The Help (2011) Edit

A big dent!

A book like this has never been written before.

A disease preventative bill

A week later I come back, and they done moved to Mobile.

About that book I want to write?

After 9.00, and you gotta leave before 4.00.

After she got that teller job,

After that, I just didn't want to live no more.

Again?

Aibee, Aibee.

Aibee's here, honey.

Aibee's here.

Aibileen said you'd be on time.

Aibileen, Aibileen.

Aibileen, are you enjoying your new bathroom over at Elizabeth's?

Aibileen, go check on Mae Mobley.

Aibileen, I done went and did it now.

Aibileen, Mae Mobley's crying her eyes out.

Aibileen, the girls are pulling up, and the table isn't set.

Aibileen.

Aibileen.

Aibileen.

Ain't he wondering how the cooking's so good?

Ain't no different than writing down my prayers.

Ain't that right, Aibileen?

All flowers and bows.

All right, all right. The chicken already dead, Miss Celia.

All right, I'll be back.

All right, then. Well, bye!

All right?

All right.

All right. I'm gonna do it.

All that talk in there today...

All the boys say I'm ugly.

All them bad things them fools say about me today?

Alton used to always be asking me how come I was black.

Alton's mama died of lung disease.

Am I gonna believe

Am I gonna believe all them bad things

Amen!

And after my prayers last night, I got some stories down, too.

And by your fellow man, I mean your brother,

And did you know, as a girl growing up,

And don't hit on they children.

And every day Minny went without a job,

And find a coloured woman in his house?

And fired the maid she had to make room for Minny, too.

And for God's sake, you're a 23 year old educated woman.

And for heaven's sakes, don't sit like some squaw Indian! Cross your ankles!

And God tells us,

And he passed it along to Governor Barnett!

And I understand that now.

And in 20 years, those children become the boss.

And it don't get changed till I get there in the morning.

And it must have come out of her like the 11 th Commandment,

And it must have come out of her like the 11 th Commandment,

And just what are you doing?

And just what are you doing?

And just what makes you think coloured people need your help?

And last thing. Come here.

And live 30 minutes outside of town? No, thank you.

And Miss Hilly Holbrook.

And Miss Hilly wanted her.

And now she know what I done.

And one time, I told him it was because I drank too much coffee.

And she also said it'll add value to our home.

And shoot me dead right here on this no wax floor.

And that Bertha, she's got chutzpah, I'll give her that.

And that's a good mood.

And then Johnny's mama wouldn't let me change a thing.

And then me and you will go on down to the beach in a little while.

And this Miss Myrna thing isn't going to work out with Aibileen.

And trips to New Orleans, but this takes the goddamn cake.

And we just love not making minimum wage or getting Social Security.

And what Mr Johnny gonna do when he come home

And when she got to talking about the white ladies, it took all night.

And you knew that because...

And you know she will!

And you put it up in the cabinet.

And you use the same cup, same fork, same plate every day.

And, Lord, I worry she gonna be fat.

Anniversary of his death comes...

Any person printing, publishing

Anyway, I just, um... I don't really know how to answer these letters.

Anyway, I ran into her at the beauty parlour, and she had the nerve to ask

Are we in Biloxi, Minny?

Are you...

Aren't we taking non members? The benefit has gotten so big.

Articles? Miss Phelan, it's a cleaning advice column.

As a Christian, I'm doing you a favour.

As exemplified by our Lord Jesus Christ,

As for your mama, she didn't pick her life.

At least me, anyway.

At The Jackson Journal.

Babies like fat.

Back here, honey!

Back in March, she went to live with her daughter, Rachel. In Chicago.

Because the nigra uses the guest bath and so do we.

Because this article says there's a cure. A special root tea!

Because your mother convinced you you're not good enough for somebody like him.

Before this whole civil rights thing blows over.

Believe it or not, there are real racists in this town.

Belzoni, Mississippi, on my great auntie's sofa.

Books shall not be interchangeable between the white and coloured schools,

Boys, we'll be right back. Y'all talk about quarterbacks or something.

