Barbara's Scripts
Scene from Grace

KITCHEN - A WEEK LATER

A total mess; filth and clutter everywhere. Dirty dishes piled high, fill the sink to overflowing. Cook pots, half filled with caked foods crowd the stove.

Dirty clothes and flour are scattered on the floor. Finished paintings are everywhere - on chairs, cabinet space, along the walls.

Plates and bowls with dried food, spilt paint, and art supplies overload the table. At one end, Grace sits sleeping, with her head resting on her arms. With a suitcase in hand, Will shakes her shoulder.

FLOYD

Grace, Grace, wake up.

Grace jumps up; her eyes dart about wildly; she runs to the easel and resumes painting.  Paint and dirt cover her face, hair, and clothes, making her hardly recognizable.

FLOYD

Grace, listen, you’ve got to go back
to the hospital.

Grace glances at him, showing some recognition of what he said.

FLOYD

Now come on.

He reaches for her arm, but she jerks away and runs to the other side of the table.

Floyd EXPLODES.  He kicks over the easel, slings one of her paintings across the table, causing dishes and paints to fly everywhere.

FLOYD

I can't stand no more. Dirty house,
no meals; goddamn pictures everywhere.
I'm gonna burn 'em - the whole goddamn
lot. Goddamn people sticking their noses
in your life making you crazier than ever.

Grace crawls under the work bench, shivering.  He bends down to her.

FLOYD

You're going to the hospital, now!

He grabs at her. Grace jumps out from underneath and grabs the willow stick and strikes Will across the face, gashing his cheek.

GRACE

No!  Nobody's putting electricity
through my body; nobody's burning
up my spirit ever again. I'll kill myself
first. Go and look in the barn if you
don't believe me!  The rope's there. All
I got to do is slip the noose around my
neck and step off. Then I won't give a
goddamn if you burn my paintings and
everything else in this house.

Floyd lunges for her. She dodges and plunges the sharp point deep into his shoulder.  Floyd SCREAMS out in pain.  Horrified, Grace drops the stick and runs out the back screen door.

INT. BARN - MINUTES LATER

Shafts of sun light come through the cracks in the boards. A cut piece of rope hangs from the rafter. 

The rest of the rope lies in the straw with a noose tied at the uncut end. The outside door swings open, and in rush Ceil and Regina. They search the bottom area.

REGINA

Mama, Mama.

Regina points to the loft. Ceil climbs the straight ladder. She peers over the edge and sees Grace sitting against the wall with her legs bent up under her chin.  She rocks back and forth, and moves her lips as if she's talking to someone. Softly, so as not to alarm her...

CEIL

Grace. Grace. Grace.

Grace stops her movements and searches for the voice. Ceil climbs onto the loft, but keeps a distance.

CEIL

Grace, it's me, Ceil.  I want you to
come with me.  Mayphelia and I'll take
care of you. You're not going to a
hospital.  No hospital, Grace. Regina
has talked to Floyd and he agrees that's
the best for you.

Scrambling, WHIMPERING, and BLUBBERING, Grace crawls to Ceil and throws herself into her arms.

GRACE

Don't burn my paintings. Don't burn,
the electricity, my drawings and in my
brain. No, no, no, no.

CEIL

Shhh, shhh, baby.  We'll take your
paintings and there won't be any burning,
now or ever. You're going to be alright.

A beam of light cascades across Grace's face.