Southern Hospitality
Student No. 110404879
Setting: Georgia countryside. Late American Civil War.
EXT. SIDE OF DIRT ROAD - DAY
CAPTAIN MORGAN, an Union Officer, is driving a TWO HORSE PULLED WAGON with one of his soldiers, PRIVATE HANKS. Their wagon has a trunk full of GOLD they have just recently stolen. They pass signs of a retreating column of soldiers; dropped weapons, a toppled gun, corpses next to the road. As the wagon turns a bend the wagon sees LIEUTENANT ANDREWS limping alongside the road with an ornate solid WALKING STICK.
captain
Sir, where do you suppose you’re headed with your leg looking like that?
andrews
Boy am I glad to see you! I figured a damn rebel would be riding up to finish me off!
captain
(To Private Hanks)
Let’s get this man on board. Up here, next to me.
Hanks hurries to help Andrews get on. Hank sees the LIEUTENANT RANK on Andrews jacket.
ANDREWS
Thank you kindly, sir. What is your name?
Hanks
I’m Private Hanks, at your service, Lieutenant.
Hank turns to get in the back of the wagon, to guard the gold from Andrews, and notices some chimney smoke in the distance.
hanks
Captain! Look yonder, that home must have been spared!
CAPTAIN
Why, all be! Let’s see if we can be blessed with some of that famous southern hospitality.
They pass empty cotton fields as they turn up the drive.
INT. PARLOR OF PLANTATION HOUSE - day
MARLETT and ELLEN run to the window of the plantation house when the hear the wagon. Marlett is wearing her GREEN DRESS. MAMMY goes to the other window. JAROLD towers over his daughter.
ellen
Pa, look at this! More mouths to feed.
marlett
Who do these people think they are, always coming up to take whatever food I can find? Damn them!
jarold
Girls! None of this nonsense, these men have money. Look at those horses!
MARLETT
Money! Bah, looks like they just came off the battlefield. They’ll have no money.
jarold
Mammy dear, can you show these men the baths? And girls, let the men think you are here alone. Be the southern belles your mother taught you to be.
Jarold picks up his RIFLE, loads it and goes into his office to wait. Ellen and Marlett pinch their cheeks and smooth their hair as they pass a MIRROR on their way to the front porch. Mammy goes to the kitchen to start the water heating.
ext. front porch - day
Captain pulls the horses to a stop at the end of the steps leading up to the massive plantation house. Hanks helps Andrews down and then runs to hold the horses. Captain gets off the wagone and bows to the ladies on the porch. He is betaken with Marlett’s beauty, especially her green eyes.
captain
Good afternoon ladies! It is a pleasure to see such beautiful smiles in these hard times.
MARLETT
Why, sir! You are too kind. Do not flatter us with such silly remarks, I may start to take you serious.
ElLen
(Giggles and holds her pregnant belly.)
Hah, you gentlemen must be hungry now. We don’t have much, but I’m sure we can find something to share.
Hanks
Ain’t we lucky! Why we would be honored to be treated with such kindness.
MARLETT
Anything for those who fight for our grand cause.
Hanks ties up the horses and they all go into the house.
ext. side of house - day
Mammy hides out of view. Once everyone goes inside, she runs and peeps in the back of the wagon.
mammy
(Gasping.)
Lord almighty!
Mammy shoves as much gold in her pockets as she can. She dumps them in the PIG TROUGH on her way back to the kitchen.
int. dining room - day
Captain, Marlett, Ellen, Hanks and Andrews sit around the big wooden TABLE. They are discussing the battle they have just left. Captain believes he has tricked the women into thinking they are all Confederate soldiers.
marlett
Mammy! DO you think you can bring us some sweet tea and anything we can spare, please? These gentlemen must be thirsty!
Ellen
(To Hanks)
My young husband is somewhere in Virginia, I believe.
HANKS
Is he so? I was just there not a month ago. Do you know which regiment?