Build it just like the bathroom at my house. Let's see.

But I came to say I'm sorry for the way I acted.

But I carry paper in from my own damn house. That fool don't know.

But I do wish that she'd stayed down here with us.

But I got her back.

But I need to make sure she understands this ain't no game we playing here.

But if I had it my way,

But it's best for frying chicken.

But mostly, I take care of Baby Girl.

But nobody ever asked Mammy how she felt about it.

But not Miss Skeeter.

But now I ain't gonna never get no job again.

But our Christmas benefit, however, is right on schedule. Mary Beth?

But right now I'm working on a domestic maintenance column

But shall continue to be used by the race first using them.

But she ain't real keen on talking to white peoples right now.

But to y'all, it's just another day of bridge.

But you...

Bye, Skeeter!

Can I take the Cadillac?

Can we move on to the next question?

Carlton's bringing Rebecca to dinner. Try to look presentable!

Chapter four, verse ten.

Charlotte Phelan, dead! Her daughter, still single.

Come here!

Come on, baby.

Come on, go home with me till the dance over. Come on.

Come on!

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Commands us, compels us,

Constantine quit us.

Constantine went to live in Chicago with her family.

Continue.

Courage is daring to do what is right

Daddy ruined you.

Daddy. What happened to Constantine?

Damn it, Skeeter, I'm not gonna let you miss out on this

Dear Miss Myrna:

Did I tell you Fanny Peatrow got engaged?

Did you also ask Miss Skeeter if you could borrow money?

Did you fire her?

Did you hear that? Do you have her phone number?

Do you think you'd be willing to help me with those Miss Myrna letters?

Do you, uh... find men attractive?

Does this dress look homemade?

Doesn't she look glowing, everybody?

Doggone it!

Don't do it and see what happens.

Don't give up on this, Miss Skeeter.

Don't hand it to them, 'cause your hands can't touch.

Don't mope! Smile!

Don't panic. Don't panic.

Don't send me anything else until you do have more maids.

Don't worry about her. She always mad about something.

Don't you dare say that.

Don't you find that ironic, Miss Stein?

Double Old Kentucky, straight with a water back. Make that two backs.

Drove to the coloured hospital...

Editor.

Editor.

Eight bucks a week. Copy is due on Thursday.

Eighteen people died in Jackson that day.

Elaine Stein, from Harper and Row Publishing in New York.

Elizabeth, can I talk to Aibileen?

Emerson 684. Bye now.

Eugenia Phelan, Mr Blackly.

Eugenia, Martin Luther King just invited

Eugenia, your eggs are dying. Would it kill you to go on a date?

Every day you're not dead in the ground,

Every day...

Every girl at the bridge table had to have one, too.

Every raffle slot for baked goods!

Except for maybe writing one.

Excuse me a moment, Rebecca. My daughter has upset my cancerous ulcers.

Excuse me.

Fine.

Five other maids have already turned me down.

Fix me a sandwich, Aibileen.

For The Jackson Journal.

For your fellow man.

Forgive me, Lord, but I'm gonna have to kill that woman, Aibileen.

From Sugar Ditch.

Frying chicken just...

Get back into they house, polish the silver.

Get in your room right now.

Get off my toilet!

Get off my toilet!

Give your mama a kiss.

Giving advice on how to keep up a home when she doesn't even...

Go ahead.

Go away!

Go get yourself an apartment.

Go on!

Go on.

God don't pay no mind to colour once He decide to set a tornado loose.

God, having asked Moses to free the Israelites...

God.

Good morning, Baby Girl.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good to see you, sir. You remember my wife?

Got to ask yourself this question:

Got to have paprika on them.

Grab that basket.

Great potential. Gain some experience and please apply again.

Great.

Great.

Great.

Great.

Has reviewed the Home Health Sanitation Initiative that I drafted,

Have not worked together since Gone with the Wind.

Have you seen her lately?

He always said we were gonna have a writer in the family one day.

He died right in front of me.

He fell carrying two by fours at the mill.

