ain't saying he was
lying, sir, but he didn't give me
no chance, no chance to prove how
good I can be. And I can tell you
one thing, sir. I'm gonna be good
all right. I'm gonna win you
races, Cap'n Haynie, like there
ain't no tomorrow. And there ain't
no hosses I'd rather beat than the
colonel's. And that's the God's
truth! And any other hosses too,
of course. You ain't gonna regret
buying me.
HAYNIE
You know what, boy? It just may be
that you were a steal at four hundred
dollars. Come on, boy, I want to
show you something.
EXT. THE PLANTATION - DAY (MOMENTS LATER)
Simon and Haynie are walking to the stable.
HAYNIE
My best damn jockey got thrown last
week and broke his leg.
SIMON
And he was your best 'un?
HAYNIE
Even the best can get thrown, boy.
SIMON
It depends on how you handle the
hoss. I been kicked in the head,
but I ain't never been throwed.
INT. THE STABLE - DAY
Haynie introduces Simon to a fine-looking 3-year-old MARE:
HAYNIE
This here's Haynie's Maria.
Simon admiringly pets Maria.
SIMON
Haynie's part of her name, sir?
HAYNIE
That's right. Before, she was just
Maria. Now she's Haynie's. Lord
knows, she cost me enough. Simon,
have you ever heard of General Andrew
Jackson?
SIMON
No, sir.
HAYNIE
West Tennessee militia - and the
troops may soon get called up,
because there's going to be war.
SIMON
War against who, sir?
HAYNIE
Why, the British, the way they've
been acting. They've been fighting
the French, but while they're at
it, they been seizing our ships.
SIMON
That don't sound right.
HAYNIE
It's not! What we need is a second
war of independence.
SIMON
You mean there's already been one?
Just joking with you, Cap'n. I've
heard there was one.
Simon keeps petting Maria, who likes it.
HAYNIE
They been treating this country like
dirt. Anyway, General Jackson's got
a new horse, named Decatur. He's the
son of Jackson's horse Truxton, the
winningest stallion in West Tennessee.
And now I've got Haynie's Maria.
Simon seems to be paying more attention to Maria than to what
Haynie is saying.
HAYNIE (cont'd)
You come listen to me.
Haynie leads Simon away from the horse.
HAYNIE (cont'd)
There's a race being set up for
July, boy, at Jackson's track, over
at Clover Bottom. You listening?
SIMON
Yes, sir.
HAYNIE
It'll be Decatur's first race - and
General Jackson thinks he's got him
another Truxton. I aim to see
Maria win that race. You want to
ride her?
SIMON
Yes, sir.
HAYNIE
We'll see, then. Twixt now and
that race, you're going to have
to show me you can do it.
EXT. JACKSON'S RACETRACK - CLOVER BOTTOM - DAY
The grandstand is filled with white GENTRY, with SLAVES on
the grass by the track or sitting on the fence.
TWO JOCKEYS, one white and one black, are finishing a heat on
their HORSES. SUPERIMPOSE:
CLOVER BOTTOM, TENNESSEE
JULY, 1812
ANDREW JACKSON, 45, tall and thin, moves to his seat by his
attractive wife RACHEL, 37, and 4-year-old ANDREW JR. The
Elliotts sit nearby.
As Jackson shakes hands with GENTLEMAN #1 and sits down,
GENTLEMAN #2 calls to him:
GENTLEMAN #2
General Jackson, sir, when's Tennessee
going after those British up north?
JACKSON
When Washington tells me to muster
our troops, sir.
GENTLEMAN #2
But war was declared a month ago,
sir. What's going on?
JACKSON
They apparently feel they don't
need us up there. And they're
keeping one eye on the Gulf.
GENTLEMAN #3
Good luck with Decatur, General!
JACKSON
Thank you, sir.
GENTLEMAN #4
If he runs like his daddy Truxton, he
won't need no luck!
Simon, in cap, silk shirt, and buckskin pants like the other
jockeys, is walking along the side of the track, acknowledging
encouragement from slaves at the fence.
DAVY
Simon! Simon from the Hines
plantation!
Simon is surprised to see Davy, who was going to replace him
as a house servant. As they shake hands:
SIMON
Davy! What the world you doing
here?
DAVY
I wound up with that same lawyer
you did. He let me hire out to the
Sheffields, that's who I works for.
But I still belong to them young
uns in Nashville.
SIMON
The house servant Rose - do you
know what happened to her?
