EXT. A PLANTATION - DAY
There's a SOCIAL (V.O.) going on in the mansion -- Simon
(V.O.) can be heard PLAYING the few chords he knows on the
banjo -- 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, watch through a second window.
INT. SOCIAL - DAY
Simon sings and plays the banjo for a roomful of white
gentry.
SIMON
(sings 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. Only Jackson,
with Rachel applauding beside him, applauds without much
appreciation.
EXT. PORCH - DAY
Simon, looking pleased with the day, sits down on the edge of
the porch with his banjo. The social goes on inside.
Becca strolls over as Simon idly strums. 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 strumming 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 Mississippi. 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. 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. And I'm
gonna ride myself free.
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.
(MORE)
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 goes back to Simon. She leans
down and kisses him, then goes on inside.
Simon looks at MALE SLAVE #2, who's been watching.
MALE SLAVE #2
Woooooo!!
EXT. HAYNIE'S CARRIAGE - DAY
Haynie helps Mrs. Haynie into their carriage as folks are
leaving the social.
Simon with his banjo is about to climb up to join the slave
driver on the driver's seat. Haynie stops him.
HAYNIE
Boy, that song you sang in there
had me plumb scared.
SIMON
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...
(hesitates, then)
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?
As Mrs. Haynie calmly listens, obviously knowing the story,
HAYNIE
It's common knowledge 'round here.
You might as well hear it from me,
so you listen.
(glances around, then)
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
You better not, boy, that's all
I've got to say.
Haynie turns to get in the carriage.
EXT. MRS. STONER'S CARRIAGE - MOVING - DAY
Mrs. Stoner and Becca ride home, a slave 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
Stoner's white overseer LANDRESS, 35, smokes a corncob pipe as
he stands watching MALE SLAVES #3 and #4 build a hog pen.
Landress notes Becca, Mrs. Stoner, and the driver arriving 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 #3
I don't know, Mister Landress.
LANDRESS
(to Slave #4)
What about you? Know of anybody
poking her?
MALE SLAVE #4
No, sir, Mister Landress.
Landress puffs on his pipe as he looks off after Becca.
INT. STABLE (JACKSON'S FARM) - DAY
Decatur is in his stall, a black stableboy grooming him, as
Jackson's black trainer Dunwoody (DUN), 35, looks on.
Jackson joins Dun and looks at Decatur. Two other horses are
in b.g.
JACKSON
I need to talk to you, Dun.
Jackson turns to go back out. Dun and the stableboy exchange
glances before Dun follows Jackson.
EXT. FARM - DAY
Waiting, Jackson looks around at his 400 acres (devoted to
cotton, corn, livestock, and horse breeding), a few slaves
moving about. 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 that race, General
Jackson. I --
JACKSON
Oh, don't worry about that. Decatur
just didn't have it in him, I guess.
I'm sending you on a trip. You're
going to the state of Virginia.
DUN
I'm going to Virginia, sir?
Jackson stops and turns to Dun.
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 little Simon write a
song about that.
EXT. RACETRACK - DAY
Gentlemen, ladies, and children arrive for a day at the
races.
Jockeys warm up mounts on the track, slaves watching along
the fence.
SUPERIMPOSE: "SUMNER COUNTY, MARCH, 1813."
Jackson, arriving with Rachel and Andrew Jr., walks past some
gentlemen and ladies.
GENTLEMAN #11
General Jackson, sir, the war's not
going so good. What's the hold-up
on --
JACKSON
(testily)
I wrote to President Madison,
offering my twenty-five hundred
volunteers for service wherever
they're needed.
As the Jacksons proceed toward the grandstand, GENTLEMAN #12
speaks quietly to Gentleman #11, whose LADY listens,
GENTLEMAN #12
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
Maybe that's what we need, sir, to
run off the 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.
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.
LATER
The starter's pistol FIRES, and the horses are off.
Haynie's Maria leads, Pacolet second, Smitty's horse third,
as they come into the home stretch.
Pacolet now charges, 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 threatens to pass Haynie's Maria close on the outside.
Simon spits tobacco juice at him.
The spray causes Pacolet momentarily to break stride, Black
Jockey #1 wiping his own face with a sleeve.
The Jacksons, Elliotts, Haynies, and others watch from the
grandstand.
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.