He got held up on the oil rig, Skeeter.

He loves riding these waves!

He was just 24 years old, Miss Skeeter. Best part of a person's life.

He'll get back in spades when y'all sell.

He's a drunken asshole.

He's coming.

Hello?

Hello?

Her mother said she was swimming in proposals.

Here's my phone number.

Hey, Aibileen!

Hey, girls.

Hey, hey, hey, all I'm saying

Hey, Minny!

Hey, Miss Skeeter. Can I get you something?

Hey!

Hey.

Hi, how are you? Good to see you.

Hi, Jameso.

Hi, Missus Walters.

Hilly spoke to the surgeon general,

Hilly, I really am sorry about the newsletter.

Hilly, I wish you'd just go use the bathroom.

Hilly. But I wanted to come, OK.

Hilly's covering the cost and said

Hilly's talk?

Hold on, Missus Walters. Hold on.

Hold on. Those are Miss Hilly's.

Holy shit.

Honestly!

Honey, Stuart had to cancel.

Honey, you hold on to it, to the bitter end.

House... slave.

How about that?

How pretty.

How she pays you, or has she ever yelled at you in front of Mae Mobley?

How you, Miss Eugenia?

Hurry, Aibileen! Mae Mobley is up, and I'm off to the doctor!

I ain't never had no paid vacation in my life.

I ain't never had no white person in my house before.

I ain't telling nobody.

I already have a maid.

I already know what you're gonna ask, Miss Skeeter.

I am just honoured to be hosting Elizabeth's shower.

I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.

I applied for a job, but Mrs Stein thought...

I believe she was working for me before you dragged us both here.

I bought you this damn house. I put up with your new clothes

I can do grits.

I can feel the hope in your fingers.

I can get my point across a lot better writing them down.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your doing this with me.

I can't tell you.

I couldn't tell Mama I didn't get asked to the dance.

I do all the cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing and grocery shopping.

I do this with you, I might as well burn my own house down.

I don't believe you.

I don't know. At least a dozen.

I don't say my prayers out loud.

I don't see why not.

I done raised 17 kids in my life.

I done seen it happen plenty of times,

I done something terrible awful to that woman,

I gave it to you a month ago.

I gave that to you myself.

I got a job today.

I got home from school a week ago, and my mama told me she had quit.

I got some business to tend to, so y'all just mind your own.

I gotta come up with your questions, too?

I guarantee you, one day they're going to figure out cigarettes will kill you.

I guess I got some learning to do.

I just want him to think I can do this on my own.

I just want you to know I'm real grateful you're here.

I knew the only white lady Miss Hilly hadn't gotten to with her lies.

I know Constantine. We're in church circle together.

I know how to get them babies to sleep, stop crying and go in the toilet bowl

I know it's scary.

I know now that it's against the law, what we're doing.

I know, you must be so worried about your mother, but...

I know.

I know.

I know. It's an awful lot to do.

I like this Sarah Ross. She testifies without complaining too much.

I lost my own boy, Treelore, four years ago.

I love you!

I loved that baby. And he loved me.

I made you the egg and olive on rye, Miss Skeeter.

I make 95 cent an hour. That comes to $ 182 every month.

I mean it.

I need to ask you something.

I need to see you square on at all times.

I parked way up on State Street and caught a cab here, like you asked.

I read her articles all the time.

I read the other day about how some girls get unbalanced.

I really need a maid.

I reckon I'm ready to talk about Miss Leefolt now.

I reckon when you finish it won't.

I think you done burned up your cake.

I thought I might write my stories down and read them to you.

I understand.

I want to interview you about what it's like to work as a maid.

I want to show her perspective.

I want you to read her past columns.

I was hoping to get four or five.

I was rude, and I've been thinking about it a lot.

I was thinking that we wouldn't have to tell her.

I went ahead and I picked up my black dress from the cleaners this morning.

I went to Miss Hilly's house this afternoon.

I wish you'd quit feeling sorry for yourself.

I work for the Leefolts from eight to four, six days a week.

