Christmas Road

CHRISTMAS ROAD

A Film Script

Written by [Author Name]

FADE IN:

EXT. CHRISTMAS ROAD - DAWN - JUNE 1962

A narrow dirt road cuts through a Mississippi cotton plantation. Weathered shotgun houses line the road like tired sentries. The air is thick with humidity and the promise of another scorching day.

SUPER: "CHRISTMAS ROAD, MISSISSIPPI - JUNE 1962"

The sun struggles through the humid air. In the distance, the BIG HOUSE gleams white with columns and green shutters.

INT. SHILOH'S KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

SHILOH CARTER (35), a thin woman in a faded blue dress, stands at her window. Her calloused hands work the frayed fabric of her dress. Through thin walls, we hear COFFEE POTS CLANKING, ROOSTERS CROWING.

She opens an old Frigidaire - empty except for a mason jar of water.

SHILOH (whispered prayer) Lord, I don't know how much more we can take.

In the next room, her four children sleep on patched mattresses: MARY (11), LAD (9), THOMAS (7), and ESTHER (5).

LAD stirs, opens his eyes. He watches his mama through the doorway.

SHILOH (CONT'D) (to herself) Got to ask Hon Lucas. God help me.

EXT. CHRISTMAS ROAD - MORNING

Shiloh walks down the dusty road. She passes a BLACKENED FOUNDATION where a house once stood.

SHILOH (V.O.) My daddy's house used to sit right there. Fire took it in '45. Wasn't no accident neither.

She passes an OLD OAK TREE with a rope swing.

SHILOH (V.O.) That's where Hon Lucas promised to pay back every cent he owed my daddy. Some promises don't mean much when a man gets prosperous.

EXT. HON LUCAS'S HOUSE - MORNING

A nice four-room house with painted trim. HON LUCAS (40s), a solid man in work clothes, checks his forest-green Ford F-100 truck. Behind the house sit TWO OUTDOOR TOILETS.

Hon's wife MANDY (30s) moves around inside the kitchen. The smell of COFFEE and BACON drifts out.

SHILOH Hon Lucas.

He turns, his face hardening into a business expression.

SHILOH (CONT'D) Would you let my boy Lad go to de field wit me? He tall fo' his age, and his row can be right next to mine. I'll chop his row and mine both to make sho' he don't get behind. His daddy done walked clean off and left him, and we sho' need dat money fo' eatin'.

HON LUCAS How old is dat boy?

SHILOH Nine, but he tall fo' his age.

Hon shakes his head slowly.

HON LUCAS I ain't never took no child to de field befo'. Can't you get word to his daddy to send some money?

Shiloh's eyes flash with anger.

SHILOH Who my chil'rens' daddy is ain't none of yo' business. You might eat high on de hog now, but I 'member when you firs' come to Christmas Road wit nothin' but hungry eyes and empty pockets. It was my daddy dat got you food on credit and talked Mistah Sink into givin' you shelter and work.

HON LUCAS (uncomfortable) That was a long time ago, Shiloh.

SHILOH You ain't never paid my daddy back one red cent, and he never come after you fo' it neither.

HON LUCAS (defensive) I got my own family to think about. My own business to run.

SHILOH (voice rising, taking on preaching rhythm) But 'member what go up mus' come down. God spoke to me when I was just a little gal. He tol' me if anybody did me wrong, dey might as well tie a fo' hundred pound block 'round dey waist and jump in de Mississippi River.

The morning air seems to still. Even the BIRDS stop chirping.

SHILOH (CONT'D) (tears in her eyes, voice steady) Well, Hon, you let yo' conscience be yo' guide, same as my pa did every time you axed him fo' help. But if you too scared of what folks might say, I'll ax God to blow dis plantation and everybody on it clean away.

She drops to her knees in the dusty yard, her blue dress spreading around her.

SHILOH (CONT'D) (calling to heaven) Lord Jesus, dis is yo' child Shiloh, standing in de need of prayer!

Hon takes a step back, alarmed.

SHILOH (CONT'D) You know my daddy helped Hon Lucas and a whole mess of other folks befo' his house got burned up and he went home to glory. You know I got out my warm bed many a night to tend sick folks dat wasn't even kin to me.

As she speaks, the SKY begins to change. Clouds appear where none existed moments before.

SHILOH (CONT'D) (voice rising) But now Lord, some folks on Christmas Road need to see de hand of de Almighty at work. Send down yo' power and clean up dis road once and fo' all!

WIND begins to blow. Hon's face fills with disbelief as clouds gather with unnatural speed.

HON LUCAS (backing toward his truck) Shiloh, you need to stop this...

THUNDER RUMBLES in the distance. Lightning flickers.

HON LUCAS (CONT'D) (panicked) Sweet Jesus!

He runs for his truck as the first drops of rain begin to fall.

SHILOH (shouting over rising wind) Get down! Get low and stay low!

She runs for her house.

EXT. CHRISTMAS ROAD - CONTINUOUS

The storm hits with biblical fury. WIND HOWLS, RAIN falls in sheets, HAIL the size of hen's eggs pounds everything. LIGHTNING cracks across the sky in deliberate patterns.