LATER
The starter's pistol FIRES for the second heat, the field
down to three horses.
The Jacksons, Dun, Haynie, and others watch the heat. 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.
Jackson seems to smolder, staring resentfully toward the
track.
LATER
Simon and another jockey walk 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!
Mrs. Haynie, not sharing her husband's appreciation of the
comment, stares at Haynie as he moves off.
On the track 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?
MRS. STONER (O.S.)
Becca!
BECCA
This Saturday. Bye.
Becca turns to go. Simon watches her. Then he finds himself
confronted by mad-looking Smitty.
SMITTY
You bumped my horse, nigger, in
that first quarter mile and got
him completely off stride.
SIMON
Your hoss wouldn't get bumped if
you kept your hoss out of the way.
Now you get out of mine.
Smitty pokes Simon hard in the chest.
SMITTY
Ain't no damn slave gonna talk to
me that way.
Simon charges into Smitty. They fall to the ground and start
tussling.
Jackson remains seated as other gentlemen -- first a few,
then almost all -- rush down to the track, not to stop the
fight but to watch it.
The slaves stand watching too, pulling silently for Simon
with their body language.
Simon and Smitty are on their feet, trading punches. Becca
watches with fascination, Mrs. Stoner with concern.
Haynie and Elliott watch with the others.
HAYNIE
(to Elliott)
Don't you think we ought to stop
it?
ELLIOTT
Aren't you worried about your Simon
getting hurt?
HAYNIE
Nope. Aren't you worried about
your jockey, Colonel?
ELLIOTT
Smitty can take care of Simon.
HAYNIE
Wanna bet?
ELLIOTT
One hundred dollars.
HAYNIE
Sounds good.
GENTLEMAN #14, who has listened, tells the others,
GENTLEMAN #14
Colonel Elliott and Captain Haynie
are betting on the fight!
Others start making bets too.
GENTLEMAN #15
Captain Haynie, we can't have a
slave fighting a white man.
HAYNIE
That's what we have, ain't it?
Smitty lands more punches than Simon, who appears to be
weakening.
As the fight goes on, the slaves twist themselves out of
shape pulling for Simon.
Smitty knocks Simon down.
Jackson now rises, Rachel and Mrs. Haynie both looking
disturbed.
MRS. HAYNIE
General Jackson, go down and stop
it.
GENTLEMAN #16 bends down to dazed Simon on the ground.
GENTLEMAN #16
Get up, boy, I've got fifty dollars
on you.
SIMON
If I win, can I have ten percent?
GENTLEMAN #18
You got it.
Simon gets up and wades into Smitty. Tired, Smitty can't
weather the storm.
Jackson, down from the grandstand, sees that Simon's now
winning and doesn't interfere.
Simon's last punch leaves Smitty lying on the ground,
bloodied and too weak to get up.
The gentlemen say little as they settle their bets, while the
slaves struggle to contain their delight.
Becca smiles as she leaves with Mrs. Stoner.
Wiping his bloody nose with a hand, Simon looks around for
Gentleman #18.
SIMON
Hey, somebody owes me five dollars!
No one owns up, some still settling bets. Jackson walks over
to Simon and hands him the money.
JACKSON
You cost me one thousand dollars
today. I'm not going to miss five
more.
SIMON
I thank you, Gen'ral Jackson.
As Jackson moves off, Simon, pocketing the money, smiles at
his fellow slaves, who nod and grin at him.
One person now applauds in the grandstand. It's Mrs. Haynie.
Simon gives her a deep, appreciative bow.
HAYNIE
(annoyed)
Sometimes that woman acts like
she's tetched.
EXT. LEAN-TO - NIGHT
Dark. An open, empty shed with a lean-to roof. On the other
side of the road, toward the Stoner plantation, are woods.
Simon and Becca lie smooching on the open grass, between the
lean-to and more woods.
SUPERIMPOSE: "AUGUST, 1813."
Becca restrains Simon and herself.
BECCA
Simon... Now I can't be having no
baby. Then I'd have to explain how
I done it.
SIMON
Becca, you want to get married?
That way, Cap'n Haynie could let me
come see you on Sundays, long as
Miz Stoner was willing.
BECCA
I don't know, Simon, the way things
are, Miz Stoner may have to sell
everything off, 'cludin' me.