I work Sunday through Friday.

I write an hour, sometimes two, every night.

I write.

I'd like to do a book of interviews about working for white families.

I'd like to write something from the point of view of the help.

I'd really like to interview you, Aibileen.

I'd work every day for free till it was paid off.

I'll be back tomorrow, Aibileen,

I'll be here tomorrow morning about 9.15.

I'll be on the lookout.

I'll call back tomorrow.

I'll cut you a piece of cake, baby. Go on, now.

I'll do whatever it takes to protect our children.

I'll drive slow.

I'll have it in there real soon.

I'm a good mother. Come on. Sit down.

I'm Celia Rae Foote.

I'm fine.

I'm gonna be a serious writer, Mr Blackly.

I'm gonna put Billy down for his nap.

I'm hungry, Mommy.

I'm just gonna get your tea.

I'm just gonna go get a plate.

I'm listening.

I'm looking for some help at my house. Do you know any maids looking?

I'm Minny Jackson.

I'm not deaf yet, Hilly.

I'm real close to getting more interviews.

I'm sorry you had to hear that.

I'm sorry, but were you dropped on your head as an infant?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. This is the first time I've hired a maid.

I'm starting to think this Stuart is a figment of your imagination,

I'm starved. Looks so good.

I'm still working on it, Aibileen.

I'm trying to get my boys off to college.

I'm watching my story.

I'm worried about you.

I've got a great summer planned for you.

I've never called her back, Hilly.

I've never seen you out of uniform before.

If Aibileen uses the guest bath, I'm sure she uses yours, too.

If she could help with the Children's Benefit Ball.

If the wrong person caught you with anything like that,

If they see you put the tasting spoon back in the pot,

If we don't get more, we're not getting published.

If you say so. I thought you wanted to write books.

In spite of the weakness of our flesh.

Is it lit?

Is subject to imprisonment.

Is that I'll let you know if it's even worth pursuing.

Is that Preacher Green's sermon?

Is that your son?

Is this a little too young?

Is to be prepared to put yourself in harm's way

Isn't it gorgeous?

Isn't it so nice to have your own, Aibileen?

It ain't working out too good. Come on, let's get you a cold Coca Cola.

It could have been you, Hilly.

It doesn't matter how I feel.

It feel...

It feel...

It hard. You go try and see.

It is lunchtime, and I am suddenly hungry.

It picked her.

It sounds like a ploy to find a husband, becoming an expert in keeping house.

It took God and Minny to get me through it.

It was 1925, and I had just turned 14.

It was a coloured thing and I put it behind me!

It wouldn't be real.

It's a lonely road if a mama don't think their child is pretty.

It's a start, Carlton.

It's all right.

It's been endorsed by the White Citizens' Council.

It's just plain dangerous. They carry different diseases than we do.

It's just with Mama being sick and all.

It's mean and hurtful, like them boys.

It's not like I'd be fibbing.

It's what we dream of doing all weekend long.

It's worthwhile what y'all are doing, but...

It's... It's offshore.

Jesus, I can't think of anything worse than reading a cleaning column,

Johnny doesn't know I'm bringing in help.

Just 'cause she went down to the voting station.

Just go use mine and Raleigh's.

Just show a little gumption. Careful now, careful.

Just take it in a little here. Little there.

Just to help me with some of the letters till I get a knack for it.

Just water, please.

Just write them down and invent the maid that said it.

Laid him down on that sofa right there.

Last stop till marriage.

Leefolt residence.

Leroy?

Let me at least get you some bus money.

Let me take your plate back.

Let's go to the beach. Run, get Mr Walters!

Look at me.

Look how big the waves are, Minny.

Look, I know it was a few weeks back,

Look.

Looking after white babies, that's what I do.

Looks like frosting.

Lord... I pray this child turn out good.

Lou Ann, honey, I can't talk right now. I'm at work.

Love and hate are two horns on the same goat, Eugenia, and you need a goat.

Mae Mobley go, Mama.

Mae Mobley, you're going!

