CHAPTER 1
EXT. HIGHWAY I 10—GREYHOUND BUS—DAY
A jar is cleansed of its fluids and pickles. Its label has taken a new identity and new meaning. Quarters, nickels and dimes now occupy the space once used by the green eatables. For several months STEELE has been saving her allowance to run away from the comfort of a mother's heavy hand who sets the house rules like a tyrant. It was only six months ago when two Puerto Rican nationalists, Oscar Collazo and Girsel Torresola attempted to assassinate President Harry Truman in Washington, DC. One guard was killed and two others were injured but Truman was unharmed.
A one way ticket into the unknown with no intent to return to her place of birth soothes this girl's troubled heart. Steele gladly sits at a window where she glares into the open space not looking at anything in particular. Green grassy terrain, leafy trees, horses, and cows are seen in the distance as the bus drive pass familiar farmlands where Steele once played. This trip begins a new life as she ventures off not knowing her fate at the end of the road. Founded in 1914 the Greyhound Bus is one of the few bus coaches that transports people from the south to northern states. Greyhound Bus prides itself on comfort and safety for all of its passengers. This is the first time Steele has traveled alone. The BUS DRIVER adjust his rear view mirror.
BUS DRIVER
Folks! You all take a seat now and take out your tickets. Next stop Biloxi, Mississippi! Folks ... no standing in the aisles.
The bus approaches its stop and the driver instructs his passengers to take all of their bags with them as they prepare to exit the bus. The remaining passengers have ten minutes to use the rest room and buy snacks from the town's grocery store located across the dirt road. Steele opens a small brown paper bag that contains her lunch she prepared prior to running away from her parent's home. This Jim Crow bus station is known for its visible "negro and whites only" discrimination signs that hang above both of the bathroom entrances. Entering the wrong restroom if you're colored can cost you your life. A common policy known to the respectable church going folks in this GOD fearing town.
STEELE (V.O.)
I hope I made the right decision to go up north to live with my grand parents. I hope they don't change their minds. If they do I reckon I'll join the army before I go back there. I'm not going back.
Steele stretches her arms into the air as she prepares herself for a nap. After a long jarring ride the Greyhound Bus pulls into Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.
BUS DRIVER
You all fetch your things before you leave my bus. I'm not responsible if you lose your stuff! You Negroes sit tight wait for these good folks to exit. Watch your step now. Have a safe trip. You folks have a good old time now; ya hear!
Steele stands to her feet to reach for her suitcase on the overhead rack. She watches the last white passenger shake the bus driver's hand before exiting the bus. Once off the bus Steele rushes through the crowd of people in the terminal to find her way to the main streets.
INT. PORT AUTHORITY BUS TERMINAL—42ND STREET —DAY
Steele scrambles through the crowd of people to find her way out of the terminal. She finally reaches the exit that leads to the main walk way outside. Traffic is bumper to bumper in both directions. Dump trucks, city buses and taxi cabs move in slow motion due to the heavy flow of cars on the streets. The sidewalk is crowded with business people who walk with a sense of urgency. Steele rushes toward the curb to flag down a cab for the first time in a strange city.
STEELE
Taxi! Taxi! Over here.
Steele waves her arm from side to side. A yellow taxi drives up in front of her. A chubby CAB DRIVER steps out. He wobbles to the trunk of his cab with Steele's suitcase. Steele sits in the back seat. The cab slowly takes off into traffic. The driver glances at Steele from his rear view mirror.
CAB DRIVER
Where ya going doll face?
STEELE
Ummmm. I'm going to 286 West 147th Street between Seven and Six ... no wait! Between Seventh and Eighth. Yeah ... between Seventh and Eighth. That's in Harlem. That's it!
CAB DRIVE
Take it easy doll face so you wanna go to 286 West 147th street between Seventh and Eighth Ave. Gotcha doll face! Sit back and enjoy the ride. I know this city like the back of my hand. I get a lot of fares that wanna go uptown to the Coloreds.
The plump cab driver reaches out to move the meter handle to start the rate machine.
STEELE
Wow! So this is New York City. This place is far out! So many people. Groovy, I'm on cloud nine.
CAB DRIVER
Yeah doll face ... this is the Big Apple! Plenty to see here.
The taxi driver maneuvers his way through traffic Steele contains her inner joy as she gazes out the cab window at the tall buildings and souvenir shops that line the streets of Manhattan. The taxi drives up 8th avenue along Central Park where people enjoy their buggy rides, tranquil walks with their pets and quiet moments on park benches reading the daily news. Squirrels are racing, birds are flying about from tree to tree chasing each other as if they're playing a game of tag. Central Park is America's first landscaped public park. This land is 700 acres of the park's 843 acres that stretch between 5th and 8th avenues and 59th and 106th streets surrounded by Manhattan.
Northeast section of the park between 106th and 110th streets was a swampy area. The first section of Central Park was open to the public in 1859. By 1865 Central Park was receiving over seven million visitors. In 1871 the Central Park Zoo was opened. Steele finally reaches her destination. She pulls out money to pay her fare. The cabbie steps out of the taxi, walks to the trunk to remove her suitcase.