SIMON
Well I've got an agreement with
Haynie to ride myself free. Maybe
nothing'll happen till then and I
can get you away.
BECCA
How many races you won now, Simon?
SIMON
Me and Maria's won ten in a row.
Folks hadn't seen nothing like it.
And I'm close to buying my freedom.
BECCA
Then what? You gonna buy mine too?
SIMON
We'll figure out something.
BECCA
Simon, I've done decided. If it
happens -- if Miz Stoner starts
selling us off -- I'm running away.
SIMON
Becca, no! No one hardly ever
makes it, Becca. Where you gonna
go? And by yourself? You won't
stand no chance.
BECCA
Now you listen. I've got it
planned. I got kinfolk up north,
an uncle, in the state of Ohio.
He's free. And there's a fella who
was gonna run off, and I asked him
to wait. If I have to run, he'll
go along with me, long as my
uncle'll help him too. So I'm
gonna have help if I need it.
If I go, when you're free you can
head up to my uncle's -- if you're
still gonna want me.
SIMON
I'm always gonna want you, Becca.
They kiss, then,
SIMON
If you're 'fraid it might happen
soon, you best tell me right now
how to find that uncle of yours.
EXT. STONER PLANTATION - NIGHT
In the moonlight Becca comes slipping back toward the slave
quarters from the woods.
As she disappears past a barn, someone else is now seen,
who's been watching her.
Leaning just behind the corner of the barn is Stoner's
overseer Landress, smoking a cigar.
Landress takes a drag. He looks at his cigar's glowing ash
in the dark, as he thinks about what he has seen.
EXT. STONER PLANTATION - DAY
Becca fills a bucket with water at the well.
Becca totes the bucket toward the main house. She stops as
Landress steps in front of her, blocking her way.
LANDRESS
Hello, little Becca.
Landress takes out his corncob pipe. He walks over to a
horse carriage.
LANDRESS
Come here, I need to tell you
something.
Landress sits down on the step of the carriage. Becca,
setting down the heavy bucket, follows him over. Landress
fills his pipe with tobacco.
LANDRESS
Do you take a shine to any of the
bucks around here?
BECCA
Why do you ask me that?
LANDRESS
Just wondering. You look like a
nice little piece. When you do let
one of 'em have it, you oughta pick
out a big'un, the kind of strong
buck you'd like to have kids by.
Landress lights his pipe.
LANDRESS
Before you do that, I'd like a
little bit myself. I like a little
black stuff now and then.
BECCA
You're gonna leave me alone, Mister
Landress.
LANDRESS
Yeah? Or you'll do what?
BECCA
I could tell Miz Stoner.
LANDRESS
You ain't telling Mrs. Stoner
nothing. Hell, she don't even run
this place. I do. And I take care
of any problems -- if you know what
I mean. Now you be thinking about
when and where around here you and
me's gonna do it. You're the one
who knows all about sneaking 'round
and not getting caught.
Landress rises.
LANDRESS
You ain't telling Mrs. Stoner
nothing. Not if you know what's
good for you, honey. Don't ever
forget that.
Landress strolls off.
EXT. MAIN STREET IN NASHVILLE - DAY
Simon and Haynie rein their ambling horses to a halt in front
of the lawyer Foster's office. People move about.
As he and Simon dismount, Haynie exchanges greetings with a
passing FRIEND.
THREE TEENAGERS, two boys and a girl, well-dressed and
cultured-looking, come out of the office and walk down the
street.
SIMON
Do you know them folks, Cap'n?
HAYNIE
Can't say that I do. Why?
SIMON
I was just wondering if they're the
young'uns I used to belong to.
Haynie notes someone down the street.
HAYNIE
Here comes Old Hickory.
Simon looks. It's Jackson and SEVERN DONELSON, 40, on
horses, as they stop to talk to a friend, a good distance
down the street.
SIMON
Why do they call the gen'ral Old
Hickory?
Haynie, ignoring the question, hands his horse's reins to
Simon.
HAYNIE
Now you wait here, Simon, then
we'll go look at those horses.
Haynie heads into the office.
Simon tethers the horses at a hitching post as he watches
Jackson.
INT. "CITY HOTEL" LOBBY - DAY
Rough-looking militia Colonel THOMAS BENTON, 37, smokes a
cigar as he walks toward the front door.