Mae Mobley.

Mama was third runner up in the Miss South Carolina pageant.

Mama, I want to ask you about Constantine.

Mama, we're late for bridge!

Mama?

Mama?

Mama.

Margaret Mitchell glorified the mammy figure,

Maybe things can change.

Maybe we ought to burn the chicken a little.

Maybe we should just build you a bathroom outside, Hilly.

Me and Aibileen done asked everybody we know. Thirty one maids.

Me and my husband, we been saving for years to send them to Tougaloo.

Might as well throw it all out.

Might have been a day Leroy took her from our world.

Minny don't burn chicken.

Minny got her some stories, sure enough,

Minny got her some stories, sure enough,

Minny my best friend. Old lady like me lucky to have her.

Minny, are you in there?

Minny, go get Mama!

Minny, go get Mama!

Minny?

Minny? Minny!

Minny.

Miss Celia Foote called again.

Miss Hilly was the first of the babies to have a baby.

Miss Hilly, I would like to ask you and Mr William something.

Miss Lazy Fingers scared I'd find a new job before she moved.

Miss Leefolt got so much hairspray on her head

Miss Leefolt said you could start right away.

Miss Leefolt still don't pick Baby Girl up but once a day.

Miss Myrna has gone shit house crazy on us.

Miss Skeeter...

Miss Stein, you said in your letter to write about what disturbs me,

Miss?

Missus Walters, you need help coming down?

Mm hm?

Mm hm.

Mm hm. Crisco.

Mm hmm.

Morning, ladies.

Mother, I want to be with girls as much as you want to be with Jameso.

Mother, would it really be so bad if I never met a husband?

Much better.

My advice to you is to write it and write it fast

My Aibileen?

My first white baby to ever look after

My goodness, we got to run back to the car. Come on.

My mama was a maid. My grandmama was a house slave.

My twin boys graduated from high school, both on the honour roll.

Neither.

Never mind.

Nice to have your own. Isn't it, Aibileen?

No maid in her right mind is ever gonna tell you the truth.

No person shall require any white female

No sass mouthing.

No sass mouthing.

No, ma'am.

No, ma'am.

No, ma'am. We ain't.

No, no, no, honey. Promise me you won't go in there, OK?

No, thanks.

No, you can't work at all on the weekends.

No.

No.

No.

Nobody is gonna know the damn difference.

None of this old stuff.

Not exactly. See, Miss Stein thought...

Not here.

Now good night to you, Miss Phelan.

Now is she mad at me 'cause I got that job at Miss Hilly's?

Now Miss Leefolt pregnant with her second baby.

Now Mr Johnny gonna catch me here,

Now remember, no gentleman wants to spend the evening with a sourpuss.

Now she gone to putting pencil marks on my toilet paper.

Now you're not one of them, is you?

Now, that's ugly.

Now, uh... when did you hear me say I don't want to clean this house?

Now...

Now...

Oh, Christ. I guess you'll do. Do you clean?

Oh, for crying out loud, it's just a little rain.

Oh, God.

Oh, hell. You're right.

Oh, Hilly, tell her. I can hardly stand it.

Oh, it's fine.

Oh, Lord, Leroy gonna kill me.

Oh, Lord.

Oh, mother.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my gosh. Skeeter, I'm so sorry.

Oh, my Lord.

Oh, my Lord. I am not eloquent.

Oh, no, I just wanted to talk about...

Oh, no, Pascagoula. You couldn't have known this, but I'm allergic to almonds.

Oh, no, Rebecca, it's fine. There's a special root tea for that now.

Oh, now look at this.

Oh, she's just upset

Oh, Skeeter, Stuart's definitely coming this time. Next Saturday week.

Oh, sure, sure.

Oh, thank you, Henry.

Oh, um, I can cook cornpone.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

OK, I will.

OK, let me get the pie.

OK, let's see. What's first up on the agenda?

OK, Miss Phelan, let's see what you got.

OK?

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK. It's Celia Foote.

OK. What time you want me here?

Once Minny got to talking about food, she liked to never stop.