CAB DRIVER
Take care doll face.
STEELE
Thank you Harry keep the change.
Steele exits the taxi a little Negro boy rides his bicycle past Steele causing her to stumble backwards.
STEELE
Hey! Little punk. You almost ran over my foot. You retard.
INT. 286 W. 147TH STREET—GRANDPARENT'S BUILDING —DAY
Steele walks through the entrance of her GRANDPARENT'S tenement apartment building.
STEELE
Let me see ...# 5C. Oh no. Oh well.
Steele walks up the stairs clinching onto her suitcase. She reaches the fifth floor suddenly she remembers that no one is home. An extra key is in the mailbox labeled # 5C.
STEELE
Dang—Blang—It! I forgot all about that darn key.
Steele rushes back down the stairs with her suitcase clinched in her hands. She retrieves the key. She struggles up the five flights of stairs. She reaches the door and inserts the key into the lock. She twist and turns then realizes that BIG PAPA left the wrong key.
STEELE
What the hell is going on here? Man ... I gotta pee! This is a drag.
Steele places her suitcase on the floor next to the locked door. She breathes heavy Steele playfully executes the pee dance. She anxiously waits for her grandparents to arrive. Steele leans against the hallway wall she slides down to sit on her suitcase. People can be heard walking up the stairs.
BIG PAPA
Steele ... good to see you. Go down stairs and fetch them grocery bags for me honey. I'm getting old, my back ache.
Steele passes Big Papa as he slowly walks up the stairs. BIG MAMA huffin' and puffin' follows behind him.
BIG MAMA
Hey Baby ... good to see ya. Them can goods heavy, be careful.
Steele takes hold of the grocery bag handle. She works her way back up the stairs. Her grandparents have gone inside their apartment. The door is slightly open. Steele brushes her shoulder against the front door. She pans the living room with her eyes from right to left as she begin to take small steps inside the dwelling. The bag of groceries knock against her knees as she walk towards the kitchen.
STEELE
Big Mama, Why so dark in here?
Steele walks into the kitchen and places the grocery bag on top of the table next to the other bags her grandparents carried from the A&P Grocery Store.
BIG MAMA
Baby ... you wanna soda pop? I got grape, orange, strawberry ...
STEELE
No Big Mama. I'm a turn on the lights then use the commode. From the living room Big Papa calls out for Steele.
BIG PAPA
Steele ... honey come here. Your granddaddy wants to talk to you.
STEELE
I'll be right there.
Steele rushes to the bathroom then accompanies her grandfather in the living room.
STEELE
Hi Big Papa. Good to see ya. I'm on cloud nine right now, cloud nine.
BIG PAPA
Good to see you too Steele. Golly! I haven't seen you since way back when you were a little tot! Sit next to your granddaddy.
Steele lets out a light giggle as she sits on the sofa next to her mother's father.
STEELE
I wanna thank you for taken me in.
BIG PAPA
I know what's going on with that gal of a mother of yours. Big Mama and I wanna see ya do well. When you called we was happy to take ya.
STEELE
Thank you for understanding Big Papa. I have nowhere else to go.
Big Papa reaches out to embrace his granddaughter. Big Mama walks in the living room. Big Papa stands to his feet and walks toward the back room. Big Mama sits beside Steele.
BIG MAMA
Hey Baby ... how ya doing? I'm glad you're here. Real glad.
STEELE
Big Mama ... I'm on cloud nine. I can't believe it! Thank you. I swear ... I won't let you down. I swear! You'll see, I swear.
BIG MAMA
Okay Baby, okay.
Big Mama smiles at Steele then reaches out to squeeze her cheeks.
BIG MAMA
Like I said Baby my home is your home. You can stay here as long as you like you hear? Don't worry bout a thing you wit Big Mama now.
STEELE
I'm glad.
BIG MAMA
Lets see. Oh ... for the time being you'll be sleeping in here on this coach til we get-cha one a them fold up beds. I'll be back Baby.
Big Mama embrace Steele with a hug Big Mama walks away.
STEELE (V.O.)
This place is a little different from what I'm use to. But it's better than nothing. Back home ... I mean back at my parent's house I had my own room. On my walls in my room I have pictures of Wilson Pickett, James Brown and Jackie Robinson. All my dolls are lined up on my bed watching television. I have pink sheets on my bed. A long pink blanket and ... I miss my room. But I don't wanna go back ... no way.
Big Mama returns with clean bed linens and a pillow.
BIG MAMA
Baby! Here is a blanket, two white sheets and a pilla. This should do it til we can do better. Everything will be just fine ... GOD willing.
Big Mama and Steele stand face to face with expressions of happiness. She lets out an unexpected yawn from her mouth.
BIG MAMA
Oh my. Baby ... I'll see ya in the morning bright and early you hear. Baby you sleep good now.
STEELE
Ok Big Mama, you sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite.
BIG MAMA
Oh no Baby We don't have bed bugs. But if you see any let me know.