DAVY
I believe she and some others wound
up with some Hineses in Loueesiana.
SIMON
New Awlens?
DAVY
Nah, it was some other name. Damn,
I can't remember. You still got
that banjo?
SIMON
I sure do.
HAYNIE
Simon! Get over here!
SIMON
Elijah, who gave me the banjo - did
he run away like he said he was?
DAVY
He sure did. And you know what?
He must still be running, 'cause
nobody heard nothing 'bout him.
SIMON
Good to see ya, Davy.
DAVY
You too, Simon. You win this race
now!
Jackson in the grandstand watches Simon mount Haynie's Maria.
JACKSON
I see Haynie's got a black jockey
too on Maria.
ELLIOTT
A boy named Simon, from South Carolina.
He'd never seen a horse till he got
to my farm. I sold him to Haynie.
GENTLEMAN #4
They don't have horses in South
Carolina?
ELLIOTT
They've got 'em, he just wasn't
paying much attention.
On the track, Haynie steps over Simon, aboard Maria. Other
JOCKEYS and TRAINERS are in b.g.
HAYNIE
You listen to me, Simon. That
Decatur is General Jackson's pride
and joy, and this three-year-old
beauty is mine. This is the maiden
voyage of Haynie's Maria, and
you're gonna sail her home to
victory. Aren't you, boy?
SIMON
Yes, sir.
HAYNIE
I'm headin' for the grandstand, boy.
A minute later, Haynie sits down by his wife MRS. HAYNIE,
45, in the grandstand.
GENTLEMAN #5
Captain Haynie, you and the general
got a side bet going?
HAYNIE
We sure do. That Decatur's got me
worried, though, I wouldn't lie.
Rachel looks at Jackson, who says nothing.
Eight jockeys on their mounts are lined up for the first heat,
Simon on Haynie's Maria beside Jackson's BLACK JOCKEY #1 on
DECATUR.
The STARTER fires his flintlock pistol, and the horses are off.
As the Jacksons and others are watching, many urging on their
favorites:
RACHEL
How much have you bet, Andrew?
JACKSON
We're not going lose the farm.
We're not even going to lose
this race.
Decatur takes the lead, with Haynie's Maria moving up to second.
JACKSON (cont'd)
That-a-way, Decatur. Come on, boy.
In the stretch Decatur's lead starts evaporating. Simon
moves right on by him on Haynie's Maria.
As they cross the finish line, Haynie jumps to his feet with
a whoop.
GENTLEMAN #6
Haynie's Maria!
Rachel looks at Jackson.
JACKSON
That's only one heat.
Minutes later, Decatur beats Haynie's Maria by a length in
the second heat. Jackson happily slaps his knee and hugs
Andrew Jr.
GENTLEMAN #7
Well, now we'll find out who's got
how much left.
Minutes later, the starter's pistol fires again.
With TIME LAPSE SHOTS, Jackson watches helplessly as Simon on
Haynie's Maria leads all the way in the third heat.
Haynie celebrates, with many applauding.
RACHEL
How much, Andrew?
EXT. A PLANTATION - DAY (LATER)
There's a SOCIAL (V.O.) going on in the mansion - Simon (V.O.)
can be heard playing the banjo for the guests - while the
guests' CHILDREN play outside.
On the porch a pretty, petite slave named BECCA, 18, watches the
show inside through a window. Three other SLAVES, attendants of
guests, are watching through a second window.
INT. A PARLOR - THE MANSION - DAY
Simon is singing and playing the banjo for the roomful of
white GENTLEMEN and LADIES.
SIMON
(singing last chorus)
If you're goin' to the races,
I'll see ya,
I'm ridin' on Haynie's Maria;
If you're bettin', I'll
guarantee ya,
You can't lose with
Haynieeeee's Maria! See ya!
The guests including Haynie heartily applaud.
Jackson, with Rachel applauding beside him, applauds without
much appreciation.
EXT. THE PORCH - MANSION - DAY (A FEW MINUTES LATER)
Simon, looking pleased with the day, sits down on the edge of
the porch with his banjo, while the social goes on inside.
Becca strolls over as Simon idly picks. The other three
slaves sit idly on the porch.
BECCA
Did you write that song you was
singin' in there?
SIMON
Sure did. What makes you think I
didn't?
BECCA
I don't know. You just got some
kind of nerve. I'm Becca.
SIMON
Pleased to meet you. I'm Simon.
Becca sits down near him, Simon idly picking a little.