Ooh.

Ooh. No hugging. No hugging.

Or anything about Miss Leefolt?

Or circulating written matter

Or were you just born stupid?

Other maids?

Particularly if it bothers no one else.

Pass.

People move on, Skeeter.

Please open your Bibles to Exodus.

Please! Please!

Put Mama in a chair before she breaks a hip.

Put my initiative in the newsletter.

Put that on. Hurry!

Quick. Come quick.

Quit?

Reading this stuff?

Really? A n**** maid has already agreed to speak with you?

Right after Ole Miss won the Sugar Bowl. Come on. You try it on.

Right here.

Said I stole a candelabra.

Saturday night.

Scare me more than Jim Crow.

See you tonight, honey.

See, courage isn't just about being brave.

See, God don't give charity to those who are well and able.

See, love,

See, Minny about the best cook in Mississippi,

See? Says right there.

Separate, but equal.

Set it down in front of them.

She can go on up and get an umbrella from William's study.

She can't take a hint, can she?

She does not.

She done told every white woman in town I'm a thief.

She drunk hairspray or something.

She got what she deserved, Aibileen.

She having bridge club right now. May I take a message?

She looks like the winning horse at the Kentucky Derby.

She said no.

She worked here for 29 years!

She would've written and told me.

Shoot, that's easy. You tell her hold a matchstick between her teeth.

Show what y'all get paid, and the babies and the bathrooms.

Shut the damn door.

Shut up.

Skeeter, are you intentionally not putting my initiative in the newsletter?

Skeeter, get up!

Skeeter, how you doing?

Skeeter, when can we expect to see the initiative in the newsletter?

Skeeter, who are you talking to in there?

Skeeter, your mother is sick. She wants to see you in this dress.

Skeeter!

Skeeter! Get down here! Something just arrived from New York for you.

Skeeter! Skeeter!

Skeeter! Skeeter!

Skeeter.

Skeeter.

Slide your chair out from under that table. Face me.

So just forget it.

So people might understand what it's like from your side.

So William's cousin will just have to come pick you up himself.

So you liked it?

So, a side to this never before heard?

So, what do you do with your time?

Some things we just got to keep to ourselves, right?

Sorry, Miss Eugenia, I'll get you another one.

Sorry.

Stein?

Stuart, she'll be here any minute.

Sure.

Take that off. It's 98 degrees out there.

Tell Raleigh every penny he spends on a coloured's bathroom

Ten white and eight black.

Ten white and eight black.

Thank you, Aibileen.

Thank you, Aibileen.

Thank you, Miss Stein.

Thank you.

Thanks.

That about ten hours she gotta sleep in her mess.

That gonna be hard.

That one day you'd be a maid?

That reminds me so much of my maid, Constantine.

That requires every white home to have a separate bathroom for the coloured help.

That tacky girl Johnny married.

That white foreman threw his body on back of a truck.

That's a little too everything.

That's Aibee's bathroom, Mama. Hey, Aibee!

That's not working for free. That's paying off a debt.

That's so good.

That's so good.

That's very true.

That's what Ross Barnett says, and you can't argue with the governor.

That's when I learned I could make children feel proud of theyself.

That's why I've drafted the Home Health Sanitation Initiative.

The birthing blues got hold of Miss Leefolt pretty hard.

The entire country to march with him in D.C. In August.

The good and the bad.

The Guiding Light.

The main house has five beds and baths,

The most important invention since they put mayonnaise in a jar.

The ones you've read.

The other maids would have to keep it a secret, too.

The Shinalator. All the way from New York City.

The what?

The whole system cost 11 dollars. Even smells expensive.

Them fools say about me today?

Then I get on the pork chops so I can get started on that cornbread.

Then read these letters and you answer them just like she would.

There was nothing they could do, so I brought my baby home.

There you are, Skeeter.

There you are.

There's a particularly tall and very handsome man named Stuart here for you.

There's something else I want to write about. I would need your help.

These coloured women raise white children,

They all too scared. Think we crazy.