THUNDER rolls continuously. Trees bend nearly horizontal.

Through windows, we see people huddled on floors, terrified.

The storm rages for exactly twenty-two minutes, then stops as suddenly as it began.

The sun bursts through dissipating clouds with brilliant intensity.

EXT. CHRISTMAS ROAD - MOMENTS LATER

Neighbors emerge from their houses, looking around in amazement. Trees are down, shingles scattered, but miraculously, no one is hurt.

OLD MRS. PATTERSON (70s) stands on her porch, shaking her head.

MRS. PATTERSON Dat woman called down de wrath of God like she was ordering groceries from de company store.

EXT. HON LUCAS'S HOUSE - EVENING

Hon sits on his porch with MANDY, watching the last storm clouds disappear. His children play in puddles left by the storm.

MANDY (quietly) You gonna help dat boy.

HON LUCAS I ain't decided nothin' yet.

MANDY (with quiet certainty) Yes, you has. You decided de minute you seen dat storm come out of nowhere. Question is, what you gonna do about it?

Hon stares at the sky, clearly shaken.

EXT. SHILOH'S HOUSE - NEXT MORNING

Hon approaches with his hat in his hands, his usual arrogance diminished.

HON LUCAS I been thinking 'bout dat boy. Don't want him in dem cotton fields after all—dat sun too brutal fo' a child. But I could use a water boy, somebody to ride in de truck wit me and keep de workers from dropping in dis heat. It pays de same as field work—two dollars a day.

Shiloh nods graciously.

SHILOH Thank you, Hon. Lad'll do good work fo' you.

INT. SHILOH'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The family sits around their small table eating cornbread and beans. Lad picks at his food, looking troubled.

MARY Mama, you really called down dat storm?

SHILOH (pause) I prayed, baby. Sometimes prayers get answered in ways we don't expect.

Lad watches his mama's face carefully.

LAD (V.O.) I was watching from the window. She looked as surprised as anybody when them clouds showed up.

INT. LAD'S BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

Lad lies awake, staring at the ceiling. His siblings sleep peacefully around him.

LAD (V.O.) Don't matter if she really called it or not. What matters is everybody believes she did. And that belief just saved our family.

EXT. CHRISTMAS ROAD - DAWN - NEXT DAY

Hon's truck pulls up. The bed is half-full with FIELD WORKERS - men and women climbing aboard with resigned efficiency.

HON LUCAS Climb up front wit me, boy. Water boys ride in de cab.

Lad climbs into the passenger seat, nervous but excited.

INT. HON'S TRUCK - CONTINUOUS

As they drive toward the cotton fields, Hon explains the job.

HON LUCAS You gonna carry water to de workers all day long. Got a big barrel in de back wit a dipper. Dat sun gets murderous hot, and people got to stay wet or they gonna drop dead in my fields.

EXT. COTTON FIELDS - MORNING

Endless rows of green cotton plants stretch to the horizon. Workers spread out with hoes, beginning their daily battle against weeds and heat.

Hon shows Lad the water barrel mounted on the truck's back.

HON LUCAS Fill yo' bucket, walk de rows, give folks drinks when they need 'em. Don't skip nobody, don't take too long, but don't never let anybody go thirsty neither.

EXT. COTTON FIELDS - CONTINUOUS

Lad fills his bucket and walks toward the workers. His first customer is MISS RUBY (50s), a weathered woman who's worked these same rows for fifteen years.

MISS RUBY (smiling) Well, look here. Shiloh's boy come to bring us water. How you doing this morning, baby?

LAD I'm fine, Miss Ruby. You want some water?

She drinks deeply, then hands back the dipper.

MISS RUBY You tell yo' mama Ruby said hey, you hear? And tell her I said she done exactly right by dat storm de other day. Some folks need reminding about how to treat people.

As Lad moves from worker to worker, we see the rhythm of his new life developing.

MONTAGE - LAD'S FIRST DAY

Lad walking between cotton rows with his water bucket

Workers gratefully accepting drinks

The sun climbing higher, beating down mercilessly

Lad's shoulders starting to ache from the heavy bucket

Hon watching approvingly from the truck

EXT. COTTON FIELDS - NOON

Hon calls Lad over to the truck's shade.

HON LUCAS You doing real good, boy. Take a rest, drink dis, eat yo' lunch.

He hands Lad a mason jar of cool water. Lad sits in the shade and unwraps his lunch - two cold biscuits with fatback and hard cornbread.

LAD (to himself, taking a bite) Never tasted nothing better.

EXT. COTTON FIELDS - LATE AFTERNOON

The sun is at its most brutal. Workers move slower, stopping more often for water. Lad's bucket seems heavier with each trip.

A young worker named JESSE (18) stumbles and falls to his knees, then pitches forward into the red dirt.

LAD (dropping his bucket, running) Help! Somebody done fell out! Come quick!

Hon and several workers come running. They carry Jesse to the truck's shade, pour water over his head.

HON LUCAS (to Lad, respectfully) Good thinking, boy. You done exactly right. In dis heat, every second counts when somebody goes down. You might've saved dat young man's life.