BECCA
You from around here in Davidson
County?
SIMON
Yeah. Where you from?
BECCA
From over Miz Stoner's. You play
the banjo good.
SIMON
I'm gonna be a free man someday,
after my hoss-racing's done with.
Then I'll make a living with the
banjo maybe.
BECCA
Who's gonna pay you to play the
banjo?
SIMON
Folks who want to be entertained.
Didn't you see 'em in there?
BECCA
I didn't see 'em pay you for it.
SIMON
You saw 'em pay me attention. When
I'm free and ain't racing no more,
I'll play this thing on my head if
they pay me enough.
BECCA
I want to be there when you stand
on your head.
SIMON
You can help hold up my feet for me.
You want to come along, then?
BECCA
Where to?
SIMON
Oh, I might play this thing on a
steamboat, rolling down that river
they call the Miz Sippi. When I
get tired of that, I'll play it in
a fancy hotel in some big city or
other.
BECCA
How are we gonna get free?
SIMON
I'm working on that.
BECCA
Oh, you are, huh? What are you
doing?
SIMON
Making money.
BECCA
Counterfeitin'?
SIMON
Racing horses, girl. I'll make
enough to buy you and me both.
BECCA
I fetch a pretty high price.
SIMON
So do I. We could have some high
priced children - if they weren't
born free, that is.
BECCA
You really race horses?
SIMON
You weren't at the races today?
BECCA
Nah. Miz Stoner don't care nothing
'bout racing. She's just here for
the social.
SIMON
I mainly ride a hoss named Haynie's
Maria. She's something else.
BECCA
You've got to win a race to make
money, don'tcha?
SIMON
Yes, ma'am. That's why I win 'em.
BECCA
You sound pretty proud of yourself.
SIMON
I know what I want. If the Lord be
willing.
BECCA
I know what I want too.
SIMON
What's that?
Becca looks around. As she gestures toward the moon, visible
in the afternoon sky:
BECCA
I want that moon right there, when
it lights up at night. I'd like to
hang it around my neck.
SIMON
You gotta want more than that.
BECA
More than the moon?
SIMON
More than something fancy to wear.
BECCA
Well all of us want to be free.
SIMON
Now you're cooking. I want to be
free wherever I be, day and night,
just like I feel when I'm racing.
When me and Maria's out there on
that track, it's her and me against
the whole wide world. But that's
only part of it all. What I win,
see - Can you keep a secret?
BECCA
Yeah.
SIMON
Part of what I win, see, can go
toward buying my freedom. I just
hadn't talked to the cap'n yet,
that's why it's a secret. After
today I've got me some bargaining
power.
The fragile-looking MRS. STONER, 45, appears at the doorway.
MRS. STONER
Becca! . . . Come here, we're about
to leave.
Becca rises, Mrs. Stoner turning back to the social.
SIMON
Where'd you say you live?
BECCA
The Stoner plantation. That was
Miz Stoner. When you're free and
you can come buy me, so that I'm
free too, I'll go help hold your
feet up and anything else.
Becca walks to the door.
SIMON
I don't hardly need no help with
anything else.
Becca starts to go in, then walks back over to Simon. She
leans down and kisses him, then goes on inside.
Simon looks at MALE SLAVE #6, who's been watching.
MALE SLAVE #6
Woooooo!!
EXT. MRS. STONER'S CARRIAGE - DAY (HALF AN HOUR LATER)
Mrs. Stoner and Becca are riding home, slave DRIVER #2
driving.
MRS. STONER
What did the banjo player have to
say on the porch?
BECCA
Oh, 'bout how he wants to be free
someday. Could we go to the races
sometime, Miz Stoner? They sound
like lots of fun.
MRS. STONER
All I need, Becca, is to go bet on
horses.
BECCA
You don't have to bet, do you, Miz
Stoner?
MRS. STONER
Things aren't going very well since
my husband died. Lord knows, I
don't think I can handle it. If
worse comes to worse, I may have to
sell the whole place.
BECCA
You wouldn't sell me, would you,
Miz Stoner?
MRS. STONER
It would break my heart, Becca.
It would break my heart.
EXT. STONER PLANTATION - DAY (A FEW MINUTES LATER)
Stoner's white overseer LANDRESS, 35, smokes a corncob pipe as
he stands watching MALE SLAVES #7 and #8 building a hog pen.
Landress notes Becca, Mrs. Stoner, and Driver #2 arriving home
in the carriage.