Ellen and Hanks continue talking Marlett is flirting with Captain.
MARLETT
You are a Captain, right sir?
CAPTAIN
Why yes, I am.
MARLETT
What an honor! I have always wanted to dance with a Captain. Especially one as fine as you are.
CAPTAIN
If the chance arises, my lady, you would be the pick of all women. You are prettiest I have ever laid eyes on.
Captain stares into Marlett’s eyes. The green dress make her eyes vivid. Mammy enters carrying tea and bread. Everyone starts to help themselves.
MAMMY
(To Andrews)
Excuse me sir, would you mind for me to look after those wounds? I have set up some bath water and am a mighty fine nurse.
Andrews
It has been ages since I have properly bathed, or even been the first to use a bath. I would love to take you up on that offer.
Andrews graps a peice of bread then follows Mammy back through the kitchen to the wash room where she has the bath set up. Andrews limps along with his walking stick. The rest of the company eat and drink continueing discussing the war.
int. wash room - day
Andrews undresses and gets in the bath, leaving his injured leg hang out of the tub. The walking stick is next to him. Mammy notices the rebel flag TATOO on his calf right above a bullet wound.
Mammy
How long have you been in the army?
Andrews
After my brother died a year ago, they came and got me.
Mammy
Have you any family?
ANdrews
I hope they’re still alive. I have a beautiful wife in Macon. We have three young kids. I can only imagine how hard this is on her.
They continue small talk as Mammy pulls out the bullet and bathes Andrews.
int. office - day
Jarold points his gun at Private Hanks from his secret hole in the BOOKSELVES.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
The women and the two men continue talking in good spirits. Marlett has the Captain under her spell.
MARLETT
Would you be so kind as to escort me to my favorite place? I want to share it with you.
CAPTAIN
I will be honored, Madame. Here.
Captain rises, and helps Marlett up, like a gentleman. Marlett places her free arm next to her side, making sure the PISTOL is still in place.
ELLEN
Are you going to show Captain the sunset?
MARLETT
Of course, that is where the sun kisses the earth goodnight.
Captain looks down at his feet.
Marlett and Captain exit the dining room. Ellen and Hanks continue discussing Ellen’s husband.
EXT. Drive way - day
Marlette keeps the Captain flustered with her smiles and eyes. They walk on towards the creek.
MARLETT
Have you ever been love, Captain?
Captain
I- I am not sure.
MARLETT
Do you know what love feels like?
CAPTAIN
I suppose not.
Marlett leans in to kiss him.
int. dining room - day
Jarold fires his rifle into Hanks gut.
ELLEN
(Shrieks.)
Pa! Pa! There’s blood on me!
Jarold runs into the room. Hanks has died.
Int. wash room - day
Mammy hears the rifle, she grabs Andrews walking stick. Adnrews tries to move, but Mammy is too quick. She wacks him on the back of the head. Andrews passes out immediately.
Mammy
Good god! This war is nothing but a mess.
Mammy leaves the washroom to go see what Jarold needs.
ext. Drive Wat - Day
Marlett hears the gun as she’s kissing Captain. She knees him the groin before he could react. She grabs the pistol from her dress and cocks it, and points it at the Captain’s chest.
MARLETT
Do as I say.
Captain nods in agreement.
MARLETT
Turn around and walk back to the house. I am going to be directly behind you. Remember, all I have to do is pull this trigger.
They head back towards the house. The Captain is walking with pain.
MARLETT
Tell me who you really are and why did you come into our house.
Captain
I told you who I was.
Marlett
Don’t bring death upon you faster, Captain.
The Captain ducks and lashes out at Marlett, hitting her in knees, causing her to pull the trigger as she falls. She misses him. She tries to regain her authority.
Captain
You sly whore!
Captain jumps on Marlett and pins her to the ground. Marlett kicks the pistol away.
Marlett
Get off me!
Marlett kicks at the Captain. He spits at her as he tries to undo her dress.