His brother JESSE BENTON, 32, is propped at the front desk
talking with the male HOTEL CLERK, 50.
BENTON
I'm going to the post office,
Jesse. I'll be back directly.
JESSE
All right.
Benton stops as he sees something out the front window.
BENTON
Hey, Jesse, come here.
Jesse walks over and looks.
BENTON
Down the street there. It's Andrew
Jackson.
JESSE
Who's that with him?
BENTON
His brother-in-law Severn Donelson.
JESSE
I wonder if he's looking for you.
BENTON
Shit. I imagine he's here on
business.
Jesse nods as if that's what he meant.
JESSE
I wonder if he's looking for you.
BENTON
You think I'm scared of Jackson?
Watch this. I'm going to stand
in the doorway, just to see what
Jackson'll do if he sees me. I'm
betting he won't do a thing.
JESSE
I'm betting he will.
Benton checks the double-barrel flintlock pistol that's under
his coat.
BENTON
You get back there and cover me
just in case. If anything happens
to me -- which it won't -- then
shoot his ass.
Jesse, checking his own two-shot pistol, goes back to the
counter.
CLERK
Hey, I'll have no gunplay in here.
JESSE
Why don't you just mosey out back?
CLERK
Well, there are some things out
back that need fixing.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Simon sits waiting on Haynie, across the street from the City
Hotel with its sign.
Simon watches Jackson and Severn leisurely approach along the
street on their horses.
Simon notes Benton step out and lean in the doorway of the
hotel, smoking his cigar.
Jackson and Severn, each wearing a two-shot flintlock pistol
under his coat, see Benton in the doorway, watching them.
SEVERN
There's Tom Benton at the City
Hotel.
JACKSON
I'm looking right at him.
SEVERN
Don't pay him no mind, Andrew.
They say he was drunk as a skunk
when he did all that talking.
JACKSON
I don't care if he was drunk or
sober.
Jackson stops his horse. He and Benton keep staring at each
other, Simon watching with fascination.
Jackson dismounts. Leaving the horse with Severn, Jackson,
riding whip in hand, walks over to Benton.
Simon, watching, rises and takes a step forward, as if not to
miss anything.
Jackson and Benton look each other in the eye.
JACKSON
I've been told, Colonel Benton,
that you've been making some
intemperate remarks around town.
BENTON
I don't care what you've been told,
General Jackson, one way or the
other.
Jackson shows Benton his riding whip, holding it practically
in Benton's face.
JACKSON
Do you see this horsewhip?
BENTON
I can't hardly miss it, can I?
JACKSON
I'm fixing to use it on you.
Benton throws away the cigar, right past Jackson's shoulder.
BENTON
Go ahead and try.
Jackson raises the whip. Backing into the hotel, Benton goes
for his pistol.
Jackson drops the whip and goes for his pistol too.
INT. LOBBY - DAY
Backing away from the door, Benton FIRES and misses as
Jackson comes in, pistol drawn. Jackson FIRES, hitting
Benton in the side. Benton FIRES wildly as he falls.
From behind the counter Jesse FIRES, hitting Jackson in the
left shoulder. Falling to a knee, Jackson FIRES at Jesse.
Jesse FIRES again, missing, as Jackson falls over, then
someone FIRES at Jesse, hitting the wall behind him.
Severn fired the shot. He keeps his pistol on the Bentons,
Tom Benton lying on the floor holding his bleeding side.
SEVERN
I've still got one shot left. How
many have you fellas got?
Severn kneels down to Jackson, who lies holding his shattered
shoulder, his hand covered with blood.
Simon and others look in at the door and window.
SEVERN
Andrew, you're bleedin' bad.
EXT. JACKSON'S FARM - DAY
Simon and Haynie arrive on horses at Jackson's farm, where
some of the 30 slaves can be seen at work in the fields.
Rachel steps out the front door as Simon and Haynie halt
before the main cabin.
HAYNIE
Good afternoon, Rachel.
RACHEL
Why, Captain Haynie! This is a
surprise.
HAYNIE
Come to see how your husband is,
ma'am.
RACHEL
Well please come in. It'll do him
good to see you.
Simon and Haynie dismount.
HAYNIE
Simon here asked to come along too.
You wait out here, boy. I'm not
sure it would do him good to see
you anyway.
Simon takes charge of the two horses.