LANDRESS
You know, that Becca's grown into
a nice-looking little thing. Is
anybody getting it?
One slave hammers, the other holding the wood.
MALE SLAVE #7
I don't know, Mister Landress.
LANDRESS
(to Slave #8)
What about you? Know of anybody
poking her?
MALE SLAVE #8
No, sir, Mister Landress.
Landress puffs on his pipe as he looks off after Becca.
INT. STABLES - JACKSON'S FARM - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
Decatur is in his stall, a BLACK STABLEBOY grooming him, as
Jackson's black trainer Dunwoody (DUN), 35, looks on.
Jackson, home from the social, joins Dun and looks at Decatur.
Two other HORSES are in b.g.
JACKSON
Well, Decatur come through it all
right?
DUN
Oh, he's fine, General Jackson. He
was just a little tuckered out,
that's all.
As Jackson turns to go back out:
JACKSON
I need to talk to you.
Dun and the stableboy exchange glances. Dun follows Jackson.
EXT. THE FARM - DAY
Waiting, Jackson looks around at his 400 acres (devoted to
cotton, corn, livestock, and horse breeding), a few SLAVES
moving about, as Dun comes out of the stable.
Jackson and Dun walk toward the main cabin.
JACKSON
How long you been training for
me, Dun?
DUN
About six years now, sir.
JACKSON
Six years. And I've got confidence,
Dun, that you know about horses.
DUN
I'm sorry about today, General
Jackson. I -
JACKSON
(interrupting)
Oh, don't worry about that. Decatur
just didn't have it in him, I reckon.
I'm sending you on a trip. You're
going to the state of Virginia.
DUN
I'm going to Virginia, sir?
JACKSON
That's right. You're going to find
me a horse - that we can buy and
bring here - to beat Haynie's Maria.
Then we'll let Simon write a song
about that.
INT. A PARLOR - HAYNIE'S PLANTATION - DAY (A DAY LATER)
Haynie and some fellow GENTLEMEN sit talking about war while
drinking mint juleps.
HAYNIE
The first thing we ought to do,
before the British have time to
strike on the Gulf, is to march
into Florida and kick out the
Spanish.
INTERCUT: INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Simon sits waiting outside the parlor. He can hear the talk through
the open door.
HAYNIE (cont'd)
They're damn allies of Britain, and
been harboring Injun marauders.
GENTLEMAN #8
Why not? We can do that and take
Canada too.
GENTLEMAN #9
That's right.
END INTERCUT, STAY in the parlor.
GENTLEMAN #9 (cont'd)
The British can't spare enough men to
be striking the Gulf yet.
INT. THE PARLOR - DAY (AN HOUR LATER)
Haynie, fixing another mint julep, stands waiting alone as
Simon enters, a black HOUSE SERVANT leaving.
HAYNIE
You wanted to see me, Simon?
SIMON
Yes, sir, Cap'n Haynie.
HAYNIE
Have a seat. Boy, that song you
sang at the social yesterday had
me plumb scared.
SIMON
(sitting down)
Why's that, Cap'n Haynie?
HAYNIE
That part about General Jackson
leaving his horses to go fight the
British? That's all right, you're
a clever one, but -
(sitting down with drink)
- don't you ever put something in
a song about the general - well,
living in adultery. If you do,
you could wind up dead.
SIMON
The general's been living in what?
HAYNIE
It's an old story around here. You
might as well hear it from me. When
the general married Miz Jackson, see,
they thought her first husband had
finalized the divorce, but he hadn't.
SIMON
That do sound like trouble.
HAYNIE
You said it. When the Jacksons
found out, well, the general made
sure that divorce went through,
then he and Miz Jackson got married
all over again. But some folks -
political enemies - talked like
that weren't enough. They said
Jackson took another man's wife.
They called her a bigamist,
adulteress, and worse.
SIMON
You don't have to worry 'bout me
writing no song about that, sir.
HAYNIE
Good. Now what do you want to see
me about?
SIMON
(rising)
I have a proposition, sir, that I'd
like to present.
HAYNIE
Sounds like serious business. Sit
on back down there and present it.
SIMON
(sitting down)
Yes, sir. I won for you good
yestiddy.
HAYNIE
That you did, son, that you did.
SIMON
And I can win more for you, sir,
plenty more, on whatever hoss I'm
on. Specially when I've got some
incent-a-tive.
HAYNIE
Do you mean incentive?