BRIEF ANCESTRY OF BIG MAMA
Big Mama (Laura Tripett Little) was born November 24, 1889. She comes from a small town called Sumrall, Mississippi. Sumrall was located one hundred years ago by Watts Lott who never entered claim for the land. He reared his family and when he died his sons settled and cleared the land. His oldest son, Arthur, built and maintained a water mill which was located on a dirt road. He later sold this mill to Daniel Sumrall who built a gin. Two years later a post office was built, this was in 1890s and it was named Sumrall for Dan Sumrall. Log Cabins were built before the timber was cut down and cleared away. The only way fares were narrow foot-paths leading from log house to log house. As people began to move in the area the need for religious contact was felt so church services were held in the open outdoors with logs used for seats. It was required for Indians to permanently change their Indian names to Christian names to attend religious services or school. Before the white settlers entered this area the Choctaw Indians roamed this heavy pine timberland that grew in abundance over Sumrall County.
There was an ancient Indian settlement in the northwest end of the county and another Indian village ten miles from Sumrall on Black Creek where Russell Bridge now spans the creek. A large tide of immigration poured into the southern section of Sumrall from the Carolinas. New people were attracted by the low-priced lands that could be homesteaded by the mild climate, the luxurious range for stock, and the cheap living afforded by an abundance of wild game-such as turkey, ducks, geese, deer and the corn that can be grown there. Sheep and cattle raising was their main source of living. Big Mama's parents took time to clear and cultivate a piece of land to improve their rights to ownership by constantly making it better and living on the land sufficiently long enough to make the title good.
Big Mama's parents Moses Tripett born in 1868 and Julia Tripett born in 1871 traveled to Sumrall from Kosciusko (pronounce Cause—Key—Osko) Mississippi, home to a number of Indian tribes. Kosciusko's Indian Villages had beautiful lakes that contained an abundant of fish and other sea life for food. The grassy terrain and tall trees provide the conditions needed to draw in turkeys, roosters, sheep and other game. Natives traveled by wagon carriages made of wood pulled by mules or horses. Because of the rocky dirt roads it took days to reach any location in the surrounding area. In time the Indians were forced to sign treaties ceding their land to the United States Government and when the white settlers arrived in this area the Indians were pushed out. The "Indian Removal Act" re-settled them to western territories. In 1830 Congress, urged on by President Andrew Jackson, passed the "Indian Removal Act" which gave the federal government the power to relocate any Indian in the east to territories that was west of the Mississippi River. Big Mama's people had lived in villages in the southern Appalachians-present day Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, North Georgia and northeastern Alabama before their final settlement in Mississippi.
The Cherokee Nation was allocated land in Georgia as a treaty with the U.S. Government. White settlers desired this land because gold was discovered. The State of Georgia tried to re-claim this land but the Cherokees protested and took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court decided in favor of the Cherokee, but later the President and Congress forced the Indians off their homeland. Federal Troops were called to gather up and escort 15,000 Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole Indians, by foot from the Carolinas to the new Indian Territory now called Oklahoma. Because of the forced march many Indians had faced hunger, disease and exhaustion. 4,600 Cherokees died due to this removal. This event is known as The Trail of Tears.
Steele stands over the sofa that is now her sleeping arrangement. She stares down at the sheets delivered to her by Big Mama. She suddenly hears Big Papa's voice echo from the back room where he sleeps.
BIG PAPA
Steele honey ... good night and don't you eat in there. I will know if you do. We don't have any critters so don't make me put a switch to your tail.
STEELE
Don't worry Big Papa ... I won't eat in here. I promise!
THE NEXT MORNING
Steele is awaken by the aroma of her grandmother's cooking.
BIG MAMA
Baby ... Baby! Come on now. Get up. Its 6:00 in the morning ... it's getting late. Breakfast will be done in a few minutes. Get up child and get yourself together. Get washed up so you can eat. Baby come on now ... chop-chop! I made a nice meal for us.
Steele uncovers her head from underneath the blanket to get a good weft of the fine scent in the air.
STEELE
Big Mama ... do I smell what I think I smell? Far out Big Mama! I love hot cakes. That's my favorite meal. Hot dig-gity-dog!
Steele jumps up out of bed and runs into the bathroom. She exits the bathroom ready to eat.
STEELE
Good morning Big Papa. Hey Big Mama. I likes what I see.
BIG MAMA
Good morning Baby. Go ahead and have a seat over there.
BIG PAPA
Good morning honey. Did you sleep good last night?
STEELE
Yes sir. I sure did. Ummmm. Big Mama that looks soooo good.
BIG PAPA
Hurry up woman. Me and this child ready to eat. Chop! Chop! What we got to do to get some good service around here woman?
Pleased with his playfulness Big Papa glances over at Steele and shoots her a wink. The kitchen table is loaded with food. Steele set her eyes on a well prepared meal made from the loving hands of her grandmother. Steele pours a glass of butter milk for Big Papa and a glass of cranberry juice for Big Mama. Big Papa utters a prayer over the food.