They done set a bomb off in Medgar Evers' carport.

They like big fat legs, too. That I know.

They set my cousin Shinelle's car on fire,

They start thinking these...

They'd be a fool not to hire you.

Think we can put a dent in African children's hunger this year?

This already ain't careful, Miss Skeeter!

This dress is just precious on you.

This here is the kitchen.

This is a rejection letter.

This is so much fun!

This isn't about me.

This many n****es and whites

This place would be wall to wall white carpet with gold trim.

This was just so great.

This...

To a white family.

To get started on those Miss Myrna letters.

To show what it's really like in Jackson.

To Skeeter and her job.

Tomorrow is silver polishing day. OK?

Treelore would like me doing this.

Truck run over him, crushed his lung.

Two domestics, that's all?

Ugly is something that goes up inside you.

Uh, let's begin with where you were born.

Uh...

Uh...

Unzip me.

Wait. So you'll do it?

Want a drink?

Want to soften your husband's scaly feet.

Was named Alton Carrington Speers.

We are running behind on our coat drive. Hurry up and clean out those closets.

We didn't ever think you'd leave Ole Miss.

We done been over this, Miss Celia.

We gone and done it now.

We gots to get some more maids.

We gots to talk about some things first.

We love them and they love us,

We need a dozen more.

We never finished our conversation at Elizabeth's.

We promised the Cadillac to Carlton and Rebecca tonight,

We were just a job to her, honey. With them, it's all about money.

We're not gonna do that. That would be wrong.

We're short about $75 on one of the tuitions.

Well, aren't you a genius? You figured out my whole scheme.

Well, certainly not in Mississippi, the birthplace of modern day government.

Well, he's cancelled twice before. Don't you think maybe that's a sign?

Well, I can.

Well, I mean, as long as it doesn't interfere with her work.

Well, if it isn't Long Haul Skeeter.

Well, it does take four years, Jolene.

Well, it's a real Fourth of July picnic.

Well, let's put my coat on then.

Well, now we're...

Well, thank you.

Well, thanks to y'all, I can announce that we already filled

Well, until I gain some experience.

Well...

Well... I guess I can read what you come up with.

What about Minny?

What changed your mind?

What do you understand, Skeeter?

What does it feel like to raise a white child

What does it feel like to raise a white child

What does it feel like to raise a white child

What in the hell?

What is that?

What law's gonna say you gotta be nice to your maid?

What really happened?

What the hell you know about cleaning a house, Skeeter?

What you did?

What you doing hiding out here, girl?

What you done did now, Minny?

What?

What?

What? Shut that goddamn door.

What's wrong?

When I'm chopping onions, how do I keep tears out of my eyes?

When you wake up in the morning, you're gonna have to make some decisions.

When you're serving white folks coffee,

When your own child's at home being looked after by somebody else?

Where you headed?

Where?

Which son can go if we don't come up with the money.

White folks like to do they own spanking.

Who dedicates her whole life

Who sent you, William or Hilly?

Who was that on the phone?

Who's Celia Foote?

Why can't you just get Constantine to help?

Why don't you sit down here for a spell.

Why, Minny?

Working with a bunch of greasy, stinky men in the middle of the ocean.

Would you consider giving us a loan?

Would you please stand, Skeeter?

Wouldn't you rather them take their business outside?

Write that down.

Writing for The Jackson Journal.

Y'all make it quick.

Yeah, I just wanted to talk to you.

Yep. He dead.

Yes, but we're not telling her.

Yes, ma'am, I did.

Yes, ma'am, it is.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am. And I thank you.

Yes, ma'am. Everything OK?

Yes, ma'am. How... how many more?

Yes, please tell her Celia Foote called again.

Yes, she does!

Yes.

Yoo hoo.

You are fired, Minny Jackson!

You can write my obituary!

You cooking white food, you taste it with a different spoon.

You could just do William's taxes to pay her back.

You damn right I don't!

You don't have to call me ma'am.

You don't have to do this now, Minny.