SIMON
That's what I mean, sir. I'd like
a cut of what I win to go toward
buying my freedom. And I'll win
you race after race.
HAYNIE
How much do you reckon you're worth?
SIMON
Let's say fifteen hundred dollars.
That's more than -
HAYNIE
(interrupting)
Fifteen hundred? I'd say more like
two thousand.
SIMON
Let's say seventeen fifty.
HAYNIE
You know math pretty good.
SIMON
And you pay me one hundred dollars
each time I win -
Simon rises to pace, full of nervous energy.
SIMON (cont'd)
- in addition to the ten that I'm
getting. But you don't give me
the one hundred dollars, you let
it count toward my purchase price,
till I done won my manumission.
Have we got a deal, sir?
HAYNIE
One hundred dollars a win? Whew!
Plus ten?
SIMON
You don't give me the hundred,
Cap'n Haynie, you just count it
aside. It's imaginary payment.
The money's still yours when
I'm free.
HAYNIE
Well that's mighty kind of you.
SIMON
(sitting down)
It's the only fair thing, Cap'n
Haynie, or I won't never get free.
HAYNIE
And if I say no, there won't be
any deal, you'd still win for me,
wouldn't you? For pride and
because that's your job. Because
it's your duty to win. Isn't that
right?
SIMON
Yes, sir, I'd still try to win.
Sure it's a matter of pride. I
take pride in being a jockey.
It don't get much better for a
slave than riding a hoss like
Haynie's Maria, against hosses
of men like the general. I'm just
saying, sir, that with that extra
incentive, why, I'd just be trying
all the harder. 'Cause nothing
ain't worth more than freedom.
HAYNIE
Is that the way you feel, Simon,
about your station in life? That
nothing is worth more than freedom?
SIMON
Well, not being free . . . You'd
have to be there, sir, to know
what it feels like. Meaning no
disrespect.
HAYNIE
That ain't no kind of attitude,
Simon. Don't you know that slavery
is basic to civilized society?
Haynie rises to pace, drink in hand.
HAYNIE (cont'd)
It's the very nature of man that
the strong and the wise should
control the weak and the ignorant.
I'm not saying you're ignorant,
but you know what I mean.
SIMON
Yes, sir, I know what you mean.
Cap'n Haynie, if I was free, I
could still ride for you. You'd
have to pay me something, of
course, 'cause I'd have a living
to make. But I'd still love to
ride. But by then, sir, you'll
have won lots of money - my
freedom would be paid for many
times over - and -
HAYNIE
(interrupting)
All right, Simon, I hear you.
Haynie sits down. Mrs. Haynie enters and walks over to
listen.
HAYNIE (cont'd)
You caught me in a generous mood,
I reckon. We'll strike a deal -
seventeen fifty at one hundred
dollars a win, for your manumission.
'Cause I want you to win, boy, you
take that incentive. In exchange
for this deal, see, you better win -
that's what you just said, right,
you're gonna win me some money - or
I'm going to be mighty displeased.
SIMON
Yes, sir!
HAYNIE
Now you go on, boy. I've got things
to do.
SIMON
(rising)
Yes, sir. Thank you again, Cap'n
Haynie. How are you, Miz Haynie,
ma'am?
Mrs. Haynie nods to Simon. As Simon leaves, Haynie rises
with his drink.
MRS. HAYNIE
You're going to let that slave buy
his freedom?
HAYNIE
Well, I'll let him think that I am,
if he wants to think it.
Haynie finishes his drink.
MRS. HAYNIE
That's rather cruel, Jessie.
HAYNIE
If it'll make him win us more races,
there's nothing cruel about it a-tall.
MRS. HAYNIE
What will he say when you -
HAYNIE
(interrupting)
He's a slave! He's not going to
say anything that matters one bit
in this world. That boy needs to
learn - and maybe you do too - that
we all have a station in life.
Haynie walks over to pour straight liquor in his emptied
glass.
HAYNIE (cont'd)
That boy comes in here with high
notions of freedom. The Creator
didn't intend for every man to be
free. No man was ever born free -
we're all born in utter dependence.
And no two men were ever born equal.
Haynie walks over to his wife with his drink.
HAYNIE (cont'd)
The Negroes are peculiarly suited
for their station in life - and
have the security of their masters'
own interests.
MRS. HAYNIE
What does that have to do with
lying to Simon?
HAYNIE
I've got a good mind to slap your
face - or throw this here drink
in it. But I hate to waste good
liquor.
