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Rev. 7/29/71       -24-

50. CONTINUED 50.

He sees Sounder rise and fall, give out with a faint yelp, and circle into the field. He moves in the direction of the house, falling, and floundering with the hind part of his body, staying up - moving from side to side.

David arrives at the spot where the animal was cut down, stops with his eyes deadpan on the truck as it fades from his view. He looks down on a huge blot of blood in the sand - reaches down and digs his fingers into it - lifts his hand up and frowns - looks out into the field to track the dog's movements - then makes his way back to the cabin.

51. EXT. THE FRONT YARD - DAY   51.

David trots back to the front yard - Rebecca is at the edge of the yard - Josie Mae and Earl are still on the porch - David keeps moving on around the house - Rebecca stares down the road - in her background, the figure of David and the lighted lantern can be seen faintly, crawling under the house. Josie Mae and Earl come down from the porch, and stop just behind their mother.

JOSIE MAE
Mama, why did they take Daddy away?

REBECCA
(pause)
Because he cared so damn much about you and me, child.

JOSIE MAE
Is he gon' be gone long?

REBECCA
(pause)
Might be . . . 

52. EXT. UNDER THE HOUSE - DAY    52.

David Lee, with the lantern, crawls about under the house looking for Sounder.

DAVID LEE
Sounder . . . Sounder . . .

He stops and looks all around him with a pained expression on his face - Sounder is not under the house. . .