Jesse revives, looks up at Lad gratefully.

JESSE (weakly) Thank you, water boy.

Lad feels a pride he's never experienced before.

EXT. COTTON FIELDS - SUNSET

Hon blows a whistle signaling the end of the workday. Workers gather around the truck, tired but satisfied.

EXT. CHRISTMAS ROAD - SUNSET

The truck pulls up to Shiloh's house. Lad climbs down with two dollar bills in his pocket - more money than he's ever held.

His clothes are soaked with sweat, his feet blistered, but he carries himself differently - older, more substantial.

EXT. SHILOH'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Shiloh waits on the front porch, her face creased with worry until she sees Lad walking up with steady steps.

SHILOH How you feeling, baby?

She pulls him into a hug.

LAD I'm fine, Mama.

He hands her the two dollar bills. Her eyes widen.

LAD (CONT'D) I did good today. Real good.

SHILOH (folding the bills carefully) Yes, you did. I'm proud of you.

INT. SHILOH'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The family sits around their table eating a better meal than they've had in weeks. Lad tells his siblings about his day.

LAD ...and when Jesse fell down from the heat, I was the one who called for help. Hon Lucas said I might've saved his life.

MARY (awed) You really did all that?

THOMAS (excited) Did you see any snakes in the cotton?

ESTHER (staring at Lad) You look different.

LAD (realizing) I feel different too.

Shiloh watches her son with eyes that hold both pride and sadness - proud of what he's accomplished, sad that he had to grow up so fast.

EXT. NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH - SUNDAY MORNING

A small white wooden church with a tin roof. People gather for Sunday service - field hands, domestic workers, sharecroppers.

INT. NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

The congregation sits on hard wooden benches, fanning themselves with cardboard fans. REVEREND WASHINGTON (60s) stands at the pulpit.

REVEREND WASHINGTON Sister Shiloh, would you stand and testify to what de Lord has done fo' you and yo' family?

Shiloh rises slowly, looking around at expectant faces.

SHILOH I thank y'all fo' yo' prayers. De Lord heard my cry and He answered. My boy got work now, and we got food on our table. Dat's all I axed fo', and dat's what He give me.

From the back, OLD MOSES (60s), Mrs. Organ's chauffeur, approaches after the service.

MOSES (removing his hat) Missus Carter, Missus Organ heard about de storm and yo' boy getting work. She want you to know she's pleased things working out fo' yo' family.

A small gesture, but it carries weight - protection of a sort.

MONTAGE - SUMMER PROGRESS

Lad growing stronger and more confident

Workers relying on him, treating him as family

The cotton plants growing taller

Lad learning about life from the field workers

EXT. COTTON FIELDS - DAY

BIG JIM (40s), a powerful worker, rests in the shade with Lad.

BIG JIM Water boy like you, you learning something more important than reading and writing. You learning how to serve folks, how to be useful in de world. Dat's a lesson gonna serve you well, no matter where life take you.

EXT. CHRISTMAS ROAD - VARIOUS TIMES

We see the community's changing attitude toward Shiloh. People step aside respectfully when she passes. Children stare in awe.

When meeting strangers at the market, she introduces herself as "de woman who can call storms," and nobody laughs.

FADE TO:

EXT. COTTON FIELDS - END OF SUMMER

The cotton plants are now shoulder-high, white bolls beginning to form. Lad has grown visibly stronger, his movements more confident.

Hon watches him with growing respect.

HON LUCAS (to Mandy that evening) Dat boy gonna make somethin' of himself. He got de kind of character dat don't break under pressure.

FADE TO BLACK.

TITLE CARD: "TWENTY YEARS LATER"

FADE IN:

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY - 1982

LAD, now 29 and wearing a suit, stands before a classroom of young students. He's become a teacher.

LAD (to his students) Today I want to tell you about my mama, and the summer I learned what it means to work.

STUDENT Mr. Carter, did your mama really call down that storm?

Lad pauses, looking out the window where clouds are gathering on the horizon.

LAD Some stories are more important for what they teach than what happened the way people say they did.

He turns back to his students.

LAD (CONT'D) What I learned that summer was that sometimes hope, when it's desperate enough, and faith, when it's strong enough, can move mountains. Or at least make them seem a little smaller and easier to climb.

THUNDER RUMBLES in the distance.

LAD (CONT'D) (smiling) My mama taught me that the most important work in the world is taking care of each other. One bucket of water at a time.

EXT. CLASSROOM WINDOW - CONTINUOUS

Through the window, we see storm clouds gathering on the horizon, just like that day twenty years ago.

LAD (V.O.) And sometimes, when I hear thunder in the distance, I think about Christmas Road, and a woman who found a way to save her family when all the odds were against her. Whether by miracle or by will, she made it happen.

FADE TO BLACK.

FINAL TITLE CARD: "The cotton still grows in neat rows under the Mississippi sun, and mothers still pray desperate prayers for their children's futures. And sometimes - just sometimes - those prayers are answered in ways that change everything."

FADE OUT.

THE END