SIMON
Please give the gen'ral my regards,
sir.
HAYNIE
I'll do that, Simon.
Haynie stops with Rachel by the door.
HAYNIE
What was that gunfight with the
Bentons all about, Rachel?
RACHEL
There's been bad blood between
'em, as you know, and... Colonel
Benton got drunk and carried on in
public one night about the same old
thing -- me and the marriage.
Haynie and Rachel head inside.
RACHEL
How is Colonel Benton? Do you
know?
HAYNIE
He got a bad side wound, I hear,
but he's pulling through.
The slave ROLLIE, 17, comes out of the house after Haynie and
Rachel enter. Rollie watches Simon tether the horses.
ROLLIE
You're that jockey Simon?
SIMON
Yeah. How's the gen'ral doing?
Rollie giggles as he looks at Simon.
SIMON
What...
ROLLIE
From the way the gen'ral talks, I
got a feeling he hates you with
some kind of passion.
SIMON
You sure he don't just hate Maria,
'stead of me?
ROLLIE
Well I think he sees you and that
hoss as 'bout one and the same.
But he's got another hoss now,
Dungannon, to match against your'n,
one on one. You want to see him?
SIMON
Well sure. Why not?
ROLLIE
Come on, we'll see if Dun'll let
you have a look at that critter.
EXT. BARN - DAY
The trainer Dun speaks angrily to Simon and Rollie.
DUN
(to Simon)
Hell no you're not seeing that hoss!
(to Rollie)
What'd you bring him over here for?
He's got two spying eyes.
SIMON
What am I gonna see but a hoss?
I got magical vision or something?
DUN
I'll tell you something else,
little friend. When y'all race in
that match coming up, you better
not spit no tobacco juice in our
jockey's face.
SIMON
Hah! Don't worry 'bout that. Your
jockey won't get close enough to
catch none of my spit.
Simon turns to go.
DUN
No, he won't, come to think of it.
He'll be too far ahead.
EXT. CLOVER BOTTOM RACETRACK - DAY
Simon on Haynie's Maria and Jackson's BLACK JOCKEY #2
on DUNGANNON run a match race.
SUPERIMPOSE: "SEPTEMBER, 1813."
It's not much of a match. Haynie's Maria wins by several
lengths.
Jackson, Rachel, Andrew Jr., the Haynies, and others watch
from the grandstand. Dun and Green Berry watch by the track,
some slaves on the fence or behind it.
Rachel looks sympathetically at Jackson, whose left arm is
in a sling. Haynie gets congratulatory slaps on the back.
ANDREW JR.
They're running again, aren't they,
Papa?
JACKSON
No, son, our horse got distanced.
There's no second heat. But don't
worry, son. We'll just find
another horse.
EXT. WOODS BY STONER PLANTATION - NIGHT
There's a bright moon. It's shining on Landress, who
contemplates the glowing ash of his cigar as he waits.
OVERLAP SOUND:
BECCA (V.O.)
I've got to tell you something.
EXT. NEAR LEAN-TO - NIGHT
Simon and Becca lie in the grass in the moonlight.
BECCA
The overseer's after me, Simon.
Wanting me to do it, and I told him
no, that I'd go tell Miz Stoner,
then he much as threatened to kill
me. Then yestiddy that bastard
grabbed me, and I pulled away.
And I says if you ever touch me or
tell me what you want again, I'm
going to Miz Stoner.
SIMON
What did he say?
BECCA
He didn't say nothing 'cause I
wasn't finished. I said I don't
care what you say or do if I go and
tell her, 'cause I'd rather be dead
than give up to you anyway. So you
might as well kill me right now
unless you're gonna stop this.
SIMON
Did he say something then?
BECCA
He didn't say nothing 'cause he
didn't know what to say. And I
walked on off. But, Simon, I'm
scared now of what he might do.
He's the lowest thing there is.
He could rape me and kill me, then
tell Miz Stoner that I just run
off. And that's just what I might
do.
SIMON
Then go ahead and tell her. Don't
just run off. Not yet. That fella
you said's gonna help you --
BECCA
Samuel.
SIMON
Is he still gonna help you?
BECCA
He's done got us fake passes saying
we're husband and wife sent up
north by Miz Stoner. He's got 'em
buried in a jar till we need 'em.
You think I oughta head for my
uncle's?