Marlett
You filthy bastard! Take your hands off of me! I will not tolerate it!
CAPTAIN
If you have no choice you will!
Marlett
(Scrams)
Help! Help! Help!
Captain smacks her.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Mammy, Jarold and Ellen are dragging Hanks out.
Jarold
Where is the injured one?
MAMMY
He’s unconscious in the wash room.
Jarold
Good. Anything I should know?
MAMMY
He’s one of us. We shouldn’t kill him.
Ellen
I feel faint.
JAROLD
Why did I have to have girls with no backbones?!
Ellen faints.
Mammy
I’ll take care of her.
Jarold
Where is my Marlett? She’s the strong one.
Mammy
Shh!!! I think I hear something!
They both strain their ears. They hear Marlett’s shreiks. Jarold grabs his rifle and reloads it.
EXT. FRONT PORCH - DAY
Jarold sees Captain holding Marlett down. Jarold aims his rifle, but they are too close for him to know if he will hit the Captain or Marlett. He heads down the porch towards the barn, trying to sneak up from behind.
EXT. DRIVE WAY - DAY
Mammy stands on the porch watching Jarolds back. She goes back to the wagon and takes more gold from the trunk.
Mammy
(To the horses.)
Easy there, easy.
Once the horses have calmed down Mammy leaves back towards the kitchen entrance. She makes two more trips to the wagon, dumping the gold in the pig trough. She then goes back inside to doctor Ellen.
Ext. Drive Way - Day
Jarold sees how intense the Captain is on Marlett. The Captain has Marlett pinned in the dirt, trying to take off her dress. Marlett is still screaming and kicking and trying to escape.
Captain
If you don’t shut up I’m going to make you.
Marlett spits at him.
Marlett
You are such an-
Captain slaps Marlett across the cheek. Marlett looks at him. Captain feels no shame and raises his hand again. Jarold sneaks closer to them.
Jarold
Hit her again and I’ll blow your head off.
The Captain lowers his hand and slowly turns around. Marlett shoves him as she escapes, grabbing her pistol and cocking it.
Marlett
Pa, these men are hiding something!
Captain
Don’t listen to her! She’s a liar!
Jarold
Shut up.
Jarold fires the rifle into Captain’s face. Blood, skin and bone cover Marlett. Marlett doesn’t make a sound.
INT. DINIG ROOM - NIGHT
Mammy, Ellen, Marlett and Jarold sit around the table. Andrews is tied to a chair.
JAROLD
Tell us what you know, Lieutenant.
ANDREWS
I only just met them. I was walking alongside the road and they offered me a ride. I supposed they were headed to town, and I needed medical help.
JAROLD
Did you know they were Union soldiers?
Andrews
Of course.
JarolD
And you had no guilt pretending to one of them?
Andrews
We all do what we can to survive.
Jarold exchanges glances with his daughters and Mammy.
Marlett
(To Andrews.)
I suppose you know something we don’t. If your desire is to live, tell us what we need to know.
ANdrews
You will have to be more specific than that, miss. I had just met the men a few minutes before we saw your chimney smoke.
Marlett
Where do you think the men were going?
Andrews
I suppose Atlanta.
They all exchange glances.
Jarold
What do you know about Atlanta, Lieutenant?
Andrews
I know the city has fallen. They were buring all the Confederate buildings, warehouses, supplies. I know the hospital even burnt.
JArold
Did they mention anyhting?
Andrews
No. But they wouldn’t let me see what they were hauling… err, hiding.
Jarold and Marlett get up to check out the wagon.
EXT. DRIVE WAY - NIGHT
Marlett and Jarold pull up the blanket in the wagon, they see a very nice trunk that is unlocked. The lift it and find it half way full of gold.
JAROLD
I’ll be damned!
Marlett
(Gasps.)
This is what we’ve been waiting for!
Together they grab the trunk and bring it inside.
How should I end this?