You drunk up two glasses of g**** juice. I know you got to tee tee.

You go on ahead and use the inside bath, Minny, it's all right.

You gonna have to change my name. Mine, Miss Leefolt's. Everybody.

You got a squeaky door hinge...

You got bags under your eyes.

You got gum in your hair,

You got some more Miss Myrna questions for me?

You gots plenty more to be grateful for than me.

You gots to tell him.

You have pushed it, young lady.

You hear me?

You is kind, you is smart...

You know I'm not gonna be his type.

You know she can hear you, Elizabeth.

You know we went to Biloxi on our honeymoon?

You know what Miss Leefolt do to me if she knew I was telling stories on her?

You know who Miss Myrna is?

You look really nice.

You mean housekeeping.

You need to come up with this money on your own. OK?

You not knowing that is what's scaring me the most.

You ought not to joke about the coloured situation.

You remembered.

You scared the daylights out of me!

You should have seen his face.

You stop this...

You supposed to eat in the dining room. That's how it works.

You sure do.

You sure you don't want to just make it the whole bottle and a straw?

You tell that white woman that's where you're gonna keep it from now on out.

You two give me the heart palpitations.

You wait and see.

You'd be in serious trouble.

You'll be able to wear heels tonight.

You'll understand that once you've hired help of your own.

You're already making up names. Just make up the maids, too.

You're gonna look beautiful on your date tonight.

You're home!

You're making it hotter, flapping your arms like that, Minny.

You're my real mama, Aibee.

You're not leaving the house in those awful Mexican man shoes.

You're welcome.

Your daddy bought me this dress in '58.

Your lead, Elizabeth.

Yule Mae told me what y'all was up to. I didn't want to believe it.

Yule Mae was just saying how excited she is that her boys are going to college.

Yule Mae, get Miss Skeeter a Coca Cola.

Yule Mae, I wanted to talk to you about something.

About supper club tonight. What?

Aibileen? Yes, ma'am.

Come on, Minny. All right.

Did she? Mm hm.

Do you have any references? Yes.

Eugenia! Unless, of course, you do!

Get off that phone, woman! Leroy, please!

Get your hair fixed. I got a job today.

Here's your pocketbook. Thank you.

Hi! Aibee!

I been down. Give me a heart attack.

I put the green beans in first. OK.

I'll take the truck. It's hooked up to the motor grader.

I'll try. Well, congratulations.

I'm down. Ooh.

I'm pregnant now. Oh.

I'm proud of you, sweetheart. The irony of it all.

I'm sorry. Clean? Clean.

Is it? Yes, ma'am.

Is that Minny? Minny.

It's for the Miss Myrna column. Hmm.

Miss Celia? Hmm?

Morning. Hi.

My car's here. I could take you home. No, ma'am.

My name is Eugenia Phelan, and... Come on.

No paprika. Mm hm.

No! What? We've got to get dressed.

Right there. That will be nice. Yes, ma'am.

She raised me. She did not!

Shh! Sorry!

Sorry I'm late. Hey.

to love. Amen? Amen.

Who was that? My mother.

Why do you care? Minny.

Yes, ma'am. Uh...

Yes. Oh, and Hilly's devilled eggs.

You got some ambrosia? You know I do.

You hungry? No, ma'am. Hold on a minute.

You is smart... Smart...

You shrunk five inches. Oh, my God.

...but my boys are worth more.

...dumped him there and honked the horn.

...every year, and I can't breathe.

...everything I wrote, he wrote, everything he was is gonna die with him.

...faced with having to choose

...I just found out the surgeon general

...I reckon if there's anything you ought to know about cooking, it's this.

...Moses answered:

...oh Lord, was they having babies.

...professional husband hunting?

...shake that.

...tend to make you feel better about life.

...three...

...unnatural thoughts.

...what if you don't like what I got to say... about white people?

...you is important.

...you is kind... ...you is kind...

...you're gonna do something big with yours.

'Cause nobody ever really talks about it down here.

'cause once Miss Hilly had a baby,

'Cause there's a reason.