SIMON
I don't know what to think. Becca,
do what you have to. If you run
and get caught, they'll just bring you
back, but you might get the lash.
Just a couple more races and I'll be
at seventeen fifty, if I win 'em, and --
BECCA
That ain't gonna help me! How's
that gonna help me?
SIMON
I was hoping to buy you. You said
she might have to sell you. But
I won't have hardly no money.
All I'll have is my freedom, if
I get it. Do what you have to.
If you go to your uncle's, wait
for me, Becca. I'll get there.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Simon stands watching as Becca heads into the woods to return
to the plantation.
Simon turns and starts walking the dark road, with a glance
at the bright moon above.
SIMON
Lord, help me win two more races.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Making her way through the dark pathless woods in the
moonlight, Becca is startled as a hand grabs her arm. It's
Landress.
LANDRESS
You've had your last little rendevzous.
You know why? 'Cause you wouldn't
listen. I tried to be nice.
Becca struggles but Landress holds on tight.
LANDRESS
Now we'll have to do it this way.
BECCA
What way you mean?
LANDRESS
Why, I'm gonna turn you in to Miz
Stoner. I'll tell her what you've been
doing, how I came out and caught
you and him.
BECCA
No, don't tell on us, please, we
ain't doing no harm, we just --
LANDRESS
Get together and talk?
BECCA
That's all.
LANDRESS
Well you and me are gonna get down
right here, and I'm gonna show you
what you should have been doing.
Then I might turn you in.
Fighting him, Becca screams, Landress slaps her.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Simon suddenly stops. He looks back toward the woods, having
heard what may have been a distant scream.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Becca, stunned by the slap, is on her knees, tries to get up,
but Landress throws her down on her back.
As Landress moves onto her, kissing her, Becca grabs a stick
from the ground and hits him hard in the head with it.
Landress grabs his head in pain. Becca scrambles up from
under him, but Landress grabs her and pulls her back down.
Simon enters the woods. He moves forward through thicket,
looking around, there's no path to guide him.
Crawling onto Becca, Landress slaps her again as she
struggles, then he pulls up her dress.
Simon keeps moving forward, looking. He calls now, but is
afraid to call too loudly,
SIMON
Becca!?... Becca!?
On top of Becca, Landress, undoing his pants, has heard Simon
(O.S.), and looks off over his shoulder. As he does, Becca's
hand finds Landress's knife in its scabbard.
Becca yanks out the knife, Landress reacts, and Becca stabs
him in the abdomen.
Landress grabs his wound with one hand as Becca pulls out the
knife. He grabs her wrist with the other, but Becca yanks it
free, and stabs him again, in the back.
Getting out from under him, as Landress rolls onto his back,
Becca stabs Landress again, and again.
Coming through the woods, Simon sees them. He hurries toward
them. Becca stabs a last time.
Simon finds Becca crying hysterically, on the ground beside
Landress, lying dead in the moonlight.
Simon kneels beside Becca and holds her in his arms.
BECCA
Oh Simon... It's Landress... I
killed him... Now what do I do?
SIMON
I think it's time to dig up those
fake passes. Go get Samuel. Y'all
need to take off.
BECCA
But Simon, when they find him like
this, they'll hunt us down in the
morning. We don't stand a chance.
SIMON
No, no, they won't find him. We'll
bury him or get rid of the body.
So they'll think he musta left,
see. And maybe he stole you and
took you with him. There's always
whites stealing slaves.
BECCA
And Samuel too?
SIMON
No, he -- he saw the chance and ran
off on his own. There's slaves
running off all the time. They're
not gonna know what to think, for
a while. But y'all need to be long gone.
What'll I do with the body? How am
I gonna bury him?
BECCA
That old dry well by the lean-to.
You could throw him down that.
SIMON
Good idea. You go get Samuel and
y'all get going.
BECCA
Simon, I --
SIMON
Get to your uncle's, Becca. Then
wait. I'll get there soon as I
can. I promise.
Simon kisses her.
SIMON
Now go.
Becca rises and hurries off.
EXT. OLD WELL NEAR LEAN-TO - NIGHT
Simon, lugging Landress on his back, gets to the well. He
drops Landress in. He hears a shallow SPLASH.
Simon bends forward, clutching his stomach, and almost throws
up.
Simon heads for the road.
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