Haynie walks off toward the door.
EXT. A RACETRACK - SUMNER COUNTY - DAY
GENTLEMEN, LADIES, and CHILDREN are arriving for a day
at the races. JOCKEYS warm up MOUNTS on the track, SLAVES
watching along the fence. SUPERIMPOSE:
SUMNER COUNTY
MARCH, 1813
Jackson, having arrived with Rachel and Andrew Jr., has
stopped to talk with some gentlemen and ladies.
JACKSON
I wrote to President Madison,
offering my twenty-five hundred
volunteers for service wherever
they're needed.
GENTLEMAN #10
What did the President say?
JACKSON
Not a word.
As the Jacksons start walking toward the grandstand, the
others following:
JACKSON (cont'd)
Meanwhile, we get our behinds
kicked on the Canadian border, the
city of Detroit surrenders - no
telling what's next.
GENTLEMAN #11 whispers to a 50-ish LADY:
GENTLEMAN #11
You know the reason he's ignored by
Washington, don't you? It's because
of his bad reputation. Fighting
duels, calling a federal general
a traitor for -
LADY
(interrupting)
Maybe that's what we need, sir, to
beat the damn British. Men with
bad reputations.
On the track, jockey Simon stands petting Haynie's Maria.
White trainer GREEN BERRY WILLIAMS, 45, waits nearby.
SIMON
Maria, honey, I heard tell General
Jackson got very upset when we beat
his Decatur. Now he's got Pacolet,
and we've got to beat him too.
GREEN BERRY
Let's go, Simon.
SIMON
(to Maria)
We can't be showing no mercy to the
general, honey. 'Cause there's
freedom at stake, little by little,
every time we're running a race.
Minutes later, six jockeys on their mounts come to the
starting line.
Simon on Maria notes the initials AJ on the saddle cloth of
PACOLET next to him.
Simon puts some tobacco in his mouth, Black Jockey #1 on
Pacolet watching him.
BLACK JOCKEY #1
Get ready to eat some dust, my
nigger.
SIMON
I'd have to be riding backwards.
Even then I wouldn't eat no dust.
You'll be hogging it all for
yourself.
Simon sees Smitty, on Elliott's horse, giving him a look.
Moments later, the starter's pistol fires, and the horses are
off.
Haynie's Maria leads, Pacolet second, as they come into the
home stretch.
Pacolet is now charging, closing the gap, but Simon, looking
back, keeps blocking him, keeping him off the rail.
Trainers Dun and Green Berry both watch by the track.
DUN
Come on, Pacolet . . .
Pacolet is threatening to pass Haynie's Maria close on the
outside. Simon spits tobacco juice at him.
The spray causes Pacolet to momentarily break stride, the
black jockey wiping his own face with a sleeve.
JACKSON
Did I see that boy spit tobacco
juice in my jockey's face?
GENTLEMAN #12
Don't be surprised, General. That
Simon'll try anything to win.
Haynie's Maria crosses the finish line, a length ahead of
Pacolet.
ELLIOTT
Simon won it.
HAYNIE
I didn't see any tobacco juice
spit. Did y'all?
RACHEL
(to Jackson)
Remember, dear, that's just the
first heat.
EXT. THE RACETRACK - DAY (TEN MINUTES LATER)
The starter's pistol fires for the second heat, the field
down to three horses.
TIME LAPSE SHOTS of Jackson and Rachel, then Dun, then
Haynie, then Jackson again, watching. Their expressions show
that they're watching a stunning no-contest.
Simon on Haynie's Maria crosses the finish line. A far second
is Pacolet, with the third horse following.
GENTLEMAN #12
That late charge in the first heat,
General, took too much out of your
horse.
Minutes later, Simon and another jockey are walking past the
slaves by the track.
BECCA
Congratulations, Simon.
Simon, surprised to see her, walks over to Becca.
SIMON
Thank you, Becca. Miz Stoner come
to the races?
BECCA
I talked her into it, I did. Kept
telling her what she was missing.
In the grandstand, Mrs. Haynie remains seated with others
while Haynie starts down toward the track.
GENTLEMAN #13
Cap'n Haynie, long as you've got
Simon and Maria, you're king of the
hill around here!
Becca whispers to Simon:
BECCA
On the road that runs north near
the Stoner plantation, there's kind
of an old lean-to, sitting off the
far side of the road. I could
sneak out and meet you there one
night - if you can get there.
SIMON
I can get there. Which night?
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