CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE MINER HALL A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Screenwriting By Rachelle A. Potts May 2012 Copyright © 2012 by Rachelle A. Potts The thesis of Rachelle A Dabney Potts is approved: _________________________________________ _______________________ Eric W. Edson, MFA Date _________________________________________ _______________________ Dr. Kenneth S. Portnoy, Ph.d. Date _________________________________________ _______________________ Alexis Krasilovksy, Chair Date California State University, Northridge ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS For your assistance and support with the preparation of this thesis, for your criticism, reassurance, continued interest, praise and prayer, I would like to thank: Tyrone Eddie Potts I appreciate your role as reader, sounding board, copy editor and encourager; as well as the many sleepless nights you have sacrificed. I love you dearly. Thank you so much Rachelle A. Potts May 2012 DEDICATION This screenplay is dedicated to and inspired by the founders of the beloved, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, for their outstanding legacy of courage, fortitude and supreme sisterhood. Osceola Macarthy Adams Winona Cargile Alexander Ethel Cuff Black Bertha Pitts Campbell Zephyr Chisom Carter M. Edna Brown Coleman Jessie McGuire Dent Frederica Chase Dodd Myra Davis Hemmings Olive C. Jones Jimmie Bugg Middleton Pauline Oberdorfer Minor L. Vashti Turley Murphy Naomi Sewell Richardson Mamie Reddy Rose Eliza Pearl Shippen Florence Letcher Toms Ethel Carr Watson Wertie Blackwell Weaver Madree Penn White Edith Motte Young Marguerite Young Alexander TABLE OF CONTENTS Signature Page iii Acknowledgment Page iv Dedication Page vi Abstract vii Miner Hall 1 ABSTRACT MINER HALL By Rachelle A. Dabney Potts Master of Arts in Screenwriting Miner Hall is a screenplay about a tenacious college bound African American girl named, Madree Penn, who aspires to become a journalist. This coming of age drama is set in 1911 when less than one third of one percent of African Americans had access to college and females were a small fraction of that. Madree decides to attend an out-of-state university despite her father’s objection. Her college of choice is Howard University, a black college located in the heart Washington, D.C. At Howard, Madree meets University President, Wilbur Thirkield and a host of others who help shape her future. She’s exposed to university life, dormitory life and sorority life and Madree makes a splash everywhere she goes. From the time she steps foot on campus, Madree must fight tooth and nail to stay and she does, but not without loss and not without wondering if her decision was worth it. MINER HALL FADE IN: EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WASHINGTON D.C. - DAY Almost 10,000 WOMEN fill the street in a long procession that includes nine BANDS, four mounted BRIGADES, three HERALDS and 20 FLOATS. It is quite a spectacle. Women from every walk-of-life organize themselves in order of their state, as a riotous CROWD of thousands of hostile male on-lookers surround them. TITLE: WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE PARADE MARCH 3, 1913 A group of twenty-two refined, black SORORITY GIRLS gather and arrange themselves among the other earnest, yet trepidatious, women’s groups, organized by state and individual female marchers. Among the sorority girls is MADREE PENN, barely 18 years-old, a petite, colored girl with a bronze skin tone, a heart-shaped face, bright eyes and a determined stance. MADREE (V.O.) I must wonder, however did I get here? A small town girl like me, making history on the eve of President Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration... Amidst the chaos, Madree takes in her surroundings. Countless SIGNS wave from the sidewalk that read: GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN WHERE YOU BELONG. Men flick and blow ashes toward them from their lit cigars. Amidst the rain of ashes, a herald rides by on horseback. HERALD Sorry for the delay. Please get into position. We are starting soon. MADREE (V.O.) Mine is unacceptable behavior for an intelligent and promising young woman with culture. But, it is necessary... The angry CROWD shouts slurs and becomes more aggressive. HECKLER Who do you think you are? You can’t vote. You’re not worthy to shine my shoes. Go home! The HECKLER spits toward the women. Police officers form a human barricade to hold back the protesting CROWD. MADREE (V.O.) Someone must stand for those who cannot stand for themselves; speak for those who cannot form their words, march for those whose feet no longer carry them... Madree proudly takes her place behind a beautiful crimson and cream BANNER that reads: DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC. founded January 13, 1913 MADREE (V.O.) (CONT'D) I did not choose this cause, this plight, this movement. It chose me. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. OMAHA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL - DAY A modest one-story brick building stands in the middle of endless plains and prairie fields as a beacon of solitude on its own rural corner of the earth. TITLE: OMAHA, NEBRASKA June 30, 1911 INT. OMAHA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL - DAY MADREE, (17) passionately recites a bold excerpt from IDA B. WELLS’ Southern Horrors: Lynch Law In All Its Phases 1892; before her senior class of mesmerized white students and her teacher, MISS SUADE (31), a tall, pale brunette. MADREE A Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every black home, and it should be used for that protection which the law refuses to give... JAN WYATT (18), a blonde girl with freckles, smiles at Madree and then glances past an empty desk to her twin brother, LEE WYATT (18) a slight, white boy with blue eyes, as he intently watches Madree. Other STUDENTS also notice Lee’s fixed gaze upon Madree, especially, NORA AMES (18) a saucy red-head with much attitude. Nora throws a crumpled sheet past Lee’s head but it does not break his love-sick stare toward Madree. STUDENTS chuckle and mock him, but Lee remains oblivious. MADREE (CONT’D) When the white man who is always the aggressor knows he runs as great a risk of biting the dust every time his Afro-American victim does, he will have greater respect for Afro-American life... Miss Suade gasps, briefly distracting the students. Then, she quickly composes herself and stands as Madree adamantly continues. MADREE (CONT’D) The more the Afro-American yields and cringes and begs, the more he must— MISS. SUADE Thank you, Madree. Several STUDENTS roll their eyes and snicker. But, Jan CLAPS for Madree as she takes her seat in the empty desk between Jan and Lee, directly in front of Nora. MADREE By journalist, Ida B. Wells. MISS. SUADE I said thank you Madree. Now that’s enough. Nora snarls at Madree as Miss Suade re-positions herself before the class. Then, Nora raises her hand. MISS. SUADE (CONT'D) Yes, Nora. NORA Do you think colored people ought to gun down whites? MISS. SUADE Certainly not. MISS. SUADE (CONT’D) What you just heard was merely a piece of literature; nothing to be alarmed about. MADREE Unless you think lynchings are nothing, there’s much to be alarmed about, Miss Suade. MISS. SUADE While I disagree with lynching, I don’t believe more violence will solve the problem. We must focus our efforts on making changes in positive ways. EXT. OMAHA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL - DAY Madree and Jan hike the plains of Omaha, behind the modest Central High School building. There are gorgeous grassy hills and slopes for miles. MADREE Don’t be sad Jan. JAN I just wish you’d change your mind and attend the University of Nebraska with us. I miss you already. They spot Lee several yards away as he sets five bottles on a wooden plank with a rifle dangling from his shoulder. JAN (CONT’D) And Lee does also. (a beat) Though he will never admit that. Lee walks toward Madree and Jan. LEE You preach about rifles, but how well can you handle one? Madree just smiles as Lee raises the rifle and aims. He FIRES and misses the first bottle. Lee FIRES again. He hits the second bottle and the third bottle. He lowers the rifle, looks at Madree and grins. Then, Lee aims and FIRES. He grazes the fourth bottle. It tumbles off the plank but it doesn’t break. Jan laughs. Lee cuts his eyes at Jan. Lee FIRES again. He hits the last bottle. Then, he lowers the rifle. As Madree takes the rifle, her fingers glide softly across Lee’s hand. Their eyes lock. Then, Madree aims the rifle. LEE (CONT’D) Wait. I’ll set more bottles. MADREE No need. Madree FIRES and hits the first bottle that Lee missed. Madree aims again, FIRES and shatters the bottle Lee grazed that’s lying on the ground below the plank. Jan and Lee stare, astonished. Then, Nora approaches, from the school, happy to interrupt. NORA (to Madree) Your father sent word to the school. Return home at once. MADREE Did he say why? Nora just looks at Madree. No response. MADREE (CONT’D) Well, did you tell him where I was? NORA I’m not your personal messenger Madree. Lee’s eyes sadden as Madree returns the rifle to him and starts back. LEE I’ll walk with you. MADREE No. You can’t. I’ll get back before dark. It’ll be alright, don’t worry. Madree tearfully continues on, while Lee gazes longingly and Jan waves. JAN Good bye. EXT. PENN HOME - DUSK A small, but neatly manicured house surrounded by wild flowers sits quietly as the sun sets in the distance. INT. PENN HOME, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Madree timidly enters the cozy, sparsely decorated living room.